3. The parts of the Prophecy are two: I. A Prophecy concerning the sins of the Jewish people, and the judgments threatening both them and other nations (Zephaniah 1:1-3:8). II. Promises made to the Church concerning the Kingdom of Christ (Zephaniah 3:9-20). A Synoptic Table of the book, and its Interpreters, Ancient, Reformed, Lutheran, Roman Catholic.
Therefore, there are two parts to this Prophecy, the one Legal, concerning sins and judgments, threatening both the Israelites and the nations (Zephaniah 1:1-3:8), the other Evangelical, embracing the promises given to the Church concerning the Kingdom of Christ (Zephaniah 3:9-20); which we shall now endeavor to open in a few words.
I. A Prophecy concerning the sins of the Jewish people, and the Judgments threatening both them and other nations, Chapters 1:1-3:8. See:
1. The denunciation of divine judgments,
a. General, against men and cattle (verses 1-3): chapter 1:1-3.
b. Particular, against:
α. The Jews, against whom,
א. Threatening destruction on account of idolatry and defection (verses 4-6), he announces the nearness of the feast day (verses 7-9), the breadth of the judgment (verses 10-13), and also sets forth its swiftness and severity (verses 14-18): chapter 1:4-18.
ב. He urges repentance, so that they might be hidden in the day of wrath (verses 1-3): chapter 2:1-3.
β. The nations, for whose tyranny the people of God are to be avenged, namely, the Philistines (verses 4-7), the Moabites (verses 8-11), the Cushites (verse 12), the Assyrians (verses 13-15): chapter 2:4-15.
2. A denunciation of final judgment, delivered to the Jewish people returned from captivity, in which both the sins of Jerusalem, especially their disobedience and hardness of heart after the evident judgments of God, are enumerated (verses 1-7), and the sentence of final judgment is pronounced (verse 8): chapter 3:1-8.
II. Promises made to the Church concerning the Kingdom of Christ, Chapter 3:9-20.
In which are promised the conversion of the nations (verses 9, 10), the conversion of the Church from pride and falsehood, and its tranquility (verses 11-13), the removal of judgments (verses 14, 15), help to the furnished by the Divine Hero, the Savior God, the suppressing of enemies and the saving of the remnant (verses 16-20): chapter 3:9-20.