Have We Forgotten God?
INTRODUCTION.
A. History leading up to the writing of Zephaniah.
1. In approximately 715 B.C., Hezekiah came to the throne of Judah. Hezekiah inherited a nation of wicked people, who had been led in wickedness by Hezekiah’s father, King Ahaz. (II Kings 16:1-4)
2. Unlike his father, Hezekiah walked in the way of the Lord. (II Kings 18:1-8) Hezekiah held fast to the Lord and worked to remove the wicked practices from the nation of Judah. Hezekiah put the nation of Judah back on the course of following God. This he did for 29 years.
3. After the death of Hezekiah, his son, Manasseh reigned. Unlike Hezekiah, Manasseh led Judah in wickedness for 55 years. (II Kings 21:1-9) King Manasseh led Judah away from the Lord.
4. Manasseh’s son, Amon, followed in the wicked steps of his father for the two years of his reign. (II Kings 21:19-22)
5. When King Josiah came to the throne of Judah in 640 B.C., he found a nation given to the worship of idols and all manners of wickedness. Unlike his father, Amon, and his grandfather, Manasseh, Josiah followed the Lord, just as his great grandfather, Hezekiah, had done. (II Kings 22:1-2)
B. During the reign of King Josiah, the word of the Lord came to the prophet, Zephaniah. Zephaniah warned Judah of the judgment of the Lord that would soon come upon the nation. (Zephaniah 1:2-6)
C. While Judah faced many problems, in this lesson, we will focus on what seems to have been the primary problem as stated in Zephaniah 1:6.
I. JUDAH HAD FORSAKEN GOD. (Zephaniah 1:6)
A. Judah had turned back from following the Lord.
1. Manasseh had led Judah away from the Lord into idolatry.
2. Judah began to follow after false gods.
B. Judah had stopped seeking after the Lord.
1. If Judah had sought after the Lord, they would have found Him.
2. Instead, Judah was seeking the false gods of the heathen nations. They would bring in the pagan priests to help Judah’s priest in the worshiping of the false gods. (Cf. Zephaniah 1:4)
C. Judah had stopped inquiring (seek after, petition, pray to) of the Lord.
1. Instead of turning to the Lord for instructions on right and wrong, of law and order, Judah would inquire of the priests of the foreign gods.
2. Judah ceased caring for the ways of the Lord.
D. While Josiah attempted to turn Judah back to the Lord, the change would only be temporary. As a result, the Lord refused to turn back from His mighty wrath.
1. The change: II Kings 23:1-3.
2. Unavoidable punishment: II Kings 23:26-27.
II. THE DANGER OF BECOMING LIKE JUDAH.
A. The danger of turning back from following the Lord.
1. The only way to salvation is by following Jesus.
a. John 14:1-6
b. Matthew 16:24-26 - take up your cross and follow Christ
c. I Peter 2:21-25 - Jesus Christ left us an example that we should follow.
2. Some people choose not to follow Jesus because of the cares, riches, and problems of the world. Consider the story of the rich man who chose not to follow Jesus. (Matthew 19:16-22)
3. Some people choose not to follow Jesus because His teachings are too hard to accept. (John 6:60-66)
4. Some people choose not to follow Jesus because the cost is too high. (Matthew 10:34-39)
5. Some people choose not to follow Jesus because they love this present world. (I John 2:15-17)
6. Are you following Jesus?
B. The danger of failing to seek the Lord.
1. The Bible tells us for what we are to seek.
a. Matthew 6:32-33 - seek the kingdom of God
b. Colossians 3:1-4 - seek those things which are above.
c. Hebrews 13:12-16 - seek an eternal home in Heaven. (The “one” is our “continuing city” or eternal home in Heaven.)
2. Remember: The Lord will reward those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
3. We must not let our lives become so swamped with the cares of this world, that we fail to seek the Lord. We must always be actively seeking after and doing His will.
4. Are you seeking after the Lord?
C. The danger of no longer inquiring of the Lord.
1. During the first century, many of the Jews, who had once inquired of God, ceased to do so when Jesus brought the New Covenant. They had become dull of hearing.
a. Matthew 13:14-15 - Jesus quoted from Isaiah.
b. Acts 28:25-27 - Paul quoted from Isaiah.
2. When we have questions, we must turn to the right source. Let us inquire of the Lord regarding the decisions of our lives.
a. Ignore the “wisdom of man.”
(1) I Corinthians 1:18-25
(2) I Corinthians 3:18-20
b. Let us consult the wisdom of God, which is found only in His word.
(1) Rightly divide or understand the word of God. (II Timothy 2:15-16)
(2) Makes clear what is right and what is wrong within our lives. (Hebrews 4:12)
(3) Tells us how to live righteously. (II Timothy 3:16-17)
c. Let us meditate daily upon the word of God. (Psalms 119:15-16,47-48)
d. Let us pray for wisdom and understanding.
(1) Colossians 1:9 - this was Paul’s prayer for the brethren in Colosse.
(2) James 1:5-8
3. This is how we inquire of the Lord.
4. Are you inquiring of the Lord?
III. REMEMBER: LET US NOT BE INFLUENCED BY THE WORLD.
A. The nation of Judah had allowed themselves to be influenced to ungodliness by the heathens surrounding them.
B. Like Judah, we too, are surrounded by many people who walk contrary to the doctrine of Jesus Christ. We must resolve ourselves to never allow our thinking and determination to be influenced by those who are on the road to hell.
1. Remember: Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. (Ephesians 5:8-14)
2. Remember: You have been called out of darkness. (I Peter 2:9-10)
3. Remember: Love not the world. (I John 2:15-17)
C. If you will remember these three points and apply them in your life, then you will:
1. Follow the Lord.
2. Seek the Lord.
3. Inquire of the Lord.
CONCLUSION.
A. Have you become so wrapped up in the events and cares of your life that you have lost your way? Have you forgotten God?
1. Are you still following God in all areas of your life?
2. Are you still seeking God in all areas of your life?
3. Are you still inquiring of God in all areas of your life?
B. Judah’s punishment was seventy years in captivity. Our punishment, if we forget the Lord, will be eternity in hell.
C. King Josiah tried to change Judah, but, in the end, it was for nought. If you have allowed yourself to follow in the footsteps of the world, then I stand here before you, and your brethren stands here beside you, encouraging you to turn back to the Lord. Come forward and let us help you as we stand together and sing.
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Have We Forgotten God? -- June 23, 2002 -- File # 1157
by John M. Duvall -- Lawton, OK