Study Desk

I know your reputation, Lord , and I am amazed at what you have done. Please turn from your anger and be merciful; do for us what you did for our ancestors.

I am Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, the grandson of Gedaliah, the great-grandson of Amariah, and the great-great-grandson of Hezekiah. When Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah, the Lord gave me this message.

Be silent! I am the Lord God, and the time is near. I am preparing to sacrifice my people and to invite my guests.

Not even your silver or gold can save you on that day when I, the Lord , am angry. My anger will flare up like a furious fire scorching the earth and everyone on it."

To you people of Philistia who live along the coast, the Lord has this to say: "I am now your enemy, and I'll wipe you out!"

This is the glorious city that felt secure and said, "I am the only one!" Now it's merely ruins, a home for wild animals. Every passerby simply sneers and makes vulgar signs.

Tell Governor Zerubbabel of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth

I am the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah and the grandson of Iddo. In the eighth month of the second year that Darius was king of Persia, the Lord told me to say:

So the angel told me to announce: I, the Lord All-Powerful, am very protective of Jerusalem.

For a while I was angry at the nations, but now I am furious, because they have made things worse for Jerusalem and are not the least bit concerned.

And so, he will put you in the power of your slaves, and they will raid and rob you. Then you will know that I am a prophet of the Lord All-Powerful.

When he does, many nations will turn to him and become his people. At that time you will know that I am a prophet of the Lord All-Powerful.

Listen carefully, High Priest Joshua and all of you other priests. You are a sign of things to come, because I am going to bring back my servant, the Chosen King.

So the angel explained that it was the following message of the Lord to Zerubbabel: I am the Lord All-Powerful. So don't depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit.

The Lord All-Powerful has said, "I am sending this scroll into the house of everyone who is a robber or tells lies in my name, and it will remain there until every piece of wood and stone in that house crumbles."

I am the Lord All-Powerful! So don't give up. Think about the message my prophets spoke when the foundation of my temple was laid.

I, the Lord , am the one who sends storm clouds and showers of rain to make fields produce. So when the crops need rain, you should pray to me.

I, the Lord All-Powerful, am fiercely angry with you leaders, and I will punish you. I care for my people, the nation of Judah, and I will change this flock of sheep into charging war horses.

I will strengthen the kingdoms of Judah and Israel. And I will show mercy because I am the Lord , their God. I will answer their prayers and bring them home. Then it will seem as though I had never rejected them.

I'll strengthen my people because of who I am, and they will follow me. I, the Lord , have spoken!