Zephaniah

Overwhelming grief, prolonged distress, incessant abuse, continual persecution, and imminent punishment breed hopelessness and despair. “If only,” we cry as we search our minds for a way out and look to the skies for rescue. With just a glimmer of hope, we would take courage and carry on, enduring until the end.

Hope is the silver shaft of sun breaking through the storm-darkened sky, words of comfort in the intensive care unit, a letter from across the sea, the first spring bird perched on a snow-covered twig, and the finish line in sight. It is a rainbow, a song, a loving touch. Hope is knowing God and resting in his love.

As God’s prophet, Zephaniah was bound to speak the truth- this he did clearly, thundering certain judgment and horrible punishment for all who would defy the Lord. God’s awful wrath would sweep away everything in the land and destroy it. “‘I will sweep away both men and animals; I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. The wicked will have only heaps of rubble when I cut off man from the face of the earth,’ declares the LORD” (1:3). No living thing in the land would escape. And that terrible day was coming soon: “The great day of the Lord is near- near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness” (1:14, 15). We can sense the oppression and depression his listeners must have felt. They were judged guilty, and they were doomed.

But in the midst of this terrible pronouncement, there is hope. The first two chapter of Zephaniah’s prophecy is filled with terror. In chapter two, however, a whispered promise appears. “Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what the commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger” (2:3). And a few verses later we read of a “remnant of the house of Judah” (2:7) who will be restored.

Finally in chapter three, the quiet refrain grows to a crescendo as God’s salvation and deliverance for those who are faithful to him is declared. “Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm” (3:14, 15). This is true hope, grounded in the knowledge of God’s justice and in his love for his people.

As you read Zephaniah, listen carefully to the words of judgment. God does not take sin lightly, and it will be punished. But be encouraged by the words of hope-our God reigns, and he will rescue his own. Decide to be part of that faithful remnant of souls who humbly worship and obey the living Lord.

VITAL STATISTICS:

Purpose: To shake the people of Judah out of their complacency and urge them to return to God.

Author: Zephaniah

To Whom Written: Judah and all nations

Date Written: Probably near the end of Zephaniah’s ministry (640-621 B.C. ), when King Josiah’s great reform began.

Setting: King Josiah of Judah was attempting to reverse the evil trends set by the two previous kings of Judah- Manasseh and Amon. Josiah was able to extend his influence because there wasn’t a strong superpower dominating at world at that time () Assyria was declining rapidly). Zephaniah’s prophecy may have been the motivating factor in Josiah’s reform. Zephaniah was a contemporary of Jeremiah.

Key Verse: “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility,; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger” (2:3)

Key Place: Jerusalem

MEGA THEMES:

Theme	Explanation	Importance
Day of judgment	Destruction was coming because Judah had forsaken the Lord. The people worshipped Baal, Molech, and the starry hosts. Even the priests mixed pagan practices with faith in God. God’s punishment for sin was on the way.	To escape God’s judgment we must listen to him, accept his correction, trust him, and seek his guidance. If we accept him as our Lord, we can escape his condemnation.
Indifference to God	Although there had been occasional attempts at renewal. Judah had no sorrow for her sins. The people were prosperous, and the no longer cared about God. God’s demand for righteous living seemed irrelevant to Judah, whose security and wealth made her complacent.	Don’t let material comfort be a barrier to your commitment to God. Prosperity can produce an attitude of proud self-sufficiency. The only antidote is to admit that money won’t save us and we cannot save ourselves. Only God can save us and cure our indifference to spiritual matters.
Day to cheer	The day of judgment will also be a day to cheer. God will judge all those who mistreat his people. He will purify his people, purging away all sin and evil. God will restore his people and give them hope.	When people are purged of sin, there is great relief and hope. No matter how difficult our experience now, we can look forward to the day of celebration when God will completely restore us. It will truly be our day of cheer.