Zephaniah— Judgment is Certain
11.09.22
The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hastes greatly; even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly (1:14).
Zephaniah gives his pedigree more fully than any other prophet. He was a great-great grandson of Judah’s godly King Hezekiah. This would also make him a cousin to Josiah, the young king under whose reign he served (1:1). It is probable that Zephaniah wrote before and gave aid to king Josiah in his reforms of Judah (2 Chronicles 34, 35). Unfortunately, the reforms were short-lived. They represented, as it were, the last flicker of the nation’s candle before it was finally extinguished. It is no wonder that Zephaniah makes no mention of them. He preached to the people that they needed once again to repent or they would face judgment.
His name means ‘guarded or hidden by Jehovah.’ He uses a play on words with his name—“It may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger.” (2:3) During the reign of King Manasseh, he would have been in the minority.
He wrote around 625 BC during the period in which Babylon was a world power. The Babylonian captivity of Judah was imminent— it would begin to take place in 605 and be completed in 586. He was a contemporary of Jeremiah.
The prophet speaks to the people of Judah whose moral and spiritual life had been dulled by the evil influence of the reigns of Manasseh and Amon (3:1-7). His message is both a warning of God’s soon coming judgment from Babylon and of the future Day of the Lord. He also speaks of God’s mercy and blessing for those who repent.
The tone of the book is very somber, full of judgments and denunciations. Zephaniah displays very little tenderness as judgment approaches. However, the sun breaks out in 3:8-20. The prophet tells of a glad day when the Hebrews shall become a praise to all the peoples of the earth.
‘The Day of the LORD’ includes both judgment and blessing. This is mentioned some twenty times in this short book. This ‘Day’ begins with the Tribulation and ends with the Millennium. In our day, it is fast approaching!
In chapter one, the prophet looks within the nation—wrath is coming because of sin. In chapter two he looks around—wrath is also coming upon the surrounding nations. In the third chapter three he looks beyond to see healing for both the Gentiles and God’s covenant people.
The Messiah, Jesus Christ is seen as the Righteous One within the nation of Israel, the King in their midst (3:5, 15).
Is there a parallel between Zephaniah’s day and our own? As he preached, the people’s response was: Jehovah will not do good, neither will He do evil (1:12). They are saying: Jehovah doesn’t matter; He neither blesses or punishes; the world is governed by natural forces.
Don’t we see this same attitude in our day? Evolution, humanism, materialism, secularism and new-age philosophies seem to govern our world with little thought to the powerful and merciful God who sent His Son to die in our place. He longs for people to respond to His love, but is ready to pass justice upon those who refuse His free gift. Will you turn to the Lord today to find mercy, grace, love and forgiveness? Seek the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, who have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger (2:3)