Zephaniah 1–3
Zephaniah was the great-grandson of Hezekiah and is the last of what we would call the “pre-exilic prophets.” He prophesied to the southern kingdom of Judah, during the days of Josiah. Some say he may have been instrumental in bringing about the revival at that time, but tragically it was a revival that was short-lived.
Judah would be consumed, God would cut off the Israelites from the face of the land. His people needed to be purified from the Baals and other idols such as Milcom who was an Ammonite god. The people were deceived into thinking they could serve the LORD AND other gods – they were wrong. The people had turned away from following the LORD, from seeking or inquiring of Him. It didn’t matter if they were princes or money-handlers – judgment was looming.
Zephaniah 1:12 (NKJV) “And it shall come to pass at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish the men who are settled in complacency, who say in their heart, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will He do evil.’”
Beware of complacency. Beware of thinking that God is indifferent, that God won’t get involved, that God doesn’t reward or judge – indeed, He does both. The Day of the Lord – the day God would judge…was near.
In Zephaniah 2:3 the prophet invites the people to seek the LORD…perhaps God would show mercy, relent, or at least delay.
But it wasn’t just Judah who was in trouble. We see in Zephaniah 2 that God was also warning the Philistines, the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Ethiopians, and Assyrians. These nations felt secure in their sin…when they shouldn’t have.
Zephaniah 2:15 (NLT) “This is the boisterous city, once so secure. ‘I am the greatest!’ it boasted. ‘No other city can compare with me!’ But now, look how it has become an utter ruin, a haven for wild animals. Everyone passing by will laugh in derision and shake a defiant fist.”
It’s so sad to see the opening indictments against Jerusalem in Zephaniah 3, especially the fact that, “She has not drawn near to her God.” The leaders in prominent places were like roaring lions and wolves. The same was true for priests and prophets who did violence to the law (they didn’t heed it or teach it accurately).
God would judge Jerusalem…but as we’ve seen time and time again, God would show mercy.
There’s always a remnant of Israel, now and in the future. Today God has restored the Hebrew language, something that had been previously lost (Zephaniah 3:9). Eventually the day will come when Israel will be completely restored – in the Millennial Kingdom, King Jesus will rule from Jerusalem. Notice how beautifully it’s expressed:
Zephaniah 3:14–15 (NKJV) “Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more.”
Can you imagine the day that God SINGS over His people?
Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV) “The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
All this is ultimately fulfilled in the Kingdom age and then forever and ever in heaven.
Zephaniah 3:20 (NLT) “On that day I will gather you together and bring you home again. I will give you a good name, a name of distinction, among all the nations of the earth, as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes. I, the LORD, have spoken!”