The Book of Zephaniah

The name Zephaniah, meaning “the Lord was hidden,” may refer to Zephaniah’s protection by God from the reign of Manasseh, or to his message of God’s protection of those who repent, in the midst of His punishment.

Zephaniah preached the need to seek the Lord, especially with the approaching judgement of Judah — the “day of the Lord.” God had promised to establish a remnant of those who repented.

God’s intervention throughout history was always aimed at punishing the wicked and bringing peace to the righteous.

Historical Context: There were 500 years of prophetic silence before Zephaniah’s time. Were the Israelite’s eager to hear a prophecy?

Zephaniah 1

• Zephaniah was the only one of 16 writing prophets who traced his genealogy back to royalty — the line of King Hezekiah.

• “I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth.” (Zeph 1:2) God was going to bring destruction, similar to Noah’s flood. This judgement was against Judah, the sacrificial victim. The Babylonian’s were instruments of God’s judgement.

• God was specifically targeting certain groups. (Zeph 1:6)

  • Those who bow & swear by the Lord, and also swear by other gods. What are you making a god of, in addition to the Lord? Is it crystals? Is it weed that “makes you more creative”?

  • Those who neither seek the Lord nor inquire about Him. Do you read His word? Do you study the Bible?

• God would also punish the complacent, those who think the Lord won’t do anything, either good or bad.

• The day of the Lord would be a day of wrath. Nothing can save Judah (us) from the Lord’s wrath. The whole Earth would be consumed. The Lord will make a sudden end of ALL on Earth.

Zephaniah 2

• “Gather yourselves” before the day of the Lord’s wrath. Zephaniah called Judah to seek righteousness and humility, and seek the Lord to be spared.

• God was going to destroy the enemies of Judah. Zephaniah’s prophecy called out all nations — they were going to be punished for threatening God’s people. There would be widespread judgement of the surrounding nations.

  • West: Philistines

  • East: Moab & Ammon

  • Southwest: Ethiopia

  • Northeast: Assyria (Nineveh)

• Promise of Restoration: the land would belong to God’s people, His promise of the remnant.

• Moab and Ammon were to become like Sodom and Gomorrah. They would be completely destroyed, because of unrighteousness. Sodom and Gomorrah were examples of wickedness and recipients of God’s wrath. The salt pits represented desolation, barrenness and unfruitfulness.

• Every person will bow before the Lord. (Zeph 2:11)

• Assyria’s capital Nineveh was once a city of revelry and was now in ruins. In 401 BC, the Greek adventurer Xenophon passed through the ruins of Nineveh and found no trace of its existence.

Zephaniah 3

• Jerusalem was a city defiled: the people obeyed no one, accepted no correction and didn’t trust in the Lord or draw near to God.

• “The Lord within her is righteous, does no wrong.” (Zeph 3:5) He proves Himself everyday, yet the people know no shame.

• Surely the Israelites would fear God and accept correction after seeing what God had done to others, so that they could be spared from His wrath. But the Israelites were still so eager to sin. So God decided to pour His wrath on all nations. (Zeph 3:7)

• Zechariah’s prophecy anticipates the New Testament passage in which the Holy Spirit’s outpouring after the ascension of Jesus caused Gentiles of every nation to call the name of the Lord. (Acts 2:1-47) God was going to “purify their lips” so they would no longer speak of pagan gods.

• Zephaniah preached hope in the coming day of the Lord. It would bring the destruction of evil, but also forgiveness, humility and sanctification. God was going to provide salvation, security and peace.

• Again, Zephaniah prophecies about God’s promise of a remnant, one that wouldn’t lie or do wrong.

• Zephaniah prophecies that both the Lord and Jerusalem would rejoice, once the time of punishment was over. In His love, God would no longer rebuke.

• Jerusalem is sometimes referred to as “Zion,” because the original Jerusalem or City of David was built on Mount Zion.

• Zephaniah’s prophecy reiterates Ezra’s prophecy, that the exiles would be gathered and brought home. There would be honor & praise in the place that they suffered. Their fortunes would be restored.