READ IT! - Introduction to The Book of Zephaniah

Introduction to The Book of Zephaniah 

Background 

The book is estimated to have been written around 640-609 B.C. Zephaniah is introduced as the Son of “Cushi” …which appears to refer to someone of Ethiopian ancestry. However, the book itself traces Zephaniah’s ancestry to King Hezekiah of Judah, so he was a prophet from the Davidic royal family and likely a part of the Jerusalem Aristocracy.

Zephaniah delivered his message during the reign of King Josiah, and his ministry overlapped with the ministry of the prophet Jeremiah. At this time, King Josiah was trying to reverse the evil way started by the previous kings. Zephaniah’s prophecy may have been a motivating factor in Josiah’s desire to change the nation’s ways. 

Message: Doom, Destruction, and Woe 

Judah will see the destruction of all of her foreign gods and all those who worship them. Other nations will also be destroyed for the sins they have committed. Zephaniah seems to indicate that sin will eventually destroy you if you do not turn away from it.

Zephaniah also speaks to the Nature of God and Humanity. God is not without love and compassion. Those who truly repent will be saved. God does not wipe away the righteous with the wicked.

Judah was deeply rooted in sin. The people worshiped Baal and other gods. The people had (for the most part) turned away from God. Zephaniah had to confront the misguided theology of the people who believed there would be no consequences for their sins. 

Three major themes in Zephaniah: 

Day of Judgment
Indifference to God
Day of Cheer 

Chapter 1 

"'I will sweep away everything
from the face of the earth,'
declares the Lord.
'I will sweep away both man and beast;
I will sweep away the birds in the sky
and the fish in the sea—
and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.'" 

“Be silent before the Sovereign Lord,
for the day of the Lord is near.
The Lord has prepared a sacrifice;
he has consecrated those he has invited.” 

“On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice
I will punish the officials
and the king’s sons
and all those clad
in foreign clothes.
On that day I will punish
all who avoid stepping on the threshold,
who fill the temple of their gods
with violence and deceit."

“The great day of the Lord is near—
near and coming quickly.
The cry on the day of the Lord is bitter;
the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry.
That day will be a day of wrath—
a day of distress and anguish,
a day of trouble and ruin,
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness—
a day of trumpet and battle cry
against the fortified cities
and against the corner towers.” 

“I will bring such distress on all people
that they will grope about like those who are blind,
because they have sinned against the Lord.
Their blood will be poured out like dust
and their entrails like dung.” 

"'Neither their silver nor their gold
will be able to save them
on the day of the Lord’s wrath.'
In the fire of his jealousy
the whole earth will be consumed,
for he will make a sudden end
of all who live on the earth." 

Chapter 2 

"'I have heard the insults of Moab
and the taunts of the Ammonites,
who insulted my people
and made threats against their land.
Therefore, as surely as I live,'
declares the Lord Almighty,
the God of Israel,
'surely Moab will become like Sodom,
the Ammonites like Gomorrah—
a place of weeds and salt pits,
a wasteland forever.
The remnant of my people will plunder them;
the survivors of my nation will inherit their land.'" 

"He will stretch out his hand against the north
and destroy Assyria,
leaving Nineveh utterly desolate
and dry as the desert…
This is the city of revelry
that lived in safety.
She said to herself,
I am the one! And there is none besides me.'
What a ruin she has become,
a lair for wild beasts!
All who pass by her scoff
and shake their fists." 

Chapter 3 

"On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame
for all the wrongs you have done to me,
because I will remove from you
your arrogant boasters.
Never again will you be haughty
on my holy hill.
But I will leave within you
the meek and humble.
The remnant of Israel
will trust in the name of the Lord.
They will do no wrong;
they will tell no lies.
A deceitful tongue
will not be found in their mouths.
They will eat and lie down
and no one will make them afraid.” 

"Sing, Daughter Zion;
shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
Daughter 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."