Zephaniah

Date:

Zephaniah clearly states that its prophecy was given during the reign of Josiah. This places the date of this prophecy between 638-608 B.C.

However, based off of the age of Josiah and Hezekiah, the timing of the purging of Jerusalem, and the rebuilding of the temple, place the prophecy likely between 630-626 B.C.

Characteristics:

Surprisingly, Zephaniah ignores the reformation taking place during his time.

Zephaniah was scathing of the courts. This came from his intimate familiarity with the system because he himself was a prince.

The reformation, though valid, only represented the heart of the king, but did not reflect a change of heart of the people. Thus, Zephaniah prophesied against the people because of their wicked hearts.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary Title

The name “Zephaniah,” which is also borne by three other men in the Old Testament, means “Yahweh hides,” “Yahweh has hidden,” or “Yahweh treasured.” This may point to God’s protection of His people during the impending difficulties in Zephaniah’s day, or to God’s protection of Zephaniah in his childhood during Manasseh’s wicked reign (

The Bible Knowledge Commentary Author

As the great-great-grandson of Hezekiah, king of Judah, Zephaniah was the only known Old Testament prophet with such high social standing.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary Setting

So Josiah was encouraged to remove Assyrian religious practices from Judah. As a result Judah prospered politically. The collapse of the Assyrian Empire was delayed as the Egyptians under Psamtik I (664–609) allied with them, but a coalition of Medes and Babylonians destroyed Assyria’s capital city, Nineveh, in 612.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary Theme

Theme. “The day of the LORD” is an expression used more frequently in this prophecy than in any other Old Testament book. Thus the theme of the book is the impending judgment of God on Judah for its disobedience. A corollary of the judgment motif within Zephaniah and the other prophets is the preservation of the true remnant by the mercies of the covenant-keeping God. Though judgment was sure, God’s promise to protect His people and fulfill His promises was steadfast and everlasting. The book’s theme is capsuled in

Message:

One primary part of Zephaniah is found in Zeph 1.14

Zephaniah 1:14 NKJV

14 The great day of the Lord is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out.

The phrase at question is the Day of the Lord. This phrase has brought about no small debate. While the day of the Lord is a common theme throughout Scripture.

Some take the statements in Zephaniah to refer to only the immediate time near Zephaniah and the judgment brought by the Babylonians, while others will argue that it is prophetic towards end time. While I will not die on either hill I do believe that their is some significance in both views.

There was an obvious message to the generation of that day, yet we also see the Day of the Lord and the armies mentioned also play a role in end-time prophecy.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 NKJV

2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

The message of Zephaniah was a call to the children of God, to repent and turn to Him. Verses 4-6 show 4 groups that were the focus of this message.

Zephaniah 1:4–6 NKJV

4 “I will stretch out My hand against Judah, And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, The names of the idolatrous priests with the pagan priests— 5 Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; Those who worship and swear oaths by the Lord, But who also swear by Milcom; 6 Those who have turned back from following the Lord, And have not sought the Lord, nor inquired of Him.”

Those who practiced open idolatry.

Those who worshiped God and idols.

The backsliding

Those never converted.

There is a call to the remnant in chapter 2.

Zephaniah 2:1–2 NKJV

1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, 2 Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you!

There is always a remnant of those who desire to please God above all else. These are the individuals to whom God sends a prophet.

“ Quality is more important than quantity. A home run is better than two doubles.” Steve Jobs

Chapter three dels with Jerusalem particularly, but especially the leadership.

Vs. 4 directly calls out Gaza and speaks of her desolation.

Zephaniah 2:4 NKJV

4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, And Ashkelon desolate; They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, And Ekron shall be uprooted.

Zephaniah 3:3–4 NKJV

3 Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; Her judges are evening wolves That leave not a bone till morning. 4 Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, They have done violence to the law.

The issue was the spiritual leadership had failed to proclaim truth to the children of God.

The greatest issue facing our nation and our community is that pastors have failed to take a stand for truth and the leadership of the Lord.

Here, the prophecy against Jerusalem is the result of weak leadership in the house of the Lord.

Application:

Ultimately, Zephaniah is a picture of the love of God. Now, if you are familiar with this book, you may think that I am crazy for making such a bold claim. This statement seems to fly in the face of the passage. Yet, if you study the book you will see that God is angry with sin. But, the purpose of his anger is not destruction, but rather because sin is already destroying and He desires to save the sinner from their sins.

Secondly we see the call for Israel to wait on the deliverance of the Lord.

Zephaniah 3:8–9 NKJV

8 “Therefore wait for Me,” says the Lord, “Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All My fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy. 9 “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him with one accord.