From time to time during Judah’s chaotic political and religious history, reform swept the nation. Zephaniah’s forceful prophecy may have been a factor in the reform that occurred during Josiah’s reign—a “revival” that produced outward change but did not fully remove the heart of corruption that had come to characterize the nation.
Zephaniah repeatedly hammers home his message that “the day of the LORD”—Judgment Day—is coming like a flood, when God will deal decisively with the malignancy of sin. Israel and her Gentile neighbors will shortly experience the crushing hand of God’s wrath. After the divine chastening process has run its course, however, blessing will come once more, this time in the person of the Messiah, a cause for great praise and singing.
Tsephan-yah means “Yahweh hides” or “Yahweh has hidden.” Evidently Zephaniah was born during the latter part of the reign of the evil King Manasseh; his name may indicate that he was “hidden” from Manasseh’s atrocities. He appears to have been a man of great social standing and may even have been related to the royal family. In any case, he demonstrates a great awareness of court life as well as knowledge of the political situation of the time.
Theme: Zephaniah memorably illustrates the “goodness and severity” of almighty God as described in Romans 11:22. The Lord will never wink at sin, but neither will He ever totally abandon His covenant people.
Author: The prophet Zephaniah, the son of Berekiah.
Time: This prophecy was given just two months after Haggai’s prophecy and fifty years after the prophecy of Nahum. Zephaniah began his ministry as a prophet in the early days of the reign of King Josiah (640–609 B.C.).
Structure: The first two chapters of Zephaniah paint a grim picture of God’s judgment—on the nations of the world and on Judah herself—but the final chapter focuses on the need for salvation and God’s promises of restoration and salvation for His people.
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As you read Zephaniah, watch for several life principles that play an important role in this book: 6. You reap what you sow, more than you sow, and later than you sow. See Zephaniah 1:17. 15. Brokenness is God’s requirement for maximum usefulness. See Zephaniah 3:12. |