BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH
 

The name Zephaniah means “The Lord Hides” or “The Lord has Hidden.” The name indicates confidence in the power of God to hide His worshipper in time of danger.
Probably of royal descent, Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of good king Josiah between the fall of Ninevah and the Babylonian attack on Judah. Under Josiah administration of the Law and worship of the Lord had been revived briefly, but the people still practiced idolatrous customs in secret. Perception of this hypocrisy stirred the young prophet to action. The king joined the prophet in a reform movement, but the evil tide rolled on. The increase of wickedness and disobedience towards God led to God’s using Nebuchadnezzar as the rod of His anger. When reading the prophets we should always try to understand them in their historical (that time), personal (our lives), and prophetic (future) context.

1. Announcement of doom 1.1-9 The day of the Lord’s wrath
1.1-6 The prophet identifies himself and immediately begins prophesying the wrath of God. The Lord is going to sweep away everything--man and beast, birds of the sky, and fish of the sea. Even mankind will be destroyed from the face of the earth. The Lord is going to stretch out His arm against Judah and Jerusalem because they are worshipping Baal. The people go up to the roofs of their homes and worship the host of heaven and swear by the god Malcham. They have forsaken the Lord for their idols.

The translation suggests a scenario of universal destruction. It can be interpreted this way or as pointing to the total destruction of a particular area--Judah and Jerusalem. In Zephaniah’s day he was prophesying and warning the people that judgment was coming unless they changed their ways. In that day they were sacrificing their children to the fire, worshipping idols, and eating at pagan tables. If we do not walk in His ways God cannot stand it. He first sends warnings, but as the people become more and more depraved, destruction comes.

We can relate these verses easily to the Book of Revelation and the end of the age. Prophetically, Zephaniah is seeing that time. It is a time when the apostasy is so great, and the threat to Israel and the Jews so destructive, that the return of Jesus Christ is imminent. We see the duality of prophecy in this light. We can also see that the Apostle John was well versed in the imagery of the ancient prophets. This is the time of the Tribulation.

1.7-9 The day of the Lord is approaching--be silent. The Lord is preparing a feast and His guests must be purified. The officials and rulers of the nation are going to be punished. Everyone who is lawless, deceitful, and violent will be punished.

The judgment of the Lord is a terrible thing. It indicates a total lack of repentance and sorrow on Judah’s part. God would not take such action if there was repentance--but the people refuse. The imagery of a feast indicates the total destruction that is coming. This destruction will purify the remnant who survive--they will turn back towards God in true sorrow. This is what revival really is--repentance and sorrow for sin--then we are revived.

2. Description of doom 1.10-18

1.10-13 In this day there will be a loud outcry from the wealthy areas of Jerusalem as all trade and finance will come to a halt. The Lord is going to search Jerusalem with lamps and will punish those who say, “The Lord will do nothing, good or bad.” Their wealth is going to be plundered and their homes laid waste. They will be building homes and planting vineyards that they will never enjoy.

We see the imagery of the social and financial fabric of the nation collapsing. The Lord is searching Jerusalem with a lamp--the lamp and light of His word--and finds no righteous people. The people are at ease and mock, saying that the Lord will do nothing. Soon they will realize their grave mistake. All will be destroyed by the Babylonians. Again we see images of Revelation chapters 17 and 18 when Mystery Babylon falls. Duality of prophesy. Again we see the world as in the time of the end.

1.14-18 The great day of the Lord is swiftly approaching. It is a bitter day. A day of the wrath of God, trouble, distress, calamity, desolation, darkness, gloom, and clouds. It is a day of the trumpet and alarm. People will be distressed and stumble like blind men. Because of their sin the people are doomed. Their silver and gold will not be able to save them on the day of wrath. All will be consumed.

The day of wrath finally comes. It is a terrible day. It is the day of the trumpet. This is why it is important to understand the Feasts of the Lord. The day of the trumpet is the fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets--Yom Teruah. This is the final warning prior to the Day of Atonement. This is how it will be at the end of the age. There will be trumpets of warning--then the Day of Atonement or the wrath of God. For those who refuse to repent it will be too late then.

How can God’s people know what time it is and what to do? Understand the Feasts of the Lord and keep them. This is the beginning of wisdom. We again, see the imagery of the Book of Revelation 17, 18, and 19. What is the Lord telling us? He desires we live righteously and obey His commands. We should be developing our personal relationship with the Lord so that we can hear His voice. We need to return to Him and His ways. We need to “hide” in Him.

3. The last chance for repentance 2.1-4 The scope of divine judgment

2.1-4  The nation is shameless and their sin is obvious--they are told to gather together before the fierce anger of the Lord overtakes them. Those who have obeyed God’s law and are meek are told to seek the Lord and they may find a hiding place during the time of wrath. Gaza and Ashdod, enemies of Judah are told they too are going to experience the judgment of God.

This is what the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) represents--the final warning trumpet prior to judgment. Now is the time to repent, now is the time for God’s people to seek shelter under His wings. The time has come. Those who truly walk with the Lord are not destined for wrath, but to salvation. The wrath of God is judgment on sin--persecution is another thing altogether. We can expect persecution, but we are not destined to wrath. Some of those who are truly seeking Him will find a “hiding place in the Lord”.

4. Against the nations and their gods 2.5-15

2.5-15  Now the nations surrounding Judah are given notice of their coming judgment. In these judgments the prophet indicates that Lord will restore His people Judah and they will plunder their enemies. Verse 11 points out how these enemy nations will be humbled by the Lord. Babylon thought in their hearts that they alone were great, but God tells them she is going to be wasted.

Today we see Israel surrounded by her ancient enemies just as in the day of Zephaniah. In that day the Lord eventually returned the Jews to their land and their enemies were no more--Babylon was destroyed. Verse 11 points out that the Lord does not want to destroy nation after nation, but that the purpose is to have these nations recognize His sovereignty and bow down to Him. Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord. At the end of the age this will be reality as all Israel is saved and the millennial reign of Christ is ushered in.

5. Against the overbearing city 3.1-13 Jerusalem’s sin and redemption

3.1-5  The city of Jerusalem is filthy and polluted. She has been disobedient and has not learned her lesson. She has not received correction and has not trusted in the Lord. The leaders are like preying wolves, the judges are corrupt, the prophets are reckless and faithless, and the priests profane the holy. The Lord, however, is in the midst of all this unrighteousness--He does no wrong and issues faithful judgment every day. All His judgments are righteous.

The nation is beyond hope--lawlessness reigns. It is a picture of a corrupt and lawless society. Warnings were given and no heed paid. The Lord is still in the midst of the nation--He is righteous and just--but that is exactly why He must bring His judgment. God requires righteousness of the nation and cannot tolerate their sin their any longer.

3.6-7 The wrong doers know no shame. The Lord has destroyed other nations and His people did not get the point. They continued to sin and practice corruption. They did not learn their lesson.

3.8-13 The Lord exhorts His people to wait for Him. He is going to bring the nations together and pour out His indignation upon them. Wickedness will be consumed. In that day Judah will no longer be ashamed for all their sins--the proud and haughty will no longer be among them. They will be humble and find refuge in the Lord. The remnant of Israel will do no wrong and speak no falsehood--they will lie down and rest in the Lord.

We always talk about “the remnant” without understanding what the remnant is. The remnant is what is left over. The remnant are those who have been chastised and tried like gold. They are purified in the heat of tribulations. They are the ones that will shine--but first they have to be sifted like wheat. That is who the remnant are. They have been tried and are walking with the Lord.

6. Joy to Jerusalem 3.14-20 - Ultimate supremacy of Israel

3.14-15 Shout for joy fair Zion! Rejoice fair Jerusalem with all your heart! The Lord has annulled the judgment against you and has swept away your enemies. The Lord is in the midst of thee, you shall not see evil anymore.

Those who are left have learned their lesson. They have returned to the Lord. There is joy and comfort now. In our lives the Lord will chastise us in specific areas and change us from glory to glory--if we allow Him. Being changed from glory to glory is not always glorious--it can be painful--we are dying to self. The remnant are those who have yielded to the Lord and allowed Him to change them from glory to glory. There is ultimately great joy in this as we understand what is happening to us.

3.16-20 In that day it shall be said to Zion, “Have not fear, let not your hands be slack.” The Lord is in your midst, He will save, rest in His love, and joy over you with singing. He will remove those who have afflicted and reproached you. He will gather those who are sorrowful for a solemn assembly. He will gather and make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, turning back your captivity.”

This is the day of restoration. This is the millennial kingdom time. The Lord brings salvation--it is not by power nor by might, but by His spirit--the arm of the Lord brings salvation. It will be a new world order--God’s order. Verse 18 in the Hebrew is difficult to translate, but it indicates that the people were deprived of the festivals. What festivals? The Feasts of the Lord (Lev 23.1) are the feasts that will be celebrated in the millennium. Many today do not understand the meaning and prophetic fulfillment of these feasts. It is time to understand.

This is Israel’s hope--the return of Messiah Yeshua. This will be the time when their enemies are finally destroyed and the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. We see many prophetic images in these passages. We have an inheritance in God beyond our finite understanding.

Next: Book of Lamentations