INTRODUCTION TO ZEPHANIAH
King Hezekiah was one of Judah’s great and righteous kings. Unfortunately, the next two kings, Manasseh and Amon, with a combined reign of 57 years, did great wickedness in the sight of the Lord. Manasseh, in particular, specialised in evil and tradition says he executed the prophet Isaiah. With his demise there was no prophetic utterances for around 70 years. Judgement was becoming riper by the day.
Amon’s untimely death brought an eight year old Josiah to the throne (640-609 BC). Would he be like his immediate predecessors or harken back to the time of Hezekiah? It was in this period that God raised of Zephaniah to influence Josiah. He outlined the nature of judgement, the Day of the Lord, and the promised restoration of the remnant. Though only three chapters long, Zephaniah teaches us much about the last days.
HEBREW NAME OF ZEPHANIAH
‘Tsephan-yah’ means ‘Yahweh Hides’ or ‘Yahweh Has Hidden’
AUTHOR OF ZEPHANIAH
The great grandson of Hezekiah, of royal seed, familiar with the court, and a Judean aristocrat, Zephaniah lived with great danger. King Manasseh was prepared to sacrifice royalty to the hideous false god Moloch. It could be that Zephaniah was ‘hidden’ during this period, thus experiencing the mercy and preserving power of God.
It is highly possible that Zephaniah was the catalyst for revival in the days of Josiah, who in his 12th year commenced his great work of reform. His works were not enough to stave off ultimate judgement on Judah, which happened by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. Zephaniah warned that judgement would come but would be tempered by the remnant and restoration.
PORTRAIT OF CHRIST IN ZEPHANIAH
(3:17) Mighty in our midst to save and rejoice.
Jesus Christ tied Zephaniah 1:3 to Matthew 13:41 and 1:15 with Matthew 24:29; these are references to the second coming. Though Messiah is not directly mentioned, it should be obvious that He, and He alone, is the one who brings the great judgement and restoration.
THEME OF THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH
Zephaniah, of royal seed, sought to address Jerusalem and Judah after the torrid reigns of Manasseh and Amon. He spoke of judgement as the ‘Day of the Lord,’ which punishes the wicked. For those who repent and are part of the faithful remnant, they will not be judged at all. They will be restored and rewarded.
The most concise description of the Day of the Lord is given in Chapter 1: a day of wrath, trouble, distress, wasteness, desolation, darkness, gloominess, clouds and thick darkness; that’s the bad news. But for the faithful remnant, it will be a time of purifying, worship, righteousness, singing, vindication, fearlessness, God will be in the midst and rejoice over them with joy. Sorrow will be removed and it will be a time of gathering, honour and praise, and restoration.
Josiah and Jeremiah were both influenced by the ministry of Zephaniah.
KEY VERSES OF ZEPHANIAH
1:14-15 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger.
TO BE CONTINUED
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