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CHAPTER 36 – Zephaniah: Approx. 630 B.C.-Eden Restored

Zephaniah is the thirty-sixth book of the Bible. The title of the book in the Hebrew Bible is Sephanyah probably meaning “Yahweh has hidden” or “Yahweh has treasured.” The English title comes from the Septuagint which has the title Sophonias, “Zephaniah.”

Authorship

The prophet Zephaniah is the author of the book of Zephaniah. It was probably written no later than 630 B.C.

Summary

The book covers the period from approximately 630 B.C. to the future time when the entire earth is restored to the beauty of the garden of Eden. Zephaniah, a descendant of king Hezekiah of Judah, prophesied during the reign of king Josiah of Judah, whose reign started from 640 B.C. and ended in 609 B.C.

Zephaniah states that God will utterly destroy all things from off the land, both man and beast. God will put to death those in Judah and Jerusalem who worship idols, and punish those filled with violence and deceit. Moreover, God will punish those who say in their heart that the Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil.

Zephaniah then says that the great day of the Lord God is near and hastening greatly. He summons all the meek of the earth to repent and seek righteousness, seek meekness, so that they may be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger.

Next, Zephaniah pronounces God’s judgments upon the surrounding nations of the Philistines, Moab, Ethiopia, and Assyria. For, these nations in their pride, have magnified themselves against God’s people. Zephaniah then pronounces a woe upon the princes, judges, prophets, and priests, for not obeying God’s voice nor receiving God’s correction.

Next, God asks His people to wait upon Him until He pours out His indignation upon these nations. Then God says He will give the people a pure language that they may all call upon God and serve God with one consent. Next, God says that the remnant of Israel will not do wickedness nor speak lies.

God then asks His people to sing, be glad and rejoice, because God has cast out their enemy and they shall not see evil anymore. In that day, God will save His people and God will rejoice over them with joy and with singing.

God then says that He will make a name for His people and make them a praise among all people of the earth when He ends their captivity.

Themes

• God’s judgments upon the wicked.
• A call to repentance.
• God’s work in creating a godly remnant of His people.
• Singing and rejoicing by God over His people.
• God’s people will have a name and will be a praise in all the earth.

God as Revealed in the Book

• God who reveals His coming judgments upon the wicked.
• God calls people to repentance.
• God whose grace (His unmerited favour) works a transformation in people from sinfulness to holiness.
• God rejoices over the godly with joy and with singing.
• God who is able to cause His people to have a name and be a praise in all the earth.

Connections with the Rest of the Bible

Zephaniah was probably a contemporary of the prophet Habakkuk. Now God says, “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7. Thus, God revealed the future to His prophet Zephaniah.

God says to Judah, “Your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD [God], and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me [God], and have not kept my law [of love].” Jeremiah 16:11.

“And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto [obey] me [God]: Therefore will I [God] cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew [show] you favour.” Jeremiah 16:12, 13.

And God said of the surrounding nations, “With your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard them.” Ezekiel 35:13.

“Behold, the day of the LORD [God] cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.” Isaiah 13:9. “And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” Isaiah 13:11.

“God…now commandeth all men every where to repent.” Acts 17:30. “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground [your land that has not been ploughed and thus prepared for the sowing of seeds]: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12. For “as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace [God’s unmerited favour] reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:21.

“Wait on the LORD [God]: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD [God].” Psalm 27:14. “Wait on the LORD [God], and he shall save thee [from eternal death (annihilation)].” Proverbs 20:22. Say to God wholeheartedly, “Unto thee, O my [moral] strength, will I sing: for God is my defence [against my enemies], and the God of my mercy.” Psalm 59:17.

Say to God with a sincere heart, “Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give [moral] strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.” 1 Chronicles 29:12, 13.

For God says, “My son [and daughter], if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yea, my reins [my heart] shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.” Proverbs 23:15, 16.

Spiritual Applications

Pray to God sincerely and ask God to help you to do His will, believing that God will help you, and thus you will be enabled to make the spiritual applications noted below:

• Repent of your sins and seek God and His righteousness.
• Do not receive God’s grace whereby you are transformed from sinfulness to holiness in vain.
• Be godly and God will exalt you to be with Him in heaven forever.
• Sing and rejoice at God’s deliverance from your enemies.

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