Who Wrote the Book of Zephaniah?
Zephaniah was written by the prophet for whom the book is named. But who is Zephaniah? In the first verse, Zephaniah identifies himself by tracing his lineage back four generations to King Hezekiah. So why stop with Hezekiah? Most likely, the prophet wanted to highlight his royal lineage as a descendant of one of Judah’s good kings. This lineage gives his prophecy a unique strength in that it comes from someone familiar with the inner workings of Jerusalem and likely access to high-ranking officials.
Context and Background of Zephaniah
Zephaniah 1:1 tells us that this book was written during the reign of Josiah. Josiah reigned from 640-609 BC, and this writing is likely towards the beginning of his reign, somewhere around 630-625. The book itself is written as poetry and is a heartfelt plea to repent and seek the Lord; to return to God in the midst of the coming judgment. It is interesting to note that Zephaniah is also writing around the same time as Jeremiah, as Jeremiah’s prophecy places itself in the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign (Jeremiah 1:2) and shares many of the same themes. Zephaniah does not mention the armies of Babylon, but it is Babylon that would eventually be the instrument of God’s judgment prophesied by Zephaniah.
Main Theme and Purpose of Zephaniah
The two major themes are judgment in the Day of the Lord (1:1-3:8), and salvation in the Day of the Lord (3:9-3:20). Although the majority of Zephaniah deals with judgment, there is, as always, a light of hope for those who persevere and trust in God. “Zephaniah wrote that the day of the Lord was near (1:14), that it would be a time of wrath (1:15), that it would come as a judgment on sin (1:17), and that ultimately it would result in the blessing of God’s presence among His people (3:17).”
Judgment in the Day of the Lord
The first words of the Lord spoken through the prophet are “’I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth,’ declares the Lord” (1:2). This forceful and doom-filled proclamation sets the tone for the rest of the book. Zephaniah, as a whole, is unashamedly dark and calls us to immediate action in light of God’s impending wrath. In 2:4-2:15, Zephaniah pronounces God’s coming judgment upon the nations that surround Judah by looking in all four directions: Philistia (west), Moab and Ammon (east), Ethiopia (south), and Assyria (north). Finally, he focuses on Jerusalem, the center of God’s dealings.
Salvation in the Day of the Lord
Zephaniah makes it clear that Judah would indeed fall because they chose to serve idols and turn their hearts away from the Lord, yet the prophecy ends with the bright hope of future restoration and the promise of a remnant. Zephaniah’s prophecy of the wrath to come takes a turn in 3:9, where we learn the fire and judgment is not meant to destroy God’s people completely, but to purify those who remain, “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder”.
What Can We Learn from Zephaniah Today?
“Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath.” – Zephaniah 1:18.
Our Worship Matters
The nation at the time of Zephaniah was falling into chaos and disorder, and this was most evident in their worship. They had built altars to foreign Gods such as Baal, they neglected the teachings of Scripture and generally refused to give God his proper place. How quickly we can fall into the same habits! We must be diligent to seek God in all things, to keep our worship pure, to make decisions based on his word and wisdom, and keep our eyes and hearts from worshipping other things that constantly vie for our attention.
Justice Matters
Zephaniah’s prophecy repeatedly speaks to injustice as a cause for the coming wrath. Here we see God’s heart for justice, and his intentions to bring justice to the nations: “The Lord within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame” (3:5).
Humility Matters
Chapter 2 calls us to “seek the Lord”, “seek righteousness”, and to “seek humility”. It is when we ignore these things, or actively seek the opposite that we find ourselves out of God’s plan and open ourselves up to pain.
Our Favorite Verses from Zephaniah
Zephaniah 3:17 – “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 1:18 – “Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath.” In the fire of his jealousy the whole earth will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth.”
Zephaniah 2:3 – “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.”
Zephaniah 3:5 – “The LORD within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame”
Zephaniah 3:11-12 – “On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. 12 But I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the Lord.”
Zephaniah 3:19 – “At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame.”
Sources
- Insight.org. Book of Zephaniah Overview - Insight for Living Ministries.
- Encyclopedia Britannica. Book of Zephaniah
- The New Open Bible. (1990). Nashville: T. Nelson, p.1025
Photo credit: ©Sparrowstock
Jason Soroski is a homeschool dad and member of the worship team at matthias lot church in St. Charles, MO. He spends his free time hanging out with his family, exploring new places, and writing about the experiences. Connect on Facebook or at JasonSoroski.net.
