Study 0 From the Book of
Zephaniah is: The Introduction of the book Zephaniah
Zephaniah prophesied in the reign of Josiah, and probably in the
early years of that reign, before Josiah began his religious reforms. For when
Zephaniah delivered his message, idolatrous, customs, which Josiah abolished,
were still openly practised (cf., e. g. 1: 4, 5 with 2 Ki. 23: 4, 5). Zephaniah
was therefore a contemporary of Jeremiah and possibly began his ministry somewhat
earlier. If the Hezekiah from whom his descent is trace (1:1) was, as many
think probable, the king of that name, then Zephaniah was related to the royal
house.
The theme of his prophecy is the day of the Lord, which was
about to break. It is pictured as a day
of terrible judgment, under the imagery of war and invasion, in which Judah and
Jerusalem would be thoroughly purged of those who practiced wickedness. But, the judgement would embrace all nations;
it was to be a day of universal judgement.
When the judgment was completed there would be a remnant of
Israel, a lowly but upright people who, trusting in the Lord would rejoice in
His favour. Zephaniah foresaw also that other nations, would ‘call on the name
of the Lord and serve him with one accord’ (3:9). His message is marked by
breadth of view and profound insight, and charged with an ardent vehemence of
moral passion.
Zephaniah’s word received a striking fulfillment in the fall of
Nineveh, and a quarter of a century later in the fall of Jerusalem. But, the fulfillment is not yet complete. The
final day of God’s judgment has yet to come.
