Zephaniah 1
Warning of Coming Destruction (1:1–3)
1 Zephaniah, a great-great-grandson of King Hezekiah, prophesied in Judah during the reign of Josiah1 (see Zephaniah: Introduction). He received the word of the LORD concerning God’s coming judgment on the world in general (verses 2–3,14–18) and on Judah in particular (verses 4–13).
2–3 The Lord first announces (through Zephaniah) a general and sweeping judgment on the whole world, which will take place at the end of history. This will take place because people are wicked; the wicked will be cut off—utterly destroyed (verse 3). This final judgment will be somewhat like the first sweeping judgment that God brought on earth (Genesis 6:7), except that the final judgment will be by fire, not by water (verse 18).
Against Judah (1:4–13)
4–6 The Lord now focuses on Judah, His own people. He announces His judgment on them because they have turned back from following Him (verse 6); instead, they have worshiped Baal and Molech and the stars (see Leviticus 18:2; Judges 2:11–13)—even while taking oaths in the Lord’s name (verses 4–5). This judgment came upon Judah about thirty years after Zephaniah spoke these words, when the Babylonians conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem (see 2 Kings 25:1–11).
Notice that when Zephaniah prophesies about Judah, he refers to events that actually occurred within a few decades; but when he prophesies about the judgment on the world, he is speaking of something that still has not occurred. Today we know that the judgment on Judah took place in 586 B.C., and that the judgment on the world is still ahead of us; but to Zephaniah, all these events were simply “in the future.” This is why his PROPHECY (in common with other Old Testament prophecies) does not make a clear distinction between events coming in the near future and events that will take place only in the distant future.2
7–9 Here Zephaniah introduces the term, the day of the LORD (verse 7). This is any day in which God intervenes in human history, whether to judge or to save.3 In this section, the “day of the Lord” means judgment—judgment on Judah. The Lord says He has prepared a sacrifice (the people of Judah) and that He has consecrated as “priests” those he has invited to offer the sacrifices—namely, the Babylonians!4 (verse 7). Through the Babylonians, the Lord will punish members of the royal family who have failed to set an example of godliness, and also those in foreign clothes (verse 8)—that is, those who have followed foreign customs and foreign gods. Finally, God will punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold5—that is, those who worship in the temples of false gods (verse 9).
10–13 In these verses the Lord gives a further description of what will happen in various parts of Jerusalem (verses 10–11). The Lord will especially seek out the complacent (verse 12), those who think God is inactive or indifferent and thus will do nothing about their SIN (see 2 Peter 3:3–7). Such people will not get to enjoy the fruit of their labors (verse 13), just as MOSES had warned (Deuteronomy 28:30–33).
Imagine how the people of Judah must have felt upon hearing Zephaniah’s words! They were God’s chosen people; they expected to be blessed, not judged. But they had forgotten something that is stressed repeatedly throughout the Old Testament:their relationship with God was based not on their birth but on their obedience, the obedience that comes from FAITH (Romans 1:5). Yes,they were God’s covenant people, but to enjoy the blessings of the COVENANT they had to obey God’s covenant commands (see Exodus 19:5–6 and comment).
The Great Day of the Lord (1:14–18)
14–18 Zephaniah describes the great day of the LORD as being near and coming quickly (verse 14). However, the “day” Zephaniah is referring to here is clearly the final judgment at the end of the world. In one sense, a preliminary judgment did come “quickly” on Judah; but on that “great day” the whole world will be judged—consumed as by fire (verse 18). How can Zephaniah say that that day is coming “quickly” when 2,500 years have passed and still it hasn’t come?
The Apostle Peter gives the answer: With the Lord . . . a thousand years are like a day (2 Peter 3:8–9). We humans don’t experience time the way God does; His “great day” is indeed coming “quickly,” and it will come when we do not expect it—like a thief (2 Peter 3:10). The question is: Will we be ready? (see Mark 13:32–37; 2 Peter 3:11–13).
