Next up in the Blue Letter Bible chronological reading list is Zephaniah.
Zephaniah includes three chapters. Here are the introductory notes:
- The author is Zephaniah.
- The date is around 625 B.C.
- Zephaniah is of noble birth.
- His name means "the Lord hides."
- He was part of preparing Judah for revival in relation to the rule of good King Josiah.
- The theme is judgement, current and end times
Chapter 1
We learn about Zephaniah's lineage in verse one and his great-great grandfather was good King Hezekiah. That's some good blood. That actually brings me comfort, knowing how bad Hezekiah and Josiah's immediate children turned out, to know that God's word doesn't return void and those good seeds bore fruit down the generations.
Verses 2-4 tell us there will be a time when He removes all things from the earth, but for now, that's what's going to happen to Judah and Jerusalem. He specifies that all remnants of Baal and his priests will be cut off. He goes on to list those who worship the heavens and those who worship Him mixed with worship to other gods, specifically Molech and the human sacrifices. Plus those who turned from Him and those who never sought Him.
Be silent before the Lord God!
For the day of the Lord is near;
the Lord has prepared a sacrifice
and consecrated his guests. Zephaniah 1:7, ESV, biblegateway.com
Some verses speak for themselves.
When God tells you to shut up, with an exclamation point, and then begins to tell you about a sacrifice HE has planned...things are dire.
The day of the Lord will be near, with the Babylonians on their way (via the Egyptians), but also coming in the end times for all of early creation.
He goes on to describe His punishment for the princes and those who align themselves with foreigners instead of trusting in the Lord for their deliverance. The Ryrie Study Bible footnote specifies that the reference to foreign garments showed apostasy because the blue ribbon in the Jews' clothing had religious significance from Numbers 15:38-39.
The description of the end of Jerusalem continues through verse 13, with and interesting note in verse 12:
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps,
and I will punish the men
who are complacent,
those who say in their hearts,
‘The Lord will not do good,
nor will he do ill.’ Zephaniah 1:12, ESV, emphasis mine
It's not enough to believe in God. You can believe in the one true and holy God and He still has punishment set for you. He has revealed Himself to all men in one way or another and expects a response. Those who want to set the issue aside with a complacent nod is utterly disrespectful.
Imagine pouring out your very best gifts to someone who cannot bother to stop what they are doing long enough to recognize the Giver; to pursue understanding the Giver. But instead to plod along accepting the gifts while muttering that the Giver is some impersonal watchmaker who created the timepiece and then disappeared. Pretty insulting.
I only mention this because it sounds like a safe compromise to acknowledge that there is a God without pursuing a relationship with Him. It's not safe. Lukewarm is an affront to Him, as He mentions in Revelations.
Ok, back to the text. Starting in verse 14 He details the nearly coming day of the Lord with words and phrases such as:
- bitter
- wrath
- trouble
- distress
- destruction
- desolation
- darkness clouds
- battle
Not much I can add to the imagery to warn of the near and coming day of the Lord.
Verse 17 and 18 He reminds us that this is a consequence because men sinned against the Lord. It's going to be bloody, disgusting, and there is no one to buy themselves out of what's coming.
The end of the earth is coming.
Chapter 2
In verses 1-2, it's now a foregone conclusion that the day of the Lord is coming. There's no more threat that they'll cause it; just what they choose to do now that's it's on its way. And coming fast, days passing like the chaff in the wind.
Now that the sentence has been given and the day of the lord is coming, there's only one remaining option for them--seek the Lord in humility. Which is all that He asked for before the finality of this situation; but now the only benefit being offered is possibly being hidden when God's anger hits.
Remember, Zephaniah means "the Lord hides," so Zephaniah knows the value of that gift.
My Ryrie Study Bible titles verse 4-15 as "Judgement on the Gentile Nations."
- Verses 4-7 refer to "Philistia" to the west. Gaza will be abandoned; Ashkelon a desolation; Ekron uprooted. People from the seacoast, Chereth, Canaan all have prophesies of destruction. Just being in the vicinity of God's people had blessed them. And now that was going. Verse 7 specifies that the remnant to return to Judah will pasture on the coast; and Ashkelon will be restored; because God is always a God of hope and we know a remnant is coming back; but not everyone will recover.
- Verses 8-11 refers to Moab and Ammon to the east. God speaks dire words for these two peoples. They were arrogant and taunting of God's people, so He will make them like Sodom and Gomorrah. And, again with hope for Judah, the remnant will plunder them and inherit what they have.
- The MacArthur Bible Commentary points out that this eastern region is populated with the incestuous descendants Lot and his daughters, so the reference to Sodom and Gomorrah has significance to Lot as well.
- Verse 12 is for Ethiopia to the south. They, also, will be slain by His sword. Just a reminder that it doesn't matter which empire is in power, God is sovereign and His will will be done.
- And finally, verses 13-15 are for Assyria to the north. As we learned in great detail in the recent book of Nahum:
And he will stretch out his hand against the north
and destroy Assyria,
and he will make Nineveh a desolation,
a dry waste like the desert. Zephaniah 2:13, ESV
- Verse 14 go on to describe life after the Assyrian are wiped out.
- Beasts roam freely because there is no human life left to herd them.
- Birds and small animals will make the ruins their home.
- He will destroy the ruins down to bare wood.
- Verse 15 reminds us why, because of their arrogance and pride. Similar to other prophesies about Nineveh from other prophets, the lord promises that everyone who passes by will "hiss and wave their hands in contempt."
Chapter 3
Having completed His judgement prophesy on all of the Gentiles around Judah, Chapter begins with judgement for Jerusalem.
It's not going well in Jerusalem. We know this from subtle word choice by the prophet:
- Woe (always a favorite)
- rebellious
- defiled
- tyrannical
- doesn't listen
- can't teach her anything
- doesn't trust in the lord
- doesn't draw ear to the Lord
As if this list wasn't bad enough, my Ryrie Study Bible suggests that you can several key passages in Jeremiah to see "just how defiled Jerusalem was." Jeremiah is the next book I'll be reading, so we have that to look forward to.
The indictment against Jerusalem goes on, but as I was reading the issues in the first two verses, I couldn't help but notice that could absolutely be describing me. I think I'm a little lighter on tyrannical; but the rest could be my profile description on a social media site. I'm not bragging or being self-effacing, I genuinely recognized my wretched self apart from Jesus and the work He did to restore me to my Heavenly Father.
- rebellious- yep, at my very core. Sneaky rebellious; but rebellious none-the-less.
- defiled- sadly, yes
- doesn't listen; can't teach her- yep and yep-Tim McGraw has a song titled, "Can't tell me nuthin'" and it fits me perfectly.
- doesn't trust the Lord; or draw near to Him- again, sadly, I have had years in which my Bible collected dust and my heart was selfish and worldly.
It's so easy to read about these idolatrous, perverted, hard-hearted people; but they were just people. We live in such a vile, sinful age...And it didn't take a bad king to lead us there. We went willingly.
All we can do is what Zephaniah told them that they could do. Get humble and seek God. He is faithful and good and meets wherever we are. He doesn't always undo all of the consequences; but that's not what He promises.
Ok, back to the text.
Verses 3-4 continue with the indictment and it sounds very familiar to the message they were getting from the other prophets we've reviewed so far:
- princes are roaring lions
- judges are wolves
- her prophets are treacherous and reckless
- priests are profane and have done violence to the law (that's a really interesting phrase.)
All of these thing point to the same pattern- selfish men who use the station granted to them by God for self-gain and those who should have been leading, both civilly and religiously, have chosen the profane over the mission God gave them.
- Conversely, the Lord has been sharing truth and justice with them every morning; but they know no shame. I'm sure this refers to the prophets He sent, who share the Lord's message every day to those who disregard or even try to silence them.
- In verse 6 He reminds them that there are cities in ruins, with defenses remaining, laid waste with no inhabitants. (This could be any one of many civilizations, but I suspect He is referring to their sister cities in the northern kingdom of Israel.)
- In verse 7 He assures them that they will come around to revere Him and will learn to take instruction; because that's the only way to prevent her from being terminally cut off from the long term promises God has made about her.
That last verse rings true for me in regards to my early correlation to Jerusalem's sins. He has lovingly, but firmly, brought me around to revere Him in word and deed and to take instruction from Him. And you know what? It's better this way. In all things life has been better since we've drawn near to Him 10 years ago.
Verse 8 summarizes all of the judgements, gentile and Jew, and assures them that the day is coming.
But God.
Our God is a God of hope. And despite the lengthy description of the judgement coming; He always has a bigger plan for blessing the remnant.
First, in verses 9-10, He promises to give all people, including all Gentiles, purified lips that will call on the Lord.
Then in verse 11-20 He catalogues the coming blessings for His people, the Jews.
- He will take away their shame (Hallelujah)
- He will remove those who were proud and haughty.
- The remnant will be humble and lowly, so they will take refuge in the Lord.
- This remnant will do no wrong, tell not lies, and not be fearful.
Now Israel (and Judah) are commanded to shout for joy, rejoice in triumph because the Lord has taken away his judgement, cleared our enemies, and our king, THE rightful KING OF ISRAEL is in our midst.
Heaven is now.
No more fear.
Victorious.
Love and shouts of joy FROM THE LORD.
The exiles come home and can honor the Lord with their feasts.
19 Behold, at that time I will deal
with all your oppressors.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
20 At that time I will bring you in,
at the time when I gather you together;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes,” says the Lord. Zephaniah 19-20, ESV
So many promises. So much blessing. Come, Lord Jesus, Come.
Enjoy basking in the sun of the coming glory; because next we start Jeremiah, the weeping prophet.