03.36. Zephaniah

Walking Thru The Bible

ZEPHANIAH

Author:

    Zephaniah lived on the eve of Judah’s fall to Babylon and takes up the theme of the Day of the Lord. He prophesied during the reign of King Josiah (640-609 BC).

Background:

In King Josiah’s early days idolatry and all kinds of evil were rampant in the land. He became king at age 8 and at age 16 he began to seek the Lord and at 20 he purged the land of idols. While the temple was being repaired the long-forsaken "book of the Law" was found. In response to its teaching King Josiah began an extensive series of religious and social reforms. (cf. 2 Kings 22:1-20; 2 Kings 23:1-37) Zephaniah evidently prophesied just prior to these great reforms and likely helped to produce them. If the Hezekiah of Zephaniah 1:1 is the good king of Judah, then Zephaniah was of royal blood himself and a cousin to King Josiah. (Jeremiah also came onto the scene about the time of these reforms.) His Message:

Zephaniah speaks to an idolatrous Judah, whose religion and morality were at a terribly low point. He denounces the sins of his fellow countrymen in direct and unsparing language. His strong convictions and fervent zeal are evident in each line of the book. The these of the book is that the Day of the Lord is at hand for Judah (Zephaniah 1:7-18). The immediate event in view was Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion of the land in 606 BC.

Outline of Zephaniah:     

1:    Zephaniah 1:1-3 Zephaniah announces a judgment in the                     coming Day of the Lord.

Zephaniah 1:4-13 In particular it would come on Judah and Jerusalem. Zephaniah 1:14-18 It was a day which was very near.

2:Zephaniah 2:1-3 He pleaded for men to seek deliverance from the Lord Zephaniah 2:4-15 No nation would be able to escape the Day of the Lord.

3:    Zephaniah 3:1-8 If the heathen were to be punished, Judah should expect her share of the same.

Zephaniah 3:9-10 A remnant would be gathered from among the nations and they would return from captivity and be exalted before the world. Zephaniah 3:11-20 This is a prophetic glimpse of the restoration under Zerubbabel and Ezra