Zephaniah 1 - 3 (6th August) - Weiling

Theme and Message
The intent of the author was to announce to Judah God’s approaching judgment. His main theme was the coming of the day of the Lord, when God would severely punish the nations. He portrays the stark horror of that ordeal, but also makes it clear that God will yet be merciful towards His people.

God’s judgment would come upon those who worship idols; those who turned back from following the Lord; those who did not seek Him (1: 5, 6); those who commit acts of violence and deceit (1: 9); and those who are “stagnant in spirit” (1: 12).

We need to check if we are growing in our walk with God. If we are not growing and progressing, then we may have become lukewarm or complacent; thinking that we are still okay when we are not. We may feel that God is faraway or indifferent and will not act (“…who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not go good or evil!’”). We may begin to lose the fear of God.

God had sent many people to Judah calling for repentance, but the words fell on deaf words. Judah was ripe for judgment. Zeph 1 – 3: 8 depict the Day of the Lord, His judgment, coming on Judah and the nations. Zephaniah’s advice (2: 3) was for the people to humble themselves and seek God.

Indeed, God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. In Zeph 3: 11-12, God says that He will “… remove… proud, exulting ones, and you will never again be haughty” but that He will leave a remnant that is humble and they will find refuge in the name of the Lord. God will be like a victorious warrior, exulting over His people with joy, rejoicing over them with shouts of joy.