Surveying the Text/Zephaniah

Introduction:
As with many of the other minor prophets, what we know about the author of the book is basically contained within the book. This book begins with an unusual genealogy, one which means that Zephaniah is probably the great-grandson of King Hezekiah, which would place him in the tribe of Judah. From the nature of the prophecies, we can place his ministry during the reign of his kinsman, Josiah, and this ministry was probably during the early part of Josiah’s reign. He makes reference to the “remnant of Baal” (Zeph. 1:4), and these were dealt with after the discovery of the law in Josiah’s reign (621 B.C.). Nahum and Jeremiah were more or less contemporaries.

The Text:
“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing” (Zeph. 3:17).

Summary of the Text:

Like the book of Joel, the emphasis here in on the “Day of the Lord” (e.g. compare Zeph. 1:14-18 with Joel 2:1-11). And given what we learned about the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy on the Day of Pentecost, we should locate the final fulfillment of this book in the same way. After Zephaniah introduces himself (1:1), we can break down this short book in this way:

Proclamation of universal judgment (1:2-6);

The Day of YHWH announced (1:7-2:3);

A series of oracles against other nations (2:4-15);

Judgment declared against Jerusalem (3:1-5);

Judgment on the nations announced (3:6-8);

A great change is approaching (3:9-13);

God bursts into song (3:14-20).

For those who want to believe that Jehovah is not the Lord of lords and King of kings, but rather a regional and much beloved tribal chieftain, note how the voice of prophetic authority never lets this happen. The word of Zephaniah comes against Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Cush, Assyria, and of course Judah.

The general theme works like this—hopeless corruption now, certain judgment pending, and God’s deliverance as a certainty after that. We see this in the corruptions of Israel in the Old Testament, the cataclysmic judgments that befall her, culminating in 70 A.D., followed by the times of refreshing ushered in by the Messiah of God. These times of refreshing are when we are privileged to live.

Like Wine on the Lees:

“And it shall come to pass at that time, That I will search Jerusalem with candles, And punish the men that are settled on their lees: That say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil” (Zeph. 1:12).

The Lord has never appreciated tepid or lukewarm men and women. The phrase “on the lees” refers to wine that has been laid down in order to settle, undisturbed. However good that might be for wine, it is not good for your soul. If you find yourself saying, “God will not do anything much, either way,” beware. The Lord is walking through Jerusalem, lamp held high, and He is looking for you.

Hidden in the Lord:

The name Zephaniah means “YHWH has hidden.” Remember that Zephaniah is probably of the seed royal, and may well have been a prince at Josiah’s court. Ungodly rulers often take a dim view of the seed royal (2 Kings 11:1), and so there may be an echo of deliverance in Zephaniah’s name. Whether that be true or not, he rejoices in the fact that God does in fact know how to hide His beloved.

“Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, Which have wrought his judgment; Seek righteousness, seek meekness: It may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger” (Zeph. 2:3).

Even in the day of His wrath, God loves to make distinctions. He took Noah and family into the ark, He got Lot and some of his family out of Sodom, the plagues of Egypt did not fall upon Goshen, and Jesus warned His disciples about when they should flee from Jerusalem. God judges nations—as our nation is currently under judgment—but He is always mindful of His people. Pray that you might be hidden in the day of God’s chastisements. Enjoy life here in Sherwood Forest.

One of the blessings that God offers us is this. Though we are in the midst of it, He will protect us. “A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not come nigh thee” (Ps. 91:7).

With Singing:
Dawn follows the black of midnight. The darkness might be overwhelming and oppressive, but joy comes in the morning. God is a Deliverer who loves deliverance. When He accomplishes it, He sings over it, and over the people He has delivered.

“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing” (Zeph. 3:17).

Note the connection between the removal of fear and joy. In the previous verses, we see the presence of the Lord with us (3:15). God is Immanuel, and this is ours through the Incarnation. God is in our midst. Because of that, He tells us not to fear, and He follows it up with the exhortation to not have our hands be limp (presumably with fear). Why? Because the God who is with us is in our midst, and in our midst He is mighty. His presence is a saving presence, and He rejoices over us. He is content in His love; He rests in His love. He rejoices over us with singing.

Consider the magnitude of our deliverance and salvation. We are delivered—saved, purified, cleansed, put back together, sanctified, justified, made holy, grown up into maturity—to such an extent that God Himself bursts into song at the sight of us.

Is this your view of salvation? Are you preparing to be an everlasting delight to God Himself? Or do you think that at the last minute the lowest ranking scrub angel in the clean-up crew is going to drag you through the Pearly Gates with your shoelaces on fire? What do you think salvation is exactly?

This is something that God really wants us to grasp. Paul prayed this way for the Ephesians, very specifically. He said, “I . . . cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:16–18). So when He sings, you should too.