Zephaniah

Zephaniah was the great grandson of King Hezekiah, one of the few good kings of Judah and a reformer of the nation to true worship of God. Unfortunately, after the corrupt and idolatrous influence of the next two kings, Manasseh and Ammon, Judah had sunk to a new spiritual and moral low.

Despite Josiah's best effort to restore the nation—his untimely death at the hands of Pharaoh Neco in the battle of Megiddo proved to be the final nail on Judah's coffin. Under such ailing spiritual circumstances, with contamination in worship and corruption in leadership, and the people adopting a lukewarm and nonchalant attitude towards God, Zephaniah set forth to proclaim the swift arrival of the day of the LORD, urging the people to repent and return back to God.

Zephaniah's message, however, was not meant for Judah alone; it was also directed to the surrounding nations who were just as guilty in blaspheming God, being boastful of their abilities, and constantly battering God's people on all sides. Ultimately the day of the LORD will descend upon all people and nation, to bring an end to sin and unrighteousness.

But like the other prophets, Zephaniah ends his message with a promise of salvation. The day of the LORD is not all gloom and doom; rather, it serves to cleanse away the filth of mankind's sin and establish Messiah's kingdom and rule. Indeed, for the meek and poor in spirit, it is a day of joy and comfort; but for the unrepentant, it is a day of grave reckoning.

OUTLINE OF ZEPHANIAH

1. Day of Wrath—Judgment (1:1-3:8)

a. The Whole Earth (1:1-3)

b. Judah the Nation (1:4-2:3)

Reasons | Repercussions | Repentance

c. Surrounding Nations (2:4-15)

Philistia—West | Moab and Ammon—East

Ethiopia—South | Assyria—North

d. Jerusalem the City (3:1-7)

Her Injustice | God's Justice

e. The Whole Earth (3:8)

2. Day of Joy—Salvation (3:9-20)

a. Joy of Conversion (3:9-13)

Cleansing of Filth and Pride

b. Joy of Restoration (3:14-20)

Celebration of Favor and Peace