Zephaniah

Zephaniah speaks about the day of the LORD. Currently, we still live in the day of man, the period in which man can (seemingly) arrange everything as he sees fit. The time is near when the Lord Jesus takes control. When He returns, He will first judge all iniquity. When that has happened, the way is free to bless. That blessing will go to His people and to the nations that have converted to God. God will rejoice over them and will be quiet in His love (Zep 3:17). Zephaniah’s style of writing is characterized by rapid alternation of threats and promises.

The core of Zephaniah’s message is the “day of the LORD”. He uses that expression more often than any other prophet. That day is “near” (Zep 1:7,14); it is “a day of
wrath …
… trouble and distress,
… destruction and desolation,
… darkness and gloom,
… clouds and thick darkness,
… trumpet and battle cry” (Zep 1:15-16a).

The day of the LORD is a day of doom for the wicked The prophet declares that this so because they have “sinned against the LORD” (Zep 1:17). He also speaks of a promise of being “hidden”, that is, there is protection for those who seek the LORD (Zep 2:3).

Division of the book

I. Introduction (Zephaniah 1:1)
II. Day of Judgment (Zephaniah 1:2-3:8)
A. Against Judah (Zephaniah 1:2-2:3)
1. General warning (Zephaniah 1:2-3)
2. Judgment for Judah (Zephaniah 1:4-13)
3. Description of that day (Zephaniah 1:14-2:3)
B. Against the nations (Zephaniah 2:4-15)
1. Philistines (Zephaniah 2:4-7)
2. Moab and Ammon (Zephaniah 2:8-11)
3. Cush (Zephaniah 2:12)
4. Assyria (Zephaniah 2:13-15)
C. Against Jerusalem (Zephaniah 3:1-8)
III. Day of Joy (Zephaniah 3:9-20)
A. Return of a scattered people (Zephaniah 3:9-10)
B. Restoration of a sinful people (Zephaniah 3:11-13)
C. Joy of a saved people (Zephaniah 3:14-20)