ZEPHANIAH
1:1 – 2:3
Introduction
Zephaniah must have seemed out of touch with the times in which he lived. He announced God’s imminent and catastrophic judgment, but he did so at a time of great revival among the Jews.
He spoke "in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah." Josiah was the last godly king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Josiah was just a child, only eight years old, when he took the throne. The nation was suffering from the corrupt reigns of his predecessors, Manasseh and Amon. But in the eighth year of Josiah’s reign, the king’s heart was turned to the Lord; and in the twelfth year, he instituted a program of moral and religious reforms. Later, in the course of repairing the Temple, the high priest found a copy of the book of the law – long neglected under the reigns of Manasseh and Amon. This led to even greater reform, even revival, in 621
BC.Yet here was Zephaniah declaring the day of the Lord – the impending day of God’s judgment and wrath. How could he be so out of touch with the times?
He wasn’t. The revival under King Josiah was impressive; but immediately after his death, Josiah’s own sons plunged the nation back into idolatry. In just a few short years the Jews would be taken captive by Babylon.
What happened to the revival? Why did it fail? The Lord showed Zephaniah two responses among the Jews to King Josiah’s reforms and the ensuing revival:
Revival that leads only to outward reform will fail. There must be an inward transformation of the heart.
Zephaniah speaks for the times in which we live. There is a lot of positive talk about reform, and even revival, in our great nation. We hear everyday how that the events of nine-eleven "brought out the best in us" as a nation. I think it’s true; but whether it is reformation or transformation remains to be seen – and the consequences are serious.
Bear our own nation in mind as we study Zephaniah. We’ll organize our thoughts around these two points: #1 The Signs That You Are In The Majority Who Have Their Outward Lives Reformed, and #2 The Signs That You Are In The Minority Who Have Their Inward Lives Transformed.
#1 The Signs That You Are In The Majority
Who Have Their Outward Lives Reformed
1:1-18
The first nine Minor Prophets, ending with Zephaniah, all precede the Babylonian invasion and captivity. The final three Minor Prophets – Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi – deal with events after the Jews return from Babylon to Judah.
Zephaniah comes last in biblical order because he summarized all the warnings of the other eight. It’s as if he was saying, "The revival under King Josiah is the last chance to get right with God before it’s too late!" Those who wanted to take his warning seriously would have looked for the signs that their inward lives were transformed.
As he opened the book he addressed those in the majority who, sadly, only had their outward lives reformed.
Zephaniah 1:1 The word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.
It is unusual for a genealogy to go back four generations. Zephaniah wanted you to know he was descended from royalty, from King Hezekiah. People usually give you their credentials for one of two reasons: to impress you, or to impress upon you. Zephaniah is impressing upon you to hear and heed his words. He was not a back-woods, podunk prophet who was out of step with the times. He knew what was going on. The revival would fall short, producing only outward reform among the majority of the Jews.
As we read through chapter one, two prophecies about God’s judgment are being expressed simultaneously:
Some of the phrases we encounter will apply globally to the future Great Tribulation; some will apply locally to the Babylonian invasion and captivity. That’s just good prophetic writing!
What we want to key-in on are the signs that the Jews were outwardly reformed but not inwardly transformed. Zephaniah reviews four areas of Jewish life – Their religious practices, their social customs, their spiritual discernment, and their business activities. In each of these vital areas, the revival failed to make a difference among the majority of the Jews. As we look at these four areas we can review our own lives for signs of either reformation or transformation.
Religious Practices:
Zephaniah 1:2 "I will utterly consume everything from the face of the land," says the LORD;
Zephaniah 1:3 "I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, the fish of the sea, and the stumbling blocks along with the wicked.
I will cut off man from the face of the land," says the LORD.
OK, if you come to church and this is the introduction to the message, you know you’re in for it! Imagine a people living in a time of revival hearing this message. Then think about ourselves: We’re hearing great things about our people… But is it revival or merely reform?
There are three levels of failure in their religious practices: religious idolatry, religious adultery, and religious apostasy. You see their idolatry in verse four.
Zephaniah 1:4 "I will stretch out My hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, the names of the idolatrous priests with the pagan priests –
Outwardly, the worshiped God in His temple at Jerusalem during Josiah’s revival. But they would immediately return to the worship of Baal and the pagan rituals, showing that their hearts were not transformed.
Religious reform is popular today. People are being encouraged to worship any god – not the God of the Bible revealed by His Son, Jesus Christ. If it’s not biblical Christianity, it’s idolatry.
Religious adultery is described in verse five as Zephaniah noted their fascination with astrology and the worship of "Milcom," probably a reference to Molech.
Zephaniah 1:5 Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; those who worship and swear oaths by the LORD, but who also swear by Milcom;
Notice his use of the word "also." The Jews were mixing or integrating pagan beliefs with biblical truths. This is spiritual adultery. You see this any time people who profess to be Christians "also" promote any number of obviously unbiblical ideas.
Religious apostasy is described in verse six:
Zephaniah 1:6 Those who have turned back from following the LORD, and have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of Him."
Despite the outward reform of the majority, many among them had no real interest in anything spiritual. They simply enjoyed the benefits of a better society under King Josiah without themselves making even an outward reformation. I would say the vast majority of Americans fit into this category today. As we work towards a better America, they simply benefit by the outward reform of others.
Religious reform is not revival. It is outward and superficial, not an inward transformation.
Next, Zephaniah reviewed social customs in verses seven and eight:
Zephaniah 1:7 Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; for the day of the LORD is at hand, for the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.
Zephaniah 1:8 "And it shall be, in the day of the LORD’S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with foreign apparel.
Again Zephaniah described doom – both immediate with Babylon and ultimate in the Great Tribulation. He uses the picture of a "sacrifice" -only the Jews would be the offering by being slaughtered by their enemies.
The Jews were "clothed with foreign apparel." In the seventh century BC there was a real difference between the way the Jews dressed and the way the Babylonians dressed. Being clothed with foreign apparel meant that the Jews had adopted Babylonian customs. Instead of maintaining a proper, biblical separation from the surrounding culture, they adopted its customs.
It’s tough to be in the world and remain separated. If I give you a list of social customs and fashions to avoid, it’s just legalism. Still, separation is important. Maybe this will help. Francis Schaeffer once said, "Show me what the world is doing, and I’ll show you what the Church will be doing in seven years." Look back at your walk with the Lord; look back seven years if you can. Have you adopted customs and fashions that, seven years ago, you would have opposed? If so, have you done it because you’ve grown in biblical freedom… Or because you’ve given-in to the world? Are you practicing things which were once considered vices, but are now acceptable?
Next, Zephaniah reviewed their spiritual discernment – or their lack of it!
Zephaniah 1:9 In the same day I will punish all those who leap over the threshold,
who fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.""Leaping over the threshold" might be a reference to First Samuel 5:5. The ark of the covenant had been captured and brought to the pagan temple of Dagon. In the morning the idol of Dagon had fallen down! The pagan priests of the idol Dagon refused to set foot on the threshold in their temple because the idol had fallen upon it. Instead they leaped over it in superstition.
The Jews adopted this and other pagan practices, showing respect for Dagon; but they filled God’s house – "their master’s house" - with violence and deceit. Today we are fascinated with and bombarded by parapsychology and the paranormal. Everything is tolerated and respected – except biblical Christianity!
Next, Zephaniah looked at business practices:
Zephaniah 1:10 "And there shall be on that day," says the LORD, "The sound of a mournful cry from the Fish Gate, a wailing from the Second Quarter, and a loud crashing from the hills.
Zephaniah 1:11 Wail, you inhabitants of Maktesh! For all the merchant people are cut down; all those who handle money are cut off.
The Fish Gate was where the daily catch was brought to market each day. The Second Quarter was where the rich lived in fashionable homes. Maktesh was the business district of the city. Merchants and money are the focus. Zephaniah didn’t say so, but the prophets preceding him mention the corrupt business practices of the Jews. Revival that doesn’t alter the way you do business is only reform; it is only superficial. They were about to lose everything they worked for:
Zephaniah 1:12 "And it shall come to pass at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish the men who are settled in complacency, who say in their heart, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will He do evil.’
Zephaniah 1:13 Therefore their goods shall become booty, and their houses a desolation; they shall build houses, but not inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine."
The Babylonians were coming and everything they had worked for would be taken. It’s terribly true that people work hard for a better life but never get to it! By the time they’re ready to enjoy it, it’s ruined. The better life is to walk with God and make His ways your ways.
Zephaniah blamed their complacency. This whole section is a good definition of complacency. It is giving an outward appearance of walking with God, but thinking He has no interest in or effect upon your daily life of religion, society, and business.
The remaining verses of chapter one touch upon the Babylonian invasion but look farther forward to the ultimate Great Tribulation.
Zephaniah 1:14 The great day of the LORD is near; it is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; there the mighty men shall cry out.
Zephaniah 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
Zephaniah 1:16 A day of trumpet and alarm against the fortified cities and against the high towers.
Zephaniah 1:17 "I will bring distress upon men, and they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like refuse."
Zephaniah 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy, for He will make speedy riddance of all those who dwell in the land.
The revival would fail because the majority were only outwardly reformed. The nation would fall.
#2 The Signs That You Are In The Minority
Who Have Their Inward Lives Transformed
2:1-3
Zephaniah closed this section of his thoughts with an encouraging exhortation. There was still time to get right with God. Even if the majority would not heed him, a minority could heed him and be "hidden" in the day of judgment.
There are signs that you are in the minority who have their inward lives transformed. You discover them by looking inward and searching yourself. You see this in verses one and two of chapter two:
Zephaniah 2:1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation,
Zephaniah 2:2 Before the decree is issued, or the day passes like chaff, before the LORD’S fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger comes upon you!
They were called upon to "gather together." The majority were already gathering together at the Temple! This is more than an invitation to come to the Temple and be involved in religion. Think of it this way: We use the word "gather" to describe self-examination. I say that I need to "gather myself together," or "gather my thoughts." That is the idea here. They should gather themselves together by examining their hearts before the Lord.
You always examine yourself by the standard of God’s Word. We’re doing that right now as we set forth signs that we are either reformed or transformed. If you are willing to allow God’s Word to honestly examine you, it’s a good sign you are inwardly transformed.
After being examined by God’s Word, there should be signs you are living a transformed life. You see the signs in verse three:
Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the LORD’S anger.
This word "seek" means to search out, especially in worship or prayer. It’s a powerful word that indicates a heartfelt spiritual desire to implement what you are searching out. It means you see yourself in the mirror of God’s Word and it brings real change; it means you are both a hearer and a doer of God’s Word.
You are to "seek the Lord." The signs that you are truly seeking Him are "meek[ness]" and "up[holding] His justice." "Meek" has several meanings, one of which is spiritually needy. It is the constant recognition that you depend upon the Lord and His strength in and for all things. We would say it is walking in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The phrase "up[holding] His justice" is translated in the NASB, "carrying out His ordinances." It is joyful, expedient, willing, loving obedience to the principles in God’s Word and to the promptings of God’s Spirit.
You are to then "seek righteousness" and "seek humility." "Righteousness" is doing what is right according to God’s Word. "Humility" is from the same root word as the word translated "meek."
You’ve already been told to do what is right and to remain meek; why the repetition? We each of us have a tendency to quit depending on God’s strength and substitute our own. Then we go about thinking we have our own righteousness. This is a reminder to constant self-examination by the Word of God so we will continually be motivated by our transformed heart.
Conclusion
Zephaniah encouraged the Jews they could be "hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger." In context, this meant that God would preserve a godly remnant when Babylon invaded, and that He will do so in the future Great Tribulation.
I think there is a devotional insight in his use of the word "hidden." First of all, the name "Zephaniah" means Jehovah hides or hidden by Jehovah. More than that: There are some verses in the New Testament that summarizes what Zephaniah had in mind:
Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Can you say that you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God? You can if you have trusted Jesus Christ to save you; you can if you have been born-again and the Holy Spirit has come in you to transform you from within.