Judah Judged

God's good, ordered world is descending into disorder. A great army will judge, devastate and ruin corrupt, violent and arrogant Jerusalem, Israel and surrounding nations.

Faithful Remnant

Anyone in Jerusalem who seeks the Lord, repents from sin, obeys Him and humbles themselves before Him will be spared. They are God's faithful remnant.

God's Burning Fire

God's final judgment is a consuming fire that devours evil from Jerusalem and all the nations. The burning fire of God's judgment purifies the world.

Hope for All

After God purifies the world, the people will repent and call on Him. They are transformed into a unified family, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham.

Remnant Restored

The book of Zephaniah concludes with a picture of restored Jerusalem where God's mercy transforms the faithful remnant, and He celebrates them with joyful songs.

THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH

OT/NT: Old Testament

SECTION: Minor Prophets (9 of 12)

TRADITIONAL AUTHOR: Zephaniah

KEY PEOPLE: Josiah (king of Judah), Zephaniah, the people of Judah and all the Nations.

SUMMARY: Canonically, Zephaniah is the thirty-sixth book of the Holy Bible (1), the thirty-sixth book of the Old Testament (2) and the ninth of twelve Minor Prophets (3) books. This book is a collection of poems summarizing Zephaniah's prophetic message to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

The book of Zephaniah contains some of the most intense images of God's justice (4) and love found in the prophetic books. For years, Zephaniah had been sounding the spiritual alarm to the leaders of Jerusalem to repent from their wickedness and turn back to God. Zephaniah warns Israel and the surrounding nations that the Day of the Lord (5) is near. In chapters 1 and 2, we read about Zephaniah prophesying to Judah about the looming destruction awaiting them if they do not turn back to YHWH (Zephaniah 2:13). Nations such as Canaan, Assyria, Moab and Ammon are mentioned by name. Zephaniah prophecies that the latter two will end up plundered wastelands like Sodom and Gommorah. The middle portion of chapter 3 speaks of an unrepentant Jerusalem and it appears they will meet the same fate…but then something supernatural happens…chapter 3 (and the book of Zephaniah) closes with God showing his bottomless mercy to His children (Zephaniah 3:9-20).

God will judge the nations with a burning fire as He purifies them from sin, evil and violence. God performs this act of justice because He's passionate about protecting and rescuing His world from evil. He loves us so much that He must purify us. Only then can He bring restoration where He removes evil forever and creates a New Jerusalem for His faithful remnant from all nations to gather and flourish in peace and praise Him. Together, God's justice and love give the world future hope.

COMING UP: Next up is the book of Haggai (6). Click HERE to explore!

FOOTNOTES:

(1) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/the-word-of-god

(2) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/old-testament

(3) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/ot-minor-prophets

(4) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/justice

(5) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/day-of-the-lord

(6) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/haggai

PAGE SOURCE:

(a) https://thebibleproject.com/explore/zephaniah/