Zephaniah

Judah should repent not only because of judgment coming against them, but because God was going to judge all their surrounding enemies and give their land to the remnant of Judah. Four representative peoples are specified: Philistia in the west, Moab and Ammon in the east, Ethiopia (Cushites, who ruled Egypt from about 720 to 654 b.c.) in the south, and Assyria in the north (from which direction they came).

Judah's sins are then catalogued in 3:1-5. They had refused to repent despite the Lord's demonstrations of judgment against the Northern Kingdom (3:6-7). Special attention is given to Judah's leaders. The officials and judges, whose duty was to protect life and property, preyed upon the people. The prophets, who were trusted to bring the people God's word with integrity, were traitors to that responsibility, driven only by self-interest. Priests, responsible to maintain God's favor and presence by nurturing holiness at the temple and by teaching God's law, profaned God's dwelling and violated His law. Although the Lord who always dispenses justice is the opposite of such leaders (see Deut. 32:4), Judah shamelessly committed evil in His very presence.

In the face of such a dismal picture of human corruption, Zephaniah exhorts believers to "wait" for the Lord to come as witness, to pour out His wrath against all peoples, and to purify a remnant who will seek refuge in Him. To "wait" for the Lord means to "long for" Him (Job 3:21; Isa. 30:18) and to place one's confident hope only in Him (Ps. 33:20; Isa. 8:17; 64:4).

God's purpose is to purify from the nations a people united to worship Him. Their speech will be cleansed of sinful pride and idolatry (Isa. 2:17-18; 6:5; Hos. 2:17). Terms used of the remnant in verse 13 are used of the Lord in verse 5. God's people's character will be like His. It will be a time of right, of truth, and of security (see Jer. 50:19; Ezek. 34:14; Mic. 4:4; 7:14).

The book concludes with a hymn of praise, an exhortation for restored Jerusalem to rejoice in the Lord's redemption. This hymn describes the messianic age when the Lord, their victorious King, will be in their midst, again taking great delight in loving His people (see Deut. 30:9). It ends with the Lord's promise to regather and glorify Israel after their time of punishment is over.

Theological and Ethical Significance. The Book of Zephaniah focuses on the day of the Lord as a time of His wrath upon the nations, including Israel. The purpose of that wrath, however, at least in part, is the ultimate deliverance of Israel from Gentile enemies, the purification of Israel from sin, and the redemption of a people from the nations who will worship and serve the Lord. God has set a time when He will sweep away the proud, the indifferent, and the corrupt. Those who seek the Lord diligently with humble trust, longing for the day of His redemption, will be sheltered in that day. Then they will rejoice in His loving presence.

Baker, D. W. Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1988.

Patterson, R. D. Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah. Chicago: Moody, 1991.

Robertson, O. P. The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990.

Walker, L. L. "Zephaniah." Expositor's Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1985.