Zephaniah's Message

Zephaniah was of royal lineage, descending from the godly King Hezekiah.  He was born during the reign of the wicked king, Manasseh and he prophesied during the reign of Josiah.  Josiah was a godly king who brought revival and reform to Judah, but he reigned for ten years before leading the revival.  Zephaniah must have written these prophecies in the years before the revival, and God used his prophecies to bring revival!  

The Prophet Zephaniah speaks about the "Day of the Lord."  The other prophets who spoke about the "Day of the Lord" include Amos, Joel, and Zechariah.  The day of the Lord will be darkness, not light, said Prophet Amos (5:18).  It will be a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, said Prophet Joel (2:2).  It will be a day when the heavens will disappear, and the earth and its works will be destroyed by fire, said Peter in 2 Peter 3:10.

Our God is a just God, and He will not condone sin.  Sin has to be punished.  But we can see God's love and mercy through the message of every Prophet.  God's purpose in sending the Prophets one after another was to bring them to repentance!

The people had to repent and return to the Lord to escape the "Day of the Lord". Otherwise, they must endure God's wrath and punishment.  But punishing them was not God's intention; bringing them back to Himself was!

The Lord gives the people a way to escape the wrath of God through the Prophet Zephaniah. 

Zephaniah 2:3 says, "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".  The verse reminded the listeners that God's wrath was coming and an immediate action was required.

The urgent call to 'seek the Lord' emphasizes the need for a relationship with God as the only way to find protection and shelter from God's wrath.  Seek to live right by turning away from sin and obeying God's commandments.  The phrase 'seek humility' emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's own sinfulness and dependence on God.  Then, we can be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger.  

This message is not just for Judah but for each of us today.

My friend, those who genuinely seek God can find protection and shelter in Him.   God has given us one more season of Lent to seek Him wholeheartedly. 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, I am Your child.  Hide me under Your wings and keep me safe.  Amen.