Repentance Is Necessary in Response to God’s JudgmentZephaniah 2:1-3

Main Idea: In light of God’s judgment, God’s people must seek the Lord in humility or face destruction.

1. A Return to Worship Is Necessary to Recall and Repent (2:1).
2. Now Is the Time to Heed the Warning and Turn to the Lord (2:2).
3. Judgment May Be Avoided If God’s People Will Seek Him (2:3).
   1. Seek the Lord in humility.
   2. Seek the Lord in obedience.
   3. Seek the Lord in righteousness.

A Return to Worship Is Necessary to Recall and Repent (Zephaniah 2:1)

If chapter 1 could be summed up in one word, it would be judgment. If the beginning of chapter 2 could be summed up in one word, it would be repent. Zephaniah has clearly communicated the impending judgment of God, but now he begins to show God’s affection and grace. The means through which God’s affection is seen is a call to repentance. Now it might be easy to assume that repentance is not necessarily the most hopeful of concepts, but the truth is that it is magnificently hopeful. It is only through the door of repentance that grace can be experienced. As we acknowledge our disobedience and humble ourselves before Him, we are able to experience grace and God’s affection. In this sense repentance is the gateway to grace. “Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

This passage begins with a call to “gather yourselves together,” which is a reference to a type of solemn assembly before the Lord. It is a reference to corporate repentance, as God’s people gather together for the purpose of corporate confession and repentance. The passage describes them as an “undesirable nation,” which underscores the importance of their repentance. They were the children of God, the chosen ones. Instead of being affirmed in that way, however, they were rejected and “undesirable.” God is calling them back, then, to walk in obedience and favor.

This is a good reminder that “undesirable” is a reference to their sinful condition, a result of their own choice. It’s a reminder of what they have done to themselves. However, God’s call to repentance affirms that He still loves them. This “undesirable” statement is not a statement that God has no affection for His children.

Much like Paul’s words to the Roman church, “Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1), we can be confident in God’s affection for us, even when we fail Him. This does not absolve us from responsibility for the decisions we make, but it can comfort us and remind us of why we should return to Christ. As this verse reminds us, with its call to gather and repent, God is gracious and, in spite of our rebellion, He is calling us to repentance as a sign of His affection for us.

Now Is the Time to Heed the Warning and Turn to the Lord (Zephaniah 2:2)

Not only are God’s people offered an opportunity to repent, but they are reminded that they should do so now. No more waiting. It is time to respond to God’s grace. The passage reminds us that this offer will not last in perpetuity. There is a terminal element to this offer, just like there is a terminal element to our lives. We must respond before the Lord’s judgment “overtakes” us. It is coming, like a freight train on the tracks. We can attempt to stand in its way if we like, but we will not win that battle.

As it comes, we must recognize that as powerful as God’s love and grace is, it does not diminish His anger and justice. God will do what is right—every time. There is no changing or impeding that reality. Turn now, and follow God; this is the message of Zephaniah.

Judgment May Be Avoided If God’s People Will Seek Him (Zephaniah 2:3)

Finally, Zephaniah defines repentance for the people. He tells them that they are to seek the Lord with humility, in obedience, and through righteousness. These elements of repentance and obedience are evidence of a life given over to Him.

Seek the Lord in Humility

Zephaniah acknowledges at the beginning of verse 3 that repentance cannot be found until they humble themselves. This is such a key element to walking faithfully with God. There can be no mixture of our confidence in Him and our confidence in ourselves. He not only calls them humble, but he further exhorts them to seek humility. I think the indication of the passage is not simply that they were a prideful, self-confident people (though certainly that seems to be true), but that they, like all of humanity, are constantly prone to turn toward self. Every person, church, and movement is like a car out of alignment, constantly turning inward. Our natural bent is away from humility and toward pride, and pride is the mother of all sin. In order to walk with God, the people of Jerusalem would need to die to themselves and trust in Him, which sounds surprisingly like Jesus’ gospel call:

Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it. (Luke 9:23-24)

Seek the Lord in Obedience

Not only must they seek the Lord through humility, but they must also seek Him through active obedience. It is not enough simply to acknowledge (or confess) sin; they must also change their behavior.

They were a people accustomed to advancing self. In response to that, Zephaniah calls them to “carry out what He commands.” No matter the sincerity of their intent, if their intentions were not followed with actions, they were of no value.

Then Samuel said: Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams. (1 Sam 15:22)

We live in a culture that is confession happy. Whether it be reality TV or talk-radio, tell-all books or water cooler gossip, we live in a culture where confession is often experienced, but we so rarely see changed behavior accompanying it. Confession is good for the soul, but only if it is married to repentance and obedience.

Seek the Lord in Righteousness

Finally, we see one last expectation. God is just, which means that God is right. When God seeks justice, He is seeking what is right. It is necessary for His justice to be on display because holiness is not universal. It is because of the lack of holiness that we so often see God’s justice. In light of God’s holiness, Zephaniah calls God’s people to pursue righteousness. In other words, they are being compelled to become more and more like God. The word seek seems to indicate a hunger and a pursuit, two impulses that often are associated with our physical condition but far too rarely with our spiritual condition. In a church full of apathetic believers, hungry pursuit of God and His righteousness has become far too rare in our day.

In Jesus’ most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, He would emphasize again for us how central this is, not only to our faith, but to His character: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you” (Matt 6:33). Our pursuit of God’s righteousness is part and parcel with our pursuit of God’s kingdom.

Verses 1-3 are a breath of fresh air after the devastatingly difficult judgment and condemnation of chapter 1. Yes, God is just and His judgment is coming, but thankfully God is also loving and gracious, and repentance is possible. “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” (Rom 5:8). Paul’s declaration of God’s deep and abiding love affirms that God’s justice matters, but because of His affection, He has made a way for us in spite of ourselves. This is ultimately the story of the gospel. Verses 1-3 of this passage are a foretaste of the beautiful celebration of God’s love that we will see at the conclusion of chapter 3. They are a reminder that God is good, even when it seems like the time is bad. Judgment is coming, but so is grace, so take hold of grace.

Reflect and Discuss

1. Have you ever considered repentance a gateway to grace? How does this change your view of God’s call to repent?
2. Are you encouraged that God’s affection for you remains even when your sin compels His justice to be exercised in your life?
3. How does the immediacy of the call to repent change the way you view your own personal repentance? What about the others that you invite to repent and to place their faith in Christ?
4. How does the Lord call you back to humility?
5. Do you find yourself more willing to confess than to obey? What should you do in response to that?
6. In what ways do you seek righteousness and also seek the kingdom of God?
7. God loves you deeply in spite of your sin. How do you view God in light of this? How does this knowledge shape your behavior?