II. Judgment for Judah and a Call to Repentance (Zephaniah 1:2–2:3)

II. Judgment for Judah and a Call to Repentance (1:2–2:3)

1:2-3 The Lord’s declaration of destruction is stunning, leaving no doubt that worldwide judgment will come. Indeed, God will sweep away everything from the face of the earth (1:2)—an insight that likely reminded Zephaniah’s hearers of a time in the past when God spoke similarly to Noah before the flood (see Gen 6:7). This destruction will be comprehensive: people and animals . . . the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea (1:3). And not even a cruise liner could rescue those destined to perish.

1:4-6 God’s judgment is coming against Judah and against all the residents of Jerusalem. He’s going to clean up the land, and he’s starting inside his own house. Not only were there priests of the Lord in Jerusalem, but there were also pagan priests (1:4). What’s more, all of them bowed in worship . . . to the stars in the sky—the heavenly bodies that God created. While they pledged loyalty to the Lord, they also pledged loyalty to Milcom to cover their bases (1:5).

The Lord, however, is a jealous God; he does not share worship with idols. The temple was intended to be his house and was designed to bear his name alone; therefore, he served notice: Baal is being evicted (1:4). Double-minded worshipers would be shown the door (1:4-5)—along with any who do not seek the Lord (1:6). Because they wanted to worship the gods they made rather than the God who made them, they would meet the same fate as their idols. God would turn the place upside down and wash the filth from the land.

1:7 Scripture frequently speaks of the day of the Lord, a time of judgment for God’s enemies (1:7-18) and a time of hope for God’s people (3:9-20). Sometimes, it refers to God’s intervention in history (e.g., Joel 2:1-11); at other times, it refers to his intervention at the end of history (e.g., 1 Thess 5:1-5). Zephaniah warns Judah to repent (2:1) before the wrath of the day overtakes them (1:15).

1:8-9 Once the political leaders heard that there was a whole lot of shaking going on at the temple and that God was the cause of it, they knew he would be coming for them. The king’s sons and his officials were going to be punished for their violence and deceit because the politicians were operating by their agenda and not by God’s.

The Lord does not ride on the backs of politicians; he rides on his own glory and righteousness.

1:10-13 The business leaders and merchants who profited from the avarice behind the perverse worship at the temple and the corruption of the administration were going to be the recipients of the Lord’s wrath, too. Nothing of their world would be spared. From the entry into the business area (the Fish Gate) to the business area itself (the Second District) to the houses and vineyards and wealth of the business owners, nothing would be left (1:10, 13). The writing was on the wall; their place would become ruin (1:13).

1:14-18 The wrath that God unleashed on the Egyptians leading up to the exodus and the awesome power of God displayed at Mount Sinai thereafter was coming to Judah and its capitol city, Jerusalem. Back then, God had told the Israelites through Moses what would happen if they broke their covenant with him (see Deut 28:15-68). Here, with vivid language, Zephaniah gives terrifying insight into the full scope of the day of the Lord (1:14). When the Lord’s wrath comes, even silver and gold won’t be able to rescue anyone. God will make a horrifying end of all the inhabitants of the earth (1:18).

2:1-3 God has an agenda for nations, cities, families, and individuals; and he holds everyone accountable to it. Judah had heard Zephaniah’s basic message preached to them by many prophets previously, but they hadn’t taken heed. Yet, even at this point in the nation’s history, the divine King offers a call to repentance. He tells the humble—those who carry out what he commands that they can be protected from his anger if they’ll seek the Lord . . . righteousness . . . and humility (2:3). They can be like the children of Israel in the exodus generation and accept the Lord’s protection, or they can be like the Egyptians of that time and reject the message of judgment to their own destruction.