Zephaniah

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH ZEPHANIAH A Hebrew name meaning ‘Jehovah covers, hides, or protects’, was probably on his mind, when he wrote: “Seek humility, It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger” (Zephaniah 2: 3); namely ‘In the day of the fear of God’. He started his prophetic work at the beginning of the reign of ‘Josiah the son of Amon’ king of Judah. He himself has been of the tribe of Judah. He was a contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah, at the beginning of his ministry; and with whom he conformed in his goal and way of writing. He had an important role in the reform movement that was carried out by King Josiah. Of Zephaniah’s life, we only know the information that came in this book. Because he referred himself to king Hezekiah, it is assumed that he was a descendant of that good king. He was born in an unknown location in Judah. The circumstances around this book: King Hezekiah had three sons who successively succeeded him (2 Kings 20-21); two of whom were evil and idolaters; during whose reign, idolatry, abominations of every kind, corruption, and social oppression, prevailed on all levels in Israel, where the rich horribly abused the poor. After them came the good king Josiah, who ascended the throne when he was 16 years of age, and began a movement of reform that made him one of the most beloved of the kings of Judah. During that reform period the people were divided into more than one category: The greatest majority, although going along with the movement of reform; yet they cared for the outer appearances more than the reform of their souls, their inner life, and their behavior. Those were described by the prophet Jeremiah in the early chapters of his book, as having been only preoccupied with the mere presence of the temple in their midst, with no care for the actual dwelling of the Lord among His people. A very few remnant, faithful in reforming their life, in holding fast to the word of God, and in seeking His glory. This remnant was the object of ridicule of the majority. Date of writing this book: It is obvious that prophet Zephaniah started his ministry before the fall of Nineveh and the appearance of the state of Babylon. Because the reform movement of king Josiah has not yet begun, in which Zephaniah played an important role, Some scholars believe that his prophetic ministry, 50 years after that of prophet Nahum, most probably began around the year 640 to 625 BC; and that he wrote this book at the end of that period1. The key of this book: “The Lord your God is in your midst, The mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will renew you in His love; He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3: 17) Its features: 1 Boker's Pictorial Introduction to the Bible, p. 227. 4 1- Its goal is to incite to ‘repentance as a way to salvation’; to rebuke the leaders and the people on all levels, and to proclaim the approach of affliction; namely the fall of Judah into captivity by the Babylonians (the Chaldeans). But most probably he died before the devastation of Jerusalem, which he prophesied. 2- The book begins with a proclamation of afflictions, and ends with praise; the same way followed by the majority of prophets, who began their books by warning confirming the coming chastisements of God; Then ended them by opening the door of hope, especially through the proclamation of the coming of the Messiah. This book represents a magnificently sweet musical symphony of divine love, starting in sadness, by proclaiming God’s serious love; then ending it with rejoices. It is one of the sweetest joyful praises in the Old Testament. 3- This book bears an ecumenical tendency: If the kingdom of Judah would fall under a swift chastisement, following a longsuffering by God that extended along the generations; The Gentiles, would likewise fall under judgment, because of their evil toward God and against His people. But the book ends with the proclamation that the new Jerusalem that will embrace all the peoples, to become an ecumenical people of God. This book is a call to all humanity to wake up to enjoy a fellowship with God, and an exalted new life. 4- It is obvious that the book introduces many talks; some of which, at the end of his life, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the prophet collected in this book. 5- Like many other prophetic books, At its end, it carries, in a joyful evangelic language, and in an easy, simple, direct, and a very understandable way, a good tiding to the Gentiles, that they will eventually realize and enjoy the divine truth. 6- Having been of the royal seed, he was aware of the sins and iniquities that came over the royal court, of; and was in a position that gave him the right to speak openly to them about their transgressions. 7- The word “day” came seven times in this book. If preceded by a certain number, it would mostly either mean 24 hours or a whole year. Whereas, if not, it would mean a particular event; like for instance, the day of a certain ruler, would mean the celebration of his whole life. Saying “the day of the Lord”, means (the work of the Lord); either ‘His coming for chastisement’; ‘His day of judgment’; or ‘His day of salvation’. The divisions of this book: 1- The great day of the Lord Chapter 1 2- The judgment of the nations Chapter 2 3- The rejoicing Jerusalem Chapter 3 These three chapters represent the foundation of the fellowship with the Holy One; namely “Faith; hope; and love”. In the first chapter, in faith, we gain the forgiveness of sins; believing in God the loving and the just. In His strong compassion, He is firm for the sake of our edification and of our fellowship with Him. In the second chapter, He proclaims the opening of the door of hope before all the nations and peoples; bringing us over from chastisement, for the sake of sanctifying us, to His spacious heart, that anticipates the salvation of the world. And finally in the third chapter, divine love transforms our hearts into the rejoicing Jerusalem, a holy heaven, the object of pleasure to God. He sets the Kingdom of Heaven in us; rejoicing over us bearing His name, and enjoying His joyful divine work. 5 Chapter 1: The great day of the Lord (Chastisement): This is considered by some scholars as the traditional book to proclaim God’s judgment of the nations in the Old Testament. God in His fiery jealousy (18), would not stand to see man attached to evil “I will utterly consume all things from the face of the land” (2). He would not stand even the irrational creation, which He created for the sake of man. He will consume all things from the face of the land. In case you become heaven, He would not consume anything in you, but would dwell inside you, together with His angels. Whereas if you become land, you would lose yourself (the man); your body (the beast), your mind (the birds), and your talents (the fish) (3). God confirms that the day of chastisement is very near (7,14). God does not stand the mixing between His priests and those of the Baal. The Holy One wishes for the holiness of His people; He refuses even the unholy foreign apparel (7, 8). Zephaniah prophesies about the captivation of Judah by the Chaldeans (15). Chapter 2: The judgment of the nations; Or the repentance as the way to salvation: The second chapter came shining with more splendor; moving from chastisement to hope in the mercies of God through the collective repentance “Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth” (2: 3). God rejoices over the collective repentance: “Gather yourself together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation” (2: 1). Yet, every member should present his repentance as a personal relationship that touches his own depths with God. This collective repentance embraces the shepherds together with their flocks. All are in need of repentance; and every one of them supports the other. The believer also needs a comprehensive repentance, touching both his inner soul, and his body, in order to be completely holy. Positively repentance is a transformation toward God; We seek the Lord, in His righteousness, and His humility, to dwell in us, and to grant us His features. The main obstacle on the way of repentance, is slothfulness, and the lack of feeling of the need for God; when the soul of man turns into “a place for beasts to lie down” (15).; namely, in it, every beastly and lusty thought, would encounter. Chapter 3: The rejoicing Jerusalem; Or the return of the Gentiles to the Lord: Chapter 3 presents the most magnificent portrait of hope in the whole world: to Israel, together with the whole humanity; when all enjoy the mercies of God and His amazing salvation. While rebuking His people, God presents repentance as the way for their salvation; opening the door of hope to the whole humanity through the Savior Messiah: “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord” (9, 10). What does it mean “to serve Him with one accord”, but for all together to bear the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, (as though on one shoulder). What is the offering presented by the peoples (10), but the one sacrifice of our Lord Christ?! 6 His prophecy ends with joy: “Sing O daughter of Zion… The Lord God is in your midst; the mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness” (14, 17). As the church bears the name of her Groom, and as her life becomes a praise of joy, He says: “’I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I return your captives before your eyes’, says the Lord” (20). 7 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH (Introduction) RESTORE ME TO YOU: TO BECOME A PRAISE FOR YOU  I behold Your arms stretched for me, a sinner! I return to You, to carry me in Your bosom. To sanctify me by Your grace, O the only holy One I will return to You in my secret place. I will repent, confessing my sins and the sins of my brethren. I will encounter You secretly as an amazing Groom. I will encounter You together with my brethren, O Lover of all humanity.  I believe that You are the Forgiver of sins. Who does not reject any soul that comes to You. But will cleanse her with Your blood, will purify and sanctify her. And will cut off every evil in her. As You refuse any fellowship with evil and corruption.  The doors of hope in You are open; Who can close them before my face? To enter with faith, filled with hope, joy, and rejoice.  With Your love, Set in me Your heavenly Jerusalem Dwell, O mighty Groom, in my depths. Transform my life into an incessant wedding. Present me with the pledge, as a heavenly grant; So as to rejoice together with my brethren; To praise together with them with one language; By You, all of us will become a unique symphony of love.