Introduction: The book of Zephaniah is a prophetic book in the Old Testament that speaks of God’s impending judgment on Judah and the nations. Zephaniah 1 that sets the tone and topic for the entire book, as it outlines the severity of God’s judgment and the need for repentance. This chapter serves as a warning to the people of Judah to turn from their sinful ways and seek the Lord before it is too late, and it is the same warning that we should take to heart today in our own personal lives, act before it is everlasting too late.
I. The Word of the Lord to Zephaniah (Zephaniah 1:1)
The book begins with an introduction to the prophet Zephaniah, who is a descendant of King Hezekiah. The verse sets the time period of Zephaniah’s ministry, which is during the reign of King Josiah of Judah (in the early to mid 600 BCE century).
II. The Coming Judgment (Zephaniah 1:2-6)
God declares that He will sweep away everything from the face of the earth, including man and beast, birds and fish. These verses bring to mind the flood in Genesis 6:7, where God also promised to destroy all living creatures. The judgement is a result of the people’s idolatry and their turning away from the Lord.
III. The Day of the Lord (Zephaniah 1:7-13)
The prophet describes the “day of the Lord” as a time of sacrifice, where God will punish the leaders and the people who have turned away from Him. These verses also speaks of a great noise and cries of distress, similar to the description of the day of the Lord in Joel 2:1-2. The judgement will be so severe that it will leave the land desolate and the people’s wealth useless.
IV. The Great Day of the Lord (Zephaniah 1:14-18)
The chapter ends with a clear description of the great day of the Lord, which is near and coming quickly. Zephaniah speaks of the wrath, distress, and devastation that will come upon the people. This is similar to the description of God’s wrath in Revelation 6:17, where the day of God’s wrath is also described as great and terrible.
Conclusion: Zephaniah 1 is a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. The chapter shows believers that God’s judgement is severe and turning from wicked ways is the only way to stop it. The prophet’s message is clear: the day of the Lord is near, and it will be a day of wrath and devastation for those who have not turned to the Lord. This is a call for us to examine our own lives and turn to God before the troubles and adversity comes upon us.
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