Image: "Mystic Stream", 2020, Patapsco River Scene, Daniels, Md
Zephaniah 1:7 Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; For the day of the LORD is at hand, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.
Zephaniah 2:9 Therefore, as I live,” Says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Surely Moab shall be like Sodom, And the people of Ammon like Gomorrah— Overrun with weeds and salt pits, And a perpetual desolation. The residue of My people shall plunder them, And the remnant of My people shall possess them.”
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Zephaniah" literally means "the Lord hides" and that poses a mystery in itself. Probably born during the reign of the evil Manasseh who was not averse to shedding "innocent blood" (2 Kings 21:16, 24:4), he may, like Moses before him, have been hidden as an infant or young child. We know, from his lineage, that he grew up in tumultuous times and if Hezekiah was the same King Hezekiah, he was a cousin to King Josiah. This presents all kinds of interesting possibilities. Perhaps King Josiah's strong reforms and revival of true religion was due to the influence of a kinsman prophet whom he accepted as a trusted advisor. Who knows? Zephaniah, as a person, remains "hidden" to us yet.
However, his writings reveal much. He was not inferior to any of the other prophets for his insights into the core corruption around him and God's juggernaut of judgment that would surely come. Josiah brought about a restoration of Israelite territory that, in some instances, went even further than had been the case under Solomon. With the Northern Kingdom eliminated by the Assyrians and Assyria itself tottering in its final days, Josiah essentially gained sovereignty or at least hegemony over the entire region. The people must have been truly excited about the renewed sense of identity and the corresponding prosperity that came with these expansions. We know that Josiah was a beloved king. When he died the entire nation mourned.. 2 Chronicles 35:20-24. But, as always, prosperity brings its own temptations.
Though Josiah restored true worship and God blessed his reign, yet among the people, the old passions and greed did not vanish. They became complacent as Zephaniah clearly states: Zephaniah 1:12 “And it shall come to pass at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And punish the men Who are settled in complacency, Who say in their heart, ‘The LORD will not do good, Nor will He do evil.’ With prosperity comes opportunity. With opportunity comes the temptation to exploit the weak and advance in greed. Zephaniah's clear vision reveals that God was not fooled. Though He was currently blessing His people far beyond their expectations, yet they were not returning to Him with sanctified hearts. Zephaniah told them that God's search lamp would find them out and they would pay for their sullen rebellion.
God had prepared a "feast" and invited His "guests." This probably is a metaphor for the "feast" set for the vultures that God had used before. The point was that this "feast" was set... it was unchangeable... The day of the Lord was coming. (1:7) Yet there was room for mercy: Zephaniah 2:3 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. There were those in the land for whom the revival under Josiah had taken root. There were indeed the "meek of the earth", who had heeded the call of Micah to "do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God." (Mic. 6:5ff) They had "upheld His justice" and through Zephaniah, God told them to continue to "seek righteousness (and) humility." There appears to be a deliberate "wordplay" in the possibility that they would be "hidden in the day of the LORD's anger." (2:3) Zephaniah himself, in his name, was a metaphor for God's gospel message to His people. Truly their hope was that the "LORD would hide" them.
The certainty that some would indeed find this grace extended to them is proclaimed in 2:9. God looks around the region at those nations and peoples who had taken advantage of His people in their weakness and proclaimed that they would become a "perpetual desolation." But in the face of that judgment, we are told that the "residue" of His people would "plunder" them and the "remnant" would possess their lands. God's people will inherit the earth and possess the very world that their enemies had occupied.
God's judgment was a day of darkness (1:15) but there were brilliant flashes of light within it.
In the image above we see rocks and swirling water flowing around them. But beyond those rocks, on the other side, is a rock bathed in light. This is the "near and distant" vision that God gives Zephaniah. There is a "rock" in the future Who will provide stability and a firm foundation for God's people. The river will have to be crossed and great perils will attend the travel but at last a firm footing will be found. The Lord Jesus of Nazareth is that rock. Zephaniah did not see Him clearly but He knew what His God and ours would do.
There is still time for the "meek" to pursue justice and humility. We have a firm hope that though the judgment is "near", yet those who belong to Jesus will be "hidden" in Him and will not be lost. I think Zephaniah was not a mournful prophet like Jeremiah. I think the beauty of his vision filled him with confident serenity for himself and the ultimate fate of his people. That's what we should find in it also.
Comments