Zephaniah

Book Introduction

Zephaniah was one of the last pre-exile prophets.  He was among those that issued the final warnings and calls to repentance.  He prophesied alongside Jeremiah who continued his ministry into the period of exile.  Zephaniah was the great, great grandson of King Hezekiah.  It was Hezekiah who stood at the wall as Assyria came calling at the wall of Jerusalem.  While God preserved Jerusalem, and sent the Assyrians packing, the southern Kingdom of Judah was oppressed by Assyria for some time. 

Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh, succeeded him.  He reigned longer than any other king and was more more wicked than any other king.  He began his reign at 12 years old and for 55 years undid every good thing his father did.  If Hezekiah was known for his reforms, restoration of Passover and temple worship; then his son Manasseh was known for defiling the people, the land and his father’s reputation.  He practiced all kinds of wickedness and idolatry; leading the nation to apostasy.  It was during this spiritually dark time that Zephaniah was born.

As the nation continued to unravel and rush headlong to judgment in the face of the repeated warnings of multiple prophets, Manasseh’s son Amon took the throne. He was 22 years old and forsook the Lord worshiping idols and serving them.    Amon saw his father Manasseh humble himself to the Lord after he was carried off to Babylon by the Assyrians with a hook and in fetters.  The Chronicler tells us that “Amon trespassed more and more”.  Amon only reigned 2 years when he was killed by his servants.

Josiah, son of Amon, began his reign as an eight-year-old (640-609_BC).  He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.  It is likely that Zephaniah was one of the guiding influences in this young kings life.  He purged the land of wickedness.  He broke down the altars and the images and carvings were destroyed.  It was in the eighteenth year of his reign when, during the restoration of the temple, the book of the law was discovered.   The law was read to king Josiah; he responded by tearing his clothes.  As a mere 26-year-old, this young king discovered that the wrath of God abided on him and on the nation.  He sent men to inquire of the Lord and the answer came back:

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah, ²⁵ because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place, and not be quenched.’ ” (2 Chronicles 34:24-25)

Then a personal message directly to the king from the Lord:

“Concerning the words which you have heard—²⁷ because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord. ²⁸ “Surely I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its inhabitants.” (2 Chronicles 34:26-28)

Josiah continued his reforms in the land until his death.  It was 25 years after his death that God’s judgment fell on Judah when the Babylonians conquered them and carried them ino exile. 

During the heart of Josiah’s reign, the prophet Zephaniah was active in his prophetic ministry.  He was a prophet, but different from others because he was a prophet with royal blood.  This gave him access to the king.  There’s no way of knowing just how influential he was to the king but there is no mistaking that his message was powerful and heard.  His message will still be heard today.  But hearing requires an answer and action; complacent Israel failed to act and found themselves to be the victim of Babylon.