P r a i s eP u r eM i n i s t r y

LOLA S. RICHEY, AUTHOR

Seeking God

Seeking God
PRAISE PURE MNISTRY

A Survey of Zephaniah

Lola Richey, Praise Pure Ministry ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Seeking God: A Survey of Zephaniah

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Gather before judgment begins, before your time to repent is blown away like chaff. Act now, before the fierce fury of the Lord falls and the terrible Day of the Lords anger begins. 3 Seek (come to) the LORD, all who are humble, and follow (obey) His commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. Perhaps even yet the LORD will protect (hide) you protect you from His anger on that Day of destruction. Zephaniah 2:2-3 (NLT).
Zephaniah contrasts and paints a horrible picture of Gods judgment and a jubilant picture of Gods future glory. Two recurring themes are found in Zephaniah: remnant, and the Day of the Lord. The prophet Zephaniah ministered during the same time of the prophets Jeremiah, Nahum and perhaps Habakkuk. Particularly, Zephaniah ministered during the early reign of King Josiah (Zephaniah 1:1) and probably assisted King Josiahs spiritual reformation of southern Israel (Judah). The prophet Zephaniah of the Old Testament was a descendent of the famous King Hezekiah and a distant relative of King Josiah. Both King Hezekiah and King Josiah were good kings of southern Israel (Judah) and encouraged the people to return to the pure worship of God. Zephaniah means The Lord has hidden, Yahweh hides, or protected by Jehovah. The name Zephaniah is used three other times in the Holy Bible (1 Chronicles 6:36; Jeremiah 21:1; Zechariah 6:10, 14). But beyond the Old Testament book that bears his name, nothing is known about the prophet Zephaniahs life. Possibly, the name Zephaniah may have been given to the prophet to reflect the main theme of his ministry which called on everyone to repent and seek God in order to be hidden or protected on the great Day of the Lord (Zephaniah 2:3). Most biblical scholars attempt to date Zephaniahs prophecy in accordance with King Josiahs spiritual reform, which Josiah established with the discovery of the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:1-17). Upon the discovery of the Book of the Law, Josiah launched sweeping spiritual reforms of southern Israel (2 Kings 23 and 24; 2 Chronicles 33, 34, and 35). Josiahs reforms included destruction of idol worship and restoration of Gods Temple. Even more, Josiah organized the first Passover celebrations in generations.
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God sent Zephaniah to announce His coming judgment, also called the Day of the Lord on southern Israel (Judah and Jerusalem) and the surrounding nations. During this time, many people had turned away from faithfully worshipping God and pursued wealth, materialism, and others gods. The religious reforms King Hezekiah (729686 B.C.) started in southern Israel were soon eliminated by the evil reigns of King Manasseh (696642 B.C.) and King Amon (642640 B.C.). Injustice, corruption, oppression, dishonesty, and greed ran rampant throughout southern Israel and the surrounding nations. The people worshiped Baal, Molech, and the starry hosts (Zephaniah 1:4-6). Even worse, the officials, priests, and rulers mixed pagan worship with faith in the true and living God (Zephaniah 3:2-5) and led the people into corruption and wrongdoing despite knowing Gods holy standards. Businesses and the marketplace were corrupt as people became wealthy through dishonesty (Zephaniah 1:10-13). Zephaniah, like the prophet Jeremiah, pleaded with the rulers to trust God and turn from sin, but the kings, officials, and priests refused to obey and seek God. Zephaniah knew the true and living God will not share His worship or glory with any other god or idol (Zephaniah 1:6; see also Exodus 20:3-7). All the more, money would not save the people as Gods judgment approached (Zephaniah 1:18). Only God is mighty to save us (Zephaniah 3:17) and we must humbly depend and trust in God. The first chapter of Zephaniah's prophecy is filled with horror and dread as he announced the coming Day of Gods judgment. In chapter two, Zephaniah gave the people hope and encouraged the people to repent and humbly "seek the Lord (Zephaniah 2:3; see also Amos 5:4). Zephaniah urged the people to seek God by trusting, worshipping, and loving Him and turning away from sin and injustice (Zephaniah 2:1-3). Only by seeking God would the people experience Gods protection in the coming time of wrath. In chapter three, we read that God is mighty to save (Zephaniah 3:17). Zephaniah proclaimed that God freely offers His salvation and deliverance to everyone who is seeks and loves Him as their God (see also Ephesians 2:8-10). The book of Zephaniah reveals that hope is only found in seeking God. God loves us (John 3:16), and He gives His loving-kindness, tender mercies and protection to all who humbly seeks and loves Him (Exodus 34:6-7; Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Psalm 51:2). Yet, God will not allow sin to go unpunished, and He will judge all those who mistreat Him and His people (Exodus 34:7). In fact, God hates lies, deceit, pride, and wrongdoing (Psalm 1; Psalm 15). The Holy Bible is very clear that God demands everyone to walk humbly with Him by faith (Habakkuk 2:4) and to pursue seek righteous living, truth and love (e.g., see Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Psalm 15; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 5:3-12; Matthew 12:7). Time and again, the Holy Bible reveals that God is merciful to everyone who admits their wrongdoings, makes a genuine confession, and gives their whole hearts to Him (Zephaniah 3:9, 12-13; see also Jonah 3; Ephesians 1:7-8; 1 Peter 5:5-6). God is faithful and just to forgive (Psalm 51:2-12; Jeremiah 26:1719; Jonah 3; 1 John 1:9).

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One of the main themes of the book of Zephaniah is the Day of the Lord. Zephaniah discusses the Day of the Lord more than any other prophet in the Holy Bible. Zephaniah reveals what that Day will mean for ungodly and evil individuals and nations (Zephaniah 1:23:7) and the faithful remnant of God (Zephaniah 3:820). The Day of the Lord will be filled with Gods tribulation and destruction as He destroys false worship to other gods (Zephaniah 1), destroys evil and wickedness (Zephaniah 2), and purifies the true and faithful followers of Him (Zephaniah 3:820). Even more, God will reveals Himself providentially and supernaturally as supreme in the affairs of the people worldwide --- Jews and Gentile (non-Jewish) (see e.g., Isaiah 2:10-22; Isaiah 13:6, 9; Jeremiah 46:10; Ezekiel 30:3; Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1-11,31; Joel 3:14-15; Amos 5:18, 20; Zephaniah 1:7-8,14-18; Malachi 4:5). Finally, the Day of the Lord is a Day of darkness, destruction, and despair as God sweeps clean and purifies the whole earth. God warns the world that His divine judgment is coming and for everyone to seek Him for protection (Zephaniah 2:2-3). The New Testament expands the concept of the Day of the Lord to include a time when the Lord Jesus Christ will ultimately return to bring universal judgment upon evil, wickedness, and deceit and deliver His faithful remnant (Matthew 24; Luke 21:7-36; Romans 2:5; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:135:11; 1 John 4:1 ). The judgment and salvation announced in Zephaniah foreshadows Gods final act of bringing judgment and salvation at the return of Jesus Christ (see Revelation 19:1122:5). No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son Himself. Only [God] the Father knows (Matthew 24:36). This Day of the Lord will begin with the rapture of the church, at the beginning of the Tribulation period, and extend to the end of the Millennium and the melting of the elements of the universe (2 Peter 3:1013). God's purpose is not destruction but re-creation and purification (see Isaiah 66:22; Revelation 21, 22). God will purify the heavens and earth and create everything anew (Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22; Revelation 21:1). The other major theme of Zephaniah is the need to wholeheartedly seek God in view of the coming judgment or Day of the Lord (Zephaniah 1:7; Zephaniah 2:13). Zephaniah urged the people to seek God because the only hope to escape Gods judgment is to seek and remain close to God (Psalm 105:4; Amos 5:6; Matthew 7:7-8; John 15:1-8). To seek God means to humbly and faithful walk close to Him and pursue His ways of living (also called righteousness) (Micah 6:6-8). God rewards everyone who humbly seeks and trusts Him (Zephaniah 3:11-20; see also Matthew 5:5; Matthew 7:7; Hebrews 11:6), even during times of distress and heartache (Psalm 46:1-3; 10). Zephaniah reveals that only the meek and humble that trust in God and purses truth would live in Gods protection (Zephaniah 3:12; see also Matthew 5:5). Everyone who continued to trust and love God, just as the prophet Zephaniah and the other prophets had encouraged, survived the Day of the Lord and had life (Zephaniah 3:9-20; see also Deuteronomy 30:19-20). Even today, if we want to escape Gods coming judgment, the terms are the same as they were in Zephaniahs day: seek God in genuine repentance from sin and wholehearted obedience for God (Matthew 11:28-30; Mark 1:14-15). God wants everyone to give their hearts to Him and live a
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godly life of obedience and love (John 13:34-35). The Holy Bible is clear that God loves righteousness, obedience, humility, faith, and truth (Matthew 5:3-12). However, self-reliance, pride, lies, deceit, and superiority have no place among God and God's people (Zephaniah 3:12-13; see also Psalm 15; Philippians 2:1-8). Like Zephaniah, Jesus Christ urges everyone to repent and turn their hearts to God (Mark 1:14-15). This explains why Zephaniah, like so many other prophets, pleaded for the people to repent of their sins and seek God (Zephaniah 2:2-3; see also 2 Chronicles 7:14; Joel 2:15-16). Zephaniah envisioned a remade world that worshipped and loved God (Zephaniah 3:8-20). The New Testament often speaks, like Zephaniah, of the worldwide judgment and renewed world to come. Unless you know and trust Jesus Christ as your own Savior, you will have no place to hide (Zephaniah 2:3). The Holy Bible urges everyone to forsake evil and turn toward God, which is what we do when we truly put our faith in what Jesus Christ has done for us (Ephesians 2:8-10). Then we will be hidden in the day of Gods anger and judgment (Zephaniah 2:3; Acts 17:3031; 1 Thessalonians 1:910). Let everyone do what is right. Seek justice, righteousness, humility, and discipline that you will be hidden and protected by God on the day of the Lord's anger (see also 1 Chronicles 28:9). God is a strong Warrior who is mighty to save and protect you with His love (Zephaniah 3:17).
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The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet (renew) you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV).

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References
Believers Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995. Butler, Trent. Holman Bible Dictionary. Broadman & Holman Pub., 1991. Douglas, J.D. NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible. New York: Zondervan, 1989. King James Version Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1988. KJV Bible Commentary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1994. Life Application Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005. New Student Bible. New York: Zondervan,1992. NLT Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2008. Spirit Filled Life Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991. Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary. Victor Books, 1989. Wiersbe, Warren W. With the Word Bible Commentary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991. Word in Life Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996. Zondervan NIV Study Bible. New York: Zondervan, 2008.