Zephaniah 1:2-3

We need to get our act together! God’s people need to start caring about others and add actions to their thoughts. We are in the end times and God is calling us to be doers of His word not just hearers.

The message of Zephaniah begins with a pronouncement of universal judgment. These words not only introduce the particular judgment that would be pronounced upon Judah, but they also speak of the final judgment that will usher in the kingdom of God on earth. Because there is nothing in the universe that really may be compared to the Creator, God abhors all forms of idolatry.

Many books of prophecy in the Bible speak of “the day of the Lord”. This day is a time of judgment that includes both God’s people (Israel and Judah) and the surrounding nations. The prophet Zephaniah scolded Judah’s leaders for countless acts of wickedness. His prophecies against the nations included Philistia, Moab and Ammon , Ethiopia, and Assyria. These nations were judged because of pride and arrogance against God’s people and because of their continuing idolatry.

But the last section of Zephaniah’s prophecy contains words of hope: promises of protection for the remnant and promises for the future of those who know Him truly. In a future day, peoples of all nations will come to worship the Lord. His own people will be renewed in righteousness. And the King of kings Himself will rule in their midst. That day of the Lord’s return will be a day of song and gladness. Even God will burst out in joyful singing. The raging anger of the Lord will be replaced by His happy singing, for salvation will finally have come to His people.