When God Comes In Judgment (Zephaniah 1:1-18) Series

This week, we begin a short, three week study on the book of Zephaniah. Let's start by reading verse 1:

(1) The word of Yahweh that was/came to Zephaniah son of Gedalyah son of Amaryah son of Khezkeyah in the days of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah.

Zephaniah was a prophet when Josiah was king over Judah. Josiah is remembered as one of the good kings (2 Kings 23). He trashed the high places people used to worship other gods. He tore down the Asherah poles, and burned them. He put an end to star worship. But all of this happened later in his reign.

Josiah became king when he was only 8 years old. 8. And when he became king, the nation was unfaithful. His father Amon was a terrible king. He was violent, and an idolater. He abandoned Yahweh (2 Kings 20:19-26). And he was killed after only two years-- his own officials assassinated him. Then the people killed all the assassins, and made Josiah king in his place.

What seems most likely, is that Zephaniah prophesied at a time when Josiah has taken his first steps of faith. He's started to cleanse the land of idolatry. But the job is half-done, at best. Let's read Zephaniah 1:4:

(4) and I will stretch out my hand against Judah,

and against all the ones dwelling in Jerusalem,

and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal--,

The "remnant" is the stuff that's left over, after you've used the majority of it for a job. You can have a fabric remnant, or carpet remnant. You keep the remnant in your basement forever, telling yourself it'll be useful someday. But it never is.

If Zephaniah can talk about the "remnant of Baal," then there isn't much left of Baal worship in the land. Josiah must've begun his reforms at this point. But the land isn't yet clean.

So we should read Zephaniah as a warning, and encouragement, to finish the job. It's not "good enough" yet.

Verse 2:

(2) I am gathering to bring to an end all from on the face of the land

--utterance of Yahweh.

(3) Bringing to an end man and beast,

bringing to an end the birds of the heavens,

and the fish of the sea,

and the stumbling blocks with the wicked,

and I will cut off man from on the face of the land -utterance of Yahweh.

Let's pause here. What Yahweh announces, here, is the complete destruction of the earth. It's an echo of the flood, only worse-- here, the fish of the sea are going to be killed as well.

God is going to bring an end to everything; this is it.

And when is God going to do this? Verse 2 says that God has already started the process. He "is gathering"-- right now.

Picture your kitchen floor, after you haven't swept it for a week. Your kids are messy; you're messy. Food, trash, dirt. And so you decide you are going to gather it to bring it to an end. You sweep it up into one big pile, and you'll throw the whole thing in the trash.

That's what Yahweh is doing here. He's started the process of gathering everything together.

Why is God doing this? Verse 3 gives us just a hint-- it has to do with the "stumbling blocks" and "the wicked." The problem here, probably, is idolatry. People are worshipping creation, rather than the Creator.

In verse 4, God announces judgment that hits closer to home:

(4) and I will stretch out my hand against Judah,

and against all the ones dwelling in Jerusalem,

and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal--,

the name of the idolatrous priests with the priests,

(5) and the ones bowing down on the rooftops to the host/army of the heavens,

and the ones bowing down, the ones swearing, to Yahweh,

and the ones swearing by their king,

and the ones turning from following after Yahweh,

and who haven't sought Yahweh,

and haven't consulted.

Most people (=scholars) think that these words reflect early efforts by Josiah to reform Judah. He must've already done something about Baal, if Zephaniah can talk about "the remnant of Baal." So God is angry, threatening to destroy Judah, in part because the job is half-done. People are still worshipping Yahweh's heavenly army/host/stars. There are still pagan priests in the land, who are leading the people to worship other elohim.

And the end result is that many people have combined religions, to some degree. They offer promises to Yahweh ("swearing to" Him), and bow down to him. But they also offer worship and sacrifices to other elohim. And they swear "by" their king, instead of "by Yahweh."

God has always insisted that his people, worship him alone. You bow to God alone. You offer sacrifices to God alone (Romans 12:2). And when you make oaths, you swear in God's name. Not some king.