ZEPHANIAH
The Minor Prophets:
Zephaniah 1
ZEPHANIAH, ninth in order of the minor prophets, prophesied "in the days of Josiah" ( Zephaniah 1:1 B.C. The name means "Jehovah hath guarded," literally, "hidden" ( Psalms 27:5 Psalms 83:3 his father, but also his grandfather, and great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, implies that the latter were persons of note, or else the design was to distinguish him from another Zephaniah of note at the time of the captivity. Lived around 625 BC after the Northern tribes were removed.
1 This is the word that the LORD(Jesus) gave these messages to Zephaniah when Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. Zephaniah was the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah.
2 "I will sweep away everything in all your land," says the LORD(Jesus).
3 I will put an end to humans and animals. I will put an end to the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and the sins that make people fall, together with the sinners. I will remove all people from the face of the earth, says the LORD(Jesus).
4 I will use my power against Judah and against those who live in Jerusalem. I will remove the faithful few of Baal from this place and the names of the pagan priests along with my priests.
5 And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops;and them that worship [and] that swear by the LORD(Jesus), and that swear by Malcham.
swear by the Lord--rather, "swear to JEHOVAH" ( 2 Chronicles 15:14 ); solemnly dedicating themselves to Him (compare Isaiah 48:1 , Hosea 4:15 ). "Malcham the god of . . . Ammon"
6 Those who have turned back from following the LORD(Jesus), And have not sought the LORD(Jesus), nor inquired of Him."
7 Be silent in the presence of the LORD(Jesus) God; because the day of the LORD(Jesus) is near. The LORD(Jesus) has prepared a sacrifice. He has invited his special guests.
8 On the day of the LORD(Jesus)'s sacrifice I will punish the officials, the king's sons, and all who dress in foreign clothing.
9 On that day I will punish all who jump over the doorway and all who fill their master's house with violence and deception.
10 On that day a loud cry will come from Fish Gate, a howling from the Second Part of the city, and a loud crashing sound from the hills," says the LORD(Jesus).
fish gate--( 2 Chronicles 33:14 , Nehemiah 3:3 , 12:39 ). Situated on the east of the lower city, north of the sheep gate [MAURER]: near the stronghold of David in Milo, between Zion and the lower city, towards the west [JEROME].
11 Howl, inhabitants of the Mortar, because all the merchants will be destroyed and all who handle money will be killed.
12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are satisfied with their hardened lifestyle, who think that the LORD(Jesus) won't do anything--good or bad.
They deny that God regards human affairs, or renders good to the good; or evil to the evil, but that all things go haphazard ( Psalms 10:4 , Malachi 2:17 ).
13 They are the very ones whose property will be plundered by the enemy, whose homes will be ransacked. They will never have a chance to live in the new homes they have built. They will never drink wine from the vineyards they have planted.
14 The frightening day of the LORD(Jesus) is near. It is near and coming very quickly. Listen! Warriors will cry out bitterly on the day of the LORD(Jesus).
15 That day will be a day of overflowing fury, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and overcast skies,
16 a day of shofars(the Trumpet) and battle cries against the fortified cities and against the high towers.
17 Because you have sinned against the LORD(Jesus), I will make you as helpless as a blind man searching for a path. Your blood will be poured out into the dust, and your bodies will lie there rotting on the ground.
18 Your silver and gold will be of no use to you on that day of the LORD(Jesus)'s anger. For the whole land will be devoured by the fire of his jealousy. He will make a terrifying end of all the people on earth.
His wrath jealous for His honor consuming the guilty like fire.
Zephaniah 2
1 Gather yourselves together{in church}! Yes, gather together, you shameless nation;
to a religious assembly, to avert the judgment by prayers ( Joel 2:16 ) [GROTIUS]. Or, so as not to be dissipated "as chaff" ( Zephaniah 2:2 ). The Hebrew is akin to a root meaning "chaff." Self-confidence and corrupt desires are the dissipation from which they are exhorted to gather themselves [CALVIN]. The foe otherwise, like the wind, will scatter you "as the chaff." Repentance is the gathering of themselves meant.
2 Gather while there is still time, before judgment begins and your opportunity is blown away like chaff. Act now, before the fierce fury of the LORD(Jesus) falls and the terrible day of the LORD(Jesus)'s anger begins.
3 Search for the LORD(Jesus), all you humble people in the land who carry out his judgement(The Law). Search for what is right. Search for humility. Maybe you will find shelter on the day of the LORD(Jesus)'s anger.
his judgment--that is, law.
This phrase does not imply doubt of the deliverance of the godly, but expresses the difficulty of it, as well that the ungodly may see the certainty of their doom, as also that the faithful may value the more the grace of GOD (Elohim-The Family of God) in their case ( 1 Peter 4:17-19 ) [CALVIN]. Compare 2 Kings 25:12 .
4 Gaza will be deserted, and Ashkelon will be destroyed. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be torn out by the roots.
In the Hebrew there is a play of similar sounds, Gaza Gazubah; Gaza shall be forsaken, as its name implies. So the Hebrew of the next clause, Ekron teeakeer. (Jamieson)
5 How horrible it will be for those who live on the seacoast, for the nation from Crete. The word of the LORD(Jesus) is against you, Canaan, the land of the Philistines: I will destroy you so that no one will be living there.
6 The seacoast will become pastureland with meadows for shepherds and fenced-off places for sheep.
7 The few survivors of the tribe of Judah will pasture there. They will lie down to rest in the abandoned houses in Ashkelon. For the LORD(Jesus) their GOD (Elohim-The Family of God) will visit his people in kindness and restore their prosperity again.
8 I have heard the taunts of the people of Moab and Ammon, mocking My people and invading their borders.
9 Therefore, as I live, Says the LORD(Jesus) of Hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The Family of God) of Israel, Surely Moab shall be like Sodom, And the people of Ammon like Gomorrah-- Overrun with weeds and saltpits, And a perpetual desolation. The residue of My people shall plunder them, And the remnant of My people shall possess them.
10 This is what they will get for their sinful pride, because they insulted the people who belong to the LORD(Jesus) of Hosts and made themselves greater than them.
11 The LORD(Jesus) will terrify them as he destroys all the gods in the land. Then people from nations around the world will worship the LORD, each in their own land.
12 Even you, the people from Sudan, you will also die by my sword.
13 The LORD(Jesus) will use his power against the north and destroy Assyria(Germany). He will turn Nineveh into a deserted ruin, a dried up wasteland like the desert.
14 Flocks will lie down in it along with animals of every kind. Even pelicans and herons will nest on top of its columns. Listen! A bird will sing in a window. The doorway will be in ruins, because the LORD(Jesus) will expose the cedar beams.
15 This is the fate of that boisterous city, once so secure. "In all the world there is no city as great as I," it boasted. But now, look how it has become an utter ruin, a place where animals live! Everyone passing that way will laugh in derision or shake a defiant fist.
Zephaniah 3
1Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, the city of violence.
2 It obeys no one. It does not accept correction. It does not trust the LORD(Jesus). It does not draw close to its GOD (Elohim-The Family of God).
3 Its officials are [like] roaring lions. Its judges are [like] wolves in the evening. They leave nothing to gnaw on for the morning.
4 Its prophets are reckless and unfaithful. Its priests contaminate what is holy. They violate The Law(Torah).
5 But the LORD(Jesus) is still there in the city, and he does no wrong. Day by day his justice is more evident, but no one takes notice -- the wicked know no shame.
6 I have wiped out many nations, devastating their fortress walls and towers. Their cities are now deserted; their streets are in silent ruin. There are no survivors to even tell what happened.
7 I thought, 'Surely they will have reverence for me now! Surely they will listen to my warnings, so I won't need to strike again.' But no; however much I punish them, they continue their evil practices from dawn till dusk and dusk till dawn.
8 So now the LORD(Jesus) says: "Be patient; the time is coming soon when I will stand up and accuse these evil nations. For it is my decision to gather together the kingdoms of the earth and pour out my fiercest anger and fury on them. All the earth will be devoured by the fire of my jealousy.
9 Then I will give all people pure lips to worship the LORD(Jesus) and to serve him with one purpose.
10 From beyond the rivers of Sudan My worshipers, My scattered people, will bring My offering.
11 On that day you will no longer be ashamed of yourselves, for you will no longer be rebels against Me. I will remove all the proud and arrogant people from among you. There will be no pride on My Holy Mountain.
12 So with you I will leave a faithful few, a humble and poor people. They will seek refuge in the name of the LORD(Jesus).
13 The remnant of Israel will not do wrong, tell lies, or use their tongues to deceive others. They will graze their sheep and lie down, and there will be no one to terrify them.
14 Sing happily, people of Zion! Shout loudly, Israel! Celebrate and rejoice with all your heart, people of Jerusalem.
15 The LORD(Jesus) has reversed the judgments against you. He has forced out your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD(Jesus), is with you. You will never fear disaster again.
16 On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, "Cheer up, Zion! Don't be afraid!
17 The LORD(Jesus) your GOD (Elohim-The Family of God) is with you. He is a hero who saves you. He happily rejoices over you, renews you with His love, and celebrates over you with shouts of joy.
18 I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals; you will be disgraced no more.
19 At that time I will deal with all who have overpowered you. I will rescue those who are lame. I will gather those who have been scattered. I will make them praised and famous in all the world, though they had been ashamed.
20 At that time I will bring you [home]. Yes, at that time I will gather you together. I will make you famous and praised among all the people of the earth when I restore your fortunes right before your eyes, says the LORD(Jesus).
