Zephaniah 1 reminds me of a recent trip to visit our West Coast family. My wife was not raised by her bio-dad and then moved 3000 miles away when she was very young. As a result there are gaps in knowledge of family history. We spent time with that half and I could not help but look for traits that might be found in my own children. The debate of nature versus nurture swirled through my mind. The chapter begins with a brief genealogy, back to Zephaniah’s great-grand-daddy, King Hezekiah. All of us have both good and bad role models that we can choose to embrace, or reject. He identified the noblest man. The prophet also lived under the rule of 3 kings; this book was written under the last one, “during the reign of Josiah“. The chapter describes God’s judgment of the whole earth, beginning with the corrupt in Jerusalem, “When I destroy all mankind on the face of the earth… I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem“. The nation had rejected God and turned to vile practices, including child sacrifice. God knows, “the very names of the idolatrous priests” and those who “neither seek the Lord nor inquire of Him“. God does not need witnesses to convict; He knows the thoughts behind our actions.
Next God includes lots of folks that think they are immune, “I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all those clad in foreign clothes“. Both the well-connected and non-religious are mentioned. The businessmen who pay bribes to support the corruption are on the list, “All your merchants will be wiped out“. And God points out a special group, “I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent“. Those that think they can remain neutral by avoiding conflict and controversy are condemned for allowing evil to flourish. They undermine God’s authority by saying, “The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad“. The privileged trust their resources, but “Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished“. Corruption promises protection and then consumes the naive.
The word to Zephaniah was unambiguous, “The great day of the Lord is near… That day will be a day of wrath a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom… because they have sinned against the Lord“. The chapter ends with a promise, “He will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth“. So what is the good news? It is important to point out that King Josiah reigned 31 years, but it wasn’t until the second half of his life that he discovered the Word of God which had been discarded in the dilapidated Temple. From that point on he believed and obeyed God’s Law. 2 Chronicles 34 tells us what happened. First Josiah’s life was transformed, and then he shared God’s Word with the nation. “Then the king called together… all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord…to follow the Lord and keep His commands, statutes and decrees… the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors“. Friend, you too have a choice today. Ephesians 1:5 says, “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In loveHe predestined us for adoption… through Jesus Christ“. Regardless of your personal genealogy, you can embrace the Noblest Prince. Friend, who’s your daddy?