Icons of the Bible: The Prophet Zephaniah - Pronouncing the Lord's Judgement
Summary of the Book of Zephaniah
Author: Zephaniah 1:1 identifies the author of the Book of Zephaniah as the Prophet Zephaniah. The name Zephaniah means "defended by God."
Date of Writing: The book of Zephaniah was written during the reign of King Josiah, likely in the early part of his reign, between 635 and 625 BC.
Purpose of Writing: Zephaniah’s message of judgment and encouragement contains three major doctrines: 1) God is sovereign over all nations. 2) The wicked will be punished and the righteous will be vindicated on the day of judgment. 3) God blesses those who repent and trust in Him.
Key Verses:
Zephaniah 1:18, "Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’s wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth."
Zephaniah 2:3, "Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger."
Zephaniah 3:17, "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.".." from the article: Summary of the Book of Zephaniah
Who is Zephaniah and Why is He Important in the Bible?
"The words of Zephaniah contain one of my favorite Bible verses. Yet before we get to that verse, the book, like many prophetic books, is full of alarming brokenness and impending judgement. The book isn’t exactly like curling up with a comforting Psalm or an inspirational Parable of Jesus. But still the themes of comfort, hope, and faith are present if we expectantly and faithfully linger in its pages.So what do we know about this man the Lord chose to bring His words to His people?
Zephaniah’s Name
The name Zephaniah means “the Lord hides” or “the Lord has hidden.” It was rather common for parents to give their child a name that somehow became a prophetic piece of their life (yes, this is the fun part in reading the Biblical genealogies - there are always some meanings to the names and purpose for why they are included in Scripture.) Bible scholars believe perhaps that God hid Zephaniah during the bloodthirsty reign of Manasseh.
If Zephaniah’s name wasn’t a personal prophecy, it was certainly tied to the message the Lord would bring through his servant. Despite the sifting judgement that would come to the people of Israel, the righteous ones would be hidden and guarded from the destruction to come.." from the article: Who is Zephaniah and Why is He Important in the Bible?