Thinking on Scripture with Dr. Steven R. Cook
Religion & Spirituality:Christianity
Author:
The author is identified as “Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah” (Zep 1:1a). It could be that Zephaniah was the great-great-grandson of King Hezekiah, who ruled from 715-687 B.C. If so, he would be a cousin to King Josiah, who was reigning during his time of prophetic ministry; and, it would connect Zephaniah with two good kings who ruled in Judah. Also, he could be the priest who was captured and killed in 586 B.C. (2 Ki 25:18-21). However, there is insufficient evidence to determine if either of these extrapolations are true.
Audience:
Zephaniah prophesied to Judah (Zep 1:4).
Date of Ministry:
Zephaniah’s ministry was “in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah” (Zep 1:1b). Josiah ruled in Judah from 640-609 B.C. Zephaniah’s message, which addresses some of the idolatry and corruption in Judah, was likely before Josiah began his reforms in 622 B.C., or perhaps, in the early stages. His ministry was definitely before the fall of Assyria in 612 B.C., which he prophesied (Zep 2:13).
Historical Background:
Josiah was a good king who followed the reign of two evil kings, Manasseh and Amon. Manasseh reigned fifty-five years and was an evil king (2 Ki 21:1-18). Amon reigned two years and was an evil king (2 Ki 21:19-26). Josiah became king in 640 B.C. when he was eight years old, and he was a good king who walked in the ways of the Lord (2 Ki 22:1-2). In 622 B.C.—the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign—God’s Word was revealed to him (2 Ki 22:3-20), and he responded positively and instituted religious reforms throughout Judah and destroyed all the false idols and places of worship (2 Ki 23:1-25). These reforms continued until his death in 609 B.C. (2 Ki 23:29). Judah experienced a time of great prosperity and spiritual reform under Josiah’s reign; however, the outward reforms did not lead to regeneration or revival among God’s people, and the following kings reverted back to evil practices and Judah and Jerusalem were eventually destroyed in 586 B.C. This shows that the faith of one generation may not continue to the next.
Zephaniah’s Message:
The theme of Zephaniah is the approaching judgment of God upon Judah for their sin. The subject of the Day of the Lord is prominent in the book.
Zephaniah’s message ends with hope, as God promises a future restoration of His people and a time of blessing (Zep 3:9-20), which is likely a reference to the millennial kingdom.
Outline:
[1] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Hab 3:19.
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