The book of Zephaniah contains three chapters and 53 verses. His names means "Jehovah hides" or "Jehovah has hidden." This book's message is imminent doom and ultimate deliverance of the faithful remnant after the punishment is past.
Several prevailing sins are mentioned: Star worshipping:" Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops..." {Zephaniah 1:5} Backsliding. "Those who have turned back from following the Lord, and have not sought the Lord, nor inquired of Him." {Zepaniah 1:6} Complacency. "And it shall come to pass at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish men who are settled in complacency, who say in their heart, The lord will not do good, nor will He do evil." {Zephaniah 1:12} Total rebellion. "Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city!" {Zephaniah 3:1} Corrupt religious leaders. "Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law." {Zephaniah 3:4}
Over and over (13 times in chapter 1, and 18 times in the entire book), he mentions the DAY OF THE LORD. The scriptures use this phrase in two ways: 1. A day within history. 2. A day at the end of history. Sometimes, it implies a contrast between God's patience and judgment. Look at some of the judgments passed down in this book: Judgment on Judah -- 1:1:-2:3; Judgment on Jerusalem -- 3:1-7; Philista -- 2:4-7; Moab and Ammon -- 2:8-10; Ethiopia -- 2:12; Assyria and Nineveh -- 2:12-15.
The thing that made this prophecy so difficult for Israel to accept was the good conditions they were presently enjoying. How could doom be at their doorsteps? When man make choices, God does too. God does not choose for man, and man should nor try to choose for God.
Zephaniah has some practical lessons: Sowing and Reaping. The Day of the Lord would show forth the results of their decisions. "The day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of thick clouds and darkness." {Zephaniah 1:15} Because of their sins, that day was fast approaching. Sin of Omission. Those who turned back from following and seeking Him, thought they knew what their duties were; they were due for punishment. James 4:17 states the principle involved here. Folly of Gambling on Divine Indifference. Zephaniah 1:12,13 Some believe that God is "too busy" to be concerned with man's affairs. The people thought that God was "indifferent" to what they did. On their parts, this was wishful, foolish thinking. If it made no difference to God, why did he give them a law, and priests and prophets to guide them? In a similar way, why does it matter what one does religiously so long as he does something? This thinking could cause us to conclude that the Bible has no real purpose in our own lives. Sadly, many accept the devil's lie!
A powerful lesson we can take away from Zephaniah is that we too will face "the day of the Lord." But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?" {2 Peter 3:10-12} In a similar manner, we will come face to face with God's law, and it will judge us (John 12:48). Despite the numerous works of these Minor Prophets, Judah was not prepared for her judgment. Will we fare any better? Not if we pursue the same course!