The ninth minor prophet, Zephaniah speaks to the people of Judah, during the reign of, according to the Old Testament books of Kings and Chronicles, King Josiah. The last great king of Judah who attempted to usher in reforms and centralization of worship practices in Judaism. As a prophet Zephaniah speaks to how they have gone wrong, as a nation and people from God in hard and negative terms to encourage change. There are prophetic pronouncements of judgment for Judah as well as other nations that have gone against God. Most distressing of these prophetic words is description of the Day of the Lord being one of not joy or comfort but ruin, destruction, and disaster. All word play, frightening descriptions and pronouncements made in order shock the listeners to change. And like, most prophetic works, Zephaniah closes in comfort and hope, that indeed, God is faithful, God will redeem and save.
Zephaniah 3:8-9
“8Therefore wait for me, says the Lord, for the day when I arise as a witness. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all the heat of my anger; for in the fire of my passion all the earth shall be consumed. 9At that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord.”
Prayer
God our deliverer, even as it may seem the smoke and gloom as risen to unbearable levels, I will seek the light of your joy. May I also witness your power at work in the world, your love and hope fluttering and soon, a mighty gale to refresh and renew me and the world. In Christ’s holy name I pray, Amen.
