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Greetings listeners. Have you ever looked around and thought, god? How can you let this happen, when evil goes unchecked, when leaders abuse power, when the innocents get crushed and the proud seems to win? It's a question that aches in our hearts, and the book of Zephaniah doesn't ignore it. It gives us God's answer, one we might not expect Judgment and joy, because God sees more than we do and he will not stay silent forever. Well, welcome everyone. I'm your host, Jacqui Adewole, and this is the Bible Basics Podcast, where, weekly, we break down the basics of the Bible into understandable, bite-sized chunks. Let's start by setting the scene. We're in the final decades before Judah goes into exile.

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Zephaniah spoke during the reign of King Josiah, around 640 to 609 BC. Josiah was one of the few kings of Judah who tried to turn things around. He tore down idols, repaired the temple and called the people back to worship God, but underneath the reforms, the people's hearts hadn't really changed. That's the tension Zephaniah steps into. Outward religion is up, but inward rebellion is still alive. There are signs. Zephaniah spoke before 621 BC, before Josiah's biggest reforms. He still described idol worship and widespread corruption, and in chapter 1, verses 4 through 6, and 3, verses 1 through 7, he spoke of other serious conditions, things Josiah later tried to remove. Serious conditions, things Josiah later tried to remove. So while Josiah is working to clean up the nation, Zephaniah is warning that it's not enough to clean up the outside. God sees what's underneath. Zephaniah also mentions Nineveh's fall as still in the future. That's chapter 2, verse 13. So this places the book before 612 BC, when Assyria was overthrown. So this is a turning point moment.

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And you might be thinking, Jacqui, didn't you already discuss a prophet giving a final warning to Judah in your last episode on the book of Nahum? Well, yes, but Zephaniah wasn't the only voice speaking. He's one of four prophets alongside Nahum. The episode link is in the show notes. Then there's Habakkuk and Jeremiah, who together were to sound the alarm just before Judah falls. It's a last call, a final chance for Judah to listen.

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So who was Zephaniah? He isn't mentioned anywhere else in the Bible outside this book, but the opening verse gives us an important clue about who he was Zephaniah. Chapter 1, verse 1, traces his family line back four generations, all the way to King Hezekiah. That likely means Zephaniah was part of the royal family. He wasn't just another prophet preaching from the street corners, he was speaking from inside the palace walls. He knew the system, he had access, and yet he still called out the nation's sin. And yet he still called out the nation's sin, including the sin of its leaders.

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So what was the core message in Zephaniah? Well, on the surface it's a fierce warning, and it is Zephaniah's message starts with a shock. Zephaniah's message starts abruptly. No soft introduction, just a direct, serious announcement from God. Chapter 1, verses 2 and 3 say declares the Lord, I will sweep away both man and beast. I will sweep away the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble, when I destroy all mankind on the face of the earth, declares the Lord". This isn't just dramatic language, it's a warning. God's about to confront sin, starting with his own people. Now there's a phrase Zephaniah repeats more than any other prophet the day of the Lord. It's the day God steps in to confront sin and bring justice, not just fairness, but full accountability for sin. We'll unpack that more in a few minutes, but for now just know it's the thread that ties this whole book together. And God's justice doesn't begin with pagan nations, it starts with Judah nations. It starts with Judah. God calls out idol worship.

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In chapter 1, verses 4 through 6, complacency and indifference towards God. You know the people who say, quote the Lord won't do anything, either good or bad unquote. That's chapter 1, verse 12. And he calls out corrupt leaders that oppress and twist the truth. Chapter 3, verses 1 through 4. Then, in chapter 2, god expands his focus to the heathen nations around Judah Philistia, moab, ammon, cush and Assyria.

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Chapter 2, verses 4 through 15. Each one is held accountable. God brings them to answer for their pride, violence and rebellion. So who is God confronting Everyone? Chapter 1, verse 17 says I will bring such distress on all people because they have sinned against the Lord. No one is left out, but judgment.

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God's act of confronting and removing sin isn't the final word. In chapter 3, the tone shifts. God says he'll purify the nations. That's chapter 3, verse 9. Remove the proud and raise up the humble. Chapter 3, verses 11 through 13. And rejoice over his people with singing.

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Chapter 3, verse 17. That's the surprise of Zephaniah. It begins with judgment but ends with singing. Chapter 3, verse 20. So what's the main message? The day of the Lord is coming. God will confront sin both then and in the future. But his goal isn't destruction, it's restoration. God will judge what's corrupt, restore what's good and bring his people back to himself.

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Now let's talk about that phrase that ties the whole book of Zephaniah together the day of the Lord. It shows up more in this short book than in any other book of prophecy, especially in chapter 1, verses 7 and 14 through 18, and again in chapter 2, verses 2 and 3. So what is it? The day of the Lord is when God steps in to confront sin, holds people accountable and ultimately restore what's been broken in the world. In Zephaniah's time, that day was coming soon. Babylon would invade, jerusalem would fall and judgment would hit Judah and her neighbors hard. That's the near view of the day of the Lord.

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Old Testament prophecy referring to the day of the Lord often speak of both a near view and a far view, sometimes referred to as the not yet fulfillment. But here's where it gets interesting. Like many prophets, zephaniah doesn't stop with the crisis right in front of him. He moves between near and far events, blending what was about to happen in his own time with things that wouldn't be fulfilled until much later. That's the far or the not yet. His words stretch forward to the return from exile, to Jesus' first coming, and even to his return.

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As biblical scholar J Daniel Hayes explains, in their depiction of future restoration the prophets can be referring to one, two or all of the following events in the same text the returning from exile, the first coming of Christ and the second coming of Christ. So in Zephaniah we see different moments in time, some near, some far and some way off, described together in the same message. That is what the day of the Lord is like in Zephaniah. Some parts happened in his lifetime Babylon's judgment. Some point to Jesus' first coming, god taking away our punishment and being with us, and some still look ahead to the final day when God will judge evil fully and restore his people completely. That's where the hope in Zephaniah really takes shape and why his words ultimately point to Jesus.

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Zephaniah doesn't mention the Messiah by name, but his promises in chapter 3 point directly to Jesus. Chapter 3, verse 15, says the Lord has taken away your punishment. He has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you. Never again will you fear any harm.

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According to the open Bible quote, although the Messiah is not specifically mentioned in Zephaniah, it's clear that he's the one who will fulfill the great promises of chapter 3, verses 9 through 20. These promises began to unfold when the exiles returned to Jerusalem, but they are ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, in his first coming to satisfy God's judgment against sin, and in his second coming where he will redeem and restore Israel and the nations. So, as I mentioned in the beginning, the book of Zephaniah is short it's just three chapters but it speaks clearly about who God is. He sees the sin, whether it's idol worship, pride, complacency or corruption, and he doesn't ignore it, he confronts it. But he also offers mercy to anyone willing to turn back to him. Just like we heard in the episode on the book of Nahum, god sees and he will act. But in Zephaniah we also see what comes after God restores and he rejoices.

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Thank you for tuning in. Next time we'll meet the prophet Jeremiah, who didn't just warn about what was coming, he lived through it. Until then, keep reading, keep seeking and keep growing in your faith. And hey, if this episode encouraged you, consider sharing it with someone who might need it. Leave a review or hit subscribe if you're watching on YouTube. We'd love to keep learning together.