The prophet Zephaniah prophesied during a time when many people were trying to do what is right. While he was alive, the king of Judah, Josiah, destroyed idols all over the land and told the people to serve God. Under the two kings before Josiah, the people were worshipping idols and doing many things that made God angry. But Josiah, a young man, loved God and wanted the people to serve Him.

Zephaniah warned the people that God would destroy everything in the land of Judah if they people continued to worship idols. He said the people would become like food for their enemies. He also said that no amount of money would buy their freedom. In fact, the people would lose everything they owned to their enemies. He said that the enemies would live in their houses and eat the food from their vineyards and fields. God would do this if the people did not repent.

God’s people had a wrong attitude about God. They said that God would not do good or evil to the people (Zephaniah 1:12). They were wrong to think that God would do nothing. Some people today think that God does not care about things in the world and that He will do nothing good for us or bad against us. We must not think this way.

The people did not repent when God corrected them. They had times without a lot of water or food, enemies attacked them, and other problems which God brought on them to turn them back to Him. However, the people did not repent when they were punished. We must always do what God commands and when we do wrong, repent.

Zephaniah called the people to repent. He told them, in Zephaniah 2:1-3, to:

  1. Repent before it is too late. We must not think that we can do wrong and change sometime later. We must do what is right today.
  2. Seek the Lord in meekness. We must  realize that God is in control and should serve Him completely.
  3. Seek righteousness. We must do what is right and learn His word so we can do things that Jesus did.
  4. Seek humility. We must not be proud but realize that God deserves our worship, love, and obedience.
  5. Let us always serve God and remember that He loves us and will take care of us. He is our God!

Lessons from Zephaniah

  • God wants His people to serve Him completely
  • God would destroy Judah if they did not repent
  • God does care what His people say and do and will reward or punish us if we are doing good or doing evil
  • Seek the Lord and desire to please Him