A Word in Josiah's Days
A short book of coming judgment that ends in one of scripture’s tenderest promises. After the warnings, our Father is revealed standing in the very midst of His people—singing over them like a Father over a child He delights in.
1 1The word of our Father came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, when Josiah son of Amon ruled Judah.
2"I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth,' declares our Father.
Judah's Long Drift Away
3"I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and the rubble of idols along with the wicked. I will cut off humanity from the face of the earth,' declares our Father. 4'I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal, the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests, 5those who bow down on the rooftops to the starry host, those who bow down and swear by our Father and yet swear by Milcom, a a v5 Milcom was the chief god of the Ammonites; the name itself carries the sense of kingship. 6and those who turn back from following our Father, who do not seek our Father or inquire of him."
7Be silent before the Sovereign Father! For the day of our Father is near; he has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests. b b v7 The day of our Father — the day he himself acts. FHB names him here so the reader meets the Father who judges, not a distant deity. The same Father who creates and rescues brings the age to its appointed reckoning.
8"On the day of our Father's sacrifice I will punish the officials and the king's sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire. 9On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, who fill their master's house with violence and deceit. c c v9 Leaping over the threshold was a pagan superstition, likely connected to the Philistine practice at Dagon's temple (see 1 Samuel 5:5). 10On that day,' declares our Father, 'a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills. 11Wail, you who live in the Mortar! For all the merchants are silenced; all who weigh out silver are cut off.'" d d v11 The Mortar (Hebrew Maktesh) was a hollow market district of Jerusalem, named for its bowl-like shape.
12At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men who are settled like wine on its dregs, who say in their hearts, "God will do nothing — neither good nor harm. e e v12 Wine left undisturbed on its dregs grows thick and sour — a picture of people too settled and comfortable to expect anything from our Father.
13Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not live in them; they will plant vineyards but not drink their wine."
14The great day of our Father is near — near and coming fast. Listen! The day of our Father is bitter; there the mighty warrior cries out. 15That day is a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty corner towers.
17"I will bring such distress on people that they will grope about like the blind, because they have sinned against our Father. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like manure. 18Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of our Father's wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole earth will be consumed, for he will bring a sudden end to everyone on earth."
