What’s Happening?
Zephaniah prophecies that God will soon purify the world with fire (Zephaniah 3:8). And in the place of evil and pride, a holy and humble minority will experience God’s love and safety (Zephaniah 3:17).
In particular, God will cleanse the speech of the world (Zephaniah 3:9). After the fire, humanity will no longer speak arrogantly like the proud nations around them. But in deference and humility, they will honor God and serve him as one united people (Zephaniah 3:8). Everyone who God once scattered across the earth will return and worship him with their words and speech (Zephaniah 3:10).
After the arrogant are removed, Jerusalem will act as a new city for the world’s humble minority, never to be conquered again (Zephaniah 3:11-12). Everyone who lives inside the walls of this new Jerusalem will honor God because their tongues will be purged of deceit and filled with truth (Zephaniah 3:13a). Never again will Jerusalem need to fear judgment or fire because every arrogant power has either been turned back or turned into a fellow humble friend (Zephaniah 3:14-15).
After the fire, God will come near his people to comfort them. In joy he will sing over the humble, and in love he will quiet the anxious (Zephaniah 3:17). God’s song promises an end to pride and arrogance (Zephaniah 3:18). God sings of restoration to the lame and honor to the disgraced and outcast (Zephaniah 3:19). And finally, God promises to publicly gather his holy and humble people into a new home, where none can deny what God has done for them (Zephaniah 3:20).
Where is the Gospel?
Early in world history, the peoples of the earth were united under one language (Genesis 11:1). But humanity used their common speech to defy God and his plan to spread his people and promises throughout the earth (Genesis 11:4). In justified anger, God multiplied their languages and prevented humanity from uniting under a common tongue of human pride (Genesis 11:6-7, 9). Unfortunately, every country and people developed new languages and ways to defy God and oppress the humble. But Zephaniah predicts the humble will finally be safe after another day of fire falls to undo the proud speech of the earth.
That day of fire occurred 50 days after Jesus died— the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:3). As Zephaniah prophesied, a scattered minority from all over the earth were gathered in Jerusalem (Acts 2:5). God appeared, not in a jealous fire to destroy proud speech, but as tongues of fire speaking good news in languages understood by all (Acts 2:3-4, 6). Purged of deceit and filled with truth, God’s new holy and humble minority proclaimed the good news that Jesus rose from the dead (Acts 2:22-24). In joy and in love, God’s tongue of fire quieted the humble in Jerusalem with songs of peace and victory.
We still need this comfort, which is why it’s good news that Zephaniah prophesied that God would come near to comfort his humble people. One of Jesus’ names is Immanuel, or God with us (Matthew 1:23). And as the tongues of fire proved, Jesus is not simply near us, but in us. We are filled with his Holy Spirit. The apostle John calls him the Comforter whose role is to give us peace (John 14:26-27). So if you are willing to humble yourself, if you are willing to admit that your pride or power cannot achieve what you desire, if you are willing to admit that Jesus has risen from the dead, then God will sing over you this truth: you are now a citizen of an eternal Kingdom absent of arrogance, enemies, and death.
See For Yourself
I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who speaks through fire. And may you see Jesus as the Comforter who quiets your soul with songs of his love.
FAQs
But in Zephaniah 3:9-20, the final section of Zephaniah's prophesy, the prophet calls our attention to God's love, and calls the people of God to a time of celebration. Even in judgment, God is love (Hebrews 12:6).
What was Zephaniah's main message? ›
The central theme of the book of Zephaniah is the Day of the Lord. ' Zephaniah elucidates two major aspects of this central theme, judgment and restoration, and in both of these aspects Zephaniah evinces many parallels to the books of the eighth-century prophets.
What does the book of Zephaniah teach us? ›
Zephaniah explains that the Lord will pour out judgment on all nations. Zephaniah reveals that the Lord will give His people a pure language, renew His relationship with them, and reign in the midst of Zion.
What is the devotional of Zephaniah 3? ›
Just as the Lord will one day restore the Jewish nation that brought shame and disgrace to His name, so He will forgive us if we have strayed away from Him. When we come to Jesus with a repentant heart, He will love us, forgive us, and sing over us with joy!
Who is Zephaniah speaking to? ›
Zephaniah warns Israel and the surrounding nations that the Day of the Lord is near. God will judge the nations with a burning fire as he purifies them from sin, evil, and violence.
What positive message does the book of Zephaniah end with? ›
Zephaniah 3:9-20: Hope for the Nations and Jerusalem
, that he would find a way to bless the nations and Jerusalem as well. ). The closing poem ends with powerful images of God gathering up into his family the outcast, the poor, and the broken, exalting them into a place of honor.
What was Zephaniah's warning? ›
Boldly predicting the destruction of Judah for the evil committed by its occupants, the prophet spoke against the religious and moral corruption, when, in view of the idolatry which had penetrated even into the sanctuary, he warned that God would "destroy out of this place the remnant of Baal, and the names of the ...
How does Zephaniah relate to Jesus? ›
Zephaniah prophesied against the worshiping of different gods, religious arrogance, and immoral men. He was looking for repentance, so that the people could enjoy the “Day of the Lord.” This “Day of the Lord” points directly to Jesus.
What is the main message of Zechariah? ›
Zechariah emphasizes that unparalleled salvation will come with the rebuilding of the temple. Two leaders, Zerubbabel and Joshua, are described as instruments through which YHWH realizes the salvation.
What is the major theme of Zephaniah? ›
The dominant theme of the book is the “day of the Lord,” which the prophet sees approaching as a consequence of the sins of Judah. A remnant will be saved (the “humble and lowly”) through purification by judgment.
humble will be saved to inherit the Earth. Watch our. full introduction to the book of Zephaniah at.
What was the prophecy of Zephaniah? ›
He predicts the down fall of the Assyrian empire but, unlike Isaiah, he does not anticipate the resurgence of peace and righteousness in Jerusalem. He predicts a day of judgment that will sweep across the face of the entire earth (1:2, 14-18) like a fire-storm and purge it of evil.
What is the meaning of Zephaniah 3 9 13? ›
Here in Zephaniah, the LORD would transform the speech of the peoples. He would then give them purified lips. The pagan peoples had unclean lips because they worshiped false gods. But after the judgment of the LORD, He would give them clean lips.
What does "take the coal cleanse my lips" mean? ›
When the angel pressed the hot coal against Isaiah's lips it represented that Isaiah needed his previous mouth to be totally done away with. God wants to burn up the old way of speaking and the old way of using our mouth..
What is the meaning of Zephaniah 3:14-20? ›
Zephaniah 3:14-20 is one of the most beautiful passages in the whole Old Testament. In the midst of this restoration, he commands Zion to sing with joy and rejoice with gladness. The Lord has taken away their punishment and turned back their enemy. He has replaced their fear with the assurance of his own presence.
What does God bless those who are humble for they will inherit the whole earth mean? ›
To be meek is to be gentle, humble, lowly. “The meek are the 'gentle'… those who do not assert themselves over others in order to further their own agendas in their own strength, but who will nonetheless inherit the earth because they trust in God to direct the outcome of events.” ESV Study Bible notes.
