Zephaniah Inspired

The prophet Zephaniah was born during the reign of King Manasseh, who did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Chron. 33:1-2). His father, King Hezekiah, restored the leadership and standard of Worship to Judah. Zephaniah, being the fourth generation after King Hezekiah, brought attention to the failure of Israel to please God through faith and righteousness. The foundation of Manasseh’s leadership led royal and priestly leadership to the worship of other gods (Zeph. 1:4-5, 7-9, 3:3-5).

Zephaniah spoke because God spoke to him (Zeph. 1:1), but Zephaniah was unaware how his message from God would impact his hearers. The prophecy of Zephaniah falls in the early days of King Josiah’s reign. Josiah implemented reform across the kingdom of Judah, leading to the reestablishment of the Passover Celebration (2 Kings 22-23).
There is a subtle glimmer of hope that builds into total restoration of salvation given by the Lord. That glimmer is seen in the Lord’s call for other nations to seek the Lord (Zeph. 2:3) and for Israel to wait on the Lord (Zeph. 3:8). Both of which could not be done if we are not submissive to the message of God from the Bible. Proverbs tells us that: “Where there is no prophetic vision, people will cast off restraint, but the blessed in whose keep the law” (Prov. 29:18).
Take steps to share what the Lord is teaching you through the Scripture. Only God knows what you will inspire.