Perhaps it could be a coin toss as to whether you’ve heard of the prophet and Bible book, Zephaniah. He lived during the time of King Josiah, who ruled the southern kingdom called Judah right up till the time when the Babylonian Empire conquered the nation. Josiah was a faithful king. He sought to restore godly belief and practice in the land. Yet, the inevitable would happen, because in so many ways, the people and the leaders of the people abandoned the Lord.

The first verse we heard tonight says that Zephaniah is the great-great grandson of a man named Hezekiah. It’s possible that this refers to King Hezekiah (who like King Josiah and the prophet Zephaniah) was a faithful believer who sought to restore godly belief and practice during his reign. If that’s the case, then King Josiah and Zephaniah are cousins. It’s also possible that Zephaniah and Jeremiah both served as prophets at the same time. They also proclaim similar messages.

Zephaniah focuses on the nearness of “the day of the Lord.” We hear that theme throughout Scripture. Also, we will hear throughout the first two-thirds of Zephaniah that the coming day of the Lord is a wrathful occasion—a day on which the Lord takes out His vengeance. Then, we’ll hear that the day of the Lord is a restorative occasion—a day on which the Lord fulfills His promises to all who trust Him.

Zephaniah preaches similarly to Jesus. The Lord speaks of the destruction of Jerusalem as a microcosm of the destruction of the world on the great day of the Lord. Zephaniah will proclaim God’s judgment on the world and God’s judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. This makes Zephaniah a timeless, Law and Gospel book that will benefit us all.

Through Zephaniah, the Lord our God (the Creator of all) says, “I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth.” One day everything will be gone. God will sweep it like dirt is swept from a floor. Not one thing will remain upon the face of the earth. As quickly as God created mountains and plants, He will sweep it all away.

The Lord declares, “I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the rubble with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth.” As quickly as God created humanity and the animals on the fifth and sixth days of creation, so He will quickly sweep everything away even more drastically than the great flood.

When the Egyptians had enslaved the Israelites, the Lord stretched out His hand against the Egyptian false gods, showing His true power. Sadly, many Israelites living in the southern kingdom of Judah and Jerusalem worship a false god called Baal. They trust Baal to give many of the blessings that only the Lord our God provides.

God says to those Israelites, “I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests, those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens, those who bow down and swear to the LORD and yet swear by Milcom, those who have turned back from following the LORD, who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him.” God promises such devastation that Baal’s followers will vanish and Baal’s priests will be forgotten.

The Lord will also judge those who (like the pagans) worship sun, moon, and stars, or follow other superstitions. Jeremiah heard the excuses of people who worshiped what they called “the queen of heaven,” as they claimed their worship “worked.” They had gotten what they wanted “from” these pagan deities—even though Satan was behind it.

We ought not worship anything other than the Lord God. We ought not follow any superstitious practices that rob God of His glory and honor.

Many Israelites also worship a false god called Molech. They believe that by offering their children as sacrifices to Molech, their lives will be enriched. While they offer horrid sacrifices to an idol, they also bow down at the house of the Lord and call upon His name. They mix religions (believing whatever they wanted to believe) as they justified their wickedness.

Other Israelites, who had been raised in the faith, for whatever reason, drifted away from God and basically lived as like atheists.

Zephaniah proclaims that those who practice these detestable beliefs fall under God’s eternal wrath and judgment.

These false, evil practices happen today. We are tempted to worship idols (other people, places, things, or ideas). Whatever we trust and rely on to help us in time of need, or whatever we struggle to live without, if they have positions in our hearts above the Lord, they are idols. We are tempted to give the Lord no significant role in our lives—to live as though He doesn’t exist. Some literally worship false gods. Some worship bank balances, retirement accounts, economic policies, or medical relief. There are as many idols as there are sinful hearts. If any of us thinks we don’t struggle with idolatry, we aren’t searching our heart deep enough.

Zephaniah warns “the day of the Lord” is so near that the Lord has made His preparations! That’s a scary thought! God has prepared a sacrifice! In the context of Zephaniah’s writing, the sacrifice is the people of Judah and Jerusalem. They will come under His judgment for their idolatry and complacency. God has consecrated His guests (set them apart for the meal), so that they may gorge on the people of Judah and Jerusalem. In the biblical context, the Babylonians are the dinner guests, who very soon will conquer Jerusalem with Judah. God will use a pagan people to judge His faithless, obstinate, and unbelieving people.

The nearness of the Lord’s Day calls for silence. No excuses. No complaining. No blaming God, the devil, or others. No justifications for our sins and wickedness. Only repentance is called for. “A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

The Lord’s wrath is quickly kindled. Because “the officials and the king’s sons” (referring to the royal court) have strayed, they will be punished. They have followed idols and oppressed the people.

God will punish those who “array themselves in foreign attire.” This poetic way of speaking means they copy the pagan beliefs and practices around them, abandoning faith in God who loves them.

God “will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master’s house with violence and fraud.” The first part of the verse likely refers to an ancient Philistine practice. Philistines were arch-enemies of Israel. Samson battled the Philistines. Saul and David fought the Philistines. Goliath was a Philistine. The Philistine priests superstitiously avoided stepping on the threshold of the temple of their false god. Again, we hear strong condemnation of false worship and superstition. The second part of the verse probably refers to dishonesty and trickery used to oppress others.

The day of the Lord’s wrath will be so unbearable that “a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, a loud crash from the hills. Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar! For all the traders are no more; all who weigh out silver are cut off.” From the northern wall to the wealthier western hills of Jerusalem to the city’s business district (where mammon is worshiped) to all the hills surrounding Jerusalem, the piercing cries of suffering will sound.

The Lord will search the streets of Jerusalem, as if on a manhunt. He will punish open idolators and the complacent. The complacent say, “The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.” They live as though God doesn’t exist—as if they don’t need the Lord. When God’s wrath comes upon them, it will be too late. We ought not be complacent. We must repent for not taking the Lord seriously enough. 

We are to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Too often, (like the people of Judah and Jerusalem) we are tempted to love things such as wealth, real estate, and business most. The Lord warns, “Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.” Let us heed the warning and repent, despairing of ourselves, asking the Lord for mercy.

Only the wise pay attention to the times. Scripture warns repeatedly that the day is near. Jerusalem’s fall to the Babylonian Empire was a warning. The fall of Jerusalem to the Romans was a sign of the times. “The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast.” Zephaniah says the bitterness of the sound of the Lord’s trumpet on that day is enough to make the toughest soldier cry.

Pay attention to the times. Be prepared for the “day of the Lord” by hearing His voice and trusting His promises. Jesus has made you ready for the day through His saving name. Jesus has prepared you by His death and resurrection—a saving work that you receive by faith. 

The consequences of rebelling against the Lord, ignoring His warning, or living complacently are disastrous. Zephaniah says, “A day of wrath is that day, 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, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements.” What more can be added to the awful consequences?

After warning Judah and Jerusalem of the terrible consequences for abandoning faith in the one true God, Zephaniah’s message returns to warning all of humankind. The Lord is the author of life. He’s the giver of life. Life flows through Him and from Him. Apart from the Lord, there’s only death. To abandon, rebel, or reject the Lord definitionally means death. There’s no “That’s not nice of God!” or “Well, He’s a mean God!” or “The God I believe in wouldn’t do that!” Those are only rebellious words, rejecting the precious blood of Christ Jesus.

Sin is so disastrous, so offensive to God, that as a consequence the Lord brings “distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind.” This means sinners live helplessly and lost. Sin blinds us to the way it hurts our relationship with God and others. The remedy is repentance—admitting our sin and trusting Christ as the Savior.

Apart from Christ, we are so unclean and worthless that we might as well have our blood “poured out like dust” and our flesh “like dung.” How’s that for nice imagery of sin’s effects on us! Yet, Christ seeks to wash us and make us new. Through His Word and Baptism, He does just that. He forgives us, renews us, and leads us to delight in His will and walk in His ways—trusting His grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

In the end, nobody can buy salvation from God. Nobody can bribe the Lord. Silver or gold won’t do a thing. The Lord jealousy (His zeal for all that is good, right, and true) means that He won’t let wickedness, evil, or sin slide. The blood of Christ (who bore our sin) is the only precious substance that saves you and me from the fire of the Lord’s full and sudden judgment. The precious blood of Christ redeems you and all who believe—making the day of the Lord, the day when Christ comes again in glory (ah, there’s the advent theme)… making that day not a day you need to fear, but a day for which you pray. Amen.