Dusk in the empty temple court in Jerusalem: a great square altar with split wood laid in order on it and no fire yet, the plain stone temple beyond, the paving swept and silent.

The Day of the LORD

Zephaniah 1

In young Josiah’s Jerusalem, idols stood on the roofs. What if the day of reckoning is nearer than you think?

18 verses≈ 4 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1The Day of the LORDIn Josiah’s days (640–609 BC): the great day is nearChapter 1
2:1–3Seek the LORDBefore the day passes like chaff
2:4–15The nations judgedPhilistia, Moab and Ammon, Cush, Assyria
3:1–8Woe to JerusalemThe city that accepted no correction
3:9–20He will rejoice over youPure lips, a humble remnant, and a song

Zephaniah Prophesies Judgment on Judah

This is the word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

God

“I will sweep away man and beast;

I will sweep away the birds of the air,

and the fish of the sea,

and the idols with their wicked worshipers.

I will cut off mankind

from the face of the earth,”

declares the LORD.

God

God

“I will stretch out My hand against Judah

and against all who dwell in Jerusalem.

I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal,

the names of the idolatrous and pagan priests—

God

Night on a flat mud-plastered roof in Jerusalem: a small knee-high brick altar with a thin thread of incense smoke rising toward a sky thick with stars, a woven mat before it, dark roofs all around.

those who bow on the rooftops

to worship the host of heaven,

those who bow down and swear by the LORD

but also swear by Milcom,

God

and those who turn back

from following the LORD,

neither seeking the LORD

nor inquiring of Him.”

Question

Quick question

Look back at the heading in 1:1 before you answer.

Which king reigned when Zephaniah received this word?

The Day of the LORD

Zephaniah

Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD,

for the Day of the LORD is near.

Zephaniah 1:7

Zephaniah

Indeed, the LORD has prepared a sacrifice;

He has consecrated His guests.

God

“On the Day of the LORD’s sacrifice

I will punish the princes,

the sons of the king,

and all who are dressed in foreign apparel.

God

Dim late afternoon at the stone doorway of a great house in Jerusalem: a worn raised limestone threshold, a heavy cedar door half open on a dark inner room, a fine fringed robe of foreign cut thrown over a bench inside.

On that day I will punish

all who leap over the threshold,

who fill the house of their master

with violence and deceit.

God

God

On that day,” declares the LORD,

“a cry will go up from the Fish Gate,

a wail from the Second District,

and a loud crashing from the hills.

God

Wail, O dwellers of the Hollow,

for all your merchants will be silenced;

all who weigh out silver will be cut off.

God

And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps

and punish the men settled in complacency,

who say to themselves,

‘The LORD will do nothing,

either good or bad.’

God

God

Their wealth will be plundered

and their houses laid waste.

They will build houses but not inhabit them,

and plant vineyards but never drink their wine.

God

The great Day of the LORD is near—

near and coming quickly.

Listen, the Day of the LORD!

Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.

God

At dawn on the flat walkway atop Jerusalem's wall, a watchman seen from behind blows a long curved ram's horn toward dark hills to the north.

a day of horn blast and battle cry

against the fortified cities,

and against the high corner towers.

God

I will bring such distress on mankind

that they will walk like the blind,

because they have sinned against the LORD.

Their blood will be poured out like dust

and their flesh like dung.

God

Gray morning in a burned stone room: silver rings and lumps and a gold bowl lie in ash among fallen charred roof beams, a thin smoke, a doorway open on an empty lane.

Neither their silver nor their gold

will be able to deliver them

on the Day of the LORD’s wrath.

The whole earth will be consumed

by the fire of His jealousy.”

0:15

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Zephaniah

For indeed, He will make a sudden end

of all who dwell on the earth.

Pray

Lord GOD, Your day is near. Search me before that day, and wake me from every comfort that says You will do nothing. I will seek You now. Amen.

You’ve experienced

Zephaniah 1

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A verse to carry with you

Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD, for the Day of the LORD is near.

Zephaniah 1:7

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