A Prophecy that Ends with Hope
Following Nahum is the prophet Zephaniah. The only information the Bible gives us about Zephaniah is his parentage and that he prophesies during the reign of King Josiah.
Zephaniah is the son of Cushi, grandson of Gedaliah, great-grandson of Amariah, and great-great-grandson of Hezekiah. But knowing his lineage gives us no more insight into his person.
Zephaniah’s prophetic words address an array of nations, including Judah and exiled Israel, with many more countries, along with the entire world.
He also has a stinging rebuke for the people’s spiritual leaders, a warning which we all—leaders and laity alike—should take seriously and diligently guard against.
Despite all this, Zephaniah ends his prophecy with hope for the people.
Though they live in a difficult era and the immediate future is bleak, there will come a time when God will gather his people and bring them home. He will give them honor and praise from all the inhabitants throughout the earth.
And that’s something to anticipate.
When we struggle, do we focus on our present trials or look forward to a better tomorrow?
Regardless of our situation, do we place our confidence in the Lord?
[Read about Zephaniah in Zephaniah 1:1. Discover more in Zephaniah 3:4 & 20.]
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Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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