Week 18 - Examples of God's Judgment

After speaking of the dire consequences to come in the Day of the Lord in chapter one, Zephaniah now turns to the people and encourages them to repent. Judah is encouraged to come together. The usage of nation in 2:1 is significant. Hubbard notes that “God’s people are this time called a “nation,” the usual description of pagan people.”1 The people had no shame – all its sinful acts were brazen and in the open. It had become no different than the nations it surrounded. The idea conveyed in the first three verses of chapter two is that the people needed a large dose of humility. This would be demonstrated by their repentance. The time to act was sooner, rather than later…Before the decree takes effect…, 2:2. The decree referred to is the day of the Lord. The intensity of the Lord’s anger is described as burning. The day of the Lord was inescapable and unpleasant.