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Sunday School Lesson
Each person must decide the thing to which he or she is committed. The idea of commitment includes "to give in trust; to deliver for safe-keeping; to bind as by a promise; to pledge." The determination of this condition in our personal lives requires thought relating to the consequences. Are we willing to see it to the end? Will my personal actions need to be changed in order for me to fully participate in the endeavor? To be committed carries the overall thought of giving one's all for that which is seen as important. The prophecy of Zephaniah took place during the early years of the reign of King Josiah. Zephaniah 1:1. This young child came to the throne at the age of eight years, after the violent death of his father, Amon. 2 Kings 21:23- 22:1. The wickedness that occurred during the reign of Amon, simply, continued that which occurred during the reign of Manasseh. 2 Kings 21:1, 2, 6, 10-18; 2 Chronicles 33:6-9. This young king, obviously, had advisors during the early years of his reign. These advisors were godly men, who desired the return of the nation to God - Jehovah. God sent prophets to the nation during these early years who helped the people to see the need to return to the worship of their forefathers. Zephaniah, one of the members of the kingly line was sent with a message to the people. At that time, there was no immediate threat from an invading nation, yet the Assyrians were rising in power. The major concern in these messages of this prophet pointed to that of the leadership at all levels of society. These leaders needed to use their influence to bring the nation back to God. The prophet used the female gender as he referred to Jerusalem, as representing the whole southern kingdom. It is important to note that the northern kingdom of Samaria had already been over-run by captors, and had been scattered. Thus, the call came only to Jerusalem. This section of the message began with a call, "Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city." Zephaniah 3:1. The prophet began to give a list of the things that were charges against this great city and nation. "She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God." Zephaniah 3:2. The prophet did not shy away from identifying the leaders that were leading the people of God into lives of sin. He wrote that "Her princes within her are roaring lions ..." Zephaniah 3:3a. He, then, declared that "her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow." Zephaniah 3:3b. Thus, the effect of the wickedness of the judges was long-lasting. The faithful prophet spoke of the people who were expected to declare the word of the Lord. "Her prophets are light and treacherous persons..." Zephaniah 3:4a. These prophets seemed to be taking advantage of this perceived lofty position. Even today, some individuals see spiritual leaders as something other than mere mortals. The individuals, whose responsibility was to represent the people in the temple, had not been faithful in their high calling" "... Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law." Zephaniah 3:4b. These people had been subjected to well over half a century of violence under their kings. It would be easy for the common people to begin to think that God did not care. However, these people are assured by the prophet, "The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity..." Zephaniah 3:5a. The words to the people of the past can bring hope, even in our day. "... Every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not ..." Zephaniah 3:5b. The divine assessment did not change, even with the giving of assurance - but the unjust knoweth no shame." Zephaniah 3:5c. God does not look lightly upon sin in any nation. Destruction can come upon any society. "I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I have made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant." Zephaniah 3:6. Since the chosen people knew the power of God, it might seem that they would have a great desire to worship him. The prophet expressed the divine appeal. "I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings." Zephaniah 3:7. The warning is given. "Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy." Zephaniah 3:8. The warning is followed by a promise. "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent." Zephaniah 3:9.
The words of this prophet seemed to have been one of the major factors in the reform that was brought about under the direction of King Josiah. Eventually, the temple was cleansed and worship was re-established. Josiah was the last of the godly kings of this nation.
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