The prophet Zephaniah, whose name means “the Lord has hidden him or Yahweh protects him,” was one of the minor prophets of the Old Testament. There is a brief genealogy at the beginning of his short book, perhaps to certify his Jewish ancestry, since his father’s name, Cuchi, which means “Ethiopian” or “Nubian,” could indicate that the prophet was the son of foreigners.
He carried out his prophetic activity in the period 639-609 BC, during the reign of Josiah, when Judah was facing difficulties due to Assyrian domination, which had been imposed on the entire region of Syria-Palestine. As a result, there were many influences from other cultures and beliefs, which led God’s people astray from the right path, from justice, from loving God and their brothers and sisters.
It is in this social, political and religious context that Zephaniah is called by the Lord to prophesy. The central themes of his prophetic ministry are: the day of the Lord, a metaphor explaining God’s intervention in history, a catastrophic event in which Judah, Israel and all the peoples of the earth will be judged; the oracles against rebellious Jerusalem and all the oppressive and authoritarian nations, which repress and exploit the people; a call for conversion, the practice of justice and humility; the universal proclamation of salvation.
There is the theme of the defense of the poor and humble, who are exploited and in debt, and are Yahweh’s favorites as they constitute the “little remnant of Israel,” a small portion of God’s people who constitute the only hope for building a just, fraternal and supportive society, and who will be able to contemplate Jerusalem as a city that celebrates with joy.
CONVERSION PROCESS
Zephaniah denounces the dominant culture of death, which marginalizes and hurts the dignity of God’s sons and daughters. He strongly proclaims punishment, total destruction and God’s terrible judgment against those who exploit and impoverish the people, and calls for freedom and justice.
Among other warnings, he says that the Lord, “on the day of sacrifice,” will punish “ministers, royal princes and all who dress in foreign garments” (cf. Zephaniah, 1:8). In other words, all those who have taken other paths, adopted foreign customs and fallen into idolatry.
From Zephaniah’s perspective, punishment and destruction are not an end in themselves, but a path to conversion, salvation and restoration (cf. Zephaniah, 3:18-20). We too often stray from God, walking along paths that hurt us, of apparent happiness, but which do not allow us to be in tune with the Lord. How often we hurt ourselves with wrong decisions, we take bad paths and decisions, we move away from God.
UNIVERSAL SALVATION
Zephaniah also makes a proclamation of restoration and universal salvation, inviting people to turn their eyes to the Lord, to hope, to trust in His love and His promises. The people must once again focus their hope on the Lord and, with purified hearts, meet the Lord and build a new society where justice, peace and joy flourish. All this is possible because God is faithful to His Covenant, He drives away His enemies, forgives His people’s faults and is always present as their Savior.
“The Lord, King of Israel, is in your midst. You will no longer fear misfortune. On that day, it will be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear Zion! Let not your hands grow weak! The Lord your God is in your midst as your mighty Savior! He rejoices over you; he will renew you by his love. He dances and shouts for joy because of you” (cf. Zephaniah, 3:15-17), exclaims the prophet with conviction and enthusiasm, explaining the reasons for his hope.
The God who invites us to a process of conversion and announces destruction is the same God who dances and shouts with joy for each one of us, the God who saves us and renews us with His love. It is this spiritual transformation that allows us to encounter God and our brothers and sisters. How good it is to be loved by God! How good it is to feel that God is in our midst, surrounds us with His love and accompanies us!
With this certainty of God’s love, we too are called to do God’s will and to witness boldly and joyfully to His Kingdom to all the peoples of the earth, because His message of freedom, life and salvation is meant for everyone.
