Zephahiah the Son of Cushi Zephaniah 1:1

As we enter our study in the book of “Zephaniah”, let us imagine a time when the country of Judah has forsaken God and began to worship other gods instead. Though they were the chosen people of God, they have left the word of God and followed their own desires. Israel, who consisted of the ten northern tribes of Israel, had already gone into captivity and were overthrown by the Assyrian armies, and Judah was now threatened by the Babylonians who would defeat them very soon. It was in this environment when the “LORD” spoke to “Zephaniah” and gave him a dual prophecy which concerned Judah which has meaning for us today as well. We begin by reading:

The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

The verse begins, “The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi,...” “Zephaniah” began with, “The word” or “speech, speaking or utterance” “of the LORD” which is the Hebrew word “Yehovah” and means “the existing One and is the proper name of the one true God” “which came unto Zephaniah” whose name means “Jehovah has treasured” and was “the ninth in order of the twelve minor prophets” “the son of Cushi” whose name means “their blackness” and was “the ancestor of Jehudi who is named in the book of Jeremiah in chapter thirty-six and verse fourteen”. Unlike many of the “minor” prophets, we have the lineage from which “Zephaniah” came.

The verse continues, “...the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.” “Zephaniah” added, “the son of Gedaliah” which means “Jehovah is great” and was “a son of Jeduthun in the time of David” “the son of Amariah” whose name means “Jehovah speaks” and was “Zadok's grandfather and a head priest son in Solomon's time”“the son of Hizkiah” or “Hezekiah” which means “Jehovah is my strength” and was “the twelfth king of Judah, son of Ahaz and Abijah and a good king in that he served Jehovah and did away with idolatrous practices. He was the great-great-grandfather of Zephaniah” “in the days” or “in the time and year” “of Josiah” which means “whom Jehovah heals” and was “son of Amon by Jedidah who succeeded his father to the throne of Judah and reigned for thirty-one years; his reign is noteworthy for the great revivals back to the worship of Jehovah which he led” “the son of Amon” which means “skilled or master workman who was the king of Judah and son of Manasseh” “king” or “royal one” “of Judah” which means “praised” and refers to the southern portion of Israel which was comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

As we think about these first words of “Zephaniah” it is important to understand the times in which he prophesied. “Zephaniah” was a contemporary to Jeremiah who pronounced judgment upon Judah for abandoning the ways of God and following other gods. “Zephaniah” gave his prophesy during the reign of “Josiah” who was a good king of Judah, however, only a surface repentance occurred among the people. Though they observed the word of God outwardly, inwardly their hearts were turned from God and His word. As we study “Zephaniah's” prophesy, let us consider our own lives and ask the question of our nation, “Have we forsaken the ways of God in the same manner as Judah?” When we put ourselves in the position of hearing “Zephaniah's” words, we may be surprised how our own situation parallels theirs, and when we have this understanding, may we turn back to the Lord Jesus before it is too late and judgment falls upon us as well.

Next time we will see the Lord speak through Zephaniah about “utterly” consuming all things, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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