Background History
The book was written by Zephaniah who is evidently a direct descendant of King Hezekiah. The book was addressed to the house of Judah and it was written during the early times of Josiah's reign, a time when the word of God was almost forgotten and ironically lost inside the house of God 2 Kings 22:8.It was was a time when Judah was coming out of a great religious and moral depravity in their history which had been commandeered by Manasseh the arch-villain of Judah who had spilled much innocent blood and had led the nation to idolatry and its vices. Now under the leadership of Josiah, who was Manasseh's grand son, some religious reforms had taken place.
Although little is said about the political situation during Josiah's reign, it is certain that he remained loyal to the Assyrians to the very end even when the Assyrian's prestige had begun to wane, this loyalty cost him his life 2 Kings 23:29.
Literary Analysis
In the first two chapters, God spewed judgments to Judah and its environs promising of a coming day "of the Lord" when His vengeance will be poured down upon the land, but in the third and last chapter we gaze at the wonder of Grace.
In the third chapter we see a God who is ready to dwell with His people, a God who is promising restoration. As a sign of delight in the restoration promises, the author calls God's people to sing joyfully to God Zeph 3:15-16.
Zephaniah 3:9-20 carries the allusion of the messianic time, when Christ is with God's people and delights, enjoys and rests His love on His people.
Contextual Analysis of Zephaniah
The book opens with the foretelling of the destruction of Judah by the Chaldeans due to their sins which provoked God, these sins Zephaniah openly declares them. God calls them to repentance, threatens the neighboring nations with the same destructions and finally ends with encouraging promises of their joyful return out of captivity and restoration which is a reference to the grace of the gospels.
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