The Book of ZephaniahSample

Repent and Return

Zephaniah’s message to God’s people isn’t just to inform them. It’s a call to action. He’s urgently appealing to them, saying, ‘Come on! You’ve got to do something about the mess you’ve gotten yourselves into! Don’t just carry on with your lives – listen to God. Be attentive to what He is saying to you and respond with decisive action!’

Three times in these verses, Zephaniah repeats the word before (as in, ‘Change your ways before it’s too late’). He has no doubt a day of judgment is coming, so he pleads with the people to do something about it while there’s still time. We tend to self-sabotage with the same mindset, thinking, ‘Oh, I’ll get serious about God later in life. I’ve just got so much other stuff going on right now…’ But later never comes. We all but ignore God, and in our apathy, simply hope for the best.

Zephaniah also repeats the word seek three times: ‘Seek the Lord… Seek righteousness, seek humility…’ God wants nothing more than for His people to come back to Him in confession and repentance, and to enjoy a living relationship with Him again. Of course, seeking God isn’t a once-off event at salvation but an ongoing relational dynamic – a lifestyle of humility and righteousness.

We tend to avoid talking about repentance, even in church, and yet it’s at the centre of the Father’s heart. He longs for His children – walking down the highway of self and thinking they’ve got life sorted – to make a U-turn and return to Him. Repentance is essentially a glorious homecoming. It’s the realisation that you’ve been living for yourself and not for God, and that something has to change. You grieve, because you’ve grieved God. You confess and admit your selfish ways to Him. And then you come home to Him, obeying Him, enthroning Him once again in your life, and exalting Him above all else.

Zephaniah wasn’t the only one to talk about repentance and seeking God to avoid judgment. Jesus also talked about a coming day of the Lord. And yet there is so much hope! Zephaniah – whose name actually means ‘the Lord hides’ – comforts God’s people by assuring them that they will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger. Paul later assured us of the same thing: hidden in Christ, we are sheltered from judgement.

Take a moment to give thanks that, rather than punishing you for your rebellion and idolatry, God sent His Son to be punished on your behalf. If you truly believe that, and you’re ready to walk away from sin and devote yourself to Jesus, then He will take your judgment for you. He will absorb and shield you from the wrath you deserve. You’ll become righteous – hidden in His perfection. Incredibly, you don’t have to do a single thing to earn this. Simply choose to repent and return.