Zephaniah 1 This prophet lived at the time of King Josiah.   Zephaniah's message was focused on judgement to come...  both the coming judgement upon Judah and the future judgement of all the earth. 

In the day.. the "Day of the Lord".. there will be complete destruction.. "I will completely remove all things from the face of the earth, declares the Lord."   Man and beast, birds and fish... everything!  This is a warning of the judgement that is yet to come. 

In verse 4 the message is specifically meant for Judah.. " So I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem."  The people of Judah were practicing idolatry.  Some worshipped Baal. Some worshiped Milcom. Some worshipped the stars in the sky.  All had "turned back from following the Lord." 

The people did not  seek the Lord. They did not call upon Him. The Lord called for them to be "silent" in His presence.. for " the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests." 

When God brought judgement upon Judah.. it was complete. Within one generation, Judah would fall to Babylon.  The sin of idolatry would be punished.  The princes and leaders who failed to stay loyal to God, would be punished. Every part of Jerusalem would experience destruction and devastation. There would be no place to hide.. not even in the darkest places for the Lord would "search Jerusalem with lamps." 

The people had so lost their trust in the Lord that they did not believe that He would do good or evil.. they didn't know Him at all and they did not repent. 

"Near is the great day of the Lord, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the Lord!...  That day will be a day of wrath - a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry.. " ( v14-16) 

If it happened to Judah.. it will happen to the whole earth as God has told us.  " I will bring such distress on all people that they will grope about like those who are blind, because they have sinned against the Lord... Neither their silver not their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord's wrath. In the fire of His jealousy the whole earth will be consumed for he will make a sudden end to all who live on the earth."  (v18)

We can see very clearly that the world today reflects the attitudes of the people of Judah. All over the world there is much idolatry.. much violence.. much wickedness.  There are not many, it seems who seek the Lord or call upon Him. They walk blindly in their pursuit of gold and silver.. while ignoring the  God who created the heavens and earth and everything in them.  The Word calls us to listen! Listen to this warning and seek the Lord while there is still time.  The Day of the Lord.. is near!

Father in heaven,  we are fixing our eyes on Jesus, our hope is in Him who will deliver us from the destruction to come. Help us to be ready for that day.. walking in faith.. striving to live according to Your word and Your will.  We desire to keep seeking You and keep listening to You.. to remain loyal and committed to our Savior and King. Use our voices to speak the Truth to those who need to hear the warnings that You have spoken to us through Your servants. May we be steadfast and faithful in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Come and fill us Spirit of God, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.