Zephaniah

The second chapter begins with a plea to Judah, a nation without shame (Zeph. 2:1 JnD). The meek of the land are exhorted to seek the Lord, for “it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger” (Zeph. 2:33Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger. (Zephaniah 2:3)).
When God’s earthly people come under the government of God for their failure as a testimony to His name in the midst of apostate and rebellious nations, those nations must also receive the judgment that they have long deserved. The Philistines (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and the Cherethites; Zeph. 2:4-74For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. 5Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the Lord is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. 6And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. 7And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity. (Zephaniah 2:4‑7)), Moab and Ammon (Zeph 2:8), the Ethiopians (Cushites—the term is broader than merely Ethiopia; Nimrod was a descendant of Cush—Gen 10:7-87And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan. 8And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. (Genesis 10:7‑8)), Assyria and Nineveh (Zeph. 2:12-1512Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword. 13And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness. 14And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work. 15This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. (Zephaniah 2:12‑15)) all come under judgment. These nations reviled Israel, delighting in her downfall, possessing her borders (Zeph. 2:88I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. (Zephaniah 2:8)).
In Zephaniah, Christ is not introduced as the Messiah, but as Jehovah, “Jehovah hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy; the King of Israel, Jehovah, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not see evil any more” (Zeph. 3:1515The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. (Zephaniah 3:15) JND). The language with which He comforts the remnant recalls that of the Song of Solomon—“Jehovah thy God is in thy midst, a mighty one that will save: he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will exult over thee with singing” (Zeph. 3:1717The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17) JND). The book begins with “the word of Jehovah”, and ends with “Jehovah”—a name that speaks of relationship.