Zephaniah 1-3

Zephaniah 1
"The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi son of Gedaliah son of Amariah son of Hezekiah, in the days of King Josiah son of Amon of Judah." The reign of Josiah is recorded in 2 Kings 22-23 and 2 Chronicles 34-45. Commentators do not agree on whether or not the Hezekiah mentioned here was the King Hezekiah of Judah. John Wesley and Matthew Henry and most others say it was; John Gill says it was not, for there is no record of any son of Hezekiah except Manasseh.

1-13 The Coming Judgment on Judah

2-3 Says the LORD: I will sweep away humans, animals, birds and fish from the face of the earth.
4-6 I will stretch out my hand against all of Judah, destroying the false gods and their priests and those who bow down to them, even though they may also be bowing down to me. We can't add "a little bit of God" to our lives and deceive ourselves that we're pleasing Him. God has never been pleased with divided loyalties: "You cannot serve God and mammon."
7-9 Be silent, for the day of the LORD is at hand, for which he has prepared a sacrifice, and on which he will punish the royal family and those who dress like foreigners, who are violent and fraudulent.
10-13 Cries will be heard from throughout the city – from merchants, from those who complacently deny that the LORD will do anything – good or bad. Their wealth, their houses, their vineyards will be wasted.

14-18 The Great Day of the LORD

14-16 The day of the LORD is near, the sound bitter. It will be a day of wrath, anguish, devastation, darkness, with trumpet blast and battle cries.
17-18 Because they have sinned against the LORD, the people will walk like the blind, their blood poured out like dust, their riches unable to save them, while the whole earth is consumed in the fire of his passion.

Zephaniah 2
2-15 Judgment on Israel's Enemies

1-4 Seek the LORD, you who seek righteousness and humility, for destruction will be coming on the people of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Ekron (cities of the Philistines).
5-7 The word of the LORD is against those on the seacoast, the Cherthites, the Philistines; you will be possessed by the remnant of the house of Judah when the LORD restores their fortunes.
8-11 I have heard how Moab and Ammon have boasted and taunted my people. The remnant of Judah shall plunder you, and the LORD will shrivel all your gods.
12-15 I will also destroy the Ethiopians by my swords, and Assyria will be a desolation, where animals and wild birds live. Nineveh – the city that said "I am, and there is no one else" – will be hated and shamed.

Zephaniah 3
1-7 The Wickedness of Jerusalem

1-2 The defiled city has listened to no voice, accepted no correction, has not drawn near to its God.
3-4 Its judges, prophets and priests are corrupt, faithless, profane and violent.
5-7 Though the LORD is righteous and has rendered his judgment on other nations, the city still did not accept correction; rather, they have become all the more corrupt.

8-13 Punishment and Conversion of the Nations

8 I, the LORD, will gather nations to pour out upon them the heat of my anger, and all the earth shall be consumed.
9-10 I will change their speech to a pure speech that calls upon the LORD's name and serve him; my scattered ones will bring their offering. A reference to Gentiles who would be welcomed into the assembly of God through Christ?
11-13 The righteous will not be ashamed, for I will remove the proud from your midst, leaving an humble and lowly people, who will no longer be afraid. A picture of Israel after the Babylonian captivity? It could also refer to the spiritual kingdom of the New Testament.

14-20 A Song of Joy

14-15 Rejoice, O Israel, for the LORD has turned away your enemies.
16-18 On that day you will fear no more, for the LORD, your warrior who gives victory, will rejoice, renew, and exult with festive singing.
18-19 I will deal with all your oppressors, save the lame, change their shame into renown.
20 "I will bring you home...", make you praised and will restore your fortunes.

God will bring his children home from Babylon, but again, if we look at the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy, it is talking about the enemy of sin that will no longer burden the righteous of God, who rejoice in his eternal salvation, where there is no shame, no reproach.