THE LESSONS

Zephaniah 3:1-9
The day of judgment will come to the nations because of their sins. Zephaniah served as a prophet during the reign of Josiah (637-607 BC) before he instituted his reforms. When Zephaniah surveyed the moral and religious conditions of his day, he proclaimed the word of the Lord that the Day of the Lord, the day of judgment, was coming. He called for absolute monotheism, social righteousness, and the fear of the Lord. In our pericope, Jerusalem is described as a city of crime and violence. In her pride and self-righteousness she will take no advice or correction. Her leaders like roaring lions devour all they can get and the priests pollute the sacred by not obeying the Law. But, the good Lord is in the city and executes justice, but no one pays heed to him. This…