Zephaniah 1

Some excerpts from O Palmer Robertson's commentary on Zephaniah, which is the 1st book i've ever purchased as digital media from amazon.

The description of Josiah ' s reforms in the book of Kings appears as something of a blitzkrieg . But even if his major policies were instituted in a relatively short period of time , he still would have needed the strong support- ing confirmation of a contemporary word from the Lord to make his policies even remotely acceptable to the public . Very possibly this supporting word came from Zephaniah the prophet . Incorporating into his message the very phrases of the recently discovered book of the covenant , he addressed the people as God ' s contemporary mouthpiece , applying God ' s ancient word to the current situation . So it may be proposed that Zephaniah prophesied in the days of Josiah , and more specifically in the days immediately following the dis- covery of the book of the covenant approximately in 622 B . C .
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
O. Palmer Robertson. The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (New International Commentary on the Old Testament). (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1990). Page 256.

It is a sign of the persistence of God ' s grace in redeeming a people to himself to note that Amon, Josiah , and Josiah ' s son Jehoiachin are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ , the ultimate successor to the throne of David ( Matt . 1 : 10-11 ). Despite many perils and many failings on the part of God ' s people , the purposes of God could not be thwarted .
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
O. Palmer Robertson. The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (New International Commentary on the Old Testament). (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1990). Page 257.

Beasts, birds, and fish, representative of the whole of creation, have become for humanity an occasion of stumbling. Because of his wickedness, humanity has twisted the good things of creation into a cause for sin.
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
O. Palmer Robertson. The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (New International Commentary on the Old Testament). (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1990). Page 259.