Zephaniah — This 7th century BC prophet, amidst the spiritual decay of Judah, delivered a bracing message of divine judgement against a society steeped in corruption and inequity suffered under the reign of King Josiah. But within the chilling pronouncement of reckoning (Zephaniah 1:2-3) lies a delicate seed of hope: the promise of renewal for those who seek the Lord (Zephaniah 2:3).
This ancient dichotomy – judgement for the oppressor, hope for the oppressed – finds a startling echo today in the often-overlook struggles of the marginalized communities in South Asia. For the disenfranchised, their daily existence is often a relentless struggle against systemic subjugation, a grinding reality where their rights are eroded and their voices consistently silenced.
Central to Zephaniah’s prophecy is an implicit call to hear God’s voice, a theme underscored by his urgent plea for the “shameless nation” to follow God’s commands (Zephaniah 2:1-3). The very essence of his message conveys an urgent call to listen to Him and respond through repentance – possible only when Scripture is accessible to all peoples of South Asia in a language they can clearly understand.
Sweep away societal deafness to cries for justice; put an end to Bible poverty by giving a verse or even a *chapter today.
(*Average number of verses in a chapter: 44)