Main news for 13 June 2026

What city is being spoken of here? Of course, first of all Jerusalem, for Zephaniah addresses its inhabitants directly. Yet one gets the impression that not only Jerusalemites are being discussed here, and it is hardly by chance that prophecies of retribution for the sins of the Judeans alternate with rebukes of their pagan neighbors. So we can apparently apply what is said both to the former and to the latter.

But precisely for this reason it is useful once again to reflect: is the prophet addressing only his contemporaries, or do his words also refer to people of other ages, right up to our own time? Around us even today we can see the same lawlessness as thousands of years ago, and not only see it! We ourselves have more than once taken part in it, so even now woe to the sinful and defiled city...

But even after the prophecy has announced the coming outpouring of the fury of the Lord's wrath, we hear an astonishing promise of pure lips that will be given to all peoples so that they may praise the Creator. In His wrath the Lord destroys every impurity, but He also cleanses from it all who turn to Him. Before us is an important witness: the sentence against a sinful people can be canceled if the people leave the paths of wickedness.

The Book of the Prophet Zephaniah is short. We have already reached its final chapter. Yet how vividly its message is expressed! God is holy and can no longer endure sin, falsehood, and injustice among the people of Israel. He calls people to come to their senses and turn to Him, but they do not listen. He warns them of the approaching danger and promises to avert it if they remember God, but they pay no heed. Then no other path remains, and catastrophe—the destruction of Israel and Judah—is coming. Yet God is not only just but also merciful. Even in captivity He will call out to His people, and part of the people, the “remnant,” will turn back, humbly acknowledge their dependence upon God, and cast aside their pride. Then God will return His people from captivity to the Promised Land and restore the ruined kingdom. The book ends with a hymn of joy about radiant Zion and glorified Jerusalem.

Actual history confirmed the truth of these predictions, but the Old Testament prophecies are also important to us because they prefigure the movements of the soul, the personal history of every human being. We too can see here a description of our own path, heed the warnings in time, repent, and enter the Lord’s triumph in His New Jerusalem.