This section of the book (1:4-2:3) concludes with an appeal to the Judeans to repent and so avoid the punishment destined to come on them if they did not repent.
"The prophet meant in that terrible description of approaching judgments not to drive the people to despair, but to drive them to God and to their duty--not to frighten them out of their wits, but to frighten them out of their sins."21
2:1-2 Zephaniah called the shameless people of Judah to gather together, evidently in a public assembly, to repent (cf. Joel 2:12-14). They needed to do so before the Lord's decree to punish them took effect and His burning anger overtook them. Nineveh had repented at the preaching of Jonah, and the Lord relented from judging it. Perhaps He would do the same if the Judeans repented. That day was coming as swiftly as chaff blows before the wind, so they needed to act immediately.
2:3 The prophet urged his humble hearers who had sought to be obedient to the Lord to continue to seek Him in prayerful dependence. He was appealing to the faithful remnant in particular. They needed to continue to pursue righteous behavior and place themselves under the Lord's sovereign authority by listening to Him and obeying Him. If they did this, the Lord might hide them when He poured out His anger on the unrepentant. Repentance was open to anyone. God did indeed protect some Judeans from destruction when the Babylonians invaded (cf. 2 Kings 24:14-16). Zephaniah's exhortation appears to have been effective.
Zephaniah called on the humble of the "earth"to seek the Lord. While the Promised Land may be in view, this is probably a worldwide invitation. All people need to seek the Lord by repenting.
The Hebrew word sataris the root of the word translated "hidden."Sataris a synonym of saphan, which may be part of Zephaniah's name. If it is, "Zephaniah"probably means "Yahweh hides."Thus his name could have had connection with his message of preservation for the godly remnant.
