Zephaniah warns God’s justice sweeps: Who was Zephaniah?

Zephaniah was a descendent of a good King of Judah named Hezekiah. Zephaniah spoke at the same time as Jeremiah, Habbakuk, and Nahum.

Who was he warning?

Zephaniah was speaking to Judah primarily, and also warning the surrounding nations who worshipped idols. Their idolatry led to much wickedness and evil.

God’s justice sweeps idolatry and the sin it reaps: What does” God’s justice sweeps idolatry and the sin it reaps” mean?

Because God is holy and just (He always does what is right) after repeated warning He will sweep away (destroy) the cities and nations where worshipping other gods led to all kinds of evil things. God’s judgement is to help people turn from evil, and back to Him.

Loving Warrior God restores what’s right: How is God referred to here?

A loving warrior (soldier) who is fighting for what is right. He is a victorious warrior.

Sings over you with delight: Does God sing?

Zephaniah 3:17 says,

“The LORD your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”

God does rejoice with joy and singing (some translations say He shouts with joy) over His people when His judgement is removed. Jesus said something similar in Luke 15 when He told the story of the lost sheep and how much rejoicing there is in heaven over one sinner that repents.