Zephaniah is the (long-delayed) fourth installment in my presentation of art from the Minor Prophets Sunday school class I co-taught with Naomi Friend. (Previously, I posted Naomi’s art on Jonah, Amos and Hosea.)

Zephaniah isn’t the best known minor prophet, but it follows a familiar pattern. The first two thirds are a warning of coming destruction—a punishment for idolatry. Zephaniah, who prophesied during the reign of Josiah, begins with the LORD promising to “sweep away everything from the face of the earth” (1:2) and then describes the destruction of Jerusalem, which is the focus of Naomi’s drawing. (I can’t recall what she was researching on the laptop.)

The middle of the book is a series of oracles against other nations (Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Cush and Assyria) before returning to Jerusalem. Even though God has destroyed these other nations, Jerusalem has still not repented. Because of this, “The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.”

As is the case with many of the minor prophets, the oracle of destruction is followed by a promise of restoration.

“At that time I will gather you;
    at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise
    among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes
    before your very eyes,”
says the Lord.

As I said before, Noami’s Zephaniah drawing (click for a larger version) focuses on the destruction of Jerusalem. The prophet, standing next to animal bones, points to the fish gate (1:10) seemingly all that is left of the city. However, the white house at left represents the restoration of the faithful remnant. (As with all her drawings, she completed it during Sunday school hour with input from the class.)