Zeph. 3:8-17 - T. Constable Commentary
vv. 1-2 form an introduction to the prophet's woe-coming judgment-to Jerusalem/Judah.
v. 3: Her leaders within her are roaring lions, Her judges are wolves at evening; They have no bones to gnaw in the morning. - Evidence that they were oppressing the weak (Zephaniah 3:1) was the greedy behavior of Jerusalem's civil rulers and judges. Like vicious lions and wolves they gobbled up all the possessions of vulnerable people that they could as fast as they could (cf. Zeph 1:8; Ezek 3:9-10; Micah 2:1-3; Micah 2:9-10).
v. 4: Her prophets are insolent, treacherous men; Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the Law. - Jerusalem's religious leaders, the (false) prophets and priests, provided examples of the city's defiled condition (Zephaniah 3:1). The prophets were reckless in the way they announced their own advice as divine revelation and treacherous in deceiving the people into thinking that their words were authoritative. The priests did not observe the laws of holiness that God had prescribed for worship, and they twisted the meaning of the Mosaic Law to suit their purposes (cf. Zephaniah 1:4-5).
v. 5: The LORD is righteous within her; He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. But the criminal knows no shame. - In contrast to these crooked leaders, Yahweh was straight, and He was still in Jerusalem. He would do no injustice, as the civil and religious leaders did. He performed justice every day as faithfully as the rising of the sun. Yet the unjust leaders of Jerusalem knew no shame for the wickedness that they consistently practiced.
v. 6: "I have eliminated nations; Their corner towers are deserted. I have laid waste their streets, With no one passing by; Their cities have been laid waste, Without a person, without an inhabitant. -The Lord reminded the Jerusalemites that He had already destroyed other nations. This probably refers to the nations around Judah that He had already allowed to fall to the Assyrians. He compared such a fallen nation to a city with strong corner towers that now lay in ruin because of the enemy's destruction. The streets of this representative "city" also lay deserted. The real cities of these already defeated nations were in ruins without any inhabitants. Samaria was one such city, and the numerous towns of the former Northern Kingdom were others.
v. 7: I said, 'You will certainly revere Me, You will accept discipline.' So her dwelling will not be eliminated In accordance with everything that I have stipulated for her. Instead, they were eager to corrupt all their deeds. - The Lord expected the people of Jerusalem to learn from the fate of the Northern Kingdom and other fallen nations. They should respect Him, since He was behind the destruction, and obey His word. They should have done this so He would not similarly judge them, as He had threatened to do. But they were more eager to pursue sinful self-indulgence and to become thoroughly corrupt in their deeds.
Zeph. 3:8-17 - T. Constable Commentary
Starts of lesson verses ---> v. 8 JUDGMENT ON ALL NATIONS: "Therefore wait for Me," declares the Lord, "For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal. - The people of Jerusalem needed to wait a little longer. The Lord would soon rise up as a devouring animal to consume His prey. He had determined to gather nations and kingdoms that were wicked, including Judah, and pour His burning indignation and wrath on them. Yahweh's fiery zeal would devour all nations because the world would again become thoroughly corrupt (as in the days of Noah, cf. Genesis 6:5-7; Zephaniah 1:2-3). According to Charles Feinberg, this is the only verse in the Old Testament that contains all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. [Note: Charles L. Feinberg, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Malachi, p. 66.]
▪ The world is still waiting for the Lord to pour out His wrath on all nations. He has not done so yet because He is patient and is giving people time to repent (cf. 2 Peter 3:9). Yet that day will surely come (2 Peter 3:10). In view of its coming, Christians need to be holy in conduct and godly in character looking for and hastening that day (by our prayers and preaching, 2 Peter 3:11). The great outpouring of divine wrath on the earth predicted here will take place during the Tribulation, before our Lord returns to set up His kingdom (cf. Zephaniah 2:2; Zechariah 14:2; Revelation 16:14; Revelation 16:16).
▪ Zephaniah's final reference to the destruction of nations all over the world (Zephaniah 3:8) brings the section of his prophecy that deals with judgment (Zephaniah 1:2 to Zephaniah 3:8) full circle.
A Judgment on the world Zephaniah 1:2-3
B Judgment on Judah Zephaniah 1:4 to Zephaniah 2:3
C Judgment on Israel's neighbors Zephaniah 2:4-15
B' Judgment on Jerusalem Zephaniah 3:1-7
A' Judgment on all nations Zephaniah 3:8
v. 9: THE PURIFICATION OF THE NATIONS: For then I will restore to the peoples pure lips, So that all of them may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder." - Then" signals a major change in time as well as in the focus of Zephaniah's prophecy. It is a hinge word that serves as a transition from judgment in the Tribulation to blessing in the Millennium. Then, after these judgments (Zephaniah 1:2 to Zephaniah 3:8), the Lord promised to give the peoples of the world lips that would speak truth and grace rather than lies and defiled speech (cf. Isaiah 6:5-7).
▪ "Lip does not stand for language, but is mentioned as the organ of speech, by which a man expresses the thoughts of his heart, so that purity of the lips involves or presupposes the purification of the heart." [Note: C. F. Keil, "Zephaniah," in The Twelve Minor Prophets, 2:156. Cf. Isaiah 6:5-7.]
▪ Yahweh would effect this change in all the people of the world so they would worship Him (cf. Genesis 4:26) and serve Him as one united family of nations. This event has been seen as a reversal of Babel (Genesis 11:1; Genesis 11:6-7; Genesis 11:9). [Note: Craigie, 2:128.] This revelation indicates that everyone living on the earth at the beginning of the Millennium will be a believer in Jesus Christ (cf. Matthew 25:31-46).
III. THE DAY OF YAHWEH'S BLESSING vv. 9-27: Having finished the revelation dealing with God's judgment of the world in a coming day (Zephaniah 1:2 to Zephaniah 3:8), Zephaniah now announced that He would bring great blessing to all humankind after that judgment (Zephaniah 3:9-20). As in the section of the book on judgment, he revealed God's plans for the Gentile nations briefly first and then spoke extensively about His plans for Israel.
▪ "Why did the prophets consistently close their books with messages of hope? For at least three reasons. To begin with, hope is a great motivation for obedience, and the prophets wanted to encourage God's people to submit to God's will and do what He commanded. God's covenant blessings come to His people only when they obey His covenant conditions.
▪ "A second reason is the prophets' emphasis on the faithfulness of God. The Lord will keep His promises and one day establish the kingdom; and since God is faithful to keep His promises, we ought to be faithful obeying His Word. . . .
▪ "Finally, the closing message of hope was an encouragement to the faithful remnant in the land, who were true to God and suffered because of their devotion to Him. It's difficult to belong to that 'company of the committed' who stand true to the Lord and His Word no matter what others may do or say. Knowing that God would one day defeat their enemies and reign in righteousness would encourage the believers [sic] remnant to persist in their faithful walk with the Lord." [Note: Wiersbe, p. 429.]
v. 10: From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, My dispersed ones, Will bring My offerings. - The descendants of the Lord's dispersed ones, the Jews, would bring him offerings of worship from the farthest corners of the earth. The rivers of Ethiopia, probably the Nile and its tributaries, were at the edge of the known world in the prophet's day (cf. Zephaniah 2:12). The implication is that the Jews will come to Jerusalem, the city the Lord chose as the place where He would dwell among His people (cf. Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Isaiah 66:18; Isaiah 66:20).
Note on Israel's purification 3:10-13 and the transformation of Israel 3:10-17: Zephaniah had received from the Lord much more revelation about what He would do for Israel following the period of worldwide punishment. This section is also chiastic in its thought structure.
A Israel's purification Zephaniah 3:10-13
B Israel's and Yahweh's rejoicing Zephaniah 3:14-17
A' Israel's regathering Zephaniah 3:18-20
v. 11: On that day you will feel no shame Because of all your deeds By which you have rebelled against Me; For then I will remove from your midst Your proud, arrogant ones, And you will never again be haughty On My holy mountain. - In that day, the day of blessing to follow the day of judgment, Zephaniah's hearers, the Jews, would not feel any more shame for all their previous rebellion against the Lord. They would not because He would remove all the pride from their hearts (cf. Ezekiel 20:34-38; Matthew 25:1-13). They would never again lift up themselves in haughtiness against Yahweh on His holy mountain Jerusalem (Psalms 2:6; Daniel 9:16; Joel 2:1; Obadiah 1:16; et al.). A feeling of shame comes from an awareness of guilt, but they would not be guilty any longer because they would be humble rather than proud.
v. 12-A REMNANT OF ISRAEL: But I will leave among you A humble and lowly people, And they will take refuge in the name of the Lord. - The Israelites of that day will be humble and lowly in heart (cf. Zeph 2:3), and they will seek the Lord as their refuge rather than turning from Him to idols and self-exaltation. Seeking the Lord is an indication of humility whereas forsaking Him, even by not praying, demonstrates a spirit of independence from God.
v. 13: The remnant of Israel will do no wrong And tell no lies, Nor will a deceitful tongue Be found in their mouths; For they will feed and lie down With no one to frighten them." - In contrast to their conduct since the Exodus, the Jews would do nothing wrong, tell no lies, and practice no deceit (cf. Zeph 3:1-4). They will re-semble a flock of sheep at peace grazing and lying down with nothing to disturb them ( Psalms 23; Micah 4:4).
▪ "When the Creator is worshipped and served as he ought to be, paradise is regained." [Baker, p. 117.]
v. 14: Shout for joy, daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, Israel! Rejoice and triumph with all your heart, Daughter of Jerusalem! - In view of these wonderful prospects, Zephaniah called the people of Jerusalem and all the Israelites to shout for joy with all their hearts.
▪ "Although the command is aimed at the future Jerusalem, no doubt the message would not be lost on the godly worshipers of Zephaniah's own day." [Note: Patterson, p. 377.]
▪ The phrase "daughter of" is a way of referring to the citizens of Zion (Jerusalem) as the children of the city. Children born in any city are the children of that city in a metaphorical sense as well as the children of their physical parents in a literal sense. Elsewhere, "daughters of Jerusalem" sometimes refers to the villages surrounding Jerusalem, those little communities that Jerusalem spawned.
Note on Israel's and Yahweh's rejoicing 3:14-17: Zephaniah arranged this chiastically of joy over salvation Zephaniah arranged this psalm of joy over salvation as another chiasm:
v. 15: The LORD has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You will no longer fear disaster. - The reason for rejoicing is that Yahweh will have removed His judgment and Israel's enemies from her (cf. Zephaniah 3:8; Zephaniah 3:19). Yahweh, Israel's true and omnipotent king, will be in the midst of His people (in the person of Messiah, Jesus Christ, during the Millennium; Zephaniah 3:17; cf. Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 44:6; Zechariah 14:9). Consequently they will fear disaster no more (Zephaniah 3:13).
vv 16-17: On that day it will be said to Jerusalem: "Do not be afraid, Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp. 17 The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will rejoice over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. - In that day of blessing the people of Jerusalem will have plenty of reasons not to fear. One reason is that Yahweh their God will be in their midst (Zephaniah 3:15). He will be a victorious warrior having defeated all His enemies and all opposition worldwide (Zephaniah 1:2-3; Zephaniah 3:8). Like a bridegroom He will take joy in His people Israel, and they will rest quietly in the security of His love for them as His bride. Yahweh will even shout with joy over His beloved Israel!
▪ "Most often the Lord's love is expressed by the Hebrew word hesed. This is the love that issues in commitment, the 'ever-unfailing' fidelity of love, love that lives in the will as much as in the heart. Here, however, the word is 'ahaba, the passionate love of Jacob for Rachel (Genesis 29:20) and of Michal for David (1 Samuel 18:28), the fond love of Jacob for Joseph (Genesis 37:3), Uzziah's devotion to gardening (2 Chronicles 26:10), Jonathan's deep friendship with David (1 Samuel 18:3), the devotee's delight in the Lord's law (Psalms 119:97). This too is the Lord's love for his people (Hosea 3:1), a love that delights him (Zephaniah 3:17 c), makes him contemplate his beloved with wordless adoration (Zephaniah 3:17 d), a love that cannot be contained but bursts into elated singing (Zephaniah 3:17 e)." [Note: Motyer, p. 958.]
▪ "We can find hope in times of difficulty if we focus on God's power, God's deliverance, and God's love. He is our King (Zephaniah 3:15), our Savior (Zephaniah 3:16-17 a), and our Beloved (Zephaniah 3:17 b)." [Note: Dyer, p. 812.]
Dononvan Exegesis on Zeph. 3:12-17
ZEPHANIAH 3:12-13. THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL
12 But I will leave among you A humble and lowly people, And they will take refuge in the name of the Lord. 13 The remnant of Israel will do no wrong And tell no lies, Nor will a deceitful tongue Be found in their mouths; For they will feed and lie down With no one to frighten them."
"But I will leave in the midst of you an afflicted and poor people, and they will take refuge in the name of Yahweh" (v. 12). The people of Judah have been proud (vain, conceited), and their pride has created a barrier separating them from Yahweh. When Yahweh exercises judgment on them, he will "take away out of the midst of you your proudly exulting ones" (3:11). But he will leave in their midst "an afflicted and poor people"-a people who have been humbled. People such as that-those who know the limitations of their personal resources-naturally turn to the Lord for help-"take refuge in the name of Yahweh."
"The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth" (v. 13a). The word "remnant" is important in both Old and New Testaments. The concept (if not the word itself) was introduced with Noah and the flood. In that story, God destroyed the evil populace, but saved righteous Noah and his family (Genesis 6-9). In that instance, Noah and his family constituted the remnant-the righteous nucleus preserved by God to reestablish the people of God.
"for they will feed and lie down, and no one will make them afraid" (v. 13b). The picture here is of this remnant as Yahweh's flock-with ample provisions and no need to fear. Yahweh will make them to lie down in green pastures. He will lead them beside still waters. He will restore their souls. Even though they walk through the valley of the shadow of death, they will not fear evil, because they will understand that Yahweh is with them-that Yahweh's rod and staff are there to guide and to protect them. Their cup will run over (Ps23).
ZEPHANIAH 3:14-15. SING! SHOUT! BE GLAD AND REJOICE!
14 Shout for joy, daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, Israel! Rejoice and triumph with all your heart, Daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You will no longer fear disaster.
"Sing, daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem" (v. 14). Zion, Israel, and Jerusalem are essentially synonymous as used in this verse.
Babylonia and allowed to return to Jerusalem.
"Yahweh has taken away your judgments (mis∙pat). He has thrown out your enemy" (v. 15a). In this context, the word mis∙pat has to do with a legal verdict. The prophet has dealt with Judah's guilt and the judgment that would be pronounced against her (1:1-13; 3:1-7)-a judgment that would come to pass when the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem and carried its inhabitants into exile in Babylonia.
"The King of Israel, Yahweh, is in the midst of you" (v. 15b). Israel has known a series of kings, good and bad, beginning with Saul. But God was Israel's true king. It was when Israel rejected God as king (1 Samuel 10:19), desiring a human king like other nations (1 Samuel 12:12), that God allowed human kings to reign.
"You will not be afraid of evil any more" (v. 15c). What is being portrayed in the book of Zephaniah is a death and resurrection. Judah will die when the Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and take the people into captivity-but Judah will live again when the Lord makes provision for her to be redeemed from captivity and restored as a nation. When that restoration takes place, Judah can live without fear.
ZEPHANIAH 3:16-17 DON'T BE AFRAID, ZION
16 On that day it will be said to Jerusalem: "Do not be afraid, Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp. 17 The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will rejoice over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.
"In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem" (v. 16a). "On that day" refers back to the last verse-to the day when the Lord takes away the judgments against Judah (v. 15).
"Don't be afraid, Zion" (v. 16b). Fear paralyzes people and makes them weak-but with the Lord as their king, the people of Judah will have nothing to fear.
"Don't let your hands be weak" (v. 16c). The posture of the hands can symbolize the state of the heart. Hands held in a posture of submission symbolize weakness-discouragement. With the Lord as their king, the people of Judah will have no reason to let their hands grow weak-to act submissively.
"Yahweh, your God, is in the midst of you, a mighty one who will save" (v. 17a). In the day which the prophet is predicting, Yahweh will be present with his people-present as a warrior who will bring Judah victory over her enemies.
"He will rejoice over you with joy" (v. 17b). How can this be? How can Yahweh rejoice over a people who have betrayed him time and time again? This verse is describing a miracle-a miracle of grace.
"He will calm you in his love" (v. 17c). A more literal translation would be "He will quiet you with his love" (Bennett). The reality of God's love will bring peace to this people who have known so much turmoil-will quiet their spirits as they begin to recognize that Yahweh has provided them with security.
He will rejoice over you with singing" (v. 17d). What is portrayed here is the kind of celebration that we normally associate with a wedding or some equally joyous occasion. The Lord's joy in his people is no halfway thing. The Lord's joy can be expressed only in full-blown festivity.
Zeph. 3:8-17 Extra Commentary
Zephaniah 3:8 "Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination [is] to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy."
The prophet transitions from the historical invasion of Judah by Babylon to the future day of the Lord. He speaks of the Great Tribulation, when the Lord will gather all the nations for judgment (Joel 3:1-2; 12-17; Zech. 12:2-3; 14:2; Matt. 24:21).
Those, who are to wait, are the saved. They are admonished to wait for this day. The nations gathered, here, are speaking of that time of the great battle of Armageddon. There has never really been a time in past history, when all of mankind was caught up in battle like this.
The earth will be destroyed by God's fire, and a new heaven and a new earth will come forth from God.
Revelation 16:16 "And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon."
Verses 9-20: The final sections unveil the blessings of restoration for God's people and the nations.
Zephaniah 3:9 "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent."
"Serve him with one consent" (Hebrew shekem, "shoulder"), is a figure drawn from the use of a yoke whereby two animals could be linked together and serve as one. From this verse until the end of the prophecy, Zephaniah foresees the blessings of the millennial kingdom.
"A pure language": A remnant of the nations, converted to the Lord, will worship Him in righteousness and truth (Zech. 8:20-23; 14:16). Pure speech will come from purified hearts. (Luke 6:45).
At the tower of Babel, God punished the sinful people by changing their language, so they could not understand each other. This has always been a problem in understanding people of other nations. This is a reversal of that. God will now, return them all to the same language so they might understand each other.
This speaks of a time of total agreement of people of many nations. This will be that peace that Jesus Christ brings. People of all nations will be converted to the Lord.
Zephaniah 3:10 "From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, [even] the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering."
"From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia": Either the African Ethiopia, or Arabia Chusea, which lay between Judea and Egypt. Here some particular places and people are mentioned, in whom the preceding prophecy would be fulfilled.
If these rivers of Ethiopia are such as ran in the midst of the country, and so point at some parts of it, though on the other side of them, then this prophecy might have its accomplishment.
At least when the Evangelist Matthew went there, and preached the Gospel, and very likely the Apostle Paul.
As also when the Ethiopian eunuch was converted, who doubtless did what in him lay to promote the interest
of Christ in those parts.
"My suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed": Aben Ezra, Kimchi, Abarbinel, and Ben Melech, take the words "Atharai Bathpusai" to be the proper name of a nation or family beyond the rivers of Ethiopia; whereas they are characters which describe persons there, who should have the pure language turned to them, and call on the name of the Lord.
Even such, who, being made sensible of sin, and of their danger, would be humble supplicants at the throne of grace, and pray to the Lord for the discovery and application of pardoning grace and mercy to them, agreeably to the prophecy (in Psalm 68:31), "princes shall come out of Egypt.
Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God"; that is, in prayer. And these are the sons and daughters of the Almighty, who are scattered abroad in the several parts of the world, and among the rest here. But as they are gathered together by Christ in redemption, so they are found out and reached by efficacious grace in calling, whether Jews or Gentiles.
Some think the Jews are here meant, even the elect of God among them, who were dispersed in several nations, and particularly in Egypt and Ethiopia. Who were met with by the Gospel, and converted in the first times of it. To these Peter and James direct their epistles: and of whom, being called by grace, it is said, they:
"Shall bring mine offering": Themselves as an offering to the Lord, souls and bodies, with all other spiritual sacrifices of prayer, praise, and well doing. And likewise such persons they may be the instruments of the conversion of, called the offering of the Gentiles (Rom. 15:16).
They will return from distant places (Isa. 11:11, 15-16; 27:13).
Revelation 15:4 "Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for [thou] only [art] holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest."
Verses 11-13: The Lord will purge the proud and ungodly from among them (Zech. 13:1-6). Leaving a meek and humble people. Material prosperity and peace will accompany them as well, allowing them to enjoy the rich blessings of God undisturbed (Joel 3:18-20; Mica 4:4).
Zephaniah 3:11 "In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain."
"In that day shall thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me": Because these shall not be continued in, but repented of, and forsaken. And besides, shall be forgiven, blotted out, covered, and remembered no more.
So that they shall not be charged with them, condemned for them, or be confounded before God, angels, and men, on account of them. Not but that shame always arises from a true sense of sin; and the more, as it is beheld in the glass of pardoning love, which is a branch of true evangelical repentance. At least a fruit and
evidence of it (Ezek. 16:63).
But then such are not ashamed to appear before God; but can with a holy confidence stand in his sight, their
sins being pardoned, and their persons justified. This respects the Christian church or churches in Judea, the few that believed in Christ, called in a following verse the remnant of Israel (Zeph. 3:13).
At the time when the generality of the people of the Jews rejected the Messiah, and their city and temple were destroyed, and the Lord turned the pure language of the Gospel to the Gentiles.
"For then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride": The Scribes and Pharisees, and those that adhered to them of the Jewish nation, who rejoiced in those things which that people generally prided themselves in and boasted of. Their descent from Abraham, and their observance of the rites and ceremonies of the law.
And the traditions of their elders, and their external legal righteousness. And they rejoiced in their boastings of these things, which rejoicing was evil.
And they, in the pride of their hearts, despised Christ and his righteousness, his Gospel, ordinances, and people. Which were the things in which they transgressed against the Lord, and for which they were taken away by the sword, famine, and pestilence, at the destruction of Jerusalem.
"And thou shall no more be haughty because of mine holy mountain": The temple; or, "in" it; since it should now be destroyed. The Jews gloried in the temple, and behaved proudly and haughtily on the account of it. Reckoned themselves secure, because of that. And trusted and gloried in the sacrifices there offered up, and the services there performed (see Jer. 7:4).
All Israel shall be turned to the Lord, and they will no longer be a haughty people, believing they are the only children of God. They had thought themselves better than the rest of the world, because they alone, had the law of God. This was all removed in the coming of their Messiah who brought salvation to all the world.
Matthew 3:9 "And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."
Romans 3:27 "Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith."
Zephaniah 3:12 "I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD."
"I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people": Of a character just the reverse of the proud and haughty that should be removed from Jerusalem and Judea by death or captivity. These are they that should be preserved from the general calamity, as the Christians were, and were left in the church of God.
These were an "afflicted" people, as the Lord's people in all ages are afflicted with a body of sin. With the temptations of Satan; with the hidings of God's face; with bodily infirmities, and with the reproaches and persecutions of men.
The first Christians, both among Jews and Gentiles, justly bore this character, especially with respect to the
last article. And they were also "poor", for the most part the poor of this world, being stripped of their worldly enjoyments for the sake of Christ.
But especially poor in spirit, broken hearted, contrite, lowly ones. That had a mean opinion of themselves,
modest, meek, and humble. Sensible of their spiritual poverty, and seeking after the true riches of grace and glory.
The Targum renders it, "a meek people, and receiving injuries; quietly and patiently.
"And they shall trust in the name of the Lord": Not in men, but in the Lord. Not in descent from men, from the patriarchs, as the Jews were wont to do. Not in Moses, as they, in his law, and obedience to it. Not in any creature or creature enjoyment. Not in wealth and riches. Not in their own hearts, or in their own righteousness but in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In his person for acceptance with God; in his righteousness for justification; in his blood for pardon and cleansing. In his sacrifice for atonement; in his fullness for supplies of grace; in his power and strength for protection and preservation. And in his obedience, sufferings, and death, for salvation and eternal life.
This trust signifies, according to the sense of the word, a betaking of themselves to Christ as a refuge. A hiding themselves under the shadow of his wings; under his person, blood, and righteousness, where they are covered and sheltered from the avenging justice of God.
From the curses of the law, and wrath to come. It is a committing themselves into the hands of Christ; a leaning and staying upon him, expecting grace and glory from him. Trusting him with all they have, and for all they want in time and eternity.
And this the chosen, redeemed, and called ones, "shall do". For, through the efficacious grace of God, faith is given to them, and wrought in them. And this is drawn forth into act and exercise by the same grace, and is continued in them, and shall never fail, through the powerful intercession of Christ for them. They shall believe, and go on believing, to the saving of their souls.
The followers of Jesus Christ are the humble people of the world. They have to give up all their conceit and arrogance to come to Christ. The power to live the Christian life lies in the ability to trust in the name of Jesus.
Matthew 5:3 "Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Luke 6:20 "And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed [be ye] poor: for yours is the kingdom of God."
Philippians 2:10-11 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;" "And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Verses 13-15: For the fall of Assyria (see the notes on 2 kings 23:28-29; Nahum 3:7-10).
Zephaniah 3:13 "The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid."
"The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity": This is the remnant, according to the election of grace, the few the Lord reserved for himself, left in the land, and in his church, for his own glory. Who, being truly convinced of sin, and brought to believe in Christ, should leave and forsake their former course of sinning.
Not that they should be without sin, or none be committed by them. But should not live in it, and be workers of it. Make a trade of sinning, and continue therein. Or should not commit the sin against the Holy Ghost, as great numbers of the Jews did, in rejecting Jesus as the Messiah, against clear evidence, and the light of their own consciences.
"Nor speak lies": In common talk and conversation; which a child of God, a true believer in Christ, a real Christian, should not and dare not do (Isa. 63:8). Or doctrinal lies, lies in hypocrisy; such doctrines as are not of the truth of the Gospel, but contrary to it.
Such as the doctrine of justification by works. Atonement by ceremonial sacrifices. Acceptance with God, through the merits of their fathers. And keeping the traditions of the elders; and other Jewish lies and fables of the same stamp. But rejected by those who have embraced the truth, as it is in Jesus.
"Neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth": Having clean hearts created and right spirits renewed in them. Being Israelites indeed, in whom there is no guile, and true followers of Jesus, in whom nothing of this kind could be found.
"For they shall feed": Like a flock of sheep, to which they may be compared for their innocence and harmlessness, meekness and patience. Feed in the fat pastures of the word and ordinances of Christ, under the care and guidance of him the good Shepherd.
And so go in and out, and find pasture, food, and fullness of it, in him. His flesh, and blood; in his precious truths, and Gospel provisions made in his house.
"And lie down": In green pastures of ordinances, beside the still waters of everlasting love and divine grace, and in the good fold of the church. All which is a reason why they do not and cannot sin as others do. Nor tell lies, and be guilty of deceit and falsehood; for they are better taught.
And the grace of God, in giving them spiritual food and rest, influences and engages them to such a conduct and behavior. Or, "therefore they shall feed", etc. being truly gracious and sincere souls, who cannot indulge themselves in sin, or act a false and deceitful part.
"And none shall make them afraid": Of feeding in those pastures, and lying down in those folds. Or shall deter them from an attendance on the word and ordinances. Or joining in fellowship with the churches of Christ therein.
Neither Satan, the roaring lion, nor false teachers, and persecuting tyrants, those grievous wolves, and cruel bears. Or so frighten them, that in their fright they shall tell lies, and use deceit.
The remnant of Israel, throughout the Bible, is the group who has never bowed their knee to Baal. This just
means they have never worshipped false gods. They have always remained faithful to God. These are those
people who are holy, because He is holy. They are not interested in sin. They are interested in pleasing God.
They have all the good habits of Christ, because Christ lives in them. These are speaking of those who have made Christ their Lord.
1 John 3:9 "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."
Verses 14-20: The messianic era of millennial blessing and restoration is described.
Zephaniah 3:14 "Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem."
"Sing, O daughter of Zion": The congregation of Zion, as the Targum. The church of Christ in Gospel times, which has great reason to sing and rejoice, because of the coming of Christ. Redemption by him, and all other benefits and blessings of grace.
Because of the Gospel, and the ordinances of it, and the numbers of souls converted, both among Jews and Gentiles. Especially the church in the latter day is here called upon to sing for joy, when the Jews will be converted. To which these words and what follow relate.
"Shout, O Israel": The ten tribes, as Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it. Which shall now return and all Israel shall be saved (Rom. 11:26). And therefore just cause of shouting, and of keeping a jubilee on that account.
"Be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem": The metropolis of the two tribes. For now the children of Israel and of Judah shall be together, and seek the Lord their God, and the true Messiah, and find him. And shall embrace him, profess and serve him; which will be matter of great joy.
And this will be sincere and hearty, and devoid of all hypocrisy. Several terms are used, describing the people of the Jews, to comprehend them all. And several words to express their joy, in order to set forth the greatness of it, as their happy case would require.
The joy of the daughters of Jerusalem is the fact that they have been restored. People from all over the world will come to worship there. This promise of the coming greatness of Jerusalem is spoken just after the prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction. The victory of the Lord over sin, and the promise of the restoration of Jerusalem, should make them rejoice in their hearts.
Verses 15-17: The basis for rejoicing in verse 14 is that Israel's day of judgment is past and her King is residing in her midst. His departure just prior to Nebuchadnezzar's destruction of the temple is graphically depicted (in Ezek. chapters 8 to 11). But He will return as Lord and Messiah, a fact so glorious that it is repeated (in verse 17).
Zephaniah 3:15 "The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, [even] the LORD, [is] in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more."
"The Lord hath taken away thy judgments": Both outward and inward. Not only exile, poverty, contempt and reproach among the nations of the earth. But hardness of heart, blindness of mind, impenitence and unbelief, to which the Jews are now given up, in a judicial way.
But at this time these shall be removed, through the goodness of God unto them, and the power of divine grace upon them.
They will be brought to a sense of sin, and an acknowledgment of it; their iniquities will be pardoned; and, the
cause being removed, the effects will cease. And all calamities, corrections and punishment, will end. And they will be put into the possession of their own land, and enjoy all the privileges of the church of God. And so, will have just reason to sing, shout, and rejoice.
"He hath cast out thine enemy": That is, the Lord has removed the enemy that was in possession of their land, and so made way, and prepared it for them. He has swept him away, as the word signifies, with great force, with much ease, and like so much dirt and filth.
He stood in their way, nor could they have easily removed him; but the Lord did it, or will do it. Though it may be by instruments, by means of the Christian princes. This is to be understood of the eastern antichrist, the Turk, now in possession of the land of Israel; but shall be obliged to depart from it, when this prophecy shall take place, for a reason following.
"The King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee": That is, the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Messiah. One of whose titles is the King of Israel, of the spiritual Israel, King of saints, both Jews and Gentiles.
In whose hearts he rules by his Spirit and grace. And to this passage the Jews in Christ's time seem to have respect, allowing this to be the character of the Messiah (Matt. 27:42; and also Nathanael; John 1:49).
Now at this time Christ will be in the midst of the converted Jews, by his spiritual and gracious presence, as their King, to reign over them, to whom they will be subject. And to protect and defend them, and deliver them out of the hands of all their enemies. And so he is in all his churches, and will be to the end of the world.
"Thou shalt not see evil any more": The evil of affliction or punishment; the evil of captivity, disgrace, and contempt. This shows that this prophecy does not respect the Babylonish captivity, and deliverance from that. For since that time, they have seen evil by Antiochus Epiphanies, in the times of the Maccabees; and by the Romans.
And have had a large and long experience of it; but when they are converted, and returned to their own land in the latter day, all their afflictions and troubles will be at an end, they will know them no more. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "thou shalt not fear evil any more". So, the Targum, "thou shalt not be afraid from before evil any more.
The following Scripture is about the very same thing.
Hebrews 8:12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."
They are forgiven and restored.
Revelation 12:10 "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."
Zephaniah 3:16 "In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: [and to] Zion, Let not thine hands be slack."
"In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, fear thou not": Do not be afraid of any enemies; neither outward
ones, the armies of Gog and Magog, or the Turk, who will threaten, and will attempt to dispossess them of their land, now returned to it.
Nor inward and spiritual enemies, sin, Satan, death, and hell, being all vanquished and subdued by Christ. This will be said, not by the enemies themselves, who will confess they have no power to stand before the mighty God, as Aben Ezra; but either by the prophets of the Lord, or by the people themselves.
Encouraging one another, every man his neighbor, as Kimchi. Or rather by the Lord himself, as the Septuagint and Arabic versions supply it, "the Lord shall say to Jerusalem". This will be said at the time of the Jews' conversion, when reinstated in their own land, and shall be threatened with another remove from it, which they will have no reason to fear.
"And to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack": Weak, remiss, hang down through fear of mind, and fainting of spirit. And so unfit to meet the enemy, or perform duty. But, on the contrary, pluck up a good heart, be of good courage, fear not the enemy, be vigorous, active, and diligent, in the performance of the service of the Lord.
This is said about the natural Israelite, and to the church (Zion), spiritual Israel. There will be nothing to fear, because the Lord will be with His own.
Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."
As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride (Isa. 62:4), the Lord will exult over His people with gladness and song, resting in quiet ecstasy over His people in whom is all His delight (Deut. 30:9; Isaiah chapter 54).
The might of man cannot be compared to that of God. God created the world, and all that is in it. He controls everything.
Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Revelation 21:3 "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God."
The love that God has for man is agape love. It is love that is so great, that God sent His Son to die on the cross to save our souls. There is joy in heaven over one sinner who receives Christ as his Savior.
