Judgment on Jerusalem and the Nations

Judgment on Jerusalem and the Nations

Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! Zeph. 3:1

Woe to her... After pronouncing judgment upon Philistia (Zeph. 3:4-7), Moab and Ammon (Zeph. 3:8-11), Ethiopia (Zeph. 3:12), and Assyria (Zeph. 3:13-15), the prophet predicted woe upon Judah and Jerusalem (Zeph. 3:1-7).

filthy and polluted... The 14-fold moral state of Jerusalem:

1. She is filthy and polluted (Zeph. 3:1).

2. She is full of oppression.

3. She is given over to disobedience (Zeph. 3:2).

4. She is rebellious.

5. She is full of unbelief.

6. She has forsaken God.

7. Her princes are as roaring lions (Zeph. 3:3).

8. Her judges are as evening wolves.

9. They commit crimes in the night.

10. Her prophets are light (Zeph. 3:4).

11. They are treacherous.

12. Her priests have polluted the sanctuary.

13. They do violence to the law.

14. They have corrupted all their doings (Zeph. 3:7).

She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God. Zeph. 3:2

She obeyed not... Having described God’s impending judgment on the countries surrounding Judah, the Prophet Zephaniah again returned to the theme of Jerusalem’s doom (cf. 1:4-2:3). He emphasized the need for the wicked Jews to seek repentance. The prophet listed God’s grievances against His people (Zeph. 3:1-5), and then pronounced God’s inevitable judgment (Zeph. 3:6-7). Woe was a pronouncement of an indictment, an indictment that was here threefold: a city of oppressors (cf. Nineveh, which Nahum called “the city of blood,” Nah. 3:1), rebellious and defiled.

She drew not... The prophet made a general statement about Jerusalem’s wickedness: she had sunk to the level of the heathen nations (cf. Hab_1:2-4). Though Jerusalem is not named in Zeph. 3:1, Zeph. 3:2 shows that it was meant.

she received not... This general threefold indictment was then elaborated in Zeph. 3:2-5 : they oppressed their own people (Zeph. 3:3), were rebellious against God (Zeph. 3:2), and were defiled religiously (Zeph. 3:4). The Jerusalemites failed to heed the correction provided by the Law and the Prophets.

She trusted not... Such rebellion was a failure to trust in the Lord and to be near Him in fellowship and worship (cf. Zeph. 1:6).

Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. Zeph. 3:3

Her princes... The prophet then indicted both the civil leaders (cf. Zeph. 1:8) and the religious leaders (cf. Zeph. 1:4-5).

are roaring...The officials were compared to voracious, hungry lions;

her judges... the rulers (judges) were insatiable wolves who completely devoured an evening prey by morning (cf. Eze. 22:27; Mic. 3:1-3). Judah’s leaders robbed the citizenry in order to appease their own lust for power and plenty (cf. Mic. 3:9-10).

Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. Zeph. 3:4

Her prophets... Jerusalem’s religious leaders were equally debauched! The prophets were self-styled, arrogant religionists who, with the treachery of the priests, twisted and perverted the Law of God in order to fill their bulging purses (cf. Eze. 22:28; Mic. 3:5, 3:11).

Her priests... The priests (cf. Zeph. 1:4) profaned the sanctuary probably by their idolatry and astrology (Zeph. 1:4-5) and by offering blemished animal sacrifices.

they have done... Since they violated the Law by their disobedience (cf. Eze. 22:26), no wonder their people were not teachable (Zeph. 3:2).

The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame. Zeph. 3:5

The just LORD... Eight Facts about Jehovah

1. He is just (Zeph. 3:5).

2. He is in the midst of His people.

3. He will not commit sin.

4. He brings judgment to light.

5. He does not fail man.

6. He punishes the nations (Zeph. 3:6).

7. He makes their streets waste and their cities desolate.

8. He punishes His own people (Zeph. 3:7).

I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. Zeph.3:6

I have cut... The Lord’s words recorded in Zeph. 3:6-13 point up Judah’s dire situation. The Lord rehearsed His past actions against other nations (Zeph. 3:6).

their towers are... God had acted in conformity with His righteousness by judging nations for their wickedness, leaving them demolished… deserted, and destroyed.

so that there... God pleaded with His people to follow in His ways, accepting His correction (cf. Zeph. 3:2) in order to avoid being cut off (cf. Zeph. 1:3-4) and having to face His punishments (cf. Zeph. 1:9-13; Zeph. 2:1-3).

I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings. Zeph. 3:7

I said surely... Seeing the faithfulness of Abraham and knowing his traits (Gen. 18:19) caused God to have confidence in Israel that they would fear Him and receive instruction so that He would not have to deal with them as rebels and cut them off as apostate backsliders; but they disappointed Him and destroyed His confidence in them.

their dwelling... Stubbornly they arose to corrupt themselves in "all their doings." God still knows though, that eventually He will be able to bring them to repentance and conformity to His will. To this end He is working. He has made numerous predictions concerning this and has revealed that it will be accomplished in the future tribulation (Zec. 12:10-13:1, 13:8-9; Rom. 11:25-29).

howsoever I... God is as faithful to punish when men sin as He is to bless when they obey (Zec. 13:8-9).

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. Zeph. 3:8

Therefore wait ye... The 3rd and last prophecy in Zephaniah (Zeph. 3:8-20, unfulfilled).

Twenty-eight Predictions—Unfulfilled:

1. Wait upon Me until the day that I rise up to the prey, for My determination is to gather the nations and assemble the kingdoms to pour out My indignation upon them, even My fierce anger (Zeph. 3:3 :8).

2. All the earth will be devoured with the fire of My jealousy.

3. Then will I give to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent (Zeph. 3:3 :9)

4. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My suppliants, even the daughter of My dispersed, shall bring My offering (Zeph. 3:3 :10).

5. In that day you will be ashamed of all your doings, wherein you have transgressed against Me (Zeph. 3:3 :11).

6. Then I will take away out of your midst them that rejoice in pride.

7. You will no more be haughty because of My holy mountain.

8. I will also leave in the midst of you an afflicted (not with sickness, for there will be no more disease in that day) and poor people; and they shall trust in the name of the Lord (Zeph. 3:3 :12).

9. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity (Zeph. 3:3 :13).

10. They will not speak lies.

11. Neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth.

12. They shall feed and lie down, and no man will make them afraid.

13. The Lord will take away your judgments (Zeph. 3:3 :15).

14. He will cast out your enemy.

15. The King of Israel, even the Lord, will be in the midst of you.

16. You will not see evil anymore.

17. In that day it will be said to Jerusalem, Fear not; and to Zion, Let not your hands be slack (Zeph. 3:3 :16).

18. The Lord your God in the midst of you is mighty and He will save you (Zeph. 3:3 :17).

19. He will rejoice over you with joy.

20. He will joy over you with singing.

21. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly (Zeph. 3:3 :18).

22. At that time I will undo all that afflict you (Zeph. 3:3 :19).

23. I will save her that halts.

24. I will gather her that is driven out.

25. I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.

26. At that time I will bring you again and gather you to your own land (Zeph. 3:3 :20).

27. I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth.

28. I will turn back your captivity before your eyes.

For my determination... The only time this word is found in Scripture. It is used of God planning to punish all nations at Armageddon. Determinate is used once of the counsel and knowledge of God concerning Christ (Act 2:23). The word determined is used 10 times of God’s plan (2Ch. 25:16; Isa. 10:23; 19:17; 28:22; Dan. 9:24-27; 11:36; Act 4:28; 17:26).

to gather the nations... Eight great future gatherings by God:

1. Of Israel from all the lands (Deut. 30:3-4; Isa. 11:10-12, 43:5; 54:7; Jer. 29:14; 31:8-10; 32:37; Eze. 11:17; 20:34, 20:41; 34:13; 36:24; 37:21; 38:8-13; 39:27-28; Hos. 1:11; Mic. 3:12; 4:6; Zeph. 3:19-20; Zec. 10:8-10; Mat. 24:31; Mar. 13:27)

2. Of all nations to Armageddon (Joe 3:2; Zeph. 3:8; Zec. 14:2; Rev. 16:13-16; 19:19-21)

3. Of all nations to judgment (Mat. 13:20, 13:41; 25:31-32)

4. Of all nations to see His glory (Isa. 66:18)

5. Of all birds and beasts to eat the bodies of men slain at Armageddon (Eze. 39:17-21; Mat. 24:27-28; Luke 17:34-37; Rev. 19:17-21)

6. Of all hosts and Satan to be cast into the bottomless pit (Isa. 24:22; Rev. 20:3)

7. Of all saints to meet the Lord in the air (John 14:1-3; 1Th. 4:13-17; 2Th. 2:1, 2:7)

8. Of all things both in heaven and in earth (Eph. 1:10)

The Conversion of the Nations

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. Zeph. 3:9

a pure language... Hebrew: barar saphah, cleansed or purged lips (or speech) in contrast with unclean lips (Isa. 6:5). God will make all people fit to serve Him and worship Him.

From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. Zeph. 3:10

even the daughter... My dispersed people, Israel. As an example of the unanimity of their spiritual service the prophet mentioned those beyond the rivers of Cush (the upper Nile region — southern Egypt, Sudan, and northern Ethiopia; cf. Zeph. 2:12), the most distant land to his knowledge. shall bring... In their converted state the nations, represented by Cush, will bring… offerings to the Lord in Jerusalem (cf. Isa_66:18, Isa_66:20). This would be a marvelous reversal of the Gentiles’ policies during Zephaniah’s day, to this time! This stream of worshipers going to Jerusalem will include Israel — My scattered people.

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. Zeph. 3:11

in that day... Two parts of Israel will be destroyed in the future great tribulation, leaving only one part to be preserved alive to fight against Antichrist and make up the nation that will be born again in a day at the second coming of Christ (Zec. 13:8-9; 14:14; Rom. 11:25-29).

for then I... The surviving remnant will have been purged and purified by the persecutions in the Tribulation, as well as by God’s judgment on living Israel at the Second Advent (cf. Eze. 20:33-38; Mat. 25:1-30). They will call on the name of the Lord in faith (Zec. 12:10-13:1) and become a restored nation (Rom. 11:26-27). Their renewed covenant relationship with the Lord (Hos. 1-2; Jer. 32:38-41; Eze. 37:23-28) will be reflected in God’s words, They are My people (cf. Zec. 8:8), and the people’s response, The Lord is our (lit., “my”) God (cf. Hos. 2:21-23).

I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. Zeph. 3:12

in the midst... A better translation is: "in the midst of you a humble and poor people" (Berkeley); or "meek and lowly people" (Septuagint). The idea is not that of physical sickness and disease, for there will not be any of this in the Millennium and New Earth (Isa. 33:24; 35:5-6; Rev. 21:3-7).

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. Zeph. 3:13

The remnant... All Israel to be saved and be holy (Rom. 11:25-29). At the beginning of the Millennium (that day) Israel will be cleansed and restored. She will have no shame before God because of her sins (wrongs renders a Heb. word that means “terrible deeds”) for God will have removed from the city all those guilty of pride or haughtiness. This will occur in the judgment of Israel (Eze. 20:34-38; Mat. 25:1-13).

Shall not do... All iniquity — wrong (‛awlâh, lit., “injustice”; cf. Zeph. 3:5, God “does no wrong”), lies, and deceit — will be purged away, and in that cleansed condition they will find peace and security. The closing line of Zeph. 3:13 brings to mind the promises of the shepherd psalm, Psa_23:1-6. Israel, so long defiled, turbulent, and ravished, will at last be at rest among the nations and without fear (cf. Zeph. 3:15-16).

and none shall... Evildoers, full of shame, will be judged, and God’s holy hill (Jerusalem; cf. Psm. 2:6; 3:4; 15:1; 24:3; 78:54; Dan. 9:16, 9:20; Joe. 2:1; 3:17; Oba. 1:16) will be inhabited only by a pure people — the meek and humble (cf. Zeph. 2:3) — those trusting in the… Lord.

Israel's Joy and Restoration

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. Zeph. 3:14

Sing, O daughter... Four commands to future eternal Israel:

1. Sing.

2. Shout.

3. Be glad.

4. Rejoice with all the heart.

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. Zeph. 3:15

the Lord hath... Twenty reasons for Israel to be happy:

1. They will not be ashamed of their past sins and rebellions (Zeph. 3:11).

2. All rebels will be purged from the midst of them.

3. They will be haughty no more.

4. They will become meek and lowly.

5. They shall trust the name of the Lord.

6. They will sin no more (Zeph. 3:13).

7.They will be eternally secure.

8. Their judgment will be over (Zeph. 3:15).

9. Their enemy will be cast out.

10. The King of Israel, the Messiah, will be in their midst.

11. They will never see evil again.

12. They will never fear (Zeph. 3:16).

13. They will have material prosperity.

14. God in their midst will be mighty (Zeph. 3:17).

15. God will save them.

16. He will rejoice over them to do them good.

17. He will undo all that afflict them (Zeph. 3:19).

18. He will completely gather them.

19. He will get them praise and fame in every land where they had shame.

20. He will make them a name and a praise among all people of earth (Zeph. 3:20).

In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. Zeph. 3:16

In that day... Amplifies the theme of calm from fear in the last line of Zeph. 3:15. They (apparently converted Gentiles) will encourage Israel not to be fearful or in despair.

Let not thine... Hands that hang limp picture despair through alarm and anxiety (cf. Jer. 47:3). Instead, Israel will lift her hands, symbolic of triumph, because of the Lord’s presence (He will be with you; cf. Zeph. 3:15) and power (He is mighty to save).

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. Zeph. 3:17

Lord thy God... In addition to being with His redeemed remnant and delivering them, He will… delight in them. The nation will again be the object of God’s great love, not His wrath.

He will rejoice... The Millennium will indeed be a time of peace for His troubled people; Israel will rejoice (Zeph. 3:14). But more than that, God will rejoice! (Zeph. 3:17) In fact He will be singing with delight and joy because His Chosen People will be in the land under His blessing.

I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Zeph. 3:18

I will gather... It is noticeable that the prophets repeatedly spoke of the regathering of Israel from all nations—all 13 tribes, not just Judah (Zeph. 3:18-20; Isa. 11:11-14. Many Jews, scattered from their homeland, had sorrows because they were unable to take part in the appointed feasts. But the Lord will remove those sorrows when He regathers His people to Jerusalem where they will enjoy His blessings. No longer will their feasts be a burden, something they hate to do, and a reproach, a cause for God’s displeasure because of their sinful ways.

Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. Zeph. 3:19

undo all that... The word "afflict" must be understood as referring to various kinds of sufferings other than physical sickness and disease, which are mentioned only once or twice with the word throughout Scripture. There are many kinds of afflictions other than sickness and disease.

and gather her... They were driven out because of sin, and they will be gathered to be converted (Rom. 11:25-29; cp. Zec. 12:10-13:1, 13:8-9).

and I will... Three things God will do for Israel:

1. Get them praise in every land where they have been put to shame (Zeph. 3:19).

2. Get them fame among all nations.

3. Make them a name among all people of the earth (Zeph. 3:20).

Of all the promises God has made to Israel, these are some of the most wonderful. Throughout the whole earth they have been a byword and a proverb for many centuries; they have been considered the scum of all things. So if He is to make them a praise, a fame, and a name in all the earth, there must be a radical and a miraculous change ahead for them.

At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD. Zeph. 3:20

This verse summarizes Israel’s yet-future blessings: regathering in the Promised Land (home), a favorable reputation (honor and praise; cf. Zeph. 3:19) among all the nations, and a restoring of her fortunes (or a bringing back of her captives; cf. Zeph. 2:7). This will all happen before her very eyes. In the Millennium, Israel will possess her land as God promised (Gen. 12:1-7; 13:14-17; 15:7-21; 17:7-8), and the Messiah, Israel’s King, will establish His kingdom and will reign (2Sa. 7:16; Psm. 89:3-4; Isa. 9:6-7; Dan. 7:27; Zeph. 3:15).

To emphasize the divine authority of his message as well as the certainty of God’s comfort, Zephaniah ended his book with the words, says the Lord!