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!
