Zephaniah: An Inconvenient Truth
The Introduction and Chapters 1 & 2 can be found on the menu bar on the right.
Zephaniah 3
In chapters 1 and 2 Zephaniah has been prophesying of the day of the LORD and what will happen to Judah, Jerusalem, and the nations around them. Zephaniah, Habakkuk, and Jeremiah, all prophesied around the same time and all said God would raise up the Chaldeans (Babylonians) and that He would use them to fulfill His purposes. Chapter 3 begins with one last note on the sins of the people of Judah and then breaks forth into restoration and salvation!
I first attempted to go through the chapter verse by verse, but it felt like I was disturbing the flow of thought, causing ripples on the lake, muddying the water - I think you get the picture! So instead of verse by verse, I will consider each section as a whole.
1-7 The spiritual state of Jerusalem
1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
3 Her princes within her [are] roaring lions; her judges [are] evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
4 Her prophets [are] light [and] treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
Zephaniah is talking about Jerusalem. He is speaking to her, especially her princes, prophets, and priests. What a sad picture of the spiritual state of Jerusalem and the Jews in Zephaniah’s day! They had witnessed His chastisements, his judgments, yet they continued to rise early and corrupt all their ways. They were sold out to sin and would not turn to the Lord.
8-20 Restoration and Salvation
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.
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.
10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, [even] the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.
This is very interesting. The day of the LORD is coming in which God will use Babylon to execute his judgment on Judah, sending them into captivity in Babylon. And here he speaks of their restoration. Their salvation is described as I will turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD. “This promise must refer to the conversion of the Jews…That the whole nation may call upon God by Christ, and serve him with one consent.” (Adam Clarke) It seems to me that the restoration and salvation is greater than the return from Babylon under Ezra and Nehemiah.
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.
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.
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.
14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
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.
16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: [and to] Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
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.
18 I will gather [them that are] sorrowful for the solemn assembly, [who] are of thee, [to whom] the reproach of it [was] a burden.
19 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.
20 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.
Notice, in that day (11 & 16) and at that time (19 & 20). This refers to the return to the land and their restoration to the Lord - he is detailing what will happen in that day and at that time. This will be a great day and a great salvation! Deliverance, peace, and joy! I believe verses 11-20 have a double fulfillment: first, the rescue from Babylon and the return to the land, and second, the greater rescue and restoration in the last days at the second coming and millennial reign of Christ, the King of Israel.
I have read those who say Zephaniah is no longer speaking of Israel here, that there is no future restoration of Israel, that this is referring only to a future, spiritual people (i.e. The Church). But this doesn’t make sense. The Jews get the day of the LORD of chapter 1 but not the restoration of chapter 3? How would Zephaniah’s readers have understood this? Where are the clues that the intended audience has changed? We know for certain that God told them of the Babylonian captivity, that He promised restoration from Babylon after 70 years of captivity, and that this is exactly what happened. This is clearly what Zephaniah prophesied – when I turn back your captivity before your eyes.
But as I have said, this seems to be referring to more, to a greater restoration which has yet to take place, but will when Christ returns. And of course this is where some differ, they deny that God will fully restore Israel, that Israel has a future. This would of course mean that God would cast them off at some point. That some point being after the first coming of Christ – he came, they rejected him, as a result God rejected them, cast them off as His people (the destruction of Jerusalem). But Paul asks and answers this very question in Romans 11:1-2, I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.
Is there a future for Israel? Will God restore Israel as a people and save them? Here is what the angel Gabriel declared to Mary in Luke 1:30-33
Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
And Paul in Romans 11:26-27
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Yes, all Israel shall yet be saved. God has promised this to them, this is the covenant he made with them. This the faithfulness of God. He is faithful to his Word and His covenant. In chapter 1 Zephaniah tells us the LORD is righteous and holy. In chapters 1 & 3 he tells us He is faithful. He loves His people Israel, He made a covenant in which He promised to save them from their enemies and give them peace in their land, and He will do it!
If this is for Israel, and it is, is there any application for the Christian today? The one who has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? For the Church of Christ? The new people of God made up of people from every nation? Yes! Through Christ we inherit the salvation promised to Israel: That the Gentiles should be…partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. (Ephesians 3:6) Hallelujah! We inherit it, we enjoy the benefits of it, but we don’t exhaust it. That is, even though we’re partakers of his promise in Christ, we are only tasting the powers of the world to come, there is still the full deal when Christ returns in glory, So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28) And that Israel will yet enjoy salvation through their Messiah, hear the Apostle Paul in Romans 11
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
Now, let’s go through Zephaniah 3:11-20 again and see this salvation we’re partakers of:
11 in that day shalt thou not be ashamed of all thy doings – forgiveness
13 do no iniquity, nor speak lies – saved from sin, which we call sanctification
none shall make them afraid – the peace of God which passeth all understanding
14 sing, be glad and rejoice – the joy of the Lord, unspeakable and full of glory
15 taken away thy judgments – justification
Cast out thine enemy – deliverance and salvation
The king is in the midst of thee – the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
Thou shalt not see evil anymore – all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose
17 the LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty – In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” Hallelujah!!!!
18-19 I will gather the sorrowful / I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out – is this not what He is doing now? saving the lost and broken? We can all sing: “I was lost in sin when Jesus found me, but he rescued me all glory to his name!” ('Twas A Glad Day, A.S. Reitz)
Is this not the Gospel? Christ has come and brought the salvation of God.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved - with the very salvation described in these verses! Praise God!
Verse 17 is beautiful: 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.
We used to sing this verse -
The Lord Thy God in the midst of Thee,
Is mighty, is mighty.
He will save, He will rejoice over Thee
With joy, with joy.
He will rest in His love.
He will joy over Thee with singing.
The Lord Thy God in the midst of Thee,
Is mighty, is mighty, is mighty.
(by Tapu Moala © 1972 Scripture In Song)
You can listen to it here We sang it a little faster than this.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people from their sins.
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