Book of Zephaniah Chapter 3

 

 

 

 

5. Against the overbearing city 3.1-13 Jerusalem’s sin and redemption

3.1-5 -5The city of Jerusalem is filthy and polluted. She has been disobedient and has not learned her lesson. She has not received correction and has not trusted in the Lord. The leaders are like preying wolves, the judges are corrupt, the prophets are reckless and faithless, and the priests profane the holy. The Lord, however, is in the midst of all this unrighteousness--He does no wrong and issues faithful judgment every day. All His judgments are righteous.

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.

The nation is beyond hope--lawlessness reigns. It is a picture of a corrupt and lawless society. Warnings were given and no heed paid. The Lord is still in the midst of the nation--He is righteous and just--but that is exactly why He must bring His judgment. God requires righteousness of the nation and cannot tolerate their sin their any longer.

3.6-7 - The wrong doers know no shame. The Lord has destroyed other nations and His people did not get the point. They continued to sin and practice corruption. They did not learn their lesson.

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.

The Lord is grieved that He must punish the nation for their corrupted ways. He warned them through the prophets but they did not listen. God cannot tolerate lawlessness. When a nation becomes lawless anarchy reigns. Is America becoming lawless? Is there respect for law in our nation? Our God has given us His commandments--they are to preserve us and bring blessing to us. When we violate His Law/Torah our society begins to crumple.

3.8-13 - The Lord exhorts His people to wait for Him. He is going to bring the nations together and pour out His indignation upon them. Wickedness will be consumed. In that day Judah will no longer be ashamed for all their sins--the proud and haughty will no longer be among them. They will be humble and find refuge in the Lord. The remnant of Israel will do no wrong and speak no falsehood--they will lie down and rest in the Lord.

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.

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.

We always talk about “the remnant” without understanding what the remnant is. The remnant is what is left over. The remnant are those who have been chastised and tried like gold. They are purified in the heat of tribulations. They are the ones that will shine--but first they have to be sifted like wheat. That is who the remnant are. They have been tried and are walking with the Lord. They love and respect God’s laws.

6. Joy to Jerusalem 3.14-20 - Ultimate supremacy of Israel

3.14-15 - Shout for joy fair Zion! Rejoice fair Jerusalem with all your heart! The Lord has annulled the judgment against you and has swept away your enemies. The Lord is in the midst of thee, you shall not see evil anymore.

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.

Those who are left have learned their lesson. They have returned to the Lord. There is joy and comfort now. In our lives the Lord will chastise us in specific areas and change us from glory to glory--if we allow Him. Being changed from glory to glory is not always glorious--it can be painful--we are dying to self. The remnant are those who have yielded to the Lord and allowed Him to change them from glory to glory. There is ultimately great joy in this as we understand what is happening to us.

3.16-20 - In that day it shall be said to Zion, “Have not fear, let not your hands be slack.” The Lord is in your midst, He will save, rest in His love, and joy over you with singing. He will remove those who have afflicted and reproached you. He will gather those who are sorrowful for a solemn assembly. He will gather and make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, turning back your captivity.”

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.

This is the day of restoration. This is the millennial kingdom time. The Lord brings salvation--it is not by power nor by might, but by His spirit--the arm of the Lord brings salvation. It will be a new world order--God’s order. Verse 18 in the Hebrew is difficult to translate, but it indicates that the people were deprived of the festivals. What festivals? The Feasts of the Lord (Lev 23.1) are the feasts that will be celebrated in the millennium. Many today do not understand the meaning and prophetic fulfillment of these feasts. It is time to understand.

This is Israel’s hope--the return of Messiah Yeshua. This will be the time when their enemies are finally destroyed and the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. We see many prophetic images in these passages. We have an inheritance in God beyond our finite understanding.