Zephaniah 3 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Zephaniah 3

Judgment on Jerusalem and the Nations

3:1   Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,
    the oppressing city!
2   She listens to no voice;
    she accepts no correction.
  She does not trust in the LORD;
    she does not draw near to her God.
3   Her officials within her
    are roaring lions;
  her judges are evening wolves
    that leave nothing till the morning.
4   Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men;
  her priests profane what is holy;
    they do violence to the law.
5   The LORD within her is righteous;
    he does no injustice;
  every morning he shows forth his justice;
    each dawn he does not fail;
    but the unjust knows no shame.
6   “I have cut off nations;
    their battlements are in ruins;
  I have laid waste their streets
    so that no one walks in them;
  their cities have been made desolate,
    without a man, without an inhabitant.
7   I said, ‘Surely you will fear me;
    you will accept correction.
  Then your¹ dwelling would not be cut off
    according to all that I have appointed against you.’²
  But all the more they were eager
    to make all their deeds corrupt.
8   “Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD,
    “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey.
  For my decision is to gather nations,
    to assemble kingdoms,
  to pour out upon them my indignation,
    all my burning anger;
  for in the fire of my jealousy
    all the earth shall be consumed.

The Conversion of the Nations

9   “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples
    to a pure speech,
  that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD
    and serve him with one accord.
10   From beyond the rivers of Cush
    my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones,
    shall bring my offering.
11   “On that day you shall not be put to shame
    because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
  for then I will remove from your midst
    your proudly exultant ones,
  and you shall no longer be haughty
    in my holy mountain.
12   But I will leave in your midst
    a people humble and lowly.
  They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD,
13     those who are left in Israel;
  they shall do no injustice
    and speak no lies,
  nor shall there be found in their mouth
    a deceitful tongue.
  For they shall graze and lie down,
    and none shall make them afraid.”

Israel’s Joy and Restoration

14   Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
    shout, O Israel!
  Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
    O daughter of Jerusalem!
15   The LORD has taken away the judgments against you;
    he has cleared away your enemies.
  The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
    you shall never again fear evil.
16   On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
  “Fear not, O Zion;
    let not your hands grow weak.
17   The LORD your God is in your midst,
    a mighty one who will save;
  he will rejoice over you with gladness;
    he will quiet you by his love;
  he will exult over you with loud singing.
18   I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
    so that you will no longer suffer reproach.³
19   Behold, at that time I will deal
    with all your oppressors.
  And I will save the lame
    and gather the outcast,
  and I will change their shame into praise
    and renown in all the earth.
20   At that time I will bring you in,
    at the time when I gather you together;
  for I will make you renowned and praised
    among all the peoples of the earth,
  when I restore your fortunes
    before your eyes,” says the LORD.

Footnotes

[1] 3:7 Hebrew her
[2] 3:7 Hebrew her
[3] 3:18 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

Commentary

v1: Having addressed other nations, 2.4-15, the Lord's attention turns towards Jerusalem (compare Amos 1-2). Judah was supposed to be the light to the nations, declaring the righteousness of God in a dark world. It was not enough to be a little better than the Gentiles, the people of God must be like God.

In 2.1, she is the shameful nation, here the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled.

v2: Jerusalem;

guilty before God, and soon to be brought to account;

disobedient, incorrigible, without faith, without devotion;

missing out on the privileges of knowing God.

v3-4: The leaders picked out; officials, rulers, prophets, priests; they are the ones who have led the people astray. They are described as roaring lions and evening (scavenging) wolves.

v5: In contrast, the Lord God in the midst of the people always does right.

v6-7: Judah failed to realise all the good the Lord has done, Is 5.1-7. Yet the people refused the instruction and correction of the Lord.

v8: Unbelieving nations gathered for judgment; as elsewhere the earth is devoured, see 1.2-3.

v9-13: The faithful remnant, the inheritance of the house of Israel, the one nation whom the Lord has redeemed for Himself, 2 Sam 7.23.

v9: There will be a pure language, reversing the curse of Babel, and therefore promoting unity. Using this pure language, people will once more call upon the name of the Lord in true faith.

v10: Worship and restoration, bringing an offering, and returning those previously scattered among the nations.

v11: Forgiveness of sins, Gen 50.17-21; the people, having realised their rebellion against God will experience His forgiveness.

v12: Humility; a vital evidence of the work of God in our lives; as we submit to His will, we will develop this quality. The purging of the Lord leaves the meek and humble, see 2.3.

v13: The remnant; righteous, truthful and honest, and secure.

v14-17: Jerusalem rejoicing in God's faithfulness.

v14: A great future is promised; no wonder there is a command to shout aloud, be glad and rejoice!

v15: Judgment will be turned away, the enemy cast out, and no more harm or disaster will befall them.

v16: No more fear nor frailty.

v17: Again, the Lord in their midst; contrast v5; see Deut 23.14. he will: save;

take great delight in you; the people will share His joy;

quiet you with His love; and

rejoice over you with singing.

v18-20: Further encouragement; as Judah teeters on the edge of disaster and defeat, the Lord brings more promises for them. One day all rebellion will be past, and the Messiah will dwell among His people.

v18: The Lord first addresses those who sorrow over Israel's reproach; here is a commendation for those who intercede for the Lord's people.

v19: The Lord will deal with those who oppressed the people; this will be a final such judgment, and will not need to be repeated.

v20: The nation regathered and exalted, given honour amongst the nations.