Zephaniah 3:9-20

     In the previous section, God had pronounced judgment against His people in Judah (Zep 1:1—2:3), the surrounding Gentile nations (Zep 2:4-15), and Jerusalem (Zep 3:1-8); but now, His final message is one of hope, in which He promises future blessings upon His people as well as the world (Zep 3:9-20). God is the One who will bring all these blessings to pass, eight times declaring “I will” throughout this pericope. The prophecy opens with a promise in which God will give Gentiles purified lips—which pictures purified hearts—to come together, shoulder to shoulder, to worship the Lord (Zep 3:10). Though Israel had experienced shame because of her rebellion in Zephaniah’s day (Zep 3:11a), that negative characteristic will be removed in the millennial kingdom, for God states, “I will remove from your midst your proud, exulting ones, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain. But I will leave among you a humble and lowly people, and they will take refuge in the name of the LORD” (Zep 3:11b-12). The millennial kingdom follows the seven-year tribulation period, in which only the faithful remnant will survive and enter into the Lord’s kingdom on earth. God speaks to that remnant, saying, “the remnant of Israel will do no wrong and tell no lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths; for they will feed and lie down with no one to make them tremble” (Zep 3:13). The language here is reminiscent of Psalm 23, which pictures the Lord as their Shepherd. God calls His people to shout for joy and rejoice at that time (Zep 3:14), for “The LORD has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you will fear disaster no more” (Zep 3:15). The King of Israel is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, who will rule the world from Jerusalem, and will rule in righteousness (2 Sam 7:16; Psa 89:3-4, 34-37; Isa 9:6-7; Matt 19:28; 25:31; Luke 1:26-33). In “that day” there will be no fear or despair in Jerusalem (Zep 3:16), for “The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy” (Zep 3:17). Unlike the past and present, Israel will never be attacked by outsiders, for God will stand as a warrior to defend them, and comfort them in His love. Though God’s appointed feasts were not being celebrated in Zephaniah’s day, they would be restored in the millennial kingdom (Zep 3:18). These feasts would serve as memorials to God’s deliverance, goodness and faithfulness. At that time, God will dispense retributive justice to those who oppressed Israel (Zep 3:19a), and will rescue the afflicted, saying, “I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will turn their shame into praise and renown in all the earth” (Zep 3:1b9). And, we see God’s remunerative justice to Israel, as He states, “At that time I will bring you in, even at the time when I gather you together; indeed, I will give you renown and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes” (Zep 3:20). In closing, Zephaniah ardently declares it is the “the Lord” who promises these things.

     Zephaniah opened his book with a reference to Hezekiah and Josiah, two good kings in Judah; however, these kings failed to bring about lasting reforms, and the nation slipped back into spiritual and moral decline. But the future King of Israel will not fail, as Jesus Christ will accomplish what no other could, when He brings in the millennial kingdom and establishes everlasting peace and blessing upon the world.