Zephaniah 3:14-20

PORTRAIT OF THE REDEEMED. Zephaniah 3:14-20

RV. Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. Jehovah hath taken away thy judgements, he hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even Jehovah, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not fear evil any more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; O Zion, let not thy hands be slack. Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; over thee with singing. I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assembly, who were of thee; to whom the burden upon her was a reproach. Behold, at that time I will deal with all them that afflict thee; and I will save that which is lame, and gather that which was driven away; and I will make them a praise and a name, whose shame hath been in all the earth. At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I bring back your captivity before your eyes, saith Jehovah.

LXX. Rejoice, O daughter of Sion; cry aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem; rejoice and delight thyself with all thine heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord has taken away thine iniquities, he has ransomed thee from the hand of thine enemies: the Lord, the King of Israel, is in the midst of thee: thou shall not see evil any more. At that time the Lord shall say to Jerusalem, Be of good courage, Sion; let not thine hands be slack. The Lord thy God is in thee; the Mighty One shall save thee; he shall bring joy upon thee, and shall refresh thee with his love; and he shall rejoice over thee with delight as in a day of feasting. And I will gather thine afflicted ones. Alas! who has taken up a reproach against her? Behold, I will work in thee for thy Sake at that time, saith the Lord; and I will save her that was oppressed, and receive her that was rejected; and I will make them a praise, and honoured in all the earth. And their enemies shall be ashamed at that time, when I shall deal well with you: for I will make you honoured and a praise among all the nations of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before you, saith the Lord.

COMMENTS

The closing verses of Zephaniah are in contrast to the bulk of the book. To this point the judgements have been harsh. The closing paragraph is tender and gentle.
But there is no contradiction. As we have seen. God's judgements are redemptive. He does not rejoice in such suffering. He only does what must be done to call His people back to Himself and purge the Gentiles from their sin.
Here is the anticipation of the day when such affliction shall be over, when God's people shall be reconciled to Himself. There is ample reason for such rejoicing.

SING O DAUGHTER OF ZION. Zephaniah 3:14

Cities were, and are, frequently referred to as women poetically to express affection. (e.g. Isaiah 47:1, Psalms 45:12). Daughter of Zion and daughter of Israel are synonymous terms. Daughter of Jerusalem also seems interchangeable with these terms. All are freighted with covenant significance.

THE KING OF ISRAEL IS IN THE MIDST. Zephaniah 3:15

An end shall be put to all their trouble and distresses. Though some grievances remain, they shall be only afflictions, not judgements, for sin shall be pardoned.
The term cast out here is literally swept out. When they sweep, out their sin by reformation, God will sweep out their enemies by destruction.

Our Lord is called King. of Israel (John 1:49). There is no doubt of the Messianic significance of these verses. He is always in the midst of His people. (cf. Matthew 28:20) Because He is in our midst we need not fear evil. (cp. Romans 8:31-39)

Zephaniah: sees Israel, purged from sin by the fires of judgement, now. ready for God's presence which she has heretofore rejected.

LET NOT THY HANDS BE SLACK. Zephaniah 3:16

With the King, even Jehovah, in their midst, God's covenant people need not slump in despair. An awareness of His presence is cause for courage and strength even in adversity.

A MIGHTY ONE WHO WILL SAVE. WILL REJOICE OVER THEE. Zephaniah 3:17

God will delight in His people. After all, this is the reason He created man. When the purging of sin is accomplished and His people at last are His, He will have reason to rejoice! God not only loves us. He loves to love us. If we love Him as we ought, we will have as our strongest desire His good pleasure, just as He has ours.

I WILL GATHER THEM THAT SORROW. Zephaniah 3:18

The prophet here promises reprieve to those of Israel who are scattered abroad. Their absence from the sacred feasts is a reproach to Jerusalem. After the purging of their sins, He will bring the faithful into the assembly. In God's eternal Israel. the redeemed. there will be no reproach or burden.

I WILL MAKE THEM A PRAISE AND A NAME. Zephaniah 3:19-20

In these closing verses the Messianic light of Zephaniah burns brightest. There has been a gradual turning from the contemporary and the mundane. In some of the verses we have just read it is difficult to know whether the prophet speaks of the circumstances in which he himself lived, of the captivity and return or of the future Messianic deliverance of the covenant people. Here there is no doubt. The enemies of the people have been destroyed, the gathering of the faithful has been accomplished. Jehovah is in their midst. A praise and a name are theirs among all the people of the earth.

The people, righteous and blessed by God, are known throughout the earth. Even the people of earth's nations praise them. (cp. Acts 2:47; Acts 5:17, etc.).

Isaiah also spoke of a new name which God would give His own in the Messianic age. (Isaiah 62:1-2) The fulfillment of this promise is seen at Antioch when the covenant people are called Christian. (Acts 11:26)

In the intervening ages, before these promises are fulfilled, there would often be cause for sorrow. There would not be the liberty to meet together to keep the public ordinances. During the captivity, the Jews were denied what previously they had neglected. They were reproached and made the objects of derision.
But despite the darkness of judgement, Zephaniah at last sees an end of suffering and a day of universal praise to God and of His people. The faithful will come from distant nations and the remnant will live in the presence and security of Jehovah the King.

Chapter XXIIQuestions

Comfort and Consolation

1.

The sin for which Judah will be led captive is ________________ sin.

2.

Social sin is inevitably the result of ________________.

3.

Though not specifically named in Zephaniah 3:1, ________________ is obviously intended by Her that is rebellious.

4.

In light of Zephaniah's pronouncement of judgement against social evil which results from false religion, discuss the statement it doesn-'t make any difference what one believes, so long as he is sincere.

5.

According to Zephaniah 3:2, four failures have brought her to the brink of destruction. They are: (1) ________________, (2) ________________, (3) ________________, and (4) ________________.

6.

Zephaniah condemns four classes of cultural leaders in Judah. They are: (1) ________________, (2) ________________, (3) ________________ and (4) ________________.

7.

The ________________ ________________ is the beginning of wisdom.

8.

Should a Christian fear God? Explain.

9.

What is meant (Zephaniah 3:7) by rose early and corrupted?

10.

Why is God's wrath poured out in human history?

11.

What is meant by turn? (Zephaniah 3:9)

12.

Pure Language is evidence of ________________.

13.

In Zephaniah 3:10 Ethiopia represents ______________.

14.

Is the idea of universal salvation found in the Old Testament? Discuss.

15.

What is meant by in that day? (Zephaniah 3:11)

16.

The closing verses of Zephaniah are in contrast to ________________.

17.

Who are the daughter of Zion. the daughter of Israel. the daughter of Jerusalem (Zephaniah 3:14)?

18.

Discuss the Messianic significance of the closing verses of Zephaniah.

19.

Discuss God will delight in His people.

20.

Discuss a praise and a name. (Zephaniah 3:19-20)