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| Photo by Jim Tracy |
1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
The people of Judah have polluted their city with sin.
2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
Jerusalem refused to repent even when God sent prophets to warn them of their sin.
3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
Jerusalem’s rulers are dishonest and out to steal as much as they can from the people they are supposed to be serving.
4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary; they have done violence to the law.
Jerusalem’s religious leaders aren’t any better than the politicians.
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.
God is never tempted to do evil. He says;
6 I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passes 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.
No matter what God has done, Judah has continued to sin and rebel.
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.
God tells His people (those who actually serve God) to be patient; he WILL destroy their enemies if they will turn to Him.
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.
God promises to bring even those who will be scattered to the farthest reaches of the known earth back with offerings.
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.
One big problem the Jews had was undue pride in their heritage. God will give them a right heart of humbleness.
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.
The Remnant.
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.
Those left behind during “The Carrying Away” returned to God in truth.
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.
God will rejoice in those left in the land who will actually serve Him. It is His delight to have our true love.
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.
God promises to bring His people back to the land of Judah, which He did under the command of Cyrus the Great.
Prologue
This seems an appropriate place to end this book of Zephaniah as well as my own. The era of Israel and Judah as the kingdoms of God is over. They will never again be world powers. In fact, Israel will never again exist at all. Only the country of Judah will be restored (though with representatives from all twelve tribes), and then never to her former glory.
The next era will be one of transition from Israel as God’s people to the time of the Christian Church. This transition time will contain the return to the land of Palestine from Assyria and Babylon, the conquering of Alexander the Great, the turmoil after his death between Syria and Egypt, the time of the Maccabees, and the beginning of the Roman Empire. Though the world seemed in an uproar, those who served God would see His hand of protection and provision through it all.
We don’t know what the future holds for us or our nation. I am afraid for her because of our rebelliousness and idolatry. But I do know that through it all, God will care for His own. We can depend on that.