Zephaniah 3
FROM Nineveh’s destruction and Assyria’s complete overthrow as a nation, of which the last verses of chapter 2 treat, God passes at once to Jerusalem. If the ancient city (Genesis 10:11) was shortly to perish forever, should Jerusalem, the city of God’s dwelling place, but now filthy (or rather, rebellions) and polluted (or corrupted), escape the sword of divine vengeance? Verses 1 to 8 furnish the answer.
The charges against the capital of Israel’s favored land are conclusive: there is rebellion, corruption, oppression there, and in such measure as to characterize the city. And did she heed the voice of God speaking through His servants? did she trust in Jehovah, or draw near to her God? The answer is definitely in the negative.
The princes (or rulers) were as roaring lions, the judges as evening wolves; the prophets (by profession, —not owned by God as His servants) were boastful and treacherous persons, and the priests profaned the holy place, did violence to the law given by Moses.
And had God failed them? had He withdrawn the light of His word from the city where He had set His name? He had not; indeed, He had caused the recovery of His word, long lost to sight through the failure of man (2 Chronicles 34:14-19, 27, 30-33). He failed not, but the unjust (unrighteous) knew no shame.
God had cut off nations; their battlements were desolate, their streets waste, their cities left without inhabitant (referring to the countries overcome by the Assyrians and others); and He had said, “Only fear Me; receive correction”, so Jerusalem should not be cut off, however He might punish them; but they “rose early”—bent upon their evil course with full energy—and corrupted all their doings.
The shameful story is told, and Jerusalem is beyond recovery. “Therefore”, says Jehovah to the believing remnant of Judah, “wait ye for Me, until the day that I rise up for the prey.” Then shall all the world come under His executed wrath (verse 8).
From verse 9 to the end of the prophecy overflows with the wonders of His grace. “The people” in verse 9 is properly read “peoples”, referring to the nations in the Millennium. “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia” (verse 10) refers to the most distant enemies of Israel when in their own land, the rivers being the Nile and the Euphrates, since Ethiopia meant the race, and not only the country now called by that name.
Is there in Scripture any language more touching than verse 17, recalling what Israel’s past has been?
Chapter 3, like the earlier chapters, has had a partial fulfilment; the prophecy awaits, for its full display, the Millennial judgments and blessings.
ML 07/04/1937