God, in His mercy, tells them that they need to repent, and there was still time –
“Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, before the decree is issued, or the day passes like chaff, before the LORD’s fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you!” (v1,2)
He was telling them that even then there was time ‘before the decree, before the day of the LORD’S fierce anger.’ The words in the previous chapter were a warning, but now there is still time to repent. The idea of gathering together was a demonstration of mourning and repentance.
The day passing like chaff was the cry of urgency, it will be here and gone before you know it.
It is still the same today, the Bible warns us of failure to receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and tells us of the dire consequences. But the Lord also offers His forgiveness, mercy and grace. We need to heed it and repent before it is too late, because the day is coming. The Devil tells us that there is plenty of time, but he is a liar.
Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility.
It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the LORD’s anger. (v3)
That was and still is the answer. The call is all-inclusive to seek The Lord. The last sentence is interesting in that there was a possibility of avoiding the the day of the LORD’s anger. The LORD promises to hide His righteous people in the day of judgment.
Jesus warned us to “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36) This is in the context of the Great Tribulation.
“For Gaza shall be forsaken, And Ashkelon desolate; They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron shall be uprooted. Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, the nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: “I will destroy you; so there shall be no inhabitant.” The seacoast shall be pastures, with shelters for shepherds and folds for flocks. The coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; They shall feed their flocks there; in the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the LORD their God will intervene for them, and return their captives.” (v4-7)
Judgment will come against unrepentant Judah, but they are not alone, for judgment will also be meted out upon the Philistines. Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod and the nation of the Cherithites, and Canaan are listed here. As well as Moabites, Ammonites, (8–11) Ethiopians, (12) Assyrians and Ninevites (13-15).
The prophet had warned about the great and terrible day of the Lord, and the entire nation would face judgement for her sin of apostasy. But he also declared that God’s punishment would fall on the surrounding nations for their blasphemous ways and the harsh treatment they exercised on God’s people. Sin has to be punished; both the sin of pagan nations and the sin of God’s people, Israel.
God promises to give the land of the Philistines to the remnant of Judah.
“I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the insults of the people of Ammon, with which they have reproached My people, and made arrogant threats against their borders. Therefore, as I live,” says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Surely Moab shall be like Sodom, and the people of Ammon like Gomorrah; overrun with weeds and saltpits,
and a perpetual desolation. The residue of My people shall plunder them, and the remnant of My people shall possess them.” This they shall have for their pride, because they have reproached and made arrogant threats against the people of the LORD of hosts. The LORD will be awesome to them, for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; people shall worship Him, each one from his place, indeed all the shores of the nations.” (v8-11)
The Moabites and the Ammonites are judged on their dealings with the people of God, their reproach and insults and pride against the LORD’s people. He will reduce their gods to nothing. Their land – Moab will be like Sodom and Ammon like Gomorrah, overrun with weeds and saltpits. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by God with fire and brimstone or sulphur. (Genesis 18, 19) “And the Lord said, ‘Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous.'” God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and sulphur because of extreme, unrepentant wickedness.
Jude tells us “…as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” (Jude 1:7)
It is thought that these cities are buried beneath the Dead Sea (Salt Sea).
Not much hope for Moab and Ammon. Moab and Ammon were the offspring of the incestuous relations of Lot’s daughters with their drunk father after he fled the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. So, they would know what God was referring to and what would befall them.
The Ethiopians – “You shall be slain by My sword.” (v12) Now God looked to the south, announcing judgment against the Ethiopians. His judgment is stark. Isaiah (ch 18) pronounces judgment on Ethiopia or Cush on the upper Nile. It is clear that they had been hostile and indifferent towards God. (see also Ezekiel 30:4-9). However, Psalm 68:31 indicates a future turning point, “Cush will quickly stretch out her hands to God.”
Acts 8:26–40: Gives us the account of the Ethiopian eunuch baptised by Philip and shows an early New Testament fulfilment of the Gospel extending directly to Africa, symbolising that people of all nations are accepted by God through faith in Christ.
The Assyrians and Ninevites – “And He will stretch out His hand against the north, destroy Assyria, and make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as the wilderness. The herds shall lie down in her midst, every beast of the nation. Both the pelican and the bittern shall lodge on the capitals of her pillars; Their voice shall sing in the windows; Desolation shall be at the threshold; For He will lay bare the cedar work. This is the rejoicing city that dwelt securely, that said in her heart, “I am it, and there is none besides me.” How has she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down! Everyone who passes by her shall hiss and shake his fist.” (v13-15)
God completes His judgment upon the surrounding nations by turning to the north, to Assyria whose capital was Nineveh, which would become desolate and only fit for habitation by animals and birds. Nineveh felt strong and said so, but God would shatter her confidence and bring her down. This was the city which was confident in their security and said so (v15).
You may recall that Jonah was sent to Nineveh to preach repentance. He was at first reluctant but eventually went and there was a revival. Jonah wasn’t pleased with God granting them repentance (see the book of Jonah). However, their repentance did not last and some 150 years later (see the book of Nahum) the judgment came upon them.
Zephaniah does not tell us why the nations were ripe for judgment. Maybe, he assumed his readers were already familiar with the prophecies of Amos, Isaiah, and Nahum, which described the sins of these neighbouring nations. God would glorify Himself among the nations, and one way He would do it was to bring the idols of the nations low. All would see that their idols were vain and that the Lord alone is God.
