“Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city! She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; She has not trusted in the LORD, she has not drawn near to her God. Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; Her judges are evening wolves that leave not a bone till morning. Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.” (v1-4)
The prophet turns his attention back to Jerusalem who he describes as a wicked city, using terms like rebellious and polluted, oppressing and disobedient. She had not trusted in God, nor turned to Him. He described her leaders as roaring lions, and judges as ravenous wolves. Even her prophets were insolent and treacherous, and her priests had polluted the sanctuary and treated the law with utter contempt. Despite a loving God giving her correction, she had not listened nor received it. She had not trusted in God, even though God had always been faithful. Perhaps worst of all, God had wanted a relationship with his people, but they had shunned Him and failed to draw near to Him, even though He was there all the time.
“The LORD is righteous in her midst, He will do no unrighteousness. Every morning He brings His justice to light;
He never fails, but the unjust knows no shame. “I have cut off nations, their fortresses are devastated; I have made their streets desolate, with none passing by. Their cities are destroyed; there is no one, no inhabitant. I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me, you will receive instruction’– So that her dwelling would not be cut off, despite everything for which I punished her. But they rose early and corrupted all their deeds.”” (v5-7)
What a contrast between the unrighteousness of the people and the righteousness of God? Despite God’s continued righteousness they had just continued in their sin. Sooner or later, they would face His judgement. Even though God been continually faithful to them and destroyed the nations around them, they still did not fear him. In fact, it seems that they could not wait to do more evil.
“Therefore wait for Me,” says the LORD, “Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations to My assembly of kingdoms, to pour on them My indignation, all My fierce anger; all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy. For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one accord. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, the daughter of My dispersed ones, shall bring My offering. In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds in which you transgress against Me; For then I will take away from your midst those who rejoice in your pride, and you shall no longer be haughty In My holy mountain. I will leave in your midst A meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.” (v8-13).
There is judgment and restoration. Israel faced great difficulties because of their disobedience, but they were exhorted by Zephaniah to be patient and wait for the Lord: “‘Therefore, wait for Me,’ declares the LORD. The faithful remnant was not removed from difficult and dangerous times. Rather, they were to wait patiently for the Lord to act on their behalf when not only their local enemies would be punished, but a great and terrible universal day of judgement would fall upon the whole earth. It would be a time of deep distress and heavy darkness: the time of Jacob’s Trouble. And this time is yet future. Many Bible scholars see this will be fulfilled in the days of the Millennium, when Jesus reigns for 1,000 years over this earth after His return in power and glory. From this passage, many scholars believe that in that day the world will go back to a common language.
Another commentator suggests that while this is a passage that relates to Israel, all Old Testament truths given to Israel have direct or indirect relevance to all God’s children in all ages. God does not change and has purposed to one day punish the Christ-rejecting sinful world that dishonours His character, blasphemes His name, plays sport with His people, and tramples on the truth of His Word. And yet today, as in days-gone-by, God says wait! Wait for God’s timing: “Wait for Me, says the Lord.”
Charles Swindoll said that he he had not met any young people who were patient, in fact he had not met many older people who were patient either. We’re all in a hurry. We don’t like to miss one panel of a revolving door. Patience comes hard in a hurry-up society. Yet, it’s an essential quality, cultivated only in extended periods of waiting.
“For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid:” This speaks of the peace, and prosperity Israel will know in the millennial era.
God does His work in His own time; we usually like to dictate our own time. God is not in a hurry. God will never be late nor will He be too early! We are to wait for HIS time and to wait for HIS way: “Wait for ME,” and it applies to us as well as those in the past. His promises to Israel will never fail, just as His promises to the Church are ‘yes’ and ‘amen’ in Christ Jesus our Lord – and our present sojourn in this fallen world, is likewise hastening to its grand finale. Just as Israel must wait for God’s timing, so we must wait for the Rapture of the Church and the resurrection of the saints, which will take place in God’s time and in His way!
We too must wait. We too must simply wait on God and trust His Word. Like the faithful remnant in the times of Zephaniah. We are to wait for His plans and purposes to be carried out in His way, in His time, and for His glory; but we are to be ready and to watch for His any-day return.
We may not understand all God’s ways, and we may not understand why He waits, especially as the evil deeds of wicked men seem to intensify and prosper. We may not understand why so many of His children are facing such dark trials and deep hardships. We may not understand; but we are to trust Him. We are to live by faith and not by sight or be influenced by emotions or circumstances. It all comes back to faith in His Word and trusting His purposes and plans.
It is not always easy to trust the Lord to fulfil all that He has laid out in His Word of truth in times of deep distress. We may not understand why things happen but let us wait for Him with patient endurance and steadfast faith. Despite all that we are facing today, let us remember that every day is one more day of grace. Every day that passes is one more day of God’s favour when lost people are found and sinners are saved. However, the day is fast approaching when our waiting will be over and the Lord will act on our behalf, but until then, let us wait for the day when the Lord will stand up as our witness, as He has promised.
“Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your judgments; He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak.
The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” “I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly, who are among you, to whom its reproach is a burden. Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame and gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame in every land where they were put to shame. At that time I will bring you back, even at the time I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I return your captives before your eyes,” Says the LORD.” (v14-20)
Here we have powerful message which shifts from warnings of judgment to joyful message of restoration, grace and deep love of God for His people. We have the rare image of God actually singing over His people.
The passage begins with God’s instruction for Israel to sing and shout and rejoice because He will come with forgiveness and turning away of their enemies. The main reason is that He, the King of Israel, the LORD is in their midst.
God does not just save, He takes great delight in them, quietening them with His love, and even singing over them. This is perhaps one of the most tender expressions in the Bible. We might sing a lullaby over our infant child, but for God to sing over His people, who have been so disobedient and worthy of His judgment, is remarkable.
He also promises to turn their disgrace into fame and praise for all the world to see. He tells them not to fear and not to let their hands grow weak. If the LORD Almighty is with them and for them, what have they to fear? He will also strengthen them and give them the energy they need.
So, to recap, Zephaniah chapter 3 moves from strict judgment against a corrupt Jerusalem to a comforting promise of future hope, restoration, and God rejoicing over His humble people.
