Old Testament Commentary - Zephaniah 3

by Don R. Hender


Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
                   CHAPTER 3                   

At the Second Coming, all nations shall assemble to battle—Men shall have a pure language—The Lord shall reign in their midst.

 1 WOE to her that is afilthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
 2 She aobeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
 3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening awolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
 4 Her prophets are alight and treacherous persons: her priests have bpolluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the claw.
 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 shamea.
 6 I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth 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.
 5a the unjust knoweth no shame Those who have accepted and practice wickedness have turned their fellings against any guilt. The 'know no shame'. Thus it is with the openly gay and homosexuals, they but make it their legal 'right' when in fact it is against the laws of heaven. And they begin to demand that all not only accept but do give them all of the same considerations of the righteous, such as granting them 'marriage' which God has only ordained to be between a man and a woman. But thus are the wicked the will begin to call wickedness right and righteousness wicked. And such is the manner in which they begin to turn the laws, that it is to be against the law to name them wicked and against the law not to accept them in every practice and way in which the righteous are accepted, even unto acceptance in inclusion in the Lord's church with all 'rites' pertaining thereto when in fact they are NOT worthy of such. 'Ye it is but a slippery slop when one begins to extend 'tolerance' unto such as to find where tolerance ends and acceptance of it all begins.'
 8 ¶ Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is ato gather the bnations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the cearth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
 9 For then will I turn to the people a pure alanguage, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one bconsent.
 10 From abeyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.
 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 ahaughty bbecause of my holy mountain.
 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.
 13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak alies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
 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 amidst 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.
 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 ahalteth, 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 agather you: for I will make you a name and a bpraise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your ccaptivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.