The Future of God’s People
April 2, 2022
Commentary
In the future, Israel will have four Reasons to rejoice and sing praises to God (vv. 14-15).
1. The Lord will take away the judgment against them (v. 15a).
2. The Lord will clear away their enemies (v. 15b).
3. The Lord will be their King in their midst (v. 15c).
4. As a result, they will never again fear evil (v. 15d).
When we allow fear into our lives, it makes us weaker then we really are (v. 16). Israel had four Reasons not to Fear (vv. 16-20).
1. The Lord their God, the mighty one who would save them was in their midst (v. 17). When we are with the Lord:
a. He rejoices over his people (v. 17).
b. He quiets them by his love (v. 17).
c. He exults over them with loud singing (v. 17).
2. The Lord gathers those who mourn and who suffer reproach for the festival (vv. 18, 19b, 20a). There are no social outcasts in God’s kingdom.
3. The Lord deals with all their oppressors (v. 19a). It’s hard to imagen a would free of oppression, but one day it will be a reality.
4. The Lord will change their shame into praise and fame (vv. 19c, 20b). Shame arrived in the story of humanity back in the Garden of Eden, but God will put an end to it. More than just removing shame, the Lord praises and gives renown to His people.
Application
I don’t normally think about God the way he is described in this passage. I usually see him as being very stoic up there in heaven, patiently listening to my prayers and then patiently explaining why he can or can’t fulfill them today. But Zephaniah’s image of God rejoices over us. His love moves us to silence, but he is loudly exulting us through song. I want to keep that image of Him in my mind.
Zephaniah 3:14– 20 (NET)
14 Shout for joy, Daughter Zion! Shout out, Israel! Be happy and boast with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has removed the judgment against you; he has turned back your enemy. Israelās king, the Lord, is in your midst! You no longer need to fear disaster.
16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, āDonāt be afraid, Zion! Your hands must not be paralyzed from panic!
17 The Lord your God is in your midst; he is a warrior who can deliver. He takes great delight in you; he renews you by his love; he shouts for joy over you.ā
18 āAs for those who grieve because they cannot attend the festivalsā I took them away from you; they became tribute and were a source of shame to you.
19 Look, at that time I will deal with those who mistreated you. I will rescue the lame sheep and gather together the scattered sheep. I will take away their humiliation and make the whole earth admire and respect them.
20 At that time I will lead youā at the time I gather you together. Be sure of this! I will make all the nations of the earth respect and admire you when you see me restore you,ā says the Lord.
Illustration: William Cary The Future is as Bright as The Promises of God
Ć¢ā¬ÅThe future is as bright as the promises of God.” – William Carey