"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. 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."
As a further confirmation that this part of Zephaniah's prophecy referred to the days of Christ, the cutting off of the nations comes in to the support of it; for it is well known, that the ancient enemies of Israel were subdued, and a profound peace through the earth was established, when He, the Prince of Peace, came. And though in deed Judea was living under tribute to the Roman power, having been thus humbled for her sins, yet this only made way for the more eminent manifestation of Israel's king and Savior. How beautiful and gracious doth the Lord speak in this passage of his word, concerning his people. I said, surely thou wilt hear me, thou wilt receive instruction. That is, everything around my people becomes a motive for them to seek unto me, as well as my manifestation to them!