CRITICAL NOTES.]
Zephaniah 3:9. For] The reason for judgment, lip purity of language, “effusions of devotion,” springing from renewed hearts. Consent] Shoulder; a metaphor from burden-bearers with even shoulders (Jeremiah 32:39); one accord, i.e. unanimity.
Zephaniah 3:10. From] most distant countries Jews will be presented to God by converted Gentiles as a meat-offering (cf. Isaiah 66:20). Rejected Israelites will be benefited by Gentiles entering into the kingdom of God.
Zephaniah 3:11. Ashamed] All cause for shame removed. They will be sanctified and restored to favour. Pride] Haughty princes and priests, who exult in sin, taken away. Mountain] The city or temple of which they boasted.
Zephaniah 3:12.] Those spared in judgment and gathered together. Afflicted] Bowed down, oppressed with feeling of impotence for good, opposite of pride, and trusting in self—“a humble and lowly people” [Newe.]
Zephaniah 3:13. This remnant] will be a boly nation (Exodus 19:6); without injustice in life and deceit in word. Feed] in peace, undisturbed by foreign foes or unjust rulers. “This blessing is still further developed in what follows; first of all, by reference to the removal of the judgments of God (Zephaniah 3:14-17), and secondly, by the promise of God that all the obstacles which prevent the enjoyment of the blessing are to be cleared away “[Keil].
HOMILETICS
THE GATHERING OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.—Zephaniah 3:9-10
In judgment God dispersed his ancient people, but they shall be restored with the Gentiles to God again. The heathens shall be converted, and be the means of turning the scattered nation to Jehovah. God will gather from all parts a people pure in life and united in service.
I. The Gentiles shall be gathered together. “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia;” Abyssinia and neighbouring nations shall be converted. From the utmost bound of the known world shall people come The dispersed, the outcasts of spiritual Israel, shall be gathered from every region. With the restoration of the Jews shall “the fulness of the Gentiles” come. “That also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.”
II. The Gentiles shall be holy in their life.
1. Pure in their language. “Then will I turn to the people a pure language.” The confusion of tongues was the punishment of sin; but lips once polluted with idolatry and blasphemy, shall be purified by the Spirit of God. A pure language indicates a pure life. The mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart. The lip was created by God, and should be used for his service and glory. A pure heart refines character and conversation, pours grace into the lips, and cleanses them from falsehood and profanity. “He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.”
2. Sincere in their worship. “My suppliants shall bring mine offering.” Converted Gentiles will not only bring devout Jews as an offering to God (cf. Isaiah 66:20); but they will present themselves in humility and acceptance (Romans 15:16). No longer defiled by invocations and foul strains to idols, they will “all call upon the name of the Lord.” “For, from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering.”
3. United in their service. “Serve him with one consent.” Saved by judgments, the nations shall be sanctified in speech, and one in effort. They shall bear the burden without strain or distress, walk step by step and work shoulder to shoulder in the cause of God. Christendom shall yet be purged from bigotry and sectarianism. There shall be a return to the simplicity and union in Christ. The Gospel shall dislodge idolatry and anti-Christian systems. Nations shall walk together—the Jew and the Greek, the Barbarian and the Scythian—side by side, shoulder to shoulder, bearing the conquests of the cross. Thus, on earth we may anticipate the joys, and hear the songs, of heaven (Revelation 7:10; Revelation 7:12; Revelation 11:15). “I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them and of their children after them.”
BEARING THE BURDEN WITH ONE CONSENT.—Zephaniah 3:9
The law of God is a burden. Man can only bear it without strain and distress as each freely assumes it, and as all help to bear it, by walking in willing and happy consent of obedience. To induce a free and universal obedience, men are judged and corrected of the Lord. The metaphor, therefore, suggests three main thoughts—
1. That the law of God is a burden which men are reluctant to assume. To our selfwill it is always hard to submit to the purest and tenderest will, even to the Divine Will, which moves in the light of eternal wisdom, and at the impulse of perfect love. Christ admits obedience to be a yoke to our unruly passions, a burden to our stubborn necks (Matthew 11:28-30). When we delight in his law after the inward man, we find another law in our members warring against the law of our mind, and bringing us into the captivity of sin (Romans 7:21-23). We can only enter into rest as we get unity and freedom in our life, and we willingly submit to a higher will than our own.
2. That we can only attain this freedom as, with cheerful and enforced accord, we assume the burden of the Divine law, and do the will of God. Self-will makes us hateful to ourselves and to others; incapacitates for social and spiritual life. Follow your own will, you become a burden to yourself and all about you. Voluntarily curtail your own liberty, then you have true liberty. Set yourself against the world, you will find that the world has a stronger will than you have. We must take up some burden, and submit to some law. No law is so good, no burden so light, as the good will of God. This will rules in human affairs. It is wise to make it our law—not merely yield to it, but cheerfully adopt and love it, and walk in liberty. Love makes all burdens light. When we love God, his will grows beautiful to us, and preferable to our own. Because we bear the yoke we find rest; because we keep the commandment we walk at large (Psalms 119:45). We are free because we obey. But are we happy because we are free.
3. That the happiness of obedience depends on the unanimity and the universality of obedience. Only when all men serve God with one shoulder the sense of strain and distress will pass from us. To love God is to love man. Till they share our freedom, it cannot be a happy freedom. Till they love him and do his will, they will put many hindrances and temptations in our way which make obedience hard and painful. If they do not take their full share in bearing the burden, it will press unduly upon our shoulders. If some are morally taller and others morally shorter, men do not keep step. Only when the whole world stands under the Divine burden with one shoulder, and moves with one step, will our freedom be a happy freedom, and God’s statutes become our songs. Seeing how men suffer from the sins of men, and nations from the sins of nations, we may well long and pray for the time when all men shall speak with a pure lip and serve with a single shoulder [Preacher’s Lantern, vol. II].
THE RESTORED REMNANT.—Zephaniah 3:11-13
In these verses the prophet pictures the happy characteristics and condition of restored Israel These qualities are common to God’s people in all ages and countries. Notice—
I. Their spiritual character.
1. They are few in number. “The remnant of Israel.” Small compared with the whole, yet precious in the sight of God—increasing, and will increase.
2. They are humble in spirit. “An afflicted and poor people.” Poor in spirit, and conscious of no desert. Realizing life, growth, and strength only from God.
3. They are dependent upon God. Feeling themselves unworthy, they naturally “trust in the name of the Lord.”
4. They are upright in conduct.
(1) They do no iniquity.
(2) They speak no lies. They worship God in truth, and love man in sincerity. They are Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile. Born of God, they sin not (1 John 3:9) in word or deed. Where true faith exists, holy life will follow.
II. Their blessed condition. They are completely restored to holiness, sit in the centre of a regenerated world, in the special presence and under the constant care of Jehovah.
1. They are cleansed from shame for sin. “In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for thy doings.” The disgrace of rebellion shall be wiped away. Remembrance of sin and failure may cause penitence—long after sin is renounced and forgiven we feel humble—but the guilt and reproach of sin shall not remain.
2. They are delivered from spiritual pride. The spirit of the Pharisee, the vain confidence which they had in the temple, and the pride of descent from Abraham, shall be taken away.
3. They are redeemed from proud oppressors. “I will take away out of the midst of thee, them that rejoice in thy pride.” The meek and lowly will be left. The haughty judge and the proud sinners will be exterminated. Priests or prophets who exult in sinful ways will be cut off.
4. They are specially protected by God. (a) Delivered from fear. “None shall make them afraid.” No foreign foe nor native prince—no “treacherous” prophet, nor “violent” and “polluting” priest, can touch them (Zephaniah 3:4). They are beyond all harm and fear. (b) Blessed with peace. As God’s sheep they “shall feed” in green pastures—“he down” to rest in perpetual enjoyment (Micah 7:14), and dwell in God’s presence without fear (Leviticus 26:6). “I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.”
THE TRUE ISRAELITE.—Zephaniah 3:13
Of the subjects of Divine grace here mentioned, notice: Their number; “a remnant.” Strait is the gate, and narrow the way, that leadeth to life, and few there be that find it. Yet God has always had a people for his Name—never left himself without a witness, and this has been our case as a nation; for, “except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom,” &c. Though “a little flock” in a large field, “a garden” in a vast wilderness, yet “he shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.” Their sanctity. “They shall not do iniquity.” Take this with some restriction. “There is not on earth a just man that doeth good and sinneth not.” But they are not “workers of iniquity,” and “evil-doers.” Sin does not reign in them. They hate every false way, and esteem all his commandments concerning all things to be right. He that has “true holiness” cannot be satisfied without perfect holiness. He therefore prays to be sanctified in body, soul, and spirit. Their sincerity. “They shall not speak lies,” &c. A part is put for the whole, and the quality of speech expresses the inward temper of their minds. Everything is a lie religiously that does not accord with the state of the heart. Only an upright spirit can maintain a deceitless tongue before God. Christians are not mere pretenders; a painted sepulchre, fair without, and rottenness within. Not mere actors on a stage, but are really what they appear to be. Their integrity is specially known by their fear of self-deception. They come to the light, examine themselves by the Word, and implore the inspection of God himself: “Search me, O God.” Their privileges. Their blessedness is expressed pastorally, and includes three things. First, pasture: they shall “feed.” As new creatures their food is intellectual and spiritual; found in the ordinances of religion, and with the Saviour himself. Secondly, repose: and shall “lie down.” In an eastern climate, in a warm sun, how desirable would rest be! Hence the Church says, Tell me, not only where thou feedest, but “where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon.” Thirdly, security: “and none shall make them afraid.” Sheep are the most timid of all animals, every appearance and movement alarms them. But the righteous should be bold as a lion; their duty requires it, and their principles justify it. God has amply provided for their confidence. When they believe it, they can be in quiet from the fear of evil, “dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods” [W. Jay].
HOMILETIC HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Zephaniah 3:11. Haughty because of holy mountain. Pride in outward privileges.
1. A sin against God who gave them.
2. A danger, because robbing of enjoyment, and exposing to judgment. “That haughtiness is most offensive to God, which is supported and fed by the pretensions of holiness.” If pride be “the last infirmity of noble minds,” “is not spiritual pride the last infirmity of religious minds? When the Jew shall no longer boast himself in Jerusalem and the temple; when there shall not be a single sectarian left to pride himself in his exclusive possession of some spiritual gift, or on his singular fidelity to some neglected truth; when every man shall hold all he has in trust for his brethren, call nothing his own, and value all gifts in proportion as they are common to all; when this catholic charity is the animating, all-pervading spirit of the Church of God, will the millennium be far off? or Heaven itself?” [S. Cox].
Zephaniah 3:12. It is painful to the human heart, that it must first become completely poor and humble before it learns to trust entirely in the living God. This is the reason that the hearts rich in the opinion of the world are richest in dead idols [Lange].
Zephaniah 3:12-13. The glory of the Christian Church. Not in outward splendour; for they are often few, poor, and afflicted, but in holy life, exalted worship, and Divine protection. Feed: Shall have all that heart can wish or need require plenty, safety, security [Trapp].
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 3
Zephaniah 3:9; Zephaniah 3:13. Language. Speech is the perfect expression of the senses. Words are but the representations of the disintegrated body of man [Oken]. Christ became the one language of the whole world [Jerome]. Deceitful tongue (Zephaniah 3:13). They employ words but to disguise their thoughts [Voltaire].