Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath - (Proverbs 11:4, "Riches profit not in the day of wrath").
But the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy - (Ezekiel 38:19, "In my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken"). His wrath, jealous for His honour, consuming the guilty like fire.
He shall make even a speedy riddance of all, х kaalaah (H3617)] - rather, 'a consummation (complete He shall make even a speedy riddance of all, х kaalaah (H3617)] - rather, 'a consummation (complete destruction: 'full end,' Jeremiah 46:28; Ezekiel 11:13); altogether х 'ak (H389)], sudden' х nibhaalaah (H926), the Niphal of baahal (H926), used of headlong terror, which bereaves of reason], etc. (Maurer). 'A consumption, and that a sudden one,' etc. (Calvin).
Remarks:
(1) When the people of God make themselves like the pagan in practice, it is but just that God should deal with them as He does with the pagan adversaries of His majesty. The instruments of sin, and the occasions of stumbling, shall finally be destroyed "with the wicked" themselves (Zephaniah 1:3).
(2) Notwithstanding all the zealous efforts of the pious King Josiah, there still was a "remnant of Baal" (Zephaniah 1:4) in Jerusalem and Judah. Many also thought to make a compromise with conscience, by combining homage to Yahweh with homage to Malcham (Zephaniah 1:5). But such a combination of opposite Lords is impossible, and they who make the attempt only deceive themselves, not God. So now, whosoever thinks to serve the King of heaven, and yet gives his heart to covetousness, which is idolatry, or to the pleasures of sin, which are the baits of the prince of this world, is offering to God the mock show of worship, while the substance of his devotion is rendered to Satan. For what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial?
(3) Not only those who have positively "turned back from the Lord" (Zephaniah 1:6), but also "those that have not sought the Lord, nor inquired after Him," shall incur His wrath in the day of judgment. To go back from God is virtually to join the adversary of God. There can be no neutrality. "He that is not with me," saith the Lord Jesus, "is against me" (Matthew 12:30). Once that any give Satan half their heart, they virtually give him it all. The Lord must have all, or else He will have none.
(4) Many now murmur against God's dealings, or unbelievingly deny His active interposition in the government of the world. But all such must "hold their peace at the presence of the Lord God," in "the day of the Lord" (Zephaniah 1:7), when He shall "bid" His ministers of vengeance to slay the wicked, as sacrificial victims to His justice (Zephaniah 1:8) Alike "princes," and their unscrupulous minions, "who fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit," shall perish (Zephaniah 1:9). Mercantile gains and loads of "silver" cannot deliver men "in the day of the Lord's wrath" (Zephaniah 1:11; Zephaniah 1:18).
(5) Men flatter themselves that their secret faults shall not come under the cognizance of the coming Judge. But He will "search" the hidden things of darkness with the "candles," (Zephaniah 1:12) of His word, His Spirit, and "the spirit of man," which is "the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly" (Proverbs 20:27). Their own conscience, and the manifestation of the Lord in glory, will then convict the men who now "say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil." Meantime, the practical disbelief of the judgment is one of the most successful devices of Satan, whereby he deceives souls so as to become "settled on their lees," secure and at ease, though still unreconciled to God. Let all, as the best preservative against such snares of the evil one, ever keep in mind that "the great day of the Lord is near, and hasteth greatly" (Zephaniah 1:14).
(6) They who will not regard "the voice of the day of the Lord's" visitation in mercy shall hear, with anguish and terror unutterable, the sound of the last trumpet. No might can save the guilty then. "The mighty man shall cry there bitterly." The transgressors, "like blind men" (Zephaniah 1:17), shall see no way of escape, "because they have sinned against the Lord," not merely against His justice, but against His love and mercy. "The fire of His jealousy" shall make a "complete end," and that an awfully "sudden" one, of all that are of this world, impenitent, unbelieving, and therefore unreconciled to God.