Zephaniah Chapter Three, Praise & Fame

Zephaniah 3:18 I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly, who are among you, to whom its reproach is a burden. [19] Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, and gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame in every land where they were put to shame.

Though I have pressed this point fervently already, I will continue to do so for the sake of Scriptural clarity. Many sects, cults, and genuine Christians believe that Israel as a nation and the Jews as a people are no more and the promises do not apply to them, or were translated to the church.

Some also believe that the promises were all fulfilled in Joshua’s time, Joshua 23:14. But in this argument Joshua had already explained that the residue of the nations Israel was meant to dispossess still remained with them, Joshua 23:12. This is further accentuated in the book of Judges, Judges 1:27-36. The peoples of the land remained to test the loyalty of Israel; a test that history records they elegantly failed until, hundreds of years and hundreds of warnings later, they were expelled from their land. The writer of Hebrews extrapolates upon this point, telling his readership that Joshua did not lead Israel into the rest God desired for them; for the Christ was coming and would provide an enduring, spiritual rest, Hebrews 4:8, 9.

The language of Scripture makes it impossible to honestly claim that Israel is no more, and the Jews no longer play a part of God’s plan for planet Earth and the human race. The Bible (both Old and New Testament) is a Jewish book. The prophets were Jews; the patriarchs were Jews. Christ, according to the flesh, is a Jew and He claimed salvation is of the Jews, John 4:22. This is a merciful and loving, covenant-keeping God, consoling the Hebrew people with great and wonderful promises that will adorn their latter years when Messiah leads them into the Millennia and the peace He promised them.

Verse 18 begins with God stating that He will gather them. Who? The Hebrew people that sorrow over the derision the Jewish religion is held in. The people who yet esteemed Judaism in Zephaniah’s time likewise esteemed the God who instigated it. They valued the temple and the Law because it came from the Lord, and both were seen as vehicles to lead them closer to Him; not tools to advance their own avarice or vices. The prophet says that the reproach that fell upon their religion was a burden to them. The Psalmist wrote, “Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me,” Psalm 69:9. The godly among Israel still clung to Yahweh and because of this, He would gather them. Where? To their homeland, of course. The lame or powerless and the exile would be led home, and home would become the land of rest God long ago promised them.

Verse 19 further details the fact that God will gather the Jews out of every land they were put to shame in. He will return them to Israel, and appoint them, in His own words, “for praise and fame.” Yes, God drove Israel from her land because of their infidelity. He punished them for their sins, as He said He would in the days of Moses. And often He employed human instrumentality to provide the punishment. But of the nations that inflicted said punishment, He relates, “I am exceedingly angry at the nations at ease; for I was a little angry, and they helped–but with evil intent,” Zechariah 1:15. Now there is a reversal of fortunes. Israel will be esteemed and not stricken. Messiah will rule over His people and they will truly be His in name and in heart, see Malachi 3:17. This is promised by God to occur, “at that time,” or the time of the Day of the Lord.