Zephaniah Chapter Three, Comforting Zion

Zephaniah 3:16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. [17] The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

The celebratory lauding reaches crescendo at this point. We are still speaking of the Day of the Lord in this passage, clearly illuminated by the prophet, when he says, “In that day.” Moses reminds us that a thousand years to God is not unlike the passing of a single day from human perspective, Psalm 90:4.

Zephaniah Chapter Three, The King Of Israel

Zephaniah 3:14 Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! [15] The Lord has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall see disaster no more.

The chapter has shifted to an entirely celebratory scene. Zephaniah makes things abundantly clear. This forthcoming prophecy regards Zion, Israel, or Jerusalem: all synonymous with the Jews. We are referring to Jewry in this passage. It is not metaphor. The entire book of Zephaniah fixates on the prophet bemoaning their infidelity, impending judgment, and eventual reconciliation to the Lord.

Zephaniah Chapter Three, Israel's Restoration & Peace

Zephaniah 3:13 The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.”

Following on the heels of verse twelve, Zephaniah informs his readership that the result of God leaving a humbled people in the midst of Israel was a righteous nation. Before delving further into this idea, however, we should skip ahead to the latter portion of this verse.

Zephaniah Chapter Three, Trusting In The Lord

Zephaniah 3:12 I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.

Verse twelve continues to explain the future fortunes of Israel and the Jewish people. God the Holy Spirit wants to make it abundantly clear with the careful use of language here that these are not possibilities or mathematical potentials; no, this is a verified certainty. God is going to do for Israel all that He stated He would. 

Zephaniah Chapter Three, Give & Take

Zephaniah 3:10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, the daughters of My dispersed ones, shall bring My offering. [11] In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds in which you transgress against Me; for then I will take away from your midst those who rejoice in your pride, and you shall no longer be haughty in My holy mountain.

God’s dispersed ones would be Israel, who, according to Joel have been, “scattered among the nations,” Joel 3:2. But also on this day it will be more than just Israel that seeks the Lord. Zechariah wrote, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you,” Zechariah 8:23.