Zephaniah Chapter Two, Restoring The Nations

Zephaniah 2:11 The Lord will be awesome to them, for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; people shall worship Him, each from his place, indeed all the shores of the nations.

Following the verses contextually, “them,” would refer to Ammon and Moab, who we have been learning about since verse 8. God will be awesome to them, in the sense that He will render all opposing deific contenders moot. Molech, Chemosh, et al., will be revealed as imposters and demonic fronts to mislead the nations.

When God contested the gods of Egypt during the Exodus, it was to reveal the futility of serving them, Exodus 12:12. This proved to be so effective that a mixed multitude outside of the Jewish pail accompanied Israel on their journey, forsaking Egypt and their gods, Exodus 12:38. However, this same mixed multitude proved deeply problematic, leading Israel into sin by craving more than what God was already generously bestowing upon them, Numbers 11:4. Nonetheless, God will be shown as the true and only deity of Heaven and earth, beheld as awesome before formerly pagan peoples when he reduces the deities of man’s invention and demonic counterfeits to nothing.

The result of God’s interposition is phenomenal and will occur during the Day of the Lord. Malachi, prophesying nearly two hundred years after Zephaniah, wrote, “For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering; for My name shall be great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts,” Malachi 1:11. There are easily noted stark similarities in the language employed. Both prophets speak of God being magnified amongst the formerly antagonistic nations outside of Israel. He will be both awesome and great. The shores of distant lands far removed from Israel’s borders and bloodline will worship God in solidarity, employing Old Testament ceremony couched by the usage of incense and offerings. Amos gives similar insight, stating, “On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old; that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,” says the Lord who does this thing,” Amos 9:11, 12.

God’s desire is for not only Israel, but the whole world to direct its misguided worship to the source it rightly belongs to. Many people have called God petty or vain for demanding worship from humanity. But the fundamental point being missed is that human beings naturally worship. Sometimes it is a deity; sometimes it is another person either romantically or obsessively. It can be an actor or musician or athlete that we fixate on. It can be movies or music or hobbies or vehicles that consume our every waking moment and motive. This is worship. Whatever we place as the center of our interest and motivation, it has become the focal point of our worship. That is why you may hear Christians use the phrase God-centered worship or living. It is a simple phraseology to direct one’s attention to the only being in existence worthy of that type of manic devotion.

Human relationships are good, and love is wonderful. We love family, friends and spouses. We enjoy sports, hobbies and collecting. We can admire talented people. But we go a step too far when we elevate someone (or something) to a position that becomes entirely indispensable to our existence, making it the fulcrum on which we define so much about ourselves. God defines human existence and meaning. In Him we find purpose, assurance and direction. All things beneath God, that is all human experience on earth, will find its proper place in Him. He demands worship, so to speak, because when we finally place that intense devotion where it belongs our lives can begin to align with God’s intention for our individual existence. Then comes divine blessing and avenues of living formerly forbidden to us due to unbelief. Todd Agnew wrote a poignant song entitled, “My Jesus.” In it he bemoans, “You see I’m tired of living for success and popularity, I want to be like my Jesus.” Human experience apart from God does not breed lasting contentment. This was a major theme in Ecclesiastes. God knows this; He designed us. Man is meant to love God, which is expressed as worship. God determines to love humanity; this is expressed as grace.

Verse 11 reflects a healing of the nations from a wound inflicted a very long time ago. The people were united under Nimrod after the Flood, and were determined to resist filling the earth as God commanded, Genesis 11:4. In return, God came down and confused the languages of the people, effectively creating the proto-nations of the earth, scattering them abroad as He originally commanded, Genesis 11:7, 8. Zephaniah later records that the national rift will be healed when, “I…restore to the peoples a pure language, that they may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord,” Zephaniah 3:9. The separation of the nations created the avenue through which God would raise up Abraham, and from him the nation of Israel. Out of Israel would come the tribe of Judah, and from that tribe the house of David. Then, from that illustrious house would come the Christ, Israel’s Messiah and the world’s Savior. And the nations that survive the Tribulation (see Zechariah 14:16, 17) will acknowledge and accept Christ’s reign, fulfilling the words of both Zephaniah and Malachi.