Zephaniah 3:9-13

Restoration of the nations and Jerusalem

9 Then I will change the speech of the peoples into pure speech, that all of them will call on the name of the LORD and will serve him as one.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush, my daughter, my dispersed ones, will bring me offerings.
11 On that day, you won't be ashamed of all your deeds with which you sinned against me; then I will remove from your midst those boasting with pride. No longer will you be haughty on my holy mountain,
12 but I will cause a humble and powerless people to remain in your midst; they will seek refuge in the name of the LORD.
13 The few remaining from Israel won't commit injustice; they won't tell lies; a deceitful tongue won't be found on their lips. They will graze and lie down; no one will make them afraid.

Zephaniah 3:9-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZEPHANIAH 3

In this chapter the character of the city of Jerusalem, and its inhabitants in general, is drawn, as it would be, and as it was, in the times of Christ and his apostles, Zep 3:1,2 and of the principal persons of it in particular, its princes, judges, prophets, and priests, Zep 3:3,4. The hardness, impenitence, and shamelessness of this people, are exposed and aggravated by the just Lord being among them; who, by his example and doctrine, taught them otherwise; yet they were not amended or made ashamed, Zep 3:5 nor received instruction, nor took warning by the judgments of God on other nations, Zep 3:6,7 wherefore the followers of God are called upon to wait his time, who would gather many people together, and destroy the whole land of Judea, Zep 3:8 at which time he would send his Gospel among the Gentiles, who should thereby be brought to the true worship and service of God, Zep 3:9,10 though there should be a remnant among the Jews, according to the election of grace, that should be saved from that general calamity, Zep 3:11-13 and the spiritual Israel are encouraged with promises of better times, when the Jews in general should be converted and gathered into the church of God, have the presence and protection of God with them, and deliverance from all their enemies, and be a praise among all people of the earth, Zep 3:14-20.

Footnotes 1

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