Sofonías 3

El futuro de Jerusalén

1 ¡Ay de la ciudad opresora,rebelde y contaminada!

2 No atiende a consejos,ni acepta corrección.No confía en el SEÑOR,ni se acerca a su Dios.

3 Las autoridades que están en ellason leones rugientes,sus gobernantes son lobos nocturnosque no dejan nada para la mañana.

4 Sus profetas son impertinentes,hombres traicioneros.Sus sacerdotes profanan las cosas santasy violentan la ley.

5 Pero el SEÑOR que está en ella es justo;no comete iniquidad.Cada mañana imparte su justicia,y no deja de hacerlo cada nuevo día,pero el inicuo no conoce la vergüenza.

6 «Exterminé naciones;quedaron desolados sus bastiones.Dejé sus calles desiertas,y nadie pasa por ellas.Quedaron arrasadas sus ciudades,sin ningún habitante.

7 Dije a la ciudad:“¡Ciertamente me temerás;aceptarás corrección!”Entonces no sería destruida su morada,según todo lo que decreté contra ella.A pesar de todo, se empeñaronen corromper todas sus obras.

8 Espérenme, por tanto,hasta el día que me levante a buscar el botín—afirma el SEÑOR—,porque he decidido reunir a las nacionesy juntar a los reinospara derramar sobre ellos mi indignación,toda mi ardiente ira.En el fuego de mi celoserá toda la tierra consumida.

9 »Purificaré los labios de los pueblospara que todos invoquen el nombre del SEÑORy le sirvan de común acuerdo.

10 Desde más allá de los ríos de Cusme traerán ofrendasmis adoradores, mi pueblo disperso.

11 Aquel día no tendrás que avergonzarte másde todas tus rebeliones contra mí.Quitaré de en medio de tia esa gente altanera y jactanciosa,y así nunca más volverás a ser arroganteen mi santo monte.

12 Dejaré un remanente en medio de ti,un pueblo pobre y humilde.En el nombre del SEÑOR,se cobijará

13 el remanente de Israel;no cometerá iniquidad,no dirá mentiras,ni se hallará engaño en su boca.Pastarán y se echarán a descansarsin que nadie los espante».

14 ¡Lanza gritos de alegría, hija de Sión!¡da gritos de victoria, Israel!¡Regocíjate y alégrate de todo corazón,hija de Jerusalén!

15 El SEÑOR te ha levantado el castigo,ha puesto en retirada a tus enemigos.El SEÑOR, rey de Israel, está en medio de ti:nunca más temerás mal alguno.

16 Aquel día le dirán a Jerusalén:«No temas, Sión, ni te desanimes,

17 porque el SEÑOR tu Dios está en medio de ticomo guerrero victorioso.Se deleitará en ti con gozo,te renovará con su amor,se alegrará por ti con cantos

18 como en los días de fiesta.»Yo te libraré de las tristezas,que son para ti una carga deshonrosa.^[a]

19 En aquel tiempo yo mismo me ocuparéde todos los que te oprimen;salvaré a la oveja que cojeay juntaré a la descarriada.Les daré a ustedes fama y renombreen los países donde fueron avergonzados.

20 En aquel tiempo yo los traeré,en aquel tiempo los reuniré.Daré a ustedes fama y renombreentre todos los pueblos de la tierracuando yo los restaure^[b]ante sus mismos ojos».Así lo ha dicho el SEÑOR.

Sofonías 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

Further reproofs for sin. (1-7) Encouragement to look for mercy. (8-13) Promises of future favour and prosperity. (14-20)

Verses 1-7 The holy God hates sin most in those nearest to him. A sinful state is, and will be, a woful state. Yet they had the tokens of God's presence, and all the advantages of knowing his will, with the strongest reasons to do it; still they persisted in disobedience. Alas, that men often are more active in doing wickedness than believers are in doing good.

Verses 8-13 The preaching of the gospel is predicted, when vengeance would be executed on the Jewish nation. The purifying doctrines of the gospel, or the pure language of the grace of the Lord, would teach men to use the language of humility, repentance, and faith. Purity and piety in common conversation is good. The pure and happy state of the church in the latter days seems intended. The Lord will shut out boasting, and leave men nothing to glory in, save the Lord Jesus, as made of God to them wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Humiliation for sin, and obligations to the Redeemer, will make true believers upright and sincere, whatever may be the case among mere professors.

Verses 14-20 After the promises of taking away sin, follow promises of taking away trouble. When the cause is removed, the effect will cease. What makes a people holy, will make them happy. The precious promises made to the purified people, were to have full accomplishment in the gospel. These verses appear chiefly to relate to the future conversion and restoration of Israel, and the glorious times which are to follow. They show the abundant peace, comfort, and prosperity of the church, in the happy times yet to come. He will save; he will be Jesus; he will answer the name, for he will save his people from their sins. Before the glorious times foretold, believers would be sorrowful, and objects of reproach. But the Lord will save the weakest believer, and cause true Christians to be greatly honoured where they had been treated with contempt. One act of mercy and grace shall serve, both to gather Israel out of their dispersions and to lead them to their own land. Then will God's Israel be made a name and a praise to eternity. The events alone can fully answer the language of this prophecy. Many are the troubles of the righteous, but they may rejoice in God's love. Surely our hearts should honour the Lord, and rejoice in him, when we hear such words of condescension and grace. If now kept from his ordinances, it is our trial and grief; but in due time we shall be gathered into his temple above. The glory and happiness of the believer will be perfect, unchangeable, and eternal, when he is freed from earthly sorrows, and brought to heavenly bliss.

Footnotes

• [a]. Versículo de difícil traducción.
• [b]. "los restaure" . Alt. "haga volver a sus cautivos" .

Chapter Summary

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.