I have been forced to reconsider the relationship between divine judgment and divine blessing. I have always thought of them as opposites that have no relationship. I like to think of judgment as something that has little to do with me and much to do with my enemies. I like to think of God’s blessings and salvation as mine, unrelated to judgment. I have come to the conclusion that divine judgment and divine blessings are very closely inter-related.
In the first place, God’s judgment is the means whereby He delivers us from our enemies
(3:15, 19). 15 The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. 19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get [7] them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
Second, divine judgment purifies the righteous remnant
(3:9). 9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, [3] that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.
Finally, God’s judgment is the means by which God brings about our blessings. When God removes the wicked, it is so He may come and dwell with us. In addition, when God removes the wicked, He gives their possessions to His faithful remnant
(2:5-7, 9-10).
5 Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the Lord is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. 6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. 7 And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the Lord [1] their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
9 Therefore as I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. 10 This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts.
The judgment of the wicked is the means to our blessing.
These reasons for divine judgment can best be summarized in this way:
- God will judge those in Judah who practice pure paganism (1:4).
- those who mix the worship of God with the worship of other deities (1:5a).
- those in Judah who completely reject and turn away from the faith of their fathers (1:6).
- those who choose to identify with the heathen (rather than the people of God) by their dress (1:8)
- those who practice violence and deceit (1:9)
- those who presume that God is indifferent about their sin (1:12)
- those who put their trust in anything but Him (1:18)
- those who refuse divine instruction, and who have ignored His warnings (3:1-2). Judah should have learned from God’s judgment of others, but she did not (3:6-7)
- those in leadership, who have abused their authority and forsaken their stewardship (3:3-4)
Zephaniah 3:8-13
Zephaniah also summarizes the hope of the righteous remnant:
Their sins are forgiven and they are cleansed from their sin (3:9, 11, 13).
They will be delivered from or through divine judgment (2:1-3)
They will eventually be rescued from the hand of their oppressors (2:4-15; 3:15).
They have the hope of future blessings (2:6-9).
They will be given fame and honor (3:19-20).
They will enjoy security and peace (3:13).
They will enjoy being in God’s presence, as He rejoices over them as the objects of His love(3:15-17).
Zephaniah 3:14-20
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. 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.