Zephaniah 2:4–7

If the LORD must judge His people, all the world must bow; no nation can escape. What Nebuchadnezzar did was only the first instalment of a great and complete judgment. Yet the LORD had to begin with His land, His people, and His city, as in Zephaniah 1.

Then comes the warning of what will happen in the day of the LORD's anger. No doubt it has been carried out in part, and will be carried out still more… These were cities of Philistine power.

One of the five main cities of the Philistines. It fell to the lot of Judah, who took Ashkelon and its surrounding areas (Judges 1:18). But Judah never truly subdued it. It was still in Philistine hands when Samson, with the Spirit of the Lord upon him, killed thirty men in the city and took their goods.

They were in the territory of the Israelites — within the land, and even on this side of the Jordan. They were not, like the Egyptians or Assyrians, enemies from outside. They were always hostile to Israel, the people God had appointed to own the land of promise. That made them far more dangerous, since they were always close at hand and claimed the country as their own. So the Philistines picture for us the power of the enemy acting from within.

The judgment would fall on the whole territory of Israel, occupied in many parts by strangers hostile to the people.

The desolation that follows would leave the whole land free for Israel to own — for God never takes back His gifts and calling. The LORD would visit them and bring back His captives, and the remnant of His people would own the land.

Because the remnant is to possess this territory when Philistia is judged, they ought to repent and seek the Lord. That this is still unfulfilled hardly needs pointing out. It was not fulfilled in the remnant that returned from the Babylonian captivity. Since the day they rejected Christ, they have been out of the land. Here is a prophecy of final blessing for the remnant in the day of the Lord, when they will be gathered back.

It is more than probable, as we have pointed out before, that these predictions have a double fulfilment. Part of them has already come true, though not the whole… But the careful reader will notice that the whole prophecy has not come true. It speaks of a spared remnant from the Philistines who will be "for our God." That must be future. It points to a day when these cities are revived and judgment falls on them again. Then the Lord, through His chosen instruments, will stain all the pride of their glory, and at the same time He will restore a remnant for blessing.

If the Lord must judge His people, all the world must bow, no nation can escape. What Nebuchadnezzar did was only the first instalment of a great and complete judgment. Yet the Lord had to begin with His land, His people, and His city, as in Zephaniah 1.

Inhabitants of the southern parts of Philistia. 1 Samuel 30:14; Ezekiel 25:16; Zephaniah 2:5. In the last two passages, the Septuagint reads "Cretans." Many suppose they were people from Crete who had settled on the coast of Palestine.

They were living in the south-west of Palestine when Abraham went to stay at Gerar, Genesis 20… Their five cities commanded the coast road from Egypt to Syria.

It is the land of the Philistines, as you might say, and yet they had no right to it. They were intruders, or, as their name suggests, "wanderers," people who had no right there at all. They had wandered in and had settled down along the sea coast, where there was an easy way of getting into the land. This was a road God refused outright to lead His people along, because they needed the training that conflict and hardship would give them. They also needed to be examples for all time, showing that the only true way into God's heritage is through death and resurrection.

Ammon, Moab, Edom, and the Philistines are all set before us as objects of God's prophetic dealing… They were allies in opposing God's chosen people. So these four nations are now marked out as special objects of divine vengeance, for if you touch God's people, you touch Him.

Here the threat of divine judgments is intensely strong. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God when He avenges His people on their proud and spiteful foes.

Philistia is also threatened with destruction until no inhabitant is left (Zephaniah 2:5; Amos 1:8), and Judah is to take over her land. This is another witness that the psalmist does not prophesy the conversion of these nations to God.

The careful reader will notice that the whole prophecy has not been fulfilled. It speaks of a spared remnant from the Philistines who shall be "for our God." This must be future… the Lord will stain all the pride of their glory, and at the same time He will restore a remnant for blessing.

Then we have the warning of what will take place in the day of the Lord's anger, which no doubt has been partly fulfilled, and will be yet more… "And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed on it" — which clearly has not yet been fulfilled to the full.

Verse seven ties this back to the opening message of the chapter, the call to repentance… The remnant is to own this territory when Philistia is judged, so they ought to repent and seek the Lord. It is plain that this has still not happened. It was not fulfilled in the remnant who returned from the Babylonian captivity.

The seventh verse connects with the opening message of the chapter, the call to repentance... Because the remnant is to own this territory when God judges Philistia, they ought to repent and seek the Lord.

Ashkelon was one of the five main cities of the Philistines. It fell to Judah, who took Ashkelon and the land around it (Judges 1:18). But they did not really subdue it. It was still in Philistine hands in the days of Samson... God pronounced His judgements against this city (Jer. 25:20; Jer. 47:5, 7; Amos 1:8; Zech. 9:5), and the remnant of Judah should dwell there (Zeph. 2:4, 7).

In both chapters 2 and 3 "the remnant" is mainly in view, "The remnant of the house of Judah," "the remnant of my people" (Zeph. 2:7, 9). These are "the afflicted and poor people" who trust in the name of the Lord (Zeph. 3:12), and who are blessed in connection with Christ.

But "the remnant chosen by grace" is recognised here in Zephaniah, as everywhere. They are called "the meek of the earth." They are told to wait for the Lord, in the hope that He will hide them in the day of the Lord's anger. (Zeph. 2:3; Zeph. 3:8.)

...this has clearly not been fulfilled yet in full... In fact, since then the Jews have been carried off into a longer exile. Their captivity under Nebuchadnezzar was nowhere near as extreme as their scattering to the ends of the earth.

It hardly needs pointing out that this has still not happened. It was not fulfilled in the remnant who returned from the captivity in Babylon. Since they rejected Christ, they have been out of the land. Here is a prophecy of final blessing to the remnant in the day of the Lord, when God will regather them.

The desolation that followed would leave the whole land free for Israel to possess — for God never takes back His gifts and calling. Jehovah would visit them and bring back His captives, and the remnant of His people should own it.

Zephaniah prophesied in the days of that good king Josiah, and yet the burden of his message was judgment. In spite of the efforts of the king and the reformation he started, the people stayed stubbornly tied to their pagan idols and superstitions. So God could not go on with them, and the prophet proclaimed that "the day of the Lord was at hand." But the Lord never gives up His people. So in the middle of judgment He remembers mercy.