Zephaniah 3:11–13

Along with God's judgment of the nations there will be a new heart for Israel, and on Jerusalem the glory will be a defence. Then the tide of divine mercy returns, when the promises are fulfilled in full and established forever. It is the fruit of grace, without doubt; but it shows a lack of understanding to see in this a picture of the gospel state. We must leave room for the varied dealings of God according to His word. It is the new age, not the present evil age.

The day of the Lord is upon all the earth, a day of wrath because of man's sin; and in the middle of the judgment of the nations, can Jerusalem possibly escape? No! And yet divine love will have its way too: "All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy;" but then I will turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may call upon the name of the Lord to serve Him with one consent.

In that day shame for the past will be taken from the Jews: not, of course, that they shall not deeply mourn and truly repent, but the reproach shall be removed from them. Their empty self-exaltation shall disappear, and they shall be the meek of the earth.

Jerusalem would no longer remember her shame. God would blot out her transgressions completely. He would take the proud away from among her. A humble and despised people would live in her, and Jehovah alone would be their refuge.

Then we have God's separating judgment and the blessed effect in the souls of those who bow under His mighty hand: "I will take away out of the midst of you those who rejoice in your pride, and you shall be no more haughty [as, for example, the Pharisees were] because of My holy mountain." And now notice that what is least and most despised among men is where God finds His pleasure. It is a "poor and afflicted people" who shall be left in the midst of Jerusalem — a people poor in spirit and contrite before God because of the many sorrows through which they have passed.

There must be moral integrity as well as true lowliness before they can be entrusted with the throne. They are destined to have the first dominion. Before that they will know a humbling, not only in their circumstances but by grace in their spirit, and this will fit them for their future greatness.

The rebuking and chastening of the Lord are an expression of His grace. This point comes to light in Scripture from the early days of Job. Yet it is easily overlooked if we catch the spirit of self-satisfaction that marked Laodicea. There was a minority who were like that "afflicted and poor people" of whom we read in Zephaniah 3:12. These are in contrast with "those who rejoice in your pride" and are "haughty," spoken of in the previous verse. The majority at Laodicea were of this haughty type, yet they did not come under the rebuking and chastening as the minority did.

Now notice this: what is least and most despised among men is where God finds His pleasure. God will leave a "poor and afflicted people" in the middle of Jerusalem. They are poor in spirit and humbled before God because of the many sorrows they have passed through. And it is these who will trust in the name of Jehovah, as their Rock of Ages.

"I will also leave in the midst of you an afflicted and poor people." They need moral integrity as well as true lowliness before God can entrust them with the throne. They are destined to have the first dominion. Before that they will know a humbling, not by circumstances only but by grace in spirit. This will fit them for their future greatness.

And the afflicted and poor people "shall trust in the name of Jehovah. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies." These are the very faults they became so notorious for during their sorrowful and often persecuted stay among the nations… Where people do not know grace in Christ, persecution breeds such deceit in speech, and wrongdoing in many other ways. But the change is at hand, and it is announced here… Every old outward cause for fear will go. And even before that, the grace of God will have produced a moral change within them.

We must not forget that there is also a direct application to the believing remnant of Israel. They will be waiting in the middle of great tribulations, persecutions and sufferings for the kingdom to come. When the kingdom at last comes, at the return of the King, the Son of Man, they will enter in. Let us look at the first four beatitudes from this standpoint. This people will be poor in spirit.

There was a minority who were like that "afflicted and poor people" of whom we read in Zephaniah 3:12. These are in contrast with "those who rejoice in your pride" and are "haughty," spoken of in the previous verse. The majority at Laodicea were of this haughty type. Yet the Lord's rebukes and chastenings did not fall on them, as they did on the minority.

For us it is what God says to Israel — "I will leave in the midst of you an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord." It is true that we have joys and a source of service they cannot have then. But as a remnant in the middle of a ruined age, which is one side of our position, this is the spirit in which we have to walk.

God will fulfil Zephaniah 3:11-13. Judgment will take the transgressors away. The afflicted and poor people who trust in the name of the Lord will be left to enjoy the blessings of the coming kingdom. These are "the remnant of Israel."

"Those who are left in Israel... shall do no injustice and speak no lies." These are the very faults they have been so notorious for during their sad and often persecuted stay among the Gentiles. Deceit has especially marked the Jew in exile. It tends to be the character of a downtrodden people. People who have things their own way can afford an outward, natural honesty. But this people were hunted and destroyed for ages, so no one should wonder at it. Where people do not know grace in Christ, persecution breeds this deceit in speech, and wrongdoing in many other ways. But the change is at hand… There will be the removal of all the old occasion for outward fear; and even before this, the grace of God will have worked a moral change inside them. Outward things can never really form the heart.

The restored nation will not need to be ashamed of anything they have done. The Lord in His infinite grace will have cleansed them from their iniquity. They are no longer proud and haughty, but a humbled remnant, trusting in the Lord… They will then be a righteous nation, do no iniquity, nor speak lies… But when that day comes the deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouth. They will feed and lie down and none shall make them afraid. They have become once more the sheep of His pastures, gathered by the Good Shepherd.

It is striking and significant how Scripture constantly condemns lying. The last two chapters of the Bible speak with great seriousness about those who "make a lie." The last on the list of those cast out to the second death are "all liars." Satan is the father of lies. Those marked by lying in life and speech may read their doom here, unless they come to the One who can save and sanctify them. The hypocrites at this time make a "refuge of lies" (Isa. 28:15-17); but "those who are left in Israel... shall do no injustice and speak no lies" (Zeph. 3:12-13). Neither pride, nor deceit, nor lying will mark these servants. They take hold of the glorious name of the Lord and rejoice in Him with true confidence, for their righteousness is in Him.

They are restored, and under the care of the Shepherd of Israel. He makes them lie down in green pastures and leads them beside the still waters. So the end is reached in the fulfilment of all their hopes and blessing… Their judgments have been taken away for ever. The enemy has been cast out. The Lord once more dwells among His people, in a far more glorious way, and they will see evil no more.