The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.
Almost all of Zephaniah's book is about judgment: on Judah, on the nations around her, on the whole earth. Then, at the close, it breaks into song. This verse gives the reasons: sentences lifted, enemies gone, and a King standing among His own people.
The Reason for Zion's Song
One writer points out which name Zephaniah gives this King — and which name he does not.
William KellyThe close of the prophecy is a call to rejoice and exult. It calls the daughter of Zion to shout for joy... When we hear of the special position of Judah, brought back from captivity and tested again in a way Israel was not, then the rejected Messiah comes into view. That is not the case with Zephaniah. From Zephaniah alone we would know only that the Messiah would come and bring in His glory as Jehovah all at once. In fact we do not hear Him called Messiah as such, but the King Jehovah. Verses 15-17 explain why they should rejoice.
The King in the Midst Is Jehovah Himself
Israel's own kings had brought her suffering. This verse promises a King who is God Himself.
H. P. BarkerIsrael had suffered much at the hands of many kings. Her first king oppressed the families and took the possessions of his subjects (1 Sam. 8:11-18), and most of the kings after him followed his ways. But at last Jehovah Himself will take the throne, in the person of Christ. He will be in the midst of His people with unlimited blessing, and His hands will be full of good gifts. If, as the Righteous One in the midst, He has exposed Israel's sin — and borne it Himself — then as the King in the midst He will drive all evil away.
The identity of this King is the sharpest point. The One standing among them is the One their ancestors handed over to the Gentiles.
Arno Clemens GaebeleinWhat a glorious day that will be! It will be glory for Him and glory for His people... Judgments are gone forever; no enemy will threaten them again. He Himself is in their midst. He is the very One their fathers once delivered into the hands of the Gentiles. Over Him they cried, "His blood be on us and on our children." He is King. The throne of His father David is now filled.
"You Shall Never Again Fear Evil"
The last clause has two sides. One writer names both: what God does not see, and who stands among the people.
The Bible TreasuryNotice the glory that follows at once from God not seeing wrongdoing. "The LORD their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them." Not to see sin is the negative side of their blessing; there is no judgment. Now we have the positive side; Jehovah is there, and the shout of a King. Prophets long afterwards testify to this.
One writer sums up what this presence does to the people themselves.
J. G. BellettIsrael will be purified, saved from ever fearing evil again, and glad with all the heart, because the Lord their God is in the midst of them.
A Promise Still Waiting
Some read this as fulfilled when the Jewish exiles came home from Babylon. One writer answers that Israel's history since then does not match the words.
T. B. BainesIsrael has seen enough evil since her return from captivity in Babylon. The prophet is pointing to something far greater than that.
Three Ways Christ Stands in the Midst
One writer sums up the whole of Zephaniah's picture of Christ among His people.
H. P. BarkerWe have seen Him, as Zephaniah presents Him, in the midst of His people in three different ways. As the just Jehovah, acting for righteousness' sake, maintaining truth. As Israel's King, acting for His people's sake, ensuring their unspeakable blessing. As Jehovah-God, acting for His own sake, carrying out His plans of grace so that He might satisfy His own love, and rejoice with singing over those He loves.
Summary
- Cleared — The LORD lifts the sentences against Zion and clears away her enemies. Judgment ends before joy begins; the song comes after the clearing, never instead of it.
- Crowned — After a long line of kings who took from the people, God Himself takes the throne in the person of Christ. David's throne is filled at last.
- Present — The blessing is not a set of gifts sent from a distance. It is a Person standing in the middle of His people, and their gladness flows from that.
- Secured — No sin seen is the negative side; the King present is the positive side. Both together are why Zion will never fear evil again.
- Future — Israel's history after Babylon never matched these words. The verse still looks ahead: the King they handed over will be the King in the midst.