Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.
Zephaniah's prophecy closes with God turning to the very people He had afflicted. He promises to deal with their oppressors Himself and to carry home the ones least able to make the journey. Is God's last word over a ruined people judgment or restoration? And who are the lame and the outcast?
Judgment clears the ground for glory
The verse opens with "at that time" — a time reached only after judgment. One writer traces the order that runs through the whole book.
J. G. BellettJudgment, however, never closes the scene. As we said, glory touches judgment, in the ways of God. Judgment cleans out the vessel, and then glory fills it. It takes away what stands in the way of the Lord's presence. Then God sets up the kingdom and displays it, as Zephaniah and all the prophets show us.
The oppressors dealt with, the sufferers remembered
God does two things at once here. He settles accounts with those who afflicted His people, and He remembers what they suffered.
The Christian's FriendHaving now found rest in His love, what will He not do for His beloved people? He will remember their past sorrows — sorrows which sprang from their faithfulness to His name in an evil day. He will "undo all that afflict you." He will save her who is lame and gather her who was driven out. And He says, "I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame." Truly God is the God of all grace. Not one of His purposes will ever fail.
(The writers quote older translations: where the ESV says "the lame" and "praise and renown," they say "her who limps" and "praise and fame.")
Who the lame and the outcast are
The same promise appears in almost the same words in another prophet. One writer states plainly who the limping and the driven-out are.
William Kelly"In that day, says Jehovah, I will assemble her who limps, and I will gather her who is driven out, and her whom I have afflicted." This is the Jewish people. "And I will make her who limped a remnant, and her who was cast far off a strong nation. And Jehovah will reign over them on Mount Zion from now on and for ever." This will be the final restoration of Israel by divine grace and power.
Nobody is too weak to be brought home
The lame are named because they are the ones you would expect to be left behind on a long road. Commenting on a similar promise elsewhere, one writer shows how far God's care reaches.
William KellyThe deliverance is complete. God's command and care bring even the suffering and the sick back home. He will ensure their safe entrance into the holy land. So the recovery of the nation will be complete. If anyone were likely to be left behind when God gathers Israel, it would of course be the sick and helpless described here. But no — He brings them all back. Jehovah will forget none.
Shame exchanged for renown
The last clause reverses the verdict of history. The nation the world despised becomes the nation the world praises, and it happens in full view, "in all the earth."
J. G. BellettThe mourners in Zion, moreover, have taken the garment of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness. No one hears the laments of Jeremiah any more. God has brought the captive daughter of Zion home, and every chain that was around her is broken off. She was led away captive, and it was written of her, "This is Zion, whom no man seeks after." Now God makes her a name and a praise among all people of the earth.
Whose promise this is
Readers often take this promise as a general word to any believer. One writer, reading the whole passage, ties it to Israel alone.
W. T. P. WolstonThat has nothing in the world to do with the Church, it is Israel's blessing, and Israel's day of glory.
Even so, the grace behind the promise reaches further. The Christian's Friend sets Israel's hope and ours side by side: "whether they or we, we shall all alike be debtors to the sovereign grace of our God."
Summary
- Judgment first. Glory follows judgment. Judgment "cleans out the vessel, and then glory fills it," so this promise comes after God deals with evil.
- Oppressors undone. God moves first against those who afflicted His people. He settles with the enemy before He gathers the weak.
- The weakest carried. God names the lame and the driven-out on purpose. He brings home the very ones you would expect to be left behind, because "Jehovah will forget none."
- Shame reversed. God makes the nation no one sought after "a name and a praise among all people of the earth." The lands where she was shamed become the place of her honour.
- Grace, not merit. This is "the final restoration of Israel by divine grace and power." All who share in God's mercy share the same debt to it.