8 "Therefore wait for Me," declares the Lord , "For the day when I rise up as a witness . Indeed , My decision is to gather nations , To assemble kingdoms , To pour out on them My indignation , All My burning anger ; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal . 9 "For then I will give to the peoples purified lips , That all of them may call on the name of the Lord , To serve Him shoulder to shoulder . 10 "From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers , My dispersed ones, Will bring My offerings . 11 "In that day you will feel no shame Because of all your deeds By which you have rebelled against Me; For then I will remove from your midst Your proud , exulting ones , And you will never e again be haughty On My holy mountain . 12 "But I will leave among you A humble and lowly people , And they will take refuge in the name of the Lord . 13 "The remnant of Israel will do no wrong And tell no lies , Nor will a deceitful tongue Be found in their mouths ; For they will feed and lie down With no one to make them tremble ."
14 Shout for joy , O daughter of Zion ! Shout in triumph, O Israel ! Rejoice and exult with all your heart , O daughter of Jerusalem ! 15 The Lord has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies . The King of Israel , the Lord , is in your midst ; You will fear disaster no more .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Zephaniah 3:8-15
Commentary on Zephaniah 3:8-13
(Read Zephaniah 3:8-13)
The preaching of the gospel is predicted, when vengeance would be executed on the Jewish nation. The purifying doctrines of the gospel, or the pure language of the grace of the Lord, would teach men to use the language of humility, repentance, and faith. Purity and piety in common conversation is good. The pure and happy state of the church in the latter days seems intended. The Lord will shut out boasting, and leave men nothing to glory in, save the Lord Jesus, as made of God to them wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Humiliation for sin, and obligations to the Redeemer, will make true believers upright and sincere, whatever may be the case among mere professors.
Commentary on Zephaniah 3:14-20
(Read 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. These verses appear chiefly to relate to the future conversion and restoration of Israel, and the glorious times which are to follow. 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. Before the glorious times foretold, believers would be sorrowful, and objects of reproach. But the Lord will save the weakest believer, and cause true Christians to be greatly honoured where they had been treated with contempt. One act of mercy and grace shall serve, both to gather Israel out of their dispersions and to lead them to their own land. Then will God's Israel be made a name and a praise to eternity. The events alone can fully answer the language of this prophecy. Many are the troubles of the righteous, but they may rejoice in God's love. Surely our hearts should honour the Lord, and rejoice in him, when we hear such words of condescension and grace. If now kept from his ordinances, it is our trial and grief; but in due time we shall be gathered into his temple above. The glory and happiness of the believer will be perfect, unchangeable, and eternal, when he is freed from earthly sorrows, and brought to heavenly bliss.