“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). This has to be the best known verse in the Book of Zephaniah, and for good reason. Who wouldn’t want such a loving relationship with God? Who wouldn’t want to be at the center of God’s attention?
The people in chapter 1, that’s who. Instead of worshipping God, they were two-timing Him, bowing down to Him, but also to the stars in the sky and even to false gods like Milcom (Zephaniah 1:5). And because they weren’t faithful to God, they didn’t treat each other as they should, oppressing one another with all kinds of injustice (Zephaniah 3:1-4).
No, it’s no wonder that in chapter 1, God announced His judgment on the godless people of Jerusalem (Zephaniah 1:4). In fact, we shouldn’t be surprised that God also said He would punish all the unbelieving nations of the world (Zephaniah 2:4-15).
So, how do we get from the infidelity of chapter 1 to the joyful, loving relationship of chapter 3? We have a hint in 2:3 – “Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.” And this is confirmed in 3:12-13 – “But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD, those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.”
In short, if we want to have a loving relationship with God, there’s no substitute for humility – and sometimes we have to go through a lot of suffering to get to that point. But whatever it takes, we have to give up any idols, anything we think is more important than God, and bow before Him alone. Moreover, we have to give up any attempt to save ourselves, to earn our way into God’s favor. We must receive His love as a free gift, offered to us through the shed blood of Christ alone. That’s the only way to receive the blessing of God’s love – by God’s grace.
Zephaniah 3:9-20 (ESV)
9 “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering.
11 “On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.
12 But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD,
13 those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.”
14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 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.
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.
17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach.
19 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.
20 At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the LORD.
