mh_parser/vol_split/36 - Zephaniah/Chapter 3.xml

<div2 id="Zeph.iv" n="iv" next="Hag" prev="Zeph.iii" progress="91.66%" title="Chapter III">
<h2 id="Zeph.iv-p0.1">Z E P H A N I A H.</h2>
<h3 id="Zeph.iv-p0.2">CHAP. III.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Zeph.iv-p1" shownumber="no">We now return to Jerusalem, and must again hear
what God has to say to her, I. By way of reproof and threatening,
for the abundance of wickedness that was found in her, of which
divers instances are given, with the aggravations of them,
<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.1-Zeph.3.7" parsed="|Zeph|3|1|3|7" passage="Zep 3:1-7">ver. 1-7</scripRef>. II. By way of
promise of mercy and grace, which God had yet in reserve for them.
Two general heads of promises here are:—1. That God would bring
in a glorious work of reformation among them, cleanse them from
their sins, and bring them home to himself; many promises of this
kind here are, <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.8-Zeph.3.13" parsed="|Zeph|3|8|3|13" passage="Zep 3:8-13">ver. 8-13</scripRef>.
2. That he would bring about a glorious work of salvation for them,
when he had thus prepared them for it, <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.14-Zeph.3.20" parsed="|Zeph|3|14|3|20" passage="Zep 3:14-20">ver. 14-20</scripRef>. Thus the "Redeemer shall come
to Zion," and to clear his own way, shall "turn away ungodliness
from Jacob." These promises were to have their full accomplishment
in gospel-times and gospel-graces.</p>
<scripCom id="Zeph.iv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3" parsed="|Zeph|3|0|0|0" passage="Zep 3" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Zeph.iv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.1-Zeph.3.7" parsed="|Zeph|3|1|3|7" passage="Zep 3:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Zeph.iv-p1.6">
<h4 id="Zeph.iv-p1.7">The Depravity of Jerusalem. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iv-p1.8">b. c.</span> 612.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Zeph.iv-p2" shownumber="no">1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the
oppressing city!   2 She obeyed not the voice; she received
not correction; she trusted not in the <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iv-p2.1">Lord</span>; she drew not near to her God.   3 Her
princes within her <i>are</i> roaring lions; her judges <i>are</i>
evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.   4
Her prophets <i>are</i> light <i>and</i> treacherous persons: her
priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the
law.   5 The just <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iv-p2.2">Lord</span>
<i>is</i> in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every
morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but
the unjust knoweth no shame.   6 I have cut off the nations:
their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none
passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man,
that there is none inhabitant.   7 I said, Surely thou wilt
fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should
not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early,
<i>and</i> corrupted all their doings.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p3" shownumber="no">One would wonder that Jerusalem, the holy
city, where God was known, and his name was great, should be the
city of which this black character is here given, that a place
which enjoyed such abundance of the means of grace should become so
very corrupt and vicious, and that God should permit it to be so;
yet so it is, to show that <i>the law made nothing perfect;</i> but
if this be the true character of Jerusalem, as no doubt it is (for
God's judgments will make none worse than they are), it is no
wonder that the prophet begins with <i>woe to her.</i> For the holy
God hates sin in those that are nearest to him, nay, in them he
hates it most. A sinful state is, and will be, a woeful state.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p4" shownumber="no">I. Here is a very bad character given of
the city in general. How has the faithful city become a harlot! 1.
She shames herself; she is <i>filthy and polluted</i> (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.1" parsed="|Zeph|3|1|0|0" passage="Zep 3:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), has made herself
<i>infamous</i> (so some read it), <i>the gluttonous</i> city (so
the margin), always cramming, and making provision for the flesh,
to fulfil the lusts of it. Sin is the filthiness and pollution of
persons and places, and makes them odious in the sight of the holy
God. 2. She wrongs her neighbours and inhabitants; she is <i>the
oppressing city.</i> Never any place had <i>statutes and judgments
so righteous</i> as this city had, and yet, in the administration
of the government, never was more unrighteousness. 3. She is very
provoking to her God, and in every respect walks contrary to him,
<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.2" parsed="|Zeph|3|2|0|0" passage="Zep 3:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. He had given
his law, and spoken to her by his servants the prophets, telling
her what was the good she should do and what the evil she should
avoid; but <i>she obeyed not his voice,</i> nor made conscience of
doing as he commanded her, in any thing. He had taken her under an
excellent discipline, both of the word and of the rod; but she did
not receive the instruction of the one nor the correction of the
other, did not submit to God's will nor answer his end in either.
He encouraged her to depend upon him, and his power and promise,
for deliverance from evil and supply with good; but she <i>trusted
not in the Lord;</i> her confidence was placed in her alliances
with the nations more than in her covenant with God. He gave her
tokens of his presence, and instituted ordinances of communion for
her with himself; but she <i>drew not near to her God,</i> did not
meet him where he appointed and where he promised to meet her. She
stood at a distance, and <i>said to the Almighty, Depart.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p5" shownumber="no">II. Here is a very bad character of the
leading men in it; those that should by their influence suppress
vice and profaneness there are the great patterns and patrons of
wickedness, and those that should be her physicians are really her
worst disease. 1. <i>Her princes are</i> ravenous and barbarous as
<i>roaring lions</i> that make a prey of all about them, and they
are universally feared and hated; they use their power for
destruction, and not for edification. 2. <i>Her judges,</i> who
should be the protectors of injured innocence, <i>are evening
wolves,</i> rapacious and greedy, and their cruelty and
covetousness both insatiable: <i>They gnaw not the bones till the
morrow;</i> they take so much delight and pleasure in cruelty and
oppression that when they have devoured a good man they reserve the
bones, as it were, for a sweet morsel, to be gnawed the next
morning, <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.31.31" parsed="|Job|31|31|0|0" passage="Job 31:31">Job xxxi. 31</scripRef>. 3.
<i>Her prophets,</i> who pretend to be special messengers from
heaven to them, <i>are light and treacherous persons,</i> fanciful,
and of a vain imagination, frothy and airy, and of a loose
conversation, men of no consistency with themselves, in whom one
can put no confidence. They were so given to bantering that it was
hard to say when they were serious. Their pretended prophecies were
all a sham, and they secretly laughed at those that were deluded by
them. 4. <i>Her priests,</i> who are teachers by office and have
the charge of the holy things, are false to their trust and betray
it. They were to preserve the purity of the <i>sanctuary,</i> but
they did themselves <i>pollute</i> it, and the sacred offices of
it, which they were to attend upon—such priests as Hophni and
Phinehas, who by their wicked lives <i>made the sacrifices of the
Lord to be abhorred.</i> They were to expound and apply <i>the
law,</i> and to judge according to it; but, in their explications
and applications of it, they <i>did violence to the law;</i> they
corrupted the sense of it, and perverted it to the patronising of
that which was directly contrary to it. By forced constructions,
they made the law to speak what they pleased, to serve a turn, and
so, in effect, <i>made void the law.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p6" shownumber="no">III. We have here the aggravations of this
general corruption of all orders and degrees of men in
Jerusalem.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p7" shownumber="no">1. They had the tokens of God's presence
among them, and all the advantages that could be of knowing his
will, with the strongest inducements possible to do it, and yet
they persisted in their disobedience, <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.5" parsed="|Zeph|3|5|0|0" passage="Zep 3:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. (1.) They had the honour and
privilege of the Shechinah, God's dwelling in their land, so as he
dwelt not with any other people: "<i>The just Lord is in the midst
of thee,</i> to take cognizance of all thou doest amiss and give
countenance to all thou doest well; he is in the midst of thee as a
holy God, and therefore thy pollutions are the more offensive,
<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.23.14" parsed="|Deut|23|14|0|0" passage="De 23:14">Deut. xxiii. 14</scripRef>. He is in
the midst of you as a just God, and therefore will punish the
affronts you put upon him, and the wrongs and injuries you do to
one another." (2.) They had God's own example set before them, in
the discovery he made of himself to them, that they might conform
to it: "<i>He will not do iniquity,</i> and therefore you should
not;" for this was the great rule of their institution, "<i>Be you
holy, for I am holy.</i> God will be true to you; be not you then
false to him." (3.) He sent to them his prophets, rising up early
and sending them: <i>Every morning he brings his judgment to
light,</i> as duly as the morning comes; <i>he fails not.</i> He
shows them plainly what the good is which he requires of them, and
puts them in mind of it; he <i>wakens morning by morning</i>
(<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.50.4" parsed="|Isa|50|4|0|0" passage="Isa 50:4">Isa. l. 4</scripRef>), wakens his
prophets with the rising sun, to bring to light the things which
belong to their peace. So that, upon the whole matter, what more
could have been done to his vineyard, to make it fruitful?
<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.5.4" parsed="|Isa|5|4|0|0" passage="Isa 5:4">Isa. v. 4</scripRef>. And yet, after
all, <i>the unjust know no shame;</i> those that have been unjust
are unjust still, and are not ashamed of their unrighteousness,
<i>neither can they blush.</i> If they had any sense of honour, any
shame left in them, they would not go so directly contrary to their
profession and to the instructions given them. But those that are
past shame are past cure.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p8" shownumber="no">2. God had set before their eyes some
remarkable monuments of his justice, which were designed for
warning to them (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.6" parsed="|Zeph|3|6|0|0" passage="Zep 3:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>): <i>I have cut off the nations,</i> the seven nations
of Canaan, which the land spewed out for their wickedness, upon
which they had this caution given them, to take heed lest it
<i>spew them out also,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.18.28" parsed="|Lev|18|28|0|0" passage="Le 18:28">Lev. xviii.
28</scripRef>. Or it may refer to some of the neighbouring nations
that were made desolate for their wickedness, especially to the
nations of Israel, the ten tribes. <i>Their towers were
desolate,</i> their high towers, their strong towers, their pride
and power broken; their <i>streets were wasted,</i> so that none
passed along through them; <i>their cities</i> were
<i>destroyed</i> and laid in ruins; <i>no man</i> was to be found
in them, <i>no inhabitant,</i> all were slain or carried into
captivity. The enemies did it, but God avows it: <i>I cut them
off,</i> says he. And God designed this for an admonition to
Jerusalem (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.23.9 Bible:Ezek.23.11" parsed="|Ezek|23|9|0|0;|Ezek|23|11|0|0" passage="Eze 23:9,11">Ezek. xxiii. 9,
11</scripRef>): "<i>I said, Surely thou wilt fear me;</i> surely
these judgments upon others will deter thee from the like wicked
practices; <i>surely thou wilt receive instruction</i> by these
providences; it ought to be expected that thou wouldst not continue
to sin like the nations when thou seest the ruin which their sin
brought upon them." They could not but see their own house in
danger when their neighbour's was on fire; and, when we are
frightened, God should be feared.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p9" shownumber="no">3. He had set before them life and death,
good and evil, both in his word and in his providence. (1.) He had
assured them of the continuance of their prosperity if they would
fear him and receive instruction, for so <i>their dwelling would
not be cut off</i> as their neighbour's was; if they took the
warning given them, and reformed, what was past should be pardoned,
and their tranquility lengthened out. (2.) He had made them feel
the smart of the rod, though he reprieved them from the sword:
<i>Howsoever I punished them,</i> that, being chastened, they might
not be condemned. Such various methods did God take with them, to
reclaim them, but all in vain; they were not won upon by gentle
methods, nor had severe ones any effect, for <i>they rose early,
and corrupted all their doings;</i> they were more resolute and
eager in their wicked courses than ever, more studious and
solicitous in making provision for their lusts, and let slip no
opportunity for the gratification of them. God <i>rose up
early,</i> to send them his <i>prophets,</i> to reduce and reclaim
them, but they were <i>up before him,</i> to shut and bolt the door
against them. Their wickedness was universal: <i>All their
doings</i> were corrupted; and it was all owing to themselves; they
could not lay the blame upon the tempter, but they alone must bear
it; they themselves wilfully and designedly <i>corrupted all their
doings;</i> for <i>every man is tempted when he is drawn aside of
his own lust and enticed.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Zeph.iv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.8-Zeph.3.13" parsed="|Zeph|3|8|3|13" passage="Zep 3:8-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Zeph.iv-p9.2">
<h4 id="Zeph.iv-p9.3">Judgment and Mercy; Promises of
Mercy. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iv-p9.4">b. c.</span> 612.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Zeph.iv-p10" shownumber="no">8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iv-p10.1">Lord</span>, until the day that I rise up to the
prey: for my determination <i>is</i> to gather the nations, that I
may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation,
<i>even</i> all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be
devoured with the fire of my jealousy.   9 For then will I
turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the
name of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iv-p10.2">Lord</span>, to serve him with
one consent.   10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my
suppliants, <i>even</i> the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring
mine offering.   11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for
all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then
I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy
pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy
mountain.   12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an
afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iv-p10.3">Lord</span>.   13 The remnant of
Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a
deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and
lie down, and none shall make <i>them</i> afraid.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p11" shownumber="no">Things looked very bad with Jerusalem in
the <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.1-Zeph.3.7" parsed="|Zeph|3|1|3|7" passage="Zep 3:1-7">foregoing verses</scripRef>; she
has got into a very bad name, and seems to be incorrigible,
incurable, mercy-proof and judgment-proof. Now one would think it
should follow, Therefore expect no other but that she should be
utterly abandoned and rejected as <i>reprobate silver;</i> since
they will not be wrought upon by prophets or providences, let them
be made a desolation as their neighbours have been. But behold and
wonder at the riches of divine grace, which takes occasion from
man's badness to appear so much the more illustrious. They still
grew worse and worse, <i>therefore wait you upon me, saith the
Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.8" parsed="|Zeph|3|8|0|0" passage="Zep 3:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>.
"Since the <i>law,</i> it seems, will <i>make nothing perfect,</i>
the <i>bringing in of a better hope shall.</i> Let those that
lament the corruptions of the church <i>wait upon God,</i> till he
send his Son into the world, to <i>save his people from their
sins,</i> till he send his gospel to reform and refine his church,
and to purify to himself a peculiar people both of Jews and
Gentiles." And there were those who, according to this direction
and encouragement, <i>waited for redemption,</i> for this
redemption in Jerusalem; and long-looked-for came at last,
<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.2.38" parsed="|Luke|2|38|0|0" passage="Lu 2:38">Luke ii. 38</scripRef>. <i>For
judgment</i> Christ will <i>come into this world,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:John.9.39" parsed="|John|9|39|0|0" passage="Joh 9:39">John ix. 39</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p12" shownumber="no">I. To avenge what has been done amiss
against his church, to bring down and destroy the enemies of it,
its spiritual enemies, of which the destruction of Babylon, and
other oppressors of God's people, in the Old-Testament times, was a
type, and would be a happy presage. He will <i>rise up to the
prey,</i> to <i>lead captivity captive</i> (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.67.18" parsed="|Ps|67|18|0|0" passage="Ps 67:18">Ps. lxvii. 18</scripRef>), to conquer and spoil the
powers of darkness, and the powers on earth that set themselves
<i>against the Lord and his anointed;</i> he will <i>break them
with a rod of iron</i> (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.5 Bible:Ps.2.9 Bible:Ps.11.5-Ps.11.6" parsed="|Ps|2|5|0|0;|Ps|2|9|0|0;|Ps|11|5|11|6" passage="Ps 2:5,9,11:5,6">Ps. ii.
5, 9; xi. 5, 6</scripRef>); his <i>determination is to gather the
nations</i> and to <i>assemble the kingdoms.</i> By the gospel of
Christ preached to every creature all nations are summoned, as it
were, to appear in a body before the Lord Jesus, who is about to
set up his kingdom in the world. But, since the greatest part of
mankind will not obey the summons, he will <i>pour upon them his
indignation,</i> for he that <i>believes not is condemned
already.</i> At the time of the setting up of the kingdom of the
Messiah, there shall be on earth <i>distress of nations with
perplexity</i> (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.21.25" parsed="|Luke|21|25|0|0" passage="Lu 21:25">Luke xxi.
25</scripRef>), <i>great tribulation,</i> such as <i>never was, nor
ever shall be,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.24.21" parsed="|Matt|24|21|0|0" passage="Mt 24:21">Matt. xxiv.
21</scripRef>. Then God pours upon the nations his indignation,
even <i>all his fierce anger,</i> for their indignation and fierce
anger against the Messiah and his kingdom, <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.1-Ps.2.2" parsed="|Ps|2|1|2|2" passage="Ps 2:1,2">Ps. ii. 1, 2</scripRef>. Then <i>all the earth shall be
devoured with the fire of his jealousy;</i> both Jews and Gentiles
shall be reckoned with for their enmity to the gospel.
Principalities and powers shall be spoiled, and <i>made a show of
openly,</i> and the victorious Redeemer shall triumph over them.
The end of those that continue to be of the earth, and to <i>mind
earthly things,</i> after God has set up the <i>kingdom of
heaven</i> among men, <i>shall be destruction</i> (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p12.6" osisRef="Bible:Phil.3.19" parsed="|Phil|3|19|0|0" passage="Php 3:19">Phil. iii. 19</scripRef>); they shall be
<i>devoured with the fire of God's jealousy.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p13" shownumber="no">II. To amend what he finds amiss in his
church. When God intends the restoration of Israel, and the revival
of their peace and prosperity, he makes way for the accomplishment
of his purpose by their reformation and the revival of their virtue
and piety; for this is God's method, both with particular persons
and with communities, first to make them holy and then to make them
happy. These promises were in part accomplished after the return of
the Jews out of Babylon, when by their captivity they were
thoroughly cured of their idolatry; and this was all the fruit,
even the taking away of sin. But they look further, to the blessed
effects of the gospel and the grace of it, to those <i>times of
reformation</i> in which we live, <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.10" parsed="|Heb|9|10|0|0" passage="Heb 9:10">Heb.
ix. 10</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p14" shownumber="no">1. It is promised that there shall be a
reformation in men's discourse, which had been generally corrupt,
but should now be with grace seasoned with salt (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.9" parsed="|Zeph|3|9|0|0" passage="Zep 3:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): "<i>Then will I turn to the
people a pure language;</i> I will turn the people to such a
language from that <i>evil communication</i> which has almost
ruined all <i>good manners</i> among them." Note, Converting grace
refines the language, not by making the phrases witty, but the
substance wise. Among the Jews, after the captivity, there needed a
reformation of the dialect, for they had mingled the language of
Canaan with that of Ashdod (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.13.24" parsed="|Neh|13|24|0|0" passage="Ne 13:24">Neh. xiii.
24</scripRef>), and that grievance shall be redressed. But that is
not all: their language shall be purified from all profaneness,
filthiness, and falsehood. I will turn them to a <i>choice
language</i> (so some read it); they shall not speak rashly, but
with caution and deliberation; they shall <i>choose out their
words.</i> Note, An air of purity and piety in common conversation
is a very happy omen to any people; other graces, other blessings,
shall be given where God gives a pure language to those who have
been a <i>people of unclean lips.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p15" shownumber="no">2. That the worship of God, according to
his will, shall be more closely applied to, and more unanimously
concurred in. Instead of sacrifice and incense, they shall <i>call
upon the name of the Lord.</i> Prayer is the spiritual offering
with which God must be honoured; and, to prepare and fit us for
that duty, it is necessary that we have a <i>pure language.</i> We
are utterly unfit to take God's name into our lips, unless they be
pure lips. The purifying of the language in common conversation is
necessary to the acceptableness of the words of our mouth and the
meditation of our heart on our devotion; for how can <i>sweet
waters and bitter</i> come <i>out of the same fountain?</i>
<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Jas.3.9-Jas.3.12" parsed="|Jas|3|9|3|12" passage="Jam 3:9-12">James iii. 9-12</scripRef>. It is
likewise promised that their language being thus purified they
shall serve God <i>with one consent,</i> with <i>one shoulder</i>
(so the word is), alluding to oxen in the yoke, that draw even.
When Christians are unanimous in the service of God the work goes
on cheerfully. This is the effect of the pure language, purified
from passion, envy, and censoriousness. Note, Purity is the way to
unity; the reformation of manners is the way to a comprehension.
<i>The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p16" shownumber="no">3. That those that were driven from God
shall return to him and be accepted of him (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.10" parsed="|Zeph|3|10|0|0" passage="Zep 3:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): <i>From beyond the rivers of
Ethiopia,</i> that is, from Egypt (so described, <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.18.1" parsed="|Isa|18|1|0|0" passage="Isa 18:1">Isa. xviii. 1</scripRef>) or from some other very remote
country—<i>my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall
bring my offering.</i> Those that by reason of their distance had
almost forgotten God, their obligations to him, shall be put in
mind of him, as the prodigal son was of his father's house, in the
far country. Those that by reason of their dispersion, under the
tokens of his displeasure, might be afraid of coming to him, yet
even they shall be gathered under his wings; the <i>daughter of his
dispersed,</i> that is <i>afar off,</i> will be found among those
whom <i>the Lord our God shall call;</i> and, though they are
dispersed, he will own them for his; his calling them <i>my
dispersed</i> puts honour upon them, sufficient to counterbalance
all the disgrace of their dispersion. These shall come, (1.) With
their humble petitions: They are <i>my suppliants.</i> Note, True
converts are suppliants to God; they do not plead, but <i>make
supplication to their Judge</i> (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.9.15" parsed="|Job|9|15|0|0" passage="Job 9:15">Job
ix. 15</scripRef>); and wherever they are, though <i>beyond the
rivers of Ethiopia,</i> a great way off from his house of prayer,
he has his eye upon them and his ear open to them; they are his
suppliants. (2.) With their spiritual sacrifices: <i>They shall
bring my offering,</i> shall bring themselves as spiritual
sacrifices to God (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Rom.12.1" parsed="|Rom|12|1|0|0" passage="Ro 12:1">Rom. xii.
1</scripRef>); the conversion of the Gentiles is called <i>the
offering up of the Gentiles</i> (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Rom.15.16" parsed="|Rom|15|16|0|0" passage="Ro 15:16">Rom.
xv. 16</scripRef>); and with themselves they shall bring the
gospel-sacrifices of prayer, and praise, and alms, with which God
is well pleased.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p17" shownumber="no">4. That sin and sinners shall be purged out
from among them, <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.11" parsed="|Zeph|3|11|0|0" passage="Zep 3:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>. God will take away, (1.) Their just reproach: <i>In
that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings.</i> They
shall be ashamed as penitents, and shall continue to be so (see
<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.16.63" parsed="|Ezek|16|63|0|0" passage="Eze 16:63">Ezek. xvi. 63</scripRef>), but they
shall not be ashamed as sinners that return to folly again.
"<i>Thou shalt not be ashamed,</i> that is, thou shalt no more do a
shameful thing, as thou hast done." The guilt of sin being taken
away by pardoning mercy, the reproach of it shall be rolled away
from the sinner's own conscience, that being <i>purified,</i> and
<i>pacified,</i> and <i>cleansed from dead works.</i> When
wickedness and wicked people abound in a nation those few in it
that are good are ashamed of them and of their land; but when
sinners are converted, and the land reformed, that shame and the
cause of it are removed. (2.) Their unjust glorying: "<i>I will
take away out of the midst of thee,</i> not only the profane, who
are a shame to thy land, but the hypocrites, who appear beautiful
outwardly, and <i>rejoice in thy pride,</i> in the holy city, the
holy house." These were indeed Israel's glory, but they made them
their pride, and rejoiced in them, as if they were an invincible
bulwark to secure them in their sinful ways; they relied on them as
their righteousness and strength, boasting of <i>the temple of the
Lord, the temple of the Lord</i> (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.7.4" parsed="|Jer|7|4|0|0" passage="Jer 7:4">Jer.
vii. 4</scripRef>); they were <i>haughty because of the holy
mountain,</i> were conceited of themselves, scornful of others, and
set even the judgments of God at defiance. Note, Church-privileges,
when they are not duly improved as they ought to be, are often made
the matter of men's pride and the ground of their security. But
that haughtiness is the most offensive to God which is supported
and fed by the pretensions of holiness. This God will silence and
take away.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p18" shownumber="no">5. That God will have a remnant of holy,
humble, serious people among them, that shall have the comfort of
their relation to him and interest in him (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.12" parsed="|Zeph|3|12|0|0" passage="Zep 3:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>): <i>I will leave in the midst
of thee an afflicted and poor people.</i> When the Chaldeans
carried away the Jews into captivity they <i>left of the poor of
the land for vine-dressers and husbandmen,</i> a type and figure of
God's distinguished remnant, whom he sets apart for himself. They
are <i>afflicted</i> and <i>poor,</i> low in the world; such <i>God
has chosen,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Jas.2.5" parsed="|Jas|2|5|0|0" passage="Jam 2:5">James ii. 5</scripRef>.
The poor are evangelized, low in their own eyes, afflicted for sin,
poor in spirit. They are God's leaving, for it is a <i>remnant
according to the election of grace. I have reserved them to
myself,</i> says God (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.4-Rom.11.5" parsed="|Rom|11|4|11|5" passage="Ro 11:4,5">Rom. xi. 4,
5</scripRef>), <i>and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.</i>
Note, Those whom God designs for the glory of his name he enables
to trust in his name; and the greater their affliction and poverty
in the world are the more reason they see to trust in God, having
nothing else to trust to, <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.5.5" parsed="|1Tim|5|5|0|0" passage="1Ti 5:5">1 Tim. v.
5</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p19" shownumber="no">6. That this select remnant shall be
blessed with purity and peace, <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.13" parsed="|Zeph|3|13|0|0" passage="Zep 3:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. (1.) They shall be blessed with
purity, both in words and actions: They <i>shall neither do
iniquity nor speak lies.</i> Justice and veracity shall command
them and govern them, though they be ever so much against their
secular interest. They shall not only not speak a direct deliberate
lie, but <i>there shall not be a deceitful tongue found in their
mouth,</i> not in the mouth of any of them; not the least
equivocation shall come from them. (2.) They shall be blessed with
peace. They shall, as the sheep of God's pasture, <i>feed</i> and
<i>lie down, and none shall make them afraid.</i> They shall not be
fearful themselves, nor shall any about them be frightful to them.
Note, Those that are careful not to do iniquity need not be afraid
of any calamity, for it cannot hurt them, and therefore should not
terrify them.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Zeph.iv-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.14-Zeph.3.20" parsed="|Zeph|3|14|3|20" passage="Zep 3:14-20" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Zeph.iv-p19.3">
<h4 id="Zeph.iv-p19.4">Evangelical Predictions. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iv-p19.5">b. c.</span> 612.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Zeph.iv-p20" shownumber="no">14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be
glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
  15 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iv-p20.1">Lord</span> hath taken away
thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel,
<i>even</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iv-p20.2">Lord</span>, <i>is</i> in
the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.   16 In
that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: <i>and
to</i> Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.   17 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iv-p20.3">Lord</span> thy God in the midst of thee
<i>is</i> mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy;
he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
  18 I will gather <i>them that are</i> sorrowful for the
solemn assembly, <i>who</i> are of thee, <i>to whom</i> the
reproach of it <i>was</i> a burden.   19 Behold, at that time
I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that
halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them
praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
  20 At that time will I bring you <i>again,</i> even in the
time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise
among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity
before your eyes, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iv-p20.4">Lord</span>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p21" shownumber="no">After the promises of the taking away of
sin, here follow promises of the taking away of trouble; for when
the cause is removed the effect will cease. What makes a people
holy will make them happy of course. The precious promises here
made to the purified people were to have their full accomplishment
in the comforts of the gospel, in the hope, and much more in the
enjoyment, of which, they are here called upon, 1. To rejoice and
sing (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.14" parsed="|Zeph|3|14|0|0" passage="Zep 3:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>):
<i>Sing, O daughter of Zion!</i> sing for joy; <i>Shout, O
Israel!</i> in a holy transport and exultation; <i>be glad and
rejoice with all the heart;</i> let the joy be inward, let it be
great. Those that love God with all their heart have occasion with
all their heart to rejoice in him. It was promised (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.13" parsed="|Zeph|3|13|0|0" passage="Zep 3:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>) that their sins should
be mortified and their fears silenced, and then follows,
<i>Sing</i> and <i>rejoice.</i> Note, Those that reform have cause
to rejoice, whereas Israel cannot rejoice for joy as other people,
while she goes a whoring from her God. God's promises, applied by
faith, furnish the saints with constant and abundant matter for
joy; they are filled with joy and peace in believing them. 2. To
throw off all their discouragements (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.16" parsed="|Zeph|3|16|0|0" passage="Zep 3:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>): <i>In that day it shall be
said to Jerusalem</i> (God will say it by his prophets, by his
providences, their neighbours shall say it, they shall say it to
one another), "<i>Fear thou not,</i> be not disposed to fear, do
not easily admit the impressions of it; when things are bad, fear
not their being worse, but hope they will mend; frighten not
thyself upon every occasion. <i>Let not thy hands be slack</i> or
<i>faint;</i> wring not thy hands in despair; drop not thy hands in
despondence; disfit not thyself for thy work and warfare by giving
way to doubts and fears. Pluck up thy spirits, and, in token of
that, lift up thy hands, the <i>hands that hung down,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.12 Bible:Isa.35.3" parsed="|Heb|12|12|0|0;|Isa|35|3|0|0" passage="Heb 12:12,Isa 35:3">Heb. xii. 12; Isa. xxxv. 3</scripRef>.
Lift up thy hands in prayer to God; lift up thy hands to help
thyself." Fear makes the hands slack, but faith and hope make them
vigorous, and the joy of the Lord will be our strength both for
doing and suffering.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p22" shownumber="no">Let us now see what these precious promises
are which are here made to the people of God, for the banishing of
their griefs and fears and the encouraging of their hopes and joys;
and to us are these promises made as well as to them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p23" shownumber="no">I. An end shall be put to all their
troubles and distresses (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.15" parsed="|Zeph|3|15|0|0" passage="Zep 3:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>): "<i>The Lord has taken away thy judgments,</i> has
removed all the calamities thou hast been groaning under, which
were the punishments of thy sin; the noise of war shall be
silenced, the reproach of famine done away, and the captivity
brought back. Though some grievances remain, they shall be only
afflictions, and not judgments, for sin shall be pardoned. <i>He
has cast out thy enemy,</i> that has thrust himself into thy land,
and triumphed over thee. He has <i>swept out thy enemy</i>" (so
some read it), "as dirt is swept out of the house to the dunghill."
When they sweep out their sins with the besom of reformation God
will sweep out their enemies with the besom of destruction. If they
should need correction, they shall fall into the hands of the Lord,
whose mercies are great, and shall not again fall into the hands of
man, whose tender mercies are cruel: "<i>Thou shalt not see evil
any more,</i> not such evil days as thou hast seen." Note, The way
to get clear of the evil of trouble is to keep clear from the evil
of sin; and to those that do so trouble has no real evil in it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p24" shownumber="no">II. God will give them the tokens of his
presence with them; though he has long seemed to stand at a
distance (they having provoked him to withdraw), he will make it to
appear that he is <i>with them of a truth: "The Lord is in the
midst of thee, O Zion!</i> of thee, <i>O Jerusalem!</i> as the sun
in the centre of the universe, to diffuse his light and influence
upon every part. He is <i>in the midst of thee,</i> to preside in
all thy affairs and to take care of all thy interests." And, 1. "He
is the <i>King of Israel</i> (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.15" parsed="|Zeph|3|15|0|0" passage="Zep 3:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>) and is in the midst of thee as
a king in the midst of his people." With an eye to this, our Lord
Jesus is called the <i>King of Israel</i> (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:John.1.49" parsed="|John|1|49|0|0" passage="Joh 1:49">John i. 49</scripRef>); and he is, and will be, in the
midst of his church always, even to the end of the world, to
receive the homage of his subjects, and to give out his favours to
them, even <i>where</i> but <i>two or three are gathered together
in his name.</i> 2. "He is the Lord thy God, thine in covenant, and
he is in the midst of thee as thy God, whom thou hast an interest
in and whose own thou art. He has put himself into dear relations
to thee, laid himself by promise under obligations to thee, and,
that thou mayest have abundant comfort in both, he <i>is in the
midst of thee,</i> nigh at hand to answer both." 3. "He that is in
the midst of thee as thy God and King is <i>mighty,</i> is
almighty, is able to do all that for thee that thou needest and
canst desire." 4. "He has engaged his power for thy succour: <i>He
will save. He will be Jesus,</i> will answer the name, for he will
save his people from their sins."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p25" shownumber="no">III. God will take delight in them, and in
doing them good. The expressions of this are very lively and
affecting (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.17" parsed="|Zeph|3|17|0|0" passage="Zep 3:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>):
<i>He will rejoice over thee with joy,</i> will not only be well
pleased with thee, upon thy repentance and reformation, and take
thee into favour, but will take a complacency in thee, as the
bridegroom does in his bride, or the bride in her ornaments,
<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p25.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.62.3-Isa.62.5" parsed="|Isa|62|3|62|5" passage="Isa 62:3-5">Isa. lxii. 3-5</scripRef>. The
conversion of sinners and the consolation of saints are the joy of
angels, for they are the joy of God him-self. The church should be
the <i>joy of the whole earth</i> (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p25.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.2" parsed="|Ps|48|2|0|0" passage="Ps 48:2">Ps.
xlviii. 2</scripRef>), for it is the joy of the whole heaven. He
will <i>rest in his love,</i> will be <i>silent in his love,</i> so
the word is. "I will not rebuke thee as I have done, for thy sins;
I will acquiesce in thee, and in my relation to thee." I know not
where there is the like expression of Christ's love to his church,
unless in that song of songs, <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p25.4" osisRef="Bible:Song.4.9" parsed="|Song|4|9|0|0" passage="So 4:9">Cant. iv.
9</scripRef>, <i>Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse,
with one of thy eyes.</i> O the condescensions of divine grace! The
great God not only loves his saints, but he loves to love them, is
pleased that he has pitched upon these objects of his love. He
<i>will joy over them with singing.</i> He that is grieved for the
sin of sinners rejoices in the graces and services of the saints,
and is ready to express that joy by singing over them. <i>The Lord
takes plea-sure in those that fear him,</i> and in them Jesus
Christ will shortly be glorified and admired.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p26" shownumber="no">IV. God will comfort Zion's mourners, who
sympathize with her in her griefs, and will wipe away their tears
(<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.18" parsed="|Zeph|3|18|0|0" passage="Zep 3:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>): <i>I will
gather those who are sorrowful for the solemn assemblies, to whom
the reproach of it was a burden.</i> See, 1. Who those are whom God
will rejoice in and make to rejoice. They are such as are
sorrowful. Those only must expect to reap in joy that sow in tears.
The sorrowful now shall be for ever joyful. 2. What is the great
matter of sorrow to Zion's mourners, when Zion is in mourning. Many
are her calamities. The city is ruined, and the palaces are
demolished; trade is at an end, and the administration of public
justice; but all these are nothing to them in comparison with the
desolations of the sanctuary, the destruction of the temple and the
altar, to attend on which, in solemn feasts, all Israel used to
come together three times a year. It is for those sacred solemn
assemblies that they are sorrowful, (1.) Because they are
dispersed; there is no temple to come up to, or, if there were, no
people to come up to it; so that the <i>solemn feasts and sabbaths
are forgotten in Zion,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:Lam.2.6" parsed="|Lam|2|6|0|0" passage="La 2:6">Lam. ii.
6</scripRef>. Note, The restraining of public assemblies for
religious worship, the scattering of them by their enemies, or the
forsaking of them by their friends, so that either there are no
assemblies or not solemn ones, is a very sorrowful thing to all
good people. If <i>the ways of Zion mourn,</i> the sons of Zion
mourn too. And hereby they make it to appear that they are indeed
of Zion, living members of that body with the grievances of which
they are so sensibly affected. (2.) Because they are despised; the
reproach of the solemn assemblies is a burden to them. It had been
the lot of the solemn assemblies to lie under a great deal of
reproach. Satan and his instruments having a particular spite at
them, as the great support of the interest of God's kingdom among
men. Black and odious characters have been put upon those
assemblies; and this is a burden to all those that have a cordial
concern for the glory of God and the welfare of the souls of men.
They reckon that the reproaches of those who reproach the solemn
assemblies fall upon them, fall foul upon them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p27" shownumber="no">V. God will recover the captives out of the
hands of their oppressors, and bring home the banished that seemed
to be expelled, <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p27.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.19-Zeph.3.20" parsed="|Zeph|3|19|3|20" passage="Zep 3:19,20"><i>v.</i> 19,
20</scripRef>. 1. Their enemies shall be disabled to detain them in
bondage: "<i>At that time I will undo all that afflict thee,</i>
will break their power, and blast their counsels, so that they
shall be forced to surrender the prey they have taken."
<i>Conficiam—I will take them to task;</i> "I will be doing with
them shortly, and so as to make an end of them." Note, Those that
abuse and oppress God's people take the ready way to undo
themselves. 2. They shall be enabled to assert and recover their
liberty, and all the difficulties in the way of it shall be
surmounted. Is the church weak and wounded? <i>I will save her that
halts,</i> as was promised, <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p27.2" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.7" parsed="|Mic|4|7|0|0" passage="Mic 4:7">Mic. iv.
7</scripRef>. He will help her when she cannot help herself; even
<i>the lame shall take the prey,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p27.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.33.23" parsed="|Isa|33|23|0|0" passage="Isa 33:23">Isa. xxxiii. 23</scripRef>. Is she dispersed, and not
likely to incorporate for her common benefit? I will <i>gather her
that was driven out,</i> and <i>bring her again at the time that I
gather her.</i> One act of mercy and grace shall serve both to
collect them out of their dispersions and to conduct them to their
own land. When the <i>people's hearts are prepared,</i> the work
will be done suddenly; and who can hinder it if God undertake to
effect it? "<i>I will turn back your captivity before your eyes,
saith the Lord;</i> you shall plainly discern the hand of God in
it, and say, <i>This is the Lord's doing.</i>"</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iv-p28" shownumber="no">VI. God will by all this put honour upon
them and gain them respect from all about them. Israel was at first
<i>made high above all nations in praise and fame,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p28.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.26.19" parsed="|Deut|26|19|0|0" passage="De 26:19">Deut. xxvi. 19</scripRef>. The reproach brought
upon them was therefore one of the sorest of their grievances
(nothing cuts deeper to those that are in honour than disgrace
does); and therefore when God returns, in mercy, to his church, it
is here promised that she shall regain her credit; all the reproach
shall be for ever rolled way, as Israel's at Gilgal, <scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p28.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.5.9" parsed="|Josh|5|9|0|0" passage="Jos 5:9">Josh. v. 9</scripRef>. The church shall be as
honourable as ever she had been despicable. 1. Even those that
reproached her shall be made to respect her: "<i>I will get them
praise and fame in every land, where they have been put to
shame,</i> that the same who were the witnesses of their disgrace
may see cause to change their mind concerning them." Those that
said, "This is Zion whom no man looks after," shall say, "This is
Zion whom the great God looks after." And she that was looked upon
to be the <i>offscouring of the earth</i> now appears to be the
darling of heaven. 2. Even those that never knew her shall be
brought to honour her (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p28.3" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.3.20" parsed="|Zeph|3|20|0|0" passage="Zep 3:20"><i>v.</i>
20</scripRef>): <i>I will make you a name and a praise among all
people of the earth.</i> So the Jewish church was when <i>the fear
of the Jews</i> fell upon their neighbours (<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p28.4" osisRef="Bible:Esth.8.17" parsed="|Esth|8|17|0|0" passage="Es 8:17">Esth. viii. 17</scripRef>), and some of all nations said,
<i>we will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you,</i>
<scripRef id="Zeph.iv-p28.5" osisRef="Bible:Zech.8.23" parsed="|Zech|8|23|0|0" passage="Zec 8:23">Zech. viii. 23</scripRef>. So the
Christian church was when it was made to flourish in the world, for
there is that in it which may justly recommend it to the value and
esteem of all the people of the earth. And so the universal church
of the firstborn will be in the great day, when the saints shall be
brought together to Christ, that he may be admired and glorified in
them, and they admired and glorified in him before angels and men.
Then will God's Israel be <i>made a name and a praise</i> to
eternity.</p>
</div></div2>