©Kris Gerbrandt
Chapter 3:11-13 (ESV) - “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.
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.”
Question to consider: On what day would the sins of Israel be removed from her midst?
Joseph said to his brothers, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” (Genesis 50:19-21) The visions the LORD gave to Zephaniah spoke of a judgment that was coming upon Judah by the Babylonians, judgment upon the nations that surrounded Judah by the remnant of Israelites who would come back into the land, and finally a judgment throughout the whole world which would bring a common language and pave the way for all nations to call upon the LORD.
Today’s passage then referred to a “day” when their deeds would be removed from their midst. They would no longer be put to shame. In his first epistle, Peter used this idea along with that of Isaiah 28:16, “therefore thus says the LORD God, ‘Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: Whoever believes will not be in haste.” Peter believed this cornerstone was Jesus, and that whoever believes in Him would not be put to shame (1 Peter 2:6)
This day was the one in which the Father poured out the full cup of His wrath for the sin of mankind upon His Son on the cross. The LORD would ultimately remove the haughty and proudly exultant ones from His holy mountain when He destroyed the earthly temple in AD 70. Those who sought refuge in the name of the LORD, Jesus, would escape this judgment.
Zephaniah proclaimed that those who sought refuge in the name of the LORD would do no injustice and speak no lies and that no deceit would be found in their mouths. This was similar to Peter’s exhortation for the elect to follow in the steps of Christ, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:21-25)
I believe Peter saw today’s passage as a picture of Christ’s church, and therefore we should understand it as such as well.
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for giving us insight from the New Testament apostles to help us understand the mysteries given to the prophets. As Peter pointed out, even angels longed to understand these things that have been fulfilled in Christ. Amen.