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Zephaniah 2:4-15
Fate
of Gaza, Ashkelon and Ashdod
Verses 4-5, “For Gaza shall be forsaken, and
Ashkelon desolate; they shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron shall be uprooted. Woe to the
inhabitants of the seacoast, the nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: I will destroy you; so there shall be no
inhabitant.” These verses have a historic fulfillment. Ancient Ashkelon’s ruins are down by the sea,
not over modern Ashkelon, which is a part of Israel today. In the ruins the temple of Dagon can actually
be found. Gaza was conquered by
Nebuchadnezzar, wiped off the face of the map, same with Ashkelon and Ashdod. But verse 11 also
places a future destruction on these cities, which during the Tribulation will
be in the hands of the Idumeans, the modern-day
Palestinians (see my commentary on Obediah for a full treatment about why God
destroys these peoples from off his land, the Promised Land).
Judah
in the Land
Verses 6-7, “The
seacoast shall be pastures, with shelters for shepherds and folds for flocks. The coast shall
be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed their flocks there; in the houses of
Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the LORD their God will intervene for them, and return their
captives.” Verses 6-7 show the Jews as having returned to the coast of
Palestine. It implies a dual setting, one just prior to the 2nd Coming of the Messiah, Jesus, and just after the
Messiah, Jesus’ 2nd Coming. It’s prior historic fulfillment is very recent, and took place
in 1948 when Israel was declared an independent nation and fought it’s war of
independence against its surrounding Arab neighbors. This fulfillment took place with the founding
of the modern Israeli nation. So if
anyone says the Jews don’t have a Biblical right to the land they’re on, just
point them to Zephaniah 2:6-7. But the complete fulfillment of these two
verses occur right after the coming of the Messiah to save them, the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ. That’s when the
flocks and shepherds will really be able to lie down in peace in the pastures,
without having to worry about some Palestinian Kytushya rocket coming in and
blowing up next to them.
Fate
of Moab and Ammon
Verses 8-11, “I have heard the reproach of
Moab, and the insults of the people of Ammon, with which they have reproached
my people, and made arrogant threats against their borders. Therefore, as I live,’ says the LORD of hosts, the God of
Israel, ‘surely Moab shall be like Sodom, and the people of Ammon like
Gomorrah---overrun with weeds and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation. The residue of my people shall possess
them.’ This they shall have for their
pride, because they have reproached and made arrogant threats against the
people of the LORD of hosts.”
How
Zephaniah chapter 2 to be applied, 2nd Coming all the way
“The LORD will be awesome to
them, for he will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; people shall worship him, each one from
his place, indeed all the shores of the nations” (verse 11). This one
verse stuck right in the middle of chapter 2 identifies the chapter as mainly
applying to the end-times, leading up to and going through the Great
Tribulation.
Ethiopia’s involvement, and the destruction of modern Assyria
Verses 12-15, “‘You Ethiopians also, you shall be slain by my sword.’ And he will stretch out his hand against the
north, destroy Assyria, and make Nineveh a desolation. As dry as the wilderness. The herds shall lie down in her midst, every
beast of the nation. Both the pelican
and the bittern shall lodge on the capitals of her pillars [comment: There is no
seacoast where pelicans and bitterns could live near the historic Nineveh, or
the Assyrian Empire, which was landlocked. Only the Caspian Sea was on the border of Assyria. But modern day Germany has major coastlines
on both the Baltic and North Sea.]; their voice shall
sing in the windows; desolation shall be at the threshold; for he will lay bare the cedar work. This is the rejoicing city that dwelt
securely, that said in her heart, ‘I am
it, and there is none besides
me.’ How has she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down! Everyone who passes by her shall hiss and
shake his fist.” How Ethiopia is
involved in the end-time alliances against the Israelis in the Tribulation
remains to be seen. But some of the
modern-day Germans are descendants of ancient Assyria. But the
desolation prophecied here will not be permanent, because a beautiful prophecy
in Isaiah shows modern Assyria and Egypt being the number one and number two
nations of the world, behind the restored Israel. There is an awesome future that awaits the
Germans and Egyptians during the Millennial Kingdom of God.
Zephaniah 3:1-8, 9-20
The
Sin of Jerusalem
Verses 1-8, “Woe to
her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city! She has not obeyed his voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in
the LORD,
she has not drawn near to her God. Her
princes in her midst are roaring
lions; her judges are evening wolves
that leave not a bone till morning. Her
prophets are insolent, treacherous people; her priests have polluted the
sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. The LORD is righteous in
her midst, he will do no unrighteousness. Morning by morning he brings his justice to light; he never fails, but
the unjust knows no shame. I have cut
off nations, their fortresses are devastated; I have made their streets
desolation, with none passing by. Their
cities are destroyed; there is no
one, no inhabitant. I said, ‘Surely you
will fear me, you will receive instruction’---so that her dwelling would not be
cut off, despite everything for which
I punished her. But they rose early and
corrupted all their deeds. ‘Therefore
wait for me,’ says the LORD, ‘until the day I rise up for plunder; my determination is to gather the nations to my assembly
of kingdoms, to pour on them my indignation, all my fierce anger; all the earth
shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.” There is
an end-time focus in this whole third chapter of Zephaniah, as we’ll see. It begins with the sin in Jerusalem. Jerusalem here probably represents the
capital (vicariously) of all 12 tribes of Israel, both religious and political
within all 12 tribes. Thus this
“oppressing city,” Jerusalem, is a symbolic representation of all that is going
on with the political and religious leaders who are ruling over all
12 tribes, wherever and whoever they are now. Why Jerusalem? Because Jerusalem was the
ancient capital city, both religious and secular, for all 12 tribes of Israel
under king’s David and Solomon. Verses 3-4 condemn four classes of leaders, and God says he’ll bring
them to justice. They are: 1) the
priests, religious leaders who aren’t teaching God’s laws. He actually says “they’ve done violence
against God’s laws,” calling them “a yoke of bondage.” This would equate, quite realistically, to
your super-grace without-works oriented Christians today, who call God’s Law a
yoke of bondage, saying God’s Law has been “done away with, annulled.” They also say that anyone keeping God’s Feast
days and Sabbath are “under” bondage. In
verse 6 God warns them about what he has done in judgment to other nations. verse 8, “Therefore wait for me,’ says the LORD, ‘until the day I rise up
for plunder; my determination is to
gather the nations to my assembly of kingdoms, to pour on them indignation, all
my fierce anger; all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my
jealousy.’” This is a direct reference to the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ
and how he will gather all nations to do battle with him in Jerusalem (cf.
Zechariah 12:1-3; 14:1-2; Revelation 19:19).
Peaceful
Reign of Jesus Christ, the Millennial Kingdom of God on Earth
A
Pure Language
Verse 9, “For then I will restore to the
peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the
name of the LORD.” This sections covers
aspects of the peaceful reign of Jesus Christ as the Millennial Kingdom of God
starts out on earth. The first thing
mentioned in verse 9 is that God gives the whole world a “pure language.” What God did at Babel he undoes. This will facilitate God’s Word and his Law
going out to the nations, Isaiah 2:2-3,
“Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains,
and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and
let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; he will teach us his
ways, and we shall walk in his paths.’ For
out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” God’s
Word itself, the Bible, will be in clear, easy to understand language, this
pure one-world language. How much easier will the Gospel proclamation of Isaiah 2:2-3 be with
the earth speaking one pure language. And doctrinal misunderstandings will become a thing of the past.
Israel
now a “humble and meek” people
Verses 10-13, “From beyond the rivers of
Ethiopia my worshippers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my
offering. In that day you shall not be
shamed by any of your deeds in which you transgress against me; for then I will
take away from your midst those who rejoice in your pride, and you shall no
longer be haughty in my holy mountain. I
will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and
they shall trust in the name of the LORD. The remnant of
Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful
tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.” God’s
people will no longer be prideful and haughty or disobedient. They will be a “meek and humble” people, and
instead of speaking lies they’ll speak the truth. They’ll be gentle shepherds. Being shepherds, a shepherd nation is really
important. Why? Read Philip Keller’s A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23. Sheep act exactly like people do. If Israel is to be the servant-leadership nation of the world, guiding
and leading the world under Jesus Christ, it will help them immensely if they
are shepherds, just as King David was.
Yeshua,
Jesus dwelling in Jerusalem
Verses 14-17, “Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of
Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your judgments, he has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall see disaster no more. In that day it shall be said to
Jerusalem: Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; he will
rejoice over you with gladness, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” The joy
of Jerusalem is proclaimed here. Yahweh,
Yeshua haMeshiach is here, Jesus Christ is now literally dwelling in their
midst (along with all of the resurrected immortal saints, us, the “despised
nation” of Zephaniah 2:1-3). Jesus,
Yeshua is actually portrayed as rejoicing over Jerusalem with singing!
All
Who Were Driven Out of Jerusalem Returned
Verses 18-20, “I will gather those who sorrow
over the appointed assembly, who are among you, to whom its reproach is a
burden. Behold, at that time I will deal
with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, and gather those who were
driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame in every land where they
were put to shame. At that time I will
bring you back, even at the time I gather you; for I will give you fame and
praise among all the peoples of the world, when I return your captives before
your eyes,’ says the LORD.” The subject here, as in the
beginning is Jerusalem. But
remember Jerusalem was representative of all 12 tribes of Israel. But here I think it is more specific. During the Tribulation, as indicated in other
Minor Prophets, some of the inhabitants of the Israeli nation and of Jerusalem
were sold into slavery in foreign lands. Greece is mentioned as being one of those lands. This is about Yeshua, the LORD bringing back those captives, back into the land and
Jerusalem. But in a greater sense, it
points to the return of all 12 tribes of Israel to the Promised Land. Interestingly enough, verse 18 according to
Feinberg is a direct reference to the “Feasts of the LORD” which Jesus prophecied in both Isaiah 66:22-23 and
Zechariah 14:16-19 will be restored. Their observance will become commanded for all nations. As most people know, but they try to avoid
the subject, Sunday/Christmas/Easter all have strong pagan origins (December 25th Baal’s birthday anyone?). Whereas God’s
Sabbath and Holy Days are direct shadow-pictures of key elements of God’s
overall Plan of Salvation for mankind (see http://www.unityinchrist.com/newcovenant/whichcovenantprt.htm). As Calvary Chapel’s Dr. David Hocking (a
racial Jew) told their pastors during a pastor’s meeting, ‘You pastors had
better get used to the idea of observing Sabbath and Holy Days [of Leviticus
23:1-44], because we’ll all be keeping them in the Millennial Kingdom of
God.” Well, if they’re spiritually
better, less “tainted” with pagan origins, and more spiritually significant, my
question is “Why wait until Jesus re-institutes them in the Millennium?”
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