The Lord Transforms His People
December 8, 2022
Commentary
Please recall from last time, the time jump from the years leading up to the Babylonian exile forward to the End of the Seven Year Tribulation. The Lord will come in judgment upon the whole earth, consuming it in his righteous anger (v. 8). Then and only then will the blessed promises in today’s passage take place. Manmade attempts at paradise always fall short in the end.
The first thing that the LORD will change on that day is the speech of the peoples (v. 9). This is the great reversal of Babel (Gen. 11) where all of humanity was united in speech, working against the Lord’s will for their future. On that day their speech will be pure speech, and they will worship and serve the Lord together. The rivers of Cush (v. 10) refer to the tributaries of the Nile River: the Atbara, the Astasobas, the Blue Nile, & the While Nile. These rivers were at the edge of the known world at that time. God’s people may be dispersed to the ends of the earth, but they would return to Jerusalem ready to give sacrifices on that day.
The next thing the LORD will change on that day is the shame of the people (v. 11). God’s people had every reason to be ashamed. They had rebelled against the Lord through their deeds. But the Lord would not put them to shame on the day. Instead, he would remove a people and leave a people. Those being removed are the proud and haughty. Those allowed to remain are humble and lowly. They seek refuge in the name of their God (v. 12). Those who remain do no injustice, nor tell any lies (v. 13a). They are like sheep who graze and lie down and live free from fear. When pride is removed, there is no more shame. There is only humble recognition of our dependence of God’s grace.
Application
Now is the time to humble ourselves before the Lord. We can live free from shame if we do so.
Zephaniah 3:9– 13 (NET)
9 Know for sure that I will then enable the nations to give me acceptable praise. All of them will invoke the Lord’s name when they pray, and will worship him in unison.
10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, those who pray to me, my dispersed people, will bring me tribute.
11 In that day you will not be ashamed of all your rebelliousness against me, for then I will remove from your midst those who proudly boast, and you will never again be arrogant on my holy hill.
12 I will leave in your midst a humble and meek group of people, and they will find safety in the Lord’s presence.
13 The Israelites who remain will not act deceitfully. They will not lie, and a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. Indeed, they will graze peacefully like sheep and lie down; no one will terrify them.”