What person or what nation do you know that would fit this description (Zeph 3:1-4)?
Woe to the city of oppressors,
rebellious and defiled!
She obeys no one,
she accepts no correction.
She does not trust in the Lord,
she does not draw near to her God.
Her officials within her
are roaring lions;
her rulers are evening wolves,
who leave nothing for the morning.
Her prophets are unprincipled;
they are treacherous people.
Her priests profane the sanctuary
and do violence to the law.
Right now as there is an explosion of evil upon the earth, this could be said of so many cities and nations and peoples. Corruption is normal. Bad is now “good.” Evil is now “right” and it is in almost every nation of the earth.
But this was Israel. They knew better. They have the laws of God. And yet they rebelled. Their hearts were stubborn. They wanted happiness greater than holiness, not understanding that happiness is the fruit of holiness.
The LORD brought judgment on the installment plan. He didn’t want to bring judgment, but to bring repentance. They didn’t repent. So the judgment had to intensify. He had to wake them up.
And He did. Babylon came in and carried them off to captivity where they would stay for 70 years.
But God’s heart is always for restoration. The LORD said this season would be one where they would be purified. And they were. They came back to Israel humbled before God. So much so that it was as if they were learning a new language. Not one of unrighteousness but a language of purity. He then tells them (v. 14-15) to
Sing, Daughter Zion;
shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
Daughter Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.
What is he talking about here? “Never again will you fear any harm”? Because much harm was yet to come. Like the holocaust.
Some take this to be the millenium or a 1000 year reign of Christ. I personally lean towards it being salvation in Christ where our sins are covered by his blood. Through him we are eternally secured in God through his redemption and atonement.
And with this God is able to rejoice again. The evil that was so unrestrained had now been pardoned. He could once again look on them with love. He had forgiven them (v. 17).
The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”
It’s actually a beautiful picture of God. He delights in His people. But not only that, he rejoices over them with singing. Do you ever imagine God singing? And his song is about you?
Restoration is his goal. For the Israelites here and for all peoples of the earth.
He wants his children home.
