The Pulpit Commentary — Zephaniah — Section 14

JI. F AJ.SJ', BECURITY LEADING TO INDIFFERENCE TO Goo AND HIS CLAIMS. Bein" "at ertse," " their eyes Btanrling out with fatness," "having more than heart could wish," they " lightly esteem" the Lord and ignore his claims. They are not atheists in theory, but they are BO in practice; they do not trouble to deny the Divine existence but they live in total disregard of him to whom they are indebted for all that they JJossess; they say in their hearts, "'fhe Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil" (ver. 12). III. INDurFERENOJ!l TO Goo AND HI8 CLAIMS FOLLOWED BY MORAL CORRUPTION AND INIQUITY. Those acting thus are compared to wine that is settled on its lees. "The lees are the refuse of the wine, yet stored up with it, and the wine, unremoved, rests as it were upon them. So do men of ease rest in things defiled and defiling." Taking this course, Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem had become corrupt and full of iniquity. IV. MORAL CORRUPTION AND INIQUITY ABOUT TO BE BROUGHT TO LIGHT THROUGH THE DrVINl!l SCRUTINY. "And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles" (ver. 12). In the day of terrors drawing near, "he would go through the city, making diligent search, trying house by house, man by man. As the vfntner goes through his cellar, torch in hand; or as the head of the household, taper in hand, searches every nook and corner of his house before Passover, lest any morsel of leaven should be hidden in it; so Jehovah would search Jerusalem with candles, hunting the evil out of every dark nook in which they have concealed themselves, suffering none to escape." V. INIQUI'l'Y THUB DIVINELY REVEALED WILL ASSUREDLY BE FOLLOWED BY DIVr.;E RETRIDUTION. "And I will pu·llish," etc. (ver. 12). Sin cannot go unpunished. The Divine revelation of sin is with a view to this retribution, and serves to vindicate the rectitude of the Most High. . Learn : I. To guard against the spir-it of self-sufficiency and worldliness engendered of ease and luxury. 2. To scrutinize your own conduct, using faithfully with a view to this the torch of (1) conscience, (2) of God's holy Word, (3) and of the perfect example presented· in the life of "the Man Christ Jesus." 3. To pray earnestly for deliverance from all that is evil, and to be led into right paths, and so to be preserved from being at last condemned with the world. "Search me, 0 God, and know my heart," etc. (Ps. cmix. 23, 24), 1