The Pulpit Commentary — Zephaniah — Section 17

•· always betokens the inward mind, and in its turn acts upon it." In Isaiah's timo tl,e Jerusalem ladies were distinguished for gay attire and wanton hearts (ls!\, iii. 16- 23). Peter (1 Epist. iii. 3) exhorts Christian women to adorn themselves," not with that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel but with the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit." The latter of the two sin~ charged against t.he royal household, that of leaping over the threshold, is believed (Calvin, Keil, Ewald, Pusey, Farrar) to allude, not to the custom of lea.ping over the threshold of tho kin,!.'s palace (Hitzig) in imitation of Da.gon's priests, who, when they entered their idol's temple in Ashdod, trode not upon its threshold (1 Sam. v. 6); but to tho practice; observed probably by "dishonourable serva.nts of the king," of intrudina into other people's houses in order to deprive them of their property through violen~e and fraud, and ..,-it.h the spoils so obtained to enrich the king, whose dependants they were, and whose favour they desired to retain. Should this interpretation be correct, it suggests useful thoughts about the distribution of guilt, or the 1uutual responsibility of masters and servants for each other's evil deeds. If the king's servants merely carried out thE! ord2rs of their royal master, they were no less criminal in Heaven's sight than he; if they acted on their own motion, the king who profited by their plunder became a partner of their guilt. (2) Of the merchants, also two-avarice and usury. Had they been merely successful traders wh1J had prospered through honest dealing, they had not been condemned; but they were "laden with silver," acquired through nefariou$ practices such a.s deceit and usury. Wealth honourably obtained is no offence against Heaven, and, if righteously employed, may contribute to the happiness and influence of both the individual possessor and the community of which he is a 'member; richeJ heaped up by wicked arts are a curse to those who have them, and often go as they have come by violence and fraud. To "provide things honest in the sight or' all men '.1 (Rom. xii. 17) should be the aim of all. but especially of Christians. "On the bells of the horses of trade and commerce should be, Holiness unto the Lord" (Zech. xiv. 20\ Happy the nation "whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth" (Isa. xxiii. 8). (3) Of the debauchees and rioters, two-self-indulgence and infidelity. "Settled upon, their lees," they abandoned themselves to the gratification of their sinful desires and corrupt inclinations, closed their minds and hearts against better things, an_d proceeded to daring and presumptuous unbelief, denying the Divine providence if not challenging the Divine existence. .All sin tends to lead the soul a.way from God; to cause it first to shut out thoughts of God, and finally to conclude that God has 'cea·sed to be, 3. Their punishments proclaimed. (1) The sinners of the royal house would be called to account for their iniquities. Though God seemed to be at a distance from them,' like a man upon a far journey, he would return and visit upon them the evil deeds of which they had been guilty. Nations no more than individuals, and persons in high station no more than persons in low, can escape the just judgment of God (Rom. ii. 3), (2) The merchants would be despoiled of their.unjust gains (Isa. xxx:iii.1), and them: selves overwhelmed with ruin (Jer. xvii. 11). If good men are sometimes deprived of wealth at a stroke, as Job was, and thus seem to hav:e no advantage above their wicked neighbours, they are never, as these are, utterly undone by the loss of material pussessions. In the fall ~f t~eir houses they do not !he~selves perish, but ~.1?-d in God a Portion larger, more sa.t1Sfymg and secure, than their silver or gold (Hab. m. 17, 18). (3) The debauchees and_ rioters woul~ be dragged forth _f~om their ?a.rkest retrea~s and requited for their sensuality and unbelief. "The same diligence which Eternal W1Sdom used to seek and, to save that which was lost, lighting a candle and searching diligtmtly till it find each lost piece of silver, the same shall Almighty God use that no hardened sinner shall escape" (Pusey). . IL THE OFFICIATING PRIESTS. 1. Jehovalt himself. "I will punish;" "I will punish• " " I will search;" and "I will punish," saith the Lord. Whatever subordinate agents ~r secondary causes may be emplo~ed to inflict Divine venge~nce upon rebellio~s natious and wicked men, the hand that directs these agents and wields these causes 1s God's. He is " the Judge of all the earth" (Gen. xviii. 25), and "shall judge the people riahteously" (Ps. lxvii. 4), rendering to every man" according to his work" (Ps. lxii. 11). H~ "sLalf bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil" (Eccles. xii. 14). "He hath appointed a day in which he will judi::e the world" (Acts xvii. 31). 2, Jehovah's ministers. Described as I* called and CH, I, 1-18.] THE BOOK OF' ZEPHANIAH. 15