The Pulpit Commentary — Zephaniah — Section 65

character (Exod. iii. 15; xx. 24; niii. 21; John xvii, 6); to call upon his Name, to invoke the help that Name proffers and warrants to expect. (4) 'l.'he animating Spirit. " To serve him with one consent," or" one shoulder;" signifying that their adherence to Jehovah shall not be purely forme.l but essentially spiritual, not of outward oeremonie.l alone but also of inward devotion, not forced and constrained but voluntary and of personal choice, and not fragmentary and isolated but united and combined. 2, The ?°ngathering qf the dispersed (Jews). 'l'hese the prophet represents: (1) As objects of Jeho,ah's affect.ion, even in the countries of their exile. Jehovah speaks of them as his dispersed (men may forget their covenant relationship to God· he never forgets his relationship to them), and as the daughter of his dispersed (cf. ver.' 14), a designation of Israel shaped after similar expressions of Isaiah (ii. 8; iv. 4; xxii. 4) and Jeremiah (iv. 11, 31 ; vi. 2, 14),-God's love to men changes not, though their circumstances and even their characters may change. (2) A,11, returning to Jehovah's service. From the furthest bounds of their dispersion, even from beyond the rivers (the Nile and the Astaboras) of Ethiopia and from other countries into which they may have been scattered. No spot too distant or condition of existence too abject that one may not find his way be.ck from it to God. In a spirit of penitential entreaty. Jehovah calls them his suppliants, to indicate the mood of mind in which they shall return (Zech. xii. 10). In so doing " he describes the character of all who come to God through Christ" (Pusey). To offer acceptable worship. What Jehovah styles" his offering," was the minchah, or meat offering due t-0 him according to the Law of Moses (Ex:od. xxix. 41; Lev. ii. 8; Numb. iv. 16), the tribute they owed him as their Divine King (1 Sam. x. 27; 1 Kings iv. 21). According to another rendering (De Wette, Keil and Delitzscb, Fausset, Revised Version margin), the offerers are the Gentiles, and the offering the Jews of the dispersion, whom the former shall bring and present to Jehovah. Though favoured by Isaiah (lxvi. 20) and Paul (Rom xi. 25, 26, 31), it is doubtful if this view of the passage was in the prophet's mind (Hitzig, Pusey). III. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF lsBAEL. (Vers. 11-13.) 1. In the en;'oyment of spiritual peace. Wt.en the Lord had turned again her captivity, and brought her back to himself with weeping and with supplication (Jer. xxxi. 9; 1. 4; Joel ii. 12), she should no longer be ashamed for or'' on account ofn her past iniquities. Not because these would then have ceased to be reprehensible and fitted to cause shame, but either because they would then have ceased to be (Keil and Delitzsch), or because God. would then have forgiven them (Pusey). .A. new heart and a quiet conscience-two of the first gifts bestowed upon returning penitents. 2. In the possession of heart-hwmility. Then all her proudly exulting citizens should be cut off, and all her haughty leaders abased, so that none should remain in her but an afflicted and poor people, who should no more be haughty in Jehovah's holy mountain. Meekness of mind, lowliness of heart, poverty of spirit, an indispensable characteristic of true religion in the soul (Matt. v. 3; xi. 20; xviii. 4; Col iii.12; 1 Pet. v. 5, 6). 3. In the exercise of living faith. They, i.e. the inhabitants ofrestored Jerusalem, shall trust in the Name of the Lord. If true religion begets a spirit of lowliness towards one's self, it inspires a feeling of calm and confident trust in God (Ps. ix:. 10). 4. In the pursuit of true holiness. The members of God's spiritual Israel shonld neither commit injustice nor tell lies, nor practise deceit of any kind. These again, rie:hteousness and truth, are absolute requirements from all who claim to be possessed of sincere religion (Phil. iv. 8). 5. In the satiefac- tion of all her 11,U(f,s. Like Jehovah's flock, she (Israel) should want nothing (Ps. xxiii. 1). She should have: (1) Food. She should" feed" (Isa. xl. 11). (2) Rest. She should " lie down " (Ps. ::u:.iii. 2 ; Ezek. xxxiv. 16). (3) Protection. " None should make her afraid" (Ps. x:ci. 1-7; cxxi. 3-8).-T. W. Vers. 14-17.-The reciproc<il;'oy of Israel and Jehova11. I. THE JOY OF ISRAEL IN JEHOVAH. (Vers. 14-16.) 1. The character in which Israel is summoned to rejoice. Indicated by the names in which she is addressed. (1) Daughter of Zion. Zion meaning "sunny," hence "arid," and so "thirsty," or t~irsting after God. (2). Israel. Signify- in:,- "Prince of God," or one who has power with God, and can prevail. (3) Dau;!hter of Jerusalem. Equiv:i.lent to "City of peace." At all events, those wl1orn God calls to rejuice in the fulness of his salvation are those who hunger and thirst after righteous- OH. III. 1-20.J THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH. 63