The Pulpit Commentary — Zephaniah — Section 66

ness (Matt. v. 6), those who seek his face and call upon his Na.me (Rom. x. 12), and those who ore possessed of e. spirit of peace (Matt. v. 9). 2. The enthusiasm with which she is invited to refoice. Suggested by the threefold call to sing, shout, and bo glad. "Bing,-it is the inarticulate, thrilling, trembling eurst of joy; shout,-again the ino.rticulo.te, yet louder swell of joy, a trumpet-blast; and then too, deep within, be glad,-the calm even joy of the inward soul; exult, the triumph of the soul which caunot contnin itself for joy ; and this with the whole heart, no corner of it not pervaded with joy" (Pusey). 3. The grounds on which Israel is called to rejoice. (1) Judgrnents taken away. The calamities inflicted on her because of her iniquities have been removed (Isa. xl. 2). Meaning, her sins have been pardoned. Believers under the gospel have the same cause for exultation. For them, as for Israel, is no condemna- tion more (Rom. v. 11 ; viii. 1). (2) Enemies cast out. In the case of Israel this was so far true that henceforth she was no more seriously harassed as a nation after the restoration. Of believers under the gospel it is true that their chief enemy, the prince of this world, has been cast out by Jesus Christ (John xii. 31), while sin, which represents his power in them, will ultimately be expelled from their renewed natures (Gal. i. 4; Eph. i. 4; v. 27; Titus ii. 15). (3) God returned. As her covenant God, -" the Lord thy God;'' rightful King,-" The King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee;" powerful Protector,-the Lord thy God is" a Mighty One who will eave thee." In the same characters God abides in the Church and dwells in the heart of the believer. (4) Prosperity secured. With Jehovah in her midst she shll no more see or experience evil (Ps. xci. 10). The same true of the Christian believer, in whose heart God dwells (2 Thess. iii. 3; 1 Pet. iii. 13). 4. The signs Israel shows that she does refoice. (1) No more fear. "In that day it shall be mid to Jerusalem, Fear thou not.." So Obrist says to his little flock, "Fear not!" (Luke xii. 32; John vi. 20). (2) No more despondency. "0 Zion, let not thine hands be slack." Drooping handR are the sign of a fainting heart. Believers are exhorted to faint not (Luke xviii. 1; 2 Cor. iv. 16). (3) No more indolence. Slack hands are idle hands; and no greater enemy to activity in Churches or individuals exists than lack of joy, as nothing stimulates to religious work like the experience of religious joy. II. 'l'HE JOY OF JEHOVAH INlBRAEL. (Ver. 17.) 1. The character nfthisjoy. The joy: (1) Of a conqueror over the prey he has captured (ver, 8); Israel in ber restoration being a trophy of his prowess. (2) Of an artificer in the work of his hands (ver. 11); Israel in her purified condition being a production of his grace. (3) Of an owner in the value of his possession (ver. 10) ; Jehovah speaking of Israel as "his dispersed." (4) Of a lover in the object of his affection, as e.g. of a bridegroom in his bride (Isa. lxii. 5). 2. The tenderness of this joy. It was a joy springing out of love to Israel, the JOY of one who seeks the happiness of another, rather than of one who glories in his 01Vn felicity. In God's joy over Israel is no element of ·selfishness; it is all sympathy and affection. 3. The intensity ef this joy. Marked by the gradation of clauses. Beginning with ail imvard feeling of delight, it swells in volume and deepens in tenderness till it ·becomes too great for utterance, and the subject of it is "silent in his love," after which it keeps on rising like a tide, till at length it overflows the soul's banks and breaks forth into song. 4. The spontaneity of this joy. It is not meant that Jehovah's joy in Israel is occasioned or evoked by Israel's joy in Jehovah, but rather that Jebovah's joy in Israel should prompt and sustain Israel's joy in Jehovah. As" we love him bccaµse he first loved us" (1 John iv. 19), so can we only" joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. v. 11) when we realize that he for Christ's sake is well pleased with us.-T. W. • Ver. 17.-God and liispeople. I. Goo's RELATION TO HIS PEOPLE. 1. Their covenant God. 2. Their rightful King. 3. Their mighty Saviour. . II. Goo's PRESENCE WITH HIS PEOPLE. He is in their midst. 1. In the Spirit of his Son. 2. In the Word of his truth. 3. In the ordinances of his Church. III. Goo's WORX FOR ms PEOPLE. Salvation: 1. From the guilt and power of sin. 2. From the danger of ignorance and error. 3. From the temptations and corruptions of the world. 4. From the fear of death and the dominion of the gnwe. IV. GOD's DELIGHT IN HIS PEOPLE, l. 'l'rue and tender. 2, Full "and deep. 3. Perfect and a.biding.-'!', W.  64 THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH. [OH, III, 1-20.