The Pulpit Commentary — Zephaniah — Section 67

Vers. 18-20.-Tlie tw-ning again of 1s1'aers captivity; or, good news for sin's exiles. I. LIBERTY FOR THE CAPTIVES. "I will deal with all them that afflict tboo," etc. Those members of the Isra.elitish community who were soon to be carried off into exile and enslaved in a foreign land were to be eventually (in the day when God rose up to the prey) rescued from their oppressors and set free from the roproach of slavery which pressed upon them like a. heavy burden. So were the members of the human race cap1ives of sin and Satan, and bondmeu in a far-off land of alienation from God, when Christ came to preach deliverance to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that were bound (Isa. xii. 1; Luke iv. 18). So a.re men by nature sin's captives still (John viii. 34), a.nd the burden of the gospel message still mus, "If the Son shall make you free, then are ye free indeed" (John viii. 36). II. COMFORT FOR THE SORROWFUL. "I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assembly." Those about to be exiled in Babylon, especially such among them as should preserve their piety, would regard it as the saddest element in their lot that through banishment they were no longer permitted to ta.ke part in the festal assemblies of the nation, in particular in the Feast of Tabernacles, the most joyful of all their celebrations (Hos. xii. 10). To them, therefore, it would come "like cold water to a thirsty soul," or "like good news from a far country," that they should afterwards, "at that time," be restored to their religious privileges, and the fellowship with Jehovah which these signified. So men "in sin," being far off from him whose favour and fellowship a.lone is life, when they first awake to this thought, arti. filled with sorrow, and mourn after God, after that reconciliation and communion with him in which alone true happiness ca.n be found (Ps. :u:xi. 16; Ii ..8-12; lxxxv. 4, 6; cxliii. 7, 8). To all such the gospel promises comfort and consolation (Matt. v. 4). III. GATHERING FOB THE DISPERSED. Many of Israel's sons and daughters should be scattered into far-off lands when Jehovah rose to pour his indignation on the nations (ver. 8). But into whatsoever region they should have wandered, Jehovah would re-collect them in the day when be turned again Israel's captivity. So have men by sin been driven away into many different" far countries.''-into conditions of existence where their material environments, dispositions of soul, and habits of life have become widely divergent. But up out of all situations and from all characters God by bis grace ca.n bring men who have departed from him and separated from ea.eh other, and can form them again into a united community, a holy brotherhood, a. spiritual household, a redeemed family. To do this is the aim of the gospel (Eph. i~. 17-22). IV. GLORY FOB THE SHAMED. Whereas the approaching exile would lead to Israel becoming overwhelmed with dishonour, when the Lord turned again her captivity that dishonour would be wiped out, and she should once more acquire .a. name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth. This certainly was true of the Jewish people, who, for all their humiliation, rose to a position of commanding influence because of her relation to Jehovah a.nd the Christian Church, to which no nation on earth has ever attained; while Assyria., Babylon. Greece, and Rome, her great world-rivals, and frequently her oppressors, have passed away into comparative oblivion. So, if sin turns man's glory into shame, the gospel of Jesus Christ promises to reconvert man's shame into glory; and this it does by giving to the Christian Church a. position and power possessed by no other human institution, and by conferring on the individual believer the glory (1) of a good name; (2) of an influential life; (3) of a. peaceful end; and (4) of a blessed future. LESSONS. 1. "Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound" (Ps. Ixxxix. 15). 2. " Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark xvi, 15).-T. W. Vere. 9-20.-The promise of restoration. Very remarkable is the way in which the most gracious promises a.re in this book interwoven, and, as it were, wrapped up in threa.tenings of judgment. This appears in eh. ii. 11, where it is declared that the Lord shall be terrible to the nations that magnified themselves aga.int his people, and shall famioh all the gods of the earth, so depriving these nations of their fancied ~upport and confideace; and tLen it is added that men shall worship him every one from bis place, even all the isles of the heathen. The deserved judgment would rrnlly r,rove to be the greatest blessing, leading them from the worship of durnl:> en. 111. 1-20,] THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIA.H.