Zephaniah Chapter 3

The LORD Rejoices Over the Restoration of His People

A. A contrast between a wicked city and a righteous God.

1. (Zephaniah 3:1–4) Jerusalem, the wicked city.

“Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted,
To the oppressing city!
She has not obeyed His voice,
She has not received correction;
She has not trusted in the LORD,
She has not drawn near to her God.
Her princes in her midst are roaring lions;
Her judges are evening wolves
That leave not a bone till morning.
Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people;
Her priests have polluted the sanctuary,
They have done violence to the law.”

Jerusalem, the city that should have been the spiritual center of holiness and obedience, is instead described by God as rebellious, polluted, and oppressive. From the closing verses of Zephaniah 2, one might think the prophet was still speaking of Nineveh, the pagan capital of Assyria. However, the mention of prophets, priests, the sanctuary, and the law makes it painfully clear that God is speaking of His own covenant city, Jerusalem. The people who were most privileged to know God were the very ones resisting Him.

The prophet then exposes the root of Jerusalem’s sin through four repeated indictments: “she has not…” Each line reveals a different dimension of their rebellion.

She has not obeyed His voice. The Lord spoke repeatedly through prophets, priests, and His word, but His people refused to listen. Like sheep ignoring their shepherd, Israel chose their own way, despising the authority of God’s voice. Disobedience is not merely a failure of action, but a rejection of God Himself.

She has not received correction. God was not silent when His people wandered. He brought discipline and warning, yet they did not acknowledge it as the Lord’s chastening. They dismissed His correction as misfortune, hardship, or coincidence, rather than a loving call to repentance. The purpose of correction is restoration, but they hardened their hearts instead of returning to Him.

She has not trusted in the LORD. Despite the faithfulness of God throughout their history, Jerusalem refused to rely on Him. They placed their confidence in alliances, idols, walls, or military strength. They behaved as though God could not be trusted to provide, protect, or fulfill His promises. Their unbelief was not intellectual but moral—they chose not to trust.

She has not drawn near to her God. This is the most severe charge. God did not simply want their ritual sacrifices or national loyalty; He desired fellowship, a close and personal relationship with His people. Yet they withdrew themselves from Him. Rather than seeking the Lord with humility and love, they kept their distance. The greatest sin is not merely breaking a rule but rejecting a relationship.

This spiritual corruption did not stop at the people; it permeated every level of leadership. Her princes are like roaring lions, devouring and intimidating those they should protect. Her judges are like evening wolves who leave nothing remaining for the morning; they were vicious, greedy, and unjust. Her prophets are insolent and treacherous, using their office for deceit instead of truth. Her priests have polluted the sanctuary and done violence to the law; the very men tasked with preserving holiness and teaching righteousness were defiling God’s house and twisting His word.

In summary, Jerusalem’s fall began not with political weakness or military defeat, but with spiritual rebellion. They refused God’s voice, His correction, His trustworthiness, and His nearness. Leadership became predatory instead of protective, and worship became corrupted instead of holy.

2. (Zephaniah 3:5–7) The righteous God.

“The LORD is righteous in her midst,
He will do no unrighteousness.
Every morning He brings His justice to light;
He never fails,
But the unjust knows no shame.
‘I have cut off nations,
Their fortresses are devastated;
I have made their streets desolate,
With none passing by.
Their cities are destroyed;
There is no one, no inhabitant.
I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me,
You will receive instruction’—
So that her dwelling would not be cut off,
Despite everything for which I punished her.
But they rose early and corrupted all their deeds.’”

Even in the midst of a corrupt and rebellious city, the prophet reminds us that “the LORD is righteous in her midst.” God had not abandoned Jerusalem, nor had His character changed because of the people’s sin. His righteousness remained steady and flawless. He never acted unfairly or unjustly. The tragedy is that His righteousness was present among them, yet they chose darkness instead of light. Their sin was not due to God’s absence but their rejection of His presence.

The prophet emphasizes that God consistently revealed His justice—“every morning He brings His justice to light; He never fails.” This means that His judgments, His warnings, and His truth were plainly declared day after day. God was faithful in speaking, faithful in warning, and faithful in calling His people back. But “the unjust knows no shame.” The people had hardened their hearts to the point where sin no longer embarrassed them. They were guilty, yet they felt no guilt; they sinned boldly without even attempting to hide it or repent.

To prove His righteousness and power, God reminds them of His past judgments: “I have cut off nations… their fortresses devastated… their cities destroyed.” He had overthrown mighty peoples and powerful kingdoms. Their walls fell, their streets were left silent, and their cities became empty ruins. These were not random events of history but deliberate acts of God’s justice meant to serve as warnings for Judah.

God expected His people to see these judgments and respond with humility and obedience. “Surely you will fear Me, you will receive instruction”—He expected that they would witness His dealings with other nations and repent before suffering the same fate. His desire was not to destroy them but to preserve them—“so that her dwelling would not be cut off.” Even His punishments were meant as discipline to bring them back, not to annihilate them.

Yet, despite His patience and mercy, “they rose early and corrupted all their deeds.” This indicates eagerness—not to repent, but to sin. Instead of responding to God’s correction with sorrow and obedience, they eagerly continued in wickedness. They were quick to sin and slow to repent. They saw the ruins of other nations, but instead of fearing God, they ignored His lessons and hardened their rebellion.

This passage reveals two powerful truths: God is always righteous, and sin always progresses when man ignores His correction. God had been faithful, just, and merciful; nevertheless, His people pursued corruption with zeal. Judgment, therefore, was not a failure of God’s character but the result of the people placing themselves in opposition to His righteousness.

B. The Promise of Restoration

1. (Zephaniah 3:8–13) Judgment and restoration.

“Therefore wait for Me,” says the LORD,
“Until the day I rise up for plunder;
My determination is to gather the nations
To My assembly of kingdoms,
To pour on them My indignation,
All My fierce anger;
All the earth shall be devoured
With the fire of My jealousy.
For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language,
That they all may call on the name of the LORD,
To serve Him with one accord.
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
My worshipers,
The daughter of My dispersed ones,
Shall bring My offering.
In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds
In which you transgress against Me;
For then I will take away from your midst
Those who rejoice in your pride,
And you shall no longer be haughty
In My holy mountain.
I will leave in your midst
A meek and humble people,
And they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness
And speak no lies,
Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth;
For they shall feed their flocks and lie down,
And no one shall make them afraid.”

God now shifts from judgment to hope, but He begins with a solemn command: “Therefore wait for Me.” His people are called to patiently trust His timing. God declares that He will rise to execute justice, gathering all nations to pour out His indignation and fiery jealousy. The entire earth will feel the burning holiness of His wrath. This shows that sin, pride, and rebellion will not go unpunished—God’s justice is certain, global, and unstoppable.

Yet judgment is not the end. After wrath comes renewal. “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one accord.” God promises to reverse the confusion of Babel. Humanity, once divided in language and purpose, will be unified in worship. A “pure language” suggests speech free from blasphemy, deceit, and idolatry—a redeemed world speaking truth and praising God together. Many interpret this as a return to Hebrew, but more importantly, it symbolizes universal submission to the Lord.

Even those scattered in distant lands—“from beyond the rivers of Ethiopia”—will return to worship Him. The dispersed of Israel, once exiled and afflicted, will bring offerings to God, not in sorrow but in joy.

In this future day, shame will be removed. God says His people will no longer bear the guilt of their past transgressions. This does not mean their sins are forgotten, but that they are forgiven and no longer held against them. Their pride will be purged—“I will take away from your midst those who rejoice in your pride.” God Himself will remove the arrogant, leaving behind only those who are meek and humble.

This sanctified remnant—poor in spirit, yet rich in faith—“shall trust in the name of the LORD.” Their lives will be characterized by righteousness and truth. **“They shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies”—**not because of human perfection, but because they are transformed under the reign of the Messiah.

The result is peace: “They shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.” This is language of pastoral calm and security. No enemies, no fear, no war—only rest under the protection of the Lord. This is the promise of the Millennial Kingdom, when Jesus Christ reigns from Jerusalem, Israel is restored, and the world is at peace under His righteous rule.

2. (Zephaniah 3:14–20) Restored with singing.

“Sing, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
The LORD has taken away your judgments,
He has cast out your enemy.
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
You shall see disaster no more.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
‘Do not fear;
Zion, let not your hands be weak.
The LORD your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.’
‘I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly,
Who are among you,
To whom its reproach is a burden.
Behold, at that time
I will deal with all who afflict you;
I will save the lame,
And gather those who were driven out;
I will appoint them for praise and fame
In every land where they were put to shame.
At that time I will bring you back,
Even at the time I gather you;
For I will give you fame and praise
Among all the peoples of the earth,
When I return your captives before your eyes,’
Says the LORD.”

This final section of Zephaniah transitions from judgment to overwhelming joy and restoration. The command is clear and emphatic: “Sing, shout, be glad, and rejoice with all your heart.” Why? Because the LORD Himself has removed their judgments and cast out their enemies. The greatest reason for joy is then declared: “The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall see disaster no more.” This points forward to the millennial reign of Christ, when God will dwell physically among His people as their King.

God’s presence brings not only protection but also deep comfort and affection. “The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save.” But more than saving, He rejoices over His people with gladness—He does not merely tolerate them, He delights in them. “He will quiet you with His love” speaks of calming every fear, every anxious heart, not with rebuke but with His tender affection. Then, astonishingly, “He will rejoice over you with singing.” This reveals the heart of God—He sings over His redeemed. The same God who spoke the universe into existence now sings with joy over His people. We often imagine ourselves singing to Him, but Zephaniah shows us God Himself singing over us.

This love removes fear and strengthens weary hands. “Do not fear; let not your hands be weak.” If God is in our midst, rejoicing over us, then fear has no place. Weakness in service is replaced with renewed strength. As Spurgeon noted, if God sings in joy, then His people should not live in fear.

God continues with promises of complete restoration: He will gather those who sorrow, those burdened by exile, separation, and shame. He will confront and defeat those who afflict His people. He promises to save the lame, gather the outcasts, and transform their shame into honor. Those who were despised will be lifted high—“I will appoint them for praise and fame in every land where they were put to shame.” This is both national and personal. Israel will be exalted among the nations, and individual believers will share in Christ’s glory.

Finally, the Lord promises: “At that time I will bring you back… I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I return your captives before your eyes.” This is certain because it is sealed with the words, “Says the LORD.” What began with judgment ends with singing, restoration, and the presence of the King.