Home | What's New |
Mission Statement | Location|
Services | Calendar |
Lessons |
Committees | Activities |
Search | Links
Music, Search By: Hymnal / By Tune
/ Music Book |
Scott's Reference Library
December 14, 2003 | December 17, 2006 | December 13, 2009
Zephaniah 3:14 through Zephaniah 3:20 (NIV)
14 Sing, O Daughter of Zion;
shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O Daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.
16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.
17 The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.”
18 “The sorrows for the appointed feasts
I will remove from you;
they are a burden and a reproach to you.
19 At that time I will deal
with all who oppressed you;
I will rescue the lame
and gather those who have been scattered.
I will give them praise and honor
in every land where they were put to shame.
20 At that time I will gather you;
at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise
among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes
before your very eyes,”
says the LORD.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 14-20
After the promises of taking away sin, follow promises of taking away trouble.
When the cause is removed, the effect will cease. What makes a people holy, will
make them happy. The precious promises made to the purified people, were to have
full accomplishment in the gospel. These verses appear chiefly to relate to the
future conversion and restoration of Israel, and the glorious times which are to
follow. They show the abundant peace, comfort, and prosperity of the church, in
the happy times yet to come. He will save; he will be Jesus; he will answer the
name, for he will save his people from their sins. Before the glorious times
foretold, believers would be sorrowful, and objects of reproach. But the Lord
will save the weakest believer, and cause true Christians to be greatly honoured
where they had been treated with contempt. One act of mercy and grace shall
serve, both to gather Israel out of their dispersions and to lead them to their
own land. Then will God’s Israel be made a name and a praise to eternity. The
events alone can fully answer the language of this prophecy. Many are the
troubles of the righteous, but they may rejoice in God’s love. Surely our hearts
should honour the Lord, and rejoice in him, when we hear such words of
condescension and grace. If now kept from his ordinances, it is our trial and
grief; but in due time we shall be gathered into his temple above. The glory and
happiness of the believer will be perfect, unchangeable, and eternal, when he is
freed from earthly sorrows, and brought to heavenly bliss.