Zephaniah 2: It May Be Ye Shall Be Hid

2020-03-07

Gather Yourselves

Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; (2) Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you. (3) Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger. (Zephaniah 2:1-3)

O Nation Not Desired

This represents a change in the book where there is hope for the remnant of the LORD’s people. Zephaniah’s name means “the LORD has hidden,” so here we see what, or whom, the LORD will hide. Who is the “nation not desired” (Zephaniah 2:1)?

  1. Not desired. I do not think this nation is Judah necessarily, as we will see in Zephaniah 2:3. These are the people that are not like the people seen in Zephaniah 1:4-6. These are the remnant (Zephaniah 2:7, 9; 3:13). Because they are not like the rest of Judah or the rest of the world, they are despised. Zephaniah 2:1
  2. They are also doomed. That is, unless they heed this prophecy. The Day of the LORD dooms all, but the LORD is offering amnesty. Zephaniah 2:2
  3. They are meek. These are a humble people, and not prideful against the LORD. While others had the arrogance to serve false gods after the LORD had made them His people, these remember the LORD’s goodness toward them and recognize Him as the Creator and Lord. Zephaniah 2:3
  4. They wrought His judgment. These worked righteous works. They believed that the LORD was good and deserved worship, and they acted like it. Zephaniah 2:3
  5. They are from all over the world. We see that “all ye meek of the earth” are called to seek the LORD. Consider the words “all” and “the earth.” This is not the narrow scope of Judah; rather, as the Day of the LORD is world-encompassing, so is the LORD’s compassion. Zephaniah 2:3

Seek the LORD

Given that the Day of the LORD is a time of destruction for the entire world, what does the LORD ask for the hearers of this prophecy to do?

  1. Gather together. The “nation not desired” should do this. Those who heed the prophecy should gather together. Zephaniah 2:1
  2. Gather before it is too late. They should gather before the “day of the LORD’s anger come upon you.” Notice that it says it will “come upon you.” It will come upon the whole earth, with no one exempt, except God’s people who heed the warning. Zephaniah 2:2
  3. Seek the LORD. This may be opposed to other gods or other endeavors of life. The LORD is coming to destroy the world; those who fear the LORD must abandon everything to seek Him. When they gather together, they are to seek the LORD. Zephaniah 2:3
  4. Seek righteousness. The people of the LORD may have done righteous acts, but they must continue to seek the righteousness of God. Zephaniah 2:3
  5. Seek meekness. The people of the LORD may be meek, but they must continue to seek humility before the LORD. Zephaniah 2:3
  6. They may be hid. It is interesting that we do not see a lot of certainty in this verse. When we think of the rapture, we assume it to be widespread, where all the Christians of the world will be taken before the Day of the LORD’s wrath. I believe that the truly saved will be gathered unto the LORD in that day. The question remains, though, are you truly saved? This is the call for humility the passage is talking about. Zephaniah 2:3

The way up is down. The Bible tells us that “before honour is humility” (Proverbs 15:33; 18:12). We read further:

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (9) Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. (10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:6-10)

Other passages describing this “hiding” can be found in Isaiah 26:19-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; and Revelation 7:9-17. The resurrection of the just happens during this glorious rapture.

The LORD Their God Shall Visit Them

The rest of the chapter singles out some of the enemies of the LORD’s people. Many of these events likely happened already via the conquering Babylonians.

The Philistines

For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. (5) Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. (6) And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. (7) And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity. (Zephaniah 2:4-7)

The first enemy is the Philistines; their country can be called Philistia, Palestina, or Palestine in the Bible. Here is what see happening:

  1. Four kingdoms are destroyed. Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron are major cities or kingdoms within Philistia. These will be destroyed very suddenly and in broad daylight. Zephaniah 2:4
  2. The LORD is against them. If the LORD is against them, there is no hope. Zephaniah 2:5
  3. Nobody will be left. Zephaniah 2:5
  4. Sheep will roam where cities once were. Zephaniah 2:6
  5. The remnant of Judah will live there. They will possess the land. Zephaniah 2:7

The LORD remembers His people and gives them the lands of their enemies the Philistines. The judgment of the Philistines is also discussed in Isaiah 14:29-32; Jeremiah 47:1-7; Ezekiel 25:15-17; and Amos 1:6-8. Historically, they were powerful enemies of Israel in the days of Shamgar (Judges 3:31), Samson (Judges 13-16), Saul, and David.

Moab and Ammon

I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. (9) Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. (10) This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts. (11) The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen. (Zephaniah 2:8-11)

Moab and Ammon were descended from Lot, Abraham’s nephew (Genesis 19:30-38). Because of this, they were not conquered by Israel during the conquest of Canaan (Deuteronomy 2:9, 19). These nations did not help Israel in the wilderness, however, so they were barred from entering the LORD’s congregation (Deuteronomy 23:3). We learn this about these nations:

  1. They reproached the LORD’s people. Even though the LORD’s people had sinned very grievously, they are still His. Those that defame or harm His people will be judged. Zephaniah 2:8, 10
  2. They will be like Sodom and Gomorrah. Do not lose the irony in this. Lot and his daughters were rescued from these cities. That same day, God poured out His wrath with great fire on these wicked places. If God had not rescued Lot, these two nations would not have existed. These nations are now going to be destroyed just like the cities from which they were saved. Zephaniah 2:9
  3. They will be destroyed forever. Justin Martyr apparently discussed the existence of the Ammonites in his day, in the second century (Dialogue with Trypho CXIX). This prophecy will only be completely fulfilled in the future. Zephaniah 2:9
  4. The remnant of God’s people will possess their land. Zephaniah 2:9
  5. They are punished for their pride. The greatest of sin was their cause of their demise. So it is for anyone. This was the chief sin of Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49), so the comparison with Sodom continues with these people. Zephaniah 2:10
  6. Their destruction will be terrifying. Zephaniah 2:11

In Zephaniah 2:11, we see that God will destroy the so-called gods of the earth. He also will cause many to worship Him all over the world. This is the state of the future world after the Day of the LORD will pass. We see a partial fulfillment today in the local churches throughout the earth, but in the future, everyone will know the Lord.

Moab and Ammon were enemies throughout the history of Israel. King Balak of Moab hired Balaam to be a stumbling block the Lord’s people (Numbers 25). Israel served King Eglon when they sinned, and Ehud delivered them out of his hand (Judges 3:12-30).

Prophecies that include the destruction of Moab include Isaiah 15-16; Jeremiah 48; Ezekiel 25:8-11; and Amos 2:1-3.

Ruthless kings of Ammon include the Nahash, who wanted to put out the right eyes of the men of Jabesh (1 Samuel 11:1-11). King Hamun treated King David servants shamefully, when they had come in peace (2 Samuel 10:1-19).

Prophecies that include the destruction of Ammon include Jeremiah 49:1-6; Ezekiel 21:28-32; and Amos 1:13-15.

Ethiopia and Assyria

Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword. (13) And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness. (14) And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work. (15) This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. (Zephaniah 2:12-15)

Here we see a very short verse about Ethiopia and how the people will be slain (Zephaniah 2:12). This was a powerful nation that once attacked Israel with an army of a million people (2 Chronicles 14:9), which the LORD defeated (2 Chronicles 14:12).

When God will “stretch out his hand against the north,” this is likely a merism, where two extremes are mentioned to signify a whole. Ethiopia is far south of Israel, and Nineveh, Assyria’s principal city, is far north.

  1. Nineveh to be a desolation. And a dry wilderness. This massive and populous city (Jonah 4:11) would be wasted. Flocks and wild animals will dwell there. Zephaniah 2:13
  2. Birds of desolation will dwell there. The cormorant (designated unclean in Leviticus 11:17 and Deuteronomy 14:17) and the bittern were birds that lived in uninhabited, wasted places (Isaiah 14:23; 34:11). Zephaniah 2:14
  3. It is a rejoicing city. This joy contrasts with its coming destruction. Zephaniah 2:15
  4. It is a city that thought itself superior. The height it once knew will come to nothing. Zephaniah 2:15
  5. The city will not have the regard it once had. People will mock the shame of the city. Zephaniah 2:15

Nineveh was once a great city. It also repented at the preaching of Jonah. When Nahum came to preach, we do not see the same response. Nineveh and the Assyrian empire were destroyed without mercy. They were superseded by the Babylonian empire. The Assyrian empire had defeated the northern kingdom of Israel (2 Kings 17:7-41).

We can take away good news and bad news from this study. The only hope there is exists in the Lord, and more specifically, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus received the punishment for sin from God that was meant for us. If we truly believe God’s promise, we also will be “hid in the day of the LORD’S anger” (Zephaniah 2:3). “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

These ancient peoples, such as the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Ethiopians, and Assyrians, have seen judgment. Even Judah has seen the judgment of God via the Chaldeans. There will be a complete fulfillment of this destruction when the Day of the LORD comes.

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