14:8-13; 1 Ki. Zephaniah 3:16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: [and to] Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. Biblical Commentary Zephaniah 3:14-20 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: The first verse of this book tells us that “the word of Yahweh… came to Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah” (1:1). (c) How have you benefited from theocratic education and training? And to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack,” through faint-heartedness (see Hebrews 12:12), but work with all thy might; be ready to do or bear anything; since Christ worketh with, in, by thee, and “in due time we shall reap, if we faint not” Galatians 6:9. The hand, for example, is mentioned hundreds of times. Zephaniah 3 /. Being a spiritual work, it has special regard to the interests of the souls of men, and embraces every duty calculated to promote the purity and happiness, the present and eternal salvation, of intelligent beings. Answer: We often see signs and banners at sporting events that say "John 3:16." God indeed represents himself here as a husband, who burns with the greatest love towards his wife; and this does not seem, as we have said, to be suitable to his glory; but whatever tends to this end—to convince us of God’s ineffable love towards us, so that we may rest in it, and being weaned as it were from the world, may seek this one thing only, that he may confer on us his favor—whatever tends to this, doubtless illustrates the glory of God, and derogates nothing from his nature. Hence in Scripture the hands often signify the works of men. The proper meaning of חרש, charesh, is to be silent, but it means here to be at rest. Wrongly so, John 3:16 is often written as graffiti on highway overpasses. Thus G. von Rad remarks that “Zephaniah ... is chiefly con… The work to be performed is spiritual in its nature. Fear thou not - Thou shalt have no more captivities nor national afflictions. Rather, we should do our part. It may then appear by no means congruous, that God should be described by us as a husband who burns with love to his wife: but we hence more fully learn, as I have already said, how great is God’s favor towards us, who thus humbles himself for our sake, and in a manner transforms himself, while he puts on the character of another. Zephaniah 3:17(HCSB) Verse Thoughts God is more than the Creator, He is the LORD God Who is in the midst of us; loving us; caring for us; protecting us; defending us; indwelling us and Who died so that we might have life and have it in superabundance. The miserable Jews had an evidence, in figures and shadows, of that future favor which was afterwards manifested by the gospel. Zephaniah 3 – The LORD Rejoices Over the Restoration of His People A. (b) What sure hope is held out at Isaiah 41:10, 13? Some "entertainers" have thrown in a twist and replaced "John" with "something else 3:16." Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, To the oppressing city! Like Nehemiah, how can elders strengthen the hands of those in the congregation? He repeats what he had said, but more fully expresses what might have appeared obscure on account of its brevity. But the largest army assembled was that of Zerah the Ethiopian. 1 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 23:16, ftn. Zephaniah is best remembered for his presentation of God as the sovereign judge of all (1:2-3, 7, 14-18; 3:8). It troubled a martyr at the stake, that he should then go to a place where he should ever be receiving wages, and do no more work. It could even cause you to lose your joy. No! All Scripture is God-Breathed 10 But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. As I have already said, this feeling is indeed ascribed to God with no strict correctness; for we know that he can instantly accomplish whatever it pleases him: but he assumes the character of men; for except he thus speaks familiarly with us, he cannot fully show how much he loves us. To whom? The verse contains four lines: there is an evident correspondence of meaning in the second and the last line; and so there is between the first and the third according to the preceding version, but not otherwise. THE WATCHTOWER—STUDY EDITION September 2016, The Watchtower—Study Edition  |  September 2016, Defending the Good News Before High Officials. (a) What kinds of problems do many face today, and with what result? He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” First, in 2:13 the prophet predicted the fall of Nineveh, an event which occurred in 612 BC. 1, 2. either by the Prophets, or by common report: it makes no great difference, whether there would be teachers to announce their state joyful and prosperous, or whether all men would, by common consent, applaud God’s favor, when he had removed from his people all wars, troubles, and fears, so as to make them live in quietness. Fear thou not] Why shouldest thou while the King of Israel is in the midst of thee? Since, then, God gave them so small an evidence of his love, how could it be otherwise but that they must have fainted, when driven far away from their land? 3. 10, 11. What a wonderful rush of exuberant gladness there is in these words! THE WATCHTOWER—STUDY EDITION September 2016, Audio download options In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not - For “perfect love casteth out fear” John 4:18; from where he saith, “Fear not, little flock; it is your Father‘s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” Luke 12:32. Who then and what should the Church or the faithful soul fear, since “mightier is He that is in her, than he that is in the world? Moses kept his hands and the rod of the true God lifted up toward heaven. Question: "What does it mean that God will rejoice over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)?" 18:39; 1 Cor. My help comes from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth!" This is the voice of thousands whose state demands assistance. A heathen poet says,—, Not well do agree, nor dwell on the same throne, (Ps. (Ps. Zephaniah 3:17. 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