‏ Zephaniah 2

* An exhortation to repentance. (1-3) Judgments upon other

nations. (4-15)

1-3 The prophet calls to national repentance, as the only way

to prevent national ruin. A nation not desiring, that has not

desires toward God, is not desirous of his favour and grace, has

no mind to repent and reform. Or, not desirable, not having any

thing to recommend them to God; to whom God might justly say,

Depart from me; but he says, Gather together to me that you may

seek my face. We know what God's decree will bring against

impenitent sinners, therefore it highly concerns all to repent

in the accepted time. How careful should we all be to seek peace

with God, before the Holy Spirit withdraws from us, or ceases to

strive with us; before the day of grace is over, or the day of

life; before our everlasting state is determined! Let the poor,

despised, and afflicted, seek the Lord, and seek to understand

and keep his commandments better, that they may be more humbled

for their sins. The chief hope of deliverance from national

judgments rests upon prayer. 4-15 Those are really in a woful condition who have the word of

the Lord against them, for no word of his shall fall to the

ground. God will restore his people to their rights, though long

kept from them. It has been the common lot of God's people, in

all ages, to be reproached and reviled. God shall be worshipped,

not only by all Israel, and the strangers who join them, but by

the heathen. Remote nations must be reckoned with for the wrongs

done to God's people. The sufferings of the insolent and haughty

in prosperity, are unpitied and unlamented. But all the

desolations of flourishing nations will make way for the

overturning Satan's kingdom. Let us improve our advantages, and

expect the performance of every promise, praying that our

Father's name may be hallowed every where, over all the earth.