Zephaniah

Recompense former remissness with future diligence. 15. How uncomely and sordid a slothful temper of soul is; (Zephaniah 1:12) I will punish the men who are settled on their lees; Hebrew Hakkophim, Coagulatos, curdled on their lees. Settling on the lees, is an emblem of a dull,…

Nor do they think in their hearts that it shall be with them that believe according as God has promised. They say in their hearts, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil (Zephaniah 1:12), namely, as he has either promised or threatened. Men think that there are still…

As the brazen serpent here — might not Hezekiah have prohibited the burning of incense to it, but retained the thing itself, and have pleaded, though it was an idol, yet it is none now, as our formalists use to plead for these old popish ceremonies? No, for God will cut off the…

There are many threatenings and reproofs for this sin, both in the Old Testament and the New. Yes, the Lord himself threatens to take the work into [illegible] own hand, and to do it himself, if none else would (Zephaniah 1:4): I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place,…

They found guilt staring them in the face, and were willing to comfort themselves with the embraces of this doctrine, wherein they might find a security and ease to their prostituted consciences and unbounded liberty in the ways of sin. Those in Zephaniah were first settled upon…

The Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. And in (Zephaniah 1:7), the day of the Lord is at hand, the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, he has bid his guests. And then it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord's sacrifice, that I will punis…

See 2 Kings 10:19. VIII. All of these were called by the special name Chemarim: Zeph. 1:4, "I will cut off the name of the Chemarim," that is, the Chemarim themselves, the priests of Baal, of whom he had just made mention. The same word is used in 2 Reg. 23:5 and Hos. 10:5 in th…

Nor does it matter in the least whether you call him a king or a lord. He is also called Moloch (Amos 5:26); and Milcham, with the ending and sense of the word slightly altered (1 Kings 11:33); and also Malcham (Zephaniah 1:5). The LXX renders Leviticus 18 as Archon, which is a…

Among these, zeal is an earnest affection of the mind, whereby we do follow the good, or flee the evil, so much as we are vehemently grieved with that which hinders it (2 Corinthians 7:11; Matthew 3:7; 1 Kings 19:10; Acts 18:25; Numbers 25:13). Here is forbidden the contrary, as…

But to affect their hearts the more, with reverence of him, his glory, or power, or mercy, or justice, which were most sensible in those things (1 Samuel 20:3; Matthew 5:34; 1 Corinthians 15:31). To which, if the names of Idols be added, as it takes away this use, so it is abomi…

They shall curse their king.] By king, some understand God. And Zephaniah takes Malchom in this sense (Zephaniah 1:5), that is to say, their king. But I here put a distinction between king and God, for the wicked are first blinded with the false trust which they put in idols, an…

Therefore as often as the Scripture makes mention of the nearness of the Lord, it bids the godly rejoice and be glad: and while it respects the reprobate, it does nothing else but smite with terror and fear. That day says Zephaniah, shall be a day of wrath, a day of tribulation,…

And it may be here observed, that that Interpreter throughout the Epistle renders [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] by [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], Rab Comara; though that word be always used in an ill sense in the Old Testament. Three times it occurs therein, 1 Kings 23:5. where we r…

The towering confused pride of the King of Babylon, is presented to us in such a heap of words (Isaiah 14:13-14) — hear the pure language of pride from that king's heart: You have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, I wil…

Well, sith God has set his name therein, we must beware how we make it an instrument of sinne. If it be said, to weare long haire is our English fashion: I answer, It is not our auncient English fashion, but indeede it is a forraine tricke, and therefore as unlawful as forraine…

Now thus to join any other thing with God, as the object of our worship, is infinitely to debase and disparage him; since it intimates, that something besides God is excellent, and perfect as himself. And therefore (Zephaniah 1:5) God severely threatens to cut off, and to destro…

So (Deuteronomy 29:20), "The Lord will not spare him, but the anger of the Lord, and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven." See what dreadful effects…

This was the practice of David in the day of his trouble (Psalms 77:6): I commune with my own heart, and my spirit made diligent search. It has been a day of God's wrath in London, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasting and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess,…

The Church increases two wayes, and by two divers means extensively, in breadth and numbers, and intensively, in vigour and power; peace and prosperity cause the first, sufferings and adversity the last; and well may a day of persecution be called a winnowing day, for then were…

A gracious heart says, let the Lord be the Lord, and closes with all the attributes of God, and with all the influences of omnipotency, wisdom, goodness, and justice on men, and of love, mercy, grace, bounty, forbearance to the saints, and to their own soul; this is to sing merc…

And this is as clear in Scripture as the other. It is the Lord that takes away the Fishes of the Sea, Hosea 4:3. Zephaniah 1:3. It is he that curseth our blessings, Malachi 2:2. This God does as a punishment for sin, and the abuse of mercies: And therefore in such cases, we ough…

Turn in upon your self (O my Soul) and consider, Hast you not been guilty of this crying sin? Have I not (when a Servant) over-reached and defrauded others, and filled my Master's House with Violence and Deceit? and so brought myself under that dreadful threatning, Zephaniah 1:9…

He that planted the ear shall not he hear; he that formed the eye shall not he see? Indeed the Lord professes to take notice of these men's ways in an especial manner, and to make privy search after them (Zephaniah 1:12). He will search Jerusalem with candles and visit such as s…

And therefore in all the threatenings they read and hear, though such as express the direful displeasure of the Lord, yet they take off the edge of all; they imagine it is nothing but a kind of policy in men who preach these threatenings, that so they might awe others by a prude…

2. THESIS. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament in many places set forth and command to ask for, follow after, walk in that one good way, to strive and contend earnestly for that one faith, to hold fast the truth, to serve God only; and on the contrary reproves, prohibits…

So in ver. 6. It watcheth for you; that is, you are asleep, and you think that Judgement is slumbering too, whereas it's waiting ready to take hold on you. Zephaniah speaks of the same day of trouble, with this in the Text, and stupendous Security is mentioned as a fore-running…

Have not Gods faithful Messengers lifted up their voice as a trumpet, and cryed to them to repent? but many of these Tools in the Ministry have been spent and worn out upon rocky hearts. Hath not God lighted strange Comets in the Heavens, as so many Preachers to call men to Repe…

Do but secure yourselves from mans eye, and as for Gods taking notice of sin, you need not trouble yourselves, the Lord sees you not, he has forsaken the earth. Zephaniah 1.12. They say the Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil.

Ans. He may not. For God has threatened to visit all such, as are clothed with strange apparel (Zephaniah 1:9). And Paul taxes it as a great disorder in the Church of Corinth, and even against nature, that men went in long hair, and women went uncovered (1 Corinthians 11:13-14).

Those Cities were utterly destroyed, and accordingly is the destruction of Sodom put for an utter overthrow. See (Isaiah 13:19; Zephaniah 2:9; Jeremiah 48:18; Jeremiah 50:40; 2 Peter 2:6). From there, that in judgements wicked men may be brought to an utter destruction.

For: "Jehovah is the true God, the living God, and the everlasting King: at His fury the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to endure His indignation. Thus," He says, "you shall say to them: The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish f…

The great hypocrisy of many, who taking some delight in the thing outwardly, have no true feeling wrought by it, when they hear (Ezekiel 33:31-32). The brawny and fat heart, which being never a whit moved, never or to small purpose repeats, examines, applies, or practises (Ezeki…

A meek and quiet spirit, is before God, a thing much set by. Thirdly, God has made excellent promises to them that are of a meek and humble spirit, that he will guide them in judgment, and teach them his ways (Psalm 25:9), that they shall be hid in the day of the Lord's wrath (Z…

Next, Let us consider what this case does suppose, and include in it, and we shall find That it supposeth the people of God to have a foresight of troubles and distresses approaching and drawing near to them: I confess 'tis not always so, for many of our afflictions, as well as…

Your prayers are to be suitable to your conditions: sometimes we are called to praise, sometimes to humiliation. In the way of his Judgements you are to wait for him, Isaiah 26:8 to prepare to meet him, Zeph. 2. 1, 2. Amos 4:12 Now your business is, to turn away his anger which…

The Churches' mercies and deliverance, have their appointed season: in the midst of the years it shall be accomplished. As there is a decree bringing forth the wicked's destruction (Zephaniah 2:2), so there is a decree goes forth in its appointed season for the Churches' deliver…

If pride, lust, oppression abound, God will hear the cry, and will quench the fire of sin with a shower of blood. Objection. 2. Zephaniah 2. 1. I will search Jerusalem with candles. Implying, that something is hid out of his reach.

If nature teaches to prepare for temporal life, much rather Grace should provoke to greater care, soul food in time to gather. (Jeremiah 8:7; Matthew 16:26) Days of affliction, and distress are hastening on apace, If now I live in carelessness; how sad will be my case! (Zephania…

There is a double time: a time of preparing and trying before this unchangeable decree comes forth. (Zephaniah 2:1-2): Gather yourselves together, indeed gather together, O nation not desired, before the decree comes forth, before the day passes, as the chaff, before the fierce…

In the day of the Lord's anger, the meek of the earth are most likely to be secured. It may be you shall be hidden, so runs the promise (Zephaniah 2:3). If any be, you shall — you stand fairest for special protections.

1. That we must seek meekness. This command we have (Zephaniah 2:3), and (which is especially observable) it is directed to the meek of the earth: seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth: — seek meekness. Though they were meek, and were pronounced so by him that searches the he…

Must we not needs say, this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? The several false religions of the heathen with their various superstitions and idolatries, though they gave very little opposition one to another, but agreed together well enough, yet having no f…

He speaks doubtfully. (Zephaniah 2:3) It may be you shall be hid in the day of the Lord's fierce anger. (Amos 5:15) Hate the evil, and love the good; it may be the Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

It is the pride of the oppressor which God takes notice of, his puffing, scoffing and mocking at the hopes of God's despised ones; he never dreams of any checks from any, but despises and contemns all. And partly, because of the insulting over their misery and low estate (Zephan…

God's justice is peremptory in punishing, and therefore they must be as peremptory in abandoning their lusts; they cannot avoid the justice of the Lord, and therefore they must avoid their sins. Whatever deluded hope they had formerly of God's connivance, now they see themselves…

God sometimes threatens sinners, and in those threatenings, there is a reserve, in case of their repentance: and then, when the sinner repents, God is said to repent, namely, when he revokes the threatening, and does not put it in execution, hence that (Jeremiah 18:8). The meani…

Use 2. Let me beseech all Christians to labor to be eminent in this excellent grace of meekness. Zephaniah 2:3: Seek meekness. Seeking implies we have lost it; therefore we must make an earnest search to find it.

Truly we are the remnant of Joseph; we are (as Joseph was) separated from our brethren, who can tell but that the Lord may be gracious to us? Zeph. 2:3. Seek you the Lord, all the meek of the earth; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be you shall be hid in the day of the…

It is the breakneck of souls. Zephaniah 2:9, 10. Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, etc. this shall they have for their pride. The Doves (says Pliny) take a pride in their feathers, and in their flying high, at last they fly so high that they are a prey to the Hawk.

What will you do then? And therefore as Zephaniah 2:3, having foretold of the evil day, cries to his hearers, Seek meekness you meek of the earth; seek meekness, so say I to you: for you will find all little enough. Come down from your throne and be the footstool and threshold o…

God will betroth you to himself in the dearest love (Hosea 2:19): I will betroth you to me forever in loving-kindness and mercies. (Zephaniah 3:17) The Lord your God will rejoice over you with joy, he will rest in his love. If you love God, he will interest you in all his riches…

4. If God be our God, he will entirely love us: Propriety is the ground of love: God may give men kingdoms, and not love them; but he cannot be our God and not love us: He calls his covenanted saints Jediduth Naphshi, the dearly beloved of his soul (Jeremiah 12:7). He rejoices o…

He is jealous for his spouse, therefore will be avenged on them who go to wrong her (Isaiah 42:13). The Lord shall stir up jealousy like a man of war; he shall roar, he shall prevail against his enemies. What is done to the saints, God takes as done to himself (2 Kings 19:22), a…

4. He is the best Father because most loving; (1 John 4:16) God is love. He who causes bowels of affection in others, must needs have more bowels himself; quod efficit tale: The affections in parents are but marble and adamant in comparison of God's love to his children, he give…

Fear and shame are banished, the veil of modesty is laid aside. Zephaniah 3:5: The unjust knows no shame. Judas knew Christ was the Messiah, he was convinced of it by an oracle from heaven, and by the miracles he wrought, and yet he impudently goes on in his treason; in fact, wh…

He engraves them upon the palms of his hands, that they may be never out of his eye (Isaiah 49:16). He rejoices over them with joy, and rests in his love (Zephaniah 3:17). It is no ordinary affection that God bears to the righteous; the sun shining upon a burning glass, sets on…

The power of godliness never thrived better than in affliction, and never ran lower than in times of greatest prosperity. When we are left a poor and afflicted people, then we learn to trust in the name of the Lord (Zephaniah 3:12). What say you, sirs?

(Psalm 130:8) He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. (Zephaniah 3:12, 13) I will also leave in the midst of them an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, not speak lies, neither shall a dece…

He brings us into straits, that he may see the exercise of our faith. Zephaniah 3:12: I will leave in the midst of you an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. When we are most desolate, we have most need of this exercise, and have the fittest…

Gods love to his Church is vehement, like the Coals of Juniper, or the Sun-beams contracted in a burning Glass, which are more intense and ardent; and because he loves Sion, therefore he is in the midst of it, to defend and bless it. Zeph. 3. 17. The Lord thy God in the midst of…

When they are come to times of affliction they shall be ashamed of their own Counsels. Times of affliction makes men ashamed of what they would not be ashamed of before (Jeremiah 2:26; Zephaniah 3:11). I remember a notable expression that Sir Walter Raleigh has in his Story: Whe…

Yes, although means be wanting, we give glory to God (Romans 4:10; 2 Kings 6:16). From hence cometh it, that we fear not in greatest dangers (2 Kings 6:16; Psalm 3:7; Psalm 27:3); that in the time of affliction, we are patient (Proverbs 20:22; Hebrews 10:33); without all murmuri…

And who is that good shepherd that laid down his life for the sheep, and held his tongue and quarreled not with those that struck him — will he quarrel with a poor sinner coming to him and pleading for the benefit of satisfaction? No certainly; but as the word is (Zephaniah 3:17…

Verse 25: Whom the Lord of Hosts shall bless, saying, blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hand. Zephaniah 3:10: From beyond the river of Ethiopia, my suppliants, even the daughters of my dispersed shall come. 4. Their names are particularly enrolled in the Lam…

All that Christ did for our salvation did highly content and please the Father; he is satisfied with him, he can make us lovely in his sight (Ephesians 1:6): to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved. And will now joy in his people (…

For he being the immediate Operator of all Divine Works that outwardly are of God, and they being in themselves all Holy be they of what kind soever, He is called the Holy Spirit. Yea he is so called to attest and witness that all his Works, all the Works of God, are Holy, altho…

And thus has God himself been pleased to express his own delight, or the joy which he takes in his people, even by the name of rest, namely that of love. He will rejoice over you with joy, he will rest in his love (Zephaniah 3:17-18). Therefore delight has not been unfitly defin…

Yea, he is said to visit us by his Providence when he corrects, Hosea 9:7 and when he saves and delivers, Psalm 106:4 These visitations of God preserve our spirits, Job. 10:12 And it is a wonderful condescension in the great God to visit us so oten, Job 7:18 every morning, and e…

For it consists in the satisfaction and complacency that he took in his works, as effects of his goodness, power and wisdom, disposed in the order, and to the ends mentioned. Hence as it is said, that upon the finishing of them, he looked on every thing that he had made, and beh…

Promises of the diffusion of the knowledge of God. Of unity in his worship, Jeremiah 31:34; Zephaniah 3:9; Zechariah 14:9 fulfilled. Jews' exception; answered.

The towering confused pride of the King of Babylon, is presented to us in such a heap of words (Isaiah 14:13-14) — hear the pure language of pride from that king's heart: You have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, I wil…

10:19, 20. We come about a business wherewith he is well pleased; such as he delights in the doing of, as he expresss himself, Zephaniah 3:17. The Lord your God in the midst of you, is mighty; he will save, he will rejoyce over you with joy.

Now this expression may denote either the people in general, who had been poor and afflicted; and so the poor of his people, is as much as his poor people: or some in particular, that partly upon the account of their low outward condition, partly on the account of their lowlines…

How many extortioners have there been in London, who have enriched themselves by impoverishing of others; who panting after the dust of the earth, on the head of the poor, have lent money to them, not for their help, but to catch them at an advantage, that so without mercy they…

London, trust no more in arms of flesh, but trust in God alone: it is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in men; it is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in princes (Psalm 118:8-9). God is knocking your fingers off from all things here below, hi…

It is foretold, that it will be poured out as a spirit of grace and supplication, Zechariah 12:10. See also Zephaniah 3:9, "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent." When it is said, "The…

"The Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended." And so Zephaniah 3:15. "The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, and hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more."

3. The Lord puts forth sovereignty on Jeroboam's arm to dry it up, on Mephibosheth's feet, upon the man's eye-holes (John 9) that they should be empty of eyes, on Judas his bowels, on Job's body smitten with boils, his outgoings of sovereignty appear on the Fig-tree which he cur…

The magistrates shall call the inhabitants of Jerusalem their strength; and the like elsewhere. So again, the Church has been under the abasement of reproaches, but God has promised a vindication in the latter days, that he will establish Zion a praise throughout the earth, set…

The disobedient must be brought up to the wisdom of the just, not that brought down to them (Luke 1:17). When the language is pure the soldier is one (Zephaniah 3:9). There is little hope of agreement till you set up pure doctrine, unmixed discipline.

Surely this is one of the abominations committed among us, for which we should be found among those that sigh and cry (Ezekiel 9:4), one of those instances of the pride of sinners for which our souls should weep in secret (Jeremiah 13:17). This is that reproach of the solemn ass…

Does God look at any man the worse for want of these things? God is no respecter of persons; if he looks at any with high esteem, he looks at the poor, and humble, and contrite: God delights to look down into the world upon those that are poor; he reserves a poor people that sha…

Paul found his spirit wrought upon, and refreshed, so that the Text says, when Timotheus was come, Paul was pressed in spirit. Fifthly, it is good being with Gods servants, though it be in suffering affliction, because God takes so much delight in them; if God takes delight in b…

Fifthly, if there be so much good to be had in this communion, labor to walk so one with another, that when any come to join with you, they may finde that made good which they heard of: though they do suffer affliction to come and join with you, yet when they are come in, they m…

Sixthly, take this as a special note, if you make those reproaches that Christ suffers in his cause, his truth, his people, yours; then he makes yours his: how does your hearts stand affected to the reproaches Christ suffers in others? Zeph. 3. 17, 18. God promises much mercy, t…

1. The love of God is so. Zephaniah 3:17, The Lord your God in the midst of you is mighty: he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy, he will rest in his love, he will joy over you with singing. Both these things are here assigned unto God in his love; rest and delight.

The souls of the saints are the garden of Jesus Christ, the good ground (Hebrews 6:7-8). A garden for delight: he rejoices in them, his delights are with the sons of men (Proverbs 8:31), and he rejoices over them (Zephaniah 3:17). And a garden for fruit, yea pleasant fruit.

John was but the friend of the bridegroom, that stood and heard his voice, when he was taking his bride unto himself, and he rejoiced greatly (John 3:29). How much more then must be the joy and gladness of the bridegroom himself, even that which is expressed (Zephaniah 3:14), "H…

Every day while we live is his wedding day. Zephaniah 3:17: The Lord your God in your midst is mighty; he will save; he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over you with singing — a full description of delight in all its parts. The thoughts of c…

It is the character of the saints, This is the generation of them that seek you (Psalm 24:6), a people much in calling upon God. And the Prophet describes them by the work of prayer (Zephaniah 3:10): My supplicants. And (Zechariah 12:10): I will pour upon them the Spirit of Grac…

Athanasius was falsely Accused by the Arrians of Adultery, Basil of Heresie. 'Tis usual for the World to misrepresent the People of God; therefore let us be sparing in our Censures: God spares us, and shall not we be sparing towards others? Here is Comfort to the Children of God…

We storm if others but speak of us half of what we speak of ourselves to God; therefore all had need look to it to be kept from a way of lying. And for gross lying, how far are we from being willing that should be accomplished which the Lord speaks of (Zephaniah 3:13): The remna…

He was forced to thrust forth his heart by a practical decree, and bring it by force into God's presence. Indeed some men are grown shameless, having a depraved judgment, and corrupted all their doings (Zephaniah 3:7); such have outgrown the common principles of natural honesty;…

Good Paul was in danger (2 Corinthians 1:9): "We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God, which raises the dead." But then in adversity, when kept bare and low, then is a time to show trust; however hard our condition be, grounds…

Chaff and corn is threshed in the same [reconstructed: floor], but the corn is grinded and baked. But this is the best way we can take to be hid in the common calamity, though there be not an absolute certainty: for the comfort is but proposed with a possibility; Zephaniah 3:2,…

He gives them warning before he strikes; he woos and solicits by many kind messages to return to their duty, and speaks to them sometimes in the rough, sometimes in the still voice. He brings his judgment to light every morning, as the prophet speaks (Zephaniah 3:5); he does so…

2. Let us recommend the case to God. (Zephaniah 3:9) That they may call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent. (Romans 15:6-7) That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God.

And we may fear as much from our brothers, our mutual bickerings, as from enemies; when God promises restoration, he promises unity. (Zephaniah 3:9) For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent. (…

Now the husbandman knows that time must be allowed to trees planted, for their fructifying; and he is wont to think, that though such a tree does not this year answer his expectation, but goes over, and bears nothing; yet it is possible it may make amends for it the next year, a…

Let your heart be ever in your eye; keep it in with the curb-bit of mortification. Keep your heart serious; take heed of a light heart (Zephaniah 3:11): his prophets are light. The heart of the wicked is vain, and in this sense is said to be little worth (Proverbs 10:20).