Zephaniah 2
SIBZephaniah 2:1-3
O nation, careless about, and odious to, God, search yourselves diligently, and assemble together in solemn fasting, before the appointed day of his vengeance overtake you, which shall unavoidably hurl you out of your land and miserably destroy you. Ye poor afflicted, and humble souls, who have obeyed his laws, and observed his ordinances, implore his favour, and supplicate increase of grace and holiness:—thus, it may be, ye shall not perish with your wicked countrymen
Zephaniah 2:4-7
The Philistines’ strong cities shall be utterly destroyed, and the inhabitants murdered by the Chaldeans, Greeks, and others; and at last the Jewish Maccabees shall reduce the whole country, and dwell therein
Zephaniah 2:8-11
For their insolent behaviour towards the Israelites, the country of the Moabites and Ammonites shall be made an utter and lasting desolation, and at last become the property of the Jews: and in the apostolic and millennial periods, idolatry shall be banished from it, and a glorious gospel church established there, as in other Heathen countries
Zephaniah 2:12-15
The Ethiopians on the south, and Assyrians on the north-east, shall also be murdered by the Chaldeans and other instruments of my vengeance. And the now famous, fearless, and haughty, city of Nineveh, shall be reduced to an heap of ruins, to the astonishment and joy of the nations which they have oppressed
REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. II.—Sin renders the highest professors useless and odious before God. And there is great need of self-examination, and solemn humiliation and prayer, when his judgments hang over our head. How terrible are the corrections of God’s own people! But little reason have their enemies to rejoice thereat, for their calamities will issue in the ruin of their injurers. Pride, insolence, and carnal mirth, must at last give place to debasement, anguish, death, and damnation! Yea, sinners are often fearfully recompensed in this world, and their places of abode marked with wrath. What then must be their eternal misery in hell!