I. THE JOY OF ISRAEL IN JEHOVAH. (Vers. 14 16.)

1. The character in which Israel is summoned to rejoice. Indicated by the names in which she is addressed.

(1) Daughter of Zion. Zion meaning "sunny," hence "arid," and so "thirsty," or thirsting after God.

(2) Israel. Signifying "Prince of God," or one who has power with God, and can prevail.

(3) Daughter of Jerusalem. Equivalent to "City of peace." At all events, those whom God calls to rejoice in the fulness of his salvation are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6), these who seek his face and call upon his Name (Romans 10:12), and those who are possessed of a spirit of peace (Matthew 5:9).

2. The enthusiasm with which she is invited to rejoice. Suggested by the threefold call to sing, shout, and be glad. "Sing, - it is the inarticulate, thrilling, trembling burst of joy; shout, - again the inarticulate, yet louder swell of joy, a trumpet blast; and then too, deep within, be glad, - the calm even joy of the inward soul; exult, the triumph of the soul which cannot contain itself for joy; and this with the whole heart, no corner of it not pervaded with joy" (Pusey).

3. The grounds on which Israel is called to rejoice.

(1) Judgments taken away. The calamities inflicted on her because of her iniquities have been removed (Isaiah 40:2). Meaning, her sins have been pardoned. Believers under the gospel have the same cause for exultation. For them, as for Israel, is no condemnation more (Romans 5:11; Romans 8:1).

(2) Enemies cast out. In the case of Israel this was so far true that henceforth she was no more seriously harassed as a nation after the restoration. Of believers under the gospel it is true that their chief enemy, the prince of this world, has been cast out by Jesus Christ (John 12:31), while sin, which represents his power in them, will ultimately be expelled from their renewed natures (Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 5:27; Titus 2:15).

(3) God returned. As her covenant God, - "the Lord thy God;" rightful King, - "The King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee;" powerful Protector, - the Lord thy God is "a Mighty One who will save thee." In the same characters God abides in the Church and dwells in the heart of the believer.

(4) Prosperity secured. With Jehovah in her midst she shall no more see or experience evil (Psalm 91:10). The same true of the Christian believer, in whose heart God dwells (2 Thessalonians 3:3; 1 Peter 3:13).

4. The signs Israel shows that she does rejoice.

(1) No more fear. "In that day it shall be raid to Jerusalem, Fear thou not." So Christ says to his little flock, "Fear not!" (Luke 12:32; John 6:20).

(2) No more despondency. "O Zion, let not thine hands be slack." Drooping hands are the sign of a fainting heart. Believers are exhorted to faint not (Luke 18:1; 2 Corinthians 4:16).

(3) No more indolence. Slack hands are idle hands; and no greater enemy to activity in Churches or individuals exists than lack of joy, as nothing stimulates to religious work like the experience of religious joy.

II. THE JOY OF JEHOVAH IN ISRAEL. (Ver. 17.)

1. The character of this joy. The joy:

(1) Of a conqueror over the prey he has captured (ver. 8); Israel in her restoration being a trophy of his prowess.

(2) Of an artificer in the work of his hands (ver. 11); Israel in her purified condition being a production of his grace.

(3) Of an owner in the value of his possession (ver. 10); Jehovah speaking of Israel as "his dispersed."

(4) Of a lover in the object of his affection, as e.g. of a bridegroom in his bride (Isaiah 62:5).

2. The tenderness of this joy. It was a joy springing out of love to Israel, the joy of one who seeks the happiness of another, rather than of one who glories in his own felicity. In God's joy over Israel is no element of selfishness; it is all sympathy and affection.

3. The intensity of this joy. Marked by the gradation of clauses. Beginning with an inward feeling of delight, it swells in volume and deepens in tenderness till it becomes too great for utterance, and the subject of it is "silent in his love," after which it keeps on rising like a tide, till at length it overflows the soul's banks and breaks forth into song.

4. The spontaneity of this joy. It is not meant that Jehovah's joy in Israel is occasioned or evoked by Israel's joy in Jehovah, but rather that Jehovah's joy in Israel should prompt and sustain Israel's joy in Jehovah, As "we love him because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19), so can we only "joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:11) when we realize that he for Christ's sake is well pleased with us. - T.W.

Here is a call to the regenerated inhabitants of Jerusalem to exult in the mercy of God, who has wrought their deliverance.

I. THE JOY OF THE REGENERATED MAN.

1. The joy of gratitude for the deliverance from evil.

2. The joy of conscious security.

II. THE JOY OF THE REGENERATING GOD. The joy of infinite benevolence. In this joy the redeemed will participate.

(Homilist.)

These words form the basis of an exhortation to joy, and are given as the reason why the Church should rejoice for her salvation, accomplished by her Saviour.

I. THE GREAT DELIVERANCE OF THE CHURCH.

1. The deliverer is God in Christ.

2. Her captivity, lying under judgment.

3. Imprisoned by her enemies.

4. The removal of her judgment by Christ.

5. And victory obtained over her foes.

II. HER BLESSED STATE AFTER DELIVERANCE.

1. God is in the midst of the Church.

2. As a mighty king to protect her.

3. As a wise prince to govern her.

4. As the father of all His people, to provide for all their wants.Hence we naturally suppose that, being thus blessed, they will gather round Him, depend upon Him, fight for Him, and live and die with Him.

III. HER PROMISED PROSPECTS. "Not see evil any more."

1. Sin shall not destroy her.

2. Satan shall not prevail against her.

3. The world shall not ruin her.

4. The law cannot condemn her.

IV. HER APPOINTED PROCEEDINGS. "Let not thine hands be slack."

1. We are commanded not to fear, either Satan, the world, sin, the law, the anger of God, or wrath to come.

2. We are to be courageous. Inferences. See what encouragement —

(1)For earnestness in prayer.

(2)Diligence in reading.

(3)Constancy in hearing.

(4)Faithfulness in reproving.

(5)Boldness in standing out for Christ, and the truth of His Gospel.

(T. B. Baker.)

ZephaniahCush, Jerusalem, Nineveh, ZionAfraid, Aside, Cast, Cleared, Disaster, Enemies, Enemy, Evil, Faced, Fear, Harm, Haters, Judging, Judgments, Midst, Seest, Thrown1. A sharp reproof of Jerusalem for various sins.
8. An exhortation to wait for the restoration of Israel,
14. and to rejoice for their salvation by God.

Zephaniah 3:8-20

     9220   day of the LORD

Zephaniah 3:12-17

     7145   remnant

Zephaniah 3:14-16

     7270   Zion, as a place

Zephaniah 3:14-17

     7241   Jerusalem, significance

Zion's Joy and God's
'Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.... 17. He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.'--ZEPHANIAH iii. 14, 17. What a wonderful rush of exuberant gladness there is in these words! The swift, short clauses, the triple invocation in the former verse, the triple promise in the latter, the heaped together synonyms, all help the impression. The very words seem to dance with joy. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Sermon for the Time Present
I am going to begin with the last verse of the text, and work my way upwards. The first; head is, a trying day for God's people. They are sorrowful because a cloud is upon their solemn assembly, and the reproach thereof is a burden. Secondly, we will note a glorious ground of consolation. We read in the seventeenth verse, "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." And, thirdly, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 33: 1887

The Song of his Joy
"He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing."--Zeph. iii. 17. T. P. tr., Emma Frances Bevan, 1899 Wondrous joy, Thy joy, Lord Jesus, Deep, eternal, pure, and bright-- Thou alone the Man of Sorrows, Thus couldst tell of joy aright. Lord, we know that joy, that gladness, Which in fulness Thou hast given-- Sharing all that countless treasure, We on earth with Thee in Heaven. ... Even as He went before us Through the wilderness below. …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen and Others (Second Series)

A vision of the King.
ONE of the most blessed occupations for the believer is the prayerful searching of God's holy Word to discover there new glories and fresh beauties of Him, who is altogether lovely. Shall we ever find out all which the written Word reveals of Himself and His worthiness? This wonderful theme can never be exhausted. The heart which is devoted to Him and longs through the presence and indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be closer to the Lord, to hear and know more of Himself, will always find something …
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

The Mystery
Of the Woman dwelling in the Wilderness. The woman delivered of a child, when the dragon was overcome, from thenceforth dwelt in the wilderness, by which is figured the state of the Church, liberated from Pagan tyranny, to the time of the seventh trumpet, and the second Advent of Christ, by the type, not of a latent, invisible, but, as it were, an intermediate condition, like that of the lsraelitish Church journeying in the wilderness, from its departure from Egypt, to its entrance into the land …
Joseph Mede—A Key to the Apocalypse

The Angel's Message and Song
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, and the glory of the LORD shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD . And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Love
The rule of obedience being the moral law, comprehended in the Ten Commandments, the next question is: What is the sum of the Ten Commandments? The sum of the Ten Commandments is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind, and our neighbour as ourselves. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.' Deut 6: 5. The duty called for is love, yea, the strength of love, with all …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

John Bunyan on the Terms of Communion and Fellowship of Christians at the Table of the Lord;
COMPRISING I. HIS CONFESSION OF FAITH, AND REASON OF HIS PRACTICE; II. DIFFERENCES ABOUT WATER BAPTISM NO BAR TO COMMUNION; AND III. PEACEABLE PRINCIPLES AND TRUE[1] ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Reader, these are extraordinary productions that will well repay an attentive perusal. It is the confession of faith of a Christian who had suffered nearly twelve years' imprisonment, under persecution for conscience sake. Shut up with his Bible, you have here the result of a prayerful study of those holy …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

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