Zep 3:15-19 | JFB | STEP | 15. The cause for joy: "The Lord hath taken away thy judgments," namely, those sent by Him upon thee. After the taking away of sin ( ) follows the taking away of trouble. When the cause is removed, the effect will cease. Happiness follows in the wake of holiness. the Lord is in the midst of thee-- Though He seemed to desert thee for a time, He is now present as thy safeguard ( ). not see evil any more-- Thou shalt not experience it ( ; ).

‏ Zephaniah 3:15-19

15. The cause for joy: "The Lord hath taken away thy judgments," namely, those sent by Him upon thee. After the taking away of sin (Zep 3:13) follows the taking away of trouble. When the cause is removed, the effect will cease. Happiness follows in the wake of holiness.

the Lord is in the midst of thee--Though He seemed to desert thee for a time, He is now present as thy safeguard (Zep 3:17).

not see evil any more--Thou shalt not experience it (Jr 5:12; 44:17).

16. Let not thine hands be slack--(He 12:12). Do not faint in the work of the Lord.

17. he will rest in his love--content with it as His supreme delight (compare Lu 15:7, 10) [Calvin], (Is 62:5; 65:19). Or, He shall be silent, namely as to thy faults, not imputing them to thee [Maurer] (Psa 32:2; Eze 33:16). I prefer explaining it of that calm silent joy in the possession of the object of one's love, too great for words to express: just as God after the six days of creation rested with silent satisfaction in His work, for "behold it was very good" (Ge 1:31; 2:2). So the parallel clause by contrast expresses the joy, not kept silent as this, but uttered in "singing."

18. sorrowful for the solemn assembly--pining after the solemn assembly which they cannot celebrate in exile (La 1:4; 2:6).

who are of thee--that is, of thy true citizens; and whom therefore I will restore.

to whom the reproach of it was a burden--that is, to whom thy reproach ("the reproach of My people," Mi 6:16; their ignominious captivity) was a burden. "Of it" is put of thee, as the person is often changed. Those who shared in the burden of reproach which fell on My people. Compare Is 25:8, "the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth."

19. undo--Maurer translates, "I will deal with," that is, as they deserve. Compare Eze 23:25, where the Hebrew is similarly translated. The destruction of Israel's foes precedes Israel's restoration (Is 66:15, 16).

her that halteth--all that are helpless. Their weakness will be no barrier in the way of My restoring them. So in Psa 35:15, Margin, "halting" is used for adversity. Also Eze 34:16; Mi 4:6, 7.

I will get them praise, &c.--literally, "I will make them (to become) a praise and a name," &c.

shame--(Eze 34:29).