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Bible Notes - Tabernacle Commentaries
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Zephaniah 2:3
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This is the appeal. ‘Come, this is the only way out’, says Zephaniah. ‘Ask the Lord to help you, worship him, be humble before him. It is only humble people who will be saved, who see themselves as needy sinners and who plead for pardon and salvation. Be ready to obey’, he says in these verses, ‘and if you will turn to the Lord and be ready to obey him and humble yourself and ask for righteousness to be given to you, it may be that he will deliver you.’ It is a message of hope. You notice Zephaniah doesn't say he will definitely deliver you, he says, ‘It may be’, and this is applied to individuals. He is not at this point saying to the nation, if you turn it may be that you will be delivered. He uses this phrase in order to speak to individuals. ‘If you turn to him it may be that you are one of those individuals who will be delivered by God, because you have humbled yourself.’ It isn't an unconditional promise to the nation; it's a conditional promise which applies to individuals. That is the way Zephaniah the prophet is preaching to the people.
Application
The Lord is very merciful, and lost sinners should study his words with the utmost diligence to find any hint that he will still extend mercy to them, when they deserve so little. We seek a word from his mouth, and we hang on a word, and that is what we have here. It is only a possibility – ‘it may be’ – but that is enough to raise the hopes of a lost sinner who is poised over an eternity in hell. Don’t react with pride or take offence at the fierce anger of the Lord. It is real and you cannot change it or avoid it. Humble yourselves before it overtakes you, and be ready to run to him at the slightest hint of mercy.
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