THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS In the first chapter, the Lord confirms that He firmly chastens His people, because He does not accept any fellowship with evil. Yet, though He used Assyria, then Babylon to chasten His people “Israel and Judah”, yet if those nations gloat, or bear a spirit of hatred against them, He will also judge them. Presenting a horrible description of the judgment of those nations, the prophet does not mean for mankind to fall into despair, but to be drawn to God, the source of their life, peace, and happiness. He calls on them to re-evaluate their life, goals, and intentions; and to get terrified, not from God, but from sin. In His judgment of the nations, chastening them firmly for their gloating against his people, fallen under chastisement, God seems as though He is their enemy. Yet in the light of the book as a whole; when He proclaims His rejoice over the return of the nations to God, It will be clear that God is not their enemy, but an enemy against their attitude; That He is not avenging against them, but avenging against the evil that possessed them. 1. Calling on His people to seek righteousness 1 – 3 2. Judgment of Palestine 4 – 7 3. Judgment of Moab and Ammon 8 – 11 4. Judgment of Cush 12 5. Judgment of Assyria 13 – 15 1. CALLING ON HIS PEOPLE TO SEEK RIGHTEOUSNESS: Before starting to judge the nations gloating against His people, fallen under chastisement, God requests from His people to repent, and seek righteousness and humility, in order that He will cover them, and restore their glory. He would not judge those who gloat against His people, unless the later present a true repentance. “Gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation” (Zephaniah 2: 1) He calls on this nation, that counted herself as the people of God, privileged above all the other nations and peoples, to re-evaluate her position. He calls them, ‘a shameless nation’; namely, one that have nothing to justify her before Him. He calls on her to gather together; As one of the serious fruits of sin, is the loss of a common goal; as it has been in the dark period of the judges: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21: 25). Sin makes man like chaff that has no place to settle down; and scatters the whole society like a storm. Whereas the work of true repentance, is to bring man down to his depths, to look, by the spirit of truth, into his heart, mind, feelings, intentions, and will; and to be attached to God, through connecting to his brethren by the spirit of unity; and not by mere physical gathering; for all to have one spirit and one thought. This call for gathering together, is probably meant to let everyone re-evaluate his accounts; in order to present a collective repentance, to avoid the shame, and to spare themselves falling under the divine anger, by the spirit of prayer, humility, and wish to return to Him. “Before the decree is issued; Before the day passes like chaff; Before the day of the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you; Before the day of the lord’s anger comes upon you” (Zephaniah 2: 2) 28 If His people have fallen under chastisement; Yet, He warns them, that unless they return to Him, they will fall under the divine anger, in the day of the Lord’s anger. Sin corrupts the life of men, turning them into chaff, and not wheat, that would be scattered, as though by a storm, by any attack of an enemy. Whereas repentance would otherwise turn this chaff into wheat, that the wind would not scatter, but getting rid of chaff then they gather together. He calls on them to jealously hasten to repent; as the Day of Judgment; namely the day of chastisement, draws very near. When that day dwells, the wind of divine anger will come, and the wicked will find no chance to flee; They will turn into chaff before the wind; according to the words of the Psalmist: “The ungodly are like the chaff which the wind drives away” (Psalm 1: 4); And as the Lord says about the ungodly people of Ephraim: “They shall be like the morning cloud, and like the early dew that passes away, like chaff blown off from a threshing floor, and like smoke from a chimney” (Hosea 13: 3). The ungodly would therefore find no place for comfort; They would neither settle down on earth, nor reach heaven; They would be like chaff that the wind scatter to every direction. St. Augustine1 compares between the meek and the ungodly; About the meek, it is said: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5: 5); Whereas the ungodly are like chaff which the wind drives away (Psalm 1: 4). Pride would blow up the ungodly, to become perpetually driven away from the face of the earth. The ungodly are “the chaff which the wind drives away” (Psalm 1: 4). The Holy Book says that a wicked man is an unhappy man; He is not even like dust, that may seem valueless, yet it actually has a kind of existence in itself… So is the ungodly; As he denies God, he is led by vanity, to where the breath of Satan sends him2. (St. Jerome) “Let them be like chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the Lord chase them” (Psalm 35: 5) … The wind is the temptation, and the chaff (the dust) are the ungodly. The dust would not stand before the wind3. (St. Augustine) “Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility, It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger” (Zephaniah 2: 3) In His call, He does not intend for them to invoke the spirit of terror into each other, but to gather together to seek the Lord; that He pours His grace upon them, have mercy on them, and realize His promises to them; He calls on them to gather together with the spirit of humility, as someone sick, asks the heavenly Physician to stretch His hand to heal and cure him. That is why He calls them “All you meek of the earth”. He calls on the ‘meek of the earth’ to seek the Lord Himself, and to ask Him to cover them with righteousness and humility, on the day of His wrath. There is no other way to avoid the divine wrath, except by resorting to the Lord, by hiding in Him, and by 1 Cf. on Ps. 1. 2 On Ps. Homily 1. 3 On Ps. 35 (34). 29 enjoying righteousness and humility that covers their weaknesses, and turn them into wheat instead of chaff before the blowing wind. This call was also proclaimed by the Lord in the book of Isaiah: “Come My people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you, Hide yourself as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. For the Lord, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity” (Isaiah 26: 20-21); And in Amos: “For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: ‘Seek Me and live; … Seek the Lord and live, Lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, with no one to quench it in Bethel’” (Amos 5: 4, 6). Some believe that the talk here is addressed to the meek and the poor who fell under oppression, because of the corruption that came over the land; and the abuse by the rich and by those in authority. But because the poor, themselves, partook of the corruption and the abominations, the prophet calls on them to return to the Lord, and to seek His mercy through repentance in humility and walking in righteousness; As the oppression that befall them would not justify them on the day of the Lord’s wrath, unless they return to Him with all their hearts. He probably also means by the meek here, the Jews, who, although they have crucified Christ and blasphemed Him; If they recognize and seek Him by the spirit of humility, He will again embrace and keep them from the wrath that came upon them because of their denial; according to the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55: 6). St. Cyprian sees in the call: “Seek the Lord” , an invitation to us to forsake everything else, and to seek the Lord, His Kingdom, and righteousness; Then all these things shall be added to us; according to the promise of the Lord Christ Himself (Matthew 6: 31-33) 4. As long as there is still time, look forward to the eternal true salvation; And as the end of the world draws near, turn your minds by the fear of God to Him. Don’t rejoice over your vain authority on the righteous and the meek … But ”Seek the Lord and live” (Amos 5: 6). Recognize the Lord, even if it seems too late … Believe in Him, who would never deceive you … Believe in Him, who has told about these things beforehand … Believe in Him, who will grant the eternal life to those who believe … Believe in Him, who, by the fire of hell, will punish those who do not believe5. (Cyprian, the martyr) Thus, we have no refuge from the Lord’s wrath, except by fleeing to Him, and hiding in Him. Before seeking the Lord, we were weak and burdened; But now, having our hearts settled on Him, we are strong and have courage6. (St. Jerome) 2. JUDGMENT OF PALESTINE: “For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon desolate: They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, And Ekron shall be uprooted” (Zephaniah 2: 4) 4 St. Cyprian: The Treatise of Cyprian, Book 1, 21. 5 To Demetrian, 23. 6 On Ps. Homily 31. 30 The Lord will chasten the main cities of Palestine: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron; that took pride in their strength and prosperity. Gaze shall be forsaken like a barren wilderness; and was almost utterly destroyed by Alexander the Great; Hence its Hebrew name, “Gazubah”, which hints to (non-existence).. Ekron, in Hebrew, came as “Ekron teeaker”. As for Ashdod that shall be driven out at noonday; the people of the east used to sleep, and even stop military action at noon because of the hot weather (2 Samuel 4: 5). It is to be noticed that ‘Gath’, the fifth famous city in Palestine, was not mentioned here, as it was not mentioned in Amos (1: 6), Jeremiah 25: 20), Zechariah (9: 5-6); because at that time, it was under Jewish authority. What is said here about those four main cities, refers to what would befall the unrepentant man; namely, to suffer isolation; to become forsaken, desolate, where he is not dwelt by the divine righteousness, horrified, through living as a fugitive, though nobody is after him, and uprooted, having the same end of the devil himself. This is the divine warning to every man, who chooses for himself to be an opponent against the divine truth, and to give his back to God, the Grantor of life, fulfillment, peace, and happiness. He would moan, together with Zion, which, assuming in her bitterness, that the Lord has forsaken and forgotten her (Isaiah 49: 14); says: “There I was left alone” (Isaiah 49: 21); And would become as is said by prophet Jeremiah: “Every city shall be forsaken, and not a man shall dwell in it” (Jeremiah 4: 29); And as is said by prophet Isaiah: “Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish, and they will be driven into darkness” (Isaiah 8: 22); And as is said by the Psalmist: “Let their habitation be desolate; Let no one dwell in their tents” (Psalm 69: 25); “Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!” (Psalm 73: 19). And as it came in the Maccabees: “He did away with all the renegades and outlaws” (1 Macc 14: 14). “How they are brought to desolation, as in a moment” (Psalm 73: 19); He marvels at them, realizing what will come over them in the end. They, like smoke, will eventually vanish as it rises up … “They are utterly consumed … As a dream when one awake” (Psalm 73: 20)… Like when someone dreams that he found a treasure, to find out that he has got nothing when he gets up; So are the evildoers, they will wake up to realize the misery they have prepared for themselves7. (St. Augustine) Evil destroys man and deprives him of every vitality, to become as though forsaken in isolation, desolate, and uprooted; God allows that, to uproot the evil in him, and to plant him anew; Namely, to renew his life and his nature, and to set His righteousness in him, by His Holy Spirit; as is said by the Psalmist: “You drove out the nations with Your hand, But them You planted” (Psalm 44: 2). “Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, the nation of the Chrethites! The word of the Lord is against you, O Canaan of the Philistines; I will destroy you; So there shall be no inhabitant” (Zephaniah 2: 5) By ‘the seacoast’ He means all the region on the Mediterranean Sea coast, from Egypt to Jaffa and Gaza. The Hebrew word is “Ceroth”, that gives the impression of (dug cisterns). 7 On Ps. 73 (72). 31 “The seacoast shall be pastures, with shelters for shepherds and folds for flocks” (Zephaniah 2: 6) The seacoast that used to be as a port for ships, would turn into uninhabited pastures with shelters for shepherds and folds for flocks. Some believes that the Chrethites here refer to a congregation of Phoenician immigrants, also mentioned in 1 Samuel 30: 14, and Amos 9: 7. In the Septuagint and the Syrian versions, it came as ‘Crete’. “The coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; They shall feed their flocks there; In the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the Lord their God will intervene for them, and return their captives” (Zephaniah 2: 7) Here he prophesies that the house of Judah shall repossess Ashkelon; and that their remnants returning from captivity shall settle down securely in the houses of Ashkelon. Alexander the Great destroyed Askelon; And the Maccabees realized the prophecies of the prophets against it. It utterly lost her authority, and her inhabitants were forced to be circumcised; namely to turn Jewish. 3. THE JUDGMENT OF MOAB AND AMMON: “I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the people of Ammon, with which they have reproached My people, and made arrogant threats against their borders” (Zephaniah 2: 8) Moab and Ammon were connected together; Each of them was an unlawful son of the fallen ‘Lot’ (Genesis 19: 33-38). Both were not considered among the people of God; denied faith in the Lord Christ, and do not enjoy the new spiritual birth. Moab and Ammon both fell under chastisement, because they reproached the Jewish people during their chastisement, blasphemed their God, assuming that the God of Israel does not hear their reproach, and is unable to oppose them. Although He says: “I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of Ammon”; Yet in His longsuffering, and in order to chasten His people. He seemed as though He does not hear, “They made arrogant threats against their borders”, and actually attacked the borders of Judah (Jeremiah 48: 29; 49:1) “’Therefore, as I live’, Says the Lord of host, the God of Israel, ‘Surely Moab shall be like Sodom, and the people of Ammon like Gomorrah – overrun with weeds and saltpits; and a perpetual desolation; The residue of My people shall plunder them; And the remnant of My people shall possess them” (Zephaniah 2: 9) Moab and Ammon shall have the same destiny of Sodom and Gomorrah; They will be reduced to nothing; Their land will be desolate with no inhabitant; will produce weeds instead of wheat; And their springs will produce salt water. “This they shall have for their pride, because they have reproached and made arrogant threats against the people of the Lord of hosts” (Zephaniah 2: 10) “The Lord will be awesome to them, For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; People shall worship Him, Each one from his place; Indeed all the shores (and islands) of the nations” (Zephaniah 2: 11) God confirms that, although there is no animosity in His heart between Him and any people; Yet the arrogant, the haughty, and the blasphemer will fall under his own pride, blaspheme, and evil. As for God, He will destroy the idols, and will set out of every nation a people for Himself; Every nation, and every man, will worship Him, each 32 from his place. There will be no need for them to go to Jerusalem, nor to worship in the temple of Solomon. God was preparing His old people to accept the notion; that the whole earth would become for the Lord and His Christ. “Sing to the Lord, you kingdoms of the earth; Oh, sing praises to the Lord” (Psalm 68: 32). “Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; Yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it” (Isaiah 19: 21) “For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering” ( Malachi 1: 11) He is demeaning the pagan gods; showing them as wild beasts, extremely emaciated because of lack of food for an extended time; because no more sacrifices nor worship are offered to them in their temples. Let us now listen to a prophet prophesying that the time will come when the worship of God will not be limited to one place; that all mankind will get to know the Lord; and that people shall worship Him, each one from his place; “Indeed all the shores (and islands) of the nations“ (Zephaniah 2: 11 LXX); Contrary to what prophet Moses has commanded the Jews to worship the Lord in only one place8. You heard how several prophets prophesied: that mankind will no longer be limited to worship God in one place; That people will no longer have to come from everywhere on earth to offer Him sacrifice in only one city; That everyone will be allowed to stay and to minister to God in his own house or land. What would be a more appropriate time than today for those prophecies to be realized? Let us now see how the gospels and the apostle Paul echo the words of prophet Zephaniah: The prophet says: “of all nations”; And the apostle says: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2: 11). Zephaniah says: “reduce to nothing all gods of the earth”, and Paul says: “teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2: 12) 9. (St. John Chrysostom) As one prophet proclaimed that all the nations of the earth will come to worship God in a certain place “The Gentiles shall come to You from the ends of the earth” (Jeremiah 16: 19); It was proclaimed by another prophet, saying: “The Lord will be awesome to them, For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; People will worship Him, each one from his place; Indeed all the shores (and islands) of the nations” (Zephaniah 2: 11).. All peoples will come to the exalted and true God of the Christians, not physically, but by faith10. They will come to Him without leaving their place; As by faith, they will find Him right in their hearts11. 8 Against Judaizing Christians, Discourse 5: 8. 9 Discourse Against Hudaizing Christians 5: 12: 9. 10 On Faith in Things Unseen, 4. 11 On Faith in Things Unseen, 7. 33 For a long time, the devils have kept silent in their temples concerning the things that are to come, although it was definitely known to them through the sayings of the prophets. But now, with the approach of events, the devils intended to proclaim them, lest they may look as though ignorant or defeated; Yet they stopped short of referring to certain issues that were already proclaimed since long time, like those said by prophet Zephaniah: “The Lord will be awesome to them, For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; People will worship Him, each one from his place; Indeed all the shores (and islands) of the nations” (Zephaniah 2: 11). Gods, worshipped in the temples of the Gentiles, because they probably did not expect these events to apply to them; they did not wish to cause any unwarranted disturbances among their soothsayers12. (St. Augustine) Let us now talk about the churches as ‘Islands’. The Holy Book says in one location: “Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise from the end of the earth; Let the sea roar and all that fills it, the coastlands (the islands) and their inhabitants” (Isaiah 42: 10). Prophet Isaiah says in the name of the Lord, that the same way islands appear in the middle of the sea, churches will be established in the middle of the world; and will be struck by a multitude of waves of persecution. Although mighty waves will be thrown on these islands every day, yet they will never be inundated with water… Indeed they are in the middle of the sea; Yet their foundation is Christ, who will never be shaken13! (St. Jerome) Despite all that, they were not yet able to reset the temple nor to repair the location where they were allowed to practice their rites according to the law. The authority of Christ, that established the church has destroyed that place. The prophet, although he proclaimed that Christ will come, Yet His coming would only be after the captivity14. (St. John Chrysostom) 4. THE JUDGMENT OF CUSH: “You Ethiopians also You shall be slain by My sword” (Zephaniah 2: 12) Cush (Ethiopia) was submitted by Nebuchadnezar (Jeremiah 46: 9-10; Ezekiel 30; 4). By “My sword”, the Lord means ‘Nebuchadnezar’, whom He used as a tool to chasten the nations. 5. THE JUDGMENT OF ASSYRIA: “And He will stretch out His hand against the north, Destroy Assyria, and make Nineveh a desolation; as dry as the wilderness” Zephaniah 2: 13) “The herds shall lie down in her midst, every wild animal, the desert owl and the screech shall lodge on its capitals; the owl shall hoot at the windows; the raven croak on the threshold; For the cedar work will be laid bare” (Zephaniah 2: 14) Assyria will turn from being a great empire, feared by all the nations of the world, into a vast wilderness where every kind of animal will lie down; both the domesticated like the sheep, and the wild ones. It will turn into an open pasture, with no walls to 12 On the Divination of Demons. 13 Homilies on the Psalms, 24. 14 Demonstrations Against Pagans, 17: 5. 34 protect it; Its only law will be perdition and death. As for birds, there will be only the owls to hoot, with their mourning voice that brings sadness and distress. With desolation and destruction, the windows of the palaces will be wide open, and birds will stand on them to wail and lament. By the action of nature, the roofs of the palaces made of cedar wood, as marvelous pieces of art, will be laid bare of their splendid beauty. If Nineveh, the symbol of the evil heart, that persists on not returning to the Lord, has become a dwelling place for owls, that keep on wailing and hooting; The spiritual Jerusalem, the symbol of the holy heart, on the other hand, shall become a dwelling place for the rejoicing turtledoves: “The voice of the turtledove is heard in our land” (Song 2: 12). The portion of the wicked would be depression and despair; whereas that of the righteous would be joy and hope. The heart of the wicked would bear the pledge of hell; whereas that of the righteous would bear that of the joyful and heavenly, eternal kingdom. Assyria that captivated Israel, was known for her fierce violence in dealing with the captives; Her kings used to find pleasure in cutting off their body members, especially those of the rich and noble, whom they mockingly paraded before the mob. Assyria that referred to the evil soul, filled with violence and abominations, has turned into a desolate wilderness, only dwelt by wild beasts and owls; Whereas the holy soul will become a joyful paradise planted with the trees of virtue, where the sweet voice of turtledoves is heard. The following are some comments by St. Gregory, the Bishop of Nyssa, on what came in the Song of songs 2: 12: Having “rebuked the wind, and said to the sea: ‘Peace, be still!’, the wind ceased and there was a great calm” (Mark 4: 39); Our life started to flourish like a garden adorned with flowers, that represent the virtue in our life that bears fruit in its seasons. That is why the Word of God says: “The winter is past, The rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land” (Song 2: 11, 12). The Groom says: [Behold, the pastures are adorned with the flowers of virtue! Do you see that purity in the beautyof the Narcis? Do you see the roses of humility, and the violet that represent the sweet aroma of the Lord Christ? Why don’t you make a crown for yourself of these flowers. It is the proper season, as testified by the voice of the turtledove; that is like “that voice of one crying in the wilderness” (Matthew 3: 3); John the Baptist is the turtledove; who precedes that wonderful spring which provides such magnificent flowers for everyone who wish to gather. He is the one who tells us about: “the Rod that shall come forth from the stem of Jesse” (Isaiah 11: 1); and “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1: 29). He is the one who demonstrates to us the repentance from sin, and the life according to virtue. According to the holy text: “The voice of the turtledove is heard in our land”; to tell us that those who have responded to the voice of John the Baptist, were those called by the gospel, ‘the taxcollectors and the sinners’; while the rest of the people gave no heed to his preaching15. (St. Gregory of Nyssa) 15 عظة 5 على نشید الأناشید ترجمة الدكتور جورج نوّار. 35 “This is the rejoicing city, that dwelt securely, that said in her heart, ‘I am it, and there is none beside me’. How has she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down! Everyone who passes by her shall hiss and shake his fist” (Zephaniah 2: 15) Nineveh that has been a rejoicing city, that everyone longed to see; with a circumference of 100 miles, with walls 100 feet high, on which three chariots could run side by side; and on which there were 1500 watching towers; has become a desolation, even almost impossible to locate! In haughtiness, Nineveh, like Babylon later on, as well as other haughty cities, assumed that it is the mistress of the whole world. The Lord God in the book of Isaiah says: “Therefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures; who dwell securely; who say in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children’; But these two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day: the loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in fullness, because of the multitude of your sorceries” (Isaiah 47: 8-9). The city of Nineveh represents the soul, which is proud of herself, and satisfied with herself, and not with God; which enjoys her time in the world, thinking that she is in peace and security, and no one can ever come in her way. 36 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH (2) DESTROY MY WICKEDNESS, AND SET YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IN ME Let my soul join all the souls of Your people; Let us gather together by Your Holy Spirit; Let Him expose before my eyes, my daring and arrogance; Let Him consume every evil inside me and in my behavior, Let Him grant me Your righteousness, to cover up my depths. Sin made me like chaff before the wind; I cannot stand before Your wrath; Who would be justified before You, O Holy One? Your fiery Spirit will renew my nature. Will turn me from chaff into holy wheat! To You, I shall flee. O my Savior; You will take away my misery, and grant me Your mercy; Instead of my haughtiness, You will grant me Your meekness and humility. You are my stronghold; In You, I shall hide, to cover up my weakness. Take away from inside me every trace of idolatry. Destroy every silver image, that I foolishly have set for myself. Occupy my whole heart and being. Because without You, my soul would feel forsaken, deserted, and desolate. Without You, every life in me would be uprooted. Enter into my depths, to set Your heavenly Kingdom. Then, I shall no longer be a barren pasture of sheep. In me, the voice of a turtledove, will be heard, singing and praising Your name. No owl, or any other screeching bird, will find a place in me. No mourning noise, but joy and rejoice. Transfigure in me, with the splendor of Your glory. To drive away from me every pride and haughtiness. Let me judge no one; but myself. Let me not gloat for those under chastisement. As I am worthy of every punishment, even of death. By coming into my depths, You will open up my insight. I behold You, the Savior of the whole world. I behold all nations and peoples, rejecting every idol, And gathered around You in a victorious procession. The defiled nations became for You a holy bride. The adversary nations, became the subject of Your pleasure. Your heavens rejoice over humanity, sanctified in You.
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