The Remnant Zephaniah 2:7

As Zephaniah continued to prophesy concerning the LORD's judgment upon the surrounding cities of Jerusalem, he included Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, the “Cherethites” and “Canaan” which was “the land of the Philistines” in which there was to “be no inhabitant”. As he wrote concerning the “sea coast”, he said, they “shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks”, and in chapter two and verse seven of his prophesy, Zephaniah wrote concerning “a remnant” within the “house of Judah” where we read:

And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.

The verse begins, “And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah;” Zephaniah began with phrase, “And the coast” or territory, measured portion, lot, part or region” “shall be for the remnant” who were “the rest, what is left, the remainder and descendants” “of the house” or “dwelling, shelter and abode” “of Judah” which means “praised” and was “the tribe descended from Judah who was the son of Jacob”. There was to be “a remnant” of people within Judah who would not be captured and destroyed, and these people would occupy “the coast” of their adversaries.

The verse goes on to say, “they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening:” Zephaniah continued, “they shall feed” or “pasture, tend and graze” “thereupon in the houses” which refers to the “dwelling, shelter and abode”“of Ashkelon” which means “the fire of infamy and I shall be weighed” and was “a maritime city of the Philistines which was located southwest of Jerusalem” “shall they lie down” or “stretch oneself out” “in the evening” which means “at night or sunset”. Not only would this “remnant” inhabit in this coastal area, but they would also “pasture, tend and graze” their cattle and rest in the evening while they occupied it.

Finally the verse says, “for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.” Zephaniah went on to say, “for the LORD” or “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the one true God” “their God” which means “ruler, judge and divine one” “shall visit” or “attend to, muster, number, reckon, appoint, look after and care for” “them and turn away” or “turn back or return” “their captivity” which in Hebrew is “shĕbuwth” “shĕbuwth” and refers to “their exile, prison, and confinement”. The LORD's promise is to “visit, attend to, look after and care” for them as well as release them from their captivity.

When we meditate upon this verse, it is interesting to note that even among the greatest of judgments and punishments from the LORD there remains “a remnant”. There were a few people among the tribe of Judah who were not subject to total annihilation like their peers and family. These were exempt from the LORD's wrath, and they were to inhabit the areas vacated by those who were conquered. This idea should motivate us to be as this “remnant” who had not and would not forsake the LORD and His ways. May the LORD Jesus help us to see whether we are as this small minority, and may we ever have the mindset of being “a remnant” in love with Him.

Next time Zephaniah shares concerning “Moab” and “Ammon”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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