Zephaniah 3:6-13: a reflection

6I have cut off nations. Their battlements are desolate. I have made their streets waste, so that no one passes by. Their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant. 7I said, “Just fear me. Receive correction,” so that her dwelling won’t be cut off, according to all that I have appointed concerning her. But they rose early and corrupted all their doings. 8“Therefore wait for me”, says the LORD, “until the day that I rise up to the prey, for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms to pour on them my indignation, even all my fierce anger, for all the earth will be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. 9For then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that they may all call on the LORD’s name, to serve him shoulder to shoulder. 10From beyond the rivers of Cush, my worshipers, even the daughter of my dispersed people, will bring my offering. 11In that day you will not be disappointed for all your doings in which you have transgressed against me; for then I will take away out from among you your proudly exulting ones, and you will no more be arrogant in my holy mountain. 12But I will leave among you an afflicted and poor people, and they will take refuge in the LORD’s name. 13The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity nor speak lies, neither will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they will feed and lie down, and no one will make them afraid.”

As the prophet Zephaniah foretells God's dealings with the proud and the humble, he reveals whom God will preserve: not the proud and arrogant, but a humble, lowly people who take refuge in him. I will take away out from among you your proudly exulting ones, God says; but I will leave among you an afflicted and poor people, and they will take refuge in the LORD's name. The proud, the arrogant, the self-exalting, would be removed; but a humble, afflicted, lowly people who took refuge in the Lord's name would be preserved. God's favor rests not on the proud but on the humble, the lowly, those who take refuge in him rather than in themselves. The remnant God preserves is a humble people, who trust in his name rather than their own strength or status. God preserves the humble who take refuge in him, not the proud who exalt themselves. It is the lowly, taking refuge in the Lord's name, whom God keeps.

Notice whom God preserves, and whom he removes: the humble who take refuge in him, not the proud who exalt themselves. God says he will take away the proudly exulting ones, the arrogant, the self-exalting; but he will leave a humble and afflicted people who take refuge in his name. God's favor and preservation rest on the humble, the lowly, those who trust in him rather than in their own strength or status. The proud, who exalt themselves, are not the ones God keeps; it is the humble, who take refuge in his name, who are preserved. This reveals something about the kind of heart God favors: not the proud and self-sufficient, but the humble and lowly, who know their need and take refuge in him. To be humble, to take refuge in the Lord's name rather than our own strength, is to be among those God preserves. The proud are removed; the humble who trust in God are kept. God's preservation rests on humble hearts that take refuge in him, not on proud ones that trust themselves. The lowly who take refuge in God are the ones he keeps.

That is worth taking to heart, for God preserves the humble who take refuge in him, not the proud who exalt themselves. We can be proud and self-sufficient, trusting in our own strength and status; but God removes the proudly exulting and preserves a humble, lowly people who take refuge in his name. God's favor rests on the humble who trust in him, not the proud who trust themselves. There is a call here to be humble, to take refuge in the Lord rather than in ourselves. Do not be proud and self-sufficient, trusting your own strength; be humble, taking refuge in the Lord's name, among those God preserves. Be humble and take refuge in the Lord's name rather than being proud and trusting your own strength, since God preserves the humble who take refuge in him, not the proud who exalt themselves, as Zephaniah foretold that God would remove the proudly exulting ones but leave an afflicted and poor people who take refuge in the LORD's name; for God's favor and preservation rest not on the proud and self-sufficient but on the humble and lowly, who know their need and take refuge in him rather than in their own strength or status, so that to be humble and to trust in God is to be among those he keeps.

Lord, as the prophet Zephaniah foretells your dealings with the proud and the humble, he reveals whom you will preserve: not the proud and arrogant, but a humble, lowly people who take refuge in you. I will take away out from among you your proudly exulting ones, you say; but I will leave among you an afflicted and poor people, and they will take refuge in the LORD's name. The proud, the arrogant, the self-exalting, would be removed; but a humble, afflicted, lowly people who took refuge in your name would be preserved. Your favor rests not on the proud but on the humble, those who take refuge in you rather than in themselves. Show me whom you preserve, and whom you remove: the humble who take refuge in you, not the proud who exalt themselves. You say you will take away the proudly exulting ones; but you will leave a humble and afflicted people who take refuge in your name. Your favor and preservation rest on the humble, who trust in you rather than in their own strength or status. This reveals the kind of heart you favor: not the proud and self-sufficient, but the humble and lowly, who know their need and take refuge in you. To be humble, to take refuge in your name rather than my own strength, is to be among those you preserve. Take that to my heart, for you preserve the humble who take refuge in you, not the proud who exalt themselves. I can be proud and self-sufficient, trusting in my own strength and status; but you remove the proudly exulting and preserve a humble people who take refuge in your name. Keep me from being proud and self-sufficient, trusting my own strength; help me be humble, Lord, taking refuge in your name, among those you preserve, knowing my need and trusting in you rather than myself.