Zephaniah 3:9-13--The Conversion of the Nations

Zephaniah 3:9-13
English Standard Version

The Conversion of the Nations
9 “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples
    to a pure speech,
that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD
    and serve him with one accord.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush
    my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones,
    shall bring my offering.

11 “On that day you shall not be put to shame
    because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst
    your proudly exultant ones,
and you shall no longer be haughty
    in my holy mountain.
12 But I will leave in your midst
    a people humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD,
13     those who are left in Israel;
they shall do no injustice
    and speak no lies,
nor shall there be found in their mouth
    a deceitful tongue.
For they shall graze and lie down,
    and none shall make them afraid.”

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The LORD is concerned about the salvation of the Gentile nations, not just their destruction.  The LORD gives prophesy here that there will be a great awakening and conversion among the Gentile nations--we've seen this happen in books like Daniel and Esther already where God uses the Exiles to bring about revival in the kingdoms of Babylon and Assyria.  The LORD is going to use this time of exile and punishment to make the Jewish people the light to the Gentiles that He always wanted them to be, but it will be a "go, show, and tell" evangelism instead of a "come and see" evangelism.

The LORD will destroy the proud and arrogant people, but He will save the humble and lowly.  "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  The Jewish people will once again seek their identity and their refuge in the name of the LORD.  They will be a changed people who will no longer be given to perverting justice and lying.  They will be content to be like sheep who graze and lie down and don't fear anything because they know The Good Shepherd watches over them, provides for them and protects them.