I. "THE LORD HATH TAKEN AWAY THY JUDGMENTS, HE HATH CAST OUT THINE ENEMY; THE KING OF ISRAEL EVEN THE LORD, IS IN THE MIDST OF THEE; THOU SHALT NOT SEE EVIL ANY MORE"
A. Here we have another gracious manifestation of God's affection toward His people:
1. He exposes the wickedness of the apostate Zeph 3:1-4
2. He warns them of pending judgments - v. 5-6
B. But He sees a remnant of dedicated and loyal Israelites among them:
1. Who refuse to be polluted with the prevailing sinful practices - Rev 3:1-2 2. To them He has a message of hope as indicated in our text
II. THE TRIUMPH OF GRACE
A. Let us note, prayerfully, what God hath done for Israel, His people:
1. He hath taken away thy judgments - v.15. The judgments hanging over us because of our many sins, He hath taken away
2. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall no come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life" - John 5:24
3. "There is, therefore, no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus" - Rom 8:1-3;
4. Mercy rejoiceth against judgment" - James 2:13. Examples: The experience of the
penitent thief on the cross - Luke 23:42-44. The Samaritan woman - John 4:1-41; the woman caught in the act of adultery - John 8:1-11; Zacchaeus – Luke 19:1-9
B. He hath cast out thine enemy-v.15:
1. This was a part of the mission of Jesus in the days of His flesh - "casting out devils" -
Matt 9:34; Mark 3:22
2. Christ delivers us from the power of Satan - Acts 26:18; He no longer is within the life
of the redeemed, he is outside, let us keep it so forever.
3. That is a wonderful thought - Satan expelled out of our life; to be free from the power
of Satan is the most wonderful experience - John 8:36
C. He is in the midst of thee (v.15) "Christ in you the hope of glory" - Col 1:27. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith" - Eph 3:17
D. "Ye are of God, little children, and have over come them; because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" - I John 4:4
E. "God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, and that right early" - Ps 46:5. "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age" - Matt 28:20
III. SPECIAL BLESSINGS FOR ZION
A. What God will do:
1. He will save - (v.17) The salvation of the Lord is threefold including the past, the present, and the future. "Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today and forever" - Heb 13:8. Writes Luke, "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." – Acts 4:12
2. He will rejoice over thee with joy" - v.17. "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance - Luke 15:7
3. Of our Saviour it is written, "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame" - Heb 12:2
4. He will rest in His love - v.17; Oh the sweetness of this thought, that our God can find rest in the greatness of His love for us! Of the Saviour it is written, "He shall see the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied" - Is 53:10-11
B. What we should do:
1. Praise His blessed name - "Sing, O daughter of Zion. Shout O Israel. Be glad and
rejoice with all the heart" - v.14
2. "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to
the children of men" - Ps 107:15
3. In that day Israel will be made a praise among all the people of the earth - v.20
4. This is the great mission of the church of the living God in this world, to "shew forth
the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" - I Peter 2:9
