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"At that time"

Text: Zephaniah 3:20

A GLORIOUS CONCLUSION

What a glorious conclusion to the book of Zephaniah. The prophet concluded his book with a promise of the Lord to His people.

“‘At that time I will bring you back,
Even at the time I gather you;
For I will give you fame and praise
Among all the peoples of the earth,
When I return your captives before your eyes,’
Says the LORD.”
Zephaniah 3:20

1. A promise repeated

a) God sometimes repeats His promises.

b) For good reasons:

i) As a word of assurance.

ii) As a word of confirmation.

iii) As a word of hope for the future.

iv) As a word of explanation.

2. Four precious promises reiterated

a) “I will bring you back”

b) “I gather you”

c) “I return your captives”

d) “I will give you fame and praise”

3. “At that time”

a) This was left unspecified.

b) But this would have to be after the seventy years of exile as prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11).

c) Batches of people would return (Ezra, Nehemiah)

d) Their tasks would be, among other things:

i) Rebuild their land

ii) Rebuild their temple

4. “Fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth”

a) All nations would recognize that the LORD God was behind His people, bringing them back.

b) They would stand astonished at what God would do to re-establish His people and Zion!