Zephaniah 3:8

Zephaniah 3:8 says, Therefore wait ye upon me, saith 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 upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.  God told the people of Jerusalem to wait on Him, even in the midst of all the sin and idolatry.  God was still at work.  He was not going to just destroy everything without a way to salvation.  Matthew Henry says that since the law had failed that God would implement the plan that He knew from the time of creation would be necessary, and that was salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone.  Just as the people then had to wait in faith for the coming of Jesus Christ, we who are His followers today have to wait in faith for His return.  No matter how bad things may get in the world, we are to wait patiently on God.  Verse nine adds, For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.  God said that when He sent His Son for the salvation of the world that all who believed in Him would speak the pure language of God so that they might call on Him.  Matthew Henry says that those who are followers of Christ refine their language not by witty phrases but by having the substance of the wise in what they say.  We will not reach the lost of the world today with cute sayings but can only reach them with the truth of the gospel.  Verse ten continues, From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.  God said that those who had rejected Him, which would be everyone at one time, would return to Him in supplication and would be restored to Him.  The only way to come to God is in humble supplication to Jesus Christ.  It doesn't matter where we are physically in the world today, because God stands ready to receive anyone anywhere, they may be.  Then, when we accept God's salvation, we should bring Him pure offerings.  Verse eleven states, In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. God said that the people who truly put their faith in Him would not be ashamed of it.  God also said that He would remove from their midst those who were filled with self-pride instead of being humbled before Him.  There is no room for self- righteousness in Christians.  We must humbly come to God by faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twelve adds, I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.  God didn't say that He was going to leave rich and powerful people in their midst, but an afflicted and poor people.  Those who were left of the people of God would no longer be a powerful nation, but the remnant would be afflicted and poor.  God does not call us to material riches, but to a faithful relationship with Him.  Verse thirteen continues, The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. God said the remnant of Israel would no longer do sinful things or speak deceitful things, but instead they would eat and sleep secure in their faith in Him.  This applies to everyone who ever has or ever will come to God by faith.