Even though the events mentioned in verse 15 hadn’t yet happened, they’re presented in the past tense. When it comes to God’s promises, they are so certain, it’s as if they’ve already occurred. We can trust Him to come through. The judgment sentence the Lord passed on the nation is lifted. Receiving God’s love and grace should automatically bring joy to a repentant sinner. The Lord also turned back the enemy. Zephaniah doesn’t specify what enemy he meant, but it really doesn’t matter. The LORD, the Holy God of Israel, is greater than any enemy. God was with them, so they needn’t fear any attack, any disaster, any evil. Think about this for a minute: punishment removed; enemies conquered; the LORD nearby…fear removed. Are these not cause for great celebration?
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