At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.
En aquel tiempo yo os traeré, en aquel tiempo yo os congregaré; porque yo os daré por renombre y por alabanza entre todos los pueblos de la tierra, cuando tornaré vuestros cautivos delante de vuestros ojos, dice el SEÑOR.
Before your eyes] Some read before THEIR eyes; that is, the eyes of all people. On their conversion to Christianity, they shall become as eminent as they ever were in the most illustrious days of their history, Lord, hasten the conversion of Israel! Amen.
Ver. 20. At that time I will bring you [again], even in the time that I gather you , etc.] That is, at the time that the Lord will gather them in the effectual calling to himself and to his church, he will return them to their own land; and, as soon as the Jews are converted, they will not only be gathered into Christianchurches, but will be gathered together in one body, and appoint themselves one head; and will go up out of each of the lands wherein they have been dispersed, and enter into their own land, and possess it; at the same time they are made partakers of the grace of God, they will enjoy all their civil privileges and liberties; (see Hosea 1:11): for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth ; this is repeated from the preceding verse ( Zephaniah 3:19), for the confirmation of it; and in connection with the following clause, to show when it will be: when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord ; or “captivities” f125 ; meaning not the several captivities of the kings of Judah in Babylon, as of Manasseh, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah; but the two fold captivity of this people, literal and spiritual; their present outward exile from their own land, captivity and dispersion among the nations; and their spiritualcaptivity or bondage, to sin, Satan, the law, and the traditions of their elders; from both which they will be delivered at one and the same time; and which will be notorious and manifest; what their eyes will see with pleasure and admiration; and which may he depended upon will be done, since the Lord has said it, whose purposes, promises, and prophecies, never fail of their accomplishment: he is God omniscient and knows with certainty what will be done; he is Godomnipotent, and can and will do whatever he has determined, promised, or said should be done.
Verses 14-20 - After the promises of taking away sin, follow promises of taking awa trouble. When the cause is removed, the effect will cease. What makes people holy, will make them happy. The precious promises made to the purified people, were to have full accomplishment in the gospel. Thes verses appear chiefly to relate to the future conversion an restoration of Israel, and the glorious times which are to follow. The show the abundantpeace, comfort, and prosperity of the church, in the happy times yet to come. He will save; he will be Jesus; he will answe the name, for he will save his people from their sins. Before the glorious times foretold, believers would be sorrowful, and objects of reproach. But the Lord will save the weakest believer, and cause tru Christians to be greatly honoured where they had been treated with contempt. One act of mercy and grace shall serve, both to gather Israe out of their dispersions and to lead them to their own land. Then wil God's Israel be made a name and a praise to eternity. The events alon can fully answer the language of this prophecy. Many are the trouble of the righteous, but they may rejoice in God's love. Surely our heart should honour the Lord, and rejoice in him, when we hear such words of condescension and grace. If now kept from his ordinances, it is ou trial and grief; but in due time we shall be gathered into his templ above. The glory and happiness of the believer will be perfect unchangeable, and eternal, when he is freed from earthly sorrows, an brought to heavenly bliss __________________________________________________________________
