Zephaniah, the prophet, prophesied good things over the people of God after they had been through a hard ordeal. Let’s look verse-by- verse at Zephaniah 3:14-20 (KJV) and apply to our present-day situation.

14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

God is telling us there’s a reason to sing, dance, and shout for joy. The reason is found in verse 15.

15 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.

God has taken away our judgment and has dealth with our enemies. Evil has been evicted.

16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.

He declares there will be no fear and we will not be faint of hand.

17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

God is in our midst. He will save us. God rejoices over us, sings and dances over us, and quiets us with His love. God will delight over His people with His love.

18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.

God gathers us to Himself. He takes away our shame, or reproach.

19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.

God will undo all that afflicts, or troubles, us. God can turn enemies into friends. God will save and gather us, giving us honor anywhere and everywhere we’ve been put to shame. He takes us from shame to praise and fame. He moves us from the tail and places us at the head.

20 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.

God will bring us into what belongs to us and make us who He has called us to be. God will make our names honorable and all people will speak well of us. God says He will turn back our captivity before our very eyes. All the good God will do for us will be seen by us. Our reward will be visible- we will see it and others will too.

So, look to the Lord, for good things are coming from our good God. He plans, and shows us only good. We will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.