Zephaniah 3:15
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The reason for joy is that God has removed His judgments, cast out the enemy, and now reigns in their midst.
What Does Zephaniah 3:15 Mean?
The prophet gives the grounds for all this joy. The LORD has taken away the judgments that hung over His people; He has cast out their enemy. And the crowning reason: the king of Israel, the LORD Himself, is in the midst of them, so they shall not see evil any more. The threat is gone, the foe is gone, and God Himself is present as King.
Here is the heart of the gospel's comfort in seed form. The judgment is lifted, not because sin did not matter, but because God has dealt with it. The enemy is cast out. And best of all, God is present among His people as their King. This is the great hope fulfilled in Christ, Immanuel, God with us, who takes away our condemnation and reigns in the hearts of His own. When the LORD is in the midst of His people, fear has no place, and evil shall not have the final word.
In the Original Language
melek (מֶלֶך), 'king' -- a sovereign ruler, here the LORD Himself reigning in the midst of His people as their King.