CHAPTER 3 Dec. 17 
Jerusalem’s Future 
Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, the oppressing city! 2She didn’t obey the voice. She didn’t receive correction. She didn’t trust in Yahweh. She didn’t draw near to her God. 3Her princes in the midst of her are as roaring lions, her judges are as evening wolves; they leave nothing until the next day. 4Her prophets are arrogant and treacherous people, her priests have desecrated the sanctuary; they have done violence to the law. 5Yahweh in the midst of her, He is righteous; He will do no wrong. Every morning He brings His justice to light. He doesn’t fail, but the unjust know no shame. 6I have cut off nations, their battlements are desolate;  I have made their streets waste, so that no one passes by. Their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant. 7I said, Just fear Me. Receive correction, so that her dwelling won’t be cut off, according to all that I have appointed concerning her. But they rose early and corrupted all their doings. 8Therefore wait for Me, says Yahweh, until the day that I rise up to seize the prey; for My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour on them My indignation, even all My fierce anger; for all the land will be devoured with the fire of My jealousy. 9For then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that they may all call on the name of Yahweh, to serve Him with one neck. 10From beyond the rivers of Cush, My worshippers, even the daughter of My dispersed people, will bring My offering. 11In that day you will not be ashamed for all your doings in which you have transgressed against Me; for then I will take away out of the midst of you your proud exulting ones, and you will no more be arrogant in My holy mountain. 12But I will leave in the midst of you an afflicted and humbled people, and they will take refuge in the name of Yahweh. 13The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they will feed and lie down, and no one will make them afraid.  14Sing, daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem. 15Yahweh has taken away your judgments. He has thrown out your enemy. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is in the midst of you. You will not be afraid of evil any more. 16In that day it will be said to Jerusalem, Don’t be afraid, Zion. Don’t let your hands be weak. 17Yahweh your God is in the midst of you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy, He will calm you in His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. 18I will gather those who mourn with longing for the appointed feasts, you will no longer suffer reproach. 19Behold, at that time I will deal with all those who afflict you, and I will save those who are lame, and gather those who were driven away. I will give them praise and honour, those whose shame was once in all the earth. 20At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will give you honour and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I return your captives before your eyes, says Yahweh.

Commentary

3:5 Know no shame- The righteous admit their sins and do know shame for them; and so they will come to a position where in the Kingdom of God, they will be aware that they have sinned but will not know shame for those sins (:11), so fully acceptant will they be of the work of Christ which has left them genuinely spotless and blameless before God’s throne (Jude 24). Verse 19 continues the irony around the theme of “shame” by saying that the shame of sinners is known by everyone else- apart from they themselves, who “know no shame”. The point is that we might as well be ashamed for our sins before others, because actually they do or will see the shame of our sins anyway.
3:7 God’s judgments could have been averted if they repented. God may ‘appoint’ things to happen to a person, but if they repent, then that potential which He has designed will in fact not happen. In this lies the wonderful significance of repentance.
3:13 Refuge in the name- In our times, we can do this by being baptized into the Name.
3:18 In the Kingdom of God on earth, God will empower those who now long to be obedient to God’s commands but cannot be due to circumstance or weakness. We will all then be able to serve God as strongly as we now wish. Our experiences in this life, even of our own weaknesses, are preparing our desire for that eternity which we will then be given.