Zephaniah 1:7

“Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God, etc.] When he comes forth, and appears in the way of his judgments, do not dispute the point with him, or pretend to offer reasons against his proceedings, or in order to disprove the justice of them; stand in awe and reverence of him, who is the Lord God omniscient and omnipotent, holy, just, and true; humble yourselves under his mighty hand; be still, and know that he is God; and let not one murmuring and repining word come out of your mouth. The Targum is, “let all the wicked of the earth perish from before the Lord God:” for the day of the Lord [is] at hand; the time of his vengeance on the Jewish nation for their sins, which he had fixed…”

“Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord-- (Hab 2:20). Let the earth be silent at His approach [MAURER]. Or, "Thou whosoever hast been wont to speak against God, as if He had no care about earthly affairs, cease thy murmurs and self-justifications; submit thyself to God, and repent in time" [CALVIN]. Lord . . . prepared a sacrifice--namely, a slaughter of the guilty Jews, the victims due to His justice (Isa 34:6; Jer 46:10; Eze 39:17). bid his guests--literally, "sanctified His called ones" (compare Isa 13:3). It enhances the bitterness of the judgment that the heathen Chaldeans should be sanctified, or consecrated as it were, by God as His priests, and be called to eat the flesh of the…”

“Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God - (Literally, “Hush,” in awe “from the face of God.”) In the presence of God, even the righteous say from their inmost heart, “I am vile, what shall I answer Thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth” Job 40:4. “Now mine eye seeth Thee, wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” Job 42:5-6. “Enter not into judgment with Thy servant, O Lord, for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified” Psalms 143:2. How much more must the “man without the wedding garment be speechless” Matthew 22:11-12, and every false plea, with which he deceived himself, melt away before the Face of God! The voice of God’s Judgment echoes in every heart, “we…”

“Hold thy peace - Thou that murmurest against God, stand in awe. The day - A day of vengeance from the Lord. A sacrifice - The wicked Jews, whom he will sacrifice by the sword. His guests - summoned the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the air, to eat the flesh, and drink the blood. Zephaniah 1:8”

“1:7-18 The entire passage must be seen as one vast event. Some aspects would be fulfilled at Jerusalem’s fall in 586 BC; others would be repeated in various historical epochs (such as the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70) until the whole prophecy is fulfilled at the end of time when God acts fully and finally to judge the world and renew creation (Rev 19:11–22:5). 1:7 has prepared his people for a great slaughter and has chosen their executioners: Foreigners will slaughter the wicked among the Lord’s people.”

“thy: Sa1 2:9, Sa1 2:10; Job 40:4, Job 40:5; Psa 46:10, Psa 76:8, Psa 76:9; Isa 6:5; Amo 6:10; Hab 2:20; Zac 2:13; Rom 3:19, Rom 9:20 for the day: Zep 1:14; Isa 2:12, Isa 13:6; Eze 7:7, Eze 7:10; Joe 2:1, Joe 2:2, Joe 2:11, Joe 2:31; Amo 5:18-20; Mal 4:1; Phi 4:5; Pe2 3:10-12 for the Lord: Isa 34:6; Jer 46:10; Eze 39:17-20; Rev 19:17, Rev 19:18 he hath: Pro 9:1-6; Mat 22:4; Luk 14:16, Luk 14:17 bid: Heb. sanctified, or prepared, Sa1 16:5, Sa1 20:26; Col 1:12 Zephaniah 1:8”

“This judgment will speedily come. Zep 1:7. "Be silent before the Lord Jehovah! For the day of Jehovah is near, for Jehovah has prepared a slaying of sacrifice, He has consecrated His called." The command, "Be silent before the Lord," which is formed after Hab 2:20, and with which the prophet summons to humble, silent submission to the judgment of God, serves to confirm the divine threat in Zep 1:2-6. The reason for the commanding Hush! (keep silence) is given in the statement that the day of Jehovah is close at hand (compare Joe 1:15), and that God has already appointed the executors of the judgment. The last two clauses of the verse are formed from reminiscences taken from Isaiah. The…”