Zephaniah 3:12

“I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, etc.] Of a character just the reverse of the proud and haughty, that should be removed from Jerusalem and Judea by death or captivity; these are they that should be preserved from the general calamity, as the Christians were, and were left in the church of God: these were an “afflicted” people, as the Lord’s people in all ages are afflicted with a body of sin; with the temptations of Satan; with the hidings of God’s face; with bodily infirmities, and with the reproaches and persecutions of men; the first Christians, both among Jews and Gentiles, justly bore this character, especially with respect to the last article: and…”

“afflicted . . . they shall trust in . . . Lord--the blessed effect of sanctified affliction on the Jewish remnant. Entire trust in the Lord cannot be, except where all cause for boasting is taken away (Isa 14:32; Zac 11:11).”

“I will also leave - (Over, as a remnant, it is still the same heavy prophecy, that a remnant only ‘shall be saved’) “an afflicted and poor people.” priests, (except that ‘great company who were obedient to the faith’) Acts 6:7, scribes, lawyers, Pharisees, Sadducees were taken away; and there remained “the people of the land” , the “unlearned and ignorant” Acts 4:13, “the weak things of the world and the things despised” 1 Corinthians 1:27-28 who bore the very title of their Master, “the poor and needy; poor in Spirit” Psalms 41:1; poor also in outward things, since “they who had lands, sold them and they had all things common” Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:32, Acts 4:35. They were afflicted above…”

“Of thee - In Judea and Jerusalem. Zephaniah 3:13”

“3:12 Jesus the Messiah perfectly expresses the ethical qualities predicted for the godly remnant of Israel (Isa 42:1-4; 53:3, 7-9; Zech 9:9; see Matt 11:28-30; 12:15-21; Phil 2:1-8; 1 Pet 2:23).”

“leave: Isa 14:32, Isa 61:1-3; Zac 11:11, Zac 13:8, Zac 13:9; Mat 5:3, Mat 11:5; Co1 1:27, Co1 1:28; Jam 2:5 and: Psa 37:40; Isa 50:10; Nah 1:7; Mat 12:21; Rom 15:12; Eph 1:12, Eph 1:13; Pe1 1:21 Zephaniah 3:13”