Zephaniah 3:5

“The just Lord [is] in the midst thereof, etc.] In the midst of the city of Jerusalem, where those princes, judges, prophets and priests, were, that behaved so ill, and saw and observed all their evil actions; and yet they were not deterred from them by his presence, even though he is the “just” and Holy One, who loves righteousness, and hates iniquity, and will punish for it; nor were they directed and allured to do what is righteous and good by his example. This character of the just Lord well agrees with Christ, who is perfectly righteous in both his natures, and in the execution of his offices; and is the author of righteousness to his people; and this is to be understood of his…”

“The Jews regard not God's justice manifested in the midst of them, nor His judgments on the guilty nations around. The just Lord--Why then are ye so unjust? is in the midst thereof--He retorts on them their own boast, "Is not the Lord among us" (Mic 3:11)? True He is, but it is for another end from what ye think [CALVIN]; namely, to lead you by the example of His righteousness to be righteous. Lev 19:2, "Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy" [MAURER]. But CALVIN, "That ye may feel His hand to be the nearer for taking vengeance for your crimes: 'He will not do iniquity' by suffering your sins to go unpunished" (Deu 32:4). every morning--literally, "morning by morning." The time…”

“But, beside these “evening wolves in the midst of her,” there standeth Another “in the midst of her,” whom they knew not, and so, very near to them although they would not draw near to Him. But He was near, to behold all the iniquities which they did in the very city and place called by His Name and in His very presence; He was in her to protect, foster her with a father’s love, but she, presuming on His mercy, had cast it off. And so He was near to punish, not to deliver; as a Judge, not as a Saviour. Dionysius: “God is everywhere, Who says by Jeremiah, ‘I fill heaven and earth’ Jeremiah 23:24. But since, as Solomon attesteth, ‘The Lord is far from the wicked’ Proverbs 15:29, how is He said…”

“In the midst - Observing all. Not do iniquity - He will judge them righteously. Every morning - Daily he discovers his displeasure against the wicked. Faileth not - Lets no season slip to convince them, by public and visible punishments. The unjust - But the wicked Jews proceed without shame, and without fear. Zephaniah 3:6”

“3:5 He does no wrong, unlike those mentioned in 3:3-4.”

“just: Deu 32:4; Psa 99:3, Psa 99:4, Psa 145:17; Ecc 3:16, Ecc 3:17; Isa 45:21; Hab 1:3; Zac 9:9; Rom 3:26; Pe1 1:17 is in: Zep 3:15, Zep 3:17; Deu 23:14; Isa 12:6; Eze 48:35; Mic 3:11; Zac 2:5 he will: Gen 18:25; Job 8:3, Job 34:10, Job 34:17-19 every morning: Heb. morning by morning, Isa 28:19, Isa 33:2, Isa 50:4; Jer 21:12; Lam 3:23 bring: Psa 37:6; Isa 42:3, Isa 42:4; Mic 7:9; Luk 12:2; Rom 2:5; Co1 4:5 but: Jer 3:3, Jer 6:15, Jer 8:12 Zephaniah 3:6”

“Jerusalem sins in this manner, without observing that Jehovah is constantly making known to it His own righteousness. Zep 3:5. "Jehovah is just in the midst of her; does no wrong: morning by morning He sets His justice in the light, not failing; but the unjust knoweth no shame. Zep 3:6. I have cut off nations: their battlements are laid waste; I have devastated their streets, so that no one else passeth over: their cities are laid waste, that there is no man there, not an inhabitant more." Zep 3:5 is attached adversatively to what precedes without a particle, in this sense: And yet Jehovah is just beqirbâh, i.e., in the midst of the city filled with sinners. The words recal to mind the…”