3:12
So we have had the list of people who will be removed from Jerusalem, now we get the type of people who will be left. These will be the meek and humble. Remember that in the beatitudes Jesus said the meek shall inherit the earth (Matt 5:5; Psalm 37:11). These are the ones who will trust in the name of the Lord. Now if we look at ourselves, none of us, by our own nature, fit into the “good” category, but the meek, humble and trusting spirit is what the Lord is working to create within us.
3:13
This good attitude will produce good fruit. The meek and humble will do no wrong and tell no lies. Doing wrong and lying is the very nature of satan. The words of the wicked are utterly untrustworthy. This is in contrast to the Lord, whose words are completely reliable. Complete security will be ours. When we rebelled against the Lord we consigned ourselves to a life of insecurity and fear, that is why worry and anxiety are such a problem. But when we come back to the Lord we start to enjoy ever increasing security.
3:14,15
Most of the prophecy has focused on judgement on Jerusalem and on the other nations, there has not been a lot to rejoice about! Yet now Israel is called upon to rejoice. The start of the gospel is a declaration of our sin. Without a realisation of the reality of our sin, and its consequences there is no gospel, there is no good news. We need to face up to the truth. Yet now Israel can rejoice. Why? Because her punishment has been taken away. The Lord, instead of being her enemy, is now with her. As it says in Ephesians 2:1-3, we were by nature objects of wrath, enemies of God. On the cross Jesus took upon Himself the punishment that should have been ours. There are those who deny the substitutionary nature of the cross, these ideas are completely without foundation, and go against what the Bible teaches. So now we are forgiven and we need fear no harm.
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