3:17
“Then you will know...” “you” here is Israel. God’s people will know their God, they will know that He dwells amongst them. Moreover, Jerusalem will be holy, His people will be holy, devoted to the Lord. This is what will bring true security to the land and its peoples.
3:18-21
“In that day ..” This is the day of the Lord, and on that day Judah will flow with prosperity, and the source of the blessing is the Lord’s house. We tend to read over phrases like “will run with water”, attaching no particular significance to them, but water was in short supply in Israel, so abundance of water is significant.
As well as blessing, the day of the Lord is characterised by judgement, nations which sinned against God will be punished. They will pay for the violence done to Judah. “Innocent blood” here does not imply innocence on the part of Judah, but the uncalled for shedding of blood, ie indiscriminate killing of women and children.
Judah will be inhabited forever. God looks after Judah, we do well to remember this. Judah was not a paragon of virtue, the OT records many sins, but she is still God’s nation. So today, one day God will restore the fortunes of Israel.
The Lord dwells in Zion! He dwells amongst His people.
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