Eze 37:24-26 And my servant David shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. 25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children’s children, for ever: and David my servant shall be their prince for ever.

The main lesson for the Christian is to understand where we are chronologically. Matthew tells us what to the expect during the parousia of our Lord. We see the fig tree (Israel) blossom, that is show signs of life, and are told that this generation who witnesses that event will not perish before all is accomplished. We are hoping the blossoming is 1948, but it could be 1967, in any event we are at “the end”. Time is short. We need to wake up, trim our lamps, and go out to meet our Lord!

Without God’s protection and providence, we are nothing. We may think we have youth on our side, but the times will be so hard and seem like it will go on forever, we will not have the stamina to get through these times if the Lord didn’t take care of us. God will “renew their strength” because they will be on their last leg so to speak.

Imagine even the very best of them being like a “brier,” that is, sharp and dangerous! “The day of thy watchmen and thy visitation [punishment—RSV]” was the day of judgment. The prophets were the “watchmen” of the day of trouble. This thought is based on the fact that fortified cities in the past had walls upon which watchmen took turns day and night to look for approaching trouble, enemies, etc. That way the city could always be warned of impending trouble. Similarly, the Lord had some prophets arise late and early to watch over His people, Israel. Warnings were continually given of a coming day of judgment if the people did not repent and change their evil ways. Here Micah said that the day of judgment had come, that the experience was upon them.

In the antitype, Christendom will be in this situation, especially after the Harvest when “summer is ended” and the “salt of the earth” has been taken away (Jer. 8:20; Matt. 5:13). For the most part, no righteous man will remain (except the Great Company, who will not have a stabilizing effect on society).

The “high ones … and the kings of the earth … shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall … be visited.” The picture changes here. Earlier verses show how the Time of Trouble will affect all society with disarray and harsh experiences. The condemnation will be particularly on the “high ones” of the earth. When earth is viewed throughout its history, there have been cycles of conditions leading up to a climax requiring judgment: guilt and sin, then judgment; guilt and sin, then judgment; etc. But many have died without receiving judgment, punishment, or retribution. Now the wicked flourish “like a green bay tree” (Psa. 37:35), and those who tempt God seem to prosper. Verses 21 and 22 are summarizing that down through history, those who have failed in their stewardship of responsibility will not escape retribution.

God “girded” Cyrus in two ways: (1) He gave Cyrus supernatural power in overcoming his enemies. (2) God prepared Cyrus as a child and fashioned him for his future work; He trained him for his position as general and renowned conqueror. Not only was God’s providence over the victories Cyrus later attained, but that providence operated from his earliest youth—even from his baptism, as it were, when he was given the name Cyrus. Thus God’s remarkable foreknowledge was displayed 150 years before the events occurred.

Ezekiel tells us that a sixth of this host will survive the destruction (their purpose being to bury the dead and go back to their homeland to tell the great miracles of the Lord and that He fought for Israel and saved them. It will take 7 months to bury the dead.

There are many other things that happen at this time, with the Ancient Worthies (Hebrews 11)being resurrected and in power (fathers will become princes–Psa 45:16) They will be the visible government for Jesus and his Bride who are of the Divine Nature like God. But that is another study.

It is profitable to think of this verse in two ways: despise not prophecy and despise not teachings. Especially here in this epistle, which contains a lot about prophecy, that thought should be included in the admonition. “Despise not instruction” is another way of expressing this verse, and the instruction includes heeding times and things in season for the end time. We should be particularly interested in prophecy about the end of the age because of the day in which we are living.

We should not neglect study or hearing the thoughts of elders. Since those who are given to works might neglect study, there is a danger in putting too much emphasis on works.

As the enemy roars, Israel will be frozen with terror, powerless to deliver itself. This verse indicates that the enemy is succeeding and there is no hope for Israel. In Scripture, a lion is noted for the strength of its jaw and its roar. When a lion captures a prey, its powerful jaws scrunch the animal, bones and all, in the eating process. Here the lion has the victim in its jaws and is carrying it away. The sound of the flint on the pavement and the roar of the lion both cause terror to the beholding victim.

Zephaniah was a prophet for the 2 tribe Kingdom (Judah and Benjamin) probably during the reign of King Josiah. He was a contemporary of the Prophet Jeremiah. His prophecies had to do with the coming destruction by King Nebuchadnezzar, but those prophecies have a duel application to the End of the Age which we live in. More particularly the fall of Mystic Babylon (Christendom) and the invasion of Israel by Gog and Magog (a.k.a. Armegeddon, Valley of Jehoshaphat, Gog and Magog).