The judgement of the royal family

“The day of the Lord is near” (v 7) is the theme of this prophetic book. “The day of the Lord” refers to the time of judgment that we call the Great Tribulation. On that day, God’s judgment will come upon sin and social injustice. (1) It says, “The Lord has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests.” Sinners are set apart (consecrated) for judgment. They will be destroyed, and their corpses will become food for the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field. This is the meaning of “He has prepared a sacrifice” (ref. Ezek. 39; Rev. 19). (2) On the same day, judgment will also come upon the royal family (the officials and the princes). They wear foreign garments and adopt foreign customs. The Law of Moses contains regulations concerning clothing (Num. 15:38-39; Deut. 22:11-12), but they disregard them. (3) Furthermore, “all who leap on the temple threshold” will be judged. This likely refers to idol worshipers. (4) Those “who fill the house of their lord with violence and deceit” will also receive judgment.

The judgement of the merchants

Merchants will also be judged on “that day.” This is the judgment of the common people. (1) “The Fish Gate” was located in the part of the wall newly built by King Manasseh (2 Chron. 33:14). “The Second Quarter” refers to the lower city of Jerusalem, and “the hills” refer to the elevated areas within the city. All of these were residential areas of the common people. (2) “The Mortar (Maktesh)” refers to the Tyropoeon Valley (the valley west of the City of David that separates the upper city from the lower city). All of these areas will be destroyed because injustice and unrighteousness in business had become widespread. (3) The Lord searches out not the righteous but the sinners with a lamp (v 12). This is because the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem were “stagnant in spirit” (useless and self-satisfied). Their theology that says, “The Lord will not do good nor harm,” is mistaken. (4) It says, “Their wealth will become plunder and their houses desolate” (v 13). On the day of the Lord, judgment will be carried out thoroughly. The reason God gives such warnings is because He loves His people. A healthy fear leads a person to repentance. Let us listen to the teaching of Peter: “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth” (1 Pet. 1:17).