“IT MAY BE YE SHALL BE HID.”
By Wm. J. Boynton
WM. J. BOYNTON. (Newark, N. Y.) Ofttimes while reading this scripture, this clause seems to hang all our hopes on a brittle thread — that after all our struggles in the work of overcoming, there will be only a chance of our being saved. We might possibly pass the test, and we might not. Is this the meaning of this passage? In the light of the doctrine of justification by faith, I have come to a different view of its meaning. God says He is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20); and that “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20); also that “the peace of God . . . shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7); and again: “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.” Col. 1:12, 13. Then in the end shall all this be a failure? — No! no! this cannot be. It seems clear to me now that the expression in Zeph. 2:3, “It may be ye shall be hid,” is a statement showing that by complying with the condition, it is our privilege to be hid. The qualities of meekness and righteousness we must possess to be like Jesus. For “when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” Righteousness was the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins. Isa. 11:5. He says: “Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matt. 11:29. The home of the saved is a place “wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13) and meekness. Ps. 37:11. Thus this test in Zephaniah is not only a command, but a kind invitation from a loving Father to cause us to seek for those heavenly qualities so necessary to a work of faithfulness here, and also that we may be among the “hidden ones” in the day of His fierce anger. Take another text with a parallel expression: “And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise Him up at the last day.” John 6:40. Then it is His will that every one should be saved. So it is His will that I should be saved. We may have salvation if we will. O blessed assurance! Brother, sister, let us look up and rejoice.