Albert Barnes Commentary Zephaniah 1:12

"And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps; and I will punish the men that are settled on their lees, that say in their heart, Jehovah will not do good, neither will he do evil." — Zephaniah 1:12 (ASV)

I will search - (Literally, “diligently”). The word is always used of a minute, diligent search, by which places, persons, and things are searched and sifted one by one in every corner, until it is found whether a thing is there or not. Hence, it also refers to the searching out of every thought of the heart, either by God (Proverbs 20:27), or in repentance by the light of God (Lamentations 3:40).

Jerusalem with candles - so that there would be no corner, no lurking-place so dark, that the guilty would not be brought to light. The same diligence which Eternal Wisdom used to seek and to save that which was lost, lighting a candle and searching diligently (Luke 15:8), until it finds each lost piece of silver, Almighty God will use so that no hardened sinner will escape.

Cyril says: “What the enemy would do, using unmingled frenzy against the conquered, that God fits to His own Person, not as being Himself the Doer of things so foreign, but rather permitting that what comes from anger should proceed in judgment against the ungodly.” It was an image of this when, at the taking of Jerusalem by the Romans, they “dragged out of common sewers and holes and caves and tombs, princes and great men and priests, who for fear of death had hidden themselves.”

How much more in that Day when the secrets of all hearts will be revealed by Him who searcheth the hearts and reins (Psalms 7:9; Psalms 26:2; Jeremiah 11:20; Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 20:12; Revelation 2:23), and to Whose eyes, which are like flashing Fire (Revelation 1:14), all things are naked and open!

The candles with which God searches the heart are men’s own consciences (Proverbs 20:27), His Own revealed word (Psalms 119:104; Proverbs 6:23; 2 Peter 1:19), and the lives of true Christians (Philippians 2:15). These, through the Holy Spirit in each, may enlighten the heart of man, or, if he does not take heed, will rise in judgment against him and show the falsehood of all vain excuses.

There is only one way of escape: If we judge ourselves, we shall not be judged. I will search out my own ways and my desires, so that He who shall search out Jerusalem with candles, may find nothing in me unsought and unsifted.

For He will not judge the same thing twice. May I so follow and track out all my offenses, that in none I need fear His piercing Eyes, in none be ashamed at the light of His candles! Now I am seen, but I do not see. Near is that Eye, to whom all things are open, although Itself is not open. One day I shall know, even as I am known (1 Corinthians 13:12). Now I know in part, but I am not known in part, but wholly.

The men who are settled on their lees - Stiffened and contracted. The image is from wine which becomes harsh if allowed to remain upon the lees, unremoved. This is drawn out by Jeremiah: Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity; therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed (Jeremiah 48:11).

So they on whom no changes come, fear not God . The lees are the refuse of the wine, yet stored up (so the word means) with it, and the wine rests, as it were, upon them. So men of ease rest in things defiled and defiling, their riches or their pleasure, which they hoard up, on which they are bent, so that they, as Dionysius says: “do not lift their mind to things above, but, darkened with foulest desires, are hardened and stiffened in sin.”

That say in their heart - Not openly scoffing, perhaps thinking that they believe; but people do believe as they love. Their most inward belief, the belief of their heart and affections, what they wish, and the hidden spring of their actions, is, The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil.

They act as believing so, and by acting accustom themselves to believe it. They think of God as far away: Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are! And thou sayest, How doth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud? Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the circuit of heaven (Job 22:12–14). They also think, as it is written, The ungodly in the pride of his heart (thinks); He will not inquire; all his devices (speak), There is no God. Strong are his ways at all times; on high are Thy judgments out of his sight (Psalms 10:4–5). And again, They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless, and they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it (Psalms 94:5–6).

Such things they did imagine and were deceived, for their own wickedness blinded them. As for the mysteries of God, they knew them not . Faith without works is dead (James 2:20). Faith which does not act dies out, and in its place comes this other persuasion: that God will not repay.

There are more Atheists than believe themselves to be such. These act as if there were no Judge of their deeds, and at last come to believe that God will not punish (Isaiah 5:19; Malachi 2:17). What else is the thought of all worldlings, of all who make idols to themselves of any pleasure or gain or ambition, but God will not punish? Or, God cannot punish the (wrongful, selfish) indulgence of the nature which He has made. Or, God will not be so precise. Or, God will not punish with everlasting severance from Him, the sins of this short life.

And they do not see that they ascribe to God what He attributes to idols—that is, to non-gods: Do good or do evil, that we may be dismayed and behold it together. Be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good (Jeremiah 10:5).

These do not think that God does good, for they ascribe their success to their own diligence, wisdom, and strength, and do not thank God for it. They do not think that He sends them evil. For they defy Him and His laws, and think that they will go unpunished. What remains then, but for Him to be as dumb an idol as those of the pagans?