The main point of this section is clear: the Lord favours his people and will bless them, transforming their worldwide reputation from shame to glory. At first glance this sounds much more beneficial for Israel, at the sake of the nations. However, this is a fulfillment of God’s beginning purposes—to use his people to bless the whole world (Genesis 12:3; Genesis 22:18; Isaiah 2:2–4).
18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach.