The day when the Lord acts is often referred to in the prophets as “the day of the Lord” (Isaiah 13:6, Isaiah 13:9; Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1, Joel 2:11; Joel 3:4; Amos 5:18; Obadiah 1:15; Zephaniah 1:7; Zephaniah 1:14). Although God is always actively governing and guiding world history, his promises and threats are not always immediately realized. The “day of the Lord” is the day in which God fulfils these promises and threats. Often, the day when the Lord acts receives an initial (or a near) fulfilment, as well as a final (or a distant) fulfilment. For example, some references to the day of the Lord refer to the exile of Israel and Judah (Isaiah 13:6–22), judgments upon the Gentile nations (Ezekiel 30:2–19), or plagues upon the land (Joel 1:15 – 2:15). The day of the Lord
refers to any act of judgment by which God punishes the wicked, but they all point to the first coming of Christ Jesus (Acts 2:20) and ultimately to the great, final coming of Christ at the end of days (1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10). The time reference in the verse that we are presently considering has its first fulfilment in the first coming of Christ, and the judgment that fell upon Jerusalem in AD 70 as a result of Israel’s rejection of the Messiah. But the final fulfilment of this day when God acts is the second coming of Christ in judgment.
3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.