A great truth from the biblical book of Zephaniah
“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
When was the last time you studied the book of Zephaniah in depth? Yeah…me too. But I recently heard a brief message from this powerful little (three-chapter) account that’s tucked near the end of the Old Testament. The book contains two promises: a punitive promise to those who have sought to destroy God’s people that they themselves will be destroyed; and a precious promise to the scattered, exiled children of Israel who have kept faith in God, that He will tenderly gather them home to Jerusalem. In the midst of the latter promise we find the comforting words of 3:17.
Although these words were addressed to the Israelites, they reveal the loving character of the same God who continues to feel this way about all who belong to Him in 2007. The Message renders that same verse this way: “Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.” If you are a believer who has ever doubted the truth of those words, or if you’ve ever gone through a season of “exile,” wandering from the LORD as I have, then please read them again and let them soak in: Our Heavenly Father delights in you. He sings over you. He protects you with a warrior’s might. He loves you tenderly. He gathers you home.
O LORD our God, thank you for these comforting words, this great promise that for all who turn to You in humility, You are mighty to save, tender to comfort, and loving to rejoice over us with singing. Amen.
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