Zephaniah 3:1-20
Tuesday, 27 December 2022
“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
One of the most beautiful expressions of God’s love for His children is seen in our key verse today. Though the judgment of God will come upon the whole world yet a remnant will worship Him- both from the nations and from His own people. Verses 13-20 look to the future millennial rule of the Messiah where a total restoration for His people will take place. After all that His people have gone through, God will honour them with His salvation, His presence and His love!
Verse 12 point to the meek and the humble who trust in the name of the Lord that are left within the city by the Lord. Such are the people who the Lord takes delight in. The haughty, those who rejoice in their pride will be removed- a warning to all who forsake the Lord, His ways and walk in their own thinking. Psalm 25:4 says, “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” How important it is for one to humble himself before the Lord so that he can learn to walk in God’s ways!
The key verse is an assurance for all who go pass through tough times in life, overwhelmed sometimes by the looming problems and difficulties that come across one’s way. A child of God who seeks His face and walks in His way is assured of:
· God’s constant presence- Jesus promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”(Hebrews 13:5). His promised presence always strengthens the believer in time of the most lonely, dark valley experiences he goes through. Every kind of fear is overcome when His sure presence fills us with hope and strength for those challenging moments.
· God’s mighty salvation- “HE will come through for me!”- a declaration of faith that God is mighty to save us from any/every kind of situation. Psalm 27:13 says, “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” There are times we just need to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord (Exo.14:13) in our lives!
· God’s calming love-The love of God that would never let us go! Just as a child enjoys the bosom of a father or mother in a time of his great distress that calms his fears and assures him of their love, so can a child of God rest in the bosom of his heavenly Father who calms his greatest fears or quietens his deep cries with whispers of His love. When we understand how He delights in us and wants to rejoice over us with His singing, it cheers our hearts and lifts our downcast spirit! His promise, “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands…”(Isaiah 49:16) reassures us that we are precious to Him! His love lifts us from every kind of despair.
If you are someone who has not yet surrendered your life to Christ, yet going through a rough patch in life, in His great love, Jesus calls you to Him- He will save your life from the pit of eternal death so that heaven can rejoice over your salvation! Once your life is in Him, He will carry you through this journey of life- His constant presence to guide you and His fatherly love to cover you!
Promise: “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.” -1 John 3:1
Listen - 'You alone can rescue'
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