We've been studying the Minor Prophets in our Wednesday Bible study. Last night we looked at the first half of Zephaniah. When was the last time you read Zephaniah? I'd encourage you to do so - it's only three chapters.
When I was preparing for this study, it hit me like a ton of bricks that God could have ended this message at the end of chapter 3 verse 8. The book begins with catastrophic descriptions of God's judgment on his rebellious and profane people. One of the indictments of the people was that they were complacent (1:12) and had thought that God was just like them (he will do nothing, either good or bad).
After pronoucing judment on the nations, God's words turn to blessing, not cursing; restoration, not destruction. 3:9-20 are a beautiful picture of God's grace. Where did this come from? It certainly did not come from the nations or from Jersualem itself. This grace comes from God alone - according to His loving character and covenant promises.
3:17 is particularly beautiful:
The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
After personally feeling the weight of God's righteous judment on my sin, I was moved to tears last night - and as I prepared this study. I was reminded that we really can't appreciate grace until we first understand the seriousness of our sin.
I can hardly imagine God rejoicing over me - I am still too full of sin. Is there anything more humbling and wonderful than God exulting over you with singing?
If you have owned your sin and trusted Christ as your Saviour and confessed Him as Risen Lord, then God rejoices over you. It is only as we are in Christ - forgiven and reconciled to the Father - that we are a part of this remnant, this restoration people of God.
God sings over His people. Are you one of them?
5 comments:
What a most precious note you have written. Over the past week God has continually been bringing this verse to my memory and attention. For me it is one of my favorite verses because after 8 1/2 years of trying to conceive we finally got pregnant in 2001 only to lose our precious baby at the beginning of the second trimester. It was that verse that God gave me as a comfort.
I could picture or child dancing with Him and Him singing ove her and over me too. what a comfort.
We have never been able to conceive again but I have the precious picture in my mind and heart of our baby with Christ.
Thank you for sharing. It brought me much joy tonight at a time when I am laid up at home for health reasons. It has reminded me to be thankful
How sweet.
Barbara
Its a good thing God sings over us - sometimes our own music is badly out of tune! And sometimes the people around us hit distinctly sour notes. God's music pulls us heavenward, longing for our place in His harmonious choir.
I love that God sings over us... as dirty, broken and imperfect as we are.
Blessings,
Kate
God sings over me? Wow. Oh that I may give my life more and more fully to Him, as an expression of love to His amazing grace. Thank you Terry, for your encouragement!
Blessings,
Paul
This is sooooo true. The more that I come to grips with how ugly I really am, the more beautiful and precious and dear the gospel becomes to me, and the more I exault in it, the more I desire to share it, and the more passionate I am to make sure that my children are taught a proper understanding of it as well. Nothing is bigger than this!
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