Most of us can say that there has been at least one time in our life when we messed things up, got into trouble of some sort or other, or made some big mistakes. Often these mess-ups or mistakes angered some people, particularly if what we did was due to wrong or sinful behavior on our part. It can be painful for us if the one who is angry is a loved one or someone we respect, especially if they remain angry and the relationship is damaged. However, if or when that relationship is restored and forgiven, and we can see their smile upon us again, what joy we have! This is the picture that we see in our Scripture today.
Our Scripture passage is taken from the Book of Zephaniah, an Old Testament prophet. Not a whole lot is known about Zephaniah. He ministered to the people of the Kingdom of Judah during the reign of King Josiah who reigned from 640-609 BC. Zephaniah was a great-great grandson of King Hezekiah, so a distant relative of King Josiah. Over the past several centuries the people of Judah had swung back and forth from faithful worship of Yahweh while under good kings, to worshiping pagan idols under the bad kings. Yahweh was angry with the people for their spiritual unfaithfulness, particularly during the reign of King Manasseh, Josiah’s grandfather. Because of this they were going to face judgment, some of which Zephaniah speaks of in the first 2 ½ chapters of his short book.
The people of the Kingdom of Judah had messed up badly and made some terrible mistakes in their welcome, acceptance, and worship of pagan gods, just like their sister the Kingdom of Israel had, which brought about their downfall. Now the Prophet Zephaniah, along with his contemporaries like Jeremiah, brought God’s message of judgment. Would the Lord ever forgive them? Would his anger remain forever?
When we’ve made some really serious mistakes that put relationships we value at risk, when we’ve messed up badly, we aren’t likely to go around singing. We’re more likely to cry. Yet as our Scripture passage begins, the prophet tells the people to sing and shout for joy (vs. 14). They can be glad because there is coming a day when the Lord will forgive them, when He will cast out the nations that He used in judgment against them (vs. 15).
Zephaniah continues his message, saying that the Lord will rejoice over His people (vs. 17). This includes not just the people of Israel, but everyone who is in a saving relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. We have all fallen into sin at various times and need God’s forgiveness. Zephaniah assures us that God will forgive. He is our Father, and just as a human parent will lovingly calm and quiet a fretting and upset child, and will hold them on their lap, singing them lullabies, so the Lord God does with us, as Zephaniah testifies.
God is singing because He rejoices over His children, delights in them, and feels joy over them. God’s love is not based on our changing moods. His love for us never wavers. It is steadfast, unchanging, and totally reliable. The Lord delights in us, just as a parent singing to a newborn baby.
His love for us is stronger than anything that would try and come against us (vs. 18-20). We need to know how big and strong God is. No matter the size of the problem in our life or the life of a loved one, God is bigger. Even when our catastrophes result from our own rebellion, if we are believers in His Son Jesus, God still comes to our rescue. Whatever troubles overtake us, whatever evils, Jesus is with us. No matter how alone we feel, our strong Savior is with us. No matter what fears ravage us, our God assures us that He is by our side.
In closing, many of us have been brought up and taught that God is a very stern, humorless, frowning deity. However, Zephaniah teaches us here in the middle of our Scripture passage that we have a Heavenly Father who is joyful. We serve a God who saves us from eternal death, and then prepares a place in heaven for us to celebrate with Him for all eternity.
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