Zephaniah 3

“The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17, NKJV)

Zephaniah began his little book with a pronouncement of the Day of the LORD, when God would consume everything from the face of the land. Judgment was coming upon Judah for her many sins, and she would go into captivity. But this was merely a dress rehearsal for the devastation that will occur at the end of the age when the LORD gathers the nations to pour out His wrath.

But after this, God will restore Israel. They will be humble and trust in the LORD. They will do no unrighteousness and speak no lies. They will lie down, and no one will make them afraid. Most importantly, the King of Israel, the LORD, will be in their midst, and they will never be afraid again.

Then the LORD Himself will rejoice over them with gladness. They will be His precious and faithful people. He will quiet them from all their trouble with His love, and He will rejoice over them with singing. Can you imagine hearing the LORD joyfully singing over His people? What will that sound like?

Yes, there is a glorious future awaiting Israel. But we do not have to wait until then to have God in our midst. The Holy Spirit already dwells in every born again believer. This is the mystery: Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:37). The Mighty One has saved us. We are accepted in the Beloved, and the Father rejoices over us with singing, as a father rejoices over the child he loves.

If we know that God is singing over us, then how can we let our heart be troubled or afraid?