Zephaniah 3:17 – God’s Song
INTRODUCTION – I preached this sermon in 1995, when we were younger and better-looking. It was a favorite of Pauline Reeves, who loved God, loved music, and loved that God would sing over her. Yes, it is true that God sings over His people, because His Book says so.
- FIRST VERSE – GOD EMPLOYS HIS POWER NOT TO CRUSH US BUT TO SAVE US
The context of Zephaniah is the “day of the Lord,” a time of justice when God intervenes directly and distinctly in human history. He will demonstrate His omnipotence by destroying that which must be destroyed, but remember that, because God is completely consistent, He is mighty in all that He does. He is mighty to destroy; He is also “mighty” to “save.” What we have here is a song of salvation, a song of certainty, based on God’s mighty character and on His close relationship with us. He is not just somewhere alongside – He is”in the midst,” right in the middle of all that we do, of all that we are. Truly, God employs His almighty power to save us.
- SECOND VERSE – GOD EXPRESSES HIS EMOTION BY REJOICING OVER US
The poetic KJV is by far the best translation here: “He will rejoice over thee with joy.” God rejoices with rejoicing, joys with joyfulness. This is a strong expression of a strong emotion. Luke 15:10 reminds us that angels rejoice over the salvation of even one; that joy is not momentary, nor is it confined to the angels, for God Himself is rejoicing and will rejoice. Isaiah 62:5b says, “As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” Are we participating in this joy? We are commanded in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice.” May we join in the joy of our God.
- THIRD VERSE – GOD EXERCISES HIS LOVE TO GIVE US REST
“He will rest in His love”; He will calm us and quiet us with a love so deep, so deeply felt, that it cannot be fully communicated with mere words. We need to let this love stop us and overwhelm us such that we will delight in the kind command of Psalm 46:10a: “Be still and know that I am God.” If we are silent before the Lord, we will hear His lyrics of love.
- FOURTH VERSE – GOD SINGS THE SONG THAT HE HAS WRITTEN
“He will joy over thee with singing.” Note that this song is not a general one; it is specific. It is over you and about you. It is a love song.
CONCLUSION -You know the chorus of this love song. It was written by God the Son while He was on the Cross: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” This excerpt from Luke 23:34 is a true refrain, for the verb tense indicates that Jesus kept repeating these words of forgiveness. Our repeated failures, His repeated forgiveness – the refrain continues. Be still, and look into your heart, into who you really are. Do you love this God Who loves you, Who desires to save you and sing about you? Through a personal faith in the crucified and resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ, each one of us can be certain that this eternal love song will be sung about us.