A Day of Hope
Zephaniah 3:8-20
"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)
Those hardheaded Israelites had clear warnings to repent and turn from sin, yet again and again they ignored the Lord. Their desire for Him faded. They had become prideful, haughty, prosperous and indifferent to God. They worshiped other gods, preferring the creation over the Creator. Does all of that sound very far from us today? Zephaniah pronounces the judgment that would come against this kind of sin. Yet within that prophecy, there also is a word of hope.
God's help is offered in such desperate times. Look closely at verse 17. God is present with you; you are not alone. He is mighty to save, His power delivering, saving, and giving you victory. He enjoys you as a parent loves a child. His love runs deep, renewing us to Himself. His satisfaction with us is expressed in song.
Jesus took God's wrath for us and gave us His righteousness, so that no matter how hardheaded we are, He still takes great delight in us and even sings over us! We are the recipients of His immeasurable grace.
INSIGHT
There is great hope and relief when we are free of sin and celebrate restoration through Jesus.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Job 26-28
Psalm 55
Luke 18
Zephaniah 3:8-20
8 Therefore wait for me,"
declares the LORD,
"for the day I will stand up to testify.[a]
I have decided to assemble the nations,
to gather the kingdoms
and to pour out my wrath on them—
all my fierce anger.
The whole world will be consumed
by the fire of my jealous anger.
Restoration of Israel’s Remnant
9 "Then I will purify the lips of the peoples,
that all of them may call on the name of the LORD
and serve him shoulder to shoulder.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush[b]
my worshipers, my scattered people,
will bring me offerings.
11 On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame
for all the wrongs you have done to me,
because I will remove from you
your arrogant boasters.
Never again will you be haughty
on my holy hill.
12 But I will leave within you
the meek and humble.
The remnant of Israel
will trust in the name of the LORD.
13 They will do no wrong;
they will tell no lies.
A deceitful tongue
will not be found in their mouths.
They will eat and lie down
and no one will make them afraid."
14 Sing, Daughter Zion;
shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
Daughter Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.
16 On that day
they will say to Jerusalem,
"Do not fear, Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.
17 The LORD your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing."
18 "I will remove from you
all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals,
which is a burden and reproach for you.
19 At that time I will deal
with all who oppressed you.
I will rescue the lame;
I will gather the exiles.
I will give them praise and honor
in every land where they have suffered shame.
20 At that time I will gather you;
at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise
among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes[c]
before your very eyes,"
Zephaniah 3:8-20
"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)
Those hardheaded Israelites had clear warnings to repent and turn from sin, yet again and again they ignored the Lord. Their desire for Him faded. They had become prideful, haughty, prosperous and indifferent to God. They worshiped other gods, preferring the creation over the Creator. Does all of that sound very far from us today? Zephaniah pronounces the judgment that would come against this kind of sin. Yet within that prophecy, there also is a word of hope.
God's help is offered in such desperate times. Look closely at verse 17. God is present with you; you are not alone. He is mighty to save, His power delivering, saving, and giving you victory. He enjoys you as a parent loves a child. His love runs deep, renewing us to Himself. His satisfaction with us is expressed in song.
Jesus took God's wrath for us and gave us His righteousness, so that no matter how hardheaded we are, He still takes great delight in us and even sings over us! We are the recipients of His immeasurable grace.
INSIGHT
There is great hope and relief when we are free of sin and celebrate restoration through Jesus.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Job 26-28
Psalm 55
Luke 18
Zephaniah 3:8-20
8 Therefore wait for me,"
declares the LORD,
"for the day I will stand up to testify.[a]
I have decided to assemble the nations,
to gather the kingdoms
and to pour out my wrath on them—
all my fierce anger.
The whole world will be consumed
by the fire of my jealous anger.
Restoration of Israel’s Remnant
9 "Then I will purify the lips of the peoples,
that all of them may call on the name of the LORD
and serve him shoulder to shoulder.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush[b]
my worshipers, my scattered people,
will bring me offerings.
11 On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame
for all the wrongs you have done to me,
because I will remove from you
your arrogant boasters.
Never again will you be haughty
on my holy hill.
12 But I will leave within you
the meek and humble.
The remnant of Israel
will trust in the name of the LORD.
13 They will do no wrong;
they will tell no lies.
A deceitful tongue
will not be found in their mouths.
They will eat and lie down
and no one will make them afraid."
14 Sing, Daughter Zion;
shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
Daughter Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.
16 On that day
they will say to Jerusalem,
"Do not fear, Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.
17 The LORD your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing."
18 "I will remove from you
all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals,
which is a burden and reproach for you.
19 At that time I will deal
with all who oppressed you.
I will rescue the lame;
I will gather the exiles.
I will give them praise and honor
in every land where they have suffered shame.
20 At that time I will gather you;
at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise
among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes[c]
before your very eyes,"
No comments:
Post a Comment