Zephaniah 3:16-17 says,
16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.
17 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."
Our Wednesday evening Bible class has been studying the Old Testament minor prophets, and we are currently in Zephaniah. What a picture we have painted for us in Zephaniah 3! The city of Jerusalem was under siege. It was being punished by God for her many sins as detailed in verses 1-7. The Lord Himself was depicted as leading the assailing force, pouring out His wrath, and striking the city in His righteous, fierce anger. The devastation was so complete that it seemed as if it was going to overflow and consume the entire world in an awesome, blazing inferno (verse 8).
And then, through the vision comes an amazing discovery. As that dreadful night of judgment comes to an end, and day dawns bright upon the horizon, we realize there are survivors! We see God's scattered people, now purified, and returning to worship their God (verses 9-10). We realize that the arrogance that characterized the people of Jerusalem had been burned away, and the city now held only the meek and humble who would do no wrong (verses 11-13). And we hear a mighty voice raised in triumphant song, tentative at first, but soon swelling in a glad chorus of joy as the people of the city realize that God is with them, and He will quiet them with His love (verses 14-18). And suddenly we see the city itself begin to glow, as God gives His now holy people the honor and praise they thought that they had forfeited forever by their sin and rebellion (verses 19-20).
Just so we need to remind ourselves. When you or I suffer under the discipline of God, everything seems so dark. We feel crushed, unable to go on. As the Hebrews writer states, “All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11). Yet if we were only to look beyond and into tomorrow, we would catch a glimpse of the sight seen by Zephaniah. Can you see just beyond the horizon of your dark today to the bright and glorious dawn of what God intends for you tomorrow?
We sin when we pursue happiness by cutting ourselves at the expense of cutting off ourselves from fellowship with God – the only Person Who can make us truly happy. Zephaniah points us to the way of gladness and joy that is the result of our allowing God to be Immanuel, "God with us". We do that by faithfully following Him and obeying His blest commands. Then God rejoices over us with singing! If you want to be truly happy, then draw close to the source of wonder, joy and happiness by obeying the Lord and Creator of the universe. May the Lord bless you!
16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.
17 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."
Our Wednesday evening Bible class has been studying the Old Testament minor prophets, and we are currently in Zephaniah. What a picture we have painted for us in Zephaniah 3! The city of Jerusalem was under siege. It was being punished by God for her many sins as detailed in verses 1-7. The Lord Himself was depicted as leading the assailing force, pouring out His wrath, and striking the city in His righteous, fierce anger. The devastation was so complete that it seemed as if it was going to overflow and consume the entire world in an awesome, blazing inferno (verse 8).
And then, through the vision comes an amazing discovery. As that dreadful night of judgment comes to an end, and day dawns bright upon the horizon, we realize there are survivors! We see God's scattered people, now purified, and returning to worship their God (verses 9-10). We realize that the arrogance that characterized the people of Jerusalem had been burned away, and the city now held only the meek and humble who would do no wrong (verses 11-13). And we hear a mighty voice raised in triumphant song, tentative at first, but soon swelling in a glad chorus of joy as the people of the city realize that God is with them, and He will quiet them with His love (verses 14-18). And suddenly we see the city itself begin to glow, as God gives His now holy people the honor and praise they thought that they had forfeited forever by their sin and rebellion (verses 19-20).
Just so we need to remind ourselves. When you or I suffer under the discipline of God, everything seems so dark. We feel crushed, unable to go on. As the Hebrews writer states, “All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11). Yet if we were only to look beyond and into tomorrow, we would catch a glimpse of the sight seen by Zephaniah. Can you see just beyond the horizon of your dark today to the bright and glorious dawn of what God intends for you tomorrow?
We sin when we pursue happiness by cutting ourselves at the expense of cutting off ourselves from fellowship with God – the only Person Who can make us truly happy. Zephaniah points us to the way of gladness and joy that is the result of our allowing God to be Immanuel, "God with us". We do that by faithfully following Him and obeying His blest commands. Then God rejoices over us with singing! If you want to be truly happy, then draw close to the source of wonder, joy and happiness by obeying the Lord and Creator of the universe. May the Lord bless you!
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