Today’s Passage: Zephaniah 3:17-20
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you with his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. — Zephaniah 3:17
When I think about the first part of Zephaniah 3:17 my mind immediately goes to John 1:14. John 1:14 says, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The God of the universe came in the person of Jesus Christ to be in “our midst” and save us. What an incredible thought! How that should fill us with joy.
The second phrase tells us that God rejoices over us and quiets us with His love. When I think of the incarnation and the sacrifice Christ made for our redemption, it reminds me of the way God sees us. He does not see our sin, but the righteousness of Christ. Because of this perfect righteousness, God rejoices over us with gladness. He also quiets us with his love. Isaiah 40:1 says, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” In the difficulties and challenges of life God promises to comfort us and quiet us with His love.
God not only promises to rejoice over us with gladness and quiet us with His love, but He also “exults over us with loud singing”.
According to Merriam-Webster, exult means to be “extremely joyful.” I can hardly wrap my mind around the concept that the King of heaven, the Creator of everything, and the Author of my salvation rejoices over me with loud singing. I can’t imagine what that song must be like, but I revel in the knowledge that God is singing over me.
During this Advent season, reflect on these amazing truths: God is in our midst to save us, God rejoices over us with gladness and quiets us with His love, and God exults over us with loud singing.
Prayer
Thank You, Father, for rejoicing over us with loud singing and loving us so incredibly. In Jesus’s name, amen.