Daily Blast - Minor Prophets: Day 27
Scripture
“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.”
Reflection
So Zephaniah has been God’s mouthpiece to tell the people of Jerusalem to repent because judgment is coming. The book has told how God will use the Babylonian army to destroy Israel – that the nation will be laid waste. He brings judgment because of their idolatry and disobedience.
But now, at the end of the book, God finally offers the people hope. This is the pattern of many of the minor prophets that we have read recently. Again, we get to see how God finds a way for His people to be redeemed and restored. This gives God’s people hope amid judgment. The fire that God sends on the nations is to purify them. His purpose is to transform the nations so they will turn back to the Lord and call on His Name. God had promised to bless the nation of Israel and Zephaniah tells the people that God will restore Jerusalem and cause His people to rejoice. In fact, we are told God Himself sings over His people because “He delights in us”. Can you imagine that: God singing over you..?!!
God shows us that He cannot tolerate violence and injustice because He is righteous and just. So we see God’s justice at work. However, remember that God’s purpose is to restore His world so that people can flourish in safety and peace. We see God’s justice and His love...but will God’s love win?
The book finishes with God gathering His family together and rescuing the outcasts and the marginalised. He restores the disabled ones and those that have suffered shame. This is God’s heart to restore, to heal, and to care for His people.
Challenge
Let’s take a few moments to sing to God and thank Him for both His righteous judgment and His loving kindness. In response, sing a song to God – from you to the Father. Maybe sing one you know or just make one up that expresses how you feel. As you do this, imagine God singing over you, because He delights in you. How cool is that!