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 by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. – Zephaniah 3:17
Every time we switch on the TV, look at our phones, see a newspaper headline, we are subjected to a barrage of information masquerading as news, most of it is downright unpleasant. I know, it was ever thus, but it seems that there is so much directly competing for our attention, and opinion, these days, and its constant noise fuels our anxieties, insecurities and fears.
Zephaniah experienced many of the same worries in his time, albeit without technology amplifying it. The prophecies he wrote in response emphasised the need for repentance and to worship only God. But the book of Zephaniah also contains this line about God singing over us that should change our perspective forever.
Cast your mind back to the dedications at Eckington a few weeks back. Many of you were there, and will recall the slide show that accompanied the dedication service, where you could see pictures of the family rejoicing over Jude and Josiah. There was no sound with the slides I know, but in my mind, I could almost hear the families singing nursery rhymes, lullabies or worship songs over their children.
Just like in that line from Zephaniah, exulting in them with singing.
How many of us know that God rejoices over us like that too? It’s pretty hard for us to understand just how excited God is about us, and how He too sings over us, singing to His children. Can you just picture God, holding each of us in His powerful, but gentle, arms. He draws us close to His chest, and begins to sing over us as a parent might sing over their child? Calming you, and drowning out the noise of the world in the intimacy of that relationship. And we rest in God’s arms, because of His love for us.
Let’s take another look at that verse:
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 by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17
Today, and every day, God is singing over us, whether we hear it or not. When the noise of this world becomes unbearable, His voice overcomes the noise of politics, the sound of discontent and the empty chattering of culture wars. His voice is all we need. Take some time out to listen, and to hear the voice of God, singing over you.
Here’s some practical things we can do to help us do this. First, find a place where you can rest in silence, then reflect on these things:
- I am a child of God, and God loves me.
- He holds me close and He sings over me with joy.
- God rejoices over me like a family.
- I can rest in Him because He loves me so much.
- Add your own!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
It might help, while you are doing this, to listen to this song:
