Daily Devotions
Zephaniah
"Be glad and rejoice with all your heart"
Text: Zephaniah 3:14
A CALL TO REJOICE GREATLY
The opening words of Zephaniah were troubling ones. The first chapter contained words of grim and somber judgments against Judah (Zephaniah 1).
The latter part of the book of Zephaniah brought much hope. The call to rejoice in the Lord was not misplaced!
“Sing, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
The LORD has taken away your judgments,
He has cast out your enemy.
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
You shall see disaster no more.”
Zephaniah 3:14-15
1.Tender words of love
a) O daughter of Zion.
b) O daughter of Jerusalem.
c) Jerusalem was no longer just a city.
d) It would be called “Zion” now. This word was used symbolically to describe “the city of the living God” (Hebrews 12:22).
e) The people of Zion are addressed tenderly as “daughter”.
2. Every encouragement to respond positively
a) To sing and shout.
b) To be glad and rejoice.
3. Special reasons for this gladness
a) Judgments
The Lord Himself has taken away the judgments against the land.
b) The enemy
God will deal with the enemy. He will cast out the invaders.
c) The Presence of the Lord
i) He is in the midst of His people.
ii) He will reign as King.
iii) He will make His presence as LORD felt.
iv) He will take away all disasters.
These were great reasons for Israel to rejoice and be glad in the Lord!