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 (ESV)
Music is in my soul. My parents took us to
gospel singing conventions before
there were places like Branson, Missouri with indoor theaters. I can remember sitting on a blanket outdoors listening to singers
telling about Jesus through song. Daddy would always buy the latest Stamps Quartet song book and we would sing on the way home. Lunch was a picnic on the blanket.
Why do we love singing? Because God made us in his image, and he sings over us according to Zephaniah 3:17. Not only does he sing over us, but he rejoices over his people with gladness. This indicates that when God’s people seek and serve him in faithfulness, when we trust him with all our heart, he delights in those who follow him. His joy is released in loud singing.
This Old Testament verse is in reference to the people of Israel who were faithful to the Lord. It is a prophetic word of blessing for those who trust him and follows a prophetic word of judgment for those who do not follow the Lord. Even though it applies to Israel, it can also apply to those who follow Christ Jesus. We have been grafted in as children of God; therefore, he celebrates over us with loud singing. We belong to him as believers having received our salvation through Jesus.
God sings!
People sing!
And they sing the songs of Moses, the servant of God,
and the song of the Lamb, saying.
(Revelation 15:3)
Who are the they in this verse? Some say the remnant of 144,000 and some say those converted and martyred. Either way, it refers to those who endured and held on to faith when threatened with death. Theirs was the victory in Christ by their endurance and the word of their testimony. (Revelation 12:11)
God sings over us, and we sing praise to him about who he is, what Jesus has done for us, and what is to come as we conquer death by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.
For those who believe in Jesus, eternal life with the one who rejoices over us in song is secure.
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