God is Mighty to Save
Zephaniah 3:14-20
14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 15 The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. 17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. 18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. 19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. 20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
Introduction – The book of Zephaniah was written to warn of impending judgment on Judah. In the midst of the doom however, the book ends with a promise of restoration, forgiveness and blessing. As the book comes to a close, we find the powerful statement mentioned above in chapter 3 verse 17. From this verse we can glean the following 4 encouraging truths.
- The Lord is among His people
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17) What a comfort it is to know that God is with His people even in the most challenging circumstances. Grab a hold of that fact without allowing your feelings and your circumstances to control you. He is the One who said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). The Lord is always with His people even though we may not feel like it at times.
- He takes delight in you
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17) Today many people are battling an identity crisis. Not just knowing who they are, but who they are in Christ. Many are struggling today with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, addictions, pain. They struggle with rejection, feeling unloved, low self-esteem and a sense of unworthiness. . What is your condition today? Does it seem like everything you touch turns to tears. If so, the good news is that God takes great delight in you. In fact, man is God’s supreme creation. The Bible says that God knows you by name, you are His prized possession and that He takes great delight in you. Would you rather believe your feelings, others opinions, or the truth of God’s word? The latter part of Zephaniah 3:17 further adds to this thought by saying that “He will rejoice over you with singing”. Isn’t it amazing that the living, Creator God sings over us with joy?
- He is mighty to save
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17) When we trust Jesus, His resurrection power works in us. That power can deliver and save us from every attack of the evil one.
No power on earth and no demon in hell can overcome you when God is on your side. If I were walking down a dark alley and two strong men were waiting to overpower and rob me, it wouldn’t be too difficult for them. However if we re-enact the same situation, this time with the Heavyweight boxing champion of the world walking by my side, the end result will be changed completely. How much more secure we are when Jesus, the living Savior, dwells in us!! He is mighty to save. He is the almighty champion of all.
- With His love He will calm (quiet) you
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17) In a world filled with stress God gives His children true and lasting peace. It is a peace that passes human understanding (Philippians 4:7 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.). Have you noticed how people generally speak fast and loud when they are excited or facing a sudden crisis? That’s exactly the time that God can bring His calmness into our life. He hears your every cry. No matter how large a crowd may be around, a mother always hears the voice and the cry of her child. She rushes in to embrace, comfort and calm the troubled child. How much more would God bring His calmness to us, who are His children. In fact, the Bible says that even though a mother may forget her child, He will not forget us. (Isaiah 49:15 15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.)
- He will rejoice over you with singing
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17) The latter part of Zephaniah 3:17 further adds to this thought by saying that “He will rejoice over you with singing”. Isn’t it amazing that the living, Creator God sings over us with joy? When we acknowledge God and who He is… When we acknowledge God and realize that He is with us.. When we realize that our God is mighty, mighty to save. When we embrace God, in fellowship and relationship, and trust in Him, He takes great delight in us. He is our source and strength He is our rock and fortress He will rejoice over you…with singing. Our Lord God, sings over us…Psalm 42:8 Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.