God Lives Among You

On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, “Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Zephaniah 3:16-17

MANY TIMES IN Israel’s history the people lost faith, committed sin, and ended up in serious trouble. God, ever merciful, ever loving, rescued them again and again. When they repented, they found him welcoming them all back with extended arms. The God of Israel couldn’t wait to put aside his judgment, because his desire is mercy that then leads to his own rejoicing in us. After all, he created us for his own pleasure. He doesn’t want to leave all the joy and gladness to us!

Perhaps you have committed some sin, or sins, that have left you feeling God has deserted you. Or maybe he simply seems distant, for reasons you don’t know. What is the right response to such circumstances? Call out to him. Cry out for help, strength, and new joy. When you do, the presence of his love will minimize your fears and give you a holy calm.

His promise is not only that he will rescue and restore you but also that he will literally rejoice over you “with joyful songs.” Imagine God himself embracing you with a song on his lips like those of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof or Harold Hill in The Music Man or Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music. God is a singer, and his promise is not only to send help but also to send it with style.