Our Singing Savior - The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament
Our Singing Savior
The prophet Zephaniah delivered the word of the Lord during the reign of Josiah, king of Judah, when the people turned toward God in repentance. Zephaniah prophesied that God was going to purge and purify his people Israel. This will bring God so much joy that he will break out into singing. Zephaniah prophesied:
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)
Zephaniah helped God’s people look forward to “that day” when the Lord their God will not only dwell in the Temple but will live among them. John described it this way, “The Word became human and made his home among us” (John 1:14). When Jesus lived among his people, there was cause for cheer and not for fear, just as Zephaniah said. “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17). He is a mighty Savior. With his love, he calms our fears about the wrath of God we know we deserve. And perhaps most surprisingly, he rejoices over us.
When do we see Jesus rejoicing? He helps us to see his rejoicing heart by telling stories. In Luke 15, Jesus told the parable of the shepherd who finds his lost sheep and says, “Rejoice with me” (15:6). He told the parable of the woman who loses a valuable coin and when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me” (15:9). Perhaps best known of all is the story of the father of the Prodigal Son who returns home. The joyful father says, “We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life” (15:23-24). Jesus was picturing for us how his heart bursts into joyful song when the lost are found. And not Jesus only, but all of heaven, for Jesus also said that “there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents” (Luke 15:10).
My mighty Savior who delights in me, loves me, calms me, and rejoices over me, drown out the voice of the evil one who condemns me. Help me to hear your song of joy, forgiveness, and acceptance.
