He Is A Mighty Savior

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

WHEN JOSIAH became king at age eight, he inherited a country that had long rebelled against God. When he discovered the scroll of the Law in the Temple at age sixteen, he initiated a massive countrywide reform to return his people to faithfulness to God’s law. The prophet Zephaniah appears to have been part of Josiah’s reform efforts among his people. He explained the judgment they deserved for their religious pluralism, neglect of prayer, and spiritual stagnation. He called them to “seek the LORD, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly” (2:3). Zephaniah portrayed Yahweh as a mighty warrior who would bring judgment but save the remnant who would seek him as their King.

For those who searched for him, there was hope. Zephaniah’s book of prophecy ends with a song of hope and victory sung by the Lord himself over his people. The Lord’s song anticipates the celebration to come when the people he has chosen for himself are restored to him, when their shame will be removed. He will live in their midst, their oppressors will be dealt with, and salvation will come to the outcast.

And he calls us to sing along with him: “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! For the LORD will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the LORD himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster” (3:14-16).

Lord, because you sing this song of salvation over us, we can sing it over our children too. You removed your hand of judgment from us and laid it on your own Son. You are a mighty Savior who takes delight in ________. Your love calms our fears about the future and takes away the shame of the past.