Our scripture this morning is Zephaniah 3:17 (NET).
The Lord your God is in your midst; he is a warrior who can deliver. He takes great delight in you; he renews you by his love; he shouts for joy over you.
Like most prophets, Zephaniah called Israel to recognize and repent of their sin. His message is short and to the point. However, he also reminds them of the Lord’s immense love for all His children. If He didn’t, why would He bother sending prophets? Psalms 24:8 echoes this: “Who is this majestic king? The Lord who is strong and mighty! The Lord who is mighty in battle!” Here Zephaniah poetically describes God’s protecting love. Author Palmer Robertson calls this verse “the John 3:16 of the Old Testament.” God has promised us redemption through Jesus, forgiving our sins and saving our souls.
Heavenly Father, we are thankful for Your undeserved mercy through Christ our Lord. Bless us to go to share Your love everywhere. Amen.
