Zephaniah 3:17 - God Enjoys You.
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) 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."
INTRODUCTION
In one of the most encouraging verses in
Scripture, Zephaniah describes how God rejoices over
his people with singing. The image is of a
beaming parent taking great pride and joy in their
child. The Lord doesn't just love us because he has
to, he loves us because he enjoys us. [NIV Once
A Day Bible]
It is often hard to comprehend that God
enjoys us. but He does. He also wants us to enjoy
Him. I once heard it said that our highest
calling is to enjoy God. I am learning to make sure
I enjoy God every day, all throughout the day,
and I have taken a step of faith and decided to
believe that He enjoys me. I wasted many years
feeling most of the time that He was not pleased
with me because of my imperfections, but I no
longer believe that lie.
Just as we see the flaws of our children
and yet we still enjoy them, God does the same
thing with us.
Roses have thorns, but they are still
beautiful and we enjoy them.
God sees all of my flaws and He still
loves and enjoys me! [My Time with God by Joyce
Meyer]
COMMENTARY PEARL
One day I found myself in another rough
patch because of my health. Despite my best
efforts, I was losing function. Discouragement swept
in like high tide. When I shared my struggle in
an email to my friend Angela, she sent me a
link to an online worship song. I clicked the
link on my laptop. As the music began, my
grandchildren tapped at my bedroom door. They'd just
returned from the park - faces red and sweaty, water
bottles in hand. Pausing the song, I sank to the
floor, and they snuggled into my lap, full of
giggles, with hair smelling of sunshine. My heart
flooded with joy. I was reminded that Jesus often
comforts us in the midst of ordinary moments.
We expect our Savior to strengthen our
faith and rebuild our hope through spiritual
means: worship music, reading Scripture, praying
with a friend. We can get into a habit of seeking
spiritual nourishment only on Sunday mornings or when
we read a devotion during our quiet time. We
may forget that He is speaking to us constantly.
When we acknowledge Him, we learn that He shares
His presence and His blessings through many
means, including the ordinary, humble experiences
of our daily lives.
Today's verse in Zephaniah reminds us
that sometimes Jesus shows His love for us in
mighty acts, sometimes in quiet moments, and
sometimes in exultant song. Let's be alert to various
ways Jesus reminds us of His love today. Sharon
Hinck
Faith Step: List three ways Jesus
recently showed you His love: in a mighty way, a
tender way, and a jubilant way. [Mornings With
Jesus 2021 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
The most common malady of the human
spirit - and the strongest enemy of our faith - is
fear. That's why the most common biblical command
is "fear not," "do not be afraid," or something
similar. "Be strong and courageous," people of faith
are told repeatedly in the Word. The dynamic is
clear: Fear and faith are at opposite ends of a
spectrum, and when we move toward one, we move away
from the other.
But a command to "fear not" doesn't mean
very much unless we're given a good reason. The
human mind usually does not dispense with its
fears without an explanation. Instead, we need to
know why fear is illegitimate and why we should
be courageous and full of faith. So God,
through Zephaniah, gives us our reason. Soon after
He assures the remnant that they will be able
to lie down at night without fear, He tells
them why. Fear is illegitimate because "the Lord
your God is with you, he is mighty to save."
God's people do not need to fear, because He is
powerfully sovereign over everything that can make us
afraid.
We know that intellectually. Our minds
are familiar with this truth. And maybe that's
the problem; familiarity breeds complacency.
Truths that remain only in the mind are taken for
granted and neglected, and they never sink into the
heart, where they can actually impact us where we
hurt. We can remind ourselves repeatedly that God
is mighty to save, but until we feel that truth
in the depths of our heart, we will remain
afraid.
What do you fear today? How do those
fears constrain you and limit what you are able to
do? What task has God called you to do that
would require a scary step of faith? Spend some
time meditating on the God who is mighty to save
- the God who delights in and rejoices over
you - and ask yourself, "Why am I afraid?" Let
the truth of God's power sink in, and you will
be well equipped to take a huge step of faith -
and to lie down at night unafraid. [The One Year
Heaven On Earth Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
Zephaniah 3:17 - The Intimacy of God.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20160617-1523.html
Zephaniah 3:17 - Oh Say Can You See.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20050907-0836.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
