Friday, December 20, 2024  //  Day 20

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. —Zephaniah 3:14–17

Have you ever considered how much singing there is in the Bible and how Christians are a peculiarly singing people? Christianity is not the only religion that sings, of course, but there can be little question that the manner and motivation of our singing, as well as the proliferation of Christian songs over the years set Christianity apart from other religious belief systems and traditions.

In today’s passage, the faithful are called upon to sing, and even to shout as an expression of the depth of their joy as they rejoice and exult with all their hearts (v. 14). What is it that prompts such expressions of great joy? Verse 15 provides three reasons. The faithful, covenant-keeping God has removed His hand of judgment, dispelled all the enemies of His people, and – greatest of all! – is in the very midst of His people in such a way that all fear of harm will evermore be but a distant memory. These are great reasons indeed to rejoice in jubilant song!

But there’s an unexpected and profoundly glorious twist in verse 17! Using language that closely parallels verse 14, we discover that the King who delivers us and is in our midst is Himself singing! And what is He rejoicing over with gladness? What is He exulting over with His loud singing? He sings over those of us whom He has saved, who have endured in faith with humility, who have fled to Him for refuge (cf. vv. 12-13).

So, this Advent season, as we sing songs of our “Emmanuel” (God in our midst!), and as we reflect on the “good tidings of great joy,” rejoice and exult with all your heart and join in the song of the angels, declaring, “Glory to God in the highest…” But also sing aloud and shout, knowing that we are not only joining the song of the angels, but we are entering into the joyful singing of God Himself who takes joy over you and the work of grace He has performed!

Lance Claggett