Sofonias 3
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
Sofonias 3
Guzik - We often underestimate the joy God has in His people, and too often think God is annoyed or irritated with us. “Faulty as the church is, the Lord rejoices in her. While we mourn, as well we may, yet we do not sorrow as those that are without hope; for God does not sorrow, his heart is glad, and he is said to rejoice with joy—a highly emphatic expression.” (Spurgeon)
Sofonias 3
Guzik - Knowing this is the tender love and care of God for us should make us respond two ways. First, we do not fear—if the Mighty One loves us and delights in us this way, what can we be afraid of? Second, we let not your hands be weak—knowing this mighty Lord of Love is for us, we want to be for Him with all of our energy. We will not become weak or weary in our service for Him.
Sofonias 3
Guzik - The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save: This passage gives us definite steps for consolation, as we understand that: • The LORD is in your midst • The LORD is in your midst with power to save • God takes joy in you • God gives you rest in His love • God sings over you John Piper -the most amazing promise of all is in verse 17: “The Lord will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love (or better: he will be silent, i.e., make no accusations, in his love), he will exult over you with loud singing (or: a shout of joy).” Jesus said, “There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” And Zephaniah tells us that when all those repentant, humble, lowly sinners gather before God—what will he do? Will he look down with disapproval, and glower at our guilt, and frown with malevolence? Will he ignore us and look over our heads in sublime indifference? Will he grieve that his flock is so shabby? NO! “He will rejoice over you with gladness … He will exult over you with a shout of joy.” “As a bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:5). Will God Really Exult over Us? We must banish from our minds forever any thought that God admits us begrudgingly into his kingdom, as though Christ found a loophole in the law, did some fancy plea-bargaining, and squeaked us by the Judge. No way! God himself, the Judge, put Christ forward as our substitutionary sacrifice, and when we trust him, God welcomes us with bells on. He puts a ring on our finger, kills the fatted calf, throws a party, shouts a shout that shakes the ends of creation, and leads in the festal dance. Someone may ask: Isn’t that a bit unseemly and undignified of God to get so excited and shout and carry on this way? But I answer: Remember David’s wife, Michal. When David danced with joy before the Lord with all his might, Michal despised this immoderate display of emotion. And the Lord struck her barren for the rest of her life! For he intends to be mightily enjoyed, and one day he will show us how to rejoice with all his might. Another may ask: But doesn’t it belittle God to have him rejoicing over us? Not necessarily. It would be unrighteous if he made us his god—if we and not he himself were the ultimate spring of his joy. But we aren’t. We are not his god. He is his own God. And when we stand before him redeemed in Christ Jesus, he will behold his own handiwork. “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.” According to 3:12 it is God himself who will see to it that there is in the midst of Zion a humble and lowly people who take refuge in his name. Does it belittle the designer of the IDS tower to exult over the beauty of that building at dawn in September? Does it belittle Michelangelo to rejoice with tears as he looks at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? Nor does it belittle God when the divine work of your redemption is done and all the millions are gathered before his throne, the humble and lowly, that God should break forth in singing and rejoice over you with all his heart and with all his soul. Therefore, while the day of the Lord waits, “seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, … seek righteousness, seek humility … Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem” (2:3; 3:14). Amen. (Sermon The Lord Will Rejoice Over You) C H
Sofonias 3
Guzik - As this prophecy develops it seems clear that this return from captivity is later and greater than the relatively soon return from the Babylonian exile. This is especially indicated by the last words of this chapter, which tell us that in the latter days you will consider it (Jeremiah 30:24). Jeremiah here looked beyond his present day and near future to see the latter days. (Jeremiah 30 Commentary) Before your eyes - "Incredible as the event may seem, your own eyes with delight shall see it. You will scarcely believe it for joy, but the testimony of your own eyes shall convince you of the delightful reality (cp Lk 24:41)." (Jamieson) John