Sometimes, reading the message of the prophets, the Major and the Minor Prophets, can become wearisome. It can sometimes seem oppressive. It can even leave us feeling a tad depressed. The book of Zephaniah is really no different. The message of judgment looms like a thick black cloud. But no matter how depressing the message of judgment may be, it is never the final word for God’s people. The promise of a new day of blessing awaits God’s faithful remnant, and that promise will come true simply because the sovereign God of creation is the Promise Maker. Zephaniah 3:17 declares, “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 3:17 has been called by one commentator “the John 3:16 of the Old Testament.” What hope and confidence that is for God’s people! Sin will not have the last word. Evil will not triumph. Satan will be judged. God’s people will be vindicated in the end. Yes, sometimes, God’s people get swept up in God’s temporal judgments against sin, but in the end, God’s people are vindicated. They will never face the great and fearful Day of the LORD. The love of God for his people is not a fuzzy, mushy emotion, as today’s culture describes love. God’s love for his people is a steadfast love. It is a love that binds God to his people. Zephaniah 3:17 illustrates that this steadfast, covenant love is shown through God’s decisive action. He is “a mighty one who will save…” The covenant God goes forth as the Divine Warrior who fights for and defends his people. He will vanquish all foes and all who oppose his Kingship and his rule. Over 200 times in the Old Testament, God is called the “LORD of hosts.” In the Hebrew, the word “LORD,” in all capitals, is Yahweh, God’s chosen name for himself. It is his covenant name, which reveals who He is. Yahweh reveals Him as the self-existent, self-sustaining, omnipotent God, who upholds all things by the word of His power. Psalm 93:1 proclaims, “The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty…” The word “hosts” is a translation of the Hebrew word sabaoth, meaning “armies.” The name LORD of hosts emphasizes God’s sovereign control over every power, dominion, force, and realm. He is a God who fights for His people. He is prepared to enter into battle on behalf of his people. No enemy can ultimately defeat us if the LORD of hosts is our King. Zephaniah 3:17 speaks in deep ways about God’s love for his own. “…he will rejoice over you with gladness…” “…he will quiet you by his love…” “…he will exult over you with loud singing.” And Zephaniah, who lived in the late 7th century BC, did not have the greatest revelation of God’s love when he spoke of God’s great love for his people. That is the cross. The cross is central to the Christian faith. The cross is the fullest and most glorious revelation of God’s love. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). If you ever doubt how much God loves you, reflect upon the message of the cross. Zephaniah 3:17 finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He paid the price to ransom us from our sin. He faced the fullness of the wrath of God in our place. There is nothing greater to sing about than what Jesus did for us on the cross. It is God’s beginning to roll back the effects of the fall, which opened the door to sin and misery. When Adam and Eve sinned, sin created a barrier between man and God. What a joy to know that God has brought reconciliation! What a joy to know that our sin has been forgiven! What a joy to know that our relationship to God has been restored. Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are now, and forever more, children of the Living God. We are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). Nothing in all creation can ever separate us from his love (Rom. 8:38). The King of glory, who commands the armies of heaven and who will eventually defeat every enemy arrayed against Him, is none other than Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lord of hosts. Could there ever be greater cause to rejoice than in that?
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Two Lost Sons