Skip to main content

Crooning

            The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

First, this was written about the remnant of Israel. To some extent, it may be said that this is true of us as individuals because it is true of us as a part of the remnant of Israel. In other words, I believe it does apply to us, and to me, but not as if we are (or I am) something special. God didn’t choose Israel because it was great or good.

At the same time, this is one of those verses I struggle to apply to myself. Of course, God is the Mighty Warrior who saves. That’s His job. He could no more not do that than I could give up breathing by force of will. I’m cool with that. But… take great delight? In His love…rejoice over me with singing? I can see God crooning a paternal love song to Jesus, but to me? And the answer is, “Yes, to me, and to you.” Just because the answer is “Yes,” doesn’t mean I live that positive the way that I should. Just because the answer is “Yes,” doesn’t mean we’ll be allowed to live however we like.

But, this passage is the dream – not for God to tolerate, or accept, or enjoy, or even to take delight in, but to take great delight in. This is similar to what was said a week ago about lovingkindness. It’s not just bread and water, it’s let’s pull out the best food.

And He rejoices with singing. I enjoy singing, and some of the songs I enjoy singing most are songs that express my love for and appreciation of God. Could it be that God loves to belt out or croon in baritone to bass range about me? Perhaps you’d prefer Him as a tenor – that’s up to you – but just think about it and rejoice in the God who rejoices over you.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Right Road

          Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:7-12)                  For years before GPSes existed, I told people I wanted something in my car that would tell me, “Turn left in half a mile…turn left in a quarter mile…turn left in 500 feet… turn left in 100 feet…turn left now …You missed the turn, Dummy!” The problem isn’t necessarily that I get lost so much as I’m afraid I’ll get lost. I don’t want to have to spend my whole trip stressing over the next turn. I have the same problem with my spiritual journey.   
Post a Comment
Read more

Died as a Ransom

                 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)                  This is something I’d really rather not think about but here it is and it’s important. I was reading in Bold Love about seeking revenge.  The author wrote of seeking justice when a supposed Christian does something sinful, harmful, and/or horrific, like sexually abusing a daughter.  And the thought that came to mind was of God asking if Jesus’ death was sufficient payment to me for the sin committed against me.                I have no specific longing for revenge, vengeance, or justice. I’m sure there are some lurking somewhere in my heart, but this wasn’t a response to one. It was more a question of principle. Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for to God for our sins.  That’s the standard Sunday Schoo
1 comment
Read more

Out of the Depths

  Out of the depths I have cried to You, Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the sound of my pleadings.   If You, Lord, were to keep account of guilty deeds, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, so that You may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I wait for His word. My soul waits in hope for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning. Israel, wait for the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his guilty deeds . (Psalm 130)             I like Mr. Peterson’s interpretation of the first line. “The bottom has fallen out of my life!” Of course, the problem for some of us is the fact that we’re drama queens, and/or we’re weak. Any time anything happens that disturbs our sense of mastery and control, the bottom has fallen out of our lives. If the past couple of days have taught me anything, they’ve t
1 comment
Read more