Savior – Judy in the Sky

Read Zephaniah 3 – Rebellion and redemption – Jerusalem is in a pridefully broken place, “No one can tell it anything, it refuses all correction. It does not trust in the LORD or draw near to its God.” :2 That sounds very much like the times we are living in.

Things are bad, but look at verse :5! God’s people are not lumped in with the wicked, he is there with them, “But the LORD is still there in the city and he does no wrong. Day by day he hands down justice, and he does not fail. But the wicked know no shame.” :5 And the LORD tells his people to be patient, his justice is coming. (:8)

The remainder of chapter 3:9-20 is overflowing with blessed hope and promise of things to come. I keep reading through it… “For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” :17

Will you meditate on verse :17 for a while? Will you imagine life with the LORD delighting in you and singing joyful songs… Do you ever think of God in this way? He is playful, adoring, and loves you in a way that will calm your fears. We live in a state of tension, yet God’s Word promises things will not always be this way. Look at the protection, “And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you.” Consider all the unseen oppressions we face every day. Traffic and political uncertainty, climate threats, inflation, family discord, taxes… and every other thing that oppresses your spirit will be removed under the LORD’S love and protection.

May Zephaniah set your heart on the LORD in a fresh/refreshed manner. He is the LORD who protects, saves, delights, sings, calms, gathers, restores, gives glory and a name of distinction to his beloved children.

Read Deuteronomy 31 – Moses passes the torch.
Moses is 120 years old. He has led Israel from slavery in Egypt, through 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, right up to the promised land they were about to enter. The LORD himself would cross over the Jordan ahead of them. He would destroy the nations living there and give them possession of their land. Joshua would lead them. It was time to be strong and courageous! (:1-8)
Moses then wrote the book of instructions and gave it to the priests. It was to be carried with the Ark of the LORD’S Covenant. It was to be read every 7 years to all of the people of Israel. He also put it to song (which is recorded in our next chapter). (:19)
Beloved, think about it, every nation I can think of has a national anthem song. It is a song that defines the nation. The LORD gave Moses a song that would stay in the hearts of the people long after Moses was gone.
The LORD had Moses call Joshua to the Tabernacle and he met them there. The LORD said to Moses, “You are about to die and join your ancestors. After you are gone, these people will begin to worship foreign gods, the gods of the land where they are going. They will abandon me and break my covenant that I have made with them….” It starts in vs. :14 and goes on explaining that Israel will abandon the LORD, and that this law would serve as a witness for the LORD against the people. Remember, the LORD knows the beginning to the end. He does not say this might happen. He says it will happen, and indeed, it does.
We have a National Anthem song in the USA. It seems we should be singing it more often and teaching it to our children. Many in our country have lost their way, much like the LORD said Israel would. “God bless America, land that I love, stand beside her, and guide her through the night with the light from above….” Remember, the LORD did not say knowing these things would save them, much like the law does not save us, but it serves as witness to show us our need for a Savior. And praise the LORD, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17