Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Year 6, Day 257: Zephaniah 3

Theological Commentary: Click Here


Discipleship Focus: Father, King

  • Father: This is the pinnacle of the Covenant Triangle.  God is the Father.  He is the creator.  He is love.  Our relationship with the Father is rooted in His love for us.  We get our identity through Him.  When the Father is in our life, obedience becomes clear.
  • King: This is the pinnacle of the Kingdom Triangle.  When we look towards God’s position in the universe, we acknowledge that He is an omnipotent king.  Authority comes from Him.  Power comes through His authority.  He is looking for representatives for His kingdom.

I love the words of restoration found in this chapter.  These are words spoken over the nations – after the haughty and the proud are removed.  These are words spoken over all the people who come before God seeking His salvation.

In this chapter, we hear words of peace and joy and love.  It is the Lord who takes away our judgments against us.  He clears away our enemies.  He is in our midst.  It is on account of Him that we shall not fear our enemies.  He saves us.  He rejoices over us!

This one causes me to pause.  He rejoices over us.  We sin.  We rebel.  We chase after false gods.  We turn.  We repent.  He rejoices over us.  How cool is that?

He quiets us with His love.  He sings over us.  He gathers us so that we no longer suffer reproach.  He deals with the oppressors.  He tends the lame and gathers the outcast.  He changes shame into praise.  He brings us in.  He restores our fortune.

I need to hear those words today.  It is so easy to only see my failure and weakness.  It should be about Him and His work, not mine.  He is in control.  He is the mighty one.  He is powerful.  The world rests in His hands, not mine.  Thanks be to God!  He is King of the world, as it should be.  He is our forgiving Father, as we need Him to be.

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