Our Comforting God

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Lord, You are the author of my joy, the bearer of my pain. I come now to worship and adore You.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20

^[14] Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! ^[15] The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. ^[16] On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. ^[17] 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.” ^[18] “I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you. ^[19] At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame. ^[20] At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the LORD.

Meditate

As we finish Zephaniah, reflect on the God who is intimately involved with his creation, who comes in justice and grace.

Think Further

The opening and the closing verses of Zephaniah present an amazing contrast. In the space of three short chapters we have moved from a picture of inevitable, cataclysmic judgment to one of gentle and loving restoration. It is tempting to iron out the tension between these two apparently conflicting views of God. The better way is to follow Scripture and live with the tension. It reminds us that God is mysterious and that we can never fully comprehend him. God is both perfect love and perfect justice.

The picture is one of almost unbearable tenderness. The awesome judge of the nations comforts his people with love and gently sings over them (17). It brings to mind a mother with a distressed child. In the midst of a world that is about to fall apart, the prophet looks beyond to renewed creation and the restored people of God. The word is, “Do not fear” (16). We are reminded of Isaiah (Isa. 43:1-7) and of Jesus’ words to frightened disciples (John 14:27). We can face the future with confidence, knowing that whatever happens, beyond the pain and uncertainty, beyond the sense of shame and failure, a new heaven and new earth await where God comforts suffering people (Rev. 7:15-17).

For Zephaniah’s contemporaries the thought of home (20) meant return to the land; for Christian readers, home is different. We are at home when we are with God, in the present or the future, in this age or in the age to come. Our orientation is of the lost son coming to his senses and heading home to the Father. The Lord our God is with us (17); we think of Isaiah’s Immanuel prophecy and its fulfillment in Jesus (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:22-23). God is with us now in ways that Zephaniah could not have predicted, and there is more to come.

Apply

What is the most important thing you have learned from Zephaniah? What life-changing application are you making?

Closing prayer

Heavenly Father, You are the God of great surprises. There is always something new in the future. I look forward to today, awaiting what is in store for me.

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