Advent: From Judgement to Joy

Joy To The World

Isaac Watts wrote the Hymn “Joy to the World” in a book of poems in 1791. Until tow weeks ago when Dr. Mohler brought it up at my graduation, I had no idea Watts wrote the hymn celebrating the return of Christ to rule as King, the second advent.

“Joy to the World! The Lord has come. Let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare him room!”

But there is a connection to the first advent. One commentator of the song noted,

“The song is about Jesus' final coming to earth when “the Savior reigns” and when “He rules the world with truth and grace”. The phrase "joy to the world" refers to the joy that the birth of Jesus brings to the world, as it marks the beginning of the redemption of humanity and the promise of eternal life.”

It is appropriate that we sing the song during the Christmas season because Christmas is about advent, waiting for the Messiah to come. As we wait for the second return of Christ, we are in many respects like those in Zephaniah’s day waiting for the first coming of Christ. Their wait was long and hard because Israel was prone to wander away from Gods commands, breaking his covenant. By the time you read the book of Zephaniah, judgement was looking over Israel. There does not seem like there is much reason to rejoice.

Day of Judgement

Zephaniah was a prophet of the Lord who lived during King Josiah’s reign between 640 and 609 B.C. Keep in mind, Josiah was the son of King Amon. His grandfather was King Manasseh. Both men were very wicked rulers. They led God’s people into idolatry, specifically the worship of Baal and Molech. King Josiah, Amon’s son, was righteous and sought to bring reforms to Judah.

Josiah heard the law of the Lord read along with all the inhabitants of the Jerusalem. Being convicted by God’s word, Josiah ordered reforms such as

2 Kings 23:4–8 ESV

4 And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second order and the keepers of the threshold to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel. 5 And he deposed the priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to make offerings in the high places at the cities of Judah and around Jerusalem; those also who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and the moon and the constellations and all the host of the heavens. 6 And he brought out the Asherah from the house of the Lord, outside Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron and beat it to dust and cast the dust of it upon the graves of the common people. 7 And he broke down the houses of the male cult prostitutes who were in the house of the Lord, where the women wove hangings for the Asherah. 8 And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had made offerings, from Geba to Beersheba. And he broke down the high places of the gates that were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on one’s left at the gate of the city.

In the midst of these reforms, Zephaniah writes this letter, sometime between 640 and 612 B.C. His primary purpose was to urge Judah to repent, seek the Lord in righteousness and humility (Zeph 2:1-3). God’s judgement was looming and the Day of the Lord was upon them (Zeph 1:4-13; 7-18; 2:2-3).

In biblical times, notes Gregory Parsons, “capturing a city through siege warfare took months or even years; only a truly mighty warrior king (see the Lord’s titles, 3:15, 17) would claim to win a battle or even a war in a single day. The day of the Lord was any time he “visited” earth, whether to punish his enemies (1:7–9, 12) or save his people (2:7; cp. 3:17). (Parsons, Gregory W. 2017. “Zephaniah.” In CSB Study Bible: Notes, edited by Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax, 1436. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.)

Within this judgment was hope. God would not let his anger consume everyone. Zephaniah speaks to the remnant of the Lord. The remnant are a small group of survivors who did not bow to idolatry. Although God would destroy the wicked of Judah, he would spare some to worship him and ensure His promise of a Messiah would be fulfilled.

In chapter Zeph 1:2-6, God announces his judgement agaisnt Judah. The rest of the book describes the Day of the Lord:

the Day of sacrifice and punishment (Zeph 1:7-9),

the coming wrath (Zeph 1:10-18),

repentance is still possible (Zeph 2:1-3),

let the nations be warned (Zeph 2:4-3:8),

and the anticipation of hope (Zeph 3:9-20),

which is where we land this morning. God is serious about his judgement, but his is just as serious about his hope.

Every time you read of God’s judgement, you will also read of God’s hope for restoration. Parsons says,

“The prophet, Zephaniah focuses on the need to live in righteousness before God. Of all the prophets, Zephaniah probably gave the most forceful description of judgment, but he also lifted up the possibility of restoration for those who repented and turned to righteousness. (Parsons, Gregory W. 2017. “Zephaniah.” In CSB Study Bible: Notes, edited by Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax, 1435. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.)

We are so much like Israel. We have lost our way as a nation, and I’m afraid the church might be in the same boat. We are prone to wander, to leave the God we love. The message of the gospel is first a message of repentance before it is one of redemption.

Prepare Him Room: Repentance

In the hymn “Joy to the World,” there is a lyric that says, “Let every heart prepare him room.” Repentance is the first preparation for the Christ to come. It was the message of Zephaniah. God warns Judah through his prophet

Zephaniah 2:1–3 ESV

1 Gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation, 2 before the decree takes effect —before the day passes away like chaff— before there comes upon you the burning anger of the Lord, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the Lord. 3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord.

Seeking the Lord with humility is recognizing your sin and turning from it. Turn from your sin and do his just commands. For those who repent, redemption is a beautiful reality, a reason for joy.

Redemption

In the Old Testament, redemption is the act of God by which he delivered his people from bondage. The exodus of Israel from Egypt and the later deliverance of Jerusalem from exile in Babylon are seen as definitive examples of God’s redeeming acts.(Manser, Martin H. 2009. Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.)

God redeems his people. In Zephaniah, the remnant who repent and live righteously, God encourages them to celebrate and rejoice in verses 3:14-20. Joy is the appropriate response to God’s redemptive work. For most of the book, the Day of the Lord has painfully drained hope from the heart of Judah. But for those who repent, for those who truly turn toward Him and live righteously, God says

Zephaniah 3:14 ESV

14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!

When His people humble themselves and repent, three redemptive acts of grace are deployed that bring joy to the heart of the redeemed.

God forgives their sins (Zeph 3:15)

Zephaniah 3:15 (ESV)

15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you……

Judah’s idolatry led her away from the Lord and his commandments. Aside from worshiping God wrongly, such as offering their children as a sacrifice, their culture and society was steep in immorality.

They were prideful and arrogant against the Lord in their community and homes. Judahs religious and political leaders were fools. Infidelity and corruption plagued marriages and businesses. Morals and truths were relative; everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Their society suffered God’s judgement for it.

In may respects, we are no different than Judah. James Bruckner poignantly notes that, the world experiences God’s judgment against sin daily, especially sins of human arrogance against God and his good creation. The violence of war maims children. Human pollution destroys soil and drinking water. Famine emaciates. Extramarital sexuality spreads dozens of debilitating diseases. Children suffer the sins of parents’ uncommitted dalliances. Greed is eventually judged through calcified corruption that handcuffs economies and traps the populace in cycles of uncertainty and poverty. National corruption and the lies of government propaganda are judged through a populace’s frustration, radicalization, or acts of terror. God’s judgment of corruption in the world’s societies is reported as news every day. These judgments are not the final judgment, but they are, nonetheless, real judgments in Zephaniah’s tradition. (Bruckner, James. 2004. Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah. The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

We bear the guilt of the sins. I think America, as a nation, is bearing the guilt of her sin, and at some level I think we know the it. The guilty and the shameful feel no joy. They feel the weight. Guilt and shame are burdens that can only be lifted by forgiveness; God’s forgiveness.

Zephaniah tells the remnant of Judah to sing, shout, and exult joy in their heart because God has taken away their sins. He’s removed their guilt. The burden of their sin has rolled away. The fruit of forgiveness is joy, God’s joy.

God is a God of forgiveness. He delights in forgiving sinners who repent.

Charles Spurgeon captures this the best when he says,

495There is as much joy in the heart of God when he forgives, as there is in the heart of the sinner when he is forgiven. God is as blessed in giving as we are in receiving.—6.77

Charles Spurgeon

It is God’s nature to forgive, meaning it is natural for him. He does not hesitate. God. I love the Martin Manser’s simple explanation of God’s nature to forgive (Manser, Martin, and Mike Beaumont. 2020. Handbook of Bible Prayers. Manser and Beaumont.). He says

“God forgives because it is his nature to do so. Fish swim; birds fly; people breathe; rain falls; the sun shines—and God forgives!” Martin Manser

God describes His heart toward forgiving sinners to Moses when he says,

Exodus 34:6–7 (ESV)

6 “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

The same joy in God to forgive is experienced in the heart of a forgiven sinner.

Friend, have you experienced God’s forgiveness? Have felt His joy over you? He alone can remove your guilt and your shame. Turn from your sin. repent. Receive his forgiveness this morning. You no longer have to live as an enemy to the Lord. All of His enemies are defeated.

God defeats their enemies (Zeph 3:15)

Zephaniah 3:15 (ESV)

‌‌15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies…

Israel’s enemies are still in the land. They were under constant threat of annihilation. At times, Israel felt helpless agaisnt her enemies. in verse 16, Zephaniah says

Zephaniah 3:16 ESV

16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.

Do not become paralyzed by fear. Don’t let the fear of your enemies keep you from rebuilding the city of Jerusalem. Keep doing God’s work. But, how oh Lord? Trust in God’s future grace, His promises. God promised

Zephaniah 3:8 ESV

8 “Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.

God will judge the nations. He will deal with those who have afflicted his people. God is the King, the Warrior King who leads his people to victory. Who can stand before our God? Who can oppress His ways? Moses says,

Deuteronomy 3:24 ESV

24 ‘O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?

What mighty works? How about the mighty work of God saving Judah from the Moabites and Ammonites?

2 Chronicles 20:12–15 ESV

12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.

And Jehoshaphat believed God and stood told all of Jerusalem

2 Chronicles 20:20 (ESV)

20 …… “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.”

And responded to their faith with an ambush against Ammon, Moab, and those on Mount Seir who had come agaisnt Judah (2 Chron 20:22). God’s ambush brought confusion.

2 Chronicles 20:23 ESV

23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

God delivered Judah in such away when Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked and behold there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. All of Judah’s enemies, the Moabites, Ammonites, and those on Mount Seir, were destroyed. God is mighty to save.

There is no enemy in the heaven earth, and hell itself that God cannot destroy. Death cannot lift a finger agaisnt God!

The joy of the Lord is your strength. God fights the battles because God is the only one who can win decisively. So, when he promises all of your enemies will be wiped away, you have reason to rejoice.

There was a time, not long ago, when much of the world rejoiced together. It was at the end of World War II. There was elation all over the Western hemisphere when the Axis powers completely surrendered. The streets of just about every city and town in America was filled with marching bands and confetti. People, overcome with gleeful relief, were hugging and kissing strangers. The world celebrated the war was over.

In the same way, God encourages Judah to rejoice. The war id over. Your enemies are defeated. God has taken them away. You can now rest in His presence.

God will be in their midst (Zeph 3:15-20)

The presence of God is the key source to Judah’s joy. Its what was missing in their idolatry and wayward living. God does not dwell with the wicked. When God redeems His people, the goal is to dwell with them, for them to be in His presence; sins forgiven and enemies defeated. The Lord God, the King is in your midst.

Zephaniah 3:15–20 (ESV)

15 ……The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. 16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. 17 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. 18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach. 19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. 20 At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord.

God presence brings joy to the sinners who mourns (Zeph 3:18)

Those who are humbled by their sin and express repentance will be comforted. Those who were far removed from the “festivals” will be gathered together into the appointed assembly of the righteous. Who can enter into God’s assembly?

Psalm 24:4 ESV

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

Those who are far off will come into God’s presence and know His joy.

God’s presence brings joy to the righteous who are oppressed (Zeph 3:19)

God will deal with those who oppressed Judah. His presence provides security and rest from their enemies. It also provides justice for the evil done to them. I think about Joseph Stowell’s word on God’s justice and how it relates to joy. Stowell says,

God’s justice guarantees that ultimately all that is unfair will be dealt with … In his time and in his own way he will deal with both the injustice and those who have been unjust.

Joseph M. Stowell

The joy of justice is knowing for certain all injustice will be reconciled righteously. For those whose sins are forgiven, justice has been yielded. Now we wait for God to reconcile his justice for good.

God’s presence brings joy to the broken who are afflicted (Zeph 19).

God’s promises to rescue the lame. One of the promises on life in the new kingdom in God’s presence is

Isaiah 35:6 ESV

6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

The blind will see. The deaf will hear. The disabled will be abled. The poor will be rich. The weak will be made strong. The lost will be found. The wayward child will come home.

God’s presence brings joy to the wayward who come home (Zeph 3:20)

The wayward child coming home is God’s heart. He says to his wayward people,

Zephaniah 3:20 CSB

20 At that time I will bring you back, yes, at the time I will gather you. I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes. The Lord has spoken.

God will bring his people home. He will provide for them an inheritance and fortune so renowned the earth will marvel. How will the world marvel? Christmas.

Zephaniah mentions in Zeph 2:1-3, that God is merciful. God is steadfast in his love for His people. So commited is he to His love for His elect, that He sent He Son, His only begotten Son, to take on flesh, coming to the world as an infant child, to experience humanity like us, so He can bring living hope through his death and resurrection (1 Peter 1:3).

You see friends,

Advent joy springs from the arrival of Jesus because though Him our sins are forgiven, our enemies are defeated, and God is in our midst.

From the Cradle to the Cross

James Montgomery Boice said

The atonement is the real reason for the Incarnation.

James Montgomery Boice

On Christmas morning, you cannot look at Jesus in the cradle without gazing beyond the cradle to the cross. The only way you sins are fully atoned for and you experience God’s love in forgiveness is if that child in the manger lives his life for the cross. Thank God He did! And Thank God your sin is forgiven as far as the east is to the west.

Moreover, when Jesus rose from the dead, he conquered our greatest enemies; sin, death, and Satan. Paul states this clearly in 1 Cor 15:55-57

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 ESV

55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The great hymn “In Christ Alone” proclaims:

“No guilt in life, no fear in death This is the power of Christ in me From life's first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destiny No power of hell, no scheme of man Can ever pluck me from His hand Till He returns or calls me home Here in the power of Christ I'll stand”

(In Christ Alone, Songwriters: Donald A. Koch / Andrew Shawn Craig)

Your sins are forgiven. Your greatest enemies are defeated. And your God is in your midst.

When Jesus was born he was called Immanuel, “God with us.” Remember, it has been God’s desire the entire time to dwell with his people; the Garden, the Land, the temple, are all about God dwelling with his people. God came to earth to make a way for us to dwell with him forever.

After Jesus resurrected from the grave, he stayed a short time on earth. Then he ascended into heaven. He gave His disciples a promise that he would send His Spirit to live inside the hearts of His people. At Pentecost, Jesus fulfilled that promise and poured out his Spirit, and continues to pour out his Spirit into everyone who confesses their sin, repents, and puts their trust in Him. Jesus is in the midst of His people. He empowers you with his presence ti live a joy filled holy life that follows God’s just commands.

Joy to the World!

We are in a time of waiting once again. We are waiting for Jesus to return to gather his people and restore all of heaven and earth. We are in advent. In Christ, our sins are fully forgiven. For now we must put up with death and Satan, but in Reve 20, we know what happens to death and Satan. They are bound up and tossed into the eternal lake of fire. And then God promises us,

Reve 21:3-4

Revelation 21:3–4 (ESV)

3 “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Until then we wait for the Lord to return. As we wait, we proclaim, “The time is fulfilled . The kingdom is at hand, repent and believe the gospel.” We also rejoice. We sing with hope and joy,

“No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found.”