Sing For Joy

Intro

Tennessee won the baseball championship. I was rejoicing as if I had done something. Truth is, I didn’t do anything to help them win.

Need: Essential truth in Christianity: we did not participate in the victory of salvation. We were recipients of salvation through the work of someone else. We spiral in a loop of failings and shortcomings but it was never ours to overcome.

We are still called to rejoice because it did happen!

Main Idea: Rejoice!

Zeph gives them instructions on what to do. Verse 14. He gives four imperatives. Sing aloud. Sing = ringing cry. Rhythmic vocals. Shout = a blast of noise. Noise of victory. Rejoice = praise. Exult = worship with jubilation. To rejoices is a command. This is not a feel-good suggestion. Command from God to rejoice. Why?

Imperative #1: Rejoice because of what God has done (15)

Exp. This isn’t first time hearing this. That’s what Israel did after Egypt. Different context now. Verse 15. Shout in victory for two reasons.

God has cleared their enemies.

Taken care of Assyria. Pressing in from the north, but God sent them back. Judah couldn’t fight on their own. They don’t have to worry about the current enemies.

God is in their midst.

Because God has destroyed their enemy, Judah has repented and sin has been atoned for. To be in their midst was what they longed for. The King of Israel shows who the real leader is.

App. Judah was called to rejoice for what God has done. Now, they will not fear evil. Not momentary shout, but a transformation of the heart.

Ill. Reminds me of when someone does something for you and it changes you. Seen the way someone acts, and you want to be like them. Jerry when I was an intern. I was never the same. Because of what God has done, you will never again fear evil.

App. Is that where you are today? Do you still fear the evil in the world? Zephaniah exhorts them to rejoice instead of fear. We rejoice by looking back.

Christ - Just as God defeated Assyria, God defeated our enemies through the person of Jesus.

Hebrews 2:14–15

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Christ - He also dwelt among the people in Jesus. Then through the HS.

Rejoice in God’s salvation.

Rejoice in God’s victories.

Imperative #2: Rejoice because of who God is (16-17)

Exp. Zephaniah reminds them about who God is. His explanation of what God will do is a picture of who God is. Verses 16-17. Verse 17 is the John 3:16 of the OT. Amazing description of God’s love over his people. He is in their midst = repeat. A mighty one who will save = Hebrew word is that of warrior. That warrior will rejoice over you with gladness and quiet you with his love. Zeph exhorts them to exult the Lord, but reminds them that God will exult over them. This is a beautiful picture of an active/loving father. They’ve seen the warrior side, but not as much the doting father. God is both. His love is active and personal.

Ill. One commentator likened understanding God’s love as a child who digs a hole on the beach. As the child sits in front of the expanse of the ocean, she works diligently to gather ocean water into her little pool. That pool is all we can comprehend of God’s love which is an endless ocean of which we may never see.

Arg. God is not a warrior and a personal/loving father. These are one in the same. God’s love is not measured in how sentimental he is, but how active he is. God is an intimate warrior who loves his children dearly.

Christ - He loves them so much that he fought on our behalf through Jesus. He is the father who sent his son to get the rest of his children. God is not sitting idle. He is active and he sent Jesus for us. The enemies of sin and death have been defeated at his hands.

App. Look up

Rejoice for God has fights on your behalf.

Rejoice in his love that’s greater than our failures.

Imperative #3: Rejoice because of what God will do (18-20)

Exp. The tone shifts because God is now speaking. Verse 18. God will gather those who mourn during the festival. Future looking. After Babylonian exile, they return to Jerusalem and during passover, Ezra reads Scripture and they mourn.

Nehemiah 8:9–11 (ESV)

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.”

Exp. Verse 19-20. Gather, save, change their shame, restore. God will reverse the dispersion. Turn shame into praise. Restore fortunes. All of these God will do because man can’t do them himself.

Ill. If I need car fixed, go to mechanic. House = contractor. Call a specialist. If I need to be rescued, my shame turned to praise, and restored, I need to call the big guns. I can’t do it myself.

Arg. One of our struggles is we believe that we can do these things. I can turn my shame into praise by doing x, y, z. No you can’t. Only God. I can rescue myself out of my sin by doing these things. No you can’t. Only God. I can gather sinful people and create close fellowship. No you can’t. Only God.

Christ - If we were able to do these things, there would have been no need for Jesus. This promise carries different weight for us. We are on this side of salvation. The OT and NT end the same way = waiting for Jesus. Jesus will return and bring us to a place where the outcasts will be brought close.

App. Look ahead

Rejoice because Jesus is coming back.

Rejoice because of the promise of resurrection.

Let’s end by rejoicing God today.