The LORD'S Lullaby Of Love
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
A lullaby, or cradle song, is a soothing song or piece of music that is usually played for (or sung to) children (for adults to help them sleep). The purposes of lullabies vary. In some societies they are used to pass down cultural knowledge or tradition. In addition, lullabies are often used for the developing of communication skills, indication of emotional intent, maintenance of infants' undivided attention, modulation of infants' arousal, and regulation of behavior.
Perhaps one of the most important uses of lullabies is as a sleep aid for infants. As a result, the music is often simple and repetitive.
The term 'lullaby' derives from the Middle English lullen ("to lull") and by[e] (in the sense of "near"); it was first recorded circa 1560.
A folk etymology derives lullaby from "Lilith-Abi" (Hebrew for "Lilith, begone").
In the Jewish tradition, Lilith was a demon who was believed to steal children's souls in the night. To guard against Lilith, Jewish mothers would hang four amulets on nursery walls with the inscription "Lilith – abei" ["Lilith – begone"].
Transition To Body- Tbe LORD God’s Lulliby of Love to His people within the book of Zephaniah
Transition To Body- Tbe LORD God’s Lulliby of Love to His people within the book of Zephaniah
Zephaniah chapter 3 is the only place within the Bible which we are told the LORD God sings. IN fact it says in my Bible that the LORD God sings loudly as if the LORD is trying to get his people’s attention
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.
Zephaniah (ESV): Zephaniah prophesied during the reforms of King Josiah (640–609 b.c.), who brought spiritual revival to Judah after the long and disastrous reign of Manasseh. Zephaniah pronounced God’s judgment on corruption and wickedness but also his plan to restore Judah.
The wickedness of the former King Manasseh’s 55 year reign, has infected all facets of the nation. Never underestimate the power of one wicked person or wickedness in general to permeate and upset our social mores, culture, and moral fabric in a negative way- even God’s people and the church can get caught up in the wickedness of one foolish leader.
The wicked King Manasseh is long gone. His grandson Josiah is now sitting on the throne. Josiah ascends to the throne at the literally tender age of 8. Josiah will eventually be used by the LORD God, starting 8 years later, to help reform temple worship among the nation of Israel. Josiah will be used by God to call the nation of Israel to repentance.
Let’s pause parenthetically here so I can say- never underestimate the potential and possibilities of your young people and how the LORD God can move in their lives to help affect positive change and reform within the church, our local communities, and nation. This generation of youth and young adults, the Millennials, Generation Z, and Digital Natives (our grand-kids are within that group by the way) are very socially conscious...
Previous Two Wicked Kings
Previous Two Wicked Kings
9 But they did not listen, and Manasseh led them astray to do more evil than the nations had done whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.
10 And the Lord said by his servants the prophets,
11 “Because Manasseh king of Judah has committed these abominations and has done things more evil than all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols,
12 therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Jerusalem and Judah such disaster that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.
13 And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria, and the plumb line of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.
14 And I will forsake the remnant of my heritage and give them into the hand of their enemies, and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies,
15 because they have done what is evil in my sight and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.”
19 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.
20 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done.
21 He walked in all the way in which his father walked and served the idols that his father served and worshiped them.
New King Josiah Attempts To Reform The Nation
New King Josiah Attempts To Reform The Nation
1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, and the carved and the metal images.
13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”
The LORD God Was Fed Up With His People
The LORD God Was Fed Up With His People
26 Still the Lord did not turn from the burning of his great wrath, by which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked him.
27 And the Lord said, “I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city that I have chosen, Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.”
The Word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah
The Word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah
8 And on the day of the Lord’s sacrifice— “I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire.
9 On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master’s house with violence and fraud.
12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill.’
18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the Lord. In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.
But If You Are Repentant & Humble
But If You Are Repentant & Humble
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.
1 Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city!
2 She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord; she does not draw near to her God.
The Transformation Of The LORD God’s People
The Transformation Of The LORD God’s People
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
The LORD Will Change Their Speech
The LORD Will Change Their Speech
9 “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord.
The LORDS Worshipers Shall Bring His Offering
The LORDS Worshipers Shall Bring His Offering
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering.
Living In The Midst Of Humbled People Seeking The LORD’S Refuge
Living In The Midst Of Humbled People Seeking The LORD’S Refuge
12 But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord,
13 those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.”
God’s Restored People Joyfully Singing
God’s Restored People Joyfully Singing
14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
The True King Of Israel In Their Midst
The True King Of Israel In Their Midst
15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.
Why Should God’s People Fear Not
Why Should God’s People Fear Not
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.
Body- The LORD Your God Will
Body- The LORD Your God Will
The affirmative= asserting that something is true or valid.
Show Up Mightily To Save
Show Up Mightily To Save
The LORD your God is in your midst
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.
The LORD Your God...
The LORD Your God...
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (3. The Joy of the City (3:14–20))
The word translated “mighty” is gibbôr, an adjective usually used as a noun, often translated “hero” or “warrior” as in 1:14. It is used most frequently with military activities to describe one “who has already distinguished himself by performing heroic deeds.” In this case the word speaks of God who is “a warrior who brings salvation.”
Illustration: Sports when the team shows up to compete. They brought their A-Game. They did not drop a dud.
midst, in, i.e., in the middle of an area or group
among you as in the middle of the battle
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Cheerfully Delight In Your Redemption
Cheerfully Delight In Your Redemption
He will rejoice over you with gladness
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.
rejoice
be pleased, be delighted, be glad, i.e., have a feeling or attitude of fondness and enjoyment in an object, implying a love or relationship to the object of delight
gladness
note: in some contexts this is a response to, or manifestation of, worship to God and so transcendent even of unfavorable circumstances;
Joy and Gladness of a Broken, Contrite, Repentant Heart
Joy and Gladness of a Broken, Contrite, Repentant Heart
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Calm You Down With His Love
Calm You Down With His Love
He will quiet you by his love
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.
quiet= the means by which the LORD’s quiet you is his love- love is God’s tool of choice.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised Quiet; Be Quiet; Quietness
a state of tranquillity that is free from trouble and strife (e.g., 2 K. 11:20 par 2 Ch. 23:21; 1 Ch. 4:40; 22:9; 2 Ch. 20:30; Prov. 15:18, Jer. 47:6f) or from fear and anxiety
security & safety of the LORD’s Love
Not a temporary calm, peace, or tranquility
Not a temporary calm, peace, or tranquility
Instead a quiet and stillness that has permanence
he inscribes his love on us
engraving tool, formally, engraving, i.e., that implement made of metal used for scraping, cutting, plowing, etc
be inscribed, be written
You Keep Him In Perfect Peace....
You Keep Him In Perfect Peace....
1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks.
2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.
3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Shout For Joy Over Your Comeback
Shout For Joy Over Your Comeback
He will exult over you with loud singing
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.
exult= leap, jump, or dance, extremely joyful
note: this joy may be expressed in song, shouts, or even joyous shrieks and calls
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
The LORD does not rejoice in our calamity
The LORD does not rejoice in our calamity
16 for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
note the LORD is either singing loudly to get our attention or to get the attention of others to show what he has done in us
6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Transition To Close-
Transition To Close-
1980 Hit “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang
Yahoo! This is your celebration
Yahoo! This is your celebration
Celebrate good times, come on (Let's celebrate)
Celebrate good times, come on (Let's celebrate)
There's a party goin' on right here
A celebration to last throughout the years
So bring your good times and your laughter too
We gonna celebrate your party with you
Come on now
It's time to come together
It's up to you, what's your pleasure?
Everyone around the world, come on
Illustration: Most Famous Lullabies Of All Time
"Rock-a-Bye Baby"
"Good Night"
"Brahms' Lullaby"
"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"
"Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight"
"Frère Jacques"
“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
"Amazing Grace"
Lullaby you can sing when you need to rest and find peace in the LORD
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind but now I see
Was Grace that taught my heart to fear
And Grace, my fears relieved
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far
And Grace will lead us home
And Grace will lead us home
8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!
1 Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?
2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
The LORD God Madly In Love With His People
The LORD God Madly In Love With His People
8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The LORD God Who Is In Our Midst
The LORD God Who Is In Our Midst
1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Close- Jesus Show’s Up
Close- Jesus Show’s Up
5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”)
16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”