For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
Zephaniah 3:17
Dear God, I don’t know that much about Zephaniah so I tried to do a little research before praying so I could maybe get some context for this verse. Frankly, it sounds pretty straightforward. The book is about Zephaniah calling the Israelites to repentance. So this verse is letting all of know what you can be if we will do our part in relationship with you.
I think the word savior does not mean necessarily what people think it means. Back then, I think they thought it meant you would save them from trouble. But you being my savior, I think, is more of a long-term statement. Yes, you are interested in my short-term good, but there are times when my short-term struggle is for my long-teen good. So I cannot evaluate your goodness based upon my current situation at any given time.
I love the parts of this where it says you take delight in me with gladness, your love will calm my fears, and you will rejoice over me. I like that a lot. What would it look like for an entire community or nation to live under that?
Father, help me to influence the things I can influence. Of course, it starts with me. Help me to live under you and your authority. Help me to look to you in my times of trouble and then point to you in my times of deliverance. I don’t want to waste any moments or opportunities to give you glory and bring others into your presence. I know I will miss them, but I don’t want to.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
Emails to God 