“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 NLT).
Near the end of Zephaniah’s prophecy of trouble and tribulation for Israel, he prophesied the coming of a Mighty Savior. Like a mighty hero, He would abide with them and rescue them. Like a husband, He would receive and rejoice over His bride. Like a mother, He would quiet their weeping with His love and sing a joyous song over them to help them forget their tears.
Surely, this prophesy was fulfilled in Christ’s first coming. Yet, not completely. For as John wrote, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). The Messiah has come, but His own people rejected Him. “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
Zephaniah’s prophecy was partially fulfilled at Christ’s first coming. Christ has come as Immanuel, God with us. He has come as Savior. But His singing over Israel points to a coming not yet fulfilled. The complete fulfillment of this prophecy points to Christ’s Second Coming. The First Advent was preparation for the Second Advent. Christ has come. Christ is coming again.
In the meantime, He already lives among us by His Holy Spirit. He lives in us and we abide in Him. And the fruit of His life in us sings within us, songs of love, joy, and peace.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we celebrate Christ’s first coming. His birth, sacrificial death and resurrection. Yet, we look forward in hope to His soon return. Until then, strengthen us to proclaim Him to the nations with our praise and singing. In Jesus’ name, amen.