3rd Sunday Of Advent, Year C. Series

Zephaniah 3:14-20, Isaiah 12:2-6, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18.

A). A CALL TO REJOICE.

Zephaniah 3:14-20.

Eight out of the nine oracles in the little book of Zephaniah announce God’s just judgment of all the earth (Zephaniah 1:2-3; Zephaniah 3:8); and the just judgment of the LORD their covenant God against Judah and Jerusalem in particular (Zephaniah 1:4).

However, in the ninth oracle (Zephaniah 3:14-20), we discover that the God of justice and judgment is also the God of forgiveness and hope. He is our King, the LORD in the midst of us (Zephaniah 3:15). He is our incarnate Saviour who, in His love, rejoices over us (Zephaniah 3:17).

This song of rejoicing is not only one in which the people of the LORD are exhorted to raise their voices (Zephaniah 3:14), but also one in which the LORD Himself participates. The covenant LORD “rejoices” over the remnant of His people “with joy”; He “joys” over them “with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).

The cause of this rejoicing is, yet again, the reversal which the LORD has brought about (Zephaniah 3:15). This is not something which even the so-called ‘faithful remnant’ (cf. Malachi 3:16-18) had brought about by themselves. Rather, it is the work of God in His grace and mercy toward His own covenant people (cf. Zechariah 4:6; Ephesians 2:8-9).

The LORD speaks of a day in which evil will no longer be seen (Zephaniah 3:15). This reaches beyond the immanent Babylonian captivity to speak of our own deliverance from the bondage of sin and death (Romans 6:16) – centred as it is on the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Matthew 1:21).

“Fear not,” encourages the LORD – not for the first time, nor for the last. Lift up your weak hands, He continues. The LORD is mighty to save (Zephaniah 3:16-17).

The beautiful picture of the LORD removing our sorrows (cf. Zephaniah 3:18) resonates throughout the Bible (e.g. Isaiah 35:10). It reaches its climax toward the end, when God wipes away all tears, and there shall be no more pain, sorrows or death (Revelation 21:4).

The lifting up of the outcast (Zephaniah 3:19) recalls the theme of reversal in the song of Hannah (1 Samuel 2:8), which is later echoed in the song of Mary (Luke 1:52-53).

The return of the exiles (Zephaniah 3:20) prefigured something greater that was yet to dawn, and which in some measure remains unfulfilled even for us who live between the two advents of Jesus (read Hebrews 9:28). May we continue to live in constant hope and expectation of His return!

The book ends as it had begun:

‘The word of the LORD…’ (Zephaniah 1:1);

“...says the LORD” (Zephaniah 3:20).

B). SOLIDARITY IN PRAISE.

Isaiah 12:2-6.

The motto of the City of Glasgow in Scotland is, ‘Let Glasgow flourish.’ Though rarely known in full, it continues, ‘by the preaching of the Word and the praising of His Name.’ So not only does the Word of the Lord pass from mouth to mouth, but also His Praise.

We see this solidarity of praise in Isaiah 12.

The writer witnesses to the reader:

“you (singular) shall say, ‘I will praise thee…

God is my (singular) salvation…’” (Isaiah 12:1-2).

Like prayer, praise is not about the speaker, but about the LORD. He is the “God” who is “my salvation” (ISAIAH 12:2a; cf. Exodus 15:2).

“Trust” in “the LORD” delivers from fear: for “the LORD, the LORD Himself is my strength and song; He also is become my salvation” (ISAIAH 12:2b; cf. Psalm 27:1).

The individual’s praise proves infectious to those around. From Isaiah 12:3, “you” is no longer singular - it embraces the whole community:

“Therefore with joy shall ye (plural) draw water…

And ye (plural) shall say,

‘Praise the LORD… make mention that His Name is exalted’” (Isaiah 12:3-4).

“Water” is used as a metaphor for “salvation” (ISAIAH 12:3). When we put our trust in the LORD Jesus, it is “with joy” that we thus “draw water out of the wells of salvation” (cf. John 4:10, John 4:14; John 7:37-38).

The “in that day” of Isaiah 12:1 and ISAIAH 12:4 echoes Isaiah 11:10, which ultimately points us to Jesus, and His great accomplishment (cf. Psalm 105:1). The “people” (or “peoples”) among whom the LORD’s doings are to be declared are the Gentiles (cf. Matthew 24:14). How can we not “Praise the LORD” and “make mention that His name is exalted” when we consider this so great salvation?

The community is not content to sing praises in a corner, but encourages others to join in their joyful song:

“Sing unto the LORD; for He has done excellent things: this is known in all the earth…

the Holy One of Israel is in the midst of His people” (Isaiah 12:5-6).

To “sing the LORD” (ISAIAH 12:5a) is to make Him the subject matter of our praise (as in ISAIAH 12:2, for example). Why? “For He hath done excellent things.” There are echoes here of the refrain ‘triumphed gloriously’ in the Song of Moses (cf. Exodus 15:1, Exodus 15:21).