Go! And Rejoice In God’s Love - Zephaniah 3:17 Series

Go! And Rejoice in God’s Love - Zephaniah 3:17

Go! And Rejoice in God’s Love Zephaniah 3:17

We serve a God who is not distant or indifferent—He is a God who delights in His people, who rejoices over us with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT) declares:

"For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty saviour. 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."

This verse, written in a time of great turmoil for Israel, is a declaration of God’s unshakable love and presence.

It reminds us that no matter our circumstances, God is not only near, but He delights in us, He saves us, and He sings over us.

Today, we will explore four key truths from this powerful verse:

God is Living Among Us

God is Our Mighty Saviour

God Delights in Us with Gladness

God Sings Over Us

1. God is Living Among Us

Zephaniah 3:17 begins with a profound truth: "The Lord your God is living among you."

The Hebrew word used here for "living" is qarab, meaning "to be near, to draw close."

This reflects God’s intimate relationship with His people.

Matthew 1:23 (NLT) - "Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’"

God's presence is not limited to ancient Israel.

Through Christ, God came to dwell with humanity. Jesus, Immanuel, is God with us, and through the Holy Spirit, His presence remains with us today.

Do we live as though God is near?

Do we acknowledge His presence in our daily lives?

When we realise that He is always with us, our perspective on trials and blessings changes.

Preacher and author Max Lucado said "We may feel lost at times, but we are never lost to God. He is always present."

Max Lucado's words remind us of a powerful biblical truth—no matter how lost we may feel, God never loses sight of us.

As Psalm 139:7-10 (NLT) declares:

"I can never escape from your Spirit!

I can never get away from your presence!

If I go up to heaven, you are there;

if I go down to the grave, you are there.

If I ride the wings of the morning,

if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

even there your hand will guide me,

and your strength will support me."

There are moments in life when we feel adrift, uncertain, or overwhelmed.

But our feelings do not define our reality—God does.

He is the Good Shepherd who seeks out the lost, the loving Father who watches for the prodigal’s return, the ever-present help in times of trouble.

When we feel lost, let us remember God is never distant.

He is near, He is faithful, and He is always guiding us back to Himself.

2. God is Our Mighty Saviour

Zephaniah calls God a "mighty saviour."

The Hebrew phrase here is gibbor yasha', meaning "a warrior who brings victory."

This is not a passive or distant God; He is an active rescuer and deliverer.

Isaiah 43:11 (NLT) - "I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Saviour."

Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself as the ultimate Saviour — first in delivering Israel from Egypt, and ultimately through Jesus Christ, who saves us from sin and death.

Are we relying on our own strength, or do we trust God as our mighty Saviour?

He fights for us, He redeems us, and He is our victory.

A lifeguard doesn’t wait for a drowning person to rescue themselves; he dives in to save them.

In the same way, God doesn’t wait for us to fix ourselves—He rescues us when we call on Him.

Preacher and author John Piper said "Jesus does not just make salvation possible, He makes it certain for those who trust Him."

John Piper’s words beautifully reflect the absolute assurance we have in Christ.

Salvation is not just a possibility—it is a certainty for those who trust in Jesus.

John 10:28-29 (NLT) records Jesus’ promise:

"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand."

This means our salvation does not rest on our efforts, our goodness, or our ability to hold on to Jesus.

Instead, it rests on His finished work on the cross and His power to hold on to us!

Yes, Jesus made salvation possible through His sacrifice, but for those who place their trust in Him, salvation is not uncertain or fragile—it is guaranteed.

His grace is sufficient, His promises are unbreakable, and His love is eternal.