I Feel Like Praising God Series: Part 2 This Is Why I Feel Like Praising God.

I Feel Like Praising God Part 2

This Is Why I Feel Like Praising God.

We’re staying in Zephaniah 3:18–20.

THE TEXT (Zephaniah 3:18–20)

I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee. I will save her that halteth.

I will get them praise and fame in every land. At that time will I bring you again.

For I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth.

Remember this prophecy came from Zephaniah during a time of corruption and coming judgment.

Part 1 was about God in the midst.

Part 2 is about God restoring what was lost.

We’re staying in Zephaniah 3:18–20.

Judah had:

Lost spiritual purity.

They lost national stability.

And they lost honor among nations.

They were embarrassed.

Oppressed and spiritually bruised.

But now God speaks restoration in detail.

In verses 14–17 it showed us God singing over them.

But then verses 18–20 shows us God rebuilding them. And This is why I feel like praising God.

The bible says, I will gather them that are sorrowful.

The Hebrew implies people who grieved, those that are sad, and upset, because they could not properly worship.

These were the faithful remnant who mourned the spiritual decline of the nation.

God says: I see your sorrow.

And that’s a word for someone here in the room this morning.

You may be sad, you may be upset, you may even be going through, but I must tell you that God sees your sorrow.

Notice something here He gathers the broken worshippers.

This fits the theme because:

Sometimes you feel like praising God, not because you were always strong, but because God didn’t overlook your tears.

Instead he gathered your tears. He wrapped his arms around you.

He held you in comforting times.

When your heart was shattered.

When your feelings were hurt.

And when your trust had been broken.

He gathers the sorrowful.

He restores the ashamed.

He brings back those who felt displaced. Ou if place, and misplaced.

That alone will make you praise Him.

The Lord says, I will undo all that afflict thee.

This is courtroom language.

God declares He will reverse what the enemy did.

Not just to comfort you, but to undo the oppression, the suicidal thoughts.

The word undo carries the idea of dealing decisively with your adversaries.

This means:

Every attack has an expiration date.

Every oppressor has a limit.

Every affliction is temporary.

When you realize God is not just watching, but He’s also intervening for you, is there anybody who feels like praising Him.

He goes on yo say. I will save her that halteth.

The word Halteth means lame or weak.

God is not just restoring the strong.

He saves the one who limps.

The one who almost gave up.

The one who struggled.

The one who felt spiritually handicapped.

This fits the theme because:

You feel like praising God when you realize that He didn’t just save the best version of you, but He saved you in your weakness.

I have been trying to get here for two weeks. (The last clause of verse 19) he says, I will get them praise and fame in every land.

Now this is powerful.

The same people who were shamed among nations

will become a testimony among nations.

Those once mocked before the world will rise as proof of God’s restoring power before the world.

The same ones who carried public disgrace will now carry public evidence of divine redemption.

What made them look bad by words among nations will become a banners of God’s faithfulness among nations.

Those who were reduced to whispers of shame, will stand as living witnesses of glory in the sight of many lands.

God doesn’t just restore privately, but He restores publicly.

He says:

I will make your story a praise.

This is why I feel like praising God:

Because what tried to disgrace me.

Became the platform of my testimony.

At that time will I bring you again.

That phrase nerds to be repeated.

At that time.

This is prophetic timing.

God’s restoration is scheduled.

Delayed is not denied.

Exile would not be permanent.

Oppression would not define them.

Their location would not be their destiny.

God says: I will bring you back.

When you know God can bring you back, back to peace, back to joy, back to influence, and back to stability

You will feel like praising Him.

For I will make you a name and a praise.

Catch this carefully:

In verses 14–17, the people praised God.

In verses 18–20, God makes the people a praise.

That means your life becomes worship.

Your testimony becomes a sermon.

Your survival becomes a song.

God turns your existence into evidence.