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.
We can live with confidence, not in ourselves, but in Him who is able to save completely.
3. God Delights in Us with Gladness
The verse continues: "He will take delight in you with gladness."
The Hebrew word sus means "to rejoice greatly, to exult."
This tells us that God takes great pleasure in His people.
Psalm 149:4 (NLT) - "For the Lord delights in His people; He crowns the humble with victory."
This is an incredible thought: the Creator of the universe delights in us!
He does not merely tolerate us—He rejoices over us.
Do we truly believe that God delights in us?
When we feel unworthy, we must remember that God’s love is not based on our performance but on His grace.
Preacher and author Tim Keller wrote "God’s love for us is not greater when we are good, and it is not lesser when we fail."
Tim Keller’s words remind us of the unchanging, unfailing love of God.
His love is not based on our performance—it is based on His character.
Romans 5:8 (NLT) declares:
"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
God loved us at our worst.
He didn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up or prove ourselves worthy.
His love is constant, faithful, and unconditional.
Too often, we fall into the trap of thinking that when we are doing well spiritually, God loves us more, and when we struggle, He loves us less.
But that is not how grace works! His love is steadfast.
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT) assures us:
"The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning."
No matter our failures, His love remains.
No matter our successes, we cannot earn more of His love.
Our standing before God is secure because of Jesus, not because of us.
So today, let’s rest in His perfect love—a love that does not change, a love that does not waver, a love that is always enough.
4. God Sings Over Us
Zephaniah’s final statement is breathtaking:
"He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."
The Hebrew phrase rinnah means "a ringing cry of joy."
This is the image of God, singing over His people like a loving parent singing over their child.
Isaiah 62:5 (NLT) - "Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem, just as a young man commits himself to his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride."
God’s love is so deep and passionate that it causes Him to sing with joy over His people!
Have you ever imagined God singing over you?
In times of doubt, fear, or failure, remind yourself that God’s love is so great that He rejoices over you.
Picture a mother rocking her newborn child, softly singing a lullaby. That’s the tenderness with which God loves us.
Consider the words of Louie Giglio, "God’s song over us is louder than our fears, our doubts, and our failures." –
Louie Giglio’s words remind us of a beautiful biblical truth—God’s voice, His love, and His promises are greater than anything we face.
Listen to Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT) again:
"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."
Think about that—God Himself sings over us!
Not a song of condemnation, not a song of disappointment, but a song of love, grace, and victory.
We all battle fears, doubts, and failures.
But none of those things define us—God does.
His voice is louder than the enemy’s accusations.
His truth is greater than our insecurities.
His grace is stronger than our shortcomings.
When fear tries to paralyse us, God sings peace.
When doubt whispers lies, God sings truth.
When failure tells us we are not enough, God sings of His unchanging love.
So today, let’s choose to listen to His song over us—a song of redemption, strength, and unshakable love.
Let His voice be the loudest in your life.
Go! And Embrace God’s Love Today
Zephaniah 3:17 is a verse of hope, reminding us of God’s presence, His salvation, His delight in us, and His joyful song over us.
God is with us – We are never alone.
God is our mighty Saviour – He rescues and redeems us.
God delights in us – We bring Him joy.
God sings over us – His love is active and personal.
A Call to Action:
If you feel distant from God, Go! And remember, He is near.
If you are struggling, Go! And trust in Him as your mighty Saviour.
If you feel unworthy, Go! And rejoice that He delights in you.
If you feel discouraged, Go! And listen to His song over you.
Invitation to Faith:
Perhaps, you have never accepted Jesus as your Saviour.
The greatest expression of God’s love was sending Jesus to die for our sins and rise again, giving us eternal life.
Romans 10:9 (NLT) - "If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Will you respond to His love today?
Will you place your faith in Jesus and know the joy of being saved?
SALVATION PRAYER
Friends, may we Go! And Rejoice in God’s Love.
Knowing that we are loved, cherished, and rejoiced over by our Heavenly Father.
