Join the Song!

“At that time I will change the speech of the peoples
    to a pure speech,
that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord
    and serve him with one accord.
From beyond the rivers of Cush
    my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones,
    shall bring my offering.

“On that day you shall not be put to shame
    because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst
    your proudly exultant ones,
and you shall no longer be haughty
    in my holy mountain.
But I will leave in your midst
    a people humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord…

“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
    shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
    O daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
    he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
    you shall never again fear evil.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
‘Fear not, O Zion;
    let not your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
    a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
    he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
    so that you will no longer suffer reproach.
Behold, at that time I will deal
    with all your oppressors.
And I will save the lame
    and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
    and renown in all the earth.
At that time I will bring you in,
    at the time when I gather you together;
for I will make you renowned and praised
    among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
    before your eyes,’ says the Lord.” Zephaniah 3:9-12,14-20

At that time and on that day promises were full of I wills that held unshakable hope. Each statement from the prophet was a pledge from the Almighty who would perform it, and could be savored. Every reality presently true would carry God’s people forward with rejoicing and song to all that would be.

We may currently feel judged against, nursing shame. We may be weak in spirit or aching with unfulfilled longing. We may be suffering separation or regret. Yet now, the Lord announces judgment removed. Jesus penetrates loneliness with His presence, and sorrow with song. He promises purity within and around, and rejoices in all He will save, quiet, gather, restore. Will we trade our dirge for a song? Will we choose to delight in this coming King?

“Joy to the world; the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns,
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love.” ~Isaac Watts (1719)

Lord, may I ever exult on You and Your mercies, and so bring you the honor and song You deserve.