He Sings for Me

I remember watching the Andy Griffith show when I was younger and with guitar in hand, Andy began singing a love song to Helen.  There was something intrinsically moving about that moment and as a little girl, I remember thinking, "Maybe one day, someone will sing a love song to me."

The years have come and gone, but instead of a singer, I married a drummer.  He did sweep me off my feet, but I don't think I'll be hearing him serenade me with a love song any time soon.  Somehow, it just wouldn't be the same coming from behind the beat of the drums.

However, the CEV Bible tells us in Zephaniah 3:17, "He celebrates and sings because of you."  The NKJV says, "He will rejoice over you with singing" and the Message Bible declares, "He'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs."  Can you believe that!!!  The Living God will sing to us, over us and because of us.

I can think of no greater love song than the one I will hear on that day when my Savior and my God rejoices over me with singing.  His joyful rest breaks forth into heavenly songs...all over you and me!

As we look at Zephaniah 3:17 in its entirety, we find that it is chock-full of Biblical truths equaled only by its practical application.  The NLT translates it this way... "For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you.  He is a mighty Savior.  He will rejoice over you with great gladness.  With his love he will calm all your fears.  He will exult over you by singing a happy song."

As we walk through this verse step by step, phrase by phrase, I pray you'll be encouraged by the incessant love of our Heavenly Father. The same God whose very name causes the mountains to tremble is the same God who calls us His friends.  He never lets go; He never leaves us, He gives us new life...abundant life...eternal life.  He is beyond our comprehension yet He cares about our smallest need.

The first phrase in Zephaniah 3:17 gives us so much more than what we see at first glance.  It reminds us that we are never alone (The Lord your God is living among you), but its truth is doubly expressed by the two-fold usage of God's name. 

Notice the dual titles used to identify God as He assures us of His abiding presence.  The first title given is the Lord.  It means "the existing One."  The original word is YHWH and is transliterated as Jehovah...a word we're more familiar with.  The second title is God.  The original rendering, Elohim, is not only difficult to fully understand, it is also difficult to explain.  However, the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary helps define Elohim as "a revelation of the infinite nature of God."

The infinite, existing God of the universe abides with us...He is in our midst.  Zephaniah 3:17 reminds us that no matter what we go through...we are not alone.  God...the Lord our God...is with us.

The next phrase in that verse tells us He is a mighty Savior with wording that points us to the fact that there is no one beyond His ability to save.  He has triumphantly secured salvation for all who will call upon Him in repentance and faith.  He is equally able to save His children from difficult, distressing and even dangerous circumstances.  He is a mighty and valiant Savior.

That same verse continues to inspire our faith with the truth that we can actually bring joy to the Lord.  Like David, I often cry out, "What is man that You are mindful of him..." but the truth is, He not only considers us, the Bible says His thoughts toward us are as numerous as the sand of the sea...we are the apple of His eye.  In fact, in Numbers 6:22-26, the Lord instructs Moses to have Aaron speak a Priestly Blessing over the children of Israel.  That blessing includes a request that the Lord "smile" on His people.  Beloved, our lives can actually bring a smile to the face of God.  I so desperately want to live a life that brings a smile to my Savior's face.  Don't you?  Oh, let it be said of each of us... "She lived such a life that she even made her Savior smile!"

Zephaniah 3:17 goes on to say that He calms us with His love.  1 John 4:18 echoes the same wonderful truth that perfect love casts out all fear.  The Amplified expands the understanding of this verse by stating that perfect love expels all traces of terror.  Fear flees from the presence of a holy and loving God.  So, no matter what you're going through, allow the Lord to speak peace to your heart in the midst of your storm as He calms you with His love.

Finally, we see that our Savior's delight in us streams forth into joyous songs as He sings for us.  This journey we call life may often be accompanied by a myriad of unfortunate and painful circumstances. It's hard to make sense of it all.  But one day, the sound of the Savior's voice as He sings a beautiful and blissful song will bring delight to our hearts and everything will finally make sense.  It will be worth it all and we will understand the truth found in Romans 8:18 which tells us that the sufferings of this world are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  One day we will see our Savior's face; we'll hear our Savior's song...and nothing else will matter.  What a wonderful God!  What a glorious Savior!

I wonder if He's singing now!