“The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV
There is a beautiful verse in the Old Testament book of Zephaniah that talks about God singing over his people; and it is the only place in the Bible where this thought is expressed in this unique way. Prior to that, God had the prophet Zephaniah deliver a message about God’s judgment on his people because of their idolatry. But then, the prophet looks ahead to the restoration of the remnant of Israel; and he comforts God’s people by telling them how much God loves them. Before the Lord tells them, through Zephaniah, that he will rejoice over them with singing, he says, “I am your God; I am with you and I will quiet you with my love”!
Sometimes voices attack us in our minds: voices of fear, insecurity, condemnation, mean things people say, the world’s voices of carnality propagated by the media. But the Lord is saying, “No, don’t listen to those voices! I am going to put my arms around you as a mother would, and I will quiet you. I will calm your fears.” What we must do is open up to his presence and let his love quiet our hearts. You cannot have peace if your heart is agitated if your mind is going a hundred miles per hour. If the enemy whispers, “You’re not what you should be,” answer him, saying, “I know! But, Satan, you are defeated because Jesus loves me!” Just worship the Lord, and let his love embrace you and give you peace!
Jim Cymbala