Read Zephaniah 3:14-20

Tuesday

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20

¹⁴Sing and shout for joy, people of Israel!

Rejoice with all your heart, Jerusalem!

¹⁵The Lord has ended your punishment;

he has removed all your enemies.

The Lord, the king of Israel, is with you;

there is no reason now to be afraid.

¹⁶The time is coming when they will say to Jerusalem,

“Do not be afraid, city of Zion!

Do not let your hands hang limp!

¹⁷The Lord your God is with you;

his power gives you victory.

The Lord will take delight in you,

and in his love he will give you new life.^j

He will sing and be joyful over you,

¹⁸as joyful as people at a festival.”

The Lord says,

“I have ended the threat of doom

and taken away your disgrace.^k

¹⁹The time is coming!

I will punish your oppressors;

I will rescue all the lame

and bring the exiles home.

I will turn their shame to honour,

and all the world will praise them.

²⁰The time is coming!

I will bring your scattered people home;

I will make you famous throughout the world

and make you prosperous once again.”

The Lord has spoken.

Think

The first 2 chapters of Zephaniah speak about the Day of The Lord.  The threat seems to be total destruction but Zeph 3:9 gives us hope of transformation: "...I will change the people..."

Zephaniah 3:14-20 is a joyful celebration of the change that God brings.

Pray

Meditate / pray on these lines:

There is no reason now to be afraid. (Zeph 3:15)

The LORD will take delight in you, and in his love he will give you new life.  He will sing and be joyful over you, as joyful as people at a festival."

(Zeph 3:17-18)