The God Who Shouts and Sings

The God Who Shouts and Sings
Zeph 3:14-20
By Charley Buntin





1. The Character of God is so often misunderstood and mis-taught

a. Some see God as soft and “user-friendly”—this is certainly not the God of the Bible—Ps 50:21

b. Some see God as only mysterious and untouchable.

(1) There is certainly Truth here, because God is beyond our full comprehension and apprehension—1 Tim 1:17 and 6:14-16
(2) But God is not so untouchably austere and far away that HE cannot bridge the gap
(3) God is capable of relationship with us! He is the God of relationship.
(4) Jer 23:23-24 ""Am I a God near at hand," says the LORD, "And not a God afar off? 24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?" says the LORD; "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the LORD."
c. Some see God as a “caveman” with a club, just waiting to bash the head of any believer who has displeased Him.
d. These are all false views of God
e. Luke 15 contains one parable in three versions—15:3—that tell us much about the character of God
(1) The Common Elements

(a) The Seeking God èThe Shepherd, The Woman, The Prodigal’s Father, looking down the road.
(b) The Lost è Sheep, Coin, Son
(c) The Victorious God—each one is found.
(d) The Joyful God è Rejoicing in Heaven—
(i) Who rejoices at one sinner saved? Luke 15:7—GOD!
(ii) Who joys in the presence of the angels (15:10)? Well, the shepherd, the woman, and the father all refer to…God. It is God that joys over the lost one who is found—and it is this view of God that Zephaniah reveals to us.
(2) Zephaniah prophesied at about the same time as Habakkuk; his message was largely one of judgment, but in the end of the book, there is a promise of hope for the people of Israel, a glimpse into the coming Messianic Kingdom.

2. The Joy of Ultimate Victory for Israel—Zep 3:14-16

a. Context—the Messianic Kingdom—this is looking forward to the salvation and revival of the Jews—Romans 11:25-27

b. God’s people should sing and shout—Zep 3:14 Sing, … Shout,… Be glad and rejoice with all your heart…”

c. Why?

(1) Judgment is lifted—3:15a
(2) The Enemy is cast away—3:15b—
(3) Rev 12:10 “…Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."

(4) God is in their midst—3:15c—

(a) A lot of us who are Baptist have trouble with God’s Presence—we are afraid that something is going to break out that we cannot control—
(b) We should want something to break out! We should desire to have God’s overwhelming Presence in our worship of Him
(c) Moses would not move without God’s Presence—Exo 33:15 "Then he said to Him, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here."
(d) The Presence of God is our military defense—Psa 9:3 "When my enemies turn back, They shall fall and perish at Your presence."

(e) His Presence is our legal defense us—Psa 17:2 "Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright."

(f) There is joy in His Presence—Psa 16:11 "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

(g) The ultimate fear of the true believer is to be cut off from His presence—Psa 51:11 "Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me."

d. God’s people are not to fear, they are not to be weak—redemption has arrived—3:16

3. The God Who Rejoices! 3:17

a. Again, God is in the midst of His people, and disasters are over—See Zech 14—at the moment of crisis, the Kingdom Comes!

b. He is the Mighty One, the victorious warrior—Rev 19:11-16

c. His triumphal return comes with a great shout—His shout! 1 Th 4:16 "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first."

(1) The Commander Shouts His Command! It is The Son of God’s Shout that begins the great snatching away of His people!
(2) The Angel echoes the command with his voice
(3) The Trumpet blows
(4) And the Graves of God’s people let loose
(5) And those who remain are set free
(6) And ALL HEAVEN BREAKS LOOSE!

d. He is the God Who Saves—ultimate salvation, the consummation of salvation! “…The Mighty One, will save…”

e. He is the God who rejoices! The ultimate JOY for Him is in the consummation of His plan of the ages!

(1) He rejoices gladly
(2) He rejoices with singing
(3) His LOVE Quiets their fears as great events happen in rapid succession!

Deu 30:9 ""…the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers,"

Psa 104:31 "May the glory of the LORD endure forever; May the LORD rejoice in His works."

Isa 62:5 " … as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you."

Isa 65:18-19 "18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying."

Jer 32:41 "'Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.'"

f. He is the God who triumphs fully—3:18-20; every promise to the fathers will be fully realized, and every fight will be over. Victory!

4. Applications

a. First, we see the character of the Almighty God who is also compassionate and joyful.

b. God is not remote and cold—He is warm, near at hand, and ever ready to heal and to love.

c. We see the character of God, who rejoices over salvation.
(1) He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked
(2) He exalts in the finding of the lost.

d. He’s ready to joy—over YOU!