EVER HEARD GOD SING? -- Devotional for June 9, from "Good Seeds"

The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst. You will fear disaster no more. In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: Do not be afraid, O Zion; do not let your hands fall limp, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy. He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

We sing to the Lord at every opportunity, and with good reason: He is our Redeemer, our Comforter, our Healer, our Friend. And He receives our worship. But the prophet Zephaniah speaks of a day yet future when the tables will be turned and God will sing to us, not in worship, but with great joy. What more confidence or comfort can anyone receive than when sung to? God’s people, both Israel and the church, having gone full circle in their apostasy, will at last turn their hearts toward home, as all prodigals come back to their waiting, welcoming Father. In the interim God has been carrying out His final justice against the nations of men that remain in rebellion to the bitter end. They who wreaked disaster upon God’s people will wreak it no more. The hands of His saints, that once fell limp in fear, losing their grip on their feeble weapons, will now feel the powerful grip of their victorious Warrior King. “Every eye shall see Him,” we read in Revelation 1:7. That includes those who pierced Him, who will wail in abject terror of Him whom they still will not receive or believe. These God will justly deliver to the place of the damned, but then He will come back for us – and that’s when the celebration begins! The Bible says the heavens exult whenever a soul on earth turns to the Savior. These same angel choirs may join in with our triune God on that future day – but just maybe they instead will stand down to this Triumphant Trio, as will we, when God smiles the biggest smile, laughs the biggest laugh, and sings the most powerful song ever known in heaven or on earth, as He exults over His beloved in one joyous melody after another! Just because He’s God doesn’t mean He must contain Himself in all dignity. C.S. Lewis’ Christ-figure, Aslan, having defeated the White Witch, picks up the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve, fairly throwing them into the air, as He roars the loudest roar His Lion lungs could offer, before sailing off with the children on His back for a victory lap around Narnia. God will be Victor indeed, and we will be His prize! When Paul asked, “Who is our hope or joy or crown of exaltation? Is it not even you?” (I Thessalonians 2:19), we can almost hear God say, “Paul, you took the words right our of My mouth!”