His Redemptive Intent

Zephaniah 3:16,17 Ah, soiled, defiled, oppressing city! It has listened to no voice; it has accepted no correction. It has not trusted in the LORD; it has not drawn near to its God.

When we’re travelling through difficult times, we start asking … well, difficult questions. Have I’ve gone too far? Does God still love me? Or is He done with me?

There were many times when God’s chosen people, Israel, went off the rails; worshipping idols, making pacts with evil nations, executing injustice, ignoring the poor, indulging in immorality, demonstrating yet again their lack of faith in the God who’d brought them out of Egypt into the Promised Land.

In fact, the whole of the Old Testament is a litany of their failures, a demonstration of their (and humanity’s) inability to honour God. During one of those times, God pronounces this harsh judgement over Jerusalem:

Zephaniah 3:1 Ah, soiled, defiled, oppressing city! It has listened to no voice; it has accepted no correction. It has not trusted in the LORD; it has not drawn near to its God.

And yet, almost in the next breath, He says this about what lies ahead for them:

Zephaniah 3:16,17 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (NRSV)

From sin, to judgement, to consequences, to … encouragement, to deliverance, to victory, to gladness, to singing. It’s a pattern that’s repeated over and over again. Why? Because God loves us.

No matter how bad things get, His intent is always (always!) redemptive. His end-game is always to draw you close. He will exult over you with loud singing!

That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.