We had an amazing beach trip and are on the way home, so we took time to catch up on our Bible in a Year and heard the reading from Zephaniah below.
It is SO GOOD. Reading the bible, especially so much that I have never read before, I am continually astounded that God would make us, knowing all we would do and all He would have to do to bring us back. What struck me about this reading is that He knew all of that and He still rejoices.
The God of the universe SINGS, not softly but LOUDLY over me, a sinner.
Praise God for His mercy and that He “renews us in His love”!
Enjoy!:
Zephaniah 3:16–20 (RSVCE):
Do not fear, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
17 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 18 as on a day of festival.
“I will remove disaster from you,
so that you will not bear reproach for it.
19 Behold, at that time I will deal
with all your oppressors.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
20 At that time I will bring you home,
at the time when I gather you together;
yea, I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes,” says the Lord.