“The Lord Your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

God Sings

Cultivating Awe and Reverence for God, Day 27

Walk his Way revisited —First posted in January, 2017

Singing is all about rejoicing. It is one outward evidence of a glad heart, showing great happiness. In fact, the word “sing” is translated gladness, joy, and pleasure in other places. It has the idea of exceeding gladness—over-the-top happiness. “As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:5b).

We know we have many reasons to rejoice in Him—but it should make our jaws drop to know that He rejoices in us. “For the Lord takes pleasure in His people…” (Psalm 149:4a). “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” (Jeremiah 32:41).

God anointed Jesus with this same gladness. “You (Messiah) love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions” (Psalm 45:7).

Oh, how He loves us! He takes pleasure in us! When He looks at us, it makes Him happy! He’s so full of joy, He just has to sing! Wouldn’t you love to hear God’s singing voice?

Joy is possessed by God and given by God. Jesus refers to His joy in John 15:11 when He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” And He knew when He went to the cross that joy awaited Him on the other side: “…Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

God gives joy to those around Him in heaven, also. “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).

It has always been God’s heart that we would have His joy in us. Jesus said in His prayer just before He went to the cross, “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13).

We know that God is unchangeable, so we are certain that He will never lose the joy He declares in His Word. His joy is something that I most look forward to witnessing with my own eyes in heaven. Ponder these glorious words: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 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” (Isaiah 65:17-19).

Joyful Father, we reverence You more and more as we consider how much You rejoice over us. In Jesus’ Name and with His joy we pray. Amen.