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ZEPHANIAH 3:14-17

"WHEN GOD SINGS"

Intro: The prophet here is looking ahead to the coming Kingdom Age. That
       time we have been praying for each time we prayed, "Thy Kingdom
       come...on earth."

I. "THE KING OF ISRAEL YAWEH IS IN THE MIDST OF THEE."
        A. The response of the people.
                1. Singing.
                2. Shouting.
                3. Gladness and rejoicing.
        B. The benefits to the people.
                1. Judgment has been removed.
                2. The enemy has been cast out.
                3. They will not see evil again.

II. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE KING.
        A. Yaweh thy God in the midst of thee is mighty.
                1. One of the titles ascribed to Jesus in prophesy of
                   Isaiah: "The mighty God."
2 Once again it will be as John said, "He was in the world, and the world
  was made by Him." "In the beginning was the Word.. all  things..."
                        a. The eternal God, the creator of the universe
                           will dwell in the midst of His people to reign
                           as King over the earth.
        B. "He will save."
                1. For years the world has been teetering on the brink of
                   disaster.
                        a. We are closer to the brink than ever.
                        b. Government has become so inefficient and
                           cumbersome, so as to impose an intolerant
                           burden upon the people.

(1. I speak of the national debt and proposed continued  deficit spending.
(2. Spending money for military is bankrupting the  world.
(3. Why must we spend so much on the military?
                2. You ask, "What is the solution?"
                        a. I don't believe there is any outside the return
                           of Jesus Christ to set up His Kingdom.
                                1. Once again the cry, Hosanna.
        C. "He will rejoice over thee with joy."
                1. Oh how much Jesus loves you.
                        a. As you come to talk with Him or share, He will
                           be rejoicing over you with joy.
                        b. No one has ever loved you as much as He.
                2. This is no doubt the joy that was set before Him that
                   gave Him the capacity to endure the cross.
        D. "He will rest in His love."
                1. When love is not a complete love, there is fear. A
                   restlessness.
                        a. "Perfect love casts out all fear, he that..."
                2. Characteristics of that perfect love are joy, peace,
                   long-suffering, gentleness...
                3. How we need to learn to rest in His love, now.
                        a. Wonderful things in the Bible I see, this is
                           the dearest, that Jesus loves me.
                        b. Look what He has done to prove His love.
                        c. We seem so insecure about love. "Do you love
                           me?"
                                1. If you are ever prone to doubt His
                                   love, just look at the cross.
        E. "He will joy over thee with singing."
                1. Here is this Hebrew word, "gil" again, "Spin around
                  for joy."
                2. Can you imagine Jesus singing love songs to you?
                        a. Why is it that the thought of such a thing
                           thrills and excites me so much.
                3. I have sung many love songs to Him, but to have Him
                   break out in a love song to me, do you know what that
                   is going to be? Heaven.