Zephaniah 3:17 makes more sense when you read Ephesians 2:10.
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
(Zephaniah 3:17 ESV, italics mine)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
(Ephesians 2:10 ESV, italics mine)
Paradigm-shifting theology can be dangerous for an underclassmen college student. We’ve seen it too many times. We ourselves have probably been its victims in some way or another. A head full of fresh knowledge that changes everything mixed with a greeness that cannot properly digest it. Helmut Thielicke talks about this.
It is by God’s grace that I was not more of a victim– that I was not swept away with the tide of self-perceived esoteric understanding erroneously thought to be lorded over others.
And one means by which God did not let that happen was the music and lyrics of Shane Barnard and Shane Everett. In listening to them, I heard songs that resonated with the thing that was happening in my soul. It became the sound of my learning. Knowledge was devotional. Only God knows the effect that “Yearn” had/has on me.
Sanctification happens as we apply the gospel to discovered brokenness in our lives.
Jesus’ work is finished. There is nothing extra.
Only our comprehension of what He has accomplished grows. We understand Him more as we navigate the maze of our own persons. At each new turn and every unchartered alley, we can hear more clearly the song of His triumph.
The more territory of need that we discover means a further expansion of His reign in our lives.
Let it be.
If you want to test how theoretical your non-racism is, then move to the city. You’ll probably see how ugly it is down there (I mean your heart).
The book of Jonah plays an important role in the Minor Prophets. The mercy of the LORD is highlighted as He is eager to relent His judgment towards those who repent. This book appropriately follows the extended vision of the LORD’s kingdom in Obadiah (20-21).
While the book of Jonah has something to say about God’s mercy to Gentiles and the glory of His kindness, it has even more to say about His sovereignty. In fact, the very idea that He shows mercy to Ninevah is the expression of His power to do whatever He wants. He shows mercy to whom He wills because He can. He is that sovereign. He can command the winds, turn Gentile mariners towards Him, appoint a big fish to swallow a man, command that same fish to barf the man up, appoint a plant to grow, appoint a worm to eat that plant, pity lots of cows, and save anybody He wants (including you and me).
He is glorious.
Father, thank You.
God will judge the enemies of Israel. The restoration of Israel includes His triumph over the nations who have dealt violently with His people. Amos ends with a vision of Israel being restored and engulfing the remnant of Edom, in fact, all the nations who are called by the LORD’s name (9:11-12).
Obadiah clarifies. These enemies of God will be judged. Evil will be put down (1-18). But the LORD’s kingdom will be extended. Israel will possess their land and cities. It all is the LORD’s.
Jonah follows up by highlighting God’s mercy to the nations who turn to Him.
The Apostles got this. James read the prophets to be in agreement with the circumstances of Acts 10-15. James says that God’s visiting the Gentiles to take from them a people for His name is right in line (Acts 15:14-17)!
It is no small thing that Jesus Christ came a preached peace to us who were far off.
The immeasurable magnitude of His grace makes the degree of our gratitude unintelligible. We should just live stunned.
