the Lord. Amen. This is God's Word. God's people are a people who sing. We've already had the
chance to enjoy that together. And maybe we don't think about it much, but I guess church
is one of the few public places where people will sing together regularly and often. I imagine
for those of us who are Christians here today, we have favorite psalms, we have favorite hymns that
we sing, those ones that we really look forward to in public worship, indeed those that in ways make
up the soundtrack for our lives, those ones that we turn back to when times are hard, those songs that
we turn to when we find ourselves rejoicing. There's a power, there's a beauty in the songs that God's
people sing. As we sing together, they unite us in our faith. They are both worship that we offer to
our God, but they are also a testimony to one another. We remind ourselves, we encourage one
another about the truths that we believe about our God and about our salvation. As we sing, we can bring
courage to our faith. We can bring comfort in the midst of despair. We find at the end of Zephaniah's
prophecy so much singing and rejoicing. So for those of us who haven't been here for the last couple of
weeks, as we've worked our way through Zephaniah's prophecy, he keeps bringing our attention to the day
of the Lord. This decisive moment in history when God will judge his enemies and wickedness once and
for all, and will establish his kingdom that will never end. In chapter 1, the message was,
be silent, because the day of the Lord brings awesome judgment. And in the light of God's holiness
and his justice, there was that call to be ready. In chapters 2, in the beginning of chapter 3,
there was that call to seek the Lord, for God's faithful people to wait with hope for that deliverance
that would come with the day of the Lord. And now as we come to chapter 3, verses 11 to 20,
we're invited to understand that for those whose faith is in Jesus, we will rejoice on the day of the Lord.
And we're given songs, joyful songs, to sing about our great God and Savior and the salvation that he gives
to us. Zephaniah tells us that we should sing the gospel, that we should celebrate together the good news of
God's salvation. But more than that, there's a second song, another gospel song, and a beautiful song.
And in some ways, maybe it's even harder for us to appreciate. It seems almost too mind-blowing in its reality,
because as we listen in, and especially to verse 17 there, we're told of our God and Savior,
who positively sings with joy over his redeemed people. That's part of the gospel. So in these two
songs that we're going to think about, we are invited by our loving Savior God to enjoy his salvation in
the present, and to recognize that this salvation gives hope for our future also. So we're going to
focus first of all on the song of salvation, just to recognize one or two things before we get into
the content. Who is singing? First of all, look with me at verse 14. It says, sing, daughter Zion,
shout aloud Israel, be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter Jerusalem. All that language is
intended to say, it's the people of God who are singing this song. In chapters 2, verses 7 and 9,
it's the people of God who are described as the remnant, those who remain faithful, even as the rest of
society turned away from God. Those who place their hope in God continue to trust in him. Then last week,
we remember in chapter 3, verses 9 and 10, the people of God are a global community of worshipers.
It's people drawn from many peoples, all united in the praise of God. So when we hear daughter Zion,
Israel, Jerusalem, it's a picture of the united gathered people of God. And there's a beautiful
transformation that's happened. You know, this city that is singing, at the beginning of chapter 1,
it was a city known for being rebellious and defiled. So something has happened. Here is a people who've been
redeemed by God's grace. And so this city that was so corrupt becomes a great choir singing praise to
God. And this city choir represents God's church in all times and places. It represents us if our faith
is in Jesus this evening. So that's who is singing. I want us also to notice how they are singing. What's the
tone? Some of you might know the musical comedian Bill Bailey. He's an incredibly talented musician.
He's a funny guy as well. Well, he has a great sketch on the difference between the major key and the
minor key. And one of the things he does in that sketch is he flips the American national anthem and he
plays it all in minor key. And it moves from being really celebratory and rejoicing to sound really gloomy.
What's the tone? What's the tone here in verse 14?
Sing, shout aloud, be glad and rejoice with all your heart.
This is joy. This is sing your heart out. Worship for the people of God.
It's also a song of faith. In verse 15, it says the Lord has taken away your punishment. He has
turned back your enemy. But at the time of Zephaniah's prophecy, this hadn't happened yet.
This is a salvation that is to come, but it is so certain because it's rooted in God's character
and promise that they can sing with that confident expectation that it will happen. So they are waiting
people, but they're waiting with joy and expectation. Because they're confident in God's character and
promises they can sing of future salvation.
I think in that sense it captures where we find ourselves today.
You know, we stand between these two
comings of the Lord Jesus. Jesus has come once in humility and he's
come and he's done that decisive act to save us by dying
and rising, but we're still awaiting people. We're waiting for his return.
For that once and for all end to evil, for establishing the new creation. But we are
invited to wait with joy, confident in God's character and his promises.
So that's who's singing and how they're singing. Let's think about what are they singing.
And what they're singing here at the end of chapter three are redemption songs.
They're singing the gospel.
So again, just to remind ourselves of some of the themes that we've been thinking about in Zephaniah,
as the Old Testament people of God anticipate the day of the Lord, as they anticipate the Lord Jesus
coming to bring the day of the Lord, there were notes where we thought about his first coming.
They were looking forward to God being with his people, to God coming to purify, to gather a people to himself.
But there are also these notes that speak of his second coming, of dealing with evil and establishing
the new creation. And even as we come to these final songs of salvation, we're going to hear some
of these different notes and melodies running through. One note that we definitely hear in this section
of chapter three of this song of salvation is of shame removed. So take a look at verse 11.
On that day, you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me.
Because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill.
There is this picture running all the way from verse 11 to verse 15 of a city under siege, a city under attack.
It's a scene we are all too familiar with as we watch our news cycles play out.
But now the scene has changed. Now it's of a city that is safe and secure because the attackers have been turned back.
And peace has been established. And this city that had known humiliation now honor returns.
Zephaniah and the other Old Testament prophets had that job of warning Jerusalem of attack and exile that would happen.
It happened with the Babylonians in 586.
And as the prophets announced that they were also calling the people to a patient trust in their Savior.
And to anticipate that transformation of fortunes.
And here there is this picture of a city that is transformed.
How is it transformed?
It's transformed firstly because the proud are removed.
Those who turn their back on God and say we don't need God.
The proud have been removed.
The humble are being kept.
Those who take refuge.
Those who trust in the Lord.
And we discover there are people who have been made pure by the work of God.
They will do no wrong.
They will tell no lies.
They're walking in justice.
They're walking with truth.
And then you get this lovely picture at the end of verse 13.
They will eat and lie down.
And no one will make them afraid.
Zephaniah brings back that shepherd and sheep image.
So the city is transformed in our mind's eye from a peaceful place that knows honor return.
Now it's like a sheepfold.
Where there's absolute security.
God the shepherd allowing his faithful people who trust in him to rest secure.
He guards the gates.
He cares and keeps.
The question that we need to ask is how can this transformation happen?
How can the shameful nation, God's very honest, you've acted shamefully towards me.
How can this rebellious city, how can their shame turn to honor?
And we need to ask that because that then becomes really personal when we think about ourselves.
We rebel against God's word and God's law.
We carry the shame of our sin and our guilt.
How can our shame, how can anyone's shame be turned to honor in God's eyes?
We need to hear the gospel.
Galatians 3, 13 to 14 tells us how.
Galatians 3, 13 and 14.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.
For it is written, cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.
He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus
so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Here's how it happens.
Jesus takes the curse and the shame that we should have to face the penalty for
and he dies there on the cross on our behalf, redeeming us, setting us free
so that we might know blessing, so that we might know honor,
so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit and knowing God with us
so we can sing for joy.
Because in the gospel, through Jesus, shame is removed and turned to honor.
There's another note in this song of salvation that speaks of removal,
this time of punishment removed.
Verse 14 into verse 15.
Sing, shout aloud, be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
daughter Jerusalem, the Lord has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
So again, throughout Zephaniah, there is that honest warning from God's Word
of judgment that falls on sin, on rebellion against God,
on injustice and idolatry of many kinds.
But here, the people of God have a promise that on the day of the Lord,
the punishment would be removed.
Those enemies would be taken away.
And key to this is the end of verse 15.
Over and over in Zephaniah's prophecy, he is giving hope to the city,
which represents the people of God, saying,
the Lord is with you, the Lord is in you, do not fear.
If we want to think about it in other terms,
it's like when you watch the Batman movies,
it's like the hope for Gotham City.
Okay, the Joker is here, or whoever the bad guy is,
and they're causing terror, but Batman comes,
and the scene changes.
Or it's the joy of Narnia, when Aslan comes and goes into battle.
There is joy for the people of God, knowing God is with us.
It's the Lord Jesus who is near, and he fights for us.
And so there's this gracious promise for those whose faith is in Jesus,
of salvation beyond judgment,
that here is the Lord of covenant faithfulness.
And he announces that he is the Lord who is present with his people.
When does this happen?
When does what's anticipated by Zephaniah happen?
Well, let's listen to John chapter 12, verses 13 to 15,
and notice the way John deliberately picks up some of these themes
and words from Zephaniah and applies them to Jesus.
John 12, 13 to 15,
they took palm branches and went out to meet him,
shouting, Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Blessed is the King of Israel.
Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it.
As it is written,
Do not be afraid, daughter Zion.
See, your King is coming,
seated on a donkey's coat.
As John thinks about all those Old Testament prophecies
from Zechariah, from Zephaniah, from other places,
he understands the coming of King Jesus
fulfills this promise.
Here is Jesus riding into the city,
into Jerusalem,
the humble servant king for his people,
and he is riding right into the heart
and into the heat of spiritual battle
for you and for me,
taking the punishment so we don't have to.
Jesus moves from this,
you know, being greeted with great joy shortly after
to going to the cross to die.
And there that great reversal happens
where Jesus takes his people's punishment
and gifts us his peace.
And in so doing,
there is that great victory
that is happening on the cross.
In those three days,
the cross, the burial, the resurrection,
Jesus is fighting.
Jesus wins the spiritual battle,
the only victory in history
that will never be reversed.
Satan is defeated.
Death is crushed to death
so that we can know
that there's no condemnation for us
when we're trusting in Jesus.
So there's this great salvation coming
and Zephaniah encourages us
to look forward,
to sing with hope.
People in his day were singing with hope.
We look back, don't we?
We sing with joy and gratitude
and we look forward
and we sing with hope,
anticipating Jesus' return.
The gospel says we don't need to live
with fear of being condemned
when our faith is in Jesus.
Christ has fully paid the penalty
for our sin.
He has fully drained the cup of God's wrath.
There is nothing left for his people.
The holy and awesome judge
is our Father in heaven.
Here's another wonderful note
in this song of salvation.
It's as we see a homecoming
that is promised.
Again, we have seen on our news
in the last couple of years
people fleeing from war,
cities under siege,
and people having to leave
with nothing.
so many internally displaced people,
so many refugees,
and the longing.
We hear it on the news all the time,
don't we?
We just want to go home.
We just want to live in peace.
We want to go back to the place
where I belong.
Zephaniah anticipates both
the exile that would happen
because of sin and because of judgment
and a glorious homecoming
because of saving grace.
And we find it here in verses 19 and 20.
And again, Zephaniah likes
sort of repeating ideas.
There's been a gathering theme.
Chapter 1, there was a gathering
in verses 2 and 3,
a gathering to experience judgment.
Chapter 2, verse 1,
we see the people of God gathering
to seek mercy.
Here in chapter 3, verse 19.
At that time,
I will deal with all who oppressed you.
I will rescue the lame.
I will gather the exiles.
Verse 20, at that time,
this is God speaking,
I will gather you.
At that time,
I will bring you home.
There's a wonderful promise here,
a reminder of this new status
that we enjoy as the people of God.
Once more we know,
honor, honor among the peoples.
Fortunes have been restored.
Enemies have been dealt with.
And there is this glorious promise
of a homecoming.
Salvation as homecoming to a father.
Jesus anticipates that, doesn't he?
Think about Luke chapter 15.
That wonderful story
of the prodigal son
who, having made a mess of his life,
he comes to his senses
and he returns,
not knowing what he's going to receive.
He knows he doesn't deserve
to be called a son to his father,
but his father joyfully,
lovingly welcomes,
forgives,
restores him to honor,
throws a feast,
calls him home.
Jesus tells that story.
Salvation story.
John 14,
Jesus spoke to his troubled disciples,
anticipating the cross.
What did Jesus say?
My father's house,
there are many rooms,
heaven like a home.
Jesus said,
I'm going there
to prepare a place,
preparing a place
for his people
through dying,
rising,
returning to heaven,
and I'll return
to take you to be with me.
The ultimate aim
of the gospel
of our salvation
is to be eternally home
with our God,
with our Savior.
There is an end
promised here
to suffering and shame.
There is the certainty
of security
and salvation
that is home.
All because of Jesus.
That's why we read
Revelation 19 and 21.
We heard God's people singing,
didn't we?
Hallelujah chorus.
Why were they singing
for joy there?
As John in his vision
was looking ahead
to the end of time,
there was the point
where evil has been defeated
once and for all.
Babylon defeated.
Image of all
that is anti-God.
And once evil
has been removed,
that gives way
to joy.
Unbreakable joy.
And so there is songs
there at the end
of Revelation
because of the reign
of God.
There is joy
because of the wedding
feast to come.
Feasting.
Homecoming.
There is joy
because there is
the new city
in which God
dwells
with his people.
And there is no sadness.
There is no suffering.
There is no death
there.
It is our true home.
It is the world
we all long for.
And we come to know it.
And we are trusting
in Jesus.
who gets to sing
this wonderful song?
Notice that Zephaniah
says there are
certain people excluded.
It is not the proud.
It is not those
who say they don't
need God
or don't want God.
It is the meek
and the humble.
Those who know
that all that we have
comes from grace.
It is those who are lame.
It is the exile.
We bring nothing
to the table.
Everything comes
from God
so all glory
belongs to God.
Zephaniah
anticipates
the songs of the gospel.
When our faith
is in Christ
there is always
there will always be
a salvation song
to sing.
And you know
we could stop there
and we thought
about wonderful things
haven't we?
The gospel is wonderful.
The song of salvation
is a glorious theme.
But there is that
other song
the song
of
the saviour.
It would be a song
we could hardly believe
we could hardly claim
for ourselves
unless it was here
in God's words.
It's here
verse 17 again.
The Lord
your God
is with you
the mighty
warrior
who saves.
He will take
great delight
in you.
In his love
he will no longer
rebuke you
but will rejoice
over you
with singing.
the Lord
sings.
The warrior
king
God with his people
sings
and sings
with joy.
Hearing this song
we've been thinking
about Christian identity
for the last couple
of months.
Hearing this song
is crucial
for a healthy
Christian identity.
Praying that the
spirit would help us
to believe
this would be true
even of us.
Learning to celebrate
the God
who celebrates
over us.
That we might live
knowing this
to be wonderfully
true
weak as we are
struggling
and limping
along as we are
to know that
when our faith
is in Jesus
when we are in Christ
God delights in us.
He rejoices
over us.
It's like a glorious
love song.
It's like Adam
singing over his
beautiful bride
in Eden.
We discover
this wonderful
truth
that the Lord
Jesus
the great bridegroom
sings over
his bride
the church.
The bride he makes
beautiful
by his grace.
This warrior
saviour
he has fought
to save
and rescue
and purify
and deliver
this warrior
saviour
now sings
with joy
over his
redeemed people.
joy for
Jesus
took him
to the cross.
The joy
of knowing
he was doing
his father's
will.
The joy
of knowing
he would
purchase
a people
for himself
with his
blood.
The joy
that will be
complete
for Jesus
only
when he is
united
to his people
for eternity.
there is still
joyful
anticipation
in the heart
of Jesus
as he waits
to be united
with his bride
the church
forever
and for
eternity.
What a song
to hear sung
over us.
By rights
we deserve
words of
judgment
and condemnation
but by grace
we hear this
song of joy
coming from
our saviour
God.
Honestly
we may
struggle
in ourselves
to see it
but we don't
feel there is
much to delight
in about
ourselves.
Maybe we are
very aware
of the
ugliness
within.
But this
is wonderful
truth from
God's word.
Jesus in this
sense is like
the great
master craftsman.
He is like
Michelangelo.
You know
the story
of Michelangelo
who was able
to look at
raw material
just a big
hunk of stone
and to see
a beautiful
masterpiece
and to get
to work
on shaping
and creating
with that joy
in the work
anticipating
the masterpiece
to be complete.
There is joy
for Jesus
now
having saved
us.
There will be
joy for Jesus
when his work
is complete
and we're
glorified
when we
are with
him.
The Christian
life
is a life
of song
and it's
learning to
play these
gospel songs
in stereo.
These melodies
would help
to give us
confident faith
and joyful
hope
and courage
through troubles.
That song
of the
Savior's
love
love in
action
so we
rest our
hope
in the
Lord Jesus
in his
salvation
both at the
cross and
the resurrection
and in his
return at the
end to deal
with evil
and to establish
his kingdom
but also to
hear that
melody
of a
father's
love for us
of the
Savior's
loving heart
towards us
that we would
let the Spirit
speak that
truth into
our souls
love for us
to the
great God
and Savior
loves us
in Christ
delight in us
in Christ
that Jesus
can't wait to
be united
to his bride
the church
forever
and so when
we're trusting
in Jesus
just as
Zephaniah says
to us
we can have
joy
as we think
about the
day of the
Lord
let's pray
together
Lord our
God we
thank you
that it
isn't just
in the
New Testament
that we
get these
wonderful songs
of the
gospel
and we
thank you
that you
are the
great Savior
celebrated
by your
people through
all time
Old Testament
New Testament
and right up
to the
present
Lord we
thank you
that you
are the
God
who removes
shame
and replaces
it with
honor
that you
are the
God
who removes
punishment
and grants
us peace
that you
are the
God
who through
the Lord
Jesus
promises us
that eternal
and joyful
homecoming
Lord help us
to believe
the gospel
help us to
trust in what
Jesus has done
for ourselves
we pray
to
to live
knowing
that you
delight in
your people
that you
don't just
put up
with us
but that you
take delight
in us
that Jesus
longs for the
day when
all his
people are
with him
forever
in that
world
made new
Lord we
pray as we
look ahead
to a new
week
that the
gospel
would
fuel
our
sense
of
hope
that you
would give
songs to
our hearts
and songs
to our
lips
as we
go through
this coming
week
knowing that
you are
the
saviour
God
who is
with us
always
and we
pray this
in Jesus
name
amen
now our
closing hymn
is the
Lord is
my salvation
and again
we'll stand
as we
sing
the grace of
God has
reached for
me
and pulled
me from
the raging
sea
and I
am safe
on this
solid
ground
the
Lord is
my
salvation
I
will
not fear
when
darkness
falls
and
strength
will help
me scale
these
walls
I'll see
the dawn
of the
rising
sun
the
Lord is
my
salvation
who
is like
the
Lord
our
God
strong
to
save
faithful
in love
my
debt
is
paid
and the
victory
won
the
Lord
is
my
salvation
my
hope
is hidden
in the
Lord
He
flies
each
promise
of His
word
when
winter
fades
I
know
spring
will
come
the
Lord
is
my
salvation
in
times
of
waiting
times
of
need
when
I
know
loss
when
I
am
weak
I
know
His
grace
will
renew
these
days
the
Lord
is
my
salvation
who
is
like
the
Lord
our
God
strong
to
save
faithful
in
love
my
debt
is
paid
and
the
victory
won
the
Lord
is
my
salvation
and
when
I
reach
my
final
day
He
will
not
leave
me
in
the
grave
but
I
will
rise
He
will
call
me
home
the
Lord
is
my
salvation
who
is
like
the
Lord
our
God
strong
to
save
faithful
in
love
my
debt
is
paid
and
their
victory
won
the
Lord
is
my
salvation
glory
be
to
God
the
Father
glory
be
to
God
the
Son
glory
be
to
God
the
Spirit
Lord
is
our
salvation
glory
be
to
God
the
Father
glory
be
to
God
the
Son
glory
be
to
God
the
Spirit
Lord
is
our
salvation
the
Lord
is
our
salvation
the
Lord
is
our
salvation
the
Lord
is
our
salvation
the
Lord
is
our
salvation
the
Lord
is
our
salvation
we
will
close with
some
we
will
close with
some
more song
people
and
language
they cried
out in a
loud way
salvation
longs to
our God
who sits on
the throne
and to the
lamb
amen
praise
and glory
and wisdom
and thanks
and honor
and power
and strength
be to our
God
forever and
ever
our
God
let us
� on
for
guests
and
will
Thank you.