God Dances Over You!

Frederick Nietzsche, the nineteenth century German philosopher famous for his quote that “God is dead,” stated, “If they want me to believe in their God, they’ll have to sing me better songs . . . I could only believe in a God who dances.” All Nietzsche needed was to read Zephaniah 3:17. All he had to do was listen to Jesus’ words in Luke 15:7 as He described the man who found the lost sheep and invited his friends to rejoice with him. Jesus said, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Scripture reveals that God does indeed dance with joy over His children.
In Zephaniah 3:14-17 we read of the joy God has for His people. “Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
These verses give us three reasons to “be glad and rejoice.” First, according to verse 14, He rejoices over His people. While His love is extended to everyone, He takes delight in and rejoices over His own children with singing. These words come at the end of Zephaniah’s prophecy. Keep in mind that the glory of the Lord departed from the Temple (Ezek. 8-11) when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed it. God allowed the Babylonians to take Judah captive because of their idolatry and disobedience. But in the end, God returns in regal splendor, restores the Temple and removes the judgments from the people of Israel. This is a prophecy concerning the coming millennial reign of the Messiah. The fact is that God has always had a remnant of people for whom He holds out love and mercy. He truly rejoices over His own.
Secondly, He strengthens His people. In the last part of verse 16 notice the words “Do not let your hands hang limp.” All of us have experienced fatigue at some point. Because of weariness our hands become weak. Israel was weary because of the discipline of the Lord had led them into captivity in Babylon. But the promise of God was that He would deliver them and renew their strength. Though Israel would endure the captivity in Babylon, they were encouraged to look up and see God’s deliverance.
Thirdly, God pursues His people. Notice the phrase, “He is mighty to save.” In tender compassion God sought Israel to be His people. Though they rebelled time and again, and though they spurned His love for them, still He loved them and came to be their Deliverer.
Notice that verse 17 ends with the reminder that God will “rejoice over you with singing.” We’re right back where we started. Verse 14 tells of the reasons for rejoicing and now we see how God Himself rejoices over us. Can you just imagine the song of God? Can you imagine His voice booming through the heavens? Doesn’t it make you wonder what the song is that He is singing? Well, in Psalm 32:5-7 we read what the song is about. David is in the midst of a personal time of worship in which he confessed his sins before God. He concludes by saying, “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” The song of God is a song of deliverance. A song in which He reminds us of our deliverance from the bondage of sin. That is the song with which He surrounds us in order to protect us. We have been delivered and there is no reason to be afraid.
Knowing that God rejoices over you as His child, knowing that He dances over you with joy, should fill you with great joy and gladness, and encourage you to live every day with
A STEADFAST HOPE!