God Is Not On the Sidelines

Sermon from December 16, 2012. The text is Zephaniah 3:14-20:

¹⁴ 

14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;

shout, O Israel!

Rejoice and exult with all your heart,

O daughter of Jerusalem!

15  The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;

he has cleared away your enemies.

The King of Israel, lthe Lord, is in your midst;

you shall never again fear evil.

16  On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

“Fear not, O Zion;

let not your hands grow weak.

17  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.

18  I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,

so that you will no longer suffer reproach.

19  Behold, at that time I will deal

with all your oppressors.

And I will save the lame

and gather the outcast,

and I will change their shame into praise

and renown in all the earth.

20  At that time I will bring you in,

at the time when I gather you together;

for I will make you renowned and praised

among all the peoples of the earth,

when I restore your fortunes

before your eyes,” says the Lord.