IV.
Let’s pay attention to the prophet’s summons to sing and rejoice.

What does the prophet claim is worthy of rejoicing?

V.
Zephaniah 3:14-20 (NRSVue)

Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
     shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
     O daughter Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
     he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
     you shall fear disaster no more.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not fear, O Zion;
     do not let your hands grow weak.
The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
     a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
     he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
     as on a day of festival.”
I will remove disaster from you,
     so that you will not bear reproach for it.
I will deal with all your oppressors
     at that time.
And I will save the lame
     and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
     and renown in all the earth.
At that time I will bring you home,
     at the time when I gather you;
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.

VI.
If the prophet were sitting with you today what might he say?

Would you hear him speaking to you of the need to sing, shout and rejoice?

Could you take him seriously? What is going on in your life worthy of a shout of joy?

Look at the reasons he gives for those in his day to rejoice. What might parallel some of those reasons for you today?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}