Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for December 12, 2021

Christmas Series

When the Lord Sings over You

Zephaniah 3:14-17

1. Background/Context

• prophecy during the reign of Josiah about 20 years before Jerusalem’s fall (1:1)
• from the reality of judgment to the reverberation of joy

2. The LORD’S People Rejoice in Him 14-16

• the humble and lowly rejoice and exult (2:3, 3:12)
• a triple invocation
• grounds for joy: judgments taken away, enemies cleared away, the LORD’S presence

3. The LORD Rejoices Over His People 17

• repetition of presence and a triple promise
• a Mighty Warrior who saves
• the glad God who rejoices
• He “will rest” or “be silent” in His love
• He will rejoice over them with loud singing
• elaboration of 3:18-20

4. Connections to the Christ of Christmas

• Mt. 21:4-9, Jn. 3:16, Lk. 15:11-32, Gal. 3:29, Eph. 2:8-10
• third Sunday of Advent: Joy in Immanuel (Mt. 1:22-23)
• “Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of incarnation.” (Packer)

5. So What?

• Because, having saved you, the LORD sings over you, rejoice in His presence and promises.
• The Warrior, whose righteous judgment scorches, offers mercy that saves and secures.
• Delight in the depth of God’s mercy.
• “If His mind is so set on you and His power so engaged for you…” (Simeon)
• “He comes to make his blessings known far as the curse is found…” (Watts)