Third Sunday in Advent: Old Testament, Zephaniah 3:14-20  

Zephaniah 3:14-20

Two verses from the reading above. Verses 14-15 read:

“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;

Shout, O Israel!

Rejoice and exult with all your heart, 

O daughter of Jerusalem!

The LORD has taken away the judgments

against you;

he has cleared away your enemies.

The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;

you shall never again fear evil.”

The world is in trouble. Surprised? The world (and the church within it) so often struggles because we say “no” to our King. Some from ignorance. Some from the disobedience remaining in the “Old Adam.” Jesus is THE King. And He is King whether or not you subscribe to His claims. But the “no” we so often declare is not a refusal to obey the law, but rather a no to the gift of the King Himself. Millions will hurry through this season without so much as a nod to the Sovereign. But many who do know Him by grace will fill their days and hearts with lesser gifts. Infinitely lesser gifts.

How about you and me? Reread the text above. The King is here. Now. And the fact that He is in our midst speaks to a connection He is not willing to relinquish. How wonderful is that? And then the last line. Let it sink in. If you love the Savior already, remember again that He is for You against evil. And if you are reading this and you do not have a heart-connection with the King of whom the Bible is speaking, then read and allow the power of that Word to draw you to Him. It will. May we all this Advent season, receive the gift of the King.