Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God in the middle of you is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love… God is not only lovely and loving, He is pure unmixed love itself. This love has numerous objects. Among these His own perfection is the chief. This is a theme so sublime that we are scarcely able to form any conception of it. A number taken from two classes of His own rational creatures are distinguished as the objects of His love, — elect angels and elect men. In what of His love does God rest? I. IN THE PRINCIPLE OF HIS LOVE. It is as impossible that this love in itself, or in the essence of it, can ever be anything different from what it is, or hath been, as it is that God Himself can ever be anything different from what He is now, or hath been from eternity. Love, as it exists in Himself, is unchanging and ever-during II. IN THE OBJECTS OF HIS LOVE. God knows not only how many He has chosen, but knows also every individual object of His choice. There will be no voluntary transference of Divine love from one object, or one class of objects, to another. III. HE WILL REST IN THE DEGREE OF HIS WILL. As God's love always has been, so it will always continue to be, of the same extent and dimensions. God loves not His people more or less at one time than another. IV. IN THE FRUITS OF HIS LOVE. cannot speak of the fruits of His love in detail. They embrace a mighty compass. They include everything, from the first particle of imparted grace to a seat with God the Lamb on His throne. Learn — 1. That believers ought to love their God with the greatest ardour and constancy of which they are capable. 2. In whatever manner God may act by them, His love is neither changed nor diminished. 3. Believers may be encouraged to smile defiance at every attempt to separate them from the love of God. (Robert Muter.) Parallel Verses KJV: The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. |
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