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… This text is cast in the Gospel mould. It has the true evangelical mark. It discovers the revelation of God's character, which the teaching of Christ and His apostles fully confirms. I. GOD'S WORK UPON THE EARTH. This is one of the fundamental facts of our religion, — God is in our very midst. Think of the unworthy conceptions the heathen formed of God, and the imperfect conceptions Jews formed. Christianity brought God in Christ to the homes of men, to the workshops; God became God with us in the very breath we breathe. But Christianity is more than teaching. It is not a school; it is a Church. Doctrine by itself might enlighten men's minds; the doctrine and Christ's presence together will conquer the heart. God is great in salvation; God is mighty to save. II. HOW DOES GOD THINK ABOUT HIS WORK? What is His attitude in it, His personal interest in it? The activities of man go into two great divisions — 1. Those who labour for bread. 2. Those who find their wages in the work itself.The one is the labourer, the other the artist. God takes delight in His work. (William Pierce.) 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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