QT 08/12/2025 Mon. Zephaniah 3 “The Lord Rejoices Over You” “耶和华因你欢喜”

QT 08/12/2025 Mon. Zephaniah 3 “The Lord Rejoices Over You”
READ http://www.esv.org/zephaniah3

🌿  Zephaniah 3 is one of Scripture’s most stunning movements from judgment to joy. The chapter begins with the sobering picture of Jerusalem’s rebellion—pride, injustice, and refusal to listen to God. Yet it ends with one of the most tender portraits of God’s love anywhere in the Old Testament.

(1) God’s Heart Breaks Over Sin (vv. 1–7)

Zephaniah shows a people unwilling to receive correction, unwilling to trust, unwilling to draw near to God. Leaders exploit; prophets speak falsely; priests profane what is holy. Before God brings comfort, He brings clarity. God does not minimise sin because He refuses to minimise His love.

Real transformation begins when we let God name the broken places in our own hearts. That naming is not condemnation for the believer—it’s invitation. God exposes in order to heal.

Reflection Question: Where might God be gently exposing pride, neglect, or self-reliance in me?

(2) God Promises to Purify and Restore (vv. 8–13)

After judgment comes purification. God speaks of gathering all nations and transforming their speech so they may call on His name. He promises a humble, lowly people who trust in Him.

This is the “gospel shape” of Zephaniah:

• Confrontation
• Cleansing
• Community restored

In Christ, this promise is fulfilled. Jesus bears the judgment we deserved so that the remnant—a people made new by grace—can live without fear.

Reflection Question: Where do I need to surrender to God’s cleansing work instead of resisting it?

(3) God Sings Over His People (vv. 14–20)

One of the most breathtaking lines in Scripture says that the Lord your God is in your midst—mighty to save—and that He rejoices over you with gladness and exults over you with loud singing.

Think about that: The God who commands the storm… sings. And the song is about you. Not because of your performance, but because of His redeeming love. God does not merely tolerate His people. He celebrates them.

This verse anticipates the gospel: through Christ, God’s judgment is turned away, His presence is renewed, and His delight becomes our security.

Reflection Question: Do I believe—not just intellectually, but emotionally—that God delights in me because of Christ?

🌟 Application for Today

(1) Rest in God’s delight. You are not barely accepted; you are deeply rejoiced over.

(2) Walk in humility. Zephaniah shows us that God preserves the humble. Pride isolates; humility brings us into God’s sustaining grace.

(3) Sing back to the One who sings over you. Worship is our echo of His song.

(4) Trust God’s restoration. The chapter closes with God gathering the broken, bringing the shamed home, and restoring what was lost. He still does this.

✨ Prayer

Lord, thank You that in Christ You have turned away judgment and brought me into Your delight.
Make my heart humble and open to Your correction. Let me hear Your song over my life, and let my life respond in trust, worship, and obedience. Restore what is broken in me and around me, for Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

QT 08/12/2025 星期一.  西番雅书 3 “耶和华因你欢喜”
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/zep/3/

🌿 西番雅书第三章是圣经中最震撼的从审判转向喜乐的篇章。本章开篇描绘耶路撒冷叛逆的沉重景象——骄傲、不义与拒绝聆听神的声音。然而结尾处却呈现了旧约中最温柔动人的神之爱的图景。

(1) 神为罪痛心（1-7节）

西番雅书展现了一群拒绝受教、拒绝信靠、拒绝亲近神的子民。领袖榨取民力；先知说谎言；祭司亵渎圣物。在赐下安慰之前，神先带来清晰的审判。祂不轻看罪，因祂绝不轻看自己的爱。

真正的改变始于让神指明我们心中破碎之处。对信徒而言，这指明并非定罪——而是邀请。神揭露罪，为要医治。

反思问题：神正在温柔揭露我内心的骄傲、冷漠或自恃吗？

(2) 神应许洁净与复兴（8-13节）

审判之后是洁净。神宣告要聚集万国，改变他们的语言，使他们能呼求祂的名。祂应许要兴起谦卑、倚靠祂的子民。

这正是西番雅书的“福音框架”：

• 面对现实
• 洁净身心
• 重建社群

在基督里，这应许得以成就。耶稣承担了我们应得的审判，使余民——这蒙恩得新生的子民——得以无惧而活。

反思问题：我需要在哪些方面顺服神的洁净工作，而非抗拒它？

(3) 神为子民欢唱（14-20节）

圣经中最令人屏息的经文之一宣告：耶和华你的神在你中间，祂是拯救的大能者——祂因你欢喜快乐，因你欢呼歌唱。

细想这景象：那位制伏风暴的神……正在歌唱。而歌声及歌词是关乎你。并非因你的表现，而是出于祂救赎的爱。神不仅容忍祂的子民，更以欢庆迎接他们。

这节经文预示了福音：借着基督，神的审判被挪去，祂的同在得以更新，祂的喜悦成为我们的保障。

反思问题：我是否真正相信——不仅是理性上，更是情感上——因着基督，神为我欢喜？

🌟 今日应用

(1) 安息在神的喜悦中。你并非勉强被接纳，而是被深深喜悦。

(2) 存谦卑而行。西番雅书明示：神保守谦卑人。骄傲使人孤立，谦卑则引我们进入神的扶持之恩。

(3) 向为你欢唱的主献上歌声。敬拜正是我们回应祂颂歌的回响。

(4) 信靠神的复兴。本章以神聚集破碎者、领受辱者归家、恢复失丧者作结。祂今日仍在施行这些。

✨ 祷告

主啊，感谢祢在基督里转离了审判，将我带入祢的喜悦中。求祢使我心谦卑，敞开接受祢的管教。愿我听见祢在我生命中奏响的歌声，愿我的人生以信靠、敬拜与顺服回应。求祢为祢的荣耀，修复我里面与周围一切破碎之处。奉耶稣的名求。阿们。