The Songs of the Gospel

the Lord. Amen. This is God's Word. God's people are a people who sing. We've already had the

chance to enjoy that together. And maybe we don't think about it much, but I guess church

is one of the few public places where people will sing together regularly and often. I imagine

for those of us who are Christians here today, we have favorite psalms, we have favorite hymns that

we sing, those ones that we really look forward to in public worship, indeed those that in ways make

up the soundtrack for our lives, those ones that we turn back to when times are hard, those songs that

we turn to when we find ourselves rejoicing. There's a power, there's a beauty in the songs that God's

people sing. As we sing together, they unite us in our faith. They are both worship that we offer to

our God, but they are also a testimony to one another. We remind ourselves, we encourage one

another about the truths that we believe about our God and about our salvation. As we sing, we can bring

courage to our faith. We can bring comfort in the midst of despair. We find at the end of Zephaniah's

prophecy so much singing and rejoicing. So for those of us who haven't been here for the last couple of

weeks, as we've worked our way through Zephaniah's prophecy, he keeps bringing our attention to the day

of the Lord. This decisive moment in history when God will judge his enemies and wickedness once and

for all, and will establish his kingdom that will never end. In chapter 1, the message was,

be silent, because the day of the Lord brings awesome judgment. And in the light of God's holiness

and his justice, there was that call to be ready. In chapters 2, in the beginning of chapter 3,

there was that call to seek the Lord, for God's faithful people to wait with hope for that deliverance

that would come with the day of the Lord. And now as we come to chapter 3, verses 11 to 20,

we're invited to understand that for those whose faith is in Jesus, we will rejoice on the day of the Lord.

And we're given songs, joyful songs, to sing about our great God and Savior and the salvation that he gives

to us. Zephaniah tells us that we should sing the gospel, that we should celebrate together the good news of

God's salvation. But more than that, there's a second song, another gospel song, and a beautiful song.

And in some ways, maybe it's even harder for us to appreciate. It seems almost too mind-blowing in its reality,

because as we listen in, and especially to verse 17 there, we're told of our God and Savior,

who positively sings with joy over his redeemed people. That's part of the gospel. So in these two

songs that we're going to think about, we are invited by our loving Savior God to enjoy his salvation in

the present, and to recognize that this salvation gives hope for our future also. So we're going to

focus first of all on the song of salvation, just to recognize one or two things before we get into

the content. Who is singing? First of all, look with me at verse 14. It says, sing, daughter Zion,

shout aloud Israel, be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter Jerusalem. All that language is

intended to say, it's the people of God who are singing this song. In chapters 2, verses 7 and 9,

it's the people of God who are described as the remnant, those who remain faithful, even as the rest of

society turned away from God. Those who place their hope in God continue to trust in him. Then last week,

we remember in chapter 3, verses 9 and 10, the people of God are a global community of worshipers.

It's people drawn from many peoples, all united in the praise of God. So when we hear daughter Zion,

Israel, Jerusalem, it's a picture of the united gathered people of God. And there's a beautiful

transformation that's happened. You know, this city that is singing, at the beginning of chapter 1,

it was a city known for being rebellious and defiled. So something has happened. Here is a people who've been

redeemed by God's grace. And so this city that was so corrupt becomes a great choir singing praise to

God. And this city choir represents God's church in all times and places. It represents us if our faith

is in Jesus this evening. So that's who is singing. I want us also to notice how they are singing. What's the

tone? Some of you might know the musical comedian Bill Bailey. He's an incredibly talented musician.

He's a funny guy as well. Well, he has a great sketch on the difference between the major key and the

minor key. And one of the things he does in that sketch is he flips the American national anthem and he

plays it all in minor key. And it moves from being really celebratory and rejoicing to sound really gloomy.

What's the tone? What's the tone here in verse 14?

Sing, shout aloud, be glad and rejoice with all your heart.

This is joy. This is sing your heart out. Worship for the people of God.

It's also a song of faith. In verse 15, it says the Lord has taken away your punishment. He has

turned back your enemy. But at the time of Zephaniah's prophecy, this hadn't happened yet.

This is a salvation that is to come, but it is so certain because it's rooted in God's character

and promise that they can sing with that confident expectation that it will happen. So they are waiting

people, but they're waiting with joy and expectation. Because they're confident in God's character and

promises they can sing of future salvation.

I think in that sense it captures where we find ourselves today.

You know, we stand between these two

comings of the Lord Jesus. Jesus has come once in humility and he's

come and he's done that decisive act to save us by dying

and rising, but we're still awaiting people. We're waiting for his return.

For that once and for all end to evil, for establishing the new creation. But we are

invited to wait with joy, confident in God's character and his promises.

So that's who's singing and how they're singing. Let's think about what are they singing.

And what they're singing here at the end of chapter three are redemption songs.

They're singing the gospel.

So again, just to remind ourselves of some of the themes that we've been thinking about in Zephaniah,

as the Old Testament people of God anticipate the day of the Lord, as they anticipate the Lord Jesus

coming to bring the day of the Lord, there were notes where we thought about his first coming.

They were looking forward to God being with his people, to God coming to purify, to gather a people to himself.

But there are also these notes that speak of his second coming, of dealing with evil and establishing

the new creation. And even as we come to these final songs of salvation, we're going to hear some

of these different notes and melodies running through. One note that we definitely hear in this section

of chapter three of this song of salvation is of shame removed. So take a look at verse 11.

On that day, you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me.

Because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill.

There is this picture running all the way from verse 11 to verse 15 of a city under siege, a city under attack.

It's a scene we are all too familiar with as we watch our news cycles play out.

But now the scene has changed. Now it's of a city that is safe and secure because the attackers have been turned back.

And peace has been established. And this city that had known humiliation now honor returns.

Zephaniah and the other Old Testament prophets had that job of warning Jerusalem of attack and exile that would happen.

It happened with the Babylonians in 586.

And as the prophets announced that they were also calling the people to a patient trust in their Savior.

And to anticipate that transformation of fortunes.

And here there is this picture of a city that is transformed.

How is it transformed?

It's transformed firstly because the proud are removed.

Those who turn their back on God and say we don't need God.

The proud have been removed.

The humble are being kept.

Those who take refuge.

Those who trust in the Lord.

And we discover there are people who have been made pure by the work of God.

They will do no wrong.

They will tell no lies.

They're walking in justice.

They're walking with truth.

And then you get this lovely picture at the end of verse 13.

They will eat and lie down.

And no one will make them afraid.

Zephaniah brings back that shepherd and sheep image.

So the city is transformed in our mind's eye from a peaceful place that knows honor return.

Now it's like a sheepfold.

Where there's absolute security.

God the shepherd allowing his faithful people who trust in him to rest secure.

He guards the gates.

He cares and keeps.

The question that we need to ask is how can this transformation happen?

How can the shameful nation, God's very honest, you've acted shamefully towards me.

How can this rebellious city, how can their shame turn to honor?

And we need to ask that because that then becomes really personal when we think about ourselves.

We rebel against God's word and God's law.

We carry the shame of our sin and our guilt.

How can our shame, how can anyone's shame be turned to honor in God's eyes?

We need to hear the gospel.

Galatians 3, 13 to 14 tells us how.

Galatians 3, 13 and 14.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.

For it is written, cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus

so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Here's how it happens.

Jesus takes the curse and the shame that we should have to face the penalty for

and he dies there on the cross on our behalf, redeeming us, setting us free

so that we might know blessing, so that we might know honor,

so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit and knowing God with us

so we can sing for joy.

Because in the gospel, through Jesus, shame is removed and turned to honor.

There's another note in this song of salvation that speaks of removal,

this time of punishment removed.

Verse 14 into verse 15.

Sing, shout aloud, be glad and rejoice with all your heart,

daughter Jerusalem, the Lord has taken away your punishment,

he has turned back your enemy.

So again, throughout Zephaniah, there is that honest warning from God's Word

of judgment that falls on sin, on rebellion against God,

on injustice and idolatry of many kinds.

But here, the people of God have a promise that on the day of the Lord,

the punishment would be removed.

Those enemies would be taken away.

And key to this is the end of verse 15.

Over and over in Zephaniah's prophecy, he is giving hope to the city,

which represents the people of God, saying,

the Lord is with you, the Lord is in you, do not fear.

If we want to think about it in other terms,

it's like when you watch the Batman movies,

it's like the hope for Gotham City.

Okay, the Joker is here, or whoever the bad guy is,

and they're causing terror, but Batman comes,

and the scene changes.

Or it's the joy of Narnia, when Aslan comes and goes into battle.

There is joy for the people of God, knowing God is with us.

It's the Lord Jesus who is near, and he fights for us.

And so there's this gracious promise for those whose faith is in Jesus,

of salvation beyond judgment,

that here is the Lord of covenant faithfulness.

And he announces that he is the Lord who is present with his people.

When does this happen?

When does what's anticipated by Zephaniah happen?

Well, let's listen to John chapter 12, verses 13 to 15,

John 12:13–15

and notice the way John deliberately picks up some of these themes

and words from Zephaniah and applies them to Jesus.

John 12, 13 to 15,

they took palm branches and went out to meet him,

shouting, Hosanna!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Blessed is the King of Israel.

Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it.

As it is written,

Do not be afraid, daughter Zion.

See, your King is coming,

seated on a donkey's coat.

As John thinks about all those Old Testament prophecies

from Zechariah, from Zephaniah, from other places,

he understands the coming of King Jesus

fulfills this promise.

Here is Jesus riding into the city,

into Jerusalem,

the humble servant king for his people,

and he is riding right into the heart

and into the heat of spiritual battle

for you and for me,

taking the punishment so we don't have to.

Jesus moves from this,

you know, being greeted with great joy shortly after

to going to the cross to die.

And there that great reversal happens

where Jesus takes his people's punishment

and gifts us his peace.

And in so doing,

there is that great victory

that is happening on the cross.

In those three days,

the cross, the burial, the resurrection,

Jesus is fighting.

Jesus wins the spiritual battle,

the only victory in history

that will never be reversed.

Satan is defeated.

Death is crushed to death

so that we can know

that there's no condemnation for us

when we're trusting in Jesus.

So there's this great salvation coming

and Zephaniah encourages us

to look forward,

to sing with hope.

People in his day were singing with hope.

We look back, don't we?

We sing with joy and gratitude

and we look forward

and we sing with hope,

anticipating Jesus' return.

The gospel says we don't need to live

with fear of being condemned

when our faith is in Jesus.

Christ has fully paid the penalty

for our sin.

He has fully drained the cup of God's wrath.

There is nothing left for his people.

The holy and awesome judge

is our Father in heaven.

Here's another wonderful note

in this song of salvation.

It's as we see a homecoming

that is promised.

Again, we have seen on our news

in the last couple of years

people fleeing from war,

cities under siege,

and people having to leave

with nothing.

so many internally displaced people,

so many refugees,

and the longing.

We hear it on the news all the time,

don't we?

We just want to go home.

We just want to live in peace.

We want to go back to the place

where I belong.

Zephaniah anticipates both

the exile that would happen

because of sin and because of judgment

and a glorious homecoming

because of saving grace.

And we find it here in verses 19 and 20.

And again, Zephaniah likes

sort of repeating ideas.

There's been a gathering theme.

Chapter 1, there was a gathering

in verses 2 and 3,

a gathering to experience judgment.

Chapter 2, verse 1,

we see the people of God gathering

to seek mercy.

Here in chapter 3, verse 19.

At that time,

I will deal with all who oppressed you.

I will rescue the lame.

I will gather the exiles.

Verse 20, at that time,

this is God speaking,

I will gather you.

At that time,

I will bring you home.

There's a wonderful promise here,

a reminder of this new status

that we enjoy as the people of God.

Once more we know,

honor, honor among the peoples.

Fortunes have been restored.

Enemies have been dealt with.

And there is this glorious promise

of a homecoming.

Salvation as homecoming to a father.

Jesus anticipates that, doesn't he?

Think about Luke chapter 15.

Luke 15 · chapter mention

That wonderful story

of the prodigal son

who, having made a mess of his life,

he comes to his senses

and he returns,

not knowing what he's going to receive.

He knows he doesn't deserve

to be called a son to his father,

but his father joyfully,

lovingly welcomes,

forgives,

restores him to honor,

throws a feast,

calls him home.

Jesus tells that story.

Salvation story.

John 14,

Jesus spoke to his troubled disciples,

anticipating the cross.

What did Jesus say?

My father's house,

there are many rooms,

heaven like a home.

Jesus said,

I'm going there

to prepare a place,

preparing a place

for his people

through dying,

rising,

returning to heaven,

and I'll return

to take you to be with me.

The ultimate aim

of the gospel

of our salvation

is to be eternally home

with our God,

with our Savior.

There is an end

promised here

to suffering and shame.

There is the certainty

of security

and salvation

that is home.

All because of Jesus.

That's why we read

Revelation 19 and 21.

We heard God's people singing,

didn't we?

Hallelujah chorus.

Why were they singing

for joy there?

As John in his vision

was looking ahead

to the end of time,

there was the point

where evil has been defeated

once and for all.

Babylon defeated.

Image of all

that is anti-God.

And once evil

has been removed,

that gives way

to joy.

Unbreakable joy.

And so there is songs

there at the end

of Revelation

because of the reign

of God.

There is joy

because of the wedding

feast to come.

Feasting.

Homecoming.

There is joy

because there is

the new city

in which God

dwells

with his people.

And there is no sadness.

There is no suffering.

There is no death

there.

It is our true home.

It is the world

we all long for.

And we come to know it.

And we are trusting

in Jesus.

who gets to sing

this wonderful song?

Notice that Zephaniah

says there are

certain people excluded.

It is not the proud.

It is not those

who say they don't

need God

or don't want God.

It is the meek

and the humble.

Those who know

that all that we have

comes from grace.

It is those who are lame.

It is the exile.

We bring nothing

to the table.

Everything comes

from God

so all glory

belongs to God.

Zephaniah

anticipates

the songs of the gospel.

When our faith

is in Christ

there is always

there will always be

a salvation song

to sing.

And you know

we could stop there

and we thought

about wonderful things

haven't we?

The gospel is wonderful.

The song of salvation

is a glorious theme.

But there is that

other song

the song

of

the saviour.

It would be a song

we could hardly believe

we could hardly claim

for ourselves

unless it was here

in God's words.

It's here

verse 17 again.

The Lord

your God

is with you

the mighty

warrior

who saves.

He will take

great delight

in you.

In his love

he will no longer

rebuke you

but will rejoice

over you

with singing.

the Lord

sings.

The warrior

king

God with his people

sings

and sings

with joy.

Hearing this song

we've been thinking

about Christian identity

for the last couple

of months.

Hearing this song

is crucial

for a healthy

Christian identity.

Praying that the

spirit would help us

to believe

this would be true

even of us.

Learning to celebrate

the God

who celebrates

over us.

That we might live

knowing this

to be wonderfully

true

weak as we are

struggling

and limping

along as we are

to know that

when our faith

is in Jesus

when we are in Christ

God delights in us.

He rejoices

over us.

It's like a glorious

love song.

It's like Adam

singing over his

beautiful bride

in Eden.

We discover

this wonderful

truth

that the Lord

Jesus

the great bridegroom

sings over

his bride

the church.

The bride he makes

beautiful

by his grace.

This warrior

saviour

he has fought

to save

and rescue

and purify

and deliver

this warrior

saviour

now sings

with joy

over his

redeemed people.

joy for

Jesus

took him

to the cross.

The joy

of knowing

he was doing

his father's

will.

The joy

of knowing

he would

purchase

a people

for himself

with his

blood.

The joy

that will be

complete

for Jesus

only

when he is

united

to his people

for eternity.

there is still

joyful

anticipation

in the heart

of Jesus

as he waits

to be united

with his bride

the church

forever

and for

eternity.

What a song

to hear sung

over us.

By rights

we deserve

words of

judgment

and condemnation

but by grace

we hear this

song of joy

coming from

our saviour

God.

Honestly

we may

struggle

in ourselves

to see it

but we don't

feel there is

much to delight

in about

ourselves.

Maybe we are

very aware

of the

ugliness

within.

But this

is wonderful

truth from

God's word.

Jesus in this

sense is like

the great

master craftsman.

He is like

Michelangelo.

You know

the story

of Michelangelo

who was able

to look at

raw material

just a big

hunk of stone

and to see

a beautiful

masterpiece

and to get

to work

on shaping

and creating

with that joy

in the work

anticipating

the masterpiece

to be complete.

There is joy

for Jesus

now

having saved

us.

There will be

joy for Jesus

when his work

is complete

and we're

glorified

when we

are with

him.

The Christian

life

is a life

of song

and it's

learning to

play these

gospel songs

in stereo.

These melodies

would help

to give us

confident faith

and joyful

hope

and courage

through troubles.

That song

of the

Savior's

love

love in

action

so we

rest our

hope

in the

Lord Jesus

in his

salvation

both at the

cross and

the resurrection

and in his

return at the

end to deal

with evil

and to establish

his kingdom

but also to

hear that

melody

of a

father's

love for us

of the

Savior's

loving heart

towards us

that we would

let the Spirit

speak that

truth into

our souls

love for us

to the

great God

and Savior

loves us

in Christ

delight in us

in Christ

that Jesus

can't wait to

be united

to his bride

the church

forever

and so when

we're trusting

in Jesus

just as

Zephaniah says

to us

we can have

joy

as we think

about the

day of the

Lord

let's pray

together

Lord our

God we

thank you

that it

isn't just

in the

New Testament

that we

get these

wonderful songs

of the

gospel

and we

thank you

that you

are the

great Savior

celebrated

by your

people through

all time

Old Testament

New Testament

and right up

to the

present

Lord we

thank you

that you

are the

God

who removes

shame

and replaces

it with

honor

that you

are the

God

who removes

punishment

and grants

us peace

that you

are the

God

who through

the Lord

Jesus

promises us

that eternal

and joyful

homecoming

Lord help us

to believe

the gospel

help us to

trust in what

Jesus has done

for ourselves

we pray

to

to

to live

knowing

that you

delight in

your people

that you

don't just

put up

with us

but that you

take delight

in us

that Jesus

longs for the

day when

all his

people are

with him

forever

in that

world

made new

Lord we

pray as we

look ahead

to a new

week

that the

gospel

would

would

fuel

our

sense

of

hope

that you

would give

songs to

our hearts

and songs

to our

lips

as we

go through

this coming

week

knowing that

you are

the

saviour

God

who is

with us

with us

always

and we

pray this

in Jesus

name

amen

now our

closing hymn

is the

Lord is

my salvation

and again

we'll stand

as we

sing

the grace of

God has

reached for

me

and pulled

me from

the raging

sea

and I

am safe

on this

solid

ground

the

Lord is

my

salvation

I

will

not fear

when

darkness

falls

and

strength

will help

me scale

these

walls

I'll see

the dawn

of the

rising

sun

the

Lord is

my

salvation

who

is like

the

Lord

our

God

strong

to

save

faithful

in love

my

my

debt

is

paid

and the

victory

won

the

Lord

is

my

salvation

my

hope

is hidden

in the

Lord

He

flies

each

promise

of His

word

when

winter

fades

I

know

spring

will

come

the

Lord

is

my

salvation

in

times

of

waiting

times

of

need

when

I

know

loss

when

I

am

weak

I

know

His

grace

will

renew

these

days

the

Lord

is

my

salvation

who

is

like

the

Lord

our

God

strong

to

save

faithful

in

love

my

debt

is

paid

and

the

victory

won

the

Lord

is

my

salvation

and

when

I

reach

my

final

day

He

will

not

leave

me

in

the

grave

but

I

will

rise

He

will

call

me

home

the

Lord

is

my

salvation

who

is

like

the

Lord

our

God

strong

to

save

faithful

in

love

my

debt

is

paid

and

their

victory

won

the

Lord

is

my

salvation

glory

be

to

God

the

Father

glory

be

to

God

the

Son

glory

be

to

God

the

Spirit

Lord

is

our

salvation

glory

be

to

God

the

Father

glory

be

to

God

the

Son

glory

be

to

God

the

Spirit

Lord

is

our

salvation

the

Lord

is

our

salvation

the

Lord

is

our

salvation

salvation

the

Lord

is

our

salvation

the

Lord

is

our

salvation

the

Lord

is

our

salvation

we

we

we

will

close with

some

we

will

close with

some

more song

people

and

language

they cried

out in a

loud way

salvation

longs to

our God

who sits on

the throne

and to the

lamb

amen

praise

and glory

and wisdom

and thanks

and honor

and power

and strength

be to our

God

forever and

ever

our

God

let us

� on

for

guests

and

will

Thank you.