By the considerable amount of verses that start with ‘let…’ I get the feeling the people’s desire to praise was a natural expression. A response. Birthed out of a tight relationship. The people couldn’t help but praise God, and worship their creator. Uncontainable joy and affection spilled over.
Then I read on. The feelings were mutual. And those feelings were first declared by God. He took pleasure in them. He valued them. The plan was He’d leave His throne and die for them. Their response was in recognition of His faithfulness. And His affinity for them.
It made me think. Just knowing that He simply takes pleasure in His people. And calls them His own. He even goes as far as to let them triumph in glory beside Him, planning for Jesus to wear their sin. And He did. That ought to evoke a response.
Then I got to verse seven and the scene turned from rejoicing to battle. With the introduction of sword and vengeance, the people’s response shifted to war. Binding kings with ‘fetters’ didn’t seem friendly. And I felt a bit confused.
I was reminded. There’s a mess. There’s evil, corruption and lost hope. But God had a plan in Jesus.
So there, in that conflicting interest for supremacy between good and evil, there’s a battle. What’s cool in all of it is…we’re not alone. And we’re prepared to respond.
“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
(Zephaniah 3:17).
– Janet Lamb (June 2014)