The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing (Zeph. 3:17).

A small statue at our door displays a Middle-eastern father with robe and turban, on his knees, holding a small child over his head. The child is “airplaning” over his father – arms out, feet back, and head forward, confident of his father’s grasp.

What makes the statue so special to us is the look of rapturous joy on the face of the father and the child. The child delights in the father’s care, and the father rejoices in the gladness of his child. When we first saw the statue, we knew the verse that had to go with it – Zeph. 3:17.

In this portion of his Word, the Lord reminds us that the One who is mighty to save does not begrudge his care. The One who humbled himself to lift us to heaven exults over us with singing. He rejoices with the gladness that he brings to our souls.

When I must seek his grace for my sin, I come burdened by grief to my Heavenly Father. But the One who humbled himself to lift me from guilt does not delight in prolonging my shame. He who saves me from the consequences of my sin by a mighty hand holds me in love and delight no less strong.

I seek him, return to him, and daily depend upon him knowing that he holds me and rejoices over me with gladness – which makes my heart glad and my life his.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the mighty hand that saves me, lifts me from sin, and holds me forever. And thank you for the glad heart that exults over me, even me!