Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! Zephaniah 3:14

Every moment or every day of every one of our lives we have reason to sing. And our singing is not like being in an ongoing musical where we sing for every little bird or flower or kiss. No, our lives are ones where we can sing hymns of praise every moment of our days for even greater blessings from God.

This same truth was echoed through the days of the people of Judah during the time of the prophet Zephaniah. At first, in the words the Holy Spirit inspired him to preach, it did not sound as if there was much reason to sing for joy. Zephaniah warned them of days of wailing and of want. The complacent of Jerusalem would be punished. [Jeremiah would warn the complacent they would die of famine, disease, or the sword.] Their wealth would be stripped away. Their new houses would be vacant. God would teach Judah, much in the way He needs to teach our own nation, to be grateful for the blessings He sends.

So how then was Daughter Jerusalem supposed to rejoice and Daughter Zion to sing? In the same prophecy, God had promised His faithful few, those who stood shoulder to shoulder to serve Him, that He would deliver them from their earthly enemies. He proclaimed that the faithful few would not be put to shame for the wrong they had done to Him. He promised the faithful few that He would even deliver them from His wrath. This, indeed, was reason to sing! This was the message that prompted a brief spiritual revival during the reign of KIng Josiah of Judah.

So why then do we have reason to sing every moment of our lives? We have reason because we are driven by the same joyous message. In Christ, our God has defeated the evil one. In Christ, our God has defeated death. In Christ, our God has even delivered us from His own wrath. We will not be put to shame. So sing!

Coming up in the next week at Immanuel Lutheran School:

                Thursday, December 9 School Board Meeting - 6:00 PM

                Sunday, December 12 Children’s Christmas Service Practice Between Services

                Monday, December 13 Basketball Practice

                Wednesday, December 15 Basketball Practice

                Thursday, December 16 Church Council Meeting - 6:00 PM

                Friday, December 17 Children’s Christmas Service - 6:30 PM