Sermon

Click here to print this Sermon

December 14, 2003
3rd Sunday in Advent
Zephaniah 3:14-17
Pastor Ben Berger

The Lord is with You

Have you ever had to walk alone in the dark? You have that feeling that someone is following you or watching you. Your imagination begins to run wild, afraid of what might harm you. All you want is someone to be with you. Do you remember being a young child and having a nightmare? Your parents told you it was only a dream; it wasn't real. But, in your mind you were very afraid and upset. All you wanted was someone to be with you. Maybe you crawled into your parents' bed, or maybe you asked them to stay with you until you fell asleep. I'm not sure that we ever grow out of fear. Even as we get older, we are afraid of things or people that can harm us or upset us. We still want someone to be with us. Today, Zephaniah reminds us that the LORD is with us. As a result, 1) Nothing will harm us and 2) Nothing will upset us.

What are you afraid of? Is there anything that can harm you? Perhaps you're afraid of flying or skydiving; maybe you're still afraid of the dark or being alone. Parents might fear kidnappers or rapists. Any of us might fear muggers, thieves or murderers. Do any of us fear God? Zephaniah and many of the OT prophets talk about God's punishment. In fact, it often seems they mostly talk about God's punishment. And they don't paint a pretty picture. Their description of God's punishment ought to frighten us.

Back in chapter one Zephaniah describes the Last day: "he great day of the LORD is near - near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD's wrath. In the fire of his jealously the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth."

As we walk along in this world, we should be looking over our shoulders in terror. This is the punishment that is coming upon us for our sins. We're not talking about some abstract punishment in our imaginations. We're talking about real punishment. For our sins we deserve to burn in hell - with real burning flesh, weeping and gnashing of teeth. We have sinned. Whenever we see our sins, we should be afraid of God's anger and punishment. How could we ever walk along in this world acting like it is daytime and we have nothing to fear? The night is here! We are walking in the dark. The danger of God's punishment for our sins is upon us and we should be afraid. Our fear should bring us to our knees and lead us to beg for God's mercy.

Then, we will see God's mercy. Very soon the LORD will appear out of the shadows. But, when he comes, he will not come to punish us. Rather, he will come to be with us. After Zephaniah reaffirms God's decision to punish all sinners, he changes his tone. Just before our text, verse nine, "Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder. From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings. On that day you will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me." Only because God is merciful, he will spare some from his punishment. For those who are meek and humble, for those who fear God's punishment and beg for his mercy, for all those who trust in his promises - God will take away their punishment.

That's why at the beginning of our text Zephaniah says, "Sing, shout, rejoice and be glad…The LORD has taken away your punishment." In our hearts we know that we have sinned and deserve only his wrath and punishment. We confess those sins every week. There is good reason for us to walk through this world looking over our shoulders, waiting for God's punishment. But, out of his mercy God has spared us.

The LORD has already come out of the shadows to walk with us. Zephaniah said, "The LORD, the king of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm." We do not have to walk alone in this dark world waiting for our punishment to jump out of the bushes to kill us. Now we walk through this dark world with the LORD by our side. He keeps watch for the enemy. He turns the enemy back. When past sins come back to haunt us, he chases them away with forgiveness. When the devil jumps out with another temptation, he stamps in out with his word. When death comes knocking at the door, Jesus leads us through to eternal life. Nothing can or will harm us. Nothing! The LORD has taken away our punishment and turned back our enemy. Sing, shout, rejoice and be glad!

When the LORD is with us, nothing can physically harm us, nor can anything emotionally upset us.

In verse sixteen Zephaniah makes an interesting comment. He says, "When the LORD is with you, do not fear and do not let your hands hang limp." When would we let our hands hang limp? Isn't that the body language of defeat? When we lose, we drop our hands and hang our heads. We're upset. Zephaniah says, "NO! Don't be upset; don't let your hands hang limp! You have not been defeated!"

Even when the LORD is with us, it's easy to be upset. It's like having that nightmare. At first it doesn't matter if it's real or not, it makes us upset. What kinds of things in this life make you upset? We get upset when we don't feel loved…when we aren't appreciated…when nobody listens to us or pays attention to us. We get frustrated with work…nobody else does their job and we have to do everything. The same happens when we come home. Plus, the kids are annoying…my brothers and sisters are annoying…my parents don't let me do anything. We even get upset with ourselves. I'm not smart enough…I don't play sports well enough…I don't know how to make friends. All these things, and many more I'm sure, upset us.

But Zephaniah says, "NO. Don't be upset. The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save." Do you think that if you lived Jesus' life, you would have been upset and let you hands hang limp? Didn't Jesus life look like defeat? He was poor all of his life. He never seemed to have his own home. There was always a crowd trying to make him look like a fool or trying to kill him. He eventually gets arrested. All of his friends leave him hanging. He's mocked, whipped and beaten. His own people want to crucify him. Finally he's sentenced to death. Criminals even make fun of him while he's dying. Then he finally dies. It looked like Jesus was defeated.

Then three days later Jesus displayed his power. He was not upset; he didn't hang his arms at his side or drop his head. He rose from the dead and raised his arms in triumph. He pointed to the heavens where he was going to prepare mansions for his believers. He lifted his hands to bless his disciples and send them out to the world. He told his disciples to pick up their heads, get out of that closed up room and go tell everyone of my victory.

Jesus descended into hell. He walked right into that blazing furnace and announced his victory. He crushed the devil's head and made sure everyone in hell knew about it. He ascended into heaven and took his place on his throne. He sat at the right hand of God to rule over all the world for the benefit of his people. Now he waits to proclaim his victory again and share the spoils of eternal with his people on the Last Day.

This mighty God, who saved you, is the very same one who walks with you. He is the one who comes into your life when you're frustrated and tells you that it will be all right. "He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." When you had a nightmare, your parents comforted you; they quieted you down. Now it is your mighty, victorious God who quiets you with his love. He reminds you again and again that all the troubles of this world are not worth comparing to the glory waiting for us in heaven. He reminds us that no matter what troubles we face on earth, we will eventually go to heaven.

The LORD takes away everything that upsets us. He replaces our sadness with joy. We will always have more blessings and blessings worth more than our troubles. We can give thanks for our jobs, our families, and our friends - even when they cause problems. The LORD replaces worry with peace. At night we can let go of this world's problems knowing that one day we will live without sin and any of its consequences. Finally, the LORD replaces our fear with security. When the LORD is with us we need not fear anything, but can trust that soon we will rest securely in the protection of his arms.

Sing, shout, rejoice and be glad. The LORD is with us. Nothing can harm us and nothing can upset us.