Devotion Booklets for Seasons of the Church Year Lent 2019 | Page 35

Tuesday, April 2, 2019
His Victory Is Our Victory
Zephaniah 3:14-17
Show of hands- who knows more than a handful of things specific to the Prophet Zephaniah and the occasion
for his Old Testament book? While most are more familiar with prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and maybe even
Ezekiel, our glimpse into Zephaniah’s book today is worthwhile because it helps us see how the Savior who came
into the world both eliminated our enemies and gives us the confidence to live for him.
While much of Zephaniah’s prophecy is God speaking directly through him, the verses before us are
Zephaniah’s response to God’s goodness and mercy. He speaks for us all when he proclaims, “Sing, Daughter
Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!” We don’t have to wait
long to understand why there is reason to rejoice, “The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned
back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.” What an
amazing God we have! Even before the promise of a Messiah was fulfilled in Bethlehem, Zephaniah speaks of
God’s promise as if it had already been fulfilled in Christ alone. Zephaniah writes knowing that sin’s eternal
consequences have been washed away. He writes knowing the fear of death has been erased. Oh, how true. The
Lord is victorious. Christ has conquered death. His victory is our victory.
Because of this, we are renewed in our faith. We know that “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.” Think about that. God Almighty rejoices because we are his and he is ours. The Lord of
all is on our side. What could be better?! What could remind us more that victory is ours in him alone?!
Dear friends, this Lenten season is one of solemnity and repentance. We travel to the cross, reminded of our sins
and need for a Savior. We also travel there, though, knowing that when Christ went to Calvary, he eliminated all
our enemies. The price he paid has taken away our punishment. Never again do we have to fear any harm
because he’s got us. He’s with us. He continues to fight on our behalf. Hold on to the words of Zephaniah that
“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.” They are words which drive away fear. They
are words which remind us our enemies have no power over us. They are words which assure us of a victory
earned by the blood of the One who went to Calvary on our behalf. All praise his holy name.
PRAYER: Lord God, you use a little-known Old Testament prophet today to remind us of who we are in
Christ and we can rejoice in him as our Savior. Build us up in this timeless truth, O Lord, and take away the
temptation to be fearful in this life and woeful when things don’t go our way. Remind us of your love. Fill us
with your mercy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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