COLUMN: Grey Matters – The God who sings

“The Lord your God is in your midst—a warrior bringing victory. He will create calm with his love; he will rejoice over you with singing,” Zephaniah 3:17.

The short book of Zephaniah was written during the reign of King Josiah in Judah around 640-609 BC when the Israelites were dealing with a lot of turmoil as a people. Much of the book contains warnings about sin, idolatry, and judgment. Yet the third and final chapter ends not with condemnation but with hope. God promises restoration, renewal, and joy for His people.

A single verse, Zephaniah 3:17, has four distinct phrases that reveal four remarkable truths about God’s relationship with us.

1. The Lord your God is in your midst

The first promise is God’s presence. Throughout Scripture, God’s presence is His primary gift:

-To Moses He said, “My Presence will go with you” (Exodus 33:14).

-To Joshua He promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).

-Jesus told His followers, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).

No matter what circumstances we face, God is not distant. He is present in suffering and celebration, in uncertainty and confidence, in weakness and strength. Need someone to stand beside you? He is there. Need someone to calm you down? He is there with his loving presence. Need someone to take an interest in you? He is there singing to you. The question is not whether God is present. The question is whether we are aware of His presence. Do I live each day aware that God is with me?

2. A warrior bringing victory

The second promise is God’s power. Life contains battles that cannot be won through human effort alone. Fears, temptations, griefs, spiritual struggles, and overwhelming circumstances often remind us how limited our own resources can be. Zephaniah describes God as a mighty warrior who brings victory. We are not left alone. God protects, saves, strengthens, and sustains His people. The outcome does not depend solely on our abilities but on His faithfulness. The question to answer here is, am I trusting my own strength, or God’s strength?

3. He will create calm with His love

The third promise is God’s peace. Many people spend their lives waiting for peace to arrive through changing circumstances. They tell themselves, “I’ll be at peace when this problem is solved,” or “I’ll rest once this situation improves.” God offers something more certain. His peace is rooted not in circumstances but in His love. When guilt weighs us down, His love reassures us. When fear threatens us, His love comforts us. When uncertainty surrounds us, His love steadies us. The God who calmed storms can also calm troubled hearts. A question to ask here is, what anxiety do I need to surrender to God’s loving care?

4. He will rejoice over you with singing

Perhaps the most astonishing phrase of all is the final one. God sings.

Think about that for a moment.

The Creator of galaxies sings over His people. The One who designed music uses music. The God who fashioned the human voice rejoices over His children with singing. God’s love is not cold, distant, or mechanical. His love is personal. He is enthusiastic about us. Some translations say, ‘He delights over you with singing.’ Many of us understand that God loves us, but do we truly believe that God delights in us? Do I accept that God truly delights in me?

Zephaniah 3:17 has a lot in it. So much, that it seems scattered. One moment you have the promise of presence, then the idea of a warrior on his way, and then suddenly this warrior is ‘creating calm with his love’ and then singing!?! It seems too much. However, for me, one word brings it all together – mothers.

Recently I was at a family pool party. The parents were talking with each seated by the pool as their children were playing in the pool. Suddenly a young child started calling for help, immediately their mother moved to action, her first grab missed the child as she went under again, the mother then jumped into the pool right beside her daughter and swiftly lifted her body up and out. The child began to cry, the mother held her close and spoke lovingly and gently to her. Later that night, I wouldn’t be surprised if she also did what many mothers do and sang a lullaby over her child. Isn’t it wonderful we have a heavenly parent who lives out the Zephaniah 3:17 way?

As we go through the week, let us work on living out the four invitations found in Zephaniah. The Lord your God is in your midst—a warrior bringing victory. He will create calm with his love; he will rejoice over you with singing.

Gary Dyck is a chaplain and spiritual care provider at a hospital and personal care home in the Southeast.