“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).

This beautiful little verse, almost hidden in one of the socalled “minor” prophecies, provides us with a unique insight into the nature of God. First of all, He is said to be a mighty God! This, however, is not surprising, for God’s word is full of testimonies to His great power. Then, He is also revealed as a saving God, but the Scriptures are already filled with the praises of His great salvation.

Next, He is also a joyful God and a resting God and a loving God! It is because He loves, of course, that He saves, which brings great joy even to the angels (Luke 15:10). When God finished His work of creation, He rested on the first seventh day (Genesis 2:1–3), and when He finished His work of redemption, He rested in a tomb on another Sabbath day (John 19:30,31,42). When His work of restoration is completed, He will rest again, on an eternal Sabbath.

Finally, God is also revealed as a singing God! The Scriptures often exhort believers to sing (e.g., Psalm 100:2; Colossians 3:16) and angels also sing (e.g., Job 38:7), but this is the only verse where we are told that even God sings.

Yet this also is not surprising, for Jesus evidently joined in the hymn at the last supper (Mark 14:26). On the cross, He promised in His heart, “My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation” (Psalm 22:25), and this may well be fulfilled at that coming day when “every creature” in the universe will unite in their “new song” of praise (Revelation 5:8–13) to God and to the Lamb.

And when the glorified Christ Himself joyfully leads our songs of praise, then will be fulfilled the final exhortation in God’s song book: “Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 150:6). HMM