The way we believe God views us is based upon a variety of circumstances including our upbringing and our current situation. The nation of Israel had rejected God and the prophet Zephaniah brought a message of judgment. After God’s chastening, Zephaniah then affirmed God’s covenant love to His people:

The LORD has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You will fear disaster no more. (Zephaniah 3:15)

Zephaniah then painted a beautiful picture of God’s view of His people:

The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. (Zephaniah 3:17)

We see several promises in this verse. First, we see that the Lord your God is in your midst. God is with the people who belong to Him. The word midst refers to the inner part, inner organs, or one’s inmost being. King David used this word when he prayed that God would renew a steadfast spirit in him. The Septuagint (LXX), which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament, translated this word with a phrase meaning in you. This translation corresponds to the New Testament concept that Christ is not only with you, but He is in you.

The phrase victorious warrior conveys the idea of a warrior who saves. The background of the word save is to make wide indicating a place of safety, in contradistinction to a narrow strait that implies danger. When you’re in a narrow strait, do you see God as your victorious warrior?

We see that God exults over you. Reflect upon the fact that God delights in you as He exults over you. Do you see yourself as God sees you? Zephaniah then recorded that God will be quiet in His love. God does not bring up your past sins, but He desires a deeper and closer relationship with you.

Finally, Zephaniah recorded that God will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. The word joy denotes a state of favorable circumstances. God reveals a joyful ecstasy that breaks forth in song. This is how He views His people. How would your attitude change if you appropriated the truth of this verse? This description of how God views His people is not a new concept, the Old Testament is replete with God’s everlasting love for His people:

Psalm 149:4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.

This is how God views His people. Under the old covenant, God’s people were considered to be the nation of Israel. In the new covenant God’s people is comprised of the church. Remember that God is a victorious warrior who takes great delight in you as He rejoices over you!

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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