Christ is Coming #15

We begin Week 3 of Advent with Zephaniah 3:

14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;

    shout, O Israel!

Rejoice and exult with all your heart,

    O daughter of Jerusalem!

15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;

    he has cleared away your enemies.

The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;

    you shall never again fear evil.

16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

“Fear not, O Zion;

    let not your hands grow weak.

17 The Lord your God is in your midst,

    a mighty one who will save;

he will rejoice over you with gladness;

    he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.

God calls His people to a full-blown joy. Why? The Lord had "taken away judgment," and has come, never to leave again.  When Christ came, God was present with His people; when He returned to the Father, His presence remained; He is in your midst. Jesus said that wherever two or more of us gather in His name, He is present; He is powerful; and He is rejoicing. Why should we rejoice? He is rejoicing, and He is here with us.