In Scripture we are sometimes shown these glimpses of the relational interactions of us and our God. They help reveal His nature and the depth of intimacy that occurs in a simple room and setting like this. We were all made for two very important things; a relationship with God and to worship Him. But maybe we could end a night like this and wonder about how our worship songs to God have been received by Him.
Like, what is God doing while I sing to Him? What does He think? How does He respond?
A few years ago on my birthday, a few of my children called me to our piano and began to play a song. To my delight, I realized that they had written ME a song; a sweet melody to express their love and affection for me on my birthday. If you know me at all, you already know that of course, I totally cried and happily listened. What was most impactful and what we all understood in that room that day was that It wasn’t just a song being sung. I was being offered a relational expression of love that wasn’t just random words to make me feel good, they came from a place of knowledge of me and love for me. They were able to express that song partly because they understand that I love them too. It’s mutual. We joy in and love one another and the song was a reflection of that truth. It’s not just music or mere singing anymore, it’s a heart song that they could offer and I could receive in the way it was intended for me because of that mutual love that we share.
AND SO, EVEN MORE SO, IT IS WITH GOD.
He’s not a far off being that we mindlessly sing songs to, as if we are obligated or because He demands us to. He’s not like an angry or detached father that looks at us from His recliner and mocks us or ignores us. And we aren’t searching for approval in it, we already have His approval. We are engaged in something very meaningful and powerful. It’s what we were made for; relationship and worship of the only One worthy of it and because of our mutual love. The Word says that we love because He first loved us.
In this verse, we hear that God Is here with us, He is present, in our midst.
He is mighty and desires to save all of us.
And when we are willing to receive His love and salvation through Jesus, He rejoices over us with gladness. He brings a quiet and gentle love to us. We rest in that love.
And then, as a loving Father, He literally joys over us with singing.
If I didn’t read it in His word, and know of it personally, I wouldn’t believe it about the God of the universe.
So as we continue to sing and worship, I pray that we experience His presence, are in Awe of His might and His salvation plan for us, and that we joy in Him as He joys over us. I pray that we are quieted in His love and experience more of the beauty and depth of the mutual expressions of love that occur in this relationship that we have been afforded through Jesus. – Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
What a God! What a Savior! What a Father! What a love!