Advent readings, Day 16 - Zephaniah 3: 14-20

Zephaniah 3: 14-20  So sing, Daughter Zion!
    Raise the rafters, Israel!
Daughter Jerusalem,  be happy! celebrate!
God has reversed his judgments against you and sent your enemies off chasing their tails.
From now on, God is Israel’s king,  in charge at the center.
There’s nothing to fear from evil  ever again!

 Jerusalem will be told: “Don’t be afraid.
Dear Zion,  don’t despair.
Your God is present among you,   a strong Warrior there to save you.
Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love  and delight you with his songs.

“The accumulated sorrows of your exile   will dissipate.
I, your God, will get rid of them for you.
    You’ve carried those burdens long enough.
At the same time, I’ll get rid of all those   who’ve made your life miserable.
I’ll heal the maimed;   I’ll bring home the homeless.
In the very countries where they were hated  they will be venerated.
On Judgment Day  I’ll bring you back home—a great family gathering!
You’ll be famous and honored  all over the world.
You’ll see it with your own eyes -  all those painful partings turned into reunions!”
        God’s Promise.

Back to the minor prophets.  Maybe some of you remember Zephaniah from the summer preaching series on the minor prophets. The passage we read are the closing words of Zephaniah.  They are words of hope in a God who will make Judgment Day like a "great family gathering."  Note it is not a removal of judgment, but a movement beyond judgment.  The coming of Christ does not remove us from judgment, but brings us salvation beyond judgment.  The Christ-child invites us to acknowledge our shortcomings and follow him into a new life.