Hi friend and welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. I'm Sheridan Boise and I've titled

our reading today, Love Song. It's a quiet riverside park on a Saturday afternoon. Joggers pass

by, fishing rods whirl, seagulls fight over fish and chip

rappers, and my wife and I sit watching The Couple. They are maybe in their late 40s and are speaking

a language unknown to us. She sits gazing into his eyes while he, without a hint of self-consciousness,

sings to her a love songsong in his own tongue,

carried on the breeze for us all to hear.

This delightful act got me thinking about the book of Zephaniah.

At first you might wonder why.

In Zephaniah's day, God's people had become corrupt by bowing to false gods,

and Israel's prophets and priests were now

arrogant and profane. For much of the book, Zephaniah declares God's coming judgment on not

just Israel, but all the nations of the earth. Yet Zephaniah foresees something else.

Out of that dark day will emerge a people who wholeheartedly love God.

To these people, God will be like a bridegroom who delights in his beloved.

In his love, he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing, he says in Zefaniah chapter 3.

Creator, Father, Warrior, Judge. Scripture uses many titles for God.

But how many of us see God as a singer with a love song for us on his lips?

Today's scripture reading is from Zefaniah chapter 3, verses 9 to 17.

Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.

From beyond the rivers of Kush, my worshippers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings.

On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me,

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