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Sing for joy, Daughter Zion; shout loudly, Israel! Be glad and celebrate with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! Zephaniah 3:14

This week's text comes from a lesser known prophet that predicted and foretold the destruction of both Israel and Judah on account of their waywardness from God.  The sense of Zephaniah's words was bleak and foreboding.  Yet, in the closing words of his book, we find a call to sing for joy; to be glad and celebrate.  These commands do not seem to fit with the promise of destruction.  We also can have a sense that these days are not the time to celebrate or have joy.  But Zephaniah outlines an encouragement from God that describes the reasons that we can have this resounding joy in our lives.