We frequently hear the expression “God is in the House,” and it usually is said in reference to a worship service and specifically, an emotionally stirring worship service. Nothing wrong with that. However, there is so much more to it. The prophet Zephaniah penned a similar thought when he said “the Lord, your God, is in your midst” (Zeph. 3:17 NRSV). I would like to unpack this biblical idea. But in order to do so, I must place this verse in its context. The prophet has spoken these words to Jews in a time spiritual decline and rampant idolatry. God’s wrath was most certainly on the brink of unfolding. But, even though calamity would come, and did come at the hand of the Babyonians, the “Day of the Lord” when God would restore Israel and Judah was also prophesied. So, when Zephaniah speaks words of hope “to Jerusalem” and “to Zion,” (see vs. 16) the Jews could take heart in the knowledge that they still had a bright future. But what I want us to remember, as Christ-followers, is that these words have meaning for us, too! We are already citizens of the “New Jerusalem.”
Hebrews 12:22-23 states: “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.” Notice the verb “have come” (προσεληλύθατε) is in the perfect tense. What does that imply? The perfect tense refers to “A completed action in the past that has ongoing, continuing results or a present state in the present time.” Thus, when the author of Hebrews uses it in regard to “Zion” and a “heavenly Jerusalem,” he’s not indicating a future destination, but rather, a space we are already abiding in spiritually… as Christians, we are currently living spiritually alive in the New Jerusalem and citizens of the Kingdom of God. This is reaffirmed when he says, “you (have come) to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven.”
Why is this important? It matters because it means that the prophet Zephaniah’s words
and promises are ours to experience here and now. Friends, this is really good news;
God is “in the house; He is already in our midst!” Now then, what are the implications of
this to us? First, it means that we are assured of victory. Verse 17 says, “The Lord
your God is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory.” Are you presently engaged in a
spiritual battle? If you’re not, you will be soon, because “the Adversary prowls around
like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). But, we need not worry
insofar as we serve a great God who is a mighty warrior, assuring us of victory!”
Not only are we assured of victory, we are affirmed in love. Verse 17 of chapter 3 tells
us three ways God affirm will affirm you: 1. He “will rejoice over you with gladness,” 2.
He will renew you in his love, and 3. He will “exult over you with loud singing.” It
mind-boggling to me that the God who created the universe with all of its beauty and
complexity actually gets demonstrably exited over me and even “sings” over me. I grew
up participating in high school sports. I was never the star, but I managed to contribute
to the teams I played on in one way or another. As with any high school, we had a few
standout athletes. One particular kid had a mom who was loud in her praise. “That’s my
boy,” she would say whenever he did something good. I think of her in relationship to
this verse. You are his son or daughter and God is proud of you; He’s not ashamed to
say it out loud.
The third implication of God in our midst is that we are actually fearless. Or, maybe I
should say that we should be fearless. Two different times in these few verses of
scripture, we are reminded not to fear. Verse 15 states, “The king of Israel, the Lord, is
in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.” Then, in verse 16 it says, “do not fear, O
Zion.” One of those is a statement of fact, the other is a command. So, how do we
manifest this in our lives?
Good question, one way the text implies is that even though disaster is all around us at
times, we are to trust that God will protect us in the middle of it. Undoubtedly, at times
we are in midst of trouble, in the heart of the storm, or in the middle of disaster, but we
dare not forget that God is right there in midst with us, as well. And, in verse 18 he says
to us, “I will remove disaster from you.” What a powerful promise when we claim it!
There is another aspect to this we shouldn’t miss, and it relates to how we bear up
under criticism. I’ve got to be honest, here. Sometimes I haven’t reacted very well to
criticism. I don’t know if it was just pride or if it was insecurity, but there have been
moments when I have failed to let criticisms easily roll off my back. I’ve tended to hold
on to hurts and even secretly hope that an offender would “get what’s coming to them.” I
wonder if I am alone in that.
One of the reasons the prophet says we can actually be fearless is because the Lord
declares, “I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it.” He’s
telling us that we don’t need to fear criticism or the reproach of others. But he doesn’t
stop there. God says, “I will deal with your oppressors.” I think what the Lord’s trying to
remind me of is “I’ve got this… you don’t need to worry when others don’t see eye to
eye with you… I’ll handle it in my way and in my own time.” Again, “you don’t need to
worry and you don’t need to fear.” I might not be the only one in need of this reminder.
The prophet puts a wonderful capstone on all of this with the reminder that when God is
in the midst (or in the house) the house becomes a HOME. Verse 20 says, “At that time,
I will bring you home at the time when I gather you.” Have you experienced a wound at some point in your life? “I will save the lame” (v.19). Have you felt left out or cast
aside? “I will gather the outcast,” the Lord says in verse 19 and He brings us home. A
“house” can be simply bricks and mortar, but a “home” is the place we know we are
loved, respected and cherished–at least that is the kind of home the scripture is talking
about. In his notes in the Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible, edited by Richard Foster
and Dallas Willard (among others), Roy Searly adds this thought to our passage:
“To a wayward, rebellious, and negligent people–a prodigal people–God issues the compassionate Invitation to come “home.” There is a welcome in the heart of God to those who return “home.” Such a homecoming results in restoration off… relation-ship with God. Life restored. Life is found in knowing God.”
Aren’t you glad God is in the house?
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