Third Advent | Hope in dark times
Series: Follow me | Bible text: Zephaniah 3:14–17
The prophet Zephaniah calls on the people of Israel to rejoice and shout in a dark time. The reason for this is hope. Zephaniah could see through the horizon and saw there an inspiring picture of the future. As the final fulfilment of this picture is still to come, we can still rejoice and shout with hope for our future today.
My mum had a very difficult first birth, which was associated with a lot of suffering. And yet she was prepared to get pregnant five more times. A woman only does something like that to herself because the joy of having a new addition to the family is huge. Hope looks through the suffering and sees what is to come. Paul, the author of the letter to the followers of Jesus in Rome, also places hope in this background: «For we know that all of creation groans with us until this moment, as under the pain of childbirth» (Romans 8:22 NLB). In this context, he writes about the hope of the coming glory: «But I am convinced that our present sufferings are insignificant compared to the glory he will give us later on»(Romans 8:18 NLB).
Zephaniah, a prophetic book in the Old Testament, is one of the «twelve minor prophets». These prophets often speak in dark and difficult times, but they also bring a message of hope and the future.
Hope currently Zefanjas
The prophecies of Zephaniah are a vivid illustration of how living hope works.
Reason for joy
Those who have a living hope within them have every reason to rejoice. Zephaniah needs really strong words for this: «Break forth into joy, O daughter of Zion; shout for joy, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem!» (Zephaniah 3:14 NLB).
Despite dark clouds
The essence of true hope is that it prevails, especially in difficult times. There is not much reason to celebrate in Israel at the time of Zephaniah. The fact is that Zephaniah is speaking at an extremely bleak time. The reigns of the two kings Manasseh and Amon had just come to an end (around 640 BC). During this time, the temple in Jerusalem was desecrated and became a place where various idols were sacrificed (Zephaniah 1:4–6). The northern kingdom of Israel was conquered by Assyria a good 60 years ago. The future of the southern kingdom did not look any better: the deportation of the Israelites to Babylon and the destruction of the temple was imminent. Dark storm clouds hung over the horizon.
Covenant relationship with a living God
God speaks to Israel with Daughter of Zion and Daughter Jerusalem on. This has deep meaning. The people of Israel are thus addressed personified as women. In some places, the image of a marital relationship between Yahweh and Israel is even used as a powerful metaphor for the covenant relationship between God and his people. In addition to God’s love, this marital relationship is also characterised by Israel’s frequent apostasy. Israel whores around with foreign deities and Yahweh courts his wife. An unbreakable covenant sustains the marriage relationship. Paul speaks about God’s faithfulness: «For the gifts that God gives and the calling that he pronounces, he does not regret and they are valid forever» (Romans 11:29 NLB).
An inspiring picture of the future
Even though Zephaniah could see through the horizon, he did not block out the dark clouds. Israel – right now badly entangled in fornication – is facing a heavy fate.judgement against. However, Yahweh does not want to destroy the people, but to reorganise them. The Old Testament prophets often speak of a remnant that is to be spared, as Zephaniah does: «You humble ones in the land, who have lived according to God’s law until now, seek the LORD! Continue to strive for justice, continue to be humble! Perhaps then you will be saved from God’s wrath on that day» (Zephaniah 2:3 NLB). Because God is holy, He cannot simply overlook people’s sin. God’s wrath is an expression of His love.
Beyond the horizon with its dark clouds, an indescribably marvellous future appears. Israel’s speech with Daughter of Zion and Daughter Jerusalem are rich images of hope and have different accents:
- Daughter of Zion: Zion is the name of the mountain in Jerusalem on which the temple stood. The temple is the place where Yahweh dwelt among his people, the place where heaven and earth meet. In addition to being called by Yahweh, God’s dwelling among the people was the unique selling point of Israel. Yahweh wanted to be with the people, this is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. God has withdrawn because of the harlots. But Zephaniah sees new times dawning over the horizon: «For the LORD has cancelled the judgments that were passed on you and has destroyed your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst and you will see no more evil. On that day they will call out to Jerusalem: «Fear not, Zion! Do not let your hands fall discouraged!» (Zephaniah 3:15f NLB). As a result:
- Daughter Jerusalem: Jerusalem means translated City of peace. The term Shalom does not only mean Peace in the narrower sense, but encompasses many aspects of life that have to do with harmony, prosperity, wholeness, health and security. It is an ideal state in which both individual and collective needs are in harmony with each other.
Daughter of Zion and Daughter Jerusalem are the emblems of true spiritual hope. In fact, Zephaniah’s prophecy has already been fulfilled twice:
- After 70 years of captivity in Babylon, the Israelites were allowed to return to Jerusalem, where they built the second temple on Mount Zion (516 BC) The dwelling place of God among men was re-established.
- 500 years later, Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, came into the world in a stable in Bethlehem. God visited the world in the person of Jesus. He was the living temple where heaven and earth met (cf. Matthew 26:61).
For an Israelite at the time of Zephaniah, it was very challenging to hold on to this living hope. Their «Advent» lasted a full 640 years. These two events are like inheritances. The fullness of the inheritance is yet to come.
Hope in our time
And so, during Advent, we look forward to the fulfilment of this promise. It is a real challenge to hold on to hope in a dark time. The fact that this hope is interwoven with centuries of history shows that it is much more than utilitarian optimism and cannot be categorised as «the power of positive thinking».
Reason for joy
«Break forth into rejoicing, [your name], shout for joy, [your name]! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, [your name]!» This is the attitude we strive for. Those who regularly inhale the living hope that the Bible paints before our eyes will not complain, but rejoice, even in the face of dark clouds on the horizon. Deep joy is part of the basic tone of a hopeful follower of Jesus.
Despite dark clouds
Just as it is for a contemporary of Zefanja, dark storm clouds hang on our horizon. What is going on in the world at the moment could plunge us into depression. You may also be facing major personal challenges. Perhaps you have to deal with the diagnosis of an incurable illness, perhaps an important relationship is about to end, perhaps the ravages of ageing are gnawing away at you… It is my prayer that Jesus will open the eyes of your heart so that you can see the future glory through the horizon.
Covenant relationship with a living God
When Yahweh gives the people of Israel Daughter of Zion and Daughter Jerusalem Jesus refers to the entirety of Jesus» followers as his Bride. Marriage is therefore also a metaphor for the relationship with God in the new covenant established by Jesus Christ. Elsewhere it says that followers of Jesus are children of God: «[…] We have become children of God and may call him «Abba, Father» » (Romans 8:15 NLB). Those who live in this unbreakable covenant relationship with Jesus stand before the fullness of the glorious inheritance.
An inspiring picture of the future
Zion (Temple) and Jerusalem remain symbols of a living hope. «Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God like a beautiful bride adorned for her bridegroom. I heard a loud voice calling from the throne: «Behold, the dwelling place of God is now with men! He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will be with them» » (Revelation 21:1–3 NLB).
The temple is the place where heaven and earth meet. This is exactly what will be the case in the holy city, the new Jerusalem. The entire new creation will be like a temple in which God will dwell with his people. The first and second temples stood on the Temple Mount (Zion) in Jerusalem. According to Jewish tradition, the third temple will also be built there when the Messiah comes. We do not expect a third temple in Zion, but a new heaven and a new earth in this world. Typically, we have an image in our minds that when Jesus returns, he will fly through space from a distant planet like an astronaut and pick up his followers and take them to a distant heaven. Heaven is not a place that is light years away from here. Heaven is in our midst, as is God, even if it is not yet perceptible to our senses. But at His return, Jesus Christ will reveal Himself. The new Jerusalem, the city of shalom, will become visible and tangible. Harmony, prosperity, wholeness, health and security. It is an ideal state in which both individual and collective needs are in harmony with each other. If we could grasp just a hint of it – we would walk through dark times full of living hope. This earthly life would no longer have to offer everything, nor would it have to last forever.
In the final fulfilment of this prophecy, judgement also becomes an issue once again. However, not for all people: «Whoever believes in him is not condemned. But he who does not believe in him is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God» (John 3:8 NLB). Jesus Christ, the pre-fulfilment of Zephaniah’s prophecy, has taken the judgement upon himself. Whoever believes in Him and follows Him is neither judged nor condemned – but is saved.
The last sentence of our text speaks of God’s tremendous love for his people: «The LORD, your strong God, the Saviour, is with you. He rejoices in you with great delight. He is speechless with love and yet shouts with joy over you» (Zephaniah 3:17 NLB). This love also carries us, who follow Jesus, through life. Peter Kuzmic: «Hope is nothing other than faith in God’s infinite love.» This passionate love combined with the inspiring image of the future creates a hope with which we can cheer and rejoice, even when black clouds hang on the horizon.
Possible questions for the small groups
Read the Bible text: Zephaniah 3:14–17; Romans 8:18–24
- What gives the people of Israel reason to shout and rejoice?
- What is behind the terms Daughter of Zion and Daughter Jerusalem? What do they say about the relationship between Israel and Yahweh? What kind of image of hope do they harbour?
- How can the fact that our hope is interwoven with centuries of history fuel our personal confidence?
- What inspiring image of the future do you carry in your heart? Does it help you to cheer and rejoice in dark times?
- What is trying to rob you of hope at the moment? Pray together for new hope.
