Zephaniah 3:17

"The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

The LORD is a god of intimacy.  He is not far off from us, but he is in our midst.  He walks along side us, before us, and after us.  As we dwell in him he also dwells in us.  This is our God who permeates every fiber of existence and we are saturated by his love.

And He is mighty to save us.  Such a powerful and awe-inspiring God whose foes tremble at his feet and cower in fear is a God who with the same hand embraces us, caresses us and protects us.  In His strong arms, he rejoices over us, happy just to hold us in his arms.  He is the bridegroom taking delight in his bride.

And it is his love which calms and quiets us.  It's his love which melts us in his arms in peace and serenity.  This intimate God comforts us and soothes us.  His touch is restoring and his presence is relaxing.  He gives rest to our tired bodies.

And our God is a hopeless romantic.  He serenades us with love songs.  His pleasure cannot be contained as he bursts into song for his beloved.  And He has a beautiful voice. The same voice which can crush armies and topple mountains is music to our ears.

Mark 14:26

"When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives."

Did you know that Our Lord sings?

This is our Lord who is able to make the blind see, the dead live, walk on water, cast out demons, rebuke storms, feed thousands with just a few fish and loaves of bread, and mighty and able to overturn kings and kingdoms at the sound or command of his voice and yet with this same voice Our Lord sings.

Do you remember what happens at the last supper?  Judas goes out to betray Jesus into the hands of the Pharisees.  Jesus knows what is coming, that he will not live to see the end of the week and that in two days he will be beaten and crucified, and still he does not neglect to worship God.  He does not forsake his duty to give God praise and glory and honor for He knows His scripture:

"Sing, O daughter of Zion;
Shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O Daughter of Jerusalem!
The LORD has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."
(Zephaniah 3:14-15,17)

The Fourth Day of Holy Week.