December 5, by Dwight Bayley

SCRIPTURE
Zephaniah 3: 14-17
Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has cast out your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear evil no more. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

In 1942 a group of football fans were fishing off the coast of Newfoundland and listening to the Army/Navy game on radio. Suddenly, they heard a cannon shot and turned to see a German submarine close by. A German officer and armed sailors boarded the fishing boat, accused them of sending radio messages, and threatened to blow up their fishing vessel.

The Americans insisted that they had the right to be fishing in those waters. Tensions were very high; nervousness abound. Suddenly, from the radio came a message from the sports announcer: “The moment has come! The Navy is taking to the air. The Navy receivers are coming out.: The startled Germans exited the fishing craft, boarded their sub, and were never seen again.

The author of Zephaniah reminds us of the celebration sung by the faithful remnant: sing, shout, rejoice, and exult, O Israel, because Yahweh has taken away, has cast out the menacing threat, and is ‘in your midst’ reigning as King. Fear not! Yahweh, your God, will renew you.
How refreshing to know that in spite of the conditions of our present world, that Yahweh is in control and is preparing to “bring us home.”

We’ve been waiting for a long time, longing to receive some sign that the Lord reigns supreme over his creation. That sign is almost here. So, sing, shout, rejoice and exult, because Emanuel is here!

PRAYER
O Lord, God; you have been in your creation throughout all of history because your earth and its inhabitants are important to you. Keep us diligent in our telling of your love to those around us. In our longings, may we too, find Peace on Earth! Amen.

Dr. Dwight H. Bayley, Parish Associate of Riverside Presbyterian Church loves to laugh, joke and enjoy a coke. Dwight loves people and looks forward to visiting you. His wife Sarah is the moderator of the deacons.