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So sing, Daughter Zion! Raise the rafters, Israel! Daughter Jerusalem, be happy! celebrate! God has reversed his judgments against you and sent your enemies off chasing their tails. From now on, God is Israel's king, in charge at the center. There's nothing to fear from evil ever again! God Is Present Among You Jerusalem will be told: "Don't be afraid. Dear Zion, don't despair. Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs. "The accumulated sorrows of your exile will dissipate. I, your God, will get rid of them for you. You've carried those burdens long enough. At the same time, I'll get rid of all those who've made your life miserable. I'll heal the maimed; I'll bring home the homeless. In the very countries where they were hated they will be venerated. On Judgment Day I'll bring you back home - a great family gathering! You'll be famous and honored all over the world. You'll see it with your own eyes - all those painful partings turned into reunions!" God's Promise. (Zephaniah 4:14-20 The Message)
Yesterday, I was sitting in a doctor's office where Christmas music was being played rather louder than normal offices, and a dear old lady came in and without thinking, started to sing the song, caught herself and stopped; the chorus came back on, and she almost started to sing. The nurse came to get her and said, "You like Christmas music, don't you?" The old lady smiles and said, "Oh, yes!"
What happened to singing out loud? Has proper etiquette and behavior stifled our bursting out in song? I love being around children that haven't learned that lesson yet; whether they know the real words or not, there they go, joining in song. Pharrell Williams had a great hit song, "Happy" that made so many children just drop what they were doing to start dancing and singing, "Because I'm happy!" Advent is just that type of season as well; the prophet says, "Start singing again, people of God!" He lists the reasons for our need to sing, and encourages us to sing! There is no judgment or condemnation against you, so sing! Your enemies have hightailed it to the hills, so sing! There's nothing to fear, so sing! There is no reason to be afraid, not even of your own voice, so sing! Your prodigal days are over, you've made your way home, and God has given you the Welcome Home, Child embrace, dang it! - SING! God has taken your sorrows and removed them, so sing. The burdens that you've carried have been taken away, so sing. Those who opposed or afflicted you, gone! So, sing! God is healing the sick; bringing in the homeless from the cold, so sing. Hatred has turned into welcoming love, so sing. The day of reunion is coming, and you know there will be great singing there, so sing.
PRAYER: Lord, let me sing today out loud and proud, of the many things You have done for me and mine. The list is too long, but I am blessed, and let me bless You and many with the sounds of praise. Help me sing in Jesus' Name, amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! And sing!!
Eradio Valverde
