Our Sunday morning sermon series this month is about a Child. (Surprise! Not surprised.) A Child born to us, a Son who was given.

And while our New Testament accounts record that He was to be named Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins (Mt. 1:21), fitting of His first advent, the prophet Isaiah sees Him more in the context of His second advent, that visitation to earth when “the government shall be upon His shoulders.” When He reigns on the throne of David to establish His kingdom on earth “with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.” Then, says the prophet, “His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince and Peace” (Isa. 9:6-7).

We’re considering one of those four names each week through December. Yesterday, we camped on “Mighty God.”

El Gibbor. Mighty God. Strong Man. Powerful Champion. Valiant Warrior. Awesome!

In my reading in Revelation this morning I briefly encountered this Child who shall be called Mighty God.

They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with Him are called and chosen and faithful.”

(Revelation 17:14 ESV)

Lord of lords King of kings. Mighty Conqueror. Mighty God. (Did I mention awesome?)

But it’s my encounter with El Gibbor in my Zephaniah reading that takes awesome and presents it in a reality that is amazing.

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The LORD your God is in your midst, a Mighty One who will save; . . .”

(Zephaniah 3:16-17a ESV)

What will our Warrior God do when the war is over? What will our Powerful Champion occupy Himself with when He has put down every enemy? What will Mighty God do when He has saved, and saved to the uttermost, showing Himself in the unveiled majesty of His omnipotence in the midst of His redeemed people?

” . . . He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.”

(Zephaniah 3:17b ESV)

Read that again. Chew on it a bit.

What will it be like to behold our God rejoicing? What does it look like when the Mighty God engages in mirth, joy, and pleasure?

What will it be to hear the all powerful One singing powerfully? Singing loudly? Singing enthusiastically? And that, as He sings over us?

I can only imagine.

But whatever it will be like, it will quiet us. Not for fear of even thinking we could enter into a duet with the God who created singing, but because it will be such an expression of His love that it will silence us.

When we behold our Mighty God rejoicing over us with mighty joy we will be still. Muted in awe as we behold His almighty might. Quieted in amazement as we hear Him, in our midst, convey the depths of His steadfast love.

And such awe, such amazement, can even now be ours by faith as we consider afresh that unto us a Child has been born. That unto us a Son has been given. And His name we proclaim to be Mighty God. The Mighty One who rejoices over us, sings over us, and quiets us with His love.

What grace! To Him be all glory!