Zechariah 2:10 “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD.”

What welcome words these should be to the people exiled away from their home and center of worship. They had felt the absence of God for seventy years and perhaps lost hope that God would ever dwell in their midst again. The songs they had been singing were the old songs of Zion from before the captivity. They were no longer happy songs but songs of regret and loss. That is sad because singing is supposed to be a happy activity. Such good news to the people in exile; sing and be happy.

God does not want us to live sad lives. He wants us to rejoice to the point of singing because He is dwelling with us. In the confusing world of today, it is easy to become despondent and fall into despair because of the evil and terrible things we see going on. We can lose sight of who is with us, sheltering us, saving us. We are free of exile for God has set us free. Egypt and Babylon are behind us. God has brought us to the New Israel where we can live in His presence.  

Task for Today: Sing and rejoice! Live up your face and your heart and sing praises to God who has come to dwell in your midst. Today find shelter in the cleft of the rock, Jesus the Rock of Ages. He walks with you wherever you go and protects you from whatever comes your way. Sing a song of deliverance and salvation and give glory to the God who chose to live with you.