By Gayle Swenson and Scott Day
Being musicians all our lives, and Christians for the majority of that time, the two of us alone have written more worship tunes than we can count, including the ones that never went beyond our own personal times of worship.
During one of those times recently, Scott was inspired to write a song based on Zephaniah, Chapter 3, verses 16 and 17.
Zephaniah spends several chapters speaking about a judgment coming for Judah and Israel, then he begins painting a picture of what it will be like if they repent and turn to God. Verse 17, reads:
The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing. (AMP)
The Message Bible writes that last phrase as: “He’ll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs,” and the New Living Translation writes: “He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” The Tree of Life version adds that he dances over us! Can you imagine God singing and dancing – over US? Over YOU?
Here’s what Scott has to say about his new song, “Mighty Warrior”:
“The imagery Zephaniah uses in these verses really blows me away. In the New Revised Standard Version that I use for my daily reading, verse 16 says, “On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak.” So He starts off by telling us not to be afraid and not to let ourselves get weak. But why?
Because our God, our Mighty Warrior, is in our midst.
This is a pretty strange looking warrior. Nothing about weapons, or blood, or wars or just general gore. This warrior is rejoicing and actually singing over us. I personally believe He’s singing over us because of the victory He knows He has won for us. He’s excited about our victory. I liken this to Luke 10:21 where it says, “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.’” If you pull out your concordance, you’ll find the Greek words translated “full of joy,” or in the King James Version “rejoiced,” actually mean to jump for joy. Jesus was excitedly rejoicing because of what His disciples were learning about Him and His Father.
God is excited about all the things He’s doing in our lives, and He’s probably extra excited because He sees clearly the victory He has won and is winning on our behalf better than we do. We may see our current problems, but He sees our ultimate victory, and He’s rejoicing and singing over us about it! I almost hear Him singing, “I know you think things are really challenging for you right now, but I am so excited to see your reaction when you see the outcome of what I’m doing just around the corner.”
It’s not a day for shrinking
It's not a time for fear
Now is the time for shouting
For the victor's song is here
Now let us lift our voices
Let it be heard far and wide
Because our God is with us
Mighty Warrior splits the sky
From Mighty Warrior
Words and music by Scott Day
Copyright 2021 Mizelli Music
To be one of the first to hear the Scott Day Band perform Mighty Warrior and other new songs, along with some older favorites, join us in Hagerstown, Maryland, at 7:00pm on June 16, 2021, for an Encounter City Park (Encounter City Park | Facebook) event sponsored by Valor Ministries (www.thevalorcenter.org). Or check our Events listing (Concerts – Scott Day Band) for other SDB performances in upcoming months.