Precious – Costly – Beautiful

Perhaps you are familiar with this little song of praise and adoration to God:

Lord, You are more precious than silver.
Lord, You are more costly than gold.
Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds,
And nothing I desire compares to You.
       – Lynn DeShazo

I have sung that song to the Lord as the dog and I walked. One day, I watched the Internet video feed from a Christian women's conference, and the song leader had the group sing the song. Then she asked the participants to change the words, and I was changed by the experience! Substitute your name for "Lord", sing the song again, and imagine God singing to you and with you.

Startling as is the thought of God singing to us and desiring us, it is supported by Scripture.

Zephaniah 3:17 – The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. (NIV)

The love mentioned in the verse is the Hebrew word "ahaba", meaning "affection" and "friendship" in English. It is also the root word for the Aramaic word "abba", the intimate name used by children for their fathers, like "daddy". Jesus taught His followers to address God with the word "Abba" when they prayed.

Elsewhere in Scripture, the Hebrew word "h'sed", found, for example, in the Lord's covenant given to Moses (in Exodus 34:5-7) and translated into English as mercy, grace, or lovingkindness, encompasses the Lord's devotion to us.

The Greek word "agape" hints at God's passion for us expressed as His unconditional, patient, hoping, trusting, faithful, never-failing love. Jesus Christ, called the Word, is God's thought and expression. The apostle John told us that love motivated the Father in heaven to send His Son to us in the world. If we believe the Word, we have eternal life, we have no condemnation, and we are saved through Christ. The Greek verb "sozo", translated "save", means to make whole, deliver from danger or suffering, protect, heal, and preserve.

Can you hear Him rejoice over you with singing?

Listen! I promise you that you will like the result.

Prayer: Father, by Your Holy Spirit, may we be sure of Your devotion and presence with us. Help us to be open to hear Your sweet, kind, and affectionate voice. In the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.