“Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.” (Jeremiah 32:41)
Jeremiah is prophesying first about the invasion by the Babylonians, the destruction by sword, famine and pestilence, but quickly adds the Lord’s promise to bring the people back from all the lands they were scattered and to fulfill all the promises He has made to them. This will only happen in the millennial reign of Christ. “For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.” (Jeremiah 32:42)
All the wonderous creation of the Lord is before us. But the Lord says about man, the creatures made in His image, that He will rejoice over us. The word rejoice that Jeremiah used means to have great joy and make mirth. It’s the image of great delight. Isaiah also writes about this time, “...and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” (Isaiah 62:5) The same word of rejoice is used in all instances.
Of all creation, the LORD said it was good. But of man, He delights. Zephaniah writes, “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17) The word Zephaniah used for the joy He has over mankind is great joy that it causes Him to spin around with joy. In other words, to dance around over man.
When we think about how flawed man is, how treacherous and unfaithful he is with God, we cannot understand God’s joy over us. But when Christ rules the earth, His plan for mankind will be accomplished. Man’s relationship with God will be returned to the time before sin entered the world. God’s creation will be with Him and He with them. The purpose for which Jesus came to the world has been fulfilled and God’s creation has been returned to Him. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32) The prodigal children have returned home. And as the prodigal son’s father said, there’s a need to rejoice. “It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:32) What a beautiful picture of the Father in that parable. The Father has been longing for our return. Jesus finally accomplishes the Father’s Will. And God is so full of joy, He dances over mankind with dancing.
We are the purchased ones, bought by the precious blood of the Lamb. “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” (1Corinthians 6:20) The price was costly, but the gift so valuable, it can’t be earned nor bought. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;” (Ephesians 1:7) From before the earth was formed, God had us in mind to redeem us from enemy and draw us to Himself. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” (1Peter 1:18-21)
Paul eloquently wrote about why God values man. “But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? or the Son of Man, that Thou visitest Him? Thou madest Him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst Him with glory and honour, and didst set Him over the works of Thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet. For in that He put all in subjection under Him, He left nothing that is not put under Him. But now we see not yet all things put under Him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee.” (Hebrews 2:6-12) It’s because of Jesus. And in our praise and worship, Jesus also worships.
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