Importance of Unified Praise

Scripture:
At that time I will change the speech of the peoples
to a pure speech,
that all of them may call on the name of the Lord
and serve him with one accord.
Zephaniah 3:9

Observation: The prophet Zephaniah, writing just a few years before the fall of the northern kingdom, is already discussing the post-exile phase of the Jews. He discusses their return, their change of heart, and their future return to the Lord.

Language is important in the biblical account, and serves to provide the structure of societies. It was the Lord who used language to scatter people and create multiple people groups. Zephaniah discusses a change in the speech of the people, which will unify those who worship the Lord. This could mean a change in actual language, and this does happen to the Jews as over the next few centuries their lingua franca will evolve from Hebrew, to Aramaic, to Greek. However, this also may mean that the people will discover a unity in praise, worship, and prayer, declared out loud to the Lord. They will again find their one true purpose - to honor the Lord - and be of one accord in their worship and trust of Yahweh. Thus their speech will be pure in that it honors God.

Application: There is power expressed in the unified and "corporate" praise of the Lord ... in the people of the God collectively declaring their faith and calling on the Lord. This is the power of group worship, a pure speech, delivered with one accord.

This is a pure speech ... worship and praise, declared out loud, in a group. This is important to the Lord as a way we honor him as our God, our savior, our Lord, our father. We honor him when we declare his greatness out loud with our voices, for others to see and hear, and especially when we do so as a collection of God's people.

With the spreading of the gospel, the Lord changed the "speech of the peoples" (plural) to one pure speech, that being worship in the name of Jesus Christ. As the Church, we can now serve him with one accord.

Prayer: Lord, may I sing your praises every day. I will consider your greatness at all times, but I will especially honor you in my worship together with other believers. Your are great and worthy of all praise and honor and glory. Amen.