John Lanchbury | Zephaniah 3:14-17 

Sing, Daughter Zion;

    shout aloud, Israel!

Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,

    Daughter Jerusalem!

...

The Lord your God is with you,

    the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you;

    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,

    but will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah spoke to a world in chaos, that had largely rejected God and his ways and was coming under his judgement. Yet this short book ends with a hopeful message. John explains how, whatever our circumstances, we can find joy even in the darkest times.

The podcast episode he refers to is The News Agents: "What's going on with young people and God?" dated 1 August 2025.

The recording begins with the reading from John Davies.