Zephaniah 3 includes a description of future happiness, when the King of Israel is restored and when enemies have been cleared away, when Israel will be praised among all the peoples of the earth. It is a hope we share with natural Israel. But included in this description of future happiness is the idea that “The Lord is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil… The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save”. Zephaniah emphasises the benefits and importance of God being in our midst.
Similar ideas are expressed by John. “We are God’s children now…when he appears we shall be like him”. Being God’s children requires us to practice righteousness, to “love one another, for love is from God…whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
The hope we have, the life we are to lead, both require God to be in the midst of us, pervading our character and affecting our way of life.