Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Greetings...

The book of Zephaniah is one of those books where many, in “Christendom” today look only at the last chapter or so and ignore the rest.

Doom and gloom for those

People don’t want to think of God as a “God of wrath” but for God to be just He must be both merciful and vengeful.

God’s wrath is often characterized as our first point which is...

The Day Of The Lord

The judgment on the guilty was coming soon.

It was “at hand.”

It was “near.”

The Day of the Lord is a reminder of God’s justice.

Wrath, distress, anguish, ruin, devastation, darkness, gloom, clouds, thick darkness, trumpet blasts and battle cries.

History bore this truth out.

That day came to the proud and haughty.

That day came with destruction from the Almighty.

Is

That day came with howling and woe.

That day none escaped its effects.

Summery

Throughout the Bible, the “Day of the Lord” has always been a day of judgment.

Whether it’s the Jews awaiting judgment from God through the Assyrians first and then the Babylonians or the world awaiting judgment from Christ today (; ).

The Day of the Lord is a day we must be ready for ().

The Redeemed Remnant

The remnant is a reminder of God’s mercy.

The remnant would be made up of those that would seek the Lord in humility and follow His commands.

The remnant would not find doom and gloom but deliverance.

Zeph

Summery

Zephaniah demonstrates God’s willingness to show mercy and redeem His people even though they don’t deserve it.

Conclusion

When one closely studies the book of Zephaniah and the message found within its pages it doesn’t take long for us to have a healthy dose of “fearing the Lord” and yet you walk away from the study having God’s longsuffering and mercy imprinted on your mind as well.

I supposed this is the point that sin in our lives should cause us to “fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” () but that God’s mercy should motivate us to “cast out fear for love” ().

Invitation