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"The great day of the LORD is near"

Text: Zephaniah 1:14

THE DAY OF THE LORD

The “day of the LORD” was the term that was used by the prophets to describe the day when God would bring about His Judgment. Zephaniah was one of many prophets who preached on this subject. He elaborated on the meaning and significance of the time he called “the great day of the LORD”.

“The great day of the LORD is near;
It is near and hastens quickly.
The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter;
There the mighty men shall cry out.”
Zephaniah 1:14

1. “The great day of the LORD”

a) It is another way of describing “the day of the LORD”.

b) The adjective “great” was added for the following reasons:

i) For emphasis.

ii) To heighten a sense of concern.

iii) To suggest that the Day of Judgment is to be greatly feared.

iv) To hopefully elicit repentance of the heart.

c) The word “Day”:

i) It is not restricted to a single twenty-four hour day.

ii) It is a reference to a specific time period (it could be months).

2. The nearness of the Day of the LORD

a) To many this event was in the distant future.

b) Thus, many did not pay much attention to this word of warning preached by Zephaniah.

c) But to Zephaniah

i) The Day of the LORD was “near”.

ii) Twice, he repeated that the Day of the LORD was near at hand.

iii) In fact, it was hastening!

3. “The noise of the day of the LORD”

a) It is the noise of battle.

b) It will be a bitter noise to the defeated.

c) It will be the bitter cry of the mighty men of Judah who would be defeated by the Babylonians.

d) The day of the invasion of the Babylonians was nearer than Judah ever thought.