God's Delight in Saving Souls
Skeletons of Sermons
Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God in the middle of you is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love…


A knowledge of ourselves will show us how much need we have of repentance; and a knowledge of God will encourage us to repent.

I. GOD'S POWER TO SAVE. We shall not speak of God's power in general, but as it is manifested in the salvation of His Church and people.

II. HIS DETERMINATION TO SAVE. If He should leave us to ourselves none of us would be saved. He takes the matter into His own hands, and determines to save those whom He has given to His Son. He does not destroy our free agency; but He overcomes our reluctance, and draws us to Himself by an operation no less powerful than that which He exerted in raising His Son, Jesus Christ, from the dead.

III. HIS DELIGHT TO SAVE. Not merely will He feel an inward pleasure; but as a man, overjoyed at any event, involuntarily expresses his joy by singing, or some other outward token, so will God manifest His pleasure to the returning soul.

IV. HIS IMMUTABILITY TOWARDS THOSE WHOM HE INTENDS TO SAVE. Man is often alienated from the object of his affections, either by means of some unexpected evil He has discovered, or through his own fickleness and inconstancy. But God changeth not. In this glorious character of God we may see —

1. The evil of sin. Under whatever circumstances it may be committed, sin is directly levelled against Him.

2. The danger of dying in an unconverted state. Will it be no aggravation of our guilt in the day of judgment to have despised such a loving and gracious God?

3. The obligation that lies upon believers to serve the Lord. What should you render unto the Lord for all His benefits? Have no end, no aim, no wish, but to please and honour the God of your salvation.

(Skeletons of Sermons.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

WEB: Yahweh, your God, is in the midst of you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.




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