Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
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Disgust
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Fear
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Joy
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Sadness
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Language Tone
Analytical
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Confident
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Tentative
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Social Tone
Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Emotional Range
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Tone of specific sentences
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Anger
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Introduction
Scripture
Outline
Nahum 1 - God’s Righteous Anger
Nahum 1:1 - Introduction
Nahum 1:2-8 - The Universal Judgment of Yahweh
Purpose of Book
The purpose of Nahum is to reveal Yahweh as the great Divine Warrior who issues judgment against the Assyrians and rescues His people and the Messianic seed
Main Point
Yahweh will one day issue universal judgment on the Day of the Lord.
All people are forced to answer the question - will you find refuge in Him or continue to be His enemy?
Nahum 1:1 - Introduction
1 An oracle concerning Nineveh.
An oracle
Prophecy from the Lord
Burden put upon Nahum by Yahweh that MUST be delivered
Concerning Nineveh
Nineveh became the capital of Assyria in 704 BC
Represents the Assyrian empire in the oracle
The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.
The book of the vision
This book was revealed to Nahum by divine revelation
Nahum of Elkosh
Nahum = comforter
Nothing is known about Nahum - the author is not important, but the message from God is vital
Nahum 1:2-8 - The Universal Judgment of Yahweh
***Acrostic Poem that is incomplete, chaotic -> Cosmic judgment by the Divine Warrior***
2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies.
The Lord is a jealous and avenging God
He WILL not tolerate people worshiping other gods - He alone is the true, rightful God
Avenging here refers to God’s “punitive retribution of God” New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis
The Lord is avenging and wrathful
The words for “avenging” and “wrathful” are judicial in nature - thus God’s enemies are those who have broken His Law thus vengeance is not for the sake of vengeance, but to injustices done
He is remaining faithful to His covenant made with Israel
Wrathful - baal of wrath - master/lord of wrath
God will punish those who have done evil against Him
The Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies
God, as the master/lord of wrath, will pay back His enemies - this is not impulsive, but in alignment of HIS HOLINESS
God has a relentless and passionate commitment to His glory and holiness - those against him will face His wrath
God’s wrath is poured out on those who have broken His covenant, but as we will see He protects His covenant people
3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
Slow to anger
Notice what is missing - merciful, gracious, abundant in steadfast love and faithfulness...
There is a point of no return
The Ninevites had over 100 years to live a repentant life per Jonah, but didn’t
Great in Power
He is a God who delivers
Exodus
No means clear the guilty
Trial language
Never lets the guilty go unpunished
God ALWAYS punishes the guilty for their sins
His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
His way is in
A theophany has occurred
God has made a glorious appearance
Whirlwind and storm
Used elsewhere to depict the judgment of God
The clouds are the dust of his feet
Baal was the Canaanite god who had power and rode on the clouds
Yahweh is the true God of power
He is in motion, walking the earth, about to exercise His wrath upon the nations
4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither; the bloom of Lebanon withers.
The imagery of judgment continues as the Lord brings severe drought to fertile places
He rebukes the sea and makes it dry
Bashan and Carmel wither
These regions were well-watered
The bloom of Lebanon withers
OT Scriptures make references to the cedars and trees of Lebanon
5 The mountains quake before him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who dwell in it.
Imagery of an earthquake revealing the power of God
The world and all who dwell in it
Notice the global perspective - this is not just to Nineveh/Assyria
6 Who can stand before his indignation?
Who can endure the heat of his anger?
Two rhetorical questions summarizing verses 2-5 regarding a theophany
NO ONE CAN STAND AGAINST THE FIERCE WRATH OF GOD BY THEMSELVES
His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.
No one is able to escape the destructive wrath of God
There is nothing to hide behind - technology, science, money, careers
7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.
The Lord is good
He is kind to those who trust in Him
A stronghold in the day of trouble
He protects His people in the day of trouble - MERCY!
What is the day of trouble?
God pouring out His wrath - His people are saved from His wrath
He knows those who take refuge in Him
The Lord intimately knows those whom He has a relationship with
These find their trust in Him not themselves
Those who take refuge in Him are delivered from His wrath
8 But with an overflowing flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
But with an overflowing flood He will make a complete end of the adversaries
Yahweh is entirely committed to destroying His enemies
And will pursue His enemies into darkness
What to do?
Nahum 1:6 - Who can stand against Yahweh?
Puritans rightly understood this - The biggest problem in life is God… if you are not right with Him!
Nahum 1:7-8 - The two responses to Yahweh’s wrath
Vs 7 - Refuge in Him
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