Sermon Tone Analysis
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Just a little background in context first:
1.
Just a little background in context first:
a. Isaiah is organized very similar to that of the Bible.
Our Bible has 66 books.
Isa has 66 chapters.
The first 39 books of the Bible is the OT and the last 27 books is the NT.
In the book of Isaiah the first 39 chapters generally pronounces judgement on Israel.
The last 27 chapters promised hope and salvation in the future.
b.
The 39 books of the OT recorded the rebellious nature of man and the resulting judgement from the just God.
But the OT also promised deliverance for Israel and the hope for the human race.
In the 27 books of the NT God fulfilled the promises through Christ and ended with the grand finale of Christ’s imminent return.
c.
The first 39 chapters of Isa reminded God’s people Israel how much they have rebelled against Him.
It prophesized the destruction of Israel that will come.
They will experience subjugation by foreign nations.
And exiled from the promised land.
Just like we all are subjugated to death because of our sins and exiled from God’s presence.
d.
Amidst all the judgement and destruction prophesized God also sprinkled promises of hope throughout those 39 chapters.
Embedded examples such as when the prophet prophesized the way the Messiah Jesus will come as a child; the temporary peace and deliverance of King Hezekiah in chapters 37-39.
e.
But staring with chapter 40 which is the beginning of the last 27 chapters of Isaiah, God promised a far better deliverance than the temporary restoration of Israel as a nation.
f.
It starts with “comfort, comfort my people” in verse 1.
In the Hebrew style of writing whenever there is a severe emphasis it repeats the word.
( is another example).
In this case it is the word comfort.
This comfort is Immanuel, God is with us.
We will see how awesome is our God.
g.
There are promises of salvation such as “iniquity is pardoned” in verse 2.
h.
A voice cries in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord in verse 3 is basically repeated and fulfilled in the beginning of all 4 of the gospels (; ; ; ).
i.
So in today’s passage the chapter begins like the 4 gospels.
The gospel means good news.
proclaims “..herald of good news” repeated twice.
It is God’s passionate proclamation.
It is the promise of deliverance just like the NT beginning with the 4 gospels.
j.
In verses 10 and 11 he said behold the Lord God comes with might like a mighty ruler and yet he is like a gentle shepherd leading and carrying his lambs.
It is not natural to see a mighty shepherd but God is beyond natural.
He is super supernatural.
Beyond our human comprehension.
God is loving and gentle but powerful to protect.
The Psalmist used the same language in “your rod and you staff, they comfort me.”
k. basically spelled out how the messiah will one day redeem his people through his own sacrifice.
Not the sacrifice of man.
Jesus died on the cross and rose again to conquer death itself.
That is why he is both the lion and the lamb.
By his own wounds we are healed.
2. Can God comfort?
a.
In today’s passage it starts with verse 18. “To whom then will you liken God or what likeness compare with him?”
This is a rhetorical question to express how great God is.
You can see that in the verses before (vv 12-17) and after (vv 19-28).
b.
Why does God need to remind his people how awesome he is?
It is because he wants his people to know that he can comfort them.
That he can deliver them.
c.
After God said comfort my people who are going through a lot of trials and was told they will be destroyed as a nation because of their sins, he reasons with them why he can comfort them.
d.
I will elaborate with two reasons why he can.
The first reason is he has the power and the second reason is he loves his people.
Through his love he has made a way to pardon us without compromising his justice.
e.
By the way, this applies to all of us here.
Not just the Israelites over 2,700 years ago.
It is because we are extended the privilege through Christ to be his people and we also need deliverance from evil every day.
We are no better than they are back then.
We will stumble and have trouble in our journey on earth.
The only difference is when we fail, God is working in us to grow us.
We experience God from both victories and failures.
f.
First reason he can comfort us; he is the almighty and he is able:
i. Suppose you are in deep trouble.
Very deep.
Like hopelessly deep.
And someone comes and say don’t worry.
I will comfort you.
The first thing you may think of is how is he going to comfort me?
Like who are you?
ii.
If it was a big debt you cannot pay, would you want a billionaire to comfort you or your dog?
I mean as much as your dog loves you and wants to help you pay your debt it is beyond her capability.
Your dog’s comfort does not solve your debt.
But a billionaire can.
I mean like the best the dog can give you is a lick on your face and then you have to feed her.
iii.
When I go talk to a bagger in the street I don’t just say, be comforted.
The only way he will be comforted is if I give him some money.
(My experience in China).
iv.
If you try to comfort someone who is dying of hunger it would make a big difference if you bring food with you when you comfort him.
v.
If you got food poisoned, the comfort would be better if it comes from a doctor who can help you.
vi.
When Jesus began his gospel ministry on earth he also healed people of their sickness and bodies, fed their hunger, even raise one from the dead.
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