Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: What the Birth of the Messiah says about the Unchanging LORD

Question: What does the birth of Jesus reveal about you?

What does Christmas day reveal about you?

There are many movies that have been made to reveal what some people think Christmas is about?

For example:

In the story of “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” there are several observations REVEALED.

(1) the grinch is this “who-creature” who hates Christmas

(2) Cindy Lou-Who is a young “who-girl” who is tired of the hustle and bustle and materialism of Christmas.

Ultimately, the movie reveals that Christmas is not about things but about people.

The Grinch changes to become a loving “who-creature” with a bigger heart.

In the “Elf” it’s revealed that Christmas is not about a career, as Buddy’s father, seemed to be living for.

It’s revealed that Christmas is about happiness and being with those who you love.

All of the Christmas movies reveal something about the belief’s of the writers and producers.

Some reveal that Christmas is about cheerfulness.

Some reveal that Christmas is about being with family.

Some reveal that Christmas is about peace.

While many of these things are good, none of them are quite right.

The question is what does the birth of Jesus tell us about God?

Text:

We’ve often heard this passage.

Note the “City of David” - it is here, in Bethlehem that the Saviour was born.

First, David was the sweet songwriter, singer of Israel.

He was also the king that God used to deliver Israel.

We have to rewind 1,000 years to really understand why Israel would need a Saviour or a Deliverer.

After David was king in Israel, his son became king [Solomon].

Solomon’s reign ultimately ended and Rehoboam ruled in Israel.

This was the grandson of King David.

It was during the rule of Rehoboam that the kingdom was divided, into a North & South Kingdom - not unlike the North and South of the USA.

Each kingdom had their own kings.

Each kingdom had their own capital city.

In spite of the distinctions between the kingdoms, both of the kingdoms willfully rebelled against God.

In spite of this rebellion, God was compassionate.

Three of those prophets were Isaiah, Amos, and Micah.

Please remember that these men were not always preaching at the best times of the kingdom.

These three men were preaching during the time that the Kingdom of the North were getting ready to be destroyed by another world power: the Assyrians.

His ministry is roughly 700 - 750 years before the time of Jesus Christ.

There were two primary problems that Micah has to address: (i) Idolatry -

(ii).

Secondly, there were sins among the ruling, religious class of the people (incl.

king) -

Notice how the Lord summarizes what his people did:

This may not seem like a big deal to you, but Israel was God’s redeemed people.

This means that God purchased them, but now these purchased people are selling themselves to do evil.

It is as if Israel is completely blind to their situation.

They do not see their current position, and God is sending prophets with the intention that they would turn from their sin.

As Micah begins his message to these people, he emphasizes two important theological truths about the LORD:

(1.) God is sovereign -

He does this by opening his message and pointing to Israel’s accountability before God.

The LORD God is on the witness stand against you.

(2) God is unbending or unchanging:

This particular attribute is unfolded throughout the messages of Micah.

God is shown to be unchanging in several aspects: both punishment and provision.

- God is holding them to their covenantal relationship established when they came out of Egypt.

And so Micah is preaching with the intention that these people would know their accountability to God and God’s unchanging nature.

With this in mind, we read our primary text in

Again, Micah preaches this with the intention that the hearers would understand their accountability to an unchanging, sovereign LORD.

And so it is this morning, that the reference to this birth of Jesus Christ was first given by a preacher with the intention that the original hearers would know that they are accountable and stand before a sovereign LORD who is unchanging.

He is unchangeably committed to certain truths, and when we see what the LORD is unchangeably committed to, this should change our course of faith and ultimately our course of action.

In other words, the prophecy of Jesus was not given to people who were

worshipping God

sacrificing for God

The prophecy was first given

yielded to God

loving God

The prophecy that a Savior would come was given to people who had turned from God, with the intention that they would see:

God is worthy to be worshipped

God is unchanging

God is committed to His glory

God is committed to His covenant

God is the sovereign who deserves to be praised

Proposition:

And so I urge you today to set your hearts upon the Lord today.

Know who the LORD is, and what He is committed to.

Do not let the fog of the season cloud your view of the LORD!

1.

The Unchanging LORD is committed to an Unwavering Penalty -

(i) Micah’s message has to inform Israel of their current position.

“daughter of troops” - is a phrase that notes Israel as a military city.

It is a statement of irony as this military city is now sieged.

“smite the judge of Israel” - this is speaking about the current king of Israel at the time of Micah.

The king was often viewed as having a judicial capacity.

“with a rod upon the cheek” - this was the ultimate form of humiliation in this culture.

It was a sign of utter disrespect and embarrassment.

(ii) Israel is evidently unaware of how serious their current position is.

It is as though Micah has to preach to them to help them become self-aware of how serious their situation is.

Illustration:

A young girl was playing outdoors near her home in South America.

As she was playing a Jaguar attempted to attack her and take her for his meal.

Fortunately, the young girl was spared and survived that encounter with only a scratch on her foot.

Three weeks later, the Jaguar spotted the young girl playing outside again.

This time the Jaguar was more successful.

The animal clamped down upon the girls skull, crushing it in multiple places.

The young girl was rushed to the hospital and after many surgeries, survived but not without clear damage of the attack.

So it is with many today, the allure of play quickly causes us to forget about impending danger.

The LORD is not like some Jaguar in the bushes.

The LORD is righteous and just.

The LORD gives opportunity and warning, but often people are willfully unaware of their situation.

The LORD has spoken in two cosmic ways: (i) The Law - it was given to show our position of embarrassment before God.

There is none righteous.

The Law manifests the perfect holiness of God.

(ii) God has spoken in the ultimate way - Jesus Christ.