Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

The well known Jewish commentator and radio host Dennis Prager is know for his dry wit and firm commitment to the Torah and righteousness.

On his talk show he fields a range of questions from a wide ranging audience.

Last Friday I was listening to his show when a self-proclaimed evangelical believer called in and said, “I know a lot about what it means to be a Hebrew because I read my Bible.”

He then went on to say, “But I am interested in knowing what you think it means to be a Jew?

I have heard some people say you are born a jew and others say it is religion.

What is your take, Dennis?” Dennis paused for a second and then he said, “Sir, there are two groups of people deeply confused when it comes to answer the question, ‘who is a jew?”

The first group is non-jews and the second group - long pause - is Jews.

Ha-Foke-Bah

Psalm 72:18-19

I want to talk to you about the God of Israel who exceeds your greatest dreams.

I am not sure what is more controversial saying that the God of Israel can exceed your greatest dreams or saying that one of the Names of God is “The God of Israel.”

Every Christian book that I have read on the topic of the Names of God, without fail, does not mention “The God of Israel” as one of the Names or even Titles of God.

Many Christians say that was once a legitimate title but God has abandoned it for a new title, “The God of the New Israel.”

Other Christians more dogmatic in their view say God has abandoned this title all together and His new title is, “the God of the Church.”

Interestingly, a scholar of the highest ranks of the Christian academy, Richard Bauckham, has said that the Christian understanding of God has failed because it built its foundations on a Hellenistic question, “What is God?” Bauckham said that is not a question the writers of the Hebrew Bible, Yeshua or the Apostles asked.

That is a question that Greek Philosophers asked about a God who did no have a name but could only be a What?

Aristotle’s What is God? - He is the Unmoved Mover

Plato’s What is God? - He is a Perfect-Eternal Being

Aquinas - He is All-Powerful, All-Knowing, All-Loving

Richard Bauckham says that is all good and fine but the problem is that you just turned a “Who” into a “What.”

Bauckham argues convincingly that if one wants to know God you must asked like the Jewish writers of Scriptures - The Whole of the Scriptures - “Who is God?” God has a Name.

When you ask “Who is God?” to the writers of Scripture the answer always comes back, “He is the God of Israel: the sole Creator of all things and sole Ruler of all things.”

Another Christian writer wrote a book entitles “The God of Israel” and he said, “The God of Israel is the FIRM FOUNDATION and inescapable predicament of theology.

If theology is pursued without reference to the God of Israel, Christian theology is hopelessly exposed to the charge of being mere vanity.”

- R. Kendall Soulen

There is something scandalous about a God who not only elects a nation of people but asks all nations to acknowledge it when they all on His Name.

Here is what is important.

When he chose to be identified with a specific family, a specific tribe of people and then promised to sustain and care and do more than they could ask or think, over and over again, over long periods of time, God gives us a firm foundation for anything that could be called “hope.”

In a particularly deep and irrevocable way God connects himself not just to one people but to all people.

If He fails as the God of Israel then He fails for every other nation.

If He does not uphold the promise that those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse will be cursed and then He fails all others.

If He is the God of Israel then that Name means something when you call upon the God of Israel.

You are asking Him to keep promises, to bring covenant blessing, covenant authority and covenant presence.

If He is not the God of Israel then He is Nietzche’s dying god who has failed with regard not just to His character but to His own Name.

To call on the Name of the God of Israel is to to call on the One who exceeded the greatest dreams of our ancestors.

It is to call on the Name of God that David sang about and said

Rabbi Paul repeats this blessing in his usual way saying,

We all have things we need the God of Israel to take care of.

Greatest Dreams of the Future

Problems to Turn Around

The God of Israel is not like a waiter who just takes your order and brings your what you ordered.

The God of Israel exceeds what you could possibly dream.

That is what David meant “He alone does wonders” or Paul when he says, “he goes far beyond...”

We think ordinary, the God of Israel thinks extra ordinary.

We think if I could just have a lucky streak, the God of Israel thinks blessing.

We think if I could just manage this problem, the God of Israel thinks freedom from this problem.

We think if I could just get my gets a little further ahead, the God of Israel thinks they should be robust and prosperous.

We think If I could have just a little romance in my marriage, the God of Israel thinks the Song of Songs.

We think if I can just get by but the God of Israel wants you to prosper.

We think in limited terms but the God of Israel thinks beyond our expectations.

Because His Name is the God of Israel we know He does wonders.

We know because He is the God of Israel He has always been doing more than anyone could have asked or imagined.

The God of Israel exceeds your greatest dreams.

God of Israel exceeded Hannah’s dreams and Eli’s blessing.

Tell the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1.

The the story of Hannah’s greatest dream and what God to exceed it.

Here is where you emphasize the contrast you just created in Introduction and the title the God of Israel.

Hannah thought she was going to live forever in this state she did not see this coming.

On Screen Bible 1 Samuel 1:12-17 The Point: She was given a blessing in the Name of the God of Israel.

On Screen Bible 1 Samuel 1:18-20 The Point: She did not wait for the pregnancy test to worship, she believed that the God of Israel who had made barren wombs leap in the past could make them leap right now!

The story does not end there: After the birth of Samuel Hannah starts believing God will exceed her wildest dreams.

On Screen Bible 1 Samuel 2:2-4 She Declares It

On Screen Bible 1 Sam 2:21 God Does It

The rabbis wondered about the number seven?

With Samuel that is only 6. Samuel does not count because he becomes Eli’s son when he enters His home.

The rabbis said the reason is because Hannah lived to see Samuel’s two sons, and grandsons are like sons in Israel (Abijah and Joel).

She did not see that her son Samuel would be one of Israel most celebrated prophets and judges.

Eli thought that perhaps God would give her just a child.

In total she had five children in addition to Samuel.

God exceeded both her expectations and his blessings.

The God of Israel exceeded Hannah’s greatest dreams.

Exhortation: The God of Israel will exceed your greatest dreams.

Victoria Sharp was a young teen who loved children when I met her almost 17 years ago.

One day after service I felt the Lord lay something on my heart.

I prayed over her and I had not thought about it sense.

God exceeded her greatest dreams.

When I met this gal she was just a young girl hoping to lead a children’s small group at our congregation.

God did not just give her a small group of children, God made her a foster mother of children, a spiritual mama to many kids.

God went beyond her dreams.

Prophetic Declaration: I believe the God of Israel will exceed your greatest dreams.

You were hoping God would just to get a job to pay the bills but the God of Israel is about to exceed your greatest dreams.

You were hoping God would just get you a promotion but the God of Israel wants to make you a leader and not the led, an influencer and not the the influenced, the head and not the tail.

You were hoping that God would just get you a little better but the God of Israel wants to get you totally healed.

You were hoping that God would just re-ignite a little bit of the romantic flame in your marriage but the God of Israel wants to turn into the Song of Songs.

Every Single Year at Passover we remind ourselves that the God of Israel well exceed our expectations when we sing, “Dayenu.”

the God of Israel will exceed your greatest dreams.

God of Israel exceeded Hannah’s dream for a child to get a testimony for His Name

Text: The God of Israel got a testimony by exceeding Hannah’s dreams.

Hannah and the birth of Samuel and the nursing for three to four years.

On Screen Bible 1 Samuel 1:25-28 The Point: Eli worshiped because of the God of Israel who did a wonder for Hannah.

Exhortation: People in your life are going to be in awe of what God is going to do for you.

They will wonder...

How did you get well?

when the report said otherwise.

How did you get that guy that gal to marry you.

How did you get that financial blessing?

How did you get that strong?

that healthy?

Illustrate-Personally: