Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Greetings...

Over the last several weeks, on Sunday nights, we have been looking at the theme: Lessons In Lyrics.

The goal has been to use some of our psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to help us in our walk with God through a closer look at the stanzas.

The goal was to use some of our psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to help us in our walk with God through a closer look at the stanzas.

Thus far we have examined...

My Faith Looks Up To Thee: Song 425

In Christ Alone: Song 302

Today we are going to be looking at “Pierce My Ear” song number 816.

Typically this is the point where we sing the first verse and then have our first point but this song is somewhat unique in its layout.

Notice that the third stanza is the same as the first which tells they are really trying to drive home this verses idea.

Because of this I want us to consider the context and motivation from which this song derives its inspiration.

With that in mind let’s look at our first point.

Context Concerning This Jewish Practice

The inspirational verses come from three different passages.

It’s first found in , later addition details are given in ; and then Moses reiterates this law with even additional information to the “new generation” of Israelites before they go into the promised land .

The context of our first passage in .

The Israelites had been traveling away from Egypt now for some 53 days by the time they get to Mount Sinai.

Leading up to this point...

The had been chased by the Egyptians.

They had walked across the Red Sea on dry ground and witnessed the destruction of the Egyptian army.

They had been fed manna from God.

They had been given water out of a rock that was struck my Moses.

They had been able to defeat the Amalekites without any true warriors.

They had been taken to the Mountain of Sinai and witnessed the fire, smoke, thunder, and quaking of the mountain because of God’s presence there.

They had witnessed Moses going up the mountain to talk with God.

This is where we are at in the book of Exodus.

Moses is getting the two tablets of the law “written by the finger of God” ().

The law on Hebrew slavery for the Jews concerning the sabbath year.

Every one that obeys the gospel has their ear pierced by God.

To begin with let us remove, from our minds, the image typically associated with slavery.

When we think of it today we picture in our minds slavery in the “harshest of terms.”

However, Jewish slavery was not like that, or at least was not meant to be seen like that.

Yes, there is the idea of being “owned” by another but not as material means at the cost of humanity.

No, this type of slavery is that of dedicated service (READ ).

In fact, a Hebrew could only be a slave to another Hebrew if he had offered himself as such in the first place.

Lv

Why would anyone do such, because they were more like servants than slaves.

They would receive a wage, even though it would be half that of a hired hand.

They would also be treated with kindness in the fear of the Lord.

Lv 25:

The truth is, this was a very kind and benevolent way of helping the poor and those in debt to another.

This leads us to the scriptures wherein a slave could choose to stay with his master forever.

Dt 15:

Summery

Summery

Having understood the inspiration of the song let us now sing the first two verse of the song.

Pierce My Ear

Everyone’s ear is pierced whether they know it or not.

In this life we are either slaves of Satan and sin or slaves of God and righteousness.

This truth means every child of God pierces their ear on God’s doorpost.

When we obey the gospel we wholly give our lives over to God as His slave.

Rom 6:20-21

Once again, this isn’t slavery as we typically think of it.

We are allowed to the choice to leave whenever we want.

When we put our ear on God’s doorpost we do so for two reasons.

Hopefully the first reason we chose to be slaves of God was because of the great love He has shown us.

Jesus gave up so much to redeem us and be our Lord and Savior.

The second reason is because God has offered each of His willing slaves an inheritance far greater than any other can offer.

For those that stay faithful and dedicated to their Lord/Master and God there awaits them...

A victorious crown.

A habitation with God.

Summery

As we consider that moment in time when we each made the commitment to follow our God in obedience to His will let us remember the doorframe of righteousness we placed our ear upon and dedicated our lives to our God as we sing the last verse of the song “Pierce My Ear.”

Conclusion

Pierce my ear, O Lord, my God.

Take me to Your door this day.

I will serve no other gods, Lord, I’m here to stay.

My prayer and hope is that each of you are willing to wave the white flag and surrender your all to God making Him the highest priority in your life.

Waving that white flag and surrendering all means putting the Father, Son, and Spirit above...

Family, friends, sports, fishing, traveling, and anything else that might hinder us.

Invitation