Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Emotion Tone
Anger
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Analytical
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Social Tone
Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Tone of specific sentences
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INTRODUCTION:
We are in the time of year when it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Isn’t it.
We admire
the snow
the trees
the joy of giving gifts to those we love.
The visiting of friends and families.
In fact,
from Thanksgiving weekend to December 25th >>> we become a nation mesmerized with decorations and happy holidays.
But in the midst of all the decoration,
when our lost neighbor next door is celebrating Christmas too,
we as Christians sometimes get distracted and forget about what it means that Jesus was born.
we as Christians sometimes get distracted and forget about what it means that Jesus was born.
Further,
even when we are not distracting – we often only understand the Savior in light of the cross.
Why is it important that Jesus was born in the city of David?
What does it mean that Jesus is the Savior?
What does it mean he is Christ the Lord?
In many ways Christ is the Savior that died on the cross to save us from our sins.
As John says,
It is true - he is that kind of savior,
but the birth of Jesus represents more then just salvation.
Luke very intentionally points us back to the full meaning of the Savior.
But here very intentionally you points us back to the full meaning of the Savior.
An Old Testament Idea.
The Savior is not simply the one who died on the cross,
but the promised Messiah who will be a king that rules the nations.
Our text this morning is one of a number of Old Testament passages
.... that tell us what kind of king that Christ will be.
Note that Christ is the New Testament word for Messiah.
It will help us understand -
Why it is important that Jesus was born in the city of David?
What it means that Jesus is the Savior?
What it means he is Christ the Lord?
Look down at your text.
I challenge us,
the Birth of Jesus should point us to
The Birth of Jesus Should Cause Us to Look to the Future Reign of Christ.
And this text explains to us why.
Why should the birth of Jesus Christ cause us to look to the future reign of Christ?
To begin with,
we must understand what is going on in the book of Micah.
Micah is a prophet testifying of God's coming judgment against Israel as a whole.
Micah is a prophet testifying God's coming judgment against Israel.
At times he addresses
1) The Coming Judgement.
()
The book of Micah as a whole works as an indictment against Israel.
An indictment that declares how Israel has broken the law,
and how God's coming judgment is justified.
Although the Old Testament records many ways Israel broke the law,
Micah in particular focuses on three.
First,
Micah promises judgement for:
a) The idolatry of Samaria.
()
Secondly,
b) The coveting of their neighbors land.
(, )
describes
how the wealthy royal bureaucracies were stealing the land from the poor and middle-class.
A combination of the Biblical and historical record
>>>> shows that that this bureaucracy had commandeered both the legal and economic system of the land.
They had used
bribery,
taxes,
and interest rates
to slowly confiscate the land.
And specifically forbids this.
Israel had rampant thievery going on.
And thirdly,
c) The false prophets.()
- The people tolerated
- and even enjoyed
>>>>>> false prophets who promised grace for sinful indulgence rather than the coming judgment of God.
The book of Micah acts as a indictment of these sins,
but also very clearly promises judgment.
Micah promises the judgment and Exile of -
a) Samaria by the nation of the Assyria.
()
”6
Samaria is the name of the northern kingdom of Israel at this time.
Samaria is the name of the northern kingdom of Israel at this time.
But
Micah also promises judgment and exile of –
b) Judah by the Babylonians.
() .
And may I say - God fulfilled both of those promises.
Samaria was exiled by the Assyrians.
And Judah was exiled by the Babylonians.
God keeps his promises.
And that brings us up to date with .
And that brings us up to date with .
Here's the bad news of the text – at least for Israel.
Observe the bold judgment of .
(ESV)
1) The Coming Judgement.
5 Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.
5 Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.
The word “judge” here means the king – is a word used to describe many judgments the king makes while he sits on the throne.
“Daughter of troops” is a colloquial expression describing a city surrounded by an army.
“Daughter the troops” is a colloquial expression describing a city surrounded by an army.
What Micah is saying here is - call upon your troops because your judgment and defeat is at hand.
You might as well already considered yourself defeated and in exile,
because God is sending the Assyrians and Babylonians to conquer you.
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