Sermon Tone Analysis

Overall tone of the sermon

This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.2UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.18UNLIKELY
Fear
0.12UNLIKELY
Joy
0.15UNLIKELY
Sadness
0.53LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.81LIKELY
Confident
0.15UNLIKELY
Tentative
0UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.96LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.84LIKELY
Extraversion
0.05UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.44UNLIKELY
Emotional Range
0.66LIKELY

Tone of specific sentences

Tones
Emotion
Anger
Disgust
Fear
Joy
Sadness
Language
Analytical
Confident
Tentative
Social Tendencies
Openness
Conscientiousness
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Emotional Range
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
*John Calvin on Isaiah 6:9-10*
*9.
*/Then he said, Go, and tell that people.
/95 This shows still more clearly how necessary the
vision was, that Isaiah might not all at once fail in his course.
It was a grievous stumblingblock,
that he must endure such obstinacy and rebellion in the people of God, and that not only for a year
or two, but for more than sixty years.
On this account he needed to be fortified, that he might be
like a brazen wall against such stubbornness.
The Lord, therefore, merely forewarns Isaiah that he
will have to do with obstinate men, on whom he will produce little effect; but that so unusual an
occurrence must not lead him to take offense, and lose courage, or yield to the rebellion of men;
that, on the contrary, he must proceed with unshaken firmness, and rise superior to temptations of
this nature.
For God gives him due warning beforehand as to the result; as if he had said, “You will
indeed teach without any good effect; but do not regret your teaching, for I enjoin it upon you; and
do not refrain from teaching, because it yields no advantage; only obey me, and leave to my disposal
all the consequences of your labors.
I give you all this information in good time, that the event may
not terrify you, as if it had been strange and unexpected.”
Besides, he is commanded openly to
reprove their blind obstinacy, as if he purposely taunted them.
“My labors will do no good; but it matters not to me: it is enough that what I do obtains the
approbation of God, to whom my preaching will be a sweet smell, though it bring death to you.”
(2 Corinthians 2:15,16.)
*10.
*/Harden the heart of this people.
/96 Here the former statement is more fully expressed; for
God informs Isaiah beforehand, not only that his labor in teaching will be fruitless, but that by his
instruction he will also blind the people, so as to be the occasion of producing greater insensibility
and stubbornness, and to end in their destruction.
He declares that the people, bereft of reason and
understanding, will perish, and there will be no means of obtaining relief; and yet he at the same
time affirms that the labors of the Prophet, though they bring death and ruin on the Jews, will be
to him an acceptable sacrifice.
This is a truly remarkable declaration; not only because Isaiah here foretold what was afterwards
fulfilled under the reign of Christ, but also because it contains a most useful doctrine, which will
be of perpetual use in the Church of God; for all who shall labor faithfully in the ministry of the
word will be laid under the necessity of meeting with the same result.
We too have experienced it
more than we could have wished; but it has been shared by all the servants of Christ, and therefore
we ought to endure it with greater patience, though it is a very grievous stumbling-block to those
who serve God with a pure conscience.
Not only does it give great offense, but Satan powerfully
excites his followers to raise a dislike of instruction on the pretense of its being not merely useless,
but even injurious; that it renders men more obstinate, and leads to their destruction.
At the present
day, those who have no other reproach to bring against the doctrine of the gospel maintain that the
only effect produced by the preaching of it has been, that the world has become worse.
95 /And he said, Go, and tell this people/.
— Eng.
Ver.
96 /Make the heart of this people fat/.
— Eng.
Ver.
129
Comm on Isaiah (V1) John Calvin
But whatever may be the result, still God assures us that our ministrations are acceptable to
him, because we obey his command; and although our labor appear to be fruitless, and men rush
forward to their destruction, and become more rebellious, we must go forward; for we do nothing
at our own suggestion, and ought to be satisfied with having the approbation of God.
We ought,
indeed, to be deeply grieved when success does not attend our exertions; and we ought to pray to
God to give efficacy to his word.
A part of the blame we ought even to lay on ourselves, when the
fruits are so scanty; and yet we must not abandon our office, or throw away our weapons.
The truth
must always be heard from our lips, even though there be no ears to receive it, and though the world
have neither sight nor feeling; for it is enough for us that we labor faithfully for the glory of God,
and that our services are acceptable to him; and the sound of our voice is not ineffectual, when it
renders the world without excuse.
Hence arises a most excellent and altogether invaluable consolation to godly teachers, for
supporting their minds against those grievous offenses which daily spring from the obstinacy of
men, that, instead of being retarded by it, they may persevere in their duty with unshaken firmness.
As it is also a general offense, that the lively word of God, at the hearing of which the whole world
ought to tremble, strikes their ears to no purpose, and without any advantage, let weak men learn
to fortify themselves by this declaration.
We wonder how it is possible that the greater part of men
can furiously oppose God; and hence also arises a doubt if it be the heavenly truth of God which
is rejected without bringing punishment; for it can hardly be believed that God addresses men for
the purpose of exciting their scorn.
That our faith may not fail, we ought to employ this support,
that the office of teaching was enjoined on Isaiah, on the condition that, in scattering the seed of
life, it should yield nothing but death; and that this is not merely a narrative of what once happened,
but a prediction of the future kingdom of Christ, as we shall find to be stated shortly afterwards.
We ought also to attend to this circumstance, that Isaiah was not sent to men indiscriminately,
but to the Jews.
Accordingly, the demonstrative particle , (/hinneh/,) /behold/, is emphatic, and
implies that the people whom the Lord had peculiarly chosen for himself do not hear the word, and
shut their eyes amidst the clearest light.
Let us not wonder, therefore, if we appear to be like persons
talking to the deaf, when we address those who boast of the name of God.
It is undoubtedly a harsh
saying, that God sends a prophet to /close the ears, stop up the eyes, and harden the heart of the/
/people/; because it appears as if these things were inconsistent with the nature of God, and therefore
contradicted his word.
But we ought not to think it strange if God punishes the wickedness of men
by blinding them in the highest degree.
Yet the Prophet shows, a little before, that the blame of this
blindness lies with the people; for when he bids them hear, he bears witness that the doctrine is
fitted for instructing the people, if they choose to submit to it; that light is given to guide them, if
they will but open their eyes.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9