Sermon Tone Analysis

A Contemplation of Ethan the Ezrahite.

There are several men named Ethan in the Hebrew Scriptures, but this man is mentioned specifically in 1 Kings 4:31 as someone who was famous for his wisdom – yet surpassed by Solomon’s greater wisdom.

This means he was likely a contemporary of Solomon and was also alive during the reign of David.

1 Kings 4:31 (KJV 1900)

31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.

Being wise in Solomons day would be a competition for the silver medal.

David Phelps

Background

2 Samuel 7 - David you are the anointed King over my people

2 Samuel 7:13–17 (KJV 1900)

13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son.

If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

I will never reject you as I rejected Saul

Your enemies

Promises go back to Genesis 12

Sing - I will sing of the mercies of the Lord Psalm 89:1

Psalm 89:1 (KJV 1900)

1 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever

I will sing I will sing

What a mercy that I am in the church forever

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord

With my mouth will I make known

Thy faithfulness Thy faithfulness

With my mouth will I make known

Thy faithfulness to all generations

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever

I will sing I will sing

What a mercy that I am in the church forever

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord

Reading / musical interlude at Selah

Handout

Congregation singing through blinding tears

Have the promises of God failed?

David’s reign lasted 400 years but God promised forever

Would never dare try to measure actions that bring more or the most glory to God.

But I have seen people stand here and sing of God’s faithfulness when their circumstances would lead others to questions and not sing

Lament psalms teach us what acceptable worship can sound like in our suffering.

When was it written?

time of Absalom

division of kingdom

end of the history of the David kingdom

The promises of God do not exempt us from suffering but enable us to suffer with hope.

God’s Promise

Then in verses 19–37, Ethan at length beautifully reminds God of the promise he made to David,

God had delivered this promise Psalm 89:19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, And saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

God had chosen David from the people and anointed him king, established him, and promised that his enemies would not overcome him Psalm 89:20-24 I have found David my servant; With my holy oil have I anointed him: 21 With whom my hand shall be established: Mine arm also shall strengthen him.

22 The enemy shall not exact upon him; Nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

23 And I will beat down his foes before his face, And plague them that hate him.

24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: And in my name shall his horn be exalted.

God promised to be a Father to him and make him the firstborn.

Psalm 89:25-27 I will set his hand also in the sea, And his right hand in the rivers.

26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.

27 Also I will make him my firstborn, Higher than the kings of the earth.”

God promised to establish David’s offspring forever, and if they strayed from God’s ways, he would discipline them but would not remove his mercy.

God would not lie to David Psalm 89:35 Once have I sworn by my holiness That I will not lie unto David.

How do we get from here to a lament?

Did God fail us?

Had the promise of God really failed?

In verses 38–45, that’s exactly what Ethan described — to God.

And he did so in no uncertain terms.

He told God how he had exalted David’s foes by causing them to defeat Israel in battle

(Psalm 89:40–44).He told God how he had “cut short the days of [David’s] youth [and] covered him with shame” (Psalm 89:45).

As you read these promises you begin to realize it is about someone greater than King David

Psalm is the anatomy of the Christian faith.

Words for all emotions.

God is proud of Job. - No one on earth like him.

Did not exempt Job from suffering.

Psalm 88 is the twin Psalm / saddest of the Psalms

Psalm 88:1-3 is private and personal but Psalm 89 is a public lament of the people of God

Doesn’t sound that way for 37 verses

Despite suffering the Psalmist is about the business of praise

It is always time to praise God

Eyes are red, cheeks are swollen, and possibly exhausted he leads in praise

When Peter addresses the exiles in 1 Peter 1:3-5 he sings a doxology

1 Peter 1:3–5 (KJV 1900)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

The Lord has given the Lord has taken away.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

No circumstance in life makes God you ounce less worthy of our praise.

We think when we are in trouble we get ease by complaining; but we do more, we get joy, by praising.

Let our complaints be turned into thanksgiving.

/ We shouldn’t require turkey for this

Ethan wanted others to know what he knew.

This is evangelism at it’s simplest and purest form

God’s mercy has been built up in our lives.

We have not one, but many mercies to rejoice in, and should therefore multiply the expressions of our thankfulness.”

(Spurgeon)

God praised for His faithfulness and might.

v.5-10

Heavens declare his wonders

Faithful to all the saints

No one in can be compared to Him

God is greatly to be feared among us believers

No one is as strong as Him

No one is as faithful

God overcame the proud one / Egypt for them