Step 5. Formulate the text’s theme and goal.

The textual theme is a summary statement of the unifying thought of the text. It answers the question, What is the author saying in this text? What is his point for his original hearers? For the sake of the unity of the sermon, the theme should be a single statement. Since it is the heart of the message, the theme should be formulated as an assertion with a subject and predicate.

The textual goal is a succinct statement of the goal the known or unknown author had in sending this message to his original hearers. It answers the question, Why is the author sending this message to Israel? Does he aim to teach Israel certain facts? to warn Israel against certain sins? to persuade Israel of God’s steadfast love? to urge Israel to walk in God’s ways? to encourage Israel to praise the Lord? to comfort Israel in exile?

The goal of narrative is to teach Israel the story of God and his people in order to give people hope and encourage them to look for and work for the wonderful coming kingdom of God. With each text, however, we need to move beyond the general goal of the genre to the specific goal of this particular text.

The advantage of discerning the author’s specific goal is that it reveals the relevance of the preaching-text. It exposes the question behind the text, the need in Israel the author sought to address.

to teach Israel that it lives only by the grace of the Lord’s covenant faithfulness.

2. to move Israel to gratitude for the Lord’s grace in providing a substitute offering.

3. to encourage Israel fully to trust their faithful covenant Lord to provide redemption.