Sermon Tone Analysis

Dependence arising from a sense of helplessness

Physical helplessness

See also Ps 107:4–6; Ps 116:6; Mk 4:38; Mk 5:25–26

Spiritual helplessness

Is 64:6; Mk 9:17–18; Ro 5:6; Ro 7:18

Dependence on God encouraged

God is to be trusted

See also Ex 14:31; Dt 8:3; Ps 4:5; Ps 9:10; Ps 20:7; Ps 37:3; Pr 3:5–6; Na 1:7; Jn 15:4–5

God is a refuge

See also Dt 33:27; Ps 62:8; Ps 71:1

God can help those who depend on him

See also Ps 118:6–7; Ps 22:4–5; Ps 33:18–20; Ps 94:17–18

God will help those who depend on him

See also Ps 121:2–4; Ps 145:18–19; Jas 1:5

Examples of failure to depend on God

Nu 20:12; Dt 1:32; Dt 9:23; 2 Ki 17:14; Ps 49:6; Ps 49:13; Is 42:17

Dependence on God for physical help

2 Ch 20:12 Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah.

See also 2 Ki 19:14 Hezekiah; 2 Ch 13:18 the men of Judah

Asa:

2 Ch 14:11; 2 Ch 16:8

Ps 22:9–10 David; Mt 9:27–28 two blind men; Jn 2:3–5 Mary; 2 Co 1:8–10 Paul

Dependence on God for spiritual needs

Mk 10:14–15 Childlike dependence is necessary for those who would enter God’s kingdom; Jn 3:27

See also Ru 2:12; Lk 23:40–42; Lk 24:47–49; 2 Co 3:4–5

Dependence on God expressed in prayer

See also Ps 22:24; Ps 88:13; Ps 102:1; Ps 119:147; Ps 130:1–2

Examples of those crying out in dependence on God

Ex 2:23 the Israelites in Egypt; Job 30:28 Job in his suffering; Is 30:19 the people of Jerusalem; La 3:55 Jeremiah; Jon 2:2 Jonah from within the fish; Lk 18:13 the tax collector in the temple; Ac 12:5 the church praying for Peter; 2 Co 1:11 the Corinthians praying for Paul

Misplaced dependence

Dependence on surrounding nations

See also 2 Ki 18:20–21; Is 31:1

Dependence on false gods and religions

See also Dt 31:20; Is 42:17; Col 2:8

Dependence on human strength and resources

Je 17:5; Ro 9:16

See also Ps 33:16–17; Ps 118:8–9; Ps 127:1–2; Eph 2:8–9

Dependence on sinful behaviour

Is 30:12; Is 59:4

The futility of misplaced dependence

Pr 25:19; Je 2:13

See also Is 8:6–8; Is 31:3; Ho 10:13–14; Ac 12:20; 1 Th 4:11–12

A proper dependence on others is commended

Human help can strengthen

See also Ec 4:9–12

Examples of a right dependence on others

Le 21:3 a priest’s support for an unmarried sister

Support for the poor and needy:

Dt 15:11; Mt 25:35–36

1 Sa 29:6 Achish found David to be a reliable soldier; Is 8:2 Uriah and Zechariah were reliable witnesses; 2 Ti 2:2 Reliable teachers are a blessing to the church.