Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

Lectionaries

Hebrew

Law - Prophets - Discourse on future hope

Early Church and Today

Similar except hope fulfilled.

Psalm 80 - Isaiah 40:1-11 - Luke 3:1-17

OT

Context

Poem/Liturgy of distress/crisis that is sung during worship like a ritual to a distant shepherd asking for help.

Figurative language, wordplay, rhythm, balance, emotion expressed to produce an emotional response in the reader.

Hear us

Restore us

Return to us

See us

Watch over this vine that you planted and build (Israel)

Let your hand rest on the son of man ( in this context, us as God’s first born and right hand among humanity).

In NT: Jesus.

Kings often called shepherds (for ruler of the people).

Shepherds not highly esteemed in Greco-Roman lit.

OT - sheep were important economically.

Shepherds had to be vigilant through weather, poor lodging, threats.

Guided the sheep to sustenance, rest; kept them together, finding the lost.

Though God is seldom called a shepherd, the concept was common and remained a favorite idiom throughout Israelite history (cf.

Pss 31:4—Eng v 3; 80:2—Eng v 1).

NT - Only literal reference to shepherds is in Luke's birth narrative (shepherds come to see Jesus.

Other uses are metaphorical, like OT uses.

Gospels - Jesus portrayed as the good shepherd - who will sacrifice his own life for the sake of the flock.

- Compassion for the helpless

- Seeks the lost sheep of Israel

Mission is to gather those who have been scattered.

Church leaders were instructed to “tend the flock of God” (1 Pet 5:2), and the titles which were applied to them, such as elder (presbyteros) and guardian, bishop, or overseer (episkopos), are directly linked to the work of shepherding

Acts - Elders warned of false teachers and instructs them to shepherd and care for the church.

Offices identified for this.

Prophet

Sin has been atoned.

Prepare the way for the Lord.

Those who announce that the king is here (your God is here) do it loudly.

- He comes with power

- He rules

- He shepherds

- He gathers the young; carries them close to his heart

- He gently leads those that have young

NT

John the baptizer is the voice of Psalm 80 crying in the wilderness.

What doesn't produce fruit will be cut down.

What should we do/How should we produce fruit?

- Live justly

- Care for the poor, weak

- Share with those in need

- Do your work honestly; with integrity

The good news: The king is coming (16-17) and he will assess the fruit.

Fulfillment and Future Hope

Good news: King Jesus the shepherd and vine has come

Announce it

Go meet him where he is

Prepare the way for his return - bless all people.

Bear fruit - it will be assessed:

Carry those whom he carries close to his heart and their parents.

Live Justly

Care for the poor and weak

Share with those in need

Work honestly and with integrity

What will we ask of the lord - the king who has, is and will come to make us fruitful?