Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

One of the most amazing truths about life if the fact that everyone has a story.

In Christian circles, we call story our “testimony”

A testimony is a statement for the purpose of establishing and recording truth.

Testimonies or witnesses that do otherwise are false.

This reality plays out in divine or human court.

People can argue our opinions, but they will find a difficult time arguing our story.

We have power at our disposal when share narrative.

Dr. Joel Gregory - “I looked down at my hand and realized that I had shaken hands with two presidents on one day.”

Story is powerful.

Testimony bears witness to truth.

Don’t ever take your story for granted.

There is a biblical concept of testimony that can help you understand why you have a story to share.

Scripture tells us that our story begins with God’s story.

There is a large grand story that has happened before us, now, and will happen for all eternity.

God has a testimony and His story ripples and echos into all spaces.

His story

Knowing God’s story gives strong depth to your story.

1.

The Testimony of God’s creation.

The awesome testimony of sky and sun to their makers glory is universal throughout all the earth.

is declaring - to state emphatically and authoritatively.

The ancient people were tempted to worship the sun, moon, and stars.

Scripture shows us that the heavens are declaring God’s glory.

Everything that we see in creation is the sum of God’s perfection.

It is a reflection of who He is.

“handiwork” - old English word for the “work of his hands”.

Every day, creation “pours forth” speech which suggests the bubbling up of a spring.

The unfailing stream with which the days reflect the mind of the creator.

Everything is governed by God’s government.

“They tell knowledge” - Speaks through existence.

There is an oxymoron in verse 1 and 2 because creation is not actually speaking verbally.

Inaudible praise

“What though nor real voice nor sound / Amid their radiant orbs be found / In reason’s ear they all rejoice / and utter forth a glorious voice / For ever singing as they shine / The hand that made us is divine.”

Unspoken eloquence - There is no articulate speech or words, yet without these their voice is heart.

They don’t have to say anything.

God has a tape-measure He uses is to mark off what is His.

There are no boundaries to restrict these witnesses.

The wide expanse of the heavens declare God’s glory to the entire earth.

“a tent for the sun” - The ancients believed that the sky was to be a dome-like structure encircling the earth.

David then declares the sun to be like a bridegroom.

A man within moments of marriage.

A mail participant in his own marriage ceremony.

This is an image of festive joy.

The bridegroom was clothed in fine clothing and a joyful procession would follow the bride and bridegroom.

his course - road, destiny in a life

The sun is also compared to a strong man.

The Hebrew word is used to describe an athlete who runs a race with strength and vigor.

Good distance and at speed.

The sun is seen and felt.

It gives us the impression of warmth and energy.

There are images of creation that take our breath away.

Whether it be scenery (Grand Canyon), or the deepest depths of the ocean, the power of a tornado, or the beauty of the Himalaya’s, none of them have to speak to tell you who created them.

If you only read Psalm and nothing else in scripture, you can be given the impression that God speaks through nature alone.

This is more to this whole thing.

“According to the form of God it was said: ‘Before all the hills he has begotten me,’ that is, before all the most exalted creatures, and: ‘Before the morning star I have begotten thee,’12 that is, before all the ages and temporal things.

But according to the form of a slave it was said: ‘The Lord created me in the beginning of his ways.’

Because according to the form of God He said: ‘I am the truth,’ and according to the form of a slave: ‘I am the way.’14

For since He Himself ‘the firstborn of the dead,’ has laid out the road for His Church to the Kingdom of God, to eternal life, of which He is the head even to the extent of giving immortality to the body, He was, therefore, created in the beginning of the ways of God for His works” - Augustine of Hippo

(24) According to the form of God it was said: ‘Before all the hills he has begotten me,’ that is, before all the most exalted creatures, and: ‘Before the morning star I have begotten thee,’12 that is, before all the ages and temporal things.

But according to the form of a slave it was said: ‘The Lord created me in the beginning of his ways.’

Because according to the form of God He said: ‘I am the truth,’ and according to the form of a slave: ‘I am the way.’14

For since He Himself ‘the firstborn of the dead,’ has laid out the road for His Church to the Kingdom of God, to eternal life, of which He is the head even to the extent of giving immortality to the body, He was, therefore, created in the beginning of the ways of God for His works

God is the head of all things created.

If we believe this, than we should know and understand that He is the head of the church.

If you only read Psalm and nothing else in scripture, you can be given the impression that God speaks through nature alone.

God is not only revealed through nature.

- For a Christian, theology must be built on the Bible.

We recognize that it is scripture that gives us the doctrines of our faith.

It is not God’s plan to simply be noticed in nature.

These reflections of God through nature give credit to what we know about God in scripture.

Don’t despise the works of God in favor of scripture.

- You don’t have to close your eyes to nature.

J.H. Barrows said “The Himalayas are the raised letters upon which we blind children put our fingers to spell out the name of God.” God is present in nature and is now speaking.

God declares a strong unspoken testimony through His creation that is heard and seen by all.

2. The Testimony of God before people.

God, who is the judge, prosecutor, and defender in the the court of the Heavens looks a “blind and deaf” people and still has a future for them.

Isaiah’s people of the day are either in Palestine, taken into exile, or residents of Babylon.

They are surrounded by Gods and their followers.

The people are in a position where they need to get their beliefs straight.

Their theology was misaligned.

God delivers a solemn challenge to the nations to argue with the question of His superiority to their idols and His power to deliver Israel.

Imagine a lawyer depending on the blind to testify what they seen and the deaf to what they have heard!

Gentiles, who also, like Israel, are blind spiritually, though having eyes; that is, natural eyes where they might know God.

And the Lord’s case depends on their testimony!

God says, “who among you idolatrous people have predicted the things in life to come like I have?”

Bring forward your witnesses and I will bring mine.

The sovereign Lord who had worked everything together for the sake of all people gave the people ability to testify the proof of their gods.

There was no validity to their testimony.

The Lord than brings His witnesses forward to testify the things of God.

The chosen people of God to testify on His behalf.

He called the whole Jewish people as His servant.

They were to testify on His behalf that it was He and no other God that saved them.

“Formed” - No other deity existed before God.

Before, I existed in a time when all of these false gods were formed.

I the Lord, “Jehovah”, was not formed.

I am your savior temporally from Babylon and eternally from sin and hell.

The issue is settled in verse 12 and the verdict is pronounced in verse 13.

It was only the Lord who proclaimed what He would do for Israel and not the idols.

Moses and his people were not left to look back on the exodus, surmise that it was an act of God, and fumble about to discern its meaning.

The words of God are spelling out and confirms the acts of God through his people.