Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading

Intro

In this morning’s passage we read, not of a triumphant David, but one who is despondent.

As someone who is with very little hope.

Of someone who has low spirits.

David is on the run right now and it is not because he is a criminal, it is because Saul, in his paranoia, is seeking to kill David.

David has been wildly successful in battle, conquering all of the enemies of Israel for Saul and Saul fears David because he knows that God has left him and is on David.

And so in his jealousy and his anger, he attempts to kill David multiple times.

In chapter 18, the first attempt is interesting, because Saul promises Michal to be David’s wife if he will go and slay 200 Philistines and bring back proof of his accomplishment.

I’ll leave out the proof, but you can read it in ch 18.

He is hoping that the Philistines will rid him of his problem.

But that fails because David comes back, unharmed with the bride price.

Body

Saul gets a bit more anxious and in chapter 19, we learn that Saul has ordered his own son and the all his servants to kill David.

Jonathan intervenes on David’s behalf but then soon thereafter he hurls a javelin at David.

David goes on the run and just so you get a picture of how much running David does, here is a map of David’s travels.

It is during this time where David is on the run where we he composes this psalm.

Now there were two occasions for when he could have written this psalm, the first in , while hiding in the cave of Adullam after recovering the sword of Goliath.

The second in , which records the very well known incident of David cutting off a piece of Saul’s robe when he is… “relieving” himself in a cave, a cave where David just so happens to be hiding in.

The second occasion is more likely the event which inspired David to compose this lament and praise psalm.

Acutely aware of his need, David brings a suitable prayer.

He calls out to God for mercy while at the same time, displaying complete confidence in trust in God.

Body

He read of David crying out...

David, in his time of despair, is shown as a righteous servant.

He trusts God to deliver him form those who were seeking to kill him.

It was not just Saul, they Philistines were also after David.

He describes himself as “surrounded by lions” (verse 4).

And if in fact David is writing this from the cave in the wilderness near Engedi, then it is odd that he is saying these things.

He could have ended Saul.

He could have killed Saul, he had several chances to do so, but he does not sin, he does not attempt to take matters into his own hands.

No, vengeance belongs to the Lord.

And God will be faithful to accomplish His promises and God had set up David to be king and David was not about to take it by force or on his timing.

David is shown to be a faithful servant to God.

But what does any of this have to do with Easter?

Easter is so significant, it is in fact what all of the Scriptures point to.

Easter is the climax of the Christian story, the assurance of eternal life with God.

Yet for many of us, all the joy and celebrations come to an end on Sunday, and by the time Monday rolls around, life goes back to how we left it.

INTRODUCTION Easter has been and always will be significant in the life of the Church, regardless of tradition or denomination.

Most who grew up in the faith probably hold memories of buying a new outfit, hunting eggs and eating a home-cooked meal with families and friends.

It’s always been a big deal, as it should be.

Easter is the climax of the Christian story, the assurance of eternal life with God.

Yet for many of us, all the joy and celebrations come to an end on Sunday, and by the time Monday rolls around, life goes back to how we left it.

And although, we are recognizing Easter today as a day, we do not just rejoice one day out of the year.

And just because we have church seasons…Easter season leading up to June 9th when the last church season of Pentecost begins…does not mean that we only recognize the resurrection of Christ for a few months.

No, our lives are centered around this very real event that has implications on how we understand God, our faith, and how we live our lives.

This is a significant event.

An event that brings us joy and hope.

INTRODUCTION Easter has been and always will be significant in the life of the Church, regardless of tradition or denomination.

Most who grew up in the faith probably hold memories of buying a new outfit, hunting eggs and eating a home-cooked meal with families and friends.

It’s always been a big deal, as it should be.

Easter is the climax of the Christian story, the assurance of eternal life with God.

Yet for many of us, all the joy and celebrations come to an end on Sunday, and by the time Monday rolls around, life goes back to how we left it.

Beginning with Easter Sunday, this season lasts seven weeks.

It is marked by two main events: first and foremost the resurrection of Christ and then the ascension of Christ.

A season of joy and hope, it is a time to celebrate these events and their implications for the Christian life, from being dead in our sin and raised with Jesus to our future hope of resurrected bodies and a new heaven and a new earth.

As we remember and rejoice in the Resurrection, our eternal hope in Jesus is made anew.

We live in a fallen world, and Lent surely reminded us of this truth.

But we are not without hope!

Easter, a story of hope and victory, runs contrary to the false stories of our world that would make us believe that there is no hope, that there is nothing more than this life.

Beginning with Easter Sunday, this season lasts seven weeks.

It is marked by two main events: first and foremost the resurrection of Christ and then the ascension of Christ.

A season of joy and hope, it is a time to celebrate these events and their implications for the Christian life, from being dead in our sin and raised with Jesus to our future hope of resurrected bodies and a new heaven and a new earth.

As we remember and rejoice in the Resurrection, our eternal hope in Jesus is made anew.

Easter, a story of hope and victory, runs contrary to the false stories of our world that would make us believe that there is no hope, that there is nothing more than this life.

The stories of secularism and cynicism that run rampant in our culture shape us and jade us, robbing us of joy and belief in the miraculous.

Easter, though, weaves back into our lives the one true story of the Bible—that Jesus was crucified, dead and buried but, on the third day, rose again.

As we enter this story, remembering our future hope in Christ and our miracle-filled, supernatural faith, we are reshaped and reformed to be the hopeful, joyful, spiritual people that God has called us to be as His sons and daughters.

The stories of secularism and cynicism that run rampant in our culture shape us and jade us, robbing us of joy and belief in the miraculous.

Easter, though, weaves back into our lives the one true story of the Bible—what Paul summarizes

hopeful, joyful, spiritual people that God has called us to be as His sons and daughters.

1 Corinthians 15:3-7

As we enter this story, remembering our future hope in Christ and our miracle-filled, supernatural faith, we are reshaped and reformed to be the hopeful, joyful, spiritual people that God has called us to be as His sons and daughters.

at Jesus was crucified, dead and buried but, on the third day, rose again.

As we enter this story, remembering our future hope in Christ and our miracle-filled, supernatural faith, we are reshaped and reformed to be the hopeful, joyful, spiritual people that God has called us to be as His sons and daughters.

David, in his time of despair, is shown as a righteous servant.

He trusts God to deliver him form those who were seeking to kill him.

It was not just Saul, they Philistines were also after David.

He describes himself as “surrounded by lions” (verse 4).

And if in fact David is writing this from the cave in the wilderness near Engedi, then it is odd that he is saying these things.

He could have ended Saul.

He could have killed Saul, he had several chances to do so, but he does not sin, he does not attempt to take matters into his own hands.

No, vengeance belongs to the Lord.

And God will be faithful to accomplish His promises and God had set up David to be king and David was not about to take it by force or on his timing.

David is shown to be a faithful servant to God.

Easter is a moveable season, not set on a particular date but based around a system established by the Council of Nicaea in AD 325.

In this system, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox, which means the date of Easter can range between March 22 and April 25, depending on the lunar cycle.

Christians have celebrated Easter in a number of ways over the centuries, but the most notable is the Easter Vigil, a service between sundown on Saturday and Easter Sunday.

Historically an event to baptize new converts, this service features a progression of light, starting with complete darkness, to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the victory of light over darkness.

When practiced indoors, churches will often time the service to take place as the sun rises and begins to shine through the windows of the building, or the lights will be turned completely up at the climax of the service.

He is with hope in the midst of despair and yet what is his response?

Complete trust in God.

He has this advantageous opportunity to end his "vacation” in the desert but he refuses to kill Saul.

And God delivers him and David responds appropriately.

David is shown to be a faithful servant to God.

While the Easter Vigil tends to be practiced in more traditional, liturgical churches, many other churches make music a focal point of Easter, specifically on Easter Sunday.

In these settings, there will be special musical arrangements and songs focused on the resurrection of Christ.

Some churches also display an empty tomb or flowering cross in the entrances of their buildings as prominent symbols.

What does any of this have to do with Easter?

There is a story of a man was hiking on a mountain.