Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.1UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.08UNLIKELY
Fear
0.08UNLIKELY
Joy
0.65LIKELY
Sadness
0.18UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.77LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.3UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.91LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.85LIKELY
Extraversion
0.06UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.78LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.57LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
This past week our long journey of adoption finally came to fruition.
We prepared for this by taking in a 2 day old baby boy and raising him as our foster child.
And then when the parental rights were terminated we applied for adoption and began the process.
Since that time we’ve anticipated the day of adoption very patiently — okay, sometimes not so patiently!
And on Monday, which was adoption day for us, our long awaited anticipation came to fruition.
And this has brought us great joy (as well as a tooth ache for me since my abscessed tooth began bothering me again on the way home!).
There is coming a day when the long anticipated Second Advent of Messiah will occur, and on that day, and forever after, God’s people will experience joy like never before!
If you have not done so, please turn with me to as we contemplate this most joyous occasion.
As we go through the passage this morning we will look at the return of God’s people, the road which they will take in their journey, the restoration of both nature and mankind, and the response of the redeemed.
As we do so, we are going to work the passage backwards, but first let’s read it forwards.
Let’s begin by noting:
The Return
Look at verse 9b-10.
But the redeemed will walk there,
10 And the ransomed of the LORD will return
And come with joyful shouting to Zion,
With everlasting joy upon their heads.
Simply put:
God’s People will Return to God’s Land with Great Joy
Why is it that God’s people will have such great joy?
Because of their redemption
This will be a physical redemption with a spiritual preparation
The return of God’s people to the Land of Israel is the physical redemption which was only made possible because the Lamb of God took away the sin of the world
There is also a spiritual redemption with a physical preparation
The cross of Christ was the physical preparation for our spiritual redemption
What will happen when the people of God take their place in His kingdom?
There joy will be expressed by shouting ()
How long will this joy last?
It will be unending
What will be the outcome of such exuberant joy?
It will chase away any gloom or sadness
The Road
Look at verses 8-9.
Note that:
God’s People will Travel on the Highway of Holiness Which was Prepared by The Lord
How was this road prepared?
Who can travel on this special road?
Only those who are holy
What will be the travel conditions?
There will be nothing to impede travel
Could the lack of lions and viscous beasts be because Satan and his hosts have been bound for a thousand years?
The Restoration
Look at the end of verse 6-7.
For waters will break forth in the wilderness
And streams in the Arabah.
7 The scorched land will become a pool
And the thirsty ground springs of water;
In the haunt of jackals, its resting place,
Grass becomes reeds and rushes.
Note that:
God’s People will Find the Desert Has Been Turned into a Refreshing Oasis
What is “the Arabah?”
The Arabah is an arid desert
A scorched land
What will happen to this desert region?
It will become a lush Oasis
Perhaps the intention is for it to be a rest area for weary travelers
Remember that the residents of the Millennium will still be clothed with unglorified mortality.
They will need times of physical rest and refreshment
How can the desert be turned into an Oasis?
Because creation itself will be redeemed ()
The Restoration Part 2
Look at verses 5-6.
Note that:
God’s People will be Joyful Because of Their Physical and Spiritual Restoration
We read earlier as part of our Scripture reading how John sent some of his disciples to Jesus to ask if He is the coming one.
And Jesus replied by reminding them of this passage which was written about the coming of Messiah.
It was understood that when Messiah comes He will restore all things.
However, the restoration that took place during the first century was only a foretaste of what is to come when Messiah will return to earth and establish His eternal kingdom.
Finally let’s consider
The Response
Look at verses 3-4.
Note that:
God’s People Should Respond to the Knowledge of Christ Return by Encouraging One Another
Encouragement is such an important part of the Christian life.
Consider how we can encourage one another by referring to our salvation in Christ:
What could be more encouraging than that?
The writer of Hebrews highlighted the importance of encouraging one another as well.
Encouraging one another in this present age helps to keep us from being hardened by sin.
That is one of the reasons why it is so imperative that we come together as a Body of Christ on a regular basis.
In the age to come, the Messianic age, the people living during this wondrous time will still be plagued by the sin nature that is passed down from Adam.
The good news is that Satan and his minions will be bound in chains and unable to intensify temptation.
But the fact of the matter is that we don’t need Satan to tempt us.
Our own lustful flesh does a fine job of that without his help!
Therefore encouragement will still be an important part of the life of God’s people.
Joy is not just something that awaits us in the future.
We can have joy in the here and now.
Christ intended for us to find joy in His word.
Peter stated that because of the inheritance that awaits us, in view of the return of Christ, the believer is joyful.
If I had been doing a full exposition of Isaiah we would have seen that the previous chapter, chapter 34, referred to the judgment that awaits the nations.
In other words the judgment that awaits those who are outside of Christ.
Those who are outside have of Christ will be condemned to an eternity which is unthinkably horrendous.
Scripture speaks of them burning in fire, and yet not being consumed.
In contrast to that, for those who are in Christ there will be exuberant joy.
Which situation describes you?
God — Creator and Ruler
Man — Refusal to submit to God’s rule
Christ — Redeemer — wrath absorber —
Response — Receive or reject
This morning we have consider the great joy that awaits those are found in Christ.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9