Sermon Tone Analysis

Last week, we began to look into Isaiah 42, one of 4 “Servant Songs” found in Isaiah.

It speaks of the servant of the Lord, and further scripture in the New Testament tells us that the servant of the Lord is Jesus.

And appropriately, we can look at this passage as a reminder to us of the Christmas story in Luke.

As a way to connect this text to our hearts, I’ve chosen to use a song that is for many of us a favorite Christmas song, “O Holy night”.

I told you last week that this song was written at the request of a priest in France in 1847.

The man who wrote the words, Placide Cappeau, was not even a believer.

The man he asked to put it to music, Adolphe Charles Adams, was also not a believer.

A fair question may be asked then: Should we even pay attention to it?

Well, I think we should.

The reason we should is that the words of this song stand up to the test of scripture.

In fact, could I be so bold as to say that this non-believer from almost 200 years ago, wrote in the beautiful french language a song that stands up to scripture better than many songs you may hear on your favorite Christian radio station today.

We are reminded that God can speak, even through the mouth, or the pen, of an unbeliever.

In fact, scripture records that God has even spoken through the mouth of a donkey!

And as my wonderful preaching professor often reminded me, “If God could speak through Balaam’s donkey, he can use you, too!”

I want to read aloud the literal translation of this great Christmas Hymn.

And think for a moment whether you ever hear such a clear presentation of man’s problem of sin, and the solution of Christ who sets one free, and who calls the proud to humble themselves:

Midnight, Christians, it is the solemn hour

When God as man descended among us

To expunge the stain of original sin

And to put an end to the wrath of his father.

The entire world thrills with hope

On this night which gives us a savior.

People, on your knees, pay attention to your deliverance.

Christmas!

Christmas!

Here is the Redeemer!

Christmas!

Christmas!

Here is the Redeemer!

The ardent light of our Faith,

Guides us all to the cradle of the infant,

As in ancient times a brilliant star

Conducted the Magi there from the orient.

The King of kings was born in a humble manger;

O mighty ones of today, proud of your grandeur,

It is to your pride that God preaches.

Bow your heads before the Redeemer!

Bow your heads before the Redeemer!

The Redeemer has broken all shackles.

The earth is free and heaven is open.

He sees a brother where there was once but a slave;

Love unites those who restrain the sword.

Who will tell him our gratitude?

It is for us all that he was born, that he suffered and died.

People, stand up, sing your deliverance!

Christmas!

Christmas!

Let us sing the Redeemer!

Christmas!

Christmas!

Let us sing the Redeemer!

If you have your handout, keep it in front of you while I quickly go through:

Notice the Themes here: God descending among us: John1.14

To Expunge the stain of original sin: Rom 5.12

To put an end to the wrath of his father:

Rom 5.9 “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”

(ESV)

For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

The entire world thrills with hope on this night which gives us a savior: Luke2.10-14

People, on your knees, pay attention to your deliverance: Matt2.11

Christmas!

Christmas!

Here is the Redeemer!

Job19.25

And that is just verse 1 of this song written by a non-believer!

We will look at the other verses a little more later, but we haven’t even gotten to our main passage yet, so let’s get there:

This is the creator God!

This is the God of Genesis, who created the universe with a word! and he is the one who gives breath to people.

Here we are reminded of the creation account that we find in Genesis.

Remember who is speaking, it is the prophet Isaiah, but his words are the very words of God.

Who does his authority come from?

God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it.

Now, it isn’t that I want to gloss over this.

The God described here we could spend hours speaking of.

His attributes, who he is, what he does.

It is a wonderful topic and worthy of talking about.

He gives to all men life and breath and everything, we learn in the book of the acts.

Who is you?

I have called you?

The servant of verse 1.

I am the LORD; I have called, you, my servant, in righteousness.

The one who calls also takes him by the hand and keeps him

Keep (√nāṣar) is to preserve, safeguard; but the form here could derive from √yasar, to shape, fashion: whom the Lord calls he ‘shapes’ for the appointed task.

I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations.

Interesting, isn’t it, that he refers to a person, the servant, as a convenant?

How can a person be a covenant?

When the person is the Word.

John1.1

Covenants are made with words, and God’s covenant was fulfilled by one referred to as The Word.

Only Jesus could fulfill the covenant.

He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, and he declared that a new covenant was upon the people of Israel.

This covenant was promised by God through another prophet, Jer31.31

this is quoted in hebrews 8, and Jesus affirmed the new covenant had come when, at the last supper, he said Luk22.20

So God has given Jesus, the servant, as a covenant for the people, and a light for the nations.

I don’t often tell people to go and listen to me twice, I can barely listen to myself once.

But I am using so many scriptures in this sermon that you may want to go to Faithlife or our website later and listen and note all these connections.

I’m going rather quickly, but I hope your faith is encouraged this morning that this holiday we are celebrating, this Christmas season, it gets me very excited when I contemplate how complete the scriptures are.

There can be no mistake.

There are so many prophetic words fulfilled in Christ.

Today we focus on the nativity, but the prophecies fulfilled by Jesus are far more than his miraculous birth.