Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Torah Portion

This Torah Portion goes from Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11

In our previous Torah portion we talked about Moses feeling tired, perhaps even angry

Moses had to establish lines of command through the tribes to organize better

After having given the Law this second time, as we discussed in our last Torah Portion, Moses finds himself having to stay behind, and not cross the Jordan River.

God has told him he will not go on to the promised land

My hope is that in this Torah Portion is that:

you will know that the mercy of God sometimes does not look the way we want

That He is merciful

That his mercy comes as a result to our responses and choices

That there is a correlation between experiencing His compassion and obeying

Presentation

Va’etchanan - Plea for Mercy

What is the response from the Lord?

Is Adonai punishing Moses after 40 years of service?

Is Adonai not giving Moses mercy?

What is mercy ?

Two ways to define things: what they are and what they are not

Mercy

H2603–H2603a

2603a.

חָנַן chanan (335d); a prim.

root; to show favor, be gracious:—begged(1), dealt graciously(1), favor(1), feel pity(1), finds … favor(1), give them to us voluntarily(1), gracious(45), graciously(1), graciously given(1), graciously grant(1), groan(1), implore(1), implore his favor(1), implore the compassion(1), implore the mercy(1), implored(1), made(1), made supplication(2), make supplication(5), pity(2), pleaded(2)

Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).

mercy, an attribute of God and a virtue commended for human beings.

Hebrew uses several words for “mercy,” including rakham (Exod.

34:6; Isa.

55:7), khanan (Deut.

4:31) and khesed (Neh.

9:32; nrsv: “steadfast love”).

The

The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated) (New York: HarperCollins, 2011), 624.

Mercy is not grace

חֵן chen (Strongs HB 2580) ; favor, grace:

חֵן chen (336b); from 2603a; favor, grace:—adornment(1), charm(1), charm*(1), charming*(1), favor(51), grace(8), graceful(2), gracious(3), pleases*(1).

Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).

Mercy and Grace

Mercy - not to get what we deserve

Grace - to get what we do not deserve

mercy

Mercy (6686) A quality of compassion, especially as expressed in God’s forgiveness of human sin.

Scripture stresses God’s forbearance towards sinners.

In his mercy, God shields sinners from what they deserve and gives gifts that they do not deserve.

Martin H. Manser, Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies (London: Martin Manser, 2009).

After feeling tired and angry because of Israel’s lack of desire to obey God, is it possible God allowed it to be like this to show His compassion?

One of the ways God shows mercy is being compassionate and providing consolation

Trauma- offer words of consolation

Plans about the future

When you are down and under

When He gives us mercy and consolation, the problem is that it does not always look the way we want it

He comforts those who mourn;

The same way God offers mercy and consolation to us, He will offer consolation to Israel

7 Consolations

The Sabbath of Consolation

in the Halftoras

First Consolation - Ve’etchanan - Isa 40:1-26

Second - Ekev - Isa 49:14-51:3

Third - Re’eh - Isa 54:11-55:5

Fourth - Shoftim - Isa 51:12-52:12

Fifth - Ki Tetze - Isa 54:1-10

Sixth - Ki Tavo - Isa 60:1-22

Seventh - Nitzavim - Isa 61:10-63:9

Eg.

Messiah starting his ministry to comfort Israel

This is read every year after the 9th of Av - which was the Last Sabbath

On that day:

Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple

Romans destroyed the temple 600 years later

When the Spies come back with a bad report in Numbers

This is reason for this Sabbath for comfort, especially Israel

Who does Adonai show mercy and who does He comfort?

The one who mourns

Jeremiah laments the destruction of Jerusalem in his book of Lamentations.

Lamentation is also read every year on the 9th of Av.

This is when Jeremiah is lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem

She= Jerusalem

The backsliding refers to the one who repents

Who does Adonai show mercy and who does He comfort?

The one who repents

Back to our Torah Portion

Who does Adonai show mercy and who does He comfort?

The one who listens to His statutes and judgements, and keeps His commandments as set forth by Adonai

Who does Adonai show mercy and who does He comfort?

The one who is in a covenant relationship with Him

Genesis 2:24 (NKJV)

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to (cling) his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Strongs HB 1692.

דָּבַק dabaq (179c); a prim.

root; to cling, cleave, keep close:—cleaves(4), cling(14),

Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).

Cling

Deuteronomy 4:4 (NKJV)

But you who held fast to (cling) the Lord your God are alive today, every one of you.

It is because of love that we keep His commandments

Deuteronomy 4:5–8 (NKJV)

“Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess.

Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’

“For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him?

And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?