Sermon Tone Analysis

What's the big idea?

The primary theme running through Paul’s letter to the Romans is the revelation of God’s righteousness in His plan for salvation, what the Bible calls the gospel:

Romans 1:16–17

Romans 1 ends with the digression of those who disregard God:

1) Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful.

2) Exchanged the truth of God for the lie.

3) Worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.

4) Did not like to retain God in their knowledge.

Romans 1 ends with the list of sinful actions that those who descended down this path:

Romans 2 - Actions Speak Louder Than Words

1) Elevation by Demotion Doesn’t Work With God

elevation (en noun) The act of raising from a lower place, condition, or quality to a higher;

VS

demotion - (en noun) an act of demoting; a lowering of rank or status

Elevation by Demotion is seeking to make yourself appear elevated by making others appear lower.

This is what is sounds like:

“Well I may __________ but at least I’m not as bad as _________ who does __________.”

Rather than acknowledging and confessing personal guilt and sin to God who offers forgiveness (as we will see later in the letter), they attempt to take a position of moral superiority but putting down those around them or those opposed to them.

2) God’s Judgement is Just and Righteousness

3) Take a Long Look in the Mirror of God’s Word (The Law of God)

4) Man Looks Outward, God Looks Inward

This is where it gets interesting.

No where in scripture is David’s mother mentioned by name.

This is a bit unusual, as mothers of several ancient prophets and patriarchs are not only mentioned, but many times written about, as they often played a significant role in the upbringing of their children — such as Moses’ mother Jochebed (Exodus 6:20) and Samuel’s mother Hannah (1 Samuel 1:1-20).

However, David’s mother was different — as a wife who committed adultery, she brought shame upon Jesse and his family and it’s not surprising her name was excised from the Biblical account.

There are several possibilities on what happened here — Jesse’s wife had an affair with another man or Jesse had an affair with another woman (married or unmarried).

Perhaps David’s mother was a prostitute.

It was not uncommon for children born from such an illicit relationship to live with the father.

David refers to his mother one more time in Psalm 69 which — next to Psalm 22 — is the most quoted Psalm in the New Testament.

It is generally believed Psalm 69 covers David’s early life prior to his anointing by Samuel.

In verse 8, David writes: “I have become estranged from my brothers, And an alien to my mother’s sons.”

It is interesting how David seems to talk about two groups of children.

He was estranged from his brothers (Jesse’s family) and an alien to his mother’s children.

It implies both sets of children rejected David supporting the idea that his mother was either a prostitute (with other children) or possibly another married woman whose husband rejected David, forcing Jessee to look after his illegitimate son.

According to Strong’s dictionary, the Hebrew word for estranged “zur” means to “turn one aside from lodging” and can also refer to a person who has come from “adultery – to come from another man” or another woman.

In fact, the word is rooted in the Hebrew word “mamzer” which means bastard or illegitimate.

Zur intimates David was not included in regular family activities such as meals.

In fact this may be what verse 21 suggests when David says they gave me “gall for food” and “vinegar to drink.”

It appears the brothers made David’s life miserable.

One thing oddly missing in Psalm 69 is any mention of David’s relationship with Jesse.

Not once did David point to Jesse as the source of his misery.

Neither do we see any hint of conflict when Jesse asked David to take food to his brothers who were fighting the Philistines, but as soon as David showed up at the army camp, you immediately see the animosity between David and his brothers (1 Samuel 17: 28-29).

The conflict between David and his half-brothers indicates it may have been the brothers who demanded David not be included in the meeting with Samuel.

Psalm 69 also addresses the misery David endured growing up.

Because of his mother’s sin, David’s childhood was full of loneliness and rejection.

He speaks of hours spent crying because of the rejection (v 3).

He explains his frustration of being punished for a sin he did not commit (v 4) – his mother’s sin.

Worse, he became the object of mockery as the drunkards sang about his plight (v 26).

David’s life also became a byword or proverb — literally a living warning — of what happens to those whose mother commits adultery.

“When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.

Those who sit in the gate talk about me…” (v 11b, 12a)

What was particularly hurtful was those who “sit at the gate” used him as an example (v 12) of what happens when people sin.

The term “sit at the gate” refers to the elders of the city who sat at the gates and made judgment on cases (see Proverbs 31:23; Deuteronomy 21:19; 22:15).

These would be the same elders of Bethlehem who did not think it necessary to include David when Samuel wanted to meet with Jesse and his sons.

David then adds he carried the personal shame of his mother’s sin.

You know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor; 
All my adversaries are before You.

Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick
 And I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
 And for comforters, but I found none.

(v 19, 20)

No one cared that David was the innocent byproduct of his mother’s sin.

It was Jewish belief children could be punished for the sins of the parents.

We see a hint of this in the gospels, when the disciples — after stumbling upon on a blind man — asked Jesus if he was being punished for the sins of his parents or his own sins (John 9:2,3).

Though despised and rejected by his family and humiliated by those in his home town, God saw David’s heart and how he responded to the rejection and the ugliness that filled his childhood and chose this boy as the next king of Israel.

5) God is Looking for a Heart that is Completely His!

King Asa of Judah took the treasure from the temple and gave it to King Ben-Hadad of Aram (Arameans) to break his treaty with Israel’ King Baasha and side with Judah.

The prophet Hanani (the seer) came and told him these words.