Sermon Tone Analysis

Don’t Ignore The Form

One of the most difficult things to do is preach a sermon on a passage everyone knows.

Discuss Verbal Plenary Inspiration…includes the Form

Notice the form

vs 1-3 God referred to as “He”

vs 4-5 God referred to as “You”

vs 6 God referred to in 3rd Person

Principle: When talking “about” God we cannot escape talking “to” God.

I have know good people, even professional theologians and biblical academics who do a great deal of talking about God.

But there is no evident Intimacy with the Almighty.

Their information about God may even be correct and orthodox, but their spiritual life is dry as a desert.

They have lost the art and privilege of talking “to” God in prayer.

Good discipline..... 1/2 day in prayer.

Can you do it?

But we need to look deeper into this Psalm, for the richness can not be missed because of familiarity.

My Beloved Shepherd

1. Spiritual Nourishment is God’s Mission.

:

2. Spiritual Renewal is God’s Joy.

: 3

Psalm 23:

3. Spiritual Guidance is God’s Glory.

4. Spiritual Comfort is God’s Love

Psalm 23:

5. Spiritual Victory is God’s Honor

6. Spiritual Blessing is Our Destiny!

One More Thing....

From “He” to “You”

We have to ask the question, “why does David switch from ‘He’ to ‘You’ precisely at verse 4? Why didn’t he just go on to say, ‘Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for He is with me, His rod and His staff - they comfort me.’” ?

I think the switch to the more intimate “You” precisely when the Psalmist enters the valley of darkness is extremely significant.

The crises of Life draw us closer to God!

We are more prone to talk “about” God when we are in green pastures and more prone to cry out “to” God when facing the dark valley’s of life.