Sermon snippet – II Samuel 23:1-4 – The Light of the Morning
INTRODUCTION – I know that you are distressed by the present darkness of this world; any decent person must be troubled by the vindictive spirit, vicious language, and violent actions that are prevalent (but will never ultimately prevail). There is nothing new under the sun – or under the darkness of night; Paul in Galatians 1:4 speaks of “this present evil world,” and he wrote that nearly 2,000 years ago. We know that power corrupts, that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and, moreover, that power attracts the corrupt. Is there hope?
- THE LIGHT OF THE MORNING IS JESUS CHRIST
Verse 4 has its fullest fulfillment in Jesus, the King of Kings, Who was born in the line of David. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:17, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets [the entire Old Testament]: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Numbers 24:17c predicts, “There shall come a Star out of Jacob”; this prophecy was fulfilled by the star that heralded Jesus’ birth. Matthew 2:2b says, “We have seen His star in the east.” Of course, this star was more than a herald. Jesus is called “the morning star” (Revalation2:28), “the offspring of David and the bright and morning star” (Revelation 22:16), “the day star” (II Peter 1:19), and “the day spring from on high” because His essential nature is light (I John 1:5). In John 9:5, Jesus confirmed, “I am the light of the world.” Thus, Jesus is fully God and entirely pure; He illuminates the darkness, our darkness, with His teaching and His very being. “The light of the morning” is Jesus Christ.
- THE LIGHT OF THE MORNING REVEALS JESUS CHRIST
Literally, the morning light revealed that the tomb was empty, that the Resurrection was real, and that Jesus is exactly Who He says He is. Mark 16:2 specifically reminds us that “they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.” Metaphorically, the dawn presents us with a visual lesson regarding the ever creative hand of our Savior. Lamentations 3:23 tells us that God’s mercies “are new every morning.” We must think of these things and thank our Lord. Think and thank!
- THE LIGHT OF THE MORNING IS ALSO YOU AND ME
Sigh… I was really enjoying the message until now. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14 that we “are the light of the world.” What a challenge! It is a call to purity, to be people who illuminate the truth. We are to follow Jesus and thus become “the light of the morning.” What about the rest of the day? Well, let’s get the morning right first. Then we have a chance of truly being “the light of the world.”
CONCLUSION – Darkness needs no maintenance; light does. We need to throw another log on the fire, change the light bulb, and put new batteries in the flashlight. Spiritually, we must do the same. What will the light of Jesus reveal about us? May each one of us be sure that we are walking in the light of the Light; may each be certain of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.