[0:00] Let us worship God, let us sing to his praise from Psalm 80 in the Scottish Psalter, and all our psalms this evening are from the Scottish Psalter.
[0:10] The 80th Psalm at the beginning, Hear Israel's shepherd, like a flock, thou that doth Joseph guide, shine forth, O thou that dost between the cherubims abide, in Ephraim's and Benjamin's and in Manasseh's sight, O come for our salvation, stir up thy strength and might, turn us again, O Lord of God, and upon us vouch save to make thy countenance to shine, and so we shall be saved.
[0:41] O Lord of hosts, almighty God, how long shall kindled be thy wrath against the prayer made by thine own folk to thee? Thou tears of sorrow givest to them, instead of bread to eat, yea, tears instead of drink, thou givest to them in measured grade, thou makest us as strife, unto our neighbours round about, our enemies among themselves, adeus to laugh and flout.
[1:11] These stanzas of Psalm number 80, verses 1 to 6 to God's praise, hear Israel's shepherd. Hear Israel's shepherd, like a flock, thou that doth Joseph guide, shine forth, O thou that Christ v Swiss-S Zion.
[1:42] In His wantland 40, verses 6 to God'sAP, wish him far应, in Nederlands 45, penser, ooh, eaten while akaz, quits chen, eighty fılar, o that is the 원 달 better. Everyone, quelle road yelling that living aside, fakenced 나na on him onSenST, day on him on a call.
[1:55] O come for our環境, to achou play, all he can flip, the jurethsek how the ilibrary is of a Jump-Fly, all he can form them, and come, as human as it is. Come for offering will, all he can be Church, all he canании and displayed, how he can with chúng-looking faith. Every child of us will熟 praise to him, and to the world delimit, how he can do it, Oh Oh Oh
[3:06] Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh
[4:08] Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh that is inspired by your Holy Spirit and is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy you. We thank you that we have this word in a language that we know and that we have had access to it all of our lives and we thank you that that access has never been denied us in this country during our lifetime.
[5:42] And we thank you that you have done wonderful things down through the years as the Spirit of God has applied this word to the hearts and souls of men and women and boys and girls. You have raised up many to be fervent witnesses of your name and on your behalf and we thank you for this. And we thank you for the work of God throughout our own island down through the years and we thank you for the memories we have of times of revival and upbuilding of your church. And we thank you for faithful ministries here and elsewhere throughout our islands and throughout our nation. And we praise you Lord that although maybe things seem to have changed regarding the effects following the preaching of the gospel and that you have not changed. That you are still the same and your years do not fail.
[6:57] You are still a mighty Saviour able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by thee. And we plead with you this evening Lord as we in our weakness turn to your word and declare it and that it may be a word in season to many souls.
[7:20] And may that be true throughout our congregations in the island and throughout our nation this evening. That the word of God preached in great weakness may be a word of power breaking down the many strongholds of Satan.
[7:37] The strongholds of Satan are surely strong and stronger than any one of us. Nevertheless you are of more might by far than noise of many water rays or great sea billows are.
[7:54] And as we hear the roaring of the waves in sin that seems to prevail upon our nation so much. We thank you that you sit upon all of these waves and that you are able to speak a word like you said.
[8:13] Peace be still on the Sea of Galilee long ago. And there was a great calm. So may it be with ourselves O Lord in our society that has so much turned away from the things of God.
[8:29] Society that uses the Lord's name so flippantly. And despises the Lord's day as a day of rest and a day of worship.
[8:41] When time is given to sports of various kinds. And many other activities that are not at all according to your mind or will. Have mercy upon us we pray as a nation.
[8:56] And we ask that in a day of great power. That you will show forth your mighty hand. Turning people from sin unto yourself. We ask Lord that you will touch us this evening.
[9:10] Each one of us is perfectly known to you. The psalmist as he recalled God's knowledge of him. He acknowledged that you knew his thoughts afar off.
[9:24] Even if he would ascend to heaven you are there. And if he made his bed in hell you are there. And if he would go to the furthest part of the sea.
[9:37] There you would find him. Nothing is hidden from the eye of our Lord. And we pray that you would deal with all of our sins. Our sins of omission.
[9:50] And our sins of commission. Our sins against light. Our sins that are so deeply entwined with our fallen nature.
[10:00] And tend to hide themselves away. Until an opportune moment. When they appear and captivate us. And trick us.
[10:12] And trip us up. Lord our God have mercy upon our souls we pray. Come in a day of your great power. We thank you for the gospel preached in this congregation.
[10:25] And for your servant whom you have called to minister here. Bless him and his partner in life we pray. Where they find themselves during these days. And we pray for your blessing to be upon the elders and the deacons.
[10:41] The communicants, members and the adherents. Young and old alike. And we pray that the power of the spirit of God. May arrest many.
[10:53] Unto salvation. Remember as we pray during these days. When we hear so often. Reports of these areas. Where war and turmoil.
[11:04] And bloodshed. Becomes a daily activity. And a daily report. Remember them in Israel we pray. And in Gaza.
[11:16] During these days of. Bloodshed and hatred to one another. We know that. If the Lord were to intervene.
[11:28] Turning the hearts of people to yourself. So that people would love God. And love their fellow men. A war would cease. And we pray that that may be so.
[11:41] Not only in Israel. And in these parts in the Middle East. But also in Ukraine. And other parts where. The power of. Evil seems to be rampant.
[11:52] We ask oh Lord. That you would intervene. And bring about a just peace. Among these people. Who are suffering so much. May your name be glorified.
[12:05] In all that is being done. We remember Lord. Those who are sick and suffering. Those who may. Be laid on beds of sickness.
[12:16] At home or in hospital. People. Or in aged. In their aged years. As they are in. Old people's homes. We pray for your blessing. To be upon each one of them.
[12:28] We thank you for the. Staff in these various establishments. And those who. Are fervent in their. Attention to.
[12:38] Those who are in need. We thank you. That. That you have put that. In the hearts of so many of them. To be. A caring of other people. And we pray that you would bless them.
[12:52] And bless others who are. Involved in. Teaching our children. And who are. In positions of authority. Our children need. To be led by the.
[13:02] Spirit of God. And by the. Word of God. And we ask Lord. That that may be. True. Concerning. The generation. That's rising among us.
[13:14] That they may not be. Ignorant of God. But bow. In their. Worship of you. And acknowledge. That you are Lord. Of their lives. And live accordingly.
[13:25] We pray for your blessing. Now to be upon. Each one of us. This evening. According to our needs. We thank you. For giving us. Health and strength. To be able. To gather in this way.
[13:37] And we ask. That you would. Open our ears. To hear your voice. And open our eyes. To behold your glory. And open our hearts. To receive your word.
[13:50] May our hearts. Not be hard. As we hear the word of God. But rather. May it be softened. By the dew from heaven. And may there be. Times of.
[14:02] Renewal. And refreshing. Among us. As a people. We pray for your blessing. To be upon us then. Lead us. And guide us. And forgive every sin. In Jesus precious name.
[14:13] We ask it. And for his sake. Amen. We'll further sing. To God's praise.
[14:24] This time. From Psalm 107. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Psalm 107. And verses 1 to 7. Praise God.
[14:39] For he is good. For still his mercy is lasting. Be. Let God's redeemed say so. Whom he from the enemies hand did free. And gathered them out of the lands.
[14:50] From north, south, east and west. This thread in deserts pathless way. No city found to rest. For thirst and hunger. For thirst and hunger. In them faints their soul.
[15:01] When straights them press. They cry unto the Lord. And he them frees from their distress. Them also in a way to walk. That right is he did guide. That they might to a city go.
[15:14] Wherein they might abide. Oh that men to the Lord would give praise for his goodness then. And for his works of wonder done. Unto the sons of men.
[15:25] We'll sing verses 1 to 8. Of Psalm 107. To God's praise. Praise God for he is good. For still.
[15:45] Let's match his last in me. Let God's redeem.
[15:57] Former Lord with Pantil Dust. Oh. For still. For still. For still. Make his lady. Low heart in his heart.
[16:24] E Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh
[17:30] Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh I die.
[18:00] O glad men to the Lord who killed his market to his him.
[18:18] And for his worth of one their land and to the sands of men.
[18:42] Let's now turn to the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament and the reading first of all in Exodus and chapter 18. And we read verses 1 to 12.
[19:00] Exodus 18 at the beginning and thereafter we'll read from the book of Numbers. Exodus 18 at the beginning.
[19:15] Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel, his people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.
[19:31] Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home, after he had sent her home, along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom, for he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.
[19:49] And the name of the other, Eliezer, for he said, The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.
[20:12] And when he sent word to Moses, I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, with your wife and her two sons with her. Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed down and kissed him.
[20:27] And they asked each other of their welfare, and went into the tent. Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians, for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them.
[20:49] And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel. in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, out of the hand of Pharaoh, and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
[21:12] Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people. And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God.
[21:27] And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God. And then turning to the book of Numbers and chapter 10, and reading from verse 11.
[21:49] Numbers chapter 10, and reading from verse 11. Israel leaves Sinai.
[22:04] In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony, and the people of Israel set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai, and the clouds settled down in the wilderness of Paran.
[22:24] They set out for the first time at the command of the Lord by Moses. The standard of the camp of the people of Judah set out first by their companies. And over their company was Nashun, the son of Amminadab.
[22:38] And over the company of the tribe of the people of Issachar was Nethaniel, the son of Zuar. And over the company of the tribe of the people of Zebulun was Eliab, the son of Helon.
[22:52] And when the tabernacle was taken down, the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who carried the tabernacle, set out. And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out by their companies.
[23:05] And over their company was Elisur, the son of Shedur. And over the company of the tribe of the people of Simeon was Shalumiel, the son of Zuri Shaddai.
[23:18] And over the company of the tribe of the people of Gad was Eliasav, the son of Duel. And the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things.
[23:29] And the tabernacle was set up before their arrival. And the standard of the camp of the people of Ephraim set out by their companies. And over their company was Elishamah, the son of Ammihud.
[23:41] And over the company of the tribe of the people of Manasseh was Gamaliel, the son of Bedasur. And over the company of the tribe of the people of Benjamin was Abidun, the son of Gideoni.
[23:56] And the standard of the camp of the people of Dan, acting as the rear guard of all the camps, set out by their companies. And over their company was Esau, the son of Amishadai.
[24:08] And over the company of the tribe of the people of Asher was Pagiel, the son of Ochron. And over the company of the tribe of the people of Naphtali was Ahaira, the son of Enan.
[24:23] This was the order of march of the people of Israel by their companies when they set out. And Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel, the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, I will give it to you.
[24:42] Come with us and we will do good to you, for the Lord has promised good to Israel. But he said to him, I will not go. I will depart to my own land and to my kindred.
[24:56] And he said, Please do not leave us, for you know where we should camp in the wilderness and you will serve as eyes for us. And if you do go with us, whatever good the Lord will do to us, the same will we do to you.
[25:14] So they set out from the mount of the Lord three days' journey. And the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them three days' journey to seek out a resting place for them.
[25:26] And the cloud of the Lord was over them by day whenever they set out from the camp. And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered and let those who hate you flee before you.
[25:44] And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel. Amen. May God bless to us these readings from his own word.
[25:58] And to his name be all the praise. Let us again sing to his praise, this time from Psalm 36, Psalm 36 from verse 5, verses 5 to 10.
[26:12] Thy mercy, Lord, is in the heavens, thy truth doth reach the clouds, thy justice is like mountains great, thy judgments deep as floods.
[26:27] Lord, thou preservest man and beast, how precious is thy grace, therefore in shadow of thy wings, men's sons their trust shall place. They with the fatness of thy house shall be well satisfied, from rivers of thy pleasures thou wilt drink to them provide.
[26:45] Because of life the fountain pure remains alone with thee, and in that purest light of thine we clearly light shall see. Thy lovingkindness unto them continue that thee know, and still on men upright in heart thy righteousness bestow.
[27:03] Psalm 36, verses 5 to 10. To God's praise, thy mercy Lord is in the heavens. Thy mercy Lord is in the heavens.
[27:22] Thy fruit doth reach the clouds, thy justice, thy mountains SEE, thy Rothen mun Happen, thy Mong formal Father, Precious this I wish, Therefore in child you all I need, Mention the cross of peace, Be with the pannies of thy house,
[28:30] Shall we when the sun is high, From rivers from thy edge to the sun, Will into them provide, Because of mine the virgin pure, Reveals alone with me, And in the purest time of mine, With the early light shall see,
[29:30] Thy loving kindness come to them, From thin to the light be whole, And still on end, The bright, pale heart, Thy righteous flesh bestow.
[30:06] Now as the Lord enables us, Let us turn back to consider the words we've read from the Old Testament, And focusing particularly on the book of Numbers, Chapter 10 and at verse 29.
[30:30] Numbers 10, 29. Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, I will give it to you.
[30:48] Come with us, and we will do good to you, For the Lord has promised good to Israel. But he said to him, I will not go.
[31:00] I will depart to my own land, And to my kindred. One or two thoughts in relation to this situation.
[31:14] We read in the book of Exodus in chapter 18, An account of Moses' father-in-law, Coming to visit the children of Israel.
[31:33] And by this time, the children of Israel had left the land of Egypt, Of course, had crossed the Red Sea so miraculously.
[31:44] And now they were in the vicinity of Mount Sinai. And they were there around 11 months, Between 10 months and a year.
[31:57] And during that time, the Lord spoke to them in an amazing way, Of giving Moses the law.
[32:10] The Ten Commandments written on two tables of stone. And also, he gave them the ceremonial law.
[32:21] That is, a description, and a minute description at that, Of the number of sacrifices that the Lord was appointing them, In order to make propitiation for their various sins.
[32:36] Various sacrifices to deal with the kind of sins that the people would have. They had a burnt sacrifice. They had a meal or a meat sacrifice.
[32:50] They had a sin offering. Trespass offering. Peace offering. And all of these are not only listed for us in the book of Leviticus, But from the beginning of Leviticus, Right through to probably the sixth or the seventh chapter, There are detailed accounts of the way these sacrifices have to be offered, And the reasons for offering them.
[33:21] The killing of the animal, the sprinkling of the blood, and so on. And the Lord had given all that to the children of Israel, While they were here at Sinai.
[33:40] And you remember that when Moses was called by the Lord, To go and take the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt, We have that account in the book of Exodus from the third chapter onwards, That Moses left his wife and his children with his father-in-law, In the home of a father-in-law.
[34:07] And Moses seemingly went down to Egypt in the company of Aaron, To deal with the situation and the task that the Lord had entrusted to him, To bring the children of Israel out of that land.
[34:23] And now, having fulfilled that marvellous task, Through God's strength and direction, His father-in-law heard the wonderful things the Lord had done, For Moses and the people of Israel.
[34:41] And he came all the way from his home in Midian, To the vicinity of Mount Sinai, Taking Moses' wife and his two sons.
[34:54] And we read in chapter 18 here, Verses 1-12, How impressed this man Jethro was.
[35:05] He is also called Reuel in the book of Exodus in chapter 2. And expositors think that the word Jethro is an official name for him being a priest, A priest of Midian.
[35:28] And his name, as it were, was officialised by giving him this name, Reuel, Or Jethro, I should say.
[35:40] But then, this man came. And he is so impressed, And he acknowledges the Lord for all that he has done for the people.
[35:53] Now moving to the book of Numbers. And in chapter 10, We have an account of Israel leaving the vicinity of Mount Sinai.
[36:07] And one cannot but be struck and impressed by the orderliness of the movement of the people.
[36:19] Tribe after tribe, in their own place, Moving according to the four appointed order that the Lord had given to them.
[36:30] And at the head of each tribe, the man appointed by God. An orderly possession. And of course, they only moved when the pillar of cloud moved and directed them as to which way to go.
[36:49] The pillar of cloud by day, the pillar of fire by night. And we see in verse 29 here in Numbers chapter 10, Moses said to Hobab, The son of Reuel, the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, I will give it to you.
[37:13] Come with us, and we will do good to you. For the Lord has promised good to Israel. An invitation to this man, Hobab.
[37:25] There's a bit of discussion about who exactly Hobab was. Some people feel that he's the same man as Moses' father-in-law, under a different name.
[37:38] Other people believe that he is a brother of Moses' wife. The son of Reuel, the priest of Midian. It's not clear.
[37:50] And the other question is, When did this man come into the fellowship of the children of Israel? And some are of the view that he came along with Jethro in chapter 18 of Exodus.
[38:06] And that he stayed with the people of Israel for all of that time, maybe up to a year, until such time as the Lord directed the people to move from where they were and take their journey.
[38:20] If he had been there all of the people of Israel for all of the people, he would have been privy to many marvelous things that the Lord did for the people.
[38:33] Not just the fact that he had appointed that they be led by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. But also the fact that the people had been given the law.
[38:50] And the details of the law may have been heard by this man, Hobab. And besides that also, he was a man who witnessed the manna falling from heaven.
[39:06] And the people of Israel commanded to go out every day to gather enough for the day and twice as much in preparation for the Sabbath.
[39:19] And also the breaking of the day and also the breaking of the rock and water gushing forth so that the people of Israel had ample supply of water in the midst of a wilderness situation.
[39:37] And Moses said to this man, as they were ready to move away, Come with us.
[39:49] We will do you good. And just like to say a few words, first of all, about this marvelous invitation given. And secondly, reasons why Hobab should have accepted it.
[40:06] And thirdly, a word on the fact that it seems to have declined the invitation. Because it says in this part of the text, He said to him, I will not go.
[40:18] I will depart to my own land and to my kindred. How often that is reflected in our preaching situations, in our churches, throughout our land.
[40:31] That people have an invitation to come to Christ. People have an invitation to turn from their sins. And know the salvation that is in Jesus.
[40:42] But they'd rather go back to their lifestyle that they have known. Go on without the Lord. To go on without hope for time or for eternity.
[40:57] First of all, the invitation given. Well, the invitation is real. Moses turns to this man in particular.
[41:09] And he says, come with us. And we will do you good. Well, he had plenty of reasons to draw him to this people.
[41:21] I mean, the number of things that the Lord had done for these people, even in the wilderness, should have been enough just to more than interest him.
[41:32] Should have been enough to endear him to the people and to the God who looked after the people in such minute detail. We see this happening, don't we?
[41:48] The number of times that the gospel is preached. And people see people converted. And they acknowledge that they are different now from what they were.
[42:04] Nevertheless, they don't turn to the Lord that has dealt with these other friends of theirs. They'd rather keep ploughing the same furrow of wordliness and selfishness and self-centeredness.
[42:20] But this invitation really carried with it a lot of pluses. For example, when you think of the number of things the Lord had done for these people of Israel.
[42:37] I mean, when you think back to the account we have of the conversion of Abraham. We have an account in the book of Acts chapter 7 at the beginning.
[42:48] When it says that the Lord of glory appeared to Abraham in Ur of the Chaldeans. In the midst of the idolatry of the Chaldeans.
[42:59] And he commanded him to go forth from there to a place that I will show you. And Hebrews says he went out in response to that, not knowing where he was going.
[43:12] This is the father of this nation, Abraham. And the Lord spoke to Abraham repeatedly by way of promising wonderful things to him and to his seed after him.
[43:26] It says in Genesis 15 at verse 18. When he has made a covenant with Abraham there. To your offspring I will give this land.
[43:38] From the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates. The Canaanites and the Canaanites. The Kadmonites. The Hittites. The Perizzites. The Rephaim. The Amorites.
[43:50] The Canaanites. The Girgazites. And the Jebusites. This man Hobab. He ought to have listened to these promises.
[44:02] And God never gives a promise that he will not fulfill. And when we hear the gospel preached. The promise is if we receive the Lord Jesus Christ.
[44:15] Our sins will be forgiven. Our iniquities will be cleansed. We will have a new nature given to us. We will have a new life. The beginning of eternal life.
[44:27] And we will be prepared by the Holy Spirit. Sanctified day by day. To inhabit the glory that the Lord has promised his people.
[44:41] The same promise in different terms was given to Jacob. As Abraham received. In Genesis 28 it says. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring.
[44:55] Behold I am with you. And will keep you wherever you go. I will not leave you. Until I have done what I have promised you. And then in Genesis 32 he says.
[45:08] Again to Jacob. I will surely do you good. He's talking to him. As the head of the family. Of Israel as it were.
[45:21] And Hobab should have taken that on board. The word of God is not. Flippantly spoken. The promises of God are not. Promises that will bend this way or that way.
[45:34] Depending on the wind that blows in society. The promises of God are yea and amen. In Christ Jesus. And what the Lord has said.
[45:45] By way of promise. He will. Fulfill. And when Moses was called by the Lord.
[45:58] If you read this in the book of Exodus chapter 3. The Lord says to him. I have come down to deliver the people. Out of the land of the Egypt.
[46:08] Hand of the Egyptians. And to bring them out of that land. To a good and broad land. A land flowing with milk and honey. That's not the only reference.
[46:23] To the end point. Of the journey of the children of Israel. A land flowing with milk and honey. A land appointed by the Lord.
[46:34] A land given to them. In promise. And Moses knew that. And probably Hobab knew that also. That these were our people.
[46:45] Headed for. Not. Oblivion in the desert. But headed for the land of Canaan. Flowing with milk and honey. But the future.
[47:06] Prospect for these people. It probably wasn't. Clear. To Hobab. But the future prospect.
[47:17] For the people of God. In every age. Is more wonderful. Than what the land of Canaan. Could ever be. The future prospect.
[47:28] For the people of God. Is. A heavenly one. Those who close in with Christ. By faith. Or they are justified.
[47:40] Through faith in him. They are. Adopted into his family. They are being sanctified. Day by day. By the Holy Spirit.
[47:52] And at last. They will be glorified. For the souls of believers. At their death. Are made perfect in holiness. And do immediately pass into glory. Such is the prospect.
[48:05] That awaits the people of God. In the words of Isaiah. Their sun shall no more go down.
[48:16] Neither shall their moon withdraw itself. In the words of John. In the words of John. In Revelation chapter 7. The lamb. That is in the midst of the throne.
[48:27] Shall feed them. And lead them unto living fountains of water. And God shall wipe away. All tears. From their eyes. In the words of the gospel of John.
[48:41] Jesus assures them. Having told them that he is about to leave them. He says. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again.
[48:52] And receive you unto myself. So that where I am. There ye may be also. Such is the reality.
[49:04] For the people of God. In our day. And in every day. When they close in with Jesus. Having heard the free offer of the gospel.
[49:17] They will be heirs of God. And joined heirs. With Christ. Moses said to Hobab. The son of Reuel.
[49:30] We are setting out for the place. Of which the Lord said. I will give it to you. I will give it to you. Come with us. And we will do good.
[49:42] To you. If you were to hear this. Marvelous invitation. This evening. From this pulpit.
[49:53] Or from the people of God. Who have tasted that the Lord is gracious. And they say. Come with us. And we will do good. To you.
[50:05] We will do you good. What do they mean by that? Well. They certainly. If you came to be with them.
[50:17] They will receive you joyfully. They would receive you with open arms. They long to see.
[50:29] People coming. To the Lord Jesus. When I was a student in Edinburgh. I was sent for. A Sabbath preaching.
[50:40] Somewhere up north. North of Scotland. And I was staying with. Family there. And the head of the family. He was newly converted. And he came.
[50:54] This evening. And he started. Telling me some of his experiences. How he. Longed to go to the prayer meeting. But.
[51:05] Something stood in his mind. And. Blocked him. As it were. There was one particular man. And he kept saying. To himself. Well.
[51:16] If I ever go to the prayer meeting. That man. Will stand in the door. And not let me in. Anyway. This young man.
[51:28] He couldn't. Stay away any longer. And sure enough. The night he went to the prayer meeting. The very man. He was afraid of. One of the elders.
[51:39] He stood in the door. And the young man said. As he approached the door. Is it all right. If I come in. The old buttock.
[51:51] Broke down in tears. And embraced him. Embraced him. That young man. Became an elder. In the congregation. Years later. It's a mainstay.
[52:03] In the congregation. The people of God. They will embrace you. They will be there for you. They will provide fellowship.
[52:16] For you. They will become brothers. And sisters. Of the same family. Of which now you are a member yourself. You will be able to talk to them.
[52:30] Maybe unload. Some of your concerns. Some of your hopes. Some of your fears. Your longings. And you will find that. A lot of what you say.
[52:42] And what you have experienced. They are able to identify. Because. The Lord has dealt similarly with themselves. And when you.
[52:56] You are coming through a difficult patch. Maybe. Because sometimes. The people of God. Are experiencing. A difficult.
[53:07] Difficult patch. In their life. Maybe a coldness of heart. Regarding the gospel. Maybe. They are not able to pray. As they would like. Nevertheless.
[53:20] The Lord will come. In his own time. If we repent of our sins. And turn to him. We will find that his arms. Are open to receive us. We will.
[53:33] Do you good. We will bear your burdens. With you. We will pray for you. We will help you. And if you listen. To the older Christians.
[53:45] They will be able to. Impart some teaching to you. Things that you haven't. Really thought about. But they have been on the road. Long enough. To have gathered. All that information.
[53:56] And all these experiences. And if you are able. To tap in with them. Or into them. You will gain much. By being in their company. To edify you.
[54:08] Through the word. And their experience. Of the word of God. When you look at the book. Pilgrim's Progress.
[54:19] With John Bunyan. He the number of. Good friends. He picked up. As it were. He joined on the road. And he was able to.
[54:30] Talk with them. And. They were able to help each other. And when John Bunyan's pilgrim. Goes into the Jordan of death. He feels that his.
[54:41] Feet are going to go. Because the stream. Is so strong. But hopeful. His friends said. Be of good cheer. My friend. I can feel the bottom.
[54:53] And it's good. The bottom. For the people of God. Is always good. Because Christ has promised.
[55:04] Never to leave them. Nor forsake them. Christ has promised. That he be with them. Every step of the way. And at the point of their death.
[55:16] His arms. Pick them up. As it were. And gather them into heaven. Moses said to Hobab.
[55:30] The son of Reuel. We are setting out for the place. Of which the Lord said. I will give it to you. Come with us. And we will do good to you.
[55:42] For the Lord has promised good. To Israel. Hobab. Would have been. In receipt. Of many good things.
[55:53] Through his association. With the people of God. But sadly. It looks from this particular. Section of scripture.
[56:04] That he didn't want to go. I will not go. I will depart. In my own land. And to my kindred. God. Evidently.
[56:17] The land. That he belonged to. Was quite an affluent land. Ruching. Flocks. And herds. Gold.
[56:28] And silver. And so on. And it says. These were the things. That drew his heart. Rather than to stay.
[56:39] With the people of Israel. If you were to ask Moses. What's leaving you. With the people of Israel here. Why are you here. And not in the. In the palace of Pharaoh.
[56:51] Because you were. Raised up as the son. Of Pharaoh's daughter. And Moses would say. Just as the scripture says of him. He chose to suffer affliction.
[57:03] With the people of God. Than enjoy the pleasures of sin. For a season. That was the choice Moses made. The affliction suffered by the people of God.
[57:19] The world is against them. The flesh is against them. The devil sets out to ensnare them. And trick them. The lust of the flesh appears in their lives.
[57:33] The lust of the eye. The pride of life. All of these enemies. All of these trinities. Seem to surround them. On the way to glory.
[57:44] Trying to trap. Ensnare. And finish them off. The lust of the flesh. The lust of the flesh. The lust of the flesh. The lust of the flesh. The lust of the flesh. But greater is he. Who is in us.
[57:56] Than he who is against us. Isn't that an amazing text? Even the most feeble Christian. Believer in this world.
[58:07] He has more power. Going for him. Than all the forces of darkness. Put together. One plus God.
[58:20] Is always a majority. And Hobob should have remembered that. However affluent things were. In his home country.
[58:32] However well off he was. Nevertheless. He would have been better joining. The people of God. By faith. Trusting.
[58:43] In the God of Israel. Who does not lie. Trusting. In the God who is able to do all things well. In our experience.
[58:59] Come with us. I will not come. You find this kind of. Declined invitation.
[59:11] Again and again. Throughout the scriptures. Think for example. Of the days of Joshua. In the days of Joshua. The people. Were as it were.
[59:23] Turning away. How long. He says. Will you be in this situation.
[59:36] Turning away. From the things of God. But then he says. As for me and my house. We will serve the Lord. Whatever difficulties or trials.
[59:49] If God be for us. Who can be against us. He who spared not his own son. His only son. But delivered him up for us all. How shall he not also with him.
[60:00] Freely give us. All things. Think also in the days of. Elijah. People were standing there.
[60:12] How long. Halt you between two opinions. If Jehovah's God serve him. If Baal is God serve him.
[60:27] And maybe the ultimate. Situation where people. Turned away. Having been given. An opportunity. To go one way.
[60:39] The way of life. They went. The way of death. Remember when Pilate said to the people. Whom do you want me to be released to you. Barabbas.
[60:50] Or Jesus who is called Christ. And they said. Barabbas. What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ. They all said.
[61:02] Let him be crucified. Pilate said. Why? What evil has he done? But they shouted all the more. Let him.
[61:13] Be crucified. These were the people. To whom the Lord had said.
[61:27] Come to me. And they rejected him. The people who said. His blood be on us.
[61:38] And on our children. Who knows how. Long that thread of history runs. What they said there.
[61:49] At the time of the crucifixion of Jesus. His blood be on us. And on our children. The Lord's got a long memory.
[62:04] But he is waiting to be gracious this evening. Are there any hobabs in here. Who need to hear these words.
[62:16] Any hobabs in here. Who are convinced. That the Lord has done great things. In the lives of people round about us. Who have turned to the Lord Jesus.
[62:26] And are living for him. Any hobabs in here. And they have heard of the future glory. That awaits the people of God.
[62:39] Who are tried and tested. In this life. Nevertheless. The light will shine on them. And will never be extinguished.
[62:51] The day of the just. Or the path of the just. Is as the shining light. That shineth more and more.
[63:02] Until the perfect day. Come with us. And we will do good to you.
[63:14] For the Lord has spoken good. Concerning his tale. But he said to him. I will not go. I will depart on my own land.
[63:25] And to my kindred. Go to the people that I know. The lifestyle that I know. The priorities that I know. The things that please me.
[63:40] Is that the way you are this evening? Well remember. This invitation is real. Not just from Moses. But from the Lord himself. And the Lord says.
[63:53] Come unto me. All you who labour. And are heavy laden. And I. Will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you.
[64:04] And learn of me. For I am meek. And lowly in heart. And you shall find rest. Unto your souls. My yoke is easy.
[64:16] My burden is light. May God bless these thoughts to us. Let us pray. Help us this evening. To thank you. For your great kindness to us.
[64:30] For the word we have been reading. And considering together. And we pray for the grace of faith. To receive your word. With all the.
[64:43] Responsibilities and privileges. That are involved in receiving it. By faith. The responsibilities of. Receiving it.
[64:54] Laid up in our hearts. And practice it in our lives. We pray that that may be so. With all of us. Remember this congregation. We pray. Give them to continue.
[65:05] In their. Fervent prayer. On behalf of. Not just this congregation. But. All of our congregations. And. All of your servants. Who preach the word.
[65:17] We thank you for the prayers. Of your believing people. And we pray that you would continue. To raise up many. Who will be.
[65:27] As they call. Prayer warriors. In our day and generation. Bless us now we pray. Take us home. Safely to our various homes.
[65:38] And destinations. And forgive our sins. In Jesus name. And for his sake. Amen. Amen. Amen. Let us conclude our worship.
[65:58] At this time. Singing from Psalm 34. Again in the Scottish Psalter. Psalm 34. And verses 7. To 15. The angel of the Lord.
[66:15] Encampus. And round encompasseth. All those about that do him fear. And them delivereth. O taste and see that God is good. Who trusts in him is blessed.
[66:26] Fear God his saints. None that in fear shall be with want oppressed. The lions young may hungry be. And they may lack their food. But they that truly seek the Lord.
[66:37] Shall not lack any good. O children. Hither do ye come. And unto me give ear. I shall you teach to understand. How ye the Lord should fear. What man is he that life desires.
[66:50] To see good would live long. Thy lips refrain from speaking guile. And from ill words thy tongue. Depart from ill. Do good. Seek peace. Pursue it earnestly.
[67:01] God's eyes are on the just. His ears are open. To their cry. These stanzas. Verses 7 to 15. Of Psalm 34.
[67:12] To God's praise. The angel of the Lord. Encampus. The angel of the Lord.
[67:25] Encampus. The angel of the Lord. Encampus. The angel of the Lord. Encampus. of the Lord.
[67:49] optisch chat致 ________________ 無人 erかつて люб trustworthy 編 編 編 The Lord is the Son of God, and the Lord is the Son of God, and the Lord is the Son of God, and the Lord is the Son of God, for the Father is the Son of God, and the Lord is the Son of God, and the Lord is the Son of God,
[68:56] To ye come, and unto thee, dear the end, I shall you teach to understand that I leave the Lord to hear.
[69:21] What man is it that life is I to see the Lord there long?
[69:38] Thy life is free, free, from seeking light, and royal works thy heart.
[69:54] Deeper, royal, good, good, sick, peace, house to the end, I shall see.
[70:10] God, I shall not just hear thee, dear the end, I shall not just hear thee, dear Christ.
[70:27] Amen. Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, rest upon and abide with you all, now and for evermore. Amen.