WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.020 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:03.620 --> 00:00:13.220 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:13.560 --> 00:00:20.559 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:27.620 --> 00:00:29.780 Hello. I'm Scott Fisher. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.879 I'm also known as Fish. 00:00:32.679 --> 00:00:35.359 I'm part of one of the Oakland community groups. 00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:44.759 And today our reading is from Isaiah 61.4, 62, 6 and 7, 63, 7 through 19. 00:00:46.679 --> 00:00:51.079 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated. 00:00:51.859 --> 00:00:55.400 They will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. 00:00:56.359 --> 00:00:58.840 I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:01.260 They will never be silent day or night. 00:01:01.780 --> 00:01:04.859 You who called on the Lord, give yourselves no rest. 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:10.380 And give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:18.159 I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us. 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:24.039 Yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses. 00:01:24.599 --> 00:01:28.659 He said, surely they are my people, children who will be true to me. 00:01:29.060 --> 00:01:30.359 And so he became their savior. 00:01:31.060 --> 00:01:33.399 In all their distress, he too was distressed. 00:01:33.640 --> 00:01:35.719 And the angel of his presence saved them. 00:01:36.299 --> 00:01:38.219 In his love and mercy, he redeemed them. 00:01:38.219 --> 00:01:41.679 He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:44.739 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. 00:01:45.239 --> 00:01:47.039 So he turned and became their enemy. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:49.260 And he himself fought against them. 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:54.239 Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people. 00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:58.680 Where is he who brought them through the sea with the shepherd of his flock? 00:01:58.680 --> 00:02:10.219 Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them, who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses' right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for himself everlasting renown? 00:02:10.680 --> 00:02:12.200 Who led them through the depths? 00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:15.620 Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble. 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:20.360 Like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord. 00:02:21.060 --> 00:02:24.719 This is how you guided your people to make for yourself a glorious name. 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:30.000 Look down from heaven and see, from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. 00:02:30.900 --> 00:02:32.139 Where are your zeal and your might? 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:34.979 Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us. 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:36.579 But you are our Father. 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:41.800 Though Abraham does not know us, or Israel acknowledge us, you, Lord, are our Father. 00:02:42.199 --> 00:02:43.939 Our Redeemer from old is your name. 00:02:44.840 --> 00:02:49.599 Why, Lord, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? 00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:54.000 Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:03:00.400 For a little while your people possessed your holy place, but now our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary. 00:03:01.379 --> 00:03:04.419 We are yours from of old, but you have not ruled over them. 00:03:04.900 --> 00:03:06.520 They have not been called by your name. 00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:12.000 The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of your God stands forever. 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:21.460 In one of our favorite and most well-known Christmas carols, we sing these words. 00:03:21.580 --> 00:03:24.639 We sing, let every heart prepare him room. 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:27.360 Let every heart prepare him room. 00:03:27.460 --> 00:03:28.539 What does that mean? 00:03:28.979 --> 00:03:31.560 To prepare for the coming of the Messiah. 00:03:31.699 --> 00:03:33.920 To pray for the coming of the Messiah. 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:45.519 Yesterday, I was reading the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke, and I came across these two lesser-known characters, Simeon and Anna. 00:03:46.379 --> 00:03:48.500 Simeon and Anna were very old. 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:49.899 They were near death. 00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:55.579 They had been praying for 80 years, 90 years, maybe even longer than that. 00:03:55.639 --> 00:03:58.699 They had been praying for the Messiah to come. 00:03:58.699 --> 00:04:08.379 And we're told in Luke's Gospel that Simeon is a man who's righteous and devout, and that he was, quote-unquote, waiting for the consolation of Israel. 00:04:08.519 --> 00:04:10.679 Waiting for Israel to be comforted. 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:22.139 We're told that Anna worshipped the Lord day and night with fasting and praying, and that she was, quote-unquote, looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. 00:04:22.139 --> 00:04:34.159 And, of course, this day came when Joseph and Mary, they brought their baby, Jesus, to the temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, to dedicate him to the Lord. 00:04:34.699 --> 00:04:44.620 And when both Simeon and Anna saw Jesus, both this man of God and this woman of God saw Jesus, they began to praise God and to thank God. 00:04:44.620 --> 00:04:52.079 Because in Jesus, they saw what they had been waiting for their whole lives, what they had been longing for their whole lives. 00:04:52.139 --> 00:04:56.959 In Jesus, they saw what they had been preparing for and praying for. 00:04:57.579 --> 00:05:03.259 They saw in Jesus the consolation of Israel and the redemption of Jerusalem. 00:05:04.360 --> 00:05:12.199 Now, why were Simeon and Anna waiting and longing for this consolation and this redemption? 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:15.319 Why were they preparing and praying for this? 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:17.740 Because they read their Bibles. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:24.579 Because they read especially the prophet Isaiah, who teaches us to long and to wait for these things. 00:05:24.699 --> 00:05:27.439 So, that's where we've been preaching the past few weeks. 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:28.599 That's where we're going to be today. 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:43.580 And just for some context, Isaiah the prophet had this ministry that spanned the reigns of four or five kings in Judah from the years 750 to 700 B.C. 00:05:44.280 --> 00:05:51.420 And he wrote down these visions, these visions of events that would happen in his lifetime and things that would happen after his lifetime. 00:05:51.420 --> 00:05:56.340 He wrote about things that were coming 150, 200 years later. 00:05:57.220 --> 00:06:02.040 The Babylonian exile, the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:06.920 He wrote about the return of these exiles from Babylon in 538 B.C. 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:13.500 And he wrote all about these glorious visions of how God was going to come and rebuild his temple. 00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:19.780 And restore the city of God and renew the people of God. 00:06:19.779 --> 00:06:23.459 And we really can't understand this text without that background. 00:06:23.559 --> 00:06:26.139 If you look at verse 18, it says, 00:06:26.259 --> 00:06:29.559 For a little while your people possessed your holy place. 00:06:29.599 --> 00:06:34.059 That is, before the exile, we had our own temple, our own city of God here. 00:06:34.139 --> 00:06:38.919 But now our enemies, the Babylonians, have trampled down your sanctuary. 00:06:40.139 --> 00:06:42.819 Or if we look at chapter 61, verse 4. 00:06:43.539 --> 00:06:43.759 It says, 00:06:43.819 --> 00:06:46.119 They will rebuild the ancient ruins. 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:49.399 The things that have been ruined by the Babylonians will be rebuilt. 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:53.600 And they'll restore the places that were long devastated by the Babylonians. 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:57.639 They will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. 00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:07.540 So Isaiah is exhorting his future readers to trust that the Lord is going to bring a faithful remnant of his people 00:07:07.540 --> 00:07:12.420 back to full blessings after the exile. 00:07:12.500 --> 00:07:15.100 He's going to bring consolation to Israel. 00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:18.439 He's going to bring redemption to Jerusalem. 00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:20.980 And how is the Lord going to do this? 00:07:21.020 --> 00:07:22.520 How is he going to accomplish this work? 00:07:22.600 --> 00:07:26.080 How is he going to rebuild and restore and renew? 00:07:26.780 --> 00:07:30.180 Well, the prophet tells us in chapter 62, verse 6. 00:07:30.180 --> 00:07:31.800 He says, 00:07:31.800 --> 00:07:34.900 I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:37.459 They will never be silent day or night. 00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:47.360 You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. 00:07:48.280 --> 00:07:50.980 In other words, the Lord is going to rebuild his people. 00:07:51.139 --> 00:07:54.139 He's going to rebuild Zion, the kingdom of God. 00:07:54.220 --> 00:07:56.840 He's going to rebuild it through prayer. 00:07:56.839 --> 00:08:00.459 He's going to rebuild it through the prayers of his people. 00:08:01.659 --> 00:08:07.339 And this prophet is calling upon all the citizens of Zion to become intercessors. 00:08:07.479 --> 00:08:13.579 He's calling upon people like Simeon and like Anna who will wait upon the Lord day and night, 00:08:13.679 --> 00:08:18.399 who will hope upon the Lord all their lives until he comes to accomplish this. 00:08:18.500 --> 00:08:25.219 People who will plead with God that his church will be what it's meant to be. 00:08:26.299 --> 00:08:26.779 Watchmen. 00:08:26.839 --> 00:08:32.500 And watch women who stand on the ruined walls of the city of God. 00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:39.399 Keepers of Zion, guardians of Zion who stand there and they call upon the Lord. 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:43.399 They give the Lord no rest day or night. 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:45.039 They just wear him out. 00:08:45.339 --> 00:08:49.839 They refuse to stop assaulting God. 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:54.800 And saying to God, we have this one burden. 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:57.280 This one passion. 00:08:58.100 --> 00:09:02.220 This one all-consuming concern and idea. 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:10.399 That one day, one day, the presence and the power of God is going to come and dwell among his people again. 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:21.459 He's going to come and dwell in such a way among the city of God and the people of God that it will finally be established in security and stability. 00:09:21.460 --> 00:09:31.440 We're praying that one day God is going to come with his presence and his power that he's going to make his people the praise of all the earth. 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:40.060 Like Jacob, who wrestled with God and struggled with God and said, I'm not going to let you go until you bless me. 00:09:40.059 --> 00:09:47.799 The prophet Isaiah is calling on people who will be intercessors for Zion and who will pray like Simeon. 00:09:48.019 --> 00:09:51.739 Lord, we're not going to let you go until you console Israel. 00:09:51.859 --> 00:09:56.039 Like Anna, we're not going to let you go until you redeem Jerusalem. 00:09:57.079 --> 00:10:04.519 The prophet here is teaching us that we should pray like this and how we should pray like this. 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:07.319 And that's what Isaiah 63 to 64 is. 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:12.520 It's one of the longest and most beautiful, eloquent intercessory prayers in the whole Bible. 00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:16.220 And so we're going to do part one right now and part two next Sunday. 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:22.040 And the question is, are we ready to learn how to pray like the prophet Isaiah? 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:28.180 Are we ready to learn to pray like Simeon and Anna were praying who were waiting for the Messiah? 00:10:28.280 --> 00:10:35.520 Learning to pray for this Messiah to come into our lives, come into our city, come into our world. 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:43.240 Well, prayer for the coming Messiah says four things. 00:10:43.439 --> 00:10:49.240 Prayer for the coming Messiah says, wow, sorry, thanks, and help. 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:52.519 If we want to learn how to pray like Isaiah, pray like Simeon and Anna, 00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:57.559 prayer for the coming Messiah says, wow, sorry, thanks, and help. 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:00.840 So prayer for the coming Messiah says, wow. 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:06.139 I want us to pay attention to the leading principles of the prophet's prayer, 00:11:06.800 --> 00:11:12.740 the scheme and system and sequence of his praying and the arrangement and order of this prayer 00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:18.440 so that we can be instructed on how we too can pray for Zion that needs rebuilding 00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:24.040 and how we can pray for the temple of God that needs restoring and for the people of God that need renewing, 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:27.780 all of which the Messiah must ultimately come and do. 00:11:27.779 --> 00:11:31.559 If you're familiar at all with the Psalms, the prayer book of the Bible, 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:36.559 which is the prayer book of Jesus and the apostles and the church the past 2,000 years, 00:11:37.100 --> 00:11:43.000 there are four types of prayer in the Psalms that we find in this prayer of the prophet Isaiah. 00:11:43.339 --> 00:11:49.419 And some of you have learned these four prayers through the acronym ACTS, A-C-T-S, 00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:54.279 which stands for adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. 00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:59.699 I kind of like my version, wow, sorry, thanks, and help. 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:08.039 But any way you do it, I want to invite you to do it as we close out these last days of 2022. 00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:12.159 And the prophet tells us to start our praying with the word, wow. 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:14.100 Wow, Lord. 00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:15.339 Verse 7, 00:12:15.340 --> 00:12:38.519 The prophet starts with the character of God, which is the secret of all true prayer. 00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:42.360 The first thing we've got to realize is who is the one we're addressing? 00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:44.059 To whom are we speaking? 00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:50.039 And the prophet reminds himself of the character of the living God. 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:55.840 And he basically says to us, no matter how you want to explain the ruins of the people of God 00:12:55.840 --> 00:13:00.659 and the rubble of the city of God, it's not because of something wrong in God himself. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:04.419 No, we know that God is kind. 00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:06.579 We know that he's praiseworthy. 00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:07.620 We know that he's good. 00:13:08.280 --> 00:13:11.740 We know that God is full of compassion and love and mercy. 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:18.560 And so the first thing you, the people of God, need to do is to get rid of all your doubts about God. 00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:22.259 To get rid of all the lies that you have in your mind about God. 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:27.920 To get rid of all the uncertainties you have about the being and the character of God. 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:30.800 And just come and worship him for who he is. 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:32.680 And that's the question for us, Christ Church. 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:36.419 Do we start our prayers adoring God? 00:13:37.419 --> 00:13:47.839 Do we start our prayers praising him and ascribing to him all the excellencies of his holy nature that he's been pleased to reveal to us? 00:13:47.939 --> 00:13:54.919 Parents, are we teaching our kids to say, wow, Lord, you are so good in and of yourself. 00:13:54.979 --> 00:13:58.459 And wow, Lord, you have been so good to me. 00:13:58.460 --> 00:14:06.500 Notice the prophet begins to review the history of the relationship between God and his people. 00:14:06.580 --> 00:14:15.620 He says in verse 8, the Lord said, surely they are my people, children who will be true to me. 00:14:16.680 --> 00:14:16.879 Right? 00:14:16.900 --> 00:14:19.940 That's something we do in prayer is we say, we're your chosen people. 00:14:20.160 --> 00:14:21.540 We're your special people. 00:14:21.700 --> 00:14:24.519 You're like a father to us and we're your children. 00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:37.759 And we call to mind all the promises that God has made to us through Abraham and Moses and David where he says over and over, I will be your God and you will be my people. 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:40.220 And then look what he says in verse 8. 00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:42.799 He says, and so he became their savior. 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:45.799 In all their distress, he too was distressed. 00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:47.639 And the angel of his presence saved them. 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:49.639 In his love and mercy, he redeemed them. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:53.840 He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:15:03.019 He's calling to mind their bondage in Egypt and calling to mind those days when God liberated them from their chains and from their slavery. 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:07.860 And he says, you God, you did not choose to stay distant from us. 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:13.820 No, you chose to come and actually share our distress with us to save us. 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:21.540 You and your love and in your mercy, you came down from a very high place and you came down into our misery. 00:15:21.539 --> 00:15:26.360 You descended among us sufferers and sinners that we are. 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:28.000 And why did you do that? 00:15:28.059 --> 00:15:30.099 You did it that you might redeem us. 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:34.659 You did it that you might come lift us up out of that muck and that mire. 00:15:34.659 --> 00:15:43.399 And that like a mother who tenderly carries her young, that you might carry us out of Egypt. 00:15:43.779 --> 00:15:44.939 Carry us through the wilderness. 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:49.120 Carry us all the way to our true home in the promised land. 00:15:50.299 --> 00:15:58.339 You see, the reason we need to learn biblical history and learn church history isn't so that we can just know more stuff about God in our minds, 00:15:58.340 --> 00:16:02.780 but so that we can say from our hearts, wow, Lord, wow. 00:16:03.700 --> 00:16:09.519 And that's what I want to invite us to this Advent and this Christmas is to pray a daily wow. 00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:15.379 In our Christmas carols, we say, joy to the earth, the Savior reigns. 00:16:16.060 --> 00:16:16.920 Wow, Lord. 00:16:17.780 --> 00:16:22.920 In Jesus, your compassion and your many kindnesses took on flesh. 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:27.919 He emptied himself to come and share with us. 00:16:27.959 --> 00:16:33.979 He didn't have to, but he came and shouldered for us the distress and the misery that we bear. 00:16:34.719 --> 00:16:35.479 Wow, Lord. 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:42.599 In your love and your mercy, in Jesus, you made your love and your mercy visible to us. 00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:44.339 Wow, Lord. 00:16:45.099 --> 00:16:48.360 He left the glories of heaven to come down. 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:55.980 Even though he didn't have to, he wanted to come and save us and redeem us and lift us up and carry us home. 00:16:58.419 --> 00:17:05.860 One of my favorite wow, Lords, for Christmas time comes from a great pastor in North Africa. 00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:08.360 His name was Augustine, and this is what he says. 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:08.799 He says, 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:32.000 Man's maker was made man, that he, ruler of the stars, might nurse at his mother's breast, that the bread might hunger, the fountain thirst, the light sleep, the way become tired on its journey, the truth might be accused of false witness, 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:44.380 that the teacher might be beaten with whips, and the foundation be suspended on wood, that strength might grow weak, and that the healer might be wounded, and that life itself might die. 00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:45.480 That's St. Augustine saying, 00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:46.559 Wow, Lord. 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:47.960 Wow. 00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:54.519 In Jesus, our Savior, you've done many, many good things for the house of Israel. 00:17:54.519 --> 00:18:04.480 And I want to invite us every day this week to just start with these verses, verses 7, 8, and 9, praying through these glorious attributes of the Lord, 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:10.619 praying through the praiseworthy deeds that he's revealed in his Messiah who came down at Christmas. 00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:17.759 And as we pray, wow, let's pray that all the people of the city would come and share our wow, 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:24.240 that everything that has breath would praise the Lord, because that's why we have breath in our lungs. 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:26.279 It's to say, wow, Lord. 00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:32.879 Prayer for the coming Messiah says, wow, but it also says, sorry and thanks. 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:35.619 It also says, sorry and thanks. 00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:39.579 When the prophet sees the goodness and the glory of God, he says, wow. 00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:47.139 But then he begins to look at himself and to examine the condition of his own heart and the heart of his people, the people of God. 00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:49.039 And he begins to say, sorry. 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:50.599 And that's what verse 10 is about. 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:54.199 It says, yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. 00:18:55.159 --> 00:19:00.059 And so he turned and became their enemy, and he himself fought against them. 00:19:01.199 --> 00:19:06.879 Though the people of God had experienced the abundant blessings of God, they turned their backs on God. 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:12.880 Over and over, this is the story of the Bible, that we began to envy the nations and the gods of the nations. 00:19:13.140 --> 00:19:18.160 And we began to say to ourselves, you know, the religion of the God of Israel is just too narrow. 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:21.860 And these Ten Commandments are a total bummer. 00:19:21.859 --> 00:19:26.859 I mean, we can't remake God into our own image. 00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:30.539 And we can't worship God in our own way. 00:19:31.179 --> 00:19:33.779 And we can't interpret the Bible however we want. 00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:36.579 And we can't live seven days a week as we like. 00:19:36.679 --> 00:19:38.599 And we're not allowed to hate our enemies. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:40.319 That's so awful. 00:19:41.139 --> 00:19:43.879 We're not allowed to marry or have sex with whoever we want. 00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:51.200 We're not given free reign in our desires for more stuff and more money and things that don't belong to us. 00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:54.940 We're not allowed to sit loose to the truth. 00:19:56.140 --> 00:19:58.020 Man, this is crimping our style. 00:19:59.020 --> 00:20:00.300 This is so intolerable. 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:03.840 This yoke of God, this law of God is a burden to us. 00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:09.960 And the people of God over and over have turned against the Spirit of God who gave us the Word of God. 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:14.860 And that's why the prophet is saying, sorry. 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:16.680 Sorry, Lord. 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:21.600 And this Advent and this Christmas, I want to invite us to pray a daily sorry. 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:28.640 Just to say, honestly, Lord, I'm failing to love you with all my heart and my soul and my mind. 00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:34.380 Honestly, Lord, I'm not obeying your commandments fully as I ought. 00:20:34.380 --> 00:20:39.960 Lord, I'm loving other things more than I love you. 00:20:41.260 --> 00:20:46.920 You know, when the people of God are living among the ruins and living among the rubble and when we're down and we're defeated, 00:20:47.060 --> 00:20:49.100 it's not because God's not being God. 00:20:49.800 --> 00:20:52.600 It's because we're not being the people of God. 00:20:53.580 --> 00:20:55.500 And this is calling upon us. 00:20:55.580 --> 00:20:58.600 Like the Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13. 00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:01.380 He says, examine yourselves. 00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:06.120 Examine yourselves to see whether or not you're still in the faith. 00:21:06.840 --> 00:21:08.480 To see whether or not test yourselves. 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:10.660 To see whether or not you're being faithful. 00:21:12.280 --> 00:21:13.640 Psalm 139 says, 00:21:14.560 --> 00:21:16.540 Search me, O God, and know my heart. 00:21:17.420 --> 00:21:19.200 Try me and know my thoughts. 00:21:19.280 --> 00:21:25.400 And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. 00:21:25.580 --> 00:21:26.960 And maybe that's your prayer this week. 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:32.279 Because, Lord, is there any way I've been grieving the Spirit of God? 00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:35.000 Any way I'm resisting you? 00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:37.980 Any way I'm ignoring you? 00:21:38.100 --> 00:21:40.559 Any way I'm not praying to you as I ought? 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:47.039 Any way I'm not giving Christ and the purposes of Christ the number one priority in my life? 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:52.420 And if that's the case, Lord, I'm sorry for fighting against you and being your enemy. 00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:56.580 See, the prophet doesn't stop at sorry. 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:58.360 He moves on to thanks. 00:21:58.460 --> 00:22:00.820 And he sees the goodness and the glory of God. 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.620 He says, wow. 00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:05.880 He sees the rebelliousness and the grievousness of sin. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:06.740 And he says, sorry. 00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:09.220 And then he begins to ask this question. 00:22:09.300 --> 00:22:10.800 He says, where is God? 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:13.759 Where is God among us? 00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:17.680 Where is this God that we've been ignoring and neglecting? 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:22.600 Where is this God that we've been pushing away and resisting? 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:25.519 Where is this God that we've been doubting and deconstructing? 00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:30.340 And how do we get the presence and the power of God back among us again? 00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.840 And so he says in verse 11, 00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:37.640 Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:40.120 Where is he who brought them through the sea? 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:44.980 You see, he's going back in a time to when God clearly revealed himself. 00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:47.960 He says, where is he who brought them through the sea? 00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:50.599 Where is he who brought them with the shepherd of his flock? 00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:53.120 Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them? 00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:59.099 Where is he who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses' right hand? 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:05.079 Where is he who divided the waters before them to gain for himself everlasting renown? 00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:11.019 Where is he who led them through the depths like a horse in open country that did not stumble? 00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:16.879 Like cattle that go down to the plain that were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord. 00:23:17.879 --> 00:23:23.900 See, he goes back to this time at the Red Sea that the people of God could never forget. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:28.359 And he says, when we were there with our back up against the Red Sea, 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:32.740 and when we were there with nowhere else to go, 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:34.660 and we were hopeless and we were helpless, 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:38.960 and we were there, remember we had a mountain on one side, 00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:40.840 and we had a mountain on the other side, 00:23:41.360 --> 00:23:45.480 and we had Pharaoh and the whole army of Egypt behind us, 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:51.600 and we had an impossible and uncrossable body of water before us. 00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:56.720 Remember when we were totally defenseless and doomed, 00:23:56.820 --> 00:23:59.000 when we were desperate and despairing, 00:23:59.019 --> 00:24:01.800 and we were shut in, and we were shut down, 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:04.500 and we were on our knees crying out to God, 00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:05.440 and what did God do? 00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:09.159 He came down with his Holy Spirit. 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:11.599 He came down with his mighty arm. 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:12.799 This is the prophet saying, 00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:14.099 thank you, God. 00:24:15.139 --> 00:24:17.919 Thank you, God, for the way that you come 00:24:17.919 --> 00:24:20.799 to save us when we could not save ourselves. 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:23.819 And this Advent, this Christmas, 00:24:23.919 --> 00:24:28.539 I want to invite you to pray a daily wow and a daily sorry, 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:31.359 but I also want you to pray a daily thank you, God. 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:38.619 To call to mind how God has clearly come down to us in the past, 00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:43.119 and to say thank you, God, for making possible 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:47.079 what we thought was impossible. 00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:50.500 Thank you, Lord, that a long time ago, 00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:54.359 in days of old, in those days of Joseph and Mary, 00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:57.459 you sent your Holy Spirit down among them. 00:24:58.740 --> 00:25:01.619 Thank you that you overshadowed her womb 00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:04.639 in such a way that she conceived the God-man, 00:25:05.379 --> 00:25:09.119 that one mediator between the Creator and his creatures. 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:11.319 Thank you, God, that she gave birth 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:13.419 to this sinless Son of God. 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:15.539 And we thank you, God, 00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:18.679 that you sent your glorious arm of power among us 00:25:18.679 --> 00:25:22.000 in the form of those fragile arms of the infant Christ, 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:24.740 those arms that would grow big and strong 00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:27.500 and be stretched out on the hardwood of the cross 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.180 for our sins. 00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:29.180 We thank you, God, 00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:32.500 that you gained for yourself everlasting renown, 00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:34.779 not by splitting apart the Red Sea. 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.779 That was easy. 00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:39.400 What you did in Christ when you sent him among us, 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:42.200 you split apart sin and death itself. 00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:43.960 Thank you, God, 00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:46.900 that you made a way for us in this world 00:25:46.900 --> 00:25:48.279 where there was no way, 00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:51.720 that you made a way for righteousness in this world. 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:54.000 You made a way for life in this world. 00:25:54.100 --> 00:25:56.880 You made a way in the Christ you sent among us 00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:59.860 so that we could stumble and run free. 00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:02.200 So that we, like this, 00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:04.339 I love this beautiful image of the prophet Isaiah. 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:07.100 He says, we were like horses 00:26:07.100 --> 00:26:09.880 that were set free to gallop, 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:12.360 sure-footed in the open country. 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:13.839 That's what you did for us. 00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:16.700 That's the freedom that you brought for us 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:17.860 in your Messiah. 00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:19.259 Thank you, God. 00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:20.740 Thank you, God. 00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:24.980 Prayer for the coming Messiah says, wow. 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:28.740 And prayer for the coming Messiah says, sorry. 00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:32.400 And prayer for the coming Messiah says, thanks. 00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:36.240 And prayer for the coming Messiah finally says, 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:37.680 help. 00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:39.460 Help. 00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:39.539 Help. 00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:41.840 Really, this whole prayer 00:26:41.840 --> 00:26:45.000 is one giant plea for help. 00:26:47.340 --> 00:26:47.819 Wow. 00:26:48.600 --> 00:26:50.559 You were so good to save us in Egypt, 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:51.759 but won't you come and 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:54.900 help us with that same goodness now? 00:26:57.079 --> 00:26:57.940 Sorry, Lord. 00:26:58.059 --> 00:27:00.559 We rebelled against you in the past, 00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:01.500 and won't you come 00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:04.019 and show us your mercy to us now 00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:05.360 in the present? 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.500 Thank you, God, 00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.599 for parting the Red Sea, 00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:08.359 and won't you come 00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:10.220 and show us that same power now? 00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:11.480 The whole prayer is a plea 00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:13.099 for God's help. 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:15.079 Won't you come 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:18.220 and do all this again for us 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:20.619 who are living among the ruin 00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:22.079 and the rubble 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:23.819 and the devastation 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:25.079 of Zion? 00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:27.160 Won't you come, God, 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:28.319 and rebuild your temple 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:30.539 and restore these walls 00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:32.279 and renew these people? 00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:33.000 Won't you come 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:34.339 and establish us 00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:36.339 and make us the praise 00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:37.740 of all the earth? 00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.940 Won't you send your Messiah 00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:40.900 to come do this for us? 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:43.000 You see, the prophet 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:44.180 is turning to God 00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:46.119 with his urgent desperation 00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:47.500 for help. 00:27:48.619 --> 00:27:49.259 Verse 15, 00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:50.480 Look down from heaven 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:51.059 and see. 00:27:52.140 --> 00:27:53.200 From your lofty throne, 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:54.400 holy and glorious, 00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:55.819 where are your zeal 00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:57.039 and your might? 00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.960 Your tenderness 00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:58.720 and compassion 00:27:58.720 --> 00:28:00.519 are withheld from us. 00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:02.039 Right? 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:02.960 The people of God 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.539 are defeated. 00:28:04.659 --> 00:28:05.839 They've been carried off 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:07.319 as slaves to Babylon. 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:09.639 The temple of God 00:28:09.639 --> 00:28:10.579 and the city of God 00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:12.019 is a heap of rubble, 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.619 which I think is 00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:14.039 a perfect picture 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:15.000 of the church 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:16.240 in the Western world, right? 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.559 The church in the secular age, 00:28:17.619 --> 00:28:19.000 the church in post-pandemic 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:20.019 North America 00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:21.519 is a heap of rubble 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.200 and ruins. 00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:24.839 And the prophet says, 00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:26.480 Look at us, God. 00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:28.859 Don't have your back 00:28:28.859 --> 00:28:29.639 turned toward us. 00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:31.779 Turn your face toward us, 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.559 but we're longing 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:34.940 to see your smile. 00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:41.200 We're longing 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:45.279 for you to turn upon us 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:49.359 and give us your smile. 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:56.559 Let's pray. 00:28:58.179 --> 00:28:59.000 Lord, help. 00:29:00.639 --> 00:29:01.659 Help this person 00:29:01.659 --> 00:29:02.619 who needs your smile 00:29:02.619 --> 00:29:03.319 even now. 00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.759 Look down, Lord. 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:07.319 Look down upon all of us 00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:08.459 because there's something 00:29:08.459 --> 00:29:09.399 in all of our hearts 00:29:09.399 --> 00:29:10.319 that's screaming out. 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.639 Lord, look down upon 00:29:12.639 --> 00:29:14.199 this tortured world 00:29:14.199 --> 00:29:16.279 that's longing to see 00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:18.079 the face of Christ. 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:19.779 Lord, that's longing 00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.539 for the grace 00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.220 and the peace 00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:22.240 that Christ came 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.240 to give us. 00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:24.059 Look down, oh Lord, 00:29:24.119 --> 00:29:24.539 we pray. 00:29:25.659 --> 00:29:26.899 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:29:28.679 --> 00:29:29.639 You see, the prophet 00:29:29.639 --> 00:29:30.359 is praying. 00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.460 He's praying, 00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:34.500 Lord, bring the authority 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:35.240 of your throne. 00:29:35.399 --> 00:29:36.119 Bring the power 00:29:36.119 --> 00:29:36.799 of your holiness 00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.679 and your glory 00:29:37.679 --> 00:29:39.299 to bear upon us. 00:29:39.419 --> 00:29:40.980 Where is your zeal 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:42.379 and your might, Lord? 00:29:42.380 --> 00:29:44.720 And won't you be zealous 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:45.380 for us? 00:29:45.520 --> 00:29:46.260 Won't you be zealous 00:29:46.260 --> 00:29:47.940 for our cause today? 00:29:48.080 --> 00:29:48.940 Won't you show us 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:50.540 the zeal that you've shown 00:29:50.540 --> 00:29:51.160 to your people 00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:53.020 over and over again 00:29:53.020 --> 00:29:54.120 when they were in slavery 00:29:54.120 --> 00:29:54.600 in Egypt, 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.680 when they had their backs 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.360 against the wall 00:29:56.360 --> 00:29:57.100 of the Red Sea, 00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.620 when they came in 00:29:58.620 --> 00:29:59.680 against mighty enemies 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:00.620 in the promised land, 00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:01.540 when they were taken away 00:30:01.540 --> 00:30:02.060 to Babylon, 00:30:02.280 --> 00:30:02.880 when they were brought 00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:03.840 back to the ruins? 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.260 Won't you be zealous 00:30:05.260 --> 00:30:06.020 for us? 00:30:06.780 --> 00:30:09.040 Lord, where is your might? 00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:10.799 Where is your tenderness? 00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:12.759 Where is your compassion 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:14.039 for your people? 00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:16.720 In verse 16, he says, 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:18.180 but you are our father. 00:30:19.379 --> 00:30:21.059 Though Abraham does not know us 00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:22.420 or Israel acknowledge us, 00:30:22.500 --> 00:30:24.159 you, Lord, are our father. 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:25.539 Our redeemer from of old 00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:26.700 is your name. 00:30:27.859 --> 00:30:29.240 He's saying things have become 00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:31.700 so bad among us 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:34.500 that if Abraham and Jacob 00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.599 were to come back 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.339 and to see us, 00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:37.119 they would probably 00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:38.599 not even recognize us. 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:41.139 They would not acknowledge 00:30:41.139 --> 00:30:42.240 that we are the covenant 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.420 people of God. 00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.019 They would say, 00:30:44.379 --> 00:30:46.159 these people can't belong to us 00:30:46.159 --> 00:30:47.099 because we're a people 00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:48.159 of holiness. 00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:49.420 We're a people of faith. 00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.740 And they would come 00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.759 and they would renounce us 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:54.059 and they would disinherit us, 00:30:54.139 --> 00:30:55.039 but you, oh God, 00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:57.899 you can never disown us 00:30:57.899 --> 00:30:59.159 because you're our father 00:30:59.159 --> 00:31:00.859 and you're our redeemer 00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:02.480 and you are holy 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.659 and you are glorious. 00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:04.859 You are zealous 00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:05.980 and you are mighty. 00:31:06.159 --> 00:31:06.740 You are tender 00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:08.159 and you are compassionate. 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:10.279 And we belong to you 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:10.840 and Father, 00:31:11.540 --> 00:31:12.380 won't you come 00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:14.060 and help us? 00:31:16.580 --> 00:31:17.880 This Advent and Christmas, 00:31:18.060 --> 00:31:18.680 I want to invite you 00:31:18.680 --> 00:31:19.300 to pray 00:31:19.300 --> 00:31:21.140 a daily 00:31:21.140 --> 00:31:23.400 help us, God. 00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:25.960 A daily wow, 00:31:26.420 --> 00:31:27.220 a daily sorry, 00:31:27.320 --> 00:31:28.259 a daily thank you, 00:31:28.660 --> 00:31:30.180 but also a daily help. 00:31:31.640 --> 00:31:32.200 Will you pray 00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:33.060 for the Lord's help 00:31:33.060 --> 00:31:34.100 like the prophet Isaiah? 00:31:34.099 --> 00:31:34.819 Isaiah, 00:31:34.939 --> 00:31:35.419 will you pray 00:31:35.419 --> 00:31:37.240 for the consolation 00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:37.839 of Israel 00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:39.379 like Simeon was praying? 00:31:40.379 --> 00:31:41.119 Will you pray 00:31:41.119 --> 00:31:41.740 for the redemption 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.439 of Jerusalem 00:31:42.439 --> 00:31:44.379 like Anna was praying? 00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:46.099 To simply pray, 00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:46.879 our father, 00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:48.119 our redeemer in heaven, 00:31:48.659 --> 00:31:50.099 you sent down 00:31:50.099 --> 00:31:50.799 from your throne 00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:52.259 this newborn king. 00:31:53.099 --> 00:31:54.240 From your high 00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:54.819 and heavenly 00:31:54.819 --> 00:31:55.699 and holy throne, 00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:56.240 you sent 00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:57.199 your eternal 00:31:57.199 --> 00:31:58.699 son of God 00:31:58.699 --> 00:31:59.699 to come and embody 00:31:59.699 --> 00:32:00.319 for us 00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:01.039 the zeal 00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:01.980 and the might 00:32:01.980 --> 00:32:02.400 of the Lord, 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.440 to put flesh 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:04.799 on your tenderness 00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:06.079 and your compassion, 00:32:06.180 --> 00:32:07.000 to come and open 00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:07.740 our eyes 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:08.980 to the face of God 00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:10.480 and the smile of God. 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.400 And won't you come 00:32:11.400 --> 00:32:12.740 and do that for us? 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:13.579 Won't you show us 00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.200 your face? 00:32:15.160 --> 00:32:16.039 Won't you show us 00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:17.039 your smile? 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.059 And friends, 00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:21.360 our Messiah, 00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:23.140 our Messiah 00:32:23.140 --> 00:32:23.819 who's come 00:32:23.819 --> 00:32:25.360 and who's coming again, 00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:28.120 his basic invitation 00:32:28.120 --> 00:32:29.319 to us today 00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:29.900 is to say, 00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:31.860 won't each of you 00:32:31.859 --> 00:32:34.019 become an intercessor 00:32:34.019 --> 00:32:35.899 for my people? 00:32:37.139 --> 00:32:37.779 Won't you become 00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:38.519 a watcher 00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:39.899 on the walls? 00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:41.519 Won't you become 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:42.479 one of these keepers 00:32:42.479 --> 00:32:43.079 and guardians 00:32:43.079 --> 00:32:44.019 of Zion? 00:32:44.139 --> 00:32:45.379 Won't you call to me 00:32:45.379 --> 00:32:47.059 day and night? 00:32:47.179 --> 00:32:47.879 Won't you give me 00:32:47.879 --> 00:32:48.679 no rest 00:32:48.679 --> 00:32:49.539 with your wow 00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:50.740 and your sorry 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.399 and your thanks 00:32:51.399 --> 00:32:51.979 and your help 00:32:51.979 --> 00:32:53.099 until I come 00:32:53.099 --> 00:32:54.219 and do what I want 00:32:54.219 --> 00:32:54.799 to do, 00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:56.959 which is to establish you 00:32:56.959 --> 00:32:58.619 and to make you 00:32:58.619 --> 00:32:59.319 the praise 00:32:59.319 --> 00:33:00.979 of all the earth, 00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:01.819 to bring about 00:33:01.819 --> 00:33:03.539 the consolation 00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:03.900 of Israel, 00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:04.720 to bring about 00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:05.960 the redemption 00:33:05.960 --> 00:33:06.900 of Jerusalem, 00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:08.720 my people. 00:33:09.779 --> 00:33:10.860 This is what it means, 00:33:10.940 --> 00:33:11.380 I think, 00:33:11.880 --> 00:33:12.880 for every heart 00:33:12.880 --> 00:33:13.519 to prepare 00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:14.400 in room 00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.819 to prayerfully pray 00:33:15.819 --> 00:33:17.559 that our hearts 00:33:17.559 --> 00:33:18.420 might be prepared 00:33:18.420 --> 00:33:19.960 and make room 00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:21.519 for our coming Messiah. 00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.879 in the name 00:33:22.879 --> 00:33:23.319 of the Father, 00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:23.579 Son, 00:33:23.639 --> 00:33:24.319 and Holy Spirit. 00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:25.319 Amen. 00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:25.480 Amen. 00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:55.460 Thank you.