WEBVTT

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 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church.

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 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication,

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 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church.

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 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org.

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 My name is Vaughn Woodson and I am a part of the Oakland Little Faith Group.

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 Today's scripture reading is from the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 5, verses 1-7 and 22-33, as printed in the liturgy.

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 And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them,

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 Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today,

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 and you shall learn them and be careful to do them.

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 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.

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 Not with our fathers did the Lord make this covenant,

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 but with us, who are all of us here alive today.

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 The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain out of the midst of the fire,

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 while I stood between the Lord and you at that time to declare to you the word of the Lord,

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 for you were afraid because of the fire.

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 And you did not go up into the mountain.

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 He said, I am the Lord your God,

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 who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

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 You shall have no other gods before me.

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 These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly at the mountain,

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 out of the midst of the fire, the cloud,

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 and the thick darkness with a loud voice.

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 And he added, No more.

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 And he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.

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 And as soon as you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness,

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 while the mountain was burning with fire,

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 you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders.

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 And you said, Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness,

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 and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire.

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 This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live.

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 Now, therefore, why should we die?

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 For this great fire will consume us.

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 If we hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore, we shall die.

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 For who is there of all flesh that has heard the voice of the living God

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 speaking out of the midst of fire, as we have, and has still lived?

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 But go near and hear all that the Lord our God will say,

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 and speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you,

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 and we will hear, and we will do it.

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 And the Lord heard your words when you spoke to me.

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 And the Lord said to me, I have heard the words of this people,

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 which they have spoken to you.

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 They are right in all that they have spoken.

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 Oh, that they had such a heart as this always,

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 to fear me and to keep all my commandments,

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 that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever.

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 Go and say to them, return to your tents.

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 But you stand here by me,

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 and I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules

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 that you shall teach them,

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 that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.

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 You shall be careful, therefore, to do as the Lord your God has commanded you.

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 You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

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 You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you,

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 that you may live, and that it may go well with you,

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 and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.

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 The grass withers and the flowers fade,

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 but the word of our God stands forever.

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 Well, thank you, Vaughn, for that scripture reading.

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 Good morning.

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 My name is Andrew.

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 I'm one of the pastors here,

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 and it's good to be with you.

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 Will you join me in prayer as we come to hear what God has to say to us?

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 Lord God, it was good when they said to me, when they said to us,

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 let us go to the house of the Lord.

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 Father, I thank you personally this morning for the praises sung here

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 by my brothers and sisters in Christ,

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 exclaiming your holiness and your character and your awesomeness.

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 And I pray that we would encounter you as such today,

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 the God who reigns, the holy and awesome God,

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 who in many ways is terrifying,

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 but in Christ is also more tender than we could ever imagine.

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 Help us to know you as this kind of God.

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 Help us to know you not just as lawgiver, but lifegiver,

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 and to understand how those things are not opposed to one another

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 because of the gospel,

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 because of the good news of what you've done for us in Christ.

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 Would you bless and honor the preaching of your word

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 and fill us all with your spirit

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 as we listen to what you have to say to us.

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 And we pray these things in the name of Jesus.

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 Amen.

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 Well, Christ Church, we're continuing our series

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 in the book of Deuteronomy and these Hebrew scriptures,

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 this last book of the Torah.

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 And to get what Deuteronomy is about,

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 I know we've talked about it, but I just want to refresh us.

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 I want you to picture Moses.

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 Picture Moses and the people of Israel

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 on the other side of the Jordan River,

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 outside of the Promised Land.

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 And 40 years have now gone by.

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 40 years have now gone by since their people,

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 mostly their parents, mostly their grandparents,

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 were delivered from slavery in Egypt,

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 but then refused to enter the land

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 that God had promised them.

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 And so here in Deuteronomy,

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 you have this next generation of Israel.

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 Pretty much all their parents,

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 pretty much all their grandparents

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 have not survived long enough to get to this moment

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 where they're about to cross the Jordan River

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 and enter into the Promised Land.

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 But they're still led by their faithful leader,

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 their faithful prophet and shepherd, Moses,

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 who is now 120 years old,

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 and he's about to die knowing

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 that he is not gonna enter the Promised Land

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 with this people.

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 So here in Deuteronomy, you have Moses,

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 this great prophet and shepherd over Israel,

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 contemplating his death,

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 wishing better things for this next generation of Israel,

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 better things than for the previous generation,

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 and looking to speak a final and fruitful word to them

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 as they begin their next season of being the people of God

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 without him.

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 And so what Deuteronomy is,

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 is it's the record of this prophet Moses,

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 his final and most important parting words

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 to an Israelite generation

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 about to embark on a new chapter

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 in the story of God's people.

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 And so in the first chapters,

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 which we covered in the last couple weeks,

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 he pretty much, he retells the history.

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 He retells Israel what God has done for them,

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 how he brought them out of Egypt,

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 how he sustained them through the wilderness,

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 how he forgave them with all their whining

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 and all their rebellion

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 and all the ways that they failed to trust him.

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 But as we come here to Deuteronomy chapter five today,

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 Moses has moved on from retelling what God has done,

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 and he moves on to tell us what God has spoken,

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 namely his law.

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 Verse one says,

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 Now next week,

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 Jonathan is gonna talk about those 10 commandments,

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 specifically given at Horeb.

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 But what I wanna point out to us today

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 from Deuteronomy chapter five

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 is not the laws themselves.

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 Today, I want us to see the way that these laws

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 are actually framed as they're spoken to Israel.

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 And this is so important to see

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 because if we just go straight to the laws themselves,

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 and if we fail to see who communicates these laws

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 and why and how,

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 we'll completely misunderstand God's law,

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 we'll completely misunderstand God himself.

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 But if we pay close attention,

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 we'll notice that it's not just the law

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 that Moses wants to remind us about.

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 Here in Deuteronomy chapter five,

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 Moses also wants to remind us,

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 he wants to impress upon us

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 of who this God is who spoke to us,

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 and why he spoke to us,

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 and how he spoke to us.

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 Who, why, and how.

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 See, because Moses understands,

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 and we all need to understand

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 that unless we've been struck

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 by the reality of who God is,

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 and why he gave us his law,

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 and how he spoke it,

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 we'll never rightly relate to God,

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 we'll never rightly know him,

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 we'll only know him

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 as just some authoritarian law-giving God,

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 we'll never know him

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 as the affectionate, life-giving God

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 that he truly is.

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 And that's what Moses is up to this morning,

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 that's what he wants his people to see here

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 in Deuteronomy chapter five,

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 and that's what I hope we'll all see

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 in the preaching of God's word this morning.

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 So let's dig in and look at how,

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 before Moses even got to the what,

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 before he even got to the law,

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 he insisted on reminding them

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 of who it was who spoke to them.

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 Notice, he doesn't start with the what of the law,

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 he starts with the who of the lawgiver.

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 See, Moses had a bigger understanding,

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 a bigger view of the faith

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 and simply, here you go, Israel.

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 These are some Jewish rules and regulations

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 for you to obey and follow.

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 Moses' retelling of the law

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 is about so much more

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 than helping them brush up

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 on this religious manual

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 for the sake of good Jewish behavior.

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 In verse two,

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 Moses roots the statutes and the rules.

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 He's calling Israel to hear

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 and learn and do them.

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 He's rooting them in the covenant.

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 That's what it says in verse two.

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 Hear, O Israel,

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 the statutes and rules.

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 Learn them and be careful to do them.

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 Four, verse two.

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 The Lord, our God,

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 made a covenant with us in Horeb.

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 See, by invoking this covenant

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 that God made,

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 by invoking this life and death

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 binding commitment

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 of the sovereign God

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 to his people,

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 Moses is saying,

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 this is not primarily about rules.

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 This is primarily about relationship.

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 And that's the key thing about covenant.

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 Covenant is about relationship,

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 a personal, intimate, communicative,

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 and faithful relationship.

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 And so what Moses is doing here

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 is he's reminding these people

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 in verses four to six

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 of just how personal,

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 just how intimate,

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 just how faithful this God has been

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 in this covenant relationship to them.

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 He reminds them,

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 the Lord, Yahweh,

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 the God who appeared

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 and spoke to Abraham

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 and your forefathers,

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 he also, verse four,

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 spoke to you.

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 He spoke to you.

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 Face to face at the mountain,

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 he says.

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 And not only did he speak intimately

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 with his covenant people

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 face to face,

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 but Moses reminds them

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 of Yahweh's covenant credentials.

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 Look at verse six.

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 Before God even tells them

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 what they shall and shall not do

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 in the Ten Commandments,

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 God grounds his commandments

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 in who he is

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 and what he's already done

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 as their covenant God.

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 In verse six,

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 before giving out any commands,

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 God says,

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 I am Yahweh,

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 I am the Lord,

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 your God,

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 who brought you out

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 of the land of Egypt,

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 out of the house of slavery.

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 Moses wants them to see

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 that the law they've received

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 didn't just come from anyone,

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 not simply from him,

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 a mere man,

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 just another Israelite,

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 and certainly not from your typical

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 ancient Near Eastern pagan God.

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 No, it came from their covenant God,

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 Yahweh,

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 the God who had fulfilled

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 his promises to Abraham,

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 the God who rescued them

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 from Egypt,

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 and the God who was about

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 to bring them into the promised land,

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 the I am.

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 The I am who said,

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 I am yours.

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 I am your God,

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 O Israel.

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 See, Moses reminds them

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 that these laws

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 are so much more than rules.

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 They're a way of life.

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 They're a way of life

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 meant to reflect

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 and cultivate

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 a sacred relationship

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 between God and his people.

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 Think of it this way.

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 If you're about to enter

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 into a relationship

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 with someone

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 and you want to nurture

00:11:51.659 --> 00:11:52.879
 that relationship,

00:11:53.460 --> 00:11:53.899
 what do you do?

00:11:53.940 --> 00:11:54.759
 Do you just kind of

00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:55.759
 plop a manual

00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:56.639
 into their lap

00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:57.399
 with all your likes

00:11:57.399 --> 00:11:58.120
 and dislikes,

00:11:58.539 --> 00:11:59.620
 all your preferences

00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:00.340
 and pet peeves

00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:00.580
 and say,

00:12:00.680 --> 00:12:02.039
 hey, memorize this,

00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:03.399
 live by this.

00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:04.519
 If you want a relationship

00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:05.779
 with me that's going to work out,

00:12:05.879 --> 00:12:07.120
 just follow these rules.

00:12:08.139 --> 00:12:08.960
 Go try that out

00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:10.039
 and see how it works, right?

00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:12.220
 No, you unfold to them

00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:12.860
 who you are

00:12:12.860 --> 00:12:13.899
 if you want a deep relationship

00:12:13.899 --> 00:12:14.360
 with them.

00:12:14.419 --> 00:12:15.060
 You unfold to them

00:12:15.060 --> 00:12:15.560
 who you are.

00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:16.820
 You show them your character

00:12:16.820 --> 00:12:17.899
 and you connect with them

00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:19.980
 in the deepest ways possible.

00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:21.120
 You knit your hearts together

00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:21.899
 around the things

00:12:21.899 --> 00:12:22.939
 that unite you

00:12:22.939 --> 00:12:24.120
 and that's what God's doing

00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:26.059
 in the giving of his law.

00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:27.600
 It's not a list

00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:28.600
 of God's pet peeves.

00:12:28.659 --> 00:12:29.299
 It's a reflection

00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:30.659
 of who he is.

00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:31.259
 It's a reflection

00:12:31.259 --> 00:12:32.720
 of his character.

00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:34.240
 So when God says,

00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:35.819
 thou shalt not kill,

00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:36.879
 it's a reflection of him

00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:38.179
 as the giver of life,

00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:39.279
 as a God

00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:41.019
 who values life.

00:12:41.579 --> 00:12:42.259
 Or when he says,

00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:43.120
 you shall not bear

00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:43.860
 false witness,

00:12:44.059 --> 00:12:46.000
 you shall not lie,

00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:47.879
 he's reflecting himself

00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:49.120
 as a God of truth,

00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:50.360
 a God of integrity.

00:12:51.580 --> 00:12:51.919
 And see,

00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:52.840
 just as these laws

00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:53.940
 reflect his character,

00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:55.139
 they also reflect

00:12:55.139 --> 00:12:56.279
 the intended character,

00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:57.659
 the intended way of life

00:12:57.659 --> 00:12:59.120
 for all those

00:12:59.120 --> 00:12:59.639
 who are made

00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:00.519
 in his image.

00:13:01.100 --> 00:13:02.139
 Image bearers of God

00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:02.779
 meant to enjoy

00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:04.360
 a harmonious relationship

00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:04.820
 with him.

00:13:04.899 --> 00:13:05.559
 See, God's law

00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:06.860
 is not an oppressive

00:13:06.860 --> 00:13:07.779
 straitjacket.

00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:09.120
 No, it's actually

00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:09.799
 the truest,

00:13:10.299 --> 00:13:11.139
 most original,

00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:13.220
 most authentic way,

00:13:13.299 --> 00:13:13.879
 the best way,

00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:15.080
 God's intended way

00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:16.900
 for human beings

00:13:16.900 --> 00:13:17.800
 to live.

00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:19.240
 So don't you see

00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:20.020
 that this book,

00:13:20.420 --> 00:13:20.879
 this book,

00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:21.420
 the scriptures,

00:13:21.660 --> 00:13:22.220
 this law,

00:13:22.800 --> 00:13:24.320
 even with all the laws

00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:24.879
 and rules

00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:25.639
 and statutes

00:13:25.639 --> 00:13:26.740
 and demands upon our lives,

00:13:26.780 --> 00:13:27.500
 it's not just

00:13:27.500 --> 00:13:28.580
 any other book,

00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:29.560
 it's the word of God.

00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:30.780
 It's the word of God,

00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:32.220
 the God who loves us

00:13:32.220 --> 00:13:33.920
 and gives himself to us

00:13:33.920 --> 00:13:35.259
 and desires a personal

00:13:35.259 --> 00:13:36.940
 and intimate relationship

00:13:36.940 --> 00:13:38.000
 with us.

00:13:38.800 --> 00:13:39.360
 And the who,

00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:41.300
 and who these laws,

00:13:41.420 --> 00:13:42.620
 who these laws come from,

00:13:42.940 --> 00:13:44.400
 this makes all the difference.

00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:45.480
 It makes all the difference

00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:47.039
 in how we should understand

00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:48.879
 and receive this book

00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:49.939
 and all the rules

00:13:49.939 --> 00:13:50.639
 and statutes

00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:51.500
 that are in it.

00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:52.799
 You know,

00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:54.220
 the history of the world,

00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:56.519
 the history of world religions

00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:57.679
 is fraught

00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:59.480
 with a bunch of magic,

00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:01.199
 impersonal formulas

00:14:01.199 --> 00:14:02.459
 for how to get what you want,

00:14:02.539 --> 00:14:04.059
 how to attain that blessed life,

00:14:04.579 --> 00:14:06.000
 which hoops you have to jump through,

00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:07.740
 which obstacles you have to overcome,

00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:10.299
 which sacrifices you have to make.

00:14:11.220 --> 00:14:12.340
 But this is not so

00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:13.519
 with the Christian faith.

00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:15.280
 Christianity is different.

00:14:15.379 --> 00:14:16.120
 It's not about doing

00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:17.060
 all the right things

00:14:17.060 --> 00:14:18.780
 and following a list of rules

00:14:18.780 --> 00:14:19.920
 from an impersonal,

00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:21.220
 distant God

00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:22.180
 who only exists

00:14:22.180 --> 00:14:23.840
 to place impossible demands

00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:25.460
 upon our creaturely existence.

00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:27.300
 The faith of Moses,

00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:29.420
 the faith of all God's people

00:14:29.420 --> 00:14:30.560
 is grounded,

00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:31.580
 not in rules,

00:14:32.259 --> 00:14:33.680
 but in a relationship

00:14:33.680 --> 00:14:35.480
 with the one true

00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:36.100
 and living God

00:14:36.100 --> 00:14:37.900
 who graciously covenants himself

00:14:37.899 --> 00:14:39.259
 to belong to

00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:41.120
 an undeserving people like us.

00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:42.980
 Do we know this God?

00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:44.819
 Do we know this God?

00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:45.399
 This is the God

00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:46.799
 who rescues his people

00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:49.039
 from all kinds of slaveries,

00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:50.720
 from slavery in Egypt,

00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:52.659
 from slavery to our own sin,

00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:53.879
 our addictions

00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:55.319
 and our sinful habits,

00:14:55.559 --> 00:14:56.759
 from our enslavement

00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:57.459
 to the regret

00:14:57.459 --> 00:14:58.720
 and the shame

00:14:58.720 --> 00:14:59.860
 and the depression

00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:00.600
 that plague us

00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:01.899
 over all our inadequacies

00:15:02.460 --> 00:15:03.919
 and our imperfections

00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:04.939
 and our failures.

00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:05.120
 leaders,

00:15:05.540 --> 00:15:07.660
 if you are down this morning,

00:15:07.760 --> 00:15:09.120
 if you are depressed

00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:09.840
 this morning,

00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:11.140
 overwhelmed by the weight

00:15:11.140 --> 00:15:12.680
 of your flaws

00:15:12.680 --> 00:15:14.080
 and your failures,

00:15:14.940 --> 00:15:16.420
 and if your understanding

00:15:16.420 --> 00:15:17.440
 of the Christian faith

00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:18.260
 is simply that

00:15:18.260 --> 00:15:19.260
 of a legal code

00:15:19.260 --> 00:15:21.500
 that you have shamefully broken,

00:15:22.780 --> 00:15:24.160
 Moses has good news for you.

00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:25.740
 The Spirit of God

00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.960
 speaking through him

00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:28.080
 and maybe even through me

00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:29.260
 preaching to you today,

00:15:29.380 --> 00:15:31.640
 we have better news for you.

00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:33.460
 Good news

00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:35.000
 of the covenantal,

00:15:35.400 --> 00:15:36.379
 relational God

00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:37.540
 who before even uttering

00:15:37.540 --> 00:15:38.700
 his Ten Commandments

00:15:38.700 --> 00:15:40.660
 broke the chains

00:15:40.660 --> 00:15:42.300
 of his beloved people.

00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:45.200
 And if we only ever have eyes

00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:46.700
 to view the Christian faith

00:15:46.700 --> 00:15:48.639
 as but one among many other

00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:50.080
 religious systems

00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:52.040
 filled with pious rules

00:15:52.040 --> 00:15:52.820
 and rituals,

00:15:53.800 --> 00:15:55.180
 then we will only ever

00:15:55.180 --> 00:15:56.019
 find God's law.

00:15:56.100 --> 00:15:57.040
 We will only ever find

00:15:57.040 --> 00:15:58.720
 God himself as burdensome

00:15:58.720 --> 00:15:59.700
 and oppressive

00:15:59.700 --> 00:16:00.980
 and ancient

00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:01.860
 and irrelevant.

00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:04.159
 But if we are struck

00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:05.580
 with the larger,

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.860
 truer reality

00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:08.820
 of this covenant God

00:16:08.820 --> 00:16:10.659
 that the Lord Almighty

00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:11.980
 so desired

00:16:11.980 --> 00:16:13.259
 to bind himself

00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:14.360
 in a life and death

00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:15.200
 relationship

00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:16.340
 with his people,

00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:18.039
 including people like us,

00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:20.159
 this changes everything.

00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:21.840
 This changes everything

00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:23.019
 about how we are

00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:23.680
 to understand

00:16:23.680 --> 00:16:24.779
 the law of God

00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:25.779
 and it opens our eyes

00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:26.899
 to see him not just

00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:27.960
 as the law giver

00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:30.100
 but as the life giver.

00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:31.840
 Our covenant God,

00:16:31.920 --> 00:16:33.300
 he breaks the chains

00:16:33.300 --> 00:16:34.080
 of all those

00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:35.139
 who belong to him.

00:16:35.800 --> 00:16:36.620
 His law is,

00:16:36.700 --> 00:16:37.279
 it's a picture,

00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:38.480
 not merely of

00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:39.300
 the limitations

00:16:39.300 --> 00:16:40.879
 that are placed upon us.

00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:42.980
 Actually what it is,

00:16:43.060 --> 00:16:44.399
 is it's a way

00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.080
 to live out

00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:45.779
 our liberation.

00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:47.480
 That's what the law is.

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:48.580
 It's a way to live out

00:16:48.580 --> 00:16:49.399
 our liberation.

00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:51.220
 And this brings me

00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:51.920
 to the why question.

00:16:52.019 --> 00:16:53.080
 Why did God speak to them

00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:54.340
 and give them his law?

00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:55.420
 Well, Moses wants them

00:16:55.420 --> 00:16:56.740
 to know that the reason why

00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:58.799
 was out of their covenant

00:16:58.799 --> 00:17:00.620
 God's loving kindness,

00:17:00.820 --> 00:17:01.720
 out of his desire

00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:02.480
 for his children

00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:03.639
 to flourish.

00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:05.880
 See, when we understand

00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:06.779
 who this God is,

00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:07.539
 the why question

00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:08.900
 actually becomes quite clear.

00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:09.339
 Look with me

00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:10.140
 at the last two verses,

00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:11.180
 32 and 33.

00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:13.000
 You shall be careful,

00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:13.740
 therefore,

00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:14.859
 to do as the Lord

00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:15.220
 your God

00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:16.079
 has commanded you.

00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:17.759
 You shall not turn aside

00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.640
 to the right hand

00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:19.539
 or to the left.

00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:20.480
 You shall walk

00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:21.200
 in all the way

00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:22.019
 that the Lord your God

00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:22.799
 has commanded you

00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:24.839
 that you may live

00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:26.500
 and that it may go

00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:27.599
 well with you

00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:29.459
 and that you may live

00:17:29.459 --> 00:17:30.759
 long in the land

00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:31.559
 you shall possess.

00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:33.959
 Every good parent

00:17:33.959 --> 00:17:35.039
 makes laws.

00:17:35.179 --> 00:17:35.959
 Every good parent

00:17:35.959 --> 00:17:36.839
 makes rules

00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:37.459
 for their children,

00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:38.359
 not for their harm,

00:17:38.459 --> 00:17:39.500
 not for their frustration,

00:17:39.659 --> 00:17:40.439
 but for their good.

00:17:40.939 --> 00:17:41.699
 Like when I say,

00:17:41.959 --> 00:17:42.579
 Kami and Leah,

00:17:42.959 --> 00:17:43.899
 thou shalt not

00:17:43.899 --> 00:17:45.599
 come near to the oven

00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:46.599
 when we're baking cookies

00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:47.159
 for you

00:17:47.159 --> 00:17:48.500
 because you will

00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.399
 harm yourself.

00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:50.480
 You will get burned

00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:51.359
 and we don't want you

00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:52.299
 to get burned.

00:17:53.379 --> 00:17:54.179
 I mean, think about it.

00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:56.179
 No one actually wants

00:17:56.179 --> 00:17:57.000
 to live in a world

00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:57.759
 without laws.

00:17:58.579 --> 00:17:59.619
 No one actually wants

00:17:59.619 --> 00:18:00.179
 to live in a world

00:18:00.179 --> 00:18:00.959
 without laws, right?

00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:02.159
 No sane person

00:18:02.159 --> 00:18:02.980
 who's honest about

00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:03.799
 their finitude

00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:05.000
 and their fallibility

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:05.720
 even wants to live

00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.039
 in a world

00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:06.740
 where they themselves

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.480
 get to make up

00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:08.279
 their own laws.

00:18:09.159 --> 00:18:10.000
 Our aversion

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.619
 is not to laws

00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:12.959
 if we think about it.

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.079
 It's not actually

00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:15.459
 to laws in and of themselves.

00:18:15.659 --> 00:18:16.199
 You know what it is?

00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:16.779
 Our aversion

00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:18.599
 is to imperfect laws

00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:20.859
 given by imperfect lawgivers.

00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:22.839
 But what if

00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:24.139
 there was a perfect lawgiver?

00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:25.720
 What if there was

00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:26.679
 a perfect lawgiver

00:18:26.679 --> 00:18:28.199
 whose laws worked

00:18:28.199 --> 00:18:28.679
 for the good

00:18:28.679 --> 00:18:29.459
 of all people

00:18:29.459 --> 00:18:30.919
 truly without fail?

00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:32.559
 Might it be

00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:34.500
 that the one true God

00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:35.980
 is a good father

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:37.879
 who wants our good

00:18:37.879 --> 00:18:39.259
 and who is for us?

00:18:39.939 --> 00:18:40.599
 Can you hear

00:18:40.599 --> 00:18:42.059
 his fatherly longing

00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:43.199
 here in verse 29?

00:18:43.439 --> 00:18:44.379
 His fatherly longing

00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:45.419
 for his children's good

00:18:45.419 --> 00:18:46.339
 when he says to Moses,

00:18:46.899 --> 00:18:48.679
 oh, verse 29,

00:18:48.899 --> 00:18:50.039
 oh, that they had

00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:50.740
 such a heart

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.579
 as this always

00:18:51.579 --> 00:18:52.259
 to fear me

00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.419
 and to keep my commandments

00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:54.300
 that it might go well

00:18:54.300 --> 00:18:54.800
 with them

00:18:54.800 --> 00:18:56.759
 and with their descendants

00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.580
 forever.

00:18:58.820 --> 00:18:59.680
 What if,

00:19:00.120 --> 00:19:00.960
 what if we didn't

00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:01.800
 simply see

00:19:01.800 --> 00:19:02.920
 the law of God

00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:04.320
 as a list of limitations

00:19:04.320 --> 00:19:05.440
 but as a liturgy

00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:06.460
 of life?

00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:07.820
 A good way,

00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.380
 a good pattern

00:19:09.380 --> 00:19:11.039
 to commit ourselves to,

00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:13.860
 a way to give ourselves to,

00:19:14.600 --> 00:19:15.720
 a law that's been given

00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:16.340
 to us

00:19:16.340 --> 00:19:18.320
 by an infinitely wise,

00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:19.620
 an infinitely good,

00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:21.079
 an infinitely loving

00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:22.359
 father in heaven?

00:19:22.419 --> 00:19:23.039
 What if we saw

00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:23.919
 the law of God

00:19:23.919 --> 00:19:24.639
 in that way?

00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:27.359
 But maybe you question that.

00:19:27.859 --> 00:19:28.959
 Is God really good?

00:19:29.919 --> 00:19:31.019
 Can I really trust

00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:31.819
 this law

00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:32.979
 that he's given us?

00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:34.599
 Is the God of Moses,

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.819
 the God of the scriptures,

00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:37.119
 is he truly good?

00:19:37.179 --> 00:19:38.919
 Is he truly for us?

00:19:39.939 --> 00:19:40.759
 Well, having considered

00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.459
 the who

00:19:41.459 --> 00:19:42.839
 and the why,

00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:44.119
 I think it's really

00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:44.879
 when we understand

00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:46.059
 how he spoke

00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:47.619
 that we begin to see

00:19:47.619 --> 00:19:48.859
 just how much God

00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:49.740
 is actually

00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:50.720
 for his people,

00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:51.740
 just how much

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:53.279
 he desires our good

00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:54.679
 when he gives us

00:19:54.679 --> 00:19:55.139
 his law.

00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:56.539
 I want you to notice

00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:57.099
 how Moses,

00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:58.319
 he details the

00:19:58.319 --> 00:19:59.519
 dramatic experience

00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.659
 of Israel's encounter

00:20:00.659 --> 00:20:01.220
 with God

00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:02.700
 and he details it

00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:04.619
 with a lot of

00:20:04.619 --> 00:20:05.339
 like darkness

00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:06.319
 and terror

00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:08.339
 when God spoke to them

00:20:08.339 --> 00:20:09.240
 at the Mount Horeb,

00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:09.599
 right?

00:20:09.919 --> 00:20:10.740
 In verse 22,

00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:12.379
 these words,

00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.579
 the Lord spoke to

00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:14.619
 all your assembly

00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:15.399
 at the mountain,

00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:16.120
 out of the mist

00:20:16.120 --> 00:20:16.720
 of the fire,

00:20:17.060 --> 00:20:17.600
 the cloud,

00:20:17.860 --> 00:20:18.920
 and the thick darkness

00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:20.080
 with a loud voice.

00:20:20.100 --> 00:20:20.840
 This wasn't just

00:20:20.840 --> 00:20:22.620
 some casual encounter,

00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:23.759
 this is what theologians

00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:24.960
 call a theophany,

00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:26.080
 a visible,

00:20:26.340 --> 00:20:27.680
 sensible manifestation

00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:28.460
 of God

00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:29.220
 in creation

00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:30.700
 to humans.

00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:32.259
 Of all the ways

00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:33.040
 that God could have

00:20:33.040 --> 00:20:34.420
 communicated his law

00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:34.740
 to them,

00:20:34.800 --> 00:20:35.960
 he didn't drop a scroll

00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:37.040
 down from the sky,

00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:38.360
 he didn't send

00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:39.400
 just an angel

00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:40.140
 and a prophet

00:20:40.140 --> 00:20:41.620
 as his messenger,

00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:43.019
 he didn't just speak

00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:43.880
 with a loud voice

00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:44.540
 from heaven,

00:20:44.620 --> 00:20:45.380
 he revealed to them

00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:46.320
 his glory

00:20:46.320 --> 00:20:47.400
 and his power

00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:48.280
 and his presence

00:20:48.280 --> 00:20:49.200
 palpably

00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:51.200
 with the nearest exposure

00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:52.220
 that anyone had had

00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:52.540
 with God

00:20:52.540 --> 00:20:53.420
 since the first humans

00:20:53.420 --> 00:20:54.420
 originally walked

00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:55.120
 with him

00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:56.020
 in the Garden of Eden

00:20:56.020 --> 00:20:57.280
 before the fall.

00:20:58.180 --> 00:20:59.480
 And it was an absolutely

00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:01.440
 overwhelming encounter

00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:03.240
 to hear this law

00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:03.740
 from God

00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.320
 because things were

00:21:04.320 --> 00:21:04.980
 different now

00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:05.760
 than in the garden.

00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:06.840
 They were different now

00:21:06.840 --> 00:21:07.480
 compared to when

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.320
 God's people once

00:21:08.320 --> 00:21:09.400
 strolled with him

00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:10.420
 through the Garden

00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:11.140
 Paradise.

00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:13.520
 Moses reminds Israel

00:21:13.520 --> 00:21:15.020
 of not just how

00:21:15.020 --> 00:21:16.440
 awesome this encounter

00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:16.900
 was,

00:21:17.100 --> 00:21:17.840
 but also of how

00:21:17.840 --> 00:21:19.540
 absolutely terrifying

00:21:19.540 --> 00:21:20.540
 it was.

00:21:20.580 --> 00:21:21.420
 It was terrifying.

00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:22.460
 Verse 23,

00:21:22.580 --> 00:21:23.100
 Moses says,

00:21:23.100 --> 00:21:24.060
 And as soon as you

00:21:24.060 --> 00:21:24.720
 heard the voice

00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.360
 out of the midst

00:21:25.360 --> 00:21:26.180
 of the darkness,

00:21:26.560 --> 00:21:27.460
 while the mountain

00:21:27.460 --> 00:21:28.720
 was burning with fire,

00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:29.280
 a whole mountain

00:21:29.280 --> 00:21:29.840
 on fire,

00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:31.500
 you came near to me,

00:21:31.560 --> 00:21:32.080
 all the heads

00:21:32.080 --> 00:21:32.560
 of your tribes

00:21:32.560 --> 00:21:33.360
 and all your elders,

00:21:33.560 --> 00:21:34.020
 and you said,

00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:34.380
 Behold,

00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:35.100
 the Lord our God

00:21:35.100 --> 00:21:35.720
 has shown us

00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:37.220
 his glory and greatness,

00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:38.580
 and we have heard

00:21:38.580 --> 00:21:39.100
 his voice

00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:39.759
 out of the midst

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.599
 of the fire.

00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:42.439
 This day we have seen

00:21:42.439 --> 00:21:43.679
 God speak with man

00:21:43.679 --> 00:21:45.500
 and man still live.

00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:46.399
 They're surprised.

00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:48.359
 They continue in verse 25,

00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.259
 Now therefore,

00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:50.759
 why should we die?

00:21:51.439 --> 00:21:52.500
 For this great fire

00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:54.039
 will consume us.

00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:56.219
 If we hear the voice

00:21:56.219 --> 00:21:57.379
 of the Lord our God

00:21:57.379 --> 00:21:58.159
 any more,

00:21:58.699 --> 00:21:59.719
 we shall die.

00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:01.559
 For who is there

00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.559
 of all flesh

00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:03.379
 that has heard

00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:04.079
 the voice

00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:05.099
 of the living God

00:22:05.099 --> 00:22:06.019
 speaking out of the

00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:06.859
 midst of fire

00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:07.839
 as we have

00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:09.459
 and has still

00:22:09.459 --> 00:22:10.139
 lived.

00:22:11.139 --> 00:22:11.819
 The people

00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:12.619
 were amazed,

00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.059
 yes,

00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:13.980
 to encounter

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:15.000
 and to hear directly

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:16.099
 the voice of God,

00:22:16.179 --> 00:22:17.139
 but gone were the days

00:22:17.139 --> 00:22:18.399
 when sinless humanity

00:22:18.399 --> 00:22:19.079
 could encounter

00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:19.959
 the Almighty God

00:22:19.959 --> 00:22:20.759
 in all his glory

00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.599
 and all his holiness

00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.559
 without dread,

00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.480
 without terror,

00:22:23.699 --> 00:22:24.299
 without the fear

00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:25.240
 of getting consumed

00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:26.459
 by his overwhelmingly

00:22:26.459 --> 00:22:27.959
 holy presence.

00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:29.119
 A holiness

00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:29.980
 that cannot,

00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:31.019
 a holiness that will

00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:32.299
 not tolerate sin

00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:32.980
 and evil

00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:33.639
 and injustice

00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:34.859
 and unrighteousness.

00:22:35.919 --> 00:22:37.019
 Moses reminds them

00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:37.799
 of the terror

00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:39.220
 that they felt

00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:40.180
 when they heard

00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:41.000
 the voice of God

00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:42.119
 and met him

00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:43.000
 at the burning mountain

00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:44.339
 and received

00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:45.200
 his holy law.

00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:46.079
 He reminds them

00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:46.639
 of this

00:22:46.639 --> 00:22:48.039
 in order to impress

00:22:48.039 --> 00:22:48.420
 upon them

00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:49.139
 the seriousness

00:22:49.139 --> 00:22:51.160
 of coming before God,

00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:51.900
 the seriousness

00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:52.799
 of an encounter

00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.200
 with God,

00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:54.059
 the weightiness

00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:55.259
 of what was spoken

00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:55.759
 to them,

00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:56.799
 given to them,

00:22:56.879 --> 00:22:57.379
 the law.

00:22:58.859 --> 00:22:59.319
 The law

00:22:59.319 --> 00:23:00.400
 is not something

00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:01.200
 to be received

00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:01.960
 nonchalantly.

00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:03.879
 It's not a mere

00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:04.539
 suggestion,

00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:05.819
 something to

00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:07.579
 flippantly try out.

00:23:07.659 --> 00:23:08.000
 Like, hey,

00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:08.859
 I'm gonna try keto

00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:09.460
 this week.

00:23:09.659 --> 00:23:10.200
 I'm gonna try

00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:11.359
 intermittent fasting

00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:11.839
 for months.

00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:12.519
 See how it works

00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:13.099
 out for me.

00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:13.500
 No.

00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:15.859
 When God told Israel

00:23:15.859 --> 00:23:16.899
 at Mount Horeb

00:23:16.899 --> 00:23:17.879
 to consecrate

00:23:17.879 --> 00:23:19.299
 themselves for two days

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:19.940
 and to wash

00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:20.700
 all their garments

00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:21.680
 and then on the third day

00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:22.339
 to come near

00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:22.839
 to the mountain

00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:23.759
 but not to touch

00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.180
 the mountain,

00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:25.220
 not even their animals,

00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:26.619
 lest they surely die.

00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.740
 And when God came near

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.680
 and revealed himself

00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:30.119
 to them

00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:30.779
 and spoke to them

00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:31.599
 from this burning

00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:32.740
 mountain of fire

00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:33.859
 with flashes of lightning

00:23:33.859 --> 00:23:34.680
 and thunder

00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.299
 and darkness

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:36.059
 and a deep,

00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:37.759
 dark cloud of smoke,

00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:39.440
 this was all meant

00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:40.460
 to indicate to them

00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:41.799
 that the words

00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.480
 spoken to them

00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.059
 were not

00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:44.440
 a mere suggestion

00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:46.099
 but the words

00:23:46.099 --> 00:23:46.779
 of the holy,

00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:47.839
 almighty,

00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:49.319
 creator God,

00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:50.940
 words that were

00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:51.380
 a matter

00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:53.120
 of life and death

00:23:53.120 --> 00:23:54.420
 and in fact,

00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.279
 too hot

00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:56.380
 to even handle.

00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:58.259
 Moses reminds them

00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:59.420
 that they were surprised.

00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:00.620
 They were surprised

00:24:00.620 --> 00:24:02.039
 to even have encountered God

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:03.019
 and hear him speak

00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:03.899
 directly to them

00:24:03.899 --> 00:24:05.759
 and still have survived.

00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:07.700
 And by reminding them

00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:08.319
 of how God

00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:09.460
 so dramatically

00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.279
 spoke to them,

00:24:10.339 --> 00:24:11.119
 by reminding them

00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:12.740
 of how terrifying

00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:14.119
 God's voice was

00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:15.059
 when he met them

00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:16.319
 and spoke his law

00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:16.819
 to them,

00:24:17.899 --> 00:24:19.379
 Moses was also reminding them

00:24:19.379 --> 00:24:21.299
 of really the great conundrum

00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:22.500
 they faced

00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:23.639
 as recipients

00:24:23.639 --> 00:24:24.819
 of God's law

00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:25.960
 and this was the conundrum.

00:24:26.639 --> 00:24:27.559
 On the one hand,

00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:28.500
 Israel recognized

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.599
 that it was only by

00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:30.659
 God's word and law

00:24:30.659 --> 00:24:31.399
 that they could live.

00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:32.240
 They needed him

00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:32.960
 to speak to them.

00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:34.000
 They recognized

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.800
 that God's voice

00:24:34.800 --> 00:24:36.380
 was absolutely necessary

00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:37.320
 for life

00:24:37.320 --> 00:24:39.340
 and yet on the other hand,

00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:40.820
 they also recognized

00:24:40.820 --> 00:24:42.380
 that they could neither handle

00:24:42.380 --> 00:24:43.540
 nor survive

00:24:43.540 --> 00:24:44.660
 God's holy word

00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:45.440
 and law.

00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:47.060
 That it was impossible

00:24:47.060 --> 00:24:47.660
 for them

00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:49.120
 to remain in God's presence

00:24:49.120 --> 00:24:50.120
 and continue listening

00:24:50.120 --> 00:24:51.019
 to his voice

00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:52.060
 much less live up

00:24:52.060 --> 00:24:52.759
 to this law

00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:53.640
 he was giving them.

00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:54.820
 On the one hand,

00:24:54.860 --> 00:24:55.700
 to hear God's voice

00:24:55.700 --> 00:24:56.680
 and receive his law

00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:57.620
 was wonderful

00:24:57.620 --> 00:24:58.880
 and absolutely necessary

00:24:58.880 --> 00:24:59.500
 for life

00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:00.140
 and well-being

00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:01.380
 but on the other hand,

00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.880
 it was absolutely terrible

00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:04.259
 and impossible

00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:05.339
 to survive

00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:06.099
 and this is really

00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:07.059
 the whole conundrum

00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:08.480
 of the Christian faith.

00:25:09.380 --> 00:25:10.440
 This is the whole conundrum

00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:11.440
 of all of life

00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:12.599
 that we human beings

00:25:12.599 --> 00:25:14.000
 made in God's image

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:15.319
 are absolutely dependent

00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:16.259
 on the word

00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:17.440
 and the presence of God,

00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:17.960
 his word

00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:18.480
 and his voice

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.160
 of the very thing

00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:20.019
 that created us,

00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:20.700
 the very thing

00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:21.720
 that sustains us

00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.319
 and yet,

00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:23.940
 his holy word

00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:24.840
 and his presence

00:25:24.840 --> 00:25:26.980
 present a deep,

00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:28.039
 dark threat

00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:29.160
 to all of us

00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:30.660
 because we've all

00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:32.440
 violated his holy standards.

00:25:33.120 --> 00:25:34.320
 We have not loved him

00:25:34.320 --> 00:25:35.240
 with our whole heart,

00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:36.240
 soul, mind

00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:36.880
 and strength

00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:38.180
 nor loved our neighbors

00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:39.000
 as ourselves.

00:25:39.100 --> 00:25:40.820
 We have not put God first

00:25:40.820 --> 00:25:42.019
 nor trusted in him.

00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:44.059
 We've lived first

00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:44.900
 for ourselves

00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:46.740
 and then only occasionally,

00:25:47.080 --> 00:25:47.200
 right,

00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:48.440
 only opportunistically

00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:49.200
 for the good

00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:50.440
 of our neighbors,

00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:52.039
 our image of God

00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:53.059
 bearing neighbors.

00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:54.980
 This conundrum

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.820
 is at the heart

00:25:55.820 --> 00:25:56.880
 of the Christian faith

00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:58.320
 and if we don't understand

00:25:58.320 --> 00:25:59.559
 this dire conundrum,

00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:01.279
 we have not understood

00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:02.620
 what Christianity

00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:03.799
 is about.

00:26:04.580 --> 00:26:05.880
 If we only know God

00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:07.559
 as a tender teddy bear

00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:09.460
 and not as a terrifyingly

00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:10.759
 transcendent God,

00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:12.259
 we have not understood

00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.759
 him or his law

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:15.539
 or how far we've gone

00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.640
 astray from him

00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:17.620
 and how far

00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:18.539
 and how much

00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:19.400
 we need him.

00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:20.759
 I mean,

00:26:20.840 --> 00:26:21.120
 do we,

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.240
 do any of us,

00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.920
 do any of us realize

00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:24.900
 what a wonder

00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:25.700
 it is

00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.940
 that we are all

00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:27.600
 still breathing

00:26:27.600 --> 00:26:28.420
 today

00:26:28.420 --> 00:26:29.800
 as we've come

00:26:29.800 --> 00:26:31.019
 into the house of God

00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.720
 before the presence

00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.200
 of God

00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:33.360
 to worship him

00:26:33.360 --> 00:26:34.259
 and to hear his word

00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:34.800
 this morning.

00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:37.200
 Most of us

00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:38.480
 probably came

00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:39.860
 far more casually

00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:41.340
 than any Israelite

00:26:41.340 --> 00:26:42.120
 would have dared

00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:42.740
 approach

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.779
 the living God

00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.600
 at Mount Horeb

00:26:44.600 --> 00:26:45.620
 or in his temple.

00:26:46.580 --> 00:26:47.400
 Myself included,

00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:48.500
 we come half-hearted,

00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:50.460
 we come half-awake

00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:52.240
 on our own time,

00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:54.220
 on our own terms,

00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:55.880
 coming to consume

00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:57.420
 more than to bow down.

00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.960
 When reminding Israel

00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:01.079
 of what God spoke,

00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:03.259
 Moses wanted to remind them

00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:04.240
 of how God spoke,

00:27:04.380 --> 00:27:04.920
 reminding them

00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:05.779
 of the conundrum

00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:07.819
 inherent in any encounter

00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:09.340
 between the holy God

00:27:09.340 --> 00:27:11.519
 and wayward humanity.

00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:13.440
 But see,

00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:14.279
 the beauty of this

00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:15.319
 is Moses didn't just

00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:15.840
 remind them

00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:16.380
 of the problem

00:27:16.380 --> 00:27:16.819
 they face

00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.700
 in verse 26.

00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:19.160
 For who is there

00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:19.799
 of all flesh

00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:20.340
 that has heard

00:27:20.340 --> 00:27:20.779
 the voice

00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.559
 of the living God

00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:22.640
 speaking out of the mist

00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:23.380
 of the fire

00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:23.980
 as we have

00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:25.039
 and has still lived?

00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:26.680
 But he also reminds them,

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:28.080
 he also reminds them

00:27:28.080 --> 00:27:29.080
 of how they still

00:27:29.080 --> 00:27:30.120
 happen to live

00:27:30.120 --> 00:27:31.360
 while encountering

00:27:31.360 --> 00:27:32.279
 this holy God.

00:27:32.340 --> 00:27:32.799
 Go back down

00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:33.380
 to verse 4.

00:27:34.360 --> 00:27:35.580
 The Lord spoke with you

00:27:35.580 --> 00:27:36.819
 face to face

00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:37.480
 at the mountain,

00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:38.559
 out of the mist

00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:39.120
 of the fire,

00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:39.819
 verse 5,

00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:41.580
 while I stood

00:27:41.580 --> 00:27:43.279
 between the Lord

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.080
 and you

00:27:44.080 --> 00:27:45.080
 at that time.

00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:46.000
 See,

00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:47.099
 the way that Israel

00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:48.700
 survived this conundrum

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:51.099
 was by a mediator.

00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:52.140
 They had someone

00:27:52.140 --> 00:27:53.000
 to stand between

00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:54.299
 them and God,

00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:54.960
 someone to stand

00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:56.339
 between sinful them

00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:57.500
 and their holy God,

00:27:57.579 --> 00:27:58.259
 a substitute,

00:27:59.160 --> 00:28:00.160
 someone to face

00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:00.799
 and encounter

00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.920
 their fiery God

00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:02.880
 even more intimately

00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:04.660
 than they ever dared.

00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:06.680
 The people of Israel

00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.460
 knew that this was

00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:08.140
 a holy God

00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:09.059
 when they saw the fire,

00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:10.140
 when they heard the voice,

00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:11.279
 and so they pleaded

00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:11.779
 with Moses

00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.759
 in verse 27.

00:28:13.099 --> 00:28:13.420
 You,

00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:14.580
 go near

00:28:14.580 --> 00:28:15.700
 and hear all

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.140
 that the Lord

00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:16.820
 our God will say

00:28:16.820 --> 00:28:18.279
 and then speak to us

00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:19.380
 all that the Lord

00:28:19.380 --> 00:28:19.779
 our God

00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.960
 will speak to you

00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:22.460
 and we will hear it

00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:23.320
 and do it.

00:28:23.380 --> 00:28:24.720
 We cannot handle

00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:26.019
 his voice anymore,

00:28:26.380 --> 00:28:26.620
 Moses,

00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:27.960
 but we desperately

00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.800
 need it,

00:28:28.860 --> 00:28:29.539
 so you go,

00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.080
 please,

00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:31.360
 go and try

00:28:31.360 --> 00:28:32.860
 in our place.

00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:33.460
 You go,

00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:34.480
 expose yourself

00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:35.600
 to the fiery God.

00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:37.000
 You go meet him

00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:37.500
 on the mountain

00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.620
 in the dark cloud

00:28:38.620 --> 00:28:39.880
 for us.

00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:41.600
 And God says

00:28:41.600 --> 00:28:43.019
 in verses 28 to 31,

00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:44.320
 they are right.

00:28:44.860 --> 00:28:45.360
 It is good

00:28:45.360 --> 00:28:45.980
 that they said this.

00:28:46.060 --> 00:28:46.759
 Tell them to return

00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.380
 to their tents,

00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:48.200
 but you,

00:28:48.380 --> 00:28:48.519
 Moses,

00:28:49.060 --> 00:28:50.700
 stand here by me

00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:51.820
 and I will speak

00:28:51.820 --> 00:28:52.320
 with you

00:28:52.320 --> 00:28:53.220
 so that you

00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:54.180
 may teach them.

00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:55.460
 See,

00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.360
 Moses rehashes

00:28:56.360 --> 00:28:56.960
 all of this

00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:57.600
 because he wants

00:28:57.600 --> 00:28:58.160
 them to remember

00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:59.140
 not only the terror

00:28:59.140 --> 00:28:59.640
 they felt

00:28:59.640 --> 00:29:00.340
 in the presence

00:29:00.340 --> 00:29:00.800
 of God,

00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:01.340
 in the presence

00:29:01.340 --> 00:29:02.740
 of his law,

00:29:02.860 --> 00:29:03.460
 but also

00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:04.600
 he wants to remind

00:29:04.600 --> 00:29:05.600
 them of the

00:29:05.600 --> 00:29:07.220
 sacrificial mediator

00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:08.200
 that they needed

00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:09.320
 who made it

00:29:09.320 --> 00:29:10.440
 possible for them

00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:11.019
 to hear

00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:11.940
 from this

00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:12.839
 terrifyingly

00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:13.799
 holy God

00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:14.700
 who made it

00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:15.539
 possible for them

00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:16.299
 to enter

00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:17.279
 into a relationship

00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:18.200
 with this

00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:19.519
 awesome God.

00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:20.700
 See,

00:29:20.859 --> 00:29:21.660
 no one just

00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:22.500
 encounters God

00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:23.359
 on their own

00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:25.099
 without a mediator.

00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:26.559
 We all need

00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:27.359
 someone to stand

00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:28.099
 between us

00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:28.599
 and God.

00:29:28.680 --> 00:29:29.480
 He is far

00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:29.980
 too holy.

00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:30.720
 We are far

00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:31.720
 too sinful.

00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:33.440
 We all need

00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:34.299
 someone like

00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:34.779
 Moses,

00:29:35.299 --> 00:29:35.879
 someone who will

00:29:35.879 --> 00:29:37.139
 go into the fire

00:29:37.139 --> 00:29:38.000
 and the darkness

00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:39.039
 in our place

00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:39.680
 and restore

00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.579
 our relationship

00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:41.319
 with God.

00:29:41.859 --> 00:29:42.279
 Really though,

00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:42.839
 we need someone

00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:43.680
 greater than Moses.

00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:45.420
 God allowed Moses

00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:46.920
 to serve as a mediator

00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:47.660
 but in one sense

00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:48.240
 it was a burden

00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:48.920
 too great

00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:50.140
 for him to bear

00:29:50.140 --> 00:29:50.880
 and he died

00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:52.299
 without entering

00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:53.420
 the promised land

00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:54.339
 with his people

00:29:54.339 --> 00:29:54.900
 a consequence

00:29:54.900 --> 00:29:55.960
 of his own sins

00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:56.579
 and the sins

00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:57.460
 of his people.

00:29:58.819 --> 00:29:59.839
 But thanks be to God.

00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:01.079
 You know why?

00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:02.319
 Thanks be to God

00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:03.359
 that he has not

00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:04.059
 left us

00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:05.079
 without a better

00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:05.960
 mediator.

00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:07.740
 The Apostle Paul

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.759
 says in 1 Timothy

00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.500
 chapter 2

00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:10.220
 for there is

00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:11.039
 one God

00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:12.079
 and there is

00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:13.039
 one mediator

00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:14.279
 between God

00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:15.039
 and men.

00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:16.360
 The man

00:30:16.360 --> 00:30:17.220
 Jesus Christ

00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:18.460
 who gave himself

00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:19.600
 as a ransom

00:30:19.600 --> 00:30:20.759
 for us all.

00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:23.000
 And this is the gospel.

00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:24.660
 This is the gospel

00:30:24.660 --> 00:30:25.940
 that the conundrum

00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:26.960
 of the Christian faith

00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:27.620
 is solved

00:30:27.620 --> 00:30:28.440
 by the ultimate

00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:29.039
 mediator

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:30.299
 Jesus Christ.

00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:30.819
 The one who

00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:31.960
 faced the fiery

00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:33.120
 judgment of God

00:30:33.120 --> 00:30:33.880
 and went into

00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:34.400
 the darkness

00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:35.559
 in our place.

00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:37.140
 And came out alive

00:30:37.140 --> 00:30:38.539
 dying and yet

00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:39.500
 rising again

00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:40.200
 to bring us

00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:41.460
 into the promised land

00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:42.880
 of new creation.

00:30:43.880 --> 00:30:44.660
 The gospel

00:30:44.660 --> 00:30:46.120
 the good news

00:30:46.120 --> 00:30:47.019
 of Jesus Christ

00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:48.200
 is that though

00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:49.700
 God is far holier

00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:50.200
 than we could

00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:51.259
 ever comprehend

00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:52.600
 and though we are

00:30:52.600 --> 00:30:53.600
 more sinful

00:30:53.600 --> 00:30:54.200
 than we could

00:30:54.200 --> 00:30:55.279
 ever dare

00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:55.980
 to imagine

00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:58.160
 the terrifying

00:30:58.160 --> 00:30:59.660
 law-giving God

00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:00.779
 of Mount Horeb

00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.900
 has still

00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:02.840
 chosen

00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:04.000
 to pour out

00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:05.139
 his sacrificial

00:31:05.139 --> 00:31:05.679
 love

00:31:05.679 --> 00:31:07.000
 upon us.

00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:07.399
 A love

00:31:07.399 --> 00:31:08.000
 greater than

00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:08.279
 we would

00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:08.919
 ever dare

00:31:08.919 --> 00:31:09.659
 hope

00:31:09.659 --> 00:31:10.720
 because he

00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:11.019
 is the

00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:11.539
 life-giving

00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:11.980
 God

00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:13.139
 not just

00:31:13.139 --> 00:31:14.259
 of Mount

00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:15.059
 Horeb

00:31:15.059 --> 00:31:16.500
 but he's

00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.039
 the life-giving

00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:17.399
 God of

00:31:17.399 --> 00:31:18.019
 Mount Zion

00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:19.240
 in Christ

00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:20.000
 the mediator

00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:20.639
 of a new

00:31:20.639 --> 00:31:21.059
 covenant

00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.919
 initiated

00:31:21.919 --> 00:31:22.799
 by his

00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:23.139
 blood.

00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:24.740
 So Christ

00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:24.899
 Church

00:31:24.899 --> 00:31:25.699
 my prayer

00:31:25.699 --> 00:31:26.519
 is as we

00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.279
 continue in this

00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:27.939
 series in

00:31:27.939 --> 00:31:28.839
 Deuteronomy

00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:29.599
 as we

00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:30.240
 continue to

00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:30.939
 examine

00:31:30.939 --> 00:31:31.579
 God's

00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:32.399
 law together

00:31:32.399 --> 00:31:32.939
 in the weeks

00:31:32.939 --> 00:31:33.220
 ahead

00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:33.720
 we'll do it

00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.159
 with this

00:31:34.159 --> 00:31:34.639
 proper

00:31:34.639 --> 00:31:35.659
 framework

00:31:35.659 --> 00:31:36.639
 remembering

00:31:36.639 --> 00:31:37.339
 our covenant

00:31:37.339 --> 00:31:37.679
 God

00:31:37.679 --> 00:31:38.459
 who broke

00:31:38.459 --> 00:31:38.980
 our chains

00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:39.699
 even before

00:31:39.699 --> 00:31:40.220
 giving us

00:31:40.220 --> 00:31:40.619
 commands

00:31:40.619 --> 00:31:41.000
 to live

00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:41.319
 out our

00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:41.799
 liberation

00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:42.759
 remembering

00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:43.720
 his tender

00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.220
 heart

00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:44.779
 and his

00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:45.419
 good intentions

00:31:45.419 --> 00:31:45.799
 for us

00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:46.319
 his desire

00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:46.779
 that we

00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:47.439
 experience

00:31:47.439 --> 00:31:48.039
 his abundant

00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:48.679
 life

00:31:48.679 --> 00:31:49.240
 and remembering

00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:49.599
 how he

00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:50.399
 sacrificially

00:31:50.399 --> 00:31:51.259
 sent forth

00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:51.839
 his one

00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:52.339
 and only

00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:52.779
 son

00:31:52.779 --> 00:31:53.799
 as a

00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.339
 mediator

00:31:54.339 --> 00:31:55.299
 to solve

00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:55.919
 the ultimate

00:31:55.919 --> 00:31:57.419
 conundrum

00:31:57.419 --> 00:31:58.439
 presented

00:31:58.440 --> 00:31:59.559
 by the

00:31:59.559 --> 00:31:59.920
 heights

00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:00.440
 of his

00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:00.820
 holiness

00:32:00.820 --> 00:32:02.019
 and the

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.240
 depths

00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:02.559
 of our

00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:02.840
 sin

00:32:02.840 --> 00:32:03.900
 this is

00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:04.019
 the

00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:04.420
 gospel

00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:05.460
 will you

00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:05.600
 pray

00:32:05.600 --> 00:32:06.059
 with me

00:32:06.059 --> 00:32:11.500
 Lord what

00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:11.799
 will we

00:32:11.799 --> 00:32:12.360
 do without

00:32:12.360 --> 00:32:13.019
 the gospel

00:32:13.019 --> 00:32:14.920
 the good

00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:15.519
 news that

00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.500
 you have

00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:17.240
 sent a

00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:17.700
 mediator

00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:18.440
 for us

00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:20.860
 help us

00:32:20.860 --> 00:32:21.640
 never to

00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:22.580
 presume that

00:32:22.580 --> 00:32:23.039
 we could

00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:23.660
 have a

00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:24.160
 relationship

00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:24.740
 with you

00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.180
 on our

00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:25.539
 own

00:32:25.539 --> 00:32:27.740
 show us

00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:28.740
 the wickedness

00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.039
 of our

00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:29.420
 hearts

00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:30.039
 show us

00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:31.019
 the holiness

00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:32.500
 of your

00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.299
 character

00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:34.620
 and make us

00:32:34.620 --> 00:32:35.400
 tremble before

00:32:35.400 --> 00:32:35.759
 you

00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:37.240
 and

00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:38.759
 help us to

00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.099
 hear your

00:32:39.099 --> 00:32:39.900
 tender voice

00:32:39.900 --> 00:32:42.220
 your desire

00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:42.819
 to be with

00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:43.319
 us

00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:45.019
 give us

00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:45.640
 eyes to see

00:32:45.640 --> 00:32:46.120
 how far

00:32:46.120 --> 00:32:46.740
 you've gone

00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:48.799
 to pursue

00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:49.279
 us

00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:50.579
 to bring us

00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:50.980
 into your

00:32:50.980 --> 00:32:51.440
 family

00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:53.160
 to allow us

00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:53.859
 into your

00:32:53.859 --> 00:32:54.579
 presence

00:32:54.579 --> 00:32:55.240
 to commune

00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:55.720
 with you

00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:56.720
 at this

00:32:56.720 --> 00:32:57.120
 table

00:32:57.120 --> 00:32:59.319
 Lord let us

00:32:59.319 --> 00:32:59.880
 not take

00:32:59.880 --> 00:33:00.480
 this lightly

00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:02.460
 show us

00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:02.839
 the heights

00:33:02.839 --> 00:33:03.099
 of your

00:33:03.099 --> 00:33:03.420
 holiness

00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:03.920
 the depths

00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:04.279
 of our

00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:04.599
 sin

00:33:04.599 --> 00:33:05.660
 and the

00:33:05.660 --> 00:33:06.380
 overwhelming

00:33:06.380 --> 00:33:07.620
 abundance

00:33:07.620 --> 00:33:08.740
 of your

00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:09.240
 grace toward

00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:09.700
 us in

00:33:09.700 --> 00:33:10.120
 Christ

00:33:10.120 --> 00:33:11.120
 our perfect

00:33:11.120 --> 00:33:11.660
 mediator

00:33:11.660 --> 00:33:12.839
 we pray these

00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:13.339
 things in his

00:33:13.339 --> 00:33:13.640
 name

00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:14.620
 amen

00:33:14.619 --> 00:33:22.619
 and

00:33:22.619 --> 00:33:23.959
 so

00:33:23.959 --> 00:33:24.479
 we

00:33:24.479 --> 00:33:25.059
 never

00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:25.599
 let's

00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:26.159
 go

00:33:26.159 --> 00:33:26.679
 Oh

00:33:26.719 --> 00:33:27.099
 oh

00:33:29.099 --> 00:33:30.679
 Oh

00:33:30.679 --> 00:33:30.919
 oh