WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:09.560 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:10.620 Join us. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:15.140 They're singing straight out of Micah. 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:20.820 Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with God. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:25.120 And maybe the only ones from the book of Micah that you knew before we got to Micah. 00:00:25.640 --> 00:00:27.060 We put them on our walls. 00:00:27.219 --> 00:00:28.839 We tattoo them on our bodies. 00:00:28.839 --> 00:00:30.759 We memorize them. 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:32.979 We post them on social media. 00:00:34.539 --> 00:00:36.399 Because they're beautiful, right? 00:00:37.179 --> 00:00:42.539 But as beautiful as they are, they come in a much bleaker context. 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:46.320 We're going to read them in Micah 6 this morning. 00:00:46.500 --> 00:00:51.299 But the context is God bringing charges against His people. 00:00:51.480 --> 00:00:54.620 Charges of abandonment of Him. 00:00:54.619 --> 00:00:59.519 Telling them how they've failed to live this way. 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:07.079 Listen for this legal proceeding as God builds a case in the first half of Micah 6. 00:01:07.620 --> 00:01:10.819 The Word of God to the people of God. 00:01:10.819 --> 00:01:12.819 Hear what the Lord says. 00:01:12.819 --> 00:01:12.839 Hear what the Lord says. 00:01:12.839 --> 00:01:13.119 Arise. 00:01:13.119 --> 00:01:14.359 Arise. 00:01:14.519 --> 00:01:16.259 Plead your case before the mountains. 00:01:16.439 --> 00:01:17.819 And let the hills hear your voice. 00:01:18.139 --> 00:01:20.339 Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the Lord. 00:01:20.439 --> 00:01:22.459 And you enduring foundations of the earth. 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:26.179 For the Lord has an indictment against His people. 00:01:26.379 --> 00:01:28.539 And He will contend with Israel. 00:01:28.540 --> 00:01:32.440 O my people, what have I done to you? 00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:34.860 How have I wearied you? 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:35.800 Answer me. 00:01:36.580 --> 00:01:40.880 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery. 00:01:40.880 --> 00:01:43.640 And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 00:01:44.180 --> 00:01:49.100 O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised. 00:01:49.160 --> 00:01:51.140 And what Balaam son of Beor answered him. 00:01:51.360 --> 00:01:53.580 And what happened from Shittim to Gilgal. 00:01:53.579 --> 00:01:57.659 That you may know the saving acts of the Lord. 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:01.280 With what shall I come before the Lord? 00:02:01.539 --> 00:02:04.280 And bow myself before God on high. 00:02:04.859 --> 00:02:07.019 Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings? 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:08.539 With calves a year old? 00:02:08.860 --> 00:02:11.180 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams? 00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:13.639 With ten thousands of rivers of oil? 00:02:13.879 --> 00:02:16.400 Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression? 00:02:16.919 --> 00:02:19.240 The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:23.400 He has told you, O man. 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:24.500 What is good? 00:02:25.440 --> 00:02:28.940 What does the Lord require of you but to do justice? 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:30.820 And to love kindness? 00:02:31.800 --> 00:02:34.540 And to walk humbly with your God? 00:02:35.420 --> 00:02:36.580 This is the word of God. 00:02:36.640 --> 00:02:37.100 Let's pray. 00:02:40.640 --> 00:02:42.200 Oh, Father, we need your help. 00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:47.640 Would you search us this morning and know our hearts? 00:02:47.639 --> 00:02:50.339 You know them. 00:02:50.379 --> 00:02:53.559 What we're asking you, Father, is to show them to us. 00:02:55.539 --> 00:02:57.339 And by your Spirit to change them. 00:02:57.719 --> 00:02:58.819 To enliven them. 00:02:58.899 --> 00:03:00.059 To revive them. 00:03:02.559 --> 00:03:03.779 That we might know you more. 00:03:03.979 --> 00:03:05.039 And love you more. 00:03:05.519 --> 00:03:06.679 And serve you more. 00:03:07.859 --> 00:03:08.759 For your glory. 00:03:09.139 --> 00:03:10.279 Do that, we ask. 00:03:10.799 --> 00:03:11.699 In Jesus' name. 00:03:11.699 --> 00:03:12.979 Amen. 00:03:12.979 --> 00:03:13.099 Amen. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:29.439 We've just seen in Micah 4 and 5 some glorious promises of hope and of restoration for God's people who will turn back to Him and trust Him. 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:40.699 But then, as God here begins to build His case for how so many of them are not doing that but are turning away from that relationship. 00:03:40.699 --> 00:03:46.000 We notice how valuable the relationship is to Yahweh Himself. 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:51.599 We see His wholehearted commitment to His relationship with His people. 00:03:51.679 --> 00:03:54.459 What does He say in verses 4 and 5? 00:03:54.579 --> 00:03:56.859 I delivered you from slavery in Egypt. 00:03:57.399 --> 00:04:02.399 Gave you great leaders to guide you toward me and to provide for your needs. 00:04:02.399 --> 00:04:10.339 I led you into the promised land and I turned even the curses of others into blessings for you because you were so precious to me. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:12.359 All of that. 00:04:13.259 --> 00:04:15.280 So that you would know me. 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:19.019 So we could have this special relationship. 00:04:20.420 --> 00:04:26.620 God initiated this relationship and He has demonstrated His commitment to it, hasn't He? 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:29.240 He's all in with His people. 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:36.019 But they're not, are they? 00:04:36.019 --> 00:04:45.180 That's where His deep concern is when He comes to His people then and to us now. 00:04:46.180 --> 00:04:48.919 You've abandoned the relationship. 00:04:49.779 --> 00:04:51.819 You've lost your commitment to me. 00:04:52.060 --> 00:04:56.299 When He's building this case, it's not a long list of offenses that He starts with. 00:04:56.379 --> 00:04:58.199 We'll get to those in the second half of the chapter. 00:04:58.199 --> 00:05:02.360 He starts by saying, it's the relationship. 00:05:03.099 --> 00:05:07.099 You seem to be wearied by relationship with me. 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:07.539 Right? 00:05:07.719 --> 00:05:08.439 Verse 3. 00:05:09.180 --> 00:05:13.039 How have I wearied you, my people? 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:17.939 That's the essence of God's indictment. 00:05:18.760 --> 00:05:22.120 You've lost your passion for our relationship. 00:05:22.379 --> 00:05:27.080 You're tired of me and more interested in other things. 00:05:27.079 --> 00:05:31.519 You don't love me with all your heart and soul and mind. 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.399 You've lost your first love. 00:05:36.300 --> 00:05:50.379 If God is all in, wholeheartedly committed, His people are exposed as half-hearted in this relationship with Him, aren't they? 00:05:50.379 --> 00:05:59.139 And that begins to get exposed here as He paints the glorious standard. 00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:01.240 What's it supposed to look like? 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:04.019 How the relationship should be. 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:06.959 The good life, if you will. 00:06:07.379 --> 00:06:09.759 It's walking with God. 00:06:11.060 --> 00:06:13.579 Don't you love simple, direct statements like this? 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:16.259 Isn't that one of the reasons we love this verse 8? 00:06:16.579 --> 00:06:17.819 What does God want me to do? 00:06:17.819 --> 00:06:20.759 I don't know God's will for me. 00:06:21.259 --> 00:06:24.040 Well, here's a good place to start. 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:27.879 He has told you, oh man, what is good. 00:06:28.719 --> 00:06:37.920 And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:39.560 It's beautiful. 00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:48.259 A holistic picture of relationship with God that is to shape and direct all of our lives. 00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:53.759 It's really one description rather than three disconnected parts. 00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:56.240 But just briefly, let's look at them. 00:06:56.259 --> 00:06:58.840 What do they highlight in that relationship? 00:06:59.139 --> 00:07:01.879 The first one is do justice. 00:07:01.879 --> 00:07:07.000 The focus on our actions, our deeds. 00:07:07.100 --> 00:07:11.779 It's that great word mishpat that we saw earlier in Micah. 00:07:11.779 --> 00:07:20.779 Beyond mere fairness or accurate legal verdicts, it's talking about honesty in relationships. 00:07:20.779 --> 00:07:24.500 Generosity to the needy. 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:27.599 Activism against injustice. 00:07:28.559 --> 00:07:33.359 Actively defending the widow, the poor, the immigrant, the orphan. 00:07:33.939 --> 00:07:36.139 Welcoming the outsider in. 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:38.659 Speaking for the voiceless. 00:07:39.119 --> 00:07:40.139 Taking on the bully. 00:07:40.819 --> 00:07:42.299 Tending to the hurting. 00:07:44.159 --> 00:07:46.099 Do justice. 00:07:46.100 --> 00:07:52.680 But you may know the glorious standard is actually a lot higher and harder than that. 00:07:52.740 --> 00:07:55.520 It's not met by merely doing good deeds. 00:07:56.760 --> 00:08:00.700 Yahweh also addresses the purity of our hearts. 00:08:02.180 --> 00:08:02.740 Love. 00:08:04.020 --> 00:08:04.700 Kindness. 00:08:05.420 --> 00:08:07.080 You're probably used to reading love. 00:08:07.500 --> 00:08:07.939 Mercy. 00:08:08.580 --> 00:08:09.820 The word is hesed. 00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:14.140 Yes, if you're counting, pastor knows two Hebrew words. 00:08:14.139 --> 00:08:16.339 New record for one sermon. 00:08:17.599 --> 00:08:26.579 Hesed is the word used repeatedly in the Old Testament often for God's faithful, unfailing love. 00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:28.800 His compassionate mercy. 00:08:29.019 --> 00:08:31.060 His steadfast love. 00:08:31.300 --> 00:08:32.539 Loving kindness. 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:39.299 We sometimes hear that faithfully keeps His promises and cares for His people. 00:08:39.299 --> 00:08:43.599 We're supposed to love God's hesed. 00:08:44.919 --> 00:08:46.759 That it would delight our hearts. 00:08:47.199 --> 00:08:52.979 That we're most inspired in our lives by gracious faithfulness to the undeserving. 00:08:53.799 --> 00:09:01.339 So much so that we ourselves begin to love sharing it the way we have loved receiving it from God. 00:09:01.979 --> 00:09:04.699 Never stopping when someone hurts you. 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:07.639 Never giving up when someone disappoints you. 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:08.759 Unbreaking. 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:08.960 Unbreaking. 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:09.720 Always. 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:11.279 And forever. 00:09:11.819 --> 00:09:12.240 Love. 00:09:12.340 --> 00:09:13.840 No matter what it costs. 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:16.699 That others can always count on. 00:09:17.319 --> 00:09:18.059 Love. 00:09:18.819 --> 00:09:19.620 Kindness. 00:09:22.460 --> 00:09:26.179 And then walk humbly with your God. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:29.899 The summary statement of the summary commands here. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:31.179 This is what it's about. 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:34.360 It's be like this consistently all the time. 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:43.779 Make these attitudes of heart and actions of life not momentary but constant. 00:09:44.539 --> 00:09:56.600 Abide in this dependent relationship with God where He's the glorious one and your heart is convinced that you can't live without Him and that there's no life apart from Him. 00:09:56.600 --> 00:10:04.639 Micah 6.8 is at the core of the call of God's word to His people. 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:10.759 Make close relationship with Him your life's work. 00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:14.019 Your heart's passion. 00:10:14.980 --> 00:10:16.980 Your spirit's bent. 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:20.580 I don't want to make this complicated. 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:23.059 Sometimes I have a tendency to do that. 00:10:23.439 --> 00:10:27.100 If you're not sure what I'm saying, let me try it more simply. 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:32.700 Your job is to know and love and glorify God. 00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:38.320 Kids, do you know what God wants you to be when you grow up? 00:10:39.040 --> 00:10:40.120 We talk about that a lot. 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:42.540 What does God want me to be? 00:10:42.800 --> 00:10:50.900 God wants you to be a young man or an old man or a young woman or then an old woman who loves Him. 00:10:52.340 --> 00:10:53.660 That's what God wants. 00:10:54.540 --> 00:10:57.379 God says this is what is good. 00:10:57.379 --> 00:10:59.340 There's nothing more important. 00:10:59.899 --> 00:11:03.659 Everything else in life flows from this. 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:06.580 It's good, God says. 00:11:06.679 --> 00:11:11.620 A life shaped around seeing and sharing His heart. 00:11:13.059 --> 00:11:15.639 Isn't that glorious when we get a glimpse of it in someone? 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:19.299 You can think of people where you've seen it. 00:11:20.179 --> 00:11:22.419 It's usually not grand or glamorous. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:26.379 Often you glimpse it in someone in their quiet faithfulness. 00:11:27.379 --> 00:11:31.720 And there's probably only a few of you in the world who even see it or know it. 00:11:32.220 --> 00:11:34.279 They're usually below the radar of the media. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:39.000 Sometimes in places others wouldn't dare to stoop. 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:45.960 But you've seen they're consistently delighted in having not much but God. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:50.779 That's the only thing you tend to ever see delighting them is Him. 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:55.100 And they love sharing whatever they do have with the lowly. 00:11:55.100 --> 00:11:57.680 It's beautiful, isn't it? 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:00.399 Do justice. 00:12:00.800 --> 00:12:01.720 Love kindness. 00:12:02.300 --> 00:12:04.879 Walk humbly with your God. 00:12:05.580 --> 00:12:09.360 God says the good life is in relationship with Him. 00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:13.639 And that relationship being the most important thing. 00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:19.779 It's a glorious standard that the law of God calls us to here. 00:12:19.779 --> 00:12:26.000 It's like love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. 00:12:27.319 --> 00:12:32.840 Might God work in all of us to live more like that? 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:40.980 But in this passage, God's law does another thing. 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:45.759 And in addition to the way it's used in our lives to shine a light on the good path, 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:48.600 God's law also does something else. 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:50.920 And it's what's primarily pictured here. 00:12:51.040 --> 00:12:57.480 That glorious standard exposes our half-hearted commitment to it. 00:12:57.480 --> 00:12:59.980 And maybe you've felt that already. 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:04.139 It sounds simple but it doesn't describe my life or my heart. 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:13.840 Our half-hearted commitment is this grievous substitute that we make for a life designed and created to walk with God. 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:16.840 And so we have to go there this morning. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:23.180 I'm going to call what Micah describes here in this chapter, playing church. 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:29.199 Playing church, if you've never heard of it, is similar to playing house. 00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:31.159 Maybe you've played house before. 00:13:31.579 --> 00:13:37.539 Sometimes in my home I'll hear from the other room a nine-year-old crying like a baby. 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:41.979 Or a six-year-old talking like she's a mother. 00:13:42.899 --> 00:13:43.079 Right? 00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:45.399 And at first it's a bit disconcerting. 00:13:45.839 --> 00:13:47.659 But what's actually going on, kids? 00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:48.759 What's it? 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:49.939 Yes, it's on your sermon. 00:13:49.939 --> 00:13:52.839 You can mark playing church off on your sermon words. 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:56.899 That's playing house or playing family, right? 00:13:57.139 --> 00:13:58.799 Whatever you call it. 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:09.719 It's where you're pretending to have a relationship with your sister or your doll or whatever else it is that's not actually a real relationship. 00:14:12.199 --> 00:14:13.479 And that can be fun. 00:14:13.819 --> 00:14:15.079 Playing house is a good thing. 00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:16.599 It's a good use of your imagination. 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:18.199 It's a fun thing to do. 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:22.500 But playing church is not. 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:25.259 It's not fun. 00:14:25.379 --> 00:14:26.600 It's not funny. 00:14:26.900 --> 00:14:34.640 What I mean by playing church is pretending to have a real relationship with God, but it's not real. 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:42.559 Pretending God is your beloved father, but feeling inside that you don't love him. 00:14:43.620 --> 00:14:46.319 Living like you don't care about him at all. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:54.740 And that kind of pretending is exactly what God is condemning here in this passage. 00:14:55.320 --> 00:14:56.240 It's not fun. 00:14:56.600 --> 00:14:57.480 It's not funny. 00:14:57.900 --> 00:15:04.160 In fact, there's a hauntingly good picture of it in a movie that many of you have seen. 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:14.839 I have seen at least 10 movies in my life and am well qualified to say that the baptism scene in the Godfather movie is one of the greatest movie scenes of all time. 00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:17.459 I have lots of experience. 00:15:18.199 --> 00:15:21.679 But what happens, if you haven't seen it, that's okay. 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:23.039 It's this haunting. 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:28.220 It's an excellently done, but it's haunting if you watch it and you think about what's going on. 00:15:28.220 --> 00:15:40.500 Michael Corleone in the movie played by Al Pacino, he's a head, he's functioning right now as the head of a mafia family in New York City. 00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:48.680 And he orders hits on five of the other crime families' leaders there in town. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:51.980 He's coordinating multiple murders. 00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:53.460 That's what's going on. 00:15:53.700 --> 00:15:55.860 And at the very same time, what does he do? 00:15:56.420 --> 00:15:57.899 He doesn't get his hands dirty. 00:15:58.220 --> 00:16:03.019 He dresses up and goes to a really beautiful church building. 00:16:03.540 --> 00:16:08.660 And he stands as Godfather for the baptism of his nephew. 00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:17.259 And so he stands there before the priest and professes his faith in God while a murder he orders is carried out. 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:24.480 And then it cuts back to the church and he renounces the works of Satan and it flashes to another murder being carried out. 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:35.840 And all of the time he's standing there professing his great spirituality and orchestrating terrible violence at the same moment. 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:39.080 Michael is playing church. 00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:44.139 That hypocrisy is pretty easy to see there, isn't it? 00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:48.199 If you're in the younger generation, you don't need examples like that. 00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:51.039 You sniff out playing church just like that. 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:52.939 It's second nature to you. 00:16:53.439 --> 00:16:57.340 But how do we play church? 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:00.980 Sometimes we know already, don't we? 00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:04.160 We know when we're going through the motions, pretending. 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.480 We feel that. 00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:10.360 I grew up in church, so I've had experience with this for a long time. 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:15.599 Saying the right things, looking good, appeasing God and others. 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:17.039 It's how you get through life. 00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:22.000 I'm very familiar with this dangerous struggle in my heart. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:28.140 And this passage may help us see it more fully in our hearts. 00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:37.259 What's the difference between walking with God, you could say living for Jesus, and playing church? 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:39.859 Look at verse 6. 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:46.180 What do God's people say about his passion for relationship with them? 00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:48.180 They say, oh man, we better do something. 00:17:48.180 --> 00:17:53.240 With what shall we come before the Lord and bow myself before God on high? 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:55.180 Shall I come before him with burnt offerings? 00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:56.740 With calves a year old? 00:17:57.779 --> 00:18:00.220 Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams? 00:18:00.340 --> 00:18:02.460 Or ten thousands of rivers of oil? 00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:06.019 Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression? 00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:09.019 The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:11.900 We'll do lots of outward ceremonies. 00:18:12.900 --> 00:18:14.740 I mean, sacrifices are good things, right? 00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:19.519 God commands some of them in our relationship with him. 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:24.359 But here it's only outward rituals. 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:29.440 Because the God that they would sacrifice to says what in the next verse? 00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:30.620 Do justice. 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:32.240 Love kindness. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:34.420 Walk humbly with me. 00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:39.059 And this is what they do when they leave the temple. 00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:40.339 Verse 9. 00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:42.459 And the voice of the Lord cries to the city. 00:18:42.879 --> 00:18:44.679 It's sound wisdom to fear your name. 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:46.480 Hear of the rod and him who appointed it. 00:18:47.139 --> 00:18:51.639 Can I forget any longer the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked? 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:54.899 The scant measure that is accursed? 00:18:56.220 --> 00:19:00.879 Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights? 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:04.459 Your rich men are full of violence. 00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:07.660 Your inhabitants speak lies. 00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:10.960 And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:13.840 Therefore I strike you with a grievous blow. 00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:16.759 Making you desolate because of your sins. 00:19:17.140 --> 00:19:19.120 You shall eat but not be satisfied. 00:19:19.340 --> 00:19:20.660 There shall be hunger within you. 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:22.840 You shall put away but not preserve. 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:25.039 And what you preserve I will give to the sword. 00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:26.920 You shall sow but not reap. 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:29.740 You shall tread olives but not anoint yourselves with oil. 00:19:30.100 --> 00:19:32.519 You shall tread grapes but not drink wine. 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:35.700 For you have kept the statutes of Omri. 00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:38.519 And all the works of the house of Ahab. 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:41.019 And you have walked in their councils. 00:19:41.879 --> 00:19:43.700 That I may make you a desolation. 00:19:44.379 --> 00:19:46.220 And your inhabitants a hissing. 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:51.000 So you shall bear the scorn of my people. 00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:54.859 Micah has brought these things up before, right? 00:19:56.279 --> 00:20:02.379 Using your power and resources to get ahead yourself at the expense of others. 00:20:02.879 --> 00:20:05.700 Lying and cheating to exploit others. 00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:09.599 Even using the poor to get rich yourself. 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:11.379 This is Judah. 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:15.799 They're sitting there in Jerusalem with the right temple and the right king. 00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:18.279 Doing the things God has told them to do. 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:25.420 And he says in that last verse, you're just like the worst idolatrous kings of Israel. 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.720 That's Omri and Ahab. 00:20:28.579 --> 00:20:33.339 God's people are exposed as playing church. 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:35.240 Putting on a show. 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:38.339 Thousands of rams. 00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:40.279 Ten thousands of rivers of oil. 00:20:40.399 --> 00:20:44.059 My firstborn son that the other gods supposedly require. 00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:44.740 I'll give you whatever. 00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:46.740 I'll give you whatever. 00:20:47.579 --> 00:20:52.679 But there are people being killed while I'm taking my vows in church. 00:20:52.680 --> 00:21:02.060 Where are our outward formalities not matched by our inward passions? 00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:09.000 Do we come to church regularly but have no connection to God beyond this building? 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:12.380 No relationship with Him in daily life? 00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:19.300 Have you ever sung or said words during this service and found yourself doing the opposite by Monday? 00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:26.480 Could it be said of us that we call Him Master and Lord but don't obey Him? 00:21:26.919 --> 00:21:31.359 That we call Him strong and good but don't trust Him? 00:21:32.159 --> 00:21:36.559 That we call Him rich and gracious but don't depend on Him? 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:42.220 That we call Him the way and the truth and the life but don't follow Him? 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:48.420 Now here's something I'd never do. 00:21:49.579 --> 00:21:50.819 Buying God off. 00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:54.360 What does God need to leave me alone? 00:21:56.100 --> 00:21:59.259 Burn offerings, rams, rivers of oil, my firstborn. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:02.779 Do you see how there's no relationship at all here in that? 00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:05.759 It's just a transaction, right? 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:09.180 I'd never buy God off like that. 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:13.720 At least I'd never do it in those terms. 00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:21.299 But see what God's people are really doing here is treating Him as a means to an end. 00:22:22.060 --> 00:22:24.840 Give Him what He needs so life can be good. 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:27.759 I'll join a connect community and a small group. 00:22:28.100 --> 00:22:28.539 Watch me. 00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:31.259 I volunteer every Sunday. 00:22:31.600 --> 00:22:32.779 I'll double my tithe. 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:37.960 Surely that's enough to satisfy Him and life will go all right. 00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:42.259 But again, it misses what? 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:44.720 Relationship. 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:52.180 It assumes that God, this is so grievous about it, it changes who God is altogether. 00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:55.240 It assumes He's an ogre to be appeased. 00:22:57.180 --> 00:23:00.500 Rather than a father to be loved. 00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:04.700 Do I really savor relationship with God? 00:23:04.840 --> 00:23:05.860 Or am I playing a game? 00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:13.959 This has been hitting me hard this week when I think about my prayer life. 00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:19.700 I talk a lot about prayer and it's really important to me. 00:23:19.819 --> 00:23:22.400 So I set aside time to pray. 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:31.779 In the last couple of weeks as I've been doing that, what I've seen is that I've heard the clock ticking sometimes while I've been praying. 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:40.759 What I mean is you know this feeling where you said, I'm going to pray for this long and then you pray and you look up and you're like, oh man, it's only been two minutes? 00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:42.379 I thought it had been 20. 00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:43.539 Two minutes? 00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:46.099 When's the time going to be up? 00:23:46.099 --> 00:23:56.779 And I realize I may have set the time aside because I can check boxes like that. 00:23:57.199 --> 00:23:59.919 But I'm not savoring the relationship with God. 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:02.259 I'm longing to talk to Him. 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:08.179 Delighting to slow down in His presence and listen to Him. 00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:22.279 And it's made me wonder this week if my heart was making God a box to check, an ogre to appease, and forgetting that my Father delights to be with me. 00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:26.000 To shape my heart after His when it's not. 00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:29.259 Do you see how that's playing church for me? 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:30.720 I don't know if it is for you. 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:38.180 It's revealing a half-hearted commitment to my relationship with God. 00:24:41.600 --> 00:24:44.819 A couple more ways if you're not seeing it in your life yet. 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:49.920 Playing church will mean sacrifice is a necessary evil. 00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:54.900 I mean, sometimes you've got to give some money or some time or some service. 00:24:54.900 --> 00:25:00.660 After all, what will people start to say about you if you don't ever do some Christian things occasionally, right? 00:25:01.100 --> 00:25:05.019 And it'll be good for your social resume if you do. 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:12.920 But are needy people honestly an inconvenience that bothers you most of the time? 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:18.240 A distraction from your life? 00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:20.100 I hate it when I say that. 00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:28.500 A hindrance to your bottom line and successful business or successful family life? 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:36.779 That's what the least and the lost and the littlest and the lonely and the left out had become to the people of God, wasn't it? 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:42.119 Don't slow me down for them. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:45.160 God says, watch out. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:47.359 They're on my heart. 00:25:47.879 --> 00:25:50.680 I love to rescue lost causes. 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.980 Don't you remember that's how we met? 00:25:51.980 --> 00:26:00.720 If your heart beats like mine, you'll not just sacrifice for others, but you'll genuinely delight in doing it. 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:06.640 Friends, we get so distracted, don't we? 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:08.099 By so many other things. 00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:11.660 Busy with so many good things. 00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:15.740 Are we half-heartedly playing church? 00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:20.120 Or really wanting God to shape our hearts like His? 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:21.680 Do we really long for that? 00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:25.200 Or are we afraid what it would cost us from our real lives? 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:35.600 Listen, God didn't redeem us at the cost of His own Son so we could be happy and comfortable for 70 or 80 years. 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:40.960 So we could claim His name and live for ours and our comfort. 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:50.799 May it not be said of us in this generation that we played church while lost souls went to hell. 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:54.399 While orphans died of hunger. 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:57.039 While the poor were systematically oppressed. 00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:59.259 While unborn millions were killed. 00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:02.639 While lonely neighbors despaired of life. 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:06.480 While nations abandoned the heart of God. 00:27:07.879 --> 00:27:12.399 May it not be that we, His people, lose His heart too. 00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:17.759 We desperately need revival right here, don't we? 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:21.779 It's got to be something new and fresh. 00:27:22.059 --> 00:27:31.319 Don't you see how far our hearts and lives are from God's glorious standards where He is the center. 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:38.359 Where my life's work, my heart's passion is my relationship with God. 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.640 Walking with Him. 00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:45.900 Living for Him. 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:53.640 Maybe what's even worse is when we're exposed there. 00:27:55.000 --> 00:28:02.039 When God's Word and Spirit shows up and maybe right now in your heart, like He's been doing in mine this week, 00:28:02.379 --> 00:28:04.539 saying, there's something wrong. 00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:07.379 There's new life that's needed. 00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:10.980 We just start hatching plans to feel better and get back to our lives. 00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.460 You know what? 00:28:12.460 --> 00:28:14.660 I have been skipping my quiet time for six months. 00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:16.660 Really not thinking about God much. 00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:18.079 You got me, pastor. 00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:19.640 Prophet. 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:22.660 10,000 rivers of oil take care of it. 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:23.940 That be enough? 00:28:25.880 --> 00:28:30.240 I mean, that way I won't have to repent again until the next big mess up, right? 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:33.579 God says, no. 00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:38.160 No, repentance is about relationship. 00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:41.059 Remember the definition we've been using? 00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:47.920 Repentance is a heart-grieving, broken relationship with God. 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:52.559 Turning to God and rejoicing in restored relationship. 00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:57.160 Martin Luther says, all of life is to be about repentance. 00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:57.519 Repentance. 00:28:58.720 --> 00:29:03.480 Another commentator calls repentance the basic maneuver of life. 00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:06.980 It's how we live day to day. 00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:12.820 When I say repent, it's not just once a year in the really big mess up. 00:29:13.120 --> 00:29:19.600 It's the reason we confess every week in this service and need time with God day in and day out. 00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:26.440 It's calling our hearts back from playing church to walking with God every day. 00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:32.640 Some days I wake up and say, God, I'm anxious about today. 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:35.340 I'm not trusting you with what's on my calendar. 00:29:36.340 --> 00:29:38.440 Bring me back to live for you today. 00:29:38.860 --> 00:29:39.720 That's repentance. 00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:43.400 Other days I wake up and say, God, I'm doing great. 00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:45.759 I'm joyful because life's good. 00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:52.980 And I'm not grateful to you or finding my joy in you. 00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:56.620 Bring me back to live for you today. 00:29:57.180 --> 00:29:58.660 That's repentance. 00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:04.200 We shouldn't have to get caught to repent if we're walking with God. 00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:06.180 Repentance is what Peter said early. 00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:13.299 It's desperately and joyfully running home to our Father over and over. 00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:22.279 It's a recentering of my heart on the relationship God says is the center and source of my life. 00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:33.839 I don't know about you, but I've seen a lot of half-hearted realities in my life this week. 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:39.679 Take some time to think about some of these questions. 00:30:39.899 --> 00:30:40.959 What's God showing you? 00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:46.699 Have we wearied of the one relationship we were made never to live without? 00:30:48.439 --> 00:30:51.699 Has our passion waned? 00:30:51.700 --> 00:31:01.000 Have we lost our first love and just been playing at relationship with God? 00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:08.819 This table reminds us of the good news. 00:31:10.340 --> 00:31:13.039 Our only hope, and it's this. 00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:18.420 God doesn't play in his relationship with us, does he? 00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:24.019 God doesn't even demand that we give our firstborn son for our sins. 00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:27.580 He gives his for us. 00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:29.600 That's our only hope. 00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:33.720 He is all in in this relationship. 00:31:33.840 --> 00:31:35.740 Always has been, by the way. 00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:45.340 Sending his son to secure our eternal relationship with him and seat at his table forever. 00:31:45.339 --> 00:31:57.319 However, Jesus, the only one who perfectly does justice and loves kindness and walks humbly with his God, 00:31:58.879 --> 00:32:02.599 gives his life for us. 00:32:03.399 --> 00:32:08.980 He bears the scorn that we, his people, deserve. 00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:16.559 That mocking hissing that should have come to us fell on him. 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:21.740 That's why he sat with his disciples the night he was betrayed. 00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:24.140 He took bread. 00:32:24.900 --> 00:32:27.819 He broke it and gave it to his disciples. 00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:30.920 As I'm ministering in his name, give this bread to you. 00:32:30.920 --> 00:32:39.539 And he said, take, eat, this is my body, broken where yours should have been. 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:42.000 Do this and remember me. 00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:47.759 And he took the cup and said, this cup is a new covenant in my blood, 00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:50.680 which will be shed so yours doesn't have to be. 00:32:51.060 --> 00:32:57.360 Because there's forgiveness of sins here in his blood. 00:32:57.359 --> 00:33:00.019 Drink from it in remembrance of him. 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:03.519 For as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, 00:33:03.679 --> 00:33:08.519 we remember not our death, but his. 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:12.819 And we proclaim his death as our only hope 00:33:12.819 --> 00:33:17.159 until he comes again and we eat it with him forever. 00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:24.240 If you're willing today to stop playing church, 00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:26.860 to stop pretending, 00:33:27.660 --> 00:33:31.300 then the good news is you don't also have to go and fix your life 00:33:31.300 --> 00:33:32.600 before you can come to God. 00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:33.160 Did you know that? 00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:34.720 You can come to him honestly 00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:38.259 and say I'm desperate and I need you. 00:33:38.800 --> 00:33:41.019 And come and feast, 00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:43.160 repent of your abandonment, 00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:48.060 abandonment of the only one who will never leave you. 00:33:49.080 --> 00:33:51.440 And come back to him. 00:33:51.900 --> 00:33:55.400 Run back to your father through Jesus. 00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:59.440 Rejoice in the relationship that you have 00:33:59.440 --> 00:34:01.360 that you could never have earned, 00:34:01.620 --> 00:34:02.680 but he did for you. 00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:03.180 Let's pray. 00:34:03.180 --> 00:34:07.259 Jesus, thank you. 00:34:11.099 --> 00:34:15.119 That the only one who lived the way we were created to 00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:19.059 has also died in our place. 00:34:22.840 --> 00:34:27.980 Use this table to lift up broken hearts. 00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:33.780 To give us hope again. 00:34:34.420 --> 00:34:35.179 Not in ourselves, 00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:38.380 but in a God who loves us 00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:41.820 and comes to meet even with us 00:34:41.820 --> 00:34:44.000 this morning and forever. 00:34:46.380 --> 00:34:48.679 Because he's so committed to this relationship. 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:50.300 Father, where would we be 00:34:50.300 --> 00:34:52.280 without your commitment to us? 00:34:54.760 --> 00:34:56.340 Call us back again this morning. 00:34:56.340 --> 00:34:59.500 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:35:03.720 --> 00:35:04.900 For more information, 00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:07.500 visit us online at southwood.org.