WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.140 The reading this morning comes from 1 Kings, various verses in chapters 4 and 10. 00:00:07.719 --> 00:00:12.460 You can follow along in your bulletins or on the screens in front of you. 00:00:14.060 --> 00:00:18.400 Starting in chapter 4, verse 20, we read, 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:24.160 Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea. 00:00:24.820 --> 00:00:27.339 They ate and drank and were happy. 00:00:27.339 --> 00:00:35.980 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:41.939 They brought tribute and served to Solomon all the days of his life. 00:00:43.659 --> 00:00:51.120 Solomon's provision for one day was 30 cores of fine flour and 60 cores of meal, 00:00:51.119 --> 00:01:01.939 10 fat oxen and 20 pasture-fed cattle, 100 sheep besides deer, gazelles, roebucks and fattened fowl. 00:01:03.599 --> 00:01:07.859 For he had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates, 00:01:08.920 --> 00:01:14.599 from Tipsa to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates. 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:19.759 And he had peace on all sides around him. 00:01:20.899 --> 00:01:26.560 And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Bathsheba, 00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:34.299 every man under his vine and under his fig tree all the days of Solomon. 00:01:34.299 --> 00:01:37.899 And in verse 29 we read, 00:01:38.679 --> 00:01:43.259 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, 00:01:43.899 --> 00:01:47.799 and breath of mind like the sand on the seashore, 00:01:48.340 --> 00:01:54.500 so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east, 00:01:55.099 --> 00:01:57.079 and all the wisdom of Egypt. 00:01:57.079 --> 00:02:01.039 For he was wiser than all other men, 00:02:01.239 --> 00:02:03.379 wiser than Ethan the Ezraite, 00:02:03.539 --> 00:02:05.519 and Heman, Chalcol, and Dada, 00:02:06.019 --> 00:02:07.500 the sons of Mahal. 00:02:07.980 --> 00:02:11.719 And his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:16.360 He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, 00:02:16.939 --> 00:02:19.439 and his songs were 1,005. 00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:22.319 He spoke of trees, 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:24.159 from the cedar that is in Lebanon, 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:27.199 to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. 00:02:28.299 --> 00:02:30.199 He spoke also of beasts, 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:31.280 and of birds, 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:32.519 and of reptiles, 00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:33.699 and of fish. 00:02:34.620 --> 00:02:39.620 And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, 00:02:40.139 --> 00:02:42.639 and from all the kings of the earth, 00:02:43.139 --> 00:02:44.879 who had heard of his wisdom. 00:02:46.219 --> 00:02:49.019 Then in chapter 10, verse 1, we read, 00:02:49.020 --> 00:02:54.659 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, 00:02:54.900 --> 00:02:56.520 concerning the name of the Lord, 00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:00.280 she came to test him with hard questions. 00:03:01.480 --> 00:03:04.520 She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, 00:03:04.660 --> 00:03:06.340 with camels bearing spices, 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:09.340 and very much gold and precious stones. 00:03:10.460 --> 00:03:11.840 And when she came to Solomon, 00:03:11.980 --> 00:03:14.180 she told him all that was on her mind. 00:03:14.180 --> 00:03:18.080 And Solomon answered all her questions. 00:03:18.819 --> 00:03:21.140 There was nothing hidden from the king 00:03:21.140 --> 00:03:23.420 that he could not explain to her. 00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:27.900 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:29.960 the house that he had built, 00:03:30.460 --> 00:03:32.080 the food of his table, 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:34.100 the seating of his officials, 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:36.100 and the attendance of his servants, 00:03:36.520 --> 00:03:37.300 their clothing, 00:03:37.540 --> 00:03:38.180 his cupbearers, 00:03:38.180 --> 00:03:45.280 and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:47.960 there was no more breath in her. 00:03:48.939 --> 00:03:50.360 And she said to the king, 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:54.140 The report was true that I heard in my own land 00:03:54.140 --> 00:03:56.600 of your words and of your wisdom. 00:03:57.319 --> 00:03:59.500 But I did not believe the reports 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:03.960 until I came and my own eyes had seen it. 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:05.860 And behold, 00:04:06.820 --> 00:04:08.960 the half was not told me. 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:14.620 Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard. 00:04:15.319 --> 00:04:16.639 Happy are your men. 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:19.540 Happy are your servants 00:04:19.540 --> 00:04:23.360 who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom. 00:04:24.500 --> 00:04:26.620 Blessed be the Lord your God 00:04:26.620 --> 00:04:29.160 who has delighted in you 00:04:29.160 --> 00:04:32.040 and set you on the throne of Israel. 00:04:32.040 --> 00:04:37.060 Because the Lord loved Israel forever, 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:39.540 he has made you king 00:04:39.540 --> 00:04:43.980 that you may execute justice and righteousness. 00:04:45.480 --> 00:04:50.000 Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:54.060 and a very great quantity of spices and precious stones. 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:58.460 Never again came such an abundance of spices 00:04:58.459 --> 00:05:03.199 as these that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 00:05:04.439 --> 00:05:05.639 In verse 13, 00:05:06.779 --> 00:05:09.339 And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba 00:05:09.339 --> 00:05:11.159 all that she desired, 00:05:11.579 --> 00:05:13.079 whatever she asked, 00:05:13.919 --> 00:05:15.579 besides what was given her 00:05:15.579 --> 00:05:17.759 by the bounty of King Solomon. 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:19.879 So she turned 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:22.939 and went back to her own land 00:05:22.939 --> 00:05:23.839 with her servants. 00:05:24.659 --> 00:05:26.299 This is the word of God. 00:05:26.299 --> 00:05:27.039 Amen. 00:05:28.459 --> 00:05:30.459 Great. 00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:36.639 Thanks, Angeline, for reading. 00:05:38.579 --> 00:05:40.379 Yeah, really exciting chapters. 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:41.519 Now, 00:05:42.479 --> 00:05:45.740 one of my favorite apps is Carousel. 00:05:45.979 --> 00:05:47.620 I think many of you use it. 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:49.019 I'm Dutch. 00:05:49.099 --> 00:05:50.060 I like to save money, 00:05:50.219 --> 00:05:52.899 and so buying stuff for secondhand, 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:53.500 much cheaper, 00:05:53.639 --> 00:05:54.419 I like doing that. 00:05:54.420 --> 00:05:56.480 I'm sure many people do the same. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:05:58.540 I've had some really good deals, 00:05:58.720 --> 00:05:59.939 but my guess is, 00:06:00.400 --> 00:06:01.220 yeah, 00:06:01.340 --> 00:06:02.400 like some of you, 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:04.040 sometimes you buy something 00:06:04.040 --> 00:06:05.340 and it's just fake, right? 00:06:05.379 --> 00:06:06.520 It's not the real deal, 00:06:06.680 --> 00:06:08.259 or it doesn't work, 00:06:08.300 --> 00:06:09.240 or something like that. 00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:09.660 And so, 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:11.160 I've become a bit suspicious, 00:06:11.780 --> 00:06:12.840 especially when they say, 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:13.379 well, 00:06:13.520 --> 00:06:14.460 let's not beat up. 00:06:14.500 --> 00:06:15.480 I'll just post it to you. 00:06:15.540 --> 00:06:16.120 You pay me, 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:16.939 and I'll post it, 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:18.840 and then I don't want to do that, 00:06:18.860 --> 00:06:19.040 right? 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:21.260 I think we like to try before we buy. 00:06:21.660 --> 00:06:22.819 We don't know what it is. 00:06:22.900 --> 00:06:23.879 We don't know if it works. 00:06:25.100 --> 00:06:27.319 I think that's a natural instinct. 00:06:28.300 --> 00:06:29.480 But then as Christians, 00:06:30.140 --> 00:06:31.720 that same instinct can be difficult 00:06:31.720 --> 00:06:33.260 when it comes to our faith, right? 00:06:33.840 --> 00:06:35.280 Because so much of our faith, 00:06:35.420 --> 00:06:35.540 well, 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:37.620 you can't really try before you buy, right? 00:06:37.660 --> 00:06:39.420 We believe there's this invisible God 00:06:39.420 --> 00:06:40.439 who made us 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:41.340 and who made the world, 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:43.400 and one day he's coming back, 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:45.220 and if you trust him and follow him, 00:06:45.540 --> 00:06:46.220 it'll be great, 00:06:46.220 --> 00:06:47.280 and if you don't, 00:06:47.379 --> 00:06:48.939 then there'll be judgment, 00:06:49.620 --> 00:06:50.760 but you can't see it. 00:06:51.640 --> 00:06:53.319 You really don't, 00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:54.400 yeah, 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:57.160 it feels like blind faith, right? 00:06:57.300 --> 00:06:59.020 Because we don't see it, 00:06:59.080 --> 00:07:00.000 and that can be hard. 00:07:00.060 --> 00:07:01.560 It can be hard to tell your friends, 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:01.879 hey, 00:07:02.060 --> 00:07:02.740 believe this, 00:07:03.220 --> 00:07:03.920 when they say, 00:07:04.020 --> 00:07:04.140 well, 00:07:04.220 --> 00:07:04.720 why? 00:07:05.620 --> 00:07:05.879 Right? 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:06.900 I don't see it. 00:07:07.300 --> 00:07:08.700 It doesn't look like to be true, 00:07:09.640 --> 00:07:12.020 and even if we want to live for Jesus, 00:07:12.140 --> 00:07:12.300 right? 00:07:12.379 --> 00:07:12.820 You know, 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:15.759 Jesus asks us to give our whole lives to him. 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:17.200 That's quite a big investment. 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:20.639 I would buy something cheap on Scarborough Cell, 00:07:20.699 --> 00:07:24.060 but I wouldn't buy something big without seeing it. 00:07:24.199 --> 00:07:24.420 Well, 00:07:24.740 --> 00:07:26.439 would you give your whole life to Jesus 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:29.279 without actually seeing what his kingdom will be like, 00:07:29.319 --> 00:07:30.000 that he's promising? 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:32.860 That's kind of where we're going today, 00:07:32.939 --> 00:07:34.439 because that is something I think we feel. 00:07:34.519 --> 00:07:35.079 Maybe you're here, 00:07:35.139 --> 00:07:35.879 you're not a Christian. 00:07:36.540 --> 00:07:36.800 You know, 00:07:36.860 --> 00:07:37.779 it sounds all nice, 00:07:37.860 --> 00:07:39.180 but how do we know it's real? 00:07:39.300 --> 00:07:40.439 Why do we know what it's like? 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:42.120 And as Christians, 00:07:42.240 --> 00:07:42.360 yeah, 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:47.259 I think we need that just to keep living for Jesus with all its demands. 00:07:48.060 --> 00:07:49.100 And so that's where we're going. 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:49.959 Now, 00:07:50.100 --> 00:07:53.420 we're doing a sermon series on the work of the wonderful work of God. 00:07:53.420 --> 00:07:55.240 We're going through the storyline of the Bible, 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:57.759 but they're not just individual episodes, 00:07:57.860 --> 00:07:58.020 right? 00:07:58.060 --> 00:07:58.780 It's a storyline. 00:07:59.240 --> 00:08:00.580 And so we need to get that clear. 00:08:01.100 --> 00:08:02.120 And I think last week, 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:02.520 of course, 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:03.500 was Chinese New Year. 00:08:03.620 --> 00:08:04.819 Many of us were not here. 00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:09.060 And so I'll take a little bit more time to kind of review last week, 00:08:09.080 --> 00:08:12.920 because we need to see this week really in light of what happened last week. 00:08:13.960 --> 00:08:15.280 Where are we in the story? 00:08:15.700 --> 00:08:15.860 Well, 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:16.180 of course, 00:08:16.379 --> 00:08:19.200 the Bible story is the story of great hope, 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:23.279 of God's plan to reverse the fall. 00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:25.500 God made a perfect world. 00:08:25.959 --> 00:08:27.159 Everything was wonderful, 00:08:27.579 --> 00:08:28.180 Adam and Eve, 00:08:28.620 --> 00:08:29.819 but they rejected God. 00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:31.539 And everything went wrong. 00:08:31.819 --> 00:08:33.879 They were shut out from God's presence. 00:08:34.539 --> 00:08:35.759 The world is cursed, 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:37.659 but wonderfully in his grace, 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:38.399 God promises, 00:08:38.600 --> 00:08:39.759 I'm going to make things better. 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:43.080 So he appeared to a man called Abraham and promised, 00:08:43.259 --> 00:08:43.419 okay, 00:08:43.460 --> 00:08:45.039 I'm going to make a new kingdom. 00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:46.580 And with your descendants, 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:47.939 they're going to be my people, 00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:49.039 live in my place. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:49.879 It's like, 00:08:49.900 --> 00:08:51.300 he's going to make things right again. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:53.660 And so it was not just a promise, 00:08:53.740 --> 00:08:54.400 was a covenant. 00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:57.620 And God kind of promised to, 00:08:57.800 --> 00:08:58.100 uh, 00:08:58.960 --> 00:08:59.400 yeah. 00:08:59.460 --> 00:09:01.300 So the promises made is where we are. 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:02.280 Uh, 00:09:02.280 --> 00:09:03.400 he promised to Abraham. 00:09:03.560 --> 00:09:03.720 Yeah. 00:09:03.860 --> 00:09:04.920 That's basically God. 00:09:05.020 --> 00:09:08.240 He will reverse the consequences of the fall. 00:09:08.420 --> 00:09:09.900 I'm going to make the world right. 00:09:09.900 --> 00:09:11.960 I'm going to make things right again. 00:09:13.060 --> 00:09:14.660 But as we went on in the series, 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:15.020 uh, 00:09:15.020 --> 00:09:18.400 there was a problem because it's not just about the consequences, 00:09:18.560 --> 00:09:18.680 right? 00:09:18.679 --> 00:09:19.519 It's not just that, 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:20.120 uh, 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:22.539 all the suffering is gone and all the pain is gone. 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:24.579 Actually for God, 00:09:24.659 --> 00:09:27.639 the world to be right means that God needs to be at the center again. 00:09:27.739 --> 00:09:29.439 That is how the world is supposed to work. 00:09:29.620 --> 00:09:31.379 That is how the garden of Eden works. 00:09:31.379 --> 00:09:33.899 So that is what God is restoring. 00:09:33.899 --> 00:09:37.399 So he gave Israel this law that they need to keep to, 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:38.419 you know, 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:40.360 put himself at the center of life again, 00:09:40.360 --> 00:09:41.379 to make this wonderful, 00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:43.580 loving society where he is honored. 00:09:44.139 --> 00:09:44.840 But the, 00:09:45.220 --> 00:09:45.360 of course, 00:09:45.419 --> 00:09:46.860 the problem is that people are sinners. 00:09:46.860 --> 00:09:48.879 And so Israel, 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:49.200 they, 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:49.899 uh, 00:09:49.899 --> 00:09:50.980 they tried, 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:55.700 but actually often they didn't try and they rejected God and they suffered the consequences. 00:09:55.700 --> 00:09:57.600 And for hundreds of years, 00:09:57.600 --> 00:09:58.960 life just wasn't great. 00:09:59.300 --> 00:10:00.840 And they often suffered. 00:10:01.060 --> 00:10:02.019 Sometimes it was good. 00:10:02.419 --> 00:10:02.779 Uh, 00:10:02.779 --> 00:10:04.659 usually under a leader, 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:05.720 a leader, 00:10:05.839 --> 00:10:07.779 like a judge or a king. 00:10:08.620 --> 00:10:09.059 Now, 00:10:09.139 --> 00:10:09.379 uh, 00:10:09.379 --> 00:10:11.379 we hear king and we think of King Charles, 00:10:11.419 --> 00:10:14.100 or you hear judge and you think of this guy in a black rope. 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:15.439 And now think of a, 00:10:15.439 --> 00:10:17.600 a great warrior like Aragorn, 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:17.819 right? 00:10:17.860 --> 00:10:19.539 That kind of king from Lord of the Rings. 00:10:20.079 --> 00:10:20.919 And he, 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:21.279 uh, 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:24.279 he could rescue the people from their enemies, 00:10:24.439 --> 00:10:26.740 rescue them from the consequences of their sin. 00:10:27.339 --> 00:10:27.620 Uh, 00:10:27.620 --> 00:10:28.799 and then he would lead them. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:31.819 He would help them worship God and serve him. 00:10:31.820 --> 00:10:33.200 And things were good. 00:10:34.379 --> 00:10:34.780 Well, 00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:35.780 last week, 00:10:35.820 --> 00:10:39.020 then we came to David and David was, 00:10:39.020 --> 00:10:39.460 uh, 00:10:40.820 --> 00:10:41.460 the great, 00:10:41.560 --> 00:10:41.920 uh, 00:10:41.920 --> 00:10:45.720 king and David's and God made another covenant with him. 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:47.060 And he kind of confirmed, 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:47.280 well, 00:10:47.320 --> 00:10:48.960 this is how I'm going to solve it. 00:10:49.400 --> 00:10:51.680 And there was this problem of sin, 00:10:51.740 --> 00:10:53.379 but it's going to be solved. 00:10:53.900 --> 00:10:54.260 Um, 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:56.380 how do we see that to Samuel seven? 00:10:56.540 --> 00:10:59.480 If we can have that on the screen to Samuel seven, 00:10:59.580 --> 00:11:00.400 10 and 11, 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:02.159 a few slides on. 00:11:02.299 --> 00:11:02.439 Yeah, 00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:02.959 great. 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:04.759 This is what God promised. 00:11:04.840 --> 00:11:05.039 Uh, 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:05.620 verse 10, 00:11:06.259 --> 00:11:06.500 uh, 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:08.639 I will appoint a place for my people, 00:11:08.779 --> 00:11:09.199 Israel, 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:14.199 and will plant them so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed. 00:11:14.299 --> 00:11:14.919 No more. 00:11:15.079 --> 00:11:16.939 And violent men shall afflict them. 00:11:17.019 --> 00:11:21.340 No more as formerly from the time that I appointed judges over my people, 00:11:21.419 --> 00:11:21.779 Israel. 00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:23.199 God says, 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:24.780 I'm going to change it. 00:11:24.780 --> 00:11:28.420 All the kind of up and down and difficulty and oppression. 00:11:28.420 --> 00:11:29.580 That's going to be gone. 00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:32.920 So basically your sin is going to be dealt with. 00:11:33.379 --> 00:11:34.259 And how? 00:11:34.940 --> 00:11:35.300 Well, 00:11:35.460 --> 00:11:36.580 through a King. 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:37.820 Verse 12, 00:11:37.820 --> 00:11:39.260 when your days, 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:42.000 David are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:46.860 I will raise up your offspring after you who shall come from your body. 00:11:46.860 --> 00:11:48.820 And I will establish his kingdom. 00:11:49.420 --> 00:11:55.180 He shall build a house for my name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:00.219 I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a son. 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:03.239 And one day there'll be a, 00:12:03.459 --> 00:12:03.559 yeah, 00:12:03.639 --> 00:12:04.699 one of your descendants, 00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:07.399 he will be the King and he, 00:12:07.620 --> 00:12:08.939 his kingdom will last forever. 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:10.059 How will Israel, 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:11.599 you don't have peace forever? 00:12:11.819 --> 00:12:12.259 Well, 00:12:12.359 --> 00:12:15.659 because this guy's kingdom will last forever. 00:12:15.819 --> 00:12:19.279 So it is through this King that he's going to make things right. 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:21.359 And so those three confidence, 00:12:21.699 --> 00:12:22.919 if you kind of put them in a row, 00:12:23.740 --> 00:12:24.120 uh, 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:25.179 what is, 00:12:25.340 --> 00:12:25.759 yeah, 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:26.440 covenants, 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:27.620 usually they're the big messages. 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:30.220 So God will reverse the consequences of the fall. 00:12:30.299 --> 00:12:31.120 He's going to make the world, 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:31.440 right? 00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:34.720 But the cause of the fall needs to be dealt with sin. 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:36.980 And how is God going to do it? 00:12:37.060 --> 00:12:37.259 Well, 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:39.679 God will do it through his Davidic King. 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:42.620 And that's what God slowly is teaching. 00:12:42.700 --> 00:12:43.919 And I guess if you know the gospel, 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:44.740 right, 00:12:44.779 --> 00:12:45.220 that's it, 00:12:45.259 --> 00:12:45.399 right? 00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:46.440 God will make things right. 00:12:46.500 --> 00:12:48.060 And how is he going to solve the problem of sin? 00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:48.259 Well, 00:12:48.299 --> 00:12:49.360 through his King. 00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:50.279 Uh, 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:50.879 we know that. 00:12:52.419 --> 00:12:53.639 And so we are here. 00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:54.159 And, 00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:54.600 uh, 00:12:55.139 --> 00:12:55.460 well, 00:12:56.059 --> 00:12:57.399 that's the great promise, 00:12:57.480 --> 00:12:58.659 the promise of God's King, 00:12:58.740 --> 00:12:59.919 the promise of the Messiah. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:02.240 That's going to run through the whole Bible from now on. 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:04.740 And who better to look to then? 00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:04.960 Well, 00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:05.779 David's son, 00:13:06.319 --> 00:13:06.799 because, 00:13:06.919 --> 00:13:07.179 uh, 00:13:07.179 --> 00:13:08.080 after this promise, 00:13:08.199 --> 00:13:08.419 uh, 00:13:08.419 --> 00:13:08.720 David, 00:13:08.939 --> 00:13:09.360 you know, 00:13:09.439 --> 00:13:10.019 he sins, 00:13:10.199 --> 00:13:10.460 uh, 00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:11.819 the kingdom suffered, 00:13:11.819 --> 00:13:12.899 but was restored. 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:13.939 He got old. 00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:17.160 And the next King is one of his sons called Solomon. 00:13:17.920 --> 00:13:19.540 That's a good thing about a dynasty, 00:13:19.680 --> 00:13:19.820 right? 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:21.320 When the King gets old and dies, 00:13:21.400 --> 00:13:22.560 then there's a new King, 00:13:22.660 --> 00:13:23.120 his son. 00:13:24.400 --> 00:13:26.460 And what kind of King is he? 00:13:26.520 --> 00:13:27.820 We're going to look at him today. 00:13:28.140 --> 00:13:29.880 And he seems a great King, 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:31.700 especially in a chapter three. 00:13:31.820 --> 00:13:32.720 We didn't read it, 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:37.640 but it says that Solomon loved the Lord and walked in all the statues of David, 00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:37.900 right? 00:13:37.959 --> 00:13:38.779 He was like David. 00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:40.019 And, 00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:40.360 uh, 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:43.840 one day God appeared to him in a dream and asked, 00:13:43.939 --> 00:13:44.139 okay, 00:13:44.220 --> 00:13:44.500 Hey, 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:44.799 what, 00:13:44.939 --> 00:13:45.259 uh, 00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:46.319 what do you want Solomon? 00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:47.679 And Solomon said, 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:48.000 well, 00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:49.000 I, 00:13:49.139 --> 00:13:50.340 can you give me wisdom? 00:13:50.419 --> 00:13:50.600 You know, 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:50.799 I'm, 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:51.419 I'm just young. 00:13:51.539 --> 00:13:51.819 I'm, 00:13:52.179 --> 00:13:53.519 how can I rule this people? 00:13:53.699 --> 00:13:53.899 Uh, 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:54.740 three verse nine, 00:13:55.179 --> 00:13:56.079 give your servant, 00:13:56.299 --> 00:14:06.139 therefore an understanding mind to govern your people that I may discern between good and evil for who is able to govern this, your great people. 00:14:06.819 --> 00:14:06.960 I mean, 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:07.879 he's a real servant. 00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:08.220 Right. 00:14:08.579 --> 00:14:09.959 He wants to rule. 00:14:10.059 --> 00:14:10.319 Well, 00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:13.100 he wants to rule with justice and righteousness. 00:14:13.459 --> 00:14:14.259 And he says, 00:14:14.319 --> 00:14:15.379 I need wisdom for that. 00:14:15.439 --> 00:14:17.299 And so he asked for that and, 00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:18.399 and God gives it. 00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:20.259 He has great wisdom. 00:14:20.259 --> 00:14:20.779 And then, 00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:21.019 uh, 00:14:21.019 --> 00:14:23.240 there's this episode after that where he shows that, 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:24.000 uh, 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:24.919 verse 28, 00:14:25.539 --> 00:14:28.779 all Israel heard of the judgment that the King had rendered. 00:14:29.199 --> 00:14:35.379 And they stood in all of the King because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice. 00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:39.620 And so here's a King and he loves the Lord and he's humble. 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:41.620 And now he has supernatural wisdom. 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:43.940 And of course, 00:14:43.940 --> 00:14:44.480 God says, 00:14:44.580 --> 00:14:44.720 well, 00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:45.360 because you, 00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:46.759 you asked for the right thing, 00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:48.240 I'm going to give you everything else as well. 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:52.060 I'm going to give you riches and victory over your enemies and, 00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:52.720 and everything. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:55.879 And so certainly Solomon thought, 00:14:56.040 --> 00:14:56.320 well, 00:14:56.580 --> 00:14:57.440 he is the King. 00:14:58.060 --> 00:14:59.399 So in chapter eight, 00:14:59.500 --> 00:14:59.960 uh, 00:14:59.960 --> 00:15:01.259 when he dedicates the temple, 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:02.080 he prays, 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:03.180 uh, 00:15:03.180 --> 00:15:03.500 verses, 00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:03.860 uh, 00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:04.820 17 to 20, 00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:05.759 uh, 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:08.680 talks about the promise of David to David. 00:15:08.800 --> 00:15:09.940 Let's start at verse 19. 00:15:10.040 --> 00:15:10.440 Nevertheless, 00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:11.360 uh, 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:12.139 God said to David, 00:15:12.300 --> 00:15:13.540 you shall not build a house, 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:17.240 but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name. 00:15:17.560 --> 00:15:21.680 And now the Lord has fulfilled his promise that he made for, 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:23.840 I have risen in the place of David, 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:28.279 my father and sit on the throne of Israel as the Lord promised. 00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:30.759 And I've built a house for the name of the Lord, 00:15:30.820 --> 00:15:31.600 the God of Israel. 00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:35.419 And so here we now are here is God had promised. 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.899 It's going to be a son of David. 00:15:36.899 --> 00:15:41.100 And here is the son of David and he's godly and he has wisdom. 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:43.340 How are things going to turn out? 00:15:43.340 --> 00:15:47.060 And then we get seven chapters of, 00:15:47.060 --> 00:15:48.060 uh, 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:48.480 yeah, 00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:50.360 of Solomon's kingdom. 00:15:50.540 --> 00:15:55.540 And I'd call it promises fulfilled promises fulfilled. 00:15:55.620 --> 00:15:56.560 If you see this, 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:58.000 it's like, 00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:58.519 wow, 00:15:58.740 --> 00:16:00.960 God's promises are fulfilled. 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:02.360 So chapter four, 00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:04.019 look at Israel, 00:16:04.180 --> 00:16:04.600 uh, 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:05.340 four verse 20, 00:16:05.800 --> 00:16:09.519 Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea. 00:16:09.660 --> 00:16:12.800 They ate and drank and were happy. 00:16:13.340 --> 00:16:19.100 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Uradis to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. 00:16:20.060 --> 00:16:20.220 Uh, 00:16:20.300 --> 00:16:21.360 verse 24, 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:22.060 uh, 00:16:22.060 --> 00:16:24.820 they had peace all on all sides around him. 00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:29.019 Judah and Israel lived in safety from then even to bear Shabba, 00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:31.800 every man under his vine and under his victory, 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:33.240 all the days of Solomon. 00:16:34.040 --> 00:16:35.660 And so what is it like? 00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:37.660 Israel is a great nation, 00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:37.860 right? 00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:38.980 You can't even count them. 00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:41.000 There are so many and, 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.639 uh, 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:43.240 they are safe because, 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:43.580 uh, 00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:46.360 Solomon rules over the whole Middle East and there's no enemies. 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:50.220 And so it's peace and their safety and they are blessed, 00:16:50.300 --> 00:16:50.440 right? 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:53.519 They ate and drink and were happy and they, 00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:53.779 uh, 00:16:53.779 --> 00:16:53.960 you know, 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:54.840 work is good. 00:16:54.920 --> 00:16:58.000 They just rest under their vine and their victory. 00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:58.920 They're their farmers. 00:16:59.199 --> 00:16:59.379 And so, 00:16:59.459 --> 00:16:59.559 yeah, 00:16:59.599 --> 00:17:00.620 this is wonderful, 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:01.439 right? 00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:02.659 This is where they live. 00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:03.599 Life was wonderful. 00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:04.319 I mean, 00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:05.200 if you read on it, 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:05.940 it's crazy, 00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:06.720 right? 00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:07.019 Uh, 00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:08.319 things were so prosperous. 00:17:08.619 --> 00:17:08.940 Uh, 00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:10.519 it's not on the screen, 00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:10.779 but, 00:17:10.859 --> 00:17:10.960 uh, 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:12.079 10 verse 21, 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:19.740 all King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:21.440 None were of silver. 00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:24.519 Silver wasn't considered as anything in the days of Solomon, 00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:25.359 right? 00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:27.339 Can you imagine the silver is nothing? 00:17:27.339 --> 00:17:29.039 Just everything is of gold. 00:17:29.179 --> 00:17:31.599 That's how prosperous they were. 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:39.299 That's how blessed they were at this time under Solomon and all through this one king, 00:17:39.419 --> 00:17:39.599 right? 00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:40.740 For verse 29, 00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:44.740 God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, 00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:46.359 a breadth of mind, 00:17:46.439 --> 00:17:48.079 like the sand on the seashore. 00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:51.359 So that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people. 00:17:52.659 --> 00:17:53.959 Even some weird stuff, 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:54.220 right? 00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:56.259 Did you notice that verse about nature? 00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:57.559 That seems so weird, 00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:57.779 right? 00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:58.579 Verse 33, 00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:05.539 he spoke of trees from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:10.220 He spoke also of beasts and of birds and of reptiles and of fish. 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.559 You may wonder, 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:11.720 well, 00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:12.500 what's the point of that? 00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:14.519 Why is Solomon talking about birds and fish? 00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:16.460 Basically, 00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:18.720 we're going back to the garden of Eden, 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:19.440 right? 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:20.500 You know, 00:18:20.580 --> 00:18:21.860 back in the garden of Eden, 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:25.940 here was mankind created to have dominion over nature, 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:26.660 over the world, 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:27.960 to steward it for God, 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:28.680 right? 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:30.779 And so Solomon is like a new Adam, 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:31.680 right? 00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:32.660 Who has dominion, 00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.960 who knowledge is power, 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:34.180 right? 00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:36.180 He knows about birds and fish and reptiles. 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:38.059 So he rules over them. 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:40.240 Everything is like the garden of Eden, 00:18:40.320 --> 00:18:40.500 right? 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:44.660 You have trees and fruit and gold and peace. 00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:47.000 It's like we're back to the garden of Eden, 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:48.420 which was the whole goal, 00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:48.640 right? 00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:49.799 That was what God is doing. 00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:51.480 And it really looks like it, 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:53.799 a new Adam in a new garden. 00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:55.160 And of course, 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:56.019 the garden of Eden, 00:18:56.119 --> 00:18:57.240 what did it mainly have? 00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:58.500 It has God's presence. 00:18:59.299 --> 00:19:01.519 And so that's what Solomon does. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:03.000 He is greatest achievement. 00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:04.299 He builds the temple. 00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:08.000 We didn't read it because you get kind of three chapters of, 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:11.559 of measurements and three chapters of furnishings. 00:19:11.660 --> 00:19:14.059 And it seems quite boring, 00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:15.240 but actually it's not boring, 00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:15.500 right? 00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:17.200 This is God's house. 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:21.359 Who's going to move in with the people of Israel and just every measurement 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:24.660 kind of emphasizes God is really going to live there. 00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.819 And he does, 00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:26.059 right? 00:19:26.099 --> 00:19:30.019 They build a beautiful temple and it's so exciting. 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:33.460 They have a big dedication ceremony and they, 00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:34.380 they bring the ark, 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:37.180 which is the symbol of his presence into it. 00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:38.799 And then eight verse 10, 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:41.840 when the priests came out of the house, 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:42.880 out of the holy place, 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:47.759 a cloud filled the house of the Lord so that the priests could not stand to 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:52.720 minister because of the cloud for the glory of the Lord filled the house of 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.180 the Lord. 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:55.160 And God moved in. 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:57.680 God's glory came down in a cloud and, 00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:59.120 and took up residence. 00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:03.740 God was living with them and not just in a tent that he could move away again. 00:20:03.820 --> 00:20:03.980 No, 00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:05.900 in a house permanently. 00:20:05.900 --> 00:20:06.800 God had said, 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:08.240 I will be your God. 00:20:08.340 --> 00:20:09.380 You will be my people. 00:20:09.580 --> 00:20:12.019 And there he is living with them. 00:20:13.060 --> 00:20:14.340 It's a symbol of his, 00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:15.400 his presence, 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:15.759 his, 00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:16.740 his rule, 00:20:16.820 --> 00:20:17.560 his protection. 00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:19.040 God is with them. 00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:20.160 And again, 00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:21.680 God told David, 00:20:21.780 --> 00:20:22.920 your son is going to build it. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:23.860 And he did. 00:20:24.660 --> 00:20:25.100 And, 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:25.620 and even, 00:20:26.120 --> 00:20:26.280 yeah, 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:27.980 one more promise that he had made, 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:28.200 right? 00:20:28.360 --> 00:20:30.080 About the nations coming in. 00:20:30.800 --> 00:20:32.160 When God spoke to Abraham, 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:32.540 he says, 00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:32.779 Hey, 00:20:32.899 --> 00:20:33.500 through you, 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.819 all the nations will be blessed. 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:37.259 Uh, 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:38.599 do you wonder how's that going to happen? 00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:38.839 Well, 00:20:38.899 --> 00:20:39.379 God had said, 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:39.659 okay, 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.680 your descendants, 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:41.940 they're going to be so great. 00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:43.000 Everyone will see it. 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.180 And, 00:20:43.639 --> 00:20:44.460 and there'll be, 00:20:44.579 --> 00:20:45.259 wow. 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.000 Well, 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:47.899 isn't that what we read in chapter 10, 00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:48.119 right? 00:20:48.159 --> 00:20:48.359 The, 00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:49.200 the queen of Sheba. 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:50.299 She comes, 00:20:50.379 --> 00:20:50.680 I guess, 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:53.200 from Ethiopia or Sudan or something. 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:54.240 Uh, 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:54.960 10 verse one. 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:55.480 Now, 00:20:55.519 --> 00:21:00.180 when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, 00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:02.279 she came to test him with hard questions. 00:21:02.840 --> 00:21:05.579 She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:10.140 with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. 00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:11.900 And when she came to Solomon, 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:13.680 she told him all that was on her mind. 00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:16.259 And Solomon answered all her questions. 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:19.759 There was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:23.360 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:24.399 the house that he had built, 00:21:24.679 --> 00:21:25.459 the food of his table, 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:27.879 the seating of his officials and the attendance of his servants, 00:21:28.159 --> 00:21:28.619 their clothing, 00:21:28.719 --> 00:21:31.519 his cupbearers and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:33.319 there was no more breath in her. 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:34.479 Right? 00:21:34.779 --> 00:21:35.379 It's like, 00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:36.000 wow. 00:21:36.179 --> 00:21:37.240 This is unbelievable. 00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:38.299 What she saw. 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:40.019 What a great kingdom. 00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:41.019 And, 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:42.879 and what a great king, 00:21:42.959 --> 00:21:43.159 right? 00:21:43.219 --> 00:21:43.899 Verse nine, 00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:44.899 blessed be the Lord, 00:21:44.979 --> 00:21:45.419 your God, 00:21:45.479 --> 00:21:51.139 who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel because the Lord loved Israel forever. 00:21:51.139 --> 00:21:53.319 He's made you king that you may, 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:54.899 execute justice and righteousness. 00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:55.939 Right? 00:21:56.419 --> 00:22:00.740 What a great God who's given such a great king and built such a great kingdom. 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:02.839 The nations see it and, 00:22:02.919 --> 00:22:03.719 and are blessed. 00:22:03.859 --> 00:22:04.039 Right? 00:22:04.659 --> 00:22:05.299 That is, 00:22:05.379 --> 00:22:06.219 that was God's promise. 00:22:06.339 --> 00:22:07.719 Such an exciting moment. 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:08.379 Abraham, 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.519 just one old man, 00:22:09.719 --> 00:22:11.399 but now God has built this huge, 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.759 beautiful kingdom. 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:13.539 And, 00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:15.439 and the world is being blessed through it. 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:17.940 It took a while, 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.799 but it's happening. 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:22.080 And so all through these chapters, 00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:24.180 it really feels like fulfillment. 00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:25.299 Again, 00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:27.400 when Solomon prays, 00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:27.700 uh, 00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.360 chapter eight, 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:29.360 verses 23, 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:31.099 Oh, 00:22:31.099 --> 00:22:31.479 Lord, 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:32.299 God of Israel. 00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:33.539 There is no one like, 00:22:33.699 --> 00:22:37.159 no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, 00:22:37.659 --> 00:22:42.839 keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their hearts, 00:22:42.899 --> 00:22:44.799 who have kept with your servant, 00:22:44.919 --> 00:22:45.199 David, 00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:45.859 my father, 00:22:46.199 --> 00:22:47.279 what you declared to him. 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:51.579 You spoke with your mouth and with your hands have fulfilled it. 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.240 This day, 00:22:52.819 --> 00:22:54.579 you fulfilled it. 00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:56.039 Verse 56, 00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:58.359 blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people, 00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:58.819 Israel, 00:22:59.179 --> 00:23:00.980 according to all that he promised. 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:05.259 Not one word has failed of all his good promise, 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:07.019 which he spoke by Moses, 00:23:07.139 --> 00:23:07.679 his servant. 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.599 You can hear it, 00:23:09.659 --> 00:23:09.799 right? 00:23:10.199 --> 00:23:11.919 God has fulfilled every promise. 00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.279 It's, 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:13.059 he's done it, 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:13.299 right? 00:23:13.679 --> 00:23:15.199 What a beautiful kingdom. 00:23:15.199 --> 00:23:15.559 And, 00:23:15.699 --> 00:23:17.099 and the people are so happy. 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:17.980 Verse 66, 00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:18.919 on the eighth day, 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:22.679 he sent the people away and they blessed the king and went to their homes, 00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:28.320 joyful and glad of hearts for all the goodness that the Lord had shown to David, 00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:30.200 his servant and to Israel, 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:30.740 his people. 00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:32.640 I mean, 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:33.620 how would you feel, 00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:33.900 right? 00:23:34.360 --> 00:23:35.860 You can feel the joy. 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:37.940 You can feel the celebration of, 00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:39.060 you know, 00:23:39.120 --> 00:23:40.480 God fulfilling his promises. 00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:43.019 He said he would do it and he did it. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:43.820 And, 00:23:44.140 --> 00:23:44.500 you know, 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:46.460 that's one of the most important things about God, 00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:46.660 right? 00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:48.200 That he's faithful to his promises. 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:53.080 And these chapters are just beautiful fulfillment. 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:54.420 The people should be so happy. 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.019 and, 00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:56.500 and not just, 00:23:56.600 --> 00:23:56.680 you know, 00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:58.180 God is faithful to do some, 00:23:58.600 --> 00:23:58.880 anything. 00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:03.100 I think the amazing thing here is just seeing what God is doing, 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:03.680 right? 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:05.559 Look at, 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:05.900 uh, 00:24:05.900 --> 00:24:06.940 think about the Israelites, 00:24:07.100 --> 00:24:11.440 400 years of slavery and have 40 years in the desert. 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:16.519 And then hundreds of years under the judges with all the oppression and, 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:17.360 uh, 00:24:17.360 --> 00:24:18.559 enemies coming in. 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:24.340 But now each person sitting under their own vine and victory is the good life. 00:24:24.340 --> 00:24:26.539 They have more gold than they ever need. 00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:27.080 Uh, 00:24:27.080 --> 00:24:28.340 no one has any wants. 00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:32.200 All the centuries of war and oppression is gone. 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.519 They're safe. 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.340 There's peace. 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:35.680 Now, 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:37.759 because Solomon rules over the Middle East, 00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:38.340 uh, 00:24:38.340 --> 00:24:39.799 by their relationship with God, 00:24:39.860 --> 00:24:41.100 which was always shaking, 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:41.880 shaky. 00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:44.440 Now the temple in the middle of the city, 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:47.920 they have everything that they're fulfilling their purpose. 00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:48.259 God, 00:24:48.360 --> 00:24:49.680 the world is blessed through them. 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.620 It's amazing, 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:51.880 right? 00:24:52.340 --> 00:24:52.740 And actually, 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:54.740 and they had nothing to do with it. 00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:57.039 It was purely the King, 00:24:57.120 --> 00:24:57.320 right? 00:24:57.360 --> 00:24:58.799 It's all because of this wise, 00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.380 humble, 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:02.480 godly King who brought God's blessing to them. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:04.640 And it was just grace, 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:05.680 pure grace. 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:08.320 And it really feels, 00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:09.759 it feels like the end of revelation, 00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:10.059 right? 00:25:10.320 --> 00:25:11.259 They've been waiting. 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:12.559 They've been trusting. 00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:14.039 They've kept going. 00:25:14.360 --> 00:25:16.539 And now look at where it got them. 00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:19.259 And they are in the glorious kingdom. 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:20.420 It was worth the wait. 00:25:21.340 --> 00:25:22.779 And God is faithful. 00:25:23.120 --> 00:25:24.880 And what a beautiful kingdom. 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:28.860 of course, 00:25:28.860 --> 00:25:29.420 you may wonder, 00:25:29.520 --> 00:25:29.620 well, 00:25:29.620 --> 00:25:30.780 what does that mean for us? 00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:32.260 Because yeah, 00:25:32.360 --> 00:25:33.660 this looks beautiful, 00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:37.400 but you look outside and it's sunny today, 00:25:37.520 --> 00:25:39.640 but actually the world isn't quite what we read here, 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:39.840 right? 00:25:40.840 --> 00:25:41.240 Jerusalem, 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.200 you know, 00:25:42.260 --> 00:25:46.020 a few months ago was really not safe as we see it here. 00:25:46.860 --> 00:25:48.540 Did they live happily ever after? 00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:49.399 No, 00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:49.859 they didn't. 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:50.680 It was great, 00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:52.119 but it wasn't permanent. 00:25:52.399 --> 00:25:52.579 I mean, 00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:54.700 we're only 30% through the Bible story. 00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:56.940 As Christians, 00:25:57.059 --> 00:25:57.420 we know, 00:25:57.720 --> 00:25:58.359 actually Solomon, 00:25:59.159 --> 00:26:01.539 he turns out he wasn't that King. 00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:03.359 We'll look more at that next week. 00:26:04.639 --> 00:26:05.500 And Solomon was great, 00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:07.579 but he wasn't the true King. 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.400 That was Jesus. 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.980 Although then people wonder, 00:26:11.099 --> 00:26:11.200 well, 00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:12.299 if Solomon wasn't it, 00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:13.339 why bother? 00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:15.680 Can't we just go straight to Jesus and look at him, 00:26:16.339 --> 00:26:16.559 right? 00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:18.500 Why do we need the Old Testament? 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:21.579 Why spend so much time when we can just go straight to Jesus? 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.240 Well, 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:24.660 God wants us to go to Jesus. 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:25.680 Absolutely. 00:26:26.859 --> 00:26:27.039 Right? 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:30.140 But he wants us to go there via Solomon. 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:33.500 Because the thing is, 00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:34.039 yeah, 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:35.039 Solomon isn't Jesus, 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:38.399 but he is given to us as a picture of Jesus. 00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:39.579 Right? 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:42.079 So we can see what it will be like. 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.619 So the Old Testament, 00:26:43.899 --> 00:26:45.220 and especially these chapters, 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:46.099 well, 00:26:46.139 --> 00:26:48.759 I'd call it promises foreshadowed. 00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:52.759 And we need to understand why God gave us the Old Testament. 00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:54.240 And it's provide a picture, 00:26:54.379 --> 00:26:56.119 or maybe think of a scale model. 00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:57.279 Right? 00:26:57.379 --> 00:26:58.859 They're building some new estate, 00:26:59.099 --> 00:27:00.259 or some new building, 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.680 and they make some little model. 00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:02.599 And you can see, 00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:02.839 oh, 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.119 wow, 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:04.079 that's really great. 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:06.639 I want to buy an apartment there. 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.799 I want to invest in this. 00:27:07.859 --> 00:27:08.000 Right? 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:08.519 Otherwise, 00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:10.339 you wouldn't invest when people just say, 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:10.960 okay, 00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:12.679 I'll make a great building. 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.679 Do you want to buy, 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.659 invest? 00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:15.339 Well, 00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.519 show me. 00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:18.539 And so you have this scale model. 00:27:18.900 --> 00:27:19.000 Right? 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:19.639 That's the idea. 00:27:19.639 --> 00:27:22.480 You have a little picture of what it will be like. 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:24.920 And so that is what God is doing. 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:27.359 The Old Testament is a scale model. 00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:29.720 It's a preview of God's kingdom. 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.859 And we have a small rescue, 00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:33.259 and a small king, 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:34.259 and a small kingdom. 00:27:35.660 --> 00:27:38.559 Because it's a picture of a great rescue, 00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:39.879 and a great king, 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:41.299 and a great kingdom. 00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:43.319 That is what God is doing. 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:43.899 Right? 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:46.099 So pointing to something bigger, 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:46.759 Jesus says, 00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:47.039 yeah, 00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:48.659 someone greater than Solomon. 00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:49.659 That's who I am. 00:27:50.419 --> 00:27:51.159 And the thing is, 00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:51.940 we need that. 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:55.559 I think we need to see what it's going to be like, 00:27:55.639 --> 00:27:58.379 because otherwise it's so abstract. 00:27:59.080 --> 00:27:59.260 You know, 00:27:59.420 --> 00:28:01.000 God is restoring his kingdom. 00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:02.680 What does that mean? 00:28:03.340 --> 00:28:04.860 God is reversing the fall. 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:06.780 Yeah, 00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:06.960 well, 00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:07.700 what does that look like? 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.300 We don't know, 00:28:08.360 --> 00:28:08.540 right? 00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:11.380 Even think of something as simple, 00:28:11.780 --> 00:28:12.760 going to heaven. 00:28:13.260 --> 00:28:13.440 Right, 00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:13.800 Christians? 00:28:13.900 --> 00:28:14.880 We're going to go to heaven. 00:28:15.340 --> 00:28:16.400 What will that be like? 00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:17.660 I mean, 00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:18.100 to be honest, 00:28:18.100 --> 00:28:20.040 most of us have some funny ideas about it, 00:28:20.060 --> 00:28:20.240 right? 00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:22.180 Stereotypical ideas, 00:28:22.360 --> 00:28:23.840 maybe sitting on a cloud, 00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.700 in a white dress, 00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.380 with a harp, 00:28:25.540 --> 00:28:25.720 right? 00:28:25.780 --> 00:28:27.420 That's what many of us think. 00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:29.120 This is what it's going to be like, 00:28:29.120 --> 00:28:31.560 or otherwise the eternal worship service, 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:33.400 where forever we have our hands in the air. 00:28:33.940 --> 00:28:34.539 I don't know. 00:28:34.600 --> 00:28:35.720 That's kind of what we expect, 00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:35.960 right? 00:28:37.840 --> 00:28:38.420 Maybe you're, 00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.160 especially if you're here, 00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:39.840 you're not a Christian. 00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:40.240 Actually, 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:40.860 yeah, 00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:41.660 you can go to heaven. 00:28:41.860 --> 00:28:42.039 Well, 00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:43.240 the thing is, 00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:45.019 does this sound exciting? 00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:50.019 No wonder the world has such a hold on us, 00:28:50.060 --> 00:28:50.240 right? 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:52.560 Why do we obsess with our job, 00:28:53.060 --> 00:28:54.180 and our relationships, 00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:55.300 and entertainment, 00:28:55.580 --> 00:28:56.100 and travel? 00:28:56.600 --> 00:28:56.880 Why? 00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:57.820 Well, 00:28:57.900 --> 00:29:00.000 because we think heaven is not going to be very special, 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:00.460 right? 00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:03.800 And so we want to really get more out of this life. 00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:04.940 I mean, 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:06.820 it's like God's giving us these two choices, 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:07.140 right? 00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:07.420 Okay, 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:08.360 you can burn in hell, 00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:09.759 or you can sit on a cloud. 00:29:09.860 --> 00:29:10.600 What do you choose? 00:29:11.100 --> 00:29:11.820 I think most of us, 00:29:11.860 --> 00:29:11.940 yeah, 00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:12.740 we choose the cloud. 00:29:13.800 --> 00:29:15.300 But we're not excited about it, 00:29:15.320 --> 00:29:15.480 right? 00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:17.860 It's not really giving, 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:19.779 worth giving your whole life for, 00:29:19.860 --> 00:29:20.779 really living for. 00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:22.759 Well, 00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:23.500 you know, 00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:23.640 yeah, 00:29:23.700 --> 00:29:23.880 you know, 00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:24.700 this famous cartoon, 00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:24.940 right? 00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:26.259 From Gary Lawson, 00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:27.700 this guy sitting on a cloud, 00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:28.879 wish I'd bought a magazine. 00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:31.779 That's how we feel, 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:32.019 right? 00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:34.740 And so, 00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:35.019 yeah, 00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:35.740 that's how we live. 00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.259 YOLO. 00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:37.819 Make the most of life now. 00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:41.099 But look at these chapters. 00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:45.779 Look at this concrete picture of what God is doing. 00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:48.200 Isn't this what we want? 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:49.519 I mean, 00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:51.419 especially for a lot of people in the world, 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:51.659 right? 00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:53.200 Imagine the people in Ukraine. 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:58.659 Wouldn't they long for a place where there's peace, 00:29:58.660 --> 00:30:00.740 and no more enemy attacks, 00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.820 and safety, 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:04.820 where they have a chance to just live normally. 00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:06.100 You know, 00:30:06.140 --> 00:30:09.519 so many of the poor and oppressed people in the world, 00:30:09.620 --> 00:30:15.240 wouldn't they want to live here in abundance and prosperity with everything they desire, 00:30:15.340 --> 00:30:17.460 rather than just fearing for their life? 00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:19.460 Not because of anything they did, 00:30:19.540 --> 00:30:21.180 just because of the blessing of this king. 00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:23.580 And how about us? 00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:23.880 I mean, 00:30:24.100 --> 00:30:24.160 we, 00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:24.320 we, 00:30:24.320 --> 00:30:24.420 we, 00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:24.940 we, 00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.560 materially, 00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.840 most of us are pretty well off, 00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:27.039 right? 00:30:27.080 --> 00:30:27.240 We, 00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:29.820 we don't care much about the vine and the fig tree. 00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.019 But so, 00:30:32.120 --> 00:30:34.320 how many of us feel trapped in our jobs? 00:30:34.840 --> 00:30:35.140 You know, 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:36.320 and it's hard work, 00:30:36.360 --> 00:30:37.180 and it's demanding, 00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:38.420 and in a way, 00:30:38.460 --> 00:30:39.140 you're miserable, 00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:41.120 and you feel trapped and stressed. 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.560 Wouldn't you want to be here, 00:30:44.660 --> 00:30:44.740 and, 00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.500 and just eat, 00:30:45.600 --> 00:30:45.960 and drink, 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:46.640 and be happy, 00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.940 and have a fulfilling, 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:50.240 normal work that, 00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:51.000 that, 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:52.120 that is peaceful, 00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:52.819 right? 00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:54.000 How about, 00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:56.180 if we're fearful of what might happen, 00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:56.759 you know, 00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:57.839 of the next accident, 00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:58.579 or disaster, 00:30:58.759 --> 00:31:00.039 or what the economy will do, 00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:01.700 but then to just live here, 00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:02.240 and, 00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:02.480 and, 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.120 and, 00:31:03.120 --> 00:31:05.319 and there's nothing bad that will happen, 00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:06.819 and everything will just be great. 00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:08.079 Or, 00:31:08.099 --> 00:31:09.779 or when we feel far from God, 00:31:09.859 --> 00:31:10.039 and, 00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:11.220 it's shaky, 00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:13.660 and we're always afraid that our sin gets in the way, 00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:15.519 to just know that, 00:31:15.640 --> 00:31:15.819 okay, 00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:16.460 we have a, 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:18.019 a glorious king, 00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:19.480 and God's glory has come down, 00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:20.700 and is with you forever, 00:31:21.140 --> 00:31:22.259 isn't that what we want? 00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:23.220 Or, 00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:24.240 just if you're struggling, 00:31:24.860 --> 00:31:25.099 you know, 00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:26.860 the king will do everything, 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:28.120 and you can just relax, 00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:30.240 wouldn't it be such a wonderful kingdom? 00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:31.759 And, 00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:32.500 this is great, 00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:33.680 if God did just this, 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.579 this would be wonderful, 00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:36.980 except that he's doing a new creation, 00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:38.259 that's a million times better, 00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:39.319 like this, 00:31:39.380 --> 00:31:40.160 but even greater. 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:42.400 Isn't that wonderful? 00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:42.819 And, 00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:44.140 we just don't think about it, 00:31:44.140 --> 00:31:46.520 and so we're not excited about it. 00:31:47.860 --> 00:31:48.240 Again, 00:31:48.620 --> 00:31:49.300 20 years ago, 00:31:49.360 --> 00:31:50.460 we were in this Bible study, 00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.380 with Koreans, 00:31:51.560 --> 00:31:52.720 and there was this one girl, 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:53.940 and we told her, 00:31:54.040 --> 00:31:54.820 and she was not a Christian, 00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:55.160 hey, 00:31:55.280 --> 00:31:56.380 if you believe in Jesus, 00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.720 you can have eternal life. 00:31:58.740 --> 00:31:59.540 And she thought, 00:31:59.580 --> 00:32:00.240 I don't want it. 00:32:00.800 --> 00:32:01.300 Why not? 00:32:01.840 --> 00:32:03.020 I don't like my life. 00:32:03.100 --> 00:32:04.180 Why would I want to live forever? 00:32:05.060 --> 00:32:05.300 Yeah, 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:07.400 if you think eternal life is just, 00:32:08.580 --> 00:32:09.200 normal, 00:32:09.320 --> 00:32:09.440 yeah, 00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:10.540 if you don't know what it is, 00:32:10.860 --> 00:32:12.200 you're not excited about it. 00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:13.100 So we explained, 00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:13.440 hey, 00:32:13.840 --> 00:32:15.420 eternal is about quality, 00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:16.340 not just quantity, 00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:18.140 and she got it, 00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:19.080 and she wanted it, 00:32:19.120 --> 00:32:20.120 and she turned to Christ, 00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:20.340 right? 00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:23.200 This is what we want. 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:24.140 This is so beautiful. 00:32:24.400 --> 00:32:25.880 I hope as a Christian, 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:27.480 that you are excited about this. 00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:28.360 If you're here, 00:32:28.380 --> 00:32:29.059 and you're visiting, 00:32:29.840 --> 00:32:31.240 this is a picture, 00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:32.620 of what Christianity offers. 00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:33.740 This is a picture, 00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:35.259 of the world as it should be, 00:32:35.640 --> 00:32:36.620 as it once was, 00:32:36.700 --> 00:32:37.500 but that we ruined, 00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:39.120 but God is graciously, 00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:41.380 making it again. 00:32:41.380 --> 00:32:43.500 If we turn to Jesus, 00:32:43.620 --> 00:32:44.400 and come to him, 00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:45.920 and let him do it, 00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:46.100 right? 00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:47.240 Because we can't do it. 00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:49.000 Isn't that so beautiful? 00:32:49.320 --> 00:32:49.500 You know, 00:32:49.760 --> 00:32:50.780 I hope you feel excited, 00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:51.240 and yeah, 00:32:51.300 --> 00:32:52.340 not just about the kingdom, 00:32:53.060 --> 00:32:53.440 but again, 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:54.220 about the king, 00:32:54.320 --> 00:32:55.000 our great king, 00:32:55.100 --> 00:32:55.420 Jesus, 00:32:55.560 --> 00:32:55.760 right? 00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:57.160 Because all of this, 00:32:57.260 --> 00:32:58.520 is just because of Solomon. 00:32:58.660 --> 00:32:59.180 The Israelites, 00:32:59.720 --> 00:33:00.440 they just ate, 00:33:00.560 --> 00:33:01.000 and drank, 00:33:01.060 --> 00:33:01.680 and were happy, 00:33:02.100 --> 00:33:02.820 but the king, 00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:03.660 did everything. 00:33:03.780 --> 00:33:04.880 The godly king, 00:33:05.380 --> 00:33:06.600 supernatural wisdom, 00:33:07.160 --> 00:33:08.020 doing justice, 00:33:08.020 --> 00:33:09.080 and righteousness, 00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:12.119 and who received God's blessing, 00:33:12.199 --> 00:33:13.299 and gave it to the people, 00:33:14.059 --> 00:33:15.299 and Jesus is like that, 00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:16.399 but a million times better. 00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:18.319 Isn't that what we want? 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:19.460 Yeah, 00:33:19.460 --> 00:33:19.659 so, 00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:20.259 yeah, 00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:21.799 I hope this encourages us, 00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:23.039 that we just feel, 00:33:23.199 --> 00:33:24.699 that we want to long for it, 00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:25.799 we want to live for this, 00:33:25.859 --> 00:33:26.019 right? 00:33:26.439 --> 00:33:26.819 You know, 00:33:26.899 --> 00:33:27.419 tomorrow, 00:33:27.579 --> 00:33:28.899 when you're going back to work, 00:33:29.159 --> 00:33:30.599 isn't this such a great hope? 00:33:30.659 --> 00:33:31.439 Isn't it worth, 00:33:31.539 --> 00:33:31.699 yeah, 00:33:31.819 --> 00:33:33.159 I'm going to live for Jesus, 00:33:33.299 --> 00:33:33.740 I'm going to, 00:33:34.339 --> 00:33:35.419 whatever it costs, 00:33:35.600 --> 00:33:36.720 this is so wonderful, 00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:37.720 I want to be there, 00:33:37.800 --> 00:33:38.759 I want to live for Jesus, 00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:39.880 Jesus is so wonderful. 00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:41.500 That is what these chapters, 00:33:41.900 --> 00:33:42.500 should do. 00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:46.420 And again, 00:33:47.560 --> 00:33:48.920 it's not just a picture, 00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:50.820 remember, 00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:52.100 this is more than a picture, 00:33:52.660 --> 00:33:54.460 because it all sounds great, 00:33:54.539 --> 00:33:55.400 but how do we know, 00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.759 it will really happen? 00:33:57.920 --> 00:33:58.140 Well, 00:33:58.279 --> 00:33:59.360 this was not just a picture, 00:33:59.480 --> 00:33:59.600 right? 00:33:59.660 --> 00:34:00.500 This was real, 00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:01.860 there really was, 00:34:01.900 --> 00:34:02.759 a glorious kingdom, 00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:04.619 and that's why, 00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:05.460 there's this emphasis, 00:34:05.619 --> 00:34:06.640 on God's faithfulness, 00:34:06.740 --> 00:34:07.579 God did it, 00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:09.260 God doesn't just say things, 00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:10.440 he says it, 00:34:11.320 --> 00:34:12.300 and that's the other reason, 00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:13.199 why the Old Testament, 00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:14.199 is so important, 00:34:14.340 --> 00:34:15.159 it doesn't just give us, 00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:17.079 a nice earthly picture, 00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:18.480 that we can understand, 00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:20.380 it is actually, 00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:21.639 a real action, 00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:23.079 in history, 00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:23.420 right? 00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:24.980 Because so many religions, 00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:26.159 it's just a philosophy, 00:34:26.860 --> 00:34:27.820 it's just rules, 00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:30.199 but philosophy doesn't, 00:34:30.820 --> 00:34:31.019 you know, 00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:31.960 you can't really check it, 00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:32.659 you can't really see, 00:34:32.780 --> 00:34:33.260 if it's real, 00:34:34.780 --> 00:34:36.519 but Bible is history, 00:34:36.720 --> 00:34:36.860 right? 00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:37.940 People back then, 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:39.199 they saw it, 00:34:39.260 --> 00:34:40.199 and they touched it, 00:34:40.360 --> 00:34:41.260 and these days, 00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:41.619 we can, 00:34:41.740 --> 00:34:42.019 you know, 00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:42.840 we can dig it up, 00:34:43.400 --> 00:34:43.579 right? 00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:44.720 God doesn't just say, 00:34:44.800 --> 00:34:45.400 he is faithful, 00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.380 he shows it, 00:34:46.699 --> 00:34:47.579 that he is faithful, 00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:48.840 right? 00:34:49.240 --> 00:34:49.800 God says, 00:34:49.900 --> 00:34:50.579 and you will know me, 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:51.579 by my actions, 00:34:51.760 --> 00:34:52.380 well then we need, 00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:53.280 some actions for him, 00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:53.519 right? 00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:54.119 To know him, 00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:55.599 and that's what we have, 00:34:56.380 --> 00:34:56.559 yeah? 00:34:56.940 --> 00:34:57.619 So in a way, 00:34:57.679 --> 00:34:57.780 yeah, 00:34:57.780 --> 00:34:59.300 you can try before you buy, 00:34:59.400 --> 00:35:00.539 you can see what it's like, 00:35:00.539 --> 00:35:01.559 and you can see, 00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:02.500 God is doing it, 00:35:02.900 --> 00:35:03.739 and God can do it, 00:35:03.779 --> 00:35:04.239 that's why, 00:35:04.360 --> 00:35:05.719 all through the Old Testament, 00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:07.199 history is so important, 00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:07.519 right? 00:35:07.719 --> 00:35:08.880 That's why they keep remembering, 00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:09.519 the Exodus, 00:35:10.159 --> 00:35:10.279 yeah, 00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:12.139 God really rescued us from Egypt, 00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:12.920 that was real, 00:35:13.179 --> 00:35:14.420 and we want to remember that, 00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:16.460 not just because it's a story, 00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:17.480 a nice story, 00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:18.320 it is real, 00:35:19.320 --> 00:35:20.639 it helps them remember God, 00:35:20.679 --> 00:35:21.699 as they're rescuing God, 00:35:21.779 --> 00:35:23.219 and it's the same for us, 00:35:23.279 --> 00:35:23.440 right? 00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:24.440 If God is real, 00:35:24.440 --> 00:35:26.059 his actions are real, 00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:27.779 and so his coming kingdom, 00:35:27.920 --> 00:35:28.980 is real, 00:35:29.440 --> 00:35:30.779 and so when he says, 00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:31.480 I can do this, 00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:32.219 we believe him, 00:35:33.400 --> 00:35:34.920 and supremely of course again, 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:36.179 in Jesus, 00:35:36.860 --> 00:35:37.059 right? 00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:38.119 How do we know Jesus, 00:35:38.239 --> 00:35:39.099 is such a great king? 00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:41.340 How do we know Jesus, 00:35:41.519 --> 00:35:42.980 can heal the world, 00:35:43.099 --> 00:35:43.920 and bring justice? 00:35:44.860 --> 00:35:45.779 We've seen it, 00:35:45.900 --> 00:35:46.059 right? 00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:48.199 Because Jesus was really here, 00:35:48.299 --> 00:35:49.320 2000 years ago, 00:35:49.420 --> 00:35:50.139 people saw it, 00:35:50.840 --> 00:35:52.059 he showed who he is, 00:35:52.059 --> 00:35:53.440 by his miracles, 00:35:53.659 --> 00:35:54.420 and his actions, 00:35:54.420 --> 00:35:56.420 and he showed his love, 00:35:56.519 --> 00:35:57.800 by dying for our sins, 00:35:58.300 --> 00:35:59.280 and he showed his power, 00:35:59.280 --> 00:35:59.900 over death, 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:01.740 by rising from the dead, 00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:02.220 right? 00:36:02.980 --> 00:36:03.940 We have a faith, 00:36:04.099 --> 00:36:05.420 built on history, 00:36:05.579 --> 00:36:06.480 built on reality, 00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:08.019 built on a real God, 00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:08.960 who was really here, 00:36:10.159 --> 00:36:11.519 as the culmination, 00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:12.440 of what we see here, 00:36:12.860 --> 00:36:13.659 in the Old Testament, 00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:15.900 so let these chapters, 00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:17.079 strengthen our faith, 00:36:17.159 --> 00:36:17.800 it is real, 00:36:18.480 --> 00:36:19.460 it's happened before, 00:36:20.360 --> 00:36:21.539 it will happen again.