WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.300
 Good morning, everyone. It's good to worship with you.

00:00:02.520 --> 00:00:05.900
 Please turn with me in your Bibles to Exodus chapter 25.

00:00:07.140 --> 00:00:11.220
 And if you can keep your finger there and turn also to Exodus 37,

00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:12.919
 I'm going to read from two places.

00:00:13.660 --> 00:00:18.320
 Exodus 25, 10 to 22, giving us instructions about the construction of the ark

00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:22.280
 and the mercy seat, and then Exodus 37, 1 to 9,

00:00:22.859 --> 00:00:26.980
 describing the fulfillment of those instructions and the actual building of it.

00:00:26.980 --> 00:00:30.760
 And for those of you who don't know me, my name is Sean.

00:00:30.839 --> 00:00:32.740
 I'm one of the pastors of Trinity Cambridge Church,

00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:36.719
 and it's my joy to preach God's Word to you this morning.

00:00:38.700 --> 00:00:40.659
 If you don't have a Bible, just raise your hand.

00:00:40.740 --> 00:00:42.340
 We'll bring one over to you that you can use.

00:00:43.219 --> 00:00:46.320
 If not, let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word.

00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:56.880
 Heavenly Father, thank you for inviting us to draw near to you.

00:00:56.979 --> 00:01:01.319
 Promising that when we do, that you will draw near to us.

00:01:05.399 --> 00:01:10.459
 We draw near to you now, inclining our hearts, our ears to your Word.

00:01:12.200 --> 00:01:16.759
 Draw near to us in speaking, addressing us from your Word.

00:01:16.760 --> 00:01:26.020
 Lord, make us stand in awe of you, your holiness, your glory.

00:01:30.180 --> 00:01:35.180
 But also strike us in you with wonder of your mercy.

00:01:35.180 --> 00:01:43.000
 That it's because of what Jesus has done

00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:48.000
 that we can approach you boldly, with faith, with confidence,

00:01:48.840 --> 00:01:51.760
 knowing that we will receive mercy to help us in our time of need.

00:01:55.360 --> 00:01:56.400
 Help us now, Lord.

00:01:56.480 --> 00:01:57.320
 We need your mercy.

00:01:57.319 --> 00:01:59.659
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:02:00.099 --> 00:02:00.419
 Amen.

00:02:03.459 --> 00:02:06.399
 If you would please stand for the reading of God's Word

00:02:06.399 --> 00:02:08.900
 from Exodus 25, verses 10 to 22.

00:02:08.900 --> 00:02:16.860
 They shall make an ark of acacia wood.

00:02:17.860 --> 00:02:21.159
 Two cubits and a half shall be its length,

00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:23.879
 a cubit and a half its breadth,

00:02:24.200 --> 00:02:26.520
 and a cubit and a half its height.

00:02:27.400 --> 00:02:30.080
 You shall overlay it with pure gold.

00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:33.640
 Inside and outside shall you overlay it,

00:02:33.639 --> 00:02:36.879
 and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it.

00:02:37.459 --> 00:02:39.979
 You shall cast four rings of gold for it

00:02:39.979 --> 00:02:41.500
 and put them on its four feet,

00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:43.859
 two rings on the one side of it,

00:02:44.199 --> 00:02:46.359
 and two rings on the other side of it.

00:02:47.239 --> 00:02:49.319
 You shall make poles of acacia wood

00:02:49.319 --> 00:02:50.560
 and overlay them with gold.

00:02:51.039 --> 00:02:53.319
 And you shall put the poles into the rings

00:02:53.319 --> 00:02:56.359
 on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them.

00:02:57.179 --> 00:02:59.459
 The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark.

00:02:59.459 --> 00:03:01.539
 They shall not be taken from it.

00:03:01.539 --> 00:03:04.439
 And you shall put into the ark the testimony

00:03:04.439 --> 00:03:05.639
 that I shall give you.

00:03:08.060 --> 00:03:11.000
 You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold.

00:03:11.799 --> 00:03:14.439
 Two cubits and a half shall be its length,

00:03:14.939 --> 00:03:16.899
 and a cubit and a half its breadth.

00:03:17.799 --> 00:03:20.199
 And you shall make two cherubim of gold.

00:03:20.599 --> 00:03:22.539
 Of hammered work shall you make them

00:03:22.539 --> 00:03:24.659
 on the two ends of the mercy seat.

00:03:25.340 --> 00:03:27.180
 Make one cherub on the one end

00:03:27.180 --> 00:03:29.120
 and one cherub on the other end.

00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:31.580
 Of one piece with the mercy seat

00:03:31.580 --> 00:03:33.920
 shall you make the cherubim on its two ends.

00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:37.340
 The cherubim shall spread out their wings above,

00:03:37.819 --> 00:03:40.379
 overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings,

00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:42.200
 their faces one to another.

00:03:43.140 --> 00:03:46.300
 Toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be.

00:03:47.259 --> 00:03:50.500
 And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark,

00:03:50.860 --> 00:03:52.659
 and in the ark you shall put the testimony

00:03:52.659 --> 00:03:53.900
 that I shall give you.

00:03:53.900 --> 00:03:56.939
 There I will meet with you.

00:03:57.659 --> 00:03:59.360
 And from above the mercy seat,

00:03:59.819 --> 00:04:01.240
 from between the two cherubim

00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:02.700
 that are on the ark of the testimony,

00:04:03.040 --> 00:04:05.219
 I will speak with you

00:04:05.219 --> 00:04:07.580
 about all that I will give you

00:04:07.580 --> 00:04:09.700
 in a commandment for the people of Israel.

00:04:11.200 --> 00:04:14.200
 Skipping forward to Exodus 37, verses one to nine.

00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:18.920
 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood.

00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:21.740
 Two cubits and a half was its length.

00:04:21.740 --> 00:04:24.280
 A cubit and a half its breadth.

00:04:24.740 --> 00:04:26.060
 And a cubit and a half its height.

00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:29.439
 And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside.

00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:31.720
 And made a molding of gold around it.

00:04:32.060 --> 00:04:35.199
 And he cast for it four rings of gold for its four feet.

00:04:35.579 --> 00:04:37.060
 Two rings on its one side

00:04:37.060 --> 00:04:38.759
 and two rings on its other side.

00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:41.079
 And he made poles of acacia wood

00:04:41.079 --> 00:04:42.519
 and overlaid them with gold.

00:04:43.079 --> 00:04:44.860
 And put the poles into the rings

00:04:44.860 --> 00:04:46.759
 on the sides of the ark to carry the ark.

00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:49.680
 And he made a mercy seat of pure gold.

00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:51.540
 Two cubits and a half was its length.

00:04:51.540 --> 00:04:53.340
 And a cubit and a half its breadth.

00:04:53.640 --> 00:04:55.400
 And he made two cherubim of gold.

00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:57.460
 He made them of hammered work

00:04:57.460 --> 00:04:58.980
 on the two ends of the mercy seat.

00:04:59.140 --> 00:05:00.439
 One cherub on the one end

00:05:00.439 --> 00:05:02.160
 and one cherub on the other end.

00:05:02.860 --> 00:05:04.600
 Of one piece with the mercy seat,

00:05:04.700 --> 00:05:06.420
 he made the cherubim on its two ends.

00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:08.879
 The cherubim spread out their wings above,

00:05:09.060 --> 00:05:11.100
 overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings,

00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:13.180
 with their faces one to another.

00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:15.080
 Toward the mercy seat

00:05:15.080 --> 00:05:17.220
 were the faces of the cherubim.

00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:19.920
 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:21.199
 You may be seated this time.

00:05:25.800 --> 00:05:28.819
 Even some people who don't know anything

00:05:28.819 --> 00:05:31.060
 about the Old Testament and the tabernacle

00:05:31.060 --> 00:05:35.460
 still know something about the ark of the covenant,

00:05:36.220 --> 00:05:40.300
 mainly because of the 1981 Harrison Ford movie,

00:05:40.840 --> 00:05:41.560
 Indiana Jones,

00:05:41.819 --> 00:05:43.560
 and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

00:05:43.560 --> 00:05:45.459
 I think I was talking to Aubrey about this

00:05:45.459 --> 00:05:47.000
 a couple weeks ago

00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:49.199
 and talking about what's inaccurate and accurate

00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:50.300
 in the portrayal in the movie.

00:05:50.899 --> 00:05:52.240
 And in the movie,

00:05:52.620 --> 00:05:55.240
 the United States government gets wind of the fact

00:05:55.240 --> 00:05:57.879
 that the Nazis are trying to find the Lost Ark

00:05:57.879 --> 00:05:59.399
 to aid them in their conquest.

00:06:00.060 --> 00:06:02.699
 So they hire the archaeologist and adventurer,

00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:03.560
 Indiana Jones,

00:06:03.740 --> 00:06:05.920
 to find it and secure it

00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:07.300
 before the Nazis do.

00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:10.439
 And there's a fascinating dialogue there

00:06:10.439 --> 00:06:12.680
 where an army major asks Indiana Jones

00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:13.819
 what the ark looked like.

00:06:14.660 --> 00:06:17.139
 And Indiana Jones shows him a drawing of it

00:06:17.139 --> 00:06:18.779
 where the Jews are in battle

00:06:18.779 --> 00:06:20.480
 and the ark is in their midst

00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:21.360
 and there's light,

00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:23.980
 some kind of power of God emanating from the ark

00:06:23.980 --> 00:06:25.420
 and devastating their enemies.

00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:29.120
 And then the major looks at the drawing

00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:29.860
 and then responds,

00:06:30.579 --> 00:06:33.159
 I'm beginning to understand Hitler's interest in this.

00:06:34.100 --> 00:06:35.319
 And Marcus Brody,

00:06:35.459 --> 00:06:36.639
 a fellow archaeologist

00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:38.819
 and colleague of Indiana Jones,

00:06:38.819 --> 00:06:39.500
 adds this,

00:06:39.819 --> 00:06:40.259
 oh yes,

00:06:40.860 --> 00:06:42.339
 the Bible speaks of the ark

00:06:42.339 --> 00:06:43.259
 leveling mountains

00:06:43.259 --> 00:06:45.759
 and laying waste to entire regions.

00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:48.379
 An army which carries the ark before it

00:06:48.379 --> 00:06:49.300
 is invincible.

00:06:50.099 --> 00:06:50.339
 Well,

00:06:51.100 --> 00:06:53.939
 the Bible never speaks of the ark

00:06:53.939 --> 00:06:55.339
 leveling mountains

00:06:55.339 --> 00:06:57.980
 and it never suggests

00:06:57.980 --> 00:06:59.259
 that an army that carries the ark

00:06:59.259 --> 00:07:00.300
 before it is invincible.

00:07:01.039 --> 00:07:01.500
 In fact,

00:07:01.620 --> 00:07:03.240
 it records a specific instance

00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:04.339
 in 1 Samuel 4

00:07:04.339 --> 00:07:06.920
 when the Israelites carry the ark into war

00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:08.459
 thinking that it will save them,

00:07:08.459 --> 00:07:10.639
 but because they had been unfaithful to God,

00:07:10.779 --> 00:07:11.620
 they lose

00:07:11.620 --> 00:07:12.680
 because God had left them.

00:07:12.979 --> 00:07:14.259
 God's not fighting on their behalf

00:07:14.259 --> 00:07:17.120
 and the ark is actually captured by the Philistines.

00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:20.579
 So in contrast to this portrayal,

00:07:20.680 --> 00:07:23.039
 the ark is not something,

00:07:23.299 --> 00:07:24.899
 it's not a talisman

00:07:24.899 --> 00:07:26.179
 or a lucky charm

00:07:26.179 --> 00:07:28.259
 or an invincible weapon.

00:07:29.539 --> 00:07:30.019
 Rather,

00:07:30.379 --> 00:07:32.299
 it's an artifact that represents

00:07:32.299 --> 00:07:33.459
 God's rule

00:07:33.459 --> 00:07:35.339
 and God's presence

00:07:35.339 --> 00:07:37.279
 among his own people.

00:07:38.680 --> 00:07:40.779
 To go before the ark of the covenant,

00:07:40.979 --> 00:07:41.199
 therefore,

00:07:41.319 --> 00:07:43.560
 is to go into the very presence

00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:44.959
 of the living God.

00:07:46.039 --> 00:07:47.039
 This passage,

00:07:47.259 --> 00:07:48.859
 instructions about the ark

00:07:48.859 --> 00:07:50.219
 is intended to teach us

00:07:50.219 --> 00:07:52.339
 that we can confidently

00:07:52.339 --> 00:07:54.560
 draw near to the throne of God

00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:55.599
 and receive mercy

00:07:55.599 --> 00:07:58.179
 and we're going to first learn about that

00:07:58.179 --> 00:07:59.599
 by looking at the ark of the testimony

00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:02.360
 and then we're going to look at the mercy seat.

00:08:03.640 --> 00:08:05.260
 So let's look at the ark first.

00:08:05.340 --> 00:08:06.280
 It's the first item.

00:08:06.379 --> 00:08:08.980
 Did the picture of the ark already show on there?

00:08:09.340 --> 00:08:09.640
 Not yet?

00:08:09.760 --> 00:08:09.840
 Okay.

00:08:10.220 --> 00:08:12.620
 The ark is the first item

00:08:12.620 --> 00:08:13.580
 mentioned in the blueprint

00:08:13.580 --> 00:08:15.420
 of chapters 25 to 31

00:08:15.420 --> 00:08:18.340
 and it's the first thing that is built

00:08:18.340 --> 00:08:19.840
 because it's the most important item

00:08:19.840 --> 00:08:21.400
 in the entire tabernacle structures.

00:08:21.580 --> 00:08:25.200
 This is an artist's rendering of the ark.

00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:27.699
 The artist took some creative license

00:08:27.699 --> 00:08:31.360
 because he or she went way overboard

00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:32.600
 with the molding decorations.

00:08:32.980 --> 00:08:34.460
 It doesn't describe any of that in the Bible.

00:08:35.019 --> 00:08:36.000
 But other than that,

00:08:36.059 --> 00:08:37.000
 it's pretty accurate.

00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:40.620
 It'd be a little smaller than that table.

00:08:41.740 --> 00:08:45.279
 It says in Exodus 25, 10,

00:08:45.659 --> 00:08:45.840
 it says,

00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:48.340
 they shall make an ark of acacia wood.

00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:50.439
 Two cubits and a half shall be its length,

00:08:50.519 --> 00:08:51.659
 a cubit and a half its breadth,

00:08:51.700 --> 00:08:53.080
 and a cubit and a half its height.

00:08:53.080 --> 00:08:55.580
 Historically, people all over the world

00:08:55.580 --> 00:08:57.420
 have used various human body parts

00:08:57.420 --> 00:08:59.700
 to measure things,

00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:00.560
 to measure their length.

00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:02.480
 For example, a foot, right,

00:09:02.800 --> 00:09:04.240
 which comes from the length

00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:05.600
 of a typical male foot,

00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:07.860
 was used in Greek, Roman, Chinese,

00:09:08.060 --> 00:09:09.740
 and French and English systems.

00:09:10.460 --> 00:09:11.900
 A cubit is similar

00:09:11.900 --> 00:09:13.620
 and refers to the length

00:09:13.620 --> 00:09:14.580
 from a person's elbow

00:09:14.580 --> 00:09:16.520
 to the tip of his middle finger.

00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:20.100
 And so it's typically about 18 inches.

00:09:20.100 --> 00:09:23.139
 So the cubit was the limit of measurement

00:09:23.139 --> 00:09:24.980
 that was preferred over the foot

00:09:24.980 --> 00:09:27.220
 in places like Egypt, India,

00:09:27.420 --> 00:09:28.240
 and Mesopotamia,

00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:30.060
 and of course we see in Israel.

00:09:30.820 --> 00:09:34.460
 So the ark then is a rectangular wooden chest

00:09:34.460 --> 00:09:37.340
 made of hard acacia wood.

00:09:37.920 --> 00:09:41.899
 It's 2.25 feet in width and height

00:09:41.899 --> 00:09:45.200
 and 3.75 in length.

00:09:45.379 --> 00:09:46.680
 So width and height

00:09:46.680 --> 00:09:48.639
 and 3.75 feet in length.

00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:50.000
 But that's not all.

00:09:50.299 --> 00:09:51.340
 A simple wooden chest

00:09:51.340 --> 00:09:52.019
 would not be fitting

00:09:52.019 --> 00:09:53.419
 for the most holy place

00:09:53.419 --> 00:09:54.580
 inside the tabernacle.

00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:55.699
 So it says in verse 11

00:09:55.699 --> 00:09:56.720
 that the whole thing

00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:59.340
 is overlaid with pure gold,

00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:01.000
 both on the inside

00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:02.299
 and on the outside.

00:10:02.819 --> 00:10:04.340
 And a decorative molding of gold

00:10:04.340 --> 00:10:05.559
 is added around it.

00:10:06.179 --> 00:10:08.299
 But what exactly is the ark?

00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:10.539
 The English word ark

00:10:10.539 --> 00:10:12.159
 comes from the Latin word arca,

00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:14.860
 which means a box or a chest.

00:10:15.340 --> 00:10:16.279
 So it's a chest

00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:18.360
 that's intended to hold something,

00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:19.259
 store something,

00:10:19.340 --> 00:10:21.000
 and protect something inside it.

00:10:21.419 --> 00:10:23.519
 But what exactly is it intended to store?

00:10:23.680 --> 00:10:25.560
 In verse 16 and 21,

00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:26.159
 it says this,

00:10:26.220 --> 00:10:28.060
 God says that they are to put the testimony

00:10:28.060 --> 00:10:29.379
 inside the ark.

00:10:30.259 --> 00:10:32.440
 This is a reference to the Ten Commandments

00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:34.680
 that God himself has written

00:10:34.680 --> 00:10:36.740
 on the tablets of stone with his fingers,

00:10:36.840 --> 00:10:38.879
 which he has promised to give to Moses

00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:40.240
 earlier in 24.12.

00:10:40.740 --> 00:10:42.500
 Later on in Exodus 31.18,

00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:45.120
 he will actually give Moses these tablets

00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:46.700
 to put inside the ark

00:10:46.700 --> 00:10:47.779
 after it is constructed,

00:10:48.580 --> 00:10:51.279
 after finishing his instructions to Moses.

00:10:51.820 --> 00:10:53.639
 It says there that God gave to Moses

00:10:53.639 --> 00:10:56.120
 the two tablets of the testimony,

00:10:56.700 --> 00:11:00.000
 tablets of stone written with the finger of God.

00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:02.919
 We know that what's written on the stone tablets

00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:05.899
 is the Ten Commandments from Deuteronomy 4.13.

00:11:06.699 --> 00:11:08.419
 According to Hebrews 9.4,

00:11:08.459 --> 00:11:09.799
 there were a couple other items

00:11:09.799 --> 00:11:11.759
 that were later stored inside the ark.

00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:12.259
 For example,

00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:15.240
 the gold urn holding a sample of the manna

00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:16.259
 to remind Israelites

00:11:16.259 --> 00:11:18.120
 of how God provided for them in the wilderness.

00:11:18.679 --> 00:11:20.240
 And also a staff of Aaron

00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:23.399
 that budded in Numbers 17

00:11:23.399 --> 00:11:24.419
 with almond blossoms

00:11:24.419 --> 00:11:28.399
 as a demonstration of God choosing the Levites,

00:11:28.539 --> 00:11:29.779
 the tribe of Levi,

00:11:30.059 --> 00:11:31.879
 and the sons of Aaron in particular

00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:32.720
 to be priests.

00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:34.960
 So those two items are also in there.

00:11:35.320 --> 00:11:37.759
 But the central and most important item

00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:38.759
 inside the ark

00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:40.580
 was the tablets of the testimony,

00:11:40.740 --> 00:11:41.560
 the Ten Commandments.

00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:43.379
 That's why the ark is called

00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:45.360
 the Ark of the Testimony.

00:11:46.580 --> 00:11:48.040
 And it's also sometimes called

00:11:48.040 --> 00:11:49.180
 the Ark of the Covenant

00:11:49.180 --> 00:11:52.160
 because it contains the covenant documents,

00:11:52.540 --> 00:11:53.440
 the terms agreement,

00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:54.500
 the Ten Commandments

00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:57.220
 between Yahweh and his people.

00:11:57.840 --> 00:11:59.160
 In the ancient Near East,

00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:01.860
 it was customary for people

00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:03.720
 who are making the suzerain-vassal treaty,

00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:04.820
 suzerain being the lord,

00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:06.200
 the vassal being the subject,

00:12:06.700 --> 00:12:08.560
 the lesser king or ruler,

00:12:08.940 --> 00:12:10.560
 that each party would receive

00:12:10.560 --> 00:12:12.180
 a copy of the terms of agreement,

00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:13.639
 the terms of the covenant.

00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:16.740
 And they would keep it as a reminder

00:12:16.740 --> 00:12:17.820
 for the lord,

00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:18.560
 the suzerain lord,

00:12:18.980 --> 00:12:20.379
 of the reminder of the obligation

00:12:20.379 --> 00:12:21.899
 to protect his subject,

00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:23.360
 to provide for his subject,

00:12:23.620 --> 00:12:25.460
 and for the vassal,

00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:26.600
 as a reminder for him

00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:28.860
 to obey his suzerain lord,

00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:31.740
 and to be faithful to him,

00:12:31.860 --> 00:12:32.940
 to pledge allegiance to him.

00:12:33.460 --> 00:12:34.460
 It's kind of like the way

00:12:34.460 --> 00:12:36.420
 we have merchant receipts

00:12:36.420 --> 00:12:38.259
 and customer receipts

00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:39.240
 when you go to restaurants,

00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:40.840
 so that both parties have

00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:43.600
 proof of the transaction

00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:44.800
 or the agreement.

00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:46.560
 So in this case here,

00:12:46.659 --> 00:12:47.759
 the book of the covenant,

00:12:48.180 --> 00:12:49.519
 which Moses wrote down

00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:50.820
 on the scroll in Exodus 20,

00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:53.279
 it contains Exodus 20, 22,

00:12:53.420 --> 00:12:54.279
 to 23, 33.

00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:56.639
 It's the specific application

00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:57.679
 of the Ten Commandments

00:12:57.679 --> 00:12:58.860
 for the Israelites to follow.

00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:01.179
 That is the people's copy.

00:13:01.439 --> 00:13:02.579
 That's the Israelite copy.

00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:05.059
 Now, the Ten Commandments

00:13:05.059 --> 00:13:06.379
 is the master copy,

00:13:06.839 --> 00:13:08.899
 inscribed permanently in stone

00:13:08.899 --> 00:13:10.379
 by the finger of God,

00:13:10.459 --> 00:13:12.360
 and that's kept inside the ark

00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:13.439
 of the testimony

00:13:13.439 --> 00:13:14.500
 as a witness,

00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:16.179
 a testimony between God

00:13:16.179 --> 00:13:16.819
 and his people

00:13:16.819 --> 00:13:18.399
 of their covenant relationship.

00:13:19.539 --> 00:13:20.799
 This teaches us something

00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:22.459
 very important about God

00:13:22.459 --> 00:13:23.980
 and his relationship with us.

00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:27.259
 The most sacred artifact

00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:28.699
 of the Old Testament,

00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:31.500
 worship and piety,

00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:32.240
 that's the ark,

00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:34.159
 it contains within it

00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:35.379
 not treasures,

00:13:35.959 --> 00:13:36.899
 not jewels,

00:13:37.439 --> 00:13:38.799
 not a statue,

00:13:39.480 --> 00:13:40.379
 not an idol,

00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:43.279
 not bones or other relics

00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:45.179
 of some special individual,

00:13:45.839 --> 00:13:48.279
 but the word of God.

00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:52.879
 God governs his people

00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:54.559
 from his word,

00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.259
 through his word.

00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:58.059
 It's in the keeping

00:13:58.059 --> 00:13:59.159
 of his word

00:13:59.159 --> 00:14:00.919
 that we bear witness

00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:01.519
 to the fact

00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:02.639
 that we are his people.

00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:04.839
 That's why Jesus says

00:14:04.839 --> 00:14:05.720
 in John 14,

00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:07.519
 over and over again,

00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:09.339
 if anyone loves me,

00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:12.360
 he will keep my word,

00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:15.159
 and my father will love him

00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:16.879
 and we will come to him

00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:19.039
 and make our home with him.

00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:21.700
 Do you want to commune with God?

00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:22.300
 Do you want God

00:14:22.300 --> 00:14:24.320
 to make his home with you

00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:25.340
 and to indwell you

00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:26.500
 by his Holy Spirit?

00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:28.340
 Then pledge your allegiance

00:14:28.340 --> 00:14:28.899
 to Jesus

00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:29.779
 and live according

00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:30.539
 to his word.

00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:32.340
 Truth,

00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:33.820
 the true faith,

00:14:34.180 --> 00:14:35.000
 genuine faith

00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:37.279
 is always borne out by love.

00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:39.220
 Love for God,

00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:40.100
 love for his people.

00:14:40.100 --> 00:14:41.300
 And the proof

00:14:41.300 --> 00:14:42.379
 of your love for God

00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:43.139
 is in the keeping

00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:44.320
 of God's word.

00:14:45.300 --> 00:14:46.399
 It's like a ring

00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:49.100
 that a husband and wife wear.

00:14:49.620 --> 00:14:50.800
 Everywhere they go,

00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:52.019
 it attests

00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:52.680
 to the fact

00:14:52.680 --> 00:14:54.080
 that they have

00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:55.100
 a covenant relationship

00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:55.659
 with someone.

00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:57.080
 They belong

00:14:57.080 --> 00:14:58.300
 to someone else already.

00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:00.040
 And it's,

00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:01.060
 how do people in the world

00:15:01.060 --> 00:15:02.180
 know that we belong

00:15:02.180 --> 00:15:02.659
 to someone,

00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:03.840
 that we have a Lord,

00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:05.500
 that we serve God?

00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:06.519
 How do people know

00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:07.740
 that it's by the keeping

00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:08.360
 of his word?

00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:09.960
 That's our testimony

00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:10.660
 and our witness

00:15:10.660 --> 00:15:11.280
 to the world

00:15:11.280 --> 00:15:13.100
 that we are his people.

00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:16.160
 So when you refuse

00:15:16.160 --> 00:15:17.980
 to swear

00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:19.320
 or use crude words,

00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:20.780
 vulgar language,

00:15:20.900 --> 00:15:22.019
 refrain from partaking

00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:22.560
 in the gossip

00:15:22.560 --> 00:15:23.060
 and slander

00:15:23.060 --> 00:15:23.720
 of your coworkers,

00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:25.680
 you are testifying

00:15:25.680 --> 00:15:26.800
 by your obedience

00:15:26.800 --> 00:15:28.139
 that the Lord

00:15:28.139 --> 00:15:29.160
 is my God.

00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:31.920
 When you don't cheat

00:15:31.920 --> 00:15:32.680
 on your tests

00:15:32.680 --> 00:15:34.639
 and you honestly

00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:36.300
 fill out your reading reports

00:15:36.300 --> 00:15:36.820
 in school,

00:15:36.820 --> 00:15:39.180
 you are testifying,

00:15:39.300 --> 00:15:40.040
 bearing witness

00:15:40.040 --> 00:15:40.780
 by your obedience

00:15:40.780 --> 00:15:41.780
 that the Lord

00:15:41.780 --> 00:15:43.040
 is my God.

00:15:45.940 --> 00:15:47.200
 When you faithfully

00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:48.180
 gather with the people

00:15:48.180 --> 00:15:48.680
 of God,

00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:50.320
 even when you are

00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:51.440
 swamped with work

00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:52.460
 and weary

00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:53.400
 and tired,

00:15:54.640 --> 00:15:56.020
 you're testifying

00:15:56.020 --> 00:15:56.900
 to the world

00:15:56.900 --> 00:15:57.960
 bearing witness

00:15:57.960 --> 00:15:59.440
 that the Lord

00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:01.280
 is your God.

00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:03.279
 God's love

00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:05.059
 and when we love

00:16:05.059 --> 00:16:05.720
 our Christian brothers

00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:06.299
 and sisters,

00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:07.819
 even when they don't

00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:08.620
 look like us

00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:10.299
 or talk like us,

00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:11.059
 even when they don't

00:16:11.059 --> 00:16:12.339
 share our recreational

00:16:12.339 --> 00:16:13.459
 interests

00:16:13.459 --> 00:16:14.620
 or our culinary

00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:15.620
 preferences,

00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:18.419
 simply because God

00:16:18.419 --> 00:16:19.480
 tells us that they are

00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:20.279
 our brothers and sisters

00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:20.899
 in Christ,

00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:23.039
 we are testifying

00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:23.939
 by our obedience

00:16:23.940 --> 00:16:25.260
 that the Lord

00:16:25.260 --> 00:16:26.980
 is my God.

00:16:28.740 --> 00:16:29.480
 And of course,

00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:30.440
 when we evangelize,

00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:31.260
 when we share the gospel

00:16:31.260 --> 00:16:31.760
 with others,

00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:32.460
 we're sharing,

00:16:32.580 --> 00:16:33.160
 we're testifying

00:16:33.160 --> 00:16:34.640
 by not only our words,

00:16:34.880 --> 00:16:35.760
 not only our deeds,

00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:37.040
 but also by our words

00:16:37.040 --> 00:16:37.800
 that the Lord

00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:39.680
 is my God.

00:16:40.300 --> 00:16:41.100
 That's why obedience

00:16:41.100 --> 00:16:41.900
 is so important.

00:16:42.020 --> 00:16:43.460
 Obedience is not merely

00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:44.700
 a legal concern.

00:16:46.280 --> 00:16:47.000
 God's not just

00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:48.320
 a judge or a lawyer

00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:48.540
 saying,

00:16:48.640 --> 00:16:48.680
 well,

00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:49.320
 this is the law

00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:50.240
 so you just got to do it.

00:16:50.280 --> 00:16:50.380
 No,

00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:52.320
 it's profoundly relational.

00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:54.140
 It's a mark

00:16:54.140 --> 00:16:55.500
 that we belong to God.

00:16:55.640 --> 00:16:56.879
 That's how we testify

00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:58.120
 to our relationship,

00:16:58.220 --> 00:16:59.180
 our covenant with God.

00:17:00.140 --> 00:17:01.000
 So the ark

00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:01.640
 is a chest

00:17:01.640 --> 00:17:02.280
 that contains

00:17:02.280 --> 00:17:02.780
 the tablets

00:17:02.780 --> 00:17:03.500
 of the testimony,

00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:04.880
 but it serves

00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:06.380
 another very important function.

00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:08.259
 First Chronicles 28,

00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:08.620
 two,

00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:09.740
 when King David

00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:11.259
 is expressing his desire

00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:11.960
 to build a temple

00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:12.360
 for God,

00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.080
 he says this,

00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:14.779
 I had it in my heart

00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:16.039
 to build a house

00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:16.880
 of rest

00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.820
 for the ark

00:17:17.820 --> 00:17:18.460
 of the covenant

00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:19.200
 of the Lord

00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:21.019
 and for the footstool

00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:21.799
 of our God.

00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:23.000
 So here,

00:17:23.139 --> 00:17:24.000
 David refers

00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:24.720
 to the ark

00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:25.700
 and the footstool

00:17:25.700 --> 00:17:28.259
 as distinct items.

00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:29.500
 So probably,

00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:30.980
 the mercy seat

00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:32.240
 is what he's referring to

00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:32.759
 when he says

00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.480
 the footstool,

00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:34.379
 which we'll get to later.

00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:35.599
 That's more precisely

00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:36.200
 the footstool

00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:37.299
 in that that's where

00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:38.859
 Yahweh's feet

00:17:38.859 --> 00:17:40.519
 figuratively touch.

00:17:41.679 --> 00:17:42.639
 But however,

00:17:42.939 --> 00:17:43.779
 the mercy seat,

00:17:44.059 --> 00:17:44.899
 because it functions

00:17:44.899 --> 00:17:45.879
 as the lid

00:17:45.879 --> 00:17:46.559
 of the ark,

00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:47.819
 they're really

00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:48.939
 two pieces

00:17:48.939 --> 00:17:50.419
 of a single furniture.

00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:52.600
 And that's why

00:17:52.600 --> 00:17:53.120
 the ark

00:17:53.120 --> 00:17:53.740
 is sometimes

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:54.480
 itself referred

00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:54.680
 to,

00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:55.259
 the whole thing

00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:55.800
 is referred to

00:17:55.800 --> 00:17:56.640
 as the footstool

00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:57.200
 for the Lord.

00:17:57.800 --> 00:17:58.240
 So for example,

00:17:58.320 --> 00:17:59.259
 in Psalm 132,

00:17:59.360 --> 00:18:00.220
 it recalls how David

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:01.080
 made preparations

00:18:01.080 --> 00:18:01.660
 for the building

00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:02.240
 of the temple

00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:03.940
 and then how he brought

00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:05.440
 the ark over

00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:06.519
 from the fields

00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.080
 of Jar,

00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:07.940
 which is another name

00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:09.000
 for Kiriath-Jerim,

00:18:09.120 --> 00:18:09.500
 the city.

00:18:10.300 --> 00:18:11.600
 That was the temporary

00:18:11.600 --> 00:18:12.380
 residing place

00:18:12.380 --> 00:18:12.960
 of the ark

00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:14.960
 and David brought

00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:16.200
 that in from there

00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:16.720
 to Jerusalem.

00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:18.240
 So Psalm 132

00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.340
 recounts that journey

00:18:19.340 --> 00:18:21.259
 and it quotes

00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:22.460
 Solomon's prayer

00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:23.559
 from 2 Chronicles 6,

00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:24.259
 40, 42

00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:25.079
 when Solomon

00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:25.579
 was dedicating

00:18:25.579 --> 00:18:26.019
 the temple

00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:26.860
 and it says this,

00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:27.819
 Behold,

00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:28.539
 we heard of it

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.660
 in Ephrathah,

00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.319
 we found it

00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:30.920
 in the fields

00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:31.380
 of Jar,

00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.120
 Kiriath-Jerim.

00:18:32.600 --> 00:18:33.279
 Let us go

00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:34.420
 to his dwelling place,

00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:35.160
 let us worship

00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:36.460
 at his footstool.

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:38.279
 Arise,

00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:38.620
 O Lord,

00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:39.240
 and go to your

00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:39.920
 resting place,

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:41.400
 you and the ark

00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:42.539
 of your might.

00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.779
 So the footstool

00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:45.860
 and the ark

00:18:45.860 --> 00:18:46.319
 of his might

00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:46.880
 are in parallel

00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:47.380
 construction.

00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:48.420
 The ark

00:18:48.420 --> 00:18:49.079
 is being referred

00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:50.259
 to as the footstool

00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:50.880
 of God.

00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:51.779
 So that's why

00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:52.960
 it says in Psalm 99,

00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:53.620
 verse 5,

00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.340
 Exalt the Lord

00:18:54.340 --> 00:18:54.700
 our God,

00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:57.000
 worship at his footstool.

00:18:57.920 --> 00:18:59.360
 So then the ark

00:18:59.360 --> 00:19:00.340
 together with

00:19:00.340 --> 00:19:01.220
 the mercy seat

00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:02.519
 function as

00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:03.400
 the resting place

00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:04.140
 for God's feet,

00:19:04.360 --> 00:19:05.200
 his footstool.

00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:05.640
 That's why

00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:06.680
 the Lord calls

00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:07.360
 the sanctuary

00:19:07.360 --> 00:19:08.200
 the place

00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:09.340
 of my feet

00:19:09.340 --> 00:19:11.039
 in Isaiah 60,

00:19:11.100 --> 00:19:11.620
 verse 13.

00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:12.779
 It's because

00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:13.920
 the Lord's footstool

00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:15.720
 is upon the earth

00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:16.200
 in the form

00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:16.720
 of the ark

00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.579
 that he says

00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:18.420
 in Isaiah 66,

00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:18.920
 verse 1,

00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:20.099
 Heaven is my throne

00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:21.279
 and the earth

00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:22.599
 is my footstool.

00:19:23.139 --> 00:19:23.920
 By extension,

00:19:24.119 --> 00:19:24.899
 the whole earth

00:19:24.899 --> 00:19:25.379
 where God

00:19:25.379 --> 00:19:26.059
 has set his feet

00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:27.519
 is his footstool.

00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:30.000
 So the fact

00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:30.720
 that the ark

00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.879
 and the mercy seat

00:19:31.879 --> 00:19:33.160
 compose God's footstool

00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:34.019
 tells us something

00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:35.500
 important about God.

00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:37.559
 The footstool

00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.180
 is not

00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:39.740
 a glorious piece

00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.299
 of furniture.

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:42.660
 I bet no one

00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:43.500
 has gilded

00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:45.000
 footstools

00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:45.700
 in your homes.

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.240
 It's not

00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:48.299
 a clean bed

00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:49.200
 to lie down on

00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:50.339
 nor is it

00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.019
 a stately

00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:52.519
 armchair

00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:53.620
 to sit on.

00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:54.640
 It's where you

00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:56.000
 rest your feet.

00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:58.440
 It's not a furniture

00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.200
 that you invest

00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:00.400
 a lot of money in

00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:00.880
 and yet

00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:02.319
 the ark of God

00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:03.720
 is overlaid

00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:04.240
 with gold

00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:06.299
 and its lid,

00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:07.099
 the mercy seat,

00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:08.200
 is made entirely

00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:09.620
 of pure gold.

00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:11.840
 Even where God

00:20:11.840 --> 00:20:13.680
 puts his feet

00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:15.400
 is holy.

00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:17.960
 The whole earth,

00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:19.980
 the magnificent,

00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.660
 beautiful creation,

00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:23.779
 the Grand Canyon,

00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:26.420
 the Redwood Forest,

00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:28.880
 all that grandeur

00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:31.360
 just got his footstool.

00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:36.939
 that's how holy

00:20:36.939 --> 00:20:37.759
 and glorious

00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.919
 God is.

00:20:40.879 --> 00:20:41.859
 And that's why

00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:42.639
 it says in verse 12,

00:20:42.719 --> 00:20:43.240
 you shall cast

00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.459
 four rings of gold

00:20:44.459 --> 00:20:44.819
 for it

00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:45.279
 and put them

00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:46.099
 on its four feet.

00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:47.359
 The ark has

00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:48.639
 golden rings

00:20:48.639 --> 00:20:50.019
 on its four feet

00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:51.079
 so that you

00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:52.240
 can put poles

00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:53.059
 also overlaid

00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:53.399
 with gold

00:20:53.399 --> 00:20:54.099
 through those

00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:54.639
 rings

00:20:54.639 --> 00:20:55.740
 and people

00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.719
 can carry

00:20:56.719 --> 00:20:57.619
 the ark

00:20:57.619 --> 00:20:58.679
 using those poles.

00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:00.539
 the whole idea

00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.440
 behind that

00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:02.420
 is that the ark

00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:03.500
 should never

00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:04.700
 be touched

00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:06.779
 because it is so holy.

00:21:08.180 --> 00:21:09.380
 You have to carry it

00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:10.340
 with golden poles.

00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:13.060
 And that's amazing

00:21:13.060 --> 00:21:14.279
 because remember

00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:15.039
 this is a portable

00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.480
 structure,

00:21:15.600 --> 00:21:16.019
 tabernacle,

00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:16.700
 so the Israelite

00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:17.400
 would often have to

00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:17.860
 encamp,

00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:18.640
 decamp,

00:21:19.100 --> 00:21:20.259
 carry the tabernacle

00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:20.480
 around,

00:21:20.560 --> 00:21:21.140
 carry the ark

00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:21.840
 of God around,

00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:23.299
 but they were only

00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:24.720
 allowed to carry

00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.120
 the ark

00:21:25.120 --> 00:21:26.240
 after the glory

00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:26.599
 of God

00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:27.160
 in the form

00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:27.960
 of his cloud

00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:28.440
 glory

00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:29.740
 had departed

00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:30.839
 from the tabernacle.

00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:33.019
 Even after the glory,

00:21:33.120 --> 00:21:33.599
 the cloud glory

00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:34.140
 has departed

00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:34.839
 from the tabernacle,

00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:35.960
 they're not allowed

00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.880
 to touch the ark.

00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.559
 They have to carry it

00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.500
 in golden poles.

00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:41.920
 Now,

00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:43.099
 in 2 Samuel 6,

00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:45.079
 it illustrates

00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:46.339
 the mortal peril

00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:47.500
 of disobeying

00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:47.980
 this command.

00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:48.480
 Some of you guys

00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.120
 know where I'm going.

00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:49.740
 There,

00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:50.240
 the Israelites

00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:50.759
 are carrying

00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:51.460
 the ark of God

00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:52.160
 into Jerusalem,

00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:53.240
 but it says

00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.200
 that they carried

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:54.960
 the ark of God

00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:56.140
 on a new cart.

00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:58.059
 Driven by oxen.

00:21:58.380 --> 00:21:59.859
 That's their first mistake.

00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:01.539
 The people

00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:02.980
 and not animals

00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:03.700
 were supposed

00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:04.620
 to carry the ark.

00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:06.000
 It's the people

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.799
 who are servants

00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:07.900
 of the Lord.

00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:09.819
 And it's specifically,

00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:10.720
 not anyone,

00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:11.420
 it specifically

00:22:11.420 --> 00:22:12.599
 had to be the Levites,

00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:13.700
 the priestly tribe

00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.700
 that had to carry

00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:15.480
 the ark.

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.700
 But here they have

00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:17.819
 these lowly oxen

00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:19.319
 driving the ark.

00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.099
 Sure enough,

00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:22.000
 one poor decision

00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:22.819
 leads to another.

00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:23.920
 As the oxen

00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:24.740
 are drawing the cart,

00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:25.460
 they stumble

00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.200
 at one point

00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:27.440
 so that Uzzah,

00:22:27.600 --> 00:22:28.360
 who was accompanying

00:22:28.360 --> 00:22:28.759
 the ark,

00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:29.660
 has to put out

00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:30.160
 his hand

00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:31.500
 to touch the ark

00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:31.779
 of God

00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:32.360
 and take hold

00:22:32.360 --> 00:22:32.779
 of it in order

00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:33.779
 to stabilize it.

00:22:34.420 --> 00:22:35.960
 That was a grave

00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:37.080
 mistake.

00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:39.600
 Because it says

00:22:39.600 --> 00:22:40.340
 that the anger

00:22:40.340 --> 00:22:40.799
 of the Lord

00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.420
 was kindled

00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:42.299
 against Uzzah

00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:43.600
 and God struck

00:22:43.600 --> 00:22:44.700
 him down there

00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:45.980
 because of his error

00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:47.180
 and he died there

00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:48.500
 beside the ark

00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:48.960
 of God.

00:22:50.620 --> 00:22:51.120
 Uzzah

00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:52.279
 treed the footstool

00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:53.319
 of God lightly

00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:54.879
 as if it were

00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:55.619
 a common piece

00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:56.079
 of furniture

00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:56.700
 that you can just

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.579
 grab hold of.

00:22:58.920 --> 00:23:00.000
 And in doing so,

00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:01.039
 he treated the Lord

00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:01.960
 God himself

00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:02.799
 with contempt.

00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.819
 That's how holy

00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:07.799
 and glorious

00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:09.420
 God is.

00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:12.560
 I pray that

00:23:12.560 --> 00:23:14.200
 we can recover

00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:14.680
 a sense

00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:15.440
 of the holiness

00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:15.980
 of God

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:16.580
 by looking

00:23:16.580 --> 00:23:17.360
 at the care

00:23:17.360 --> 00:23:18.860
 that they took

00:23:18.860 --> 00:23:19.420
 to treat

00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:20.680
 his footstool

00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:21.720
 with such honor.

00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:24.680
 We sometimes

00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.160
 treat

00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:26.580
 human managers,

00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:28.560
 human professors,

00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:30.360
 human celebrities

00:23:30.360 --> 00:23:33.039
 with more reverence

00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:33.880
 and awe

00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:34.560
 than we do

00:23:34.560 --> 00:23:35.560
 the Lord Almighty.

00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:40.500
 are you more

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.240
 concerned about

00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:42.359
 offending sinful

00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:42.819
 men

00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:44.519
 or about

00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:44.980
 offending

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.579
 the holy

00:23:45.579 --> 00:23:46.399
 God?

00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:51.779
 That the ark

00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:53.000
 is merely

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.799
 God's footstool

00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:54.379
 shows just

00:23:54.379 --> 00:23:54.839
 how holy

00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:55.299
 God is.

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.379
 But the ark

00:23:57.379 --> 00:23:58.079
 also teaches us

00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:58.700
 something else.

00:23:59.339 --> 00:23:59.879
 It teaches us

00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:00.279
 something about

00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:00.779
 ourselves.

00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:02.799
 I think it's

00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.879
 generally acknowledged

00:24:03.879 --> 00:24:05.339
 that feet are

00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:05.759
 gross.

00:24:06.939 --> 00:24:08.579
 It's less of a

00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:09.379
 stigma here

00:24:09.379 --> 00:24:09.899
 in the West,

00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:10.720
 but most people

00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:11.659
 around the world

00:24:11.659 --> 00:24:12.980
 would not sit

00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:14.059
 at someone's

00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:15.559
 feet unless

00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.259
 they have to

00:24:16.259 --> 00:24:17.179
 because they'd

00:24:17.179 --> 00:24:17.859
 consider that

00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:18.639
 humiliating.

00:24:20.159 --> 00:24:21.319
 You can see this

00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:21.980
 in James 2,

00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:22.579
 2-4,

00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.379
 which warns

00:24:23.379 --> 00:24:24.079
 against showing

00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:25.039
 partiality to the

00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:26.039
 wealthy at a

00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:26.679
 church gathering.

00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:27.399
 It says this,

00:24:27.699 --> 00:24:28.259
 For if a man

00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:29.039
 wearing a gold

00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:29.819
 ring and fine

00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:30.500
 clothing comes

00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:30.799
 into your

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.500
 assembly and a

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.379
 poor man in

00:24:32.379 --> 00:24:33.119
 shabby clothing

00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:34.000
 also comes in,

00:24:34.379 --> 00:24:34.879
 and if you pay

00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:35.640
 attention to the

00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:36.180
 one who wears

00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:36.560
 the fine

00:24:36.560 --> 00:24:37.020
 clothing and

00:24:37.020 --> 00:24:37.180
 say,

00:24:37.340 --> 00:24:38.420
 you sit here

00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:38.860
 in a good

00:24:38.860 --> 00:24:39.560
 place while

00:24:39.560 --> 00:24:40.120
 you say to

00:24:40.120 --> 00:24:40.800
 the poor man,

00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:42.060
 you stand

00:24:42.060 --> 00:24:43.000
 over there or

00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:44.460
 sit down at

00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:45.040
 my feet.

00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:46.740
 Have you not

00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.120
 then made

00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:48.160
 distinctions among

00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:48.740
 yourselves and

00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:49.460
 become judges

00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.020
 with evil

00:24:50.020 --> 00:24:50.460
 thoughts?

00:24:51.800 --> 00:24:53.100
 To tell people

00:24:53.100 --> 00:24:53.860
 to sit at your

00:24:53.860 --> 00:24:55.040
 feet is to

00:24:55.040 --> 00:24:55.900
 treat them as

00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:56.740
 your inferior.

00:24:58.080 --> 00:24:59.020
 We have a

00:24:59.020 --> 00:24:59.680
 similar expression

00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:00.220
 in English.

00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:00.700
 When you say

00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.620
 someone walked

00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.440
 all over me,

00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:03.420
 what do you

00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:03.600
 mean?

00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.079
 You're saying

00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:04.339
 that they

00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:04.980
 treated you

00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:05.500
 like they're

00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:06.159
 beneath you,

00:25:06.719 --> 00:25:08.199
 like you're

00:25:08.199 --> 00:25:08.759
 underneath their

00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:09.159
 feet.

00:25:11.219 --> 00:25:12.159
 Feet are often

00:25:12.159 --> 00:25:13.139
 sweaty and

00:25:13.139 --> 00:25:14.500
 smelly,

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:14.819
 right,

00:25:14.899 --> 00:25:16.259
 because the

00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:16.919
 palms of our

00:25:16.919 --> 00:25:17.419
 hands and the

00:25:17.419 --> 00:25:17.839
 soles of our

00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.659
 feet have the

00:25:18.659 --> 00:25:19.579
 most sweat

00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:21.480
 glands per

00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.459
 square centimeter

00:25:22.459 --> 00:25:22.819
 or inch,

00:25:22.899 --> 00:25:23.099
 whatever,

00:25:23.339 --> 00:25:23.539
 you know,

00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:24.079
 and so you

00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:24.779
 sweat a lot in

00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:25.859
 your palms and

00:25:25.859 --> 00:25:26.500
 in your soles.

00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:27.980
 And the hands

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.699
 at least are out

00:25:28.699 --> 00:25:29.179
 in the open.

00:25:29.659 --> 00:25:30.219
 They could get

00:25:30.219 --> 00:25:30.740
 aired out,

00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.539
 and we wash

00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:32.240
 them very frequently

00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:32.640
 throughout the

00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:32.779
 day,

00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.120
 especially

00:25:33.120 --> 00:25:33.559
 nowadays,

00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:35.599
 but your feet

00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:37.460
 are not

00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.120
 exposed to the

00:25:38.120 --> 00:25:38.519
 open air,

00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:39.480
 and you don't

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.140
 wash them nearly

00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:40.700
 as frequently,

00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:41.420
 and so it can

00:25:41.420 --> 00:25:42.259
 grow fungus,

00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.440
 and it can get

00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:43.960
 infected,

00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:45.140
 and it's usually

00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:45.740
 smelly.

00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:48.160
 And in the hot

00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:48.960
 and dry climate

00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:49.500
 of the Middle

00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:49.940
 East,

00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:50.980
 where people wore

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:52.000
 open-toed shoes,

00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:53.200
 not only did their

00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:54.140
 feet get sweaty,

00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:55.440
 it also got dirty,

00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.660
 got caked with

00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:57.180
 dust.

00:25:58.120 --> 00:25:58.779
 So it was even

00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.519
 dirtier than ours.

00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:00.079
 So for this

00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:00.380
 reason,

00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:00.940
 people in the

00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.380
 ancient Near

00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:01.640
 East,

00:26:01.840 --> 00:26:03.080
 they did not

00:26:03.080 --> 00:26:04.320
 voluntarily sit

00:26:04.320 --> 00:26:05.260
 at anyone's

00:26:05.260 --> 00:26:05.580
 feet.

00:26:06.780 --> 00:26:07.920
 And that's why

00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.920
 the footstool

00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:10.720
 became a symbol

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:12.300
 of subjugation

00:26:12.300 --> 00:26:13.420
 and submission.

00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:16.000
 For example,

00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:16.800
 Psalm 110,

00:26:17.020 --> 00:26:17.460
 verse 1,

00:26:17.520 --> 00:26:18.200
 has a prophecy

00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:19.460
 where Yahweh,

00:26:19.580 --> 00:26:20.280
 God the Father,

00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:21.920
 promises the

00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:22.760
 messianic king,

00:26:23.080 --> 00:26:23.720
 the coming king

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.080
 Jesus,

00:26:24.560 --> 00:26:25.580
 sit at my right

00:26:25.580 --> 00:26:26.920
 hand until I

00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:28.060
 make your enemies

00:26:28.060 --> 00:26:29.920
 your footstool.

00:26:30.380 --> 00:26:33.100
 To make your

00:26:33.100 --> 00:26:33.740
 enemies your

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:35.020
 footstool is to

00:26:35.020 --> 00:26:36.420
 subdue them so

00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:37.780
 thoroughly under

00:26:37.780 --> 00:26:38.480
 your feet so that

00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:39.260
 they're completely

00:26:39.260 --> 00:26:40.720
 surrendered and

00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:41.740
 helplessly submitted

00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:42.180
 to you.

00:26:43.600 --> 00:26:44.700
 This was a common

00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.620
 motif in ancient

00:26:45.620 --> 00:26:46.460
 Near Eastern art.

00:26:47.020 --> 00:26:47.780
 Archaeologists have

00:26:47.780 --> 00:26:48.840
 found many sculptures

00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:50.360
 of monarchs with

00:26:50.360 --> 00:26:50.900
 their feet,

00:26:51.060 --> 00:26:52.120
 with their foot on

00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:53.500
 their subdued enemy.

00:26:54.020 --> 00:26:54.600
 So it's not

00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:55.720
 surprising that one

00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:56.240
 of the Hebrew

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:57.580
 words actually for

00:26:57.580 --> 00:26:59.100
 footstool that's

00:26:59.100 --> 00:26:59.860
 used to describe

00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:01.099
 Solomon's footstool

00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:02.099
 in 2 Chronicles 9

00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:03.479
 18 is derived

00:27:03.479 --> 00:27:04.139
 from the Hebrew

00:27:04.139 --> 00:27:05.159
 verb that means

00:27:05.159 --> 00:27:07.159
 to subdue or to

00:27:07.159 --> 00:27:08.219
 bring into bondage.

00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.459
 The footstool is

00:27:10.459 --> 00:27:12.059
 in short where the

00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:13.079
 king rests his feet

00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:14.179
 while he's seated

00:27:14.179 --> 00:27:14.799
 on his throne.

00:27:14.919 --> 00:27:15.819
 His enemies have

00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:16.939
 been subdued under

00:27:16.939 --> 00:27:17.859
 his feet.

00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:19.959
 And it's God's

00:27:19.959 --> 00:27:21.059
 footstool that

00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:22.619
 contains the terms

00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:23.979
 of agreement of

00:27:23.979 --> 00:27:25.459
 our servitude to

00:27:25.459 --> 00:27:25.799
 God.

00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:27.000
 as a perennial

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:28.399
 reminder that we

00:27:28.399 --> 00:27:30.039
 are his servants,

00:27:30.419 --> 00:27:31.799
 his slaves.

00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:35.359
 Remember the refrain

00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:36.299
 of Exodus throughout

00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:37.539
 chapter 7 to 10.

00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:39.139
 Yahweh repeatedly

00:27:39.139 --> 00:27:40.839
 said, let my people

00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:43.259
 go that they may

00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:44.339
 serve me.

00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:46.240
 That they may not

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.079
 be Pharaoh's

00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:47.659
 servants, but that

00:27:47.659 --> 00:27:48.680
 they may be my

00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.299
 servants.

00:27:49.399 --> 00:27:50.559
 The Lord freed the

00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:51.440
 Israelites from their

00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:52.279
 slavery in Egypt so

00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:53.139
 that they might serve

00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:53.460
 him.

00:27:53.460 --> 00:27:54.880
 If the Israelites

00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:56.079
 had earned their

00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:57.059
 freedom by paying

00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:57.539
 their Egyptian

00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:58.940
 overlords for their

00:27:58.940 --> 00:28:00.059
 freedom, it would be

00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:00.700
 a different story.

00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:02.640
 If the Israelites

00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:03.640
 had earned their

00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:04.940
 freedom by fighting

00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:06.860
 for themselves, going

00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:07.680
 into battle against

00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:09.140
 the Egyptians, that

00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:09.759
 might be a different

00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.980
 story, but that's

00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.900
 not what happened.

00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:13.360
 The Lord God

00:28:13.360 --> 00:28:14.319
 himself delivered

00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:14.620
 them.

00:28:15.299 --> 00:28:15.980
 The Lord God

00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:17.579
 himself fought on

00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:18.140
 their behalf.

00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.000
 The Israelites

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:20.019
 received everything

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:20.600
 for free.

00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:21.640
 They did nothing

00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:23.400
 but obey him.

00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:27.440
 So the Israelites

00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.259
 are not free

00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:29.660
 persons with rights

00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:30.420
 and entitlements.

00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:32.039
 They are not free

00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:32.960
 agents who can

00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:34.160
 negotiate the terms

00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:35.140
 of agreement with

00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:35.539
 the Lord.

00:28:35.620 --> 00:28:36.539
 They are slaves of

00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:36.920
 Yahweh.

00:28:37.360 --> 00:28:38.539
 They are subject to

00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:39.340
 him and they ought

00:28:39.340 --> 00:28:40.319
 to submit to him.

00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:42.360
 And that's the same

00:28:42.360 --> 00:28:43.660
 for us as Christians.

00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.840
 The apostles in the

00:28:44.840 --> 00:28:45.740
 New Testament refer

00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:46.880
 to themselves as

00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:49.779
 slaves of God or as

00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:51.079
 slaves of Christ.

00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:51.159
 Christ.

00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:53.639
 We are under God's

00:28:53.639 --> 00:28:54.039
 authority.

00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:55.339
 In Matthew 8, 5 to

00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:57.079
 13, Jesus commands

00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:58.139
 the faith of the

00:28:58.139 --> 00:28:59.139
 centurion, who was a

00:28:59.139 --> 00:29:00.559
 military officer, who

00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:02.159
 sought him out so that

00:29:02.159 --> 00:29:03.659
 Jesus might heal his

00:29:03.659 --> 00:29:04.799
 paralyzed servant.

00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:06.619
 And Jesus tells the

00:29:06.619 --> 00:29:07.419
 centurion, okay, I'll

00:29:07.419 --> 00:29:08.199
 come and heal him.

00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:09.399
 And then the centurion

00:29:09.399 --> 00:29:10.359
 replies this way.

00:29:10.439 --> 00:29:11.779
 He says, Lord, I am not

00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:12.859
 worthy to have you come

00:29:12.859 --> 00:29:14.859
 under my roof, but only

00:29:14.859 --> 00:29:17.059
 say the word and my

00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:17.980
 servant will be healed.

00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:19.779
 For I too am a man

00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.660
 under authority with

00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:21.579
 soldiers under me.

00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:23.039
 And I say to one, go

00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:24.180
 and he goes and to

00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:25.120
 another, come and he

00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:26.559
 comes and to my

00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:27.759
 servant, do this and

00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:28.799
 he does it.

00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:30.160
 What does the

00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:31.880
 centurion mean by all

00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:32.120
 of that?

00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:32.839
 The centurion is

00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:33.980
 saying, I am a

00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:34.380
 soldier.

00:29:34.620 --> 00:29:35.799
 I'm an officer in the

00:29:35.799 --> 00:29:36.039
 army.

00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:38.339
 I understand what it

00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:40.059
 means to be subject

00:29:40.059 --> 00:29:40.819
 to authority.

00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:42.720
 I understand what it

00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.519
 means to give

00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:45.299
 unquestioning obedience

00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:47.259
 to your superiors out of

00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:48.339
 complete trust for them.

00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:49.720
 I understand that.

00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:51.420
 And I also have people

00:29:51.420 --> 00:29:52.359
 under my charge,

00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:53.740
 soldiers who will do

00:29:53.740 --> 00:29:54.819
 everything I tell them

00:29:54.819 --> 00:29:55.059
 to do.

00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:55.900
 If I tell them to go,

00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:56.259
 they go.

00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:57.099
 If I tell them to come,

00:29:57.379 --> 00:29:57.700
 they come.

00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:58.579
 If I tell them to jump,

00:29:58.640 --> 00:29:59.619
 they ask how high.

00:30:00.180 --> 00:30:01.279
 That's what it means to

00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:02.559
 be under, completely

00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:03.640
 under someone's

00:30:03.640 --> 00:30:04.400
 authority.

00:30:04.579 --> 00:30:06.140
 And he's saying, Jesus,

00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:09.039
 I know you are a man

00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:10.119
 with God's authority.

00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:13.259
 You don't need to come

00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.420
 yourself to my place.

00:30:15.160 --> 00:30:16.720
 Just say the word.

00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:19.500
 And the paralysis will

00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:20.339
 leave my servant.

00:30:25.099 --> 00:30:27.680
 As subjects under God's

00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:28.500
 feet, that's what it

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.319
 looks like for us to

00:30:29.319 --> 00:30:30.599
 live in complete trust.

00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:32.900
 As servants under the

00:30:32.900 --> 00:30:34.119
 perfect and absolute

00:30:34.119 --> 00:30:35.240
 authority of God, it's

00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:36.559
 not our place to seek

00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:38.579
 concessions, to seek

00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:39.379
 compromises.

00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.420
 It's not our place to

00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:42.220
 question the wisdom of

00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:43.599
 God or to negotiate with

00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:45.640
 God or to ignore God and

00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:46.640
 do our own thing.

00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:49.200
 our posture should be

00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:51.240
 simply only say the word.

00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:55.220
 Only say the word, God.

00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:58.099
 If God says, speak for me,

00:30:58.440 --> 00:30:59.900
 then we speak whether that

00:30:59.900 --> 00:31:01.279
 means we get applause or

00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:01.779
 boos.

00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:06.460
 If God says, suffer for me, then

00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:07.680
 we suffer for him.

00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:10.680
 If God says, die for me, then

00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:13.079
 we die for him with honor

00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:15.119
 because it would be our

00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:17.519
 privilege and joy to do so

00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:21.940
 because he is our Lord, because

00:31:21.940 --> 00:31:22.859
 he's our God.

00:31:22.859 --> 00:31:23.859
 God says, don't we?

00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:24.919
 That's the attitude that's

00:31:24.919 --> 00:31:26.459
 fitting for servants of God

00:31:26.459 --> 00:31:28.399
 who worship at his footstool.

00:31:32.339 --> 00:31:33.539
 But if the Ark of the

00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:35.019
 Testament teaches us about the

00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:36.639
 holiness of God, the glory of

00:31:36.639 --> 00:31:38.899
 God, the atonement cover

00:31:38.899 --> 00:31:41.139
 teaches us about the mercy of

00:31:41.139 --> 00:31:41.399
 God.

00:31:42.859 --> 00:31:44.379
 By the atonement cover, I'm

00:31:44.379 --> 00:31:45.799
 referring to the mercy seat.

00:31:46.479 --> 00:31:47.919
 Mercy seat is really a

00:31:47.919 --> 00:31:49.419
 misnomer because God doesn't

00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:51.660
 actually sit on top of the

00:31:51.660 --> 00:31:53.259
 Ark and the mercy seat.

00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.019
 Let me show you from verses

00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:55.980
 18 to 20.

00:31:56.320 --> 00:31:57.060
 Follow along with me.

00:31:57.100 --> 00:31:58.640
 Chapter 25, verse 18 to 20

00:31:58.640 --> 00:31:59.200
 says this.

00:32:00.300 --> 00:32:01.680
 You shall make two cherubim

00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:03.259
 of gold, of hammered work

00:32:03.259 --> 00:32:04.279
 shall you make them on the

00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:05.700
 two ends of the mercy seat.

00:32:05.840 --> 00:32:09.640
 Make one cherub on the one

00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:10.660
 end and one cherub on the

00:32:10.660 --> 00:32:11.039
 other end.

00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:12.800
 Of one piece with the mercy

00:32:12.800 --> 00:32:13.620
 seat shall you make the

00:32:13.620 --> 00:32:14.740
 cherubim on its two ends.

00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:16.779
 The cherubim shall spread out

00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:18.720
 their wings above, overshadowing

00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:19.559
 the mercy seat with their

00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:19.880
 wings.

00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:21.680
 Their faces one to another

00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:23.039
 toward the mercy seat and

00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:25.140
 the faces of the cherubim be.

00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.400
 Toward the mercy seat shall

00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:27.440
 the faces of the cherubim be.

00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:29.319
 So the cherubim are made of

00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:30.640
 one piece with the mercy

00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:32.460
 seat and that's on its two

00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:34.880
 ends of the mercy seat, but

00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:36.019
 they are not the mercy seat.

00:32:36.620 --> 00:32:38.880
 A cherub is an angelic being

00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:41.200
 and cherubim is the plural

00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:42.920
 form of that word, cherub.

00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:45.140
 In ancient Near Eastern art,

00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:46.600
 the cherubim are often

00:32:46.599 --> 00:32:48.419
 depicted as lion-like

00:32:48.419 --> 00:32:49.699
 four-legged creatures

00:32:49.699 --> 00:32:51.719
 with a human face and wings.

00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.980
 But scripture tells us no

00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:55.659
 details besides the fact that

00:32:55.659 --> 00:32:57.259
 they had wings and that they

00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:59.859
 had faces, which means it's not

00:32:59.859 --> 00:33:01.099
 important for us to know exactly

00:33:01.099 --> 00:33:01.939
 what they look like.

00:33:02.439 --> 00:33:04.399
 They are not chubby baby angels.

00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:07.679
 They're warrior guardian angels.

00:33:08.379 --> 00:33:09.819
 We know that because after

00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:11.879
 expelling Adam and Eve from the

00:33:11.879 --> 00:33:14.339
 garden of Eden, God posts the

00:33:14.339 --> 00:33:17.240
 cherubim and a flaming sword to

00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:18.359
 guard the entrance of the

00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:19.659
 garden so that people may not

00:33:19.659 --> 00:33:21.639
 come to get access to the tree

00:33:21.639 --> 00:33:22.779
 of life after having sinned

00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:23.339
 against God.

00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:26.059
 The cherubim are sentinel

00:33:26.059 --> 00:33:27.720
 angels, the guardians.

00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:30.019
 And the way the cherubim are

00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:31.740
 positioned on the mercy seat is

00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.339
 very revealing.

00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:34.000
 According to verse 20, their

00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:36.319
 wings are spread side to side

00:33:36.319 --> 00:33:38.339
 over the, do we have the,

00:33:39.339 --> 00:33:41.740
 overshadowing the mercy seat as

00:33:41.740 --> 00:33:43.339
 if they are covering or hiding

00:33:43.339 --> 00:33:45.720
 something, their faces are

00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:46.220
 similar.

00:33:46.620 --> 00:33:48.720
 They are facing each other, but

00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:50.200
 their faces are turned downward

00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:52.279
 toward the mercy seat as if

00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:53.839
 they're bowing before God who is

00:33:53.839 --> 00:33:55.440
 seated above because they do not

00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:57.240
 dare to look up at the face of

00:33:57.240 --> 00:33:57.559
 God.

00:33:59.400 --> 00:34:02.519
 It says in verse 22, God says,

00:34:02.859 --> 00:34:05.380
 there I will meet with you and

00:34:05.380 --> 00:34:07.900
 from above the mercy seat from

00:34:07.900 --> 00:34:09.400
 between the two cherubim that are

00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:10.720
 on the ark of the testimony, I

00:34:10.720 --> 00:34:12.200
 will speak with you.

00:34:12.740 --> 00:34:14.240
 But he's not saying he will be

00:34:14.240 --> 00:34:16.780
 under the wings of the cherubim

00:34:16.780 --> 00:34:17.380
 between them.

00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:18.840
 He's saying he'll be above them

00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:19.900
 between them.

00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:23.019
 The scriptures, throughout the

00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:24.220
 scriptures, God is repeatedly

00:34:24.220 --> 00:34:26.740
 described as being enthroned on

00:34:26.740 --> 00:34:30.039
 or upon or above the cherubim in

00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:30.760
 a lot of places.

00:34:30.900 --> 00:34:31.800
 For example, he says in first

00:34:31.800 --> 00:34:33.680
 Chronicles 13 verse six, that

00:34:33.680 --> 00:34:35.000
 David and all Israel went to

00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:37.200
 Kirith-Jerim to bring up from

00:34:37.200 --> 00:34:38.360
 there the ark of God, which is

00:34:38.360 --> 00:34:39.760
 called by the name of the Lord

00:34:39.760 --> 00:34:43.280
 who sits enthroned above the

00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:43.740
 cherubim.

00:34:44.720 --> 00:34:46.480
 This is also consistent with many

00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:48.380
 ancient Near Eastern parallels of

00:34:48.380 --> 00:34:49.620
 the wings of the cherubim forming

00:34:49.620 --> 00:34:52.079
 a throne for a king or a deity.

00:34:52.940 --> 00:34:54.640
 So the mercy seat is not the

00:34:54.640 --> 00:34:56.860
 throne, but a part of the

00:34:56.860 --> 00:34:57.400
 footstool.

00:34:58.599 --> 00:35:00.260
 And God is seated in the

00:35:00.260 --> 00:35:02.760
 heavenly places on the heavenly

00:35:02.760 --> 00:35:05.000
 hosts, the angelic beings that

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:06.579
 attend to him and serve him.

00:35:06.579 --> 00:35:09.519
 That's why God says heaven is my

00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:11.380
 throne and the earth is my

00:35:11.380 --> 00:35:12.000
 footstool.

00:35:12.179 --> 00:35:14.039
 And when Solomon is dedicating the

00:35:14.039 --> 00:35:15.340
 temple with the ark and the

00:35:15.340 --> 00:35:16.619
 mercy seat inside it in first

00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:18.199
 King, a 30, he asked God to

00:35:18.199 --> 00:35:20.299
 listen to their plea, listen to

00:35:20.299 --> 00:35:22.019
 their prayers when they pray

00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:24.299
 toward the temple, toward the

00:35:24.299 --> 00:35:25.679
 ark and the mercy seat.

00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:27.719
 And then, but then he says he

00:35:27.719 --> 00:35:29.319
 then listen in heaven, your

00:35:29.319 --> 00:35:30.219
 dwelling place.

00:35:30.219 --> 00:35:31.940
 And when you hear, forgive

00:35:31.940 --> 00:35:33.679
 Solomon understood this.

00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:35.539
 When the people pray toward the

00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:37.039
 ark and the mercy seat, God

00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:39.099
 hears from heaven and answers.

00:35:39.699 --> 00:35:41.960
 The ark on earth is a footstool

00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:43.219
 of God, the footstool of God

00:35:43.219 --> 00:35:44.960
 that is connected to the throne

00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:46.679
 of God in heaven.

00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:49.279
 It's the meeting place of heaven

00:35:49.279 --> 00:35:49.759
 and earth.

00:35:50.379 --> 00:35:52.699
 That's why mercy seat is a

00:35:52.699 --> 00:35:53.059
 misnomer.

00:35:53.199 --> 00:35:54.419
 I prefer the new international

00:35:54.419 --> 00:35:55.579
 versions translation, which

00:35:55.579 --> 00:35:57.539
 calls it the atonement cover.

00:35:58.319 --> 00:36:00.299
 That's apt for two reasons.

00:36:00.399 --> 00:36:01.799
 One, you may have noticed in

00:36:01.800 --> 00:36:03.580
 chapter 25 or 17 that the

00:36:03.580 --> 00:36:06.000
 length and breadth of the

00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:07.760
 atonement cover matches the

00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:08.980
 length and breadth of the

00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:09.920
 ark exactly.

00:36:10.880 --> 00:36:12.680
 The height is not given because

00:36:12.680 --> 00:36:14.480
 it's a flat slab of pure gold.

00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:16.500
 The reason why the dimensions

00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:19.240
 match the ark, it's because as

00:36:19.240 --> 00:36:20.280
 verse 21 says, you're supposed

00:36:20.280 --> 00:36:21.760
 to put the mercy seat on top of

00:36:21.760 --> 00:36:22.080
 the ark.

00:36:22.600 --> 00:36:24.500
 So pragmatically it functions as

00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:26.180
 a lid, a cover.

00:36:26.560 --> 00:36:28.460
 So the atonement cover is quite

00:36:28.460 --> 00:36:28.920
 appropriate.

00:36:29.340 --> 00:36:30.840
 But there's a second reason why

00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:32.340
 the atonement cover is accurate

00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:33.640
 because the actual Hebrew word

00:36:33.640 --> 00:36:35.980
 behind the translation means

00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:37.079
 atonement.

00:36:37.579 --> 00:36:39.280
 That's what the mercy seat means.

00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:40.120
 It's atonement.

00:36:40.260 --> 00:36:41.340
 It comes from the verb that

00:36:41.340 --> 00:36:42.760
 means to cover sin.

00:36:44.300 --> 00:36:45.660
 It's sometimes translated

00:36:45.660 --> 00:36:48.140
 propitiation, referring to the

00:36:48.140 --> 00:36:51.019
 appeasing or pacifying of God's

00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:52.579
 righteous wrath against sinners.

00:36:53.180 --> 00:36:54.559
 That's where we get the word,

00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:59.019
 the Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur,

00:36:59.019 --> 00:37:00.539
 comes from the word Kippur,

00:37:00.739 --> 00:37:02.719
 which is a day of atonement.

00:37:03.840 --> 00:37:05.800
 That's what the mercy seat means.

00:37:05.940 --> 00:37:07.000
 That's what the atonement cover

00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:07.659
 is.

00:37:08.300 --> 00:37:09.559
 Once a year on the day of

00:37:09.559 --> 00:37:11.340
 atonement, the high priest would

00:37:11.340 --> 00:37:13.440
 kill a bull as a sin offering

00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:15.880
 and kill a bull as a sin offering

00:37:15.880 --> 00:37:18.119
 for himself and kill a goat for the

00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:19.699
 sin offering for the people of God,

00:37:19.780 --> 00:37:20.119
 the Israelites.

00:37:20.480 --> 00:37:22.259
 And then he will take the blood from

00:37:22.259 --> 00:37:23.940
 both of those animals and go into

00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:26.300
 the most holy place and he will

00:37:26.300 --> 00:37:27.180
 sprinkle it.

00:37:28.180 --> 00:37:28.660
 Where?

00:37:29.660 --> 00:37:31.680
 On the atonement cover.

00:37:32.280 --> 00:37:33.460
 On the mercy seat.

00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:37.120
 That's where atonement is made

00:37:37.120 --> 00:37:38.560
 and that's why it's called the

00:37:38.560 --> 00:37:39.100
 atonement.

00:37:39.760 --> 00:37:40.640
 And this is amazing.

00:37:40.820 --> 00:37:42.100
 Remember what I told you earlier

00:37:42.100 --> 00:37:44.200
 that the word for Solomon's footstool

00:37:44.200 --> 00:37:46.360
 in 2 Chronicles 9.18 means

00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:49.580
 subjugation or domination.

00:37:49.579 --> 00:37:53.000
 That's what a footstool represents.

00:37:53.360 --> 00:37:56.259
 But the footstool of Yahweh is

00:37:56.259 --> 00:37:57.860
 called mercy.

00:37:58.980 --> 00:38:00.860
 It's called atonement.

00:38:01.319 --> 00:38:04.579
 It's called covering for sin.

00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:06.519
 A propitiation.

00:38:08.719 --> 00:38:10.659
 Before he was a Protestant reformer,

00:38:10.759 --> 00:38:12.360
 Martin Luther was a scrupulous

00:38:12.360 --> 00:38:13.239
 Catholic monk.

00:38:13.860 --> 00:38:16.119
 He once quipped that if ever a monk

00:38:16.119 --> 00:38:18.460
 got to heaven by monkery, I ought to

00:38:18.460 --> 00:38:19.099
 have gotten there.

00:38:20.360 --> 00:38:22.420
 But despite this, Luther had a deep

00:38:22.420 --> 00:38:23.380
 soul struggle.

00:38:23.679 --> 00:38:26.119
 A profoundly disturbed conscience

00:38:26.119 --> 00:38:28.880
 and a spiritual angst that made him

00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:30.639
 ever doubtful of his own salvation.

00:38:31.699 --> 00:38:33.360
 He often despaired of salvation,

00:38:33.740 --> 00:38:35.099
 knowing full well that he was a sinner

00:38:35.099 --> 00:38:35.940
 at the root.

00:38:37.199 --> 00:38:39.840
 At one point, Luther's mentors sent him

00:38:39.840 --> 00:38:41.559
 off to seminary to get a doctorate

00:38:41.559 --> 00:38:44.420
 just to distract him from his obsessive

00:38:44.420 --> 00:38:46.199
 preoccupation with the state of his soul.

00:38:46.199 --> 00:38:49.859
 This is how Luther described his own state.

00:38:49.960 --> 00:38:50.299
 He says,

00:38:50.300 --> 00:38:52.780
 Do I live as a monk without reproach?

00:38:52.860 --> 00:38:54.600
 I felt that I was a sinner before God

00:38:54.600 --> 00:38:56.420
 with an extremely disturbed conscience.

00:38:56.840 --> 00:38:58.980
 I could not believe that he was placated

00:38:58.980 --> 00:39:00.039
 by my satisfaction.

00:39:00.480 --> 00:39:01.820
 I did not love.

00:39:02.080 --> 00:39:05.039
 Yes, I hated the righteous God

00:39:05.039 --> 00:39:06.000
 who punishes sinners.

00:39:06.780 --> 00:39:08.840
 And secretly, if not blasphemously,

00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:10.519
 certainly murmuring greatly,

00:39:10.740 --> 00:39:12.680
 I was angry with God and said,

00:39:13.340 --> 00:39:14.760
 as if indeed it is not enough,

00:39:14.880 --> 00:39:16.740
 that miserable sinners eternally lost

00:39:16.740 --> 00:39:18.500
 through original sin are crushed

00:39:18.500 --> 00:39:19.739
 by every kind of calamity,

00:39:19.780 --> 00:39:21.219
 by the law of the Decalogue,

00:39:21.679 --> 00:39:23.519
 without having God add pain to pain

00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:25.519
 by the gospel and also by the gospel,

00:39:25.679 --> 00:39:27.519
 threatening us with his righteousness

00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:28.820
 and wrath,

00:39:29.800 --> 00:39:31.519
 thus I raised with a fierce

00:39:31.519 --> 00:39:32.780
 and troubled conscience.

00:39:34.260 --> 00:39:36.380
 But as he read Paul's letters

00:39:36.380 --> 00:39:37.940
 in the original Greek,

00:39:37.940 --> 00:39:40.639
 and as he read Augustine's interpretation

00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:42.500
 of Paul's epistles,

00:39:42.800 --> 00:39:45.500
 he realized that the righteousness of God

00:39:45.500 --> 00:39:48.119
 is not revealed by the law,

00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:50.599
 but that the righteousness of God

00:39:50.599 --> 00:39:53.360
 is revealed through faith in Jesus Christ

00:39:53.360 --> 00:39:54.380
 for all who believe.

00:39:55.860 --> 00:39:58.000
 As it says in Romans 3, 21 to 26,

00:39:58.139 --> 00:39:59.739
 for all have sinned and fall short

00:39:59.739 --> 00:40:00.719
 of the glory of God

00:40:00.719 --> 00:40:02.739
 and are justified by his grace

00:40:02.739 --> 00:40:04.800
 as a gift through the redemption

00:40:04.800 --> 00:40:06.300
 that is in Christ Jesus,

00:40:06.619 --> 00:40:08.219
 whom God put forward

00:40:08.219 --> 00:40:10.940
 as a propitiation by his blood

00:40:10.940 --> 00:40:12.820
 to be received by faith.

00:40:12.820 --> 00:40:15.320
 This was to show God's righteousness

00:40:15.320 --> 00:40:17.360
 because in his divine forbearance,

00:40:17.400 --> 00:40:18.900
 he had passed over former sins.

00:40:19.039 --> 00:40:20.680
 It was to show his righteousness

00:40:20.680 --> 00:40:21.820
 at the present time

00:40:21.820 --> 00:40:23.019
 so that he might be just

00:40:23.019 --> 00:40:24.740
 and the justifier of the one

00:40:24.740 --> 00:40:26.840
 who has faith in Jesus.

00:40:27.700 --> 00:40:29.920
 How does God demonstrate his righteousness?

00:40:30.519 --> 00:40:33.519
 He had been forbearing in the past.

00:40:33.620 --> 00:40:35.120
 He had passed over sins

00:40:35.120 --> 00:40:36.180
 instead of punishing them

00:40:36.180 --> 00:40:37.880
 as the sinners deserved.

00:40:38.140 --> 00:40:39.780
 So how can God still be righteous?

00:40:39.780 --> 00:40:42.240
 Because Jesus in our place,

00:40:42.240 --> 00:40:43.560
 by offering himself

00:40:43.560 --> 00:40:45.640
 as a propitiation by his blood,

00:40:45.760 --> 00:40:47.280
 satisfied the wrath of God.

00:40:47.840 --> 00:40:50.760
 Because Jesus satisfied the justice of God

00:40:50.760 --> 00:40:52.540
 by bearing the punishment

00:40:52.540 --> 00:40:54.420
 and he satisfied the wrath of God

00:40:54.420 --> 00:40:57.019
 by appeasing him, placating him.

00:40:57.519 --> 00:40:59.220
 So that God is both just,

00:40:59.340 --> 00:41:00.600
 one who upholds justice

00:41:00.600 --> 00:41:01.680
 by punishing the wicked,

00:41:02.100 --> 00:41:03.240
 and he is the justifier,

00:41:04.040 --> 00:41:04.960
 the one who declares

00:41:04.960 --> 00:41:06.700
 the guilty sinner righteous.

00:41:06.699 --> 00:41:10.419
 And Luther finally made that connection

00:41:10.419 --> 00:41:12.199
 that is in the Greek translation

00:41:12.199 --> 00:41:13.599
 of Exodus 25,

00:41:14.559 --> 00:41:15.619
 our passage for today.

00:41:16.379 --> 00:41:17.559
 The word that is used,

00:41:17.659 --> 00:41:18.359
 the Greek translation

00:41:18.359 --> 00:41:19.119
 of the Old Testament,

00:41:19.579 --> 00:41:20.539
 the word that it uses

00:41:20.539 --> 00:41:22.839
 to translate the atonement cover,

00:41:23.059 --> 00:41:23.759
 the mercy seat,

00:41:24.299 --> 00:41:25.639
 is propitiation.

00:41:27.839 --> 00:41:30.939
 Since Jesus is the propitiation

00:41:30.939 --> 00:41:31.879
 by his blood,

00:41:32.619 --> 00:41:33.839
 then the mercy seat,

00:41:33.840 --> 00:41:36.100
 where the blood of propitiation

00:41:36.100 --> 00:41:36.940
 is sprinkled,

00:41:37.840 --> 00:41:38.340
 represents,

00:41:38.880 --> 00:41:39.960
 and points to

00:41:39.960 --> 00:41:41.840
 Jesus' ultimate sacrifice

00:41:42.600 --> 00:41:43.400
 on the cross.

00:41:44.519 --> 00:41:45.380
 God said,

00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:47.260
 there I will meet you.

00:41:49.400 --> 00:41:50.900
 There I will meet you

00:41:50.900 --> 00:41:52.320
 and I will speak with you.

00:41:52.860 --> 00:41:54.440
 That place is Jesus.

00:41:55.340 --> 00:41:57.620
 That place is his cross.

00:41:57.619 --> 00:41:59.239
 And that may be

00:41:59.239 --> 00:42:00.119
 what John 20,

00:42:00.159 --> 00:42:01.059
 12 has in mind

00:42:01.059 --> 00:42:02.139
 when it reports

00:42:02.139 --> 00:42:03.099
 Mary Magdalene

00:42:03.099 --> 00:42:05.440
 witnessing the empty tomb.

00:42:05.559 --> 00:42:06.819
 She goes to find a tomb

00:42:06.819 --> 00:42:08.779
 and where Jesus' head was

00:42:08.779 --> 00:42:10.139
 and where Jesus' feet were,

00:42:10.579 --> 00:42:11.339
 guess what's there?

00:42:11.699 --> 00:42:12.500
 The cherubim,

00:42:12.579 --> 00:42:13.519
 the two angels,

00:42:14.159 --> 00:42:14.980
 one at his head,

00:42:15.119 --> 00:42:15.679
 one at his head,

00:42:15.719 --> 00:42:16.639
 and one at his foot,

00:42:16.980 --> 00:42:18.420
 just like the mercy seat

00:42:18.420 --> 00:42:20.059
 or the atonement cover.

00:42:21.440 --> 00:42:22.559
 Brothers and sisters in Christ,

00:42:22.659 --> 00:42:23.839
 we are sinners

00:42:23.839 --> 00:42:24.839
 who have violated

00:42:24.839 --> 00:42:26.480
 the terms of our agreement

00:42:26.480 --> 00:42:27.019
 with God,

00:42:27.079 --> 00:42:27.539
 our covenant.

00:42:28.440 --> 00:42:29.320
 We are rebels

00:42:29.320 --> 00:42:30.599
 guilty of treason

00:42:30.599 --> 00:42:32.179
 against the king of kings

00:42:32.179 --> 00:42:33.500
 and we deserve

00:42:33.500 --> 00:42:34.860
 to be crushed

00:42:34.860 --> 00:42:36.460
 underneath God's feet

00:42:36.460 --> 00:42:39.119
 to be made his footstool.

00:42:39.659 --> 00:42:41.480
 We are enemies of God

00:42:41.480 --> 00:42:42.400
 that should be reduced

00:42:42.400 --> 00:42:44.300
 to his footstool.

00:42:45.659 --> 00:42:46.880
 Do you feel weighed down

00:42:46.880 --> 00:42:48.099
 by guilt and shame?

00:42:49.619 --> 00:42:50.800
 Are you a fornicator,

00:42:51.340 --> 00:42:52.099
 an adulterer?

00:42:52.900 --> 00:42:54.360
 Are you a slanderer,

00:42:54.679 --> 00:42:55.400
 a drunkard,

00:42:55.400 --> 00:42:56.920
 a gossip,

00:42:57.619 --> 00:42:58.300
 a thief,

00:42:59.200 --> 00:42:59.840
 a liar?

00:43:02.559 --> 00:43:03.420
 Are you someone

00:43:03.420 --> 00:43:04.380
 who hates your neighbor?

00:43:06.099 --> 00:43:07.119
 You and I

00:43:07.119 --> 00:43:09.039
 deserve to be crushed

00:43:09.039 --> 00:43:10.420
 underneath God's feet.

00:43:12.180 --> 00:43:13.280
 But remember this,

00:43:13.360 --> 00:43:14.079
 his footstool

00:43:14.079 --> 00:43:16.139
 is not called subjugation.

00:43:17.139 --> 00:43:19.220
 It's called propitiation.

00:43:19.219 --> 00:43:22.859
 The very place

00:43:22.859 --> 00:43:24.399
 where we should be crushed

00:43:24.399 --> 00:43:25.759
 for our sins

00:43:25.759 --> 00:43:27.259
 is where we receive

00:43:27.259 --> 00:43:29.299
 mercy and forgiveness.

00:43:30.139 --> 00:43:30.719
 Why?

00:43:31.099 --> 00:43:32.319
 Because someone else

00:43:32.319 --> 00:43:33.119
 was crushed

00:43:33.119 --> 00:43:34.619
 in our place there

00:43:34.619 --> 00:43:36.500
 on the atonement cover.

00:43:37.539 --> 00:43:38.939
 Because someone else

00:43:38.939 --> 00:43:40.559
 has poured out his blood

00:43:40.559 --> 00:43:41.539
 and sprinkled it

00:43:41.539 --> 00:43:43.079
 upon the atonement cover.

00:43:43.079 --> 00:43:44.659
 because Jesus

00:43:44.659 --> 00:43:46.480
 died on the cross

00:43:46.480 --> 00:43:47.239
 for our sins

00:43:47.239 --> 00:43:48.119
 and was raised

00:43:48.119 --> 00:43:48.940
 from the dead

00:43:48.940 --> 00:43:51.019
 as we who have put

00:43:51.019 --> 00:43:52.099
 our faith in him,

00:43:52.299 --> 00:43:53.099
 we have been cleansed,

00:43:54.539 --> 00:43:54.940
 covered.

00:43:56.079 --> 00:43:56.960
 Instead of being

00:43:56.960 --> 00:43:57.099
 vanquished,

00:43:57.880 --> 00:43:58.920
 we are vindicated.

00:44:00.299 --> 00:44:01.199
 Instead of being

00:44:01.199 --> 00:44:01.779
 crushed,

00:44:02.219 --> 00:44:03.099
 we are covered

00:44:03.099 --> 00:44:04.159
 over by his blood.

00:44:04.159 --> 00:44:09.039
 It's amazing.

00:44:11.039 --> 00:44:11.799
 This is why

00:44:11.799 --> 00:44:13.739
 we don't need the ark

00:44:13.739 --> 00:44:15.279
 or the atonement cover

00:44:15.279 --> 00:44:15.699
 anymore.

00:44:17.159 --> 00:44:18.239
 Too many people

00:44:18.239 --> 00:44:19.819
 waste precious time

00:44:19.819 --> 00:44:20.739
 speculating about

00:44:20.739 --> 00:44:21.359
 the possible

00:44:21.359 --> 00:44:22.519
 whereabouts of the ark,

00:44:23.079 --> 00:44:24.339
 which in all likelihood

00:44:24.339 --> 00:44:25.359
 was destroyed

00:44:25.359 --> 00:44:26.299
 during the Babylonian

00:44:26.299 --> 00:44:27.339
 conquest of Jerusalem.

00:44:28.839 --> 00:44:29.179
 In fact,

00:44:29.319 --> 00:44:29.659
 Jeremiah,

00:44:29.799 --> 00:44:30.339
 before that

00:44:30.339 --> 00:44:31.139
 even happened,

00:44:31.359 --> 00:44:32.299
 prophesied already.

00:44:32.599 --> 00:44:33.759
 Jeremiah 3, 16, 17,

00:44:33.760 --> 00:44:34.700
 already prophesied

00:44:34.700 --> 00:44:35.100
 of a day

00:44:35.100 --> 00:44:36.000
 when the ark

00:44:36.000 --> 00:44:36.520
 of the covenant

00:44:36.520 --> 00:44:36.960
 of the Lord

00:44:36.960 --> 00:44:38.440
 shall not come to mind

00:44:38.440 --> 00:44:39.520
 or be remembered

00:44:39.520 --> 00:44:40.440
 or missed.

00:44:40.880 --> 00:44:41.780
 It shall not

00:44:41.780 --> 00:44:42.960
 be made again.

00:44:43.500 --> 00:44:44.380
 At that time,

00:44:44.460 --> 00:44:45.500
 Jerusalem shall be

00:44:45.500 --> 00:44:46.260
 called the throne

00:44:46.260 --> 00:44:46.860
 of the Lord

00:44:46.860 --> 00:44:48.120
 and all nations

00:44:48.120 --> 00:44:49.180
 shall gather to it

00:44:49.180 --> 00:44:49.880
 to the presence

00:44:49.880 --> 00:44:51.000
 of the Lord.

00:44:51.820 --> 00:44:52.420
 We don't need

00:44:52.420 --> 00:44:53.080
 the ark anymore.

00:44:53.180 --> 00:44:53.700
 We don't need

00:44:53.700 --> 00:44:54.300
 the atonement cover

00:44:54.300 --> 00:44:55.160
 because Jesus

00:44:55.160 --> 00:44:56.440
 was laid upon

00:44:56.440 --> 00:44:57.240
 the atonement cover

00:44:57.240 --> 00:44:58.120
 for our sins

00:44:58.120 --> 00:44:59.340
 on the cross

00:44:59.340 --> 00:45:00.320
 once and for all.

00:45:01.220 --> 00:45:02.600
 And when Jesus returns,

00:45:02.680 --> 00:45:03.740
 it says in Revelation 20,

00:45:03.739 --> 00:45:05.000
 what is this

00:45:05.000 --> 00:45:05.579
 holy city,

00:45:05.719 --> 00:45:06.099
 Jerusalem,

00:45:06.299 --> 00:45:07.479
 that replaces

00:45:07.479 --> 00:45:08.439
 the ark of covenant?

00:45:09.859 --> 00:45:10.659
 John reports

00:45:10.659 --> 00:45:10.979
 this vision.

00:45:11.059 --> 00:45:11.219
 He says,

00:45:11.259 --> 00:45:12.199
 he saw the holy city,

00:45:12.339 --> 00:45:12.539
 Jerusalem,

00:45:12.679 --> 00:45:13.259
 coming down

00:45:13.259 --> 00:45:13.899
 out of the heaven

00:45:13.899 --> 00:45:14.459
 from God.

00:45:14.959 --> 00:45:15.919
 And that Jerusalem

00:45:15.919 --> 00:45:16.559
 is us.

00:45:17.500 --> 00:45:18.019
 And it says

00:45:18.019 --> 00:45:18.979
 in verse 22,

00:45:18.980 --> 00:45:20.539
 and I saw no temple

00:45:20.539 --> 00:45:21.079
 in the city

00:45:21.079 --> 00:45:22.280
 for its temple

00:45:22.280 --> 00:45:23.460
 is the Lord God,

00:45:23.519 --> 00:45:24.039
 the Almighty

00:45:24.039 --> 00:45:24.639
 and the Lamb.

00:45:25.099 --> 00:45:25.940
 And the city

00:45:25.940 --> 00:45:26.659
 has no need

00:45:26.659 --> 00:45:27.639
 of sun or moon

00:45:27.639 --> 00:45:28.500
 to shine on it

00:45:28.500 --> 00:45:29.380
 for the glory

00:45:29.380 --> 00:45:30.800
 of God gives it light

00:45:30.800 --> 00:45:31.840
 and its lamp

00:45:31.840 --> 00:45:33.260
 is the Lamb.

00:45:34.539 --> 00:45:35.880
 There will be no temple

00:45:35.880 --> 00:45:37.719
 because we will have

00:45:37.719 --> 00:45:38.519
 direct access

00:45:38.519 --> 00:45:39.000
 to God

00:45:39.000 --> 00:45:40.880
 and we will be

00:45:40.880 --> 00:45:42.619
 in his immediate presence.

00:45:42.619 --> 00:45:45.319
 And as we look forward

00:45:45.319 --> 00:45:45.920
 to that day,

00:45:45.980 --> 00:45:46.819
 that's what Jesus

00:45:46.819 --> 00:45:47.739
 has won for us.

00:45:47.980 --> 00:45:48.739
 And as we look forward

00:45:48.739 --> 00:45:49.159
 to that day,

00:45:49.219 --> 00:45:50.079
 we can now,

00:45:50.299 --> 00:45:50.659
 today,

00:45:51.139 --> 00:45:52.019
 with confidence

00:45:52.019 --> 00:45:52.739
 draw near

00:45:52.739 --> 00:45:53.880
 to the throne of God.

00:45:55.239 --> 00:45:55.679
 Why?

00:45:55.819 --> 00:45:56.440
 Because we know

00:45:56.440 --> 00:45:57.339
 that we will find

00:45:57.339 --> 00:45:58.239
 mercy there

00:45:58.239 --> 00:46:00.500
 because the blood

00:46:00.500 --> 00:46:00.960
 of Christ

00:46:00.960 --> 00:46:01.900
 has been sprinkled.

00:46:02.779 --> 00:46:03.759
 Let's pray together.

00:46:03.760 --> 00:46:24.040
 Father,

00:46:24.880 --> 00:46:31.140
 we deserve

00:46:31.140 --> 00:46:31.820
 to be crushed

00:46:31.820 --> 00:46:32.840
 underneath your feet.

00:46:33.760 --> 00:46:36.200
 But how can it be

00:46:36.200 --> 00:46:39.300
 that our Lord,

00:46:40.240 --> 00:46:41.080
 your perfect

00:46:41.080 --> 00:46:43.400
 only Son,

00:46:45.400 --> 00:46:46.400
 was crushed

00:46:46.400 --> 00:46:47.180
 in our place?

00:46:50.760 --> 00:46:52.600
 He who should be exalted,

00:46:54.300 --> 00:46:54.620
 crushed.

00:46:59.760 --> 00:47:01.160
 How can it be

00:47:01.160 --> 00:47:02.300
 that we profit

00:47:02.300 --> 00:47:04.740
 from our Savior's death?

00:47:07.640 --> 00:47:08.120
 Father,

00:47:08.220 --> 00:47:09.260
 thank you for your love.

00:47:10.700 --> 00:47:12.039
 Thank you for your mercy.

00:47:13.980 --> 00:47:15.800
 Thank you for sending Jesus,

00:47:16.519 --> 00:47:17.380
 putting him forward

00:47:17.380 --> 00:47:18.560
 as the propitiation

00:47:18.560 --> 00:47:19.320
 by his blood.

00:47:24.620 --> 00:47:26.060
 So that wrath is gone.

00:47:26.059 --> 00:47:30.840
 the penalty is paid.

00:47:33.320 --> 00:47:34.759
 And we get to dwell

00:47:34.759 --> 00:47:35.500
 with you forever.

00:47:42.320 --> 00:47:43.380
 We love you, Father.

00:47:45.380 --> 00:47:47.179
 In your Son's precious name,

00:47:47.759 --> 00:47:48.199
 we pray.

00:47:48.659 --> 00:47:48.980
 Amen.

00:47:48.980 --> 00:47:49.079
 Amen.

00:47:49.079 --> 00:47:49.139
 Amen.

00:47:49.139 --> 00:47:49.179
 Amen.

00:47:49.179 --> 00:47:49.239
 Amen.

00:47:49.239 --> 00:47:49.279
 Amen.

00:47:49.279 --> 00:47:51.079
 Amen.

00:47:51.079 --> 00:47:51.139
 Amen.

00:47:51.139 --> 00:47:51.239
 Amen.

00:47:51.239 --> 00:47:51.279
 Amen.

00:47:51.279 --> 00:47:51.320
 Amen.

00:47:51.320 --> 00:47:53.179
 Amen.

00:47:53.179 --> 00:47:53.199
 Amen.

00:47:53.199 --> 00:47:53.239
 Amen.

00:47:53.239 --> 00:47:53.279
 Amen.

00:47:53.279 --> 00:47:53.299
 Amen.

00:47:53.299 --> 00:47:53.340
 Amen.

00:47:53.340 --> 00:47:53.380
 Amen.

00:47:53.380 --> 00:47:53.400
 Amen.

00:47:53.400 --> 00:47:55.299
 Amen.

00:47:55.299 --> 00:47:56.039
 Amen.