WEBVTT

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 If you've got a Bible, if you need a church Bible, grab one at the door. It will really help you go through. It's on page 801. Mark Twain was a very famous American novelist.

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 He was the author of books like Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn. And I have no idea whether Mark Twain was a Christian, but I can tell you that he had a healthy respect for the Bible.

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 He knew that the Bible was no ordinary piece of literature. He once said, most people are bothered by passages of the Bible that they do not understand.

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 But the passages that bother me are the passages I do understand. Let me say that again. Most passages, most people are bothered by passages of Scripture that they do not understand.

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 But the passages that bother me are the passages that I do understand.

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 And this morning in Malachi chapter 2, we come to a chapter that isn't very hard to understand at all.

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 But it may certainly bother you if you're serious about it.

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 You may have noticed when Reuben read to it that the word covenant keeps coming up.

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 It's repeated several times.

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 And the covenant is a solemn and a binding agreement between two parties.

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 We talk about the covenant of marriage.

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 And in these verses, God refers to several different covenants.

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 Binding and solemn agreements.

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 That's how we're going to divide the passage in.

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 Verses 1 to 9, you'll see the first one.

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 You might remember from last week that Malachi is specifically addressing the priests.

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 The religious leaders of the people of God.

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 And they continue to be the focus of the next session.

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 You see it in verse 1.

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 And now, O priests, you lot, you priests, this command is for you.

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 And what follows is an admonition or a rebuke or criticism of some sort.

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 And again, just like we saw last week in chapter 1, verse 6,

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 the issue continues to be the failure of God's priests to give God the honour that he deserves.

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 So look with me at verse 2.

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 If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honour to my name,

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 says the Lord of hosts, then I will send curse upon you.

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 And I will curse your blessings.

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 Indeed, I've already cursed them because you do not lay it to heart.

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 You can hear the heat in those words, can't you?

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 God is angry with the priests of Israel.

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 So angry, he says in verse 3,

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 Behold, I will rebuke your offspring and I will spread dung on your faces,

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 the dung of your offerings, and you will be taken away with it.

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 It's very, it's a polite translation.

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 What he's saying?

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 That when the Israelites made their animal sacrifices,

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 the dung or the offal, it was the inedible part, the internal organs,

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 that was to be taken away from the sacrifice and burnt separately.

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 It's not a pleasant image at all.

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 But whatever has stirred God to be this angry,

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 it must be, mustn't it?

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 Very serious indeed.

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 And from verse 4 onwards, God makes it clear what the problem is.

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 So if you look in verse 4,

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 and then you look at verse 8,

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 God refers to the covenant that he made with Levi.

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 Levi was the founding father of the tribe of Levi.

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 They became known as the tribe of the Levites.

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 And it was the Levites, wasn't it,

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 who were chosen out of the 12 tribes of Israel to be the priests.

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 They were to be the religious teachers.

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 They would represent God to the people and the people to God.

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 And the covenant he made with them outlined the obligations that they had.

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 And so Malachi recalls them.

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 Look at verse 5.

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 He says,

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 It says,

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 The priests were to be God's mouthpiece.

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 They were to be God's messengers.

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 They were to instruct God's people.

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 And they were to do it truthfully.

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 And if they did their job properly,

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 then the people of God would turn away from their sin.

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 But the priests in Malachi's day weren't doing their job properly.

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 They'd completely drop the ball.

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 And so instead of calling people to turn from their sin,

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 they've actually caused people to stumble into sin.

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 In fact, they themselves as priests had turned away and become corrupt.

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 Look at verse 8 and 9.

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 But you, you, O priest, you have turned aside from the way.

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 You've caused many to stumble by your instruction.

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 You've corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts.

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 And so I will make you despised and abased among the people.

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 Inasmuch as you do not keep my ways, but show partiality in your instruction.

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 God says, you've violated, you've broken the covenant, the agreement,

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 the binding solemn agreement that I made with Levi.

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 With Levi's descendants.

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 And you've broken it.

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 And what God is very serious about, they have treated with contempt.

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 They've not honoured him, and so he is angry.

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 What are we to make of it?

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 Since Jesus has come,

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 we don't have priests anymore like they did in the Old Testament.

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 Jesus is our priest, our perfect priest.

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 I and Reuben are not your priests.

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 Jesus is the one who represents God to us,

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 and us to God.

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 The New Testament teaches, in a sense,

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 we are all priests.

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 All of us who have trusted in the Lord Jesus,

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 we are all in him,

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 we are all priests.

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 We are to represent God to the world.

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 Your elders are not priests.

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 But nevertheless, God still appoints leaders in his church.

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 He appoints men to lead his church,

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 and to teach his people.

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 He has laid a responsibility on those preachers and teachers,

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 on elders and ministers.

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 But he also, doesn't he,

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 gives that responsibility from time to time,

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 to Sunday school teachers,

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 like you were taught this morning,

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 to youth group leaders,

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 to those who instruct our children,

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 to those who teach Bibles.

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 And it is a,

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 a Bible study,

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 it is a very serious business.

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 So look at James chapter 3, verse 1,

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 or let me read it to you.

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 You can turn there if you want.

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 And these words are really sobering.

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 And the Apostle James writes to the church,

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 and he says this,

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 Not many of you should presume to be teachers.

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 Not many of you should become teachers,

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 my brothers,

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 for you know that we who teach

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 will be judged with greater strictness.

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 Lots has changed since Malachi's day,

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 and our day,

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 and our day,

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 but one thing hasn't.

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 And that is this,

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 that God is still very serious

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 about people turning away from their sin.

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 And those who are his messengers,

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 his mouthpiece,

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 must take that responsibility very seriously.

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 You must demand of those who preach to you

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 that they teach you the truth,

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 and nothing but the truth.

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 Nothing false ought to be on their lips.

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 And James reminds us, doesn't he,

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 that when we speak for God,

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 we are accountable to God.

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 There will be a special judgment for us.

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 It's a chilling verse.

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 For those of us who teach and preach God's word.

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 So it's not something,

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 and we do for fun,

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 it's not something we do as an adrenaline rush.

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 It's not something that we do

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 simply out of obligation.

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 Instead, it must be something, isn't it,

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 that the preacher must work very hard at.

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 They put time into it.

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 They should take great care.

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 And the implications for us as a church family

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 is that it's far more important

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 how the Bible is taught

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 than what games and activities we do

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 in the youth group.

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 It's far more important, isn't it,

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 that the Bible is taught clearly and faithful

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 than that our children think

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 they've had a wonderful time in our kids' clubs.

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 And so our preparation

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 as leaders of youth groups,

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 Bible studies,

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 in whatever context in the church,

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 is to reflect what is most important to God.

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 And so that's a great thing, isn't it,

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 for those of you who are serving in ministries,

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 to think about the different ministries

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 in church life

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 and think,

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 are we reflecting

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 what is most important to God?

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 Whether it's in the youth group

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 or Little Stars

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 or the language class,

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 whatever context

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 we're teaching God's Word,

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 God is very serious indeed

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 about how His Word is taught.

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 Speaking God's Word

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 is a very serious business

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 and we ought to treat it

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 as seriously as God does.

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 Malachi turns his attention then

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 to what he calls

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 the covenant of our fathers.

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 And he's talking there

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 about the solemn binding agreement

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 that he made

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 with the whole nation of Israel.

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 And so,

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 at this point he addresses

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 the whole nation,

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 the whole people of God,

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 not just the priests.

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 Look at verse 10.

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 Have we all not one father?

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 Has not one God created us?

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 Why then are we faithless

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 to one another

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 profaning the covenant

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 of our fathers?

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 The covenant God made

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 with our forefathers,

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 with their ancestors,

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 has been violated,

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 snapped, broken.

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 Because they've broken faith

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 with one another.

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 And that is they've broken

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 the bonds of commitment,

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 of trust,

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 by which God's people

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 are bound to.

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 How have they done that?

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 Look verse 11.

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 Just glance down.

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 He uses Judah and Jacob

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 as synonyms

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 for the people of Israel.

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 Now, Judah's been faithless

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 and an abomination

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 has been committed

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 in Israel and in Jerusalem.

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 For Judah has profaned

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 the sanctuary of the Lord,

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 which he loves

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 and has married

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 the daughter

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 of a foreign God.

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 May the Lord

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 cut off

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 from the tents of Jacob

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 and the descendants

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 of the man

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 who does this,

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 who brings an offering

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 to the Lord of hosts.

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 The issue is here.

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 This is the issue.

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 The issue is

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 they have

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 intermarried

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 with those

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 who are not Israelites.

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 That's what God means

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 by marrying

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 the daughter

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 of a foreign God.

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 And some of you

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 might be sitting there

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 thinking,

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 what's the big deal

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 in that?

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 Is God racist?

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 Of course not.

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 As in everything

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 we've seen

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 in Malachi so far,

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 the problem is

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 that they have broken

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 God's clear commands.

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 So let me read to you

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 from Deuteronomy chapter 7.

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 It's from earlier on

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 in the Old Testament.

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 Deuteronomy chapter 7,

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 verse 1.

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 When the Lord,

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 your God,

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 brings you,

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 the people of God,

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 into the land

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 that you are entering

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 to take possession of it

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 and clears away

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 the many nations

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 before you,

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 the Hittites,

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 the Girgashites,

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 the Amorites,

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 the Canaanites,

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 the Perizzites,

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 the Hivites,

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 the Jebusites,

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 seven nations

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 more numerous

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 and more mighty

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 than you.

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 And when the Lord God

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 gives them over to you

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 and you defeat them,

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 you must devote them

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 to complete destruction.

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 You shall make

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 no covenant with them

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 and you shall show

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 no mercy to them

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 and you shall not

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 intermarry with them.

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 Giving your daughters

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 to their sons

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 or taking their daughters

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 to your sons

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 for they would

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 turn away

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 your sons

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 from following me

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 to serve other gods.

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 Then the anger

00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:02.700
 of the Lord

00:13:02.700 --> 00:13:03.340
 would be kindled

00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:03.939
 against you

00:13:03.939 --> 00:13:04.319
 and he would

00:13:04.319 --> 00:13:05.120
 destroy you quickly.

00:13:05.439 --> 00:13:05.759
 Do you see,

00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:08.080
 God not only

00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:09.220
 gave the Israelites

00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:09.899
 a command,

00:13:10.539 --> 00:13:11.259
 I think you should be

00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:12.080
 willing to see that,

00:13:12.939 --> 00:13:14.319
 not to intermarry

00:13:14.319 --> 00:13:15.240
 with those who didn't

00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.100
 follow the God of Israel.

00:13:16.319 --> 00:13:17.220
 He gave them the command

00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:18.100
 but he also gave them

00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:18.960
 the reason for it.

00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:23.860
 that when you marry

00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:25.379
 outside of the people

00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:25.879
 of God,

00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:26.620
 when you marry

00:13:26.620 --> 00:13:28.379
 those who do not

00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:29.040
 worship me,

00:13:29.320 --> 00:13:30.600
 who worship other gods,

00:13:31.060 --> 00:13:33.019
 God is concerned

00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:33.700
 about that

00:13:33.700 --> 00:13:35.740
 because the Israelites

00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:36.620
 would turn away

00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:37.639
 from serving him

00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:38.920
 to worship the idols

00:13:38.920 --> 00:13:39.840
 of the other nations.

00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:43.060
 And that is

00:13:43.060 --> 00:13:43.899
 in many ways

00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:44.420
 the story

00:13:44.420 --> 00:13:45.220
 of the Old Testament.

00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:48.040
 That when they did

00:13:48.040 --> 00:13:49.240
 marry outside Israel,

00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:49.860
 when they did

00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:50.480
 turn away

00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:51.660
 from worshipping God

00:13:51.660 --> 00:13:52.360
 to worshipping,

00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:53.360
 when they did

00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:53.620
 into marriage,

00:13:53.700 --> 00:13:54.259
 they turned away

00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:55.160
 from worshipping God

00:13:55.160 --> 00:13:55.920
 to worshipping idols.

00:13:56.280 --> 00:13:56.899
 King Solomon

00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:57.820
 is the great example,

00:13:57.899 --> 00:13:58.180
 isn't it?

00:13:59.800 --> 00:14:00.720
 It's the classic

00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:01.780
 and tragic case.

00:14:02.040 --> 00:14:02.500
 His heart

00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:03.340
 was turned away.

00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:06.139
 But they're still

00:14:06.139 --> 00:14:06.480
 doing it

00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:08.100
 800 years later.

00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:10.100
 And God says

00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:10.600
 through Malachi,

00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:11.960
 you've profaned

00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:12.360
 the covenant.

00:14:14.680 --> 00:14:15.780
 That means this.

00:14:15.940 --> 00:14:16.440
 It means that

00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:16.980
 they've treated

00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:19.399
 something holy

00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:21.220
 as if it was unholy.

00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:23.480
 And they've shown

00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:24.560
 no seriousness

00:14:24.560 --> 00:14:25.840
 about what God

00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:26.580
 is serious about.

00:14:29.180 --> 00:14:30.200
 And again,

00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:31.500
 this is still

00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:31.980
 an issue

00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:32.500
 that God

00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:33.419
 is serious about.

00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:36.620
 In 2 Corinthians

00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:37.279
 chapter 6,

00:14:37.340 --> 00:14:37.879
 the Apostle Paul

00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:38.500
 is writing,

00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:39.860
 talking about

00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:40.399
 how Christians

00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:40.899
 are to live

00:14:40.899 --> 00:14:41.399
 in the world.

00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:43.720
 He says

00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:44.559
 that he wants

00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:45.000
 them to live

00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:45.440
 in a way,

00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:46.559
 in a world,

00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:47.620
 he wants them

00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:48.460
 to live in a way

00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:49.139
 that is pure.

00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:51.779
 And this is

00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:52.320
 what he says.

00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:52.960
 Hear these words.

00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:53.279
 He says,

00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:54.299
 do not be

00:14:54.299 --> 00:14:55.899
 unequally yoked

00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:57.059
 with unbelievers.

00:14:58.100 --> 00:14:58.879
 For what

00:14:58.879 --> 00:14:59.639
 partnership

00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:01.080
 has righteousness

00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:02.480
 with unrighteousness?

00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:04.019
 or what

00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:04.419
 fellowship

00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:05.120
 does light

00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:05.659
 have

00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:06.419
 with darkness?

00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:09.440
 And Paul

00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:09.899
 is urging

00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:10.360
 Christians

00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:11.919
 like you,

00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:12.480
 if you've trusted

00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:13.159
 in the Lord Jesus,

00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:14.100
 like me,

00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:17.259
 to be

00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:18.559
 uncontaminated

00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:20.179
 in our devotion

00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:20.919
 to the Lord Jesus.

00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:23.259
 To be

00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:24.720
 uncompromising

00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:25.639
 about our

00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:25.919
 devotion

00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:26.679
 to the Lord Jesus.

00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:26.799
 believers.

00:15:28.599 --> 00:15:29.379
 And to that end,

00:15:29.459 --> 00:15:30.459
 he urges us

00:15:30.459 --> 00:15:31.659
 not to bind

00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:32.339
 ourselves

00:15:32.339 --> 00:15:33.439
 to unbelievers

00:15:33.439 --> 00:15:35.000
 in any sort

00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:35.979
 of irreversible

00:15:35.979 --> 00:15:36.579
 partnership.

00:15:39.079 --> 00:15:39.299
 Now,

00:15:39.359 --> 00:15:39.639
 I presume

00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:40.299
 that that

00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:41.819
 applies to things

00:15:41.819 --> 00:15:42.599
 apart from marriage

00:15:42.599 --> 00:15:42.879
 too.

00:15:45.199 --> 00:15:46.379
 But it certainly

00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:47.120
 does apply to

00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:47.439
 marriage.

00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:50.559
 Whatever form

00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:51.639
 the yoking

00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:52.179
 together,

00:15:52.419 --> 00:15:53.419
 joining together,

00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:54.500
 takes,

00:15:54.779 --> 00:15:55.779
 Paul urges us

00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:56.719
 to be pure

00:15:56.719 --> 00:15:58.699
 and to maintain

00:15:58.699 --> 00:16:00.559
 undivided loyalty

00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:01.759
 to Christ

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.500
 by avoiding it.

00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:08.019
 You might feel

00:16:08.019 --> 00:16:08.720
 this morning

00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:10.500
 that you are

00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:11.419
 strong enough

00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:13.139
 to avoid

00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:14.039
 being distracted

00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:15.860
 or contaminated.

00:16:18.059 --> 00:16:18.980
 But that

00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:19.860
 doesn't give you

00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:20.299
 permission,

00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:21.279
 license,

00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:22.440
 to disregard

00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:24.299
 God's command.

00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:27.419
 And God

00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:28.480
 says to you

00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:29.240
 this morning

00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:29.820
 that you should

00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:30.860
 be loyal to him

00:16:30.860 --> 00:16:31.779
 above everything

00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:32.139
 else.

00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:35.320
 that we should

00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:36.039
 love him

00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:36.679
 more than

00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:37.480
 anybody else.

00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:40.340
 And it seems

00:16:40.340 --> 00:16:41.120
 clear to me

00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:41.679
 that the teaching

00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:42.220
 of the Bible

00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:43.100
 is that Christians

00:16:43.100 --> 00:16:43.720
 should not

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.960
 consider marriage

00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:45.820
 to an unbeliever

00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:47.399
 an option.

00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:48.279
 It's not an option.

00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:51.399
 And so if you

00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:52.039
 are looking for

00:16:52.039 --> 00:16:53.059
 a husband or wife

00:16:53.059 --> 00:16:53.419
 even,

00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:55.740
 or if you are

00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:56.659
 looking for a

00:16:56.659 --> 00:16:57.259
 girlfriend or

00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:57.659
 boyfriend,

00:16:57.820 --> 00:16:58.519
 the Apostle Paul

00:16:58.519 --> 00:16:59.419
 would urge you,

00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:00.639
 would command

00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:01.059
 you,

00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:02.979
 look for

00:17:02.979 --> 00:17:03.500
 someone who

00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:04.039
 shares your

00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:04.759
 commitment to

00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:05.379
 Jesus Christ.

00:17:08.379 --> 00:17:09.159
 Let me speak

00:17:09.159 --> 00:17:09.539
 to our young

00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:09.859
 people,

00:17:10.919 --> 00:17:11.240
 to our

00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:11.500
 teenagers.

00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:12.059
 Let me

00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:12.839
 plead with you.

00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:14.720
 Let me plead

00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:15.339
 with you as

00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:15.819
 your minister

00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:18.099
 that if you

00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:18.579
 are looking

00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:20.099
 for a

00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:20.519
 relationship,

00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:21.819
 if you are

00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:22.319
 looking to get

00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:22.639
 married,

00:17:22.859 --> 00:17:23.359
 hear these

00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:23.759
 words,

00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:24.679
 look for

00:17:24.679 --> 00:17:25.440
 someone in

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:25.799
 the Lord.

00:17:25.799 --> 00:17:25.839
 God,

00:17:26.359 --> 00:17:27.680
 I cannot

00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.399
 tell you

00:17:28.399 --> 00:17:29.480
 the untold

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.359
 harm and

00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:31.859
 pain that

00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:32.359
 it causes

00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:33.200
 to disregard

00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:33.839
 that clear

00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:34.399
 command from

00:17:34.399 --> 00:17:34.680
 God.

00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:37.579
 I realise

00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:38.019
 that this

00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:38.299
 morning,

00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:39.759
 this is not

00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:40.579
 an easy issue

00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:41.059
 for some of

00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:41.259
 us.

00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:43.159
 In fact,

00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:44.259
 I know for

00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:44.879
 some of you,

00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:45.899
 this has been

00:17:45.899 --> 00:17:47.139
 excruciatingly

00:17:47.139 --> 00:17:47.440
 hard.

00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:50.279
 But I need

00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:50.820
 to tell you

00:17:50.820 --> 00:17:51.480
 that this is

00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:51.940
 something that

00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:52.660
 God is very

00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:53.400
 serious about.

00:17:55.080 --> 00:17:55.680
 And so we

00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:55.980
 should be

00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:56.380
 serious about

00:17:56.380 --> 00:17:56.620
 it too.

00:17:59.519 --> 00:17:59.920
 Thirdly,

00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:00.519
 and finally,

00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:01.279
 let's look at

00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:01.880
 the third

00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:02.759
 covenant in

00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:03.460
 verses 13

00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:03.980
 to 16.

00:18:05.620 --> 00:18:06.580
 In Malachi 2,

00:18:07.100 --> 00:18:07.799
 Malachi explains

00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:08.640
 why God is not

00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:09.680
 accepting Israel's

00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:09.980
 offering.

00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:12.059
 He's not

00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.660
 accepting their

00:18:12.660 --> 00:18:13.440
 religious devotion.

00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:14.180
 Do you remember

00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:14.820
 last week he said,

00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:15.299
 I'd rather you

00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:16.480
 shut the doors,

00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:16.880
 I'd rather you

00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:17.240
 didn't bother.

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:18.680
 And it's because

00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:19.320
 of the third

00:18:19.320 --> 00:18:20.059
 covenant violation

00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:20.840
 in verse 13.

00:18:21.860 --> 00:18:22.160
 He says,

00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:22.580
 this is the

00:18:22.580 --> 00:18:22.960
 second thing

00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:23.200
 you do.

00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:23.880
 You cover

00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:24.400
 the Lord's

00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:24.779
 altar with

00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:24.980
 tears.

00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.299
 You come

00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:25.759
 and you cry.

00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:26.380
 You love

00:18:26.380 --> 00:18:26.779
 the music.

00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:27.480
 You cry

00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:27.920
 your eyes

00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:28.220
 out.

00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.259
 And you

00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:30.799
 weep

00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:31.240
 and you

00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:31.860
 groan.

00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:33.320
 But he

00:18:33.320 --> 00:18:34.000
 no longer,

00:18:34.120 --> 00:18:34.680
 God no longer

00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:35.380
 regards your

00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:36.779
 offering with

00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:37.220
 favour from

00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:37.680
 your hand.

00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:39.880
 But you say,

00:18:40.080 --> 00:18:40.559
 why does he

00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:40.840
 not?

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:41.480
 Because the

00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:41.880
 Lord was

00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:42.519
 witness between

00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.259
 you and the

00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:43.720
 wife of your

00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:44.019
 youth,

00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:46.000
 to whom you've

00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:46.779
 been faithless.

00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:48.460
 though she

00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.200
 is your

00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:50.119
 companion

00:18:50.119 --> 00:18:51.599
 and your

00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:52.019
 wife by

00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:52.259
 covenant.

00:18:53.399 --> 00:18:54.000
 Notice again,

00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:54.980
 it's the dispute

00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:55.460
 structure.

00:18:55.619 --> 00:18:55.740
 Do you remember

00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:56.079
 we saw that

00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:56.539
 last week?

00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:57.879
 God says,

00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:58.680
 this is how you

00:18:58.680 --> 00:18:59.079
 behaved,

00:18:59.299 --> 00:18:59.759
 and the Israelites

00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:00.000
 say,

00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:00.139
 no,

00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:00.259
 no,

00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:00.480
 no,

00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:00.519
 no,

00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:01.240
 how have we

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:01.700
 done that?

00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:04.779
 How have we

00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:05.460
 broken faith?

00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:06.859
 Here,

00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:07.619
 it's about the

00:19:07.619 --> 00:19:08.139
 bond of a

00:19:08.139 --> 00:19:08.460
 commitment

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.059
 between a

00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:09.559
 husband and

00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:09.920
 a wife.

00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:12.720
 And that

00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:13.500
 bond between

00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:14.180
 a husband and

00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:14.980
 wife is a

00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:15.299
 covenant.

00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:18.039
 And on this

00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:18.519
 occasion,

00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:20.480
 God takes the

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.099
 Israelites back

00:19:21.099 --> 00:19:22.279
 to creation,

00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:23.019
 to the

00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:25.099
 covenant of

00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:25.359
 creation.

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:25.779
 And in the

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.059
 book of

00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:26.379
 Genesis,

00:19:26.639 --> 00:19:27.139
 he reminds

00:19:27.139 --> 00:19:27.480
 them that

00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:28.519
 marriage is

00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:29.819
 two people

00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:31.000
 becoming one

00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:31.559
 flesh.

00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:33.220
 Verse 15,

00:19:33.339 --> 00:19:33.700
 look at this,

00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.460
 did he not

00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:34.980
 make them one

00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:35.500
 with a portion

00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:36.039
 of the spirit

00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:36.960
 in their union?

00:19:37.299 --> 00:19:37.779
 And what was

00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:38.460
 the one God

00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:38.879
 seeking?

00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:39.799
 Godly offspring.

00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.180
 So guard

00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:41.759
 yourselves in

00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.139
 your spirit.

00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.359
 Let none of

00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:43.720
 you be

00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:44.660
 faithless to

00:19:44.660 --> 00:19:45.180
 the wife of

00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:45.660
 your youth.

00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:46.599
 For the man

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:47.180
 who does not

00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:47.799
 love his wife

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.480
 but divorces

00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:48.879
 her, says

00:19:48.879 --> 00:19:49.279
 the Lord,

00:19:49.379 --> 00:19:49.720
 the God of

00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:49.940
 Israel,

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:50.819
 covers his

00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:51.420
 garment with

00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:52.039
 violence,

00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.379
 says the

00:19:53.379 --> 00:19:53.639
 Lord of

00:19:53.639 --> 00:19:53.779
 hosts.

00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.240
 So guard

00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:54.980
 yourselves in

00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:55.480
 your spirit

00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:56.359
 and do not

00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:57.319
 be faithless.

00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:00.519
 Because of

00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.379
 the oneness

00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:02.980
 intended for

00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:03.940
 marriage, God

00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:04.759
 calls on his

00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:05.839
 people not

00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:06.639
 to reverse

00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:07.059
 that.

00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:08.539
 Not to

00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:09.779
 reverse the

00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:10.240
 oneness

00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:10.460
 into

00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:10.859
 two-ness.

00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:13.319
 By divorcing

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:13.799
 their marriage

00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:14.200
 partner.

00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:15.819
 Or being

00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.900
 violent to

00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:17.319
 their marriage

00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:17.680
 partner.

00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:20.000
 Because that

00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:20.879
 could incite

00:20:20.879 --> 00:20:21.460
 God's

00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.019
 hatred.

00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:24.879
 And this

00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:25.440
 too is

00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:26.059
 something that

00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:26.379
 God is

00:20:26.379 --> 00:20:27.019
 serious about.

00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.819
 And again,

00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.519
 the New

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:30.779
 Testament,

00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:31.200
 the teaching

00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:31.400
 of the

00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:31.819
 Bible is

00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.339
 telling you

00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:32.559
 and I,

00:20:32.619 --> 00:20:32.960
 God hasn't

00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:33.539
 stopped being

00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:34.200
 serious about

00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:34.539
 this.

00:20:36.299 --> 00:20:37.299
 When Jesus

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:38.000
 was quizzed,

00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:38.420
 you remember,

00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.079
 on the topic

00:20:39.079 --> 00:20:39.660
 of divorce,

00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:40.220
 his answer

00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:40.700
 was really

00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.079
 clear.

00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:41.700
 Let me read

00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:41.980
 you from

00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:42.680
 Matthew 19.

00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:44.559
 Religious

00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:45.119
 leaders came

00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:45.480
 up to him

00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:45.700
 and they

00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.200
 tested him

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:46.740
 by asking,

00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:47.099
 is it

00:20:47.099 --> 00:20:47.740
 lawful to

00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:48.379
 divorce one's

00:20:48.379 --> 00:20:48.720
 wife for

00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.440
 any reason?

00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:50.319
 And he

00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:50.799
 answered them,

00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:51.400
 have you not

00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:52.240
 read that he

00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:52.879
 who created

00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:53.099
 them,

00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:53.779
 Genesis 1 and

00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.039
 2,

00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:55.079
 from the very

00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:55.700
 beginning made

00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.180
 them male and

00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:56.519
 female?

00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:57.680
 And said,

00:20:57.940 --> 00:20:58.259
 therefore a man

00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:58.819
 shall leave his

00:20:58.819 --> 00:20:59.200
 wife,

00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:00.460
 his father and

00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:01.420
 mother and

00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.240
 hold fast to

00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:03.819
 his wife and

00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:04.139
 the two shall

00:21:04.139 --> 00:21:04.799
 become one

00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:05.180
 flesh.

00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:06.559
 So they are

00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:07.319
 no longer two

00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:08.059
 but one

00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:08.579
 flesh.

00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:09.599
 What therefore

00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:10.400
 God has joined

00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:10.940
 together,

00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:12.220
 let not man

00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:12.619
 separate.

00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:16.079
 Now of

00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:16.379
 course,

00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:18.420
 this isn't

00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:19.920
 all that the

00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:20.400
 New Testament

00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:21.019
 says to us

00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:21.619
 about divorce

00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:22.939
 and about

00:21:22.939 --> 00:21:23.279
 marriage.

00:21:24.919 --> 00:21:25.559
 Even in

00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:26.179
 that passage,

00:21:26.399 --> 00:21:26.879
 Jesus goes

00:21:26.879 --> 00:21:27.419
 on to

00:21:27.419 --> 00:21:29.199
 recognise some

00:21:29.199 --> 00:21:29.459
 of the

00:21:29.459 --> 00:21:30.039
 complexities

00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:30.679
 that are

00:21:30.679 --> 00:21:31.099
 involved.

00:21:32.939 --> 00:21:34.000
 But God's

00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:35.799
 view is

00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:36.599
 not complex.

00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:39.359
 God still

00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:40.259
 hates divorce.

00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:44.159
 And that is

00:21:44.159 --> 00:21:44.979
 a hard word,

00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:45.339
 isn't it?

00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:48.459
 I suspect

00:21:48.459 --> 00:21:49.079
 some of you

00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:49.839
 listening to me

00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:50.239
 might be able

00:21:50.239 --> 00:21:50.739
 to identify

00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:51.180
 with Mark

00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:52.279
 Twain because

00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:53.160
 passages like

00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:54.200
 this bother

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:54.519
 us.

00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:58.019
 And what

00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:58.779
 bothers you

00:21:58.779 --> 00:21:59.220
 and I is

00:21:59.220 --> 00:21:59.660
 how black

00:21:59.660 --> 00:21:59.980
 and white

00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:00.539
 they are

00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:03.200
 when we

00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:03.519
 know that

00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:03.940
 the world

00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:04.839
 is full

00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:05.440
 of grey

00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:06.620
 so much

00:22:06.620 --> 00:22:06.779
 of the

00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:06.980
 time.

00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:09.240
 And so

00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:09.680
 particularly

00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.000
 when it

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.339
 comes to

00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:10.920
 divorce,

00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:11.500
 for example,

00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.460
 there is

00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:13.380
 pain and

00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:14.460
 complexity in

00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:14.720
 broken

00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.400
 relationships.

00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:17.880
 So

00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:19.099
 complex that

00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:19.620
 no two

00:22:19.620 --> 00:22:20.079
 situations

00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:20.519
 ever see

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:20.940
 the same.

00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:23.559
 And

00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:23.960
 sometimes

00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:24.779
 passages

00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.299
 like this

00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:26.180
 bother us

00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:26.900
 because we

00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:27.379
 find it

00:22:27.379 --> 00:22:28.059
 hard to

00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:28.500
 see why

00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:29.059
 God

00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:29.700
 wants

00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:29.960
 things

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:30.539
 this way.

00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:33.359
 Sometimes

00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:33.900
 they bother

00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:34.299
 us because

00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:34.700
 what the

00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:35.379
 Bible says

00:22:35.379 --> 00:22:35.819
 is so

00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.339
 different

00:22:36.339 --> 00:22:36.779
 from what

00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.240
 the world

00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:37.799
 says all

00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.400
 around us.

00:22:40.379 --> 00:22:40.619
 And

00:22:40.619 --> 00:22:40.859
 indeed,

00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:41.460
 what the

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.440
 Bible says

00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:43.079
 about some

00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:43.220
 of the

00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:43.519
 things we're

00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:43.900
 looking at

00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:44.379
 this morning

00:22:44.379 --> 00:22:46.099
 is incredibly

00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:46.799
 unpopular

00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:47.099
 in the

00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:47.299
 world,

00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:47.680
 isn't it?

00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:50.399
 And the

00:22:50.399 --> 00:22:50.980
 temptation

00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:52.960
 to simply

00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:57.899
 say what

00:22:57.899 --> 00:22:58.680
 people want

00:22:58.680 --> 00:22:59.059
 us to

00:22:59.059 --> 00:23:00.019
 say is

00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.480
 very,

00:23:00.639 --> 00:23:01.099
 very great.

00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:03.480
 a friend

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:03.839
 of mine

00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:04.819
 I was

00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:05.199
 with this

00:23:05.199 --> 00:23:05.439
 week

00:23:05.439 --> 00:23:06.019
 attended a

00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:06.279
 wedding

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.879
 recently

00:23:06.879 --> 00:23:08.500
 and he

00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:09.439
 heard a

00:23:09.439 --> 00:23:09.779
 marriage

00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:10.159
 sermon.

00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:10.500
 He was

00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:10.879
 just there

00:23:10.879 --> 00:23:11.119
 as a

00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:11.419
 kind of

00:23:11.419 --> 00:23:11.799
 punter,

00:23:11.899 --> 00:23:12.119
 as a

00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:12.459
 guest.

00:23:13.219 --> 00:23:13.779
 And the

00:23:13.779 --> 00:23:14.079
 marriage

00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:14.319
 sermon

00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:14.919
 had two

00:23:14.919 --> 00:23:15.179
 main

00:23:15.179 --> 00:23:15.599
 points.

00:23:16.439 --> 00:23:17.199
 The first

00:23:17.199 --> 00:23:17.500
 point,

00:23:17.699 --> 00:23:18.059
 point number

00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.459
 one in

00:23:18.459 --> 00:23:18.659
 this,

00:23:18.939 --> 00:23:19.519
 he was a

00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:19.819
 minister,

00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:21.000
 the point

00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:21.419
 number one

00:23:21.419 --> 00:23:21.899
 was there's

00:23:21.899 --> 00:23:22.319
 a lot of

00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:22.679
 paperwork

00:23:22.679 --> 00:23:23.459
 involved in

00:23:23.459 --> 00:23:24.000
 getting married

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:24.599
 these days

00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.079
 and in

00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:25.519
 marriage.

00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:25.599
 marriage.

00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:27.400
 Point number

00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:28.299
 two was

00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:29.720
 some marriages

00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:30.579
 work and

00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:31.240
 some don't

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:32.319
 so we've

00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:32.500
 got to

00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:32.759
 hope for

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:33.139
 the best

00:23:33.139 --> 00:23:33.460
 in this

00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:33.759
 case.

00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:38.039
 Here is

00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:38.539
 a man

00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.639
 who was

00:23:39.639 --> 00:23:40.119
 entrusted

00:23:40.119 --> 00:23:41.299
 with God's

00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.839
 word to

00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:43.400
 these people

00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:45.379
 and he

00:23:45.379 --> 00:23:45.920
 thoroughly

00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:46.599
 undermined

00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:47.160
 God's word.

00:23:49.879 --> 00:23:50.519
 Even

00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:51.059
 Christian

00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:51.720
 leaders

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.779
 sell out

00:23:52.779 --> 00:23:53.039
 on the

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:53.379
 truth of

00:23:53.379 --> 00:23:53.660
 God's

00:23:53.660 --> 00:23:53.839
 word.

00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.220
 My friend

00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:56.599
 found out

00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:57.180
 actually this

00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:57.480
 man had

00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:57.859
 been married

00:23:57.859 --> 00:23:58.539
 twice before

00:23:58.539 --> 00:24:00.220
 and he

00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:00.559
 was saying

00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:00.920
 these things

00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:01.259
 wasn't he

00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:01.759
 to justify

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.139
 his own

00:24:02.139 --> 00:24:02.639
 existence.

00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:05.960
 They say

00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:06.400
 things people

00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:06.700
 want to

00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:08.519
 hear and

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.019
 the temptation

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.539
 to do so

00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.039
 is so

00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:10.859
 very great

00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:12.579
 but that

00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:13.119
 is simply

00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:13.839
 not the

00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:14.299
 right way

00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:14.920
 to respond

00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:15.440
 to the

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.039
 epidemic

00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:16.720
 of broken

00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.119
 marriages

00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:17.440
 in our

00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:17.779
 country

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:19.200
 and amongst

00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:19.759
 your friends

00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.079
 and amongst

00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:20.379
 mine.

00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:22.839
 We as

00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:23.160
 Christians

00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:23.740
 need to be

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.119
 people who

00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:24.579
 are willing

00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.480
 and prepared

00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:25.860
 to be

00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:26.319
 unpopular.

00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:28.400
 Who are

00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:28.940
 prepared to

00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.519
 be bothered

00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:30.200
 by the

00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:30.480
 Bible

00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:31.880
 but who

00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:32.299
 will remain

00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:32.819
 loyal to

00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:33.279
 God and

00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:33.720
 to God's

00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.180
 word.

00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:35.660
 Who won't

00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:36.099
 change it

00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:36.400
 and won't

00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:36.920
 ignore it

00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.279
 and won't

00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:37.680
 water it

00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.099
 down but

00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:38.500
 will obey

00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:38.700
 it.

00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:40.599
 Now listen

00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:40.880
 to me

00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:41.120
 here.

00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.319
 Particularly

00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:42.740
 if you're

00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.079
 a little bit

00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:43.620
 upset by

00:24:43.620 --> 00:24:43.880
 what I've

00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:44.319
 just said.

00:24:45.099 --> 00:24:45.400
 Maybe you're

00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:45.700
 a little bit

00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:46.220
 angry but I

00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:46.579
 want you to

00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:46.900
 listen to

00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:47.099
 this.

00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:47.960
 Malachi is

00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:48.680
 not saying

00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:49.700
 God hates

00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.460
 people who've

00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:51.059
 been divorced.

00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:54.140
 Malachi is

00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:54.980
 not saying

00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:55.740
 God hates

00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:57.200
 people who

00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:57.680
 are divorced.

00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:58.360
 He's saying

00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:59.000
 he hates

00:24:59.000 --> 00:24:59.559
 divorce.

00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:01.860
 And I

00:25:01.860 --> 00:25:02.539
 think if

00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:03.019
 you have

00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:03.940
 been divorced

00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.579
 this morning

00:25:04.579 --> 00:25:05.120
 you will be

00:25:05.120 --> 00:25:05.579
 the quickest

00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.640
 to understand

00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:07.200
 this truth.

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.160
 I agree with

00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:09.339
 it.

00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:11.799
 Because you

00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.440
 will know

00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:12.860
 won't you

00:25:12.860 --> 00:25:13.240
 if you've

00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:13.579
 been through

00:25:13.579 --> 00:25:14.039
 a divorce

00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:14.940
 how gut

00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:15.519
 wrenchingly

00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.180
 awful it

00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:16.519
 is.

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:21.039
 But this

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.819
 verse is

00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.720
 actually not

00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.379
 directed

00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:25.220
 towards those

00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:25.700
 who've been

00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:26.200
 through the

00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:27.000
 tragedy, the

00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:27.759
 grief of

00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.220
 divorce.

00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:30.119
 It's directed

00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:30.819
 to those of us

00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.200
 this morning

00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:31.500
 who are

00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:33.440
 married or

00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:33.859
 who one

00:25:33.859 --> 00:25:34.200
 day will

00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:34.639
 be married.

00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:36.480
 And the

00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.059
 message for

00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:37.500
 you and I

00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:37.859
 is this.

00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:39.039
 Take the

00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:39.779
 covenant of

00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:40.160
 marriage

00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:40.859
 seriously.

00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:44.059
 Marriage is

00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:44.480
 for life.

00:25:46.359 --> 00:25:46.940
 Anything

00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:47.679
 else is

00:25:47.679 --> 00:25:48.179
 destructive

00:25:48.179 --> 00:25:48.899
 of people

00:25:48.899 --> 00:25:49.700
 and heartbreaking

00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:50.179
 to God.

00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:52.740
 Marriage is

00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.119
 not to be

00:25:53.119 --> 00:25:54.119
 entered into

00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:54.539
 lightly.

00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.139
 Marriage

00:25:56.139 --> 00:25:57.200
 requires hard

00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:58.759
 work and

00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.220
 deep

00:25:59.220 --> 00:25:59.899
 commitment

00:25:59.899 --> 00:26:01.179
 no matter

00:26:01.179 --> 00:26:01.500
 what the

00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:01.779
 cost.

00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:04.220
 And so if

00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:04.779
 you've made

00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:05.599
 a covenant

00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:06.019
 like that

00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.879
 already or

00:26:06.879 --> 00:26:07.359
 will one

00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:08.139
 day do it

00:26:08.139 --> 00:26:08.839
 do whatever

00:26:08.839 --> 00:26:09.460
 it takes

00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:10.039
 to keep

00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:11.319
 your covenant

00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:11.659
 no matter

00:26:11.659 --> 00:26:11.919
 what.

00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:13.819
 No matter

00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:14.019
 what.

00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:14.440
 because if

00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:14.700
 we are

00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:15.039
 serious

00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:15.299
 about

00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:15.720
 loving

00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:16.319
 God

00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:18.639
 we will

00:26:18.639 --> 00:26:18.940
 be as

00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:19.200
 serious

00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:19.639
 as God

00:26:19.639 --> 00:26:19.980
 is about

00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.659
 obedience

00:26:20.659 --> 00:26:21.019
 in this

00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:21.299
 area.

00:26:22.879 --> 00:26:23.379
 And I

00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:23.659
 hope you're

00:26:23.659 --> 00:26:24.019
 seeing this

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.419
 morning that

00:26:24.419 --> 00:26:25.200
 God is

00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:26.079
 serious about

00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:26.700
 covenants and

00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:27.019
 the keeping

00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:27.559
 of covenants.

00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.019
 And that

00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.480
 really is the

00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:29.940
 big theme of

00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.419
 Malachi chapter

00:26:30.419 --> 00:26:30.639
 2.

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.359
 And I

00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:33.960
 want you to

00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:35.319
 notice this

00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.579
 profound thread

00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:37.220
 that runs

00:26:37.220 --> 00:26:37.679
 right the way

00:26:37.679 --> 00:26:38.639
 through all of

00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:39.099
 these three

00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:40.079
 issues that

00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.899
 Malachi tackles.

00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:43.300
 you see

00:26:43.300 --> 00:26:43.660
 whenever

00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.300
 Israel

00:26:44.300 --> 00:26:44.660
 the people

00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:44.920
 of God

00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:45.360
 disobey

00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:45.800
 God and

00:26:45.800 --> 00:26:46.100
 break

00:26:46.100 --> 00:26:46.460
 covenant

00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:47.060
 it's got

00:26:47.060 --> 00:26:47.720
 implications

00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:48.800
 for the

00:26:48.800 --> 00:26:49.220
 greatest

00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:49.740
 covenant.

00:26:52.060 --> 00:26:52.700
 It's got

00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:53.300
 implications for

00:26:53.300 --> 00:26:53.700
 the greatest

00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:54.480
 relationship of

00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:54.660
 all.

00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.080
 Look at

00:26:55.080 --> 00:26:55.720
 verse 8

00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:56.080
 of chapter

00:26:56.080 --> 00:26:56.400
 2.

00:26:56.540 --> 00:26:56.920
 When the

00:26:56.920 --> 00:26:57.580
 priests break

00:26:57.580 --> 00:26:58.060
 their covenant

00:26:58.060 --> 00:26:58.680
 with God

00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.640
 other people

00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:00.160
 are led

00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:00.560
 astray

00:27:00.560 --> 00:27:01.240
 from God.

00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:03.380
 They cause

00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:04.040
 others to

00:27:04.040 --> 00:27:04.300
 stumble.

00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:04.740
 Look at

00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.120
 verse 11.

00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:05.479
 when the

00:27:05.479 --> 00:27:05.899
 Israelite

00:27:05.899 --> 00:27:06.299
 marries

00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:06.939
 non-Israelites

00:27:06.939 --> 00:27:08.119
 it desecrates

00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:09.179
 the sanctuary

00:27:09.179 --> 00:27:09.739
 God's temple.

00:27:09.899 --> 00:27:10.599
 It's an insult

00:27:10.599 --> 00:27:11.059
 to God

00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:11.519
 personally.

00:27:12.439 --> 00:27:12.979
 Verse 13.

00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:13.299
 When the

00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:13.599
 Israelites

00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:14.319
 break their

00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:14.619
 marriage

00:27:14.619 --> 00:27:14.919
 covenant

00:27:14.919 --> 00:27:15.619
 God is

00:27:15.619 --> 00:27:16.299
 no longer

00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:16.879
 pleased with

00:27:16.879 --> 00:27:17.359
 their offering.

00:27:17.979 --> 00:27:18.239
 He's

00:27:18.239 --> 00:27:18.819
 personally

00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.299
 offended.

00:27:21.379 --> 00:27:22.179
 Because when

00:27:22.179 --> 00:27:22.819
 God's people

00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:23.659
 betray their

00:27:23.659 --> 00:27:23.959
 covenant

00:27:23.959 --> 00:27:24.579
 when they

00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:25.199
 betray his

00:27:25.199 --> 00:27:25.459
 word

00:27:25.459 --> 00:27:26.019
 they betray

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.359
 him.

00:27:27.919 --> 00:27:28.319
 And that's

00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:28.759
 what Israel

00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.059
 has done.

00:27:29.159 --> 00:27:29.319
 They've

00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:29.619
 betrayed

00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:29.979
 God.

00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:32.479
 And that's

00:27:32.479 --> 00:27:32.979
 a pretty

00:27:32.979 --> 00:27:33.899
 bleak picture

00:27:33.899 --> 00:27:34.439
 this morning

00:27:34.439 --> 00:27:34.859
 isn't it?

00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:38.239
 What hope

00:27:38.239 --> 00:27:38.759
 did Israel

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.119
 have?

00:27:41.639 --> 00:27:42.319
 What hope

00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:42.639
 is there

00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:42.939
 for you

00:27:42.939 --> 00:27:43.179
 and I

00:27:43.179 --> 00:27:43.619
 this morning

00:27:43.619 --> 00:27:44.259
 feeling guilty?

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.179
 What hope

00:27:46.179 --> 00:27:46.439
 is there

00:27:46.439 --> 00:27:46.739
 when we

00:27:46.739 --> 00:27:47.099
 disobey

00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:47.479
 God's

00:27:47.479 --> 00:27:47.659
 word?

00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.059
 Well if

00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:48.439
 Israel

00:27:48.439 --> 00:27:48.739
 were going

00:27:48.739 --> 00:27:49.059
 to take

00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:49.500
 Malachi

00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:50.219
 seriously

00:27:50.219 --> 00:27:51.599
 they were

00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:52.639
 prepared to

00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:53.419
 take God

00:27:53.419 --> 00:27:53.719
 and his

00:27:53.719 --> 00:27:54.039
 covenant

00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.639
 seriously.

00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:56.479
 Well they

00:27:56.479 --> 00:27:57.259
 might also

00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:58.059
 remember a

00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:58.500
 promise

00:27:58.500 --> 00:28:00.079
 that God

00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:00.419
 had made

00:28:00.419 --> 00:28:01.099
 about 150

00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:01.879
 years earlier.

00:28:03.879 --> 00:28:04.539
 It was a

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:05.059
 promise that

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:05.460
 came through

00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:05.899
 the prophet

00:28:05.899 --> 00:28:06.819
 Jeremiah.

00:28:07.179 --> 00:28:07.579
 It was

00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:08.259
 our assurance

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.799
 of pardon

00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:09.319
 that we read

00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:09.700
 earlier in

00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:10.200
 the service.

00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:12.460
 And it was

00:28:12.460 --> 00:28:13.539
 God's promise

00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:14.200
 for the future

00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:15.119
 for the people

00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:15.559
 of Israel.

00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.240
 Behold the

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.559
 days are

00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:18.919
 coming

00:28:18.919 --> 00:28:19.799
 declares the

00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.200
 Lord when I

00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:20.579
 will make a

00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.099
 new covenant

00:28:21.099 --> 00:28:22.379
 with the house

00:28:22.379 --> 00:28:22.779
 of Israel

00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:23.139
 and the house

00:28:23.139 --> 00:28:23.500
 of Judah.

00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:25.380
 not like the

00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:26.200
 covenant that I

00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:26.460
 made with

00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:26.980
 their fathers

00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:27.420
 on the day

00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:27.640
 when I

00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:27.900
 took them

00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:28.140
 by the

00:28:28.140 --> 00:28:28.640
 hand to

00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:28.940
 bring them

00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:29.140
 out of

00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:29.460
 the land

00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:29.880
 of Egypt.

00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:31.799
 My covenant

00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:32.259
 that they

00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:32.720
 broke

00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.920
 though I

00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:34.240
 was their

00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:34.559
 husband

00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.099
 declares the

00:28:35.099 --> 00:28:35.279
 Lord.

00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:36.819
 For this

00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:37.099
 is the

00:28:37.099 --> 00:28:37.480
 covenant that

00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:37.900
 I will make

00:28:37.900 --> 00:28:38.200
 with them

00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:38.660
 the house

00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:39.000
 of Israel

00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.440
 after those

00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:39.980
 days declares

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.279
 the Lord.

00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:40.880
 I will put

00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:41.480
 my law

00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:42.019
 within them

00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:43.339
 I will

00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:43.660
 write it

00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:43.879
 on their

00:28:43.879 --> 00:28:44.400
 hearts

00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:45.400
 and I

00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:45.639
 will be

00:28:45.639 --> 00:28:45.799
 their

00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:46.039
 God

00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:46.299
 and they

00:28:46.299 --> 00:28:46.539
 shall be

00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:46.700
 my

00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:46.960
 people

00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:47.379
 and no

00:28:47.379 --> 00:28:47.700
 longer

00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:47.960
 shall

00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:48.400
 each

00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:48.619
 teach

00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:48.759
 his

00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:49.019
 neighbour

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.339
 and each

00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:49.480
 his

00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:49.660
 brother

00:28:49.660 --> 00:28:49.960
 saying

00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:50.119
 know

00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:50.240
 the

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.420
 Lord

00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:50.680
 for they

00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:50.799
 shall

00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:50.960
 all

00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:51.059
 know

00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:51.259
 me.

00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:52.420
 From the

00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:52.759
 least of

00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:52.879
 them

00:28:52.879 --> 00:28:53.139
 to the

00:28:53.139 --> 00:28:53.440
 greatest

00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:53.839
 declares

00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:54.019
 the

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:54.180
 Lord.

00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:54.500
 And then

00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:55.000
 here's

00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:56.500
 the

00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:56.759
 great

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.059
 news

00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:57.579
 for I

00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:57.779
 will

00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:58.339
 forgive

00:28:58.339 --> 00:28:58.700
 their

00:28:58.700 --> 00:28:59.180
 iniquity

00:28:59.180 --> 00:29:01.660
 and I

00:29:01.660 --> 00:29:01.759
 will

00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.059
 remember

00:29:02.059 --> 00:29:02.279
 their

00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:02.440
 sin

00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:02.619
 no

00:29:02.619 --> 00:29:02.819
 more.

00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:06.440
 God

00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:06.720
 said

00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:06.980
 the

00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:07.220
 problem

00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:07.400
 of the

00:29:07.400 --> 00:29:07.579
!

00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:07.839
 covenant

00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:07.839


00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:10.519
 which is the

00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:10.740
 problem

00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:10.940
 that we

00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:11.220
 see in

00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:11.440
 Malachi

00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:11.960
 chapter 2

00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.240
 is that

00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:12.480
 Israel

00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:12.779
 broke

00:29:12.779 --> 00:29:12.980
 it.

00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:14.740
 They

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.460
 violated

00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:15.879
 it

00:29:15.879 --> 00:29:16.400
 by

00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:17.099
 persistent

00:29:17.099 --> 00:29:17.940
 deliberate

00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:18.660
 willful

00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:19.180
 obedience

00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:20.819
 disobedience.

00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:22.359
 But God

00:29:22.359 --> 00:29:23.059
 says I

00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:23.400
 am making

00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:23.660
 a new

00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:23.960
 one and

00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:24.059
 it

00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:24.279
 will be

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:24.579
 totally

00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:25.000
 different.

00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:27.460
 In the

00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:27.639
 new

00:29:27.639 --> 00:29:27.900
 one he

00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:28.259
 says my

00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:28.639
 law will

00:29:28.639 --> 00:29:28.819
 be on

00:29:28.819 --> 00:29:28.900
 the

00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:29.160
 people's

00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:29.420
 hearts.

00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:31.480
 In the

00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:31.619
 new

00:29:31.619 --> 00:29:31.900
 one my

00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:32.099
 people

00:29:32.099 --> 00:29:32.240
 will

00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:32.400
 all

00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:32.639
 know

00:29:32.639 --> 00:29:32.900
 me.

00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:33.240
 In

00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:33.359
 the

00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:33.500
 new

00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:33.700
 one I

00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:33.839
 will

00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:34.180
 forgive

00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:34.379
 my

00:29:34.379 --> 00:29:34.720
 people's

00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.220
 wickedness

00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:35.579
 and I

00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:35.700
 will

00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:36.119
 remember

00:29:36.119 --> 00:29:36.539
 their

00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:36.879
 sins

00:29:36.879 --> 00:29:37.119
 no

00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:37.299
 more.

00:29:37.379 --> 00:29:37.420
 And

00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:37.559
 that

00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:37.740
 was

00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:38.299
 Israel's

00:29:38.299 --> 00:29:38.700
 only

00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:39.099
 hope.

00:29:41.640 --> 00:29:42.160
 They

00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:42.420
 couldn't

00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:42.740
 repair

00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:42.900
 the

00:29:42.900 --> 00:29:43.039
 old

00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:43.299
 covenant.

00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:45.440
 No

00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:45.720
 amount

00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:45.839
 of

00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.279
 repentance

00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:46.599
 would

00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:46.799
 make

00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:46.920
 it

00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:47.099
 right.

00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:47.259
 They

00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:47.700
 wrecked

00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:47.779
 it.

00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:47.920
 They

00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:48.140
 needed

00:29:48.140 --> 00:29:48.319
 a

00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:48.480
 new

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:48.740
 one.

00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:49.620
 They

00:29:49.620 --> 00:29:49.880
 needed

00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:50.059
 a

00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:50.220
 new

00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:50.359
 one

00:29:50.359 --> 00:29:50.500
 that

00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:50.720
 only

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:50.980
 God

00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:51.140
 could

00:29:51.140 --> 00:29:51.400
 make.

00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.180
 That's

00:29:53.180 --> 00:29:53.680
 precisely

00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:54.039
 what

00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:54.319
 God

00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:54.539
 has

00:29:54.539 --> 00:29:54.839
 promised

00:29:54.839 --> 00:29:55.180
 to

00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:55.440
 do.

00:29:56.059 --> 00:29:56.299
 As we

00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:56.660
 read

00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:57.000
 in

00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.299
 Hebrews

00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:57.779
 chapter

00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.059
 8.

00:29:59.620 --> 00:30:00.120
 It's

00:30:00.120 --> 00:30:00.279
 not

00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:00.559
 just

00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:00.759
 what

00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:00.980
 he's

00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.319
 promised

00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:01.720
 to

00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:02.000
 do,

00:30:02.099 --> 00:30:02.200
 is

00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:02.380
 it?

00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:04.660
 It's

00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:04.839
 what

00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:05.099
 he's

00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:05.259
 done

00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:05.539
 because

00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:05.799
 on

00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:05.920
 the

00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:06.140
 night

00:30:06.140 --> 00:30:06.500
 before

00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:06.640
 he

00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:06.820
 was

00:30:06.820 --> 00:30:07.400
 betrayed,

00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:09.620
 Jesus

00:30:09.620 --> 00:30:09.980
 took the

00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.320
 bread and

00:30:10.320 --> 00:30:10.440
 said,

00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.100
 this is

00:30:11.100 --> 00:30:11.440
 my

00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:11.980
 body.

00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:12.480
 He

00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:12.720
 took

00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:12.900
 the

00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:13.160
 cup

00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:13.640
 and

00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:13.860
 said,

00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:14.180
 this

00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:14.440
 is

00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:14.600
 the

00:30:14.600 --> 00:30:14.840
 cup

00:30:14.840 --> 00:30:15.100
 of

00:30:15.100 --> 00:30:15.420
 the

00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:16.660
 new

00:30:16.660 --> 00:30:17.140
 covenant,

00:30:21.140 --> 00:30:21.860
 which

00:30:21.860 --> 00:30:22.000
 is

00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:22.380
 shed,

00:30:23.100 --> 00:30:23.480
 which is

00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:23.660
 my

00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:23.980
 blood,

00:30:24.080 --> 00:30:24.259
 which is

00:30:24.259 --> 00:30:24.620
 shed for

00:30:24.620 --> 00:30:24.720
 the

00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:24.960
 forgiveness

00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:25.200
 of

00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:25.560
 sins.

00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:28.280
 It's

00:30:28.280 --> 00:30:28.480
 what

00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:28.740
 he's

00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.100
 done

00:30:29.100 --> 00:30:29.880
 in the

00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:30.040
 Lord

00:30:30.040 --> 00:30:30.300
 Jesus.

00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:31.900
 He's

00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:32.280
 seen the

00:30:32.280 --> 00:30:32.860
 disobedience

00:30:32.860 --> 00:30:33.580
 of Israel,

00:30:34.140 --> 00:30:34.460
 he's

00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.140
 seen all

00:30:35.140 --> 00:30:35.620
 of my

00:30:35.620 --> 00:30:36.240
 disobedience

00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:36.500
 too,

00:30:36.620 --> 00:30:36.840
 he's

00:30:36.840 --> 00:30:37.259
 aware

00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:37.560
 this

00:30:37.560 --> 00:30:37.940
 morning

00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:38.360
 of your

00:30:38.360 --> 00:30:39.160
 brokenness

00:30:39.160 --> 00:30:39.900
 and your

00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:40.480
 frailty

00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:41.420
 and your

00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:41.900
 rebellion.

00:30:42.380 --> 00:30:42.920
 He knows

00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:43.960
 that we

00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:44.640
 would probably

00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:45.140
 wreck the

00:30:45.140 --> 00:30:45.320
 new

00:30:45.320 --> 00:30:45.620
 covenant

00:30:45.620 --> 00:30:46.460
 if it

00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.280
 was up

00:30:47.280 --> 00:30:47.700
 to us.

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.600
 And

00:30:49.600 --> 00:30:49.800
 he's

00:30:49.800 --> 00:30:50.380
 brought us

00:30:50.380 --> 00:30:50.759
 into a

00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:50.980
 covenant

00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:51.680
 with his

00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:51.880
 son,

00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.140
 the Lord

00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:52.380
 Jesus.

00:30:53.460 --> 00:30:53.759
 The

00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:54.060
 perfect

00:30:54.060 --> 00:30:54.440
 priest

00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:54.780
 has made

00:30:54.780 --> 00:30:54.900
 us

00:30:54.900 --> 00:30:55.200
 clean

00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:56.880
 and it

00:30:56.880 --> 00:30:57.160
 is a

00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:57.400
 covenant

00:30:57.400 --> 00:30:57.800
 that we

00:30:57.800 --> 00:30:58.320
 cannot

00:30:58.320 --> 00:30:58.860
 break.

00:31:01.340 --> 00:31:01.520
 And

00:31:01.520 --> 00:31:01.780
 so we

00:31:01.780 --> 00:31:02.240
 do not

00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:02.640
 stand

00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:03.080
 this

00:31:03.080 --> 00:31:03.500
 morning

00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:04.200
 before

00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:04.420
 him

00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:04.579
 as

00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:04.880
 covenant

00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:05.460
 breakers.

00:31:06.599 --> 00:31:07.220
 And that's

00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:07.640
 an incredible

00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:07.940
 truth,

00:31:08.019 --> 00:31:08.200
 isn't it?

00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:08.680
 We come

00:31:08.680 --> 00:31:09.079
 to the

00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:09.500
 table

00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:10.640
 as those

00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:10.880
 who are

00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:11.839
 in Christ

00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:12.799
 washed,

00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:14.000
 perfect,

00:31:14.619 --> 00:31:15.400
 spotless,

00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:16.579
 blameless,

00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:17.539
 holy.

00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:19.720
 And that

00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:20.079
 is

00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:21.480
 God's

00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:21.720
 covenant

00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:22.119
 with us.

00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:22.680
 And while

00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:23.460
 we break

00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:24.099
 covenants,

00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:24.740
 he doesn't

00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:25.240
 break covenant

00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:25.740
 with us.

00:31:27.339 --> 00:31:28.079
 And this

00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:28.539
 is a covenant

00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:29.039
 that God

00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:29.539
 is very,

00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.160
 very serious

00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:30.480
 about.

00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:34.740
 I suspect

00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.880
 that Hebrews

00:31:35.880 --> 00:31:36.559
 chapter 8

00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:37.039
 was a

00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:37.660
 chapter that

00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:38.200
 Mark Twain

00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:38.480
 wasn't

00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:39.019
 bothered by.

00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:41.799
 It's

00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:42.200
 black and

00:31:42.200 --> 00:31:42.640
 white though.

00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:44.180
 It's

00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:44.460
 crystal

00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:44.799
 clear.

00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:46.500
 It's a

00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:48.059
 word from

00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:48.620
 God, a

00:31:48.620 --> 00:31:48.920
 word of

00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:49.460
 great hope,

00:31:49.620 --> 00:31:50.120
 a word of

00:31:50.120 --> 00:31:50.599
 wonderful

00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:51.380
 reassurance

00:31:51.380 --> 00:31:51.860
 and true

00:31:51.860 --> 00:31:52.160
 freedom.

00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:55.539
 For those

00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:55.839
 who've

00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:56.339
 called out

00:31:56.339 --> 00:31:56.660
 to the

00:31:56.660 --> 00:31:57.079
 Lord Jesus

00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:57.720
 this morning,

00:31:57.720 --> 00:32:00.160
 who

00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:00.900
 recognised

00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:01.480
 their guilt

00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:01.920
 and their

00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:02.559
 brokenness

00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:04.400
 and have

00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:05.120
 asked him

00:32:05.120 --> 00:32:06.220
 to forgive

00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:06.819
 them.

00:32:08.420 --> 00:32:09.180
 God says

00:32:09.180 --> 00:32:09.539
 this to

00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:09.720
 you,

00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:10.839
 he has

00:32:10.839 --> 00:32:11.360
 forgiven

00:32:11.360 --> 00:32:11.940
 your

00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:12.460
 iniquities

00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:14.740
 and he

00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:15.140
 remembers

00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:15.600
 your sin

00:32:15.600 --> 00:32:16.019
 no more.

00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:18.980
 Let's

00:32:18.980 --> 00:32:19.160
 pray.

00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:20.100
 Let's

00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.100


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:20.679


00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:50.660
 Thank you.