WEBVTT

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 We've obviously got quite a lot to get through this evening.

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 It would be great as ever if you keep that open in front of you.

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 We're going to spend a lot of time in bits of it,

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 scoot over other bits,

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 but hopefully we'll get to the end in not too long.

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 Let me pray.

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 We all need God's help this evening.

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 Heavenly Father,

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 I pray that you would give us eyes to see,

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 ears to hear,

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 the truth of your promise in your word this evening.

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 Help us, each of us, to trust in you,

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 to have faith in you.

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 Be with us by your Holy Spirit, we pray.

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 And last week, we began by imagining ourselves,

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 if you remember, in the English Channel.

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 It was 1939.

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 1939, we were on our way to war in France,

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 but there was a big storm.

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 We were in a small boat.

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 There was a big storm.

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 And really, that was just a picture of the mess,

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 a picture of the mess of life,

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 the mess of the world around us,

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 and being really honest with ourselves,

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 the mess of our own lives,

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 the mess in our own hearts.

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 And this week, I want you to imagine,

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 I guess, quite a similar picture.

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 It's six years on, still World War II, 1945.

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 It's D-Day.

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 This time, your crossing to France was relatively smooth,

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 but now, you can imagine yourself,

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 you've come off the boat,

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 and you're wading through the sort of waist-deep sea.

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 The waves are starting to feel more intense,

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 but that is nothing compared to the gunfire all around you,

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 the shells dropping,

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 the whistles,

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 the screams.

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 It's a mess.

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 Last week, as we thought about the mess of the storm

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 in our little boat

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 on that very first crossing to France,

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 well, if we're honest,

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 the truth is that in life,

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 mess is not reduced to a single moment.

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 Life just seems to get messier all the time, doesn't it?

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 Injustice gets sharper.

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 Trauma gets increasingly painful.

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 And on this side of the cross,

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 we continue to ask,

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 where is God in all of this mess?

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 How are we supposed to have faith in the mess?

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 Just a reminder of where we were last week

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 in terms of the history of Habakkuk.

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 Habakkuk is a prophet in the southern kingdom of Judah.

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 The northern kingdom, Israel,

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 has been conquered 100 years before.

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 They've been carried off into exile.

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 And in the south,

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 things have been getting increasingly evil.

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 For that 100 years,

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 bad king after bad king.

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 Habakkuk probably experienced something of a revival

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 under the good king, Josiah.

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 But now,

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 under Josiah's son,

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 Jehoiakim,

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 there is a return to evil days.

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 And so last week,

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 in that context,

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 Habakkuk cried out to God.

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 He was, if you like,

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 a faithful prophet

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 in amongst the mess all around him.

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 And he cries out,

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 knowing God to be a God of justice,

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 he cries out a super honest question.

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 How long?

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 How long until you come and do something

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 about the injustice

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 that is going on amongst your people, God?

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 And we saw last week

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 that God responded with this promise

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 of surprising justice.

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 God said,

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 I'm going to raise up the Babylonians

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 to bring that justice.

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 The Babylonians,

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 the violent and evil empire next door.

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 Which obviously begs the question,

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 and we'll see this evening,

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 the question that Habakkuk asks,

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 how can you let the guilty people of Babylon

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 get away with the judgment of your people?

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 Last week,

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 we thought about the surprising justice

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 of the cross,

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 where the victory,

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 the victory over sin and death

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 really was won.

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 And yet,

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 living on this side of the cross,

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 we still ask that question,

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 don't we?

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 What are you going to do

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 about all the guilty people?

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 It's now a week or so after D-Day.

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 The war on the beaches was won,

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 but it definitely isn't over.

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 In fact,

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 you're still fighting battles.

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 Some of your friends

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 probably won't make it.

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 It's definitely still a mess.

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 The world sometimes feels

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 a bit like that,

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 I think.

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 For the Christian,

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 we know,

00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:54.459
 we're so often told,

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 aren't we,

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 Jesus is victorious.

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 The victory is won.

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 Justice has been achieved.

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 If you're here this evening

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 and you don't know Jesus,

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 that is the message.

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 Jesus is the one

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 who brings justice.

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 That his death on the cross

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 is what did it,

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 where he defeated evil,

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 where he cried,

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 it is finished.

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 He rose again.

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 He defeated death.

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 That's the message.

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 It's the big justice moment.

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 And yet we look around today,

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 2,000 years later,

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 and the world is still a mess.

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 We thought last week

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 about how we contribute

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 to that mess.

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 About how faith in Jesus,

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 faith in that big justice moment,

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 is so important for us.

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 Because it was a just God

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 making a way

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 to justify his people,

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 like we read in Romans chapter 3

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 just now.

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 Clothing them

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 in his righteousness,

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 removing their guilt,

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 those who have faith in him.

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 But really,

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 that's got to just be a start.

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 Because ultimately,

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 just like Habakkuk,

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 on this side of that problem,

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 on this side of that promise,

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 sorry,

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 we are left with questions.

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 And so again,

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 this week,

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 we're going to ask them

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 with Habakkuk,

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 we're going to ask

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 an honest question.

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 And this time,

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 we will see the promise.

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 The promise from God

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 is of complete justice.

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 Let's begin.

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 Let's begin with this honest question.

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 Habakkuk begins,

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 a bit like last week,

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 actually,

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 with an acknowledgement

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 of who God is.

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 You see in verse 12,

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 have a look at verse 12

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 in your Bible.

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 Lord,

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 are you not

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 from everlasting?

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 My God,

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 my Holy One,

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 you will never die.

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 See the titles

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 that Habakkuk uses

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 to address God here.

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 Again,

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 he uses Lord

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 in capital letters

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 like that.

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 We saw last week

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 that's Yahweh.

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 It's the word used

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 to speak specifically

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 of the God of Israel.

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 It's the name

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 that God revealed

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 to Moses.

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 It really just essentially

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 means the one

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 who was,

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 who is,

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 and who forever will be.

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 And so comes

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 the appropriate question

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 of verse 12,

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 are you not

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 from everlasting?

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 It's who you've told us

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 you are.

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 This is who you are.

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 And you are

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 my Holy One.

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 My Holy One.

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 Habakkuk actually does

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 something incredibly

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 profound here.

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 Because not only

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 does he describe

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 God as holy,

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 which is to say

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 so utterly perfect

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 that he is

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 quite unlike

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 anything in the

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 created world.

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 In fact,

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 his holiness

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 is so complete

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 that to be unholy

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 in his presence

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 is impossible.

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 And yet,

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 he is mine,

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 Habakkuk says.

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 It is incredibly

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 profound

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 that the God

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 of Israel

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 is both holy

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 and personal

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 to his people.

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 And it is because

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 of that,

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 that Habakkuk

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 can confidently say,

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 still in verse 12,

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 actually the translation

00:07:58.759 --> 00:07:59.420
 in the NIV

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 I don't think

00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:00.899
 is as good here.

00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:01.959
 You might have a footnote,

00:08:02.100 --> 00:08:03.120
 but in the ESV

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 it's we will,

00:08:03.980 --> 00:08:05.399
 we will never die.

00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:07.759
 Habakkuk's theology

00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:08.759
 is really good.

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 He knows who God is,

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 that he is eternal

00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:13.500
 and holy.

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 But he also knows

00:08:15.779 --> 00:08:17.620
 that those who are his

00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:19.300
 will live forever

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 with him.

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 His theology

00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:22.459
 is really good.

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 And not only

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 does he know God,

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 he also accepts

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 that God's

00:08:27.620 --> 00:08:28.639
 surprising promise

00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:29.220
 of justice

00:08:29.220 --> 00:08:29.819
 that we heard

00:08:29.819 --> 00:08:30.340
 last week

00:08:30.340 --> 00:08:31.100
 in chapter 1

00:08:31.100 --> 00:08:32.019
 is true.

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 He says,

00:08:33.500 --> 00:08:34.139
 You, Lord,

00:08:34.620 --> 00:08:35.620
 have appointed them

00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:36.720
 to execute judgment.

00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:38.680
 You, my rock,

00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:40.019
 have ordained them

00:08:40.019 --> 00:08:41.039
 to punish.

00:08:42.100 --> 00:08:43.539
 Using that other title

00:08:43.539 --> 00:08:44.100
 for God,

00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:44.919
 my rock,

00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:45.700
 in other words,

00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:46.720
 the place I go

00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:48.320
 to seek refuge.

00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:50.320
 You send the Babylonians

00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:51.620
 to do justice

00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:52.420
 in this place

00:08:52.420 --> 00:08:53.460
 and I will flee

00:08:53.460 --> 00:08:54.259
 to you,

00:08:54.340 --> 00:08:55.500
 my strong foundation.

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 He knows

00:08:57.120 --> 00:08:58.679
 who this God is

00:08:58.679 --> 00:09:00.399
 and he accepts

00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:01.159
 that this is what

00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:02.200
 he said he'll do.

00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:04.200
 This is what faith

00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:04.960
 looks like

00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:06.159
 in the mess.

00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:08.039
 He's trusting

00:09:08.039 --> 00:09:09.299
 that D-Day

00:09:09.299 --> 00:09:10.220
 really was

00:09:10.220 --> 00:09:11.159
 the victory.

00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:13.759
 And as we keep reading,

00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:15.080
 Habakkuk continues

00:09:15.080 --> 00:09:15.679
 to illustrate

00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:16.580
 really good theology.

00:09:16.820 --> 00:09:18.000
 See, in verse 13,

00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:18.899
 he knows what God

00:09:18.899 --> 00:09:19.519
 is like.

00:09:20.259 --> 00:09:20.960
 Your eyes

00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:21.919
 are too pure

00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:22.860
 to look on evil.

00:09:23.399 --> 00:09:24.639
 You cannot tolerate

00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:25.220
 wrongdoing.

00:09:25.340 --> 00:09:25.960
 He's just saying

00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:27.100
 you are so holy.

00:09:28.779 --> 00:09:29.879
 And so he asks

00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:31.039
 his honest question.

00:09:33.199 --> 00:09:34.100
 Why then

00:09:34.100 --> 00:09:34.899
 do you tolerate

00:09:34.899 --> 00:09:35.899
 the treacherous?

00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:38.980
 Why are you silent

00:09:38.980 --> 00:09:40.240
 while the wicked

00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:41.600
 swallow up those

00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:42.559
 more righteous

00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:43.519
 than themselves?

00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:45.279
 Got to say

00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:46.159
 that's a good question,

00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:46.699
 isn't it?

00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:49.080
 It's really the question

00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:49.840
 we were left with

00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:50.439
 last week.

00:09:50.580 --> 00:09:51.319
 As God says

00:09:51.319 --> 00:09:52.419
 he's going to raise up

00:09:52.419 --> 00:09:53.439
 the Babylonians

00:09:53.439 --> 00:09:54.899
 to bring his justice.

00:09:55.899 --> 00:09:56.319
 But then

00:09:56.319 --> 00:09:57.399
 in verse 11

00:09:57.399 --> 00:09:58.299
 he describes them

00:09:58.299 --> 00:09:58.860
 as guilty.

00:09:59.120 --> 00:09:59.860
 In chapter 1,

00:09:59.899 --> 00:10:00.279
 verse 11,

00:10:00.360 --> 00:10:00.959
 the Babylonians

00:10:00.959 --> 00:10:01.479
 are guilty.

00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:03.679
 If God is too pure

00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:04.659
 to look on evil,

00:10:04.819 --> 00:10:05.879
 if he cannot tolerate

00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:06.519
 wrongdoing,

00:10:06.699 --> 00:10:07.959
 how can he possibly

00:10:07.959 --> 00:10:08.459
 allow them

00:10:08.459 --> 00:10:09.419
 to get away with it?

00:10:10.899 --> 00:10:11.620
 Aren't we asking

00:10:11.620 --> 00:10:12.419
 that question?

00:10:13.579 --> 00:10:14.740
 Don't we ask it today?

00:10:15.179 --> 00:10:15.839
 And if we stick

00:10:15.839 --> 00:10:16.759
 with the World War II

00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:17.299
 theme,

00:10:18.659 --> 00:10:19.379
 it's true that

00:10:19.379 --> 00:10:20.339
 Joseph Stalin

00:10:20.340 --> 00:10:22.360
 died in his own bed,

00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:24.360
 the man responsible

00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:25.560
 for more deaths

00:10:25.560 --> 00:10:26.820
 in the deadliest century

00:10:26.820 --> 00:10:27.740
 in human history

00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:28.600
 than any other,

00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:30.360
 and he died

00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:31.639
 in his own bed,

00:10:32.060 --> 00:10:32.500
 comfortable,

00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:33.420
 at home.

00:10:34.040 --> 00:10:34.920
 He never faced

00:10:34.920 --> 00:10:35.800
 the justice

00:10:35.800 --> 00:10:36.780
 of a human court.

00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:39.480
 How can we say

00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:40.040
 that the cross

00:10:40.040 --> 00:10:40.920
 brings justice?

00:10:42.580 --> 00:10:43.700
 How could God

00:10:43.700 --> 00:10:44.840
 possibly have allowed

00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:45.460
 him to get away

00:10:45.460 --> 00:10:45.980
 with it?

00:10:47.740 --> 00:10:48.900
 Maybe that's a question

00:10:48.900 --> 00:10:49.379
 that you have.

00:10:49.379 --> 00:10:50.019
 I think it's really

00:10:50.019 --> 00:10:50.779
 got to be a question

00:10:50.779 --> 00:10:51.600
 that we're all asking.

00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:54.240
 How can this God,

00:10:54.580 --> 00:10:55.639
 knowing what this God

00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:56.019
 is like,

00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:57.080
 how can he possibly

00:10:57.080 --> 00:10:58.200
 allow such evil?

00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:00.580
 I guess for some

00:11:00.580 --> 00:11:01.220
 of us in the room,

00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:02.379
 this might be a really

00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:04.000
 deeply personal question.

00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:06.480
 If you've been

00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:08.080
 betrayed or abused

00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:09.360
 or wronged,

00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:11.000
 if you've faced

00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:12.399
 significant discrimination,

00:11:13.399 --> 00:11:15.600
 if you've just

00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:16.980
 experienced the sharp

00:11:16.980 --> 00:11:17.879
 end of the messy

00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:19.159
 world that we live in,

00:11:19.379 --> 00:11:21.360
 I am sure you're

00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:22.320
 asking this question

00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:22.980
 with Habakkuk,

00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:24.419
 how can they

00:11:24.419 --> 00:11:25.879
 possibly have been

00:11:25.879 --> 00:11:26.639
 allowed to get away

00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:27.200
 with it?

00:11:29.340 --> 00:11:30.019
 I'm not going to

00:11:30.019 --> 00:11:30.679
 promise that you'll

00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:31.500
 come away this evening

00:11:31.500 --> 00:11:32.360
 with an absolutely

00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:33.539
 satisfying answer

00:11:33.539 --> 00:11:34.320
 to that question,

00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:35.259
 but stay tuned

00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:36.700
 because there is

00:11:36.700 --> 00:11:37.100
 hope,

00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:38.840
 there is comfort.

00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:42.200
 Before we get there,

00:11:42.740 --> 00:11:43.919
 see in verse 14,

00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:46.000
 Habakkuk begins to

00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:47.399
 lay out the charge

00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:48.279
 against Babylon.

00:11:49.079 --> 00:11:50.159
 Here he's actually

00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:51.199
 speaking of the nations

00:11:51.199 --> 00:11:52.159
 that Babylon are going

00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:52.799
 to conquer.

00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:55.139
 You have made the people

00:11:55.139 --> 00:11:56.319
 or you have made mankind

00:11:56.319 --> 00:11:58.299
 like the fish in the sea,

00:11:58.740 --> 00:11:59.879
 like the sea creatures

00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:01.379
 that have no ruler.

00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:03.219
 I think maybe especially

00:12:03.219 --> 00:12:04.500
 he's thinking of his own

00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:05.019
 nation,

00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:05.559
 Judah,

00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:06.899
 with such a useless

00:12:06.899 --> 00:12:08.799
 and evil king at home.

00:12:09.099 --> 00:12:10.059
 It's as though the people

00:12:10.059 --> 00:12:11.240
 have no ruler at all.

00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:12.560
 Their wickedness,

00:12:12.659 --> 00:12:13.320
 their violence

00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:14.879
 are left to run wild.

00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:16.700
 And then in verse 15,

00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:17.500
 Habakkuk says,

00:12:17.740 --> 00:12:18.159
 this is what the

00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:19.360
 Babylonians are like.

00:12:19.820 --> 00:12:20.960
 It's just as you say,

00:12:21.039 --> 00:12:21.220
 God,

00:12:21.299 --> 00:12:22.180
 this is what's coming.

00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:23.720
 If we are the fish,

00:12:24.100 --> 00:12:25.139
 then they come with

00:12:25.139 --> 00:12:25.740
 their hooks

00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:26.580
 and their nets

00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:27.600
 and their dragnets

00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:29.259
 to carry us off

00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:29.980
 into exile.

00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:31.820
 Just like we've seen

00:12:31.820 --> 00:12:32.779
 happen to our brothers

00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:33.320
 in the north.

00:12:33.379 --> 00:12:34.600
 It's a stark image.

00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:37.060
 It's also a real image.

00:12:37.180 --> 00:12:37.820
 There are actually

00:12:37.820 --> 00:12:38.639
 drawings of the

00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:40.180
 Babylonian empire

00:12:40.180 --> 00:12:40.980
 carrying off

00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:41.580
 captives

00:12:41.580 --> 00:12:42.980
 in nets

00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:44.080
 like fishing nets

00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:45.580
 and dragging people

00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:46.200
 with hooks

00:12:46.200 --> 00:12:47.080
 through their noses

00:12:47.080 --> 00:12:48.019
 and their cheeks.

00:12:48.820 --> 00:12:49.779
 These really are

00:12:49.779 --> 00:12:51.159
 their tools of war.

00:12:52.180 --> 00:12:53.039
 And here's the issue

00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:53.720
 for Habakkuk

00:12:53.720 --> 00:12:54.820
 in verse 16.

00:12:55.680 --> 00:12:55.980
 Therefore,

00:12:56.259 --> 00:12:57.279
 he sacrifices

00:12:57.279 --> 00:12:58.340
 to his net

00:12:58.340 --> 00:12:59.680
 and burns incense

00:12:59.680 --> 00:13:00.879
 to his dragnet.

00:13:01.320 --> 00:13:02.019
 These people

00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:03.159
 that you are raising up,

00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:03.360
 God,

00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:04.019
 they want nothing

00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:04.720
 to do with you.

00:13:04.800 --> 00:13:05.139
 In fact,

00:13:05.580 --> 00:13:06.899
 they'd rather worship

00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:08.039
 their tools of war.

00:13:09.139 --> 00:13:09.779
 They turn their

00:13:09.779 --> 00:13:10.779
 military power

00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:12.439
 into their gods.

00:13:13.079 --> 00:13:14.039
 And in doing so,

00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:15.399
 in the rest of verse 16,

00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:16.279
 they're able to live

00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:16.879
 in luxury.

00:13:17.059 --> 00:13:17.899
 They're able to enjoy

00:13:17.899 --> 00:13:18.959
 the choicest food.

00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:21.179
 They are utterly evil

00:13:21.179 --> 00:13:23.299
 and yet materially

00:13:23.299 --> 00:13:24.159
 prosperous.

00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:26.799
 I think it's worth

00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:27.879
 pausing for a second here

00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:28.459
 and just looking

00:13:28.459 --> 00:13:29.500
 in the mirror together.

00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:32.159
 Confessing that

00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:33.199
 despite the prosperous

00:13:33.199 --> 00:13:34.639
 years that our nation

00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:35.620
 may have enjoyed

00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:37.000
 and experienced,

00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:38.799
 there are ways

00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:40.019
 that we have

00:13:40.019 --> 00:13:40.720
 contributed

00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:41.659
 and continue

00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:42.319
 to contribute

00:13:42.319 --> 00:13:43.159
 to injustice

00:13:43.159 --> 00:13:44.399
 in this world.

00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:46.340
 And even more

00:13:46.340 --> 00:13:47.240
 than nationally,

00:13:47.460 --> 00:13:48.519
 more just individually

00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:49.559
 in our relative

00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:50.559
 prosperity,

00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:52.000
 even as we think

00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:52.620
 about the places

00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:53.679
 where we buy things

00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:54.039
 from,

00:13:55.059 --> 00:13:55.939
 we've got to ask,

00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:56.779
 are the producers,

00:13:57.439 --> 00:13:58.100
 the farmers,

00:13:58.340 --> 00:13:59.179
 the creatives,

00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:00.340
 are they getting paid

00:14:00.340 --> 00:14:01.299
 fairly for the goods

00:14:01.299 --> 00:14:02.179
 that we use?

00:14:02.179 --> 00:14:04.759
 Are the people

00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:05.759
 making our clothes

00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:06.459
 being treated

00:14:06.459 --> 00:14:07.159
 with justice?

00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:10.639
 As we look in the mirror,

00:14:10.779 --> 00:14:12.019
 as we ask these questions,

00:14:12.099 --> 00:14:12.979
 I think it just becomes

00:14:12.979 --> 00:14:14.019
 increasingly obvious,

00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:14.479
 doesn't it?

00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:15.059
 Doesn't it become

00:14:15.059 --> 00:14:16.339
 increasingly obvious

00:14:16.339 --> 00:14:17.199
 that there are ways

00:14:17.199 --> 00:14:18.079
 that we contribute

00:14:18.079 --> 00:14:19.620
 to the injustice

00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:21.179
 of this world,

00:14:21.239 --> 00:14:21.959
 maybe even without

00:14:21.959 --> 00:14:23.059
 thinking about it?

00:14:25.239 --> 00:14:26.079
 But also,

00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:28.219
 as like Habakkuk,

00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:29.339
 we look out of the window,

00:14:30.719 --> 00:14:31.099
 again,

00:14:31.199 --> 00:14:31.899
 this ought to be

00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:32.379
 a question

00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:33.419
 that we have today,

00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:34.600
 the injustice

00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:35.639
 in the world.

00:14:36.019 --> 00:14:37.419
 I'm sure that as he

00:14:37.419 --> 00:14:38.299
 rests his head

00:14:38.299 --> 00:14:39.360
 on his pillow tonight,

00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:40.220
 Vladimir Putin

00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:41.759
 will have the nicest

00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:42.939
 silk sheets,

00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:45.639
 the very best pillow.

00:14:46.679 --> 00:14:47.740
 It remains true

00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:48.740
 that those who seem

00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:49.620
 to cause the most

00:14:49.620 --> 00:14:51.000
 injustice in this world

00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:52.759
 are also very often

00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:53.579
 those living

00:14:53.579 --> 00:14:55.120
 the most luxurious lives.

00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:58.139
 And so we ask,

00:14:58.220 --> 00:14:59.120
 along with Habakkuk

00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:00.100
 in verse 17,

00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:01.639
 is he,

00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:02.659
 is the Babylonian

00:15:02.659 --> 00:15:03.659
 to keep on emptying

00:15:03.659 --> 00:15:04.240
 his net

00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:04.899
 and destroying

00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:06.420
 nations without mercy?

00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:09.180
 That's the question,

00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:09.840
 isn't it?

00:15:11.420 --> 00:15:12.340
 It's very similar

00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:13.060
 to the question

00:15:13.060 --> 00:15:13.740
 of chapter one.

00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:14.480
 How long

00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:15.399
 are you going to

00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:16.620
 let this persist?

00:15:17.100 --> 00:15:17.740
 In chapter one,

00:15:17.779 --> 00:15:18.259
 it was how long

00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:18.720
 will you let

00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:19.540
 the injustice

00:15:19.540 --> 00:15:20.360
 at home persist?

00:15:21.379 --> 00:15:22.100
 And now the question

00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:23.060
 becomes universal.

00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:24.420
 How long

00:15:24.420 --> 00:15:25.639
 are you going to let

00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:26.160
 injustice

00:15:26.160 --> 00:15:26.940
 in this world

00:15:26.940 --> 00:15:27.480
 continue?

00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:30.720
 And so with Habakkuk

00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:31.500
 in verse one

00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:32.379
 of chapter two,

00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:34.539
 I will stand

00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:35.399
 at my watch

00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:36.700
 and station myself

00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:37.720
 on the ramparts.

00:15:38.060 --> 00:15:38.860
 I will look

00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:39.600
 to see what he

00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:40.420
 will say to me

00:15:40.420 --> 00:15:41.200
 and what answer

00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:41.899
 I am to give

00:15:41.899 --> 00:15:42.740
 to this complaint.

00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:43.519
 In other words,

00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:45.019
 I will wait.

00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:46.600
 I've offered

00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:47.759
 my honest question

00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:49.120
 and now

00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.039
 I will wait.

00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:51.899
 Imagine again

00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:52.680
 being in the army,

00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:53.779
 D-Day has happened

00:15:53.779 --> 00:15:54.940
 and every day,

00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:56.060
 what are you doing?

00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:56.739
 You're waiting

00:15:56.739 --> 00:15:57.719
 for the announcement.

00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:00.239
 War is over.

00:16:00.819 --> 00:16:01.719
 It is finished.

00:16:02.419 --> 00:16:03.319
 That's what Habakkuk

00:16:03.319 --> 00:16:04.119
 is waiting for,

00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:05.019
 for it to be done.

00:16:05.179 --> 00:16:05.579
 Justice,

00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:07.139
 complete justice

00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:08.519
 to be done.

00:16:10.219 --> 00:16:11.039
 And just before

00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:11.599
 we move on

00:16:11.599 --> 00:16:12.259
 to that promise,

00:16:13.439 --> 00:16:14.419
 let's just learn

00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:15.819
 from this honest question

00:16:15.819 --> 00:16:16.639
 as we look at it

00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:17.219
 as a whole.

00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:19.239
 See how Habakkuk

00:16:19.239 --> 00:16:20.079
 asks it.

00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:21.579
 He doesn't doubt

00:16:21.579 --> 00:16:22.559
 who God is.

00:16:22.899 --> 00:16:23.919
 He doesn't deny

00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:25.039
 who God has revealed

00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:26.099
 himself to be.

00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:28.199
 And so would we,

00:16:28.579 --> 00:16:29.500
 as best as we know

00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:29.759
 how,

00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:30.899
 speak to God

00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:32.740
 as he has revealed

00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:33.819
 himself to us

00:16:33.819 --> 00:16:34.899
 in his word.

00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:37.019
 As both the everlasting

00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:37.980
 God of judgment

00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:40.779
 and also as my God,

00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:42.299
 our God,

00:16:42.819 --> 00:16:44.059
 the personal God.

00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:45.939
 That is faith

00:16:45.939 --> 00:16:47.079
 in the mess.

00:16:48.319 --> 00:16:49.419
 When we pray,

00:16:49.819 --> 00:16:50.980
 how often we fall

00:16:50.980 --> 00:16:52.620
 into one of these traps.

00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:55.179
 either seeing God

00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.399
 as so distant,

00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:57.519
 so holy,

00:16:57.700 --> 00:16:58.299
 so other,

00:16:58.419 --> 00:16:59.580
 so beyond us

00:16:59.580 --> 00:17:01.019
 that in our reverence

00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:02.299
 we fail to enjoy

00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:03.700
 relationship with him.

00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:04.160
 Friends,

00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:05.440
 we can pray

00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:06.339
 with Habakkuk,

00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:08.160
 my God,

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.279
 and know

00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.460
 that he is with us.

00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:11.259
 We thought about

00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:12.000
 that with Ray

00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:12.559
 this morning

00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:13.240
 for those of you

00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:13.859
 who are here.

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.259
 And that's because

00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:16.099
 of what Christ

00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:17.859
 has done for us.

00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:19.460
 Though he is

00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:20.359
 utterly holy

00:17:20.359 --> 00:17:22.199
 and totally beyond us,

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:22.819
 he is nevertheless

00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:24.459
 our friend.

00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:26.740
 But on the other side

00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.379
 of that coin

00:17:27.379 --> 00:17:28.399
 there is another trap,

00:17:28.479 --> 00:17:28.819
 isn't there,

00:17:28.879 --> 00:17:30.319
 where we pray to God

00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:31.559
 as though he is not holy,

00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:34.199
 as though he is not eternal,

00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.539
 as though he were nothing

00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:37.059
 but our best friend

00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:38.639
 who does not want us

00:17:38.639 --> 00:17:39.859
 to change,

00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:42.399
 who is not looking

00:17:42.399 --> 00:17:42.979
 for repentance

00:17:42.979 --> 00:17:43.779
 and faith.

00:17:44.859 --> 00:17:46.459
 We have got to see

00:17:46.459 --> 00:17:47.439
 that our God

00:17:47.439 --> 00:17:48.559
 is both way bigger

00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:50.039
 than we could possibly imagine

00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:52.200
 and way more familiar

00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:53.679
 than we could possibly hope.

00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:57.119
 Notice too

00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:57.980
 how Habakkuk

00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:59.059
 humbly and honestly

00:17:59.059 --> 00:18:00.000
 asks his question

00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:00.839
 and then

00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:02.119
 waits.

00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:03.919
 He waits

00:18:03.919 --> 00:18:04.339
 for God

00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:05.200
 to speak.

00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:08.639
 Nowhere in the Bible

00:18:08.639 --> 00:18:09.359
 does it tell us

00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:10.500
 not to ask our questions.

00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:13.579
 The more you ask

00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:14.759
 questions of God,

00:18:15.179 --> 00:18:16.039
 the more your faith

00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:16.539
 will grow.

00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:19.819
 But as we go

00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:20.399
 to God

00:18:20.399 --> 00:18:21.279
 with our questions,

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.920
 we have to be prepared

00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:24.139
 for him to speak.

00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:25.359
 I'm not talking

00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:26.879
 about an audible voice.

00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.259
 It might not even

00:18:28.259 --> 00:18:28.920
 mean a supernatural

00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:30.079
 sense of clarity

00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:31.200
 revealed out of nowhere.

00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:33.079
 And yet God

00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:34.399
 has spoken

00:18:34.399 --> 00:18:35.700
 and he does

00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:36.440
 speak

00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:37.440
 through his word

00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:37.899
 today.

00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:39.619
 And so

00:18:39.619 --> 00:18:40.539
 as we pray,

00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.539
 as we approach

00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:42.220
 God with our

00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:43.079
 honest questions,

00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:44.019
 especially about

00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:45.079
 justice this evening,

00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:47.639
 will we be prepared

00:18:47.639 --> 00:18:48.500
 to patiently

00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:50.039
 study his word

00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:51.259
 and hear

00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:52.299
 what he has

00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:53.519
 to say to us?

00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:55.539
 Indeed,

00:18:55.639 --> 00:18:56.220
 we see here

00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:56.839
 in Habakkuk

00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:57.480
 how God

00:18:57.480 --> 00:18:58.099
 would respond

00:18:58.099 --> 00:18:58.859
 to exactly

00:18:58.859 --> 00:19:00.159
 this question.

00:19:01.059 --> 00:19:01.899
 Last week

00:19:01.899 --> 00:19:02.679
 with a surprising

00:19:02.679 --> 00:19:03.720
 promise of justice,

00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:05.299
 this week

00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:06.319
 we see a complete

00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:07.279
 promise,

00:19:08.139 --> 00:19:09.079
 complete justice.

00:19:10.199 --> 00:19:11.339
 See in verse 2

00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:12.059
 as the Lord

00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:12.839
 replies,

00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:15.059
 write down

00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:15.720
 the revelation

00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:16.459
 and make it

00:19:16.459 --> 00:19:17.359
 plain on tablets

00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:18.259
 so that a

00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:19.139
 herald may run

00:19:19.139 --> 00:19:19.720
 with it.

00:19:20.919 --> 00:19:21.740
 God is saying

00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:22.459
 that these words

00:19:22.459 --> 00:19:23.279
 that I'm speaking

00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:24.480
 are meant to be

00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.079
 permanent,

00:19:25.919 --> 00:19:26.799
 written down,

00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:27.559
 they're to be

00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:28.019
 shared,

00:19:28.139 --> 00:19:29.039
 they are for all

00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:29.839
 to hear.

00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:31.059
 And at this point

00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:31.659
 I think we've got

00:19:31.659 --> 00:19:32.139
 to understand

00:19:32.139 --> 00:19:32.819
 this is why

00:19:32.819 --> 00:19:33.279
 this book

00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:33.899
 was written

00:19:33.899 --> 00:19:35.939
 because this

00:19:35.939 --> 00:19:36.799
 complete promise,

00:19:36.899 --> 00:19:37.500
 it doesn't just

00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.579
 apply to Habakkuk's

00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.259
 question about

00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:39.579
 Judah,

00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:40.919
 it doesn't just

00:19:40.919 --> 00:19:41.980
 apply to Babylon,

00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:43.019
 it doesn't just

00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:43.680
 apply to the

00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.799
 7th century BC,

00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:45.960
 something much

00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:46.799
 bigger is happening

00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:48.579
 here because

00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:49.400
 God's word

00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:51.279
 speaks today.

00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:53.420
 Indeed as we

00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:54.059
 read on in

00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:54.740
 verse 3,

00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:56.819
 for the revelation

00:19:56.819 --> 00:19:57.920
 awaits an

00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:58.920
 appointed time,

00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:00.640
 it speaks of

00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:01.400
 the end

00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:03.039
 and will not

00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:04.200
 prove false.

00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.819
 In other words

00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:06.559
 this complete

00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:07.440
 justice,

00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:09.420
 it is ultimately

00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:10.240
 a justice that

00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:10.839
 will not come

00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.519
 until the very

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.599
 end of the

00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:13.079
 world.

00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:14.959
 When the

00:20:14.959 --> 00:20:15.679
 curtains are

00:20:15.679 --> 00:20:16.459
 closed and

00:20:16.459 --> 00:20:17.019
 the show is

00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:17.359
 over,

00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:18.679
 when the

00:20:18.679 --> 00:20:19.299
 message comes

00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:19.699
 over the

00:20:19.699 --> 00:20:20.059
 wireless,

00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:20.939
 the war in

00:20:20.939 --> 00:20:21.500
 Europe is

00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:21.899
 over.

00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:24.079
 It may seem

00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:24.980
 slow in the

00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:25.359
 coming.

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:27.319
 Remember Habakkuk

00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:27.980
 prays in chapter

00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:28.959
 1, how long?

00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:30.839
 But God

00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:31.619
 responds here

00:20:31.619 --> 00:20:32.379
 still in verse

00:20:32.379 --> 00:20:32.859
 3,

00:20:33.459 --> 00:20:33.959
 though it

00:20:33.959 --> 00:20:34.359
 linger,

00:20:35.199 --> 00:20:36.439
 wait for it,

00:20:36.679 --> 00:20:37.220
 it will

00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:38.480
 certainly come

00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.539
 and will

00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.240
 not delay.

00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:41.480
 It may feel

00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.380
 as though it's

00:20:42.380 --> 00:20:43.140
 never going to

00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:44.319
 come, but

00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:45.259
 a thousand years

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.140
 is like a day

00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:46.860
 for the eternal

00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:47.440
 Lord of the

00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:47.759
 universe.

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.180
 And the promise

00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:49.900
 here is that it

00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:51.160
 will come

00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:52.759
 and that when it

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:54.200
 does, it will

00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:54.940
 be swift.

00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:57.620
 But we have to

00:20:57.620 --> 00:20:58.680
 ask what exactly

00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:00.039
 will that justice

00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:00.860
 look like?

00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.700
 What does God's

00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:04.120
 justice actually

00:21:04.120 --> 00:21:04.579
 do?

00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:06.079
 Well read on

00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:06.519
 with me.

00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:07.240
 In verses

00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.019
 4 and 5

00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:08.939
 we get another

00:21:08.939 --> 00:21:09.619
 picture of the

00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:10.460
 Babylonian from

00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:11.199
 God here.

00:21:11.699 --> 00:21:12.419
 He describes

00:21:12.419 --> 00:21:13.119
 the Babylonian

00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:14.039
 as puffed up,

00:21:14.399 --> 00:21:15.259
 arrogant, as

00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:16.299
 greedy as the

00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:16.759
 grave.

00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:17.720
 He gathers to

00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:18.599
 himself all the

00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:19.339
 nations and

00:21:19.339 --> 00:21:20.099
 takes captive

00:21:20.099 --> 00:21:20.559
 all the

00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:20.960
 peoples.

00:21:22.379 --> 00:21:23.099
 It is primarily

00:21:23.099 --> 00:21:23.819
 a picture of

00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:24.740
 the Babylonian.

00:21:25.899 --> 00:21:26.559
 But as we dig

00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:27.359
 into these

00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:29.419
 verses, isn't

00:21:29.419 --> 00:21:30.139
 this really just

00:21:30.139 --> 00:21:30.759
 a picture of

00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:31.399
 humanity?

00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:34.059
 Humanity whose

00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:35.379
 desires are not

00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:37.740
 upright, who

00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:38.520
 is never at

00:21:38.520 --> 00:21:40.480
 rest, never

00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.340
 satisfied.

00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:43.160
 In other words,

00:21:43.300 --> 00:21:44.220
 a humanity that

00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:44.980
 lives as though

00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.760
 God does not

00:21:45.760 --> 00:21:46.340
 exist.

00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:48.640
 And so indulging

00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:49.320
 all our own

00:21:49.320 --> 00:21:50.540
 desires and yet

00:21:50.540 --> 00:21:51.280
 in doing so

00:21:51.280 --> 00:21:52.000
 never finding

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:52.700
 rest for our

00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:54.060
 souls, never

00:21:54.060 --> 00:21:54.920
 finding true

00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:55.960
 satisfaction.

00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:57.560
 The picture here

00:21:57.560 --> 00:21:58.260
 is of a people

00:21:58.260 --> 00:21:59.120
 who are utterly

00:21:59.120 --> 00:22:01.020
 self-reliant and

00:22:01.020 --> 00:22:02.020
 self-indulgent.

00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:04.220
 People who are,

00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:04.819
 at the beginning

00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.779
 of verse 4,

00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:07.059
 enemies of

00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:07.500
 God.

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:09.759
 And so what

00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.259
 will God's

00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:11.180
 justice do?

00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.519
 Well, before

00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.259
 we get there,

00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.039
 have a look at

00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:16.759
 this wonderful

00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:17.460
 promise.

00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:19.380
 Sorry, I'll go

00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:19.600
 back.

00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:21.600
 There's this

00:22:21.600 --> 00:22:22.559
 but at the

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.539
 end of verse 4.

00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:24.900
 It's one of my

00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:25.680
 favorite buts in

00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.100
 the Bible.

00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:27.960
 But the

00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:29.059
 righteous person

00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:30.900
 will live by

00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:32.100
 his faithfulness.

00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:33.519
 There is

00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.500
 another way.

00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:35.939
 The promise is

00:22:35.939 --> 00:22:36.659
 that we do not

00:22:36.659 --> 00:22:37.419
 need to be

00:22:37.419 --> 00:22:38.539
 self-reliant.

00:22:39.899 --> 00:22:40.899
 That we can

00:22:40.899 --> 00:22:42.139
 instead rely on

00:22:42.139 --> 00:22:43.539
 God, trust

00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:44.539
 him, be

00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:45.679
 faithful to

00:22:45.679 --> 00:22:46.500
 him and be

00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:47.319
 found to be

00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:48.419
 righteous in

00:22:48.419 --> 00:22:48.799
 him.

00:22:49.159 --> 00:22:49.899
 This is such an

00:22:49.899 --> 00:22:50.699
 important concept

00:22:50.699 --> 00:22:51.379
 for the Christian

00:22:51.379 --> 00:22:51.779
 gospel.

00:22:52.219 --> 00:22:53.379
 It's picked up by

00:22:53.379 --> 00:22:54.619
 writers in the

00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:55.219
 New Testament.

00:22:55.439 --> 00:22:55.919
 They say the

00:22:55.919 --> 00:22:56.779
 righteous shall

00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:58.299
 live by faith.

00:22:58.299 --> 00:23:00.339
 And it's

00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:00.899
 really what we

00:23:00.899 --> 00:23:01.859
 saw last week.

00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:02.839
 That is the

00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:03.799
 surprising promise

00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.599
 as we look to

00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:05.980
 Jesus who

00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:06.480
 lived a

00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:06.839
 perfectly

00:23:06.839 --> 00:23:07.680
 righteous life

00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.259
 in our place,

00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:08.919
 who took the

00:23:08.919 --> 00:23:10.000
 justice of the

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:10.700
 world on his

00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:12.019
 shoulders so

00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:13.220
 that by faith

00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:14.359
 his righteousness

00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:15.259
 might be freely

00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:16.399
 given to us.

00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.940
 If you're here

00:23:17.940 --> 00:23:18.339
 and you don't

00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:18.879
 know Jesus,

00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:20.259
 that is the

00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:20.539
 message.

00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:21.339
 It's right at

00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:21.859
 the heart of

00:23:21.859 --> 00:23:22.579
 what we believe

00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:23.599
 as Christians.

00:23:24.859 --> 00:23:25.319
 And so it's in

00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:26.159
 the context of

00:23:26.159 --> 00:23:26.879
 that promise

00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:28.740
 that we read

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.800
 the woes that

00:23:29.800 --> 00:23:30.240
 follow.

00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:32.020
 If you scan

00:23:32.020 --> 00:23:32.760
 your eyes over

00:23:32.760 --> 00:23:34.500
 the rest of

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:41.040
 chapter 2,

00:23:41.040 --> 00:23:41.400
 we're going to

00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:42.200
 speed up quite a

00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:42.720
 lot here, but

00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:43.260
 that's what we

00:23:43.260 --> 00:23:43.520
 get.

00:23:43.620 --> 00:23:44.560
 Five woes.

00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:45.480
 If you see that

00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:46.460
 repeated refrain

00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:47.860
 in the rest of

00:23:47.860 --> 00:23:48.600
 chapter 2 at the

00:23:48.600 --> 00:23:49.200
 beginning of each

00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:50.220
 paragraph and then

00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:50.680
 again at the

00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:51.360
 beginning of verse

00:23:51.360 --> 00:23:53.900
 19, woe to

00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:54.600
 him.

00:23:55.420 --> 00:23:55.940
 In other words,

00:23:56.060 --> 00:23:56.860
 judgment is

00:23:56.859 --> 00:23:57.619
 coming to

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.039
 him.

00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:01.159
 We don't

00:24:01.159 --> 00:24:01.759
 have time to

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.319
 unpack each of

00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:03.119
 these in detail,

00:24:03.699 --> 00:24:04.859
 but see what

00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:05.559
 God's justice

00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:06.439
 looks like.

00:24:07.139 --> 00:24:07.539
 That's the

00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.199
 question we want

00:24:08.199 --> 00:24:08.879
 to answer.

00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:09.979
 Track with me.

00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:10.619
 The first is

00:24:10.619 --> 00:24:11.240
 there in verses

00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:12.159
 6 and 7.

00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:13.879
 He piles up

00:24:13.879 --> 00:24:15.000
 stolen goods.

00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:16.699
 God says he

00:24:16.699 --> 00:24:17.579
 has taken things

00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:18.279
 that don't belong

00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:18.639
 to him.

00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.839
 It's theft.

00:24:20.199 --> 00:24:20.740
 And then the

00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.639
 judgment comes in

00:24:21.639 --> 00:24:22.339
 verse 8.

00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:24.039
 The peoples who

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.919
 are left will

00:24:24.919 --> 00:24:25.759
 plunder you.

00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:27.799
 The second is

00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:28.440
 similar.

00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.299
 It's empire

00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:30.180
 building through

00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:30.879
 injustice.

00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:32.980
 See in verse

00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:35.079
 9, he builds

00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:36.339
 his house by

00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:37.339
 unjust gain,

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.279
 setting his

00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:39.240
 nest on high to

00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:39.759
 escape the

00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.299
 clutches of

00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:40.640
 ruin.

00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:43.119
 He's amassing

00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:43.539
 wealth.

00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:44.319
 The picture here,

00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:45.319
 it's like he's a

00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:46.079
 killer magpie,

00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:46.339
 right?

00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:47.119
 Not just pinching

00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:47.940
 the shiny necklace

00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:48.740
 and carrying it

00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:49.420
 off to the safety

00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:50.500
 of his nest,

00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.559
 but also pecking

00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.279
 the wearer to

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:52.779
 death.

00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:52.859
 death.

00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:54.579
 And the

00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:55.359
 judgment for the

00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:56.339
 Babylonian is in

00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:56.819
 verse 10.

00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:58.379
 It's shame for his

00:24:58.379 --> 00:25:00.039
 house and ultimately

00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:01.940
 death coming to him

00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:02.539
 himself.

00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:05.680
 The third woe begins

00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.859
 to focus more sharply

00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:07.539
 on violence.

00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:08.599
 See in verse 12,

00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:10.599
 it is the bloodshed of

00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:11.379
 empire building.

00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:13.500
 And so comes the

00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:15.059
 judgment in verse 13.

00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:16.500
 As they bring

00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:17.960
 destruction, so will

00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:18.899
 they be destroyed.

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:21.220
 They will be fuel for

00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:21.740
 the fire.

00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:24.600
 And then the image

00:25:24.600 --> 00:25:26.360
 in the fourth woe,

00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:27.319
 I think, becomes much

00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:28.059
 more personal.

00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.259
 The charge here,

00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:30.279
 degrading their

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.960
 enemies.

00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:32.519
 See in verse 15,

00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:35.000
 it's like an ancient

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:36.019
 date rape drug.

00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.700
 He gets them drunk

00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:39.079
 and gazes upon their

00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.920
 nakedness.

00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:41.600
 Terrific abuse,

00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:42.059
 that.

00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.900
 And the judgment in

00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:44.720
 verse 16,

00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.600
 he will be filled

00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:47.220
 with shame.

00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:48.940
 It is his turn to be

00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:50.319
 filled with wine and

00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:51.000
 exposed.

00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:53.559
 And the fifth and

00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:54.720
 final woe, this is the

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.759
 climax of it all,

00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:57.240
 idolatry.

00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.759
 Putting man-made

00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:00.980
 things, images and

00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:01.920
 carvings, putting them

00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.680
 in the place of God

00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:03.440
 and saying to them,

00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:04.400
 come to life,

00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:06.000
 which of course they

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.600
 can't.

00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.480
 The Lord, on the

00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.319
 other hand, in verse

00:26:09.319 --> 00:26:10.539
 20, he is in his

00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.200
 holy temple.

00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:13.299
 Be silent before him.

00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:14.039
 Why?

00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:16.400
 For he does have life,

00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:17.960
 he will speak,

00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:19.240
 and his judgment

00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:19.920
 will come.

00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:22.259
 So these are the five

00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:23.519
 woes proclaimed

00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.259
 against Babylon.

00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:25.420
 As we read them,

00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:26.960
 what does that justice

00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:27.599
 look like?

00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:28.339
 What does God's

00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:29.220
 justice do?

00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:31.420
 Well, two key things

00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:32.000
 for us.

00:26:32.120 --> 00:26:33.700
 Firstly, notice how

00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:35.160
 God's justice is

00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:35.920
 just.

00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:38.819
 The punishment fits

00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:39.460
 the crime.

00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:42.120
 As the Babylonian

00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:43.640
 plunders, so will

00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:44.819
 he be plundered.

00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:46.700
 As he builds a

00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:47.640
 house, his house

00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:48.340
 will be put to

00:26:48.340 --> 00:26:48.720
 shame.

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.779
 As he brings

00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.740
 destruction, he

00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:51.600
 will be destroyed.

00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:52.920
 As he shames his

00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:53.980
 enemies, he will be

00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.360
 shamed.

00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:55.880
 And ultimately, as he

00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:57.140
 glorifies idols,

00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.720
 God will be seen

00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.720
 to be glorious.

00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:02.079
 God's justice

00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:03.700
 is just.

00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:06.000
 Notice in that

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.880
 that it's not the

00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:07.680
 one who has been

00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:08.980
 wronged who executes

00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:10.019
 that justice.

00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:12.120
 God is the judge

00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:12.860
 and he brings

00:27:12.860 --> 00:27:14.100
 justice himself

00:27:14.100 --> 00:27:15.440
 by his own

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.039
 means.

00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:17.900
 God's justice

00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:18.640
 is just.

00:27:19.140 --> 00:27:20.180
 Secondly, God's

00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:21.160
 complete justice

00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:21.940
 is ultimately

00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.519
 eternal.

00:27:23.340 --> 00:27:23.980
 See back in

00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:24.620
 verse 3,

00:27:25.380 --> 00:27:26.060
 way back in

00:27:26.060 --> 00:27:26.840
 verse 3, we

00:27:26.840 --> 00:27:27.700
 saw it speaks

00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:29.440
 of the end.

00:27:30.560 --> 00:27:31.799
 This is not

00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:32.560
 just a promise

00:27:32.560 --> 00:27:33.320
 to Habakkuk

00:27:33.320 --> 00:27:33.940
 that Babylon

00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:34.700
 would not be

00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:35.640
 spared God's

00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:36.000
 judgment.

00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:37.480
 Take it, that's

00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.019
 why it is to

00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.360
 be written

00:27:38.360 --> 00:27:38.839
 down.

00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:40.259
 And so we

00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:40.980
 see in verse

00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:43.700
 14 that the

00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.880
 earth will be

00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:45.960
 filled with the

00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:46.579
 knowledge of the

00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:47.180
 glory of the

00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:47.900
 Lord as the

00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:49.299
 waters cover the

00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:49.620
 sea.

00:27:50.860 --> 00:27:51.360
 This is an

00:27:51.360 --> 00:27:52.740
 image of God's

00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:53.680
 glory in saving

00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.380
 his people,

00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:55.579
 bringing justice

00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.620
 to the Babylonians

00:27:56.620 --> 00:27:57.660
 so that through it

00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:58.259
 and through his

00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:58.900
 people the whole

00:27:58.900 --> 00:27:59.700
 world might know

00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:00.079
 him.

00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:02.559
 But the final

00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:03.460
 fulfillment of that

00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.200
 promise, it is

00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:05.500
 ultimately an

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:06.640
 eternal promise.

00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:06.740
 promise.

00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.460
 It is a promise

00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.060
 that is made

00:28:09.060 --> 00:28:10.460
 good upon

00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:11.680
 Jesus' return.

00:28:12.620 --> 00:28:13.640
 As he paid the

00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:14.340
 price for that

00:28:14.340 --> 00:28:15.060
 justice to be

00:28:15.060 --> 00:28:15.540
 done on the

00:28:15.540 --> 00:28:16.960
 cross, as he

00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:17.660
 proved that he

00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:18.460
 had done so as

00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:19.360
 he rose again,

00:28:19.940 --> 00:28:20.840
 and he promised

00:28:20.840 --> 00:28:21.620
 that he would

00:28:21.620 --> 00:28:22.900
 ultimately return

00:28:22.900 --> 00:28:24.259
 to carry out that

00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:24.860
 justice and

00:28:24.860 --> 00:28:25.320
 completion.

00:28:26.040 --> 00:28:26.460
 Why?

00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:27.580
 So that the

00:28:27.580 --> 00:28:29.180
 whole earth might

00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:29.880
 be filled with

00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:30.440
 his glory.

00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:33.100
 For us, there

00:28:33.100 --> 00:28:33.980
 is immense

00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:34.740
 comfort in

00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:36.480
 this, as

00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:36.960
 well as

00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:38.059
 holy fear.

00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:41.740
 Comfort, because

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.680
 we can know

00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.660
 that every

00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.660
 injustice will

00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.100
 be dealt

00:28:45.100 --> 00:28:45.539
 with.

00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:47.140
 That really

00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:48.380
 is huge.

00:28:49.380 --> 00:28:50.140
 But if God's

00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:51.100
 justice is

00:28:51.100 --> 00:28:53.400
 just, then

00:28:53.400 --> 00:28:54.340
 every single

00:28:54.340 --> 00:28:55.279
 injustice of

00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:56.100
 human history,

00:28:56.099 --> 00:28:58.240
 every murder,

00:28:59.219 --> 00:29:00.240
 every rape,

00:29:00.839 --> 00:29:01.559
 every war

00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:03.079
 crime, every

00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:04.759
 theft, every

00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:06.639
 lie, whether

00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:07.299
 they are dealt

00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:08.279
 with humanly or

00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:09.480
 not, whether

00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:10.159
 they are dealt

00:29:10.159 --> 00:29:10.779
 with on this

00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.679
 side of eternity

00:29:11.679 --> 00:29:14.179
 or not, God's

00:29:14.179 --> 00:29:15.259
 justice is

00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:16.119
 just.

00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:18.079
 That means

00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:18.619
 that Stalin

00:29:18.619 --> 00:29:19.299
 did not get

00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:19.679
 away with

00:29:19.679 --> 00:29:20.019
 it, not

00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:20.359
 really.

00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:22.279
 That means

00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.399
 that any

00:29:23.399 --> 00:29:24.299
 injustice that

00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:24.679
 you have

00:29:24.679 --> 00:29:26.000
 faced, if

00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.419
 there is a

00:29:26.419 --> 00:29:27.399
 specific person

00:29:27.399 --> 00:29:28.059
 or a group

00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:28.679
 of people that

00:29:28.679 --> 00:29:29.299
 have wronged

00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:30.559
 you, they

00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:32.179
 have not and

00:29:32.179 --> 00:29:32.899
 they will not

00:29:32.899 --> 00:29:33.500
 get away with

00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:33.939
 it.

00:29:35.379 --> 00:29:36.059
 There is

00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.859
 comfort here,

00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:39.239
 but I think

00:29:39.239 --> 00:29:40.259
 there also

00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:41.039
 ought to be a

00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:41.879
 holy fear.

00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:43.899
 For if we're

00:29:43.899 --> 00:29:46.079
 honest, we

00:29:46.079 --> 00:29:46.579
 know, don't

00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:46.919
 we, that

00:29:46.919 --> 00:29:47.199
 there are

00:29:47.199 --> 00:29:47.679
 things that

00:29:47.679 --> 00:29:48.039
 we have

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:48.500
 done,

00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.119
 contributions

00:29:50.119 --> 00:29:51.019
 to injustice

00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:52.099
 that we have

00:29:52.099 --> 00:29:52.659
 not paid

00:29:52.659 --> 00:29:54.199
 for, that

00:29:54.199 --> 00:29:54.519
 we could

00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:55.220
 never pay

00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:55.579
 for.

00:29:57.199 --> 00:29:57.759
 And so if

00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:58.460
 God's justice

00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:59.480
 is just,

00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:00.859
 then we

00:30:00.859 --> 00:30:01.559
 too must

00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:02.379
 face it.

00:30:04.659 --> 00:30:05.460
 And this

00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:05.839
 is the

00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:06.639
 wonderful good

00:30:06.639 --> 00:30:07.159
 news of the

00:30:07.159 --> 00:30:07.899
 Christian gospel.

00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.859
 We know

00:30:09.859 --> 00:30:11.199
 that if we

00:30:11.199 --> 00:30:12.000
 will be found

00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.839
 in Christ,

00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:13.740
 if we would

00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.500
 trust in him,

00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:14.919
 if we would

00:30:14.919 --> 00:30:15.799
 have faith in

00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:16.740
 him, then

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.079
 on that

00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:17.839
 final day,

00:30:17.919 --> 00:30:18.460
 we might be

00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:19.019
 spared his

00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:19.859
 justice, not

00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:20.740
 because he

00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:21.119
 is not

00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:22.659
 just, but

00:30:22.659 --> 00:30:23.220
 because for

00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:23.980
 those who

00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.639
 trust in

00:30:24.639 --> 00:30:25.200
 him, his

00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:26.079
 justice has

00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:26.799
 been done

00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:27.500
 on the

00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.019
 cross.

00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:29.659
 And for

00:30:29.659 --> 00:30:29.980
 us, this

00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:30.259
 is a

00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:30.680
 wonderful

00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:31.539
 truth.

00:30:32.139 --> 00:30:32.519
 For in

00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:32.799
 it, there

00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:33.200
 is a

00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:33.919
 forever

00:30:33.919 --> 00:30:35.399
 hope, not

00:30:35.399 --> 00:30:36.180
 simply that

00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:37.139
 we, though

00:30:37.139 --> 00:30:37.819
 guilty, might

00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:38.700
 be justified,

00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:40.119
 but that we

00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:40.799
 might live

00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:41.759
 forever in

00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:42.639
 a new and

00:30:42.639 --> 00:30:43.899
 perfect world,

00:30:43.900 --> 00:30:45.460
 world filled

00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:45.960
 with the

00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:46.480
 glorious

00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.180
 presence of

00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:47.620
 the Lord,

00:30:48.560 --> 00:30:49.280
 a world

00:30:49.280 --> 00:30:49.580
 where we

00:30:49.580 --> 00:30:50.240
 know him

00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:51.320
 perfectly.

00:30:53.080 --> 00:30:53.700
 And friends,

00:30:53.780 --> 00:30:54.240
 knowing that

00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:55.060
 today changes

00:30:55.060 --> 00:30:56.060
 everything.

00:30:57.660 --> 00:30:58.500
 It changes

00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:59.400
 our desire to

00:30:59.400 --> 00:30:59.900
 tell people

00:30:59.900 --> 00:31:00.540
 about Jesus.

00:31:02.120 --> 00:31:02.420
 If there

00:31:02.420 --> 00:31:03.140
 really is no

00:31:03.140 --> 00:31:04.660
 other way to

00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.840
 this wonderful

00:31:05.840 --> 00:31:08.400
 eternity, do

00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:08.920
 we not want to

00:31:08.920 --> 00:31:09.780
 point people to

00:31:09.780 --> 00:31:10.080
 him?

00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:12.579
 change is

00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:13.099
 how we use

00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:13.579
 our money.

00:31:14.419 --> 00:31:14.799
 With our

00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:16.139
 eyes fixed

00:31:16.139 --> 00:31:16.980
 on eternity,

00:31:17.179 --> 00:31:17.939
 material things

00:31:17.939 --> 00:31:18.919
 just pale in

00:31:18.919 --> 00:31:19.480
 comparison,

00:31:20.679 --> 00:31:22.599
 changes how we

00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:23.039
 spend our

00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:23.559
 time.

00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:24.460
 It changes

00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:25.279
 how we worry

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:25.899
 about things

00:31:25.899 --> 00:31:26.519
 in this world.

00:31:26.919 --> 00:31:28.079
 It is the

00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:29.119
 real and only

00:31:29.119 --> 00:31:29.919
 secret to

00:31:29.919 --> 00:31:30.879
 true and

00:31:30.879 --> 00:31:32.079
 lasting contentment

00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:32.819
 and satisfaction

00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:33.919
 in this life.

00:31:35.379 --> 00:31:36.379
 The forever

00:31:36.379 --> 00:31:36.899
 hope of

00:31:36.899 --> 00:31:37.519
 complete,

00:31:37.939 --> 00:31:38.359
 eternal

00:31:38.359 --> 00:31:39.199
 justice.

00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:41.980
 faith in

00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:42.559
 the mess.

00:31:43.639 --> 00:31:44.480
 Let me take

00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:45.460
 you back just

00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:46.099
 as we finish

00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:46.639
 to World War

00:31:46.639 --> 00:31:47.899
 II, to

00:31:47.899 --> 00:31:48.720
 that strange

00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.359
 in-between.

00:31:50.659 --> 00:31:51.720
 D-Day has

00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.220
 happened.

00:31:52.699 --> 00:31:53.319
 You can look

00:31:53.319 --> 00:31:54.319
 back at

00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:55.039
 D-Day and

00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:55.799
 say that the

00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:56.659
 victory is

00:31:56.659 --> 00:31:58.299
 sure, despite

00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:58.879
 the mess all

00:31:58.879 --> 00:31:59.519
 around you.

00:32:00.399 --> 00:32:01.259
 But you can

00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:02.000
 look forward

00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:04.240
 to waiting

00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:05.279
 patiently for

00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:06.259
 the war to

00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:06.799
 be over.

00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:09.460
 So too in

00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:11.120
 life, as we

00:32:11.120 --> 00:32:11.840
 look back at

00:32:11.840 --> 00:32:12.539
 the surprising

00:32:12.539 --> 00:32:13.519
 justice of the

00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:13.980
 cross, we

00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:15.279
 know that

00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:16.100
 victory has

00:32:16.100 --> 00:32:16.840
 been secured.

00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:18.299
 And though

00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:19.140
 life feels

00:32:19.140 --> 00:32:19.779
 like a real

00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:20.759
 mess today,

00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:22.319
 and though we

00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:23.680
 like Habakkuk

00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:24.460
 wait patiently

00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:25.519
 in the watchtower,

00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:26.920
 God's promise

00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:28.700
 is of complete

00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:29.360
 justice.

00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:31.319
 And in

00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:32.380
 Christ we

00:32:32.380 --> 00:32:33.120
 wait,

00:32:34.120 --> 00:32:35.299
 looking to

00:32:35.299 --> 00:32:36.019
 an eternity

00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:37.759
 with a sure

00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.980
 hope in

00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:39.339
 him.

00:32:40.539 --> 00:32:40.980
 This is

00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:41.960
 faith in

00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:42.519
 the mess.

00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:44.900
 Let me

00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.200
 pray.

00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:49.799
 Heavenly

00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:50.500
 Father, we

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.599
 thank you so

00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:52.359
 much for the

00:32:52.359 --> 00:32:52.940
 surprising

00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:54.539
 justice of

00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:55.180
 the cross.

00:32:55.180 --> 00:32:59.140
 Lord, we

00:32:59.140 --> 00:33:00.180
 confess that

00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:01.700
 we deserve

00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:02.500
 your justice.

00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:06.220
 And so we

00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:07.560
 thank you very

00:33:07.560 --> 00:33:08.279
 much for

00:33:08.279 --> 00:33:08.640
 Jesus.

00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:11.500
 We thank you

00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:11.880
 for the

00:33:11.880 --> 00:33:13.100
 complete promise

00:33:13.100 --> 00:33:14.860
 of eternal

00:33:14.860 --> 00:33:15.680
 justice.

00:33:18.340 --> 00:33:19.299
 Pray that you

00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:19.940
 would apply

00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:20.980
 that promise

00:33:20.980 --> 00:33:21.820
 to our hearts

00:33:21.820 --> 00:33:22.660
 by your spirit

00:33:22.660 --> 00:33:23.279
 this evening.

00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:26.160
 allow us to

00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:27.079
 be comforted

00:33:27.079 --> 00:33:27.859
 by it,

00:33:28.379 --> 00:33:29.920
 to find

00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:30.940
 hope in

00:33:30.940 --> 00:33:31.420
 it.

00:33:33.579 --> 00:33:34.279
 Would you

00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:35.000
 help us to

00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:35.720
 persevere,

00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:37.299
 to have

00:33:37.299 --> 00:33:38.240
 faith even

00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:38.559
 in the

00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:39.000
 mess?

00:33:40.839 --> 00:33:41.660
 In Jesus'

00:33:41.859 --> 00:33:42.119
 name.

00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:43.619
 Amen.