WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.400 In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's famous novel, the central story if you don't know it is a romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy. 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:18.879 ! He comes over as a proud individual and she is not slow to judge him for that pride. 00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:26.719 However, as you read the book, as you see the TV series or the film, there's a lot going on under the surface through the story. 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:31.719 And it leads to one of the great climax moments in the story where Mr Darcy declares, 00:00:31.719 --> 00:00:39.719 My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. 00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:48.719 They are most unexpected words from Mr Darcy, but just what Elizabeth was wanting to hear. 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:51.719 This morning we're in a new section of Isaiah. 00:00:51.719 --> 00:00:56.719 And when we left off last week, things were looking pretty bleak for the children of Judah. 00:00:56.719 --> 00:01:00.719 This is the 8th century before Christ. 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:07.719 And because of Judah's rebellion and sin against the Lord God, the prophet Isaiah has come to the king Hezekiah 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:13.019 with his own particular version of, well, there may be trouble ahead. 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:19.819 And here is how it went. Let me read this to you from Isaiah chapter 39 and verse 5. 00:01:19.819 --> 00:01:22.819 Go and say to Isaiah, 00:01:22.819 --> 00:01:25.819 Thus says the Lord God of David your father, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. 00:01:25.819 --> 00:01:28.819 Behold, I will have 15 years of your life. 00:01:28.819 --> 00:01:31.819 I will deliver you in this city out of the hand of the king of Syria. 00:01:31.819 --> 00:01:34.819 And he will defend the city. 00:01:38.819 --> 00:01:41.819 And this shall be the sign to you from the Lord. 00:01:41.819 --> 00:01:43.819 The Lord will do this thing that he has promised. 00:01:43.819 --> 00:01:46.819 And he promises to turn back the son. 00:01:46.819 --> 00:01:51.819 He promises to turn back the life of Hezekiah. 00:01:51.819 --> 00:02:00.819 But then later on in the chapter, there's this saying of Isaiah that Judah is going to be sent to exile far away. 00:02:01.819 --> 00:02:03.819 And Judah is going to be sent into the land of Babylon. 00:02:03.819 --> 00:02:05.819 And that is where chapter 40 begins. 00:02:06.819 --> 00:02:08.819 And the exile has now happened in chapter 40. 00:02:08.819 --> 00:02:11.819 And it's now coming to an end as a jump forward. 00:02:11.819 --> 00:02:14.819 So when you move from chapter 39 to chapter 40, 00:02:14.819 --> 00:02:19.819 You fast forward from Judah facing the mighty Assyrians in the 8th century BC, 00:02:19.819 --> 00:02:22.819 To now they are exiles in Babylon in about the 6th century BC. 00:02:22.819 --> 00:02:24.819 It's still the same Isaiah. 00:02:24.819 --> 00:02:28.819 But he's now projecting something into the future. 00:02:28.819 --> 00:02:30.819 Of what is going to happen. 00:02:30.819 --> 00:02:34.819 It's almost like a kind of trippy prophetic dream. 00:02:34.819 --> 00:02:38.819 That Isaiah is lifted up into God's heavenly court. 00:02:38.819 --> 00:02:41.819 And he hears Judah's predicament being discussed. 00:02:41.819 --> 00:02:47.819 And then in chapter 40, Rip Van Winkle like he wakes up to what is a new historical situation. 00:02:47.819 --> 00:02:55.819 And he becomes aware that those who have been sent into exile are despondent and they are discouraged. 00:02:55.819 --> 00:02:57.819 And they are disillusioned. 00:02:57.819 --> 00:03:01.819 And here are people for whom it seems there is very, very little hope. 00:03:01.819 --> 00:03:03.819 And they have been rebellious. 00:03:03.819 --> 00:03:06.819 And God has judged them for it. 00:03:06.819 --> 00:03:08.819 And they have been sent into exile. 00:03:08.819 --> 00:03:12.819 And now through Isaiah, God is going to speak to them again. 00:03:12.819 --> 00:03:14.819 The Lord speaks up. 00:03:14.819 --> 00:03:17.819 And here is why I started with Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. 00:03:17.819 --> 00:03:21.819 Because God's words here are totally unexpected for them. 00:03:21.819 --> 00:03:25.819 God's word is totally unexpected for them. 00:03:25.819 --> 00:03:27.819 And yet it is exactly what they need to hear. 00:03:27.819 --> 00:03:33.819 And my prayer for us is that these words come to us in an unexpected way. 00:03:33.819 --> 00:03:36.819 That though they are somewhat familiar, they would come freshly. 00:03:36.819 --> 00:03:40.819 That they would be exactly what we need to hear today and in this coming week. 00:03:40.819 --> 00:03:46.819 That God brings comfort to those who wait on him. 00:03:46.819 --> 00:03:52.819 And he brings comfort to those who wait on him by both his power and his tenderness. 00:03:52.819 --> 00:03:58.819 And as we work through this chapter, we really want to heed Isaiah's instructions. 00:03:58.819 --> 00:04:01.819 In verse 9, words which we'll sing later. 00:04:01.819 --> 00:04:05.819 That is, the purpose of Isaiah 40 is that we would behold our God. 00:04:05.819 --> 00:04:07.819 That we would behold our God. 00:04:07.819 --> 00:04:11.819 That this morning we would take a long look at what God tells us of himself here. 00:04:11.819 --> 00:04:13.819 And that's why it's important. 00:04:13.819 --> 00:04:18.819 There's a danger, isn't there, that we define God according to our own terms. 00:04:18.819 --> 00:04:21.819 I like to think of God as dot, dot, dot. 00:04:21.819 --> 00:04:25.819 When I think of God, I think of dot, dot, dot. 00:04:25.819 --> 00:04:28.819 But we need our eyesight to be sharpened. 00:04:28.819 --> 00:04:33.819 And we need to see God through God's eyes. 00:04:33.819 --> 00:04:37.819 Because when we see God through God's eyes, it changes everything. 00:04:37.819 --> 00:04:39.819 How we see life. 00:04:39.819 --> 00:04:41.819 How we see ourselves. 00:04:41.819 --> 00:04:43.819 How we see our relationships. 00:04:43.819 --> 00:04:45.819 How we see our struggles. 00:04:45.819 --> 00:04:47.819 And Isaiah will help you and I to see God through God's eyes. 00:04:47.819 --> 00:04:50.819 And he does so by pointing to three things. 00:04:50.819 --> 00:04:51.819 The coming king. 00:04:51.819 --> 00:04:52.819 The powerful Lord. 00:04:52.819 --> 00:04:54.819 And the tender shepherd. 00:04:54.819 --> 00:05:00.819 All of which will enable us to see that God is a God who brings comfort to those who wait on him. 00:05:00.819 --> 00:05:02.819 By means of both his power and his tenderness. 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:04.819 So let's see the coming king. 00:05:04.819 --> 00:05:05.819 Look at verse 1. 00:05:05.819 --> 00:05:09.819 Comforts, comforts by people says your God. 00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:10.819 The Lord. 00:05:10.819 --> 00:05:12.819 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. 00:05:12.819 --> 00:05:13.819 And cry to her. 00:05:13.819 --> 00:05:15.819 That her warfare is ended. 00:05:15.819 --> 00:05:17.819 That her iniquity is pardoned. 00:05:17.819 --> 00:05:20.819 And that she is received from the Lord's hand and done all for all her sins. 00:05:21.819 --> 00:05:24.819 Now for some of you can't read the start of Isaiah chapter 40. 00:05:24.819 --> 00:05:27.819 Comforty, comforty my people without the give hand was for sire. 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:30.819 But when you put the verses back into the context. 00:05:30.819 --> 00:05:35.819 The contrast of these words from what we saw at the end of chapter 39 couldn't be more stark. 00:05:35.819 --> 00:05:36.819 Comfort. 00:05:38.819 --> 00:05:40.819 Comfort when you're just coming out of judgment. 00:05:40.819 --> 00:05:44.819 You can't tell it in our translations. 00:05:44.819 --> 00:05:46.819 But the command is issued to a group of people. 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:50.819 Comforts, comforts my people. 00:05:50.819 --> 00:05:52.819 Comforts, comforts you lot. 00:05:52.819 --> 00:05:54.819 Comforts, comforts yous. 00:05:54.819 --> 00:05:57.819 Comforts, yous if you're from North Island. 00:05:57.819 --> 00:06:00.819 Comforts, comforts you all if you're from the South of America. 00:06:00.819 --> 00:06:01.819 It's plural. 00:06:03.819 --> 00:06:04.819 It is to comfort a group of people. 00:06:04.819 --> 00:06:06.819 And there's repetition isn't it? 00:06:06.819 --> 00:06:08.819 It isn't just comfort. 00:06:08.819 --> 00:06:10.819 It's comforts comforts. 00:06:11.819 --> 00:06:14.819 You'd still understand the meaning wouldn't you if it was only there once. 00:06:15.819 --> 00:06:17.819 But it's there twice for the purpose of comfort. 00:06:17.819 --> 00:06:19.819 It's like when you say to a loved one. 00:06:19.819 --> 00:06:21.819 They're there. 00:06:21.819 --> 00:06:23.819 And you gently pat them on the back. 00:06:23.819 --> 00:06:27.819 And God wants to bring his exiled people comforts you. 00:06:27.819 --> 00:06:31.819 And just in case you miss the tenderness with the repeated command. 00:06:31.819 --> 00:06:34.819 The idea is repeated in the second command. 00:06:34.819 --> 00:06:37.819 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. 00:06:38.819 --> 00:06:40.819 Speak to the core of their being. 00:06:41.819 --> 00:06:45.819 Speak to where they make their decisions and their choices. 00:06:45.819 --> 00:06:49.819 Speak and tell them their exile is over. 00:06:49.819 --> 00:06:52.819 That their sin has been paid for. 00:06:53.819 --> 00:06:57.819 Once at this point someone needs instruction to speak in verses 3-5. 00:06:57.819 --> 00:06:59.819 The voice cries in the wilderness. 00:06:59.819 --> 00:07:03.819 Prepare the way of the Lord. 00:07:03.819 --> 00:07:08.819 Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 00:07:09.819 --> 00:07:10.819 Every valley shall be lifted up. 00:07:10.819 --> 00:07:12.819 Every mountain and hill be made low. 00:07:12.819 --> 00:07:13.819 The uneven ground shall become level. 00:07:13.819 --> 00:07:15.819 And the rough places plain. 00:07:15.819 --> 00:07:18.819 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed. 00:07:18.819 --> 00:07:20.819 And all flesh shall see it together. 00:07:20.819 --> 00:07:22.819 For the mouth of the Lord is spoken. 00:07:22.819 --> 00:07:25.819 Here's the reason that the people can be comforted. 00:07:25.819 --> 00:07:28.819 Because God is returning his people from exile. 00:07:28.819 --> 00:07:32.819 And God is returning his people with them. 00:07:32.819 --> 00:07:34.819 Coming out of exile. 00:07:34.819 --> 00:07:36.819 God is the answer to their people's needs. 00:07:36.819 --> 00:07:37.819 To their promise. 00:07:37.819 --> 00:07:38.819 To their promise. 00:07:38.819 --> 00:07:39.819 He's not just going to send them. 00:07:39.819 --> 00:07:42.819 Some blessings by air mail. 00:07:42.819 --> 00:07:44.819 To them he says. 00:07:44.819 --> 00:07:47.819 I'm going to bring the blessings to you. 00:07:47.819 --> 00:07:50.819 As I come out with you out of exile. 00:07:50.819 --> 00:07:52.819 So the voice says you need to get ready. 00:07:52.819 --> 00:07:54.819 Now we need a little bit of background. 00:07:54.819 --> 00:07:58.819 To get the sense of the input of what Isaiah is saying. 00:07:58.819 --> 00:08:02.819 In Isaiah's day there's no department of transport. 00:08:02.819 --> 00:08:05.819 There's no roads and highway maintenance. 00:08:05.819 --> 00:08:09.819 In those days there were simply no paved roads. 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:11.819 There wasn't the equipment. 00:08:11.819 --> 00:08:13.819 There wasn't the money. 00:08:13.819 --> 00:08:16.819 Roads were simply tracks that you drove your wagon on. 00:08:16.819 --> 00:08:18.819 And they kept on using. 00:08:18.819 --> 00:08:20.819 Tracks on which people and animals went. 00:08:20.819 --> 00:08:22.819 And they kept on walking. 00:08:22.819 --> 00:08:24.819 And as such there were ruts. 00:08:24.819 --> 00:08:27.819 And there were cracks on the hard baked ground. 00:08:27.819 --> 00:08:30.819 So if there's a boulder on your journey. 00:08:30.819 --> 00:08:33.819 You get out of your wagon and you have to move the boulder. 00:08:33.820 --> 00:08:35.820 If the track went down into a gully. 00:08:35.820 --> 00:08:37.820 You just had to take your wagon slowly down into the gully. 00:08:37.820 --> 00:08:39.820 And back out again. 00:08:39.820 --> 00:08:40.820 No one built roads then. 00:08:40.820 --> 00:08:42.820 Unless you were a king. 00:08:42.820 --> 00:08:45.820 And not just any run of the mill vanilla king. 00:08:45.820 --> 00:08:47.820 But a real heavyweight king. 00:08:47.820 --> 00:08:49.820 An emperor. 00:08:49.820 --> 00:08:51.820 Because when that kind of king went on a journey. 00:08:51.820 --> 00:08:52.820 They couldn't just decide. 00:08:52.820 --> 00:08:55.820 Right let's go out for an afternoon run. 00:08:55.820 --> 00:08:57.820 The roads wouldn't have been able to bear them. 00:08:57.820 --> 00:09:00.820 Their entourage wouldn't have been able to fit on the roads. 00:09:00.820 --> 00:09:02.820 So when a king was going on a journey. 00:09:02.820 --> 00:09:03.820 He would send his heralds. 00:09:03.820 --> 00:09:05.820 And his engineers. 00:09:05.820 --> 00:09:06.820 Ahead into the locales. 00:09:06.820 --> 00:09:07.820 Into the villages. 00:09:07.820 --> 00:09:08.820 Into the towns. 00:09:08.820 --> 00:09:10.820 And they would plant. 00:09:10.820 --> 00:09:13.820 And the heralds and engineers would gather in the village together. 00:09:13.820 --> 00:09:14.820 And say okay listen. 00:09:14.820 --> 00:09:16.820 The king wants to come to your town. 00:09:16.820 --> 00:09:18.820 It's a huge honour to come through your town. 00:09:18.820 --> 00:09:19.820 But you've got to get ready. 00:09:19.820 --> 00:09:21.820 You need to prepare the way. 00:09:21.820 --> 00:09:24.820 You've got to take those boulders away. 00:09:24.820 --> 00:09:26.820 You've got to fill the gullies in. 00:09:26.820 --> 00:09:27.820 And in that way. 00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:30.820 They would prepare for the king's coming. 00:09:30.820 --> 00:09:32.820 But look at the language here. 00:09:32.820 --> 00:09:34.820 It's not just boulders that need to be taken down. 00:09:34.820 --> 00:09:35.820 Is it? 00:09:35.820 --> 00:09:36.820 Can you see that? 00:09:36.820 --> 00:09:37.820 It's mountains. 00:09:37.820 --> 00:09:39.820 First of all. 00:09:39.820 --> 00:09:41.820 It's not just gullies that need to be filled in. 00:09:41.820 --> 00:09:43.820 It is valleys. 00:09:43.820 --> 00:09:47.820 Because this is God the king who is coming. 00:09:47.820 --> 00:09:49.820 And he intends to be noticed. 00:09:49.820 --> 00:09:51.820 He intends for everyone to see his glory. 00:09:51.820 --> 00:09:54.820 And everyone to see his majesty and his splendour. 00:09:54.820 --> 00:09:56.820 He has come. 00:09:56.820 --> 00:09:59.820 And Isaiah says the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 00:09:59.820 --> 00:10:00.820 This is what is going to happen. 00:10:00.820 --> 00:10:02.820 And when the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 00:10:02.820 --> 00:10:04.820 It's as good as sealed. 00:10:04.820 --> 00:10:05.820 In verse 8. 00:10:05.820 --> 00:10:07.820 So the grass withers and the flowers fade. 00:10:07.820 --> 00:10:09.820 But the word of our God will stand forever. 00:10:09.820 --> 00:10:13.820 You can bet your bottom dollar that this is going to happen. 00:10:13.820 --> 00:10:15.820 The king is going to come. 00:10:15.820 --> 00:10:18.820 And now obviously this is a pretty big deal. 00:10:18.820 --> 00:10:21.820 So more instructions are given in verse 9. 00:10:21.820 --> 00:10:23.820 Go up to a high mountain. 00:10:23.820 --> 00:10:24.820 O Zion. 00:10:24.820 --> 00:10:25.820 Herald of good news. 00:10:25.820 --> 00:10:27.820 Lift up your voice with strength. 00:10:27.820 --> 00:10:28.820 O Jerusalem. 00:10:28.820 --> 00:10:29.820 Herald of good news. 00:10:29.820 --> 00:10:30.820 Lift it up. 00:10:30.820 --> 00:10:31.820 Fear not. 00:10:31.820 --> 00:10:32.820 Shout loud. 00:10:32.820 --> 00:10:33.820 Say to the cities of Judah. 00:10:33.820 --> 00:10:34.820 Behold your God. 00:10:34.820 --> 00:10:36.820 Here is your God. 00:10:36.820 --> 00:10:43.820 It's almost as if Isaiah anticipates a few shouts of objections. 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:47.820 The exiles have probably been offered empty hope in the past. 00:10:47.820 --> 00:10:48.820 Which has failed. 00:10:48.820 --> 00:10:51.820 They've got no stomach for false hope here. 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:56.820 So it seems that there are two unspoken questions that Isaiah thinks he's got to answer. 00:10:56.820 --> 00:10:57.820 Number one. 00:10:57.820 --> 00:10:58.820 The first question is. 00:10:58.820 --> 00:11:00.820 Does God really have the power to do it? 00:11:00.820 --> 00:11:04.820 Does God have the power to come in such a majestic way? 00:11:04.820 --> 00:11:05.820 And number two. 00:11:05.820 --> 00:11:07.820 Does God care enough to do it? 00:11:07.820 --> 00:11:09.820 And to answer those questions. 00:11:09.820 --> 00:11:12.820 Isaiah shows them exactly who this is. 00:11:12.820 --> 00:11:13.820 He says behold your God. 00:11:13.820 --> 00:11:14.820 Here is your God. 00:11:14.820 --> 00:11:16.820 He is the powerful Lord. 00:11:16.820 --> 00:11:18.820 And verses 10 and 11. 00:11:18.820 --> 00:11:20.820 They are like a symphony. 00:11:20.820 --> 00:11:21.820 An overture. 00:11:21.820 --> 00:11:23.820 A symphony in the whole chapter. 00:11:23.820 --> 00:11:26.820 Because they give us a taste of the rest of the chapter. 00:11:26.820 --> 00:11:27.820 He's going to describe. 00:11:27.820 --> 00:11:28.820 Look at verse 10. 00:11:28.820 --> 00:11:30.820 Behold the Lord God comes with might and his arm rules. 00:11:31.820 --> 00:11:34.820 Behold his reward is with him and his recompense before him. 00:11:34.820 --> 00:11:36.820 He will tend his flock like a shepherd. 00:11:36.820 --> 00:11:38.820 They have gathered the lambs in his arms. 00:11:38.820 --> 00:11:40.820 He will carry them in his bosom. 00:11:40.820 --> 00:11:43.820 Gently lead those who are with you. 00:11:43.820 --> 00:11:50.820 Isaiah highlights the two aspects of God that he wants them to behold. 00:11:50.820 --> 00:11:51.820 And you to behold. 00:11:51.820 --> 00:11:53.820 That God is powerful. 00:11:53.820 --> 00:11:55.820 And that God is tender. 00:11:55.820 --> 00:11:57.820 His power. 00:11:57.820 --> 00:11:59.820 The sovereign Lord comes with power. 00:11:59.820 --> 00:12:01.820 And his arm rules for him. 00:12:01.820 --> 00:12:04.820 He says would you look at those biceps. 00:12:04.820 --> 00:12:06.820 You've never seen anything like it. 00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:08.820 You've not seen muscles like this before. 00:12:08.820 --> 00:12:10.820 And he says look at his tenderness. 00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:12.820 He comes as a shepherd. 00:12:12.820 --> 00:12:14.820 Who gathers lambs in his arms. 00:12:14.820 --> 00:12:16.820 Bringing them close to his heart. 00:12:16.820 --> 00:12:18.820 This is God in his. 00:12:18.820 --> 00:12:19.820 In God's eyes. 00:12:19.820 --> 00:12:23.820 And this is how God wants you and me. 00:12:23.820 --> 00:12:24.820 To understand who he is. 00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:27.820 He is the sovereign God. 00:12:27.820 --> 00:12:29.820 And the God who is tender. 00:12:29.820 --> 00:12:30.820 Who is tender. 00:12:30.820 --> 00:12:32.820 So first of all. 00:12:32.820 --> 00:12:33.820 Through the bulk of it. 00:12:33.820 --> 00:12:36.820 He is going to tell us of God's incomparably great power. 00:12:36.820 --> 00:12:38.820 We are not going to read it all again. 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:40.820 But let me give you the whistle stop tour as it were. 00:12:40.820 --> 00:12:42.820 Through what Isaiah tells us. 00:12:42.820 --> 00:12:43.820 Look at verse 12. 00:12:44.820 --> 00:12:47.820 Do you realise that God's incomparably great power. 00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:49.820 Is such that all the waters of the oceans. 00:12:49.820 --> 00:12:50.820 And the lakes. 00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:52.820 And the rivers of this world. 00:12:52.820 --> 00:12:54.820 Are held in a tiny pool. 00:12:54.820 --> 00:12:57.820 In God's catch hands. 00:12:59.820 --> 00:13:01.820 That God marks out the universe. 00:13:01.820 --> 00:13:02.820 The galaxies. 00:13:02.820 --> 00:13:04.820 By the span of his outstretched thumb. 00:13:04.820 --> 00:13:06.820 And his little finger. 00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:09.820 And the mountains of the world. 00:13:09.820 --> 00:13:11.820 Fit on his domestic scales. 00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:13.820 In his kitchen. 00:13:14.820 --> 00:13:15.820 Isaiah takes a glance. 00:13:15.820 --> 00:13:17.820 At the whole of creation. 00:13:17.820 --> 00:13:18.820 And he asks. 00:13:18.820 --> 00:13:19.820 Who else but God. 00:13:20.820 --> 00:13:21.820 Who else but God. 00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:22.820 Could weigh this. 00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:23.820 Could measure it. 00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:24.820 And determine it. 00:13:24.820 --> 00:13:25.820 With perfect precision and ease. 00:13:25.820 --> 00:13:27.820 Behold your God. 00:13:28.820 --> 00:13:30.820 In verses 13 to 14. 00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:31.820 There are more questions. 00:13:31.820 --> 00:13:32.820 About God's wisdom and goodness. 00:13:32.820 --> 00:13:33.820 And God says. 00:13:33.820 --> 00:13:34.820 I want you to see God's absolute. 00:13:34.820 --> 00:13:35.820 Self sufficiency. 00:13:35.820 --> 00:13:36.820 He doesn't need you. 00:13:36.820 --> 00:13:37.820 He doesn't need anyone. 00:13:38.820 --> 00:13:40.820 And when he created everything. 00:13:41.820 --> 00:13:42.820 He needed nothing. 00:13:44.820 --> 00:13:45.820 The ideas were his. 00:13:46.820 --> 00:13:47.820 Every tropical fish. 00:13:48.820 --> 00:13:50.820 Every function of gravity. 00:13:51.820 --> 00:13:52.820 The complexity of the galaxies. 00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:53.820 The galaxies. 00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:55.820 This was not how the pagan gods operated. 00:13:55.820 --> 00:13:57.820 The pagan gods. 00:13:57.820 --> 00:13:58.820 In Isaiah's day. 00:13:58.820 --> 00:13:59.820 They always worked by committee. 00:14:00.820 --> 00:14:02.820 No one could do it by themselves. 00:14:02.820 --> 00:14:04.820 But God the creator. 00:14:04.820 --> 00:14:05.820 Did it all by himself. 00:14:06.820 --> 00:14:09.820 Needing no one else. 00:14:11.820 --> 00:14:12.820 Isaiah says. 00:14:12.820 --> 00:14:13.820 Behold your God. 00:14:14.820 --> 00:14:15.820 This is your God. 00:14:15.820 --> 00:14:16.820 God. 00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:17.820 In verse 15. 00:14:17.820 --> 00:14:19.820 Here is God's incomparable great power. 00:14:19.820 --> 00:14:20.820 To the nations. 00:14:20.820 --> 00:14:21.820 In comparative terms. 00:14:21.820 --> 00:14:22.820 They are like drops. 00:14:22.820 --> 00:14:24.820 In a bucket. 00:14:25.820 --> 00:14:26.820 Full of water. 00:14:27.820 --> 00:14:28.820 They are like dust. 00:14:29.820 --> 00:14:31.820 That a chemist might wipe off the scales. 00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:33.820 Before measuring a new substance. 00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:36.820 Isaiah picks up the theme of the nations. 00:14:36.820 --> 00:14:37.820 Again in verse 17. 00:14:37.820 --> 00:14:38.820 And he says. 00:14:38.820 --> 00:14:39.820 All the nations. 00:14:39.820 --> 00:14:40.820 They are as nothing before God. 00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:42.820 It's not an assessment of our value. 00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:43.820 To God. 00:14:43.820 --> 00:14:45.820 But of our comparative status. 00:14:45.820 --> 00:14:47.820 God is not contemptuous of the nations. 00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:49.820 But they are so small. 00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:53.820 They are so insignificant compared with him. 00:14:54.820 --> 00:14:56.820 That he is not in the least overawed. 00:14:57.820 --> 00:14:58.820 Or intimidated by them. 00:14:58.820 --> 00:15:01.820 It's a reminder of the asymmetrical relationship. 00:15:01.820 --> 00:15:02.820 Between God and us. 00:15:03.820 --> 00:15:06.820 He moves on a completely different plane. 00:15:07.820 --> 00:15:08.820 To you and me. 00:15:09.820 --> 00:15:10.820 In verse 16. 00:15:10.820 --> 00:15:12.820 He moves on to humanity's religious efforts. 00:15:12.820 --> 00:15:13.820 And he says. 00:15:13.820 --> 00:15:15.820 There is nothing that you and I can do in our worship. 00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:18.820 That would even come close to matching the greatness. 00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:19.820 Of the creator. 00:15:20.820 --> 00:15:22.820 Even if you were to cut down all the trees. 00:15:23.820 --> 00:15:24.820 Of the forest of Lebanon. 00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:26.820 And you were to build an inferno. 00:15:26.820 --> 00:15:29.820 With all the animals of Lebanon thrown on top. 00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:32.820 It would be a sacrifice that would still be too puny. 00:15:32.820 --> 00:15:35.820 Too little compared to the greatness of God. 00:15:36.820 --> 00:15:38.820 Here is the death now. 00:15:38.820 --> 00:15:40.820 To do it yourself religion. 00:15:41.820 --> 00:15:43.820 Here is the death now. 00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:44.820 To your efforts to say. 00:15:44.820 --> 00:15:46.820 I am going to impress God by what I do here. 00:15:47.820 --> 00:15:48.820 I am going to meet his demands. 00:15:49.820 --> 00:15:51.820 I am going to climb into God's good books. 00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:55.820 Isaiah gathers all those efforts up. 00:15:55.820 --> 00:15:57.820 And he takes on a big red stamp. 00:15:57.820 --> 00:15:58.820 And he stamps. 00:15:58.820 --> 00:15:59.820 Never enough. 00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:00.820 Never enough. 00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:02.820 And here too. 00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:04.820 Is a reminder. 00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:08.820 That we should never let the greatness of the God we worship. 00:16:10.820 --> 00:16:12.820 Slip in our thinking. 00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:15.820 To the greatness of our worship of God. 00:16:15.820 --> 00:16:18.820 What I mean by that is. 00:16:18.820 --> 00:16:20.820 We should never leave here on a Sunday morning. 00:16:20.820 --> 00:16:21.820 Or at a Christian meeting. 00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:22.820 Thinking wasn't that worship wonderful. 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:26.820 Great as it is. 00:16:27.820 --> 00:16:29.820 Isn't the God we worship wonderful. 00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:31.820 That's the way we get it. 00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:32.820 Behold your God. 00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:34.820 Not your worship. 00:16:35.820 --> 00:16:36.820 Behold your God. 00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:37.820 Not your sermons. 00:16:39.820 --> 00:16:40.820 Behold your God. 00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:41.820 Not your services. 00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:42.820 Behold your God. 00:16:42.820 --> 00:16:43.820 Verse 21 to 24. 00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:46.820 Contrast God's incomparably great power. 00:16:46.820 --> 00:16:48.820 To the power of the princes and the rulers of the world. 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:49.820 The rulers of the world. 00:16:49.820 --> 00:16:51.820 In verse 22. 00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:53.820 God is sitting enthroned over the world. 00:16:53.820 --> 00:16:55.820 Exercising his total rule and authority. 00:16:55.820 --> 00:16:56.820 And in his rule. 00:16:56.820 --> 00:16:57.820 He raises up leaders. 00:16:58.820 --> 00:17:00.820 And he brings them down again. 00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:03.820 According to the purposes of his glory. 00:17:04.820 --> 00:17:05.820 And you and I. 00:17:05.820 --> 00:17:07.820 We look at the power brokers of the world. 00:17:07.820 --> 00:17:08.820 And we think they're pretty formidable. 00:17:09.820 --> 00:17:11.820 They're pretty hot stuff. 00:17:12.820 --> 00:17:14.820 But God says they are like little seedlings. 00:17:15.820 --> 00:17:16.820 Scarcely planted. 00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:20.819 And with zero effort on God's part. 00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:21.819 He merely blows. 00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:24.819 And with that puff of air. 00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:27.819 Becomes this raging tempest. 00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:29.819 That drives him into oblivion. 00:17:30.819 --> 00:17:31.819 Behold your God. 00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:35.819 God is incomparably great in his power. 00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:37.819 And if some of us. 00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:38.819 And I include myself here. 00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:40.819 Had God. 00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:41.819 This God. 00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:44.819 At the centre of my being all the time. 00:17:44.819 --> 00:17:46.819 You and I would never be as concerned. 00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:47.819 Or as stressed. 00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:50.819 Or as overwhelmed with life. 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.819 As we easily become. 00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:57.819 But what do we do? 00:17:58.819 --> 00:18:01.819 Well we think we can come up with some alternative. 00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:04.819 We think that we can come up with some alternative. 00:18:04.819 --> 00:18:05.819 That is less threatening. 00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:08.819 That might do a little bit more of our bidding. 00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:09.819 That might meet our needs. 00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:11.819 As we define them. 00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:14.819 And the Bible has a word for those alternatives. 00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:15.819 That we come up with. 00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:17.819 And it is the word idols. 00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:20.819 And Isaiah is going to have a lot more to say about idols. 00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:21.819 In the coming chapters. 00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:23.819 But look what he says in verses 18 to 20. 00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:24.819 Verse 20. 00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:26.819 To whom will you liken God? 00:18:26.819 --> 00:18:28.819 Or what likeness? 00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:30.819 Compare with him. 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.819 An idol? 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:33.819 A craftsman casts it. 00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:34.819 And a goldsmith overlays it with gold. 00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:37.819 And casts for it silver chains. 00:18:38.819 --> 00:18:40.819 He who is too impoverished for an offering. 00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:42.819 Tooth his wood that will not rot. 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.819 He seeks on a skillful craftsman. 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:47.819 To set up an idol that will not move. 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:48.819 Topple. 00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:51.819 Isaiah here is very clever. 00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:53.819 He doesn't so much criticise idol making. 00:18:53.819 --> 00:18:55.819 He really just describes it. 00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:58.819 It could have been in a caption. 00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:00.819 Sort of photograph. 00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:03.819 Of an idol manufacturing factory. 00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:06.819 And the caption is there. 00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:07.819 This is 18 to 20. 00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:09.819 But that doesn't mean that it doesn't come dripping with sarcasm. 00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.819 Because I think it does. 00:19:12.819 --> 00:19:13.819 Isaiah says when you make your idol. 00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:15.819 Make sure that you put some gold on it. 00:19:15.819 --> 00:19:17.819 If you put gold on your idol. 00:19:17.819 --> 00:19:19.819 It will really add to it some energy value. 00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:22.819 And you really want to put some silver chains on it. 00:19:22.819 --> 00:19:23.819 People love jewellery. 00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:25.819 So surely God would love jewellery. 00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:26.819 Wouldn't he? 00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:28.819 Or you're poor. 00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:29.819 You can't afford that. 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:30.819 You can't afford gold or silver. 00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:32.819 Well you want to be making a wooden idol then. 00:19:32.819 --> 00:19:34.819 But make sure you choose your wood very carefully. 00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:36.819 Go MDF. 00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:39.819 And look over your wood that you buy. 00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:40.819 Very carefully. 00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:43.819 Because certain people have gone and selected their wood. 00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:46.819 And the next thing is their God has gone woodwork. 00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:50.819 That's never a good thing is if you're God to have woodwork. 00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:53.819 And make sure you get a good craftsman. 00:19:53.819 --> 00:19:56.819 Because some people couldn't make a God if their life depended on it. 00:19:56.819 --> 00:19:58.819 And don't forget to nail it down. 00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:02.819 It's very embarrassing when you get up in the morning and your idol has fallen over. 00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:05.819 It's all Isaiah's way of saying. 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:06.819 Do you have any notion? 00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:11.819 Do you have any idea how stupid it is when you look for alternatives to the living God? 00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:15.819 You look to your relationships. 00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:18.819 As an idol for the living God. 00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:21.819 You look to your self esteem. 00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:22.819 Your achievements. 00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:24.819 As an idol to the self. 00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:25.819 To the living God. 00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:27.819 Do you realise how ridiculous that is? 00:20:28.819 --> 00:20:29.819 Isaiah says behold the living God. 00:20:29.819 --> 00:20:33.819 Don't be so foolish to think that anyone or anything will ever come close. 00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:36.819 This is God in God's eyes. 00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:40.819 And this is the way God says I want you to see me. 00:20:41.819 --> 00:20:46.819 And so here is Isaiah's answer to the first question about God comforting his people by coming as a king. 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.819 Does God have the power to do it? 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:48.819 Well of course he does. 00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:54.819 But from Isaiah here there's a second unspoken question that Isaiah wants us to address. 00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:56.819 Does God care enough to bring the comfort? 00:20:56.819 --> 00:20:58.819 Does he care enough? 00:20:58.819 --> 00:20:59.819 Does he care enough? 00:20:59.819 --> 00:21:01.819 And Isaiah started that question in the overture of verses 10 and 11. 00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:04.819 Yes he does care because he is the tender shepherd. 00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:08.819 He is the tender shepherd. 00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:12.819 It's in this last section that he fleshes. 00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:13.819 It says so. 00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:14.819 In verses 25 to 27. 00:21:14.819 --> 00:21:17.819 Isaiah says to whom then will you compare me? 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:19.819 And I shall be like him says the Holy One. 00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:22.819 Yes have your eyes on high and see who created these. 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:25.819 He who brings out their host by number calling them all by name. 00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:27.819 By the greatness of his might. 00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:30.819 And because he is strong in power not one is missing. 00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:33.819 Why do you say O Jacob and speak of Israel? 00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:38.819 My way is hidden from the Lord and my right is disregarded by my God. 00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:43.819 Isaiah is asking if God is so great. 00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:46.819 Well does he bother with people like you and me? 00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:51.819 Is our relationship such that if we put a call out to him. 00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:54.819 It's like calling BT or the internet company. 00:21:55.819 --> 00:21:57.819 Where you are put on hold and you listen to music. 00:21:57.819 --> 00:21:59.819 The difference being with God you get him. 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:01.819 Is that what he is saying? 00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:03.819 The Isaiah answer is no. 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:06.819 That is not the God we are talking about. 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:08.819 This is the God who brings out the stars. 00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:11.819 And he gives every single one of them a name. 00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:13.819 And he says think about it. 00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:15.819 Are there more stars than people? 00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:16.819 Yes. 00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:20.819 Why would you even think that? 00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.819 You don't count. 00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:26.819 Why do you think that he doesn't know you intimately and know your name? 00:22:27.819 --> 00:22:30.819 And know your circumstances and know your street. 00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:35.819 And know your family and your neighborhood and your housemates. 00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.819 And your workplace. 00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:37.819 And still we complain. 00:22:37.819 --> 00:22:40.819 Verse 27 should really be read in a mopey voice. 00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:44.819 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak of Israel. 00:22:45.819 --> 00:22:46.819 My way is hidden from the Lord. 00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:49.819 And my right is disregarded by my God. 00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:51.819 It's not fair. 00:22:52.819 --> 00:22:55.819 You would think that after all we've read about God here. 00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:59.819 He would be totally justified in saying, just stop whining. 00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:01.819 Stop moping about. 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.819 But he doesn't. 00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:07.819 He doesn't remove himself from his complaining people. 00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:09.819 But he moves towards them with compassion and commitment. 00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.819 So these final verses. 00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:12.819 Do you not know? 00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:14.819 Have you not heard? 00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:15.819 The Lord is the everlasting God. 00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:17.819 The creator of the gods of the earth. 00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:19.819 He does not faint or grow weary. 00:23:19.819 --> 00:23:21.819 His understanding is unsearchable. 00:23:22.819 --> 00:23:24.819 He gives power to the faint. 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:29.819 The God of incomparable power and strength condescends. 00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:31.819 He comes down. 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.819 To give you strength. 00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:35.819 To you and to me. 00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:38.819 To the weary and the tired and to the weak. 00:23:39.819 --> 00:23:41.819 In an incomparable tenderness. 00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:46.819 You and I lack innate strength in and of ourselves. 00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:50.819 We're constantly stumbling under the pressures of life. 00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:53.819 We feel like failures. 00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:55.819 But we so much of the time. 00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:57.819 We've not achieved our goals. 00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:01.819 God doesn't test our strength. 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.819 Before he gives us strength. 00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:08.819 Rather he gives his strength to those who admit how weak they are. 00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:10.819 And how often they fail. 00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.819 And he gives it to Isaiah. 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:15.819 Isaiah says to those who wait on the Lord. 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:18.819 It's one of Isaiah's favourite phrases in the whole book. 00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:22.819 It's the correct response of God's people to him. 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.819 We wait on the Lord. 00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:27.819 That is we wait patiently. 00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:30.819 And we trust restfully. 00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:33.819 And we hope expectantly. 00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:36.819 We are people who don't live by explanations. 00:24:38.819 --> 00:24:40.819 We are people who live by the promises of God. 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:46.819 We are people who do not have to figure God out by our brains. 00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:49.819 But we submit to him by our faith. 00:24:50.819 --> 00:24:53.819 We wait on him because he is our strength. 00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:55.819 He is our confidence. 00:24:56.819 --> 00:24:57.819 And he is our hope. 00:24:57.819 --> 00:25:00.819 But look again how verse 31 finishes. 00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:04.819 Look at how verse 31 finishes. 00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:09.819 They shall mount up with wings like eagles. 00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:11.819 They shall run and not be weary. 00:25:11.819 --> 00:25:12.819 They shall walk and not be faint. 00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:15.819 What is odd about that? 00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:18.819 It's backwards isn't it? 00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:20.819 Isn't it backwards? 00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:25.819 Don't you think it would be much better if Isaiah were written, 00:25:25.819 --> 00:25:26.819 we will walk and not grow faint. 00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:29.819 We will run and not grow weary. 00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.819 We will soar with wings like eagles. 00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:33.819 That's the kind of combination. 00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:35.819 You're writing a speech. 00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:36.819 That's how you do it. 00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:40.819 There is the victorious Christian life right there isn't it? 00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:43.819 But that isn't what Isaiah wrote. 00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.819 He is a much better writer than I am. 00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:51.819 Because you see the greatest evidence in your life of God being at work in your life 00:25:52.819 --> 00:25:56.819 is the daily perseverance of faith and obedience. 00:25:58.819 --> 00:26:01.819 There are times in the Christian life aren't there of running and soaring. 00:26:03.819 --> 00:26:08.819 But the greatest evidence that God is in your life is when you put one foot in front of another 00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:13.819 today, tomorrow and for the rest of the week. 00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:18.819 It's to live life as Eugene Peterson put it, 00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:21.819 of long obedience in the same direction. 00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:26.819 It's to keep trusting God and obeying Him in the mundane details of life 00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:33.819 with your kids, with your co-workers, with your marriage, with your singleness. 00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:39.819 And out of the tenderness of a shepherd's heart, God is promising here that He will give you strength to do that. 00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:42.819 God announces to the people in exile, here is your comfort. 00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.819 I am coming. 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:46.819 The king to bring you out of exile. 00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:52.819 And you can be sure that I will do it because of my incomparable power and my incomparable tenderness. 00:26:53.819 --> 00:26:56.819 And the question is, does God bring them out of Babylon? 00:26:57.819 --> 00:26:58.819 Does He bring them out of exile? 00:26:59.819 --> 00:27:00.819 And the answer is yes. 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.819 This is the interesting thing. 00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:06.819 That deliverance from the exile from Babylon, it certainly brought some comfort. 00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:09.819 But it wasn't on the scale that's pictured here. 00:27:12.819 --> 00:27:16.819 And so it is that centuries later in Luke chapter 2, we find the old man Simeon. 00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:19.819 And Simeon is in the temple. 00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:24.819 And we're told by Luke what Simeon was waiting for. 00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:26.819 Do you remember what he's waiting for? 00:27:26.819 --> 00:27:29.819 He's waiting for the consolation of Israel. 00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:31.819 That's another word for comfort. 00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:37.819 And then Mary and Joseph roll up in the temple with baby Jesus. 00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:41.819 And Simeon takes Jesus in his arms. 00:27:42.819 --> 00:27:45.819 And he basically says, here it is. 00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:47.819 Here it is. 00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:50.819 Here is the comfort. 00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:54.819 And just in case you missed it, look what Luke writes in the very next chapter. 00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:55.819 Chapter 3. 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:56.819 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.819 He says, 00:27:57.819 --> 00:28:03.819 During the high priest of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:08.819 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:10.819 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet. 00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:14.819 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, repair the way of the Lord. 00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:15.819 Make his path straight. 00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.819 Every valley shall be filled. 00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:18.819 Every mountain and hill shall be made low. 00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:20.819 And the crooked shall become straight. 00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:22.819 And the rough places shall become level ways. 00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:25.819 And all flesh will see the salvation of our God. 00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.819 Do you see what Luke is doing? 00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:31.819 You want to know who is the coming king? 00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:32.819 Ultimately it's Jesus. 00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:33.819 Jesus. 00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:37.819 Jesus is the one who is coming the world needed to prepare for. 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:41.819 Jesus coming is the one that would reveal God's glory to the world. 00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:43.819 God's salvation to the nations. 00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:48.819 But can you see Jesus is the one who is the deliverer from the ultimate exile. 00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:49.819 The true exile. 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:59.819 The Bible's message is that without God and without intervention you and I are in exile from God. 00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:02.819 You and I have been cut off from God. 00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:04.819 Because we made the same mistake. 00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:08.819 The same mistake as the people of Israel did. 00:29:09.819 --> 00:29:11.819 We've created our own idols. 00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:15.819 Through which we try to find comfort in life. 00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:19.819 Whether it's money or family or sex or sport or work or power. 00:29:20.819 --> 00:29:21.819 We look to those things. 00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:23.819 But the king has come. 00:29:24.819 --> 00:29:26.819 The king has come to deliver me to you. 00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:29.819 And the king has come to bring comfort and restoration and forgiveness. 00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.819 He came to do that. 00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:37.819 Not just by coming as the king. 00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:39.819 I will flesh that out in the coming weeks. 00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:42.819 He came as the servant who will suffer. 00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:47.819 And die in our place for our rebellion and for our ideology. 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:52.819 He would in essence suffer exile from God on the cross. 00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:55.819 Cut off completely from him. 00:29:56.819 --> 00:29:58.819 So that you and I could come home. 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:01.819 So that we could be brought home. 00:30:02.819 --> 00:30:06.819 And here are words for the people who received them were most unexpected. 00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:08.819 But they were exactly what they needed to hear. 00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:13.819 And here is real comfort for rebellious and repentant people. 00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:16.819 So brothers and sisters. 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.819 Behold your God. 00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:21.819 Behold the coming king. 00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:24.819 Behold the powerful Lord. 00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:27.819 And behold the tender shepherd. 00:30:28.819 --> 00:30:30.819 Behold your God. 00:30:31.819 --> 00:30:32.819 Who brings you comfort. 00:30:33.819 --> 00:30:34.819 Let's pray. 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:35.819