WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.820 I'll confess to you that I find this a difficult passage, as you probably do as well, reading it. 00:00:10.820 --> 00:00:17.920 It's some difficult things in it, but I hope we can look at this and unpack a bit what's going on here. 00:00:18.120 --> 00:00:28.420 Richard Dawkins, the atheist, we mentioned him, it seems, from time to time here, and it's, to be honest, because he's said such provocative things about the God of the Bible. 00:00:28.420 --> 00:00:30.460 He's an easy target for ridicule. 00:00:31.080 --> 00:00:42.140 But Richard Dawkins said in his book, The God Delusion, the God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction. 00:00:43.060 --> 00:00:45.400 He's jealous and proud of it. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:52.540 And then he goes on to say more, but I'll stop there, because I think there's two things that I want to point out about it. 00:00:52.620 --> 00:00:57.219 One, Richard Dawkins' reading comprehension is somewhat selective. 00:00:57.219 --> 00:01:02.280 But secondly, he actually gets a little bit right, despite his selective reading. 00:01:03.140 --> 00:01:05.420 God is jealous, isn't he? 00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:07.219 And that's what we see here. 00:01:07.539 --> 00:01:13.599 And what I want to suggest to you this afternoon is that a jealous God is the best God to have. 00:01:14.519 --> 00:01:19.539 A jealous God is actually exactly the God that you need. 00:01:20.379 --> 00:01:24.420 It might not be the God you think you want, but he's the God that you absolutely need. 00:01:24.420 --> 00:01:29.140 God is indeed a jealous God, and that's why he's actually so good. 00:01:31.299 --> 00:01:33.460 Would you really want a God who isn't jealous? 00:01:35.140 --> 00:01:37.000 Would you really want a God who isn't jealous? 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:43.620 A God who isn't jealous is sort of like the wife who doesn't care if her husband is sleeping around. 00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:47.079 There's no true loving relationship there. 00:01:48.439 --> 00:01:52.820 It's a marriage of perhaps convenience at best. 00:01:53.380 --> 00:02:03.260 My wife and I have been watching the show Mr. Selfridge about the turn of the century, early 1900s turn of the century. 00:02:03.260 --> 00:02:14.740 A mogul who came over from America and decided he was going to conquer the London store scene. 00:02:14.860 --> 00:02:20.900 And he builds this huge store down on Oxford Street, what they called the dead end of Oxford Street. 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:23.480 And he said it's going to be the live end of Oxford Street soon. 00:02:23.479 --> 00:02:34.979 And they present him as this very well put together man who has wealthy backers and he has a loving wife. 00:02:35.819 --> 00:02:38.399 And they look at this relationship with his wife. 00:02:38.979 --> 00:02:46.299 And at first it looks like he's a happily married man, a man who has a special relationship with his wife. 00:02:46.300 --> 00:02:50.400 But very quickly we learn that Mr. Selfridge is in fact a playboy. 00:02:51.160 --> 00:02:54.740 That he jumps from one lover to the next. 00:02:55.140 --> 00:02:58.280 That he occasionally shows some interest in his wife. 00:02:58.480 --> 00:03:02.640 And he'll shower her with special gifts that no other man could possibly provide for her. 00:03:03.580 --> 00:03:04.980 He's around for the holidays. 00:03:06.140 --> 00:03:08.439 But it isn't really a marriage. 00:03:09.140 --> 00:03:11.480 There's not really true love there. 00:03:11.479 --> 00:03:16.659 And it's at best convenience and perhaps even a security blanket. 00:03:17.799 --> 00:03:21.319 And that's exactly where we find Israel in this passage. 00:03:21.780 --> 00:03:23.280 In their relationship to God, isn't it? 00:03:25.639 --> 00:03:31.259 Their relationship to God has become at best a convenience. 00:03:32.039 --> 00:03:33.719 At most a security blanket. 00:03:34.379 --> 00:03:37.839 They go through the motions of being God's people. 00:03:38.359 --> 00:03:39.839 They still follow the ceremony. 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:42.159 But they've taken on many lovers. 00:03:42.900 --> 00:03:45.360 They're pursuing many other gods. 00:03:45.659 --> 00:03:47.700 And what we see in our passage this afternoon. 00:03:48.280 --> 00:03:52.219 Is actually the true character of God being revealed. 00:03:52.939 --> 00:03:54.219 He is a jealous God. 00:03:55.180 --> 00:03:55.580 Yes. 00:03:55.920 --> 00:03:56.480 Absolutely. 00:03:57.140 --> 00:03:59.480 And that is a good thing. 00:04:00.360 --> 00:04:02.420 In fact, God is so good. 00:04:03.379 --> 00:04:07.819 That he will not allow his people to pursue evil unhindered. 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:09.520 That's our first point. 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:11.080 God is so good. 00:04:11.580 --> 00:04:16.800 That he does not allow his people to freely pursue evil. 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:24.819 Last week, Stuart laid out God's accusations of what his people were doing. 00:04:25.180 --> 00:04:30.300 And today we really get to see God's judgment on all of those accusations. 00:04:30.439 --> 00:04:31.699 The results of those accusations. 00:04:31.900 --> 00:04:33.800 How bad had things gotten? 00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:45.660 I think it's safe to say, reading what we have before us, that Israel had become a people who we could say were spiritual but not religious. 00:04:45.660 --> 00:04:50.160 Have you heard that phrase before in our modern times? 00:04:50.520 --> 00:04:55.720 When I was on the university campus doing ministry in the States, I heard that a lot from students. 00:04:55.820 --> 00:04:59.880 Well, I'm a spiritual person, but I'm not really religious. 00:04:59.879 --> 00:05:04.519 And what they meant by that was, I like to think about God. 00:05:04.939 --> 00:05:09.100 I like to sort of reflect on spiritual things. 00:05:09.100 --> 00:05:20.760 I like to maybe go to a yoga class where we talk about meditation and then go to a Passover feast with a group of Jewish people. 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:23.939 And then maybe on occasion even visit the church. 00:05:23.939 --> 00:05:26.980 But I'm not actually really committed to anything. 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:32.779 I'm not actually pursuing a faithful relationship with God. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:40.100 And what we see here is Israel pursued openly other gods. 00:05:40.600 --> 00:05:42.439 Look in verses 3 and 4 here. 00:05:42.939 --> 00:05:46.019 I know Ephraim and Israel is not hidden from me. 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:48.639 For now, O Ephraim, you have played the whore. 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:50.560 Israel is defiled. 00:05:50.560 --> 00:05:54.379 Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. 00:05:54.699 --> 00:05:55.800 That's an important phrase. 00:05:55.899 --> 00:05:56.780 We'll come back to that. 00:05:57.300 --> 00:06:01.420 For the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not the Lord. 00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:13.259 See, the picture God paints of his people here is a people who would, in their words and their deeds, perhaps say, 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:14.759 We are God's people. 00:06:15.819 --> 00:06:17.139 But they're wandering. 00:06:17.139 --> 00:06:23.319 As Hosea uses the term, they're pouring themselves out to other gods. 00:06:24.019 --> 00:06:25.800 Israel goes through the motions of worship. 00:06:25.959 --> 00:06:29.659 In verse 6 we see they continue to bring their sacrifices, their flocks and their herds. 00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:32.180 They're going through the motions of worship. 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:37.199 But there's no heart that's pursuing God. 00:06:38.459 --> 00:06:42.240 And probably the most damning thing here is verse 7. 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:49.720 They have dealt faithlessly with the Lord, for they have born alien children. 00:06:50.920 --> 00:06:52.840 Now what does that phrase mean? 00:06:53.400 --> 00:06:59.280 There's a lot of controversy and discussion over what this verse actually points to. 00:06:59.840 --> 00:07:04.579 But if you understand the covenant relationship that God had with his people Israel, 00:07:04.579 --> 00:07:06.339 then this verse makes a lot of sense. 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:14.259 Because what the promise of the covenant was, was that God would love his people for generation after generation after generation. 00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:19.579 If they pursued him and were faithful to his commands and to his loving help. 00:07:20.379 --> 00:07:23.799 And what God means when he says, you have born alien children. 00:07:23.800 --> 00:07:30.980 He says, you are raising children to not know me and to not love me. 00:07:31.079 --> 00:07:34.480 To forsake your God, the true God. 00:07:35.660 --> 00:07:37.900 It's an awful thing, isn't it? 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:42.319 To say that your children are alien to me. 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:43.699 I don't know them. 00:07:44.439 --> 00:07:46.180 They are not my children. 00:07:47.840 --> 00:07:49.780 So what does this mean for us? 00:07:51.220 --> 00:07:53.060 Well, let me ask this question. 00:07:53.060 --> 00:07:59.879 Why do so many people go to church at Christmas, but we never see them any other time of the year? 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:03.500 I was talking to a friend of mine. 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:06.040 Her children go to my son's school. 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:07.340 She was asking me about church. 00:08:07.420 --> 00:08:08.439 And we were having a discussion. 00:08:08.579 --> 00:08:10.699 I said, do you attend somewhere? 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:11.420 Do you have a church? 00:08:11.480 --> 00:08:14.720 And she said, well, my husband and I never really grew up in that. 00:08:14.840 --> 00:08:16.340 It's not something that we really pursue. 00:08:16.340 --> 00:08:22.620 But at Christmas, we like to make sure our son knows the Christmas message and the Christmas story. 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:28.639 See, it's spirituality without any real religion. 00:08:29.280 --> 00:08:33.559 Without any real calling and commitment to the God of the universe. 00:08:33.559 --> 00:08:38.239 And how does God respond to his people? 00:08:38.979 --> 00:08:41.819 Well, the response is punishment, isn't it? 00:08:42.439 --> 00:08:43.679 But not just punishment. 00:08:44.299 --> 00:08:46.879 It's a withdrawal of his presence. 00:08:47.219 --> 00:08:48.299 Look at verse 6. 00:08:48.959 --> 00:08:51.439 He says, the second half of verse 6. 00:08:51.659 --> 00:08:53.519 He says, they will not find him. 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:54.219 That's God. 00:08:54.699 --> 00:08:56.979 He has withdrawn from them. 00:08:56.980 --> 00:09:00.539 That's an awful thing to hear, isn't it? 00:09:01.300 --> 00:09:04.399 But God has withdrawn himself from his people. 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:13.039 And the result of that withdrawal is that now Israel is susceptible to invaders. 00:09:13.159 --> 00:09:15.500 There's no longer the protection of God over his people. 00:09:15.500 --> 00:09:23.480 And we see in verses 8 and 9 that this call of warning. 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:26.200 Blow the horn and the trumpet. 00:09:26.419 --> 00:09:27.460 Sound the alarm. 00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:28.120 Why? 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:31.639 Because the Assyrians are going to come. 00:09:32.299 --> 00:09:34.600 And they're going to invade Israel. 00:09:35.100 --> 00:09:37.519 And they're going to crush God's people. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:47.340 And even more than that, in verse 10, we see that Israel's leaders are powerless to help them. 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:48.699 Why? 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:51.159 Because they're completely corrupt. 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:56.419 We tend to end up with the leaders we deserve, don't we? 00:09:57.340 --> 00:09:59.179 That's really what God's saying there, isn't it? 00:09:59.439 --> 00:10:00.879 We tend to end up with the leaders we deserve. 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:03.620 It's always dangerous to tread on politics. 00:10:03.620 --> 00:10:07.560 So I'll just tread on American politics, if you don't mind. 00:10:09.580 --> 00:10:18.480 In the States, we've had for many, many years now this promise of hope and change, if you've followed politics at all. 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:22.200 And what happens after eight years of hope and change? 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:26.679 Well, now you've got one party saying, we're going to be the real party of hope and change. 00:10:27.179 --> 00:10:29.720 Then you have another party that says, well, no, no, no. 00:10:30.659 --> 00:10:32.139 Things are going really well. 00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:33.720 You want to stick with us. 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:34.980 And that's been going on. 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:35.799 That's not a new thing. 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:37.159 That's been going on for 2030. 00:10:37.419 --> 00:10:39.799 Well, probably really as long as the U.S. has been going on. 00:10:39.980 --> 00:10:40.179 Why? 00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:46.679 Well, because people think that their leaders can save them. 00:10:47.639 --> 00:10:53.480 And what God says here is that there is no political solution to the problem. 00:10:53.480 --> 00:11:02.100 Even in verse 13, we see when God's people recognize their sickness, it says, and their wounds. 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:03.340 What do they do? 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:06.139 Well, they look for a political solution, don't they? 00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:10.500 They go to the great king of Assyria. 00:11:11.500 --> 00:11:13.440 And they ask him to save them. 00:11:13.500 --> 00:11:14.340 And what's the result? 00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:20.600 He's not able to cure you or heal your wounds. 00:11:21.060 --> 00:11:26.639 There's no political solution to the problem that Israel has. 00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:29.660 Because it's a spiritual problem. 00:11:30.680 --> 00:11:32.460 See, God is clearly in control. 00:11:33.580 --> 00:11:35.700 And his wrath cannot be stopped by man. 00:11:36.040 --> 00:11:37.280 Because it's all-consuming. 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:47.079 And Hosea drives home the terror of this point by showing a series of images of what God's punishment will be like. 00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:49.639 He says in verse 10, it will be like a flood of water. 00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:53.919 A flood of water, of course, is an unstoppable thing, right? 00:11:54.319 --> 00:11:56.419 When it happens, it takes over. 00:11:56.539 --> 00:11:57.079 It consumes. 00:11:57.539 --> 00:11:58.579 It can't be stopped. 00:11:59.259 --> 00:12:02.799 It's going to be like a devouring moth in verse 12. 00:12:04.379 --> 00:12:06.819 That's an interesting image for us, isn't it? 00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:11.720 But moths could destroy and can still even destroy so much. 00:12:11.980 --> 00:12:15.200 When I read that, though, I always think of the Japanese films with Mothra in them. 00:12:15.300 --> 00:12:16.540 You know, the monster film. 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:18.280 But that's not what's meant here. 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:22.560 As a just an aside, if you want to know my taste in film. 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:25.360 It's going to be like corrosive rot. 00:12:26.520 --> 00:12:28.020 This is one that I can relate to. 00:12:28.020 --> 00:12:31.500 Do you know why I love renting a house? 00:12:32.680 --> 00:12:36.340 Because when I owned a house, every time I turned around, 00:12:36.340 --> 00:12:38.019 something was broken. 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:41.120 Because I owned an old house in the States. 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:42.680 Old by United States standards. 00:12:42.780 --> 00:12:43.780 It was built in 1930. 00:12:44.139 --> 00:12:46.560 So a new development for the UK. 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:48.580 But every time I turned around, 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:51.440 a water pipe was rusted through. 00:12:51.940 --> 00:12:53.300 Or the roof was leaking. 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:57.360 Or there was dry rot on some board somewhere that needed to be released. 00:12:57.420 --> 00:12:59.820 Or the electrical system was going bad. 00:12:59.820 --> 00:13:01.360 And every time I turned around, 00:13:01.740 --> 00:13:03.879 something was not right with my house. 00:13:04.780 --> 00:13:05.340 And God says, 00:13:05.680 --> 00:13:09.300 that's exactly what my punishment is going to be like for you. 00:13:09.700 --> 00:13:10.980 It's going to eat away. 00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:13.020 It's slowly and surely, 00:13:13.260 --> 00:13:14.720 it's going to eat away at you. 00:13:15.100 --> 00:13:16.420 And it's going to drive you mad. 00:13:17.020 --> 00:13:18.600 And it's going to leave you destitute. 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:20.720 Verse 13, 00:13:20.820 --> 00:13:23.100 I think it uses the imagery of a festering wind. 00:13:23.560 --> 00:13:27.620 Something that can only be fixed through the cutting it off. 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:29.240 And then finally, 00:13:29.340 --> 00:13:30.139 verse 14, 00:13:30.560 --> 00:13:31.560 a vicious lion 00:13:31.560 --> 00:13:34.200 who tears and devours 00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:36.000 and drags off 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:39.860 and no one can rescue. 00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:42.460 So what do we do with this? 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:44.399 What do we do with this? 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:46.399 It sounds so terrible, doesn't it? 00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:48.940 Maybe Richard Dawkins is right. 00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:52.340 Maybe God is a monster. 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:54.340 But to understand this, 00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:56.639 we really have to first examine 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:58.860 our own cultural assumptions about God. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:01.820 We have to reflect on those for a moment. 00:14:01.940 --> 00:14:03.279 We tend to assume 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:05.840 that God is far off. 00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:08.320 That He's sitting up in the clouds 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:10.060 and He's watching us. 00:14:10.660 --> 00:14:13.240 And we assume that we need to get His attention 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:16.720 and that He's there to 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:18.440 every now and then 00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:19.920 give us a little push along, right? 00:14:20.520 --> 00:14:22.080 Just to help us along our way. 00:14:22.160 --> 00:14:24.040 Maybe to inspire us to be better people 00:14:24.040 --> 00:14:27.960 or to help us get what we want in our lives. 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:31.220 Or we assume that God should be primarily concerned 00:14:31.220 --> 00:14:32.480 with our happiness. 00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:35.120 Or we assume 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:37.000 we can get God to do what we want 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:38.500 if we keep a few rules 00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:40.659 like going to church at Christmas 00:14:40.659 --> 00:14:42.659 or praying every now and then 00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:43.700 when things get difficult. 00:14:45.559 --> 00:14:46.519 But that's not 00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:48.159 the picture of God 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:49.700 that this passage presents, is it? 00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:51.860 It's a picture of a God 00:14:51.860 --> 00:14:52.860 who is active 00:14:52.860 --> 00:14:54.419 and present 00:14:54.419 --> 00:14:55.519 in our world. 00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:58.259 It's a picture of a God 00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:59.860 who is intimate 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:01.080 with His people. 00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:03.200 And that's the key for us to understand. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:05.020 that this is a God 00:15:05.020 --> 00:15:05.960 who wants 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:07.840 a true relationship 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:09.420 with His people. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:11.100 He wants to know them 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:11.860 deeply. 00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:13.460 And their unfaithfulness 00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:15.940 causes real hurt 00:15:15.940 --> 00:15:16.840 to God. 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:19.900 He is a God 00:15:19.900 --> 00:15:20.860 who is passionate 00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:22.740 for the good of His people. 00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:23.920 And He knows 00:15:23.920 --> 00:15:25.320 that they will not find 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:27.040 what they desire most 00:15:27.040 --> 00:15:28.180 in the arms of 00:15:28.180 --> 00:15:29.040 one of their lovers. 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:31.540 See, it's with this understanding 00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:32.639 that we can say 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.759 God is good 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:35.240 even in His wrath. 00:15:35.699 --> 00:15:36.659 Because His wrath 00:15:36.659 --> 00:15:37.879 is calling His people 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:38.740 back to Him. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:42.019 How good is God? 00:15:42.539 --> 00:15:43.879 He is so good 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:46.079 that He withholds 00:15:46.079 --> 00:15:46.620 the fullness 00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:47.500 of His wrath. 00:15:47.819 --> 00:15:48.399 That's what we see 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:49.219 in verse 15. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:50.559 He doesn't completely 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:51.360 destroy 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:52.679 His people 00:15:52.679 --> 00:15:53.620 the nation Israel. 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:55.559 But He shows 00:15:55.559 --> 00:15:56.519 there is purpose 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:57.439 to His discipline. 00:15:58.360 --> 00:15:59.000 Verse 15 00:15:59.000 --> 00:15:59.360 He says 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:00.379 I will return again 00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:01.319 to my place 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:03.040 until they acknowledge 00:16:03.040 --> 00:16:03.700 their guilt 00:16:03.700 --> 00:16:05.300 and seek My face 00:16:05.300 --> 00:16:07.020 and in their distress 00:16:07.020 --> 00:16:09.000 earnestly seek Me. 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:12.000 He doesn't completely 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:13.620 destroy His people. 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:14.900 It isn't petty 00:16:14.900 --> 00:16:15.460 vengefulness 00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:16.840 but purposeful 00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:17.620 discipline. 00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:19.379 His full wrath 00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.320 could have completely 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:21.440 annihilated His people 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:21.920 couldn't it? 00:16:22.520 --> 00:16:23.320 That's the kind of God 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:24.000 we're talking about. 00:16:24.060 --> 00:16:25.060 He's a big God. 00:16:26.400 --> 00:16:27.580 But His wrath 00:16:27.580 --> 00:16:28.640 His punishment 00:16:28.640 --> 00:16:30.500 has clear purpose. 00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:31.720 And that purpose 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:33.039 is to restore 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:33.940 His people 00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:35.500 to a right relationship 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:35.980 with Him. 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:38.179 See, God knows 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:39.000 that when Israel 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:40.980 realizes their misery 00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:42.159 at His absence 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:43.539 they will return to Him 00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:44.700 because they are 00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:45.559 first and foremost 00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:46.519 His people. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.039 And this was a time 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:49.940 for Israel 00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:51.899 of first reflection. 00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:53.980 And the calling 00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:54.500 of this verse 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.539 is relevant to us 00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:56.720 today, isn't it? 00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:58.120 It's a calling 00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:58.840 to consider 00:16:58.840 --> 00:17:00.240 our own disease 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:01.759 and our own sin 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.440 that separates us 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:04.079 from God. 00:17:04.860 --> 00:17:05.480 And it's healthy 00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:05.960 and necessary 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:07.019 for us to do that. 00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:08.079 It's healthy 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:08.559 and necessary 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.539 for us to reflect 00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:10.680 on the ways 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:11.720 that we have sinned 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.420 and the ways 00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:13.100 that we have 00:17:13.100 --> 00:17:14.339 damaged our relationship 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:14.779 to God 00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:15.860 and separated ourselves 00:17:15.860 --> 00:17:16.299 from Him. 00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:17.519 It's healthy 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:18.420 for us to be 00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:19.339 convicted of that 00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:21.600 and to seek out 00:17:21.600 --> 00:17:22.600 God for forgiveness. 00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:23.900 Does God seem 00:17:23.900 --> 00:17:24.900 distant to you? 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:26.860 Does God ever 00:17:26.860 --> 00:17:27.980 seem distant to you? 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:30.040 Or perhaps in that 00:17:30.040 --> 00:17:30.880 He's actually 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:32.680 speaking to you 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:34.100 and calling you 00:17:34.100 --> 00:17:34.780 to repentance. 00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:37.100 See, God is so good 00:17:37.100 --> 00:17:38.340 that He pauses 00:17:38.340 --> 00:17:38.880 the fullness 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:39.700 of His wrath 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:40.720 and withholds 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.220 its fullness 00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:42.680 in order to bring 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:43.440 us to Himself. 00:17:44.780 --> 00:17:46.400 God is a good God. 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:48.700 How good is He? 00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:51.080 Well, God is so good 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:53.179 that He heals 00:17:53.179 --> 00:17:54.439 the brokenness 00:17:54.439 --> 00:17:55.460 of His people. 00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:56.259 Look at 00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:58.139 chapter 6 00:17:58.139 --> 00:17:59.119 verses 1-3. 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:00.639 And just to warn you, 00:18:00.679 --> 00:18:01.480 what we have here 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:02.500 are the words 00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:03.519 of true repentance. 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.460 We have a picture 00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:06.139 of true repentance. 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:06.799 The words 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.779 of true repentance 00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:08.460 are written here. 00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:09.980 Unfortunately, 00:18:10.139 --> 00:18:10.579 we're going to see 00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:11.220 next week 00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:12.299 that Israel 00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:12.919 lacked 00:18:12.919 --> 00:18:14.679 truly repentant hearts. 00:18:14.899 --> 00:18:15.599 But that's going 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.139 to be next week. 00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:16.879 Stuart just told me 00:18:16.879 --> 00:18:17.519 I should give you 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.759 that spoiler alert. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.119 But for now, 00:18:20.119 --> 00:18:21.419 let's look at what's 00:18:21.419 --> 00:18:21.979 said here. 00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:25.659 Why return to the Lord? 00:18:26.479 --> 00:18:27.539 Why do they return 00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:28.219 to the Lord? 00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:30.279 Because they see 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:31.939 that in Him alone 00:18:31.939 --> 00:18:34.399 they can find healing. 00:18:35.479 --> 00:18:36.739 It's out of a recognition 00:18:36.739 --> 00:18:38.159 that only the one 00:18:38.159 --> 00:18:39.439 the only one 00:18:39.439 --> 00:18:40.259 that could heal them 00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:41.739 was the one 00:18:41.739 --> 00:18:42.879 who tore them. 00:18:44.699 --> 00:18:45.719 How can God 00:18:45.719 --> 00:18:46.259 be both 00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:47.659 the punisher 00:18:47.659 --> 00:18:48.639 of His people 00:18:48.639 --> 00:18:49.399 and the healer 00:18:49.399 --> 00:18:50.000 of His people? 00:18:50.739 --> 00:18:51.000 Well, 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.459 we have the full 00:18:52.459 --> 00:18:53.339 answer to that, 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:54.319 don't we? 00:18:54.879 --> 00:18:55.539 In the personal 00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:56.739 work of Jesus Christ. 00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:58.359 When we look 00:18:58.359 --> 00:18:59.000 at the cross, 00:18:59.239 --> 00:19:00.119 we see how God 00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:00.579 can be both 00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:01.239 the punisher 00:19:01.239 --> 00:19:02.619 and the healer. 00:19:03.659 --> 00:19:03.839 See, 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:05.539 it's at the cross 00:19:05.539 --> 00:19:06.399 where we see 00:19:06.399 --> 00:19:07.659 the fullness 00:19:07.659 --> 00:19:08.759 of God's wrath 00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:09.919 poured out 00:19:09.919 --> 00:19:11.779 on His Son 00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:13.479 for us. 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:15.779 where Jesus Christ 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.860 is torn 00:19:16.860 --> 00:19:18.240 for your sins 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:19.400 and my sins. 00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:20.240 It's there 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:20.620 that we see 00:19:20.620 --> 00:19:21.400 the fullness 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:22.339 of restoration, 00:19:22.900 --> 00:19:23.299 the fullness 00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:23.940 of healing 00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:24.660 as Christ 00:19:24.660 --> 00:19:25.279 is raised 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:26.160 on the third 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:26.500 day. 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:28.059 And it's there 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:29.000 that we find 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.339 our own 00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:29.960 restoration 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:31.400 in a Savior 00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:32.180 who has purchased 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:33.180 us by His blood. 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:34.500 So what Israel 00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.860 only saw in shadow, 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:37.059 we get to see 00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:37.860 in fullness. 00:19:37.859 --> 00:19:40.019 in the calling 00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:40.919 on our lives 00:19:40.919 --> 00:19:42.099 from this chapter 00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:43.419 is really a simple 00:19:43.419 --> 00:19:43.740 one. 00:19:44.399 --> 00:19:45.299 And it's stated 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:46.379 very simply 00:19:46.379 --> 00:19:47.359 in the final verse. 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:49.119 Let us press 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:50.279 on to know 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:50.799 the Lord. 00:19:51.979 --> 00:19:52.899 The calling 00:19:52.899 --> 00:19:53.740 on our lives 00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.939 is to press 00:19:54.939 --> 00:19:56.379 on to know 00:19:56.379 --> 00:19:57.339 the Lord. 00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.139 The calling 00:19:59.139 --> 00:19:59.899 of this verse 00:19:59.899 --> 00:20:00.759 for you today 00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:02.039 is to leave 00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:02.799 behind your sin 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.419 and your guilt, 00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:05.019 to flee 00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:06.079 the people 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:06.799 and the things 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:07.579 that you've been 00:20:07.579 --> 00:20:08.819 seeking fulfillment 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:10.579 in and to find 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:11.359 your healing 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:12.859 by seeking 00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:13.619 to know God 00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:16.019 through Jesus Christ. 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:18.019 And we know Him 00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:18.539 because we have 00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.599 seen Him fully 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.960 in the work 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:21.679 of Christ Jesus. 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:23.720 Press on 00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:25.439 to know the Lord. 00:20:25.919 --> 00:20:26.699 Please pray with me.