WEBVTT

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 Good evening. It's a pleasure to be with you tonight. This is the first time I've been in Brunsfield Evangelical Church, so thank you very much for your welcome this evening.

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 I also find it a little bit daunting being here. Jonathan Gemmell came on several occasions to speak at ETS, where I teach.

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 I know Graham Shanks fairly well from ETS as well, so I know the standard of preaching that you're used to, so it's daunting for me to be here.

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 Also, Judges isn't an easy book, is it? We've already heard about J.L. and her tent peg, so it is daunting coming here.

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 But I trust that, as God's Word has preached to us, that He'll bless us through it.

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 The account of Deborah and Barak is unique in Judges in that we get it two times.

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 There's a story and then a song, so the first part of it in Chapter 4 has already been read to us.

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 As I begin tonight, I'd like to read the second part, which is the song. I'm not going to attempt to sing it. You'll be relieved.

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 It's Chapter 5. So as we begin, we'll read God's Word again.

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 On that day, Deborah and Barak, son of Abinahim, sang this song.

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 When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves, praise the Lord.

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 Hear this, you kings. Listen, you rulers.

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 I will sing to the Lord. I will sing.

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 I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel.

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 O Lord, when you went out from Zer, when you marched from the land of Edom, the earth shook.

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 The heavens poured, the clouds poured down water.

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 The mountains quaked before the Lord, the one of Sinai.

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 Before the Lord, the God of Israel.

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 In the days of Shamgar, son of Anat, in the days of Jael, the roads were abandoned.

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 Travelers took to winding paths.

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 Village life in Israel ceased.

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 Ceased until I, Deborah, arose.

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 Arose as a mother in Israel.

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 When they chose new gods, war came to the city gates.

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 Not a shield or spear was seen among the forty thousand in Israel.

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 My heart is with Israel's princes, with the willing volunteers among the people.

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 Praise the Lord.

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 You who ride on white donkeys sitting on your saddled blankets, and you who walk along the road,

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 consider the voice of the singers at the watering places.

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 They recite the righteous acts of the Lord, the righteous acts of his warriors in Israel.

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 Then the people of the Lord went down to the city gates.

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 Wake up, wake up, Deborah.

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 Wake up, wake up.

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 Break out in song.

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 Arise, O Barak.

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 Take captive your captives, O son of Abinoam.

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 Then the men who were left came down to the nobles.

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 The people of the Lord came to me with the mighty.

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 Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek.

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 Benjamin was with the people who followed you.

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 From Makar, captains came down.

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 From Zebulun, those who bear a commander's staff.

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 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah.

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 Yes, Issachar was with Barak, rushing after him into the valley.

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 In the districts of Reuben, there was much searching of heart.

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 Why did you stay among the campfires to hear the whistling for the flocks?

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 In the districts of Reuben, there was much searching of heart.

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 Gillian stayed beyond the Jordan.

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 And Dan, why did he linger by the ships?

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 Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves.

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 The people of Zebulun risked their very lives.

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 So did Naphtali on the heights of the field.

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 Kings came.

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 They fought.

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 The kings of Canaan fought at Tanakh by the waters of Megiddo.

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 But they carried off no silver and no plunder.

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 From the heavens, the stars fought.

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 From their courses, they fought against Sisera.

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 The river Kishon swept them away.

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 The age-old river, the river Kishon.

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 March on, my soul, be strong.

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 Then thundered the horses' hooves.

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 Galloping, galloping, go his mighty steeds.

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 Curse Meroz, says the angel of the Lord.

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 Curse its people bitterly, because they did not come to help the Lord.

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 To help the Lord against the mighty.

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 Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber, the Kenite.

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 Most blessed of tent-dwelling women.

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 He asked for water and she gave him milk.

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 In a bowl fit for noble, she brought him curdled milk.

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 Her hand reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman's hammer.

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 She struck Sisera.

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 She crushed his head.

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 She shattered and pierced his temple.

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 At her feet he sank.

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 He fell, there he lay.

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 At her feet he sank, he fell.

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 Where he sank, there he fell, dead.

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 Through the window peered Sisera's mother.

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 Behind the lattice she cried out,

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 Why is his chariot so long in coming?

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 Why is the clatter of his chariots delayed?

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 The wisest of her ladies answered her.

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 Indeed, she keeps saying to herself,

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 Are they not finding and dividing the spoils?

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 A girl or two for each man.

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 Colorful garments is plunder for Sisera.

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 Colorful garments embroidered.

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 Highly embroidered garments for my neck.

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 All this is plunder.

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 So may all your enemies perish, O Lord.

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 But may they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.

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 Then the land had peace for forty years.

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 May God bless his word.

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 As we begin tonight, I'd like to begin with a question.

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 And it's a rhetorical question.

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 I'm telling you that so you know that you're not expecting you to answer.

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 It's quite a personal question.

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 In the free church I don't need to explain that

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 because if I ask a question nobody's going to answer.

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 But just in case you might feel that I'm expecting you to answer, I'm not.

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 What's the biggest problem that you face?

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 What's the biggest issue in your life?

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 To put it slightly differently, what's most important to you?

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 To help us answer that kind of question,

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 when you get up in the morning, what's the first thing that you think about?

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 Maybe when you're going to bed at night, is you lying there in your bed?

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 What is it that turns round and round in your mind?

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 For each of us, that's quite a personal question.

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 If we were to make it slightly less personal,

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 if we keep that question in the back of our mind,

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 but if we make it slightly less personal,

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 in this passage, in Judges chapter 4,

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 what's the biggest problem that the Israelites faced?

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 The narrator has an opinion about that as he tells the story, doesn't he?

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 But if you were to actually ask the Israelites,

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 what's your biggest problem?

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 We get a sense of that in verse 3, don't we?

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 It's talking there about Sisera,

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 this man who was the commander of their enemy's army,

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 and tells us that because Sisera had 900 iron chariots

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 and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for 20 years,

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 they cried to the Lord for help.

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 There's a bit of irony in that, isn't there?

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 It took 20 years for them to cry out to the Lord.

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 But if you were to ask the Israelites,

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 what's your biggest problem?

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 What would they answer?

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 Sisera.

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 Sisera and his 900 chariots and his 20 years of oppression.

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 That's, I think, what they would say was their biggest problem.

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 But as we look at the way this story is recorded for us in the Bible,

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 we see that the author of it is wanting us to recognize

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 that that's not their biggest problem.

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 What's a problem?

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 There's actually only a symptom.

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 Their bigger problem was different than that, wasn't it?

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 In verse 1,

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 After Ehud died,

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 the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

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 So the Lord sold them into the hands of Jabin,

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 a king of Canaan,

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 who reigned in Hazor.

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 Their problem was not Jabin,

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 or his commander Sisera.

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 Their problem was themselves.

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 Their problem was the fact that they had rejected God.

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 Now, often,

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 in our day,

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 if you saw people who were being oppressed like that,

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 we would view them rightly as being innocent victims.

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 But in the narrative,

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 we discovered that the Israelites were not innocent victims.

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 The troubles that they were going through

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 were troubles that they had made for themselves

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 because of their rejection of God.

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 Their biggest problem was one of allegiance,

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 or loyalty.

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 Their biggest problem was a lack of allegiance to God,

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 a lack of loyalty to God.

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 Now, it's not just at the beginning of this account

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 that that issue of allegiance arises, is it?

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 We look at verse 11.

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 The first time you read through the story,

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 verse 11 stands out as being rather strange, doesn't it?

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 It's as if the story is interrupted

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 and we're given this seemingly superfluous detail.

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 Now, Haber, the Kenite,

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 had left the other Kenites,

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 the descendants of Hobab,

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 Moses' father-in-law,

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 and pitched his tent near the great tree

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 in Za'ananim,

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 near Kadesh.

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 What's the point of that?

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 Why does the author bother telling us about Haber?

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 Well, it's partly because of his wife, Jael,

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 who becomes significant later on in the story.

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 But if you look at verse 17,

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 we read what it meant that Haber

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 had decided to leave his family and move.

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 In verse 17, we're told that Cisera, however,

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 fled on foot to the tent of jail,

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 the wife of Heber the Kenite.

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 This is why we're told about him now.

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 Because there were friendly relations

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 between Jabin, king of Hazor,

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 and the clan of Heber the Kenite.

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 Do you see what Heber was doing?

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 Back in verse 11,

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 when it says he left his relatives and he moved.

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 Heber moved because he was changing sides.

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 To be very simplistic,

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 in the Old Testament,

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 you could divide people into two groups.

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 There were those people who were for God

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 and those people who were against God.

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 And in the middle,

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 we have the Kenites,

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 Hobab and his descendants.

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 Now, Hobab,

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 he was connected to Moses by marriage.

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 He and his people had seen

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 what God had done for the Israelites.

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 And they had said to themselves,

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 the God of the Israelites is the true God.

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 And so they had cast their lot with the Israelites.

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 They had recognized that the God of Israel

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 was the true God.

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 And so in chapter 1 of the book of Judges,

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 in verse 16,

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 we're told that the descendants of Moses' father-in-law,

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 the Kenites went up from the city of Palms

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 with the men of Judah

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 to live among the people

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 of the desert of Judah in the Negev.

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 They had made the right choice.

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 They had sided with God.

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 Now, if Heber is moving,

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 if he's leaving his family

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 and he's siding with Jabin

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 and his wicked, violent regime,

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 it's not merely that Heber is leaving his family,

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 He's forsaking God.

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 He's going in the wrong direction.

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 And this issue of allegiance,

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 we see it not just in the beginning,

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 not just in the middle.

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 If you look at the very end of the account,

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 in chapter 5,

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 if you want to know what a passage in the Bible is about,

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 often it's instructive to look at the end of it.

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 And at the end of this account,

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 in verse 31, chapter 5, 31,

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 we read,

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 So may all your enemies perish, O Lord,

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 but may those who love you

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 be like the sun when it rises in its strength.

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 There's two groups of people there, aren't there?

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 There are those who are God's enemies

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 and those who have sided with God,

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 those who love God.

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 Two different groups of people.

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 And this issue of allegiance comes up,

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 this issue of loyalty.

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 So, if we can become personal again,

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 I began by asking you,

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 what's your greatest problem?

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 Perhaps it's not a problem,

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 we could think more generally,

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 what's the greatest issue in your life?

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 Well, through this passage,

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 God is calling each one of us to recognize

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 that He ought to be the most important,

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 the most significant thing in our lives.

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 And so the question for us is to ask ourselves,

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 how important is God to me?

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 Or if we think of Heber,

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 which direction are you going?

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 Do you find that you're going towards God?

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 Or do you find that you're going away from Him?

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 Now, many of you here tonight,

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 maybe you have taken a decision about that.

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 Maybe for some of you,

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 these things are new to you,

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 and you're still wrestling with that.

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 But this is the point this passage is driving home.

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 There is nothing more important for us to know

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 than the God who created us.

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 Now, if this passage is seeking to convince us,

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 if God is telling us through this passage,

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 that He is the most important thing,

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 or that He ought to be the most important thing in our lives,

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 that allegiance to Him is the most important thing,

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 we might ask, why?

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 Why?

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 Why should Deborah and Barak and Jael,

00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:03.680
 why should all of these people,

00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:07.959
 on what grounds did God have to expect them to side with Him?

00:14:08.599 --> 00:14:10.439
 Couldn't have been an easy decision for Jael

00:14:10.439 --> 00:14:13.759
 to take a side with the God of Israel, could it?

00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:16.259
 Why should they take this decision?

00:14:17.819 --> 00:14:19.819
 I would suggest that as we look at this passage,

00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:23.359
 that there are at least two reasons that are given here

00:14:23.359 --> 00:14:26.419
 as to why they should have sided with the God of Israel.

00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:30.479
 Two reasons why you ought to side with God,

00:14:30.479 --> 00:14:32.659
 why you ought to follow the Lord Jesus.

00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:37.399
 First of all, God has made Himself known,

00:14:38.439 --> 00:14:41.339
 and secondly, God is victorious.

00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:44.799
 So first of all, God makes Himself known.

00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:48.259
 Now, if God were difficult to know,

00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:50.299
 if God were hidden,

00:14:51.439 --> 00:14:54.439
 it would have been unfair to expect Barak to side with Him,

00:14:54.839 --> 00:14:55.359
 wouldn't it?

00:14:55.739 --> 00:14:59.199
 It would be unfair to expect Jael to side with the God of Israel.

00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:02.320
 But the fact is that God isn't unknown to them.

00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:04.920
 If you look with me at verse 6,

00:15:06.580 --> 00:15:09.320
 in the NIV, now this is talking about Deborah,

00:15:10.040 --> 00:15:11.640
 the Israelites are being oppressed.

00:15:12.220 --> 00:15:15.360
 In chapter 4, verse 6, Deborah sends for Barak,

00:15:15.420 --> 00:15:16.879
 who's going to be their military leader.

00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:18.000
 He's going to be their champion.

00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:19.799
 In verse 6,

00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:21.799
 Deborah sent for Barak, son of Abinuam,

00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:23.159
 from Kadesh and Naphtali,

00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:24.340
 and said to him,

00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:27.500
 The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you,

00:15:28.139 --> 00:15:30.340
 go, take with you 10,000 men.

00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:34.039
 Now, as we read that in the NIV,

00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:36.019
 we would get the impression

00:15:36.019 --> 00:15:38.840
 that this is the first time that Barak has heard anything about this.

00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:43.060
 I don't know if any of you have different translations.

00:15:43.300 --> 00:15:45.920
 In the ESV, it translates it rather differently.

00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:49.600
 She sent and summoned Barak, son of Abinuam,

00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:50.860
 from Kadesh and Naphtali,

00:15:51.180 --> 00:15:52.019
 and said to him,

00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:55.860
 Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you,

00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:57.720
 go and gather your men?

00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:03.080
 Now, in the language that it's originally written in,

00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:04.700
 that is a more direct translation,

00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:08.379
 Deborah does, in fact, present him with a question.

00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:11.360
 Hasn't God commanded you to do that?

00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:14.100
 Now, some people suggest

00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:16.540
 that that was just a way of emphasizing the truthfulness

00:16:16.540 --> 00:16:18.300
 that the surely God has commanded you,

00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:20.840
 and that's why the NIV translates it this way.

00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:24.300
 I think it's more natural to take it as an actual question.

00:16:25.180 --> 00:16:27.160
 Now, a question like that is implying something.

00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:28.560
 If you say,

00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:30.399
 Hasn't God told you this?

00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:33.879
 Well, that implies you're going to answer yes.

00:16:35.400 --> 00:16:38.340
 But if Barak has to answer yes to this question,

00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:41.960
 it implies that God had already told him to do this,

00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:43.800
 and he hadn't done it.

00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:48.680
 That means that Barak's problems start not in verse 7,

00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:50.480
 sorry, in verse 8.

00:16:50.980 --> 00:16:52.160
 As we read through the account,

00:16:52.280 --> 00:16:53.139
 we get to verse 8,

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:54.139
 and Barak says to her,

00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:56.200
 If you go with me, I'll go.

00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:59.379
 But if you don't go with me, I won't go.

00:17:01.540 --> 00:17:03.580
 Barak's name in Hebrew actually means lightning.

00:17:03.580 --> 00:17:08.140
 Barak doesn't respond with very lightning-like speed

00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:10.559
 to God's directions to him, does he?

00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:13.600
 But if this is true,

00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:16.039
 it means that his problems didn't start in verse 8,

00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:19.140
 when he says that he won't go unless Deborah goes with him.

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:23.400
 Actually, his problems had already started before this,

00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.759
 when God had told him to go,

00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:25.900
 and he did nothing.

00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:28.580
 But for just now,

00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:29.840
 our point in looking at this

00:17:29.840 --> 00:17:32.960
 is that God had made himself known to Barak.

00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:36.380
 Now, the good news for us

00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:39.040
 is that God isn't hidden from us.

00:17:40.320 --> 00:17:41.420
 If God were hidden,

00:17:42.040 --> 00:17:43.080
 if he were distant,

00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:45.180
 if it were difficult to know God,

00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:47.640
 we might think it was unfair of him

00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:48.980
 to expect us to know him.

00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:52.480
 But the fact is that God has spoken to us.

00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:55.880
 God speaks to us in lots of different ways.

00:17:57.360 --> 00:17:58.380
 Most clearly,

00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:00.940
 God has spoken to us through Jesus.

00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:03.539
 So, for example, in Hebrews,

00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:04.759
 in the New Testament,

00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:07.360
 we read that in the past,

00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:09.720
 God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets

00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:12.180
 at many times and in various ways.

00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:14.259
 But in these last days,

00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:17.059
 he has spoken to us by his Son.

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:19.980
 That's Jesus.

00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:23.319
 If you want to know God,

00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:24.599
 you can.

00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:27.220
 Because God is speaking to you.

00:18:28.380 --> 00:18:29.900
 God spoke to Barak

00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:31.299
 in various different ways,

00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:32.779
 not least through Deborah.

00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:35.440
 God is speaking to us

00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:36.819
 through his Son,

00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:37.720
 through Jesus.

00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:41.440
 And that's why the Bible is so important to us,

00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:41.819
 isn't it?

00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:44.099
 Because it is pre-eminently this book

00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:45.900
 that tells us about Jesus.

00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:48.500
 So this book is about, isn't it,

00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:49.720
 what God has done for us

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:51.539
 through the Lord Jesus.

00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:54.059
 So first of all,

00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:58.740
 the reason that we should side with God

00:18:58.740 --> 00:19:00.720
 is because he is a God

00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.940
 who has made himself known to us.

00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:03.420
 He speaks to us.

00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:06.319
 Secondly, as we look at this passage,

00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.799
 we're confronted with the fact

00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:09.539
 that the God of Israel

00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:10.779
 is victorious.

00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:14.599
 It's important that we know him.

00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:16.799
 It's important that we side with him

00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:18.139
 because he wins.

00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.680
 Now, as we look at this passage,

00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:22.779
 we see God's victory in two different ways.

00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:26.359
 We see that God is victorious in judgment.

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.480
 And then secondly,

00:19:28.619 --> 00:19:31.119
 we see that God is victorious in salvation.

00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.279
 So first of all,

00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:35.059
 God is victorious in judgment.

00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:37.220
 Now, this takes us to Jael.

00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:42.000
 In verse 22 of chapter 4,

00:19:43.659 --> 00:19:44.539
 at the very end of that,

00:19:44.639 --> 00:19:45.460
 we read that

00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:48.639
 Barak went in with Jael,

00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:50.480
 and there lay Sisera

00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.500
 with the tent peg

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.399
 through his temple,

00:19:53.139 --> 00:19:53.460
 dead.

00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:55.500
 On that day,

00:19:55.620 --> 00:19:56.900
 God subdued Jabin,

00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:57.900
 the Canaanite king,

00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.920
 before the Israelites.

00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:00.700
 And the hand of the Israelites

00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:02.200
 grew stronger and stronger

00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:03.360
 against Jabin,

00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:04.640
 the Canaanite king,

00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:06.180
 until they destroyed him.

00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:08.460
 And then if we turn over

00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:09.680
 to chapter 5,

00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:14.380
 having repeated again

00:20:14.380 --> 00:20:15.160
 what Jael did,

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.360
 we read in verse 31,

00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:19.200
 So may all your enemies perish,

00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:19.980
 O Lord.

00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:23.099
 What Jael did

00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:24.360
 is presented to us

00:20:24.360 --> 00:20:25.960
 as being God's victory

00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:27.299
 over his enemies.

00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:28.259
 Now,

00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:30.700
 this is a troubling passage

00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:31.579
 for us, isn't it?

00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:34.839
 I used to live in Skye.

00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:36.819
 In Skye,

00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:37.920
 there are lots of B&Bs

00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.539
 and things like that.

00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:39.740
 People talk all the time

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:41.019
 about Highland hospitality.

00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:43.640
 People talk similarly

00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:46.779
 about Middle Eastern hospitality

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:49.220
 or ancient Near Eastern hospitality.

00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:51.000
 you're talking about the Bible.

00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.360
 Well, this is the opposite

00:20:52.360 --> 00:20:53.360
 of that, isn't it?

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:55.460
 What was Jael doing?

00:20:55.600 --> 00:20:57.079
 She went out and met him

00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:57.740
 and tricked him

00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:58.660
 and lured him in.

00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.720
 Cicero is presented

00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:02.460
 as an almost pathetic figure.

00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:03.360
 Isn't he?

00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:04.339
 Almost like a baby

00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:05.620
 being put to bed

00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:06.380
 and tucked up

00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:06.980
 with a blanket

00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.880
 and given milk

00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:10.380
 until she takes a tent peg

00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:12.140
 and drives it

00:21:12.140 --> 00:21:13.259
 through his temple

00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:14.220
 and nails him

00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:14.779
 to the ground.

00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:15.620
 We think,

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:15.920
 my goodness,

00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.920
 what do we do with this?

00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:20.000
 We find this very troubling.

00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:22.220
 It's important for us,

00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:22.740
 I think,

00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:24.840
 understanding this passage

00:21:24.840 --> 00:21:25.759
 and what the Bible

00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.920
 is doing with it.

00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:27.900
 First of all,

00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:28.400
 to consider

00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:29.560
 what kind of man

00:21:29.560 --> 00:21:30.500
 Cicero was.

00:21:31.660 --> 00:21:32.440
 We're not told

00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:33.500
 a lot about him,

00:21:33.860 --> 00:21:34.340
 but if you look

00:21:34.340 --> 00:21:35.420
 at chapter 5,

00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.320
 do you notice

00:21:37.320 --> 00:21:38.080
 at the end of that,

00:21:38.180 --> 00:21:39.560
 Cicero hasn't come home

00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:41.259
 and his mother

00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:41.919
 is worried.

00:21:42.639 --> 00:21:43.519
 His household

00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:44.179
 is worried.

00:21:44.419 --> 00:21:45.200
 Where is Cicero?

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:46.099
 Why is he taking

00:21:46.099 --> 00:21:46.679
 so long

00:21:46.679 --> 00:21:47.859
 in coming back?

00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:48.879
 And do you see

00:21:48.879 --> 00:21:49.779
 what they tell themselves

00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:51.159
 to try to comfort themselves?

00:21:52.399 --> 00:21:53.299
 Well, he's only taking

00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:53.919
 so long

00:21:53.919 --> 00:21:55.220
 because he's so busy

00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:56.119
 gathering plunder.

00:21:57.379 --> 00:21:59.839
 And in verse 30,

00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:01.919
 are they not finding

00:22:01.919 --> 00:22:03.480
 and dividing the spoils

00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:05.079
 a girl or two

00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:06.000
 for each man?

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:09.259
 The words that Cicero's mother

00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:10.720
 there uses for a girl,

00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:12.519
 it's literally womb.

00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:14.380
 Now,

00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:16.140
 this isn't Cicero speaking.

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:16.559
 You understand,

00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:17.359
 this is his mother

00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:18.680
 speaking about him.

00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:20.099
 Tells us something

00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:21.259
 about Canaanite culture,

00:22:21.339 --> 00:22:21.799
 doesn't it?

00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:23.420
 This is what she hoped

00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:24.680
 her son was doing.

00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:27.019
 He was someone

00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:28.079
 who dehumanized

00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:28.680
 other people,

00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.900
 who dehumanized women,

00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:30.619
 who treated them

00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:32.039
 as nothing more

00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:33.440
 than sexual objects.

00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:35.200
 And this was the nature,

00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.640
 this and other things.

00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:38.080
 This was the nature

00:22:38.080 --> 00:22:39.720
 of his 20-year oppression

00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:40.860
 of the Israelites.

00:22:42.120 --> 00:22:44.319
 Cicero was a wicked man.

00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:47.880
 To try to think of it

00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:48.940
 in modern terms

00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:49.640
 in our own day,

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:51.319
 a different

00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:53.200
 but similar example,

00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:55.160
 in 2011,

00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:57.860
 when U.S. Special Forces

00:22:57.860 --> 00:22:58.740
 finally found

00:22:58.740 --> 00:23:00.220
 where Osama bin Laden was.

00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.940
 And they engaged him

00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:03.799
 and Osama bin Laden

00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.940
 in the end of that

00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:05.599
 encounter.

00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:06.759
 He died.

00:23:07.879 --> 00:23:09.059
 We didn't feel sorry

00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:09.460
 for him,

00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:09.879
 did we?

00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:12.159
 Because he was

00:23:12.159 --> 00:23:12.960
 a wicked person

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.559
 who was bent

00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:14.399
 on destruction

00:23:14.399 --> 00:23:15.019
 and created

00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:15.839
 an organization

00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:17.180
 that specialized

00:23:17.180 --> 00:23:18.339
 in killing

00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:19.220
 innocent people.

00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.359
 And when he died,

00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:21.680
 we thought,

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:21.899
 well,

00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:24.240
 he got what he deserved.

00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:26.339
 When we read

00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:27.039
 through this account,

00:23:27.159 --> 00:23:28.039
 we need to recognize

00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:28.740
 that we are not

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.399
 to feel sorry

00:23:29.399 --> 00:23:30.000
 for Cicero.

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:32.579
 he got what

00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:33.319
 he deserved.

00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.180
 I think there are

00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:36.519
 two further considerations

00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:37.319
 when we encounter

00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:38.099
 this kind of thing

00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:39.119
 in the Old Testament.

00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:40.660
 First of all,

00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.740
 we need to keep in mind

00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.920
 that at this time,

00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:45.579
 for God's people,

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.960
 there was the church,

00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:47.900
 if you will,

00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:49.660
 as an organization,

00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:51.619
 and there was the state,

00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:53.140
 and they were

00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:54.039
 the same thing.

00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:55.960
 For Israel,

00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:56.900
 there was no distinction

00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:57.740
 between the church

00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:58.900
 and the state.

00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:00.380
 So very often

00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:01.440
 in the Old Testament,

00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:02.359
 you see that those

00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:03.059
 people who were

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:04.200
 leaders of God's people

00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:05.460
 ended up being

00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:06.319
 military leaders.

00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:09.279
 The Bible itself

00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.160
 is quite clear

00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:11.180
 that that is no longer

00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:12.120
 the case for us.

00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:13.759
 There is a distinction

00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.539
 between the church

00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.019
 and the state.

00:24:15.120 --> 00:24:15.740
 Those who are leaders

00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:16.519
 in the church

00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:18.339
 are not military leaders.

00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:19.720
 God's kingdom

00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:21.120
 is not to be

00:24:21.120 --> 00:24:21.960
 advanced

00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:23.400
 through military might.

00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:24.960
 There is a difference

00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:26.079
 in that sense.

00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:28.000
 We also need

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.740
 to keep in mind

00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.379
 that as we read

00:24:29.379 --> 00:24:30.279
 these kind of accounts

00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:31.339
 in the Old Testament,

00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:33.059
 very often,

00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:34.240
 these pictures

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:35.099
 of judgment,

00:24:35.919 --> 00:24:36.460
 the flood,

00:24:37.099 --> 00:24:37.939
 Sodom and Gomorrah,

00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:38.899
 what happened

00:24:38.899 --> 00:24:39.759
 to the Canaanites,

00:24:40.159 --> 00:24:40.679
 for example,

00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.199
 what happened

00:24:41.199 --> 00:24:41.899
 to Sisera,

00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:43.519
 typically,

00:24:43.639 --> 00:24:44.339
 these are presented

00:24:44.339 --> 00:24:45.199
 to us

00:24:45.199 --> 00:24:46.439
 as foreshadows

00:24:46.439 --> 00:24:48.039
 of a greater event.

00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:50.559
 One day,

00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.159
 every single person

00:24:52.159 --> 00:24:52.659
 will stand

00:24:52.659 --> 00:24:53.419
 before God.

00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:55.060
 we will give

00:24:55.060 --> 00:24:55.420
 an account

00:24:55.420 --> 00:24:56.160
 of our lives.

00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.980
 We have consciences,

00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:58.940
 that's testimony

00:24:58.940 --> 00:24:59.680
 to the fact

00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:00.120
 that we know

00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:01.620
 that that's true.

00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.660
 And God

00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:04.440
 will defeat

00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:05.019
 his enemies.

00:25:06.300 --> 00:25:06.680
 One day,

00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:07.759
 God will be victorious.

00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.660
 He will put to right

00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:10.779
 all the wrongs

00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:11.420
 of this world.

00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:12.740
 And these things

00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:13.259
 that we read,

00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:13.980
 for example,

00:25:14.120 --> 00:25:14.680
 with jail,

00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.460
 they aren't examples

00:25:16.460 --> 00:25:16.840
 for us

00:25:16.840 --> 00:25:17.340
 of what we are

00:25:17.340 --> 00:25:18.200
 to go out and do.

00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.640
 The Bible isn't here

00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:20.160
 teaching us

00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:20.779
 that we should go

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.320
 and do something

00:25:21.320 --> 00:25:22.140
 like what jail

00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:22.840
 has done.

00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:24.879
 But this is

00:25:24.879 --> 00:25:26.099
 a picture to us

00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:26.879
 of God's

00:25:26.879 --> 00:25:27.899
 final judgment

00:25:27.899 --> 00:25:29.119
 over his enemies.

00:25:30.459 --> 00:25:30.980
 Even though

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.480
 we are not

00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.199
 to do these things

00:25:32.199 --> 00:25:32.559
 ourselves,

00:25:32.639 --> 00:25:33.079
 it doesn't mean

00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:33.500
 that it has

00:25:33.500 --> 00:25:34.959
 nothing to teach us.

00:25:37.159 --> 00:25:37.599
 So,

00:25:38.159 --> 00:25:38.539
 God

00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:39.980
 will be victorious

00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:41.299
 in judgment.

00:25:42.459 --> 00:25:42.659
 Now,

00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.319
 that was true

00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:45.019
 in Judges chapters

00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:45.939
 4 and 5.

00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:48.119
 God could expect

00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:48.679
 these people

00:25:48.679 --> 00:25:49.399
 to side with him.

00:25:49.459 --> 00:25:50.119
 He could expect

00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:51.279
 Barak to side with him

00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:51.799
 and Deborah

00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:52.399
 and jail

00:25:52.399 --> 00:25:53.059
 and the rest

00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:54.419
 because he was

00:25:54.419 --> 00:25:54.960
 victorious.

00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.159
 And if that was

00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:58.000
 true now,

00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:58.819
 it's still true

00:25:58.819 --> 00:25:59.299
 today.

00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:00.879
 There's,

00:26:01.019 --> 00:26:01.919
 I think it's

00:26:01.919 --> 00:26:02.779
 a striking passage

00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.819
 in the New Testament.

00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:05.700
 The Apostle Paul

00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:06.839
 has arrived

00:26:06.839 --> 00:26:07.559
 in Greece

00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:09.919
 and he is there

00:26:09.919 --> 00:26:10.599
 making known

00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:11.819
 his gospel,

00:26:12.139 --> 00:26:12.659
 this message

00:26:12.659 --> 00:26:13.480
 that he presents.

00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.559
 And he's speaking

00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:16.639
 about what happened

00:26:16.639 --> 00:26:17.220
 in the life

00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:17.680
 of Jesus.

00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:20.180
 Jesus came,

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.160
 he taught,

00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:21.820
 he performed

00:26:21.820 --> 00:26:23.000
 various miracles,

00:26:23.620 --> 00:26:24.920
 he was betrayed

00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:25.720
 by his enemies,

00:26:25.860 --> 00:26:26.600
 he was handed over

00:26:26.600 --> 00:26:27.400
 and crucified.

00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:29.480
 But then Paul

00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:30.340
 goes on to say

00:26:30.340 --> 00:26:32.860
 that God

00:26:32.860 --> 00:26:33.779
 has set a day

00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:34.400
 when he will

00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:35.360
 judge the world

00:26:35.360 --> 00:26:36.680
 with justice

00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:37.860
 by the man

00:26:37.860 --> 00:26:38.660
 he has appointed.

00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:41.160
 Now,

00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:41.700
 in the context,

00:26:41.860 --> 00:26:42.740
 that man is Jesus.

00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:44.340
 Now,

00:26:44.360 --> 00:26:44.620
 do you see

00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:45.000
 what Paul

00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.500
 is saying?

00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:48.299
 Paul is saying

00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:48.739
 that there will

00:26:48.739 --> 00:26:49.099
 be a day

00:26:49.099 --> 00:26:49.579
 of judgment.

00:26:50.979 --> 00:26:51.439
 There will be

00:26:51.439 --> 00:26:51.839
 a day when

00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.379
 God will be

00:26:52.379 --> 00:26:52.899
 victorious

00:26:52.899 --> 00:26:53.500
 over all

00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:54.079
 of his enemies.

00:26:55.179 --> 00:26:55.319
 Now,

00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.459
 that's a big

00:26:56.459 --> 00:26:56.899
 claim.

00:26:57.619 --> 00:26:58.139
 He says

00:26:58.139 --> 00:26:58.419
 that this

00:26:58.419 --> 00:26:59.000
 will happen

00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:59.939
 when Jesus

00:26:59.939 --> 00:27:00.939
 comes in judgment.

00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:02.179
 That's the man

00:27:02.179 --> 00:27:02.819
 that God

00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:03.359
 has appointed.

00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:03.959
 Now,

00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:05.399
 as Paul

00:27:05.399 --> 00:27:06.179
 proclaims this

00:27:06.179 --> 00:27:06.539
 message,

00:27:06.679 --> 00:27:07.259
 notice why

00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:07.859
 he expects

00:27:07.859 --> 00:27:08.319
 people to

00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:08.879
 believe this.

00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:10.559
 He doesn't

00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:10.739
 say,

00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:10.919
 well,

00:27:10.959 --> 00:27:11.299
 just take

00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:11.679
 my word

00:27:11.679 --> 00:27:12.119
 for it.

00:27:13.239 --> 00:27:13.919
 He has

00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:14.680
 given proof

00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.100
 of this

00:27:15.100 --> 00:27:15.539
 to all

00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:15.860
 men

00:27:15.860 --> 00:27:17.039
 by raising

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:17.539
 him from

00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:18.080
 the dead.

00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.460
 Jesus

00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:21.840
 did truly

00:27:21.840 --> 00:27:22.380
 die,

00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:24.160
 but three

00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:24.800
 days later

00:27:24.800 --> 00:27:25.420
 Jesus was

00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:25.840
 raised from

00:27:25.840 --> 00:27:26.259
 the dead.

00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:28.019
 And one

00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:28.560
 of the points

00:27:28.560 --> 00:27:29.039
 that the Bible

00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:29.560
 makes with

00:27:29.560 --> 00:27:30.200
 regards to

00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:30.800
 that is

00:27:30.800 --> 00:27:31.300
 that Jesus'

00:27:31.560 --> 00:27:32.060
 resurrection

00:27:32.060 --> 00:27:33.220
 is proof

00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:33.940
 that he

00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:34.539
 is judge.

00:27:35.800 --> 00:27:36.539
 It's proof

00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:36.820
 that he

00:27:36.820 --> 00:27:37.320
 wins.

00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:38.740
 He will

00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.980
 come victorious.

00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:41.480
 Now,

00:27:41.600 --> 00:27:42.259
 that's good

00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:42.539
 news,

00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:43.039
 isn't it?

00:27:44.320 --> 00:27:44.860
 The hymn

00:27:44.860 --> 00:27:45.120
 that we

00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:45.860
 began with

00:27:45.860 --> 00:27:46.539
 tonight

00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.039
 is rather

00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:47.500
 striking

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:47.820
 hymn,

00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:48.259
 isn't it,

00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:48.500
 the way

00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:49.000
 I've never

00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:49.300
 heard it

00:27:49.300 --> 00:27:49.600
 before,

00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:51.060
 speaking about

00:27:51.060 --> 00:27:51.600
 the darkness

00:27:51.600 --> 00:27:51.980
 and the way

00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:52.380
 the darkness

00:27:52.380 --> 00:27:52.860
 is heavy

00:27:52.860 --> 00:27:54.140
 upon this

00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:54.360
 world.

00:27:54.560 --> 00:27:54.960
 But that's

00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:55.259
 true,

00:27:55.380 --> 00:27:55.740
 isn't it?

00:27:57.880 --> 00:27:58.519
 We're told,

00:27:58.640 --> 00:27:58.980
 for example,

00:27:59.060 --> 00:27:59.480
 that there's

00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:00.519
 more slavery

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.620
 and people

00:28:01.620 --> 00:28:02.180
 trafficking

00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:03.900
 now than

00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:04.259
 there has

00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:04.820
 ever been.

00:28:06.840 --> 00:28:07.480
 There is

00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.420
 much darkness

00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:09.120
 in this

00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:09.380
 world,

00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.140
 and sometimes

00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:10.980
 we experience

00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.600
 that in

00:28:11.600 --> 00:28:11.900
 our own

00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.259
 lives.

00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:13.779
 if God

00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.180
 will one

00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:14.799
 day come,

00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:15.980
 if he

00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.259
 will be

00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:16.819
 victorious

00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:17.460
 over his

00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:17.740
 enemies,

00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.519
 that's good

00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:18.819
 news,

00:28:18.900 --> 00:28:19.319
 isn't it?

00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:23.059
 But perhaps

00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:23.539
 not by

00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:24.079
 itself.

00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:26.039
 Because if

00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:26.519
 God were

00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:27.480
 only victorious

00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.180
 in judgment,

00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:29.559
 we might

00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:29.799
 wonder,

00:28:29.879 --> 00:28:29.940
 well,

00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.259
 what about

00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:30.740
 us?

00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.140
 Who among

00:28:33.140 --> 00:28:33.579
 us could

00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:34.519
 stand in

00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:34.940
 the presence

00:28:34.940 --> 00:28:35.359
 of this

00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:35.680
 God?

00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:35.720
 God.

00:28:37.320 --> 00:28:37.920
 But the

00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:38.600
 good news

00:28:38.600 --> 00:28:39.000
 is that

00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.759
 not only

00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:41.080
 does God

00:28:41.080 --> 00:28:42.180
 call you

00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:42.580
 to turn

00:28:42.580 --> 00:28:42.860
 to him

00:28:42.860 --> 00:28:43.180
 in light

00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:43.560
 of his

00:28:43.560 --> 00:28:44.100
 victory

00:28:44.100 --> 00:28:44.580
 in judgment,

00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:46.279
 he also

00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:47.120
 emphasizes in

00:28:47.120 --> 00:28:47.759
 his passage

00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:48.640
 that he

00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:49.299
 is victorious

00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:50.580
 in salvation.

00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.299
 If you

00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:52.720
 turn with me

00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.100
 back to

00:28:53.100 --> 00:28:53.840
 chapter 4.

00:28:53.839 --> 00:29:00.419
 After

00:29:00.419 --> 00:29:01.379
 Ehud died,

00:29:01.919 --> 00:29:02.399
 the Israelites

00:29:02.399 --> 00:29:03.199
 once again

00:29:03.199 --> 00:29:03.819
 did evil

00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:04.379
 in the eyes

00:29:04.379 --> 00:29:04.679
 of the

00:29:04.679 --> 00:29:05.000
 Lord.

00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:07.480
 Again,

00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:07.759
 if we

00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:08.339
 render that

00:29:08.339 --> 00:29:09.299
 slightly more

00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:09.679
 literally,

00:29:10.459 --> 00:29:11.179
 the passage

00:29:11.179 --> 00:29:11.539
 says,

00:29:11.659 --> 00:29:12.139
 the Israelites

00:29:12.139 --> 00:29:12.859
 once again

00:29:12.859 --> 00:29:13.379
 did evil

00:29:13.379 --> 00:29:13.899
 in the eyes

00:29:13.899 --> 00:29:14.159
 of the

00:29:14.159 --> 00:29:14.419
 Lord,

00:29:14.919 --> 00:29:15.819
 and Ehud

00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.459
 was dead.

00:29:18.619 --> 00:29:19.619
 Chapter 4

00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:20.799
 is echoing a

00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.480
 statement which

00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.159
 you will have

00:29:22.159 --> 00:29:22.740
 seen over and

00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.159
 over again,

00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:23.519
 haunt you.

00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:24.820
 Back in

00:29:24.820 --> 00:29:25.580
 chapter 3,

00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.620
 verse 7,

00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.200
 the Israelites

00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:27.940
 did what was

00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:28.560
 evil in the

00:29:28.560 --> 00:29:29.019
 eyes of the

00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.279
 Lord.

00:29:29.940 --> 00:29:31.080
 In chapter 3,

00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:31.840
 verse 12,

00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:32.740
 once again

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.360
 the Israelites

00:29:33.360 --> 00:29:34.420
 did what was

00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:35.120
 evil in the

00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:35.640
 eyes of the

00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:35.860
 Lord.

00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:36.680
 And in

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:37.320
 chapter 4,

00:29:37.400 --> 00:29:37.820
 we read the

00:29:37.820 --> 00:29:38.500
 Israelites once

00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:39.060
 again did

00:29:39.060 --> 00:29:40.019
 evil in the

00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.519
 eyes of the

00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:40.720
 Lord.

00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:42.240
 But Ehud

00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:43.300
 was dead.

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:45.800
 They had

00:29:45.800 --> 00:29:46.300
 messed up

00:29:46.300 --> 00:29:46.740
 before,

00:29:47.060 --> 00:29:47.440
 but God

00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:47.820
 had sent

00:29:47.820 --> 00:29:48.279
 Ehud.

00:29:48.840 --> 00:29:49.400
 God had

00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:49.900
 sent this

00:29:49.900 --> 00:29:50.340
 man who

00:29:50.340 --> 00:29:51.080
 delivered them

00:29:51.080 --> 00:29:51.460
 from the

00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.080
 mess that

00:29:52.080 --> 00:29:52.440
 they had

00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:52.860
 created.

00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:54.400
 And as a

00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:54.960
 result of

00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.340
 that,

00:29:56.120 --> 00:29:56.800
 back in

00:29:56.800 --> 00:29:57.460
 verse 30,

00:29:58.160 --> 00:29:58.740
 we see that

00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.320
 the land had

00:29:59.320 --> 00:29:59.759
 peace for

00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.700
 80 years.

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:02.900
 Such was the

00:30:02.900 --> 00:30:03.720
 impact of what

00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:04.580
 God did through

00:30:04.580 --> 00:30:05.680
 Ehud that it

00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:06.519
 lasted for 80

00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:07.100
 years,

00:30:07.320 --> 00:30:08.460
 more than one

00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:09.540
 person's lifetime.

00:30:10.840 --> 00:30:12.019
 But he's dead,

00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:14.100
 and they've

00:30:14.100 --> 00:30:14.759
 messed up

00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:15.480
 again.

00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:17.920
 hope for

00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:18.480
 hope.

00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:18.500
 And he might be

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:18.920
 tempted to

00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:19.079
 think,

00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:19.240
 well,

00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.000
 what hope

00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.360
 is there

00:30:20.360 --> 00:30:20.620
 now,

00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:21.059
 honestly?

00:30:22.660 --> 00:30:23.299
 Maybe you've

00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:23.819
 gotten to that

00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:24.319
 point in your

00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:24.740
 own life.

00:30:25.360 --> 00:30:25.920
 Maybe you've

00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:26.799
 messed up again

00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:27.339
 and again

00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:27.779
 and again,

00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:28.220
 and you start

00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:28.460
 to think,

00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:28.620
 well,

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.980
 what hope

00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:32.000
 is there for

00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:32.240
 me?

00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:33.700
 Well,

00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:34.759
 that's what we

00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.660
 get to at the

00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:36.180
 point of this

00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:36.720
 passage.

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.460
 And in

00:30:38.460 --> 00:30:39.579
 verse 4,

00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:42.220
 in verse 3,

00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:42.699
 we see that

00:30:42.699 --> 00:30:43.220
 the Israelites

00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:44.059
 cried to the

00:30:44.059 --> 00:30:44.859
 Lord for help.

00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:46.119
 It's at this

00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:46.519
 point,

00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:47.319
 in the pattern

00:30:47.319 --> 00:30:47.679
 that's been

00:30:47.679 --> 00:30:48.339
 established in

00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:48.740
 the book of

00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.119
 Judges,

00:30:49.439 --> 00:30:50.039
 it's at this

00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:50.579
 point that you

00:30:50.579 --> 00:30:52.679
 expect to be

00:30:52.679 --> 00:30:53.359
 told that God

00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:53.980
 raised up a

00:30:53.980 --> 00:30:54.980
 deliverer for

00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.199
 them.

00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:56.139
 And what,

00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:56.579
 in fact,

00:30:56.639 --> 00:30:57.500
 we read is

00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:58.879
 that of

00:30:58.879 --> 00:30:59.419
 Deborah,

00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.319
 a prophetess,

00:31:00.419 --> 00:31:01.059
 the wife of

00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:01.699
 Lapidoth,

00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:02.720
 was judging

00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:03.500
 Israel at that

00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:03.879
 time.

00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:05.099
 Now,

00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:06.179
 at the risk

00:31:06.179 --> 00:31:07.019
 of sounding

00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:07.699
 sexist,

00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:09.199
 in their

00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:09.700
 culture,

00:31:10.340 --> 00:31:11.000
 if you're

00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:11.900
 facing military

00:31:11.900 --> 00:31:12.460
 oppression,

00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:13.460
 and you want

00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:13.880
 a military

00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:14.340
 leader,

00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:15.120
 what you

00:31:15.120 --> 00:31:15.519
 want is

00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:16.259
 not a

00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:16.600
 woman.

00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:17.920
 And yet,

00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:18.480
 that's who

00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:18.799
 we read

00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:19.100
 about.

00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:19.420
 And so,

00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:19.819
 you're still

00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:20.440
 left wondering,

00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:21.600
 what's going

00:31:21.600 --> 00:31:22.100
 to happen?

00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:23.120
 How are

00:31:23.120 --> 00:31:23.600
 these people

00:31:23.600 --> 00:31:24.019
 going to be

00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:24.360
 delivered?

00:31:25.100 --> 00:31:25.299
 Well,

00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:25.580
 then we

00:31:25.580 --> 00:31:26.000
 encounter

00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:26.580
 Barak,

00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:27.500
 but Barak

00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:28.559
 is less

00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:29.160
 than impressive,

00:31:29.340 --> 00:31:29.720
 isn't he?

00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:31.920
 And still

00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:32.400
 you're wondering,

00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:33.279
 is there

00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:34.259
 really any

00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:34.720
 hope for

00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:34.960
 them?

00:31:37.120 --> 00:31:37.660
 These people

00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:38.340
 really don't

00:31:38.340 --> 00:31:38.720
 seem to

00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:39.120
 measure up.

00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:39.860
 Barak doesn't

00:31:39.860 --> 00:31:40.460
 measure up to

00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:40.980
 the standard

00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:41.720
 of Othniel,

00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:42.580
 or Ehud,

00:31:42.660 --> 00:31:43.160
 for example,

00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:43.640
 the judges

00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:44.100
 that we read

00:31:44.100 --> 00:31:44.779
 about earlier

00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:45.819
 in the book,

00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:46.480
 and yet,

00:31:46.620 --> 00:31:47.319
 the point is

00:31:47.319 --> 00:31:48.140
 that God

00:31:48.140 --> 00:31:49.620
 responded to

00:31:49.620 --> 00:31:50.240
 his people,

00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:51.960
 and even

00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:52.360
 though the

00:31:52.360 --> 00:31:52.920
 situation

00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:54.600
 seemed hopeless,

00:31:56.360 --> 00:31:57.019
 and even

00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:57.400
 though at

00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:58.299
 first you

00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:58.819
 couldn't even

00:31:58.819 --> 00:31:59.440
 see how God

00:31:59.440 --> 00:31:59.880
 was going to

00:31:59.880 --> 00:32:00.400
 do anything,

00:32:01.080 --> 00:32:01.600
 there's a

00:32:01.600 --> 00:32:02.299
 lesson there,

00:32:02.380 --> 00:32:02.660
 isn't there,

00:32:02.660 --> 00:32:03.080
 in terms of

00:32:03.080 --> 00:32:03.759
 how we interpret

00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:04.380
 providence.

00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.240
 Often we're

00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:07.039
 perplexed by the

00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:07.720
 situation that we

00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:08.559
 find ourselves in,

00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:08.899
 and we think

00:32:08.899 --> 00:32:09.240
 it's somehow

00:32:09.240 --> 00:32:09.759
 wrong,

00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:11.019
 and we

00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:11.819
 forget what

00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:12.440
 God is able

00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:12.779
 to do,

00:32:12.839 --> 00:32:13.220
 and he can

00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:13.779
 do beyond

00:32:13.779 --> 00:32:14.200
 what we

00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:14.779
 would ever

00:32:14.779 --> 00:32:15.299
 imagine.

00:32:17.659 --> 00:32:18.480
 But through

00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.399
 these people,

00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:20.179
 as unlikely

00:32:20.179 --> 00:32:20.759
 as they

00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.240
 seemed,

00:32:21.379 --> 00:32:22.220
 through Deborah,

00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:22.940
 and through

00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:23.619
 Barak,

00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:24.279
 and through

00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:25.220
 Jael,

00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:27.039
 God did

00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:27.500
 save his

00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:27.859
 people.

00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:30.359
 God was not

00:32:30.359 --> 00:32:31.159
 only victorious

00:32:31.159 --> 00:32:31.759
 over his

00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:32.079
 enemies,

00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:32.700
 he also

00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:33.599
 saved his

00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:33.919
 people.

00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:35.779
 And that

00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:36.240
 is so

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:36.920
 important for

00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:37.200
 us,

00:32:37.620 --> 00:32:38.100
 because it

00:32:38.100 --> 00:32:38.480
 is not

00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:39.100
 merely true

00:32:39.100 --> 00:32:39.660
 that God

00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:40.420
 is a God

00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:40.940
 of judgment.

00:32:42.560 --> 00:32:43.340
 It is not

00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:43.920
 merely the

00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:44.480
 case that

00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:45.480
 every person

00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:45.800
 will give

00:32:45.800 --> 00:32:46.140
 an account

00:32:46.140 --> 00:32:46.420
 of their

00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:47.580
 lives to

00:32:47.580 --> 00:32:47.900
 God,

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.480
 to Jesus.

00:32:49.380 --> 00:32:50.100
 That is

00:32:50.100 --> 00:32:50.480
 true,

00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:51.720
 but if I

00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:52.220
 could quote

00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:52.720
 again from

00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.259
 the Apostle

00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:53.660
 Paul,

00:32:54.900 --> 00:32:55.500
 in another

00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.140
 passage,

00:32:57.240 --> 00:32:57.700
 Paul is

00:32:57.700 --> 00:32:58.340
 again speaking

00:32:58.340 --> 00:32:58.740
 about the

00:32:58.740 --> 00:32:59.440
 resurrection of

00:32:59.440 --> 00:32:59.900
 Jesus,

00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:01.360
 he says,

00:33:01.460 --> 00:33:01.660
 the one

00:33:01.660 --> 00:33:02.039
 whom God

00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:02.580
 raised from

00:33:02.580 --> 00:33:02.880
 the dead

00:33:02.880 --> 00:33:03.340
 did not

00:33:03.340 --> 00:33:03.920
 see decay.

00:33:04.340 --> 00:33:04.660
 That is

00:33:04.660 --> 00:33:04.980
 a reference

00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:05.360
 to the

00:33:05.360 --> 00:33:05.840
 fact of

00:33:05.840 --> 00:33:06.120
 Jesus'

00:33:06.340 --> 00:33:06.880
 resurrection.

00:33:08.140 --> 00:33:08.600
 And notice

00:33:08.600 --> 00:33:11.360
 the result

00:33:11.360 --> 00:33:11.820
 of that

00:33:11.820 --> 00:33:12.340
 in Paul's

00:33:12.340 --> 00:33:12.680
 thinking.

00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:14.140
 Therefore,

00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.039
 my brothers,

00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:16.140
 that is

00:33:16.140 --> 00:33:16.940
 because Jesus

00:33:16.940 --> 00:33:17.320
 has been

00:33:17.320 --> 00:33:17.759
 raised from

00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.240
 the dead,

00:33:19.380 --> 00:33:19.940
 I want

00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:20.279
 you to

00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:20.660
 know that

00:33:20.660 --> 00:33:21.000
 through

00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:21.500
 Jesus,

00:33:21.640 --> 00:33:22.180
 the forgiveness

00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:22.820
 of sins

00:33:22.820 --> 00:33:23.380
 is proclaimed

00:33:23.380 --> 00:33:24.059
 to you.

00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:25.180
 Through

00:33:25.180 --> 00:33:25.480
 him,

00:33:25.880 --> 00:33:26.580
 everyone who

00:33:26.580 --> 00:33:27.220
 believes is

00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:28.180
 justified from

00:33:28.180 --> 00:33:29.059
 everything you

00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:29.720
 could not be

00:33:29.720 --> 00:33:30.619
 justified from

00:33:30.619 --> 00:33:31.319
 by the

00:33:31.319 --> 00:33:31.819
 law of

00:33:31.819 --> 00:33:32.279
 Moses.

00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:36.779
 There is

00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:37.440
 hope for

00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:37.940
 us because

00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:38.519
 God is

00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:40.059
 victorious in

00:33:40.059 --> 00:33:40.659
 salvation.

00:33:42.899 --> 00:33:43.419
 Jesus was

00:33:43.419 --> 00:33:43.960
 raised from

00:33:43.960 --> 00:33:44.359
 the dead,

00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:44.960
 and that's

00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:45.460
 proof not

00:33:45.460 --> 00:33:45.980
 merely that

00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:46.240
 he will

00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:46.679
 come in

00:33:46.679 --> 00:33:47.019
 judgment,

00:33:48.019 --> 00:33:48.639
 but it

00:33:48.639 --> 00:33:49.259
 is also

00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:49.839
 proof that

00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:50.480
 Jesus is

00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:50.879
 the one who

00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:51.399
 is able to

00:33:51.399 --> 00:33:51.980
 forgive you,

00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:54.119
 even when

00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:55.519
 you have

00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:56.139
 once again

00:33:56.139 --> 00:33:56.759
 done evil

00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:57.379
 in the eyes

00:33:57.379 --> 00:33:57.720
 of the

00:33:57.720 --> 00:33:57.980
 Lord.

00:33:59.059 --> 00:33:59.980
 Again and

00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:00.339
 again and

00:34:00.339 --> 00:34:00.559
 again,

00:34:00.659 --> 00:34:01.039
 we find

00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:01.639
 that in

00:34:01.639 --> 00:34:01.940
 the book

00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:02.460
 of Judges,

00:34:02.539 --> 00:34:02.960
 these people

00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:03.500
 messed up

00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:04.460
 over and

00:34:04.460 --> 00:34:05.079
 over again,

00:34:05.240 --> 00:34:05.839
 but God

00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:06.599
 didn't write

00:34:06.599 --> 00:34:07.139
 them off.

00:34:08.500 --> 00:34:09.019
 And you

00:34:09.019 --> 00:34:09.279
 can know

00:34:09.279 --> 00:34:09.579
 that God

00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:10.019
 won't write

00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:10.480
 you off,

00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:10.739
 that you

00:34:10.739 --> 00:34:11.199
 can turn

00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:11.599
 to him

00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:11.900
 through

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:12.320
 Jesus,

00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.219
 and he

00:34:13.219 --> 00:34:13.659
 will forgive

00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:14.599
 you all

00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:14.900
 of your

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:15.400
 sins.

00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:17.599
 So,

00:34:17.799 --> 00:34:18.480
 God calls

00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:18.759
 you to

00:34:18.759 --> 00:34:19.500
 allegiance to

00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:20.000
 himself.

00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:21.960
 Through

00:34:21.960 --> 00:34:22.579
 his word,

00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:23.980
 he's telling

00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.559
 you tonight

00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:26.360
 that he

00:34:26.360 --> 00:34:27.059
 should be

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:27.500
 the most

00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:28.019
 important

00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:28.860
 thing in

00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:29.440
 your life.

00:34:30.820 --> 00:34:31.619
 He's calling

00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:32.259
 you to

00:34:32.259 --> 00:34:32.759
 know him.

00:34:34.259 --> 00:34:34.940
 He's given

00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:35.380
 you reason

00:34:35.380 --> 00:34:35.940
 to do that

00:34:35.940 --> 00:34:36.639
 because he

00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:37.279
 is victorious.

00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:39.159
 In the

00:34:39.159 --> 00:34:39.639
 death and

00:34:39.639 --> 00:34:40.639
 resurrection of

00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:41.039
 Jesus,

00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:41.940
 God has

00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:42.679
 demonstrated that

00:34:42.679 --> 00:34:43.079
 he will be

00:34:43.079 --> 00:34:44.059
 victorious in

00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:45.119
 judgment and

00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:46.259
 also victorious

00:34:46.259 --> 00:34:47.279
 in salvation.

00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:49.259
 And so he

00:34:49.259 --> 00:34:50.179
 calls you to

00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:50.659
 know him.

00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:52.039
 Now,

00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:52.899
 my time

00:34:52.899 --> 00:34:53.739
 has gone,

00:34:53.879 --> 00:34:54.299
 I think,

00:34:54.379 --> 00:34:54.599
 really.

00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:55.259
 I would

00:34:55.259 --> 00:34:55.579
 like to

00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:56.079
 say very

00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:56.799
 briefly that

00:34:56.799 --> 00:34:57.239
 as we

00:34:57.239 --> 00:34:57.500
 look at

00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:58.179
 this passage,

00:34:59.179 --> 00:34:59.940
 that it

00:34:59.940 --> 00:35:00.279
 is a very

00:35:00.279 --> 00:35:00.719
 challenging

00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:01.359
 passage,

00:35:01.899 --> 00:35:02.379
 because going

00:35:02.379 --> 00:35:03.259
 beyond that,

00:35:04.219 --> 00:35:04.759
 it's not

00:35:04.759 --> 00:35:05.619
 merely enough

00:35:05.619 --> 00:35:07.739
 to profess to

00:35:07.739 --> 00:35:08.319
 be on God's

00:35:08.319 --> 00:35:08.559
 side,

00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:09.019
 is it?

00:35:10.279 --> 00:35:10.639
 That's a

00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:11.059
 point that's

00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:11.779
 repeatedly made

00:35:11.779 --> 00:35:12.480
 in this

00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:12.980
 passage.

00:35:13.879 --> 00:35:14.279
 We look

00:35:14.279 --> 00:35:14.879
 at Barak.

00:35:15.940 --> 00:35:16.879
 Barak isn't

00:35:16.879 --> 00:35:17.639
 really held up

00:35:17.639 --> 00:35:18.239
 as a positive

00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:19.179
 role model for

00:35:19.179 --> 00:35:19.359
 us,

00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:19.639
 is he?

00:35:20.659 --> 00:35:22.139
 We read

00:35:22.139 --> 00:35:23.139
 of Deborah

00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:23.799
 and Jael,

00:35:24.019 --> 00:35:24.639
 they're profoundly

00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:25.179
 different.

00:35:26.199 --> 00:35:26.759
 They are.

00:35:27.159 --> 00:35:27.759
 They respond

00:35:27.759 --> 00:35:28.399
 immediately to

00:35:28.399 --> 00:35:28.679
 God.

00:35:29.279 --> 00:35:29.879
 They take the

00:35:29.879 --> 00:35:30.319
 initiative.

00:35:31.480 --> 00:35:31.960
 This theme

00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:32.559
 carries on

00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:33.199
 into chapter

00:35:33.199 --> 00:35:33.859
 five.

00:35:34.859 --> 00:35:35.079
 Do you

00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:35.460
 notice that

00:35:35.460 --> 00:35:35.920
 on the one

00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:36.319
 hand,

00:35:36.679 --> 00:35:37.279
 there is praise

00:35:37.279 --> 00:35:37.699
 for those

00:35:37.699 --> 00:35:38.239
 who follow

00:35:38.239 --> 00:35:39.019
 God.

00:35:39.339 --> 00:35:39.739
 In chapter

00:35:39.739 --> 00:35:40.119
 five,

00:35:40.179 --> 00:35:40.920
 verse two,

00:35:41.859 --> 00:35:42.460
 note how it

00:35:42.460 --> 00:35:43.000
 speaks about

00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:43.379
 those who

00:35:43.379 --> 00:35:44.279
 willingly offer

00:35:44.279 --> 00:35:44.819
 themselves.

00:35:46.219 --> 00:35:46.739
 In verse

00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:47.119
 nine,

00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:47.799
 my heart is

00:35:47.799 --> 00:35:48.519
 with Israel's

00:35:48.519 --> 00:35:48.839
 princes,

00:35:49.339 --> 00:35:49.719
 with the

00:35:49.719 --> 00:35:50.019
 willing

00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:50.639
 volunteers,

00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:51.239
 among the

00:35:51.239 --> 00:35:51.699
 people of

00:35:51.699 --> 00:35:52.039
 God.

00:35:53.259 --> 00:35:54.079
 In verses

00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:54.879
 13 to

00:35:54.879 --> 00:35:55.420
 15,

00:35:56.359 --> 00:35:57.119
 it wasn't

00:35:57.119 --> 00:35:57.719
 actually just

00:35:57.719 --> 00:35:58.199
 those two

00:35:58.199 --> 00:35:58.599
 tribes.

00:35:58.719 --> 00:35:59.119
 We read in

00:35:59.119 --> 00:35:59.759
 chapter five

00:35:59.759 --> 00:36:00.039
 that there

00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:00.480
 were other

00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:01.019
 tribes that

00:36:01.019 --> 00:36:01.420
 went out

00:36:01.420 --> 00:36:02.179
 with Barak,

00:36:02.259 --> 00:36:03.319
 with Deborah.

00:36:04.119 --> 00:36:05.099
 Then the

00:36:05.099 --> 00:36:05.460
 men who were

00:36:05.460 --> 00:36:06.019
 left came

00:36:06.019 --> 00:36:07.079
 down to the

00:36:07.079 --> 00:36:07.480
 nobles,

00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:08.179
 people of

00:36:08.179 --> 00:36:08.519
 God.

00:36:09.379 --> 00:36:09.920
 Some came

00:36:09.920 --> 00:36:10.719
 from Ephraim,

00:36:11.420 --> 00:36:12.119
 Benjamin was

00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:12.440
 with the

00:36:12.440 --> 00:36:12.879
 people who

00:36:12.879 --> 00:36:13.480
 followed you,

00:36:13.619 --> 00:36:14.199
 and so

00:36:14.199 --> 00:36:14.539
 forth.

00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:16.679
 even in

00:36:16.679 --> 00:36:17.480
 verse 20,

00:36:18.599 --> 00:36:19.440
 even the

00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:20.039
 elements

00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:21.179
 sided with

00:36:21.179 --> 00:36:21.539
 God.

00:36:22.860 --> 00:36:23.480
 The heavens,

00:36:23.860 --> 00:36:24.300
 from the

00:36:24.300 --> 00:36:24.900
 heavens the

00:36:24.900 --> 00:36:25.980
 stars fought.

00:36:26.860 --> 00:36:27.199
 So you have

00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:27.619
 that on the

00:36:27.619 --> 00:36:28.199
 one hand.

00:36:28.980 --> 00:36:29.400
 On the

00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:30.199
 other hand,

00:36:30.699 --> 00:36:31.480
 notice in

00:36:31.480 --> 00:36:32.320
 verse 15,

00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:36.039
 partway through

00:36:36.039 --> 00:36:36.579
 the verse,

00:36:36.579 --> 00:36:37.199
 in the

00:36:37.199 --> 00:36:37.840
 districts of

00:36:37.840 --> 00:36:38.259
 Reuben,

00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:39.400
 there's much

00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:39.960
 searching of

00:36:39.960 --> 00:36:40.340
 heart.

00:36:41.380 --> 00:36:42.019
 Why did

00:36:42.019 --> 00:36:42.340
 you stay

00:36:42.340 --> 00:36:42.759
 among the

00:36:42.759 --> 00:36:43.519
 campfires to

00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:43.799
 hear the

00:36:43.799 --> 00:36:44.360
 whistling for

00:36:44.360 --> 00:36:45.039
 the flocks?

00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:47.699
 Gilead stayed

00:36:47.699 --> 00:36:48.219
 beyond the

00:36:48.219 --> 00:36:48.799
 Jordan, and

00:36:48.799 --> 00:36:49.340
 Dan, why

00:36:49.340 --> 00:36:49.920
 did he linger

00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:50.340
 by the

00:36:50.340 --> 00:36:50.699
 ships?

00:36:51.380 --> 00:36:51.779
 The tribe

00:36:51.779 --> 00:36:52.420
 of Dan had

00:36:52.420 --> 00:36:52.900
 their allotment

00:36:52.900 --> 00:36:53.539
 by the sea,

00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:55.619
 this telling

00:36:55.619 --> 00:36:56.440
 passage of

00:36:56.440 --> 00:36:57.219
 people frittering

00:36:57.219 --> 00:36:57.659
 away with

00:36:57.659 --> 00:36:58.199
 their boats,

00:36:58.639 --> 00:36:59.480
 other people

00:36:59.480 --> 00:37:00.059
 out literally

00:37:00.059 --> 00:37:00.819
 whistling after

00:37:00.819 --> 00:37:02.559
 sheep, trying to

00:37:02.559 --> 00:37:03.259
 ignore the fact

00:37:03.259 --> 00:37:03.900
 that anything was

00:37:03.900 --> 00:37:04.500
 going on.

00:37:04.980 --> 00:37:05.460
 Afterwards,

00:37:05.639 --> 00:37:06.079
 there was much

00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:06.639
 searching of

00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:07.019
 heart as

00:37:07.019 --> 00:37:07.539
 they realized

00:37:07.539 --> 00:37:07.880
 that they

00:37:07.880 --> 00:37:08.759
 hadn't done

00:37:08.759 --> 00:37:09.199
 anything.

00:37:10.400 --> 00:37:10.719
 Do you see

00:37:10.719 --> 00:37:11.259
 that there's a

00:37:11.259 --> 00:37:12.299
 challenge here,

00:37:12.980 --> 00:37:14.039
 not merely to

00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:14.940
 side with God,

00:37:15.940 --> 00:37:17.340
 but to live a

00:37:17.340 --> 00:37:17.860
 life that's

00:37:17.860 --> 00:37:18.719
 consistent with

00:37:18.719 --> 00:37:19.019
 that?

00:37:21.279 --> 00:37:22.239
 The passage is

00:37:22.239 --> 00:37:22.840
 teaching us that

00:37:22.840 --> 00:37:23.960
 it's not enough

00:37:23.960 --> 00:37:24.559
 merely to say

00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:24.840
 that we're

00:37:24.840 --> 00:37:25.259
 Christians,

00:37:26.019 --> 00:37:26.799
 it's not merely

00:37:26.799 --> 00:37:27.420
 enough to go to

00:37:27.420 --> 00:37:27.960
 church, that's

00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:29.400
 important, it's

00:37:29.400 --> 00:37:29.739
 not enough

00:37:29.739 --> 00:37:30.599
 merely to know

00:37:30.599 --> 00:37:31.759
 the Bible.

00:37:32.799 --> 00:37:33.619
 God calls us

00:37:33.619 --> 00:37:34.420
 to live a life

00:37:34.420 --> 00:37:35.119
 that's consistent

00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:35.739
 with that.

00:37:37.079 --> 00:37:38.559
 Now, I want

00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:39.179
 to conclude

00:37:39.179 --> 00:37:40.319
 very briefly

00:37:40.319 --> 00:37:40.719
 with one

00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:41.619
 practical point

00:37:41.619 --> 00:37:42.099
 as to how

00:37:42.099 --> 00:37:42.779
 we do that.

00:37:43.480 --> 00:37:44.119
 We all know

00:37:44.119 --> 00:37:44.440
 it's very

00:37:44.440 --> 00:37:45.380
 difficult to

00:37:45.380 --> 00:37:45.920
 do that.

00:37:46.940 --> 00:37:47.440
 It's easy

00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:48.360
 to be like

00:37:48.360 --> 00:37:48.819
 Barak.

00:37:49.659 --> 00:37:50.440
 It's easy to

00:37:50.440 --> 00:37:51.019
 know what God

00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:51.639
 wants us to

00:37:51.639 --> 00:37:52.039
 do and not

00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:52.639
 to do it.

00:37:53.880 --> 00:37:54.559
 We need to

00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:55.380
 remember that

00:37:55.380 --> 00:37:56.199
 Jesus has

00:37:56.199 --> 00:37:56.960
 come in

00:37:56.960 --> 00:37:57.420
 forgiveness.

00:37:58.719 --> 00:37:59.319
 We experience

00:37:59.319 --> 00:37:59.980
 forgiveness not

00:37:59.980 --> 00:38:00.539
 merely when we

00:38:00.539 --> 00:38:01.259
 first become

00:38:01.259 --> 00:38:01.819
 Christians.

00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:02.559
 We constantly

00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:03.059
 need to be

00:38:03.059 --> 00:38:03.679
 reminded that

00:38:03.679 --> 00:38:05.539
 Jesus is our

00:38:05.539 --> 00:38:05.940
 Savior.

00:38:07.279 --> 00:38:08.159
 But if we

00:38:08.159 --> 00:38:08.619
 take the

00:38:08.619 --> 00:38:09.179
 example of

00:38:09.179 --> 00:38:09.699
 Barak to

00:38:09.699 --> 00:38:10.360
 conclude with,

00:38:11.559 --> 00:38:12.300
 Barak wasn't

00:38:12.300 --> 00:38:13.139
 everything he

00:38:13.139 --> 00:38:13.739
 ought to have

00:38:13.739 --> 00:38:14.340
 been, was

00:38:14.340 --> 00:38:14.519
 he?

00:38:15.759 --> 00:38:16.500
 But at the

00:38:16.500 --> 00:38:17.960
 same time, he

00:38:17.960 --> 00:38:18.440
 wasn't a

00:38:18.440 --> 00:38:19.340
 complete disaster,

00:38:19.860 --> 00:38:21.119
 to be fair to

00:38:21.119 --> 00:38:21.480
 Barak.

00:38:22.019 --> 00:38:22.759
 He did

00:38:22.759 --> 00:38:23.380
 ultimately do

00:38:23.380 --> 00:38:23.739
 what he was

00:38:23.739 --> 00:38:24.360
 meant to do.

00:38:25.139 --> 00:38:26.519
 In chapter

00:38:26.519 --> 00:38:27.779
 five, he's

00:38:27.779 --> 00:38:28.259
 commended.

00:38:28.759 --> 00:38:29.199
 Verse one,

00:38:29.259 --> 00:38:29.759
 on that day,

00:38:29.860 --> 00:38:30.440
 Deborah and

00:38:30.440 --> 00:38:31.159
 Barak, son of

00:38:31.159 --> 00:38:31.880
 Abinuam, sang

00:38:31.880 --> 00:38:32.440
 this song.

00:38:33.579 --> 00:38:34.400
 Why is it

00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:35.400
 that Barak

00:38:35.400 --> 00:38:36.039
 turned out

00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:37.320
 better than

00:38:37.320 --> 00:38:37.680
 he might

00:38:37.680 --> 00:38:38.099
 have done?

00:38:41.380 --> 00:38:42.119
 That's because

00:38:42.119 --> 00:38:42.559
 of Deborah.

00:38:44.579 --> 00:38:45.420
 I think there's

00:38:45.420 --> 00:38:46.160
 a profound

00:38:46.160 --> 00:38:46.960
 point here.

00:38:47.380 --> 00:38:48.119
 We are not

00:38:48.119 --> 00:38:48.720
 to lead the

00:38:48.720 --> 00:38:49.400
 Christian life

00:38:49.400 --> 00:38:50.480
 on our own.

00:38:51.640 --> 00:38:52.380
 Because on

00:38:52.380 --> 00:38:53.019
 our own, we

00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:53.780
 would typically,

00:38:53.880 --> 00:38:54.619
 I would typically

00:38:54.619 --> 00:38:55.300
 make a mess of

00:38:55.300 --> 00:38:55.780
 my life.

00:38:56.519 --> 00:38:56.900
 But God

00:38:56.900 --> 00:38:57.660
 hasn't left us

00:38:57.660 --> 00:38:58.260
 on her own.

00:38:58.619 --> 00:38:59.180
 He has made

00:38:59.180 --> 00:38:59.900
 you part of a

00:38:59.900 --> 00:39:00.980
 congregation here

00:39:00.980 --> 00:39:01.679
 in Brunsfield.

00:39:03.059 --> 00:39:03.539
 And as

00:39:03.539 --> 00:39:04.159
 Christians, if

00:39:04.159 --> 00:39:04.440
 you are

00:39:04.440 --> 00:39:05.659
 Christians, if

00:39:05.659 --> 00:39:05.900
 you have

00:39:05.900 --> 00:39:06.440
 decided to

00:39:06.440 --> 00:39:07.139
 follow Jesus,

00:39:07.800 --> 00:39:08.219
 you have

00:39:08.219 --> 00:39:09.320
 responsibilities not

00:39:09.320 --> 00:39:10.099
 merely towards

00:39:10.099 --> 00:39:11.920
 God, but you

00:39:11.920 --> 00:39:12.840
 have responsibilities

00:39:12.840 --> 00:39:14.079
 towards one

00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:14.460
 another.

00:39:15.099 --> 00:39:15.860
 To challenge

00:39:15.860 --> 00:39:16.780
 one another, to

00:39:16.780 --> 00:39:17.639
 comfort one

00:39:17.639 --> 00:39:18.579
 another, to

00:39:18.579 --> 00:39:19.719
 encourage one

00:39:19.719 --> 00:39:20.059
 another.

00:39:21.500 --> 00:39:22.480
 So what is it

00:39:22.480 --> 00:39:22.980
 that you think

00:39:22.980 --> 00:39:23.599
 about when you

00:39:23.599 --> 00:39:24.199
 wake up in the

00:39:24.199 --> 00:39:24.440
 morning?

00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:27.599
 And what is it

00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:28.139
 that you think

00:39:28.139 --> 00:39:29.079
 about as you're

00:39:29.079 --> 00:39:29.860
 lying there on

00:39:29.860 --> 00:39:30.300
 your bed at

00:39:30.300 --> 00:39:30.539
 night?

00:39:30.980 --> 00:39:31.420
 God.

00:39:32.139 --> 00:39:33.179
 This passage is

00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:33.900
 telling us that

00:39:33.900 --> 00:39:35.240
 that thing, that

00:39:35.240 --> 00:39:37.000
 person, ought to

00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:37.740
 be our creator.

00:39:38.719 --> 00:39:39.659
 The God who has

00:39:39.659 --> 00:39:40.639
 revealed himself to

00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:41.440
 us through Jesus.

00:39:42.420 --> 00:39:43.679
 The God who is

00:39:43.679 --> 00:39:44.719
 victorious in

00:39:44.719 --> 00:39:46.619
 judgment, but also

00:39:46.619 --> 00:39:47.320
 the God who is

00:39:47.320 --> 00:39:48.559
 victorious in

00:39:48.559 --> 00:39:49.139
 salvation.

00:39:51.320 --> 00:39:51.960
 You bow your

00:39:51.960 --> 00:39:52.619
 heads with me as

00:39:52.619 --> 00:39:53.219
 we close in

00:39:53.219 --> 00:39:53.440
 prayer.

00:39:57.440 --> 00:39:58.360
 Our Father in

00:39:58.360 --> 00:39:59.059
 heaven, we thank

00:39:59.059 --> 00:39:59.480
 you that you

00:39:59.480 --> 00:40:00.139
 have given us

00:40:00.139 --> 00:40:00.639
 your word.

00:40:00.639 --> 00:40:03.879
 We pray that as

00:40:03.879 --> 00:40:04.460
 we leave here

00:40:04.460 --> 00:40:05.099
 that we would do

00:40:05.099 --> 00:40:06.400
 so knowing that

00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:07.440
 you have spoken

00:40:07.440 --> 00:40:09.440
 to us and we

00:40:09.440 --> 00:40:10.099
 ask that your

00:40:10.099 --> 00:40:10.839
 word would remain

00:40:10.839 --> 00:40:11.400
 with us.

00:40:13.299 --> 00:40:14.900
 We pray that we

00:40:14.900 --> 00:40:15.500
 would not be

00:40:15.500 --> 00:40:16.599
 people who merely

00:40:16.599 --> 00:40:18.119
 know your

00:40:18.119 --> 00:40:19.940
 word, but we

00:40:19.940 --> 00:40:20.559
 pray that your

00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:21.440
 word would touch

00:40:21.440 --> 00:40:23.000
 our hearts, be

00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:23.559
 at work within

00:40:23.559 --> 00:40:24.179
 us by your

00:40:24.179 --> 00:40:24.859
 Holy Spirit.

00:40:24.860 --> 00:40:26.440
 God, we ask

00:40:26.440 --> 00:40:26.800
 that you would

00:40:26.800 --> 00:40:27.579
 make Jesus to

00:40:27.579 --> 00:40:28.360
 be precious to

00:40:28.360 --> 00:40:28.660
 us.

00:40:31.160 --> 00:40:32.039
 May we marvel

00:40:32.039 --> 00:40:32.680
 that not only

00:40:32.680 --> 00:40:33.460
 did he die and

00:40:33.460 --> 00:40:34.340
 give his life in

00:40:34.340 --> 00:40:35.019
 our place, but

00:40:35.019 --> 00:40:35.440
 that on the

00:40:35.440 --> 00:40:36.120
 third day he was

00:40:36.120 --> 00:40:36.740
 raised from the

00:40:36.740 --> 00:40:37.579
 dead and that

00:40:37.579 --> 00:40:38.200
 because of his

00:40:38.200 --> 00:40:38.980
 resurrection we

00:40:38.980 --> 00:40:39.539
 have hope.

00:40:40.519 --> 00:40:41.039
 And so we pray,

00:40:41.320 --> 00:40:41.620
 Father, that

00:40:41.620 --> 00:40:42.240
 through him you

00:40:42.240 --> 00:40:42.800
 would be at work

00:40:42.800 --> 00:40:43.660
 within us by your

00:40:43.660 --> 00:40:44.320
 Holy Spirit.

00:40:45.400 --> 00:40:46.240
 We ask that you

00:40:46.240 --> 00:40:47.340
 would bless us as

00:40:47.340 --> 00:40:48.120
 your people, bless

00:40:48.120 --> 00:40:48.820
 this congregation

00:40:48.820 --> 00:40:49.840
 here in Brunsfield.

00:40:50.380 --> 00:40:51.280
 We ask that you

00:40:51.280 --> 00:40:51.700
 would be with

00:40:51.700 --> 00:40:52.240
 those whom you

00:40:52.240 --> 00:40:53.019
 have raised up as

00:40:53.019 --> 00:40:53.739
 leaders in this

00:40:53.739 --> 00:40:54.920
 congregation and

00:40:54.920 --> 00:40:55.699
 bless everyone

00:40:55.699 --> 00:40:56.380
 here connected

00:40:56.380 --> 00:40:57.159
 with it in all

00:40:57.159 --> 00:40:57.820
 of their various

00:40:57.820 --> 00:40:58.880
 different roles.

00:40:59.219 --> 00:40:59.900
 We pray that you

00:40:59.900 --> 00:41:00.619
 would enable them

00:41:00.619 --> 00:41:02.360
 individually and

00:41:02.360 --> 00:41:03.780
 as a people to

00:41:03.780 --> 00:41:04.539
 live a life that

00:41:04.539 --> 00:41:06.599
 honors you, to

00:41:06.599 --> 00:41:07.219
 live a life that

00:41:07.219 --> 00:41:08.119
 is a witness to

00:41:08.119 --> 00:41:08.579
 you and that

00:41:08.579 --> 00:41:09.079
 through this

00:41:09.079 --> 00:41:10.179
 congregation that

00:41:10.179 --> 00:41:11.059
 many more people

00:41:11.059 --> 00:41:11.619
 would come to

00:41:11.619 --> 00:41:11.980
 know you.

00:41:12.699 --> 00:41:13.519
 We ask, Father,

00:41:13.599 --> 00:41:13.940
 that you would

00:41:13.940 --> 00:41:14.699
 watch over us,

00:41:15.099 --> 00:41:15.300
 that you would

00:41:15.300 --> 00:41:15.860
 forgive us all

00:41:15.860 --> 00:41:16.780
 our sins, for

00:41:16.780 --> 00:41:17.500
 we pray this in

00:41:17.500 --> 00:41:18.159
 Jesus' name.

00:41:18.880 --> 00:41:19.159
 Amen.