WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.120
 We'll continue our work today through the book of Nehemiah.

00:00:02.200 --> 00:00:07.259
 I believe after this morning we'll have one more sermon in the book.

00:00:07.259 --> 00:00:13.240
 and I hope that it's blessed your heart the way it has mine over this past few weeks.

00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:16.679
 Nehemiah chapter 12.

00:00:16.780 --> 00:00:18.760
 Now to give you just a brief summary up to this point,

00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:20.719
 catch your mind up to speed for this morning.

00:00:21.359 --> 00:00:24.640
 God has brought His covenant people home to Israel

00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:27.219
 after 70 years of Babylonian captivity.

00:00:27.219 --> 00:00:29.980
 Remember, they were carried off into captivity because of their sinfulness.

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.460
 Because of the way they had disregarded God's law.

00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:35.520
 And so they were taken captive and led away.

00:00:36.740 --> 00:00:37.920
 They've been brought back now.

00:00:38.060 --> 00:00:40.579
 A couple of different movements coming back.

00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:43.799
 But they're home now in Israel, in the promised land.

00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:47.900
 And they've now refinished rebuilding the temple we see in the book of Ezra.

00:00:47.980 --> 00:00:52.140
 And now the wall surrounding Jerusalem here in the book of Nehemiah.

00:00:52.659 --> 00:00:56.879
 There's been a great revival that I believe started prior to chapter 8.

00:00:56.879 --> 00:00:59.679
 But we certainly observe it take its full swing.

00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.539
 In chapter 8, it's broken out amongst them.

00:01:03.140 --> 00:01:07.959
 In this past few weeks, we've observed together the evidences of God-sent revival.

00:01:08.739 --> 00:01:13.540
 That revival is not something that we put on a calendar or on a sign.

00:01:13.980 --> 00:01:16.939
 We don't pitch a tent across from Kroger and Gainesville.

00:01:17.019 --> 00:01:18.740
 That's not revival.

00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:20.500
 But that God brings revival.

00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:24.640
 A special returning of His people to Him.

00:01:25.459 --> 00:01:29.859
 And we noted that if revival is God's sin, God's people will be praying.

00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:35.819
 That they will reestablish the Word of God as the ultimate authority in their lives.

00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:38.460
 I hope you at least have a copy of it with you this morning.

00:01:39.099 --> 00:01:44.500
 That they will recognize their defiance of God and view His chastisement as just.

00:01:44.579 --> 00:01:48.319
 They'll quit making excuses and justifying the things that they do.

00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:53.779
 But they'll recognize that they have not observed God's law as He requires.

00:01:54.619 --> 00:01:57.399
 And they'll turn from that defiance to obedience.

00:01:58.479 --> 00:02:00.799
 They'll say, God, in all ways I want to honor You.

00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:03.939
 If Your Word says it, I want to do it.

00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:05.739
 And I will work to that end.

00:02:06.679 --> 00:02:10.400
 This is a mighty work of the Spirit in the hearts of men.

00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:14.439
 But it is something we ought to be endeavoring to do.

00:02:14.580 --> 00:02:17.200
 And as we see these things happening in our lives,

00:02:17.260 --> 00:02:22.640
 we can certainly say that the Spirit is at work and moving in our hearts.

00:02:23.480 --> 00:02:29.360
 We see here in Nehemiah that the Spirit draws the sword from the scabbard.

00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:32.740
 And has His work, has His way with His people.

00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:35.780
 And it has been my prayer for us that the same will be true.

00:02:35.780 --> 00:02:39.479
 That we'll no longer be complacent Christians.

00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:45.580
 But that we will devote ourselves to God the way He deserves our devotion.

00:02:46.500 --> 00:02:50.759
 Now this morning I want to draw our attention to the dedication service for the wall

00:02:50.759 --> 00:02:55.699
 that we see recorded in chapter 12, verses 27 through 47.

00:02:55.900 --> 00:03:00.699
 But I don't want to totally neglect chapter 11 and the beginning of chapter 12.

00:03:00.780 --> 00:03:02.400
 There is some significance there.

00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:05.500
 And there may even be some significance beyond what I'm about to share with you.

00:03:05.500 --> 00:03:09.780
 But for us today, I think the significance we need to see is this.

00:03:11.139 --> 00:03:13.719
 Chapter 11, verses 1 through 2.

00:03:14.379 --> 00:03:16.199
 Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem.

00:03:16.539 --> 00:03:20.879
 And the rest of the people cast lots to bring 1 out of 10 to live in Jerusalem, the holy city.

00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:24.020
 While 9 out of 10 remained in the other towns.

00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:28.719
 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.

00:03:29.060 --> 00:03:32.099
 A number of weeks ago we talked about the fact that the wall had been built

00:03:32.099 --> 00:03:34.379
 and yet nobody lived in Jerusalem at that time.

00:03:34.379 --> 00:03:38.960
 The thing that ultimately grieved Nehemiah's heart, as we see recorded in chapter 1,

00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:40.759
 is that the city was in ruins.

00:03:41.460 --> 00:03:45.740
 And as such, the state of the people of God looked horrible.

00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:50.620
 Their capital city, the place that should have been the center of all activity and trade,

00:03:50.840 --> 00:03:52.780
 the place where the temple was located,

00:03:53.300 --> 00:03:55.500
 no one even inhabited it at this time.

00:03:55.500 --> 00:03:58.819
 And so they rebuilt the wall for the glory of God.

00:03:58.919 --> 00:04:01.039
 Not for protection, but for the glory of God.

00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:07.039
 But yet people still didn't come in to live and dwell in that place for his sake.

00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:10.620
 But we see here now a correction of that.

00:04:11.139 --> 00:04:14.240
 So remember in chapter 7, I spoke to you, verse 4, it says,

00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:17.600
 The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few,

00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:19.319
 and no houses had been rebuilt.

00:04:19.980 --> 00:04:21.980
 And then in verse 73 of the same chapter,

00:04:22.139 --> 00:04:24.100
 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers,

00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:28.160
 some of the people, the temple servants in all Israel, lived in their towns.

00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:31.759
 And when the seventh month had come, the people of Israel were in their towns.

00:04:31.819 --> 00:04:34.100
 They had yet to reoccupy the city.

00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:35.879
 And to say to the nations around them,

00:04:36.300 --> 00:04:39.980
 God is certainly good to his people.

00:04:40.420 --> 00:04:43.519
 So it's important for us to see that they've now made reparations for that.

00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:44.560
 They have fixed that now.

00:04:44.620 --> 00:04:48.359
 They have now sent people into the city to live.

00:04:49.500 --> 00:04:54.180
 Now, verse 3 in chapter 11 through chapter 12, verse 26,

00:04:54.279 --> 00:04:55.539
 I just want you to get one thing.

00:04:55.620 --> 00:04:57.979
 It is a massive list of names.

00:04:58.079 --> 00:04:59.379
 And this is what I want you to get from it.

00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:02.680
 God has set apart for himself a covenant people.

00:05:03.319 --> 00:05:04.459
 People group.

00:05:04.659 --> 00:05:05.699
 Here it was Israel.

00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:07.839
 Now it is the church.

00:05:07.919 --> 00:05:09.419
 It's us, right?

00:05:09.419 --> 00:05:13.199
 But a people is certainly made up of individuals.

00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:15.599
 And individuals matter.

00:05:15.919 --> 00:05:18.519
 God is concerned for the individual, right?

00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:21.019
 Which means he cares for you.

00:05:22.199 --> 00:05:23.659
 He cares for you.

00:05:24.099 --> 00:05:27.060
 And as such, we should care for individuals.

00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:31.740
 I've been encouraging you over some time just to get to know each other's names.

00:05:31.859 --> 00:05:33.500
 There's a good starting point, right?

00:05:33.500 --> 00:05:39.180
 And here we see a massive list of names of the people who came to occupy the land.

00:05:40.019 --> 00:05:42.920
 So, we skipped a stone off of chapter 11 and the beginning of 12.

00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:44.400
 I'm sure there's some more depth to it there.

00:05:44.459 --> 00:05:52.800
 But I want to get into this worship service that we can see in chapter 12, beginning in verse 27.

00:05:52.939 --> 00:05:53.759
 So, let's read that together.

00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:59.240
 I'm actually going to hop and skip a little bit through it to avoid the burdensome nature of some of these names,

00:05:59.340 --> 00:06:01.319
 both for my sake and for yours.

00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:03.939
 So, bear with me as we do that.

00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:05.680
 And I'll give you some explanation as we go along here.

00:06:05.779 --> 00:06:06.680
 So, beginning in verse 27.

00:06:06.680 --> 00:06:12.040
 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought the Levites in all their places

00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:15.519
 to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness,

00:06:15.699 --> 00:06:19.920
 with thanksgiving, and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres.

00:06:20.400 --> 00:06:23.620
 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the districts surrounding Jerusalem

00:06:23.620 --> 00:06:25.960
 and from the villages of the Nataphatites,

00:06:26.300 --> 00:06:31.000
 also from Beth Gilgal and from the region of Geba and Asmoth Beth,

00:06:31.319 --> 00:06:34.180
 from the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem.

00:06:34.180 --> 00:06:37.160
 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves,

00:06:37.420 --> 00:06:40.400
 and they purified the people and the gates and the wall.

00:06:41.060 --> 00:06:43.420
 Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall

00:06:43.420 --> 00:06:46.620
 and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks.

00:06:47.079 --> 00:06:50.139
 One went to the south on the wall to the dung gate.

00:06:50.780 --> 00:06:51.480
 Verse 38.

00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:56.300
 We're going to hop over this list of people that went in this procession along with this one choir.

00:06:56.819 --> 00:06:57.460
 Verse 38.

00:06:57.939 --> 00:07:00.740
 The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north,

00:07:00.740 --> 00:07:05.800
 And I followed them with half of the people on the wall above the tower of the ovens to the broad wall,

00:07:06.300 --> 00:07:09.400
 and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the gate of Yashana,

00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:13.540
 and by the fish gate and the tower of Hananel, and the tower of the hundred to the sheep gate,

00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:16.460
 and they came to a halt at the gate of the guard.

00:07:16.840 --> 00:07:20.699
 So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God,

00:07:20.960 --> 00:07:24.040
 and I and half of the officials with me.

00:07:24.840 --> 00:07:28.000
 And then we're going to jump down a little bit further to verse 43,

00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:29.540
 and we'll finish out the rest of the chapter.

00:07:29.540 --> 00:07:33.240
 And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced,

00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:36.040
 for God had made them rejoice with great joy.

00:07:36.540 --> 00:07:38.500
 The women and children also rejoiced,

00:07:38.640 --> 00:07:41.340
 and the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

00:07:41.980 --> 00:07:44.580
 On that day men were appointed over the storerooms,

00:07:44.680 --> 00:07:47.300
 the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes,

00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:50.300
 to gather into them the portions required by the law for the priests,

00:07:50.640 --> 00:07:52.780
 and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns.

00:07:53.180 --> 00:07:56.520
 For Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered.

00:07:56.519 --> 00:07:59.659
 And they performed the service of their God in the service of purification,

00:07:59.959 --> 00:08:01.539
 as did the singers and the gatekeepers,

00:08:01.719 --> 00:08:04.539
 according to the command of David and his son Solomon.

00:08:04.979 --> 00:08:07.599
 For long ago in the days of David and Asaph,

00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:08.979
 there were directors of the singers,

00:08:09.180 --> 00:08:11.959
 and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

00:08:12.419 --> 00:08:14.120
 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel,

00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:15.519
 and in the days of Nehemiah,

00:08:15.620 --> 00:08:18.120
 gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers.

00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:20.819
 And they set apart that which was for the Levites,

00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:24.259
 and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

00:08:24.860 --> 00:08:25.699
 Join me in prayer.

00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:28.519
 Father, we thank you for your word,

00:08:28.699 --> 00:08:31.360
 your very spoken word, your breath to us.

00:08:31.459 --> 00:08:33.080
 And I pray this day that you will, by your spirit,

00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:34.100
 apply it to our hearts.

00:08:34.659 --> 00:08:36.159
 And don't let us just take these things in

00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:39.720
 and have some mental understanding of the last part of chapter 12,

00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:43.220
 but show us how it is that the activity recorded here

00:08:43.220 --> 00:08:47.220
 for the nation of Israel means something for us this day.

00:08:48.160 --> 00:08:51.460
 Help us, Father, to see how to rightly worship you.

00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:53.220
 And we pray this in Christ's name.

00:08:53.899 --> 00:08:54.200
 Amen.

00:08:55.840 --> 00:09:00.139
 Now, again, the observation here is a worship service

00:09:00.139 --> 00:09:02.480
 set apart for the dedication of the wall.

00:09:02.540 --> 00:09:04.800
 And we've seen a couple of other worship services.

00:09:04.800 --> 00:09:07.740
 This one consists primarily of music.

00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:11.320
 That's a major activity in this particular worship service.

00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:13.620
 We saw at the beginning of chapter 8 a worship service

00:09:13.620 --> 00:09:16.360
 that was primarily the reading of God's word.

00:09:16.640 --> 00:09:19.460
 Half the day, teaching and reading of God's word.

00:09:19.680 --> 00:09:21.240
 We see another in chapter 9,

00:09:21.460 --> 00:09:23.160
 which consisted of the reading of God's word,

00:09:23.340 --> 00:09:25.360
 and then confession through prayer.

00:09:25.940 --> 00:09:29.260
 So we're seeing this mix of different types of service

00:09:29.260 --> 00:09:31.600
 as they come together and worship God.

00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:35.200
 We have to be very careful as we talk about worship.

00:09:35.380 --> 00:09:37.720
 And so we're going to spend a little bit of time this morning

00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:40.460
 simply defining our terms.

00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:43.900
 What do we mean when we say worship?

00:09:44.900 --> 00:09:48.480
 This is something that has been far misconstrued

00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:50.280
 in the Christian church these days.

00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:55.420
 When did the worship of God become just about music?

00:09:57.000 --> 00:10:00.040
 Oh, that was wonderful worship this morning.

00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:02.460
 What do people are referring to when they say that?

00:10:02.680 --> 00:10:03.340
 The music.

00:10:03.340 --> 00:10:07.360
 What do we call the guy with the guitar?

00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:09.840
 The worship leader.

00:10:11.259 --> 00:10:13.820
 As if the only activity of the Christian life

00:10:13.820 --> 00:10:17.720
 that is worshipful to God is singing songs.

00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:19.600
 Shame on us.

00:10:20.340 --> 00:10:23.960
 This is a trite view of what worship actually is.

00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:25.460
 When did this happen?

00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:26.120
 I wish I knew.

00:10:26.220 --> 00:10:29.360
 I want to do a sociological observation experiment.

00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:31.560
 I wish I could see through history and see what happened.

00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:33.700
 I would expect that at some point

00:10:33.700 --> 00:10:37.360
 the term music minister didn't apply

00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:39.700
 to the skinny kid, Gene,

00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:42.220
 getting up there with the faux hawk playing the guitar.

00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:44.000
 And they had to come up with a different term for him.

00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:44.879
 Right?

00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:46.240
 Because the music minister is a guy

00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:47.580
 that leads music with his hand

00:10:47.580 --> 00:10:48.860
 and puts together cantatas.

00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:50.259
 Right?

00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:52.300
 But I don't really know what happened.

00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:53.820
 What has happened to our thinking

00:10:53.820 --> 00:10:56.080
 about this term worship?

00:10:57.180 --> 00:10:58.080
 Now get me,

00:10:58.180 --> 00:10:59.720
 many of us say words

00:10:59.720 --> 00:11:01.220
 and we're trying to communicate something

00:11:01.220 --> 00:11:02.560
 and if somebody were to correct us

00:11:02.560 --> 00:11:02.980
 we would say,

00:11:03.180 --> 00:11:04.400
 oh well, I don't mean that.

00:11:05.400 --> 00:11:06.680
 Many of us would do that.

00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:09.680
 There's a very important biblical teaching

00:11:09.680 --> 00:11:11.000
 that simply says,

00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:12.920
 out of the outflow of the heart,

00:11:13.320 --> 00:11:14.920
 the mouth speaks.

00:11:15.420 --> 00:11:18.260
 What you say directly connects

00:11:18.260 --> 00:11:21.520
 to what you think about particular matters.

00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:22.079
 Right?

00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:23.679
 We go after you pretty hard

00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:24.539
 about calling this

00:11:24.539 --> 00:11:26.500
 building the church.

00:11:27.199 --> 00:11:27.399
 Right?

00:11:27.439 --> 00:11:29.039
 Because it clearly communicates

00:11:29.039 --> 00:11:30.559
 that in your mind

00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:32.279
 the gathering of God's people

00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:33.679
 is not about people.

00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:34.939
 It's about institution.

00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:36.159
 Building.

00:11:36.819 --> 00:11:37.379
 Lights.

00:11:37.559 --> 00:11:38.639
 And trappings.

00:11:38.860 --> 00:11:39.980
 It's not about that.

00:11:40.039 --> 00:11:41.740
 It's about God's people

00:11:41.740 --> 00:11:42.559
 coming together.

00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:43.500
 We are the church.

00:11:43.779 --> 00:11:44.460
 This is an example.

00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:45.699
 Worship is another.

00:11:46.039 --> 00:11:47.519
 It's a burr in my saddle.

00:11:47.939 --> 00:11:48.740
 Let me show you why.

00:11:48.740 --> 00:11:49.980
 Hebrews chapter 12

00:11:49.980 --> 00:11:52.080
 verses 28 and 29.

00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:53.139
 You can turn there if you want to.

00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:54.060
 I'm going to go pretty quick

00:11:54.060 --> 00:11:55.399
 because I have twice as many notes

00:11:55.399 --> 00:11:56.120
 as I normally do

00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:56.899
 on a Sunday morning.

00:11:59.340 --> 00:12:00.500
 The writer of Hebrews says,

00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:01.560
 Therefore, let us be grateful

00:12:01.560 --> 00:12:02.779
 for receiving a kingdom

00:12:02.779 --> 00:12:03.980
 that cannot be shaken.

00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:05.340
 He's just presented the gospel

00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:06.220
 in a very clear way.

00:12:06.920 --> 00:12:08.420
 And thus, let us offer to God

00:12:08.420 --> 00:12:10.259
 acceptable worship.

00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:12.000
 Acceptable worship.

00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:13.200
 Is he talking about music here?

00:12:13.300 --> 00:12:13.560
 No.

00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:15.440
 With reverence.

00:12:15.740 --> 00:12:16.480
 Not relevance.

00:12:16.620 --> 00:12:17.180
 Catch that.

00:12:17.179 --> 00:12:19.539
 With reverence and awe.

00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:20.859
 For our God

00:12:20.859 --> 00:12:22.819
 is a consuming fire.

00:12:23.539 --> 00:12:24.879
 Now, we are so quick

00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:25.739
 when we're reading the scriptures

00:12:25.739 --> 00:12:29.059
 to let these man-made divisions

00:12:29.059 --> 00:12:30.939
 block our thinking.

00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:32.959
 But the writer of Hebrews

00:12:32.959 --> 00:12:34.359
 didn't stop at that point,

00:12:34.719 --> 00:12:35.959
 take a couple of week break,

00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:36.799
 and then pick back up

00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:37.699
 and start chapter 13

00:12:37.699 --> 00:12:38.799
 as an entirely different

00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:39.359
 subject matter.

00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:40.979
 He goes on to explain

00:12:40.979 --> 00:12:42.179
 exactly what he's meaning

00:12:42.179 --> 00:12:43.179
 when he talks about

00:12:43.179 --> 00:12:45.319
 offering acceptable worship

00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:46.940
 with reverence and awe.

00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:50.080
 Let's, just a quick summary.

00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:51.320
 What does chapter 13

00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:53.140
 tell us we ought to be doing

00:12:53.140 --> 00:12:55.300
 to worship our God?

00:12:56.040 --> 00:12:57.520
 Let brotherly love continue.

00:12:58.040 --> 00:12:59.560
 Show hospitality to strangers.

00:13:00.040 --> 00:13:01.480
 Remember persecuted Christians.

00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:02.660
 Honor marriage.

00:13:02.900 --> 00:13:03.820
 Be sexually pure.

00:13:04.180 --> 00:13:05.120
 Do not love money.

00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:06.080
 Be content.

00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:07.720
 Imitate the faith of your leaders.

00:13:08.100 --> 00:13:09.060
 Do not be led away

00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:09.960
 by false doctrine.

00:13:10.400 --> 00:13:11.780
 Bear the reproach of Christ.

00:13:12.160 --> 00:13:14.040
 Acknowledge Christ with your lips.

00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:15.079
 Do good.

00:13:15.459 --> 00:13:16.439
 Share what you have.

00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:18.939
 Obey and submit to your leaders.

00:13:20.099 --> 00:13:22.179
 This is worship.

00:13:23.339 --> 00:13:24.799
 And what I fear happens

00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:26.279
 is that when we think of music

00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:27.439
 as the only thing

00:13:27.439 --> 00:13:28.299
 that is worship to God,

00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:30.639
 we neglect all of these things.

00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:33.980
 Now, would music be found in this list?

00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:34.559
 Yes.

00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:35.779
 It absolutely would.

00:13:36.299 --> 00:13:36.519
 Right?

00:13:36.599 --> 00:13:38.139
 We are to acknowledge Christ

00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:40.399
 with our lips.

00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:42.079
 And we do that

00:13:42.079 --> 00:13:43.740
 when we sing together.

00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:46.019
 John MacArthur,

00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:47.199
 in a book I would commend to you

00:13:47.199 --> 00:13:47.799
 called Worship,

00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:48.759
 The Ultimate Priority,

00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:49.100
 said,

00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:52.340
 Worship is any essential expression

00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:53.059
 of service

00:13:53.059 --> 00:13:54.579
 rendered unto God

00:13:54.579 --> 00:13:55.879
 by a soul who loves

00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:56.879
 and extols Him

00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:57.799
 for who He is.

00:13:58.539 --> 00:13:59.379
 Real worship, therefore,

00:13:59.459 --> 00:14:00.720
 should be the full-time,

00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:02.360
 non-stop activity

00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:03.340
 of every believer.

00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:05.159
 And the aim of the exercise

00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:05.699
 ought to be

00:14:05.699 --> 00:14:06.519
 to please God.

00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:07.759
 That is worship.

00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:09.419
 Our lives are meant to be lives

00:14:09.419 --> 00:14:10.039
 of worship.

00:14:10.620 --> 00:14:11.299
 As a person,

00:14:11.399 --> 00:14:12.340
 you are always going to be

00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:13.139
 worshiping something.

00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:14.379
 You're going to either be

00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:15.720
 worshiping the Most High God

00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:17.259
 or something else.

00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:18.419
 Yourself,

00:14:19.139 --> 00:14:19.899
 sports,

00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:21.100
 success,

00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:22.319
 your wife,

00:14:22.419 --> 00:14:23.000
 your husband,

00:14:23.580 --> 00:14:24.960
 just relationships in general.

00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:25.840
 You're always going to be

00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:26.960
 worshiping something.

00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:28.419
 Proper worship

00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:29.480
 is worship

00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:30.620
 of God.

00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:32.700
 The Puritans had a

00:14:32.700 --> 00:14:33.659
 principle

00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:34.179
 they called

00:14:34.179 --> 00:14:35.360
 the regulative principle.

00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:38.259
 the regulative principle.

00:14:38.700 --> 00:14:39.060
 Excuse me,

00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:39.759
 not the Puritans,

00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:40.480
 the Reformers.

00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:41.720
 Sorry,

00:14:41.820 --> 00:14:42.279
 history buffs.

00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:44.840
 Listen to what John Calvin said.

00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:45.960
 I think this sums up

00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:47.240
 the regulative principle well.

00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:48.080
 He said,

00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:49.200
 We may not adopt

00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:50.259
 any device

00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:50.980
 in our worship

00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:52.240
 which seems to fit

00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:52.899
 ourselves,

00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:54.879
 but look to the injunctions

00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:55.440
 of Him

00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:56.159
 who alone

00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:57.200
 is entitled to prescribe.

00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:58.340
 Therefore,

00:14:58.519 --> 00:14:59.300
 if we would have Him

00:14:59.300 --> 00:15:00.200
 approve our worship,

00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:01.080
 this rule

00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:01.899
 which He everywhere

00:15:01.899 --> 00:15:02.560
 enforces

00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:03.960
 with the utmost strictness

00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:06.340
 must be carefully observed.

00:15:07.040 --> 00:15:07.980
 God disapproves

00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:09.360
 of all modes

00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:09.940
 of worship

00:15:09.940 --> 00:15:11.220
 not expressly

00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:12.259
 sanctioned

00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:13.180
 by His Word.

00:15:14.820 --> 00:15:15.840
 So I'm taking you now

00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:16.600
 to talk about worship

00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:17.480
 and life as general.

00:15:17.780 --> 00:15:18.320
 What He's saying

00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:19.820
 certainly applies to that.

00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:21.280
 Talk about how it is

00:15:21.280 --> 00:15:22.240
 that we ought to

00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.740
 worship together

00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:25.160
 in our services.

00:15:25.940 --> 00:15:26.000
 Right?

00:15:26.400 --> 00:15:27.320
 Matthew 15,

00:15:27.680 --> 00:15:28.420
 8 and 9.

00:15:29.300 --> 00:15:29.720
 Jesus said,

00:15:29.800 --> 00:15:30.560
 This people honors me

00:15:30.560 --> 00:15:31.080
 with their lips,

00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:32.200
 but their heart

00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:33.160
 is far from me.

00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:34.279
 In vain

00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:35.199
 do they worship me.

00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.939
 Teaching as doctrines

00:15:36.939 --> 00:15:37.959
 the commandments

00:15:37.959 --> 00:15:39.159
 of men.

00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:41.980
 As they're gathering together,

00:15:42.219 --> 00:15:43.439
 they were doing things

00:15:43.439 --> 00:15:44.279
 to worship

00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:45.879
 that were man-made,

00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:47.000
 man-created,

00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:47.679
 ways in which

00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:48.740
 we should worship God.

00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:50.399
 We've been given

00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.879
 the instruction manual

00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.919
 for how we ought

00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:53.620
 to worship God.

00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:54.459
 Certainly,

00:15:54.659 --> 00:15:55.439
 it applies to how

00:15:55.439 --> 00:15:56.339
 we worship God

00:15:56.339 --> 00:15:57.379
 together.

00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:00.659
 All of our service

00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:02.039
 is worship.

00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:04.159
 This is a worship service.

00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:04.959
 That's what we have

00:16:04.959 --> 00:16:06.599
 come together to do.

00:16:06.719 --> 00:16:08.079
 From the very beginning

00:16:08.079 --> 00:16:10.019
 all the way to the end,

00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:10.860
 that's what we have

00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:11.819
 come to do.

00:16:12.319 --> 00:16:13.579
 If anybody rightly

00:16:13.579 --> 00:16:14.339
 gets the title

00:16:14.339 --> 00:16:15.099
 of worship leader,

00:16:15.199 --> 00:16:16.000
 it would be me

00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:17.099
 because I take responsibility

00:16:17.099 --> 00:16:18.139
 for everything

00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:19.279
 that happens

00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:20.139
 when we're together

00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:21.419
 on a Sunday morning.

00:16:22.099 --> 00:16:22.159
 Right?

00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:23.579
 Here in our text,

00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.199
 who are the worship leaders

00:16:25.199 --> 00:16:25.519
 here?

00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:26.240
 I didn't read

00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:27.219
 the name out to you,

00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:29.100
 but we see a singer

00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:29.860
 being led

00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:30.500
 at the very end

00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:31.100
 of verse 42.

00:16:31.300 --> 00:16:32.660
 The singer's leader

00:16:32.660 --> 00:16:33.820
 is Jezrehiah.

00:16:34.180 --> 00:16:35.200
 Is he the worship leader?

00:16:35.420 --> 00:16:36.360
 I would say to you,

00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:36.740
 no.

00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:37.680
 He was the leader

00:16:37.680 --> 00:16:38.519
 of the singers.

00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:40.420
 Nehemiah

00:16:40.420 --> 00:16:41.600
 and Ezra,

00:16:42.160 --> 00:16:42.899
 the men who were

00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:43.620
 leading the people

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.639
 and put together

00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:45.540
 this thing

00:16:45.540 --> 00:16:47.259
 are the worship leaders.

00:16:48.160 --> 00:16:48.940
 So this morning,

00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:49.360
 I'm going to use

00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:51.340
 the term musical worship

00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:52.759
 because certainly

00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:53.300
 our singing

00:16:53.300 --> 00:16:54.660
 is that.

00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:56.139
 And unfortunately,

00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:57.160
 people have

00:16:57.160 --> 00:16:59.940
 done two things

00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:00.340
 if they're doing

00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:01.259
 anything wrongly

00:17:01.259 --> 00:17:02.080
 with music.

00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:03.259
 They've either made it,

00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.279
 they've relegated it

00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:05.340
 to a lesser thing.

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:07.019
 It's the thing we do

00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:08.019
 in order to prepare

00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:08.700
 ourselves

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:10.059
 to hear the word

00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:10.779
 preached.

00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.160
 It could be a way

00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:12.860
 that you treat it.

00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.799
 I know this is true

00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:15.559
 because I used to be

00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:16.039
 that way.

00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:17.779
 Especially when the

00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:18.980
 whole praise and worship

00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:19.920
 movement started

00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:20.519
 coming out.

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:22.039
 I started to stop

00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:22.799
 seeing the value

00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:23.639
 in singing some of

00:17:23.639 --> 00:17:24.319
 these songs

00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:25.059
 that were being sung

00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:26.440
 and I just bore

00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:27.139
 through it so I could

00:17:27.139 --> 00:17:27.779
 get to the teaching

00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.579
 of the word.

00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:29.799
 Some of you may be

00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:30.139
 that way.

00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:30.779
 Others of you may

00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.839
 make it too big

00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:32.240
 of a deal.

00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:33.799
 You may just bear

00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:34.420
 through the preaching

00:17:34.420 --> 00:17:34.940
 so that you can

00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:35.940
 sing some more songs.

00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:37.759
 Have your emotional

00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:39.519
 tank filled back up.

00:17:40.900 --> 00:17:41.339
 Properly,

00:17:42.099 --> 00:17:43.139
 our musical worship

00:17:43.139 --> 00:17:44.579
 is worship of God.

00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:46.319
 We should come

00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.519
 together prepared

00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:49.000
 to do this activity

00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:49.619
 together.

00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:50.799
 We should want

00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:51.519
 to please Him

00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:52.379
 with what we do

00:17:52.379 --> 00:17:53.359
 together in song.

00:17:54.439 --> 00:17:54.959
 So today I want

00:17:54.959 --> 00:17:55.359
 to give you

00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:57.019
 four characteristics

00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:58.619
 of proper

00:17:58.619 --> 00:17:59.659
 musical

00:17:59.659 --> 00:18:00.759
 worship.

00:18:01.399 --> 00:18:02.639
 Proper musical

00:18:02.639 --> 00:18:03.859
 worship.

00:18:04.239 --> 00:18:05.019
 And I want you

00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:05.879
 to keep two questions

00:18:05.879 --> 00:18:06.379
 in mind

00:18:06.379 --> 00:18:07.359
 as we do this.

00:18:07.719 --> 00:18:08.019
 One,

00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.679
 do you think rightly

00:18:10.679 --> 00:18:11.799
 about musical worship?

00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:15.679
 Do you think rightly

00:18:15.679 --> 00:18:15.959
 about it?

00:18:15.959 --> 00:18:16.779
 Do you understand

00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:18.379
 what it is supposed

00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:19.100
 to be and what it

00:18:19.100 --> 00:18:19.660
 is supposed to look

00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:19.900
 like?

00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.080
 And then secondly,

00:18:21.300 --> 00:18:22.360
 do you participate

00:18:22.360 --> 00:18:24.200
 rightly in musical

00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:24.440
 worship?

00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:25.640
 Do you think rightly

00:18:25.640 --> 00:18:26.020
 about it?

00:18:26.260 --> 00:18:27.020
 Do you participate

00:18:27.020 --> 00:18:28.180
 rightly in it?

00:18:29.300 --> 00:18:30.120
 One of the questions

00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:31.680
 that kind of got at

00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:32.520
 my mind though

00:18:32.520 --> 00:18:33.160
 as I was looking

00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:33.940
 at this is the

00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:34.240
 question,

00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:35.580
 is musical worship

00:18:35.580 --> 00:18:37.040
 important to our

00:18:37.040 --> 00:18:37.320
 meetings?

00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:40.060
 I would venture to

00:18:40.060 --> 00:18:40.300
 say,

00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:41.000
 I may be wrong

00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.380
 about this,

00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:41.860
 but I would venture

00:18:41.860 --> 00:18:42.460
 to say that there

00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:43.300
 is not a church

00:18:43.300 --> 00:18:44.180
 in this nation

00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:44.760
 that you would go

00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:45.259
 to this morning

00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:45.799
 that wouldn't

00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:46.660
 sing in some

00:18:46.660 --> 00:18:48.480
 fashion on a

00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:48.940
 Sunday morning.

00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:50.539
 Why?

00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:51.259
 Why do churches

00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:51.599
 do that?

00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:52.500
 Is it just that

00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.019
 it's the thing

00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:53.700
 we're supposed to

00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:53.940
 do?

00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:54.660
 We just know

00:18:54.660 --> 00:18:55.099
 when we come

00:18:55.099 --> 00:18:55.759
 together as a

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:55.980
 church,

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.460
 you sing.

00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:56.859
 I don't know

00:18:56.859 --> 00:18:57.339
 why we sing,

00:18:57.379 --> 00:18:57.920
 but we sing.

00:18:59.119 --> 00:18:59.700
 Some of you

00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:00.420
 may feel that

00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:00.740
 way.

00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:01.279
 Some of you

00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:01.799
 might stand

00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.720
 stoically without

00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:03.400
 uttering a word.

00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:03.759
 I don't have a

00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:04.059
 good voice.

00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:04.440
 I don't want to

00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:04.559
 sing.

00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:05.539
 I hate the

00:19:05.539 --> 00:19:05.700
 singing.

00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:06.240
 Why do we sing

00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:06.619
 in church?

00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.460
 Is musical worship

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:10.240
 important to our

00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:10.559
 meetings?

00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:12.019
 If you were to be

00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.819
 a careful student

00:19:12.819 --> 00:19:13.359
 of the word of

00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:14.059
 God, you could

00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:15.019
 emphatically answer

00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.959
 that yes.

00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:18.679
 Music is all

00:19:18.679 --> 00:19:20.000
 throughout the

00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.299
 Bible.

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.039
 From the very

00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:22.019
 first book,

00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:22.979
 there are hymns

00:19:22.979 --> 00:19:24.059
 recorded, songs

00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:24.859
 sung to praise

00:19:24.859 --> 00:19:25.899
 God in Genesis

00:19:25.899 --> 00:19:27.059
 all the way

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:27.679
 through to the

00:19:27.679 --> 00:19:28.679
 book of

00:19:28.679 --> 00:19:29.099
 Revelation.

00:19:29.899 --> 00:19:30.740
 Except for the

00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:31.639
 book of Psalms,

00:19:31.699 --> 00:19:31.899
 you know that

00:19:31.899 --> 00:19:32.479
 Revelation has

00:19:32.479 --> 00:19:33.699
 more songs of

00:19:33.699 --> 00:19:34.399
 praise in it than

00:19:34.399 --> 00:19:34.859
 any other?

00:19:34.959 --> 00:19:35.959
 There's 14 songs.

00:19:36.179 --> 00:19:36.839
 I don't have my

00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:40.919
 14 songs sung in

00:19:40.919 --> 00:19:41.619
 the book of

00:19:41.619 --> 00:19:42.079
 Revelation.

00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:43.159
 It is everywhere.

00:19:43.899 --> 00:19:44.599
 Why were the

00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:45.519
 Psalms even

00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:46.039
 written?

00:19:46.379 --> 00:19:46.719
 What was the

00:19:46.719 --> 00:19:47.479
 very point of

00:19:47.479 --> 00:19:47.839
 them being

00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:48.199
 written?

00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:48.919
 It was written

00:19:48.919 --> 00:19:49.899
 to give God's

00:19:49.899 --> 00:19:51.599
 people songs to

00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:53.079
 sing together.

00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:54.379
 Listen to just a

00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:54.959
 couple of examples

00:19:54.959 --> 00:19:55.679
 of the Psalms

00:19:55.679 --> 00:19:56.439
 speaking to this

00:19:56.439 --> 00:19:57.019
 very point.

00:19:57.219 --> 00:19:57.879
 Psalm 22,

00:19:57.959 --> 00:19:58.279
 22.

00:19:59.139 --> 00:19:59.679
 I will tell of

00:19:59.679 --> 00:20:00.159
 your name to

00:20:00.159 --> 00:20:00.779
 my brothers.

00:20:00.979 --> 00:20:01.599
 In the midst of

00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:02.399
 the congregation,

00:20:02.659 --> 00:20:03.799
 I will praise

00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:04.079
 you.

00:20:04.219 --> 00:20:05.219
 The picture in

00:20:05.219 --> 00:20:06.279
 Hebrew of singing

00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:07.379
 praise to God's

00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:07.619
 name.

00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:08.579
 Psalm 35,

00:20:08.679 --> 00:20:08.939
 18.

00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:09.579
 I will thank you

00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:09.899
 in the great

00:20:09.899 --> 00:20:10.379
 congregation.

00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.079
 In the mighty

00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:12.359
 throng, I will

00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:13.019
 praise you.

00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:14.939
 Psalm 68, 26.

00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.419
 Bless God in

00:20:16.419 --> 00:20:16.819
 the great

00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:17.740
 congregation, the

00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:19.059
 Lord of you who

00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:19.899
 are of Israel's

00:20:19.899 --> 00:20:20.199
 fountain.

00:20:21.639 --> 00:20:22.819
 Yes, it's key.

00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:24.359
 Yes, it should

00:20:24.359 --> 00:20:25.019
 be done.

00:20:25.899 --> 00:20:26.339
 John Calvin

00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:27.399
 called the Psalms

00:20:27.399 --> 00:20:28.539
 the anatomy of

00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:29.979
 all the parts of

00:20:29.979 --> 00:20:30.519
 the soul.

00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:32.719
 These songs have

00:20:32.719 --> 00:20:34.039
 been given to us

00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:35.500
 to relate to and

00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:36.740
 express with and

00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:38.539
 to understand some

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.599
 of the realities of

00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:40.819
 God in our

00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:42.019
 inner being, in

00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:43.299
 our very emotion,

00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.519
 the seat of who

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.579
 we are.

00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:47.939
 Laura Melendez

00:20:47.939 --> 00:20:48.839
 put up on

00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:49.519
 Facebook a cool

00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:49.980
 quote from

00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.459
 Jonathan Edwards

00:20:50.459 --> 00:20:51.039
 this week, which

00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:51.779
 was so timely,

00:20:51.879 --> 00:20:52.719
 so I nabbed it

00:20:52.719 --> 00:20:53.339
 and I put it in

00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:53.519
 here.

00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:54.279
 Jonathan Edwards

00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:54.539
 said,

00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:55.579
 the best,

00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.699
 most beautiful,

00:20:56.859 --> 00:20:57.480
 and most perfect

00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:58.219
 way that we have

00:20:58.219 --> 00:20:59.159
 of expressing a

00:20:59.159 --> 00:21:00.379
 sweet concord of

00:21:00.379 --> 00:21:01.159
 mind to each

00:21:01.159 --> 00:21:02.219
 other is by

00:21:02.219 --> 00:21:02.819
 music.

00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:03.899
 Hear that

00:21:03.899 --> 00:21:04.099
 again.

00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:05.019
 The best,

00:21:05.199 --> 00:21:05.779
 most beautiful,

00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:06.639
 and most perfect

00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:07.379
 way that we have

00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:08.279
 of expressing a

00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:10.119
 sweet concord of

00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:10.819
 mind to each

00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:12.019
 other is by

00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:12.559
 music.

00:21:13.420 --> 00:21:14.119
 Martin Luther,

00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:15.819
 a great reformer,

00:21:15.859 --> 00:21:16.000
 said,

00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:16.500
 next to the word

00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:16.980
 of God,

00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:18.059
 music deserves

00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:18.799
 the highest

00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.379
 praise.

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.339
 The gift of

00:21:20.339 --> 00:21:21.339
 language combined

00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:22.059
 with the gift

00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:23.059
 of song was

00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:23.960
 given to man

00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:24.720
 so that he

00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.440
 should proclaim

00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:25.940
 the word of

00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:27.220
 God through

00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:27.779
 music.

00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.339
 That's what we

00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:30.059
 come together to

00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:30.720
 do when we

00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.299
 sing.

00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:33.359
 That's why the

00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:34.059
 music isn't so

00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:34.599
 loud that you

00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:35.579
 can't hear yourself

00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:36.200
 and the person

00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:36.940
 standing next to

00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:37.779
 you in this

00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.019
 room.

00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:39.680
 It's not a

00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.220
 concert.

00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:41.440
 Congregational

00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:42.139
 worship and

00:21:42.139 --> 00:21:42.619
 songs should

00:21:42.619 --> 00:21:43.099
 look much

00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:44.299
 different than

00:21:44.299 --> 00:21:44.960
 a rock show,

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:46.059
 to be sure.

00:21:47.139 --> 00:21:47.740
 And this is all

00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:47.960
 me.

00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:48.460
 This is my

00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:48.700
 quote.

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:49.399
 I just want to

00:21:49.399 --> 00:21:49.879
 get myself in

00:21:49.879 --> 00:21:50.299
 the mix with

00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:50.720
 these guys.

00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.440
 Singing is

00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:55.700
 vital to our

00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.779
 meetings because

00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:57.920
 songs most

00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:58.279
 readily,

00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:58.720
 it's not the

00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.319
 only way,

00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:00.379
 but songs most

00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:01.559
 readily unite our

00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.759
 minds and our

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:03.160
 hearts.

00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:04.759
 We get the

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.899
 information packed

00:22:05.899 --> 00:22:07.059
 in to our heads

00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:08.319
 and songs help

00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:09.240
 it unite with

00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:09.659
 our heart.

00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:10.639
 We feel the

00:22:10.639 --> 00:22:11.960
 truth when we

00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:12.220
 sing.

00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:12.599
 At least I

00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:13.559
 hope you feel

00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:15.259
 the truth when

00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:15.740
 you sing.

00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:17.980
 You ever

00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:18.539
 wondered why we

00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.159
 do two songs

00:22:19.159 --> 00:22:19.659
 before the

00:22:19.659 --> 00:22:20.480
 preaching and

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.000
 three songs

00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:21.319
 after?

00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:22.059
 Not that those

00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:22.879
 are magic numbers

00:22:22.879 --> 00:22:23.859
 at all, but the

00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:24.259
 ways when we

00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:24.919
 broke it up that

00:22:24.919 --> 00:22:26.019
 way is because we

00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:26.480
 want you to

00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:27.299
 rejoice in the

00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:27.720
 truth of the

00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:29.539
 gospel after the

00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:30.119
 preaching of the

00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:30.419
 gospel.

00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:32.319
 If you're not a

00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:32.859
 person that really

00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:34.159
 engages with lyrics

00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:35.440
 on a screen, we

00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:35.759
 want you to

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:36.400
 have heard it

00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.519
 spoken to you so

00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:37.880
 that you'll be

00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:39.380
 more likely to

00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:39.960
 have these things

00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.660
 happen, to have

00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:41.560
 your mind and

00:22:41.560 --> 00:22:42.720
 your heart unite

00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.540
 around these

00:22:43.540 --> 00:22:43.820
 truths.

00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:45.560
 So yes, yes,

00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:46.820
 music is important

00:22:46.820 --> 00:22:47.680
 to our meeting

00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:48.060
 together.

00:22:49.120 --> 00:22:50.320
 All right, so

00:22:50.320 --> 00:22:51.080
 first observation,

00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:52.300
 proper musical

00:22:52.300 --> 00:22:54.279
 worship is

00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:54.720
 ordered.

00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:02.340
 Proper musical

00:23:02.340 --> 00:23:02.980
 worship is

00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.380
 ordered.

00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.539
 Take a look at

00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:07.680
 the activity of

00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.279
 the choirs here.

00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:09.039
 This is not

00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:09.640
 something that just

00:23:09.640 --> 00:23:10.559
 got suddenly thrown

00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:11.259
 together in a

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:12.180
 spontaneous fashion.

00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:12.759
 There are some who

00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:13.319
 think that musical

00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:14.299
 worship ought to

00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:15.039
 always be just

00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:16.440
 spontaneous, right?

00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:16.880
 That it just

00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:18.180
 ought to come from

00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:18.860
 the spirits leading

00:23:18.860 --> 00:23:19.400
 and then somebody

00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:20.059
 just starts playing

00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:20.539
 and somebody starts

00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:20.860
 singing.

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.019
 Or that when they

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.740
 are in fact given

00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:24.460
 a slotted time to

00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:26.279
 sing, they go on

00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:27.039
 and they go on

00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.740
 and they go on

00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.339
 and they go on.

00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:28.819
 And I'll tell you

00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:29.440
 this, that a person

00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:30.319
 that cannot bring a

00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:31.279
 resolution to a song

00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.339
 usually isn't being

00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:32.960
 spirit-led, but

00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:33.579
 they're not good

00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:34.160
 enough to resolve

00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:34.579
 a song.

00:23:35.100 --> 00:23:35.920
 If they just play

00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:36.700
 that chorus one

00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:37.299
 more time, they're

00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:37.960
 going to figure out

00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:38.559
 how to end the

00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:39.380
 song on that

00:23:39.380 --> 00:23:40.140
 go around.

00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:42.120
 Proper musical

00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:42.700
 worship is

00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.200
 ordered.

00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:43.680
 Look at the

00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.340
 activity of the

00:23:44.340 --> 00:23:44.740
 choirs.

00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:45.600
 The first part of

00:23:45.600 --> 00:23:46.400
 verse 31, there's

00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:47.480
 these two great

00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:48.480
 choirs appointed

00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:50.840
 to give thanks.

00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:51.600
 The first group

00:23:51.600 --> 00:23:52.299
 goes up on the

00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:52.559
 wall.

00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:54.039
 We skipped over

00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:54.519
 some of this,

00:23:54.620 --> 00:23:54.720
 right?

00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:55.240
 But they go up

00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:56.079
 on the wall and

00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:56.559
 they move in a

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.420
 counterclockwise

00:23:57.420 --> 00:23:58.120
 direction.

00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.279
 All of this record

00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.059
 of the places they

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:00.920
 were passing by,

00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.400
 if you understood

00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:02.920
 the city, you

00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:03.360
 would just know.

00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:03.880
 He's just telling

00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:04.759
 us the direction in

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:06.080
 which they flowed as

00:24:06.080 --> 00:24:06.759
 they walked on this

00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.920
 walkway that would

00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:08.860
 have run around the

00:24:08.860 --> 00:24:10.560
 inside of the edge

00:24:10.560 --> 00:24:11.900
 of the wall.

00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:12.580
 That's what's going

00:24:12.580 --> 00:24:12.900
 on here.

00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:13.519
 I had to pull up a

00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.240
 map and carefully

00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:15.440
 plot the course and

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.820
 see what they did.

00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:17.560
 You've got the first

00:24:17.560 --> 00:24:18.420
 group that goes and

00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:19.259
 they go counterclockwise

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:20.160
 around the wall.

00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:21.220
 The second group goes

00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:21.720
 up and they go

00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:23.180
 clockwise around the

00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:23.380
 wall.

00:24:23.380 --> 00:24:25.080
 The first group is

00:24:25.080 --> 00:24:25.900
 led by Ezra.

00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:26.820
 The second group

00:24:26.820 --> 00:24:28.440
 followed by Nehemiah.

00:24:28.580 --> 00:24:29.640
 And they come around

00:24:29.640 --> 00:24:31.000
 the city and meet

00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:32.100
 at the house of God.

00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:32.840
 That's where we end

00:24:32.840 --> 00:24:33.640
 up seeing them

00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:34.200
 standing.

00:24:34.580 --> 00:24:35.300
 They stood in the

00:24:35.300 --> 00:24:35.880
 house of God, you

00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:37.260
 see in verses 40

00:24:37.260 --> 00:24:38.580
 through 43, offering

00:24:38.580 --> 00:24:39.900
 great sacrifices and

00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:40.480
 rejoicing.

00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:41.960
 Most of our

00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:43.000
 translations probably

00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:45.880
 record the great

00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:46.780
 number of choirs.

00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:47.280
 Let me see if I can

00:24:47.280 --> 00:24:48.100
 spot that real quick

00:24:48.100 --> 00:24:49.040
 as I didn't make a

00:24:49.040 --> 00:24:49.620
 note about it.

00:24:51.620 --> 00:24:52.280
 Yep, yep, yep.

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.599
 Gather Together from

00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:53.980
 the District's

00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:54.299
 Rounding.

00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:59.339
 Okay, anyway, there's

00:24:59.339 --> 00:25:00.180
 a record of it being

00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:01.660
 a great choir.

00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.859
 Okay, this is not

00:25:02.859 --> 00:25:03.839
 speaking to the

00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:05.440
 choir's quality of

00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.599
 voice, that they were

00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:07.759
 a well-trained choir,

00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:08.440
 although I propose

00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:09.339
 that they were, but

00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:09.940
 speaking to their

00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:11.839
 number, a massive

00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:14.119
 number of people that

00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:15.819
 were a choir that had

00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:16.859
 to coordinate.

00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:18.319
 You've got two

00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:19.519
 choirs getting up on

00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.279
 the wall and singing

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:21.160
 and passing around

00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:21.839
 and then going

00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:22.259
 together and

00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:22.619
 into the house

00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:22.920
 of God.

00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:23.440
 This was

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:25.480
 incredibly ordered.

00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:26.299
 Right?

00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:27.680
 So practice matters

00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:28.480
 at this point, is

00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.099
 what I'm trying to

00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:29.440
 say.

00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:31.119
 Notice in verse 28,

00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:31.660
 you see this

00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:32.599
 interesting phrase,

00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:34.420
 the sons of the

00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:34.740
 singers.

00:25:35.859 --> 00:25:36.779
 The sons of the

00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.039
 singers.

00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:37.819
 Is he referring

00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:39.400
 here to those who

00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:40.599
 were descendants of

00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:40.980
 the singers?

00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.759
 That could be a

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.700
 possibility since we've

00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:44.220
 now seen Israel go

00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:45.599
 away and return from

00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:46.400
 Babylonian captivity

00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:47.259
 because these be the

00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:48.200
 sons of the men who

00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:49.079
 were singers before

00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:50.000
 Babylonian captivity,

00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:51.180
 now returned?

00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:53.000
 No, that's not what

00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.620
 he's talking about.

00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.440
 This was common

00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:55.539
 Hebrew language.

00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:57.080
 To say sons of

00:25:57.080 --> 00:25:58.080
 something was a way

00:25:58.080 --> 00:25:58.799
 of saying in the

00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.600
 order of.

00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.720
 That it was their

00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.279
 job.

00:26:02.340 --> 00:26:02.759
 It was something that

00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.640
 was prescribed to

00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:03.740
 them.

00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:05.100
 It was their nature.

00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.000
 They were the sons

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:07.539
 of the singers.

00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.460
 You'll notice it

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:09.200
 again, a similar

00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:10.519
 phrase in verse 47.

00:26:10.860 --> 00:26:11.920
 You'll see the sons

00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:12.860
 of Aaron.

00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:14.640
 Right at the very end

00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:15.180
 of the chapter,

00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:16.220
 the sons of Aaron.

00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:17.240
 Were they descendants

00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:17.640
 of Aaron?

00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:18.580
 And certainly they

00:26:18.580 --> 00:26:18.880
 were.

00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:19.880
 But the point he's

00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:20.520
 making here is that

00:26:20.520 --> 00:26:20.960
 these were the

00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:21.300
 priests.

00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:21.980
 These were the ones

00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:22.620
 who were in the

00:26:22.620 --> 00:26:23.720
 priestly order.

00:26:24.040 --> 00:26:24.500
 They were the ones

00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:25.759
 given the task of

00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:27.300
 serving as priests.

00:26:27.860 --> 00:26:29.480
 So we see men,

00:26:30.100 --> 00:26:30.780
 potentially women

00:26:30.780 --> 00:26:31.380
 here, that are

00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:32.660
 specifically given

00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:33.259
 the task.

00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:34.440
 That was their

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.920
 calling to do

00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:36.740
 this very thing

00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.700
 for the people of

00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.000
 God.

00:26:38.860 --> 00:26:39.560
 Notice in verse

00:26:39.560 --> 00:26:40.180
 29.

00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:41.520
 They've actually

00:26:41.520 --> 00:26:42.740
 congregated together.

00:26:43.280 --> 00:26:43.680
 For the singers

00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.200
 had built for

00:26:44.200 --> 00:26:45.140
 themselves villages

00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:46.580
 around Jerusalem as

00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:47.359
 the people weren't

00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:48.099
 living in Jerusalem.

00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:49.359
 They had congregated

00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:49.720
 together.

00:26:50.099 --> 00:26:50.779
 And I would imagine

00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.599
 that this was because

00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:52.759
 they were practicing

00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.419
 their skill.

00:26:53.679 --> 00:26:54.119
 They were together.

00:26:54.419 --> 00:26:54.819
 I don't know what

00:26:54.819 --> 00:26:55.359
 kind of picture this

00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:56.259
 brings up in your

00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:56.519
 mind.

00:26:56.619 --> 00:26:57.199
 Maybe for some of

00:26:57.199 --> 00:26:58.659
 you it's robes and

00:26:58.659 --> 00:26:59.939
 books in a room

00:26:59.939 --> 00:27:00.779
 behind the sanctuary.

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.399
 Them gathering

00:27:01.399 --> 00:27:02.879
 together and honing

00:27:02.879 --> 00:27:03.799
 their craft as they

00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:04.319
 came together.

00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:06.179
 I think of kind of

00:27:06.179 --> 00:27:06.879
 hippie guys sitting

00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:07.740
 around in their

00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:08.960
 flip-flops in a

00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:10.139
 circle playing drums

00:27:10.139 --> 00:27:11.000
 and guitars.

00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:12.119
 But they were

00:27:12.119 --> 00:27:13.419
 together in towns

00:27:13.419 --> 00:27:14.939
 together working on

00:27:14.939 --> 00:27:15.319
 this craft.

00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:16.779
 They were prepared

00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:18.339
 for this activity.

00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:20.619
 We see no record of

00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:21.500
 them having to go for

00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:22.379
 weeks and weeks of

00:27:22.379 --> 00:27:23.200
 practice so they could

00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:24.700
 get together to lead

00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:26.599
 this massive congregation.

00:27:26.879 --> 00:27:28.139
 30,000 to 50,000

00:27:28.139 --> 00:27:29.359
 people are back now

00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:30.319
 from Babylonian

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:31.419
 captivity in the

00:27:31.419 --> 00:27:31.759
 song.

00:27:32.159 --> 00:27:33.019
 No, they were ready.

00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:34.279
 They knew the songs

00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:35.240
 and all they had to do

00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:36.220
 was be coordinated in

00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:37.799
 this movement around

00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.619
 the city.

00:27:39.679 --> 00:27:41.039
 Notice in verse 47

00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:41.659
 that there was

00:27:41.659 --> 00:27:43.460
 actually provision made

00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:44.360
 for these singers.

00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:46.180
 This was a job,

00:27:46.279 --> 00:27:46.759
 a task,

00:27:46.840 --> 00:27:49.240
 an official assignment

00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:50.460
 given to them.

00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:53.140
 Money, provision

00:27:53.140 --> 00:27:54.019
 was set aside

00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:54.880
 to care for them

00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:55.519
 so that they could be

00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.559
 better and better

00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:57.840
 and better at their

00:27:57.840 --> 00:27:58.220
 craft.

00:27:58.860 --> 00:27:59.920
 We, for the size of

00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:00.779
 our church, we are

00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:02.340
 immensely blessed with

00:28:02.340 --> 00:28:03.039
 musical talent.

00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:05.019
 Kind of blows my mind.

00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:05.819
 I'm mentioning

00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:06.819
 Lauren Melendez again.

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:07.880
 She won the Eddie's

00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:08.960
 Attic open mic night,

00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:10.019
 if you know that or not,

00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:10.680
 which is a pretty

00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:12.400
 incredible task.

00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:12.640
 Yeah.

00:28:13.360 --> 00:28:14.180
 Yeah, pretty incredible.

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:15.480
 We have great, great

00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:16.080
 talent here.

00:28:16.620 --> 00:28:17.920
 What if, what if,

00:28:18.120 --> 00:28:18.680
 wouldn't it be just

00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:21.100
 fantastic if Wes,

00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:22.019
 rather than having to

00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:23.340
 show up at 8.30 on

00:28:23.340 --> 00:28:24.200
 Sunday morning and get

00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:24.960
 everybody together and

00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:26.460
 get their talents on the

00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.420
 same page together,

00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:27.980
 what if he could spend

00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.980
 more time in the week

00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:30.180
 preparing and doing that

00:28:30.180 --> 00:28:31.940
 to lead us in this very

00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:34.160
 important aspect of

00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:35.160
 worshiping God together

00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:36.680
 in our singing, right?

00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.580
 This is something that

00:28:37.580 --> 00:28:38.220
 the people of Israel

00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:39.860
 recognized was important

00:28:39.859 --> 00:28:41.439
 to set aside provision

00:28:41.439 --> 00:28:42.819
 for the singers,

00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:44.299
 for those who are in

00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:45.639
 the order of singing.

00:28:46.139 --> 00:28:47.099
 Just as an interesting

00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:48.119
 side note, it says

00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:49.759
 very little to do with

00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.279
 what we're talking about

00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:52.159
 here, but with that

00:28:52.159 --> 00:28:53.419
 in mind, thinking of

00:28:53.419 --> 00:28:54.379
 these people being the

00:28:54.379 --> 00:28:55.279
 sons of the singers,

00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:56.939
 we see the sons of

00:28:56.939 --> 00:28:57.279
 Aaron.

00:28:57.439 --> 00:28:58.379
 Isn't it interesting that

00:28:58.379 --> 00:28:59.219
 Jesus is called the

00:28:59.219 --> 00:29:00.039
 son of God?

00:29:02.199 --> 00:29:03.639
 Certainly he was born,

00:29:03.939 --> 00:29:05.079
 we came into the earth

00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:06.319
 that way, but it means

00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:07.199
 more than that.

00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:09.139
 To the Hebrew reader,

00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:09.880
 they would have seen

00:29:09.880 --> 00:29:10.700
 and understood that he

00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:11.980
 was in the very order

00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:12.440
 of God.

00:29:12.560 --> 00:29:15.000
 He himself was God.

00:29:15.340 --> 00:29:16.840
 His deity is found in

00:29:16.840 --> 00:29:17.960
 that very title, being

00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:19.259
 the son of God.

00:29:19.280 --> 00:29:19.759
 I thought that was

00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:20.880
 pretty cool when I

00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:21.820
 discovered this this

00:29:21.820 --> 00:29:22.020
 week.

00:29:22.840 --> 00:29:23.860
 So, firstly, proper

00:29:23.860 --> 00:29:25.320
 musical worship is

00:29:25.320 --> 00:29:25.780
 ordered.

00:29:28.040 --> 00:29:28.840
 Secondly, proper

00:29:28.840 --> 00:29:30.180
 musical worship is

00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:32.300
 content-driven.

00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:35.460
 It's content-driven.

00:29:36.520 --> 00:29:37.680
 So we look at the job

00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:38.300
 of these singers.

00:29:38.299 --> 00:29:39.220
 It's mentioned a couple

00:29:39.220 --> 00:29:39.659
 of times.

00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:41.159
 Verse 31, verse 38,

00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:41.940
 verse 40.

00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:43.240
 Their job was to give

00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:44.119
 thanks.

00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:45.259
 That was the work that

00:29:45.259 --> 00:29:45.940
 they were about.

00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.799
 But what was it that

00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.519
 they were to give

00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:49.559
 thanks for?

00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.720
 What is the very thing

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.700
 that they're praising

00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:52.720
 God for?

00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:54.399
 Verse 46 says,

00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.240
 For long ago in the

00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:55.940
 days of David and

00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:57.019
 Asaph, there were

00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:57.599
 directors of the

00:29:57.599 --> 00:29:58.180
 singers and there were

00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:59.799
 songs of praise and

00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:00.940
 thanksgiving to God.

00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:02.980
 They had songs that

00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:03.759
 they were singing.

00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:05.259
 There's a record of it

00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:05.519
 here.

00:30:05.639 --> 00:30:06.299
 That they had the very

00:30:06.299 --> 00:30:07.339
 songs of David and

00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:07.619
 Asaph.

00:30:07.699 --> 00:30:08.059
 What are they

00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:08.659
 referring to?

00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:09.439
 The Psalms.

00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:11.000
 They're referring to

00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:12.779
 the Psalms.

00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:15.720
 What would have been

00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:17.279
 the major thing that

00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.039
 would have been praised

00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:19.339
 for David and

00:30:19.339 --> 00:30:19.779
 Asaph?

00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:20.659
 What was the major

00:30:20.659 --> 00:30:21.759
 activity, the major

00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:22.959
 praising of God in

00:30:22.959 --> 00:30:23.259
 song?

00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:24.459
 His person and his

00:30:24.459 --> 00:30:26.179
 work in the Exodus.

00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:27.419
 Right?

00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:29.059
 Psalm 105 is a really

00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:30.220
 like perfect example

00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:31.079
 of this.

00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:32.119
 They praised him for

00:30:32.119 --> 00:30:32.879
 the work he had

00:30:32.879 --> 00:30:34.079
 done on their

00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:35.139
 behalf.

00:30:35.939 --> 00:30:36.039
 Right?

00:30:36.179 --> 00:30:37.039
 His goodness to

00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:37.779
 mankind has been

00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:39.859
 evidenced in his

00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:40.279
 work.

00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:40.979
 Right?

00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:42.079
 So truth.

00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.559
 That is what the

00:30:43.559 --> 00:30:44.479
 songs were about.

00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:45.439
 That was what they

00:30:45.439 --> 00:30:45.859
 were returning

00:30:45.859 --> 00:30:46.679
 thanks for, for the

00:30:46.679 --> 00:30:47.679
 things that God had

00:30:47.679 --> 00:30:48.179
 done.

00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:53.239
 John 4, 23-24,

00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:53.739
 Jesus says,

00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:54.399
 The hour is coming

00:30:54.399 --> 00:30:54.939
 and is now here

00:30:54.939 --> 00:30:56.339
 when true worshipers

00:30:56.339 --> 00:30:56.919
 will worship the

00:30:56.919 --> 00:30:57.899
 Father in what?

00:30:57.900 --> 00:31:00.580
 spirit and truth.

00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:02.360
 Not spirit and song.

00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:04.640
 Spirit and truth.

00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:06.800
 Not spirit and emotion.

00:31:08.040 --> 00:31:09.759
 Spirit and truth.

00:31:09.880 --> 00:31:10.460
 For the Father is

00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:11.140
 seeking such people

00:31:11.140 --> 00:31:11.720
 to worship him.

00:31:11.840 --> 00:31:12.560
 God is spirit and

00:31:12.560 --> 00:31:13.340
 those who worship him

00:31:13.340 --> 00:31:15.340
 must worship in spirit

00:31:15.340 --> 00:31:17.780
 and in truth.

00:31:18.540 --> 00:31:18.660
 Right?

00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:20.040
 You know that this

00:31:20.040 --> 00:31:21.620
 return from Babylonian

00:31:21.620 --> 00:31:22.700
 captivity back to

00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:23.660
 Israel became known

00:31:23.660 --> 00:31:25.200
 as the second

00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:25.700
 Exodus?

00:31:26.840 --> 00:31:27.800
 That it was a

00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:28.940
 another picture of

00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:29.680
 God's goodness in

00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.139
 that way?

00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:31.839
 And you know that

00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:32.740
 what we've experienced

00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:34.399
 in Christ, a

00:31:34.399 --> 00:31:35.519
 deliverance from the

00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:36.700
 bondage, the slavery

00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:38.500
 of sin and death, is

00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:39.980
 known as the third

00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:41.079
 Exodus?

00:31:42.599 --> 00:31:44.319
 These are the things

00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:46.779
 that they and we are

00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:47.460
 to be praising God

00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:47.779
 for.

00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:49.899
 The truth of the

00:31:49.899 --> 00:31:50.220
 gospel.

00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.799
 Who he is and how

00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:52.319
 it is that he's

00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:53.539
 displayed who he is

00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:54.960
 to us.

00:31:55.419 --> 00:31:55.980
 Turn with me to

00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:57.599
 Revelation chapter 5.

00:31:57.799 --> 00:32:01.159
 We really ought to

00:32:01.159 --> 00:32:02.839
 take cues from the

00:32:02.839 --> 00:32:04.619
 scriptures, particularly

00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:06.339
 pictures into heaven

00:32:06.339 --> 00:32:08.419
 about how we ought to

00:32:08.419 --> 00:32:09.319
 be praising God.

00:32:09.399 --> 00:32:10.000
 Doesn't it only make

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:11.099
 sense that we take a

00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:12.279
 glimpse, John's vision

00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:13.099
 of the praise that's

00:32:13.099 --> 00:32:14.119
 happening in heaven,

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:15.079
 this musical worship,

00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:16.740
 and go, oh, is that

00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.299
 how it's done?

00:32:17.899 --> 00:32:19.139
 We will model after

00:32:19.139 --> 00:32:19.379
 that.

00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:20.159
 This must have

00:32:20.159 --> 00:32:20.639
 pleased God.

00:32:20.700 --> 00:32:21.440
 It's taking place in

00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:22.180
 heaven where his will

00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:23.220
 is perfectly accomplished.

00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:25.480
 Let's ask for God's will

00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:26.839
 to be done here in our

00:32:26.839 --> 00:32:27.680
 musical worship.

00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:29.960
 Revelation chapter 5

00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:30.880
 verses 9 through 10

00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:31.880
 and then 12 through 13.

00:32:32.779 --> 00:32:33.860
 Here's the picture, the

00:32:33.860 --> 00:32:34.140
 singing.

00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:35.200
 What are they praising God

00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:36.519
 for, giving thanks for?

00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:37.920
 Worthy are you to take

00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:39.039
 and open its seals.

00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:40.620
 For you were slain and

00:32:40.620 --> 00:32:41.620
 by your blood you ransomed

00:32:41.620 --> 00:32:42.660
 people for God from every

00:32:42.660 --> 00:32:44.160
 tribe and language and

00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:44.960
 people and nation.

00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:46.279
 You have made them a

00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:47.460
 kingdom and priests to

00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:48.600
 our God and they shall

00:32:48.600 --> 00:32:50.420
 reign on the earth.

00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:51.240
 Verse 12.

00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:52.440
 Worthy is the Lamb who

00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:53.160
 was slain to receive

00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:54.200
 power and wealth and

00:32:54.200 --> 00:32:55.000
 wisdom and might and

00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:56.500
 honor and glory and

00:32:56.500 --> 00:32:56.839
 blessing.

00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:57.680
 And then further down in

00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:58.039
 13.

00:32:58.380 --> 00:32:59.220
 To him who sits on the

00:32:59.220 --> 00:33:00.200
 throne, the Lamb be

00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:01.839
 blessing and honor and

00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:03.620
 glory and might forever

00:33:03.620 --> 00:33:04.539
 and ever.

00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:06.180
 You see the truth,

00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:07.819
 praising God for the

00:33:07.819 --> 00:33:08.819
 good things he's done

00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:10.299
 for us in Christ.

00:33:10.839 --> 00:33:12.539
 This should characterize

00:33:12.539 --> 00:33:14.720
 our songs together.

00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:17.259
 Now, that doesn't mean

00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:18.279
 that we can't sing

00:33:18.279 --> 00:33:19.220
 simple songs.

00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:20.480
 I'm not suggesting that.

00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.579
 We don't tend to sing

00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:22.980
 many songs here that

00:33:22.980 --> 00:33:23.740
 don't have a lot of

00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:25.000
 words in them.

00:33:25.160 --> 00:33:26.140
 And I fully recognize

00:33:26.140 --> 00:33:26.440
 that.

00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:28.059
 Simple songs can be

00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:29.480
 okay, but are they

00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:31.319
 true songs?

00:33:31.980 --> 00:33:33.360
 Is there actual

00:33:33.360 --> 00:33:34.339
 content?

00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:35.420
 Is there a weight in

00:33:35.420 --> 00:33:36.960
 the content of the

00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:37.759
 song itself?

00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:38.660
 Many of you have heard

00:33:38.660 --> 00:33:39.400
 me say, if you can

00:33:39.400 --> 00:33:41.120
 replace Jesus' name or

00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:42.079
 God's name in a song

00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:43.240
 with your girlfriend's

00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:44.839
 name, it really isn't a

00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:45.559
 song to be sung in

00:33:45.559 --> 00:33:45.940
 church.

00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:47.380
 There should be some

00:33:47.380 --> 00:33:48.420
 weight and some truth

00:33:48.420 --> 00:33:49.440
 when we speak and sing

00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:51.140
 praises to our God.

00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:52.400
 Let's look this morning

00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:54.759
 at the bulletin insert

00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:55.539
 we gave you.

00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:56.340
 If you don't have one,

00:33:56.380 --> 00:33:56.960
 look on with somebody

00:33:56.960 --> 00:33:57.160
 else.

00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:58.720
 Just take a look.

00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:00.539
 Now you know why we

00:34:00.539 --> 00:34:01.200
 printed these out today.

00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:06.360
 Just take a look at

00:34:06.360 --> 00:34:07.900
 these titles that Wes

00:34:07.900 --> 00:34:09.240
 very carefully picked

00:34:09.240 --> 00:34:09.860
 out for us.

00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:11.920
 Look at what he

00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:12.400
 included.

00:34:13.099 --> 00:34:13.980
 He included the

00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:14.760
 scripture reference.

00:34:14.760 --> 00:34:16.920
 The very words of God

00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:18.360
 to us in song.

00:34:19.160 --> 00:34:20.000
 That's what these are.

00:34:20.760 --> 00:34:21.280
 If you know your

00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:21.900
 Bible well, when you

00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:23.020
 sing these songs, you

00:34:23.020 --> 00:34:25.140
 can, oh, that is the

00:34:25.140 --> 00:34:25.460
 scriptures.

00:34:25.700 --> 00:34:26.480
 I have read that.

00:34:26.600 --> 00:34:27.140
 I know.

00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:27.940
 I know what he's

00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:28.460
 talking about.

00:34:28.680 --> 00:34:29.780
 He's singing straight

00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:30.840
 from the word of God.

00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:32.180
 That's what the record of

00:34:32.180 --> 00:34:32.700
 this is here.

00:34:32.940 --> 00:34:33.540
 Look at the song we

00:34:33.540 --> 00:34:34.240
 just sang, How Great

00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:34.680
 Thou Art.

00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:36.960
 First verse, praising

00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:38.200
 God for his creation,

00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:40.720
 his mighty works on man's

00:34:40.720 --> 00:34:42.080
 behalf in creation.

00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:44.059
 Second verse, his

00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:45.299
 redemption of our souls.

00:34:45.980 --> 00:34:47.500
 Third verse, our final

00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:48.319
 glorification.

00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:49.480
 The fact that one day

00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:50.519
 we will exist with him

00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:51.599
 in glory perfected

00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:52.019
 forever.

00:34:53.699 --> 00:34:55.460
 You see the totality of

00:34:55.460 --> 00:34:56.360
 the truth here.

00:34:57.159 --> 00:34:58.519
 Many of our great old

00:34:58.519 --> 00:34:59.779
 hymns, a lot of us

00:34:59.779 --> 00:35:00.719
 probably grew up in

00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:01.639
 Baptist churches where

00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:02.480
 the songs were just too

00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:03.480
 long, so we sang like

00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:04.119
 the first, the third,

00:35:04.139 --> 00:35:05.420
 and the fifth verse.

00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:06.000
 You're familiar with

00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:06.219
 that?

00:35:06.440 --> 00:35:07.559
 But most of them were

00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:08.659
 written very carefully to

00:35:08.659 --> 00:35:09.440
 give us a broad

00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:11.519
 spectrum of the gospel.

00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:12.819
 To take us from the

00:35:12.819 --> 00:35:14.199
 very beginning, who we

00:35:14.199 --> 00:35:15.119
 are, what Christ has

00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:16.279
 done for us, how it is

00:35:16.279 --> 00:35:17.000
 that we're continuing

00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:18.860
 life to death, and what

00:35:18.860 --> 00:35:19.779
 will happen finally and

00:35:19.779 --> 00:35:20.599
 fully after that.

00:35:20.659 --> 00:35:21.659
 They're beautiful pictures

00:35:21.659 --> 00:35:22.840
 of the gospel.

00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:25.719
 So we unite our minds

00:35:25.719 --> 00:35:26.659
 with our hearts as we

00:35:26.659 --> 00:35:29.599
 sing true words together.

00:35:29.779 --> 00:35:31.819
 That's why we do things

00:35:31.819 --> 00:35:32.779
 that way.

00:35:33.699 --> 00:35:34.759
 Now music, I think,

00:35:34.799 --> 00:35:35.559
 should be good.

00:35:35.739 --> 00:35:36.539
 I think that if we're

00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.739
 going to do anything to

00:35:37.739 --> 00:35:38.440
 praise God, we should

00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:39.139
 work at it.

00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:39.719
 Right?

00:35:39.719 --> 00:35:41.019
 As I noted before,

00:35:41.439 --> 00:35:42.199
 music was ordered.

00:35:42.279 --> 00:35:43.039
 They practiced.

00:35:43.699 --> 00:35:44.379
 I'm sure this was a

00:35:44.379 --> 00:35:46.319
 very pleasing sound.

00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:47.679
 We ought to strain at

00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:47.839
 that.

00:35:48.039 --> 00:35:48.539
 If you're in the

00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:49.159
 congregation and you

00:35:49.159 --> 00:35:49.659
 don't feel like you're

00:35:49.659 --> 00:35:50.939
 a good singer, sing

00:35:50.939 --> 00:35:52.219
 anyway, but try to sing

00:35:52.219 --> 00:35:52.539
 well.

00:35:53.459 --> 00:35:54.480
 You don't have to get in

00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:55.459
 your own little zone and

00:35:55.459 --> 00:35:56.779
 sing horribly off key,

00:35:56.859 --> 00:35:57.939
 but if you can't sing on

00:35:57.939 --> 00:35:58.739
 key, that's alright.

00:35:59.099 --> 00:35:59.619
 Just sing.

00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:00.719
 Right?

00:36:00.859 --> 00:36:02.019
 It's good to try to hear

00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:02.719
 the notes.

00:36:02.879 --> 00:36:04.019
 It's good to try to know

00:36:04.019 --> 00:36:04.519
 the music.

00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:05.500
 It's good to do those

00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:06.199
 types of things, but it's

00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:06.980
 not the ultimate thing.

00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:07.799
 That's not what matters

00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:08.660
 mostly.

00:36:09.980 --> 00:36:11.240
 So many of us are

00:36:11.240 --> 00:36:12.900
 emotionally driven by

00:36:12.900 --> 00:36:13.380
 music.

00:36:13.880 --> 00:36:14.580
 You recognize that that's

00:36:14.580 --> 00:36:15.660
 part of our fiber, very

00:36:15.660 --> 00:36:16.539
 part of our being.

00:36:16.660 --> 00:36:17.460
 There's a reason that

00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:19.000
 we're moved by music, that

00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:20.980
 crescendo lifts our

00:36:20.980 --> 00:36:21.360
 spirit.

00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:22.539
 Right?

00:36:22.640 --> 00:36:24.019
 But that shouldn't be the

00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:25.760
 thing that causes us joy

00:36:25.760 --> 00:36:26.840
 when we sing.

00:36:27.180 --> 00:36:27.300
 Right?

00:36:27.340 --> 00:36:29.400
 It should be the truth of

00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:29.880
 the gospel.

00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:31.760
 MacArthur, again, in

00:36:31.760 --> 00:36:33.039
 worship, the ultimate

00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:33.760
 priority, said,

00:36:34.140 --> 00:36:35.240
 Worship should engage the

00:36:35.240 --> 00:36:36.780
 intellect as well as the

00:36:36.780 --> 00:36:37.220
 emotions.

00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:39.180
 By all means, musical

00:36:39.180 --> 00:36:39.920
 worship should be

00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:41.700
 passionate, heartfelt, and

00:36:41.700 --> 00:36:42.040
 moving.

00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:43.400
 But the point is not to

00:36:43.400 --> 00:36:44.320
 stir the emotions while

00:36:44.320 --> 00:36:45.780
 turning off the mind.

00:36:46.660 --> 00:36:48.000
 True worship merges heart

00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:49.640
 and mind in a response of

00:36:49.640 --> 00:36:51.019
 pure adoration.

00:36:51.720 --> 00:36:53.040
 Based on the truth revealed

00:36:53.040 --> 00:36:54.080
 in the word, music may

00:36:54.080 --> 00:36:55.360
 sometimes move us by the

00:36:55.360 --> 00:36:56.540
 sheer beauty of its sound,

00:36:56.800 --> 00:36:58.800
 but such sentiment is not

00:36:58.800 --> 00:36:59.540
 worship.

00:36:59.820 --> 00:37:00.400
 You catch what he said

00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:00.620
 there?

00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:02.460
 If you're simply moved by

00:37:02.460 --> 00:37:03.660
 the beauty of sound, that's

00:37:03.660 --> 00:37:04.660
 not worship.

00:37:04.659 --> 00:37:07.000
 Music by itself, apart from

00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:08.000
 the truth contained in the

00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:09.619
 lyrics, is not a legitimate

00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:11.719
 springboard for real worship.

00:37:13.799 --> 00:37:14.639
 Truth.

00:37:14.759 --> 00:37:17.579
 It should be content-driven.

00:37:19.359 --> 00:37:22.859
 Thirdly, proper musical

00:37:22.859 --> 00:37:25.899
 worship is characterized by joy.

00:37:26.859 --> 00:37:29.219
 It's characterized by joy.

00:37:29.480 --> 00:37:32.559
 Content-driven, characterized by joy.

00:37:32.559 --> 00:37:34.679
 Look at verse 43 of chapter 12.

00:37:35.179 --> 00:37:35.279
 It says,

00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:36.099
 And they offered great

00:37:36.099 --> 00:37:37.400
 sacrifices that day and

00:37:37.400 --> 00:37:39.840
 rejoiced, for God had made

00:37:39.840 --> 00:37:42.019
 them rejoice with great joy.

00:37:42.340 --> 00:37:43.860
 The women and children also

00:37:43.860 --> 00:37:45.539
 rejoiced, and the joy of

00:37:45.539 --> 00:37:47.639
 Jerusalem was heard far away.

00:37:48.179 --> 00:37:49.420
 Now here the record doesn't

00:37:49.420 --> 00:37:51.779
 tell us exactly how it is that

00:37:51.779 --> 00:37:52.579
 God made them rejoice with

00:37:52.579 --> 00:37:54.920
 great joy, because it already

00:37:54.920 --> 00:37:55.400
 did.

00:37:56.219 --> 00:37:56.699
 Am I right?

00:37:57.000 --> 00:37:58.340
 That's what the first 11

00:37:58.340 --> 00:37:59.480
 chapters have been about.

00:37:59.480 --> 00:38:01.960
 What God had been doing for the

00:38:01.960 --> 00:38:04.000
 people, to make His name great

00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:04.760
 amongst them.

00:38:05.019 --> 00:38:06.960
 This is what God did to make

00:38:06.960 --> 00:38:08.900
 them rejoice with great joy.

00:38:09.740 --> 00:38:11.539
 Do you remember the taunts of

00:38:11.539 --> 00:38:13.360
 Sanbalat and Tobiah, the

00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:15.139
 opposers of the work of the wall?

00:38:15.199 --> 00:38:16.039
 I know a lot of you weren't here.

00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:17.539
 Turn back to chapter 4, the very

00:38:17.539 --> 00:38:17.880
 beginning.

00:38:18.880 --> 00:38:20.539
 I'll show you the taunts of

00:38:20.539 --> 00:38:22.360
 Sanbalat and Tobiah.

00:38:23.260 --> 00:38:24.000
 Verse 1.

00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:26.400
 They're beginning the work on

00:38:26.400 --> 00:38:26.780
 the wall.

00:38:27.019 --> 00:38:28.260
 Now when Sanbalat had heard they

00:38:28.260 --> 00:38:29.139
 were building the wall, he was

00:38:29.139 --> 00:38:31.139
 angry and greatly enraged, and he

00:38:31.139 --> 00:38:32.340
 jeered at the Jews, and he said in

00:38:32.340 --> 00:38:33.860
 the presence of his brothers and

00:38:33.860 --> 00:38:35.699
 of the army of Samaria, what are

00:38:35.699 --> 00:38:37.000
 these feeble Jews doing?

00:38:37.360 --> 00:38:38.360
 Will they restore it for

00:38:38.360 --> 00:38:38.780
 themselves?

00:38:39.019 --> 00:38:40.019
 Will they sacrifice?

00:38:40.559 --> 00:38:41.780
 Will they finish it up in the

00:38:41.780 --> 00:38:42.059
 day?

00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:44.000
 Will they revive the stones out of

00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:45.480
 the heaps of rubbish and burned

00:38:45.480 --> 00:38:46.340
 ones at that?

00:38:46.420 --> 00:38:47.300
 He's mocking them.

00:38:47.539 --> 00:38:49.400
 Look at these feeble, ridiculous

00:38:49.400 --> 00:38:50.139
 Jews.

00:38:50.360 --> 00:38:51.400
 They'll never be able to

00:38:51.400 --> 00:38:52.840
 accomplish this work that's

00:38:52.840 --> 00:38:53.360
 ahead of them.

00:38:53.360 --> 00:38:54.840
 And then verse 3.

00:38:55.380 --> 00:38:57.140
 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside

00:38:57.140 --> 00:38:59.260
 him, and he said, yes, what are

00:38:59.260 --> 00:38:59.800
 they building?

00:39:00.019 --> 00:39:01.460
 If a fox goes up on it, it will

00:39:01.460 --> 00:39:03.099
 break down their stone wall.

00:39:03.780 --> 00:39:05.320
 It's going to be such a poor and

00:39:05.320 --> 00:39:06.559
 pitiful wall that even if a

00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:08.559
 small animal, light-footed animal,

00:39:08.620 --> 00:39:09.740
 were to get up on it, it'll just

00:39:09.740 --> 00:39:11.380
 break down the stone wall.

00:39:11.460 --> 00:39:13.039
 These are the taunts that they

00:39:13.039 --> 00:39:13.640
 are experiencing.

00:39:14.940 --> 00:39:16.599
 Can you imagine as they marched

00:39:16.599 --> 00:39:19.960
 an army of singers with men and

00:39:19.960 --> 00:39:21.360
 leaders to follow them up onto

00:39:21.360 --> 00:39:22.920
 the wall, and they marched around

00:39:22.920 --> 00:39:24.340
 the entire circumference of the

00:39:24.340 --> 00:39:26.420
 city, that through their minds

00:39:26.420 --> 00:39:27.980
 they must have been saying, oh

00:39:27.980 --> 00:39:28.180
 yeah?

00:39:29.300 --> 00:39:30.579
 How about that, Tobiah?

00:39:31.579 --> 00:39:33.300
 Chapter 6, verse 15 and 16

00:39:33.300 --> 00:39:33.579
 says,

00:39:33.659 --> 00:39:34.720
 So the wall was finished on the

00:39:34.720 --> 00:39:36.220
 25th day of the month of Elul.

00:39:36.780 --> 00:39:38.539
 In 52 days, the wall's finished in

00:39:38.539 --> 00:39:39.159
 52 days.

00:39:39.539 --> 00:39:41.180
 And when all our enemies heard of

00:39:41.180 --> 00:39:42.800
 it, all the nations around us were

00:39:42.800 --> 00:39:44.760
 afraid and fell greatly in their own

00:39:44.760 --> 00:39:46.619
 esteem, for they perceived that

00:39:46.619 --> 00:39:48.220
 this work had been accomplished with

00:39:48.220 --> 00:39:49.900
 the help of our God.

00:39:49.900 --> 00:39:53.340
 So see, all the people around them

00:39:53.340 --> 00:39:55.360
 recognized this was a difficult work

00:39:55.360 --> 00:39:56.980
 to do, to rebuild this wall.

00:39:57.380 --> 00:39:59.260
 These poor, pitiful, feeble Jews

00:39:59.260 --> 00:40:00.139
 rebuilt it.

00:40:00.220 --> 00:40:01.300
 It must have been done with the

00:40:01.300 --> 00:40:01.900
 help of their God.

00:40:02.139 --> 00:40:03.400
 And they were afraid.

00:40:04.280 --> 00:40:07.420
 They stood in awe of who God was

00:40:07.420 --> 00:40:08.539
 as a result.

00:40:09.139 --> 00:40:11.079
 So these are the things that God had

00:40:11.079 --> 00:40:11.380
 done.

00:40:11.480 --> 00:40:13.599
 God had made them rejoice with great

00:40:13.599 --> 00:40:16.400
 joy, is what it says there in verse

00:40:16.400 --> 00:40:17.820
 43 of chapter 12.

00:40:17.820 --> 00:40:19.519
 This is how he made them rejoice.

00:40:19.840 --> 00:40:21.400
 Remember, again, the truth.

00:40:22.180 --> 00:40:23.620
 The things that God had done

00:40:23.620 --> 00:40:25.360
 on their behalf.

00:40:26.320 --> 00:40:27.620
 Now, all of this joy

00:40:27.620 --> 00:40:29.300
 is for the glory of God.

00:40:29.380 --> 00:40:30.539
 And in the same way,

00:40:30.780 --> 00:40:32.620
 ours should do that.

00:40:33.800 --> 00:40:35.460
 People who come into this place,

00:40:35.860 --> 00:40:37.100
 even people who may claim to be

00:40:37.100 --> 00:40:38.440
 Christians who aren't, or people who

00:40:38.440 --> 00:40:39.800
 are just lukewarm in their

00:40:39.800 --> 00:40:41.059
 Christianity, ought to come into this

00:40:41.059 --> 00:40:42.059
 place and go,

00:40:42.500 --> 00:40:45.100
 Man, that is a joy-filled

00:40:45.100 --> 00:40:45.620
 people.

00:40:45.619 --> 00:40:48.339
 They must worship a different God

00:40:48.339 --> 00:40:48.779
 than I do.

00:40:49.119 --> 00:40:51.000
 I am not filled with joy in the way

00:40:51.000 --> 00:40:52.259
 they are filled with joy.

00:40:52.739 --> 00:40:53.980
 What am I missing?

00:40:54.299 --> 00:40:55.880
 And I hope that in the lyrics of the

00:40:55.880 --> 00:40:57.079
 songs, and in our preaching,

00:40:57.380 --> 00:40:59.519
 in our prayer, and Aletheia,

00:40:59.639 --> 00:41:01.319
 all of those things, they see and

00:41:01.319 --> 00:41:01.819
 they get it.

00:41:01.920 --> 00:41:02.139
 They go,

00:41:02.239 --> 00:41:03.579
 That, it's the truth.

00:41:03.739 --> 00:41:04.259
 It's the truth.

00:41:04.319 --> 00:41:05.440
 I haven't been reveling in the truth

00:41:05.440 --> 00:41:06.500
 the way these people revel in the

00:41:06.500 --> 00:41:06.679
 truth.

00:41:06.819 --> 00:41:07.900
 I need to do that more.

00:41:07.960 --> 00:41:09.659
 I need to saturate myself with the

00:41:09.659 --> 00:41:11.400
 truth of God's goodness to me,

00:41:11.440 --> 00:41:15.179
 so that I will also overflow with joy.

00:41:15.179 --> 00:41:18.480
 Anyway, rightly understanding the

00:41:18.480 --> 00:41:21.519
 gospel, beloved, will cause this to

00:41:21.519 --> 00:41:21.879
 happen.

00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:24.599
 It's not a negotiable thing.

00:41:24.779 --> 00:41:26.519
 Like, well, it will if you're having

00:41:26.519 --> 00:41:28.019
 a good day, if you're feeling all

00:41:28.019 --> 00:41:29.379
 right, if you got plenty of sleep the

00:41:29.379 --> 00:41:29.940
 night before.

00:41:30.480 --> 00:41:32.379
 This will, in fact, happen.

00:41:33.139 --> 00:41:34.759
 And in fact, if you don't feel joy,

00:41:34.799 --> 00:41:35.899
 and I'm not talking about jumping up

00:41:35.899 --> 00:41:39.419
 and down nutty displays of joy, but if

00:41:39.419 --> 00:41:41.539
 your heart isn't warm when you're

00:41:41.539 --> 00:41:44.559
 singing songs, something's going on in

00:41:44.559 --> 00:41:45.059
 your life.

00:41:45.739 --> 00:41:47.139
 Because the realities of the gospel

00:41:47.139 --> 00:41:48.619
 aren't working themselves around in

00:41:48.619 --> 00:41:49.099
 your heart.

00:41:49.799 --> 00:41:51.719
 You fail to believe it, at least in

00:41:51.719 --> 00:41:52.500
 that moment.

00:41:53.119 --> 00:41:55.420
 Because if you truly understand who

00:41:55.420 --> 00:41:58.059
 God is, who you are, this great

00:41:58.059 --> 00:41:59.440
 separation between you, what Christ

00:41:59.440 --> 00:42:01.320
 has done on your behalf, you will be

00:42:01.320 --> 00:42:02.619
 filled with joy.

00:42:04.400 --> 00:42:07.239
 Men, there's nothing more precious to

00:42:07.239 --> 00:42:09.559
 me than men who sing and sing loud.

00:42:09.559 --> 00:42:11.099
 I love it.

00:42:11.599 --> 00:42:13.900
 I'm thankful that there's a very male

00:42:13.900 --> 00:42:15.860
 presence in our singing together, for

00:42:15.860 --> 00:42:15.980
 sure.

00:42:16.059 --> 00:42:16.840
 But we could do better.

00:42:18.179 --> 00:42:20.000
 Don't stand and be stoic.

00:42:21.440 --> 00:42:23.259
 Some of the most moving times I've

00:42:23.259 --> 00:42:24.880
 experienced in musical worship with

00:42:24.880 --> 00:42:26.739
 people is with somebody who does not

00:42:26.739 --> 00:42:29.719
 sing well, but just sings.

00:42:30.159 --> 00:42:30.779
 I love it.

00:42:31.380 --> 00:42:32.639
 Two great examples in this

00:42:32.639 --> 00:42:33.119
 congregation.

00:42:33.599 --> 00:42:34.239
 My father.

00:42:34.239 --> 00:42:36.500
 I love you, Dad.

00:42:36.759 --> 00:42:38.059
 Don't have a great singing voice, but

00:42:38.059 --> 00:42:40.739
 from an early child, I don't either, so

00:42:40.739 --> 00:42:42.699
 I'm definitely my father's son.

00:42:43.339 --> 00:42:45.079
 I'm a son of Jerry and the same type.

00:42:46.119 --> 00:42:49.179
 But from a very early age, my dad just

00:42:49.179 --> 00:42:52.479
 sang, and I always loved it.

00:42:53.019 --> 00:42:54.679
 Because I knew that he believed what he

00:42:54.679 --> 00:42:55.099
 was singing.

00:42:56.119 --> 00:42:57.919
 Clay has had two lung transplants.

00:42:58.399 --> 00:42:59.939
 Clay doesn't have the ability, I think,

00:42:59.959 --> 00:43:01.639
 to push good sound.

00:43:01.639 --> 00:43:03.559
 He's coughed so much in his life from a

00:43:03.559 --> 00:43:05.840
 CEF, and Clay is the same way.

00:43:05.960 --> 00:43:07.559
 Clay is a little quieter in his singing

00:43:07.559 --> 00:43:08.900
 because he can't push so much volume

00:43:08.900 --> 00:43:11.440
 out, but Clay warms my heart because

00:43:11.440 --> 00:43:12.840
 he sings.

00:43:13.340 --> 00:43:14.019
 Men sing.

00:43:14.099 --> 00:43:15.500
 If you think these things are true, sing.

00:43:15.719 --> 00:43:17.340
 And I'll find in my own life that

00:43:17.340 --> 00:43:18.840
 sometimes when I don't believe the

00:43:18.840 --> 00:43:20.559
 truths of the gospel in those moments,

00:43:20.820 --> 00:43:22.500
 that singing them helps me too.

00:43:23.480 --> 00:43:24.900
 Just getting it out there.

00:43:25.840 --> 00:43:27.000
 I should believe this.

00:43:27.039 --> 00:43:27.519
 I should.

00:43:27.599 --> 00:43:28.279
 It's true.

00:43:28.360 --> 00:43:28.779
 It's true.

00:43:28.860 --> 00:43:29.860
 I know it's true.

00:43:31.480 --> 00:43:31.920
 Sing.

00:43:31.920 --> 00:43:34.579
 Our joy is an encouragement to one

00:43:34.579 --> 00:43:34.900
 another.

00:43:35.840 --> 00:43:37.019
 Congregational meetings matter.

00:43:37.159 --> 00:43:40.039
 You can't do what we do here in a

00:43:40.039 --> 00:43:41.619
 building with the lights turned out,

00:43:42.360 --> 00:43:44.440
 blacked out windows or no windows at

00:43:44.440 --> 00:43:46.980
 all, and the music so loud that you

00:43:46.980 --> 00:43:49.539
 can't hear anybody around you.

00:43:50.400 --> 00:43:51.180
 You can't do it.

00:43:51.519 --> 00:43:52.940
 You can't be encouraged in the way we

00:43:52.940 --> 00:43:54.740
 should be encouraging each other as we

00:43:54.740 --> 00:43:55.200
 sing together.

00:43:55.740 --> 00:43:57.460
 You matter in this setting.

00:43:57.539 --> 00:43:58.900
 This is not a come and consume.

00:43:59.360 --> 00:44:01.200
 Come look at the show, the concert, do all

00:44:01.199 --> 00:44:01.739
 that thing.

00:44:02.000 --> 00:44:02.599
 You matter.

00:44:03.899 --> 00:44:06.000
 In so many ways, before and after, but

00:44:06.000 --> 00:44:08.519
 certainly as we worship God together in

00:44:08.519 --> 00:44:10.599
 music, the people in front of you, behind

00:44:10.599 --> 00:44:12.739
 you, around you, need to hear you sing, and

00:44:12.739 --> 00:44:14.699
 they need to hear you sing with joy.

00:44:14.899 --> 00:44:17.239
 It's important for our meetings together.

00:44:17.239 --> 00:44:24.519
 If you think that you can properly praise God in

00:44:24.519 --> 00:44:27.459
 musical worship with the congregation in the

00:44:27.459 --> 00:44:30.099
 ways I've mentioned, blacked out, music so

00:44:30.099 --> 00:44:33.619
 loud, just sit in your car and turn the music

00:44:33.619 --> 00:44:33.879
 up.

00:44:34.559 --> 00:44:35.559
 It's the same thing.

00:44:35.919 --> 00:44:37.079
 It's the very same thing.

00:44:37.479 --> 00:44:39.679
 I hope you come together to praise with the

00:44:39.679 --> 00:44:41.739
 people of God.

00:44:41.739 --> 00:44:44.679
 And fourthly, I've got to move, sorry.

00:44:45.699 --> 00:44:47.719
 Proper musical worship is prepared for.

00:44:49.159 --> 00:44:51.059
 Proper musical worship is prepared for.

00:44:51.139 --> 00:44:51.899
 Notice in verse 30.

00:44:53.699 --> 00:44:56.419
 And the priests and the Levites purified

00:44:56.419 --> 00:44:59.359
 themselves, and they purified the people and

00:44:59.359 --> 00:45:01.419
 the gates and the wall.

00:45:02.099 --> 00:45:03.259
 They purified themselves.

00:45:03.739 --> 00:45:07.739
 This was Old Testament ceremonial purification.

00:45:07.739 --> 00:45:09.359
 What would this have included?

00:45:10.319 --> 00:45:11.519
 It was all external things.

00:45:11.599 --> 00:45:12.799
 It would have included the washing of their

00:45:12.799 --> 00:45:13.199
 bodies.

00:45:13.579 --> 00:45:14.779
 It would have included the washing of their

00:45:14.779 --> 00:45:16.879
 clothing, the abstaining from any sexual

00:45:16.879 --> 00:45:18.979
 activity, fasting and prayer.

00:45:19.559 --> 00:45:21.219
 It would have included a blood offering.

00:45:21.679 --> 00:45:23.519
 This blood would have been sprinkled on the

00:45:23.519 --> 00:45:24.319
 gates and the wall.

00:45:24.419 --> 00:45:26.459
 That's what's being referred to in this

00:45:26.459 --> 00:45:26.839
 case.

00:45:27.679 --> 00:45:30.099
 Ceremonial purification was a vital part of

00:45:30.099 --> 00:45:31.179
 Israel's worship.

00:45:31.539 --> 00:45:33.319
 That's what the book of Leviticus is all

00:45:33.319 --> 00:45:33.799
 about.

00:45:34.899 --> 00:45:37.359
 So there's a lesser implication.

00:45:37.739 --> 00:45:39.719
 Of that reality that they prepared here,

00:45:39.799 --> 00:45:41.459
 that we also ought to prepare to come

00:45:41.459 --> 00:45:41.879
 together.

00:45:42.559 --> 00:45:43.779
 That you ought to get up a little bit

00:45:43.779 --> 00:45:44.039
 earlier.

00:45:44.159 --> 00:45:45.819
 We meet at 1030.

00:45:46.539 --> 00:45:48.259
 That is late in the morning.

00:45:49.079 --> 00:45:50.500
 You ought to get up and prepare yourself

00:45:50.500 --> 00:45:51.199
 to come together.

00:45:51.500 --> 00:45:53.439
 You ought to be ready to come and be

00:45:53.439 --> 00:45:55.039
 joy-filled by the things that are

00:45:55.039 --> 00:45:55.359
 happening.

00:45:55.459 --> 00:45:57.559
 Be expectant to meet together with the

00:45:57.559 --> 00:45:58.639
 people of God.

00:45:58.719 --> 00:45:59.659
 You should be doing that.

00:45:59.819 --> 00:46:01.579
 But that's the lesser implication here.

00:46:02.239 --> 00:46:04.359
 The greater thing that should be

00:46:04.359 --> 00:46:04.679
 learned.

00:46:04.779 --> 00:46:05.699
 We have to ask the question,

00:46:05.699 --> 00:46:07.079
 what was all this for?

00:46:07.739 --> 00:46:09.539
 Why was it that they did all of these

00:46:09.539 --> 00:46:11.779
 external things to prepare themselves

00:46:11.779 --> 00:46:12.959
 for worship?

00:46:14.199 --> 00:46:17.259
 It was to show them that God is holy,

00:46:17.899 --> 00:46:18.419
 perfect,

00:46:18.979 --> 00:46:22.899
 and that he must never be approached in a

00:46:22.899 --> 00:46:26.119
 flippant, cavalier, or an impure matter.

00:46:26.959 --> 00:46:29.899
 God is not to be approached in that way.

00:46:30.639 --> 00:46:33.199
 So purification always preceded the worship

00:46:33.199 --> 00:46:33.579
 of God.

00:46:33.639 --> 00:46:36.219
 It was carefully ascribed in that way,

00:46:36.399 --> 00:46:39.399
 in this very external way.

00:46:40.719 --> 00:46:42.919
 Turn with me to Isaiah chapter 6.

00:46:42.920 --> 00:47:02.820
 beginning of verse 1.

00:47:02.820 --> 00:47:04.099
 In the year that King Uzziah died,

00:47:04.200 --> 00:47:05.720
 I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne.

00:47:05.860 --> 00:47:06.700
 Isaiah is having a vision,

00:47:07.059 --> 00:47:07.900
 high and lifted up,

00:47:08.019 --> 00:47:09.380
 and the train of his robe filled the

00:47:09.380 --> 00:47:09.619
 temple.

00:47:10.059 --> 00:47:11.139
 Above him stood seraphim,

00:47:11.139 --> 00:47:12.000
 each had six wings,

00:47:12.259 --> 00:47:13.420
 with two he covered his faith,

00:47:14.000 --> 00:47:14.960
 with two he covered his feet,

00:47:15.019 --> 00:47:15.639
 and with two he flew.

00:47:15.839 --> 00:47:17.199
 And one called to another and said,

00:47:17.679 --> 00:47:18.039
 Holy,

00:47:18.179 --> 00:47:18.400
 holy,

00:47:18.500 --> 00:47:19.699
 holy is the Lord of hosts.

00:47:19.799 --> 00:47:22.679
 The whole earth is full of his glory.

00:47:23.099 --> 00:47:24.199
 And the foundations of the threshold

00:47:24.199 --> 00:47:24.539
 took,

00:47:24.619 --> 00:47:25.500
 and the voice of him had called,

00:47:25.599 --> 00:47:27.460
 and the house was filled with smoke.

00:47:27.460 --> 00:47:29.659
 So here we see Isaiah simply,

00:47:29.820 --> 00:47:31.539
 we can't explain all this in the time we have,

00:47:31.619 --> 00:47:33.300
 but beholding the glory of God.

00:47:33.800 --> 00:47:35.059
 And look at his reaction,

00:47:35.280 --> 00:47:36.179
 proper reaction.

00:47:36.740 --> 00:47:37.260
 And I said,

00:47:37.740 --> 00:47:38.500
 Woe is me,

00:47:38.920 --> 00:47:39.720
 for I am lost,

00:47:39.800 --> 00:47:41.039
 for I am a man of unclean lips,

00:47:41.099 --> 00:47:42.420
 and I dwell in the midst of a people

00:47:42.420 --> 00:47:43.119
 of unclean lips,

00:47:43.440 --> 00:47:45.400
 for my eyes have seen the King,

00:47:46.000 --> 00:47:46.880
 the Lord of hosts.

00:47:47.840 --> 00:47:48.420
 Verse 6.

00:47:49.039 --> 00:47:50.400
 Then one of the seraphim flew to me,

00:47:50.539 --> 00:47:51.639
 having in his hand a burning coal

00:47:51.639 --> 00:47:53.240
 that he had taken with tongs from the altar.

00:47:53.599 --> 00:47:54.840
 And he touched my mouth and said,

00:47:54.840 --> 00:47:55.440
 Behold,

00:47:55.620 --> 00:47:57.059
 this has touched your lips.

00:47:57.480 --> 00:47:58.840
 Your guilt is taken away,

00:47:59.039 --> 00:48:01.079
 and your sin atoned for.

00:48:01.900 --> 00:48:02.420
 And then,

00:48:03.220 --> 00:48:03.720
 verse 8,

00:48:03.780 --> 00:48:04.940
 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying,

00:48:05.140 --> 00:48:06.019
 Whom shall I send,

00:48:06.079 --> 00:48:07.019
 and who will go for us?

00:48:07.059 --> 00:48:07.579
 Then I said,

00:48:08.039 --> 00:48:08.680
 Here am I,

00:48:09.300 --> 00:48:09.900
 send me.

00:48:10.160 --> 00:48:10.600
 Verse 9.

00:48:10.640 --> 00:48:11.100
 And he said,

00:48:11.260 --> 00:48:12.539
 Go and say to this people,

00:48:12.760 --> 00:48:14.539
 we'll let it off there.

00:48:15.380 --> 00:48:17.539
 So Isaiah enters into the presence of God,

00:48:17.660 --> 00:48:20.240
 recognizes his great sinfulness,

00:48:20.900 --> 00:48:22.019
 and then symbolically,

00:48:22.140 --> 00:48:23.840
 a seraphim comes and touches a coal to his neck

00:48:23.840 --> 00:48:24.140
 and says,

00:48:24.139 --> 00:48:26.359
 Your sins have been atoned for.

00:48:26.639 --> 00:48:27.819
 So there was a purification,

00:48:28.239 --> 00:48:30.480
 but not an external purification,

00:48:30.920 --> 00:48:34.579
 but an internal purification on Isaiah's behalf.

00:48:34.980 --> 00:48:38.119
 His sins had been forgiven.

00:48:39.059 --> 00:48:41.879
 All of this Old Testament external cleansing

00:48:41.879 --> 00:48:43.599
 was prefigurative.

00:48:43.940 --> 00:48:46.879
 It was a shadow of the greater thing,

00:48:46.960 --> 00:48:50.480
 the internal cleansing that was to come in Christ.

00:48:50.480 --> 00:48:53.940
 It was meant to teach them and us

00:48:53.940 --> 00:48:56.360
 that we cannot enter into the presence of God

00:48:56.360 --> 00:48:59.360
 without the righteousness of Christ.

00:49:00.300 --> 00:49:02.960
 So the greater implication of this for us

00:49:02.960 --> 00:49:05.780
 is that proper musical worship

00:49:05.780 --> 00:49:08.860
 begins with regenerate hearts.

00:49:08.860 --> 00:49:13.480
 You cannot not be found in Christ

00:49:13.480 --> 00:49:15.460
 and have your worship be pleasing to God.

00:49:16.460 --> 00:49:19.160
 You must be found in Him.

00:49:19.660 --> 00:49:21.860
 God will have nothing to do with you

00:49:21.860 --> 00:49:23.920
 if you're not found in Christ.

00:49:24.120 --> 00:49:25.920
 You cannot enter into His presence.

00:49:26.680 --> 00:49:28.340
 All that God will have to do with you

00:49:28.340 --> 00:49:30.440
 would give you some general grace now

00:49:30.440 --> 00:49:32.180
 and then damn you forever

00:49:32.180 --> 00:49:33.840
 for your rebellion against Him.

00:49:33.840 --> 00:49:38.180
 You can't do enough coming into the presence.

00:49:38.360 --> 00:49:40.000
 Sing well enough, lift your hands,

00:49:40.100 --> 00:49:40.720
 close your eyes,

00:49:40.840 --> 00:49:42.559
 do all of those things to earn God's favor.

00:49:42.680 --> 00:49:45.519
 You'll find His favor in the person

00:49:45.519 --> 00:49:47.440
 and work of Christ.

00:49:49.019 --> 00:49:51.000
 That's a big question

00:49:51.000 --> 00:49:53.000
 for us to ask ourselves this morning.

00:49:53.519 --> 00:49:55.380
 If we desire to please God in musical worship,

00:49:55.700 --> 00:49:58.059
 are your hearts regenerate?

00:49:58.140 --> 00:50:00.660
 Have you in fact placed your faith in Christ?

00:50:00.659 --> 00:50:03.399
 And I really hope that of every person in this room,

00:50:03.819 --> 00:50:05.119
 we can say yes and amen.

00:50:05.739 --> 00:50:06.099
 Absolutely.

00:50:07.519 --> 00:50:08.899
 I ask that you ask the Spirit

00:50:08.899 --> 00:50:10.440
 to search your heart in that matter.

00:50:11.579 --> 00:50:13.779
 1 Corinthians 6, verse 9-11.

00:50:13.859 --> 00:50:14.679
 We'll close with this.

00:50:19.299 --> 00:50:19.839
 Paul says,

00:50:19.920 --> 00:50:21.259
 Do you not know that the unrighteous

00:50:21.259 --> 00:50:23.059
 will not inherit the kingdom of God?

00:50:23.679 --> 00:50:24.879
 Do not be deceived,

00:50:25.079 --> 00:50:26.259
 neither the sexually immoral,

00:50:26.359 --> 00:50:27.139
 the idolaters,

00:50:27.559 --> 00:50:28.460
 nor adulterers,

00:50:28.539 --> 00:50:30.099
 nor men who practice homosexuality,

00:50:30.099 --> 00:50:30.759
 nor thieves,

00:50:30.980 --> 00:50:31.519
 nor the greedy,

00:50:31.679 --> 00:50:32.299
 nor drunkards,

00:50:32.400 --> 00:50:33.059
 nor revilers,

00:50:33.259 --> 00:50:35.440
 nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God?

00:50:36.000 --> 00:50:37.519
 And such were some of you.

00:50:38.639 --> 00:50:39.839
 And such were some of you.

00:50:40.099 --> 00:50:41.839
 But you were washed.

00:50:42.559 --> 00:50:43.679
 You were sanctified.

00:50:43.779 --> 00:50:44.400
 You're hearing the language?

00:50:45.259 --> 00:50:46.219
 You were justified

00:50:46.219 --> 00:50:48.179
 in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

00:50:48.179 --> 00:50:49.940
 and by the Spirit of God.

00:50:49.940 --> 00:50:54.240
 So do we think rightly

00:50:54.240 --> 00:50:56.340
 about musical worship

00:50:56.340 --> 00:50:59.800
 and do we participate rightly

00:50:59.800 --> 00:51:01.159
 about musical worship?

00:51:01.220 --> 00:51:02.440
 We would do well to ask ourselves

00:51:02.440 --> 00:51:03.519
 those questions today.

00:51:04.179 --> 00:51:05.000
 Let's pray together.

00:51:05.440 --> 00:51:05.579
 Let's pray together.

00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:05.579


00:51:05.579 --> 00:51:35.559
 Thank you.