WEBVTT 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:06.020 Well, good morning, and if you are just joining us, we are, as we have said, partway through 00:00:06.020 --> 00:00:08.300 the book of Isaiah, which we're working through this term. 00:00:09.040 --> 00:00:13.900 There is something quite majestic about the scope of this book. 00:00:14.300 --> 00:00:17.080 It has a grandeur in its scope. 00:00:17.800 --> 00:00:25.580 The second verse of Isaiah calls the heavens and the earth to bear witness, and in the 00:00:25.580 --> 00:00:29.539 very last paragraph, we read of a new heaven and a new earth. 00:00:29.539 --> 00:00:36.200 And so the journey of the book of Isaiah is from creation to new creation, such is the 00:00:36.200 --> 00:00:37.479 scope of it. 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:44.019 It is cosmic, and cosmic renewal in a grand scale is what this book is about. 00:00:44.679 --> 00:00:51.859 In God's wisdom and in his providence, that cosmic renewal is being worked out through 00:00:51.859 --> 00:00:59.079 this little nation of Judah, being played out through the pages of history. 00:00:59.539 --> 00:01:00.820 In this little nation. 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:08.140 And yet, as we open the book of Isaiah, it is quite dark days for Judah. 00:01:09.319 --> 00:01:17.259 You see, Judah is sitting, waiting, cowering in the corner like a little puppy, waiting 00:01:17.260 --> 00:01:24.380 for the mighty Assyrian army just on the other side of its northern borders to take up its 00:01:24.380 --> 00:01:30.400 arms and walk in and annex Judah, as it has done Israel previously. 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:37.460 And so the question for Judah is, where is your security? 00:01:37.459 --> 00:01:42.459 What is it that you are hoping for? 00:01:42.639 --> 00:01:44.919 Where is it you look for your hope? 00:01:46.679 --> 00:01:57.319 If you were here last week, the main idea was to turn to God's king for hope. 00:01:57.319 --> 00:02:02.339 In repentance and faith, turn to God's king. 00:02:03.759 --> 00:02:11.719 Today, it's linked to that idea, but it's turn away from other things as well, is the 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:13.099 point of today's message. 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:17.099 And so if you've got the St. Paul's app, three points. 00:02:17.959 --> 00:02:18.879 God and the nations. 00:02:19.459 --> 00:02:20.340 God and Judah. 00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:21.979 And God and us. 00:02:21.979 --> 00:02:26.099 So let's kick off, first of all, God and the nations. 00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:33.919 Isaiah 1 to 12, which is where we finish last week, is the first main section of this prophecy. 00:02:34.819 --> 00:02:40.280 And it began with a focus on Judah, and it ends with a focus on the nations. 00:02:41.399 --> 00:02:48.179 And as we pick up the second major section of this book, which is chapters 13 to 27, we 00:02:48.180 --> 00:02:53.379 begin with a focus on the nations, and we end with a focus on Judah. 00:02:53.379 --> 00:03:02.219 As a relatively small nation, it was constantly threatened by great powers. 00:03:03.860 --> 00:03:11.980 And Judah, therefore, was constantly tempted to look to political and military alliances in 00:03:11.980 --> 00:03:13.360 order to save her. 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:24.760 And so our concern today is really chapters 13 to 23, or really 13 to 27. 00:03:25.480 --> 00:03:32.680 And if you've got a Bible in front of you and you flick through the pages, you'll see the 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:37.900 chapter headings or the section headings, and those section headings will tell you exactly 00:03:37.900 --> 00:03:39.580 what these chapters are all about. 00:03:39.580 --> 00:03:48.260 Now, they are 10 oracles, prophecies against the nations that are surrounding Judah. 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:56.960 They are structured into two groups of five oracles, and each of the two groups of five begin 00:03:56.960 --> 00:04:00.400 with Babylon, the nation of Babylon. 00:04:02.360 --> 00:04:08.140 Now, Babylon historically is known as one of the seven wonders of the world. 00:04:08.139 --> 00:04:14.139 It's also the sacred capital and power base of the great king Nebuchadnezzar, who you can 00:04:14.139 --> 00:04:16.579 read about in the Old Testament book of Daniel. 00:04:17.699 --> 00:04:26.019 And the reason Babylon comes first in both sections of five oracles is that in Bible thinking, 00:04:27.079 --> 00:04:36.399 Babylon is not just a real place, but it also is a symbol of collective human defiance and 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:37.659 rebellion against God. 00:04:38.139 --> 00:04:48.319 Babylon was historically built on the site of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:59.420 And the Tower of Babel being the monument to human desire to push God out of life and to make 00:04:59.420 --> 00:05:01.079 a name for ourselves. 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:10.240 It's the ultimate symbol, Tower of Babel, Genesis 11, the ultimate symbol of human rebellion against 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:10.639 God. 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:17.120 And it's a symbolism that's carried right through into the New Testament. 00:05:18.379 --> 00:05:24.120 1 Peter 5, verse 13, the apostle Peter refers to the Roman Empire as Babylon. 00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:35.519 And likewise, the apostle John announces the ultimate downfall of prideful world powers at the end of time in Revelation 18, 00:05:36.220 --> 00:05:39.879 using the word Isaiah 21, fallen. 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:42.420 Fallen is Babylon. 00:05:42.420 --> 00:05:43.420 Babylon. 00:05:43.420 --> 00:05:44.420 Babylon. 00:05:44.420 --> 00:05:59.500 And so as we consider the grand scope of Isaiah, we also note that Babylon rises at the beginning of the Bible and it falls at the end of the Bible. 00:05:59.500 --> 00:06:05.660 Babylon represents all that stands against God. 00:06:06.779 --> 00:06:09.839 All that is rebellious against God. 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:12.600 All that is an enemy of God. 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:18.779 All that is about human pride and achievement without God. 00:06:18.779 --> 00:06:32.819 And even in chapter 13, which is our focus today, we are to understand that what is prophesied here about Babylon is more than just the nation. 00:06:34.359 --> 00:06:40.079 In verse 11, we read God saying, I will punish the world for its evil. 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:49.919 What that means is, as we look at chapter 13, and please have your Bibles open because you really need to have your Bibles open. 00:06:51.939 --> 00:06:55.039 I'll even pause for you to let you get it. 00:06:58.919 --> 00:06:59.399 Excellent. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:01.759 Going for apps, Bibles. 00:07:01.899 --> 00:07:06.759 If you need a Bible, put your hand up or take one from the person next to you. 00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:17.939 What this means is, as we read about Babylon here in chapter 13, we are reading about the great cities of our own day. 00:07:19.879 --> 00:07:26.379 What does God say to London, Tokyo, New York, Beijing, Dubai, Sydney? 00:07:27.659 --> 00:07:33.759 You could extend that and ask, what does God say to the great multinational companies of our day? 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:37.039 BHP and Apple and Amazon and Google and Meta. 00:07:38.120 --> 00:07:47.599 And what's more, what does God say about the great ideologies and opinion formers and culture shapers of our day of liberal democracy and Islam and secularism? 00:07:49.279 --> 00:07:54.180 What does God say to everything that we have built for ourselves? 00:07:54.180 --> 00:07:59.259 Verse 6 of chapter 13. 00:07:59.720 --> 00:08:01.900 Wail for the day of the Lord is near. 00:08:02.600 --> 00:08:04.800 It will come like destruction from the Almighty. 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:07.240 And then down into verse 9. 00:08:07.980 --> 00:08:16.079 The day of the Lord is coming, a cruel day with wrath and fierce anger to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:24.399 Both of those verses mention the day of the Lord. 00:08:26.259 --> 00:08:33.579 It represents both a particular time in history and something far deeper and greater as well. 00:08:33.580 --> 00:08:44.020 It's first a reference to the year 539 BC when the Babylonian Empire finally fell. 00:08:45.460 --> 00:08:50.280 It finally fell to the Medi-Persian Empire under Cyrus. 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:57.980 But it also refers to a day that is yet to come when the Lord Jesus will return. 00:08:57.980 --> 00:09:00.259 We see this at the end of the Bible. 00:09:01.500 --> 00:09:10.899 And do what he did here to Babylon to bring judgment upon the pride and the arrogance of all who dare to oppose him. 00:09:10.899 --> 00:09:23.879 And most of Isaiah 13, which was just read out to us, is a vivid description of what that day will be like. 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:30.379 What is it about our society that makes God in? 00:09:30.379 --> 00:09:42.480 Well, in one verse, we are given a telling insight into the mind of the judge of all people. 00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:43.779 Verse 11. 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:48.039 I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. 00:09:48.580 --> 00:09:54.159 I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. 00:09:54.159 --> 00:10:02.360 In its essence, evil is the opposite of everything that's good. 00:10:03.439 --> 00:10:10.759 Evil is not a category that is reserved for some people, but not others. 00:10:14.259 --> 00:10:18.879 It's a category that's reserved for all people, not just the worst of people. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:24.840 It's described in verse 11 as arrogance, pride, haughty, as sin. 00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:33.960 As the German theologian Martin Luther wrote, the human heart is curved in on itself. 00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:38.080 Definition of pride. 00:10:39.779 --> 00:10:41.460 Curved in on itself. 00:10:42.100 --> 00:10:43.179 Looks to itself. 00:10:43.340 --> 00:10:44.779 That's the essence of the problem. 00:10:44.779 --> 00:10:48.240 We put ourselves where only God should be. 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:51.519 Now, I'll be frank with you. 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:55.320 I do not tend to think of my neighbours or even of myself as evil. 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:58.879 And yet, I have done things. 00:10:59.539 --> 00:11:05.360 I have said things and thought things that have caused harm to others. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:08.179 And I still do. 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:10.539 I've acted. 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:15.960 I do act for my own advantage at the expense of others. 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:20.720 I did it yesterday. 00:11:22.419 --> 00:11:24.100 There was a long line of traffic. 00:11:24.539 --> 00:11:26.840 I rammed up on the inside and pushed in. 00:11:28.200 --> 00:11:29.960 The guy behind me didn't like it. 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:32.720 But my car was bigger than his. 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:41.680 In its essence, evil is the opposite of everything good. 00:11:41.820 --> 00:11:44.100 It is my heart curved in and of itself. 00:11:45.100 --> 00:11:46.860 Think about myself first. 00:11:47.779 --> 00:11:50.680 I departed from the good ways of the God who made me. 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:58.319 And God says humanity must be held accountable for it and he will punish the wicked for their sins. 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:05.620 God will bring low the pride, the proud. 00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:10.699 He will bring low the pride, the presumption of those who exalt themselves. 00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:15.140 And so I ask you, have you ever believed your own publicity? 00:12:17.680 --> 00:12:21.500 Have you ever refused to let God be God? 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:27.259 Have you ever thought that his word is mistaken, misguided, wrong? 00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:31.840 Have you ever justified your behaviour? 00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:35.140 Even used the Bible to justify your behaviour? 00:12:35.140 --> 00:12:35.220 Have you ever justified your behaviour? 00:12:35.220 --> 00:12:35.240 Have you ever justified your behaviour? 00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:49.800 And so in verse 2, he will muster a mighty army through whom he will punish the proud. 00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:52.200 Raise a banner on a bare hilltop. 00:12:52.340 --> 00:12:55.580 Shout to them, beckon to them to enter the gates of the nobles. 00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:58.160 I have commanded those I prepared for battle. 00:12:58.280 --> 00:13:00.820 I have summoned my warriors to carry out my wrath. 00:13:01.160 --> 00:13:03.080 Those who rejoice in my triumph. 00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:07.280 Listen, a noise on the mountains like that of a great multitude. 00:13:07.640 --> 00:13:10.620 Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms. 00:13:11.460 --> 00:13:16.920 Like nations massing together, the Lord Almighty is mustering an army for war. 00:13:17.820 --> 00:13:21.800 They come from faraway lands, from the ends of the heavens. 00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:27.340 The Lord and the weapons of his wrath to destroy the whole country. 00:13:28.900 --> 00:13:30.120 That's God speaking to Babylon. 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:42.279 And the immediate result of God's judgment here is agonising helplessness, as we've all said in verse 6. 00:13:44.460 --> 00:13:45.700 It's sobering. 00:13:46.980 --> 00:13:49.519 Human greatness will come to nothing. 00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:54.279 Weapons, it says he, will fall from limp fingers. 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:58.360 Nerves will flee from every heart. 00:14:00.199 --> 00:14:04.639 And it's in this moment that the bankruptcy of human pride is laid bare. 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:16.559 And the impotence of all sources of security, hope and trust that we have built for ourselves will be gone. 00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:24.239 The flaming faces of verse 8 is shame. 00:14:24.939 --> 00:14:30.819 The shame of realising that my rejection of God has just been foolish. 00:14:30.820 --> 00:14:36.560 We will all be in the same boat, but we'll all sing it upon ourselves. 00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:38.600 The shame of rejecting God. 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:40.860 The foolishness of it. 00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:47.560 And verses 9 to 18 is a devastating description of God's judgment. 00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:48.940 It is gut-wrenching. 00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:57.060 And so this should cause us to ask, 00:14:57.060 --> 00:15:04.000 what is it that we are trusting in to defend ourselves against Almighty God? 00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:09.980 Nothing will stand. 00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:16.800 Verse 19 is really telling Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, 00:15:17.700 --> 00:15:21.639 the pride and glory of the Babylonians, 00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:26.060 will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:30.259 You see, this is a message to Judah. 00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:32.879 Babylon's not hearing this. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:34.620 This is a message to Judah. 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:39.680 And God's saying here, have a look at Babylon, Judah. 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:41.319 Look at it. 00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:44.339 The jewel of the kingdoms. 00:15:45.839 --> 00:15:50.259 And all Judah could see in that moment was the jewel of the kingdoms. 00:15:51.099 --> 00:15:54.739 This great city, the glory and the splendour of Babylon. 00:15:55.419 --> 00:16:00.339 The first city in human history to get beyond 200,000 inhabitants. 00:16:00.340 --> 00:16:08.480 The glorious city that had spectacularly throughout its history defied God and succeeded. 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:13.740 God says it will fall. 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:17.180 Judah, it will fall. 00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:20.740 Look to that hope and it will fall. 00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:22.620 And it did. 00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:22.639 It fell. 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:24.419 It fell. 00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:33.580 And as we're told, it will never be rebuilt again. 00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:46.520 In 1983, Saddam Hussein started to rebuild Babylon to again be a symbol of greatness in the world. 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:54.340 He portrayed himself as the new Nebuchadnezzar, the new king of the Babylonian empire. 00:16:55.039 --> 00:17:01.699 He had his name inscribed on the bricks as Nebi before him did in the original Babylon. 00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:10.380 He had large portraits of himself put alongside King Nebuchadnezzar at the entrance of the rebuilt Babylon. 00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:23.580 And signs throughout the city declared, this was built by Saddam Hussein, son of Nebuchadnezzar, king of kings, to glorify Iraq. 00:17:23.579 --> 00:17:37.399 He ended up in a hole in the ground, running for his life. 00:17:38.939 --> 00:17:43.379 Defiant to the end, he is dead and God, gone. 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:51.099 And the city that he was building for himself is still a ruins in the desert that you can visit today. 00:17:53.579 --> 00:18:05.339 And so here the prophecy of Isaiah, nearly 3,000 years before that, 00:18:06.919 --> 00:18:11.179 she will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations. 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:15.220 There no nomads will pitch their tents. 00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:18.759 There no shepherds will rest their flocks. 00:18:19.179 --> 00:18:21.619 But desert creatures will lie there. 00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:23.259 Jackals will fill her houses. 00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:25.519 There the owls will dwell. 00:18:26.159 --> 00:18:28.419 And there the wild goats will leap about. 00:18:28.939 --> 00:18:31.039 Hyenas will inhabit her strongholds. 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:33.240 Jackals, her luxurious palaces. 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:38.139 Her time is at hand and her days will not be prolonged. 00:18:38.140 --> 00:18:48.540 You see, the message for Judah here as it gazes at great Babylon is very simple. 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:49.980 Empires will come and go. 00:18:51.820 --> 00:18:54.240 Societies will rise and they will fall. 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:59.440 Great companies and institutions will burst onto the scene and disappear. 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:02.779 The rulers and kings will come and go. 00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:05.799 And you will live. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:08.080 And you will die. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:22.539 I am so grateful to God for his timely providence of preaching today on Isaiah 13 to 23 00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:26.859 and watching the coronation of King Charles III yesterday. 00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:36.839 He's here and one day he will go. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:41.839 The British Empire has risen and it will fall. 00:19:42.379 --> 00:19:48.959 The Church of England has risen and it, with all its pomp and ceremony yesterday, 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:53.279 it too, unless it repents, will fall. 00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:02.660 The grand scope of God's purposes from creation to new creation will continue. 00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:07.100 Jesus sits on his throne alone. 00:20:07.099 --> 00:20:11.019 From everlasting to everlasting. 00:20:13.639 --> 00:20:16.779 So, why is this for Judah? 00:20:17.639 --> 00:20:19.039 Why is Judah hearing this? 00:20:20.399 --> 00:20:24.399 Why is God revealing this to Isaiah for his people? 00:20:25.139 --> 00:20:30.399 Now, the first thing to say is that what Isaiah is not doing in these chapters, 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:37.440 Isaiah is not a self-righteous moraliser standing on the edges of society, 00:20:37.860 --> 00:20:40.000 waving his finger at society going, 00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:41.220 tut, tut, tut, tut, tut, tut. 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:44.300 You naughty people. 00:20:47.060 --> 00:20:51.080 As the Church has done in society. 00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:54.320 That's not what's happening here. 00:20:54.320 --> 00:20:59.160 Neither is Isaiah simply a social reformer. 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:06.000 All these chapters consist of brutal oracles against the different nations of the world 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:08.060 for their pride and their rebellion. 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:12.279 And Isaiah never went on a preaching tour to those nations. 00:21:13.800 --> 00:21:15.800 They never heard these oracles. 00:21:17.560 --> 00:21:21.640 Isaiah isn't taking the platform of the United Nations, 00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:24.519 decrying the behaviour of the foreign powers. 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:30.359 These oracles are recorded for the people of God. 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:34.879 Designed to build the faith of the people of God 00:21:34.879 --> 00:21:37.859 and to deal with their idolatry. 00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:42.259 It's about kicking idols and building faith. 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:44.519 That's what these chapters are about. 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:52.980 The primary purpose is to teach God's people about God, 00:21:53.879 --> 00:21:58.039 about his absolute control over every nation of the world, 00:21:58.400 --> 00:22:01.099 about the perfection of his justice. 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:06.599 They're designed for God's people to trust him, 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:08.420 to lean on him, 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.960 to cling to his word. 00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:15.980 You see, the main issue in the opening chapters of Isaiah 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:18.880 is that Judah didn't trust in God. 00:22:20.120 --> 00:22:22.620 They looked to other things for their security. 00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:24.700 And what is amazing about that 00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:27.200 is that we read in the early chapters 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:29.299 that they had their religion. 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:32.200 They were doing their sacrifices. 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:33.759 They were going to church. 00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:35.620 They were doing their community groups. 00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:37.299 They were reading their Bibles. 00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:40.779 So to speak. 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:49.480 But God was not functionally the center of their life. 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:52.200 They were looking to other nations 00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:54.019 as their security in the end. 00:22:56.359 --> 00:22:59.720 As a nation, Judah desired to defend her borders 00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:00.960 against a foreign aggressor, 00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:02.079 which is not a bad thing. 00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.279 It's a good thing. 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:08.660 The problem is that Judah, in that moment, 00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:10.839 decided to go with human wisdom 00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:13.879 and to trust in other nations for that security, 00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:16.019 rather than the God who had rescued them 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:17.639 from slavery in Egypt, 00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:20.000 who provided for them 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:23.680 and had for well over 2,000 years of their history 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.680 protected them. 00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:30.180 And so God is demonstrating to Judah 00:23:30.180 --> 00:23:33.140 in these oracles, 00:23:33.360 --> 00:23:34.299 the naivety 00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:36.360 and the futility 00:23:36.360 --> 00:23:38.279 of trusting in human resources 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:40.120 and power and wisdom. 00:23:44.320 --> 00:23:45.940 You want to go to Babylon, Judah? 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:49.480 It will soon be like Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:54.480 What about the Philistines? 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.519 What about Cush? 00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:56.880 What about Egypt? 00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:57.900 What about Moab? 00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:58.460 No. 00:23:59.640 --> 00:24:00.120 No. 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.220 No. 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:05.980 And so what is happening in these chapters 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:10.200 is that God takes his people on a journey 00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:11.920 around the compass, 00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:15.140 wherever Judah looked. 00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:19.140 She is seeing nations whose glory is fleeting 00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:21.840 and whose fate is sealed. 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.980 And there is nowhere 00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:27.100 that she can look for her security 00:24:27.100 --> 00:24:27.759 but the Lord, 00:24:27.820 --> 00:24:30.040 the Lord who is the Lord of all the earth, 00:24:30.560 --> 00:24:31.660 the ruler of nations, 00:24:31.800 --> 00:24:33.000 the judge of humanity. 00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:34.660 In chapter 17, 00:24:35.040 --> 00:24:37.620 Judah is told to look to Damascus. 00:24:39.080 --> 00:24:40.240 Look at Damascus. 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:45.059 This is their brothers to the north, 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:47.880 the ten tribes of Israel to the north. 00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:52.620 Assyria destroyed those ten tribes of the north, 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:56.920 sorry, destroyed Damascus in 732 BC. 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.480 Ten years later, 00:24:58.759 --> 00:25:00.660 it completely obliterated the nation. 00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:04.539 Look to Damascus. 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.680 What was their problem? 00:25:06.140 --> 00:25:07.220 What did they do? 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:10.819 They foolishly aligned themselves with Syria 00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:14.860 in order to defeat the Assyrians. 00:25:16.600 --> 00:25:18.100 And they lost. 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:26.579 But the real reason for her downfall 00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:29.600 was her long, long history of idolatry. 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:32.539 Long history of idolatry 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:37.000 which eroded her single-minded commitment 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:38.099 to Yahweh, 00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:40.079 to their God, 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:43.240 and opened her up to the politics of convenience 00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:45.839 and worldly wisdom 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:48.379 instead of trusting their God. 00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:50.019 And so, 00:25:50.899 --> 00:25:52.259 in chapter 17, 00:25:53.139 --> 00:25:54.240 verses 7 and 8, 00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:56.420 we have the pivotal passage of repentance. 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.500 In that day, 00:25:58.639 --> 00:26:00.139 people will look to their maker 00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:02.020 and turn their eyes 00:26:02.020 --> 00:26:03.600 to the Holy One of Israel. 00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:06.500 They will not look to the altars, 00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:08.240 the work of their hands. 00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:13.160 In other words, 00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:17.600 don't just look to God 00:26:17.600 --> 00:26:19.520 for your hope, 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:22.540 but turn away 00:26:22.540 --> 00:26:24.380 from your false gods 00:26:24.380 --> 00:26:25.320 at the same time. 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:30.539 what we see here 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.599 is that God 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:33.519 has declared war 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:34.879 on idolatry. 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:40.740 It's in the New Testament 00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:42.460 as well. 00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:48.779 And it's particularly 00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:49.740 in the New Testament 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.879 that we see 00:26:50.879 --> 00:26:52.500 how God has declared war 00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.939 on our idolatry. 00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:57.500 we are to look to our maker 00:26:57.500 --> 00:27:01.659 who on Mount Zion 00:27:01.659 --> 00:27:03.779 took on the role 00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:05.079 of Babylon for us. 00:27:06.619 --> 00:27:08.419 He took on our rebellion 00:27:08.419 --> 00:27:09.480 and our sin 00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:10.539 and became 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.779 the consummate enemy 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.439 of God. 00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:14.859 The eternal 00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:16.000 and glorious, 00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:18.139 the eternal 00:27:18.139 --> 00:27:19.200 and glorious 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:19.839 maker 00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:20.779 and judge 00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.559 of humanity 00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:23.659 experienced 00:27:23.659 --> 00:27:25.299 demise 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.960 for us. 00:27:28.899 --> 00:27:30.519 He experienced 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:31.980 shame 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:33.000 for sin, 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.679 shame 00:27:34.679 --> 00:27:35.599 for rebellion, 00:27:36.419 --> 00:27:36.839 shame 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:38.559 for our idolatry. 00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:40.539 He experienced 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.039 death. 00:27:42.619 --> 00:27:43.039 And yet 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:44.019 his resurrection 00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:45.339 was a triumphant 00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:45.899 victory 00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:47.159 over all 00:27:47.159 --> 00:27:48.000 the corrupt 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:49.460 political processes 00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:50.840 and the false 00:27:50.840 --> 00:27:51.620 allegiances 00:27:51.620 --> 00:27:52.539 that resulted 00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:54.059 in his undeserved 00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:54.519 death. 00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:56.579 The Jewish 00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.319 nationalism, 00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:58.519 the betrayal 00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:59.240 of Judas 00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:00.220 for 30 pieces 00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:00.680 of silver, 00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:01.900 the cruelty 00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:02.600 of the Roman 00:28:02.600 --> 00:28:03.079 cross 00:28:03.079 --> 00:28:03.840 were all 00:28:03.840 --> 00:28:04.680 expressions 00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:06.440 of the Babylonian 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:07.100 principle 00:28:07.100 --> 00:28:08.500 in this world. 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:12.660 And on 00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:13.359 Mount Zion 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:15.119 as the nations 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:16.019 looked on 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:17.220 our maker 00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:17.900 cried out 00:28:17.900 --> 00:28:18.920 his last breath 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:20.420 it 00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:21.579 is 00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:22.859 finished. 00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:26.000 And with 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:27.180 those words 00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:29.859 God's 00:28:29.859 --> 00:28:30.380 enemies 00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:30.980 can now 00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:31.819 be his people 00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:32.319 and find 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:33.480 refuge in him 00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:35.279 not fear 00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:36.220 refuge 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:36.339 refuge. 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:38.180 And so 00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:38.839 God is 00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:39.620 inviting us 00:28:39.620 --> 00:28:40.079 here 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:40.860 to 00:28:40.860 --> 00:28:42.140 look 00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:42.600 across 00:28:42.600 --> 00:28:43.160 history 00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:45.259 see 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:45.620 how 00:28:45.620 --> 00:28:46.360 empires 00:28:46.360 --> 00:28:46.600 have 00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:47.240 fallen 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:47.980 and 00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:48.559 realize 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:48.779 that 00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:48.940 they 00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:49.079 are 00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:49.380 all 00:28:49.380 --> 00:28:49.880 pointers 00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:50.559 to 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:50.819 a 00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:51.559 great 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.180 and 00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:52.380 even 00:28:52.380 --> 00:28:52.799 greater 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.059 and 00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:53.319 more 00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:53.880 terrible 00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:54.200 day 00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:54.360 of 00:28:54.360 --> 00:28:54.720 judgment 00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.620 when 00:28:55.620 --> 00:28:55.819 we 00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:56.019 will 00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:56.240 give 00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:56.460 an 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:56.880 account 00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:57.259 before 00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:57.779 God. 00:28:58.900 --> 00:28:59.500 That's 00:28:59.500 --> 00:28:59.900 what he's 00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:00.140 doing 00:29:00.140 --> 00:29:00.400 here 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:00.660 with 00:29:00.660 --> 00:29:00.980 Judah 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.319 and 00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:01.640 looking 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:01.860 at 00:29:01.860 --> 00:29:02.180 Babylon 00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:02.400 and 00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:02.579 these 00:29:02.579 --> 00:29:03.039 nations. 00:29:03.600 --> 00:29:03.680 We 00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:03.900 are 00:29:03.900 --> 00:29:04.500 invited 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:04.799 to 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.360 read 00:29:05.360 --> 00:29:05.579 the 00:29:05.579 --> 00:29:06.000 writing 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.299 that's 00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:06.500 on 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:06.680 the 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:07.140 wall 00:29:07.140 --> 00:29:09.319 just 00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:09.700 as 00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:10.259 King 00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:11.460 Belshazzar 00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:11.960 did 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.579 as he 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:13.200 partied 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.180 carefree 00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:15.640 on the 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.539 very night 00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:16.819 the 00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:18.319 Babylonian 00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:18.700 empire 00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:19.420 fell. 00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:21.160 It 00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:21.359 was 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:22.240 overrun 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.680 and 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:23.880 the 00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:24.220 writing 00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:24.420 was 00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:24.599 on 00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:24.740 the 00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.059 wall 00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.279 and 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:25.519 we're 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:25.759 meant 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.000 to 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.460 read 00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:26.660 the 00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:26.960 writing 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:27.200 that's 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:27.380 on 00:29:27.380 --> 00:29:27.519 the 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:27.759 wall 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:27.940 as 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:28.140 he 00:29:28.140 --> 00:29:28.400 did 00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:28.599 on 00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:28.799 that 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:29.180 night. 00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:33.500 It's 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:33.799 written 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:34.119 right 00:29:34.119 --> 00:29:34.619 across 00:29:34.619 --> 00:29:35.099 human 00:29:35.099 --> 00:29:35.640 history 00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:37.840 God 00:29:37.840 --> 00:29:38.140 has 00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:38.480 numbered 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:38.840 our 00:29:38.840 --> 00:29:39.420 days 00:29:39.420 --> 00:29:40.780 we 00:29:40.780 --> 00:29:41.000 have 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:41.259 been 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:41.660 weighed 00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:41.900 on 00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:42.060 the 00:29:42.060 --> 00:29:42.660 scales 00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.660 and 00:29:43.660 --> 00:29:44.080 found 00:29:44.080 --> 00:29:44.680 wanting. 00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:47.860 How 00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:48.320 are we 00:29:48.320 --> 00:29:48.920 able to 00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:49.480 stand 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:50.040 against 00:29:50.040 --> 00:29:50.280 the 00:29:50.280 --> 00:29:50.759 almighty? 00:29:54.020 --> 00:29:54.740 The 00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:55.620 only answer 00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:56.180 is captured 00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:56.780 in the 00:29:56.780 --> 00:29:57.120 Christian 00:29:57.120 --> 00:29:57.540 song 00:29:57.540 --> 00:29:58.000 lyrics 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:59.619 dressed 00:29:59.619 --> 00:30:00.119 in his 00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:00.640 righteousness 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:01.259 alone 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:02.420 faultless 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:02.680 I 00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:03.160 stand 00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:03.619 before 00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:03.880 the 00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:04.259 throne 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.099 on 00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:05.480 Christ 00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:05.700 the 00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:05.980 solid 00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:06.279 rock 00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:06.480 I 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:06.920 stand 00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:08.400 all 00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:09.079 other 00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:09.559 ground 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:10.319 is 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:10.640 sinking 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:11.160 sand. 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:12.579 That's 00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:13.140 the message 00:30:13.140 --> 00:30:13.420 for 00:30:13.420 --> 00:30:13.700 Judah. 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:15.599 That's 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:16.039 the message 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:16.319 for 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:16.599 Judah. 00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:22.240 So let's 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:22.720 just close 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.180 off and have 00:30:23.180 --> 00:30:23.500 a look at 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:23.920 us for a 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:24.119 moment. 00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:27.339 this whole 00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:27.919 chunk of 00:30:27.919 --> 00:30:28.479 Isaiah 00:30:28.479 --> 00:30:29.139 has the 00:30:29.139 --> 00:30:29.579 aim of 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.239 demolishing 00:30:30.239 --> 00:30:30.819 any 00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:31.539 confidence 00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:32.000 that we 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:32.519 might have 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:32.779 in our 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.059 own 00:30:33.059 --> 00:30:33.599 resources 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:34.219 and human 00:30:34.219 --> 00:30:34.639 wisdom 00:30:34.639 --> 00:30:35.919 and human 00:30:35.919 --> 00:30:36.379 methods 00:30:36.379 --> 00:30:36.559 and 00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:37.799 ingenuity. 00:30:38.859 --> 00:30:39.539 It's 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.039 designed 00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.899 to crush 00:30:40.899 --> 00:30:41.319 our 00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:41.819 idols 00:30:41.819 --> 00:30:43.419 and to 00:30:43.419 --> 00:30:43.599 build 00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:43.959 faith. 00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:44.179 Not 00:30:44.179 --> 00:30:44.579 just to 00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:45.000 turn to 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:45.299 God 00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:45.459 in 00:30:45.459 --> 00:30:46.059 faith 00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:47.059 but it's 00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:47.479 designed 00:30:47.479 --> 00:30:48.099 to crush 00:30:48.099 --> 00:30:48.479 our 00:30:48.479 --> 00:30:49.139 idols 00:30:49.139 --> 00:30:49.579 our 00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:49.919 other 00:30:49.919 --> 00:30:50.539 alternative 00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:50.979 gods 00:30:50.979 --> 00:30:51.299 that we 00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:51.479 have 00:30:51.479 --> 00:30:51.679 built 00:30:51.679 --> 00:30:51.879 our 00:30:51.879 --> 00:30:52.199 lives 00:30:52.199 --> 00:30:52.500 on. 00:30:54.119 --> 00:30:54.319 Now 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:54.979 idolatry 00:30:54.979 --> 00:30:55.319 looks a 00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:55.619 little bit 00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:55.979 different 00:30:55.979 --> 00:30:56.679 for us 00:30:56.679 --> 00:30:57.639 than it 00:30:57.639 --> 00:30:57.979 did for 00:30:57.979 --> 00:30:58.319 Judah. 00:31:00.119 --> 00:31:00.619 It might 00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:00.899 have 00:31:00.899 --> 00:31:01.539 similar 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:01.899 roots 00:31:01.899 --> 00:31:02.219 but 00:31:02.219 --> 00:31:03.579 for 00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:04.059 instance 00:31:04.059 --> 00:31:05.299 we 00:31:05.299 --> 00:31:05.559 might 00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:05.739 be 00:31:05.739 --> 00:31:05.979 looking 00:31:05.979 --> 00:31:06.279 to 00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:06.559 other 00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:07.039 nations 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:07.279 for 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:07.479 our 00:31:07.479 --> 00:31:07.819 ultimate 00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:08.479 security 00:31:08.479 --> 00:31:10.659 rather 00:31:10.659 --> 00:31:10.879 than 00:31:10.879 --> 00:31:11.119 God. 00:31:11.179 --> 00:31:11.399 That's 00:31:11.399 --> 00:31:11.819 possible. 00:31:13.739 --> 00:31:14.259 But 00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:14.599 there's a 00:31:14.599 --> 00:31:14.919 word in 00:31:14.919 --> 00:31:15.219 the New 00:31:15.219 --> 00:31:15.699 Testament 00:31:15.699 --> 00:31:16.119 that 00:31:16.119 --> 00:31:16.739 means 00:31:16.739 --> 00:31:18.479 inordinate 00:31:18.479 --> 00:31:19.439 desires 00:31:19.439 --> 00:31:21.719 and it's 00:31:21.719 --> 00:31:22.719 strongly linked 00:31:22.719 --> 00:31:23.099 to the 00:31:23.099 --> 00:31:23.859 idea of 00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:24.240 Old 00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:24.759 Testament 00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:25.899 idolatry. 00:31:27.139 --> 00:31:27.779 Every 00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:28.839 single sin 00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:29.179 that we 00:31:29.179 --> 00:31:29.519 commit, 00:31:29.619 --> 00:31:29.779 every 00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:30.219 thought, 00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:30.439 every 00:31:30.439 --> 00:31:31.039 action 00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:31.439 that we 00:31:31.439 --> 00:31:31.959 have 00:31:31.959 --> 00:31:32.619 that's 00:31:32.619 --> 00:31:33.319 a sin 00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:36.899 has a 00:31:36.899 --> 00:31:38.139 deeper 00:31:38.139 --> 00:31:38.899 source 00:31:38.899 --> 00:31:40.599 to that 00:31:40.599 --> 00:31:41.039 action. 00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:41.740 There's a 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.139 sin 00:31:42.139 --> 00:31:42.819 that's 00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:43.199 beneath 00:31:43.199 --> 00:31:43.519 the 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:43.819 sin 00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:48.159 and the 00:31:48.159 --> 00:31:48.439 sin 00:31:48.439 --> 00:31:48.679 that's 00:31:48.679 --> 00:31:48.959 beneath 00:31:48.959 --> 00:31:49.259 the 00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:49.679 sin 00:31:49.679 --> 00:31:50.439 is that 00:31:50.439 --> 00:31:50.839 each 00:31:50.839 --> 00:31:51.199 one of 00:31:51.199 --> 00:31:51.379 us 00:31:51.379 --> 00:31:51.740 has 00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:52.439 idols 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.660 that 00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:52.799 we 00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:53.340 trust 00:31:53.340 --> 00:31:53.779 in 00:31:53.779 --> 00:31:54.420 rather 00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:54.660 than 00:31:54.660 --> 00:31:54.980 Jesus 00:31:54.980 --> 00:31:55.559 Christ 00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:55.740 for 00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:55.880 our 00:31:55.880 --> 00:31:56.420 outstanding 00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:56.700 with 00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:56.940 God 00:31:56.940 --> 00:31:57.080 and 00:31:57.080 --> 00:31:57.460 others. 00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:58.700 Romans 00:31:58.700 --> 00:31:59.420 1 tells 00:31:59.420 --> 00:31:59.640 us 00:31:59.640 --> 00:32:00.140 that we 00:32:00.140 --> 00:32:00.700 create 00:32:00.700 --> 00:32:01.259 idols 00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:01.759 because 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:02.019 we 00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.340 want to 00:32:02.340 --> 00:32:02.500 have 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.100 control 00:32:03.100 --> 00:32:03.559 over 00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:03.799 our 00:32:03.799 --> 00:32:04.299 lives. 00:32:04.900 --> 00:32:05.100 We 00:32:05.100 --> 00:32:05.279 don't 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:05.580 want to 00:32:05.580 --> 00:32:05.820 trust 00:32:05.820 --> 00:32:06.160 God. 00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:06.279 We 00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:06.420 want to 00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:06.720 control 00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:06.900 our 00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:07.100 lives 00:32:07.100 --> 00:32:07.539 ourselves. 00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:08.539 Galatians 00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:09.259 4 tells 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:09.440 us 00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:10.059 idolatry 00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:10.559 is linked 00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:10.980 to our 00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:11.259 self 00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:11.880 salvation. 00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:13.200 1 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:13.400 John 00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:14.100 5 tells 00:32:14.100 --> 00:32:14.279 us 00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:44.259 the 00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:45.819 idolatry 00:32:45.819 --> 00:32:48.900 is taking 00:32:48.900 --> 00:32:49.480 good 00:32:49.480 --> 00:32:50.220 things 00:32:50.220 --> 00:32:51.059 and 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:51.440 making 00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:51.839 them 00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:52.879 ultimate 00:32:52.879 --> 00:32:53.619 things. 00:32:55.180 --> 00:32:55.279 They 00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:55.420 are 00:32:55.420 --> 00:32:55.759 things 00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:56.119 that we 00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:56.559 really 00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:57.000 get our 00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:57.299 sense 00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:57.519 of 00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:58.000 worth, 00:32:58.539 --> 00:32:58.799 our 00:32:58.799 --> 00:32:59.339 value, 00:32:59.879 --> 00:33:00.039 our 00:33:00.039 --> 00:33:00.619 security. 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.200 As 00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:06.420 soon 00:33:06.420 --> 00:33:06.839 as our 00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:07.259 loyalty 00:33:07.259 --> 00:33:07.579 to 00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:08.079 anything 00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:08.480 leads 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:08.799 us to 00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:09.000 push 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:09.359 God 00:33:09.359 --> 00:33:09.579 to 00:33:09.579 --> 00:33:09.900 one 00:33:09.900 --> 00:33:10.500 side, 00:33:11.140 --> 00:33:11.400 his 00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:11.799 word 00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:12.000 to 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:12.279 one 00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:12.740 side, 00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:15.380 idolatry. 00:33:17.339 --> 00:33:17.900 It can 00:33:17.900 --> 00:33:18.180 be a 00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:18.480 physical 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:19.019 object, 00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:20.519 it could 00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:21.039 be a 00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:21.960 property, 00:33:22.579 --> 00:33:22.920 it could 00:33:22.920 --> 00:33:23.200 be a 00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:23.559 person, 00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:23.920 it could 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:24.339 be an 00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:24.759 activity, 00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:25.160 it could 00:33:25.160 --> 00:33:25.420 be a 00:33:25.420 --> 00:33:25.640 role, 00:33:25.720 --> 00:33:25.880 it could 00:33:25.880 --> 00:33:26.099 be an 00:33:26.099 --> 00:33:26.579 institution, 00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:26.940 it could 00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:27.180 be a 00:33:27.180 --> 00:33:27.380 hope, 00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:27.779 it could 00:33:27.779 --> 00:33:28.019 be an 00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:28.259 image, 00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:28.500 it could 00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:28.759 be a 00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:29.039 pleasure, 00:33:29.160 --> 00:33:29.359 it could 00:33:29.359 --> 00:33:29.640 be a 00:33:29.640 --> 00:33:29.900 hero, 00:33:30.420 --> 00:33:30.859 it could 00:33:30.859 --> 00:33:31.460 even 00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:32.180 be 00:33:32.180 --> 00:33:36.240 a 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:36.660 theology. 00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.420 idolatry. 00:33:44.620 --> 00:33:45.359 And so 00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:45.660 there's a 00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:46.140 whole range 00:33:46.140 --> 00:33:46.500 of them 00:33:46.500 --> 00:33:48.400 and they're 00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:48.799 all different 00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:49.160 for all 00:33:49.160 --> 00:33:49.579 of us. 00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.440 We can 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:51.720 have a 00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:52.039 power 00:33:52.039 --> 00:33:52.700 idolatry, 00:33:53.259 --> 00:33:53.460 an 00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:53.920 approval 00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:54.579 idolatry, 00:33:54.660 --> 00:33:55.059 a comfort 00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:55.759 idolatry, 00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:57.000 a giftedness 00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:57.640 idolatry, 00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.279 a control 00:33:58.279 --> 00:33:58.920 idolatry, 00:33:59.019 --> 00:33:59.400 a helping 00:33:59.400 --> 00:33:59.980 idolatry, 00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:00.579 a dependence 00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:01.220 idolatry, 00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:02.339 an independence 00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:03.059 idolatry, 00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:03.559 a work 00:34:03.559 --> 00:34:04.200 idolatry, 00:34:04.579 --> 00:34:05.160 an achievement 00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:05.799 idolatry, 00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:06.700 a materialism 00:34:06.700 --> 00:34:07.380 idolatry, 00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:08.019 a religion 00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:08.679 idolatry, 00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.559 an irreligion 00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:10.320 idolatry, 00:34:10.739 --> 00:34:11.300 a cultural 00:34:11.300 --> 00:34:11.940 idolatry, 00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:12.500 a family 00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:13.159 idolatry, 00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:13.880 a relationship 00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:14.599 idolatry, 00:34:14.700 --> 00:34:15.240 a suffering 00:34:15.240 --> 00:34:15.960 idolatry, 00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:16.840 an image 00:34:16.840 --> 00:34:17.559 idolatry, 00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:18.579 an ideology 00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.420 idolatry, 00:34:19.579 --> 00:34:20.539 and on the 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:21.240 list goes 00:34:21.240 --> 00:34:21.920 and goes 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:22.579 and goes. 00:34:26.360 --> 00:34:27.579 And these 00:34:27.579 --> 00:34:28.380 oracles 00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:29.920 are designed 00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:30.800 to pull the 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:31.559 rug out 00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:32.240 from all 00:34:32.240 --> 00:34:32.740 of them 00:34:32.740 --> 00:34:33.380 and to 00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:34.260 show us 00:34:34.260 --> 00:34:34.519 their 00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:35.460 powerlessness 00:34:35.460 --> 00:34:37.480 because 00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:38.380 everything 00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:39.059 you put 00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:39.500 at the 00:34:39.500 --> 00:34:40.119 center of 00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:40.920 your heart, 00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:42.159 the center 00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:42.480 of your 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:42.820 life. 00:34:42.900 --> 00:34:43.180 If it's 00:34:43.180 --> 00:34:43.800 not your 00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:44.220 maker, 00:34:44.740 --> 00:34:45.440 it will 00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:46.639 control you. 00:34:46.820 --> 00:34:47.340 It will 00:34:47.340 --> 00:34:47.920 cause you 00:34:47.920 --> 00:34:48.619 to work 00:34:48.619 --> 00:34:49.119 for it. 00:34:49.180 --> 00:34:49.480 It will 00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:50.180 cause you 00:34:50.180 --> 00:34:51.700 to give 00:34:51.700 --> 00:34:52.559 yourself 00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:53.639 to it. 00:34:57.240 --> 00:34:58.000 Only 00:34:58.000 --> 00:34:58.519 Jesus 00:34:58.519 --> 00:34:59.180 Christ, 00:35:00.340 --> 00:35:02.220 our true 00:35:02.220 --> 00:35:02.639 maker, 00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:04.240 our true 00:35:04.240 --> 00:35:04.720 sovereign, 00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:05.460 our true 00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:05.980 savior, 00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:08.159 gives 00:35:08.159 --> 00:35:09.019 himself to 00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:09.900 us to set 00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:10.500 us free. 00:35:16.300 --> 00:35:16.840 These 00:35:16.840 --> 00:35:17.360 chapters 00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:17.820 here are 00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:18.420 designed to 00:35:18.420 --> 00:35:19.280 expose our 00:35:19.280 --> 00:35:21.000 own idols 00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:22.360 for the 00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:22.940 powerless 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:23.940 jokes that 00:35:23.940 --> 00:35:24.619 they are. 00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:33.760 If you're 00:35:33.760 --> 00:35:34.519 not convinced 00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:35.039 of that, 00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:36.519 I would 00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:37.099 invite you 00:35:37.099 --> 00:35:37.519 in this 00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:38.000 week to 00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:38.539 visit two 00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:39.139 places, 00:35:39.380 --> 00:35:41.340 the rubbish 00:35:41.340 --> 00:35:42.820 tip and 00:35:42.820 --> 00:35:43.460 the cemetery. 00:35:46.820 --> 00:35:47.699 There you 00:35:47.699 --> 00:35:48.340 will discover 00:35:48.340 --> 00:35:49.539 the end 00:35:49.539 --> 00:35:50.460 of all 00:35:50.460 --> 00:35:52.880 life and 00:35:52.880 --> 00:35:53.639 the end 00:35:53.639 --> 00:35:54.179 of all 00:35:54.179 --> 00:35:54.840 things. 00:35:56.519 --> 00:35:57.519 The rubbish 00:35:57.519 --> 00:35:58.079 tip and the 00:35:58.079 --> 00:35:58.420 cemetery. 00:35:58.460 --> 00:35:58.960 The 00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:58.980 cemetery. 00:35:58.980 --> 00:35:59.980 future. 00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:00.740 The 00:36:00.740 --> 00:36:00.980 future. 00:36:00.980 --> 00:36:01.340 The 00:36:01.340 --> 00:36:01.980 future. 00:36:01.980 --> 00:36:02.320 The 00:36:02.320 --> 00:36:02.480 future. 00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:03.159 The 00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:03.980 future. 00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:06.320 The 00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:06.380 future. 00:36:06.380 --> 00:36:06.940 The future. 00:36:09.260 --> 00:36:09.760 Judah 00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:10.179 looked to 00:36:10.179 --> 00:36:10.800 the nations. 00:36:12.179 --> 00:36:12.860 What are 00:36:12.860 --> 00:36:13.400 you looking 00:36:13.400 --> 00:36:13.780 to? 00:36:16.699 --> 00:36:17.300 What are 00:36:17.300 --> 00:36:17.699 you looking 00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:17.980 to? 00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:20.639 I'm going 00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:20.880 to do 00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:21.139 what I 00:36:21.139 --> 00:36:21.579 did last 00:36:21.579 --> 00:36:21.800 week. 00:36:21.900 --> 00:36:22.119 Close 00:36:22.119 --> 00:36:22.440 off our 00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:22.840 time together. 00:36:22.920 --> 00:36:23.099 I'm going 00:36:23.099 --> 00:36:23.380 to invite 00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:23.639 you to 00:36:23.639 --> 00:36:23.960 bow your 00:36:23.960 --> 00:36:24.280 heads. 00:36:25.679 --> 00:36:26.000 Put your 00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:26.579 hands out. 00:36:29.380 --> 00:36:29.800 I'm going 00:36:29.800 --> 00:36:30.340 to ask you 00:36:30.340 --> 00:36:31.059 some questions 00:36:31.059 --> 00:36:32.179 that might 00:36:32.179 --> 00:36:32.599 just get 00:36:32.599 --> 00:36:33.039 the start 00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:33.380 of the ball 00:36:33.380 --> 00:36:33.960 rolling for 00:36:33.960 --> 00:36:34.280 you and 00:36:34.280 --> 00:36:34.519 then I'm 00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:34.719 going to 00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:35.159 pray for 00:36:35.159 --> 00:36:35.400 us. 00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:43.240 Let me pray 00:36:43.240 --> 00:36:43.699 to start 00:36:43.699 --> 00:36:44.000 with. 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:46.860 Jesus 00:36:46.860 --> 00:36:50.380 help us 00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:50.760 to see 00:36:50.760 --> 00:36:51.059 you. 00:36:53.079 --> 00:36:53.940 Help us 00:36:53.940 --> 00:36:55.780 to love 00:36:55.780 --> 00:36:56.159 you. 00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:57.960 Help us 00:36:57.960 --> 00:36:59.000 to obey 00:36:59.000 --> 00:36:59.400 you. 00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:01.099 And in 00:37:01.099 --> 00:37:01.820 doing that 00:37:01.820 --> 00:37:02.719 help us 00:37:02.719 --> 00:37:03.460 to see 00:37:03.460 --> 00:37:05.340 the idols 00:37:05.340 --> 00:37:05.699 of our 00:37:05.699 --> 00:37:06.780 heart that 00:37:06.780 --> 00:37:07.760 displace you 00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:08.260 from the 00:37:08.260 --> 00:37:08.960 center of 00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:09.619 our hearts. 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:15.659 And so I 00:37:15.659 --> 00:37:16.219 ask you 00:37:16.219 --> 00:37:17.099 what is 00:37:17.099 --> 00:37:18.139 your 00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:18.659 greatest 00:37:18.659 --> 00:37:19.440 nightmare? 00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:23.500 What is 00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:23.960 it that you 00:37:23.960 --> 00:37:24.639 worry about 00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:25.320 the most? 00:37:28.139 --> 00:37:28.880 What 00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:29.579 brings 00:37:29.579 --> 00:37:32.039 out of 00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:32.440 me the 00:37:32.440 --> 00:37:32.880 strongest 00:37:32.880 --> 00:37:33.579 emotions? 00:37:36.980 --> 00:37:37.940 What do 00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:38.579 I rely 00:37:38.579 --> 00:37:40.539 on or 00:37:40.539 --> 00:37:40.940 comfort 00:37:40.940 --> 00:37:41.820 myself with 00:37:41.820 --> 00:37:42.440 when things 00:37:42.440 --> 00:37:43.139 go badly 00:37:43.139 --> 00:37:43.639 or become 00:37:43.639 --> 00:37:44.079 difficult? 00:37:48.179 --> 00:37:49.039 What makes 00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:49.599 me feel 00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:50.219 the most 00:37:50.219 --> 00:37:51.299 self-worth? 00:37:54.440 --> 00:37:55.159 What am 00:37:55.159 --> 00:37:55.559 I the 00:37:55.559 --> 00:37:56.139 proudest 00:37:56.139 --> 00:37:56.639 of? 00:38:00.279 --> 00:38:01.019 What do 00:38:01.019 --> 00:38:01.799 I need, 00:38:02.319 --> 00:38:02.739 I mean 00:38:02.739 --> 00:38:03.759 really need 00:38:03.759 --> 00:38:04.460 other people 00:38:04.460 --> 00:38:05.000 to see 00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:05.699 in me? 00:38:09.379 --> 00:38:10.139 What do 00:38:10.139 --> 00:38:10.599 I really 00:38:10.599 --> 00:38:11.159 want and 00:38:11.159 --> 00:38:12.000 expect out 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:12.599 of life? 00:38:13.639 --> 00:38:16.199 what would 00:38:16.199 --> 00:38:16.699 really 00:38:16.699 --> 00:38:18.259 make me 00:38:18.259 --> 00:38:18.679 happy? 00:38:24.239 --> 00:38:25.039 I wonder 00:38:25.039 --> 00:38:25.839 if the 00:38:25.839 --> 00:38:27.420 way we 00:38:27.420 --> 00:38:28.119 answer those 00:38:28.119 --> 00:38:28.759 questions 00:38:28.759 --> 00:38:30.059 expose the 00:38:30.059 --> 00:38:30.619 heart that 00:38:30.619 --> 00:38:31.319 would defy 00:38:31.319 --> 00:38:32.159 God if it 00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:32.619 had to. 00:38:32.619 --> 00:38:36.759 gracious God 00:38:36.759 --> 00:38:37.819 we confess 00:38:37.819 --> 00:38:38.159 that we 00:38:38.159 --> 00:38:38.599 have built 00:38:38.599 --> 00:38:39.199 our hearts 00:38:39.199 --> 00:38:39.500 and our 00:38:39.500 --> 00:38:40.099 lives around 00:38:40.099 --> 00:38:40.699 things that 00:38:40.699 --> 00:38:41.199 are good 00:38:41.199 --> 00:38:42.960 but not 00:38:42.960 --> 00:38:43.579 the best 00:38:43.579 --> 00:38:45.539 and so we 00:38:45.539 --> 00:38:46.259 confess our 00:38:46.259 --> 00:38:46.900 idolatry. 00:38:47.900 --> 00:38:48.599 We have 00:38:48.599 --> 00:38:49.519 made these 00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:50.159 things 00:38:50.159 --> 00:38:51.199 absolutes 00:38:51.199 --> 00:38:52.199 things that 00:38:52.199 --> 00:38:53.199 love us. 00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:53.359 And what 00:38:53.359 --> 00:38:53.779 are they 00:38:53.779 --> 00:38:54.460 compared to 00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:54.739 you? 00:38:55.939 --> 00:38:56.659 If we 00:38:56.659 --> 00:38:57.259 have you 00:38:57.259 --> 00:38:58.339 we don't 00:38:58.339 --> 00:38:58.699 have to 00:38:58.699 --> 00:38:59.379 have these 00:38:59.379 --> 00:38:59.659 other 00:38:59.659 --> 00:39:00.259 things. 00:39:01.899 --> 00:39:02.599 These 00:39:02.599 --> 00:39:03.099 idols 00:39:03.099 --> 00:39:03.779 cannot love 00:39:03.779 --> 00:39:04.179 us, 00:39:05.279 --> 00:39:06.259 help us, 00:39:07.259 --> 00:39:08.000 give us 00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:08.639 hope or 00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:09.699 significance or 00:39:09.699 --> 00:39:10.639 save us as 00:39:10.639 --> 00:39:11.099 you do. 00:39:11.099 --> 00:39:16.299 and so 00:39:16.299 --> 00:39:18.139 we ask 00:39:18.139 --> 00:39:18.460 that you 00:39:18.460 --> 00:39:18.900 would please 00:39:18.900 --> 00:39:19.579 forgive us. 00:39:23.380 --> 00:39:23.900 Please 00:39:23.900 --> 00:39:24.400 forgive us 00:39:24.400 --> 00:39:25.019 for trampling 00:39:25.019 --> 00:39:25.400 on your 00:39:25.400 --> 00:39:25.860 love for 00:39:25.860 --> 00:39:26.219 us. 00:39:28.480 --> 00:39:29.000 Please 00:39:29.000 --> 00:39:29.599 forgive us 00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:29.920 for our 00:39:29.920 --> 00:39:30.319 lack of 00:39:30.319 --> 00:39:30.900 gratitude, 00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:33.480 our lack 00:39:33.480 --> 00:39:34.079 of grateful 00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:34.819 joy for 00:39:34.819 --> 00:39:35.279 all that 00:39:35.279 --> 00:39:35.699 you've done 00:39:35.699 --> 00:39:36.360 for us. 00:39:40.319 --> 00:39:40.839 As 00:39:40.840 --> 00:39:41.620 hard as 00:39:41.620 --> 00:39:42.079 it is, 00:39:42.180 --> 00:39:42.660 we desire 00:39:42.660 --> 00:39:43.079 to push 00:39:43.079 --> 00:39:43.800 these idols 00:39:43.800 --> 00:39:44.420 out from 00:39:44.420 --> 00:39:44.800 the centre 00:39:44.800 --> 00:39:45.120 of our 00:39:45.120 --> 00:39:45.600 lives. 00:39:47.280 --> 00:39:47.960 They are 00:39:47.960 --> 00:39:48.519 repulsive 00:39:48.519 --> 00:39:49.200 to you 00:39:49.200 --> 00:39:50.100 and will 00:39:50.100 --> 00:39:50.920 only lead 00:39:50.920 --> 00:39:51.460 to our 00:39:51.460 --> 00:39:51.840 ruin. 00:39:54.120 --> 00:39:54.380 And so 00:39:54.380 --> 00:39:54.880 help each 00:39:54.880 --> 00:39:55.300 one of us 00:39:55.300 --> 00:39:55.660 to see 00:39:55.660 --> 00:39:56.240 them clearly, 00:39:57.559 --> 00:39:58.700 to weigh 00:39:58.700 --> 00:39:59.240 them against 00:39:59.240 --> 00:39:59.880 all of your 00:39:59.880 --> 00:40:01.500 goodness and 00:40:01.500 --> 00:40:02.160 to expel 00:40:02.160 --> 00:40:02.500 them from 00:40:02.500 --> 00:40:02.900 the centre 00:40:02.900 --> 00:40:03.200 of our 00:40:03.200 --> 00:40:03.780 lives by 00:40:03.780 --> 00:40:04.360 your grace. 00:40:06.300 --> 00:40:06.780 Replace 00:40:06.780 --> 00:40:07.240 them with 00:40:07.240 --> 00:40:07.940 your gospel 00:40:07.940 --> 00:40:09.400 by your 00:40:09.400 --> 00:40:10.620 spirit for 00:40:10.619 --> 00:40:11.299 your glory 00:40:11.299 --> 00:40:12.259 and our 00:40:12.259 --> 00:40:12.639 joy. 00:40:13.239 --> 00:40:13.679 Amen. 00:40:13.679 --> 00:40:13.759 Amen.