WEBVTT

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 It is exactly 9 o'clock, and so I might as well just start, because I like to start on a round number, so if it's not 9, it'll be 9.05, and then that just takes too long.

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 So, why don't we start with prayer, and then we can jump right in.

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 Father God, creator of heaven and earth, we ask that you would bless this time that we have together, that you would be revealed more fully through our time,

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 and that through this discussion and through this time of learning, we can learn to glorify you more and see you everywhere.

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 In Jesus' name, amen.

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 Amen.

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 All right. So, good morning, everyone. I'm Luke Batty. I'm a professional scientist, although that really won't come in very much today.

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 So, just think of me as another layperson.

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 And we're starting today a new class series on the doctrine of creation, and oftentimes the doctrine of creation can kind of feel like a battleground, you know.

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 Where we're always talking about different views on the age of the earth, the matter of days, evolution.

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 And in this class, we are going to cover some of these things, for sure, but I think our goal here is to look at the doctrine of creation with a view to how we can more fully receive the foundational teaching as creation is a gift of God.

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 Creation is a gift from God.

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 Creation is a gift from God, and how we can then take creation as a gift and return to God as our creator by glorifying him.

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 So, today, we're basically, over the next seven weeks or so, we're going to take Genesis 1.

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 Chapter 1 is sort of our guide as we move slowly through it, and we pick up different elements of the narrative and what we can learn from it.

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 And so, today, I'll be starting at the very, very beginning.

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 The very beginning, you know.

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 So, before I jump in, though, why don't we...

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 I love... I don't know about you guys, but I love mythology.

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 Does anybody else here love mythology of different cultures, etc.?

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 Yeah, I'm crazy about it.

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 I grew up with... my parents had the doulairs.

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 I don't even know if I'm pronouncing that right.

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 Doulairs, like book of Greek myths and Norse myths and all that stuff.

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 So, I grew up with that stuff.

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 It's my bread and butter.

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 So, I love hearing different cultures' creation myths.

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 So, I thought I'd give you a few samplings, and then we can use that as a starting point for differentiating the biblical worldview.

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 So, let's start with Greek myth.

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 This is coming from Hesiods.

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 Cosmogeny, if... or Cosmogony.

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 I actually, honestly, don't know Greek.

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 So, it could be pronounced either way.

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 Cosmogeny sounds more interesting to me, though.

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 So, it starts this way.

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 First, there was chaos.

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 Then broad-chested Gaia, the steadfast seed of all immortals who live upon the snowy peaks of Olympus.

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 Then murky Tartarus in the depths of the white earth.

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 And Eros, most beautiful of the immortal gods, who weakens the limbs and overwhelms the minds and wise counsel in the breast of all gods and humans.

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 Chaos gave birth to Erebus and black Nyx.

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 And from Nyx came Aether and Hermera, conceived after Nyx joined in love with Erebus.

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 First, Gaia bore story Uranus, her equal, to envelop her on all sides so she would be the ever-secure home for the blessed gods.

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 Then she bore Tal-Uria, pleasant refuge of the goddess Nymphs on the mountain forests, and the sterile swelling seas of Pontus.

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 All of these she bore alone.

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 Then she bedded Uranus and bore deep whirling Oceanus,

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 Coeus, Creus, Hyperion, Iapetus, Thea, Rhea, Themis, Nimesanine, and it goes on,

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 golden-crowned Phoebe, and fair Tethys.

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 Then Wily Kronos was born, her youngest and most dreadful child, who hated his fearsome father.

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 And so for those of you who are familiar with Greek myth, we all know about Kronos, right?

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 Kronos was the big bad guy.

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 He was like, I want to be top dog.

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 And so he started eating his children, because there was some sort of prophecy, I think,

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 that one of his children would supplant him.

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 So he's like, I'll solve that problem just by eating my kids.

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 Which, right?

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 Why wouldn't you?

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 But then, as we know, Zeus was hidden away, right?

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 And then he comes back and beats up his dad, and then all of his siblings get vomited out.

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 It's a very fun, interesting story.

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 But that's how Greek mythology starts.

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 That's the creation myth of Greek mythology, or at least one of them.

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 Here's another one I think really is interesting.

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 This is Norse mythology.

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 This one starts,

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 Before there was soil or sky or any green thing, there was only the gaping abyss of Gnungagap.

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 This chaos of perfect silence and darkness lay between the homeland of elemental fire, Muspelheim,

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 and the homeland of elemental ice, Niflheim.

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 Frost from Niflheim and billowing frames of Muspelheim crept towards each other until they met in Gnungagap.

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 Amid the hissing and sputtering, the fire melted the ice, and the drops formed themselves into Ymir,

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 the first of the godlike but destructive giants.

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 When he slept, more giants leapt forth from his legs and from the sweat of his armpits.

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 I'm sure we were all familiar with that.

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 As the frost continued to melt, a cow, Adumia, emerged from it.

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 She nourished Ymir with her milk, and she in turn was nourished by salt licks in the ice.

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 Her licks slowly uncovered Buri, the first of the Aesir tribe of gods.

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 Buri had a son named Bor, who married Besla, the daughter of the giant bolt-thorn.

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 The half-god, half-giant children of Bor and Besla were Odin,

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 who became the chief of the Aesir gods, and his two brothers, Vili and Vey.

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 Odin and his brothers slew Ymir and set about constructing the world from his corpse.

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 They fashioned the oceans from his blood, the soil from his skin and muscles,

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 vegetation from his hair, clouds from his brain, and the sky from his skull,

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 where four dwarves, corresponding to the four cardinal points,

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 held Ymir's skull aloft above the earth.

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 And then, after that, we get into all the fun of the adventures of Odin

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 and the other Aesir gods and the Veynir gods,

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 if you're familiar with Norse mythology.

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 Lots of fun, weird stuff.

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 That's the Norse creation myth.

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 Here, let's bring it a little closer to the context of the writing of Genesis.

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 We have here the Babylonian Enuma Elish.

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 This starts,

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 When the heavens above did not exist, and earth beneath had not come into being,

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 there was Apsu, which is fresh water, the first in order, their begetter,

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 and Demi urged Tiamat, that's salt water, who gave birth to them all.

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 They had mingled their waters together before meadowland had coalesced and reedbed was to be found.

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 When not one of the gods had been formed or had come into being,

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 when no destinies had been decreed, the gods were created within them.

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 Lamu and Lahamu were formed and came into being.

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 While they grew and increased in stature, Ansar and Kisar, who excelled them, were created.

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 And then on and on and on.

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 More gods, more interesting stuff happens.

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 Creation of humans.

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 That's like, we'll bring, I'll mention that later in a little bit.

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 So these are different, this is just sort of a survey of different ways

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 that creation has been understood in different cultures, in different times.

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 In ancient times, in Babylon, in Norse mythology, in Greek mythology.

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 Let's compare and contrast these creation stories with the beginning we have in Genesis.

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 This starts, Genesis 1.

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 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

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 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep,

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 and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

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 And then it continues on for the days, which we will continue to talk about later.

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 Does anybody see, what are some of the differences you guys see in this account here

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 versus the other accounts we read earlier?

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 Anything jump out at you?

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 Yes?

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 God exists before, not for a picture.

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 Yeah, yeah, it seems like God is there at the beginning, right?

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 And then there's nothing else, right?

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 What else?

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 Anybody see anything else?

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 In the other myths, there's a lot of action, a lot of interaction.

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 Whereas, from what you read from Genesis, there's a pregnant presence.

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 Yeah.

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 Yeah, sort of like there's more characters going on.

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 There's more conflict, maybe, we could say.

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 Whereas in this account, there is no conflict.

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 There's just the Word of God.

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 So I think, yeah, Matt?

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 In all of them, I think there was some idea of chaos or the abyss or something like that near the beginning.

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 Yeah, the watery chaos or the giant, you know, maelstrom of Gnungagap,

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 which is just a fun word to say.

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 I'm not even sure I'm saying it right, but it's fun the way I'm saying it.

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 Yeah, I think these are all correct things to see in this difference.

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 For one, I think the lack of conflict.

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 There's no other element.

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 There's no other being that is vying with God for control,

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 vying for God with God for creation, for supremacy.

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 It's God.

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 In the beginning, God.

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 We also get monotheism, right?

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 That's one of the ones that kind of jumps out.

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 I mean, all the other ones, there's multiple gods going on.

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 You know, there's the earth god and the sky god,

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 or there's the giant god, I guess.

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 And then you have, you know, different water gods,

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 whether that be salt water or fresh water and their progeny.

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 There's a lot of, like, birthing going on, right?

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 No, in this account, we don't have any of those.

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 We have one god.

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 And I think the most important difference is the first difference that was brought up,

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 which is God was there before anything else.

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 God was there before anything else, and he created everything out of nothing.

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 This is the doctrine we call creation ex nihilo,

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 and that's what we're going to be talking about today.

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 This is one of the great doctrines of the church.

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 But before we get into that,

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 and this is a doctrine that all Christians agree on,

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 but I think it's important, since we're using Genesis as our roadmap,

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 to pause here and talk about a controversy that has to do with these first verses of Genesis.

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 And that controversy is over whether Genesis 1-1 is actually describing creation ex nihilo.

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 So there's multiple views out there.

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 The reason there is this controversy is that, grammatically,

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 we can take the beginning verses of Genesis in a few different ways.

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 One of the ways that used to be brought out earlier in time,

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 maybe I think more commonly in the 19th century,

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 was the idea that you read it when God created the heavens and the earth,

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 and you started that way.

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 But most biblical scholars don't take that reading anymore.

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 They don't think that's, for reasons I don't understand,

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 because I don't speak Hebrew,

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 that's not really much of a viable option.

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 But there's still two other options that we can use to take Genesis 1.

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 So the first one is, surprise,

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 the first one is the way that we have it in the ESV.

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 We just read it in the beginning,

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 God created the heavens and the earth,

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 the earth was out, form and void,

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 and the narrative continues from there.

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 Another way of taking the beginning verses

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 is to see the first verse as sort of a title,

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 sort of a summary of all that's about to come next.

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 So we can think of that, reading it would be like,

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 Genesis 1,

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 in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

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 Pause.

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 The earth was without form and void.

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 You see how the narrative can start here?

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 The earth was without form and void,

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 and darkness was over the face of the deep.

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 So, these are two different ways we can take

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 the beginning verses of Genesis.

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 So how do we,

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 how do we,

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 what are some reasons for taking the first

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 or the second way of reading it?

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 Well, for the second reading,

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 I think one of the reasons,

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 outside of any of the grammatical reasons,

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 is that there's an,

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 if we start here,

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 with the earth being without form and void,

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 and darkness was over the face of the deep,

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 we start to see a greater,

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 a stronger similarity

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 between this narrative and other narratives

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 like the Enuma Elish that we started with.

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 Right?

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 The starting in a place of disorder,

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 starting with chaos,

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 starting with this watery nothingness,

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 sort of.

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 You guys see that?

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 How this,

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 now if we start here,

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 we can start to see a closer similarity

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 to these other creation myths.

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 And I could have given you other ancient Near Eastern creation myths

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 from ancient Egypt,

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 for instance,

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 or ancient Assyria,

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 I think.

00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:10.960
 Yeah.

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 We,

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 there's,

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 there's a few different ones

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 and they all start sort of,

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 just kind of like Greek myth and Norse myth

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 in a place of chaos and disorder.

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 And the creation myth is about bringing in order.

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 Right?

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 And that order is usually brought about by fighting,

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 fighting or birthing or marrying

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 or something like that.

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 Right?

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 As we,

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 as we read.

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 And so if we take this second understanding

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 of,

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 of the,

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 the first verses of Genesis,

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 then we can,

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 you see,

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 we can conceive of this beginning creation account

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 as sort of a direct frontal attack

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 on these other creation myths.

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 Right?

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 And what will come out of the,

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 what will come out of understanding

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 the creation account

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 in comparison to these other myths

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 is those things that we talked about.

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 The fact that there was this lack of conflict in Genesis.

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 In comparison to these other groups.

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 That there's an elevation of human dignity.

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 So for instance,

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 in the Aniwa Elish,

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 I didn't go into it because it's very long.

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 But when it eventually gets to the creation of humans,

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 humans are like,

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 they're,

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 they're like the,

00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:20.120
 the thing that was created to get the gods out of doing some work.

00:15:20.579 --> 00:15:20.979
 Basically.

00:15:21.439 --> 00:15:22.620
 So the gods were,

00:15:23.059 --> 00:15:23.319
 you know,

00:15:23.359 --> 00:15:24.079
 they're on the earth,

00:15:24.139 --> 00:15:25.099
 they're tilling the soil,

00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:26.039
 they're making food,

00:15:26.079 --> 00:15:26.439
 and they're like,

00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:27.679
 oh man,

00:15:28.319 --> 00:15:29.439
 this is a ton of work.

00:15:29.839 --> 00:15:31.099
 I thought I was a god.

00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:32.359
 Why am I doing this work?

00:15:32.439 --> 00:15:32.799
 Basically.

00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:35.099
 And then human beings are created like,

00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:35.219
 hey,

00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:36.079
 we can make these things,

00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:37.179
 they can do the work for us,

00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:38.419
 and then they offer us the food,

00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:39.719
 and everything's great.

00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:40.859
 And then they're like,

00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:41.079
 hey,

00:15:41.199 --> 00:15:41.719
 great idea,

00:15:41.799 --> 00:15:42.299
 let's do that.

00:15:42.359 --> 00:15:43.019
 And then boom.

00:15:43.299 --> 00:15:44.620
 That's the creation of human beings.

00:15:44.679 --> 00:15:45.620
 That's what being,

00:15:45.719 --> 00:15:46.959
 a human being means

00:15:46.959 --> 00:15:48.659
 in the Babylonian context.

00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:53.019
 You are born into a life of work and service.

00:15:53.299 --> 00:15:54.199
 For what end?

00:15:54.319 --> 00:15:56.659
 Just to get the gods out of some work.

00:15:57.419 --> 00:15:57.959
 And ultimately,

00:15:58.179 --> 00:15:58.439
 actually,

00:15:58.500 --> 00:16:01.159
 humans end up becoming way too loud and annoying.

00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:03.719
 And then that's why they're flooded.

00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.419
 Because it's really,

00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:05.819
 they're like,

00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:06.379
 seriously,

00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:07.659
 the gods are trying to sleep.

00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:08.339
 And they're like,

00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:10.899
 I can't sleep with all this noise down there.

00:16:11.339 --> 00:16:12.679
 They're just making so many humans,

00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:13.720
 it's to get rid of all of them,

00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:13.939
 you know.

00:16:15.319 --> 00:16:15.759
 So,

00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:16.720
 obviously,

00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:18.039
 if we take this second version,

00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:19.240
 version of the Genesis,

00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:21.219
 all those,

00:16:21.319 --> 00:16:23.120
 those differences come to the fore.

00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:25.919
 Human dignity is so different

00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:26.480
 in the,

00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.899
 in the Genesis account

00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:28.740
 than we get in other,

00:16:28.839 --> 00:16:29.480
 these other accounts.

00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.980
 And we can continue on

00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:31.699
 in differences,

00:16:31.699 --> 00:16:32.879
 like the expression is God

00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:34.599
 as harmonious ruler,

00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:36.279
 sole ruler over the earth,

00:16:36.459 --> 00:16:37.219
 over creation.

00:16:38.539 --> 00:16:39.299
 So that's,

00:16:39.439 --> 00:16:39.599
 I think,

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.099
 some of the,

00:16:40.099 --> 00:16:41.000
 the benefits of that.

00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:41.480
 And despite,

00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:42.000
 I think,

00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:42.659
 a lot of the strength

00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:43.480
 of these considerations,

00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:45.719
 I actually believe that

00:16:45.719 --> 00:16:46.899
 the,

00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:48.019
 the understanding that we get

00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:48.860
 in the ESV

00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:50.019
 and other translations

00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:51.740
 is probably closer

00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:52.439
 to the truth.

00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:53.879
 And that,

00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:54.379
 indeed,

00:16:54.659 --> 00:16:55.659
 the implications

00:16:55.659 --> 00:16:57.480
 from the beginning,

00:16:57.559 --> 00:16:59.179
 the first chapters of Genesis

00:16:59.179 --> 00:17:00.600
 are way more radical

00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:02.980
 and way more different

00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:04.220
 than the surrounding cultures.

00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:04.339
 verses.

00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:06.700
 So some of the reasons

00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.120
 that we can,

00:17:07.380 --> 00:17:08.779
 we have for taking this,

00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:11.259
 this first view here

00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:12.559
 is that in the Hebrew,

00:17:12.700 --> 00:17:13.120
 actually,

00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:15.160
 verse two starts with an and.

00:17:16.380 --> 00:17:17.620
 And so if you imagine

00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:18.680
 the narrative starting

00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.900
 and the earth was out,

00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:20.380
 form and void,

00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:21.180
 it kind of sounds like,

00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:21.380
 oh,

00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:21.720
 what?

00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:22.680
 I thought,

00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:23.000
 you know,

00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:23.920
 it's kind of like starting,

00:17:24.100 --> 00:17:24.299
 boom,

00:17:24.360 --> 00:17:25.380
 in the middle of the action

00:17:25.380 --> 00:17:26.480
 and there seems to be

00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:28.500
 a callback to earlier action.

00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:30.000
 So that actually gives us

00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:30.700
 a little more confidence

00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.740
 that this,

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.500
 in the beginning,

00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:33.500
 God created the heavens

00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:33.819
 and the earth

00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:34.920
 is the first act

00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:35.660
 in the narrative.

00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:37.420
 And then the verse two

00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:38.400
 is actually a continuance

00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:38.880
 of the narrative.

00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:40.240
 Now, you know,

00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:42.480
 I'm not a Hebrew scholar

00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:43.980
 and so there's very good arguments

00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:45.259
 both ways on the grammar.

00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:47.519
 So I don't claim

00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:48.299
 to be an authority there,

00:17:48.339 --> 00:17:49.440
 but that seems pretty,

00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:51.220
 pretty persuasive to me.

00:17:52.120 --> 00:17:52.319
 And more,

00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:53.039
 and then secondly,

00:17:53.180 --> 00:17:54.539
 I think more interestingly

00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:55.799
 or more decisively

00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:57.640
 is this view that

00:17:57.640 --> 00:18:00.599
 if this is a title

00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:01.380
 of what is about

00:18:01.380 --> 00:18:01.960
 to follow,

00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.360
 it is kind of strange

00:18:04.360 --> 00:18:06.380
 that the first verse

00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:07.240
 starts with the earth

00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:07.800
 already there.

00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.220
 Right?

00:18:09.360 --> 00:18:10.140
 So in the beginning,

00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:10.900
 God created the heavens

00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:11.300
 and the earth

00:18:11.300 --> 00:18:12.140
 is what we're about

00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:13.360
 to experience,

00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:14.180
 what we're about to see

00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:15.380
 and it starts with

00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:16.560
 the earth is already there.

00:18:16.800 --> 00:18:17.480
 It's kind of like,

00:18:17.560 --> 00:18:17.980
 oh, well,

00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.620
 what is the earth

00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:20.220
 if it hasn't been created yet?

00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:20.900
 Right?

00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:21.500
 What is the earth?

00:18:21.580 --> 00:18:23.220
 And if you continue on

00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:24.060
 and when he starts

00:18:24.060 --> 00:18:24.840
 talking about the heavens,

00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:25.560
 before the heavens

00:18:25.560 --> 00:18:26.920
 are actually fully formed,

00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:28.120
 they're called the heavens.

00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:30.540
 And so in one sense,

00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:31.700
 as we continue on

00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.420
 in the narrative,

00:18:32.639 --> 00:18:33.319
 narratively,

00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:35.279
 the earth and the heavens

00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:36.759
 already exist,

00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.599
 at least in the language

00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:39.839
 of the passage.

00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:40.659
 And so that,

00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:41.019
 again,

00:18:41.099 --> 00:18:42.659
 I think is other reasons

00:18:42.659 --> 00:18:43.740
 to take this first view.

00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:45.980
 Now,

00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:48.339
 I think another reason

00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:49.940
 we should consider

00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:50.440
 the first view

00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:51.420
 is it seems to be

00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:52.159
 the way that

00:18:52.159 --> 00:18:54.839
 the earliest people of God

00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:56.579
 understood this passage.

00:18:56.579 --> 00:18:58.319
 As we call back

00:18:58.319 --> 00:18:59.279
 to Genesis 1,

00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:00.480
 there seems to be

00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.279
 this insistence

00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:02.939
 of there being

00:19:02.939 --> 00:19:04.299
 nothing besides God

00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:05.480
 in the act of creation.

00:19:05.659 --> 00:19:06.240
 So if we look at,

00:19:06.619 --> 00:19:06.879
 for instance,

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:08.319
 Isaiah 45, 18,

00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:10.319
 For thus says the Lord,

00:19:10.439 --> 00:19:11.500
 who created the heavens,

00:19:11.679 --> 00:19:12.199
 He is God,

00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:13.299
 who formed the earth

00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:13.819
 and made it.

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:14.699
 He established it.

00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:15.559
 He did not create it empty.

00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:16.759
 He formed it to be inhabited.

00:19:17.639 --> 00:19:18.379
 I am the Lord

00:19:18.379 --> 00:19:19.359
 and there is no other.

00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:20.179
 Right?

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:22.480
 So I think if we sit

00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.799
 and we marinate

00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:24.679
 on that kind of verse,

00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:25.700
 it does seem to give us

00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:26.160
 the feeling

00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:28.580
 that there is nothing else

00:19:28.580 --> 00:19:29.680
 other than God

00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:30.860
 when He creates

00:19:30.860 --> 00:19:31.460
 and He creates

00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:32.460
 everything as is.

00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:32.980
 Right?

00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:36.160
 Another obvious example

00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:36.900
 in the New Testament

00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:37.799
 is John 1, 1.

00:19:38.600 --> 00:19:39.039
 Right?

00:19:39.320 --> 00:19:39.880
 In the beginning

00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:40.720
 was the Word

00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:42.120
 and the Word was with God

00:19:42.120 --> 00:19:43.200
 and the Word was God.

00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.500
 He was in the beginning

00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:44.960
 with God.

00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:46.000
 All things were made

00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:46.640
 through Him

00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:47.640
 and without Him

00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:48.700
 was not anything made

00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:49.299
 that was made.

00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:50.500
 Now that is obviously

00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:51.100
 very clear.

00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:52.259
 And so,

00:19:52.600 --> 00:19:54.180
 even those Christians,

00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:55.120
 believers who take

00:19:55.120 --> 00:19:55.880
 this second view

00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:56.500
 would say,

00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:57.600
 obviously creation

00:19:57.600 --> 00:19:58.100
 ex nihilo

00:19:58.100 --> 00:19:59.039
 is the truth

00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:00.220
 that we affirm

00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:01.120
 in Scripture.

00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:02.259
 But I think

00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:03.240
 if we think about

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:03.960
 John 1, 1

00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:05.160
 as a callback,

00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:06.960
 as a reference

00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:08.580
 to Genesis 1,

00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.759
 then that makes it

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.720
 not only

00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:12.720
 an expression

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.539
 of new doctrine

00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:14.180
 but also

00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:15.340
 an interpretation

00:20:15.340 --> 00:20:16.320
 of what it is

00:20:16.320 --> 00:20:16.840
 Genesis 1

00:20:16.840 --> 00:20:17.240
 was saying

00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:17.900
 in the first place.

00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:20.140
 So whether you're

00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:20.740
 convinced by

00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:22.120
 either of those arguments

00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:23.099
 about creation

00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:23.500
 ex nihilo

00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:23.959
 as I,

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.319
 you know,

00:20:24.479 --> 00:20:25.079
 whether you think

00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:25.619
 Genesis 1

00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:26.239
 is talking about

00:20:26.239 --> 00:20:27.019
 creation ex nihilo

00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.119
 as I take it

00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:28.959
 or not,

00:20:29.139 --> 00:20:30.199
 we can all agree

00:20:30.199 --> 00:20:30.639
 that actually

00:20:30.639 --> 00:20:31.779
 this is the teaching

00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:32.379
 of God's people,

00:20:32.459 --> 00:20:33.059
 that the doctrine

00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:33.779
 of creation ex nihilo

00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:35.000
 is one of the

00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:36.279
 distinguishing differences

00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:37.359
 between Christianity

00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:39.819
 and these other

00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:40.699
 religious systems,

00:20:40.959 --> 00:20:41.779
 other ways of thinking

00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:42.479
 about the world.

00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:44.859
 So how is that?

00:20:45.199 --> 00:20:46.279
 What does creation

00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:46.679
 ex nihilo

00:20:46.679 --> 00:20:47.699
 do for us?

00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.299
 What are we

00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:49.539
 to learn from it?

00:20:49.539 --> 00:20:51.920
 Well, for one,

00:20:52.159 --> 00:20:52.859
 we should remember

00:20:52.859 --> 00:20:53.819
 that heaven and earth

00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:55.839
 is a merism,

00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:58.480
 meaning it's a phrase

00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:58.899
 that's supposed

00:20:58.899 --> 00:20:59.879
 to encompass everything.

00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:01.740
 So when we say

00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.779
 in the beginning

00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:03.200
 God created

00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:03.799
 the heavens

00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.220
 and the earth,

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.159
 we shouldn't think

00:21:05.159 --> 00:21:05.659
 of this as

00:21:05.659 --> 00:21:06.539
 specifically

00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:07.619
 God created

00:21:07.619 --> 00:21:08.339
 the sky

00:21:08.339 --> 00:21:09.799
 and God created

00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:11.139
 the planet earth.

00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:12.119
 Heaven and earth

00:21:12.119 --> 00:21:12.639
 just means

00:21:12.639 --> 00:21:14.799
 everything, right?

00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:15.680
 It's like saying

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.920
 the whole kitten caboodle

00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:18.859
 or the whole enchilada,

00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:19.559
 right?

00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:20.740
 We're not talking

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.599
 about enchiladas here.

00:21:21.679 --> 00:21:22.019
 We're talking

00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:23.079
 about everything, right?

00:21:23.479 --> 00:21:24.419
 So this is the same

00:21:24.419 --> 00:21:25.559
 kind of figure of speech.

00:21:25.979 --> 00:21:26.619
 Heaven and earth,

00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.059
 everything.

00:21:27.659 --> 00:21:29.099
 So when we confess

00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:29.919
 that God created

00:21:29.919 --> 00:21:31.699
 all things from nothing,

00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:33.299
 everything, everything,

00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:34.799
 this is actually

00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.659
 a confession of truth

00:21:35.659 --> 00:21:36.639
 both about God

00:21:36.639 --> 00:21:37.719
 and about creation.

00:21:38.859 --> 00:21:39.819
 So how is this?

00:21:39.879 --> 00:21:42.539
 So let's park here

00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.359
 for what does this

00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:44.099
 tell us about God?

00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:47.740
 Well, if everything

00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:48.559
 that is made,

00:21:48.679 --> 00:21:49.240
 that is,

00:21:49.699 --> 00:21:50.779
 if everything that is

00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:51.939
 was made by God,

00:21:52.219 --> 00:21:52.819
 then that reveals

00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:54.500
 that God is the only

00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:55.939
 independent one.

00:21:56.659 --> 00:21:58.199
 The only being

00:21:58.199 --> 00:21:59.199
 without beginning.

00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:01.899
 You guys see that?

00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:04.279
 This concept of deity

00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:05.639
 is radically different

00:22:05.639 --> 00:22:06.639
 from the other ones

00:22:06.639 --> 00:22:08.379
 we heard about earlier.

00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:11.439
 Zeus, Odin, Apsu.

00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:13.720
 They may be called almighty.

00:22:14.100 --> 00:22:15.480
 They may be called ultimate.

00:22:16.360 --> 00:22:18.779
 But they actually just exist

00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:20.480
 as one part of a larger whole.

00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.940
 They are part of the

00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:25.940
 eternal cosmos of chaos

00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:28.720
 or maybe a whirling maelstrom

00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:30.000
 depending on what flavor

00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:30.480
 you prefer.

00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:32.279
 They're just one part

00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.860
 of this larger whole, right?

00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:35.940
 They don't ground

00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.480
 these realities.

00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:37.400
 They kind of exert

00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:38.460
 a power over them

00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.259
 kind of like Superman

00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.779
 on steroids, right?

00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:42.819
 They can take

00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:44.839
 this pre-existing material

00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:46.220
 and they can form it

00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:47.319
 and they can exert

00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:48.119
 their will on it

00:22:48.119 --> 00:22:50.220
 but they don't make it.

00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:51.559
 They don't ground it.

00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:52.480
 It doesn't exist

00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.299
 because of them.

00:22:54.399 --> 00:22:55.859
 How different is this

00:22:55.859 --> 00:22:58.099
 than the God of the Bible?

00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:00.639
 When God gives Moses

00:23:00.639 --> 00:23:01.480
 his personal name,

00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:02.099
 what does he say?

00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:05.720
 I am.

00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:07.059
 Right?

00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:08.079
 I am.

00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.660
 It gives me chills.

00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.220
 Right?

00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:11.220
 I am.

00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:12.340
 I am.

00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:14.360
 God is not one being

00:23:14.360 --> 00:23:15.720
 among other beings.

00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:18.120
 God is being.

00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:21.779
 God is, is, as Augustine says.

00:23:23.580 --> 00:23:24.700
 So what is that?

00:23:25.540 --> 00:23:27.580
 There's not a watery chaos,

00:23:27.980 --> 00:23:29.100
 an eternal universe.

00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:31.060
 There's not this unformed

00:23:31.060 --> 00:23:32.460
 substance alongside him

00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:33.080
 that he uses.

00:23:34.040 --> 00:23:35.360
 This is what we learn

00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:36.880
 when we really stop

00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:37.800
 and consider the teaching

00:23:37.800 --> 00:23:38.759
 of creation ex nihilo.

00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:41.039
 There's only God

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:43.480
 and all things

00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.500
 that depend on him

00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:45.559
 for their existence.

00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:47.539
 There's basically

00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:48.740
 only two kinds of things.

00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:49.539
 God

00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:51.059
 and creation.

00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:52.240
 Right?

00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.759
 If you're not God,

00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:55.359
 you're created.

00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:57.599
 And that determines

00:23:57.599 --> 00:23:59.720
 the hierarchy.

00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:01.319
 Does that make sense?

00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:07.200
 God is often called

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:08.039
 his aseity,

00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:09.659
 meaning from himself.

00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:10.379
 This is actually

00:24:10.379 --> 00:24:11.460
 what Jesus mentions

00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:13.619
 when he's defending

00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:14.819
 his unity with the Father

00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:16.119
 to the Pharisees.

00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:16.819
 He says,

00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:19.379
 in John,

00:24:19.439 --> 00:24:19.700
 I believe,

00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.259
 5,

00:24:20.419 --> 00:24:21.359
 I didn't write that down,

00:24:21.419 --> 00:24:21.659
 actually.

00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:22.839
 John 5,

00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:24.159
 for as the Father

00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:25.579
 has life in himself,

00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:27.199
 so he has granted

00:24:27.199 --> 00:24:27.959
 the Son also

00:24:27.959 --> 00:24:28.579
 to have life

00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:29.199
 in himself.

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:32.319
 God isn't given life.

00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.359
 God doesn't depend

00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:33.839
 on anything.

00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:34.939
 God has life

00:24:34.939 --> 00:24:35.819
 in himself.

00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:37.000
 Right?

00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:39.059
 You can see immediately

00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:40.019
 the radical departure

00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:41.240
 that is from these other gods.

00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:42.620
 Aseity is one of those

00:24:42.620 --> 00:24:44.480
 incommunicable attributes,

00:24:44.620 --> 00:24:44.960
 we say.

00:24:45.620 --> 00:24:47.380
 Those aspects of God's essence

00:24:47.380 --> 00:24:48.559
 that are unique to him.

00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:50.660
 If you have one of these attributes,

00:24:51.700 --> 00:24:53.140
 you are God,

00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:54.240
 by definition.

00:24:54.839 --> 00:24:55.000
 Right?

00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:56.460
 If you're from yourself,

00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.400
 you are God.

00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:58.779
 Right?

00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.700
 And a lot of us

00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.120
 like to think

00:25:01.120 --> 00:25:01.940
 we're self-made.

00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:03.920
 We're not self-made like this.

00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.180
 Right?

00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:08.099
 I think there's kind of

00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:08.980
 a funny story, right?

00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:12.120
 I think it's a joke,

00:25:12.360 --> 00:25:12.680
 actually,

00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:15.099
 but it's a story

00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:15.819
 about a scientist,

00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:17.440
 this very brash

00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:20.799
 and confident scientist.

00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:21.299
 He says,

00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:22.380
 God,

00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:24.380
 I can create

00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:26.579
 everything that you created

00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:27.880
 out of this mud right here.

00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.599
 And God says,

00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:30.400
 okay, go ahead.

00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:31.220
 Do it.

00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:32.819
 And so the scientist says,

00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:33.319
 okay.

00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:34.700
 He starts working with the mud

00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.140
 and God says,

00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:35.500
 oh,

00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:36.420
 well,

00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.400
 make your own mud.

00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.539
 Right?

00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:41.380
 There's all this stuff

00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:42.960
 that we just take for granted

00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:44.240
 as just existing

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:45.880
 that we think,

00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:46.319
 oh, yeah,

00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:47.480
 the laws of physics.

00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:48.259
 Right?

00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:49.400
 A lot of times

00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:50.279
 you'll hear of people

00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:50.880
 talking about,

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.140
 well,

00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:52.579
 if we have a quantum vacuum

00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:54.700
 and we have quantum fluctuations,

00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:56.480
 then something actually

00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:58.039
 can come out of nothing.

00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.240
 Right?

00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:01.860
 But this just misses the point.

00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:05.120
 This is sort of obtuse

00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:07.319
 because there isn't nothing.

00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:09.419
 There are quantum laws.

00:26:10.379 --> 00:26:10.779
 Right?

00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:11.460
 You see that?

00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:12.399
 There are laws of physics

00:26:12.399 --> 00:26:13.159
 that are operative.

00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:15.480
 So those things

00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.220
 need to be explained.

00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:17.460
 It's not about

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:18.980
 the existence

00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.439
 of material things as such.

00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:21.700
 It's the existence

00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:23.099
 of anything.

00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:24.919
 It's existence.

00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:25.639
 Period.

00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.259
 Full stop.

00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:27.359
 That we're trying to explain here.

00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.019
 Right?

00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.460
 Another thing

00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.519
 that we get from Ex nihilo,

00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.200
 another of his

00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:33.460
 incommunicable attributes,

00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:36.700
 is God's immutability.

00:26:38.620 --> 00:26:39.700
 God's not growing.

00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:42.480
 Being born from the salt

00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.380
 like the Aesir.

00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.819
 I love that view.

00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:46.620
 And that's one of the reasons

00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:47.200
 I shared it.

00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:48.160
 I love the view

00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:50.120
 of a cosmic cow

00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:53.319
 licking the ice

00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:56.039
 and a guy just coming out of it.

00:26:57.140 --> 00:27:00.079
 In the Duler Book of Myths,

00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:00.500
 there's actually

00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.539
 a really great picture

00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:02.740
 where the cow

00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.400
 is like licking

00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:04.000
 and it's like

00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.500
 you can start

00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:06.000
 seeing the hair

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:07.220
 coming from the thing

00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:08.619
 like a cow lick

00:27:08.619 --> 00:27:09.200
 in your hair, right?

00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.819
 But God's not growing.

00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:14.680
 God's not developing.

00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.819
 He's not reaching

00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:16.740
 or striving.

00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:18.240
 God is perfect.

00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:19.839
 And therefore,

00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:20.519
 there's no need

00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:21.559
 for God to change.

00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:23.220
 Like his aseity,

00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:24.299
 God's immutability

00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.039
 is revealed

00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:25.619
 in his being

00:27:25.619 --> 00:27:26.559
 the only one

00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:27.500
 to not have a beginning.

00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:29.579
 So let's look at

00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:30.460
 Psalm 92.

00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:31.200
 where it says,

00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:32.619
 Before the mountains

00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:33.380
 were brought forth,

00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.960
 or ever you had formed

00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:35.440
 the earth

00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:36.339
 and the world

00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:37.240
 from everlasting

00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:37.880
 to everlasting,

00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:38.680
 you are God.

00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:42.259
 When we apply this

00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:43.400
 to the aspect of time,

00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:44.480
 God's immutability,

00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.759
 we arrive at God's

00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:46.259
 eternity.

00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:48.420
 He's the only beginning

00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:49.500
 that was always.

00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:51.460
 Right?

00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:52.940
 Revelations 1.8

00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:54.240
 I am the Alpha

00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:54.839
 and the Omega,

00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:55.940
 says the Lord God,

00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:57.000
 who is

00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:58.220
 and who was

00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:59.200
 and who is

00:27:59.200 --> 00:27:59.720
 to come,

00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:00.640
 the Almighty.

00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:03.059
 There wasn't a time

00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:03.920
 where God was not.

00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:05.500
 There wasn't a time

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:08.200
 when God needed

00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:08.680
 to change

00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:09.279
 or to grow.

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:10.900
 He didn't need

00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:11.799
 to take on humanity

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.360
 to learn

00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:13.940
 what it was really like.

00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:15.700
 Does it make sense?

00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:16.839
 Sometimes we talk

00:28:16.839 --> 00:28:17.299
 like this.

00:28:18.100 --> 00:28:19.160
 Like God needed something.

00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:20.100
 Like he needs us.

00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:22.120
 Does God need us?

00:28:22.919 --> 00:28:23.839
 I hope not.

00:28:24.899 --> 00:28:25.799
 Because I'm not

00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:26.500
 going to be any help.

00:28:28.859 --> 00:28:29.819
 And we could go on.

00:28:29.919 --> 00:28:30.919
 There's so many things

00:28:30.919 --> 00:28:32.119
 we can draw

00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:33.339
 about God

00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:33.959
 from creation

00:28:33.959 --> 00:28:34.399
 ex nihilo.

00:28:34.719 --> 00:28:35.559
 His unity,

00:28:36.139 --> 00:28:36.859
 God's infinity,

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.699
 his simplicity.

00:28:37.879 --> 00:28:38.819
 All of these attributes

00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.979
 are attempts

00:28:39.979 --> 00:28:41.259
 to articulate

00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.919
 this radical transcendence

00:28:42.919 --> 00:28:43.699
 that we have

00:28:43.699 --> 00:28:44.359
 in the Creator.

00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:46.579
 He's beyond all things

00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:47.759
 for he made all things

00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:48.839
 and there's no one

00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:49.399
 like him.

00:28:49.400 --> 00:28:51.820
 That's, I think,

00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:53.460
 the title,

00:28:53.540 --> 00:28:54.160
 should be the title

00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:54.800
 of what we learn

00:28:54.800 --> 00:28:55.280
 from creation

00:28:55.280 --> 00:28:55.759
 ex nihilo

00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.860
 is that there is

00:28:56.860 --> 00:28:58.160
 no one like him.

00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:00.540
 So,

00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:02.640
 that's God.

00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:03.980
 We're finished with God.

00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:04.620
 You know?

00:29:04.780 --> 00:29:05.560
 No, we're not.

00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:06.480
 So,

00:29:07.060 --> 00:29:07.740
 but what do we learn

00:29:07.740 --> 00:29:08.900
 about God?

00:29:09.320 --> 00:29:09.820
 What do we learn

00:29:09.820 --> 00:29:10.540
 about creation

00:29:10.540 --> 00:29:11.440
 from the doctrine

00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:11.800
 of creation

00:29:11.800 --> 00:29:12.220
 ex nihilo?

00:29:13.280 --> 00:29:13.740
 Well,

00:29:15.060 --> 00:29:15.800
 if God,

00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:16.380
 if discussing

00:29:16.380 --> 00:29:17.519
 God's transcendence

00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:18.640
 is leaving you

00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:19.280
 feeling cold,

00:29:19.660 --> 00:29:20.660
 making you think

00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:22.060
 if God's so distinct

00:29:22.060 --> 00:29:22.660
 from his creation,

00:29:22.780 --> 00:29:23.600
 if he's so different,

00:29:23.860 --> 00:29:24.720
 if he's so beyond,

00:29:24.800 --> 00:29:25.519
 if he doesn't need,

00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:27.120
 how can we say that

00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:28.160
 he's with us?

00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:29.920
 Right?

00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:32.480
 On the contrary,

00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:34.680
 this view makes God

00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:35.460
 closer

00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:36.759
 than you can even imagine.

00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:38.900
 If all things

00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:39.820
 depend on God

00:29:39.820 --> 00:29:40.580
 for their existence,

00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.420
 then that means

00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:43.140
 that we have

00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:44.500
 derivative existence.

00:29:45.600 --> 00:29:46.060
 Right?

00:29:46.560 --> 00:29:48.040
 If God is being,

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:48.799
 that anything

00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:49.480
 that exists

00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:51.480
 is sort of

00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:54.180
 relying on God's being

00:29:54.180 --> 00:29:54.819
 to exist.

00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.159
 Are we getting that?

00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:57.740
 So,

00:29:57.859 --> 00:29:58.680
 this is all to say

00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:59.339
 we don't exist

00:29:59.339 --> 00:29:59.960
 autonomously.

00:30:00.099 --> 00:30:01.299
 I heard a

00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:03.460
 great analogy

00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:05.180
 where it's like,

00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:05.980
 you know,

00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:07.220
 before we're born,

00:30:07.639 --> 00:30:08.680
 we rely on this

00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:09.500
 umbilical cord

00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:10.619
 to exist.

00:30:10.619 --> 00:30:10.980
 Right?

00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:12.940
 We as human beings

00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:13.759
 we're kind of

00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:16.700
 attached to our mothers

00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:18.259
 where we receive

00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:19.360
 this existence.

00:30:19.579 --> 00:30:20.019
 We receive

00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:20.640
 our nourishment.

00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:22.440
 And sort of like

00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:24.319
 invisible umbilical cords.

00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:26.640
 We all walk around.

00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.740
 Everything walks around

00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:29.220
 connected to God,

00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:30.860
 relying on God

00:30:30.860 --> 00:30:32.039
 for its existence.

00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:32.940
 Right?

00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:35.480
 So,

00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:36.660
 we don't exist

00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.240
 autonomously.

00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:38.400
 we actually must

00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:39.559
 participate in

00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:40.200
 God's being

00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:40.900
 to be.

00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:42.700
 And so,

00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.120
 it's incorrect

00:30:43.120 --> 00:30:43.599
 to think of our

00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:44.460
 existence as the

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.099
 result of blind

00:30:45.099 --> 00:30:45.660
 forces like

00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.700
 electromagnetism

00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:48.079
 or the weak

00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:48.779
 nuclear force

00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:49.319
 or gravity.

00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:50.620
 You know?

00:30:50.859 --> 00:30:51.339
 This is like,

00:30:51.420 --> 00:30:52.039
 these are the things

00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:52.480
 that we usually

00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.160
 think about when we

00:30:53.160 --> 00:30:53.620
 think about

00:30:53.620 --> 00:30:54.579
 like the bare

00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:55.500
 bones of existence

00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.160
 like these

00:30:56.160 --> 00:30:56.980
 laws,

00:30:57.620 --> 00:30:58.160
 these things

00:30:58.160 --> 00:30:59.180
 controlling how

00:30:59.180 --> 00:31:00.220
 atoms relate to

00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:00.559
 each other

00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:01.759
 or how atoms

00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:02.299
 are formed.

00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:03.480
 And surely,

00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:04.279
 these forces

00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:04.899
 have their place

00:31:04.899 --> 00:31:06.119
 in explaining

00:31:06.119 --> 00:31:08.500
 a host of

00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.099
 different phenomena

00:31:09.099 --> 00:31:10.259
 that we observe.

00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:11.259
 But no,

00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.019
 ultimately,

00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:13.159
 it is the personal

00:31:13.159 --> 00:31:14.279
 triune God

00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:14.879
 of Scripture

00:31:14.879 --> 00:31:16.099
 who is love,

00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:16.919
 who is also

00:31:16.919 --> 00:31:17.399
 the ground

00:31:17.399 --> 00:31:18.019
 and sustainer

00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:18.639
 of our very being.

00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:21.259
 Or as Paul quotes

00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:22.659
 Epimenides in Acts 17,

00:31:23.220 --> 00:31:23.940
 in Him,

00:31:24.419 --> 00:31:25.519
 we live and move

00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:26.500
 and have our being.

00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.559
 Speaking of Jesus

00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:30.220
 as the logos

00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:30.940
 of creation

00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:32.079
 in Colossians 1,

00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:33.220
 15-17,

00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:34.000
 Paul says that

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:35.440
 He is the image

00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:36.659
 of the invisible God,

00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:37.759
 the firstborn

00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:38.440
 of all creation.

00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:40.279
 For by Him

00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:41.319
 all things were created

00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:42.579
 in heaven and on earth,

00:31:42.879 --> 00:31:43.779
 visible and invisible,

00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:44.700
 whether thrones

00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:45.500
 or dominions

00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:45.980
 or rulers

00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:46.680
 or authorities.

00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:48.379
 All things were created

00:31:48.379 --> 00:31:49.180
 through Him

00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:50.440
 and for Him

00:31:50.440 --> 00:31:51.720
 and He is before

00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.359
 all things

00:31:52.359 --> 00:31:54.019
 and in Him

00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.359
 all things hold together.

00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:57.879
 So far from

00:31:57.879 --> 00:31:59.119
 separating us from God,

00:32:00.379 --> 00:32:01.139
 the fact that

00:32:01.139 --> 00:32:01.980
 we are contingent,

00:32:01.980 --> 00:32:03.240
 that we are dependent

00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:05.059
 is actually

00:32:05.059 --> 00:32:07.079
 described in Scripture

00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:09.940
 God being our source

00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:11.460
 as our being

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:12.620
 in Him.

00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.519
 We are not

00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.640
 separated from God.

00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.960
 We are in God.

00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:18.079
 Every moment,

00:32:18.200 --> 00:32:18.960
 second by second,

00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:21.039
 God sustains us.

00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.960
 We are connected

00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:23.420
 to Him.

00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:26.360
 This is one of the reasons

00:32:26.360 --> 00:32:27.720
 why sin is so heinous.

00:32:28.820 --> 00:32:28.940
 Right?

00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:30.160
 So,

00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:31.920
 if we conceive of sin

00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:33.080
 as rejection of God,

00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:34.700
 a turning away from Him,

00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:35.759
 it's actually

00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:37.360
 a rejection of life

00:32:37.360 --> 00:32:38.620
 and being itself.

00:32:40.360 --> 00:32:40.820
 Now,

00:32:40.900 --> 00:32:41.420
 this is actually

00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:42.039
 one of the reasons

00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:42.759
 philosophically

00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.100
 that we,

00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:44.820
 that the view

00:32:44.820 --> 00:32:45.519
 of sin

00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:46.640
 as privation

00:32:46.640 --> 00:32:49.039
 emerges in the church.

00:32:49.320 --> 00:32:49.480
 Right?

00:32:49.560 --> 00:32:50.600
 Sin is non-being.

00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:51.679
 Anyways,

00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:52.359
 we don't need to go

00:32:52.359 --> 00:32:52.740
 into that.

00:32:53.639 --> 00:32:54.719
 Unless you really want to.

00:32:55.319 --> 00:32:56.019
 Because I would love

00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:56.539
 to talk about that.

00:32:56.699 --> 00:32:56.819
 But,

00:32:57.139 --> 00:32:57.959
 yeah.

00:32:58.099 --> 00:32:58.879
 But more importantly,

00:32:59.039 --> 00:32:59.379
 actually,

00:33:00.379 --> 00:33:02.179
 it's so heinous,

00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:03.000
 sin is so heinous,

00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:03.539
 because

00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:05.759
 in rejecting God,

00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:07.359
 we actually have to

00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:08.619
 use the gift

00:33:08.619 --> 00:33:09.459
 of God's

00:33:09.459 --> 00:33:10.259
 sustaining work

00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:10.819
 in creation

00:33:10.819 --> 00:33:11.879
 to reject Him.

00:33:11.880 --> 00:33:14.240
 we stand

00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:15.280
 on top of God

00:33:15.280 --> 00:33:17.120
 on the limb

00:33:17.120 --> 00:33:17.880
 of God's

00:33:17.880 --> 00:33:19.400
 sustaining grace

00:33:19.400 --> 00:33:20.380
 and we start

00:33:20.380 --> 00:33:21.280
 cutting on the limb

00:33:21.280 --> 00:33:21.640
 saying,

00:33:21.800 --> 00:33:22.520
 I don't need you.

00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.820
 I reject you.

00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:25.320
 So,

00:33:25.400 --> 00:33:25.740
 this is the,

00:33:25.860 --> 00:33:27.400
 constitutes the most

00:33:27.400 --> 00:33:28.060
 severe form

00:33:28.060 --> 00:33:28.780
 of ingratitude.

00:33:30.260 --> 00:33:31.360
 As Paul says

00:33:31.360 --> 00:33:32.060
 in Romans 1,

00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:33.820
 for the wrath

00:33:33.820 --> 00:33:34.280
 of God

00:33:34.280 --> 00:33:34.760
 is revealed

00:33:34.760 --> 00:33:35.240
 from heaven

00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:36.080
 against all

00:33:36.080 --> 00:33:36.680
 ungodliness

00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:37.520
 and unrighteousness

00:33:37.520 --> 00:33:37.920
 of men

00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:39.400
 who by their

00:33:39.400 --> 00:33:40.080
 unrighteousness

00:33:40.080 --> 00:33:41.060
 suppress the truth.

00:33:41.880 --> 00:33:42.960
 For what can be known

00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:43.520
 about God

00:33:43.520 --> 00:33:44.260
 is plain to them

00:33:44.260 --> 00:33:45.220
 because God

00:33:45.220 --> 00:33:46.000
 has shown it to them.

00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:47.820
 For His invisible

00:33:47.820 --> 00:33:48.340
 attributes,

00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:48.740
 namely,

00:33:49.100 --> 00:33:49.980
 His eternal power

00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:50.760
 and divine nature

00:33:50.760 --> 00:33:51.460
 have been clearly

00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:51.940
 perceived

00:33:51.940 --> 00:33:53.180
 ever since the

00:33:53.180 --> 00:33:53.940
 creation of the world

00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:55.500
 in the things

00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:56.180
 that have been made.

00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:57.480
 So they are

00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:58.120
 without excuse.

00:33:58.860 --> 00:33:59.420
 For although

00:33:59.420 --> 00:34:00.400
 they knew God,

00:34:00.600 --> 00:34:01.000
 they did not

00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:01.700
 honor Him

00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:02.540
 as God

00:34:02.540 --> 00:34:03.480
 or give thanks to Him.

00:34:04.100 --> 00:34:04.700
 For they became

00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.680
 futile in their thinking

00:34:05.680 --> 00:34:06.300
 and their foolish

00:34:06.300 --> 00:34:07.100
 hearts were darkened.

00:34:07.800 --> 00:34:08.740
 Claiming to be wise,

00:34:08.820 --> 00:34:09.579
 they became fools

00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:10.780
 and exchanged

00:34:10.780 --> 00:34:11.720
 the glory of the

00:34:11.719 --> 00:34:12.339
 immortal God

00:34:12.339 --> 00:34:12.819
 for images

00:34:12.819 --> 00:34:13.699
 resembling mortal

00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:14.859
 man and birds

00:34:14.859 --> 00:34:15.419
 and animals

00:34:15.419 --> 00:34:16.539
 and creeping things.

00:34:18.259 --> 00:34:19.279
 You see how

00:34:19.279 --> 00:34:21.000
 by

00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:23.159
 sitting

00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:24.019
 and really

00:34:24.019 --> 00:34:24.619
 thinking about

00:34:24.619 --> 00:34:25.679
 what does it mean

00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:26.119
 for God

00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:26.739
 to be creator?

00:34:27.559 --> 00:34:28.459
 For God

00:34:28.459 --> 00:34:29.379
 to make everything

00:34:29.379 --> 00:34:31.279
 apart from Himself

00:34:31.279 --> 00:34:32.559
 and the fact

00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:33.819
 that we rely on God,

00:34:33.899 --> 00:34:34.459
 we're sustained

00:34:34.459 --> 00:34:35.000
 by God.

00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:36.639
 You can see how

00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:37.359
 silly

00:34:37.359 --> 00:34:38.459
 idolatry becomes.

00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:41.220
 we take

00:34:41.220 --> 00:34:42.260
 these things

00:34:42.260 --> 00:34:42.800
 that these other

00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:43.460
 created things

00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:44.000
 that we see

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:44.639
 and we fashion

00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:45.099
 them and we

00:34:45.099 --> 00:34:45.800
 worship them

00:34:45.800 --> 00:34:46.940
 and how silly

00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:47.340
 it is when

00:34:47.340 --> 00:34:49.000
 those very things

00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:50.679
 rely on God

00:34:50.679 --> 00:34:51.720
 for their existence.

00:34:52.420 --> 00:34:52.500
 Right?

00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:55.420
 So thanks be to God

00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.960
 that He does not

00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:57.720
 reject us

00:34:57.720 --> 00:34:58.320
 in turn,

00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:58.800
 obviously,

00:34:59.019 --> 00:35:00.139
 but continues

00:35:00.139 --> 00:35:00.619
 in His mercy

00:35:00.619 --> 00:35:01.440
 to sustain us.

00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:01.920
 Right?

00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:02.019
 Right?

00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:03.739
 And,

00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:05.000
 not only that,

00:35:06.320 --> 00:35:06.980
 He entered

00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:08.000
 into contingency

00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:08.920
 by taking on

00:35:08.920 --> 00:35:09.539
 human nature

00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:11.340
 and then

00:35:11.340 --> 00:35:12.539
 even works

00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.239
 with the Holy Spirit

00:35:13.239 --> 00:35:14.239
 to reunite us

00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:14.719
 to Himself.

00:35:16.059 --> 00:35:17.039
 So sin is us

00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:18.000
 turning away

00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:18.500
 from God,

00:35:19.239 --> 00:35:19.719
 rejecting

00:35:19.719 --> 00:35:20.639
 being,

00:35:20.800 --> 00:35:21.139
 existence,

00:35:21.420 --> 00:35:21.719
 life,

00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:22.380
 goodness,

00:35:22.659 --> 00:35:23.000
 love,

00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:24.440
 everything that God is.

00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:25.820
 If we consider

00:35:25.820 --> 00:35:26.860
 sin as that thing,

00:35:27.579 --> 00:35:28.079
 then,

00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:29.920
 through Jesus

00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:31.679
 and the Holy Spirit,

00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:32.259
 we are brought

00:35:32.259 --> 00:35:33.399
 back to God,

00:35:33.619 --> 00:35:34.480
 back to being,

00:35:34.799 --> 00:35:35.619
 back to existence.

00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:37.980
 I like how

00:35:37.980 --> 00:35:38.500
 Herman Baving

00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:38.919
 puts it.

00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:39.379
 He says,

00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:40.679
 the doctrine of creation,

00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.480
 affirming the distinction

00:35:42.480 --> 00:35:43.839
 between the Creator

00:35:43.839 --> 00:35:44.659
 and His creature,

00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:46.679
 is the starting point

00:35:46.679 --> 00:35:47.299
 of true religion.

00:35:48.239 --> 00:35:49.119
 There is no existence

00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:50.059
 apart from God

00:35:50.059 --> 00:35:50.960
 and the Creator

00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:52.000
 can only be known

00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:53.339
 truly through revelation.

00:35:55.139 --> 00:35:56.059
 This creation

00:35:56.059 --> 00:35:57.039
 is properly said

00:35:57.039 --> 00:35:57.699
 to be ex nihilo,

00:35:57.960 --> 00:35:58.539
 out of nothing,

00:35:59.239 --> 00:35:59.919
 thus preserving

00:35:59.919 --> 00:36:00.419
 the distinction

00:36:00.419 --> 00:36:00.940
 in essence

00:36:00.940 --> 00:36:01.399
 between the

00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:02.500
 Creator and the world

00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:03.780
 and the contingency

00:36:03.780 --> 00:36:04.180
 of the world

00:36:04.180 --> 00:36:04.900
 and its dependence

00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:05.360
 on God.

00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:07.940
 The Son is the Logos

00:36:07.940 --> 00:36:09.300
 by whom the Father

00:36:09.300 --> 00:36:10.059
 creates all things.

00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:10.960
 And so here's

00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:11.639
 the interesting thing.

00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:13.079
 The whole world

00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:13.900
 is a realization

00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:15.079
 of an idea of God.

00:36:15.800 --> 00:36:16.760
 The creation proceeds

00:36:16.760 --> 00:36:17.820
 from the Father

00:36:17.820 --> 00:36:19.320
 through the Son

00:36:19.320 --> 00:36:20.000
 and in the Spirit

00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:20.680
 so that

00:36:20.680 --> 00:36:21.820
 in the Spirit

00:36:21.820 --> 00:36:22.740
 and through the Son

00:36:22.740 --> 00:36:23.980
 it may return

00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:24.780
 to the Father.

00:36:25.720 --> 00:36:26.240
 You see that?

00:36:26.239 --> 00:36:29.000
 Now, this actually

00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:30.179
 is referencing

00:36:30.179 --> 00:36:31.639
 that aspect of creation

00:36:31.639 --> 00:36:34.219
 whereas Jesus

00:36:34.219 --> 00:36:35.179
 as the Son,

00:36:35.359 --> 00:36:35.939
 God the Son

00:36:35.939 --> 00:36:36.739
 is the Logo,

00:36:36.839 --> 00:36:37.459
 sort of the

00:36:37.459 --> 00:36:40.519
 creating principle,

00:36:41.019 --> 00:36:41.119
 right?

00:36:41.159 --> 00:36:41.739
 The logic,

00:36:42.059 --> 00:36:43.619
 the thing that forms.

00:36:44.179 --> 00:36:44.479
 And so,

00:36:44.779 --> 00:36:46.279
 in some earlier Christians

00:36:46.279 --> 00:36:47.139
 like Augustine,

00:36:47.539 --> 00:36:48.039
 we find

00:36:48.039 --> 00:36:49.239
 he said

00:36:49.239 --> 00:36:50.279
 he likes to imagine

00:36:50.279 --> 00:36:50.979
 creation,

00:36:51.179 --> 00:36:52.479
 which as we all know

00:36:52.479 --> 00:36:53.579
 in the Trinity

00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:54.799
 is interpenetrating.

00:36:54.800 --> 00:36:56.320
 We can't really distinguish

00:36:56.320 --> 00:36:58.480
 fully all the acts

00:36:58.480 --> 00:36:59.360
 of God

00:36:59.360 --> 00:36:59.900
 into,

00:37:00.180 --> 00:37:01.039
 oh, that was the Father

00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:01.780
 but not the Son

00:37:01.780 --> 00:37:02.440
 and the Spirit, right?

00:37:02.460 --> 00:37:03.480
 We don't want to do that,

00:37:03.620 --> 00:37:03.900
 right?

00:37:05.060 --> 00:37:05.460
 But,

00:37:05.900 --> 00:37:07.280
 Augustine likes to

00:37:07.280 --> 00:37:09.120
 think of the Trinity's

00:37:09.120 --> 00:37:10.260
 separate activities

00:37:10.260 --> 00:37:11.800
 in the act of creation.

00:37:11.880 --> 00:37:12.220
 I shouldn't say

00:37:12.220 --> 00:37:12.880
 separate activities.

00:37:13.019 --> 00:37:13.360
 This is probably

00:37:13.360 --> 00:37:13.880
 a better word.

00:37:14.539 --> 00:37:15.800
 But as you can see,

00:37:15.880 --> 00:37:16.780
 as we talk about God,

00:37:16.900 --> 00:37:17.860
 our words start to fail,

00:37:17.940 --> 00:37:18.100
 right?

00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:21.380
 He likes to say

00:37:21.380 --> 00:37:22.500
 that God the Father

00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:23.560
 creates

00:37:23.559 --> 00:37:25.599
 like bare matter.

00:37:26.500 --> 00:37:26.940
 And then

00:37:26.940 --> 00:37:28.279
 God the Son

00:37:28.279 --> 00:37:29.840
 provides form

00:37:29.840 --> 00:37:30.440
 to that matter

00:37:30.440 --> 00:37:31.599
 and it is God the Spirit

00:37:31.599 --> 00:37:32.320
 that

00:37:32.320 --> 00:37:33.840
 actually

00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:35.380
 actuates it,

00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:36.239
 right?

00:37:36.420 --> 00:37:37.699
 So the way he imagines it

00:37:37.699 --> 00:37:38.759
 as we go through Genesis,

00:37:38.900 --> 00:37:39.380
 we're going to see

00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:40.539
 in the early chapters

00:37:40.539 --> 00:37:41.460
 God says

00:37:41.460 --> 00:37:42.920
 let there be

00:37:42.920 --> 00:37:44.420
 and that is

00:37:44.420 --> 00:37:45.199
 thought to be

00:37:45.199 --> 00:37:46.179
 God the Father

00:37:46.179 --> 00:37:48.599
 using the word

00:37:48.599 --> 00:37:49.559
 God the Son

00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:50.619
 to say let there be

00:37:50.619 --> 00:37:51.719
 and the Spirit saying

00:37:51.719 --> 00:37:52.659
 and there was.

00:37:53.559 --> 00:37:54.159
 Right?

00:37:55.259 --> 00:37:55.820
 So

00:37:55.820 --> 00:37:57.980
 it's a beautiful,

00:37:58.119 --> 00:37:58.920
 beautiful way

00:37:58.920 --> 00:37:59.920
 of thinking about

00:37:59.920 --> 00:38:00.440
 our creation.

00:38:02.039 --> 00:38:02.440
 And so

00:38:02.440 --> 00:38:04.099
 to finish up,

00:38:04.500 --> 00:38:05.619
 I was going to go

00:38:05.619 --> 00:38:06.880
 on this long tangent

00:38:06.880 --> 00:38:08.980
 about what it means

00:38:08.980 --> 00:38:10.299
 to glorify God.

00:38:10.500 --> 00:38:11.059
 I was going to use

00:38:11.059 --> 00:38:11.659
 a lot of words

00:38:11.659 --> 00:38:12.679
 and stuff

00:38:12.679 --> 00:38:13.340
 and then I started

00:38:13.340 --> 00:38:14.219
 writing it

00:38:14.219 --> 00:38:14.739
 and then I thought

00:38:14.739 --> 00:38:16.019
 what am I doing?

00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:17.980
 I can't write this

00:38:17.980 --> 00:38:18.759
 better than Scripture.

00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:19.239
 So

00:38:19.239 --> 00:38:20.739
 anybody have their

00:38:20.739 --> 00:38:21.259
 Bible here

00:38:21.260 --> 00:38:22.100
 wants to read

00:38:22.100 --> 00:38:22.980
 a significant

00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:23.820
 portion of Scripture?

00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:24.600
 Yeah.

00:38:25.220 --> 00:38:25.440
 Yeah?

00:38:25.820 --> 00:38:26.080
 Yeah.

00:38:26.420 --> 00:38:26.680
 Alright,

00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:27.240
 I got

00:38:27.240 --> 00:38:28.580
 Isaiah 46

00:38:28.580 --> 00:38:29.820
 if you do not mind.

00:38:30.120 --> 00:38:31.040
 Isaiah 46?

00:38:31.640 --> 00:38:31.920
 Yeah,

00:38:32.040 --> 00:38:32.980
 and as we read this

00:38:32.980 --> 00:38:33.660
 I want you guys

00:38:33.660 --> 00:38:35.300
 to think

00:38:35.300 --> 00:38:37.700
 about the things

00:38:37.700 --> 00:38:38.320
 that we've talked about.

00:38:38.460 --> 00:38:39.380
 God is ultimate.

00:38:40.160 --> 00:38:41.660
 God is the one God,

00:38:41.740 --> 00:38:42.460
 the true God.

00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:44.500
 The insanity

00:38:44.500 --> 00:38:46.340
 of idolatry

00:38:46.340 --> 00:38:48.059
 and how God

00:38:48.059 --> 00:38:49.579
 being the one creator

00:38:49.579 --> 00:38:50.960
 actually brings us

00:38:50.960 --> 00:38:51.900
 closer to him.

00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:53.019
 Allows God

00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:53.860
 to be the thing

00:38:53.860 --> 00:38:56.820
 that can save us

00:38:56.820 --> 00:38:57.940
 and bring us

00:38:57.940 --> 00:38:58.480
 back to himself.

00:38:58.620 --> 00:38:58.780
 Sorry,

00:38:58.920 --> 00:38:59.140
 go ahead.

00:38:59.900 --> 00:39:01.100
 Isaiah 46,

00:39:01.220 --> 00:39:01.360
 what?

00:39:01.720 --> 00:39:02.460
 Just the whole chapter.

00:39:02.820 --> 00:39:03.019
 Okay.

00:39:03.019 --> 00:39:03.059
 Okay.

00:39:05.780 --> 00:39:07.360
 Bel boweth down,

00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:08.440
 nebo,

00:39:08.680 --> 00:39:09.039
 stupid,

00:39:09.340 --> 00:39:09.680
 stupid.

00:39:10.260 --> 00:39:10.980
 Their idols

00:39:10.980 --> 00:39:12.079
 were upon the beast

00:39:12.079 --> 00:39:13.140
 and upon the cattle.

00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:14.380
 Their carriages

00:39:14.380 --> 00:39:15.800
 were heavy laden.

00:39:15.800 --> 00:39:16.840
 They are a burden.

00:39:16.980 --> 00:39:17.820
 They are a burden

00:39:17.820 --> 00:39:19.260
 to the weary beast.

00:39:20.380 --> 00:39:21.039
 They stoke.

00:39:21.260 --> 00:39:22.400
 They bow down together.

00:39:23.120 --> 00:39:23.760
 They could not

00:39:23.760 --> 00:39:24.620
 deliver the burden

00:39:24.620 --> 00:39:25.400
 but themselves

00:39:25.400 --> 00:39:26.800
 are gone into captivity.

00:39:28.160 --> 00:39:29.019
 Hearken unto me,

00:39:29.080 --> 00:39:29.940
 O house of Jacob

00:39:29.940 --> 00:39:31.280
 and all the remnant

00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:32.440
 of the house of Israel

00:39:32.440 --> 00:39:33.740
 which are born

00:39:33.740 --> 00:39:34.940
 by me

00:39:34.940 --> 00:39:36.160
 from the belly

00:39:36.160 --> 00:39:37.480
 which are carried

00:39:37.480 --> 00:39:38.600
 from the womb.

00:39:39.280 --> 00:39:40.880
 And even to your old age

00:39:40.880 --> 00:39:41.720
 I am key

00:39:41.720 --> 00:39:42.560
 and even

00:39:42.560 --> 00:39:44.060
 to whore hairs

00:39:44.060 --> 00:39:45.340
 will I carry you.

00:39:45.340 --> 00:39:46.340
 I have made

00:39:46.340 --> 00:39:47.340
 and I will bear

00:39:47.340 --> 00:39:49.000
 even I will carry

00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:50.200
 and will deliver you.

00:39:50.840 --> 00:39:52.300
 To whom will you liken me

00:39:52.300 --> 00:39:53.660
 and make me equal?

00:39:54.100 --> 00:39:54.840
 Compare me

00:39:54.840 --> 00:39:56.400
 that we may be alike.

00:39:57.079 --> 00:39:58.200
 They lavish gold

00:39:58.200 --> 00:39:59.240
 out of the bag

00:39:59.240 --> 00:40:00.120
 and weigh silver

00:40:00.120 --> 00:40:00.880
 in the balance

00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:02.059
 and hire a goldsmith

00:40:02.059 --> 00:40:03.380
 and he maketh it

00:40:03.380 --> 00:40:04.079
 a god.

00:40:04.680 --> 00:40:05.740
 They fall down.

00:40:06.079 --> 00:40:06.280
 Yea,

00:40:06.480 --> 00:40:07.140
 they worship.

00:40:07.920 --> 00:40:08.980
 They bear him up

00:40:08.980 --> 00:40:10.400
 upon the shoulder.

00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:11.360
 They carry him

00:40:11.360 --> 00:40:12.519
 and set him in place

00:40:12.519 --> 00:40:13.440
 and he standeth.

00:40:13.900 --> 00:40:14.900
 From his place

00:40:14.900 --> 00:40:17.000
 he shall not be removed.

00:40:17.660 --> 00:40:17.940
 Yea,

00:40:18.180 --> 00:40:19.900
 one shall cry unto him

00:40:19.900 --> 00:40:22.220
 yet can he not answer

00:40:22.220 --> 00:40:23.440
 nor save him

00:40:23.440 --> 00:40:24.360
 out of this trouble.

00:40:25.139 --> 00:40:26.059
 Remember this

00:40:26.059 --> 00:40:27.920
 and show yourselves men.

00:40:28.599 --> 00:40:29.980
 Bring it again to mind

00:40:29.980 --> 00:40:31.639
 for you transgressors.

00:40:32.360 --> 00:40:33.800
 Remember the former things

00:40:33.800 --> 00:40:34.640
 of old

00:40:34.640 --> 00:40:36.200
 for I am God

00:40:36.200 --> 00:40:37.780
 and there is none else.

00:40:38.220 --> 00:40:39.140
 I am God

00:40:39.140 --> 00:40:40.460
 and there is none

00:40:40.460 --> 00:40:41.260
 like me.

00:40:41.920 --> 00:40:43.019
 Declaring the end

00:40:43.019 --> 00:40:43.820
 from the beginning

00:40:43.820 --> 00:40:45.360
 and from the ancient times

00:40:45.360 --> 00:40:45.800
 the things

00:40:45.800 --> 00:40:47.000
 that are not yet done

00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:47.840
 saying

00:40:47.840 --> 00:40:48.600
 my counsel

00:40:48.600 --> 00:40:50.180
 shall stand

00:40:50.180 --> 00:40:51.300
 and I will do

00:40:51.300 --> 00:40:52.340
 all my pleasure.

00:40:53.340 --> 00:40:53.800
 Calling

00:40:53.800 --> 00:40:55.840
 a ravenous bird

00:40:55.840 --> 00:40:56.640
 from the east

00:40:56.640 --> 00:40:57.560
 the man that

00:40:57.560 --> 00:40:58.980
 executed my counsel

00:40:58.980 --> 00:41:00.100
 from a far country.

00:41:00.099 --> 00:41:00.860
 Yea,

00:41:01.259 --> 00:41:02.400
 I have spoken it.

00:41:02.619 --> 00:41:04.339
 I will also bring it to pass.

00:41:04.719 --> 00:41:05.779
 I have purposed it.

00:41:05.980 --> 00:41:07.259
 I will also do it.

00:41:07.819 --> 00:41:08.839
 Hearken unto me

00:41:08.839 --> 00:41:10.119
 ye stephearted

00:41:10.119 --> 00:41:11.360
 that are far

00:41:11.360 --> 00:41:12.279
 from righteousness.

00:41:12.940 --> 00:41:13.880
 I bring near

00:41:13.880 --> 00:41:14.799
 my righteousness.

00:41:15.400 --> 00:41:16.400
 I shall not be

00:41:16.400 --> 00:41:17.539
 far off

00:41:17.539 --> 00:41:19.559
 and my salvation

00:41:19.559 --> 00:41:20.739
 shall not carry.

00:41:21.440 --> 00:41:23.000
 I will place salvation

00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:23.880
 in Zion

00:41:23.880 --> 00:41:25.299
 for Israel.

00:41:25.960 --> 00:41:26.279
 Glory.

00:41:28.380 --> 00:41:29.019
 Magnificent.

00:41:29.019 --> 00:41:30.280
 worth

00:41:30.280 --> 00:41:31.739
 10,000 of my words.

00:41:33.179 --> 00:41:34.900
 I love this image

00:41:34.900 --> 00:41:35.380
 in the beginning.

00:41:36.579 --> 00:41:37.920
 They are taking Nebo

00:41:37.920 --> 00:41:38.900
 and they are taking Bel

00:41:38.900 --> 00:41:39.920
 and they are loading

00:41:39.920 --> 00:41:41.119
 him onto these donkeys

00:41:41.119 --> 00:41:41.719
 and the donkeys

00:41:41.719 --> 00:41:42.099
 are like

00:41:42.099 --> 00:41:43.780
 under the weight

00:41:43.780 --> 00:41:44.960
 of them as they go along.

00:41:45.480 --> 00:41:46.320
 And they can't even

00:41:46.320 --> 00:41:47.159
 get him all the way there.

00:41:47.280 --> 00:41:48.000
 They fail

00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:50.139
 in their attempts

00:41:50.139 --> 00:41:51.659
 to carry God

00:41:51.659 --> 00:41:52.440
 on their backs.

00:41:53.500 --> 00:41:53.579
 Right?

00:41:54.259 --> 00:41:55.079
 But what does God say?

00:41:56.739 --> 00:41:58.139
 I have born you

00:41:58.139 --> 00:42:01.619
 these other people

00:42:01.619 --> 00:42:02.039
 they are bearing

00:42:02.039 --> 00:42:02.519
 their gods

00:42:02.519 --> 00:42:03.440
 I bore you

00:42:03.440 --> 00:42:04.039
 from the womb.

00:42:04.859 --> 00:42:06.359
 Even to your old age

00:42:06.359 --> 00:42:07.239
 I am carrying you.

00:42:07.960 --> 00:42:08.619
 You guys see that?

00:42:08.920 --> 00:42:10.119
 See the contrast there

00:42:10.119 --> 00:42:10.839
 that we get?

00:42:11.779 --> 00:42:13.000
 And also that God

00:42:13.000 --> 00:42:14.159
 is not far off.

00:42:15.039 --> 00:42:15.219
 Right?

00:42:15.440 --> 00:42:16.199
 There is no one

00:42:16.199 --> 00:42:16.739
 like God

00:42:16.739 --> 00:42:17.500
 and that means

00:42:17.500 --> 00:42:18.359
 God is near.

00:42:19.039 --> 00:42:19.719
 Not far.

00:42:21.599 --> 00:42:21.920
 Alright.

00:42:22.019 --> 00:42:22.400
 Somebody else.

00:42:22.420 --> 00:42:23.119
 Who wants to read

00:42:23.119 --> 00:42:24.179
 Psalm 86?

00:42:24.179 --> 00:42:32.219
 You want to read it?

00:42:32.299 --> 00:42:32.679
 Go ahead Laura.

00:42:32.679 --> 00:42:36.000
 Incline your ear

00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:36.500
 O Lord

00:42:36.500 --> 00:42:37.559
 and answer me

00:42:37.559 --> 00:42:38.299
 for I am

00:42:38.299 --> 00:42:39.599
 poor and needy.

00:42:40.039 --> 00:42:41.039
 Preserve my life

00:42:41.039 --> 00:42:41.919
 for I am godly.

00:42:42.399 --> 00:42:43.199
 Save your servant

00:42:43.199 --> 00:42:44.159
 and trust in you.

00:42:44.379 --> 00:42:45.599
 You are my God.

00:42:46.319 --> 00:42:47.539
 Be gracious to me

00:42:47.539 --> 00:42:48.000
 O Lord

00:42:48.000 --> 00:42:48.839
 for to you

00:42:48.839 --> 00:42:49.579
 do I cry

00:42:49.579 --> 00:42:50.379
 all the day.

00:42:51.059 --> 00:42:51.819
 Gladen the soul

00:42:51.819 --> 00:42:52.559
 of your servant

00:42:52.559 --> 00:42:53.500
 for to you

00:42:53.500 --> 00:42:53.980
 O Lord

00:42:53.980 --> 00:42:54.739
 do I lift up

00:42:54.739 --> 00:42:55.299
 my soul.

00:42:56.139 --> 00:42:56.639
 For you

00:42:56.639 --> 00:42:57.259
 O Lord

00:42:57.259 --> 00:42:57.960
 are good

00:42:57.960 --> 00:42:58.819
 and forgiving.

00:42:59.519 --> 00:43:00.000
 Abounding

00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:01.079
 and steadfast love

00:43:01.079 --> 00:43:01.760
 to all who

00:43:01.760 --> 00:43:02.619
 call upon you.

00:43:03.340 --> 00:43:03.900
 Give ear

00:43:03.900 --> 00:43:04.280
 O Lord

00:43:04.280 --> 00:43:05.059
 to my prayer.

00:43:05.760 --> 00:43:06.739
 Listen to my plea

00:43:06.739 --> 00:43:07.340
 for grace.

00:43:07.960 --> 00:43:08.340
 In the day

00:43:08.340 --> 00:43:09.059
 of my trouble

00:43:09.059 --> 00:43:10.440
 I call upon you

00:43:10.440 --> 00:43:11.920
 and you answer me.

00:43:12.840 --> 00:43:13.659
 There is none

00:43:13.659 --> 00:43:14.119
 like you

00:43:14.119 --> 00:43:14.820
 among the gods

00:43:14.820 --> 00:43:15.280
 O Lord

00:43:15.280 --> 00:43:15.900
 nor are there

00:43:15.900 --> 00:43:16.599
 any works

00:43:16.599 --> 00:43:17.400
 like yours.

00:43:17.980 --> 00:43:18.900
 All the nations

00:43:18.900 --> 00:43:19.539
 you have made

00:43:19.539 --> 00:43:20.179
 shall come

00:43:20.179 --> 00:43:20.820
 and worship

00:43:20.820 --> 00:43:21.719
 before you

00:43:21.719 --> 00:43:22.739
 O Lord

00:43:22.739 --> 00:43:23.340
 and shall

00:43:23.340 --> 00:43:24.599
 glorify your name.

00:43:25.340 --> 00:43:26.280
 For you are great

00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:27.619
 and wonderful things.

00:43:28.199 --> 00:43:28.880
 You alone

00:43:28.880 --> 00:43:29.559
 are God.

00:43:30.139 --> 00:43:31.299
 Teach me your way

00:43:31.299 --> 00:43:31.820
 O Lord

00:43:31.820 --> 00:43:32.619
 that I may walk

00:43:32.619 --> 00:43:33.320
 in your truth.

00:43:33.920 --> 00:43:34.980
 Unite my heart

00:43:34.980 --> 00:43:36.380
 to fear your name.

00:43:37.159 --> 00:43:38.599
 I give thanks to you

00:43:38.599 --> 00:43:39.079
 O Lord

00:43:39.079 --> 00:43:39.599
 my God

00:43:39.599 --> 00:43:40.659
 with my whole heart

00:43:40.659 --> 00:43:42.039
 and I will glorify

00:43:42.039 --> 00:43:42.900
 your name forever.

00:43:43.639 --> 00:43:44.460
 For great is your

00:43:44.460 --> 00:43:45.320
 steadfast love

00:43:45.320 --> 00:43:45.920
 toward me.

00:43:46.519 --> 00:43:47.179
 You have delivered

00:43:47.179 --> 00:43:47.779
 my soul

00:43:47.779 --> 00:43:48.440
 from the death

00:43:48.440 --> 00:43:49.139
 of your soul.

00:43:49.940 --> 00:43:50.659
 O God

00:43:50.659 --> 00:43:51.900
 insolent men

00:43:51.900 --> 00:43:52.579
 have risen up

00:43:52.579 --> 00:43:53.279
 against me.

00:43:53.699 --> 00:43:54.219
 A band of

00:43:54.219 --> 00:43:54.880
 ruthless men

00:43:54.880 --> 00:43:55.759
 seeks my life

00:43:55.759 --> 00:43:57.019
 and they do not

00:43:57.019 --> 00:43:57.599
 set you

00:43:57.599 --> 00:43:58.400
 before them.

00:43:58.400 --> 00:43:59.980
 But you

00:43:59.980 --> 00:44:00.760
 O Lord

00:44:00.760 --> 00:44:01.559
 are a God

00:44:01.559 --> 00:44:02.079
 merciful

00:44:02.079 --> 00:44:03.039
 and gracious

00:44:03.039 --> 00:44:05.260
 slow to anger

00:44:05.260 --> 00:44:06.220
 and abounding

00:44:06.220 --> 00:44:07.380
 in steadfast love

00:44:07.380 --> 00:44:08.340
 and faithfulness.

00:44:09.180 --> 00:44:10.039
 Turn to me

00:44:10.039 --> 00:44:10.760
 and be gracious

00:44:10.760 --> 00:44:11.340
 to me.

00:44:11.900 --> 00:44:12.780
 Give your strength

00:44:12.780 --> 00:44:13.519
 to your servant

00:44:13.519 --> 00:44:14.700
 and save the son

00:44:14.700 --> 00:44:15.660
 of your maidservant.

00:44:16.380 --> 00:44:17.380
 Show me a sign

00:44:17.380 --> 00:44:18.340
 of your favor

00:44:18.340 --> 00:44:19.980
 that those who hate me

00:44:19.980 --> 00:44:20.599
 may see

00:44:20.599 --> 00:44:21.660
 and be put to shame

00:44:21.659 --> 00:44:22.879
 because you

00:44:22.879 --> 00:44:23.299
 Lord

00:44:23.299 --> 00:44:24.239
 have helped me

00:44:24.239 --> 00:44:25.239
 and comfort me.

00:44:27.239 --> 00:44:28.199
 Beautiful.

00:44:29.199 --> 00:44:29.719
 Beautiful.

00:44:30.779 --> 00:44:31.339
 Right?

00:44:31.980 --> 00:44:32.879
 We're needy.

00:44:33.319 --> 00:44:34.599
 We call on God.

00:44:34.699 --> 00:44:35.500
 We need God.

00:44:36.259 --> 00:44:37.519
 And because God

00:44:37.519 --> 00:44:38.259
 there are

00:44:38.259 --> 00:44:39.239
 because there's no one

00:44:39.239 --> 00:44:39.899
 like God

00:44:39.899 --> 00:44:41.440
 that exists

00:44:41.440 --> 00:44:43.619
 God is uniquely

00:44:43.619 --> 00:44:44.359
 placed

00:44:44.359 --> 00:44:45.799
 to answer

00:44:45.799 --> 00:44:46.219
 our

00:44:46.219 --> 00:44:48.119
 requests.

00:44:48.819 --> 00:44:48.839
 Right?

00:44:48.840 --> 00:44:49.880
 Even to need God

00:44:49.880 --> 00:44:50.360
 you've got to

00:44:50.360 --> 00:44:51.340
 presuppose a God.

00:44:51.760 --> 00:44:52.200
 Exactly.

00:44:52.579 --> 00:44:52.780
 Right.

00:44:54.280 --> 00:44:55.059
 It's beautiful.

00:44:55.360 --> 00:44:55.480
 So,

00:44:55.900 --> 00:44:56.900
 you know what?

00:44:56.900 --> 00:44:57.519
 I'm impressed

00:44:57.519 --> 00:44:59.079
 about this psalm

00:44:59.079 --> 00:45:00.280
 and really

00:45:00.280 --> 00:45:01.460
 a number of others

00:45:01.460 --> 00:45:01.760
 too.

00:45:01.760 --> 00:45:03.280
 So,

00:45:03.440 --> 00:45:04.560
 in this psalm

00:45:04.560 --> 00:45:08.080
 he makes sure

00:45:08.080 --> 00:45:10.640
 that his hearers

00:45:10.640 --> 00:45:11.280
 or readers

00:45:11.280 --> 00:45:13.800
 know

00:45:13.800 --> 00:45:15.260
 how tough

00:45:15.260 --> 00:45:16.440
 the situation

00:45:16.440 --> 00:45:17.280
 he is

00:45:17.280 --> 00:45:17.920
 is.

00:45:19.040 --> 00:45:19.900
 And yet,

00:45:20.360 --> 00:45:21.400
 unlike me,

00:45:22.280 --> 00:45:23.440
 he does

00:45:23.440 --> 00:45:24.560
 in his misery

00:45:24.560 --> 00:45:26.600
 raise his eyes

00:45:26.600 --> 00:45:28.440
 above his misery

00:45:28.440 --> 00:45:30.000
 and see

00:45:30.000 --> 00:45:31.260
 the greatness

00:45:31.260 --> 00:45:32.260
 and the

00:45:32.260 --> 00:45:32.800
 sovereignty

00:45:32.800 --> 00:45:34.680
 of God

00:45:34.680 --> 00:45:35.680
 the

00:45:35.680 --> 00:45:36.780
 power

00:45:36.780 --> 00:45:37.580
 of God

00:45:37.580 --> 00:45:38.660
 to deal

00:45:38.660 --> 00:45:39.160
 with

00:45:39.160 --> 00:45:40.520
 his situation.

00:45:41.020 --> 00:45:41.100
 Yeah.

00:45:41.740 --> 00:45:41.880
 Yeah.

00:45:42.540 --> 00:45:42.820
 Right?

00:45:42.960 --> 00:45:43.260
 Only

00:45:43.260 --> 00:45:44.540
 the creator God

00:45:44.540 --> 00:45:45.180
 only the God

00:45:45.180 --> 00:45:46.180
 who actually

00:45:46.180 --> 00:45:47.680
 is power

00:45:47.680 --> 00:45:48.520
 and being

00:45:48.520 --> 00:45:49.220
 and love

00:45:49.220 --> 00:45:50.140
 can actually

00:45:50.140 --> 00:45:50.660
 help us

00:45:50.660 --> 00:45:51.080
 in our time

00:45:51.080 --> 00:45:51.400
 of need.

00:45:51.980 --> 00:45:52.100
 Right?

00:45:52.780 --> 00:45:53.780
 And beyond that

00:45:53.780 --> 00:45:54.660
 not just God's

00:45:54.660 --> 00:45:55.260
 power but we

00:45:55.260 --> 00:45:56.220
 can trust God.

00:45:57.140 --> 00:45:57.420
 Right?

00:45:57.600 --> 00:45:58.140
 This is the

00:45:58.140 --> 00:45:58.800
 triune God

00:45:58.800 --> 00:45:59.220
 of scripture.

00:45:59.780 --> 00:45:59.960
 Right?

00:46:00.060 --> 00:46:00.760
 Our redeemer

00:46:00.760 --> 00:46:01.600
 our friend.

00:46:02.940 --> 00:46:03.240
 You know?

00:46:03.360 --> 00:46:04.000
 Talk about friends

00:46:04.000 --> 00:46:04.600
 in high places,

00:46:04.700 --> 00:46:04.860
 right?

00:46:06.120 --> 00:46:06.720
 All right.

00:46:06.920 --> 00:46:07.860
 Let me finish

00:46:07.860 --> 00:46:09.400
 with what I think

00:46:09.400 --> 00:46:10.260
 is really

00:46:10.260 --> 00:46:11.040
 the exclamation

00:46:11.040 --> 00:46:11.400
 point.

00:46:11.500 --> 00:46:11.840
 It's a little

00:46:11.840 --> 00:46:12.460
 long but I

00:46:12.460 --> 00:46:12.860
 think it's

00:46:12.860 --> 00:46:13.620
 just so worth

00:46:13.620 --> 00:46:13.920
 reading.

00:46:14.380 --> 00:46:15.080
 This is Isaiah

00:46:15.080 --> 00:46:15.480
 40.

00:46:16.760 --> 00:46:17.680
 He says,

00:46:17.679 --> 00:46:18.719
 comfort,

00:46:18.719 --> 00:46:18.699
 comfort,

00:46:18.699 --> 00:46:19.879
 comfort my people

00:46:19.879 --> 00:46:20.579
 says your God.

00:46:21.079 --> 00:46:21.859
 Speak tenderly

00:46:21.859 --> 00:46:22.359
 to Jerusalem

00:46:22.359 --> 00:46:23.099
 and cry to her

00:46:23.099 --> 00:46:24.019
 that her warfare

00:46:24.019 --> 00:46:24.480
 is ended,

00:46:24.819 --> 00:46:25.519
 that her iniquity

00:46:25.519 --> 00:46:26.159
 is pardoned,

00:46:26.359 --> 00:46:27.379
 that she is received

00:46:27.379 --> 00:46:28.079
 from the Lord's hand

00:46:28.079 --> 00:46:29.259
 double for all her sins.

00:46:29.940 --> 00:46:30.839
 A voice cries,

00:46:31.000 --> 00:46:31.419
 in the wilderness

00:46:31.419 --> 00:46:32.259
 prepare the way

00:46:32.259 --> 00:46:32.759
 of the Lord.

00:46:33.159 --> 00:46:34.159
 Make straight in the desert

00:46:34.159 --> 00:46:35.319
 a highway for our God.

00:46:35.899 --> 00:46:36.519
 Every valley

00:46:36.519 --> 00:46:37.339
 shall be lifted up

00:46:37.339 --> 00:46:37.919
 and every mountain

00:46:37.919 --> 00:46:38.219
 and hill

00:46:38.219 --> 00:46:38.859
 be made low.

00:46:39.339 --> 00:46:40.299
 The uneven ground

00:46:40.299 --> 00:46:41.039
 shall become level

00:46:41.039 --> 00:46:41.779
 and the rough places

00:46:41.779 --> 00:46:42.279
 a plain.

00:46:42.739 --> 00:46:43.980
 And the glory of the Lord

00:46:43.980 --> 00:46:44.699
 shall be revealed

00:46:44.699 --> 00:46:45.419
 and all flesh

00:46:45.419 --> 00:46:46.219
 shall see it together

00:46:46.219 --> 00:46:46.839
 for the mouth

00:46:46.839 --> 00:46:47.239
 of the Lord

00:46:47.239 --> 00:46:47.699
 is spoken.

00:46:49.199 --> 00:46:50.019
 A voice says,

00:46:50.259 --> 00:46:50.559
 cry,

00:46:50.799 --> 00:46:51.319
 and I say,

00:46:51.419 --> 00:46:52.179
 what shall I cry?

00:46:52.939 --> 00:46:54.219
 All flesh is grass

00:46:54.219 --> 00:46:55.480
 and all its beauty

00:46:55.480 --> 00:46:56.179
 is like the flower

00:46:56.179 --> 00:46:56.739
 of the field.

00:46:57.399 --> 00:46:58.259
 The grass withers,

00:46:58.379 --> 00:46:59.179
 the flower fades

00:46:59.179 --> 00:46:59.699
 when the breath

00:46:59.699 --> 00:47:00.059
 of the Lord

00:47:00.059 --> 00:47:00.719
 blows on it.

00:47:01.439 --> 00:47:02.159
 Surely the people

00:47:02.159 --> 00:47:02.739
 are grass.

00:47:03.239 --> 00:47:04.079
 The grass withers,

00:47:04.199 --> 00:47:05.059
 the flower fades,

00:47:05.119 --> 00:47:06.039
 but the word of our God

00:47:06.039 --> 00:47:06.879
 will stand forever.

00:47:07.959 --> 00:47:08.519
 Go on up

00:47:08.519 --> 00:47:09.279
 to a high mountain,

00:47:09.379 --> 00:47:09.739
 O Zion,

00:47:09.879 --> 00:47:10.639
 herald of good news.

00:47:11.199 --> 00:47:11.980
 Lift up your voice

00:47:11.980 --> 00:47:12.599
 with strength,

00:47:12.699 --> 00:47:13.139
 O Jerusalem,

00:47:13.299 --> 00:47:14.059
 herald of good news.

00:47:14.219 --> 00:47:14.699
 Lift it up,

00:47:14.779 --> 00:47:15.239
 fear not.

00:47:15.239 --> 00:47:16.639
 Say to the cities

00:47:16.639 --> 00:47:16.979
 of Judah,

00:47:17.079 --> 00:47:18.079
 behold your God.

00:47:18.879 --> 00:47:19.699
 Behold the Lord

00:47:19.699 --> 00:47:20.959
 comes with might

00:47:20.959 --> 00:47:21.939
 and His arm

00:47:21.939 --> 00:47:22.739
 rules for Him.

00:47:23.359 --> 00:47:24.279
 Behold His reward

00:47:24.279 --> 00:47:24.799
 is with Him

00:47:24.799 --> 00:47:25.599
 and His recompense

00:47:25.599 --> 00:47:26.179
 before Him.

00:47:26.779 --> 00:47:27.519
 He will tend

00:47:27.519 --> 00:47:28.119
 His flock

00:47:28.119 --> 00:47:28.759
 like a shepherd.

00:47:29.279 --> 00:47:30.139
 He will gather

00:47:30.139 --> 00:47:30.699
 the lambs

00:47:30.699 --> 00:47:31.279
 in His arms.

00:47:31.639 --> 00:47:32.259
 He will carry

00:47:32.259 --> 00:47:33.019
 them in His bosom

00:47:33.019 --> 00:47:33.899
 and gently lead

00:47:33.899 --> 00:47:34.399
 those that are

00:47:34.399 --> 00:47:34.819
 with young.

00:47:35.899 --> 00:47:36.739
 Who has measured

00:47:36.739 --> 00:47:37.219
 the waters

00:47:37.219 --> 00:47:37.799
 in the hollow

00:47:37.799 --> 00:47:38.439
 of His hand

00:47:38.439 --> 00:47:39.119
 and marked off

00:47:39.119 --> 00:47:39.559
 the heavens

00:47:39.559 --> 00:47:40.179
 with a span,

00:47:40.699 --> 00:47:41.659
 enclosed the dust

00:47:41.659 --> 00:47:42.119
 of the earth

00:47:42.119 --> 00:47:42.619
 in a measure

00:47:42.619 --> 00:47:43.119
 and weighed

00:47:43.119 --> 00:47:43.639
 the mountains

00:47:43.639 --> 00:47:44.279
 in scales

00:47:44.280 --> 00:47:44.780
 and the hills

00:47:44.780 --> 00:47:45.400
 in a balance?

00:47:46.260 --> 00:47:47.080
 Who has measured

00:47:47.080 --> 00:47:47.540
 the Spirit

00:47:47.540 --> 00:47:48.060
 of the Lord

00:47:48.060 --> 00:47:49.800
 or what man

00:47:49.800 --> 00:47:50.240
 shows Him

00:47:50.240 --> 00:47:50.820
 His counsel?

00:47:51.820 --> 00:47:52.500
 Whom did He

00:47:52.500 --> 00:47:52.900
 consult

00:47:52.900 --> 00:47:54.260
 and whom

00:47:54.260 --> 00:47:55.260
 made Him

00:47:55.260 --> 00:47:55.620
 understand?

00:47:56.300 --> 00:47:57.100
 Who taught Him

00:47:57.100 --> 00:47:57.960
 the path of justice

00:47:57.960 --> 00:47:58.540
 and taught Him

00:47:58.540 --> 00:47:59.420
 knowledge and showed Him

00:47:59.420 --> 00:48:00.280
 the way of understanding?

00:48:00.960 --> 00:48:01.280
 Behold,

00:48:01.340 --> 00:48:02.019
 the nations are like

00:48:02.019 --> 00:48:03.100
 a drop from a bucket

00:48:03.100 --> 00:48:03.760
 and are accounted

00:48:03.760 --> 00:48:04.400
 as the dust

00:48:04.400 --> 00:48:05.080
 on the scales.

00:48:05.680 --> 00:48:05.960
 Behold,

00:48:06.000 --> 00:48:06.540
 He takes up

00:48:06.540 --> 00:48:07.580
 the coastlands

00:48:07.580 --> 00:48:08.500
 like fine dust.

00:48:09.500 --> 00:48:09.940
 Lebanon

00:48:09.940 --> 00:48:10.740
 would not suffice

00:48:10.740 --> 00:48:11.180
 for fuel,

00:48:11.280 --> 00:48:12.019
 nor is its beast

00:48:12.019 --> 00:48:13.139
 enough for a burnt offering.

00:48:13.679 --> 00:48:14.619
 All the nations

00:48:14.619 --> 00:48:15.360
 are as nothing

00:48:15.360 --> 00:48:15.940
 before Him.

00:48:16.239 --> 00:48:16.780
 They are counted

00:48:16.780 --> 00:48:17.159
 by Him

00:48:17.159 --> 00:48:18.079
 as less than nothing

00:48:18.079 --> 00:48:18.500
 in emptiness.

00:48:19.559 --> 00:48:20.280
 To whom then

00:48:20.280 --> 00:48:21.360
 will you liken God?

00:48:21.759 --> 00:48:22.780
 Or what likeness

00:48:22.780 --> 00:48:23.500
 can pair with Him?

00:48:24.079 --> 00:48:24.619
 An idol.

00:48:25.219 --> 00:48:26.559
 A craftsman casts it

00:48:26.559 --> 00:48:27.179
 and a goldsmith

00:48:27.179 --> 00:48:28.259
 overlays it with gold

00:48:28.259 --> 00:48:28.960
 and casts for it

00:48:28.960 --> 00:48:29.659
 silver chains.

00:48:30.519 --> 00:48:31.139
 He who is too

00:48:31.139 --> 00:48:32.340
 impoverished for an offering

00:48:32.340 --> 00:48:33.059
 chooses wood

00:48:33.059 --> 00:48:33.860
 that will not rot.

00:48:34.599 --> 00:48:35.139
 He seeks out

00:48:35.139 --> 00:48:36.099
 a skillful craftsman

00:48:36.099 --> 00:48:36.820
 to set up an idol

00:48:36.820 --> 00:48:37.579
 that will not move.

00:48:38.420 --> 00:48:39.300
 Do you not know?

00:48:39.519 --> 00:48:40.320
 Do you not hear?

00:48:40.320 --> 00:48:41.980
 Has it not been told

00:48:41.980 --> 00:48:42.640
 you from the beginning?

00:48:43.180 --> 00:48:43.960
 Have you not understood

00:48:43.960 --> 00:48:44.720
 from the foundations

00:48:44.720 --> 00:48:45.200
 of the earth?

00:48:45.840 --> 00:48:46.519
 It is He

00:48:46.519 --> 00:48:47.100
 who sits above

00:48:47.100 --> 00:48:47.920
 the circle of the earth

00:48:47.920 --> 00:48:48.700
 and its inhabitants

00:48:48.700 --> 00:48:49.740
 are like grasshoppers,

00:48:50.019 --> 00:48:51.120
 who stretches out

00:48:51.120 --> 00:48:51.500
 the heavens

00:48:51.500 --> 00:48:52.059
 like a curtain

00:48:52.059 --> 00:48:52.800
 and spreads them

00:48:52.800 --> 00:48:53.260
 like a tent

00:48:53.260 --> 00:48:53.860
 to dwell in,

00:48:54.280 --> 00:48:55.240
 who brings princes

00:48:55.240 --> 00:48:55.760
 to nothing

00:48:55.760 --> 00:48:56.600
 and makes the rulers

00:48:56.600 --> 00:48:57.039
 of the earth

00:48:57.039 --> 00:48:57.519
 as emptiness.

00:48:58.960 --> 00:48:59.600
 Scarcely are they

00:48:59.600 --> 00:48:59.920
 planted,

00:49:00.100 --> 00:49:00.860
 scarcely sown,

00:49:01.120 --> 00:49:02.039
 scarcely has their stem

00:49:02.039 --> 00:49:02.960
 taken root in the earth

00:49:02.960 --> 00:49:04.160
 when He blows on them

00:49:04.160 --> 00:49:04.720
 and they wither

00:49:04.720 --> 00:49:05.700
 and the tempest

00:49:05.700 --> 00:49:06.340
 carries them off

00:49:06.340 --> 00:49:06.860
 like stubble.

00:49:07.920 --> 00:49:08.680
 To whom then

00:49:08.680 --> 00:49:09.600
 will you compare me

00:49:09.599 --> 00:49:10.339
 that I should be

00:49:10.339 --> 00:49:10.839
 like Him,

00:49:10.940 --> 00:49:11.599
 says the Holy One.

00:49:12.319 --> 00:49:13.179
 Lift up your eyes

00:49:13.179 --> 00:49:13.900
 on I and see

00:49:13.900 --> 00:49:14.799
 who created these.

00:49:15.519 --> 00:49:16.299
 He who brings out

00:49:16.299 --> 00:49:17.179
 their host by number

00:49:17.179 --> 00:49:19.119
 calling them all by name

00:49:19.119 --> 00:49:20.239
 by the greatness

00:49:20.239 --> 00:49:20.880
 of His might

00:49:20.880 --> 00:49:21.539
 and because He is

00:49:21.539 --> 00:49:22.400
 strong in power

00:49:22.400 --> 00:49:23.339
 not one is missing.

00:49:24.339 --> 00:49:25.079
 Why do you say,

00:49:25.259 --> 00:49:25.500
 O Jacob,

00:49:25.579 --> 00:49:26.360
 and speak, O Israel?

00:49:26.579 --> 00:49:27.400
 My way is hidden

00:49:27.400 --> 00:49:27.900
 from the Lord

00:49:27.900 --> 00:49:28.440
 and my right

00:49:28.440 --> 00:49:29.699
 is disregarded

00:49:29.699 --> 00:49:30.440
 by my God.

00:49:31.219 --> 00:49:32.079
 Have you not known?

00:49:32.420 --> 00:49:33.099
 Have you not heard?

00:49:33.539 --> 00:49:35.319
 The Lord is the everlasting God,

00:49:35.440 --> 00:49:36.059
 the Creator

00:49:36.059 --> 00:49:36.960
 of the ends of the earth.

00:49:36.960 --> 00:49:38.380
 He does not faint

00:49:38.380 --> 00:49:39.000
 or grow weary.

00:49:39.139 --> 00:49:39.740
 His understanding

00:49:39.740 --> 00:49:40.559
 is unsearchable.

00:49:41.579 --> 00:49:42.139
 He gives power

00:49:42.139 --> 00:49:42.619
 to the faint

00:49:42.619 --> 00:49:43.400
 and to him

00:49:43.400 --> 00:49:44.079
 who has no might

00:49:44.079 --> 00:49:44.960
 he increases strength.

00:49:45.840 --> 00:49:46.380
 Even youth

00:49:46.380 --> 00:49:46.860
 shall faint

00:49:46.860 --> 00:49:47.340
 and be weary

00:49:47.340 --> 00:49:48.360
 and young men

00:49:48.360 --> 00:49:49.240
 shall fall exhausted.

00:49:49.960 --> 00:49:50.760
 But they who wait

00:49:50.760 --> 00:49:51.159
 for the Lord

00:49:51.159 --> 00:49:52.159
 shall renew their strength.

00:49:52.780 --> 00:49:53.579
 They shall mount up

00:49:53.579 --> 00:49:55.079
 with wings like eagles.

00:49:55.360 --> 00:49:55.920
 They shall run

00:49:55.920 --> 00:49:56.480
 and not be weary.

00:49:56.900 --> 00:49:57.480
 They shall walk

00:49:57.480 --> 00:49:58.059
 and not faint.

00:49:59.800 --> 00:50:00.740
 This is the God

00:50:00.740 --> 00:50:01.199
 we worship.

00:50:02.099 --> 00:50:03.079
 You see all those

00:50:03.079 --> 00:50:03.960
 different aspects?

00:50:04.820 --> 00:50:06.139
 God is absolute,

00:50:06.139 --> 00:50:06.879
 almighty,

00:50:07.299 --> 00:50:07.619
 separate.

00:50:08.819 --> 00:50:09.839
 None is like him.

00:50:10.679 --> 00:50:11.480
 But God is also

00:50:11.480 --> 00:50:12.400
 the one who sustains.

00:50:12.980 --> 00:50:13.839
 He carries us

00:50:13.839 --> 00:50:14.500
 like lamb.

00:50:15.319 --> 00:50:16.480
 He's slow

00:50:16.480 --> 00:50:16.940
 with those

00:50:16.940 --> 00:50:17.639
 who have child.

00:50:18.960 --> 00:50:19.440
 And ultimately

00:50:19.440 --> 00:50:21.379
 it is God

00:50:21.379 --> 00:50:23.359
 who raises us up

00:50:23.359 --> 00:50:25.259
 on wings like eagles.

00:50:25.900 --> 00:50:26.539
 This is the God

00:50:26.539 --> 00:50:26.960
 we worship.

00:50:27.500 --> 00:50:28.480
 This is the Creator

00:50:28.480 --> 00:50:29.799
 who brings everything

00:50:29.799 --> 00:50:30.379
 out of nothing.

00:50:31.739 --> 00:50:31.879
 Alright,

00:50:31.920 --> 00:50:32.339
 that's it guys.

00:50:34.420 --> 00:50:35.379
 Any questions?

00:50:35.380 --> 00:50:36.519
 We have like five minutes

00:50:36.519 --> 00:50:37.059
 before we should go

00:50:37.059 --> 00:50:38.320
 downstairs and respond

00:50:38.320 --> 00:50:40.500
 appropriately with worship.

00:50:45.180 --> 00:50:45.619
 Yeah,

00:50:45.740 --> 00:50:45.980
 Lerami.

00:50:45.980 --> 00:50:46.960
 It seems to me

00:50:46.960 --> 00:50:49.599
 that the prevailing

00:50:49.599 --> 00:50:51.340
 version of the

00:50:51.340 --> 00:50:52.740
 creation story

00:50:52.740 --> 00:50:54.300
 in the Old Testament

00:50:54.300 --> 00:50:55.639
 is this one.

00:50:55.840 --> 00:50:56.579
 It is constantly

00:50:56.579 --> 00:50:57.240
 referenced

00:50:57.240 --> 00:50:59.019
 in the Psalms

00:50:59.019 --> 00:51:00.240
 and the prophets.

00:51:00.780 --> 00:51:01.840
 There is also

00:51:01.840 --> 00:51:03.699
 a version

00:51:03.699 --> 00:51:04.240
 that is

00:51:04.240 --> 00:51:06.219
 less referenced

00:51:06.219 --> 00:51:07.300
 but is present

00:51:07.300 --> 00:51:07.800
 especially

00:51:07.800 --> 00:51:09.260
 in some passages

00:51:09.260 --> 00:51:10.079
 like Psalm

00:51:10.079 --> 00:51:11.679
 74,

00:51:12.019 --> 00:51:12.099
 I think.

00:51:12.099 --> 00:51:13.679
 which is a more

00:51:13.679 --> 00:51:15.119
 conflict heavy

00:51:15.119 --> 00:51:15.779
 version

00:51:15.779 --> 00:51:16.360
 of the

00:51:16.360 --> 00:51:17.219
 creation story.

00:51:17.960 --> 00:51:18.099
 So,

00:51:18.319 --> 00:51:19.299
 could it be that

00:51:19.299 --> 00:51:20.659
 depending on

00:51:20.659 --> 00:51:21.159
 the different

00:51:21.159 --> 00:51:22.219
 theological

00:51:22.219 --> 00:51:22.759
 emphasis

00:51:22.759 --> 00:51:23.380
 that the author

00:51:23.380 --> 00:51:24.360
 is trying to make

00:51:24.360 --> 00:51:26.199
 he references

00:51:26.199 --> 00:51:27.519
 these two different

00:51:27.519 --> 00:51:28.039
 traditions

00:51:28.039 --> 00:51:29.000
 of the same story

00:51:29.000 --> 00:51:29.579
 the more

00:51:29.579 --> 00:51:30.599
 conflict heavy

00:51:30.599 --> 00:51:31.079
 tradition

00:51:31.079 --> 00:51:31.719
 where God

00:51:31.719 --> 00:51:33.400
 actually slains

00:51:33.400 --> 00:51:33.980
 the

00:51:33.980 --> 00:51:34.519
 serpent

00:51:34.519 --> 00:51:35.440
 and the serpent

00:51:35.440 --> 00:51:37.440
 creates everything

00:51:37.440 --> 00:51:38.579
 and liberates

00:51:38.579 --> 00:51:39.079
 his people

00:51:39.079 --> 00:51:39.599
 for example

00:51:39.599 --> 00:51:40.320
 and the version

00:51:40.320 --> 00:51:41.239
 where God

00:51:41.239 --> 00:51:42.980
 actually just

00:51:42.980 --> 00:51:43.940
 uses his word

00:51:43.940 --> 00:51:44.559
 to shape

00:51:44.559 --> 00:51:45.219
 everything.

00:51:46.019 --> 00:51:46.239
 Yeah,

00:51:46.400 --> 00:51:46.920
 I think that's

00:51:46.920 --> 00:51:47.880
 a great point.

00:51:48.019 --> 00:51:48.960
 I think we have

00:51:48.960 --> 00:51:50.519
 to be careful

00:51:50.519 --> 00:51:51.239
 of the context

00:51:51.239 --> 00:51:51.539
 here,

00:51:51.619 --> 00:51:51.840
 right?

00:51:52.199 --> 00:51:52.400
 So,

00:51:53.400 --> 00:51:54.619
 we think in

00:51:54.619 --> 00:51:55.199
 Genesis 1

00:51:55.199 --> 00:51:56.179
 we're receiving

00:51:56.179 --> 00:51:57.880
 the creation

00:51:57.880 --> 00:51:58.340
 account

00:51:58.340 --> 00:51:59.759
 in the

00:51:59.759 --> 00:52:00.400
 narrative

00:52:00.400 --> 00:52:01.039
 of the history

00:52:01.039 --> 00:52:02.340
 of all of

00:52:02.340 --> 00:52:02.679
 humanity

00:52:02.679 --> 00:52:03.300
 and then God's

00:52:03.300 --> 00:52:03.539
 people

00:52:03.539 --> 00:52:04.219
 so it's

00:52:04.219 --> 00:52:04.519
 sort of

00:52:04.519 --> 00:52:05.679
 the start

00:52:05.679 --> 00:52:06.340
 of the big

00:52:06.340 --> 00:52:06.659
 picture,

00:52:06.739 --> 00:52:07.360
 the big story

00:52:07.360 --> 00:52:09.300
 and we do

00:52:09.300 --> 00:52:09.679
 have other

00:52:09.679 --> 00:52:10.000
 accounts

00:52:10.000 --> 00:52:10.360
 where it

00:52:10.360 --> 00:52:11.779
 talks about

00:52:11.779 --> 00:52:12.619
 God

00:52:12.619 --> 00:52:13.840
 slaying

00:52:13.840 --> 00:52:14.500
 Rahab

00:52:14.500 --> 00:52:15.079
 or is it

00:52:15.079 --> 00:52:16.539
 Leviathan?

00:52:17.239 --> 00:52:17.679
 Slaying

00:52:17.679 --> 00:52:18.619
 these are

00:52:18.619 --> 00:52:19.239
 like pictures,

00:52:19.360 --> 00:52:19.539
 these are

00:52:19.539 --> 00:52:20.340
 symbols for

00:52:20.340 --> 00:52:21.460
 chaotic water,

00:52:21.759 --> 00:52:23.300
 that chaotic

00:52:23.300 --> 00:52:24.320
 water spirit

00:52:24.320 --> 00:52:25.659
 or water gods

00:52:25.659 --> 00:52:26.400
 that we talked

00:52:26.400 --> 00:52:26.599
 about,

00:52:26.679 --> 00:52:27.000
 some of these

00:52:27.000 --> 00:52:27.559
 other myths,

00:52:28.219 --> 00:52:28.420
 right?

00:52:29.059 --> 00:52:29.440
 I think

00:52:29.440 --> 00:52:29.820
 really,

00:52:30.000 --> 00:52:30.400
 so I think

00:52:30.400 --> 00:52:31.179
 it depends

00:52:31.179 --> 00:52:31.500
 on what the

00:52:31.500 --> 00:52:32.099
 point of the

00:52:32.099 --> 00:52:32.759
 passage is.

00:52:32.840 --> 00:52:32.900
 So,

00:52:32.900 --> 00:52:33.960
 I think

00:52:33.960 --> 00:52:34.320
 the point

00:52:34.320 --> 00:52:34.579
 of the

00:52:34.579 --> 00:52:34.860
 passages

00:52:34.860 --> 00:52:35.480
 like we

00:52:35.480 --> 00:52:35.800
 get in

00:52:35.800 --> 00:52:36.480
 Psalm 74

00:52:36.480 --> 00:52:37.059
 where it's

00:52:37.059 --> 00:52:37.800
 talking about

00:52:37.800 --> 00:52:38.920
 this conflict,

00:52:39.260 --> 00:52:39.619
 I don't think

00:52:39.619 --> 00:52:40.440
 it's necessarily

00:52:40.440 --> 00:52:41.300
 reflecting on

00:52:41.300 --> 00:52:43.160
 what creation

00:52:43.160 --> 00:52:43.639
 is like,

00:52:43.700 --> 00:52:44.019
 but more

00:52:44.019 --> 00:52:45.760
 like you

00:52:45.760 --> 00:52:46.320
 saying

00:52:46.320 --> 00:52:47.019
 Baal

00:52:47.019 --> 00:52:48.260
 is the

00:52:48.260 --> 00:52:48.619
 one who

00:52:48.619 --> 00:52:49.340
 slew this

00:52:49.340 --> 00:52:49.740
 person

00:52:49.740 --> 00:52:50.579
 and is the

00:52:50.579 --> 00:52:50.820
 one who

00:52:50.820 --> 00:52:51.260
 set up

00:52:51.260 --> 00:52:51.619
 this thing,

00:52:51.680 --> 00:52:51.880
 but it's

00:52:51.880 --> 00:52:52.940
 not Baal,

00:52:53.019 --> 00:52:53.440
 it's God.

00:52:53.820 --> 00:52:54.460
 God is the

00:52:54.460 --> 00:52:54.700
 one who

00:52:54.700 --> 00:52:55.300
 does these

00:52:55.300 --> 00:52:55.599
 things,

00:52:55.660 --> 00:52:55.860
 right?

00:52:55.860 --> 00:52:58.039
 And I

00:52:58.039 --> 00:52:58.420
 think we

00:52:58.420 --> 00:53:00.539
 can use

00:53:00.539 --> 00:53:01.019
 poetic

00:53:01.019 --> 00:53:02.120
 language to

00:53:02.120 --> 00:53:03.200
 discuss the

00:53:03.200 --> 00:53:03.960
 idea of

00:53:03.960 --> 00:53:04.700
 God taking

00:53:04.700 --> 00:53:05.280
 what could

00:53:05.280 --> 00:53:06.079
 be unformed

00:53:06.079 --> 00:53:06.820
 chaos and

00:53:06.820 --> 00:53:07.400
 forming it

00:53:07.400 --> 00:53:08.039
 into order

00:53:08.039 --> 00:53:09.640
 and structure,

00:53:10.079 --> 00:53:10.380
 right?

00:53:10.539 --> 00:53:10.840
 So,

00:53:10.920 --> 00:53:11.280
 for instance,

00:53:11.420 --> 00:53:11.860
 I think in

00:53:11.860 --> 00:53:12.440
 other passages

00:53:12.440 --> 00:53:13.220
 it talks about

00:53:13.220 --> 00:53:14.240
 the Israelites

00:53:14.240 --> 00:53:14.960
 crossing the

00:53:14.960 --> 00:53:16.320
 Red Sea as

00:53:16.320 --> 00:53:17.599
 God slaying

00:53:17.599 --> 00:53:18.700
 the water

00:53:18.700 --> 00:53:20.180
 spirit,

00:53:20.360 --> 00:53:20.700
 Rahab,

00:53:20.840 --> 00:53:21.099
 right?

00:53:21.940 --> 00:53:22.599
 And so,

00:53:22.699 --> 00:53:23.000
 I think we

00:53:23.000 --> 00:53:23.440
 can take

00:53:23.440 --> 00:53:25.139
 different passages

00:53:25.139 --> 00:53:25.739
 in the way

00:53:25.739 --> 00:53:25.940
 that they're

00:53:25.940 --> 00:53:27.019
 meant to be

00:53:27.019 --> 00:53:27.279
 taken,

00:53:27.420 --> 00:53:28.279
 so I

00:53:28.279 --> 00:53:29.460
 think probably

00:53:29.460 --> 00:53:30.500
 accounts like

00:53:30.500 --> 00:53:30.900
 in Exodus

00:53:30.900 --> 00:53:31.539
 or in Genesis

00:53:31.539 --> 00:53:32.099
 are meant to

00:53:32.099 --> 00:53:32.639
 be taken in

00:53:32.639 --> 00:53:33.059
 more of a

00:53:33.059 --> 00:53:34.339
 historical lens,

00:53:34.659 --> 00:53:35.119
 and these

00:53:35.119 --> 00:53:35.599
 other passages

00:53:35.599 --> 00:53:35.960
 are more

00:53:35.960 --> 00:53:36.960
 poetic riffs

00:53:36.960 --> 00:53:37.599
 on this

00:53:37.599 --> 00:53:39.059
 larger tradition.

00:53:39.139 --> 00:53:39.319
 Does that

00:53:39.319 --> 00:53:39.659
 make sense?

00:53:40.299 --> 00:53:40.440
 Yeah.

00:53:41.059 --> 00:53:41.380
 But I

00:53:41.380 --> 00:53:41.619
 think,

00:53:42.179 --> 00:53:42.380
 yeah,

00:53:42.500 --> 00:53:42.920
 there are

00:53:42.920 --> 00:53:43.199
 certainly,

00:53:43.360 --> 00:53:43.960
 you read

00:53:43.960 --> 00:53:44.599
 Job too,

00:53:44.659 --> 00:53:45.139
 I'm reading

00:53:45.139 --> 00:53:45.779
 Job right now,

00:53:46.219 --> 00:53:46.679
 you read

00:53:46.679 --> 00:53:47.059
 Job too,

00:53:47.119 --> 00:53:47.739
 there's all

00:53:47.739 --> 00:53:48.460
 kinds of

00:53:48.460 --> 00:53:49.339
 references to

00:53:49.339 --> 00:53:50.360
 God slaying

00:53:50.360 --> 00:53:50.860
 the

00:53:50.860 --> 00:53:51.800
 the serpents,

00:53:52.240 --> 00:53:52.500
 and these

00:53:52.500 --> 00:53:52.860
 are often

00:53:52.860 --> 00:53:53.680
 like images

00:53:53.680 --> 00:53:54.320
 of chaos

00:53:54.320 --> 00:53:55.539
 and unformed

00:53:55.539 --> 00:53:55.900
 water,

00:53:56.120 --> 00:53:56.400
 stuff like

00:53:56.400 --> 00:53:56.579
 that.

00:53:57.760 --> 00:53:57.940
 Yeah,

00:53:58.140 --> 00:53:58.559
 exactly.

00:53:58.800 --> 00:53:58.920
 Yeah?

00:54:00.920 --> 00:54:01.360
 So,

00:54:01.500 --> 00:54:01.760
 I like

00:54:01.760 --> 00:54:02.000
 that you

00:54:02.000 --> 00:54:02.460
 bring up

00:54:02.460 --> 00:54:02.760
 the different

00:54:02.760 --> 00:54:03.460
 pathologies

00:54:03.460 --> 00:54:05.180
 that the

00:54:05.180 --> 00:54:05.880
 Babylonian

00:54:05.880 --> 00:54:07.800
 and the

00:54:07.800 --> 00:54:08.320
 I wish.

00:54:10.019 --> 00:54:10.720
 I have

00:54:10.720 --> 00:54:11.059
 to think

00:54:11.059 --> 00:54:11.460
 that a lot

00:54:11.460 --> 00:54:11.760
 of our

00:54:11.760 --> 00:54:12.140
 kind of

00:54:12.140 --> 00:54:12.519
 modern

00:54:12.519 --> 00:54:13.099
 pathologies

00:54:13.099 --> 00:54:13.599
 are very

00:54:13.599 --> 00:54:13.980
 similar

00:54:13.980 --> 00:54:16.280
 to the

00:54:16.280 --> 00:54:16.860
 Babylonian

00:54:16.860 --> 00:54:17.200
 story.

00:54:18.740 --> 00:54:19.500
 I guess

00:54:19.500 --> 00:54:20.019
 I'm curious,

00:54:20.220 --> 00:54:20.640
 as you said,

00:54:20.639 --> 00:54:20.879
 you're a

00:54:20.879 --> 00:54:21.199
 scientist.

00:54:21.579 --> 00:54:21.779
 Yeah.

00:54:22.980 --> 00:54:23.379
 Technically.

00:54:23.480 --> 00:54:23.940
 At a broad

00:54:23.940 --> 00:54:24.299
 level,

00:54:24.519 --> 00:54:26.199
 do you see

00:54:26.199 --> 00:54:27.299
 your interest

00:54:27.299 --> 00:54:27.900
 in science

00:54:27.900 --> 00:54:28.460
 interacting

00:54:28.460 --> 00:54:31.019
 with the

00:54:31.019 --> 00:54:31.460
 idea of

00:54:31.460 --> 00:54:31.799
 creation?

00:54:32.799 --> 00:54:33.239
 Oh,

00:54:33.359 --> 00:54:33.519
 yeah,

00:54:33.639 --> 00:54:33.920
 certainly.

00:54:34.279 --> 00:54:34.400
 Certainly.

00:54:34.599 --> 00:54:34.980
 Where do you

00:54:34.980 --> 00:54:35.239
 see that?

00:54:35.279 --> 00:54:35.960
 Not necessarily

00:54:35.960 --> 00:54:36.839
 evolution,

00:54:37.259 --> 00:54:37.659
 per se,

00:54:37.779 --> 00:54:38.559
 but where

00:54:38.559 --> 00:54:38.920
 do you see

00:54:38.920 --> 00:54:39.259
 them kind

00:54:39.259 --> 00:54:39.839
 of interacting?

00:54:40.659 --> 00:54:40.960
 Yeah,

00:54:41.059 --> 00:54:41.219
 yeah,

00:54:41.299 --> 00:54:41.480
 I mean,

00:54:41.500 --> 00:54:41.819
 I think,

00:54:41.980 --> 00:54:42.059
 so,

00:54:42.259 --> 00:54:43.259
 that's a great

00:54:43.259 --> 00:54:43.519
 question.

00:54:43.619 --> 00:54:43.859
 I actually

00:54:43.859 --> 00:54:44.460
 had a

00:54:44.460 --> 00:54:45.940
 whole talk

00:54:45.940 --> 00:54:46.339
 on science

00:54:46.339 --> 00:54:46.719
 and faith

00:54:46.719 --> 00:54:48.219
 that you

00:54:48.219 --> 00:54:48.419
 don't need

00:54:48.419 --> 00:54:48.779
 to watch.

00:54:49.279 --> 00:54:49.699
 It's okay.

00:54:50.219 --> 00:54:51.059
 As it was

00:54:51.059 --> 00:54:51.419
 coming out

00:54:51.419 --> 00:54:51.619
 of my

00:54:51.619 --> 00:54:51.859
 mouth,

00:54:51.939 --> 00:54:52.239
 I was like,

00:54:52.319 --> 00:54:52.839
 I don't

00:54:52.839 --> 00:54:53.179
 do that.

00:54:53.299 --> 00:54:53.500
 Anyways,

00:54:54.399 --> 00:54:55.039
 but yeah,

00:54:55.099 --> 00:54:55.419
 a lot of

00:54:55.419 --> 00:54:55.619
 the things

00:54:55.619 --> 00:54:55.799
 I was

00:54:55.799 --> 00:54:56.379
 talking about

00:54:56.379 --> 00:54:56.799
 in that

00:54:56.799 --> 00:54:57.359
 talk were

00:54:57.359 --> 00:54:58.339
 discussing

00:54:58.339 --> 00:54:58.779
 sort of

00:54:58.779 --> 00:54:58.959
 those

00:54:58.959 --> 00:54:59.339
 overlaps.

00:54:59.339 --> 00:54:59.559
 So,

00:55:00.239 --> 00:55:00.819
 for instance,

00:55:00.919 --> 00:55:01.379
 there are a lot

00:55:01.379 --> 00:55:02.019
 of things in

00:55:02.019 --> 00:55:02.939
 science that

00:55:02.939 --> 00:55:03.459
 we take for

00:55:03.459 --> 00:55:04.199
 granted that

00:55:04.199 --> 00:55:04.699
 really don't

00:55:04.699 --> 00:55:05.299
 make any sense

00:55:05.299 --> 00:55:05.980
 unless you

00:55:05.980 --> 00:55:06.879
 put it into

00:55:06.879 --> 00:55:07.259
 a larger

00:55:07.259 --> 00:55:07.879
 world view.

00:55:08.119 --> 00:55:08.199
 So,

00:55:08.299 --> 00:55:08.639
 for instance,

00:55:09.079 --> 00:55:09.719
 why are there

00:55:09.719 --> 00:55:10.379
 regularities in

00:55:10.379 --> 00:55:10.619
 nature?

00:55:11.480 --> 00:55:12.539
 Why do

00:55:12.539 --> 00:55:13.480
 things actually

00:55:13.480 --> 00:55:14.039
 make sense

00:55:14.039 --> 00:55:14.480
 to the human

00:55:14.480 --> 00:55:14.799
 mind?

00:55:15.980 --> 00:55:17.199
 How can we

00:55:17.199 --> 00:55:18.079
 use math

00:55:18.079 --> 00:55:19.059
 to actually

00:55:19.059 --> 00:55:20.500
 describe things?

00:55:21.400 --> 00:55:21.519
 Right?

00:55:22.099 --> 00:55:23.319
 Because if math

00:55:23.319 --> 00:55:24.259
 isn't an actual

00:55:24.259 --> 00:55:25.619
 deeper reality,

00:55:26.259 --> 00:55:26.759
 if there isn't

00:55:26.759 --> 00:55:27.400
 actually a deeper

00:55:27.400 --> 00:55:28.799
 order to reality,

00:55:29.420 --> 00:55:30.259
 then math is

00:55:30.259 --> 00:55:30.699
 just a human

00:55:30.699 --> 00:55:31.400
 construct made

00:55:31.400 --> 00:55:31.880
 by man.

00:55:33.119 --> 00:55:33.339
 Right?

00:55:33.619 --> 00:55:34.019
 And so,

00:55:34.139 --> 00:55:34.859
 there really is

00:55:34.859 --> 00:55:35.759
 no reason we

00:55:35.759 --> 00:55:36.559
 should expect

00:55:36.559 --> 00:55:37.339
 for there to

00:55:37.339 --> 00:55:38.420
 be such deep

00:55:38.420 --> 00:55:39.619
 harmony between

00:55:39.619 --> 00:55:41.279
 what we conceive

00:55:41.279 --> 00:55:41.900
 of in our

00:55:41.900 --> 00:55:42.539
 mind and what

00:55:42.539 --> 00:55:43.019
 is actually

00:55:43.019 --> 00:55:43.539
 out there in

00:55:43.539 --> 00:55:43.920
 reality.

00:55:44.299 --> 00:55:44.380
 Right?

00:55:44.799 --> 00:55:45.239
 So,

00:55:45.400 --> 00:55:45.799
 the fact that

00:55:45.799 --> 00:55:45.960
 there's

00:55:45.960 --> 00:55:46.500
 regularities,

00:55:46.599 --> 00:55:47.000
 the fact that

00:55:47.000 --> 00:55:47.319
 there is

00:55:47.319 --> 00:55:47.859
 consistency,

00:55:48.039 --> 00:55:48.440
 there's all

00:55:48.440 --> 00:55:49.239
 kinds of

00:55:49.239 --> 00:55:50.799
 things that

00:55:50.799 --> 00:55:51.460
 are involved

00:55:51.460 --> 00:55:51.739
 in the

00:55:51.739 --> 00:55:52.079
 scientific

00:55:52.079 --> 00:55:53.480
 enterprise that

00:55:53.480 --> 00:55:54.500
 we take for

00:55:54.500 --> 00:55:55.219
 granted but

00:55:55.219 --> 00:55:55.799
 really don't

00:55:55.799 --> 00:55:56.380
 make any sense

00:55:56.380 --> 00:55:56.659
 if there's

00:55:56.659 --> 00:55:57.400
 such a thing

00:55:57.400 --> 00:55:58.679
 as purpose,

00:55:59.159 --> 00:55:59.779
 teleology,

00:56:00.079 --> 00:56:00.920
 a reason why

00:56:00.920 --> 00:56:01.359
 things should

00:56:01.359 --> 00:56:01.699
 happen,

00:56:01.920 --> 00:56:03.480
 and an order

00:56:03.480 --> 00:56:04.319
 to the

00:56:04.319 --> 00:56:04.699
 universe.

00:56:05.460 --> 00:56:05.739
 Does that

00:56:05.739 --> 00:56:06.099
 make sense?

00:56:06.359 --> 00:56:06.599
 So,

00:56:06.659 --> 00:56:06.900
 I think there's

00:56:06.900 --> 00:56:07.219
 a lot of

00:56:07.219 --> 00:56:07.539
 ways that

00:56:07.539 --> 00:56:08.199
 science and

00:56:08.199 --> 00:56:09.079
 my faith

00:56:09.079 --> 00:56:09.599
 interact.

00:56:10.599 --> 00:56:10.940
 I mean,

00:56:11.119 --> 00:56:12.000
 the understanding

00:56:12.000 --> 00:56:12.679
 of creation,

00:56:13.400 --> 00:56:14.079
 I feel like,

00:56:14.139 --> 00:56:14.519
 is just something

00:56:14.519 --> 00:56:14.940
 that we all

00:56:14.940 --> 00:56:15.339
 want to know.

00:56:15.440 --> 00:56:16.059
 We all want

00:56:16.059 --> 00:56:16.380
 to know where

00:56:16.380 --> 00:56:17.039
 we came from,

00:56:17.500 --> 00:56:17.960
 and as a

00:56:17.960 --> 00:56:18.199
 scientist,

00:56:18.339 --> 00:56:18.859
 I feel like

00:56:18.859 --> 00:56:20.539
 I confront

00:56:20.539 --> 00:56:21.279
 this more

00:56:21.279 --> 00:56:22.599
 often in my

00:56:22.599 --> 00:56:23.199
 everyday life

00:56:23.199 --> 00:56:23.819
 than the

00:56:23.819 --> 00:56:24.339
 average person.

00:56:24.420 --> 00:56:24.519
 So,

00:56:24.559 --> 00:56:25.159
 I think probably

00:56:25.159 --> 00:56:26.039
 that's where a

00:56:26.039 --> 00:56:26.319
 lot of my

00:56:26.319 --> 00:56:26.819
 interest comes

00:56:26.819 --> 00:56:27.039
 from.

00:56:27.920 --> 00:56:28.279
 Does that

00:56:28.279 --> 00:56:28.559
 answer your

00:56:28.559 --> 00:56:28.779
 question,

00:56:28.880 --> 00:56:29.139
 or did I

00:56:29.139 --> 00:56:29.519
 just totally

00:56:29.519 --> 00:56:29.920
 avoid it?

00:56:30.420 --> 00:56:30.980
 You did.

00:56:31.179 --> 00:56:31.719
 I'm sure you

00:56:31.719 --> 00:56:32.019
 have a lot

00:56:32.019 --> 00:56:32.500
 more to say.

00:56:33.599 --> 00:56:34.000
 Definitely.

00:56:34.460 --> 00:56:34.539
 Yeah.

00:56:35.000 --> 00:56:35.159
 Well,

00:56:35.219 --> 00:56:36.239
 it's about

00:56:36.239 --> 00:56:36.659
 three minutes

00:56:36.659 --> 00:56:37.179
 until church,

00:56:37.259 --> 00:56:37.519
 so why don't

00:56:37.519 --> 00:56:38.799
 we break and

00:56:38.799 --> 00:56:39.319
 head downstairs.

00:56:39.539 --> 00:56:40.039
 Thank you so

00:56:40.039 --> 00:56:40.260
 much,

00:56:40.320 --> 00:56:40.539
 guys.

00:56:40.539 --> 00:56:41.039
 Thank you so

00:56:41.039 --> 00:56:41.160
 much,

00:56:41.160 --> 00:56:40.559
 guys.

00:56:40.559 --> 00:56:42.019
 Thank you so

00:56:42.019 --> 00:56:42.519
 much,

00:56:42.519 --> 00:56:42.519