WEBVTT

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 For those of you who are visiting, my name is Sean, and I'm one of the pastors of Trinity

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 Cambridge Church.

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 I have the privilege of preaching from God's Word on most Sundays, and I do follow the

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 text pretty closely.

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 So if you don't have a Bible in your hands now, I do encourage you to grab one and follow

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 along with me.

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 It was Socrates, I think, that once said, the only true wisdom is in knowing you know

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 nothing.

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 And similarly, Leo Tolstoy said, we can know only that we know nothing, and that is the

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 highest degree of human wisdom.

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 Many wise people throughout the ages seem to have come to that conclusion that the more

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 we know, the more we grasp the vastness of our ignorance.

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 And 1 Corinthians 3, 18 to 19 take this one step further.

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 It says,

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 Let no one deceive himself.

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 If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he

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 may become wise.

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 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God.

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 In this passage that we're looking at, Jeremiah 8, 4 to 10, 25, we see God's people seeking

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 wisdom in all the wrong places.

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 And they, in error, think that they are very wise because of the wisdom of men that they

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 have obtained.

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 And Jeremiah tells them, and this is the main point of this passage, that we should seek

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 the wisdom of God rather than the wisdom of men.

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 And that's what he tells them to do.

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 First, we're going to talk about the wisdom of lying men, and then we'll talk about the

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 wisdom of idolatrous men.

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 And then thirdly, we'll talk about the wisdom of the true God.

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 Verses 4 to 5 of chapter 8, it says this,

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 It's a very sharp and pointed accusation here because when you're walking along the road,

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 let's say out on Cambridge Street here, and you trip and fall, right, you will naturally

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 pick yourself back up from the ground and start walking again.

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 In the same way, if you're driving around the streets and you take a wrong turn, you

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 naturally turn yourself around and get back on the right road.

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 That's the natural course of things.

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 You don't keep going in the wrong direction, yet this is exactly what God's people were

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 not doing.

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 They were refusing to return.

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 They were turning away in perpetual backsliding, even though they see that their ways are not

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 working, even though they see that it is wrong, it is in error.

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 They keep doing it, repeating the same sins over and over again.

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 And this stubborn refusal to repent and to return to God looks even more ridiculous when

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 you compare it to the natural course of creation.

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 Look at verses 6 to 7 of chapter 8.

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 I've paid attention and listened, but they have not spoken rightly.

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 No man relents of his evil, saying, What have I done?

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 Everyone turns to his own course like a horse plunging headlong into battle.

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 Even the stork in the heavens know her times.

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 And the turtle dove swallow and crane keep the time of their coming.

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 But my people know not the rules of the Lord.

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 Even the birds of the air know their times and when to migrate according to their God-given

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 intuitive sense of the seasons.

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 But God's people knew not the rules of the Lord.

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 They were instead like these horses plunging headlong into battle who seemed to care not that

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 these swords and these arrows are coming their way.

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 And in spite of the plain foolishness of their refusal to repent, God's people are under the

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 delusion that they are wise.

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 God says to them in verses 8 to 9,

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 How can you say we are wise and the law of the Lord is with us?

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 But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.

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 The wise men shall be put to shame.

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 They shall be dismayed and taken.

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 Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord.

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 So what wisdom is in them?

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 Even though they had rejected the word of the Lord by their disobedience,

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 they wrongly believed that just because the law of the Lord was in their possession,

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 that they were wise.

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 But having a book on a shelf, of course, doesn't mean that you have read it and applied its contents

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 to your life.

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 The same way, the people who have having the law of God means nothing if they are not

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 applying it and living by the word.

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 And so this is the first kind of wisdom we see in these chapters.

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 And these men style themselves as being wise.

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 It's the wisdom of lying men who pay lip service to the law of God without actually listening to it.

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 Therefore, God announces his punishment in verses 10 to 12.

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 And verse 11, it says,

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 From prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.

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 They have healed the wound of my people, lightly saying,

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 Peace, peace, when there is no peace.

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 Instead of warning sinful people of impending judgment,

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 these prophets and priests assure them with false security.

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 Instead of preaching a message of repentance,

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 they were preaching a message of complacency.

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 Minimizing people's sins and healing their wounds lightly.

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 And we often deceive ourselves in the same way.

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 We rationalize our sins.

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 We minimize our sins.

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 We deny our sins altogether.

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 We say,

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 Oh, that's not really a sin.

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 Even if it is,

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 it's a really small one.

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 A minor one that I don't really need to worry about.

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 It's so much better than that person's sin.

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 Yeah, maybe I shouldn't do that.

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 But look around.

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 Everybody does it.

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 It can't be so bad.

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 By minimizing the sins of God's people

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 and diverting their attention from God's imminent judgment,

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 these so-called prophets and priests were dealing falsely with them

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 and turning the very word of the Lord into a lie.

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 In what ways are we at risk of turning the word of the Lord into a lie?

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 Is your life defined by the word of God?

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 Is it shaped by the word of God?

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 2 Timothy 3.15

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 It says that the sacred scriptures are able to make us wise for salvation

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 through faith in Christ Jesus.

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 Do you cherish this word as the unique writing

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 that can make us wise unto salvation?

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 Or is the word of God an afterthought,

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 a footnote to your life,

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 which is defined primarily by the trends and ideas and habits

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 of the surrounding world?

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 Do you submit yourself to the word of God

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 or do you subject the word to your own will?

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 Does the word ever contradict or challenge you?

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 Or does it always seem to echo whatever you think and feel at the time?

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 Because if that's the case,

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 then you're probably not submitting to the word,

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 but instead conforming it to your own will.

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 We need to make sure that we're not passing off the wisdom of lying men

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 as the wisdom of God by passing,

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 you know, by paying lift service to God

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 without really listening to him.

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 So from chapter 8, verse 13, to chapter 9, verse 6,

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 there's a kind of a back and forth between God's speech

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 and Judah's speech and Jeremiah's speech and so on.

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 And it's not always clear who the speaker is,

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 so we have to pay attention to the context

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 to determine who's speaking.

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 And so in verse 13,

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 it's God speaking again,

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 says, declares the Lord.

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 He's once again comparing Judah to a vine that he planted,

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 but he notes that there are no grapes in the vine

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 when he comes to pick the grapes to enjoy.

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 And then in verses 14 to 15,

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 we see Judah's desperate response to God's judgment.

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 And then God announces in verses 16 to 17

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 that the invaders of the north are now at hand.

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 They've come upon them.

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 Up to this point in the book of Jeremiah,

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 Jeremiah has been calling people to repentance

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 in order to avoid God's judgment,

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 so that God's judgment might be averted.

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 But now judgment has come.

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 So we're entering into a different phase of the book.

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 And in chapter 8, verses 18 to 19,

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 Jeremiah begins his own lament and mourning.

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 He says,

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 My joy is gone.

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 Grief is upon me.

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 My heart is sick with me.

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 Behold the cry of the daughter of my people

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 from the length and breadth of the land.

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 Is the Lord not in Zion?

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 Is her king not in her?

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 Then the Lord replies,

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 Why have they provoked me to anger

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 with their carved images

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 and with their foreign idols?

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 It's an interesting dialogue.

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 The people of Judah are asking among themselves,

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 Is God really with us as he promised he would be?

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 If that's the case,

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 then why are all these bad things happening to us?

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 And then God's answer is,

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 If you really say that I am your God,

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 then what are all these idols that I see in your land?

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 Because they have not been faithful to him.

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 And then they utter this hopeless saying,

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 The harvest is past.

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 The summer is ended.

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 And we are not saved.

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 In Israel, the wheat harvest lasted from April to June.

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 And when the wheat harvest failed,

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 they had to put their hope in the summer fruits,

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 like figs and olives and grapes,

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 to sustain them.

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 But if the summer fruits also failed,

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 then that would mean that they would probably starve.

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 They would have famine in their hands.

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 And that's why this expression became a popular way

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 of describing a dire situation,

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 a hopeless situation.

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 The harvest is past.

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 The summer is ended.

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 And we are not saved.

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 So they're saying, in essence,

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 there's no sight of deliverance from God's judgment.

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 And seeing this hopeless situation,

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 Jeremiah pours out his heartfelt lament.

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 He says,

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 For the wound of the daughter of my people

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 is my heart wounded.

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 I mourn.

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 And dismay has taken hold on me.

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 Is there no balm in Gilead?

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 Is there no physician there?

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 Why then has the health of the daughter of my people

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 not been restored?

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 He calls God's people my daughter.

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 He says,

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 My daughter of the daughter of my people.

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 Grammatically,

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 he's probably referring to the daughter that is my people.

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 He's calling God's people his daughter.

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 That's how intimately he relates to them

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 and feels for them.

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 And then we see an interesting paradox of emotions

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 from Jeremiah.

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 Look at chapter 9, verse 1.

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 First, in chapter 9, verse 1,

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 he mourns the suffering of his people.

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 He says,

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 Oh, that my head were waters

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 and my eyes a fountain of tears

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 that I might weep day and night

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 for the slain of the daughter of my people.

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 He's mourning the suffering of his people.

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 But then in chapter 9, verse 2,

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 he mourns the sins of his people

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 that brought about their suffering.

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 He says,

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 Oh, that I had in the desert

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 a traveler's lodging place

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 that I might leave my people

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 and go away from them

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 for they are all adulterers,

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 a company of treacherous men.

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 It's difficult for Jeremiah to stand

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 both the destruction

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 and the degradation of Jerusalem

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 and the people of Judah.

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 So he wishes that he could withdraw

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 to a lodge in the wilderness

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 away from the sin and suffering of the people.

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 And this is helpful.

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 It's instructive to us

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 because it's important to recognize

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 that a healthy prophetic ministry,

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 when we're trying to speak into people's lives

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 in a prophetic way,

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 that we need to have both of these responses

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 that we're seeing in Jeremiah.

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 Jeremiah has both, on the one hand,

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 a zeal for God's holiness.

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 And on the other hand,

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 he has a love for God's people.

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 He mourns Judah's suffering

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 even while he is pronouncing

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 God's judgment over them.

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 So sometimes we can wrongly, you know,

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 kind of enjoy and relish

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 these prophetic confrontations.

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 You know, whether it's a Christian journalist

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 who specializes in publishing

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 church scandals and conflicts,

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 or whether it's a Bible-thumping pastor

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 who preaches fire and brimstone

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 without grace and mercy,

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 or maybe a simply a self-righteous church member

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 who is in the habit of confronting

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 other members about their sins and errors

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 without first examining his own heart.

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 All of these instances,

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 people are loving to point out

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 sins and failures to people

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 without loving the people themselves.

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 They denounce the sins of God's people

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 with glee rather than grief.

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 Their so-called prophetic ministry

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 stems not from love,

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 but from their own insecurities,

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 and it's a way of lifting themselves up

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 and putting others down

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 rather than building others up.

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 A true prophet of the Lord

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 must be filled with both

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 a passion for God's glory

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 and a compassion for God's people.

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 It's a little sudden,

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 but then God interjects at this point

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 with his own assessment

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 of the evils of his people in verse 3.

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 It says,

00:12:54.919 --> 00:12:56.839
 the fact that God's speech begins here

00:12:56.839 --> 00:12:57.939
 is indicated by the phrase

00:12:57.939 --> 00:12:59.000
 declares the Lord again

00:12:59.000 --> 00:12:59.799
 at the end of the verse,

00:13:00.079 --> 00:13:00.559
 and he says,

00:13:00.819 --> 00:13:01.959
 and he refers to himself

00:13:01.959 --> 00:13:02.679
 in the first person

00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:04.039
 that they do not know me.

00:13:04.899 --> 00:13:06.240
 And verses 3 to 4

00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:07.379
 and verses 5 to 6

00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:09.019
 are mirror images of each other.

00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:09.759
 They kind of form

00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:10.979
 a coherent poetic unit.

00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:12.899
 And so verse 3

00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:15.000
 speaks of how people speak falsehood

00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:16.699
 and proceed from evil to evil

00:13:16.699 --> 00:13:17.979
 and do not know the Lord.

00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:19.679
 And that parallels verse 6,

00:13:19.939 --> 00:13:21.299
 which speaks of how the people

00:13:21.299 --> 00:13:22.860
 heap oppression upon oppression

00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:24.340
 and deceit upon deceit

00:13:24.340 --> 00:13:25.879
 and refuse to know the Lord.

00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:26.940
 And likewise,

00:13:27.100 --> 00:13:27.800
 verse 4,

00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:29.019
 which speaks of how

00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:30.500
 no one should trust his neighbor.

00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:32.580
 And then it parallels verse 5,

00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:33.220
 which speaks of how

00:13:33.220 --> 00:13:34.720
 everyone deceives his neighbor.

00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:36.519
 So throughout this entire section,

00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:37.519
 there's been this focus

00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:39.320
 on sins of deception, right?

00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:40.940
 Lying about God

00:13:40.940 --> 00:13:42.419
 and lying to one another.

00:13:42.800 --> 00:13:43.820
 And this passage,

00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:44.600
 this unit here,

00:13:44.680 --> 00:13:46.639
 tells us what that stems from.

00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:48.019
 That deceptive tongue

00:13:48.019 --> 00:13:50.159
 comes from not knowing God.

00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:55.060
 Look at Numbers 23, 19.

00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:55.419
 It says,

00:13:55.700 --> 00:13:57.039
 God is not man that he should lie

00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:58.399
 or is not man that he should

00:13:58.399 --> 00:13:59.259
 change his mind.

00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:00.120
 Has he said

00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:01.680
 and will he not do it?

00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:02.919
 Or has he spoken

00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:05.000
 and will he not fulfill it?

00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:06.820
 One of the things

00:14:06.820 --> 00:14:08.159
 that separate God

00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:09.360
 from man

00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:10.379
 is that he never lies

00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:11.980
 and always fulfills his promises.

00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:13.840
 So not surprisingly then,

00:14:13.940 --> 00:14:15.240
 for people who do not know

00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:16.460
 the God who cannot lie,

00:14:16.460 --> 00:14:17.800
 people who do not know

00:14:17.800 --> 00:14:19.460
 the God whose word is truth,

00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:20.519
 their speech

00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:22.560
 deteriorate into falsehood.

00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:24.899
 And earlier in chapter 8,

00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:25.480
 verse 8,

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:27.000
 God spoke of the lying pen

00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:27.680
 of the scribes

00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:28.259
 that are turning,

00:14:28.800 --> 00:14:30.159
 making the law of the Lord

00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:30.740
 into a lie.

00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:32.840
 And these so-called wise ones

00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:33.820
 were twisting and manipulating

00:14:33.820 --> 00:14:35.300
 God's word to their liking, right?

00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:36.500
 And that's what naturally happens.

00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:37.419
 If you don't take God

00:14:37.419 --> 00:14:37.940
 at his word,

00:14:38.220 --> 00:14:39.539
 we're going to turn

00:14:39.539 --> 00:14:40.340
 to other sources

00:14:40.340 --> 00:14:42.019
 and really the only other alternative

00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:43.360
 is the wisdom of lying men.

00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:44.680
 If we're not shaped

00:14:44.680 --> 00:14:45.419
 by God's word,

00:14:45.419 --> 00:14:47.320
 we will shape the realities

00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:48.300
 and bend the truth

00:14:48.300 --> 00:14:49.680
 according to man's wisdom,

00:14:50.060 --> 00:14:51.519
 according to our own will.

00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:54.179
 If we do not know the Lord,

00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:55.059
 if we're not committed

00:14:55.059 --> 00:14:57.019
 to his commandments

00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:57.779
 and his will,

00:14:58.179 --> 00:14:59.259
 then we're going to lie

00:14:59.259 --> 00:14:59.659
 to one another

00:14:59.659 --> 00:15:00.899
 because our ultimate allegiance

00:15:00.899 --> 00:15:02.460
 is not to God

00:15:02.460 --> 00:15:03.240
 but to ourselves.

00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:04.439
 And when we're seeking

00:15:04.439 --> 00:15:05.939
 to advance our own agendas,

00:15:06.079 --> 00:15:06.579
 when we're seeking

00:15:06.579 --> 00:15:08.039
 to make ourselves look good,

00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:10.000
 then there's no more powerful weapon

00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:10.539
 than the tongue.

00:15:11.819 --> 00:15:12.600
 So chapter 9,

00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:13.399
 verse 8 says,

00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:15.240
 Their tongue is a deadly arrow.

00:15:15.579 --> 00:15:16.840
 It speaks deceitfully.

00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:17.919
 With its mouth,

00:15:18.059 --> 00:15:19.860
 each speaks peace to his neighbor,

00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:21.039
 but in his heart,

00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:22.919
 he plans an ambush for him.

00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:24.699
 These are military terms

00:15:24.699 --> 00:15:25.720
 that vividly portray

00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:27.360
 the dangers of the tongue.

00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:31.500
 And rarely do Christians,

00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:31.899
 you know,

00:15:31.939 --> 00:15:32.500
 our Christians,

00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:33.919
 at least I've seen,

00:15:34.459 --> 00:15:36.740
 guilty of straight-up libel, right?

00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.740
 Saying something maliciously

00:15:39.419 --> 00:15:40.340
 and intentionally bad

00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:40.980
 about somebody

00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:42.179
 that's made up and false.

00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:43.679
 More often,

00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:44.239
 I think,

00:15:44.339 --> 00:15:45.099
 we are tempted

00:15:45.099 --> 00:15:47.219
 to twist people's words, right?

00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:49.559
 How often have you

00:15:49.559 --> 00:15:51.899
 read articles or emails

00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:53.219
 or heard people say things

00:15:53.219 --> 00:15:54.839
 that include these hasty

00:15:54.839 --> 00:15:55.979
 and rash conclusions

00:15:55.979 --> 00:15:56.500
 and judgments

00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:57.759
 about what other people are saying

00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.000
 that does not give them

00:15:59.000 --> 00:15:59.679
 a fair hearing?

00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:01.639
 It's a subtle way

00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:02.399
 of acting like

00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:03.879
 we're engaging in fair debate

00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:07.919
 but whilst actually damaging

00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:08.959
 that person's reputation

00:16:08.959 --> 00:16:09.659
 and credibility

00:16:09.659 --> 00:16:11.479
 by twisting their words

00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:12.779
 and attributing things

00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:13.159
 to them

00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:14.279
 that they didn't really say.

00:16:14.560 --> 00:16:16.220
 It's a way of speaking peace

00:16:16.220 --> 00:16:18.940
 but planning an ambush, right?

00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:19.720
 This might help us

00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:20.320
 win arguments

00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:21.519
 but it's a form of hatred

00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:22.180
 of our neighbors.

00:16:23.940 --> 00:16:25.019
 Lying can also take the form

00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:26.039
 of gossip and slander.

00:16:26.700 --> 00:16:28.480
 How often do we baptize

00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:29.720
 gossip and slander

00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:30.700
 with Christian lingo?

00:16:31.700 --> 00:16:32.680
 By prefacing it

00:16:32.680 --> 00:16:33.300
 with an expression

00:16:33.300 --> 00:16:34.180
 of reluctance.

00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:35.819
 I've known this

00:16:35.819 --> 00:16:36.620
 for a long time

00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:38.079
 but I've held it

00:16:38.079 --> 00:16:39.759
 to myself all along.

00:16:41.859 --> 00:16:42.939
 Or by couching it

00:16:42.939 --> 00:16:44.079
 in terms of our own struggles.

00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:46.059
 I've really been struggling

00:16:46.059 --> 00:16:46.799
 with so and so.

00:16:47.839 --> 00:16:48.620
 Would you please

00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:49.439
 give me some counsel?

00:16:51.979 --> 00:16:53.379
 Or by sugarcoating it.

00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:55.000
 Sugarcoating the slander

00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:56.019
 by appending a trumpet

00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:56.939
 of praise at the end.

00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:58.059
 Even though I've said

00:16:58.059 --> 00:16:58.959
 all these bad things

00:16:58.959 --> 00:16:59.699
 about this person,

00:16:59.819 --> 00:17:00.839
 she's really a great person

00:17:00.839 --> 00:17:01.299
 after all.

00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:06.220
 It's all gossip and slander

00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:07.279
 with different masks.

00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.960
 It's a way of speaking peace

00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:12.259
 but planning an ambush.

00:17:12.879 --> 00:17:14.379
 And even if the gossiper

00:17:14.379 --> 00:17:15.319
 or a slanderer

00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:16.599
 is telling what he or she

00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:17.720
 believes to be true,

00:17:18.139 --> 00:17:19.399
 the context in which

00:17:19.399 --> 00:17:20.220
 it is presented

00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:21.779
 where only one sigh

00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:22.419
 is heard,

00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:23.680
 where the other person

00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:24.799
 is being picked apart

00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:25.879
 in minute detail

00:17:25.879 --> 00:17:26.859
 without a chance

00:17:26.859 --> 00:17:28.079
 to defend him or herself,

00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:30.059
 that context is deceitful

00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:31.159
 because by nature

00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:32.200
 the truth that is presented

00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:33.080
 will be partial.

00:17:36.080 --> 00:17:36.920
 And the people of Judah

00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:37.940
 were doing this and more.

00:17:38.060 --> 00:17:38.640
 They were bending

00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:40.380
 their tongue like a bow

00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:41.440
 because they did not

00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:42.540
 know the Lord.

00:17:43.060 --> 00:17:43.740
 And Jeremiah says,

00:17:43.860 --> 00:17:45.740
 every brother was a deceiver

00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:46.900
 and every neighbor

00:17:46.900 --> 00:17:48.340
 went about as a slanderer.

00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:49.660
 Everyone deceived

00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:50.080
 his neighbor

00:17:50.080 --> 00:17:51.540
 and no one spoke the truth.

00:17:51.820 --> 00:17:52.860
 They had taught their tongue

00:17:52.860 --> 00:17:53.960
 to speak lies,

00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:55.200
 heaping deceit

00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:56.360
 upon deceit.

00:17:56.540 --> 00:17:57.779
 That's the inevitable

00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:59.700
 consequence of not knowing God

00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:00.660
 and being held accountable

00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:01.940
 to him in our daily lives.

00:18:03.059 --> 00:18:04.519
 We will bend our tongues

00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.059
 like a bow

00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:06.220
 to conquer people

00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:07.400
 and control them.

00:18:07.620 --> 00:18:08.539
 That's the wisdom

00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:09.539
 of lying men.

00:18:10.120 --> 00:18:11.160
 And Jeremiah teaches us

00:18:11.160 --> 00:18:11.920
 that we should seek

00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.840
 the wisdom of God

00:18:12.840 --> 00:18:14.059
 rather than the wisdom

00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:14.420
 of man.

00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:19.039
 Then in chapter 9,

00:18:19.100 --> 00:18:19.559
 verse 12,

00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:20.400
 the theme of wisdom

00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:21.480
 comes up again.

00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:22.400
 It says,

00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:24.560
 Who is the man so wise

00:18:24.560 --> 00:18:26.440
 that he can understand this?

00:18:26.820 --> 00:18:27.840
 To whom has the mouth

00:18:27.840 --> 00:18:28.759
 of the Lord spoken

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:30.060
 that he may declare it?

00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:32.540
 The false prophets

00:18:32.540 --> 00:18:33.840
 and priests claim to be wise,

00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:35.160
 but those who are truly wise

00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:36.600
 are those to whom

00:18:36.600 --> 00:18:37.540
 the mouth of the Lord

00:18:37.540 --> 00:18:38.220
 has spoken.

00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:39.660
 But there's none

00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:40.300
 to be found

00:18:40.300 --> 00:18:42.400
 in Jeremiah's time.

00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:43.540
 Only wisdom

00:18:43.540 --> 00:18:44.580
 that people of Judah have

00:18:44.580 --> 00:18:45.160
 is the wisdom

00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:46.480
 of idolatrous men,

00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.519
 and that's the second point.

00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:49.000
 And verse 14,

00:18:49.080 --> 00:18:49.780
 it says that the people

00:18:49.780 --> 00:18:51.080
 have stubbornly followed

00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:51.939
 their own hearts

00:18:51.939 --> 00:18:52.720
 and have gone

00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:53.819
 after the Baals.

00:18:55.179 --> 00:18:56.539
 That's the idolatry

00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:57.539
 is the focus

00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:58.319
 of this next section.

00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:59.539
 And after pronouncing

00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:00.779
 his judgments once again,

00:19:00.919 --> 00:19:01.639
 God says this

00:19:01.639 --> 00:19:03.220
 in verses 17 to 19.

00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:05.559
 Consider and call

00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:06.500
 for the mourning woman

00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:06.980
 to come,

00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.799
 sent for the skillful woman

00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:09.299
 to come.

00:19:09.619 --> 00:19:10.679
 Let them make haste

00:19:10.679 --> 00:19:12.099
 and raise a wailing over us

00:19:12.099 --> 00:19:12.960
 that our eyes

00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:14.279
 may run down with tears

00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:14.980
 and our eyelids

00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:15.939
 flow with water.

00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:17.399
 For a sound of wailing

00:19:17.399 --> 00:19:18.399
 is heard from Zion.

00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.899
 How we are ruined.

00:19:20.199 --> 00:19:20.799
 We are utterly

00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:21.720
 shamed because

00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:22.779
 we have left the land

00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:23.319
 because they have

00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:25.539
 cast down our dwellings.

00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:27.059
 The impending judgment

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:27.940
 is so severe

00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:29.019
 that God calls

00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:30.299
 for the mourning woman.

00:19:30.639 --> 00:19:31.700
 That's a reference

00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:33.299
 to professional mourners

00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:34.279
 common in the Middle East

00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:34.779
 even today.

00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:36.119
 They are,

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:36.960
 you know,

00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:38.139
 they have this signature

00:19:38.139 --> 00:19:39.339
 high shriek,

00:19:39.379 --> 00:19:39.619
 you know,

00:19:39.659 --> 00:19:40.059
 mourning

00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:41.259
 that they use

00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:42.200
 to follow behind

00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:43.440
 the funeral beers.

00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:45.180
 And their point,

00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:46.059
 their really purpose

00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:46.859
 is they're hired

00:19:46.859 --> 00:19:47.819
 to stir the emotions

00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:48.379
 of people

00:19:48.379 --> 00:19:49.819
 so that people

00:19:49.819 --> 00:19:50.539
 can express

00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.099
 the sadness

00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:51.659
 appropriately

00:19:51.659 --> 00:19:52.099
 according to

00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:52.799
 what has happened.

00:19:53.419 --> 00:19:54.379
 And these mourning women

00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:55.059
 are interestingly

00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:55.919
 described as

00:19:55.919 --> 00:19:57.240
 the skillful women.

00:19:57.899 --> 00:19:58.419
 And the word

00:19:58.419 --> 00:19:59.419
 skillful

00:19:59.419 --> 00:20:00.679
 is the same word

00:20:00.679 --> 00:20:01.379
 that's translated

00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:02.339
 throughout these chapters

00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:03.159
 as wise.

00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:04.279
 It's the same word.

00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:05.700
 So it's ironic

00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:06.740
 that the priests

00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:07.439
 and prophets,

00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:08.039
 these men

00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:09.259
 that God has appointed

00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:09.980
 to lead,

00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:10.939
 they're all false

00:20:10.939 --> 00:20:11.700
 and they're lying

00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:12.519
 and they claim

00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:13.099
 to be wise

00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:14.119
 and they're not wise.

00:20:14.439 --> 00:20:14.859
 In fact,

00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:15.859
 the only ones

00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:16.539
 that are wise

00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:17.259
 in this nation

00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:18.859
 are these mourning women.

00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:19.940
 They're the only ones

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:20.819
 that know the truth

00:20:20.819 --> 00:20:22.079
 because they're mourning

00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:23.180
 and that's what

00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:23.759
 these people

00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:24.440
 should be doing

00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:25.420
 because God's judgment

00:20:25.420 --> 00:20:26.059
 is at hand.

00:20:27.859 --> 00:20:29.019
 And so God instructs

00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.680
 these women further

00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:30.339
 in verse 20,

00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:31.400
 Hear, O woman,

00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:32.379
 the word of the Lord

00:20:32.379 --> 00:20:33.460
 and let your ear

00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.359
 receive the word

00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:34.940
 of his mouth.

00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:36.240
 Teach to your daughters

00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:36.759
 a lament

00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:38.220
 and each to her neighbor

00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:39.000
 a dirge.

00:20:39.859 --> 00:20:40.000
 Right?

00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:42.619
 Those who are wise

00:20:42.619 --> 00:20:43.160
 are those to whom

00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:43.859
 the mouth of the Lord

00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:44.339
 has spoken

00:20:44.339 --> 00:20:47.299
 and God says to the woman

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:47.519
 here,

00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:48.639
 Let your ear receive

00:20:48.639 --> 00:20:50.359
 the word of his mouth

00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:51.139
 what Jeremiah says

00:20:51.139 --> 00:20:51.500
 to God

00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.579
 about God.

00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:54.299
 So those who have,

00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:55.459
 these are the women,

00:20:55.679 --> 00:20:56.299
 it's not those

00:20:56.299 --> 00:20:57.339
 who are married in Judah

00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:58.439
 who are wise,

00:20:58.639 --> 00:20:59.579
 who have heard from the Lord,

00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.240
 but it's those

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.359
 who are mourning in Judah

00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:02.539
 that are wise.

00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:03.819
 This is a helpful,

00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:05.199
 there's a helpful parallel

00:21:05.199 --> 00:21:06.559
 in Ecclesiastes

00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:07.740
 chapter 7 verse 4.

00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:08.059
 It says,

00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:09.619
 The heart of the wise

00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:11.099
 is in the house of mourning,

00:21:11.459 --> 00:21:12.519
 but the heart of fools

00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:14.199
 is in the house of mirth.

00:21:15.199 --> 00:21:16.679
 The fool lives

00:21:16.679 --> 00:21:18.099
 like he will never die

00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:19.159
 and make decisions

00:21:19.159 --> 00:21:20.199
 for the here and now

00:21:20.199 --> 00:21:22.899
 without thinking about death

00:21:22.899 --> 00:21:23.480
 and the afterlife.

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.799
 The fool is always merry

00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:27.500
 and enjoying life

00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:28.819
 without paying heed

00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:29.659
 to the brokenness

00:21:29.659 --> 00:21:30.379
 of this world

00:21:30.379 --> 00:21:31.500
 and the sorrows

00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:32.740
 and sufferings of humanity.

00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:35.159
 But the wise person

00:21:35.159 --> 00:21:35.879
 on the other hand

00:21:35.879 --> 00:21:37.039
 lives knowing

00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:38.879
 that he will one day die

00:21:38.879 --> 00:21:40.079
 and makes provisions

00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:41.639
 not only for the here and now

00:21:41.639 --> 00:21:43.179
 but also for his death

00:21:43.179 --> 00:21:43.959
 and afterlife.

00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:45.799
 The wise one

00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.879
 does not go from

00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:47.639
 entertainment

00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:48.539
 to entertainment,

00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:50.159
 diversion to diversion,

00:21:50.579 --> 00:21:51.759
 vacation to vacation,

00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:52.939
 trying to escape

00:21:52.939 --> 00:21:54.419
 the sad realities of life.

00:21:54.919 --> 00:21:55.939
 They pay attention

00:21:55.939 --> 00:21:56.859
 to the sorrows

00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:57.919
 and sufferings

00:21:57.919 --> 00:21:58.659
 of humanity

00:21:58.659 --> 00:21:59.599
 and work to heal

00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.279
 the brokenness

00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:00.839
 of this world.

00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:03.199
 Do you mourn

00:22:03.199 --> 00:22:03.819
 the sins

00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.779
 and sufferings

00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:06.079
 in your own lives

00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:06.619
 and the lives

00:22:06.619 --> 00:22:07.639
 of those around you?

00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:09.079
 Do you mourn

00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:09.699
 the judgment

00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:10.539
 that faces

00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:11.160
 humanity

00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:12.960
 because of their sins

00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.580
 against God?

00:22:14.860 --> 00:22:16.580
 There's no wisdom

00:22:16.580 --> 00:22:18.299
 apart from recognizing

00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:18.960
 these realities.

00:22:20.660 --> 00:22:21.660
 The repeated descriptions

00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:22.460
 of Judah's sins

00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:23.240
 and God's judgments

00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:23.640
 in Jeremiah

00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.660
 are here in Scripture

00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:26.319
 not to depress you

00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:28.039
 but to make you wise,

00:22:28.600 --> 00:22:29.600
 wise unto salvation.

00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:30.860
 It's an aspect

00:22:30.860 --> 00:22:31.860
 of the wisdom of God.

00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:34.399
 In verse 21,

00:22:34.719 --> 00:22:36.039
 God gives the reason

00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:36.759
 why these women

00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:37.599
 ought to mourn.

00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.059
 He says,

00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:40.659
 For death has come up

00:22:40.659 --> 00:22:41.559
 into our windows.

00:22:41.919 --> 00:22:42.699
 It has entered

00:22:42.699 --> 00:22:43.759
 our palaces,

00:22:44.139 --> 00:22:45.240
 cutting off the children

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:46.019
 from the streets

00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:47.000
 and the young men

00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:48.059
 from the squares.

00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:50.000
 This is an unusual

00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:51.440
 personification of death

00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.799
 and it may be

00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.339
 an allusion

00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.879
 to a Canaanite myth

00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:56.099
 that was known

00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:57.200
 to the people of Judah.

00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.279
 According to

00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:59.119
 Canaanite mythology,

00:22:59.379 --> 00:23:00.700
 Baal is kind of

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:01.440
 the supreme god

00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.379
 in their pantheon

00:23:02.379 --> 00:23:04.299
 and he defeated

00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:05.480
 the god of chaos

00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:06.539
 and the sea,

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:07.240
 Yam,

00:23:07.679 --> 00:23:08.960
 and after defeating Yam,

00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:10.240
 he became a king

00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:11.119
 and built for himself

00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:12.319
 this grand palace.

00:23:13.159 --> 00:23:13.919
 And as his architect

00:23:13.919 --> 00:23:15.000
 was building the palace,

00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:16.440
 the architect suggested to him,

00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:17.079
 You should put a window

00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:17.720
 in your palace.

00:23:18.619 --> 00:23:19.359
 And Baal says,

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:20.000
 No, I'm not going to

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:20.399
 put a window

00:23:20.399 --> 00:23:22.639
 in case these enemy gods

00:23:22.639 --> 00:23:23.319
 see through

00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:24.480
 and see what's inside.

00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.720
 But then later,

00:23:25.899 --> 00:23:27.099
 without any more prompting

00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:27.659
 from the architect,

00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:29.079
 he reverts back to it

00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:29.299
 and says,

00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:29.659
 Okay, yeah,

00:23:29.679 --> 00:23:30.299
 let's put a window.

00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:31.319
 That sounds like a good idea.

00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:32.519
 He puts a window

00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.299
 on the palace

00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:34.440
 and sure enough,

00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.059
 right afterward,

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:36.480
 the god of death,

00:23:36.659 --> 00:23:36.879
 Mot,

00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:39.019
 whose name in Hebrew,

00:23:39.159 --> 00:23:39.339
 Mot,

00:23:39.399 --> 00:23:40.480
 also is the Hebrew word

00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:40.960
 for death,

00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:42.779
 invades

00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:44.159
 and he kills Baal.

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:46.799
 And he's left for dead

00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:47.700
 in the fields.

00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:48.859
 And that's,

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:50.599
 this may be an allusion to that.

00:23:50.639 --> 00:23:51.839
 It's a satirical remark

00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.859
 on the story

00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:53.579
 because it says,

00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:55.000
 For death has come up

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:55.940
 into our windows.

00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:57.700
 It has entered our palaces,

00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:59.099
 cutting off the children

00:23:59.099 --> 00:23:59.740
 from the streets

00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.339
 and the young men

00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:01.200
 from the squares.

00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:02.180
 God's saying,

00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:02.559
 basically,

00:24:02.660 --> 00:24:03.840
 the Baal you worship

00:24:03.840 --> 00:24:05.920
 is powerless to save you.

00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:08.759
 Even in your own stories,

00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:09.940
 Baal can't save himself.

00:24:10.580 --> 00:24:11.720
 Death will come up

00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.440
 into your windows

00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:13.180
 and palaces.

00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:15.740
 And verse 22,

00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:17.099
 the dead bodies of men

00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:18.339
 shall fall like dung

00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:19.440
 upon the open field,

00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:21.079
 like sheaves after the reaper

00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:22.859
 and none shall gather them.

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:26.059
 The wisdom of idolatrous men

00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:27.359
 will prove unreliable.

00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:30.120
 Then after a brief statement

00:24:30.120 --> 00:24:31.839
 on the nature of true wisdom

00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:33.180
 in verses 23-26,

00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.480
 which I will return to later,

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:36.240
 God continues to denounce

00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:37.579
 the idolatry of his people

00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:38.339
 in chapter 10,

00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:39.500
 verses 1-16.

00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:41.599
 First, he mocks their idols

00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:42.720
 in verses 2-5.

00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.799
 Learn not the way

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.480
 of the nations,

00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.559
 nor be dismayed

00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:47.940
 at the signs of the heavens,

00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:48.980
 because the nations

00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:50.039
 are dismayed at them.

00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:51.140
 For the customs

00:24:51.140 --> 00:24:51.799
 of the peoples

00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:52.660
 are vanity.

00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:54.819
 A tree from the forest

00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:55.500
 is cut down

00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.500
 and worked with an axe

00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.119
 by the hands

00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:57.799
 of a craftsman.

00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:58.859
 They decorate it

00:24:58.859 --> 00:24:59.900
 with silver and gold.

00:25:00.099 --> 00:25:00.799
 They fasten it

00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:01.660
 with hammer and nails

00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:02.759
 so that it cannot move.

00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:04.099
 Their idols are like

00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:04.700
 scarecrows

00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.559
 in a cucumber field

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.640
 and they cannot speak.

00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:07.980
 They have to be carried

00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:09.220
 for they cannot walk.

00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:11.460
 Do not be afraid of them,

00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:13.140
 for they cannot do evil,

00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:14.579
 neither is it in them

00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:15.359
 to do good.

00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:17.980
 It's absurd to worship

00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:18.880
 an idol

00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:20.539
 that we have created

00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.539
 with our own hands.

00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:23.380
 An idol that can't do

00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:24.839
 anything for itself

00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:26.599
 that we have to carry around

00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:27.960
 and fasten up on the walls.

00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.720
 Even the birds

00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:31.819
 quickly figure out

00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.960
 that motionless scarecrows

00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:34.039
 can't do anything to them.

00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:35.859
 They're pretty ineffective.

00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:37.119
 The scarecrows just still

00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:37.819
 and doesn't do anything.

00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:40.639
 So why should we fear

00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:41.200
 these idols

00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:42.519
 that can do neither good

00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.700
 nor evil?

00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:46.000
 Then in verses 6-10,

00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:46.819
 Jeremiah contrasts

00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.079
 these idols

00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.159
 with the Lord God.

00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:50.099
 He says,

00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:51.959
 There is none like you,

00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:52.659
 O Lord.

00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:54.059
 You are great

00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:55.339
 and your name

00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:57.099
 is great in might.

00:25:57.899 --> 00:25:58.980
 Who would not fear you,

00:25:59.059 --> 00:25:59.779
 O king of the nations?

00:26:00.439 --> 00:26:01.579
 For this is your due.

00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:04.019
 For among all the wise ones

00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.679
 of the nations

00:26:04.679 --> 00:26:06.059
 and in all their kingdoms

00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:07.879
 there is none like you.

00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.819
 They are both stupid

00:26:09.819 --> 00:26:11.159
 and foolish.

00:26:11.959 --> 00:26:13.240
 The instruction of idols

00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:14.019
 is but wood.

00:26:14.639 --> 00:26:15.419
 Beaten silver

00:26:15.419 --> 00:26:16.679
 is brought from Tarshish

00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:18.120
 and gold from Uphaz.

00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:19.580
 They are the works

00:26:19.580 --> 00:26:20.380
 of the craftsmen

00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:20.940
 and the hands

00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:21.740
 of the goldsmith.

00:26:22.100 --> 00:26:22.700
 Their clothing

00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:23.920
 is violet and purple.

00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:25.120
 They are all the work

00:26:25.120 --> 00:26:26.240
 of skilled men.

00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.420
 But the Lord

00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.539
 is the true God.

00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:30.299
 He is the living God

00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:32.400
 and the everlasting king.

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.759
 At his wrath

00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.720
 the earth shakes

00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.600
 and the nations

00:26:35.600 --> 00:26:36.860
 cannot endure

00:26:36.860 --> 00:26:38.400
 his indignation.

00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:39.620
 He continues

00:26:39.620 --> 00:26:40.900
 in verses 11-12,

00:26:41.060 --> 00:26:42.160
 The gods who did not

00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:42.860
 make the heavens

00:26:42.860 --> 00:26:43.400
 and the earth

00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:44.799
 shall perish from the earth

00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.819
 and from under the heavens.

00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:47.019
 It is he who made

00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:48.180
 the earth by his power

00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:49.519
 who established the world

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.460
 by his wisdom

00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:52.419
 and by his understanding

00:26:52.419 --> 00:26:53.700
 stretched out the heavens.

00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:55.099
 Once again,

00:26:55.139 --> 00:26:55.839
 I hope you're catching

00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:57.019
 following the theme

00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:57.480
 of wisdom

00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:58.659
 continuing in this passage.

00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:00.159
 The people who

00:27:00.159 --> 00:27:01.940
 lead the worship of idols

00:27:01.940 --> 00:27:02.579
 are called

00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:03.339
 the wise ones

00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:03.940
 of the nations.

00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:05.119
 And these idols

00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:05.680
 are described

00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.480
 as the work

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.539
 of skilled men.

00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:08.139
 Once again,

00:27:08.339 --> 00:27:08.839
 same word,

00:27:08.899 --> 00:27:09.759
 the wise men.

00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:10.899
 But no matter

00:27:10.899 --> 00:27:11.839
 how creative

00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:12.879
 and beautiful

00:27:12.879 --> 00:27:13.839
 their craftsmanship,

00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:15.099
 the products

00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:15.720
 they produce

00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:16.740
 are just wood,

00:27:17.139 --> 00:27:17.439
 silver,

00:27:17.619 --> 00:27:18.079
 and gold,

00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:19.279
 inanimate objects.

00:27:19.639 --> 00:27:20.439
 So Jeremiah says

00:27:20.439 --> 00:27:21.179
 that these idols

00:27:21.179 --> 00:27:22.199
 that they worship

00:27:22.199 --> 00:27:24.279
 and the people

00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:25.059
 who worship them

00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:25.819
 are both stupid

00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:26.980
 and foolish.

00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:29.079
 The idols are false,

00:27:29.639 --> 00:27:30.240
 they are dead,

00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:31.759
 and they are temporary.

00:27:32.419 --> 00:27:33.240
 But Jeremiah says

00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:35.159
 the Lord is the true God,

00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.639
 the living God,

00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:38.879
 and the everlasting King,

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:40.159
 and it's he alone

00:27:40.159 --> 00:27:41.439
 who established the earth,

00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:42.619
 established the world

00:27:42.619 --> 00:27:43.459
 by his wisdom.

00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:45.879
 There's no wisdom

00:27:45.879 --> 00:27:46.519
 to be found

00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.299
 in the idolatries

00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:47.899
 of the nation,

00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:49.019
 so don't be dismayed

00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:49.279
 by them,

00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:49.759
 God is saying.

00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.699
 Only the Lord

00:27:50.699 --> 00:27:51.239
 is the source

00:27:51.239 --> 00:27:51.979
 of true wisdom.

00:27:52.419 --> 00:27:52.879
 The power,

00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:53.259
 wisdom,

00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:53.939
 and understanding

00:27:53.939 --> 00:27:54.399
 of the Lord

00:27:54.399 --> 00:27:56.000
 stands in stark contrast

00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:57.179
 to the powerlessness

00:27:57.179 --> 00:27:58.519
 and the foolishness

00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:59.079
 and ignorance

00:27:59.079 --> 00:27:59.879
 of the idols.

00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:03.039
 It's really easy

00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:03.679
 for us

00:28:03.679 --> 00:28:04.679
 at this point

00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:09.340
 to kind of brush

00:28:09.340 --> 00:28:09.980
 this aside

00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:11.920
 and as irrelevant,

00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:12.340
 you know,

00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:13.860
 these relics

00:28:13.860 --> 00:28:15.200
 of the primitive past

00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:16.759
 because we don't worship

00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:17.600
 idols nowadays,

00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:18.680
 in our days,

00:28:18.840 --> 00:28:19.820
 and we could think

00:28:19.820 --> 00:28:20.400
 that these people

00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.240
 really were foolish,

00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:22.720
 but in his book,

00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:25.740
 Counterfeit Gods,

00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:27.820
 Pastor Tim Keller

00:28:27.820 --> 00:28:29.140
 helpfully defines idols

00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:29.700
 in this way.

00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:30.100
 He says,

00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:49.259
 Is there something

00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:50.879
 in your life

00:28:50.879 --> 00:28:51.899
 that is more important

00:28:51.899 --> 00:28:52.659
 to you than God?

00:28:54.199 --> 00:28:55.299
 And I'm not talking

00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:56.279
 just theoretically here,

00:28:56.359 --> 00:28:57.259
 but functionally,

00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.519
 because of course,

00:28:58.619 --> 00:28:59.519
 most of us as Christians,

00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:00.139
 we would say,

00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:01.279
 God is the most important

00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:02.039
 person in my life.

00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:03.220
 He is the most important

00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:04.000
 thing in my life.

00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:05.400
 But really,

00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:06.299
 functionally,

00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:07.819
 experientially,

00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:09.079
 is He the most important

00:29:09.079 --> 00:29:09.839
 thing in your life?

00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:11.879
 Do your life's purposes

00:29:11.879 --> 00:29:12.859
 and priorities

00:29:12.859 --> 00:29:15.460
 have God at the center?

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:17.619
 Or is something else

00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:18.660
 occupying that center?

00:29:19.879 --> 00:29:20.639
 Is there anything

00:29:20.639 --> 00:29:21.059
 in your life

00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:21.720
 besides God?

00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:22.680
 Should you lose it

00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:23.240
 today,

00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:25.119
 it would make you

00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:25.680
 devastated,

00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:27.059
 make your life

00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:27.960
 not worth living.

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:31.420
 Return with me

00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:32.279
 to chapter 9,

00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:33.720
 verses 23 to 24.

00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.900
 Thus says the Lord,

00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:37.819
 Let not the wise man

00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:39.039
 boast in his wisdom,

00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:40.960
 let not the mighty man

00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:41.920
 boast in his might,

00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:43.400
 let not the rich man

00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:44.579
 boast in his riches,

00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:46.039
 but let him who boasts

00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:47.180
 boast in this,

00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:48.639
 that he understands

00:29:48.639 --> 00:29:49.779
 and knows me,

00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:51.740
 that I am the Lord

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.660
 who practices

00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:53.740
 steadfast love,

00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:54.460
 justice,

00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:55.660
 and righteousness

00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:56.460
 in the earth.

00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:58.079
 For in these things

00:29:58.079 --> 00:29:59.000
 I delight,

00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:00.519
 declares the Lord.

00:30:01.620 --> 00:30:03.860
 The things that we boast in

00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:04.860
 other than God

00:30:04.860 --> 00:30:06.380
 all,

00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:08.120
 in some sense,

00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:09.240
 become our idols.

00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:11.279
 And so interesting,

00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:11.480
 right,

00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.539
 in our high school days,

00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:12.819
 right,

00:30:12.880 --> 00:30:14.500
 we had nerds,

00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:15.160
 the jocks,

00:30:15.380 --> 00:30:16.440
 and the preps,

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:16.960
 right?

00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:18.799
 And apparently

00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.759
 when you become adults,

00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:20.960
 things don't change

00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:21.480
 very much

00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:22.480
 because here we say

00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:23.259
 the wise man

00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:24.140
 boasts in his wisdom,

00:30:24.360 --> 00:30:25.220
 the mighty man

00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:26.000
 boasts in his might,

00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:26.819
 the rich man

00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:27.680
 boasts in his riches,

00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.579
 the intellectuals

00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:29.100
 and academics,

00:30:29.620 --> 00:30:30.200
 the athletes,

00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:31.500
 the rich and the famous,

00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.640
 in so many ways,

00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:33.319
 these are still

00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:34.779
 the very same things

00:30:34.779 --> 00:30:35.819
 that people nowadays

00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.660
 aspire to

00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.700
 and idolize.

00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.440
 And there's so many

00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:41.539
 variations and degrees

00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:42.259
 of these idols.

00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:44.539
 Do you feel that life

00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.640
 is only worth living

00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:46.779
 if you have a certain

00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.860
 quality of life

00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:48.740
 and a set of pleasures

00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.500
 at your disposal?

00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:52.900
 That's the idolatry

00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:54.259
 of comfort and pleasure.

00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:56.519
 Do you feel that

00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:57.740
 life is only worth living

00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:59.600
 if I am loved

00:30:59.600 --> 00:31:00.839
 and respected

00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:01.940
 by so and so?

00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:05.600
 That's the idolatry

00:31:05.600 --> 00:31:06.460
 of man's work.

00:31:07.579 --> 00:31:08.680
 Do you feel that

00:31:08.680 --> 00:31:09.860
 life is only worth living

00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:11.319
 if I am highly efficient

00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:12.460
 and productive

00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:13.259
 in what I do?

00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:15.839
 That's the idolatry

00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.360
 of work.

00:31:17.620 --> 00:31:18.500
 Do you feel that

00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:19.779
 life is only worth living

00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:20.900
 if I am successful

00:31:20.900 --> 00:31:21.519
 and accomplished?

00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:24.140
 That's the idolatry

00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:24.740
 of achievement.

00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:26.660
 Do you feel that

00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:27.660
 life is only worth living

00:31:27.660 --> 00:31:28.480
 if I am wealthy

00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:30.160
 and own these nice things?

00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.380
 That's the idolatry

00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:32.660
 of money and materialism.

00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:33.680
 Do you feel that

00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:34.640
 life is only worth living

00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:36.079
 if your political cause

00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:37.620
 or your social cause

00:31:37.620 --> 00:31:39.160
 is making progress

00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:40.740
 and growing in power

00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.259
 and influence?

00:31:43.319 --> 00:31:44.460
 That's the idolatry

00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.819
 of ideology.

00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:48.140
 Do you feel that

00:31:48.140 --> 00:31:49.480
 life is only worth living

00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:50.640
 if you are loved

00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:51.779
 by the right person

00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:53.299
 or marry the right person?

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:56.380
 That's the idolatry

00:31:56.380 --> 00:31:57.039
 of relationship.

00:31:59.640 --> 00:32:01.440
 And how are these idols

00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:02.319
 any different

00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:04.319
 from the handmade idols

00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:04.720
 of Judah?

00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:08.500
 These idols cannot save us.

00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:09.920
 These idols cannot

00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:11.000
 satisfy us.

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:12.339
 They are false,

00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:13.519
 lifeless,

00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:14.779
 and fleeting.

00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:16.380
 But the Lord

00:32:16.380 --> 00:32:17.600
 is the true God.

00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:19.259
 He's the living God

00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:20.680
 and the everlasting

00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:22.019
 King.

00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:24.819
 True wisdom

00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:25.600
 is not found

00:32:25.600 --> 00:32:26.420
 in the idolatries

00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:26.860
 of men

00:32:26.860 --> 00:32:27.880
 but in God.

00:32:27.880 --> 00:32:29.160
 And that's why

00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:30.020
 Jeremiah tells us

00:32:30.020 --> 00:32:30.660
 that we should seek

00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:31.580
 the wisdom of God

00:32:31.580 --> 00:32:32.420
 rather than

00:32:32.420 --> 00:32:33.300
 the wisdom of men.

00:32:34.560 --> 00:32:35.480
 So at this point

00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:36.200
 if you're convinced

00:32:36.200 --> 00:32:36.920
 for the need

00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:38.020
 for God's wisdom

00:32:38.020 --> 00:32:39.480
 it raises the question

00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:41.540
 how do we find it?

00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:43.180
 That brings us

00:32:43.180 --> 00:32:43.860
 to the final point

00:32:43.860 --> 00:32:44.300
 of the sermon.

00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:46.180
 Wisdom of the true God.

00:32:46.860 --> 00:32:48.060
 In order to access

00:32:48.060 --> 00:32:49.200
 the wisdom of God

00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:50.560
 we must get to know God

00:32:50.560 --> 00:32:51.060
 as it's said

00:32:51.060 --> 00:32:52.440
 in 23 and 24

00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:53.860
 of chapter 9.

00:32:54.700 --> 00:32:55.360
 But what does it mean

00:32:55.360 --> 00:32:55.980
 to know God?

00:32:56.140 --> 00:32:57.420
 It's not

00:32:57.420 --> 00:33:00.039
 it's not necessarily

00:33:00.039 --> 00:33:00.980
 knowing about God

00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:02.300
 because Israel also had that.

00:33:02.420 --> 00:33:03.400
 Judah also had that.

00:33:03.640 --> 00:33:04.380
 But then look at

00:33:04.380 --> 00:33:06.140
 verse 23 of chapter 10

00:33:06.140 --> 00:33:06.560
 with me.

00:33:08.420 --> 00:33:09.640
 I know, O Lord

00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:11.120
 that the way of man

00:33:11.120 --> 00:33:11.980
 is not in himself

00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:13.340
 that it is not in man

00:33:13.340 --> 00:33:14.860
 who walks to direct his steps.

00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:16.360
 Correct me, O Lord

00:33:16.360 --> 00:33:17.320
 but in justice

00:33:17.320 --> 00:33:18.320
 not in your anger

00:33:18.320 --> 00:33:19.500
 lest you bring me

00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:20.120
 to nothing.

00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:21.720
 Pour out your wrath

00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:22.519
 on the nations

00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:23.560
 that know you not

00:33:23.560 --> 00:33:24.640
 and on the peoples

00:33:24.640 --> 00:33:26.039
 that call not on your name

00:33:26.039 --> 00:33:27.360
 for they have devoured

00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:27.759
 Jacob.

00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:29.079
 They have devoured him

00:33:29.079 --> 00:33:30.039
 and consumed him

00:33:30.039 --> 00:33:31.219
 and have laid waste

00:33:31.219 --> 00:33:32.519
 his habitation.

00:33:32.959 --> 00:33:33.519
 So here

00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:34.919
 at the end of chapter 10

00:33:34.919 --> 00:33:36.339
 Jeremiah is acknowledging

00:33:36.339 --> 00:33:37.559
 that man is not the master

00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:38.199
 of his own fate

00:33:38.199 --> 00:33:39.000
 but God is

00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:40.479
 and he affirms the hope

00:33:40.479 --> 00:33:41.159
 that though God

00:33:41.159 --> 00:33:42.459
 is disciplining his people

00:33:42.459 --> 00:33:43.039
 right now

00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:43.819
 through the judgment

00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:45.279
 of the invading nations

00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:45.879
 foreign nations

00:33:45.879 --> 00:33:47.039
 that there will come a day

00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:47.919
 when God will rescue

00:33:47.919 --> 00:33:48.559
 his people

00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:50.879
 and judge these nations

00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:52.179
 who know him not.

00:33:52.979 --> 00:33:54.519
 And it was a commonly held view

00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:55.440
 among God's people

00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:55.900
 in Judah

00:33:55.900 --> 00:33:57.660
 that it was the nations

00:33:57.660 --> 00:33:58.440
 not they

00:33:58.440 --> 00:33:59.680
 who truly deserve

00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:00.359
 God's judgment.

00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:02.279
 In fact the word nations

00:34:02.279 --> 00:34:03.379
 itself was kind of

00:34:03.379 --> 00:34:04.379
 it became a way

00:34:04.379 --> 00:34:05.400
 when God's people

00:34:05.400 --> 00:34:06.660
 distinguished themselves

00:34:06.660 --> 00:34:07.740
 and distanced themselves

00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:09.199
 from the rest of the nations.

00:34:09.719 --> 00:34:10.780
 They are the nations.

00:34:11.539 --> 00:34:12.440
 We are Israel.

00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:14.099
 We are Judah.

00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:16.539
 We are God's special possession.

00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:20.119
 But there's a problem.

00:34:21.199 --> 00:34:22.259
 It's true that the nations

00:34:22.259 --> 00:34:23.119
 did not know God

00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:24.880
 but it's also true

00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:26.340
 that Judah did not know God.

00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:29.279
 In chapter 8 verse 7

00:34:29.279 --> 00:34:30.039
 God declared

00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:31.659
 my people know not

00:34:31.659 --> 00:34:33.000
 the rules of the Lord.

00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:34.519
 And then in chapter 9

00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:36.279
 verse 3 and verse 6

00:34:36.279 --> 00:34:37.840
 God lamented that his people

00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:40.139
 refused to know him.

00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:42.380
 This is the heart of the problem.

00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:43.400
 As I've mentioned

00:34:43.400 --> 00:34:44.159
 throughout our series

00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:44.639
 in Jeremiah

00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:46.119
 knowing here

00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:47.059
 knowing God here

00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:48.019
 is not merely referring

00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:49.480
 to intellectual knowledge

00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:52.019
 but to a personal knowledge

00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:53.239
 to relational knowledge

00:34:53.239 --> 00:34:54.799
 to covenantal knowledge

00:34:54.799 --> 00:34:56.259
 because people of Judah

00:34:56.259 --> 00:34:57.139
 knew a lot of things

00:34:57.139 --> 00:34:57.799
 about God

00:34:57.799 --> 00:34:59.079
 but they were disloyal to him.

00:34:59.679 --> 00:35:01.279
 They were unfaithful to him

00:35:01.279 --> 00:35:02.159
 and in that sense

00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:03.799
 they did not know him.

00:35:04.759 --> 00:35:06.179
 That's why in chapter 9

00:35:06.179 --> 00:35:07.519
 verses 25 to 26

00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:08.420
 follow along with me.

00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:10.319
 Chapter 9 verses 25 to 26

00:35:10.319 --> 00:35:11.559
 God says this

00:35:11.559 --> 00:35:13.420
 The days are coming

00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:14.460
 when I will punish

00:35:14.460 --> 00:35:15.139
 all those

00:35:15.139 --> 00:35:16.199
 who are circumcised

00:35:16.199 --> 00:35:17.500
 merely in the flesh

00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:19.359
 Egypt, Judah, Edom

00:35:19.359 --> 00:35:20.480
 the sons of Ammon

00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:21.159
 Moab

00:35:21.159 --> 00:35:22.299
 and all who dwell

00:35:22.299 --> 00:35:22.960
 in the desert

00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:24.039
 who cut the corners

00:35:24.039 --> 00:35:24.679
 of their hair

00:35:24.679 --> 00:35:26.319
 for all these nations

00:35:26.319 --> 00:35:27.480
 are uncircumcised

00:35:27.480 --> 00:35:29.099
 and all the house

00:35:29.099 --> 00:35:29.639
 of Israel

00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:31.279
 are uncircumcised

00:35:31.279 --> 00:35:32.179
 in heart.

00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:34.039
 This is a remarkable statement

00:35:34.039 --> 00:35:34.699
 because God

00:35:34.699 --> 00:35:36.420
 is including Judah

00:35:36.420 --> 00:35:39.900
 God's including Israel

00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:41.440
 among the list

00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:42.039
 of these

00:35:42.039 --> 00:35:43.440
 uncircumcised nations.

00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:45.639
 And the reason for this

00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:46.599
 is that though they are

00:35:46.599 --> 00:35:47.460
 circumcised

00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:48.960
 in their flesh

00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:50.200
 that's inadequate

00:35:50.200 --> 00:35:51.039
 that's external

00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:51.900
 that's ritual

00:35:51.900 --> 00:35:53.360
 they are not conforming

00:35:53.360 --> 00:35:54.220
 to God in obedience

00:35:54.220 --> 00:35:55.000
 therefore they are not

00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:56.500
 circumcised in heart

00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:57.400
 which is what they

00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:58.179
 truly needed.

00:35:58.900 --> 00:36:00.079
 So in order to know God

00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:01.440
 you must know him

00:36:01.440 --> 00:36:02.380
 you must be circumcised

00:36:02.380 --> 00:36:02.800
 in heart

00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:03.780
 you must know him

00:36:03.780 --> 00:36:04.840
 in the way he revealed

00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:05.800
 himself to us

00:36:05.800 --> 00:36:07.240
 and that is this

00:36:07.240 --> 00:36:08.559
 in chapter 9 verse 24

00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:09.079
 God says

00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:10.000
 I am the Lord

00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:11.000
 who practices

00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:12.259
 steadfast love

00:36:12.259 --> 00:36:13.079
 justice

00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:14.360
 and righteousness

00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:15.679
 in the earth.

00:36:16.579 --> 00:36:17.840
 These are some of the

00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:19.219
 most central aspects

00:36:19.219 --> 00:36:20.039
 of God's character.

00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:22.599
 God practices

00:36:22.599 --> 00:36:23.639
 steadfast love

00:36:23.639 --> 00:36:24.199
 toward us.

00:36:25.159 --> 00:36:25.880
 God is loyal

00:36:25.880 --> 00:36:26.820
 to his people

00:36:26.820 --> 00:36:28.239
 even though we are

00:36:28.239 --> 00:36:29.440
 fickle and disloyal.

00:36:29.900 --> 00:36:30.739
 He practices

00:36:30.739 --> 00:36:32.019
 steadfast love

00:36:32.019 --> 00:36:32.599
 rather than

00:36:32.599 --> 00:36:33.659
 a love that changes

00:36:33.659 --> 00:36:35.320
 with every circumstance.

00:36:35.320 --> 00:36:37.140
 steadfast love

00:36:37.140 --> 00:36:37.440
 here

00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:38.539
 or elsewhere

00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:38.980
 translated

00:36:38.980 --> 00:36:39.980
 as loving kindness

00:36:39.980 --> 00:36:41.559
 this conveys the idea

00:36:41.559 --> 00:36:43.019
 of being magnanimous

00:36:43.019 --> 00:36:44.080
 and gracious

00:36:44.080 --> 00:36:44.840
 to someone

00:36:44.840 --> 00:36:46.280
 even when such love

00:36:46.280 --> 00:36:47.760
 is not deserved

00:36:47.760 --> 00:36:48.900
 or expected.

00:36:50.500 --> 00:36:51.760
 That's the idea

00:36:51.760 --> 00:36:52.900
 that's the word

00:36:52.900 --> 00:36:53.380
 Hebrew word

00:36:53.380 --> 00:36:53.900
 that's behind

00:36:53.900 --> 00:36:54.980
 the New Testament words

00:36:54.980 --> 00:36:55.720
 like grace

00:36:55.720 --> 00:36:56.840
 and mercy.

00:36:57.340 --> 00:36:57.920
 God is full of

00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:58.720
 steadfast love

00:36:58.720 --> 00:36:59.360
 toward us.

00:37:00.539 --> 00:37:01.160
 But God does not

00:37:01.160 --> 00:37:01.840
 merely practice

00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:02.519
 steadfast love

00:37:02.519 --> 00:37:03.420
 he also practices

00:37:03.420 --> 00:37:04.220
 justice.

00:37:04.219 --> 00:37:05.519
 The word justice

00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:06.639
 refers to God's

00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:07.379
 impartial

00:37:07.379 --> 00:37:08.819
 and perfect judgment.

00:37:09.819 --> 00:37:10.819
 God condemns

00:37:10.819 --> 00:37:11.819
 evildoers

00:37:11.819 --> 00:37:13.019
 and he acquits

00:37:13.019 --> 00:37:13.859
 the innocent.

00:37:14.539 --> 00:37:15.839
 He cannot be bribed

00:37:15.839 --> 00:37:16.819
 he cannot be

00:37:16.819 --> 00:37:17.980
 misled or fooled

00:37:17.980 --> 00:37:19.759
 he knows all things

00:37:19.759 --> 00:37:21.099
 and sees all things

00:37:21.099 --> 00:37:21.699
 and therefore

00:37:21.699 --> 00:37:22.559
 is uniquely

00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:23.739
 qualified to judge.

00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:25.739
 Judgment can only

00:37:25.739 --> 00:37:26.519
 be rendered by those

00:37:26.519 --> 00:37:27.259
 who have the proper

00:37:27.259 --> 00:37:28.399
 authority to do so

00:37:28.399 --> 00:37:29.459
 and God is that

00:37:29.459 --> 00:37:30.219
 ultimate authority

00:37:30.219 --> 00:37:31.179
 over all of creation.

00:37:31.359 --> 00:37:31.939
 He alone

00:37:31.939 --> 00:37:32.739
 practices

00:37:32.739 --> 00:37:33.679
 justice.

00:37:34.219 --> 00:37:36.459
 And lastly

00:37:36.459 --> 00:37:37.199
 God practices

00:37:37.199 --> 00:37:37.879
 righteousness.

00:37:38.879 --> 00:37:39.839
 This word is

00:37:39.839 --> 00:37:40.579
 related to the word

00:37:40.579 --> 00:37:41.039
 justice

00:37:41.039 --> 00:37:41.980
 and it's sometimes

00:37:41.980 --> 00:37:43.139
 translated that way

00:37:43.139 --> 00:37:44.459
 and righteousness

00:37:44.459 --> 00:37:45.839
 points to the reality

00:37:45.839 --> 00:37:46.659
 that God

00:37:46.659 --> 00:37:47.279
 defines

00:37:47.279 --> 00:37:48.059
 what is right.

00:37:48.799 --> 00:37:50.000
 God defines

00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:51.019
 what is just

00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:52.339
 and human beings

00:37:52.339 --> 00:37:53.239
 whom we call

00:37:53.239 --> 00:37:53.719
 righteous

00:37:53.719 --> 00:37:54.599
 or just

00:37:54.599 --> 00:37:55.439
 are those

00:37:55.439 --> 00:37:56.039
 that simply

00:37:56.039 --> 00:37:56.779
 uphold

00:37:56.779 --> 00:37:57.599
 God's

00:37:57.599 --> 00:37:58.439
 just standard.

00:37:59.399 --> 00:38:00.239
 It's only those

00:38:00.239 --> 00:38:00.819
 who are committed

00:38:00.819 --> 00:38:01.819
 to righteousness

00:38:01.819 --> 00:38:03.239
 that can execute

00:38:03.239 --> 00:38:04.059
 justice

00:38:04.059 --> 00:38:04.739
 and that's what

00:38:04.739 --> 00:38:05.459
 God does.

00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:07.779
 This is

00:38:07.779 --> 00:38:08.539
 who God

00:38:08.539 --> 00:38:09.219
 revealed himself

00:38:09.219 --> 00:38:10.099
 to us to be.

00:38:11.019 --> 00:38:12.099
 So if we know

00:38:12.099 --> 00:38:13.319
 these things about him

00:38:13.319 --> 00:38:14.000
 and get to know him

00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:14.379
 in this way

00:38:14.379 --> 00:38:15.000
 is that enough?

00:38:16.279 --> 00:38:17.539
 It's still not enough.

00:38:20.939 --> 00:38:21.979
 It's great to know

00:38:21.979 --> 00:38:22.319
 these

00:38:22.319 --> 00:38:23.719
 characteristics

00:38:23.719 --> 00:38:24.299
 of God.

00:38:25.299 --> 00:38:25.979
 Knowing and believing

00:38:25.979 --> 00:38:26.539
 these things

00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:27.579
 will make us

00:38:27.579 --> 00:38:28.599
 a good Jew

00:38:28.599 --> 00:38:30.900
 but it will not

00:38:30.900 --> 00:38:31.239
 make us

00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:31.920
 a good Christian.

00:38:34.299 --> 00:38:35.219
 These attributes

00:38:35.219 --> 00:38:35.639
 of God

00:38:35.639 --> 00:38:36.299
 are ultimately

00:38:36.299 --> 00:38:36.799
 revealed

00:38:36.799 --> 00:38:37.940
 and embodied

00:38:37.940 --> 00:38:39.179
 and fulfilled

00:38:39.179 --> 00:38:40.179
 in the coming

00:38:40.179 --> 00:38:41.279
 of God's Son

00:38:41.279 --> 00:38:42.360
 Jesus Christ.

00:38:43.339 --> 00:38:43.839
 And Paul

00:38:43.839 --> 00:38:44.679
 quotes

00:38:44.679 --> 00:38:45.880
 Jeremiah 9

00:38:45.880 --> 00:38:46.900
 23 to 24

00:38:46.900 --> 00:38:47.880
 and writes this

00:38:47.880 --> 00:38:49.500
 in 1 Corinthians

00:38:49.500 --> 00:38:50.880
 18 to 31.

00:38:51.739 --> 00:38:52.259
 Follow along

00:38:52.259 --> 00:38:52.639
 with me.

00:38:52.739 --> 00:38:53.480
 It's going to extend

00:38:53.480 --> 00:38:54.319
 the passage that I read.

00:38:54.739 --> 00:38:55.279
 For the word

00:38:55.279 --> 00:38:55.920
 of the cross

00:38:55.920 --> 00:38:56.500
 is folly

00:38:56.500 --> 00:38:56.880
 to those

00:38:56.880 --> 00:38:57.559
 who are perishing

00:38:57.559 --> 00:38:58.599
 but to us

00:38:58.599 --> 00:38:59.639
 who are being saved

00:38:59.639 --> 00:39:00.519
 it is the power

00:39:00.519 --> 00:39:01.019
 of God.

00:39:01.579 --> 00:39:02.260
 For it is written

00:39:02.260 --> 00:39:03.380
 I will destroy

00:39:03.380 --> 00:39:04.260
 the wisdom

00:39:04.260 --> 00:39:05.159
 of the wise

00:39:05.159 --> 00:39:06.300
 and the discernment

00:39:06.300 --> 00:39:07.119
 of the discerning

00:39:07.119 --> 00:39:08.360
 I will thwart.

00:39:09.220 --> 00:39:10.380
 Where is the one

00:39:10.380 --> 00:39:11.220
 who is wise?

00:39:11.579 --> 00:39:12.920
 Where is the scribe?

00:39:13.240 --> 00:39:14.200
 Where is the debater

00:39:14.200 --> 00:39:14.940
 of this age?

00:39:15.220 --> 00:39:15.900
 Has not God

00:39:15.900 --> 00:39:16.680
 made foolish

00:39:16.680 --> 00:39:17.280
 the wisdom

00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:17.940
 of the world?

00:39:18.260 --> 00:39:18.840
 For since

00:39:18.840 --> 00:39:19.360
 in the wisdom

00:39:19.360 --> 00:39:19.800
 of God

00:39:19.800 --> 00:39:20.240
 the world

00:39:20.240 --> 00:39:20.960
 did not know

00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:21.980
 God through wisdom

00:39:21.980 --> 00:39:23.099
 it pleased God

00:39:23.099 --> 00:39:23.900
 through the folly

00:39:23.900 --> 00:39:24.840
 of what we preached

00:39:24.840 --> 00:39:25.980
 to save those

00:39:25.980 --> 00:39:26.820
 who believe.

00:39:27.860 --> 00:39:28.480
 For Jews

00:39:28.480 --> 00:39:29.480
 demand signs

00:39:29.480 --> 00:39:30.079
 and Greeks

00:39:30.079 --> 00:39:31.360
 seek wisdom

00:39:31.360 --> 00:39:32.400
 but we preach

00:39:32.400 --> 00:39:33.620
 Christ crucified

00:39:33.620 --> 00:39:34.900
 a stumbling block

00:39:34.900 --> 00:39:35.440
 to Jews

00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:36.180
 and folly

00:39:36.180 --> 00:39:37.000
 to Gentiles

00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:37.880
 but to those

00:39:37.880 --> 00:39:38.680
 who are called

00:39:38.680 --> 00:39:39.579
 both Jews

00:39:39.579 --> 00:39:40.519
 and Greeks

00:39:40.519 --> 00:39:41.740
 Christ the power

00:39:41.740 --> 00:39:42.220
 of God

00:39:42.220 --> 00:39:43.660
 and the wisdom

00:39:43.660 --> 00:39:44.160
 of God.

00:39:45.160 --> 00:39:46.160
 For the foolishness

00:39:46.160 --> 00:39:46.600
 of God

00:39:46.600 --> 00:39:47.300
 is wiser

00:39:47.300 --> 00:39:47.820
 than men

00:39:47.820 --> 00:39:48.840
 and the weakness

00:39:48.840 --> 00:39:49.400
 of God

00:39:49.400 --> 00:39:50.079
 is stronger

00:39:50.079 --> 00:39:50.600
 than men

00:39:50.600 --> 00:39:51.519
 for consider

00:39:51.519 --> 00:39:52.120
 your calling

00:39:52.120 --> 00:39:52.500
 brothers

00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:53.980
 not many

00:39:53.980 --> 00:39:54.260
 of you

00:39:54.260 --> 00:39:54.780
 are wise

00:39:54.780 --> 00:39:55.440
 according to

00:39:55.440 --> 00:39:56.300
 worldly standards

00:39:56.300 --> 00:39:57.320
 not many

00:39:57.320 --> 00:39:58.139
 were powerful

00:39:58.139 --> 00:39:59.440
 not many

00:39:59.440 --> 00:40:00.480
 were of noble

00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:00.980
 birth

00:40:00.980 --> 00:40:02.340
 but God

00:40:02.340 --> 00:40:02.920
 chose

00:40:02.920 --> 00:40:03.820
 what is foolish

00:40:03.820 --> 00:40:04.519
 in the world

00:40:04.519 --> 00:40:05.079
 to shame

00:40:05.079 --> 00:40:05.619
 the wise

00:40:05.619 --> 00:40:06.679
 God chose

00:40:06.679 --> 00:40:07.480
 what is weak

00:40:07.480 --> 00:40:08.019
 in the world

00:40:08.019 --> 00:40:08.659
 to shame

00:40:08.659 --> 00:40:09.380
 the strong

00:40:09.380 --> 00:40:10.619
 God chose

00:40:10.619 --> 00:40:11.719
 what is low

00:40:11.719 --> 00:40:12.800
 and despised

00:40:12.800 --> 00:40:13.300
 in the world

00:40:13.300 --> 00:40:14.300
 even things

00:40:14.300 --> 00:40:14.940
 that are not

00:40:14.940 --> 00:40:16.260
 to bring to nothing

00:40:16.260 --> 00:40:17.179
 things that are

00:40:17.179 --> 00:40:18.480
 so that

00:40:18.480 --> 00:40:20.319
 no human

00:40:20.319 --> 00:40:20.579
 being

00:40:20.579 --> 00:40:22.059
 might boast

00:40:22.059 --> 00:40:23.079
 in the presence

00:40:23.079 --> 00:40:23.539
 of God

00:40:23.539 --> 00:40:25.259
 and because

00:40:25.259 --> 00:40:26.099
 of him

00:40:26.099 --> 00:40:27.179
 you are in

00:40:27.179 --> 00:40:28.079
 Christ Jesus

00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:29.139
 who became

00:40:29.139 --> 00:40:30.079
 to us

00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:30.819
 wisdom

00:40:30.819 --> 00:40:31.759
 from God

00:40:31.759 --> 00:40:32.879
 righteousness

00:40:32.879 --> 00:40:34.699
 and sanctification

00:40:34.699 --> 00:40:35.839
 and redemption

00:40:35.839 --> 00:40:37.219
 so that as it is

00:40:37.219 --> 00:40:37.500
 written

00:40:37.500 --> 00:40:39.119
 let the one

00:40:39.119 --> 00:40:40.139
 who boasts

00:40:40.139 --> 00:40:41.019
 boast

00:40:41.019 --> 00:40:42.719
 in the Lord

00:40:42.719 --> 00:40:46.379
 notice how

00:40:46.379 --> 00:40:47.259
 Jeremiah takes

00:40:47.259 --> 00:40:47.799
 the exact

00:40:47.799 --> 00:40:48.299
 I mean

00:40:48.299 --> 00:40:48.959
 Paul takes

00:40:48.959 --> 00:40:49.359
 the exact

00:40:49.359 --> 00:40:49.899
 categories

00:40:49.899 --> 00:40:50.319
 that Jeremiah

00:40:50.319 --> 00:40:50.859
 used

00:40:50.859 --> 00:40:54.459
 wise

00:40:54.459 --> 00:40:55.299
 let the wise

00:40:55.299 --> 00:40:55.779
 not boast

00:40:55.779 --> 00:40:56.339
 in their wisdom

00:40:56.339 --> 00:40:57.419
 let not the strong

00:40:57.419 --> 00:40:58.059
 boast in their strength

00:40:58.059 --> 00:40:58.799
 let not the rich

00:40:58.799 --> 00:41:00.279
 boast in their riches

00:41:00.279 --> 00:41:01.199
 he takes those

00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:02.159
 exact categories

00:41:02.159 --> 00:41:03.279
 and says

00:41:03.279 --> 00:41:03.759
 that

00:41:03.759 --> 00:41:05.339
 we were not

00:41:05.339 --> 00:41:05.719
 like that

00:41:05.719 --> 00:41:06.459
 that's not the reason

00:41:06.459 --> 00:41:07.299
 God saved us

00:41:07.299 --> 00:41:08.519
 God saved us

00:41:08.519 --> 00:41:09.500
 not on the basis

00:41:09.500 --> 00:41:10.480
 of our wisdom

00:41:10.480 --> 00:41:11.379
 our might

00:41:11.379 --> 00:41:12.319
 or our riches

00:41:12.320 --> 00:41:13.260
 but because of

00:41:13.260 --> 00:41:14.800
 his steadfast love

00:41:14.800 --> 00:41:15.380
 justice

00:41:15.380 --> 00:41:16.539
 and righteousness

00:41:16.539 --> 00:41:19.160
 God saves us

00:41:19.160 --> 00:41:19.620
 this way

00:41:19.620 --> 00:41:20.280
 to eliminate

00:41:20.280 --> 00:41:21.200
 human

00:41:21.200 --> 00:41:21.920
 boasting

00:41:21.920 --> 00:41:22.500
 altogether

00:41:22.500 --> 00:41:23.680
 and the way

00:41:23.680 --> 00:41:24.320
 of salvation

00:41:24.320 --> 00:41:24.900
 is through

00:41:24.900 --> 00:41:25.539
 Christ Jesus

00:41:25.539 --> 00:41:26.120
 who became

00:41:26.120 --> 00:41:26.620
 to us

00:41:26.620 --> 00:41:27.240
 wisdom

00:41:27.240 --> 00:41:27.840
 from God

00:41:27.840 --> 00:41:28.340
 righteousness

00:41:28.340 --> 00:41:29.360
 and sanctification

00:41:29.360 --> 00:41:30.080
 and redemption

00:41:30.080 --> 00:41:31.000
 this is how

00:41:31.000 --> 00:41:31.960
 Jesus reveals

00:41:31.960 --> 00:41:32.740
 those characteristics

00:41:32.740 --> 00:41:33.220
 of God

00:41:33.220 --> 00:41:34.059
 he reveals

00:41:34.059 --> 00:41:34.800
 and embodies

00:41:34.800 --> 00:41:35.559
 and fulfills

00:41:35.559 --> 00:41:36.519
 the steadfast

00:41:36.519 --> 00:41:37.340
 love of God

00:41:37.340 --> 00:41:37.700
 because

00:41:37.700 --> 00:41:39.039
 in spite of

00:41:39.039 --> 00:41:39.539
 decades

00:41:39.539 --> 00:41:40.280
 and centuries

00:41:40.280 --> 00:41:41.280
 even millennia

00:41:41.280 --> 00:41:42.460
 of persistent sin

00:41:42.460 --> 00:41:43.180
 and rebellion

00:41:43.180 --> 00:41:44.240
 against him

00:41:44.240 --> 00:41:45.180
 God never

00:41:45.180 --> 00:41:45.860
 abandoned his

00:41:45.860 --> 00:41:46.140
 commitment

00:41:46.140 --> 00:41:46.820
 to his people

00:41:46.820 --> 00:41:48.280
 and the expression

00:41:48.280 --> 00:41:49.320
 of his ongoing

00:41:49.320 --> 00:41:50.280
 commitment to him

00:41:50.280 --> 00:41:51.300
 is Lord Jesus

00:41:51.300 --> 00:41:51.620
 Christ

00:41:51.620 --> 00:41:52.300
 whom he sends

00:41:52.300 --> 00:41:53.180
 to save

00:41:53.180 --> 00:41:54.100
 and redeem them

00:41:54.100 --> 00:41:55.160
 his steadfast love

00:41:55.160 --> 00:41:55.580
 and grace

00:41:55.580 --> 00:41:56.000
 is revealed

00:41:56.000 --> 00:41:56.780
 in Jesus Christ

00:41:56.780 --> 00:41:57.300
 to us

00:41:57.300 --> 00:41:59.380
 Jesus reveals

00:41:59.380 --> 00:41:59.960
 the justice

00:41:59.960 --> 00:42:00.440
 of God

00:42:00.440 --> 00:42:01.120
 he's the one

00:42:01.120 --> 00:42:01.740
 to whom the

00:42:01.740 --> 00:42:02.160
 father has

00:42:02.160 --> 00:42:02.820
 entrusted all

00:42:02.820 --> 00:42:03.360
 judgment

00:42:03.360 --> 00:42:04.300
 he will separate

00:42:04.300 --> 00:42:05.260
 those who

00:42:05.260 --> 00:42:06.300
 humbly receive

00:42:06.300 --> 00:42:07.320
 him from those

00:42:07.320 --> 00:42:08.100
 who pridefully

00:42:08.100 --> 00:42:08.940
 reject him

00:42:08.940 --> 00:42:10.880
 and Jesus

00:42:10.880 --> 00:42:12.019
 judges humanity

00:42:12.019 --> 00:42:12.619
 in this way

00:42:12.619 --> 00:42:13.179
 and he will do

00:42:13.179 --> 00:42:14.380
 so with righteousness

00:42:14.380 --> 00:42:16.360
 Jesus reveals

00:42:16.360 --> 00:42:16.960
 the righteousness

00:42:16.960 --> 00:42:17.400
 of God

00:42:17.400 --> 00:42:18.000
 because he does

00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:19.000
 not brush

00:42:19.000 --> 00:42:20.700
 over our sins

00:42:20.700 --> 00:42:21.800
 he does not

00:42:21.800 --> 00:42:22.720
 sweep our sins

00:42:22.720 --> 00:42:23.519
 under the rug

00:42:23.519 --> 00:42:24.860
 but he deals

00:42:24.860 --> 00:42:25.880
 righteously

00:42:25.880 --> 00:42:27.760
 and justly

00:42:27.760 --> 00:42:28.380
 with sinners

00:42:28.380 --> 00:42:30.099
 because the

00:42:30.099 --> 00:42:30.559
 righteousness

00:42:30.559 --> 00:42:31.340
 of God

00:42:31.340 --> 00:42:32.460
 must be

00:42:32.460 --> 00:42:33.079
 upheld

00:42:33.079 --> 00:42:34.300
 and his wrath

00:42:34.300 --> 00:42:35.079
 against sinner

00:42:35.079 --> 00:42:36.079
 must be

00:42:36.079 --> 00:42:36.880
 meted out

00:42:36.880 --> 00:42:37.519
 Jesus

00:42:37.519 --> 00:42:38.400
 dies

00:42:38.400 --> 00:42:39.840
 on the cross

00:42:39.840 --> 00:42:41.039
 for our sins

00:42:41.039 --> 00:42:43.039
 he

00:42:43.039 --> 00:42:44.159
 absorbs

00:42:44.159 --> 00:42:44.780
 the punishment

00:42:44.780 --> 00:42:46.900
 he absorbs

00:42:46.900 --> 00:42:47.500
 the wrath

00:42:47.500 --> 00:42:48.500
 that we

00:42:48.500 --> 00:42:48.960
 deserved

00:42:48.960 --> 00:42:50.639
 and rises

00:42:50.639 --> 00:42:51.000
 again

00:42:51.000 --> 00:42:51.360
 so that he

00:42:51.360 --> 00:42:52.039
 might absolve

00:42:52.039 --> 00:42:52.500
 us

00:42:52.500 --> 00:42:53.739
 free us

00:42:53.739 --> 00:42:54.900
 redeem us

00:42:54.900 --> 00:42:55.940
 from sin

00:42:55.940 --> 00:42:57.219
 and death

00:42:57.219 --> 00:43:00.159
 in short

00:43:00.159 --> 00:43:01.840
 Jesus Christ

00:43:01.840 --> 00:43:03.259
 is the wisdom

00:43:03.259 --> 00:43:03.900
 of God

00:43:03.900 --> 00:43:04.679
 that we must

00:43:04.679 --> 00:43:05.019
 seek

00:43:05.019 --> 00:43:08.880
 and in order

00:43:08.880 --> 00:43:09.800
 to seek him

00:43:09.800 --> 00:43:10.599
 in order to

00:43:10.599 --> 00:43:11.360
 receive him

00:43:11.360 --> 00:43:12.059
 you must

00:43:12.059 --> 00:43:12.719
 forsake

00:43:12.719 --> 00:43:13.280
 all

00:43:13.280 --> 00:43:14.119
 wisdom

00:43:14.119 --> 00:43:14.599
 of man

00:43:14.599 --> 00:43:20.000
 this is a hard

00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:20.360
 message

00:43:20.360 --> 00:43:20.840
 because it

00:43:20.840 --> 00:43:21.280
 requires

00:43:21.280 --> 00:43:21.780
 that we

00:43:21.780 --> 00:43:22.119
 give up

00:43:22.119 --> 00:43:22.400
 all our

00:43:22.400 --> 00:43:22.880
 pretensions

00:43:22.880 --> 00:43:23.420
 and pride

00:43:23.420 --> 00:43:31.260
 this is a hard

00:43:31.260 --> 00:43:31.599
 message

00:43:31.599 --> 00:43:32.039
 because I

00:43:32.039 --> 00:43:32.480
 face that

00:43:32.480 --> 00:43:32.840
 temptation

00:43:32.840 --> 00:43:33.480
 every week

00:43:33.480 --> 00:43:35.000
 to tell

00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:35.420
 people

00:43:35.420 --> 00:43:37.519
 what they

00:43:37.519 --> 00:43:37.860
 want to

00:43:37.860 --> 00:43:38.099
 hear

00:43:38.099 --> 00:43:44.720
 people don't

00:43:44.720 --> 00:43:45.099
 like hearing

00:43:45.099 --> 00:43:45.500
 the gospel

00:43:45.500 --> 00:43:45.940
 it looks

00:43:45.940 --> 00:43:46.480
 foolish to

00:43:46.480 --> 00:43:46.659
 them

00:43:46.659 --> 00:43:49.460
 I know

00:43:49.460 --> 00:43:49.800
 that

00:43:49.800 --> 00:43:52.360
 yet we

00:43:52.360 --> 00:43:52.820
 do it

00:43:52.820 --> 00:43:53.280
 because

00:43:53.280 --> 00:43:54.160
 that's

00:43:54.160 --> 00:43:54.600
 the wisdom

00:43:54.600 --> 00:43:55.120
 of God

00:43:55.120 --> 00:43:56.039
 that makes

00:43:56.039 --> 00:43:56.500
 foolish

00:43:56.500 --> 00:43:56.920
 the wisdom

00:43:56.920 --> 00:43:57.380
 of man

00:43:57.380 --> 00:43:58.539
 because it

00:43:58.539 --> 00:43:59.240
 is the

00:43:59.240 --> 00:43:59.920
 only thing

00:43:59.920 --> 00:44:02.560
 because the

00:44:02.560 --> 00:44:03.160
 gospel is the

00:44:03.160 --> 00:44:03.700
 power of God

00:44:03.700 --> 00:44:04.420
 unto salvation

00:44:04.420 --> 00:44:06.039
 because as we

00:44:06.039 --> 00:44:06.500
 sang earlier

00:44:06.500 --> 00:44:06.960
 there is no

00:44:06.960 --> 00:44:07.460
 other name

00:44:07.460 --> 00:44:07.880
 under heaven

00:44:07.880 --> 00:44:08.240
 given to

00:44:08.240 --> 00:44:08.480
 mankind

00:44:08.480 --> 00:44:09.000
 by which

00:44:09.000 --> 00:44:09.340
 we must

00:44:09.340 --> 00:44:09.880
 be saved

00:44:09.880 --> 00:44:10.539
 except the

00:44:10.539 --> 00:44:11.100
 name of

00:44:11.100 --> 00:44:11.320
 Jesus

00:44:11.320 --> 00:44:11.820
 Christ

00:44:11.820 --> 00:44:13.019
 so let

00:44:13.019 --> 00:44:13.400
 me ask

00:44:13.400 --> 00:44:13.539
 you

00:44:13.539 --> 00:44:13.780
 is there

00:44:13.780 --> 00:44:14.200
 anything

00:44:14.200 --> 00:44:14.840
 that you

00:44:14.840 --> 00:44:15.380
 are boasting

00:44:15.380 --> 00:44:15.840
 in other

00:44:15.840 --> 00:44:16.280
 than Jesus

00:44:16.280 --> 00:44:16.640
 today

00:44:16.640 --> 00:44:18.260
 your power

00:44:18.260 --> 00:44:18.940
 your riches

00:44:18.940 --> 00:44:19.599
 your wisdom

00:44:19.599 --> 00:44:20.320
 your intelligence

00:44:20.320 --> 00:44:20.960
 your looks

00:44:20.960 --> 00:44:21.920
 is your

00:44:21.920 --> 00:44:22.599
 confidence

00:44:22.599 --> 00:44:23.639
 for salvation

00:44:23.639 --> 00:44:24.700
 in yourself

00:44:24.700 --> 00:44:25.619
 or your own

00:44:25.619 --> 00:44:26.039
 wisdom

00:44:26.039 --> 00:44:26.820
 your own

00:44:26.820 --> 00:44:27.400
 philosophical

00:44:27.400 --> 00:44:28.059
 system

00:44:28.059 --> 00:44:28.780
 your own

00:44:28.780 --> 00:44:29.300
 morality

00:44:29.300 --> 00:44:29.900
 or your

00:44:29.900 --> 00:44:30.539
 own good

00:44:30.539 --> 00:44:30.960
 works

00:44:30.960 --> 00:44:31.980
 or is it

00:44:31.980 --> 00:44:32.559
 in the

00:44:32.559 --> 00:44:32.960
 cross of

00:44:32.960 --> 00:44:33.159
 Jesus

00:44:33.159 --> 00:44:33.619
 Christ

00:44:33.619 --> 00:44:37.059
 let the

00:44:37.059 --> 00:44:37.579
 one who

00:44:37.579 --> 00:44:38.059
 boasts

00:44:38.059 --> 00:44:38.780
 boast

00:44:38.780 --> 00:44:39.480
 in the

00:44:39.480 --> 00:44:39.740
 Lord

00:44:39.740 --> 00:44:41.960
 let's reflect

00:44:41.960 --> 00:44:42.360
 on that

00:44:42.360 --> 00:44:43.019
 in silence

00:44:43.019 --> 00:44:43.940
 for a moment

00:44:43.940 --> 00:44:44.780
 and then we'll

00:44:44.780 --> 00:44:45.519
 respond to that

00:44:45.519 --> 00:44:46.139
 by praying

00:44:46.139 --> 00:44:46.480
 out loud

00:44:46.480 --> 00:44:46.860
 together

00:44:46.860 --> 00:44:47.760
 as the

00:44:47.760 --> 00:44:48.000
 body

00:44:48.000 --> 00:45:02.400
 and

00:45:02.400 --> 00:45:02.420
 door

00:45:02.420 --> 00:45:03.460
 into

00:45:03.460 --> 00:45:03.980
 the

00:45:03.980 --> 00:45:04.539
 noise

00:45:04.539 --> 00:45:04.739
 of

00:45:04.739 --> 00:45:05.420
 air

00:45:05.420 --> 00:45:05.679
 and

00:45:05.679 --> 00:45:06.619
 leads

00:45:06.619 --> 00:45:07.420
 to

00:45:07.420 --> 00:45:16.340
 songs