WEBVTT

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 Thank you to Peter for leading the service so far, and Gary and Fiona for leading our singing.

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 We aren't many gathered this evening, but it's been good to join our voices to praise our God.

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 My name is David Reimer. It's my privilege to be preaching this evening.

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 And if you're visiting this morning, evening even, I did get up a little while ago.

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 If you're visiting this evening, this is our third sermon in the series on Judges,

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 but it's still an introductory sermon. This is our third introductory sermon on Judges.

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 So although you might have missed something, you haven't missed a lot yet, and you'll see how that's the case.

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 In fact, Judges, the book of Judges, has two introductions.

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 And we started off with an overview of the book as a whole, so it's still an introductory material.

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 So if you've got your Bibles with you, please open them up to the book of Judges,

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 or swipe to the book of Judges, however you read your Bible.

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 If you're using the Pew Bible, it's on page 243.

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 And the chapter divisions don't quite coincide with the section divisions here.

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 So we start at Judges 2, verse 6, and we'll be reading, as Peter said, into chapter 3, finishing at 3, verse 6.

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 So let me then read God's word for us, and please do follow along.

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 After Joshua had dismissed the Israelites, or if I just tweak that slightly,

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 sorry to pause already as we've just begun,

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 so Joshua dismissed the Israelites.

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 You'll see why I've tweaked that in just a few minutes.

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 So Joshua dismissed the Israelites.

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 They each went to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance.

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 The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua,

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 and of the elders who outlived him,

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 and who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel.

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 Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110,

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 and they buried him in the land of his inheritance,

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 at Timnath-Heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.

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 After that, whole generation had been gathered to their fathers.

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 Another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.

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 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals.

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 They forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt.

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 They followed and worshipped various gods of the peoples around them.

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 They provoked the Lord to anger because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.

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 In his anger against Israel, the Lord handed them over to raiders who plundered them.

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 He sold them to their enemies all around whom they were no longer able to resist.

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 Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them to defeat them,

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 just as he had sworn to them.

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 They were in great distress.

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 Then the Lord raised up judges who saved them out of the hands of these raiders.

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 Yet they would not listen to their judges, but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshipped them.

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 Unlike their fathers, they quickly turned from the way in which their fathers had walked,

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 the way of obedience to the Lord's commands.

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 Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them,

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 he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived.

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 For the Lord had compassion on them,

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 as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them.

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 But when the judge died,

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 the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers following other gods

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 and serving and worshipping them.

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 They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

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 Therefore, the Lord was very angry with Israel and said,

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 Because this nation has violated the covenant that I laid down for their forefathers

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 and has not listened to me,

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 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died.

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 I will use them to test Israel

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 and see whether they will keep the ways of the Lord

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 and walk in it as their forefathers did.

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 The Lord had allowed those nations to remain.

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 He did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua.

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 These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites

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 who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan.

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 He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites

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 who had not previous battle experience.

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 The five rulers of the Philistines,

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 all the Canaanites, the Sidonians,

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 and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains,

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 from Mount Bel-Hermon to Lebo-Hermath,

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 they were left to test the Israelites

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 to see whether they would obey the Lord's commands

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 which he had given their forefathers through Moses.

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 The Israelites lived among the Canaanites,

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 Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites,

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 Hivites, and Jebusites.

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 They took their daughters in marriage

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 and gave their own daughters to their sons

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 and served their gods.

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 As we come to look at this section of God's Word,

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 let's pause to pray.

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 Gracious God and Heavenly Father,

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 we pray now that you would speak,

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 for we, your servants, are listening.

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 Help and strengthen us by your Spirit

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 to be careful how we listen.

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 And grant us not only to hear,

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 but to receive your Word.

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 We pray in Jesus' name,

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 who is the Living Word.

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 Amen.

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 Well, as I mentioned a few moments ago,

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 seems a long time ago now,

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 we've been through quite a lot

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 reading this chapter already.

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 Here we are with yet another introduction

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 to the book of Judges.

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 And I thought it would be helpful,

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 while we're still settling in,

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 just to have a couple of comments

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 by way of preface to the introduction.

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 So we're not even at the sermon introduction yet.

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 First of all,

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 I thought it would be helpful

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 just to locate us again

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 in where we are in the Bible's story arc.

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 When we're here in the book of Judges,

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 just where are we in the story

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 of God's actions with God's people?

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 Well, in one sense,

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 the story runs from Genesis to Revelation,

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 but we'll narrow it down just a little bit.

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 And our story,

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 the story arc that we're interested in,

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 really starts at the book of Exodus,

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 when Moses leads the people of Israel

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 out of Egypt.

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 And it comes to rest.

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 Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy,

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 Joshua, Judges, Ruth.

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 First and second Samuel.

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 First and second Kings.

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 The story comes to rest, if you like,

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 at the end of Second Kings.

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 And it goes something like this.

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 You see, Moses lead the people of Israel

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 out of Egypt.

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 They leave Egypt and are wandering

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 and have this period,

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 a kind of confused period,

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 in which a state is formed,

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 a nation is formed.

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 Thinking around the 13th century BC here.

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 And from that point,

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 they enter into the land

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 and eventually achieve kingship.

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 And if you think,

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 you know your kings,

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 King David,

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 this is a date and number

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 I can remember fairly easily,

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 David.

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 And the year,

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 1000.

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 That's one with three zeros after it.

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 Easy to remember.

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 That's a marker

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 for the king in Israel,

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 the monarchy of Israel.

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 His son builds a temple.

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 And as the biblical historian tells us,

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 from the time of Solomon's

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 building the temple,

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 there is a steady decline.

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 Decline.

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 It's this people who were formed

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 and came into the land

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 now start to go wrong.

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 Eventually,

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 that nation is dissolved.

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 They leave the land,

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 are taken into captivity in Babylon.

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 And the last thing we read,

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 might surprise us

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 if we don't know this storyline very well,

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 is that the last refugees of Israel

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 go to Egypt.

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 Egypt.

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 It's the end of 2 Kings 25.

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 So we have this story of out of Egypt,

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 into the land,

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 to this great moment of the dedication of the temple.

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 As the,

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 then,

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 things go wrong,

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 the state dissolves,

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 out of the land,

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 and back to Egypt.

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 So,

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 we're interested in that period

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 of slightly chaotic

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 and confused state formation

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 as the people of Israel

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 are making their way

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 into the land.

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 You can see it corresponds

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 in some ways

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 to that period of chaos

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 and confusion

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 as Israel is dissolved

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 and loses its national identity

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 again at the end

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 of this story.

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 So,

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 about,

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 that's about four centuries later.

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 So,

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 here we are then

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 at this period

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 when the people of Israel

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 are entering

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 the land

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 that has been promised

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 to their fathers,

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 promised to Abraham.

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 So,

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 that's one thing.

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 I hope that

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 very brief survey

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 of that long story

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 helps to locate

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 where we are

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 in the book of Judges.

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 And the second

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 comment by way of preface

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 is this.

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 Those of you

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 who were here

00:10:54.059 --> 00:10:54.839
 last week

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 were helped

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 greatly

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 by what Neil

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 had to say

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 about thinking

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 through this

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 difficult issue

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 of genocide.

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 You know,

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 in the books

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 of Joshua

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 and Judges together,

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 this is one of the places

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 where we feel

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 some tension

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 with what's happening

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 through God

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 and God's people

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 on the pages

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 of Scripture.

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 And I'd like to add

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 just a couple more

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 comments as we think

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 about this.

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 More probably

00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:20.680
 having to do

00:11:20.680 --> 00:11:21.600
 with Joshua

00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:22.539
 where the problem's

00:11:22.539 --> 00:11:23.480
 a little more acute

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 than Judges.

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 But the two

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 quick comments

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 are this.

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 First of all,

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 it isn't genocide

00:11:30.680 --> 00:11:31.960
 in any case.

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 This is just

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 bad history.

00:11:34.800 --> 00:11:35.820
 The term genocide

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 might surprise us

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 again to know

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 this comes from

00:11:38.899 --> 00:11:40.440
 1944.

00:11:40.440 --> 00:11:42.580
 It was a response

00:11:42.580 --> 00:11:43.560
 to the terrible

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 experiences

00:11:44.220 --> 00:11:45.520
 of the Second World War

00:11:45.520 --> 00:11:46.600
 and the Holocaust

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 in particular.

00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:49.460
 In 1948,

00:11:49.780 --> 00:11:50.640
 the United Nations

00:11:50.640 --> 00:11:51.540
 put together

00:11:51.540 --> 00:11:52.300
 its convention

00:11:52.300 --> 00:11:53.160
 on the prevention

00:11:53.160 --> 00:11:53.900
 and punishment

00:11:53.900 --> 00:11:54.960
 of the crime

00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:55.500
 of genocide.

00:11:56.420 --> 00:11:57.180
 And with its

00:11:57.180 --> 00:11:58.080
 understanding

00:11:58.080 --> 00:11:59.440
 of what genocide is,

00:11:59.980 --> 00:12:01.280
 it just doesn't fit

00:12:01.280 --> 00:12:02.600
 what's going on

00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:03.480
 in Joshua

00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:04.780
 and Judges.

00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:05.800
 It doesn't fit

00:12:05.800 --> 00:12:06.280
 at all,

00:12:06.520 --> 00:12:07.600
 conform to the character

00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:08.660
 of what happened

00:12:08.660 --> 00:12:09.300
 in the Holocaust.

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 That's one comment.

00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:12.259
 And the second one

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 is this.

00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:15.139
 Especially when we

00:12:15.139 --> 00:12:16.120
 look at Joshua

00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:17.359
 that sets up

00:12:17.359 --> 00:12:17.959
 what we see

00:12:17.959 --> 00:12:18.719
 in Judges,

00:12:18.939 --> 00:12:19.859
 we need to notice

00:12:19.859 --> 00:12:20.579
 something that might

00:12:20.579 --> 00:12:21.279
 surprise us

00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:21.919
 if we have this

00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:22.699
 sort of simple

00:12:22.699 --> 00:12:24.000
 idea in our heads

00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:24.399
 that, oh,

00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:25.179
 isn't Joshua

00:12:25.179 --> 00:12:26.500
 about genocide?

00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:28.279
 Because the first

00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:29.099
 thing we notice

00:12:29.099 --> 00:12:30.500
 very early in the book,

00:12:30.579 --> 00:12:31.099
 in fact,

00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:34.500
 obedient Canaanites

00:12:34.500 --> 00:12:35.379
 live.

00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:36.979
 Well, that doesn't

00:12:36.979 --> 00:12:37.899
 happen in a genocide.

00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:39.100
 Rahab,

00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:42.740
 who's in Jericho,

00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:43.659
 she's a Canaanite,

00:12:43.980 --> 00:12:44.659
 she lives.

00:12:45.220 --> 00:12:45.980
 The Gibeonites,

00:12:46.079 --> 00:12:46.759
 who are part of the

00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:47.639
 cities of Canaan,

00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:48.759
 they live.

00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:51.240
 Obedient Canaanites

00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:51.840
 live.

00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:53.559
 And yet,

00:12:54.319 --> 00:12:56.199
 disobedient Israelites

00:12:56.199 --> 00:12:57.519
 die.

00:12:58.480 --> 00:12:59.819
 When Israel has

00:12:59.819 --> 00:13:00.539
 disobeyed,

00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:01.079
 they go up

00:13:01.079 --> 00:13:01.860
 to fight.

00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:03.879
 It's the first time

00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:04.919
 Israelite lives

00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:05.519
 are lost.

00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:06.519
 Then Achan,

00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:07.500
 the disobedient

00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:08.039
 Israelite,

00:13:08.100 --> 00:13:08.919
 loses his life

00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:09.939
 together with his

00:13:09.939 --> 00:13:10.340
 family.

00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:12.019
 Disobedient Israelites

00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:12.720
 die.

00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:14.860
 So it makes clear

00:13:14.860 --> 00:13:15.779
 why this isn't

00:13:15.779 --> 00:13:17.039
 about genocide then.

00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:18.779
 It's rather about

00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:20.000
 divine judgment

00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:21.019
 and the relationship

00:13:21.019 --> 00:13:22.399
 of every nation

00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:23.240
 under heaven

00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:24.159
 to the one

00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:24.860
 true

00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:26.379
 and living God.

00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:28.600
 So with those

00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:29.860
 couple of comments

00:13:29.860 --> 00:13:31.000
 by way of preface

00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:31.439
 in mind,

00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:32.120
 we come to our

00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:32.659
 introduction

00:13:32.659 --> 00:13:34.399
 to this third

00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:34.819
 sermon

00:13:34.819 --> 00:13:36.139
 in the series

00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:37.199
 on Judges.

00:13:38.839 --> 00:13:39.360
 Perhaps

00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:40.860
 a multi-introduction

00:13:40.860 --> 00:13:41.519
 seems a little

00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:42.259
 less odd

00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:43.100
 when we realize,

00:13:43.219 --> 00:13:43.719
 as I mentioned

00:13:43.719 --> 00:13:44.459
 a moment ago,

00:13:44.539 --> 00:13:45.019
 that the book

00:13:45.019 --> 00:13:45.679
 of Judges

00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:47.339
 has these

00:13:47.339 --> 00:13:48.439
 two introductions

00:13:48.439 --> 00:13:49.740
 and in fact,

00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:51.039
 the book of Joshua

00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:52.679
 has two conclusions

00:13:52.679 --> 00:13:54.539
 and the book

00:13:54.539 --> 00:13:55.079
 of Judges

00:13:55.079 --> 00:13:56.720
 has two conclusions.

00:13:57.240 --> 00:13:57.899
 So there's a

00:13:57.899 --> 00:13:59.059
 certain symmetry

00:13:59.059 --> 00:13:59.639
 here.

00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:02.539
 And then we do

00:14:02.539 --> 00:14:03.480
 well to consider,

00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:04.379
 well, why?

00:14:04.699 --> 00:14:05.899
 What's the relationship

00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:06.659
 of these two

00:14:06.659 --> 00:14:07.179
 introductions

00:14:07.179 --> 00:14:07.919
 to each other

00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:08.799
 and how do they

00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:09.539
 relate to the

00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:10.039
 conclusions

00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:11.059
 that we see

00:14:11.059 --> 00:14:11.620
 in the book

00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.480
 of Joshua?

00:14:14.059 --> 00:14:14.879
 Well, the two

00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:15.480
 introductions

00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:16.480
 do two quite

00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:17.799
 different jobs.

00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:19.059
 The first

00:14:19.059 --> 00:14:19.580
 introduction,

00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:20.159
 as we saw

00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:20.860
 last week,

00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:23.379
 puts Israel's

00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:24.740
 story in the

00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:25.319
 foreground.

00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:26.659
 If you like,

00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:27.200
 this is the

00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:28.379
 historian's

00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:28.939
 introduction.

00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:30.779
 And the second

00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:31.539
 introduction,

00:14:31.659 --> 00:14:32.019
 the one we

00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:32.580
 look at this

00:14:32.580 --> 00:14:32.919
 evening,

00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:35.399
 2 verse 6

00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:36.799
 to 3 verse 6,

00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:38.799
 puts Israel's

00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:39.939
 God in the

00:14:39.939 --> 00:14:40.439
 foreground.

00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:41.819
 If you like,

00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:42.620
 this is the

00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:43.840
 theologian's

00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:44.759
 introduction.

00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:47.699
 Chapter 1,

00:14:47.939 --> 00:14:48.340
 primarily

00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:49.100
 historical.

00:14:49.620 --> 00:14:50.340
 Chapter 2,

00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:51.399
 primarily

00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:52.460
 theological.

00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:54.919
 There's a

00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:55.539
 couple more

00:14:55.539 --> 00:14:56.319
 features that

00:14:56.319 --> 00:14:56.899
 would be useful

00:14:56.899 --> 00:14:57.500
 to pick up

00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:58.000
 about the

00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:59.179
 stories of

00:14:59.179 --> 00:14:59.979
 chapter 1

00:14:59.979 --> 00:15:00.659
 and into

00:15:00.659 --> 00:15:01.439
 chapter 2

00:15:01.439 --> 00:15:02.539
 that help

00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:03.419
 us to dig

00:15:03.419 --> 00:15:03.979
 into the

00:15:03.979 --> 00:15:05.159
 theology of

00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:05.959
 chapter 2.

00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:07.899
 Judah does

00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:08.659
 well to take

00:15:08.659 --> 00:15:09.179
 the initiative

00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:09.719
 at the beginning

00:15:09.719 --> 00:15:10.500
 of chapter 1,

00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:11.099
 and Neil pointed

00:15:11.099 --> 00:15:12.379
 this out last

00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:12.799
 week.

00:15:13.199 --> 00:15:14.139
 But on closer

00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:14.739
 inspection,

00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:15.739
 just as the

00:15:15.739 --> 00:15:16.199
 book gets

00:15:16.199 --> 00:15:16.599
 going,

00:15:16.719 --> 00:15:16.959
 we think,

00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:17.139
 oh,

00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:17.719
 it's going

00:15:17.719 --> 00:15:18.219
 well.

00:15:19.659 --> 00:15:19.919
 Well,

00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:20.879
 is it really?

00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:23.320
 they punish

00:15:23.320 --> 00:15:24.399
 Adonai Bezek,

00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:25.159
 the Canaanite

00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:25.439
 king,

00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:26.279
 by cutting off

00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:26.740
 his thumbs

00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:27.460
 and toes.

00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:28.639
 And it might

00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:29.159
 look like

00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:30.059
 poetic justice

00:15:30.059 --> 00:15:30.779
 because that's

00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:31.919
 what Adonai Bezek

00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:32.840
 did to other

00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:33.379
 kings,

00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:36.379
 but that's

00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:37.480
 just to act

00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:38.279
 the way a

00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:38.860
 Canaanite

00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:39.439
 acts.

00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:40.919
 Israelites

00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:42.039
 don't name

00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:43.860
 their captives.

00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:44.659
 This is just

00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:45.139
 not what

00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:46.179
 Israelites do.

00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:47.200
 And already,

00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:48.480
 Judah is starting

00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:49.200
 to look a little

00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:50.640
 bit Canaanite.

00:15:51.660 --> 00:15:52.400
 And one more

00:15:52.400 --> 00:15:53.540
 observation that

00:15:53.540 --> 00:15:54.320
 leads us directly

00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:55.879
 into our passage

00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:56.560
 this evening,

00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:58.400
 and it's why I

00:15:58.400 --> 00:15:59.740
 tweaked our text

00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:00.580
 just slightly

00:16:00.580 --> 00:16:01.020
 at 2,

00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:01.740
 verse 6.

00:16:03.640 --> 00:16:05.160
 Joshua is

00:16:05.160 --> 00:16:05.840
 alive.

00:16:07.040 --> 00:16:08.400
 So maybe a

00:16:08.400 --> 00:16:09.000
 little bit mind

00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:09.920
 bending if we

00:16:09.920 --> 00:16:10.740
 think that Joshua

00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:11.879
 dies at the end

00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:13.540
 of Joshua 24,

00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:14.640
 the preceding

00:16:14.640 --> 00:16:15.379
 chapter,

00:16:15.520 --> 00:16:16.080
 the preceding

00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:16.480
 book.

00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:18.600
 But I think

00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:18.980
 we're,

00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:20.300
 most of us

00:16:20.300 --> 00:16:20.879
 in the room

00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:21.920
 used to the

00:16:21.920 --> 00:16:22.500
 idea that we

00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:23.240
 can press the

00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:23.960
 pause button,

00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:26.039
 rewind a little

00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:26.360
 bit,

00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:27.300
 and then pick

00:16:27.300 --> 00:16:28.019
 up the story

00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:29.279
 again from a

00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:29.680
 little bit

00:16:29.680 --> 00:16:30.019
 before.

00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:30.360
 And that's

00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:31.259
 exactly what

00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:32.220
 is going on

00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:32.560
 with the

00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:33.139
 narration of

00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:33.639
 the opening

00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:34.980
 of Judges.

00:16:35.820 --> 00:16:36.659
 And that

00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:37.980
 as we read

00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:38.899
 through chapter

00:16:38.899 --> 00:16:39.840
 1 attentively

00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:40.600
 and into

00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:41.440
 chapter 2,

00:16:42.680 --> 00:16:43.580
 we're actually

00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:44.159
 in the period

00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:44.980
 when Joshua's

00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:45.519
 alive.

00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:46.500
 Caleb and

00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:47.720
 the springs,

00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:48.259
 that's when

00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:49.000
 Joshua's

00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:50.220
 alive in

00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:51.259
 Joshua 14.

00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:51.940
 And we have

00:16:51.940 --> 00:16:52.399
 the various

00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:53.220
 notices about

00:16:53.220 --> 00:16:54.080
 Manasseh,

00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:54.960
 that's from

00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.940
 Joshua 17.

00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:56.600
 And we have

00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:57.039
 the notice

00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:58.019
 about Ephraim,

00:16:58.179 --> 00:16:58.899
 that's from

00:16:58.899 --> 00:17:00.080
 Joshua 16.

00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:01.759
 And we

00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.399
 realize that

00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:05.079
 our theologian

00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:06.359
 slash historian

00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:07.200
 is wanting

00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:08.119
 to bring

00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:08.640
 these two

00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.259
 stories of

00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:10.259
 Joshua and

00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:10.740
 Judges

00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.539
 together.

00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:11.659
 together.

00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:14.139
 And that's

00:17:14.139 --> 00:17:14.619
 the thought

00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:15.019
 then that

00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:15.319
 should be

00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:15.599
 in our

00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.119
 minds as

00:17:16.119 --> 00:17:16.659
 we begin

00:17:16.659 --> 00:17:17.859
 our journey

00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:19.240
 into Judges

00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.579
 2 verse 6.

00:17:21.139 --> 00:17:22.440
 So keep

00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:22.899
 your Bible

00:17:22.899 --> 00:17:23.920
 open and

00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:24.519
 bear in mind

00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:24.920
 that we're

00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:25.659
 thinking about

00:17:25.659 --> 00:17:26.139
 Israel,

00:17:26.659 --> 00:17:27.659
 God's covenant

00:17:27.659 --> 00:17:28.259
 people.

00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:30.099
 And as our

00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:31.379
 passage begins

00:17:31.379 --> 00:17:32.539
 then, Joshua

00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:33.859
 is alive and

00:17:33.859 --> 00:17:34.240
 well.

00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:35.519
 The passage

00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.099
 falls into

00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:36.940
 three parts

00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:37.519
 and what I'll

00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:38.859
 do is take

00:17:38.859 --> 00:17:39.480
 a few minutes

00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:40.079
 on each of

00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:40.859
 the three parts

00:17:40.859 --> 00:17:41.459
 and then have

00:17:41.459 --> 00:17:42.559
 some reflection

00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:43.699
 on the story

00:17:43.699 --> 00:17:44.359
 as a whole

00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:46.059
 at the end,

00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:47.319
 well, towards

00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:47.799
 the end.

00:17:48.859 --> 00:17:49.819
 So the three

00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:50.419
 sections are

00:17:50.419 --> 00:17:51.079
 these if you're

00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:51.539
 just wanting

00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:52.639
 to get a

00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:53.079
 sense of where

00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:53.619
 we're going.

00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:55.099
 In 2 verse 6

00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:57.219
 to 10, we

00:17:57.219 --> 00:17:58.479
 see an

00:17:58.479 --> 00:17:59.579
 exchange take

00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:00.119
 place.

00:18:01.699 --> 00:18:02.559
 2 verses

00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:03.679
 11 to

00:18:03.679 --> 00:18:04.959
 19, we

00:18:04.959 --> 00:18:05.719
 see Israel

00:18:05.719 --> 00:18:06.919
 exposed.

00:18:08.179 --> 00:18:08.819
 And from

00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:10.459
 2 verse 20,

00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:11.979
 to 3 verse 6,

00:18:12.219 --> 00:18:12.799
 we see

00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:13.339
 Israel

00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:14.299
 examined.

00:18:15.139 --> 00:18:15.599
 So there's

00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.359
 an exchange,

00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:17.740
 there's exposure,

00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:19.039
 and there's

00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:20.159
 an examination.

00:18:21.179 --> 00:18:21.899
 So first of

00:18:21.899 --> 00:18:22.939
 all, 2

00:18:22.939 --> 00:18:23.939
 verses 6

00:18:23.939 --> 00:18:24.479
 to 10,

00:18:24.639 --> 00:18:26.079
 the exchange.

00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:27.719
 Well, this is

00:18:27.719 --> 00:18:29.000
 the story of

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.199
 three generations

00:18:30.199 --> 00:18:31.079
 and perhaps you

00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:31.699
 picked them up

00:18:31.699 --> 00:18:32.799
 as we read.

00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.339
 Joshua's

00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:35.240
 lifetime and

00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:35.939
 the elders who

00:18:35.939 --> 00:18:36.779
 outlived him

00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:37.519
 and then verse

00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:38.899
 10, after that

00:18:38.899 --> 00:18:39.719
 whole generation

00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.100
 had been

00:18:40.100 --> 00:18:40.440
 gathered,

00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:41.640
 another generation

00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:42.460
 who grew up

00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:43.100
 who knew

00:18:43.100 --> 00:18:43.640
 neither the

00:18:43.640 --> 00:18:44.160
 Lord nor

00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:45.120
 what he

00:18:45.120 --> 00:18:45.640
 had done

00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:46.500
 for Israel.

00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:48.000
 So we've

00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.720
 got three

00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:49.600
 generations,

00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:50.380
 Joshua

00:18:50.380 --> 00:18:51.539
 generation,

00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:53.579
 the next

00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:54.160
 generation,

00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:54.779
 the elders

00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:55.539
 who outlived

00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:56.160
 him, and

00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:57.360
 then their

00:18:57.360 --> 00:18:58.140
 children,

00:18:58.779 --> 00:18:58.940
 the

00:18:58.940 --> 00:18:59.339
 grandchildren

00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:00.200
 of the

00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:01.640
 wilderness

00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:02.519
 generation

00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:04.440
 in verse

00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:05.039
 10, the

00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:05.799
 next generation

00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:06.660
 who grew up.

00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:07.440
 And what

00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:08.060
 happens in

00:19:08.060 --> 00:19:08.500
 the space

00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:09.420
 of three

00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:10.180
 generations

00:19:10.180 --> 00:19:10.660
 then?

00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:13.600
 The Lord

00:19:13.600 --> 00:19:14.800
 is forgotten.

00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:16.720
 Now there's

00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.480
 analogy to

00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.320
 this in

00:19:18.320 --> 00:19:19.140
 modern immigrant

00:19:19.140 --> 00:19:19.759
 studies.

00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.140
 An immigrant

00:19:21.140 --> 00:19:22.200
 myself, this

00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:22.900
 is not a

00:19:22.900 --> 00:19:24.019
 native Scottish

00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:25.259
 accent you're

00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:25.720
 listening to

00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:26.320
 right now,

00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:28.259
 but at least

00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:28.700
 I move from

00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:29.060
 an English

00:19:29.060 --> 00:19:29.759
 speaking country

00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:30.160
 to an

00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:30.759
 English speaking

00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:31.279
 country.

00:19:31.540 --> 00:19:32.279
 For those

00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:32.720
 who move

00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.920
 from a

00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:34.400
 non-English

00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:35.279
 speaking country

00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:36.139
 into an

00:19:36.139 --> 00:19:36.859
 English speaking

00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:37.399
 country,

00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:38.639
 it is a

00:19:38.639 --> 00:19:39.720
 very, very

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.720
 strong pattern.

00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.039
 First

00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:42.680
 generation

00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.740
 immigrants

00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.879
 learn to

00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:45.500
 use English

00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.279
 to a degree,

00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:48.399
 but remain

00:19:48.399 --> 00:19:49.399
 dominant in

00:19:49.399 --> 00:19:50.180
 their native

00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:50.879
 language.

00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:52.200
 Second

00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:52.799
 generation

00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:53.339
 immigrants

00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:54.039
 typically

00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:55.680
 are bilingual

00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:56.759
 and speak

00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.960
 either tongue

00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:58.599
 well.

00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.079
 Third

00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:00.779
 generation

00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.379
 immigrants

00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:02.139
 typically,

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:02.980
 a very

00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:04.220
 high percentage,

00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:05.240
 become

00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:06.600
 monolingual

00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:07.559
 in the

00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:08.480
 language of

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:08.759
 the new

00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.180
 country.

00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:09.480
 In an

00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:10.079
 English speaking

00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:10.480
 country,

00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:11.460
 monolingual

00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:12.440
 in English.

00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:13.420
 It only

00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:13.960
 takes three

00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:14.519
 generations

00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:15.140
 for that

00:20:15.140 --> 00:20:15.860
 heritage

00:20:15.860 --> 00:20:16.640
 language to

00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:17.299
 be forgotten.

00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:18.819
 That's very

00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:19.360
 much like

00:20:19.360 --> 00:20:19.940
 what we see

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:20.579
 here in

00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:21.220
 verses 6

00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:21.759
 to 10.

00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:23.059
 As Israel

00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:23.680
 moved into

00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:24.220
 the promised

00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:24.680
 land, it

00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:25.460
 only took

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:26.079
 three

00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:26.799
 generations

00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:27.640
 for the

00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:28.380
 Lord to

00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:29.440
 be forgotten.

00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:31.940
 We see a

00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:32.680
 failure here

00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.180
 then on the

00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:33.759
 part of

00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:34.279
 that

00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:35.460
 generation

00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:35.799
 that

00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:36.259
 succeeded

00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:36.900
 Joshua

00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:38.060
 to pass

00:20:38.060 --> 00:20:38.480
 on the

00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:38.980
 tradition.

00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:41.519
 It reminded

00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.519
 me of a

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.180
 Paul Oakley

00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:44.380
 song that

00:20:44.380 --> 00:20:45.160
 I heard

00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:45.820
 years ago

00:20:45.820 --> 00:20:46.220
 and came

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:46.700
 back to

00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:47.060
 mind.

00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:49.660
 It's from

00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:50.019
 a song

00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:50.460
 called

00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:51.120
 Revival

00:20:51.120 --> 00:20:51.880
 Sounds,

00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:52.560
 if any of

00:20:52.560 --> 00:20:52.820
 you want

00:20:52.820 --> 00:20:53.380
 to Google

00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:53.880
 it later.

00:20:54.860 --> 00:20:55.500
 No more

00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:55.900
 messing

00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:56.480
 around,

00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:57.539
 it's time

00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:58.080
 for taking

00:20:58.080 --> 00:20:58.680
 the ground.

00:20:58.860 --> 00:20:59.460
 Not his

00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:00.100
 finest moment

00:21:00.100 --> 00:21:00.380
 as a

00:21:00.380 --> 00:21:00.600
 poet.

00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:02.079
 No more

00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:02.419
 messing

00:21:02.419 --> 00:21:02.759
 around,

00:21:02.859 --> 00:21:03.299
 it's time

00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:03.740
 for taking

00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.219
 the ground.

00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:04.839
 Wake

00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:05.240
 up,

00:21:05.699 --> 00:21:06.119
 wake

00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:07.199
 up Joshua

00:21:07.199 --> 00:21:08.139
 generation.

00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.359
 Well,

00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:11.179
 Oakley's

00:21:11.179 --> 00:21:11.759
 call to

00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.399
 the Joshua

00:21:12.399 --> 00:21:13.159
 generation

00:21:13.159 --> 00:21:13.619
 to wake

00:21:13.619 --> 00:21:14.099
 up makes

00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:14.480
 a lot

00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.019
 more sense

00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:15.299
 to me

00:21:15.299 --> 00:21:16.079
 now than

00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:16.379
 it did

00:21:16.379 --> 00:21:17.379
 in 1998.

00:21:19.659 --> 00:21:20.480
 We have

00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.419
 the sense,

00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:21.899
 I think,

00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:22.719
 when we read

00:21:22.719 --> 00:21:23.339
 scriptures,

00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:23.959
 that it's

00:21:23.959 --> 00:21:25.279
 the generation

00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:25.699
 that left

00:21:25.699 --> 00:21:27.079
 Egypt that

00:21:27.079 --> 00:21:27.699
 was the

00:21:27.699 --> 00:21:29.059
 unfaithful,

00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:29.439
 sinful

00:21:29.439 --> 00:21:30.119
 generation.

00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:30.619
 And so

00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:31.059
 it was,

00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:31.559
 they died

00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:31.819
 in the

00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:32.159
 wilderness.

00:21:33.419 --> 00:21:34.059
 But the

00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:34.919
 next generation

00:21:34.919 --> 00:21:35.460
 had their

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.220
 own failure,

00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:37.500
 their failure

00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.559
 to pass

00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.159
 on the

00:21:39.159 --> 00:21:39.559
 tradition

00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:40.279
 to their

00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:40.759
 children.

00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:43.059
 It was

00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:43.579
 while they

00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:44.319
 were in

00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.119
 the wilderness

00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:46.199
 that they

00:21:46.199 --> 00:21:47.339
 failed to

00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:47.740
 do what

00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:48.079
 Moses

00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:48.720
 instructed

00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:49.039
 them.

00:21:49.939 --> 00:21:50.279
 In

00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:51.139
 Deuteronomy

00:21:51.139 --> 00:21:51.799
 32,

00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:52.919
 Moses taught

00:21:52.919 --> 00:21:53.579
 a song to

00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:54.220
 Israel so

00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:54.500
 that they

00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:55.039
 would remember

00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:55.559
 the ways

00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:55.859
 of the

00:21:55.859 --> 00:21:56.199
 Lord.

00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:57.539
 And he

00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:58.179
 finished

00:21:58.179 --> 00:21:58.720
 teaching

00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.259
 them this

00:21:59.259 --> 00:21:59.819
 song,

00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:00.460
 the end

00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:00.639
 of

00:22:00.639 --> 00:22:01.299
 Deuteronomy

00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:02.059
 32,

00:22:02.619 --> 00:22:03.299
 with these

00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:03.839
 words and

00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:04.259
 picking it

00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:04.559
 up at

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.659
 verse 45.

00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.079
 When

00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:08.899
 Moses finished

00:22:08.899 --> 00:22:09.679
 reciting all

00:22:09.679 --> 00:22:10.359
 these words

00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.519
 to Israel,

00:22:11.939 --> 00:22:12.699
 all Israel,

00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.460
 he said

00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:13.859
 to them,

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:16.159
 take to

00:22:16.159 --> 00:22:17.220
 heart all

00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:17.839
 the words

00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.439
 I have

00:22:18.439 --> 00:22:19.039
 solemnly

00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:19.679
 declared to

00:22:19.679 --> 00:22:20.099
 you this

00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:20.460
 day,

00:22:21.179 --> 00:22:21.980
 so that

00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:22.439
 you may

00:22:22.439 --> 00:22:23.099
 command your

00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:24.319
 children to

00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:25.359
 obey carefully

00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:26.199
 all the

00:22:26.199 --> 00:22:27.039
 words of

00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.680
 this law.

00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:29.539
 They are

00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:30.159
 not just

00:22:30.159 --> 00:22:31.240
 idle words

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:31.779
 for you,

00:22:32.399 --> 00:22:33.240
 they are

00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.319
 your life.

00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:36.079
 By them

00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:36.779
 you will

00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.359
 live long

00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:37.659
 in the

00:22:37.659 --> 00:22:38.559
 land you

00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:39.119
 are crossing

00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:39.700
 the Jordan

00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:40.639
 to possess.

00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:43.359
 But Moses'

00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.480
 expectation

00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.879
 that contentment

00:22:45.879 --> 00:22:46.720
 and prosperity

00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:47.659
 in their new

00:22:47.659 --> 00:22:48.500
 land would

00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:48.980
 lead to

00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:49.500
 spiritual

00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.639
 complacency

00:22:50.639 --> 00:22:51.599
 and eventually

00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:52.700
 to apostasy,

00:22:52.859 --> 00:22:53.799
 to abandoning

00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:54.619
 their God,

00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:55.679
 God, sadly

00:22:55.679 --> 00:22:56.739
 that came

00:22:56.739 --> 00:22:57.479
 to pass.

00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.019
 Sadly

00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.699
 too, it

00:22:59.699 --> 00:23:00.139
 fulfilled

00:23:00.139 --> 00:23:00.879
 Joshua's

00:23:00.879 --> 00:23:01.679
 expectation.

00:23:03.739 --> 00:23:05.199
 Joshua 24

00:23:05.199 --> 00:23:06.899
 describes how

00:23:06.899 --> 00:23:07.639
 Joshua put

00:23:07.639 --> 00:23:08.199
 the question

00:23:08.199 --> 00:23:08.579
 to the

00:23:08.579 --> 00:23:08.919
 gathered

00:23:08.919 --> 00:23:09.459
 people.

00:23:10.459 --> 00:23:10.839
 Choose

00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:11.439
 this day

00:23:11.439 --> 00:23:11.839
 whom you

00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:12.519
 will serve.

00:23:12.959 --> 00:23:13.519
 As for me

00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:13.879
 and my

00:23:13.879 --> 00:23:14.299
 house,

00:23:14.899 --> 00:23:15.199
 we will

00:23:15.199 --> 00:23:15.639
 serve the

00:23:15.639 --> 00:23:15.979
 Lord.

00:23:17.659 --> 00:23:18.439
 When the

00:23:18.439 --> 00:23:19.539
 people echoed

00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:20.019
 this choice,

00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:20.559
 yeah, we'll

00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:20.939
 serve the

00:23:20.939 --> 00:23:21.439
 Lord too.

00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:23.460
 Joshua came

00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:23.759
 out with

00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.340
 something quite

00:23:24.340 --> 00:23:24.920
 startling,

00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:25.519
 perhaps one

00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:25.880
 of the most

00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:26.460
 depressing

00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:27.140
 verses in

00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:27.600
 the whole

00:23:27.600 --> 00:23:28.240
 Bible.

00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:30.019
 Joshua said,

00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:31.820
 you are

00:23:31.820 --> 00:23:32.559
 not able

00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:33.160
 to serve

00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:33.740
 the Lord

00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:34.820
 for he

00:23:34.820 --> 00:23:35.440
 is a

00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.360
 holy God.

00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:37.559
 He is a

00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:38.380
 jealous God.

00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:39.620
 If you

00:23:39.620 --> 00:23:40.320
 forsake the

00:23:40.320 --> 00:23:41.320
 Lord, he

00:23:41.320 --> 00:23:42.120
 will turn

00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:43.160
 and do you

00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:43.640
 harm.

00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:45.400
 And that's

00:23:45.400 --> 00:23:46.860
 precisely what

00:23:46.860 --> 00:23:47.860
 our passage is

00:23:47.860 --> 00:23:48.600
 reflecting on

00:23:48.600 --> 00:23:49.120
 this evening

00:23:49.120 --> 00:23:50.000
 as this

00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:51.539
 theologian

00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.099
 from Israel

00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:52.839
 makes sense

00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:53.259
 of what's

00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:53.559
 happening

00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:54.299
 between God

00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:55.339
 and God's

00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:55.779
 people.

00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:57.339
 And with

00:23:57.339 --> 00:23:57.779
 this, we

00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.579
 then pass

00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:59.019
 into our

00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.660
 middle section

00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:00.019
 where we

00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:00.480
 see the

00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:01.599
 hard theological

00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:02.420
 work being

00:24:02.420 --> 00:24:03.059
 done in

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:03.920
 verses 11

00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:05.059
 to 19.

00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:07.579
 There is

00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:08.940
 here, having

00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:09.400
 had an

00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:10.640
 exchange of

00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:11.140
 the God of

00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:11.940
 Israel for

00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:12.400
 the God of

00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:13.059
 the nations,

00:24:13.420 --> 00:24:14.119
 we have

00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:14.819
 Israel

00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:15.839
 exposed.

00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:20.459
 so these

00:24:20.459 --> 00:24:21.199
 verses 11

00:24:21.199 --> 00:24:21.819
 to 19

00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:22.299
 give us

00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.059
 the theological

00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:23.720
 heart.

00:24:23.899 --> 00:24:24.659
 What is it

00:24:24.659 --> 00:24:25.439
 true to say

00:24:25.439 --> 00:24:26.399
 about God

00:24:26.399 --> 00:24:27.279
 in this

00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:28.079
 passage?

00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:29.879
 And in a

00:24:29.879 --> 00:24:30.919
 nutshell, it's

00:24:30.919 --> 00:24:31.419
 this.

00:24:32.679 --> 00:24:33.419
 The Lord,

00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.679
 being a

00:24:34.679 --> 00:24:35.779
 holy and

00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.559
 jealous God,

00:24:36.959 --> 00:24:37.699
 just saw in

00:24:37.699 --> 00:24:38.740
 Joshua 24,

00:24:39.919 --> 00:24:41.240
 fulfills his

00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:42.379
 word to his

00:24:42.379 --> 00:24:42.839
 people.

00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:42.879
 evil.

00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:43.919
 It's

00:24:43.919 --> 00:24:45.019
 precisely the

00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:45.599
 way our

00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:47.019
 passage puts

00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:47.279
 it.

00:24:50.439 --> 00:24:51.299
 So that's

00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:51.879
 the theological

00:24:51.879 --> 00:24:53.139
 understanding.

00:24:53.339 --> 00:24:53.679
 God is

00:24:53.679 --> 00:24:54.220
 faithful to

00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:54.839
 his word.

00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:56.419
 And there

00:24:56.419 --> 00:24:57.099
 comes with

00:24:57.099 --> 00:24:57.500
 it something

00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:57.939
 we might

00:24:57.939 --> 00:24:59.119
 call anthropology.

00:24:59.500 --> 00:24:59.839
 That is

00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:00.619
 something true

00:25:00.619 --> 00:25:01.339
 about human

00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:01.799
 beings,

00:25:01.959 --> 00:25:02.500
 something true

00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.279
 about us.

00:25:04.159 --> 00:25:04.559
 And that

00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:05.679
 is that the

00:25:05.679 --> 00:25:06.279
 people were

00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:07.299
 consistently

00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:09.000
 inclined towards

00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:10.659
 evil and

00:25:10.659 --> 00:25:11.579
 sank more

00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:11.899
 and more

00:25:11.899 --> 00:25:12.319
 deeply.

00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:13.439
 into those

00:25:13.439 --> 00:25:13.980
 ways.

00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.559
 So what we

00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:16.199
 see in these

00:25:16.199 --> 00:25:16.980
 verses then is

00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:17.939
 a sadly

00:25:17.939 --> 00:25:18.559
 consistent

00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:19.539
 people and

00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:20.240
 a completely

00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.059
 consistent

00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:21.980
 God.

00:25:23.139 --> 00:25:24.000
 God is

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:25.279
 holy and

00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.199
 cannot tolerate

00:25:26.199 --> 00:25:27.019
 idolatry.

00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:28.480
 But on the

00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.039
 other hand,

00:25:29.679 --> 00:25:30.419
 God is a

00:25:30.419 --> 00:25:31.299
 covenant God,

00:25:32.159 --> 00:25:32.919
 cannot

00:25:32.919 --> 00:25:33.859
 abandon

00:25:33.859 --> 00:25:34.839
 his people.

00:25:35.919 --> 00:25:36.539
 So God

00:25:36.539 --> 00:25:37.299
 acts in two

00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:38.179
 ways here,

00:25:38.359 --> 00:25:39.500
 two sides of

00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.359
 the same coin

00:25:40.359 --> 00:25:40.859
 really.

00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:41.699
 God

00:25:41.699 --> 00:25:42.240
 and if you

00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:42.879
 follow along

00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:43.319
 in verses

00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:44.319
 12 to

00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:44.859
 15,

00:25:44.979 --> 00:25:45.240
 you can

00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:46.039
 see Israel

00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:46.419
 did,

00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:47.219
 the Lord

00:25:47.219 --> 00:25:47.519
 did,

00:25:47.659 --> 00:25:47.939
 Israel

00:25:47.939 --> 00:25:48.240
 did,

00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:48.779
 the Lord

00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.419
 did.

00:25:50.979 --> 00:25:51.699
 And in

00:25:51.699 --> 00:25:52.359
 verses 12

00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:52.939
 to 15,

00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:53.740
 he hands

00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:54.159
 them then

00:25:54.159 --> 00:25:54.779
 over to

00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:55.579
 their desires,

00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:57.019
 just like

00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:57.759
 the exchanges

00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:59.399
 of Romans

00:25:59.399 --> 00:26:00.500
 chapter 1,

00:26:01.139 --> 00:26:02.159
 when people

00:26:02.159 --> 00:26:03.179
 exchange the

00:26:03.179 --> 00:26:03.740
 truth about

00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:04.379
 God for a

00:26:04.379 --> 00:26:04.839
 lie and

00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.500
 they're handed

00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:06.379
 over to

00:26:06.379 --> 00:26:07.119
 their desires.

00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:08.139
 so here,

00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:09.939
 Israel decides

00:26:09.939 --> 00:26:10.299
 that it

00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:11.679
 prefers Canaanite

00:26:11.679 --> 00:26:12.419
 gods and

00:26:12.419 --> 00:26:13.000
 Canaanite

00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.559
 ways.

00:26:14.659 --> 00:26:14.919
 And so

00:26:14.919 --> 00:26:15.879
 they're exposed

00:26:15.879 --> 00:26:17.000
 to Canaanite

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:18.039
 gods and

00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:18.619
 Canaanite

00:26:18.619 --> 00:26:19.139
 ways.

00:26:20.179 --> 00:26:20.819
 It's important

00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:21.579
 to see this

00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:22.459
 because the

00:26:22.459 --> 00:26:23.099
 lesson that we

00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:23.739
 take from

00:26:23.739 --> 00:26:24.579
 this isn't

00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:26.619
 that God

00:26:26.619 --> 00:26:27.959
 punishes bad

00:26:27.959 --> 00:26:28.519
 people.

00:26:30.199 --> 00:26:31.259
 The lesson

00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:31.739
 we take

00:26:31.739 --> 00:26:32.319
 from this

00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:33.259
 is that

00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:34.579
 the failure

00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:35.039
 of the

00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:35.339
 covenant

00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:36.379
 partner here

00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:37.520
 is respected.

00:26:39.080 --> 00:26:39.980
 As one

00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.620
 commentator

00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:41.120
 put it,

00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:42.120
 what appears

00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:42.480
 to be

00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.560
 divine punishment

00:26:43.560 --> 00:26:44.020
 in an

00:26:44.020 --> 00:26:45.020
 active sense

00:26:45.020 --> 00:26:46.660
 is actually

00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:47.500
 the people's

00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.300
 experience

00:26:48.300 --> 00:26:49.160
 of the

00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:49.780
 destructive

00:26:49.780 --> 00:26:50.880
 effects

00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:51.660
 of their

00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:52.120
 own

00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:53.080
 selfish

00:26:53.080 --> 00:26:53.860
 choices.

00:26:55.040 --> 00:26:55.500
 It leads

00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.100
 us to reflect

00:26:56.100 --> 00:26:56.760
 on the nature

00:26:56.760 --> 00:26:57.240
 then of

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.320
 God's love.

00:26:59.100 --> 00:26:59.860
 Where is

00:26:59.860 --> 00:27:00.640
 God's love

00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:01.380
 in this

00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:01.960
 kind of

00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.340
 respect?

00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:03.960
 Well,

00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.300
 it isn't

00:27:04.300 --> 00:27:05.160
 just warm

00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:05.860
 acceptance.

00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:07.740
 rather,

00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:08.240
 put it

00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:08.820
 this way,

00:27:10.120 --> 00:27:11.860
 God loves

00:27:11.860 --> 00:27:12.880
 you so

00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:14.640
 much that

00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:15.220
 he will

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:16.140
 make you

00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:17.440
 fit to

00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:18.020
 stand in

00:27:18.020 --> 00:27:18.860
 his presence.

00:27:19.340 --> 00:27:19.900
 He loves

00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:20.820
 you that

00:27:20.820 --> 00:27:21.380
 much.

00:27:22.380 --> 00:27:22.820
 Without

00:27:22.820 --> 00:27:23.360
 holiness,

00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:25.160
 no one

00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:25.780
 will see

00:27:25.780 --> 00:27:26.340
 the Lord,

00:27:26.620 --> 00:27:27.440
 says in

00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:27.880
 Hebrews.

00:27:28.920 --> 00:27:29.720
 So in

00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.160
 this sense,

00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:30.940
 God's love

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.640
 isn't quite

00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:32.380
 like our

00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:32.880
 love.

00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:32.940
 love.

00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:34.820
 We see

00:27:34.820 --> 00:27:35.300
 someone

00:27:35.300 --> 00:27:36.020
 beautiful,

00:27:37.080 --> 00:27:37.680
 we fall

00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:38.260
 in love.

00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:39.760
 But God

00:27:39.760 --> 00:27:40.120
 looked at

00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:40.620
 us and

00:27:40.620 --> 00:27:41.400
 saw something

00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:42.420
 quite hostile,

00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.140
 something quite

00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:44.880
 repugnant.

00:27:46.080 --> 00:27:46.660
 And God's

00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:47.860
 transforming work

00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:49.520
 will make us

00:27:49.520 --> 00:27:49.980
 beautiful.

00:27:51.020 --> 00:27:52.140
 That's quite

00:27:52.140 --> 00:27:52.660
 different.

00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:55.100
 So God's

00:27:55.100 --> 00:27:56.040
 love will

00:27:56.040 --> 00:27:56.780
 make you fit

00:27:56.780 --> 00:27:57.720
 to stand in

00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.540
 his presence.

00:27:58.539 --> 00:28:00.220
 God's work

00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:00.619
 does a

00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:01.259
 work of

00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:02.059
 transformation

00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:02.839
 to make me

00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:03.839
 fit for his

00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:04.480
 presence and

00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:04.980
 to know his

00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:05.440
 pleasure.

00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:07.200
 And so

00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:08.539
 idolatry must

00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.359
 be excluded.

00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:11.019
 Anything

00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:11.980
 rival to

00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.920
 God must

00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:14.000
 be excluded.

00:28:15.399 --> 00:28:16.240
 So these

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:17.059
 verses show

00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:17.940
 us that God's

00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.440
 judgments

00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:19.839
 are intended

00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:21.279
 for this,

00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:23.259
 to have the

00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:24.359
 capacity to

00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:25.619
 equip his

00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:26.680
 people for

00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:27.159
 holiness.

00:28:27.160 --> 00:28:27.360
 holiness.

00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.519
 That's one

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.060
 side of the

00:28:30.060 --> 00:28:30.360
 coin.

00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:31.560
 We turn it

00:28:31.560 --> 00:28:32.060
 over in

00:28:32.060 --> 00:28:33.140
 verses 16

00:28:33.140 --> 00:28:34.220
 to 19.

00:28:35.040 --> 00:28:35.640
 And again

00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:36.279
 we see

00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:38.120
 something else.

00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:39.019
 The Lord

00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:39.920
 raised up

00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:41.019
 judges who

00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.620
 saved them

00:28:41.620 --> 00:28:42.000
 out of the

00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.460
 hands of

00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:43.060
 their raiders.

00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:45.640
 So the

00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:46.259
 Lord raises

00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:47.300
 up deliverers

00:28:47.300 --> 00:28:47.700
 from their

00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:48.560
 oppressors.

00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:50.500
 But just

00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.460
 as the

00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:51.940
 Israelites

00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:52.980
 repudiated

00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:53.640
 God's

00:28:53.640 --> 00:28:54.259
 ways,

00:28:54.600 --> 00:28:55.560
 so they

00:28:55.560 --> 00:28:56.480
 repudiate

00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:57.059
 the

00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:58.039
 deliverers.

00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:58.920
 Verse 17,

00:28:59.200 --> 00:28:59.779
 they would

00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:00.559
 not listen

00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:01.400
 to their

00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:02.120
 judges.

00:29:04.120 --> 00:29:05.039
 So they

00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.900
 repudiate the

00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:06.440
 judges and

00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:07.120
 what happens

00:29:07.120 --> 00:29:08.839
 in shunning

00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:09.880
 the deliverer

00:29:09.880 --> 00:29:10.279
 that God

00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:10.880
 sends?

00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.079
 People

00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:13.660
 sink even

00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:14.019
 lower.

00:29:16.099 --> 00:29:16.460
 Now it's

00:29:16.460 --> 00:29:17.259
 sometimes said

00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:17.539
 that the

00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.079
 passage we're

00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:18.500
 looking at

00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.099
 this evening

00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:19.900
 gives us a

00:29:19.900 --> 00:29:20.339
 template,

00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:21.240
 a pattern

00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:22.420
 for the

00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:23.460
 stories of

00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:23.860
 the judges

00:29:23.860 --> 00:29:24.440
 that follow

00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:24.840
 through the

00:29:24.840 --> 00:29:25.160
 book.

00:29:26.100 --> 00:29:26.680
 But it

00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:27.240
 isn't quite

00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:27.700
 so.

00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:29.180
 We see

00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:29.920
 that pattern

00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:30.660
 most clearly

00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:31.400
 next week

00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:31.880
 when we see

00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:32.299
 the first

00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:32.720
 judge,

00:29:32.920 --> 00:29:33.420
 Othniel.

00:29:33.580 --> 00:29:33.940
 That's the

00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:34.820
 sort of

00:29:34.820 --> 00:29:35.279
 template

00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:36.059
 judge.

00:29:36.860 --> 00:29:37.420
 So why

00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:37.920
 do I say

00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.279
 that this

00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:38.820
 isn't the

00:29:38.820 --> 00:29:39.700
 template for

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:40.279
 the book

00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:40.720
 here?

00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:41.700
 Well,

00:29:41.860 --> 00:29:42.220
 there's

00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:42.700
 certain

00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.039
 things

00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:43.640
 missing

00:29:43.640 --> 00:29:44.019
 that,

00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:44.440
 in fact,

00:29:44.820 --> 00:29:45.059
 Graham

00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:45.660
 pointed us

00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:45.980
 to a

00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.180
 couple

00:29:46.180 --> 00:29:46.980
 weeks ago.

00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:48.220
 In this

00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:49.220
 stark

00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:50.559
 theological

00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:51.519
 evaluation

00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.299
 of this

00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:53.079
 God and

00:29:53.079 --> 00:29:53.299
 this

00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:53.720
 people

00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.220
 at this

00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:54.660
 moment,

00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:56.579
 there's

00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:56.960
 no

00:29:56.960 --> 00:29:57.680
 repentance.

00:29:59.639 --> 00:30:00.420
 You might

00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:00.819
 have noticed

00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:01.559
 this last

00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:02.660
 week at

00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:03.059
 the beginning

00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:03.579
 of chapter

00:30:03.579 --> 00:30:03.900
 two,

00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:04.259
 when they're

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:04.799
 weeping

00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:05.460
 and crying

00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:05.740
 at

00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:06.299
 bochim,

00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:07.519
 there's

00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:07.819
 no

00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:08.480
 repentance.

00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.720
 When God,

00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:10.680
 the Lord,

00:30:10.900 --> 00:30:11.579
 raises up a

00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:12.000
 judge in

00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.859
 verse 16,

00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:14.400
 there's no

00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:15.099
 repentance.

00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.259
 God's

00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:18.900
 action to

00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:19.759
 raise the

00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.460
 judge is

00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:21.240
 his own

00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:22.019
 divine

00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:22.960
 initiative.

00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:23.980
 And to

00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.380
 sign it

00:30:24.380 --> 00:30:24.799
 has to

00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:25.220
 be said

00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:25.980
 of God's

00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:26.660
 sheer

00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:27.259
 grace.

00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:29.099
 The

00:30:29.099 --> 00:30:29.519
 people's

00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.000
 actions

00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:31.079
 expose

00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:31.440
 them to

00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:31.819
 enemies,

00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:32.500
 invite the

00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:33.220
 enemy into

00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:33.960
 their lives.

00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.240
 God's

00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:36.799
 action

00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.720
 brings a

00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:38.079
 savior,

00:30:39.079 --> 00:30:39.900
 which offers

00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:40.559
 a space

00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:41.539
 for repentance

00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:42.559
 and return.

00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:43.480
 But in

00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:43.740
 fact,

00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:44.440
 that's the

00:30:44.440 --> 00:30:45.079
 second thing

00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:45.920
 that isn't

00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:46.599
 in our

00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:47.099
 passage.

00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:47.880
 There is

00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:48.960
 no period

00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:49.740
 of peace,

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.380
 as we'll

00:30:50.380 --> 00:30:51.140
 see as

00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:51.540
 we move

00:30:51.540 --> 00:30:52.400
 through some

00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:52.680
 of the

00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:53.220
 stories in

00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:53.620
 weeks to

00:30:53.620 --> 00:30:53.940
 come.

00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:54.520
 There's

00:30:54.520 --> 00:30:55.340
 only a

00:30:55.340 --> 00:30:55.960
 relentless

00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:57.600
 descent into

00:30:57.600 --> 00:30:58.240
 a settled

00:30:58.240 --> 00:31:00.020
 existence away

00:31:00.020 --> 00:31:01.080
 from the

00:31:01.080 --> 00:31:02.000
 living God.

00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:03.040
 And the

00:31:03.040 --> 00:31:03.580
 third thing

00:31:03.580 --> 00:31:04.100
 we don't

00:31:04.100 --> 00:31:04.800
 have in

00:31:04.800 --> 00:31:05.360
 our passage

00:31:05.360 --> 00:31:05.720
 that we

00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:07.200
 see frequently

00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:07.860
 throughout the

00:31:07.860 --> 00:31:08.640
 stories to

00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:09.520
 follow is

00:31:09.520 --> 00:31:10.240
 there is no

00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:11.200
 spirit of

00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:11.900
 God at

00:31:11.900 --> 00:31:13.300
 work who

00:31:13.300 --> 00:31:14.200
 will act to

00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:15.020
 empower the

00:31:15.020 --> 00:31:15.740
 deliverers.

00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:18.019
 God's

00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:18.460
 So in

00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:18.640
 our

00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:18.900
 middle

00:31:18.900 --> 00:31:19.420
 section

00:31:19.420 --> 00:31:19.640
 here,

00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:19.819
 the

00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:20.380
 theological

00:31:20.380 --> 00:31:21.200
 heart of

00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:21.319
 the

00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:21.819
 passage,

00:31:21.940 --> 00:31:22.359
 we see

00:31:22.359 --> 00:31:22.559
 a

00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:23.140
 consistent

00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:23.839
 people

00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:24.779
 drifting

00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:25.240
 away

00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:25.620
 from the

00:31:25.620 --> 00:31:25.819
 living

00:31:25.819 --> 00:31:26.259
 God.

00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:26.920
 And we

00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:27.339
 see a

00:31:27.339 --> 00:31:27.940
 consistent

00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:29.059
 God who

00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:29.779
 is holy,

00:31:30.380 --> 00:31:31.120
 exposing his

00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:31.599
 people to

00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:32.099
 the pain

00:31:32.099 --> 00:31:32.500
 that may

00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:32.920
 turn them

00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:33.299
 back to

00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:33.799
 himself,

00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:35.759
 but also

00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.339
 sending them

00:31:36.339 --> 00:31:36.920
 saviors.

00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:37.599
 If only

00:31:37.599 --> 00:31:38.440
 they will

00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:39.240
 listen.

00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:40.920
 Which brings

00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:41.480
 us then to

00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:42.039
 the third

00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:42.779
 section,

00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:43.500
 which starts

00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:44.259
 in verse

00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:44.940
 20 and

00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:45.480
 runs through

00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:45.759
 to the

00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:46.019
 end of

00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:46.279
 our

00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:46.980
 passage at

00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:47.299
 3,

00:31:47.539 --> 00:31:48.460
 verse 6.

00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:49.700
 The end

00:31:49.700 --> 00:31:50.339
 result is

00:31:50.339 --> 00:31:50.819
 that God

00:31:50.819 --> 00:31:51.700
 determines to

00:31:51.700 --> 00:31:53.059
 use Israel's

00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:53.799
 enemies to

00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.559
 drive his

00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:55.240
 people to

00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:55.899
 himself.

00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.519
 Or rather,

00:31:58.680 --> 00:31:59.220
 put it slightly

00:31:59.220 --> 00:31:59.680
 differently,

00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:01.700
 to use Israel's

00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:02.339
 enemies to

00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:03.240
 test Israel,

00:32:03.379 --> 00:32:04.000
 to examine

00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.399
 them, to

00:32:04.399 --> 00:32:05.240
 see which

00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:05.720
 way they

00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:06.299
 will walk

00:32:06.299 --> 00:32:06.660
 in.

00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:08.160
 And sadly,

00:32:08.879 --> 00:32:09.379
 it's a

00:32:09.379 --> 00:32:10.740
 failed test.

00:32:11.879 --> 00:32:12.119
 Well,

00:32:12.119 --> 00:32:12.879
 this represents

00:32:12.879 --> 00:32:13.859
 another sign

00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:14.539
 of grace,

00:32:14.739 --> 00:32:15.059
 really.

00:32:15.879 --> 00:32:16.719
 The oppressors

00:32:16.719 --> 00:32:16.979
 are the

00:32:16.979 --> 00:32:19.199
 enemies that

00:32:19.199 --> 00:32:19.599
 the people

00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:19.939
 have, in a

00:32:19.939 --> 00:32:20.619
 sense, chosen

00:32:20.619 --> 00:32:21.579
 for themselves

00:32:21.579 --> 00:32:22.059
 to their

00:32:22.059 --> 00:32:22.739
 own harm,

00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:23.839
 but become

00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:25.599
 in God's

00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:26.219
 hands the

00:32:26.219 --> 00:32:27.259
 agents to

00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:28.719
 turn the

00:32:28.719 --> 00:32:29.979
 people back

00:32:29.979 --> 00:32:30.619
 to God.

00:32:31.819 --> 00:32:32.559
 This isn't

00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:33.639
 an isolated

00:32:33.639 --> 00:32:34.799
 example of

00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:35.239
 this in

00:32:35.239 --> 00:32:35.599
 Scripture.

00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:37.279
 It starts

00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:37.859
 in the

00:32:37.859 --> 00:32:38.699
 garden with

00:32:38.699 --> 00:32:39.319
 Adam and

00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:40.719
 Eve being

00:32:40.719 --> 00:32:41.439
 tested to

00:32:41.439 --> 00:32:41.919
 see which

00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:42.820
 way they

00:32:42.820 --> 00:32:43.460
 will walk.

00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:44.240
 It's

00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:45.340
 echoed in

00:32:45.340 --> 00:32:45.820
 the prayer

00:32:45.820 --> 00:32:46.180
 of the

00:32:46.180 --> 00:32:46.680
 psalmist.

00:32:47.420 --> 00:32:47.980
 Search me,

00:32:48.080 --> 00:32:48.480
 O God,

00:32:48.600 --> 00:32:49.100
 know my

00:32:49.100 --> 00:32:50.200
 heart, try

00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:50.820
 me, know

00:32:50.820 --> 00:32:51.580
 my thoughts

00:32:51.580 --> 00:32:52.200
 to see if

00:32:52.200 --> 00:32:53.220
 there be any

00:32:53.220 --> 00:32:54.039
 grievous way

00:32:54.039 --> 00:32:54.519
 in me.

00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:55.519
 Lead me in

00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:55.940
 the way

00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:56.880
 everlasting.

00:32:58.100 --> 00:32:58.759
 Or even,

00:32:58.980 --> 00:33:00.160
 as Jesus

00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:01.120
 said to his

00:33:01.120 --> 00:33:01.960
 disciples, as

00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:02.519
 he said to

00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:03.140
 Peter in

00:33:03.140 --> 00:33:04.380
 Luke 22,

00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:05.140
 Simon,

00:33:05.400 --> 00:33:05.800
 Simon,

00:33:06.920 --> 00:33:07.720
 Satan has

00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:08.420
 asked to

00:33:08.420 --> 00:33:09.640
 sift all of

00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:09.960
 you with

00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:10.320
 wheat.

00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:11.700
 But I

00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:12.240
 prayed for

00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:12.439
 you,

00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:12.759
 Simon,

00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:13.720
 that your

00:33:13.720 --> 00:33:15.059
 faith may

00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:15.679
 not fail.

00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:17.119
 This is the

00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:17.659
 way God

00:33:17.659 --> 00:33:18.799
 works with

00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:19.419
 his people.

00:33:20.419 --> 00:33:21.019
 And there

00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:21.399
 is our

00:33:21.399 --> 00:33:22.159
 passage as

00:33:22.159 --> 00:33:22.659
 a whole.

00:33:22.879 --> 00:33:23.220
 And if we

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:24.119
 stand back

00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:25.159
 for a

00:33:25.159 --> 00:33:25.539
 moment, I

00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:26.139
 want you to

00:33:26.139 --> 00:33:26.879
 notice just

00:33:26.879 --> 00:33:27.579
 a few

00:33:27.579 --> 00:33:28.839
 verses in

00:33:28.839 --> 00:33:29.419
 particular.

00:33:30.679 --> 00:33:31.399
 There's a

00:33:31.399 --> 00:33:32.240
 certain way

00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:33.500
 in which the

00:33:33.500 --> 00:33:34.679
 notion of

00:33:34.679 --> 00:33:35.539
 service

00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:37.279
 frames the

00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:37.819
 passage.

00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:38.740
 look at

00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:38.939
 2,

00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:39.700
 verse 7.

00:33:40.099 --> 00:33:40.299
 As the

00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:41.399
 passage begins,

00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:42.379
 the people

00:33:42.379 --> 00:33:44.220
 served the

00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:44.639
 Lord.

00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:45.539
 And that's

00:33:45.539 --> 00:33:45.819
 where we

00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:46.279
 start.

00:33:46.619 --> 00:33:47.319
 It's okay.

00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:48.700
 But then as

00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:49.159
 we've seen,

00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:49.579
 there's this

00:33:49.579 --> 00:33:50.519
 exchange, and

00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:51.139
 the exchange

00:33:51.139 --> 00:33:51.679
 comes at

00:33:51.679 --> 00:33:51.919
 2,

00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:52.639
 verse 11.

00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:53.439
 The

00:33:53.439 --> 00:33:54.019
 Israelite

00:33:54.019 --> 00:33:55.720
 served the

00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:56.319
 Baals.

00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:57.980
 And then as

00:33:57.980 --> 00:33:58.599
 we work into

00:33:58.599 --> 00:33:59.659
 this exchange,

00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:00.579
 it gets worse

00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:01.960
 in verse 13.

00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:03.299
 They served

00:34:03.299 --> 00:34:03.960
 not only

00:34:03.960 --> 00:34:04.639
 Baal,

00:34:05.179 --> 00:34:05.939
 but also

00:34:05.940 --> 00:34:06.420
 the

00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:07.320
 Ashtoreths.

00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:08.400
 And then

00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:08.880
 go down to

00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:09.400
 the end of

00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:09.940
 this section

00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:10.400
 at verse

00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:11.019
 19.

00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:13.500
 Their ways

00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.179
 became even

00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:14.860
 more corrupt

00:34:14.860 --> 00:34:15.200
 than their

00:34:15.200 --> 00:34:17.280
 fathers,

00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:18.659
 following other

00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:19.059
 gods,

00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:20.900
 serving and

00:34:20.900 --> 00:34:21.519
 worshipping

00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:22.139
 them, in

00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:22.420
 fact, the

00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.039
 gods of the

00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:23.920
 nations now.

00:34:24.280 --> 00:34:25.039
 Until in

00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:25.599
 the last

00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.159
 verse we

00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:26.579
 read,

00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:27.740
 they took

00:34:27.740 --> 00:34:28.380
 their daughters

00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:29.079
 in marriage,

00:34:29.220 --> 00:34:29.599
 gave their

00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:30.280
 own daughters

00:34:30.280 --> 00:34:30.880
 to their

00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:31.480
 sons,

00:34:32.099 --> 00:34:32.559
 Canaanites,

00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:33.920
 Hittites,

00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:34.380
 Amorites,

00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:34.840
 Perizzites,

00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:35.220
 Hivites,

00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:36.019
 and Jebusites,

00:34:36.660 --> 00:34:38.519
 and served

00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:39.660
 their god.

00:34:40.280 --> 00:34:41.260
 They start

00:34:41.260 --> 00:34:43.380
 serving the

00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:43.780
 Lord.

00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:45.440
 The Lord's

00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:46.300
 serving the

00:34:46.300 --> 00:34:46.700
 Lord is

00:34:46.700 --> 00:34:47.300
 replaced by

00:34:47.300 --> 00:34:48.180
 serving Baal.

00:34:48.600 --> 00:34:49.120
 To serving

00:34:49.120 --> 00:34:49.880
 Baal is added

00:34:49.880 --> 00:34:50.980
 serving Ashtoreth.

00:34:51.620 --> 00:34:52.360
 Then they're

00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:52.900
 serving the

00:34:52.900 --> 00:34:53.380
 gods of the

00:34:53.380 --> 00:34:53.760
 nations,

00:34:54.019 --> 00:34:54.579
 and by the

00:34:54.579 --> 00:34:55.140
 time we get

00:34:55.140 --> 00:34:55.539
 to 3,

00:34:55.640 --> 00:34:56.120
 verse 6,

00:34:56.240 --> 00:34:57.059
 their service

00:34:57.059 --> 00:34:58.100
 is just

00:34:58.100 --> 00:34:59.140
 indiscriminate,

00:35:00.140 --> 00:35:00.860
 and the

00:35:00.860 --> 00:35:01.940
 Israelites are

00:35:01.940 --> 00:35:03.100
 indistinguishable

00:35:03.100 --> 00:35:04.059
 from the

00:35:04.059 --> 00:35:04.780
 Canaanites.

00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:07.059
 We often

00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:07.660
 think of

00:35:07.660 --> 00:35:08.340
 the Exodus

00:35:08.340 --> 00:35:09.460
 in terms

00:35:09.460 --> 00:35:10.900
 of freedom,

00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:12.120
 great Scottish

00:35:12.120 --> 00:35:12.840
 word too,

00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:14.559
 the freedom,

00:35:14.720 --> 00:35:15.380
 Israel being

00:35:15.380 --> 00:35:16.360
 set free

00:35:16.360 --> 00:35:17.980
 from slavery

00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:18.360
 to the

00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:18.820
 Egyptians.

00:35:20.240 --> 00:35:20.620
 But if some

00:35:20.620 --> 00:35:21.019
 have pointed

00:35:21.019 --> 00:35:21.680
 out, that's

00:35:21.680 --> 00:35:22.660
 a bit of a

00:35:22.660 --> 00:35:23.440
 misreading of

00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:23.920
 what's going

00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:24.280
 on in

00:35:24.280 --> 00:35:24.660
 Exodus.

00:35:25.600 --> 00:35:26.280
 The Exodus

00:35:26.280 --> 00:35:27.019
 is all about

00:35:27.019 --> 00:35:27.559
 this.

00:35:28.760 --> 00:35:29.900
 Who will

00:35:29.900 --> 00:35:30.880
 Israel serve?

00:35:31.880 --> 00:35:32.519
 Will Israel

00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:33.400
 serve Pharaoh,

00:35:33.400 --> 00:35:34.880
 or will

00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:36.019
 Israel serve

00:35:36.019 --> 00:35:36.559
 the Lord?

00:35:37.880 --> 00:35:39.099
 Once put

00:35:39.099 --> 00:35:39.500
 it in those

00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:40.119
 terms, I'm

00:35:40.119 --> 00:35:41.180
 sorry, but

00:35:41.180 --> 00:35:41.780
 Bob Dylan

00:35:41.780 --> 00:35:42.380
 came to

00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:42.680
 mind.

00:35:44.680 --> 00:35:46.000
 A 1979

00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:47.780
 album,

00:35:47.920 --> 00:35:48.519
 Slow Train

00:35:48.519 --> 00:35:48.920
 Coming,

00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:49.680
 included the

00:35:49.680 --> 00:35:50.480
 Grammy Award

00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:51.320
 winning song,

00:35:52.360 --> 00:35:52.900
 you gotta

00:35:52.900 --> 00:35:54.119
 serve somebody.

00:35:55.699 --> 00:35:56.440
 And a

00:35:56.440 --> 00:35:57.480
 remarkable lyric

00:35:57.480 --> 00:35:58.340
 which covers

00:35:58.340 --> 00:35:59.460
 the vast

00:35:59.460 --> 00:36:00.559
 majority of

00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:01.159
 people on

00:36:01.159 --> 00:36:01.659
 the planet,

00:36:02.199 --> 00:36:03.920
 includes this

00:36:03.920 --> 00:36:04.880
 verse repeated

00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:05.619
 over and over

00:36:05.619 --> 00:36:06.059
 again.

00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:07.960
 You're gonna

00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:08.800
 have to serve

00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:09.380
 somebody.

00:36:09.920 --> 00:36:10.800
 Yes, indeed,

00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:11.519
 you're gonna

00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:12.280
 have to serve

00:36:12.280 --> 00:36:12.800
 somebody.

00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:13.800
 well, it

00:36:13.800 --> 00:36:14.440
 may be the

00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:15.680
 devil, or

00:36:15.680 --> 00:36:16.380
 it may be

00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:17.880
 the Lord, but

00:36:17.880 --> 00:36:18.240
 you're gonna

00:36:18.240 --> 00:36:19.640
 have to serve

00:36:19.640 --> 00:36:20.220
 somebody.

00:36:21.780 --> 00:36:22.380
 That's

00:36:22.380 --> 00:36:23.720
 Judges 2

00:36:23.720 --> 00:36:24.860
 in a nutshell.

00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:27.380
 And perhaps

00:36:27.380 --> 00:36:28.220
 you're here this

00:36:28.220 --> 00:36:28.620
 evening,

00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:30.580
 recognizing

00:36:30.580 --> 00:36:32.000
 in this

00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:32.760
 living and

00:36:32.760 --> 00:36:33.400
 true God,

00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:34.160
 the one to

00:36:34.160 --> 00:36:35.019
 whom you owe

00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:36.180
 your life,

00:36:36.780 --> 00:36:37.480
 and your

00:36:37.480 --> 00:36:37.900
 allegiance.

00:36:37.900 --> 00:36:39.579
 And you're

00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:40.099
 beginning to

00:36:40.099 --> 00:36:41.180
 sense in

00:36:41.180 --> 00:36:42.360
 the pleasures

00:36:42.360 --> 00:36:42.960
 of the world

00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:43.740
 around you

00:36:43.740 --> 00:36:45.619
 snares that

00:36:45.619 --> 00:36:46.300
 separate you

00:36:46.300 --> 00:36:46.940
 from God.

00:36:47.860 --> 00:36:48.700
 You wonder

00:36:48.700 --> 00:36:49.260
 how you can

00:36:49.260 --> 00:36:50.360
 stop being a

00:36:50.360 --> 00:36:51.240
 slave to

00:36:51.240 --> 00:36:52.000
 sin to

00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:53.380
 serve this

00:36:53.380 --> 00:36:54.579
 awesome and

00:36:54.579 --> 00:36:55.180
 life-giving

00:36:55.180 --> 00:36:55.700
 God.

00:36:56.840 --> 00:36:57.480
 Well, our

00:36:57.480 --> 00:36:58.059
 passage,

00:36:58.700 --> 00:36:59.579
 perhaps quietly,

00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:00.320
 but still

00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:01.160
 insistently,

00:37:01.720 --> 00:37:02.539
 points forward

00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:03.200
 to God's

00:37:03.200 --> 00:37:04.019
 gracious

00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:05.240
 provision of

00:37:05.240 --> 00:37:05.800
 a Savior

00:37:05.800 --> 00:37:07.340
 for his

00:37:07.340 --> 00:37:07.780
 people,

00:37:07.900 --> 00:37:08.880
 and in

00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:09.200
 Jesus,

00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:10.280
 he has

00:37:10.280 --> 00:37:11.019
 provided the

00:37:11.019 --> 00:37:11.740
 ultimate and

00:37:11.740 --> 00:37:12.539
 only Savior

00:37:12.539 --> 00:37:13.200
 for every

00:37:13.200 --> 00:37:14.300
 nation on

00:37:14.300 --> 00:37:15.099
 planet Earth.

00:37:16.220 --> 00:37:16.940
 Jesus bore

00:37:16.940 --> 00:37:17.599
 the punishment

00:37:17.599 --> 00:37:18.700
 for our

00:37:18.700 --> 00:37:19.660
 wrong choices

00:37:19.660 --> 00:37:20.619
 so we

00:37:20.619 --> 00:37:22.099
 could share

00:37:22.099 --> 00:37:22.880
 in his new

00:37:22.880 --> 00:37:23.420
 life,

00:37:24.780 --> 00:37:25.460
 living by

00:37:25.460 --> 00:37:26.300
 his strength

00:37:26.300 --> 00:37:27.440
 in the

00:37:27.440 --> 00:37:28.639
 friendship of

00:37:28.639 --> 00:37:29.019
 God.

00:37:30.180 --> 00:37:30.639
 This

00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:31.280
 captures

00:37:31.280 --> 00:37:32.019
 something of

00:37:32.019 --> 00:37:32.579
 your thoughts

00:37:32.579 --> 00:37:33.180
 this evening.

00:37:34.260 --> 00:37:35.380
 I'd love to

00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:35.900
 talk with you

00:37:35.900 --> 00:37:36.400
 after the

00:37:36.400 --> 00:37:36.900
 service,

00:37:36.900 --> 00:37:38.360
 prayer together

00:37:38.360 --> 00:37:38.900
 so that you

00:37:38.900 --> 00:37:39.420
 too can

00:37:39.420 --> 00:37:40.760
 know God's

00:37:40.760 --> 00:37:41.340
 grace at

00:37:41.340 --> 00:37:42.260
 work in

00:37:42.260 --> 00:37:42.800
 your own

00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:43.460
 life.

00:37:46.420 --> 00:37:47.139
 Well, as

00:37:47.139 --> 00:37:48.139
 we begin to

00:37:48.139 --> 00:37:48.720
 wind down

00:37:48.720 --> 00:37:49.920
 then, three

00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:50.599
 things to

00:37:50.599 --> 00:37:51.260
 reflect on

00:37:51.260 --> 00:37:52.099
 that arise

00:37:52.099 --> 00:37:52.400
 from the

00:37:52.400 --> 00:37:52.920
 passage of

00:37:52.920 --> 00:37:53.300
 the whole.

00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:53.860
 I think if we

00:37:53.860 --> 00:37:54.180
 had an

00:37:54.180 --> 00:37:54.780
 agenda, this

00:37:54.780 --> 00:37:55.200
 would be the

00:37:55.200 --> 00:37:56.160
 matters arising

00:37:56.160 --> 00:37:56.800
 section,

00:37:57.660 --> 00:37:58.300
 which usually is

00:37:58.300 --> 00:37:58.760
 at the beginning

00:37:58.760 --> 00:37:59.400
 of the agenda,

00:37:59.500 --> 00:38:00.059
 but we are

00:38:00.059 --> 00:38:01.099
 towards the

00:38:01.099 --> 00:38:01.420
 end.

00:38:01.420 --> 00:38:02.659
 the first

00:38:02.659 --> 00:38:03.519
 matter arising

00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:04.099
 is this.

00:38:05.559 --> 00:38:06.480
 The notion

00:38:06.480 --> 00:38:07.099
 that God

00:38:07.099 --> 00:38:08.740
 tests us,

00:38:09.539 --> 00:38:10.579
 tests Israel,

00:38:11.119 --> 00:38:11.840
 tests Adam

00:38:11.840 --> 00:38:12.340
 and Eve,

00:38:12.720 --> 00:38:13.599
 tests Peter,

00:38:14.599 --> 00:38:15.280
 might seem a

00:38:15.280 --> 00:38:16.099
 bit unfair.

00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:18.700
 Unfair that

00:38:18.700 --> 00:38:19.420
 our choices,

00:38:19.700 --> 00:38:20.420
 good and bad,

00:38:20.500 --> 00:38:21.559
 have consequences.

00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:22.559
 It might seem

00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:23.460
 hard, especially

00:38:23.460 --> 00:38:24.400
 if we're making

00:38:24.400 --> 00:38:25.400
 poor choices.

00:38:25.400 --> 00:38:27.160
 But this

00:38:27.160 --> 00:38:27.800
 has always

00:38:27.800 --> 00:38:29.740
 been God's

00:38:29.740 --> 00:38:30.780
 means to

00:38:30.780 --> 00:38:31.340
 call his

00:38:31.340 --> 00:38:31.820
 wayward

00:38:31.820 --> 00:38:33.119
 creatures to

00:38:33.119 --> 00:38:33.700
 himself.

00:38:35.619 --> 00:38:36.500
 God allowed

00:38:36.500 --> 00:38:37.360
 these painful

00:38:37.360 --> 00:38:38.380
 experiences into

00:38:38.380 --> 00:38:39.519
 the lives of

00:38:39.519 --> 00:38:40.360
 his people.

00:38:40.960 --> 00:38:41.500
 God allows

00:38:41.500 --> 00:38:42.760
 painful experiences

00:38:42.760 --> 00:38:43.480
 into our

00:38:43.480 --> 00:38:44.039
 lives.

00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:45.519
 Why doesn't

00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:45.820
 he just

00:38:45.820 --> 00:38:46.460
 prevent it?

00:38:46.539 --> 00:38:46.860
 Why doesn't

00:38:46.860 --> 00:38:47.579
 he just stop

00:38:47.579 --> 00:38:49.599
 us from

00:38:49.599 --> 00:38:50.440
 making those

00:38:50.440 --> 00:38:50.940
 choices?

00:38:52.320 --> 00:38:52.579
 Of course,

00:38:52.639 --> 00:38:53.059
 we're still

00:38:53.059 --> 00:38:53.920
 thinking now about

00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:54.579
 God's covenant

00:38:54.579 --> 00:38:55.119
 people.

00:38:55.400 --> 00:38:55.680
 And about

00:38:55.680 --> 00:38:56.579
 us as

00:38:56.579 --> 00:38:57.139
 Christians,

00:38:57.340 --> 00:38:57.760
 who are

00:38:57.760 --> 00:38:58.380
 Christians here

00:38:58.380 --> 00:38:59.000
 this evening,

00:38:59.340 --> 00:38:59.639
 why doesn't

00:38:59.639 --> 00:38:59.920
 he just

00:38:59.920 --> 00:39:00.480
 prevent us

00:39:00.480 --> 00:39:00.960
 from having

00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:01.440
 pain?

00:39:02.639 --> 00:39:03.000
 Well,

00:39:04.260 --> 00:39:04.940
 difficult

00:39:04.940 --> 00:39:05.639
 question.

00:39:06.720 --> 00:39:07.300
 Here's one

00:39:07.300 --> 00:39:08.380
 response from

00:39:08.380 --> 00:39:08.820
 C.S.

00:39:08.900 --> 00:39:09.099
 Lewis,

00:39:09.320 --> 00:39:09.619
 who thought

00:39:09.619 --> 00:39:10.220
 quite deeply

00:39:10.220 --> 00:39:11.039
 about this.

00:39:12.880 --> 00:39:13.559
 Lewis writes,

00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:16.139
 pain is not

00:39:16.139 --> 00:39:17.180
 only immediately

00:39:17.180 --> 00:39:18.440
 recognizable as

00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:19.760
 evil, but

00:39:19.760 --> 00:39:20.660
 evil impossible

00:39:20.660 --> 00:39:21.460
 to ignore.

00:39:22.800 --> 00:39:23.780
 We can rest

00:39:23.780 --> 00:39:24.800
 contentedly in

00:39:24.800 --> 00:39:25.760
 our sins and

00:39:25.760 --> 00:39:26.820
 stupidities.

00:39:28.019 --> 00:39:28.960
 And anyone

00:39:28.960 --> 00:39:29.560
 who's watched

00:39:29.560 --> 00:39:30.120
 gluttons

00:39:30.120 --> 00:39:30.960
 shoveling down

00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:31.380
 the most

00:39:31.380 --> 00:39:32.440
 exquisite food

00:39:32.440 --> 00:39:32.900
 as if they

00:39:32.900 --> 00:39:33.340
 didn't know

00:39:33.340 --> 00:39:33.600
 what they

00:39:33.600 --> 00:39:34.220
 were eating

00:39:34.220 --> 00:39:34.820
 will admit

00:39:34.820 --> 00:39:35.940
 that we

00:39:35.940 --> 00:39:36.580
 can even

00:39:36.580 --> 00:39:37.720
 ignore pleasure.

00:39:39.140 --> 00:39:40.280
 But pain

00:39:40.280 --> 00:39:41.420
 insists on

00:39:41.420 --> 00:39:42.160
 being attended

00:39:42.160 --> 00:39:42.539
 to.

00:39:43.900 --> 00:39:44.600
 God

00:39:44.600 --> 00:39:45.820
 whispers to

00:39:45.820 --> 00:39:46.860
 us in our

00:39:46.860 --> 00:39:47.300
 pleasures.

00:39:48.620 --> 00:39:49.340
 He speaks

00:39:49.340 --> 00:39:50.260
 in our

00:39:50.260 --> 00:39:50.900
 conscience,

00:39:51.300 --> 00:39:52.840
 but shouts

00:39:52.840 --> 00:39:53.780
 in our

00:39:53.780 --> 00:39:54.420
 pains.

00:39:55.600 --> 00:39:56.280
 It is

00:39:56.280 --> 00:39:57.700
 his megaphone

00:39:57.700 --> 00:39:58.900
 to rouse

00:39:58.900 --> 00:39:59.700
 a deaf

00:39:59.700 --> 00:40:00.500
 world.

00:40:02.200 --> 00:40:02.740
 Well, the

00:40:02.740 --> 00:40:03.320
 whole of

00:40:03.320 --> 00:40:04.280
 Lewis's book,

00:40:04.360 --> 00:40:04.740
 The Problem

00:40:04.740 --> 00:40:05.320
 of Pain,

00:40:05.420 --> 00:40:06.180
 is well worth

00:40:06.180 --> 00:40:06.720
 reading and

00:40:06.720 --> 00:40:07.500
 pondering if you

00:40:07.500 --> 00:40:08.480
 haven't already.

00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:10.079
 But here he

00:40:10.079 --> 00:40:10.760
 goes on to

00:40:10.760 --> 00:40:11.420
 discuss how

00:40:11.420 --> 00:40:12.100
 God uses,

00:40:12.220 --> 00:40:13.220
 even sends,

00:40:13.220 --> 00:40:14.300
 pain into

00:40:14.300 --> 00:40:15.260
 our lives

00:40:15.260 --> 00:40:16.540
 as one of

00:40:16.540 --> 00:40:17.080
 his means

00:40:17.080 --> 00:40:18.060
 of shattering

00:40:18.060 --> 00:40:18.940
 our illusions

00:40:18.940 --> 00:40:20.680
 of self-sufficiency

00:40:20.680 --> 00:40:22.320
 to conform

00:40:22.320 --> 00:40:23.360
 us to

00:40:23.360 --> 00:40:23.940
 Christ.

00:40:24.840 --> 00:40:25.420
 So much

00:40:25.420 --> 00:40:26.620
 as Paul

00:40:26.620 --> 00:40:27.060
 said in

00:40:27.060 --> 00:40:27.640
 Philippians,

00:40:27.760 --> 00:40:28.080
 the letter

00:40:28.080 --> 00:40:28.540
 we're looking

00:40:28.540 --> 00:40:29.180
 at in our

00:40:29.180 --> 00:40:30.720
 morning sermons,

00:40:31.680 --> 00:40:32.780
 not yet being

00:40:32.780 --> 00:40:33.280
 perfect,

00:40:33.440 --> 00:40:34.380
 we press

00:40:34.380 --> 00:40:34.820
 on,

00:40:36.020 --> 00:40:36.500
 straining

00:40:36.500 --> 00:40:37.180
 forward to

00:40:37.180 --> 00:40:38.000
 what lies

00:40:38.000 --> 00:40:38.400
 ahead,

00:40:38.920 --> 00:40:39.480
 to be

00:40:39.480 --> 00:40:40.440
 conformed

00:40:40.440 --> 00:40:41.320
 to Christ.

00:40:42.300 --> 00:40:43.020
 In the same

00:40:43.020 --> 00:40:43.580
 sense, the

00:40:43.580 --> 00:40:44.180
 writer to the

00:40:44.180 --> 00:40:45.240
 Hebrews encourages

00:40:45.239 --> 00:40:45.779
 us.

00:40:46.959 --> 00:40:47.479
 And your

00:40:47.479 --> 00:40:48.919
 hardship as

00:40:48.919 --> 00:40:49.539
 discipline,

00:40:50.239 --> 00:40:50.899
 God is

00:40:50.899 --> 00:40:51.599
 treating you

00:40:51.599 --> 00:40:52.199
 as his

00:40:52.199 --> 00:40:52.739
 children.

00:40:53.679 --> 00:40:54.099
 For what

00:40:54.099 --> 00:40:54.699
 children are

00:40:54.699 --> 00:40:55.379
 not disciplined

00:40:55.379 --> 00:40:55.959
 by their

00:40:55.959 --> 00:40:56.439
 father?

00:40:57.679 --> 00:40:58.179
 If you are

00:40:58.179 --> 00:40:58.819
 not disciplined

00:40:58.819 --> 00:40:59.919
 and everyone

00:40:59.919 --> 00:41:00.739
 undergoes

00:41:00.739 --> 00:41:01.279
 discipline,

00:41:01.500 --> 00:41:02.000
 says the

00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:02.399
 writer to

00:41:02.399 --> 00:41:02.959
 the Hebrews,

00:41:03.959 --> 00:41:04.459
 then you

00:41:04.459 --> 00:41:05.199
 are not

00:41:05.199 --> 00:41:05.699
 legitimate,

00:41:06.139 --> 00:41:06.799
 not true

00:41:06.799 --> 00:41:07.599
 sons and

00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:08.259
 daughters at

00:41:08.259 --> 00:41:08.639
 all.

00:41:09.839 --> 00:41:10.539
 But God

00:41:10.539 --> 00:41:11.519
 disciplines us

00:41:11.519 --> 00:41:12.199
 for our

00:41:12.199 --> 00:41:13.919
 good in

00:41:13.919 --> 00:41:14.500
 order that

00:41:14.500 --> 00:41:14.859
 we may

00:41:14.860 --> 00:41:15.680
 share in

00:41:15.680 --> 00:41:16.260
 his holiness.

00:41:16.740 --> 00:41:17.320
 Hebrews

00:41:17.320 --> 00:41:18.340
 chapter 12.

00:41:19.300 --> 00:41:19.680
 Well, this

00:41:19.680 --> 00:41:20.160
 is our

00:41:20.160 --> 00:41:20.559
 God.

00:41:21.220 --> 00:41:21.800
 He is the

00:41:21.800 --> 00:41:23.000
 same yesterday,

00:41:23.640 --> 00:41:24.019
 today,

00:41:24.019 --> 00:41:25.180
 and forever.

00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:26.780
 We need

00:41:26.780 --> 00:41:27.360
 to have

00:41:27.360 --> 00:41:27.960
 ears to

00:41:27.960 --> 00:41:28.380
 hear

00:41:28.380 --> 00:41:30.320
 God's

00:41:30.320 --> 00:41:30.720
 shouts

00:41:30.720 --> 00:41:31.380
 in our

00:41:31.380 --> 00:41:31.920
 lives.

00:41:33.539 --> 00:41:34.380
 So the

00:41:34.380 --> 00:41:35.380
 second matter

00:41:35.380 --> 00:41:36.140
 arising is

00:41:36.140 --> 00:41:36.640
 this.

00:41:38.079 --> 00:41:38.940
 Where did

00:41:38.940 --> 00:41:39.500
 it all go

00:41:39.500 --> 00:41:39.920
 wrong?

00:41:39.920 --> 00:41:42.340
 we noticed

00:41:42.340 --> 00:41:42.599
 at the

00:41:42.599 --> 00:41:42.900
 beginning

00:41:42.900 --> 00:41:43.619
 that Joshua

00:41:43.619 --> 00:41:44.340
 and Judges,

00:41:44.400 --> 00:41:44.700
 the two

00:41:44.700 --> 00:41:45.099
 books are

00:41:45.099 --> 00:41:45.760
 drawn quite

00:41:45.760 --> 00:41:46.680
 closely together

00:41:46.680 --> 00:41:47.159
 in our

00:41:47.159 --> 00:41:47.800
 introduction.

00:41:48.940 --> 00:41:49.460
 Joshua,

00:41:49.780 --> 00:41:50.680
 first glance,

00:41:50.760 --> 00:41:51.380
 looks wholly

00:41:51.380 --> 00:41:51.940
 positive.

00:41:52.440 --> 00:41:53.019
 Not one of

00:41:53.019 --> 00:41:53.519
 all the good

00:41:53.519 --> 00:41:54.200
 promises that

00:41:54.200 --> 00:41:54.880
 God gave to

00:41:54.880 --> 00:41:55.980
 Israel failed.

00:41:56.200 --> 00:41:57.059
 Every promise

00:41:57.059 --> 00:41:58.320
 came to pass

00:41:58.320 --> 00:41:58.980
 and so on.

00:42:00.680 --> 00:42:01.260
 And we look

00:42:01.260 --> 00:42:01.740
 at Judges

00:42:01.740 --> 00:42:02.380
 and it seems

00:42:02.380 --> 00:42:03.480
 wholly negative.

00:42:04.420 --> 00:42:05.099
 Just failure

00:42:05.099 --> 00:42:06.079
 after failure.

00:42:06.079 --> 00:42:06.219
 failure.

00:42:08.179 --> 00:42:08.980
 But I don't

00:42:08.980 --> 00:42:09.380
 think it's

00:42:09.380 --> 00:42:10.340
 that simple.

00:42:10.500 --> 00:42:11.019
 That's what our

00:42:11.019 --> 00:42:11.759
 introduction is

00:42:11.759 --> 00:42:12.440
 wanting us to

00:42:12.440 --> 00:42:12.920
 see and

00:42:12.920 --> 00:42:13.400
 bringing the

00:42:13.400 --> 00:42:13.840
 books so

00:42:13.840 --> 00:42:14.619
 close together.

00:42:15.460 --> 00:42:16.299
 How did

00:42:16.299 --> 00:42:17.159
 what was so

00:42:17.159 --> 00:42:18.299
 good turn

00:42:18.299 --> 00:42:19.059
 out so

00:42:19.059 --> 00:42:19.639
 bad?

00:42:22.099 --> 00:42:22.659
 Well,

00:42:23.659 --> 00:42:24.699
 it already

00:42:24.699 --> 00:42:25.440
 goes wrong

00:42:25.440 --> 00:42:26.179
 in Joshua

00:42:26.179 --> 00:42:26.880
 is the

00:42:26.880 --> 00:42:27.360
 answer.

00:42:28.179 --> 00:42:28.719
 When

00:42:28.719 --> 00:42:29.340
 something's

00:42:29.340 --> 00:42:29.840
 going wrong

00:42:29.840 --> 00:42:30.139
 in the

00:42:30.139 --> 00:42:30.420
 house,

00:42:30.500 --> 00:42:30.840
 you want

00:42:30.840 --> 00:42:31.239
 to check

00:42:31.239 --> 00:42:31.440
 the

00:42:31.440 --> 00:42:32.039
 foundations.

00:42:33.440 --> 00:42:33.920
 So we

00:42:33.920 --> 00:42:34.559
 do here.

00:42:34.559 --> 00:42:35.820
 And so we

00:42:35.820 --> 00:42:36.340
 see that

00:42:36.340 --> 00:42:37.199
 again and

00:42:37.199 --> 00:42:37.719
 again and

00:42:37.719 --> 00:42:38.139
 again,

00:42:38.880 --> 00:42:39.659
 in Joshua

00:42:39.659 --> 00:42:41.119
 chapter 13,

00:42:41.259 --> 00:42:41.980
 chapter 16,

00:42:42.119 --> 00:42:42.880
 chapter 17,

00:42:43.259 --> 00:42:44.079
 Israel did

00:42:44.079 --> 00:42:44.940
 not drive

00:42:44.940 --> 00:42:46.059
 out the

00:42:46.059 --> 00:42:46.759
 Canaanites

00:42:46.759 --> 00:42:48.059
 who they

00:42:48.059 --> 00:42:48.559
 were supposed

00:42:48.559 --> 00:42:49.619
 to drive

00:42:49.619 --> 00:42:49.980
 out.

00:42:50.920 --> 00:42:51.219
 And it's

00:42:51.219 --> 00:42:51.539
 further,

00:42:51.799 --> 00:42:52.960
 this impression

00:42:52.960 --> 00:42:53.820
 is further

00:42:53.820 --> 00:42:55.219
 reinforced when

00:42:55.219 --> 00:42:55.900
 we see how

00:42:55.900 --> 00:42:57.259
 often Judges

00:42:57.259 --> 00:42:58.599
 1 forces the

00:42:58.599 --> 00:42:59.159
 reader back

00:42:59.159 --> 00:43:00.219
 to text

00:43:00.219 --> 00:43:00.980
 from Joshua

00:43:00.980 --> 00:43:01.559
 till we

00:43:01.559 --> 00:43:02.340
 find the

00:43:02.340 --> 00:43:03.159
 situation at

00:43:03.159 --> 00:43:03.980
 2 verse 6

00:43:03.980 --> 00:43:05.099
 So Joshua

00:43:05.099 --> 00:43:05.760
 dismissed

00:43:05.760 --> 00:43:06.599
 Israel and

00:43:06.599 --> 00:43:06.940
 they went

00:43:06.940 --> 00:43:07.400
 to take

00:43:07.400 --> 00:43:09.240
 possession of

00:43:09.240 --> 00:43:09.519
 the land.

00:43:09.900 --> 00:43:10.840
 Joshua's still

00:43:10.840 --> 00:43:11.599
 alive while

00:43:11.599 --> 00:43:12.079
 things are

00:43:12.079 --> 00:43:12.579
 starting to

00:43:12.579 --> 00:43:13.099
 go wrong.

00:43:13.219 --> 00:43:13.980
 There's this

00:43:13.980 --> 00:43:15.059
 dovetailing

00:43:15.059 --> 00:43:16.500
 of the

00:43:16.500 --> 00:43:17.360
 two books.

00:43:19.559 --> 00:43:20.219
 Spending

00:43:20.219 --> 00:43:20.960
 time in

00:43:20.960 --> 00:43:21.240
 this,

00:43:21.619 --> 00:43:22.179
 in chapter

00:43:22.179 --> 00:43:22.579
 2,

00:43:22.740 --> 00:43:23.000
 in this

00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:23.679
 inspired

00:43:23.679 --> 00:43:24.780
 theological

00:43:24.780 --> 00:43:25.639
 diagnosis

00:43:25.639 --> 00:43:26.480
 of the

00:43:26.480 --> 00:43:27.300
 condition of

00:43:27.300 --> 00:43:27.780
 Israel

00:43:27.780 --> 00:43:29.240
 is an

00:43:29.240 --> 00:43:30.179
 invitation for

00:43:30.179 --> 00:43:31.780
 us to

00:43:31.780 --> 00:43:32.559
 assess our

00:43:32.559 --> 00:43:33.599
 own personal

00:43:33.599 --> 00:43:34.739
 and

00:43:34.739 --> 00:43:35.239
 domestic

00:43:35.239 --> 00:43:36.539
 and

00:43:36.539 --> 00:43:37.039
 communal

00:43:37.039 --> 00:43:38.320
 foundations.

00:43:39.679 --> 00:43:40.820
 You should

00:43:40.820 --> 00:43:41.480
 look back

00:43:41.480 --> 00:43:43.440
 and if we

00:43:43.440 --> 00:43:44.139
 see something

00:43:44.139 --> 00:43:45.460
 wrong in the

00:43:45.460 --> 00:43:46.039
 foundations,

00:43:46.599 --> 00:43:47.659
 let's confess

00:43:47.659 --> 00:43:47.960
 it,

00:43:48.619 --> 00:43:50.360
 repudiate it,

00:43:50.860 --> 00:43:51.619
 much like

00:43:51.619 --> 00:43:53.099
 Daniel and

00:43:53.099 --> 00:43:54.079
 Nehemiah of

00:43:54.079 --> 00:43:54.500
 old,

00:43:55.500 --> 00:43:56.199
 and turn

00:43:56.199 --> 00:43:57.900
 from generational

00:43:57.900 --> 00:43:58.500
 sin,

00:43:59.099 --> 00:44:00.219
 cling to the

00:44:00.219 --> 00:44:00.880
 holy love of

00:44:00.880 --> 00:44:01.599
 God through

00:44:01.599 --> 00:44:02.180
 Christ.

00:44:03.320 --> 00:44:04.039
 And we

00:44:04.039 --> 00:44:04.480
 should look

00:44:04.480 --> 00:44:05.760
 forward to

00:44:05.760 --> 00:44:06.160
 the next

00:44:06.160 --> 00:44:06.880
 generation,

00:44:07.619 --> 00:44:08.320
 thinking about

00:44:08.320 --> 00:44:08.860
 what Moses

00:44:08.860 --> 00:44:09.480
 said to the

00:44:09.480 --> 00:44:10.079
 Israelites of

00:44:10.079 --> 00:44:10.579
 his day,

00:44:10.980 --> 00:44:11.460
 there is

00:44:11.460 --> 00:44:11.720
 another

00:44:11.720 --> 00:44:12.460
 generation,

00:44:13.039 --> 00:44:13.559
 and ensure

00:44:13.559 --> 00:44:14.460
 that we

00:44:14.460 --> 00:44:14.880
 are the

00:44:14.880 --> 00:44:15.360
 ones.

00:44:15.820 --> 00:44:16.140
 It's up

00:44:16.140 --> 00:44:17.480
 to us to

00:44:17.480 --> 00:44:17.920
 ensure that

00:44:17.920 --> 00:44:18.559
 the foundations

00:44:18.559 --> 00:44:19.039
 for the

00:44:19.039 --> 00:44:19.440
 succeeding

00:44:19.440 --> 00:44:20.180
 generations

00:44:20.180 --> 00:44:21.579
 are stable,

00:44:22.480 --> 00:44:23.360
 steadfast,

00:44:23.880 --> 00:44:24.980
 not shifting,

00:44:25.519 --> 00:44:26.000
 the words

00:44:26.000 --> 00:44:26.460
 that Paul

00:44:26.460 --> 00:44:27.500
 uses in

00:44:27.500 --> 00:44:28.119
 Colossians

00:44:28.119 --> 00:44:29.320
 chapter 1.

00:44:29.320 --> 00:44:31.080
 So let's

00:44:31.080 --> 00:44:31.860
 use the

00:44:31.860 --> 00:44:32.340
 opportunity

00:44:32.340 --> 00:44:32.860
 of this

00:44:32.860 --> 00:44:34.220
 passage to

00:44:34.220 --> 00:44:34.960
 check our

00:44:34.960 --> 00:44:35.840
 foundations and

00:44:35.840 --> 00:44:36.559
 the foundations

00:44:36.559 --> 00:44:37.260
 we're laying.

00:44:38.660 --> 00:44:40.080
 And thirdly,

00:44:40.700 --> 00:44:42.260
 it's also an

00:44:42.260 --> 00:44:43.519
 opportunity for

00:44:43.519 --> 00:44:44.519
 me to ask

00:44:44.519 --> 00:44:45.340
 myself,

00:44:46.140 --> 00:44:46.760
 perhaps for

00:44:46.760 --> 00:44:47.420
 you to ask

00:44:47.420 --> 00:44:48.019
 yourself,

00:44:48.519 --> 00:44:49.880
 about my

00:44:49.880 --> 00:44:50.900
 relationship to

00:44:50.900 --> 00:44:51.760
 my wider

00:44:51.760 --> 00:44:52.720
 world and

00:44:52.720 --> 00:44:53.220
 culture.

00:44:54.380 --> 00:44:55.340
 Israel went

00:44:55.340 --> 00:44:57.100
 sleepwalking

00:44:57.099 --> 00:44:58.139
 into a

00:44:58.139 --> 00:44:58.779
 destructive

00:44:58.779 --> 00:44:59.460
 life,

00:45:00.019 --> 00:45:00.759
 losing its

00:45:00.759 --> 00:45:01.639
 identity as

00:45:01.639 --> 00:45:02.099
 the people

00:45:02.099 --> 00:45:02.659
 of God.

00:45:04.019 --> 00:45:04.779
 Ultimately,

00:45:05.059 --> 00:45:05.480
 as we saw

00:45:05.480 --> 00:45:06.039
 by the end

00:45:06.039 --> 00:45:06.360
 of our

00:45:06.360 --> 00:45:07.159
 passage today,

00:45:07.639 --> 00:45:08.639
 indistinguishable

00:45:08.639 --> 00:45:09.860
 from their

00:45:09.860 --> 00:45:10.339
 neighbors,

00:45:10.980 --> 00:45:12.360
 invisible,

00:45:13.360 --> 00:45:15.239
 and lost

00:45:15.239 --> 00:45:16.559
 apart from

00:45:16.559 --> 00:45:17.199
 the gracious

00:45:17.199 --> 00:45:18.139
 intervention

00:45:18.139 --> 00:45:19.039
 of a

00:45:19.039 --> 00:45:19.500
 divinely

00:45:19.500 --> 00:45:19.960
 sent

00:45:19.960 --> 00:45:21.000
 deliverer.

00:45:21.000 --> 00:45:24.300
 recently I

00:45:24.300 --> 00:45:24.860
 read something

00:45:24.860 --> 00:45:25.480
 by Alan

00:45:25.480 --> 00:45:26.260
 Jacobs that

00:45:26.260 --> 00:45:27.239
 came back

00:45:27.239 --> 00:45:27.780
 to mind.

00:45:28.320 --> 00:45:28.579
 Alan

00:45:28.579 --> 00:45:29.360
 Jacobs is a

00:45:29.360 --> 00:45:30.559
 noted literary

00:45:30.559 --> 00:45:31.360
 critic and

00:45:31.360 --> 00:45:31.780
 author,

00:45:32.539 --> 00:45:34.179
 recently

00:45:34.179 --> 00:45:36.000
 pointed back

00:45:36.000 --> 00:45:36.519
 to a piece

00:45:36.519 --> 00:45:36.880
 that he'd

00:45:36.880 --> 00:45:37.219
 written in

00:45:37.219 --> 00:45:37.559
 the Wall

00:45:37.559 --> 00:45:38.280
 Street Journal

00:45:38.280 --> 00:45:39.960
 in 6th of

00:45:39.960 --> 00:45:40.280
 June,

00:45:40.420 --> 00:45:41.280
 2008.

00:45:42.780 --> 00:45:43.840
 And here's

00:45:43.840 --> 00:45:44.159
 a little

00:45:44.159 --> 00:45:45.119
 paragraph from

00:45:45.119 --> 00:45:45.320
 it.

00:45:47.000 --> 00:45:47.599
 Jacobs

00:45:47.599 --> 00:45:48.039
 writes,

00:45:48.039 --> 00:45:49.619
 I am by

00:45:49.619 --> 00:45:50.400
 most measures

00:45:50.400 --> 00:45:51.000
 a pretty

00:45:51.000 --> 00:45:51.539
 deeply

00:45:51.539 --> 00:45:52.039
 committed

00:45:52.039 --> 00:45:52.599
 Christian.

00:45:53.460 --> 00:45:54.000
 I'm quite

00:45:54.000 --> 00:45:54.639
 active in

00:45:54.639 --> 00:45:55.340
 my church.

00:45:56.079 --> 00:45:56.719
 I teach

00:45:56.719 --> 00:45:57.000
 at a

00:45:57.000 --> 00:45:57.320
 Christian

00:45:57.320 --> 00:45:57.900
 college.

00:45:58.559 --> 00:45:58.820
 I have

00:45:58.820 --> 00:45:59.039
 written

00:45:59.039 --> 00:45:59.759
 extensively

00:45:59.759 --> 00:46:00.480
 in support

00:46:00.480 --> 00:46:01.099
 of Christian

00:46:01.099 --> 00:46:01.880
 ideas and

00:46:01.880 --> 00:46:02.360
 belief.

00:46:02.920 --> 00:46:03.420
 Yet when

00:46:03.420 --> 00:46:04.000
 I ask

00:46:04.000 --> 00:46:04.739
 myself,

00:46:05.699 --> 00:46:06.300
 how much

00:46:06.300 --> 00:46:06.860
 of what I

00:46:06.860 --> 00:46:07.380
 do and

00:46:07.380 --> 00:46:07.900
 think is

00:46:07.900 --> 00:46:08.500
 driven by

00:46:08.500 --> 00:46:09.179
 my religious

00:46:09.179 --> 00:46:09.820
 beliefs?

00:46:10.639 --> 00:46:11.259
 The honest

00:46:11.259 --> 00:46:12.079
 answer is,

00:46:12.840 --> 00:46:14.259
 not so

00:46:14.259 --> 00:46:14.659
 much.

00:46:15.900 --> 00:46:16.380
 The books

00:46:16.380 --> 00:46:16.920
 I read,

00:46:17.360 --> 00:46:17.779
 the food

00:46:17.780 --> 00:46:18.300
 I eat,

00:46:18.840 --> 00:46:19.360
 the music

00:46:19.360 --> 00:46:19.840
 I listen

00:46:19.840 --> 00:46:20.140
 to,

00:46:20.600 --> 00:46:21.240
 my hobbies

00:46:21.240 --> 00:46:22.019
 and interests,

00:46:22.440 --> 00:46:23.060
 the thoughts

00:46:23.060 --> 00:46:23.740
 that occupy

00:46:23.740 --> 00:46:24.480
 my mind

00:46:24.480 --> 00:46:25.000
 throughout the

00:46:25.000 --> 00:46:25.660
 greater part

00:46:25.660 --> 00:46:26.080
 of every

00:46:26.080 --> 00:46:26.440
 day,

00:46:27.340 --> 00:46:28.019
 these are,

00:46:28.140 --> 00:46:28.700
 if truth be

00:46:28.700 --> 00:46:29.060
 told,

00:46:29.440 --> 00:46:30.160
 far less

00:46:30.160 --> 00:46:30.780
 indebted to

00:46:30.780 --> 00:46:31.660
 my Christianity

00:46:31.660 --> 00:46:33.060
 than to my

00:46:33.060 --> 00:46:33.880
 status as a

00:46:33.880 --> 00:46:34.500
 middle-aged,

00:46:35.019 --> 00:46:35.920
 middle-class

00:46:35.920 --> 00:46:37.420
 American man.

00:46:39.500 --> 00:46:40.180
 Although

00:46:40.180 --> 00:46:41.200
 Jacobs uses

00:46:41.200 --> 00:46:42.160
 this frank

00:46:42.160 --> 00:46:43.040
 and transparent

00:46:43.040 --> 00:46:44.000
 assessment to

00:46:44.000 --> 00:46:44.480
 go on to

00:46:44.480 --> 00:46:44.800
 make a

00:46:44.800 --> 00:46:45.060
 slightly

00:46:45.060 --> 00:46:45.880
 different point,

00:46:45.880 --> 00:46:47.840
 his personal

00:46:47.840 --> 00:46:48.539
 appraisal

00:46:48.539 --> 00:46:49.039
 gives me

00:46:49.039 --> 00:46:49.680
 pause.

00:46:52.559 --> 00:46:53.340
 Is there

00:46:53.340 --> 00:46:54.079
 anything about

00:46:54.079 --> 00:46:54.579
 me that

00:46:54.579 --> 00:46:55.420
 distinguishes me

00:46:55.420 --> 00:46:55.900
 from my

00:46:55.900 --> 00:46:56.160
 neighbor?

00:46:58.079 --> 00:46:58.980
 In what

00:46:58.980 --> 00:47:00.400
 ways are

00:47:00.400 --> 00:47:00.740
 you

00:47:00.740 --> 00:47:02.000
 distinguishable

00:47:02.000 --> 00:47:02.840
 from your

00:47:02.840 --> 00:47:03.220
 neighbors?

00:47:04.660 --> 00:47:05.820
 What really

00:47:05.820 --> 00:47:06.539
 about my

00:47:06.539 --> 00:47:07.579
 daily life

00:47:07.579 --> 00:47:08.760
 owes its

00:47:08.760 --> 00:47:09.740
 origins to

00:47:09.740 --> 00:47:11.220
 my allegiance

00:47:11.219 --> 00:47:12.619
 to the

00:47:12.619 --> 00:47:13.159
 Lord Jesus

00:47:13.159 --> 00:47:13.759
 Christ?

00:47:15.619 --> 00:47:16.439
 As Bob

00:47:16.439 --> 00:47:16.879
 Dillon

00:47:16.879 --> 00:47:17.439
 said,

00:47:18.299 --> 00:47:18.519
 you're

00:47:18.519 --> 00:47:19.000
 going to

00:47:19.000 --> 00:47:19.559
 have to

00:47:19.559 --> 00:47:20.279
 serve

00:47:20.279 --> 00:47:21.179
 somebody.

00:47:22.379 --> 00:47:23.159
 So we

00:47:23.159 --> 00:47:23.599
 face the

00:47:23.599 --> 00:47:24.199
 question this

00:47:24.199 --> 00:47:24.539
 evening,

00:47:25.399 --> 00:47:26.399
 who are we

00:47:26.399 --> 00:47:26.799
 serving?

00:47:27.919 --> 00:47:28.819
 Who am I

00:47:28.819 --> 00:47:29.179
 serving?

00:47:30.859 --> 00:47:31.819
 Who are you

00:47:31.819 --> 00:47:32.139
 serving?

00:47:33.699 --> 00:47:34.539
 Let's pray.

00:47:34.539 --> 00:47:41.079
 as we

00:47:41.079 --> 00:47:41.599
 pause in

00:47:41.599 --> 00:47:42.019
 God's

00:47:42.019 --> 00:47:42.400
 presence

00:47:42.400 --> 00:47:43.019
 just now,

00:47:43.159 --> 00:47:44.380
 although we

00:47:44.380 --> 00:47:44.800
 are not

00:47:44.800 --> 00:47:45.739
 many in

00:47:45.739 --> 00:47:46.159
 the room,

00:47:46.759 --> 00:47:46.900
 there's

00:47:46.900 --> 00:47:47.559
 probably as

00:47:47.559 --> 00:47:49.079
 many different

00:47:49.079 --> 00:47:49.679
 thoughts as

00:47:49.679 --> 00:47:50.019
 there are

00:47:50.019 --> 00:47:50.480
 people.

00:47:52.420 --> 00:47:52.900
 Perhaps

00:47:52.900 --> 00:47:53.460
 there's some

00:47:53.460 --> 00:47:54.639
 this evening

00:47:54.639 --> 00:47:55.119
 who are

00:47:55.119 --> 00:47:55.619
 feeling a

00:47:55.619 --> 00:47:56.179
 great sense

00:47:56.179 --> 00:47:56.980
 of disquiet

00:47:56.980 --> 00:47:58.000
 about the

00:47:58.000 --> 00:47:58.599
 foundations.

00:48:01.000 --> 00:48:01.619
 So it

00:48:01.619 --> 00:48:01.840
 would be a

00:48:01.840 --> 00:48:02.360
 good moment

00:48:02.360 --> 00:48:03.039
 to say

00:48:03.039 --> 00:48:03.599
 sorry to

00:48:03.599 --> 00:48:04.019
 the Lord

00:48:04.019 --> 00:48:04.440
 for those

00:48:04.440 --> 00:48:04.960
 things that

00:48:04.960 --> 00:48:05.480
 have marred

00:48:05.480 --> 00:48:06.519
 his work

00:48:06.519 --> 00:48:06.820
 in our

00:48:06.820 --> 00:48:07.320
 lives.

00:48:11.219 --> 00:48:11.780
 Maybe

00:48:11.780 --> 00:48:12.679
 some of

00:48:12.679 --> 00:48:13.139
 us who

00:48:13.139 --> 00:48:14.400
 are sensing

00:48:14.400 --> 00:48:15.639
 that this

00:48:15.639 --> 00:48:16.079
 world's

00:48:16.079 --> 00:48:16.579
 pleasure has

00:48:16.579 --> 00:48:17.199
 really marked

00:48:17.199 --> 00:48:17.679
 too much

00:48:17.679 --> 00:48:18.019
 of my

00:48:18.019 --> 00:48:18.440
 life.

00:48:21.519 --> 00:48:22.039
 Let's

00:48:22.039 --> 00:48:22.699
 use this

00:48:22.699 --> 00:48:23.460
 moment to

00:48:23.460 --> 00:48:24.219
 pray that

00:48:24.219 --> 00:48:24.539
 we would

00:48:24.539 --> 00:48:26.360
 attend to

00:48:26.360 --> 00:48:26.519
 the

00:48:26.519 --> 00:48:27.179
 deliverer,

00:48:27.340 --> 00:48:27.579
 to the

00:48:27.579 --> 00:48:28.199
 Lord Jesus,

00:48:28.460 --> 00:48:28.759
 the one

00:48:28.759 --> 00:48:29.059
 who we

00:48:29.059 --> 00:48:29.480
 sung of

00:48:29.480 --> 00:48:29.860
 earlier,

00:48:30.079 --> 00:48:30.320
 whose

00:48:30.320 --> 00:48:31.360
 blood can

00:48:31.360 --> 00:48:32.000
 wash away

00:48:32.000 --> 00:48:32.980
 my sin.

00:48:34.019 --> 00:48:38.559
 love for

00:48:38.559 --> 00:48:39.300
 us.

00:48:39.300 --> 00:48:41.780
 And perhaps

00:48:41.780 --> 00:48:42.920
 we're here

00:48:42.920 --> 00:48:44.019
 this evening

00:48:44.019 --> 00:48:45.659
 thinking about

00:48:45.659 --> 00:48:46.800
 those yet to

00:48:46.800 --> 00:48:47.119
 come,

00:48:47.280 --> 00:48:48.019
 young children,

00:48:50.019 --> 00:48:50.920
 grown children,

00:48:51.699 --> 00:48:53.460
 the next

00:48:53.460 --> 00:48:54.139
 generation.

00:48:55.719 --> 00:48:56.719
 They're on

00:48:56.719 --> 00:48:57.360
 our hearts.

00:48:58.420 --> 00:48:59.219
 Let's commit

00:48:59.219 --> 00:49:00.159
 them to the

00:49:00.159 --> 00:49:03.759
 Lord and ask that we would have wisdom to build

00:49:03.759 --> 00:49:08.279
 foundations well, whatever time left God has given us

00:49:08.279 --> 00:49:11.599
 to be builders and workers in his kingdom.

00:49:14.579 --> 00:49:18.099
 And our Heavenly Father, as we gather in your presence this evening,

00:49:18.199 --> 00:49:22.440
 we want to say thank you. Thank you that you graciously

00:49:22.440 --> 00:49:25.719
 intervene to send someone to save.

00:49:25.719 --> 00:49:26.719
 Amen.

00:49:29.439 --> 00:49:32.859
 Israel's deliverers lived only to die.

00:49:35.179 --> 00:49:40.500
 Lord Jesus came to be a deliverer who died,

00:49:41.439 --> 00:49:42.939
 yet lives again.

00:49:44.179 --> 00:49:47.679
 Help us to live in the strength that only he can give

00:49:47.679 --> 00:49:50.739
 through his resurrection life. We pray for your glory.

00:49:51.859 --> 00:49:52.219
 Amen.