WEBVTT

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 Good morning, church.

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 It's such a privilege to bring to you guys God's word as we continue on in our Advent series.

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 Today we're actually going to be taking a break from the book of Matthew.

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 We're going to open up to the book of Isaiah.

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 Isaiah in the Old Testament.

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 We're going to be reading Isaiah chapter 9, verses 1 to 7.

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 If you are in need of a Bible, please feel free to raise your hand.

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 One of us would be happy to grab a physical copy of a Bible that you can have and hold.

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 It's our Christmas gift to you.

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 Isaiah chapter 9, verses 1 to 7.

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 Let me pray for the reading of God's word.

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 Heavenly Father, Christmas is just a few days away.

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 And we thank you for it.

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 We thank you for the reminder that to a people in darkness, in deep darkness, you have not abandoned.

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 To a sinful people you have not rejected.

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 But you have come.

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 You have saved us.

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 You have sent a child.

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 And so we pray.

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 Over the next hour, won't you open our eyes, illuminate our hearts, our eyes to see what a glorious child this is.

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 A child whose name is unparalleled, unprecedented.

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 The child we long to serve and worship for all eternity.

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 We want to know this child, this boy, more.

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 So help us.

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 Fill us with your spirit.

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 My words are all for naught unless your spirit falls afresh and fills this room.

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 So we need you.

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 We need you, Father.

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 Father, we humble ourselves before the king.

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 And ask that you would teach us today.

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 So do that, Lord.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 If you would rise, if you are able, for the reading of God's word.

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 Isaiah 9.

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 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish.

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 In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali.

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 But in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

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 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

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 Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shown.

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 You have multiplied the nation.

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 You have increased its joy.

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 They rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

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 For the yoke of his burden and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

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 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

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 For to us a child is born.

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 To us a son is given.

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 And the government shall be upon his shoulder.

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 And his name shall be called.

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 Wonderful counselor.

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 Mighty God.

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 Everlasting father.

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 Prince of peace.

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 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end.

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 On the throne of David and over his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.

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 The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 You may be seated.

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 It was one of the most miserable nights of my life.

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 During my summer on missions in Indonesia, I was forced to go on this kayak camping trip.

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 I spent six weeks at that point in the sweltering heat under the brutal sun in Indonesia.

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 So I packed lightly for this trip.

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 Thinking that it would be really just more of the same.

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 But I didn't factor in that this river that I'd be kayaking on wrapped around the mountains.

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 Meaning that the temperature would be significantly cooler.

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 During the day, while kayaking in the sun, that hardly mattered.

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 But once we pulled up onto the bank to camp for the night and the sun slowly started to set.

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 I started feeling colder and colder.

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 And when it came time to sleep, even though I was in a sleeping bag, in a hammock,

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 I was so cold that I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep more than an hour.

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 I was exhausted, spent from the day, but I had to curl up in a ball,

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 shivering, chattering my teeth throughout the night.

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 When I got up to try to see if there's anything that I could do,

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 it was entirely pitch black.

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 I've never seen anything really that dark.

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 No moonlight, no starlight, no artificial lights.

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 Just an obsidian black.

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 I have never waited for the sun as much as I have that one night.

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 I lost completely all sense of time.

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 I didn't know if I had five hours to wait or five minutes to wait.

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 But once dawn broke,

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 I have never been so happy to see the sun,

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 to feel its warmth,

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 to see its rays pierce through the darkness.

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 It literally sent shivers down my spine.

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 In just a few short days, we celebrate Christmas.

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 We watch movies, exchange gifts,

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 gather around delicious food as we should.

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 But lest we forget, Christmas is joyful,

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 jovial, not because of the festivities and the food in themselves,

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 but because Christmas marks the in-breaking of light.

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 The first glow of dawn in a world long wrapped in night.

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 For this weary world waits and waits and waits for hope,

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 for peace, for light.

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 Just as I waited for that sun that night.

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 And our passage this morning teaches us that

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 dawn indeed is coming.

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 And it's found in an unexpected source.

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 In the giving of a child.

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 Of a boy.

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 And so, Isaiah exhorts us,

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 we need to hope in this child

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 who brings light to a despairing dark world.

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 That's the main point of my message today.

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 And in turn, we're going to talk about the darkness,

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 the dawn,

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 and finally the deliverer.

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 First, before we delve into this passage,

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 it's important to set the context,

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 to understand its context.

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 Isaiah prophesied during the 8th century BC

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 in both the northern kingdom of Israel

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 and the southern kingdom of Judah.

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 This time period is not an era of peace,

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 of abundance,

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 like King David had ushered in centuries ago.

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 No, since then,

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 bit by bit,

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 battle by battle,

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 Israel has been bleeding out,

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 losing its wealth,

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 its power,

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 its glory,

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 to its surrounding nations.

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 And in particular,

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 in his life,

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 Isaiah sees God

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 raise a prominent superpower from the east

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 named Assyria.

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 Because of the threat of Assyria's rising power,

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 we read in Isaiah chapter 7,

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 two chapters ahead,

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 that the northern kingdom of Israel

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 allies with a pagan nation,

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 Assyria.

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 This partnership then leads the southern kingdom of Judah

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 and her king Ahaz

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 to ally with Assyria.

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 So you see the northern kingdom,

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 Israel with Syria,

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 and the southern kingdom with Assyria.

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 And Ahaz promises gold

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 and loyalty to Assyria

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 to defend the southern kingdom.

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 Assyria.

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 So a vicious military force,

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 Assyria then goes and conquers Assyria,

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 conquers Syria entirely,

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 and inflicts major damage to Israel.

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 First to the lands that belong to Zebulun

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 and to Naphtali.

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 But if you know your Bibles,

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 you know that Assyria came to conquer

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 the entire northern kingdom in 722 BC.

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 Bloodshed, bondage, brutality,

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 flood the lands of Israel,

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 plunging them into deep darkness.

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 And it's this darkness

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 that our passage speaks about today.

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 Be aware that this is not the result

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 of military weakness or faulty strategy.

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 The problem is not that the northern kingdom

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 chose the wrong ally.

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 They chose Syria, not Assyria.

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 Throughout the Old Testament,

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 military victory or defeat

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 is consistently the result

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 of Israel's right or wrong standing

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 before the Lord.

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 Battles that on paper,

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 they have no battles,

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 no business fighting in,

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 they win.

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 But battles that on paper,

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 they should have won,

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 they lose.

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 So if that's the case,

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 things don't look good

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 for either Israel or Judah

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 because they both turn

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 to surrounding nations,

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 spurning the Lord,

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 rejecting his promises.

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 They ought to have remembered

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 all the battles

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 that the Lord had won

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 on their behalf.

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 They should have followed David

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 when he wrote in Psalm 20,

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 some trust in chariots

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 and some in horses,

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 but we trust in the name

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 of the Lord our God.

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 But instead,

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 they whore themselves out.

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 They entrust themselves

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 to idols,

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 to other nations.

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 Because of that sin,

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 Assyria or Isaiah assures

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 that it's not just Israel

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 on the chopping block,

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 but it's Judah too.

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 He promises that Assyria

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 will threaten Judah

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 and devastate her.

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 Then, even because of Assyria's sin,

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 she too will be judged.

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 You see this both

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 in Isaiah 10, 12,

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 when he writes,

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 when the Lord has finished

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 all his work on Mount Zion

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 and on Jerusalem,

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 he will punish the speech

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 of the arrogant heart

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 of the king of Assyria

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 and the boastful look

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 in his eyes.

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 Whether it's Syria,

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 Assyria,

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 Judah,

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 or Israel,

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 all of these nations

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 will be judged

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 by a holy,

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 righteous Lord

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 because of their sin

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 and their idolatry.

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 This is a bleak picture.

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 Not just for God's chosen people

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 in Israel,

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 but really for the whole

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 of humanity.

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 Every single one

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 of these nations,

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 Jew or Gentile,

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 will be besieged,

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 bound,

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 broken,

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 banished,

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 and bereaved

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 all because of their sin.

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 No one is righteous.

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 No, not one.

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 And that problem

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 hasn't stopped

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 with these four nations.

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 And the American freedom

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 that we enjoy,

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 we aren't under direct threat

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 of enemies

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 conquering our lands,

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 pillaging our homes.

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 But still gloom,

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 anguish,

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 darkness,

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 still plague the lands

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 today.

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 Why is that?

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 When our forefather Adam

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 committed the first sin

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 by eating the forbidden fruit,

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 we were banished

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 from the Garden of Eden.

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 And sin came into the world

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 and death through sin.

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 And so death spread

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 to all men

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 because all sinned.

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 So life east of Eden

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 is marked by this gloom,

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 this anguish,

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 this darkness.

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 Suffering,

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 sickness,

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 sadness mark

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 daily life.

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 And so much so

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 that we forget

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 that we actually do live

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 in this darkness.

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 That our eyes have grown

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 accustomed to the darkness.

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 us.

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 We forget to realize

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 that cancer doctors,

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 police,

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 divorce lawyers,

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 military generals,

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 therapists,

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 coroners,

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 social workers,

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 environmentalists,

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 security guards,

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 they only have jobs

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 because of the darkness

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 of the fall.

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 We live in a world

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 marked by danger.

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 A world where

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 women shouldn't walk

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 the streets at night alone.

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 Where churches need

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 to conduct background checks

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 for children's ministry volunteers.

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 Where parents should second guess

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 giving their young child

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 a smartphone

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 with unfettered internet access.

00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:09.240
 We live in a world

00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.439
 marked by scarcity.

00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:12.840
 A world where the poor

00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:14.340
 will always be among us.

00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:18.360
 Where 300 million people today

00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:19.259
 can be classified

00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:20.779
 as chronically hungry.

00:15:21.779 --> 00:15:23.360
 Where people are cut

00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:24.159
 from their jobs,

00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:26.419
 miss mortgage payments,

00:15:26.539 --> 00:15:27.299
 and have to fend

00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:28.519
 for themselves on the streets.

00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:31.199
 We live in a world

00:15:31.199 --> 00:15:33.319
 marked by tragedy,

00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:34.199
 by heartbreak.

00:15:34.819 --> 00:15:35.980
 A world where

00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:37.919
 children's size coffins

00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:38.480
 are a thing.

00:15:40.039 --> 00:15:41.279
 Where there are millions

00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:42.079
 of divorces

00:15:42.079 --> 00:15:43.159
 this past year

00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:44.039
 in the states alone.

00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:47.039
 And as we're sadly

00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:48.059
 reminded this week

00:15:48.059 --> 00:15:49.559
 where lives are cut short

00:15:49.559 --> 00:15:51.220
 by gun violence

00:15:51.220 --> 00:15:51.939
 and mass shootings.

00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:55.299
 And it's all too easy

00:15:55.299 --> 00:15:56.019
 to keep going.

00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:57.620
 2025,

00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:59.460
 even with all its innovations

00:15:59.460 --> 00:16:00.879
 and breakthroughs,

00:16:00.939 --> 00:16:02.439
 was a painful reminder

00:16:02.439 --> 00:16:04.240
 that this world

00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.439
 is still shrouded

00:16:05.439 --> 00:16:06.179
 in darkness.

00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:08.379
 2026,

00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:09.620
 without final

00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:10.779
 divine intervention,

00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:12.799
 it'll be more of the same.

00:16:15.419 --> 00:16:16.360
 The darkness

00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:17.500
 doesn't just affect us

00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:18.240
 from the outside,

00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:19.360
 externally,

00:16:19.579 --> 00:16:21.699
 but internally too.

00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:22.860
 It settles within us.

00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:24.799
 What does that look like?

00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:26.579
 I think one of the

00:16:26.579 --> 00:16:27.399
 clearest descriptions

00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:28.659
 is what pastor

00:16:28.659 --> 00:16:29.859
 and author David Powelson

00:16:29.859 --> 00:16:30.439
 has called

00:16:30.439 --> 00:16:32.659
 the anti-Psalm 23.

00:16:33.979 --> 00:16:35.259
 Many of us know,

00:16:35.819 --> 00:16:37.500
 love, cherish this psalm.

00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:40.339
 The Lord is my shepherd,

00:16:40.479 --> 00:16:41.719
 I shall not want.

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.579
 Powelson offers

00:16:44.579 --> 00:16:46.199
 a striking contrast

00:16:46.199 --> 00:16:47.740
 from that psalm

00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:49.079
 that captures so well

00:16:49.079 --> 00:16:50.120
 what this darkness

00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:50.919
 looks like,

00:16:50.979 --> 00:16:52.559
 what it feels like.

00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:55.139
 As I read snippets

00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:55.419
 of it,

00:16:55.579 --> 00:16:56.559
 ask yourself honestly,

00:16:56.839 --> 00:16:58.679
 do you feel

00:16:58.679 --> 00:16:59.179
 that darkness?

00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:02.399
 In what ways

00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.259
 am I living out

00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:04.980
 this anti-Psalm 23?

00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:09.139
 I'm on my own.

00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:11.519
 No one looks out

00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:11.859
 for me

00:17:11.859 --> 00:17:12.720
 or protects me.

00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.599
 I experience

00:17:14.599 --> 00:17:16.039
 a continual sense

00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:16.659
 of need.

00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:19.139
 Nothing's quite right.

00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:21.320
 I'm always restless.

00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:23.160
 I'm easily frustrated

00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:24.340
 and often disappointed.

00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:26.240
 It's a jungle.

00:17:26.840 --> 00:17:27.920
 I feel overwhelmed.

00:17:28.540 --> 00:17:29.480
 It's a desert.

00:17:29.820 --> 00:17:30.759
 I'm thirsty.

00:17:31.540 --> 00:17:32.920
 My soul feels broken,

00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:34.220
 twisted, and stuck.

00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:36.100
 I can't fix myself.

00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:37.620
 I stumble down

00:17:37.620 --> 00:17:38.680
 some dark paths.

00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:39.840
 I'm haunted

00:17:39.840 --> 00:17:40.680
 by emptiness

00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:41.520
 and futility,

00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:42.759
 the shadows of death.

00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:44.620
 Death is waiting

00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:45.040
 for me

00:17:45.040 --> 00:17:45.620
 at the end

00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:46.900
 of every road.

00:17:46.900 --> 00:17:48.620
 But I'd rather

00:17:48.620 --> 00:17:49.480
 not think about that.

00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:51.440
 My cup

00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:52.080
 is never

00:17:52.080 --> 00:17:53.320
 quite full enough.

00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:55.140
 I'm left empty.

00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:56.880
 Disappointment

00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:57.660
 follows me

00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:58.580
 all the days

00:17:58.580 --> 00:17:59.360
 of my life.

00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:01.019
 Will I be alone

00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:01.620
 forever?

00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:02.980
 Homeless,

00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:04.320
 free-falling

00:18:04.320 --> 00:18:04.960
 into void?

00:18:05.820 --> 00:18:07.320
 It's a living death

00:18:07.320 --> 00:18:08.840
 and then I die.

00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:11.720
 Plunged

00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:13.000
 in thick darkness,

00:18:13.820 --> 00:18:14.620
 this world

00:18:14.620 --> 00:18:15.580
 is groaning

00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:17.079
 all together

00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:18.639
 for some light

00:18:18.639 --> 00:18:19.259
 to break.

00:18:21.099 --> 00:18:21.579
 Groaning

00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.359
 for some sense

00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:23.259
 of reprieve,

00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:24.480
 some hope,

00:18:25.159 --> 00:18:25.679
 some light.

00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:29.279
 It is to these people

00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.359
 living in this

00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:31.299
 thick darkness

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:32.779
 that God addresses

00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.740
 in this passage.

00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:34.740
 And here

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.779
 it's glorious

00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:36.579
 opening.

00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:38.419
 But

00:18:38.419 --> 00:18:40.019
 there will be

00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:40.899
 no gloom

00:18:40.899 --> 00:18:41.359
 for her

00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:42.859
 who was in anguish

00:18:42.859 --> 00:18:45.240
 to a helpless,

00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.579
 undeserving world.

00:18:46.919 --> 00:18:48.000
 God refuses

00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.899
 to sit back

00:18:48.899 --> 00:18:49.279
 idly.

00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:51.079
 No amount

00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:51.819
 of sin

00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:52.899
 keeps God

00:18:52.899 --> 00:18:53.759
 from manifesting

00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.399
 his light

00:18:54.399 --> 00:18:54.939
 to us.

00:18:56.399 --> 00:18:57.259
 The land of

00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:57.740
 Zebulun

00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.819
 and Naphtali,

00:18:59.299 --> 00:19:00.019
 which was located

00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:01.259
 near the Sea of Galilee,

00:19:01.719 --> 00:19:02.459
 beyond the Jordan,

00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:03.379
 was previously

00:19:03.379 --> 00:19:04.439
 held in contempt.

00:19:05.139 --> 00:19:06.019
 The land that

00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:06.659
 first felt

00:19:06.659 --> 00:19:07.279
 the lash

00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:07.959
 of Assyria,

00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:10.139
 but by God's grace,

00:19:10.140 --> 00:19:11.940
 a former time,

00:19:12.860 --> 00:19:13.259
 gloom.

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:15.060
 In a latter time,

00:19:15.660 --> 00:19:16.140
 glory.

00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:18.780
 And it's not just

00:19:18.780 --> 00:19:19.340
 to the Jews,

00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:20.140
 but to the

00:19:20.140 --> 00:19:21.460
 Galilee of the nations,

00:19:21.800 --> 00:19:22.460
 or if you see

00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.680
 in your ESV footnote,

00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:26.500
 Galilee of the Gentiles.

00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:28.060
 For these regions

00:19:28.060 --> 00:19:28.880
 of Naphtali

00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:29.520
 and Zebulun,

00:19:29.620 --> 00:19:30.540
 given their location

00:19:30.540 --> 00:19:31.540
 right next

00:19:31.540 --> 00:19:32.200
 to the border,

00:19:32.800 --> 00:19:33.380
 next to these

00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:34.660
 pagan nations,

00:19:35.280 --> 00:19:36.000
 it's always been

00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:36.720
 something of

00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:38.040
 a mixing pot.

00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:39.759
 Canaanites,

00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:40.579
 Arameans,

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.259
 Hittites,

00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:42.559
 Mesopotamians,

00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:43.420
 and the Hebrews,

00:19:43.639 --> 00:19:44.539
 all just part

00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:45.519
 of this mix.

00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.279
 And after Assyria

00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:48.940
 struck

00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:50.359
 an exiled

00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:51.899
 part of Israel,

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.440
 that part even

00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:54.920
 became less pure,

00:19:55.339 --> 00:19:56.559
 even more mixed

00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:58.180
 ethnically,

00:19:58.399 --> 00:19:58.879
 culturally,

00:19:59.079 --> 00:19:59.659
 religiously,

00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:01.659
 but even still

00:20:01.659 --> 00:20:02.440
 to even

00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:04.059
 an impure race,

00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:05.680
 a mixed race,

00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:06.639
 God does not

00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:07.339
 hold back

00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:07.859
 his light,

00:20:08.259 --> 00:20:09.000
 foreshadowing

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.619
 that the Lord

00:20:09.619 --> 00:20:10.599
 will no longer

00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:11.419
 reserve his light

00:20:11.419 --> 00:20:13.099
 just for his people,

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:13.579
 Israel,

00:20:13.659 --> 00:20:14.039
 alone,

00:20:14.639 --> 00:20:15.379
 but that God

00:20:15.379 --> 00:20:16.599
 will bring the nations

00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:17.299
 from the north,

00:20:17.419 --> 00:20:17.959
 from the south,

00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:18.619
 from the east,

00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:19.799
 and from the west

00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:21.459
 all to light.

00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:24.699
 This is the exact hope

00:20:24.699 --> 00:20:26.139
 depicted in verse 2

00:20:26.139 --> 00:20:27.439
 when Isaiah says,

00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:29.139
 the people who walked

00:20:29.139 --> 00:20:29.720
 in darkness

00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:31.899
 have seen a great light.

00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:34.480
 Not just darkness,

00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:34.539
 darkness,

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:36.259
 but Isaiah piles

00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.200
 on the language.

00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:38.599
 This is no

00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:40.059
 ordinary darkness.

00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:41.920
 Not just normal

00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:42.299
 darkness

00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:43.299
 when the sun sets,

00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:44.839
 but a deep

00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:45.740
 darkness

00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:47.000
 that covers

00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:47.880
 the lands

00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:49.779
 24-7.

00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:52.180
 People,

00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:53.759
 especially in

00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:54.660
 Boston and

00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:54.980
 Cambridge,

00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:56.400
 as you guys know,

00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.960
 can struggle

00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:58.660
 with seasonal

00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.720
 affective disorders,

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:01.160
 even in a place

00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:02.140
 where the sun rises

00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:03.300
 every single morning.

00:21:04.840 --> 00:21:06.600
 How much more

00:21:06.600 --> 00:21:07.460
 to dwell

00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.920
 in darkness

00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:11.120
 day after day

00:21:11.120 --> 00:21:12.640
 with no warmth

00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:13.600
 of sun on our faces,

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.640
 no light

00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:15.480
 to brighten up

00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.000
 our homes,

00:21:16.820 --> 00:21:17.400
 but just

00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:18.300
 deep,

00:21:19.040 --> 00:21:19.720
 depressing,

00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:20.960
 dreary darkness

00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:21.540
 all around.

00:21:23.020 --> 00:21:24.060
 That is our

00:21:24.060 --> 00:21:25.020
 spiritual condition

00:21:25.020 --> 00:21:26.200
 without the light

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:26.640
 of God.

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:28.980
 But yet still

00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:30.140
 to these darkened

00:21:30.140 --> 00:21:30.620
 people,

00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:31.699
 God promises

00:21:31.699 --> 00:21:32.479
 to shine

00:21:32.479 --> 00:21:33.219
 his face

00:21:33.219 --> 00:21:34.139
 upon them

00:21:34.139 --> 00:21:35.079
 with his

00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:36.059
 great light.

00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.000
 And notice

00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:38.939
 the confidence

00:21:38.939 --> 00:21:40.279
 of Isaiah too.

00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:41.819
 Many verbs

00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:42.519
 in our passage,

00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:43.639
 and in this verse

00:21:43.639 --> 00:21:44.259
 in particular,

00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:44.979
 are written

00:21:44.979 --> 00:21:46.399
 in the perfect tense.

00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:48.519
 They have seen.

00:21:49.199 --> 00:21:49.979
 You have

00:21:49.979 --> 00:21:50.519
 multiplied.

00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:52.500
 All these events

00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.559
 are manifestly

00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:54.079
 in the future,

00:21:54.739 --> 00:21:56.199
 but he speaks

00:21:56.199 --> 00:21:56.519
 of them

00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:57.159
 as if they have

00:21:57.159 --> 00:21:58.039
 already happened.

00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:59.740
 It's an example

00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.700
 of the prophetic

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:01.180
 perfect,

00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:02.059
 a feature

00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:03.299
 of Hebrew prophecy

00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.720
 that Isaiah,

00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.759
 by the revelation

00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.220
 of God,

00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:07.119
 he knows

00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:08.319
 with absolute

00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:09.399
 certainty

00:22:09.399 --> 00:22:10.440
 that these things

00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:11.460
 will come to pass.

00:22:12.159 --> 00:22:13.119
 He knows

00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:14.079
 that darkness

00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:14.839
 and death

00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.579
 will not have

00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:15.960
 the day.

00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:16.799
 No,

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.500
 it belongs

00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:18.539
 to God.

00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:21.319
 On top of that,

00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:22.039
 instead of

00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:23.259
 depopulation

00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:24.200
 and dwindling

00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:24.659
 away,

00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:25.980
 under the

00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.940
 threat of war,

00:22:27.060 --> 00:22:27.800
 the nation

00:22:27.800 --> 00:22:29.019
 multiplies,

00:22:29.060 --> 00:22:29.560
 as we read

00:22:29.560 --> 00:22:30.240
 in verse 3.

00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:32.060
 In this,

00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:33.120
 God is fulfilling

00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:33.759
 his promises

00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:35.120
 to the patriarchs,

00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:36.160
 to Abraham,

00:22:36.580 --> 00:22:37.200
 to Isaac,

00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:37.940
 to Jacob.

00:22:39.100 --> 00:22:40.000
 He promised them

00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:40.900
 hundreds and

00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:41.680
 hundreds of years

00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.340
 ago that he

00:22:42.340 --> 00:22:43.160
 would multiply

00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:43.940
 their offspring

00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:45.240
 to make them

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:45.820
 a great

00:22:45.820 --> 00:22:46.420
 and abundant

00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:47.000
 nation.

00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:48.820
 And the Lord

00:22:48.820 --> 00:22:49.940
 is faithful

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:50.960
 to his promises,

00:22:51.100 --> 00:22:51.740
 is he not?

00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:53.340
 Is this not

00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.220
 who our God

00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:55.119
 is and what

00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:55.699
 he regularly

00:22:55.699 --> 00:22:56.759
 does for us?

00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:59.099
 Because he

00:22:59.099 --> 00:23:00.319
 keeps his promises,

00:23:00.459 --> 00:23:01.459
 because of God's

00:23:01.459 --> 00:23:02.199
 faithfulness,

00:23:02.339 --> 00:23:03.319
 then joy,

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.779
 it springs up.

00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.779
 In this one

00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:07.459
 verse alone,

00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:08.439
 this idea

00:23:08.439 --> 00:23:09.199
 of joy,

00:23:09.459 --> 00:23:10.639
 whether noun

00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:11.539
 or verb form,

00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:12.240
 it's repeated

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:13.519
 four times.

00:23:14.679 --> 00:23:15.199
 Two of these

00:23:15.199 --> 00:23:15.619
 instances

00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:16.539
 hearken back

00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:17.519
 to the

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:19.740
 happiest of times,

00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:20.980
 the happiest of times

00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:21.679
 for the Israelites

00:23:21.679 --> 00:23:23.119
 via the powerful

00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:25.199
 effect of nostalgia.

00:23:27.139 --> 00:23:27.500
 First,

00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:28.219
 the abundant

00:23:28.219 --> 00:23:29.039
 harvest was a

00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:30.119
 richly joyful

00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:30.539
 time.

00:23:31.699 --> 00:23:32.559
 As an agrarian

00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:32.919
 culture,

00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:33.679
 this time of

00:23:33.679 --> 00:23:34.279
 the harvest

00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:34.939
 determined how

00:23:34.939 --> 00:23:35.759
 the rest of

00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.299
 the year would

00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:36.539
 go.

00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.119
 If the harvest

00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:39.219
 was plentiful,

00:23:39.479 --> 00:23:40.719
 then what a

00:23:40.719 --> 00:23:41.059
 relief,

00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.679
 what provision.

00:23:44.159 --> 00:23:44.479
 And to

00:23:44.479 --> 00:23:44.859
 celebrate,

00:23:44.979 --> 00:23:45.299
 the Jews

00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:46.159
 kept the

00:23:46.159 --> 00:23:47.099
 Feast of Booths,

00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:48.239
 which was a

00:23:48.239 --> 00:23:48.979
 week-long

00:23:48.979 --> 00:23:49.799
 celebration

00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:51.339
 throughout the

00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:51.719
 lands.

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:53.779
 Imagine if

00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:55.259
 all of the

00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:55.860
 state of

00:23:55.860 --> 00:23:56.440
 Massachusetts,

00:23:57.100 --> 00:23:58.079
 we collectively

00:23:58.079 --> 00:24:00.079
 celebrated God's

00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:00.980
 faithfulness to

00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:02.180
 us for an

00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:03.059
 entire week

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:03.440
 straight.

00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:05.480
 We all took

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.000
 a week of

00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.519
 work off,

00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:07.740
 and we

00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:09.059
 celebrated in

00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:09.660
 our streets,

00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:10.240
 in our

00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:11.019
 squares,

00:24:11.660 --> 00:24:13.100
 recounting God's

00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:13.579
 abundant

00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:14.460
 faithfulness to

00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:14.779
 us.

00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.500
 Or secondly,

00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:18.420
 they rejoice

00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:19.720
 like when they

00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:20.400
 divide the

00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:20.819
 spoil.

00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:23.200
 In 2 Kings

00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:24.039
 7, the

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.980
 capital of

00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:25.500
 Israel,

00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.360
 Samaria,

00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:27.440
 is besieged.

00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.640
 Just when an

00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:29.519
 enemy surrounds

00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:29.980
 a city,

00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:31.200
 cuts it off

00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:32.039
 so that no

00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:32.799
 food, no

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.480
 water, no

00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.420
 help can go

00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:34.920
 in or out.

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:36.860
 And as a

00:24:36.860 --> 00:24:37.420
 result, the

00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:38.160
 Israelites, they

00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:38.799
 live in

00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:40.480
 absolute brutal

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.000
 conditions.

00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:43.400
 They're so

00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:44.120
 hungry, they're

00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:44.779
 starving to

00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:45.600
 death that they

00:24:45.600 --> 00:24:46.680
 even resort to

00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:47.700
 cannibalism.

00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:51.460
 but by the

00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:52.259
 divine providence

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.140
 of God, four

00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:54.700
 lepers, because

00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:55.840
 they have nothing

00:24:55.840 --> 00:24:56.620
 else to lose,

00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.140
 they go out of

00:24:58.140 --> 00:25:00.580
 the city to

00:25:00.580 --> 00:25:02.440
 the enemy, and

00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:04.059
 they find not

00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:04.539
 only that they

00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.720
 have left, but

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.140
 that they have

00:25:06.140 --> 00:25:07.000
 abandoned all

00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.660
 their stuff.

00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:11.100
 Horses, tents,

00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:13.000
 food, gold,

00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:14.319
 clothing, all for

00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:14.720
 the taking.

00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:15.819
 Can you just

00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:17.279
 imagine the joy

00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:18.680
 that pulsated

00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:19.359
 throughout the

00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:20.139
 city that one

00:25:20.139 --> 00:25:20.500
 day?

00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:21.700
 This is the

00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:22.339
 kind of imagery

00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:23.379
 that Isaiah is

00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:23.799
 invoking.

00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:26.599
 And notice

00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:27.399
 too that, again,

00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.099
 many of these

00:25:28.099 --> 00:25:28.940
 verbs in this

00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.579
 passage, they're

00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:30.599
 in the passive

00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:31.399
 form, they're

00:25:31.399 --> 00:25:32.539
 really the divine

00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:34.000
 passive, which

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.799
 are passive

00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:36.079
 verbs that make

00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:36.899
 the reader fill

00:25:36.899 --> 00:25:37.779
 in the blank of

00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:38.759
 who the actor

00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:40.379
 is, namely

00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:40.759
 God.

00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:42.220
 It says,

00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:43.339
 light shone

00:25:43.339 --> 00:25:43.680
 on them.

00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:45.299
 These will be

00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:45.680
 burned.

00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:48.139
 But verse

00:25:48.139 --> 00:25:49.180
 three makes

00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:50.079
 the doer of

00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:50.839
 these actions

00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:51.940
 explicit.

00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:54.720
 You, you

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.079
 have done

00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:55.399
 this.

00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:56.960
 The Lord of

00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:58.159
 hosts, the

00:25:58.159 --> 00:25:58.799
 God of Israel,

00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.940
 you, you

00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:00.299
 have done

00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:00.680
 this.

00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:02.579
 So it is only

00:26:02.579 --> 00:26:03.299
 fitting that

00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:04.240
 Israel rejoices

00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.079
 not before the

00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:06.500
 stuff, not in

00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:07.099
 the food and

00:26:07.099 --> 00:26:07.720
 the riches of

00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.740
 the spoil, but

00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:10.039
 before the

00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:11.899
 Lord, from

00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:12.539
 whom every

00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.200
 good gift,

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.279
 every perfect

00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:14.980
 gift comes.

00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.000
 And we do

00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:16.879
 the same when

00:26:16.879 --> 00:26:17.480
 our value

00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:18.819
 systems are

00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:19.579
 rightly ordered.

00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:21.819
 We rejoice not

00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:22.559
 before the

00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:23.559
 gifts, but

00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.339
 before the

00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:25.619
 giver, before

00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:26.059
 the Lord.

00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.680
 And God's not

00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:28.940
 done.

00:26:30.339 --> 00:26:31.019
 Isaiah addresses

00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:32.339
 how God breaks

00:26:32.339 --> 00:26:33.299
 the chains of

00:26:33.299 --> 00:26:34.259
 their bondage.

00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:35.899
 Rather than just

00:26:35.899 --> 00:26:36.960
 using one image,

00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:37.859
 in verse four,

00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:39.220
 he employs three

00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:40.299
 powerful symbols.

00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:41.559
 The yoke,

00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:43.279
 the rod, the

00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:44.960
 staff, each

00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:45.980
 hammering home

00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:47.200
 the inescapable

00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:47.899
 weight of their

00:26:47.899 --> 00:26:48.279
 oppression.

00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.919
 Remember, there

00:26:50.919 --> 00:26:51.379
 are no

00:26:51.379 --> 00:26:52.119
 internationally

00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:52.919
 agreed upon

00:26:52.919 --> 00:26:53.619
 rules of war

00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:54.099
 back then.

00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:55.299
 There's no

00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:56.259
 established Geneva

00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:57.419
 convention that

00:26:57.419 --> 00:26:58.079
 protected the

00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:59.019
 humanity of war

00:26:59.019 --> 00:26:59.419
 prisoners.

00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.440
 No, the

00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:03.220
 yoke, the

00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:03.899
 staff, the

00:27:03.899 --> 00:27:04.700
 rod, they

00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:05.319
 were instruments

00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:06.519
 of forced,

00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:07.940
 back-breaking

00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:08.339
 labor.

00:27:09.419 --> 00:27:10.279
 Instruments of

00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:11.500
 violent beatings

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.220
 that forced

00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:13.039
 them to keep

00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:13.619
 going even

00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:14.160
 when they had

00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:15.119
 nothing left

00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:15.579
 to give.

00:27:17.399 --> 00:27:18.940
 Just how

00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:20.339
 liberating it

00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:20.940
 would be for

00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:21.720
 that yoke,

00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.440
 that staff,

00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:23.240
 that rod to

00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:24.279
 be shattered

00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:25.119
 by God.

00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:27.160
 And he will

00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:28.240
 do just as

00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:29.220
 he did in the

00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:30.480
 past, decisively

00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.359
 on the day

00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:31.920
 of Midian.

00:27:33.099 --> 00:27:33.399
 In this

00:27:33.399 --> 00:27:34.319
 flashback,

00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.299
 Isaiah

00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:35.960
 hearkens back

00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:36.779
 to Judges

00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:37.240
 seven.

00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.299
 There, Israel

00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:39.759
 is in a

00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.879
 sorry state,

00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:41.859
 completely

00:27:41.859 --> 00:27:43.220
 overpowered,

00:27:43.399 --> 00:27:44.559
 outnumbered by

00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:45.359
 Midian.

00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:47.799
 But before

00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:48.500
 their battle,

00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:49.500
 God cuts

00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:49.919
 down the

00:27:49.919 --> 00:27:50.599
 Israelite army

00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:52.359
 from 32,000

00:27:52.359 --> 00:27:53.339
 able-bodied men

00:27:53.339 --> 00:27:54.940
 to only 300,

00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.779
 less than

00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:57.419
 1% of its

00:27:57.419 --> 00:27:58.299
 original size.

00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:00.379
 Questionable

00:28:00.379 --> 00:28:01.259
 military strategy

00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:01.759
 all around,

00:28:01.899 --> 00:28:02.899
 but yet these

00:28:02.899 --> 00:28:04.299
 300 men

00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:05.819
 have victory

00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:06.359
 before the

00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:06.559
 Lord.

00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:10.519
 God promises

00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:11.659
 in verse 5,

00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.519
 the boot

00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.359
 that trampled

00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:13.940
 our lands

00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:14.720
 and our

00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:15.200
 women and

00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:15.879
 our children,

00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:17.059
 the garment

00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:17.720
 soaked with

00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.079
 the blood

00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:18.819
 of our men,

00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:20.559
 symbols of

00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:21.139
 our enemies'

00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:22.440
 vicious conquests,

00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.419
 they are used

00:28:23.419 --> 00:28:24.599
 then as fuel

00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:25.500
 for fire.

00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.819
 In a great

00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:28.319
 reversal,

00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:29.599
 what was once

00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.759
 used for fuel,

00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:32.059
 for war,

00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:32.899
 and for death,

00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:33.779
 and for conquering,

00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:35.119
 is now used

00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:35.859
 for fuel,

00:28:35.979 --> 00:28:36.559
 for fire,

00:28:37.879 --> 00:28:38.619
 for warmth,

00:28:39.159 --> 00:28:39.879
 for light,

00:28:40.679 --> 00:28:41.459
 for life.

00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:44.539
 So we've seen

00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:45.299
 the effect

00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:45.959
 of this great

00:28:45.959 --> 00:28:46.419
 prophecy,

00:28:47.239 --> 00:28:49.039
 but how does

00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:49.659
 this great

00:28:49.659 --> 00:28:50.539
 reversal come?

00:28:51.919 --> 00:28:52.779
 So we read

00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.139
 of this

00:28:53.139 --> 00:28:53.959
 deliverer.

00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:55.899
 The for

00:28:55.899 --> 00:28:56.879
 that starts

00:28:56.879 --> 00:28:57.959
 verse 6

00:28:57.959 --> 00:28:58.519
 introduces

00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:59.099
 the ground

00:28:59.099 --> 00:28:59.679
 clause,

00:29:00.119 --> 00:29:00.919
 the reason

00:29:00.919 --> 00:29:01.459
 for this

00:29:01.459 --> 00:29:01.839
 light,

00:29:02.059 --> 00:29:02.519
 the joy,

00:29:02.619 --> 00:29:03.119
 the peace,

00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:03.819
 and it

00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:04.299
 comes in

00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:04.979
 a most

00:29:04.979 --> 00:29:05.539
 unexpected

00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:06.119
 form.

00:29:07.479 --> 00:29:08.159
 It's a

00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:08.599
 child,

00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:11.639
 a boy.

00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:14.879
 Pastor Ray

00:29:14.879 --> 00:29:15.459
 Orlin once

00:29:15.459 --> 00:29:15.759
 said,

00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:17.239
 God's answer

00:29:17.239 --> 00:29:18.319
 to everything

00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:19.099
 that has

00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:20.339
 terrorized us

00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:22.179
 is a

00:29:22.179 --> 00:29:22.599
 child.

00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:27.119
 Again,

00:29:27.219 --> 00:29:27.739
 just as he

00:29:27.739 --> 00:29:28.259
 did with

00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:28.759
 Gideon,

00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.000
 God

00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:31.039
 delights

00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:32.180
 in using

00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:32.599
 what is

00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:33.180
 small,

00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:34.799
 what is

00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:35.159
 weak,

00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:37.079
 in the eyes

00:29:37.079 --> 00:29:37.379
 of this

00:29:37.379 --> 00:29:37.799
 world to

00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:38.379
 shame the

00:29:38.379 --> 00:29:38.839
 strong.

00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:40.899
 He uses

00:29:40.899 --> 00:29:42.420
 the foolish

00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:43.079
 to shame

00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:43.720
 the wise.

00:29:45.159 --> 00:29:46.180
 In a world

00:29:46.180 --> 00:29:47.339
 captivated by

00:29:47.339 --> 00:29:48.420
 grand displays

00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:49.059
 of power,

00:29:49.579 --> 00:29:50.240
 by massive

00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:51.019
 armies and

00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:52.379
 great wealth,

00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:54.420
 we're quick

00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:55.059
 to place our

00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:55.960
 hope in

00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:56.839
 human strength,

00:29:57.420 --> 00:29:58.440
 always scheming

00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:59.140
 to partner

00:29:59.140 --> 00:29:59.640
 up with

00:29:59.640 --> 00:29:59.840
 our

00:29:59.840 --> 00:30:00.340
 Assyrias,

00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:00.900
 with our

00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:01.860
 Assyrias.

00:30:05.120 --> 00:30:05.880
 Brothers and

00:30:05.880 --> 00:30:06.100
 sisters,

00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:07.000
 we ought not

00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.779
 dismiss the

00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:08.440
 little things,

00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:10.700
 like your

00:30:10.700 --> 00:30:11.420
 little church,

00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:13.940
 or your

00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:14.820
 little prayers,

00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:16.960
 your little

00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:17.539
 service,

00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:19.660
 your little

00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:20.120
 witness,

00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:22.680
 and most

00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:23.080
 importantly,

00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:24.200
 this little

00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:24.700
 child.

00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:28.120
 God

00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:28.680
 uses in

00:30:28.680 --> 00:30:29.559
 big ways.

00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:32.160
 God

00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:32.640
 deliberately

00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:33.640
 chooses this

00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:34.840
 weakest image,

00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:36.480
 a child,

00:30:37.140 --> 00:30:37.420
 to then

00:30:37.420 --> 00:30:38.160
 conquer

00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:40.080
 every single

00:30:40.080 --> 00:30:40.660
 one of our

00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:41.039
 enemies.

00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:42.680
 Sin,

00:30:43.559 --> 00:30:43.900
 death,

00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:44.660
 Satan.

00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:46.380
 You know,

00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:47.059
 it's easy to

00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:47.539
 think that

00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.480
 Christmas is a

00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.500
 time that is

00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.120
 tame,

00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:52.200
 domesticated,

00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:53.019
 safe,

00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:55.639
 brothers and

00:30:55.639 --> 00:30:55.900
 sisters,

00:30:56.119 --> 00:30:57.319
 Christmas is

00:30:57.319 --> 00:30:58.180
 the start of

00:30:58.180 --> 00:30:58.920
 the revolution,

00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:02.279
 the in-breaking

00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:03.079
 of the kingdom

00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:03.740
 of God.

00:31:05.460 --> 00:31:06.480
 And who is

00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:06.940
 this boy?

00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:10.200
 I hope it's

00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:11.019
 obvious to you

00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:11.319
 here,

00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:13.519
 but remember,

00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:14.980
 remember the

00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:15.639
 longing of the

00:31:15.639 --> 00:31:16.940
 Hebrews for

00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:17.619
 this Messiah.

00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:19.379
 There were at

00:31:19.379 --> 00:31:20.359
 least 700

00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:21.599
 years between

00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:22.720
 the prophecy

00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.079
 that you

00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:23.740
 read today

00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.460
 and the

00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:25.000
 birth of

00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:25.519
 this boy.

00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:26.759
 With 400

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.440
 of those

00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:28.059
 years being

00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:29.299
 called the

00:31:29.299 --> 00:31:30.259
 400 silent

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:30.680
 years,

00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:32.259
 God seemed

00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:32.900
 to stop

00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:33.380
 speaking to

00:31:33.380 --> 00:31:34.500
 them all

00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:34.880
 together.

00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:37.079
 400 years

00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.640
 of silence.

00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:42.680
 That was

00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:43.180
 just five

00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:43.700
 seconds of

00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.059
 silence.

00:31:45.339 --> 00:31:45.819
 What about

00:31:45.819 --> 00:31:46.539
 400 years?

00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.519
 So understand

00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:51.339
 the momentous

00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:52.160
 occasion then

00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:54.279
 when Matthew

00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:55.580
 breaks this

00:31:55.580 --> 00:31:56.660
 prolonged silence

00:31:56.660 --> 00:31:57.340
 when he writes

00:31:57.340 --> 00:31:58.220
 in his gospel

00:31:58.220 --> 00:31:59.740
 and the

00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:00.300
 leaving of

00:32:00.300 --> 00:32:00.840
 Nazareth,

00:32:01.540 --> 00:32:02.240
 Jesus went

00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:02.860
 and lived in

00:32:02.860 --> 00:32:04.000
 Capernaum by

00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.720
 the sea in the

00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.440
 territory of

00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:06.100
 Zebulun and

00:32:06.100 --> 00:32:06.519
 Naphtali,

00:32:06.660 --> 00:32:07.160
 should sound

00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:07.560
 familiar,

00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:09.759
 so that what

00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.840
 was spoken by

00:32:10.840 --> 00:32:11.540
 the prophet

00:32:11.540 --> 00:32:12.740
 Isaiah might be

00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.100
 fulfilled.

00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:13.980
 And then he

00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.580
 proceeds to

00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:15.300
 quote this

00:32:15.300 --> 00:32:16.160
 exact passage,

00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:17.420
 verses 1 to 2,

00:32:17.620 --> 00:32:18.420
 from this exact

00:32:18.420 --> 00:32:18.840
 passage.

00:32:18.839 --> 00:32:21.359
 Matthew is

00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:21.579
 saying,

00:32:21.939 --> 00:32:22.419
 make no

00:32:22.419 --> 00:32:23.019
 mistake,

00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:24.240
 Jesus of

00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:24.659
 Nazareth,

00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:25.779
 this boy,

00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:27.679
 he is the

00:32:27.679 --> 00:32:28.099
 child of

00:32:28.099 --> 00:32:28.500
 prophecy.

00:32:30.659 --> 00:32:31.319
 And we

00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:31.740
 learn what

00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:32.220
 his name

00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:32.579
 will be

00:32:32.579 --> 00:32:32.939
 called.

00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:34.779
 And these

00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:35.659
 are glorious,

00:32:36.419 --> 00:32:37.459
 glorious names.

00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:39.919
 Wonderful

00:32:39.919 --> 00:32:40.459
 counselor,

00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:42.859
 mighty God,

00:32:43.959 --> 00:32:44.439
 everlasting

00:32:44.439 --> 00:32:45.059
 father,

00:32:46.199 --> 00:32:46.559
 prince of

00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:46.899
 peace.

00:32:48.579 --> 00:32:49.299
 We'll take

00:32:49.299 --> 00:32:49.859
 each one of

00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:50.299
 those names

00:32:50.299 --> 00:32:50.720
 in turn.

00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:52.500
 First,

00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.599
 Jesus embodied

00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:54.819
 otherworldly

00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:55.099
 wisdom.

00:32:56.700 --> 00:32:57.339
 When I was

00:32:57.339 --> 00:32:59.099
 12, I was

00:32:59.099 --> 00:33:00.159
 learning about

00:33:00.159 --> 00:33:01.079
 decimals and

00:33:01.079 --> 00:33:01.759
 fractions and

00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:02.240
 reading Harry

00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:02.500
 Potter.

00:33:03.419 --> 00:33:04.460
 When Jesus

00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:06.220
 was 12, he

00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:06.919
 was confounding

00:33:06.919 --> 00:33:07.639
 even the most

00:33:07.639 --> 00:33:08.460
 learned Jewish

00:33:08.460 --> 00:33:08.899
 scholars.

00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:10.619
 Solomon

00:33:10.619 --> 00:33:11.559
 astounded the

00:33:11.559 --> 00:33:12.139
 ancient Near

00:33:12.139 --> 00:33:13.159
 East with his

00:33:13.159 --> 00:33:14.819
 wisdom and

00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:15.379
 knowledge.

00:33:15.380 --> 00:33:16.980
 Jesus declared

00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:18.460
 something greater

00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.600
 than Solomon

00:33:19.600 --> 00:33:20.100
 is here.

00:33:21.780 --> 00:33:22.540
 That word

00:33:22.540 --> 00:33:23.480
 wonderful is

00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:24.480
 thrown around in

00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.560
 our daily use so

00:33:25.560 --> 00:33:26.740
 often that it's

00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:27.420
 easy for this

00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:28.100
 title to feel

00:33:28.100 --> 00:33:28.540
 trite.

00:33:29.300 --> 00:33:30.160
 But this is more

00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:30.720
 than just saying

00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.620
 that Jesus was a

00:33:31.620 --> 00:33:34.020
 good listener and

00:33:34.020 --> 00:33:34.700
 just gave helpful

00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:35.560
 advice at times.

00:33:37.540 --> 00:33:38.120
 Jesus'

00:33:38.420 --> 00:33:39.820
 wonderful wisdom

00:33:39.820 --> 00:33:41.960
 inspired worship.

00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:42.100
 friendship.

00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:44.519
 Jesus wasn't just

00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:45.559
 the best of human

00:33:45.559 --> 00:33:46.519
 counselors, but his

00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:47.980
 wisdom existed on a

00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:49.000
 completely different

00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:50.279
 plane, on a

00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:51.480
 heavenly, higher

00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:51.880
 plane.

00:33:52.640 --> 00:33:53.460
 And it really is,

00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:54.240
 this really is a

00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:55.160
 divine title.

00:33:55.400 --> 00:33:56.620
 For later in Isaiah

00:33:56.620 --> 00:33:57.700
 28, it says,

00:33:57.700 --> 00:33:59.220
 the Lord of hosts,

00:33:59.559 --> 00:34:01.480
 he is wonderful in

00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:01.819
 counsel.

00:34:03.180 --> 00:34:04.319
 It's the Lord of hosts

00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:05.319
 that is called

00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:05.920
 wonderful in

00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:06.140
 counsel.

00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:07.059
 What does that say

00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:07.759
 about this boy?

00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:10.760
 But while he is

00:34:10.760 --> 00:34:12.739
 truly awe-inspiringly,

00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:13.880
 transcendently

00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:16.239
 wonderful, he is

00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:17.059
 also a near,

00:34:18.280 --> 00:34:19.139
 intimate counselor.

00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.480
 Someone who bends

00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:22.699
 his ear to you.

00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:25.940
 Cares for you

00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:26.420
 tenderly.

00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:28.820
 Brothers and

00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:29.619
 sisters, do you

00:34:29.619 --> 00:34:31.079
 need to make a big

00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:32.820
 life decision and

00:34:32.820 --> 00:34:33.420
 you just don't know

00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:33.900
 what to do?

00:34:33.900 --> 00:34:36.780
 Do you have a

00:34:36.780 --> 00:34:38.119
 problem in a

00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:38.940
 relationship where

00:34:38.940 --> 00:34:39.860
 you just don't know

00:34:39.860 --> 00:34:40.519
 what to do?

00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:44.340
 Friend, do you

00:34:44.340 --> 00:34:45.200
 know that you have

00:34:45.200 --> 00:34:46.059
 a wonderful

00:34:46.059 --> 00:34:47.900
 counselor in Jesus

00:34:47.900 --> 00:34:48.400
 Christ?

00:34:51.660 --> 00:34:52.780
 Let not the first

00:34:52.780 --> 00:34:54.139
 place you turn to be

00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:56.320
 social media or

00:34:56.320 --> 00:34:57.639
 AI or Reddit.

00:34:58.920 --> 00:35:00.300
 I'm sure many of

00:35:00.300 --> 00:35:01.280
 you have had this

00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:02.340
 experience this past

00:35:02.340 --> 00:35:03.440
 year, using AI,

00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:04.820
 being amazed by its

00:35:04.820 --> 00:35:05.679
 depths of wisdom.

00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:08.679
 Be not so easily

00:35:08.679 --> 00:35:09.200
 impressed.

00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:12.760
 Jesus has greater

00:35:12.760 --> 00:35:13.240
 wisdom.

00:35:14.760 --> 00:35:16.760
 So turn, ask the

00:35:16.760 --> 00:35:17.820
 Lord Jesus Christ,

00:35:18.179 --> 00:35:19.559
 sit at his feet and

00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:20.320
 learn from him.

00:35:20.840 --> 00:35:22.720
 Study his word, for

00:35:22.720 --> 00:35:23.720
 in it are the words

00:35:23.720 --> 00:35:24.539
 of life.

00:35:25.159 --> 00:35:26.720
 His words are lamps

00:35:26.720 --> 00:35:28.119
 onto our feet and

00:35:28.119 --> 00:35:29.559
 light for our paths.

00:35:31.480 --> 00:35:32.780
 Secondly, this child

00:35:32.780 --> 00:35:33.400
 will be called

00:35:33.400 --> 00:35:34.680
 mighty God.

00:35:36.100 --> 00:35:36.900
 Here is one of the

00:35:36.900 --> 00:35:38.019
 most explicit

00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:39.620
 declarations in the

00:35:39.620 --> 00:35:40.380
 Old Testament that

00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:41.640
 the Messiah will

00:35:41.640 --> 00:35:43.400
 somehow be human,

00:35:43.960 --> 00:35:46.160
 but also divine and

00:35:46.160 --> 00:35:47.540
 profound mystery.

00:35:49.740 --> 00:35:51.000
 Jewish commentators

00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:51.760
 have historically

00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:53.780
 struggled to make

00:35:53.780 --> 00:35:54.440
 sense of this

00:35:54.440 --> 00:35:54.880
 passage.

00:35:56.320 --> 00:35:57.120
 For to them,

00:35:57.220 --> 00:35:58.560
 there's absolutely

00:35:58.559 --> 00:35:59.699
 no way that this

00:35:59.699 --> 00:36:01.000
 little boy could be

00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:02.960
 called mighty God.

00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:05.139
 That would be an

00:36:05.139 --> 00:36:06.340
 act of blasphemy

00:36:06.340 --> 00:36:07.400
 deserving of death.

00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:09.860
 So they resort to

00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:10.799
 saying that this title

00:36:10.799 --> 00:36:12.440
 is only metaphorical.

00:36:12.940 --> 00:36:14.079
 It only refers to his

00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:15.340
 mission metaphorically,

00:36:15.400 --> 00:36:16.019
 that he's on a

00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:17.639
 godlike mission, or

00:36:17.639 --> 00:36:18.779
 metaphorically about his

00:36:18.779 --> 00:36:20.500
 character, he's a

00:36:20.500 --> 00:36:21.380
 godlike hero.

00:36:21.380 --> 00:36:24.559
 But just in a chapter

00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:26.079
 later, this same title,

00:36:26.240 --> 00:36:27.460
 mighty God, El

00:36:27.460 --> 00:36:28.720
 Gabor, is used

00:36:28.720 --> 00:36:30.260
 clearly to refer to

00:36:30.260 --> 00:36:31.160
 Yahweh.

00:36:32.160 --> 00:36:33.800
 If it clearly refers to

00:36:33.800 --> 00:36:35.160
 God there, just a

00:36:35.160 --> 00:36:36.300
 chapter later, we are

00:36:36.300 --> 00:36:38.400
 hard pressed to keep

00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:39.260
 the same meaning here.

00:36:41.360 --> 00:36:42.160
 And so what a

00:36:42.160 --> 00:36:44.420
 glorious mystery that we

00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:45.680
 celebrate this Christmas.

00:36:45.679 --> 00:36:49.879
 How could a brittle

00:36:49.879 --> 00:36:51.579
 babe be the

00:36:51.579 --> 00:36:52.879
 omnipotent God?

00:36:53.719 --> 00:36:55.139
 How could a cradle

00:36:55.139 --> 00:36:56.279
 contain the

00:36:56.279 --> 00:36:57.480
 omnipresent Lord?

00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:59.199
 How can a kid

00:36:59.199 --> 00:37:00.460
 growing in wisdom

00:37:00.460 --> 00:37:02.279
 and stature be the

00:37:02.279 --> 00:37:03.719
 omniscient God?

00:37:04.839 --> 00:37:06.739
 This is the profound

00:37:06.739 --> 00:37:08.039
 mystery of Christmas,

00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:09.719
 and this is the

00:37:09.719 --> 00:37:12.259
 scandal of Christmas.

00:37:12.260 --> 00:37:12.380
 Christmas.

00:37:15.300 --> 00:37:16.400
 Recently, I read a

00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:17.160
 news article that

00:37:17.160 --> 00:37:18.560
 follows the Los

00:37:18.560 --> 00:37:19.340
 Angeles Police

00:37:19.340 --> 00:37:20.080
 Department and their

00:37:20.080 --> 00:37:21.720
 work in stopping

00:37:21.720 --> 00:37:22.820
 prostitution on the

00:37:22.820 --> 00:37:24.780
 blade, which is a

00:37:24.780 --> 00:37:26.100
 roughly 50-block

00:37:26.100 --> 00:37:27.320
 stretch that has

00:37:27.320 --> 00:37:28.020
 become one of the

00:37:28.020 --> 00:37:29.620
 most notorious sex

00:37:29.620 --> 00:37:30.800
 trafficking corridors

00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:32.000
 in all the United

00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:32.440
 States.

00:37:34.300 --> 00:37:35.560
 This area is an

00:37:35.560 --> 00:37:37.120
 embodiment of the

00:37:37.120 --> 00:37:38.160
 darkness of the

00:37:38.160 --> 00:37:38.560
 world.

00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:38.619
 world.

00:37:42.460 --> 00:37:43.579
 The lives of these

00:37:43.579 --> 00:37:45.099
 girls are gut-wrenchingly

00:37:45.099 --> 00:37:45.559
 tragic.

00:37:48.159 --> 00:37:49.500
 Terrible upbringings

00:37:49.500 --> 00:37:51.480
 lead to terrible

00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:53.340
 decisions, lead to

00:37:53.340 --> 00:37:54.059
 terrible lives.

00:37:55.900 --> 00:37:56.820
 And once they get

00:37:56.820 --> 00:37:58.759
 there, it is so

00:37:58.759 --> 00:37:59.840
 hard to break them

00:37:59.840 --> 00:38:00.119
 free.

00:38:01.820 --> 00:38:02.779
 In fear of

00:38:02.779 --> 00:38:03.480
 punishment, these

00:38:03.480 --> 00:38:05.860
 girls again and

00:38:05.860 --> 00:38:08.019
 again flee from the

00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:08.900
 people that are

00:38:08.900 --> 00:38:09.900
 trying to help

00:38:09.900 --> 00:38:11.059
 them straight into

00:38:11.059 --> 00:38:11.800
 the arms of the

00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:12.400
 people that are

00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:13.400
 trying to exploit

00:38:13.400 --> 00:38:13.659
 them.

00:38:16.099 --> 00:38:17.039
 One way that the

00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:18.460
 police try to catch

00:38:18.460 --> 00:38:20.139
 these traffickers is

00:38:20.139 --> 00:38:21.320
 by going undercover

00:38:21.320 --> 00:38:22.800
 in sting operations.

00:38:24.800 --> 00:38:26.179
 So, dressed as

00:38:26.179 --> 00:38:28.360
 these women, female

00:38:28.360 --> 00:38:29.759
 police officers walk

00:38:29.759 --> 00:38:31.440
 the streets of the

00:38:31.440 --> 00:38:31.679
 blade.

00:38:33.639 --> 00:38:34.880
 Can you imagine the

00:38:34.880 --> 00:38:35.619
 condescension?

00:38:35.619 --> 00:38:36.559
 humiliation.

00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:38.699
 The humiliation.

00:38:40.699 --> 00:38:41.839
 Not only that, but

00:38:41.839 --> 00:38:42.819
 the danger.

00:38:45.279 --> 00:38:46.480
 One pimp attacked

00:38:46.480 --> 00:38:47.699
 and knocked an

00:38:47.699 --> 00:38:48.400
 officer to the

00:38:48.400 --> 00:38:49.299
 ground once she was

00:38:49.299 --> 00:38:50.319
 caught as police.

00:38:51.619 --> 00:38:52.639
 Because of that, she

00:38:52.639 --> 00:38:53.719
 was permanently

00:38:53.719 --> 00:38:54.119
 injured.

00:38:55.319 --> 00:38:56.380
 Her life never the

00:38:56.380 --> 00:38:56.599
 same.

00:38:58.539 --> 00:38:59.619
 These trained,

00:39:00.619 --> 00:39:01.739
 educated, honorable

00:39:01.739 --> 00:39:02.500
 women subject

00:39:03.059 --> 00:39:04.239
 themselves to the

00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:06.219
 humiliation to the

00:39:06.219 --> 00:39:07.579
 danger to save these

00:39:07.579 --> 00:39:08.339
 girls from their

00:39:08.339 --> 00:39:08.879
 oppressors.

00:39:11.079 --> 00:39:11.559
 And of course,

00:39:11.639 --> 00:39:12.459
 analogies fail when

00:39:12.459 --> 00:39:13.179
 you press them too

00:39:13.179 --> 00:39:14.239
 much, but this

00:39:14.239 --> 00:39:15.819
 captures just a

00:39:15.819 --> 00:39:16.819
 fraction of the

00:39:16.819 --> 00:39:18.000
 great condescension

00:39:18.000 --> 00:39:18.979
 of Jesus Christ.

00:39:20.459 --> 00:39:21.919
 He is God.

00:39:22.059 --> 00:39:23.299
 He is Lord of

00:39:23.299 --> 00:39:24.859
 Lords, creator of

00:39:24.859 --> 00:39:25.759
 all things, and yet

00:39:25.759 --> 00:39:27.459
 he took on flesh.

00:39:27.460 --> 00:39:29.860
 And like these

00:39:29.860 --> 00:39:31.119
 police officers, he

00:39:31.119 --> 00:39:32.099
 entered into a

00:39:32.099 --> 00:39:33.559
 broken, dark

00:39:33.559 --> 00:39:35.720
 world to save

00:39:35.720 --> 00:39:36.220
 us.

00:39:38.139 --> 00:39:38.940
 Not just the

00:39:38.940 --> 00:39:39.920
 humiliation, but he

00:39:39.920 --> 00:39:41.079
 knew the danger that

00:39:41.079 --> 00:39:42.099
 was ahead of him.

00:39:42.900 --> 00:39:44.400
 But this mighty

00:39:44.400 --> 00:39:46.320
 God, El Gabor, was

00:39:46.320 --> 00:39:48.079
 undeterred to come

00:39:48.079 --> 00:39:49.320
 as a babe to save

00:39:49.320 --> 00:39:50.380
 us from our

00:39:50.380 --> 00:39:51.019
 oppressors, to

00:39:51.019 --> 00:39:52.460
 release us from our

00:39:52.460 --> 00:39:53.360
 bondage to sin and

00:39:53.360 --> 00:39:53.619
 death.

00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:54.940
 Praise be to the

00:39:54.940 --> 00:39:55.360
 Lord Jesus.

00:39:55.360 --> 00:39:55.480
 Jesus.

00:39:59.260 --> 00:40:00.720
 Though unto us a

00:40:00.720 --> 00:40:03.000
 child is given, the

00:40:03.000 --> 00:40:03.880
 third title is

00:40:03.880 --> 00:40:06.160
 paradoxically everlasting

00:40:06.160 --> 00:40:07.059
 father.

00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:11.260
 He's a child called

00:40:11.260 --> 00:40:11.780
 a father.

00:40:13.420 --> 00:40:14.019
 Now some of you

00:40:14.019 --> 00:40:15.000
 might be wondering if

00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:16.000
 Isaiah is calling

00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:17.880
 God the son, God

00:40:17.880 --> 00:40:18.680
 the father here.

00:40:19.340 --> 00:40:21.460
 Is Isaiah guilty of

00:40:21.460 --> 00:40:22.260
 mixing up the

00:40:22.260 --> 00:40:22.980
 persons of the

00:40:22.980 --> 00:40:24.420
 trinity and committing

00:40:24.420 --> 00:40:25.300
 theological

00:40:25.300 --> 00:40:25.800
 heresy.

00:40:27.160 --> 00:40:27.860
 I think this is where

00:40:27.860 --> 00:40:29.000
 context really is

00:40:29.000 --> 00:40:29.300
 key.

00:40:30.500 --> 00:40:31.640
 Isaiah isn't teaching

00:40:31.640 --> 00:40:32.620
 heresy here because

00:40:32.620 --> 00:40:33.900
 we have to remember

00:40:33.900 --> 00:40:34.900
 that in the Old

00:40:34.900 --> 00:40:35.800
 Testament, the

00:40:35.800 --> 00:40:36.800
 prophets wrote in a

00:40:36.800 --> 00:40:38.620
 time not where they

00:40:38.620 --> 00:40:39.420
 had a developed

00:40:39.420 --> 00:40:40.420
 understanding of the

00:40:40.420 --> 00:40:40.700
 trinity.

00:40:41.019 --> 00:40:42.039
 It wasn't just part of

00:40:42.039 --> 00:40:42.880
 their daily thinking.

00:40:43.640 --> 00:40:44.500
 That Trinitarian

00:40:44.500 --> 00:40:46.240
 doctrine took time for

00:40:46.240 --> 00:40:47.860
 the church to define

00:40:47.860 --> 00:40:48.740
 and refine.

00:40:49.340 --> 00:40:50.320
 And so we need to be

00:40:50.320 --> 00:40:51.600
 careful not to read a

00:40:51.600 --> 00:40:52.600
 New Testament concern

00:40:52.600 --> 00:40:54.140
 into an Old Testament

00:40:54.139 --> 00:40:54.679
 passage.

00:40:56.460 --> 00:40:57.779
 What then does this

00:40:57.779 --> 00:40:58.379
 title mean?

00:40:59.900 --> 00:41:01.059
 Back then the title

00:41:01.059 --> 00:41:02.859
 father was a title of

00:41:02.859 --> 00:41:04.420
 political authority and

00:41:04.420 --> 00:41:05.039
 of power.

00:41:06.179 --> 00:41:07.559
 For example, kings would

00:41:07.559 --> 00:41:08.879
 call themselves fathers

00:41:08.879 --> 00:41:09.699
 of their nations.

00:41:11.079 --> 00:41:13.359
 Recall how Ahaz, the

00:41:13.359 --> 00:41:14.440
 king of Judah, he

00:41:14.440 --> 00:41:16.039
 covenanted with Assyria.

00:41:17.319 --> 00:41:18.839
 It was clear that Assyria

00:41:18.839 --> 00:41:20.139
 was the more dominant

00:41:20.139 --> 00:41:23.099
 power and so Ahaz submits

00:41:23.099 --> 00:41:24.039
 himself to him.

00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:26.019
 And he says that the

00:41:26.019 --> 00:41:27.659
 king of Assyria would be

00:41:27.659 --> 00:41:30.159
 his master and father

00:41:30.159 --> 00:41:31.739
 and that he would be to

00:41:31.739 --> 00:41:33.920
 him a servant and son.

00:41:36.239 --> 00:41:38.259
 Ahaz declared his fealty to

00:41:38.259 --> 00:41:41.079
 the wrong father when he

00:41:41.079 --> 00:41:42.199
 should have placed his

00:41:42.199 --> 00:41:44.440
 trust in this everlasting

00:41:44.440 --> 00:41:45.059
 father.

00:41:46.679 --> 00:41:48.139
 And so this title challenges

00:41:48.139 --> 00:41:50.539
 us to trust in no power but

00:41:50.539 --> 00:41:52.400
 the power of Jesus Christ

00:41:52.400 --> 00:41:52.820
 alone.

00:41:54.099 --> 00:41:56.019
 So the simple question is

00:41:56.019 --> 00:41:58.699
 who do you trust?

00:42:00.699 --> 00:42:02.420
 Do you know that as Psalm

00:42:02.420 --> 00:42:04.639
 23 says that he prepares a

00:42:04.639 --> 00:42:05.960
 table before you in the

00:42:05.960 --> 00:42:07.380
 presence of your enemies?

00:42:08.860 --> 00:42:11.219
 If a king invited you to be an

00:42:11.219 --> 00:42:14.179
 honored guest for dinner, you

00:42:14.179 --> 00:42:15.679
 were pampered with care and

00:42:15.679 --> 00:42:17.820
 attention and more importantly

00:42:17.820 --> 00:42:19.700
 you were under his protection.

00:42:21.180 --> 00:42:22.680
 Even if you were seated around

00:42:22.680 --> 00:42:24.380
 your greatest mortal enemies,

00:42:24.559 --> 00:42:25.880
 people who wanted your very

00:42:25.880 --> 00:42:28.500
 head, no one could lay a

00:42:28.500 --> 00:42:29.620
 finger on you.

00:42:31.120 --> 00:42:33.340
 That is the kind of honor and

00:42:33.340 --> 00:42:35.019
 protection that you child of

00:42:35.019 --> 00:42:35.840
 God receive.

00:42:37.480 --> 00:42:39.960
 So when you are afraid of all

00:42:39.960 --> 00:42:42.800
 the threats around you, there

00:42:42.800 --> 00:42:45.160
 is no need to rely on anything,

00:42:45.340 --> 00:42:47.019
 anyone else, no sources of

00:42:47.019 --> 00:42:47.320
 strength.

00:42:48.579 --> 00:42:50.019
 But declare like David in

00:42:50.019 --> 00:42:53.639
 Psalm 53, when I am afraid, I

00:42:53.639 --> 00:42:55.280
 put my trust in you.

00:42:55.619 --> 00:42:58.019
 In God whose word I praise, in

00:42:58.019 --> 00:43:00.519
 God I trust and am not afraid.

00:43:01.340 --> 00:43:04.079
 What can mere mortals do to

00:43:04.079 --> 00:43:04.460
 me?

00:43:06.400 --> 00:43:07.719
 In the midst of trial, do you

00:43:07.719 --> 00:43:10.039
 have this kind of simple faith in

00:43:10.039 --> 00:43:10.420
 the Lord?

00:43:12.599 --> 00:43:14.039
 And if you do, you will never

00:43:14.039 --> 00:43:15.239
 regret that trust.

00:43:15.239 --> 00:43:18.839
 For this Father's rule and

00:43:18.839 --> 00:43:20.979
 reign will be everlasting.

00:43:21.699 --> 00:43:23.079
 Of the increase of his

00:43:23.079 --> 00:43:24.319
 government and of peace, there

00:43:24.319 --> 00:43:25.879
 will be no end.

00:43:27.239 --> 00:43:30.079
 We know the adage, absolute

00:43:30.079 --> 00:43:31.979
 power corrupts absolutely.

00:43:32.799 --> 00:43:34.639
 We see that time and time again.

00:43:36.019 --> 00:43:38.579
 That kind of power is like a

00:43:38.579 --> 00:43:38.819
 mirror.

00:43:38.820 --> 00:43:43.180
 If a man can do whatever he

00:43:43.180 --> 00:43:46.280
 wants, whenever he wants, you

00:43:46.280 --> 00:43:47.559
 can't imagine what kind of

00:43:47.559 --> 00:43:50.460
 ugliness, selfishness, perversion

00:43:50.460 --> 00:43:52.460
 comes out of that man's heart.

00:43:52.660 --> 00:43:54.340
 You can't imagine what kind of

00:43:54.340 --> 00:43:56.260
 selfishness and evil would come out

00:43:56.260 --> 00:43:57.380
 of your heart.

00:43:57.380 --> 00:44:03.119
 But unlike you and me, when Jesus

00:44:03.119 --> 00:44:05.220
 forever sits on the throne of

00:44:05.220 --> 00:44:07.099
 David with all power and all

00:44:07.099 --> 00:44:10.059
 authority, he rules with justice,

00:44:10.460 --> 00:44:11.380
 with righteousness.

00:44:12.720 --> 00:44:15.200
 Unlike the tyrants of men, when he

00:44:15.200 --> 00:44:19.660
 rules, not evil but peace, shalom,

00:44:19.659 --> 00:44:23.139
 they overflow to his subjects.

00:44:24.480 --> 00:44:26.480
 Not just to the Jews only.

00:44:27.219 --> 00:44:28.659
 For Jesus came not to be the

00:44:28.659 --> 00:44:30.719
 conquering, revolutionary Messiah that

00:44:30.719 --> 00:44:31.819
 the Jews were waiting for.

00:44:32.679 --> 00:44:35.440
 No, it is too small a thing for this

00:44:35.440 --> 00:44:37.619
 kind of king to rule only one

00:44:37.619 --> 00:44:38.059
 nation.

00:44:39.059 --> 00:44:40.839
 For he came not to establish an

00:44:40.839 --> 00:44:42.839
 earthly kingdom, but a heavenly

00:44:42.839 --> 00:44:45.879
 kingdom like the world has never seen

00:44:45.879 --> 00:44:46.379
 before.

00:44:46.380 --> 00:44:48.880
 In which not just the blood

00:44:48.880 --> 00:44:51.220
 descendants of Abraham will come,

00:44:51.300 --> 00:44:53.460
 but the spiritual whole of God's

00:44:53.460 --> 00:44:55.619
 people from every tribe, nation,

00:44:55.700 --> 00:44:57.240
 and tongue, they will come to

00:44:57.240 --> 00:44:58.840
 worship the name of the Lord Jesus

00:44:58.840 --> 00:44:59.320
 Christ.

00:45:00.840 --> 00:45:02.780
 And they will live in peace forever.

00:45:04.019 --> 00:45:06.680
 That's exactly why Jesus' fourth and

00:45:06.680 --> 00:45:09.140
 final title is Prince of Peace.

00:45:10.380 --> 00:45:13.680
 All of his subjects can confidently,

00:45:13.679 --> 00:45:17.579
 permanently say, the Lord is my

00:45:17.579 --> 00:45:18.039
 shepherd.

00:45:18.379 --> 00:45:19.779
 I shall not want.

00:45:20.619 --> 00:45:22.519
 He makes me lie down in green

00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:23.159
 pastures.

00:45:23.519 --> 00:45:25.440
 He leads me beside still waters.

00:45:25.759 --> 00:45:27.239
 He restores my soul.

00:45:29.559 --> 00:45:32.179
 In his kingdom, none of the spirit of

00:45:32.179 --> 00:45:34.559
 distress, of fear, of loneliness,

00:45:34.919 --> 00:45:37.139
 embodied by that anti-Psalm 23,

00:45:37.539 --> 00:45:38.819
 is ever relatable.

00:45:38.980 --> 00:45:41.059
 All of that will be completely foreign,

00:45:41.059 --> 00:45:42.059
 alien.

00:45:42.059 --> 00:45:42.779
 Alien.

00:45:44.779 --> 00:45:47.639
 And that kind of peace is only

00:45:47.639 --> 00:45:49.539
 possible because of the peace that he

00:45:49.539 --> 00:45:52.360
 has made on behalf of sinners like you

00:45:52.360 --> 00:45:52.639
 and me.

00:45:53.759 --> 00:45:57.059
 This wonderful counselor, mighty God,

00:45:57.480 --> 00:45:59.920
 everlasting father, prince of peace,

00:46:00.420 --> 00:46:02.779
 not only did he humble himself by

00:46:02.779 --> 00:46:05.519
 permanently taking on flesh, walking

00:46:05.519 --> 00:46:08.920
 this dark world, but he went as far as

00:46:08.920 --> 00:46:09.940
 he could possibly go.

00:46:09.940 --> 00:46:12.220
 He gave up everything that he possibly

00:46:12.220 --> 00:46:15.440
 could by dying on behalf of sinners.

00:46:17.200 --> 00:46:18.880
 Isaiah would then go on to predict about

00:46:18.880 --> 00:46:22.139
 this suffering servant in chapter 53.

00:46:22.860 --> 00:46:25.099
 He was pierced for our transgressions.

00:46:25.440 --> 00:46:27.320
 Upon him was the chastisement that brought

00:46:27.320 --> 00:46:29.639
 us peace, and with his wounds we are

00:46:29.639 --> 00:46:30.179
 healed.

00:46:32.000 --> 00:46:32.940
 We were his enemies.

00:46:33.880 --> 00:46:36.159
 We deserved to be banished to live in

00:46:36.159 --> 00:46:37.200
 deep darkness.

00:46:37.199 --> 00:46:41.439
 I fall short of his glory every single day.

00:46:43.879 --> 00:46:46.139
 But by his death that he endured,

00:46:46.639 --> 00:46:49.579
 for all those who have put their faith in

00:46:49.579 --> 00:46:54.699
 him, he spoke, let light shine out of the

00:46:54.699 --> 00:46:54.980
 darkness.

00:46:56.739 --> 00:46:59.159
 He spoke those words at the beginning of

00:46:59.159 --> 00:47:01.939
 creation, and he spoke those words into our

00:47:01.940 --> 00:47:02.940
 hearts.

00:47:04.220 --> 00:47:07.400
 No longer are we in the dark, for he has

00:47:07.400 --> 00:47:10.179
 delivered us from the domain of darkness and

00:47:10.179 --> 00:47:12.340
 transferred us into the kingdom of our beloved

00:47:12.340 --> 00:47:16.179
 son, his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the

00:47:16.179 --> 00:47:17.539
 forgiveness of our sins.

00:47:17.900 --> 00:47:21.500
 By his death, Jesus has freed us from the bondage of

00:47:21.500 --> 00:47:26.800
 sin and defeated our greatest enemy, Satan, and has stopped all of his

00:47:26.800 --> 00:47:27.460
 accusations.

00:47:28.260 --> 00:47:32.980
 And we stand justified before him, so we live eternally then with him

00:47:32.980 --> 00:47:33.360
 forever.

00:47:34.360 --> 00:47:38.680
 This is the greatest news that we celebrate this Christmas.

00:47:40.580 --> 00:47:45.120
 And no, this prophecy hasn't yet been fulfilled completely, fully yet.

00:47:45.920 --> 00:47:50.300
 There are things in this prophecy that Jesus hasn't yet fulfilled at the

00:47:50.300 --> 00:47:51.620
 first coming.

00:47:53.280 --> 00:47:57.420
 Advent derived from the Latin means coming or arrival.

00:47:58.800 --> 00:48:04.140
 The first advent of Jesus then makes us wait eagerly for the second advent.

00:48:05.680 --> 00:48:09.780
 So yes, today, we are not as we should be.

00:48:11.200 --> 00:48:14.780
 Yet we know by faith we are not as we will be.

00:48:15.840 --> 00:48:18.800
 One day when Jesus returns with the clouds,

00:48:18.800 --> 00:48:24.100
 with his holy angels, and that one day is coming soon.

00:48:25.160 --> 00:48:28.519
 The government will be upon his shoulders from that time forth and

00:48:28.519 --> 00:48:29.400
 forevermore.

00:48:29.700 --> 00:48:33.920
 The son of David will take his rightful place on the throne, and he will rule

00:48:33.920 --> 00:48:37.880
 with justice and righteousness, and we will be co-heirs with Christ.

00:48:39.660 --> 00:48:41.100
 How can we be so sure?

00:48:42.000 --> 00:48:42.640
 We know.

00:48:43.460 --> 00:48:44.960
 We know the character of our God.

00:48:44.960 --> 00:48:49.420
 We know that the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

00:48:50.599 --> 00:48:54.659
 The Lord is not begrudging or indifferent to do this,

00:48:54.760 --> 00:49:00.340
 but he is intensely, fervently zealous to do this very work,

00:49:01.039 --> 00:49:05.380
 to glorify his name by delivering his people into an everlasting kingdom.

00:49:05.380 --> 00:49:11.539
 So brothers and sisters, the sun rose today.

00:49:12.519 --> 00:49:13.880
 The sun will rise again.

00:49:15.579 --> 00:49:18.099
 The sun came 2,000 years ago.

00:49:19.019 --> 00:49:20.240
 The sun will come again.

00:49:21.860 --> 00:49:25.840
 When he does, he will give light to those who sit in darkness

00:49:25.840 --> 00:49:30.480
 and the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace.

00:49:32.579 --> 00:49:33.720
 And so we sing.

00:49:34.760 --> 00:49:35.900
 Oh, holy night.

00:49:36.600 --> 00:49:38.220
 The stars are brightly shining.

00:49:38.840 --> 00:49:41.579
 It is the night of our dear Savior's birth.

00:49:43.400 --> 00:49:46.440
 Long lay the world in sin and error pining

00:49:46.440 --> 00:49:49.440
 till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.

00:49:50.340 --> 00:49:51.700
 A thrill of hope.

00:49:51.699 --> 00:49:55.319
 The weary world rejoices.

00:49:56.159 --> 00:49:59.599
 For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

00:50:01.919 --> 00:50:02.639
 Let's pray.

00:50:06.579 --> 00:50:08.699
 Father, we thank you that you are a God

00:50:08.699 --> 00:50:11.019
 that doesn't abandon a darkened people,

00:50:11.339 --> 00:50:14.519
 a depressed people, a lost people.

00:50:15.519 --> 00:50:17.039
 But you have pursued us.

00:50:18.539 --> 00:50:20.399
 You have given up everything possible

00:50:20.400 --> 00:50:24.019
 so that we may come into the light.

00:50:25.300 --> 00:50:26.720
 Help us to live in the light.

00:50:29.519 --> 00:50:30.460
 Rejoice in the light.

00:50:30.880 --> 00:50:32.019
 Sing and dance in the light.

00:50:33.519 --> 00:50:35.139
 And know that our future

00:50:35.139 --> 00:50:39.340
 is eternal light with you.

00:50:40.680 --> 00:50:43.039
 In a place where there will be no need of a sun.

00:50:43.579 --> 00:50:45.480
 No need of a moon.

00:50:46.260 --> 00:50:48.000
 For your glory will illuminate all.

00:50:48.000 --> 00:50:50.139
 We look forward to that time.

00:50:50.400 --> 00:50:51.400
 Maranatha, Lord Jesus,

00:50:52.239 --> 00:50:53.599
 come soon.

00:50:55.159 --> 00:50:56.280
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:50:57.039 --> 00:50:57.340
 Amen.