WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.540 Happy of God's word, which I hope you have with you this morning and turn the gospel of Matthew chapter five. 00:00:09.859 --> 00:00:14.160 ! Our text for today will be Matthew chapter five, verse four. 00:00:14.839 --> 00:00:29.980 And in case you've been with us for some time and you weren't here with us last week, I have not abandoned the plan to preach about the law and the Christian life, but I've delayed the plan a bit until we get to Matthew. 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:34.700 Matthew five, verses 17 through 20. So if you're scratching your head, it's OK. 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:38.859 We're doing just a little bit of a diversion before we get to that place. 00:00:39.259 --> 00:00:46.480 And my hope is that studying through the Sermon on the Mount will serve you greatly over the coming months. 00:00:47.139 --> 00:01:01.579 Last week, we looked at Matthew chapter five, verses one through three, where we noted first in verses one and two who it is that Jesus is teaching in this sermon. 00:01:01.579 --> 00:01:04.659 And we can read seeing the crowds. He went up on the mountain. 00:01:04.780 --> 00:01:13.799 And when he sat down, his disciples came to him and he opened his mouth and taught them saying. 00:01:14.219 --> 00:01:22.659 So Jesus here is teaching his disciples, those who were already following him in his ways. 00:01:22.659 --> 00:01:28.819 And he's speaking to those who are citizens of his kingdom. 00:01:29.539 --> 00:01:36.420 Remember that the Sermon on the Mount is understood to be a declaration of the kingdom of God. 00:01:36.459 --> 00:01:39.719 In the previous chapter, Matthew four, verse 17. 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:44.519 Matthew records for us from that time, Jesus began to preach, saying, 00:01:44.519 --> 00:01:50.019 Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:55.840 The kingdom has come because the king has come. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:03.620 Jesus here is teaching what those who are citizens of his kingdom will look like. 00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:08.280 And he began teaching them by saying in verse three, 00:02:08.460 --> 00:02:14.460 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 00:02:15.300 --> 00:02:21.800 I spoke to you last week at length about what it means to recognize your spiritual poverty, 00:02:21.800 --> 00:02:31.439 to see that you have no good thing to offer God and to throw yourself upon his mercy for the salvation of your soul. 00:02:32.379 --> 00:02:38.000 Summarize this idea so well in the following line from the hymn, Rock of Ages. 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:43.860 Nothing in my hand I bring simply to thy cross. 00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:45.439 I cling. 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:53.219 It is those who see their spiritual poverty who possess the kingdom of heaven. 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:58.060 And therefore, Jesus calls them blessed. 00:02:58.060 --> 00:03:05.379 This idea of being blessed, I think, is often misunderstood. 00:03:06.020 --> 00:03:09.800 The Greek word has a great deal of complexity to it. 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:14.259 It's sometimes translated as happy or joyful. 00:03:14.259 --> 00:03:26.060 We could say doing well or thriving or the single word I like best, although I feel like all of these English words are lacking in some measure. 00:03:26.179 --> 00:03:29.819 But the one I like best is flourishing. 00:03:31.180 --> 00:03:31.739 Flourishing. 00:03:32.599 --> 00:03:36.379 Flourishing are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:41.959 Flourishing are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 00:03:41.960 --> 00:03:42.960 Flourishing. 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:55.659 Jesus' teaching on the kingdom of heaven enters into a world turned upside down by sin and seeks to turn it right side up. 00:03:55.659 --> 00:04:01.579 So to the carnal mind, everything he teaches here will seem backwards. 00:04:02.579 --> 00:04:14.500 It is the humble, sad, meek, merciful, peacemaking, persecuted pursuers of righteousness that are well and will do well forever. 00:04:14.500 --> 00:04:22.160 So join me as we take a look at the second of Jesus' proclamations of blessing. 00:04:23.259 --> 00:04:29.600 Before I read to you verse 4, which I've already done, but officially read to you verse 4. 00:04:30.060 --> 00:04:33.600 Let me remind you, beloved, that this is God's word to us. 00:04:34.139 --> 00:04:37.079 It was written for his glory and for our good. 00:04:37.079 --> 00:04:44.339 We would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands. 00:04:44.500 --> 00:04:46.899 Matthew 5 verse 4. 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:54.500 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 00:04:54.500 --> 00:05:04.100 Now this word, blessed, I'm going to keep trying across the coming weeks to unfold it maybe in further and further degree. 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:07.300 Help us better wrap our minds around it. 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:13.800 I think it's adequate to simply apply this idea of flourishing as we look through the text. 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:25.259 But I want to give you a little brief history of why we arrive at these being called the Beatitudes and why I prefer to call them the Blesseds. 00:05:26.400 --> 00:05:37.040 In the Vulgate, which is the Latin translation of the New Testament, each of these blessings begins with the word Beate, Blessedness. 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:42.700 So blessed are the poor in spirit would be in Latin, Beate, Paperis, Spiritu. 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:55.080 This Latin noun, Beatitudo, was coined by Cicero, who had a great influence on the Latin language, to describe a state of blessedness. 00:05:55.079 --> 00:06:09.519 So blessedness as a part of your being, Beatitudo, and was later incorporated within the chapter headings written for Matthew 5 in various printed versions of the Vulgate. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:22.120 Now this word was Anglicagise, which Anglicanized, which means put into English, to Beatitudes in the Great Bible, the Great Bible of 1540, 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:37.699 which was the version authorized by Henry VIII to be used in the Church of England, spelled with a Y, Beatitudes, and has over time taken on a preferred spelling, more American English spelling, with an I instead. 00:06:38.019 --> 00:06:45.560 So if you wonder, as your heading probably says in your Bible, the Beatitudes, you can replace that word, the Blesseds, right? 00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:48.399 This proclamation of blessing. 00:06:48.620 --> 00:06:55.199 Who is it that is blessed, who is flourishing in this world? 00:06:55.579 --> 00:07:01.300 So our text today says, it is those who mourn. 00:07:02.579 --> 00:07:05.259 What does it mean to mourn? 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:09.899 Is Jesus here simply talking about any kind of sadness? 00:07:09.899 --> 00:07:12.000 Let's say, do you know. 00:07:12.099 --> 00:07:16.339 And so let's look at this idea of mourning with two points. 00:07:16.459 --> 00:07:17.979 Number one, the feeling. 00:07:18.299 --> 00:07:21.819 What is this mourning that Jesus is referring to? 00:07:22.419 --> 00:07:29.919 And secondly, the right kind of mourning or the reason for this feeling. 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:32.179 So number one, the feeling. 00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:36.799 Jesus says, blessed are those who mourn. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:43.879 Now, in the New Testament, there are nine different Greek terms to speak of sorrow. 00:07:45.100 --> 00:07:50.699 Truly, sadness is woven into the very fabric of our human existence. 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:59.540 The word used by Jesus here of those nine carries the very strongest meaning. 00:07:59.540 --> 00:08:08.040 This was a word in Greek literature, typically reserved for the sorrow felt for the loss of a loved one. 00:08:08.300 --> 00:08:12.200 This is the mourning here that Jesus is talking about. 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:18.040 I'll give you an example from the New Testament, Mark 16, verse 10. 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:27.200 This is after Mary has seen Jesus resurrected, says she went and told those who have been with him. 00:08:27.480 --> 00:08:28.720 They don't know yet of his resurrection. 00:08:29.379 --> 00:08:35.620 She went and told of the resurrection as they mourned and wept. 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:44.720 She goes to the disciples who have found themselves together deeply sad because of the loss of Jesus Christ. 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:53.720 And so this feeling here that Jesus is talking about is to experience a deep sense of inner agony. 00:08:54.580 --> 00:08:56.720 Many of us have felt this way. 00:08:57.580 --> 00:09:05.759 If you've not, I feel happy for you this morning that you've not felt this kind of inner agony. 00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:11.960 That your life could just end and you'd be fine because you have such a sense of sadness. 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:19.379 There is no light sadness that Jesus here refers to. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:28.340 And he calls people that are that kind of inwardly sorrowful, agonizing blessing. 00:09:29.680 --> 00:09:37.639 So what is the proper and right reason for such a feeling to be had? 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:42.240 Well, but our feelings can be so very fickle. 00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:44.679 We can feel deeply. 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:50.039 And those feelings, although deep, can be very misdirected. 00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:57.120 So we must consider if Jesus here is speaking of a particular morning. 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:01.779 Does he mean to say that anyone who is sad will one day be comforted? 00:10:02.759 --> 00:10:03.580 I think not. 00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:09.659 I'm suggesting to you this morning that it is a particular sorrow that will be comforted. 00:10:10.620 --> 00:10:17.960 Paul makes a sorrow distinction in 2 Corinthians 7, verse 10, where he says this. 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:27.500 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret. 00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:33.280 So there's this kind of sorrow, godly grief, and it produces repentance. 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:39.100 Whereas worldly grief produces death. 00:10:39.420 --> 00:10:43.840 Leads us not to the cross of Christ, but rather away from it. 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:50.160 So we can see there is a distinction made in the scripture between types of sorrow. 00:10:51.080 --> 00:10:57.320 So we want to find ourselves in today's text with godly mourning. 00:10:57.820 --> 00:10:59.500 We want to look at this text. 00:10:59.580 --> 00:11:04.860 We want to see 5, verse 4, and say, yes, I am one of those who mourn. 00:11:04.860 --> 00:11:12.940 I understand what this word means, and I feel this feeling, and it is placed on the proper reason. 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:17.920 So what is it that produces this godly mourning? 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:29.920 It follows from verse 3 that Jesus means that citizens of his kingdom will feel a deep sadness over their spiritual poverty. 00:11:29.920 --> 00:11:34.019 They recognized how impoverished they are. 00:11:34.340 --> 00:11:38.620 Nothing good to offer to my God apart from Christ. 00:11:38.740 --> 00:11:40.320 This certainly follows. 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:45.160 It is true that this is part of this godly mourning. 00:11:45.540 --> 00:11:47.560 And we're going to talk a bit more about this. 00:11:48.260 --> 00:11:57.060 But I am of the opinion that it is too simplistic to pair verse 4 with verse 3 and leave it alone at that point. 00:11:58.260 --> 00:12:04.440 Verse 3 is not merely the condition and verse 4 the resulting feeling. 00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:07.720 These two certainly interconnect. 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:09.300 They definitely do. 00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:13.120 But they also stand alone. 00:12:14.420 --> 00:12:17.560 Can we read verse 4 and understand verse 4? 00:12:18.940 --> 00:12:22.580 Not completely comprehending and wrapping our minds around verse 3. 00:12:22.680 --> 00:12:25.460 I believe that we can. 00:12:26.680 --> 00:12:32.160 Verse 4 has a depth that goes beyond verse 3. 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:40.659 In order to see this, we have to have a greater understanding of Matthew's gospel account as a whole. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:50.399 Matthew sets in his gospel record as a backdrop the Old Testament book of prophecy, Isaiah. 00:12:51.219 --> 00:12:57.500 He cites it often and he records Jesus' citation of it. 00:12:57.500 --> 00:13:00.740 Now likely Jesus cited from all kinds of texts. 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:07.840 Matthew makes a particular point to cite Jesus' recitation of the book of Isaiah. 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:09.820 Let me show you what I mean. 00:13:09.899 --> 00:13:12.259 You can flip with me if you want or you can just listen carefully. 00:13:12.299 --> 00:13:16.539 I'm going to give you two examples and I'm going to tell you every place else that he references Isaiah. 00:13:16.539 --> 00:13:21.980 So Matthew chapter 1, this is verse 22 and 23. 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:28.199 After Matthew's summary of the birth of Jesus, and here he's citing Isaiah 7, 14. 00:13:28.199 --> 00:13:34.980 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, Isaiah. 00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:43.679 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us. 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:47.419 Another example, Matthew chapter 3, verse 3. 00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:50.959 This is after Matthew's summary of John the Baptist's ministry. 00:13:51.839 --> 00:13:55.519 Here he cites Isaiah chapter 40, verse 3. 00:13:56.579 --> 00:14:01.899 For this is he who was spoken by the prophet Isaiah when he said, 00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:09.779 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:11.939 Okay, so there's two examples read to you. 00:14:12.100 --> 00:14:14.000 Let me give you some others very quickly. 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:20.819 Matthew chapter 4, verses 14 and 15 is a reference to Isaiah 9, 1. 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:22.779 Matthew 8, 17. 00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:24.620 Isaiah 53, 4. 00:14:25.319 --> 00:14:27.740 Matthew 12, 17 through 21. 00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:31.379 This is Isaiah 42, 1 and verse 4. 00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:34.579 Matthew 13, verses 14 and 15. 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:36.959 This is Isaiah 6, 9. 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:40.519 Matthew 15, verses 7 through 9. 00:14:40.660 --> 00:14:42.240 Isaiah 29, 13. 00:14:42.780 --> 00:14:45.280 Matthew 21, verse 13. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:48.519 Isaiah 56, verse 7. 00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:50.480 I'm sorry to you note takers. 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:52.139 There's a lot there. 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:57.920 The point being, there's this backdrop placed here. 00:14:57.919 --> 00:15:03.979 So not only would Matthew's original readers been familiar with the language of Isaiah, 00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:09.759 picking up his book, they would have already had Isaiah rolling around in their minds, 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:15.079 but Matthew also clearly makes reference to what God spoke through the prophet. 00:15:15.319 --> 00:15:21.399 So he himself is loading this kind of thinking as people are picking up and reading this book. 00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:27.620 So, with that in mind, turn with me to Isaiah chapter 61. 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:37.379 As you're getting there, let me just give you an aside. 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:43.340 There's a hermeneutic danger in going to the computer and typing in words like mourn 00:15:43.340 --> 00:15:47.019 and just looking for all of the places that it exists in the scripture 00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:49.080 and making direct connections between them. 00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:51.360 I would encourage you not to do such a thing. 00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:55.899 Our English words do not always relate to each other directly, 00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:58.899 nor do they in their original language. 00:15:59.460 --> 00:16:04.320 My hope is that I've showed you what Matthew's intention likely was here, right? 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:09.040 As he sets up this backdrop, as he's putting up a stage to say, 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:10.600 listen to Isaiah. 00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:12.080 Reference Isaiah. 00:16:12.180 --> 00:16:16.100 I'm drawing your minds to the things that Isaiah prophesied. 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:20.700 And then he tells us about this sermon that Jesus preaches, 00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:23.900 who would have also been very, very familiar with the book of Isaiah. 00:16:24.560 --> 00:16:27.660 So I hope you catch the connection that I'm making there. 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:32.740 So Isaiah 61, and I'll read verses 1 through 4. 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:37.019 I want you to pay careful attention to the word mourn. 00:16:39.060 --> 00:16:41.620 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:45.399 because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:48.100 He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:50.519 to proclaim liberty to the captives 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:53.560 and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, 00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:57.000 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:59.180 and the day of vengeance of our God, 00:16:59.419 --> 00:17:02.080 to comfort all who mourn, 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:04.720 to grant those who mourn in Zion, 00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:08.759 to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:12.220 the oil of gladness instead of mourning, 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:15.160 the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit, 00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:17.100 that they may be called oaks of righteousness, 00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:18.519 the planting of the Lord, 00:17:18.600 --> 00:17:20.360 that he may be glorified. 00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:22.920 They shall build up the ancient ruins. 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:25.400 They shall raise up the former devastations. 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:28.160 They shall repair the ruined cities, 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:31.600 the devastations of many generations. 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:37.880 Now, note the phrases in verses 2 and 3. 00:17:38.080 --> 00:17:38.840 There's three of them. 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:39.820 End of verse 2, 00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:42.340 to comfort all who mourn. 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:44.400 You see the direct connection here. 00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:47.840 Matthew's original reader's minds would have gone right to this place. 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:51.639 Is he talking about the year of favor of the Lord? 00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:53.259 He certainly is. 00:17:53.419 --> 00:17:58.899 To grant to those who mourn headdresses instead of headdresses of ashes, 00:17:59.179 --> 00:18:03.619 the oil of gladness instead of this mourning. 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:10.419 Now, Isaiah is writing for the sake of an exiled Israel. 00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:13.000 So why are they mourning, right? 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:14.039 Isaiah 61. 00:18:14.380 --> 00:18:16.539 Why is Israel mourning? 00:18:17.580 --> 00:18:20.440 They're mourning the loss of their kingdom. 00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:25.039 And this prophecy is meant to cast their gaze forward to a time 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:28.160 when the kingdom will be restored. 00:18:29.120 --> 00:18:34.660 This is the mourning that Jesus is referring to in today's text. 00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:39.300 The blessed mourners are those who see their sin 00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:42.759 and the effect of sin in the world 00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:46.779 and long for the coming kingdom of heaven. 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:49.159 So it's not just their sin. 00:18:49.379 --> 00:18:50.139 It's sin. 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:51.440 Includes their sin. 00:18:51.659 --> 00:18:53.379 Includes their own spiritual poverty. 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:57.940 But it includes the spiritual poverty of the place in which we live. 00:18:58.980 --> 00:19:01.879 Beloved, if we rightly understand the world, 00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:06.019 we will mourn the brokenness of it. 00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:13.259 We, like exiled Israel, will long to see restoration and to go home. 00:19:14.639 --> 00:19:18.019 Do you see how this mourning goes even deeper? 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:21.859 It broadens beyond just our spiritual poverty 00:19:21.859 --> 00:19:25.960 to all of the spiritual poverty of the world. 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:31.500 Jesus had no sin of his own to mourn over, 00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:34.279 but he did mourn. 00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:38.360 John records the resurrection of Lazarus at the hands of Jesus, 00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:41.740 but before Jesus raised him from the dead, 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:45.180 John records in John chapter 11, verse 33 and following, 00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:51.240 When Jesus saw Mary weeping and the Jews had come with her also weeping, 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:56.220 he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:59.400 And he said, Where have you laid him? 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:02.920 They said to him, Lord, come and see. 00:20:03.060 --> 00:20:07.820 And then verse 35 records for us, Jesus wept. 00:20:09.060 --> 00:20:10.380 Here is Jesus. 00:20:10.860 --> 00:20:13.759 He's about to raise Lazarus from the dead. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:16.299 Clearly he loved this man. 00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:18.700 Why is it that he was weeping 00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:21.500 when he had the very power to raise him from the dead? 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:22.779 Wouldn't all of us just go, 00:20:22.900 --> 00:20:23.819 Well, that's cool. That's fine. 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:24.839 I can just raise him from the dead. 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:26.059 It's not a problem at all. 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:33.920 Because Jesus had the right perspective of the world, didn't he? 00:20:34.140 --> 00:20:36.519 He saw the brokenness of it. 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:42.779 These people shattered because of death brought about by sin. 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:47.619 Generally, sin in the world brought about this thing called death 00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:52.539 and the brokenheartedness of people and the destruction of sin in the world. 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:57.559 And so Jesus joins with them as he's moved to also mourn. 00:20:57.559 --> 00:21:05.339 So Jesus wept over death and over the sorrow that death brings. 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:14.220 Luke accounts for us Jesus' approach to Jerusalem in Luke chapter 19, verse 41 and following. 00:21:14.339 --> 00:21:16.079 This is another example for you. 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.519 It says, 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:20.379 When Jesus drew near and saw the city, 00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:22.919 he wept over it, saying, 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:29.339 Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace. 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:31.939 But now they are hidden from your eyes. 00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:36.059 For the days will come upon you when your enemies will set up a barricade around you 00:21:36.059 --> 00:21:38.599 and surround you and hem you in on every side 00:21:38.599 --> 00:21:42.679 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children with you. 00:21:43.139 --> 00:21:45.559 And they will not leave one stone upon another in you 00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:49.460 because you did not know the time of your visitation. 00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:52.700 So he knows of the coming judgment 00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:56.700 placed on Israel and the city of Jerusalem 00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:57.960 when Rome would overthrow. 00:21:57.960 --> 00:22:00.980 And he weeps over it. 00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:03.740 Ah, the effect of sin. 00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:08.440 That you would just believe and turn from it. 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:12.579 And this causes a great mourning on his behalf. 00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:18.680 Martin Lloyd-Jones in his commentary on the Sermon on the Mount wrote this, 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:25.519 It is the very antithesis of the spirit and mind and outlook of the world, 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:28.960 which, as our Lord puts it, laughs now. 00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:32.680 Look at the world outside, even in a time of war. 00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:36.559 It still tries to go on not looking at the true situation, 00:22:37.139 --> 00:22:39.220 ignoring it and being happy. 00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:42.279 Let us eat, drink, and be merry is its motto. 00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:44.059 It laughs and says, 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:46.539 Don't dwell too much upon these things. 00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:49.680 To mourn is the exact opposite. 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:54.619 The Christian's attitude is essentially different. 00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:59.579 So, questions for you today. 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:04.579 Do you mourn over this sin, broken world? 00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:08.660 Do you mourn first over your own sin? 00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:11.920 Being part of that very system. 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.619 And when I ask that question, 00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:15.339 I don't mean to ask, 00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:17.339 Do you beat yourself up and punish yourself 00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:19.099 in an effort to try to pay for your sins? 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:19.720 I'm not asking, 00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:23.119 Do you do penance for your sins? 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:25.939 If you think this is the way that you pay for your sins, 00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:28.419 that's self-righteous pride. 00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:32.719 You can do nothing to atone for your sins. 00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:34.659 So, I don't mean that. 00:23:35.699 --> 00:23:39.479 Don't forget Jesus' very first lesson in this sermon. 00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:42.479 You're meant to be poor in spirit. 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:45.939 We're meant to recognize our spiritual poverty. 00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:50.559 But does that spiritual poverty make us sad? 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:55.700 Does it grieve you to see the blasphemous front 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:58.279 to a holy God that your sin is? 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:02.340 Does it grieve you to see your sin bring about the opposite 00:24:02.340 --> 00:24:06.380 of wholeness and flourishing in your life 00:24:06.380 --> 00:24:07.720 and in your relationships? 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:11.319 When you see brokenness, 00:24:11.620 --> 00:24:14.240 that's not a direct result of your sin. 00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:18.539 Do you lament your part in the rebellion 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:20.720 that brought it about? 00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:27.079 We live in a system that's infected by sin. 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:30.640 What about the sin of others? 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:35.200 What is your immediate reaction 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:38.240 to the sin of another committed against you 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.400 or otherwise? 00:24:39.800 --> 00:24:42.960 Is it to stand your ground and your rights? 00:24:44.340 --> 00:24:46.700 Or do you feel a sense of loss? 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:50.820 Oh, the sadness when others sin against us. 00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:53.580 Many of you don't know this, 00:24:53.620 --> 00:24:54.160 and that's okay. 00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:55.320 I'm going to inform you in brief. 00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:58.080 But do you know that I get criticized as a pastor? 00:24:58.079 --> 00:25:02.759 And I get criticized by outsiders as a pastor? 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.699 Did you know that from time to time, 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:07.279 I get emails that are so fun to read, 00:25:07.399 --> 00:25:10.259 criticizing things I've said 00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:11.740 or things that I've done. 00:25:13.699 --> 00:25:15.819 Do those things puff me up? 00:25:16.159 --> 00:25:17.220 Stand my ground. 00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:19.599 How dare someone speak to me like this? 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:21.419 Or do they make me sad? 00:25:21.740 --> 00:25:23.179 They ought to make me sad. 00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:23.839 They don't always. 00:25:23.919 --> 00:25:25.919 They ought to make me sad. 00:25:25.919 --> 00:25:27.779 Oh, this poor soul. 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:30.240 Who thinks they know better. 00:25:30.679 --> 00:25:32.799 Who thinks they're walking in the truth. 00:25:32.879 --> 00:25:34.779 Who thinks they have a leg to stand on 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:37.639 in criticism of me, fine, 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:40.119 but of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:42.159 So what is your immediate reaction 00:25:42.159 --> 00:25:42.960 to these types of things? 00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:45.539 What's your immediate reaction to tragic news? 00:25:45.639 --> 00:25:46.339 Take, for example, 00:25:46.399 --> 00:25:49.019 the most recent school shooting in Florida. 00:25:50.179 --> 00:25:52.179 Do you immediately begin to engage 00:25:52.179 --> 00:25:53.539 in fruitless debates? 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:55.579 Is this where your mind goes? 00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:59.200 Do you feel any sorrow 00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:02.079 for the wretchedness of this world? 00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:05.899 Sorrow for both victim and perpetrator? 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:09.639 Exiles in this strange land 00:26:09.639 --> 00:26:11.379 should be longing for the restoration 00:26:11.379 --> 00:26:13.659 of all things. 00:26:14.099 --> 00:26:15.960 We hear news like this. 00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:17.980 It should break our hearts. 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:20.319 When you're sitting in traffic, 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:23.299 do you feel oh so very inconvenienced 00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:24.140 because your schedule 00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:25.299 is extremely important 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:26.539 or are you concerned 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.759 for what may have happened 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:29.720 at the head of that traffic? 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:32.740 When you roll by the accident, 00:26:32.860 --> 00:26:33.759 are you more interested 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:35.120 in seeing what went on 00:26:35.120 --> 00:26:36.160 or are you concerned 00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:37.120 for the people 00:26:37.120 --> 00:26:38.720 who may have been hurt? 00:26:39.120 --> 00:26:40.599 Do you care about the very souls 00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:41.779 that may have been lost 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:43.620 in that tragic accident? 00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:47.219 So many of us aim so much 00:26:47.219 --> 00:26:48.859 at ourselves. 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:53.319 What about the sin of the cross? 00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.959 The goodness of God to us 00:26:55.959 --> 00:26:57.659 and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ 00:26:57.659 --> 00:26:58.359 on the cross 00:26:58.359 --> 00:27:01.879 paid the debt of our sins. 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:04.799 Yours and mine. 00:27:05.679 --> 00:27:06.719 When you think of the cross, 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.919 you ought to mourn. 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:09.839 There ought to be a part of you 00:27:09.839 --> 00:27:10.279 that mourns 00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:12.439 because you put him there. 00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:14.480 He bore the wrath of God 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:16.960 for you. 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.539 Isaac Watts, 00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:21.100 the great hymnist, 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:23.279 wrote the following, 00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:24.039 Alas, 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:26.160 and did my Savior bleed 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:28.480 and did my Sovereign die? 00:27:29.400 --> 00:27:31.539 Would he devote that sacred head 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:34.120 for such a worm as I? 00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:36.640 Was it for crimes I have done 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:38.539 he groaned upon the tree? 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.539 Thus might I hide 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.640 my blushing faith 00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:43.300 while his dear cross 00:27:43.300 --> 00:27:44.120 appears? 00:27:44.280 --> 00:27:45.380 Dissolve my heart 00:27:45.380 --> 00:27:46.200 in thankfulness 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:48.160 and melt mine eyes 00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:49.560 to tears. 00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:53.580 There is altogether 00:27:53.580 --> 00:27:57.540 a lack of mourning, 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:58.620 seriousness 00:27:58.620 --> 00:28:01.460 in the American church. 00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:02.700 We are caught up 00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:04.540 in so much frivolity 00:28:04.540 --> 00:28:06.380 and silliness. 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.840 John MacArthur wrote, 00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:09.579 There is a great need 00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.379 in the church today 00:28:10.379 --> 00:28:12.279 to cry instead of laugh. 00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:13.759 The frivolity, 00:28:13.899 --> 00:28:14.319 silliness, 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:15.139 and foolishness 00:28:15.139 --> 00:28:16.119 that go in the name 00:28:16.119 --> 00:28:16.759 of Christianity 00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:18.019 should themselves 00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:19.279 make us mourn. 00:28:20.159 --> 00:28:21.199 God's counsel 00:28:21.199 --> 00:28:22.720 to the frivolous happy, 00:28:23.379 --> 00:28:25.119 the self-satisfied happy, 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:27.319 the indulgent happy is, 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:29.359 this is from James 4, 00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:30.740 verse 8 and following. 00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:32.979 Draw near to God 00:28:32.979 --> 00:28:34.799 and he will draw near to you. 00:28:35.639 --> 00:28:36.419 Cleanse your hands, 00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:36.839 you sinners, 00:28:36.939 --> 00:28:38.699 and purify your hearts, 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.879 you double-minded. 00:28:40.699 --> 00:28:42.659 Be wretched or miserable 00:28:42.659 --> 00:28:45.139 and mourn and weep. 00:28:45.699 --> 00:28:46.500 Let your laughter 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.279 be turned to mourning 00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:48.659 and your joy to gloom. 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:50.019 Humble yourselves 00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.939 before the Lord 00:28:50.939 --> 00:28:53.919 and he will exalt you. 00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:56.600 This is what it means 00:28:56.600 --> 00:28:57.740 to mourn. 00:28:57.880 --> 00:28:58.920 This is what Jesus 00:28:58.920 --> 00:29:01.640 is here talking about. 00:29:02.600 --> 00:29:04.140 And he calls 00:29:04.140 --> 00:29:06.240 these mourners 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.620 blessed. 00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:10.100 Blessed are those 00:29:10.100 --> 00:29:11.279 who mourn 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:12.920 for they shall be 00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:14.680 comforted. 00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:17.220 Why are mourners 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:17.940 blessed? 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:19.660 Because. 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.140 You can replace 00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:22.080 the word because 00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:23.119 in the place of four 00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:23.859 in the text. 00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:26.720 Because they will be 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:28.480 comforted. 00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:30.679 This promise refers 00:29:30.679 --> 00:29:32.019 to both present 00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:34.720 and future comfort. 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:37.699 So it is a long view, 00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:39.319 end of all things, 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:39.819 comfort, 00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.639 to be sure, 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.799 but it also refers 00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:44.039 to comfort now. 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:45.240 Turn with me 00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:46.859 to 2 Thessalonians 2 00:29:46.859 --> 00:29:48.059 and let me show you this. 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:55.839 Paul writes here 00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:56.859 a bit of a benediction 00:29:56.859 --> 00:29:57.960 at the end of the chapter, 00:29:58.299 --> 00:29:59.740 verses 16 and 17. 00:30:00.399 --> 00:30:00.799 He says, 00:30:00.879 --> 00:30:01.659 Now may our Lord, 00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:02.960 Jesus Christ himself, 00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:04.639 and God our Father 00:30:04.639 --> 00:30:05.879 who loved us 00:30:05.879 --> 00:30:07.419 and gave us 00:30:07.419 --> 00:30:08.859 eternal comfort 00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:10.399 and good hope 00:30:10.399 --> 00:30:11.079 through gates, 00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:12.759 comfort your hearts 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:13.919 and establish them 00:30:13.919 --> 00:30:15.419 in every work 00:30:15.419 --> 00:30:16.679 and word. 00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:18.460 So we see verse 16. 00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:20.720 Jesus Christ himself, 00:30:20.840 --> 00:30:21.559 God our Father, 00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:22.460 loved us 00:30:22.460 --> 00:30:23.539 and gave us 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:25.200 eternal comfort, 00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:26.579 long view, 00:30:27.340 --> 00:30:28.319 final comfort. 00:30:29.160 --> 00:30:30.799 And then Paul prays, 00:30:31.100 --> 00:30:32.200 verse 17, 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:33.380 that he would also 00:30:33.380 --> 00:30:34.940 comfort their hearts 00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:36.360 now, 00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:39.120 future and present 00:30:39.120 --> 00:30:40.059 comfort. 00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:42.019 And we see that God 00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.660 is the source 00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:43.680 of all present 00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:45.519 and future comfort. 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.519 Paul states elsewhere, 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.519 2 Corinthians 1, 00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:49.259 verse 3, 00:30:49.859 --> 00:30:50.460 Blessed be the God 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.200 and Father of our Lord, 00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:51.920 Jesus Christ, 00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:53.599 the Father of mercies 00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:56.779 and God of all comfort. 00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:59.139 And he has promised 00:30:59.139 --> 00:31:00.460 everlasting comfort 00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:01.339 at the setting 00:31:01.339 --> 00:31:02.839 of all things 00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:04.680 right side up. 00:31:05.639 --> 00:31:06.900 John writes in Revelation 00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:07.879 chapter 21, 00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:08.859 and verse 4, 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:10.700 He will wipe away 00:31:10.700 --> 00:31:12.180 every tear from their eyes 00:31:12.180 --> 00:31:13.259 and death 00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:13.259 00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:14.299 shall be no more. 00:31:14.860 --> 00:31:15.700 Neither shall there 00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:16.560 be mourning 00:31:16.560 --> 00:31:17.940 nor crying 00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:19.220 nor pain 00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:19.880 anymore 00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:21.180 for the former 00:31:21.180 --> 00:31:21.820 things 00:31:21.820 --> 00:31:23.340 have passed 00:31:23.340 --> 00:31:24.080 away. 00:31:25.820 --> 00:31:27.140 And so Jesus says, 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:28.180 Blessed 00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:30.620 are those who mourn 00:31:30.620 --> 00:31:31.120 ! 00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:32.180 For they shall be 00:31:32.180 --> 00:31:33.279 comforted. 00:31:33.840 --> 00:31:34.720 Now I said to you 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.920 at the very beginning 00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:36.980 of this sermon 00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:38.140 that the word blessed 00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:39.340 is a complex word. 00:31:39.339 --> 00:31:40.619 And we've said flourishing, 00:31:40.959 --> 00:31:41.740 but it also 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.679 can mean 00:31:42.679 --> 00:31:43.720 happy or 00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.659 joyful. 00:31:44.859 --> 00:31:45.619 So if we 00:31:45.619 --> 00:31:46.899 insert the English word there, 00:31:47.059 --> 00:31:48.039 joyful are those 00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:49.339 who mourn. 00:31:50.879 --> 00:31:51.699 It can be a bit 00:31:51.699 --> 00:31:52.299 of a head-scratcher. 00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:54.659 Christians, beloved, 00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:55.859 ought to be 00:31:55.859 --> 00:31:56.679 altogether 00:31:56.679 --> 00:31:58.839 at the same time 00:31:58.839 --> 00:32:00.519 the most sad 00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.480 and the most happy 00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:01.859 people 00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:03.039 on earth 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:04.619 because of these 00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:05.119 promises 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:06.119 to us. 00:32:06.739 --> 00:32:07.779 2 Thessalonians 2, 00:32:07.899 --> 00:32:09.659 2 Corinthians 1-3, 00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:11.599 Revelation 21-4, 00:32:12.399 --> 00:32:13.659 Matthew 5, 00:32:13.919 --> 00:32:15.179 and verse 4, 00:32:15.739 --> 00:32:17.639 Isaiah chapter 61. 00:32:18.639 --> 00:32:19.679 Because of the 00:32:19.679 --> 00:32:20.859 sure promises 00:32:20.859 --> 00:32:21.719 that we have 00:32:21.719 --> 00:32:23.000 in Christ. 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:24.739 Mourning over 00:32:24.739 --> 00:32:25.699 the sin of this world 00:32:25.699 --> 00:32:26.679 and even our own sin, 00:32:26.739 --> 00:32:27.839 but yet having been 00:32:27.839 --> 00:32:28.439 delivered 00:32:28.439 --> 00:32:29.939 from the bondage 00:32:29.939 --> 00:32:30.879 of it. 00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:31.939 Sorrow 00:32:31.939 --> 00:32:32.899 mixed 00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:34.040 with joy. 00:32:35.140 --> 00:32:35.640 Grieved 00:32:35.640 --> 00:32:36.160 over the things 00:32:36.160 --> 00:32:36.880 we see happening 00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:37.220 in the world, 00:32:37.280 --> 00:32:37.900 but knowing 00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:38.800 that one day 00:32:38.800 --> 00:32:39.700 God will set it 00:32:39.700 --> 00:32:40.660 all straight. 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:41.480 Sorrow 00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:42.680 mixed 00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:43.280 with joy. 00:32:44.600 --> 00:32:45.140 Sad 00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:45.640 that we see 00:32:45.640 --> 00:32:47.200 so much 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:49.640 vileness 00:32:49.640 --> 00:32:50.380 poured out, 00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:50.900 but knowing 00:32:50.900 --> 00:32:51.640 that one day 00:32:51.640 --> 00:32:52.460 God will judge 00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:53.259 both the living 00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:54.320 and the dead. 00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:54.960 Sorrow 00:32:54.960 --> 00:32:56.019 mixed 00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:57.660 with joy. 00:32:58.660 --> 00:32:59.280 The Christian 00:32:59.280 --> 00:32:59.920 is an 00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:00.720 odd 00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:01.380 person. 00:33:01.380 --> 00:33:04.720 being altogether 00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:05.800 sad 00:33:05.800 --> 00:33:07.660 and altogether 00:33:07.660 --> 00:33:08.420 happy 00:33:08.420 --> 00:33:09.860 at the same 00:33:09.860 --> 00:33:10.280 time. 00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:13.120 I want to 00:33:13.120 --> 00:33:14.200 close by 00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:15.220 reading the 00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:16.200 lyrics to you 00:33:16.200 --> 00:33:18.120 from a song 00:33:18.120 --> 00:33:18.620 we sing 00:33:18.620 --> 00:33:19.280 fairly often. 00:33:19.420 --> 00:33:19.880 I think we're 00:33:19.880 --> 00:33:20.500 singing it this 00:33:20.500 --> 00:33:20.760 morning, 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:22.080 called 00:33:22.080 --> 00:33:22.880 On Jordan's 00:33:22.880 --> 00:33:24.240 Stormy Banks. 00:33:25.280 --> 00:33:25.600 The author 00:33:25.600 --> 00:33:26.020 of this 00:33:26.020 --> 00:33:26.860 song 00:33:26.860 --> 00:33:27.840 uses 00:33:27.840 --> 00:33:28.680 metaphorically 00:33:28.680 --> 00:33:29.160 Israel's 00:33:29.160 --> 00:33:29.760 crossing into 00:33:29.760 --> 00:33:30.180 the promised 00:33:30.180 --> 00:33:30.860 land to speak 00:33:30.859 --> 00:33:31.259 of our 00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:31.979 present 00:33:31.979 --> 00:33:32.359 morning 00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:33.279 in this 00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:33.659 world 00:33:33.659 --> 00:33:34.319 and a 00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:34.779 longing 00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:35.959 for the 00:33:35.959 --> 00:33:36.299 kingdom 00:33:36.299 --> 00:33:37.419 to come. 00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:40.500 On Jordan's 00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.359 stormy banks 00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:42.279 I stand 00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:43.099 and cast 00:33:43.099 --> 00:33:44.039 a wishful 00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:44.419 eye 00:33:44.419 --> 00:33:45.319 to 00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:46.000 Canaan's 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:46.659 fair 00:33:46.659 --> 00:33:47.459 and happy 00:33:47.459 --> 00:33:48.000 land 00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:49.039 where my 00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:49.539 possessions 00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.539 lie. 00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:51.679 All 00:33:51.679 --> 00:33:51.919 o'er 00:33:51.919 --> 00:33:52.139 those 00:33:52.139 --> 00:33:52.659 wide 00:33:52.659 --> 00:33:53.240 extended 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:53.839 plains 00:33:53.839 --> 00:33:54.379 shines 00:33:54.379 --> 00:33:54.899 one 00:33:54.899 --> 00:33:55.500 eternal 00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:56.019 day. 00:33:56.679 --> 00:33:56.819 Their 00:33:56.819 --> 00:33:57.379 God 00:33:57.379 --> 00:33:58.079 the sun 00:33:58.079 --> 00:33:58.619 forever 00:33:58.619 --> 00:33:59.179 reigns 00:33:59.179 --> 00:33:59.319 and 00:33:59.319 --> 00:34:00.139 scatters 00:34:00.139 --> 00:34:00.759 night 00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:01.419 away. 00:34:02.480 --> 00:34:02.699 No 00:34:02.699 --> 00:34:03.119 chilling 00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:03.579 winds 00:34:03.579 --> 00:34:03.819 nor 00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:04.240 poisonous 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:04.699 breath 00:34:04.699 --> 00:34:05.339 can reach 00:34:05.339 --> 00:34:05.599 that 00:34:05.599 --> 00:34:06.259 healthful 00:34:06.259 --> 00:34:06.699 shore. 00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:08.079 Sickness, 00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:08.940 sorrow, 00:34:09.279 --> 00:34:09.759 pain, 00:34:09.759 --> 00:34:10.779 and death 00:34:10.779 --> 00:34:11.539 are felt 00:34:11.539 --> 00:34:12.699 and feared 00:34:12.699 --> 00:34:13.779 no more. 00:34:14.759 --> 00:34:15.239 When shall 00:34:15.239 --> 00:34:15.679 I reach 00:34:15.679 --> 00:34:16.340 that happy 00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:16.739 place 00:34:16.739 --> 00:34:17.179 and be 00:34:17.179 --> 00:34:17.880 forever 00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:19.159 blessed? 00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.199 When shall 00:34:20.199 --> 00:34:20.719 I see 00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:21.519 my father's 00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:22.079 faith 00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:22.819 and in 00:34:22.820 --> 00:34:24.200 his bosom 00:34:24.200 --> 00:34:25.100 rest? 00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:26.380 I hope 00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:26.620 that you 00:34:26.620 --> 00:34:26.960 can 00:34:26.960 --> 00:34:27.940 rejoice 00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:28.340 with me 00:34:28.340 --> 00:34:28.700 in singing 00:34:28.700 --> 00:34:29.400 the chorus 00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:29.860 of this 00:34:29.860 --> 00:34:30.280 song 00:34:30.280 --> 00:34:30.800 I am 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:31.539 bound 00:34:31.539 --> 00:34:32.580 I am 00:34:32.580 --> 00:34:33.320 bound 00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:34.320 I am 00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:34.860 bound 00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:35.300 for the 00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:35.800 promised 00:34:35.800 --> 00:34:36.760 land. 00:34:38.160 --> 00:34:38.380 Jesus 00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:38.960 wants you 00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:39.680 to rejoice 00:34:39.680 --> 00:34:40.800 with us. 00:34:41.740 --> 00:34:42.280 He lived 00:34:42.280 --> 00:34:42.700 a perfect 00:34:42.700 --> 00:34:43.240 life that 00:34:43.240 --> 00:34:43.780 by faith 00:34:43.780 --> 00:34:44.059 you may 00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:44.620 be found 00:34:44.620 --> 00:34:45.120 righteous 00:34:45.120 --> 00:34:45.760 in him. 00:34:46.539 --> 00:34:47.420 He died 00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:48.160 a sinner's 00:34:48.160 --> 00:34:48.620 death 00:34:48.620 --> 00:34:50.059 your death 00:34:50.059 --> 00:34:51.200 that by 00:34:51.200 --> 00:34:51.800 faith the 00:34:51.800 --> 00:34:52.080 dead of 00:34:52.079 --> 00:34:52.559 your sin 00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:53.159 would be 00:34:53.159 --> 00:34:53.679 forgiven. 00:34:54.840 --> 00:34:55.219 He is 00:34:55.219 --> 00:34:55.759 now seated 00:34:55.759 --> 00:34:56.000 at the 00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:56.319 right hand 00:34:56.319 --> 00:34:56.500 of the 00:34:56.500 --> 00:34:56.719 father 00:34:56.719 --> 00:34:56.960 and has 00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:57.279 given to 00:34:57.279 --> 00:34:58.139 us the 00:34:58.139 --> 00:34:58.579 comforter 00:34:58.579 --> 00:34:59.920 great spirit 00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:00.259 that we 00:35:00.259 --> 00:35:01.279 have that 00:35:01.279 --> 00:35:02.019 by faith 00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:02.860 our hearts 00:35:02.860 --> 00:35:03.699 would be 00:35:03.699 --> 00:35:04.259 comforted 00:35:04.259 --> 00:35:06.599 and one 00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:07.759 day he 00:35:07.759 --> 00:35:08.319 will return 00:35:08.319 --> 00:35:08.880 and make 00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:10.099 all things 00:35:10.099 --> 00:35:10.619 new so 00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.980 that all 00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:11.199 of us 00:35:11.199 --> 00:35:11.599 who believe 00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:12.019 in him 00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:12.719 will live 00:35:12.719 --> 00:35:13.179 with him 00:35:13.179 --> 00:35:14.000 and be 00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:14.579 comforted 00:35:14.579 --> 00:35:15.380 by him 00:35:15.380 --> 00:35:16.940 forever. 00:35:18.099 --> 00:35:18.619 Blessed 00:35:18.619 --> 00:35:19.539 are those 00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:20.960 who mourn 00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:21.920 for they 00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:23.260 shall be 00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:23.700 comforted. 00:35:24.380 --> 00:35:24.800 Please join 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:25.039 me in 00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:25.220 prayer.