WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.500 All right, thanks, Alex. Let's go ahead and pray as we come to God's Word together. 00:00:04.500 --> 00:00:13.339 ! Father, we are grateful for Your good and sovereign hand that guides Your church all around the world 00:00:13.339 --> 00:00:19.920 ! and guides us here at Trinity, this local church that You love. God, thank You for the search process, 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:25.920 for those who have served on the search committee. God, we do pray for us as a church as we move into 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:32.600 this new season of considering Pamela for this position, and God, we are eager to see how You 00:00:32.600 --> 00:00:38.540 will continue to advance Your gospel through us as a local church. God, as we come now to Your Word, 00:00:39.060 --> 00:00:48.400 Lord, would You come by Your Spirit, open our minds and our hearts to hear what it is You have for us 00:00:48.400 --> 00:00:54.700 today in Your life-giving Word. Lord, we remember the writer to Hebrews who says that Your Word is 00:00:54.700 --> 00:01:00.600 living and active, and it pushes down, it cuts down into the deep parts of who we are, 00:01:02.440 --> 00:01:05.040 that it might bring life and renewal. 00:01:07.219 --> 00:01:14.120 So, we pray that. We pray that would be true this morning for Jesus' sake. Amen. Amen. All right, so, 00:01:14.120 --> 00:01:25.000 would you turn with me to the Old Testament books of 1 and 2 Chronicles. 1 and 2 Chronicles. We're 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:29.900 starting a new sermon series today that will continue throughout the spring and summer months, 00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:37.620 and primarily we're going to be looking at 2 Chronicles chapters 10 through 36, the last part 00:01:37.620 --> 00:01:44.079 of this two-part book. We're going to be tracing the stories of the rise and the fall of Judas Kings 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:49.960 after Solomon leading up to the exile. And the hope in this series is that we'll consider all the heart 00:01:49.960 --> 00:01:55.500 dynamics that each of those stories expose in us and how they point us to the ultimate hope of Jesus 00:01:55.500 --> 00:02:01.860 in the gospel. But today, today what we want to do is we want to set the stage. We want to get an 00:02:01.860 --> 00:02:07.000 overview of this two-part book that we call 1 and 2 Chronicles. Now, I say two-part book 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:12.080 because 1 and 2 Chronicles are really one book, and they've just been divided up into two because 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:18.620 of their size. So, rather in our series just kind of diving into the particular narratives in the 00:02:18.620 --> 00:02:22.659 second half of part two, we're going to try to give an overview of the whole book today to set up 00:02:22.659 --> 00:02:27.000 where we'll be headed for the rest of the spring and the summer. Now, typically when we jump into a 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:31.620 sermon, we like to read the text and then pray and then explain what the text means. But if I were to 00:02:31.620 --> 00:02:36.819 read all of 1 and 2 Chronicles, we'd be here for a while. And half of you would probably leave 00:02:36.819 --> 00:02:41.819 before I got to the end of chapter four, and you'll see why in a second. So, obviously, I'm not going 00:02:41.819 --> 00:02:48.699 to read the whole book. Instead, I want to start our overview at the end. So, turn with me all the 00:02:48.699 --> 00:02:56.439 way to 2 Chronicles chapter 36. That's page 420 in the Pew Bible. I encourage you to turn to page 420, 00:02:56.639 --> 00:03:05.240 2 Chronicles chapter 36. We'll start at the end because the end gives us the context for the message 00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:11.000 of the whole book and what the author, the chronicler, as we call him, wanted to communicate 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:17.760 to his audience. So, 2 Chronicles chapter 36, starting at the end with verse 22. We'll read 00:03:17.760 --> 00:03:23.840 the last paragraph of the book. Now, in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, that the word of the 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:29.980 Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, 00:03:29.979 --> 00:03:34.560 so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing. 00:03:35.679 --> 00:03:40.839 Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia, the Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, 00:03:41.060 --> 00:03:44.579 and he's charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 00:03:45.739 --> 00:03:53.000 Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up. 00:03:53.000 --> 00:04:05.599 So, stories matter. Stories are powerful, aren't they? Jesus himself used stories to communicate 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:10.759 the most important spiritual truths that humanity has ever heard. But if stories are powerful, 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:22.560 histories are often even more so. Histories matter. And what 1 and 2 Chronicles is, as a book, 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:29.160 is a retelling of the history of God's people from creation all the way back with Adam, 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:35.139 and it goes all the way to the return of Israel from exile in the sixth century, what we just read. 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:43.540 Now, why would someone take the time to write such a thing? Why retell the history of God's people? 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:47.699 If you're familiar with the Old Testament, you know that if you start reading in Genesis 00:04:47.699 --> 00:04:54.599 and continue pretty much straight through the book of 2 Kings, you get the story of God and God's people 00:04:54.599 --> 00:05:00.639 from creation all the way to the exile. So, why would God put a second retelling of mostly the same 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:10.199 history into the Bible? Well, the answer is because God's people were in a new situation. 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:17.019 It was a new day. They had returned from exile. They had come back to the land, 00:05:17.019 --> 00:05:26.439 and in that new situation, they needed to be reminded and realigned with their story, 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:32.539 with their history. They needed these old stories for a new day. 00:05:32.540 --> 00:05:42.760 It's been said that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Now, that is true, 00:05:43.460 --> 00:05:50.000 but you see, the chronicler had much more in mind than just that. He didn't just want the people of 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:55.960 his day to avoid the mistakes of the past. His vision was actually much more bold and more meaningful 00:05:55.960 --> 00:06:00.840 than that. He understood that the people of God, having been brought back to the land of Judah after 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:10.919 exile. Well, that reality that they had come back was nothing less than evidence that God truly was 00:06:10.919 --> 00:06:19.139 sovereign and that God had a mission for His people. He had not abandoned His people or His kingdom purpose. 00:06:21.039 --> 00:06:27.979 Look again at the paragraph we just read. Cyrus, the Persian king, in 539 BC, issues an edict that the 00:06:27.980 --> 00:06:33.620 people who were dispersed and exiled by the Babylonians earlier that century, now that Persia had come into 00:06:33.620 --> 00:06:40.060 the rule, Cyrus makes an edict that they could all return to their homes and rebuild their temples and 00:06:40.060 --> 00:06:48.420 worship their gods. And the chronicler doesn't just see that as some accident of history. Oh, yes, 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:52.439 the Babylonian empire has fallen to the Persians, and now the Persian king has sort of a new 00:06:52.439 --> 00:07:02.680 imperial agenda. That's true, but ultimately the chronicler sees this as an outworking of the 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:10.439 sovereign grace and faithfulness of God. It's the Lord who stirs up Cyrus to do this so that the word 00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:18.259 of Jeremiah the prophet might be fulfilled. This was God's plan. God is acting in human history to bring 00:07:18.259 --> 00:07:27.659 about His promises, and the book ends with these rousing words, let them go up. So the chronicler 00:07:27.659 --> 00:07:34.939 is writing to his generation, the generation that has returned miraculously from exile, and he wants 00:07:34.939 --> 00:07:44.379 them to be reminded and realigned around the great mission that God has for them. And we see that mission 00:07:44.379 --> 00:07:50.899 unfold as the chronicler retells the story of their history. He writes this carefully constructive 00:07:50.899 --> 00:07:56.779 narrative that highlights the important themes and the vital realities that they have to keep in mind 00:07:56.779 --> 00:08:05.740 as they live into God's mission in their day. And friends, the church today, our church today, 00:08:05.779 --> 00:08:13.879 the church today can learn a lot from this retelling of history, because the church today shares a lot in 00:08:13.879 --> 00:08:21.879 common with the post-exilic people of God in that day. Think about it. By God's sovereign grace in the 00:08:21.879 --> 00:08:30.560 church, He has called His people out from among the nations and has given us a great mission. Just like 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:35.679 Israel in the sixth century was brought out of the death of exile into the new life of reestablishing 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:43.359 their home in Judah, so now in a much greater way, God is calling men and women out of every nation, 00:08:43.839 --> 00:08:54.239 out of the spiritual exile from God, to live life, new life in God's kingdom, not just in Judah, not just 00:08:54.239 --> 00:09:02.879 in Palestine, but in every corner of the globe. So let's look then at what 1 and 2 Chronicles highlights 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:11.039 for the mission of God's people in that day and how we might learn from them for our own day. Let's listen to 00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:20.879 these old stories for a new day and be realigned around God's purposes for us. Now, as we open the pages of 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:30.320 1 and 2 Chronicles, the first lesson we see is this. 1 and 2 Chronicles says, remember that you are God's 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:35.879 people. Remember that you are God's people. This is the first… 00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:49.960 …that these genealogies are here. There's a reason. 00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:59.559 You know, by the way, did you know there's actually a place today where a list of names draws literally 00:09:59.559 --> 00:10:04.919 millions of people every year so they can go see it? There's a couple of places like that in the world, 00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:12.759 but there's one I have in mind. Do you know where? Ellis Island. Why is it so exciting to go to Ellis 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:17.799 Island and see the register of names on display there? Why do three million people, that's what 00:10:17.799 --> 00:10:26.199 they approximate, three million people every year go there? Because in that place, in that list of names, 00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:35.480 there's a picture, there's a reminder of the courage and the hope that inspired those people to make a 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:43.240 costly journey to start a new life. And now that's inspiring for anybody, right? But if you actually 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:50.600 have a relative that came through Ellis Island, well then it's even more meaningful. And what we have 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:59.560 here in the opening of 1 Chronicles isn't just a list of names, but it's a family tree of the people of God, 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:08.680 the people that God preserved and kept through generations and preserved even through exile and 00:11:08.680 --> 00:11:09.399 brought them back. 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:21.720 And for Christians, well, this is your family story too. This is your family tree. 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:28.919 Paul says in Galatians that it's not just the physical descendants of Abraham who are Abraham's 00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:37.879 family. No, it's everyone who has faith in Jesus the Messiah. You are spiritual descendants of Abraham. 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:45.080 Abraham, Abraham who through faith was made righteous in God's sight long before he was circumcised. 00:11:46.200 --> 00:11:51.559 Those who are of faith are grafted into this story, into this family. 00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:59.879 So the Old Testament story is your story, Christian, and these genealogies are your family tree. These are 00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:06.759 your people. Now again, why do people get excited about their genealogy or seeing 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:13.559 the name of an ancestor on a register of names like at Ellis Island? Well, because it reminds you of who you 00:12:13.559 --> 00:12:23.240 are. It gives you a sense of identity, of belonging, of rootedness. It gives you a story. 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:35.000 And for the Chroniclers audience back then and for us today, it's easy, isn't it? It's very easy to forget who we are. 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:43.960 So easy to forget who we are and what we're rooted in, this long, rich history. It's so easy to start 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:47.960 defining ourselves by the neighborhood that we live in, or the schools that we attend, or the 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:55.720 jobs that we have, or the clothes that we wear, or the people we think we can impress. Our identity gets 00:12:55.720 --> 00:13:03.639 pulled into a million directions, and we get fragmented, and we lose ourselves, and we just 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:14.439 blur into the passing fads of the moment. So we have to come back again and again to the reality 00:13:15.159 --> 00:13:23.240 that our most important identity is this. We are God's people. 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:32.039 And what does remembering that reality mean? What effect does that have or should that have on us? 00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:42.039 Well, I think the Chronicler wanted that message to strike gratitude and wonder into the people of his day. 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:49.399 Why? Why gratitude and wonder? Well, because it was only through God's grace 00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:56.199 that they were still a people at all. You know, in the ancient world, when an empire came and defeated 00:13:56.199 --> 00:14:01.000 you and carried you off into exile, when you were kind of conquered and dispersed like that, 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:06.360 that was usually the end. Like, that was it. You know, you can read through the Old Testament. There 00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:10.120 are a lot of old nations there. You read them and you think, what happened to these people? That happened 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:17.720 to those people. You were finished. You would just assimilate into the dominant culture. Maybe you would 00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:21.560 survive in little pockets for a while, but eventually you would just fade into history. 00:14:23.800 --> 00:14:30.840 But for this people, something radically different happened. God's grace had rescued them. 00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:37.480 Do you remember the prophet Ezekiel? Do you remember the vision, that famous vision that God gave the 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:41.240 prophet Ezekiel of what the return from exile was going to be like? 00:14:41.240 --> 00:15:02.279 Do you remember the voyagnosis? Do you remember the voyagnosis? Do you remember the voyagnosis? 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:02.279 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:02.279 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:04.279 voyagnosis? Do you remember voyagnosis? Do you remember voyagnosis? Do you remember voyagnosis? Do voyagnosis? 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:11.819 and those bones begin to rise up and reconnect, and flesh comes back upon them, 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:16.819 and breath fills their lungs, and the whole valley becomes a mighty people again. 00:15:18.819 --> 00:15:25.199 The point is that the return from exile was like being brought from death to life. 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:30.360 God was faithful to His people and rescued them. 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:36.080 And brothers and sisters, if that's true for the Old Testament people of God in that day, 00:15:36.180 --> 00:15:38.320 how much more true is it of us? 00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:45.860 The Apostle Peter in his first letter writing to the church, the church made up of Jews and Gentiles now, 00:15:45.940 --> 00:15:53.279 says, you, you're a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, 00:15:53.680 --> 00:16:00.060 that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light 00:16:00.059 --> 00:16:01.439 and then Peter makes this point. 00:16:02.579 --> 00:16:07.219 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people. 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:12.119 Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 00:16:14.599 --> 00:16:18.299 That's what it means to remember that you are God's people, 00:16:18.719 --> 00:16:26.479 to realign yourselves with the unbelievable reality that God's mercy and grace has rescued us from darkness 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.720 and brought us into light. 00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:31.600 How? 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:31.720 How? 00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:34.200 How is that true? 00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:36.019 How has that come about? 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:40.659 Well, the passage we read earlier from Ephesians tells us, 00:16:41.539 --> 00:16:42.860 but now, Paul says, 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:48.659 in Christ Jesus, you who were once far off 00:16:48.659 --> 00:16:53.840 have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:58.899 This is how God brought Jews and Gentiles into the one people of God 00:16:58.899 --> 00:17:01.620 from the spiritual exile of sin and death. 00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:06.660 He sent His Son to die, not just for the sins of Abraham's physical descendants, 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:11.180 but for everyone who turns from sin and takes hold of Christ through faith. 00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:16.900 He reconciles us both to God in one body through the cross, Paul says. 00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:20.160 So, brothers and sisters, 00:17:20.820 --> 00:17:25.940 the world will want to tell you many things about yourself 00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:28.180 and about who you are. 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:34.960 It will want to tell you that you are only as valuable as your productivity, 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:38.400 only as valuable as your good looks, 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:40.980 or your athletic prowess, 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:43.120 or your artistic ability, 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:45.259 or the size of your bank account, 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:47.259 or your academic pedigree. 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:53.460 But those things don't define who you are. 00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:57.259 Once, you were not a people, 00:17:57.780 --> 00:17:58.780 but now, 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:00.960 you are God's people, 00:18:01.800 --> 00:18:02.300 beloved, 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.100 chosen, 00:18:05.100 --> 00:18:06.320 precious in His sight. 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:10.899 The world might see a valley of dry bones. 00:18:11.919 --> 00:18:14.039 You might feel a little creaky sometimes. 00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:17.819 But God is raising up a mighty host. 00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:20.339 We are part of a lineage, 00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:22.099 a great lineage of saints, 00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:24.039 saints that stretch back 00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:25.939 through the history of the church, 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.960 through missionary endeavors, 00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:30.039 through powerful revivals, 00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:32.119 through reforms and renewals, 00:18:32.679 --> 00:18:34.339 through the building of great cathedrals, 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:36.039 through the writing of theological masterminds, 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:36.879 masterpieces, 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:40.000 through the courage of the monasteries 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.339 when empires crumbled, 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:43.960 through the bravery of martyrs 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:45.939 who stood firm in the face of death, 00:18:46.419 --> 00:18:48.879 through the apostles who took this message 00:18:48.879 --> 00:18:52.220 throughout the known world, 00:18:52.919 --> 00:18:54.859 and back even further, 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:56.879 through the Old Testament saints 00:18:56.879 --> 00:18:58.960 who put their hope in God's kingdom 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:00.439 through exile and trials, 00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:02.400 all the way back to David, 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:04.299 to Moses and Miriam, 00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:05.980 to Abraham and Sarah, 00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:07.559 to Adam and Eve. 00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:10.039 A mighty host, 00:19:10.600 --> 00:19:12.299 preserved by the power of God. 00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:13.620 That's who you are. 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:17.000 Let it fill your heart with wonder, 00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:18.460 with gratitude, 00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:20.580 with praise for God 00:19:20.580 --> 00:19:21.799 and His sovereign grace. 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:25.899 Remember that you are God's people. 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:31.119 But the chronicler has more to say 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:31.779 than just that. 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:35.500 After nine chapters of genealogies, 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.539 where does the story pick up? 00:19:37.579 --> 00:19:39.779 Well, it picks up with King David. 00:19:40.639 --> 00:19:42.919 When David's reign is established, 00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:45.740 the chronicler focuses 00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:48.299 an immense amount of attention. 00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:50.399 Once David's in place, 00:19:50.619 --> 00:19:51.700 where does his attention go? 00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.639 The temple. 00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:56.799 The temple is one of the major themes 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:57.940 throughout this two-part book. 00:19:58.680 --> 00:20:00.319 David prepares for the temple 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:01.859 in the second half of 1 Chronicles. 00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:04.339 Solomon builds and dedicates the temple 00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:05.740 in the first half of 2 Chronicles. 00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:07.639 And the kings who follow Solomon 00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:08.720 in the rest of 2 Chronicles, 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:10.839 nearly all of them in one way or another 00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:12.419 are described as prioritizing 00:20:12.419 --> 00:20:14.000 or neglecting the temple. 00:20:15.419 --> 00:20:16.879 Obviously, the chronicler 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:18.820 wants the audience of his day 00:20:18.820 --> 00:20:21.080 to make the temple their priority. 00:20:22.020 --> 00:20:23.000 When Cyrus' decree, 00:20:23.060 --> 00:20:23.960 we see that at the end of the book, 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:25.320 when Cyrus' decree allowed 00:20:25.320 --> 00:20:26.860 the Jewish exiles to return home 00:20:26.860 --> 00:20:28.100 in 539 B.C., 00:20:28.100 --> 00:20:29.500 they went with the mission 00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:31.040 to rebuild the temple 00:20:31.040 --> 00:20:31.840 that had been destroyed. 00:20:33.140 --> 00:20:34.160 And you can read the books 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:35.220 of Ezra and Nehemiah 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:37.020 and the prophets Haggai and Zechariah 00:20:37.020 --> 00:20:38.860 to see how all that took place. 00:20:40.340 --> 00:20:42.740 But now, when the chronicler was writing, 00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:44.600 now the temple had been rebuilt. 00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:48.119 And the chronicler was adamant 00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:50.439 that the people not neglect it, 00:20:50.899 --> 00:20:53.240 but make it their central priority 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:54.519 and purpose as a people. 00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:57.859 You see, what he was telling 00:20:57.859 --> 00:20:59.319 his generation was this. 00:20:59.859 --> 00:21:01.779 Not just remember that you're 00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:02.719 the people of God, 00:21:02.839 --> 00:21:05.299 but also he was telling them, 00:21:06.159 --> 00:21:08.699 prioritize the worship of God. 00:21:09.659 --> 00:21:11.459 Make the worship of God 00:21:11.459 --> 00:21:12.799 your uppermost aim. 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:14.180 Put the worship of God 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.960 above all other priorities. 00:21:16.399 --> 00:21:18.059 Prioritize the worship of God. 00:21:18.659 --> 00:21:22.099 Seek Him above all else. 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:26.619 After all, what was the temple? 00:21:28.159 --> 00:21:29.399 In the Old Testament, 00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:30.619 under the Mosaic Covenant, 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:32.519 the temple was the place 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:34.319 where God promised 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:36.339 to be present with His people. 00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:38.679 It was the focal point 00:21:38.679 --> 00:21:39.879 of God's presence on earth. 00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:41.480 It was the throne room 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:43.159 of the Old Covenant kingdom 00:21:43.159 --> 00:21:45.119 where God the Creator and King 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:46.779 dwelled among His people in holiness. 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.299 That's what the temple was. 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:53.099 But we know, 00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:55.659 we know from the book of Ezra 00:21:55.659 --> 00:21:57.799 that when the temple was rebuilt 00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:58.919 after the exile, 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.740 there were some people 00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.799 who were still alive 00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:03.159 who remembered the old temple. 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:05.960 And the new temple, 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.480 the rebuilt one, 00:22:09.060 --> 00:22:10.320 wasn't as glorious, 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:12.180 wasn't as impressive 00:22:12.180 --> 00:22:13.380 as the old one. 00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:14.800 In fact, 00:22:14.840 --> 00:22:15.720 when they laid the foundation 00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:16.340 of the new temple, 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:18.040 Ezra chapter 3 says this, 00:22:18.120 --> 00:22:18.320 it says, 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:19.940 many of the priests and Levites 00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:21.220 and heads of the Father's houses, 00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:22.800 old men who had seen 00:22:22.800 --> 00:22:23.600 the first house, 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:26.180 wept with a loud voice 00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:27.880 when they saw the foundation 00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:29.400 of this new house being laid. 00:22:30.100 --> 00:22:32.040 Though many shouted aloud for joy, 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:33.799 so that the people 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:34.700 could not distinguish 00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:36.680 the sound of the joyful shout 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:37.319 from the sound 00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:38.299 of the people's weeping. 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:42.319 Their joy was intermingled 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:43.740 with their weeping. 00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:45.319 Joy because they had just laid 00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:46.619 the foundation of a new temple, 00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.779 weeping because it wasn't 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.519 like the old one 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:50.240 that they remembered. 00:22:52.899 --> 00:22:53.519 But you know, 00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:54.859 it wasn't just that comparison 00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:55.519 to the old 00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:57.000 that sort of drew people away 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:58.720 from maybe prioritizing the temple 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:00.480 and prioritizing the worship of God. 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:04.220 There were all the other cares 00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:05.519 and concerns 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:07.900 of being a fledgling people 00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:09.660 attempting to restart 00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:11.900 and maintain their new life 00:23:11.900 --> 00:23:13.180 back in Judea. 00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:15.460 There were cultural pressures 00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:18.400 to conform to the world around them. 00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:20.259 There were political pressures 00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:21.799 as they continued to live 00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:23.279 under the Persian Empire. 00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:24.640 Of course, 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:26.000 there were financial pressures. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:28.940 And in the midst 00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:30.380 of those very real pressures, 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:31.920 very real concerns, 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:33.440 the chronicler wants 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.519 to remind the people 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:36.480 that the most important thing 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:39.259 is that they prioritize 00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:40.619 the worship of God. 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:43.160 God must remain 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:44.920 at the center of their lives 00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:47.180 or else everything else 00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:48.039 will fall apart. 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:52.160 You see, friends, 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:52.859 the reality is 00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:54.119 that something's going to take 00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:55.199 the place of God 00:23:55.199 --> 00:23:55.859 in our lives. 00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:57.959 As human beings, 00:23:57.979 --> 00:23:59.159 we're going to worship something. 00:23:59.579 --> 00:24:00.679 We're going to put something 00:24:00.679 --> 00:24:02.239 uppermost in our life. 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:03.659 We're going to chase after something 00:24:03.659 --> 00:24:04.279 as our hope, 00:24:04.379 --> 00:24:05.019 as our happiness, 00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:05.779 as our life. 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:07.239 You know, 00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:08.119 another way of putting it 00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:08.559 is that 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:10.939 there really is 00:24:10.939 --> 00:24:12.039 no such thing 00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:12.939 as an atheist. 00:24:14.639 --> 00:24:15.159 Of course, 00:24:15.239 --> 00:24:15.679 plenty of people 00:24:15.679 --> 00:24:16.199 don't believe 00:24:16.199 --> 00:24:16.779 or don't worship 00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:17.500 the God of the Bible, 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:20.119 but everyone has a God. 00:24:20.119 --> 00:24:20.199 God, 00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:23.479 we take some good thing 00:24:23.479 --> 00:24:24.119 and make it 00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:24.899 an ultimate thing. 00:24:26.479 --> 00:24:27.139 For example, 00:24:27.199 --> 00:24:27.679 it's a good thing 00:24:27.679 --> 00:24:28.239 to work hard 00:24:28.239 --> 00:24:29.139 and enjoy your job, 00:24:29.179 --> 00:24:30.159 but if your career 00:24:30.159 --> 00:24:31.359 is what defines you, 00:24:31.399 --> 00:24:32.179 if that's what gives you 00:24:32.179 --> 00:24:33.159 your ultimate sense 00:24:33.159 --> 00:24:34.279 of identity and worth, 00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:35.339 then it's become 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:36.619 your functional God. 00:24:36.719 --> 00:24:37.559 You're putting your hope 00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:38.379 and your career 00:24:38.379 --> 00:24:39.619 to save you, 00:24:40.399 --> 00:24:41.399 to be your meaning 00:24:41.399 --> 00:24:42.019 and purpose 00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:43.139 and rest and hope. 00:24:45.379 --> 00:24:45.939 But you know, 00:24:45.959 --> 00:24:46.699 it can be anything. 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:47.559 We can do this 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:48.259 with anything. 00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:50.440 It's a good thing 00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:51.159 to appreciate, 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:52.000 even love, 00:24:52.599 --> 00:24:53.399 your country, 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.019 for example. 00:24:55.139 --> 00:24:56.919 But if your national identity 00:24:56.919 --> 00:24:58.159 is what defines you, 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.460 if your ultimate sense 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.539 of purpose and belonging 00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.679 is as a citizen 00:25:01.679 --> 00:25:03.440 of this or that country, 00:25:03.659 --> 00:25:04.839 then patriotism 00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:05.740 has become your God. 00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:09.460 Friend, 00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:10.799 are you self-aware enough, 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:13.899 are you honest enough 00:25:13.899 --> 00:25:15.579 to admit 00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:16.279 what your God 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.440 really is? 00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:20.480 There's really no such thing 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:21.059 as an atheist. 00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:23.099 Now, you might say, 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:25.420 I don't worship anything. 00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:27.480 Nothing controls 00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:28.500 or defines me. 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:30.079 I don't need money 00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:31.000 or career or country 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:31.639 to define me. 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.980 I choose my own path. 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:34.460 I define me. 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:37.680 Well, a lot of people 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:38.299 say that today. 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.599 But don't you see, 00:25:40.139 --> 00:25:41.500 if that's what you 00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:42.379 really believe, 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:44.720 then you've made independence. 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:46.059 You've made freedom 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:46.700 your God. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:49.620 And that's one of the most 00:25:49.620 --> 00:25:51.120 common gods of our age. 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:52.960 Here's the irony. 00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:54.600 By making freedom 00:25:54.600 --> 00:25:55.980 and autonomy our God, 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:56.900 we're going along 00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:57.480 with the crowd 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.400 more than anyone else. 00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:00.720 Making autonomy our God 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:01.380 is the easiest way 00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:03.019 to slip into herd mentality. 00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:06.759 But what happens? 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:09.559 What happens when you make 00:26:09.559 --> 00:26:10.500 some created thing 00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:10.980 your God? 00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:12.759 What happens when you 00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.720 worship something other 00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:15.099 than the one you were 00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:15.900 created to worship? 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.019 You know, 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.819 it's not for nothing. 00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:21.480 It's not for nothing 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.579 that Chronicles starts 00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:23.599 by going all the way 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:24.480 back to Adam. 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:27.639 Adam takes us 00:26:27.639 --> 00:26:28.759 all the way back 00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.920 to the creation narratives 00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:31.220 of Genesis. 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:34.880 Why did God create humanity? 00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:37.700 Well, He created us 00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.920 to bear His image 00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:41.460 and to find our deepest delight, 00:26:42.080 --> 00:26:43.440 our deepest satisfaction 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.840 in Him. 00:26:47.340 --> 00:26:48.860 And that, perhaps, 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:50.519 is the greatest gift 00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:52.180 God could have given us 00:26:52.180 --> 00:26:52.620 as humans. 00:26:53.580 --> 00:26:55.180 He gave us the capacity 00:26:55.180 --> 00:26:57.340 to worship Him. 00:26:59.580 --> 00:27:00.259 Don't you see 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:01.279 how wonderful that is? 00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:03.100 I mean, 00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:03.960 imagine how silly 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.519 it would be 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.700 to enter one of the 00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:06.519 great art museums 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:07.200 of the world 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:08.940 and spend your time 00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:10.740 gazing and admiring 00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:12.440 the typography 00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:13.519 on the bathroom sign. 00:27:15.820 --> 00:27:16.960 It might be slick, 00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:19.299 but what a foolish thing 00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:19.660 to do. 00:27:21.060 --> 00:27:21.740 Imagine how silly 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.060 it would be 00:27:22.060 --> 00:27:24.080 to stand 10 or 20 feet 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.960 from the Grand Canyon 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.619 and admire and stare 00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:27.279 at a little ditch 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:28.099 beside the road. 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:30.259 Friends, 00:27:30.379 --> 00:27:31.319 you were created 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:32.359 with the capacity 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:33.720 to worship 00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.899 the greatest 00:27:34.899 --> 00:27:36.019 and most satisfying 00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:37.319 thing in existence. 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.480 You were made 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:40.259 to be satisfied 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:41.159 by more than 00:27:41.159 --> 00:27:42.980 the greatest human work 00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:43.359 of art, 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:45.019 more than the most 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:46.299 stunning natural wonder. 00:27:46.439 --> 00:27:47.240 God made you 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:48.759 to delight in Himself, 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:52.199 a God of infinite beauty, 00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:53.799 infinite wonder, 00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:54.819 and power 00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:55.779 and freedom. 00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:57.740 You know, 00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:58.339 you can listen 00:27:58.339 --> 00:28:00.339 to any great composer. 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.220 You can listen 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.539 to any great symphony 00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:03.399 long enough. 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:05.419 Listen to it long enough. 00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:07.000 And you know what? 00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:09.639 Eventually, 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:12.119 it will get old. 00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:14.579 I know that might 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.519 seem like blasphemy 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.399 to some of our musicians 00:28:16.399 --> 00:28:16.980 in the room, 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:19.359 but even Bach, 00:28:19.859 --> 00:28:20.740 even Beethoven, 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:22.200 even Mozart, 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:22.319 Lord. 00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.319 Oh, 00:28:23.360 --> 00:28:23.799 they can hold 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.259 our attention 00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:24.819 for days, 00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:25.340 for weeks, 00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:26.180 for years even, 00:28:26.180 --> 00:28:28.100 but eventually, 00:28:28.360 --> 00:28:29.500 they too 00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:31.420 will get old. 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:31.480 old. 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:35.080 But God is infinite. 00:28:36.340 --> 00:28:37.500 He never gets old. 00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:40.500 God is an ocean 00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:41.320 of wonder 00:28:41.320 --> 00:28:42.960 with no bottom. 00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:45.759 And He made you, 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:48.400 little old you and me, 00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:50.180 with the capacity 00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:52.279 to worship Him. 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.519 Do you see 00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:55.840 what a privilege that is? 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:58.519 to know Him, 00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:59.179 to love Him, 00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:00.159 to find our deepest 00:29:00.159 --> 00:29:01.139 delight in Him. 00:29:02.659 --> 00:29:03.919 Worship anything else. 00:29:04.059 --> 00:29:05.220 Worship anything else. 00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:06.059 Put anything else 00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:07.339 in the center of your life, 00:29:07.439 --> 00:29:08.220 and the center 00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:09.339 won't hold. 00:29:09.899 --> 00:29:11.139 Make career ultimate, 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:12.319 and it will disappoint you. 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:13.279 Put your friends 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:14.259 in the center of your life, 00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:15.259 and they will let you down. 00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:16.740 Live your life 00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.599 for patriotism, 00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:18.220 and it will leave you 00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:19.059 jaded and cynical. 00:29:19.179 --> 00:29:20.779 Those things can't save you 00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:22.379 or satisfy you. 00:29:23.419 --> 00:29:24.419 Only God can. 00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:27.080 But even worse, 00:29:28.080 --> 00:29:30.140 if you worship anything 00:29:30.140 --> 00:29:30.980 other than God, 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:32.860 you're actually 00:29:32.860 --> 00:29:33.720 putting yourself 00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:34.440 at odds 00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:35.860 with the very God 00:29:35.860 --> 00:29:36.480 who made you. 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:38.320 You see, 00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:39.039 by setting up 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:40.019 a rival God 00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.560 in the world 00:29:40.560 --> 00:29:41.279 that God made, 00:29:41.600 --> 00:29:42.279 by worshiping 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:43.279 a created thing, 00:29:43.840 --> 00:29:44.640 you and I 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:46.180 are staging 00:29:46.180 --> 00:29:48.320 a cosmic rebellion, 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:51.300 defying His goodness, 00:29:51.820 --> 00:29:52.960 dishonoring His name, 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:55.059 incurring guilt 00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:56.180 against a holy God. 00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:59.259 And that's true 00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:00.120 of all of us, friends. 00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:01.720 We've all worshiped 00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:02.299 created things 00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:02.980 rather than God. 00:30:03.620 --> 00:30:04.340 And if God were 00:30:04.340 --> 00:30:05.519 to call us to account, 00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:08.000 if He brought us 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:09.140 before His tribunal, 00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:10.360 we'd all be charged 00:30:10.360 --> 00:30:12.440 with cosmic treason, 00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:13.600 and the penalty 00:30:13.600 --> 00:30:14.720 would be death. 00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:20.440 God doesn't give us 00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:22.039 what our rebellion 00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:22.700 deserves. 00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:24.880 In the person of His Son, 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:25.700 Jesus Christ, 00:30:25.860 --> 00:30:26.960 He actually came 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:28.380 and stood in the place 00:30:28.380 --> 00:30:28.940 of the rebels, 00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:31.079 taking the penalty 00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:31.980 that they deserve 00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:32.680 for their sins, 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:33.240 that we deserve 00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:34.019 for our sins, 00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:35.059 and in exchange, 00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:36.420 offers us 00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:37.480 full acceptance, 00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:39.259 full pardon, 00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:40.480 full amnesty, 00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:42.660 not on the basis 00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:43.660 of what we've done, 00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:44.319 not on the basis 00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:45.079 of our good record 00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:46.099 or our proper worship. 00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:47.259 We don't have that. 00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:48.799 But He offers us 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.360 that amnesty 00:30:49.360 --> 00:30:49.860 on the basis 00:30:49.860 --> 00:30:50.960 of what Jesus has done 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:52.900 because Jesus 00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:54.120 was the perfect worshiper. 00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:56.640 He lived every moment 00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:57.140 for the glory 00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:58.079 of His heavenly Father. 00:30:59.079 --> 00:30:59.880 He was completely 00:30:59.880 --> 00:31:01.160 righteous in every way. 00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:02.799 And when we place 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.819 our faith in Him, 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:06.200 when we stand with Him, 00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:08.539 His record 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:10.299 of perfect righteousness 00:31:10.299 --> 00:31:11.340 and perfect worship 00:31:11.340 --> 00:31:12.640 becomes ours 00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:15.019 so that even though 00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:15.660 we are rebels, 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.460 even though we do 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:17.580 deserve death for treason, 00:31:18.380 --> 00:31:19.319 God forgives us 00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:20.940 and He treats us 00:31:20.940 --> 00:31:21.660 not as rebels 00:31:21.660 --> 00:31:23.100 but as friends 00:31:23.100 --> 00:31:24.299 and even more 00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:24.980 than friends 00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:26.660 because of Jesus 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:27.660 He adopts us 00:31:27.660 --> 00:31:29.000 as sons and daughters 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:30.680 and He gives us 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:31.539 renewed hearts 00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:32.279 by His Spirit 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:33.900 that are able 00:31:33.900 --> 00:31:35.140 to begin 00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:36.600 worshiping Him 00:31:36.600 --> 00:31:37.980 as He deserves. 00:31:39.080 --> 00:31:40.600 The Spirit comes in 00:31:40.600 --> 00:31:41.380 and begins 00:31:41.380 --> 00:31:42.600 to lift our gaze 00:31:42.600 --> 00:31:43.020 to Him 00:31:43.020 --> 00:31:45.400 what we were 00:31:45.400 --> 00:31:46.300 originally created 00:31:46.300 --> 00:31:46.759 to do. 00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:49.460 Do you want to be free 00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:50.340 from the little gods 00:31:50.340 --> 00:31:50.980 in your life 00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:53.040 and dive into 00:31:53.040 --> 00:31:53.980 the infinite wonder 00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:54.500 of the God 00:31:54.500 --> 00:31:55.220 who made you? 00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:57.720 Jesus Christ 00:31:57.720 --> 00:31:58.240 is the door 00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:58.880 to step through. 00:31:59.840 --> 00:32:00.960 Take hold of Him 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.880 and your heart 00:32:01.880 --> 00:32:02.560 will open up 00:32:02.560 --> 00:32:03.440 to new vistas 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:05.100 that the old one 00:32:05.100 --> 00:32:06.019 could never provide 00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:08.100 and that invitation 00:32:08.100 --> 00:32:08.720 is open 00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:10.320 to you now 00:32:10.320 --> 00:32:11.580 to take hold 00:32:11.580 --> 00:32:12.360 of Him by faith 00:32:12.360 --> 00:32:13.480 and to begin 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:15.080 worshiping the infinite God. 00:32:18.580 --> 00:32:19.140 Now, 00:32:19.380 --> 00:32:21.100 in the Old Testament, 00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:23.000 the physical temple 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.660 in Jerusalem 00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:25.220 was the focal point 00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:26.080 of the worship of God 00:32:26.080 --> 00:32:28.000 but the story 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:28.500 of the Bible, 00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:30.400 as you follow it out, 00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:32.700 you see that the physical temple 00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:34.240 was never meant 00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:35.100 to be permanent. 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:37.480 The temple was where 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:37.940 God dwelled 00:32:37.940 --> 00:32:38.800 under the old covenant 00:32:38.800 --> 00:32:40.360 but when Jesus Christ came, 00:32:40.880 --> 00:32:42.200 He fulfilled everything 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:43.240 the temple was about. 00:32:44.100 --> 00:32:45.519 He was God dwelling 00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:46.180 in our midst. 00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:47.580 He was the ultimate 00:32:47.580 --> 00:32:48.740 sacrifice for sin. 00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:50.060 And the New Testament 00:32:50.060 --> 00:32:51.160 goes on to say 00:32:51.160 --> 00:32:52.140 that the church, 00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:53.600 the people united 00:32:53.600 --> 00:32:54.780 to Jesus through faith 00:32:54.780 --> 00:32:56.060 and filled with His Spirit, 00:32:56.140 --> 00:32:56.740 the church 00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:58.080 is now the place 00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:59.339 where God dwells. 00:32:59.899 --> 00:33:00.799 Not a building 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:01.879 but a people. 00:33:03.419 --> 00:33:04.500 Little did you know 00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.299 when you got up 00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:05.879 this morning 00:33:05.879 --> 00:33:07.639 after hitting snooze 00:33:07.639 --> 00:33:08.319 eight times 00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:09.339 because it's your day off 00:33:09.339 --> 00:33:10.919 that you were going 00:33:10.919 --> 00:33:12.159 to come meet with God 00:33:12.159 --> 00:33:13.659 in His temple. 00:33:15.439 --> 00:33:16.879 When the church gathers 00:33:16.879 --> 00:33:18.159 and the gospel 00:33:18.159 --> 00:33:19.099 is proclaimed, 00:33:20.119 --> 00:33:21.439 there I am in the midst, 00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:22.179 Jesus says. 00:33:23.559 --> 00:33:24.679 God is in our midst 00:33:24.679 --> 00:33:25.460 by His Spirit. 00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:27.920 Listen again 00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:29.500 to how Paul puts it 00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:30.460 at the end of Ephesians 2. 00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:32.160 So then you're no longer 00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:33.100 strangers and aliens 00:33:33.100 --> 00:33:34.680 but you're fellow citizens 00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:35.240 with the saints 00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:36.160 and members of the household 00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:36.620 of God 00:33:36.620 --> 00:33:38.180 built on the foundation 00:33:38.180 --> 00:33:39.400 of the apostles and prophets, 00:33:39.860 --> 00:33:40.880 Christ Jesus Himself 00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:41.960 being the cornerstone 00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:43.579 in whom the whole structure 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.680 being joined together 00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:45.200 grows 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:47.759 into a holy temple 00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:48.420 in the Lord. 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:50.079 In Him, 00:33:50.360 --> 00:33:51.220 you also 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:52.539 are being built together 00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:54.220 into a dwelling place 00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:55.160 for God 00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:56.220 by the Spirit. 00:33:58.579 --> 00:33:59.500 So now, 00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:01.420 under the new covenant, 00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:02.600 what does it mean 00:34:02.600 --> 00:34:03.559 corporately 00:34:03.559 --> 00:34:04.600 to prioritize 00:34:04.600 --> 00:34:05.660 the worship of God? 00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:08.880 It doesn't mean 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:10.280 traveling to a physical building 00:34:10.280 --> 00:34:11.260 somewhere in Jerusalem. 00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:13.380 That was just a shadow. 00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:15.300 The reality is Christ 00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:17.220 and the assembly of people 00:34:17.220 --> 00:34:18.220 gathered in His name 00:34:18.220 --> 00:34:19.159 proclaiming His word. 00:34:19.860 --> 00:34:20.820 The local church 00:34:20.820 --> 00:34:21.679 is the temple 00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:22.480 of the living God 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:23.879 and the church 00:34:23.879 --> 00:34:24.819 isn't confined 00:34:24.819 --> 00:34:25.879 to one location 00:34:25.879 --> 00:34:27.239 or to one country. 00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:27.940 The church 00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:29.399 is a worldwide movement 00:34:29.399 --> 00:34:30.899 in every country, 00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:31.599 in every place, 00:34:31.639 --> 00:34:32.559 in every language. 00:34:32.879 --> 00:34:33.879 The whole world 00:34:33.879 --> 00:34:34.819 is now the location 00:34:34.819 --> 00:34:35.619 of God's temple 00:34:35.619 --> 00:34:37.339 as the church 00:34:37.339 --> 00:34:38.279 continues to grow 00:34:38.279 --> 00:34:38.859 and gather 00:34:38.859 --> 00:34:39.879 in local assemblies 00:34:39.879 --> 00:34:41.319 worshiping Jesus as Lord. 00:34:44.139 --> 00:34:45.099 As we're going to see 00:34:45.099 --> 00:34:45.819 in the coming weeks, 00:34:45.899 --> 00:34:47.059 one of the main themes 00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:47.820 of Chronicles 00:34:47.820 --> 00:34:49.619 is seeking God. 00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:51.779 When the people 00:34:51.779 --> 00:34:52.659 seek God, 00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:53.739 when they worship Him, 00:34:53.799 --> 00:34:54.500 they experience 00:34:54.500 --> 00:34:55.539 deeper flourishing, 00:34:55.860 --> 00:34:56.579 deeper renewal. 00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:58.019 When they turn away 00:34:58.019 --> 00:35:00.259 from worshiping 00:35:00.259 --> 00:35:00.880 false idols 00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:01.799 and false gods, 00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:03.099 that's when they 00:35:03.099 --> 00:35:04.039 begin to be renewed. 00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:05.739 When they turn away 00:35:05.739 --> 00:35:06.420 from God 00:35:06.420 --> 00:35:07.480 and worship those things, 00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:08.279 they fall apart. 00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:09.840 But when they forsake 00:35:09.840 --> 00:35:10.679 those lesser gods 00:35:10.679 --> 00:35:11.460 and seek the Lord 00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:12.259 and return to Him, 00:35:12.679 --> 00:35:14.079 it's like fresh water 00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:14.799 springing up 00:35:14.799 --> 00:35:15.779 through the dry ground. 00:35:15.780 --> 00:35:17.960 bringing life 00:35:17.960 --> 00:35:18.620 and healing 00:35:18.620 --> 00:35:20.340 and sanctification. 00:35:22.300 --> 00:35:24.019 So a central exhortation 00:35:24.019 --> 00:35:24.680 of Chronicles 00:35:24.680 --> 00:35:25.800 to the people corporately 00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:26.960 is to turn to God 00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:28.080 and seek Him. 00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:31.060 Now one classic verse 00:35:31.060 --> 00:35:32.340 that expresses that theme, 00:35:32.420 --> 00:35:33.500 maybe you're familiar with it, 00:35:33.760 --> 00:35:35.340 is 2 Chronicles 7.14, 00:35:36.220 --> 00:35:36.640 which says, 00:35:36.720 --> 00:35:37.240 if my people 00:35:37.240 --> 00:35:37.760 who are called 00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:38.500 by my name 00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:39.780 humble themselves 00:35:39.780 --> 00:35:40.380 and pray 00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:42.120 and seek my face 00:35:42.120 --> 00:35:43.160 and turn from 00:35:43.160 --> 00:35:44.060 their wicked ways, 00:35:44.580 --> 00:35:45.360 then I will hear 00:35:45.360 --> 00:35:45.860 from heaven 00:35:45.860 --> 00:35:47.220 and will forgive 00:35:47.220 --> 00:35:47.860 their sin 00:35:47.860 --> 00:35:49.860 and heal their land. 00:35:51.200 --> 00:35:52.400 Solomon spoke those words 00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:53.079 at the dedication 00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:53.680 of the temple. 00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:55.780 And as we've said, 00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:56.620 under the old covenant, 00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:57.400 the people of God 00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:58.240 and the worship of God 00:35:58.240 --> 00:35:58.860 was localized 00:35:58.860 --> 00:36:00.019 in one place, 00:36:00.660 --> 00:36:01.559 what Solomon calls 00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:02.019 in that verse, 00:36:02.140 --> 00:36:02.760 the land. 00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:04.280 But friends, 00:36:04.360 --> 00:36:04.860 get this. 00:36:05.680 --> 00:36:07.099 Now that Jesus has come, 00:36:07.340 --> 00:36:07.920 now that we live 00:36:07.920 --> 00:36:08.740 under the new covenant, 00:36:09.300 --> 00:36:10.180 now that the presence 00:36:10.180 --> 00:36:11.099 of God is no longer 00:36:11.099 --> 00:36:11.820 localized 00:36:11.820 --> 00:36:12.980 to one building 00:36:12.980 --> 00:36:13.780 or one place 00:36:13.780 --> 00:36:14.659 or one land, 00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:16.139 we have to interpret 00:36:16.139 --> 00:36:16.719 that verse 00:36:16.719 --> 00:36:17.840 with a bigger vision. 00:36:19.260 --> 00:36:19.460 You know, 00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:20.000 too often people 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:20.860 can recite that verse 00:36:20.860 --> 00:36:21.820 as if it's the recipe 00:36:21.820 --> 00:36:22.960 for national 00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:24.079 or political renewal. 00:36:25.420 --> 00:36:26.460 But the land 00:36:26.460 --> 00:36:27.000 in that verse 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:28.320 is not the United States 00:36:28.320 --> 00:36:29.719 or the United Kingdom 00:36:29.719 --> 00:36:30.699 or any contemporary 00:36:30.699 --> 00:36:31.679 political reality. 00:36:33.679 --> 00:36:34.460 God's people 00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:35.760 are now salt and light 00:36:35.760 --> 00:36:37.280 in the whole world. 00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:40.120 it's the renewal 00:36:40.120 --> 00:36:41.100 of the church 00:36:41.100 --> 00:36:42.980 that this verse points to. 00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:46.640 And yes, 00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:48.280 wherever the church 00:36:48.280 --> 00:36:48.820 is renewed 00:36:48.820 --> 00:36:50.500 through the worship of God 00:36:50.500 --> 00:36:51.740 and the proclamation 00:36:51.740 --> 00:36:52.500 of the gospel, 00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:54.580 we will be salt and light. 00:36:54.980 --> 00:36:56.680 We will impact our culture. 00:36:57.820 --> 00:36:59.080 But changing the nation 00:36:59.080 --> 00:37:00.160 or changing the culture 00:37:00.160 --> 00:37:02.220 isn't the goal 00:37:02.220 --> 00:37:03.300 of that verse, 00:37:03.380 --> 00:37:03.700 you see. 00:37:04.920 --> 00:37:06.019 It's the revival 00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:06.740 of the church. 00:37:06.739 --> 00:37:09.459 It's the global advance 00:37:09.459 --> 00:37:10.099 of the gospel 00:37:10.099 --> 00:37:11.199 to the ends of the earth. 00:37:11.799 --> 00:37:12.599 It's the spread 00:37:12.599 --> 00:37:13.439 of God's glory 00:37:13.439 --> 00:37:14.039 and worship 00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:15.339 to every language 00:37:15.339 --> 00:37:16.199 and every people. 00:37:18.179 --> 00:37:19.359 And what a gift. 00:37:20.479 --> 00:37:21.519 What a gift 00:37:21.519 --> 00:37:22.319 that here 00:37:22.319 --> 00:37:23.339 at Trinity 00:37:23.339 --> 00:37:25.359 we get to be a picture 00:37:25.359 --> 00:37:27.759 of this global movement 00:37:27.759 --> 00:37:28.619 that is the church. 00:37:29.539 --> 00:37:30.739 God has made us a people 00:37:30.739 --> 00:37:32.599 from so many countries 00:37:32.599 --> 00:37:33.199 and cultures 00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:33.959 and backgrounds. 00:37:34.679 --> 00:37:35.519 What a gift 00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:36.539 to be a sign 00:37:36.539 --> 00:37:38.059 of God's global church 00:37:38.059 --> 00:37:38.920 right here. 00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:41.480 But what should 00:37:41.480 --> 00:37:42.539 our priority be? 00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:45.259 Do we celebrate 00:37:45.259 --> 00:37:45.920 our diversity 00:37:45.920 --> 00:37:47.079 for diversity's sake? 00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:49.400 Not at all. 00:37:50.139 --> 00:37:51.059 We prioritize 00:37:51.059 --> 00:37:52.840 the worship of God 00:37:52.840 --> 00:37:53.759 in the gospel 00:37:53.759 --> 00:37:54.679 of Jesus Christ. 00:37:56.039 --> 00:37:57.719 We are the living stones 00:37:57.719 --> 00:37:58.860 of the new covenant temple. 00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:00.500 God's spirit dwells 00:38:00.500 --> 00:38:01.019 in our midst 00:38:01.019 --> 00:38:02.940 and our uppermost priority 00:38:02.940 --> 00:38:05.000 is to worship God 00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:06.679 and give Him glory. 00:38:06.679 --> 00:38:08.239 To declare that the God 00:38:08.239 --> 00:38:09.239 who has made Himself known 00:38:09.239 --> 00:38:10.079 in Jesus Christ 00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:11.400 is the one true God 00:38:11.400 --> 00:38:12.119 who deserves 00:38:12.119 --> 00:38:13.079 our complete allegiance 00:38:13.079 --> 00:38:14.800 and our deepest trust 00:38:14.800 --> 00:38:16.980 and our most joyful praise. 00:38:18.860 --> 00:38:20.059 That's our priority. 00:38:20.619 --> 00:38:21.719 That's our purpose. 00:38:21.719 --> 00:38:21.839 God's grace. 00:38:25.099 --> 00:38:26.019 So we've seen then 00:38:26.019 --> 00:38:26.739 two great themes. 00:38:27.099 --> 00:38:27.819 Two great themes 00:38:27.819 --> 00:38:28.759 in 1 and 2 Chronicles. 00:38:28.879 --> 00:38:29.159 First, 00:38:29.659 --> 00:38:30.639 remember that you are 00:38:30.639 --> 00:38:31.539 the people of God 00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:32.739 and second, 00:38:32.899 --> 00:38:33.879 prioritize the worship 00:38:33.879 --> 00:38:34.359 of God. 00:38:35.139 --> 00:38:35.779 Now there's one more 00:38:35.779 --> 00:38:36.899 great theme in this book 00:38:36.899 --> 00:38:38.319 and I'll have to be brief 00:38:38.319 --> 00:38:39.099 because of time. 00:38:40.239 --> 00:38:41.099 There's a book table 00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:42.079 downstairs we have to go 00:38:42.079 --> 00:38:42.559 rummage through 00:38:42.559 --> 00:38:43.359 and there's an art gallery 00:38:43.359 --> 00:38:44.159 upstairs we have to get to 00:38:44.159 --> 00:38:44.819 so I'm going to be brief. 00:38:44.820 --> 00:38:47.820 After God's people 00:38:47.820 --> 00:38:49.019 and God's worship 00:38:49.019 --> 00:38:51.059 we come to God's King. 00:38:51.840 --> 00:38:53.240 The third theme of Chronicles 00:38:53.240 --> 00:38:53.740 is this. 00:38:54.539 --> 00:38:56.100 Put your hope 00:38:56.100 --> 00:38:59.140 in God's promised King. 00:39:00.100 --> 00:39:00.940 We've already seen 00:39:00.940 --> 00:39:02.780 how after the genealogies 00:39:02.780 --> 00:39:03.620 of chapters 1 through 9 00:39:03.620 --> 00:39:04.840 the Chronicler kind of jumps 00:39:04.840 --> 00:39:05.800 right into the story 00:39:05.800 --> 00:39:06.680 of David and the monarchy 00:39:06.680 --> 00:39:07.920 and he will trace 00:39:07.920 --> 00:39:09.120 throughout this two-part book 00:39:09.120 --> 00:39:10.100 the line of kings 00:39:10.100 --> 00:39:11.140 descended from David. 00:39:12.039 --> 00:39:13.039 Unlike the book 00:39:13.039 --> 00:39:13.980 of 1 and 2 Kings 00:39:13.980 --> 00:39:15.000 if you're familiar with that 00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:16.079 Chronicles does not 00:39:16.079 --> 00:39:16.980 go into great detail 00:39:16.980 --> 00:39:17.840 about what we call 00:39:17.840 --> 00:39:18.920 the northern kingdom 00:39:18.920 --> 00:39:20.420 that splits off 00:39:20.420 --> 00:39:22.159 after Solomon's reign. 00:39:22.300 --> 00:39:23.000 Rather the focus 00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:23.659 of Chronicles 00:39:23.659 --> 00:39:24.519 sort of stays 00:39:24.519 --> 00:39:25.559 laser-like 00:39:25.559 --> 00:39:26.900 on the southern kingdom 00:39:26.900 --> 00:39:28.199 on the line of David. 00:39:28.699 --> 00:39:29.039 Why? 00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:31.579 Because of the promise 00:39:31.579 --> 00:39:32.280 that God made. 00:39:33.500 --> 00:39:34.659 In 1 Chronicles 17 00:39:34.659 --> 00:39:36.199 God makes a binding promise. 00:39:36.320 --> 00:39:37.019 He makes a covenant 00:39:37.019 --> 00:39:37.639 with David. 00:39:38.519 --> 00:39:39.840 In verses 11 through 14 00:39:39.840 --> 00:39:40.420 of that chapter 00:39:40.420 --> 00:39:41.039 God says this. 00:39:41.119 --> 00:39:41.320 He says, 00:39:41.460 --> 00:39:42.500 when your days are fulfilled 00:39:42.500 --> 00:39:43.920 to walk with your fathers 00:39:43.920 --> 00:39:45.360 I will raise up 00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:46.360 your offspring after you 00:39:46.360 --> 00:39:47.380 one of your own sons 00:39:47.380 --> 00:39:48.220 and I will establish 00:39:48.220 --> 00:39:48.760 his kingdom 00:39:48.760 --> 00:39:49.599 he shall build a house 00:39:49.599 --> 00:39:49.980 for me 00:39:49.980 --> 00:39:51.240 and I will establish 00:39:51.240 --> 00:39:52.240 his throne forever. 00:39:53.039 --> 00:39:54.180 I'll be to him 00:39:54.180 --> 00:39:54.920 a father 00:39:54.920 --> 00:39:55.880 and he shall be 00:39:55.880 --> 00:39:56.940 to me a son. 00:39:56.940 --> 00:39:58.260 I will not take 00:39:58.260 --> 00:39:59.280 my steadfast love 00:39:59.280 --> 00:39:59.619 from him 00:39:59.619 --> 00:40:00.420 as I took it from 00:40:00.420 --> 00:40:01.880 him who was before you 00:40:01.880 --> 00:40:03.360 but I will confirm 00:40:03.360 --> 00:40:04.300 him in my house 00:40:04.300 --> 00:40:05.360 and in my kingdom 00:40:05.360 --> 00:40:05.880 forever 00:40:05.880 --> 00:40:07.000 and his throne 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:08.139 shall be established 00:40:08.139 --> 00:40:09.420 forever. 00:40:09.420 --> 00:40:12.559 David's throne 00:40:12.559 --> 00:40:13.559 will be established 00:40:13.559 --> 00:40:14.400 forever. 00:40:16.240 --> 00:40:17.380 And that promise 00:40:17.380 --> 00:40:18.099 will continue 00:40:18.099 --> 00:40:18.780 through the rest 00:40:18.780 --> 00:40:19.320 of the book 00:40:19.320 --> 00:40:20.920 through the ups and downs 00:40:20.920 --> 00:40:21.940 of 2 Chronicles 00:40:21.940 --> 00:40:23.019 we're going to see 00:40:23.019 --> 00:40:24.099 king after king 00:40:24.099 --> 00:40:25.240 some are good 00:40:25.240 --> 00:40:26.619 some are not 00:40:26.619 --> 00:40:28.260 some seek God 00:40:28.260 --> 00:40:29.460 and some don't 00:40:29.460 --> 00:40:31.220 but through it all 00:40:31.220 --> 00:40:33.860 God remains faithful. 00:40:34.740 --> 00:40:36.059 He doesn't let the light 00:40:36.059 --> 00:40:37.480 go out on his promise 00:40:37.480 --> 00:40:38.679 even in the darkest days 00:40:38.679 --> 00:40:40.880 we see that promise 00:40:40.880 --> 00:40:41.840 reaffirmed again 00:40:41.840 --> 00:40:42.860 and again 00:40:42.860 --> 00:40:43.719 like in chapter 20 00:40:43.719 --> 00:40:44.179 verse 7 00:40:44.179 --> 00:40:44.800 of 2 Chronicles 00:40:44.800 --> 00:40:45.280 when a king 00:40:45.280 --> 00:40:45.960 named Jehoram 00:40:45.960 --> 00:40:47.340 and his son Ahaziah 00:40:47.340 --> 00:40:48.099 reject God 00:40:48.099 --> 00:40:48.820 and worship idols 00:40:48.820 --> 00:40:49.440 it's terrible. 00:40:50.219 --> 00:40:51.800 Even in that darkest day 00:40:51.800 --> 00:40:53.460 the chronicler says 00:40:53.460 --> 00:40:53.960 yet the Lord 00:40:53.960 --> 00:40:54.820 was not willing 00:40:54.820 --> 00:40:55.400 to destroy 00:40:55.400 --> 00:40:56.280 the house of David 00:40:56.280 --> 00:40:57.980 because of the covenant 00:40:57.980 --> 00:40:58.619 that he had made 00:40:58.619 --> 00:40:59.159 with David 00:40:59.159 --> 00:41:00.820 since he had promised 00:41:00.820 --> 00:41:01.940 to give a lamp 00:41:01.940 --> 00:41:02.380 to him 00:41:02.380 --> 00:41:03.320 and to his sons 00:41:03.320 --> 00:41:04.500 forever. 00:41:06.460 --> 00:41:07.079 You see 00:41:07.079 --> 00:41:07.940 even though the people 00:41:07.940 --> 00:41:09.019 are faithless 00:41:09.019 --> 00:41:10.500 even though the kings 00:41:10.500 --> 00:41:11.299 are faithless 00:41:11.299 --> 00:41:13.440 God remains faithful 00:41:13.440 --> 00:41:15.219 God keeps his promise 00:41:15.219 --> 00:41:17.460 and you see 00:41:17.460 --> 00:41:18.519 in the chronicler's day 00:41:18.519 --> 00:41:19.619 in the days 00:41:19.619 --> 00:41:20.119 and years 00:41:20.119 --> 00:41:21.380 after the exile ended 00:41:21.380 --> 00:41:22.500 the people 00:41:22.500 --> 00:41:23.360 were still waiting 00:41:23.360 --> 00:41:25.199 they had returned 00:41:25.199 --> 00:41:25.779 to the land 00:41:25.779 --> 00:41:26.380 they had rebuilt 00:41:26.380 --> 00:41:26.799 the temple 00:41:26.799 --> 00:41:27.519 but there wasn't 00:41:27.519 --> 00:41:27.960 a king 00:41:27.960 --> 00:41:30.159 did God give up 00:41:30.159 --> 00:41:30.840 on his promise? 00:41:31.559 --> 00:41:32.559 Had he abandoned 00:41:32.559 --> 00:41:33.559 his word to David? 00:41:33.759 --> 00:41:34.639 Had the failure 00:41:34.639 --> 00:41:35.860 of the previous kings 00:41:35.860 --> 00:41:36.820 and the previous people 00:41:36.820 --> 00:41:38.079 been just too great? 00:41:40.660 --> 00:41:41.599 But the message 00:41:41.599 --> 00:41:42.180 of Chronicles 00:41:42.180 --> 00:41:42.740 is this 00:41:42.740 --> 00:41:44.760 put your hope 00:41:44.760 --> 00:41:46.700 in God's promised king 00:41:46.700 --> 00:41:48.500 God will remain 00:41:48.500 --> 00:41:49.519 faithful to his word 00:41:49.519 --> 00:41:51.640 and we know 00:41:51.640 --> 00:41:53.760 that God was faithful 00:41:53.760 --> 00:41:55.760 when the time 00:41:55.760 --> 00:41:56.360 was fulfilled 00:41:56.360 --> 00:41:58.380 God sent his son 00:41:58.380 --> 00:42:00.240 the king came 00:42:00.240 --> 00:42:01.880 Jesus was 00:42:01.880 --> 00:42:02.340 the true 00:42:02.340 --> 00:42:02.860 and greater 00:42:02.860 --> 00:42:03.500 son of David 00:42:03.500 --> 00:42:04.920 he was the one 00:42:04.920 --> 00:42:05.480 of whom God 00:42:05.480 --> 00:42:05.860 the father 00:42:05.860 --> 00:42:07.119 could really say 00:42:07.119 --> 00:42:08.079 I will be to him 00:42:08.079 --> 00:42:08.440 a father 00:42:08.440 --> 00:42:08.940 and he will be 00:42:08.940 --> 00:42:09.480 to me a son 00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:10.119 because Jesus 00:42:10.119 --> 00:42:11.079 was the son 00:42:11.079 --> 00:42:11.860 from all eternity 00:42:11.860 --> 00:42:14.059 you see friends 00:42:14.059 --> 00:42:15.260 we put our hope 00:42:15.260 --> 00:42:17.199 not in human leaders 00:42:17.199 --> 00:42:18.880 but in God's 00:42:18.880 --> 00:42:19.599 promised king 00:42:19.599 --> 00:42:21.300 and just as 00:42:21.300 --> 00:42:22.039 the chronicler 00:42:22.039 --> 00:42:22.699 looked forward 00:42:22.699 --> 00:42:23.320 to the coming 00:42:23.320 --> 00:42:24.039 of this king 00:42:24.039 --> 00:42:26.059 so we look forward 00:42:26.059 --> 00:42:26.800 to this king's 00:42:26.800 --> 00:42:27.500 coming again 00:42:27.500 --> 00:42:29.059 when he will judge 00:42:29.059 --> 00:42:30.460 and he will save 00:42:30.460 --> 00:42:31.440 and he will make 00:42:31.440 --> 00:42:32.239 all things new 00:42:32.239 --> 00:42:36.859 so chronicles 00:42:36.859 --> 00:42:37.500 is a retelling 00:42:37.500 --> 00:42:38.039 of history 00:42:38.039 --> 00:42:39.099 for a new day 00:42:39.099 --> 00:42:40.899 it reminds us 00:42:40.899 --> 00:42:42.379 to remember 00:42:42.379 --> 00:42:43.339 that we're God's people 00:42:43.339 --> 00:42:44.739 to prioritize 00:42:44.739 --> 00:42:45.579 God's worship 00:42:45.579 --> 00:42:47.139 and to hope 00:42:47.139 --> 00:42:47.859 in God's king 00:42:47.859 --> 00:42:49.399 but it ends 00:42:49.399 --> 00:42:49.679 with a bit 00:42:49.679 --> 00:42:50.299 of a cliffhanger 00:42:50.299 --> 00:42:52.500 let them go up 00:42:52.500 --> 00:42:53.419 are the last words 00:42:53.419 --> 00:42:53.839 of the book 00:42:53.839 --> 00:42:55.179 why 00:42:55.179 --> 00:42:58.339 because the chronicler 00:42:58.339 --> 00:42:58.659 knew 00:42:58.659 --> 00:43:00.119 that the history 00:43:00.119 --> 00:43:00.879 wasn't over 00:43:00.880 --> 00:43:02.519 God 00:43:02.519 --> 00:43:03.740 had more 00:43:03.740 --> 00:43:04.559 of the story 00:43:04.559 --> 00:43:05.160 to tell 00:43:05.160 --> 00:43:06.440 and he knew 00:43:06.440 --> 00:43:07.460 that his generation 00:43:07.460 --> 00:43:08.140 was going to be 00:43:08.140 --> 00:43:08.660 part of it 00:43:08.660 --> 00:43:09.860 this retelling 00:43:09.860 --> 00:43:10.260 of history 00:43:10.260 --> 00:43:10.640 was meant 00:43:10.640 --> 00:43:11.160 to give them 00:43:11.160 --> 00:43:11.860 a trajectory 00:43:11.860 --> 00:43:13.240 but there were 00:43:13.240 --> 00:43:13.940 chapters yet 00:43:13.940 --> 00:43:14.559 to be written 00:43:14.559 --> 00:43:16.460 brothers and sisters 00:43:16.460 --> 00:43:17.800 so too with us 00:43:17.800 --> 00:43:19.480 God's history 00:43:19.480 --> 00:43:20.599 continues to be written 00:43:20.599 --> 00:43:22.019 God's mission 00:43:22.019 --> 00:43:23.380 continues to advance 00:43:23.380 --> 00:43:24.300 God's kingdom 00:43:24.300 --> 00:43:25.300 continues to bring 00:43:25.300 --> 00:43:26.260 healing and life 00:43:26.260 --> 00:43:28.720 so Chronicles 00:43:28.720 --> 00:43:29.320 stands here 00:43:29.320 --> 00:43:29.700 and says 00:43:29.700 --> 00:43:30.820 let's join 00:43:30.820 --> 00:43:31.440 the story 00:43:31.440 --> 00:43:32.980 let's put 00:43:32.980 --> 00:43:33.840 our chapter 00:43:33.840 --> 00:43:34.800 into the pages 00:43:34.800 --> 00:43:35.460 of this great 00:43:35.460 --> 00:43:35.960 history 00:43:35.960 --> 00:43:37.040 that will resound 00:43:37.040 --> 00:43:37.680 for eternity 00:43:37.680 --> 00:43:39.880 you have a part 00:43:39.880 --> 00:43:40.340 to play 00:43:40.340 --> 00:43:42.560 it may seem 00:43:42.560 --> 00:43:43.000 small 00:43:43.000 --> 00:43:44.480 you may think 00:43:44.480 --> 00:43:45.440 it's so insignificant 00:43:45.440 --> 00:43:45.940 but friend 00:43:45.940 --> 00:43:46.340 in the light 00:43:46.340 --> 00:43:46.880 of eternity 00:43:46.880 --> 00:43:47.940 who can say 00:43:47.940 --> 00:43:48.620 what is small 00:43:48.620 --> 00:43:49.580 and what is great 00:43:49.580 --> 00:43:51.140 the kingdom 00:43:51.140 --> 00:43:51.580 of God 00:43:51.580 --> 00:43:52.160 Jesus said 00:43:52.160 --> 00:43:53.060 is like a mustard 00:43:53.060 --> 00:43:53.460 seed 00:43:53.460 --> 00:43:55.159 it starts small 00:43:55.159 --> 00:43:55.599 but when it's 00:43:55.599 --> 00:43:56.320 fully grown 00:43:56.320 --> 00:43:57.500 it becomes 00:43:57.500 --> 00:43:58.260 a great tree 00:43:58.260 --> 00:43:59.579 and the birds 00:43:59.579 --> 00:44:00.019 can rest 00:44:00.019 --> 00:44:00.659 in its shade 00:44:00.659 --> 00:44:03.659 brothers and sisters 00:44:03.659 --> 00:44:05.500 write your chapter 00:44:05.500 --> 00:44:06.539 in this great history 00:44:06.539 --> 00:44:08.599 plant your seed 00:44:08.599 --> 00:44:09.300 into the soil 00:44:09.300 --> 00:44:10.159 of God's kingdom 00:44:10.159 --> 00:44:12.500 and let's see 00:44:12.500 --> 00:44:13.420 what God might do 00:44:13.420 --> 00:44:14.699 in our generation 00:44:14.699 --> 00:44:16.119 that will resound 00:44:16.119 --> 00:44:16.720 for eternity 00:44:16.720 --> 00:44:18.940 let's pray 00:44:18.940 --> 00:44:23.380 Father we ask 00:44:23.380 --> 00:44:23.840 that you would 00:44:23.840 --> 00:44:24.460 align us 00:44:24.460 --> 00:44:25.840 with your 00:44:25.840 --> 00:44:26.260 great kingdom 00:44:26.260 --> 00:44:26.700 purposes 00:44:26.700 --> 00:44:27.280 help us to 00:44:27.280 --> 00:44:27.720 remember 00:44:27.720 --> 00:44:29.160 these things 00:44:29.160 --> 00:44:30.720 help us to 00:44:30.720 --> 00:44:31.180 live for you 00:44:31.180 --> 00:44:31.940 in the coming week 00:44:31.940 --> 00:44:33.160 Amen