WEBVTT

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 Good morning, everyone, and welcome to St. Paul's.

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 We've not met you before.

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 My name's Steve, the senior pastor here at St. Paul's.

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 And this is a very important term for us here as a church.

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 It's the end of Follow 25, if you're familiar with that.

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 What Follow 25 has been for us is it's been our five-year ministry plan

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 to see us grow in faith in Jesus Christ

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 and be transformed into the image of Jesus

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 from the inside out, both individually and corporately.

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 Our plan has been to grow deeper and more confident in God,

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 particularly in a time and a place

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 where the prevailing view of society towards the Christian faith

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 is anywhere between apathy through to hostility.

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 And so this term, what we're doing is we're looking back

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 at what's happened in the last five years at the same time

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 while we're planning to look forward and seeking God's will

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 for our future together and what he's calling us into.

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 And so to help us to reflect on what's been and to inspire us

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 to look ahead with anticipation,

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 we are going back two and a half thousand years in history

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 to the book of Esther in the Bible,

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 which the first bits have just been read out to us.

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 Now, at first glance, when you take a helicopter view

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 of the book of Esther, it appears like it's one of those

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 kind of Cinderella stories of the Old Testament.

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 It's the orphan girl who, you know, raised up and becomes,

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 you know, queen of Persia.

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 It's, you know, rags to riches kind of story.

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 It's a heartwarming, you know, the poor girl gets good kind of thing.

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 And yet the reality is the book of Esther is fundamentally

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 so much more than that.

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 In fact, the book is about how God saves his people

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 from the brink of disaster, that he never abandons his people.

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 Because what we're reading here in the book of Esther

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 is one of the most perilous times in the history of God's people.

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 They're in exile in a foreign land.

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 They are a minority group ruled by a very powerful empire.

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 And as we will see in the coming weeks,

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 they are literally on the brink of extermination.

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 And what this book shows us is it teaches how to follow God,

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 how to trust him, and even how to expect big things of him

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 when, even when the society around us,

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 even when we're a minority group and society around us

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 is morally, spiritually, and culturally indifferent

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 or even hostile to the God whom we follow.

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 So if you've got the St. Paul's app,

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 three points for today that we're going to look at

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 just in these sections just being read out.

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 And the first point, God is working despite appearances.

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 One of the oddest things about the book of Esther

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 is that there is no mention of God in the book at all.

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 At all.

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 Not even once.

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 It's not like the writer got to the end of it

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 and sent it off for publishing.

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 It came back and re-read his.

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 Went, oh my goodness.

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 I forgot to mention God.

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 You know, like I'm pretty confident it's not an oversight.

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 I'm pretty confident that the writer here is making a point.

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 And the point is, is that God is always at work.

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 You see, whenever the God of Israel,

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 if you look at the Old Testament,

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 saw his people in trouble in the past,

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 he comes through for them in extraordinary

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 and spectacular ways.

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 And yet you get to the book of Esther

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 and there's no mighty miracle.

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 There's no vision.

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 Not even a dream.

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 It appears throughout the entire book

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 that God is absent.

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 That God is totally silent.

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 That God's not there.

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 And yet, when you read through the book,

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 what you discover is a whole heap of a string,

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 if you like, of apparent consequences.

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 You know, if those things had not happened,

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 God's people would have in fact been exterminated.

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 And each one is connected to the other.

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 You know, if Xerxes had not been a fool

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 and Xerxes had not got drunk

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 and made a boast about his queen Vashti,

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 Vashti would have still been queen

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 if he had not got drunk.

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 And yet Esther must be queen

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 in order to save God's people.

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 And what if there was no one

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 who was Jewish good enough

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 to be part of the harem?

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 What if Esther had not been pretty?

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 What if Esther was not chosen

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 to be part of the group?

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 What if the king had favoured

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 one of the other girls in the harem?

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 The whole narrative of Esther is

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 what if, what if, what if, what if,

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 what if, what if, what if?

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 All the way through.

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 And all of them are ordinary,

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 even flawed things,

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 bad things.

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 And by themselves,

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 they don't appear to be significant at all.

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 See, here's the point

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 that I think the writer is trying

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 to get across here.

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 When we see the plagues

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 in the book of Exodus,

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 we say,

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 there is God at work

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 saving his people.

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 Praise God.

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 When we see Xerxes drunk,

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 we don't go,

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 there is God at work

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 saving his people.

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 And Esther is telling us,

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 don't make the mistake

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 of overlooking the ordinary,

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 even the sinful and the bad,

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 about God bringing about his purposes.

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 Don't make the mistake

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 of the materialist

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 who judges situations

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 based on what they can see

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 and feel

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 and can know firsthand.

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 He may not be seen,

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 but God is at work

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 all the way through this book.

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 His silence

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 is not his absence.

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 His hiddenness

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 is not his abandonment.

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 God is not obsessed

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 with appearances

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 the way that we are.

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 He's working out his promises

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 even when it appears

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 that he's nowhere around.

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 And there are things going on

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 in our lives right now.

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 We could be looking

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 right at it,

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 things that God is doing

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 that are so ordinary

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 and we're not either

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 not seeing it

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 or we're not embracing it.

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 You see,

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 even in all the ugliness

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 of Esther 1 and 2,

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 and it is ugliness,

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 there's hardly anything redeemable

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 in Esther chapters 1 and 2

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 at all.

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 God is at work.

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 He's using the flawed,

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 the failed,

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 and the questionable

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 people in this chapter

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 like Xerxes,

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 all his noblemen,

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 and Esther

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 to bring about his plans

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 and his purposes.

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 God is at work

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 despite appearances.

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 And that matters to us

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 because we live in a world

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 that is obsessed

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 with appearance.

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 The book of Esther begins,

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 if you've got it there,

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 open up chapter 1.

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 It begins by introducing us

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 to the great empire

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 of King Xerxes I,

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 also known as Xerxes the Great,

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 or the fourth king of kings

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 of the Achamanian Empire.

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 Verse 1,

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 this is what happened

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 during the time of Xerxes,

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 the Xerxes who ruled

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 over 127 provinces,

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 stretching from India

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 to Kush.

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 Xerxes I,

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 his reign

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 was from 486

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 to 465 BC

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 when he was

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 assassinated

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 by the head

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 of his security.

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 His empire

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 included

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 northwestern India,

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 Pakistan,

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 Afghanistan,

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 Uzbekistan,

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 Iran,

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 Iraq,

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 Armenian,

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 Azerbaijan,

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 Syria,

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 Lebanon,

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 Israel,

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 Jordan,

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 Turkey,

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 northern Greece,

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 Egypt,

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 Libya,

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 Eritrea,

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 Ethiopia,

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 and Sudan.

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 There is no one

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 at that time

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 more powerful

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 on the face

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 of the earth

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 than Xerxes I,

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 and he knew it.

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 He was not a humble man,

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 and so he holds a party

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 to show the world

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 just how great he is

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 in case there was any confusion

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 about the matter.

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 Verse 4 tells us

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 that it went on

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 for a full

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 180 days.

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 He displayed

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 the vast wealth

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 of his kingdom

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 and the splendor

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 and the glory

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 of his majesty.

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 In other words,

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 he got all of his wealth

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 out and he paraded it

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 like a ticker tape parade

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 in front of his friends

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 and it took six months

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 for the parade to end.

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 And with an open bar,

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 it's not surprising

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 he was drunk.

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 See,

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 the whole point here

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 is we are meant

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 to gaze

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 upon the greatness

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 of Xerxes,

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 gaze wide open,

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 eyed at his gold

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 and his silver

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 and his jewelry

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 and the sheer

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 accumulation

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 of his power

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 and his wealth

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 and his splendor

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 and his majesty,

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 and we are meant

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 to admire him.

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 We are meant

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 to be envious

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 of him.

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 He is the ancient

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 version

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 of a social media

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 influencer.

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 I have

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 the enviable

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 life.

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 Be like me.

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 Everyone was meant

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 to want to be

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 Xerxes.

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 That's the point.

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 But Queen Vashti

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 knows the man.

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 While Xerxes

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 is over here

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 for six months

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 doing his best

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 to get the thumbs up

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 and the likes

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 and the little love hearts

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 as many as possible

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 amongst the crowd

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 that's gathered,

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 Vashti is hosting

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 her own separate banquet

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 for the ladies.

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 And Xerxes' party

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 gets a little

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 out of control,

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 tends to happen

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 when the ladies

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 are not around.

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 Verse 10,

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 we see Xerxes

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 make too many trips

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 to the open bar

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 and he decides

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 it's time

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 not just to show

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 off to everyone

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 that he's the wealthiest,

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 most powerful man

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 in the world,

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 but he also has

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 the best looking woman

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 in the world

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 that he has

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 as his queen.

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 Verse 11,

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 bring before me

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 Queen Vashti

00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:11.320
 wearing her royal crown

00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:13.460
 in order to display

00:13:13.460 --> 00:13:14.240
 her beauty

00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:15.300
 to the people

00:13:15.300 --> 00:13:16.340
 and the nobles

00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:18.060
 for she was lovely

00:13:18.060 --> 00:13:18.920
 to look at.

00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:20.400
 That's the point.

00:13:21.920 --> 00:13:23.440
 Bring out my queen,

00:13:24.660 --> 00:13:25.400
 put her on the end

00:13:25.400 --> 00:13:26.120
 of the parade

00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:27.379
 so all the guys

00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:28.660
 can drool at her too.

00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:33.160
 He wasn't interested

00:13:33.160 --> 00:13:34.340
 in her friends,

00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:36.700
 his friends meeting her.

00:13:36.700 --> 00:13:41.400
 she was brought out

00:13:41.400 --> 00:13:42.800
 and paraded

00:13:42.800 --> 00:13:44.120
 amongst all

00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:45.060
 of his drunken

00:13:45.060 --> 00:13:46.400
 friends

00:13:46.400 --> 00:13:47.440
 so that she might

00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:48.680
 be admired

00:13:48.680 --> 00:13:50.500
 and people would go,

00:13:50.660 --> 00:13:51.140
 Xerxes,

00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:53.120
 lucky man.

00:13:56.420 --> 00:13:57.840
 And for some,

00:13:58.180 --> 00:13:59.140
 if Vashti refuses

00:13:59.140 --> 00:13:59.700
 to come,

00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:05.740
 it's an incredible

00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:07.320
 act of bravery

00:14:07.320 --> 00:14:08.620
 on her behalf

00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:10.540
 and defiance.

00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:12.960
 You see,

00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:14.560
 in a hierarchical shame

00:14:14.560 --> 00:14:15.660
 and honour culture,

00:14:16.259 --> 00:14:17.220
 for an authority

00:14:17.220 --> 00:14:17.840
 like this

00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:19.000
 to be rejected

00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:21.580
 is not just

00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:22.780
 a personal affront,

00:14:22.940 --> 00:14:24.460
 it's a cultural crisis.

00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:28.160
 The king

00:14:28.160 --> 00:14:29.519
 was furious

00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.940
 at this.

00:14:31.780 --> 00:14:32.940
 He's furious.

00:14:34.420 --> 00:14:35.420
 But instead of getting

00:14:35.420 --> 00:14:36.780
 some marriage counselling,

00:14:36.940 --> 00:14:38.220
 he holds a cabinet meeting

00:14:38.220 --> 00:14:39.700
 to work out

00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:40.500
 what now needs

00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:41.240
 to be done

00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:42.580
 with Vashti.

00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:44.379
 It's a crisis.

00:14:44.540 --> 00:14:45.620
 It's a cultural crisis.

00:14:46.780 --> 00:14:47.740
 What do we do

00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:48.660
 with someone

00:14:48.660 --> 00:14:51.080
 who will not join

00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:52.660
 on the end

00:14:52.660 --> 00:14:53.540
 of the parade

00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:56.799
 for the sake

00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:57.339
 of appearance?

00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:58.019
 What do we do

00:14:58.019 --> 00:14:58.699
 with someone

00:14:58.699 --> 00:14:59.659
 who's not

00:14:59.659 --> 00:15:00.839
 going to join

00:15:00.839 --> 00:15:02.099
 with the culture?

00:15:03.699 --> 00:15:04.179
 And of course,

00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:04.879
 the nobles

00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:05.419
 are concerned

00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:06.219
 because they've got

00:15:06.219 --> 00:15:07.079
 their wives

00:15:07.079 --> 00:15:08.279
 who Vashti

00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:09.379
 may inspire them

00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:10.480
 to do the same thing.

00:15:12.319 --> 00:15:12.519
 I mean,

00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:14.819
 anarchy will reign

00:15:14.819 --> 00:15:15.679
 in our homes.

00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:20.319
 Vashti is banished

00:15:20.319 --> 00:15:21.899
 and the royal decree

00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:22.379
 went out

00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:23.319
 to the whole kingdom

00:15:23.320 --> 00:15:25.600
 so that

00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:26.400
 when everyone

00:15:26.400 --> 00:15:27.000
 heard it,

00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:27.780
 verse 20,

00:15:27.940 --> 00:15:28.500
 all the women

00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.240
 will respect

00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:29.920
 their husbands

00:15:29.920 --> 00:15:30.700
 from the least

00:15:30.700 --> 00:15:31.420
 to the greatest.

00:15:33.780 --> 00:15:34.560
 Chapter 2

00:15:34.560 --> 00:15:35.580
 begins with

00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:37.300
 Xerxes.

00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.560
 It appears

00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:39.080
 that the

00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:41.160
 next day

00:15:41.160 --> 00:15:41.660
 comes

00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:42.659
 the...

00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:47.620
 he's kind of

00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:48.120
 waking up

00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:48.779
 from his drunken

00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:49.379
 stupor

00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:50.059
 and realises,

00:15:50.199 --> 00:15:50.719
 oh my goodness,

00:15:51.319 --> 00:15:52.039
 I've now

00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:53.139
 banished Vashti.

00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:54.079
 I need to find

00:15:54.079 --> 00:15:54.740
 another trophy

00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:55.159
 wife.

00:15:56.939 --> 00:15:57.799
 And the whole

00:15:57.799 --> 00:15:58.659
 kingdom is searched

00:15:58.659 --> 00:15:59.559
 for the best-looking

00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:00.100
 candidates.

00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.419
 It's probably,

00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:03.639
 from what we could

00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:03.819
 tell,

00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:05.279
 the first recorded

00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:06.779
 instance of an

00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:07.339
 international

00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:09.040
 beauty pageant,

00:16:10.180 --> 00:16:10.980
 Miss Persia

00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:11.620
 Empire

00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:13.300
 for 80 BC.

00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:15.379
 It's likely

00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:15.780
 that there

00:16:15.780 --> 00:16:16.200
 as many

00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:17.660
 as 1,000

00:16:17.660 --> 00:16:18.480
 young women

00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:19.040
 were brought

00:16:19.040 --> 00:16:19.780
 back to the

00:16:19.780 --> 00:16:20.460
 king's harem

00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:21.840
 to see

00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:22.620
 which one

00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:24.740
 will be

00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:25.399
 his favoured

00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:25.720
 one.

00:16:26.280 --> 00:16:27.240
 They underwent

00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:28.480
 beauty treatments

00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:29.840
 and training

00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:30.440
 for a whole

00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:30.940
 year

00:16:30.940 --> 00:16:32.519
 just to get

00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:32.960
 ready

00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:34.220
 for one night

00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:35.139
 with the

00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:35.399
 king.

00:16:36.460 --> 00:16:37.040
 That's it.

00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:38.580
 One night

00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:39.240
 alone with

00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:39.660
 Xerxes.

00:16:40.800 --> 00:16:41.960
 Every single

00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:42.580
 thing in

00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:45.180
 that preparation

00:16:45.180 --> 00:16:46.120
 turned on

00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:46.779
 that one

00:16:46.779 --> 00:16:47.240
 night.

00:16:47.920 --> 00:16:48.139
 And there

00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:48.560
 were only

00:16:48.560 --> 00:16:49.220
 one of four

00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:50.399
 possible outcomes.

00:16:50.980 --> 00:16:51.399
 Xerxes,

00:16:51.920 --> 00:16:52.399
 you have your

00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:52.920
 night with

00:16:52.920 --> 00:16:53.420
 Xerxes,

00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:55.920
 he sends you

00:16:55.920 --> 00:16:56.920
 back to

00:16:56.920 --> 00:16:57.420
 become a

00:16:57.420 --> 00:16:57.920
 permanent

00:16:57.920 --> 00:16:59.160
 concubine

00:16:59.160 --> 00:17:01.379
 but he never

00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:01.960
 calls you

00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:02.340
 again.

00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:03.060
 You see,

00:17:03.059 --> 00:17:05.079
 after you've

00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:05.379
 had that

00:17:05.379 --> 00:17:05.859
 one night

00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:06.460
 with Xerxes,

00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.319
 you don't go

00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:08.000
 back to your

00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:08.460
 family and

00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:09.099
 your friends.

00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:10.220
 You are

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:10.859
 forever his

00:17:10.859 --> 00:17:11.419
 concubine

00:17:11.419 --> 00:17:12.659
 and he may

00:17:12.659 --> 00:17:13.259
 never call

00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:13.779
 you again

00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:14.500
 which means

00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:14.819
 that you're

00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:15.539
 essentially

00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:17.059
 banished to

00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:17.720
 permanent

00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:18.819
 widowhood

00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:19.599
 around about

00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:20.200
 the age of

00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:21.139
 18 in that

00:17:21.139 --> 00:17:21.460
 sort of

00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:21.799
 vicinity

00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:22.359
 somewhere.

00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:24.460
 Secondly,

00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:25.159
 you become

00:17:25.159 --> 00:17:25.919
 a concubine

00:17:25.919 --> 00:17:26.720
 which he calls

00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:27.519
 for, you

00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:27.639
 know,

00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:28.319
 occasionally

00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:30.419
 for entertainment

00:17:30.419 --> 00:17:31.339
 when he feels

00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:31.879
 like it

00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:32.940
 and that'll

00:17:32.940 --> 00:17:33.560
 be for the

00:17:33.560 --> 00:17:33.900
 rest of

00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:34.440
 your life.

00:17:34.560 --> 00:17:34.660
 Now,

00:17:34.760 --> 00:17:35.220
 thirdly,

00:17:35.540 --> 00:17:35.900
 you might

00:17:35.900 --> 00:17:36.400
 be one of

00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:37.040
 the one

00:17:37.040 --> 00:17:37.640
 or two,

00:17:38.040 --> 00:17:38.960
 maybe three

00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:40.120
 chosen women

00:17:40.120 --> 00:17:40.700
 whom he

00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:41.280
 marries

00:17:41.280 --> 00:17:43.840
 and the

00:17:43.840 --> 00:17:44.840
 children that

00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:45.580
 you have

00:17:45.580 --> 00:17:46.580
 will become

00:17:46.580 --> 00:17:47.760
 royal heirs

00:17:47.760 --> 00:17:48.280
 with royal

00:17:48.280 --> 00:17:48.900
 benefits.

00:17:49.820 --> 00:17:50.760
 But fourthly,

00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:52.280
 if you are

00:17:52.280 --> 00:17:53.120
 the one he

00:17:53.120 --> 00:17:54.500
 most favours,

00:17:55.320 --> 00:17:55.920
 you become

00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:56.420
 the queen.

00:17:57.060 --> 00:17:57.820
 He marries

00:17:57.820 --> 00:17:58.680
 and you

00:17:58.680 --> 00:17:59.560
 become the

00:17:59.560 --> 00:17:59.920
 queen.

00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:01.100
 And one

00:18:01.100 --> 00:18:01.360
 of the

00:18:01.360 --> 00:18:01.820
 girls who

00:18:01.820 --> 00:18:02.440
 was taken

00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:03.600
 was a

00:18:03.600 --> 00:18:04.000
 Jewish

00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:04.560
 orphan

00:18:04.560 --> 00:18:05.560
 named

00:18:05.560 --> 00:18:06.039
 Esther

00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:06.800
 who we

00:18:06.800 --> 00:18:07.140
 were just

00:18:07.140 --> 00:18:07.580
 introduced

00:18:07.580 --> 00:18:08.000
 to.

00:18:08.360 --> 00:18:08.660
 And when

00:18:08.660 --> 00:18:09.240
 they took

00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:09.600
 her,

00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:10.860
 her older

00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:11.580
 cousin

00:18:11.580 --> 00:18:13.539
 Mordecai

00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.779
 instructs

00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:15.300
 her

00:18:15.300 --> 00:18:17.420
 not to

00:18:17.420 --> 00:18:17.680
 say

00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:18.560
 anything

00:18:18.560 --> 00:18:20.039
 about

00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:21.180
 her Jewish

00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:21.940
 identity

00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:23.380
 or her

00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:23.960
 beliefs.

00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:26.940
 Nothing.

00:18:27.340 --> 00:18:28.100
 Don't mention

00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:28.340
 that.

00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:28.960
 Hide that.

00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:32.160
 and she

00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:32.680
 was the

00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:33.460
 one of

00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:34.380
 the great

00:18:34.380 --> 00:18:34.779
 harem,

00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:35.320
 she was

00:18:35.320 --> 00:18:35.759
 the one

00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.420
 that Xerxes

00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:38.120
 favours over

00:18:38.120 --> 00:18:39.500
 everyone else

00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:40.120
 and he

00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:40.800
 marries her

00:18:40.800 --> 00:18:41.200
 and he

00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:41.880
 makes her

00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:42.960
 his queen.

00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:44.180
 And so

00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:44.800
 this Jewish

00:18:44.800 --> 00:18:45.660
 orphan girl

00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:46.539
 becomes

00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:47.860
 the queen

00:18:47.860 --> 00:18:48.740
 of the

00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:49.279
 greatest

00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:50.100
 empire

00:18:50.100 --> 00:18:50.820
 on the

00:18:50.820 --> 00:18:51.519
 face of

00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.160
 the earth.

00:18:52.840 --> 00:18:53.300
 This is

00:18:53.300 --> 00:18:54.820
 not a

00:18:54.820 --> 00:18:55.140
 Cinderella

00:18:55.140 --> 00:18:55.840
 story.

00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:57.360
 Neither

00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:58.219
 is it

00:18:58.219 --> 00:18:58.699
 giving us

00:18:58.699 --> 00:18:59.299
 relationship

00:18:59.299 --> 00:18:59.859
 advice

00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:00.559
 in any

00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.639
 shape

00:19:01.639 --> 00:19:02.500
 or form.

00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:04.639
 You see,

00:19:04.939 --> 00:19:05.599
 what this

00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:06.179
 is telling

00:19:06.179 --> 00:19:06.719
 us,

00:19:07.959 --> 00:19:08.419
 when you

00:19:08.419 --> 00:19:09.059
 stand back

00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:09.459
 and look

00:19:09.459 --> 00:19:09.899
 at it,

00:19:11.699 --> 00:19:13.219
 in the

00:19:13.219 --> 00:19:14.119
 Persian culture,

00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:15.339
 the most

00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:16.500
 important thing

00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:17.079
 about a

00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:18.519
 man was

00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:20.079
 his wealth

00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:20.619
 and his

00:19:20.619 --> 00:19:21.240
 power.

00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:22.299
 and the

00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:22.660
 most

00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:23.160
 important

00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:23.579
 thing

00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:24.160
 about a

00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:24.480
 woman

00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.700
 was her

00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:26.359
 sexual

00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:26.779
 and

00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:27.220
 physical

00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:27.759
 beauty.

00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:29.420
 A man's

00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:29.920
 worth

00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:30.920
 was determined

00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:31.339
 by the

00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:31.759
 size of

00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:32.319
 his wallet

00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.519
 and a

00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:33.880
 woman's

00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:34.160
 worth

00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:34.500
 by the

00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:34.779
 size

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:34.900
 of

00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:35.019
 her

00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:35.400
 dress.

00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:38.880
 Can you

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.420
 imagine

00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:40.039
 living in a

00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:40.660
 culture like

00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:40.920
 that?

00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:47.299
 It's

00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:47.539
 pretty

00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:47.920
 ugly.

00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:51.980
 I mean,

00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:53.579
 look at the

00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:53.859
 way the

00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:54.279
 women are

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:54.940
 treated here.

00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:55.880
 Look at the

00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:56.380
 pride and the

00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:56.940
 arrogance of

00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:57.539
 these blokes

00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:57.859
 here.

00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.259
 But I

00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:00.500
 wonder,

00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:01.180
 apart from

00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:01.960
 some superficial

00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:02.579
 differences,

00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:04.279
 is the

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:04.819
 world still

00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:05.299
 the same?

00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:08.200
 Is it

00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:08.579
 still the

00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:08.799
 same?

00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:11.480
 Our

00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:12.099
 society

00:20:12.099 --> 00:20:13.519
 says

00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:14.740
 externals,

00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:15.279
 images,

00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:16.220
 appearances

00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:18.319
 matter more

00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:19.539
 than

00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.039
 character.

00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:20.159
 character.

00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:22.779
 What you

00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:23.480
 have matters

00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:23.879
 more than

00:20:23.879 --> 00:20:24.220
 who you

00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:24.740
 are.

00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:26.299
 Whether it

00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:26.779
 be beauty,

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.299
 talents,

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:27.700
 money,

00:20:27.879 --> 00:20:28.299
 connections,

00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:29.039
 influence,

00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:29.859
 they matter

00:20:29.859 --> 00:20:30.920
 much more

00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:31.720
 than your

00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.139
 character.

00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:33.599
 We are

00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:34.319
 in our

00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:34.799
 society

00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.399
 today

00:20:35.399 --> 00:20:37.000
 under

00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:37.920
 constant

00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.519
 pressure

00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:40.099
 to undergo

00:20:40.099 --> 00:20:41.079
 beauty

00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:41.759
 treatments

00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:43.680
 on all

00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:43.899
 their

00:20:43.899 --> 00:20:44.279
 various

00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:44.859
 forms.

00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:45.480
 Our

00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:45.799
 culture

00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:46.359
 says that

00:20:46.359 --> 00:20:46.799
 unless you

00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:47.720
 get these

00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:48.379
 credentials,

00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:49.420
 this kind

00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:49.740
 of beauty,

00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:50.259
 this kind

00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:50.680
 of money,

00:20:51.080 --> 00:20:51.480
 this kind

00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:51.600
 of

00:20:51.600 --> 00:20:51.880
 resume,

00:20:52.100 --> 00:20:52.500
 this kind

00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:52.620
 of

00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:53.220
 education,

00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:53.980
 these kinds

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.100
 of

00:20:54.100 --> 00:20:54.519
 connections,

00:20:54.820 --> 00:20:55.300
 in the

00:20:55.300 --> 00:20:55.660
 end you

00:20:55.660 --> 00:20:56.180
 don't truly

00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:56.519
 matter.

00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:58.320
 And it

00:20:58.320 --> 00:20:58.680
 says it

00:20:58.680 --> 00:20:59.820
 different to

00:20:59.820 --> 00:21:00.200
 men and

00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:00.759
 women and

00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.279
 it says it

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:02.019
 different depending

00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:03.100
 on your

00:21:03.100 --> 00:21:04.340
 culture and

00:21:04.340 --> 00:21:06.480
 your race

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:08.120
 or your

00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:08.720
 class,

00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:09.460
 but it's

00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:10.500
 basically saying

00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.000
 the same

00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:11.460
 thing.

00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:13.240
 You need to

00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:14.140
 go through

00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:15.500
 your culture's

00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:16.060
 beauty

00:21:16.060 --> 00:21:16.620
 treatments,

00:21:16.619 --> 00:21:17.899
 you need

00:21:17.899 --> 00:21:18.659
 to perform,

00:21:19.179 --> 00:21:19.519
 you need

00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:19.899
 to do

00:21:19.899 --> 00:21:20.759
 all this

00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:21.599
 and maybe

00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.259
 once you

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.459
 do you

00:21:23.459 --> 00:21:24.019
 will find

00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:24.639
 approval,

00:21:24.979 --> 00:21:25.519
 acceptance,

00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:27.379
 admiration,

00:21:28.679 --> 00:21:29.279
 you become

00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.019
 enviable.

00:21:31.899 --> 00:21:33.179
 We live

00:21:33.179 --> 00:21:33.919
 in a world

00:21:33.919 --> 00:21:35.039
 of appearances

00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:36.439
 and performance.

00:21:37.179 --> 00:21:37.579
 We live

00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.199
 in a world

00:21:38.199 --> 00:21:39.699
 that elevates

00:21:39.699 --> 00:21:40.659
 the trivial

00:21:40.659 --> 00:21:41.519
 on social

00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:41.939
 media.

00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:42.960
 we have

00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:44.019
 entire

00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:45.519
 magazines

00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.640
 devoted

00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.279
 to the

00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:47.960
 antics

00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:48.779
 of soap

00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:49.259
 opera

00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:49.900
 stars.

00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:53.779
 We

00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:54.299
 elevate

00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.220
 to hero

00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:55.820
 status

00:21:55.820 --> 00:21:57.019
 and pay

00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:58.460
 obscene

00:21:59.380 --> 00:22:00.039
 amounts of

00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:00.320
 money

00:22:00.320 --> 00:22:01.640
 to people

00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:02.259
 who run

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:02.680
 around

00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:02.920
 hitting

00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:03.240
 little

00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:03.680
 balls.

00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:06.779
 We live

00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.039
 in a

00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:07.420
 culture

00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:08.160
 that considers

00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:08.779
 the car

00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.539
 we drive

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.980
 or the

00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:11.339
 tone

00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:11.720
 of our

00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.359
 skin,

00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.259
 the texture

00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:14.659
 of our

00:22:14.659 --> 00:22:15.119
 skin

00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:15.960
 as an

00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:16.779
 extension

00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:17.220
 of who

00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:18.039
 we are

00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:18.819
 and our

00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:19.440
 worth.

00:22:20.879 --> 00:22:21.799
 We are

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.639
 more impressed

00:22:22.639 --> 00:22:23.079
 by the

00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:23.899
 school someone

00:22:23.899 --> 00:22:24.339
 attends

00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:24.639
 than what

00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:25.240
 they learn

00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:25.579
 when they're

00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:25.980
 there.

00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:29.359
 In other

00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:29.599
 words,

00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.180
 we blow

00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:32.039
 it again

00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:32.920
 and again

00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.779
 and again

00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:38.379
 just like

00:22:38.379 --> 00:22:39.159
 Xerxes.

00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:41.339
 and just

00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:42.079
 like Esther

00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:42.539
 too,

00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:44.159
 just like

00:22:44.159 --> 00:22:44.619
 Esther.

00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:46.460
 You see,

00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:46.899
 in these

00:22:46.899 --> 00:22:47.440
 first two

00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:47.980
 chapters,

00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:50.399
 there's

00:22:50.399 --> 00:22:50.680
 nothing

00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:51.379
 redeemable

00:22:51.379 --> 00:22:52.099
 about her.

00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:54.099
 She has

00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:54.859
 completely

00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:55.960
 sold out

00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:58.519
 her culture

00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:58.799
 and her

00:22:58.799 --> 00:22:59.180
 God.

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.319
 Esther

00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:02.099
 gets to

00:23:02.099 --> 00:23:02.980
 her pinnacle

00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:04.559
 to where

00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:05.319
 she is

00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.279
 as queen

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:08.139
 by absolute

00:23:08.139 --> 00:23:09.079
 compliance

00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:09.579
 to the

00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:09.980
 culture.

00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:13.519
 She does

00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.379
 what Mordecai

00:23:14.379 --> 00:23:15.039
 tells her

00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:15.440
 to do.

00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.700
 She

00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:18.359
 listens to

00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:18.720
 the head

00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.139
 guy in

00:23:19.139 --> 00:23:19.619
 the harem

00:23:19.619 --> 00:23:20.359
 more than

00:23:20.359 --> 00:23:21.039
 any of the

00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:21.619
 other women

00:23:21.619 --> 00:23:22.000
 in the

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.299
 harem.

00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:24.000
 She did

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:24.740
 everything

00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:25.420
 that she

00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:26.160
 has asked

00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:26.759
 of her.

00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:28.299
 She

00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:29.660
 aims to

00:23:29.660 --> 00:23:30.019
 be the

00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:30.359
 next

00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:31.019
 Vashti.

00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:33.339
 She

00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:34.039
 is a

00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:34.500
 blank

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.299
 page

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:35.900
 on

00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:36.180
 which

00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:36.639
 these

00:23:36.639 --> 00:23:37.220
 men

00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:38.259
 write

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:38.579
 what

00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:38.859
 they

00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:39.400
 want.

00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:44.240
 She

00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:44.660
 kept her

00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:45.160
 identity,

00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:46.980
 her culture

00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:48.519
 and her

00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.099
 God

00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:50.440
 secret.

00:23:52.379 --> 00:23:53.220
 She

00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:53.660
 turns her

00:23:53.660 --> 00:23:54.099
 back on

00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:54.539
 God's

00:23:54.539 --> 00:23:54.940
 law

00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:56.200
 when she

00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:56.980
 ultimately

00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:58.519
 goes and

00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.019
 has her

00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.619
 one night

00:23:59.619 --> 00:24:00.379
 with Xerxes.

00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:02.819
 she's

00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.180
 completely

00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:03.799
 sold out

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:05.480
 and yet

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:07.220
 the good

00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:08.160
 news of

00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:09.000
 this entire

00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.680
 book as

00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:10.099
 we will

00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:10.460
 see as

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:10.819
 we go

00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:11.259
 through

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:12.519
 that God

00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:13.180
 is not

00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:14.079
 yet finished

00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:14.599
 with her.

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.420
 We'll

00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:19.400
 see again

00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:20.240
 and again

00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:21.240
 God's

00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:21.839
 patience

00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:23.259
 with her,

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:24.720
 the way

00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.359
 that he

00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:27.160
 grows her

00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:29.160
 in invisible

00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:30.440
 ways through

00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:31.000
 circumstances,

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:32.799
 again and

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.379
 again and

00:24:33.379 --> 00:24:34.500
 again grows

00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:35.079
 her and

00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:35.720
 turns her

00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:37.299
 into

00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:38.639
 something that

00:24:38.639 --> 00:24:39.700
 is truly

00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.259
 great,

00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:41.460
 someone who

00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:41.859
 is truly

00:24:41.859 --> 00:24:42.259
 great.

00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:44.660
 And that

00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:45.900
 which brings

00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:46.379
 me to my

00:24:46.379 --> 00:24:46.960
 third point

00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:47.819
 is in

00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:48.240
 fact

00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:50.200
 God's

00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:50.579
 work,

00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:53.460
 his

00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:53.920
 invisible

00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:54.359
 work

00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:55.680
 and

00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:56.039
 visible

00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:56.519
 work.

00:24:57.139 --> 00:24:57.859
 His work

00:24:57.859 --> 00:24:58.200
 is in

00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:58.539
 fact to

00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.220
 make us

00:24:59.220 --> 00:24:59.840
 beautiful.

00:25:01.600 --> 00:25:01.960
 And that

00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:02.240
 is the

00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:02.680
 good news

00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:02.900
 of the

00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:03.180
 message of

00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:03.539
 the Bible

00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:05.019
 is that

00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:05.880
 God is

00:25:05.880 --> 00:25:06.400
 not,

00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:06.880
 this is the

00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:08.340
 great foundation

00:25:08.340 --> 00:25:08.539
 of the

00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:09.019
 Christian faith,

00:25:09.580 --> 00:25:10.019
 God

00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:13.240
 does not

00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.279
 bless us,

00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:14.900
 he does not

00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:15.519
 love us,

00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:16.080
 he does not

00:25:16.080 --> 00:25:17.220
 save us

00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:19.360
 because we

00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:20.240
 are beautiful,

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.339
 because we

00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:22.539
 are morally

00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:24.299
 good or

00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:25.600
 exemplary in

00:25:25.600 --> 00:25:26.059
 any way,

00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:26.400
 he goes,

00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:26.680
 ah,

00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.360
 there's someone

00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:28.059
 worthy of my

00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:28.460
 love.

00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:29.880
 The message of

00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:31.120
 the Bible is

00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:31.799
 that God

00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:33.039
 persistently

00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:34.759
 and consistently

00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:36.200
 gives his grace

00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:36.860
 to people who

00:25:36.860 --> 00:25:37.660
 don't ask for

00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:37.839
 it,

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:39.220
 who don't

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:39.940
 deserve it,

00:25:39.940 --> 00:25:41.080
 and don't

00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:42.240
 appreciate it

00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:42.759
 when they're

00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.400
 being given

00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:43.660
 it.

00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:48.080
 The good

00:25:48.080 --> 00:25:48.759
 news is that

00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:49.360
 God has not

00:25:49.360 --> 00:25:51.360
 given up on

00:25:51.360 --> 00:25:52.059
 us either.

00:25:53.860 --> 00:25:54.299
 In 1

00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:55.740
 Samuel 16,

00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:57.500
 when

00:25:57.500 --> 00:26:01.019
 Samuel's

00:26:01.019 --> 00:26:01.660
 looking for

00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:02.279
 a king

00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.539
 to replace

00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:03.980
 Saul,

00:26:05.580 --> 00:26:06.700
 God says,

00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:08.740
 man looks

00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.180
 at the

00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:09.460
 outward

00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:10.140
 appearance,

00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:10.779
 but God

00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:11.440
 looks at

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:11.940
 the heart.

00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:15.440
 You see,

00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:16.180
 true beauty

00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:18.359
 is not

00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:18.839
 on the

00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:19.460
 outside.

00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:20.900
 God is

00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:21.539
 the only

00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:23.920
 one who

00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:24.500
 does not

00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:25.160
 judge a

00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:25.700
 book by

00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.359
 its cover.

00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.539
 How often

00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:29.980
 we say

00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:30.160
 that,

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:30.440
 don't you,

00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:30.640
 you should

00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:30.980
 never judge

00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:31.200
 a book

00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:31.599
 by its

00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:31.880
 cover,

00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:32.779
 and yet

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.200
 we do

00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.019
 it every

00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:34.579
 single

00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:35.039
 moment,

00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:35.940
 every

00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:36.559
 single

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:36.920
 day.

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.000
 Every

00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.420
 culture

00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:39.859
 in one

00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:40.160
 way or

00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:40.380
 another

00:26:40.380 --> 00:26:41.220
 communicates

00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:41.539
 to its

00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:41.880
 members,

00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:43.140
 we will

00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:43.759
 accept

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.200
 you,

00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:46.440
 but you

00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:47.099
 must work

00:26:47.099 --> 00:26:47.759
 incredibly

00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:49.099
 hard and

00:26:49.099 --> 00:26:49.980
 make yourself

00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:50.940
 attractive to

00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:51.339
 us,

00:26:51.579 --> 00:26:52.059
 to make

00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:52.579
 yourself

00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.400
 lovable,

00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:55.779
 to make

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.400
 yourself

00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:57.960
 approval

00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.579
 worthy,

00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:00.859
 and then we

00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:01.440
 will approve

00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:01.819
 of you.

00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:03.960
 And it is

00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.740
 exhausting,

00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.339
 exhausting,

00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.680
 it is

00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:07.359
 exhausting,

00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:10.220
 and there

00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:10.539
 is only

00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.079
 one way

00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:11.380
 out,

00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:14.660
 and that

00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:15.620
 is the

00:27:15.620 --> 00:27:16.980
 gospel of

00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:17.279
 Jesus

00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:17.779
 Christ.

00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:19.740
 One of

00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.099
 the most

00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:20.539
 striking

00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.319
 images of

00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:21.799
 the Bible

00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:23.319
 is its

00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:24.120
 declaration

00:27:24.120 --> 00:27:26.079
 that God

00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:26.960
 wants to

00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:28.460
 be your

00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.059
 spouse.

00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:32.640
 He wants

00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:32.900
 you to

00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:34.019
 be his.

00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:38.039
 see,

00:27:38.120 --> 00:27:38.539
 what the

00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.140
 Bible does,

00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:39.839
 it betrays

00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:40.380
 God not

00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:41.220
 just as

00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:42.039
 the divine

00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:43.579
 creator and

00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:45.480
 the all-powerful

00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.279
 king over

00:27:46.279 --> 00:27:47.500
 everything and

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.220
 rules everything

00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:48.859
 in the world,

00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:50.140
 but a God who

00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:51.500
 is an all-loving

00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:52.059
 husband.

00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.420
 What makes

00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:53.940
 that so

00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:55.140
 great is

00:27:55.140 --> 00:27:56.500
 it's not

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.220
 about what

00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:57.960
 we do to

00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:58.859
 make ourselves

00:27:58.859 --> 00:28:00.099
 beautiful to

00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:00.480
 him,

00:28:01.299 --> 00:28:02.579
 good for

00:28:02.579 --> 00:28:02.900
 him,

00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:03.900
 worthy of

00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:04.259
 him,

00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.339
 Ephesians

00:28:05.339 --> 00:28:05.980
 5 puts

00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:06.299
 it like

00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:06.740
 this in

00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:06.920
 its

00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:07.579
 instructions

00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:08.500
 to

00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:09.160
 husbands how

00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:09.480
 to love

00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:09.960
 their wives,

00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:10.259
 it says,

00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:10.539
 husband,

00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.019
 love your

00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:12.220
 wives just

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:14.539
 as Christ

00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.420
 loved the

00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:16.059
 church,

00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:18.740
 his bride,

00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:21.640
 and gave

00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:22.519
 himself up

00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.859
 and gave

00:28:23.859 --> 00:28:25.279
 and gave

00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:25.279


00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:25.740
 cleansing

00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:26.259
 her by

00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:26.839
 the washing

00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.380
 with water

00:28:27.380 --> 00:28:27.940
 through the

00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:28.660
 word and

00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:29.400
 to present

00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:30.279
 her to

00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:31.460
 himself as

00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:32.180
 a radiant

00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:33.380
 church without

00:28:33.380 --> 00:28:34.500
 stain or

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.559
 wrinkle or

00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:36.480
 any other

00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.279
 blemish,

00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.700
 but holy

00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:40.720
 and blameless.

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:44.299
 would it

00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:45.019
 surprise you

00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:45.339
 if I

00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:46.220
 said that

00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:46.720
 the whole

00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:47.440
 purpose,

00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:48.539
 the

00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.240
 trinitarian

00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:49.799
 God of

00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:50.140
 the Bible,

00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:50.600
 the whole

00:28:50.600 --> 00:28:51.759
 purpose of

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:54.420
 creation is

00:28:54.420 --> 00:28:54.759
 that he

00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.440
 would provide

00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:56.000
 a spouse

00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.480
 for his

00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:56.700
 son,

00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.180
 that God

00:28:58.180 --> 00:28:58.600
 the Father

00:28:58.600 --> 00:28:59.100
 would provide

00:28:59.100 --> 00:28:59.539
 a spouse

00:28:59.539 --> 00:28:59.980
 for his

00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:00.259
 son,

00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:01.680
 whom his

00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:02.620
 son delights

00:29:02.620 --> 00:29:02.860
 in,

00:29:03.880 --> 00:29:04.220
 who is

00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:04.839
 blameless,

00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:05.460
 flawless,

00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.539
 whose heart

00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:08.920
 bursts when

00:29:08.920 --> 00:29:10.120
 he sees

00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:10.440
 her.

00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:14.380
 The Bible

00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:15.100
 declares in

00:29:15.100 --> 00:29:15.360
 the New

00:29:15.360 --> 00:29:15.840
 Testament

00:29:15.840 --> 00:29:17.820
 that that

00:29:17.820 --> 00:29:18.160
 is his

00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:18.519
 church.

00:29:21.580 --> 00:29:22.200
 Esther was

00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:23.080
 accepted by

00:29:23.080 --> 00:29:23.940
 Xerxes because

00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:24.860
 she was already

00:29:24.860 --> 00:29:25.420
 beautiful,

00:29:26.080 --> 00:29:26.800
 but Jesus

00:29:26.800 --> 00:29:27.779
 loves us

00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.640
 despite our

00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:29.279
 flaws and

00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:29.800
 our sin

00:29:29.800 --> 00:29:30.519
 and our

00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:31.120
 ugliness.

00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:32.539
 He does it

00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:33.120
 to make us

00:29:33.120 --> 00:29:33.539
 beautiful.

00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:34.880
 Esther had

00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:35.580
 to give her

00:29:35.580 --> 00:29:36.160
 life and

00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:36.640
 her freedom

00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:37.220
 up for the

00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:37.580
 king,

00:29:38.320 --> 00:29:38.779
 but

00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:39.440
 Jesus

00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:40.180
 Christ is

00:29:40.180 --> 00:29:40.779
 the only

00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.220
 king,

00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:42.240
 the only

00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:42.920
 spouse who

00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:43.500
 gives up

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.019
 his life

00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:44.460
 and freedom

00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.119
 for us.

00:29:46.319 --> 00:29:46.759
 He gives

00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.460
 up everything

00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:48.160
 for us,

00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:49.180
 not because

00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:50.099
 we are

00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:50.839
 lovely,

00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:52.139
 but in

00:29:52.139 --> 00:29:52.700
 order to

00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:53.599
 make us

00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:54.180
 lovely.

00:29:56.819 --> 00:29:57.319
 And when

00:29:57.319 --> 00:29:58.259
 we understand

00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:58.799
 that,

00:29:59.420 --> 00:30:00.500
 when that

00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.700
 truth gets

00:30:01.700 --> 00:30:02.420
 driven down

00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:02.980
 into our

00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:03.460
 hearts,

00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:04.460
 we have,

00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.420
 I think,

00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:05.879
 at least

00:30:05.879 --> 00:30:06.879
 three things,

00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:07.839
 the three

00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:08.359
 things that we

00:30:08.359 --> 00:30:08.919
 need to be

00:30:08.919 --> 00:30:10.119
 free from

00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:11.339
 our culture's

00:30:11.339 --> 00:30:12.379
 enslavement

00:30:12.379 --> 00:30:13.559
 to external

00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:15.059
 appearances and

00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:15.599
 be made

00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:18.479
 truly beautiful

00:30:18.479 --> 00:30:19.559
 and glorious

00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:20.599
 on the

00:30:20.599 --> 00:30:21.119
 inside.

00:30:22.719 --> 00:30:23.519
 Firstly,

00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:25.439
 what it does,

00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:27.359
 what it does

00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:28.119
 is it gives us

00:30:28.119 --> 00:30:29.339
 a definition of

00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:30.000
 what true

00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:31.000
 beauty actually

00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.619
 is.

00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:32.619
 beauty is.

00:30:32.619 --> 00:30:33.859
 You see,

00:30:34.019 --> 00:30:34.919
 our culture's

00:30:34.919 --> 00:30:35.699
 definition of

00:30:35.699 --> 00:30:37.319
 beauty means

00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:38.759
 that we

00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.519
 cannot go

00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:40.500
 past a

00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:40.799
 mirror

00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:42.279
 without

00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:42.899
 noticing

00:30:42.899 --> 00:30:43.739
 ourselves.

00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:47.920
 that we

00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:49.240
 are obsessed

00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:49.480
 with

00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.079
 appearances.

00:30:51.660 --> 00:30:52.380
 Who would

00:30:52.380 --> 00:30:53.059
 have imagined

00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:54.440
 that within

00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:55.660
 two years

00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:57.039
 of combining

00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:57.940
 products that

00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:58.740
 we'd have for

00:30:58.740 --> 00:30:59.440
 a very long

00:30:59.440 --> 00:30:59.940
 time,

00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:00.960
 a camera

00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:01.940
 and a

00:31:01.940 --> 00:31:02.400
 phone,

00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:03.400
 combining

00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:04.039
 those two

00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:04.400
 things,

00:31:04.460 --> 00:31:05.079
 within two

00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:05.559
 years of

00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:05.940
 combining

00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:06.480
 those two

00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:06.920
 things,

00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:08.579
 that dictionaries

00:31:08.579 --> 00:31:09.400
 in the world

00:31:09.400 --> 00:31:09.920
 had to be

00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:11.039
 rewritten to

00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:11.720
 include the

00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.460
 word selfie.

00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:15.600
 a word

00:31:15.600 --> 00:31:17.059
 that didn't

00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:17.559
 exist

00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:19.620
 before

00:31:19.620 --> 00:31:20.460
 2002.

00:31:22.120 --> 00:31:22.799
 Selfie.

00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:28.460
 Millions

00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:29.100
 of selfies

00:31:29.100 --> 00:31:29.700
 are taken

00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.799
 every day.

00:31:34.140 --> 00:31:35.019
 And when

00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:35.720
 we look

00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:36.519
 at Jesus

00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:37.220
 instead of

00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:38.319
 ourselves,

00:31:38.860 --> 00:31:39.840
 we actually

00:31:39.840 --> 00:31:41.319
 see ultimate

00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:41.940
 beauty.

00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:43.019
 we see

00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:43.759
 infinite

00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:44.860
 glory and

00:31:44.860 --> 00:31:45.759
 majesty and

00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:46.500
 splendor.

00:31:47.620 --> 00:31:48.380
 And he

00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:49.519
 gave all

00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:50.140
 of that up

00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:50.920
 for us

00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:52.980
 to make

00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:53.740
 us beautiful.

00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:55.079
 He left

00:31:55.079 --> 00:31:55.600
 it to one

00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:56.059
 side.

00:31:56.319 --> 00:31:56.900
 He became

00:31:56.900 --> 00:31:57.279
 human.

00:31:57.380 --> 00:31:57.740
 He went

00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.380
 to a cross.

00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:58.960
 And the

00:31:58.960 --> 00:31:59.299
 book of

00:31:59.299 --> 00:32:00.299
 Isaiah says

00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:00.920
 that he

00:32:00.920 --> 00:32:01.539
 had no

00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:02.620
 beauty that

00:32:02.620 --> 00:32:03.039
 we would

00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:03.920
 desire him.

00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:04.920
 beauty.

00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:07.279
 The one

00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:08.200
 of infinite

00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:09.039
 majesty

00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:10.080
 became

00:32:10.080 --> 00:32:11.259
 cosmically

00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:12.700
 unsightly

00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.600
 to make

00:32:13.600 --> 00:32:14.539
 us beautiful,

00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:16.140
 to make

00:32:16.140 --> 00:32:17.019
 us majestic

00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:19.220
 in such

00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:19.560
 a way,

00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:20.660
 so cosmic

00:32:20.660 --> 00:32:21.480
 unsightly

00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:22.060
 that his

00:32:22.060 --> 00:32:22.700
 father

00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:23.880
 turns his

00:32:23.880 --> 00:32:24.580
 face away

00:32:24.580 --> 00:32:25.100
 from him.

00:32:26.680 --> 00:32:27.759
 That is

00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:28.519
 true beauty.

00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:32.759
 genuine

00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:33.819
 beauty is

00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:34.259
 not

00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:35.379
 self-obsession.

00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:37.879
 It is

00:32:37.879 --> 00:32:38.839
 self-sacrifice.

00:32:42.299 --> 00:32:43.139
 And that's

00:32:43.139 --> 00:32:43.500
 why it

00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:44.059
 says at the

00:32:44.059 --> 00:32:44.420
 end of

00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:45.400
 Isaiah 53

00:32:45.400 --> 00:32:46.339
 about Jesus,

00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:47.319
 the one

00:32:47.319 --> 00:32:47.639
 who had

00:32:47.639 --> 00:32:48.299
 no beauty,

00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:49.519
 the suffering

00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:50.240
 servant of

00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:50.900
 humanity,

00:32:51.859 --> 00:32:52.480
 I will give

00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.240
 him a portion

00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:54.019
 among the

00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:54.420
 great.

00:32:54.420 --> 00:32:56.360
 and he

00:32:56.360 --> 00:32:56.840
 will divide

00:32:56.840 --> 00:32:57.519
 the spoils

00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:57.880
 with the

00:32:57.880 --> 00:32:58.180
 strong.

00:33:00.259 --> 00:33:00.920
 That's the

00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:01.400
 first thing.

00:33:03.160 --> 00:33:04.000
 The second

00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.640
 thing we get

00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:04.980
 when we

00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:05.779
 understand that

00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:06.440
 Jesus gives

00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:07.000
 up everything

00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:07.580
 to make us

00:33:07.580 --> 00:33:08.860
 beautiful is

00:33:08.860 --> 00:33:09.460
 a new

00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:11.620
 experience of

00:33:11.620 --> 00:33:12.640
 our beauty

00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:13.640
 to him.

00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:17.160
 Nat and

00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:17.740
 I, my

00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:19.140
 wife, were

00:33:19.140 --> 00:33:21.240
 married 26

00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:23.100
 years, eight

00:33:23.100 --> 00:33:23.860
 months and

00:33:23.859 --> 00:33:24.799
 27 days

00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:25.459
 ago today.

00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:28.539
 It's not

00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:29.000
 an anniversary

00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:29.479
 per se.

00:33:31.399 --> 00:33:31.959
 That's

00:33:31.959 --> 00:33:34.119
 9,767

00:33:34.119 --> 00:33:35.399
 days, not

00:33:35.399 --> 00:33:35.859
 that I'm

00:33:35.859 --> 00:33:36.379
 counting.

00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:39.099
 Now I

00:33:39.099 --> 00:33:40.079
 still remember

00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:40.959
 that day,

00:33:41.199 --> 00:33:41.799
 not far from

00:33:41.799 --> 00:33:42.659
 here, I still

00:33:42.659 --> 00:33:43.159
 remember the

00:33:43.159 --> 00:33:44.500
 day when she

00:33:44.500 --> 00:33:45.419
 appeared at

00:33:45.419 --> 00:33:47.339
 the door of

00:33:47.339 --> 00:33:48.079
 the church and

00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:48.919
 started to walk

00:33:48.919 --> 00:33:49.399
 down the

00:33:49.399 --> 00:33:49.740
 aisle.

00:33:50.359 --> 00:33:51.539
 She looked

00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:52.319
 stunning.

00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:53.740
 she was

00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.419
 absolutely

00:33:54.419 --> 00:33:54.939
 stunning.

00:33:55.839 --> 00:33:56.000
 Do you

00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:56.539
 know why?

00:33:57.419 --> 00:33:57.599
 Do you

00:33:57.599 --> 00:33:58.019
 know why?

00:33:59.299 --> 00:34:00.279
 Because an

00:34:00.279 --> 00:34:01.259
 awful lot of

00:34:01.259 --> 00:34:02.059
 money had been

00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:02.919
 spent on a

00:34:02.919 --> 00:34:03.779
 fancy dress,

00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.919
 on hair and

00:34:05.919 --> 00:34:07.720
 makeup, that

00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:09.139
 she had to get

00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:10.400
 woken up early

00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:11.779
 in order for

00:34:11.779 --> 00:34:13.380
 that all to be

00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:15.480
 worked out.

00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:18.260
 now bear with

00:34:18.260 --> 00:34:18.659
 me here.

00:34:19.800 --> 00:34:20.699
 I haven't

00:34:20.699 --> 00:34:21.240
 finished the

00:34:21.240 --> 00:34:22.219
 illustration just

00:34:22.219 --> 00:34:22.480
 yet.

00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:26.880
 I think Nat

00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:27.679
 was beautiful

00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:29.179
 before all of

00:34:29.179 --> 00:34:30.900
 that and in

00:34:30.900 --> 00:34:31.460
 fact I would

00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:32.199
 say so much

00:34:32.199 --> 00:34:33.019
 more to me

00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:33.639
 now than

00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:34.360
 even then.

00:34:34.360 --> 00:34:36.460
 but it is

00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:38.620
 a fact that

00:34:38.620 --> 00:34:39.380
 makeup and

00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:40.420
 fancy clothes

00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:42.019
 make most

00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:42.539
 of us,

00:34:42.840 --> 00:34:43.720
 pushes most

00:34:43.720 --> 00:34:44.420
 of us up

00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:46.579
 a notch in

00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:47.099
 terms of

00:34:47.099 --> 00:34:47.680
 appearances.

00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:50.559
 Regardless of

00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:51.300
 what you think

00:34:51.300 --> 00:34:52.180
 of my appearance

00:34:52.180 --> 00:34:53.240
 right now,

00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:54.240
 you should have

00:34:54.240 --> 00:34:55.120
 seen me when I

00:34:55.120 --> 00:34:55.660
 crawled out of

00:34:55.660 --> 00:34:56.079
 bed this

00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:56.440
 morning.

00:34:56.440 --> 00:35:02.019
 this morning,

00:35:02.820 --> 00:35:03.619
 you don't get

00:35:03.619 --> 00:35:04.519
 my when I

00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:05.300
 first wake up

00:35:05.300 --> 00:35:08.220
 look, I've

00:35:08.220 --> 00:35:09.260
 used David

00:35:09.260 --> 00:35:09.980
 Beckham's

00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:10.840
 shower gel

00:35:10.840 --> 00:35:12.440
 this morning.

00:35:13.800 --> 00:35:14.860
 Not literally

00:35:14.860 --> 00:35:15.740
 his shower gel

00:35:15.740 --> 00:35:16.420
 but the one

00:35:16.420 --> 00:35:17.280
 that promises

00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:18.599
 you, you may

00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:19.420
 look like him

00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:20.079
 if you use

00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:20.820
 the shower gel.

00:35:21.760 --> 00:35:22.740
 And also a

00:35:22.740 --> 00:35:23.940
 thing called

00:35:23.940 --> 00:35:25.720
 facial fuel.

00:35:26.440 --> 00:35:28.960
 which promises

00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:29.880
 to be a

00:35:29.880 --> 00:35:31.440
 facial recovery

00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:32.360
 accelerator.

00:35:35.099 --> 00:35:35.740
 Now the

00:35:35.740 --> 00:35:36.519
 irony of that

00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:36.940
 particular

00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:40.019
 product is

00:35:40.019 --> 00:35:40.360
 that I

00:35:40.360 --> 00:35:40.780
 didn't even

00:35:40.780 --> 00:35:41.500
 know, I

00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:41.860
 didn't even

00:35:41.860 --> 00:35:42.460
 buy it, it

00:35:42.460 --> 00:35:42.840
 was just

00:35:42.840 --> 00:35:44.300
 there on

00:35:44.300 --> 00:35:44.920
 the bench

00:35:44.920 --> 00:35:46.179
 and it's a

00:35:46.179 --> 00:35:47.019
 men's product

00:35:47.019 --> 00:35:49.200
 and I'm the

00:35:49.200 --> 00:35:49.720
 only man in

00:35:49.720 --> 00:35:50.240
 the house,

00:35:50.380 --> 00:35:50.880
 man in the

00:35:50.880 --> 00:35:52.099
 house, so

00:35:52.099 --> 00:35:53.039
 someone has

00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:54.820
 picked this

00:35:54.820 --> 00:35:55.139
 up.

00:35:56.440 --> 00:35:57.340
 I'm working

00:35:57.340 --> 00:35:57.539
 on the

00:35:57.539 --> 00:35:57.800
 assumption

00:35:57.800 --> 00:35:58.240
 that maybe

00:35:58.240 --> 00:35:58.659
 I need

00:35:58.659 --> 00:35:58.800
 it.

00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:00.559
 So there

00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:00.980
 we go,

00:36:02.200 --> 00:36:02.740
 recovery

00:36:02.740 --> 00:36:03.519
 accelerator.

00:36:09.400 --> 00:36:10.440
 We'll see

00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:11.179
 over the

00:36:11.179 --> 00:36:11.579
 course of

00:36:11.579 --> 00:36:12.179
 Esther whether

00:36:12.179 --> 00:36:13.260
 it's worked

00:36:13.260 --> 00:36:13.700
 or not.

00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:17.579
 Several of

00:36:17.579 --> 00:36:17.960
 the

00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:20.260
 imperfections

00:36:20.260 --> 00:36:20.880
 and flaws

00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:21.380
 that I'm

00:36:21.380 --> 00:36:22.019
 self-conscious

00:36:22.019 --> 00:36:22.679
 of have been

00:36:22.679 --> 00:36:23.599
 hidden, they've

00:36:23.599 --> 00:36:24.019
 been covered

00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:25.400
 up, they've

00:36:25.400 --> 00:36:25.860
 been worked

00:36:25.860 --> 00:36:26.140
 on.

00:36:28.220 --> 00:36:28.760
 See, when

00:36:28.760 --> 00:36:29.500
 Jesus uses

00:36:29.500 --> 00:36:30.099
 the metaphor

00:36:30.099 --> 00:36:31.559
 of us being

00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:32.539
 his bride,

00:36:33.680 --> 00:36:34.320
 one of the

00:36:34.320 --> 00:36:34.860
 things that he

00:36:34.860 --> 00:36:35.980
 has in mind

00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:37.320
 is that despite

00:36:37.320 --> 00:36:38.559
 all the

00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:39.940
 spiritual flaws,

00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:41.300
 despite all

00:36:41.300 --> 00:36:42.240
 the failings,

00:36:42.640 --> 00:36:43.460
 despite all

00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:44.260
 the sin,

00:36:44.740 --> 00:36:45.820
 despite all

00:36:45.820 --> 00:36:46.160
 of my

00:36:46.160 --> 00:36:47.320
 lackluster and

00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:48.420
 apathy towards

00:36:48.420 --> 00:36:50.240
 him, that he

00:36:50.240 --> 00:36:51.260
 has so

00:36:51.260 --> 00:36:53.300
 clothed me

00:36:53.300 --> 00:36:54.000
 with his

00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:54.840
 beauty, with

00:36:54.840 --> 00:36:55.719
 his righteousness,

00:36:56.340 --> 00:36:56.760
 that he

00:36:56.760 --> 00:36:57.260
 has so

00:36:57.260 --> 00:36:59.000
 surrounded me

00:36:59.000 --> 00:36:59.800
 and us

00:36:59.800 --> 00:37:00.679
 with his

00:37:00.679 --> 00:37:01.739
 own beauty

00:37:01.739 --> 00:37:02.980
 that he

00:37:02.980 --> 00:37:04.079
 gave us,

00:37:04.280 --> 00:37:04.679
 that he

00:37:04.679 --> 00:37:05.420
 has so

00:37:05.420 --> 00:37:06.780
 cleansed me

00:37:06.780 --> 00:37:07.320
 of my

00:37:07.320 --> 00:37:09.119
 sin, that

00:37:09.119 --> 00:37:09.900
 when he

00:37:09.900 --> 00:37:11.019
 sees me,

00:37:11.199 --> 00:37:11.599
 when he

00:37:11.599 --> 00:37:12.400
 sees his

00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:13.480
 children, when

00:37:13.480 --> 00:37:14.139
 he looks

00:37:14.139 --> 00:37:15.079
 upon his

00:37:15.079 --> 00:37:16.860
 church, his

00:37:16.860 --> 00:37:17.699
 heart

00:37:17.699 --> 00:37:18.579
 bursts,

00:37:19.840 --> 00:37:20.500
 his heart

00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:21.380
 bursts with

00:37:21.380 --> 00:37:21.840
 delight.

00:37:21.840 --> 00:37:25.559
 and to

00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:26.360
 the degree

00:37:26.360 --> 00:37:27.360
 that we

00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:27.960
 know that

00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:28.480
 this is

00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:29.120
 true of

00:37:29.120 --> 00:37:30.180
 us, in

00:37:30.180 --> 00:37:31.200
 his eyes,

00:37:31.320 --> 00:37:32.140
 every single

00:37:32.140 --> 00:37:33.840
 moment, it

00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:34.660
 will free

00:37:34.660 --> 00:37:36.220
 us from

00:37:36.220 --> 00:37:37.539
 our culture's

00:37:37.539 --> 00:37:38.660
 enslavement,

00:37:39.140 --> 00:37:39.960
 telling us

00:37:39.960 --> 00:37:41.160
 what we must

00:37:41.160 --> 00:37:41.800
 look like,

00:37:42.039 --> 00:37:42.680
 what we

00:37:42.680 --> 00:37:43.300
 must have,

00:37:43.640 --> 00:37:44.320
 what we

00:37:44.320 --> 00:37:45.100
 must accomplish

00:37:45.100 --> 00:37:46.000
 in order to

00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:46.660
 be accepted,

00:37:47.800 --> 00:37:49.700
 in order to

00:37:49.700 --> 00:37:50.440
 be loved,

00:37:50.440 --> 00:37:52.260
 in order to

00:37:52.260 --> 00:37:52.920
 be approved

00:37:52.920 --> 00:37:55.079
 of, because

00:37:55.079 --> 00:37:56.440
 in Jesus

00:37:56.440 --> 00:37:57.400
 Christ, in

00:37:57.400 --> 00:37:58.260
 the gospel,

00:37:59.200 --> 00:38:00.240
 we have the

00:38:00.240 --> 00:38:01.980
 approval of

00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:03.260
 the only

00:38:03.260 --> 00:38:04.720
 praiseworthy

00:38:04.720 --> 00:38:05.119
 one.

00:38:05.119 --> 00:38:05.179
 one.

00:38:11.059 --> 00:38:11.659
 The third

00:38:11.659 --> 00:38:12.019
 thing we

00:38:12.019 --> 00:38:12.500
 get when

00:38:12.500 --> 00:38:13.339
 we understand

00:38:13.339 --> 00:38:14.659
 that Jesus

00:38:14.659 --> 00:38:15.659
 gives up

00:38:15.659 --> 00:38:16.619
 everything to

00:38:16.619 --> 00:38:17.079
 make us

00:38:17.079 --> 00:38:18.819
 beautiful in

00:38:18.819 --> 00:38:19.519
 his sight,

00:38:19.759 --> 00:38:20.440
 is a new

00:38:20.440 --> 00:38:22.079
 understanding of

00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:22.659
 the ugly

00:38:22.659 --> 00:38:23.319
 things in

00:38:23.319 --> 00:38:23.759
 life.

00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:26.900
 Those things

00:38:26.900 --> 00:38:27.380
 which we

00:38:27.380 --> 00:38:28.259
 might otherwise

00:38:28.259 --> 00:38:29.079
 cause us to

00:38:29.079 --> 00:38:29.779
 question his

00:38:29.779 --> 00:38:30.460
 existence or

00:38:30.460 --> 00:38:31.199
 his power or

00:38:31.199 --> 00:38:32.159
 his willingness

00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:33.099
 to intervene

00:38:33.099 --> 00:38:35.819
 or even

00:38:35.819 --> 00:38:36.779
 his presence.

00:38:39.079 --> 00:38:39.759
 And including

00:38:39.759 --> 00:38:40.199
 the new

00:38:40.199 --> 00:38:41.119
 understanding of

00:38:41.119 --> 00:38:41.539
 the ugly

00:38:41.539 --> 00:38:42.259
 things within

00:38:42.259 --> 00:38:42.920
 the church

00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:43.319
 which are

00:38:43.319 --> 00:38:44.059
 difficult to

00:38:44.059 --> 00:38:44.799
 navigate and

00:38:44.799 --> 00:38:45.259
 process.

00:38:47.159 --> 00:38:47.940
 There are

00:38:47.940 --> 00:38:48.619
 parts of the

00:38:48.619 --> 00:38:49.159
 Bible that

00:38:49.159 --> 00:38:49.799
 talk about

00:38:49.799 --> 00:38:50.519
 suffering and

00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:50.980
 hardship,

00:38:51.179 --> 00:38:52.219
 refining those

00:38:52.219 --> 00:38:52.739
 who Jesus

00:38:52.739 --> 00:38:53.279
 loves.

00:38:54.199 --> 00:38:54.639
 And the

00:38:54.639 --> 00:38:56.299
 imagery is

00:38:56.299 --> 00:38:57.440
 always of

00:38:57.440 --> 00:38:58.199
 gold being

00:38:58.199 --> 00:39:00.139
 refined and

00:39:00.139 --> 00:39:01.239
 the impurities

00:39:01.239 --> 00:39:02.219
 being burned

00:39:02.219 --> 00:39:02.759
 up in the

00:39:02.759 --> 00:39:03.099
 furnace.

00:39:03.879 --> 00:39:04.480
 And once

00:39:04.480 --> 00:39:05.059
 we are

00:39:05.059 --> 00:39:06.099
 assured of

00:39:06.099 --> 00:39:06.919
 God's love,

00:39:07.159 --> 00:39:07.959
 I mean really

00:39:07.959 --> 00:39:08.759
 assured of

00:39:08.759 --> 00:39:09.819
 it, when we

00:39:09.819 --> 00:39:10.279
 go through

00:39:10.279 --> 00:39:10.939
 troubles and

00:39:10.939 --> 00:39:12.000
 sufferings, it

00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:13.179
 actually purifies

00:39:13.179 --> 00:39:13.759
 us.

00:39:14.639 --> 00:39:15.279
 It makes us

00:39:15.279 --> 00:39:16.039
 more beautiful

00:39:16.039 --> 00:39:17.039
 down on the

00:39:17.039 --> 00:39:17.739
 inside.

00:39:18.299 --> 00:39:18.879
 You see, in

00:39:18.879 --> 00:39:20.199
 Jesus, suffering

00:39:20.199 --> 00:39:21.319
 is not God

00:39:21.319 --> 00:39:23.439
 abandoning us

00:39:23.439 --> 00:39:24.919
 in any sense.

00:39:25.259 --> 00:39:26.239
 He uses the

00:39:26.239 --> 00:39:27.819
 refining process

00:39:27.819 --> 00:39:28.819
 to get rid of

00:39:28.819 --> 00:39:29.559
 the pride and

00:39:29.559 --> 00:39:30.319
 the foolishness

00:39:30.320 --> 00:39:31.059
 and the fear,

00:39:32.120 --> 00:39:33.220
 bit by bit, he

00:39:33.220 --> 00:39:33.920
 is making us

00:39:33.920 --> 00:39:34.620
 more beautiful

00:39:34.620 --> 00:39:35.720
 to him.

00:39:36.640 --> 00:39:37.500
 And once we

00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:38.640
 are assured of

00:39:38.640 --> 00:39:39.760
 God's love,

00:39:40.880 --> 00:39:41.840
 then we see the

00:39:41.840 --> 00:39:42.940
 hard times, the

00:39:42.940 --> 00:39:43.860
 ugly moments of

00:39:43.860 --> 00:39:44.860
 life as God's

00:39:46.300 --> 00:39:47.360
 spiritual beauty

00:39:47.360 --> 00:39:48.000
 treatments.

00:39:50.100 --> 00:39:50.580
 When we go

00:39:50.580 --> 00:39:50.960
 through the

00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:52.820
 hardships with

00:39:52.820 --> 00:39:53.860
 absolute assurance

00:39:54.660 --> 00:39:55.660
 that we are

00:39:55.660 --> 00:39:56.980
 already beautiful

00:39:56.980 --> 00:39:58.500
 in God's

00:39:58.500 --> 00:40:00.260
 sight, we

00:40:00.260 --> 00:40:00.940
 start to become

00:40:00.940 --> 00:40:02.059
 more beautiful

00:40:02.059 --> 00:40:03.159
 in our hearts,

00:40:03.820 --> 00:40:05.059
 in our lives,

00:40:05.599 --> 00:40:07.019
 just like

00:40:07.019 --> 00:40:08.019
 pressure creates

00:40:08.019 --> 00:40:08.559
 a diamond.

00:40:09.639 --> 00:40:10.199
 So God has

00:40:10.199 --> 00:40:10.960
 not abandoned

00:40:10.960 --> 00:40:11.519
 you in your

00:40:11.519 --> 00:40:11.860
 troubles.

00:40:13.199 --> 00:40:14.139
 He's at work,

00:40:14.780 --> 00:40:15.579
 even if it's not

00:40:15.579 --> 00:40:16.559
 obvious, he's at

00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:18.619
 work, leading

00:40:18.619 --> 00:40:20.519
 you, holding

00:40:20.519 --> 00:40:22.699
 you, refining

00:40:22.699 --> 00:40:24.880
 you, and

00:40:24.880 --> 00:40:25.900
 ultimately saving

00:40:25.900 --> 00:40:26.240
 you.

00:40:27.700 --> 00:40:28.920
 His invisibility

00:40:28.920 --> 00:40:30.700
 is not his

00:40:30.700 --> 00:40:31.400
 absence.

00:40:32.460 --> 00:40:33.360
 So keep

00:40:33.360 --> 00:40:34.300
 looking to

00:40:34.300 --> 00:40:34.880
 what he's

00:40:34.880 --> 00:40:35.539
 already done

00:40:35.539 --> 00:40:36.360
 for you in

00:40:36.360 --> 00:40:37.059
 Jesus to

00:40:37.059 --> 00:40:37.500
 make you

00:40:37.500 --> 00:40:38.119
 beautiful and

00:40:38.119 --> 00:40:38.900
 acceptable to

00:40:38.900 --> 00:40:39.200
 him.

00:40:41.740 --> 00:40:42.180
 It's a

00:40:42.180 --> 00:40:43.019
 commitment to

00:40:43.019 --> 00:40:44.559
 you that he

00:40:44.559 --> 00:40:45.300
 intends on

00:40:45.300 --> 00:40:46.180
 following through

00:40:46.180 --> 00:40:46.800
 for all of

00:40:46.800 --> 00:40:47.320
 eternity.

00:40:48.619 --> 00:40:49.400
 Once he sets

00:40:49.400 --> 00:40:50.160
 his heart on

00:40:50.160 --> 00:40:52.119
 you, he will

00:40:52.119 --> 00:40:52.700
 make you

00:40:52.700 --> 00:40:54.099
 beautiful forever.

00:40:55.860 --> 00:40:56.740
 Romans 8,

00:40:57.400 --> 00:40:58.000
 we know that

00:40:58.000 --> 00:40:58.820
 in all things

00:40:58.820 --> 00:40:59.700
 God works for

00:40:59.700 --> 00:41:00.099
 the good of

00:41:00.099 --> 00:41:00.539
 those who

00:41:00.539 --> 00:41:01.099
 love him,

00:41:01.360 --> 00:41:01.579
 who have

00:41:01.579 --> 00:41:02.160
 been called

00:41:02.160 --> 00:41:02.740
 according to

00:41:02.740 --> 00:41:03.380
 his purpose.

00:41:03.760 --> 00:41:04.140
 For those

00:41:04.140 --> 00:41:04.900
 God foreknew,

00:41:05.619 --> 00:41:06.079
 he also

00:41:06.079 --> 00:41:06.800
 predestined to

00:41:06.800 --> 00:41:07.460
 be conformed

00:41:07.460 --> 00:41:07.940
 to the image

00:41:07.940 --> 00:41:08.599
 of his son.

00:41:10.240 --> 00:41:10.700
 Those he

00:41:10.700 --> 00:41:11.280
 predestined,

00:41:11.380 --> 00:41:11.900
 he called,

00:41:12.039 --> 00:41:12.380
 those he

00:41:12.380 --> 00:41:12.980
 called, he

00:41:12.980 --> 00:41:13.840
 justifies,

00:41:14.340 --> 00:41:14.820
 and those he

00:41:14.820 --> 00:41:16.200
 justifies, he

00:41:16.200 --> 00:41:16.780
 glorifies.

00:41:17.640 --> 00:41:18.500
 When he set

00:41:18.500 --> 00:41:19.440
 his heart to

00:41:19.440 --> 00:41:21.300
 love you, the

00:41:21.300 --> 00:41:22.240
 end of that is

00:41:22.240 --> 00:41:22.780
 to make you

00:41:22.780 --> 00:41:23.160
 beautiful.

00:41:23.599 --> 00:41:25.000
 Let's

00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:25.279
 show

00:41:25.279 --> 00:41:25.279


00:41:25.279 --> 00:41:25.279


00:41:25.279 --> 00:41:25.279


00:41:25.279 --> 00:41:25.279


00:41:25.279 --> 00:41:25.679
 some

00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:25.679


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00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:25.679