WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.259 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch. 00:00:05.259 --> 00:00:15.419 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:25.219 --> 00:00:30.719 Good morning, everyone. My name is Sitara, and I'm part of the CC Kids. 00:00:31.500 --> 00:00:33.439 A reading from the book of Isaiah. 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:38.160 This is what Isaiah, son of Amos, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 00:00:38.780 --> 00:00:44.500 In the last days, the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains. 00:00:44.500 --> 00:00:48.840 It will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 00:00:49.320 --> 00:00:51.039 Many peoples will come and say, 00:00:51.460 --> 00:00:56.620 Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. 00:00:56.939 --> 00:01:01.039 He will teach us his ways so that we may walk in his paths. 00:01:01.740 --> 00:01:06.659 The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 00:01:07.460 --> 00:01:12.159 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:17.140 They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. 00:01:17.739 --> 00:01:22.819 Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:27.759 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:33.140 You, Lord, have abandoned your people, the descendants of Jacob. 00:01:33.620 --> 00:01:36.420 They are full of superstitions from the east. 00:01:36.420 --> 00:01:42.260 They practice divination like the Philistines and embrace pagan customs. 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:44.760 Their land is full of silver and gold. 00:01:45.180 --> 00:01:47.200 There is no end to their treasures. 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:49.180 Their land is full of horses. 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:51.820 There is no end to their chariots. 00:01:52.219 --> 00:01:53.939 Their land is full of idols. 00:01:54.379 --> 00:01:58.760 They bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:02.980 So people will be brought low and everyone humbled. 00:02:03.400 --> 00:02:04.599 Do not forgive them. 00:02:04.599 --> 00:02:12.219 Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty. 00:02:12.979 --> 00:02:18.579 The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low. 00:02:18.900 --> 00:02:21.599 The Lord alone will be exalted in that day. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:27.099 The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, 00:02:27.259 --> 00:02:30.099 for all that is exalted and they will be humbled, 00:02:30.099 --> 00:02:36.219 for all the cedars of Lebanon, tall and lofty, and all the oaks of Bashan, 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:39.579 for all the towering mountains and all the high hills, 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:42.979 for every lofty tower and every fortified wall, 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:47.319 for every trading ship and every stately vessel. 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:52.680 The arrogance of men will be brought low and human pride humbled. 00:02:52.680 --> 00:02:58.780 The Lord alone will be exalted in that day and the idols will totally disappear. 00:02:59.300 --> 00:03:09.020 People will flee to caves in the rocks and to the holes in the ground 00:03:09.020 --> 00:03:15.580 from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty when he rises to shake the earth. 00:03:15.580 --> 00:03:44.200 Stop trusting in mere humans who have but a breath in their nostrils. 00:03:44.199 --> 00:03:45.979 Why hold them in esteem? 00:03:46.339 --> 00:03:48.519 The grass withers and the flowers fade. 00:03:49.099 --> 00:03:51.259 The words for God is in his heart. 00:03:52.060 --> 00:03:54.079 Thank you for that reading, Sitara. 00:03:56.399 --> 00:03:59.719 Well, as you've heard already, it's the season of Advent, 00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:03.439 which is strange because everything around us is Christmas. 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:12.819 But we're encouraging you to lean in to this season that's primarily focused on the second coming of Jesus. 00:04:12.819 --> 00:04:19.740 We say every week in communion, Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again. 00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:25.719 And then we say in the creed that we believe Jesus will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead 00:04:25.719 --> 00:04:28.319 and his kingdom will have no end. 00:04:28.759 --> 00:04:35.000 And Advent says, let's give our attention to this. 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:37.839 Maybe something we've been neglecting. 00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:44.000 This coming reality of Jesus' return and glory. 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:47.160 And ask ourselves, am I ready for that? 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:50.860 Am I prepared for the judge to come? 00:04:51.060 --> 00:04:53.939 And as Andrew said, there are two prophets in Advent. 00:04:54.139 --> 00:04:58.279 There's the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament, the prophet John the Baptist in the New Testament. 00:04:58.279 --> 00:05:02.179 So if you're not sure what to be reading right now, read there. 00:05:02.479 --> 00:05:07.079 And I want to invite you to turn in your pew Bible to page 554. 00:05:08.379 --> 00:05:10.059 Page 554. 00:05:10.859 --> 00:05:14.459 The reason that's important to look at is that we printed it for you here. 00:05:14.599 --> 00:05:17.079 It looks like prose, but it's actually poetry. 00:05:18.099 --> 00:05:23.359 And page 554, you can get a better feel for the flow of the poetry. 00:05:24.719 --> 00:05:26.719 And we're going to talk about three things. 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:32.700 We're going to talk about the longing for peace, the necessity of justice, and the coming king of majesty. 00:05:33.460 --> 00:05:38.320 The longing for peace, the necessity of justice, and the coming king of majesty. 00:05:39.700 --> 00:05:41.380 When you look at verse 1, it says, 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:45.940 this is what Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 00:05:46.080 --> 00:05:47.560 And that's what a prophet is. 00:05:47.880 --> 00:05:50.400 A naviim is a seer. 00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:53.760 It's someone to whom God's given a vision. 00:05:53.759 --> 00:06:02.579 An inspired vision, an authoritative revelation of this new world that Isaiah can see. 00:06:03.039 --> 00:06:04.459 Of what the world will be like. 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:06.360 Of what it will look like. 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:07.480 What it will feel like. 00:06:07.539 --> 00:06:14.779 When God's Messiah comes to establish the kingdom of God on the earth as it is in heaven. 00:06:15.420 --> 00:06:17.199 In quote unquote, the last days. 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:18.259 And so he says in verse 2, 00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:23.599 In the last days, the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains. 00:06:24.060 --> 00:06:28.240 It will be exalted above the hills and all nations will stream to it. 00:06:28.259 --> 00:06:32.579 He says that a day is coming when Jerusalem will be made new. 00:06:33.779 --> 00:06:40.639 And when Mount Zion, the temple where the presence of Yahweh dwells, 00:06:40.639 --> 00:06:45.899 That place will be elevated as the highest of all the mountains in the world. 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:51.000 It will be exalted among all the other mountains and hills. 00:06:51.180 --> 00:06:52.120 And why does that matter? 00:06:52.199 --> 00:06:59.759 Because mountains in the ancient Near East were high places where the presence of the deity was thought to dwell. 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:03.860 And so people built temples on those high places. 00:07:03.860 --> 00:07:08.040 And they went to worship on those mountains. 00:07:08.540 --> 00:07:11.920 To worship the gods of Egypt and Canaan and Assyria. 00:07:12.620 --> 00:07:14.480 The gods of Persia and Babylon. 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:16.660 The gods of China and India. 00:07:16.780 --> 00:07:18.660 The gods of Greece and Rome. 00:07:19.699 --> 00:07:24.300 The world was absolutely full of these mountains with their temples and with their gods. 00:07:24.460 --> 00:07:29.100 And Isaiah sees this vision that a day is coming when the dwelling of Yahweh, 00:07:29.180 --> 00:07:32.120 the presence of Yahweh himself will be lifted up. 00:07:32.120 --> 00:07:40.360 But when the Messiah comes, the place where people can gain access to the presence of the living God will be exalted. 00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:45.439 And implicit in that is that all the other mountains, all the other temples, 00:07:45.639 --> 00:07:49.420 all the other homes of the gods in that day will be downgraded. 00:07:49.780 --> 00:07:51.480 Will be humiliated. 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:56.000 They'll be shown to be false deities and dumb idols. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:01.240 And many peoples, it says, of all the nations will forsake their gods. 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:04.759 And they'll come streaming to Mount Zion. 00:08:05.860 --> 00:08:13.759 And this supernatural triumph of the Lord over all the other gods will result in a great movement of the nations. 00:08:14.759 --> 00:08:24.180 Kids, have you ever seen a stream or a river that's flowing upward to the summit of the mountain? 00:08:24.180 --> 00:08:27.139 No, you've never seen that. 00:08:27.220 --> 00:08:29.340 But Isaiah is seeing that. 00:08:30.139 --> 00:08:37.000 That the nations from the Middle East and from Africa and Asia and Europe and the Americas. 00:08:38.139 --> 00:08:43.519 Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, atheists, secular people. 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:45.699 It's like they're a stream. 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:53.919 They're a river that is seeing the supernatural exaltation of the dwelling place and the presence of Yahweh. 00:08:54.120 --> 00:09:00.139 And it's as if the world's strongest magnet is pulling all of us up and all of us in. 00:09:01.699 --> 00:09:08.460 And Isaiah sees this international universal upflow of the peoples that are streaming up this mountain. 00:09:08.460 --> 00:09:11.220 And why are they doing that? 00:09:11.300 --> 00:09:13.740 Why are they seeking the presence of the Lord? 00:09:15.259 --> 00:09:17.480 Verse 3 says that many peoples will come and say, 00:09:17.820 --> 00:09:21.560 Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. 00:09:22.060 --> 00:09:25.580 He will teach us his ways so that we may walk in his paths. 00:09:26.379 --> 00:09:29.960 The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:35.800 Isaiah can not only see this vision, he can hear the peoples talking. 00:09:35.799 --> 00:09:39.919 And they're not saying to one another, let's go on vacation. 00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:41.479 Let's go on a sightseeing trip. 00:09:42.439 --> 00:09:46.219 They're saying to one another, let's go on a spiritual pilgrimage. 00:09:47.599 --> 00:09:53.319 Let's go on this purposeful journey to this holy place, to the house of the God of Jacob. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:10:00.139 And what they're saying among themselves is, you know, there must be more to life than what we currently have. 00:10:00.139 --> 00:10:06.699 There must be something here at the center of the world, something here at the house of the God of Israel, 00:10:06.939 --> 00:10:10.960 that our mountains and our temples and our gods do not have. 00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:15.699 The nations in this moment are being converted. 00:10:17.220 --> 00:10:20.319 They're being converted to the one true God, 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:24.539 who created the massive universe that we live in, 00:10:24.620 --> 00:10:27.379 who created the marvelous bodies that we inhabit. 00:10:27.379 --> 00:10:34.259 The one true God who made all the physical and mathematical and scientific laws that hold everything together. 00:10:35.299 --> 00:10:40.860 The God who made all the spiritual and relational and moral laws that make life meaningful. 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:44.600 And what do the people say? 00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:47.259 They say, when we get to the new Jerusalem, 00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:50.240 when we get to Mount Zion, 00:10:51.080 --> 00:10:57.559 we will receive from the Lord himself the teaching of his Torah, his law. 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:02.639 We will receive the teaching from the Lord himself from his prophetic word. 00:11:03.860 --> 00:11:07.919 He will give us his own self-revelation of the truth. 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:11.000 The truest truth of the universe. 00:11:11.179 --> 00:11:12.299 Truth with a capital T. 00:11:12.299 --> 00:11:16.159 And when we receive that truth, 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:18.259 we'll get a new kind of life. 00:11:19.379 --> 00:11:21.279 And so we will trust in his ways, 00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:23.519 and we will walk in his paths. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:27.719 See, Isaiah is giving us a vision of the conversion 00:11:27.719 --> 00:11:31.299 of many peoples from all the nations. 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:34.139 And these are people who had been 00:11:34.139 --> 00:11:36.639 inveterate enemies of the kingdom of God. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:39.860 These are people who had been bitterly antagonistic 00:11:39.860 --> 00:11:42.100 and diametrically opposed to Yahweh. 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:45.559 And their conversion means that 00:11:45.559 --> 00:11:48.360 these pagan idol worshipers 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:50.819 are renouncing their gods, 00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:54.000 and they're beginning to worship the Lord. 00:11:55.419 --> 00:11:56.939 They've been reconciled to him. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:59.340 They've been brought into harmony with him. 00:11:59.439 --> 00:12:01.159 They're acknowledging his sovereignty 00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:02.319 and his authority 00:12:02.319 --> 00:12:03.779 and his power 00:12:03.779 --> 00:12:05.799 in their lives and in the world. 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:08.259 And what they're saying is that 00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:09.580 we want to be part 00:12:09.580 --> 00:12:11.720 of God's covenant people. 00:12:11.860 --> 00:12:14.059 We want to enjoy the new Jerusalem. 00:12:15.059 --> 00:12:17.080 We want to learn and live 00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:18.340 according to God's word. 00:12:19.379 --> 00:12:21.480 We want to conduct ourselves 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:23.580 according to the Lord's character. 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:24.559 We want to walk 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:29.139 in his specific spiritual and moral paths 00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:29.879 for his people. 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:32.000 And notice that 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:34.720 there's no hint of reluctance 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:36.220 or resistance. 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:39.679 None of them are half-hearted 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:41.159 or indifferent. 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:44.460 But all of them are encouraging one another 00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:46.500 and exhorting each other 00:12:46.500 --> 00:12:48.519 in their astonishment 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:51.100 at who Yahweh is 00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:53.019 and what Yahweh has done. 00:12:53.080 --> 00:12:53.620 And they've said, 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:54.439 come, 00:12:55.139 --> 00:12:56.439 let's go to the Lord 00:12:56.439 --> 00:12:58.759 and let's go get his teaching. 00:12:58.759 --> 00:13:02.220 The conversion of the nations 00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:06.019 is this great reversal of history 00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:09.279 that's beyond any kind of human engineering 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:11.220 or human manipulation. 00:13:12.679 --> 00:13:14.559 And what do we see is the fruit 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:17.519 that's flowing out of their conversions. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:19.139 How do we know that their hearts 00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:20.319 have been converted 00:13:20.319 --> 00:13:21.500 and transformed? 00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:23.820 Well, Isaiah says 00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:24.919 they have a new longing 00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:26.019 for peace. 00:13:27.460 --> 00:13:28.559 They have a new longing 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:29.440 for shalom. 00:13:30.700 --> 00:13:31.879 They have a new longing 00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:33.379 for wholeness 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:34.240 and well-being 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:35.759 and human flourishing. 00:13:36.940 --> 00:13:38.399 And they not only have a longing 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:38.899 for peace, 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:40.480 but they begin to practice peace. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:41.440 They begin to live 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:42.019 as peacemakers. 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:44.100 Verse 4 says, 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:45.620 He will judge between the nations 00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:46.899 and will settle disputes 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:47.799 for many peoples. 00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:49.460 They will beat their swords 00:13:49.460 --> 00:13:50.299 into plowshares 00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:51.039 and their spears 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:51.919 into pruning hooks. 00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:53.559 Nation will not take up 00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:54.759 sword against nation 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:56.179 nor will they train for war 00:13:56.179 --> 00:13:57.059 anymore. 00:13:59.340 --> 00:14:00.600 Notice that this peace 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:01.600 does not come about 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:02.919 through the United Nations. 00:14:04.439 --> 00:14:05.779 It doesn't come about 00:14:05.779 --> 00:14:08.139 through diplomatic 00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:10.299 unilateral disarmament. 00:14:10.299 --> 00:14:13.399 It doesn't come about, 00:14:13.479 --> 00:14:14.539 this peace doesn't happen 00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:16.139 because the nations realize 00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:19.000 their mutually assured destruction 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:21.259 so that out of pure 00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:22.659 political self-interest 00:14:22.659 --> 00:14:24.939 they sign a treaty 00:14:24.939 --> 00:14:26.199 on the non-proliferation 00:14:26.199 --> 00:14:27.359 of nuclear weapons. 00:14:28.979 --> 00:14:29.359 No. 00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:31.759 Peace happens 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:33.899 because they now 00:14:33.899 --> 00:14:35.179 know the Lord. 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:37.740 Peace happens 00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:38.659 because they're now 00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:39.679 in a right relationship 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:41.379 with the living God. 00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:43.959 Peace happens 00:14:43.959 --> 00:14:45.719 because they've been 00:14:45.719 --> 00:14:46.319 converted 00:14:46.319 --> 00:14:47.759 and their hearts 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.539 are transformed. 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:50.859 Peace happens 00:14:50.859 --> 00:14:51.859 because having been 00:14:51.859 --> 00:14:53.239 reconciled to the Lord 00:14:53.239 --> 00:14:55.500 they want to be reconciled 00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:56.539 with each other. 00:14:58.099 --> 00:14:59.459 Peace is happening 00:14:59.459 --> 00:15:00.639 here friends 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:02.639 because 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:04.500 as a first fruits 00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:07.259 of their conversion 00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:09.100 they're people 00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:09.700 of peace 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:11.179 and they want 00:15:11.179 --> 00:15:11.600 to be 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:12.639 peacemakers. 00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:14.779 And two things 00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:15.460 are happening here 00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:16.000 in verse 4. 00:15:16.139 --> 00:15:16.600 First of all 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:16.879 it says 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:17.639 he will judge 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:18.659 the Lord will judge 00:15:18.659 --> 00:15:19.580 between the nations 00:15:19.580 --> 00:15:20.539 and will settle 00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:21.139 disputes 00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:22.480 for many peoples. 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:23.919 You see 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:24.679 what's been happening 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:25.179 is that 00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:26.220 this nation 00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:27.220 has been coveting 00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:28.120 and exploiting 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:29.179 that nation. 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:30.940 And 00:15:30.940 --> 00:15:32.180 this people 00:15:32.180 --> 00:15:33.240 has historical 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:34.420 resentments 00:15:34.420 --> 00:15:35.120 because of 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:36.440 that people's 00:15:36.440 --> 00:15:37.840 historical injustices. 00:15:39.280 --> 00:15:39.840 And 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:41.020 this oppressor 00:15:41.020 --> 00:15:41.860 has been 00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:43.120 taking advantage 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.580 and victimizing 00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:46.680 this victim 00:15:46.680 --> 00:15:47.400 over here 00:15:47.400 --> 00:15:48.920 by its strength. 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:48.959 death. 00:15:50.939 --> 00:15:51.240 And so 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:51.779 by his 00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:52.599 authoritative 00:15:52.599 --> 00:15:53.959 and prophetic 00:15:53.959 --> 00:15:54.539 word 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:56.299 the Lord 00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:57.559 diplomatically 00:15:57.559 --> 00:15:58.299 intervenes. 00:15:58.419 --> 00:15:58.779 The Lord 00:15:58.779 --> 00:16:00.139 begins to mediate. 00:16:00.299 --> 00:16:00.879 He begins to 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.599 arbitrate 00:16:01.599 --> 00:16:02.860 among the peoples 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:03.579 to judge 00:16:03.579 --> 00:16:04.159 and settle 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:05.360 their disputes. 00:16:06.219 --> 00:16:07.579 To practice 00:16:07.579 --> 00:16:08.599 restorative 00:16:08.599 --> 00:16:09.500 justice 00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:10.439 by putting 00:16:10.439 --> 00:16:11.740 wrongs right. 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:13.639 By repairing 00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:15.120 all the 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:16.139 relational harm. 00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:17.759 And by 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:18.279 restoring 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:19.019 broken 00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:20.039 relationships 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:20.539 and the 00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:20.939 fruit 00:16:20.939 --> 00:16:21.759 of 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:22.019 the 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:22.500 conversion 00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:22.659 of 00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:22.779 the 00:16:22.779 --> 00:16:23.159 nations 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:23.399 is 00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:24.159 they 00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:24.960 gladly 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:26.259 participate. 00:16:26.620 --> 00:16:27.100 They say 00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:28.200 yes Lord 00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:28.639 we want 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:28.980 what you 00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:29.340 want. 00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:31.799 And the 00:16:31.799 --> 00:16:32.220 second thing 00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:32.700 that's happening 00:16:32.700 --> 00:16:33.259 here is it 00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:33.620 says they 00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:34.139 will beat 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:35.000 their swords 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:35.840 into plowshares 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:36.179 and their 00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:36.539 spears 00:16:36.539 --> 00:16:37.039 into pruning 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:37.399 hooks. 00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:38.139 Nation 00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:38.500 will not 00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:38.860 take up 00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.220 sword 00:16:39.220 --> 00:16:39.480 against 00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:39.939 nation 00:16:39.939 --> 00:16:41.080 nor will 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:41.480 they train 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:42.100 for war 00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:43.100 anymore. 00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:43.980 The result 00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:45.120 of their 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:45.700 conversion 00:16:45.700 --> 00:16:47.319 is that 00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:47.920 disagreement 00:16:47.920 --> 00:16:48.440 is no 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:48.720 longer 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.100 settled 00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:49.400 through 00:16:49.400 --> 00:16:50.140 conflict. 00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:52.740 And war 00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:54.000 therefore has 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:54.400 no more 00:16:54.400 --> 00:16:55.220 usefulness 00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:57.720 because the 00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:58.200 nations 00:16:58.200 --> 00:16:59.720 trust the 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:00.420 Lord and 00:17:00.420 --> 00:17:00.920 they trust 00:17:00.920 --> 00:17:01.480 each other. 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:03.980 And the 00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:04.620 Lord shows 00:17:04.620 --> 00:17:05.140 them how to 00:17:05.140 --> 00:17:05.600 take their 00:17:05.600 --> 00:17:06.200 swords and 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:07.019 their spears 00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:08.400 and to 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:08.940 turn them 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:09.500 into 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:10.559 plowshares 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:11.380 and pruning 00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:11.740 hooks. 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:13.600 The Lord 00:17:13.600 --> 00:17:14.120 shows them 00:17:14.120 --> 00:17:14.559 how to take 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:15.179 their weapons 00:17:15.179 --> 00:17:15.799 of war 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:16.299 and their 00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:17.079 military 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:17.779 arsenals 00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:18.220 that bring 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:18.700 death 00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:20.139 and to 00:17:20.139 --> 00:17:20.659 turn them 00:17:20.659 --> 00:17:21.359 instead 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:23.460 into 00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:24.940 instruments 00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:25.519 of gardening 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.799 that bring 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:27.240 life. 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:31.200 And Berkeley 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:31.759 people should 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.359 love this. 00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:34.879 The reason 00:17:34.879 --> 00:17:35.299 they love 00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:36.960 it or 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:37.319 they should 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:37.799 love it 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:38.500 is manifold 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:38.619 ! 00:17:38.619 --> 00:17:39.720 But part of 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:40.039 the reason 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:40.399 they should 00:17:40.399 --> 00:17:40.779 love it 00:17:40.779 --> 00:17:41.339 is because 00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:42.059 this is a 00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:42.599 massive 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:43.740 recycling 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:44.319 project. 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:46.559 They're not 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:47.160 throwing their 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:48.079 instruments of 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:48.680 war away, 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:50.680 they're 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:51.500 recycling them 00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:52.319 into instruments 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:53.039 of peace. 00:17:54.859 --> 00:17:55.579 A new 00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:56.799 world order 00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.319 is coming 00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:59.339 when nations 00:17:59.339 --> 00:18:00.339 will not only 00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:01.000 forsake the 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:01.539 means and 00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.059 the practice 00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:02.740 of war but 00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:03.420 they'll renounce 00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:04.079 the mentality 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:04.599 of war. 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:05.960 They'll no 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:06.599 longer train 00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:07.200 for war 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:08.220 or learn 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:09.680 war anymore. 00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:11.559 And what 00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:11.980 will they be 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:12.880 doing instead? 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:14.339 Well they'll 00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:15.140 be gardening. 00:18:16.620 --> 00:18:17.220 They'll be 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.420 growing food 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:19.019 and flowers. 00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:20.819 They'll be 00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:21.500 cultivating 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:23.200 nourishment 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:24.460 and beauty 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.019 for one 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:25.339 another. 00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:27.640 They'll no 00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:28.220 longer be 00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:29.140 violently at 00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:29.640 each other's 00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:30.559 throats in 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:31.420 covetousness 00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:32.400 and conflict 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.000 but now they'll 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:33.680 be peacefully 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:34.200 gardening 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:35.440 together in 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:35.940 a world of 00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:36.980 flourishing and 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:37.460 fruitfulness. 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:38.160 And why will 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:38.440 they be 00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:38.740 gardening? 00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:39.740 Because God 00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:40.279 made us for 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:40.700 the Garden 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.160 of Eden 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:43.500 and his 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.080 plan is to 00:18:44.080 --> 00:18:44.340 get us 00:18:44.340 --> 00:18:45.000 back there 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:47.540 to make us 00:18:47.540 --> 00:18:48.080 right with 00:18:48.080 --> 00:18:48.720 him, to make 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:49.620 us reconciled 00:18:49.620 --> 00:18:49.980 with each 00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:51.680 other, to 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:52.420 remove that 00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:53.400 curse, that 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:54.340 ancient curse, 00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:56.500 to end the 00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:56.940 serpent's 00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:57.420 oppressive 00:18:57.420 --> 00:18:58.740 dominion over 00:18:58.740 --> 00:19:00.620 us and to 00:19:00.620 --> 00:19:01.279 put us back 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:02.120 into an ideal 00:19:02.120 --> 00:19:03.120 environment for 00:19:03.120 --> 00:19:03.980 our wholeness 00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:04.440 and our 00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:05.660 well-being and 00:19:05.660 --> 00:19:06.400 our shalom. 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:09.800 friends, the 00:19:09.800 --> 00:19:10.220 vision of 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:10.840 Isaiah is that 00:19:10.840 --> 00:19:11.140 when the 00:19:11.140 --> 00:19:11.580 kingdom of 00:19:11.580 --> 00:19:12.400 God finally 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.680 comes on the 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:14.180 earth as it 00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:14.800 is in heaven, 00:19:15.580 --> 00:19:16.259 sin and 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:16.759 death and 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.880 war will end 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:19.180 and peace and 00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:19.940 security and 00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:21.180 prosperity will 00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:22.060 reign and who 00:19:22.060 --> 00:19:23.300 doesn't long for 00:19:23.300 --> 00:19:23.620 that? 00:19:25.580 --> 00:19:26.060 And how does 00:19:26.060 --> 00:19:26.700 this apply to 00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.380 our lives this 00:19:27.380 --> 00:19:27.660 advent? 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:28.420 Well, first of 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:30.300 all, in the 00:19:30.300 --> 00:19:31.259 first advent, the 00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:32.140 first coming, when 00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:34.080 God came in the 00:19:34.080 --> 00:19:35.060 flesh as the 00:19:35.060 --> 00:19:36.160 baby of Bethlehem, 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:38.180 and that prince 00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:39.080 of peace grew 00:19:39.080 --> 00:19:40.140 up and Jesus 00:19:40.140 --> 00:19:41.500 marched into 00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:43.400 Jerusalem, he 00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:44.160 said, destroy 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:45.040 this temple and 00:19:45.040 --> 00:19:45.720 I will raise it 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:46.340 up again in 00:19:46.340 --> 00:19:47.040 three days. 00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:49.100 And he was 00:19:49.100 --> 00:19:49.560 speaking of 00:19:49.560 --> 00:19:50.300 himself, he was 00:19:50.300 --> 00:19:50.840 speaking of his 00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:51.180 body. 00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:53.080 He said, I 00:19:53.080 --> 00:19:54.280 will be, in 00:19:54.280 --> 00:19:55.100 that last day, I 00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:55.940 will be raised 00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:56.660 up, I will be 00:19:56.660 --> 00:19:58.519 exalted, I will 00:19:58.519 --> 00:19:59.160 be put in the 00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:00.780 highest possible 00:20:00.780 --> 00:20:01.320 place. 00:20:02.840 --> 00:20:03.420 And elsewhere in 00:20:03.420 --> 00:20:04.120 the gospel, Jesus 00:20:04.120 --> 00:20:04.800 says, when I'm 00:20:04.800 --> 00:20:06.380 lifted up, I 00:20:06.380 --> 00:20:07.080 will draw all 00:20:07.080 --> 00:20:08.840 people, Jew 00:20:08.840 --> 00:20:10.360 plus Gentile, all 00:20:10.360 --> 00:20:11.660 the nations to 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:13.760 myself, and all 00:20:13.760 --> 00:20:14.440 the peoples will 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:15.380 have access to the 00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:16.060 presence of the 00:20:16.060 --> 00:20:17.260 living God through 00:20:17.260 --> 00:20:17.700 me. 00:20:19.080 --> 00:20:20.240 And I will begin to 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.300 teach them my 00:20:21.300 --> 00:20:23.340 ways so that they 00:20:23.340 --> 00:20:24.540 can walk in my 00:20:24.540 --> 00:20:24.980 paths. 00:20:26.760 --> 00:20:27.300 And friends, if 00:20:27.300 --> 00:20:27.940 you're here today 00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:28.520 and you want to be 00:20:28.520 --> 00:20:29.340 part of the 00:20:29.340 --> 00:20:30.520 fulfillment of this 00:20:30.520 --> 00:20:33.320 prophecy, then you 00:20:33.320 --> 00:20:33.840 need to go to 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:34.139 Jesus. 00:20:35.699 --> 00:20:36.559 You need to go to 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:37.720 that resurrected and 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:39.000 exalted Prince of 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:41.299 Peace and ask him 00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:43.059 to teach you his 00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:45.240 way of grace so 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:46.519 that you can walk in 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:48.199 his path of peace. 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.539 The second application 00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:52.099 is this, that the 00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:53.119 way we are to live 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:54.079 between the first 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:55.559 advent and the 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:57.899 second advent, the 00:20:57.899 --> 00:20:58.599 first coming of 00:20:58.599 --> 00:20:59.419 Jesus and the second 00:20:59.419 --> 00:21:01.000 coming of Jesus is 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:02.159 found in verse 5. 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:04.480 Come, descendants of 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:06.000 Jacob, come, people 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.640 of God, let us walk 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:08.400 in the light of the 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:08.680 Lord. 00:21:11.860 --> 00:21:13.279 The nations might be 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:14.220 in confusion, the 00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:15.300 nations might be in 00:21:15.300 --> 00:21:17.460 conflict, but the 00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:18.240 church says we're 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:19.100 going to live according 00:21:19.100 --> 00:21:20.480 to this vision of 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:20.940 peace. 00:21:22.040 --> 00:21:22.860 We're going to let 00:21:22.860 --> 00:21:23.820 this vision of peace 00:21:23.820 --> 00:21:26.120 steal our nerves and 00:21:26.120 --> 00:21:27.259 comfort our sorrows. 00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:29.240 We are going to 00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:30.380 pledge ourselves to 00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:31.800 walk in the light of 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.539 God's peace. 00:21:32.659 --> 00:21:33.039 We're going to be 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.940 people of peace. 00:21:34.419 --> 00:21:35.139 We're going to agree 00:21:35.139 --> 00:21:35.700 with Jesus. 00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:36.480 Blessed are the 00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:37.099 peacemakers. 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:38.559 We're going to say 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.740 amen to the Apostle 00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.859 Paul that we're going 00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:41.720 to make every effort 00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.879 to keep the unity of 00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.700 the Spirit through the 00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:45.839 bond of peace because 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:47.639 we want to be signposts 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:50.980 that God's reign and 00:21:50.980 --> 00:21:52.240 God's universal peace 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.819 has come in Jesus. 00:21:55.859 --> 00:21:56.859 And indeed that peace 00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:58.339 is coming finally and 00:21:58.339 --> 00:21:59.379 fully when he returns 00:21:59.380 --> 00:22:00.760 in glory. 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:04.160 So that's the longing 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:04.920 for peace. 00:22:06.360 --> 00:22:07.200 But I also want to 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:08.080 talk not just about the 00:22:08.080 --> 00:22:09.120 longing for peace but 00:22:09.120 --> 00:22:09.720 also about the 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:11.920 necessity of justice. 00:22:12.860 --> 00:22:13.880 The necessity of 00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:14.340 justice. 00:22:17.020 --> 00:22:18.040 Isaiah says when this 00:22:18.040 --> 00:22:19.540 new Jerusalem comes it 00:22:19.540 --> 00:22:20.740 will be the center of 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:23.240 global peace and 00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:24.280 worldwide shalom. 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:26.779 the Lord of peace will 00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:28.480 reign over all the 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:30.940 nations there and the 00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:32.399 passion for war that we 00:22:32.399 --> 00:22:33.759 all seem to have will be 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:35.639 subdued by a greater 00:22:35.639 --> 00:22:36.720 passion, a passion for 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:39.339 worship, a passion to 00:22:39.339 --> 00:22:41.399 discover the ways of the 00:22:41.399 --> 00:22:42.599 Lord, a passion to 00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:45.339 practice and walk on his 00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:46.299 paths of peace. 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.619 That will be our passion. 00:22:49.180 --> 00:22:50.539 Don't you long for this 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.359 world of peace? 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:56.299 Where the SAF and the 00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:58.079 RSF in Sudan, 00:22:59.439 --> 00:23:02.240 where Israel and Hamas, 00:23:04.159 --> 00:23:06.059 where Russia and Ukraine, 00:23:06.199 --> 00:23:07.639 where China and Taiwan, 00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:11.000 where Republicans and 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:14.240 Democrats live together 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:18.139 and enjoy each other in 00:23:18.139 --> 00:23:18.539 peace? 00:23:18.539 --> 00:23:21.420 Wouldn't it be amazing 00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.619 if we woke up tomorrow 00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:23.879 and we read that headline 00:23:23.879 --> 00:23:25.079 that said in the 00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:27.359 newspaper, nations beat 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:28.980 death-dealing military 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:30.519 weapons into life-giving 00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.700 gardening tools? 00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:32.639 Wouldn't that be a great 00:23:32.639 --> 00:23:34.680 headline to read tomorrow? 00:23:34.899 --> 00:23:35.599 It'd be incredible. 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:38.500 But friends, the 00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.920 supernatural peace that 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:41.319 we're longing for is not 00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:43.079 going to come without 00:23:43.079 --> 00:23:46.519 divine justice and divine 00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.480 judgment. 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:49.980 When you go out to 00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:51.700 modern protests, you hear 00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:53.220 people walking in the 00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:54.119 streets and they'll say 00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:54.920 this line, they'll say, 00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:56.759 no justice, no peace. 00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:57.599 Anybody heard that? 00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:00.059 No justice, no peace. 00:24:00.159 --> 00:24:01.259 No justice, no peace. 00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:02.440 And whether people realize 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.940 it or not, they're quoting 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:05.460 Dr. Martin Luther King 00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:05.759 Jr. 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:08.980 Dr. King said, peace is not 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:10.359 the absence of tension or 00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:10.779 conflict. 00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:12.339 Peace is the presence of 00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:12.879 justice. 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:15.099 And where did Dr. King get 00:24:15.099 --> 00:24:15.299 that? 00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:16.259 He got that from the 00:24:16.259 --> 00:24:17.019 prophet Isaiah. 00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:20.160 The prophet Isaiah is 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:21.539 saying that unless the 00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:23.379 injustices of human sin, 00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:25.539 unless the injustices of 00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:27.059 our self-centeredness are 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:28.200 dealt with, we're going to 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:29.279 have a false peace. 00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:30.980 We're going to have a 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:31.599 hollow peace. 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:32.139 We're going to have a 00:24:32.139 --> 00:24:33.500 shallow peace. 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:36.579 No, the basis of a real 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:38.440 peace, a durable peace, a 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:41.420 worldwide lasting peace is 00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:43.339 Yahweh's divine justice. 00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:46.959 And this is not a standard of 00:24:46.959 --> 00:24:48.459 human justice that comes from 00:24:48.459 --> 00:24:50.919 inside of our world and 00:24:50.919 --> 00:24:52.939 emerges organically from the 00:24:52.939 --> 00:24:53.619 bottom up. 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.299 No, it's a standard of 00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:57.980 divine justice that comes 00:24:57.980 --> 00:25:00.399 from outside of our world and 00:25:00.399 --> 00:25:02.879 that sits over us and above us 00:25:02.879 --> 00:25:04.859 authoritatively and comes into 00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:07.220 our lives from the top down. 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:10.400 And this is what verse 4 is all 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:10.620 about. 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:12.819 Yahweh will judge between the 00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.380 nations. 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:17.140 The one true creator God is the 00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:18.860 only one really qualified to be 00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:20.059 the judge of all that he's 00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:20.759 created. 00:25:22.380 --> 00:25:23.539 And Isaiah is saying that the 00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:25.120 only way we'll experience his 00:25:25.120 --> 00:25:27.220 peace is through his cosmic 00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:28.100 justice. 00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:30.360 And that's what verses 6 to 22 00:25:30.360 --> 00:25:31.700 are all about. 00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:34.819 If you just turn there for a 00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:37.059 second, four times in this 00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:39.139 section, Isaiah says that in 00:25:39.139 --> 00:25:41.740 that day, in that day, in that 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:43.359 day, in that day, he's talking 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:46.059 about the day of the Lord when 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:48.759 humans will be humbled and the 00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:50.419 Lord will be exalted. 00:25:51.899 --> 00:25:54.539 And what he's saying is that this 00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:56.220 day needs to happen because there 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:58.079 are serious injustices that need 00:25:58.079 --> 00:26:00.679 to be dealt with and there are 00:26:00.679 --> 00:26:02.279 terrible wrongs that need to be 00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.639 put right. 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:08.000 And it's not only injustices and 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:11.899 wrongs that are out there, out 00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:13.879 there with all those bad people. 00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:20.700 No, it's the line between good 00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:22.539 and evil runs not just between us 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:24.399 good humans in here and those bad 00:26:24.399 --> 00:26:25.339 humans over there. 00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:28.539 The line between good and evil runs 00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:29.779 right through the middle of every 00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:30.559 one of our hearts. 00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:34.500 And Isaiah 2 says the line between 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.920 good and evil actually runs right 00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:37.220 through the house of Jacob, right 00:26:37.220 --> 00:26:38.680 through the people of God. 00:26:40.879 --> 00:26:42.460 If the house of Jacob is going to 00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:44.220 be this place where the nations can 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:46.160 come and worship the Lord and learn 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:49.839 His word and His ways and be in 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:52.339 fellowship with the living God, then 00:26:52.339 --> 00:26:54.099 the house of Jacob, the people of 00:26:54.099 --> 00:26:55.379 God, have to come under His 00:26:55.379 --> 00:26:55.819 scrutiny. 00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:59.220 And so Isaiah says in verse 6, 00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:00.879 you've abandoned your people the 00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:01.639 house of Jacob. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:03.639 They're full of superstitions from 00:27:03.639 --> 00:27:04.059 the east. 00:27:04.179 --> 00:27:06.059 They practice divination like the 00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:07.919 Philistines and clasps their hands 00:27:07.919 --> 00:27:08.619 with pagans. 00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.859 Their land is full of silver and 00:27:10.859 --> 00:27:11.099 gold. 00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:12.519 There is no end of their treasures. 00:27:13.379 --> 00:27:14.500 Their land is full of horses. 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:16.299 There is no end of their chariots. 00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:18.299 Their land is full of idols. 00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.879 They bow down to the work of their 00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:21.899 hands, to what their fingers have 00:27:21.899 --> 00:27:22.299 made. 00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:25.559 Isaiah is saying, look, instead of 00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:28.720 trusting and clinging to and relying 00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:34.059 upon the Lord for your life, the 00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:36.799 people of God are adopting the 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:39.220 practices of the Babylonians in the 00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:40.519 east and the Philistines in the 00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:42.339 west, all the cultures around them. 00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:44.319 They're living like the people around 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:44.579 them. 00:27:46.399 --> 00:27:49.480 He says, instead of trusting in all 00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:51.319 the spiritual riches you have from 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:53.419 the Lord, the people of God are 00:27:53.419 --> 00:27:55.019 trusting in their material wealth, 00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:57.200 their silver and their gold for their 00:27:57.200 --> 00:27:57.740 security. 00:27:59.879 --> 00:28:01.679 The prophet says, instead of being 00:28:01.679 --> 00:28:03.359 peacemakers like God is a 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:06.059 peacemaker, the people of God are 00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:07.679 piling up horses and they're piling 00:28:07.679 --> 00:28:09.240 up chariots and they're piling up 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:11.419 all these weapons for war. 00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:15.980 They're being conformed to the world. 00:28:17.800 --> 00:28:19.759 He says, look, instead of bowing down 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:22.200 to the one true creator God, they're 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:24.320 bowing down to created things. 00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:26.779 And instead of worshiping their maker, 00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:28.519 they're worshiping the things that you 00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:29.779 can make with your hands. 00:28:32.660 --> 00:28:33.720 Don't we do that? 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:38.360 Don't we look at finite temporal things 00:28:38.360 --> 00:28:42.360 like money or sex or power? 00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:47.559 Don't we look at our work or our 00:28:47.559 --> 00:28:52.039 retirement or our spouse or our kids or 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:54.440 whatever and we look at these finite 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:56.480 temporal things and we say to them, 00:28:56.600 --> 00:28:58.019 please fill me with infinity. 00:28:58.019 --> 00:29:01.400 Please fill me with eternity. 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:05.220 Please give me that sense of 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:07.240 transcendence that my heart cannot live 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:07.619 without. 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:11.180 And of course, they can't do it. 00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:13.440 None of these things can do it. 00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:17.500 You know, the first commandment that 00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:19.039 God gave his people is you shall have 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:21.000 no other gods before me. 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:25.500 You need to love me with all of your 00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:25.839 heart. 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:29.959 And the people of God are breaking that 00:29:29.959 --> 00:29:31.639 command all the time. 00:29:33.159 --> 00:29:35.019 In fact, Isaiah says, you know, 00:29:35.099 --> 00:29:36.959 murder's wrong, adultery's wrong, 00:29:37.179 --> 00:29:39.539 stealing's wrong, but you know the 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:41.179 worst of all injustices, you know the 00:29:41.179 --> 00:29:45.019 most outrageous of all wrongs, is that 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:47.259 in your arrogance and in your pride, 00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:49.919 you've abandoned God. 00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:54.839 Isaiah's vision of supernatural peace 00:29:54.839 --> 00:29:58.639 peace is not happening because of the 00:29:58.639 --> 00:30:00.279 injustice of human pride. 00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:04.619 Humanity's pride and God's peace are 00:30:04.619 --> 00:30:05.500 incompatible. 00:30:06.939 --> 00:30:10.159 The world cannot have God's peace until 00:30:10.159 --> 00:30:13.099 he decisively deals with our pride. 00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:16.240 Verse 9 says, 00:30:16.419 --> 00:30:18.699 So people will be brought low, 00:30:19.419 --> 00:30:20.779 and everyone humbled. 00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:22.019 Do not forgive them. 00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:24.559 Go into the rocks, hide in the ground 00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:26.059 from the fearful presence of the Lord 00:30:26.059 --> 00:30:27.399 and the splendor of his majesty. 00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:29.879 The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled, 00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:31.919 the human pride will be brought low, 00:30:32.119 --> 00:30:34.559 and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. 00:30:35.059 --> 00:30:37.000 The Lord Almighty has a day in store 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:38.419 for all the proud and lofty, 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.579 for all that is exalted, 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:41.639 and they will be humbled. 00:30:41.640 --> 00:30:47.320 All of us who are proud. 00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:51.540 All of us who are exalted. 00:30:52.820 --> 00:30:56.080 All of us who think of ourselves more highly 00:30:56.080 --> 00:30:56.759 than we ought. 00:30:58.259 --> 00:30:59.080 The prophet says, 00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:01.680 We're outside the circle of the Lord's forgiveness. 00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:03.180 In verse 9, it says, 00:31:03.300 --> 00:31:04.360 Do not forgive them. 00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:05.720 They don't deserve to be forgiven. 00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:07.839 And remember, 00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:10.600 he's not speaking about unbelieving people here. 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:12.160 He's talking about the house of Jacob. 00:31:13.860 --> 00:31:14.140 He says, 00:31:14.140 --> 00:31:16.320 If you do not repent of all the ways 00:31:16.320 --> 00:31:19.440 that you are pridefully ignoring the Lord 00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:20.740 and neglecting the Lord 00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.920 and abandoning the Lord 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:23.280 and breaking his commandments 00:31:23.280 --> 00:31:24.620 and failing to pray 00:31:24.620 --> 00:31:26.800 and dishonoring him with your lives, 00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:30.520 then the coming presence of the Lord, 00:31:30.600 --> 00:31:32.560 the coming splendor of his majesty 00:31:32.560 --> 00:31:35.080 is not going to cause you to feel joy. 00:31:35.420 --> 00:31:37.500 It's going to cause you to be afraid. 00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:42.279 He says in verse 17, 00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:44.900 The arrogance of all people will be brought low 00:31:44.900 --> 00:31:46.059 and human pride humbled. 00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:48.900 The Lord alone will be exalted in that day 00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:50.160 and idols will disappear. 00:31:50.440 --> 00:31:52.259 People will flee to caves and the rocks 00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:53.640 and to holes in the ground 00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:55.240 from the fearful presence of the Lord 00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:57.680 and the splendor of his majesty 00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:59.960 when he rises to shake the earth. 00:32:02.420 --> 00:32:05.099 Isaiah is saying that on this coming day of the Lord, 00:32:05.099 --> 00:32:07.599 this coming day of cosmic justice, 00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:12.919 Yahweh only has to rise ever so slightly 00:32:12.919 --> 00:32:15.279 from his heavenly throne 00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:18.980 and it will be enough to shake us to the core. 00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:22.939 That he will simply unveil himself 00:32:22.939 --> 00:32:24.379 as he's always been 00:32:24.379 --> 00:32:28.159 and he'll reveal to us the splendor 00:32:28.159 --> 00:32:29.839 of his royal majesty. 00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:31.759 We'll see his sovereign glory. 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:34.959 We will have this vision of his kingly goodness 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:37.299 and holiness and authority 00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:39.279 and he says that will be enough 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:41.079 to shake every one of us 00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:43.200 and to convict us 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:45.079 of the pride 00:32:45.079 --> 00:32:47.539 that makes peace impossible. 00:32:49.620 --> 00:32:51.460 And on that coming day, 00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:53.480 he says all human pride 00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:55.039 that's infected and devastated 00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:56.240 God's good creation 00:32:56.240 --> 00:32:57.640 will be exposed 00:32:57.640 --> 00:32:59.440 and it will be humbled. 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:03.279 And all the thoughts that I've ever had 00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:04.519 and that you've ever had 00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:07.399 of thinking of ourselves 00:33:07.399 --> 00:33:08.759 more highly than we ought 00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:10.740 will be revealed. 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:13.039 And all the times 00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:14.079 that we've dispensed 00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:15.799 with relying on the living God 00:33:15.799 --> 00:33:17.000 and we've exalted ourselves 00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:18.759 and lived as if we are God, 00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:20.539 that will be shown up 00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:22.079 for what it actually is. 00:33:23.639 --> 00:33:25.299 And all of our idols in that day, 00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:25.700 he says, 00:33:25.740 --> 00:33:27.259 will be seen as good for nothing 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.220 and thrown away 00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:29.259 as utterly 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:31.480 and completely useless. 00:33:33.379 --> 00:33:34.599 And two times here, 00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:34.960 he says, 00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:35.680 the Lord alone 00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:37.059 will be exalted in that day. 00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.240 On that day, 00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:41.900 the Lord will be exalted 00:33:41.900 --> 00:33:42.740 over everyone 00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:44.839 who has exalted themselves. 00:33:46.359 --> 00:33:47.559 And that's necessary. 00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:49.000 That's a necessary justice 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:49.859 because only 00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:51.400 when he's dealt with our pride 00:33:51.400 --> 00:33:53.660 can the world finally have peace. 00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:56.580 So how do we apply this 00:33:56.580 --> 00:33:58.400 to our lives this Advent? 00:33:58.600 --> 00:33:58.800 Well, 00:33:59.600 --> 00:34:00.900 this is a strange message, 00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:01.320 isn't it? 00:34:01.340 --> 00:34:03.120 Because this is supposed to be 00:34:03.120 --> 00:34:04.519 the half-happiest season of all. 00:34:06.360 --> 00:34:07.500 And Frank Sinatra 00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:08.960 sings to us, 00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:09.280 he says, 00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:10.940 have yourself a merry little Christmas, 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.840 let your heart be light, 00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:14.240 and from now on 00:34:14.240 --> 00:34:15.619 our troubles will be out of sight. 00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:18.519 But I encourage you 00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:20.099 to immerse yourself 00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:21.519 in a different kind of song 00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:23.240 this Advent. 00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:24.699 The songs of the prophet, 00:34:24.899 --> 00:34:25.379 Isaiah. 00:34:26.579 --> 00:34:27.599 Because Isaiah 00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:29.239 has this uncomfortably, 00:34:30.619 --> 00:34:33.779 you know, 00:34:33.839 --> 00:34:34.659 sort of awkward, 00:34:35.579 --> 00:34:37.619 unavoidable song 00:34:37.619 --> 00:34:40.199 that seems less concerned 00:34:40.199 --> 00:34:42.659 about our hearts feeling light 00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:43.859 and pretending 00:34:43.859 --> 00:34:45.039 that there are no troubles 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:46.139 in our world 00:34:46.139 --> 00:34:47.579 or in our lives. 00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:49.679 And he seems radically 00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:50.559 more concerned 00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:51.979 about God's judgment 00:34:51.980 --> 00:34:53.219 on all that's wrong 00:34:53.219 --> 00:34:53.880 and all that needs 00:34:53.880 --> 00:34:54.659 to be put right 00:34:54.659 --> 00:34:55.900 in his good creation 00:34:55.900 --> 00:34:57.559 starting right here 00:34:57.559 --> 00:34:59.619 with me 00:34:59.619 --> 00:35:01.519 and with you. 00:35:03.400 --> 00:35:04.500 Application number two, 00:35:04.579 --> 00:35:05.559 I want you to imagine 00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:07.780 the live, 00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:10.400 high-voltage power line 00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:11.880 that's coming into your house. 00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:14.800 Now, 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:15.519 if you, 00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:16.500 can you have that in your mind? 00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:17.780 live, 00:35:18.139 --> 00:35:19.300 high-voltage power line 00:35:19.300 --> 00:35:20.300 coming into your house, 00:35:21.039 --> 00:35:23.760 if you respect that power line 00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:25.199 and if you have a right relationship 00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:26.840 with that power line, 00:35:27.320 --> 00:35:29.239 it's going to be good for you. 00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:31.639 It's going to bring light. 00:35:31.900 --> 00:35:32.960 It's going to bring heat. 00:35:33.139 --> 00:35:34.460 It's going to bring all the things 00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:35.280 that you need 00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:36.840 in your house 00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:38.519 to flourish 00:35:38.519 --> 00:35:39.719 and be comfortable 00:35:39.719 --> 00:35:40.619 and be at home. 00:35:40.619 --> 00:35:43.199 But, 00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:45.000 if you disrespect 00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:46.519 that live, 00:35:46.619 --> 00:35:47.859 high-voltage power line 00:35:47.859 --> 00:35:49.719 and you're not 00:35:49.719 --> 00:35:50.659 in a right relationship 00:35:50.659 --> 00:35:51.359 with it 00:35:51.359 --> 00:35:53.539 and you try 00:35:53.539 --> 00:35:54.480 to grab hold of it 00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:55.079 in some way 00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:55.980 where you're not ready, 00:35:56.759 --> 00:35:57.539 what's going to happen 00:35:57.539 --> 00:35:58.039 to you? 00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:00.819 It's going to be 00:36:00.819 --> 00:36:01.440 a bad day. 00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:04.359 And the prophet, 00:36:05.839 --> 00:36:07.079 one of the commentators 00:36:07.079 --> 00:36:07.900 on the prophet Isaiah, 00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:08.239 he says, 00:36:08.239 --> 00:36:09.019 the day of the Lord 00:36:09.019 --> 00:36:09.779 is designed to be 00:36:09.779 --> 00:36:10.759 a time of glory, 00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:12.019 light, 00:36:12.319 --> 00:36:12.759 blessing, 00:36:12.979 --> 00:36:13.559 deliverance, 00:36:13.839 --> 00:36:14.219 safety, 00:36:14.759 --> 00:36:15.339 and renewal 00:36:15.339 --> 00:36:16.039 and believers 00:36:16.039 --> 00:36:17.019 look forward to it 00:36:17.019 --> 00:36:17.619 like Christians 00:36:17.619 --> 00:36:18.979 anticipate the second coming 00:36:18.979 --> 00:36:19.559 of Christ. 00:36:20.819 --> 00:36:22.299 But resistance to Yahweh 00:36:22.299 --> 00:36:23.239 means it becomes 00:36:23.239 --> 00:36:24.479 a time of humbling, 00:36:25.500 --> 00:36:25.839 darkness, 00:36:26.159 --> 00:36:26.639 calamity, 00:36:26.979 --> 00:36:27.419 defeat, 00:36:28.239 --> 00:36:28.779 insecurity, 00:36:29.159 --> 00:36:29.739 and loss 00:36:29.739 --> 00:36:31.259 as Christ's coming 00:36:31.259 --> 00:36:32.279 will be for those 00:36:32.279 --> 00:36:34.279 who have resisted Christ. 00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:36.579 So the question 00:36:36.579 --> 00:36:37.159 in Advent 00:36:37.159 --> 00:36:40.259 is what is your attitude 00:36:40.259 --> 00:36:42.879 and what is your posture 00:36:42.879 --> 00:36:45.339 and what kind of relationship 00:36:45.339 --> 00:36:46.179 do you have 00:36:46.179 --> 00:36:48.319 to that live, 00:36:49.399 --> 00:36:50.379 high voltage, 00:36:51.299 --> 00:36:52.219 powerful person 00:36:52.219 --> 00:36:54.059 who's coming again 00:36:54.059 --> 00:36:55.739 named Jesus? 00:36:55.739 --> 00:36:59.959 the third application 00:36:59.959 --> 00:37:02.379 is it's obvious 00:37:02.379 --> 00:37:03.659 that Jesus read Isaiah 00:37:03.659 --> 00:37:04.879 extremely closely. 00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:07.039 He quotes from it 00:37:07.039 --> 00:37:08.099 more than any other prophet 00:37:08.099 --> 00:37:09.399 and he says multiple times, 00:37:09.479 --> 00:37:09.759 he says, 00:37:10.139 --> 00:37:11.439 everyone who exalts himself 00:37:11.439 --> 00:37:12.479 will be humbled 00:37:12.479 --> 00:37:13.759 and he who humbles himself 00:37:13.759 --> 00:37:15.239 will be exalted. 00:37:15.339 --> 00:37:17.179 It's a beautiful summary 00:37:17.179 --> 00:37:18.099 of Isaiah 2. 00:37:19.699 --> 00:37:21.379 And we need to ask ourselves 00:37:21.379 --> 00:37:22.679 during the season of Advent, 00:37:22.679 --> 00:37:23.940 what are the ways 00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:25.299 in which I have 00:37:25.299 --> 00:37:26.940 exalted myself? 00:37:28.639 --> 00:37:30.019 Like in my relationships 00:37:30.019 --> 00:37:33.159 with the people I live with, 00:37:33.239 --> 00:37:34.639 with the people I work with, 00:37:34.699 --> 00:37:35.639 with the people in my neighborhood, 00:37:35.739 --> 00:37:38.139 how have I been exalting myself? 00:37:39.319 --> 00:37:40.279 Before my God, 00:37:40.339 --> 00:37:41.079 how have I been 00:37:41.079 --> 00:37:42.659 exalting myself? 00:37:42.659 --> 00:37:45.739 And the prophet Isaiah says 00:37:45.739 --> 00:37:46.359 in verse 22, 00:37:46.519 --> 00:37:48.219 stop trusting in human beings, 00:37:48.839 --> 00:37:49.759 including yourself, 00:37:49.839 --> 00:37:51.019 who have butter breath 00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:51.719 in their nostrils. 00:37:52.379 --> 00:37:54.799 Why hold them in esteem? 00:37:56.899 --> 00:37:58.679 Why do you have such trust 00:37:58.679 --> 00:37:59.779 and such esteem 00:37:59.779 --> 00:38:01.719 in yourself 00:38:01.719 --> 00:38:04.819 who's living on borrowed breath 00:38:04.819 --> 00:38:04.819 00:38:06.259 --> 00:38:07.399 And in other people 00:38:07.399 --> 00:38:08.460 who are here today 00:38:08.460 --> 00:38:09.279 and gone tomorrow, 00:38:09.280 --> 00:38:12.540 when we have 00:38:12.540 --> 00:38:13.580 the eternal Lord, 00:38:15.480 --> 00:38:17.060 faithful sustainer, 00:38:18.280 --> 00:38:19.460 gracious redeemer, 00:38:20.560 --> 00:38:21.840 just judge, 00:38:24.140 --> 00:38:25.220 everlasting king. 00:38:26.780 --> 00:38:27.360 Isaiah says, 00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:29.620 stop pridefully relying 00:38:29.620 --> 00:38:31.060 on human beings 00:38:31.060 --> 00:38:32.300 and start humbly relying 00:38:32.300 --> 00:38:33.580 on the Lord. 00:38:37.019 --> 00:38:37.600 All right, 00:38:37.640 --> 00:38:38.600 I've got one last thing. 00:38:39.760 --> 00:38:41.000 The longing for peace, 00:38:41.100 --> 00:38:42.180 the necessity of justice. 00:38:42.860 --> 00:38:43.980 My last point is 00:38:43.980 --> 00:38:45.500 the coming of the king of majesty. 00:38:45.620 --> 00:38:46.420 And what I want you to do 00:38:46.420 --> 00:38:47.840 is turn to your liturgy 00:38:47.840 --> 00:38:49.519 to page three. 00:38:51.420 --> 00:38:52.600 And I'm just going to walk you 00:38:52.600 --> 00:38:53.640 through the final song 00:38:53.640 --> 00:38:54.180 we're going to sing 00:38:54.180 --> 00:38:54.880 in this service 00:38:54.880 --> 00:38:57.220 by Charles Wesley. 00:38:57.380 --> 00:38:58.120 It's one of the greatest 00:38:58.120 --> 00:38:59.360 hymns of Advent. 00:38:59.560 --> 00:39:00.280 I don't think we've ever 00:39:00.280 --> 00:39:00.980 sung it here, 00:39:01.440 --> 00:39:02.620 but we're going to learn it today. 00:39:02.760 --> 00:39:04.080 It's one of the best 00:39:04.080 --> 00:39:06.080 hymns about the second coming 00:39:06.080 --> 00:39:06.540 of Jesus 00:39:06.540 --> 00:39:07.680 at the end of history. 00:39:07.679 --> 00:39:10.839 And what 00:39:10.839 --> 00:39:14.079 Charles Wesley expects us to do 00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:15.559 is to place ourselves 00:39:15.559 --> 00:39:16.460 within this hymn 00:39:16.460 --> 00:39:19.940 and to understand 00:39:19.940 --> 00:39:21.960 what Advent is all about. 00:39:22.059 --> 00:39:22.339 He says, 00:39:22.500 --> 00:39:24.960 as we sing this first verse, 00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:26.199 we imagine ourselves 00:39:26.199 --> 00:39:28.139 actually seeing 00:39:28.139 --> 00:39:28.980 the coming of the Lord, 00:39:29.059 --> 00:39:30.159 the arrival of the king 00:39:30.159 --> 00:39:31.199 with his procession 00:39:31.199 --> 00:39:32.119 of attendance. 00:39:32.119 --> 00:39:32.659 And it says, 00:39:32.859 --> 00:39:34.299 lo, he comes with clouds 00:39:34.299 --> 00:39:34.900 descending, 00:39:35.059 --> 00:39:36.739 once for favored sinners slain. 00:39:37.440 --> 00:39:38.839 Thousand, thousand saints 00:39:38.839 --> 00:39:39.279 attending, 00:39:39.460 --> 00:39:40.139 hail the king 00:39:40.139 --> 00:39:41.079 who comes again. 00:39:41.679 --> 00:39:42.880 Hallelujah, hallelujah. 00:39:43.139 --> 00:39:44.500 God appears on earth 00:39:44.500 --> 00:39:45.440 to reign. 00:39:46.940 --> 00:39:48.539 And in the second verse, 00:39:48.699 --> 00:39:49.679 this glorious vision 00:39:49.679 --> 00:39:50.960 of the second coming 00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:52.579 does not bring instant joy. 00:39:52.579 --> 00:39:55.579 As viewers recognize 00:39:56.219 --> 00:39:57.819 the judge to be Jesus, 00:39:59.119 --> 00:40:00.759 a fear seizes many souls 00:40:00.759 --> 00:40:03.219 and everyone who participated 00:40:03.219 --> 00:40:03.980 in his death 00:40:03.980 --> 00:40:06.059 begins wailing and mourning 00:40:06.059 --> 00:40:07.539 and distress and terror. 00:40:07.659 --> 00:40:07.900 It says, 00:40:08.159 --> 00:40:09.599 every eye shall now behold him 00:40:09.599 --> 00:40:11.159 robed in awesome majesty. 00:40:12.139 --> 00:40:12.980 Those who mocked, 00:40:13.039 --> 00:40:14.099 despised and sold him, 00:40:14.299 --> 00:40:15.179 pierced and nailed him 00:40:15.179 --> 00:40:15.779 to the tree. 00:40:15.960 --> 00:40:16.679 Deeply mourning, 00:40:16.880 --> 00:40:17.579 deeply mourning, 00:40:18.139 --> 00:40:18.819 deeply mourning 00:40:18.819 --> 00:40:20.519 shall the true Messiah see. 00:40:20.519 --> 00:40:24.360 Who are these mourning people? 00:40:25.759 --> 00:40:27.420 Well, we recognize ourselves, 00:40:27.539 --> 00:40:27.860 hopefully. 00:40:29.219 --> 00:40:30.659 These people are you and me. 00:40:30.759 --> 00:40:32.219 All of us sinners 00:40:32.219 --> 00:40:33.860 who mocked, 00:40:34.139 --> 00:40:35.639 despised and sold him, 00:40:35.739 --> 00:40:36.840 we do it every day. 00:40:38.300 --> 00:40:39.780 We do it constantly. 00:40:39.920 --> 00:40:40.480 In our pride, 00:40:40.579 --> 00:40:41.519 we disregard him 00:40:42.039 --> 00:40:43.519 and neglect him 00:40:43.519 --> 00:40:44.159 and ignore him. 00:40:44.239 --> 00:40:45.800 We treat the Prince of Peace 00:40:45.800 --> 00:40:47.340 as if he's unimportant. 00:40:47.340 --> 00:40:49.880 And it's our sin 00:40:49.880 --> 00:40:50.500 that nailed him 00:40:50.500 --> 00:40:52.039 to the tree. 00:40:52.180 --> 00:40:53.320 And we simply cannot 00:40:53.320 --> 00:40:54.059 draw a line 00:40:54.059 --> 00:40:54.960 between the righteous 00:40:54.960 --> 00:40:55.780 and the unrighteous 00:40:55.780 --> 00:40:56.620 and see ourselves 00:40:56.620 --> 00:40:57.480 on the good side. 00:40:59.320 --> 00:41:00.480 But the third verse 00:41:00.480 --> 00:41:01.059 is the charm. 00:41:01.200 --> 00:41:02.579 Here it's revealed to us 00:41:02.579 --> 00:41:03.940 that we are redeemed 00:41:03.940 --> 00:41:05.000 in spite of ourselves. 00:41:06.539 --> 00:41:07.620 And looking more closely 00:41:07.620 --> 00:41:08.760 at the resurrected body 00:41:08.760 --> 00:41:09.420 of the Lord Jesus, 00:41:09.600 --> 00:41:11.420 we see that he still has 00:41:11.420 --> 00:41:13.000 the mark of the nails. 00:41:13.120 --> 00:41:13.420 It says, 00:41:13.420 --> 00:41:31.920 The narrative force 00:41:31.920 --> 00:41:32.460 of this hymn 00:41:32.460 --> 00:41:33.720 brings us through tears 00:41:33.720 --> 00:41:35.099 of self-recognition 00:41:35.099 --> 00:41:36.380 to a blazing 00:41:36.380 --> 00:41:37.880 and ecstatic joy. 00:41:39.220 --> 00:41:40.559 As we recognize 00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:41.139 the Savior 00:41:41.139 --> 00:41:42.340 who's redeemed us 00:41:42.340 --> 00:41:43.320 from sin and death. 00:41:44.640 --> 00:41:46.019 And the fear of judgment 00:41:46.019 --> 00:41:47.200 begins to melt away 00:41:47.200 --> 00:41:48.000 as we see 00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:48.900 this one 00:41:48.900 --> 00:41:49.720 who's come to be 00:41:49.720 --> 00:41:50.440 our advocate 00:41:50.440 --> 00:41:51.579 and our defender. 00:41:52.640 --> 00:41:53.700 This one who 00:41:53.700 --> 00:41:55.160 is on our side. 00:41:55.280 --> 00:41:56.160 This one who stands 00:41:56.160 --> 00:41:57.760 not against us 00:41:57.760 --> 00:41:58.480 but for us. 00:41:58.559 --> 00:41:59.200 This judge 00:41:59.200 --> 00:41:59.960 who's been judged 00:41:59.960 --> 00:42:01.140 in our place. 00:42:02.360 --> 00:42:03.200 And we're filled 00:42:03.200 --> 00:42:03.780 with wonder 00:42:03.780 --> 00:42:05.240 because we realize 00:42:05.240 --> 00:42:06.300 that we were unworthy 00:42:06.300 --> 00:42:07.240 but he counted us 00:42:07.240 --> 00:42:07.920 worthy. 00:42:09.160 --> 00:42:10.620 And we deserve judgment 00:42:10.620 --> 00:42:11.800 but he didn't give us that. 00:42:11.800 --> 00:42:13.000 He gave us mercy. 00:42:14.100 --> 00:42:15.220 And we were slaves 00:42:15.220 --> 00:42:16.120 to sin and death 00:42:16.120 --> 00:42:18.100 but he brought us over 00:42:18.100 --> 00:42:18.800 into righteousness 00:42:18.800 --> 00:42:19.360 and life. 00:42:19.440 --> 00:42:21.580 So how can we not love him? 00:42:24.420 --> 00:42:25.660 How can we not love 00:42:25.660 --> 00:42:26.480 with every fiber 00:42:26.480 --> 00:42:27.100 of our being 00:42:27.100 --> 00:42:27.640 this one 00:42:27.640 --> 00:42:28.820 who bears the scars 00:42:28.820 --> 00:42:30.300 of our ransom? 00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:33.140 And the fourth verse 00:42:33.140 --> 00:42:34.100 seeks to speed 00:42:34.100 --> 00:42:35.000 the day of his coming 00:42:35.000 --> 00:42:37.660 when we will be resurrected 00:42:37.660 --> 00:42:38.460 we'll pass 00:42:38.460 --> 00:42:39.700 into eternal life 00:42:39.699 --> 00:42:41.039 and we'll be crowned 00:42:41.039 --> 00:42:42.439 with transforming praise 00:42:42.439 --> 00:42:43.259 and adoration 00:42:43.259 --> 00:42:44.219 and so even now 00:42:44.219 --> 00:42:45.099 we sing this song. 00:42:45.239 --> 00:42:45.939 Yes, amen. 00:42:46.500 --> 00:42:47.639 Let all adore you 00:42:47.639 --> 00:42:49.259 high on your eternal throne. 00:42:49.480 --> 00:42:50.799 Savior, take the power 00:42:50.799 --> 00:42:51.359 and glory. 00:42:51.960 --> 00:42:52.639 Claim the kingdom 00:42:52.639 --> 00:42:53.559 for your own. 00:42:54.119 --> 00:42:55.059 Come, Lord Jesus. 00:42:55.439 --> 00:42:56.299 Come, Lord Jesus. 00:42:56.919 --> 00:42:57.960 Come, Lord Jesus. 00:42:58.679 --> 00:42:59.639 Everlasting God. 00:43:00.319 --> 00:43:00.919 Come down. 00:43:00.920 --> 00:43:02.760 do you think 00:43:02.760 --> 00:43:03.420 we can sing that 00:43:03.420 --> 00:43:04.280 together in a moment? 00:43:05.780 --> 00:43:06.220 All right. 00:43:06.260 --> 00:43:07.240 Let's sing it out 00:43:07.240 --> 00:43:08.500 with joy 00:43:08.500 --> 00:43:09.579 in the name 00:43:09.579 --> 00:43:09.980 of the Father, 00:43:10.099 --> 00:43:10.900 Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:43:11.619 --> 00:43:11.880 Amen. 00:43:11.880 --> 00:43:12.019 Amen. 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.019 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:42.000 Thank you.