WEBVTT

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 As we open God's word together, let us ask for his blessing.

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 Heavenly Father, would you be so kind and gracious to us this morning to give us the supernatural ability to hear and understand your word.

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!

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 Amen.

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 If you do not have a Bible, we have a stack of them at the back welcome table.

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 You can grab one.

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 It would help me out a ton if you followed along.

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 If you have a scripture journal, you can turn to page 28.

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 28.

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 I'll open with a story.

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 There was an archbishop in Uganda in the 70s named Janani Luwam.

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 And he was the archbishop of Uganda, but also Rwanda in some of the neighboring countries and regions during the time of Idiomin.

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 Idiomin, if you know some history, was called the Hitler of Africa.

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 He was a horrendous, horrendous tyrant who took over Uganda in a coup and began a systematic campaign of murder.

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 It was a horrendous time in Uganda.

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 And the archbishop spoke early against Idiomin.

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 Idiomin, he eventually was faced with a moment where either he shrunk back from speaking against Idiomin,

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 or in speaking against him would surely die.

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 It kind of reached a level where one more word from this really difficult archbishop, and that would be the end of him.

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 So what did he do?

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 He spoke against Idiomin.

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 He spoke against the murders and the whole regime of disappearing people.

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 And he was arrested along with two legislators, and then he died.

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 The story was that he died in the transport to his trial.

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 It was a car accident.

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 And when the family received his body, it was riddled with bullets.

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 Riddled with bullets.

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 He was 55 years old.

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 Idiomin, if you know your history, was able to flee.

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 And he lived out his days in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia,

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 and died in 2003 in a plush hospital in his mid-70s.

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 opened up with a question based on the story that's going to really help drive the rest of our time in Ecclesiastes chapter 7.

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 Why do kind and good people suffer and even die, while wicked and evil people live long and prosper?

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 Why?

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 Why?

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 Do you know the answer to this question?

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 It's a confusing and disorienting and deeply unjust reality that we see all the time.

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 We feel the injustice of it.

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 But we can even extend it to smaller scales, where it's not a tyrant versus an archbishop.

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 But we could even ask the question, why is it that a good, promising, young woman in her 20s can get cancer?

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 Terminal cancer.

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 And yet, a greedy, money-hungry man who is on his maybe fifth or sixth marriage,

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 who has been a terrible father, a terrible co-worker, can live into his 80s.

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 Why?

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 You feel the injustice in this?

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 The struggle in this?

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 Are you frustrated with it?

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 This would have been a very confusing reality, not just for us, but for the Israelites as well,

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 that the sage was talking to.

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 Early in their history, God promised the Israelites that if they would keep his commandments,

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 they would live long and prosper.

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 Yet, time and again, the history of Israel is that the, not every situation,

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 but oftentimes the wicked would live long,

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 and the innocent, or the righteous, or the upright,

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 those that kept God's commandments, they would die young.

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 So it's a bit of a conundrum, because, number one, we don't have the answer to that,

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 and number two, because if God promised that righteousness would result in long life,

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 is God a liar?

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 Is he unjust?

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 Is God a part of the problem?

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 Is he making promises that he just can't keep?

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 And then if that's the case, what's the point of acting righteous or wise at all?

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 Especially if the rewards aren't just meager, but they're actually detrimental to our lives,

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 to our health, to our being.

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 See, the sage will try to make sense of this reality,

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 and he's going to do it grappling with human nature,

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 motivations for behavior, and the pursuit of knowledge.

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 And he's going to try to come to the, hopefully, the answer to this conundrum.

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 Why do the good die young?

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 Why do the wicked die old?

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 And he's going to really lean into a bit of an investigation on wisdom and righteousness.

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 But he will say, and we will find out that there is certainly a place for wise living and right living,

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 but with a caution.

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 The sage will teach us that righteousness and wisdom are worthy of embrace.

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 And these will be our three points that will guide us through our time in Ecclesiastes 7.

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 The sage will teach us that righteousness and wisdom are worthy of our embrace,

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 but not a guarantee for our success.

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 That righteousness and wisdom are a source of strength, but not the means of salvation.

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 And then finally, righteousness and wisdom can make one wise, but not upright.

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 So as we consider this section, we will hopefully seek to answer the conundrum of verse 15.

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 I'm going to be returning to verse 15 often in our time together this morning.

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 But first, just a bit of a, I don't know, an editorial note, so to speak.

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 The sage and much of wisdom literature in the Bible see righteousness and wisdom as two sides of the same coin.

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 Those who are wise will act and think and speak rightly.

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 And those who are righteous will live wise lives.

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 So you cannot have one without the other.

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 So I bring that up just to say I will almost certainly use righteousness and wisdom somewhat interchangeably.

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 Although they are different, but they have a ton of overlap.

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 But for our time this morning, we're going to be looking at righteousness and wisdom as kind of like a package deal.

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 Okay, first point.

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 Righteousness and wisdom are worthy of our embrace, but not a guarantee for our success.

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 Let's open to verse 15.

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 I'll read it together.

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 We'll read it together.

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 Verse 15.

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 In my vain life, I have seen everything.

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 There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evil doing.

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 The disturbing reality is presented here as a fact.

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 And I think it's easy to say that it's a fact.

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 That we know what is happening.

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 We feel this in a very acute way.

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 The sage has investigated the matter thoroughly and has reached the troubling conclusion that life simply isn't just.

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 Those who should be declared innocent are jailed.

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 Okay, those who should be brought to justice have the legal clout, the money to get off scot-free.

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 Young teenagers, like I mentioned already, are diagnosed with cancer.

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 While men like Idi Amin enjoy wealth well into their senior years.

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 I feel very deeply that this is a very uncomfortable reality.

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 However, I want us to consider that such a statement starts with the assumption that many, perhaps all of us here, hold.

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 And here's the assumption.

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 That good things should happen to good people.

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 And again, more often than not, we see ourselves as part of the good people category.

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 And therefore, we are deserving of good things.

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 Seldom do we believe our faults and sins are so severe as to warrant divine justice against us.

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 Okay?

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 We want divine justice against other people.

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 Ultimate justice.

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 But when we slip up and when we aren't so good, we want to be treated with a bit more understanding, a bit more nuance.

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 Why do we presume this should be the case?

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 I think it's an important question to ponder.

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 The sage will continue on.

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 Verse 16.

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 Be not overly righteous and do not make yourself too wise.

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 Why should you destroy yourself?

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 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool.

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 Why should you die before your time?

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 Verse 18.

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 It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand.

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 For the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.

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 The sage here is not approving of lax morals or implying that wisdom is pointless.

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 Instead, he warns against acting and thinking as if we can influence God to grant us long life.

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 This form of righteousness is motivated not by the fear of the Lord about doing right for his sake,

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 but rather it's a self-justifying righteousness, which really isn't a righteousness at all.

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 This is a heart that believes that we deserve all goodness and no consequence.

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 One that believes that we deserve a long life and goodness.

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 And friends, this type of self-righteousness, it blinds us to our own sinfulness.

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 Conversely, the sage tells us not to intentionally engage in wickedness.

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 To not say, well there's no point in being good or exercising wisdom,

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 so I'm just going to live the way I want to live.

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 And if it's wicked, so be it.

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 He is saying if someone knows something is wrong, they should not do it.

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 Willful sinning is completely not okay.

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 The idea that we can let our desires control us

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 because there will be no punishment for our actions

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 as if the wicked can escape the wrongdoings.

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 It's flawed thinking.

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 We'll get to why it's flawed a bit later on,

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 but it is flawed thinking.

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 So we see neither our self-righteousness on one hand

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 nor our self-gratifying indulgence

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 will guarantee us even one more hour

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 or ensure that our days are both comfortable and bountiful.

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 The sage is saying, listen, both ends here,

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 both extremes, self-righteousness,

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 self-indulgence,

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 they are not the way to go.

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 Instead, what does he say?

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 Verse 18,

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 It is good that you should not take hold of this,

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 that is self-righteousness,

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 and from that, which is self-gratification,

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 and from that withhold not your hand,

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 for the one who, and here it is,

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 fears God shall come out from both of them.

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 Instead, he says this,

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 entrust yourself to the Lord

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 and obey him.

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 Don't engage in evil.

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 Try your best to be a wise, righteous person

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 for God's glory.

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 And that's great.

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 It's a really important bit,

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 but see, what it does is

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 it doesn't answer the conundrum of verse 15.

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 Why do the good die young?

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 Why do the evil have prolonged life?

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 So although the conundrum persists,

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 we begin to see that the answer lies somewhere

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 with the Lord

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 and entrusting ourselves to him.

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 So, earthly wisdom has a place

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 and a prominent one at that.

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 And we'll see this especially in our second point.

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 But again, we will see that righteousness and wisdom

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 cannot be seen as a way to answer or transcend

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 this conundrum of verse 15.

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 So, the second point,

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 that righteousness and wisdom

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 are a source of strength,

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 but not a means of salvation.

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 Look with me at verses 19 and following.

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 We'll just read verse 19 for now.

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 Wisdom gives strength.

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 So it has great benefit.

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 Wisdom gives strength to the wise man.

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 More than ten rulers who are in a city.

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 Whether or not wise living leads to a long life,

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 it does not diminish the effectiveness of wisdom.

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 Wisdom still has a purpose.

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 It is still good.

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 It provides great benefits.

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 In fact,

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 it gives significant strength to the righteous.

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 Wise living has the power to prevent calamity.

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 You're going to have ten strong rulers.

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 Fantastic.

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 But the wise person knows when to sheath the sword.

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 Okay?

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 The wise person also knows when to take the sword out

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 and engage in battle.

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 The wise person knows when to win an argument

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 and when to hold one's tongue.

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 Ultimately, the wise person is far more valuable

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 than ten mighty rulers.

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 Why?

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 Because the wise person has in mind

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 the flourishing of society.

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 That people ought to not be subject under tyranny.

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 That life is better than death.

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 And yet,

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 wisdom in this context

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 isn't this absolute savior.

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 Look with me at verse 20.

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 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth

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 who does good and never sins.

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 No one is perfectly wise.

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 So wisdom has a place,

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 but the wise man isn't ultimately wise.

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 There's no perfectly wise person

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 always making the right decisions,

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 saying the right things,

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 thinking the right thoughts.

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 There has never been anyone like that.

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 It's not just that there isn't a perfectly wise person,

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 but every person is unrighteous to some degree.

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 No one who has ever,

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 no one who has never told a lie.

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 There's never been somebody

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 who has not cheated on a test

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 or fudged the charitable givings line

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 on TurboTax.

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 You know, we chuckle,

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 I chuckle at that a little bit,

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 but these are things that

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 that are easily done,

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 but just prove our unrighteousness,

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 our lack of wisdom.

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 There has never not been somebody

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 who gossiped behind their brother's back

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 or lusted after an image or a video

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 or fantasized about a co-worker

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 or obsessed over money

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 or performed charity

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 with a self-serving motive.

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 There is not one who is perfectly wise

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 or perfectly righteous.

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 The list could go on.

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 But it is not that one is perfect,

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 but that such imperfection

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 is problematic on a cosmic scale.

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 It's not just that we make mistakes

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 like everybody else,

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 but that our mistakes,

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 our sin,

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 our unrighteousness,

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 our lack of wisdom

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 is a problem cosmically.

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 The Apostle Paul in Romans 3,

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 verse 23,

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 he says,

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 all have sinned,

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 okay, we've established that,

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 and connected to it,

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 all have sinned

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 and fallen short of the glory of God.

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 Our unrighteous acts,

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 our sin,

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 it says in Scripture

00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:51.000
 that they are an offense to God

00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:52.440
 for they contravene

00:16:52.440 --> 00:16:54.120
 his good and beautiful design

00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:55.480
 for us and the rest of creation.

00:16:55.580 --> 00:16:56.299
 So you see

00:16:56.299 --> 00:16:58.759
 that our problem

00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:00.600
 is never just limited to us.

00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:03.360
 It has ripple effects

00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:06.379
 all the way to a cosmic scale

00:17:06.379 --> 00:17:08.619
 whereby we are sinning

00:17:08.619 --> 00:17:10.400
 against the glory of God.

00:17:11.819 --> 00:17:12.960
 And this takes us back

00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:15.079
 to the assumption of verse 15,

00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:17.000
 the assumption that says

00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:19.200
 that good people deserve good things.

00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:20.879
 It seems that the question

00:17:20.879 --> 00:17:21.839
 should not be

00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:23.220
 why do bad things happen

00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:24.000
 to good people

00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:26.099
 or why do not,

00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:28.019
 why is it that good people

00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:29.819
 don't receive good things?

00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:33.839
 Rather,

00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:36.539
 the better question

00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:38.059
 to ask is

00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:40.619
 why do good things happen

00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:41.680
 to anyone at all

00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:44.379
 considering there is no one

00:17:44.379 --> 00:17:45.139
 who is truly good?

00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:47.720
 If we are sinning

00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:49.579
 that affects

00:17:49.579 --> 00:17:50.900
 kind of ripple,

00:17:51.339 --> 00:17:52.339
 it has this ripple effect

00:17:52.339 --> 00:17:53.500
 all the way up to God,

00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:55.339
 why are we deserving

00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:56.180
 of anything?

00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:59.759
 We might be

00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:01.400
 tempted to solve

00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:03.500
 this apparent problem

00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.680
 through our own ingenuity

00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:05.320
 and attempts

00:18:05.320 --> 00:18:07.019
 at behavior modification.

00:18:07.620 --> 00:18:08.759
 We're going to try harder.

00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:10.720
 Let's just avoid mistakes.

00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:12.240
 All good things,

00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:12.720
 by the way.

00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:14.560
 Or maybe we

00:18:14.560 --> 00:18:16.039
 take measures

00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:16.779
 to lessen

00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:17.519
 the impact

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.860
 of our imperfection.

00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:21.759
 One of the things

00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.960
 that we like to do

00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:23.460
 in the West

00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:25.079
 is legislate

00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:26.059
 our problems away.

00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:27.700
 And there is

00:18:27.700 --> 00:18:28.740
 a fantastic,

00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.880
 important place

00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:31.120
 for good legislation.

00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:32.440
 But the best

00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.200
 we can do

00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:34.500
 as a society

00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:35.579
 is

00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:37.880
 create legislation

00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:39.140
 that prohibits

00:18:39.140 --> 00:18:40.000
 something

00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:40.640
 but can't

00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:41.600
 compel goodness.

00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:42.539
 So an example,

00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:45.440
 you can't make

00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:45.960
 a law

00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:46.879
 that forces

00:18:46.879 --> 00:18:47.299
 people

00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:48.319
 to pick up

00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:48.879
 every piece

00:18:48.879 --> 00:18:49.519
 of trash

00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:50.319
 they see

00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:51.200
 and put it

00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:51.879
 in the waste bin.

00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:53.159
 But you can make

00:18:53.159 --> 00:18:53.720
 a law

00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:54.579
 and it could be

00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:55.599
 kept reasonably

00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:56.720
 that you shouldn't

00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:56.920
 litter.

00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:58.440
 Whether or not

00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.359
 people listen to it

00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:00.159
 is besides the point.

00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:02.180
 But we can't

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:03.119
 force people

00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:05.559
 to be better.

00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:06.559
 We can't.

00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:08.420
 The best we can do

00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:09.059
 is mitigate

00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:09.759
 problems.

00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:14.539
 And why is that?

00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:15.519
 Because the core

00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:16.099
 of the issue

00:19:16.099 --> 00:19:16.900
 is not primarily

00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:17.859
 with our actions

00:19:17.859 --> 00:19:19.579
 but with our hearts.

00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:21.420
 They are inclined

00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:22.140
 towards evil.

00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:23.539
 They are inclined

00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:24.259
 towards sin.

00:19:24.579 --> 00:19:25.359
 And the sage

00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:25.920
 he captures

00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:26.460
 this perfectly

00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:27.480
 in the next two verses.

00:19:27.859 --> 00:19:28.359
 Look with me

00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:29.160
 at verses 21

00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:29.879
 and 22.

00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:32.000
 Do not take

00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.420
 to heart

00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:33.099
 all the things

00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:33.879
 that people say

00:19:33.879 --> 00:19:34.879
 lest you hear

00:19:34.879 --> 00:19:35.460
 your servant

00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:36.099
 cursing you.

00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:37.319
 Verse 22.

00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:38.640
 Your heart knows

00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:39.400
 that many times

00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:40.000
 you yourself

00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:40.820
 have cursed others.

00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:43.000
 Again,

00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:43.700
 we are deeply

00:19:43.700 --> 00:19:44.460
 convinced that

00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:45.460
 the true wrongs

00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:46.380
 are out there

00:19:46.380 --> 00:19:47.500
 and done against us.

00:19:49.860 --> 00:19:50.880
 But we deceive

00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:51.800
 ourselves into believing

00:19:51.800 --> 00:19:52.480
 we are immune

00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:52.920
 to sin.

00:19:53.580 --> 00:19:54.019
 However,

00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:54.759
 we know on a very

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.759
 fundamental level

00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:57.660
 that we have wronged

00:19:57.660 --> 00:19:59.040
 just as we have

00:19:59.040 --> 00:19:59.640
 wronged others.

00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:01.460
 So,

00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.380
 the sage,

00:20:03.820 --> 00:20:04.519
 now we're halfway

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.840
 through this section,

00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:07.199
 the sage

00:20:07.199 --> 00:20:08.500
 is beginning

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.659
 to help us

00:20:09.659 --> 00:20:11.839
 see a more

00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.659
 full-orbed

00:20:12.659 --> 00:20:13.319
 understanding

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:14.079
 of human nature.

00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:14.779
 And it's

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.879
 not a great

00:20:15.879 --> 00:20:16.299
 outlook.

00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.059
 And hopefully,

00:20:18.439 --> 00:20:19.119
 we start

00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:20.959
 developing this

00:20:20.959 --> 00:20:21.859
 answer to the

00:20:21.859 --> 00:20:22.319
 conundrum

00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:23.859
 of verse 15.

00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:25.500
 And we start

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.000
 to see a bit

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.619
 of the answer

00:20:26.619 --> 00:20:27.500
 here.

00:20:28.179 --> 00:20:28.759
 No one is

00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:29.379
 truly righteous.

00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:30.899
 So to say,

00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:31.799
 again,

00:20:31.899 --> 00:20:32.579
 in verse 15,

00:20:32.579 --> 00:20:33.939
 there is a

00:20:33.939 --> 00:20:34.480
 righteous man

00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.019
 who perishes

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:35.740
 in his righteousness,

00:20:36.379 --> 00:20:37.199
 we've actually

00:20:37.199 --> 00:20:37.839
 come to find out

00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:38.399
 that nobody's

00:20:38.399 --> 00:20:39.139
 truly righteous.

00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:41.399
 Nobody can claim

00:20:41.399 --> 00:20:42.899
 absolute righteousness.

00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:46.639
 Everyone harbors

00:20:46.639 --> 00:20:47.399
 some kind of

00:20:47.399 --> 00:20:47.899
 wickedness.

00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:49.359
 And as a result,

00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:50.059
 no one can

00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:51.460
 genuinely claim

00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.220
 God's blessing

00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:53.399
 as an expectation

00:20:53.399 --> 00:20:54.359
 or a right.

00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:57.039
 Very,

00:20:57.159 --> 00:20:57.679
 very important.

00:20:58.599 --> 00:20:58.960
 However,

00:20:59.639 --> 00:21:00.439
 we still lack

00:21:00.439 --> 00:21:01.480
 a clear answer

00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:02.599
 to the second

00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:03.559
 puzzling question

00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:04.420
 in verse 15.

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.980
 Why do wicked,

00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:07.680
 why do the wicked

00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:08.660
 often prosper

00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:10.579
 while the good

00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:11.519
 endure suffering?

00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.660
 So why do the wicked

00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.099
 prosper?

00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:13.680
 Again,

00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:14.839
 it's very perplexing

00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:15.539
 to us.

00:21:16.120 --> 00:21:17.460
 And it's helpful,

00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:18.059
 at least for me,

00:21:18.120 --> 00:21:19.019
 to know that the sage,

00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:20.019
 who is this incredibly

00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:20.599
 wise,

00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:22.980
 divinely inspired

00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:24.099
 writer,

00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:27.559
 it is perplexing

00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:28.140
 to him as well.

00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:28.680
 Look with me

00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:30.099
 at verses 23 and 24.

00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:32.599
 All this,

00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:33.960
 and all this,

00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:34.500
 by the way,

00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:35.180
 is this kind of

00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:36.000
 grammatical,

00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:38.940
 biblical phrase

00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:40.759
 that points backwards

00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.480
 and forwards.

00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:42.819
 So everything that I just

00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:43.039
 said,

00:21:43.120 --> 00:21:43.720
 everything that I'm

00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:44.200
 going to say,

00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:46.640
 all this I have

00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.559
 tested by wisdom.

00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:48.700
 I said,

00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:49.819
 I will be wise,

00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:50.940
 but it was far

00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:51.440
 from me.

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.259
 That which has been

00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:54.519
 is far off

00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:55.099
 and deep,

00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:55.920
 very deep.

00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:57.259
 Who can find

00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:57.759
 it out?

00:21:58.539 --> 00:21:59.299
 He dug deep,

00:21:59.299 --> 00:22:00.559
 deep.

00:22:01.139 --> 00:22:02.000
 His investigation

00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:03.839
 was thorough,

00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:05.259
 only to realize

00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:05.740
 that he couldn't

00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:06.440
 reach the bottom

00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:06.940
 of the matter.

00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:08.639
 And we are beginning

00:22:08.639 --> 00:22:09.799
 to see that this

00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.839
 might be

00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:12.960
 divinely classified

00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.619
 information.

00:22:15.379 --> 00:22:16.579
 We get what appears

00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:17.619
 to be a snippet

00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:18.180
 of an answer,

00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:19.139
 but never a complete

00:22:19.139 --> 00:22:19.480
 one.

00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.419
 And this is the

00:22:21.419 --> 00:22:22.039
 difficulty with

00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:22.680
 seeking wisdom.

00:22:22.879 --> 00:22:23.559
 And here's the

00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:24.299
 difficulty with it.

00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:26.099
 As you get

00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:26.839
 more wise,

00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:27.659
 you realize

00:22:27.659 --> 00:22:28.159
 that you can

00:22:28.159 --> 00:22:29.099
 understand deep

00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:29.720
 things in a

00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:30.200
 very shallow

00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:30.460
 way.

00:22:32.539 --> 00:22:33.379
 And this can be

00:22:33.379 --> 00:22:33.899
 a frustrating

00:22:33.899 --> 00:22:34.559
 thing because

00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.599
 you understand

00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:36.359
 it in part,

00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:36.799
 but there's

00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:38.220
 so much more

00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:38.879
 that you realize

00:22:38.879 --> 00:22:39.299
 that you don't

00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:39.519
 know.

00:22:41.099 --> 00:22:42.220
 A 4th century

00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:42.740
 bishop,

00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:45.019
 Gregory of

00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:45.859
 Nazianzus,

00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.059
 he was the

00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:47.399
 bishop of

00:22:47.399 --> 00:22:48.180
 Constantinople,

00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.519
 he said this

00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:51.659
 of this section

00:22:51.659 --> 00:22:51.940
 here,

00:22:52.399 --> 00:22:52.659
 and this

00:22:52.659 --> 00:22:53.220
 pursuit of

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.500
 wisdom.

00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:54.659
 Quote,

00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:56.019
 For the joy

00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:56.599
 of what we

00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:57.220
 have discovered

00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:58.279
 is no greater

00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:59.159
 than the pain

00:22:59.159 --> 00:23:00.079
 of what escapes

00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:00.519
 us.

00:23:01.379 --> 00:23:02.039
 A pain I

00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:02.680
 imagine like

00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:03.500
 that felt by

00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:04.099
 those who are

00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:04.980
 dragged while yet

00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:05.759
 thirsty from the

00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.019
 water,

00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:07.559
 or are unable

00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.519
 to retain what

00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:09.159
 they think they

00:23:09.159 --> 00:23:09.639
 hold,

00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:10.639
 and I like this

00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:10.839
 one,

00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:12.200
 or are suddenly

00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:12.879
 left in the

00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:13.539
 dark by a

00:23:13.539 --> 00:23:14.039
 flash of

00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:14.299
 lightning.

00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.259
 Therefore,

00:23:18.419 --> 00:23:18.980
 there is a

00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:19.859
 significant irony

00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:20.419
 in using

00:23:20.419 --> 00:23:21.279
 earthly wisdom.

00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:22.159
 Again,

00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:23.019
 if you've been

00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:23.879
 tracking with us

00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:25.360
 with Ecclesiastes,

00:23:26.140 --> 00:23:26.920
 earthly wisdom,

00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:27.600
 you could say

00:23:27.600 --> 00:23:28.380
 wisdom under

00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:28.880
 the sun,

00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:30.000
 this idea that

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:31.660
 this earthly

00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:32.900
 life is finite

00:23:32.900 --> 00:23:33.560
 and it's under

00:23:33.560 --> 00:23:34.000
 the sun,

00:23:35.080 --> 00:23:35.540
 there is a

00:23:35.540 --> 00:23:36.340
 significant irony

00:23:36.340 --> 00:23:36.920
 in using

00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:37.860
 earthly wisdom

00:23:37.860 --> 00:23:38.620
 under the sun

00:23:38.620 --> 00:23:39.680
 to understand

00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:40.520
 the divine

00:23:40.520 --> 00:23:41.160
 and transcending

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:41.800
 God who is

00:23:41.800 --> 00:23:42.240
 above it.

00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:44.240
 What results

00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:44.660
 is the

00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:45.560
 realization of

00:23:45.560 --> 00:23:46.420
 just how

00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:47.280
 much you

00:23:47.280 --> 00:23:47.800
 and I

00:23:47.800 --> 00:23:48.500
 don't know.

00:23:49.300 --> 00:23:49.900
 And still,

00:23:50.600 --> 00:23:51.240
 funny enough,

00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:51.880
 this is a

00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:52.380
 form of

00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:52.740
 wisdom

00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.980
 because true

00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.339
 wisdom

00:23:54.339 --> 00:23:56.539
 will ultimately

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.140
 help us to

00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:57.579
 be humble

00:23:57.579 --> 00:23:58.019
 people

00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:59.519
 and help us

00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.059
 to recognize

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:00.799
 how finite

00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:01.359
 we are.

00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:02.599
 True wisdom

00:24:02.599 --> 00:24:03.279
 understands

00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:03.859
 limits

00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:06.519
 and helps

00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.180
 us to look

00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:07.640
 upward,

00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:09.359
 not inward.

00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:11.759
 It helps us

00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:12.380
 to understand

00:24:12.380 --> 00:24:13.000
 the truth of

00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.740
 Isaiah 55

00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.539
 verse 9.

00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.099
 Isaiah says

00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:16.500
 this,

00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:18.400
 speaking,

00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:19.400
 actually the

00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:19.960
 Lord says this

00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:20.519
 through Isaiah.

00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:21.380
 For as the

00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:21.960
 heavens are

00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:22.559
 higher than

00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:22.900
 the earth,

00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:23.900
 so are my

00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:24.740
 ways higher

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.160
 than your

00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:25.539
 ways,

00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:26.819
 my thoughts

00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:27.279
 higher than

00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:27.840
 your thoughts.

00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:28.920
 And what a

00:24:28.920 --> 00:24:30.120
 fantastic revelation

00:24:30.120 --> 00:24:30.860
 for the sage

00:24:30.860 --> 00:24:31.319
 and for us

00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:31.740
 this morning.

00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.500
 He is coming

00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:34.220
 to understand,

00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:34.920
 we are coming

00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:35.440
 to understand

00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:35.960
 that God

00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:36.460
 is worthy

00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.019
 of fear

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:37.620
 and praise

00:24:37.620 --> 00:24:38.100
 because he

00:24:38.100 --> 00:24:38.660
 is entirely

00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:39.559
 infinite

00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:40.340
 and we

00:24:40.340 --> 00:24:40.799
 cannot hope

00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:41.480
 to comprehend

00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:42.160
 him fully.

00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:44.740
 But what

00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:45.259
 about the

00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:45.900
 question of

00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:47.279
 evil people

00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:48.779
 prospering?

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:49.799
 Okay?

00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:50.640
 So there's

00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:51.079
 certain things

00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:51.500
 we can't

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:51.960
 understand

00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:54.079
 and we

00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:54.720
 have kind

00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.519
 of answered

00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.340
 one part

00:24:56.340 --> 00:24:56.559
 of the

00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:56.980
 conundrum

00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:58.299
 of verse 15

00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:58.759
 but if we

00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.360
 haven't answered

00:24:59.360 --> 00:25:00.240
 both parts

00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:00.700
 then we haven't

00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.180
 answered it

00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:01.519
 at all.

00:25:03.140 --> 00:25:03.539
 So what

00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:04.460
 is the sage

00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:04.880
 to do?

00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.120
 He doesn't

00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:06.519
 give up his

00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:06.759
 search,

00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:07.380
 he continues

00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:08.000
 on and this

00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.360
 leads us

00:25:08.360 --> 00:25:08.980
 to our

00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.620
 third point

00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:10.620
 where righteousness

00:25:10.620 --> 00:25:11.420
 and wisdom

00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:12.579
 it can make

00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:13.299
 one wise

00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:14.000
 but not

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.620
 upright.

00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:16.579
 Look with me

00:25:16.579 --> 00:25:17.440
 at verse 25.

00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:19.440
 I turn

00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:19.860
 my heart

00:25:19.860 --> 00:25:20.320
 to know

00:25:20.320 --> 00:25:20.640
 and to

00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:21.200
 search out

00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:21.559
 and to

00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:22.180
 seek wisdom

00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:22.539
 in the

00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:22.940
 scheme of

00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:23.279
 things

00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:24.259
 and to

00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:24.700
 know the

00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:25.200
 wickedness

00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:25.720
 of folly

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.019
 and the

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:26.559
 foolishness

00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:26.920
 that is

00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:27.320
 madness.

00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:29.500
 The sage

00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:30.080
 dedicates

00:25:30.080 --> 00:25:30.740
 himself fully

00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:31.539
 to understanding

00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:32.480
 and these

00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:32.900
 are key

00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:33.580
 words here

00:25:33.580 --> 00:25:34.320
 that help

00:25:34.320 --> 00:25:34.720
 us to

00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:35.420
 tie in

00:25:35.420 --> 00:25:35.900
 this last

00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:36.200
 section

00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:36.620
 and also

00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:37.120
 the section

00:25:37.120 --> 00:25:37.740
 above it.

00:25:38.820 --> 00:25:39.740
 He gives

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.559
 himself to

00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:41.240
 understanding

00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:42.539
 exploring

00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:43.619
 and seeking

00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:46.059
 wisdom

00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:46.579
 and the

00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:46.940
 reasons

00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:47.740
 behind why

00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.460
 life is

00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:48.799
 the way

00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:49.180
 it is.

00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:49.480
 He has

00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:49.960
 examined

00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:50.420
 wisdom,

00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.480
 he has

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:51.920
 sought it

00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:52.259
 out

00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:54.180
 in some

00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:54.960
 great detail

00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.379
 but not

00:25:55.379 --> 00:25:55.740
 fully.

00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:56.680
 Now he

00:25:56.680 --> 00:25:57.159
 turns his

00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:57.519
 attention

00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.059
 to the

00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:58.460
 wickedness

00:25:58.460 --> 00:25:58.960
 and foolish.

00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:00.559
 Maybe

00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:00.960
 there's some

00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.599
 answers there.

00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:03.779
 And now

00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:04.220
 we turn

00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:05.159
 to verse

00:26:05.159 --> 00:26:05.960
 26

00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:07.940
 to the

00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:08.480
 end of

00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.379
 this section.

00:26:10.659 --> 00:26:10.980
 And I

00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.720
 find something

00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.259
 more bitter

00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:12.880
 than death.

00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:13.600
 The woman

00:26:13.600 --> 00:26:14.220
 whose heart

00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:15.319
 is snares

00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:15.940
 and nets

00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:16.860
 and whose

00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:17.319
 hands are

00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:17.740
 fetters.

00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:19.380
 He who

00:26:19.380 --> 00:26:19.819
 pleases

00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:20.759
 God escapes

00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.200
 her but the

00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:21.600
 sinner is

00:26:21.600 --> 00:26:22.039
 taken by

00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:22.240
 her.

00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:23.240
 Behold

00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:23.600
 this is

00:26:23.600 --> 00:26:23.900
 what I

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:24.500
 found says

00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:25.000
 the preacher

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:26.380
 while adding

00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:26.819
 one thing

00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:27.339
 to another

00:26:27.339 --> 00:26:27.779
 to find

00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.180
 the scheme

00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:28.640
 of things

00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:29.380
 which my

00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:29.940
 soul has

00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.160
 sought

00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:30.680
 repeatedly

00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:31.100
 but I

00:26:31.100 --> 00:26:31.400
 have not

00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:31.700
 found.

00:26:32.380 --> 00:26:33.019
 One man

00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:33.420
 among a

00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:33.720
 thousand

00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:34.680
 I found

00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:35.100
 but a

00:26:35.100 --> 00:26:35.680
 woman among

00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.259
 all these

00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:36.799
 I have

00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.279
 not

00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:37.680
 found.

00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:38.759
 See

00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.240
 this alone

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:39.720
 I found

00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:40.700
 that God

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.339
 made man

00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:41.980
 upright but

00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.559
 they have

00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:43.259
 sought out

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.279
 many schemes.

00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:47.579
 I've

00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:48.059
 throughout

00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:49.459
 this time

00:26:49.459 --> 00:26:50.220
 in Ecclesiastes

00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:50.899
 I mean I

00:26:50.899 --> 00:26:51.819
 use commentaries

00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:53.019
 to help me

00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:53.779
 because there's

00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:55.579
 like way

00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:56.279
 smarter people

00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:56.699
 that I need

00:26:56.699 --> 00:26:57.220
 help from

00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:58.839
 and I've

00:26:58.839 --> 00:26:59.279
 used three

00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.779
 commentaries

00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.199
 some weeks

00:27:00.199 --> 00:27:00.500
 I've used

00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:00.919
 four.

00:27:01.419 --> 00:27:02.059
 This week

00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:03.339
 I looked

00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:03.759
 at I think

00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.299
 five.

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:05.639
 And in

00:27:05.639 --> 00:27:06.759
 every commentary

00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:08.180
 there's

00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:09.259
 almost

00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:10.299
 unanimity

00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:10.740
 in saying

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:11.279
 that this

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:11.740
 section

00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.379
 verses

00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:13.559
 15 to

00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:14.039
 29

00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.680
 and especially

00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.859
 this section

00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:16.319
 we're in now

00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:17.440
 26 to 29

00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:19.019
 is quite

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:19.539
 possibly the

00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.259
 hardest section

00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:21.000
 to understand

00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:22.319
 in Ecclesiastes.

00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:26.240
 therefore there's

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:26.899
 a great temptation

00:27:26.899 --> 00:27:27.559
 for Bible

00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.200
 commentators

00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:28.899
 and preachers

00:27:28.899 --> 00:27:30.259
 to skip

00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.039
 this or

00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:32.079
 allegorize it

00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:32.980
 excessively

00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:34.179
 or even

00:27:34.179 --> 00:27:35.000
 defend God

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.819
 from accusations

00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:37.000
 of being

00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:38.039
 a misogynist

00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:39.759
 by condemning

00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.419
 the sage.

00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:42.299
 But let's

00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:42.919
 take a few

00:27:42.919 --> 00:27:43.700
 minutes to walk

00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.980
 towards this

00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:45.460
 uncomfortable

00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:46.039
 passage.

00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:48.220
 Throughout this

00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:49.299
 section we have

00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:50.279
 seen the destructive

00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:51.279
 effects of

00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:52.899
 self-righteousness

00:27:52.899 --> 00:27:54.899
 and self-indulgence

00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:56.039
 or wickedness

00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:57.399
 on relationships.

00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.680
 The super-righteous

00:27:58.680 --> 00:27:59.960
 the self-righteous

00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:00.879
 person

00:28:00.879 --> 00:28:01.740
 ostracizes

00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:02.180
 others.

00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:03.859
 Again if you

00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:04.539
 go to

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:06.259
 verse 16

00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:07.119
 and 17

00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:08.200
 especially

00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:08.799
 verse 16

00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:09.460
 be not overly

00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:10.200
 righteous and do

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.839
 not make yourself

00:28:10.839 --> 00:28:11.299
 too wise.

00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:12.639
 Why should you

00:28:12.639 --> 00:28:13.539
 destroy yourself?

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:15.099
 Again in the

00:28:15.099 --> 00:28:15.700
 context of

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.339
 Ecclesiastes

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:16.960
 and in here

00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:18.200
 how does one

00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:18.899
 destroy themselves?

00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.539
 Well I think

00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:20.480
 a big part of it

00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:21.639
 of course is to

00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:22.819
 be separated

00:28:22.819 --> 00:28:23.480
 from the Lord

00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.399
 but it's to

00:28:24.399 --> 00:28:25.059
 see these

00:28:25.059 --> 00:28:25.559
 wonderful

00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:27.279
 God-given

00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:28.779
 blessings of

00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:29.379
 relationships

00:28:29.379 --> 00:28:29.980
 start to

00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.559
 break down.

00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:33.399
 And it

00:28:33.399 --> 00:28:34.039
 doesn't take

00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:35.559
 a Bible

00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:36.119
 scholar to

00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:36.819
 understand that

00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:37.839
 a self-righteous

00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:39.480
 friend quickly

00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:40.879
 becomes not a

00:28:40.879 --> 00:28:41.379
 great friend.

00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:43.460
 A self-righteous

00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:45.019
 brother or

00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:46.259
 sister is not

00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:47.139
 really the

00:28:47.139 --> 00:28:47.960
 greatest brother

00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:48.460
 or sister.

00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:48.519
 brother.

00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:50.960
 Likewise

00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:52.440
 we see

00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:53.019
 that

00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:54.400
 slander

00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:55.160
 and cursing

00:28:55.160 --> 00:28:55.840
 are common

00:28:55.840 --> 00:28:56.420
 among both

00:28:56.420 --> 00:28:56.880
 the poor

00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:57.539
 and the rich

00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:59.000
 and the

00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.299
 heart

00:28:59.299 --> 00:29:00.460
 is very

00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:01.180
 hypocritical

00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:02.400
 condemning

00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:03.039
 others but

00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:03.819
 giving ourself

00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:04.559
 the get-out-of-jail

00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:05.100
 free card.

00:29:05.600 --> 00:29:06.340
 All of this

00:29:06.340 --> 00:29:08.019
 is relational

00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.539
 breakdown

00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.380
 and this

00:29:09.380 --> 00:29:09.960
 section is

00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:10.740
 in that vein.

00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:12.740
 There is no

00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:13.700
 greater relational

00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.700
 breakdown caused

00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:15.440
 by sin than

00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:17.740
 between a man

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.420
 and a woman

00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:19.460
 in relationship.

00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:21.680
 When marriages

00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:22.420
 break apart.

00:29:23.360 --> 00:29:24.180
 When couples

00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:24.860
 grow distant.

00:29:26.220 --> 00:29:27.100
 The woman

00:29:27.100 --> 00:29:27.840
 described here

00:29:27.840 --> 00:29:28.360
 is one

00:29:28.360 --> 00:29:29.799
 who has no

00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.480
 regard for the

00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:31.279
 consequences of

00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:31.880
 her actions.

00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:33.019
 She might be

00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:34.160
 a wife.

00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:35.779
 She might be

00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:37.220
 somebody else.

00:29:37.620 --> 00:29:38.600
 But her

00:29:38.600 --> 00:29:39.220
 actions

00:29:39.220 --> 00:29:41.059
 they are

00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:42.000
 self-seeking.

00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:43.460
 She desires

00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:44.019
 only one

00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:44.519
 thing and

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:44.880
 has no

00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.359
 respect for

00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:45.619
 the fear

00:29:45.619 --> 00:29:45.839
 of the

00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.059
 Lord.

00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:47.440
 Who cares

00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:47.720
 if it

00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.259
 destroys a

00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:48.579
 family?

00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:50.259
 She lacks

00:29:50.259 --> 00:29:50.779
 integrity

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.460
 and honor.

00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.640
 The relationship

00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:53.400
 with her

00:29:53.400 --> 00:29:53.980
 is so

00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:54.539
 damaging

00:29:54.539 --> 00:29:55.660
 that the

00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:56.660
 sage suggests

00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:57.359
 death may

00:29:57.359 --> 00:29:58.279
 be a

00:29:58.279 --> 00:29:58.900
 less bitter

00:29:58.900 --> 00:29:59.319
 fate.

00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:00.920
 And we

00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:01.460
 do ourselves

00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:02.119
 no favors

00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:02.839
 by glossing

00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:03.200
 over a

00:30:03.200 --> 00:30:03.619
 text like

00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:03.859
 this.

00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:04.720
 There are

00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.380
 women

00:30:05.380 --> 00:30:06.759
 that exist

00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:07.480
 like this.

00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:10.140
 However,

00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:11.299
 there is

00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:11.759
 also a

00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.139
 man who

00:30:12.139 --> 00:30:12.519
 does not

00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:13.099
 fear God,

00:30:13.639 --> 00:30:14.700
 who engages

00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:15.519
 in wickedness

00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.039
 and pursues

00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:16.579
 this kind

00:30:16.579 --> 00:30:16.960
 of woman.

00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:18.799
 He is

00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.359
 just as

00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:20.039
 responsible

00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:20.559
 for going

00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:21.079
 to places

00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:22.519
 he should

00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.079
 not go

00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:23.859
 as she

00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:24.139
 is.

00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:25.779
 He is

00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:26.019
 neither

00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.859
 wise nor

00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:27.159
 is he

00:30:27.159 --> 00:30:27.819
 loyal.

00:30:28.659 --> 00:30:29.000
 He does

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.419
 not want

00:30:29.419 --> 00:30:29.980
 the burdens

00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:30.899
 of manhood,

00:30:31.599 --> 00:30:32.440
 the responsibilities

00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:33.259
 of being a

00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:33.539
 man.

00:30:33.639 --> 00:30:33.919
 He's still

00:30:33.919 --> 00:30:34.299
 a boy.

00:30:35.919 --> 00:30:36.180
 He is

00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:36.399
 neither

00:30:36.399 --> 00:30:37.159
 hard-working

00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:38.279
 nor self-controlled.

00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:39.059
 His aim

00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:39.899
 is not to

00:30:39.899 --> 00:30:40.759
 heal or

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.420
 to protect

00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:41.839
 or to

00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:42.180
 bless,

00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:42.839
 but to

00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:43.660
 exploit a

00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:44.359
 woman to

00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:45.680
 satisfy his

00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:46.200
 desire,

00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:46.900
 his lust.

00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:47.920
 He lacks

00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:48.900
 integrity and

00:30:48.900 --> 00:30:49.240
 honor.

00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:51.779
 Such an

00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:52.920
 attitude is

00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:53.740
 more bitter

00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.240
 than death.

00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:57.519
 It takes

00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:57.960
 two to

00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:58.379
 tango,

00:30:58.579 --> 00:30:58.759
 okay?

00:30:59.059 --> 00:30:59.460
 It really

00:30:59.460 --> 00:30:59.779
 does.

00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:02.099
 The sage's

00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:02.940
 commentary does

00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:03.519
 not come

00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:04.099
 across,

00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:05.180
 therefore,

00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:05.740
 more as

00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:06.700
 a woman

00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.120
 hater.

00:31:09.400 --> 00:31:09.840
 Instead,

00:31:10.080 --> 00:31:10.560
 it reflects

00:31:10.560 --> 00:31:11.259
 that of

00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:11.720
 a man

00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.060
 who has

00:31:12.060 --> 00:31:12.620
 probably

00:31:12.620 --> 00:31:13.320
 learned the

00:31:13.320 --> 00:31:13.799
 hard way

00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.220
 if he

00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:15.100
 has learned

00:31:15.100 --> 00:31:15.460
 at all.

00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:16.220
 I'll just

00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:16.539
 take a

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:16.960
 pause here.

00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:17.259
 I have

00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:18.019
 resisted

00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:18.320
 and I've

00:31:18.320 --> 00:31:18.920
 fielded

00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:19.880
 some

00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:20.880
 questions from

00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:21.759
 people as

00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:22.620
 to why I

00:31:22.620 --> 00:31:23.440
 have not

00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:24.580
 referred to

00:31:24.580 --> 00:31:25.140
 the preacher

00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:25.600
 or the

00:31:25.600 --> 00:31:26.220
 sage as

00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:26.560
 Solomon

00:31:26.560 --> 00:31:27.019
 throughout

00:31:27.019 --> 00:31:27.560
 our time

00:31:27.560 --> 00:31:27.759
 in

00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:28.340
 Ecclesiastes.

00:31:28.339 --> 00:31:28.419
 Ecclesiastes.

00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:30.379
 And I

00:31:30.379 --> 00:31:30.980
 think one

00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.179
 of the

00:31:31.179 --> 00:31:32.399
 reasons I've

00:31:32.399 --> 00:31:32.879
 chosen to

00:31:32.879 --> 00:31:33.539
 do this is

00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:34.839
 because there's

00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:35.199
 a bit of a

00:31:35.199 --> 00:31:35.619
 temptation,

00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:36.119
 at least for

00:31:36.119 --> 00:31:36.559
 myself,

00:31:36.699 --> 00:31:37.199
 to interpret

00:31:37.199 --> 00:31:38.079
 too much of

00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:38.639
 Solomon's

00:31:38.639 --> 00:31:39.259
 biography

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:39.899
 throughout the

00:31:39.899 --> 00:31:41.059
 text rather

00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:41.500
 than letting

00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.559
 the text speak

00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:42.980
 the way it

00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.259
 is.

00:31:45.159 --> 00:31:45.599
 Fantastic,

00:31:45.939 --> 00:31:46.699
 brilliant scholars

00:31:46.699 --> 00:31:47.519
 have chosen to

00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:48.379
 just assume

00:31:48.379 --> 00:31:48.859
 that Solomon

00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:49.299
 had written

00:31:49.299 --> 00:31:49.839
 every word of

00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:50.199
 it and that's

00:31:50.199 --> 00:31:50.779
 totally fine.

00:31:51.319 --> 00:31:51.819
 I bring this

00:31:51.819 --> 00:31:52.199
 up not to

00:31:52.199 --> 00:31:52.720
 debate the

00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.500
 authorship of

00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:54.139
 Ecclesiastes.

00:31:54.419 --> 00:31:55.259
 I will just

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:56.740
 say I want

00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.299
 to concede

00:31:57.299 --> 00:31:57.879
 that if

00:31:57.880 --> 00:31:59.000
 Solomon did

00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.480
 in fact

00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:00.640
 author Ecclesiastes

00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:01.320
 or part of

00:32:01.320 --> 00:32:01.900
 Ecclesiastes

00:32:01.900 --> 00:32:03.360
 then I think

00:32:03.360 --> 00:32:04.220
 we have his

00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:04.720
 words here.

00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:06.700
 You see

00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:07.000
 Solomon,

00:32:07.120 --> 00:32:07.700
 the wisest

00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:08.100
 man on

00:32:08.100 --> 00:32:08.460
 earth who

00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:09.100
 enjoyed all

00:32:09.100 --> 00:32:09.500
 that life

00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:09.840
 had to

00:32:09.840 --> 00:32:10.160
 offer,

00:32:10.340 --> 00:32:10.800
 turned out

00:32:10.800 --> 00:32:11.440
 to be quite

00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:12.040
 wicked in

00:32:12.040 --> 00:32:12.400
 the end.

00:32:13.560 --> 00:32:14.180
 He exploited

00:32:14.180 --> 00:32:15.020
 hundreds,

00:32:16.200 --> 00:32:16.780
 hundreds,

00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:17.920
 he exploited

00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:18.580
 hundreds of

00:32:18.580 --> 00:32:19.460
 women to

00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:20.260
 satisfy his

00:32:20.260 --> 00:32:21.300
 lust and

00:32:21.300 --> 00:32:21.700
 to be a

00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:22.080
 show of

00:32:22.080 --> 00:32:22.720
 his power,

00:32:23.320 --> 00:32:23.980
 neglecting his

00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:24.560
 own kingdom

00:32:24.560 --> 00:32:25.220
 and becoming

00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:26.180
 a polytheist.

00:32:26.180 --> 00:32:28.259
 He was a

00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:28.799
 wicked man

00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:29.600
 who thrived

00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:30.120
 and lived

00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:30.840
 a relatively

00:32:30.840 --> 00:32:31.660
 long life.

00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:34.940
 Perhaps

00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:35.279
 there is

00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:36.240
 something in

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:38.400
 thinking about

00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:39.660
 Solomon that

00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:40.220
 helps us to

00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:40.960
 understand the

00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:42.580
 second part of

00:32:42.580 --> 00:32:43.340
 the conundrum

00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:44.980
 in verse 15.

00:32:45.460 --> 00:32:45.900
 The wicked

00:32:45.900 --> 00:32:46.420
 man who

00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:47.120
 lives long

00:32:47.120 --> 00:32:48.940
 is not

00:32:48.940 --> 00:32:49.840
 necessarily the

00:32:49.840 --> 00:32:50.400
 one who is

00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:50.920
 the fortunate

00:32:50.920 --> 00:32:51.259
 one.

00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:53.579
 for long

00:32:53.579 --> 00:32:54.500
 life is only

00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:55.039
 a blessing

00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:56.099
 if it is

00:32:56.099 --> 00:32:56.900
 a righteous

00:32:56.900 --> 00:32:57.440
 life,

00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:58.019
 not a wicked

00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:58.299
 one.

00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:02.700
 You know,

00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:03.099
 Idiomin

00:33:03.099 --> 00:33:03.859
 dies

00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:05.299
 pancreatic

00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:05.799
 cancer.

00:33:08.900 --> 00:33:09.400
 Uganda

00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:10.019
 refused,

00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:11.019
 the government

00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:11.440
 at the time

00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:12.379
 refused to

00:33:12.379 --> 00:33:13.599
 repatriate

00:33:13.599 --> 00:33:13.859
 him

00:33:13.859 --> 00:33:15.839
 and kind

00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:16.119
 of wipe

00:33:16.119 --> 00:33:16.720
 his slate

00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:17.019
 clean.

00:33:17.099 --> 00:33:17.379
 They said,

00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:17.619
 if you're

00:33:17.619 --> 00:33:17.759
 going to

00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.160
 come back,

00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:18.420
 we're going

00:33:18.420 --> 00:33:18.759
 to try

00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:19.000
 you and

00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:19.299
 hang you.

00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:21.200
 and he

00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:21.639
 died,

00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:23.879
 not

00:33:23.879 --> 00:33:25.319
 exactly in

00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:25.599
 the best

00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:25.899
 spot.

00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:27.779
 I think

00:33:27.779 --> 00:33:28.200
 the sage

00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:28.500
 is saying

00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:29.099
 that Idiomin,

00:33:29.359 --> 00:33:29.720
 he might

00:33:29.720 --> 00:33:29.960
 have lived

00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:31.139
 long as

00:33:31.139 --> 00:33:31.419
 a wicked

00:33:31.419 --> 00:33:31.720
 man,

00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:32.159
 but he

00:33:32.159 --> 00:33:32.440
 didn't

00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:34.779
 live a

00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:35.119
 fortunate

00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:35.539
 life.

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.480
 A long

00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:39.019
 wicked life

00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:39.339
 is still

00:33:39.339 --> 00:33:39.639
 a wicked

00:33:39.639 --> 00:33:39.899
 one.

00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:41.919
 Returning

00:33:41.919 --> 00:33:42.339
 to verse

00:33:42.339 --> 00:33:43.500
 26,

00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:45.659
 while we

00:33:45.659 --> 00:33:46.079
 shouldn't

00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:46.599
 immediately

00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:47.159
 seek to

00:33:47.159 --> 00:33:47.819
 allegorize

00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:48.339
 the challenging

00:33:48.339 --> 00:33:48.779
 passage,

00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:49.359
 which we

00:33:49.359 --> 00:33:49.859
 didn't

00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:50.460
 just now,

00:33:50.839 --> 00:33:51.359
 we should

00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:51.720
 remember

00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:52.099
 that we

00:33:52.099 --> 00:33:52.379
 can

00:33:52.379 --> 00:33:53.019
 allegorize

00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:53.279
 it.

00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:54.680
 And that

00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:54.899
 would be

00:33:54.899 --> 00:33:55.259
 an important

00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:56.240
 thing for

00:33:56.240 --> 00:33:56.519
 us to

00:33:56.519 --> 00:33:56.759
 do.

00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:58.480
 And the

00:33:58.480 --> 00:33:59.059
 reason is

00:33:59.059 --> 00:34:00.000
 common in

00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:00.759
 wisdom literature

00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:02.139
 is this

00:34:02.139 --> 00:34:02.960
 depiction of

00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:03.799
 wickedness as

00:34:03.799 --> 00:34:04.379
 an evil and

00:34:04.379 --> 00:34:05.019
 deceitful woman.

00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:05.799
 By the way,

00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:06.639
 it also

00:34:06.639 --> 00:34:07.339
 allegorizes

00:34:07.339 --> 00:34:08.179
 wisdom as

00:34:08.179 --> 00:34:08.699
 a woman as

00:34:08.699 --> 00:34:08.880
 well.

00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:10.519
 So,

00:34:10.800 --> 00:34:11.340
 going back to

00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:11.860
 Proverbs,

00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:13.019
 we see,

00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:14.019
 especially in

00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:14.920
 chapter 7 of

00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:15.300
 Proverbs,

00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:16.860
 lady folly

00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:17.920
 or dame

00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:18.500
 folly,

00:34:18.780 --> 00:34:19.160
 as the

00:34:19.160 --> 00:34:19.620
 one who

00:34:19.620 --> 00:34:20.140
 resembles

00:34:20.140 --> 00:34:20.760
 this woman

00:34:20.760 --> 00:34:21.600
 in Ecclesiastes.

00:34:22.019 --> 00:34:22.300
 Therefore,

00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:23.100
 it's fitting to

00:34:23.100 --> 00:34:24.000
 say that the

00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:24.600
 sage, or in

00:34:24.600 --> 00:34:24.960
 this case,

00:34:25.040 --> 00:34:25.440
 if it is

00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:25.820
 Solomon,

00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:27.040
 is also

00:34:27.040 --> 00:34:27.640
 describing

00:34:27.640 --> 00:34:28.420
 wickedness in

00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:28.840
 a general

00:34:28.840 --> 00:34:29.300
 sense.

00:34:30.780 --> 00:34:31.720
 Flee from

00:34:31.720 --> 00:34:32.460
 wickedness.

00:34:33.200 --> 00:34:33.780
 The wise

00:34:33.780 --> 00:34:34.420
 person

00:34:34.420 --> 00:34:36.600
 would flee

00:34:36.600 --> 00:34:37.300
 from her.

00:34:38.840 --> 00:34:39.480
 The one

00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:39.960
 that seeks

00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:40.560
 to serve the

00:34:40.560 --> 00:34:40.960
 Lord would

00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:41.620
 flee from

00:34:41.620 --> 00:34:41.880
 her,

00:34:42.720 --> 00:34:43.700
 would flee

00:34:43.700 --> 00:34:44.540
 from wickedness.

00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:46.739
 In fact,

00:34:47.320 --> 00:34:47.860
 this kind of

00:34:47.860 --> 00:34:48.360
 wickedness is

00:34:48.360 --> 00:34:49.179
 so widespread

00:34:49.179 --> 00:34:50.460
 that he

00:34:50.460 --> 00:34:51.000
 finds that

00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:51.460
 no one,

00:34:51.659 --> 00:34:51.860
 again,

00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:52.599
 remember,

00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:53.239
 verse 20,

00:34:53.579 --> 00:34:54.119
 no one is

00:34:54.119 --> 00:34:54.719
 righteous and

00:34:54.719 --> 00:34:55.320
 concludes the

00:34:55.320 --> 00:34:55.960
 most definitive

00:34:55.960 --> 00:34:56.980
 answer to

00:34:56.980 --> 00:34:57.599
 the conundrum

00:34:57.599 --> 00:34:58.460
 of verse 15.

00:34:59.139 --> 00:34:59.920
 We see it

00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:03.539
 in verse 29.

00:35:04.179 --> 00:35:04.659
 If you turn

00:35:04.659 --> 00:35:05.000
 with me to

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:05.599
 verse 29.

00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:08.079
 See,

00:35:08.239 --> 00:35:08.820
 this alone

00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:09.380
 I found,

00:35:09.739 --> 00:35:10.420
 that God

00:35:10.420 --> 00:35:11.300
 made upright,

00:35:11.900 --> 00:35:12.300
 but they

00:35:12.300 --> 00:35:12.840
 have sought

00:35:12.840 --> 00:35:13.539
 out many

00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:14.119
 schemes.

00:35:14.119 --> 00:35:16.500
 in the end,

00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:16.940
 God's not

00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:17.699
 responsible for

00:35:17.699 --> 00:35:18.219
 the injustice

00:35:18.219 --> 00:35:18.759
 of the world.

00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:19.299
 We are.

00:35:20.219 --> 00:35:20.599
 He made

00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:21.059
 everything

00:35:21.059 --> 00:35:21.960
 wonderful and

00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:22.659
 beautiful and

00:35:22.659 --> 00:35:22.839
 good.

00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:23.920
 The first

00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:24.880
 word that

00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:26.259
 came out of

00:35:26.259 --> 00:35:26.920
 his mouth in

00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:28.139
 creation after

00:35:28.139 --> 00:35:28.559
 he made

00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:29.579
 everything in

00:35:29.579 --> 00:35:30.299
 Genesis 1 and

00:35:30.299 --> 00:35:31.519
 2 was good,

00:35:31.619 --> 00:35:32.039
 was good,

00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:32.460
 was good,

00:35:32.539 --> 00:35:32.819
 was good,

00:35:32.859 --> 00:35:33.159
 was good.

00:35:33.380 --> 00:35:33.960
 He gets to

00:35:33.960 --> 00:35:34.259
 mankind.

00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:34.819
 What does he

00:35:34.819 --> 00:35:35.099
 say?

00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:36.179
 It was very

00:35:36.179 --> 00:35:36.500
 good.

00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:37.659
 That was the

00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:38.579
 first words he

00:35:38.579 --> 00:35:39.659
 spoke over us.

00:35:41.900 --> 00:35:42.719
 It was very

00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:43.000
 good.

00:35:43.539 --> 00:35:44.019
 And yet,

00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:45.579
 the sage

00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:46.579
 helps us to

00:35:46.579 --> 00:35:46.859
 see that

00:35:46.859 --> 00:35:47.159
 that's not

00:35:47.159 --> 00:35:47.440
 the case

00:35:47.440 --> 00:35:47.719
 anymore.

00:35:49.400 --> 00:35:50.119
 God made

00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:51.000
 man upright,

00:35:51.500 --> 00:35:51.859
 but we

00:35:51.859 --> 00:35:52.779
 schemed against

00:35:52.779 --> 00:35:53.099
 him.

00:35:53.839 --> 00:35:54.420
 It turns out

00:35:54.420 --> 00:35:55.599
 the fall in

00:35:55.599 --> 00:35:56.259
 Genesis chapter

00:35:56.259 --> 00:35:57.119
 3 was in

00:35:57.119 --> 00:35:57.559
 fact quite

00:35:57.559 --> 00:35:57.880
 real,

00:35:58.299 --> 00:35:58.639
 and its

00:35:58.639 --> 00:35:59.179
 effects are

00:35:59.179 --> 00:35:59.639
 incredibly

00:35:59.639 --> 00:36:00.219
 widespread,

00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:01.079
 and it

00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:01.599
 touches every

00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:02.299
 man,

00:36:02.420 --> 00:36:02.559
 woman,

00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:03.119
 and child.

00:36:03.219 --> 00:36:03.619
 The fall

00:36:03.619 --> 00:36:04.279
 is indeed

00:36:04.279 --> 00:36:05.059
 our fault,

00:36:05.739 --> 00:36:07.179
 but friends,

00:36:07.279 --> 00:36:07.639
 it is not

00:36:07.639 --> 00:36:08.239
 our fate.

00:36:09.500 --> 00:36:10.239
 I'll wrap it

00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:10.779
 up with this.

00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:13.700
 verse 20

00:36:13.700 --> 00:36:14.360
 is completely

00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:15.019
 spot on.

00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:16.519
 So too is

00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:17.180
 verse 29.

00:36:17.320 --> 00:36:17.700
 There is no

00:36:17.700 --> 00:36:18.160
 one righteous,

00:36:18.660 --> 00:36:19.160
 no one can

00:36:19.160 --> 00:36:19.800
 save themselves,

00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:20.420
 no one is

00:36:20.420 --> 00:36:20.820
 upright,

00:36:21.240 --> 00:36:22.360
 not even

00:36:22.360 --> 00:36:23.120
 one in a

00:36:23.120 --> 00:36:23.580
 thousand,

00:36:24.980 --> 00:36:25.920
 which is to

00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:26.360
 say that

00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:27.200
 nobody is

00:36:27.200 --> 00:36:27.640
 upright.

00:36:28.740 --> 00:36:29.380
 But there

00:36:29.380 --> 00:36:30.160
 was one

00:36:30.160 --> 00:36:30.540
 who was

00:36:30.540 --> 00:36:30.920
 completely

00:36:30.920 --> 00:36:31.320
 upright.

00:36:33.240 --> 00:36:34.100
 There was

00:36:34.100 --> 00:36:34.600
 one who

00:36:34.600 --> 00:36:35.040
 was fully

00:36:35.040 --> 00:36:35.620
 wise.

00:36:36.240 --> 00:36:36.800
 There was

00:36:36.800 --> 00:36:37.160
 one who

00:36:37.160 --> 00:36:37.640
 was perfect

00:36:37.640 --> 00:36:37.940
 in his

00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:38.580
 devotion and

00:36:38.580 --> 00:36:39.240
 love to the

00:36:39.239 --> 00:36:40.479
 Lord, and

00:36:40.479 --> 00:36:40.979
 yet even

00:36:40.979 --> 00:36:41.639
 he died

00:36:41.639 --> 00:36:42.000
 young.

00:36:43.939 --> 00:36:44.439
 Whether

00:36:44.439 --> 00:36:45.019
 Jesus died

00:36:45.019 --> 00:36:45.759
 at 30 or

00:36:45.759 --> 00:36:47.819
 33, the

00:36:47.819 --> 00:36:48.379
 fact is he

00:36:48.379 --> 00:36:49.079
 did not die

00:36:49.079 --> 00:36:49.959
 at 60 or

00:36:49.959 --> 00:36:50.599
 70 or

00:36:50.599 --> 00:36:50.879
 80.

00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:52.219
 He died a

00:36:52.219 --> 00:36:52.759
 young man.

00:36:54.659 --> 00:36:55.039
 And although

00:36:55.039 --> 00:36:55.739
 his death was

00:36:55.739 --> 00:36:56.839
 completely unjust,

00:36:56.939 --> 00:36:57.419
 it was not

00:36:57.419 --> 00:36:58.099
 without purpose.

00:36:58.779 --> 00:36:59.599
 The Lord gave

00:36:59.599 --> 00:37:00.719
 his only begotten

00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:02.599
 son to take

00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:03.439
 upon himself

00:37:03.439 --> 00:37:04.399
 human flesh in

00:37:04.399 --> 00:37:05.019
 the person of

00:37:05.019 --> 00:37:06.119
 Jesus, to

00:37:06.119 --> 00:37:07.079
 live under

00:37:07.079 --> 00:37:08.059
 the sun, to

00:37:08.059 --> 00:37:08.739
 die under

00:37:08.739 --> 00:37:09.859
 the sun, so

00:37:09.859 --> 00:37:10.179
 that we

00:37:10.179 --> 00:37:10.500
 could be

00:37:10.500 --> 00:37:11.139
 freed from

00:37:11.139 --> 00:37:11.659
 the cycle

00:37:11.659 --> 00:37:12.679
 of injustice

00:37:12.679 --> 00:37:13.679
 and

00:37:13.679 --> 00:37:14.699
 unrighteousness

00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:15.419
 forever.

00:37:16.759 --> 00:37:17.539
 That our

00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:19.279
 fate is not

00:37:19.279 --> 00:37:20.719
 to live

00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:21.539
 this vain

00:37:21.539 --> 00:37:22.319
 life under

00:37:22.319 --> 00:37:23.000
 the sun and

00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:23.619
 then cease

00:37:23.619 --> 00:37:25.579
 to exist, to

00:37:25.579 --> 00:37:27.219
 die, whether

00:37:27.219 --> 00:37:27.839
 young or

00:37:27.839 --> 00:37:29.199
 old, but

00:37:29.199 --> 00:37:29.579
 then be

00:37:29.579 --> 00:37:31.059
 nothing, to

00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:31.979
 fade into

00:37:31.979 --> 00:37:32.500
 obscurity.

00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:35.899
 Instead, the

00:37:35.899 --> 00:37:36.599
 promise is

00:37:36.599 --> 00:37:37.059
 that he will

00:37:37.059 --> 00:37:38.179
 one day make

00:37:38.179 --> 00:37:38.960
 all upright.

00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:41.019
 He will

00:37:41.019 --> 00:37:42.420
 make us

00:37:42.420 --> 00:37:43.599
 righteous by

00:37:43.599 --> 00:37:44.699
 clothing us in

00:37:44.699 --> 00:37:45.320
 his righteousness.

00:37:45.719 --> 00:37:46.159
 So the good

00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:48.699
 news is, we

00:37:48.699 --> 00:37:49.099
 need to be

00:37:49.099 --> 00:37:50.239
 righteous, we

00:37:50.239 --> 00:37:50.639
 need to be

00:37:50.639 --> 00:37:51.320
 wise, we

00:37:51.320 --> 00:37:51.659
 need to be

00:37:51.659 --> 00:37:53.460
 perfect in

00:37:53.460 --> 00:37:53.940
 order to

00:37:53.940 --> 00:37:54.799
 somehow transcend

00:37:54.799 --> 00:37:55.619
 this life under

00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:56.019
 the sun.

00:37:56.860 --> 00:37:57.860
 Jesus comes, not

00:37:57.860 --> 00:37:58.739
 just to show us

00:37:58.739 --> 00:37:59.960
 some, to give us

00:37:59.960 --> 00:38:00.500
 some tips and

00:38:00.500 --> 00:38:01.079
 tricks on how to

00:38:01.079 --> 00:38:01.779
 make that happen,

00:38:02.340 --> 00:38:03.320
 but to live and

00:38:03.320 --> 00:38:04.159
 to die and to

00:38:04.159 --> 00:38:04.980
 rise again and

00:38:04.980 --> 00:38:05.699
 then if we put

00:38:05.699 --> 00:38:06.199
 our faith in

00:38:06.199 --> 00:38:07.139
 him, clothe us

00:38:07.139 --> 00:38:07.519
 in his

00:38:07.519 --> 00:38:10.219
 righteousness so

00:38:10.219 --> 00:38:10.719
 that we would

00:38:10.719 --> 00:38:11.639
 have a fighting

00:38:11.639 --> 00:38:12.260
 chance, and not

00:38:12.260 --> 00:38:12.699
 just a fighting

00:38:12.699 --> 00:38:13.480
 chance, but a

00:38:13.480 --> 00:38:15.199
 guarantee that we

00:38:15.199 --> 00:38:16.460
 can transcend this

00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:17.320
 vain life under

00:38:17.320 --> 00:38:17.780
 the sun.

00:38:18.619 --> 00:38:19.800
 I'll read a

00:38:19.800 --> 00:38:21.400
 few dynamite

00:38:21.400 --> 00:38:22.320
 passages from

00:38:22.320 --> 00:38:23.900
 the Bible that

00:38:23.900 --> 00:38:24.559
 speak to this.

00:38:24.880 --> 00:38:25.679
 Isaiah 61,

00:38:25.800 --> 00:38:26.199
 verse 10,

00:38:26.199 --> 00:38:46.699
 Galatians 3,

00:38:46.799 --> 00:38:47.539
 verse 27,

00:38:47.539 --> 00:38:48.639
 for as many as

00:38:48.639 --> 00:38:49.320
 you were baptized

00:38:49.320 --> 00:38:50.559
 into Christ, have

00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:51.800
 put on Christ.

00:38:53.259 --> 00:38:53.579
 And then

00:38:53.579 --> 00:38:54.259
 finally, Romans

00:38:54.259 --> 00:38:55.639
 chapter 13,

00:38:55.719 --> 00:38:56.400
 verse 14,

00:38:57.279 --> 00:38:58.219
 but put on the

00:38:58.219 --> 00:38:59.239
 Lord Jesus Christ

00:38:59.239 --> 00:38:59.860
 and make no

00:38:59.860 --> 00:39:00.599
 provision for the

00:39:00.599 --> 00:39:02.300
 flesh to gratify

00:39:02.300 --> 00:39:03.820
 its desires.

00:39:03.940 --> 00:39:04.400
 Really, the

00:39:04.400 --> 00:39:05.139
 biggest revelation

00:39:05.139 --> 00:39:05.900
 from all this,

00:39:06.940 --> 00:39:07.820
 hopefully we've

00:39:07.820 --> 00:39:09.179
 come to a

00:39:09.179 --> 00:39:10.820
 decent, solid

00:39:10.820 --> 00:39:12.900
 handle on the

00:39:12.900 --> 00:39:13.559
 conundrum of

00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:14.619
 verse 15, but

00:39:14.619 --> 00:39:15.380
 really the biggest

00:39:15.380 --> 00:39:17.119
 revelation that the

00:39:17.119 --> 00:39:17.960
 sage reveals in

00:39:17.960 --> 00:39:18.739
 this passage is

00:39:18.739 --> 00:39:19.619
 that an all

00:39:19.619 --> 00:39:20.679
 powerful, perfectly

00:39:20.679 --> 00:39:21.519
 good, and all

00:39:21.519 --> 00:39:22.880
 knowing God would

00:39:22.880 --> 00:39:25.019
 give a gift to

00:39:25.019 --> 00:39:25.759
 unworthy people.

00:39:26.119 --> 00:39:26.859
 And not just a

00:39:26.859 --> 00:39:27.400
 gift, but his

00:39:27.400 --> 00:39:28.000
 own son.

00:39:29.759 --> 00:39:30.500
 He doesn't just

00:39:30.500 --> 00:39:31.480
 give us a few

00:39:31.480 --> 00:39:32.239
 extra years, a

00:39:32.239 --> 00:39:33.039
 few extra decades,

00:39:33.519 --> 00:39:34.079
 a few nicer

00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:36.480
 things, you

00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:38.019
 know, excellent

00:39:38.019 --> 00:39:38.839
 relationships.

00:39:39.699 --> 00:39:40.420
 Whether those

00:39:40.420 --> 00:39:41.460
 things happen or

00:39:41.460 --> 00:39:42.739
 not, they're

00:39:42.739 --> 00:39:43.400
 gifts from God.

00:39:43.699 --> 00:39:44.119
 It's his

00:39:44.119 --> 00:39:44.639
 prerogative to

00:39:44.639 --> 00:39:45.400
 give or to not

00:39:45.400 --> 00:39:45.579
 give.

00:39:45.579 --> 00:39:47.440
 But the real

00:39:47.440 --> 00:39:48.159
 gift he gives

00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:48.819
 is his son.

00:39:51.159 --> 00:39:51.840
 And because we

00:39:51.840 --> 00:39:53.079
 are clothed with

00:39:53.079 --> 00:39:54.699
 Christ's righteousness

00:39:54.699 --> 00:39:56.400
 through faith, and

00:39:56.400 --> 00:39:57.599
 because he rose from

00:39:57.599 --> 00:39:59.159
 the dead, we can be

00:39:59.159 --> 00:40:00.219
 confident that this

00:40:00.219 --> 00:40:03.019
 vain life will not

00:40:03.019 --> 00:40:04.099
 be vain for much

00:40:04.099 --> 00:40:04.480
 longer.

00:40:05.279 --> 00:40:06.699
 And in fact, the

00:40:06.699 --> 00:40:07.860
 beauty and the

00:40:07.860 --> 00:40:08.519
 goodness of the

00:40:08.519 --> 00:40:09.539
 life to come begins

00:40:09.539 --> 00:40:10.299
 in this life.

00:40:10.739 --> 00:40:11.279
 So although we

00:40:11.279 --> 00:40:12.779
 experience the

00:40:12.780 --> 00:40:14.420
 difficulty of this

00:40:14.420 --> 00:40:16.060
 life, we start to

00:40:16.060 --> 00:40:17.100
 live out this

00:40:17.100 --> 00:40:18.080
 heavenly reality

00:40:18.080 --> 00:40:18.480
 now.

00:40:22.640 --> 00:40:23.660
 It's also a

00:40:23.660 --> 00:40:24.220
 promise that

00:40:24.220 --> 00:40:26.340
 ultimately, wickedness

00:40:26.340 --> 00:40:27.240
 will not prosper,

00:40:27.720 --> 00:40:28.420
 even if it does

00:40:28.420 --> 00:40:28.940
 here on earth.

00:40:32.060 --> 00:40:32.700
 Idiomin will

00:40:32.700 --> 00:40:33.840
 answer for his

00:40:33.840 --> 00:40:34.320
 evils.

00:40:35.580 --> 00:40:36.540
 And praise God

00:40:36.540 --> 00:40:37.019
 that he will.

00:40:37.019 --> 00:40:38.840
 And Bishop

00:40:38.840 --> 00:40:41.079
 Luom, because

00:40:41.079 --> 00:40:41.960
 of Christ, did

00:40:41.960 --> 00:40:42.840
 not die in

00:40:42.840 --> 00:40:43.119
 vain.

00:40:43.259 --> 00:40:44.079
 Praise God for

00:40:44.079 --> 00:40:44.340
 that.

00:40:45.940 --> 00:40:46.719
 Therefore, righteousness

00:40:46.719 --> 00:40:47.880
 and wisdom in the

00:40:47.880 --> 00:40:48.539
 fear of the Lord,

00:40:49.239 --> 00:40:50.259
 they are not foolish

00:40:50.259 --> 00:40:50.860
 endeavors.

00:40:51.820 --> 00:40:52.759
 Fleeing wickedness

00:40:52.759 --> 00:40:54.440
 and sin is not a

00:40:54.440 --> 00:40:56.519
 recipe for a

00:40:56.519 --> 00:40:58.480
 short life and a

00:40:58.480 --> 00:41:00.099
 drab life, but

00:41:00.099 --> 00:41:01.480
 rather this is the

00:41:01.480 --> 00:41:02.559
 greatest way that we

00:41:02.559 --> 00:41:02.940
 could live.

00:41:03.980 --> 00:41:04.880
 This is the promise

00:41:04.880 --> 00:41:05.920
 of Christ for all who

00:41:05.920 --> 00:41:06.599
 would trust in him.

00:41:07.519 --> 00:41:07.960
 Amen.

00:41:09.519 --> 00:41:10.299
 Let us pray.

00:41:12.579 --> 00:41:13.539
 Father in heaven, we

00:41:13.539 --> 00:41:15.019
 thank you for, well

00:41:15.019 --> 00:41:15.880
 first, Lord, we thank

00:41:15.880 --> 00:41:16.719
 you for the sage.

00:41:17.279 --> 00:41:18.279
 And if it is indeed

00:41:18.279 --> 00:41:19.519
 Solomon who wrote

00:41:19.519 --> 00:41:20.619
 this section or the

00:41:20.619 --> 00:41:22.039
 entire book, Lord, we

00:41:22.039 --> 00:41:23.019
 thank you for his

00:41:23.019 --> 00:41:26.199
 humble honesty at the

00:41:26.199 --> 00:41:27.059
 reality of human

00:41:27.059 --> 00:41:27.360
 nature.

00:41:29.420 --> 00:41:30.500
 Lord, we also

00:41:30.500 --> 00:41:33.480
 thank you for the

00:41:33.480 --> 00:41:35.039
 example of the

00:41:35.039 --> 00:41:35.759
 martyr Bishop

00:41:35.759 --> 00:41:36.159
 Luom.

00:41:37.420 --> 00:41:38.900
 Lord, help us if we

00:41:38.900 --> 00:41:40.199
 ever find ourselves in

00:41:40.199 --> 00:41:42.139
 a time of decision

00:41:42.139 --> 00:41:43.179
 making where we

00:41:43.179 --> 00:41:45.079
 choose to stand up

00:41:45.079 --> 00:41:46.539
 for you or to

00:41:46.539 --> 00:41:48.019
 crumble under the

00:41:48.019 --> 00:41:49.119
 temptation of

00:41:49.119 --> 00:41:50.699
 apostasy, Lord, that

00:41:50.699 --> 00:41:51.579
 we would choose the

00:41:51.579 --> 00:41:51.839
 former.

00:41:53.339 --> 00:41:54.319
 And Lord, we pray that

00:41:54.319 --> 00:41:55.980
 you would help us to

00:41:55.980 --> 00:41:56.880
 walk in the fear of

00:41:56.880 --> 00:41:57.519
 you, that we would

00:41:57.519 --> 00:41:58.759
 not try to self-justify

00:41:58.759 --> 00:41:59.960
 ourselves or give

00:41:59.960 --> 00:42:00.699
 ourselves over to

00:42:00.699 --> 00:42:02.039
 self-indulgence, but

00:42:02.039 --> 00:42:03.579
 entrust ourselves to

00:42:03.579 --> 00:42:03.940
 your son.

00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:05.420
 And Lord, help us by

00:42:05.420 --> 00:42:06.679
 faith, trust that he

00:42:06.679 --> 00:42:08.019
 has clothed us in his

00:42:08.019 --> 00:42:08.460
 righteousness.

00:42:10.119 --> 00:42:11.159
 To God alone be the

00:42:11.159 --> 00:42:11.460
 glory.

00:42:11.559 --> 00:42:11.759
 Amen.

00:42:11.759 --> 00:42:11.860
 Amen.

00:42:12.300 --> 00:42:12.300


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00:42:12.300 --> 00:42:42.280
 Thank you.