WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.719
 902. So page 902 of the Church Bible, Hosea chapter 4, just starting in verse 1.

00:00:18.620 --> 00:00:23.480
 Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against

00:00:23.480 --> 00:00:29.039
 you who live in the land. There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgement of God in the

00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:35.320
 land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery. They break all bounds,

00:00:35.420 --> 00:00:42.060
 and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away.

00:00:42.659 --> 00:00:46.420
 The beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying.

00:00:47.500 --> 00:00:53.759
 But let no man bring a charge, let no man accuse another, for your people are like those who bring

00:00:53.759 --> 00:00:58.759
 charges against a priest. You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you.

00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:05.340
 So I will destroy your mother. My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you

00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:12.400
 have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests. Because you have ignored the law of your

00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:18.620
 God, I also will ignore your children. The more the priests increased, the more they sinned against

00:01:18.620 --> 00:01:24.960
 me. They exchange their glory for something disgraceful. They feed on the sins of my people

00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:32.179
 and relish their wickedness. And it will be, like people, like priests, I will punish both of them

00:01:32.179 --> 00:01:39.379
 for their ways, and repay them for their deeds. They will eat but not have enough. They will engage

00:01:39.379 --> 00:01:45.560
 in prostitution but not increase. Because they have deserted the Lord to give themselves to prostitution,

00:01:45.939 --> 00:01:52.780
 to old wine and new, which take away the understanding of my people. They consult a wooden idol and are

00:01:52.780 --> 00:01:59.859
 answered by a stick of wood. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray. They are unfaithful to their God.

00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:06.159
 They sacrifice in the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar and

00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:13.599
 terebinth, where the shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law

00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:20.599
 ought to adultery. I will not punish your daughters when they turn to prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law

00:02:20.599 --> 00:02:27.780
 when they commit adultery. Because the men themselves consort with harlots and sacrifice with shrine

00:02:27.780 --> 00:02:35.079
 prostitutes. A people without understanding will come to ruin. Though you commit adultery, O Israel,

00:02:35.080 --> 00:02:44.660
 let not Judah become guilty. Do not go to Gilgal. Do not go up to Beth-Avon. And do not swear as surely

00:02:44.660 --> 00:02:52.600
 as the Lord lives. The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the Lord pasture them

00:02:52.600 --> 00:03:00.500
 like lambs in a meadow? Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone. Even when their drinks are gone,

00:03:00.500 --> 00:03:08.080
 they continue their prostitution. Their rulers dearly love shameful ways. A whirlwind will sweep

00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:11.340
 them away, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.

00:03:11.340 --> 00:03:35.420
 Thank you, Kirsty. Hosea chapter 4. So keep your Bibles open there, please. Alex is just handing

00:03:35.419 --> 00:03:42.159
 around pens and a little sheet which has notes if you want to take and follow along with the talk.

00:03:43.419 --> 00:03:48.119
 Again, just to remind you and encourage you that if you miss any of the talks, you can find them all

00:03:48.119 --> 00:03:56.159
 on the church website. And the little booklet that's on the table as well, The Passion and Pursuit of God,

00:03:56.219 --> 00:04:02.099
 which gives you a review, an overview of what the book is all about, which is always refreshing too.

00:04:02.099 --> 00:04:11.120
 Thank you. So let's turn to God as we pray

00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:16.939
 and ask for his help.

00:04:22.759 --> 00:04:24.659
 Father, thank you for your word.

00:04:26.339 --> 00:04:27.959
 Thank you for its truth.

00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:32.899
 Thank you for the way in which it speaks to us today.

00:04:35.299 --> 00:04:39.459
 And we pray that as we listen, as we engage,

00:04:40.899 --> 00:04:43.419
 that Father, you would be turning our hearts

00:04:43.419 --> 00:04:48.120
 away from other lovers and other things.

00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:52.919
 Turning our hearts and our attention to you,

00:04:52.920 --> 00:04:54.920
 our true love,

00:04:54.920 --> 00:04:57.180
 our faithful

00:04:57.180 --> 00:04:59.140
 and loyal

00:04:59.140 --> 00:05:00.439
 husband.

00:05:02.780 --> 00:05:04.640
 Help us to do that well.

00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:07.560
 We need your help.

00:05:08.700 --> 00:05:11.120
 So pour out your spirit on us, we pray.

00:05:12.040 --> 00:05:12.540
 Amen.

00:05:12.540 --> 00:05:19.120
 All rise.

00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:23.340
 How does the defendant plead?

00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:24.240
 Guilty

00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:26.480
 or not guilty?

00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:31.220
 Well, I can still remember my day in court.

00:05:31.740 --> 00:05:33.640
 It was a humbling experience.

00:05:33.639 --> 00:05:37.300
 The evidence was laid out before the judge,

00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:39.039
 a witness's account

00:05:39.039 --> 00:05:42.339
 and the moment captured on CCTV.

00:05:43.939 --> 00:05:47.379
 Driving across a railway line when the barrier was coming down

00:05:47.379 --> 00:05:48.659
 was not only stupid,

00:05:49.099 --> 00:05:50.360
 it was costly.

00:05:51.659 --> 00:05:52.339
 The judgment

00:05:52.339 --> 00:05:54.199
 was just

00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:55.300
 and fair.

00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:57.939
 I had no excuse.

00:05:57.939 --> 00:06:00.540
 Well, chapter 4

00:06:00.540 --> 00:06:02.600
 brings all of us

00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:03.160
 into

00:06:03.160 --> 00:06:04.399
 the courtroom.

00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:06.839
 Not just any court,

00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:09.139
 God's marriage court.

00:06:10.040 --> 00:06:11.180
 And on trial

00:06:11.180 --> 00:06:13.259
 is God's wife,

00:06:13.779 --> 00:06:14.240
 Israel.

00:06:15.339 --> 00:06:16.000
 Remember,

00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:17.819
 God's marriage to his people

00:06:17.819 --> 00:06:19.220
 was illustrated

00:06:19.220 --> 00:06:21.480
 through the marriage of Hosea to Gomer.

00:06:21.819 --> 00:06:22.819
 Just as Gomer

00:06:22.819 --> 00:06:24.139
 had left Hosea

00:06:24.139 --> 00:06:25.100
 for other lovers,

00:06:25.420 --> 00:06:27.180
 so Israel had walked out

00:06:27.180 --> 00:06:28.480
 on their marriage to God.

00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:30.340
 But God was not about

00:06:30.340 --> 00:06:32.160
 to give up on his loved one.

00:06:32.939 --> 00:06:34.400
 Have a look at chapter 3

00:06:34.400 --> 00:06:35.639
 and verse 1.

00:06:37.259 --> 00:06:38.819
 The Lord said to me,

00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:40.699
 so the Lord is speaking to Hosea,

00:06:41.259 --> 00:06:41.860
 Hosea,

00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:43.360
 go show your love

00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:44.939
 to your wife again,

00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:47.340
 though she is loved by another

00:06:47.340 --> 00:06:49.639
 and is an adulteress.

00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:51.340
 Love her

00:06:51.340 --> 00:06:53.480
 as the Lord loves

00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:54.800
 the Israelites.

00:06:55.800 --> 00:06:57.100
 And so Hosea would

00:06:57.100 --> 00:06:59.340
 go and love his wife again

00:06:59.340 --> 00:07:01.240
 and he brings her back

00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:02.540
 into the family home.

00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:04.260
 It's a wonderful picture

00:07:04.260 --> 00:07:06.160
 of God's love and grace

00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:09.260
 towards people like us.

00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:12.660
 So if chapters 1 to 3

00:07:12.660 --> 00:07:14.420
 give us the big picture

00:07:14.420 --> 00:07:15.379
 of God's marriage

00:07:15.379 --> 00:07:16.180
 to his people,

00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:19.000
 then chapters 4 to 14

00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:20.780
 give us the detail

00:07:20.780 --> 00:07:22.460
 of how the marriage failed,

00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:24.060
 how it broke down,

00:07:24.060 --> 00:07:25.500
 and how God is going

00:07:25.500 --> 00:07:27.160
 to restore it again.

00:07:27.579 --> 00:07:28.459
 Hosea and Gomer

00:07:28.459 --> 00:07:30.100
 may not be mentioned again,

00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:32.199
 but God's marriage

00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:33.060
 to his people

00:07:33.060 --> 00:07:34.399
 is still central

00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:35.780
 to the story.

00:07:36.340 --> 00:07:37.220
 And here we are

00:07:37.220 --> 00:07:38.259
 in chapter 4

00:07:38.259 --> 00:07:39.800
 and it all starts

00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:42.439
 in God's marriage court.

00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:43.459
 God,

00:07:43.540 --> 00:07:44.220
 the faithful,

00:07:44.500 --> 00:07:45.220
 loyal husband,

00:07:45.959 --> 00:07:47.300
 has turned judge,

00:07:48.259 --> 00:07:48.620
 jury,

00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:50.259
 and prosecutor.

00:07:51.060 --> 00:07:51.600
 Israel,

00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:53.199
 God's unfaithful wife,

00:07:53.899 --> 00:07:55.280
 is the silent

00:07:55.280 --> 00:07:56.699
 defendant.

00:07:57.899 --> 00:07:58.720
 Chapter 4,

00:07:58.800 --> 00:07:59.259
 verse 1.

00:07:59.319 --> 00:08:00.600
 You can imagine the scene.

00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:01.860
 Israel,

00:08:01.980 --> 00:08:02.459
 the wife,

00:08:02.860 --> 00:08:03.620
 in the dock.

00:08:04.180 --> 00:08:04.759
 God,

00:08:04.899 --> 00:08:05.560
 the judge,

00:08:06.220 --> 00:08:06.840
 comes in.

00:08:07.220 --> 00:08:07.860
 Chapter 4,

00:08:07.939 --> 00:08:08.439
 verse 1.

00:08:08.780 --> 00:08:09.720
 Hear the word

00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:10.319
 of the Lord,

00:08:10.459 --> 00:08:11.160
 you Israelites,

00:08:11.160 --> 00:08:13.520
 because the Lord

00:08:13.520 --> 00:08:14.700
 has a charge

00:08:14.700 --> 00:08:16.680
 to bring against you

00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:17.340
 who live

00:08:17.340 --> 00:08:18.760
 in the land.

00:08:19.840 --> 00:08:20.320
 Now,

00:08:20.380 --> 00:08:21.200
 as we enter

00:08:21.200 --> 00:08:22.320
 this marriage court

00:08:22.320 --> 00:08:23.960
 and listen to the proceedings,

00:08:24.600 --> 00:08:26.240
 we're not just

00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:27.980
 spectators up in the gallery.

00:08:30.080 --> 00:08:31.620
 We are also

00:08:31.620 --> 00:08:32.980
 in the dock.

00:08:33.940 --> 00:08:34.860
 We are also

00:08:34.860 --> 00:08:35.700
 the defendant.

00:08:36.800 --> 00:08:38.220
 Because we too

00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:39.800
 have failed

00:08:39.800 --> 00:08:40.740
 to love God

00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:41.500
 as we should,

00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:43.379
 we too

00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:44.100
 have led

00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:45.560
 an adulterous

00:08:45.560 --> 00:08:46.240
 life.

00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:48.860
 So first,

00:08:49.920 --> 00:08:50.680
 the charge

00:08:50.680 --> 00:08:51.639
 against us,

00:08:52.180 --> 00:08:53.700
 no love.

00:08:54.860 --> 00:08:55.580
 Look at the second

00:08:55.580 --> 00:08:56.580
 part of verse 1.

00:08:57.800 --> 00:08:58.779
 Here's the charge.

00:08:59.240 --> 00:08:59.920
 There is no

00:08:59.920 --> 00:09:00.899
 faithfulness,

00:09:01.899 --> 00:09:02.960
 no love,

00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:04.980
 no acknowledgement

00:09:04.980 --> 00:09:05.700
 of God

00:09:05.700 --> 00:09:07.100
 in the land.

00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:08.000
 Yes,

00:09:08.060 --> 00:09:08.980
 Israel was married

00:09:08.980 --> 00:09:09.580
 to God,

00:09:09.860 --> 00:09:10.759
 but it was a marriage

00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:11.440
 on paper,

00:09:11.580 --> 00:09:12.920
 not in practice.

00:09:13.379 --> 00:09:14.100
 They enjoyed

00:09:14.100 --> 00:09:15.040
 receiving all

00:09:15.040 --> 00:09:15.560
 of God's

00:09:15.560 --> 00:09:16.460
 wonderful gifts

00:09:16.460 --> 00:09:17.340
 and his blessings

00:09:17.340 --> 00:09:17.980
 and provision.

00:09:18.420 --> 00:09:19.420
 They took it all,

00:09:19.779 --> 00:09:20.820
 but they did not

00:09:20.820 --> 00:09:21.779
 want to fulfill

00:09:21.779 --> 00:09:22.700
 their marriage

00:09:22.700 --> 00:09:23.399
 obligations.

00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:25.040
 There was no

00:09:25.040 --> 00:09:25.820
 faithfulness,

00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:27.060
 no love,

00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:28.320
 and no

00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:28.840
 acknowledgement

00:09:28.840 --> 00:09:29.500
 of God.

00:09:31.180 --> 00:09:32.340
 And it seems

00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:33.139
 that our love

00:09:33.139 --> 00:09:33.759
 for God

00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:35.700
 is no different.

00:09:35.700 --> 00:09:37.680
 You see,

00:09:37.780 --> 00:09:38.520
 God is not

00:09:38.520 --> 00:09:39.560
 some distant

00:09:39.560 --> 00:09:40.860
 impersonal force

00:09:40.860 --> 00:09:41.640
 away out there.

00:09:41.960 --> 00:09:42.500
 He is our

00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:43.520
 loving creator

00:09:43.520 --> 00:09:45.700
 and he made us

00:09:45.700 --> 00:09:47.879
 for a relationship

00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:48.480
 with him.

00:09:48.560 --> 00:09:49.879
 That's why we exist.

00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:52.140
 He created us

00:09:52.140 --> 00:09:53.160
 so that we could

00:09:53.160 --> 00:09:54.420
 be married to him.

00:09:54.580 --> 00:09:55.840
 But we've rejected

00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:56.759
 his advances.

00:09:57.280 --> 00:09:58.480
 We've turned down

00:09:58.480 --> 00:09:59.860
 his marriage proposal.

00:10:00.460 --> 00:10:00.680
 Oh,

00:10:00.740 --> 00:10:01.540
 we're quite happy

00:10:01.540 --> 00:10:02.440
 to receive all

00:10:02.440 --> 00:10:03.120
 his blessings

00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:03.920
 and all the good

00:10:03.920 --> 00:10:05.000
 things that we get.

00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:06.900
 But we don't want

00:10:06.900 --> 00:10:07.560
 to commit

00:10:07.560 --> 00:10:08.340
 to him.

00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:10.860
 And the evidence

00:10:10.860 --> 00:10:11.600
 is seen

00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:12.920
 all around us

00:10:12.920 --> 00:10:13.660
 first

00:10:13.660 --> 00:10:15.600
 in a breakdown

00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:16.620
 in society.

00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:17.720
 Look at verse 2.

00:10:17.820 --> 00:10:18.500
 Because there's

00:10:18.500 --> 00:10:19.240
 no love

00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:20.620
 for God,

00:10:21.460 --> 00:10:21.800
 well,

00:10:21.900 --> 00:10:22.280
 verse 2,

00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:23.580
 there's only cursing,

00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:24.640
 lying,

00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:25.759
 and murder,

00:10:25.960 --> 00:10:26.600
 and stealing,

00:10:26.800 --> 00:10:27.480
 and adultery.

00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:28.460
 They break

00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:29.420
 all bounds

00:10:29.420 --> 00:10:30.440
 and bloodshed

00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:31.800
 follows bloodshed.

00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:32.899
 Now,

00:10:32.979 --> 00:10:33.979
 you listen to the news

00:10:33.979 --> 00:10:34.459
 and I think

00:10:34.459 --> 00:10:35.120
 that's a pretty

00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:36.279
 accurate description

00:10:36.279 --> 00:10:37.879
 of the human race.

00:10:39.259 --> 00:10:40.639
 Because we do not

00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:41.399
 love God,

00:10:42.819 --> 00:10:43.819
 society is

00:10:43.819 --> 00:10:44.939
 completely broken.

00:10:45.439 --> 00:10:46.299
 There are no

00:10:46.299 --> 00:10:46.959
 boundaries.

00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:48.419
 We live and do

00:10:48.419 --> 00:10:49.240
 as we please,

00:10:49.359 --> 00:10:50.579
 we do what we like,

00:10:50.839 --> 00:10:51.819
 and bloodshed

00:10:51.819 --> 00:10:52.979
 follows bloodshed.

00:10:53.079 --> 00:10:53.779
 There's wars,

00:10:53.959 --> 00:10:54.719
 there's crime,

00:10:54.859 --> 00:10:55.759
 there's violence.

00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:58.580
 But not only

00:10:58.580 --> 00:11:00.000
 is society broken,

00:11:00.379 --> 00:11:01.500
 look at the evidence

00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:02.500
 all around us

00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:03.759
 in the physical world.

00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:04.720
 Verse 3.

00:11:05.319 --> 00:11:06.220
 Because of this,

00:11:06.299 --> 00:11:06.899
 because there's

00:11:06.899 --> 00:11:07.960
 no love for God,

00:11:08.220 --> 00:11:09.480
 not only is society

00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:10.000
 broken,

00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:11.159
 but the world

00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:11.840
 is broken.

00:11:12.580 --> 00:11:13.139
 Verse 3.

00:11:13.220 --> 00:11:13.899
 Because of this,

00:11:13.980 --> 00:11:15.299
 the land mourns,

00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:16.759
 and all who live

00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:17.080
 in it

00:11:17.080 --> 00:11:18.100
 waste away.

00:11:18.679 --> 00:11:19.399
 The beasts

00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:20.240
 of the field,

00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:21.000
 the birds

00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:21.779
 of the air,

00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:22.700
 the fish

00:11:22.700 --> 00:11:23.399
 in the sea,

00:11:23.819 --> 00:11:24.580
 they're all

00:11:24.580 --> 00:11:25.340
 dying.

00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:27.720
 And isn't that

00:11:27.720 --> 00:11:28.500
 what we see

00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:29.600
 in our world today?

00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:30.879
 Not only is there

00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:31.600
 the wars,

00:11:32.019 --> 00:11:33.019
 but there's flooding,

00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:34.100
 there's famine,

00:11:34.379 --> 00:11:35.379
 there's earthquakes,

00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:36.460
 there's disease,

00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:37.340
 there's pollution.

00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:38.860
 It just goes on

00:11:38.860 --> 00:11:39.559
 and on.

00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:41.159
 Everything is

00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:42.360
 wasting away.

00:11:43.419 --> 00:11:43.980
 Creation

00:11:43.980 --> 00:11:45.779
 is groaning,

00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:47.240
 it's breaking.

00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:50.819
 Because we have

00:11:50.819 --> 00:11:52.080
 not loved God

00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:52.799
 as husband,

00:11:53.659 --> 00:11:54.700
 the evidence

00:11:54.700 --> 00:11:55.900
 is clear to see.

00:11:56.300 --> 00:11:57.700
 Society is broken.

00:11:58.259 --> 00:11:59.000
 The world

00:11:59.000 --> 00:11:59.660
 is broken.

00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:01.940
 The human race

00:12:01.940 --> 00:12:03.420
 is broken.

00:12:06.160 --> 00:12:07.080
 But you say,

00:12:07.160 --> 00:12:07.300
 well,

00:12:07.340 --> 00:12:08.420
 I'm not like that.

00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:11.120
 I'm not that person

00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:12.300
 that you've just read

00:12:12.300 --> 00:12:13.220
 in verse 2.

00:12:13.400 --> 00:12:14.879
 I care for people.

00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:15.980
 I don't murder,

00:12:16.140 --> 00:12:17.000
 I don't steal

00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:17.560
 or lie.

00:12:18.420 --> 00:12:18.700
 Well,

00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:19.520
 that's exactly

00:12:19.520 --> 00:12:20.400
 how the religious

00:12:20.400 --> 00:12:21.360
 priest thought.

00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:22.639
 Look at verse 4.

00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:25.680
 But let no man

00:12:25.680 --> 00:12:26.720
 bring a charge,

00:12:27.379 --> 00:12:28.300
 let no man

00:12:28.300 --> 00:12:29.080
 accuse another,

00:12:29.180 --> 00:12:30.000
 so stop pointing

00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:31.200
 fingers at each other,

00:12:31.460 --> 00:12:32.480
 for your people

00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:33.700
 are like those

00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:34.659
 who bring charges

00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:35.740
 against a priest.

00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:37.279
 In other words,

00:12:37.460 --> 00:12:38.419
 here are the priests,

00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:39.840
 they claim to be

00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:40.940
 innocent and above

00:12:40.940 --> 00:12:41.720
 and superior

00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:42.560
 and better than

00:12:42.560 --> 00:12:43.300
 everybody else,

00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:44.379
 but he's saying,

00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:46.820
 you're just as bad.

00:12:46.820 --> 00:12:48.420
 In fact,

00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:49.780
 having more priests

00:12:49.780 --> 00:12:50.960
 didn't make things

00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:51.520
 any better.

00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:53.360
 Having more church services

00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:54.780
 and more church buildings

00:12:54.780 --> 00:12:56.220
 didn't make things better,

00:12:56.300 --> 00:12:57.700
 it only made things worse.

00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:59.000
 Look at verse 7.

00:13:00.160 --> 00:13:01.980
 The more that the priests

00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:02.700
 increased,

00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:05.140
 the more they sinned

00:13:05.140 --> 00:13:05.940
 against me.

00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:08.379
 They exchanged their glory

00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:10.060
 for something disgraceful.

00:13:10.660 --> 00:13:12.340
 They feed on the sins

00:13:12.340 --> 00:13:13.140
 of my people

00:13:13.140 --> 00:13:14.540
 and relish

00:13:14.540 --> 00:13:16.280
 their wickedness.

00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:18.879
 You see,

00:13:18.940 --> 00:13:19.940
 every time the people

00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:20.700
 sinned,

00:13:21.560 --> 00:13:22.520
 they would have to go

00:13:22.520 --> 00:13:23.340
 to the priest

00:13:23.340 --> 00:13:25.020
 to go and make a sacrifice.

00:13:26.220 --> 00:13:27.300
 And the way in which

00:13:27.300 --> 00:13:28.600
 the priest was paid

00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:29.580
 was, well,

00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:30.160
 you would give him

00:13:30.160 --> 00:13:30.680
 a little bit

00:13:30.680 --> 00:13:32.500
 of the sacrificed animal.

00:13:32.940 --> 00:13:34.400
 Maybe a nice bit of steak

00:13:34.400 --> 00:13:35.840
 or a leg of lamb,

00:13:35.960 --> 00:13:36.879
 whatever it might be.

00:13:37.520 --> 00:13:38.700
 So the more sin

00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:40.020
 that there was,

00:13:40.020 --> 00:13:41.020
 the more sacrifices

00:13:41.660 --> 00:13:42.740
 that were required,

00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:43.640
 and therefore,

00:13:43.780 --> 00:13:44.900
 the more sacrifices

00:13:44.900 --> 00:13:45.700
 that were made,

00:13:46.160 --> 00:13:46.480
 well then,

00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:47.340
 the more pay

00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:48.399
 the priests got.

00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:50.740
 And for the priests,

00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:51.980
 it was simple maths.

00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:54.259
 Let's keep the sin going

00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:57.300
 and we earn more money.

00:13:57.440 --> 00:13:59.879
 We earn more food

00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:00.759
 for ourselves.

00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:01.960
 Verse 8.

00:14:02.039 --> 00:14:03.060
 That's what it's telling us.

00:14:03.139 --> 00:14:04.060
 They feed

00:14:04.060 --> 00:14:05.060
 on the sins

00:14:05.060 --> 00:14:05.639
 of the people.

00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:06.779
 They relish

00:14:06.779 --> 00:14:07.700
 in the wickedness.

00:14:08.180 --> 00:14:09.340
 It was simply

00:14:09.340 --> 00:14:10.500
 too profitable

00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:11.500
 for the priests

00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:13.019
 to actually deal

00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:13.960
 with the sin.

00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:15.740
 their attitude was,

00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:17.000
 if we try and deal

00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:17.639
 with the sin,

00:14:17.900 --> 00:14:19.080
 we're out of a job.

00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:20.240
 We're not going

00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:20.960
 to do that.

00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:25.420
 The smug religious

00:14:25.420 --> 00:14:27.620
 were just as bad.

00:14:29.220 --> 00:14:29.860
 And I think

00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:30.560
 it can be a bit

00:14:30.560 --> 00:14:31.180
 like us,

00:14:31.300 --> 00:14:32.340
 like that with us.

00:14:33.180 --> 00:14:34.160
 We can come along

00:14:34.160 --> 00:14:35.519
 to our church services

00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:37.240
 and do the religious

00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:38.000
 things,

00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:40.400
 help people out

00:14:40.400 --> 00:14:41.340
 now and again.

00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:43.620
 But why would we

00:14:43.620 --> 00:14:44.560
 want to increase

00:14:44.560 --> 00:14:45.120
 our giving

00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:46.139
 to the unreached

00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:47.240
 peoples of the world

00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:48.660
 when it would mean

00:14:48.660 --> 00:14:49.639
 we would have less

00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:51.019
 to spend on ourselves?

00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:52.740
 No, I'd want to give

00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:53.500
 to that because

00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:54.480
 then I wouldn't be

00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:55.320
 able to do this.

00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:57.800
 Why commit to

00:14:57.800 --> 00:14:58.660
 serving the most

00:14:58.660 --> 00:14:59.519
 vulnerable in our

00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.379
 community when it

00:15:00.379 --> 00:15:00.759
 would mean,

00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:02.440
 well, it stops me

00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:03.500
 from doing the things

00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:04.379
 I want to do?

00:15:05.920 --> 00:15:07.200
 Why bother using

00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:08.120
 your gifts in the

00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:08.879
 life of the church

00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:09.519
 when it means

00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:10.559
 I'm not going

00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:11.679
 to get talking

00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:12.259
 to people

00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:13.019
 or see my

00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:14.000
 friends as much?

00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:16.299
 You see,

00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:17.019
 sometimes

00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:19.059
 it's too profitable

00:15:19.059 --> 00:15:20.159
 for us to deal

00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:21.139
 with the sin.

00:15:21.819 --> 00:15:22.799
 We just prefer

00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:23.600
 to kind of live

00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:24.139
 our nice,

00:15:24.319 --> 00:15:24.759
 comfortable,

00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:26.179
 cosy life.

00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:29.019
 The reality is

00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:30.240
 we're all guilty.

00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:31.579
 That's how it's

00:15:31.579 --> 00:15:32.139
 summed up in

00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:32.759
 verse 9.

00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:35.000
 And it will be

00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:36.120
 like people,

00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:38.100
 like priests.

00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:39.240
 It doesn't

00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:39.899
 matter who we

00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:40.340
 are, whether

00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:41.060
 we're religious

00:15:41.060 --> 00:15:43.159
 or irreligious,

00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:44.180
 whether we're a

00:15:44.180 --> 00:15:44.920
 church leader

00:15:44.920 --> 00:15:46.060
 or a church

00:15:46.060 --> 00:15:46.500
 member,

00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:47.460
 whether we go

00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:48.080
 to church or

00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:48.680
 we don't go

00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:49.159
 to church,

00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:49.960
 all of us,

00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:51.340
 the human race,

00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:53.940
 the evidence is

00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:54.759
 there to see

00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:56.460
 society is broken,

00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:57.700
 the world is

00:15:57.700 --> 00:15:58.080
 broken.

00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:00.000
 We have not

00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:00.940
 loved God

00:16:00.940 --> 00:16:02.899
 as we should.

00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:05.240
 So first,

00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:05.879
 the charge

00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:06.799
 against us,

00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:08.720
 no love.

00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:10.700
 Second,

00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:11.220
 the sin

00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:11.939
 within us,

00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:13.980
 an adulterous

00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:14.820
 heart.

00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:15.939
 Look at

00:16:15.939 --> 00:16:16.639
 verse 12.

00:16:19.939 --> 00:16:21.220
 They consult,

00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:21.879
 so again

00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:22.700
 speaking about

00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:23.220
 the nation

00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:23.620
 of Israel,

00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:24.399
 they consult

00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:24.939
 a wooden

00:16:24.939 --> 00:16:27.000
 idol and

00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:27.659
 are answered

00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.460
 by a stick

00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:28.939
 of wood.

00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:31.100
 It's like

00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:31.580
 you or me

00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:32.340
 getting a box

00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:32.919
 of matches,

00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:34.200
 opening it up,

00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:35.279
 chucking it up

00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:35.659
 in the air

00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:36.019
 and then

00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:36.539
 seeing where

00:16:36.539 --> 00:16:37.059
 the matches

00:16:37.059 --> 00:16:38.419
 lie and

00:16:38.419 --> 00:16:38.959
 determining

00:16:38.959 --> 00:16:40.379
 what direction

00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:40.759
 you're going

00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:41.159
 to go in

00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:42.100
 life by the

00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:42.699
 direction the

00:16:42.699 --> 00:16:43.220
 matches are

00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:43.600
 pointing.

00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:44.600
 That's what

00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:45.159
 they were doing,

00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:46.139
 chucking bits

00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:46.699
 of wood around

00:16:46.699 --> 00:16:47.339
 to see what

00:16:47.339 --> 00:16:47.699
 they should

00:16:47.699 --> 00:16:48.100
 do.

00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:49.240
 And worst

00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:49.879
 of all,

00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:51.139
 rest of

00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:51.819
 verse 12,

00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:53.299
 a spirit of

00:16:53.299 --> 00:16:54.259
 prostitution

00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:55.459
 leads them

00:16:55.459 --> 00:16:56.059
 astray,

00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.339
 they are

00:16:57.339 --> 00:16:58.500
 unfaithful

00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:59.639
 to their

00:16:59.639 --> 00:17:00.079
 God.

00:17:01.079 --> 00:17:02.039
 As a nation,

00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:02.860
 as a people,

00:17:02.860 --> 00:17:03.680
 they had

00:17:03.680 --> 00:17:04.319
 wandered

00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:05.360
 after other

00:17:05.360 --> 00:17:05.799
 lovers,

00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:06.620
 they had

00:17:06.620 --> 00:17:07.559
 rejected their

00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:08.180
 marriage to

00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:09.200
 God and

00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:09.700
 committed

00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:10.259
 adultery,

00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:10.980
 they loved

00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:11.880
 other things

00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:12.259
 and other

00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:13.700
 people more.

00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.440
 It was

00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:18.519
 really quite

00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:19.880
 gross.

00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:21.059
 Look at

00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:21.860
 verse 13.

00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:23.819
 They sacrifice

00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:24.460
 on the

00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:25.380
 mountaintops

00:17:25.380 --> 00:17:27.200
 and burn

00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:27.980
 offerings on

00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:28.539
 the hills,

00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:29.960
 under the

00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.319
 oak,

00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:31.180
 poplar,

00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:31.940
 terebinth,

00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:32.320
 where the

00:17:32.320 --> 00:17:32.740
 shade is

00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:32.960
 planted.

00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:33.259
 It was

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:33.720
 kind of a

00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:34.340
 nice thing

00:17:34.340 --> 00:17:34.799
 to do,

00:17:35.080 --> 00:17:35.799
 shaded by

00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:36.519
 the trees.

00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:40.200
 You see,

00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:40.539
 when the

00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:41.340
 people wanted

00:17:41.340 --> 00:17:41.799
 something,

00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:42.240
 they would

00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:42.779
 go up to

00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:43.840
 the mountaintops

00:17:43.840 --> 00:17:45.060
 and they

00:17:45.060 --> 00:17:45.279
 wouldn't,

00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:45.820
 instead of

00:17:45.820 --> 00:17:46.420
 turning to

00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:46.740
 God,

00:17:46.840 --> 00:17:47.140
 they would

00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:47.539
 turn to

00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:48.299
 their made-up

00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:48.779
 gods.

00:17:50.120 --> 00:17:50.539
 And as

00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:51.000
 part of

00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:51.779
 their sacrifice

00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:52.640
 of offering

00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:53.320
 things,

00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:54.700
 the men

00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:54.960
 and the

00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:55.460
 women who

00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:56.019
 all came

00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.259
 there,

00:17:56.340 --> 00:17:56.600
 they would

00:17:56.600 --> 00:17:56.980
 all have

00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.740
 sex with

00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:58.299
 each other

00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:59.019
 in the

00:17:59.019 --> 00:17:59.519
 hope that

00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:00.600
 somehow it

00:18:00.600 --> 00:18:01.160
 would sting

00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:02.220
 the gods

00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:02.580
 in the

00:18:02.580 --> 00:18:03.220
 heavens to

00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:03.940
 have sex,

00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:04.720
 which would

00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:05.400
 result in

00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:06.519
 earthly blessings

00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.320
 and fertility,

00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:09.019
 that somehow it

00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.620
 would cause

00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:10.779
 rains to fall

00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.360
 and the sun

00:18:11.360 --> 00:18:12.120
 to shine and

00:18:12.120 --> 00:18:13.460
 good harvest to

00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.000
 grow and that

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.840
 the animals would

00:18:14.840 --> 00:18:15.299
 reproduce.

00:18:16.100 --> 00:18:17.519
 It was really

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.600
 gross.

00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.019
 That's what's

00:18:20.019 --> 00:18:20.720
 being described

00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:21.200
 here at the

00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:21.740
 end of verse

00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.340
 13.

00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:23.259
 Therefore,

00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.240
 your daughters

00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:24.920
 turn to

00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:26.580
 prostitution and

00:18:26.580 --> 00:18:27.720
 your daughters-in-law

00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:28.680
 to adultery.

00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:32.720
 not only the

00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:33.000
 women,

00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:33.560
 but the

00:18:33.560 --> 00:18:33.779
 men.

00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:34.320
 Look at the

00:18:34.320 --> 00:18:34.660
 middle of

00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:35.460
 verse 14.

00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:36.460
 The men

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:37.259
 themselves

00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:38.200
 consort with

00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:39.580
 harlots and

00:18:39.580 --> 00:18:41.120
 sacrifice with

00:18:41.120 --> 00:18:42.820
 shrine prostitutes.

00:18:44.320 --> 00:18:45.320
 So this

00:18:45.320 --> 00:18:46.720
 picture of

00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:48.259
 physical adultery

00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:49.820
 not only showed

00:18:49.820 --> 00:18:50.759
 how messed up

00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:51.580
 the nation had

00:18:51.580 --> 00:18:52.140
 become,

00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:53.820
 it was a

00:18:53.820 --> 00:18:54.420
 picture of

00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:55.400
 their spiritual

00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:56.320
 adultery with

00:18:56.320 --> 00:18:56.740
 God.

00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:58.820
 Their joining

00:18:58.819 --> 00:18:59.500
 with other

00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:01.439
 people was

00:19:01.439 --> 00:19:02.179
 a picture of

00:19:02.179 --> 00:19:02.799
 how they had

00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:03.759
 become married

00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:04.779
 to other

00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:05.319
 gods.

00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.480
 Verse 17.

00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:09.599
 Ephraim,

00:19:09.679 --> 00:19:10.339
 which is another

00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:11.099
 name for

00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:11.619
 Israel.

00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:13.279
 Ephraim is

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:14.879
 joined to

00:19:14.879 --> 00:19:15.299
 idols.

00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:16.919
 Literally,

00:19:17.099 --> 00:19:17.899
 they've broken

00:19:17.899 --> 00:19:18.460
 up the

00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:19.379
 relationship with

00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:20.000
 God saying,

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.139
 we don't want

00:19:21.139 --> 00:19:21.899
 you anymore.

00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:23.559
 They've

00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:25.559
 effectively signed

00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:26.200
 their divorce

00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:26.799
 papers with

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.179
 God saying,

00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:27.939
 we don't want

00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:29.279
 you, and

00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:29.740
 they've now

00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.360
 formed a

00:19:30.360 --> 00:19:31.080
 new marriage,

00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:31.519
 a new

00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:33.140
 relationship with

00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:33.660
 their new

00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:34.120
 gods.

00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:35.920
 They've fallen

00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:36.700
 in love with

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.559
 other things

00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.799
 and other

00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:39.220
 people.

00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:42.180
 Now we

00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:42.799
 might look at

00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:43.360
 all of this

00:19:43.360 --> 00:19:44.000
 and it seems

00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:45.299
 somewhat distant

00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:46.200
 and look in

00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:46.960
 horror and

00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:47.600
 disgust and

00:19:47.600 --> 00:19:48.680
 think, really?

00:19:49.100 --> 00:19:50.100
 Is that the

00:19:50.100 --> 00:19:50.480
 way they

00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.080
 behaved?

00:19:53.660 --> 00:19:54.400
 But we

00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:54.799
 need to

00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:55.580
 grasp it

00:19:55.580 --> 00:19:56.220
 because it's

00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:57.299
 a picture of

00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:57.980
 our own

00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.740
 hearts.

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.539
 Look what it

00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:00.940
 says in

00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:01.619
 verse 12,

00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:02.799
 the end of

00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.279
 verse 12.

00:20:03.339 --> 00:20:03.960
 It talks about

00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:05.000
 a spirit of

00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:06.440
 prostitution

00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:08.599
 leading people

00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:09.200
 astray.

00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:10.519
 They are

00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:11.639
 unfaithful to

00:20:11.639 --> 00:20:12.059
 God.

00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:13.980
 Now we

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:14.480
 might not

00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.720
 be a

00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.579
 prostitute at

00:20:16.579 --> 00:20:17.220
 some religious

00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:17.799
 shrine,

00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.500
 but we

00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:19.899
 can all

00:20:19.899 --> 00:20:20.480
 play the

00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:21.099
 spiritual

00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:21.639
 whore.

00:20:22.639 --> 00:20:23.279
 We all

00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:24.139
 chase after

00:20:24.139 --> 00:20:24.919
 other lovers.

00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:25.120
 others.

00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:26.980
 We exchange

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.660
 God for

00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:28.620
 other things.

00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:29.920
 We make

00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:30.680
 sport and

00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:31.300
 career and

00:20:31.300 --> 00:20:31.960
 money and

00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:32.820
 sex the

00:20:32.820 --> 00:20:33.720
 most important

00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:35.019
 things and

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:35.400
 give our

00:20:35.400 --> 00:20:35.840
 life to

00:20:35.840 --> 00:20:36.279
 that.

00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:37.759
 Or we

00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.660
 replace God

00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:39.300
 with other

00:20:39.300 --> 00:20:40.220
 people, a

00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:41.200
 spouse or a

00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:41.500
 lover.

00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:42.820
 They're the

00:20:42.820 --> 00:20:43.620
 most important.

00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:45.680
 We leave

00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:46.480
 God and have

00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.640
 affairs hoping

00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:48.720
 to find joy

00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.460
 and happiness

00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:50.779
 in things and

00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:51.240
 people.

00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:51.359
 evil.

00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:52.620
 And that's

00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:53.099
 the sin

00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:53.640
 within our

00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:54.059
 hearts.

00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:54.799
 It's what

00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:55.299
 the Bible

00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:56.180
 describes as

00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:56.980
 adulterous

00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:57.579
 behaviour.

00:20:59.000 --> 00:20:59.819
 The physical

00:20:59.819 --> 00:21:00.740
 adultery that

00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.720
 Israel committed

00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:03.660
 is a picture

00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.700
 of our own

00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:06.079
 spiritual adultery

00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:06.660
 within our

00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:07.180
 hearts.

00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.579
 You might

00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:11.099
 think, well,

00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:12.120
 that's just

00:21:12.120 --> 00:21:12.859
 one way I

00:21:12.859 --> 00:21:13.460
 can go and

00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:14.420
 it's going to

00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:14.980
 be good to

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.319
 me, it's

00:21:15.319 --> 00:21:15.940
 going to give

00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:16.460
 me everything

00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.299
 that I want.

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:19.240
 But it's a

00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:19.539
 lie.

00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:20.940
 It leaves

00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:21.700
 us empty.

00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:23.680
 Look at the

00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:24.139
 beginning of

00:21:24.139 --> 00:21:24.819
 verse 10.

00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:28.720
 It's

00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:29.399
 talking about

00:21:29.399 --> 00:21:30.319
 their adulterous

00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:31.119
 behaviour and

00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:32.119
 leaving God

00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:32.539
 for other

00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.059
 things.

00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:35.379
 Look what it

00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:36.180
 says, verse 10,

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:37.079
 they will eat

00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:39.119
 but not have

00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:40.039
 enough.

00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:41.619
 They will

00:21:41.619 --> 00:21:42.379
 engage in

00:21:42.379 --> 00:21:43.279
 prostitution

00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:45.039
 but not

00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:46.460
 increase

00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:48.440
 because they

00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.220
 have deserted

00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:50.640
 the Lord to

00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:51.420
 give themselves

00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:52.600
 to prostitution.

00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:54.519
 You see, we

00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:56.660
 believe and

00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:57.160
 the world

00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:58.680
 tells us that

00:21:58.680 --> 00:21:59.660
 if I can just

00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:00.220
 get that

00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:01.380
 perfect job,

00:22:02.100 --> 00:22:03.600
 I will be

00:22:03.600 --> 00:22:03.980
 content.

00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:06.180
 If I can just

00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:06.759
 find that

00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:07.839
 perfect lover

00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:08.920
 for my life,

00:22:09.339 --> 00:22:10.319
 then everything

00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:10.980
 is going to be

00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:11.339
 sorted.

00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:13.640
 If I can just

00:22:13.640 --> 00:22:14.400
 earn enough

00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:15.579
 money and buy

00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:16.660
 that perfect

00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:17.380
 house in the

00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:18.420
 right location,

00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:20.160
 then I will

00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:21.560
 be absolutely

00:22:21.560 --> 00:22:22.080
 happy,

00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.240
 completely

00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.200
 satisfied and

00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:25.580
 content.

00:22:25.760 --> 00:22:26.880
 If I can just

00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:27.320
 have,

00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:30.080
 I'll be

00:22:30.080 --> 00:22:30.500
 okay.

00:22:32.260 --> 00:22:33.520
 But chasing

00:22:33.520 --> 00:22:34.740
 after other

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.500
 lovers will

00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.680
 never satisfy

00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:37.160
 you.

00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:38.860
 As it says

00:22:38.860 --> 00:22:39.620
 in verse 10,

00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:40.860
 we will never

00:22:40.860 --> 00:22:41.960
 have enough.

00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:43.580
 We will never

00:22:43.580 --> 00:22:44.720
 increase.

00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:46.779
 chasing other

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.400
 lovers will

00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:48.400
 never satisfy

00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:48.799
 you,

00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.920
 never fulfill

00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:50.259
 you.

00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:51.319
 Spiritual

00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:52.079
 adultery,

00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.480
 replacing God

00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:54.160
 with other

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.579
 lovers,

00:22:54.860 --> 00:22:55.860
 will leave you

00:22:55.860 --> 00:22:57.559
 empty and

00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:58.100
 broken.

00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.600
 So second,

00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.140
 the sin

00:23:03.140 --> 00:23:04.019
 within us,

00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.039
 adulterous

00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:06.620
 hearts.

00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:10.220
 Third,

00:23:10.600 --> 00:23:11.400
 the warning

00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:12.360
 before us,

00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:13.880
 judgment

00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:14.540
 coming.

00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.280
 We can

00:23:17.280 --> 00:23:17.680
 imagine

00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:18.280
 Israel,

00:23:18.840 --> 00:23:19.680
 God's wife,

00:23:19.800 --> 00:23:20.460
 sitting there

00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:20.880
 in the

00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:21.259
 dock,

00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:22.940
 listening as

00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:23.380
 all the

00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:24.140
 evidence is

00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:24.740
 laid out

00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:25.480
 before her.

00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:26.800
 No love,

00:23:28.320 --> 00:23:29.180
 an adulterous

00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:29.640
 heart,

00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:32.300
 and watching

00:23:32.300 --> 00:23:32.880
 up in the

00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:33.519
 gallery up

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.240
 there is

00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:35.300
 Judah.

00:23:36.360 --> 00:23:36.780
 Remember,

00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:37.540
 Israel was

00:23:37.540 --> 00:23:38.220
 the northern

00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:39.000
 part of the

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.340
 nation,

00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:40.460
 Judah was

00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:40.960
 the southern

00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:41.460
 part of

00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:41.819
 the nation

00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:42.940
 and she's

00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:43.400
 come into

00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:44.019
 court too,

00:23:44.100 --> 00:23:44.840
 but she's

00:23:44.840 --> 00:23:45.299
 sitting up

00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:45.539
 in the

00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:45.840
 gallery.

00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:46.640
 And now

00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:47.380
 God turns

00:23:47.380 --> 00:23:47.880
 to speak

00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:48.380
 to them.

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.960
 Verse 15,

00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:53.360
 though you

00:23:53.360 --> 00:23:54.500
 commit adultery,

00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.259
 O Israel,

00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.420
 so God is

00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:57.019
 speaking to

00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:57.460
 his wife,

00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.340
 you have an

00:23:58.340 --> 00:23:58.840
 adulterous

00:23:58.840 --> 00:23:59.160
 heart,

00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:00.120
 you have no

00:24:00.120 --> 00:24:00.500
 love,

00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:01.640
 and now God

00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:02.319
 turns and he

00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:02.759
 looks to

00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.440
 Judah up in

00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:03.900
 the gallery,

00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:04.799
 the rest of

00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:05.500
 verse 15,

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:08.119
 let not

00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:08.640
 Judah

00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:10.640
 become guilty.

00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:12.599
 Judah,

00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:13.779
 do not

00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.519
 follow the

00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:15.420
 same path

00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:15.740
 as your

00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:16.720
 sister Israel.

00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:18.400
 Do not

00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:19.440
 forsake me

00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.079
 as your

00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:20.900
 first love.

00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:22.700
 Be careful

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.660
 that you do

00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.599
 not have eyes

00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:25.119
 for other

00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:25.980
 lovers and

00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.940
 exchange me

00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:27.500
 for other

00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.000
 gods.

00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:29.440
 Look at the

00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:29.799
 rest of

00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:30.259
 15.

00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:31.200
 Do not

00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:31.680
 go to

00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:32.240
 Gilgal.

00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:33.720
 Do not

00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.420
 go up to

00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:34.860
 Beth

00:24:34.860 --> 00:24:35.500
 Aven.

00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:38.060
 The real

00:24:38.060 --> 00:24:38.539
 name, of

00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.100
 course, was

00:24:39.100 --> 00:24:40.300
 Beth El.

00:24:41.340 --> 00:24:42.380
 Beth simply

00:24:42.380 --> 00:24:43.360
 means house,

00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:45.480
 El means

00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.580
 God, so

00:24:46.580 --> 00:24:47.279
 the house

00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:48.340
 of God, the

00:24:48.340 --> 00:24:49.539
 place that

00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:50.060
 it was meant

00:24:50.060 --> 00:24:50.480
 to be.

00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.660
 But Israel

00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:52.200
 had turned

00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:53.200
 Beth El

00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:54.539
 into Beth

00:24:54.539 --> 00:24:55.360
 Aven.

00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:56.740
 Aven means

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.580
 wickedness, so

00:24:57.580 --> 00:24:57.980
 they had

00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.800
 turned the

00:24:58.800 --> 00:24:59.340
 place where

00:24:59.340 --> 00:24:59.940
 they came to

00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:00.600
 meet God

00:25:00.600 --> 00:25:01.320
 into a

00:25:01.320 --> 00:25:01.740
 house of

00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:02.460
 wickedness.

00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:03.940
 And God

00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.340
 is saying

00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:04.799
 to Judah,

00:25:05.159 --> 00:25:05.799
 see what

00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:06.399
 Israel has

00:25:06.399 --> 00:25:06.659
 done.

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.699
 Don't go

00:25:07.699 --> 00:25:07.959
 there.

00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:08.619
 Don't go

00:25:08.619 --> 00:25:08.980
 to the

00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.399
 house of

00:25:09.399 --> 00:25:09.919
 wickedness.

00:25:10.199 --> 00:25:10.480
 Don't

00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.199
 follow in

00:25:11.199 --> 00:25:11.919
 her ways.

00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:14.579
 Verse 17,

00:25:14.959 --> 00:25:15.599
 Ephraim

00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.179
 is joined

00:25:16.179 --> 00:25:16.859
 to idols.

00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:17.919
 Leave him

00:25:17.919 --> 00:25:18.319
 alone.

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.019
 Remember,

00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:20.819
 I'm your

00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.220
 husband.

00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.459
 It is I

00:25:22.459 --> 00:25:23.019
 who love

00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:23.179
 you.

00:25:23.439 --> 00:25:24.480
 I rescued

00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.500
 you from

00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:25.919
 Egypt.

00:25:26.139 --> 00:25:27.039
 I provided

00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.539
 you with

00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:28.480
 everything that

00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:28.980
 you have.

00:25:29.439 --> 00:25:30.279
 I love

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.579
 you.

00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:32.139
 Do not

00:25:32.139 --> 00:25:32.839
 seek after

00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:33.480
 other lovers.

00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:36.359
 Because if

00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:37.039
 you do,

00:25:37.879 --> 00:25:38.899
 verse 19,

00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:40.839
 a whirlwind

00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:41.819
 will sweep

00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:42.399
 them away

00:25:42.399 --> 00:25:44.099
 and their

00:25:44.099 --> 00:25:44.959
 sacrifices

00:25:44.959 --> 00:25:45.619
 will bring

00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:46.539
 them shame.

00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.539
 God would

00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.480
 bring judgment

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.220
 upon his

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:53.019
 wife Israel.

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.539
 Assyria, the

00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.299
 great nation,

00:25:55.379 --> 00:25:56.079
 would come in

00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:57.119
 like a

00:25:57.119 --> 00:25:57.819
 whirlwind, a

00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.439
 great big

00:25:58.439 --> 00:25:59.279
 tornado that

00:25:59.279 --> 00:25:59.980
 would sweep

00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.440
 through the

00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:00.799
 nation,

00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:02.039
 destroying the

00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:02.519
 people in

00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:02.920
 the land,

00:26:03.120 --> 00:26:03.799
 everything in

00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:04.460
 its path.

00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:06.440
 And God

00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:07.200
 is pleading

00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:07.779
 with Judah

00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.160
 who is

00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:08.819
 listening and

00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:09.380
 looking in

00:26:09.380 --> 00:26:09.860
 on it all.

00:26:10.360 --> 00:26:10.779
 Judah,

00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.059
 don't go

00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:12.660
 that way.

00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:14.259
 Don't let

00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:15.059
 your eyes

00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:16.140
 wander towards

00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:16.779
 other lovers.

00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:19.059
 Love me

00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:20.500
 because of

00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.200
 all I have

00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:21.640
 done for

00:26:21.640 --> 00:26:21.940
 you.

00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:24.900
 But Judah,

00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:25.500
 if you

00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.240
 don't love

00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:26.599
 me,

00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:28.839
 judgment

00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:29.559
 will also

00:26:29.559 --> 00:26:30.759
 come to

00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:31.099
 you.

00:26:35.179 --> 00:26:35.899
 But you

00:26:35.899 --> 00:26:36.199
 see,

00:26:36.919 --> 00:26:37.639
 this isn't

00:26:37.639 --> 00:26:38.159
 just a

00:26:38.159 --> 00:26:38.859
 warning about

00:26:38.859 --> 00:26:39.220
 Judah.

00:26:40.639 --> 00:26:41.480
 This is

00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.419
 actually God's

00:26:42.419 --> 00:26:43.179
 warning to

00:26:43.179 --> 00:26:44.740
 me and

00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:45.220
 to you.

00:26:46.359 --> 00:26:46.740
 You see,

00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:47.240
 if we know

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.899
 our history,

00:26:48.639 --> 00:26:49.500
 not only did

00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.759
 Israel commit

00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.539
 adultery and

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.179
 wander away

00:26:52.179 --> 00:26:52.799
 from God,

00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:54.539
 but Judah

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.199
 went and did

00:26:55.199 --> 00:26:55.659
 the same

00:26:55.659 --> 00:26:56.079
 thing.

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.639
 They didn't

00:26:57.639 --> 00:26:58.740
 listen to

00:26:58.740 --> 00:26:59.440
 God's word.

00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:00.240
 They didn't

00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:01.259
 heed the

00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:01.640
 warning.

00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:02.400
 And just

00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:03.099
 as Assyria

00:27:03.099 --> 00:27:03.700
 came in

00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:05.240
 and swept

00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:06.819
 Israel away,

00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:07.920
 in time,

00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:09.120
 Babylon would

00:27:09.120 --> 00:27:09.660
 come as a

00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:10.180
 great nation

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:10.539
 and they

00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.079
 would sweep

00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:12.019
 Judah away.

00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:14.000
 God's

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:15.000
 judgment fell

00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:15.460
 on the

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:15.839
 people.

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.039
 And all

00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:18.620
 of this is

00:27:18.620 --> 00:27:19.220
 a picture

00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:20.500
 of God's

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.519
 final judgment

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.200
 that is to

00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:22.539
 come.

00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:23.500
 And so it

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.120
 becomes a

00:27:24.120 --> 00:27:24.859
 warning for

00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:25.519
 people like

00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:25.940
 you and

00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:26.220
 me.

00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:27.339
 it's

00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:27.740
 saying do

00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.480
 not chase

00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.200
 after other

00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:29.700
 lovers.

00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:31.480
 Don't turn

00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:31.980
 from me,

00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:32.640
 your husband,

00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:34.279
 because judgment

00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:35.100
 will come.

00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:36.880
 You want to

00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:37.539
 live a life

00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:39.120
 without God's

00:27:39.120 --> 00:27:39.440
 love?

00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.539
 You want to

00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.259
 live life your

00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:41.940
 own way and

00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.519
 do your own

00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:42.799
 thing?

00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:43.640
 You want to

00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:44.160
 live life

00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:44.839
 without any

00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:45.380
 boundaries?

00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:47.420
 You want to

00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:48.140
 search out your

00:27:48.140 --> 00:27:49.120
 own lovers and

00:27:49.120 --> 00:27:49.740
 turn to other

00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.500
 things and other

00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:50.860
 people?

00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.959
 If that's the

00:27:51.959 --> 00:27:52.619
 way you want

00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:53.139
 to live,

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.899
 then a life

00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:55.759
 without my

00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.500
 love you

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.619
 shall have.

00:27:59.379 --> 00:28:00.339
 But let's

00:28:00.339 --> 00:28:01.079
 remember what

00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:01.699
 that looks

00:28:01.699 --> 00:28:02.099
 like.

00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:02.539
 Do you

00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:03.099
 remember back

00:28:03.099 --> 00:28:04.139
 in verse 2

00:28:04.139 --> 00:28:04.899
 and verse 3?

00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:06.059
 Because we do

00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:06.899
 not love God,

00:28:07.179 --> 00:28:07.859
 what is there

00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:08.579
 in its place?

00:28:08.879 --> 00:28:09.519
 A broken

00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.339
 society?

00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:11.559
 Lying,

00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.139
 cursing,

00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:12.579
 murder,

00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:13.139
 stealing,

00:28:13.379 --> 00:28:13.919
 breaking of

00:28:13.919 --> 00:28:14.519
 all rounds,

00:28:14.939 --> 00:28:15.859
 bloodshed following

00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:16.579
 bloodshed?

00:28:16.979 --> 00:28:17.819
 What happens

00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:18.579
 if we do not

00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:19.059
 love him?

00:28:19.399 --> 00:28:19.959
 The land

00:28:19.959 --> 00:28:20.399
 breaks,

00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:20.940
 the world

00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:21.519
 breaks.

00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:22.980
 And God

00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:23.420
 is saying

00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:24.080
 to us,

00:28:24.080 --> 00:28:25.620
 if you do

00:28:25.620 --> 00:28:26.240
 not love

00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:26.519
 me,

00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:27.880
 if you want

00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:28.720
 to have a

00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.360
 life without

00:28:29.360 --> 00:28:30.460
 my love,

00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:33.220
 then a life

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:33.680
 you shall

00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.200
 have.

00:28:35.540 --> 00:28:36.320
 But mark

00:28:36.320 --> 00:28:36.780
 this, it

00:28:36.780 --> 00:28:37.340
 will be for

00:28:37.340 --> 00:28:38.060
 an eternity.

00:28:39.540 --> 00:28:40.500
 It will be

00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:41.920
 hell for

00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:42.560
 an eternity.

00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:44.480
 The absence

00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:46.140
 of God's

00:28:46.140 --> 00:28:47.840
 love is

00:28:47.840 --> 00:28:48.519
 the absence

00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.480
 of everything

00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:50.380
 that is good,

00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:51.519
 and beautiful.

00:28:52.360 --> 00:28:53.460
 No friends,

00:28:54.100 --> 00:28:55.100
 no laughter,

00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:56.720
 no joy,

00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.580
 no hope,

00:28:59.140 --> 00:29:01.019
 brokenness.

00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:02.840
 God says,

00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:03.500
 you don't want

00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:04.160
 my love,

00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:06.180
 then my love

00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:06.880
 you shall not

00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:07.320
 have.

00:29:08.320 --> 00:29:08.880
 It will be

00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:09.300
 judgment,

00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.300
 an eternity

00:29:11.300 --> 00:29:12.759
 of separation

00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.480
 from me.

00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:14.000
 men,

00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:15.200
 for

00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:15.680
 to be

00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:16.160
 to be

00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:16.440
 zed.

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:16.579
 Now, chapter

00:29:16.579 --> 00:29:17.019
 4

00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:19.059
 is not

00:29:19.059 --> 00:29:19.620
 easy to

00:29:19.620 --> 00:29:20.140
 listen to.

00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:22.140
 I struggled

00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:22.920
 reading through

00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:23.279
 this and

00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:23.460
 thought,

00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:24.740
 how can I

00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:26.539
 speak about

00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.700
 this on

00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:28.180
 Sunday?

00:29:28.819 --> 00:29:30.059
 Where's the

00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:30.819
 good news?

00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:31.400
 Where's the

00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:32.599
 hope in

00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:32.940
 all of

00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:33.220
 this?

00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:38.600
 well as we hear these words of chapter 4

00:29:38.600 --> 00:29:40.519
 let me ask this question

00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:41.579
 what do you see?

00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:46.519
 do you see a judge with terror in his eyes?

00:29:47.900 --> 00:29:54.079
 or do you see a husband with tears in his eyes?

00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:56.299
 is it a judge with terror?

00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:59.680
 or a husband with tears?

00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:05.039
 you see yes God is judge

00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:08.980
 but he is the faithful loyal husband

00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:14.000
 speaking to his wife whom he loves

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:16.060
 look at verse 16

00:30:16.060 --> 00:30:21.019
 the Israelites are stubborn

00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:23.759
 like a stubborn heifer

00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:27.460
 ask any of our farmers amongst us

00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:29.080
 they'll tell you what a heifer is like

00:30:29.079 --> 00:30:30.059
 when they don't want to move

00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:32.279
 you can do all the pushing and shoving

00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:34.619
 but they will not budge an inch

00:30:34.619 --> 00:30:38.339
 well God had come back to his wife

00:30:38.339 --> 00:30:39.859
 time and time again

00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:41.000
 wooing her

00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:41.839
 pleading

00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:42.679
 longing

00:30:42.679 --> 00:30:43.559
 aching

00:30:43.559 --> 00:30:44.919
 please return

00:30:44.919 --> 00:30:46.439
 come back to me

00:30:46.439 --> 00:30:49.899
 but she would not budge

00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:54.300
 she rejected God's loving advances

00:30:54.300 --> 00:30:58.440
 look at the rest of verse 16

00:30:58.440 --> 00:31:04.060
 how then can the Lord pasture them like lambs in a meadow

00:31:04.060 --> 00:31:06.160
 have you got that picture?

00:31:07.100 --> 00:31:10.060
 because here we see the heart of God

00:31:10.060 --> 00:31:12.840
 here is the husband with tears in his eyes

00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:15.659
 this is God's desire for us

00:31:15.659 --> 00:31:18.399
 that we would stay close to him

00:31:18.399 --> 00:31:20.799
 like lambs to a shepherd

00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:24.399
 so that they are free to enjoy

00:31:24.399 --> 00:31:26.299
 the meadow

00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:29.879
 lambs in a meadow

00:31:29.879 --> 00:31:33.879
 are free to enjoy the rich pastures

00:31:33.879 --> 00:31:35.980
 that have been provided for them

00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:37.980
 everything is there for them

00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:40.299
 contained within that meadow

00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:43.099
 stay close to the shepherd

00:31:43.099 --> 00:31:46.480
 and you will enjoy life in all its fullness

00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:49.319
 wander away from the shepherd

00:31:49.319 --> 00:31:52.620
 and you will face eternal danger

00:31:52.620 --> 00:31:57.039
 this is a husband with tears in his eyes saying

00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:59.200
 I long to shepherd you

00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:00.579
 to pastor you

00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:01.860
 to care for you

00:32:01.860 --> 00:32:05.940
 stay close to me

00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:11.220
 if we don't quite grasp it

00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:15.720
 see the heart of God

00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:17.840
 in the Lord Jesus

00:32:17.840 --> 00:32:22.559
 because just as God looked out upon the nation

00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:27.259
 so when God came to earth through his son Jesus

00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:28.820
 he looked out on the crowds

00:32:28.820 --> 00:32:30.259
 and here is what he saw

00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:31.799
 when Jesus saw the crowds

00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:33.720
 people like you and me

00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:36.779
 he had compassion on them

00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:39.940
 because they were harassed and helpless

00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:42.579
 like sheep without a shepherd

00:32:42.579 --> 00:32:46.319
 filled with heartache for a lost people

00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:49.180
 moved by their sinful broken lives

00:32:49.180 --> 00:32:51.880
 fearing for the danger that they were in

00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:53.819
 Jesus had compassion

00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:56.100
 he was broken inside

00:32:56.100 --> 00:33:00.880
 and his compassion was not just words

00:33:00.880 --> 00:33:05.980
 it led to a demonstration of the greatest act of love

00:33:05.980 --> 00:33:07.400
 the good shepherd

00:33:07.400 --> 00:33:09.960
 would lay down his life

00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:12.040
 die on the cross

00:33:12.040 --> 00:33:14.760
 taking the judgment that we deserve

00:33:14.760 --> 00:33:17.020
 so that we could enjoy life

00:33:17.020 --> 00:33:18.720
 with him

00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:23.220
 you see when he calls us to himself

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:27.160
 he's calling us like lambs to a shepherd

00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:28.660
 to say

00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:31.160
 stay within the meadow

00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:34.660
 enjoy life with me

00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:37.460
 enjoy life in its fullness

00:33:37.460 --> 00:33:41.039
 wander away from the meadow

00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:42.579
 wander away from the shepherd

00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:45.039
 and you will face

00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:46.700
 eternal danger

00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:49.539
 be careful

00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:53.299
 that we do not turn to other lovers

00:33:53.299 --> 00:33:56.519
 but stay close

00:33:56.519 --> 00:34:00.200
 to our one true lover

00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:04.140
 the husband with tears in his eyes

00:34:04.140 --> 00:34:05.580
 pleading

00:34:05.580 --> 00:34:06.880
 longing

00:34:06.880 --> 00:34:09.519
 that we stay close to him

00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:11.519
 let's pray

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:13.960
 to a family

00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:14.420
 to God

00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:17.199
 who

00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:18.119
 be careful

00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:19.159
 to die

00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:19.679
 before

00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:21.539
 die

00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:22.119
 after

00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:22.619
 lol

00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:23.320
 what

00:34:23.320 --> 00:34:23.579
 come on

00:34:23.579 --> 00:34:24.199
 to die

00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:25.360
 for them

00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:26.119
 much

00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:26.139
 share

00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:27.300
 to pour

00:34:27.300 --> 00:34:28.179
 everything

00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:29.579
 the

00:34:29.579 --> 00:34:30.440
 huh

00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:32.739
 punish

00:34:32.739 --> 00:34:33.480
 how

00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:34.480
 are

00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:35.280
 not

00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:37.599
 after

00:34:38.820 --> 00:34:40.119
 år

00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:40.699
 jun