WEBVTT

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 Good morning, everyone.

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 I say this every week, but I mean it every week.

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 It really is a joy and a privilege to worship with you

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 and to be able to preach God's word to you.

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 Please turn with me in your Bibles to Exodus chapter 23.

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 If you don't have a Bible, please raise your hand

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 and we'll bring a Bible to you

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 that you can use while you're here.

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 We are at the end of the book of the covenant

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 in Exodus 23 verses 10 to 19 today.

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 I think we've been in Exodus for almost a year now

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 because we had some breaks in between.

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 And believe it or not, we're actually coming near to an end

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 because the latter half of Exodus goes by pretty quickly.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's word.

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 Heavenly Father,

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 we have gathered in the name of your son Jesus Christ once again

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 to remember your faithfulness,

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 to remember your promises

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 so that we might live our lives trusting you,

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 leaning on you.

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 For we know that you are the one sure foundation

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 who will never let us down.

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 So inspire fresh faith among us this morning

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 as we look at your word.

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 Speak to us.

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 Remind us of your goodness,

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 your grace,

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 so that we marvel again

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 and worship you with our whole heart.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 If you're able,

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 please stand for the reading of God's word

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 from Exodus 23 verses 10 to 19.

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 And we'll read for us.

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 For six years,

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 you shall sow your land and gather in its yield.

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 But the seventh year,

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 you shall let it rest and lie fallow

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 that the poor of your people may eat

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 and what they leave,

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 the beasts of the field may eat.

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 You shall do likewise with your vineyard

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 and with your olive orchard.

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 Six days,

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 you shall do your work,

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 but on the seventh day,

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 you shall rest

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 that your ox and your donkey may have rest

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 and the son of your servant woman

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 and the alien may be refreshed.

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 Pay attention

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 to all that I have said to you

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 and make no mention

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 of the names of other gods,

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 nor let it be heard on your lips.

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 Three times in a year,

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 you shall keep a feast to me.

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 You shall keep the feast of unleavened bread.

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 As I commanded you,

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 you shall eat unleavened bread

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 for seven days at the appointed time

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 in the month of Abib.

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 For in it,

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 you came out of Egypt.

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 None shall appear before me empty-handed.

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 You shall keep the feast of harvest

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 of the first fruits of your labor,

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 of what you sow in the field.

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 You shall keep the feast of ingathering

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 at the end of the year,

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 when you gather in from the field

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 of fruit of your labor.

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 Three times in the year,

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 shall all your males appear

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 before the Lord God.

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 You shall not offer the blood

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 of my sacrifice with anything leavened,

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 or let the fat of my feast

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 remain until the morning.

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 The best of the first fruits

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 of your ground,

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 you shall bring into the house

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 of the Lord your God.

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 You shall not boil a young goat

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 in its mother's milk.

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 This is God's holy

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 and authoritative word.

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 You may be seated.

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 Yeah.

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 In the United States,

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 the Congress has the right

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 to declare a federal holiday,

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 and that's when all the non-essential

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 federal government offices are closed,

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 and the federal government employees

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 get a paid day off.

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 So for example,

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 we have President's Day coming up,

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 which is officially Washington's birthday,

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 when we celebrate the founding father

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 and the first president

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 of the United States.

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 And then Independence Day

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 similarly celebrates

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 the U.S. Declaration of Independence

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 from British rule.

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 And Juneteenth

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 and Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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 celebrate the emancipation

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 of African American slaves

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 and the triumphs

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 of the civil rights leader,

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 respectively.

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 Memorial Day honors

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 U.S. military personnel

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 who fought and died

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 while protecting this country.

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 That's just a sampling of,

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 it's not all the holidays,

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 but these are not,

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 you know,

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 arbitrary days

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 that some politicians

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 just chose

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 to give some people

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 a paid day off.

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 These are reminders.

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 They serve as reminders

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 of significant

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 historical milestones

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 and foster intentionally

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 a sense of national identity

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 and solidarity.

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 The same was true

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 for the nation of Israel,

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 where the people observed

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 holy days

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 and feasts

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 that were designated

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 not by men

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 but by God.

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 Holy days are,

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 in fact,

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 where we get the word

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 holiday.

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 And this passage

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 tells us about

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 the seventh year

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 and the seventh day

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 and then about

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 the three feasts,

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 the major feasts,

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 the pilgrimage feasts

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 that the Israelites

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 were supposed to celebrate.

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 And then we're going to talk

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 finally about

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 the one God

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 we are to worship

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 and pay attention to.

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 So let's first look

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 at the seventh year

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 and day.

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 The first two paragraphs

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 of this passage,

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 verses 10 to 11

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 and verse 12,

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 each begin with the number six.

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 So if you look at it,

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 it says first six years

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 in the verse 10

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 and six days

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 in verse 12.

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 It says in verse 10

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 to 11,

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 for six years

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 you shall sow your land

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 and gather in its yield,

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 but the seventh year

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 you shall let it rest

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 and lie fallow

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 that the poor

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 of your people may eat

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 and what they leave

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 the beasts

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 of the field may eat.

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 You shall do likewise

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 with your vineyard

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 and with your olive orchard.

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 This is an extension

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 of the fourth commandment

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 of the 10 commandments,

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 the Sabbath principle

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 of working for six days

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 but resting

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 on the seventh day.

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 For six years

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 the Israelites

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 are supposed to work

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 the land,

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 but on the seventh year

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 they are to let

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 the land rest

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 and leave it fallow,

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 meaning uncultivated.

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 They're not supposed

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 to work the ground.

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 It's not only the people

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 who need rest,

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 this verse tells us,

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 even the land

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 needs rest.

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 It's supposed to rest

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 and observe the Sabbath.

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 Leviticus 25,

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 2-7,

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 which provides more details

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 regarding this command,

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 specifically says

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 that the land

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 shall keep

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 a Sabbath

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 to the Lord.

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 The farming benefits

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 of leaving a land

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 fallow for a time

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 is widely known.

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 When you leave the land

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 unworked

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 and unfarmed,

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 it restores

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 the nutrients,

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 restores organic matter

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 to the soil.

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 That's why periodically

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 if you have potted soil,

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 you have to replace it

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 so that your plants

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 can keep thriving

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 because it has

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 fresh nutrients.

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 It also disrupts

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 the pest cycle,

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 the pest's life cycle

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 because they don't have

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 anything to feed on

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 and grow on,

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 so they die off

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 and you have

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 pest-free ground

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 in which to plant.

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 And it also gets rid

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 of soil-borne pathogens

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 like bacteria

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 and fungi

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 and roundworms

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 that infect plant roots.

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 The land also

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 needs rest.

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 But this is not

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 the reason

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 that is given

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 explicitly here

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 in this context

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 for letting the land

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 lie fallow.

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 The reason God gives here

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 is in verse 11,

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 that the poor

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 of your people

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 may eat

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 and what they leave,

00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:12.780
 the beasts

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 of the field

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 may eat.

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 You might be wondering,

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 well,

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 if they're not farming

00:08:18.020 --> 00:08:19.500
 on the seventh year,

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 what is there to eat?

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 And the answer is that

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 in the way

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 the Israelites

00:08:24.860 --> 00:08:25.560
 in the ancient world

00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:26.100
 farmed,

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 inevitably there would

00:08:27.540 --> 00:08:28.439
 be seeds spilled

00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:29.080
 during the harvest

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 and there would be

00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:31.120
 some natural growth

00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:33.159
 without any intervention

00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:34.279
 from human beings.

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 And so there would be

00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:36.420
 crops that they could

00:08:36.420 --> 00:08:36.720
 eat of.

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 And the Israelites

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 were allowed to forage

00:08:38.420 --> 00:08:38.840
 and eat,

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 but they were never

00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:40.740
 to harvest that

00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:41.440
 on the seventh year

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 so that there's enough

00:08:43.139 --> 00:08:44.100
 left for the poor

00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:44.980
 among them to eat

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 and after them

00:08:46.019 --> 00:08:46.720
 even the beasts

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 of the field

00:08:47.340 --> 00:08:48.220
 to eat.

00:08:49.100 --> 00:08:50.259
 So the same principle

00:08:50.259 --> 00:08:51.300
 applied for

00:08:51.300 --> 00:08:53.240
 the olive orchards

00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:53.899
 with the olives

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 and also the vineyards

00:08:55.539 --> 00:08:56.200
 with the grapes.

00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:58.879
 And it's not only

00:08:58.879 --> 00:08:59.920
 on the seventh year

00:08:59.920 --> 00:09:00.539
 that the poor

00:09:00.539 --> 00:09:01.139
 get to eat

00:09:01.139 --> 00:09:02.200
 because God

00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:03.980
 in Deuteronomy 24,

00:09:04.100 --> 00:09:05.080
 19 commands this,

00:09:05.220 --> 00:09:05.980
 when you reap

00:09:05.980 --> 00:09:06.539
 your harvest

00:09:06.539 --> 00:09:07.139
 in your field

00:09:07.139 --> 00:09:08.820
 and forget a sheaf

00:09:08.820 --> 00:09:09.519
 in the field,

00:09:09.620 --> 00:09:10.600
 you shall not go back

00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:11.159
 to get it.

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 It shall be for

00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:12.940
 the sojourner,

00:09:13.340 --> 00:09:14.220
 the fatherless,

00:09:14.340 --> 00:09:14.980
 and the widow

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 that the Lord

00:09:16.039 --> 00:09:16.620
 your God

00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:17.840
 may bless you

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 in all the work

00:09:18.659 --> 00:09:19.180
 of your hands.

00:09:19.420 --> 00:09:20.220
 So even during

00:09:20.220 --> 00:09:21.940
 the normal harvest times,

00:09:22.220 --> 00:09:22.620
 the Israelites

00:09:22.620 --> 00:09:23.340
 were forbidden

00:09:23.340 --> 00:09:24.800
 from returning

00:09:24.800 --> 00:09:25.500
 to collect

00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:26.580
 dropped sheaves

00:09:26.580 --> 00:09:27.220
 in the field.

00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:28.840
 They were to leave it

00:09:28.840 --> 00:09:29.519
 so that the poor

00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:30.019
 among them

00:09:30.019 --> 00:09:30.879
 can collect it

00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:31.420
 and eat.

00:09:32.540 --> 00:09:33.639
 So then in the six years

00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:34.160
 of work,

00:09:34.540 --> 00:09:36.379
 as well as on the seventh year

00:09:36.379 --> 00:09:37.259
 when they are resting,

00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:38.740
 God makes specific

00:09:38.740 --> 00:09:40.379
 provisions for the poor

00:09:40.379 --> 00:09:41.280
 among the Israelites.

00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:43.860
 It would have been tempting

00:09:43.860 --> 00:09:44.639
 for the Israelites

00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:46.079
 to harvest the crops

00:09:46.079 --> 00:09:47.360
 that are growing

00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:48.899
 unsupervised on their land

00:09:48.899 --> 00:09:49.860
 during the year of rest.

00:09:50.679 --> 00:09:50.839
 You know,

00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:51.620
 they could have

00:09:51.620 --> 00:09:52.339
 thought to themselves,

00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:54.459
 well, it is my land

00:09:54.459 --> 00:09:55.240
 after all,

00:09:56.259 --> 00:09:57.620
 and it is growing

00:09:57.620 --> 00:09:59.220
 on my land,

00:09:59.939 --> 00:10:01.579
 so let me just go there

00:10:01.579 --> 00:10:02.919
 and pick the field clean

00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:04.399
 and I could have

00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:05.279
 the produce

00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:06.480
 for my family.

00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:08.699
 But that exactly,

00:10:08.699 --> 00:10:09.299
 that attitude

00:10:09.299 --> 00:10:10.959
 is exactly the problem.

00:10:11.839 --> 00:10:12.799
 In that same chapter

00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:13.860
 in Leviticus 25,

00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:15.579
 when God commands

00:10:15.579 --> 00:10:16.439
 the Sabbath year

00:10:16.439 --> 00:10:17.519
 for the land

00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:18.319
 and the year of Jubilee,

00:10:18.419 --> 00:10:19.500
 God says in verse 23,

00:10:20.339 --> 00:10:21.899
 the land shall not be sold

00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:22.620
 in perpetuity

00:10:22.620 --> 00:10:25.120
 for the land is mine.

00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:28.120
 For you are strangers

00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:30.879
 and sojourners with me.

00:10:31.439 --> 00:10:32.939
 That's an amazing concept.

00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:34.759
 God does not want

00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:35.740
 the Israelites to forget

00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:36.620
 that the land

00:10:36.620 --> 00:10:37.740
 that they're living on

00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:40.379
 is actually God's land.

00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:42.220
 God gave it to them.

00:10:42.319 --> 00:10:43.240
 God owns it.

00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:44.860
 And they are living

00:10:44.860 --> 00:10:46.379
 on it as sojourners.

00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:47.579
 They're mooching off of God.

00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:49.279
 They are aliens

00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:50.480
 and sojourners in the land.

00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:52.159
 So the Sabbath year

00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:52.679
 for the land

00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:53.500
 is a reminder

00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:54.220
 to the Israelites

00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:55.879
 of this theological reality.

00:10:56.339 --> 00:10:57.339
 We need to remember this

00:10:57.339 --> 00:10:57.740
 about,

00:10:58.199 --> 00:10:59.519
 not only about the ground,

00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:00.579
 but all the gifts,

00:11:00.699 --> 00:11:01.019
 in fact,

00:11:01.079 --> 00:11:02.419
 that God has given us as well.

00:11:03.419 --> 00:11:04.860
 It's easy for us to think,

00:11:04.959 --> 00:11:05.139
 well,

00:11:05.220 --> 00:11:06.059
 I worked hard

00:11:06.059 --> 00:11:07.000
 to earn this money,

00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:09.159
 so I'm going to keep

00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:10.419
 every dollar for myself,

00:11:10.679 --> 00:11:12.559
 but not so fast.

00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:14.299
 Walden Wall,

00:11:14.440 --> 00:11:15.100
 who wrote a book

00:11:15.100 --> 00:11:16.500
 called Money and the Gospel,

00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:17.059
 says this,

00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:18.279
 one of the great

00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:19.259
 presumptuous sins

00:11:19.259 --> 00:11:19.779
 of humanity

00:11:19.779 --> 00:11:20.519
 is the thinking

00:11:20.519 --> 00:11:21.919
 that we create success

00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:22.779
 and influence

00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:23.460
 and wealth.

00:11:24.059 --> 00:11:25.419
 This is completely false.

00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:28.000
 The blessings we have,

00:11:28.259 --> 00:11:29.159
 even if we work

00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:30.159
 to acquire them,

00:11:30.539 --> 00:11:32.480
 are all from God's hand.

00:11:33.700 --> 00:11:34.519
 Have you ever wondered

00:11:34.519 --> 00:11:35.440
 why you were born

00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:36.420
 where you were born

00:11:36.420 --> 00:11:38.200
 or how you came

00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:39.580
 to have the talent you have

00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:40.800
 or the intellect

00:11:40.800 --> 00:11:42.000
 or the opportunities

00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.100
 or the health

00:11:43.100 --> 00:11:44.020
 or the money?

00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:46.700
 Everything comes

00:11:46.700 --> 00:11:48.400
 from the hand of God,

00:11:48.740 --> 00:11:50.340
 even if we work hard.

00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:52.740
 So your land

00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:54.140
 is not yours.

00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:55.460
 Your job

00:11:55.460 --> 00:11:56.280
 is not yours.

00:11:56.400 --> 00:11:56.980
 Your house

00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:58.040
 is not yours.

00:11:58.840 --> 00:11:59.440
 Your car

00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:00.160
 is not yours.

00:12:00.300 --> 00:12:00.900
 Your intellect

00:12:00.900 --> 00:12:01.940
 is not yours.

00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:02.660
 Your talents

00:12:02.660 --> 00:12:03.480
 are not yours.

00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:04.580
 Your health,

00:12:04.760 --> 00:12:05.060
 even,

00:12:05.059 --> 00:12:07.119
 is not ultimately yours.

00:12:07.359 --> 00:12:07.759
 Ultimately,

00:12:07.859 --> 00:12:09.419
 they are all gifts

00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:10.279
 from God.

00:12:10.739 --> 00:12:11.019
 So,

00:12:11.819 --> 00:12:12.279
 we are right

00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:12.919
 to ask ourselves,

00:12:13.079 --> 00:12:14.039
 what do you have

00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:16.079
 that you did not receive?

00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:18.159
 And if then

00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:19.059
 you received it,

00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:19.919
 why do you boast

00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:21.599
 as if you did not receive it?

00:12:23.359 --> 00:12:24.859
 If we feel entitled

00:12:24.859 --> 00:12:26.099
 to what we own,

00:12:26.619 --> 00:12:27.719
 we will not be generous

00:12:27.719 --> 00:12:28.339
 toward the poor.

00:12:29.339 --> 00:12:31.000
 But if we are grateful

00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:32.439
 for what we own

00:12:32.439 --> 00:12:33.599
 because we recognize them

00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:34.700
 properly as the gifts

00:12:34.700 --> 00:12:35.480
 that they are,

00:12:36.220 --> 00:12:37.340
 then we can be free

00:12:37.340 --> 00:12:38.540
 to be generous.

00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:41.240
 But it's not only

00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:41.680
 the poor

00:12:41.680 --> 00:12:42.800
 that God is looking after.

00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:44.040
 Verse 11 adds,

00:12:44.840 --> 00:12:46.040
 and what they leave,

00:12:46.420 --> 00:12:47.220
 what the poor leave,

00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:48.259
 the beasts

00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:49.220
 of the field

00:12:49.220 --> 00:12:50.000
 may eat.

00:12:51.940 --> 00:12:52.920
 There is a clear

00:12:52.920 --> 00:12:53.720
 priority here,

00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:54.500
 lest we forget.

00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:56.060
 The poor people

00:12:56.060 --> 00:12:56.800
 get to eat

00:12:56.800 --> 00:12:57.879
 from the field

00:12:57.879 --> 00:12:58.440
 first,

00:12:58.440 --> 00:13:00.200
 and only afterward,

00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:01.280
 the beasts

00:13:01.280 --> 00:13:01.820
 of the field

00:13:01.820 --> 00:13:03.140
 are to be allowed

00:13:03.140 --> 00:13:03.640
 to eat

00:13:03.640 --> 00:13:04.660
 the leftover.

00:13:05.280 --> 00:13:06.180
 People created

00:13:06.180 --> 00:13:07.020
 in the image of God

00:13:07.020 --> 00:13:08.240
 are more valuable

00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:09.140
 than animals

00:13:09.140 --> 00:13:10.100
 who are not created

00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:11.000
 in the image of God.

00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:11.700
 So,

00:13:11.780 --> 00:13:12.440
 we should be

00:13:12.440 --> 00:13:13.340
 more concerned

00:13:13.340 --> 00:13:14.660
 about human welfare

00:13:14.660 --> 00:13:16.780
 than animal welfare.

00:13:17.520 --> 00:13:18.600
 But with that said,

00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:19.940
 it is remarkable

00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:22.000
 that in the law of God,

00:13:22.640 --> 00:13:23.920
 God himself

00:13:23.920 --> 00:13:24.860
 here is speaking,

00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:26.720
 and God himself

00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:27.960
 deigns to address

00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:28.580
 the welfare

00:13:28.580 --> 00:13:30.019
 of the wild beasts

00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:30.580
 of the field.

00:13:32.680 --> 00:13:34.399
 God cares even

00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:35.340
 for the jackals

00:13:35.340 --> 00:13:36.039
 of the field.

00:13:37.940 --> 00:13:39.779
 The God who governs

00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:40.740
 the hundreds

00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:41.519
 of billions

00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:42.340
 of galaxies

00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:43.180
 in the universe

00:13:43.180 --> 00:13:44.360
 and probably more

00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:45.840
 ensures that even

00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:47.500
 the wild beasts

00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:49.460
 have something to eat.

00:13:51.800 --> 00:13:52.940
 This highlights

00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:54.519
 God's providential care

00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:55.299
 and encourages

00:13:55.299 --> 00:13:56.939
 a generous spirit

00:13:56.939 --> 00:13:58.539
 of creation stewardship

00:13:58.539 --> 00:13:59.240
 among us.

00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:02.159
 I have three daughters,

00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:03.679
 which means

00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:04.500
 I watch

00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:06.919
 many princess movies,

00:14:07.439 --> 00:14:10.000
 which I enjoy

00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:10.639
 more than I care

00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:11.079
 to admit.

00:14:12.600 --> 00:14:13.819
 And one of our

00:14:13.819 --> 00:14:14.679
 household favorites

00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:16.199
 is a live action

00:14:16.199 --> 00:14:17.579
 version of Cinderella

00:14:17.579 --> 00:14:19.000
 from 2015

00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:20.279
 with Lily James.

00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:21.699
 You guys might not

00:14:21.699 --> 00:14:22.079
 have seen it

00:14:22.079 --> 00:14:22.460
 because it's not

00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:23.639
 actually on Disney Plus

00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:24.600
 due to some

00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:26.100
 copyright issues.

00:14:27.199 --> 00:14:28.340
 And in the movie,

00:14:28.500 --> 00:14:29.819
 Cinderella's stepmother

00:14:29.819 --> 00:14:30.919
 and stepsisters

00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:32.059
 are too miserly

00:14:32.059 --> 00:14:32.659
 to share

00:14:32.659 --> 00:14:34.080
 even their

00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:35.419
 meager portions

00:14:35.419 --> 00:14:36.759
 that are left over

00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:37.620
 with Cinderella.

00:14:38.899 --> 00:14:40.199
 But Cinderella,

00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:41.059
 in contrast,

00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:42.139
 is so open-handed

00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:43.279
 and generous

00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:44.840
 that she even

00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:46.299
 shares her portion,

00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:46.860
 which is

00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:48.220
 the crumbs

00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:48.819
 and the leftover

00:14:48.819 --> 00:14:50.200
 from her stepmother

00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:50.759
 and sisters,

00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:52.220
 she shares that

00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:52.980
 openly with even

00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:53.620
 the mice

00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:55.560
 in her own house.

00:14:57.560 --> 00:14:58.020
 And Cinderella

00:14:58.020 --> 00:14:59.580
 names and feeds

00:14:59.580 --> 00:15:01.180
 those pests

00:15:01.180 --> 00:15:02.460
 of the house,

00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:04.259
 jack and goose,

00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:07.259
 so that one of them

00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:07.820
 gets fat.

00:15:07.820 --> 00:15:10.960
 And Cinderella

00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:12.520
 sharing food

00:15:12.520 --> 00:15:13.280
 with the mice

00:15:13.280 --> 00:15:14.140
 shows her,

00:15:14.340 --> 00:15:14.840
 it's supposed to

00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:16.180
 reveal her

00:15:16.180 --> 00:15:17.160
 generous and

00:15:17.160 --> 00:15:18.640
 selfless spirit

00:15:18.640 --> 00:15:20.400
 in stark contrast

00:15:20.400 --> 00:15:21.400
 to the stingy,

00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:22.300
 shriveled heart

00:15:22.300 --> 00:15:23.040
 of the stepmother.

00:15:24.280 --> 00:15:25.220
 We are drawn

00:15:25.220 --> 00:15:26.140
 to generous characters

00:15:26.140 --> 00:15:26.680
 like that.

00:15:26.780 --> 00:15:27.000
 Why?

00:15:27.140 --> 00:15:28.200
 Because she

00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:29.640
 resembles God

00:15:29.640 --> 00:15:31.000
 who cares

00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:31.840
 even

00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:32.940
 for the jackals.

00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:37.040
 And if God

00:15:37.040 --> 00:15:37.540
 so cares

00:15:37.540 --> 00:15:38.560
 for the wild beasts,

00:15:39.160 --> 00:15:40.220
 will such an

00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:40.700
 attentive,

00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:41.340
 loving,

00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:42.240
 generous God

00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:43.320
 neglect us

00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:44.340
 who are made

00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:45.040
 in his own image?

00:15:46.460 --> 00:15:47.080
 And that's why

00:15:47.080 --> 00:15:47.640
 Jesus says

00:15:47.640 --> 00:15:48.400
 in Matthew 6,

00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:49.340
 25 to 26,

00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:50.220
 therefore I tell you,

00:15:50.280 --> 00:15:50.980
 do not be anxious

00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:51.760
 about your life,

00:15:52.040 --> 00:15:52.800
 what you will eat

00:15:52.800 --> 00:15:53.740
 or what you will drink

00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:54.580
 or about your body,

00:15:54.680 --> 00:15:55.560
 what you will put on.

00:15:56.140 --> 00:15:56.800
 Is not life

00:15:56.800 --> 00:15:57.500
 more than food

00:15:57.500 --> 00:15:58.040
 and the body

00:15:58.040 --> 00:15:58.880
 more than clothing?

00:15:59.020 --> 00:15:59.800
 Look at the birds

00:15:59.800 --> 00:16:00.400
 of the air.

00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:02.280
 They do not sow

00:16:02.280 --> 00:16:02.820
 or reap

00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:03.379
 or stow away

00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:04.120
 in barns

00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:04.940
 and yet

00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:06.040
 your heavenly

00:16:06.040 --> 00:16:06.720
 Father

00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:08.000
 feeds them.

00:16:12.140 --> 00:16:12.480
 The God

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:12.900
 the Father

00:16:12.900 --> 00:16:13.940
 is not the bird's

00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:14.500
 father,

00:16:14.900 --> 00:16:16.560
 but he is

00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:17.320
 your father.

00:16:18.680 --> 00:16:19.379
 Will he

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.080
 neglect

00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:20.840
 you?

00:16:25.160 --> 00:16:26.140
 God is no

00:16:26.140 --> 00:16:26.920
 Scrooge.

00:16:27.560 --> 00:16:28.240
 So see here

00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:28.900
 in these verses,

00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.800
 God's generous

00:16:29.800 --> 00:16:30.280
 heart

00:16:30.280 --> 00:16:31.440
 toward you

00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:33.400
 and don't

00:16:33.400 --> 00:16:33.840
 ever think

00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:34.040
 of him

00:16:34.040 --> 00:16:34.860
 as a begrudging

00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:36.060
 or stingy

00:16:36.060 --> 00:16:37.380
 God.

00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:39.520
 This leads us

00:16:39.520 --> 00:16:40.080
 to the principle

00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:40.660
 of the Sabbath

00:16:40.660 --> 00:16:41.920
 day in verse 12.

00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:42.220
 Again,

00:16:42.280 --> 00:16:42.640
 it begins

00:16:42.640 --> 00:16:43.080
 with the number

00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:43.700
 six,

00:16:43.880 --> 00:16:44.780
 six days.

00:16:45.420 --> 00:16:45.700
 You shall

00:16:45.700 --> 00:16:46.480
 do your work,

00:16:46.900 --> 00:16:47.560
 but on the seventh

00:16:47.560 --> 00:16:48.420
 day you shall

00:16:48.420 --> 00:16:48.980
 rest,

00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:50.420
 that your ox

00:16:50.420 --> 00:16:51.100
 and your donkey

00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:51.840
 may have rest,

00:16:52.160 --> 00:16:52.740
 and the son

00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:53.380
 of your servant

00:16:53.380 --> 00:16:54.420
 woman and the alien

00:16:54.420 --> 00:16:55.440
 may be refreshed.

00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:56.680
 This is again

00:16:56.680 --> 00:16:57.380
 an elaboration

00:16:57.380 --> 00:16:58.400
 of the fourth

00:16:58.400 --> 00:16:58.940
 commandment.

00:16:59.100 --> 00:16:59.620
 Remember the

00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.259
 Sabbath day,

00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:01.200
 keep it holy,

00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:02.500
 working for six

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:03.759
 days and ceasing

00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:04.640
 from work on

00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:05.119
 the seventh

00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:05.700
 day.

00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:07.559
 There when God

00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:08.420
 gave the fourth

00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:08.960
 commandment in

00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:09.759
 Exodus 20,

00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:10.380
 he gave this

00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:11.559
 specific rationale

00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.500
 which is in the

00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:13.160
 background here.

00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:14.140
 For in six

00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:15.200
 days the Lord

00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:15.940
 made heaven and

00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:16.140
 earth,

00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:16.980
 the sea and all

00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:17.640
 that is in them,

00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:18.660
 and rested on

00:17:18.660 --> 00:17:19.339
 the seventh day.

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.319
 Therefore the Lord

00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:21.019
 blessed the

00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:21.799
 Sabbath day and

00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:22.440
 made it holy.

00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:24.480
 So God

00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.160
 himself,

00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:25.480
 we need to

00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:25.759
 remember,

00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:26.980
 needs no rest.

00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:28.200
 God didn't rest

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:28.700
 because he was

00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:29.120
 tired.

00:17:29.900 --> 00:17:30.640
 We know this

00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:31.340
 because Isaiah

00:17:31.340 --> 00:17:32.559
 40, 28 tells us

00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:33.779
 that God neither

00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:35.480
 faints nor is

00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:35.799
 weary.

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:37.080
 He never gets

00:17:37.080 --> 00:17:37.340
 weary.

00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:38.220
 He never faints.

00:17:38.600 --> 00:17:39.480
 He never tires.

00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:40.680
 And Jesus

00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:41.600
 confirms this in

00:17:41.600 --> 00:17:42.860
 John 5, 17 when

00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:43.940
 he tells the

00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:44.720
 Pharisees who are

00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.759
 criticizing him for

00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:46.860
 healing on the

00:17:46.860 --> 00:17:47.720
 Sabbath that my

00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:48.700
 father is working

00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:49.819
 even this day.

00:17:50.360 --> 00:17:50.799
 God the Father

00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:52.140
 works on the

00:17:52.140 --> 00:17:52.400
 Sabbath.

00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:53.400
 He doesn't take

00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:54.080
 days off.

00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:55.439
 However,

00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:57.679
 for our benefit,

00:17:58.119 --> 00:17:59.379
 because we as

00:17:59.379 --> 00:18:00.059
 human beings,

00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:00.980
 finite creatures,

00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:01.859
 need rest,

00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:03.000
 God the Father

00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:03.899
 rested on the

00:18:03.899 --> 00:18:04.960
 seventh day of

00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:05.480
 his creation.

00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:09.319
 The Sabbath is a

00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:10.899
 reminder that we

00:18:10.899 --> 00:18:11.699
 are not all

00:18:11.699 --> 00:18:13.099
 powerful, that we

00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:14.720
 are not indefatigable

00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:16.859
 or indispensable

00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:18.419
 like we think we

00:18:18.419 --> 00:18:18.679
 are.

00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:21.399
 When even God

00:18:21.399 --> 00:18:22.000
 rested on the

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.879
 seventh day from

00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:24.380
 his work of

00:18:24.380 --> 00:18:25.820
 creation, do we

00:18:25.820 --> 00:18:27.280
 really have the

00:18:27.280 --> 00:18:28.280
 audacity to say

00:18:28.280 --> 00:18:30.340
 that our work is

00:18:30.340 --> 00:18:31.320
 so important, that

00:18:31.320 --> 00:18:33.160
 I am so important

00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:34.340
 that I can't afford

00:18:34.340 --> 00:18:36.020
 to take a day of

00:18:36.020 --> 00:18:36.400
 rest?

00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:39.080
 The world will not

00:18:39.080 --> 00:18:40.740
 stop spinning because

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:42.060
 we stopped working.

00:18:44.340 --> 00:18:45.660
 This rationale for

00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:46.000
 the fourth

00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:46.800
 commandment is in

00:18:46.800 --> 00:18:47.660
 the background here,

00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:49.080
 but a different

00:18:49.080 --> 00:18:50.200
 reason is in the

00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:51.480
 foreground in this

00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:51.800
 verse.

00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:53.140
 Why must Israelites

00:18:53.140 --> 00:18:53.860
 rest and not

00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:54.619
 work on the

00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:55.699
 seventh day, that

00:18:55.699 --> 00:18:56.899
 your ox and your

00:18:56.899 --> 00:18:57.740
 donkey may have

00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:59.240
 rest, and the

00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:00.019
 son of your

00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:01.019
 servant woman and

00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:02.019
 the alien may be

00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:02.419
 refreshed.

00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:04.240
 So here the

00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:04.919
 concern that is

00:19:04.919 --> 00:19:06.019
 emphasized is love

00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:06.799
 of neighbor.

00:19:06.979 --> 00:19:07.759
 Not only do we

00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.839
 need rest, the

00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:09.659
 people who work

00:19:09.659 --> 00:19:11.399
 for us need rest.

00:19:11.639 --> 00:19:12.399
 The son of your

00:19:12.399 --> 00:19:13.119
 servant woman, the

00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:14.219
 alien, they need

00:19:14.219 --> 00:19:14.879
 refreshment.

00:19:15.379 --> 00:19:16.319
 This is necessary

00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:17.339
 because if we're

00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:18.519
 working, then other

00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.279
 people who are under

00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.399
 our charge and care

00:19:20.399 --> 00:19:21.519
 have to work as

00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:23.339
 well, imagine

00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:24.220
 having a manager, I

00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:24.740
 think some of you

00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:25.379
 guys have this,

00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:26.400
 imagine having a

00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:27.259
 manager who never

00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:28.279
 stops working.

00:19:30.139 --> 00:19:31.160
 You're on vacation,

00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:33.759
 ping, hey, have you

00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:34.339
 done this?

00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.539
 Weekends, evenings,

00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:40.400
 early mornings, all

00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:42.220
 hours of the night, you

00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:44.220
 get emails, pings on

00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:46.019
 your Slack, work Slack,

00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:47.900
 have you done this?

00:19:49.879 --> 00:19:51.220
 You would never be

00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:53.539
 able to rest because

00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.319
 your boss hasn't

00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:55.000
 stopped working.

00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:56.039
 You'll be constantly

00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:58.180
 stressed that you're

00:19:58.180 --> 00:19:59.259
 not doing enough work,

00:19:59.339 --> 00:19:59.900
 that you need to be

00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:00.799
 doing more and more

00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:01.200
 work.

00:20:03.420 --> 00:20:04.539
 It's for this reason

00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:05.960
 that we need to think

00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:06.619
 of people who are

00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:07.639
 under our care and

00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:09.599
 under our charge and

00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:11.420
 rest for their sake

00:20:11.420 --> 00:20:13.160
 also so that they may

00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:13.700
 be refreshed.

00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:17.100
 And once again, God

00:20:17.100 --> 00:20:17.960
 demonstrates his care

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.880
 even for the animals.

00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:20.299
 He says that we should

00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:22.319
 rest so that your ox and

00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:23.460
 your donkey may have

00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:23.860
 rest.

00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:25.440
 Even farm animals, just

00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:27.700
 beasts, they need

00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:28.160
 rest.

00:20:29.100 --> 00:20:30.860
 And if God is concerned

00:20:30.860 --> 00:20:31.740
 about making sure that

00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:32.960
 the livestock get

00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:34.500
 necessary rest, how

00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.740
 much more do you think

00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:37.240
 God cares about your

00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:39.220
 rest, about your

00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:40.259
 well-being, about your

00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:40.920
 refreshment?

00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:44.779
 The Sabbath was so

00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:45.400
 important for the

00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:46.400
 Israelites that later in

00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:47.460
 Exodus 34, they're

00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:48.960
 specifically commanded not

00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:50.640
 to work even in the

00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:51.900
 busiest months of the

00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:52.940
 agricultural calendar,

00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:54.340
 during the plowing time,

00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:55.420
 in the harvest time.

00:20:57.420 --> 00:20:58.920
 The most time-sensitive

00:20:58.920 --> 00:21:00.300
 periods in an

00:21:00.300 --> 00:21:01.880
 agricultural society,

00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.840
 that's when the ox and

00:21:03.840 --> 00:21:04.960
 donkeys are the busiest

00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:06.080
 working.

00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:08.240
 But even then, you must

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.360
 cease working on the

00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:10.079
 seventh day and rest.

00:21:10.179 --> 00:21:11.439
 Even then, you must let

00:21:11.439 --> 00:21:13.719
 your animals rest on the

00:21:13.719 --> 00:21:14.199
 seventh day.

00:21:16.159 --> 00:21:17.379
 That's the seventh year

00:21:17.379 --> 00:21:18.279
 and the seventh day.

00:21:19.479 --> 00:21:20.659
 After addressing those

00:21:20.659 --> 00:21:22.779
 two things, verses 14 to

00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.939
 19 turn their attention

00:21:23.939 --> 00:21:25.719
 to the three feasts that

00:21:25.719 --> 00:21:26.379
 they are to celebrate

00:21:26.379 --> 00:21:27.039
 throughout the year.

00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:29.099
 And verses 14 to 16 are

00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:30.819
 paralleled by verses 17 to

00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:31.119
 19.

00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:32.039
 This is important, and I'm

00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:32.779
 going to bring it up again

00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.059
 later.

00:21:34.139 --> 00:21:35.679
 Both paragraphs begin with

00:21:35.679 --> 00:21:36.419
 the word three.

00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:38.439
 Three times in the year you

00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.440
 shall keep a feast to me.

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.940
 Three times in the year

00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:42.019
 shall all your males appear

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:43.019
 before the Lord God.

00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:47.340
 Women and children can

00:21:47.340 --> 00:21:48.799
 come, but the males were

00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:50.059
 required to be there.

00:21:50.600 --> 00:21:52.080
 Presumably, their wives

00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:53.160
 are holding down the fort

00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:55.200
 home while they represent

00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:56.440
 their households in the

00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:57.519
 temple or before the

00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.160
 presence of God.

00:21:59.100 --> 00:21:59.920
 And so this parallel

00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:01.140
 structure between the two

00:22:01.140 --> 00:22:02.559
 sections, verses 14 to 16

00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:03.779
 and 17 to 19, suggests

00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.980
 that the three sentences

00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:06.460
 in verses 18 to 19

00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:08.480
 actually correspond to

00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:10.019
 the three feasts mentioned

00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:11.700
 in verses 15 to 17.

00:22:12.860 --> 00:22:14.860
 So first is the feast of

00:22:14.860 --> 00:22:15.839
 unleavened bread.

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.880
 It says in verse 15,

00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:18.920
 As I commanded you, you

00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:20.539
 shall eat unleavened bread

00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:21.620
 for seven days at the

00:22:21.620 --> 00:22:22.839
 appointed time in the month

00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:23.299
 of Abib.

00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:25.660
 For in it you came out of

00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:25.980
 Egypt.

00:22:26.360 --> 00:22:27.640
 None shall appear before me

00:22:27.640 --> 00:22:28.620
 empty-handed.

00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:31.759
 In Exodus 12, God already

00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:33.559
 gave detailed instructions and

00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.859
 rationale for this feast.

00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:37.059
 The seven day of the feast

00:22:37.059 --> 00:22:38.579
 of unleavened bread immediately

00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:40.299
 followed the celebration of

00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:40.839
 the Passover.

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:43.019
 The Passover day when God

00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:44.119
 struck down the firstborn

00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:46.919
 sons of Egypt as retribution

00:22:46.919 --> 00:22:49.200
 for not letting the firstborn

00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:51.000
 son of God, Israel, go.

00:22:51.659 --> 00:22:53.139
 And so because of that,

00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:55.379
 Egyptians let the Israelites

00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:57.819
 go in a hurry, fearing for

00:22:57.819 --> 00:22:58.379
 their lives.

00:22:58.859 --> 00:23:00.399
 And so the Passover was when

00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:02.899
 the Israelites sacrificed an

00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:05.300
 unblemished lamb as kind of an

00:23:05.300 --> 00:23:06.320
 atoning sacrifice.

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:08.759
 And they daubed the blood of

00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:09.920
 the lamb on their doors and

00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:11.160
 the angel of death when he

00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:13.060
 came through to destroy the

00:23:13.060 --> 00:23:14.860
 firstborns, firstborn males of

00:23:14.860 --> 00:23:16.519
 Egypt, spared the Israelites

00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:19.100
 because they saw the blood of

00:23:19.100 --> 00:23:19.440
 the lamb.

00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:21.100
 That was the Passover day and

00:23:21.100 --> 00:23:22.440
 the Israelites celebrated that

00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:24.519
 annually by slaughtering a lamb

00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:25.340
 and eating it.

00:23:26.040 --> 00:23:28.040
 And the seventh day, seventh day

00:23:28.040 --> 00:23:30.060
 unleavened bread, the feast of

00:23:30.060 --> 00:23:30.820
 unleavened bread immediately

00:23:30.820 --> 00:23:31.920
 followed the Passover and

00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:33.759
 sometimes they're combined and

00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.900
 they're called together called

00:23:34.900 --> 00:23:36.519
 the feast of the Passover or the

00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:37.600
 feast of the unleavened bread.

00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:39.940
 And this was the rationale for

00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:41.160
 the feast of unleavened bread in

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:42.980
 Exodus 12, 33 to 34.

00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:45.120
 It says because the Egyptians

00:23:45.120 --> 00:23:47.500
 ushered the Israelites out of

00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:50.259
 Egypt in haste and they left in

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.640
 such a hurry that they had no

00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:53.460
 time to leaven their bread.

00:23:54.140 --> 00:23:55.580
 They had no time to leaven the

00:23:55.580 --> 00:23:56.779
 bread and let the dough rise.

00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:58.700
 And so that's why they had to eat

00:23:58.700 --> 00:24:00.180
 unleavened bread when they were

00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:01.519
 exiting Egypt.

00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:03.400
 And so to commemorate that, they

00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:04.960
 are now to for seven days eat

00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:06.500
 only unleavened bread.

00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:08.440
 They came out of Egypt in the

00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:10.740
 month of Abiv, which is now the

00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:12.120
 has reset the Jewish calendar.

00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:12.940
 That's when the Jewish calendar

00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:14.640
 begins after the Exodus.

00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:16.560
 And that's when they are to

00:24:16.560 --> 00:24:17.440
 celebrate the Passover.

00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:19.840
 It's the Jewish equivalent of

00:24:19.840 --> 00:24:21.940
 Independence Day where they were

00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:23.019
 freed from the yoke of the

00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:24.200
 Egyptian tyranny.

00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:27.759
 And the command none shall appear

00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:29.580
 before me empty handed is a

00:24:29.580 --> 00:24:31.240
 reference to the sacrifice that

00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:32.819
 participants in the feast were to

00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:33.539
 offer to God.

00:24:34.100 --> 00:24:35.980
 In fact, this command applies to

00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:37.920
 all three of the feasts because

00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:39.140
 according to more detailed

00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:41.140
 instructions found elsewhere in

00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:43.220
 Leviticus 23, Numbers 20, 29,

00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:45.259
 Deuteronomy 16, each of these

00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:47.200
 three feasts require the offering up

00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:47.880
 of sacrifice.

00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:50.120
 And each of these three feasts

00:24:50.120 --> 00:24:52.519
 specifically require the sacrifice

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:56.079
 of a year old male lamb without

00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:57.180
 blemish.

00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:58.900
 Just like the Passover.

00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:02.579
 As I mentioned earlier, verses 14

00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:04.680
 to 16 are paralleled by verses 17

00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:06.859
 to 19 and both paragraphs begin

00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:07.759
 with the word three.

00:25:08.379 --> 00:25:10.119
 And the three specific instructions

00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:12.519
 given in 18 to 19 correspond to the

00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:14.480
 three feasts outlined in verses 15

00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:14.940
 to 17.

00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:18.700
 So verse 18 then corresponds directly

00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:20.440
 to the feast of unleavened bread.

00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:22.259
 And you can see that it's

00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:23.640
 confirmed by what it says because

00:25:23.640 --> 00:25:25.819
 it says offering anything unleavened

00:25:25.819 --> 00:25:27.519
 with the sacrifice is prohibited.

00:25:28.359 --> 00:25:29.420
 It says you shall not offer the

00:25:29.420 --> 00:25:31.359
 blood of my sacrifice with anything

00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:33.720
 leavened or let the fat of my feast

00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:34.839
 remain until the morning.

00:25:35.379 --> 00:25:36.759
 Not letting the leftovers of the

00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:38.019
 lamb remain until the morning is

00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:39.680
 also parallel to the instruction that

00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:41.759
 God gave to the Israelites about

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:43.420
 the feast of unleavened bread in

00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:44.259
 Exodus 12.

00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:46.559
 They were supposed to burn up any

00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.779
 leftover instead of letting it

00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:50.660
 remain to maybe rot until the next

00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:52.040
 day to spoil and it has to be thrown

00:25:52.040 --> 00:25:54.460
 out or maybe they eat leftovers

00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:55.720
 the following day.

00:25:55.800 --> 00:25:58.820
 If they did that, it would cheapen

00:25:58.820 --> 00:26:00.759
 the sacrificial meal.

00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:02.860
 It would make it seem common and

00:26:02.860 --> 00:26:03.480
 ordinary.

00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:06.220
 And so burning the leftovers kind of

00:26:06.800 --> 00:26:08.680
 blazoned in their mind the reality

00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:10.400
 that this is a holy meal.

00:26:10.600 --> 00:26:12.700
 This is a sacrificial meal and is

00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:14.660
 offered to God and shared in his

00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:14.980
 presence.

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:18.019
 So no leaven is allowed and no

00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:19.259
 leftovers are allowed.

00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:22.559
 The second of the three major

00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:23.460
 pilgrimage feasts that the

00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:24.759
 Israelites are to celebrate is the

00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:26.799
 feast of harvest or the feast of

00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:28.960
 first fruits of your labor of what

00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.240
 you sow in the field as it says in

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:30.920
 verse 16.

00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:33.640
 This feast came at the beginning of

00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:35.680
 the harvest season and according to

00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.900
 more detailed instructions in the

00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:38.279
 chapters I mentioned earlier, this

00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:38.980
 feast was inaugurated.

00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:42.720
 It started when the sickle is first

00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:43.980
 put to the standing grain.

00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:46.440
 So the very first crop of the

00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:48.620
 harvest that you get is the first

00:26:48.620 --> 00:26:48.880
 fruits.

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:51.500
 That's when you begin the feast.

00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:53.900
 And you are supposed to bring those

00:26:53.900 --> 00:26:55.920
 first fruits to God as an offering

00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:57.120
 and you are supposed to wave it

00:26:57.120 --> 00:26:57.700
 before him.

00:26:58.920 --> 00:27:01.120
 And you brought the first, I mean

00:27:01.120 --> 00:27:02.460
 that would have been tempting for

00:27:02.460 --> 00:27:04.980
 them as well because if you are like

00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:07.000
 me and you like to plan for the

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:09.400
 future, you like to have emergency

00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:12.140
 supplies and savings, well you don't

00:27:12.140 --> 00:27:13.099
 know what's going to happen to the

00:27:13.099 --> 00:27:13.819
 rest of your field.

00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:18.720
 What if there's hail, locusts, and the

00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:21.000
 rest of your produce get destroyed?

00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:23.400
 Well here you have the first fruits,

00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:25.680
 maybe if I store this up at least I'll

00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:27.120
 have some in case some disaster

00:27:27.120 --> 00:27:28.799
 happens for the rest of the year.

00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:31.140
 It would have been tempting to have

00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:32.839
 that mindset but not according to this

00:27:32.839 --> 00:27:33.019
 first.

00:27:33.099 --> 00:27:35.660
 It says God commands us to offer the

00:27:35.660 --> 00:27:37.720
 first fruits, the feast of first fruits,

00:27:38.599 --> 00:27:41.019
 the first fruits of our ground we are to

00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:42.079
 bring to God as an offering.

00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:45.279
 So after the first fruits are waved,

00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:47.339
 you're supposed to count down seven

00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:47.819
 weeks.

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:50.939
 And after the seven weeks, so 49 days,

00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:54.059
 on the 50th day, they were to offer

00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:54.859
 more sacrifices.

00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:56.599
 That's why sometimes this feast is

00:27:56.599 --> 00:27:58.679
 instead called the feast of weeks.

00:27:59.039 --> 00:28:02.659
 Or it's also called Pentecost, which is

00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:04.359
 the way it's referred to in the New

00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:06.339
 Testament because it comes from the

00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:07.339
 Greek word for 50.

00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:09.259
 On the 50th day, they celebrate.

00:28:09.459 --> 00:28:13.059
 So the feast of first fruits, the feast

00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:16.699
 of weeks, feast of harvest, Pentecost is

00:28:16.699 --> 00:28:18.379
 all referring to the same feast.

00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:22.299
 Now by bringing the first fruits offerings,

00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:26.539
 they're giving it as a pledge of trust

00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:26.939
 to God.

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:29.879
 And the first fruits offering is also to

00:28:29.879 --> 00:28:32.659
 be from the best of the first fruits,

00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.039
 it says.

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:36.319
 Not the worst of your first fruits.

00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:38.659
 It's supposed to be the cream of your

00:28:38.659 --> 00:28:41.899
 crop, not the crumbs of your crop.

00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:46.079
 As I've been saying throughout our series

00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:47.899
 in the book of Exodus, these laws are not

00:28:47.899 --> 00:28:51.720
 legally binding on Christian as laws because

00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:53.440
 they are stipulations of the old covenant.

00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:56.220
 And we are under the new covenant, under

00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:57.039
 the law of Christ.

00:28:57.799 --> 00:29:00.059
 For this reason, everything in the Old

00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:02.339
 Testament, including these verses, have

00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:04.419
 to be interpreted through and applied

00:29:04.419 --> 00:29:07.200
 through the lens of Jesus who has fulfilled

00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:09.220
 the whole law, fulfilled all of the

00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:10.500
 scriptures and have brought it to its

00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:12.399
 intended purpose and goal.

00:29:13.679 --> 00:29:16.119
 With that said, this is still the inspired

00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:16.740
 word of God.

00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:19.220
 And it teaches us about God's character.

00:29:19.879 --> 00:29:22.559
 And it gives us ideas about how we might

00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:24.119
 honor God.

00:29:24.119 --> 00:29:29.899
 So do you have a desire to honor God in this

00:29:29.899 --> 00:29:30.159
 way?

00:29:32.939 --> 00:29:36.039
 To bring him the first fruits and not the

00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.419
 leftovers?

00:29:38.899 --> 00:29:42.659
 My mom instilled this in me and my sister when

00:29:42.659 --> 00:29:44.279
 we were growing up from an early age.

00:29:44.679 --> 00:29:47.979
 Whenever we started a new job, she encouraged us

00:29:47.979 --> 00:29:51.939
 to give the entire first paycheck as an offering

00:29:51.940 --> 00:29:55.759
 to God in the church as a first fruits offering.

00:29:55.940 --> 00:30:00.160
 And she encouraged us to give the first 10% of

00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:02.059
 your income at the beginning of the year.

00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:05.740
 Not beginning of the month, the first 10% to

00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:07.900
 God instead of giving the leftovers.

00:30:08.840 --> 00:30:11.680
 And before taxes, before the government takes its

00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:12.440
 portion.

00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:15.980
 And this is what Hannah and I have done throughout

00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.840
 our entire marriage.

00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:20.799
 And I say this not to boast but to set an example

00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:24.039
 and to show you what this in some limited way looks

00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:24.339
 like.

00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:29.019
 And we do this not because we have to, but because

00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:29.839
 we get to.

00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:37.799
 Because we want some way to express to God that you

00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:40.139
 are first in my life.

00:30:41.619 --> 00:30:44.720
 Because we want some way to be able to acknowledge

00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:48.960
 and say to God that everything I have comes from you.

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:51.759
 You're the giver of every good gift.

00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:58.259
 It brings me so much joy and pleasure to be able to give

00:30:58.259 --> 00:30:58.680
 it to God.

00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:04.519
 And God has blessed us abundantly and we have never

00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:05.579
 known any lack.

00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:11.319
 Do you want to give the first place in your life to God?

00:31:14.119 --> 00:31:16.659
 Do you want to give the best of your life to God?

00:31:18.939 --> 00:31:22.339
 I've heard some people say after, you know, after I've had

00:31:22.339 --> 00:31:25.259
 a career, have made some money and maybe raised a family.

00:31:25.419 --> 00:31:28.220
 Well, then after that, I will serve the Lord in ministry.

00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:31.679
 Or after that, I will consider going into the mission field.

00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:36.019
 But why wait until you're old?

00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:40.279
 You might not even live that long.

00:31:41.320 --> 00:31:46.720
 Why not give the prime of your life, the best of your youth

00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.740
 to God?

00:31:51.400 --> 00:31:53.340
 And then trust God to take care of the rest.

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:59.900
 The third and final major feast the Israelites were to

00:31:59.900 --> 00:32:04.220
 celebrate was a feast of ingathering at the end of the year,

00:32:04.700 --> 00:32:07.500
 most likely the end of the agricultural year because it

00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:09.700
 comes at the end of the harvest around September, October.

00:32:10.820 --> 00:32:14.220
 This feast is more commonly called the feast of tabernacles

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:17.620
 or the feast of booths because during the harvest,

00:32:17.780 --> 00:32:21.500
 Israelites set up booths, tabernacles, tents in the field

00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:24.320
 for the farmers, the harvesters to take shelter in.

00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:27.859
 So this would be the modern equivalent of our Thanksgiving

00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:31.079
 or other similar harvest festivals throughout the world.

00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:34.179
 And following the pattern we have observed so far,

00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:38.119
 verse 18 gives specific instructions for the feast of unleavened bread.

00:32:39.079 --> 00:32:43.939
 And verse 19a, giving specific instructions for the feast of weeks,

00:32:44.119 --> 00:32:48.079
 that leads us to conclude following the pattern that verse 19b

00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:51.619
 is most likely specifically connected to the feast of booths.

00:32:51.619 --> 00:32:54.279
 That's the third feast and that's the third specific instruction

00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:55.439
 given in the parallel section.

00:32:56.939 --> 00:32:59.339
 But the connection is not immediately apparent

00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:00.879
 because the instruction is quite curious.

00:33:01.099 --> 00:33:01.399
 It says,

00:33:01.959 --> 00:33:04.799
 You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.

00:33:05.939 --> 00:33:06.019
 Right?

00:33:06.859 --> 00:33:09.139
 I'm pretty sure some of you guys, when I read that,

00:33:09.199 --> 00:33:10.559
 are just like, what in the world is that?

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:19.839
 And, well, unfortunately, I don't have an answer for you

00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:24.859
 that is sure, you know, that is perfectly,

00:33:25.119 --> 00:33:26.639
 I mean, I'm not sure that this is right.

00:33:27.179 --> 00:33:28.859
 I think it's plausible.

00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:34.039
 In the 12th century AD, Jewish philosopher Maimonides,

00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:37.720
 many scholars follow his line of reasoning that

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:40.819
 Maimonides argued that forbidding the Israelites

00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:43.920
 from boiling a young goat, a goat kid, in its mother's milk

00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:47.960
 had to do with ancient Near Eastern pagan rituals,

00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:53.860
 fertility rituals, which involved boiling a goat in its mother's milk.

00:33:54.100 --> 00:33:57.779
 And there's a chance that a ritual similar to that

00:33:57.779 --> 00:34:00.740
 is described in an ancient Ugaritic text.

00:34:01.460 --> 00:34:04.940
 The text is fragmented, so it's not perfectly clear

00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:06.759
 that that's what it's referring to, but it's possible

00:34:06.759 --> 00:34:10.840
 that some pagan rituals involved boiling a young goat in its mother's milk.

00:34:11.320 --> 00:34:14.500
 And it's plausible that that's some kind of fertility ritual

00:34:14.500 --> 00:34:17.240
 because life, you know, milk represents life

00:34:17.240 --> 00:34:20.740
 and a young goat also represents fertility.

00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:24.139
 This is possible but impossible to prove.

00:34:24.659 --> 00:34:27.940
 Another possible reason is that there's just something perverse

00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:32.340
 about boiling a young goat in its own mother's milk.

00:34:32.340 --> 00:34:38.360
 The young goat is supposed to be fed and nourished by the mother's milk,

00:34:38.600 --> 00:34:40.160
 not cooked in it.

00:34:42.640 --> 00:34:46.780
 Plus, it seems so greedy to consume both the mother's goat

00:34:46.780 --> 00:34:52.940
 and the kid and the mother's milk in one dish.

00:34:52.940 --> 00:34:57.320
 So this may be yet another command in this passage

00:34:57.320 --> 00:35:00.679
 where God is enjoining the responsible stewardship of creation,

00:35:01.200 --> 00:35:03.539
 being merciful even to the animals.

00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:07.820
 The way this section of the book of the covenant

00:35:07.820 --> 00:35:10.260
 is structured in parallel format, as I've been mentioning,

00:35:10.559 --> 00:35:14.360
 six years, six days, three feasts, three feasts,

00:35:14.800 --> 00:35:17.820
 they bring the focus intentionally to verse 13,

00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:21.420
 which is the centerpiece, the crux of this passage.

00:35:21.420 --> 00:35:24.059
 And this is the main takeaway really of the passage.

00:35:24.159 --> 00:35:25.099
 And it says in verse 13,

00:35:25.559 --> 00:35:28.159
 pay attention to all that I have said to you

00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:32.019
 and make no mention of the names of other gods,

00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:34.559
 nor let it be heard on your lips.

00:35:35.940 --> 00:35:40.039
 Not only are the Israelites to not worship other gods,

00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:42.500
 they are not even to mention their name on their lips.

00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:46.059
 Their name should not even be heard on the lips of the Israelites.

00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:50.219
 And that's really the purpose of the Sabbath year

00:35:50.219 --> 00:35:52.739
 and the Sabbath day and the feasts of unleavened bread

00:35:52.739 --> 00:35:54.059
 and weeks and booths.

00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:58.719
 They are designed to remind them of God's faithful provision for them

00:35:58.719 --> 00:36:02.340
 and reaffirm their exclusive allegiance to him.

00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:04.599
 Remember that.

00:36:04.699 --> 00:36:05.239
 This is what God says.

00:36:05.299 --> 00:36:07.139
 Remember that at this point of the Exodus,

00:36:08.099 --> 00:36:10.239
 the Israelites are not yet in the promised land.

00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:15.399
 And yet, almost all of the instructions here in this passage

00:36:15.399 --> 00:36:18.219
 pertain to when the Israelites come into possession of the promised land.

00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:23.219
 Right now, they don't own any land that they can leave fallow on the seventh year.

00:36:23.799 --> 00:36:27.779
 Right now, they don't have any harvest to give thanks to God for.

00:36:28.379 --> 00:36:32.639
 But God gives these instructions in anticipation of the fact

00:36:32.639 --> 00:36:35.059
 that he will fulfill his promises

00:36:35.059 --> 00:36:38.719
 as if they have already been fulfilled.

00:36:38.779 --> 00:36:41.019
 Because when God promises something,

00:36:41.539 --> 00:36:42.619
 it is as good as done.

00:36:44.639 --> 00:36:45.960
 God is saying to the Israelites,

00:36:46.179 --> 00:36:50.019
 remember how I provided manna for you daily in the wilderness

00:36:50.019 --> 00:36:52.860
 and a double portion for you on the sixth day

00:36:52.860 --> 00:36:56.219
 so that you can rest and still have food to eat on the seventh day.

00:36:56.779 --> 00:36:57.679
 Remember that.

00:36:58.079 --> 00:36:58.679
 Remember that.

00:36:58.739 --> 00:37:00.519
 And when you come to possess Canaan,

00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:02.820
 let the land lie fallow.

00:37:02.820 --> 00:37:05.600
 Give it rest and trust in my provision for you.

00:37:07.580 --> 00:37:13.500
 Remember how I struck down Egypt with a mighty arm at the Passover day

00:37:13.500 --> 00:37:16.280
 and how you were ushered out so quickly from Egypt

00:37:16.280 --> 00:37:18.100
 that you had to eat unleavened bread.

00:37:18.480 --> 00:37:19.400
 Well, remember that.

00:37:19.500 --> 00:37:21.860
 And when you come into possession of the land of Canaan,

00:37:22.300 --> 00:37:23.860
 celebrate these feasts.

00:37:23.980 --> 00:37:25.720
 Eat unleavened bread for seven days

00:37:25.720 --> 00:37:28.320
 so you will not forget that it was Yahweh

00:37:28.320 --> 00:37:30.460
 who brought you out of the land of Egypt.

00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:35.740
 And it is Yahweh who provided this land for you.

00:37:36.159 --> 00:37:39.840
 And it is Yahweh who provided the harvest for you.

00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:42.260
 Not Baal, not Asherah,

00:37:42.420 --> 00:37:44.780
 or any of the other idols of the surrounding nations.

00:37:44.920 --> 00:37:46.980
 That's the point of these feasts.

00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:53.639
 Pay attention to all that I have said to you.

00:37:54.039 --> 00:37:55.099
 Note the contrast here.

00:37:55.099 --> 00:37:57.440
 Pay attention to all that I have said to you

00:37:57.440 --> 00:38:02.119
 and make no mention at all of the other gods.

00:38:02.719 --> 00:38:06.299
 God demands absolute exclusive allegiance

00:38:06.299 --> 00:38:08.460
 because he deserves nothing less

00:38:08.460 --> 00:38:12.059
 and will not countenance anything less than that.

00:38:14.299 --> 00:38:18.119
 Who or what are the idols in your life

00:38:18.119 --> 00:38:23.799
 that you look to as your redeemer and provider?

00:38:23.800 --> 00:38:29.500
 In theory, you might say that God is your deliverer.

00:38:29.600 --> 00:38:31.180
 God is your savior and redeemer.

00:38:31.320 --> 00:38:34.360
 But functionally, do you relate to God that way?

00:38:36.360 --> 00:38:38.980
 Or are you finding your identity in something else

00:38:38.980 --> 00:38:40.440
 or someone else?

00:38:41.880 --> 00:38:44.260
 Do you live in fear like you need to save

00:38:44.260 --> 00:38:47.160
 and deliver yourself from your slavery, sin, and death?

00:38:47.159 --> 00:38:52.239
 In theory, you might say that God is your provider.

00:38:52.940 --> 00:38:55.559
 But functionally, do you relate to God that way?

00:38:55.619 --> 00:38:58.460
 Do you really rest in his provision?

00:38:59.440 --> 00:39:01.359
 Or are you always wrecked with anxiety

00:39:01.359 --> 00:39:03.859
 because you feel that you are your own provider?

00:39:03.860 --> 00:39:10.099
 Or maybe you're in a codependent relationship

00:39:10.099 --> 00:39:14.059
 and look to your partner as your ultimate provider

00:39:14.059 --> 00:39:15.720
 rather than God.

00:39:20.240 --> 00:39:23.480
 Jesus has fulfilled all of these holy days

00:39:23.480 --> 00:39:25.140
 and years and feasts for us.

00:39:25.640 --> 00:39:28.519
 And that's why Paul writes in Colossians 2.16,

00:39:28.519 --> 00:39:31.460
 Therefore, let no one pass judgment on you

00:39:31.460 --> 00:39:33.199
 in questions of food and drink

00:39:33.199 --> 00:39:37.639
 or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.

00:39:39.099 --> 00:39:43.440
 We no longer need to observe these feasts and Sabbaths

00:39:43.440 --> 00:39:47.019
 because these feasts were intended to point forward

00:39:47.019 --> 00:39:48.599
 to the coming of Jesus.

00:39:49.139 --> 00:39:50.440
 And Jesus has already come

00:39:50.440 --> 00:39:52.980
 and he has already fulfilled these feasts.

00:39:53.059 --> 00:39:54.500
 He has already fulfilled the whole law.

00:39:54.500 --> 00:39:58.340
 That's why in 1 Corinthians 5.68,

00:39:58.519 --> 00:40:00.900
 Paul references the feast of unleavened bread

00:40:00.900 --> 00:40:01.500
 and the Passover

00:40:01.500 --> 00:40:03.260
 when he tells the Corinthians

00:40:03.260 --> 00:40:06.619
 to purge their church of sexual immorality.

00:40:07.280 --> 00:40:07.760
 He says this,

00:40:07.820 --> 00:40:09.760
 Do you not know that a little leaven

00:40:09.760 --> 00:40:11.519
 leavens a whole lump?

00:40:12.440 --> 00:40:13.840
 Cleanse out the old leaven

00:40:13.840 --> 00:40:15.239
 that you may be a new lump

00:40:15.239 --> 00:40:17.260
 as you really are unleavened.

00:40:17.619 --> 00:40:20.320
 For Christ, our Passover lamb,

00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:22.139
 has been sacrificed.

00:40:22.139 --> 00:40:24.900
 Let us therefore celebrate the festival

00:40:24.900 --> 00:40:26.179
 not with the old leaven,

00:40:26.579 --> 00:40:27.819
 the leaven of malice and evil,

00:40:27.940 --> 00:40:30.319
 but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

00:40:32.119 --> 00:40:36.019
 Because Jesus, the unblemished Passover lamb of God,

00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:37.799
 has been sacrificed on the cross

00:40:37.799 --> 00:40:40.179
 for our sins, for our forgiveness.

00:40:41.359 --> 00:40:42.639
 And because of that,

00:40:42.719 --> 00:40:45.199
 we have been redeemed from our slavery to sin and death.

00:40:45.659 --> 00:40:48.940
 We ought to celebrate the feast of unleavened bread,

00:40:49.199 --> 00:40:50.960
 not with the literal feast,

00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:55.099
 but by removing the leaven of malice and evil from our lives

00:40:55.099 --> 00:40:57.659
 and replacing them with the unleavened bread

00:40:57.659 --> 00:40:58.679
 of sincerity and truth.

00:41:00.519 --> 00:41:03.039
 Because Jesus rose from the dead

00:41:03.039 --> 00:41:04.639
 and ascended to the right hand of the Father

00:41:04.639 --> 00:41:06.240
 far above the heavenly places,

00:41:06.599 --> 00:41:09.260
 and because Jesus, after ascending,

00:41:09.599 --> 00:41:11.099
 sent down the Holy Spirit

00:41:11.099 --> 00:41:12.720
 that he had promised to us

00:41:12.720 --> 00:41:15.460
 at, do you guys remember what feast?

00:41:15.460 --> 00:41:21.059
 The feast of weeks, feast of first fruits.

00:41:22.440 --> 00:41:26.360
 That's why Romans 8.23 describes those who believe in Jesus Christ

00:41:26.360 --> 00:41:30.920
 as those who have the first fruits of the Spirit.

00:41:30.920 --> 00:41:35.539
 We have the first fruits of the Spirit.

00:41:36.180 --> 00:41:38.460
 The Spirit of God indwelling us

00:41:38.460 --> 00:41:42.780
 is the guarantee of the full harvest that is coming,

00:41:43.159 --> 00:41:45.619
 of the full inheritance that God has promised us

00:41:45.619 --> 00:41:47.220
 that we will inherit and receive.

00:41:48.320 --> 00:41:50.619
 That's why it says in that same verse,

00:41:50.680 --> 00:41:51.440
 in Romans 8.23,

00:41:51.700 --> 00:41:54.180
 we who have the first fruits of the Holy Spirit

00:41:54.180 --> 00:41:58.519
 groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons,

00:41:58.519 --> 00:41:59.780
 the redemption of our bodies.

00:42:00.920 --> 00:42:02.559
 Are you groaning right now?

00:42:04.320 --> 00:42:05.960
 Are you grieving right now

00:42:05.960 --> 00:42:08.719
 because of your suffering and affliction?

00:42:09.719 --> 00:42:12.659
 Do you have unanswered questions in your life

00:42:12.659 --> 00:42:16.460
 because you're living in this time

00:42:16.460 --> 00:42:18.239
 between Jesus' two comings?

00:42:20.619 --> 00:42:22.099
 You can have hope

00:42:22.099 --> 00:42:24.159
 because you have the first fruits of the Spirit.

00:42:25.980 --> 00:42:27.559
 All the answers are coming.

00:42:28.360 --> 00:42:29.940
 The full harvest is coming

00:42:29.940 --> 00:42:31.599
 because you already have the first fruits.

00:42:33.539 --> 00:42:36.219
 And Jesus also fulfilled the Feast of Tabernacles.

00:42:36.380 --> 00:42:37.400
 It is no coincidence

00:42:37.400 --> 00:42:40.000
 that Solomon built his temple

00:42:40.000 --> 00:42:42.219
 and dedicated it during the Feast of Boots

00:42:42.219 --> 00:42:43.539
 or the Feast of Tabernacles

00:42:43.539 --> 00:42:44.980
 in 1 Kings 8.65.

00:42:46.219 --> 00:42:48.179
 The Feast of Boots came to be connected

00:42:48.179 --> 00:42:50.299
 to Israel's wilderness wanderings

00:42:50.299 --> 00:42:51.739
 because while they were wandering the wilderness,

00:42:51.940 --> 00:42:54.739
 they built boots and tents for themselves

00:42:54.739 --> 00:42:56.000
 and they built the tabernacle,

00:42:56.000 --> 00:42:57.039
 the tent of God.

00:42:57.980 --> 00:42:59.000
 And so Solomon,

00:42:59.159 --> 00:43:01.119
 when he is dedicating the newly built temple,

00:43:01.300 --> 00:43:03.320
 he is very intentionally superseding

00:43:03.320 --> 00:43:05.659
 the tabernacle of old.

00:43:06.079 --> 00:43:07.860
 This is the dwelling place of God.

00:43:07.860 --> 00:43:13.260
 And in the new covenant

00:43:13.260 --> 00:43:15.320
 that Jesus brought about,

00:43:15.380 --> 00:43:17.079
 it says in 1 Corinthians 3.16

00:43:17.079 --> 00:43:19.400
 that we, God's people,

00:43:20.240 --> 00:43:21.640
 are God's temple

00:43:21.640 --> 00:43:24.840
 and the Spirit dwells in us.

00:43:26.059 --> 00:43:27.840
 And according to 1 Peter 2,

00:43:27.940 --> 00:43:29.840
 God is currently building us up

00:43:29.840 --> 00:43:31.940
 as a spiritual house,

00:43:32.160 --> 00:43:34.360
 as the house of the Spirit

00:43:34.360 --> 00:43:36.240
 with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone.

00:43:36.239 --> 00:43:39.519
 Jesus is the one who fulfilled

00:43:39.519 --> 00:43:41.299
 all of these feasts,

00:43:41.699 --> 00:43:43.519
 all of these laws.

00:43:44.339 --> 00:43:46.679
 And he is the rightful object

00:43:46.679 --> 00:43:48.959
 of our exclusive allegiance

00:43:48.959 --> 00:43:50.299
 and attention

00:43:50.299 --> 00:43:53.719
 as told here in verse 13,

00:43:54.119 --> 00:43:56.959
 pay attention to all that I have said to you

00:43:56.959 --> 00:44:00.199
 and make no mention of the names of other gods

00:44:00.199 --> 00:44:03.219
 nor let it be heard on your lips.

00:44:03.219 --> 00:44:06.739
 So let's remember

00:44:06.739 --> 00:44:08.939
 God's faithful provision in the past

00:44:08.939 --> 00:44:11.959
 so that we can live with faith

00:44:11.959 --> 00:44:13.519
 and hope in the fulfillment

00:44:13.519 --> 00:44:14.899
 of his promises for the future.

00:44:15.719 --> 00:44:16.459
 Let's pray together.

00:44:16.460 --> 00:44:18.460
 Father,

00:44:18.460 --> 00:44:23.539
 yes, Father,

00:44:24.019 --> 00:44:27.800
 thank you for sending your son,

00:44:27.900 --> 00:44:28.960
 your only son, Jesus.

00:44:33.960 --> 00:44:35.539
 It's because of him

00:44:35.539 --> 00:44:38.559
 that we know

00:44:38.559 --> 00:44:40.579
 the cleansing,

00:44:41.440 --> 00:44:42.800
 the atoning blood

00:44:42.800 --> 00:44:44.120
 of the Passover lamb

00:44:44.120 --> 00:44:47.380
 and we have been washed clean.

00:44:48.780 --> 00:44:50.720
 It's because of him

00:44:50.720 --> 00:44:52.440
 that we have

00:44:52.440 --> 00:44:53.740
 the first fruits of the Spirit.

00:44:54.580 --> 00:44:55.720
 And we know

00:44:55.720 --> 00:44:56.780
 that that day is coming

00:44:56.780 --> 00:44:58.039
 when our faith

00:44:58.039 --> 00:44:59.260
 will be turned to sight,

00:44:59.860 --> 00:45:00.760
 when our prayers

00:45:00.760 --> 00:45:02.080
 will be turned to praise,

00:45:03.200 --> 00:45:05.220
 when what is not yet

00:45:05.220 --> 00:45:06.380
 will be reality.

00:45:06.380 --> 00:45:12.039
 Thank you for gathering us

00:45:12.039 --> 00:45:16.039
 and building us up

00:45:16.039 --> 00:45:19.220
 as a house for your Spirit.

00:45:21.900 --> 00:45:22.579
 Oh God,

00:45:22.660 --> 00:45:23.599
 all of these privileges

00:45:23.599 --> 00:45:24.880
 we enjoy because of Jesus

00:45:24.880 --> 00:45:26.780
 and we love him.

00:45:27.360 --> 00:45:28.619
 We want to honor him.

00:45:29.140 --> 00:45:30.920
 We want to give him our very best.

00:45:31.539 --> 00:45:32.280
 We want to show him

00:45:32.280 --> 00:45:33.619
 that he is our first,

00:45:33.619 --> 00:45:36.920
 our only Lord and Savior.

00:45:38.480 --> 00:45:39.900
 So help us to do that, Father.

00:45:43.039 --> 00:45:44.199
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:45:44.739 --> 00:45:44.980
 Amen.