WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:09.540 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:10.620 Join us. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:16.379 We're going to be in Daniel chapter 5 this morning, Daniel 5. 00:00:17.420 --> 00:00:22.800 Before we go there, though, I want to talk for just a minute, share one kind of side 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:29.679 note with you from my study this week, a little tidbit that I took away before we dive into 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:30.919 the story itself. 00:00:31.399 --> 00:00:38.140 I share this with you because of our commitment to God's Word and its reliability as one of 00:00:38.140 --> 00:00:41.560 the most fundamental aspects of our faith. 00:00:42.299 --> 00:00:47.700 This is just one of those small instances this week where our faith can be strengthened 00:00:47.700 --> 00:00:50.179 in the trustworthiness of the Bible. 00:00:51.399 --> 00:00:59.019 A couple centuries ago, critical scholars began to attack the historical veracity of the Bible, 00:00:59.020 --> 00:01:04.240 particularly areas of the Bible that require supernatural involvement, right? 00:01:04.299 --> 00:01:05.460 You're aware of that. 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:12.579 In an effort to support a naturalistic worldview where we can explain everything by what we 00:01:12.579 --> 00:01:16.159 see and experience, miracles were out, right? 00:01:17.180 --> 00:01:18.780 Prophecies were out. 00:01:20.219 --> 00:01:25.520 And so Daniel, which purports to be written in the 6th century B.C. 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:32.060 He undeniably depicts accurately, everybody agrees, some of the events that happen in the next 00:01:32.060 --> 00:01:35.479 couple hundred years after the 6th century B.C. 00:01:35.859 --> 00:01:38.719 So how would the critical scholars explain that? 00:01:38.939 --> 00:01:41.560 How could the book of Daniel actually do that? 00:01:42.039 --> 00:01:48.359 Well, the agreed upon opinion was that Daniel was actually written after those events that 00:01:48.359 --> 00:01:49.439 it writes about. 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:56.359 Probably somewhere in about the 2nd century B.C. is what popular opinion came to be among 00:01:56.359 --> 00:01:57.259 those scholars. 00:01:58.039 --> 00:01:59.060 And that explained it, right? 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:01.299 No wonder he can write such a good account. 00:02:01.420 --> 00:02:03.599 The events already happened, they said. 00:02:04.459 --> 00:02:09.159 One of the key planks in their argument is the king in our story this morning, a guy named 00:02:09.159 --> 00:02:10.379 Belshazzar. 00:02:11.079 --> 00:02:17.840 In all the historical records there about Babylon from the 5th century and the 4th century B.C., 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:23.280 historians like Herodotus and others, there was no Belshazzar. 00:02:24.099 --> 00:02:24.960 None at all. 00:02:25.159 --> 00:02:28.640 Lists of all the kings of Babylon, he's not even there. 00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:32.560 So the biblical author appeared to have made this guy up. 00:02:32.659 --> 00:02:35.460 You know, 400 years later they said, of course. 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:37.159 He didn't know any better. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:40.980 And he just made up another king of Babylon. 00:02:40.979 --> 00:02:48.199 Beginning in about 1860, archaeologists began to find more old records. 00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:54.099 They started digging other things up in southern Iraq, actually found several things that had 00:02:54.099 --> 00:02:57.500 histories of Babylon recorded and lists of kings. 00:02:57.839 --> 00:03:00.539 And lo and behold, there's this guy, Belshazzar. 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:06.819 He is the oldest son of the last formal king of Babylon, Nabonidus. 00:03:06.819 --> 00:03:14.639 And these historical records detail how Belshazzar actually ruled in Babylon for several years 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:21.259 during his father's reign, that he was the one actively ruling in Babylon when it fell. 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:32.199 So not only, according to these newly discovered records, was Belshazzar there, not only was the 00:03:32.199 --> 00:03:38.659 biblical author correct in having him as the last king in the city of Babylon, but also 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:43.579 in the second century when these scholars were arguing the Bible would have been written, 00:03:44.299 --> 00:03:45.899 there was no record of Belshazzar. 00:03:46.259 --> 00:03:51.299 Anybody in the second century trying to write about the fall of Babylon had no record of the 00:03:51.299 --> 00:03:53.799 guy, never would have made him up. 00:03:54.519 --> 00:04:00.819 So there's no way a second century author would have written Daniel chapter 5 with a guy named 00:04:00.819 --> 00:04:01.780 Belshazzar. 00:04:01.859 --> 00:04:06.139 To know about Belshazzar, you actually had to be there in the sixth century yourself. 00:04:07.340 --> 00:04:14.139 So Belshazzar argues against the possibility of Daniel being written after the events that 00:04:14.139 --> 00:04:20.000 it talks about and gives extra support to the reliability of the biblical account and the 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:21.060 prophetic activity. 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:23.879 Yes, wonderful. 00:04:24.019 --> 00:04:25.459 We love it when that happens, right? 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:26.839 That's so encouraging. 00:04:26.839 --> 00:04:32.399 I don't usually share little tidbits like that, but I thought that one might really encourage 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:35.019 your faith and it's part of what we're talking about this morning. 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:41.799 If I lost you in that explanation, we don't usually spend a lot of hours here at Southwood 00:04:41.799 --> 00:04:46.839 talking through the archaeological evidence for critical scholarship and I don't do it 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:47.299 real well. 00:04:47.699 --> 00:04:49.939 So if you didn't understand any of that, here's what you need to know. 00:04:49.939 --> 00:04:57.420 What you're about to hear is a trustworthy account of what actually took place at the end of 00:04:57.420 --> 00:05:03.339 a great kingdom the night Babylon fell in 539 B.C. 00:05:03.420 --> 00:05:10.620 Listen as I read God's holy, inerrant, infallible word, Daniel chapter 5 at verse 1. 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:17.579 King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand. 00:05:17.579 --> 00:05:23.359 Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that 00:05:23.359 --> 00:05:29.240 Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:32.719 king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:37.120 Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:41.819 of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from 00:05:41.819 --> 00:05:42.099 them. 00:05:42.100 --> 00:05:48.220 They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. 00:05:49.400 --> 00:05:55.879 Immediately, the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the 00:05:55.879 --> 00:05:58.360 king's palace opposite the lampstand. 00:05:59.400 --> 00:06:01.360 And the king saw the hand as it wrote. 00:06:02.960 --> 00:06:04.800 Then the king's color changed. 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:07.240 And his thoughts alarmed him. 00:06:07.660 --> 00:06:10.720 His limbs gave way and his knees knocked together. 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:17.960 And Belshazzar calls together all of his wise men and asks them to interpret what is going 00:06:17.960 --> 00:06:18.420 on. 00:06:18.780 --> 00:06:24.080 Finally, the queen remembers this guy named Daniel who's good at this stuff. 00:06:24.620 --> 00:06:25.480 Bring him in. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:27.879 And Daniel comes before the king. 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:29.759 We'll skip ahead to verse 18. 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:32.759 Daniel says to Belshazzar, 00:06:33.039 --> 00:06:39.439 O king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:40.279 and majesty. 00:06:41.339 --> 00:06:46.279 And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled 00:06:46.279 --> 00:06:47.500 and feared before him. 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:50.339 Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive. 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:53.459 Whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:58.379 But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, 00:06:58.379 --> 00:07:03.159 he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:08.100 He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:10.159 and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. 00:07:10.519 --> 00:07:15.899 He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew 00:07:15.899 --> 00:07:21.800 that the most high God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets it over whom he will. 00:07:22.300 --> 00:07:24.019 That was our story last week. 00:07:24.300 --> 00:07:27.399 Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar becoming a beast. 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:36.479 And you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this. 00:07:37.659 --> 00:07:42.279 But you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven, and the vessels of his house 00:07:42.279 --> 00:07:43.739 have been brought in before you. 00:07:43.959 --> 00:07:47.759 And you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them, and you 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:53.239 have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not 00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:58.439 see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your 00:07:58.439 --> 00:08:00.379 ways you have not honored. 00:08:01.480 --> 00:08:05.500 Then, from his presence, the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:13.259 And this is the writing that was inscribed, Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parson. 00:08:13.259 --> 00:08:16.620 This is the interpretation of the matter. 00:08:17.180 --> 00:08:19.279 Mene, which means numbered. 00:08:20.459 --> 00:08:25.680 God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end. 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:29.539 Tekel, which means weighed. 00:08:30.219 --> 00:08:34.539 You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting. 00:08:34.539 --> 00:08:42.819 Perez, which sounds both like the word for divided and an awful lot like the Persians. 00:08:43.659 --> 00:08:48.579 Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. 00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:52.899 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple. 00:08:53.019 --> 00:08:58.259 A chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him that he should 00:08:58.259 --> 00:08:59.939 be the third ruler in the kingdom. 00:08:59.940 --> 00:09:08.840 That very night, Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed, and Darius the Mede received the 00:09:08.840 --> 00:09:11.780 kingdom, being about 62 years old. 00:09:12.200 --> 00:09:13.060 Pray with me. 00:09:15.820 --> 00:09:20.580 Father, this is a sobering passage of your word. 00:09:20.580 --> 00:09:31.639 Holy Spirit, we ask that you would tenderly, but firmly, apply it to each of our hearts. 00:09:33.220 --> 00:09:36.060 Would you do that work with the word? 00:09:36.820 --> 00:09:38.300 We ask it in Jesus' name. 00:09:39.160 --> 00:09:39.500 Amen. 00:09:39.500 --> 00:09:51.580 Last week, we did see the glories of God's grace on great display as we see God pursuing 00:09:51.580 --> 00:09:58.480 the proud pagan king, Nebuchadnezzar, all the way to making him a beast in order to humble 00:09:58.480 --> 00:10:02.539 him, to help him see God's greatness and then restore him. 00:10:02.899 --> 00:10:06.879 And we said as we looked at that, God's grace knows no bounds, right? 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:10.820 God's grace reaches even to the beast. 00:10:11.460 --> 00:10:16.320 It extends to the proudest, most hardened enemies of God. 00:10:16.439 --> 00:10:17.259 He forgives. 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:18.419 He loves. 00:10:18.580 --> 00:10:20.840 He restores those who've fallen. 00:10:21.820 --> 00:10:23.360 That's what our God is like. 00:10:25.259 --> 00:10:29.220 In this next story, it doesn't feel quite as good. 00:10:29.580 --> 00:10:34.580 There's no fairy tale ending for this idolatrous king. 00:10:34.580 --> 00:10:38.120 But the gospel is still here as well. 00:10:38.300 --> 00:10:43.879 As God's justice is demonstrated, it's still full of grace for us. 00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:49.740 And the reason I say that is that what we learn about God here in this whole handwriting 00:10:49.740 --> 00:11:00.040 on the wall story is that he hates sin enough to judge evil and loves us enough to assure 00:11:00.040 --> 00:11:01.960 us that he will. 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:09.820 It's both a word of warning and a word of comfort to us about the seriousness of sin and God's 00:11:09.820 --> 00:11:11.160 commitment to justice. 00:11:11.680 --> 00:11:18.240 And both the warning and the comfort come from the gracious heart of God. 00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:24.120 It's his grace that motivates him to give the firm warning and the tender comfort. 00:11:24.280 --> 00:11:26.580 I want us to see that this morning. 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:32.800 To see this, we must remember for whom the book of Daniel was written. 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:36.139 Who's the audience of Daniel chapter 5? 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:39.379 It's not King Belshazzar, is it? 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:41.740 He's not the one being warned here. 00:11:41.820 --> 00:11:44.680 He's dead before the book is written. 00:11:45.580 --> 00:11:48.160 The kingdom of Babylon is gone. 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:53.600 The audience of the book of Daniel is God's people, right? 00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:58.620 This is not a warning for the nations necessarily. 00:11:58.860 --> 00:12:04.919 It's particularly a warning for God's exiled people coming straight from their prophet Daniel. 00:12:05.879 --> 00:12:10.379 They should be both warned and comforted by this account that they're given. 00:12:10.699 --> 00:12:13.699 We receive it as they would have. 00:12:13.700 --> 00:12:17.580 So first, the gracious warning. 00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:24.920 God's people are reminded that sin and its consequences are serious. 00:12:26.180 --> 00:12:27.759 Deadly serious. 00:12:29.420 --> 00:12:32.480 You hear the warning part, but you don't hear the gracious part yet, do you? 00:12:32.780 --> 00:12:36.640 Doesn't sound real gracious at first glance, does it? 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:44.779 I still remember my driver's ed class back when I was 15 years old, headed into high school, 00:12:44.899 --> 00:12:46.699 so excited to get ready to drive. 00:12:47.460 --> 00:12:51.000 I remember that Shannon Pitner was the instructor. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:56.740 I don't remember a lot of particulars that Mr. Pitner taught us in that driver's ed class. 00:12:56.740 --> 00:13:03.379 But I do remember the video that he showed us on the first day of class before he even introduced himself. 00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:12.360 On the video, as sirens blared and lights flashed on the way to the scene of a traffic accident, 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:15.860 the words scrolled across the screen. 00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:23.000 .01 seconds after impact, the steering column slams your chest. 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:30.480 .05 seconds after impact, your head crashes through the windshield. 00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:39.080 .1 seconds after impact, and so on and so on for every fraction of a second. 00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:46.200 I don't remember all of the things, but within a matter of a few fractions of a second, you're pronounced dead. 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:50.639 A morbid video, you might say. 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:51.639 .10 seconds after impact, and so on and so on, you're going to be able to do that. 00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:57.220 But it grabbed the attention of some 15-year-old future drivers in a really stark way. 00:13:58.460 --> 00:14:04.740 Why did Mr. Pitner show a video like that at the very beginning of driver's ed? 00:14:04.819 --> 00:14:06.559 Why did he start the class that way? 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:07.379 You know, right? 00:14:08.419 --> 00:14:16.860 Because Mr. Pitner wanted us to know in no uncertain terms the deadly seriousness of reckless driving. 00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:24.879 He wanted us to know the severe consequences of not paying attention and learning how to drive properly. 00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:34.220 He wanted to give us a gracious warning to caution us away from death and toward life. 00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:42.200 That's what God is doing in this equally morbid account here in Daniel 5. 00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:45.940 Look at verse 30 again towards the end of it. 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:53.940 That very night, the very night all these things happened, Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was killed. 00:14:53.940 --> 00:15:01.240 That very night, his life will be demanded of him. 00:15:01.860 --> 00:15:04.460 And how will his idols help him then? 00:15:04.760 --> 00:15:06.120 And he's throwing a party, right? 00:15:06.180 --> 00:15:08.480 This is supposed to be a fun night for him. 00:15:08.800 --> 00:15:15.840 He's going to worship the idols of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, verse 4 tells us. 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:27.800 And immediately, verse 5 says, right in the middle of the party, the hand of the true God appears writing on the wall. 00:15:28.139 --> 00:15:34.600 And the message is this, you will not find safety in being idolatrous. 00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:40.940 Be warned, those other gods you're seeking pleasure in will not save you. 00:15:40.940 --> 00:15:46.980 Think of the warning, not just to Belshazzar, but to God's people here. 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:50.800 God's people in exile in a foreign land. 00:15:50.880 --> 00:15:55.460 Why is it, after all, that they find themselves in exile in Babylon? 00:15:56.420 --> 00:16:01.840 Of all of the sins the Bible mentions that they've committed, what's the one that it most often comes back to? 00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:04.600 Wandering after other gods. 00:16:05.260 --> 00:16:10.560 Bowing down to their idols and serving them instead of the true God. 00:16:10.940 --> 00:16:17.420 A warning to God's people who found themselves wandering after other gods. 00:16:17.540 --> 00:16:21.780 Where are you bowing down to a God of your own design? 00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:24.580 An idol of your own pleasure? 00:16:25.140 --> 00:16:35.120 You've shirked the call of the one true God to faithful obedience and told yourself you're safe following the ways of your own desires and direction. 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:42.220 You've told yourself you're safe to indulge in the sins of the day like everyone else. 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:44.940 Hey, come on, everybody's struggling with these things. 00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:47.419 It's okay. 00:16:47.820 --> 00:16:48.600 Materialism. 00:16:50.700 --> 00:16:52.740 Self-defined sexual morality. 00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:55.000 Greed. 00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:57.960 Lying to get ahead. 00:16:57.960 --> 00:17:07.220 And God loves you enough to warn you, sin is deadly serious. 00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:08.660 Stop. 00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:10.559 Turn back. 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:14.480 You're not safe there chasing those idols. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:24.220 We see not only a warning against the idolatry of other gods, but also a warning against the idolatry of human strength. 00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:28.000 What does Daniel say to Belshazzar? 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:31.360 It's a very pointed conversation he has with him. 00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:33.319 You haven't learned anything. 00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:42.180 Did you not see Nebuchadnezzar, your father, meaning your predecessor as king, a couple kings before you? 00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:46.860 Nebuchadnezzar was taught this lesson in a painful way about his pride. 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:54.220 God turned him into a beast to humble him until he understood and acknowledged who was truly great and in charge. 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:56.220 And Belshazzar, you know this. 00:17:57.360 --> 00:18:05.220 And you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this. 00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:12.759 But you've lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven, just like he did, and you saw what happened to him. 00:18:14.600 --> 00:18:20.059 How many times have we as parents thought, I wish you could learn from my mistakes. 00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:22.779 And you know what? 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:26.299 It looks like you're going to have to make them again yourself. 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:29.799 We think we're stronger. 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:33.620 We'll be safe where others fell. 00:18:33.619 --> 00:18:44.039 Listen, what's happening in this picture, while he's at the party that night, Belshazzar is surrounded by the armies of Persia. 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:46.059 They're laying siege to Babylon. 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:52.259 But instead of being worried about that, he throws a huge party for a thousand people. 00:18:52.779 --> 00:19:00.619 After all, I'm safe behind these great walls at points 87 feet thick, the walls of Babylon. 00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:03.139 350 feet tall. 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:05.079 Ain't nobody coming in here. 00:19:05.699 --> 00:19:06.719 We can have a party. 00:19:07.379 --> 00:19:10.979 They can stand out there and hold us siege as long as they want. 00:19:11.739 --> 00:19:12.579 We're safe. 00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:15.339 No one's coming through. 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:18.819 And we've got the Euphrates River flowing right through the city. 00:19:18.919 --> 00:19:23.000 We can eat and drink as long as we want while they sit out there and get tired. 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:27.900 It reminds you of Nebuchadnezzar from last week on the roof of the palace. 00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:31.660 Sitting out there and thinking, wow, this is pretty amazing. 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:33.140 I'm something. 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:39.039 Marveling in his arrogance at his own human might. 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:42.420 Thinking he finds safety there. 00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:45.240 And here it rears its ugly head again. 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:54.660 That very night, the Persians will kill Belshazzar in his palace and take his city. 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:58.539 I think of God's people. 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:01.319 Prophet after prophet. 00:20:02.180 --> 00:20:04.359 Warning after warning. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:11.019 And yet, failure to trust God after failure to trust God. 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:13.539 Wandering again and again. 00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:19.940 And you must see your own frailty, Daniel would be saying to these people in exile. 00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:24.519 You must see the devastation sin has brought upon you and your fathers. 00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:30.859 If you don't see it, if you don't turn from it, you too will perish in exile. 00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:34.799 But return to God and you can be restored. 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:40.359 That's a clear warning to us as well, isn't it? 00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:47.359 Don't think you're safe hiding behind the thick walls of outward strength or success. 00:20:47.959 --> 00:20:53.159 That you won't be found out or that your sin won't receive dire consequences. 00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:57.779 Don't pull into your garage and close the door. 00:20:58.059 --> 00:21:01.439 Walk into your office and close the door. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:05.320 And in the privacy of your own heart and life. 00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:09.980 Think that you're safe and that your sin won't bear painful fruit. 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:11.740 Be warned. 00:21:12.120 --> 00:21:14.480 Sin is deadly serious. 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:20.980 So we won't find safety in being idolatrous. 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:25.860 In serving other gods of sin and self. 00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:27.839 But perhaps even closer to home. 00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:32.220 Even more under the radar in the church this morning. 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:35.620 We will not find safety in being religious. 00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:38.179 And you may have thought that's the answer. 00:21:38.879 --> 00:21:41.579 If I need to stop running after all these other gods. 00:21:41.739 --> 00:21:45.699 I better run into church this morning and do some religious. 00:21:45.939 --> 00:21:47.979 I better start being more religious. 00:21:48.399 --> 00:21:50.359 And Daniel gives a very clear warning. 00:21:50.739 --> 00:21:52.799 And we can tend to deflect this warning. 00:21:52.979 --> 00:21:54.479 And say, oh, it's for somebody else. 00:21:56.199 --> 00:21:58.099 But it's so clear in this passage. 00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:59.399 Look at verse 3. 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:02.379 Look what's happening before the hand shows up. 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:03.800 They brought in what? 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:06.900 The golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple. 00:22:07.340 --> 00:22:09.100 The house of God in Jerusalem. 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:12.860 These were the vessels back from the first verse of this book. 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:15.900 That Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem. 00:22:16.080 --> 00:22:17.480 They were there for the worship of God. 00:22:17.560 --> 00:22:19.400 And he'd taken them into Babylon. 00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:22.620 And Belshazzar calls for them and has them brought. 00:22:22.800 --> 00:22:24.080 So they can drink from them. 00:22:25.300 --> 00:22:27.420 Immediately when that happens. 00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:31.380 The fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the wall. 00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:33.940 Immediately God shows up with a message. 00:22:34.100 --> 00:22:35.880 Daniel connects these same dots. 00:22:36.020 --> 00:22:38.680 We're not just reading into it when he's talking to him. 00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:42.520 Here's what it's looked like to lift yourself up against the Lord of heaven. 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:45.420 The vessels of his house have been brought in before you. 00:22:45.780 --> 00:22:53.420 And you've all drunk wine from them and praised other gods with the vessels used to worship Yahweh. 00:22:53.800 --> 00:22:57.640 You've worshipped gods who don't see or hear or know. 00:22:57.640 --> 00:23:03.280 But the God in whose hand is your breath and whose are all your ways you have not honored. 00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:07.880 You've held his cup but you haven't honored him. 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:12.780 You have held in your hand the things of God. 00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:18.920 But the God who holds you in his hand you have not honored. 00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:22.620 God will not be mocked will he? 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:27.500 There's not safety in the outward forms of religion. 00:23:27.840 --> 00:23:30.060 In external religiosity. 00:23:30.840 --> 00:23:33.080 And God's people need to heed that warning. 00:23:33.320 --> 00:23:36.300 Lest they think they're safe because they've worshipped in the temple. 00:23:37.019 --> 00:23:39.160 Or because they've been circumcised. 00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:42.860 God takes your sins seriously. 00:23:43.300 --> 00:23:46.820 And he's calling you to return not merely to the outward forms of religion. 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:49.420 Not merely to find a holy cup to hold on to. 00:23:50.540 --> 00:23:53.000 But to a heart that embraces him. 00:23:53.860 --> 00:23:55.060 And his ways. 00:23:56.259 --> 00:24:00.100 You will not find safety in merely being religious. 00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:04.120 In holding in your hands the things of God. 00:24:04.119 --> 00:24:09.959 While not truly honoring the God who holds your breath in his hand. 00:24:12.199 --> 00:24:15.079 Are you rationalizing sin? 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:21.199 Telling yourself the sin you're consistently indulging in is okay. 00:24:21.699 --> 00:24:24.579 Because you're consistently showing up at church too. 00:24:26.139 --> 00:24:28.119 Do you think you're keeping God placated? 00:24:28.679 --> 00:24:30.599 By showing up regularly. 00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:32.479 Giving occasionally. 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:34.920 Not even serving when asked. 00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:39.880 Is your religiosity merely a charade? 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:42.240 Like Belshazzar's. 00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:45.980 Holding the cups from Yahweh's temple. 00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:50.140 Bringing them to his party as though he cared about Yahweh. 00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:54.880 But using them to serve his own pleasure and worship his own gods. 00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:56.900 God says be warned. 00:24:57.160 --> 00:25:00.380 You will not find safety in being religious. 00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:02.940 And we're the ones who have to hear that warning. 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:06.080 We're the ones sitting in the pews at church. 00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:09.140 The ones who have easy access to the things of God. 00:25:09.340 --> 00:25:12.840 Who so easily grab on to them and hold them in our hands. 00:25:13.140 --> 00:25:16.080 And God says that's not what it's about. 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:19.860 It's not merely outward forms of religion. 00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:23.519 While living a life completely differently. 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:26.719 Indulging your sin every other day. 00:25:26.719 --> 00:25:31.439 The sin in your heart playing out in your life is deadly serious. 00:25:31.979 --> 00:25:33.819 The solution is not to hide it. 00:25:34.899 --> 00:25:40.539 Not to cover it with outward religious activity so that everybody thinks I'm a good guy. 00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:46.019 Because I wear a suit and go to church and show up so often. 00:25:47.379 --> 00:25:50.759 The solution is not to medicate it with human success. 00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:53.220 That it appears like I've got my life together. 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:56.059 You must confess it. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:58.339 You must turn from it. 00:25:58.639 --> 00:26:00.240 Receive God's forgiveness. 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:03.539 And seek to be guided by His Spirit. 00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:06.859 Spirit, I'd ask you this morning. 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:08.779 What is the sin that you're thinking? 00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:10.779 You're crazy. 00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:15.859 I could never let anyone know about this struggle. 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:18.119 Or that failing. 00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:20.220 Don't you understand, Pastor? 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:23.559 Have you not lived in Huntsville, Alabama? 00:26:23.819 --> 00:26:27.559 The consequences would be terrible if people knew about this. 00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:30.519 Can you imagine if people found out? 00:26:31.139 --> 00:26:32.319 What would happen to me? 00:26:32.399 --> 00:26:33.339 What people would say? 00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:34.799 What about my family? 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:41.240 Hear the gracious warning of God's Word to you this morning. 00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:45.579 The consequences may indeed be terrible. 00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:51.419 But if you do not turn from your sin, 00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:54.539 the consequences of that, 00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:58.039 of not turning from sin and seeking Jesus, 00:26:58.259 --> 00:27:00.859 will most certainly be worse. 00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:03.939 will most certainly be even more terrible 00:27:03.939 --> 00:27:07.039 than the ones you anticipate right now. 00:27:07.199 --> 00:27:09.919 God is deadly serious about sin. 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:12.539 First and foremost, 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:16.500 repent and turn to God. 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:18.619 Plead for His mercy. 00:27:18.979 --> 00:27:20.659 He delights to forgive. 00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:22.920 We have celebrated that this morning. 00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:26.800 Don't forget who He is in the midst of your sin. 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.200 Alongside that, 00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:32.800 I'd urge you to find someone else that you can share with. 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:35.040 Someone you can tell about your sin. 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:38.320 Someone you can ask to pray with you about your struggle. 00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:41.500 Someone who can walk with you through the painful, 00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:44.740 but fruitful process of repentance. 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:47.019 You'll need help. 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:49.019 You may think, 00:27:49.099 --> 00:27:50.159 no one will understand. 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.659 These church people, 00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:52.899 they've got it figured out. 00:27:52.939 --> 00:27:53.740 They won't understand. 00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:55.419 I can't tell them. 00:27:55.420 --> 00:27:56.000 Y'all, 00:27:56.080 --> 00:27:59.320 that's the beauty of a community like this. 00:28:00.080 --> 00:28:01.700 That's the way we're supposed to be, 00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:03.380 that it is a safe place 00:28:03.380 --> 00:28:07.019 for you to share your struggle with someone. 00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:11.720 Because our hearts are all wracked by sin. 00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:15.019 I won't be looking down on you 00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:16.860 when you share something with me. 00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:18.440 I'll be looking in the mirror. 00:28:19.400 --> 00:28:21.420 I'll be right there beside you. 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:23.140 We're all in it together. 00:28:23.140 --> 00:28:25.860 Father, you can uncover your sin. 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:29.540 You can share and find safety. 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:32.380 You see, those of us who have declared 00:28:32.380 --> 00:28:34.080 that our hope is in Jesus 00:28:34.080 --> 00:28:35.460 as we have this morning, 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:38.680 we have to admit the seriousness of our sin 00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:39.720 in order to do that. 00:28:41.140 --> 00:28:42.460 The hymn writer reminds us 00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:44.920 it took the death of the Son of God 00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:46.580 to pay for our sin. 00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:48.080 That's how serious it was. 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:49.360 The hymn, 00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:50.900 Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted 00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:52.920 is one we often sing around 00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:53.620 Easter. 00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:56.400 Ye who think of sin 00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:57.240 but lightly, 00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:59.960 nor suppose the evil great, 00:29:00.320 --> 00:29:01.800 here, here at the cross, 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:03.580 may view its nature rightly, 00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:05.800 here its guilt may estimate. 00:29:06.560 --> 00:29:07.300 Because we look, 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:09.460 mark the sacrifice appointed. 00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:11.140 What had to happen 00:29:11.140 --> 00:29:12.460 to pay for the sin? 00:29:12.560 --> 00:29:13.960 How serious was it? 00:29:14.600 --> 00:29:16.720 See the one who bears the awful load. 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.940 Tis the Word, 00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:19.339 the Lord's anointed, 00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:21.759 Son of Man and Son of God. 00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:23.680 It's the perfect one 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:25.120 who had to die 00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:26.839 because of our sin. 00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:29.160 Those of us who hope in Christ 00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:31.200 know and admit 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:34.240 the seriousness of our sin. 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:36.860 Nowhere better than at the cross 00:29:36.860 --> 00:29:38.279 do we see 00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:41.240 how seriously God takes sin. 00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:43.920 His grace does not mean 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:45.279 that sin gets ignored 00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.500 and the bar lowered. 00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:47.819 Quite the opposite. 00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:50.720 It means sin gets punished 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:52.299 and we sinners 00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:53.799 are warned and urged 00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:55.019 to throw ourselves 00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:56.480 upon the only one 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:58.259 who reached the bar. 00:29:58.940 --> 00:29:59.380 Jesus. 00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:01.940 That's grace 00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:04.880 according to God's Word. 00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:08.640 So the gracious warning 00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:11.440 is that God takes sin seriously. 00:30:13.620 --> 00:30:15.160 And that same truth 00:30:15.160 --> 00:30:17.120 is for God's people 00:30:17.120 --> 00:30:18.700 a gracious comfort. 00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:20.780 Try to put yourselves 00:30:20.780 --> 00:30:21.620 in the shoes 00:30:21.620 --> 00:30:23.480 of God's exiled people 00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:24.060 for a minute. 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:27.060 You're in Babylon 00:30:27.060 --> 00:30:29.020 away from the promised land. 00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:31.440 You've been dragged there 00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:34.340 by mighty but pagan Babylon. 00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:37.100 who's come into your land. 00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:39.380 Who's tortured your families. 00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:42.480 Taunted your God. 00:30:43.360 --> 00:30:44.340 Dragged you away 00:30:44.340 --> 00:30:45.500 into servitude. 00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:46.660 What are you thinking? 00:30:46.860 --> 00:30:48.640 What's going through your mind? 00:30:50.380 --> 00:30:51.480 Where is God? 00:30:53.420 --> 00:30:54.900 Will the Babylonians 00:30:54.900 --> 00:30:57.300 ever get what's coming to them? 00:30:59.800 --> 00:31:01.720 Why do the wicked prosper 00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:03.680 while the righteous suffer? 00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:06.620 Why do those who trust in God 00:31:06.620 --> 00:31:08.180 seem to have it hardest? 00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:11.780 Have you ever felt 00:31:11.780 --> 00:31:13.880 something was so unfair 00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:15.260 but you couldn't do anything 00:31:15.260 --> 00:31:15.900 about it? 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:18.180 Perhaps at work 00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:19.620 with a promotion. 00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.800 Perhaps with your kids 00:31:22.800 --> 00:31:24.200 at school. 00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:27.080 Perhaps with someone you know 00:31:27.080 --> 00:31:28.620 suffering unjustly 00:31:28.620 --> 00:31:30.720 and you just can't help them. 00:31:30.800 --> 00:31:31.920 There's nothing you can do. 00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:33.100 Doesn't that burn you up? 00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:34.339 Don't you hate that feeling? 00:31:34.879 --> 00:31:36.259 You're longing to see 00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:37.339 justice prevail 00:31:37.339 --> 00:31:38.659 and things be made right 00:31:38.659 --> 00:31:40.679 and it's not in your power 00:31:40.679 --> 00:31:41.719 to do it. 00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:43.819 So often we're not 00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:44.939 powerful enough 00:31:44.939 --> 00:31:46.980 or connected enough 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:48.679 or knowledgeable enough 00:31:48.679 --> 00:31:50.159 to bring the justice 00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:51.199 we long for. 00:31:52.959 --> 00:31:54.259 But God is. 00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:57.339 both of His hands 00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:57.900 we said 00:31:57.900 --> 00:31:59.279 equally skilled 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:01.379 at ruining evil. 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:04.839 At administering justice. 00:32:05.400 --> 00:32:06.379 That's the grace 00:32:06.379 --> 00:32:07.920 of God's justice again. 00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:09.160 This time from a little bit 00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:10.599 of a different angle. 00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:12.279 God loves us enough 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:13.579 to assure us 00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:15.220 that He will judge sin. 00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:17.359 The judge of all the earth 00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:18.680 will do right. 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:20.460 The bully will be called 00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:21.640 to account by someone 00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:22.720 bigger and stronger 00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:23.759 than He is. 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:27.559 The mighty Babylonian kingdom 00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:28.920 comes to an end 00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:30.039 in an instant. 00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:32.339 Even in a moment 00:32:32.339 --> 00:32:33.720 where it still looks 00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:35.759 splendid and powerful. 00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:37.319 The Persian army 00:32:37.319 --> 00:32:38.860 has taken their strength 00:32:38.860 --> 00:32:39.880 and used it against them. 00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:40.759 They've dammed up 00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.900 that Euphrates river 00:32:41.900 --> 00:32:43.759 so that the water level 00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:44.900 begins to get lower. 00:32:45.100 --> 00:32:45.779 And what happened 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:46.980 the night of the handwriting 00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:47.600 on the wall 00:32:47.600 --> 00:32:49.019 is the Persian army 00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:50.220 rode right in 00:32:50.220 --> 00:32:50.900 on that river 00:32:50.900 --> 00:32:52.880 underneath the passageways 00:32:52.880 --> 00:32:54.000 that ran right through 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:55.759 those thick walls. 00:32:55.960 --> 00:32:57.360 Right into the middle 00:32:57.360 --> 00:32:58.100 of Babylon 00:32:58.100 --> 00:32:59.980 and the city fell. 00:33:01.380 --> 00:33:02.559 That's what happened 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:03.759 the night Belshazzar 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:05.019 saw God's hand 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:06.220 writing on the wall 00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:07.100 Mene. 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:09.200 Mene. 00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:10.680 Tekel. 00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:12.339 Parson. 00:33:12.339 --> 00:33:13.819 He was weighed 00:33:13.819 --> 00:33:14.799 in the scales 00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:16.139 of God's justice 00:33:16.139 --> 00:33:17.919 and found wanting. 00:33:18.459 --> 00:33:19.819 His days were numbered 00:33:19.819 --> 00:33:21.199 by the God of heaven. 00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:22.740 His kingdom was given 00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.399 to another 00:33:23.399 --> 00:33:24.659 and his life 00:33:24.659 --> 00:33:25.259 taken. 00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:27.379 That very night 00:33:27.379 --> 00:33:28.339 Belshazzar 00:33:28.339 --> 00:33:29.480 the Chaldean king 00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:30.379 was killed 00:33:30.379 --> 00:33:32.099 and Darius the Mede 00:33:32.099 --> 00:33:33.199 walks in 00:33:33.199 --> 00:33:34.000 and receives 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:35.379 the kingdom. 00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:36.819 Why? 00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:38.879 Because God 00:33:38.879 --> 00:33:39.839 will judge 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:40.559 sin 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:41.679 and will bring 00:33:41.679 --> 00:33:42.379 justice 00:33:42.379 --> 00:33:44.059 to his people. 00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:45.919 Listen to the comfort 00:33:45.919 --> 00:33:46.899 of this y'all. 00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:48.279 If you haven't been 00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:49.000 in their shoes 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:49.959 it may be hard 00:33:49.959 --> 00:33:51.000 to feel the comfort 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:52.099 of Babylon 00:33:52.099 --> 00:33:52.939 falling. 00:33:53.939 --> 00:33:55.019 But this is not 00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:55.779 a parable 00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:57.139 that teaches us 00:33:57.139 --> 00:33:58.039 a theoretical 00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:58.839 principle 00:33:58.839 --> 00:33:59.740 about God 00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:00.359 and justice. 00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:02.079 This is an actual 00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:03.759 historical account 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:04.500 of a story 00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:05.659 you are a part of 00:34:05.659 --> 00:34:06.639 as God's people. 00:34:07.119 --> 00:34:07.519 These are 00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:08.819 your ancestors. 00:34:08.820 --> 00:34:09.840 This is 00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:10.880 your God 00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:11.600 at work. 00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:13.120 God created 00:34:13.120 --> 00:34:14.080 the world good 00:34:14.080 --> 00:34:15.019 and he is committed 00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:16.059 not only to 00:34:16.059 --> 00:34:17.220 defeating evil 00:34:17.220 --> 00:34:18.620 but to ridding 00:34:18.620 --> 00:34:19.300 the world 00:34:19.300 --> 00:34:20.000 of evil 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:20.680 forever 00:34:20.680 --> 00:34:22.280 so that we enjoy 00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:23.519 his perfect world 00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:24.360 with him 00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:25.800 as he always 00:34:25.800 --> 00:34:26.440 intended. 00:34:26.760 --> 00:34:27.860 He will do that. 00:34:28.140 --> 00:34:29.460 That's your story 00:34:29.460 --> 00:34:30.420 that you're 00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:31.160 living in 00:34:31.160 --> 00:34:32.539 and this is a glimpse 00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:33.640 of what's 00:34:33.640 --> 00:34:34.180 coming. 00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:36.400 Isn't that our hope 00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:37.140 that God's going 00:34:37.140 --> 00:34:37.820 to do that? 00:34:37.820 --> 00:34:38.660 That we would 00:34:38.660 --> 00:34:39.340 then live 00:34:39.340 --> 00:34:39.920 forever 00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:40.720 with him 00:34:40.720 --> 00:34:41.320 and his world 00:34:41.320 --> 00:34:42.059 made perfect 00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:42.700 with evil 00:34:42.700 --> 00:34:43.640 being eliminated? 00:34:44.300 --> 00:34:45.620 That's our hope. 00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:46.680 That is so 00:34:46.680 --> 00:34:47.780 comforting. 00:34:50.680 --> 00:34:51.460 For you 00:34:51.460 --> 00:34:51.820 it may be 00:34:51.820 --> 00:34:52.380 a particular 00:34:52.380 --> 00:34:53.019 individual 00:34:53.019 --> 00:34:54.559 who has 00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:55.340 mistreated you. 00:34:57.100 --> 00:34:57.700 A particular 00:34:57.700 --> 00:34:58.360 injustice 00:34:58.360 --> 00:34:59.140 you've 00:34:59.140 --> 00:35:00.080 suffered in the 00:35:00.080 --> 00:35:00.640 past 00:35:00.640 --> 00:35:01.780 that continues 00:35:01.780 --> 00:35:02.680 to haunt you. 00:35:02.679 --> 00:35:04.440 or it may 00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:05.179 indeed feel 00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:05.659 like an 00:35:05.659 --> 00:35:06.319 entire 00:35:06.319 --> 00:35:07.419 kingdom 00:35:07.419 --> 00:35:08.940 opposed to 00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:09.339 you 00:35:09.339 --> 00:35:10.219 and your 00:35:10.219 --> 00:35:10.739 God 00:35:10.739 --> 00:35:11.980 and you face 00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:12.399 the weight 00:35:12.399 --> 00:35:12.960 of that 00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:13.899 today. 00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:16.139 I'll admit 00:35:16.139 --> 00:35:17.500 that Babylon 00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:18.319 looked mighty 00:35:18.319 --> 00:35:19.559 for a long 00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:20.399 time before 00:35:20.399 --> 00:35:21.059 its fall 00:35:21.059 --> 00:35:22.199 in this story. 00:35:22.359 --> 00:35:23.159 God's justice 00:35:23.159 --> 00:35:24.539 sometimes lingers 00:35:24.539 --> 00:35:25.859 even into 00:35:25.859 --> 00:35:26.619 eternity. 00:35:26.619 --> 00:35:26.739 eternity. 00:35:27.739 --> 00:35:28.679 But God 00:35:28.679 --> 00:35:29.819 says I've 00:35:29.819 --> 00:35:30.679 got eternal 00:35:30.679 --> 00:35:32.199 scales that 00:35:32.199 --> 00:35:32.579 on many 00:35:32.579 --> 00:35:33.639 days you 00:35:33.639 --> 00:35:34.079 can't 00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:35.739 understand or 00:35:35.739 --> 00:35:36.239 appreciate. 00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:38.679 Trust me. 00:35:39.739 --> 00:35:40.319 That's his 00:35:40.319 --> 00:35:41.159 call this 00:35:41.159 --> 00:35:41.400 morning. 00:35:41.519 --> 00:35:42.199 Trust me. 00:35:42.460 --> 00:35:43.139 I'm committed 00:35:43.139 --> 00:35:43.839 to justice. 00:35:44.339 --> 00:35:45.359 I will punish 00:35:45.359 --> 00:35:45.779 evil. 00:35:46.179 --> 00:35:47.460 I will vindicate 00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:48.199 my people 00:35:48.199 --> 00:35:49.159 against those 00:35:49.159 --> 00:35:50.279 who mistreat 00:35:50.279 --> 00:35:50.639 them. 00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:51.539 And you 00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:52.019 can find 00:35:52.019 --> 00:35:53.019 great comfort 00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:54.500 in that 00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:55.059 promise. 00:35:56.179 --> 00:35:56.879 The cross 00:35:56.879 --> 00:35:57.299 of Jesus 00:35:57.299 --> 00:35:58.119 is once again 00:35:58.119 --> 00:35:58.539 our great 00:35:58.539 --> 00:35:59.400 assurance of 00:35:59.400 --> 00:35:59.960 that isn't 00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:00.119 it? 00:36:00.779 --> 00:36:01.719 The cross 00:36:01.719 --> 00:36:02.339 of Jesus 00:36:02.339 --> 00:36:03.319 there where 00:36:03.319 --> 00:36:04.259 God defeats 00:36:04.259 --> 00:36:04.980 the greatest 00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:05.559 of our 00:36:05.559 --> 00:36:06.000 enemies. 00:36:06.460 --> 00:36:06.920 Death. 00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:08.579 Satan. 00:36:09.500 --> 00:36:10.039 Sin. 00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:11.159 There where 00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:11.900 God shows 00:36:11.900 --> 00:36:12.539 his hatred 00:36:12.539 --> 00:36:13.500 for sin by 00:36:13.500 --> 00:36:14.420 pouring out 00:36:14.420 --> 00:36:15.099 his wrath 00:36:15.099 --> 00:36:15.559 on the 00:36:15.559 --> 00:36:16.739 sin bearer. 00:36:17.659 --> 00:36:18.299 There where 00:36:18.299 --> 00:36:19.239 the justice 00:36:19.239 --> 00:36:20.139 and grace 00:36:20.139 --> 00:36:20.900 of God 00:36:20.900 --> 00:36:21.500 kiss. 00:36:22.799 --> 00:36:23.539 There at 00:36:23.539 --> 00:36:24.139 the cross 00:36:24.139 --> 00:36:24.920 we know 00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:25.379 that as 00:36:25.379 --> 00:36:26.259 serious as 00:36:26.259 --> 00:36:26.920 sin is 00:36:26.920 --> 00:36:27.659 it will 00:36:27.659 --> 00:36:28.440 not haunt 00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:29.440 us forever. 00:36:30.579 --> 00:36:31.219 While God 00:36:31.219 --> 00:36:31.859 has promised 00:36:31.859 --> 00:36:32.519 to punish 00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:33.400 sin he 00:36:33.400 --> 00:36:34.059 has also 00:36:34.059 --> 00:36:34.920 promised not 00:36:34.920 --> 00:36:35.519 to punish 00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:36.480 you again 00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:37.219 for the 00:36:37.219 --> 00:36:37.900 sin Jesus 00:36:37.900 --> 00:36:38.539 has already 00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:39.259 died for. 00:36:39.659 --> 00:36:40.139 Hallelujah. 00:36:41.099 --> 00:36:41.859 You won't 00:36:41.859 --> 00:36:42.460 be punished 00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:43.000 for it 00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:43.900 because Jesus 00:36:43.900 --> 00:36:44.900 was. 00:36:45.900 --> 00:36:46.440 And while 00:36:46.440 --> 00:36:47.179 other lesser 00:36:47.179 --> 00:36:48.119 enemies still 00:36:48.119 --> 00:36:48.819 haunt you 00:36:48.819 --> 00:36:49.779 today and 00:36:49.780 --> 00:36:50.320 life is 00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:51.460 painful and 00:36:51.460 --> 00:36:52.240 justice seems 00:36:52.240 --> 00:36:52.960 far off 00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:53.540 because of 00:36:53.540 --> 00:36:54.019 it you 00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:54.420 can be 00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:54.940 confident 00:36:54.940 --> 00:36:55.740 your Savior 00:36:55.740 --> 00:36:56.560 will deliver 00:36:56.560 --> 00:36:57.120 you from 00:36:57.120 --> 00:36:57.660 them as 00:36:57.660 --> 00:36:58.400 well because 00:36:58.400 --> 00:36:59.060 he's delivered 00:36:59.060 --> 00:36:59.620 you on the 00:36:59.620 --> 00:37:00.400 cross from 00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:01.160 your greatest 00:37:01.160 --> 00:37:01.960 enemies. 00:37:03.540 --> 00:37:04.519 So it's 00:37:04.519 --> 00:37:04.940 safe. 00:37:07.260 --> 00:37:08.440 The first 00:37:08.440 --> 00:37:10.800 safety we've 00:37:10.800 --> 00:37:11.300 been able to 00:37:11.300 --> 00:37:12.120 find it's 00:37:12.120 --> 00:37:13.140 safe to 00:37:13.140 --> 00:37:13.620 entrust 00:37:13.620 --> 00:37:14.800 yourself even 00:37:14.800 --> 00:37:15.680 as a great 00:37:15.680 --> 00:37:16.280 sinner. 00:37:16.280 --> 00:37:17.700 even as 00:37:17.700 --> 00:37:18.519 one greatly 00:37:18.519 --> 00:37:19.080 sinned 00:37:19.080 --> 00:37:19.700 against 00:37:19.700 --> 00:37:22.040 to Jesus. 00:37:23.040 --> 00:37:24.040 It's safe 00:37:24.040 --> 00:37:25.380 to entrust 00:37:25.380 --> 00:37:26.900 yourself to 00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:27.200 him. 00:37:28.660 --> 00:37:29.640 The warning 00:37:29.640 --> 00:37:30.060 of this 00:37:30.060 --> 00:37:30.720 chapter is 00:37:30.720 --> 00:37:31.100 clear. 00:37:31.580 --> 00:37:32.560 God takes 00:37:32.560 --> 00:37:33.180 sin 00:37:33.180 --> 00:37:34.120 seriously. 00:37:34.820 --> 00:37:35.160 You will 00:37:35.160 --> 00:37:35.780 not find 00:37:35.780 --> 00:37:37.200 safety in 00:37:37.200 --> 00:37:38.220 being idolatrous. 00:37:39.040 --> 00:37:39.660 You will 00:37:39.660 --> 00:37:40.340 not find 00:37:40.340 --> 00:37:42.200 safety in 00:37:42.200 --> 00:37:42.860 being religious. 00:37:42.860 --> 00:37:44.340 you will 00:37:44.340 --> 00:37:45.360 find safety 00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:47.120 only in 00:37:47.120 --> 00:37:47.300 your 00:37:47.300 --> 00:37:47.940 perfectly 00:37:47.940 --> 00:37:49.780 just and 00:37:49.780 --> 00:37:50.340 gracious 00:37:50.340 --> 00:37:51.280 God. 00:37:52.120 --> 00:37:52.940 Let's pray 00:37:52.940 --> 00:37:53.260 to him 00:37:53.260 --> 00:37:53.539 now. 00:38:00.019 --> 00:38:01.039 Father, we 00:38:01.039 --> 00:38:01.460 don't look 00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:02.380 forward to 00:38:02.380 --> 00:38:03.680 sermons like 00:38:03.680 --> 00:38:04.099 these. 00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:05.960 We like 00:38:05.960 --> 00:38:06.640 the other 00:38:06.640 --> 00:38:08.120 stories better. 00:38:08.119 --> 00:38:08.239 sin. 00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:13.420 But we 00:38:13.420 --> 00:38:14.000 believe we 00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:14.579 need to 00:38:14.579 --> 00:38:15.099 know the 00:38:15.099 --> 00:38:17.259 truth about 00:38:17.259 --> 00:38:18.420 sin because 00:38:18.420 --> 00:38:19.239 sin is 00:38:19.239 --> 00:38:19.839 something we 00:38:19.839 --> 00:38:20.319 know all 00:38:20.319 --> 00:38:20.819 too well. 00:38:21.699 --> 00:38:22.259 And we 00:38:22.259 --> 00:38:23.279 need when we 00:38:23.279 --> 00:38:24.039 face the 00:38:24.039 --> 00:38:24.699 reality of 00:38:24.699 --> 00:38:25.239 our sins 00:38:25.239 --> 00:38:26.319 something to 00:38:26.319 --> 00:38:26.880 give us 00:38:26.880 --> 00:38:27.420 hope. 00:38:28.380 --> 00:38:29.079 And it is 00:38:29.079 --> 00:38:30.460 only you 00:38:30.460 --> 00:38:32.119 that gives 00:38:32.119 --> 00:38:32.679 us hope. 00:38:32.839 --> 00:38:33.559 Don't let us 00:38:33.559 --> 00:38:34.880 look anywhere 00:38:34.880 --> 00:38:37.400 else but to 00:38:37.400 --> 00:38:37.720 Jesus. 00:38:38.360 --> 00:38:39.099 Might we 00:38:39.099 --> 00:38:39.720 find hope 00:38:39.720 --> 00:38:40.320 in him for 00:38:40.320 --> 00:38:41.320 today and 00:38:41.320 --> 00:38:42.000 enough hope 00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:42.680 in him to 00:38:42.680 --> 00:38:43.160 make us 00:38:43.160 --> 00:38:45.039 confident for 00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:45.680 eternity. 00:38:47.200 --> 00:38:47.860 Do that 00:38:47.860 --> 00:38:48.340 work in our 00:38:48.340 --> 00:38:48.619 hearts. 00:38:48.760 --> 00:38:49.420 We ask it in 00:38:49.420 --> 00:38:49.880 his name. 00:38:50.639 --> 00:38:50.900 Amen. 00:38:54.900 --> 00:38:55.639 For more 00:38:55.639 --> 00:38:56.160 information, 00:38:56.539 --> 00:38:56.960 visit us 00:38:56.960 --> 00:38:57.860 online at 00:38:57.860 --> 00:38:58.760 southwood.org.