WEBVTT

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 Am I on? No, I've got to turn it on. No, no. Good. How about now? Can you hear me? Yes.

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 Good. Alright. Hey, we're looking at Daniel chapter 9 this morning, continuing our series

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 in the Old Testament book of Daniel.

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 So lately Beth and I have been doing quite a bit of pre-marriage counseling, which we

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 love doing with couples. And one of the topics that we always cover is the topic of expectations.

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 What expectations, preconceived ideas, assumptions, hopes are you bringing with you into this

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 relationship? We try to uncover those. Because nothing can cause conflict or disappointment.

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 Or even despair in a relationship that seems faster than unarticulated and unaddressed expectations.

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 So you need to talk about them. And more often than not, couples need to adjust them to reality.

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 But you know, the same is true in spiritual life. What sort of expectations ought we to

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 have in our life with God? This is actually something of vital importance because much like a young,

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 nice couple with unbeautical expectations, we can end up in disappointment or turmoil or frustration

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 or even despair. But thankfully we have texts like the one we're looking at this morning.

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 Daniel chapter 9, which helps us to be moving on the way, which helps us to shape the right

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 expectations for what our life with God will look like as we pursue His kingdom as a church

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 in the midst of the kingdoms of this world. So if you haven't done so already, turn to

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 Daniel chapter 9. It's page 747 in the Pew Bible. If you look there, you'll notice that the outline

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 of Daniel 9 is actually quite simple. It shows us first a prayer that we need to pray, and

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 then it will show a second an answer that we need to hear. A prayer that we need to pray,

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 and an answer we need to hear. So let's dive in first. A prayer we need to pray. Let's read

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 the first half of chapter 9, starting in verse 1 and heading in verse 19. In the first year

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 of Darius, the son of Hoshveros, by descent Amid, who is made king over the realm of the

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 Calvians, in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number

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 of years that according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet must pass before

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 the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely 70 years. Then I turned my face to the Lord

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 God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I pray

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 to the Lord my God in made confession, saying, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps

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 covenant and steadfast love of those who love him and keep his commandments. We have sinned

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 and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.

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 We have not listened to your servants and prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes,

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 and our fathers, and all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness,

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 but to us hope and shame. As at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,

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 and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, and all the lands to which

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 you have driven them because of the treachery that they have committed against you. To us,

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 O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we

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 have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we've

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 rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in

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 his walls, which he set before us by his servants and prophets. All Israel has transgressed your

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 law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oaths that are written

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 in the law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned

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 against them. He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers

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 who rule us by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been

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 anything done like what has been done against Jerusalem. As it is written in the law of Moses,

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 all this calamity has come upon us. Yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our

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 God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. Therefore the Lord has

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 kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us. For the Lord our God is righteous in all

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 the works that he has done. And we have not obeyed his voice. And now, O Lord our God,

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 who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name

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 for yourself as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. O Lord, according to

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 all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city, Jerusalem,

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 your holy hill, because of our sins and for the iniquities of our fathers. Jerusalem and your

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 people have become a byword among all who are around us. Now, therefore, O God, listen

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 to the prayer of your servant who is pleased from her seat. And for your own sake, O Lord,

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 make your face to shine upon your sanctuary which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear

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 and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations in the city that is called by your name. For

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 we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great

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 mercy. O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not for your own sake,

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 O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.

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 Amen. A few years ago, the writer, Anne Lamott, wrote a little book on prayer called Help,

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 Thanks, Wow, The Three Essential Prayers. And of course, those three prayers are certainly

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 essential. It's not a bad way of capturing their essence either. Help, the prayer of supplication

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 and petition, asking God for what we and others need and realizing our dependence upon

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 him. Thanks, the prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude, acknowledging that every good gift

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 comes from God and giving him the credit that says do. And then, of course, wow, the prayer

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 of adoration to God. The prayer of loving all simply for who God is. But you know, in Lamott's

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 catalog of prayer, actually, something's missing. A prayer that's actually utterly essential

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 to having a real, vital relationship with God. And that prayer is the prayer of confession.

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 Of admitting our sin before God and asking for mercy. Now, maybe you have a hard time with

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 the idea of confession. On one hand, if you come from a religious background, maybe the thought

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 of confession conjures up the thought for you of sitting in a tight wooden stall, a confessional,

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 talking through a screen, praying great prayers, and doing a lot of anti-religious activity.

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 Well, who's all that? On the other hand, maybe the idea of confession just makes you think

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 of being pummeled down with a bunch of false guilt. And of course, there is such a thing as

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 false guilt, to be sure. Like when we take responsibility for things that are beyond our control.

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 Like a parent who blames him or herself for the waywardness of their child, even though

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 they've been faithful to the parent. Or more often, false guilt comes when we constantly

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 compare ourselves to others. And then we beat ourselves up, thinking that we should have

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 or be able to do what we see others around us doing. And so we feel guilty of making them

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 accuse ourselves because we're measuring ourselves up to these human standards.

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 But you know, none of this is what the Bible has in mind when it calls us to confession,

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 to repentance. It's not an empty ritual. It's not wallowing in false guilt. No.

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 It's actually the God-given means of dealing with our broken relationship with God and then

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 with one another. Confession, you see, is the path to reconciliation and to change.

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 After all, if there is such a thing as false guilt, there's also such a thing as real guilt.

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 As the great angelic prayer of confession puts it, most merciful God, we confess that

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 we have sinned against you and fought word and deed by what we have done and by what we

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 have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbors

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 as ourselves. You know, if we're honest, and if you and I are through with playing spiritual

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 games, none of us can say that we have no need of confession. I'm reminded here of C.S.

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 Lewis' opening chapter of your Christianity where he says that we've all broken the rule

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 all. And then he says in the tongue-in-cheek, now if there are any exceptions among you, I apologize

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 to them. They had better read some other book. You had better listen to some other servant.

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 For nothing I am going to say concerns them. And now, turning to the ordinary human beings

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 who are left. Indeed. Turning to us ordinary human beings who realize that we need a prayer

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 confession. But who also need help in learning how to pray it. We come to Daniel 9. Let's look

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 at these verses again. In verse 1, the scene opens in 539 B.C. The Babylonians have just

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 fallen to the Persian Empire. Darius the Mede pulls over the city of Babylon. And in verse

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 2, Daniel, reading the prophet Jeremiah, realizes that the time of exile is about to come to an

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 end. Now what would Daniel have been reading in the book of Jeremiah? I want to be able

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 to think of that. Well, think of a verse like Jeremiah 25 and 11 and 12. Jeremiah says,

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 In the people of Israel, you shall serve the king of Babylon 70 years. And after 70 years

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 are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation for their indignity, he declares

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 the Lord. And perhaps Daniel would have also been meditating on Jeremiah 29. Listen to verses

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 10 through 14. For thus says the Lord, when 70 years are completed for Babylon, I will visit

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 you. And I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place where I know

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 the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans for welfare and not for evil to give you

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 a future and a hope. That verse sounds familiar, doesn't it? Then you will call upon me and come

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 and pray to me and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all

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 your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord. And I will restore your fortunes

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 and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I've driven you, declares

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 the Lord. And I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

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 Amazing. Decades before, Jeremiah 3, God's world were new and settled in this period of exile.

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 And here is the Lord reading these promises from God's word, knowing that the time is near,

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 and he responds by praying. Which is something Daniel does a lot of in this book, doesn't

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 he? He's always praying. He's praying when he needs wisdom. He's praying when he's in

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 trouble. He's praying regularly three times a day he prays. But why does he pray a prayer

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 of confession here? Why not a prayer of adoration? God, you're going to do it. It's here. Why

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 not a prayer of thanksgiving? Yes, the end has finally come. No, it's a prayer of confession.

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 Daniel prays that way because ultimately it wasn't Babylon that put Israel in that God.

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 It was God. This is how the whole book of Daniel begins, you remember, because Israel broke

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 God's gracious covenant again and again. Chapter 1, verse 2, the Lord gave them into Nebuchadnezzar,

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 Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. As we'll see in a minute, the law of Moses warned the

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 people that if they broke faith with God, he would drive them into exile, hand them over

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 to their enemies. You can look up Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. There God warns Israel

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 the curses that would fall on them if they preached the covenant. But God also promised, again

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 in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 30 and in 1 Kings 8 when Solomon dedicates the first

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 temple. And from the text of Jeremiah we just read, God promises that in exile the people

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 would turn to him in confession and repentance and he would forgive their sins and bring them

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 home. And so here is Daniel living in the middle of this unique moment in redemptive history

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 on the cusp of God bringing his people home from captivity. But even though Daniel's situation

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 is unique, you know, his prayer is still instructive for us. It's still here to teach us. So what

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 then does a genuine prayer of confession look like? I think we see three parts here in verses

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 3 through 19. Let's look at them each briefly. First, a genuine prayer of confession looks

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 like acknowledging the truth about God and about us. This is verses 4 through 10. Look at how

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 Daniel speaks of God here. Great and awesome. Verse 4, if you haven't King James, great and

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 terrible. He keeps covenant and steadfast love. Verse 4, to him belongs righteousness. Verse 7,

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 14, 16. To him also belongs mercy and forgiveness, verse 8 and 19. And for the first time in the

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 whole book of Daniel, which is really surprising, for the first time in the whole book of Daniel,

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 in this chapter alone, God is called upon, is spoken of by his covenant name. By the name that he

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 revealed to Moses and the burning bush out of the Lord. Capital L, R-D in our English translations.

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 I am who I am. Verse 4, 8, 10, 13, 13. You see, it all begins with a right view of God.

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 The God of the Bible, the one true God, friends, is no doting or an apparent. The God who created

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 us is no cosmic therapist that we pay to ask us questions and merely affirm us. No, this

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 God, the true God, is the consuming fire. The perfection of righteousness. The perfection

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 of mercy. Calvin in the opening of the Institute says that so often the reason we think that

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 we aren't sinful in need of grace is because we spend so much time merely comparing ourselves

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 to other people. If we spend all our time only contemplating earthly things, if we only look

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 for theملider and truly accept aged 12 years later. And then we would like to see the

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 examine our body, when we can see how state that it looks at us. But when we get a glimpse

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 of the white, hot blaze of the sun, when we lift our gaze to see the radiance of holiness

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 and righteousness that is God, then our condition is seen for what it is. Suddenly what once appeared

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 it is.

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 Suddenly, what once

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 appeared bright

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 is seen murky

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 and in the of the insane.

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 Look then at how Daniel speaks

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 of us.

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 We have sinned,

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 verse 5, 8, 11, 15, 16.

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 That is, we've fallen short in God's purposes

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 for us. We've done wrong,

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 verse 5. We've acted wickedly,

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 verse 5 and 15.

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 We've rebelled, verses 5

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 and 9. We've turned

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 aside, we've gone astray for God's

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 commandments and rules. We've not

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 listened to the prophets and obeyed God's

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 voice, verse 6, 10, 11, 14.

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 We're guilty of treachery, verse 7.

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 Transgression, verse 11.

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 Iniquity, verse 13 and

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 16.

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 To us belongs open

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 shame, verses 6 and

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 9.

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 It's quite a picture of that.

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 A heart one to swallow, perhaps.

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 Pretty bleak.

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 But you know, the reason why

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 the picture is so grim

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 is because of what God

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 originally created

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 us to be.

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 You see, God

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 created

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 every human being

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 in His own image,

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 worthy of dignity

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 and honor

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 and value.

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 And that's true of each

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 one of us,

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 regardless of race

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 or gender

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 or class

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 or age

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 or ability.

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 Humans are the high point

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 of God's creation

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 in Genesis 1.

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 The crowning moment

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 of God's creation

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 in the earth.

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 And that is why

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 our fallen condition

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 is so wretched.

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 We are full of dignity,

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 God's blown image

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 bearers,

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 and yet we rebel

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 against God.

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 We ignore God

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 and the world He has made.

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 And as a result,

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 we ruin

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 our relationships

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 to one another,

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 the world,

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 and even to ourselves.

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 Friends, look.

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 Look at the wreckage

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 we've made

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 of God's

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 good world.

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 Blaise Pascal once said,

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 in brutal

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 but honest words,

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 humans are the glory

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 and the garbage

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 of the universe.

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 And note that Daniel

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 includes himself

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 in this picture,

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 doesn't he?

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 We have sinned,

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 he says.

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 Now think about it.

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 Daniel is one of the few

00:18:52.780 --> 00:18:53.920
 figures in the Old Testament

00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:55.940
 of whom some massive failure

00:18:55.940 --> 00:18:57.040
 is not reported.

00:18:58.400 --> 00:18:59.480
 Count all through your mind

00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:00.700
 most of the main figures.

00:19:01.360 --> 00:19:01.740
 Abraham,

00:19:02.580 --> 00:19:02.880
 oops,

00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:03.500
 there's that whole deal

00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:03.940
 with Satan,

00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.780
 with Agar,

00:19:05.560 --> 00:19:06.620
 Jacob,

00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:08.420
 he didn't really come off

00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:08.900
 so clean,

00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:09.320
 did he?

00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:09.800
 David,

00:19:10.140 --> 00:19:11.460
 and on and on and on and on.

00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.140
 And yet,

00:19:13.320 --> 00:19:13.759
 Daniel,

00:19:14.140 --> 00:19:14.480
 man,

00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:16.060
 he seems to be

00:19:16.060 --> 00:19:16.860
 a pretty good guy.

00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:20.480
 But as we see

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:20.980
 in verse 20,

00:19:21.060 --> 00:19:22.220
 Daniel knows himself

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:23.740
 to be guilty as well.

00:19:24.580 --> 00:19:26.560
 He cannot exclude himself

00:19:26.560 --> 00:19:27.960
 from this condition.

00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:30.700
 And he makes

00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:31.420
 no intent

00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:32.080
 to excuses.

00:19:36.100 --> 00:19:36.920
 And that brings us

00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:37.620
 to the second part

00:19:37.620 --> 00:19:38.080
 of this prayer,

00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:39.220
 verses 4 through 10.

00:19:40.060 --> 00:19:40.880
 Verses 4 through 10

00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:41.300
 show us that

00:19:41.300 --> 00:19:43.200
 a genuine confession,

00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:44.140
 a genuine prayer

00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:44.700
 of confession

00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.500
 acknowledges

00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.600
 the truth about God

00:19:46.600 --> 00:19:47.060
 and ourselves.

00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:47.780
 But then in verses

00:19:47.780 --> 00:19:48.960
 11 through 14,

00:19:49.580 --> 00:19:50.440
 the next section,

00:19:51.140 --> 00:19:51.700
 the genuine prayer

00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:52.140
 of confession

00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:53.120
 leads us to confess

00:19:53.120 --> 00:19:54.080
 the rightness

00:19:54.080 --> 00:19:55.640
 of God's judgment.

00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:57.019
 Throughout this section,

00:19:57.100 --> 00:19:57.880
 11 through 14,

00:19:58.280 --> 00:19:59.300
 Daniel affirms

00:19:59.300 --> 00:20:00.019
 that God

00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:01.160
 was not arbitrary

00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:02.400
 or capricious

00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:03.300
 in sending

00:20:03.300 --> 00:20:04.360
 the people in exile.

00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:07.419
 God had clearly

00:20:07.419 --> 00:20:07.979
 warned them

00:20:07.979 --> 00:20:08.899
 of the law of Moses.

00:20:09.899 --> 00:20:10.359
 He had sent

00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:10.899
 the prophets

00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:11.539
 of them again

00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:11.879
 and again

00:20:11.879 --> 00:20:12.419
 to remind

00:20:12.419 --> 00:20:12.839
 and plead

00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:13.219
 and warn

00:20:13.219 --> 00:20:13.639
 the people

00:20:13.639 --> 00:20:14.099
 of what the law

00:20:14.099 --> 00:20:14.399
 said.

00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:15.199
 Generation

00:20:15.199 --> 00:20:16.000
 after generation,

00:20:16.159 --> 00:20:16.939
 God was patient

00:20:16.939 --> 00:20:17.979
 and forbearing

00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.900
 and loving.

00:20:21.360 --> 00:20:22.360
 And so when judgment

00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:23.099
 finally came,

00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:23.819
 Daniel could say

00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:24.599
 in verse 14,

00:20:25.360 --> 00:20:26.140
 the Lord our God

00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:26.900
 is righteous

00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:28.599
 in all the works

00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:29.160
 he has done.

00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:33.600
 Now it's one thing

00:20:33.600 --> 00:20:34.320
 to admit that God

00:20:34.320 --> 00:20:34.779
 is holy

00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.600
 and we are sinful.

00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:37.620
 It's another thing

00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:38.360
 to admit that God

00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:39.019
 is just

00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:40.200
 to judge our sin.

00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:44.400
 And yet friends,

00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:44.900
 this is what

00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:45.700
 real confession

00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.420
 looks like.

00:20:47.600 --> 00:20:49.100
 It makes no excuses.

00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.560
 It doesn't try

00:20:51.560 --> 00:20:52.320
 to justify

00:20:52.320 --> 00:20:53.460
 or minimize

00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:54.519
 what we've done.

00:20:56.080 --> 00:20:56.840
 How often

00:20:56.840 --> 00:20:57.320
 have you heard

00:20:57.320 --> 00:20:59.019
 of an apology

00:20:59.019 --> 00:20:59.639
 like that?

00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:01.720
 I'm sorry

00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.460
 if I hurt you.

00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:05.099
 I'm sorry

00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:05.500
 if you do

00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.279
 offense at that.

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:08.680
 I'm sorry

00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.319
 that this bad

00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:09.980
 thing happened.

00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:12.500
 And yet none

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:12.940
 of that

00:21:12.940 --> 00:21:14.779
 is saying

00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:15.420
 I was wrong.

00:21:19.339 --> 00:21:19.980
 A genuine

00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:20.639
 prayer for confession

00:21:20.639 --> 00:21:21.339
 puts the reality

00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:22.160
 full in the face.

00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:22.879
 You know,

00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:23.259
 too often

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.139
 we see sin

00:21:24.139 --> 00:21:24.859
 as a collection

00:21:24.859 --> 00:21:25.759
 of missteps

00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.879
 or mistakes.

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:28.799
 And deep down

00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:29.099
 we think

00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:29.519
 we're basically

00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:29.899
 good.

00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:31.000
 Deep down

00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.399
 we're good

00:21:31.399 --> 00:21:32.059
 in these faults

00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:32.639
 or flaws

00:21:32.639 --> 00:21:33.659
 that word

00:21:33.659 --> 00:21:34.319
 of anger,

00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:35.299
 that look

00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:35.940
 of lust,

00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:36.799
 that spike

00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.379
 of jealousy.

00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:37.619
 Well,

00:21:37.639 --> 00:21:38.039
 that's just

00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:38.500
 me having

00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:39.319
 a bad day.

00:21:40.659 --> 00:21:41.299
 I was feeling

00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:42.240
 under some pressure.

00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:44.279
 I skipped

00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:44.899
 breakfast.

00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:48.859
 But you know,

00:21:48.919 --> 00:21:49.099
 friends,

00:21:49.099 --> 00:21:49.500
 the truth

00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:49.879
 is

00:21:49.879 --> 00:21:51.599
 that anger,

00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.119
 that lust,

00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:54.500
 that jealousy,

00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:55.980
 they're not

00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:57.179
 some mere mistake

00:21:57.179 --> 00:21:59.359
 of your true character.

00:22:00.699 --> 00:22:01.480
 They're actually

00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:02.019
 a symptom

00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:03.299
 of a deep

00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:03.959
 heart condition.

00:22:08.439 --> 00:22:09.480
 Now they overflow

00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:09.959
 of the heart

00:22:09.959 --> 00:22:10.480
 and the mouth

00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.139
 speaks.

00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.980
 All these things

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.579
 are a symptom

00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:15.319
 that our hearts

00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:16.480
 rebelled against God.

00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:19.519
 And God

00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.200
 is completely

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.279
 within his rights

00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.599
 to end our

00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:22.980
 rebellion.

00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:28.319
 But that's not

00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:28.720
 where the prayer

00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.039
 ends.

00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:31.700
 Third,

00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.180
 verses 15

00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:33.799
 through 19,

00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:35.720
 a genuine

00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.720
 prayer of confession

00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:37.660
 leads us

00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:38.700
 to appeal

00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:39.860
 for mercy.

00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:42.759
 And notice

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:44.119
 on what grounds

00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:45.599
 Daniel appeals

00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:47.139
 for forgiveness.

00:22:47.899 --> 00:22:48.419
 Look at the end

00:22:48.419 --> 00:22:49.139
 of verse 18.

00:22:49.539 --> 00:22:50.619
 We do not present

00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:51.319
 our pleas

00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:52.199
 before you

00:22:52.199 --> 00:22:52.919
 because of

00:22:52.919 --> 00:22:54.019
 our righteousness

00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.919
 but because of

00:22:54.919 --> 00:22:56.439
 your great

00:22:56.439 --> 00:22:57.319
 mercy.

00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:58.879
 Friends,

00:22:58.979 --> 00:22:59.919
 why do we go

00:22:59.919 --> 00:23:00.399
 to God

00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:01.059
 in confession?

00:23:02.639 --> 00:23:03.639
 Is the act

00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:04.159
 of confession

00:23:04.159 --> 00:23:04.939
 itself

00:23:04.939 --> 00:23:05.859
 some sort

00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:06.419
 of righteous

00:23:06.419 --> 00:23:07.459
 act that God

00:23:07.459 --> 00:23:08.019
 will reward

00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:08.639
 with forgiveness?

00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:10.400
 I've screwed

00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:10.940
 up all this

00:23:10.940 --> 00:23:11.320
 other stuff

00:23:11.320 --> 00:23:11.740
 but at least

00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.060
 I can do

00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:12.600
 this one

00:23:12.600 --> 00:23:12.900
 thing.

00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.360
 I can do

00:23:13.360 --> 00:23:13.780
 this act

00:23:13.780 --> 00:23:14.180
 of forgiveness

00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:14.580
 and then

00:23:14.580 --> 00:23:14.980
 God will

00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:15.560
 reward me

00:23:15.560 --> 00:23:16.020
 on the basis

00:23:16.020 --> 00:23:16.780
 of that act

00:23:16.780 --> 00:23:17.580
 and then

00:23:17.580 --> 00:23:17.900
 he'll

00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:18.740
 forgive me.

00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:20.600
 No!

00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:22.120
 Not even

00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:22.420
 our act

00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:23.160
 of confession

00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:24.060
 is something

00:23:24.060 --> 00:23:25.020
 that God

00:23:25.020 --> 00:23:25.420
 rewards.

00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:26.480
 Rather,

00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:27.520
 and so much

00:23:27.520 --> 00:23:28.600
 more freeingly,

00:23:29.080 --> 00:23:29.780
 we go to

00:23:29.780 --> 00:23:30.480
 God in confession

00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:31.140
 because we

00:23:31.140 --> 00:23:31.800
 know that

00:23:31.800 --> 00:23:33.120
 God is

00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:33.860
 great

00:23:33.860 --> 00:23:34.920
 in mercy.

00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:38.120
 that we

00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:38.660
 can't

00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:39.080
 and we

00:23:39.080 --> 00:23:39.460
 don't

00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:39.860
 need

00:23:39.860 --> 00:23:40.340
 to bring

00:23:40.340 --> 00:23:40.500
 our

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.320
 unrighteousness

00:23:41.320 --> 00:23:42.220
 because God

00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:43.080
 is great

00:23:43.080 --> 00:23:44.560
 in mercy.

00:23:46.560 --> 00:23:47.240
 This is what

00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.539
 we've been

00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:48.080
 studying in the

00:23:48.080 --> 00:23:48.720
 evening service

00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.140
 in the book

00:23:49.140 --> 00:23:49.720
 of Ephesians

00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.220
 for the last

00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:50.580
 couple of

00:23:50.580 --> 00:23:50.860
 weeks.

00:23:51.600 --> 00:23:52.240
 In chapter 2,

00:23:52.300 --> 00:23:52.840
 John has been

00:23:52.840 --> 00:23:53.560
 preaching about

00:23:53.560 --> 00:23:54.360
 these opening

00:23:54.360 --> 00:23:54.980
 verses where

00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.360
 the apostle

00:23:55.360 --> 00:23:56.400
 Paul says

00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:56.940
 that we're

00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:58.160
 spiritually dead

00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:58.620
 because of

00:23:58.620 --> 00:23:59.200
 our sins,

00:23:59.600 --> 00:24:00.580
 but God,

00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:01.960
 he says,

00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:03.100
 being rich

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:03.839
 in mercy

00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:05.199
 because of

00:24:05.199 --> 00:24:05.799
 the great

00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.619
 love with

00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:06.980
 which he

00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.559
 loved us,

00:24:07.679 --> 00:24:08.179
 even when

00:24:08.179 --> 00:24:08.500
 we were

00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:08.899
 dead in

00:24:08.899 --> 00:24:09.779
 our trespasses,

00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:10.799
 made us

00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:12.159
 alive together

00:24:12.159 --> 00:24:12.899
 with Christ.

00:24:13.439 --> 00:24:14.240
 By grace

00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:14.980
 we have been

00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.339
 saved.

00:24:18.879 --> 00:24:19.519
 Because of

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:19.779
 God's

00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:20.139
 great

00:24:20.139 --> 00:24:21.039
 mercy.

00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:23.079
 And you

00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:23.219
 see,

00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:23.439
 friends,

00:24:23.459 --> 00:24:23.799
 this is what

00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:24.240
 separates

00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:25.099
 biblical faith

00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:25.819
 from pretty

00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:26.439
 much everything

00:24:26.439 --> 00:24:26.859
 else.

00:24:29.219 --> 00:24:29.859
 Because when

00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:30.439
 you see it,

00:24:30.459 --> 00:24:30.879
 when you pray

00:24:30.879 --> 00:24:31.439
 a genuine

00:24:31.439 --> 00:24:31.859
 prayer of

00:24:31.859 --> 00:24:32.259
 confession,

00:24:32.399 --> 00:24:32.939
 you realize

00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.299
 that the

00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:33.940
 answer to

00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:34.660
 our problem

00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:35.759
 isn't found

00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.059
 in our

00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:36.259
 own

00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:36.700
 righteousness.

00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:38.519
 It's not

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:38.759
 in our

00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:38.940
 own

00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:39.460
 resources,

00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:39.980
 our own

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.500
 intentions,

00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.059
 our own

00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:41.460
 efforts,

00:24:41.600 --> 00:24:41.880
 our own

00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:42.420
 resolutions,

00:24:42.600 --> 00:24:42.980
 not even

00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:43.240
 in our

00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:43.440
 own

00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:43.900
 confession

00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:44.120
 and

00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:44.519
 repentance,

00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.019
 but

00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:46.740
 wonderfully

00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.820
 and amazingly

00:24:47.820 --> 00:24:48.539
 our answer

00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:49.420
 comes solely

00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:50.860
 and totally

00:24:50.860 --> 00:24:52.519
 and sufficiently

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:54.820
 abundantly

00:24:54.820 --> 00:24:56.360
 from God's

00:24:56.360 --> 00:24:56.759
 own

00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.539
 great

00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:58.600
 mercy.

00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.640
 And this

00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.480
 makes genuine

00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.160
 biblical

00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:05.799
 prayers of

00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:06.340
 confession,

00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:07.460
 the prayers

00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.019
 of confession

00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:08.660
 very different

00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.059
 from all

00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:09.480
 else too.

00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:11.240
 Why?

00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:14.259
 Because even

00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:14.539
 though the

00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:15.160
 biblical picture

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:15.900
 of our sin

00:25:15.900 --> 00:25:16.400
 and guilt

00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:17.240
 are dire

00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:18.000
 indeed,

00:25:18.080 --> 00:25:18.299
 and that

00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:18.660
 makes us

00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.320
 very humble

00:25:19.320 --> 00:25:20.140
 and very

00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:20.840
 contrived,

00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:22.620
 yet we can

00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:23.500
 also approach

00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:25.059
 God with

00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:25.660
 an unheard

00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:26.820
 of assurance

00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:28.819
 and confidence

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:30.039
 that He will

00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:30.939
 accept us

00:25:30.939 --> 00:25:31.859
 and forgive

00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:32.339
 us

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.879
 because He

00:25:33.879 --> 00:25:34.359
 is great

00:25:34.359 --> 00:25:34.779
 in mercy.

00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:38.980
 Daniel was

00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.679
 very confident

00:25:39.679 --> 00:25:40.220
 in God's

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:40.679
 mercy in

00:25:40.679 --> 00:25:41.419
 verse 15,

00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:41.839
 if you look

00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:42.079
 at that

00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.439
 verse,

00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:44.200
 because this

00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:44.579
 was His

00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:45.139
 name God

00:25:45.139 --> 00:25:45.480
 who had

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:46.099
 delivered His

00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:46.700
 people once

00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:47.079
 already.

00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.759
 This is a

00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:49.240
 God who had

00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:49.919
 shown His

00:25:49.919 --> 00:25:50.799
 steadfast love.

00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.139
 When the

00:25:53.139 --> 00:25:53.519
 people were

00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.119
 in captivity

00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:54.659
 in Egypt,

00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:55.559
 God rescued

00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:55.899
 them in

00:25:55.899 --> 00:25:56.299
 the Exodus.

00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:57.500
 For the

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:58.019
 sake of His

00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:58.879
 great name,

00:25:59.460 --> 00:25:59.960
 that is to

00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:00.559
 make known

00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:01.179
 to all the

00:26:01.179 --> 00:26:01.579
 world how

00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:02.099
 great and

00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:02.639
 awesome He

00:26:02.639 --> 00:26:02.960
 is.

00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.519
 God's already

00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:05.279
 done this,

00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:05.639
 He's already

00:26:05.639 --> 00:26:06.659
 extended to us

00:26:06.659 --> 00:26:07.579
 His steadfast love.

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:09.039
 And so now

00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.919
 Daniel can call

00:26:09.919 --> 00:26:10.519
 upon God

00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.559
 knowing that

00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:12.079
 God has done

00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:12.539
 it already,

00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:13.679
 delay not.

00:26:14.299 --> 00:26:14.859
 For your own

00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:15.599
 sake, O my

00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:16.980
 God, for your

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:17.460
 city and your

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:18.159
 people are called

00:26:18.159 --> 00:26:19.119
 by your name.

00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:20.639
 In other

00:26:20.639 --> 00:26:21.319
 words, let

00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:22.099
 everyone know

00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:22.720
 that you're not

00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.319
 like these other

00:26:23.319 --> 00:26:23.879
 gods.

00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:25.480
 Let everyone

00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:26.720
 see how great

00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:27.500
 glorious you

00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:27.620
 are.

00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.019
 Let everyone

00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:28.400
 see how

00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:29.180
 merciful and

00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:29.880
 faithful you

00:26:29.880 --> 00:26:30.059
 are.

00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:30.539
 Act,

00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:31.720
 God, for

00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.299
 the glory of

00:26:32.299 --> 00:26:32.779
 your great

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.079
 name.

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:36.680
 Hear,

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:38.039
 forgive,

00:26:38.860 --> 00:26:39.400
 act.

00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:42.799
 And friends,

00:26:42.860 --> 00:26:43.180
 if Daniel

00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:43.920
 can pray for

00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:44.460
 mercy with

00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.299
 such urgency

00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:45.720
 and with

00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:46.860
 such confidence,

00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.299
 how much

00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.160
 more can we

00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:49.880
 today?

00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:53.520
 Daniel looked

00:26:53.520 --> 00:26:54.060
 back to the

00:26:54.060 --> 00:26:54.380
 Exodus.

00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:57.200
 But as

00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:57.700
 John mentioned

00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:58.120
 earlier in

00:26:58.120 --> 00:26:58.520
 her service,

00:26:58.640 --> 00:26:59.280
 we look back

00:26:59.280 --> 00:26:59.960
 to the cross.

00:27:03.320 --> 00:27:03.860
 In the

00:27:03.860 --> 00:27:04.320
 Exodus, you

00:27:04.320 --> 00:27:04.780
 remember when

00:27:04.780 --> 00:27:05.580
 the final plague

00:27:05.580 --> 00:27:06.140
 came upon

00:27:06.140 --> 00:27:07.380
 Egypt, when

00:27:07.380 --> 00:27:08.220
 every firstborn

00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:08.900
 was going to

00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:09.240
 die.

00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:10.600
 The people of

00:27:10.600 --> 00:27:11.060
 Israel were

00:27:11.060 --> 00:27:11.460
 told to

00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:12.180
 sacrifice a

00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:12.420
 lamb.

00:27:13.060 --> 00:27:13.400
 And when

00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:13.960
 God's judgment

00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.480
 came, that

00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:14.960
 lamb would

00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:15.460
 serve as a

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.160
 substitute, the

00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:16.660
 place of the

00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:17.660
 firstborn, and

00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.180
 the plague would

00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:18.980
 pass them

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:20.259
 over, and

00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:20.420
 they would

00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:20.960
 be saved.

00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:23.920
 Friends, in

00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:24.460
 the same way

00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:24.960
 when Jesus

00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:25.580
 died on the

00:27:25.580 --> 00:27:27.620
 cross, he

00:27:27.620 --> 00:27:28.320
 died as our

00:27:28.320 --> 00:27:30.600
 substitute, as

00:27:30.600 --> 00:27:31.060
 the true

00:27:31.060 --> 00:27:31.660
 lamb of God

00:27:31.660 --> 00:27:32.400
 for our

00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:34.960
 sins, so

00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:35.200
 that we

00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:35.600
 might be

00:27:35.600 --> 00:27:36.160
 safe when

00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:36.539
 God's

00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:36.840
 judgment

00:27:36.840 --> 00:27:37.700
 passes by.

00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:39.640
 That the

00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:40.140
 blood of the

00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:40.460
 lamb has

00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:41.120
 been spilled

00:27:41.120 --> 00:27:42.420
 for us.

00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:44.100
 That the

00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:44.580
 judgment has

00:27:44.580 --> 00:27:45.120
 been poured

00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:45.660
 away.

00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:48.720
 And now

00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:50.320
 we can

00:27:50.320 --> 00:27:50.900
 be right,

00:27:51.120 --> 00:27:51.440
 and can

00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:52.039
 be safe,

00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:52.519
 and can

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:53.080
 be accepted.

00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:56.299
 And so

00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:56.519
 our

00:27:56.519 --> 00:27:56.840
 goal for

00:27:56.840 --> 00:27:57.259
 mercy can

00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:57.560
 be made

00:27:57.560 --> 00:27:57.880
 with even

00:27:57.880 --> 00:27:58.200
 greater

00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:58.759
 confidence

00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.200
 and pain.

00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:01.220
 Because we've

00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:01.539
 seen the

00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:02.039
 fullness of

00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:02.500
 God's great

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:02.980
 mercy on the

00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:04.060
 cross, where

00:28:04.060 --> 00:28:05.400
 the love of

00:28:05.400 --> 00:28:09.560
 God was

00:28:09.560 --> 00:28:09.980
 expressed

00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:10.680
 fully when the

00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.180
 Son of God

00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:11.940
 died for us.

00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:15.060
 And not just

00:28:15.060 --> 00:28:15.519
 that, but being

00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.140
 raised from the

00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:16.519
 dead on the

00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.640
 third day, Jesus

00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:18.200
 now lives to

00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:18.780
 intercede for

00:28:18.780 --> 00:28:19.000
 us.

00:28:19.580 --> 00:28:19.940
 Who could

00:28:19.940 --> 00:28:21.060
 possibly condemn

00:28:21.060 --> 00:28:21.400
 us?

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.580
 Paul writes

00:28:22.580 --> 00:28:23.180
 in Romans 8,

00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:24.640
 34, Christ

00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:25.240
 Jesus is the

00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:25.780
 one who died,

00:28:25.860 --> 00:28:26.460
 more than that,

00:28:26.520 --> 00:28:27.280
 who was raised,

00:28:27.620 --> 00:28:28.060
 who is at the

00:28:28.060 --> 00:28:28.700
 right hand of

00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.220
 God, who is

00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:30.620
 indeed interceding

00:28:30.620 --> 00:28:31.440
 for us.

00:28:33.380 --> 00:28:34.060
 Before you

00:28:34.060 --> 00:28:35.280
 even pray a

00:28:35.280 --> 00:28:35.860
 prayer of

00:28:35.860 --> 00:28:37.360
 confession, the

00:28:37.360 --> 00:28:38.180
 Almighty Savior

00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:39.000
 has been praying

00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.580
 for you.

00:28:42.820 --> 00:28:43.660
 So friends, as we

00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.180
 wrap up this

00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:44.980
 first point, the

00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:45.660
 prayer we're going

00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:46.440
 to pray, let me

00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:46.820
 ask.

00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:49.140
 Are you

00:28:49.140 --> 00:28:50.140
 regularly praying

00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:50.660
 this sort of

00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.400
 prayer to God?

00:28:54.780 --> 00:28:56.080
 Is this part of

00:28:56.080 --> 00:28:57.300
 your regular

00:28:57.300 --> 00:28:58.340
 communion with

00:28:58.340 --> 00:28:59.480
 God, this sort

00:28:59.480 --> 00:28:59.860
 of prayer?

00:29:00.780 --> 00:29:01.580
 Are you taking

00:29:01.580 --> 00:29:02.360
 your sins and

00:29:02.360 --> 00:29:03.320
 failures to God,

00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:05.060
 admitting that

00:29:05.060 --> 00:29:06.380
 they deserve just

00:29:06.380 --> 00:29:09.240
 judgment, and

00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:10.020
 then pleading and

00:29:10.020 --> 00:29:10.900
 resting in God's

00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:13.060
 great mercy, that

00:29:13.060 --> 00:29:13.600
 they have been

00:29:13.600 --> 00:29:14.600
 forgiven for his

00:29:14.600 --> 00:29:15.620
 name's sake because

00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:16.540
 of the crisis of

00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:17.039
 God?

00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:21.119
 We're not

00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:21.700
 talking about

00:29:21.700 --> 00:29:22.319
 groveling in

00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:23.279
 guilt, you see.

00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:24.159
 We're talking

00:29:24.159 --> 00:29:25.039
 about dealing

00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:25.659
 with guilt.

00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:28.279
 Actually dealing

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:28.619
 with it.

00:29:28.659 --> 00:29:29.039
 We're talking

00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:30.279
 about experiencing

00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:31.039
 the reconciling

00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:32.920
 power of the

00:29:32.920 --> 00:29:33.899
 cross of Christ on

00:29:33.899 --> 00:29:35.779
 a daily basis, and

00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:37.039
 feeling the burden

00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:38.220
 lift, and knowing

00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:40.000
 our conscience is

00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.319
 clean.

00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:40.740
 God.

00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.819
 Friends, if this is

00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:44.659
 not characterized

00:29:44.659 --> 00:29:46.099
 with regular

00:29:46.099 --> 00:29:47.099
 communion with

00:29:47.099 --> 00:29:48.460
 God, start

00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:48.819
 now.

00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:49.819
 God.

00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:50.319
 God.

00:29:53.319 --> 00:29:54.059
 And do you make

00:29:54.059 --> 00:29:54.599
 this prayer not

00:29:54.599 --> 00:29:57.000
 just for yourself, but

00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.439
 for the church

00:29:57.439 --> 00:29:57.899
 in the whole?

00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:00.399
 Daniel prayed for

00:30:00.399 --> 00:30:01.240
 God's old covenant

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:01.599
 people.

00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.539
 We too should pray

00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:03.220
 for God's new

00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:04.659
 covenant people, the

00:30:04.659 --> 00:30:05.019
 church.

00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:08.159
 There are many

00:30:08.159 --> 00:30:09.439
 sins that we must

00:30:09.439 --> 00:30:10.500
 corporately confess,

00:30:10.619 --> 00:30:10.899
 you know.

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.339
 We can make a long

00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:15.000
 list of them this

00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:15.779
 morning, I'm sure.

00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:19.079
 Pride, self-righteousness,

00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:22.720
 racism, sexism, a

00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.539
 coldness to the

00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:24.259
 mission of God,

00:30:25.099 --> 00:30:27.960
 lethargy, on and

00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:28.660
 on and off you can

00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:29.279
 list them out.

00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:32.399
 Friends, do you

00:30:32.399 --> 00:30:33.980
 join your voice with

00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:36.399
 the whole church and

00:30:36.399 --> 00:30:37.440
 pray for God's mercy

00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:40.039
 upon us as people, as

00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.420
 a body?

00:30:43.099 --> 00:30:44.220
 Or do you excuse

00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:44.680
 yourself?

00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:46.320
 And think yourself

00:30:46.320 --> 00:30:46.920
 better than your

00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:47.620
 brothers and sisters

00:30:47.620 --> 00:30:48.200
 in Christ.

00:30:50.120 --> 00:30:51.180
 Well, I'm not like

00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:51.420
 that.

00:30:52.560 --> 00:30:53.259
 I'm a little more

00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:53.720
 than Daniel,

00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:54.340
 sock of the

00:30:54.340 --> 00:30:54.680
 spectrum.

00:30:58.680 --> 00:30:59.240
 Friends, a prayer

00:30:59.240 --> 00:30:59.860
 for confession is a

00:30:59.860 --> 00:31:00.340
 great gift.

00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:01.940
 In fact, it's one of

00:31:01.940 --> 00:31:02.940
 the marks of genuine

00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:03.620
 vital Christianity.

00:31:03.779 --> 00:31:04.320
 One writer put it

00:31:04.320 --> 00:31:05.160
 this way, what

00:31:05.160 --> 00:31:05.920
 distinguishes us

00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:06.539
 from the world is

00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:07.640
 not that we are

00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:08.200
 less wicked.

00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:10.840
 What distinguishes

00:31:10.840 --> 00:31:11.720
 us from the world is

00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.380
 not that we are

00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:12.880
 less wicked.

00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:14.940
 but that by the

00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:15.740
 grace of God we

00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.620
 have learned to see

00:31:16.620 --> 00:31:17.400
 our wickedness for

00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:19.080
 what it is and that

00:31:19.080 --> 00:31:20.080
 we confess our sins.

00:31:21.580 --> 00:31:22.400
 The church is the

00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:23.200
 only body on earth

00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:24.260
 that confesses sins.

00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:26.220
 Where the confession

00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:28.520
 of sin dies out, the

00:31:28.520 --> 00:31:30.200
 church is no longer

00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:31.120
 the church.

00:31:31.119 --> 00:31:31.159
 church.

00:31:33.879 --> 00:31:34.799
 This is one reason

00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:35.659
 why Sunday after

00:31:35.659 --> 00:31:36.719
 Sunday we have a

00:31:36.719 --> 00:31:37.559
 prayer of confession.

00:31:38.959 --> 00:31:39.819
 So that we can

00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:41.279
 constantly come back

00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:42.479
 to the very heart of

00:31:42.479 --> 00:31:44.699
 the gospel that our

00:31:44.699 --> 00:31:46.279
 sins are great.

00:31:47.659 --> 00:31:49.000
 But the mercy of God

00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:50.259
 in Christ is even

00:31:50.259 --> 00:31:51.059
 greater.

00:31:55.239 --> 00:31:56.019
 Well, let's move

00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:57.059
 into our second and

00:31:57.059 --> 00:31:57.759
 our last point.

00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:59.819
 the answer we need

00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:00.259
 to hear.

00:32:01.019 --> 00:32:01.619
 Let's read the

00:32:01.619 --> 00:32:03.019
 second half of the

00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:03.859
 chapter, verses 20

00:32:03.859 --> 00:32:04.559
 to 27.

00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:06.420
 While I was speaking

00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:07.440
 and praying, confessing

00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:08.339
 my sin and the sin of

00:32:08.339 --> 00:32:09.039
 my people Israel,

00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:09.960
 presenting my plea

00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:10.740
 before the Lord my

00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:11.460
 God from the holy

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:12.660
 hill of my God, while

00:32:12.660 --> 00:32:13.379
 I was speaking in

00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:13.980
 prayer to thank

00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.779
 Gabriel whom I had

00:32:14.779 --> 00:32:15.460
 seen in the vision

00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:16.799
 of the first, came to

00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:17.799
 me in swift flight at

00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:18.279
 the time of the

00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:19.079
 evening sacrifice.

00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:20.279
 He made me

00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:21.140
 understand speaking

00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:21.859
 with me and saying,

00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:22.700
 O Daniel, I have

00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:23.480
 now come out to give

00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:24.099
 you insight and

00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:24.720
 understanding.

00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:25.960
 At the beginning of

00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:26.500
 your please or

00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:27.359
 mercy a word went

00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:27.839
 out and I have

00:32:27.839 --> 00:32:28.459
 come to tell it

00:32:28.459 --> 00:32:28.959
 to you for you

00:32:28.959 --> 00:32:29.899
 are greatly loved.

00:32:30.439 --> 00:32:31.059
 Therefore, consider

00:32:31.059 --> 00:32:32.019
 the word and

00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:32.679
 understand the

00:32:32.679 --> 00:32:32.979
 vision.

00:32:34.039 --> 00:32:34.879
 Seventy weeks are

00:32:34.879 --> 00:32:35.719
 to grieve about

00:32:35.719 --> 00:32:36.359
 your people and

00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:37.799
 your holy city to

00:32:37.799 --> 00:32:38.199
 finish the

00:32:38.199 --> 00:32:38.959
 transgression, to

00:32:38.959 --> 00:32:39.519
 put an end to

00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:40.679
 sin, to atone for

00:32:40.679 --> 00:32:42.099
 iniquity, to bring

00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:42.599
 an everlasting

00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:43.599
 righteousness, to

00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.339
 seal both vision

00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:45.119
 and prophet and to

00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:45.939
 anoint a most holy

00:32:45.939 --> 00:32:46.439
 place.

00:32:47.419 --> 00:32:48.039
 Know therefore and

00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:48.719
 understand that from

00:32:48.719 --> 00:32:49.359
 the going out of

00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:50.099
 the word to restore

00:32:50.099 --> 00:32:50.799
 and build Jerusalem

00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:51.579
 to the coming of

00:32:51.579 --> 00:32:52.240
 an anointed one

00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:52.759
 of prince, there

00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:53.299
 shall be seven

00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:53.699
 weeks.

00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:55.639
 Then for sixty-two

00:32:55.639 --> 00:32:56.219
 weeks it shall be

00:32:56.219 --> 00:32:56.899
 built again with

00:32:56.900 --> 00:32:57.420
 squares and

00:32:57.420 --> 00:32:57.980
 open in a

00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:58.580
 troubled time.

00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:00.560
 And after the

00:33:00.560 --> 00:33:01.320
 sixty-two weeks an

00:33:01.320 --> 00:33:01.940
 anointed one shall

00:33:01.940 --> 00:33:02.600
 be cut off and

00:33:02.600 --> 00:33:03.140
 shall have nothing.

00:33:03.840 --> 00:33:04.519
 And the people of

00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:05.120
 the prince who is

00:33:05.120 --> 00:33:05.560
 to come shall

00:33:05.560 --> 00:33:06.480
 destroy the city

00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:07.100
 and the sanctuary.

00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:08.340
 Its end shall

00:33:08.340 --> 00:33:09.100
 come with a flood

00:33:09.100 --> 00:33:10.100
 and to the end

00:33:10.100 --> 00:33:10.900
 there shall be war.

00:33:11.940 --> 00:33:12.440
 Desolations are

00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:12.940
 decreed.

00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:14.380
 And he shall make

00:33:14.380 --> 00:33:15.120
 a strong covenant

00:33:15.120 --> 00:33:15.880
 with many for one

00:33:15.880 --> 00:33:17.160
 week and for half

00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:17.680
 of the week he

00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:18.259
 shall put an end

00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:19.180
 to sacrifice and

00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:19.519
 offering.

00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:21.019
 And on the wing

00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:21.680
 of abomination

00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:22.480
 shall come one

00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:23.319
 who makes desolate

00:33:23.319 --> 00:33:27.000
 until the decreed end

00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:28.200
 is poured out

00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:29.680
 on the desolator.

00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:35.019
 So God sends Daniel

00:33:35.019 --> 00:33:36.000
 in answer to his

00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:37.500
 prayer through the

00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.120
 angel Gabriel.

00:33:39.160 --> 00:33:40.420
 And at first the

00:33:40.420 --> 00:33:41.599
 answer we need to

00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:43.160
 hear is a word of

00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:43.660
 comfort.

00:33:44.339 --> 00:33:44.880
 Verses twenty

00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:45.480
 through twenty-three

00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:46.360
 Gabriel comes in

00:33:46.360 --> 00:33:48.160
 swift flight with a

00:33:48.160 --> 00:33:49.160
 word of mercy

00:33:49.160 --> 00:33:50.580
 telling Daniel you

00:33:50.580 --> 00:33:52.660
 are greatly loved.

00:33:53.860 --> 00:33:54.620
 And friends that is

00:33:54.620 --> 00:33:55.420
 a word of comfort

00:33:55.420 --> 00:33:57.440
 for everyone who

00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:58.560
 confesses their sins.

00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:01.140
 God is eager to

00:34:01.140 --> 00:34:02.340
 listen and respond

00:34:02.340 --> 00:34:03.060
 to his people's

00:34:03.060 --> 00:34:03.759
 prayers for mercy.

00:34:03.900 --> 00:34:05.259
 Isaiah 65 24 says

00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:06.860
 before they call I

00:34:06.860 --> 00:34:07.480
 will answer.

00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:09.099
 While they speak I

00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:09.599
 will hear.

00:34:10.820 --> 00:34:11.800
 Psalm 139 4

00:34:11.800 --> 00:34:12.920
 even before a word

00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:13.659
 is of my tongue

00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:14.380
 oh Lord you know

00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:14.900
 it all together.

00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:15.480
 Think of Jesus'

00:34:15.659 --> 00:34:16.659
 parables of Luke 18

00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:17.420
 that we read earlier.

00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:19.420
 If the unjust judge

00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:20.519
 grants a persistent

00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:22.720
 plea how much more

00:34:22.720 --> 00:34:23.860
 our heavenly father.

00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.200
 And when the two

00:34:26.200 --> 00:34:26.940
 men go up to the

00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:28.420
 temple to pray it's

00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:29.139
 not the righteous

00:34:29.139 --> 00:34:30.659
 Pharisee but the

00:34:30.659 --> 00:34:32.460
 contrite tax collector

00:34:32.460 --> 00:34:33.400
 who confesses his

00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:34.340
 sins and Jesus says

00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:35.980
 wait then he goes

00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:37.420
 home justified.

00:34:38.260 --> 00:34:38.700
 Right.

00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:39.780
 He goes like.

00:34:42.240 --> 00:34:43.460
 So friends let these

00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:44.320
 words sink in.

00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:45.280
 These words to

00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:45.579
 Daniel.

00:34:45.579 --> 00:34:46.680
 Let them sink in

00:34:46.679 --> 00:34:47.559
 your own heart.

00:34:48.419 --> 00:34:50.079
 You are

00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:51.779
 greatly loved.

00:34:54.980 --> 00:34:55.819
 So it's a word

00:34:55.819 --> 00:34:56.159
 comfort.

00:34:57.839 --> 00:34:58.639
 But the answer

00:34:58.639 --> 00:34:59.119
 we need to hear

00:34:59.119 --> 00:34:59.799
 is also a word

00:34:59.799 --> 00:35:00.599
 great promise.

00:35:01.219 --> 00:35:01.739
 We see this in

00:35:01.739 --> 00:35:02.440
 verse 24.

00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:04.419
 Now.

00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:06.619
 Verses 24

00:35:06.619 --> 00:35:07.219
 through 27

00:35:07.219 --> 00:35:08.960
 are a notoriously

00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:09.940
 tough passage

00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:10.539
 to interpret.

00:35:10.879 --> 00:35:11.259
 Some of you

00:35:11.259 --> 00:35:11.659
 have just been

00:35:11.659 --> 00:35:12.359
 drumming your fingers

00:35:12.359 --> 00:35:13.079
 waiting for me

00:35:13.079 --> 00:35:13.619
 to talk about

00:35:13.619 --> 00:35:14.359
 verses 24

00:35:14.359 --> 00:35:14.940
 through 27

00:35:14.940 --> 00:35:15.840
 and now you're

00:35:15.840 --> 00:35:16.440
 thinking oh my

00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:16.880
 gosh this

00:35:16.880 --> 00:35:18.019
 sword's gotta end

00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:18.320
 soon.

00:35:18.900 --> 00:35:19.760
 What is he doing?

00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:20.800
 Okay.

00:35:21.200 --> 00:35:21.860
 These verses are

00:35:21.860 --> 00:35:22.639
 very tough to

00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:22.960
 interpret.

00:35:23.200 --> 00:35:23.659
 This is one of

00:35:23.659 --> 00:35:24.159
 those passages

00:35:24.159 --> 00:35:24.760
 where scholars

00:35:24.760 --> 00:35:25.579
 love to pontificate

00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:26.139
 how challenging

00:35:26.139 --> 00:35:26.619
 they are.

00:35:28.340 --> 00:35:28.960
 But the reality

00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:29.619
 is lots of good

00:35:29.619 --> 00:35:30.779
 careful faithful scholars

00:35:30.779 --> 00:35:31.279
 have read these

00:35:31.279 --> 00:35:32.259
 verses in a variety

00:35:32.259 --> 00:35:32.920
 of different ways

00:35:32.920 --> 00:35:33.440
 so we want to

00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:33.980
 be generous

00:35:33.980 --> 00:35:34.799
 and we certainly

00:35:34.799 --> 00:35:35.159
 don't want to

00:35:35.159 --> 00:35:35.619
 be overly

00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:36.599
 dogmatic here.

00:35:36.699 --> 00:35:37.139
 If someone comes

00:35:37.139 --> 00:35:37.539
 to me and says

00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:38.339
 I know exactly

00:35:38.339 --> 00:35:38.859
 what the end of

00:35:38.859 --> 00:35:39.579
 Daniel 9 means

00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:40.319
 you should be

00:35:40.319 --> 00:35:40.699
 suspicious.

00:35:43.500 --> 00:35:44.179
 And certainly

00:35:44.179 --> 00:35:44.779
 with the time we

00:35:44.779 --> 00:35:45.319
 have we won't be

00:35:45.319 --> 00:35:45.819
 able to go into

00:35:45.819 --> 00:35:46.460
 all the fine

00:35:46.460 --> 00:35:47.199
 details and

00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:47.759
 differences of

00:35:47.759 --> 00:35:48.159
 those readings

00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:48.739
 this morning.

00:35:49.179 --> 00:35:49.639
 If you're

00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:50.259
 interested in

00:35:50.259 --> 00:35:51.019
 doing that

00:35:51.019 --> 00:35:52.500
 grab a cup of

00:35:52.500 --> 00:35:53.659
 coffee and meet

00:35:53.659 --> 00:35:53.940
 me in the

00:35:53.940 --> 00:35:54.440
 fellowship hall

00:35:54.440 --> 00:35:54.839
 downstairs

00:35:54.839 --> 00:35:56.519
 after the service.

00:35:56.960 --> 00:35:57.500
 I'll hang out

00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:58.139
 down there and I'll

00:35:58.139 --> 00:35:59.119
 be happy to dive into

00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:00.139
 all the eschatology

00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:00.880
 and apocalyptic

00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:01.759
 eschatology you

00:36:01.759 --> 00:36:02.119
 want to.

00:36:02.199 --> 00:36:02.759
 We can throw it

00:36:02.759 --> 00:36:02.940
 in.

00:36:03.299 --> 00:36:03.940
 That'd be fine.

00:36:04.019 --> 00:36:04.579
 I'd be happy to

00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:04.940
 do that.

00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:05.559
 That'd be fine.

00:36:05.619 --> 00:36:06.019
 Come do it.

00:36:06.900 --> 00:36:07.440
 But what I'm

00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:08.000
 going to try to

00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:08.559
 do with the time

00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:09.319
 that we have left

00:36:09.319 --> 00:36:10.380
 is I'm going to

00:36:10.380 --> 00:36:10.980
 just try to capture

00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:12.000
 the big idea here

00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:13.199
 because very often

00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:13.920
 we will lose the

00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:14.500
 force for the

00:36:14.500 --> 00:36:14.819
 trains.

00:36:16.460 --> 00:36:16.859
 And if you

00:36:16.859 --> 00:36:17.420
 understand this

00:36:17.420 --> 00:36:18.199
 passage differently

00:36:18.199 --> 00:36:19.059
 great.

00:36:19.739 --> 00:36:20.239
 You might be

00:36:20.239 --> 00:36:20.500
 right.

00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:22.279
 This is one of

00:36:22.279 --> 00:36:22.659
 those passages

00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:23.039
 where we're not

00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:23.480
 going to get too

00:36:23.480 --> 00:36:24.059
 uptight if we

00:36:24.059 --> 00:36:24.599
 put the pieces

00:36:24.599 --> 00:36:25.339
 together differently.

00:36:26.460 --> 00:36:26.799
 Well that

00:36:26.799 --> 00:36:27.440
 preface let me

00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:28.779
 say that verse

00:36:28.780 --> 00:36:29.760
 24 is a word

00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:30.780
 of great promise.

00:36:32.220 --> 00:36:33.080
 Imagine yourself

00:36:33.080 --> 00:36:33.900
 in Daniel's shoes

00:36:33.900 --> 00:36:34.460
 for a moment.

00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:35.660
 He's just seen

00:36:35.660 --> 00:36:36.300
 the Babylonian

00:36:36.300 --> 00:36:37.000
 empire fall.

00:36:37.360 --> 00:36:37.940
 Jeremiah's

00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:38.720
 prophesied 70

00:36:38.720 --> 00:36:39.360
 years are almost

00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:39.600
 up.

00:36:39.800 --> 00:36:40.640
 His expectations

00:36:40.640 --> 00:36:41.500
 must be running

00:36:41.500 --> 00:36:42.280
 high right?

00:36:42.640 --> 00:36:43.220
 God is going to

00:36:43.220 --> 00:36:44.000
 fulfill his promises

00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:44.640
 soon.

00:36:44.960 --> 00:36:45.480
 We're going to go

00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:46.040
 home.

00:36:46.380 --> 00:36:47.000
 All that stuff that

00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:47.519
 the prophets

00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:48.080
 talked about is

00:36:48.080 --> 00:36:48.920
 going to be now.

00:36:49.200 --> 00:36:50.080
 It's happening.

00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:51.900
 But with verse

00:36:51.900 --> 00:36:53.780
 24 God tells

00:36:53.780 --> 00:36:55.260
 Daniel that the

00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:56.420
 ultimate fulfillment

00:36:56.420 --> 00:36:57.440
 of his redemptive

00:36:57.440 --> 00:36:59.079
 plan isn't going

00:36:59.079 --> 00:36:59.820
 to happen at the

00:36:59.820 --> 00:37:00.660
 end of this 70

00:37:00.660 --> 00:37:01.800
 years with the

00:37:01.800 --> 00:37:02.599
 return from exile

00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:04.400
 but at the end

00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:05.519
 of 70 times

00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:06.539
 7 years.

00:37:08.160 --> 00:37:08.880
 The margin of

00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:09.680
 the ESV helpfully

00:37:09.680 --> 00:37:10.320
 lets you know that

00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:11.119
 the phrase translated

00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:12.059
 70 weeks could

00:37:12.059 --> 00:37:12.800
 also be translated

00:37:12.800 --> 00:37:13.860
 70 seconds.

00:37:13.860 --> 00:37:17.579
 Now remember how

00:37:17.579 --> 00:37:18.380
 this part of the

00:37:18.380 --> 00:37:19.559
 book of David works.

00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:21.240
 Daniel is writing

00:37:21.240 --> 00:37:22.059
 in a style,

00:37:22.220 --> 00:37:23.000
 in a genre,

00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:23.960
 that we call

00:37:23.960 --> 00:37:24.920
 apocalyptic literature.

00:37:25.260 --> 00:37:25.680
 That is,

00:37:25.900 --> 00:37:26.680
 it's literature that's

00:37:26.680 --> 00:37:28.000
 heavy with symbolism

00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:29.280
 and figurative language.

00:37:30.260 --> 00:37:30.660
 Why?

00:37:30.760 --> 00:37:31.400
 What's the use of

00:37:31.400 --> 00:37:32.140
 that kind of literature?

00:37:33.160 --> 00:37:34.220
 Well not ultimately

00:37:34.220 --> 00:37:35.640
 so that PhD students

00:37:35.640 --> 00:37:36.660
 in late night prophecy

00:37:36.660 --> 00:37:37.640
 hour radio shows

00:37:37.640 --> 00:37:38.400
 can have endless

00:37:38.400 --> 00:37:39.400
 debates about exactly

00:37:39.400 --> 00:37:40.039
 who, what, when,

00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:40.620
 where, and why

00:37:40.620 --> 00:37:41.420
 all these little

00:37:41.420 --> 00:37:42.099
 details will sort of

00:37:42.099 --> 00:37:42.579
 take place.

00:37:42.700 --> 00:37:42.900
 No.

00:37:42.900 --> 00:37:44.660
 God employs this

00:37:44.660 --> 00:37:45.700
 kind of symbolic

00:37:45.700 --> 00:37:46.579
 figurative literature

00:37:46.579 --> 00:37:47.559
 because it helps us

00:37:47.559 --> 00:37:49.519
 feel the truth

00:37:49.519 --> 00:37:50.300
 of this stuff

00:37:50.300 --> 00:37:50.860
 rightly.

00:37:53.320 --> 00:37:54.280
 When we read about

00:37:54.280 --> 00:37:55.160
 the four beasts

00:37:55.160 --> 00:37:56.220
 in chapter 7

00:37:56.220 --> 00:37:58.920
 we're supposed to

00:37:58.920 --> 00:37:59.720
 feel a bit frightened.

00:38:01.740 --> 00:38:02.619
 And when we think

00:38:02.619 --> 00:38:03.539
 about a goat and a

00:38:03.539 --> 00:38:04.579
 ram in chapter 8

00:38:04.579 --> 00:38:05.519
 we're meant to feel

00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:07.240
 the swift power

00:38:07.240 --> 00:38:08.619
 and at the same

00:38:08.619 --> 00:38:09.599
 time the fragility

00:38:09.599 --> 00:38:10.760
 of these earth

00:38:10.760 --> 00:38:11.480
 lating notes.

00:38:12.900 --> 00:38:13.940
 And when we hear

00:38:13.940 --> 00:38:15.200
 70 times

00:38:15.200 --> 00:38:17.320
 we're supposed to

00:38:17.320 --> 00:38:18.400
 feel something too.

00:38:20.160 --> 00:38:20.820
 But what?

00:38:23.700 --> 00:38:24.599
 Well I think in order

00:38:24.599 --> 00:38:25.180
 to know what we're

00:38:25.180 --> 00:38:25.860
 supposed to feel

00:38:25.860 --> 00:38:26.780
 we're meant to hear,

00:38:26.900 --> 00:38:27.700
 we're meant to see

00:38:27.700 --> 00:38:29.079
 an echo

00:38:29.079 --> 00:38:30.420
 in this phrase

00:38:30.420 --> 00:38:31.400
 of an earlier passage

00:38:31.400 --> 00:38:31.900
 of scripture.

00:38:32.960 --> 00:38:34.119
 And that earlier passage

00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:35.780
 is Leviticus 25.

00:38:36.860 --> 00:38:37.860
 In Leviticus 25

00:38:37.860 --> 00:38:39.019
 God institutes

00:38:39.019 --> 00:38:40.220
 the year of Jubilee.

00:38:41.539 --> 00:38:42.120
 This is what

00:38:42.120 --> 00:38:43.160
 Leviticus 25 says.

00:38:44.400 --> 00:38:45.140
 Let me know if this

00:38:45.140 --> 00:38:45.740
 sounds familiar.

00:38:46.380 --> 00:38:47.079
 You shall count

00:38:47.079 --> 00:38:48.340
 seven weeks of years.

00:38:48.820 --> 00:38:50.079
 Seven times seven years

00:38:50.079 --> 00:38:50.720
 until the time

00:38:50.720 --> 00:38:51.420
 of the seven weeks

00:38:51.420 --> 00:38:52.180
 of years shall give you

00:38:52.180 --> 00:38:53.039
 49 years.

00:38:53.599 --> 00:38:54.460
 Then you shall sound

00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:55.200
 the loud trumpet

00:38:55.200 --> 00:38:55.760
 on the day,

00:38:55.820 --> 00:38:56.440
 on the tenth day

00:38:56.440 --> 00:38:57.220
 of the seventh month.

00:38:57.760 --> 00:38:58.500
 On the day of atonement

00:38:58.500 --> 00:38:59.280
 you shall sound the trumpet

00:38:59.280 --> 00:39:00.140
 throughout all your land

00:39:00.140 --> 00:39:00.760
 and you shall proclaim

00:39:00.760 --> 00:39:01.800
 liberty throughout the land

00:39:01.800 --> 00:39:02.740
 to all its inhabitants.

00:39:03.440 --> 00:39:04.280
 It shall be a jubilee

00:39:04.280 --> 00:39:04.800
 for you.

00:39:04.800 --> 00:39:07.340
 The jubilee year

00:39:07.340 --> 00:39:08.160
 was supposed to be

00:39:08.160 --> 00:39:09.220
 every seven times

00:39:09.220 --> 00:39:09.980
 seven years.

00:39:10.800 --> 00:39:11.420
 And on the day

00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:11.920
 of atonement

00:39:11.920 --> 00:39:13.240
 when God took care

00:39:13.240 --> 00:39:14.060
 of Israel's sin

00:39:14.060 --> 00:39:15.180
 and the holy of always

00:39:15.180 --> 00:39:17.220
 they were to blow

00:39:17.220 --> 00:39:17.680
 a trumpet

00:39:17.680 --> 00:39:19.080
 and they were to

00:39:19.080 --> 00:39:19.940
 set everyone free.

00:39:20.740 --> 00:39:21.420
 And they were to

00:39:21.420 --> 00:39:22.060
 release everyone

00:39:22.060 --> 00:39:22.539
 from them.

00:39:23.240 --> 00:39:23.760
 And they were to

00:39:23.760 --> 00:39:24.740
 give back all the land

00:39:24.740 --> 00:39:25.640
 of the original families

00:39:25.640 --> 00:39:26.420
 who had lost it.

00:39:27.120 --> 00:39:27.660
 And they were to let

00:39:27.660 --> 00:39:28.400
 the whole land

00:39:28.400 --> 00:39:29.100
 rest from the earth.

00:39:32.800 --> 00:39:33.300
 You know,

00:39:33.340 --> 00:39:33.920
 I don't know if Israel

00:39:33.920 --> 00:39:34.980
 ever actually did that.

00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:37.200
 We don't know

00:39:37.200 --> 00:39:37.920
 from history.

00:39:38.480 --> 00:39:39.500
 It's unlikely they did.

00:39:40.380 --> 00:39:40.980
 Could you imagine

00:39:40.980 --> 00:39:41.840
 how radically

00:39:41.840 --> 00:39:42.880
 countercultural

00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:43.579
 that would be

00:39:43.579 --> 00:39:45.019
 economically,

00:39:45.599 --> 00:39:46.579
 sociopolitically

00:39:46.579 --> 00:39:48.720
 to institute

00:39:48.720 --> 00:39:49.220
 in the middle

00:39:49.220 --> 00:39:49.860
 of a regular

00:39:49.860 --> 00:39:50.880
 economic and political

00:39:50.880 --> 00:39:51.720
 life such a

00:39:51.720 --> 00:39:52.360
 wildly

00:39:52.360 --> 00:39:53.900
 generous

00:39:53.900 --> 00:39:54.480
 and gracious

00:39:54.480 --> 00:39:55.400
 act of liberation.

00:39:58.400 --> 00:39:58.760
 And friends,

00:39:58.820 --> 00:39:59.300
 if that's what

00:39:59.300 --> 00:40:00.180
 was supposed to happen,

00:40:00.519 --> 00:40:01.019
 if that's what

00:40:01.019 --> 00:40:01.519
 was supposed to

00:40:01.519 --> 00:40:01.960
 take place

00:40:01.960 --> 00:40:03.159
 every seven times

00:40:03.159 --> 00:40:03.559
 seven,

00:40:04.559 --> 00:40:05.359
 then what

00:40:05.359 --> 00:40:06.099
 will God do

00:40:06.099 --> 00:40:07.159
 when it's

00:40:07.159 --> 00:40:07.899
 seventy times

00:40:07.899 --> 00:40:08.219
 seven?

00:40:09.399 --> 00:40:09.980
 Not just

00:40:09.980 --> 00:40:10.779
 forty-nine years,

00:40:10.859 --> 00:40:11.619
 but four hundred

00:40:11.619 --> 00:40:12.599
 and ninety years.

00:40:14.119 --> 00:40:14.739
 Do we make it

00:40:14.739 --> 00:40:15.539
 tenfold

00:40:15.539 --> 00:40:16.480
 jubilee

00:40:16.480 --> 00:40:17.399
 or not?

00:40:20.619 --> 00:40:21.339
 You see,

00:40:21.399 --> 00:40:21.940
 Daniel's using

00:40:21.940 --> 00:40:22.399
 these numbers

00:40:22.399 --> 00:40:23.279
 symbolically

00:40:23.279 --> 00:40:24.639
 to speak

00:40:24.639 --> 00:40:25.179
 of something

00:40:25.179 --> 00:40:25.839
 great.

00:40:26.399 --> 00:40:26.659
 That's

00:40:26.659 --> 00:40:26.899
 God.

00:40:26.900 --> 00:40:30.440
 And the rest

00:40:30.440 --> 00:40:30.740
 of the verse

00:40:30.740 --> 00:40:31.119
 tells us

00:40:31.119 --> 00:40:31.460
 what God

00:40:31.460 --> 00:40:32.059
 will accomplish.

00:40:32.680 --> 00:40:33.240
 He'll finish

00:40:33.240 --> 00:40:33.880
 transgression.

00:40:34.460 --> 00:40:35.000
 He'll put an

00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:35.720
 end to sin

00:40:35.720 --> 00:40:36.900
 and atone

00:40:36.900 --> 00:40:37.579
 for iniquity.

00:40:38.059 --> 00:40:38.740
 Imagine that.

00:40:38.860 --> 00:40:39.860
 Sin done away

00:40:39.860 --> 00:40:40.380
 with once

00:40:40.380 --> 00:40:40.960
 and for all.

00:40:41.280 --> 00:40:42.119
 Every spiritual

00:40:42.119 --> 00:40:42.599
 burden that

00:40:42.599 --> 00:40:43.340
 weighs us down,

00:40:43.860 --> 00:40:44.400
 that attacks

00:40:44.400 --> 00:40:44.860
 our soul,

00:40:44.980 --> 00:40:45.400
 that steals

00:40:45.400 --> 00:40:45.840
 our true

00:40:45.840 --> 00:40:46.260
 happiness,

00:40:46.420 --> 00:40:46.820
 that wrecks

00:40:46.820 --> 00:40:47.500
 our relationship,

00:40:47.639 --> 00:40:48.119
 that damages

00:40:48.119 --> 00:40:48.539
 our world,

00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:49.260
 all of it

00:40:49.260 --> 00:40:49.880
 will be put

00:40:49.880 --> 00:40:50.380
 to an end.

00:40:50.800 --> 00:40:51.079
 And there

00:40:51.079 --> 00:40:51.400
 will be an

00:40:51.400 --> 00:40:52.139
 atonement made

00:40:52.139 --> 00:40:52.800
 so great,

00:40:52.960 --> 00:40:53.660
 so lasting,

00:40:53.840 --> 00:40:54.619
 that it never

00:40:54.619 --> 00:40:55.180
 needs to be

00:40:55.180 --> 00:40:55.480
 repeated.

00:40:55.480 --> 00:40:56.039
 Friends,

00:40:57.300 --> 00:40:57.659
 that would

00:40:57.659 --> 00:40:57.900
 be an

00:40:57.900 --> 00:40:58.139
 unruly.

00:40:58.619 --> 00:40:59.159
 That would

00:40:59.159 --> 00:40:59.599
 be a real

00:40:59.599 --> 00:41:00.119
 return from

00:41:00.119 --> 00:41:00.380
 exile.

00:41:00.579 --> 00:41:01.460
 That would

00:41:01.460 --> 00:41:01.940
 be jibily.

00:41:03.559 --> 00:41:04.099
 But it

00:41:04.099 --> 00:41:04.579
 doesn't stop

00:41:04.579 --> 00:41:04.860
 there.

00:41:05.740 --> 00:41:06.119
 God will

00:41:06.119 --> 00:41:06.559
 bring in

00:41:06.559 --> 00:41:07.380
 everlasting

00:41:07.380 --> 00:41:08.619
 righteousness.

00:41:09.480 --> 00:41:09.900
 He will

00:41:09.900 --> 00:41:10.440
 seal,

00:41:10.559 --> 00:41:10.800
 that is,

00:41:10.820 --> 00:41:11.039
 he will

00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:11.679
 authenticate,

00:41:11.820 --> 00:41:12.119
 he will

00:41:12.119 --> 00:41:13.340
 fulfill all

00:41:13.340 --> 00:41:13.599
 that the

00:41:13.599 --> 00:41:14.099
 prophets had

00:41:14.099 --> 00:41:14.719
 spoken about

00:41:14.719 --> 00:41:15.199
 and he

00:41:15.199 --> 00:41:15.659
 would anoint

00:41:15.659 --> 00:41:16.059
 the most

00:41:16.059 --> 00:41:16.800
 holy place.

00:41:18.480 --> 00:41:18.760
 Can you

00:41:18.760 --> 00:41:19.199
 imagine a

00:41:19.199 --> 00:41:19.639
 world where

00:41:19.639 --> 00:41:20.960
 everything is

00:41:20.960 --> 00:41:21.340
 right?

00:41:23.340 --> 00:41:24.240
 Where nothing

00:41:24.240 --> 00:41:25.119
 is as

00:41:25.119 --> 00:41:27.420
 it is

00:41:27.420 --> 00:41:27.799
 meant to

00:41:27.799 --> 00:41:28.039
 be.

00:41:29.079 --> 00:41:29.719
 Where perfect

00:41:29.719 --> 00:41:30.480
 justice rolls

00:41:30.480 --> 00:41:30.980
 down like

00:41:30.980 --> 00:41:31.500
 waters,

00:41:32.159 --> 00:41:32.519
 like an

00:41:32.519 --> 00:41:33.019
 ever-flowing

00:41:33.019 --> 00:41:33.480
 stream.

00:41:35.159 --> 00:41:35.940
 Where every

00:41:35.940 --> 00:41:36.559
 relationship

00:41:36.559 --> 00:41:37.659
 and the

00:41:37.659 --> 00:41:38.199
 order of the

00:41:38.199 --> 00:41:38.839
 whole creation

00:41:38.839 --> 00:41:39.519
 is fitting

00:41:39.519 --> 00:41:41.059
 and beautifully

00:41:41.059 --> 00:41:41.639
 just like

00:41:41.639 --> 00:41:42.159
 it's house.

00:41:44.380 --> 00:41:45.099
 When the

00:41:45.099 --> 00:41:45.619
 prophets had

00:41:45.619 --> 00:41:46.139
 visions of

00:41:46.139 --> 00:41:46.440
 that,

00:41:47.319 --> 00:41:47.559
 they would

00:41:47.559 --> 00:41:48.339
 sometimes speak

00:41:48.339 --> 00:41:49.239
 of the whole

00:41:49.239 --> 00:41:50.500
 creation bursting

00:41:50.500 --> 00:41:51.319
 out in song,

00:41:52.400 --> 00:41:53.279
 of hills and

00:41:53.279 --> 00:41:54.279
 trees resounding

00:41:54.279 --> 00:41:54.900
 with joy.

00:41:55.119 --> 00:41:57.480
 And if

00:41:57.480 --> 00:41:58.299
 Revelation 21

00:41:58.299 --> 00:41:58.859
 and 22

00:41:58.859 --> 00:41:59.219
 give us

00:41:59.219 --> 00:41:59.679
 any help

00:41:59.679 --> 00:41:59.940
 here,

00:42:00.779 --> 00:42:01.099
 then we

00:42:01.099 --> 00:42:01.779
 can understand

00:42:01.779 --> 00:42:02.119
 that the

00:42:02.119 --> 00:42:02.460
 ultimate

00:42:02.460 --> 00:42:03.219
 anointing

00:42:03.219 --> 00:42:03.519
 of a

00:42:03.519 --> 00:42:04.059
 most holy

00:42:04.059 --> 00:42:06.039
 place is

00:42:06.039 --> 00:42:06.699
 nothing less

00:42:06.699 --> 00:42:06.980
 than the

00:42:06.980 --> 00:42:07.420
 new heavens

00:42:07.420 --> 00:42:07.679
 and the

00:42:07.679 --> 00:42:08.099
 new earth.

00:42:10.000 --> 00:42:10.339
 Whereas

00:42:10.339 --> 00:42:10.639
 another

00:42:10.639 --> 00:42:11.079
 Old Testament

00:42:11.079 --> 00:42:11.480
 prophet,

00:42:11.579 --> 00:42:12.039
 Zachariah,

00:42:12.099 --> 00:42:12.739
 says everything

00:42:12.739 --> 00:42:13.739
 has become

00:42:13.739 --> 00:42:14.359
 whole to the

00:42:14.359 --> 00:42:14.599
 Lord,

00:42:15.299 --> 00:42:16.119
 because the

00:42:16.119 --> 00:42:16.440
 Lord is

00:42:16.440 --> 00:42:16.980
 there in

00:42:16.980 --> 00:42:17.319
 all of

00:42:17.319 --> 00:42:17.460
 his

00:42:17.460 --> 00:42:17.880
 fullness,

00:42:18.719 --> 00:42:19.339
 dwelling in

00:42:19.339 --> 00:42:19.619
 the midst

00:42:19.619 --> 00:42:19.900
 of his

00:42:19.900 --> 00:42:20.119
 people.

00:42:20.119 --> 00:42:22.119
 God's

00:42:22.119 --> 00:42:23.900
 God's

00:42:23.900 --> 00:42:24.139
 God's

00:42:24.139 --> 00:42:24.359
 telling

00:42:24.359 --> 00:42:24.739
 Daniel

00:42:24.739 --> 00:42:25.259
 and us

00:42:25.259 --> 00:42:25.679
 in verse

00:42:25.679 --> 00:42:26.279
 24.

00:42:27.759 --> 00:42:28.339
 He's

00:42:28.339 --> 00:42:28.739
 telling us

00:42:28.739 --> 00:42:29.119
 that these

00:42:29.119 --> 00:42:29.819
 70 years

00:42:29.819 --> 00:42:30.400
 of exile

00:42:30.400 --> 00:42:31.179
 and the

00:42:31.179 --> 00:42:31.659
 return to

00:42:31.659 --> 00:42:32.099
 Jerusalem

00:42:32.099 --> 00:42:32.880
 in 538

00:42:32.880 --> 00:42:33.880
 B.C.,

00:42:33.880 --> 00:42:34.219
 those are

00:42:34.219 --> 00:42:34.619
 really just

00:42:34.619 --> 00:42:35.400
 a foretaste

00:42:35.400 --> 00:42:36.299
 of something

00:42:36.299 --> 00:42:36.839
 even greater

00:42:36.839 --> 00:42:37.299
 to come.

00:42:38.400 --> 00:42:39.079
 That God's

00:42:39.079 --> 00:42:39.960
 redemptive plan

00:42:39.960 --> 00:42:40.679
 is unfolding

00:42:40.679 --> 00:42:41.199
 towards a

00:42:41.199 --> 00:42:42.380
 climax that

00:42:42.380 --> 00:42:42.719
 will make

00:42:42.719 --> 00:42:43.139
 the great

00:42:43.139 --> 00:42:43.579
 jubilee

00:42:43.579 --> 00:42:44.199
 years of

00:42:44.199 --> 00:42:44.440
 the Old

00:42:44.440 --> 00:42:44.859
 Testament

00:42:44.860 --> 00:42:46.880
 look like

00:42:46.880 --> 00:42:47.800
 a backyard

00:42:47.800 --> 00:42:48.620
 birthday party

00:42:48.620 --> 00:42:49.360
 in comparison.

00:42:50.559 --> 00:42:51.160
 Small

00:42:51.160 --> 00:42:52.840
 in comparison

00:42:52.840 --> 00:42:53.200
 to the

00:42:53.200 --> 00:42:53.680
 celebration

00:42:53.680 --> 00:42:54.340
 of liberty

00:42:54.340 --> 00:42:55.519
 that's on

00:42:55.519 --> 00:42:55.920
 its way.

00:43:00.200 --> 00:43:00.519
 But with

00:43:00.519 --> 00:43:00.820
 this word

00:43:00.820 --> 00:43:01.120
 of great

00:43:01.120 --> 00:43:01.680
 promise in

00:43:01.680 --> 00:43:02.300
 verse 24

00:43:02.300 --> 00:43:02.800
 comes a

00:43:02.800 --> 00:43:03.059
 word of

00:43:03.059 --> 00:43:03.599
 preparation

00:43:03.599 --> 00:43:04.840
 in verses

00:43:04.840 --> 00:43:05.579
 25 and

00:43:05.579 --> 00:43:06.099
 27.

00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:07.840
 The

00:43:07.840 --> 00:43:08.940
 77s will

00:43:08.940 --> 00:43:09.800
 unfold in

00:43:09.800 --> 00:43:10.620
 three periods,

00:43:10.740 --> 00:43:11.079
 Daniel's

00:43:11.079 --> 00:43:11.360
 told.

00:43:12.539 --> 00:43:12.960
 And note

00:43:12.960 --> 00:43:13.480
 how each

00:43:13.480 --> 00:43:14.660
 period increases

00:43:14.659 --> 00:43:15.980
 in turmoil.

00:43:16.779 --> 00:43:17.199
 The first

00:43:17.199 --> 00:43:17.539
 period,

00:43:17.679 --> 00:43:18.079
 the 7

00:43:18.079 --> 00:43:18.619
 7s,

00:43:18.619 --> 00:43:19.619
 verse 25,

00:43:20.119 --> 00:43:20.679
 the first

00:43:20.679 --> 00:43:21.059
 part of that

00:43:21.059 --> 00:43:21.519
 verse seems

00:43:21.519 --> 00:43:22.119
 quite calm.

00:43:23.039 --> 00:43:23.599
 The second

00:43:23.599 --> 00:43:24.000
 period,

00:43:24.259 --> 00:43:24.799
 the 62

00:43:24.799 --> 00:43:25.339
 7s,

00:43:25.359 --> 00:43:25.639
 the second

00:43:25.639 --> 00:43:25.879
 half of

00:43:25.879 --> 00:43:26.480
 verse 25

00:43:26.480 --> 00:43:26.779
 is a

00:43:26.779 --> 00:43:27.119
 troubled

00:43:27.119 --> 00:43:27.619
 time,

00:43:28.159 --> 00:43:28.699
 God says.

00:43:29.599 --> 00:43:29.960
 And the

00:43:29.960 --> 00:43:30.440
 third period,

00:43:30.539 --> 00:43:30.920
 the last

00:43:30.920 --> 00:43:31.259
 7,

00:43:31.399 --> 00:43:32.139
 verses 26

00:43:32.139 --> 00:43:32.839
 and 27,

00:43:33.779 --> 00:43:34.239
 is full

00:43:34.239 --> 00:43:34.500
 of all

00:43:34.500 --> 00:43:34.799
 out of

00:43:34.799 --> 00:43:35.980
 war and

00:43:35.980 --> 00:43:36.599
 desolation.

00:43:38.579 --> 00:43:39.319
 But then,

00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:41.339
 when it

00:43:41.339 --> 00:43:41.799
 seems like

00:43:41.799 --> 00:43:42.599
 the desolations

00:43:42.599 --> 00:43:43.099
 couldn't get

00:43:43.099 --> 00:43:43.679
 any worse,

00:43:44.659 --> 00:43:45.259
 God's

00:43:45.259 --> 00:43:45.599
 decree

00:43:45.599 --> 00:43:46.779
 is poured

00:43:46.779 --> 00:43:47.079
 out.

00:43:48.460 --> 00:43:48.940
 And evil

00:43:48.940 --> 00:43:49.539
 is judged

00:43:49.539 --> 00:43:50.179
 and put

00:43:50.179 --> 00:43:50.659
 away with

00:43:50.659 --> 00:43:51.039
 once and

00:43:51.039 --> 00:43:51.420
 for all.

00:43:55.119 --> 00:43:55.599
 Now,

00:43:55.659 --> 00:43:55.879
 a ton of

00:43:55.879 --> 00:43:56.179
 ink has

00:43:56.179 --> 00:43:56.699
 been spilled

00:43:56.699 --> 00:43:57.139
 trying to

00:43:57.139 --> 00:43:58.239
 determine and

00:43:58.239 --> 00:43:58.940
 figure out the

00:43:58.940 --> 00:43:59.920
 exact time frame

00:43:59.920 --> 00:44:00.460
 of these three

00:44:00.460 --> 00:44:01.139
 periods and

00:44:01.139 --> 00:44:01.659
 trying to

00:44:01.659 --> 00:44:02.559
 identify the

00:44:02.559 --> 00:44:03.339
 various figures.

00:44:04.460 --> 00:44:04.739
 And roughly

00:44:04.739 --> 00:44:05.119
 speaking,

00:44:05.219 --> 00:44:05.579
 there are three

00:44:05.579 --> 00:44:06.219
 big views.

00:44:07.239 --> 00:44:07.679
 Some would

00:44:07.679 --> 00:44:08.099
 see all the

00:44:08.099 --> 00:44:08.579
 details of

00:44:08.579 --> 00:44:09.259
 verses 25

00:44:09.259 --> 00:44:09.879
 through 27

00:44:09.879 --> 00:44:10.259
 as being

00:44:10.259 --> 00:44:10.739
 fulfilled in

00:44:10.739 --> 00:44:11.159
 the second

00:44:11.159 --> 00:44:12.299
 century B.C.

00:44:12.300 --> 00:44:13.460
 when the

00:44:13.460 --> 00:44:14.080
 Syrian ruler

00:44:14.080 --> 00:44:14.740
 Antiochus

00:44:14.740 --> 00:44:15.220
 Epiphanes

00:44:15.220 --> 00:44:15.580
 attacked

00:44:15.580 --> 00:44:15.940
 Jerusalem

00:44:15.940 --> 00:44:16.460
 and defiled

00:44:16.460 --> 00:44:16.920
 the temple.

00:44:18.060 --> 00:44:18.560
 Others would

00:44:18.560 --> 00:44:19.120
 see everything

00:44:19.120 --> 00:44:19.539
 as being

00:44:19.539 --> 00:44:20.480
 fulfilled in

00:44:20.480 --> 00:44:20.820
 the first

00:44:20.820 --> 00:44:21.680
 century A.D.

00:44:22.100 --> 00:44:22.780
 when Jesus

00:44:22.780 --> 00:44:23.280
 came as

00:44:23.280 --> 00:44:23.800
 the Messiah,

00:44:24.240 --> 00:44:24.860
 was crucified

00:44:24.860 --> 00:44:25.440
 and risen,

00:44:26.160 --> 00:44:26.360
 and the

00:44:26.360 --> 00:44:26.620
 Romans

00:44:26.620 --> 00:44:27.160
 destroyed

00:44:27.160 --> 00:44:27.660
 Jerusalem.

00:44:29.700 --> 00:44:30.400
 Others would

00:44:30.400 --> 00:44:30.660
 see a

00:44:30.660 --> 00:44:31.120
 fulfillment of

00:44:31.120 --> 00:44:31.500
 these verses

00:44:31.500 --> 00:44:32.220
 partially in

00:44:32.220 --> 00:44:32.460
 Jesus'

00:44:32.680 --> 00:44:32.940
 day,

00:44:33.620 --> 00:44:33.920
 but would

00:44:33.920 --> 00:44:34.240
 see verse

00:44:34.240 --> 00:44:35.400
 27 especially

00:44:35.400 --> 00:44:36.160
 as referring to

00:44:36.160 --> 00:44:36.800
 events yet to

00:44:36.800 --> 00:44:37.160
 come,

00:44:38.019 --> 00:44:38.780
 just before

00:44:38.780 --> 00:44:39.600
 Christ returns.

00:44:39.599 --> 00:44:42.319
 And so we

00:44:42.319 --> 00:44:42.559
 ask,

00:44:42.679 --> 00:44:42.799
 well,

00:44:42.880 --> 00:44:43.360
 which is it?

00:44:43.940 --> 00:44:44.500
 Is this about

00:44:44.500 --> 00:44:45.139
 Antiochus?

00:44:45.480 --> 00:44:46.139
 Is this about

00:44:46.139 --> 00:44:46.480
 the Romans?

00:44:47.019 --> 00:44:47.519
 Is this about

00:44:47.519 --> 00:44:48.279
 the end times?

00:44:50.819 --> 00:44:51.440
 And I think

00:44:51.440 --> 00:44:51.900
 the answer,

00:44:52.079 --> 00:44:52.360
 friends,

00:44:53.360 --> 00:44:54.039
 is all three.

00:44:56.219 --> 00:44:56.900
 We know from

00:44:56.900 --> 00:44:57.539
 the context of

00:44:57.539 --> 00:44:57.839
 the book of

00:44:57.839 --> 00:44:58.420
 Daniel that the

00:44:58.420 --> 00:44:59.500
 Antiochus crisis

00:44:59.500 --> 00:45:00.019
 is at least

00:45:00.019 --> 00:45:00.960
 alluded to here.

00:45:01.679 --> 00:45:02.019
 There are

00:45:02.019 --> 00:45:02.920
 enough similarities

00:45:02.920 --> 00:45:03.779
 to chapter 8

00:45:03.779 --> 00:45:04.179
 that we looked

00:45:04.179 --> 00:45:04.739
 at last week

00:45:04.739 --> 00:45:05.719
 and chapter 11

00:45:05.719 --> 00:45:06.380
 that we'll look

00:45:06.380 --> 00:45:06.759
 at in a couple

00:45:06.759 --> 00:45:07.579
 weeks to see

00:45:07.579 --> 00:45:08.000
 a connection.

00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:09.539
 But at the

00:45:09.539 --> 00:45:10.039
 same time,

00:45:10.099 --> 00:45:10.440
 any of the

00:45:10.440 --> 00:45:10.900
 details don't

00:45:10.900 --> 00:45:11.559
 quite fit with

00:45:11.559 --> 00:45:11.820
 that.

00:45:12.320 --> 00:45:12.980
 Antiochus didn't

00:45:12.980 --> 00:45:13.820
 destroy the city

00:45:13.820 --> 00:45:14.320
 for one.

00:45:15.420 --> 00:45:15.820
 And his

00:45:15.820 --> 00:45:16.639
 downfall certainly

00:45:16.639 --> 00:45:17.420
 didn't put an

00:45:17.420 --> 00:45:17.940
 end to sin

00:45:17.940 --> 00:45:18.400
 once and for

00:45:18.400 --> 00:45:18.880
 all and bring

00:45:18.880 --> 00:45:19.139
 it out of

00:45:19.139 --> 00:45:19.840
 last righteousness.

00:45:21.440 --> 00:45:21.880
 Fact,

00:45:23.360 --> 00:45:23.860
 we know from

00:45:23.860 --> 00:45:24.460
 the New Testament,

00:45:25.380 --> 00:45:26.059
 is what Jesus

00:45:26.059 --> 00:45:27.219
 accomplished in

00:45:27.219 --> 00:45:27.800
 his personal

00:45:27.800 --> 00:45:28.219
 work.

00:45:29.340 --> 00:45:29.960
 So our

00:45:29.960 --> 00:45:30.780
 sites rightly

00:45:30.780 --> 00:45:31.400
 look through

00:45:31.400 --> 00:45:32.219
 this text beyond

00:45:32.219 --> 00:45:33.159
 the 2nd century

00:45:33.159 --> 00:45:33.840
 and on to the

00:45:33.840 --> 00:45:34.739
 1st century AD

00:45:34.739 --> 00:45:36.280
 where Jesus is

00:45:36.280 --> 00:45:36.699
 the true

00:45:36.699 --> 00:45:37.460
 important one who

00:45:37.460 --> 00:45:37.820
 has come.

00:45:38.780 --> 00:45:39.300
 He really

00:45:39.300 --> 00:45:40.139
 does atone

00:45:40.139 --> 00:45:40.579
 for sin.

00:45:40.840 --> 00:45:41.340
 He really

00:45:41.340 --> 00:45:42.139
 does anoint

00:45:42.139 --> 00:45:42.579
 the true

00:45:42.579 --> 00:45:43.159
 holy places

00:45:43.159 --> 00:45:43.539
 in heaven

00:45:43.539 --> 00:45:43.880
 with the

00:45:43.880 --> 00:45:44.519
 sacrifice of

00:45:44.519 --> 00:45:44.780
 his own

00:45:44.780 --> 00:45:45.119
 self,

00:45:45.219 --> 00:45:45.400
 as the

00:45:45.400 --> 00:45:45.699
 letter to

00:45:45.699 --> 00:45:45.739
 the

00:45:45.739 --> 00:45:46.019
 Eucharist

00:45:46.019 --> 00:45:46.460
 tells us.

00:45:47.719 --> 00:45:48.079
 It's very

00:45:48.079 --> 00:45:48.360
 interesting,

00:45:48.460 --> 00:45:49.059
 Jesus himself

00:45:49.059 --> 00:45:49.420
 in Matthew

00:45:49.420 --> 00:45:50.139
 25 and

00:45:50.139 --> 00:45:51.239
 13 tells us

00:45:51.239 --> 00:45:52.000
 that the

00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:52.380
 so-called

00:45:52.380 --> 00:45:52.940
 abomination

00:45:52.940 --> 00:45:53.340
 that makes

00:45:53.340 --> 00:45:53.860
 desolate,

00:45:54.039 --> 00:45:54.420
 that you see

00:45:54.420 --> 00:45:54.719
 here in

00:45:54.719 --> 00:45:55.360
 927.

00:45:56.639 --> 00:45:57.019
 We saw

00:45:57.019 --> 00:45:57.360
 back in

00:45:57.360 --> 00:45:57.820
 13,

00:45:58.179 --> 00:45:58.440
 you see

00:45:58.440 --> 00:45:59.260
 in 1131,

00:46:00.739 --> 00:46:01.300
 Jesus says

00:46:01.300 --> 00:46:01.679
 that that will

00:46:01.679 --> 00:46:02.039
 find its

00:46:02.039 --> 00:46:02.860
 ultimate fulfillment

00:46:02.860 --> 00:46:03.219
 when the

00:46:03.219 --> 00:46:03.820
 Romans under

00:46:03.820 --> 00:46:04.679
 Tyrus destroy

00:46:04.679 --> 00:46:05.139
 the temple

00:46:05.139 --> 00:46:05.619
 in his own

00:46:05.619 --> 00:46:05.920
 day in

00:46:05.920 --> 00:46:06.380
 17,

00:46:06.579 --> 00:46:07.139
 just after

00:46:07.139 --> 00:46:07.500
 his own

00:46:07.500 --> 00:46:07.920
 resurrection.

00:46:10.659 --> 00:46:11.500
 But still,

00:46:12.500 --> 00:46:14.299
 as we let

00:46:14.299 --> 00:46:14.920
 the cosmic

00:46:14.920 --> 00:46:15.500
 scoop of

00:46:15.500 --> 00:46:16.039
 the promises

00:46:16.039 --> 00:46:16.960
 of verse 24

00:46:16.960 --> 00:46:17.940
 sink into

00:46:17.940 --> 00:46:18.279
 us,

00:46:18.920 --> 00:46:19.900
 it seems to

00:46:19.900 --> 00:46:20.480
 push us even

00:46:20.480 --> 00:46:21.299
 further still

00:46:21.299 --> 00:46:22.739
 to the

00:46:22.739 --> 00:46:23.519
 consummation of

00:46:23.519 --> 00:46:24.259
 all things

00:46:24.260 --> 00:46:25.280
 and the

00:46:25.280 --> 00:46:26.040
 final conflict

00:46:26.040 --> 00:46:26.500
 with evil

00:46:26.500 --> 00:46:26.840
 that will

00:46:26.840 --> 00:46:27.360
 happen when

00:46:27.360 --> 00:46:28.320
 Christ returns

00:46:28.320 --> 00:46:28.720
 in the

00:46:28.720 --> 00:46:29.260
 second time.

00:46:31.480 --> 00:46:32.180
 So what we

00:46:32.180 --> 00:46:32.680
 have here in

00:46:32.680 --> 00:46:33.320
 Daniel 9 is

00:46:33.320 --> 00:46:34.020
 an example of

00:46:34.020 --> 00:46:34.480
 Old Testament

00:46:34.480 --> 00:46:34.940
 prophetic

00:46:34.940 --> 00:46:35.800
 literature having

00:46:35.800 --> 00:46:36.760
 multiple

00:46:36.760 --> 00:46:37.660
 horizons of

00:46:37.660 --> 00:46:38.080
 fulfillment.

00:46:38.680 --> 00:46:39.020
 Think of

00:46:39.020 --> 00:46:39.600
 Isaiah 40,

00:46:40.060 --> 00:46:40.620
 comfort my

00:46:40.620 --> 00:46:40.960
 people,

00:46:41.080 --> 00:46:41.780
 a voice crying

00:46:41.780 --> 00:46:42.000
 in the

00:46:42.000 --> 00:46:42.260
 wilderness.

00:46:42.600 --> 00:46:42.860
 We know

00:46:42.860 --> 00:46:43.140
 that was

00:46:43.140 --> 00:46:43.760
 about the

00:46:43.760 --> 00:46:44.120
 exile,

00:46:44.260 --> 00:46:44.500
 the return

00:46:44.500 --> 00:46:44.860
 from exile

00:46:44.860 --> 00:46:45.200
 on one

00:46:45.200 --> 00:46:45.380
 hand,

00:46:45.440 --> 00:46:45.760
 but also

00:46:45.760 --> 00:46:45.980
 it was

00:46:45.980 --> 00:46:46.180
 about

00:46:46.180 --> 00:46:46.520
 Jesus.

00:46:47.180 --> 00:46:47.400
 And the

00:46:47.400 --> 00:46:47.860
 New Testament

00:46:47.860 --> 00:46:48.260
 as Mark

00:46:48.260 --> 00:46:48.960
 tells us,

00:46:49.040 --> 00:46:49.540
 two things

00:46:49.540 --> 00:46:49.920
 at once,

00:46:49.980 --> 00:46:50.240
 it's the

00:46:50.240 --> 00:46:50.740
 same here in

00:46:50.739 --> 00:46:51.379
 Daniel 9.

00:46:53.119 --> 00:46:53.599
 Multiple

00:46:53.599 --> 00:46:54.319
 horizons.

00:46:55.079 --> 00:46:55.399
 There are

00:46:55.399 --> 00:46:55.739
 multiple

00:46:55.739 --> 00:46:57.000
 crises on

00:46:57.000 --> 00:46:57.439
 the horizon

00:46:57.439 --> 00:46:58.000
 for God's

00:46:58.000 --> 00:46:58.299
 people.

00:46:59.659 --> 00:46:59.939
 And so

00:46:59.939 --> 00:47:00.500
 God gives

00:47:00.500 --> 00:47:00.959
 Daniel and

00:47:00.959 --> 00:47:01.759
 us a

00:47:01.759 --> 00:47:02.259
 message of

00:47:02.259 --> 00:47:02.779
 preparation.

00:47:05.879 --> 00:47:06.379
 Preparation

00:47:06.379 --> 00:47:06.699
 as the

00:47:06.699 --> 00:47:07.219
 Apostle Paul

00:47:07.219 --> 00:47:07.619
 said in

00:47:07.619 --> 00:47:07.899
 the early

00:47:07.899 --> 00:47:08.739
 churches in

00:47:08.739 --> 00:47:09.239
 Acts 14,

00:47:09.319 --> 00:47:09.719
 23,

00:47:09.879 --> 00:47:10.139
 that it's

00:47:10.139 --> 00:47:10.519
 for many

00:47:10.519 --> 00:47:11.179
 tribulations

00:47:11.179 --> 00:47:12.419
 that we

00:47:12.419 --> 00:47:12.779
 must enter

00:47:12.779 --> 00:47:13.159
 the kingdom

00:47:13.159 --> 00:47:13.679
 of God.

00:47:15.819 --> 00:47:16.159
 And as

00:47:16.159 --> 00:47:16.639
 Jesus taught

00:47:16.639 --> 00:47:17.159
 his disciples

00:47:17.159 --> 00:47:17.619
 after the

00:47:17.619 --> 00:47:18.079
 last supper

00:47:18.079 --> 00:47:18.459
 in John

00:47:18.459 --> 00:47:18.679
 15,

00:47:18.799 --> 00:47:19.139
 20,

00:47:19.819 --> 00:47:20.279
 remember

00:47:20.279 --> 00:47:20.519
 the

00:47:20.519 --> 00:47:20.880
 word that

00:47:20.880 --> 00:47:21.239
 I said

00:47:21.239 --> 00:47:21.679
 to you.

00:47:22.300 --> 00:47:22.780
 A servant

00:47:22.780 --> 00:47:23.179
 is not

00:47:23.179 --> 00:47:23.559
 greater than

00:47:23.559 --> 00:47:24.099
 his master.

00:47:24.820 --> 00:47:25.360
 If they

00:47:25.360 --> 00:47:26.199
 persecute me,

00:47:26.480 --> 00:47:26.759
 they will

00:47:26.759 --> 00:47:27.619
 also persecute

00:47:27.619 --> 00:47:27.940
 you.

00:47:32.559 --> 00:47:33.099
 Like the

00:47:33.099 --> 00:47:33.500
 New Testament

00:47:33.500 --> 00:47:34.159
 does over

00:47:34.159 --> 00:47:34.579
 and over

00:47:34.579 --> 00:47:34.920
 again,

00:47:35.059 --> 00:47:35.639
 Daniel 9

00:47:35.639 --> 00:47:36.199
 is giving

00:47:36.199 --> 00:47:36.539
 us the

00:47:36.539 --> 00:47:36.699
 right

00:47:36.699 --> 00:47:37.420
 expectations.

00:47:39.559 --> 00:47:40.059
 On the

00:47:40.059 --> 00:47:40.500
 one hand,

00:47:40.539 --> 00:47:41.000
 there is the

00:47:41.000 --> 00:47:41.659
 fullness of

00:47:41.659 --> 00:47:42.559
 forgiveness and

00:47:42.559 --> 00:47:42.900
 mercy.

00:47:43.139 --> 00:47:43.800
 Every prayer

00:47:43.800 --> 00:47:44.340
 of confession

00:47:44.340 --> 00:47:44.739
 is met

00:47:44.739 --> 00:47:45.059
 with a

00:47:45.059 --> 00:47:45.519
 speedy

00:47:45.519 --> 00:47:45.840
 word of

00:47:45.840 --> 00:47:46.199
 comfort.

00:47:47.119 --> 00:47:47.579
 And there

00:47:47.579 --> 00:47:47.780
 is a

00:47:47.780 --> 00:47:48.400
 great future

00:47:48.400 --> 00:47:49.039
 ahead for

00:47:49.039 --> 00:47:49.400
 the people

00:47:49.400 --> 00:47:49.780
 of God

00:47:49.780 --> 00:47:50.179
 in God's

00:47:50.179 --> 00:47:50.379
 world.

00:47:50.440 --> 00:47:50.679
 But on the

00:47:50.679 --> 00:47:51.039
 other hand,

00:47:51.099 --> 00:47:51.519
 becoming a

00:47:51.519 --> 00:47:51.859
 Christian,

00:47:52.359 --> 00:47:52.879
 knowing God's

00:47:52.879 --> 00:47:53.339
 mercy and

00:47:53.339 --> 00:47:53.639
 grace,

00:47:53.859 --> 00:47:54.319
 will not

00:47:54.319 --> 00:47:54.919
 automatically

00:47:54.919 --> 00:47:55.559
 result in

00:47:55.559 --> 00:47:55.859
 an easy

00:47:55.859 --> 00:47:56.299
 life.

00:47:57.199 --> 00:47:57.619
 All of

00:47:57.619 --> 00:47:58.059
 your troubles

00:47:58.059 --> 00:47:58.639
 and problems

00:47:58.639 --> 00:47:59.319
 will disappear.

00:48:02.259 --> 00:48:02.879
 Today, as

00:48:02.879 --> 00:48:03.299
 Matt mentioned,

00:48:03.399 --> 00:48:03.599
 is the

00:48:03.599 --> 00:48:04.239
 International Day

00:48:04.239 --> 00:48:04.619
 of Prayer

00:48:04.619 --> 00:48:04.980
 for the

00:48:04.980 --> 00:48:05.519
 Persecuted

00:48:05.519 --> 00:48:06.000
 Church.

00:48:07.699 --> 00:48:08.139
 Friends,

00:48:08.179 --> 00:48:08.599
 many of our

00:48:08.599 --> 00:48:09.019
 brothers and

00:48:09.019 --> 00:48:09.899
 sisters worldwide

00:48:09.899 --> 00:48:10.799
 are experiencing

00:48:10.799 --> 00:48:11.519
 some of this

00:48:11.519 --> 00:48:11.839
 deep,

00:48:11.899 --> 00:48:12.899
 unknown reality.

00:48:14.099 --> 00:48:14.579
 Hatred,

00:48:15.159 --> 00:48:15.679
 violence,

00:48:16.179 --> 00:48:16.679
 arrest,

00:48:17.339 --> 00:48:18.039
 imprisonment,

00:48:18.579 --> 00:48:19.239
 even death.

00:48:20.179 --> 00:48:22.279
 And like

00:48:22.279 --> 00:48:22.759
 the persistent

00:48:22.759 --> 00:48:23.319
 widow in

00:48:23.319 --> 00:48:23.960
 Luke 18,

00:48:24.779 --> 00:48:25.019
 friends,

00:48:25.099 --> 00:48:25.659
 may we lift

00:48:25.659 --> 00:48:26.219
 our voices

00:48:26.219 --> 00:48:26.779
 to God

00:48:26.779 --> 00:48:28.079
 and pray

00:48:28.079 --> 00:48:28.460
 for His

00:48:28.460 --> 00:48:29.099
 justice to

00:48:29.099 --> 00:48:29.699
 come speak

00:48:29.699 --> 00:48:30.099
 to me.

00:48:33.980 --> 00:48:34.480
 Because

00:48:34.480 --> 00:48:35.159
 Daniel 9 also

00:48:35.159 --> 00:48:35.679
 gives us one

00:48:35.679 --> 00:48:36.359
 more expectation

00:48:36.359 --> 00:48:36.839
 as well.

00:48:38.719 --> 00:48:39.339
 Not only will

00:48:39.339 --> 00:48:39.559
 there be

00:48:39.559 --> 00:48:39.960
 trouble,

00:48:41.339 --> 00:48:42.079
 but all

00:48:42.079 --> 00:48:42.879
 these times

00:48:42.879 --> 00:48:43.419
 are in

00:48:43.419 --> 00:48:43.779
 God's

00:48:43.779 --> 00:48:44.239
 hands.

00:48:45.699 --> 00:48:46.319
 Daniel's not

00:48:46.319 --> 00:48:47.480
 speaking chronologically

00:48:47.480 --> 00:48:48.039
 here,

00:48:48.440 --> 00:48:49.759
 but chronographically.

00:48:50.179 --> 00:48:50.919
 He's painting

00:48:50.919 --> 00:48:51.799
 a picture for

00:48:51.799 --> 00:48:52.559
 us with

00:48:52.559 --> 00:48:53.199
 numbers of

00:48:53.199 --> 00:48:53.599
 symbols.

00:48:54.579 --> 00:48:55.099
 The 70

00:48:55.099 --> 00:48:55.940
 times 7

00:48:55.940 --> 00:48:56.339
 is a way

00:48:56.339 --> 00:48:56.679
 of saying

00:48:56.679 --> 00:48:57.299
 that God

00:48:57.299 --> 00:48:57.579
 is in

00:48:57.579 --> 00:48:58.119
 control of

00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.480
 history.

00:48:59.579 --> 00:49:00.359
 He orders

00:49:00.359 --> 00:49:01.000
 the events

00:49:01.000 --> 00:49:01.919
 and days.

00:49:02.279 --> 00:49:02.739
 He has

00:49:02.739 --> 00:49:03.339
 appointed a

00:49:03.339 --> 00:49:04.379
 decree end

00:49:04.379 --> 00:49:05.159
 for all

00:49:05.159 --> 00:49:05.719
 suffering and

00:49:05.719 --> 00:49:06.399
 injustice and

00:49:06.399 --> 00:49:06.919
 violence and

00:49:06.919 --> 00:49:07.259
 oppression.

00:49:07.980 --> 00:49:08.440
 These things

00:49:08.440 --> 00:49:09.119
 will be cut

00:49:09.119 --> 00:49:09.980
 short in

00:49:09.980 --> 00:49:10.639
 God's perfect

00:49:10.639 --> 00:49:10.960
 heart.

00:49:13.460 --> 00:49:14.219
 And that

00:49:14.219 --> 00:49:14.539
 means we

00:49:14.539 --> 00:49:14.799
 can live

00:49:14.799 --> 00:49:15.440
 with courage,

00:49:16.279 --> 00:49:17.259
 with confidence.

00:49:17.260 --> 00:49:19.780
 God has

00:49:19.780 --> 00:49:20.160
 not only

00:49:20.160 --> 00:49:20.800
 forgiven our

00:49:20.800 --> 00:49:21.240
 sins in

00:49:21.240 --> 00:49:21.580
 personal,

00:49:22.580 --> 00:49:23.900
 but one

00:49:23.900 --> 00:49:24.200
 day he

00:49:24.200 --> 00:49:24.840
 promises to

00:49:24.840 --> 00:49:25.180
 bring an

00:49:25.180 --> 00:49:25.700
 everlasting

00:49:25.700 --> 00:49:26.320
 righteousness

00:49:26.320 --> 00:49:27.140
 and justice

00:49:27.140 --> 00:49:28.540
 to make

00:49:28.540 --> 00:49:29.020
 all things

00:49:29.020 --> 00:49:29.320
 better.

00:49:30.760 --> 00:49:31.200
 Let's pray.

00:49:37.420 --> 00:49:38.240
 God, we do

00:49:38.240 --> 00:49:38.920
 ask that you

00:49:38.920 --> 00:49:39.940
 would give

00:49:39.940 --> 00:49:41.060
 us the

00:49:41.060 --> 00:49:41.820
 humility and

00:49:41.820 --> 00:49:42.320
 the strength

00:49:42.320 --> 00:49:42.660
 for the

00:49:42.660 --> 00:49:43.300
 living of

00:49:43.300 --> 00:49:43.860
 these days.

00:49:43.860 --> 00:49:44.900
 Lord, we

00:49:44.900 --> 00:49:45.220
 thank you

00:49:45.220 --> 00:49:45.440
 for your

00:49:45.440 --> 00:49:46.099
 great mercy.

00:49:47.360 --> 00:49:47.960
 We thank

00:49:47.960 --> 00:49:48.280
 you for the

00:49:48.280 --> 00:49:49.039
 great comfort,

00:49:49.480 --> 00:49:50.099
 the great hope

00:49:50.099 --> 00:49:50.539
 that we have,

00:49:50.700 --> 00:49:51.180
 but we also

00:49:51.180 --> 00:49:51.880
 thank you that

00:49:51.880 --> 00:49:52.480
 no matter what

00:49:52.480 --> 00:49:53.360
 trials we face

00:49:53.360 --> 00:49:53.940
 in this life,

00:49:54.039 --> 00:49:54.740
 your victory

00:49:54.740 --> 00:49:55.360
 is secure.

00:49:56.680 --> 00:49:57.280
 We pray this

00:49:57.280 --> 00:49:58.059
 in Jesus' name.

00:49:58.360 --> 00:49:58.599
 Amen.