WEBVTT

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 There's something deeply unsettling about darkness.

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 What might otherwise be a normal room turns into a maze of obstacles, things to avoid.

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! You've got to be careful when you're walking through, especially an unfamiliar room.

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! If it's really dark, you don't want to stub your toe, you don't want to bang your knee.

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 You don't want to feel disoriented.

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 Navigating a familiar space in pitch blackness is one thing,

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 but what about living in a world of unfamiliar surroundings?

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 Living with the unknown as the standard to endure a constant state of blindness.

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 I bring this up because the people of Israel, in the first century, 2,000 years ago,

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 had lived in a perpetual darkness for some time.

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 In fact, for centuries.

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 They had been exiled from the land of Israel to the farthest reaches of the known world.

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 As far east as India, at least close to it.

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 By the second century, there were reports of Jews living as far east as India.

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 In the west, all across North Africa.

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 In the north, in the Caucasus.

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 And in the south, parts of Yemen and Ethiopia.

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 The people of Israel were not in the land of Israel.

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 They were exiled to the farthest portions of the known world.

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 There were some that lived in the land, but even those did not live as people that enjoyed the very pinnacle of Israelite rule that King David and King Solomon knew.

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 Rather, they were under Roman occupation.

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 And they were led by many religious leaders who claimed to possess the authentic faith.

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 So, to put it really bluntly, the people of Israel were walking in a perpetual state of confusion and spiritual darkness.

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 And yet, for the ears that listened intently, the scripture spoke of a sunrise after the darkness.

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 A light that would pierce the shadow.

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 Some 400 years before Jesus came, in the closing sentences of the Old Testament canon, the prophet Malachi boldly proclaimed.

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 This is from Malachi chapter 4, verse 2.

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 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.

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 You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.

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 And yet, 400 years is a very long time to wait for the dawn to break, is it not?

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 Many generations had come and gone.

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 Israel remained in exile, in darkness.

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 The promised sunrise had not yet come.

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 There was no joy amongst the people.

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 So, as we arrive to our second of four songs for the Savior, that are found in Luke's opening chapters,

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 we find ourselves at the Benedictus of Zechariah, or the blessing of Zechariah.

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 He is the elderly priest and the father of John the Baptist.

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 He had been told he would have a miracle son.

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 That this miracle son would be used by the Lord to turn Israel back to him.

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 But he did not believe.

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 He doubted.

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 And was made mute by God.

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 And although he was a priest in the temple in Jerusalem, and a spiritual leader himself,

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 who should have been very, very familiar with the scriptures and a pillar and example of faith,

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 he was also himself walking in darkness.

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 Very indicative of the people and their leaders.

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 He, more than most, should have been familiar with the words of the prophet Malachi.

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 But could they truly come to pass?

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 Would the Lord do this?

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 And through his line, would God keep his promise?

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 Would he rescue Israel from darkness?

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 Now, Zechariah lived in a completely different cultural reality than we do here in the 21st century in Canada,

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 in the New World, in Ottawa.

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 And yet, the darkness of heart, the disorientation caused by hopelessness,

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 the fear of the unknown, spiritual lethargy that comes by failing to be able to wait on the promises of God,

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 they're actually shared not just by people in the first century, but by all humanity.

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 Shared by us today in this worship space.

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 So the question of whether God would rescue Israel from darkness

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 is actually a very poignant one and a very pertinent one for us this morning.

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 For all people, for all time, will God rescue us from darkness?

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 The darkness that you might feel, the heaviness, the hopelessness,

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 the disappointment, the disorientation, the confusion, the difficulty,

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 the perpetual frustration of trying to change and there's no change,

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 or to see the people around you suffer,

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 that is the darkness that we need deliverance from.

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 And the question is,

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 will God fulfill his promise in Malachi chapter 4

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 some 24, 2500 years ago?

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 And like many promises God makes,

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 there appears to be a remarkable son involved in some kind of way.

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 Throughout the Bible, there's always,

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 not in every case, but in a lot of cases,

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 a son of promise that's connected to the promises that God makes to his people.

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 Zechariah will notice this and so will we.

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 So to answer this question,

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 and the question of will God rescue us from the darkness?

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 We will look at four sons from Zechariah's song.

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 We'll look at David's son.

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 We'll look at Abraham's son.

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 We'll look at Zechariah's own son.

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 And then finally, God's own son.

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 Verses 78 and 79.

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 If you have a Bible, follow with me.

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 I think we still have some Bibles at the welcome table.

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 Grab it.

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 Follow along.

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 Please, it would do me a great service.

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 It would do you a great service.

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 We'll look at chapter one, starting in verse 68.

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 Zechariah's son, John, was born.

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 This is just before Zechariah is praising the Lord.

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 Zechariah's muteness was lifted and he broke into song.

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 And this is how he opens it up.

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 And this is where we get the title for this song,

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 the Benedictus.

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 It's Latin for blessed.

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 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel.

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 And before we go on, I want to stop here.

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 Because he opens up by saying,

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 blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel.

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 Very specifically, the God of Israel.

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 He honors God.

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 But specifically, in God's role as the God of Israel.

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 And this is a significant point to recognize.

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 Because this entire song, which is actually one long prayer,

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 one long sentence in the original language,

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 it is absolutely full of Old Testament references.

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 Some scholars say that there's up to 30 plus different references or allusions,

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 scripture quotations from the Old Testament.

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 And this is an important thing for us to think through.

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 Why?

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 Because it highlights to us that Christianity wasn't invented 2,000 years ago.

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 It wasn't this dynamic leader, Jesus of Nazareth,

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 who came onto the scene,

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 started this new kind of version of Judaism,

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 but really not Judaism, his own thing.

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 And then his followers kind of perpetuated it across the known land.

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 And rather, what we see here is the continuation

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 of the story of God's interaction with mankind

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 that goes right back to the beginning.

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 So for Zechariah to say,

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 blessed be the Lord, God of Israel,

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 it is for us to understand

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 that this is the same one true God

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 that has always existed,

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 that has always dealt with humanity

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 from the opening verses of Genesis chapter 1

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 all the way up into Leviticus,

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 or Leviticus, sorry, Luke 68 on,

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 and then all the way into the end of Revelation.

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 This is no cultic religion

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 for a regional people,

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 but the one true faith for all people for all time.

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 So let's continue on.

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 We'll start in verse 68 again,

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 and we'll read down to verse 71.

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 Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel,

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 for he has visited and redeemed his people

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 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us

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 in the house of his servant David,

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 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets

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 from of old,

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 that we should be saved from our enemies

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 and from the hand of all who hate us.

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 The Lord has visited and redeemed his people,

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 Zechariah says.

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 Like Mary's song,

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 the future that Zechariah is prophesying,

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 even though it is coming in the future,

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 is spoken of in the past tense.

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 It's a foregone conclusion.

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 He is so sure that the victory

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 that the Lord will do through this child Jesus,

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 that he speaks of it like it's already happened.

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 The visitation and redemption,

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 they have occurred because the Lord

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 has fulfilled the prophecy

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 given to King David,

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 and this is where this connection of David's son

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 comes into play.

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 The prophecy given to King David

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 by the prophet Nathan,

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 a thousand years earlier,

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 so if Malachi is 400 years earlier,

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 this prophecy goes back 600 years before that,

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 a thousand years before Jesus comes on the scene.

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 King David's at the height of his power,

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 and the prophet Nathan says to him the following.

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 This is from 2 Samuel chapter 7.

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 The Lord declares to you

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 that the Lord will make you a house.

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 When your days are fulfilled

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 and you lie down with your fathers,

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 I will raise up your offspring after you,

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 who shall come from your body,

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 and I will establish his kingdom.

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 He shall build a house for my name,

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 and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

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 You see, the promise is for David,

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 but really it's for his son,

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 one of David's line,

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 who will establish a kingdom

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 that will exist forever.

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 His enemies will be defeated

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 because David's son,

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 this mysterious ultimate king,

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 will be a horn of salvation

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 raised up for the Lord.

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 The horn being this image

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 and symbol of strength and vengeance,

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 but it's also an ornament of beauty.

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 So we have here

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 a symbol of complete victory,

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 but also complete blessing.

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 But here's the thing,

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 David's son is Solomon.

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 Solomon does indeed build a temple for the Lord,

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 but Solomon very quickly falls into idolatry

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 and abandons the Lord,

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 and David's line that follows

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 kind of ebbs and flows

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 between like all right kings

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 and absolutely horrific kings.

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 So it would seem that David's king,

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 David's line,

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 it is not a forever line.

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 Eventually, exile happens to the people of God.

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 They are taken away.

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 First, the kingdom splits into two kingdoms,

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 the rival kingdoms,

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 and then exile happens.

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 And exile continues on for centuries.

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 David's line is not given to worshiping the Lord

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 or blessing the nations.

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 Rather, it's given to extortion

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 and infighting and violence,

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 polygamy, dissension,

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 even child sacrifice.

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 They did not become an example

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 to the people around them.

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 Rather, they became like the people around them.

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 So you have to ask,

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 I have to ask,

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 who is the true enemy of Israel?

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 Is it Rome or Greece or Persia

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 or Babylon or Assyria?

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 I mean, they actually are enemies.

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 I don't want to downplay

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 the real geopolitical reality

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 of the people of Israel,

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 but the enemies of Israel,

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 it's actually the heart of the Israelites.

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 They are bent towards idolatry,

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 away from God,

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 away from glorifying Him

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 and being His chosen instrument

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 to proclaim His goodness

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 and kindness and mercy

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 and love to the world.

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 But instead,

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 they want to elevate themselves

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 to the highest place

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 rather than give glory to God

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 who is in the highest place.

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 So the enemy of Israel

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 is Israel.

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 And friends,

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 the enemy of mankind

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 for us today

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 is our bent heart

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 that is toward the self

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 and will ravage and destroy

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 and lie and cheat and steal

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 as long as we are taken care of

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 in some way, shape, or form.

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 So this mighty horn of salvation,

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 this son of David

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 who brings victory,

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 must ultimately be

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 not a geopolitical savior

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 who brings victory for a season

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 to defeat a certain empire

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 only to struggle maybe

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 with the empire to come,

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 but rather,

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 this horn of salvation,

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 this son of David,

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 seems to be

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 some kind of spiritual savior,

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 a victor,

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 a king

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 who is going to wage

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 and win the war

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 to end all wars,

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 the war of sin

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 and death

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 and the corrupted heart.

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 The son of David

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 will surely visit

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 and redeem God's people,

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 Zechariah says.

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 The Davidic king

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 will bring total victory,

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 but maybe not in the way

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 they thought.

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 Yet to be saved

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 from one's enemy

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 is one thing.

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 But what one really needs

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 is to be saved

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 for something,

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 for a purpose.

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 The promise made to David

00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:47.959
 is not the only promise

00:14:47.959 --> 00:14:49.159
 God made to his people,

00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:50.360
 for it was built upon

00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:51.539
 a promise made

00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:52.720
 hundreds of years earlier

00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:54.699
 to an old man

00:14:54.699 --> 00:14:55.519
 who would become

00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.840
 an improbable father.

00:14:56.980 --> 00:14:57.539
 Somebody actually

00:14:57.539 --> 00:14:59.059
 quite similar to Zechariah.

00:14:59.059 --> 00:15:00.539
 And this brings us

00:15:00.539 --> 00:15:01.339
 to our second point,

00:15:01.839 --> 00:15:02.559
 Abraham's son.

00:15:02.619 --> 00:15:03.119
 Look with me

00:15:03.119 --> 00:15:05.319
 at verses 72 to 75.

00:15:09.319 --> 00:15:10.379
 To show the mercy

00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:11.679
 promised to our fathers

00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:13.039
 and to remember

00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:13.919
 his holy covenant

00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:14.559
 to the oath

00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:15.319
 that he swore

00:15:15.319 --> 00:15:16.459
 to our father Abraham

00:15:16.459 --> 00:15:18.199
 to grant us

00:15:18.199 --> 00:15:19.239
 that we,

00:15:19.819 --> 00:15:20.419
 being delivered

00:15:20.419 --> 00:15:21.099
 from the hand

00:15:21.099 --> 00:15:21.639
 of our enemies,

00:15:21.779 --> 00:15:22.379
 might serve him

00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:23.000
 without fear

00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:24.099
 in holiness

00:15:24.099 --> 00:15:24.819
 and righteousness

00:15:24.819 --> 00:15:25.579
 before him

00:15:25.579 --> 00:15:27.219
 all of our days.

00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:29.620
 So in the previous section,

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:31.720
 Zechariah reminds us

00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:32.600
 that the Lord spoke

00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:33.620
 through the prophets.

00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.080
 Here,

00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:36.519
 he refers specifically

00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:37.139
 to the promise

00:15:37.139 --> 00:15:38.080
 made to the fathers,

00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:39.220
 that is the patriarchs

00:15:39.220 --> 00:15:39.620
 of Israel,

00:15:39.800 --> 00:15:40.879
 and specifically Abraham.

00:15:42.060 --> 00:15:42.740
 God initially

00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:43.399
 makes a covenant

00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:44.139
 with Abraham

00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:45.340
 way back in Genesis

00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:46.399
 chapter 12,

00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:48.300
 but it's not until

00:15:48.300 --> 00:15:49.660
 10 chapters later

00:15:49.660 --> 00:15:50.220
 in Genesis 22

00:15:50.920 --> 00:15:52.139
 and you start to see

00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:53.379
 how much Old Testament

00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.160
 is marbled

00:15:54.160 --> 00:15:55.040
 throughout this prayer.

00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:56.500
 It's not until

00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:57.779
 Genesis chapter 22

00:15:57.779 --> 00:15:58.939
 where God swears

00:15:58.939 --> 00:15:59.399
 an oath,

00:15:59.579 --> 00:16:00.579
 he swears an oath

00:16:00.579 --> 00:16:03.000
 to Abraham.

00:16:03.959 --> 00:16:04.699
 And the story

00:16:04.699 --> 00:16:05.319
 is found,

00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:06.579
 Genesis 22,

00:16:06.719 --> 00:16:07.699
 the binding of Isaac,

00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:09.679
 a very famous

00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:10.699
 but also a pretty

00:16:10.699 --> 00:16:12.120
 difficult passage,

00:16:12.719 --> 00:16:13.459
 if we're honest.

00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:14.839
 Difficult because

00:16:14.839 --> 00:16:16.039
 God is asking

00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:17.339
 Abraham

00:16:17.339 --> 00:16:19.059
 to take his son

00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:20.679
 who is a miracle child

00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:21.899
 in his old age,

00:16:22.319 --> 00:16:22.980
 Abraham is to take

00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:23.620
 his son to go

00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:24.339
 to Mount Moriah,

00:16:24.340 --> 00:16:26.019
 to go onto a mountain

00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:27.240
 to build a pyre,

00:16:27.340 --> 00:16:28.840
 to sacrifice his son

00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:29.620
 and burn him,

00:16:29.920 --> 00:16:30.519
 burn him

00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:31.379
 as an offering

00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:31.860
 to the Lord.

00:16:32.940 --> 00:16:33.540
 And it's difficult

00:16:33.540 --> 00:16:34.360
 for us because,

00:16:34.800 --> 00:16:35.019
 well,

00:16:35.060 --> 00:16:36.000
 it's a child sacrifice,

00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:37.320
 but also

00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:38.460
 it goes against

00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:39.120
 everything

00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.019
 up till

00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:41.540
 chapter 22

00:16:41.540 --> 00:16:42.100
 that we've seen

00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:42.480
 of God.

00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:44.920
 God is a God

00:16:44.920 --> 00:16:45.540
 who is

00:16:45.540 --> 00:16:47.379
 slow to anger.

00:16:47.800 --> 00:16:48.420
 He is not like

00:16:48.420 --> 00:16:49.180
 the other gods.

00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:50.820
 He is a loving God.

00:16:50.940 --> 00:16:52.060
 He is about life.

00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:53.060
 He gives life.

00:16:53.059 --> 00:16:54.659
 He punishes

00:16:54.659 --> 00:16:55.199
 those who take

00:16:55.199 --> 00:16:55.859
 away life.

00:16:55.959 --> 00:16:56.619
 And here we have

00:16:56.619 --> 00:16:57.239
 a very difficult

00:16:57.239 --> 00:16:57.839
 situation.

00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:58.439
 We're not going

00:16:58.439 --> 00:16:58.859
 to get into

00:16:58.859 --> 00:17:00.559
 kind of the nitty-gritty

00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:01.779
 of the binding

00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:02.339
 of Isaac,

00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:03.399
 but it's a difficult

00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:03.779
 one.

00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:04.980
 And Abraham,

00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:06.259
 as he's about

00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:07.339
 to slay his son,

00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:08.599
 the knife is stopped

00:17:08.599 --> 00:17:10.639
 and God sees

00:17:10.639 --> 00:17:11.559
 that Abraham

00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.980
 loves the Lord

00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:14.000
 even more,

00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:14.799
 even more than

00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:15.579
 his own son

00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:16.059
 that he's been

00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:17.539
 waiting his entire

00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:18.139
 life for.

00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:19.799
 Old man,

00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:20.599
 his hand

00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:21.059
 has stayed.

00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:22.559
 And then God

00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.259
 swears an oath

00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:23.599
 to him.

00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.339
 And here is

00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:26.460
 the oath,

00:17:27.579 --> 00:17:28.179
 starting in verse

00:17:28.179 --> 00:17:29.059
 16 of Genesis

00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:29.639
 22.

00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:32.899
 By myself

00:17:32.899 --> 00:17:33.639
 I have sworn,

00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:34.440
 declares the Lord,

00:17:35.159 --> 00:17:35.759
 because you have

00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:36.399
 done this

00:17:36.399 --> 00:17:37.200
 and have not

00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:38.319
 withheld your son,

00:17:38.379 --> 00:17:39.259
 your only son,

00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:40.519
 I will surely

00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:41.039
 bless you

00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:42.159
 and I will surely

00:17:42.159 --> 00:17:43.440
 multiply your offspring

00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:44.500
 as the stars of heaven

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.819
 and as the sand

00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:46.700
 that is on the

00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:47.220
 seashore.

00:17:48.159 --> 00:17:49.079
 And your offspring

00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:49.819
 shall possess

00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:50.439
 the gate

00:17:50.439 --> 00:17:51.359
 of his enemies

00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:53.099
 and in your offspring

00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:54.259
 shall all the nations

00:17:54.259 --> 00:17:54.819
 of the earth

00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:55.339
 be blessed

00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:57.179
 because you have

00:17:57.179 --> 00:17:58.339
 obeyed my voice.

00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:00.799
 So,

00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:01.759
 with David,

00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:03.419
 his son

00:18:03.419 --> 00:18:04.079
 will

00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:05.159
 rescue

00:18:05.159 --> 00:18:06.519
 God's people

00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.519
 from their enemies.

00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:08.059
 Here,

00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:10.240
 the blessing

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:10.980
 of God

00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:11.659
 will go through

00:18:11.659 --> 00:18:12.939
 Abraham's son.

00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:13.919
 Abraham's son

00:18:13.919 --> 00:18:14.460
 will possess

00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:15.199
 the gate

00:18:15.199 --> 00:18:17.000
 of his enemies

00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:17.980
 and the Lord

00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:18.660
 has declared it.

00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.559
 Zechariah

00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:20.220
 is simply

00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:21.220
 recalling this oath

00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:21.940
 and what's interesting

00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:22.460
 is that

00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:23.640
 this oath

00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:24.180
 is the

00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.980
 only time

00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:27.339
 in the Bible

00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:27.880
 where God

00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:28.700
 swears

00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.579
 by himself.

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.940
 It's a very intense

00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:34.940
 oath that God swears.

00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:36.240
 The highest level

00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:37.359
 of oath

00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.220
 he swears

00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:39.619
 and it is bound

00:18:39.619 --> 00:18:40.079
 to happen

00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:40.720
 because of it.

00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:42.140
 And once again,

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.220
 deliverance is described

00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:43.720
 as being

00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:44.740
 so thorough

00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.119
 and certain

00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:45.839
 that it's referenced

00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:46.700
 in past tense.

00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:48.000
 So,

00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:48.779
 it's a settled matter.

00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:49.779
 God has declared it.

00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:50.660
 It is as good as done.

00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:52.720
 But we see that

00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:53.279
 the salvation

00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.319
 described here

00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:55.579
 serves a purpose.

00:18:56.420 --> 00:18:56.819
 The Lord

00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:57.960
 saves us

00:18:57.960 --> 00:19:00.240
 out of his mercy.

00:19:01.619 --> 00:19:02.019
 Why?

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:02.880
 So that we can

00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:03.400
 serve him.

00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:03.579
 Now,

00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.539
 we see this

00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:05.980
 at the second

00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:07.920
 part of verse

00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:08.779
 74

00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:09.460
 if we go back

00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:10.359
 to Luke chapter 1.

00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:11.640
 That we being

00:19:11.640 --> 00:19:12.400
 delivered from the

00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.259
 hand of our enemies

00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:14.660
 might serve him

00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:15.359
 without fear

00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:15.900
 in holiness

00:19:15.900 --> 00:19:16.580
 and righteousness

00:19:16.580 --> 00:19:17.240
 before him

00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:18.519
 all our days.

00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:21.180
 That we are saved

00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:21.759
 by God

00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.440
 so that we may

00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:23.420
 serve God.

00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.720
 He blesses us

00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.340
 so that we may

00:19:25.340 --> 00:19:26.320
 be a blessing.

00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:27.860
 And he does it

00:19:27.860 --> 00:19:28.519
 in such a way

00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:30.240
 that the fear

00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:31.180
 that we might have

00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:32.480
 will begin

00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.400
 to subside

00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:34.900
 and we will be made

00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:36.100
 holy and righteous

00:19:36.100 --> 00:19:37.420
 not because of

00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:38.180
 the things we do

00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:38.820
 but because of

00:19:38.820 --> 00:19:39.280
 the blessing

00:19:39.280 --> 00:19:40.320
 that God bestows.

00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:45.639
 in other words

00:19:45.639 --> 00:19:46.659
 true Christianity

00:19:46.659 --> 00:19:47.859
 the true faith

00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:48.399
 of the Bible

00:19:48.399 --> 00:19:49.559
 it not only

00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:50.439
 delivers us

00:19:50.439 --> 00:19:51.259
 from our enemies

00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:53.319
 but it infuses us

00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:54.099
 with lives

00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:54.779
 of purpose

00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:56.000
 and meaning

00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:57.759
 that are directly

00:19:57.759 --> 00:19:58.659
 connected to God

00:19:58.659 --> 00:19:59.079
 himself.

00:19:59.939 --> 00:20:01.159
 Not a project

00:20:01.159 --> 00:20:02.379
 that lasts

00:20:02.379 --> 00:20:04.200
 for a year

00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:05.019
 or ten years

00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:05.919
 or even this life

00:20:05.919 --> 00:20:07.159
 but a purpose

00:20:07.159 --> 00:20:08.480
 tied to him

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.579
 that continues

00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:10.539
 on into eternity.

00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:11.480
 Much of what

00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:12.079
 we talked about

00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:13.120
 in our Ecclesiastes

00:20:13.120 --> 00:20:14.599
 sermon series

00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:15.220
 was about

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.519
 finding a purpose

00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:17.660
 beyond this life

00:20:17.660 --> 00:20:19.180
 rooted in God

00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:20.519
 and here we see

00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.819
 this reality

00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:22.440
 go back to

00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:23.779
 Genesis chapter 22

00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:24.599
 and continue on

00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.500
 into the New Testament

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:27.960
 in verse 74

00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:28.720
 and 75.

00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.759
 To be delivered

00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.339
 from fear

00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:32.860
 and evil

00:20:32.860 --> 00:20:33.680
 and selfishness

00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:35.680
 it is a wonderful

00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:36.099
 thing

00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:37.819
 but it is lacking

00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.360
 ultimately

00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:39.019
 if we cannot

00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:40.099
 use this gift

00:20:40.099 --> 00:20:40.699
 for the benefit

00:20:40.699 --> 00:20:42.759
 of others.

00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.359
 So you see

00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:45.259
 the very high point

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.059
 of human existence

00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:47.859
 is to serve God

00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:49.379
 for in doing so

00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:49.979
 we proclaim

00:20:49.979 --> 00:20:50.879
 his glory

00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:51.519
 and his goodness

00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:54.240
 he is the only

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:55.479
 true and worthy God

00:20:55.479 --> 00:20:56.159
 and this actually

00:20:56.159 --> 00:20:57.000
 ties back to

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.399
 the commissioning

00:20:58.399 --> 00:20:59.500
 that God gave David

00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:01.439
 for David himself

00:21:01.439 --> 00:21:02.479
 he was to

00:21:02.479 --> 00:21:04.039
 create a house

00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:05.719
 for the Lord

00:21:05.719 --> 00:21:07.079
 or his son was rather

00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:08.000
 and that house

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:08.559
 was supposed to be

00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:09.299
 a house of prayer

00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:10.179
 for all nations

00:21:10.179 --> 00:21:11.639
 that the

00:21:11.639 --> 00:21:12.879
 religion

00:21:12.879 --> 00:21:13.720
 of the one

00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.539
 true God

00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:15.359
 Father, Son

00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:16.000
 and Holy Spirit

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:17.799
 was to stretch out

00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:18.799
 all over the world

00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.720
 for all people

00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:22.720
 through God's servants

00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:24.279
 like you and I.

00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:26.079
 God

00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:27.639
 so he gives us

00:21:27.639 --> 00:21:28.519
 an eternal purpose

00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:30.319
 one that is not

00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:30.879
 faddish

00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:32.019
 or self-serving

00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:33.819
 but one that gives us

00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:34.619
 ultimate meaning

00:21:34.619 --> 00:21:36.259
 in this life

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:37.000
 and the life to come

00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.819
 so we see that

00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:38.700
 with the Davidic covenant

00:21:38.700 --> 00:21:39.700
 and now with the

00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:40.559
 Abrahamic covenant

00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:40.660
!

00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:43.080
 the child of David

00:21:43.080 --> 00:21:44.820
 the child of Abraham

00:21:44.820 --> 00:21:46.640
 that God saves us

00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.860
 from

00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:49.019
 and saves us

00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:49.540
 for

00:21:49.540 --> 00:21:50.019
 and yet

00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:50.980
 as good as this

00:21:50.980 --> 00:21:51.660
 may sound

00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:54.300
 salvation

00:21:54.300 --> 00:21:55.700
 as wonderful

00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.460
 as it is

00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:58.100
 we find ourselves

00:21:58.100 --> 00:21:59.100
 still on this

00:21:59.100 --> 00:22:00.019
 side of salvation

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:01.040
 of this side

00:22:01.040 --> 00:22:01.640
 of putting our

00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:02.440
 faith and trust

00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:02.880
 in the Lord

00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:04.500
 still continuing

00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:05.860
 to have dark hearts

00:22:05.860 --> 00:22:07.060
 struggling

00:22:07.060 --> 00:22:07.779
 with sin

00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:09.440
 struggling

00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:09.940
 with the

00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:11.000
 problem of evil

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:13.500
 struggling

00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:14.220
 with lives

00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:14.680
 given to

00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:15.759
 self-exaltation

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.839
 so

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.879
 how will

00:22:17.879 --> 00:22:18.879
 God help us?

00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:20.599
 where is

00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:21.079
 the hope?

00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:23.599
 and this brings us

00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.579
 to our third point

00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:25.960
 where we look at

00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:26.579
 John the Baptist

00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:27.879
 Zechariah's son

00:22:27.879 --> 00:22:29.359
 verses 76

00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:30.019
 and 77

00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:34.099
 this is Zechariah

00:22:34.099 --> 00:22:35.259
 speaking to his son

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:35.539
 now

00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:36.299
 and you child

00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:36.940
 will be called

00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:37.539
 the prophet

00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:38.639
 of the most high

00:22:38.639 --> 00:22:40.159
 for you will go

00:22:40.159 --> 00:22:40.920
 before the Lord

00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:42.099
 to prepare his ways

00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:43.420
 to give knowledge

00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:44.099
 of salvation

00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:44.879
 to his people

00:22:44.879 --> 00:22:45.720
 in the forgiveness

00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:47.099
 of their sins

00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:48.839
 what is remarkable

00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:50.500
 about these two verses

00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.740
 is the placement

00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:53.359
 in Zechariah's song

00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:54.200
 listen

00:22:54.200 --> 00:22:55.480
 okay

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.399
 Zechariah

00:22:56.399 --> 00:22:57.299
 like Abraham

00:22:57.299 --> 00:22:59.139
 he is an elderly man

00:22:59.139 --> 00:23:00.779
 whose wife is barren

00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:02.299
 a lot of shame

00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:03.139
 in the ancient world

00:23:03.139 --> 00:23:03.619
 with that

00:23:03.619 --> 00:23:04.259
 a lot of

00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:04.879
 kind of

00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:06.180
 divine displeasure

00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:07.840
 was thought of

00:23:07.840 --> 00:23:08.480
 for people

00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:10.460
 in Zechariah's

00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:10.980
 shoes

00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:12.600
 I would think

00:23:12.600 --> 00:23:13.299
 that the moment

00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:14.100
 his son is born

00:23:14.100 --> 00:23:14.779
 I would break

00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.340
 into song

00:23:15.340 --> 00:23:16.240
 about my son

00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.820
 about God

00:23:17.820 --> 00:23:18.779
 doing this miraculous

00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.840
 thing for me

00:23:19.840 --> 00:23:21.500
 and yet

00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:23.640
 it's not until

00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:24.860
 many many verses

00:23:24.860 --> 00:23:25.180
 down

00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:26.200
 many many lines

00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:26.880
 of the song

00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:27.539
 does he then

00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.299
 look to his son

00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:29.920
 he addresses

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:30.680
 not his son

00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:31.259
 first but

00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:32.840
 the son of David

00:23:32.840 --> 00:23:34.000
 the son of Abraham

00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:37.259
 it's not that

00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:38.000
 Zechariah

00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:39.480
 doesn't love

00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:40.039
 his son

00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.640
 at all

00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:41.339
 rather

00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:42.859
 he is understanding

00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:43.480
 the purpose

00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.119
 and place

00:23:44.119 --> 00:23:44.619
 of his son

00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:45.259
 in salvation

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:45.759
 history

00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:49.440
 John

00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:50.539
 a child

00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:51.180
 of blessing

00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:52.400
 is ultimately

00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:53.019
 not the

00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:54.019
 child of blessing

00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:56.279
 John the baptizer

00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:57.740
 was not

00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:58.359
 the fulfillment

00:23:58.359 --> 00:23:58.960
 of a covenant

00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.400
 promise

00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:00.019
 like the

00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:01.000
 offspring of David

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.660
 or Abraham

00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:02.460
 but he would

00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:03.339
 fulfill a prophecy

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:04.559
 found in both

00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:05.519
 Isaiah and Malachi

00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:06.439
 that spoke of this

00:24:06.439 --> 00:24:07.759
 again mysterious

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.519
 person that would

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.500
 go before the Lord

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.519
 and prepare the way

00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:12.339
 for the Lord

00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:13.519
 very specifically

00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.619
 that he would turn

00:24:14.619 --> 00:24:16.419
 people's hearts

00:24:16.419 --> 00:24:17.359
 towards the Lord

00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:18.139
 and then towards

00:24:18.139 --> 00:24:18.599
 each other

00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:20.179
 he would call

00:24:20.179 --> 00:24:21.379
 God's people

00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:22.159
 back

00:24:22.159 --> 00:24:23.000
 to

00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:23.799
 himself

00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:25.899
 to the Lord

00:24:25.899 --> 00:24:26.939
 in repentance

00:24:26.939 --> 00:24:28.159
 so by the time

00:24:28.159 --> 00:24:28.720
 Luke 3

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.839
 comes about

00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:30.659
 there's

00:24:30.659 --> 00:24:31.759
 quite the fast

00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.119
 forward

00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:32.599
 the narrative

00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:33.379
 jumps quite

00:24:33.379 --> 00:24:33.679
 ahead

00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:34.759
 and we see

00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.479
 John a grown

00:24:35.479 --> 00:24:35.879
 man

00:24:35.879 --> 00:24:36.279
 and he's

00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:36.759
 doing just

00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.000
 this

00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:37.579
 he is calling

00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:38.099
 people to

00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:38.779
 humbly admit

00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:40.139
 that they are

00:24:40.139 --> 00:24:40.859
 without hope

00:24:40.859 --> 00:24:41.659
 apart from God

00:24:41.659 --> 00:24:43.679
 that both the

00:24:43.679 --> 00:24:44.379
 self-righteous

00:24:44.379 --> 00:24:45.459
 and the self-condemned

00:24:45.459 --> 00:24:46.239
 need to surrender

00:24:46.239 --> 00:24:46.739
 themselves

00:24:46.739 --> 00:24:48.059
 to God's mercy

00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:49.419
 repent

00:24:49.419 --> 00:24:50.539
 and be baptized

00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.539
 for the forgiveness

00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.359
 of sins

00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:56.539
 trust yourself

00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:58.299
 entrust yourself

00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:58.859
 to the Lord

00:24:58.859 --> 00:25:02.039
 here we see

00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:02.500
 that John's

00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.039
 main role

00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:03.460
 will be

00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:04.059
 to make

00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:05.079
 this clear

00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:05.720
 to his

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.319
 fellow

00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:07.399
 Israelites

00:25:07.399 --> 00:25:09.299
 but he was

00:25:09.299 --> 00:25:09.919
 quite the character

00:25:09.919 --> 00:25:10.299
 if you know

00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:10.779
 anything about

00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:11.039
 John

00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.539
 we won't read

00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:12.000
 about him

00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:12.819
 he was a bit

00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.240
 of a wild

00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:13.500
 man

00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:13.799
 he wore

00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:14.480
 camel's hair

00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.259
 he lived

00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:15.859
 in the desert

00:25:15.859 --> 00:25:16.819
 he ate

00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:17.819
 locusts

00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.379
 he ate

00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:18.779
 honey

00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:19.220
 he had

00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:19.899
 long hair

00:25:19.899 --> 00:25:21.879
 he was

00:25:21.879 --> 00:25:23.460
 not exactly

00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.240
 a conventional

00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:25.220
 religious leader

00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:27.660
 but he was

00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.420
 Israel's first

00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:28.880
 prophet

00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.880
 in centuries

00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:31.819
 and what's

00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.380
 really interesting

00:25:32.380 --> 00:25:32.860
 here is

00:25:32.860 --> 00:25:34.180
 his demeanor

00:25:34.180 --> 00:25:35.799
 the way he

00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:36.360
 went about

00:25:36.360 --> 00:25:36.720
 things

00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.700
 he completely

00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:39.860
 bypassed

00:25:39.860 --> 00:25:41.140
 the conventional

00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:42.480
 religion of the

00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:42.740
 time

00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:44.720
 and what he

00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.779
 did by doing

00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.440
 that is he

00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:46.920
 forced

00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:48.299
 the various

00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:49.440
 religious sects

00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:50.600
 those that

00:25:50.600 --> 00:25:51.279
 claimed to have

00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.059
 the corner

00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:52.799
 on biblical

00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.240
 faith

00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:54.480
 to drop

00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:55.279
 their pretense

00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:56.160
 of religiosity

00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:56.660
 and seek

00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:57.160
 a genuine

00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:57.799
 and authentic

00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:58.440
 walk with

00:25:58.440 --> 00:25:58.799
 the Lord

00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:00.640
 so John's

00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:01.099
 words in

00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:01.480
 ministry

00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:02.660
 they're significant

00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.019
 and worth

00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.480
 considering

00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:04.180
 especially for

00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:04.620
 people

00:26:04.620 --> 00:26:07.599
 quite frankly

00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.240
 like us

00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:08.940
 who enjoy

00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:09.519
 a pretty high

00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:09.920
 level of

00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:10.620
 self-sufficiency

00:26:10.620 --> 00:26:12.799
 being put

00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.200
 together

00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:14.740
 is

00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:16.779
 something

00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.140
 that

00:26:17.140 --> 00:26:20.059
 is something

00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:20.480
 we pride

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.339
 ourselves on

00:26:21.339 --> 00:26:21.860
 and by the way

00:26:21.860 --> 00:26:22.259
 I will just

00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:22.640
 say this

00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:23.440
 being put

00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:23.700
 together

00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:24.200
 is totally

00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:24.519
 fine

00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:24.819
 the Bible

00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:25.220
 doesn't

00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:25.680
 condemn

00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:26.080
 it

00:26:26.080 --> 00:26:27.960
 wealth

00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:28.380
 is not

00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:28.700
 evil

00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.160
 later in

00:26:29.160 --> 00:26:29.740
 the Gospels

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.340
 we have

00:26:30.340 --> 00:26:31.680
 a very

00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:32.460
 very prestigious

00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.480
 member

00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.519
 of the

00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:35.299
 religious elite

00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:35.700
 who will

00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:36.220
 risk

00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:37.799
 reputation

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:39.240
 and income

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:40.200
 to give

00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:40.620
 Jesus

00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:41.960
 an honorable

00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:42.420
 burial

00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:43.259
 some of the

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:43.620
 earliest

00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:44.120
 patrons

00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:45.160
 of the church

00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:46.299
 were wealthy

00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.100
 people of

00:26:47.100 --> 00:26:48.039
 high society

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:49.000
 so the Bible

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.799
 doesn't oppose

00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:50.460
 such people

00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:50.960
 however

00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:53.319
 such people

00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:53.940
 often

00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:55.460
 mistake

00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:56.420
 their wealth

00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:58.140
 for

00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:58.860
 their own

00:26:58.860 --> 00:26:59.120
 doing

00:26:59.120 --> 00:27:00.220
 that they

00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:01.220
 are the

00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:01.880
 masters

00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:02.640
 of

00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:03.640
 their own

00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:04.100
 destiny

00:27:04.100 --> 00:27:05.319
 and the

00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:05.579
 scriptures

00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.400
 consistently

00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:06.900
 condemn

00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:07.319
 this kind

00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:07.700
 of heart

00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:08.759
 this kind

00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.340
 of self

00:27:09.340 --> 00:27:09.860
 righteousness

00:27:09.860 --> 00:27:11.360
 they're

00:27:11.360 --> 00:27:11.960
 hypocrites

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:13.720
 John calls

00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:14.319
 such people

00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:15.319
 a brood of

00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:15.680
 vipers

00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.160
 and Jesus

00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:16.600
 will call

00:27:16.600 --> 00:27:16.840
 them

00:27:16.840 --> 00:27:17.960
 whitewashed

00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:18.440
 tombs

00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:20.539
 so John's

00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.039
 message

00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:21.920
 is very

00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:22.420
 pertinent

00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:22.799
 for us

00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.160
 because

00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:24.440
 we can

00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:25.259
 at a moment

00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:26.400
 presume

00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:27.480
 that we

00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:28.100
 cannot

00:27:28.100 --> 00:27:29.200
 save ourselves

00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:29.860
 and we

00:27:29.860 --> 00:27:30.779
 throw ourselves

00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:31.299
 at the mercy

00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:31.759
 of God

00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:33.000
 and then the

00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:33.600
 next day

00:27:33.600 --> 00:27:34.259
 that self

00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:34.880
 righteousness

00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:35.820
 comes back

00:27:35.820 --> 00:27:36.440
 in with full

00:27:36.440 --> 00:27:36.820
 force

00:27:36.820 --> 00:27:37.160
 and the

00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:37.500
 darkness

00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:37.980
 seems to

00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:38.320
 return

00:27:38.320 --> 00:27:39.960
 and what

00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:40.420
 John's

00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:40.759
 ministry

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.480
 is

00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:42.120
 is to

00:27:42.120 --> 00:27:42.640
 call us

00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:43.200
 to repent

00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:43.539
 and to

00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:43.960
 look back

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.240
 at the

00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:44.460
 Lord

00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:45.440
 and to

00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:45.940
 always

00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:46.660
 be about

00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:47.820
 confession

00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:50.000
 not

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.659
 presuming

00:27:50.659 --> 00:27:51.240
 our own

00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:51.619
 righteousness

00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:51.980
 but

00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:53.439
 asking

00:27:53.439 --> 00:27:54.379
 humbly

00:27:54.379 --> 00:27:55.599
 for the

00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:55.859
 Lord

00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:56.319
 to make

00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:56.500
 us

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:56.799
 righteous

00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:57.259
 and to

00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:57.639
 forgive us

00:27:57.639 --> 00:27:58.220
 of our

00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:58.579
 sins

00:27:58.579 --> 00:28:00.079
 that's a

00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:00.419
 nature of

00:28:00.419 --> 00:28:00.839
 repentance

00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:03.339
 so as we

00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:03.839
 reflect on

00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:04.659
 these short

00:28:04.659 --> 00:28:05.220
 verses

00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:05.579
 verses

00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:06.500
 76

00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:08.639
 and 77

00:28:08.639 --> 00:28:09.859
 what jumps

00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:10.639
 out is

00:28:10.639 --> 00:28:12.500
 an exhortation

00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.019
 to us

00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:14.000
 to be people

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.859
 of repentance

00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:16.259
 to not

00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:16.899
 presume that

00:28:16.899 --> 00:28:17.399
 the darkness

00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:18.080
 is far away

00:28:18.080 --> 00:28:18.460
 from us

00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:18.720
 but that

00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.200
 the darkness

00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:19.880
 is ever

00:28:19.880 --> 00:28:20.540
 encroaching

00:28:20.540 --> 00:28:21.340
 that the

00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:21.860
 shadows

00:28:21.860 --> 00:28:23.420
 they seek

00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:23.920
 to cover

00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:24.460
 us up

00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:27.200
 but rather

00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:27.600
 we would

00:28:27.600 --> 00:28:28.300
 turn our

00:28:28.300 --> 00:28:28.800
 hearts to

00:28:28.800 --> 00:28:29.180
 the Lord

00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:30.620
 so we

00:28:30.620 --> 00:28:30.720
 have

00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:31.019
 considered

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.480
 David's

00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:31.660
 son

00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.880
 Abraham's

00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:33.060
 son

00:28:33.060 --> 00:28:33.360
 and now

00:28:33.360 --> 00:28:34.040
 Zechariah's

00:28:34.040 --> 00:28:34.240
 son

00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:35.340
 we now

00:28:35.340 --> 00:28:35.740
 turn to

00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.140
 the final

00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:36.540
 section

00:28:36.540 --> 00:28:36.840
 which

00:28:36.840 --> 00:28:37.640
 does not

00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:37.960
 mention

00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:38.340
 a son

00:28:38.340 --> 00:28:39.000
 explicitly

00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:40.160
 but points

00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:40.400
 to the

00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:40.660
 very

00:28:40.660 --> 00:28:41.200
 son of

00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:41.380
 God

00:28:41.380 --> 00:28:41.759
 in fact

00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:42.500
 the entirety

00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.280
 of the

00:28:43.280 --> 00:28:44.000
 Benedictus

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:45.320
 Zechariah's

00:28:45.320 --> 00:28:45.580
 song

00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:46.480
 is just

00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:46.779
 that

00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.579
 look with

00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:47.879
 me though

00:28:47.879 --> 00:28:48.220
 at verse

00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:49.059
 78 and

00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:49.699
 79

00:28:49.699 --> 00:28:52.619
 because of

00:28:52.619 --> 00:28:53.059
 the tender

00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:53.619
 mercy of

00:28:53.619 --> 00:28:54.039
 our God

00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:54.619
 whereby the

00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:55.480
 sunrise shall

00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.099
 visit us

00:28:56.099 --> 00:28:56.519
 from on

00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:56.779
 high

00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.879
 to give

00:28:57.879 --> 00:28:58.359
 light to

00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:58.740
 those who

00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:59.079
 sit in

00:28:59.079 --> 00:28:59.419
 darkness

00:28:59.419 --> 00:29:00.000
 and in

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.559
 the shadow

00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:01.019
 of death

00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:02.059
 to guide

00:29:02.059 --> 00:29:02.539
 our feet

00:29:02.539 --> 00:29:03.099
 into the

00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:03.439
 way

00:29:03.439 --> 00:29:04.799
 of peace

00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:06.839
 the darkness

00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:07.220
 will be

00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:07.500
 gone

00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.839
 for the

00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:09.279
 sun will

00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:09.720
 drive it

00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.000
 away

00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:11.059
 but not

00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:11.599
 because the

00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:12.559
 sun shines

00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:13.379
 interestingly

00:29:13.379 --> 00:29:15.000
 instead it's

00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:15.500
 because the

00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:16.119
 sun will

00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:17.240
 come to

00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:17.599
 us

00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:18.319
 it will

00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:19.019
 visit us

00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:19.819
 and now

00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:20.299
 we see

00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:20.619
 that

00:29:20.619 --> 00:29:21.659
 Zechariah's

00:29:21.659 --> 00:29:22.039
 song is

00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:22.619
 bookended

00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:23.839
 with God

00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:24.559
 visiting us

00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:24.919
 and then

00:29:24.919 --> 00:29:25.359
 also

00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:26.579
 the

00:29:26.579 --> 00:29:27.299
 sunrise

00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:28.220
 visiting

00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:28.700
 us

00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:29.359
 which is

00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:30.000
 in a

00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.460
 way a

00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:31.319
 very strange

00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:32.679
 kind of

00:29:32.679 --> 00:29:33.599
 way to

00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:34.039
 describe

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.559
 sunlight

00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:38.679
 what isn't

00:29:38.679 --> 00:29:39.259
 strange

00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:40.059
 if we dig

00:29:40.059 --> 00:29:40.480
 in a bit

00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.079
 deeper

00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:41.659
 is that

00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:43.340
 this idea

00:29:43.340 --> 00:29:43.600
 of

00:29:43.600 --> 00:29:44.340
 visitation

00:29:44.340 --> 00:29:45.660
 it shares

00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:46.420
 the same

00:29:46.420 --> 00:29:47.340
 root word

00:29:47.340 --> 00:29:48.680
 as the

00:29:48.680 --> 00:29:49.120
 term we

00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:49.620
 use for

00:29:49.620 --> 00:29:50.000
 bishop

00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:50.620
 or

00:29:50.620 --> 00:29:51.740
 episcopate

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.940
 this

00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:54.259
 idea of

00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:54.779
 someone who

00:29:54.779 --> 00:29:55.540
 examines

00:29:55.540 --> 00:29:56.000
 and cares

00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:56.480
 for others

00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:57.920
 an overseer

00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:58.779
 with authority

00:29:58.779 --> 00:29:59.880
 concerned

00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:00.440
 with

00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:01.540
 one's

00:30:01.540 --> 00:30:02.279
 overall

00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:02.900
 well-being

00:30:02.900 --> 00:30:03.420
 it is

00:30:03.420 --> 00:30:05.600
 a position

00:30:05.600 --> 00:30:06.500
 and function

00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.380
 of a

00:30:07.380 --> 00:30:07.680
 loving

00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.160
 care

00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:11.380
 the light

00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:12.000
 that shines

00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.480
 into the

00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:12.820
 darkness

00:30:12.820 --> 00:30:13.300
 is both

00:30:13.300 --> 00:30:13.620
 this

00:30:13.620 --> 00:30:14.460
 expression

00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:14.980
 of God's

00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:15.340
 mercy

00:30:15.340 --> 00:30:16.660
 but also

00:30:16.660 --> 00:30:17.019
 God

00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:17.540
 himself

00:30:17.540 --> 00:30:18.720
 it is

00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:19.019
 God

00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:19.360
 who will

00:30:19.360 --> 00:30:19.960
 visit us

00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:20.620
 it will

00:30:20.620 --> 00:30:21.720
 be God

00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.820
 who oversees

00:30:22.820 --> 00:30:23.279
 us

00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:24.120
 God

00:30:24.120 --> 00:30:24.400
 who is

00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:24.820
 concerned

00:30:24.820 --> 00:30:25.259
 with our

00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:25.779
 well-being

00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:26.320
 who cares

00:30:26.320 --> 00:30:26.700
 for our

00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.019
 souls

00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:28.040
 so that

00:30:28.040 --> 00:30:28.320
 we will

00:30:28.320 --> 00:30:29.000
 no longer

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.460
 sit in

00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:29.800
 darkness

00:30:29.800 --> 00:30:31.080
 and that

00:30:31.080 --> 00:30:31.340
 death

00:30:31.340 --> 00:30:31.660
 will not

00:30:31.660 --> 00:30:32.360
 overshadow

00:30:32.360 --> 00:30:32.800
 us

00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:34.539
 so Jesus

00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:34.879
 Christ

00:30:34.879 --> 00:30:35.319
 born in

00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:35.779
 Bethlehem

00:30:35.779 --> 00:30:36.759
 it's proof

00:30:36.759 --> 00:30:37.200
 that God

00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:37.919
 has indeed

00:30:37.919 --> 00:30:38.599
 visited his

00:30:38.599 --> 00:30:38.940
 people

00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:39.619
 and shone

00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:40.159
 light to

00:30:40.159 --> 00:30:40.559
 dispel

00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:41.000
 darkness

00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:41.460
 once and

00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:41.759
 for all

00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:42.379
 and if you

00:30:42.379 --> 00:30:42.839
 remember

00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:43.180
 at the

00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:43.480
 beginning

00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:43.960
 we talked

00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:44.539
 about Malachi

00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.399
 chapter 4

00:30:45.399 --> 00:30:47.200
 it is a

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.619
 prophecy

00:30:47.619 --> 00:30:48.319
 that the

00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:48.759
 sun

00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.960
 will rise

00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:50.619
 and we

00:30:50.619 --> 00:30:51.159
 see that

00:30:51.159 --> 00:30:51.419
 it is

00:30:51.419 --> 00:30:51.859
 fulfilled

00:30:51.859 --> 00:30:52.700
 in Christ

00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:53.579
 the

00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:54.059
 sun of

00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:54.519
 righteousness

00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.339
 that rose

00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:55.980
 with healing

00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:56.440
 in his

00:30:56.440 --> 00:30:56.799
 wings

00:30:56.799 --> 00:31:00.599
 the sun

00:31:00.599 --> 00:31:00.879
 has

00:31:00.879 --> 00:31:01.879
 dawned

00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:02.560
 the morning

00:31:02.560 --> 00:31:03.140
 has dawned

00:31:03.140 --> 00:31:03.440
 the sun

00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:03.920
 has shone

00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:05.760
 and yet

00:31:05.760 --> 00:31:07.140
 and yet

00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:07.720
 there's a lot

00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.240
 of and yet

00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:08.840
 and yet

00:31:08.840 --> 00:31:09.680
 it seems

00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:10.160
 that darkness

00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:10.940
 still exists

00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:11.860
 okay

00:31:11.860 --> 00:31:12.240
 darkness

00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:13.020
 still exists

00:31:13.020 --> 00:31:15.100
 the sun

00:31:15.100 --> 00:31:15.580
 has shone

00:31:15.580 --> 00:31:16.300
 he shone

00:31:16.300 --> 00:31:16.980
 2000 years

00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:17.280
 ago

00:31:17.280 --> 00:31:18.380
 he continues

00:31:18.380 --> 00:31:19.020
 to shine

00:31:19.020 --> 00:31:20.540
 but darkness

00:31:20.540 --> 00:31:21.480
 still exists

00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.580
 death

00:31:22.580 --> 00:31:24.480
 still overshadows

00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:25.000
 so many

00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:25.620
 across the

00:31:25.620 --> 00:31:25.940
 world

00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:27.100
 and once again

00:31:27.100 --> 00:31:27.640
 we find

00:31:27.640 --> 00:31:27.900
 that we

00:31:27.900 --> 00:31:28.580
 cannot speak

00:31:28.580 --> 00:31:28.900
 of the

00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:29.540
 first advent

00:31:29.540 --> 00:31:30.280
 of Christ

00:31:30.280 --> 00:31:31.460
 without

00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:32.779
 thinking about

00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:33.360
 and speaking

00:31:33.360 --> 00:31:33.900
 about the

00:31:33.900 --> 00:31:34.759
 second advent

00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:36.680
 I'll wrap up

00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:37.180
 with this

00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:38.819
 because the

00:31:38.819 --> 00:31:39.500
 day followed

00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:39.920
 the night

00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:40.440
 because the

00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:40.840
 Lord had

00:31:40.840 --> 00:31:41.620
 visited us

00:31:41.620 --> 00:31:42.860
 and redeemed

00:31:42.860 --> 00:31:43.299
 us

00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:44.640
 being born

00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:45.240
 in Bethlehem

00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:45.799
 and especially

00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:46.539
 because Jesus

00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:47.220
 crucified

00:31:47.220 --> 00:31:48.440
 died and was

00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:48.740
 buried

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.660
 did not stay

00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:50.400
 in the ground

00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:51.100
 but rose to

00:31:51.100 --> 00:31:51.579
 new life

00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:52.940
 we can be

00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:53.539
 sure that he

00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:53.940
 will come

00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:54.240
 again

00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:55.519
 because the

00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:56.039
 promise

00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:57.480
 made to

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.519
 Abraham

00:31:58.519 --> 00:31:59.839
 and to

00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:00.440
 David

00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:01.539
 and to

00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:02.139
 Israel

00:32:02.139 --> 00:32:02.400
 through

00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:02.839
 Malachi

00:32:02.839 --> 00:32:04.039
 came

00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:05.680
 true

00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:06.519
 2000 years

00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:06.660
 ago

00:32:06.660 --> 00:32:07.019
 we can

00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:07.519
 trust that

00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:07.759
 it will

00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.160
 happen

00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:09.680
 when

00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:10.079
 we don't

00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:10.339
 know

00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:10.940
 but that

00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:11.359
 Jesus

00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:11.920
 will come

00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:12.240
 again

00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:13.160
 and that

00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:13.519
 when he

00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:13.900
 comes

00:32:13.900 --> 00:32:14.259
 he will

00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:14.639
 fulfill

00:32:14.639 --> 00:32:15.099
 the sure

00:32:15.099 --> 00:32:15.539
 victory

00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:16.519
 that was

00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:18.180
 a foregone

00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:18.700
 conclusion

00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:19.519
 2000 years

00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:19.759
 ago

00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:21.180
 we can

00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:21.339
 have a

00:32:21.339 --> 00:32:21.480
 great

00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:22.019
 confidence

00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:22.980
 that God

00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:23.559
 has visited

00:32:23.559 --> 00:32:23.960
 us

00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:24.779
 that his

00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.240
 desire

00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:25.619
 is to

00:32:25.619 --> 00:32:26.039
 oversee

00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:26.759
 us

00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.299
 and shepherd

00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:27.839
 our souls

00:32:27.839 --> 00:32:28.559
 friends

00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:29.759
 trying to

00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:30.099
 say is

00:32:30.099 --> 00:32:30.559
 this is

00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:30.940
 the life

00:32:30.940 --> 00:32:31.440
 of faith

00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:32.980
 we don't

00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:33.619
 understand

00:32:33.619 --> 00:32:34.139
 why the

00:32:34.139 --> 00:32:34.460
 darkness

00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:35.200
 persists

00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:36.180
 in the

00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:36.519
 degree

00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:36.940
 it does

00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.200
 now

00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:37.480
 but we

00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:37.759
 can be

00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.079
 sure

00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:38.279
 that

00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:38.559
 because

00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:38.859
 the light

00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:39.379
 has shone

00:32:39.379 --> 00:32:39.619
 in the

00:32:39.619 --> 00:32:39.940
 past

00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:40.200
 it will

00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:40.559
 shine

00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:40.879
 again

00:32:40.879 --> 00:32:41.899
 and that

00:32:41.899 --> 00:32:42.399
 darkness

00:32:42.399 --> 00:32:42.960
 will be

00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:43.440
 dispelled

00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:44.039
 forever

00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:44.980
 the beautiful

00:32:44.980 --> 00:32:45.579
 thing about

00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:46.359
 the end

00:32:46.359 --> 00:32:46.879
 of the Bible

00:32:46.879 --> 00:32:47.299
 is this

00:32:47.299 --> 00:32:47.839
 picture of

00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:48.099
 what the

00:32:48.099 --> 00:32:48.700
 new heavens

00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.339
 and the

00:32:49.339 --> 00:32:49.799
 new earth

00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:50.139
 will look

00:32:50.139 --> 00:32:50.440
 like

00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:51.619
 and I'm

00:32:51.619 --> 00:32:51.899
 sure it'll

00:32:51.899 --> 00:32:52.200
 be even

00:32:52.200 --> 00:32:52.859
 better than

00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:53.879
 how we can

00:32:53.879 --> 00:32:54.619
 even imagine

00:32:54.619 --> 00:32:55.159
 it as we

00:32:55.159 --> 00:32:55.680
 read about

00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:55.879
 it

00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:56.759
 but one

00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:57.000
 of the

00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:57.220
 key

00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:57.859
 characteristics

00:32:57.859 --> 00:32:58.339
 about it

00:32:58.339 --> 00:32:58.740
 is that

00:32:58.740 --> 00:32:59.819
 it will

00:32:59.819 --> 00:33:00.559
 always be

00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:00.920
 sunny

00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:02.480
 it will

00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:03.079
 always

00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:03.920
 be

00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:05.220
 the sun

00:33:05.220 --> 00:33:05.759
 will always

00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:06.220
 shine

00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:08.119
 that God

00:33:08.119 --> 00:33:08.619
 himself

00:33:08.619 --> 00:33:09.000
 will be

00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:09.740
 the source

00:33:09.740 --> 00:33:10.259
 of light

00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:15.480
 so we put

00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:15.920
 our faith

00:33:15.920 --> 00:33:16.240
 in the

00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:16.659
 shepherd of

00:33:16.659 --> 00:33:17.200
 our souls

00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:18.079
 the one

00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:19.240
 who oversees

00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:19.819
 the one

00:33:19.819 --> 00:33:20.440
 who visits

00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:20.920
 us

00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:22.039
 that with

00:33:22.039 --> 00:33:22.319
 him

00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:22.740
 the light

00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.180
 of dawn

00:33:23.180 --> 00:33:23.619
 the bright

00:33:23.619 --> 00:33:24.399
 morning star

00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:25.560
 we will

00:33:25.560 --> 00:33:25.900
 never

00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:26.900
 walk in

00:33:26.900 --> 00:33:27.259
 darkness

00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.019
 but have

00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:28.580
 the light

00:33:28.580 --> 00:33:29.060
 of life

00:33:29.060 --> 00:33:29.620
 and then

00:33:29.620 --> 00:33:30.320
 we go back

00:33:30.320 --> 00:33:30.880
 to the beginning

00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:31.340
 of the

00:33:31.340 --> 00:33:31.960
 benedictus

00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:32.980
 and if

00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:34.160
 we're thinking

00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:34.740
 about this

00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:35.240
 and dwelling

00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:35.900
 upon this

00:33:35.900 --> 00:33:36.580
 and considering

00:33:36.580 --> 00:33:36.980
 it

00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:38.019
 and wrestling

00:33:38.019 --> 00:33:38.519
 with it

00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:38.860
 and then

00:33:38.860 --> 00:33:40.000
 by faith

00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:41.259
 take it

00:33:41.259 --> 00:33:42.940
 that it

00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:43.540
 is true

00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:45.420
 then the

00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:46.059
 result will

00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:46.659
 be not

00:33:46.659 --> 00:33:47.059
 like a

00:33:47.059 --> 00:33:48.099
 that is

00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:48.579
 nice

00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:49.159
 interesting

00:33:49.159 --> 00:33:49.819
 information

00:33:49.819 --> 00:33:51.079
 but ought

00:33:51.079 --> 00:33:51.779
 to result

00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:52.359
 in us

00:33:52.359 --> 00:33:52.920
 like

00:33:52.920 --> 00:33:53.659
 Zechariah

00:33:53.659 --> 00:33:54.240
 breaking

00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:55.079
 into song

00:33:55.079 --> 00:33:55.659
 and praise

00:33:55.659 --> 00:33:57.000
 blessed

00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:57.480
 be the

00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:58.099
 Lord God

00:33:58.099 --> 00:33:58.899
 of Israel

00:33:58.899 --> 00:33:59.420
 for he

00:33:59.420 --> 00:34:00.740
 has visited

00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:01.399
 and redeemed

00:34:01.399 --> 00:34:01.899
 his people

00:34:01.899 --> 00:34:03.440
 our response

00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:04.180
 is praise

00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:04.799
 ultimately

00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:07.240
 one of the

00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:07.819
 beautiful things

00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:08.420
 about Christmas

00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:09.380
 is the

00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:09.860
 richness

00:34:09.860 --> 00:34:10.739
 of the

00:34:10.739 --> 00:34:11.199
 hymns

00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:12.039
 and carols

00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:12.579
 we sing

00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.820
 and on that

00:34:13.820 --> 00:34:14.000
 note

00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:14.779
 I'll close

00:34:14.779 --> 00:34:15.259
 us off

00:34:15.259 --> 00:34:16.900
 by reading

00:34:16.900 --> 00:34:17.840
 a section

00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:18.519
 from O Holy

00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:18.779
 Night

00:34:18.779 --> 00:34:19.320
 that is just

00:34:19.320 --> 00:34:19.920
 so wonderful

00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:20.480
 and connects

00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:21.300
 so beautifully

00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:21.779
 with the

00:34:21.779 --> 00:34:22.400
 benedictus

00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:24.699
 long lay the

00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:25.300
 world in

00:34:25.300 --> 00:34:26.199
 sin and error

00:34:26.199 --> 00:34:26.639
 pining

00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:27.880
 till he

00:34:27.880 --> 00:34:28.400
 appeared

00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:28.820
 and the

00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:29.400
 soul felt

00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:29.960
 its worth

00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:31.480
 a thrill

00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:32.059
 of hope

00:34:32.059 --> 00:34:33.259
 the weary

00:34:33.259 --> 00:34:34.699
 world rejoices

00:34:34.699 --> 00:34:35.400
 for yonder

00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:35.960
 breaks

00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:37.420
 a new

00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:37.980
 and glorious

00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:38.340
 morn