WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.439 be seated. Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne 00:00:08.439 --> 00:00:14.560 Mountain Presbyterian Church. It's my joy to bring God's word to you today. A special welcome if you 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:20.000 are new or visiting with us. We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:25.600 because we're trying to fill seats, but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:30.760 And as we follow Jesus together, we've become convinced that there's no one so good they don't 00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:36.539 need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it, which is why we come back week after week 00:00:36.539 --> 00:00:42.240 to hear what God has to say to us in his word. We're continuing our series in the book of Judges, 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:48.020 and you'll remember that the book of Judges is about many things. It's about our need for constant 00:00:48.020 --> 00:00:54.540 renewal and revival among God's people. It's about our need for a faithful and true king, a king who 00:00:54.539 --> 00:01:01.479 can do what no human can do, which is to change the hearts of men. It's about the power of spirit-filled 00:01:01.479 --> 00:01:08.439 leadership, and it's about God's grace for hard-hearted people, people like you and me. 00:01:09.379 --> 00:01:14.780 This week, we're continuing the same story we began last week, the story of Abimelech, 00:01:14.960 --> 00:01:22.079 and you'll remember that we talked about the fact that we often get the leaders we deserve. The people of 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:27.620 Shechem chose Abimelech, and Jotham calls them out saying, hey, look, you chose the bramble 00:01:27.620 --> 00:01:35.019 instead of the olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine. Our question this week, our focus is, what is our 00:01:35.019 --> 00:01:45.400 hope when we find ourselves under wicked rulers? Abimelech, he's now in charge. He's made the king. 00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:53.520 Where do we look when we find ourselves with Abimelech-type leaders, leaders who care about 00:01:53.520 --> 00:01:58.880 themselves rather than their people? I'm going to do the same thing I did last week. I'm going to tell 00:01:58.880 --> 00:02:02.920 you the story, and then we're going to draw out a few principles. With that, I invite you to turn with 00:02:02.939 --> 00:02:10.040 me now to God's Word. We're in Judges 9, starting in verse 22. You can turn with me in your worship guide. 00:02:10.039 --> 00:02:15.639 You can turn on your phone. You can turn in your Bible. No matter where you turn, remember that this 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:21.120 is God's Word, and God tells us that his Word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold, 00:02:21.579 --> 00:02:26.939 and it's sweeter even than honey, honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. So that's why we read 00:02:26.939 --> 00:02:37.000 now Judges 9, starting at verse 22. Abimelech ruled over Israel three years, and God sent an evil spirit 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:41.919 between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:48.500 Abimelech, that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerobel might come, and their blood be laid 00:02:48.500 --> 00:02:54.219 on Abimelech their brother who killed them, and on the men of Shechem who strengthened his hands to kill 00:02:54.219 --> 00:03:00.199 his brothers. And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:06.460 and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech. 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:13.520 Verse 26. And Gael the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his relatives, and the leaders of 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:18.539 Shechem put confidence in him. And they went out into the field and gathered the grapes from their 00:03:18.539 --> 00:03:24.539 vineyards and trod them and held a festival. And they went into the house of their god and ate and 00:03:24.539 --> 00:03:31.759 drank and reviled Abimelech. And Gael the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who are we of 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:38.399 Shechem that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerobel, and is not Zebel his officer? Serve the 00:03:38.399 --> 00:03:45.219 men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. But why should we serve him? Would that this people were under my 00:03:45.219 --> 00:03:52.579 hand. Then I would remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, increase your army and come out. 00:03:53.579 --> 00:03:59.620 Verse 30. When Zebel the ruler of the city heard the words of Gael the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. 00:03:59.620 --> 00:04:05.740 And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, Behold, Gael the son of Ebed and his 00:04:05.740 --> 00:04:12.319 relatives have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you. Now therefore, 00:04:12.480 --> 00:04:18.899 go by night, you and the people who are with you, and set an ambush in the field. Then in the morning, 00:04:19.180 --> 00:04:24.840 as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city. And when he and the people who are with 00:04:24.839 --> 00:04:33.119 him come out against you, you may do to them as your hand finds to do. Verse 34. So Abimelech and all 00:04:33.119 --> 00:04:37.599 the men who were with him rose up by night and set an ambush against Shechem in four companies. 00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:43.579 And Gael the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. And Abimelech 00:04:43.579 --> 00:04:48.939 and the people who were with him rose from the ambush. And when Gael saw the people, he said to Zebel, 00:04:48.939 --> 00:04:55.180 look, people are coming down from the mountaintops. And Zebel said to him, you mistake the shadow of 00:04:55.180 --> 00:05:01.439 the mountaintops for men. Gael spoke again and said, look, people are coming down from the center of 00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:08.199 the land, and one company is coming down from the direction of the Divener's Oak. Then Zebel said to 00:05:08.199 --> 00:05:14.519 him, where is your mouth now, you who said, who is Abimelech that we should serve him? Are not these the 00:05:14.519 --> 00:05:20.500 people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them. And Gael went out at the head of the 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:25.759 leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech. And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him. 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:32.919 And many fell wounded up to the entrance of the gate. And Abimelech lived at Eremah, and Zebel drove 00:05:32.919 --> 00:05:40.539 out Gael and his relatives so that they could not dwell at Shechem. Verse 42. On the following day, 00:05:40.540 --> 00:05:45.800 the people went out into the field, and Abimelech was told. He took his people and divided them into 00:05:45.800 --> 00:05:51.120 three companies and set an ambush in the fields. And he looked and saw the people coming out of the 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:57.660 city. So he rose against them and killed them. Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed 00:05:57.660 --> 00:06:03.879 forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the two companies rushed upon all who 00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:10.360 were in the field and killed them. And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured 00:06:10.360 --> 00:06:16.020 the city and killed the people who were in it. And he raised the city and sowed it with salt. 00:06:16.980 --> 00:06:24.340 Verse 46. When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of 00:06:24.340 --> 00:06:29.560 the house of Elbereth. Abimelech was told that all the leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered 00:06:29.560 --> 00:06:36.120 together. And Abimelech went up to Mount Zalman, he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech 00:06:36.120 --> 00:06:41.660 took an ax in his hand and cut down a bundle of brushwood and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. 00:06:42.340 --> 00:06:48.139 And he said to the men who were with him, what you have seen me do, hurry and do as I have done. 00:06:48.840 --> 00:06:54.220 So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold. 00:06:54.579 --> 00:07:01.079 And they set the stronghold on fire over them so that all the people of the tower of Shechem also died, 00:07:01.079 --> 00:07:08.779 about a thousand men and women. Verse 50. Then Abimelech went to Thebes and encamped against 00:07:08.779 --> 00:07:15.099 Thebes and captured it. But there was a strong tower within the city and all the men and women and all 00:07:15.099 --> 00:07:19.839 the leaders of the city flew to it and shut themselves in. And they went up to the roof of 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:25.459 the tower. And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and drew near to the door of the 00:07:25.459 --> 00:07:31.719 tower to burn it with fire. And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and 00:07:31.719 --> 00:07:36.719 crushed his skull. Then he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, 00:07:37.379 --> 00:07:44.399 draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, a woman killed him. And his young man thrust him 00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:50.740 through and he died. And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone departed to his 00:07:50.740 --> 00:07:57.639 home. Thus, God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing 00:07:57.639 --> 00:08:03.840 his 70 brothers. And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads. 00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:11.900 And upon them came the curse of Jotham, the son of Jeroboam. I invite you to pray with me 00:08:11.900 --> 00:08:14.300 as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:08:14.300 --> 00:08:24.639 Our father in heaven, we thank you this morning that even when the world seems chaotic, you are 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:32.740 still in control. And when things seem disorganized, you still have a plan. We ask that you would remind 00:08:32.740 --> 00:08:38.580 us of that by your word, that you would greatly encourage us and challenge us. Most of all, we 00:08:38.580 --> 00:08:47.460 would see more than we have before your power, your authority, your love, your mercy. And so we 00:08:47.460 --> 00:08:52.820 ask that you would send your Holy Spirit, that you'd open our eyes, soften our hearts, that we'd be able 00:08:52.820 --> 00:08:59.980 to see and believe and understand what you have for us in your word. And we ask all these things in 00:08:59.980 --> 00:09:11.139 the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen. There's been a lot of focus in recent years on what might be 00:09:11.139 --> 00:09:18.940 called sustainable meat consumption. And one piece of that movement is what is called nose-to-tail dining. 00:09:19.860 --> 00:09:25.320 And the idea of nose-to-tail dining is pretty simple. It's that you use as many cuts from an animal 00:09:25.320 --> 00:09:32.000 as possible. And so it includes unpopular pieces. It includes, hey, let's not just eat the steaks from 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:36.820 this animal. We also want to eat its brain. We don't just want to eat the brain. We also want to 00:09:36.820 --> 00:09:42.820 eat the liver. We're going to eat things like pig's ears. And the goal here is that nothing goes to waste. 00:09:43.400 --> 00:09:50.120 Now, whatever you think about that, there is something praiseworthy about 100% efficiency or as close as you 00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:58.399 can get to 100%. Some people call this zero waste. The goal is to use absolutely everything, to leave as 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:04.720 little waste as possible. I bring all of that up because as we enter into more and more of the 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:12.779 downward spiral in the book of Judges, we are reminded of this. When it comes to the events of this world, 00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:23.480 God is a nose-to-tail cook. In other words, when it comes to the events of this world, God will use 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:30.659 everything. There is nothing that happens. There's no event that you read about in the news or you watch 00:10:30.659 --> 00:10:41.019 yourself that God is not using for his purposes. Nothing that happens in this world goes to waste. 00:10:41.019 --> 00:10:49.579 And even when it seems like things are spiraling in various directions, God is still working. So much 00:10:49.579 --> 00:10:57.620 so that God even works evil for his own purposes. Even events that are unpopular. Even events that are 00:10:57.620 --> 00:11:04.379 wicked. Of course, we don't have to go far in this passage to see plenty of evil. You'll remember last 00:11:04.379 --> 00:11:10.460 week, Abimelech allied himself with the men of Shechem. He had that whisper campaign among his mom's 00:11:10.460 --> 00:11:15.600 relatives. He said, look, go and speak to the other leaders and tell them, hey, you know, you don't 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:21.280 want to be ruled by 70 men. You want to be ruled by one. And don't you want to be ruled by someone who's 00:11:21.280 --> 00:11:28.980 your relative? Listening to this, then they go and you'll remember they kill 69 of his 70 brothers. 00:11:29.660 --> 00:11:35.040 So there's this massacre. Abimelech's involved in murdering his own family. There's the one brother, 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:40.379 Jotham, who survives. And you'll remember the passage last week ends with this curse from Jotham. 00:11:40.939 --> 00:11:47.299 After he tells this parable, he says, look, if this has not been in good faith, and we know it hasn't 00:11:47.299 --> 00:11:54.000 been done in good faith, may you destroy each other. May Abimelech destroy the men of Shechem. 00:11:54.399 --> 00:12:01.360 May the men of Shechem destroy Abimelech. It's those events, it's that curse, which we now begin to see 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:08.659 unfold in this passage. Very quickly in verse 23, we see God sends an evil spirit. And so these two 00:12:08.659 --> 00:12:13.759 groups that were in an alliance are suddenly turned against each other. No longer is Abimelech 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:19.060 working hand in glove with the men of Shechem, the leaders of Shechem. Now they're working at cross 00:12:19.060 --> 00:12:28.279 purposes. And we're told that God does this, verse 24, so that there would be justice. This justice 00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:33.699 happens quickly in verses 26 through 29. Gael, the son of Ebed, shows up on the scene and he says, 00:12:33.779 --> 00:12:38.899 look, what are you doing serving Abimelech? Yeah, he's got some relatives here in town, but guess who 00:12:38.899 --> 00:12:45.759 my relatives are? My relatives are the founders of Shechem. So my relations trump his relations. 00:12:46.939 --> 00:12:55.039 But it turns out that Abimelech has an inside man. Abimelech's inside man, Zebel, hears these words 00:12:55.039 --> 00:13:00.539 from Gael, and he gives the heads up to Abimelech. Not only does he give Abimelech the heads up, he says, 00:13:00.620 --> 00:13:07.279 look, you need to set an ambush and take care of this guy before he takes care of you. Abimelech does 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:14.500 that very thing. He sets up an ambush. He catches Gael, son of Ebed, off guard, and Gael ends up being 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:19.879 cast out. He ends up being driven away. That's not enough for Abimelech, though, and so he comes back 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:25.139 for a second round. He wants a second ambush. He lays ambush on the city again and takes care of 00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:32.659 the people who are there. Even that is not enough for Abimelech, and so he goes after this other city 00:13:32.659 --> 00:13:38.000 that we haven't heard of before that is close to Shechem, and he decides he's going to run the same 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:43.960 play he ran in Shechem. Shechem, he sets fire to this temple, this pagan temple, and just burns all the 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:49.659 leaders. He's on a rampage, so he decides it's time to run the same play in the next city. 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:56.539 He also sets fire to their tower, except this time there is a strategically positioned woman 00:13:56.539 --> 00:14:03.799 with a millstone. She drops it on Abimelech, and so that he doesn't bear the shame of being killed 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:13.980 by a woman, he asks someone to drive him through with a sword. Okay, this is a long reading and a long 00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:20.440 chapter. If you didn't track with all of that, the point is this. Abimelech and the men of Shechem, 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:31.720 who were in an alliance to destroy all other sons of Gideon, both meet justice. Abimelech 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:40.639 and the leaders of Shechem are killed. We end on those two notes. Verse 56, judgment on Abimelech. 00:14:41.320 --> 00:14:48.320 Verse 57, judgment on the leaders of Shechem. And so in all the events that we're reading about in 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:55.240 this chapter, there's two key points, two key focus verses. You have verses 56 and 57, which says 00:14:55.240 --> 00:15:02.180 God brought justice. You have verses 23 and 24 that God sets up. It says he sent an evil spirit 00:15:02.180 --> 00:15:04.919 so that he could bring justice. 00:15:06.820 --> 00:15:11.440 It all goes back to the curse of Jotham from last week in verse 20. Remember he said, 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:23.240 may you destroy each other. Remember our question, what's our hope when we're under wicked leaders? 00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:29.220 What's the hope of the people of Israel as they're reminded of this story of Abimelech? 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:38.300 Where should they set their eyes when they find themselves in the future under Abimelech type kings? 00:15:38.299 --> 00:15:46.979 And the first is this, God is at work whether we see him or not. 00:15:49.479 --> 00:15:57.559 God is at work whether we see him or not. For the last couple chapters, the story of Judges has been 00:15:57.559 --> 00:16:02.719 completely haphazard. It seems like violent and wicked men are getting their way. 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:16.779 God is at work. And we're told at the very end here, verse 56, thus God, verse 57, and God. 00:16:18.680 --> 00:16:29.060 God's hands have been in control this entire time. God has never given up Israel. 00:16:29.059 --> 00:16:36.299 God has always been at work and in control from the very beginning. 00:16:38.299 --> 00:16:41.019 It's not just verses 56 and 57. 00:16:41.719 --> 00:16:45.079 As I mentioned just a minute ago, it's verses 23 and 24. 00:16:45.839 --> 00:16:48.599 Verse 23, God sent an evil spirit. 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:50.939 Verse 24, 00:16:52.019 --> 00:16:54.379 that justice might be done. 00:16:54.379 --> 00:17:01.059 No matter how wicked things get, 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:05.359 no matter how chaotic they seem, 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:08.720 in the rulers of this world, 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:12.339 God is working his purposes. 00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:18.539 God is a nose-to-tail cook. 00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:23.639 You guys will see this on page 8 of your worship guide. 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.960 However God is related to evil, 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:28.579 he is never tainted by it, 00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:30.619 is always sovereign over it, 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:32.519 and causes it to serve, 00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:33.319 in the end, 00:17:33.399 --> 00:17:35.420 his own just purposes. 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:38.180 There is great comfort for us 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:41.379 all in that. 00:17:41.380 --> 00:17:44.300 And of course, 00:17:44.360 --> 00:17:44.980 as we live, 00:17:45.040 --> 00:17:46.640 not in the time of judges, 00:17:46.800 --> 00:17:47.660 but in 2024, 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:50.220 we are not unfamiliar 00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:53.480 with violence and chaos 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.980 and wicked leaders. 00:17:56.040 --> 00:17:57.100 We could look 00:17:57.100 --> 00:17:59.240 to the ongoing conflict 00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:00.680 between Israel and Hamas. 00:18:02.060 --> 00:18:03.560 We are warming up 00:18:03.560 --> 00:18:06.300 for another contentious 00:18:06.300 --> 00:18:07.660 election season. 00:18:07.660 --> 00:18:12.340 We now have a standoff 00:18:12.340 --> 00:18:14.440 between some of our states 00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:15.680 and our federal government 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:16.900 on our southern border. 00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:20.320 There is a massacre 00:18:20.320 --> 00:18:22.340 that happened against Christians 00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:24.100 in Nigeria on Christmas Day. 00:18:27.300 --> 00:18:28.660 God is in control. 00:18:30.080 --> 00:18:31.820 God is working his purposes. 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:34.900 He's not far off. 00:18:35.800 --> 00:18:36.980 He's not distant. 00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:39.259 He's not forgotten. 00:18:40.059 --> 00:18:41.279 He's not absent. 00:18:43.700 --> 00:18:45.259 Behind the scenes, 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:48.339 God is still at work. 00:18:52.140 --> 00:18:53.980 This passage does not merely 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:56.059 or simply tell us 00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:58.579 that God is still in control 00:18:58.579 --> 00:18:59.160 of this world. 00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:00.599 He's still working his will. 00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:01.480 It actually tells us 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:03.480 what his purposes are. 00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:05.779 His purpose here 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:06.880 is to bring justice. 00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:09.299 Why did the evil spirit come? 00:19:09.380 --> 00:19:10.059 Verse 23. 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:11.759 We're told in the very next verse. 00:19:12.120 --> 00:19:12.920 Verse 24. 00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:14.059 So that the blood 00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:15.200 might come upon their heads. 00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:16.880 And then we're told 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:17.480 the same thing 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.240 at the very end. 00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:20.019 This long story of conflict 00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:21.500 comes at the very beginning 00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:22.319 and the end 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:23.200 with a reminder 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.680 of God's work. 00:19:26.620 --> 00:19:28.200 And so when we ask ourselves, 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:31.299 how can God allow this 00:19:31.299 --> 00:19:32.240 or that 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:34.440 to continue in our country? 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:35.740 How can God 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:37.000 allow this action 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:37.580 or that action 00:19:37.580 --> 00:19:38.960 to continue around the world? 00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:40.400 One of the answers 00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:41.680 that comes from this passage 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:42.220 is this. 00:19:43.100 --> 00:19:44.380 He will not 00:19:44.380 --> 00:19:45.559 allow it 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:46.380 forever. 00:19:49.580 --> 00:19:50.240 Wickedness 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:50.960 may flourish 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.759 for a time. 00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:53.759 It will not 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.400 flourish 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:55.380 in the end. 00:19:57.600 --> 00:19:58.279 Murderers 00:19:58.279 --> 00:20:00.140 and violent men 00:20:00.140 --> 00:20:00.660 succeed 00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:01.660 for a time. 00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:03.100 they will not 00:20:03.100 --> 00:20:03.860 succeed 00:20:03.860 --> 00:20:04.600 forever. 00:20:06.080 --> 00:20:06.940 God may 00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:07.740 seem 00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:09.000 far off. 00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:11.040 He is not. 00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:13.820 God may 00:20:13.820 --> 00:20:14.779 appear blind, 00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:16.240 but he sees. 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:19.040 God 00:20:19.040 --> 00:20:20.000 is bringing 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:20.900 justice 00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:22.360 to this world. 00:20:24.840 --> 00:20:25.680 God 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:26.540 brought a justice 00:20:26.540 --> 00:20:27.360 to Abimelech. 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:28.500 God brings justice 00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:30.859 to the leaders 00:20:30.859 --> 00:20:32.319 of Shechem. 00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:33.920 God 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:34.940 will bring 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:36.059 justice 00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:36.900 fully 00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:37.740 and finally 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:39.480 one day. 00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:46.240 And so 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:46.920 in this passage 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:48.079 we get a small 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:48.940 picture of that. 00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:49.839 There are many 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:50.339 places 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:51.480 in Scripture 00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:52.599 where we see 00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:53.900 just a little glimpse 00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:54.799 of the future 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:56.119 brought into the present. 00:20:56.119 --> 00:20:58.099 this is one 00:20:58.099 --> 00:20:58.479 of those 00:20:58.479 --> 00:20:59.379 small glimpses. 00:20:59.479 --> 00:20:59.859 We see 00:20:59.859 --> 00:21:00.739 God's future 00:21:00.739 --> 00:21:01.239 judgment 00:21:01.239 --> 00:21:02.259 acted out 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:03.379 in a small 00:21:03.379 --> 00:21:03.819 way 00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:04.379 on these 00:21:04.379 --> 00:21:05.039 evil actors 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:05.739 in this story. 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:08.739 And it 00:21:08.739 --> 00:21:09.959 reminds us 00:21:09.959 --> 00:21:10.739 of God's 00:21:10.739 --> 00:21:11.599 coming judgment 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.639 one day. 00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:15.119 And so 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:15.739 what is 00:21:15.739 --> 00:21:16.459 our hope 00:21:16.459 --> 00:21:17.619 when we 00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:18.599 find ourselves 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:19.599 with wicked 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:19.899 rulers? 00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.099 What is 00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:21.559 our hope 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:21.899 when we 00:21:21.899 --> 00:21:22.899 find a world 00:21:22.899 --> 00:21:23.619 filled with 00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:24.339 chaos and 00:21:24.339 --> 00:21:24.699 evil? 00:21:24.919 --> 00:21:25.199 Yes, 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:25.819 first, 00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:27.459 it is 00:21:27.459 --> 00:21:28.259 that God 00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:29.939 is at work 00:21:29.939 --> 00:21:30.339 whether we 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:30.799 see him 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:31.259 or not. 00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:32.539 And it 00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.019 is second 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:34.259 that God 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:35.019 is bringing 00:21:35.019 --> 00:21:36.219 justice. 00:21:38.239 --> 00:21:38.659 God 00:21:38.659 --> 00:21:39.239 will 00:21:39.239 --> 00:21:40.539 judge 00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.159 in part 00:21:41.159 --> 00:21:41.579 now 00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:42.299 and fully 00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:43.179 one 00:21:43.179 --> 00:21:43.919 day. 00:21:46.619 --> 00:21:47.319 And so 00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:47.639 we see 00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:48.039 that God 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:48.479 is at work. 00:21:48.579 --> 00:21:49.199 He's using 00:21:49.199 --> 00:21:50.119 wicked 00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:50.399 rulers 00:21:50.399 --> 00:21:51.239 for a time 00:21:51.239 --> 00:21:51.859 to accomplish 00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:52.559 his purposes 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:54.440 and 00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:55.480 but 00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:56.839 their judgment 00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:57.659 is coming. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.599 Abimelech 00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:01.819 survives 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:02.480 only for 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:02.859 a time. 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:05.700 You can 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:05.980 think of 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.579 whatever wicked 00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:07.079 ruler you 00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:07.559 might want 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:07.960 to right 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:08.240 now. 00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:10.579 They will 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:11.059 flourish 00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:12.259 for a time. 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:14.200 They will 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:14.919 not flourish 00:22:14.919 --> 00:22:15.779 forever. 00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:17.480 We could 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:17.919 even think 00:22:17.919 --> 00:22:18.240 of what's 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:18.539 happening 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.099 right now 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:19.599 at the 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:20.959 exposure 00:22:20.959 --> 00:22:21.619 of Jeffrey 00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:22.019 Epstein 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:22.539 ultimately 00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:22.879 right? 00:22:22.959 --> 00:22:23.559 All secrets 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:23.980 revealed 00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:24.559 all hearts 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.099 exposed. 00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:27.639 Wickedness 00:22:27.639 --> 00:22:28.199 and evil 00:22:28.199 --> 00:22:28.719 will not 00:22:28.719 --> 00:22:29.339 survive 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:30.339 forever. 00:22:32.659 --> 00:22:33.259 Now 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:33.939 sometimes 00:22:33.939 --> 00:22:34.559 people will 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:34.799 tell you 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.199 things like 00:22:35.199 --> 00:22:35.419 this. 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:35.579 They'll 00:22:35.579 --> 00:22:35.959 say look 00:22:35.959 --> 00:22:36.439 God is 00:22:36.439 --> 00:22:36.819 sovereign. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.379 He's in 00:22:37.379 --> 00:22:37.980 control. 00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:39.019 And so 00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:39.899 therefore 00:22:39.899 --> 00:22:41.480 shame 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.240 on you 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:42.759 Christian 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.740 for having 00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:44.639 any interest 00:22:44.639 --> 00:22:45.399 in politics. 00:22:46.639 --> 00:22:46.899 Shame 00:22:46.899 --> 00:22:47.439 on you 00:22:47.439 --> 00:22:47.919 Christian 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:48.840 for worrying 00:22:48.840 --> 00:22:49.380 about the 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:49.920 state of 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:50.519 this world. 00:22:51.360 --> 00:22:51.600 Of course 00:22:51.600 --> 00:22:52.039 anyone who 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:52.560 tells you 00:22:52.560 --> 00:22:53.200 that is 00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:53.820 often 00:22:53.820 --> 00:22:54.560 disingenuous 00:22:54.560 --> 00:22:55.100 because when 00:22:55.100 --> 00:22:55.560 something that 00:22:55.560 --> 00:22:55.980 they care 00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:56.560 about happens 00:22:56.560 --> 00:22:57.460 they're suddenly 00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:58.220 ringing the 00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:58.640 bell that 00:22:58.640 --> 00:22:59.140 everyone needs 00:22:59.140 --> 00:22:59.539 to join 00:22:59.539 --> 00:22:59.820 them in 00:22:59.820 --> 00:22:59.960 their 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:00.340 cause. 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:01.779 When we 00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:02.360 talk about 00:23:02.360 --> 00:23:02.759 God's 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.140 sovereignty, 00:23:03.300 --> 00:23:03.960 his control 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.420 in this 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:04.720 world, 00:23:04.820 --> 00:23:05.320 it does 00:23:05.320 --> 00:23:06.259 not mean 00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:06.900 that suddenly 00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:07.480 we stop 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.120 caring about 00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:08.380 what's 00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:08.680 happening 00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.300 around us. 00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:10.100 It does 00:23:10.100 --> 00:23:10.800 not mean 00:23:10.800 --> 00:23:11.360 that somehow 00:23:11.360 --> 00:23:11.900 we become 00:23:11.900 --> 00:23:13.180 uninvolved 00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:13.880 in working 00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:14.519 for a better 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:14.920 world. 00:23:15.320 --> 00:23:16.039 But it 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:17.120 does change 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:17.919 our framework. 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:19.399 It does 00:23:19.399 --> 00:23:20.199 change our 00:23:20.199 --> 00:23:20.679 hope and 00:23:20.679 --> 00:23:21.159 our focus. 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:21.679 Remember our 00:23:21.679 --> 00:23:22.159 question is 00:23:22.159 --> 00:23:22.519 what is our 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:23.099 hope when we 00:23:23.099 --> 00:23:23.519 have wicked 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:23.879 leaders? 00:23:24.899 --> 00:23:25.599 One pastor 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:26.139 gives these 00:23:26.139 --> 00:23:26.839 wonderful 00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:27.719 categories that 00:23:27.719 --> 00:23:28.079 I love. 00:23:28.159 --> 00:23:28.339 He says 00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:29.079 basically the 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:29.659 difference 00:23:29.659 --> 00:23:30.759 between those 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.239 who hope 00:23:31.239 --> 00:23:31.659 in God 00:23:31.659 --> 00:23:32.000 and those 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.439 who don't 00:23:32.439 --> 00:23:32.799 hope in 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:33.179 God is 00:23:33.179 --> 00:23:33.539 this. 00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:34.419 It is 00:23:34.419 --> 00:23:35.079 the difference 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:35.519 between 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:36.119 sorrow 00:23:36.119 --> 00:23:37.500 and despair. 00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:40.099 When we 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:40.799 as Christians 00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:42.459 see wickedness 00:23:42.459 --> 00:23:43.439 flourishing in 00:23:43.439 --> 00:23:44.179 this world, 00:23:44.459 --> 00:23:45.459 it is good 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.400 and right 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:47.079 to be 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:47.519 filled with 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:47.840 sorrow. 00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:50.740 But we 00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.299 never 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:52.340 despair. 00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:54.640 Because we 00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:55.120 know God's 00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:55.759 working everything 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.140 for his 00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:56.480 purposes, 00:23:56.620 --> 00:23:56.799 right? 00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:57.980 When we 00:23:57.980 --> 00:23:58.480 look and 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:58.960 see the 00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.600 world around 00:23:59.600 --> 00:23:59.900 us, 00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:00.259 it does 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.100 not mean 00:24:01.100 --> 00:24:02.440 that we 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.279 can't act, 00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:04.279 that we 00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:04.819 can't take 00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:05.579 the responsibilities 00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:06.360 and privileges 00:24:06.360 --> 00:24:06.880 that have been 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:07.519 given to us 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.100 to move 00:24:08.100 --> 00:24:08.579 forward. 00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:10.120 It does 00:24:10.120 --> 00:24:10.680 mean no 00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:11.380 matter what 00:24:11.380 --> 00:24:12.079 happens, 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:13.759 we don't 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.180 give up. 00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:15.660 no matter 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:16.240 what happens, 00:24:16.340 --> 00:24:16.880 we are not 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:18.220 filled with 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:18.680 despair. 00:24:19.900 --> 00:24:20.259 The Bible 00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:21.000 thankfully speaks 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:21.720 to both sides 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:22.060 of this. 00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:22.740 We're told in 00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.580 Psalm 119 00:24:23.580 --> 00:24:24.720 about appropriate 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.259 sorrow. 00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:26.380 The psalmist 00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:27.080 says this, 00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:28.240 my eyes shed 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:28.980 streams of 00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:30.140 tears because 00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:31.080 people do not 00:24:31.080 --> 00:24:31.580 keep your 00:24:31.580 --> 00:24:31.920 law. 00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:34.000 In other 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.120 words, 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:34.500 the psalmist 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:34.860 is filled 00:24:34.860 --> 00:24:35.299 with grief. 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.200 He looks 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:37.779 around at the 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.039 world, 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:38.920 he sees 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:39.759 people rebelling 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.440 against God 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:41.160 and it fills 00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:41.519 him with 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:41.799 tears. 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:43.080 He doesn't 00:24:43.080 --> 00:24:43.320 say, 00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:43.960 God's 00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:44.259 sovereign, 00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:44.679 he's in 00:24:44.679 --> 00:24:45.079 control, 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:45.819 silly me 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:46.359 for caring 00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:46.779 about any 00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:47.059 of these 00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:47.339 things. 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:48.939 No, 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.439 he cares 00:24:49.439 --> 00:24:49.939 deeply 00:24:49.939 --> 00:24:50.639 about them 00:24:50.639 --> 00:24:52.359 and he's 00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:53.299 not crushed 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:54.879 because he 00:24:54.879 --> 00:24:55.220 knows the 00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:55.720 other side. 00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:56.240 There's another 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:56.799 promise in 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.200 the psalm. 00:24:57.299 --> 00:24:57.879 Psalm 46 00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:58.759 reminds us 00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.759 God is our 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.439 refuge and 00:25:00.439 --> 00:25:00.879 strength, 00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:01.700 a very 00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:02.399 present help 00:25:02.399 --> 00:25:03.159 in trouble. 00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:05.259 Therefore, 00:25:05.419 --> 00:25:05.899 we will not 00:25:05.899 --> 00:25:06.200 fear, 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:06.500 though the 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.000 earth gives 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.399 way, 00:25:07.879 --> 00:25:08.179 though the 00:25:08.179 --> 00:25:08.879 mountains be 00:25:08.879 --> 00:25:09.639 moved into 00:25:09.639 --> 00:25:10.220 the heart 00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:11.059 of the 00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:11.299 sea. 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:14.220 And so 00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:15.019 Christian faith 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.579 is both 00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:16.019 of those 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:16.420 things. 00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:17.960 It is a 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:18.960 realistic, 00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.680 clear-eyed 00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.259 view and 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:22.100 sorrow over 00:25:22.100 --> 00:25:22.559 the state 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:22.839 of the 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:23.120 world. 00:25:24.120 --> 00:25:24.819 It is an 00:25:24.819 --> 00:25:25.559 appropriate 00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:27.720 anger against 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.620 violations of 00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:29.279 God's law 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:32.380 and it is 00:25:32.380 --> 00:25:33.120 coming nowhere 00:25:33.120 --> 00:25:33.860 close to 00:25:33.860 --> 00:25:34.680 despair because 00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:35.740 we know that 00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.960 God holds 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.559 the world 00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:38.500 in his 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:38.839 hands. 00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:43.059 So what 00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:43.359 is our 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:43.599 hope? 00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:45.299 Our hope 00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:46.619 is real 00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:48.579 and so I'm 00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.079 not saying 00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:49.679 don't care, 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:51.119 I'm saying 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.539 don't give 00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:51.759 up. 00:25:54.099 --> 00:25:54.919 I'm not 00:25:54.919 --> 00:25:55.879 saying close 00:25:55.879 --> 00:25:56.579 your eyes, 00:25:57.579 --> 00:25:59.379 I'm saying 00:25:59.379 --> 00:26:00.059 don't be 00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:00.460 crushed. 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:03.480 God is 00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:04.879 working out 00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:06.019 his will 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.919 and his 00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:08.279 purposes no 00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:08.880 matter what. 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:11.720 God is 00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.620 at work 00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:14.400 in every 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:15.620 politician and 00:26:15.620 --> 00:26:16.000 political 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:16.740 process. 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.560 God is 00:26:18.560 --> 00:26:19.320 not ignorant 00:26:19.320 --> 00:26:21.240 of the 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:21.740 violence 00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:22.560 around our 00:26:22.560 --> 00:26:22.920 world. 00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:25.440 He is 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:26.000 acting 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:27.140 and he 00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:27.519 will 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.519 act. 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:32.019 I mentioned 00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:32.480 before that 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.019 this passage 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:33.560 points us 00:26:33.560 --> 00:26:34.140 forward to 00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:34.539 God's 00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:34.900 ultimate 00:26:34.900 --> 00:26:35.380 judgment 00:26:35.380 --> 00:26:36.340 at the 00:26:36.340 --> 00:26:36.580 end of 00:26:36.580 --> 00:26:36.860 time. 00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:38.720 And the 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.300 uncomfortable 00:26:39.300 --> 00:26:40.300 truth that 00:26:40.300 --> 00:26:40.740 Christianity 00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:41.860 teaches is 00:26:41.860 --> 00:26:42.680 it is not 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:44.000 just wicked 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.960 people out 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:46.040 there somewhere. 00:26:47.100 --> 00:26:47.420 No, the 00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:48.120 Bible tells us 00:26:48.120 --> 00:26:49.120 that wickedness 00:26:49.120 --> 00:26:49.900 is in our 00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:50.720 own hearts 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.700 as well. 00:26:53.060 --> 00:26:53.720 And so as 00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:54.460 we hope, 00:26:54.520 --> 00:26:55.040 as we see 00:26:55.040 --> 00:26:55.800 God working 00:26:55.800 --> 00:26:56.140 out his 00:26:56.140 --> 00:26:56.500 purposes, 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.460 there's a part 00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:57.820 of us that 00:26:57.820 --> 00:26:58.180 should cause 00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:58.840 us to praise 00:26:58.840 --> 00:26:59.980 him and 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:00.500 there's a part 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.020 of that that 00:27:01.020 --> 00:27:01.800 rightly causes 00:27:01.800 --> 00:27:02.200 us to 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:02.580 tremble. 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:03.659 If God 00:27:03.659 --> 00:27:03.980 is going 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.419 to deal 00:27:04.419 --> 00:27:05.139 with evil, 00:27:05.399 --> 00:27:06.099 what does 00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:06.799 that mean 00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:07.639 for me? 00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:09.919 And that 00:27:09.919 --> 00:27:10.500 reminds us 00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:11.079 again of one 00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:11.579 of the major 00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:12.220 themes of 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:12.619 Judges, 00:27:12.679 --> 00:27:13.019 which is 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.740 God's 00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:14.819 mercy to 00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:15.699 hard-hearted 00:27:15.699 --> 00:27:16.220 people. 00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:17.759 God's 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:18.359 mercy to 00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:19.500 people like 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:20.539 you and 00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:20.779 me. 00:27:21.639 --> 00:27:22.519 Yes, we 00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:23.379 see God's 00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:24.199 judgment here. 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.619 Yes, last 00:27:25.619 --> 00:27:26.379 week we saw 00:27:26.379 --> 00:27:27.339 people often get 00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:27.980 the leaders they 00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.439 deserve, 00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:31.539 and we 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.160 can say at 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:33.700 least once we 00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:34.299 got a leader 00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:35.240 we did not 00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:35.660 deserve. 00:27:37.100 --> 00:27:37.980 How is it 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:38.460 that God 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.400 shows mercy 00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:40.039 to the people 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:40.519 of Israel 00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:41.340 over and 00:27:41.340 --> 00:27:41.600 over? 00:27:41.840 --> 00:27:42.420 How is it, 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:42.860 as we'll see 00:27:42.860 --> 00:27:43.360 next week, 00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:44.059 that he sends 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:44.799 good judges 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.320 to bad 00:27:45.320 --> 00:27:45.680 people? 00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:48.220 His mercy 00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:49.580 finds its 00:27:49.580 --> 00:27:50.580 foundation, 00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:52.420 its focal 00:27:52.420 --> 00:27:53.720 point in our 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.140 Lord Jesus 00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:54.600 Christ. 00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.640 That what 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:57.640 is true for 00:27:57.640 --> 00:27:58.120 us, what 00:27:58.119 --> 00:27:58.639 we look 00:27:58.639 --> 00:27:59.359 back towards, 00:27:59.500 --> 00:27:59.939 the people 00:27:59.939 --> 00:28:00.519 in Judges 00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.299 look forward 00:28:01.299 --> 00:28:02.239 to, which 00:28:02.239 --> 00:28:02.919 is that Jesus 00:28:02.919 --> 00:28:03.899 came in real 00:28:03.899 --> 00:28:04.719 time and real 00:28:04.719 --> 00:28:05.559 space as a 00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:06.159 real man. 00:28:07.199 --> 00:28:08.099 He walked 00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:09.000 and lived on 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:09.739 this earth the 00:28:09.739 --> 00:28:10.619 perfect life that 00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:11.519 we should have 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:11.919 lived. 00:28:12.439 --> 00:28:13.119 He credited 00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:13.879 that to us, 00:28:13.939 --> 00:28:14.299 to those who 00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:14.839 have faith in 00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:15.899 him, and 00:28:15.899 --> 00:28:16.399 then he took 00:28:16.399 --> 00:28:17.000 the punishment 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.439 that we 00:28:17.439 --> 00:28:17.839 deserve. 00:28:19.939 --> 00:28:20.500 And so why 00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.119 is it that we 00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:21.839 can have hope 00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:22.419 as God's 00:28:22.419 --> 00:28:23.599 judgment comes? 00:28:26.139 --> 00:28:27.000 Because God 00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:27.899 holds not 00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:28.400 just this 00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:29.600 world, he 00:28:29.600 --> 00:28:30.480 holds the 00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.360 lives of 00:28:31.360 --> 00:28:32.340 those who 00:28:32.340 --> 00:28:33.540 trust in 00:28:33.540 --> 00:28:33.860 him. 00:28:38.460 --> 00:28:39.100 In 00:28:39.100 --> 00:28:40.000 Christmas of 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:41.840 1939, King 00:28:41.840 --> 00:28:42.580 George VI 00:28:42.580 --> 00:28:43.759 gave a radio 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.660 broadcast on 00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.320 Christmas Day. 00:28:46.320 --> 00:28:46.840 Now, if you're a 00:28:46.840 --> 00:28:47.460 student of history, 00:28:47.600 --> 00:28:48.180 you know, on 00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:49.800 September 3rd of 00:28:49.800 --> 00:28:51.120 1939, Britain 00:28:51.120 --> 00:28:52.220 had declared war 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.100 on Germany. 00:28:53.860 --> 00:28:54.160 So they're 00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:54.880 almost three 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:56.220 months into 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:57.039 World War II. 00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:58.700 The realities 00:28:58.700 --> 00:28:59.319 of war are 00:28:59.319 --> 00:28:59.900 coming home 00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:00.620 to them, and 00:29:00.620 --> 00:29:01.420 there is great 00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:02.299 trepidation and 00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:03.779 anxiety among 00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:04.440 the people of 00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:04.960 Britain about 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:05.660 what is going 00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:06.079 to happen 00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:06.539 next. 00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:09.259 Giving this 00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:10.180 radio address, 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:11.360 King George 00:29:11.360 --> 00:29:13.460 VI reads a 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:13.940 poem, and it 00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:14.680 was a poem that 00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:15.220 his daughter, 00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:16.600 Elizabeth, had 00:29:16.600 --> 00:29:17.240 told him about. 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:18.420 Elizabeth was 00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:19.519 13 years old at 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:19.920 the time. 00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:21.339 She's who we 00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:22.299 now know, now 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:23.319 call Queen 00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:24.039 Elizabeth II. 00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:25.839 We lost her 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:26.259 just very 00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:26.659 recently. 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.279 And so she 00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:28.920 tells, this 00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:29.720 13-year-old girl 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.599 tells her father 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.159 about this 00:29:31.159 --> 00:29:32.299 poem, and so 00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:33.159 he reads it to 00:29:33.159 --> 00:29:34.039 the entire nation 00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.619 of Britain on 00:29:34.619 --> 00:29:35.259 Christmas Day. 00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:35.599 It's on the 00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:36.019 back of your 00:29:36.019 --> 00:29:36.579 worship guide. 00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:38.059 It's called 00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:38.639 The Gate of 00:29:38.639 --> 00:29:39.039 the Year. 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.839 And I said to 00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:41.339 the man who 00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:41.819 stood at the 00:29:41.819 --> 00:29:42.519 gate of the 00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:43.539 year, give me 00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:44.480 a light that I 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:44.960 may tread 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:46.279 safely into 00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:46.940 the unknown. 00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:48.859 And he 00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:49.879 replied, go 00:29:49.879 --> 00:29:50.779 out into the 00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:52.099 darkness and 00:29:52.099 --> 00:29:52.920 put your hand 00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:53.779 into the hand 00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:54.360 of God. 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:55.840 That shall be 00:29:55.840 --> 00:29:57.920 to you better 00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:58.620 than a light 00:29:58.620 --> 00:29:59.759 and safer 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:01.180 than a known 00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:02.080 way. 00:30:04.580 --> 00:30:05.420 God is at 00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:05.640 work. 00:30:07.080 --> 00:30:07.940 He's using 00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.660 history to 00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:09.460 accomplish his 00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:11.360 purposes, and 00:30:11.360 --> 00:30:12.000 he is bringing 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:13.580 full and final 00:30:13.580 --> 00:30:14.460 justice. 00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:16.259 Because of 00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:17.940 that, for 00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:18.900 those who have 00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:19.980 trust and faith 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:20.700 in Christ, 00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:22.940 walking with 00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:25.000 him is better 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:26.180 than a light, 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:28.059 and it is 00:30:28.059 --> 00:30:29.519 safer than a 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.819 known way. 00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:32.700 Let's pray. 00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:35.500 Our Father in 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.100 heaven, we 00:30:36.100 --> 00:30:37.240 praise you and 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:37.940 we thank you 00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:39.980 that you haven't 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:40.460 taken your 00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:42.299 hands off of 00:30:42.299 --> 00:30:42.740 the wheel of 00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:43.259 this world, 00:30:44.100 --> 00:30:45.319 that even when 00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:45.940 we don't see 00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:47.100 you, you're 00:30:47.100 --> 00:30:47.680 still at work. 00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:49.480 when we cry 00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.080 out to you, you 00:30:50.080 --> 00:30:51.779 hear us, and 00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:52.640 you are working 00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:53.759 to make all 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:54.320 things right. 00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:55.519 We ask that you 00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:56.480 would remind us of 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:57.220 that this morning, 00:30:57.320 --> 00:30:57.799 that you would 00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:59.000 grow our belief 00:30:59.000 --> 00:30:59.600 and our faith 00:30:59.600 --> 00:31:00.100 and our hope 00:31:00.100 --> 00:31:00.740 and our trust, 00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:02.000 that more and 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.640 more we would be 00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:04.200 people who, 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:05.240 when we experience 00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:06.420 sorrow, never 00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:06.960 come near to 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:08.299 despair, because 00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:09.980 we know that 00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:11.060 you are writing 00:31:11.060 --> 00:31:11.940 your story in 00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:12.420 this world. 00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:13.720 We ask these 00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.279 things in the 00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:14.920 mighty name of 00:31:14.920 --> 00:31:15.640 Jesus Christ. 00:31:15.980 --> 00:31:16.220 Amen.