WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.419 Okay, morning folks. Lovely to be with you today and special welcome to those who are joining us 00:00:07.419 --> 00:00:11.740 this morning as visitors. It's so lovely to have you with us. What a passage you have picked to 00:00:11.740 --> 00:00:16.660 drop in on. We need God's help with this this morning. If ever there was a passage that we do 00:00:16.660 --> 00:00:19.760 is this one. So why don't we pray and then we'll get into it together. 00:00:21.460 --> 00:00:27.500 Heavenly Father, we think of the words of Psalm 119, that you would open our eyes to behold 00:00:27.500 --> 00:00:33.380 marvelous things in your word. So Father, I'm so aware this morning of my inadequacy. 00:00:33.939 --> 00:00:39.600 I'm so aware this morning, Lord, of our limited understanding. And we pray that your spirit would 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:43.960 come and would he illuminate these words so that we would leave this morning with a bigger 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:50.560 vision of Jesus and a deeper affection for him. And we pray these things in his name. Amen. 00:00:52.579 --> 00:00:56.439 Well, if you've got the passage open in front of you, let me try and get us to the big word 00:00:56.439 --> 00:01:03.299 that's at the heart of this chapter. And it's the words that gets us to the heart of the Christian 00:01:03.299 --> 00:01:09.120 faith. And it's a word that I think doesn't come naturally to us in the 21st century West. 00:01:09.859 --> 00:01:14.900 So before we moved to Edinburgh 12 years ago, we lived in a city in the south of England called 00:01:14.900 --> 00:01:20.759 Bristol. And I remember when I first moved to Bristol, I'm a bit of an extrovert, loved to get out 00:01:20.759 --> 00:01:25.819 there, started walking around the city to get to know the sites. These were kind of before Sat Nav was 00:01:25.819 --> 00:01:31.079 popular, was trying to work out where everything was in the city. And I got to the middle and there 00:01:31.079 --> 00:01:36.959 was a statue that had stood there for years of this man in Bristol called Edward Colston. 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:44.439 Now, he was one of the greatest contributors to the city's prosperity. And yet he was a highly 00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:51.719 controversial figure because so much of his wealth came from his involvement in the slave trade during 00:01:51.719 --> 00:01:59.560 the 17th and 18th century in Britain. And that's why, if you know his name, it's probably because of 00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:06.060 the scenes that hit our news screens about four years ago. Because this volcanic outcry came against 00:02:06.060 --> 00:02:13.879 this man from the local Bristolians that justice needed to be done. That this man needed his just 00:02:13.879 --> 00:02:20.419 desserts for what he'd done in history. And what they did is they took his statue, they toppled it, 00:02:20.419 --> 00:02:24.799 and they threw it in the river because this man needed to get what was coming to him. 00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:29.699 Now, let me ask you, how did you feel in that moment as you remember those scenes? 00:02:32.139 --> 00:02:37.399 Some people might have had questions over how it was done, but I think all of us resonated with why 00:02:37.399 --> 00:02:44.199 it was done. And here's what I think it shows. The very fact that that phrase, just desserts, 00:02:44.299 --> 00:02:48.279 if you Google it, it's got nothing to do with ice cream. Actually, it's all from that French word, 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:55.000 desiree, isn't it? Meaning to get what you deserve. The fact that that phrase has been around, I think, 00:02:55.060 --> 00:02:59.979 since the 15th century, we're still using it today. I think it tells us something about human beings. 00:03:00.620 --> 00:03:03.800 I think it tells us that we are hardwired for justice. 00:03:06.659 --> 00:03:10.920 Justice, wanting justice for others comes really naturally to us. And what we're going to see, 00:03:11.060 --> 00:03:13.879 what we thought about the last few weeks, what we're going to see right at the end of this morning 00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:22.979 is that this God, right at the heart of his heart, is justice. But here's what Daniel 9 says to us in a 00:03:22.979 --> 00:03:30.060 world where we can so easily want justice on others, where we are encouraged to take on the role of 00:03:30.060 --> 00:03:37.479 judge, jury, and particularly the victim. It asks us to consider, have you ever thought of yourself as the 00:03:37.479 --> 00:03:46.560 accused? Have you ever thought about the fact that you might be, we might be guilty? And it stems from 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:52.199 the fact that so often we make the wrong comparison, right? We play our own little game of comparethemarket.com 00:03:52.199 --> 00:03:57.819 and what we do is we look horizontally when it comes to judging morality, don't we? We think, well, I'm not 00:03:57.819 --> 00:04:05.039 as nosy as my neighbours. I think about the fact that my kids aren't as, aren't as misbe, they don't 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:08.979 misbehave as much as other peoples do. We think about the fact that in the office, I'm not the one 00:04:08.979 --> 00:04:13.359 that gets up to all these crazy things. And yet the Bible would say, friends, that we make all the 00:04:13.359 --> 00:04:20.779 wrong comparisons when we look vertically, horizontally rather. And it tells us that we need to be looking 00:04:20.779 --> 00:04:26.680 vertically. And with that, we arrive at the difference between Christianity and every other 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:32.000 religious system in the world. A difference that you can sum up in two five-letter words beginning with 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:37.759 them. And we want something to hold on as we go through this. Grab these two words. See, in every 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:45.019 other religious system, how it works is the word merit. And it's intuitively how we think it should 00:04:45.019 --> 00:04:50.600 work with any kind of God of the universe. If he does exist, that he should reward us on the basis of 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:57.759 what we do, of how we perform, of how much effort we put in. But you come to the pages of the Bible and 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:02.719 you soon discover that the word at the heart of the gospel, and it's the word that's draped right 00:05:02.719 --> 00:05:09.300 across this chapter, if you're looking for something to hang your coat on, it's the word mercy. And 00:05:09.300 --> 00:05:14.139 you'll notice it there. It comes five times, I think, in Daniel's prayer from right at the end, 00:05:14.779 --> 00:05:21.279 from verses 18 to 20, sorry, 16 to 20. It's the word mercy. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:29.339 Of course, Jesus tells the Pharisees, doesn't he, to stop looking at the speck that's in other 00:05:29.339 --> 00:05:35.399 people's eyes. And I take it in a little bit of kind of first century comedy, he says, well, all the 00:05:35.399 --> 00:05:42.299 while you've got the log in yours. And what Daniel 9 is, right at its heart, is this man Daniel, he's 00:05:42.299 --> 00:05:49.079 owning the speck in his own heart. And he's owning the speck in the people's hearts. 00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:54.939 And God, as he speaks about the future, here's what Daniel realizes, and I think this is what 00:05:54.939 --> 00:06:00.699 is to be drilled down into the hearts of God's people. The only way, friends, as glorious as the 00:06:00.699 --> 00:06:05.779 future is, that we can have a share in it, is as we seek this God for forgiveness and mercy. 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:12.339 Here's Australian evangelist Glenn Scrivener, I love this. He perceives this about God's people. He says, 00:06:12.860 --> 00:06:17.959 other kingdoms would sing of their greatness, but Israel's songs were full of their faults. 00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:23.339 So what you see is you go through the Psalms, full of their faults. 00:06:24.899 --> 00:06:29.379 Come with me to chapter 9 in, let me give you the key to unlocking the safe that is this chapter. 00:06:30.719 --> 00:06:37.860 And the key to it is understanding when Daniel 9 happens. Have a look at verses 1 and 2 if you've 00:06:37.860 --> 00:06:44.879 got it there. This is the first year of Darius. Now that means we're about year 539 BC. 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:52.159 And that means two things for God's people. It means firstly that the Babylonian empire, 00:06:52.740 --> 00:06:58.519 the very people who had brutally dragged them into exile in the first place, have been defeated 00:06:58.519 --> 00:07:02.920 by the Medes and the Persians. So that's the first thing that it means for Daniel at the beginning 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:10.019 of chapter 9. But the second thing to see, and you get this at verse 2, is that the 70 years of exile 00:07:10.019 --> 00:07:19.319 that Jeremiah had spoken about are almost up. So we're roughly about year 66 or 67 of those 70. And 00:07:19.319 --> 00:07:26.259 you see how that's what Daniel perceives as he reads his Bible, as it were, that in terms of history, 00:07:26.259 --> 00:07:32.159 it's almost time for God to take his people home. And here's what I reckon would be the real temptation 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:39.220 for Daniel and his contemporaries at this moment. It's to think that God is taking us home because he is 00:07:39.220 --> 00:07:45.680 vindicating us in the eyes of the Babylonians. Because we are his special people, because he had made the 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:53.040 promises to us. And it's almost as if Daniel leads himself and the people in repenting and saying that the 00:07:53.040 --> 00:08:00.860 only way we have got to share in God's future is nothing to do with our merit. And it's everything 00:08:00.860 --> 00:08:07.720 to do with his mercy. And this chapter invites us, friends, to come to this God for forgiveness. 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:14.200 That's what's on offer for God's people here. As we think about the glorious future, the only way that 00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:20.879 it's ours is if we come to the cross, come to Jesus and plead to him for forgiveness. 00:08:22.719 --> 00:08:28.219 And so here's the two points this morning that will take us through this chapter today. Here's the 00:08:28.219 --> 00:08:33.819 two invitations that God makes to his people. Here's the first one. And it's to take his mercy to heart. 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:42.939 And Daniel's a wonderful example here, isn't he, of prayer. And may God just stir in us this year 00:08:42.940 --> 00:08:49.340 prayer. A real desire to seek him in prayer. Would that not be wonderful if this was the response 00:08:49.340 --> 00:08:54.800 that we make to this today, amongst other things, that there was just a real desire to declare our 00:08:54.800 --> 00:09:00.980 dependence on our God in prayer. What we get in chapter 9 may well be the template prayer that 00:09:00.980 --> 00:09:06.280 Daniel's been praying all the way through this book, all the way through his time in Babylon, 00:09:06.820 --> 00:09:12.160 the kind of which gets him thrown in the lion's den at chapter 6. So this may well be the prayer that 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:18.679 he's been praying for 70 years. Notice two things about his prayer, and it's a prayer that's 00:09:18.679 --> 00:09:23.819 bookended, verse 3 and verse 18. Do you see it? 3 and 18. 00:09:27.299 --> 00:09:28.799 With a plea for mercy. 00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:35.480 Notice, firstly, this is always a great thing if you're wondering how to structure a Bible study. 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:40.019 Think about these two things. What does the passage tell me about me and about humanity? 00:09:40.019 --> 00:09:44.480 And what does it tell me about God? That's what we're going to do with this prayer. 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:49.980 Notice, firstly, what he knows to be true about him and his people, verse 7. Just track with me, 00:09:50.039 --> 00:09:52.919 verse 7. Daniel says, 00:09:53.019 --> 00:09:54.939 To us belongs open shame. 00:09:57.220 --> 00:10:01.879 We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord. In fact, verse 8, 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:07.100 we have sinned against you. Daniel talks in this prayer, do you see it? Verse 11, 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:12.100 about the curses which him and his people deserve. Now, what he's doing there 00:10:12.100 --> 00:10:18.159 is he's telling us that he understands the exile, not politically. 00:10:20.419 --> 00:10:22.259 He understands it theologically. 00:10:24.019 --> 00:10:28.120 Daniel's thinking in his mind there about the covenant curses that God had said he would 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:31.159 bring on his people if they disobeyed him. 00:10:32.560 --> 00:10:36.379 And that means that if Daniel perceives the problem to be a theological one, 00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:39.799 it means that the answer is a theological one, not a political one. 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:43.860 Because if that's what Daniel knows to be true about him and his people, 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:46.460 if he's owning the speck, 00:10:47.019 --> 00:10:50.440 do you see what Daniel knows in stark contrast to be true about his God? 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:53.080 Right, verse 4. Take these in. Breathe them in. 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:56.340 Verse 4. The great and awesome God 00:10:56.340 --> 00:11:00.120 who keeps, and get this word, 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:03.320 who keeps covenant and who keeps steadfast love. 00:11:03.700 --> 00:11:06.160 To him belongs, verse 7, righteousness. 00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:09.420 Verse 19. 00:11:09.900 --> 00:11:13.320 This God, it's his right to forgive. 00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:18.580 And here's the question, maybe just a pit stop at this point. 00:11:18.580 --> 00:11:21.680 The question to ask ourselves is, 00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:24.580 what role does repentance play in our lives? 00:11:25.420 --> 00:11:26.980 You know, I came down to Alex last night, 00:11:27.660 --> 00:11:29.320 and the kids were misbehaving. 00:11:29.400 --> 00:11:30.600 I went up, and I said, 00:11:30.660 --> 00:11:31.920 you know what, I lost my cool. 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:34.440 And it just struck me. 00:11:34.520 --> 00:11:34.900 It was like, 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:37.200 should that not be something that we do in our lives, 00:11:37.220 --> 00:11:38.980 just to put our hands up as Christians and say, 00:11:39.060 --> 00:11:39.879 I got it wrong. 00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:42.420 And to seeking God for forgiveness, 00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:45.180 and then seeking the kids this morning for forgiveness as well. 00:11:45.300 --> 00:11:47.620 Friends, what role does repentance play in our lives? 00:11:47.620 --> 00:11:50.399 When was the last time that we put our hands up and said, 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:51.779 I got it wrong? 00:11:52.580 --> 00:11:55.919 And when was the last time we put our hands up and said, 00:11:56.299 --> 00:11:57.639 will you forgive me? 00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:03.759 Does our heart break over our sin like it does Daniel's? 00:12:04.840 --> 00:12:06.279 You know, I always joke about my mum. 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:09.639 Years and years, years of raising three boys, 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:12.980 she has what we call in our culture asbestos fingers. 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:13.879 Do you know that? 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:17.740 She's just got this inability to be able to take things out of the oven 00:12:17.740 --> 00:12:19.519 without wearing any gloves and not feel a thing. 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:25.539 And our hearts can so easily do that with our sin, 00:12:26.980 --> 00:12:28.100 that we just become numb 00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:32.100 to what it is doing in our lives 00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:35.379 and how it offends our holy creator God. 00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:38.340 Can I encourage us to embrace the fact that repentance 00:12:38.340 --> 00:12:41.939 in the Christian life is a really healthy thing? 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:47.019 Because it reminds us of the one place that we can run with our sin. 00:12:48.299 --> 00:12:51.019 Knowing that we do not need to pretend to be sorted 00:12:51.019 --> 00:12:53.559 when we run to Jesus and run to the cross 00:12:53.559 --> 00:12:56.539 and know what he's done to deal with our sin 00:12:56.539 --> 00:12:59.000 and free us from the bondage of our sin. 00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:02.860 But friends, when we grieve and when we lament over our sin, 00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:05.019 when we call it for what it is, 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:06.519 when we own the speck, 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:08.700 how have you ever thought about the fact 00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:09.759 that that longing, 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:13.440 that this just would not be true in my life, 00:13:13.500 --> 00:13:14.980 that I wouldn't struggle with the things 00:13:14.980 --> 00:13:16.120 that I keep struggling with, 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:19.419 is a little longing for the perfect world 00:13:19.419 --> 00:13:20.519 which we were made for. 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:24.699 It's a longing for heaven. 00:13:25.779 --> 00:13:27.460 When we own our sin, 00:13:28.319 --> 00:13:28.759 and we say, 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:31.360 God, would you be merciful to us, 00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:34.740 it is a longing for heaven. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:37.819 When these things will not be true, 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:39.439 when the sin that plagues our lives 00:13:39.439 --> 00:13:40.840 will not be a thing anymore 00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:42.460 because Jesus will have banished it. 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:44.699 Here's the key thing to see. 00:13:44.700 --> 00:13:48.200 This is the only place in the book of Daniel 00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:49.280 over your intifacts 00:13:49.280 --> 00:13:51.759 that the covenant name of God is used. 00:13:52.379 --> 00:13:53.379 Covenant name of God, 00:13:53.780 --> 00:13:54.580 capital L, 00:13:55.240 --> 00:13:56.060 capital O, 00:13:56.300 --> 00:13:56.920 capital R, 00:13:57.080 --> 00:13:57.860 capital D. 00:13:58.340 --> 00:14:00.460 This is the God who has revealed himself 00:14:00.460 --> 00:14:01.960 as the mighty warrior. 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:05.660 The God who has saved his people from Exodus. 00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:08.460 It's the name of the God who makes promises 00:14:08.460 --> 00:14:09.820 and he keeps them. 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:12.580 It's the name of the God who has plans and purposes 00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:16.160 to redeem a people and bring them to be with himself. 00:14:16.420 --> 00:14:19.320 When Daniel pleads the name of the Lord in this prayer, 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:22.560 it's him saying that our only hope 00:14:22.560 --> 00:14:25.500 is that the Lord is the Lord. 00:14:27.040 --> 00:14:30.520 It's our only hope that the Lord is the Lord. 00:14:33.020 --> 00:14:34.300 First invitation, friends, 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:37.580 is to see that God wants us to take his mercy to heart. 00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:41.020 Second invitation that God makes to us here 00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:43.639 is to keep his timeline in mind. 00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:46.980 Because I think Daniel realizes 00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:48.639 as he ends this prayer 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:51.279 and as he thinks about God 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:53.379 taking his people back to the land, 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:55.720 that what's going to happen 00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:57.179 is just Groundhog Day. 00:14:58.279 --> 00:14:58.960 You ever watch that film? 00:14:59.000 --> 00:14:59.699 Was it Bill Murray? 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:01.720 I can't remember did that film called Groundhog Day. 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:04.100 I can't work out if the film came before the phrase 00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:05.319 or the phrase came before the film. 00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:07.079 But it's this thing about, 00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:07.879 we use this phrase, don't we, 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:08.460 Groundhog Day, 00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:09.699 every day is the same. 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:12.940 History is just going to keep repeating itself 00:15:12.940 --> 00:15:14.220 and repeating himself 00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:15.780 because Daniel understands 00:15:15.780 --> 00:15:17.379 that while a change of scene 00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:18.920 is wonderful, 00:15:19.680 --> 00:15:21.420 the sin in our hearts 00:15:21.420 --> 00:15:22.840 is just the same. 00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:26.080 You know, we always talk about, 00:15:26.160 --> 00:15:26.980 don't we, in our culture 00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:28.820 about booking a holiday 00:15:28.820 --> 00:15:30.640 so that we can get away from it all. 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:32.680 Right? 00:15:32.800 --> 00:15:33.920 As if going on holiday 00:15:33.920 --> 00:15:35.520 is going to help us escape our problems. 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:36.860 And it helps a little bit, 00:15:36.920 --> 00:15:37.720 don't hear me wrong. 00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:39.740 But how often have you gone on a holiday 00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:41.139 and you've realized 00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:42.779 that the problems in your mind 00:15:42.779 --> 00:15:45.000 and the regrets and issues 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:46.100 that are still in your hearts 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:46.899 are still there? 00:15:49.180 --> 00:15:49.440 Yeah? 00:15:49.560 --> 00:15:50.620 I met a friend I had 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:51.399 after university 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:52.460 that went on a gap year 00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:53.320 to find themselves 00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:54.680 and then came back early 00:15:54.680 --> 00:15:55.360 and realized, 00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:55.720 actually, 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:56.759 we couldn't escape the things 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:57.840 that were going on in our lives. 00:15:58.700 --> 00:15:59.279 Change of scene 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:00.040 isn't the answer. 00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:05.519 What follows from verse 20 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:09.079 is God's answer 00:16:09.079 --> 00:16:10.319 to Daniel's realization. 00:16:12.319 --> 00:16:13.659 And what's going on here 00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:14.959 is God telling Daniel 00:16:14.959 --> 00:16:16.899 about what he's going to do 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:17.759 to deal with Daniel 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:19.899 and his people's greatest problem. 00:16:21.199 --> 00:16:22.839 And it's God telling Daniel 00:16:22.839 --> 00:16:24.679 about a greater home 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:26.959 that he's taken his people to. 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:28.360 And because of that, 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:29.400 it's God telling Daniel 00:16:29.400 --> 00:16:30.620 about the longer road 00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:31.800 that he's going to take 00:16:31.800 --> 00:16:33.300 his people on. 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:34.060 Do you see, 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:35.360 this God is not just 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:37.400 after getting his people 00:16:37.400 --> 00:16:38.580 back to their homeland, 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:40.200 as important as that is. 00:16:40.540 --> 00:16:40.900 No, no, no. 00:16:40.940 --> 00:16:42.379 This is about this God 00:16:42.379 --> 00:16:43.620 and his desire 00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.740 to make a way 00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:45.500 to bring his people 00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:46.400 back to himself. 00:16:49.300 --> 00:16:50.920 And that's what God sends Gabriel 00:16:50.920 --> 00:16:51.840 to tell Daniel. 00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:52.259 Do you see, 00:16:52.340 --> 00:16:53.920 this man who is greatly loved 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:54.579 by God. 00:16:56.219 --> 00:16:57.139 And as we journey 00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:57.979 through this section, 00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:58.279 friends, 00:16:58.319 --> 00:16:59.219 if you get lost, 00:17:00.699 --> 00:17:01.559 keep coming back 00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:02.599 to verse 24. 00:17:04.139 --> 00:17:05.599 Because this is what God 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:06.879 is saying he's going to do. 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:09.659 Do you read the phrases there? 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:10.559 He's going to finish 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:11.339 the transgression. 00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:13.619 He's got to put an end 00:17:13.619 --> 00:17:14.220 to sin. 00:17:14.379 --> 00:17:15.259 He's going to atone 00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:16.079 for inequity. 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:17.339 He's going to establish 00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:18.799 everlasting righteousness. 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:20.079 That's the plan. 00:17:21.159 --> 00:17:22.480 That's what God's going to do. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:25.279 And that's what the number, 00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:25.720 I think, 00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:26.819 if you're freaking out 00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:27.279 at this point, 00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:29.039 that is what the number 70, 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:30.880 77 is there to communicate. 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:32.839 This number, 00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:34.000 number seven in the Bible, 00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:36.200 that's always symbolic, 00:17:36.360 --> 00:17:36.620 isn't it, 00:17:36.620 --> 00:17:37.539 of perfection. 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:40.240 In fact, 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:40.900 you can probably go 00:17:40.900 --> 00:17:41.920 a bit further than that 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:43.120 and say actually it's the number 00:17:43.120 --> 00:17:43.940 that indicates 00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:45.000 perfect completion 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:47.259 of God's rest, 00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:48.360 of God's shalom, 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:50.279 of God getting his people 00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:52.039 to enjoy eternally 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:53.879 his rest. 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:56.579 God's going to finish 00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:57.319 this work. 00:17:58.920 --> 00:17:59.599 And you say, 00:17:59.660 --> 00:18:00.399 finish what? 00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:01.379 He's going to finish 00:18:01.379 --> 00:18:02.339 the stuff that's there 00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:03.339 at verse 24. 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:05.019 Because our God 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:05.940 is a finisher. 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.759 He doesn't have loose ends. 00:18:07.899 --> 00:18:09.460 He will finish things. 00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:10.879 And I think 00:18:10.879 --> 00:18:12.059 where we've gone wrong 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:13.599 in the church 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:14.379 over the years 00:18:14.379 --> 00:18:15.119 is that we've read 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:15.799 these verses 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:16.859 and make no mistake, 00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.480 they're some of the most 00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:18.399 difficult to understand 00:18:18.399 --> 00:18:19.220 in the Old Testament. 00:18:20.659 --> 00:18:21.519 But what we've done 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:22.059 is we thought, 00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:22.599 I think, 00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:24.279 that this is God 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:25.019 giving us 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:26.019 a microscope. 00:18:27.399 --> 00:18:28.740 And what we have done 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.879 is we've gone straight 00:18:29.879 --> 00:18:31.180 in there for the details. 00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:33.279 And what that's led to 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:34.980 is unnecessary speculation. 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:36.139 I think what it's led to 00:18:36.139 --> 00:18:36.779 is division. 00:18:37.539 --> 00:18:38.240 And ultimately, 00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:38.859 I don't think 00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:39.779 it's why it's there. 00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:41.539 Because this, 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:42.779 God telling Daniel this, 00:18:42.859 --> 00:18:43.879 is not to promote 00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:44.700 speculation 00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:46.620 in Daniel's heart 00:18:46.620 --> 00:18:48.660 is to encourage him. 00:18:49.860 --> 00:18:51.040 So this is not about 00:18:51.040 --> 00:18:51.800 God giving us 00:18:51.800 --> 00:18:52.560 the microscope 00:18:52.560 --> 00:18:53.980 so that we can zoom in. 00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:54.800 Actually, 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:55.920 this is God giving us 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:56.720 not the microscope 00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:57.600 but the telescope 00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:59.460 so that we can look 00:18:59.460 --> 00:19:00.480 right through 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.580 down to history 00:19:01.580 --> 00:19:02.180 where God says 00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:03.600 he is taking his people. 00:19:04.620 --> 00:19:05.260 And we can know 00:19:05.260 --> 00:19:06.460 what the future holds. 00:19:06.800 --> 00:19:08.020 And what does a telescope do? 00:19:08.100 --> 00:19:08.740 Does it make things 00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:09.660 smaller or bigger? 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.280 Answer. 00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:10.660 Come on. 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:11.320 Not rhetorical. 00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:12.120 What does it do? 00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:14.680 Oh, come on. 00:19:14.820 --> 00:19:15.460 What does it do? 00:19:16.120 --> 00:19:17.500 Makes it bigger, right? 00:19:17.760 --> 00:19:18.620 So this is what 00:19:18.620 --> 00:19:19.480 God is doing here. 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:19.940 He's saying, 00:19:20.040 --> 00:19:21.100 I'm going to finish it. 00:19:21.820 --> 00:19:23.100 I'm going to finish this work 00:19:23.100 --> 00:19:23.980 that's so much greater 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:24.580 than anything 00:19:24.580 --> 00:19:25.100 you could get 00:19:25.100 --> 00:19:26.240 your head around, Daniel. 00:19:26.540 --> 00:19:27.060 I don't want it 00:19:27.060 --> 00:19:27.820 to be smaller 00:19:27.820 --> 00:19:28.360 in your mind. 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:29.400 I want to encourage you 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:30.120 that it's bigger. 00:19:32.260 --> 00:19:33.320 It's not the microscope. 00:19:33.860 --> 00:19:34.960 It's the telescope 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:36.300 that he's giving them here. 00:19:37.840 --> 00:19:38.920 And it seems to me 00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:39.880 that what we get here, 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:40.280 if you remember 00:19:40.280 --> 00:19:41.160 that 70, 00:19:41.360 --> 00:19:43.100 how we're to understand it, 00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:43.959 theologically, 00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:46.619 what we have here, 00:19:46.659 --> 00:19:46.919 I think, 00:19:46.959 --> 00:19:48.159 is three periods. 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:48.599 In other words, 00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:49.919 this is God telling Daniel 00:19:49.919 --> 00:19:51.719 how he's going to do this 00:19:51.719 --> 00:19:52.279 down the line 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:52.859 in the future. 00:19:54.199 --> 00:19:55.259 And we've got a seven, 00:19:55.379 --> 00:19:56.279 we've got a 62, 00:19:56.419 --> 00:19:57.199 and we've got a one. 00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:58.799 Now, I'm no math genius, 00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:01.119 but what do those 00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:02.359 three numbers add up to? 00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.379 70, yeah? 00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:07.519 So this is God telling Daniel, 00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:09.319 this is what I'm going to do 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:11.319 to bring about the completion, 00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:13.000 to bring about the end of sin, 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:14.000 to bring about the fact 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:14.639 that I want you, 00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:15.119 my people, 00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:15.899 to be with me 00:20:15.899 --> 00:20:16.839 in my presence. 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:18.599 70. 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.399 So this is how God 00:20:20.399 --> 00:20:21.419 is going to complete 00:20:21.419 --> 00:20:22.139 the work 00:20:22.139 --> 00:20:23.500 that he's mentioned 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:24.579 at verse 24, 00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:26.200 which I think is why 00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:27.099 we need to understand 00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:27.720 these numbers, 00:20:27.919 --> 00:20:28.500 not literally, 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:30.339 but theologically. 00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:31.700 Now, here's my stab at it, 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.480 and if you disagree 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:33.359 with me, friends, 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:34.639 I come at this 00:20:34.639 --> 00:20:36.059 humbly and gently, 00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:37.079 and we can thumb war it 00:20:37.079 --> 00:20:37.639 out of the back 00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:38.220 of the service 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:39.180 once we're done, 00:20:39.340 --> 00:20:40.280 and I'm good at thumb wars, 00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:40.660 okay? 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.520 You've got three things 00:20:43.520 --> 00:20:43.780 in here, 00:20:43.840 --> 00:20:44.460 and maybe this is about 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:45.160 God saying how 00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:46.120 he's going to do this. 00:20:46.259 --> 00:20:47.880 You've got these seven weeks 00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:49.340 to see that 00:20:49.340 --> 00:20:50.320 in verse 25, 00:20:51.320 --> 00:20:54.060 which start with 00:20:54.060 --> 00:20:56.759 the going out of a word. 00:20:58.860 --> 00:20:59.880 I think that's the moment 00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:00.580 when Cyrus, 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.540 the king of Persia, 00:21:01.660 --> 00:21:02.740 says to God's people, 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:04.120 you can go home. 00:21:04.520 --> 00:21:05.860 It's just about to happen. 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.259 Cyrus says, 00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:08.019 you can go home. 00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:09.440 Cyrus may well be 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:10.279 the anointed one 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:11.720 that's referred to here, 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.839 because he's referred to elsewhere 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:15.059 in Scripture 00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:17.259 as the anointed one. 00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:19.619 But as joyous a moment 00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:20.640 as that is going to be, 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.720 as God's people are told 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:22.599 they can go home, 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:24.099 God's got greater 00:21:24.099 --> 00:21:25.980 and he's got longer plans. 00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:29.819 And then we get these 62 weeks, 00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:30.640 and this is a time 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.379 when you see it, 00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:33.480 when the temple 00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:34.539 will be rebuilt, 00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.279 and that's going to be 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:36.180 a wonderful, 00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:37.539 a glorious moment 00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:38.399 in the lives 00:21:38.399 --> 00:21:39.139 of God's people. 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:39.899 You can read about that 00:21:39.899 --> 00:21:40.319 in Ezra, 00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:41.039 Nehemiah, 00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:42.899 but it's going to happen 00:21:42.899 --> 00:21:44.039 with great opposition. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.399 Again, 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.180 that's what you'll find 00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:46.879 as you read those books. 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:48.619 People around about 00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:49.599 opposing the work 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:50.500 that's going on. 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:52.000 But as joyous a moment 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:52.920 as that is, 00:21:53.899 --> 00:21:55.099 God has got greater 00:21:55.099 --> 00:21:56.399 and he's got longer 00:21:56.399 --> 00:21:58.559 and he's got bigger plans. 00:21:59.639 --> 00:22:00.899 And then we get the one week 00:22:00.899 --> 00:22:02.000 at verse 27, 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:02.720 and let me tell you 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.500 there are more opinions 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:04.500 on this than there are 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:05.460 on England's shocker 00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:06.019 of a performance 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:06.660 the other night, 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:07.119 okay? 00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:09.680 And here's my best guess, 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:10.299 said with humility 00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:11.140 and respect. 00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:13.799 May it well be the case 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:15.519 that verses 26 and 27 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.480 are to be read 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:18.740 not in a sequential manner, 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:21.299 but a parallel manner. 00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:21.839 In other words, 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:22.759 26, 27, 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:23.359 they're talking about 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:25.359 the same things. 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:27.720 The same two things, 00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:28.339 in fact. 00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:30.359 Do you see 00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:31.259 how what we have here, 00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:32.039 we have this figure 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:33.399 called the Anointed One 00:22:33.399 --> 00:22:34.179 who's going to appear 00:22:34.179 --> 00:22:34.719 on the scene, 00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:37.500 who'll be cut off, 00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:40.619 who'll make a strong covenant 00:22:40.619 --> 00:22:41.299 with many, 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:43.719 and from there 00:22:43.719 --> 00:22:44.779 we get the second half 00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.619 of the one week, 00:22:46.199 --> 00:22:46.939 he'll make an end 00:22:46.939 --> 00:22:48.259 to the need for sacrifice 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.719 and for offering. 00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:51.079 And it seems to me 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:53.899 that that is a very good description 00:22:53.899 --> 00:22:56.199 of the person and work of Jesus, 00:22:56.839 --> 00:23:00.099 who died for our sin, 00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:02.119 and who's done away 00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:02.819 with the need 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:05.240 for the Old Testament sacrifices. 00:23:06.859 --> 00:23:08.240 This second half 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:08.799 of the first week, 00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:09.919 the church age 00:23:09.919 --> 00:23:11.259 you can understand it as. 00:23:11.679 --> 00:23:13.279 That's big thing number one, 00:23:13.379 --> 00:23:15.379 the person and work of Jesus, right? 00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:16.879 Big thing number two 00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:19.000 is the destroying of Jerusalem, 00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:20.419 the destroying of the city, 00:23:20.939 --> 00:23:22.000 most likely the Romans 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:24.039 who destroy it in AD 70. 00:23:25.099 --> 00:23:26.599 Now, why mention that? 00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:30.099 Well, this is going to 00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:31.199 completely rock 00:23:31.199 --> 00:23:33.319 the lives of God's people 00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:34.439 when this thing is destroyed 00:23:34.439 --> 00:23:35.019 by the Romans. 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:37.699 But God wants his people 00:23:37.699 --> 00:23:38.559 to know that everything 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:39.699 that needed to be done 00:23:39.699 --> 00:23:41.079 to deal with our sin 00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:42.599 has been done 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:44.079 by the work of this Anointed One. 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:46.740 And this is why 00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:47.719 if you look back 00:23:47.719 --> 00:23:48.679 right to the start 00:23:48.679 --> 00:23:50.000 about God's justice, 00:23:51.199 --> 00:23:52.539 that this is what 00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:54.659 it is telling us about God, 00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:56.540 that God does not just sweep 00:23:56.540 --> 00:23:58.600 our sin under the carpet. 00:23:58.900 --> 00:24:00.600 His mercy is not about 00:24:00.600 --> 00:24:02.380 overlooking all the wrongs 00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:04.040 that us, we have done 00:24:04.040 --> 00:24:05.000 and are in the world. 00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:08.279 Actually, the cross is the place 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.279 where Jesus bore 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.500 the full wrath of God 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.720 that we deserve on himself. 00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:12.720 And that is why God 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.740 is both the just 00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.880 and the justifier. 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:16.519 He is perfectly just. 00:24:18.900 --> 00:24:20.560 Jesus bore the wrath of God 00:24:20.560 --> 00:24:21.240 for us, friends. 00:24:21.360 --> 00:24:22.660 That is why there's forgiveness 00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:23.660 on offer this morning 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.620 for all the things 00:24:24.620 --> 00:24:25.240 that we have done. 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.240 For all the things 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:27.140 that Daniel owns, 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:28.340 the open shame 00:24:28.340 --> 00:24:29.759 that is his, friends. 00:24:29.840 --> 00:24:31.680 Do not wallow in your shame. 00:24:32.120 --> 00:24:33.019 Come to the cross 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:33.720 for forgiveness. 00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:35.200 This is what it's telling you. 00:24:35.580 --> 00:24:37.120 But regardless of where you are 00:24:37.120 --> 00:24:37.820 on those weeks 00:24:37.820 --> 00:24:38.680 and it's worth thinking 00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:39.440 about these things, 00:24:39.560 --> 00:24:40.860 don't run away from them. 00:24:40.900 --> 00:24:41.900 Have a think about it. 00:24:42.620 --> 00:24:44.220 What we need to see here 00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:45.720 is the final thing 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:47.360 that God says needs to be done 00:24:47.360 --> 00:24:50.140 to complete all this work. 00:24:50.540 --> 00:24:52.040 Do you see verse 27? 00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:53.940 He calls it the decreed end. 00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:55.980 When God, 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:57.220 the righteous judge, 00:24:57.299 --> 00:24:58.559 hands all authority 00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:59.539 to the Son of Man, 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:00.440 this figure who we've been 00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:01.019 thinking about 00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:01.879 in the book of Daniel 00:25:01.879 --> 00:25:02.799 and for whom 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:04.680 the finishing play 00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:06.220 in all of history 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:08.279 is of this Son of Man, 00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:10.119 banishing evil 00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:11.740 and opposition to him 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:13.659 and bringing about 00:25:13.659 --> 00:25:14.440 God's people, 00:25:14.619 --> 00:25:15.460 being with him 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.639 in the new heavens 00:25:16.639 --> 00:25:18.299 and in the new earth, 00:25:18.399 --> 00:25:20.359 the place where no more death 00:25:20.359 --> 00:25:22.119 and there's no more sin. 00:25:22.439 --> 00:25:23.379 This is the place 00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:24.779 where Jesus rules. 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:27.359 And this is the thing 00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:28.679 that we wait for today. 00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:30.619 God's people, 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:31.919 by very definition, 00:25:32.879 --> 00:25:34.059 we are a people 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:35.699 who are waiting. 00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.919 We are waiting 00:25:37.919 --> 00:25:39.119 on this Son of Man 00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:39.740 coming back 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.819 to usher in 00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:44.119 this decreed end. 00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:45.399 And this is all 00:25:45.399 --> 00:25:46.439 because of his mercy. 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:48.979 Not because of our merit. 00:25:49.719 --> 00:25:51.159 All because of his mercy 00:25:51.159 --> 00:25:52.679 that he is going to bring about 00:25:52.679 --> 00:25:54.579 the return and completion 00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:56.579 of the 77s. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.979 Now, just as we close, 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:01.779 let me help us think 00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:03.559 about what this calls us to do 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:05.919 and how we should 00:26:05.919 --> 00:26:07.059 respond to this. 00:26:07.879 --> 00:26:08.099 You know, 00:26:08.139 --> 00:26:09.119 a letter arrived 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:11.539 three days ago 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:13.599 in the post for Alex. 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.659 And it said, 00:26:15.919 --> 00:26:17.519 due date 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:19.079 for baby number four, 00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.960 the 1st of July. 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:23.440 Now, I'm terrible 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:23.960 at birthdays, 00:26:24.119 --> 00:26:25.240 so I'm really glad 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:26.279 if that is the case, 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:26.960 it turns out to be 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:27.919 on the 1st of a month. 00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:28.759 I am seeing that 00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.259 as a win. 00:26:31.879 --> 00:26:33.179 I'm not great on dates. 00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:34.379 And yet, 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:35.839 every time this 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:36.639 has rolled around, 00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:38.200 I'm remembered about 00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:39.159 what it is to wait 00:26:39.159 --> 00:26:39.899 on the next one. 00:26:41.379 --> 00:26:41.619 Right? 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:42.299 And I say this, 00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:42.899 this is the whole 00:26:42.899 --> 00:26:43.639 pregnancy journey 00:26:43.639 --> 00:26:44.460 and I say this with 00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:46.039 sensitivity because I know 00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:46.720 for many of us 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.299 this has been 00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:48.519 a painful experience. 00:26:48.639 --> 00:26:49.359 And we want to be a church 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.740 that speaks about these things. 00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:51.799 Happened to us 00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:52.899 before Chloe was born. 00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:53.899 It's really painful. 00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:55.779 But all of this is to say 00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:57.299 the pregnancy journey. 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.119 What happens? 00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:58.839 You find out 00:26:58.839 --> 00:27:00.059 you're having a baby. 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:02.559 And what happens next 00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:03.279 is you look forward 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:03.759 to what? 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.539 The 12-week scan. 00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.019 And once you get 00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:07.960 to the 12-week scan, 00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:08.639 what's the next thing 00:27:08.639 --> 00:27:09.220 on the horizon? 00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:10.799 It's the 20-week scan. 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:12.000 And after the 20-week scan, 00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:12.940 what happens to you 00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:14.440 is you start thinking 00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:15.000 about the day 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:15.539 when this is going 00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:16.160 to be completed. 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:18.299 Waiting. 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.460 And the thing about waiting 00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:20.960 is it's never 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:22.019 a passive thing, 00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:22.440 is it? 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:23.680 It's what you do 00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:24.420 as parents, isn't it? 00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:25.119 It's about this thing 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:26.160 that we call nesting. 00:27:27.319 --> 00:27:27.500 Right? 00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:28.279 Get the cot, 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.599 get the changing table, 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:31.200 get the sous de creme, 00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:32.259 make sure it's all in, 00:27:32.360 --> 00:27:33.480 get the overnight bag. 00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.940 We know what it is 00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:36.799 to prepare ourselves 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:39.019 for the next big thing. 00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:41.640 And it totally changes 00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:43.240 how you wait. 00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:44.299 It's not about 00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:45.860 kind of waiting for a bus 00:27:45.860 --> 00:27:46.940 and twiddling your thumbs, 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:48.000 refreshing your phone 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.880 to see when this bus 00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:49.440 is going to come. 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:51.160 Waiting in the Bible 00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:52.600 is always an active thing. 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:54.640 It's about trust, 00:27:55.100 --> 00:27:56.039 it's about hope, 00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:58.559 and it's about expectation. 00:27:59.200 --> 00:27:59.819 And what God 00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:01.019 is giving us here 00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:03.819 is the next big thing. 00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:06.200 The next big thing, 00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:06.700 friends, 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:08.619 is for Jesus to return. 00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.720 Like we've been singing about, 00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:12.000 and bring in 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:13.339 this new heavens 00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:15.339 and the new earth. 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.940 How do we respond 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:19.000 to his mercy? 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:19.879 Well, I love, 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.319 and this is where 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:20.859 we're going to finish, 00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:21.579 what Paul says 00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:23.259 in Romans 12, 1 and 2. 00:28:24.180 --> 00:28:25.659 In view of God's mercy, 00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:26.400 what do we do? 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:28.660 We offer our bodies 00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:29.880 as living sacrifices 00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:32.019 that are holy 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:33.220 and pleasing to God. 00:28:34.600 --> 00:28:35.800 That is our true 00:28:35.800 --> 00:28:37.980 and proper worship. 00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:40.740 And here's Stephen McAlpine. 00:28:40.840 --> 00:28:41.779 He's written a great book 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.820 called Future Proof. 00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:43.960 And I read this quote recently. 00:28:44.040 --> 00:28:44.540 I thought this is 00:28:44.540 --> 00:28:45.240 bang on the money. 00:28:45.320 --> 00:28:46.160 We finish with this. 00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.180 He says this, 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:49.460 we need a deep conviction 00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:51.519 that King Jesus 00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:52.420 is calling us 00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:53.300 to a holy, 00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:54.660 patient life. 00:28:55.660 --> 00:28:57.019 of remembrance. 00:28:58.440 --> 00:29:00.080 A deep interest in 00:29:00.080 --> 00:29:01.300 and commitment 00:29:01.300 --> 00:29:03.740 to our eschatological hope, 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:04.160 I mean, 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:05.120 the future, right, 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:07.000 is not defined 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:08.720 by the end time charts 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.540 we embrace 00:29:09.540 --> 00:29:11.860 or the prepper bunkers 00:29:11.860 --> 00:29:12.600 we own, 00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:14.720 but by godly lives 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.519 of hope 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:17.140 centered around 00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:18.720 the total victory 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:20.640 that Jesus will bring 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:22.200 his people. 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:24.740 let's just finish 00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.779 by corporately 00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:27.440 praying this together. 00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:28.319 And these are great things 00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:28.900 that the church 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:30.120 have done down the ages. 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:31.799 Just use these prayers, 00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:33.519 prayers of confession 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.299 and repentance, 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:36.360 but also of assurance 00:29:36.360 --> 00:29:37.960 about who our God is 00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:38.620 and what he's done. 00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:39.160 So just thought it would be 00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:40.160 great off the back of today 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:41.480 just to pray this together 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:44.339 and then we'll close 00:29:44.339 --> 00:29:45.460 our service by singing. 00:29:45.620 --> 00:29:46.460 So just on my lead, 00:29:46.620 --> 00:29:47.480 if you want to pray this, 00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:48.360 let's do it together. 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:50.259 Gracious God, 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:51.660 our sins 00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:52.759 are too heavy 00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.460 to carry, 00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:55.180 too real 00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:55.900 to hide 00:29:55.900 --> 00:29:57.500 and too deep 00:29:57.500 --> 00:29:58.220 to undo. 00:29:59.280 --> 00:30:00.900 Forgive what our lips 00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:02.019 tremble to name, 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:03.880 what our hearts 00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:05.220 can no longer bear 00:30:05.220 --> 00:30:07.240 and what has become 00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:08.140 for us 00:30:08.140 --> 00:30:08.980 a consuming 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:10.580 fire of judgment. 00:30:11.780 --> 00:30:13.580 Free from a past 00:30:13.580 --> 00:30:15.100 that we cannot change, 00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:17.060 open to us 00:30:17.060 --> 00:30:17.759 a future 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:19.060 in which we can 00:30:19.060 --> 00:30:19.840 be changed 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:22.019 and grant us grace 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:23.079 to grow more 00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:23.859 and more 00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:25.399 in your likeness 00:30:25.399 --> 00:30:26.259 and image 00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:28.399 through Jesus Christ, 00:30:28.859 --> 00:30:30.079 the light of the world. 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:31.119 Amen.