Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Nuggets in Habakkuk Part 1 - God's Mysterious Ways

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Nuggets in Habakkuk Part 1 - God's Mysterious Ways · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

• 0:00
  We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise in Psalm 93.
• 0:05
  Let's sing Psalm's version, Psalm 93.
• 0:09
  We'll sing the whole of this Psalm, verse 1 to 5.
• 0:12
  The tune is St. Magnus.
• 0:14
  The Lord is King, His throne endures, majestic in His height.
• 0:18
  The Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength and might.
• 0:22
  We'll stand to sing, if you're able, to God's praise.
• 0:30
  The Lord is King, His throne endures, majestic in His height.
• 0:42
  The Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength and might.
• 0:54
  The world is founded firm and sure, removed it cannot be.
• 1:08
  Your throne is strong and you are God from all eternity.
• 1:20
  The seas, O Lord, have lifted up, they lifted up their voice.
• 1:36
  The seas, O Lord, have lifted up their waves and made a mighty noise.
• 1:52
  The Lord in whom, whom are strong, more powerful is He.
• 2:04
  than thunder of the ocean's waves, or breakers of the sea.
• 2:18
  Your royal structures.
• 2:24
  Your royal statues, Lori's thongle, unchanging is Your word.
• 2:34
  and holiness adores you us
• 2:41
  for endless days, O Lord.
• 2:54
  We unite our hearts in a short word of prayer.
• 2:57
  Let us pray.
• 3:00
  Our Father in heaven,
• 3:02
  we do rejoice in your goodness to us,
• 3:04
  that you are a God who blesses us so abundantly
• 3:08
  and help us to be thankful each day
• 3:11
  for all that is ours,
• 3:12
  for all that we enjoy from your hand,
• 3:15
  the food that we have,
• 3:17
  the homes, the families,
• 3:19
  the church that we enjoy coming to here
• 3:21
  and learning more about you
• 3:23
  and experiencing you
• 3:25
  and being encouraged then to share
• 3:28
  the good news of the gospel with others.
• 3:30
  And we thank you, Lord,
• 3:32
  that you have blessed us
• 3:34
  with the promise of your Son,
• 3:36
  the Savior, Jesus Christ.
• 3:38
  And in all that we do,
• 3:40
  we want to know more of him,
• 3:42
  that we might love him with all our hearts
• 3:44
  and experience him with us
• 3:46
  all the days of our lives.
• 3:49
  We thank you that that is your promise
• 3:51
  as we put our trust in you,
• 3:54
  that you will not leave us at any time,
• 3:57
  but that you will be our constant companion.
• 3:59
  So may you bless us,
• 4:00
  each one here today.
• 4:02
  Bless our young people
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  as we thank you for them.
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  We pray that you will be with them
• 4:07
  in school and nursery
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  and in the Sunday school
• 4:11
  and Crescent tweenies here.
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  May you watch over each one,
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  O Lord,
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  as we commit them to your care.
• 4:18
  And we ask that you will hear
• 4:19
  all our prayers at this time
• 4:21
  and throughout this day
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  as we worship you.
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  Lord, may we rejoice in you
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  and be glad in you
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  and give thanks to you
• 4:28
  for all that is ours
• 4:29
  in you and in your son
• 4:31
  as we ask it with the forgiveness
• 4:33
  of our sins.
• 4:34
  In Jesus' name.
• 4:35
  Amen.
• 4:36
  It's a good thing to come together
• 4:42
  and worship God.
• 4:43
  It's a real blessing and encouragement
• 4:45
  to see everyone who comes in
• 4:47
  through these doors today
• 4:49
  and everyone chins in online as well,
• 4:52
  that we have that desire
• 4:54
  to worship God
• 4:55
  and to enjoy Him.
• 4:58
  Now what about this week?
• 5:00
  How have you enjoyed this past week?
• 5:03
  What about the weather?
• 5:05
  What a transformation
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  in the weather this week.
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  The sun being out
• 5:09
  and it being so warm.
• 5:11
  We went from,
• 5:11
  I think it was hailstoning
• 5:13
  the week before
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  to the sun cream coming out this week
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  and everybody just seems so happy.
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  Everybody just seems
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  to be enjoying themselves
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  so much when the sun is out
• 5:23
  and the weather is good.
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  You may have got
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  the trampoline out this week
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  in the hope that now
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  the gales are past
• 5:31
  that you can put the trampoline up
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  and enjoy that again
• 5:34
  being out in the good weather.
• 5:36
  You may have got
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  a paddling pool out this week
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  or something to enjoy
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  because it was so warm.
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  Maybe you bought ice cream
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  to enjoy
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  because that helps
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  to cool you down.
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  But it's amazing
• 5:47
  the difference
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  the good weather makes.
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  And this week,
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  a couple of times
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  I was out in the castle grounds
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  and you meet a lot
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  of different people
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  out in the castle grounds
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  but this week in particular
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  everybody just seemed
• 5:59
  so happy.
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  Nobody's head was down
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  into the rain.
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  They were all up
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  all saying good morning
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  or good afternoon.
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  Hello, how are you?
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  Everybody was just so happy.
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  I even bumped into
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  two of our elders
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  in the church here
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  and they were smiling
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  and happy.
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  I know it's hard to believe
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  but yes,
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  they were smiling
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  enjoying themselves
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  out in the sun.
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  It just makes
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  such a difference
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  to people.
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  And then you begin
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  to forget about
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  the winter
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  and the gales
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  and the rain
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  but then they'll
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  come again
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  at some point.
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  But it's good
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  to enjoy
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  the good weather
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  and to have something
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  that makes us happy
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  in these days.
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  But it's a reminder
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  too that it's not
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  just about the weather
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  to make us happy,
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  is it?
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  When we think
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  of what the Bible
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  teaches to us,
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  it reminds us
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  that it's not just
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  about great days
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  of sunshine
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  that we are
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  to be happy
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  but that whatever
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  we experience
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  in life
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  we can be happy
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  in Jesus.
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  That he is the one
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  who gives us
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  through joy
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  and through delight.
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  In John chapter 15,
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  there Jesus is
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  talking to his disciples
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  and talking to us
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  and he's saying
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  to abide in him
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  and to abide in him
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  for a reason.
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  He says
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  in verse 11
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  of that chapter,
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  these things
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  I have spoken
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  to you
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  that my joy
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  may be in you
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  and that your joy
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  may be full.
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  And he's saying
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  that it's not just
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  for sunny days
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  that we are
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  to be full of joy
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  but even the days
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  when it's raining
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  and cold
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  and snowing,
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  we can still know
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  the joy of the Lord
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  and joy to the full.
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  You see,
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  when you know Jesus,
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  that means
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  that you have
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  his joy,
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  his joy in your heart,
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  a joy that passes
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  all understanding
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  as the Bible says,
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  a joy that is inexpressible.
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  We just almost
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  don't know how to show it
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  but it just comes
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  through in us.
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  The sun brings joy
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  out of us
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  but Jesus brings
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  all joy
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  to us
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  and out of us.
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  So may we enjoy
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  him today
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  and every day
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  and may we shine
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  with his joy
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  and his beauty
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  to all around us.
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  So may God bless
• 8:22
  these thoughts
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  to us.
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  We're going to say
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  the Lord's Prayer
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  together now.
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  Our Father,
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  which art in heaven,
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  hallowed be thy name.
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  Thy kingdom come.
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  Thy will be done
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  on earth
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  as it is in heaven.
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  Give us this day
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  our daily bread
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  and forgive us
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  our debts
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  as we forgive
• 8:45
  our debtors.
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  And lead us not
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  into temptation
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  but deliver us
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  from evil
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  for thine is the kingdom
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  the power
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  and the glory
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  forever.
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  Amen.
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  We're going to
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  sing again
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  to God's praise
• 9:00
  now in Psalm 90
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  this time in the
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  Scottish Psalter version.
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  Psalm 90
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  page 349
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  of the Psalm books.
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  And the tune
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  is Arlington.
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  Psalm 90
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  at verse 1
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  we sing down
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  to verse 4.
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  Lord, thou hast
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  been our dwelling
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  place in generations
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  all, before thou ever
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  hadst brought forth
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  the mountains
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  great or small.
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  We'll sing to God's praise
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  verse 1
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  to verse 4.
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  Amen.
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  Lord, thou hast been
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  our dwelling place
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  and generations
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  all, before thou ever
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  hast gone forth,
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  before thou ever
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  hadst brought forth
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  the mountains
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  great or small.
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  earth and all the world
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  and all the world abroad
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  in life from everlasting
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  amaz온 that
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  all.
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  In thy
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  earth for everlasting
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  worth.
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  wurde, the rest of
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  world
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  to everlasting
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  God.
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  And unto them thou sittest again,
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  His sons of men return.
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  Because a thousand years appeared,
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  No more before thy sight.
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  Than yesterday when it is past,
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  Than yesterday when it is past,
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  For thou art now watch by night.
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  And we're going to turn to reading God's word in the Old Testament,
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  And near the end of the Old Testament in the book of Habakkuk.
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  The book of Habakkuk.
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  You'll find this around page 948 in the Bibles.
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  Habakkuk.
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  We're going to read chapter 1 and just into chapter 2, verse 1.
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  Habakkuk chapter 1.
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  The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.
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  O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
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  And you will not hear,
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  Or cry to you violence,
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  And you will not save?
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  Why do you make me see iniquity,
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  And why do you idly look at wrong?
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  Destruction and violence are before me,
• 13:16
  Strife and contention arise,
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  So the law is paralyzed,
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  And justice never goes forth,
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  For the wicked surround the righteous,
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  So justice goes forth perverted.
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  Look among the nations and see,
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  Wonder and be astounded,
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  For I am doing a work in your days,
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  That you would not believe if told.
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  For I am raising up the Chaldeans,
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  That bitter and hasty nation,
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  Who march through the breadth of the earth,
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  To seize dwellings not their own.
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  They are dreaded and fearsome,
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  Their justice and dignity go forth from themselves.
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  Their horses are swifter than leopards,
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  More fierce than the evening wolves.
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  Their horsemen press proudly on,
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  Their horsemen come from afar,
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  They fly like an eagle,
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  Swift to devour.
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  They all come for violence,
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  All their faces forward.
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  They gather captives like sand,
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  At kings they scoff,
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  And at rulers they laugh.
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  They laugh at every fortress,
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  For they pile up earth and take it.
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  Then they sweep by like the wind,
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  And go on,
• 14:31
  Guilty men,
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  Whose own might is their God.
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  Are you not from everlasting,
• 14:38
  O Lord my God,
• 14:39
  My Holy One?
• 14:41
  We shall not die,
• 14:42
  O Lord.
• 14:43
  You have ordained them as judgment,
• 14:46
  And you, O Rock,
• 14:47
  Have established them for reproof.
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  You are of purer eyes than to see evil,
• 14:53
  And cannot look at wrong.
• 14:55
  Why do you idly look at traitors,
• 14:58
  And are silent when the wicked swallows up,
• 15:00
  The man more righteous than he?
• 15:03
  You make mankind like the fish of the sea,
• 15:06
  Like crawling things that have no ruler.
• 15:09
  He brings all of them up with a hook,
• 15:11
  He drags them out with his net,
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  He gathers them in his dragnet,
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  So he rejoices and is glad.
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  Therefore he sacrifices to his net,
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  And makes offerings to his dragnet,
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  For by them he lives in luxury,
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  And his food is rich.
• 15:28
  Is he then to keep on emptying his net,
• 15:30
  And mercilessly killing nations forever?
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  I will take my stand at my watchpost,
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  And station myself on the tower,
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  And look out to see what he will say to me,
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  And what I will answer concerning my complaint.
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  So may God bless that reading from his word.
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  We'll again just unite our hearts in prayer.
• 15:53
  Let us pray.
• 15:57
  Lord our gracious God,
• 15:59
  May you help us as we open up your word this day,
• 16:02
  As we read it together,
• 16:04
  And as we share from it,
• 16:06
  That your word would minister to our hearts,
• 16:09
  That you will help us to understand these words,
• 16:12
  That we are reading and sharing together,
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  That you will help us to apply them to our lives,
• 16:18
  And to our walk with you,
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  And to our witness to those around us.
• 16:23
  For we realize that there are many parts in scripture,
• 16:26
  That may leave us with a sense of wondering,
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  What you are saying to us.
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  Wondering maybe what you were saying to Habakkuk,
• 16:34
  In his day,
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  And how that might apply to ourselves today.
• 16:38
  And so help us in our understanding,
• 16:41
  Lord,
• 16:41
  To see that you have purposes for all your people down through every generation,
• 16:47
  And that your way of salvation is always being worked out according to your will,
• 16:53
  Even when your will goes against what we might pray for or be looking for.
• 16:58
  We know that you know better,
• 17:00
  And we pray to have faith in you,
• 17:04
  To have that trust in you.
• 17:06
  You have been reminded in the psalm that we sung there,
• 17:10
  Psalm 90,
• 17:12
  That a thousand years is like a day with you.
• 17:15
  It reminds us that,
• 17:17
  Although we want to see things change immediately and now,
• 17:21
  That your plans and purposes so often take time to be worked out,
• 17:26
  But that you have your picture in hand,
• 17:29
  That you have all things under your control,
• 17:32
  And that you will work all things according to your purpose.
• 17:36
  And so,
• 17:37
  Lord,
• 17:37
  We pray for your comfort,
• 17:41
  For your strength,
• 17:42
  For your help on a daily basis,
• 17:44
  That we would know your love towards us,
• 17:47
  That we would know that you have remembered us,
• 17:50
  And are remembering us constantly,
• 17:53
  That not a day passes,
• 17:55
  Lord,
• 17:55
  When you are not aware of all our different needs.
• 17:58
  Not a day passes when you are not aware of all that is going on around us.
• 18:04
  And so,
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  Lord,
• 18:05
  We come humbly before you.
• 18:07
  We come acknowledging our own sin and our own frailties,
• 18:12
  And praying to you,
• 18:13
  Lord,
• 18:14
  That you might come and draw near to us,
• 18:17
  Give us your assurance,
• 18:18
  Give us your comfort,
• 18:19
  And give us your peace.
• 18:22
  We pray that for us all here gathered,
• 18:25
  Tuning in online,
• 18:25
  And all around us,
• 18:27
  Lord,
• 18:27
  Who need you in particular ways.
• 18:30
  We pray for those who mourn and grieve.
• 18:33
  We commit them to your care,
• 18:35
  And to your keeping,
• 18:36
  Each one.
• 18:37
  We know,
• 18:38
  Lord,
• 18:38
  That,
• 18:39
  As we've been reminded in this past week,
• 18:41
  That change comes upon us so quickly.
• 18:43
  We are always reminded of it,
• 18:46
  Lord,
• 18:46
  Day by day.
• 18:47
  And yet,
• 18:48
  Help us to take heed.
• 18:50
  Help us to see how you speak to us in all of these ways.
• 18:54
  And your word ministers to us in the midst of it all,
• 18:58
  Calling us to yourself,
• 19:00
  To make our calling and election sure.
• 19:03
  To make it a day when we would run to you.
• 19:06
  A day we would seek to find you as our refuge,
• 19:10
  As our help.
• 19:11
  And so,
• 19:12
  Lord,
• 19:12
  We pray to you,
• 19:13
  To you to surround us all,
• 19:16
  And especially those with broken hearts at this time.
• 19:19
  Remember those who are unwell as well,
• 19:22
  In homes,
• 19:23
  In hospital,
• 19:23
  And in their own homes too,
• 19:25
  Lord.
• 19:25
  We commit each one to you.
• 19:27
  Surround them and uphold them,
• 19:29
  We pray,
• 19:30
  As only you can.
• 19:31
  Knowing,
• 19:32
  Oh Lord,
• 19:32
  That you have them in your hand as well.
• 19:36
  That our very lives are in your hand.
• 19:38
  That you care for us in that way and at each time.
• 19:43
  So,
• 19:43
  Lord,
• 19:43
  Help us so we might take all our cares and our burdens to you.
• 19:48
  We thank you too,
• 19:49
  Lord,
• 19:49
  For the work of the gospel.
• 19:51
  We thank you for the witness of your church here in our community and far and wide.
• 19:56
  And we do pray for your church,
• 19:58
  Lord,
• 19:58
  That you will build it up.
• 20:00
  It does not belong to us.
• 20:02
  It is not ours of our making in any way.
• 20:06
  It is your church,
• 20:07
  Your people,
• 20:08
  Your people that you have bought with a price.
• 20:11
  And help us to put you first in all things.
• 20:14
  To seek first the kingdom of God and your righteousness.
• 20:18
  And that then all things will be added to us.
• 20:21
  And Lord,
• 20:22
  We do pray for the word to go out with power.
• 20:26
  We pray for your spirit to work.
• 20:28
  In the work and witness of your people,
• 20:31
  We thank you for all our young people.
• 20:33
  We commit them to you.
• 20:34
  We thank you for the youth fellowship,
• 20:36
  Oh,
• 20:36
  Lord.
• 20:37
  And as they meet this evening,
• 20:39
  May your blessing be upon them and upon Thomas Davis as he comes to speak.
• 20:44
  We pray there will be an encouragement,
• 20:46
  an encouraging time together.
• 20:47
  Remember young people sitting exams just now.
• 20:51
  As they prepare for them and as they go through them,
• 20:54
  Lord,
• 20:54
  That you will give them guidance and help along each step of the way.
• 20:59
  Remember the free church seminary as well.
• 21:02
  And the exams taking place there just now.
• 21:06
  We pray for all the students.
• 21:08
  Remember Scott as he is away just now,
• 21:10
  Lord,
• 21:10
  And pray for him as he comes to his last exam on Tuesday,
• 21:14
  that you will be with them and uphold them through that and all others who are taking these exams just now as well.
• 21:22
  We pray for those who are coming to the end of their time in the seminary and will be awaiting calls in these comings months.
• 21:29
  We pray for your guidance to them,
• 21:32
  your spirit to make clear to them where you would have them to go.
• 21:36
  We pray for our presbytery in these days as well.
• 21:39
  As we look back to our own presbytery meeting this week,
• 21:43
  we know that Reverend Iamacritchie and Graver has accepted a call to Greyfriars in Inverness.
• 21:50
  And we pray for him in his preparation to leave a congregation and to begin a new ministry.
• 21:56
  We thank you for his years of ministry in Graver.
• 22:00
  And we thank you for all the encouragements and blessings that he has seen.
• 22:05
  And we do pray for the congregation as they prepare to see him go,
• 22:09
  that they will remember that you are with them and that it is not any minister's ministry that counts,
• 22:16
  but the blessing of God.
• 22:17
  And so we pray,
• 22:18
  Lord,
• 22:19
  that you will surround them and uphold them.
• 22:21
  We pray for Greyfriars as they prepare for a new ministry as well,
• 22:25
  Lord,
• 22:25
  that you will encourage and strengthen them.
• 22:29
  And remember our presbyteries throughout our land,
• 22:32
  O Lord,
• 22:32
  where there is weakness,
• 22:33
  where there is vacancy.
• 22:35
  We pray,
• 22:36
  Lord,
• 22:36
  for your encouragement to each congregation and all your people.
• 22:41
  Remember our general assembly to take place later on this month as it meets in Edinburgh.
• 22:46
  We pray for the Reverend Bob Aykroyd as he prepares to come to the end of his time as moderator.
• 22:53
  And we pray for the Reverend Colin McLeod as he prepares to take that role on,
• 22:58
  that you will bless him and encourage him as he prepares for that and as he goes on,
• 23:03
  God willing,
• 23:03
  in this year ahead.
• 23:05
  And we see so much around us,
• 23:07
  Lord,
• 23:07
  that are so many needs.
• 23:09
  And we just pray,
• 23:10
  Lord,
• 23:11
  for your Spirit's help among us,
• 23:14
  for you to move among us as a people,
• 23:16
  Lord,
• 23:17
  to hear our prayers and to help us,
• 23:20
  Lord,
• 23:20
  to always pray with that sense of your will be done.
• 23:25
  Teach us your ways,
• 23:26
  O Lord,
• 23:26
  and help us to walk by them.
• 23:28
  And all we ask,
• 23:29
  we ask with the forgiveness of all our sins,
• 23:32
  as we confess them anew before you,
• 23:35
  in the name of our Lord and Saviour,
• 23:36
  Jesus Christ.
• 23:37
  May glory be his.
• 23:39
  Amen.
• 23:43
  We're going to sing again to God's praise
• 23:46
  before we turn back to our reading in Habakkuk,
• 23:48
  this time in Psalm 13,
• 23:51
  page 14 of the Psalm books.
• 23:52
  Psalm 13.
• 24:01
  We'll sing the whole of this psalm,
• 24:04
  and you'll see the words,
• 24:06
  especially there in verse 1,
• 24:07
  they resonate with what we've read in Habakkuk as well.
• 24:11
  The same question from the psalmist,
• 24:13
  how long will you forget me,
• 24:16
  Lord?
• 24:16
  Will you forget always?
• 24:18
  How long,
• 24:18
  Lord,
• 24:18
  will you hide your face
• 24:20
  and turn from me your gaze?
• 24:24
  But then at verse 5,
• 24:25
  we see the psalmist saying,
• 24:26
  but still I trust your constant love.
• 24:29
  You save and set me free.
• 24:31
  With joy,
• 24:32
  I will extol the Lord,
• 24:33
  who has been good to me.
• 24:36
  Let's sing the whole of this psalm,
• 24:37
  the tune of St. Kilda.
• 24:39
  We sing to God's praise.
• 24:40
  Amen.
• 24:41
  How long will you forget me,
• 24:51
  Lord?
• 24:52
  Will you forget always?
• 25:00
  How long,
• 25:02
  Lord,
• 25:03
  will you hide your face
• 25:07
  and turn from me your gaze?
• 25:15
  How long must I be sad each day
• 25:23
  in the perplexity?
• 25:28
  How long will my opponent stand
• 25:38
  in triumph over me?
• 25:44
  O Lord,
• 25:48
  my God,
• 25:50
  consider me
• 25:54
  and give me your reply.
• 26:01
  Light up my eyes,
• 26:06
  Lord,
• 26:07
  I will see
• 26:10
  the sick of those who die.
• 26:17
  Then would my enemy
• 26:23
  give them
• 26:25
  at last I made them low.
• 26:33
  And so my foes would sing for joy
• 26:41
  to see my overthrow.
• 26:48
  But still,
• 26:51
  I trust your constant love.
• 26:59
  You save and set me free.
• 27:05
  With joy I will extol the Lord,
• 27:14
  who has been good to me.
• 27:24
  Well, let's turn back to a reading
• 27:27
  in Habakkuk chapter 1.
• 27:29
  Habakkuk chapter 1.
• 27:34
  You can read at verse 5.
• 27:38
  Look among the nations and see.
• 27:41
  Wonder and be astounded.
• 27:43
  For I am doing a work in your days
• 27:45
  that you would not believe
• 27:47
  if told.
• 27:52
  I want us to begin a study
• 27:53
  in Habakkuk today.
• 27:55
  We're going to look at
• 27:56
  through this book.
• 27:58
  It seems as you begin to read it
• 28:00
  that there's a lot of despair
• 28:02
  and a lot of hopelessness here
• 28:04
  as you begin to read
• 28:06
  into Habakkuk's day
• 28:07
  and all that was going on.
• 28:10
  You see that there's
• 28:11
  lots going on around him,
• 28:13
  both in the sense of
• 28:14
  nationally,
• 28:16
  just around him,
• 28:17
  among his own people.
• 28:18
  There's a lot going on,
• 28:20
  many problems.
• 28:21
  Even internationally,
• 28:22
  there's a lot going on as well.
• 28:24
  A lot that leaves him confused.
• 28:26
  There's corruption and chaos.
• 28:28
  There's war and there's wrongdoing.
• 28:33
  And it's something that you see
• 28:34
  again and again
• 28:35
  throughout the Old Testament.
• 28:37
  You see these times
• 28:38
  when there are things
• 28:40
  that are going well
• 28:40
  for God's people,
• 28:42
  but so often you then see
• 28:43
  it's followed by a time
• 28:44
  where the tide turns,
• 28:46
  as it were.
• 28:47
  And there seems to be
• 28:48
  nothing good,
• 28:50
  nothing that gives hope
• 28:51
  to God's people.
• 28:54
  And it's maybe something
• 28:55
  that we see ourselves today as well.
• 28:58
  We think the tide
• 28:59
  has turned against us.
• 29:01
  And just like Habakkuk
• 29:02
  has his questions here,
• 29:04
  how long, O Lord?
• 29:06
  As the psalmist in Psalm 13
• 29:08
  was, which we were just singing,
• 29:10
  how long, O Lord?
• 29:12
  These are the kind of questions
• 29:13
  that we can have ourselves as well.
• 29:15
  But when you read through
• 29:18
  the Old Testament
• 29:19
  and when you come to read
• 29:20
  from the prophets,
• 29:22
  Habakkuk was a prophet
• 29:24
  and you've got many other prophets
• 29:25
  that we read from
• 29:26
  in the Old Testament,
• 29:28
  Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel.
• 29:30
  There's many of them
• 29:31
  that came from God,
• 29:33
  were sent by God
• 29:34
  with a message.
• 29:36
  Into these situations
• 29:38
  where there seems to be
• 29:39
  so much despair,
• 29:41
  God speaks to his people.
• 29:44
  And he speaks to them
• 29:45
  a message that often begins
• 29:48
  with a rebuke,
• 29:49
  where they have gone wrong.
• 29:51
  And there's always a challenge
• 29:52
  in that,
• 29:53
  to then show them
• 29:55
  how they can find hope,
• 29:57
  how they can reestablish,
• 29:58
  as it were,
• 29:59
  their relationship with God
• 30:01
  and that there is that hope.
• 30:04
  Now, often when you read
• 30:05
  in the prophets,
• 30:06
  what you find is
• 30:07
  God has given the prophet
• 30:09
  a message.
• 30:11
  The likes of Isaiah,
• 30:12
  God gave him a message
• 30:13
  and Isaiah delivered
• 30:15
  that message
• 30:16
  to the people around him.
• 30:18
  And that's where we learn
• 30:19
  what God is saying to us.
• 30:22
  But Habakkuk is slightly different.
• 30:26
  He's a prophet.
• 30:27
  He's got a message from God.
• 30:29
  You see that in verse 1,
• 30:30
  the oracle,
• 30:31
  that Habakkuk,
• 30:32
  the prophet, saw.
• 30:33
  So he's got something
• 30:34
  to give to the people
• 30:36
  of his day.
• 30:37
  He's got something to say
• 30:38
  to ourselves today,
• 30:40
  as well as a message
• 30:41
  from God.
• 30:42
  But the message,
• 30:43
  as it were,
• 30:44
  comes across
• 30:45
  in a slightly different way.
• 30:47
  Instead of
• 30:48
  God just speaking
• 30:49
  to Habakkuk,
• 30:50
  saying,
• 30:50
  tell my people this,
• 30:52
  what you see is
• 30:54
  it's more of a dialogue
• 30:55
  between Habakkuk
• 30:56
  and the Lord himself.
• 30:58
  And as you're reading
• 31:00
  through chapter 1 there,
• 31:01
  you're seeing
• 31:02
  that there's parts
• 31:03
  where Habakkuk is speaking
• 31:05
  and there's parts
• 31:07
  where the Lord
• 31:08
  is speaking to him.
• 31:10
  And it's through
• 31:11
  this engagement
• 31:13
  that they have,
• 31:13
  this conversation
• 31:14
  that they have,
• 31:16
  that we learn
• 31:17
  and the people
• 31:17
  in Habakkuk's day
• 31:19
  learned as well.
• 31:21
  In all that is wrong,
• 31:24
  he is looking for hope
• 31:26
  and he is looking for help.
• 31:28
  In the midst of it.
• 31:30
  And what you find
• 31:31
  as you go through
• 31:32
  Habakkuk, the book,
• 31:33
  and what we want to see
• 31:34
  in our study is
• 31:36
  that in the midst
• 31:37
  of all that is
• 31:38
  maybe hard for us
• 31:39
  to read,
• 31:40
  all that seems
• 31:41
  so hopeless
• 31:42
  in so many different ways,
• 31:44
  that there are gems
• 31:46
  for us to find.
• 31:48
  There are gems
• 31:49
  for us to find.
• 31:52
  Panning for gold
• 31:53
  has been something
• 31:55
  that people have done
• 31:56
  for hundreds of years.
• 32:00
  There have been gold rushes
• 32:01
  in America,
• 32:03
  in Australia,
• 32:04
  even here in Scotland.
• 32:07
  There's been times
• 32:07
  when people have gone
• 32:08
  hunting and finding gold,
• 32:10
  not in huge quantities.
• 32:12
  But to this day,
• 32:14
  people still spend
• 32:15
  a lot of time
• 32:16
  taking time to go out
• 32:18
  and go into streams
• 32:20
  and digging into the earth,
• 32:22
  sifting through mud
• 32:23
  and stones,
• 32:25
  panning as it is called,
• 32:27
  using like a sieve
• 32:28
  to clean the earth,
• 32:29
  to clean the dirt away
• 32:30
  in the hope of finding
• 32:32
  just a little bit of gold.
• 32:35
  Why, you ask,
• 32:37
  would they do that?
• 32:38
  Why would they spend
• 32:39
  so much time doing that?
• 32:41
  Well, it's because
• 32:41
  gold is precious.
• 32:44
  Even a small quantity,
• 32:46
  even an ounce of gold,
• 32:48
  is worth up to
• 32:49
  around 2,000 pounds.
• 32:51
  So that's why people spend
• 32:53
  so much time
• 32:54
  looking for gold.
• 32:58
  And for ourselves,
• 32:59
  as we come to God's Word,
• 33:01
  it's a little like that
• 33:02
  panning for gold.
• 33:04
  We're going through,
• 33:06
  for example,
• 33:07
  this letter of,
• 33:08
  this book of Habakkuk,
• 33:10
  and we're looking through
• 33:11
  all that seems to leave us
• 33:13
  thinking,
• 33:13
  what good is there here for us?
• 33:17
  But to go through it
• 33:18
  and sift our way through
• 33:19
  and see that there are nuggets
• 33:20
  of gold in here.
• 33:23
  Nuggets of gold
• 33:24
  that Habakkuk was given
• 33:26
  to share with the people then
• 33:28
  and to share with ourselves.
• 33:30
  And there's five nuggets
• 33:32
  I want us to see
• 33:33
  as we study through this book.
• 33:35
  Five different studies
• 33:37
  we're going to have
• 33:38
  looking at five different nuggets
• 33:40
  of gold, as it were.
• 33:42
  And the first one we have
• 33:43
  is verse 5
• 33:44
  here in chapter 1.
• 33:46
  And at first glance,
• 33:48
  it may seem
• 33:49
  a little
• 33:50
  out of the way
• 33:52
  when we start to look
• 33:53
  into chapter 1.
• 33:54
  How is there gold?
• 33:55
  How is there something precious
• 33:57
  in the midst of this?
• 33:59
  But we'll go through it today
• 34:00
  and look at it
• 34:00
  in three different ways.
• 34:02
  In chapter 1,
• 34:04
  verse 1 to 12 in particular,
• 34:05
  we have first
• 34:06
  a sense of confusion.
• 34:10
  Then secondly,
• 34:11
  we have a mysterious providence.
• 34:13
  And then thirdly,
• 34:14
  we're going to see
• 34:15
  a warm embrace.
• 34:18
  And we begin
• 34:19
  with a sense
• 34:20
  of confusion.
• 34:23
  Verse 5 says to us,
• 34:25
  Look among the nations
• 34:26
  and see.
• 34:27
  Wonder and be astounded,
• 34:29
  for I am doing
• 34:29
  a work in your days
• 34:31
  that you would not believe
• 34:32
  if told.
• 34:34
  Where does this come from?
• 34:36
  This has come
• 34:37
  from God
• 34:38
  to Habakkuk.
• 34:40
  And it's come
• 34:40
  as a result of
• 34:42
  Habakkuk's complaint
• 34:43
  as we see
• 34:44
  in verse 2
• 34:45
  to verse 4.
• 34:47
  And it's in these
• 34:48
  verses 2 to 4
• 34:49
  that we see
• 34:50
  this sense
• 34:50
  of confusion
• 34:52
  that Habakkuk has.
• 34:55
  Have you ever
• 34:56
  complained?
• 34:59
  I'm sure we've all
• 35:00
  complained
• 35:01
  about different things
• 35:02
  at different times.
• 35:04
  And especially
• 35:05
  when it comes
• 35:06
  to time
• 35:08
  and to how long
• 35:10
  something is taking.
• 35:12
  How long
• 35:13
  until the food
• 35:14
  will be ready?
• 35:16
  How long
• 35:17
  until we get there?
• 35:19
  How long
• 35:20
  are you going to take
• 35:22
  to be ready?
• 35:23
  How long
• 35:24
  is this parcel
• 35:25
  going to take
• 35:26
  to arrive?
• 35:27
  We have all these
• 35:27
  complaints
• 35:28
  that we make.
• 35:30
  Complaints
• 35:31
  surrounding time.
• 35:33
  How long?
• 35:35
  But have you ever
• 35:36
  complained
• 35:37
  to God
• 35:38
  in that way?
• 35:40
  How long
• 35:40
  Lord?
• 35:42
  Well that is
• 35:43
  the complaint
• 35:43
  that we see
• 35:45
  from Habakkuk.
• 35:46
  In verse 2
• 35:47
  Oh Lord
• 35:47
  how long
• 35:48
  shall I cry
• 35:49
  for help
• 35:50
  and you will not hear?
• 35:52
  Or cry
• 35:52
  to your violence
• 35:53
  and you will not save?
• 35:55
  How long
• 35:56
  will it take?
• 35:59
  Psalm 13
• 36:00
  was the same.
• 36:00
  How long
• 36:01
  will you forget
• 36:02
  me Lord?
• 36:04
  Will you forget
• 36:05
  me?
• 36:05
  Always.
• 36:06
  Habakkuk
• 36:08
  wasn't directing
• 36:10
  what God
• 36:11
  was saying
• 36:12
  to him
• 36:12
  straight to the
• 36:13
  people.
• 36:14
  Habakkuk
• 36:15
  was engaging
• 36:16
  with God
• 36:17
  and he does
• 36:19
  this
• 36:20
  first of all
• 36:21
  with this
• 36:22
  complaint
• 36:23
  with this
• 36:24
  groaning
• 36:25
  towards
• 36:26
  God
• 36:27
  in the midst
• 36:28
  of all
• 36:29
  that is happening
• 36:30
  around him
• 36:32
  nationally
• 36:33
  but also
• 36:34
  internationally
• 36:35
  as well
• 36:36
  as we will
• 36:36
  see as you
• 36:37
  go on
• 36:37
  and we see
• 36:38
  the Chaldeans
• 36:39
  or the Babylonians
• 36:40
  as they're known
• 36:41
  as well
• 36:41
  a people
• 36:43
  who were
• 36:44
  surrounding them
• 36:45
  who would be
• 36:45
  their enemies
• 36:46
  for a time
• 36:46
  as he's got
• 36:48
  all of these
• 36:49
  things going on
• 36:50
  he cries out
• 36:52
  asking God
• 36:53
  are you going
• 36:54
  to ignore this?
• 36:56
  How long
• 36:57
  Lord
• 36:57
  will I cry
• 36:59
  for help
• 36:59
  and you
• 37:00
  will not
• 37:01
  hear?
• 37:03
  What's
• 37:03
  happening?
• 37:05
  What's
• 37:05
  happening
• 37:06
  here
• 37:07
  in Habakkuk's
• 37:08
  day?
• 37:08
  Well a writer
• 37:09
  put it like
• 37:10
  this
• 37:10
  Habakkuk
• 37:11
  the society
• 37:12
  around Habakkuk
• 37:13
  is tearing
• 37:14
  itself apart
• 37:15
  and when you
• 37:18
  read through
• 37:19
  verse 2
• 37:20
  to 4
• 37:20
  there you
• 37:21
  see just
• 37:21
  how
• 37:22
  it is
• 37:23
  tearing
• 37:23
  itself
• 37:24
  apart
• 37:24
  I cry
• 37:26
  to you
• 37:27
  violence
• 37:28
  and you
• 37:28
  will not
• 37:29
  save
• 37:29
  violence
• 37:30
  there
• 37:31
  means
• 37:31
  chaos
• 37:32
  and
• 37:32
  just
• 37:33
  people
• 37:33
  willfully
• 37:34
  damaging
• 37:35
  and taking
• 37:35
  other people's
• 37:37
  property
• 37:37
  and livelihoods
• 37:39
  there's all
• 37:40
  this chaos
• 37:41
  all around
• 37:42
  verse 3
• 37:43
  he says
• 37:45
  to him
• 37:45
  why do you
• 37:47
  make me
• 37:47
  see
• 37:48
  iniquity?
• 37:49
  Why am I
• 37:50
  living in a
• 37:50
  day where I'm
• 37:51
  seeing so much
• 37:52
  that is against
• 37:53
  your cause?
• 37:54
  so much
• 37:55
  that is
• 37:56
  morally
• 37:56
  wrong
• 37:57
  so much
• 37:58
  that we
• 37:59
  see people
• 37:59
  calling
• 38:00
  right
• 38:01
  wrong
• 38:01
  and wrong
• 38:02
  right
• 38:03
  his complaint
• 38:04
  is saying
• 38:05
  to God
• 38:06
  why don't
• 38:07
  you care?
• 38:09
  Are you not
• 38:09
  concerned
• 38:10
  with all
• 38:11
  that is
• 38:11
  happening
• 38:12
  around us?
• 38:15
  Why do
• 38:16
  you look
• 38:16
  he says
• 38:17
  in verse
• 38:18
  3 there
• 38:19
  and look
• 38:20
  idly
• 38:20
  at wrong?
• 38:22
  Why are you
• 38:22
  looking and
• 38:23
  not doing
• 38:23
  anything
• 38:24
  about this?
• 38:27
  This is
• 38:27
  the complaint
• 38:28
  that Habakkuk
• 38:30
  has
• 38:30
  and is
• 38:32
  that a
• 38:33
  complaint
• 38:33
  that we
• 38:34
  might have
• 38:35
  against God
• 38:36
  today?
• 38:37
  Do you
• 38:37
  feel like
• 38:38
  that towards
• 38:39
  God
• 38:40
  today?
• 38:41
  Like we
• 38:42
  are in a
• 38:42
  day as
• 38:43
  never before
• 38:44
  when we
• 38:44
  look around
• 38:45
  us and
• 38:45
  see all
• 38:46
  that is
• 38:46
  wrong?
• 38:47
  When we
• 38:48
  are confused
• 38:49
  by everything
• 38:50
  that's
• 38:50
  taking place
• 38:51
  in life
• 38:52
  whether it's
• 38:53
  in our
• 38:53
  own lives
• 38:54
  lives of
• 38:55
  our community
• 38:56
  around us
• 38:57
  life in
• 38:57
  our nation
• 38:58
  life in
• 38:59
  the world
• 38:59
  when there
• 39:00
  is so much
• 39:01
  wrong we
• 39:01
  see it
• 39:02
  again and
• 39:03
  again
• 39:03
  we see
• 39:04
  tragedy
• 39:05
  we see
• 39:06
  murder
• 39:07
  we see
• 39:08
  political
• 39:09
  and society
• 39:10
  chaos
• 39:11
  we see
• 39:13
  confusion
• 39:14
  confusion
• 39:15
  in gender
• 39:16
  confusion
• 39:17
  in marriage
• 39:18
  we see
• 39:19
  greed
• 39:20
  we see
• 39:20
  poverty
• 39:21
  and they're
• 39:22
  next door
• 39:23
  to each
• 39:23
  other
• 39:23
  we see
• 39:24
  all of
• 39:24
  these
• 39:24
  things
• 39:25
  we see
• 39:26
  it on
• 39:26
  a daily
• 39:27
  basis
• 39:27
  that's
• 39:30
  the same
• 39:30
  as Habakkuk
• 39:31
  was seeing
• 39:32
  as well
• 39:33
  there are
• 39:35
  times
• 39:36
  again
• 39:37
  and again
• 39:37
  when we
• 39:38
  see
• 39:39
  just like
• 39:40
  Habakkuk's
• 39:40
  day
• 39:41
  that was
• 39:41
  repeated
• 39:42
  again
• 39:43
  and again
• 39:43
  as you go
• 39:44
  into the
• 39:44
  New Testament
• 39:45
  as you look
• 39:46
  down through
• 39:47
  the generations
• 39:48
  you see it
• 39:49
  happening
• 39:50
  again and
• 39:51
  again
• 39:51
  and the
• 39:54
  cry of
• 39:55
  God's
• 39:55
  people can
• 39:56
  be the
• 39:56
  same
• 39:57
  why
• 39:58
  how long
• 40:00
  oh Lord
• 40:01
  are we going
• 40:02
  to cry
• 40:02
  for help
• 40:03
  and you
• 40:04
  will not
• 40:04
  hear
• 40:05
  we cry
• 40:05
  as if
• 40:06
  God
• 40:06
  is ignoring
• 40:07
  it all
• 40:08
  we complain
• 40:09
  against
• 40:10
  God
• 40:10
  and when
• 40:12
  you look
• 40:12
  at verse
• 40:13
  4 you see
• 40:14
  what was it
• 40:15
  the heart
• 40:15
  of all
• 40:16
  that was
• 40:16
  wrong
• 40:16
  in his
• 40:17
  day
• 40:17
  the law
• 40:19
  is
• 40:20
  paralyzed
• 40:21
  and justice
• 40:23
  never
• 40:23
  goes
• 40:24
  forth
• 40:25
  the law
• 40:27
  the word
• 40:28
  of God
• 40:29
  was paralyzed
• 40:30
  we need a
• 40:32
  standard
• 40:32
  to work
• 40:34
  from
• 40:34
  when you
• 40:35
  think of
• 40:36
  manufacturing
• 40:37
  there's always
• 40:38
  a standard
• 40:39
  that things
• 40:40
  have to be
• 40:40
  made
• 40:41
  to
• 40:41
  if they're
• 40:43
  not
• 40:43
  they will
• 40:44
  not be
• 40:44
  safe
• 40:45
  things are
• 40:47
  stamped
• 40:48
  marked
• 40:50
  as in
• 40:51
  they've
• 40:52
  passed
• 40:52
  the test
• 40:53
  they've
• 40:53
  passed
• 40:54
  the standard
• 40:55
  but we
• 40:56
  find that
• 40:57
  people try
• 40:58
  to find a
• 40:58
  way around
• 40:59
  that
• 40:59
  people find
• 41:01
  a way to
• 41:01
  cheat these
• 41:02
  things
• 41:02
  but it
• 41:03
  often costs
• 41:04
  dearly
• 41:04
  it often
• 41:05
  costs in
• 41:06
  so many
• 41:07
  different
• 41:08
  ways
• 41:08
  we try
• 41:08
  and find
• 41:09
  a way
• 41:09
  around
• 41:10
  things
• 41:10
  and that's
• 41:11
  what's
• 41:11
  happening
• 41:12
  here
• 41:12
  the law
• 41:13
  is
• 41:13
  paralyzed
• 41:14
  the standards
• 41:16
  that they were
• 41:16
  working to
• 41:17
  and from
• 41:18
  are being
• 41:19
  put away
• 41:20
  to find
• 41:21
  another way
• 41:22
  of life
• 41:22
  another way
• 41:23
  of living
• 41:24
  and when
• 41:26
  that fails
• 41:27
  when we move
• 41:27
  away
• 41:28
  from God's
• 41:29
  ideal
• 41:29
  to our
• 41:30
  own ideas
• 41:31
  what comes
• 41:32
  chaos
• 41:33
  and clashes
• 41:35
  ensue
• 41:36
  look at
• 41:38
  this week
• 41:39
  look at
• 41:41
  the fear
• 41:41
  of the
• 41:42
  prospect
• 41:43
  of our
• 41:43
  nation
• 41:44
  having a
• 41:44
  Christian
• 41:45
  first minister
• 41:46
  you think
• 41:48
  to yourself
• 41:48
  how could
• 41:48
  we come
• 41:49
  to this
• 41:50
  point
• 41:50
  where
• 41:51
  the immediate
• 41:52
  reaction
• 41:53
  is to try
• 41:54
  and paralyze
• 41:55
  that
• 41:56
  to stop
• 41:57
  that
• 41:57
  we can't
• 41:58
  have her
• 41:59
  she's a
• 41:59
  Christian
• 42:00
  she's going
• 42:00
  to take
• 42:01
  us backwards
• 42:02
  we've got
• 42:03
  to paralyze
• 42:04
  this
• 42:04
  we've got
• 42:04
  to stop
• 42:05
  this
• 42:05
  the law
• 42:08
  is to be
• 42:09
  paralyzed
• 42:09
  but what
• 42:10
  people are
• 42:10
  saying
• 42:11
  in that
• 42:11
  is
• 42:11
  we will
• 42:12
  not have
• 42:12
  God
• 42:13
  rule over
• 42:14
  us
• 42:14
  we will
• 42:15
  not have
• 42:16
  God's
• 42:16
  word
• 42:17
  as our
• 42:18
  standard
• 42:18
  and Christ
• 42:20
  is pushed
• 42:20
  out
• 42:21
  and we go
• 42:22
  on in
• 42:23
  chaos
• 42:23
  blindly
• 42:24
  continuing
• 42:25
  in chaos
• 42:26
  but they'll
• 42:26
  call it
• 42:27
  progress
• 42:27
  and we
• 42:30
  see it
• 42:30
  all
• 42:31
  around us
• 42:32
  and we
• 42:33
  can have
• 42:33
  that same
• 42:34
  cry
• 42:34
  how long
• 42:35
  oh Lord
• 42:36
  will you
• 42:37
  not hear
• 42:38
  us
• 42:38
  how long
• 42:39
  will you
• 42:39
  look
• 42:39
  and do
• 42:40
  nothing
• 42:41
  in these
• 42:41
  situations
• 42:42
  is this
• 42:44
  a cry
• 42:45
  and a
• 42:45
  complaint
• 42:46
  without
• 42:47
  hope
• 42:47
  from
• 42:48
  Habakkuk
• 42:49
  well it's
• 42:51
  not
• 42:51
  it's a
• 42:53
  pleading
• 42:53
  with
• 42:54
  God
• 42:55
  his
• 42:56
  prayer
• 42:57
  may not
• 42:58
  have been
• 42:58
  answered
• 42:59
  the way
• 42:59
  he might
• 42:59
  have
• 42:59
  expected
• 43:00
  it
• 43:00
  or wanted
• 43:01
  it
• 43:01
  but he's
• 43:02
  not
• 43:03
  turning
• 43:03
  away
• 43:03
  he's
• 43:05
  pleading
• 43:05
  all the
• 43:06
  more
• 43:06
  with
• 43:06
  God
• 43:07
  to hear
• 43:07
  and to
• 43:08
  come
• 43:08
  and to
• 43:09
  act
• 43:10
  but there's
• 43:12
  a sense
• 43:13
  of confusion
• 43:14
  there's a
• 43:16
  sense of
• 43:16
  not
• 43:16
  understanding
• 43:17
  just why
• 43:18
  all this
• 43:19
  is happening
• 43:20
  and that
• 43:20
  can be ours
• 43:21
  today as
• 43:22
  well
• 43:22
  we don't
• 43:22
  understand
• 43:23
  many
• 43:24
  things
• 43:25
  we will
• 43:26
  ask how
• 43:26
  long
• 43:27
  we will
• 43:27
  ask
• 43:28
  why
• 43:28
  but if
• 43:30
  we
• 43:30
  understood
• 43:31
  everything
• 43:31
  we wouldn't
• 43:32
  need
• 43:32
  faith
• 43:33
  and what
• 43:35
  Habakkuk
• 43:36
  is showing
• 43:36
  us here
• 43:37
  is that
• 43:37
  we still
• 43:38
  need
• 43:38
  to be
• 43:39
  a people
• 43:39
  of faith
• 43:40
  even in
• 43:41
  the midst
• 43:41
  of the
• 43:42
  confusion
• 43:42
  that we
• 43:43
  can feel
• 43:43
  in all
• 43:44
  that leaves
• 43:45
  us
• 43:45
  devastated
• 43:46
  worried
• 43:46
  and fearful
• 43:47
  for all
• 43:48
  that's
• 43:48
  going on
• 43:49
  around
• 43:50
  us
• 43:50
  so his
• 43:51
  cry
• 43:52
  his
• 43:53
  complaint
• 43:53
  has a
• 43:54
  sense
• 43:54
  of
• 43:54
  confusion
• 43:55
  and he's
• 43:56
  asking
• 43:56
  how long
• 43:57
  will this
• 43:58
  go on
• 43:59
  Lord
• 43:59
  will you
• 44:00
  not
• 44:00
  do
• 44:01
  something
• 44:01
  well the
• 44:03
  second thing
• 44:03
  we see
• 44:04
  is a
• 44:05
  mysterious
• 44:05
  providence
• 44:06
  in the
• 44:08
  Lord's
• 44:08
  answer
• 44:09
  in verse
• 44:09
  five
• 44:10
  onwards
• 44:10
  Habakkuk's
• 44:12
  problem
• 44:13
  was not
• 44:13
  so much
• 44:14
  what was
• 44:15
  happening
• 44:15
  what people
• 44:16
  were doing
• 44:16
  around him
• 44:17
  it was
• 44:18
  more what
• 44:18
  God
• 44:18
  wasn't
• 44:19
  doing
• 44:20
  that God
• 44:21
  wasn't
• 44:22
  doing
• 44:22
  anything
• 44:23
  but is
• 44:25
  God
• 44:25
  inactive
• 44:26
  in Habakkuk's
• 44:28
  situation
• 44:28
  here
• 44:29
  and we
• 44:29
  ask ourselves
• 44:30
  is God
• 44:31
  inactive
• 44:31
  in our
• 44:32
  days
• 44:32
  he not
• 44:32
  doing
• 44:33
  anything
• 44:33
  in our
• 44:34
  day
• 44:34
  at our
• 44:35
  prayers
• 44:35
  not being
• 44:36
  answered
• 44:37
  well look at
• 44:38
  the response
• 44:39
  that God
• 44:41
  gives
• 44:41
  to Habakkuk
• 44:42
  in verse
• 44:43
  five
• 44:43
  look he
• 44:44
  says
• 44:45
  look among
• 44:46
  the nations
• 44:46
  and see
• 44:47
  wonder and
• 44:48
  be astounded
• 44:49
  for I am
• 44:49
  doing a
• 44:50
  work in
• 44:50
  your days
• 44:51
  that you
• 44:52
  would not
• 44:52
  believe
• 44:53
  if told
• 44:54
  this is
• 44:57
  the nugget
• 44:58
  that we're
• 44:59
  looking for
• 45:00
  today
• 45:00
  this is
• 45:01
  something
• 45:02
  precious
• 45:02
  that we're
• 45:03
  looking at
• 45:04
  today
• 45:04
  but it
• 45:05
  may not
• 45:05
  seem
• 45:05
  as a
• 45:06
  great
• 45:07
  comfort
• 45:07
  immediately
• 45:08
  as we
• 45:08
  look at
• 45:09
  it
• 45:09
  this is
• 45:10
  the Lord's
• 45:11
  response
• 45:12
  to Habakkuk's
• 45:13
  claim that
• 45:13
  God was
• 45:14
  doing
• 45:14
  nothing
• 45:15
  but he
• 45:17
  says
• 45:18
  look
• 45:18
  I am
• 45:19
  doing a
• 45:20
  work
• 45:20
  in your
• 45:21
  days
• 45:22
  what work
• 45:23
  is he
• 45:24
  doing
• 45:25
  how
• 45:26
  are
• 45:26
  things
• 45:27
  going
• 45:27
  to
• 45:27
  change
• 45:28
  in
• 45:29
  Habakkuk's
• 45:29
  day
• 45:29
  and you
• 45:30
  can begin
• 45:30
  to maybe
• 45:31
  feel a
• 45:31
  sense of
• 45:32
  anticipation
• 45:32
  for
• 45:33
  Habakkuk
• 45:34
  the Lord
• 45:35
  is saying
• 45:36
  no I
• 45:36
  am
• 45:36
  taking
• 45:37
  action
• 45:37
  there's
• 45:38
  this sense
• 45:39
  of
• 45:39
  excitement
• 45:40
  maybe
• 45:41
  in
• 45:41
  Habakkuk
• 45:41
  building
• 45:42
  what's
• 45:42
  he
• 45:43
  going
• 45:43
  to
• 45:43
  do
• 45:43
  is
• 45:44
  this
• 45:44
  going
• 45:45
  to be
• 45:45
  the
• 45:45
  answer
• 45:45
  as we
• 45:46
  think
• 45:46
  of a
• 45:47
  prayer
• 45:47
  in the
• 45:47
  New
• 45:47
  Testament
• 45:48
  that the
• 45:48
  Lord
• 45:49
  is
• 45:49
  going
• 45:49
  to do
• 45:49
  abundantly
• 45:50
  more
• 45:51
  than we
• 45:51
  ask
• 45:51
  or imagine
• 45:52
  when there's
• 45:54
  this sense
• 45:54
  of you
• 45:55
  would not
• 45:55
  believe it
• 45:56
  if told
• 45:57
  what is
• 45:57
  it that
• 45:57
  is going
• 45:58
  to come
• 45:59
  is the
• 46:00
  Lord going
• 46:00
  to change
• 46:02
  this turmoil
• 46:03
  into peace
• 46:03
  is he going
• 46:05
  to bring
• 46:05
  prosperity
• 46:06
  and praise
• 46:07
  of the
• 46:08
  Lord once
• 46:08
  again
• 46:09
  is he going
• 46:09
  to bring
• 46:10
  revival
• 46:10
  is he going
• 46:12
  to deal
• 46:12
  with all
• 46:13
  the enemies
• 46:13
  that surround
• 46:14
  them
• 46:14
  Habakkuk
• 46:17
  and the
• 46:17
  people
• 46:17
  will be
• 46:18
  waiting
• 46:18
  with a
• 46:19
  sense
• 46:19
  of
• 46:19
  anticipation
• 46:20
  and excitement
• 46:21
  what is
• 46:21
  God
• 46:22
  going
• 46:23
  to do
• 46:23
  well the
• 46:24
  answer
• 46:25
  is shocking
• 46:26
  the answer
• 46:26
  is in many
• 46:28
  ways this
• 46:28
  mysterious
• 46:29
  providence
• 46:30
  look at what
• 46:33
  the Lord
• 46:33
  says
• 46:34
  in verse 6
• 46:35
  for behold
• 46:35
  I am
• 46:36
  raising up
• 46:37
  the Chaldeans
• 46:38
  also known
• 46:38
  as the
• 46:39
  Babylonians
• 46:40
  that bitter
• 46:41
  and hasty
• 46:43
  nation
• 46:44
  and as you
• 46:45
  read down
• 46:46
  three these
• 46:47
  verses down
• 46:47
  to verse 11
• 46:48
  you see
• 46:49
  this is not
• 46:50
  the answer
• 46:50
  that Habakkuk
• 46:52
  would have
• 46:52
  been expecting
• 46:53
  or wanting
• 46:54
  I am doing
• 46:56
  a work
• 46:58
  that you would
• 46:59
  not believe
• 46:59
  if I told
• 47:00
  but hold on
• 47:02
  Lord
• 47:03
  you're sending
• 47:04
  the Chaldeans
• 47:05
  you're sending
• 47:05
  this Babylonian
• 47:07
  army
• 47:07
  this enemy
• 47:08
  of ours
• 47:09
  you're sending
• 47:09
  them
• 47:10
  whose might
• 47:11
  is their God
• 47:12
  as it says
• 47:13
  in verse 11
• 47:13
  you're sending
• 47:15
  them
• 47:15
  how can
• 47:16
  any good
• 47:17
  come from
• 47:18
  this
• 47:18
  how can
• 47:19
  this be
• 47:19
  what you
• 47:20
  want
• 47:20
  for us
• 47:21
  well it's
• 47:23
  because we
• 47:24
  expect God
• 47:25
  to work
• 47:26
  in the ways
• 47:27
  that we
• 47:27
  want
• 47:28
  but sometimes
• 47:30
  God works
• 47:31
  in different
• 47:32
  ways
• 47:32
  God works
• 47:34
  in mysterious
• 47:35
  ways
• 47:36
  God works
• 47:37
  in the ways
• 47:38
  of providence
• 47:39
  that we
• 47:40
  cannot
• 47:40
  understand
• 47:41
  God brings
• 47:44
  times
• 47:45
  of chaos
• 47:47
  God brings
• 47:49
  times
• 47:49
  of judgment
• 47:51
  God's
• 47:52
  goodness
• 47:52
  is not
• 47:53
  just seen
• 47:54
  in days
• 47:55
  of revival
• 47:55
  God's
• 47:56
  goodness
• 47:57
  is not
• 47:57
  just seen
• 47:58
  in days
• 47:58
  of blessing
• 47:59
  we can
• 48:00
  still see
• 48:01
  God's
• 48:01
  goodness
• 48:02
  in the midst
• 48:03
  of his
• 48:03
  judgment
• 48:04
  in the midst
• 48:05
  of his
• 48:05
  speaking to
• 48:06
  us
• 48:06
  in these
• 48:07
  powerful ways
• 48:08
  in the midst
• 48:09
  of many
• 48:10
  things that
• 48:10
  we see
• 48:11
  going on
• 48:11
  around us
• 48:12
  today
• 48:12
  the tragedies
• 48:14
  the wars
• 48:15
  the pandemics
• 48:16
  the chaos
• 48:17
  that is
• 48:17
  always there
• 48:18
  can we not
• 48:19
  see that
• 48:20
  God is
• 48:21
  still working
• 48:22
  in the midst
• 48:23
  of that
• 48:24
  you see a little
• 48:25
  of that in
• 48:26
  verse 12
• 48:27
  as Habakkuk
• 48:28
  replies
• 48:29
  are you not
• 48:29
  from everlasting
• 48:30
  O Lord
• 48:31
  my God
• 48:31
  we shall not
• 48:32
  die O Lord
• 48:33
  you have
• 48:33
  ordained them
• 48:34
  as a judgment
• 48:35
  you have brought
• 48:37
  them upon us
• 48:39
  for judgment
• 48:39
  and there
• 48:41
  are times
• 48:41
  when God
• 48:42
  will bring
• 48:43
  judgment
• 48:43
  on his
• 48:44
  people
• 48:44
  and we
• 48:46
  don't see
• 48:47
  it as the
• 48:47
  answer to
• 48:48
  prayer
• 48:48
  and yet
• 48:49
  God
• 48:50
  can use
• 48:51
  even the
• 48:51
  darkest
• 48:51
  of days
• 48:52
  to bring
• 48:53
  glory
• 48:54
  to himself
• 48:55
  William Cooper
• 48:57
  the hymn
• 48:59
  writer
• 48:59
  in the
• 48:59
  1700s
• 49:00
  he wrote
• 49:01
  many different
• 49:02
  hymns
• 49:02
  but so many
• 49:03
  of them
• 49:03
  were written
• 49:04
  in the midst
• 49:05
  of his own
• 49:06
  suffering
• 49:07
  in life
• 49:07
  he suffered
• 49:08
  great periods
• 49:09
  of depression
• 49:10
  and very
• 49:10
  dark times
• 49:12
  and the
• 49:13
  last hymn
• 49:14
  that he wrote
• 49:15
  maybe one
• 49:15
  you've heard
• 49:16
  of
• 49:16
  you're familiar
• 49:17
  with
• 49:17
  God moves
• 49:19
  in mysterious
• 49:20
  ways
• 49:21
  and he wrote
• 49:23
  in that hymn
• 49:23
  he wrote
• 49:24
  some of the
• 49:24
  verses
• 49:25
  that said
• 49:25
  this
• 49:25
  God moves
• 49:26
  in mysterious
• 49:27
  ways
• 49:27
  his wonders
• 49:28
  to perform
• 49:29
  he plants
• 49:31
  his footsteps
• 49:31
  in the seas
• 49:32
  and rides
• 49:33
  upon the storm
• 49:34
  judge not
• 49:36
  the Lord
• 49:37
  by feeble
• 49:38
  sense
• 49:38
  but trust
• 49:39
  him
• 49:39
  for his
• 49:40
  grace
• 49:41
  behind a
• 49:42
  frowning
• 49:43
  providence
• 49:43
  he hides
• 49:45
  a smiling
• 49:45
  face
• 49:46
  his purposes
• 49:47
  will ripen
• 49:48
  fast
• 49:49
  unfolding
• 49:49
  every hour
• 49:50
  the bud
• 49:51
  may have
• 49:52
  a bitter
• 49:52
  taste
• 49:53
  but sweet
• 49:54
  will be
• 49:55
  the flower
• 49:56
  he's reminding
• 49:59
  us in these
• 49:59
  words that
• 50:00
  God does
• 50:01
  work
• 50:02
  in mysterious
• 50:03
  ways
• 50:04
  and that
• 50:05
  this was
• 50:06
  a mysterious
• 50:06
  providence
• 50:07
  for Habakkuk
• 50:08
  and the
• 50:08
  people
• 50:09
  then
• 50:09
  the Lord
• 50:10
  is saying
• 50:10
  I am
• 50:11
  working
• 50:12
  I am
• 50:13
  going to
• 50:13
  do a
• 50:13
  thing
• 50:14
  in your
• 50:14
  midst
• 50:14
  that you
• 50:15
  would not
• 50:15
  believe
• 50:16
  if I
• 50:16
  told you
• 50:17
  but it's
• 50:18
  not what
• 50:18
  they
• 50:18
  wanted
• 50:19
  but God
• 50:23
  has a
• 50:23
  purpose
• 50:24
  God
• 50:26
  is not
• 50:27
  silent
• 50:28
  God
• 50:29
  is not
• 50:29
  stationary
• 50:30
  he is
• 50:31
  active
• 50:32
  he is
• 50:32
  working
• 50:33
  and that's
• 50:33
  true for
• 50:34
  us
• 50:34
  today
• 50:34
  as well
• 50:35
  that God
• 50:37
  in the
• 50:37
  midst of
• 50:38
  all that
• 50:38
  we see
• 50:38
  around us
• 50:39
  can bring
• 50:40
  good
• 50:40
  and where
• 50:42
  do we
• 50:42
  see this
• 50:43
  shown
• 50:43
  to us
• 50:44
  so much
• 50:45
  well we
• 50:47
  see it
• 50:47
  as we
• 50:47
  come to
• 50:48
  the cross
• 50:49
  we see
• 50:50
  it as
• 50:51
  we look
• 50:51
  to the
• 50:52
  cross
• 50:52
  where
• 50:53
  Christ
• 50:53
  was
• 50:53
  crucified
• 50:54
  when we
• 50:55
  think of
• 50:56
  all the
• 50:57
  chaos
• 50:58
  all the
• 50:58
  sin
• 50:59
  around us
• 50:59
  we would
• 51:00
  say
• 51:00
  there is
• 51:01
  a way
• 51:02
  to deal
• 51:02
  with this
• 51:03
  and God
• 51:03
  is just
• 51:04
  to destroy
• 51:05
  our enemies
• 51:05
  destroy
• 51:06
  the sin
• 51:06
  of this
• 51:07
  world
• 51:08
  but God
• 51:10
  has said
• 51:10
  I am
• 51:11
  doing a
• 51:11
  thing
• 51:11
  in your
• 51:12
  midst
• 51:13
  that you
• 51:13
  would not
• 51:13
  believe
• 51:14
  if I
• 51:14
  told you
• 51:15
  I am
• 51:16
  giving
• 51:17
  my son
• 51:17
  I am
• 51:19
  giving
• 51:19
  my son
• 51:20
  that he
• 51:21
  might die
• 51:21
  on the
• 51:22
  cross
• 51:22
  that in
• 51:24
  the darkness
• 51:24
  of the
• 51:25
  cross
• 51:26
  where all
• 51:27
  hope seems
• 51:27
  to be
• 51:28
  gone
• 51:28
  where the
• 51:28
  people
• 51:29
  feel
• 51:29
  what is
• 51:30
  happening
• 51:31
  here
• 51:31
  Jesus
• 51:33
  cries
• 51:33
  it is
• 51:34
  finished
• 51:35
  we don't
• 51:36
  understand
• 51:37
  it
• 51:37
  we don't
• 51:39
  we don't
• 51:40
  just
• 51:40
  comprehend
• 51:41
  it so
• 51:42
  much
• 51:42
  as to
• 51:43
  what it
• 51:43
  actually
• 51:43
  means
• 51:44
  it's
• 51:45
  not the
• 51:46
  way
• 51:46
  we would
• 51:47
  have said
• 51:47
  to God
• 51:48
  look
• 51:48
  Lord
• 51:48
  do this
• 51:49
  take care
• 51:50
  of our
• 51:51
  sins
• 51:51
  in this
• 51:51
  way
• 51:52
  we would
• 51:52
  never
• 51:53
  have said
• 51:53
  give
• 51:54
  your son
• 51:54
  to die
• 51:55
  but that
• 51:57
  is what
• 51:58
  God
• 51:58
  has done
• 51:59
  for us
• 52:00
  God's
• 52:01
  ways
• 52:02
  are not
• 52:03
  our
• 52:03
  ways
• 52:04
  and that's
• 52:06
  what we
• 52:06
  have to
• 52:06
  remember
• 52:07
  in the
• 52:07
  midst of
• 52:08
  our
• 52:08
  world
• 52:08
  and all
• 52:09
  its
• 52:09
  chaos
• 52:09
  that God
• 52:11
  is doing
• 52:12
  a work
• 52:13
  sometimes
• 52:14
  it'll be
• 52:15
  through
• 52:15
  times of
• 52:16
  blessing
• 52:16
  and times
• 52:17
  of revival
• 52:18
  but other
• 52:19
  times it'll
• 52:20
  be through
• 52:20
  times of
• 52:21
  chaos
• 52:21
  but God
• 52:23
  can still
• 52:24
  bring a
• 52:24
  people
• 52:25
  to himself
• 52:26
  in the
• 52:26
  midst
• 52:27
  of that
• 52:27
  he can
• 52:28
  restore
• 52:29
  a people
• 52:29
  he can
• 52:30
  restore
• 52:30
  a nation
• 52:31
  through
• 52:31
  his
• 52:32
  judgment
• 52:32
  through
• 52:33
  his
• 52:34
  mysterious
• 52:35
  providence
• 52:36
  at times
• 52:37
  God
• 52:38
  is working
• 52:40
  but then
• 52:42
  finally we
• 52:42
  ask ourselves
• 52:43
  in the midst
• 52:44
  of this
• 52:44
  confusion
• 52:45
  in the
• 52:46
  midst of
• 52:47
  a mysterious
• 52:47
  providence
• 52:48
  of God
• 52:49
  sending
• 52:49
  a nation
• 52:51
  of such
• 52:51
  venom
• 52:52
  against
• 52:53
  his people
• 52:53
  well what
• 52:54
  hope is
• 52:55
  there
• 52:55
  in this
• 52:56
  well the
• 52:58
  final thing
• 52:58
  I want
• 52:59
  to see
• 52:59
  here is
• 53:00
  that there
• 53:00
  is a
• 53:01
  warm
• 53:01
  embrace
• 53:03
  when you
• 53:04
  read through
• 53:05
  this
• 53:05
  you maybe
• 53:06
  think well
• 53:07
  things are
• 53:08
  just so
• 53:08
  difficult
• 53:09
  that all
• 53:09
  they have
• 53:09
  to do
• 53:10
  is just
• 53:10
  grin
• 53:10
  and bear
• 53:11
  it
• 53:12
  on their
• 53:13
  own day
• 53:14
  we think
• 53:14
  well maybe
• 53:15
  God's not
• 53:15
  listening
• 53:16
  all we have
• 53:17
  to do is
• 53:17
  just grin
• 53:18
  and bear
• 53:18
  it for a
• 53:19
  time
• 53:19
  put up
• 53:20
  with it
• 53:20
  but we
• 53:22
  are reminded
• 53:22
  here of
• 53:23
  God's
• 53:24
  grace
• 53:24
  and God's
• 53:25
  love
• 53:25
  to his
• 53:26
  people
• 53:27
  how do we
• 53:28
  see it
• 53:28
  here and
• 53:28
  how do we
• 53:29
  know it
• 53:29
  ourselves
• 53:30
  well we
• 53:32
  see it
• 53:32
  in Habakkuk
• 53:34
  when you
• 53:36
  look at
• 53:36
  verse 12
• 53:37
  and verse
• 53:39
  1 with
• 53:39
  me
• 53:40
  in verse
• 53:41
  12
• 53:42
  Habakkuk
• 53:42
  says
• 53:43
  are you
• 53:44
  not from
• 53:44
  everlasting
• 53:45
  O Lord
• 53:46
  my God
• 53:47
  my Holy
• 53:48
  One
• 53:48
  we see
• 53:50
  there
• 53:50
  Habakkuk
• 53:51
  has
• 53:51
  confidence
• 53:52
  he has
• 53:53
  confidence
• 53:54
  in God
• 53:54
  yes he
• 53:55
  has a
• 53:55
  complaint
• 53:56
  he is
• 53:57
  groaning
• 53:57
  against
• 53:58
  him
• 53:58
  but he
• 53:58
  has
• 53:58
  confidence
• 53:59
  are you
• 54:01
  not from
• 54:01
  everlasting
• 54:02
  O Lord
• 54:03
  my God
• 54:04
  so there's
• 54:07
  confidence
• 54:08
  in Habakkuk
• 54:08
  he is
• 54:09
  taking this
• 54:10
  to God
• 54:11
  and then
• 54:12
  we remind
• 54:12
  as you go
• 54:13
  back to
• 54:13
  verse 1
• 54:14
  the oracle
• 54:15
  that Habakkuk
• 54:15
  the prophet
• 54:16
  saw
• 54:17
  that God
• 54:19
  was using
• 54:20
  Habakkuk
• 54:21
  God was
• 54:22
  using Habakkuk
• 54:23
  to communicate
• 54:25
  to his
• 54:25
  people
• 54:26
  to speak
• 54:27
  to them
• 54:27
  in the midst
• 54:28
  of this
• 54:29
  chaos
• 54:30
  we don't
• 54:31
  know much
• 54:32
  about Habakkuk
• 54:33
  but there's
• 54:35
  one thing
• 54:35
  we do
• 54:35
  know
• 54:36
  and that
• 54:37
  is what
• 54:37
  his name
• 54:38
  means
• 54:39
  Habakkuk
• 54:40
  means
• 54:41
  embrace
• 54:43
  a hug
• 54:46
  a warm
• 54:48
  embrace
• 54:49
  that is
• 54:50
  what his
• 54:50
  name
• 54:51
  means
• 54:52
  and when
• 54:52
  you look
• 54:52
  at the
• 54:53
  prophets
• 54:53
  and their
• 54:53
  names
• 54:54
  you often
• 54:54
  learn
• 54:55
  so much
• 54:56
  from them
• 54:56
  Isaiah
• 54:58
  who was
• 54:59
  sent by
• 55:00
  God
• 55:00
  means
• 55:00
  salvation
• 55:01
  is of
• 55:02
  the Lord
• 55:02
  Jeremiah
• 55:04
  who was
• 55:05
  sent by
• 55:05
  God
• 55:06
  means
• 55:06
  God
• 55:06
  will
• 55:07
  raise
• 55:08
  and so
• 55:09
  here
• 55:09
  there's no
• 55:10
  coincidence
• 55:10
  that Habakkuk
• 55:11
  is used
• 55:12
  by God
• 55:13
  in the
• 55:13
  midst
• 55:13
  of this
• 55:14
  chaos
• 55:14
  to remind
• 55:16
  us
• 55:16
  that God
• 55:17
  embraces
• 55:17
  that God
• 55:19
  is there
• 55:20
  for his
• 55:21
  people
• 55:21
  when you
• 55:22
  feel
• 55:23
  sad
• 55:24
  when you
• 55:25
  feel
• 55:25
  sorrowful
• 55:26
  and you
• 55:26
  need
• 55:26
  encouragement
• 55:27
  a warm
• 55:28
  embrace
• 55:29
  can give
• 55:30
  so much
• 55:31
  to us
• 55:31
  and that
• 55:32
  is what
• 55:33
  we have
• 55:33
  from God
• 55:34
  here
• 55:34
  a reminder
• 55:36
  that in
• 55:37
  the days
• 55:37
  of chaos
• 55:38
  that Habakkuk
• 55:38
  was in
• 55:39
  and in
• 55:39
  our own
• 55:40
  day and
• 55:40
  age
• 55:41
  just now
• 55:41
  that God
• 55:42
  is there
• 55:42
  for us
• 55:43
  remember
• 55:45
  he sent
• 55:46
  his prophets
• 55:47
  he sent
• 55:48
  Jeremiah
• 55:50
  he sent
• 55:51
  Jeremiah's
• 55:52
  God
• 55:53
  will raise
• 55:54
  he sent
• 55:55
  Isaiah
• 55:55
  to say
• 55:56
  salvation
• 55:57
  is of
• 55:57
  the Lord
• 55:58
  he sent
• 55:59
  Habakkuk
• 56:00
  to say
• 56:01
  there is
• 56:01
  an embrace
• 56:02
  but above
• 56:04
  all
• 56:04
  he sent
• 56:06
  his son
• 56:06
  a son
• 56:08
  who says
• 56:09
  come
• 56:10
  come
• 56:11
  come
• 56:11
  to me
• 56:12
  all
• 56:12
  who
• 56:13
  labor
• 56:13
  and are
• 56:13
  heavy laden
• 56:14
  and I
• 56:15
  will give
• 56:15
  you rest
• 56:16
  I will
• 56:17
  give you
• 56:18
  that embrace
• 56:20
  and as
• 56:21
  you go
• 56:22
  through
• 56:22
  the Bible
• 56:23
  as you
• 56:24
  go through
• 56:25
  God's
• 56:25
  working
• 56:26
  salvation
• 56:27
  among
• 56:27
  his people
• 56:28
  what we
• 56:29
  see
• 56:29
  again
• 56:30
  and again
• 56:30
  is God
• 56:31
  moving
• 56:32
  in his
• 56:32
  ways
• 56:33
  God
• 56:34
  working
• 56:35
  things
• 56:36
  out
• 56:36
  to
• 56:54
  God
• 56:55
  and he
• 56:55
  is moving
• 56:56
  things
• 56:57
  for his
• 56:57
  people
• 56:58
  he is
• 56:59
  moving
• 56:59
  his work
• 57:00
  of salvation, that we might come to him and find that hope in him. I am doing a work in your days
• 57:09
  that you would not believe if I told. Well, you see, I want us to close with just three verses
• 57:16
  that remind us of the embrace of God to his people. And it's three verses that show it
• 57:24
  over a spectrum of time. We go back to Deuteronomy chapter 33, where God is speaking to his people
• 57:33
  as they go in to the promised land. He's reminding them to always look to him. And he says in verse
• 57:41
  27, the eternal God is your dwelling place and underneath are the everlasting arms.
• 57:49
  There is a reminder there of the beginning of God's people. Underneath are the everlasting arms.
• 57:58
  I will embrace you. I will hold you. There's a reminder for us in the New Testament,
• 58:06
  as Jesus gave the parable of the prodigal son. In Luke 15, that parable that speaks of the son who
• 58:14
  went away from his father, who wanted all his money to spend in riotous ways. He went away,
• 58:22
  but then came to his senses. And he came back to the father, hoping just to be a servant
• 58:28
  in his father's house. But what did his father do? In Luke 15, verse 20, his father arose
• 58:35
  and came to him. And while he was a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion and ran
• 58:41
  and embraced him and kissed him. That is that reminder that when we have gone far away from God,
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  when we have paralyzed God's word ourselves, we have turned our back on God, that when we come back to
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  him, he will embrace his people. He embraced him and kissed him. And the final one I want us to think
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  about is for our future and for all who trust in the Lord, that ultimately the day will come
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  when he will finally and fully embrace us to himself. In Revelation 21, verse 4, he says,
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  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning,
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  nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. There is that final embrace
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  as he welcomes us to himself for eternity. Wiping away tear, a tear is always an embrace,
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  always a loving embrace. And so Habakkuk reminds us in the chaos that surrounded him of this warm embrace.
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  And it reminds us today that as we trust in the Lord, he has that embrace for us.
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  We can have times of confusion. We can have times of mysterious providences that we don't understand.
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  But we can have times to always know the Lord's warmth and love and gracious embrace.
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  May we know it today and all our days. Let us pray.
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  Our Father in heaven, may you bless your word to us and remind us of the wonder of your providence,
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  how your ways are above our ways and your thoughts above ours.
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  But help us to pray your will be done. As we ask it all in Jesus' name. Amen.
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  We'll conclude by singing to God's praise in Psalm 35, page 44 of the psalm book.
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  We'll sing from verse 26 to 28.
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  Psalm 35, page 44.
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  May all who gloat at my distress, no shame and loss of face.
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  May all who triumph over me be covered with disgrace.
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  I will extol your righteousness, I will praise you with my tongue.
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  I will proclaim your greatness, Lord, and praise you all day long.
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  We'll sing these three stanzas to the tune of St. Andrew to God's praise.
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  Amen.
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  Amen.
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  Amen.
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  Amen.
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  Amen.
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  May all who gloat at my distress, no shame and loss of face.
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  May all who triumph over me be covered with disgrace.
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  May those who long to see me clear, shout out with joy and sing.
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  The Lord be praised, who loves to see the servant prospering.
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  I will extol your righteousness, I will praise you with my tongue.
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  I will proclaim your greatness, Lord, and praise you all day long.
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  After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my left.
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  We'll close with a benediction.
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  Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore.
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  Amen.
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  Amen.
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  A.
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  Amen.
• 1:04:03
  Amen.
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  Amen.
• 1:04:04
  Amen.
• 1:04:04
  Amen.
• 1:04:04
  Amen.
• 1:04:04
  Amen.
• 1:04:05
  Amen.
• 1:04:05
  Amen.
• 1:04:05
  Amen.
• 1:04:06
  Amen.
• 1:04:06
  Amen.
• 1:04:07
  Amen.
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  Amen.
• 1:04:09
  Amen.
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  Amen.
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  Amen.
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  Amen.