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A Taste of 'What is God' · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

• 0:00
  May we begin our praise to God by singing to his name in Psalm 34 of the Scottish Salta.
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  Psalm 34 of the Scottish Salta, that's on page 247.
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  247 of the Blue Books and we'll sing from verse mark 8.
• 0:25
  Psalm 34, verse mark 8.
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  O taste and see that God is good, who trusts in whom is blessed.
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  Fear God has since none that whom fear shall be with want oppressed.
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  The lions young may hungry be, and they may lack their food, but they that truly seek the Lord shall not lack any good.
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  And we'll sing down to the end of verse mark 15.
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  Depart from ill, do good, seek peace, pursue it earnestly.
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  God's eyes are on the just, his ears are open to their cry.
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  So we'll stand and sing together to God's praise.
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  O taste and see that God is good.
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  O taste and see that God is good, who trusts in whom is blessed.
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  O taste and see that God is good, who trusts in whom is blessed.
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  A Mang, Ahestui,
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  Paburs in the champion of the Holy Spirit
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  The Lord shall not take me good.
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  O children, never do ye come, and unto me give me,
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  I shall you teach to understand how ye the Lord should fear.
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  What man will see that life decide, new secret would belong.
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  Thy lips refrain from speaking good, and from ill words thy tongue.
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  Depart from the new sea peace, pursue eternally.
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  God's eyes are on the earth as his ears are open to their cry.
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  May we now come to our garden prayer.
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  Let us pray together.
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  Our heavenly Father, you are the one that we can lift our cry to this evening.
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  And so we ask that you would prepare our hearts as we come into your presence
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  and come under the power of your word,
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  that it would be a rule to instruct us and to guide us,
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  and what duty you require of us.
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  And Lord, may it be an instruction to us in every step that we take,
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  wherever you shall lead us and wherever we find our lives to go.
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  Our lives are so uncertain at times.
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  And we can confess that we are led into places where we never thought we would be.
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  And into circumstances that are fearful.
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  Circumstances that we didn't want to experience.
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  But Lord, we pray that we would be people that would be reliant upon you.
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  And that you would be a God that would be trustworthy.
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  You would be a God that would be faithful to us.
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  As we cling to you.
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  As we have nowhere else to go.
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  That you would reveal yourself to us.
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  And that we may come from every step.
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  And as we look back over the steps that we have taken.
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  Or the steps that you have led us through.
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  That we can see that things were so unclear at the time.
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  But you are a God who ordained everything and every step for me.
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  And you are the one that has provided for me.
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  In such a way as I could not have provided for myself.
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  And you met my fears and you met my needs.
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  And though I was so concerned and anxious over many things.
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  You took these things from me.
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  Lord, we pray.
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  That you would be one.
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  Known by everyone that is here.
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  Likewise.
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  Someone that they can look back upon.
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  In their experience.
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  And say that God has been faithful.
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  God has been my guide.
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  God will be my king.
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  And I will in no wise go to any other place.
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  Nor idol.
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  Nor God.
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  For none other can take me through.
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  The uncertainties of this life.
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  And give me peace.
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  You are the prince of peace.
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  You are the wonderful counselor.
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  The mighty God.
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  Our everlasting father.
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  A father that knows what to give to his children.
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  And so may the cries of your people be heard this night.
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  As we come to you in prayer.
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  Prayer audible.
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  And prayer silently.
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  That may you meet us at the needs of our prayers.
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  You are a God who hears our prayers.
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  Who casts not our prayers from you.
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  You are the God abounding in grace.
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  And has not withheld your grace from us.
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  So Lord, we pray you guide our minds as we gather here.
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  Keep the evil one from us.
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  May our focus be upon God.
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  As we come to consider who he is.
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  And the character of God.
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  Open our eyes, we pray.
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  Let us be illuminated by your light of your word in our presence.
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  May our hearts be enriched when we look at the riches of God.
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  And our faith grow increasingly.
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  And our faith grow increasingly.
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  Leaning upon and trusting in the God of our salvation.
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  Lord, we pray for every effort made this night in your name.
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  The preaching of your gospel across our nation.
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  Lord, we pray that it would go with much blessing and many fruits may come from it.
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  May the seed be scattered in soil that has been prepared by your spirit.
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  Soil that would grow into mighty from little seeds into mighty oaks.
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  Strong trees for your cause.
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  People that will stand firmly upon your truth and not waver from it.
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  And stand and declare the truth of your word to a day that is full of falsehoods.
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  A day that is full of false comforts.
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  And people are full of ambitions that are leading them in their own selfish desires.
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  People have their own ways of God.
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  Their own thoughts of who God should be or what a God should be.
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  We thought of that in the morning.
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  Of the man that came and behold I thought.
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  This is the way it should be.
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  But Lord, we pray you keep us from what we think.
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  And lead us in how you tell us.
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  And how you guide us in your word.
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  That your word would be that guide.
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  Lord, we pray for the faith mission that gather in Lox.
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  We pray for their week of work ahead of them.
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  We pray that your spirit would be with them.
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  As they preach and share what the Lord Jesus Christ has done in their lives.
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  And what he can do for them also.
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  We pray for organisations such as these.
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  That have a love and desire to share your word to people that are in need.
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  So Lord, we ask you would likewise give us that desire.
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  To share the love of Christ and what he has done for us.
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  With souls that are lost.
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  With souls that are going to hell if they are not saved.
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  Lord, we pray for the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  Lord, we pray for our government.
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  We pray for our Queen.
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  We pray that you would be their ultimate guide.
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  And you would be leading us as a nation.
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  Lord, we pray that they would come to learn to trust upon you also.
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  Lord, we pray for the governance of our nation.
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  That they would set your word before them as their rule likewise.
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  And Lord, we thank you for a new ministry to begin within our congregation.
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  We pray for Callum Murdo and the family as they move up to Stornway.
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  We pray that the children would settle in and that they would be warmly welcomed.
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  And Lord, as difficult as it is, we pray that you would keep them from all anxieties.
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  Give them peace in their movements.
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  Lord, we pray for the congregation of North East as they leave.
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  That you will be with them and provide for them in ways that they do not expect.
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  But ways that will be wonderful for them.
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  Lord, we pray that you would just be one that would be with us here tonight.
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  Let our minds be focused upon you.
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  Let us not be distracted to the left or to the right.
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  But let us lift our hearts to you and sing praises to your wonderful name.
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  Amen.
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  May we continue in our praise by singing in Psalm 26 of the Scottish Psalter.
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  Psalm 26 of the Scottish Psalter.
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  You'll find that on page 235.
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  Psalm 26, page 235 of the Blue Book.
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  And we'll sing from verse Mark 7 down to verse Mark 12.
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  That I with voice of thanksgiving may publish and declare.
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  And tell of all thy mighty works that great and wondrous are.
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  The habitation of thy house, Lord, I have loved well.
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  Yea, in that place I do delight.
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  Where doth thine honour dwell?
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  We'll sing down to verse Mark 12.
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  My foot upon an even place doth stand with steadfastness within the congregations.
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  The eternal I will bless.
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  So we'll stand and we'll sing to God's praise from verse 7.
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  That I with voice of thanksgiving may publish and declare.
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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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  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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  Amen.
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  Amen.
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  With sinners gather not my soul, and such as blood would spill,
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  whose lands this chamber's blocks right hand, God hath in Christ to fill.
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  But as for thee I will walk on, in my integrity.
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  To the within, in hand, O Lord, be merciful to me.
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  My foot upon an evil place, thus stand with steadfastness,
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  within the congregations, eternal I will bless.
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  If we can turn now and read from the Word of God.
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  And we'll find our reading tonight in the first book of Samuel, at chapter 5.
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  The first book of Samuel, chapter 5.
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  We'll read the whole of chapter 5, and we'll read the beginning of chapter 6,
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  and the final section of chapter 6.
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  So we'll read chapter 6 down to verse Mark 4,
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  and then in chapter 6 we'll jump to 12, verse 12,
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  and continue to the end of the chapter.
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  So let us hear the Word of God,
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  and may it be blessed to everyone who hears it.
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  When the Philistines captured the Ark of God,
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  they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashtod.
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  Then the Philistines took the Ark of God,
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  and brought it into the house of Dagon,
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  and set it up beside Dagon.
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  And when the people of Ashtod rose early the next day,
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  behold, Dagon had fallen face down on the ground before the Ark of the Lord.
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  So they took Dagon and put him back in his place.
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  But when they rose early the next morning,
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  behold, Dagon had fallen face down on the ground before the Ark of the Lord.
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  And the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold.
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  Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him.
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  This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon
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  do not tread on the threshold of Dagon and Ashtod to this day.
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  The hand of the Lord was heavy against the people of Ashtod,
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  and he terrified and afflicted them with tumour,
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  both in Ashtod and its territory.
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  And when the men of Ashtod saw how things were,
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  they said,
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  The Ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us,
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  for his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our God.
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  So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said,
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  What shall we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?
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  They answered,
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  Let the Ark of the God of Israel be brought round to Gath.
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  So they brought the Ark of God of Israel there.
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  But after they had brought it round,
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  the hand of the Lord was against the city,
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  causing a very great panic.
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  And he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old.
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  So that tumour broke out on them.
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  So they sent the Ark of God to Ekron.
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  But as soon as the Ark of God came to Ekron,
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  the people of Ekron cried out,
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  They have brought round to us the Ark of God of Israel
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  to kill us and our people.
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  They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said,
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  Send away the Ark of the God of Israel,
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  and let it return to its own place,
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  that it may not kill us and our people.
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  For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city.
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  The hand of God was heavy there.
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  The men who did not die were struck with tumour,
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  and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
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  The Ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines for seven months.
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  And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said,
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  What shall we do with the Ark of the Lord?
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  Tell us what we shall send it to its place.
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  They said,
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  If you send away the Ark of God of Israel,
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  do not send it empty,
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  but by all means return him a guilt offering.
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  Then you will be healed,
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  and it will be known to you why his hand does not turn away from you.
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  And they said,
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  What is the guilt offering that we shall return to him?
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  And they answered,
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  Five golden tumours and five golden mice,
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  according to the number of the lords of the Philistines.
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  For the same plague was on all of you and on your lords.
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  So we'll pick up our reading at verse 12 now.
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  And what the people do is they create these golden images,
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  and they construct a cart of wood, a new cart,
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  and they put the Ark on this cart with these golden images,
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  returning it to the land with two new cows
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  that would pull those cart.
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  So let's pick up our reading at verse 12.
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  And the cows went straight in the direction of Beth Shemeth,
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  along the highway,
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  lowing as they went.
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  They turned neither to the right nor to the left,
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  and the lords of the Philistines
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  went after them as far as the border of Beth Shemeth.
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  Now the people of Beth Shemeth were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley.
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  And when they lifted up their eyes and saw the Ark,
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  they rejoiced to see it.
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  The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemeth and stopped there.
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  A great stone was there.
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  And they split up the wood of the cart
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  and offered the cows that burnt offering to the Lord.
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  And the Levites took down the Ark of the Lord
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  and the box that was beside it,
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  in which were the golden figures,
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  and set them upon the great stone.
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  And the men of Beth Shemeth offered burnt offerings
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  and sacrificed sacrifices on that day to the Lord.
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  And when the five lords of the Philistines saw it,
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  they returned that day to Ekron.
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  These are the golden tumours that the Philistines returned
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  as a guilt offering to the Lord.
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  One for Ashtod, one for Gaza,
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  one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron.
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  And the golden mice,
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  according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines
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  belonging to the five lords.
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  Both fortified cities and unwalled villages.
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  The great stone beside which they set down the Ark of the Lord
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  is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemeth.
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  And he struck some of the men of Beth Shemeth
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  because they looked upon the Ark of the Lord.
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  He struck 70 men of them.
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  And the people mourned because the Lord had struck the people
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  with a great blow.
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  Then the men of Beth Shemeth said,
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  Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God?
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  And to whom shall he go up away from us?
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  So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirath-Jerim,
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  saying,
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  The Philistines have returned the Ark of the Lord.
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  Come down and take it up to you.
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  Amen.
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  We'll leave our reading there and pray that it would be blessed to each of us.
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  We'll continue in singing praise to God
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  by singing in Psalm 98 of the Sing Psalms.
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  Psalm 98 of the Sing Psalms.
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  And you'll find that on page 129 of the Blue Book.
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  We'll sing at the beginning of that psalm.
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  Psalm 98, Sing Psalms at the beginning.
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  We'll sing down to the end of the double verse, Mark 3.
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  O sing a new song to the Lord.
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  For wonders he hath done,
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  his right hand and his holy arm,
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  the victory hath won.
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  The Lord declared his saving work
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  and made it to be known
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  to all the nations of the world
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  his righteousness is shown.
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  His steadfast love and faithfulness
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  he has remembered well.
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  The covenant he made with them,
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  the house of Israel.
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  And all the nations of the earth
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  have seen what God has done,
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  our God who brings deliverance
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  by his right hand alone.
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  So we'll stand together
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  and sing these words to God's praise.
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  O sing a new song to the Lord.
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  O sing a new song to the Lord.
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  O sing a new song to the Lord.
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  O sing a new song to the Lord.
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  The Lord declared his holy arm,
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  the Lord declared his holy arm,
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  his holy arm, the Lord declared his holy arm,
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  for wonders he hath done.
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  His right and land is holy arm,
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  his holy arm, the victory hath won.
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  The Lord declared his holy arm, the victory hath won.
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  The Lord declared his saving work,
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  and made it to be Lord.
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  To all the nations of the world,
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  His righteousness is sure.
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  His death was love and faithfulness,
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  He has remembered well.
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  Our covenant he made with them,
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  the hands of Israel.
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  His holy arm, the Lord declared his holy arm,
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  and all the nations of the earth,
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  have seen what God has done.
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  Our God who brings deliverance,
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  my Israel's right hand alone.
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  If we could turn back to the passage that we read together,
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  and our text for our thoughts will be verse 20 from chapter 6.
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  Then the men of Beth Shemeth said,
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  Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God?
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  Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God?
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  Now the last time I was with you,
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  we looked at the previous chapter,
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  and many of you hopefully recall if you were present,
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  that we thought about the battle that Israel led against the Philistines,
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  and how they did it to fulfill their own desires.
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  But the bombshell, they didn't succeed,
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  and they received a bombshell back of great death.
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  The ears of Israel would tingle at their ignorance,
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  it was, to the word of God.
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  They didn't listen to the word of God.
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  And it was a reminder to us to take heed of what God says,
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  and what God has revealed to us.
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  And we thought that when we do that,
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  and we use God's word as a rule to direct us,
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  we would know the fulfilling of the first catechism,
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  which is that our chief end would be to glorify God,
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  and to enjoy him forever.
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  And I wanted to continue through in the following accounts that we read here tonight.
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  And pondering over the passage,
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  and taking a step back from the passage of what's happening here,
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  it kind of became clear to me that,
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  well, there's many different ways you could look at it.
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  But really what's happening is, God is at work.
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  God is revealing who he is to the people,
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  to the Philistines and to the Israelites.
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  He's showing them who he is.
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  So I thought, well, it's entirely fitting that we employ another catechism,
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  just like the people of Westminster that constructed the catechisms and confessions.
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  They looked at the word of God was a priority of everything.
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  And then they looked secondly at who God is.
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  So as God reveals himself in this next chapter,
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  it is fitting that we can apply catechism for, to our thoughts.
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  What is God?
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  God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.
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  In his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
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  And in the time that we have, there's no way we can satisfactorily touch on each point that we have there.
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  But I would like to just touch on it.
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  And many of you will be familiar with the idea of a tapas style restaurant,
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  where you go into the restaurant and you don't get a full meal, single meal.
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  You get lots of different meals, tasters as it were.
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  And you taste it and see if you like it.
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  And in a sense, that's kind of what I want to do tonight.
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  I just touch on these characteristics of God, these attributes of God,
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  so we get a taste of who God is.
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  And that would be a taste that would leave us longing for more of that taste.
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  That would leave us coming back in our own time and our own readings to fulfill what is God.
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  And when you look at the, this is just the shorter catechism version of who God is.
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  And it is concise and in its most basic form, but when you go to the confession of faith,
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  it is fulfilled with all these wonderful descriptions.
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  And when you read them and keep reading them,
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  it's almost like it enriches every time you read it to who God is.
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  So I'd like to give you a taste of God using these points of his being, his wisdom, his power, his holiness, his justice, his goodness, and his truth.
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  So it will just be a taste of each in the time that we have.
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  So let us look at the being of God first.
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  And the being and wisdom of God will kind of fit into the background of our passage.
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  God's being is completely different to what we know as a being or our being.
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  Where we see our beginnings, we see our ends, we see the changes on our being.
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  We grow old.
• 31:41
  We can only be in one place at one time.
• 31:44
  We can be here.
• 31:46
  We can come to be.
• 31:50
  Or we may have been.
• 31:53
  And our being is limited, ultimately.
• 31:57
  Our being will stop.
• 32:00
  It will be a being that will have been, in a sense.
• 32:06
  But God's being is eternal, infinite, always existing, eternally being, never come to have been, always his.
• 32:19
  Infinite in his being, so that he is not limited to be in a place.
• 32:26
  Infinite in the ability to be anywhere, not restricted to a body, to a time.
• 32:37
  He is a God that can be here, even as we sit under his word.
• 32:43
  He is a God that does not change.
• 32:48
  We change.
• 32:49
  We grow old.
• 32:51
  But God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, thankfully.
• 32:57
  So we can be assured by the words that God has given to us, describes a God who still is.
• 33:08
  It's not a God that has changed.
• 33:10
  So we get a clearer picture of who God is.
• 33:14
  And we can gain a knowledge of him by reading his scripture.
• 33:19
  God of Israel is the same God for our day.
• 33:28
  But Israel, in our passage, they forgot God.
• 33:33
  They neglected God and they turned away from God.
• 33:36
  They sought other gods.
• 33:37
  They sought the gods of Canaan.
• 33:40
  They sought the Baals, the other gods.
• 33:43
  So God, in his wisdom, reminded them of who they had forgotten.
• 33:53
  It was God's wisdom being revealed to remind them, in such a way, of who he was.
• 34:02
  So let us jump to our next taste of God's wisdom.
• 34:08
  The nation of Israel had been left in a hopeless position now that the ark of God had been captured.
• 34:18
  The symbol of the symbol that represented God's presence had been taken from them.
• 34:23
  And the tabernacle in Shiloh was left without a heart, in a sense.
• 34:28
  And we must realize that it was not the Philistines who stole the ark, although they did.
• 34:34
  It was God really allowing them to take it.
• 34:38
  It was his choice, his providence, that they took the ark.
• 34:43
  The ark was, in its day, a representation of God's presence.
• 34:50
  That's how he revealed himself to the people then.
• 34:54
  It was his choice that he appointed the Philistines to take it.
• 35:02
  And God's departure to that nation would have been a clear message to them.
• 35:09
  They had fallen from his favor.
• 35:12
  They did not rightly give God the honor that he was worthy of.
• 35:17
  And it was the root of the problem.
• 35:19
  They didn't realize who he was.
• 35:22
  They had lost the knowledge of God by neglecting his word.
• 35:26
  But they were a people that were chosen by God.
• 35:31
  They were a people.
• 35:32
  Israel was his treasured possession.
• 35:34
  Israel were people of God's favor.
• 35:38
  If they would obey him.
• 35:41
  But they never.
• 35:43
  They forgot him.
• 35:45
  They lost knowledge.
• 35:47
  And he was a God that promised to be faithful to them.
• 35:52
  He would be faithful to this Israel.
• 35:54
  If they would be obedient to him.
• 35:58
  That comes from Deuteronomy chapter 7.
• 36:01
  And that chapter lays down a lot of terms for them.
• 36:06
  As a people.
• 36:07
  Of being obedient to God.
• 36:09
  And what God expected from them as a people.
• 36:13
  And now the ark has been taken from them.
• 36:16
  It may seem like they've, in a sense, blown it with God.
• 36:19
  The glory of God has departed.
• 36:22
  And they would have been asking themselves.
• 36:24
  Well, what can we do now?
• 36:27
  God's wisdom outworking.
• 36:33
  Is beyond our understanding.
• 36:37
  This may have seemed for them such an empty place.
• 36:42
  Without the presence of God.
• 36:44
  God.
• 36:45
  But it was much as in God's chastisement.
• 36:49
  To the people.
• 36:51
  As it was correction.
• 36:53
  As it was cultivation.
• 36:56
  Within them.
• 36:57
  And though they were sad days for the nation.
• 37:01
  Though it would have seemed like their future had been robbed from them by the Philistines.
• 37:06
  And their security swept from under their feet.
• 37:09
  And their security swept from under their feet.
• 37:11
  It was all in God's plan.
• 37:13
  It was all in God's plan.
• 37:16
  And we need to remember that as a people.
• 37:19
  Regardless of what our circumstances are.
• 37:23
  God is all wise.
• 37:25
  And knows how to outwork all our situations.
• 37:30
  If we trust in him.
• 37:32
  Stephen Lawson describes it.
• 37:35
  That he says.
• 37:36
  He will bring about the best purpose.
• 37:39
  By the best means.
• 37:43
  God will do it in a way that no one else can.
• 37:46
  No one else would have thought of even.
• 37:48
  And we see that ultimately in salvation.
• 37:51
  How God outworks his wisdom and salvation through Jesus Christ.
• 37:56
  And we see it here in this passage.
• 37:59
  Maybe we can see that we need to be taught something.
• 38:05
  Maybe we don't acknowledge that we need to be taught by God.
• 38:11
  But God knows what we need to be taught.
• 38:16
  And knows how to administer that teaching to us.
• 38:21
  Whether it be by chastisement.
• 38:24
  Whether it be by a revealing of his loving cultivating of our hearts.
• 38:30
  Whatever it is.
• 38:32
  Or correction.
• 38:33
  Or whatever.
• 38:35
  It is all teaching to sanctify the people of God.
• 38:42
  To bring us closer to God.
• 38:45
  To make us his people that he promised he would be.
• 38:49
  And it may take us to dry places.
• 38:52
  Hard places.
• 38:53
  Places that are hopeless.
• 38:56
  Like Israel.
• 38:58
  Where the hope is robbed from them.
• 39:01
  Take us to sad places.
• 39:03
  Where we can even lose all hope for the future that is ahead of us.
• 39:09
  And ask, well, what now?
• 39:12
  God has a plan.
• 39:17
  He is the God of all wisdom.
• 39:20
  And his plans are for good.
• 39:23
  And only that plan can be outworked because he has a power to do it.
• 39:30
  For what if there is a plan with no power?
• 39:31
  It is useless.
• 39:32
  Let us look at the power of God.
• 39:33
  Now we come to a passage that we read.
• 39:47
  We have done the background of the people.
• 39:49
  We have done the background of the people.
• 39:50
  Forgetting who God was.
• 39:52
  Forgetting the being of God.
• 39:54
  Not trusting in the wisdom of God.
• 39:57
  But seeing how God outworked his wisdom.
• 40:00
  And teaching the people what they needed to be taught.
• 40:02
  Let us read from chapter 5, verse 2.
• 40:09
  Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon.
• 40:15
  And set it up beside Dagon.
• 40:17
  And when the people of Ashland rose early the next day.
• 40:20
  Behold, Dagon had fallen on the ground before the ark of the Lord.
• 40:25
  So they took Dagon and put him back in his place.
• 40:30
  God displays his power in this quiet, almost humorous wisdom.
• 40:40
  In a way we couldn't have thought of.
• 40:43
  God works with his power.
• 40:48
  The Philistines brought this ark of God from the Israelites into the palace.
• 40:55
  The presence of their God, Dagon.
• 40:58
  We don't know why.
• 41:00
  Were they thanking God?
• 41:02
  Were they thanking their God, Dagon, for enabling them to overpower this God of the Israelites?
• 41:10
  Were they giving this ark of God to Dagon as a sacrifice?
• 41:17
  As a sacrifice or giving it to him as thanks to this God?
• 41:23
  We're not entirely sure.
• 41:26
  But we know, just to give you a picture.
• 41:29
  This God, Dagon, was like half man, half fish.
• 41:34
  Like a lower half fish.
• 41:35
  So it was like a male version of a mermaid, if you'd like.
• 41:39
  So it would make it a mere man, in a sense.
• 41:44
  And they brought this ark of Israelites before Dagon.
• 41:53
  And you would never have expected this to happen.
• 41:56
  I couldn't see how big Dagon was.
• 41:59
  And just to picture what was happening here, I couldn't find any sort of sizes, relevance.
• 42:05
  You know, was it a small statue?
• 42:07
  Was it a big statue that would have been difficult to fall over?
• 42:10
  We're not sure on it.
• 42:13
  But it did fall.
• 42:16
  It fell on its face before the ark.
• 42:19
  Just as if Dagon was submitting worship to God.
• 42:24
  Philistines come in the next morning and resurrected.
• 42:29
  They stick it back up again.
• 42:32
  They stand it back up.
• 42:33
  And I don't know where they're asking, how did that fall over?
• 42:38
  Maybe we don't know.
• 42:39
  And then the next morning, the same thing happens.
• 42:45
  Dagon falls before this ark of God.
• 42:50
  Now, we can easily have idols in our lives.
• 43:02
  And God can't take them from us.
• 43:07
  God can make them difficult for us to live with.
• 43:11
  But what we must be aware of is when God corrects us for them.
• 43:20
  And when we make things that are maybe not bad, but we make them idols,
• 43:26
  we need to understand if God is trying to correct us in the time that we give to them,
• 43:35
  the place that we put them on in our lives.
• 43:40
  And we must not try to resurrect them like the Philistines did.
• 43:47
  Because God has power over them.
• 43:55
  The Philistines were greeted with the God in this worse condition.
• 43:59
  His fallen flat on his face, his hands and heads,
• 44:04
  his head and his hands detached this time.
• 44:07
  As if God was saying to Dagon and the Philistines,
• 44:12
  your God has no wisdom, his head's been cut off.
• 44:16
  Your God has no power, his hands have been cut off.
• 44:20
  My power overcomes your gods.
• 44:27
  See, the Lord will not be worshipped alongside any other God or any other idols.
• 44:34
  There is none besides God, but the one true living God.
• 44:39
  And he's a God full of power.
• 44:41
  And power is a quality that enables someone to conquer.
• 44:44
  The Lord God Almighty is full of power, infinite in power, omnipotent.
• 44:53
  He has a power over everything and everyone, every God, every evil, every sin, even death itself.
• 45:01
  And God revealed his power over the Philistines as well as their God.
• 45:09
  God revealed himself to the nation.
• 45:13
  A nation that came with, you can imagine the pride they had taking this ark back.
• 45:18
  It would have felt so confident.
• 45:24
  We've conquered the God of the Philistines.
• 45:29
  They would have been saved.
• 45:30
  But God will not allow that.
• 45:36
  God plagued the people with tumour.
• 45:40
  His heavy hand was upon them in verse 6.
• 45:43
  Wherever this ark went, whatever town it went to,
• 45:48
  Ashdod, Ekron, Gath, the people felt the hand on the power of God overwhelming them, suppressing them.
• 45:55
  A power that was uncontrollable.
• 46:02
  These tumours kept taking over, killing people.
• 46:07
  They couldn't do anything about it.
• 46:10
  It caused a deathly panic.
• 46:12
  They felt powerless before the power of God.
• 46:17
  And have we seen the full extent of his power today?
• 46:21
  Not fully.
• 46:24
  The Lord will show us might and power by conquering all evil one day.
• 46:30
  A day unknown to us.
• 46:33
  He has promised that he will conquer death for the one that believes in him.
• 46:38
  He believes in his son.
• 46:41
  And the power that is within him.
• 46:45
  As one God.
• 46:47
  Is the power of God on your side tonight?
• 46:52
  Or are you one that opposes the power of God?
• 46:57
  There is nobody in this world that can escape the plagues of life.
• 47:06
  The plagues of life will come.
• 47:08
  The experiences of life will come to us.
• 47:10
  But ultimately God has a power that will overcome every power.
• 47:15
  Even if it is a tumour.
• 47:19
  God will overcome that for us.
• 47:21
  But the power of God is too much for this people to bear.
• 47:28
  And so they called a meeting together in verse 2 of chapter 6.
• 47:32
  And said.
• 47:33
  What shall we do with the ark of the Lord?
• 47:38
  Send it away.
• 47:40
  Send it away.
• 47:41
  The power of this God.
• 47:44
  Sets him apart from all other gods.
• 47:46
  And above all any other God or being.
• 47:49
  But it is a power that enriches and complements the holiness of his being.
• 48:03
  God is holy.
• 48:04
  Let us move on to the taste of holiness.
• 48:08
  Holiness means that God is separated.
• 48:12
  He is set apart.
• 48:13
  He is one in perfection and purity.
• 48:16
  Because he is holy.
• 48:17
  The God that is full of wisdom.
• 48:20
  Almighty in power.
• 48:21
  He demands a holy reverence.
• 48:26
  But this attribute of God.
• 48:28
  The holiness of God.
• 48:29
  Is hard for us to put a finger on.
• 48:33
  I don't think we get it.
• 48:36
  Because if we did.
• 48:38
  I think we would live our lives completely differently.
• 48:41
  To the way that we do.
• 48:42
  We may not grasp God.
• 48:48
  He is incomprehensible.
• 48:50
  In many levels.
• 48:52
  But we can see the holiness.
• 48:53
  Revealed to us through a scripture.
• 48:56
  And the effect it had on the people.
• 48:58
  You can be mindful of Moses.
• 49:00
  At Mount Sinai.
• 49:02
  When the glory of God.
• 49:04
  Appeared over that mountain.
• 49:06
  The fear.
• 49:07
  Fell upon the whole people.
• 49:08
  That they trembled.
• 49:09
  They trembled.
• 49:10
  This whole nation.
• 49:11
  Trembled.
• 49:12
  Because God appeared.
• 49:15
  We can think of Moses.
• 49:16
  After the tabernacle had been built.
• 49:19
  He wasn't allowed.
• 49:20
  Into the presence of God.
• 49:23
  Initially.
• 49:25
  He had to prepare himself.
• 49:29
  We can think of Isaiah.
• 49:30
  We thought of Isaiah.
• 49:31
  We thought of Isaiah.
• 49:32
  And services recently.
• 49:33
  Who stood before.
• 49:34
  The presence of God.
• 49:35
  Came to him.
• 49:36
  And he said.
• 49:37
  Woe is me.
• 49:38
  I am lost.
• 49:39
  I am a man of unclean lips.
• 49:40
  I dwell in the midst of unclean lips.
• 49:43
  Ezekiel.
• 49:44
  Who fell on his face.
• 49:45
  Before God.
• 49:46
  He could not look upon him.
• 49:47
  John in the revelation.
• 49:49
  Who fell as his one dead.
• 49:53
  Matthew Henry says.
• 49:54
  That there is no attribute of God.
• 49:56
  More dreadful to sinners.
• 49:57
  Than his holiness.
• 49:59
  And the holiness of God.
• 50:02
  Invoques within us.
• 50:04
  A feeling of.
• 50:05
  Fear.
• 50:06
  A dread.
• 50:09
  It invokes a feeling of complete loss.
• 50:11
  Where we call out.
• 50:13
  Woe.
• 50:14
  To me.
• 50:15
  What am I.
• 50:17
  Before this.
• 50:19
  Almighty.
• 50:20
  Holy.
• 50:21
  God.
• 50:22
  Infinite.
• 50:23
  Eternal.
• 50:24
  And unchangeable.
• 50:25
  Pure.
• 50:26
  Perfect.
• 50:27
  Undefiled.
• 50:28
  If we.
• 50:29
  Realized.
• 50:30
  The holiness of God.
• 50:31
  We would be a different people.
• 50:39
  The holiness of God.
• 50:41
  Could not be.
• 50:42
  Be.
• 50:43
  Beared.
• 50:46
  Of the natural man.
• 50:47
  They put him away.
• 50:49
  They can't bear it.
• 50:52
  But the one who trusts in him.
• 50:54
  Will humble his heart.
• 50:55
  And change his ways.
• 50:58
  And listen to him.
• 51:00
  And give worship.
• 51:02
  And praise.
• 51:03
  To this God.
• 51:05
  Who is so holy.
• 51:06
  That they cannot comprehend his holiness.
• 51:09
  And the holiness of God's character.
• 51:12
  Is shown in the passage.
• 51:14
  Where Dagon fell on his face.
• 51:16
  It wasn't a power that knocked him on his back.
• 51:18
  Or his side.
• 51:19
  He fell on his face.
• 51:21
  As if.
• 51:22
  He was.
• 51:23
  Worshipping.
• 51:24
  God.
• 51:25
  Because he was.
• 51:26
  Holier.
• 51:27
  Than any other.
• 51:28
  God.
• 51:29
  And wherever this ark went.
• 51:31
  It terrified the people of God.
• 51:33
  This panic that came upon the people.
• 51:35
  And they said that this God.
• 51:37
  Is a God that is unbearable.
• 51:39
  He cannot remain with us.
• 51:44
  And it even cost them.
• 51:46
  To send this God away.
• 51:47
  It was that unbearable.
• 51:49
  The holiness of God's presence.
• 51:52
  Amongst the sinful people.
• 51:54
  But they did what they could.
• 51:56
  They made this.
• 51:57
  Golden mice.
• 51:58
  Golden tumour.
• 51:59
  They made this new cart.
• 52:00
  They sent it away with new cows.
• 52:02
  Away from me.
• 52:09
  Are you doing that.
• 52:10
  Tonight.
• 52:11
  With God.
• 52:12
  It's what people did.
• 52:13
  When Jesus came.
• 52:16
  They did away with him.
• 52:18
  They couldn't bear him.
• 52:20
  To be amongst them.
• 52:22
  They silenced him.
• 52:25
  They killed him.
• 52:30
  But they could not overcome him.
• 52:32
  And even when the ark returned to Israel.
• 52:37
  There is.
• 52:38
  There is a holiness seen there.
• 52:41
  This ark was specific.
• 52:43
  Within specific instructions from God.
• 52:48
  And it says that the people looked upon it.
• 52:50
  When it came into the village of Beth Shemeth.
• 52:52
  Beth Shemeth.
• 52:53
  And whether they looked upon it.
• 52:55
  Just looking at it.
• 52:56
  Or whether they looked into it.
• 52:58
  We are unclear.
• 52:59
  And the ark should have been covered anyway.
• 53:03
  We are not sure.
• 53:04
  But it says in Numbers 4 verse 20.
• 53:07
  They shall not go in and look on the holy things.
• 53:10
  Even for a moment.
• 53:11
  Lest they die.
• 53:12
  They die.
• 53:15
  This was the Lord's command.
• 53:16
  This was the holy things.
• 53:17
  One of the things was the ark of God.
• 53:19
  And when this returned.
• 53:23
  To dwell amongst their people.
• 53:24
  There was no allowances.
• 53:25
  There was no change of who God was.
• 53:28
  An unchangeable God.
• 53:31
  Ignorance to the word of God was no excuse.
• 53:34
  Israel needed to relearn who God was.
• 53:38
  Who is this God?
• 53:40
  What is God to them?
• 53:43
  And they learned.
• 53:45
  That God was a holy God.
• 53:48
  That they could not stand before.
• 53:53
  If you remember.
• 53:54
  There were people that took this ark.
• 53:55
  So casually into battle.
• 53:57
  In the last chapter.
• 53:58
  But now they are saying.
• 54:00
  Who can stand before this?
• 54:02
  God is teaching them.
• 54:03
  God does not leave his people.
• 54:06
  Holiness of God.
• 54:07
  It elevates his purity.
• 54:09
  This uprightness.
• 54:10
  And this righteousness.
• 54:13
  And in order for there to be righteousness.
• 54:15
  There must be justice.
• 54:17
  So let us move to the next taste.
• 54:19
  Of justice.
• 54:22
  The thought of a God who is just.
• 54:24
  It kind of has fallen out of favor.
• 54:26
  In our day.
• 54:28
  Something that's maybe not fair.
• 54:29
  Is God not love?
• 54:30
  Why is he chastising of?
• 54:33
  Why is he chastising of?
• 54:35
  But justice is actually a good thing.
• 54:37
  When you think about it.
• 54:38
  No one likes to see injustice.
• 54:40
  No one likes to see someone who.
• 54:43
  Is convicted of an offense.
• 54:45
  That he can walk away from it.
• 54:47
  Or he can hide from it.
• 54:49
  That punishment is administered.
• 54:51
  To the person who has committed the crime.
• 54:54
  And that is the justice of it.
• 54:56
  Although even our justice isn't perfect.
• 54:59
  God's justice is perfect.
• 55:02
  Nor in a sense.
• 55:04
  That someone could be convicted.
• 55:05
  That hasn't committed a crime.
• 55:08
  That would be injustice.
• 55:09
  In the same sense.
• 55:10
  Justice is as much as what is right.
• 55:14
  As is what is deserved.
• 55:17
  People want to see justice.
• 55:19
  It's just justice is hard.
• 55:21
  When it comes knocking at our door.
• 55:24
  Because of convictions.
• 55:26
  In our life.
• 55:29
  God's justice is one of his qualities.
• 55:32
  But the idea of God being just.
• 55:35
  Says just that well.
• 55:36
  He's going to act.
• 55:37
  On his justice.
• 55:40
  He implements justice.
• 55:42
  Or he administers justice.
• 55:43
  To his people.
• 55:47
  God took the ark from them.
• 55:49
  In order to teach them.
• 55:51
  He was very particular.
• 55:52
  About this ark.
• 55:53
  As we said.
• 55:56
  It should be carried.
• 55:57
  In a specific way.
• 55:58
  It should be placed.
• 55:59
  In a certain place.
• 56:00
  People should have approached them.
• 56:02
  With certain clothes on.
• 56:03
  And if they didn't meet.
• 56:07
  The requirements.
• 56:08
  Of what God specified.
• 56:10
  It was met with the condition.
• 56:12
  Lest they die.
• 56:14
  If they didn't listen.
• 56:16
  To how God had ordered things to be.
• 56:18
  And approach him.
• 56:19
  As he had ordered.
• 56:22
  It was largely conditioned.
• 56:24
  Upon.
• 56:26
  The thought.
• 56:27
  Of lest they die.
• 56:28
  Should they not.
• 56:29
  Not.
• 56:32
  So it was justifiable.
• 56:33
  In a sense.
• 56:34
  Of what God had done.
• 56:35
  That death.
• 56:37
  Took place.
• 56:38
  To the people.
• 56:39
  Of Israel.
• 56:40
  In the last passage.
• 56:42
  That we read through.
• 56:48
  The Lord.
• 56:49
  By no means.
• 56:50
  Will clear the guilty.
• 56:52
  And all sin.
• 56:53
  Deserves punishment.
• 56:54
  Of God.
• 56:55
  The wages of sin.
• 56:56
  Is death.
• 56:57
  In us.
• 56:58
  We deceive ourselves.
• 56:59
  We deserve to die.
• 57:01
  Because of our sin.
• 57:02
  We deserve.
• 57:03
  God's justice.
• 57:04
  We are full.
• 57:06
  Short.
• 57:07
  Of the glory.
• 57:08
  Of God.
• 57:09
  The wages.
• 57:10
  We gather.
• 57:11
  Results.
• 57:12
  In death.
• 57:13
  In our lives.
• 57:14
  But the free gift.
• 57:15
  Of God.
• 57:16
  Is eternal life.
• 57:17
  Through Christ.
• 57:18
  Jesus.
• 57:19
  Christ.
• 57:20
  Is a key.
• 57:21
  Christ.
• 57:22
  Frees us.
• 57:23
  From punishment.
• 57:24
  Of God.
• 57:25
  Our.
• 57:26
  Redeemer.
• 57:27
  Who paid.
• 57:28
  The wages.
• 57:29
  For the sins.
• 57:30
  That we accumulate.
• 57:31
  In this life.
• 57:32
  At the cross.
• 57:33
  Of Calvary.
• 57:34
  But it does not mean.
• 57:35
  That he frees us.
• 57:36
  From God's justice.
• 57:37
  God's justice.
• 57:38
  God's justice.
• 57:39
  Will always be.
• 57:40
  Christ.
• 57:41
  Satisfies.
• 57:42
  God's justice.
• 57:43
  For us.
• 57:44
  He became sin.
• 57:46
  So that we.
• 57:47
  May.
• 57:48
  Know.
• 57:49
  No sin.
• 57:50
  And that we.
• 57:51
  May be righteous.
• 57:52
  Before God.
• 57:53
  Before God.
• 57:54
  There's no other way.
• 57:55
  That we can stand.
• 57:56
  Before God.
• 57:57
  That's right.
• 57:58
  If Christ does not.
• 57:59
  Take.
• 58:00
  Our sins.
• 58:01
  And we.
• 58:02
  Confess them.
• 58:03
  To him.
• 58:04
  And he.
• 58:05
  Deals with them.
• 58:07
  At the cross.
• 58:08
  And at Calvary.
• 58:09
  He takes them.
• 58:11
  From us.
• 58:12
  And the judge.
• 58:13
  Can.
• 58:14
  The judge.
• 58:15
  Can say.
• 58:16
  That you're free.
• 58:17
  To go.
• 58:18
  Because.
• 58:19
  Christ has.
• 58:20
  Done the.
• 58:21
  Sentence.
• 58:22
  To.
• 58:23
  Christ.
• 58:24
  Has paid.
• 58:25
  The cost.
• 58:26
  And met.
• 58:27
  The requirements.
• 58:28
  Of justice.
• 58:29
  Christ.
• 58:30
  Is.
• 58:31
  Our escape.
• 58:32
  From the wrath.
• 58:34
  Of God.
• 58:35
  And it's a free gift.
• 58:38
  Of his free grace.
• 58:40
  And it is of the goodness.
• 58:41
  Of his nature.
• 58:42
  So briefly.
• 58:43
  The goodness of God.
• 58:45
  And the truth of God.
• 58:47
  God.
• 58:48
  And.
• 58:49
  What is good.
• 58:50
  In its essence.
• 58:52
  The dictionary says.
• 58:53
  It's morally excellent.
• 58:54
  Virtuous.
• 58:55
  And righteous.
• 58:56
  And we met.
• 58:57
  We met.
• 58:58
  Righteousness.
• 58:59
  Already.
• 59:00
  And all these things overlap.
• 59:01
  And interweave.
• 59:02
  And crisscross over each other.
• 59:04
  That they.
• 59:05
  Tie each other together.
• 59:06
  Strengthen each other.
• 59:07
  Into this God.
• 59:09
  That is so.
• 59:10
  Good.
• 59:11
  And strong.
• 59:12
  And powerful.
• 59:13
  And almighty.
• 59:14
  And wise.
• 59:17
  God is.
• 59:18
  Good.
• 59:19
  And the.
• 59:20
  Whole account.
• 59:21
  Of what happens here.
• 59:22
  Is.
• 59:23
  People have disobeyed God.
• 59:24
  They've rejected God.
• 59:25
  They dishonored the ark of God.
• 59:27
  And.
• 59:28
  They should have died.
• 59:29
  Lest they die.
• 59:30
  They deserve.
• 59:31
  In a sense.
• 59:32
  To die.
• 59:33
  And.
• 59:34
  But God.
• 59:35
  Out of his goodness.
• 59:36
  Out of his grace.
• 59:37
  Did not.
• 59:39
  Ultimately.
• 59:40
  Kill all of them.
• 59:41
  He did not.
• 59:42
  Entirely.
• 59:43
  Abandon them.
• 59:44
  God came back.
• 59:45
  God came back.
• 59:47
  God came back.
• 59:48
  In his goodness.
• 59:49
  And he renewed.
• 59:50
  Their understanding.
• 59:51
  And taught the people.
• 59:52
  Again.
• 59:53
  Who he.
• 59:54
  Is.
• 59:55
  And what he required.
• 59:56
  Of them.
• 1:00:00
  God works.
• 1:00:01
  All things.
• 1:00:02
  For good.
• 1:00:03
  Even when we don't.
• 1:00:04
  Understand.
• 1:00:05
  What's going on.
• 1:00:06
  And it is all.
• 1:00:07
  For his purpose.
• 1:00:08
  For his people.
• 1:00:09
  As well.
• 1:00:12
  God.
• 1:00:13
  God.
• 1:00:14
  God.
• 1:00:15
  Is not only good.
• 1:00:16
  In himself.
• 1:00:17
  His creation.
• 1:00:18
  Is good.
• 1:00:19
  And.
• 1:00:20
  We.
• 1:00:21
  As his people.
• 1:00:22
  Should emulate.
• 1:00:23
  Goodness.
• 1:00:24
  And devoting ourselves.
• 1:00:25
  To good works.
• 1:00:26
  The goodness.
• 1:00:28
  That is.
• 1:00:29
  Instilled.
• 1:00:30
  Within us.
• 1:00:31
  Should come out of us.
• 1:00:33
  In good works.
• 1:00:34
  If we believe.
• 1:00:35
  And trust.
• 1:00:36
  In the Lord.
• 1:00:37
  Jesus Christ.
• 1:00:38
  In God.
• 1:00:39
  And.
• 1:00:40
  Everyone.
• 1:00:41
  Who knows.
• 1:00:42
  The goodness.
• 1:00:43
  Everyone.
• 1:00:44
  In a sense.
• 1:00:45
  Knows.
• 1:00:46
  Of God.
• 1:00:47
  You're sitting here.
• 1:00:48
  His grace.
• 1:00:49
  His goodness.
• 1:00:50
  We do not deserve.
• 1:00:51
  These things.
• 1:00:53
  And we see.
• 1:00:54
  The goodness.
• 1:00:55
  Of God.
• 1:00:56
  Again.
• 1:00:57
  Christ.
• 1:00:58
  Jesus.
• 1:00:59
  He did not.
• 1:01:00
  God did not.
• 1:01:01
  Abandon.
• 1:01:02
  His people.
• 1:01:03
  To.
• 1:01:04
  To save.
• 1:01:05
  People.
• 1:01:06
  From their sins.
• 1:01:07
  To meet.
• 1:01:08
  The.
• 1:01:09
  Wages.
• 1:01:10
  Of sin.
• 1:01:11
  That they had.
• 1:01:12
  Built up.
• 1:01:13
  God.
• 1:01:14
  Sent.
• 1:01:15
  His son.
• 1:01:16
  Graciously.
• 1:01:17
  Now.
• 1:01:22
  People.
• 1:01:23
  Can tell you.
• 1:01:24
  Many good things.
• 1:01:25
  People.
• 1:01:26
  Can tell you.
• 1:01:27
  Things.
• 1:01:28
  We like to hear.
• 1:01:29
  Now.
• 1:01:30
  If you are told.
• 1:01:31
  Something.
• 1:01:32
  That was good.
• 1:01:33
  Found it out.
• 1:01:34
  To be a lie.
• 1:01:35
  You would.
• 1:01:36
  You would.
• 1:01:37
  The thing.
• 1:01:38
  Would just be written off.
• 1:01:39
  In your head.
• 1:01:40
  It wouldn't be good.
• 1:01:41
  At all.
• 1:01:42
  It would be worthless.
• 1:01:43
  Because it was a lie.
• 1:01:44
  It's lost all.
• 1:01:45
  It's goodness.
• 1:01:48
  And that's where the truth of God comes in.
• 1:01:51
  This good.
• 1:01:53
  News.
• 1:01:54
  Is.
• 1:01:55
  Entirely.
• 1:01:56
  Truth.
• 1:01:57
  It's no lies.
• 1:01:58
  It is great above all.
• 1:02:00
  Because it is.
• 1:02:01
  True.
• 1:02:02
  And finally.
• 1:02:03
  Truth.
• 1:02:04
  Very briefly.
• 1:02:05
  He is true to his word.
• 1:02:08
  He is true to his promise.
• 1:02:10
  He is true to his people.
• 1:02:11
  He is true to his people.
• 1:02:12
  He is truth in its entirety.
• 1:02:14
  Never to digress from truth.
• 1:02:17
  Of what truth is.
• 1:02:19
  You see.
• 1:02:20
  Truth.
• 1:02:21
  Cannot be changed.
• 1:02:23
  Truth stands.
• 1:02:25
  Truth.
• 1:02:26
  Truth is like this wall of salvation.
• 1:02:29
  This wall.
• 1:02:30
  That no one can move.
• 1:02:32
  Truth does not change.
• 1:02:34
  You cannot change the truth.
• 1:02:36
  It stands.
• 1:02:38
  We can cover the truth.
• 1:02:40
  We can hide the truth.
• 1:02:42
  People don't like the truth.
• 1:02:45
  And don't look at the truth.
• 1:02:47
  But the truth.
• 1:02:48
  But the truth.
• 1:02:49
  Is an unmovable.
• 1:02:50
  Thing.
• 1:02:51
  Truth.
• 1:02:52
  Stands.
• 1:02:53
  And so.
• 1:02:54
  This word of God.
• 1:02:55
  Has stood through.
• 1:02:56
  All time.
• 1:02:57
  As an undeniable.
• 1:02:58
  Truth.
• 1:02:59
  And the believer.
• 1:03:00
  Holds it.
• 1:03:01
  As a truth.
• 1:03:02
  That they can trust.
• 1:03:03
  People put false assurances.
• 1:03:04
  In front of us.
• 1:03:05
  And there's a quote.
• 1:03:06
  From Walter Chantry.
• 1:03:07
  That says.
• 1:03:08
  When truth is silent.
• 1:03:09
  False views become plausible.
• 1:03:10
  When truth is silent.
• 1:03:11
  False views become plausible.
• 1:03:12
  Is the truth of God.
• 1:03:15
  In the heart of the believer.
• 1:03:16
  Silent tonight.
• 1:03:18
  The truth of God.
• 1:03:19
  Is the truth of God.
• 1:03:20
  In the heart of the believer.
• 1:03:21
  Silent.
• 1:03:22
  Tonight.
• 1:03:23
  The truth of God.
• 1:03:24
  Within each of us.
• 1:03:25
  Is it a silent truth.
• 1:03:27
  Dwelling within us.
• 1:03:29
  Or are we.
• 1:03:31
  Lifting up.
• 1:03:32
  The truth of God.
• 1:03:33
  With the nature of us.
• 1:03:35
  Is it a silent truth.
• 1:03:36
  Dwelling within us.
• 1:03:37
  Or are we.
• 1:03:40
  Lifting up.
• 1:03:42
  The truth of God.
• 1:03:47
  Within us.
• 1:03:49
  As we go out.
• 1:03:50
  Amongst this world.
• 1:03:52
  That is full.
• 1:03:53
  Of falsehoods.
• 1:03:57
  Do we lift up the truth.
• 1:03:59
  Of who God is.
• 1:04:01
  What he is to me.
• 1:04:06
  Because the world.
• 1:04:08
  Are distracted.
• 1:04:09
  And consumed.
• 1:04:10
  With these falsehoods.
• 1:04:11
  That seem so plausible.
• 1:04:14
  And people are lost.
• 1:04:15
  And people are chasing.
• 1:04:17
  The wind.
• 1:04:18
  Because they can't.
• 1:04:19
  Find the truth.
• 1:04:20
  We need to be prepared.
• 1:04:23
  To tell them the truth.
• 1:04:25
  And not be ashamed.
• 1:04:26
  To speak of the truth.
• 1:04:27
  And I say to myself.
• 1:04:28
  As much as anyone.
• 1:04:30
  We need to be people.
• 1:04:31
  That dig for the truth.
• 1:04:32
  We need to be people.
• 1:04:34
  That search out the truth.
• 1:04:35
  We need to be people.
• 1:04:36
  That uncover the truth.
• 1:04:37
  And share the truth.
• 1:04:39
  And in conclusion.
• 1:04:42
  Matthew Henry wrote.
• 1:04:44
  That without truth.
• 1:04:46
  There is no goodness.
• 1:04:47
  Which reverses the way we went.
• 1:04:49
  We went from goodness to truth.
• 1:04:51
  Matthew Henry had this quote.
• 1:04:52
  Without truth.
• 1:04:53
  There is no goodness.
• 1:04:55
  But in the sense of God.
• 1:04:56
  That can be.
• 1:04:57
  That's true.
• 1:04:58
  Without truth.
• 1:04:59
  There is no goodness.
• 1:05:01
  But you can continue it through.
• 1:05:03
  With all these attributes.
• 1:05:04
  That we have in the shorter chasm.
• 1:05:05
  Without goodness.
• 1:05:06
  There is no justice.
• 1:05:08
  It might take a bit of thought.
• 1:05:10
  But without goodness.
• 1:05:11
  There is no justice.
• 1:05:12
  Because there is no good.
• 1:05:13
  There is no justice.
• 1:05:14
  Without justice.
• 1:05:15
  There is no holiness.
• 1:05:17
  The righteousness.
• 1:05:18
  Without justice.
• 1:05:19
  There is no holiness.
• 1:05:20
  Without holiness.
• 1:05:21
  There is no power.
• 1:05:23
  There is God who is holy.
• 1:05:24
  Without holiness.
• 1:05:25
  There is no power.
• 1:05:26
  Without power.
• 1:05:27
  There is no wisdom.
• 1:05:29
  And if we take any of these.
• 1:05:32
  Characteristics of God.
• 1:05:34
  And we dilute any of them.
• 1:05:36
  To an incomplete sense.
• 1:05:38
  Or an imperfect sense.
• 1:05:40
  We lose sight of who God is.
• 1:05:43
  We lose sight of who God is.
• 1:05:46
  This is only a taste of God.
• 1:05:50
  There is much more to enjoy.
• 1:05:53
  May this taste.
• 1:05:56
  Nourish you.
• 1:05:58
  And build you up.
• 1:06:00
  And may you seek a greater taste.
• 1:06:02
  That is hidden.
• 1:06:03
  Within his truth.
• 1:06:05
  May it be blessed.
• 1:06:07
  To us.
• 1:06:08
  As we part.
• 1:06:09
  Amen.
• 1:06:10
  If we could conclude.
• 1:06:15
  By singing.
• 1:06:16
  In Psalm 46.
• 1:06:17
  Of the Scottish Sorta.
• 1:06:22
  46.
• 1:06:23
  Of the Scottish Sorta.
• 1:06:26
  And from.
• 1:06:27
  Vrlmacht 8.
• 1:06:28
  Vrlmacht 8.
• 1:06:29
  Vrlmacht 8.
• 1:06:31
  That is on page 271.
• 1:06:33
  271 of the Blue Book.
• 1:06:38
  Page 271 of the Blue Book.
• 1:06:40
  Psalm 46.
• 1:06:41
  Vrlmacht 8.
• 1:06:45
  Down to the end of the psalm.
• 1:06:48
  1.
• 1:06:49
  Come and behold what wondrous works have by the Lord been wrought.
• 1:06:55
  Come see what desolations he hath on earth hath brought.
• 1:06:59
  2.
• 1:07:00
  3.
• 1:07:01
  4.
• 1:07:02
  5.
• 1:07:03
  5.
• 1:07:04
  5.
• 1:07:05
  5.
• 1:07:06
  5.
• 1:07:07
  6.
• 1:07:08
  6.
• 1:07:09
  6.
• 1:07:10
  7.
• 1:07:11
  7.
• 1:07:12
  8.
• 1:07:13
  8.
• 1:07:15
  High on earth will be exalted high.
• 1:07:18
  Our God, who is the Lord of hosts, is still upon our side.
• 1:07:22
  The God of Jacob, our refuge, will forever abide.
• 1:07:26
  We'll stand together and sing to God's praise these verses.
• 1:07:30
  Come and behold what wondrous works.
• 1:07:32
  Come and behold what wondrous works.
• 1:07:42
  Up by the Lord in glory.
• 1:07:50
  Come sing what desolations.
• 1:08:00
  He only hath a throne.
• 1:08:06
  But to the hands of all the earth,
• 1:08:17
  Watched to peace in dirt,
• 1:08:25
  The holy grace, the spirit, he comes,
• 1:08:35
  And fire the child's birth.
• 1:08:42
  May still and hope that I am God
• 1:08:54
  Among the heathen I will be exalted high.
• 1:09:08
  The holy grace, the Lord of hosts, is still upon our side.
• 1:09:38
  The God of Jacob, our refuge forever will abide.
• 1:09:57
  Our Heavenly Father, we thank you that you are the one who is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.
• 1:10:06
  You are the one who you are revealed to be in the word of scripture.
• 1:10:12
  And so we ask that you would remain with your people.
• 1:10:16
  You would be a God who is faithful to his people.
• 1:10:19
  As we go in obedience to you, open our eyes to see who you are.
• 1:10:25
  And that we may give you all the praise that we can afford to you.
• 1:10:33
  You are worthy of it.
• 1:10:35
  You are holy.
• 1:10:36
  You have many attributes that are unfathomable for us.
• 1:10:41
  But we pray that you would reveal yourself to who you are to us.
• 1:10:46
  We ask these things all in the name of your power and in your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
• 1:10:52
  Amen.
• 1:10:53
  Amen.
• 1:10:53
  Thank you.
• 1:11:23
  Thank you.