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The Community Crisis and the Lord's Unfailing Love · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Let's turn together now to the prophecy of Jeremiah and to chapter 31, and we can read at verse 15.
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! Jeremiah 31 at verse 15.
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! Thus says the Lord, a voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted for her children because they are no more.
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Thus says the Lord, keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the Lord.
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And so on down to verse number 21.
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I think it's fair to say in life in general that sometimes circumstances hide from us the true reality of our situation.
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And that can make difficult times even more difficult to manage for us.
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And it's always great to have the kind of insight that enables us to see things as they truly are.
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And here in this chapter, that's what God is doing for the people of God, for his own covenant people.
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He is kind of giving them an aerial view of where they are.
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So they will understand where they are in the light of who he is and what he is doing.
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And that was really necessary in the days of Jeremiah.
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When we read the history of God's people at this time, we see that Jeremiah lived in a chaotic world.
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There was chaos everywhere amongst the people of God.
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And when we read through this book itself, we see that there was a kind of permanent trajectory of people turning away from God.
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The people were in rebellion against God.
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And we see that the king himself, the royal palace, that there the king was responsible in many ways for leading the people away from God.
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And in the midst of all of that, we have the ministry of this man, Jeremiah.
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And it should not surprise us that his ministry was, first of all, a ministry of judgment.
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And if ever there was an unpopular prophet or preacher in the world, here is one who certainly was.
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He was the enemy of the people because they did not like his message.
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Unpopular preaching, unpopular messenger because of the rebellion of the people of God.
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And remarkably, we see that from chapter 30 of this book and to chapter 32, 33, we see that there is a message of comfort.
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In other words, take note of my judgment, but don't ignore my comfort to you in these chapters.
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The promise that God will bring his people back to himself.
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And through, from verse 15 onwards, against the background of his everlasting love at the beginning of the chapter,
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he wants to encourage the people of God.
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I want to think about that today.
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This is not unlike where we are at ourselves.
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A nation, a society, racing away from God.
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A royal household and government that has little sense of trusting or turning to the word of God.
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And any sense of alerting a people to that is not acceptable, is often rejected.
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And to do so is often resisted, perhaps, by those who should be doing that very thing.
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It's not unlike where we're at.
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So today, we want to think of the faith community crisis and the Lord's unfailing love.
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Well, I think first of all, of the crisis and the encouragement.
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We need encouragement when we're in danger.
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And the encouragement comes because God is telling us what's happening.
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It's all about how God sees things.
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And the first thing that he sees, that there is a woman in a certain place.
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And that's significant.
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He looks down and here is a place called Ramah.
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And if I can picture Jerusalem and the nation of Israel,
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I think of Ramah on the boundary between Judah and Israel, north of Jerusalem.
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And it's the kind of place where those who are being deported would be gathered together
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and would be counted before they're carried away into exile in Babylon.
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It was a place where people are recorded as they were taken away from their own homes
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and transported to another environment, to another culture, to another society.
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Ramah was a key place on the journey on which these people were traveling.
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And there, at that very place, there is this woman called Rachel.
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She was the wife of Jacob.
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She's not living in these times.
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But Jeremiah and God uses Rachel to represent the community of faith
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and those who are the people of God.
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She is especially the grandmother of Ephraim and Manasseh
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that represent the northern part of the country.
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Rachel has a close relationship, a loving relationship with those in particular
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in Manasseh and Ephraim that the tribes are named after her own grandchildren.
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Ramah and Rachel.
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What we find there is where the people of God are represented.
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What we find there is that there is a lament.
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And what is Rachel doing?
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She is lamentation and bitter weeping.
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She is a broken woman.
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She is not only weeping the tears,
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but she is howling with a kind of grief and sorrow
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that only a mother who has lost her children can mourn for
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and can have that bitterness.
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It's a deep sense of sorrow.
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It's emotional.
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It's psychological.
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It's even intellectual.
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It's everything that she feels and knows at this stage
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finds expression in lamenting and in crying out and in weeping.
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And she's doing that because her children are no more.
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The place where all of her children, all of her descendants,
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the place where the people of the community of faith
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used to fill the place as according to the promise given to Abraham
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that his seed would be like the sand of the seashore.
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Previously, looking in this location,
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the place was filled northward and southward
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with those who were the people of God.
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And now this woman who represents the people of God,
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she's looking northwards.
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And there's no one there.
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She's looking southward.
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And there is the very likelihood that those who exist to the south
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are going to follow the same path as those who are northwards.
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There are those who aren't there.
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And there are those who are in danger of not being there.
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And she's crying.
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And she refuses to be comforted.
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And today, if you are the child of God,
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if you trust in the Lord Jesus as your Savior,
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you will have a prayer.
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And we can use this building itself as an example.
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A prayer and looking,
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not that the children are no longer there,
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but they are not there in the same number.
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And there is the fear accompanying your prayer
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that because of the way things are,
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that things can only get worse.
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The lamentation, the grief,
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stopped her from seeing anything positive.
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She could only receive and see the negatives.
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In her visible world,
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there is nothing to encourage her
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and the promise of God is not fulfilled.
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And you may be praying today
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for your family,
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for your children,
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for your loved ones.
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And in your heart,
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you're crying before God.
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And nobody can see your tears today,
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but you're crying before God
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because nothing is happening.
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Because your family don't know the Lord Jesus.
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Because they may be far distant
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from where they should be
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and far distant from coming to know
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that Lord Jesus as their Savior.
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And no matter what anybody says to you,
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you refuse to be comforted.
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And no matter how people try to encourage you,
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your response is,
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but what about such and such?
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What about such and such situation?
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Refusing to be comforted.
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And the encouragement begins
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from this passage in knowing
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that God is looking down
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and that God sees
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and that God is hearing.
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And you may be downcast in your heart.
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You may be lamenting
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because of what God is not doing
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and thinking that God doesn't care
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or God doesn't know.
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But it was God
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that heard a voice in drama.
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And today it is God who hears
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the voice that arises from your heart.
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Even in the silence of the worship of God,
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there is that message that arises
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and that God himself hears.
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And the encouragement is because
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God interrupts.
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Isn't God a gracious God?
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God interrupts.
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God interrupts.
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Keep your voice from weeping.
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Stop the crying.
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Just hold back what you're doing
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and stop and listen to me.
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There is, he says,
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a reward for your work.
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In other words,
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God is hearing your prayer
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and the time will come
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when God is going to answer that prayer.
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As he said to Abraham in Genesis 15
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when he told Abraham,
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I am your shield
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and your exceeding great reward.
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To the faith community at Ramah,
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there is the interruption
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that tells them
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there is a reward for your prayers.
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God is taking note.
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God is going to answer.
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And how is God going to answer?
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God is going to answer
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with this great promise in verse 16.
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They shall come back
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from the land of the enemy.
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There is hope for your future.
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There is going to be a homecoming.
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The masses are gathered
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hundreds of miles away from Jerusalem
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where we think of the presence of God
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in the Old Testament
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and the reign of God
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and the palace of God's king.
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They are hundreds of miles away.
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And the geographical distance
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reflects their spiritual distance from God.
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But here is the promise.
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Here is why the prayer needs to be interrupted.
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Here is why the lament has to stop.
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The promise of God is
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they are coming home
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to where they belong.
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In other words,
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the absolute reversal
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of the thing that Rachel thought
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could never be reversed.
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That in her mind
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and in her thinking,
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the invisible people
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that were,
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the people that were carried away
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that were invisible
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visible in her location,
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that God will
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make them present
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and visible
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in that very place
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where they were absent.
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And that's encouragement
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for you and
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for me today.
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The invitation
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to stop listening
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to our own voice.
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And that's difficult.
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Especially in that crisis.
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Stop listening to our own voice
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and listen to the voice of God
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who tells us
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that he will
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fulfill his promise.
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That he will
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save his people.
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And that he will
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bring his people
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home.
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And as you pray today,
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don't lose sight.
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And perhaps
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allow God
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to do the interrupting.
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Because we can
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lose sight
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of God himself
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in our lamenting.
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Allow God
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to interrupt you today
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and to come
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with your promise
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that he will
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save,
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that he will
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bring back.
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And that there will be
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this great
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homecoming
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of the people of God
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from
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their scattering
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in the rebellion
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to come back
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to be
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the faith community.
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Those who trust
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in the Lord Jesus.
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Those who gather
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around him.
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Those who come
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to sit at the Lord's table
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because of their love
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for the Lord Jesus
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and because
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of the everlasting love
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that we read of
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at the beginning
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of the chapter.
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There is the crisis
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and there is
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the encouragement.
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Secondly,
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there is the crisis
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and
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the engagement.
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It is
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certainly
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through today
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that
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there are
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loads of things
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happening
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and loads of
15:19
stuff going on
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that we
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know nothing
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about.
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It's obvious
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and perhaps
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doesn't need
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to be said.
15:29
but for
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this woman
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here
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and for
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this community
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of faith
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here in this
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case
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they needed
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to hear
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about
15:39
what they
15:40
didn't realize
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was happening
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and the only
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person who can
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do so
15:45
is God
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himself
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and the
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God who is
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hearing the
15:50
prayers of
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Rachel
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the faith
15:52
community
15:52
representative
15:54
is also
15:55
the God
15:55
who is
15:56
seeing
15:57
Ephraim
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in the
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scattering
16:02
where he
16:03
is found
16:04
in Babylon
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and the
16:05
surrounding
16:06
area.
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He hears
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Rachel
16:09
praying
16:10
and he
16:11
sees
16:12
Ephraim
16:13
in Babylon
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and
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when he
16:17
sees
16:18
Ephraim
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he brings
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a report
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to the
16:21
people of
16:21
God
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and the
16:22
report
16:22
is
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I have
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heard
16:25
Ephraim
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grieving.
16:30
In
16:30
verse number
16:30
18
16:30
here is
16:32
Ephraim
16:33
one of
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the northern
16:37
tribes
16:37
Manasi
16:38
and Ephraim
16:38
the northern
16:39
tribes
16:39
here is
16:40
Ephraim
16:40
representing
16:41
the people
16:41
of God
16:42
in that
16:42
northern
16:42
tribe
16:43
and
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I hear
16:45
Ephraim
16:45
grieving.
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Suddenly
16:50
this
16:51
representative
16:52
of those
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who are
16:53
carried
16:54
away
16:54
because
16:54
of
16:55
their
16:55
rebellion
16:56
against
16:57
God
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he is
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found
16:59
in that
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place
17:00
of
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rebellion
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and he
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is
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grieving
17:03
in the
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sense
17:03
that
17:04
in the
17:04
Old
17:05
Testament
17:05
sense
17:06
of
17:06
perhaps
17:07
sitting
17:08
or
17:08
standing
17:09
in a
17:09
place
17:09
and
17:09
moving
17:12
backwards
17:12
and
17:13
forward
17:13
so
17:13
overcome
17:14
with
17:15
grief
17:15
and
17:16
with
17:16
sorrow
17:16
that
17:17
their
17:17
whole
17:18
beings
17:18
and
17:18
their
17:19
whole
17:19
bodies
17:19
are
17:19
shaken
17:20
and
17:21
are
17:21
falling
17:22
apart
17:22
a
17:23
shaking
17:24
of
17:24
the
17:24
head
17:24
a
17:25
shaking
17:25
of
17:25
the
17:26
body
17:26
the
17:29
whole
17:29
self
17:30
is
17:31
taken
17:31
up
17:32
in
17:32
sorrow
17:33
and
17:35
the
17:35
sorrow
17:36
we
17:37
see
17:37
is
17:38
vocalized
17:41
in
17:41
version
17:41
number
17:41
18
17:42
you
17:43
have
17:44
disciplined
17:44
me
17:44
and
17:45
I
17:45
was
17:45
disciplined
17:46
here
17:49
is the
17:49
prodigal
17:49
son
17:50
in
17:51
the
17:51
far
17:51
country
17:52
in
17:53
the
17:53
place
17:53
of
17:54
satisfying
17:55
himself
17:56
finding
17:56
his
17:57
joy
17:57
and
17:57
spending
17:58
his
17:58
resources
17:59
where
17:59
he
17:59
was
18:00
and
18:02
here
18:02
we
18:02
see
18:02
God
18:02
saying
18:03
with
18:04
regard
18:04
to
18:04
his
18:05
alienated
18:05
people
18:06
that
18:06
he
18:07
is
18:07
hearing
18:08
them
18:08
grieving
18:09
and
18:10
that
18:10
he
18:10
is
18:11
hearing
18:11
them
18:11
grieving
18:11
and
18:12
acknowledging
18:13
that
18:14
this
18:14
grief
18:14
is
18:14
because
18:15
of
18:16
God's
18:16
engagement
18:17
with
18:17
them
18:17
and
18:18
God
18:18
intervening
18:19
in
18:19
their
18:19
lives
18:20
and
18:25
our
18:25
own
18:26
encouragement
18:26
today
18:27
is
18:27
the
18:27
very
18:28
fact
18:28
that
18:28
that
18:28
is
18:29
what
18:29
God
18:29
always
18:30
does
18:31
and
18:32
no
18:32
matter
18:33
how
18:33
far
18:33
today
18:33
we
18:34
see
18:34
our
18:35
families
18:35
and
18:36
our
18:36
friends
18:36
and
18:36
those
18:37
close
18:37
to
18:37
us
18:37
that
18:38
we
18:38
pray
18:38
for
18:38
every
18:39
day
18:39
no
18:39
matter
18:40
how
18:40
far
18:40
away
18:41
they
18:41
are
18:41
God
18:44
has
18:44
one
18:45
way
18:45
and
18:45
one
18:46
way
18:46
only
18:46
of
18:47
bringing
18:48
them
18:48
back
18:48
and
18:49
that's
18:49
engaging
18:51
with
18:51
them
18:51
where
18:51
they
18:52
are
18:52
intervening
18:53
in
18:53
the
18:54
prosperity
18:54
of
18:55
life
18:55
and
18:56
bringing
18:56
them
18:57
to
18:57
the
18:57
place
18:57
where
18:58
they
18:58
are
18:58
broken
18:58
and
18:58
where
18:59
they
18:59
are
18:59
grieving
18:59
and
19:00
where
19:00
they
19:00
give
19:00
expression
19:01
as we
19:02
read
19:02
on
19:02
in
19:02
verse
19:02
number
19:02
18
19:03
I was
19:06
disciplined
19:06
like
19:07
an
19:07
untrained
19:08
calf
19:08
calf
19:08
calf
19:11
that
19:12
follows
19:13
the
19:14
orders
19:15
and the
19:15
direction
19:16
of the
19:16
farmer
19:17
and follows
19:17
the right
19:17
path
19:18
here is
19:19
Ephraim
19:19
an
19:20
untrained
19:20
calf
19:21
a
19:21
disobedient
19:21
rebellious
19:23
person
19:24
but now
19:25
coming to
19:26
acknowledge
19:28
and to
19:30
respect
19:32
the
19:32
fact
19:33
the
19:32
fact
19:33
that
19:35
the
19:36
rebellion
19:36
was
19:38
not
19:39
only
19:39
the
19:39
wrong
19:40
thing
19:40
to
19:40
do
19:40
but
19:41
that
19:42
it
19:42
was
19:42
sin
19:43
against
19:44
God
19:45
after
19:47
he
19:47
says
19:47
I
19:48
turned
19:48
away
19:49
I
19:50
relented
19:50
turned
19:53
his
19:54
back
19:54
upon
19:54
God
19:55
choosing
19:56
to go
19:57
in the
19:57
opposite
19:57
direction
19:58
going
19:59
along
20:00
this
20:00
path
20:00
of
20:00
being
20:01
carried
20:01
away
20:02
by
20:02
enemies
20:03
into
20:03
a
20:04
foreign
20:04
country
20:05
and
20:06
now
20:07
coming
20:07
to
20:07
realize
20:08
that
20:10
the
20:12
rebellion
20:12
was so
20:13
wrong
20:13
that the
20:15
action
20:15
was so
20:16
far
20:16
removed
20:17
from
20:17
what
20:18
he
20:18
had
20:19
done
20:20
and
20:21
it's
20:22
similar
20:22
to
20:22
in
20:23
Genesis
20:24
chapter
20:25
6
20:25
where
20:26
God
20:26
regretted
20:27
that
20:27
he
20:28
had
20:28
made
20:28
man
20:29
that
20:30
there
20:31
is
20:31
that
20:31
sense
20:32
of
20:32
regret
20:33
now
20:34
built
20:34
up
20:35
in the
20:35
heart
20:35
of
20:35
Ephraim
20:36
regret
20:37
that
20:39
they
20:39
ever
20:39
turned
20:40
their
20:41
backs
20:41
upon
20:43
God
20:44
and
20:45
so
20:46
in
20:47
the
20:47
far
20:48
off
20:48
country
20:49
of
20:49
exile
20:49
Ephraim
20:52
his
20:53
external
20:54
circumstances
20:55
have been
20:56
turned
20:56
upside
20:57
down
20:57
his
20:59
heart's
21:00
experience
21:01
has been
21:02
placed
21:03
into
21:03
turmoil
21:04
and all
21:06
of that
21:06
taking place
21:07
because
21:08
God
21:08
is
21:09
engaged
21:10
with a
21:10
person
21:11
who has
21:11
disobeyed
21:12
and gone
21:13
into
21:14
the
21:14
far
21:14
country
21:16
and
21:20
perhaps
21:20
today
21:21
you are
21:24
in
21:24
that
21:24
very
21:25
place
21:25
of
21:26
the
21:26
far
21:26
country
21:27
you can
21:29
sit
21:29
in
21:30
God's
21:31
house
21:31
hearing
21:32
God's
21:32
word
21:33
and
21:33
in your
21:34
mind
21:34
and in
21:34
your
21:35
heart
21:35
you're
21:36
miles
21:37
away
21:37
from
21:38
being the
21:39
child
21:39
of God
21:40
and you
21:43
will
21:43
continue to
21:44
be in
21:44
that
21:44
place
21:45
until the
21:47
moment
21:48
comes
21:48
in the
21:49
plan of
21:49
God
21:50
when he
21:51
will
21:51
engage
21:51
with you
21:52
when he
21:52
will intervene
21:53
in your
21:53
life
21:54
and when
21:54
he will
21:55
change
21:55
your whole
21:56
life
21:56
turn it
21:57
upside
21:58
down
21:58
so that
21:59
you will
21:59
engage
22:00
with
22:01
him
22:01
C.S.
22:05
Lewis
22:05
speaks
22:05
about
22:06
God's
22:07
megaphone
22:08
God
22:10
whispers
22:10
to us
22:11
in our
22:12
pleasures
22:12
he speaks
22:14
in our
22:15
consciences
22:16
but shouts
22:17
in our
22:18
pains
22:19
it is
22:20
his
22:20
megaphone
22:21
to rouse
22:22
a deaf
22:23
world
22:24
and I
22:28
want you
22:28
to think
22:29
today
22:29
of what
22:31
is happening
22:31
in your
22:32
life
22:33
I want
22:35
you to
22:35
think of
22:36
any
22:36
difficulties
22:37
that you
22:37
are facing
22:38
any
22:40
challenges
22:40
of everyday
22:41
life
22:41
whether it's
22:42
work or
22:43
school or
22:43
home or
22:44
in the
22:45
community
22:45
or amongst
22:45
friends
22:46
what are
22:47
the things
22:48
that are
22:49
making
22:49
life
22:50
difficult
22:51
and I
22:53
want you
22:54
to think
22:54
that where
22:55
there are
22:55
such things
22:56
to think
22:58
that God
22:59
is putting
23:00
his hand
23:01
on your
23:01
shoulder
23:02
these things
23:04
are not
23:05
meaningless
23:05
they are
23:07
there in
23:08
the purpose
23:09
of God
23:09
in order
23:10
to awaken
23:11
you
23:11
to alert
23:12
you
23:12
to remember
23:13
who God
23:14
is
23:14
to remember
23:15
your sin
23:16
against God
23:16
and to
23:17
remember
23:18
your need
23:18
to be
23:19
at peace
23:20
with God
23:21
and the
23:24
need
23:24
for you
23:26
to
23:26
recognize
23:27
that
23:28
so that
23:30
there is
23:31
that
23:31
movement
23:32
of your
23:33
whole being
23:34
towards
23:35
the only
23:36
true and
23:37
living God
23:37
who sent
23:38
the Son
23:39
to be
23:40
our
23:40
Savior
23:41
here
23:41
and
23:43
we are
23:45
encouraged
23:45
much today
23:47
by hearing
23:47
of
23:48
a so-called
23:50
quiet
23:50
revival
23:52
a gentle
23:53
movement
23:54
towards
23:55
God
23:55
but I want
23:58
to tell you
23:59
that
23:59
the quietness
24:01
of the
24:02
revival
24:02
that God
24:03
works
24:04
is an
24:05
external
24:06
quietness
24:06
that
24:08
where there
24:08
is
24:09
a revival
24:10
initiated
24:11
by God
24:12
in your
24:13
heart and
24:14
mind
24:14
it's not
24:15
quiet
24:16
it's chaotic
24:18
it turns
24:19
life upside
24:20
down
24:20
it stirs
24:21
us up
24:22
it turns
24:23
our whole
24:24
beings
24:24
into a
24:25
place full
24:26
of noise
24:27
and full
24:27
of voices
24:27
and full
24:28
of cries
24:29
it's never
24:31
quiet
24:32
and that's
24:33
why God
24:34
is saying
24:35
here
24:35
that
24:36
that he
24:37
heard
24:38
Ephraim
24:40
groaning
24:41
when God
24:42
puts his
24:42
hand on
24:43
her shoulder
24:43
there is
24:45
this movement
24:46
in God's
24:47
direction
24:48
there is
24:48
a stirring
24:49
up
24:49
and there
24:50
is the
24:51
beginning
24:51
of turning
24:52
to God
24:53
and Ephraim
24:54
goes on
24:55
and the
24:55
Lord goes
24:56
on to
24:56
speak about
24:57
the way
24:58
in which
24:59
the whole
24:59
purpose
25:00
of this
25:00
engagement
25:01
is to
25:03
stir up
25:04
in Ephraim's
25:05
heart
25:06
and life
25:06
a desire
25:07
for God
25:08
for after
25:14
I had
25:15
turned
25:15
away
25:16
I
25:16
relented
25:16
and after
25:17
I was
25:17
instructed
25:17
I
25:18
struck
25:19
my
25:19
thigh
25:20
and
25:21
at the
25:21
end of
25:21
verse 18
25:22
bring me
25:22
back
25:23
that I
25:23
may be
25:23
restored
25:24
for you
25:25
are
25:25
the
25:26
Lord
25:26
my
25:27
God
25:28
the
25:30
engagement
25:31
brings
25:33
about
25:33
stirring
25:35
up
25:36
and chaos
25:37
and crying
25:37
the
25:38
engagement
25:39
produces
25:40
a desire
25:41
the
25:43
engagement
25:43
produces
25:44
a desire
25:44
and a
25:45
longing
25:45
for God
25:46
and that's
25:48
exactly
25:48
how God
25:49
works
25:49
in your
25:51
life
25:51
and in
25:51
mine
25:51
for you
25:53
are the
25:53
Lord
25:53
my
25:54
God
25:54
Ephraim
25:55
is
25:55
awoken
25:57
at last
25:57
to
25:57
recognize
25:58
who
25:59
this
25:59
Lord
26:00
is
26:00
the
26:01
Lord
26:01
who
26:01
has
26:01
made
26:01
covenant
26:02
the
26:02
Lord
26:03
who
26:03
has
26:03
loved
26:03
with
26:03
an
26:03
everlasting
26:04
love
26:04
it's
26:05
recognizing
26:06
who
26:06
this
26:06
Lord
26:07
is
26:07
and a
26:08
desire
26:08
a
26:09
longing
26:09
to
26:12
come
26:12
home
26:13
God
26:15
is
26:15
calling
26:16
Ephraim
26:17
home
26:17
and God
26:19
is
26:19
deciding
26:20
to come
26:20
home
26:20
and there
26:22
is that
26:22
sense
26:23
of
26:23
embrace
26:24
in this
26:25
engagement
26:26
so that
26:26
they are
26:27
both
26:27
wanting
26:27
the
26:27
same
26:28
thing
26:28
and that's
26:31
the
26:31
matter
26:31
of
26:31
God's
26:32
engagement
26:33
and
26:34
bringing
26:34
us
26:35
from
26:35
death
26:35
to
26:36
life
26:36
from
26:37
a
26:37
far
26:37
country
26:38
to
26:38
be
26:39
his
26:39
own
26:39
people
26:40
from
26:40
rejecting
26:41
the
26:41
Lord
26:41
Jesus
26:41
to
26:42
loving
26:42
the
26:42
Lord
26:43
Jesus
26:43
that
26:45
he
26:45
plants
26:45
the
26:46
desire
26:47
in
26:47
our
26:47
hearts
26:48
and
26:49
that
26:49
then
26:49
we
26:50
long
26:50
for
26:51
the
26:51
Lord
26:51
Jesus
26:51
and
26:54
in
26:54
this
26:54
moment
26:54
if that
26:56
is your
26:56
longing
26:57
it is
26:58
because
26:59
of what
26:59
God
26:59
has
27:00
done
27:00
if
27:02
it is
27:02
your
27:02
desire
27:03
to
27:04
know
27:04
the
27:04
Lord
27:04
Jesus
27:05
to
27:05
love
27:05
the
27:05
Lord
27:06
Jesus
27:06
to
27:07
live
27:07
your
27:07
life
27:08
for
27:08
the
27:08
Lord
27:08
Jesus
27:08
then
27:10
that's
27:10
because
27:11
God
27:12
has
27:12
worked
27:12
and
27:13
God
27:14
has
27:14
created
27:15
that
27:15
desire
27:16
in
27:16
your
27:16
heart
27:16
God
27:17
has
27:17
given
27:17
to
27:17
you
27:18
that
27:19
new
27:19
heart
27:20
which
27:21
longs
27:21
to
27:21
be
27:22
at
27:22
peace
27:22
with
27:23
him
27:23
the
27:25
engagement
27:27
we
27:28
thank
27:28
God
27:28
that
27:29
he
27:29
does
27:30
not
27:30
leave
27:30
us
27:30
go
27:31
your
27:31
own
27:31
direction
27:32
but
27:33
that
27:33
his
27:33
hand
27:33
will
27:34
come
27:34
on
27:34
our
27:34
shoulder
27:35
and
27:36
his
27:36
hand
27:36
will
27:36
come
27:37
into
27:37
our
27:37
providence
27:37
when
27:38
we
27:38
least
27:39
expect
27:39
it
27:40
to
27:40
arrest
27:41
us
27:41
to
27:41
turn
27:42
us
27:42
around
27:42
and
27:43
to
27:43
remember
27:44
rebellion
27:45
against
27:45
him
27:45
and
27:46
to
27:46
seek
27:47
him
27:47
with
27:47
all
27:47
of
27:48
our
27:48
hearts
27:49
and
27:53
thirdly
27:53
and
27:54
much
27:54
more
27:54
briefly
27:55
there
27:56
is
27:56
the
27:56
crisis
27:56
and
27:57
the
27:58
endearment
27:59
what
28:00
is
28:00
the
28:00
great
28:01
message
28:01
of
28:02
God
28:02
to
28:02
the
28:03
community
28:04
of
28:04
faith
28:04
in
28:05
the
28:05
days
28:05
of
28:05
Jeremiah
28:05
it's
28:07
not
28:08
the
28:08
great
28:08
message
28:09
about
28:09
what
28:09
God
28:10
is
28:10
going
28:10
to
28:10
do
28:11
in
28:11
them
28:11
it's
28:13
a
28:13
great
28:13
message
28:14
of
28:14
why
28:15
he
28:15
is
28:15
doing
28:16
that
28:16
and
28:18
we
28:18
read
28:19
on
28:19
from
28:20
verse
28:20
20
28:21
these
28:22
questions
28:22
and
28:22
these
28:23
statements
28:23
is
28:24
Ephraim
28:25
my dear
28:25
son
28:26
is he
28:26
my
28:27
darling
28:27
child
28:28
for as
28:29
often as
28:29
I speak
28:30
against
28:30
him
28:30
I do
28:31
remember
28:31
him
28:32
still
28:32
there is
28:35
an
28:35
insight
28:36
in
28:37
this
28:37
verse
28:37
into
28:39
the
28:41
turmoil
28:42
in the
28:42
heart
28:42
of
28:43
God
28:43
if you
28:43
can
28:43
describe
28:44
it
28:44
like
28:44
that
28:44
not
28:45
turmoil
28:45
in the
28:46
sense
28:46
of
28:46
confusion
28:47
but
28:48
a
28:48
stirring
28:48
up
28:49
in
28:49
the
28:49
heart
28:49
of
28:50
God
28:50
because
28:51
of
28:51
his
28:51
relationship
28:52
with
28:52
Ephraim
28:53
that
28:54
moves
28:55
him
28:55
and
28:55
that
28:55
leads
28:55
him
28:56
to
28:56
reach
28:57
out
28:57
to
28:57
Ephraim
28:58
where
28:58
he
28:58
is
28:58
to
28:59
intervene
29:00
in
29:00
his
29:00
life
29:00
and
29:01
to
29:01
bring
29:01
him
29:01
back
29:02
to
29:02
himself
29:02
!
29:04
It's
29:05
an
29:05
insight
29:05
into
29:06
the
29:06
character
29:07
and
29:07
the
29:07
personality
29:08
of
29:08
our
29:08
God
29:09
who
29:10
sent
29:10
his
29:10
son
29:11
into
29:11
the
29:11
world
29:11
to be
29:11
our
29:12
saviour
29:12
this
29:13
is
29:13
why
29:13
he
29:13
is
29:13
doing
29:14
everything
29:14
because
29:16
his
29:18
people
29:19
are
29:19
his
29:19
dear
29:20
children
29:20
because
29:22
his
29:22
people
29:23
are
29:23
his
29:23
darling
29:24
children
29:24
those
29:27
in whom
29:27
he
29:27
delights
29:28
those
29:29
who
29:30
are
29:30
precious
29:30
to
29:30
him
29:31
those
29:32
whom
29:33
he
29:33
loves
29:34
and
29:36
even
29:37
though
29:37
he
29:37
speaks
29:37
against
29:38
him
29:38
I
29:39
do
29:39
remember
29:40
him
29:41
still
29:42
and
29:44
the
29:44
speaking
29:45
against
29:45
is
29:45
what
29:45
brings
29:46
the
29:46
pain
29:46
to
29:46
Ephraim
29:47
the
29:47
speaking
29:47
against
29:48
it
29:48
is
29:48
what
29:48
left
29:49
Ephraim
29:49
crying
29:50
and
29:50
grieving
29:51
the
29:52
speaking
29:53
against
29:53
is
29:53
what
29:53
left
29:54
Ephraim
29:55
broken
29:55
hearted
29:56
the
29:59
speaking
30:00
against
30:00
is
30:00
what
30:00
left
30:01
Ephraim
30:02
desiring
30:03
God
30:03
but
30:05
all of
30:05
that
30:05
is
30:05
because
30:06
God
30:08
was
30:08
remembering
30:09
him
30:10
and
30:12
God's
30:12
remembering
30:13
is
30:14
a
30:14
remembering
30:15
that's
30:15
completely
30:16
in
30:17
his
30:17
covenant
30:18
relationship
30:18
with his
30:19
people
30:19
it's
30:20
God's
30:21
remembering
30:21
his
30:21
promise
30:22
and
30:23
when
30:23
God
30:24
remembers
30:24
it's
30:26
not
30:27
a
30:27
remembering
30:28
that
30:28
finishes
30:29
with
30:30
reflection
30:30
which
30:31
you
30:31
remembering
30:32
our
30:33
minds
30:33
so often
30:33
is
30:34
it's
30:34
a
30:34
remembering
30:35
that
30:35
brings
30:37
action
30:38
the
30:39
action
30:39
through
30:40
which
30:40
he
30:40
will
30:41
fulfill
30:41
his
30:41
promises
30:42
and
30:43
the
30:43
action
30:44
through
30:44
which
30:44
in
30:45
remembering
30:45
his
30:46
covenant
30:46
he
30:46
remembers
30:47
all
30:47
those
30:48
who are
30:48
his
30:48
people
30:48
who are
30:50
scattered
30:50
across
30:51
our
30:51
communities
30:52
and
30:52
who still
30:53
do not
30:53
know
30:53
the
30:54
Lord
30:54
Jesus
30:54
he
30:55
remembers
30:56
those
30:56
who are
30:56
his
30:56
chosen
30:57
people
30:57
who sit
30:58
and hear
30:59
the gospel
30:59
and still
31:00
are not
31:01
saved
31:01
he remembers
31:03
and even
31:05
when you
31:05
and I
31:06
forget him
31:07
as we
31:08
do in
31:08
our
31:09
disobedience
31:10
and in
31:10
our
31:10
turning away
31:11
from him
31:11
he remembers
31:13
his heart
31:15
is moved
31:15
and in
31:17
accordance
31:17
with his
31:18
purposes
31:19
and his
31:19
plans
31:20
and his
31:21
timetable
31:22
there is
31:23
a date
31:23
of birth
31:24
and that
31:26
date of
31:26
birth is
31:27
when you
31:27
and I
31:28
are born
31:28
into the
31:29
kingdom
31:29
of God
31:30
and God's
31:32
remembering
31:32
of his
31:33
promise
31:34
to save
31:35
his covenant
31:35
people
31:36
is realized
31:38
in that
31:38
moment
31:39
when you
31:40
and I
31:41
are born
31:42
into the
31:42
family of
31:43
God
31:44
become his
31:45
children
31:46
because
31:47
this father
31:48
never forgets
31:49
what he
31:50
said
31:50
and this
31:52
father never
31:52
fails to
31:53
do what
31:54
he has
31:55
promised he
31:55
would do
31:56
and today
31:57
we are here
31:58
as the
31:58
children of
31:59
God
31:59
because
32:00
of what
32:01
God has
32:02
done
32:02
the
32:03
endearment
32:04
behind
32:05
everything
32:06
is the
32:07
everlasting
32:08
love of
32:09
God
32:09
that we
32:10
read of
32:11
at the
32:11
beginning
32:11
of this
32:11
chapter
32:12
and that
32:13
should
32:13
speak
32:14
encouragement
32:15
and assurance
32:17
into the
32:18
hearts and
32:18
lives of
32:19
the community
32:19
to which
32:20
Jeremiah was
32:20
writing and
32:21
speaking
32:22
and that
32:23
speaks
32:23
encouragement
32:24
and assurance
32:25
to ourselves
32:26
today
32:26
let's not
32:27
give up on
32:28
our praying
32:28
let's be
32:30
thankful that
32:31
God engages
32:31
with those
32:32
who are
32:32
disengaged
32:33
and let's
32:35
be thankful
32:35
that God's
32:36
love never
32:37
fails
32:38
and that
32:39
he will
32:39
bring all
32:40
of his
32:41
people
32:42
home
32:42
may God
32:43
bless his
32:43
word
32:43
let us
32:44
pray
32:44
most
32:46
gracious
32:46
God
32:47
we do
32:47
rejoice
32:48
in you
32:48
as the
32:49
God
32:49
who never
32:50
forgets
32:51
as a
32:51
God
32:52
who never
32:52
stops
32:53
loving
32:53
as a
32:54
God
32:54
who never
32:55
stops
32:55
giving
32:56
and we
32:57
pray that
32:57
you will
32:57
bless us
32:58
in our
32:58
hearts
32:58
here today
32:59
that we
33:00
may all
33:00
love you
33:01
individually
33:02
and personally
33:03
and love
33:03
you together
33:04
as a
33:05
great God
33:05
and saviour
33:06
that you
33:07
are
33:07
and that
33:08
we may
33:08
all have
33:08
in our
33:08
hearts
33:09
that desire
33:10
for you
33:11
that desire
33:12
for the
33:12
Lord Jesus
33:13
as our
33:13
saviour
33:13
and that
33:14
desire
33:15
to live
33:15
our lives
33:16
for you
33:17
as your
33:17
children
33:17
here in
33:18
this world
33:18
in preparation
33:19
for at
33:20
last
33:20
that great
33:22
home calling
33:22
and home
33:23
coming
33:23
when you
33:24
will gather
33:24
your people
33:25
into the
33:26
everlasting
33:27
home you
33:27
have prepared
33:28
for them
33:28
so hear our
33:29
prayer
33:29
accept your
33:30
thanks we
33:31
ask for
33:31
Jesus sake
33:32
Amen
33:33
the closing
33:36
psalm is
33:37
psalm number
33:37
28
33:38
in the
33:39
Scottish
33:40
Psalter
33:40
it's on
33:42
page
33:42
238
33:43
psalm
33:44
28
33:45
and we're
33:45
singing
33:46
at verse
33:46
number
33:46
6
33:47
forever
33:51
blessed
33:52
be the
33:52
Lord
33:52
for
33:53
graciously
33:54
he heard
33:54
the voice
33:55
of my
33:56
petitions
33:56
and prayers
33:57
did
33:58
regard
33:59
we will
34:00
be further
34:00
encouraged
34:01
as we
34:01
sing
34:01
from
34:02
verse 6
34:02
to the
34:02
end of
34:03
the
34:03
psalm
34:03
to God's
34:03
praise
34:04
forever
34:10
blessed
34:13
be
34:14
the
34:15
Lord
34:17
for
34:18
graciously
34:21
he
34:22
heard
34:24
the
34:25
voice
34:27
of
34:28
my
34:29
petitions
34:31
!
34:32
the
34:34
my
34:35
strength
34:36
and
34:35
shield
34:37
my
34:35
heart
34:37
upon
34:52
him
34:54
did
34:55
rely
34:57
!
34:58
and
34:59
!
35:00
I
35:01
am
35:02
!
35:02
help
35:03
hence
35:04
my
35:06
heart
35:07
to
35:08
joy
35:10
exceedingly
35:12
!
35:13
and
35:14
with
35:17
my
35:18
song
35:19
I
35:21
will
35:22
!
35:27
to
35:28
their
35:29
and
35:30
!
35:31
He
35:32
also
35:33
is
35:35
the
35:37
saving
35:38
strength
35:40
of
35:41
this
35:42
anointed
35:43
one!
35:44
one!
35:48
O
35:50
thy
35:51
own
35:52
people
35:54
do
35:55
!
35:56
thou
35:57
save
35:58
!
36:28
grace of the lord jesus christ the love of god the father and the fellowship of the holy spirit
36:33
be with you all now and forevermore amen
36:58
you