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Psalm 119:1-176 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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We've been working this summer together through the book of Nehemiah.
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And I've got to tell you that honestly, I thought we would complete it.
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That we would be wrapping it up at the end of the summer,
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and we would be starting something altogether new together.
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But I think that providentially, we have remained and we've tarried,
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and there's been so much richness in here for our church.
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And I think for those of you that are joining us now,
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you're not going to be behind.
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We're going to get you sped up and caught up.
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And I think that you're coming back at a very perfect time
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to pick up what's happening in the book of Nehemiah.
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So as a quick recap, just to get your minds caught up to where we are.
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This is post-exile.
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Israel was carried off into exile by Assyria and then Babylon.
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You know some of the classic stories.
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A lot of the prophets take place during this exilic period.
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The story of Daniel, for example, takes place during this period.
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And then we see a return to the land.
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Because the world power is turned over.
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It's now under the power of Persia.
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And the Persians are a little softer by God's providence.
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Their hearts are being moved by a number of kings.
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King Darius, King Artaxerxes.
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And they've allowed the people to begin to return to their land,
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even though they still rule over it.
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And this is where we find the story of Nehemiah picking up.
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Some 90 years since the first movement back to Israel, back to Jerusalem.
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And Nehemiah has found himself, by God's sovereign hand,
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serving as the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes.
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Serving as his trusted right hand who's tasting his wine
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to be sure it's not poisoned before he partakes of it.
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And he receives news from his brother, we see in chapter 1,
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that the wall around the city has yet to be rebuilt.
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That it's still in ruins.
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And therefore, the city of Jerusalem itself is not occupied.
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We see that there aren't many houses built.
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If you read previously in Ezra,
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there has been a work to rebuild the temple.
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And the temple has been completed.
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But there's nobody living in the city.
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They travel to worship at the temple,
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go back to their homes in the suburbs to live.
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And so the city's not thriving.
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And this grieves Nehemiah.
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Not because the glory of the city.
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Not because he cares so much about stone and how it's erected.
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But that in this day, the physical state of God's people
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was proportionate to God's glory.
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So he says, our God is a great God.
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A mighty God.
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Who's full of loving kindness and goodness towards his people.
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And yet the people are in shambles.
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They're not put together.
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Something must be done for the sake of the glory of God.
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He must be shown as he is.
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We must build the wall.
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So he boldly asked King Arxerxes,
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after a bunch of time of prayer, months of prayer,
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he asked King Arxerxes if he can go back and do this work.
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Now recognize that the king had already issued an edict,
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I believe if I'm remembering correctly,
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14 years previously,
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to stop the building of the wall.
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He was convinced that it was a rebellion against him
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to fortify the city of Jerusalem.
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And so he had issued an edict to stop it.
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And for a king in this day to reverse his edict
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would be a great admission of his wrong to begin with.
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So this is a bold thing that Nehemiah asked of the king.
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And the king not only granted him to go back,
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made him the governor over Jerusalem,
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gave him his credit card, so to speak,
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gave him the credit he needed to get the wood to rebuild,
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by God's sovereign hand.
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So Nehemiah goes back,
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and this is where revival really begins to happen.
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We see a spiritual revival that many would say
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really starts in chapter 8,
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but I would argue it's already begun
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because the work has begun.
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People have seen the need to build the wall.
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They've joined in that fight.
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We see through the chapters
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there's much opposition to the work,
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both with rumor,
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with threat,
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and actual physical opposition.
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We see the people of Israel carrying stones on one shoulder
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and a sword on the other,
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really working.
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And they complete the wall in 52 days.
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Something that had yet to be completed in 90 years.
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It gets done in 52 days.
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You can see that in chapter 6.
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We found ourselves last week in chapter 8.
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And I brought to everybody last week
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the evidences of God-sent revival.
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And that's where we are.
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That's what we're working ourselves through.
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And we addressed two of them.
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Now hear me clearly.
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You have to be careful about how you think
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about the term revival.
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As revival is seen in the Scriptures,
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we see ten movements of the Spirit of God
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turning the people of God
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whose hearts have grown cold
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back to Him.
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We find America in that state today.
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Praise God that our church seems to be growing.
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But churches all over America
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are on the decline.
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Religion itself,
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devotion to God,
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is on the decline in America.
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And a revival is when the Spirit of God
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visits in a special way
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and turns the hearts of God's people
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back to Him.
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So hear me.
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You cannot schedule a revival on a calendar.
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It is impossible to do such a thing.
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So don't think that's what I'm talking about
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when I talk about a revival.
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They held some events here,
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but that wasn't the revival.
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It was the power of God at work in them.
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The sovereign Spirit working in them
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that accomplished these things.
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So we want to look at these evidences
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because if we desire to be the people of God,
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these people had a special visitation of the Spirit
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and they lived in a certain way.
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Shouldn't we also desire to live in that way?
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I want to see revival come.
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I want to see it come and sweep through
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North Georgia,
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the campus,
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the region,
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the southeast.
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I want to see that happen.
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I want it to go out to all the world
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because our God is worthy to be proclaimed.
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We want our Christ to be proclaimed
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amongst all the peoples of the world.
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I want to see revival happen in that way.
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It may not in our lifetime.
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I want to believe we're poised for it
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and it's on its way.
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And that's a near possibility for us.
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But just the same,
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we ought to press on to do these things.
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We see that Ezra had a 14-year ministry
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preaching the Word of God
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to the people of God
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with very little fruit
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until we get to chapter 8 in Nehemiah.
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The four evidences.
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We addressed last week
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that if revival is God sent,
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God's people will be praying.
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We've seen this as we've worked up to chapter 8.
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Much prayer.
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I didn't even realize that Nehemiah
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really seems to be more than anything
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a book of prayer.
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I didn't know that going into it
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and my soul has been blessed
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by the study of that.
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that God's people will be praying.
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Secondly, we saw that if revival is God sent,
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God's people will reestablish
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the Word of God
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as the ultimate authority
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in their lives.
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They will stop making excuses.
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They will stop justifying every action.
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They will stop comparing themselves
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to the standard of the world
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because I can tell you this,
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if you compare yourself
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to the standard of the world,
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everyone in this room
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is doing wonderful.
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You place yourself under the authority
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of the Scriptures,
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we are all wretched,
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wretched sinners.
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We have betrayed God
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in so many ways.
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So these people reestablish
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the Word of God
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as the ultimate authority.
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They don't look at the other things
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around them,
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the periphery things.
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They look to God's Word
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as the authority
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in their lives.
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The next two.
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They recognize their defiance of God
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and view His chastisement,
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His correction,
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as just.
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And finally,
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they turn from their defiance
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to obedience.
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And that's where I was headed this week.
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Getting to chapter 9.
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Looking at their repentance
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in chapter 9.
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But I couldn't do it.
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God kept arresting my study.
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Praise Him,
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I'm a little ahead for next week
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because I've been looking at chapter 9
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quite in depth.
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But kept drawing my mind back
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to how vitally important it is
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that we reestablish
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the Word of God
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as the ultimate authority
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in our lives.
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I could not get away from it.
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In fact,
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last Sunday,
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I had had,
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just as an example,
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as the way we ought to be devoted
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to the Word of God,
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I was going to show you a bit
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from Psalm 119.
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And at the last minute,
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I just realized
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this is way too much information
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and I cut it out.
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And so guess where I ended up
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all week?
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Psalm 119.
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So we're going to look at
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Psalm 119 together.
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Before you turn there,
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I want to show you
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just four quick observations
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we looked at last week
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to bring you up to speed.
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And then we'll go there.
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I want you to see,
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in chapter 4,
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I want you to see
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their eagerness.
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Their eagerness
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for the Word of God.
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Verse 1,
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And they told Ezra the scribe
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to bring the book of the law
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of Moses
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that the Lord had commanded Israel.
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They built a platform.
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They were celebrating
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a prescribed feast
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called the Feast of Trumpets.
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You may have heard
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the term Rosh Hashanah before.
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This was a feast
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that was to happen in Israel
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nine days before
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the Day of Atonement
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when the high priest
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would go into
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the Holy of Holies
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make an atoning sacrifice
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for the nation of Israel.
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This was to be
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a great day of celebration.
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And they knew this
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so they put together an event.
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All the people came, right?
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It's estimated
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that 30,000 to 50,000 people
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were gathered
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for this event.
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But at the center of it
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was the reading of the Word of God.
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They were eager to hear it.
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So much so
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that they built a platform.
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They elevated Ezra
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high up above.
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And they took turns,
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I believe,
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reading from early morning
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until midday.
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You'll see that in verse 3.
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This was five to seven hours
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that they met together.
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All the people.
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Every one of them.
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Five to seven hours.
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We are not eager
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for the Word of God.
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In this way.
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It's hard to get us here
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at 1030 too often.
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Notice also in verse 13
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they come back
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on a second day.
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They come up with a new way
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to disseminate the Word of God.
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But they come back
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in verse 13.
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The fathers of the houses
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return to receive the Word
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and take it back out
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to their families.
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They were eager
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for the Word of God.
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Notice their reverence.
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Verse 5.
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Ezra ascends.
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He gets up on the stage.
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The church opens up
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the Word of God
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and it says,
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And as He opened it,
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all the people stood.
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Not because He asked them
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to stand,
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but because they were reverent.
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And I'm not suggesting
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that you have to stand
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when the Word of God
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is read, right?
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But our hearts certainly
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should stand at attention
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when the Word of God
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is read.
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These are the very words
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of our Lord.
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We ought to be reverent
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when they're being read.
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Verse 6.
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We see that their bodies
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become engaged
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in this activity.
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They're lifting up
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their hands.
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They bow their heads.
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They worship the Lord
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with their faces to the ground,
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which is a position
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of reverence
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which communicates
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we are not even worthy
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to be in your presence.
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Right?
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Your Word has been opened
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and they recognize
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that by the Word of God
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being opened
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that they were
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in the presence of God
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and that's why
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they worshiped
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on their faces.
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Notice their responsiveness.
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Verse 9.
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Second half.
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For all the people wept
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as they heard
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the Word of the Law.
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I said last week
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as Ezra and the men
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that were helping him
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read the Word of God,
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the people saw
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an ever-expanding chasm
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in front of them.
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It was opening up
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wider and wider and wider.
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As the holiness of God
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was being elevated,
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they recognized
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their own sinful state.
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They recognized
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how very short
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they came of this
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and they wept over it.
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They actually responded to it.
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They allowed it
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to enter through their minds
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and affect their hearts
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rather than sitting numb,
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doodling,
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clipping your fingernails.
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That's happened here.
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I found fingernails.
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Balancing your checkbook.
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Reading some other text
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because you've checked out
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and you're bored.
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They allowed the Word of God
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to permeate in them.
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Consider that if you're not
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getting anything
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out of the sermon,
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it might be your fault
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and not mine.
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Verse 9 and 10 and 11,
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we see that this day
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was a day that was meant
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for celebration.
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As they were realizing
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how very sinful they were,
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this was a day
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that was to celebrate
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the atoning work
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that was coming.
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This foreshadow
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of the final atoning work
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of Christ.
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And so they're told repeatedly
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that this should be
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a day of joy.
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That they ought to
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turn from their weeping.
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And there is a time
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we see coming
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that they're properly responsive
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in repentance,
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but this was a day
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that their fear of God,
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the fear of the holiness
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of God,
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was turned to joy
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because of the atoning
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work of Christ.
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And then we see
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their obedience.
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They didn't just receive this,
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stack a bunch of knowledge
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into their head,
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but they actually did
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something with it.
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They discover,
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in verse 14,
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we see they discover
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another feast,
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the feast of booths
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that they were meant to practice.
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Because I won't get into
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all the details of that,
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but they did
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with the Word of God,
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told them to do,
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which is the true mark
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of Christian maturity,
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that you are obedient.
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Not just a hearer,
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but a doer
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of the Word of God.
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And then notice in verse 17
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the result of their obedience.
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And there was great rejoicing.
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So that's where we were at
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last week.
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So here comes part two.
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So there's the intro to it.
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Here comes part two.
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I want you to turn
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to Psalm 119.
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Psalm 119 is the longest psalm.
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It's 167 verses,
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or excuse me,
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176 verses in total.
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It has a very unique structure.
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If I'm getting this correctly,
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I think there are eight other,
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or maybe nine other.
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I think there are eight other
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that kind of follow this structure,
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other psalms.
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But this psalm was written
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in 22 stanzas,
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each containing eight verses
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or lines,
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if you prefer.
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Each one beginning with
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a different letter
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of the Hebrew alphabet.
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So notice in your Bible,
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probably,
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you have a heading
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right above verse 1
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that says Aleph.
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It would have been there,
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A, so to speak.
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And each of the lines in here
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began with that letter.
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It was an acrostic
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that way.
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So it's a very unique structure here.
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We don't actually know
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who wrote Psalm 119.
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There's a lot of conjecture out there.
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Two major ones.
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Number one being
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that David wrote it.
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It's very Davidic
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in its language.
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It seems to follow
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some of the events
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of his life.
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There's a proposition
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that he wrote it
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over a great period of time
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as he reflected on
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the Word of God,
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his statutes,
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his law,
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and how it was
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that it gave him life
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in the midst of all
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of these things
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that he was experiencing.
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That's the way
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I tend to lean,
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mostly because men
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I respect lean
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in that direction.
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Sometimes I don't have
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an opinion of my own
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on something.
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The other possibility,
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though,
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is that Ezra,
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the priest scribe
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that was reading
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from the Word of God
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in Nehemiah 8,
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actually wrote it
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and did so
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as a way
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to re-ingrain
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in people
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the value
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of the Word of God
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during this period
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of exile
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and the return
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during this 14-year ministry
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where this is basically
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what he's been doing
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is ministering to people
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the Word of God.
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People suppose
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that potentially
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he wrote it.
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A few think
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maybe Ezekiel did,
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but most would say
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of Ezra.
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Now, either way,
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Ezra,
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as the priest scribe,
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was the one responsible
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for bringing back together
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the words of Scripture
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and that would have
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included this
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if David had written it.
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So recognize that
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during this 14-year period
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of time,
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it is most likely,
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and this is,
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I don't know this for sure,
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but it is most likely
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that this psalm
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was being used
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to minister
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to the people of God.
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These people
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that decide
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to get together
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to celebrate Rosh Hashanah
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and say to Ezra,
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bring the book of the law.
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We want to hear from it.
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We're being fed
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these words.
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That their hearts
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were being pricked
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by the emotion
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that goes in
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to Psalm 119.
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I wish
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that all of us
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could write
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this psalm.
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Not that we necessarily
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have the writing ability.
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I know that I don't
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have the writing ability
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to write in this way.
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But that our hearts
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could be united
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with the psalmist's heart.
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That we could really say,
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this is true
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of me.
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Psalm 119.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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So let's pray together
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and then we're going
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to read it together.
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It is long
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and I'm going to read it
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well to you.
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But let me remind you.
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I've been practicing.
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Let me just remind you
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as even maybe now
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you're thinking,
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oh my gosh,
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it's going to take
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about 15 minutes
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to read it.
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Five to seven hours.
17:41
hours.
17:42
Right?
17:43
Do you have such
17:44
a short attention span
17:45
that you can't look
17:46
at a copy
17:47
and follow along
17:48
with me
17:49
for 15 minutes?
17:51
And I'm going to ask
17:52
that you try to let
17:53
the words
17:53
permeate your heart.
17:55
Let's pray together.
17:57
Father God,
17:58
truly your word
17:58
is a gift to us.
18:01
And we recognize
18:02
as a church
18:03
that it is your word,
18:04
that it's inspired,
18:05
was written by a man,
18:06
but carried along
18:07
by your spirit.
18:09
And as such,
18:10
Lord,
18:10
help us to stand
18:12
underneath it.
18:14
Have it speak
18:14
into our lives.
18:16
Make it
18:16
the ultimate authority.
18:20
And Lord,
18:20
please,
18:21
prick our hearts
18:22
where our hearts
18:23
need pricking.
18:24
I know everyone
18:25
in this room
18:26
is not devoted
18:27
to your word
18:27
the way they ought to be.
18:30
And I pray
18:30
that our time together
18:31
will be a remedy
18:32
to that.
18:34
And I pray this
18:34
in Christ's name.
18:36
Amen.
18:36
Now,
18:37
before we get into this,
18:39
I want to read to you
18:40
a quote from
18:41
Charles Hattie Spurgeon.
18:42
There's much repetition
18:44
throughout Psalm 119,
18:45
but listen to what
18:46
he had to say.
18:48
Many superficial readers
18:49
have imagined
18:50
that it harps
18:51
upon one string
18:52
and abounds
18:53
in pious repetitions
18:55
and redundancies.
18:56
But this arises
18:57
from the shallowness
18:58
of the reader's own mind.
19:00
Those who have studied
19:01
this divine hymn
19:02
and carefully noted
19:03
each line of it
19:03
are amazed
19:04
at the variety
19:05
and profundity
19:06
of the thought.
19:07
Using only a few words,
19:09
the writer has produced
19:10
permutations
19:11
of combinations
19:12
of meaning
19:13
which display
19:15
his holy familiarity
19:16
with his subject
19:17
and the sanctified ingenuity
19:19
of his mind.
19:21
Have I made you feel bad yet
19:22
if you're going to be bored?
19:25
All right.
19:26
Let's go to work.
19:29
Verse 1.
19:29
Blessed are those
19:33
whose way is blameless,
19:34
who walk in the law
19:36
of the Lord.
19:37
Blessed are those
19:38
who keep his testimonies,
19:39
who seek him
19:40
with their whole heart,
19:42
who also do no wrong
19:43
but walk in his ways.
19:45
You have commanded
19:46
your precepts
19:47
to be kept diligently.
19:49
Oh, that my ways
19:50
may be steadfast
19:51
in keeping your statutes.
19:52
Then I shall not
19:53
be put to shame,
19:54
having my eyes fixed
19:55
on all your commandments.
19:56
I will praise you
19:58
with an upright heart
19:59
when I learn
20:00
your righteous rules.
20:01
I will keep your statutes.
20:03
Do not utterly forsake me.
20:07
How can a young man
20:08
keep his way pure?
20:09
By guarding it
20:10
according to your word.
20:11
With my whole heart
20:13
I seek you.
20:14
Let me not wander
20:15
from your commandments.
20:16
I have stored up
20:17
your word in my heart
20:18
that I might not
20:19
sin against you.
20:20
Blessed are you,
20:21
O Lord.
20:22
Teach me your statutes.
20:24
With my lips
20:25
I declare all the rules
20:26
of your mouth.
20:27
In the way of your testimonies
20:28
I delight as much
20:30
as in all riches.
20:31
I will meditate
20:32
on your precepts
20:33
and fix my eyes
20:34
on your ways.
20:35
I will delight
20:36
in your statutes.
20:37
I will not forget
20:38
your word.
20:41
Deal bountifully
20:42
with your servant
20:42
that I may live
20:43
and keep your word.
20:45
Open my eyes
20:45
that I may behold
20:46
wondrous things
20:47
out of your law.
20:48
I am a sojourner
20:49
on the earth.
20:50
Hide not your commandments
20:51
from me.
20:52
My soul is consumed
20:53
with longing
20:54
for your rules
20:55
at all times.
20:56
You rebuke
20:57
the insolent,
20:58
accursed ones
20:58
who wander
20:59
from your commandments.
21:00
Take away from me
21:01
scorn and contempt
21:02
for I have kept
21:03
your testimonies.
21:04
Even though princes
21:05
sit plotting against me,
21:07
your servant
21:07
will meditate
21:08
on your statutes.
21:10
Your testimonies
21:10
are my delight.
21:12
They are my counselors.
21:15
My soul clings
21:16
to the dust.
21:17
Give me life
21:18
according to your word.
21:20
When I told
21:20
of my ways,
21:21
you answered me.
21:22
Teach me
21:23
your statutes.
21:24
Make me understand
21:25
the way of your precepts
21:27
and I will meditate
21:28
on your wondrous works.
21:30
My soul melts
21:31
away for sorrow.
21:32
Strengthen me
21:32
according to your word.
21:34
Put false ways
21:35
far from me
21:36
and graciously
21:37
teach me your law.
21:38
I have chosen
21:39
the way of faithfulness.
21:40
I set your rules
21:41
before me.
21:42
I cling to your testimonies,
21:44
O Lord.
21:44
Let me not be put
21:45
to shame.
21:46
I will run
21:47
in the way
21:47
of your commandments
21:48
when you enlarge
21:49
my heart.
21:51
Teach me,
21:52
O Lord,
21:52
the way of your statutes
21:53
and I will keep it
21:54
to the end.
21:55
Give me understanding
21:56
that I may keep your law
21:57
and observe it
21:58
with my whole heart.
22:00
Lead me in the path
22:01
of your commandments
22:01
for I delight in it.
22:03
Incline my heart
22:04
to your testimonies
22:05
and not to selfish gain.
22:07
Turn my eyes
22:07
from looking
22:08
at worthless things
22:09
and give me life
22:10
in your ways.
22:12
Confirm to your servant
22:13
your promise
22:13
that you may be feared.
22:15
Turn away the reproach
22:17
that I dread
22:17
for your rules
22:18
are good.
22:19
Behold,
22:20
I long for your precepts
22:21
and your righteousness
22:22
give me life.
22:25
Let your steadfast love
22:26
come to me,
22:27
O Lord,
22:28
your salvation
22:28
according to your promise.
22:30
Then shall I have
22:31
an answer for him
22:32
who taunts me
22:33
for I trust
22:34
in your word.
22:35
And take not the word
22:36
of truth utterly
22:37
out of my mouth
22:37
for my hope
22:38
is in your rules.
22:40
I will keep your law
22:41
continually
22:41
forever and ever
22:43
and I shall walk
22:44
in a wide place
22:45
for I have sought
22:46
your precepts.
22:47
I will also speak
22:48
of your testimonies
22:49
before kings
22:50
and shall not be put
22:50
to shame
22:51
for I find my delight
22:52
in your commandments
22:53
which I love.
22:55
I will lift up my hands
22:56
toward your commandments
22:57
which I love
22:58
and I will meditate
22:59
on your statutes.
23:02
Remember your word
23:03
to your servant
23:04
in which you have
23:04
made me hope.
23:06
This is my comfort
23:07
in my affliction
23:07
that your promise
23:08
gives me life.
23:10
The insolent
23:10
utterly deride me
23:12
but I do not turn away
23:13
from your law.
23:14
When I think
23:14
of your rules
23:15
from old
23:16
I take comfort,
23:17
O Lord.
23:18
Hot indignation
23:19
seizes me
23:19
because of the wicked
23:20
who forsake your law.
23:22
Your statutes
23:22
have been my songs
23:23
in the house
23:24
of my sojournings.
23:25
I remember
23:26
your name
23:26
in the night,
23:27
O Lord,
23:27
and keep your law.
23:28
This blessing
23:29
has fallen to me
23:30
that I have kept
23:30
your precepts.
23:33
The Lord
23:33
is my portion.
23:35
I promise
23:36
to keep your words.
23:37
I entreat
23:38
your favor
23:38
with all my heart.
23:39
Be gracious to me
23:40
according to your promise.
23:42
When I think
23:43
on my ways
23:43
I turn my feet
23:44
to your testimonies.
23:46
I hasten
23:46
and do not delay
23:47
to keep your commandments.
23:49
Though the cords
23:50
of the wicked
23:50
ensnare me
23:51
I do not forget
23:52
your law.
23:53
At midnight
23:54
I rise to praise you
23:55
because of your
23:56
righteous rules.
23:57
I am a companion
23:58
of all who fear you,
23:59
of those who keep
24:00
your precepts.
24:01
The earth,
24:02
O Lord,
24:02
is full of your
24:03
steadfast love.
24:04
Teach me
24:05
your statutes.
24:07
You have dealt well
24:08
with your servant,
24:09
O Lord,
24:09
according to your word.
24:11
Teach me good judgment
24:12
and knowledge
24:13
for I believe
24:14
in your commandments.
24:15
Before I was afflicted
24:16
I went astray
24:17
but now I keep
24:18
your word.
24:19
You are good
24:20
and do good.
24:21
Teach me
24:21
your statutes.
24:23
The insolent
24:24
smear me with lies
24:25
but with my whole heart
24:26
I keep your precepts.
24:27
Their heart
24:28
is unfeeling
24:29
like fat
24:30
but I delight
24:30
in your law.
24:32
It is good for me
24:32
that I was afflicted
24:33
that I might learn
24:34
your statutes.
24:35
The law of your mouth
24:36
is better to me
24:37
than thousands
24:38
of gold
24:38
and silver pieces.
24:42
Your hands
24:42
have made
24:43
and fashioned me.
24:45
Give me understanding
24:46
that I may learn
24:46
your commandments.
24:48
Those who fear you
24:49
shall see me
24:49
and rejoice
24:50
because I have hoped
24:51
in your word.
24:52
I know, O Lord,
24:53
that your rules
24:54
are righteous
24:55
and that in faithfulness
24:56
you have afflicted me.
24:57
Let your steadfast love
24:59
comfort me
24:59
according to your promise
25:00
to your servant.
25:01
Let your mercy
25:02
come to me
25:03
that I may live
25:04
for your law
25:05
is my delight.
25:06
Let the insolent
25:07
be put to shame
25:08
because they have
25:08
wronged me with falsehood.
25:10
As for me,
25:10
I will meditate
25:11
on your precepts.
25:12
Let those who fear you
25:14
turn to me
25:14
that they may know
25:15
your testimonies.
25:16
May my heart
25:17
be blameless
25:18
in your statutes
25:19
that I may not
25:20
be put to shame.
25:22
My soul longs
25:24
for your salvation.
25:25
I hope
25:25
in your word.
25:27
My eyes long
25:27
for your promise.
25:28
I ask,
25:29
when will you
25:29
comfort me?
25:31
For I have become
25:31
like a wineskin
25:32
in the smoke,
25:33
yet I have not
25:34
forgotten your statutes.
25:35
How long
25:36
must your servant
25:37
endure?
25:37
When will you judge
25:38
those who persecute me?
25:41
The insolent
25:41
have dug pitfalls
25:42
for me.
25:43
They do not live
25:43
according to your law.
25:45
All your commandments
25:45
are sure.
25:46
They persecute me
25:47
with falsehood.
25:48
Help me.
25:49
They have almost
25:50
made an end of me
25:51
on earth,
25:52
but I have not
25:52
forsaken your precepts.
25:54
In your steadfast love
25:55
give me life
25:56
that I may keep
25:57
the testimonies
25:58
of your mouth.
26:00
Forever,
26:01
O Lord,
26:01
your word is firmly
26:02
fixed in the heavens.
26:04
Your faithfulness
26:04
endures to all
26:05
generations.
26:06
You have established
26:07
the earth
26:08
and it stands fast.
26:10
By your appointment
26:11
they stand this day
26:12
for all things
26:13
are your servants.
26:15
If your law
26:15
had not been my delight,
26:16
I would have perished
26:18
in my affliction.
26:19
I will never forget
26:20
your precepts
26:20
for by them
26:21
you have given me life.
26:23
I am yours.
26:24
Save me
26:25
for I have sought
26:25
your precepts.
26:27
The wicked lie
26:27
in wait to destroy me,
26:29
but I consider
26:29
your testimonies.
26:31
I have seen a limit
26:31
to all perfection,
26:33
but your commandment
26:34
is exceedingly broad.
26:35
I love that one.
26:37
Oh, how I love
26:38
your law.
26:39
It is my meditation
26:40
all the day.
26:42
Your commandment
26:42
makes me wiser
26:43
than my enemies
26:44
for it is ever with me.
26:45
I have more understanding
26:47
than all my teachers
26:48
for your testimonies
26:49
are my meditation.
26:50
I understand more
26:51
than the aged
26:52
for I keep your precepts.
26:54
I hold back my feet
26:55
from every evil way
26:56
in order to keep
26:57
your word.
26:58
I do not turn aside
26:59
from your rules
27:00
for you have taught me.
27:01
How sweet
27:02
are your words
27:02
to my taste,
27:03
sweeter than honey
27:04
to my mouth.
27:06
Through your precepts
27:07
I get understanding.
27:08
Therefore,
27:09
I hate every false way.
27:12
Your word
27:13
is a lamp to my feet
27:14
and a light
27:15
to my path.
27:16
I have sworn an oath
27:17
and confirmed it
27:18
to keep your righteous rules.
27:20
I am severely afflicted.
27:21
Give me life,
27:22
O Lord,
27:23
according to your word.
27:24
Accept my freewill
27:25
offerings of praise,
27:26
O Lord,
27:27
and teach me your rules.
27:28
I hold my life
27:29
in my hand continually,
27:31
but I do not forget
27:32
your law.
27:33
The wicked have laid
27:34
a snare for me,
27:35
but I do not stray
27:36
from your precepts.
27:37
Your testimonies
27:38
are my heritage forever,
27:40
for they are the joy
27:40
of my heart.
27:42
I incline my heart
27:43
to perform your statutes
27:44
forever to the end.
27:47
I hate the double-minded,
27:49
but I love your law.
27:50
You are my hiding place
27:51
and my shield.
27:52
I hope in your word.
27:54
Depart from me,
27:55
you evildoers,
27:56
that I may keep
27:56
the commandments
27:57
of my God.
27:59
Uphold me
27:59
according to your promise
28:00
that I may live,
28:01
and let me not be put
28:02
to shame in my hope.
28:04
Hold me up
28:04
that I may be safe
28:05
and have regard
28:06
for your statutes continually.
28:08
You spurn all
28:09
who go astray
28:09
from your statutes,
28:10
for their cunning
28:11
is in vain.
28:12
All the wicked
28:13
of the earth
28:13
you discard like dross.
28:15
Therefore,
28:15
I love your testimonies.
28:17
My flesh trembles
28:18
for fear of you,
28:19
and I am afraid
28:20
of your judgments.
28:23
I have done
28:23
what is just and right.
28:25
Do not leave me
28:26
to my oppressors.
28:27
Give your servant
28:28
a pledge of good.
28:29
Let not the insolent
28:30
oppress me.
28:31
My eyes long
28:32
for your salvation,
28:33
for the fulfillment
28:34
of your righteous promise.
28:36
Deal with your servant
28:37
according to your steadfast love,
28:38
and teach me your statutes.
28:40
I am your servant.
28:41
Give me understanding
28:42
that I may know
28:43
your testimonies.
28:45
It is time
28:46
for the Lord to act,
28:47
for the law
28:47
has been broken.
28:49
Therefore,
28:49
I love your commandments
28:50
above gold,
28:51
above fine gold.
28:52
Therefore,
28:52
I consider all your precepts
28:54
to be right.
28:55
I hate every false way.
28:59
Your testimonies
29:02
are wonderful.
29:03
Therefore,
29:03
my soul keeps them.
29:05
The unfolding
29:05
of your words
29:06
gives light
29:06
and imparts understanding
29:08
to the simple.
29:09
I open my mouth
29:10
and pant
29:11
because I long
29:11
for your commandments.
29:13
Turn to me
29:13
and be gracious to me
29:14
as is your way
29:15
with those
29:16
who love your name.
29:17
Keep steady my steps
29:18
according to your promise
29:19
and let no iniquity
29:21
get dominion over me.
29:23
Redeem me
29:24
from man's oppression
29:25
that I may keep
29:26
your precepts.
29:27
Make your face
29:27
shine upon your servant
29:28
and teach me
29:29
your statutes.
29:30
My eyes shed
29:31
streams of tears
29:32
because people
29:33
do not keep your law.
29:36
Righteous are you,
29:37
O Lord,
29:37
and right are your rules.
29:39
You have appointed
29:39
your testimonies
29:40
in righteousness
29:41
and in all faithfulness.
29:43
My zeal consumes me
29:45
because my foes
29:45
forget your words.
29:47
Your promise
29:47
is well tried
29:48
and your servant
29:49
loves it.
29:50
I am small
29:51
and despised
29:52
yet I do not forget
29:53
your precepts.
29:54
Your righteousness
29:55
is righteous forever
29:57
and your law
29:57
is true.
29:59
Trouble and anguish
30:00
have found me out
30:01
but your commandments
30:02
are my delight.
30:03
Your testimonies
30:04
are righteous forever.
30:05
Give me understanding
30:06
that I may live.
30:11
With my whole heart
30:13
I cry.
30:14
Answer me, O Lord.
30:15
I will keep
30:15
your statutes.
30:17
I call to you.
30:18
Save me
30:19
that I may observe
30:19
your testimonies.
30:21
I rise before dawn
30:22
and cry for help.
30:23
I hope in your words.
30:25
My eyes are awake
30:26
before the watchers
30:27
of the night
30:27
that I may meditate
30:28
on your promise.
30:31
Hear my voice
30:31
according to your
30:32
steadfast love,
30:33
O Lord.
30:33
According to your justice
30:34
give me life.
30:36
They draw near
30:37
who persecute me
30:38
with evil purpose.
30:39
They are far
30:40
from your law.
30:41
But you are near,
30:42
O Lord,
30:42
and all your commandments
30:43
are true.
30:44
Long have I known
30:45
from your testimonies
30:46
that you have founded
30:47
them forever.
30:50
Look on my affliction
30:51
and deliver me
30:51
for I do not forget
30:53
your law.
30:53
Plead my cause
30:54
and redeem me.
30:55
Give me life
30:56
according to your promise.
30:58
Salvation is far
30:59
from the wicked
30:59
for they do not
31:00
seek your statutes.
31:02
Great is your mercy,
31:03
O Lord.
31:03
Give me life
31:04
according to your rules.
31:06
Many are my
31:07
persecutors
31:07
and my adversaries,
31:08
but I do not swerve
31:09
from your testimonies.
31:11
I look at the
31:12
faithless with disgust
31:13
because they do not
31:14
keep your commands.
31:15
Consider how I love
31:16
your precepts.
31:17
Give me life
31:18
according to your
31:18
steadfast love.
31:20
The sum of your word
31:21
is truth
31:22
and every one
31:22
of your righteous
31:23
rules endures
31:24
forever.
31:27
Princes persecute me
31:28
without cause,
31:29
but my heart
31:29
stands in awe
31:30
of your words.
31:31
I rejoice
31:32
at your word
31:33
like one who
31:33
finds great spoil.
31:35
I hate
31:35
and abhor
31:36
falsehood,
31:37
but I love
31:37
your law.
31:38
Seven times a day
31:39
I praise you
31:40
for your righteous
31:40
rules.
31:41
Great peace
31:42
have those
31:43
who love your law.
31:44
Nothing can make
31:45
them stumble.
31:46
I hope for your
31:47
salvation, O Lord,
31:48
and I do
31:49
your commandments.
31:50
My soul
31:51
keeps your
31:51
testimonies.
31:52
I love them
31:53
exceedingly.
31:54
I keep your
31:54
precepts and
31:55
testimonies,
31:56
for all my
31:57
ways are
31:58
before you.
32:00
Let my cry
32:01
come before you,
32:02
O Lord.
32:02
Give me
32:03
understanding
32:03
according to
32:04
your word.
32:04
Let my plea
32:05
come before you.
32:06
Deliver me
32:07
according to
32:07
your word.
32:08
My lips
32:09
will pour
32:09
forth praise,
32:10
for you teach
32:11
me your
32:11
statutes.
32:12
My tongue
32:12
will sing of
32:13
your word,
32:13
for all your
32:14
commandments
32:14
are right.
32:15
Let your hand
32:16
be ready to
32:16
help me,
32:17
for I have
32:17
chosen your
32:18
precepts.
32:19
I long for
32:20
your salvation,
32:21
O Lord,
32:21
and your law
32:22
is my delight.
32:23
Let my soul
32:23
live and praise
32:24
you,
32:25
and let your
32:25
rules help me.
32:26
I have gone
32:27
astray like a
32:27
lost sheep.
32:28
Seek your
32:29
servant,
32:29
for I do
32:30
not forget
32:31
your commandments.
32:36
Can you
32:37
honestly join
32:38
in with
32:40
everything the
32:40
psalmist says
32:41
in that psalm?
32:42
I can't.
32:44
I've read it
32:44
a number of
32:45
times in the
32:45
last couple of
32:46
days,
32:46
getting ready
32:47
to not
32:48
make any
32:48
mistakes.
32:50
And even
32:51
still,
32:52
as I read
32:52
it again,
32:52
I go,
32:54
some of
32:54
those.
32:56
The way
32:57
he speaks
32:58
of the
32:58
word of
32:59
God,
32:59
there's all
33:00
these synonyms
33:01
used here,
33:01
word,
33:02
law,
33:02
commandments,
33:03
statutes,
33:04
ordinances,
33:05
testimonies,
33:06
precepts,
33:06
all of these
33:07
things are
33:07
synonymous.
33:08
He's talking
33:08
about the
33:09
written word
33:10
of God.
33:11
This is what
33:12
he is referring
33:13
to.
33:14
That it is
33:15
the source
33:15
of joy
33:16
and life.
33:18
That it is
33:18
a comfort
33:19
to him.
33:19
That it
33:20
builds him
33:20
up.
33:21
That he
33:21
can stand
33:21
firm because
33:22
of it.
33:23
In the
33:23
light of
33:23
any obstacle.
33:25
That he
33:26
stays up
33:27
late,
33:27
awakes at
33:28
midnight,
33:29
rises early
33:30
because the
33:33
word of
33:33
God is
33:34
a salve
33:35
to him.
33:35
It's a
33:36
solution that
33:37
gives him
33:37
strength,
33:38
that helps
33:38
him go on,
33:39
that helps
33:39
him persevere
33:40
in the
33:41
light of
33:41
these
33:41
things.
33:43
You hear
33:43
the way
33:44
he praises
33:44
the God
33:45
of the
33:45
word
33:45
throughout
33:46
all of
33:47
this?
33:48
He has
33:48
a clear
33:49
understanding
33:50
of the
33:50
holiness
33:50
of God.
33:52
He stands
33:53
under the
33:53
word in
33:54
fear and
33:54
trembling.
33:56
Your
33:56
word has
33:57
spoken.
33:59
I love
34:00
it.
34:00
I delight
34:01
in it.
34:01
I fear
34:02
it.
34:03
I want
34:03
to know
34:04
it.
34:05
I want
34:06
to have
34:06
it permeate
34:07
all of
34:08
my being.
34:08
rather than
34:10
much of
34:11
us who
34:11
stand over
34:12
the word
34:12
of God.
34:13
We spend
34:13
a paltry
34:14
15 minutes
34:15
a day
34:15
and then
34:16
we want
34:16
to tell
34:17
people what
34:17
it says.
34:19
You have
34:20
no right
34:20
if that's
34:21
the way
34:21
we love
34:22
God's
34:23
commands.
34:25
This is
34:25
a precious
34:26
psalm and I
34:27
hope that
34:27
it's working
34:28
in your
34:28
heart.
34:29
Let me
34:29
draw your
34:29
attention to
34:30
just a few
34:30
verses as
34:31
we move
34:32
on.
34:34
Have you
34:35
ever considered
34:35
the very
34:36
interesting
34:36
language that
34:38
the gospel
34:38
of John
34:39
uses?
34:39
The apostle
34:40
John uses
34:40
a language
34:41
that's unique
34:41
in the
34:42
scriptures.
34:42
As he
34:43
begins the
34:44
book of
34:45
John,
34:46
he says,
34:46
in the
34:47
beginning was
34:48
the word.
34:50
And the
34:50
word was
34:51
with God
34:51
and the
34:52
word was
34:53
God.
34:54
Speaking of
34:55
Jesus Christ
34:56
and he calls
34:56
Jesus Christ
34:57
the word,
34:58
the logos
34:58
in Greek.
35:00
And this is
35:01
the only place
35:01
that we see
35:02
this in the
35:03
scriptures and
35:03
it causes
35:05
me often
35:06
to try to
35:08
figure out
35:08
the interplay
35:09
with that.
35:09
What is
35:10
being communicated
35:10
to us?
35:11
Why is it
35:12
that John
35:12
was moved
35:13
to use
35:14
those
35:14
particular
35:15
words?
35:16
Let me
35:16
draw your
35:17
attention
35:17
here in
35:17
Psalm 119
35:18
to two
35:19
phrases that
35:20
reoccur.
35:21
I hope
35:22
in your
35:23
word,
35:24
logos,
35:25
right?
35:25
This would
35:26
have been
35:26
in Hebrew.
35:27
The Greek
35:27
translation of
35:28
it would
35:28
have used
35:29
the word
35:29
logos here.
35:30
I hope
35:31
in your
35:31
word and
35:33
give me
35:33
life according
35:35
to your
35:35
word.
35:38
We see
35:38
this verse
35:39
25,
35:39
verse 81,
35:41
verse 107.
35:42
I'm doing
35:42
this for the
35:43
sake of
35:43
those taking
35:44
notes.
35:44
Jot these
35:44
down.
35:45
Verse 25,
35:46
81,
35:47
107,
35:48
114,
35:49
154.
35:52
We see
35:52
these phrases
35:53
repeated
35:53
here.
35:55
And it
35:56
draws a very
35:56
clear connection
35:57
in my mind
35:58
to what's
35:59
happening in
35:59
this case.
36:00
We could
36:01
read it,
36:01
I hope,
36:02
in your
36:02
logos,
36:04
the very
36:05
being of
36:06
who you
36:06
are,
36:07
your
36:07
representation
36:07
here on
36:08
earth,
36:09
because we
36:10
can come
36:10
to understand
36:11
what John's
36:12
trying to
36:12
communicate by
36:13
simply looking
36:14
at the
36:15
text.
36:15
So do
36:16
that.
36:16
Turn to
36:16
John,
36:16
chapter 1.
36:27
Keep you
36:27
on your
36:27
toes.
36:27
Those of
36:28
you who
36:28
only brought
36:28
your New
36:29
Testament
36:29
version of
36:29
the Bible,
36:30
you're on
36:30
the same
36:31
page with
36:31
us now.
36:34
All right,
36:38
let's read it
36:39
together.
36:39
John chapter
36:39
1,
36:40
starting in
36:40
verse 1
36:41
through verse
36:41
5.
36:42
In the
36:42
beginning
36:42
was the
36:43
Word,
36:44
and the
36:44
Word was
36:45
with God,
36:45
and the
36:46
Word was
36:47
God.
36:47
He was in
36:48
the beginning
36:48
with God.
36:49
All things
36:49
were made
36:49
through him,
36:50
and without
36:50
him was
36:51
not anything
36:52
made that
36:53
was made.
36:54
In him
36:54
was life,
36:55
and the
36:55
life was
36:56
the light
36:56
of men.
36:57
The light
36:57
shines in
36:58
the darkness,
36:58
and the
36:58
darkness
36:59
has not
37:00
overcome it.
37:01
Skip down
37:01
to verse
37:01
14.
37:02
And the
37:03
Word became
37:03
flesh,
37:04
and dwelt
37:05
amongst us.
37:06
And we
37:06
have seen
37:06
his glory,
37:07
glory as
37:08
of the
37:08
only Son
37:09
from the
37:09
Father,
37:10
full of
37:10
grace and
37:11
truth.
37:12
I have a
37:12
painting that
37:12
Sam did
37:13
for me.
37:13
Well,
37:14
she didn't
37:14
do it for
37:14
me.
37:15
She did
37:15
it for
37:15
a show,
37:15
and I
37:16
took it
37:16
in my
37:18
study downstairs
37:18
that simply
37:19
says,
37:20
And the
37:20
Word became
37:20
flesh,
37:22
and dwelt
37:22
amongst us.
37:23
And it's
37:23
this constant
37:24
reminder to
37:24
me that as
37:25
I preach,
37:25
what I
37:26
preach is
37:26
Christ
37:27
crucified.
37:27
That's
37:28
the point.
37:29
The
37:29
Word of
37:29
God
37:30
here simply
37:32
testifies,
37:32
the words
37:33
of God
37:33
testify of
37:34
the Word
37:35
of God.
37:36
So understand
37:37
that God
37:38
and Word
37:38
go together
37:39
because the
37:40
Word is
37:41
his
37:42
manifestation.
37:44
It's his
37:44
showing of
37:45
himself.
37:47
And John,
37:47
here,
37:48
chapter 1,
37:48
would seem
37:49
to say to
37:49
us that
37:50
there cannot
37:50
be God
37:51
without Word,
37:52
that God
37:52
cannot be
37:53
oligos,
37:54
but he is
37:54
in fact
37:55
logos,
37:56
that the
37:56
Word and
37:57
God go
37:58
together.
37:58
The Word
37:59
is the
38:00
agent by
38:01
which God
38:02
makes himself
38:02
known.
38:03
And this
38:03
is why
38:03
both our
38:05
scriptures and
38:07
Jesus Christ
38:07
are called
38:09
the Word
38:10
of God.
38:12
The words
38:12
of God.
38:13
They testify
38:14
of our
38:15
great Lord.
38:16
Jesus Christ
38:16
himself is
38:18
the subject
38:19
matter of
38:20
this entire
38:20
thing.
38:22
From
38:22
beginning
38:23
to end,
38:25
this is all
38:26
about Jesus
38:27
Christ.
38:28
God
38:29
is the
38:30
Lord.
38:30
Sometimes people
38:31
try to press
38:31
him into
38:31
some text
38:32
where he
38:32
may just
38:33
not exactly
38:33
belong.
38:34
Sometimes the
38:34
text is really
38:35
about me,
38:36
but ultimately
38:37
it's about how
38:38
much I need
38:39
Jesus Christ.
38:41
This is what
38:42
the Bible
38:43
is about.
38:45
And therefore,
38:46
if you love
38:46
Jesus Christ,
38:48
you'll love
38:48
the Bible.
38:49
If you love
38:50
the Word,
38:50
you're going
38:50
to love
38:51
the Word.
38:51
Are you
38:52
with me
38:52
on that?
38:54
We see a
38:55
really beautiful
38:55
picture.
38:56
the road
38:58
to Emmaus.
38:59
I think most
38:59
of you are
38:59
probably familiar
39:00
with this.
39:01
Luke 24,
39:01
27.
39:02
We see some
39:03
disciples traveling
39:04
and who shows
39:04
up after
39:05
resurrection?
39:06
But Jesus
39:06
Christ,
39:07
they don't
39:07
recognize him,
39:09
but he sits
39:09
down and he
39:10
schools them.
39:10
Oh,
39:11
would I have
39:11
loved to have
39:11
been a part
39:12
of that
39:12
conversation.
39:13
It would
39:13
have been
39:14
precious.
39:15
Verse 27
39:15
says,
39:16
And beginning
39:16
with Moses
39:17
and all the
39:18
prophets,
39:18
he interpreted
39:19
to them in
39:20
all the
39:20
scriptures the
39:21
things concerning
39:21
himself.
39:23
How good
39:24
would that
39:24
have been
39:25
as we
39:25
preach through
39:25
Nehemiah?
39:26
Be like,
39:27
Jesus was
39:27
telling me
39:28
that this
39:28
means,
39:29
we're going
39:29
to tell you
39:29
all the
39:30
places that
39:30
he's typed
39:31
and foreshadowed
39:32
and all of
39:33
those things,
39:34
but the
39:34
scriptures are
39:35
ultimately and
39:35
finally about
39:37
Jesus Christ.
39:40
And beloved,
39:40
if we love
39:42
him, we
39:42
will love
39:43
his word.
39:45
One more
39:45
spot.
39:46
Turn to
39:46
Hebrews chapter
39:47
three.
39:49
We get a
39:50
similar language
39:51
here.
39:52
Again, we
39:52
don't know
39:52
who the
39:53
author of
39:53
Hebrews was.
39:54
I'm picking
39:55
a lot of
39:56
unknown
39:56
authored books
39:57
here.
39:58
The same
39:58
is true
39:58
of Nehemiah,
39:59
in fact.
40:03
But certainly
40:04
the writer of
40:04
Hebrews was
40:05
a pastor to
40:06
these people,
40:06
to these
40:07
Jews that
40:07
he's writing
40:08
to.
40:10
So he's
40:10
bringing about
40:11
some correction
40:12
for them.
40:12
He's keeping
40:13
them from
40:13
wanting to
40:14
turn back
40:14
away, to
40:15
turn from
40:16
their new
40:17
found life
40:17
in Christianity
40:18
back to
40:18
Judaism,
40:19
because that
40:19
was the
40:19
temptation
40:20
here at
40:20
this time.
40:21
There was
40:21
much persecution
40:22
going on for
40:23
the Christian
40:23
church, but
40:24
none for the
40:25
Jews.
40:25
So it's very
40:26
easy just to
40:26
go back into
40:28
being Jewish
40:30
and practicing
40:30
those things and
40:31
saying, well,
40:32
it's the same
40:32
God, right?
40:32
We're still
40:33
worshiping the
40:33
God of Abraham
40:34
and Isaac and
40:34
Jacob.
40:35
We're just
40:36
taking out the
40:36
Jesus Christ
40:37
thing.
40:37
And so the
40:38
book of Hebrews
40:38
is really about
40:39
saying, no,
40:39
no, this thing
40:40
that you've
40:40
entered into is
40:41
a whole new
40:42
thing.
40:42
It's a better
40:42
thing.
40:42
It's a higher
40:43
thing.
40:44
Don't go back
40:44
to that lesser
40:46
thing.
40:46
It doesn't
40:46
deliver.
40:47
And he
40:49
talks here in
40:49
chapter 3, if
40:51
you look at
40:51
verses 7
40:52
through 11,
40:53
about a rest,
40:54
entering into
40:55
rest.
40:55
And he's
40:56
quoting here from
40:57
Psalm 95,
40:58
verses 7
40:58
through 11.
40:59
It says,
41:00
therefore, as the
41:00
Holy Spirit
41:00
says, today, if
41:02
you hear this
41:02
voice, do not
41:03
harden your
41:04
hearts as in
41:05
the rebellion on
41:05
the day of
41:06
testing in the
41:07
wilderness, where
41:08
your fathers put
41:09
me to the test
41:09
and saw my
41:10
works for 40
41:11
years.
41:12
Therefore, I
41:13
was provoked
41:13
with that
41:14
generation and
41:14
said, they
41:15
always go astray
41:16
in their heart.
41:17
They have not
41:18
known my ways.
41:19
As I swore in
41:20
my wrath, they
41:21
shall not enter
41:22
my rest.
41:23
The people of
41:24
Israel wandering
41:25
in the wilderness,
41:26
putting God to
41:26
the test, not
41:27
trusting him,
41:28
pursuing him as
41:29
they ought to.
41:29
Does it sound
41:29
familiar to the
41:31
people in this
41:31
room?
41:32
And he's saying
41:32
to them, he
41:33
swore an oath to
41:34
say, I'm not
41:34
going to let them
41:35
enter into the
41:35
rest.
41:36
And the author
41:37
here of Hebrews
41:37
is saying, but
41:38
there is a rest.
41:39
Please know that
41:40
there is a rest
41:40
for the people of
41:41
God if we will
41:42
continue in his
41:42
ways.
41:44
If we're caught
41:45
up in Christ,
41:45
having placed our
41:46
faith in him,
41:47
there is a rest.
41:48
So he goes on to
41:49
talk about this
41:49
and he quotes a
41:50
couple of other
41:51
times from the
41:51
Old Testament and
41:52
then we arrive at
41:53
the classic verse
41:55
that I think
41:55
everyone knows,
41:56
verse 12.
42:00
For the word of
42:00
God is living and
42:01
active, sharp
42:01
with any two-edged
42:02
sword, piercing to
42:03
the division of
42:03
soul and of spirit,
42:04
of joints and of
42:05
marrow, and
42:05
discerning the
42:05
thoughts and
42:06
intentions of the
42:07
heart.
42:08
True and amen.
42:10
What does he say
42:10
right before that?
42:11
Let us therefore
42:12
strive to enter that
42:13
rest, so that no
42:14
one may fall by the
42:16
same sort of
42:16
disobedience.
42:18
So what is he
42:20
driving them to,
42:21
right?
42:22
He's driving them
42:23
to a reverence for,
42:25
an eagerness,
42:26
a responsiveness,
42:28
an obedience to
42:30
the word of God.
42:31
That's exactly what
42:32
he's trying to say to
42:32
them here.
42:33
That's where we pick
42:33
up verse 12.
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I think probably all
42:36
of you know verse 12
42:37
but haven't really
42:38
read the chapter
42:39
preceding that.
42:40
That's what he's
42:41
driving us to.
42:42
But watch what he
42:43
does.
42:43
This is so cool.
42:45
So verse 12 again,
42:47
for the word of God,
42:48
he's speaking about
42:49
this Old Testament
42:50
scripture that he
42:51
just got done
42:51
quoting.
42:52
Again,
42:53
logos,
42:54
this manifestation of
42:55
God, his very words
42:56
to us, Old Testament
42:57
telling us to be
42:59
obedient, to pursue,
43:00
enter into the rest.
43:01
Verse 12,
43:02
for the word of God
43:02
is living and active,
43:04
sharper than any
43:04
two-edged sword,
43:05
piercing to the
43:06
division of soul and
43:07
of spirit, of joints
43:08
and of marrow, and
43:09
discerning the thoughts
43:10
and intentions of
43:11
the heart.
43:11
It treats all of us
43:12
holistically.
43:14
And no creature is
43:15
hidden from what?
43:17
His sight.
43:18
Not its sight.
43:20
But from his sight.
43:21
But all are naked
43:22
and exposed to the
43:23
eyes of him to whom
43:24
we must give account.
43:27
He just changed.
43:28
What is he talking
43:29
about now?
43:30
Did he just totally
43:30
stop one thing and
43:32
start talking about
43:32
another thing?
43:33
Of course not.
43:34
Right?
43:34
He's talking about
43:35
the very same thing.
43:36
But rather than
43:37
saying that we're all
43:39
hidden from its
43:41
sight, being the
43:42
word of God,
43:42
we're not hidden
43:43
from his sight.
43:44
Who is he talking
43:45
about?
43:46
Keep reading.
43:48
Context, context,
43:50
context.
43:51
Verse 14,
43:53
Since then, we have
43:55
a great high priest
43:56
who has passed
43:56
through the heavens.
43:58
Jesus, the Son of
44:00
God, let us hold
44:01
fast our confession.
44:05
Jesus, the word of
44:08
God, let us hold
44:09
fast our confession.
44:11
For we don't have a
44:12
high priest who is
44:13
unable to sympathize
44:14
with our weaknesses,
44:15
but one who in every
44:16
respect has been
44:17
tempted as we are,
44:19
yet without sin.
44:20
Let us then with
44:21
confidence draw near
44:23
to the throne of
44:23
grace, that we may
44:24
receive mercy and find
44:26
grace to help in time
44:28
of need.
44:30
The word of God,
44:32
himself, Jesus Christ.
44:34
Christ.
44:36
The gospel of God
44:38
that's found here.
44:41
It's the motivation,
44:43
the great catalyst for
44:45
wanting to know him in
44:47
his word.
44:48
I had a conversation
44:49
this week with a
44:52
brother I love who goes
44:54
to this church that his
44:55
fear sometimes is that we
44:57
get too top heavy.
44:59
We know too much and we
45:00
don't do.
45:01
And I think that is a
45:02
warranted fear.
45:03
It's something I don't
45:04
want to see happen with
45:06
our church.
45:07
But I think often we
45:09
don't know enough,
45:10
which is why we don't
45:10
do anything.
45:12
Because we haven't
45:13
devoted ourselves to
45:14
the word.
45:14
We don't really know the
45:16
standard to which we're
45:17
supposed to live.
45:18
We're not really thankful
45:19
for the salvation we
45:20
have because we don't
45:21
see that ever-widening
45:23
chasm that the people
45:24
in the Amayas day were
45:25
experiencing.
45:26
They didn't really
45:27
behold the glory of
45:29
God.
45:29
We don't see it.
45:31
And therefore we kind
45:31
of go about our
45:32
normal, average,
45:33
everyday Christian
45:34
lives.
45:36
Not caught up in the
45:38
splendor of the
45:39
kingdom.
45:41
Where do you find it?
45:42
How do you get moved
45:43
to that?
45:45
Here.
45:46
Right?
45:46
Say to Nehemiah,
45:47
come and open the book.
45:50
Come read to us.
45:52
You guys ever feel like
45:53
planning an event and
45:54
building a stage and
45:55
asking me to read the
45:56
word of God to you for
45:56
seven hours?
45:57
I'll do it.
45:58
This is precious for our
46:02
living.
46:02
We need it.
46:04
It is our sustenance.
46:08
We must devote ourselves
46:10
to the word of God.
46:12
Remember the psalmist.
46:14
The psalmist didn't say,
46:15
and it's a drudgery.
46:17
I've got to set my alarm
46:18
early and get up and roll
46:20
out of bed.
46:20
I don't have class till
46:21
eight o'clock, but I've got
46:22
to get up at six o'clock.
46:23
It was a joy to him to
46:26
relish the word of God.
46:29
Right?
46:29
To live abiding with it.
46:32
To meditate it throughout
46:33
the day.
46:34
Remember the record that he
46:35
praised God seven times a
46:37
day for his word?
46:39
Just that.
46:40
What other things that he
46:41
praised God for?
46:42
All the things that the
46:43
word had to tell him about
46:45
who God is.
46:48
I am deeply convicted.
46:50
I don't know that I will
46:51
listen to a seven hour
46:52
sermon.
46:54
I would probably press
46:55
pause a lot during that
46:57
time.
46:58
I couldn't stand still for a
47:00
15 minute reading of Psalm
47:01
119.
47:03
I had a pace.
47:04
I just got antsy.
47:05
How do I?
47:08
We need to be praying that
47:10
this becomes a reality for
47:11
us.
47:12
That we could say yes and
47:14
amen to every word of
47:15
Psalm 119.
47:16
That that will actually be
47:17
reality in our lives.
47:20
we have been delivered by
47:24
the word of God.
47:26
Let us relish the word of
47:28
God.
47:28
Let's pray together.
47:29
Amen.
47:29
Amen.