Commitment to Rebuilding
Series: Rebuild
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 20th November 2022
Passage: Nehemiah 9:1-12:43
00:00:00 --> 00:00:09 In the 1997 movie, As Good As It Gets, it starred Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:13 And in the movie, Jack Nicholson, it's not Helen Hunt in the picture,
00:00:13 --> 00:00:18 in the movie, Jack Nicholson has obsessive compulsive disorder.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:24 And he is a very difficult and off-putting person to be around in the film.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:32 He's difficult, people don't like him, but there's one waitress in a cafe who is kind to him.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 And he really likes this person.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:40 And then she leaves, this is Helen Hunt's character, she leaves to take care of her son.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 And Jack Nicholson pursues her.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:47 And at the end of this movie, there is quite a famous scene,
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 when Jack Nicholson says to Helen Hunt,
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 I have a wonderful compliment for you.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:58 Because I have obsessive compulsive disorder, because of you,
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 I have taken my medicine for the first time.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 And Helen Hunt sits there and his face just says,
00:01:07 --> 00:01:08 So what?
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 And then he says,
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 You make me want to be a better man.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 And every heart melts.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 And it's quite a famous scene.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:21 It's really heartfelt.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:23 And sitting behind it,
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 I'm sorry if I've spoiled this 25-year-old movie for you.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:31 But sitting behind this is that Jack Nicholson has found someone
00:01:31 --> 00:01:35 who is motivating him to change.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 His motivation is,
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 I want to be a better man for you.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 Maybe you've had that in your life.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:45 Not that someone says,
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 You must meet these conditions.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:49 But maybe you've met someone,
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 and you want to be a better friend for them.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:55 You've met someone,
00:01:55 --> 00:01:55 and you're like,
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 Actually, I'm going to play the sport that you like,
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 because I want to spend time with you.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:04 My brother loves board games and card games.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:08 And I hate learning new board games and card games.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:11 But I will do that out of love for him.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:16 But what motivates us in our relationship with God?
00:02:17 --> 00:02:18 Is it who he is?
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 Is it his love and his compassion and his mercy to us
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 throughout all our lives and across generations?
00:02:24 --> 00:02:29 Are we aware of what motivates us in our relationship with God?
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 Or are we motivated by guilt?
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 What brought you to church this morning?
00:02:39 --> 00:02:39 Was it just a,
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 Oh, this is what we do as a family on a Sunday morning.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:43 We just go to church.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:48 Are we motivated by a desire to please other people?
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 Or to make sure that we're good with God?
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 Are we even aware of what motivates us?
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 We are coming to the end of the book of Nehemiah.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 Janet has read for us chapter 9.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 We're actually doing chapter 9 to 12.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 But we're going to spend most of our time this morning in chapter 9.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 And we see that a section of Israel has moved back
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 from exile in Babylon.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:14 They've come back to Israel.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 The walls have been built up.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:20 The people have been trusting in God.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:21 They've not been afraid of their enemies.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 And they've come to the point of remembering
00:03:25 --> 00:03:29 why the walls were broken down in the first place.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:31 Their sin.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 And God handing them over to their enemies.
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 They've sinned for generations.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 God patience ran out.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:41 And so they were exiled.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:45 But in God's great compassion,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 He's called them back to the promised land.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:52 And so now Israel remind themselves about who they are,
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 how sinful they are,
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 and how good God has been to them.
00:03:57 --> 00:03:58 And they recommit to this God.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 They meditate on the character of God
00:04:01 --> 00:04:04 and it motivates them to recommit.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:06 And so the challenge for us today
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 will be to consider what motivates us
00:04:09 --> 00:04:10 in our relationship with God.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 duty, compulsion, family,
00:04:14 --> 00:04:15 fear of hell, fear of harm.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 Or will it be like Israel
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 who are motivated by God's love
00:04:21 --> 00:04:22 and compassion to us
00:04:22 --> 00:04:26 to obey Him because of who He is?
00:04:27 --> 00:04:28 There's three points this morning.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 Confession, character, and commitment.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:33 They're in the St. Paul's app.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:34 You can be writing those down,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 taking notes in your phone.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 But as we have a look at Nehemiah 9,
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 let me pray for us.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:40 Heavenly Father,
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 as we look at Your Word to us today,
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 help us to see who You are
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 and grow in love and trust and obedience of You.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:52 Amen.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:56 First of all, confession.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:58 In chapter 8,
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 we left Israel celebrating.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 They were celebrating and rejoicing,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 but now they turn to grief.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 And they turn to grief
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 because before you can appreciate
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 who God is,
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 we have to know who we are not.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:16 And so,
00:05:17 --> 00:05:17 in your Bibles,
00:05:18 --> 00:05:18 chapter 9,
00:05:19 --> 00:05:19 verse 1.
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 On the 24th day of the same month,
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 the Israelites gathered together,
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 fasting and wearing sackcloth
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 and putting dust on their heads.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 God's people are owning their own sin.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 They know who they are
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 and who they are not.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 And so they put on a burlap sack.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 It is very itchy.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 I don't know if you've got children
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 and you've ever tried to dress them
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 in something that looks nice.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 One of my children,
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 whenever we put something nice on them,
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 they say,
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 this is itchy.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 This is uncomfortable.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:54 These people,
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 the Israelites,
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 are wearing a burlap sack
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 because they know
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 that they should feel uncomfortable
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 because of their sin.
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 They see themselves as dirty.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 It's a wonderful picture of humility.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 They put dirt on their heads
00:06:10 --> 00:06:10 because they say,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 I am a mess.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 I am dirty.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 And I am in need of help.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 This is the place we should be in
00:06:20 --> 00:06:25 when we find ourselves comfortable in our sin.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 We have to acknowledge
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 that we have sin in our lives
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 and we are a mess.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 And the only one that can help us
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 and make us clean is God.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 In verse two,
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 they also separate themselves from the foreigners,
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 not to say that there's anything wrong
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 with people of other nations,
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 but it is as if they are owning their sin.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 We are Israel.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 We are God's people.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 And we are going to own our sin
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 with our God.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 And so they confess.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 They confess their sins,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 the sins of their ancestors.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 They're not blaming anyone else
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 for being exiled,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 and they own their sin.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 And it's not just saying,
00:07:04 --> 00:07:04 oh God,
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 we're sorry for all of the sins.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 They go through them in detail.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:10 Verse three,
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 they stood where they were
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 and they read from the book of the law,
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 of the Lord their God,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 for a quarter of the day.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 Imagine if I said,
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 okay, everybody,
00:07:22 --> 00:07:22 we're going to read up,
00:07:23 --> 00:07:23 stand up.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 I'm going to read the Bible
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 for the next six hours.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 And as we do that,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 you're just going to be reminded
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 of all of our sins
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 and our failures.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 And so after they'd read
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 the book of the law
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 for six hours,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 verse three,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 they spent another quarter
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 of the day
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 in confession
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 and in worshipping
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 the Lord their God.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 As they're reading the word,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 they would have been seeing
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 all of the places
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 that they fell short.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 and so they spend hours
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 in confession.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 Now this might seem
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 a lot to us,
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 but imagine
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 if we took, say,
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 just the Ten Commandments.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 Even that's too many.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 Let's just take the very first
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 of the Ten Commandments.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 You shall have no other God
00:08:08 --> 00:08:08 but me.
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 I'm sure we could spend
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 a lot of time
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 in confession.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 God, I'm sorry
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 when I made myself God
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 over you
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 and I chose selfishness
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 this morning.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 God, I'm sorry
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 when I made money,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 my God,
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 yesterday when I was
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 at the shops
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 and I worshipped
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 at the altar of work
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 or possessions
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 or consumerism.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 And Jesus says
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 of adultery
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 that lust is just as bad
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 and murder,
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 well, anger is just as bad.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 Imagine if we went
00:08:42 --> 00:08:42 into detail
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 and just confessed
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 the last two days
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 of our lust
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 and our anger
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 and our theft
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 and our envy
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 and our jealousy,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 we too have
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 hours to confess.
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 To appreciate
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 who God is,
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 we need to have humility
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 and take a good,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 hard look at ourselves
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 to understand
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 who we are
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 and who we are not.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 One of the challenges
00:09:10 --> 00:09:10 of our time
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 is that we are told
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 that our views
00:09:13 --> 00:09:13 are valuable
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 and right.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 Our emotions are right
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 and the view of ourselves
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 is right
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 and we are losing
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 the ability
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 to say of ourselves
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 and anyone else,
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 this is right
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 and this is wrong.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 God sits outside time,
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 he sits outside culture,
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 he himself is good
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 and he tells us
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 what is good and right.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 And so Israel
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 realise how far
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 they have gone from God
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 and they confess.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 They read the law,
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 they have clarity
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 of where they fell short
00:09:48 --> 00:09:51 but their own sinfulness
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 is not what motivates them.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:53 They don't go,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:54 we are so sinful,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 we're going to work really hard,
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 we're going to pull up our socks,
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 we're going to follow God
00:09:59 --> 00:09:59 really hard,
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 we're going to do
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 all of the things
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 God says in the law.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:04 No,
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06 their desire to confess
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 and their motivation
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 to change
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 is based on God's character.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 Second point today,
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 God's character.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 In verse 5,
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 it says that the Levites,
00:10:18 --> 00:10:18 the priests,
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 they stand up
00:10:20 --> 00:10:20 and praise God
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 with a summary
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 of Israel's history
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 and there's two key highlights.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 How awful Israel has been
00:10:29 --> 00:10:32 and how good God is.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 I'm not sure if you picked that up
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 as Janet was reading.
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 It just says
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 how good God is
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 over and over.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 Verse 6,
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 you alone are the Lord.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 You made the heavens.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 You give life to everything.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 God is lifted high
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 as the one
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 who is in charge of all,
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 responsible for all
00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 and has power over it all
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 and he chose Abraham.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 Verse 7,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 God chose
00:10:55 --> 00:10:55 to make a covenant
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 with the people.
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 God heard that Israel
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 was stuck in Egypt
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 and so he saved them.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 Then in verse 13,
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 God gave them laws
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 and regulations
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 that are good
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 and right
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 so they could follow him.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 Verse 15,
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 God provided
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 for their physical needs
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 and gave them land
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 to live in.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 Up to this point,
00:11:18 --> 00:11:18 it all looks good
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 and rosy.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 God has been good to them.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 Israel is following God.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 It all looks pretty good.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 Everything changes
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 in verse 16.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 Whenever you see the word
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 but in the Bible,
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 just underline it,
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 circle it,
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 put a tab there.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 The buts are really helpful.
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 God has been good.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 Israel has been following.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 But,
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 but they,
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 our ancestors,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 became arrogant
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 and stiff-necked.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 They did not
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 obey your commands.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 God has done
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 everything for them.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:56 They were not humble.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 They were unwilling
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 to bend their necks
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 to follow God.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 And so God
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 has humbled Israel,
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 sent them into exile,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 forced their necks
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 to be softened.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 Verse 17,
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 Israel refused
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 to listen,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 failed to remember
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 the miracles,
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 failure of memory.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 They forgot the God
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 who made everything.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 The God who,
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 who took them
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 and made them a people,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 who,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 who saved them
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 out of Egypt,
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 who,
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 who gave them
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 good laws to follow,
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 who gave them
00:12:29 --> 00:12:29 a good land.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 They forgot
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 their God.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 And this is where
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 the beauty of God's
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 character is revealed.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 If you've ever heard
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 or even thought yourself,
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 the God of the Old Testament,
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 I don't know about
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 the God of the Old Testament,
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 I like the God
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 of the New Testament.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 He's all about love
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 and hugs and kisses
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 and I like Jesus,
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 he's wonderful.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 But the God of Old Testament,
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 he's angry,
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 he's wrathful.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 If you've ever thought that,
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 come to this point
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 in Nehemiah 9,
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 take a friend
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 to Nehemiah 9.
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 Verse 17,
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 but you are
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 a forgiving God,
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 gracious
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 and compassionate,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 slow to anger
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 and abounding
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 in love.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 Therefore,
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 you did not
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 desert them.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 God had compassion
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 on Israel
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 when they rebelled
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 and made another God
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 out of the golden calf.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 Verse 19,
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 God had compassion
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 on them
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 and didn't leave them
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 in the wilderness
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 to die.
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 God gave them land
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 and then they disobeyed again
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 and yet,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 verse 27,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 God had compassion.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 And it's this cycle
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 that happens
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 over and over
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 and over.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 They follow God,
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 they forget him,
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 they take him for granted,
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 they worship other gods,
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 he sends enemies,
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 they cry out,
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 verse 28,
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 and when they cried
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 out to you
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 again,
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 you heard from heaven
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 and in your compassion
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 you delivered them
00:13:55 --> 00:13:58 time after time
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 after time
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 after time.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:03 God is beyond
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 gracious to us.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 Even after we commit
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 the most heinous acts
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 against him,
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 against the people
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 we love,
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 against friends,
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 he continues
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 to be loving
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 and compassionate.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 And even when
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 his people
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 are not repenting,
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 he doesn't destroy them,
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 he loves them.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 Israel,
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 at this point,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 are in a disastrous situation.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 They've been exiled,
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 their country
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 has been
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 all but destroyed,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 their nation shattered,
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 and yet,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 Israel are remembering
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 how good
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 God continues
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 to be to them.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 And verse 31
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 summarizes
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 summarizes
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 the goodness
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 of God's character.
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 In your great
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 mercies,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 you did not
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 put an end
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 to them
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 or abandon them
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 for you
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 are gracious
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 and merciful.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 Because of God's character,
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 his mercy
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 and his graciousness.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 As I read through this,
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 there's a word
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 that jumped out
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 to me
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 about God's character.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 I'm not sure
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 if you've picked it up,
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 but it's the word
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 compassion.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 It's there four times
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 in chapter 9.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 God is gracious
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 and compassionate.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 He has great compassion.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 Again,
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 he's got great compassion.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 And in your compassion,
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 you delivered them.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 God is gracious
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 and merciful,
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 but key to this
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 is his compassion.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 I love this word compassion
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 because it's made up
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 of two words,
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 com
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 and passion.
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 compassion.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 The word com
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 means with.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 So,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 company.
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 You're with people.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 And the word passion
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 doesn't mean
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 strong emotions
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 like we tend
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 to think these days.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 The original meaning
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 of the word passion
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 means suffering.
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 So,
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 if you remember
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 the movie,
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 you know,
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 10 years ago
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 whenever it was made,
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 the passion
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 of the Christ
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 means the suffering
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 of Jesus
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 on the cross,
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 the passion
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 of the Christ.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 So,
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 compassion means
00:16:06 --> 00:16:09 with in suffering.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 So,
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 if you have a friend
00:16:11 --> 00:16:13 who you're grieving,
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 they sit with you
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 in your grief,
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 they are with you
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 in your suffering,
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 they have compassion.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 God
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 is described
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 as someone
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 who has
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 compassion.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 He is not
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 absent.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 If you remember
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 that poem
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 about the footsteps
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 on the sand,
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 it is this picture
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 of God
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 walking with us
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 every step
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 of the way.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 God is with
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 Israel
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 every step,
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 when they're faithful
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 and when they're not.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 He is ready
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 to show mercy
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 and to forgive them.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 He is present
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 and with them.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 And how much more
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 wonderfully
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 does he do this
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 in Jesus?
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 when he
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 is present
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 as a human being,
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 he knows
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 our suffering.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 He knows
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 what it is like
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 to be a human
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 with temptations,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 to love people
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 and to suffer
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 on the cross.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 God
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 became man.
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 He is
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 compassion.
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 He is
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 with us
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 in our suffering.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 He knows
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 our joys
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 and our pains.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 when Jesus
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 suffered
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 on the cross,
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 he suffered
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 in every way
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 like we suffer.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 Physical pain,
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 he was betrayed
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 closest by those
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 closest to him.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 He was distant
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 from God,
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 all so that God
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 could have mercy
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 and grace
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 to us.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 God
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 is with us
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 and he's with Israel
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 in their suffering.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 His compassion
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 is what
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 motivates
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 Israel
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 to change.
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 our third point
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 this morning,
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 commitment.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 Israel
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 in verse 37,
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 cry out to God,
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 God we are
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 in great
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 distress.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 In verse 38,
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 in view of all this,
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 in view of
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 history,
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 in view of
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 what we have
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 been like,
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 in view of
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 what you have
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 been like,
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 mercy,
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 gracious,
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 compassion,
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 in view of all this,
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 we are making
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 a binding agreement.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 We're putting it
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 in writing.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 We're going to
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 stamp it with our
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 stamp.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 Our leaders,
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 the priests,
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 the Levites,
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 they're all affixing
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 their seals to it.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 Everybody is on
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 board.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 We are recommitting
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 to you.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 The people know
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 their history.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 They know who
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 they are
00:18:38 --> 00:18:40 and they know
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 who their God
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 is
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 and they're
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 motivated by
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 who he is,
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 by his compassion.
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 And so they want
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 to better represent
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 God.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 They want to
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 honor him.
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 They want to
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 remain God's
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 people and not
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 take it for
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 granted.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 And so they
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 rededicate themselves.
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 There's something
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 really significant
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 going on in
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 these verses.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 They make a
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 binding agreement.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 They put it in
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 writing.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 This is what we
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 continue to do.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 We are people
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 who have mostly
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 moved away from
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 paper,
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 but still if we're
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 signing up for
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 something,
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 it gets put in
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 writing.
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 The leaders,
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 the Levites,
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 the priests
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 sign up for it.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 It's representative
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 that it's not just
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 some people who
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 are committing to
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 the Lord,
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 it is the whole
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 people recommitting
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 to God.
00:19:30 --> 00:19:32 God in his grace
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 has called them
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 back to the land
00:19:33 --> 00:19:35 and they've seen
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 that and they're
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 saying,
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 yes,
00:19:36 --> 00:19:38 we want to be
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 a people following
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 this God.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 We're going to
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 commit.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:44 And then the
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 next three
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 chapters,
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 10,
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 11 and 12,
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 show the people
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 commit.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 Starts with all
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 the people in
00:19:50 --> 00:19:53 verse 10 and
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 they remind
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 themselves of
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 God's laws that
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 they're committing
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 to.
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 It's as if what
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 they're saying,
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 we swear that
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 we're going to
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 follow this God
00:20:02 --> 00:20:05 and if we don't
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 walk in this way,
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 we'll let God
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 curse us because
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 we want to
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 follow this God.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 the first step
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 towards recommitting
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 to this God is
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 to turn back to
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 him in his
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 scriptures.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 That's what
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 they've done.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 They've spent
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 hours reading
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 the law,
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 remembering the
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 law.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 They're going to
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 honour the
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 Sabbath.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 They're going to
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 rest and trust
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 that God will
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 provide.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 They're not going
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 to give their
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 daughters in
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 marriage to
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 people of
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 other nations
00:20:29 --> 00:20:31 because those
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 other nations
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 are going to
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 bring in other
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 religions,
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 but they want
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 to worship God.
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 They want to
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 continue to
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 worship God for
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 generations.
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 They're going to
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 honour God,
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 God's temple,
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 the place where
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 sacrifices are
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 made.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 They would
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 tithe,
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 they would
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 give of
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 their money.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 They're
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 recommitting not
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 just with their
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 Sundays or their
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 Saturdays,
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 they're recommitting
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 with all that
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 they earn,
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 their money,
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 their first
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 fruits,
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 their crops,
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 their animals.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 God has
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 committed to
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 them and they
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 are recommitting
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 to God with
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 their money,
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 their success,
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 their families,
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 with their time
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 and with their
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 worship.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10 And finally,
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 at the end
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 of chapter 12,
00:21:13 --> 00:21:15 we return to
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 the wall,
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 which is what
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 this whole book
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 seems to have
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 been about,
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 building this
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 wall.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 But the wall
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 was built and
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 it's almost like
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 an afterthought
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 that we come
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 back to it.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 But the wall
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 that Nehemiah
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 came to build,
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 which was
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 finished a couple
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 of chapters ago,
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 it had not been
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 dedicated.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 It had been
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 finished,
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 but they hadn't
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 smashed the bottle
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 of bubbly on it
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 like you do with a
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 ship as you
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 commission it.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:40 God first
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 needed to work
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 on his people
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 before they could
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 celebrate what
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 he is doing.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 They've read
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 the law,
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 they've confessed
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 their sins,
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 they've recommitted
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 to the Lord,
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 and now they are
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 ready to celebrate
00:21:53 --> 00:21:55 what God is doing
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 in their midst.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 And so Nehemiah
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 orders all the
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 musicians,
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 the choirs,
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 the priests,
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 he positions them
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 all on different
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 parts of the wall,
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 they offer many
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 sacrifices,
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 and in chapter 12
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 verse 43,
00:22:07 --> 00:22:09 they were rejoicing
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 because God
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 had given them
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 great joy.
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 The women and the
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 children rejoiced,
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 and the sound of
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 rejoicing could be
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 heard far away.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 I wonder what it
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 would look like
00:22:22 --> 00:22:24 to have even the
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 people walking
00:22:25 --> 00:22:27 past church hear
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 us rejoicing this
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 morning.
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 In a couple of
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 minutes, we're going
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 to sing our last
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 song.
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 What would it look
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 like for us to be
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 singing so loud
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 that people,
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 two streets away,
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 could hear us
00:22:38 --> 00:22:40 rejoicing in our
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 God?
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 Jerusalem is
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 becoming the
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 city of God
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 again.
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 Not just the
00:22:48 --> 00:22:50 place, but the
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 people.
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 Restoration and
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 reconciliation with
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 God and his people
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 should always be
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 celebrated.
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 When a sinner
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 comes to God,
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 there is a feast
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 in heaven.
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 When someone
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 commits their
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 life to God,
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 we get a big
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 water tank, we
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 do a baptism.
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 It is a good
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 thing to celebrate.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 Brothers and
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 sisters, Israel
00:23:11 --> 00:23:13 has gone on a
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 wonderful journey.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 God has restored
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 them to their
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 land.
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 They've read the
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 Bible.
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 They've confessed
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 their sins.
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 They've meditated
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 on how good God
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 has been to them,
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 particularly his
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 compassion for
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 centuries.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 And God's
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 character, his
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 compassion has
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 motivated them
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 to change,
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 motivated them
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 to recommit.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 And so they've
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 signed up to
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 follow him again
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 today.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 Maybe today is a
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 good day for us
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 to do the same
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 thing.
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 Actually, let's
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 take out that
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 word maybe.
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 Today is a good
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 day for us to
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 do the same
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 thing.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 To confess our
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 sins.
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 To remember
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 where we've
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 walked far away
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 from him.
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 To remind
00:23:56 --> 00:23:58 ourselves of
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 his great
00:23:58 --> 00:24:00 compassion for
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 us in
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 Jesus.
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 That he has
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 dealt with
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 our sins so
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 that we can
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 know him.
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 And then
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 remind ourselves
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 to commit
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 to him
00:24:09 --> 00:24:11 tomorrow,
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 the week to
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 come.
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 Because he
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 is with us
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 when we are
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 suffering.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 When we feel
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 that we are
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 far from him,
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 he is with
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 us.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 When we are
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 busy and
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 tired and
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 stressed,
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 he is with
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 us.
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 When we are
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 celebrating and
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 joyful, he
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 is with us.
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 When we are
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 grieving, he
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 is with us.
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 He is with
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 us.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 He's not with
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 us like a
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 puppy dog who
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 is just there
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 to be warm
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 and comfortable
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 even though
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 they're great.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 But God is
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 not just with
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 us passively to
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 make us feel
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 better.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 He is with
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 us like a
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 parent to a
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 child who
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 says, I
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 know this
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 is hard, but
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 I have good
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 plans in store
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 for you.
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 Who carries
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 us in our
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 grief.
00:24:54 --> 00:24:57 God in
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 his compassion
00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 calls us to
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 walk closely
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 with him,
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 trusting him,
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 living in
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 obedience to
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 him.
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 Jack Nicholson
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 said to
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 Helen Hunt,
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 you make me
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 want to be a
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 better man.
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 God's
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 compassion in
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 Jesus means
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 we get to
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 be his
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 people,
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 reminding
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 ourselves of
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 his goodness
00:25:21 --> 00:25:23 and calling
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 us to obey
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 him.
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 Let me pray
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 for us
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 right now.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:30 God, your
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 compassion and
00:25:31 --> 00:25:34 love calls us
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 to be your
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 people.
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 Thank you,
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 God, that you
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 are with us
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 each step.
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 Help us to
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 recommit to
00:25:42 --> 00:25:44 you today, to
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 love your
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 word, to
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 confess our
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 sin, to
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 choose to
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 follow and
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 obey you,
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 trusting in
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 you each
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 day.
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 Amen.
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 community, to
00:25:56 --> 00:26:00 never
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 help us.
00:26:01 --> 00:26:08 That's
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 right.
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 Thank you.