ESTHER
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 29th May 2016
Passage: Esther 1:1-2:18
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 One television personality who was having a pretty rough year found out on the same day
00:00:04 --> 00:00:10 that she was losing her TV show and that her husband was leaving her.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:18 She responded, I know the Lord won't send me more trouble than I have the strength to bear,
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 but I do wish he didn't have such a good opinion of me.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:25 Many of us might know that feeling.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 I've heard people say on a number of occasions over the years
00:00:29 --> 00:00:35 that the things that have really happened to me lately have really shaken my faith.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:42 That is, at times when there's bereavement, serious illness, times of tragedy,
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 or even just a whole string of negative things happening,
00:00:46 --> 00:00:52 it's hard to believe in a God who is love and a God who is in charge or rules the world,
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 as we sang tonight, God who is sovereign.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 And it is an important thought.
00:00:57 --> 00:00:58 It's a really serious question.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:04 Many sceptics would say that belief in an all-loving and an all-powerful God
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 is just simply wishful thinking.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:10 You can't have both of those things together in the world in which we live.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:15 Some even go as far as saying that they refuse to believe in such a God
00:01:15 --> 00:01:21 unless that particular God was to turn up and to fix certain things in their life.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:25 And the assumption is that God has to think like I do about the world
00:01:25 --> 00:01:32 and solve my problems or the world's problems in the way that I think that they should be solved.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:36 Now, I get why we might say that,
00:01:36 --> 00:01:40 and I get the feeling behind that and the sentiment behind that,
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 but in the end it would be a pretty benign God
00:01:42 --> 00:01:46 if that God was limited to my understanding of the world
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 and how I think things should be fixed in the world.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 Over the next number of weeks,
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 we're going to go back two and a half thousand years
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 into the book of Esther,
00:01:57 --> 00:01:58 which we're just looking at now.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 It was read out a couple of chapters just then.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 Here, two and a half thousand years ago,
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 is one of the most perilous times for the people of God.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:10 They are on the brink of extermination.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 And on the surface, when you read those first couple of chapters,
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 it appears that this is one of those Cinderella stories.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 You know, orphan girl rises to be the queen of Persia,
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 most powerful nation in the world at its time.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:29 But it's actually not the thrust of the story.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:34 It's actually about how God saves his people from the brink of disaster.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:42 And yet, there is no mention of God in the book of Esther at all.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:45 Not once.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:48 Kind of strange, really,
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 when it's about God rescuing his people from the brink of disaster.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 So why is that?
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 Why is God not mentioned in this book?
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 Now, I'm pretty sure it's not an oversight.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 It's not like the writer got to the end, full stop,
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 and went, oh, my hat, I forgot to mention God.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 I don't think that's the case.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 I think the writer here is making a point.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:12 And I think, let me just try and explain this.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:18 You see, whenever the God of Israel saw his people in trouble in the past,
00:03:19 --> 00:03:23 he comes to their aid through extraordinary ways.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:25 The events are extraordinary.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:29 But in Esther, there's no mighty miracle.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:30 There's no vision.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:31 There's not even a dream.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:35 God appears to be absent here in this book.
00:03:36 --> 00:03:37 Totally silent.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:43 There are, however, this whole string of apparent coincidences.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:51 They all happened at the right time.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:56 And if they hadn't have happened, the Jews would have been wiped out.
00:03:56 --> 00:04:00 But they all happened in the right sequence at the right time.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:02 And they were saved.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 If Xerxes, just from chapter one and two,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:10 if Xerxes had not gotten drunk and he had not made that boast,
00:04:10 --> 00:04:14 if that hadn't happened, Vashti would still be queen.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 And Esther wouldn't have been queen.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:24 And she couldn't have used her influence to save the Jews.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 What if, for instance, Esther hadn't been pretty?
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 What if the king favoured one of the other girls?
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 The whole narrative all the way through is,
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 what if, what if, what if, what if?
00:04:38 --> 00:04:43 And all of them are just these ordinary little things, everyday life.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 And by themselves, they don't seem to be significant at all.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 And here's the point that I think is underlying here through Esther.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 When you see one of the ten plagues in Exodus,
00:04:57 --> 00:05:01 where God uses his mighty power to rescue his people from Egypt,
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 and you see his hand at work, you go,
00:05:04 --> 00:05:05 oh, that's God.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:06 Yeah.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 Extraordinary.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11 When you see the king drunk,
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 you don't go, oh, wow, God at work.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 You just don't make that connection.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:20 Esther is telling us, I think,
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 when you put it all together,
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 don't make the same mistake.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 Don't make the mistake of the materialist
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 who judges situations based on what they see
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30 and what they feel
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 and what they can experience firsthand.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:39 We may not see God at work,
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 but that doesn't mean he's not.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 God's silence is not his absence.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 His hiddenness is not his abandonment.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:52 God is not obsessed with appearances the way that we are.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:56 He's working out his promises even when it appears that he's not even around.
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 That's one of the underlying themes right through Esther.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 There are things going on for us,
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 even for us right now,
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 things going on for us in our lives
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 that we're looking right at,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 things that God is doing,
00:06:09 --> 00:06:14 and they seem so ordinary
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 and we have got no idea,
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 which is why that graphic that Yui put together
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 is just so brilliant.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:25 Did you notice the invisible hands under the woman?
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 Ooh, it all makes sense.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 And even in the ugliness of these first two chapters,
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 and frankly, they are ugly,
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 there's a whole lot wrong here.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 God is at work.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 He's even using flawed and failed
00:06:45 --> 00:06:48 and questionable people like Esther and Xerxes
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 to bring about his plans and his purposes.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:54 So let's just launch straight in on chapters one and two.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 The book of Esther,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 if you've got your Bibles open,
00:06:57 --> 00:07:02 begins introducing us to the great empire of King Xerxes I.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 It says,
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 notice how it reads, it says,
00:07:06 --> 00:07:06 verse one,
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 this is what happened during the time of Xerxes.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 And you say,
00:07:10 --> 00:07:10 Xerxes?
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 Which Xerxes?
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 And he says,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:13 well,
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 the Xerxes have ruled over 127 provinces
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 stretching from India to Kush.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 He reigned from 486 BC
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 to 465 BC.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:29 And his empire included the north-western part of India,
00:07:30 --> 00:07:30 Pakistan,
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 Afghanistan,
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 Uzbekistan,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 Iran,
00:07:34 --> 00:07:34 Iraq,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:35 Armenia,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:36 Azerbaijan,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:37 Syria,
00:07:38 --> 00:07:38 Lebanon,
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 Israel,
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 Jordan,
00:07:40 --> 00:07:40 Turkey,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:41 northern Greece,
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 Egypt,
00:07:43 --> 00:07:43 Libya,
00:07:44 --> 00:07:44 Eritrea,
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 Ethiopia,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 and Sudan.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:52 a pretty big area he covered.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:56 There was no person more powerful,
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 more greater on the face of the earth at the time,
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 and he knew it.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 He was not a modest man.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 Sort of like the first president of Tunisia,
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 Habib Burugibi,
00:08:12 --> 00:08:17 he once explained to his National Assembly
00:08:17 --> 00:08:21 that leadership abilities such as his were,
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 and I quote,
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 a miracle of nature
00:08:24 --> 00:08:27 that rarely occurs in our history.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:30 Do you like that modesty?
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 Isn't that nice?
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 He was also asked once,
00:08:33 --> 00:08:37 so what's the Tunisian system of government?
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 System of government?
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 I am the system of government.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 Isn't that a modest sort of man?
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 So Xerxes is that kind of guy,
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 and he holds a party for all of his main men
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 throughout his whole empire
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 so he can show off how great he is.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:51 It's a party,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:52 verse 4,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:53 in chapter 1,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 that says,
00:08:54 --> 00:08:58 it went on for a full 180 days.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 He displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom
00:09:00 --> 00:09:04 and the splendour and glory of his majesty.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 He got all of his wealth,
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 all of his possessions,
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 his livestock and all that sort of stuff,
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 and he's in the big banqueting hall
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 with all his head honchos,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 and it's just,
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 he's marching it through the banquet hall.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 And it took six months
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 from the beginning to the end
00:09:21 --> 00:09:24 for all of his possessions and wealth
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 to be shown off to all his mates.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 And at the time,
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 they're sitting there drinking wine.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 It's no wonder he got drunk.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 Six months of it.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:41 We are meant to gaze wide-eyed here
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 at the gold and the silver and the jewels
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 and the sheer accumulation of wealth and power
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 in exactly the same way
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 that Alexander the Great did
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 when a hundred years,
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 just about a hundred years later,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:57 he went into the citadel of Susa
00:09:57 --> 00:10:00 and he discovered
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 over one and a half tonnes of gold alone,
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 let alone the piles of silver
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 and the jewels and everything else.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 And Alexander the Great looked at it
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 and went,
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 my goodness.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 Even Alexander the Great
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 was impressed by this guy.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:21 So,
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 we read the first few verses
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 and we go,
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 who's the main man?
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 Who's in control here?
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 Who's in charge?
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 Xerxes
00:10:31 --> 00:10:34 except he's got a woman.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 Queen Vashti.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 Now,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 she has been given
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 a separate banquet
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 over here for the ladies.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:46 And as there are no ladies
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 to civilise
00:10:47 --> 00:10:50 the men,
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 Xerxes' party
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 gets out of control.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:54 Verse 10,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 Xerxes is in high spirits
00:10:56 --> 00:10:56 from wine.
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 I think that's meant
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 to be an understatement there.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 The guys had one too many
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 for sure.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 And he decides
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 it's time
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 not just to show off
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 all of his wealth
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 and all of his splendour
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 and all of his majesty
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 and all of his power,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 he wants to show
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 his mates
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 that he's also married
00:11:14 --> 00:11:16 to the best looking woman
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 in the world.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:19 So,
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 verse 11,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 he says,
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 bring Vashti out
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 wearing a royal crown
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 in order to display
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 her beauty
00:11:26 --> 00:11:26 to the people
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 and the nobles
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 for she was lovely
00:11:29 --> 00:11:29 to look at.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 He's not wanting
00:11:33 --> 00:11:36 to show Vashti off.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 He's not wanting
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 them to meet her,
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 to be friends with her,
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 to see whether
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 she's got a personality
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 or anything like that.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 It's,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 bring her out
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 so that my drunken mates
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 can drool over her
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 and gawk at her.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:52 Now,
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 for reasons
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 that the text
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 doesn't explain,
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 she decides
00:11:56 --> 00:11:56 that that's not
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 a great idea.
00:11:59 --> 00:11:59 I mean,
00:11:59 --> 00:11:59 it's not hard
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 to imagine why.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 She refuses
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 to come
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 and that act
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 in itself
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 is an act
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 of incredible bravery.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 in a hierarchical
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 shame
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 and honour culture
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 for an authority
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 like Xerxes
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 to be rejected
00:12:16 --> 00:12:19 was a cultural crisis.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:22 and this king
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 is furious
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 with his queen
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 but instead
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 of marriage counselling
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 he has a cabinet meeting
00:12:29 --> 00:12:32 to work out
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 what to do
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 with her.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 And of course
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 he pulls in
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 all the nobles,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 all the head honchos,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 they're all concerned
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 as well
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 because what if
00:12:40 --> 00:12:40 Vashti sends
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 a priest in here
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 and our wives
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 do the same thing?
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 Anarchy will reign,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 we'll get a bit
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 of pushback
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 from our wives.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 The outcome
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 of it all
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 is that Vashti's
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 banished
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 a royal decree
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 went to the whole
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 kingdom
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 in all different
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 languages
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 from India
00:12:58 --> 00:12:58 right through
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 to Sudan
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 so that everyone
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 heard it
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 in their language
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 all the women
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 will respect
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 their husbands
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 from the least
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 to the greatest.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 What an idiot.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 What an incredible
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 comical
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 overreaction.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 a drunken
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 reaction
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 and then
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 beginning of chapter
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 two the grog's
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 worn off
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 so Xerxes wakes
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 up with a headache
00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 and did I do
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 that?
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 Yes you did.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 And he just
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 realises
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 that Vashti
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 the most beautiful
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 woman that he'd
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 ever met
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 is never to
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 approach him
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 again
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 ever.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 and so he
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 needs a new
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 trophy wife
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 and the whole
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 kingdom is
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 searched for
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 the best
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 looking woman.
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 Chapter two
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 verse eight
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 suggests that
00:13:54 --> 00:13:54 they weren't
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 invited to
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 apply
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 they were
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 picked
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 and they
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 were taken.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 I mean
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 you couldn't
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 imagine
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 too many
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 clear
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 thinking
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 women
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 wanting to
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 marry a guy
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 like Xerxes
00:14:08 --> 00:14:08 could you?
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 Although
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 Donald Trump
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 seems to be
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 sorry
00:14:14 --> 00:14:21 and so
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 we have
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 international
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 beauty pageant
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 Miss Persian
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 Empire
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 482 BC
00:14:26 --> 00:14:29 some scholars
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 have suggested
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 there is many
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 1
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 virgins
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 were brought
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 back to the
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 king's
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 harem.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:38 and then
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 for a year
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 they underwent
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 beauty treatments
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 and they were
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 in training
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 to get ready
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 for one night
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 with the
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 king.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 Everything
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 turned on
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 that one
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 night with
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 the king
00:14:49 --> 00:14:52 and depending
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 on how it
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 went there
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 were only
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 four possible
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 outcomes
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 only four
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 number one
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 is that
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 in the morning
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 he goes
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 I didn't
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 really like
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 her
00:15:01 --> 00:15:04 and he
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 would
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 send
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 the
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 girl away
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 to be a
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 permanent
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 concubine
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 but he
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 would never
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 ever
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 ever
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 call on
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 her again
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 and at
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 an age
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 of 18
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 or 19
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 they were
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 essentially
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 banished
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 to permanent
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 widowhood
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 they were
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 never ever
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 to be allowed
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 with another
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 man
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 no marriage
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 no children
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 no nothing
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 permanent
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 banishment
00:15:31 --> 00:15:34 no
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 second
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 option
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 was
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 he might
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 say
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 actually
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 I don't
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 mind
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 that
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 one
00:15:39 --> 00:15:42 she would
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 become a
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 concubine
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 and occasionally
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 at his whim
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 and his will
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 and depending
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 on how much
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 wine he's
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 had
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 he would
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 call on
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 her
00:15:48 --> 00:15:52 third
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 option
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 is
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 if he
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 you know
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 if you're
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 really
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 really
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 really
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 lucky
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 you might
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 be one
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 of the
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 two or
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 three
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 that would
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 go on
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 the list
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 that I
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 might marry
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 this one
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 and then
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 your children
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 would be
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 inheritors
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 of royal
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 stuff
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 number
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 four
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 if you
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 are super
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 fortunate
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 and you're
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 the one
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 that he
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 most favours
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 you became
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 the queen
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 and the
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 other
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 999
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 weren't
00:16:21 --> 00:16:24 now one
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 of the girls
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 who was
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 taken was
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 a Jewish
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 orphan named
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 Esther
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 and when
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 they took
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 her
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 her older
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 cousin
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 Mordecai
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 instructed her
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 not to say
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 anything
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 about her
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 Jewish
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 identity
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 or about
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 her beliefs
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 she was
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 the one
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 Xerxes
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 favoured
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 above all
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 of the rest
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 he married
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 her and he
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 made her
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 his queen
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 the Jewish
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 orphan girl
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 becomes the
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 queen of
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 the greatest
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 empire
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 of the face
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 of the earth
00:16:49 --> 00:16:52 so what's
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 going on
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 here
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 what's
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 going on
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 this is not
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 marriage advice
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 so let me
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 just take that
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 bit out
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 it's not
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 marriage advice
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 it's not
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 how to hook
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 up and
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 not any
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 of that
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 sort of
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 stuff
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 not dating
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 advice
00:17:05 --> 00:17:08 in Persian
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 culture
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 the most
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 important
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 thing
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 about a
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 man
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 is his
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 wealth
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 and his
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 power
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 and the
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 most
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 important
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 thing
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 about a
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 woman
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 is her
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 sexual
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 and physical
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 beauty
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 a man's
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 worth was
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 determined by
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 the size
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 of his
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 wallet
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 and how
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 big his
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 muscles
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 were
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 and a
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 woman's
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 worth was
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 determined by
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 the size
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 of her
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 dress
00:17:29 --> 00:17:33 isn't it
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 ugly
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 when you
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 realise
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 that's
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 what's
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 going on
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 in here
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 in
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 S's
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 one and
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 two
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 isn't
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 that
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 ugly
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 the way
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 that people
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 are treated
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 look at
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 the way
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 these women
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 are treated
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 look at
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 the pride
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 and the
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 arrogance
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 of this
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 bloke
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 Xerxes
00:17:47 --> 00:17:49 wouldn't
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 it just
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 be
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 absolutely
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 terrible
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 to live
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 in a
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 culture
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 that judged
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 people like
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 that
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 and treated
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 people like
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 that
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 aren't you
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 glad that
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 we don't
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 live back
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 then
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 two and a
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 half thousand
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 years ago
00:18:04 --> 00:18:13 with all
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 the superficial
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 differences
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 what's
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 changed
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 what's
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 really
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 changed
00:18:18 --> 00:18:21 the world's
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 the same
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 it says
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 external
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 image
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 appearances
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 matter more
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 than your
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 character
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 what you
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 have
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 matters more
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 than what
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 you are
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 beauty
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 talent
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 money
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 connections
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 influence
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 matters more
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 than what
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 you are
00:18:38 --> 00:18:40 and what
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 our culture
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 says is that
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 you must
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 undergo
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 beauty
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 treatments
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 not just
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 the women
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 our culture
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 says that
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 unless you
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 get these
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 credentials
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 this kind
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 of beauty
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 this kind
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 of money
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 this kind
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 of resume
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 this kind
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 of education
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 this kind
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 of job
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 unless you
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 get these
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 things
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 you don't
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 really amount
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 to much
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 you're not
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 really worth
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 much
00:19:01 --> 00:19:03 it says it
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 differently to
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 men and to
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 women
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 and to
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 different races
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 and to
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 different
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 classes
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 but it's
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 basically saying
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 the same
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 thing
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 it's saying
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 that you
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 need to
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 go through
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 the beauty
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 treatments of
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 this world
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 you need to
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 perform
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 you need to
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 do all
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 this
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 and if
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 you do
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 then we
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 just might
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 accept you
00:19:23 --> 00:19:25 we might
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 approve of
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 you
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 that's all
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 of us
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 we live
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 we live
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 in a world
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 of appearances
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 and performance
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 we elevate
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 the trivial
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 in our
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 culture
00:19:36 --> 00:19:38 whole magazines
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 are devoted
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 to the antics
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 of soap opera
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 stars
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 and we pay
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 incredible amounts
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 of money
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 to grown men
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 who hit little
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 balls around
00:19:48 --> 00:19:50 we live in a
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 culture that
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 considers the car
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 we drive as an
00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 extension of who
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 we are
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 we're more
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 impressed by the
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 school that
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 someone attends
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 than what
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 they're actually
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 learning at
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 the school
00:19:59 --> 00:20:03 we blow it
00:20:03 --> 00:20:06 just like
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 these couple
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 of chapters
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 in Esther
00:20:07 --> 00:20:11 we blow it
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 just like
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 Esther does
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 herself
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 and most
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 scholars agree
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 that in these
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 first couple
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 of chapters
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 here
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 Esther has
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 completely
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 sold out
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 to the
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 culture
00:20:20 --> 00:20:24 she's not
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 a hero
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 here
00:20:26 --> 00:20:30 she gets
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 to her
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 pinnacle
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 through absolute
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 compliance
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 she does
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 what Mordecai
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 says
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 she listens
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 to the head
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 guy in the
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 harem more
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 than any
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 other woman
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 there
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 she did
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 everything
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 that he
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 asked
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 Esther plays
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 the Barbie
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 doll
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 here
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 she's the
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 sex kitten
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 here
00:20:47 --> 00:20:50 she's a
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 blank page
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 on which
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 these men
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 write what
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 they want
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 and she's
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 the total
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 opposite
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 of Daniel
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 and his
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 friends
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 you see
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 when they
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 were brought
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 into the
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 pagan
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 court
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 they said
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 up front
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 that we're
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 here
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 we will
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 serve
00:21:03 --> 00:21:05 but we
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 will follow
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 God's
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 dietary
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 requirements
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 they let
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 everyone
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 know that
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 they were
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 Jews
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 and were
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 still going
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 to follow
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 God's
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 law
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 Esther
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 kept
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 that stuff
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 secret
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 and she
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 must have
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 broken
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 law
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 after law
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 after law
00:21:17 --> 00:21:19 and then
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 she sleeps
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 with a man
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 who she's
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 not married
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 to and then
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 she marries
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 an unbeliever
00:21:23 --> 00:21:25 all were
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 gross violations
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 of the
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 biblical law
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 she's
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 completely
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 sold out
00:21:31 --> 00:21:35 but what
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 is great
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 about Esther
00:21:36 --> 00:21:38 is that
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 although
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 there is
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 this bad
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 start
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 by the end
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 she's the
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 brave heart
00:21:45 --> 00:21:48 God works
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 with her
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 God is
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 patient with
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 her and
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 grows her
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 and turns
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 her into
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 something great
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 and the
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 reason why
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 that is so
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 important is
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 that no matter
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 how bad
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 you have
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 screwed up
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 at the
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 beginning of
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 your life
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 no matter
00:22:01 --> 00:22:03 what terrible
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 moves you've
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 made and
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 things that
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 you've done
00:22:05 --> 00:22:07 you can never
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 write yourself
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 out of God's
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 final script
00:22:09 --> 00:22:12 the good
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 news is
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 and this is
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 the message
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 of the Bible
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 is that
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 God does
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 not bless
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 those and
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 save those
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 who live
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 moral and
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 exemplary
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 lives
00:22:24 --> 00:22:26 that's not
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 what God
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 does
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 the message
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 of the Bible
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 is that God
00:22:29 --> 00:22:31 persistently and
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 continuously gives
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 his grace to
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 people who don't
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 ask for it
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 don't deserve
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 it and don't
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 fully appreciate
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 it when they
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 receive it
00:22:39 --> 00:22:43 despite of
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 the fact
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 that we
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 are
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 into a
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 great degree
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 influenced by
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 our systems
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 our culture's
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 systems of
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 values and
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 morals
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 God hasn't
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 given up on
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 us
00:22:58 --> 00:23:01 1 Samuel 16
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 says that man
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 looks at the
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 outward appearance
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 but God looks
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 at the heart
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 you see real
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 beauty is
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 different than
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 what this world
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 says it is
00:23:12 --> 00:23:16 unlike God
00:23:16 --> 00:23:19 we judge
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 books by
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 their cover
00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 God doesn't
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 do that
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26 our world is
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 like this
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 chauvinistic
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 tyrant
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 Xerxes and
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 it says to us
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 I'll accept you
00:23:31 --> 00:23:33 as my bride
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 but you have
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 to work
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 incredibly hard
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 and you have
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 to make
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 yourself attractive
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 and you have
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 to come up
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 with an
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 incredible
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 resume and
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 make yourself
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 lovable and
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 then I might
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 approve of you
00:23:46 --> 00:23:48 then I might
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 approve of you
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 and it is
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 exhausting
00:23:50 --> 00:23:52 it is
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 crushing
00:23:53 --> 00:23:57 and there's
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 only one way
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 out
00:23:58 --> 00:24:02 God says
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 over and
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 over again
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 to us
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 in the
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 Bible
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 that he
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 wants to
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 be our
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 spouse
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 he's not
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 just the
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 all powerful
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 king
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 but the
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 all loving
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 husband
00:24:11 --> 00:24:14 what makes
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 it so great
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 is that it's
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 not about
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 what we have
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 to do
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 to make
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 ourselves
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 so lovable
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 and good
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 and worthy
00:24:22 --> 00:24:25 God is
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 the exact
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 opposite
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 of Xerxes
00:24:28 --> 00:24:31 Esther
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 doesn't have
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 a great
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 start here
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 and yet
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 God has
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 got her
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 by the
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 hand
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 God
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 never gives
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 up on her
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 as this
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 book unfolds
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 God is
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 patient with
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 her
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 he loves
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 her
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 and he
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 turns her
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 into something
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 great
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 and that
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 is the
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 foretaste
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 of the
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 relationship
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 with Jesus
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 that Ephesians
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 5 talks
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 about
00:24:53 --> 00:24:57 Ephesians
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 5 uses
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 the image
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 of the
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 loving
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 husband
00:24:59 --> 00:25:01 this is
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 the way
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 God
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 treats
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 us
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 it says
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 husbands
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 love your
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 wives
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 just as
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 Christ
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 loved
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 the
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 church
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 and gave
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 himself
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 up for
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 her
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 to make
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 her
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 holy
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 cleansing
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 her by
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 the washing
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 with water
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 through the
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 word
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 and to
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 present
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 her to
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 himself
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 as a
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 radiant
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 church
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 without
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 stain
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 or wrinkle
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 or any
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 other
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 blemish
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 but holy
00:25:23 --> 00:25:25 and blameless
00:25:25 --> 00:25:29 that's what
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 Jesus does
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 for us
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 Esther
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 was accepted
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 by Xerxes
00:25:33 --> 00:25:35 because
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 she was
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 already
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 beautiful
00:25:37 --> 00:25:39 but Jesus
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 loves us
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 in spite of
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 our flaws
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 and our sin
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 and our
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 ugliness
00:25:43 --> 00:25:45 in order
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 to make
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 us beautiful
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 Esther
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 had to
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 give her
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 life and
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 her freedom
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 up for
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 the king
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 but Jesus
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 is the
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 only king
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 the only
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 spouse
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 who gives
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 up his
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 life and
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 his freedom
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 for us
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 he gives
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 up everything
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 for us
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 not because
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 we are
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 lovely
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 but in
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 order to
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 make us
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 lovely
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 in order
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 to make
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 us beautiful
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 and when
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 we understand
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 that
00:26:09 --> 00:26:12 when that
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 shift
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 happens
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 I think
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 we have
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 the three
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 things that
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 we need
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 to be
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 free from
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 our cultures
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 enslavement
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 to
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 external
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 appearance
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 and
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 performance
00:26:25 --> 00:26:28 firstly
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 when you
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 understand
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 what Jesus
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 has done
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 for you
00:26:32 --> 00:26:34 you get
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 a real
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 definition
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 of beauty
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 our culture's
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 definition of
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 beauty means
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 that we
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 cannot go
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 by a
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 mirror
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 without
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 noticing
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 ourselves
00:26:42 --> 00:26:44 selfie
00:26:44 --> 00:27:11 culture has
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 dominated
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 Facebook
00:27:13 --> 00:27:15 but then
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 we see
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 Jesus
00:27:16 --> 00:27:18 and
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 he
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 had
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 ultimate
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 beauty
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 infinite
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 glory
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 infinite
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 splendour
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 infinite
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 majesty
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 and he
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 laid it
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 to one
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 side
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 Ephesians
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 chapter 2
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 sorry
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 Philippians
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 chapter 2
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 he laid
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 it to one
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 side
00:27:31 --> 00:27:33 gave it
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 all up
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36 he became
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 human and
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 he went
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 to the
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 cross
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 the book
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 of Isaiah
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 says
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 talking about
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 him being
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 on the
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 cross
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 it says
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 he had
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 no beauty
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 that we
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 should desire
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 him
00:27:46 --> 00:27:49 he became
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 cosmically
00:27:50 --> 00:27:52 unsightly
00:27:52 --> 00:27:54 his father
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 turns his
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 face away
00:27:55 --> 00:27:58 Jesus gave
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 up his
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 splendour
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 his majesty
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 and his
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 beauty
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 for us
00:28:01 --> 00:28:03 that is
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 true beauty
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 genuine
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 beauty is
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 not self
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 obsession
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 it is
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 self
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 sacrifice
00:28:09 --> 00:28:11 that's the
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 new
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 definition
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 of beauty
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 you get
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 from Jesus
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 the second
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 thing we
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 get when
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 we understand
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 that Jesus
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 gives up
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 everything
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 for us
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 to make
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 us beautiful
00:28:20 --> 00:28:22 in his
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 sight
00:28:22 --> 00:28:24 is a new
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 experience
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 of our
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 beauty
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 to him
00:28:26 --> 00:28:29 Nat and
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 I were
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 married about
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 17 and
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 half years
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 ago
00:28:31 --> 00:28:33 and I
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 still remember
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 the day
00:28:34 --> 00:28:36 I remember
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 standing at
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 the front
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 of the
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 church
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 and looking
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 to the
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 back of
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 the church
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 about this
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 kind of
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 distance of
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 the doors
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 over there
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 and seeing
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 Nat appear
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 in the door
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 trying to
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 wait for the
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 other bridesmaids
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 to get out
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 of the way
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 and seeing
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 Nat appear
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 in the door
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 and I
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 thought she
00:28:50 --> 00:28:52 was stunning
00:28:52 --> 00:28:54 do you know
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 why
00:28:55 --> 00:28:57 makeup
00:28:57 --> 00:29:02 now just
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 bear with me
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 here for
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 a moment
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 let me
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 finish
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 not just
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 makeup
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 the dress
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 as well
00:29:08 --> 00:29:13 now I
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 think my
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 wife is
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 beautiful
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 and in fact
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 she's more
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 beautiful to me
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 now than what
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 she was
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 then
00:29:17 --> 00:29:19 but and
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 the point
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 I'm trying to
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 make is
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 I've married
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 a lot of
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 people in
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 over 20
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 years of
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 pastoral
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 ministry
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 every person
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 that I marry
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 comes down
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 the front
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 every bride
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 that I marry
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 looks better
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 on the day
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 that I marry
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 her than
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 the day
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 that I was
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 doing marriage
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 prep with
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 her
00:29:35 --> 00:29:37 that is
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 that's the
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 point of
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 makeup and
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 dresses and
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 stuff isn't
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 it is that
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 not the
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 point
00:29:42 --> 00:29:45 the point
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 is that
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 you know
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 all the
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 makeup and
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 the fancy
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 all the
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 goop and
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 the fancy
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 clothes and
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 that sort
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 of stuff
00:29:50 --> 00:29:52 it takes
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 people up a
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 notch in
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 appearance
00:29:54 --> 00:29:56 now if you
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 think that I
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 could have
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 spent a little
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 bit more time
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 on that you
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 should have
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 seen me at
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 six o'clock
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 this morning
00:29:59 --> 00:30:05 a number
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 of all the
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 imperfections
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 and the
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 flaws that
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 I'm self
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 conscious about
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 have been
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 covered up
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 they've been
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 hidden
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 they've been
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 worked on
00:30:11 --> 00:30:13 the point
00:30:13 --> 00:30:15 is that
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 when Jesus
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 uses the
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 metaphor of
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 us being
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 his bride
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 one of the
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 things that
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 he has in
00:30:21 --> 00:30:23 mind is
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 that in
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 spite of
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 all of our
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 spiritual
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 flaws
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 in spite of
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 all of our
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 failings
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 in spite of
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 all of our
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 sins
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 he has
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 clothed us
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 with his
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 righteousness
00:30:33 --> 00:30:35 he has
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 surrounded us
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 with his
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 own beauty
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 that he has
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 given us
00:30:38 --> 00:30:40 he has so
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 cleansed us
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 from our
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 sin
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 that when he
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 sees us
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 he goes
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 wow
00:30:47 --> 00:30:49 that's
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 awesome
00:30:50 --> 00:30:52 that is
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 awesome
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 his heart
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 bursts
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 at the
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 sight of
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 us
00:30:57 --> 00:30:59 to the
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 degree
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 to the
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 degree
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 that you
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 know
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 that that
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 is true
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 of you
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 in his
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 eyes
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 you will
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 be set
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 free
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 from our
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 culture's
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 enslavement
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 telling you
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 what you
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 must look
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 like
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 what you
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 must have
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 and what
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 you must
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 accomplish
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 in order to
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 be accepted
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 when you
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 realise that
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 you are
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 beautiful
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 beyond
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 comprehension
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 in his
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 eyes
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 because of
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 the work
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 that he's
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 done for
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 you
00:31:20 --> 00:31:22 so you
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 get a new
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 definition
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 of beauty
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 you get a
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 new experience
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 of beauty
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 and the
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 third thing
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 you get
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 is a new
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 understanding
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 from Jesus
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 in making us
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 beautiful
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 a new
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 understanding
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 of the
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 hardships
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 and the
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 trials
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 and the
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 difficulties
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 that you
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 face
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 this is
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 taking me
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 back to
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 the beginning
00:31:40 --> 00:31:43 there are
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 plenty of
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 things in
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 this world
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 that will
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 cause us
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 to question
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 his
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 existence
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 God's
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 existence
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 God's
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 power
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 and his
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 willingness
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 to intervene
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 in his
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 love for
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 me
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 plenty
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 of
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 things
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 and there
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 are plenty
00:31:56 --> 00:31:56 of parts
00:31:56 --> 00:31:56 of the
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 Bible
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 that talk
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 about
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 suffering
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 and hardship
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 refining
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 those
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 Jesus
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 loves
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 and the
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 imagery
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 of the
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 Bible
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 is
00:32:04 --> 00:32:06 of gold
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 being
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 refined
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 and the
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 impurities
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 being burned
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 up in a
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 furnace
00:32:10 --> 00:32:12 you see
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 once you're
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 assured of
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 God's
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 love
00:32:14 --> 00:32:16 and really
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 assured of
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 God's
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 love
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 love
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 when you
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 understand
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 that you
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 are
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 beautiful
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 in his
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 eyes
00:32:22 --> 00:32:22 and he
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 bursts
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 at the
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 sight
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 of
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 seeing
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 you
00:32:25 --> 00:32:27 then when
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 you go
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 through
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 troubles
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 and
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 hardships
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 you start
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 to see
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 that it's
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 actually
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 purifying
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 you
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 making
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 you
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 more
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 beautiful
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 to him
00:32:34 --> 00:32:37 that's
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 what it's
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 doing
00:32:37 --> 00:32:39 it's
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 making
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 you
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 more
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 beautiful
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 on the
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 inside
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 God
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 hasn't
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 actually
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 abandoned
00:32:43 --> 00:32:43 you
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 he uses
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 the
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 refining
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 process
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 to get
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 rid of
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 pride
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 and foolishness
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 and fear
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 and all the
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 other sinful
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 stupid things
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 that we
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 do
00:32:51 --> 00:32:53 bit by
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 bit
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 he is
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 making
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 you
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 more
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 and more
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 beautiful
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 to him
00:32:58 --> 00:33:00 once you
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 are
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 assured of
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 God's
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 love
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 then you
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 see the
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 hard times
00:33:03 --> 00:33:05 as God's
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 spiritual
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 beauty
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 treatments
00:33:07 --> 00:33:11 and when
00:33:11 --> 00:33:11 you go
00:33:11 --> 00:33:11 through the
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 hardships
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 with absolute
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 assurance
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 that you
00:33:14 --> 00:33:14 are beautiful
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 in God's
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 sight
00:33:16 --> 00:33:18 you actually
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 start to become
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 beautiful in your
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 heart
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 on the inside
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 just like
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 pressure
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 creates
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 a diamond
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 God has
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 not abandoned
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 you in his
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 troubles
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 he is at
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 work
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 leading you
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 and holding
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 you
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 and refining
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 you
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 and saving
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 you
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 making you
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 more beautiful
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 in his
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 eyes
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 for the
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 day when
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 he will
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 see you
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 face to
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 face
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 of the
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 great
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 wedding
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 banquet
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 where he
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 will
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 enfold you
00:33:41 --> 00:33:41 in his
00:33:41 --> 00:33:41 arms
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 and love
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 you
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 for all
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 eternity
00:33:44 --> 00:33:47 and so
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 if that's
00:33:48 --> 00:33:48 you right
00:33:48 --> 00:33:48 now
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 trying to
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 not sure
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 whether or
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 not he
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 loves you
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 can I
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 just get
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 you to
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 look to
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 Jesus
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 and can
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 I have
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 Romans 8
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 floating around
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 in your
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 mind
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 we know
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 that in
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 all things
00:33:58 --> 00:33:58 God works
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 for the
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 good of
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 those who
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 love him
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 who have
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 been called
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 according to
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 his purpose
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 Amen