It is Finished
Series: Hope in Despair
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 7th November 2021
Passage: Lamentations 4:1-22
00:00:00 --> 00:00:08 Well, good morning everyone. We are back after four odd months of lockdown and exile from church.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:17 It's wonderful to be back in church with you. My mind this week went to John Calvin, who in 1538,
00:00:17 --> 00:00:25 on Easter Day, in fact, on 1538, was exiled from Geneva, removed from the pulpit, kicked out of
00:00:25 --> 00:00:37 the town, by the council of the town. And after, I think, a number of years of preaching there,
00:00:37 --> 00:00:44 Calvin's ministry was such that he got up every Sunday, in fact, not just Sunday, but every day
00:00:44 --> 00:00:50 of the week, in fact, and preached through books of the Bible, verse after verse after verse from
00:00:50 --> 00:00:58 the original Greek and Hebrew. He was so, it didn't matter what calendar it was, didn't matter whether
00:00:58 --> 00:01:04 it was Easter Day or, you know, whatever he was up to next, he just preached that passage and just
00:01:04 --> 00:01:11 kept plowing through the text. And so when he was banished on Easter Day, 1538, it was just over
00:01:11 --> 00:01:17 three years later, he was called back to Geneva. He ascended into the pulpit for the first time
00:01:17 --> 00:01:27 and he picked up the very next verse from three years before. Such was his confidence in the Word
00:01:27 --> 00:01:34 of God and the ministry of the Word. Well, after four months of exile, we got Lamentations 4.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:42 And I frankly, as we gather on a day like today, it'd be good if we came up with a somewhat more of a
00:01:42 --> 00:01:49 jovial, uplifting passage, if you like, than Lamentations 4. Lamentations is the darkest book
00:01:49 --> 00:01:54 in the Bible and Lamentations 4 is the darkest chapter of the darkest book of the Bible.
00:01:54 --> 00:02:04 So let's pray and launch in. Father God, this is your Word. It reveals sin. It reveals hope
00:02:04 --> 00:02:13 in the gospel of the Lord Jesus. And so as we gather in all the joy of gathering as your people this day,
00:02:15 --> 00:02:22 help us not to miss this moment. Help us not to bypass this text and what it reveals
00:02:22 --> 00:02:30 about the idols of our hearts. Just we pray, have mercy on us. Amen.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:39 Amen. Recently for our family movie night, we watched the movie, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:47 It's a film based on a memoir of the same name. It retells the story of 13-year-old William,
00:02:47 --> 00:02:57 who grew up as a part of a village of farmers in Malawi. Life is very tough. Life is very basic for them.
00:02:57 --> 00:03:02 There's no running water, no electricity. If you could afford it, your transport was a bicycle
00:03:02 --> 00:03:11 and you had one for the family. William briefly goes to school, but his parents, like so many others,
00:03:11 --> 00:03:18 can't afford the education fees. He's a bright kid. He has a keen interest in electronics,
00:03:19 --> 00:03:24 scavenging through rubbish heaps to find bits and pieces to fix people's radios and other bits and
00:03:24 --> 00:03:30 pieces for them. He secretly gets access to the school library after being removed from the school.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:36 He reads a book about wind turbines and the production of electricity.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:44 And in the end of all of that, scavenging through junk heaps, he builds a windmill,
00:03:44 --> 00:03:56 junk, junk, which produces enough power to run a pump to draw water out of a well and water crops.
00:03:57 --> 00:04:03 This in the 2000s, around the 2000s, I forget exactly what the date was, 2001, 2002,
00:04:04 --> 00:04:08 where there was a devastating drought in Malawi.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:20 And the effect of his work saved a village from starvation as a 13-year-old.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:30 This country is devastated by drought. I think probably the most harrowing part of the whole story
00:04:30 --> 00:04:39 is the way that this community just disintegrates during the slow death of starvation and poverty.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:49 Family relationships break down. Law and order disintegrate as people steal from even women and babies
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 in order to survive.
00:04:51 --> 00:05:04 There is a real sense of hopelessness as people slowly starve to death.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 It's a true story.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:20 And as we turn to Lamentations 4, we see a similar scenario of devastation and starvation and the upheaval of a society.
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 So get your Bibles, open them up for me.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:27 Be grateful if you just need to see this text this morning.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:38 Lamentations 4 casts, if you like, up a variety of mental pictures
00:05:38 --> 00:05:45 that depict the suffering of the final siege of Jerusalem and beyond.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:57 It also lays out for us some of the reasons why the judgment was imposed on Israel.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:01 And it ends with just this whisper.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:06 Just a hint of hope at the end.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 And they're the three steps that I'll be taking us through today.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:14 If you've got the St. Paul's app open, the first one is the reversal of fortunes.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:21 Lamentations is a response to the events recorded in 2 Kings 24 and 25.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:25 There's also a shorter version of it in 2 Chronicles 36.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 The scene is the fall of Jerusalem.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:36 The global bully at that time was Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian Empire.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:43 The Babylonian army lay siege to Jerusalem from 588 BC to 587 BC.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:49 About 18 months, they surrounded the city and they slowly, slowly choked the city.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:59 And terrible calamities befell the citizens of Jerusalem, as we see in Lamentations 4.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:07 Some members attempted to escape, run for their lives, and they were cut down in the process.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:14 This is a vivid description of what takes place in this city.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:19 Twice at the beginning of chapter 4, the poet cries out,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:20 Alas!
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 The NIV translated as how.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:28 It's not quite as desperate as, Alas!
00:07:29 --> 00:07:33 The situation is unrelieved agony.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:42 Where chapter 2 describes the leveling of the physical structures of Jerusalem,
00:07:42 --> 00:07:45 chapter 4 describes the leveling of the people.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:58 Verses 1 and 2 set it up for us.
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 Have a look for us with me.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:04 How the gold has lost its luster, the fine gold become dull.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:09 The sacred gems are scattered at every street corner.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:15 How the precious children of Zion, once worth their weight in gold,
00:08:15 --> 00:08:20 are now considered as pots of clay, the work of a potter's hands.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:26 Now Psalm 19 tells us that nothing is more precious than gold,
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 except the word of God.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:34 And the temple of Jerusalem was covered in gold and jewels and stone,
00:08:35 --> 00:08:35 you know, precious jewels.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:40 And now the gold, it says here, has lost its shine.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:45 And the jewels are scattered like pebbles on the streets.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:51 But the primary significance of this description is it's a metaphor
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 for the people of God themselves.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 The precious children of Zion.
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 As it says in verse 2,
00:09:00 --> 00:09:06 God's precious people are trodden underfoot like broken pottery.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 They have become worthless, cast out into the street.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:16 Though once they were worth their weight in gold,
00:09:16 --> 00:09:20 they are now thrown out like worthless pots of clay,
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 fragile, broken, despised.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:27 So the main message, if you look through,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 particularly the first 12 verses or so,
00:09:29 --> 00:09:35 is the, if you like, the devastating reversal of fortunes
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 at all levels of society.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:43 What is precious is now treated as worthless.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:49 Children who should be nurtured are being starved.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 The rich are reduced to the rubbish heap.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 Vivid colours are turned black.
00:09:57 --> 00:10:01 Good health has now shrunk and shriveled.
00:10:02 --> 00:10:06 Mothers who should be feeding their children are feeding on them.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:12 Holy men have become dirty and defiled.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:18 The royal protector of life itself is himself trapped in a pit.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:26 Verse 10 is, if you like, the vivid and disturbing image
00:10:26 --> 00:10:31 which takes us, with their own hands,
00:10:31 --> 00:10:35 compassionate women have cooked their own children
00:10:35 --> 00:10:41 who became their food when their people were destroyed,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 when my people were destroyed.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:45 Compassionate women.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 The author here makes it very clear.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:52 These are not immoral.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 These are compassionate women.
00:10:56 --> 00:11:00 Compassionate mothers are now feeding on their own children.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 Frankly, I cannot get my mind around that,
00:11:04 --> 00:11:08 let alone the emotions of what it means to have that level of despair
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 of life itself.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:21 And yet all this points metaphorically to a greater level of despair
00:11:21 --> 00:11:25 that will befall upon all of humanity.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:32 What this passage is telling us is that the whole community from top to bottom
00:11:32 --> 00:11:35 has been turned upside down and shaken out and left shattered
00:11:35 --> 00:11:38 and scattered like trash littering the streets.
00:11:38 --> 00:11:41 It is pure devastation.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:48 I did say this is the darkest chapter of the darkest book of the Bible.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:57 The tragic irony of all of this reversal of fortunes is the end of verse 2
00:11:57 --> 00:12:01 where they are described as the work of the potter's hands.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 In the rest of the Bible,
00:12:06 --> 00:12:13 that phrase is a way of describing Israel itself.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:20 As God did for the very first human being in Genesis 2,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:23 so he has done for Israel.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:30 He has fashioned them with the loving care of a potter shaping the clay
00:12:30 --> 00:12:35 in his own image, his precious possession.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:40 It's a way of describing throughout the rest of the Bible
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 the special covenant relationship
00:12:41 --> 00:12:47 when Israel needed to appeal to God for help
00:12:47 --> 00:12:50 as their merciful father
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 when they appealed upon his compassion.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:56 For instance, Isaiah 64 verse 8,
00:12:56 --> 00:12:59 Yet you, Lord, are our father.
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 We are the clay.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 You are the potter.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 We are the work of your hand.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:12 Lord, so do not be angry with us.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 Beyond measure.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:18 Lord, do not remember our sins forever.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:23 Oh, look on us, we pray, for we are your people.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:30 The metaphor is normally used to convey the preciousness
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 of Israel in God's hands.
00:13:31 --> 00:13:50 The tragedy of something so precious being squandered
00:13:50 --> 00:13:56 as though worthless is an echo of Jeremiah's warning
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 in Jeremiah chapter 2.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:03 In Jeremiah 2, he lists the amazing privileges
00:14:03 --> 00:14:07 that Israel had enjoyed in their relationship with God.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 Sacrificial love, redemption from slavery,
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 protection in the wilderness,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 the gift of the promised land,
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 a rich inheritance.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:17 Instead, as Jeremiah 2.5 tells us,
00:14:17 --> 00:14:20 they followed worthless idols
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 and they became worthless themselves.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 Why are they now broken pots?
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 Because of idolatry.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 There is a sober warning here
00:14:37 --> 00:14:42 for God's people in any generation.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:48 When we fail to hold on to the preciousness
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 of what we have in God's word
00:14:49 --> 00:14:52 and what we are in Jesus Christ
00:14:52 --> 00:14:56 and fail to live in accordance with that word
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 and that status,
00:14:58 --> 00:15:01 then we are in danger of becoming worthless to God.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:05 No matter what our religious pretense is,
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 no matter what we say with our mouth,
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 we are in danger of becoming worthless to God,
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 worthless to His world
00:15:11 --> 00:15:15 and worthless in His mission.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 So make no mistake,
00:15:20 --> 00:15:25 Lamentations does give us a language
00:15:25 --> 00:15:29 to express our sorrows and our struggles in life.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 It does do that for us.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:35 But it does so much more
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 than give us language for sorrow.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 fundamentally more
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 than language of sorrow.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 It helps us to see the world
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 and it helps us to see ourselves
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 through very different lenses.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 Lament helps us uncover
00:15:56 --> 00:15:59 the idolatry of our hearts.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 Lament mourns the effects
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 of suffering on a society,
00:16:06 --> 00:16:10 but not simply because of the losses
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 that we've experienced.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 It's a memorial
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 to the futility
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 of trusting in anything
00:16:19 --> 00:16:21 but God.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 That's lament.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 So friends,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 think of your life
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 as a glass of water
00:16:31 --> 00:16:36 with the sediment
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 at the bottom.
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 I'm sorry,
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 I actually put the stuff
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 in there too late this morning.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 I should have put it in last night.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 It would have looked like
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 pure water by then.
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 Hopefully.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 But
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 forget that.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 Imagine it's a,
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 your life is like
00:16:52 --> 00:16:54 a glass of pure water.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 Sediment at the bottom.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 Or let me just put it like this,
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 a good bottle of wine.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 If the glass remains stable
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 and you don't shake the bottle,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 the sediment stays at the bottom.
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 The sediment is not activated.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 But bump the glass,
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 shake it up,
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 shake the bottle up,
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 and all of a sudden,
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 what used to be pure
00:17:22 --> 00:17:24 realizes actually
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 it wasn't pure
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 in the first place.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:30 suffering bumps
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 the glass of our lives.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:34 It stirs up
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 the sediments
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 we forgot,
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 the ones that we tried
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 to hide,
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 the fear,
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 the pride,
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 the greed,
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 self-sufficiency,
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 the things that are lying
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 dormant,
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 the idols of the heart,
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 the pursuit of comfort,
00:17:47 --> 00:17:49 the pursuit of security.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 Whatever it is,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 it bumps the sediment,
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 it stirs it up,
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 it brings it to the surface.
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 That's what suffering does.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 That's what hardship does.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 That's what lockdowns do.
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 That's what GFCs do.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 That's what the death
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 of a loved one does.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 That's what droughts do
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 to farmers.
00:18:09 --> 00:18:12 It bumps the glass
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 of our lives
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 and shakes it up
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 and helps me to see
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 where is my trust?
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 What are the idols
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 in my heart?
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 What are the idols
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 in my heart?
00:18:20 --> 00:18:25 In the Bible,
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 an idol
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 is simply an object
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 of trust
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 that takes the emotional
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 and practical place
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 of God in our lives.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 Timothy Keller
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 in his book
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 Counterfeit Gods
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 provides a great definition
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 of idolatry.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 He says,
00:18:38 --> 00:19:03 It's not sorrow,
00:19:03 --> 00:19:05 it's despair.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:10 As you think about loss
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 in your life
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 or as you consider
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 a season
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 when tears and sadness
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 were a daily experience,
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 what did you learn
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 about yourself?
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 What lesson did you discover
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 as you stood
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 over the rubble
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 of your life
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 in that moment?
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 What idols
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 were surfacing
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 in your heart
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 at that moment?
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 What repentance
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 was needed
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 in that moment?
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 These moments
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 of sediment
00:19:35 --> 00:19:37 coming to the surface
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 are a gift
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 from God
00:19:39 --> 00:19:41 to see
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 what idols
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 are in the heart.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 And perhaps
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 you are in that season
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 of sorrow right now
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 and my heart bleeds
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 for you if you are.
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 Maybe your glass
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 has been bumped
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 right now.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 What you need
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 to know
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 in amongst
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 everything else
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 is that there
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 is an important
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 lesson to learn.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 I want to encourage
00:20:03 --> 00:20:05 you to allow
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 your grief
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 to show you
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 what is surfacing
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 in your heart.
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 Let God
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 uncover it
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 layer by layer
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 the things
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 which you perhaps
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 place too much
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 trust in.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 In the same way
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 that pain
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 can be a platform
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 for worship,
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 it can also
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 be a very
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 significant
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 if not
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 the most
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 significant
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 conduit
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 for spiritual
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 growth and
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 repentance.
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 Lament
00:20:37 --> 00:20:39 mourns
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 the idols
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 upon which
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 we have
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 placed
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 too much
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 hope.
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 And so
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 in this way
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 lament
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 not only
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 expresses
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 sorrow
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 over loss,
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 it also
00:20:52 --> 00:20:54 laments
00:20:54 --> 00:20:56 misplaced
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 trust.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 trust.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 And so
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 here we
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 are,
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 Jerusalem
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 is
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 destroyed,
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 the society
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 is destitute
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 because of
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 idolatry,
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 their misplaced
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 trust led
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 them into
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 ruin and
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 it is a
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 comprehensible
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 ruin.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:20 one reason
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 for the
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 judgment
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 falling
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 upon
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 Jerusalem
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 in
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 Israel
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 is
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 given
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 to us
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 in
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 verse
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 13.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 It's
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 failed
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 leadership.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 It says
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 it happened
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 because of
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 the sins
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 of her
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 prophets
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 and the
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 iniquities
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 of her
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 priests
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 who shed
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 within her
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 the blood
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 of the
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 righteous.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:45 Now it's
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 clear when
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 you look at
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 the book
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 of Jeremiah
00:21:47 --> 00:21:49 from the
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 prophet of
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 Jeremiah who
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 also wrote
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 Lamentations
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 that there
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 is a
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 breakdown
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 in social
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 morality
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 throughout the
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 whole community
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 of God's
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 people.
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 But
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 the religious
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 leaders
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 should have
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 been doing
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 the most
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 to preserve
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 the nation
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 in covenantal
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 faithfulness.
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 Instead
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 we are
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 told here
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 that they
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 led the
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 nation
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 in corruption
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 and idolatry.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 Again
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 priests
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 and the
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 prophets
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 the leaders
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 of God's
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 people
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 we see
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 reversal
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 of fortunes.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 Verse 14
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 those who
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 were meant
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 to be
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 the eyes
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 of God
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 for the
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 nation
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 are groping
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 blindly
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 through the
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 streets.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 Again
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 verse 14
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 those who
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 are meant
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 to be
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 holy
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 and pure
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 living
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 as examples
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 of covenant
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 faithfulness
00:22:38 --> 00:22:40 are defiled
00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 filthy
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 black.
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 Verse 15
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 those who
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 used to
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 decide the
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 fate of
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 the lepers
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 are now
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 treated as
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 lepers
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 themselves.
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 Verse 16
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 those who
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 lived in
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 God's
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 presence
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 are finding
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58 no respect
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 on the
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 earth.
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 This
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 is
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 the
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 consequence
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 for 40
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 years
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 the prophet
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 Jeremiah
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 pleaded
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 pleaded
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 with them
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 to
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 away
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 from their
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 wickedness
00:23:14 --> 00:23:17 to lead
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 God's
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 people
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 in covenant
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 faithfulness
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 to the
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 word of
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 God.
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 For 40
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 years
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 they
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 spurned
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 repentance
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 and the
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 grace
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 that was
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 they
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 just
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 preaching
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 preaching
00:23:29 --> 00:23:32 so far
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 from stopping
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 the national
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 decline
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 they
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 helped
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 it
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 they
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 hastened
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 it
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 all that
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 was left
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 for them
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 was the
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 bleakness
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 of judgment
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 by God
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 and society
00:23:44 --> 00:23:46 itself.
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 They were
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 the most
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 despised
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 in Jerusalem
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 on this
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 day.
00:23:52 --> 00:23:55 There is
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 something very
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 significant
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 here about
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 the importance
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 of leadership
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 and the
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 importance of
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 leadership of
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 our churches
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 and the
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 importance of
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 leadership of
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 this church.
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 The leaders
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 in Jeremiah's
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 time were
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 not condemned
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 for their
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 inexperience
00:24:09 --> 00:24:11 not condemned
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 for their
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 inefficiency
00:24:12 --> 00:24:15 not condemned
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 for their
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 personalities
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 not condemned
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 for their
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 ineptitude
00:24:19 --> 00:24:21 they weren't
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 judged
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 because their
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 sermons
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 were too
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 long
00:24:23 --> 00:24:25 or because
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 they weren't
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 strategic
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 enough
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 or because
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 they didn't
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 put on the
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 programs that
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 the people
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 wanted
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 or that
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 their
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 personal
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 care
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 they weren't
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 the personal
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 caregivers
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 and the
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 counselors
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 for everyone
00:24:35 --> 00:24:37 they would
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 judge
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 because their
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 hearts went
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 after the
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 wrong gods
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 sin
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 was what
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 characterized
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 them
00:24:44 --> 00:24:46 their hearts
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 were bad
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 and the people
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 became bad
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 they starved
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 the people
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 of the word
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 of God
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 and now
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 the people
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 are starving
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 for food
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 itself
00:24:53 --> 00:24:56 one thing
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 led to
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 another
00:24:57 --> 00:25:02 friends it
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 is so easy
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 for Christians
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 to blame
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 society
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 to blame
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 governments
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 to blame
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 social media
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 for the
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 decline of
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 the church
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 and the
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 Christian faith
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 in this
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 country
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 and throughout
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 the west
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 maybe instead
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 we should look
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 to the preachers
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 and the pastors
00:25:16 --> 00:25:21 for the
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 moral decline
00:25:22 --> 00:25:24 in our
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 country
00:25:24 --> 00:25:28 too often
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 and for
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 too long
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 we have
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 stood in
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 pulpits
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 and we have
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 compromised
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 the gospel
00:25:35 --> 00:25:37 we have
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 cared for
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 ourselves
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 more than
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 our flocks
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 we have
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 cared for
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 our retirement
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 packages
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 more than
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 our sermons
00:25:43 --> 00:25:45 our own
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 peace
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 rather than
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 the good
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 of the
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 church
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 or the
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 advancement
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 of God
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 and his
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 mission
00:25:50 --> 00:25:52 without
00:25:52 --> 00:25:55 a vital
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 relationship
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 with Christ
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 and communing
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 with Christ
00:26:00 --> 00:26:02 how can we
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 expect
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 the members
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 of our
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 church
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 to be any
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 different
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 apathy
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 breeds
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 apathy
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 sin
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 breeds
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 sin
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 lack
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 of
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 discipleship
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 breeds
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 lack
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 of
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 discipleship
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 if your
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 pastors
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 and leaders
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 are not
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 seeing much
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 growth in
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 faith in
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 Jesus
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 Christ
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 and communing
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 with God
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 in his
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 word
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 how on
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 earth
00:26:24 --> 00:26:26 will you
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 ever do
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 it
00:26:27 --> 00:26:31 believe it
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 or not
00:26:32 --> 00:26:34 for
00:26:34 --> 00:26:36 especially
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 for those
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 of us
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 in the
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 individualistic
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 independent
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 west
00:26:39 --> 00:26:41 with that
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 mindset
00:26:41 --> 00:26:43 believe it
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 or not
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 you
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 are
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 dependent
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 upon your
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 pastors
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 and your
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 leaders
00:26:50 --> 00:26:54 you may
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 have access
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 to the
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 word of
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 God
00:26:56 --> 00:26:58 but our
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 job is a
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 prophetic
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 access to
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 the word
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 of God
00:27:00 --> 00:27:03 you are
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 dependent
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 upon us
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 and where
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 we go
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 so you
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 go
00:27:07 --> 00:27:13 God's
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 judgment
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 will fall
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 hard on
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 pastors who
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 preach
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 falsehood
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 who give
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 permission
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 for sin
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 to reign
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 in the
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 church
00:27:21 --> 00:27:23 who are
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 more caught
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 up in their
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 social media
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 profiles and
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 the greatness
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 of God
00:27:26 --> 00:27:28 who are more
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 interested in
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 the approval
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 of people
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 than the
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 approval of
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 God
00:27:31 --> 00:27:33 who submit
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 to the
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 worldview
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 and ethics
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 of society
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 rather than
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 submit to
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 the word
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 of God
00:27:38 --> 00:27:40 when we
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 skew the
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 scriptures to
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 make it fit
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 with our
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 idols
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 our opinions
00:27:46 --> 00:27:48 our passions
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 our desires
00:27:49 --> 00:27:51 we kill
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 God's
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 sheep
00:27:53 --> 00:27:56 and God
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 will not
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 stand for
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 it
00:27:58 --> 00:28:00 we might
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 be the
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 shepherds
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 but he
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 is the
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 chief
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 shepherd
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 and he
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 will fire
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 his
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 pastors
00:28:06 --> 00:28:10 and so
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 may God
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 forgive me
00:28:11 --> 00:28:13 for in
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 any ways
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 in which I
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 have been
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 guilty of
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 these things
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 and may
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 he deliver
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 you
00:28:19 --> 00:28:21 from following
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 me into
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 any way
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 of unrighteousness
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 and apathy
00:28:24 --> 00:28:28 but there's
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 one more
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 leader here
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 in this
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 text
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 that has
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 failed
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 it's not
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 just the
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 priests
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 and the
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 prophets
00:28:33 --> 00:28:35 it's also
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 the king
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 it's
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 verse 20
00:28:36 --> 00:28:39 stark
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 the
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 Lord's
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 anointed
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 our
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 very
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 life
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 breath
00:28:45 --> 00:28:47 was caught
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 in their
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 traps
00:28:48 --> 00:28:51 we thought
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 that under
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 his shadow
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 we would
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 live
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 among the
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 nations
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 this is
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 referring here
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 to king
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 Zedekiah
00:28:59 --> 00:29:01 the lord's
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 anointed
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 direct line
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 from great
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 king
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 David
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 the one
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 to lead
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 God's
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 people
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 with the
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 prophets
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 and the
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 priests
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 in covenant
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 faithfulness
00:29:10 --> 00:29:13 Zedekiah
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 was meant
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 to rule
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 the nation
00:29:16 --> 00:29:18 with loving
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 mercy
00:29:18 --> 00:29:22 instead
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 Zedekiah
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 had
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 established
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 unholy
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 alliances
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 with
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 godless
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 nations
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 like
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 Egypt
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 hoping
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 that
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 Egypt
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 would
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 come
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 to
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 their
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 rescue
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 in this
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 moment
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 and they
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 look
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 for the
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 nations
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 to come
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 and they
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 don't
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 come
00:29:35 --> 00:29:38 the
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 idolatry
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 of
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 Zedekiah
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 the
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 hope
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 of
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 Zedekiah
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 was in
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 greater
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 nations
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 than
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 Babylon
00:29:44 --> 00:29:46 and in
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 this
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 moment
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 they
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 were
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 gone
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 false
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 hope
00:29:51 --> 00:29:53 he
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 was a
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 weak
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 and a
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 treacherous
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 king
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 who
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 condoned
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 the
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 religious
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 corruption
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 and the
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 moral
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 degradation
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 of
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 Israel
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 he
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 ignored
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 the
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 advice
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 of
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 God's
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 prophet
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 Jeremiah
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 again
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 and again
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 and again
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 and again
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 he was
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 meant to be
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 the hope
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 of Israel
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 the very
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 life breath
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 in verse
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 20
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 instead
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 of bringing
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 life
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 to the
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 city
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 he ran
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 for his
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 life
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 and he
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 is caught
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 he's
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 blinded
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 he's
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 imprisoned
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 and all
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 of his
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 sons
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 are killed
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 in front
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 of him
00:30:21 --> 00:30:23 see the
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 significance
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 of that
00:30:24 --> 00:30:26 the line
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 of David
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 is ended
00:30:27 --> 00:30:31 and so
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 verse 20
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 expresses the
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 utter
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 despair
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 of Israel
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 prophet
00:30:36 --> 00:30:38 priest
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 king
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 they've
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 all
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 failed
00:30:40 --> 00:30:42 they've
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 all
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 failed
00:30:42 --> 00:30:44 all
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 three
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 branches
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 of their
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 leadership
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 system
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 have
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 failed
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 God
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 gave
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 his
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 people
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 prophet
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 priests
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 and kings
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 to lead
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 them
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 both
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 spiritually
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 and politically
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 they all
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 failed
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 and so
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 is there
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 any hope
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 is there
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 any hope
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 and if you
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 read this
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 text you go
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 there is no
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 hope for
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 Israel
00:31:00 --> 00:31:02 it's all
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 done
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 it's
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 dusted
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 it's
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 gone
00:31:04 --> 00:31:07 except
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 in the
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 very
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 last
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 verse
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 there is
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 this
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 whisper
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 of hope
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 this
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 glimmer
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 of hope
00:31:15 --> 00:31:18 what we
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 see here
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 is a
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 surprising
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 leadership
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 and a
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 great
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 reversal
00:31:22 --> 00:31:25 I always
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 thought chapter
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 three was the
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 most hopeful
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 bit of
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 lamentations
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 but this is
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 actually the
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 most hopeful
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 bit
00:31:30 --> 00:31:32 your punishment
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 will end
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 daughter
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 Zion
00:31:35 --> 00:31:39 the story
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 does not
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 end in
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 this moment
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 for Israel
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 there is
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 another
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 reversal
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 to come
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 in mocking
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 derision
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 the poet
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 here
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 tells
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 nearby
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 pagans
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 Edom
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 read the
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 book of
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 Obadiah
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 and you
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 see what
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 Edom did
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 in this
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 moment
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 to Jerusalem
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 as people
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 tried to
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 flee the
00:31:56 --> 00:31:56 city
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 the people
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 of Edom
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 were cutting
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 them down
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 in the
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 crossroads
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 killing
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 them by
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 the sword
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 as they
00:32:01 --> 00:32:01 tried to
00:32:01 --> 00:32:01 get out
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 of there
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 and coming
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 in the
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 back door
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 and trying
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 to loot
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 what they
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 could
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 out of
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 Jerusalem
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 and Israel
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 at the
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 same time
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 these are
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 their
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 half
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 brothers
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 and
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 sisters
00:32:09 --> 00:32:13 and the
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 poet
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 says here
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 you
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 Edom
00:32:14 --> 00:32:17 successful
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 at the
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 moment
00:32:18 --> 00:32:20 enjoy
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 it
00:32:20 --> 00:32:23 delight
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 in it
00:32:24 --> 00:32:26 but the
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 reversal is
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 coming for
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 you
00:32:27 --> 00:32:29 your turn
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 will come
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 God's
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 justice
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 will be
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 imposed
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 on them
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 as well
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 as on
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 Israel
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 and one
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 day
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 God's
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 people
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 though
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 afflicted
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 now
00:32:38 --> 00:32:41 will put
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 behind
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 them
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 every
00:32:43 --> 00:32:43 single
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 trace
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 of the
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 exile
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 and you
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 know what's
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 amazing
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 here
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 what's
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 amazing
00:32:49 --> 00:32:52 is it's
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 the Lord's
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 anointed
00:32:53 --> 00:32:55 is the
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 one who
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 will give
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 them rest
00:32:57 --> 00:32:59 who will
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 restore
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 everything
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 the one
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 who at
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 the moment
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 has been
00:33:02 --> 00:33:02 imprisoned
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 blinded
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 put into
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 slavery
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 captured
00:33:05 --> 00:33:07 is the
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 one who
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 will bring
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 them rest
00:33:09 --> 00:33:11 and healing
00:33:11 --> 00:33:11 and hope
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 and restoration
00:33:12 --> 00:33:14 in Luke
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 4
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 Jesus
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 turns up
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 to the
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 synagogue
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 in Nazareth
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 he grabs
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 the portion
00:33:20 --> 00:33:20 of the
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 scroll of
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 Isaiah
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 and he
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 reads this
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 the spirit
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 of the
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 Lord is
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 on me
00:33:25 --> 00:33:27 because he
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 has anointed
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 me
00:33:29 --> 00:33:32 anointed
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 me to
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 proclaim
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 good news
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 to the
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 poor
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 he has
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 sent me
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 to proclaim
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 freedom
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 for the
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 prisoners
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 recovery
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 of sight
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 to the
00:33:41 --> 00:33:41 blind
00:33:41 --> 00:33:43 set the
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 oppressed
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 free
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 to proclaim
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 the year
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 of the
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 Lord's
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 favour
00:33:47 --> 00:33:49 you see
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 ultimately
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 what Jeremiah
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 was looking
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 for here
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 was the
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 kind of
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 leadership
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 that could
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 only be
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 found in
00:33:56 --> 00:33:56 Jesus
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 Christ
00:33:57 --> 00:33:59 he is
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 the prophet
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 the priest
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 and the
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 king
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 Jesus
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 Christ
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 is the
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 true
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 prophet
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 he not
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 only speaks
00:34:05 --> 00:34:05 the word
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 of God
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 but he
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 is the
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 word
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 of God
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 that is
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 he reveals
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 to us
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 the word
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 of the
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 will
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 of God
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 the purpose
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 of God
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 the salvation
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 of God
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12 he's not
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 only the
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 holy priest
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 who is
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 blameless
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 before God
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 and man
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 but able
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 and therefore
00:34:18 --> 00:34:18 able to
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 mediate
00:34:19 --> 00:34:19 between God
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 and man
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 he is
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 himself
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 the perfect
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 sacrifice
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 he does
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 not
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 he is
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 the perfect
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 sacrifice
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 in that
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 he satisfies
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 the divine
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 justice
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 of God
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 for our
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 sin
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 he went
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 to the
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 cross
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 he died
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 under
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 the wrath
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 the fierce
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 wrath
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 of God
00:34:35 --> 00:34:37 and in
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 so doing
00:34:38 --> 00:34:38 what he
00:34:38 --> 00:34:38 does
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 is he
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 turns
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 the anger
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 of God
00:34:41 --> 00:34:41 away
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 from us
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 2 Corinthians
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 tells us
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 he who
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 was rich
00:34:46 --> 00:34:46 beyond
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 imagination
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 became
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 poor
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 in the
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 dust
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 destitute
00:34:51 --> 00:34:51 so that
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 we
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 who are
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 in the
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 dust
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 and destitute
00:34:54 --> 00:34:54 because of
00:34:54 --> 00:34:54 our
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 sinfulness
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 because of
00:34:56 --> 00:34:56 our
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 idolatry
00:34:57 --> 00:34:57 we are
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 deserving
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 of God's
00:34:59 --> 00:34:59 judgment
00:34:59 --> 00:35:02 so that
00:35:02 --> 00:35:02 we
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 might become
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 spiritually
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 rich
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 what a
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 reversal
00:35:06 --> 00:35:11 we get
00:35:11 --> 00:35:11 a glimpse
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 of this
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 in the
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 very
00:35:14 --> 00:35:14 first
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 Hebrew
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 word
00:35:16 --> 00:35:16 in the
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 last
00:35:17 --> 00:35:17 verse
00:35:17 --> 00:35:17 of
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 Lamentations
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 4
00:35:19 --> 00:35:22 it is
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 a word
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 that is
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 best
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 translated
00:35:26 --> 00:35:28 it
00:35:28 --> 00:35:29 is
00:35:29 --> 00:35:31 finished
00:35:31 --> 00:35:33 it
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 is
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 your
00:35:35 --> 00:35:35 exile
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 is
00:35:36 --> 00:35:36 over
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 it
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 is
00:35:38 --> 00:35:39 finished
00:35:39 --> 00:35:41 the
00:35:41 --> 00:35:41 last
00:35:41 --> 00:35:41 thing
00:35:41 --> 00:35:42 that
00:35:42 --> 00:35:42 Jesus
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 breathes
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 the
00:35:44 --> 00:35:44 last
00:35:44 --> 00:35:44 thing
00:35:44 --> 00:35:44 he
00:35:44 --> 00:35:44 says
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 is
00:35:45 --> 00:35:45 he
00:35:45 --> 00:35:45 breathes
00:35:45 --> 00:35:45 his
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 last
00:35:46 --> 00:35:46 on
00:35:46 --> 00:35:46 the
00:35:46 --> 00:35:46 cross
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 in
00:35:47 --> 00:35:47 John
00:35:47 --> 00:35:48 19
00:35:48 --> 00:35:48 30
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 it
00:35:49 --> 00:35:50 is
00:35:50 --> 00:35:51 finished
00:35:51 --> 00:35:55 one of
00:35:55 --> 00:35:55 the
00:35:55 --> 00:35:55 wonderful
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 and great
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 paradoxes
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 of history
00:35:57 --> 00:35:59 is that
00:35:59 --> 00:35:59 here is
00:35:59 --> 00:35:59 the
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00 helpless
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 powerless
00:36:01 --> 00:36:03 broken
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 devastated
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 Jesus
00:36:04 --> 00:36:06 dying
00:36:06 --> 00:36:06 on the
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 cross
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 and his
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 very last
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 words
00:36:10 --> 00:36:10 are
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 I did
00:36:11 --> 00:36:12 it
00:36:12 --> 00:36:15 I've
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 triumphed
00:36:16 --> 00:36:17 I've
00:36:17 --> 00:36:17 accomplished
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18 it
00:36:18 --> 00:36:21 and what
00:36:21 --> 00:36:22 he accomplished
00:36:22 --> 00:36:22 is described
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 for us a
00:36:23 --> 00:36:23 little later
00:36:23 --> 00:36:23 in the
00:36:23 --> 00:36:23 New
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 Testament
00:36:24 --> 00:36:24 1
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 Peter
00:36:25 --> 00:36:26 3
00:36:26 --> 00:36:26 18
00:36:26 --> 00:36:28 Christ
00:36:28 --> 00:36:28 suffered
00:36:28 --> 00:36:29 once for
00:36:29 --> 00:36:29 sins
00:36:29 --> 00:36:29 the
00:36:29 --> 00:36:29 righteous
00:36:29 --> 00:36:30 for the
00:36:30 --> 00:36:31 unrighteous
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 to bring
00:36:32 --> 00:36:32 you to
00:36:32 --> 00:36:32 God
00:36:32 --> 00:36:36 it's a
00:36:36 --> 00:36:36 surprising
00:36:36 --> 00:36:37 moment of
00:36:37 --> 00:36:37 leadership
00:36:37 --> 00:36:40 by the
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40 flawless
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40 prophet
00:36:40 --> 00:36:42 the
00:36:42 --> 00:36:42 flawless
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 priest
00:36:43 --> 00:36:43 the
00:36:43 --> 00:36:43 flawless
00:36:43 --> 00:36:44 king
00:36:44 --> 00:36:44 that
00:36:44 --> 00:36:45 produces
00:36:45 --> 00:36:45 the
00:36:45 --> 00:36:45 great
00:36:45 --> 00:36:46 reversal
00:36:46 --> 00:36:47 there
00:36:47 --> 00:36:47 is an
00:36:47 --> 00:36:48 infinite
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 chasm
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 between
00:36:49 --> 00:36:49 God
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 and us
00:36:50 --> 00:36:50 and Jesus
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 has done
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 everything
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 that's
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 required
00:36:52 --> 00:36:53 he has
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 paid
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 every
00:36:55 --> 00:36:55 debt
00:36:55 --> 00:36:56 we owe
00:36:56 --> 00:36:56 he has
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 dealt
00:36:57 --> 00:36:57 with
00:36:57 --> 00:36:57 every
00:36:57 --> 00:36:58 bit of
00:36:58 --> 00:36:58 shame
00:36:58 --> 00:36:59 every
00:36:59 --> 00:36:59 bit of
00:36:59 --> 00:36:59 guilt
00:36:59 --> 00:37:00 every
00:37:00 --> 00:37:00 bit
00:37:00 --> 00:37:00 of
00:37:00 --> 00:37:01 sin
00:37:01 --> 00:37:01 he has
00:37:01 --> 00:37:02 accomplished
00:37:02 --> 00:37:02 it all
00:37:02 --> 00:37:03 there is
00:37:03 --> 00:37:03 nothing
00:37:03 --> 00:37:04 more
00:37:04 --> 00:37:05 that we
00:37:05 --> 00:37:06 must do
00:37:06 --> 00:37:06 to bridge
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 the gap
00:37:07 --> 00:37:07 between
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 us
00:37:08 --> 00:37:09 and God
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 Jesus
00:37:10 --> 00:37:10 last
00:37:10 --> 00:37:11 word
00:37:11 --> 00:37:12 was
00:37:12 --> 00:37:12 I've
00:37:12 --> 00:37:12 done
00:37:12 --> 00:37:13 everything
00:37:13 --> 00:37:15 necessary
00:37:15 --> 00:37:18 to bring
00:37:18 --> 00:37:18 you to
00:37:18 --> 00:37:19 salvation
00:37:19 --> 00:37:20 I've
00:37:20 --> 00:37:21 thirsted
00:37:21 --> 00:37:22 so that
00:37:22 --> 00:37:23 you might
00:37:23 --> 00:37:23 be satisfied
00:37:23 --> 00:37:25 I've been
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 trapped
00:37:26 --> 00:37:26 so that
00:37:26 --> 00:37:26 you can
00:37:26 --> 00:37:27 be set
00:37:27 --> 00:37:27 free
00:37:27 --> 00:37:28 I've
00:37:28 --> 00:37:28 been
00:37:28 --> 00:37:29 emptied
00:37:29 --> 00:37:29 that
00:37:29 --> 00:37:29 you
00:37:29 --> 00:37:30 might
00:37:30 --> 00:37:30 be
00:37:30 --> 00:37:30 filled
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 I've
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 been
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 covered
00:37:31 --> 00:37:32 with
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 your
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 dust
00:37:32 --> 00:37:33 and
00:37:33 --> 00:37:33 filth
00:37:33 --> 00:37:33 so
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 that
00:37:34 --> 00:37:34 you
00:37:34 --> 00:37:34 might
00:37:34 --> 00:37:34 be
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 pure
00:37:35 --> 00:37:38 I've
00:37:38 --> 00:37:38 been
00:37:38 --> 00:37:38 killed
00:37:38 --> 00:37:39 and
00:37:39 --> 00:37:39 devastated
00:37:39 --> 00:37:39 and
00:37:39 --> 00:37:40 destroyed
00:37:40 --> 00:37:40 that
00:37:40 --> 00:37:40 you
00:37:40 --> 00:37:40 might
00:37:40 --> 00:37:40 live
00:37:40 --> 00:37:41 forever
00:37:41 --> 00:38:11
00:38:11 --> 00:38:41
00:38:41 --> 00:38:41 seen
00:38:41 --> 00:38:42 could
00:38:42 --> 00:38:42 be
00:38:42 --> 00:38:43 devastated
00:38:43 --> 00:38:43 tomorrow
00:38:43 --> 00:38:44 by
00:38:44 --> 00:38:44 40
00:38:44 --> 00:38:45 millimetres
00:38:45 --> 00:38:45 of
00:38:45 --> 00:38:45 rain
00:38:45 --> 00:38:48 and
00:38:48 --> 00:38:48 they
00:38:48 --> 00:38:48 can't
00:38:48 --> 00:38:48 even
00:38:48 --> 00:38:49 get
00:38:49 --> 00:38:49 the
00:38:49 --> 00:38:49 headers
00:38:49 --> 00:38:50 in
00:38:50 --> 00:38:50 to
00:38:50 --> 00:38:50 get
00:38:50 --> 00:38:50 it
00:38:50 --> 00:38:50 off
00:38:50 --> 00:38:53 just
00:38:53 --> 00:38:53 like
00:38:53 --> 00:38:54 that
00:38:54 --> 00:38:59 the
00:38:59 --> 00:38:59 hope
00:38:59 --> 00:39:00 the
00:39:00 --> 00:39:00 things
00:39:00 --> 00:39:00 that we
00:39:00 --> 00:39:00 look
00:39:00 --> 00:39:01 to
00:39:01 --> 00:39:01 will
00:39:01 --> 00:39:02 abandon
00:39:02 --> 00:39:02 us
00:39:02 --> 00:39:02 on
00:39:02 --> 00:39:02 the
00:39:02 --> 00:39:03 day
00:39:03 --> 00:39:03 of
00:39:03 --> 00:39:03 despair
00:39:03 --> 00:39:05 allow
00:39:05 --> 00:39:05 the
00:39:05 --> 00:39:05 hard
00:39:05 --> 00:39:06 times
00:39:06 --> 00:39:06 to
00:39:06 --> 00:39:06 show
00:39:06 --> 00:39:06 you
00:39:06 --> 00:39:07 where
00:39:07 --> 00:39:07 your
00:39:07 --> 00:39:07 heart
00:39:07 --> 00:39:07 is
00:39:07 --> 00:39:08 where
00:39:08 --> 00:39:08 your
00:39:08 --> 00:39:08 trust
00:39:08 --> 00:39:08 is
00:39:08 --> 00:39:10 but
00:39:10 --> 00:39:11 also
00:39:11 --> 00:39:12 that's
00:39:12 --> 00:39:12 the
00:39:12 --> 00:39:12 first
00:39:12 --> 00:39:12 thing
00:39:12 --> 00:39:14 second
00:39:14 --> 00:39:14 thing
00:39:14 --> 00:39:17 we
00:39:17 --> 00:39:18 must
00:39:18 --> 00:39:19 as
00:39:19 --> 00:39:19 the
00:39:19 --> 00:39:19 people
00:39:19 --> 00:39:20 of
00:39:20 --> 00:39:20 God
00:39:20 --> 00:39:21 we
00:39:21 --> 00:39:22 must
00:39:22 --> 00:39:23 lament
00:39:23 --> 00:39:24 the
00:39:24 --> 00:39:24 decline
00:39:24 --> 00:39:25 of
00:39:25 --> 00:39:25 this
00:39:25 --> 00:39:26 church
00:39:26 --> 00:39:26 in
00:39:26 --> 00:39:26 this
00:39:26 --> 00:39:27 country
00:39:27 --> 00:39:28 the
00:39:28 --> 00:39:29 decline
00:39:29 --> 00:39:29 of
00:39:29 --> 00:39:29 the
00:39:29 --> 00:39:30 morality
00:39:30 --> 00:39:31 and
00:39:31 --> 00:39:31 the
00:39:31 --> 00:39:31 rejection
00:39:31 --> 00:39:32 of
00:39:32 --> 00:39:32 the
00:39:32 --> 00:39:32 word
00:39:32 --> 00:39:32 of
00:39:32 --> 00:39:32 God
00:39:32 --> 00:39:33 in
00:39:33 --> 00:39:33 our
00:39:33 --> 00:39:33 society
00:39:33 --> 00:39:34 and
00:39:34 --> 00:39:34 we
00:39:34 --> 00:39:35 must
00:39:35 --> 00:39:36 take
00:39:36 --> 00:39:37 responsibility
00:39:37 --> 00:39:38 for
00:39:38 --> 00:39:38 it
00:39:38 --> 00:39:41 we
00:39:41 --> 00:39:42 must
00:39:42 --> 00:39:42 lament
00:39:42 --> 00:39:43 the
00:39:43 --> 00:39:43 biblical
00:39:43 --> 00:39:44 illiteracy
00:39:44 --> 00:39:45 in the
00:39:45 --> 00:39:45 church
00:39:45 --> 00:39:46 and in
00:39:46 --> 00:39:46 society
00:39:46 --> 00:39:48 we
00:39:48 --> 00:39:48 must
00:39:48 --> 00:39:49 lament
00:39:49 --> 00:39:49 it
00:39:49 --> 00:39:50 we're
00:39:50 --> 00:39:51 responsible
00:39:51 --> 00:39:51 for
00:39:51 --> 00:39:52 it
00:39:52 --> 00:39:53 and
00:39:53 --> 00:39:53 Edom
00:39:53 --> 00:39:54 might
00:39:54 --> 00:39:54 be
00:39:54 --> 00:39:54 smiling
00:39:54 --> 00:39:55 right
00:39:55 --> 00:39:55 now
00:39:55 --> 00:39:57 but
00:39:57 --> 00:39:57 there
00:39:57 --> 00:39:57 is
00:39:57 --> 00:39:57 a
00:39:57 --> 00:39:58 great
00:39:58 --> 00:39:58 and
00:39:58 --> 00:39:58 eternal
00:39:58 --> 00:39:59 tragedy
00:39:59 --> 00:40:00 around
00:40:00 --> 00:40:00 the
00:40:00 --> 00:40:01 corner
00:40:01 --> 00:40:05 and
00:40:05 --> 00:40:05 what
00:40:05 --> 00:40:05 part
00:40:05 --> 00:40:06 have
00:40:06 --> 00:40:06 we
00:40:06 --> 00:40:06 played
00:40:06 --> 00:40:06 in
00:40:06 --> 00:40:06 that
00:40:06 --> 00:40:14 anyone
00:40:14 --> 00:40:14 who
00:40:14 --> 00:40:14 does
00:40:14 --> 00:40:14 not
00:40:14 --> 00:40:14 take
00:40:14 --> 00:40:15 refuge
00:40:15 --> 00:40:15 in
00:40:15 --> 00:40:15 God's
00:40:15 --> 00:40:16 anointed
00:40:16 --> 00:40:16 will
00:40:16 --> 00:40:16 face
00:40:16 --> 00:40:16 the
00:40:16 --> 00:40:17 judgment
00:40:17 --> 00:40:17 of
00:40:17 --> 00:40:17 God
00:40:17 --> 00:40:18 and
00:40:18 --> 00:40:18 they
00:40:18 --> 00:40:18 will
00:40:18 --> 00:40:18 do
00:40:18 --> 00:40:18 so
00:40:18 --> 00:40:19 alone
00:40:19 --> 00:40:20 and
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 that
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 is
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 a
00:40:20 --> 00:40:21 prospect
00:40:21 --> 00:40:21 more
00:40:21 --> 00:40:22 terrible
00:40:22 --> 00:40:23 than
00:40:23 --> 00:40:23 slow
00:40:23 --> 00:40:23 death
00:40:23 --> 00:40:23 by
00:40:23 --> 00:40:24 starvation
00:40:24 --> 00:40:25 it
00:40:25 --> 00:40:25 will
00:40:25 --> 00:40:26 never
00:40:26 --> 00:40:26 end
00:40:26 --> 00:40:28 it
00:40:28 --> 00:40:28 will
00:40:28 --> 00:40:28 never
00:40:28 --> 00:40:28 end
00:40:28 --> 00:40:30 you
00:40:30 --> 00:40:30 will
00:40:30 --> 00:40:30 never
00:40:30 --> 00:40:31 reach
00:40:31 --> 00:40:31 the
00:40:31 --> 00:40:32 satisfaction
00:40:32 --> 00:40:32 of
00:40:32 --> 00:40:32 death
00:40:32 --> 00:40:34 the
00:40:34 --> 00:40:34 hope
00:40:34 --> 00:40:35 of
00:40:35 --> 00:40:35 death
00:40:35 --> 00:40:40 and
00:40:40 --> 00:40:40 so
00:40:40 --> 00:40:40 I
00:40:40 --> 00:40:40 want
00:40:40 --> 00:40:40 to
00:40:40 --> 00:40:40 ask
00:40:40 --> 00:40:40 you
00:40:40 --> 00:40:41 church
00:40:41 --> 00:40:41 in
00:40:41 --> 00:40:41 all
00:40:41 --> 00:40:41 seriousness
00:40:41 --> 00:40:47 if
00:40:47 --> 00:40:47 we
00:40:47 --> 00:40:47 are
00:40:47 --> 00:40:47 not
00:40:47 --> 00:40:48 lamenting
00:40:48 --> 00:40:48 this
00:40:48 --> 00:40:48 is
00:40:48 --> 00:40:48 the
00:40:48 --> 00:40:48 question
00:40:48 --> 00:40:49 I
00:40:49 --> 00:40:49 want
00:40:49 --> 00:40:49 to
00:40:49 --> 00:40:49 leave
00:40:49 --> 00:40:49 you
00:40:49 --> 00:40:49 with
00:40:49 --> 00:40:51 if
00:40:51 --> 00:40:51 we
00:40:51 --> 00:40:52 if
00:40:52 --> 00:40:52 you
00:40:52 --> 00:40:53 are
00:40:53 --> 00:40:53 not
00:40:53 --> 00:40:54 lamenting
00:40:54 --> 00:40:54 the
00:40:54 --> 00:40:55 degradation
00:40:55 --> 00:40:56 in
00:40:56 --> 00:40:56 church
00:40:56 --> 00:40:57 and
00:40:57 --> 00:40:57 in
00:40:57 --> 00:40:57 society
00:40:57 --> 00:40:58 if
00:40:58 --> 00:40:59 it
00:40:59 --> 00:40:59 does
00:40:59 --> 00:40:59 not
00:40:59 --> 00:41:00 break
00:41:00 --> 00:41:00 your
00:41:00 --> 00:41:00 heart
00:41:00 --> 00:41:01 and
00:41:01 --> 00:41:01 the
00:41:01 --> 00:41:01 judgment
00:41:01 --> 00:41:02 of
00:41:02 --> 00:41:02 God
00:41:02 --> 00:41:02 that
00:41:02 --> 00:41:02 is
00:41:02 --> 00:41:03 coming
00:41:03 --> 00:41:06 what
00:41:06 --> 00:41:06 does
00:41:06 --> 00:41:06 it
00:41:06 --> 00:41:07 say
00:41:07 --> 00:41:08 about
00:41:08 --> 00:41:08 the
00:41:08 --> 00:41:09 vitality
00:41:09 --> 00:41:10 of
00:41:10 --> 00:41:11 your
00:41:11 --> 00:41:11 relationship
00:41:11 --> 00:41:11 with
00:41:11 --> 00:41:12 Christ
00:41:12 --> 00:41:13 and
00:41:13 --> 00:41:13 to
00:41:13 --> 00:41:14 have
00:41:14 --> 00:41:14 known
00:41:14 --> 00:41:14 in
00:41:14 --> 00:41:28 gin
00:41:28 --> 00:41:28 so
00:41:28 --> 00:41:30 you
00:41:30 --> 00:41:35 well