Marriage made in Heaven
Series: The Preacher and the Prostitute
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 8th February 2014
Passage: Hosea 1:1-3:5
00:00:00 --> 00:00:07 On Wednesday the 15th of April 2009, I commenced ministry here at St Paul's as your rector.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:13 There was a special commencement of ministry service here in this building on that evening.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:21 And for most of you at St Paul's, it was the first time that you had seen Natalie or I in the flesh.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:26 Some things are particularly memorable for me on that evening,
00:00:26 --> 00:00:30 especially the comment from one parishioner that my wife looked hot.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:47 Imagine if at that service your first glimpse of your new rector's wife was in fact more flesh than you had anticipated.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:55 You can't help but noticing that she's wearing a rather risque miniskirt, inappropriate for Chatswood Mall,
00:00:56 --> 00:01:01 let alone church, especially on such an occasion with all ages of dignitaries gathered.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 You try to put first impressions out of your mind,
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 but it's hard not to notice that maybe the heels are a bit too high,
00:01:10 --> 00:01:15 the neckline's a bit too low, and the make-up is overdone.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:19 Your mind starts to make assessments and judgements,
00:01:19 --> 00:01:25 and you can't wait for the issue to be raised afterwards over tea to see what other people think.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 After the formal bits of the service is over,
00:01:29 --> 00:01:33 and the less formal welcome begins,
00:01:33 --> 00:01:39 a real clangor is dropped in the hope of getting to know the new rector and his wife a little more.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 The MC asks the wife,
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 so what is it that you do?
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46 At that moment, the new rector shuffles,
00:01:47 --> 00:01:52 and he coughs and mentions something about how glad they are to be here
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 and looking forward to ministry beginning,
00:01:54 --> 00:01:58 but there is not so much as even a blush as she says into the microphone,
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 I'm into prostitution actually.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:05 There is an audible gasp.
00:02:07 --> 00:02:08 Someone laughs thinking it's a joke,
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 and then it's a deafening silence.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:14 She wasn't joking.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 So the MC is wondering,
00:02:17 --> 00:02:18 what do I do now?
00:02:19 --> 00:02:20 Throw to the floor for further questions?
00:02:21 --> 00:02:21 Sing a hymn?
00:02:22 --> 00:02:23 Go to confession?
00:02:25 --> 00:02:26 Maybe close with prayer?
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 Instead, he nervously blurts out,
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 well, at least you've got three great kids.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 A couple of people nervously laugh with the MC,
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 but then the new rector says,
00:02:36 --> 00:02:37 holding back tears,
00:02:37 --> 00:02:38 well, the first one's mine,
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 but the other two you'll need to ask my wife.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 I'm not sure who the fathers of those two are.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:48 Now it's time really to serve the tea and coffee.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 Some go into damage control,
00:02:51 --> 00:02:52 hoping that it won't leak into the media.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 Others take the opportunity to express
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 they were never in favour of this appointment in the first place.
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 Others are wondering just how much he charges per hour.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:05 But the wardens pull the new rector aside and ask him,
00:03:05 --> 00:03:05 are you okay?
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 Have you lost your faith?
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 How did you end up with a prostitute?
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 And his answer is unbelievable.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:20 God told me to go to King's Cross and to marry her.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 It is his way of getting across his message to his people
00:03:24 --> 00:03:28 that their faithlessness to him is no trivial matter
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 and it breaks his heart.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:35 But it's also a reminder
00:03:35 --> 00:03:40 as they see his children
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 that God is going to take this stuff seriously
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 and he will judge them.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 And also a reminder as they see me walk in pain day by day
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 that he remains faithful to his people.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 This is the shocking scenario
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 that we're introduced to at the beginning of Hosea.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 The account of Hosea's family life
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 is not made up illustration.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:06 This is not a parable.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:08 He is a real man
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 who lived in real time
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 at a real place in history.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 This before us is enacted prophecy
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 through the family life of Hosea.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:22 It is Hosea's personal history being worked out
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 and ordered by God
00:04:25 --> 00:04:26 to speak to his people
00:04:26 --> 00:04:30 in all of its bluntness and its rawness.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 We can see from verse one
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 when all this took place
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 the word of the Lord came to Hosea son of Beri
00:04:38 --> 00:04:42 during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah
00:04:42 --> 00:04:43 kings of Judah.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 That's the two tribes of the south
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 the original 12 tribes
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 before they split in two.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 And during the reign of Jeroboam son of Joash
00:04:52 --> 00:04:53 king of Israel
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 Israel is the ten tribes of the north.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 And so we can work out from this list of kings
00:04:59 --> 00:05:03 that Hosea was active in the 8th century BC
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 and that he lived and prophesied
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 to the ten northern tribes
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 called Israel.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 It was a time of growing affluence
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 and relative peace
00:05:14 --> 00:05:15 from preoccupied neighbours.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:21 The grim Mesopotamian war machine Assyria
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 which was just the north of the borders of Israel
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 had begun to falter
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 under threats from their own enemies around
00:05:27 --> 00:05:31 but also from internal disunity.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 But with Israel's growing affluence
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 came decadence.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 There was underlying corruption
00:05:39 --> 00:05:39 throughout the kingdom
00:05:39 --> 00:05:43 and especially religious idolatry.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 The people had prostituted themselves
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 to other gods.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 And then halfway through the century
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 their world began to crumble.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 Jeroboam II of Israel
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 was near the end of his reign
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 and at the same time
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 Assyria's problems became distant
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 as they grew and grew
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 in terrifying strength.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 Within a generation
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 the kingdom of Israel would be extinct
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16 and it was to this generation
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 before their extinction
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 that Hosea was sent to preach
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 a message of repentance
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 not just with words
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 but with his family life.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 It is into this situation
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 that we have the word of God
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 breaking in
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 with an extraordinary command
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 to Hosea
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 verse 2
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 Go
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 take to yourself
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 an adulterous wife
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 and children of unfaithfulness
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 and so he married
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 Gomer.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 The Jerusalem Bible
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 captures the shock of it
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 a little better
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 than the NIV
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 that I just read from.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:54 It says
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 go marry a whore
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 and get children
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 with a whore
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 because the nation
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 is a whore.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 It means quite literally
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 a wife of whoredom
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 and children of whoredom.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 There's been a lot of discussion
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 over the years
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 about exactly what Hosea
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 has been commanded
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 by God to do here
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 but it was most likely
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 that he was
00:07:25 --> 00:07:25 that she
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 Gomer
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 was a practicing prostitute
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 when they married
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 rather than becoming one later
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 in their marriage.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 Hosea is called here
00:07:35 --> 00:07:38 to shower his love
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 upon a woman
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 of unknown faithlessness
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 who will continue
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 in that vein
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 throughout
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 their married life.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 It is
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 before us
00:07:51 --> 00:07:51 in verse 2
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 a marriage
00:07:53 --> 00:07:53 made
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 in heaven
00:07:54 --> 00:07:59 that is a living hell
00:07:59 --> 00:07:59 for Hosea.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 The movie
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 Pretty Woman
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 isn't a modern take
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 on the Hosea
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 Gomer story.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 Hosea here
00:08:09 --> 00:08:09 is not the wealthy
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 businessman
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 rescuing the prostitute
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 the prostitute
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 with a heart of gold
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 and a lovable innocence
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 who's just been served up
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 a whole lot of bad luck
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 in her life.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 That's not the story.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 This is not Pretty Woman
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 eight centuries before.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 Deep down
00:08:27 --> 00:08:27 Gomer
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 is a person
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 of unfaithfulness.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 That is her character.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 She will openly
00:08:33 --> 00:08:33 and consistently
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 betray Hosea
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 and she will rub
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 his nose in it.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:41 Why does God
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 call this man
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 to do this?
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 Because Hosea's
00:08:46 --> 00:08:46 marriage to Gomer
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 represents God's
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 relationship
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 to his people Israel.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 Just as Gomer
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 is unfaithful
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 to Hosea
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 so God's people
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 Israel
00:08:56 --> 00:08:56 are unfaithful
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 to him.
00:08:57 --> 00:08:57 It's all there
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 in verse 2
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 because the land
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 is guilty
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 of the vilest
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 adultery
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 the vilest
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 whoredom
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 in departing
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 from the Lord.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 Israel
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 didn't deserve
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 God's love.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:12 Israel
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 and God
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 weren't the perfect match.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 It wasn't that God
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 looked down from heaven
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 across all the nations
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 of the earth
00:09:18 --> 00:09:18 and thought
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 Israel
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 they're the most godly
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 they're the one
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 most suited to me
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 they're the one
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 most deserving
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 of my love.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 Israel
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 was just like
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 any other people
00:09:31 --> 00:09:31 they were
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 no better.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 they were faithless
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 like the rest of us
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 God amazingly
00:09:37 --> 00:09:37 chose them
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 to be his bride
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 his special
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 covenant
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 people.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 And so every time
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 God's people
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 saw Hosea
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 walking down the street
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 through the mall
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 with Gomer
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 on his arm
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 or every time
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 they hear the news
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 of her latest
00:09:54 --> 00:09:54 infidelity
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 around town
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 they receive
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 a message from God.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 Hosea's life
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 and marriage
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 is a living parable
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 designed to confront
00:10:05 --> 00:10:05 God's people
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 with the full horror
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 of how
00:10:09 --> 00:10:09 they have treated
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 God.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:12 Hosea's life
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 plays out this message
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 in all its rawness
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 so that we
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 so that he
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 the people of God
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 and we
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 the people of God
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 can feel
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 the heart
00:10:24 --> 00:10:24 of God.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:29 at least one of the
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 messages of Hosea
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 is that God
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 suffers
00:10:32 --> 00:10:35 and this
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 book helps us
00:10:36 --> 00:10:36 to see
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 what God
00:10:37 --> 00:10:37 thinks
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 and feels
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 about our sin
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 and our failure
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 and our presumption
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 it breaks
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 his heart.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 Israel
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 presumed that God
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 wouldn't care
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 about their
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 faithlessness
00:10:53 --> 00:10:53 and they had
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 a cavalier
00:10:54 --> 00:10:54 attitude
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 towards their
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 sin
00:10:56 --> 00:10:56 and they
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 were wrong
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 it's an act
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 of betrayal
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 and so
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 as we see
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 here God
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 the broken
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 hearted lover
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 becomes the
00:11:06 --> 00:11:06 angry lover
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 of his people
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 we see God's
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 judgment
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 on his
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 faithless bride
00:11:12 --> 00:11:12 played out
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 in the names
00:11:13 --> 00:11:13 of his three
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 children in chapter
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 one
00:11:14 --> 00:11:16 the first one
00:11:16 --> 00:11:16 there is a son
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 born in verse
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 four named
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 Jezreel
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 it means God
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 scatters
00:11:21 --> 00:11:25 it's a strange
00:11:25 --> 00:11:25 name
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 why would you
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 call your child
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 Jezreel
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 Jezreel
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 was a place
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 of infamy
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 it's like calling
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 your child
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 twin towns
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 or Port Arthur
00:11:38 --> 00:11:42 and then the next
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 child in verse
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 six
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 is a daughter
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 low
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 which means
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 not loved
00:11:47 --> 00:11:50 what a terrible
00:11:50 --> 00:11:50 name
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 not loved
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 it's time
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 for dinner
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 you can imagine
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 the cost of
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 counselling to
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 sort that one
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 out
00:11:58 --> 00:12:01 notice
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 especially
00:12:02 --> 00:12:02 the gradual
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 deterioration
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 of the
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 relationship
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 revealed in
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 the names
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 God
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 scatters
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 they're not
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 loved
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 and in the
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 last child
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 verse eight
00:12:10 --> 00:12:10 is another
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 name
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 son named
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 Lo-Ami
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 and this is
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 the most
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 shocking name
00:12:15 --> 00:12:15 of all
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 the covenant
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 refrain
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 throughout the
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 old testament
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 the marriage
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 vows between
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 God and his
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 people if you
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 like is
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 you are my
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 people and
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 I am your
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 God
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 that comes up
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 again and
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 again and
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 again and
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 so this is
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 devastating
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 God's patience
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 had run out
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 with his
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 faithless people
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 it is like he
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 is taking back
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 his marriage
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 vows
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 he is divorcing
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 his people
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 and you can
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 understand it
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 God had
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 called them to
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 himself he had
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 rescued them from
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 slavery in Egypt
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 he had made
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 them his own
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 he had given
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 them his law
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 that they would
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 govern their
00:12:50 --> 00:12:50 relationship
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 and frame how
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 his new bride
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 would live with
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 him
00:12:54 --> 00:12:57 but three words
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 sum up the
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 actions and the
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 attitude of
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 Israel and
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 Gomer
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 it's there in
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 chapter 2
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 verse 13
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 me she
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 forgot
00:13:07 --> 00:13:10 I will punish
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 her for the
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 day she burnt
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 incense to the
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 bals
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 she decked
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 herself with
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 rings and
00:13:15 --> 00:13:15 jewelry and
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 went after
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 other lovers
00:13:16 --> 00:13:18 but me
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 she
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 forgot
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 declared the
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 Lord
00:13:23 --> 00:13:25 and this
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 chapter 2
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 spells out
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 Israel's
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 utter
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 abandonment
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00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 with God
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 they had
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 fallen for
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 the same
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00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 was there
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 in the
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00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 that their
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00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 their father
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 their God
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 was holding
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 out on them
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 that he is
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 stingy
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00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 that real
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 life is
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 found somewhere
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 else and in
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 someone else's
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 arms
00:13:46 --> 00:13:49 they ran
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00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 things that they
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00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 to their
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 lovers
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 rather to their
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 faithful and good
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 husband
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 and so the
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 shock of
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 chapter 1
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 verse 9
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 is God
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 saying you
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 are no longer
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 my people
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 I am no
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 longer your
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 God
00:14:06 --> 00:14:10 God
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 wanted
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 these
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 Israelites
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 his people
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 to know
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 that he
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 was angry
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 with them
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 and the
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 judge
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 would
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 come
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 it did
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 come
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 as God
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 had promised
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 Israel
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 was destroyed
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 and the
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 people of
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 God
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 were either
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 killed
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 or deported
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 but the
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 judgment
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 that came
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 to Israel
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 from the
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 hand of
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 God
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 through the
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 armies of
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 Assyria
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 in 722
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 BC
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 was not
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 the end
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 yes God
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 is a
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 broken hearted
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 lover
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 and yes
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 he is
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 an angry
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 lover
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 but he is
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 also the
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 faithful
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 lover
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 take a look
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 at verse
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 10
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 yet
00:14:45 --> 00:14:49 what a
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 word
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00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 yet
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 is the
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 great good
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 news
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 that changes
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 the whole
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 mood of
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 this text
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 yet
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 the Israelites
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 will be like
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 the sand
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 on the
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 seashore
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 which cannot
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 be measured
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 or counted
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 in the
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 place
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 where it
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 was said
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 to them
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 you are
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 not my
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 people
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 they will
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 be called
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 sons of
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 the living
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 God
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 the people
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 of Judah
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 and the
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 people of
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 Israel
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 will be
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 reunited
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 and they
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 will appoint
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 one leader
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 and will
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 come up
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 out of the
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 land
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 for great
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 will be
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 the day
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 of Jezreel
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 say of
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 your brothers
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 my people
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 and of
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 your sisters
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 my loved
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 ones
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 what a
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 dramatic
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 change of
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 mood
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 the message
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 of judgment
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 and the
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 message
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 of hope
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 and salvation
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 derive
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 from the
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 same
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 source
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 it is
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 the same
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 God
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 the same
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 covenant
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 that was the
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 source of
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 his anger
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 and his
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 righteous
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 anger
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 is the same
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 covenant
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 which is the
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 source of
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 his
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 faithful
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 love
00:15:52 --> 00:15:55 he promised
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 that he
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 would love
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 them
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 and be
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 faithful
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 to them
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 and to
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 keep
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 his
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 promise
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 to
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 them
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 what
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 God
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 promises
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 he must
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 do
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 he will
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 not
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 and he
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 cannot
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 forsake
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 his
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 promises
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 to his
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 people
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 he has
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 committed
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 himself
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 to them
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 in love
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 and so
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 in chapters
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 2
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 verse 14
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 through to
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 23
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 is a
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 moving
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 and it
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 is a
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 beautiful
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 song
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 of God's
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 tender
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 love
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 and commitment
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 to his
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 wayward
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 faithless
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 people
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 have a
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 look
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 just at
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 verse 14
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 with me
00:16:25 --> 00:16:28 I am
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 going to
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 allure
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 her
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 I will
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 lead her
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 into the
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 desert
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 and speak
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 tenderly
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 to her
00:16:36 --> 00:16:41 that's
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 beautiful
00:16:42 --> 00:16:45 there is
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 no
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 coercing
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 there's
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 no
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 raving
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 and ranting
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 there's
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 no
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 let's
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 try and
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 meet
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 halfway
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 you
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 love
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 me
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 a
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 little
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 bit
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 I'll
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 love
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 you
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 back
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 a
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 little
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 bit
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 there is
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 precious
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 little
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 exercise
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 of
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 power
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 and
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 force
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 in this
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 love
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 triangle
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 because
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 power
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 in a
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 relationship
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 would
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 solve
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 nothing
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 to just
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 let that
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 one sink
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 in for a
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 little
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 bit
00:17:13 --> 00:17:18 an
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 exercise
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 of
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 power
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 would
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 not
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 wing
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 back
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 the
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 heart
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 of
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 his
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 love
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 because
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 it's
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 the
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 heart
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 of
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 his
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 love
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 that
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 he
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 wants
00:17:25 --> 00:17:29 it is
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 such a
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 tender
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 gentle
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 forgiving
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 deliberate
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 commitment
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 to win
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 over
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 his
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 wife
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 there is
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 no
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 sense
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 of
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 subjugating
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 her
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 no
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 sense
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 of
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 controlling
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 her
00:17:40 --> 00:17:42 let me
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 tell you
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 as a
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 Christian
00:17:43 --> 00:17:45 and as
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 a
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 husband
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 I
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 read
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 verse
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 14
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 and I
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 conclude
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 it makes
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 absolute
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 perfect
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 sense
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 why God
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 would say
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 to me
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 husband
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 Steve
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 love
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 your
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 wife
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 as
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 Christ
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 loved
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 the
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 church
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 and
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 gave
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 himself
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 up
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 for
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 her
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 because
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 he
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 has
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 given
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 himself
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 up
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 for
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 you
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 according
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 to
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 verse
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 14
00:18:06 --> 00:18:11 God's
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 love
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 for
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 his
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 people
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 is
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 what
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 roused
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 Hosea
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 to go
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 again
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 and show
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 love
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 to his
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 unfaithful
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 wife
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 she is
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 loved
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 by
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 another
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 man
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 she is
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 in
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 the
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 arms
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 of
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 another
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 man
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 but
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 Hosea
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 is
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 loved
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 by
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 God
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 and
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 so
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 he
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 will
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 pay
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 the
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 price
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 to
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 get
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 his
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 wife
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 back
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 see
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 the
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 beginning
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 of
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 chapter
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 3
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 the
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 Lord
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 said
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 to
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 me
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 go
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 show
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 your
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 love
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 to
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 your
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 wife
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 again
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 though
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 she
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 is
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 loved
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 by
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 another
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 and
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 is
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 an
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 adulteress
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 love
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 her
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 as
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 the
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 Lord
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 loves
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 the
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 Israelites
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 and
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 verse
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 2
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 so
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 I
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 bought
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 her
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 for
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 15
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 shekels
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 of
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 silver
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 and
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 about
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 a
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 homer
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 and
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 a
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 lethic
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 of
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 barley
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00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 seem
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 from
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00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 2
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 that
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 Hosea
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 had
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 to
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 scrape
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 together
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 everything
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00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 had
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 a bag
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 of
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 grain
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 as
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 well
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 everything
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 that
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 he
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 had
00:19:02 --> 00:19:04 in
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 order
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 to
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 pay
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 the
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 price
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 to
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 buy
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 his
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 wife
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 back
00:19:07 --> 00:19:10 was
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 the
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 price
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 the
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 price
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 of
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 her
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 debts
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 was
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 it
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 the
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 price
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 that
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 her
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 pimp
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 required
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 was
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 a
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 compensation
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 for
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 the
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 disgruntled
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 boyfriend
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 or
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 simply
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 according
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 to
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 exodus
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 the
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 price
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 of
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 a
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 slave
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 woman
00:19:25 --> 00:19:30 whatever
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 the
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 price
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 is
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 the
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 price
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 to
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 redeem
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 her
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 is
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 insight
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 into
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 how
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 far
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 she
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 has
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 fallen
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 and
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 how
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00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 she
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00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 held
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 by
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 another
00:19:39 --> 00:19:43 Nat
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 and
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 I
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 just
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 celebrated
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 15
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 years
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 of
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00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 some
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 of
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 you
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 saw
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 that
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 on
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 Facebook
00:19:47 --> 00:19:50 we've
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 got
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 three
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 kids
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 but
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 that's
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 about
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 as
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 far
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00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 the
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 comparisons
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 go
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 between
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 us
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 and
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 Hosea
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 and
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 Gomer
00:19:58 --> 00:20:00 if
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 I
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 was
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 in
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 Hosea's
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 shoes
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 here
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 I
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 could
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 imagine
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 the
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 people
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 of
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 God
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 and
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 my
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 own
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 heart
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 saying
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 just
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 divorce
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 her
00:20:07 --> 00:20:11 she
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 doesn't
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 love
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 you
00:20:12 --> 00:20:14 the
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 Bible
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 makes
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 it
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 clear
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 you
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 justify
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 it
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 here
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 Steve
00:20:16 --> 00:20:45 the
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 Hosea
00:20:46 --> 00:20:49 I
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 am
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 Gomer
00:20:50 --> 00:20:58 I
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 am
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 the
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 person
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 of
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 deep
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 unfaithfulness
00:20:59 --> 00:21:03 has
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 it
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 hit
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 you
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 yet
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 my
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 friends
00:21:05 --> 00:21:08 we
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 are
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 Gomer
00:21:09 --> 00:21:13 we
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 are
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 the
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 wife
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 of
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 whoredom
00:21:15 --> 00:21:17 of
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 deep
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 unfaithfulness
00:21:18 --> 00:21:21 Romans 3
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 paints a
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 terrible
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 picture
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 of our
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 character
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 there is
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 no one
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 righteous
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 not even
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 one
00:21:26 --> 00:21:28 there is
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 no one
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 who
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 understands
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 no one
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 who
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 seeks
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 God
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 all
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 have
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 turned
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 away
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 turned
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 away
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 from
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 him
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 put
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 their
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 backs
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 to
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 him
00:21:36 --> 00:21:38 and
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 together
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 they
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 have
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 become
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 worthless
00:21:41 --> 00:21:44 worthless
00:21:44 --> 00:21:46 we are
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 undeserving
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 of God's
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 love
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 for us
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 but God
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 wants you
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 to remember
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 that his
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 desire
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 to have
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 you
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 back
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 is not
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 based on
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 some
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 naive
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 estimation
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 of your
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 character
00:21:58 --> 00:22:01 the point
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 of Hosea
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 is that
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 God
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 exalts
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 his
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 mercy
00:22:06 --> 00:22:09 by not
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 giving up
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 on his
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 wife of
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 Hortum
00:22:11 --> 00:22:13 even
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 though we
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 are worthless
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 and we
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 are unworthy
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 God
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 paid the
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 price
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 and he
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 brought us
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 back to
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 himself
00:22:19 --> 00:22:21 Jesus
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 gave up
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 his life
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 to redeem
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 to pay
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 the price
00:22:26 --> 00:22:28 what a
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 wonderful
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 fulfillment
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 of the
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 rawness of
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 these verses
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 comes in
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 the person
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 of the
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 Lord Jesus
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 Christ
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 Romans 5
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 8 puts
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 it beautifully
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 God
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 demonstrates
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 his own
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 love for
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 us
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 in this
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 that while
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 we were
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 sinners
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 while we
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 were whores
00:22:45 --> 00:22:47 Christ
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 died
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 for us
00:22:49 --> 00:22:52 and so
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 if we put
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 our trust
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 in Christ
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 then we
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 can be
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 sure that
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 we are
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 of the
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 people of
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 God
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 for whom
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 he died
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 and loves
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 we are
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 the people
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 to whom
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 he has
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 made
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 covenant
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 promises
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 forever
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 the apostle
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 Peter
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 echoes
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 the words
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 of Hosea
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 as he
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 writes
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 to the
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 people
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 of God
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 who have
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 put their
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 trust in
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 Jesus
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 with these
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 words
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 you are
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 a chosen
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 people
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 a royal
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 priesthood
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 a holy
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 nation
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 a people
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 belonging
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 to God
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 that you
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 may declare
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 the praises
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 of him
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 who has
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 called you
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 out of
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 darkness
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 into his
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 wonderful
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 light
00:23:23 --> 00:23:25 once you
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 were not
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 a people
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 but now
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 you are
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 the people
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 of God
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 once you
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 had not
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 received
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 mercy
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 but now
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 you have
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 received
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 mercy
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 and if
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 you have
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 accepted
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 God's
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 love
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 for you
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 in the
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 Lord
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 Jesus
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 and put
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 your
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 trust
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 in him
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 then it
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 means that
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 you belong
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 to God's
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 people
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 you are
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 his bride
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 he's the
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 beautiful
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 New Testament
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 preacher
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 and if that
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 has happened
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 in our lives
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 then it
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 must have
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 profound
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 repercussions
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 on how
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 we live
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 his love
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 and his
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 mercy
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 and grace
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 leaves no
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 room for
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 complacency
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 because straight
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 after declaring
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 that we are
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 the people
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 of God
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 and that we
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 have received
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 his mercy
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 his chosen
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 people
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 Peter says
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 this in
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 verse 11
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 dear friends
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 I urge you
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 as aliens
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 and strangers
00:24:11 --> 00:24:13 in the world
00:24:13 --> 00:24:15 abstain from
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 sinful desires
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 which go to
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 war on
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 your soul
00:24:19 --> 00:24:23 too often
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 we think
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 little about
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 disobedience
00:24:25 --> 00:24:28 we just
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 think
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 God
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 will overlook
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 it
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 he'll
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 forgive
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 that's
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 what
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 he does
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 best
00:24:32 --> 00:24:35 if the
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 Lord
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 Jesus
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 has
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 invited
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 us
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 to
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 become
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 part
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 of
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 his
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 people
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 his
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 bride
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 doesn't
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 that
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 make
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 our
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 disobedience
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 against
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 him
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 a really
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 serious
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 thing
00:24:45 --> 00:24:49 just
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 think
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 for a
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 moment
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 about
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 the
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 hurt
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 it
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 causes
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 our
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 divine
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 lover
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 when
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 we
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 take
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 him
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 for
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 granted
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 and
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 we
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 live
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 unfaithfully
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 to
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 him
00:24:56 --> 00:24:58 you see
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 the
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 closer
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 the
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 relationship
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 you
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 have
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 with
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 someone
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 the
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 more
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 they
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 can
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 hurt
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 you
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 a
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 stranger
00:25:03 --> 00:25:06 insults
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 you
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 and you
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 brush it
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 off
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 relatively
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 quickly
00:25:09 --> 00:25:12 an
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 argument
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 with a
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 friend
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 can get
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 you
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 down
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 for
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 days
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17 the
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 betrayal
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 of a
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 spouse
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 creates
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 wounds
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 that endure
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 for many
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 years
00:25:20 --> 00:25:23 and let
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 me just
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 say
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 if
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 you know
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 first hand
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 those kinds
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 of wounds
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 from a
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 spouse
00:25:28 --> 00:25:30 then at
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 least take
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 this
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 comfort
00:25:31 --> 00:25:33 God
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 knows
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 first hand
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 those
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 wounds
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 and what
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 they feel
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 like
00:25:36 --> 00:25:40 he has
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 been
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 portrayed
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 by his
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 bride
00:25:41 --> 00:25:43 century
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 after
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 century
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 after
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 century
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 God
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 understands
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 the pain
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 as he
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 sees his
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 own people
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 flirting
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 with other
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 lovers
00:25:52 --> 00:25:54 going off
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 with the
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 gods of
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 this world
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 and pursuing
00:25:55 --> 00:25:57 the desires
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 of their
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 hearts
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 he is not
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 number one
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 in their
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 heart
00:26:01 --> 00:26:03 bowing down
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 superficially
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 on Sunday
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 and the odd
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 weekly meeting
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 and then going
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 off with the
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 gods of
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 wealth and
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 prosperity and
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 comfort and
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 pleasure and
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 ambition and
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 leisure and
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 security
00:26:13 --> 00:26:15 what Hosea does
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 for us
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 what it should
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 do for us
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 it open
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 our eyes
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 not only to
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 the awesome
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 nature of
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 God's love
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 for us
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 but also the
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 terrible harm
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 our sin
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 causes in
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 our
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 relationship
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 with him
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 it breaks
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 his heart
00:26:28 --> 00:26:33 and so
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 Hosea here
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 challenges us
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 to examine
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 the nature
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 of our
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 love
00:26:36 --> 00:26:39 and particularly
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 whether or not
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 we love
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 our God
00:26:41 --> 00:26:45 it is a
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 passionate
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 personal
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 relationship
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 with the
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 living God
00:26:48 --> 00:26:50 is that
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 how you
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 would describe
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 your relationship
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 with God
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 is love
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 characterised by
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 faithfulness
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 and by
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 devotion to
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 God alone
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 is it
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 seriously a
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 case of
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 man and
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 woman standing
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 up and
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 saying forsaking
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 all others
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 I commit
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 myself to
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 you is that
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 how you
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 would describe
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 your relationship
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 with Christ
00:27:08 --> 00:27:10 is it
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 authentic and
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 not just the
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 performance or
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 a serrade of
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 following some
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 acceptable
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 religious behaviour
00:27:15 --> 00:27:19 Hosea helps
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 me to see
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 that God
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 wants me to
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 love him
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 warmly as
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 a husband
00:27:24 --> 00:27:26 and not
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 just serve
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 him dutifully
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 as a
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 master
00:27:29 --> 00:27:31 when you
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 think my
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 friends of
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 your failures
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 and hopefully
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 that's what
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 you are doing
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 right now
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 you think of
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 your failures
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 and your sins
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 and your
00:27:39 --> 00:27:41 half-heartedness
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 that you're not
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 fully devoted
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 to Christ
00:27:43 --> 00:27:46 and God
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 wants you to
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 remember
00:27:47 --> 00:27:50 that his
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 desire to
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 have you
00:27:51 --> 00:27:53 back is
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 not based
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 on a
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 naive
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 estimation
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 of your
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 character
00:27:57 --> 00:27:59 we are
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 Goma
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 and he
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 knows it
00:28:02 --> 00:28:04 the point
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 of Hosea
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 is that God
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 exalts his
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 mercy by not
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 giving up
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 on his
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 wife of
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 Hordom
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 the good
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 news of
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 Hosea
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 in the
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 whole Bible
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 is that
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 God knows
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 that we
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 have sold
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 ourselves
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 for a
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 song
00:28:18 --> 00:28:21 and yet
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 he is
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 wooing us
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 tenderly
00:28:23 --> 00:28:25 with his
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 love in
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 the Lord
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 Jesus
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 Christ
00:28:26 --> 00:28:29 according
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 to
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 Hosea
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 2.16
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 God does
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 not want
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 you to
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 return and
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 say to
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 him
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 yes sir
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 I'll
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 try harder
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 this year
00:28:37 --> 00:28:39 he wants
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 you to
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 respond to
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 him
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 my
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 husband
00:28:42 --> 00:28:44 my
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 lover
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46 God
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 wants your
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 heart
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 not just
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 your
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 hands
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 because if
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 he has
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 your
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 heart
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 he has
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 everything
00:28:51 --> 00:28:55 and so
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 my friends
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 we struggle
00:28:57 --> 00:29:01 that's
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 that is the
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 picture of
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 the Christian
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 life
00:29:02 --> 00:29:05 and what
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 we look
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 forward to
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 as his
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 people is
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 the day
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 when all
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 unfaithfulness
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 is finally
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 dealt with
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 the war
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 against our
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 souls is
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 over
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 in Revelation
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 19 we see
00:29:15 --> 00:29:17 God finally
00:29:17 --> 00:29:19 and eternally
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 destroying the
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 great prostitute
00:29:21 --> 00:29:23 the mother of
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 all unfaithfulness
00:29:24 --> 00:29:26 and then in
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 chapter 21
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 it says
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 then I saw
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 a new heaven
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 and a new
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 earth
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 for the first
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 heaven and the
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 first earth
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 had passed
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 away and
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 there is no
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 longer any
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 sea
00:29:34 --> 00:29:36 I saw the
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 holy city
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 the new
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 Jerusalem
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 coming down
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 out of heaven
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 from God
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 prepared as a
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 bride
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 beautifully
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 dressed for
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 her husband
00:29:44 --> 00:29:46 and I heard
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 a loud voice
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 from the throne
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 saying
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 now the
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 dwelling of God
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 is with men
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 and he will
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 live with them
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 and they will
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 be his people
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 and God
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 himself will
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 be with them
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 and be their
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 God
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 and he will
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 wipe away
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 every tear
00:29:59 --> 00:30:01 from their
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 eyes
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 there will be
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 no more
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 death
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 or mourning
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 or crying
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 or pain
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 for the old
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 order of
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 things
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 has passed
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 away
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 that is his
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 promise
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 to his
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 bride
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 let's pray
00:30:14 --> 00:30:20 friends
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 and in
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 praying
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 can I
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 just
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 encourage
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 you
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 just to
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 bow your
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 heads
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 now
00:30:24 --> 00:30:27 and
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 just
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 reflect
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 upon
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 this
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 message
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 and maybe
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 God
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 in his
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 spirit
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 by his
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 spirit
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 has
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 roused
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 in you
00:30:36 --> 00:30:38 a sin
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 failures
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 that you
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 need to
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 bring to
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 him right
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 now
00:30:41 --> 00:30:43 to take
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 them
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 seriously
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 as he
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 takes
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 them
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 seriously
00:30:45 --> 00:30:47 and then
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 I'll
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 pray
00:31:11 --> 00:31:15 our
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 loving
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 and
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 faithful
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 heavenly
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 father
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 our
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 husband
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 our
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 lover
00:31:18 --> 00:31:20 we
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 give
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 you
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 thanks
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 for
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 calling
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 us
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 to be
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 your
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 children
00:31:23 --> 00:31:25 you
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 have
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 made
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 us
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 your
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 bride
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 you
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 adopt
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 us
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 as
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 your
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 people
00:31:29 --> 00:31:31 you
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 have
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 showered
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 us
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 with
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 every
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 good
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 gift
00:31:33 --> 00:31:35 and
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 promised
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 us
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 eternal
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 life
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 with
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 you
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 in
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 perfection
00:31:37 --> 00:31:39 in
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 your
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 great
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 love
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 and
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 mercy
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 you
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 have
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 cleansed
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 us
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 from
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 all
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 of
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 our
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 unfaithfulness
00:31:43 --> 00:31:45 you
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 have
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 made
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 us
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 pure
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 and
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 clean
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 in
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 your
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 sight
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 through
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 the
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 Lord
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 Jesus
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 Christ
00:31:50 --> 00:31:52 and
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 yet
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 father
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 we
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 are
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 still
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 unfaithful
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 to
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 you
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 we
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 fail
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 to
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 love
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 you
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 as
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 we
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 should
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 we
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 run
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 after
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 other
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 gods
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 you
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 are
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 not
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 always
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 the
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 first
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 love
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 of
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 our
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 heart
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 forgive
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 us
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 we
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 pray
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 for
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 our
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 unfaithfulness
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 renew
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 us
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 and
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 restore
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 us
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 again
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 by
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 your
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 grace
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 that
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 we
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 may
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 continue
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 as
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 your
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 bride
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 and
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 declare
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 your
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 praise
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 and
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 your
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 glory
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 and
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 the
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 magnificence
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 of
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 your
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 mercy
00:32:21 --> 00:32:23 we
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 we
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 we
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 we
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 give
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 you
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 thanks
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 for
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 the
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 confidence
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 that
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 we
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 have
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 in
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 the
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 Lord
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 Jesus
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 both
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 of
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 forgiveness
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 and
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 of
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 a
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 future
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 where
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 we
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 will
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 dwell
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 with
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 you
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 in
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 perfect
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 faithfulness
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 forever
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 and
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 we
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 ask
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 it
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 all
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 for
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 your
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 glory
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 amen
00:32:36 --> 00:32:38 we're
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 going to
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 continue
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 to pray
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 we're
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 going to
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 go
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 straight
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 into
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 the
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 Lord's
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 supper
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 a
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 reminder
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 of
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 the
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 price
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 that
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 was
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 paid
00:32:44 --> 00:32:46 so
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 that
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 we
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 can
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 be
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 the
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 bride
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 of
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 Christ
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 so
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 if
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 you'd
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 like
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 to
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 bow
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 your
00:32:50 --> 00:32:50 heads
00:32:50 --> 00:32:50 we'll
00:32:50 --> 00:32:50 pray
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 and
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 then
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 remind
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 it
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 again
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 as
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 we
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 take
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 these
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 elements
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 of
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 the
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 great
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 love
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 that
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 God
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 has
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 for
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 us
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 in
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 Christ
00:32:59 --> 00:33:01 our
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 gracious
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 Father
00:33:02 --> 00:33:02 you are
00:33:02 --> 00:33:02 worthy
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 of all
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 praise
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 and glory
00:33:04 --> 00:33:04 and honour
00:33:04 --> 00:33:04 because
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 you're
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 the one
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 who
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 sustains
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 all
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 things
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 by
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 your
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 powerful
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 word
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 and we
00:33:11 --> 00:33:11 want to
00:33:11 --> 00:33:11 especially
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 thank you
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 this morning
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 for the
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 Lord
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 Jesus
00:33:13 --> 00:33:15 we want
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 to thank
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 you
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 that
00:33:16 --> 00:33:16 through
00:33:16 --> 00:33:16 his
00:33:16 --> 00:33:16 death
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 and
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 his
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 resurrection
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 he paid
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 the
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 complete
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 debt
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 of
00:33:20 --> 00:33:20 our
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 sin
00:33:21 --> 00:33:23 he's
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 redeemed
00:33:24 --> 00:33:24 us
00:33:24 --> 00:33:26 brought
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 us back
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 to be
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 your
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 people
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 and
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 he
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 has
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 eternally
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 forever
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 delivered
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 everyone
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 who trusts
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 in him
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 from
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 your
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 judgment
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 for
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 unfaithfulness
00:33:36 --> 00:33:38 and so
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 this morning
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 we remember
00:33:39 --> 00:33:39 what he's
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 done for
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 us
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 we thank
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 you for
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 these
00:33:41 --> 00:33:41 gifts
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 of bread
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 and wine
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 and pray
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 that we
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 who take
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 them now
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 might do
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 so in
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 remembrance
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 of the
00:33:48 --> 00:33:48 cost of
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 Christ's
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 love for
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 us
00:33:50 --> 00:33:52 and may
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 we truly
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 share in
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 his eternal
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 inheritance
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 Father we
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 thank you that
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 you spiritually
00:33:58 --> 00:33:58 feed us
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 and nourish
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 us through
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 your son
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 the Lord
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 Jesus
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 and we
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 ask that
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 you might
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 do that
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 for us
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 now
00:34:04 --> 00:34:06 we pray
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 that as
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 we eat
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 and we
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 drink
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 that we
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 would be
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 assured of
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 your goodness
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 and your
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 love for
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 us
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 we ask
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 Father that
00:34:13 --> 00:34:13 you might
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 renew us
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 by your
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 Holy Spirit
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 that you
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 might unite
00:34:17 --> 00:34:17 us together
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 around your
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 son
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 and that you
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 might keep
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 us and
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 sustain us
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 until we
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 enter your
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 perfect
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 glory
00:34:24 --> 00:34:26 and so
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 we eat
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 this bread
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 and we drink
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 this cup
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 together as
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 your people
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 and we
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 together
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 proclaim our
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 unity in your
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 son
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 and we
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 pray these
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 things through
00:34:34 --> 00:34:34 the Lord
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 Jesus Christ
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 Amen