1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,200 First Kings Chapter 9. Let's meet there together First 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:11,030 Kings Chapter 9. Let's just begin our time by 3 00:00:11,030 --> 00:00:14,470 going straight into the text and then taking our time to mind the 4 00:00:14,470 --> 00:00:17,950 word of God together. First Kings 9 verse one reads as 5 00:00:17,950 --> 00:00:21,350 soon as Solomon had finished building the House of the Lord 6 00:00:21,790 --> 00:00:25,150 and the King's house and all that Solomon desired to build. 7 00:00:25,510 --> 00:00:29,510 The Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared 8 00:00:29,510 --> 00:00:32,600 to him at Gibeon. And the Lord said to him, I have 9 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,640 heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. 10 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:40,640 I have consecrated this house that you have built by putting 11 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:45,040 my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be 12 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:48,160 there for all time. And As for you, if you walk 13 00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:52,120 before me as David, your father walked with integrity of heart 14 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:56,400 and uprightness, doing according to all I have commanded you, and 15 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:58,640 keeping my statutes and my rules. 16 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:02,120 Then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I 17 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:05,680 promised David, your father, saying, you shall not lack a man 18 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:09,960 on the throne of Israel. But if you turn aside from 19 00:01:09,960 --> 00:01:13,520 following me, you or your children, and do not keep my 20 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,720 commandments and my statues that I've set before you, but go and 21 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:20,000 serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off from, 22 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,080 cut off Israel from the land that I've given them, and the 23 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,360 house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of 24 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,040 my sight. And Israel will become a proverb 25 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:33,000 and a byword among all peoples, and this house will become a 26 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,320 heap of ruins. Everyone passing by it will be 27 00:01:36,320 --> 00:01:40,560 astonished and will hiss. And they will say, Why has the 28 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:43,880 Lord done thus to this land and to this house? 29 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:47,560 And they will say, because they abandoned the Lord, their God, 30 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,800 who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold 31 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:53,640 on other gods, and worship them and serve them. 32 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:57,680 Therefore the Lord has brought all this disaster on them. 33 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,720 This is God's word. Let's pray and ask him for his 34 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:05,160 help. Father in heaven, with absolute 35 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:08,320 reverence and adoration, We look to you tonight as a church. 36 00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:12,240 And we ask with great humility as well, that you would come to 37 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:17,080 our aid and expound these truths to us, the way you intended 38 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,680 these things to be learned and explained. 39 00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:23,280 May it come forth by the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. 40 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:28,440 And we ask, Lord, that you would hover over every heart and make 41 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:32,160 it the right soil to receive the seed, so that it can germinate 42 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:35,520 and become the harvest that You desire from us. 43 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,520 We thank you, O Lord, that everything we learned today. 44 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:42,880 Is on the basis of your grace and mercy, your love, the love 45 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:46,680 that initiated everything that we are enjoying in this moment. 46 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,680 We ask, Lord, that you would receive the glory that is your 47 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:53,480 due as we respond to this word in Jesus. 48 00:02:53,480 --> 00:03:02,880 Name Amen First Kings Chapter 8 Solomon spoke to God First Kings 49 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:07,360 Chapter 9. God speaks to Solomon, and I 50 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:11,960 want you from the outset to consider verse one and look at 51 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,280 the timing in which this divine manifestation occurred. 52 00:03:15,640 --> 00:03:19,760 We read again as soon as Solomon had finished building the House 53 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:23,560 of the Lord and the King's house and all that Solomon desire to 54 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:26,440 build. The Lord appeared to Solomon a 55 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:31,840 second time. When was the first time when 56 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:34,400 Solomon became King of First Kings, Chapter 3, and he sought 57 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:38,040 the Lord for wisdom, and he did so in Gibeon. 58 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,080 The Lord appeared to him at Gibeon. 59 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:44,680 In what way? Through a dream by the night. 60 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:47,560 And so here we're saying we're being told that this happened at 61 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,480 Gibeon the same way that it happened at Gibeon back in 62 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,080 Chapter 3. So it's through a dream at 63 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:53,920 night. But when did it happen? 64 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:57,400 As soon as Solomon finished building all those major 65 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,000 projects, Then the Lord in his perfect wisdom decided to 66 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:06,240 manifest himself to the King, to not just explain his delight of 67 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:09,080 what was just accomplished for his name, but to also provide 68 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:13,960 warning, to provide warning that Solomon would. 69 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:17,680 Continue on the path of faithfulness and that He would 70 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:21,600 finish well. God is concerned not just of 71 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,360 what we have done, what we're even doing in the moment. 72 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,480 God is concerned about all of us finishing well. 73 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,960 He wants us to all finish and faithfulness and devotion to 74 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,960 Him. And the Lord appears to Solomon 75 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:38,240 to encourage him on that path at a very strategic juncture, one 76 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:39,920 that you and I also have to consider. 77 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,680 The Lord appears to Solomon brings himself before him at a 78 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:49,720 time of great accomplishment, at a time when Solomon is advancing 79 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:53,240 with unprecedented success. The Lord chooses to come at this 80 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:55,880 time and say, hey Solomon. Don't forget about me. 81 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:58,640 Hey, Solomon. Remember Me? 82 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,040 Hey Solomon, remember my word. Solomon, remember the conditions 83 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:04,800 of the blessings that you are enjoying at this time. 84 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:09,280 It's not very difficult to seek the Lord when things are falling 85 00:05:09,280 --> 00:05:11,240 apart. It's very difficult to seek the 86 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,120 Lord and keep Him before you. When everything is going 87 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:18,400 extremely well, everything is going very, very well. 88 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,400 For Solomon, humanly speaking, even spiritually speaking, he is 89 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:24,640 obeying the Lord, at least to this degree, with the temple 90 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:29,560 honoring His name, fulfilling the promise that was made, the 91 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:31,480 command that was made to build a house. 92 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,360 That's all done. But Solomon has to understand 93 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:39,000 something as you move forward. Keep me before you. 94 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,160 You know, David Solomon's father sent something incredible in 95 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:45,080 Psalm 16, verse eight. He says I have set the Lord 96 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:48,600 always right. Did he say sometimes before me? 97 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:50,920 Did he say on Sunday morning before me? 98 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:52,800 Did he say Sunday morning, Wednesday night prayer, and 99 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:54,040 Friday night Bible study before me? 100 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:57,760 I have set the Lord always before me. 101 00:05:57,960 --> 00:05:59,080 Always. What does that mean? 102 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:05,680 I've put the Lord as priority, as my focus, as my goal, as my 103 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:09,240 motivation. I filter every event in life 104 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:10,640 through the Lord because He's before me. 105 00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:13,920 And that's a choice David made. That's a choice you and I have 106 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:17,400 to make every single day. And the rest of that verse, in 107 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:20,520 that Psalm chose and declares the reward of doing so. 108 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:24,960 I have set the Lord always before me because he is at my 109 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,000 right hand. I shall what? 110 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:31,200 Never be shaken, Never be shaken? 111 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:34,560 Implying what? That when you choose to put God 112 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:39,480 first, always, God promises you to never be removed from His 113 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,800 perfect will for your life. You'll never be shaken. 114 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:46,360 You'll never be intimidated. You'll never have to fear being 115 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:48,920 outside of his perfect provision, his perfect 116 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:53,800 protection and the abundant life that he promised those who abide 117 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:57,440 in the vine. I have set the Lord always 118 00:06:57,440 --> 00:06:59,200 before me. And here's the Lord saying 119 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,440 something with that truth in essence. 120 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:06,800 Solomon, don't forget about me. Don't forget about my word, 121 00:07:06,840 --> 00:07:10,800 Believer, tonight. What a wonderful exhortation 122 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:15,360 leading up to the New Year. Don't you lose sight of God and 123 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:20,120 His word ever, and especially when you're when your heart is 124 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:25,440 riding on the thrills of achievements and milestones that 125 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:30,120 you've passed in life. That should only exhilarate and 126 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:34,440 exalt God more in your heart, not diminish his presence and 127 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,240 who he is in your day-to-day life. 128 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:38,960 So this is what the Lord is doing. 129 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:42,120 He's essentially telling Solomon, I am pleased with what 130 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:44,640 you have done, but you have to understand I want you to 131 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:47,040 continue and notice what he says here in verse three. 132 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,880 And the Lord said to him. I have heard your prayer and 133 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:52,800 your plea. Pause and just simmer. 134 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:56,880 There consider the wonder of that statement. 135 00:07:56,960 --> 00:08:01,080 I have heard your prayer and your plea. 136 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:04,440 The God of heaven heard the voice of A. 137 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:08,560 Creature on Earth? That's amazing. 138 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:10,760 That's astounding. That's fascinating. 139 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:13,840 And Lord, assure Solomon that he did in fact hear him. 140 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:16,800 He did in fact hear every word that he said, every request that 141 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,440 he made. And he in fact also says, I'm 142 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:21,080 going to do something about that request. 143 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,680 Here's a simple truth, but so incredible at the same time. 144 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:30,160 When you and I speak to God, we can expect for him to hear, you 145 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:33,240 can expect him to hear, and you can expect him to answer in one 146 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:34,480 way or another. Doesn't mean that he's going to 147 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:36,200 answer in the same way that he did with Solomon. 148 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:40,840 But the same invitation that God gives to this royal king to pray 149 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:44,000 and to be heard and to have an answer to that prayer is the 150 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,560 same invitation that's extended to you and I as well. 151 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:49,440 We are. Invited to have that kind of 152 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:52,640 experience with God, to seek him, to offer these prayers to 153 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:56,040 them and forgot to answer them in His perfect way. 154 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:58,880 But look how the Lord answers. What stands out to you. 155 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:01,160 Apart from I've heard your prayer and your plea, which you 156 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:04,000 have made before me, I've consecrated this house that you 157 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:05,240 have built. Wonderful. 158 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,960 Look what he says. By putting my name there 159 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:13,680 forever, my eyes and my heart will be there for all time. 160 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:20,040 My eyes and my heart. He could have just said my eyes, 161 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,000 right? But he doesn't just say my eyes, 162 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,360 He says my eyes and my heart. Why do you think that's 163 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,080 significant? I'll give you a hint. 164 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:32,200 Consider First Kings, Chapter 8. Consider within First Kings, 165 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:34,840 chapter 8. What Solomon's request to the 166 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:42,440 Lord was concerning this house? OK. 167 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:47,880 There's there's more there. When Solomon asked the Lord to 168 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:51,720 do something for the house or toward the house, what did he 169 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:54,920 ask specifically? It's in chapter 8. 170 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:59,680 Another hint, it's in the 20s of the verses. 171 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:09,040 I'll give you a few more seconds, OK, verse. 29 Look at 172 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,240 the specific request of Solomon makes when he prayed to the 173 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:12,480 Lord. What? 174 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:18,840 Did he ask that your eyes may be open night and day toward this 175 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:20,120 house? This is what? 176 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:21,800 He asked. Any. 177 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:25,960 Mention of the heart. Did he say, Lord, your eyes and 178 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:27,600 your heart toward this house? Did he say that? 179 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:29,040 Did he ask that? No, He just said, Lord, your 180 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:32,160 eyes just asking for your attention to be on this place. 181 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:34,720 I'm asking that you wouldn't forsake us or turn your back on 182 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:36,600 this place, that your blessing would forever remain. 183 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:41,920 As you hold this place in your sight, you know what the Lord 184 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,280 does. And answering, Solomon's Prairie 185 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:45,800 says. I won't just give you my eyes, 186 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:49,480 I'll give you my heart with it. I won't just give you my eyes. 187 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:52,000 I'm going to give you my heart. What does that say? 188 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:53,320 What does that testify about God? 189 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:55,880 A pattern that you see throughout the Scriptures, that 190 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:58,920 when you and I ask of the Lord, He goes above and beyond. 191 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:03,280 When you and I ask the Lord, he answers with surplus that in his 192 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:06,800 enjoyment he gives an excess man. 193 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:08,480 This is this has happened more than once with Solomon. 194 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:10,760 Remember what Solomon asked in First Kings chapter three? 195 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,320 He asked the Lord for what? Crown me with what? 196 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:18,040 Give me wisdom. What did the Lord say in 197 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:19,680 response to him in First Kings chapter 3? 198 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,320 You're going to get discernment. You're going to get discretion 199 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:24,920 between good and evil. But I'm going to give you what 200 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:26,800 you didn't ask for. Remember that. 201 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:29,880 I'm going to give you riches. I'm going to give you all these 202 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:32,600 other things on top of what you asked for. 203 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,600 This is the character of God that not only is he willing to 204 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:38,360 meet our request, but in his infinite goodness, he's willing 205 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:40,560 to pour out even more saying why? 206 00:11:40,560 --> 00:11:43,120 Because he's good, He's good, that's why. 207 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:48,480 Because he delights and providing and flourishing and 208 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,640 showering us with his presence and his goodness and his 209 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:53,920 blessings. So he tells. 210 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,240 He tells Solomon. Not just my eyes. 211 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:59,160 I'll give you my heart. Toward this place. 212 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,040 Oh, what did that do to Solomon? Oh, I don't know. 213 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:05,120 I'm telling you what it would have done for me and say, oh 214 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:07,080 wow, Lord, you're willing to do that even? 215 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:10,320 Yes, I'm willing to do that. So how can prayer be something 216 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:13,680 that you're hesitant to do when the option is constantly there 217 00:12:13,680 --> 00:12:16,080 that the Lord is willing to do more than? 218 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:19,360 What do you even ask? Bless more than you ask him to 219 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:21,000 bless. Empower more than he's willing. 220 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:24,160 More than you're asking him to empower even more. 221 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:26,480 So he says. I'm going to give you my heart 222 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:28,080 that tells me something else over the Lord. 223 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:29,840 He could have just said, I'll give you my eyes and that would 224 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:31,560 have been great. That would have been consistent 225 00:12:31,560 --> 00:12:33,240 with the faithfulness of God and the goodness of God. 226 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,680 But He's He's not just saying. I'm going to give you my duty of 227 00:12:36,680 --> 00:12:40,080 observing and protecting and shielding and giving what is. 228 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:42,040 Necessary for this House to remain consecrated. 229 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:44,600 My heart is going to be attached to my duty. 230 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:46,240 I'm going to delight in doing this. 231 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:49,680 God. Has a heart behind what he does. 232 00:12:49,680 --> 00:12:53,720 He's not a cosmic robot and. Prayers aren't. 233 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:56,080 Coins that you put into the slot. 234 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:58,600 And if you just do it with the right amount and you do it at 235 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:00,840 the right time, then he'll dish out what you're asking for. 236 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:04,000 No, his heart is behind his willingness to partner with us 237 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:06,000 in advancing purposes for his glory. 238 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,280 I'm just going to give you eyes. I'm going to give you my heart 239 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:11,160 with it toward this place. I'd love to know that God's 240 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:13,320 heart is connected behind his works. 241 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:17,720 His heart is connected behind. There's a there's a heartbeat 242 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:22,360 behind his promises and his commands toward us and. 243 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,320 Solomon hears this, says, I'm going to give you what you 244 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:27,320 didn't even ask for, and that's something you and I can expect 245 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:32,200 for ourselves. But now, with these wonderful 246 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:37,600 assurances, the Lord is going to tell Solomon that he must also 247 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,880 continue to adhere to things. That if he's going to continue 248 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:42,840 to enjoy what the Lord has in store for him. 249 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:45,600 So it's it's wonderful that Solomon had obeyed up to this 250 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:47,240 point, but the Lord is interested. 251 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:51,880 In wanting Solomon to keep going, as I said earlier, and so 252 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:55,040 he gives these commands, he gives us encouragement and he 253 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:59,080 gives a warning. And the encouragement here has a 254 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,840 promise of reward for obedience. And then there is a warning of 255 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:04,680 the consequences for disobedience. 256 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:05,640 So. Here how. 257 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:08,360 Here's how he begins with the reward for obedience, verse 4. 258 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:12,800 And As for you, if you walk before me as David your father 259 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,320 walked with. Integrity of heart and 260 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:16,960 uprightness. Doing according to all that I've 261 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:19,240 commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules. 262 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:31,600 Pause, pause, pause if you do. As who David, so the Lord 263 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,320 points. To Solomon's father. 264 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:39,560 David as a model to emulate in terms of faithfulness, integrity 265 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:43,520 and longevity of devotion to the Lord. 266 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:48,040 You and I have studied David's life carefully and long enough 267 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,560 to be very familiar with his personal failures. 268 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:54,000 Have we not? How can the Lord point to David 269 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:59,960 as an example of righteousness and practical holiness, knowing 270 00:14:59,960 --> 00:15:04,080 that he had many trip UPS and a major fall that would have 271 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:08,400 ripple effects for generations? How is the Lord thinking here? 272 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:13,720 What do we know about God if he again is pointing to David as an 273 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:15,360 example? Any idea? 274 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:19,960 Yes, go ahead. He doesn't expect you to be 275 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:23,920 perfect, but he just. Expects you to go to the very, 276 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:28,480 very well put sinless perfection is impossible on this side of 277 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:33,280 heaven for any person, David, you and I, except for the person 278 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,120 of the Lord Jesus Christ, who walked on this earth perfectly. 279 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,840 It's impossible. So the Lord here is not pointing 280 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:45,280 to this clean, Immaculate record that David was without sin. 281 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:47,520 No, no. He's pointed at David because 282 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:50,400 there's something about David's heart that David that God longs 283 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:52,560 for all of his servants to possess. 284 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:55,960 What is it about David? What is it that made him so 285 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,960 unique? He was persistently repentant, 286 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:05,840 persistently contrite in heart, persistently returning to the 287 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:10,480 Lord after his failure. That is what the Lord is after. 288 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:15,200 Not that we have permission to fail, but what God longs for is 289 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:18,440 that if we do fail, we would never fail to repent. 290 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:23,080 If you do fail, not when that you're premeditating to fail. 291 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:26,560 If you do fail. John speaks about if we sin, if 292 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:29,440 we do fail, that in our failure we would not fail to turn back 293 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:31,560 to the Lord. David did that. 294 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:35,160 David had psalms about that, and that is what moved God's heart 295 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:38,160 to honor him and even honor him before others. 296 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:42,960 A man who is broken, penitent, always realizing what sin really 297 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:45,480 does ultimate to your relationship with the Lord, and 298 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:48,320 you turning back to him when you fail, seeking to never repeat it 299 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:51,040 again. Solomon, that's what I'm after. 300 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:53,800 I saw it in your father. And I want you to walk in those 301 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:58,280 steps where if you do fail, you would learn how to repent, that 302 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:02,240 your loyalty to me would be proven in turning back to me. 303 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:04,640 Even for a moment, your glance turns away from me. 304 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:08,839 Isn't that refreshing? Isn't that wonderful to know 305 00:17:09,839 --> 00:17:11,640 and? Again, that if that moves you to 306 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:14,680 say well, gone, OK, I have AI have a little bit of loophole 307 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:17,319 here that I can take it. You you got to reconsider Jesus 308 00:17:17,319 --> 00:17:20,359 Christ altogether. But if you understand the heart 309 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:22,560 of God in this, then that moves you to be holy. 310 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:26,119 And even as you pursue that and seek that, and you fall along 311 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:29,920 the way, you can be assured that the Lord will still honor you 312 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,080 because, like David, you turned back to him. 313 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:35,000 And this is what Solomon had to do. 314 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:36,560 Question. Did Solomon do that? 315 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:42,000 Interestingly, Solomon sinned, but he sinned in a way that 316 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,360 David never sinned. Sin is still sin. 317 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:50,880 David never worshipped idols. He lied a lot. 318 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:53,600 He fell into lust. He committed murder. 319 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:54,960 But he never did what Solomon did. 320 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:59,120 And according if you just look at the record of kings, you'll 321 00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:02,280 find that Solomon will die in apostasy and there is no 322 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:05,400 indication that he died being devoted to the Lord. 323 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:09,440 It's a very, very sad sight. So the very standard that the 324 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:13,240 Lord gifts to Solomon, which again is not perfection, though 325 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,560 we should strive to be perfect, as our Father in heaven is 326 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:20,160 perfect just to be repentant and constantly leaning on the mercy 327 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:22,800 and grace of Lord of the Lord, even He couldn't do that. 328 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:26,640 At least in the record of Kings when you throw in Ecclesiastes, 329 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,560 there's debate about how Solomon might have ended his life. 330 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:32,760 But if you just look at this account doesn't end well for 331 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:34,440 Solomon. Just. 332 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:37,280 Just walk like you're father, David walked. 333 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,360 And this is this is the promise if Solomon does this and his 334 00:18:41,360 --> 00:18:43,800 successors. Follow in those steps as well. 335 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:46,520 They would secure perpetual rule. 336 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,400 In the throne, they would. Remain on the throne in the 337 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:52,760 land. This is what they had to do, and 338 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:55,120 this is a wonderful promise associated with it. 339 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,800 But now this positive promise is followed by -1. 340 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:05,120 Verse 6 But if you turn aside from following me. 341 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:08,280 You are your children, and do not keep My commandments and My 342 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:11,360 statutes that I've said before you, but go and serve other Gods 343 00:19:11,360 --> 00:19:14,560 and worship them and for the. Rest of these verses there. 344 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:17,360 Are three particular repercussions that the Lord 345 00:19:17,360 --> 00:19:19,920 spells out to Solomon. Let's identify them. 346 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:21,320 The first one here is in verse seven. 347 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:24,480 Then I will cut off from Israel from the I will cut off Israel 348 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:26,160 from the land. That's. 349 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:29,880 Number one, I will cut off Israel from the land. 350 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:33,520 There will be a deportation. You will be exiled. 351 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:36,080 You will be removed from the promised land. 352 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:39,480 I will remove Israel from the land that I have given them. 353 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:43,040 Secondly, and the house that I have consecrated for my name I 354 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:45,960 will cast out of my sight. So not just a removal of the 355 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:48,040 people from the land, but a destruction of the House of God. 356 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:53,000 This beautiful adorned, this project that years went into. 357 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,840 God says I'm willing to bring it down to rubble if you turn from 358 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:59,520 me. So exile from the land #1, the 359 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:01,440 destruction of the temple. And here's the last one. 360 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:05,600 And Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 361 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:08,600 In. Other words, the nation and the 362 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:11,880 people of Israel will become the object of scorn and ridicule. 363 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:14,280 In the sight of the neighboring nations. 364 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:18,120 For how low they will be brought because of their sin, it will be 365 00:20:18,120 --> 00:20:21,840 a reason for the other nations to look upon them with disdain. 366 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:25,800 And to mock them and to say many things about them. 367 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:30,440 These are heavy consequences, he goes on to say. 368 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:33,680 And elaborates and this house in verse A will become a heap of. 369 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:38,160 Ruins, everyone passing by will be astonished and will hiss, and 370 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:41,760 they will say, Why has the Lord done this, done thus, to this 371 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:47,000 land and to this house, Solomon, if you obey, you will know 372 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:50,440 perpetual blessing, success for generations to come, if. 373 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:54,200 You turn aside a persistent rebellion and apostasy. 374 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:55,880 Say. Goodbye to the land. 375 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,840 Say goodbye to the temple, and I say goodbye to the holy 376 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:02,640 reputation you could have maintained if you had just 377 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:06,280 obeyed what I had said and watched the nations look at you 378 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:12,600 in a light that you do not want. I I step back from this and I 379 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:14,760 looked at this and I. Thought if I read this in 380 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:18,000 isolation, I can come to very, very strong conclusions about 381 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,800 the fate of Israel the. Future of Israel. 382 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:23,880 But it's a whole different story when you consider the whole 383 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:25,880 council of God. Here's the question that I 384 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:28,960 proposed to you in light of these verses, both the positive 385 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:32,200 promise and the severe consequences. 386 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:34,120 Is. The Lord namely about the 387 00:21:34,120 --> 00:21:37,800 consequences, speaking about a permanent punishment. 388 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:42,000 Or is she speaking about a temporal act of discipline 389 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:46,360 somebody? Peeped out temporal. 390 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:51,840 Is this a permanent punishment, or is this a temporal act of 391 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,520 discipline? This is where knowing our Bibles 392 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:57,760 will come in handy especially. When things like in our culture 393 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:01,280 are taking place temporal. Temporal. 394 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:01,920 Temporal. Temporal. 395 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:04,720 OK, Any idea why Temporal any? Proof. 396 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:06,800 In Scripture, that this is this is Temporal God. 397 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:10,040 Is love God? Is love? 398 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:12,760 Well, we can say God is love about a lot of things, but God 399 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:14,320 in his love is going to throw people into hell. 400 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:18,880 His mercy is. Prophecy where he will say when 401 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:21,360 you go to that land, if you turn back then. 402 00:22:21,360 --> 00:22:25,440 OK, so there are conditions for restoration, so there isn't a 403 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:28,280 permanent cut off. Even if they do head this way 404 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:31,560 toward apostasy, which they will do very good. 405 00:22:32,120 --> 00:22:34,520 I'm looking for something to sink my teeth into. 406 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,920 I'm looking for verses. I'm looking for something to 407 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:41,320 point to, something that I want to see it in my Bible. 408 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:41,920 Right. These are good. 409 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:44,000 That was a good one, brother. I'm not disqualifying that. 410 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:49,240 But give me We want to be informed about this because. 411 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:55,720 It's important for many reasons. Yes, very, very good. 412 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:58,000 Romans 11, Sister, you went straight for the jugular. 413 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:00,480 Well, that's good. Well. 414 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:02,720 I did ask. We'll get there in a moment. 415 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:06,600 We'll get there in a moment. But Paul is not pulling Romans 416 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:09,240 11 out of thin air, is he? No, he's not. 417 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:11,640 Paul knows his Old Testament very well. 418 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:17,560 He knows he knows the theological realities concerning 419 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:21,920 the subject extremely well. Can I show you a verses? 420 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:24,960 There's many verses to go to, but can I show you a collection 421 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:27,720 of verses in? One place that ties so 422 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:30,440 beautifully with this warning because. 423 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:35,960 We see these very warnings come to fruition at one point, 424 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:38,480 especially in Israel's history. Tell me which one it is. 425 00:23:39,360 --> 00:23:41,760 What happens? At what point did they be? 426 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:44,000 Were they removed from the land? The temple was destroyed and the 427 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:49,080 neighboring nations mocked them. Babylonian exile. 428 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:51,920 There were two exiles the northern tribes were exiled 429 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:56,280 through and by whom the Syrians came in, but the major one, the 430 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:59,400 major one that touched the core of the nation. 431 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:01,440 Because. Of Jerusalem and the Temple was 432 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:05,480 the Babylonian Exile, and the Babylonian Exile was warned 433 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:09,960 about as a final set of warning and eventually manifested in the 434 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:13,720 days of Jeremiah and Jeremiah's day. 435 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:17,200 People heard and were being prepared, though they'd some 436 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:18,800 many of them didn't believe it would happen. 437 00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:21,440 But. Some heard what Jeremiah to say 438 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:23,760 that they were going. To be removed from the land. 439 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:26,920 That what what God warned here actually manifested and came to 440 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:28,400 pass. And you know what happened. 441 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:34,360 There was a popular opinion that was swirling around concerning 442 00:24:34,360 --> 00:24:38,200 the identity and the fate of Israel as a result of God's 443 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:40,960 punishment in the way that he spells out in First Kings nine. 444 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:43,640 Can I show it to you? Turn with me to Jeremiah chapter 445 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:54,640 33 and let's read here together in verse 23, Jeremiah 3323, May 446 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:57,720 God Equip us and Allow Us and empower. 447 00:24:57,720 --> 00:24:58,600 Us. To. 448 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:01,560 Recall these verses and remember them when they need to be 449 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:07,160 remembered. Jeremiah 3323 This is so 450 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:11,640 powerful. We read the word of the Lord 451 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:16,800 came to Jeremiah. Have you not observed that these 452 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:22,240 people are saying the Lord has rejected the two clans that He 453 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:26,760 chose? Thus they have despised my 454 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:30,520 people so that they are no longer a nation in their sight. 455 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:34,000 So what's happening? People are beginning to say, 456 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,000 because this is what's going to happen to Israel, because of 457 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:38,720 their apostasy, because of their rebellion, because of their sin, 458 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:43,840 God has cast off Israel, not in a temporal sense, but in a 459 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:49,400 permanent sense, that they would be no longer regarded as God's 460 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:53,040 people and that they would even no longer be recognized as a 461 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,480 nation. Does this sound familiar? 462 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:58,640 It doesn't. It does sound familiar. 463 00:26:00,120 --> 00:26:06,160 And so here's what the masses believed, evidently based on 464 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:11,280 Israel's spiritual condition here and what God's going to do 465 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:13,880 with them. Then God's done with them. 466 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:17,880 It's over. And the Lord says something very 467 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:24,920 powerful, He says. They have despised my people so 468 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:27,160 that they are no longer a nation in their sight. 469 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:31,440 By refusing to acknowledge them as a people, not just the 470 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:34,240 people, people who have a covenant with God, they're being 471 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:39,920 despised. And then he goes on to say. 472 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:42,720 Thus says the Lord. I'm going to respond to this 473 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:45,800 opinion. Thus says the Lord, If I have 474 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:50,000 not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed 475 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:53,680 order of heaven and earth, then I will reject the offspring of 476 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:56,720 Jacob and David, my servant, and will not choose one of his 477 00:26:56,720 --> 00:27:00,480 offspring to rule over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and 478 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:02,120 Jacob. You know what he's saying here. 479 00:27:02,120 --> 00:27:05,120 It's very simple. My covenant with Israel is as 480 00:27:05,120 --> 00:27:08,240 fixed as my covenant with the order of nature. 481 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:17,400 My covenant with Israel is as fixed as my covenant is with the 482 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:19,960 order of day and night, with the order of nature. 483 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:25,000 Then he goes on to say. For I will restore their 484 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:28,720 fortunes. And will have mercy on them. 485 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:33,960 I will do it. You know what's so significant 486 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:35,680 about this? This is being declared in the 487 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:39,360 context of severe punishment coming to Israel. 488 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:42,800 This is not in the context of them walking faithfully before 489 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:45,320 God. This is in the context of them 490 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:52,000 ready to receive the most brutal punishment they can receive as a 491 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:54,640 people who have been given a land, have been given a House of 492 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:57,640 worship, have been given a reputation and responsibility 493 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:01,200 toward the nations. And so this is what God says. 494 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:04,040 And for some reason when you when you say something like 495 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:07,720 that, Christians tend to translate it as then we have to 496 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:10,000 approve everything that the people of Israel do, whether 497 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:13,360 that be sinful or idolatry, idolatry or idolatrous. 498 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:17,120 No God is saying this. Ready to punish them. 499 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:21,840 God is saying this while they are going to be chastised the 500 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:24,480 idea of covenant with Israel. Does. 501 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:28,240 Not excuse, sinful behavior, apostasy or idolatry. 502 00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:31,960 It's that's not the case at all. People view View this. 503 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:35,440 This, this conversation with a very simplistic frame of mind 504 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:38,520 and argumentation. You look at revelation and we're 505 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:42,600 talking about the city in which in Chapter 11, the two witnesses 506 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:45,720 will declare the word of the Lord with great signs and power. 507 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:50,400 And the Holy Spirit writes that the place in which they'll do 508 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:54,000 it, which is Jerusalem, which is the holy City, is called Sodom 509 00:28:54,000 --> 00:29:01,400 in Egypt, spiritually speaking. So God can condemn behavior, God 510 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:04,400 can convict. God can even exercise His 511 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:06,480 judgment. But. 512 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:09,640 To say that sin. Namely, Israel's. 513 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:13,200 Sin can reach a point where it completely deletes all. 514 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:16,840 The declaration that God has made concerning their fathers is 515 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:20,000 a grave mistake is a serious mistake. 516 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:24,680 It's a misguided opinion and a skewed theological idea. 517 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:28,000 Because even the Lord doesn't believe it. 518 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:30,160 So that how? How do we understand that? 519 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:33,440 How do we understand these consequences that seem to 520 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:38,360 indicate being cast off, being rejected, not continuing to 521 00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:41,960 enjoy the promises that God has declared to David and declared 522 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:43,960 to Abraham? I think this one verse helps a 523 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:46,560 lot. In Hosea chapter 3, verse four, 524 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:52,680 we see here that another prophet describes what this punishment 525 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:59,080 looks like in terms of timing, in terms of how far it goes. 526 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:05,360 Here's just one example in Hosea chapter 3, verse four, for the 527 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:09,880 children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or 528 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:12,760 Prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or 529 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:17,560 household gods. So Hosea is declaring that it's 530 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:21,760 possible for there to be long periods of time where the people 531 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:25,800 of Israel will not know, King will not know our righteous 532 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:28,120 governance, will not know a place of worship, will not know 533 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:30,440 a sacrificial system. Along. 534 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:33,280 With other things, it's possible for there to be a stretch of 535 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:36,400 time where this is not a reality for the people of Israel. 536 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:38,360 And. That's what's happened in 537 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:40,440 Israel's history. That's what's happened to Israel 538 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:45,280 post Bible times, where there was a stretch of time and there 539 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:48,400 is a time now where this is a reality. 540 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:51,720 And it was true then. For many, many years, many 541 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:53,480 centuries, they didn't know these things. 542 00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:55,720 And that's what God is warning about. 543 00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:58,600 I am willing to put a pause on these blessings. 544 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:04,480 Your your lack of repentance, your sin, your idolatry is able 545 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:09,000 to interrupt what I'm willing to give you without end and without 546 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:10,800 stop. Does this make sense tonight? 547 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:14,280 So it's possible for the children of Israel to go many, 548 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:18,600 many days without knowing even the things that are secured by 549 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:23,440 covenant. And I can hear it. 550 00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:26,720 I can hear it. I can hear it on YouTube. 551 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:28,960 I can read it. I can see it. 552 00:31:29,280 --> 00:31:31,240 I'm not a prophet nor a son of a prophet. 553 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:37,840 These are Old Testament verses. These are pre Christ. 554 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:45,120 Pre cross, pre gospel, pre resurrection, pre inception, pre 555 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:49,680 inception of the church. Surely when the Messiah comes to 556 00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:53,880 his people and they reject them, that would be the final straw. 557 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:58,080 That would be the line crossed, the line of no return. 558 00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:01,520 That would be where the people of Israel with all the things 559 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:05,680 that were connected to them will evaporate and have evaporated. 560 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:12,240 So we got to find some evidence. Post cross post gospel, post 561 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:15,960 crucifixion, post church. Is there anywhere we can find 562 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:19,320 where we get? Clarification about God's 563 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:22,040 dealing with the nation of Israel, Well, our sister already 564 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:24,480 referenced it. Let's look at just verse one of 565 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:29,800 Romans 11. Here's the New Testament version 566 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:33,760 of Jeremiah 3323 to 26, along with other verses in the Old 567 00:32:33,760 --> 00:32:35,680 Testament. Here's what Paul says in Romans 568 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:41,080 11 verse one. What does he say? 569 00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:45,320 I ask, Then has. God rejected. 570 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:50,320 Has God rejected his people? By no means. 571 00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:54,840 And here's his first order of proof. 572 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:59,040 Fry myself in an Israelite. In other words, hey, look at me 573 00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:03,040 for I myself in Israelite, a descendant of Abraham. 574 00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:06,160 OK, you can spiritualize. You can spiritualize Israelite. 575 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:09,440 You can probably spiritualize, spiritualize. 576 00:33:09,440 --> 00:33:10,920 Descendant of Abraham. But he goes even further. 577 00:33:10,920 --> 00:33:12,960 He goes I I'm a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 578 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:15,640 Like I'm trying to hone in as closely as possible to my 579 00:33:15,640 --> 00:33:19,480 fleshly identity here. I'm an Israelite, I'm a 580 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:21,720 descendant of Abraham, and I'll tell you which tribe I'm from. 581 00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:25,640 Paul is not speaking about a spiritual Israel here, he's 582 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:27,240 speaking about flesh and blood Israel. 583 00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:30,240 He's speaking about being an actual physical descendant of 584 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:34,520 this ethnic people group. And by God's grace, at some 585 00:33:34,520 --> 00:33:36,360 point we will talk about Romans 11. 586 00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:40,680 But let's just Fast forward through all of that and go to 587 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:45,280 what I believe is the clearest New Testament statement about 588 00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:49,600 this, what some people would deem A controversial theological 589 00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:52,600 discussion and topic. Verse 28. 590 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:56,360 What? Is Paul saying the same breath 591 00:33:57,080 --> 00:34:01,200 of Romans 11 verse one speaking about the Jewish people, the 592 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:05,480 people of Israel? As regards the gospel. 593 00:34:06,240 --> 00:34:08,920 They are enemies of God, for your sake, in other words. 594 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:12,400 In the rejection of the Messiah and the rejection of this gospel 595 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:16,560 that saves this eternal gospel that has been prophesied about 596 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:20,280 from the beginning of time, they are enemies. 597 00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:24,639 You know what Paul saying there? They are in rebellion. 598 00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:32,800 They are in a bad position. They are standing as enemies 599 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:35,800 before God in terms of the truth that they are rejecting, and 600 00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:38,760 they are in need of the gospel. They need to repent. 601 00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:40,719 They. Need to bow their knee to the 602 00:34:40,719 --> 00:34:42,600 Lord Jesus Christ. They need to be washed by the 603 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:46,520 blood of the Lamb of God. They need the gospel. 604 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:50,360 They need to see. The truth and give themselves to 605 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:52,920 this truth. Paul is not dismissing that 606 00:34:52,920 --> 00:34:54,120 idea. He's not. 607 00:34:54,560 --> 00:34:57,840 He's not in defense of the people still having a connection 608 00:34:57,840 --> 00:35:00,880 to God's purposes of plan, saying that they are exempt from 609 00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:03,040 the gospel. You know, there are some people 610 00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:06,120 who would say that and believe that that because of the history 611 00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:08,800 and the covenants and the promises and the prophets, they 612 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:12,720 are not as urgent to be reached for with the gospel. 613 00:35:12,720 --> 00:35:15,800 That's not Paul's attitude. Absolutely not. 614 00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:19,640 He goes, yes, as regards the gospel, they are enemies for of 615 00:35:19,640 --> 00:35:21,360 God for your sake, but he doesn't finish it there. 616 00:35:21,360 --> 00:35:22,680 Let me tell you something so fascinating. 617 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:25,800 I received a. Link to documentary many weeks 618 00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:29,440 ago, especially when things started to get crazy in the 619 00:35:29,440 --> 00:35:33,880 Middle East and this document is to our documentary was about. 620 00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:35,400 The. Very opposite of what Paul 621 00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:38,560 teached, that Israel is no longer relevant. 622 00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:43,520 Israel has, has, has nothing to do with the new covenant, has 623 00:35:43,520 --> 00:35:46,400 nothing to do with God's future, has nothing to do with 624 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:49,160 eschatology. It's just there's no need to 625 00:35:49,160 --> 00:35:53,000 look at Israel whatsoever and consider them as a distinct, 626 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:56,840 separate group that God has a special purpose and plan for. 627 00:35:57,200 --> 00:35:57,720 You know what? I was? 628 00:35:57,720 --> 00:36:00,120 I clicked play and I thought to myself, I wonder if they're 629 00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:03,160 going to go to Romans 11. I wonder if they're going to go 630 00:36:03,160 --> 00:36:05,880 to Romans 11. They went to different places. 631 00:36:05,920 --> 00:36:12,120 And finally they quoted Romans 11, Romans 11, and can we go put 632 00:36:12,120 --> 00:36:14,680 that verse back up there, Romans 11/28? 633 00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:17,200 I said no way. How are they going to explain 634 00:36:17,200 --> 00:36:18,720 this? And here's what happened. 635 00:36:19,560 --> 00:36:22,760 This is what happened as regards the gospel. 636 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:24,440 They are enemies of God for your sake. 637 00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:26,760 They stop and they say see their enemies of the gospel. 638 00:36:28,480 --> 00:36:29,760 That's what they did in the documentary. 639 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:32,200 They didn't. Finish the rest of the verse. 640 00:36:33,440 --> 00:36:35,040 You can make the Bible say anything. 641 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:37,880 If you can cut verses in half, you can say whatever you want. 642 00:36:37,880 --> 00:36:39,840 You can come up with any school of thought. 643 00:36:39,840 --> 00:36:43,000 Any you can dismantle the deity of Christ by doing that to the 644 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:46,520 Bible. Finish it. 645 00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:50,280 But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of 646 00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:57,680 their forefathers. In terms of election, God made a 647 00:36:57,680 --> 00:37:00,440 promise to the forefathers of this people group, and because 648 00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:02,600 of his love for them, he's going to keep those promises. 649 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:04,440 He's. Going to keep those promises. 650 00:37:05,320 --> 00:37:08,920 This is not as much about the people of Israel as much as it 651 00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:13,200 is about the God of this people. The God of Israel. 652 00:37:14,920 --> 00:37:17,520 But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of 653 00:37:17,520 --> 00:37:19,920 their forefathers. I made certain promises to this 654 00:37:19,920 --> 00:37:22,400 people group. And I'm going to see it through 655 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:24,320 because my faithfulness is on the line. 656 00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:27,200 My. Reputation is on the line. 657 00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:30,280 The word that I said I am the Lord who do not change. 658 00:37:30,280 --> 00:37:32,400 I don't change. Malachi 36, You heard it last 659 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:34,600 Sunday. Therefore you will not be 660 00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:37,600 consumed, even in my discipline, against you. 661 00:37:38,960 --> 00:37:41,280 And So what does that mean? Well, if you know, and if you 662 00:37:41,280 --> 00:37:44,000 see the Bible for what is in terms of even the events of the 663 00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:47,440 last days, there needs to be a land with a city called 664 00:37:47,440 --> 00:37:52,920 Jerusalem in it. There needs to be, because Jesus 665 00:37:52,920 --> 00:37:54,920 is going to plant. His feet on the mount of what? 666 00:37:55,480 --> 00:37:58,880 Not Mount Everest? The Mount of Olives. 667 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:03,240 And there's going to be a time when the people that Paul 668 00:38:03,240 --> 00:38:06,760 describes are going to see the one whom they have pierced and 669 00:38:06,760 --> 00:38:09,920 mourn after him. There's going to be a. 670 00:38:09,920 --> 00:38:12,840 Dramatic event that's going to take place in the last days, 671 00:38:12,840 --> 00:38:16,320 that's going to 'cause this people group as a nation to 672 00:38:16,320 --> 00:38:19,520 declare Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the Messiah. 673 00:38:20,880 --> 00:38:23,520 You remove that from your eschatology and and you're going 674 00:38:23,520 --> 00:38:25,560 to have a very different looking eschatology. 675 00:38:27,800 --> 00:38:30,560 And so Romans 11 is key. In fact, Romans 11 is not just 676 00:38:30,560 --> 00:38:33,160 Romans 11. Connect Romans 11 to 910 and 11. 677 00:38:33,360 --> 00:38:36,200 Those are all there to make this main point. 678 00:38:36,960 --> 00:38:40,280 What has God done and what will God do with this people called 679 00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:42,600 Israel in light of the rejection of the Messiah. 680 00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:45,640 And he ends it on this point. He's close to finishing where he 681 00:38:45,640 --> 00:38:49,080 says, look, they are enemies in terms of the gospel. 682 00:38:49,680 --> 00:38:53,520 And so people wonder, well, as a Christian, how should my 683 00:38:53,520 --> 00:38:57,240 attitude be toward this people group, the Jews, the nation, The 684 00:38:57,240 --> 00:39:01,160 same as Paul's. I argue, what was Paul's heart? 685 00:39:01,240 --> 00:39:05,040 Oh, that they would be saved. All the great sacrifices and the 686 00:39:05,040 --> 00:39:07,520 great lengths I'm willing to go to for them, my brethren, to 687 00:39:07,520 --> 00:39:09,960 hear the truth and be saved. You evangelize them. 688 00:39:09,960 --> 00:39:12,200 You pray for them just like anybody else who needs the 689 00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:15,000 gospel that is your mandated mine is the Church of Jesus 690 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:22,080 Christ. And so this is not speaking 691 00:39:22,080 --> 00:39:26,320 about permanent punishment, but a temporal act of discipline. 692 00:39:26,360 --> 00:39:28,880 God spells that out, and Jeremiah 33 many other 693 00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:33,680 scriptures. Hosea. 3-4 tells us by way of 694 00:39:33,680 --> 00:39:36,760 inference about how that would play out. 695 00:39:37,240 --> 00:39:40,280 And Romans 11 and our New Testament declares what these 696 00:39:40,280 --> 00:39:44,400 prophets knew that even in the rebellion of the people of 697 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:49,240 Israel are walking in, that will never irreversibly nullify these 698 00:39:49,240 --> 00:39:53,000 promises because God is going to save this nation. 699 00:39:56,800 --> 00:39:58,080 Let's come back to First Kings 9. 700 00:40:01,120 --> 00:40:03,320 How will Solomon respond to the word of the Lord? 701 00:40:04,920 --> 00:40:08,800 Unfortunately this next section that will be read. 702 00:40:08,800 --> 00:40:13,120 Here is an early indication that he did not take complete heed to 703 00:40:13,120 --> 00:40:14,800 the warnings that were given to him. 704 00:40:17,160 --> 00:40:21,960 Let's read from verse 10. At the end of 20 years in which 705 00:40:21,960 --> 00:40:25,320 Solomon had built the two houses, the House of the Lord 706 00:40:25,320 --> 00:40:28,720 and the King's house, and Hiram, King of Tyre had supplied 707 00:40:28,720 --> 00:40:32,640 Solomon with cedar and Cypress, timber and gold as. 708 00:40:32,640 --> 00:40:37,440 Much as he desired, King Solomon gave to Hiram 20 cities in the 709 00:40:37,440 --> 00:40:41,680 land of Galilee. But when Hiram came from Tyre to 710 00:40:41,680 --> 00:40:46,440 see the cities that Solomon had given him, they did not please 711 00:40:46,440 --> 00:40:49,800 him. Therefore, he said, what kind of 712 00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:52,640 cities are these that you have given me, my brother? 713 00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:56,800 So they are called the land of Kabul to this day, Hiram. 714 00:40:57,240 --> 00:41:00,360 Had. Sent to the king. 120 talents of 715 00:41:00,360 --> 00:41:03,200 gold. Here's the first questionable 716 00:41:03,200 --> 00:41:06,800 decision. A flag, if you will, following 717 00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:08,800 this clear warning from the Lord. 718 00:41:09,640 --> 00:41:12,920 This seems to be a very clear business transaction, right? 719 00:41:14,160 --> 00:41:17,560 Hiram provides certain things to Solomon, and Solomon as a 720 00:41:17,560 --> 00:41:21,960 collateral gives back what the set of cities from the land of 721 00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:24,480 Galilee. Why is this? 722 00:41:25,840 --> 00:41:32,640 A flag. This is the land of Israel. 723 00:41:34,640 --> 00:41:38,040 No king, no person, no matter how influential, no matter what 724 00:41:38,040 --> 00:41:42,240 neighboring nations have done, have the right to give away 725 00:41:42,240 --> 00:41:45,840 God's land. This was issued by divine 726 00:41:45,840 --> 00:41:49,360 decree. This was solely for the people 727 00:41:49,360 --> 00:41:51,920 of Israel, and if you want, a reference to. 728 00:41:52,520 --> 00:41:54,440 Solidify what my brother said because what he said is 729 00:41:54,440 --> 00:41:57,800 absolutely true. It's in Leviticus chapter 25 730 00:41:57,880 --> 00:42:01,640 verse 23. It says here the land shall not 731 00:42:01,640 --> 00:42:07,680 be sold, for the land is mine. So God says this is my land. 732 00:42:07,680 --> 00:42:09,160 I'm giving it to you but it belongs to me. 733 00:42:09,640 --> 00:42:11,320 It belongs to me. So. 734 00:42:11,320 --> 00:42:14,680 No Israelite have had any right, especially toward outsiders. 735 00:42:15,000 --> 00:42:17,160 To. Give away portions of God's 736 00:42:17,160 --> 00:42:20,440 promises, the prize that he consecrated for these people. 737 00:42:20,600 --> 00:42:22,720 They didn't have the liberty to do this. 738 00:42:23,520 --> 00:42:25,160 And. Solomon for some reason felt 739 00:42:25,160 --> 00:42:27,320 like he could do this. I mean, there was even a 740 00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:30,280 celebration and event. Called. 741 00:42:30,280 --> 00:42:32,680 The Year of Jubilee. You've heard of this, right? 742 00:42:32,760 --> 00:42:35,160 And then the Year of Jubilee. What would happen is, in very 743 00:42:35,160 --> 00:42:40,560 simple terms, everything that was passed on or given over 744 00:42:40,560 --> 00:42:43,680 through business transactions must return to the original 745 00:42:43,680 --> 00:42:48,560 owners, lest they be deprived of their inheritance, lest they are 746 00:42:48,560 --> 00:42:51,800 cut off separate from that which belonged to them by God's 747 00:42:51,800 --> 00:42:56,960 original declaration. And so they couldn't just do 748 00:42:56,960 --> 00:42:58,360 this. Solomon does this, and I don't 749 00:42:58,360 --> 00:42:59,520 know what's going on through Solomon's mind. 750 00:42:59,520 --> 00:43:00,920 Maybe he thinks they're just 20 cities. 751 00:43:01,160 --> 00:43:05,000 It's not a big deal. But these 20 cities sat on this 752 00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:06,800 property that God had consecrated. 753 00:43:08,160 --> 00:43:09,520 And. Solomon for some reason felt 754 00:43:09,520 --> 00:43:12,640 like he can do this that he even allowed. 755 00:43:12,640 --> 00:43:14,680 Something to happen as you read in verse 16. 756 00:43:14,680 --> 00:43:16,800 Look at verse 16. This is astounding. 757 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:21,880 We read Pharaoh. King of Egypt had. 758 00:43:21,880 --> 00:43:27,600 Gone up and what does he do and. Captured Gazzer and burned it 759 00:43:27,600 --> 00:43:29,560 with fire. Gazzer is in Israel, by the way. 760 00:43:30,800 --> 00:43:33,440 And had killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and had 761 00:43:33,440 --> 00:43:36,680 given it as a dowry to his daughter Solomon's wife. 762 00:43:37,680 --> 00:43:40,400 So at some point the King of Egypt goes into the promised 763 00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:43,120 land. Takes over a city, kills the 764 00:43:43,120 --> 00:43:47,400 remaining Canaanites and takes that city and gives it to an 765 00:43:47,400 --> 00:43:50,760 unbelieving idol worshipping woman. 766 00:43:51,760 --> 00:43:54,000 Solomon's wife. Remember he married her back in 767 00:43:54,000 --> 00:43:58,440 chapter 3. So now even that is given over 768 00:43:58,440 --> 00:44:02,080 to someone who has no right to put their hands on. 769 00:44:03,440 --> 00:44:07,240 What is Solomon thinking? He clearly has a low view of 770 00:44:07,240 --> 00:44:11,080 what God esteems and longs to protect and shield. 771 00:44:12,160 --> 00:44:14,440 And so we see here right away that there is a flag in 772 00:44:14,440 --> 00:44:17,760 Solomon's devotion to the completeness of God's decree and 773 00:44:17,760 --> 00:44:21,520 word. And we look at this and we think 774 00:44:21,520 --> 00:44:24,440 to ourselves, where is this going to go? 775 00:44:24,440 --> 00:44:26,640 Well, it's going to lead to many other things in a moment. 776 00:44:26,840 --> 00:44:29,800 But notice that Solomon was not the only one who had a low view 777 00:44:30,120 --> 00:44:33,560 of the land of promise. What was Hiram's reaction when 778 00:44:33,560 --> 00:44:36,760 he saw these 20 cities? What's this? 779 00:44:38,160 --> 00:44:43,280 Are you serious? We don't know why he said this. 780 00:44:43,280 --> 00:44:45,320 We don't know what it was about these cities that made him feel 781 00:44:45,320 --> 00:44:47,400 this way. But regardless. 782 00:44:48,800 --> 00:44:56,680 That's God's land and and Hiram showed disrespect, disdain and 783 00:44:56,680 --> 00:44:59,800 he lacked the insight of the preciousness of what God had 784 00:44:59,800 --> 00:45:01,280 given his people. You know what? 785 00:45:01,280 --> 00:45:04,640 You learn from that. Don't expect nor be surprised if 786 00:45:04,640 --> 00:45:08,000 the world and the unbelieving don't see the preciousness of 787 00:45:08,000 --> 00:45:10,200 the inheritance that you have in Christ. 788 00:45:10,200 --> 00:45:16,520 Don't be surprised this. Is what Hiram is reflecting as a 789 00:45:16,520 --> 00:45:19,080 gentile, someone separated from the people of God. 790 00:45:19,480 --> 00:45:25,800 He lacks, he lacks the necessary adoration and approval and 791 00:45:25,800 --> 00:45:30,280 acknowledgement that this is a blessing from God and you and I, 792 00:45:30,280 --> 00:45:33,080 as we look out into this world and as this world observes us. 793 00:45:34,480 --> 00:45:36,080 Don't. Expect them to understand the 794 00:45:36,080 --> 00:45:39,960 joy of prayer. Don't expect him to get why you 795 00:45:39,960 --> 00:45:44,720 take your Friday night out of your brief weekend to come here 796 00:45:44,720 --> 00:45:46,920 willingly and actually enjoy this. 797 00:45:48,120 --> 00:45:49,920 The blessing of fellowship. The joy. 798 00:45:50,120 --> 00:45:54,080 The peace of holiness, positionally and practically. 799 00:45:55,080 --> 00:46:00,520 Peter talks about how the world in First Peter 4/4 is surprised 800 00:46:00,680 --> 00:46:02,960 when you do not join them in their filth, in their 801 00:46:02,960 --> 00:46:06,520 debauchery. So they're surprised when you 802 00:46:06,600 --> 00:46:09,520 don't join them on Friday night sinning against God. 803 00:46:10,880 --> 00:46:12,880 And I'm sure they are equally surprised that you're willing to 804 00:46:12,880 --> 00:46:16,720 do this instead of pleasing the flesh and advancing your own 805 00:46:16,720 --> 00:46:19,480 purposes and your own plans and your own priorities. 806 00:46:20,160 --> 00:46:23,720 So Hiram, here is a wonderful illustration of those who are 807 00:46:23,720 --> 00:46:26,200 outside of our relationship with Christ and. 808 00:46:26,560 --> 00:46:29,680 They don't esteem and value what you and I esteem and value. 809 00:46:30,080 --> 00:46:33,400 It's frustrating, yes, but your heart has been made new. 810 00:46:33,400 --> 00:46:35,920 Your heart sees. Your heart has been regenerated. 811 00:46:37,640 --> 00:46:40,720 And so this man here says, I don't even want this. 812 00:46:40,720 --> 00:46:43,040 And you read in the Chronicles account that Solomon takes aback 813 00:46:43,040 --> 00:46:44,960 and he builds it for Israelites to live in again. 814 00:46:45,960 --> 00:46:47,200 But. That's just the first flag. 815 00:46:47,200 --> 00:46:50,640 Let's read the second flag. From verse 15 down. 816 00:46:51,800 --> 00:46:54,720 To verse 19 we read of these different projects that Solomon 817 00:46:54,720 --> 00:46:57,480 undergoes, but notice here in verse 20 all the. 818 00:46:57,480 --> 00:46:59,760 People who were left of the Amorites. 819 00:47:00,080 --> 00:47:05,400 The Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites 820 00:47:05,680 --> 00:47:07,280 who are not of the people of Israel. 821 00:47:07,800 --> 00:47:11,880 Their descendants who were left after them in the land whom the 822 00:47:11,880 --> 00:47:15,520 people of Israel were unable to devote to destruction. 823 00:47:16,000 --> 00:47:19,880 These Solomon drafted to be slaves. 824 00:47:20,120 --> 00:47:23,760 And. So they are, to this day flag. 825 00:47:23,760 --> 00:47:27,160 Number one is that Solomon gave pieces of the land away. 826 00:47:28,720 --> 00:47:36,560 Flag #2 is what Solomon. Kept people in the land that he 827 00:47:36,560 --> 00:47:43,480 should not have kept. When Israel was in Joshua's 828 00:47:43,480 --> 00:47:45,680 generation entering into the Promised Land, they were called 829 00:47:45,680 --> 00:47:50,960 to lay siege and to bring total deliverance from the inhabitants 830 00:47:50,960 --> 00:47:54,240 of the land who have heaped up. Mountainous sins throughout 831 00:47:54,240 --> 00:47:57,880 centuries that deserve to be punished, and God used Israel as 832 00:47:57,880 --> 00:47:59,760 a divine instrument of judgment for that to take place. 833 00:47:59,760 --> 00:48:01,680 But you read Joshua. We've studied Joshua in great 834 00:48:01,680 --> 00:48:04,640 length, and we saw that in many instances as these people 835 00:48:04,640 --> 00:48:06,880 established their tribes. They. 836 00:48:06,920 --> 00:48:09,520 They did not remove all of the Canaanites. 837 00:48:10,040 --> 00:48:13,520 And in some cases, in their human wisdom, they took these 838 00:48:13,520 --> 00:48:16,000 Canaanites and they made them slaves. 839 00:48:16,000 --> 00:48:18,160 Instead of driving out of the land as God commanded. 840 00:48:19,760 --> 00:48:22,120 Solomon is following in the footsteps of the failure of 841 00:48:22,120 --> 00:48:25,520 Joshua's generation. And you know what's so crazy? 842 00:48:25,520 --> 00:48:27,680 I mean, what did we just hear about the king of Egypt and what 843 00:48:27,680 --> 00:48:29,360 he did with certain Canaanites and Gazer? 844 00:48:29,800 --> 00:48:33,320 What did he do with them? Did he make them slaves? 845 00:48:33,320 --> 00:48:36,720 No, he he destroyed them. A picture of us destroying sin, 846 00:48:36,720 --> 00:48:39,160 that's what the pictures we're not called the holy war and take 847 00:48:39,160 --> 00:48:40,640 up arms. We do not wrestle against flesh 848 00:48:40,640 --> 00:48:45,200 and blood, nor our weapons carnal, But we see here that 849 00:48:45,200 --> 00:48:49,960 even the king of Egypt, indirectly and unintentionally, 850 00:48:49,960 --> 00:48:52,680 is doing what was originally commanded. 851 00:48:53,160 --> 00:48:57,120 And what does Solomon do? I can make use of these guys. 852 00:48:57,760 --> 00:48:59,760 We have a lot of things that we still need to do, a lot of 853 00:48:59,760 --> 00:49:02,240 projects, a lot of things that I want to accomplish, and why not 854 00:49:02,240 --> 00:49:09,240 take them and make them slaves? Just another compromise 855 00:49:09,240 --> 00:49:14,320 attitude, More compromise. And clearly, Solomon, as a king, 856 00:49:14,520 --> 00:49:16,840 did not understand the repercussions, the potential 857 00:49:16,840 --> 00:49:20,400 dangers that awaited maybe not in his lifetime, but in a time 858 00:49:20,400 --> 00:49:25,320 to come, like Joshua's generation failed to see and 859 00:49:25,320 --> 00:49:28,400 understand in their time let. Me give you an example, This is 860 00:49:28,400 --> 00:49:30,600 a scripture that came to mind. This is the beauty of being able 861 00:49:30,600 --> 00:49:36,480 to have a reservoir of the word of God in systematic study in. 862 00:49:36,480 --> 00:49:41,800 Joshua 1122 and one of the attempts to eradicate these 863 00:49:41,800 --> 00:49:46,400 people we read in Joshua 11/22. There was none of the Anakim 864 00:49:46,400 --> 00:49:50,600 left in the land of the people of Israel, and I noticed this 865 00:49:51,160 --> 00:49:55,240 only in Gaza. I know that's a that's a tough 866 00:49:55,240 --> 00:50:01,200 word these days, but it's in the Bible only in Gaza, in Gath and 867 00:50:01,200 --> 00:50:07,200 in Ashdod that some remain. So when they destroyed these 868 00:50:07,200 --> 00:50:10,440 Anakim, right, we're told they're very specific that there 869 00:50:10,440 --> 00:50:15,480 were certain of these Anakim that were left in these 870 00:50:15,480 --> 00:50:18,200 respective cities. And they. 871 00:50:18,200 --> 00:50:19,720 Left it alone. They didn't think it's just only 872 00:50:19,720 --> 00:50:20,840 a few. It's only some. 873 00:50:21,480 --> 00:50:22,640 What? Stands out to you about this 874 00:50:22,640 --> 00:50:25,640 verse. There's one particular city that 875 00:50:25,640 --> 00:50:28,880 should ring a bell, especially after our study in First and 876 00:50:28,880 --> 00:50:32,160 Second Samuel. Very good, Gath. 877 00:50:32,560 --> 00:50:34,040 You know why that's important? Who's from Gath? 878 00:50:34,560 --> 00:50:38,880 Goliath's from Gath. So you didn't deal with Gath 879 00:50:39,160 --> 00:50:41,960 then? And what you end up having to 880 00:50:41,960 --> 00:50:46,080 deal with a giant many years later, a bigger problem down the 881 00:50:46,080 --> 00:50:48,240 road that you could have dealt with early on. 882 00:50:48,240 --> 00:50:50,240 Not that there weren't giants then, there were giants then. 883 00:50:50,240 --> 00:50:52,880 But the picture is so clear that if you don't deal with these 884 00:50:52,880 --> 00:50:55,080 things early on, they will come back to haunt you. 885 00:50:56,640 --> 00:50:58,000 And I've. Said this back in Joshua, I 886 00:50:58,000 --> 00:51:00,160 remember it so clearly that if you don't deal with things in 887 00:51:00,160 --> 00:51:03,240 your single life, your marriage isn't going to heal those 888 00:51:03,240 --> 00:51:06,480 problems as you get married. Your wife isn't going to heal 889 00:51:06,480 --> 00:51:07,600 them. Children is that your promotion 890 00:51:07,600 --> 00:51:09,400 is not going to do it you whatever you do. 891 00:51:09,640 --> 00:51:12,280 Only. Christ can deliver you, and 892 00:51:12,280 --> 00:51:14,760 Christ wants us to have this urgency of dealing with these 893 00:51:14,760 --> 00:51:18,640 things now because they can take root and they can build walls 894 00:51:18,640 --> 00:51:20,920 that become much more difficult to overcome. 895 00:51:22,200 --> 00:51:24,600 Solomon didn't see it as a he didn't. 896 00:51:24,800 --> 00:51:27,040 He didn't recognize that this can potentially go wrong down 897 00:51:27,040 --> 00:51:28,400 the road. So that is his second 898 00:51:28,400 --> 00:51:30,560 compromise. Not only did he give pieces of 899 00:51:30,560 --> 00:51:32,520 the land away, he kept people in the land that he shouldn't have 900 00:51:32,520 --> 00:51:34,840 kept. Let's look at the third one. 901 00:51:34,840 --> 00:51:38,000 This one's a little bit more subtle, but it's there 902 00:51:38,000 --> 00:51:41,600 nonetheless. In verse 22. 903 00:51:41,600 --> 00:51:43,920 But of the people of Israel, Solomon made no slaves. 904 00:51:44,400 --> 00:51:46,640 There were soldiers. There were his officials, his 905 00:51:46,640 --> 00:51:51,080 commanders, his captains. His chariot commanders and his 906 00:51:51,080 --> 00:51:53,640 horsemen. There's. 907 00:51:53,640 --> 00:51:54,400 Compromise. There. 908 00:51:55,160 --> 00:51:57,760 This sounds like a noble thing. This sounds like a respectable 909 00:51:57,760 --> 00:51:59,280 thing. This sounds like something to 910 00:51:59,280 --> 00:52:01,120 praise Solomon for you. He didn't make slaves of the 911 00:52:01,120 --> 00:52:02,920 people of God. He gave him high-ranking 912 00:52:02,920 --> 00:52:08,200 positions and. He didn't degrade them and but. 913 00:52:08,200 --> 00:52:12,160 Where's the issue here? Anybody see it? 914 00:52:14,960 --> 00:52:21,280 Very good observation. Chariots and horsemen. 915 00:52:23,520 --> 00:52:27,720 Why is that a problem? That's one thing. 916 00:52:28,760 --> 00:52:31,560 When you go to Deuteronomy 1716, you know this very well. 917 00:52:31,560 --> 00:52:34,800 We're kings. Not just Solomon, but kings as a 918 00:52:34,800 --> 00:52:36,200 rule. For all the rulers in the 919 00:52:36,200 --> 00:52:43,080 monarchs were not to have many. What horses don't acquire many 920 00:52:43,120 --> 00:52:44,880 horses? Not. 921 00:52:44,880 --> 00:52:49,360 No, horses don't acquire many to the point where you put your 922 00:52:49,360 --> 00:52:51,920 trust and strength in the arm of the flesh. 923 00:52:51,920 --> 00:52:55,320 Did Solomon have many horses? How do we know that? 924 00:52:57,960 --> 00:52:59,960 All you have to do is go to chapter 10 and 1st Kings and 925 00:52:59,960 --> 00:53:03,560 look at verse. 26. Here's. 926 00:53:03,560 --> 00:53:07,440 The exact number and. Solomon gathered together 927 00:53:07,440 --> 00:53:13,520 Chariots and horsemen. He had 1400 Chariots and 12,000 928 00:53:13,680 --> 00:53:17,360 horsemen whom he. Stationed Look at this in the 929 00:53:17,360 --> 00:53:23,160 chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 930 00:53:24,400 --> 00:53:27,880 That's a lot. Those are a lot of horses. 931 00:53:28,160 --> 00:53:30,800 That's in direct violation of what? 932 00:53:31,720 --> 00:53:33,880 Of what God had said in Deuteronomy 17. 933 00:53:35,400 --> 00:53:37,040 So. You see that when he had these 934 00:53:37,840 --> 00:53:41,160 leaders of horsemen and horses, he was violating the law of God. 935 00:53:41,160 --> 00:53:46,680 And so already, if we honor the sequence of First Kings Chapter 936 00:53:46,680 --> 00:53:50,280 9, we see that there are even more cracks to this man's faith. 937 00:53:51,160 --> 00:53:54,280 There are now more footholds in his devotion to the Lord. 938 00:53:55,520 --> 00:53:57,440 This is not going to end well for Solomon. 939 00:53:57,440 --> 00:53:59,960 And we're being told that if we know what our Bibles, well, what 940 00:53:59,960 --> 00:54:02,400 you do, you say this is? You should be reading saying 941 00:54:02,400 --> 00:54:05,000 Solomon, you got to change quickly. 942 00:54:05,840 --> 00:54:07,240 Things are going to come crashing. 943 00:54:07,240 --> 00:54:09,880 There is a mighty fall waiting to happen, and all you have to 944 00:54:09,880 --> 00:54:11,920 do is wait two chapters for that mighty fall to come. 945 00:54:12,360 --> 00:54:18,520 Chapter 11. So here's here's a summary of 946 00:54:18,520 --> 00:54:24,680 this chapter as we read the last few verses, Verse 24. 947 00:54:25,760 --> 00:54:27,080 But. Pharaoh's daughter went up from 948 00:54:27,080 --> 00:54:29,840 the City of David to her own house that Saltman held built 949 00:54:29,840 --> 00:54:31,360 for her. Then he built the Milo. 950 00:54:31,360 --> 00:54:34,120 We we read this and we looked at this many weeks ago. 951 00:54:34,800 --> 00:54:35,840 Now look at this. This is interesting. 952 00:54:35,840 --> 00:54:37,920 Verse 25. Three times a year Solomon used 953 00:54:37,920 --> 00:54:41,680 to OfferUp burnt offerings and peace offerings on the author 954 00:54:41,680 --> 00:54:45,000 that he built to the Lord, making offerings with it before 955 00:54:45,000 --> 00:54:46,800 the Lord. So he finished the house. 956 00:54:47,480 --> 00:54:48,720 Is that a good thing or a bad thing? 957 00:54:49,400 --> 00:54:51,120 Solomon's not assuming the role of a priest. 958 00:54:51,120 --> 00:54:56,560 Solomon is participating in these feasts and he even by way 959 00:54:56,560 --> 00:54:59,160 of example goes to these 3 Pilgrim feasts that was 960 00:54:59,160 --> 00:55:01,440 commanded in Exodus. That you were to be present at 961 00:55:01,440 --> 00:55:04,440 the House of God. This is a praiseworthy Dean. 962 00:55:04,440 --> 00:55:06,840 This is an excellent thing. But. 963 00:55:06,840 --> 00:55:08,720 Again, you take that in isolation, you say, OK, Solomon 964 00:55:08,720 --> 00:55:11,800 seems to be doing well, but what's the backdrop? 965 00:55:12,920 --> 00:55:16,720 It's interwoven with compromise. And. 966 00:55:16,720 --> 00:55:22,400 This is an illustration of how us in compromise, we can become 967 00:55:22,400 --> 00:55:25,520 very strategic when we are intentionally doing things that 968 00:55:25,520 --> 00:55:26,680 we know we're not supposed to be doing. 969 00:55:27,120 --> 00:55:30,720 And partial obedience has a incredible way of quieting. 970 00:55:31,520 --> 00:55:34,520 Sprinkled conviction in our lives or or compromise in our 971 00:55:34,520 --> 00:55:36,880 lives. Partial. 972 00:55:36,880 --> 00:55:41,520 Obedience has a wonderful way of quieting, sprinkled compromise 973 00:55:41,520 --> 00:55:44,800 in our lives. So what does this really mean? 974 00:55:44,960 --> 00:55:47,120 What does this really mean in light of what God asked of him 975 00:55:47,120 --> 00:55:49,560 in verse four of the same chapter, First Kings, Chapter 9? 976 00:55:49,560 --> 00:55:51,960 What did the Lord ask of him? And As for you? 977 00:55:51,960 --> 00:55:54,600 If you walk before me as David, your father walked with 978 00:55:54,600 --> 00:55:57,680 integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to 979 00:55:57,680 --> 00:56:01,280 all, all, all, all. That I have commanded you. 980 00:56:01,280 --> 00:56:05,680 Not some, not almost, not 95 all. 981 00:56:06,000 --> 00:56:09,360 I'm asking for all. And and Solomon, if you fail to 982 00:56:09,360 --> 00:56:13,040 meet me with that request, be like your father David, repent 983 00:56:13,040 --> 00:56:14,920 and turn to me. I'm willing to embrace you and 984 00:56:14,920 --> 00:56:17,000 restore you and walk hand in hand again. 985 00:56:18,680 --> 00:56:22,360 But Solomon found a place where he thought he can do some and 986 00:56:22,360 --> 00:56:25,280 and others he can operate in his own wisdom and this is going to 987 00:56:25,280 --> 00:56:28,840 cost him greatly. Verse 25, here's how we're 988 00:56:28,840 --> 00:56:31,720 ending. We read that where he goes three 989 00:56:31,720 --> 00:56:33,880 times a year and then interestingly ends with this 990 00:56:34,120 --> 00:56:36,280 thought. King Solomon, verse 26 built a 991 00:56:36,280 --> 00:56:40,760 fleet of ships at Easy on Geber, which is near Eloth, on the 992 00:56:40,760 --> 00:56:45,240 shore of the Red Sea in the land of Edom and Hiram, sent with the 993 00:56:45,240 --> 00:56:47,600 fleet his servant seaman. We're. 994 00:56:47,600 --> 00:56:50,760 Familiar with the sea, together with the servants of Solomon. 995 00:56:51,360 --> 00:56:55,200 And they went to Ofra and brought from their gold 420 996 00:56:55,200 --> 00:56:58,800 talents, and they brought it to King Solomon. 997 00:57:01,000 --> 00:57:02,480 So the last thought that. We're supposed to have, with the 998 00:57:02,480 --> 00:57:06,800 backdrop of compromise, partial obedience, God speaking and 999 00:57:06,800 --> 00:57:11,280 visiting to Solomon with these instructions is that he was at 1000 00:57:11,280 --> 00:57:14,240 this time advancing economically, politically. 1001 00:57:14,920 --> 00:57:16,880 He. Was growing as an entrepreneur. 1002 00:57:17,520 --> 00:57:20,800 He was expanding his his administrative abilities and now 1003 00:57:20,800 --> 00:57:24,920 he is he is now executing trade by the sea and he's able to 1004 00:57:24,960 --> 00:57:29,040 enlarge his international relationships and and import and 1005 00:57:29,040 --> 00:57:30,680 export. You know, you read that. 1006 00:57:30,680 --> 00:57:33,680 You think, wow, he's able to bring this vast amount of gold 1007 00:57:34,040 --> 00:57:36,600 and and humanly speaking, you think this is impressive, 1008 00:57:37,200 --> 00:57:38,760 naturally. Speaking in the carnal, you 1009 00:57:38,760 --> 00:57:41,760 would say this is wow, this is something, this is something 1010 00:57:42,400 --> 00:57:45,280 remarkable. But here's what we're seeing. 1011 00:57:45,760 --> 00:57:49,920 Here's this man growing in wealth, growing in popularity, 1012 00:57:50,440 --> 00:57:53,480 growing in power. And yet at the same time, his 1013 00:57:53,480 --> 00:57:58,640 heart is hardening and he's weakening in devotion, weakening 1014 00:57:58,640 --> 00:58:01,560 in his worship, weakening in his commitment to the things of God. 1015 00:58:03,080 --> 00:58:05,120 So in one sense, he's going this way, But in the most important 1016 00:58:05,120 --> 00:58:09,000 sense, he's declining. And it's possible for people to 1017 00:58:09,000 --> 00:58:11,560 do that. You know, it's so amazing. 1018 00:58:11,880 --> 00:58:14,480 The Lord appeared to Solomon twice. 1019 00:58:15,200 --> 00:58:18,440 If the Lord appeared to you and I once in our lifetime, what 1020 00:58:18,440 --> 00:58:20,560 would that do? What would that do for you and 1021 00:58:20,560 --> 00:58:22,640 I? If He appeared in a way that was 1022 00:58:22,640 --> 00:58:25,160 undeniable, it wasn't because you had pizza late at night. 1023 00:58:25,160 --> 00:58:27,400 It was a real visitation from God. 1024 00:58:27,400 --> 00:58:30,000 What would you do? How would that mark you? 1025 00:58:30,000 --> 00:58:33,120 Would that not be a? Life changing event. 1026 00:58:33,120 --> 00:58:36,400 Solomon didn't get it once. He got it twice, you know, read 1027 00:58:36,400 --> 00:58:39,240 later on and when he is going to fall in the way, he falls. 1028 00:58:39,360 --> 00:58:41,680 The Holy Spirit is going to make the comment of how the Lord 1029 00:58:41,680 --> 00:58:44,000 appeared to him twice. And still with those 1030 00:58:44,000 --> 00:58:45,640 appearances, he was willing to turn his back. 1031 00:58:45,800 --> 00:58:48,160 You know, sometimes you look at people and you see the 1032 00:58:48,160 --> 00:58:50,640 trajectory of their lives and you think to themselves, 1033 00:58:50,800 --> 00:58:52,480 yourself. You you look at this one portion 1034 00:58:52,480 --> 00:58:54,720 of their lives, you go, they seem to be so devoted, they seem 1035 00:58:54,720 --> 00:58:56,280 to have a genuine experience with the Lord. 1036 00:58:56,360 --> 00:58:58,440 But how did they end up here? And you know what some people 1037 00:58:58,440 --> 00:59:00,240 say, well, that must not been real. 1038 00:59:00,360 --> 00:59:04,120 That's not the case. That's not the case the. 1039 00:59:04,120 --> 00:59:06,520 Appearances of the Lord to Solomon at this juncture, at 1040 00:59:06,520 --> 00:59:08,920 this point, were very real. They weren't imagination, They 1041 00:59:08,920 --> 00:59:10,760 weren't hallucination. They were genuine. 1042 00:59:11,720 --> 00:59:13,000 It's. Possible to have a genuine 1043 00:59:13,000 --> 00:59:16,160 encounter with crap. It's possible to have a taste of 1044 00:59:16,160 --> 00:59:17,960 the miraculous. It's possible for the Lord to 1045 00:59:17,960 --> 00:59:21,080 come in in a very special way, and down the road you make money 1046 00:59:21,080 --> 00:59:25,960 your God. It's possible it is. 1047 00:59:25,960 --> 00:59:29,360 Possible. It's possible to at some point 1048 00:59:29,360 --> 00:59:32,120 have great priority toward the Kingdom of God, and eventually 1049 00:59:32,120 --> 00:59:34,640 other things take priority. In the Kingdom of God is not 1050 00:59:34,640 --> 00:59:37,280 even a secondary thought, it's an afterthought. 1051 00:59:38,440 --> 00:59:41,240 It's possible for us to understand through Solomon's 1052 00:59:41,240 --> 00:59:43,880 life for someone to do even great things for God yesterday, 1053 00:59:43,880 --> 00:59:46,160 but turn away from him tomorrow this. 1054 00:59:46,160 --> 00:59:47,880 Is the tragedy of Solomon's life. 1055 00:59:50,520 --> 00:59:52,880 And I think it's a providential illustration that has been 1056 00:59:52,880 --> 00:59:55,600 brought before us as we prepare to enter into a new year with 1057 00:59:55,600 --> 00:59:59,800 new hopes, new desires, new dreams, new longings, new 1058 00:59:59,800 --> 01:00:02,880 vision. Let me circle it back to how 1059 01:00:02,880 --> 01:00:08,000 this whole thing started. Don't fail to bring God. 1060 01:00:08,440 --> 01:00:13,080 Before you always, always His word above all things. 1061 01:00:13,080 --> 01:00:15,680 No matter what goes for you, no matter what goes against you. 1062 01:00:16,080 --> 01:00:19,360 I have set the Lord always before me. 1063 01:00:19,800 --> 01:00:23,520 May that be true of 2024 and the years beyond until we see Him 1064 01:00:23,520 --> 01:00:25,000 face to face. Let's pray, 1065 01:00:37,060 --> 01:00:42,540 Father, with great delight. We have tasted the morsels of 1066 01:00:42,540 --> 01:00:45,700 these truths and we feel nourished. 1067 01:00:45,700 --> 01:00:48,840 We feel equipped. We feel stirred and we feel 1068 01:00:48,840 --> 01:00:53,560 challenged. Lord, your mind is brilliant. 1069 01:00:55,080 --> 01:00:57,960 Your word is irrefutable. It's so clear. 1070 01:01:00,000 --> 01:01:03,960 And, Lord, you've invited us to investigate and discover your 1071 01:01:03,960 --> 01:01:09,280 heart, your mind, the consistency in the harmony of 1072 01:01:09,320 --> 01:01:12,600 your word from beginning to end. Thank you for confirming things 1073 01:01:12,600 --> 01:01:14,920 to us. Thank you for bringing new 1074 01:01:14,920 --> 01:01:19,480 things to our attention, Lord. We just ask that no matter what, 1075 01:01:19,480 --> 01:01:22,720 we would be people who know the truth and love the truth and 1076 01:01:22,720 --> 01:01:26,160 submit to the truth. Lord, even if the Truth Tonight 1077 01:01:26,160 --> 01:01:29,680 has challenged us here or would challenge viewers online. 1078 01:01:30,160 --> 01:01:34,720 May one thing be said of what was shared, it was found in 1079 01:01:34,720 --> 01:01:41,720 God's Word, and it was by God's grace honestly and faithfully 1080 01:01:41,720 --> 01:01:45,760 explained. Lord, would you keep us faithful 1081 01:01:45,920 --> 01:01:49,520 to your word? No matter what shifting opinions 1082 01:01:49,520 --> 01:01:54,040 come or go, may we stand firm on the rock of your truth. 1083 01:01:55,200 --> 01:01:58,080 And Lord, we just pray that Solomon's example would not be 1084 01:01:58,080 --> 01:02:06,400 taken lightly. We would see him as a divine, as 1085 01:02:06,400 --> 01:02:11,680 a divine inclusion of your Word, to be careful that we can fall 1086 01:02:11,680 --> 01:02:15,720 in the same traps. And at the same time may we see 1087 01:02:15,720 --> 01:02:19,280 the encouragement that you, O Lord, with David and even with 1088 01:02:19,280 --> 01:02:22,800 Solomon, you're willing to work with imperfect people, and 1089 01:02:22,800 --> 01:02:26,200 you're willing to take us back and walk with us, and and wash 1090 01:02:26,200 --> 01:02:29,000 us and strengthen us and even use us on top of that, even 1091 01:02:29,000 --> 01:02:32,720 after we have fallen into into any kind of failure. 1092 01:02:34,080 --> 01:02:37,720 Lord, as we seal up this time together, we pray that you would 1093 01:02:37,720 --> 01:02:41,760 receive worship not just in our singing and closing, but in our 1094 01:02:41,760 --> 01:02:46,160 obedience to say, Lord, help me, help me apply this to my life. 1095 01:02:47,000 --> 01:02:49,360 Show me in the areas of my life where I am not in alignment with 1096 01:02:49,360 --> 01:02:52,040 what I just heard, and may I be in alignment with what You 1097 01:02:52,040 --> 01:02:54,040 desire for me. Lord, we give you praise and our 1098 01:02:54,040 --> 01:02:56,160 we thank you. We thank you with all of our 1099 01:02:56,160 --> 01:02:58,720 hearts that you are truth, and we rejoice that we are in the 1100 01:02:58,720 --> 01:03:00,600 truth. We rejoice that we've been 1101 01:03:00,600 --> 01:03:03,160 rescued from deception. We rejoice that what we have in 1102 01:03:03,160 --> 01:03:07,840 our hands can keep us free from any lies that would make us miss 1103 01:03:07,840 --> 01:03:10,160 out on the promises of your inheritance that we have in 1104 01:03:10,160 --> 01:03:13,480 Christ Jesus. We rejoice now together as a 1105 01:03:13,480 --> 01:03:15,680 family and saying thank you for your word. 1106 01:03:16,000 --> 01:03:19,960 In the name of the word who became flesh, Jesus Christ. 1107 01:03:20,200 --> 01:03:21,280 Amen. Amen. 1108 01:03:21,960 --> 01:03:23,680 Amen. What a mighty God we serve. 1109 01:03:25,800 --> 01:03:28,520 Well, let's stand and worship the Lord on this wonderful 1110 01:03:28,520 --> 01:03:29,040 evening.