1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:06,400 As I started putting this sermon together this week, I was I was 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:10,560 struggling just a bit. The words were not coming and I 3 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:16,840 went back to Exodus 4 where where God is calling Moses to go 4 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:19,120 and speak and I was identifying with Moses. 5 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:21,720 When he says this to the Lord, he says, he says, Lord, I have 6 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:27,000 never been eloquent, neither recently nor in times past nor 7 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:31,280 since you spoke to your servant. For I'm slow of speech and slow 8 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,720 of tongue. And I thought to myself, I read 9 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:36,480 on a little bit further and God gave him Aaron. 10 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:38,200 So I called Aaron when he didn't go to New York. 11 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:40,200 And I'm like, how do you feel about preaching this Sunday? 12 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,280 And he basically gave me the Houghton mantra, you know, suck 13 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:46,960 it up, buttercup, you'll be all right. 14 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:55,680 So, so here we are. So we come to Deuteronomy 15 00:00:55,680 --> 00:01:00,040 chapter 3 today, Chapter 3, you say, but we didn't make it to 16 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:03,080 chapter 3 last week. Yeah, we did just for a moment. 17 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:08,880 We'll be covering verses 18 through 29 today. 18 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:11,480 And I think it's it's, it's hopeful that is as we come to 19 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:13,920 our passage that we realize that we're stepping into the, into 20 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,240 the book of Deuteronomy in a, in a moment of transition. 21 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:21,080 There's a there's a threshold moment in the life of the nation 22 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:25,040 of Israel. The wilderness years are almost 23 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:29,000 over. The the Promised Land lies just 24 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:33,400 ahead, just across the river. But before Israel crosses the 25 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:37,600 Jordan, Moses pauses to rehearse the mighty acts of God that have 26 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:40,360 brought them to the place where they find themselves. 27 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,960 Deuteronomy is, it's not as a whole, just a, a mere history 28 00:01:44,960 --> 00:01:50,720 book, but it's a book describing a period of covenant renewal. 29 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:53,240 Moses, Moses isn't just giving a history. 30 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:55,400 He's he's preaching to the people. 31 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,920 He's he's shepherding the hearts of a new generation, one that 32 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:03,520 may not have have previously experienced the exodus, one that 33 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:06,600 may have come along after that took place, but but now has to 34 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:11,320 live in light of of that. And so before issuing 35 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:15,320 instructions and commands to the people, Moses reminds them of 36 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:20,040 what God had done to bring them to this point in the previous 38 37 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:24,240 years. In chapters 2 and 3, Moses 38 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:28,680 recounts Israel's journey from a time of of wandering to a time 39 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,560 of warfare, from a time of discipline to a time where 40 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:36,160 deliverance is is begun. Deuteronomy chapter 2, we see 41 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:39,240 that God governs even Israel's detours. 42 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:43,760 You know, for 38 years Israel wandered in the wilderness under 43 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:48,720 judgement because of unbelief. Yet even during that time of 44 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:53,120 judgement, God was not absent. He directed their paths and 45 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,240 their steps precisely. He told them where they could go 46 00:02:56,240 --> 00:03:00,440 and where they could not go. They were told not to harass the 47 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:04,840 nations of Edom or Moab or Ammon because God had sovereignly 48 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,920 allotted those lands to others. This reminds us when we read 49 00:03:08,920 --> 00:03:12,920 this, that that God was not merely the Lord of Israel, but 50 00:03:12,920 --> 00:03:15,880 that He is the ruler of all nations, distributing lands and 51 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,520 boundaries according to His will. 52 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,480 And during those years, though a whole generation fell in the 53 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,760 wilderness, God sustained his people. 54 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,280 As Moses said, the Lord your God has blessed you. 55 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:35,080 You have lacked nothing. Even under discipline there was 56 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:39,600 mercy. Israel is commanded in chapter 2 57 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,680 to rise up and take possession of the land of the Amorites east 58 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,120 of the Jordan River, beginning with Sion, the king of Heshbon. 59 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,800 And here we're giving a a pretty striking theological insight and 60 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:56,360 and that Moses does not say say it's I'm sorry. 61 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:59,560 Moses says that Sihan did not allow Israel to pass through the 62 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:04,200 land because the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his 63 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,400 heart obstinate. What appears on on the surface 64 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,800 to be political resistance is in truth divine sovereignty at 65 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:12,040 work. God is. 66 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:14,520 God is not reacting, He is orchestrating. 67 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:16,399 He is. He is delivering the enemies of 68 00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:21,560 His people into Israel's hands. As we read, we see Israel 69 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:25,280 defeats Sion completely. His cities are taking, His land 70 00:04:25,280 --> 00:04:30,640 is given to Israel. The long years of waiting and 71 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:34,880 wandering are beginning to give way to fulfilment and profit and 72 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:38,880 promise. As we come to Deuteronomy 3, the 73 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:42,960 pattern continues with OG, king of Bashan. 74 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:47,160 He was a formidable enemy, a giant among men. 75 00:04:47,280 --> 00:04:49,760 Humanly speaking, he would have been terrifying. 76 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:54,600 But the Lord's instruction to them was, do not fear him, for I 77 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:58,560 have given him into your hand. And again, we see that Israel 78 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,360 prevails against them not because of their own strength, 79 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:09,120 but because God fights for them. So by the time we reach 80 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:13,880 Deuteronomy chapter 3, verse 18, the land east of the Jordan 81 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:17,080 territory belonging to Cyhan and Ogg had already been fully 82 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:21,160 conquered and distributed to the tribes of Reuben, to Gad and the 83 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,880 half tribe of Manasseh. The time of inheritance had 84 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:28,000 begun. Israel is no longer wandering. 85 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,320 They're they're winning. They're no longer under 86 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:32,560 judgement. They're beginning to experience 87 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:37,040 the promised fulfilment. They're standing on land that's 88 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,840 already been conquered, looking ahead to a land yet to be 89 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:45,280 possessed. But they're not home yet. 90 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,560 And it is to that and the tension of of that that Moses 91 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:53,120 now speaks because, because the danger at the moment is, is not 92 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:57,120 just their fear of of enemies across the river, but it's but 93 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,960 it's a fear that they would forget God, the temptation to 94 00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:03,600 settle for too little, too soon to divide that which God had 95 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:08,800 joined together or to presume on his promises without continued 96 00:06:08,840 --> 00:06:13,920 obedience. So in our text today, verses 18 97 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:16,560 through 29 of chapter 3, Moses will do two things. 98 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:20,920 First of all, he will charge the tribes of Reuben of Gad and the 99 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,440 half tribe of NASA, the fight on behalf of their brothers. 100 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:28,760 And he reminds them that as all Israel had fought to subdue the 101 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,080 land that had become their portion, the portion that those 102 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:34,800 tribes had had received, they too were obligated to assist the 103 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,400 other tribes as they came into their their possession in the 104 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:43,400 promised land across the Jordan. And then secondly, he will 105 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:48,360 recount his own personal plea to enter the land and to recount 106 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:53,960 God's refusal in a way reminding Israel that even he stands under 107 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,880 the authority of God's word. So as we look at our passage 108 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,960 this morning, we'll we'll see that it brings together promise, 109 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:05,640 responsibility, leadership and submission. 110 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:09,040 And it ultimately it points us beyond Moses to to a greater 111 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,440 leader who will not merely see the promised land from a 112 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:17,240 distance, but one who will bring his people fully into it. 113 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:24,120 Let's read our text for today, beginning with verse 18, chapter 114 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:29,280 3. It reads, Then I commanded you 115 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:33,440 at that time, saying, The Lord your God has given you this land 116 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,840 to possess it. All you valiant men shall 117 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:40,560 crossover, armored before your brothers, the sons of Israel, 118 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:45,880 but your wives and your little ones, and your livestock, I know 119 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:49,360 that you have much livestock, shall remain in your cities, 120 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:53,240 which I have given to you, until the Lord gives rest to your 121 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:56,040 fully fellow countrymen as to you. 122 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,200 And they also possess the land which the Lord your God will 123 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:03,560 give them beyond the Jordan. Then you may return every man to 124 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:05,680 his possession which I have given you. 125 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:11,840 I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Your eyes have seen all 126 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,840 that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. 127 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:19,440 So the Lord shall do to all the kingdoms into which you are 128 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:23,200 about to cross. Do not fear them, for the Lord 129 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,000 your God is the one fighting for you. 130 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:31,520 I also pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, Oh Lord God, 131 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,159 you've begun to show your servant your greatness and your 132 00:08:34,159 --> 00:08:38,240 strong hand, for what God is there in heaven or on earth who 133 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:41,840 can do such works and mighty acts as yours? 134 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:46,680 Let me, I pray, crossover and see the fair land that is beyond 135 00:08:46,680 --> 00:08:50,520 the Jordan, that good Hill Country in Lebanon. 136 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:55,440 But the Lord was angry with me on your account and would not 137 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:59,560 listen to me. And the Lord said to me, enough, 138 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,400 speak to me no more of this matter. 139 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:07,280 Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes to the West, 140 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:10,520 and the north, and the South and east, and see it with your eyes. 141 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:16,120 For you shall not crossover this Jordan, but charge Joshua and 142 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:19,160 encourage him and strengthen him, for he shall go ahead at 143 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:20,560 the head of the people. I'm sorry. 144 00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:23,680 For he shall go across at the head of the people, and he will 145 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:28,560 give them an inheritance in the land which you shall see. 146 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:33,320 So we remained in the valley opposite Beth Pior. 147 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,920 Verses 18 through 20 recorded for us the words that Moses 148 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,400 spoke to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of 149 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,200 Manasseh. They had already received their 150 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:47,920 inheritance of land on the east side of the Jordan. 151 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:51,880 These tribes just in in the previous weeks and and months, 152 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:55,040 had come into possession of land formerly ruled by, as we read 153 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:58,000 earlier, Saihan, the king of Heshbon and Ogg, the king of 154 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:02,200 Bashan. And yet, as we read in Numbers 155 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,680 32, their inheritance of of these lands and their assurance 156 00:10:05,680 --> 00:10:08,000 that they would receive this inheritance was was predicated 157 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,600 on on their commitment to accompany their brothers into 158 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,000 the promised land, to cross the Jordan and to fight with them 159 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:18,840 until all the remaining tribes came into their possession of 160 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:22,440 land until the Lord drove out their enemies from before them. 161 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,880 The reminder that that Moses gives to these tribes is as if 162 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:32,360 they're not done their position of a land to to call their own. 163 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:36,160 You know that that blessing that was given to them by by God does 164 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:39,520 does not cancel their responsibility to their fellow 165 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:41,920 Israelites. They are they are not free to 166 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,080 being in possession of these cities and lands to then sit 167 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:49,320 back and watch their brothers go forward and fight for their 168 00:10:49,680 --> 00:10:52,840 inheritance. Rest is to wait until all have 169 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:56,360 come into possession of their lauded portions. 170 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:04,920 I think there's a a principle here that extends beyond the 171 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,720 relationship of these tribes that live either on the West or 172 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:11,120 the east side of the Jordan. A a principle that extends to 173 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:14,440 our life within the church. The the idea being that if that 174 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:19,240 if God has joined us together in in one body, that that no one 175 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:24,800 part of us can fail to to serve the common good of the church at 176 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:26,760 large. It's not as though one of us can 177 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:31,600 say, you know, let's exempt ourselves and let the rest fend 178 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:36,200 for themselves. But rather, every man ought to 179 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:42,760 work for the common good and the man who can fend for himself 180 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:46,680 should not refuse to assist his brethren in bearing a portion of 181 00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:49,480 their burden. The Christian walk is not a 182 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:52,160 solitary walk. The the success you experience 183 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:56,360 in your walk is not is not meant to terminate in and on yourself. 184 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,160 I'm studying this week a little bit John Calvin and he writes 185 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:06,520 for for according to the ability that God gives, So does he bind 186 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:10,120 us to serve our neighbors therewith. 187 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:13,000 Let me repeat that it says, you know, for according to the 188 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:17,920 ability that God gives us, so does he bind us to serve our 189 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:21,880 neighbors therewith. You know, it's the same reminder 190 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:25,000 that Paul writes the church in Romans chapter 12, verses 3 191 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:29,320 through 6, where he wrote, you know, I say to everyone among 192 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:32,360 you, not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, 193 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:38,640 but to think so as to have sound judgement as God allotted for 194 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:40,680 God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 195 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:43,840 For just as we have many members in one body, and all the members 196 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:48,200 do not have the same function, so we who are many are one body 197 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,880 in Christ, and individually members one of another. 198 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:55,560 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to 199 00:12:55,560 --> 00:13:00,640 us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly. 200 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:09,920 This commitment that that Moses exhorts these tribes to was was 201 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:14,440 no light thing when we read the book of Joshua and we and we 202 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:18,080 read of the conquest of of the land of of Canaan, the the 203 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:19,840 conquest that went on the western side of the Jordan. 204 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,760 We we read that that took seven years. 205 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:27,600 You know, it was it wasn't for seven long years until those 206 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:30,080 tribes that lived on the east side were released by Joshua to 207 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:33,640 return to their homes on a permanent basis. 208 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:39,040 Our commitment likewise should be so enduring there, there, 209 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:42,520 there are many in this room who are experiencing a, a measure 210 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,760 of, of stability and and blessing at this time. 211 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:49,840 But there are also those that are are weary, those that are 212 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:53,360 weak, those who need someone to come alongside and fight for 213 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,640 them for what God has promised for them. 214 00:13:55,640 --> 00:14:05,840 And that is our responsibility. Moses turns verses 21 and 22 215 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:08,200 from addressing those tribes and he, he turns and he addresses 216 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:11,960 Joshua directly, you know, and he encourages him by by way of 217 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:15,440 remembrance of God's past actions on their behalf. 218 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,920 The reminder is, is not of Joshua's past victories or of 219 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:24,480 the people's past victories, but it's of God's past victories. 220 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:33,840 He says that you have seen it you and the people have seen it 221 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:40,520 with your own eyes impetus being or or the the logical conclusion 222 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:44,000 being that that you should allow that memory to fuel your courage 223 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:47,720 and your obedience as you crossover into the promised 224 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:51,920 land. You know it's it's the personal 225 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:55,880 experience of of having seen God work on on their behalf that 226 00:14:56,640 --> 00:15:00,320 that is to animate his future endeavors as he leads the people 227 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:02,760 of Israelites into the promised land. 228 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,680 Much the same is is said in first John 11, where it says 229 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:10,040 what we have heard, what we have seen with her eyes, what we have 230 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:13,840 looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of 231 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:17,280 life. The life was manifested and we 232 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,920 have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal 233 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:23,360 life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us, which 234 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:26,440 we have seen and heard. We've proclaimed to you also so 235 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:29,720 that you too may have fellowship with us. 236 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:33,240 I mean, there's John telling the church that that, that his work 237 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:36,120 in the work of the apostles was something that was that was that 238 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:38,760 was animated and that was strengthened by having seen and 239 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:43,680 personally experienced time with, with with Christ. 240 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,480 I think, I think for us, we may not have been able to experience 241 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,480 that exact thing, but we do have personal experiences with God 242 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,200 ourselves. We have been saved. 243 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:55,680 We have experienced God's protection, his his provision 244 00:15:55,680 --> 00:16:01,120 for our very needs and and as we look back on those times and and 245 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:07,400 places it provides reason and motivation to to trust and obey 246 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:15,120 continued instruction. The instruction of verse 22 is, 247 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:19,960 is not to fear those nations on the other side of the river. 248 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:26,320 You know, 38 years prior, fear of those nations had resulted 249 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:29,720 and they're wandering in the desert until an entire 250 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:33,320 generation died. I think as as we go, as we go 251 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:35,400 forward, we'll see that, you know, this time around the 252 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:38,080 people did not falter. They're they're said and he wish 253 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:39,880 to have faltered through through unbelief. 254 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:42,440 But but this time they they rested in the memory of what the 255 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,640 Lord had done, and they counted on Him to fulfill his promise to 256 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:50,160 them as they as they walked in obedience into the land. 257 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:01,320 The closing verses of our chapter recording Moses plea to 258 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:06,960 the Lord that he be allowed to cross over the Jordan and to set 259 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:12,240 foot on the Promised Land, and they include the Lord's refusal 260 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:16,599 to entertain his plea. The Hebrew phrasing of this 261 00:17:16,599 --> 00:17:20,040 passage indicates that that Moses had had asked on more than 262 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:23,720 one occasion for permission to enter the land. 263 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:30,320 Rabbinic tradition notes that Moses begged God 515 times that 264 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:35,240 he'd be allowed to enter. I guess it begs the question, 265 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:38,280 you know, why exactly was it that Moses, that great prophet, 266 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:40,960 the mediator of the covenant, the leader of the people of 267 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:44,280 Israel for some 40 years, why was it that he was denied 268 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:53,240 entrance into Canaan? Numbers chapter 20 records the 269 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:56,040 story of how the the Israelite people rebelled against Moses in 270 00:17:56,040 --> 00:18:00,320 the wilderness of Zen on account of there being no water. 271 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:04,640 It was there that the Lord spoke to Moses. 272 00:18:06,120 --> 00:18:10,320 Lord said this to take the rod, and you and your brother Aaron 273 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:15,560 assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their 274 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:17,680 eyes, that it may yield its water. 275 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:23,080 You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock, and 276 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:25,280 let the congregation and their beasts drink. 277 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:29,800 So Moses took the rod from before the Lord, just as he had 278 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:31,720 commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the 279 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:37,280 assembly before the rock. And he said to them, Listen now, 280 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:40,920 you rebels, shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock? 281 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:46,280 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his 282 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:50,080 rod, And water came forth abundantly, and the congregation 283 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:54,960 and their beasts drank. The Lord said to Moses and 284 00:18:54,960 --> 00:19:00,160 Aaron, Because you have not believed me to treat me as holy 285 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,640 in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not 286 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:07,200 bring this assembly into the land which I have given him. 287 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:11,640 Those were the waters of Meribah, because the sons of 288 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:15,760 Israel contended with the Lord, and he proved himself holy among 289 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:19,920 them. You see, the people's rebellion 290 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:27,440 did did not excuse disobedience on the part of Moses. 291 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:33,320 All too often we we point to to provocations endured or or 292 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:38,640 exigent circumstances to to excuse our lapses of obedience. 293 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:44,520 We, we, we, we, we played that. Perhaps, you know, it's not it's 294 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:46,960 not really my fault. Surely, surely the punishment 295 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:52,160 should not be as severe as as that there were things going on. 296 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:54,400 You know, there's there's contingencies that that should 297 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:56,840 be that should be under should be understood. 298 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:01,400 Yet that's not what we see. We see we see that the actions 299 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:05,600 of of of both Aaron and Moses in that in that instance resulted 300 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:08,000 in their being unable to enter the promised land. 301 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:12,080 You come to the end of of chapter 20 of of Numbers in it 302 00:20:12,120 --> 00:20:16,240 and it records the death of. Of Aaron on on Mount Hor and it 303 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:18,520 and it talks about that the Moses is told to take Aaron up 304 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:20,760 there and to take his son and they they take the priestly 305 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:22,400 robes off of Aaron and they put him on his son. 306 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:25,400 There's a transference of the of the priesthood from from from 307 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:29,320 Aaron to to his son and his and Aaron dies on that mountain and 308 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:33,480 said the people you know, mourn for for 30 days. 309 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:43,520 In the text of Numbers, it says they were not able to enter 310 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:47,840 because of the rebellion that he and Moses had staged against the 311 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:52,960 Lord's command at Meribah. You know, it's a pretty harsh 312 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:58,760 word rebellion. It's it does it seems like a 313 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:01,120 harsh word to describe the actions of a frustrated man in 314 00:21:01,120 --> 00:21:03,040 the face of some ungrateful people. 315 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,560 But it but it's the word that God uses to describe their 316 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:10,360 failure to follow his clear instructions. 317 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:13,440 I mean, instructions were talk to the rock. 318 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:19,720 It was not sock the rock, it was talk to the talk to the rock and 319 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:23,560 it will bring forth water. This is this is the same word 320 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:29,760 that's used in First Samuel 1618 to describe Saul's failure to 321 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:34,160 utterly destroy the Amalekites, where it says for rebellion is 322 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:39,360 as the sin of divination and insubordination is as iniquity 323 00:21:39,360 --> 00:21:43,200 and idolatry, impurity. Because you've rejected the word 324 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:46,160 of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king. 325 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:49,880 It's a reminder that that rebellion against the Lord's 326 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:53,520 instruction is no small thing. I mean, even in these accounts 327 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:57,160 that we've seen today, we've seen, we've seen a a prophet, a 328 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:01,560 priest and a king. The prophet and the priest 329 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:05,160 denied entrance into the land and the king denied a Kingdom. 330 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:07,600 The Kingdom was taken from him and given to another for 331 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:10,520 disobedience to the Lord's clear instruction. 332 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:16,400 Yet Moses begins his plea to the Lord. 333 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:20,360 He acknowledges God's marvelous work in the Exodus and most 334 00:22:20,360 --> 00:22:25,400 recently in in the sustenance of Israel in those 38 years where 335 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:28,800 they've been wandering in the wilderness and the and the gods 336 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:35,960 driving out the Sai Han and and and Ogg in the land east of the 337 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:38,160 Jordan. But it but it seems that that 338 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:41,600 now he's looking forward. He says, you know, we're almost 339 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,480 to the climax for the story. We we are there, we have that 340 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:47,440 generation has died off. It's time to enter the promised 341 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:49,040 land. And, and the thought that he 342 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:53,000 would be unable to enter in, that he's unable to see the 343 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,480 fulfilment of that ancient prophecy or that ancient promise 344 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:58,840 that the people of, of God would be returned to the land of 345 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:07,000 Canaan was, was almost too much to accept without question. 346 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:11,360 You know, he speaks of the incomparable works of God, you 347 00:23:11,360 --> 00:23:15,400 know, echoing the language of Exodus 1511 where it was sung. 348 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,560 Who is like you, O Lord among the gods, who is like you, 349 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:22,440 majestic and holiness, terrible and glorious deeds doing 350 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:28,560 wonders. You know, it was his, his 351 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:33,520 earnest request and desire that the Lord would relent and allow 352 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:36,800 him to crossover to see the good land that, that, that object of 353 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:39,920 all his efforts these last 40 years. 354 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:43,040 I mean, who would not say that that was a good desire? 355 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:48,800 I just want to, I want to take your people into the land, those 356 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:51,840 people that you have appointed me to lead these last 40 years. 357 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:54,160 How can it, how can it not? I mean, that's the end of the 358 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:56,960 Hallmark movie. That's, that's, that's where we, 359 00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:00,560 that's where we, that's where we make it happen. 360 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:04,000 And yet, and yet we're told in our text that the Lord was angry 361 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:08,640 with Moses on account of the people and that he didn't 362 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:12,600 entertain his request. And we're given the impression 363 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:17,040 that he spoke just a little bit roughly to him, you know, 364 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:21,080 instructing him, you know, speak to me no more on this matter. 365 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:27,840 Calvin makes an interesting observation here that there 366 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:32,600 there comes a point when continued pleading is no longer 367 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:37,160 based in faith, but rather resistance to the revealed will 368 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:40,960 of God. And as such, it demonstrates a 369 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:48,200 lack of submission to God. Submission to God's revealed 370 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:50,760 will is something which must be practiced. 371 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:54,520 You know, and if and if it's ignored it, you know, it can 372 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:57,920 lead to catastrophic results. I mean, we, we need look no 373 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:01,760 further than to to R JS sermon last week. 374 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:06,400 You know, we're told that the people refused to enter the 375 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:08,360 promised land. They sent the spies over, They 376 00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:10,360 came back, they got discouraged, said we don't want to go. 377 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:13,600 At which point God said, well, then let's put on your shoes. 378 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:15,720 We're going to go on a really long walk. 379 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:21,120 At which point they had a they had a rather rapid change of 380 00:25:21,120 --> 00:25:22,480 heart. And so that's OK, We'll go, 381 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:25,280 we'll go. And it says they went into the 382 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:27,400 Hill Country and they attacked the Amorites. 383 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:29,520 And it says that they were. They were beaten badly and they 384 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:32,960 were chased as though they were chased by bees. 385 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:44,240 We see a different example in Second Samuel 10. 386 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:48,920 We look at King David. We find him a man that is 387 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:52,640 desirous of building a house for the Lord. 388 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:57,320 He says in effect in Chapter 7 that it didn't seem right to him 389 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:01,760 that he lived in a House of cedar while the ark dwelt within 390 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:08,360 curtains in a tent. He receives word from from 391 00:26:08,360 --> 00:26:13,720 Nathan the prophet, but the building of that house was was 392 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:16,600 not something that he would be able to do. 393 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:19,720 And speaking to his son in chronicles, he he talks about 394 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:25,520 the fact that that he was a man who had shed too much blood and 395 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:28,120 that the temple would be built by a man of rest. 396 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:37,320 To his credit, we don't, we don't see David insisting on, on 397 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:39,360 building that house. What, what do we see him do? 398 00:26:39,360 --> 00:26:41,840 We? We see David, it tells us in 399 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:44,880 chronicles that that he didn't, he didn't attempt to build the 400 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,200 temple, but he made provision for it. 401 00:26:47,360 --> 00:26:49,160 That he brought up his son with the understanding that he would 402 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:51,480 be the one to do that. That he amassed a great 403 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,360 quantities of, of stone and silver and gold and bronze and 404 00:26:54,360 --> 00:26:56,840 everything that would be needed for the building of that temple. 405 00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:59,200 That he made provision for it, but that he didn't take that 406 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:02,360 step to actually build it himself. 407 00:27:02,360 --> 00:27:05,520 There was there was a submission on his part to the revealed will 408 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:07,920 of God. We can go to the New Testament 409 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:11,800 and see the same type of things. When we read about Paul and 2nd 410 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:15,960 Corinthians 12, he speaks of imploring the Lord three times. 411 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:18,720 He says, listen, there's a there's a thorn in my flesh and 412 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:26,120 I would like it gone, only to be told by the Lord that my grace 413 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:31,080 is sufficient for you. For power is perfected in 414 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:34,760 weakness. And this and this revelation was 415 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:38,800 was met by mature submission on the part of Paul. 416 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:43,920 He says that he would rather boast about his weakness so that 417 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,680 the power of Christ might dwell in him. 418 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:51,000 It seems then as as we look at our text today, it is 419 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:54,960 emphasizing that that prayer is not, it's not just about 420 00:27:55,440 --> 00:28:00,080 persistence, but it's about submission as well. 421 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:04,760 In my reading this week, as I was reading one of the early 422 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:09,400 reformers and he wrote this, he says God has shown me that it is 423 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:15,400 not proper for me to ask whatsoever I think good, but 424 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:18,200 that I must come and put myself into his hands with all 425 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:24,720 humbleness to receive what he thinks good and to hold all my 426 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:31,320 desires in obedience unto him. And seeing that He shows me 427 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:36,640 this, and it's in my best interest to Orient my heart 428 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:43,680 toward obedience and to take that to be best for me, which He 429 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:52,450 shall condescend to give me. I just didn't get what he 430 00:28:52,450 --> 00:28:57,530 wanted. He was never allowed to cross 431 00:28:58,730 --> 00:29:01,770 the river. He died on a mountain and God 432 00:29:01,770 --> 00:29:03,930 buried him somewhere no one knows nowhere. 433 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:08,400 And yet while he was prohibited from crossing over the Jordan, 434 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:14,200 God, God graciously provided him an opportunity to view the 435 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:16,680 promised land, you know, for the mountain. 436 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:21,680 Please go. And unable to, unable to enter 437 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:24,960 himself, he was, he was able to view that land that had been so 438 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:28,640 long promised to his people. You know, I think it's, I think 439 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:31,440 that it, as Moses went, went up that mountain and, and was 440 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:34,360 provided a view, it probably wasn't just your normal 2020 441 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:35,600 view. I think that God probably 442 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:38,080 granted him something a little supernatural in that, in that 443 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:42,000 instance where he could see all that was there for for his for 444 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:44,640 his people, you know, and I think that it's, it's that view 445 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:48,440 that that he had of the land that that kind of animated that 446 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:53,520 we that which we see in the next 30 chapters of Deuteronomy as as 447 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:56,480 Moses come and he's and he lays before the people and he and he 448 00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:59,880 preaches to the people and he prepares them for entrance into 449 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:03,600 that land of promise that he's seen what it is and what the 450 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:05,280 promise is that God has for them. 451 00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:07,960 And he's and he's working to make sure that they are ready to 452 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:18,770 enter into that place. Verse 28 contains one last 453 00:30:18,770 --> 00:30:29,760 instruction for Moses. And now says, But charge Joshua 454 00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:32,680 and encourage him and strengthen him, for he shall go across at 455 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:37,320 the head of his people, and he will give them as an inheritance 456 00:30:37,320 --> 00:30:47,760 to land, which you will see, I think we see here change. 457 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:53,480 Moses embraces this, this instruction at this time going 458 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:56,480 going forward, no longer as we go through Deuteronomy, are we 459 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:01,360 going to see Moses imploring the Lord that he be allowed to enter 460 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:03,840 the land. His his obedience is shown not 461 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:06,920 just by what he does, but by what he doesn't do. 462 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:12,440 You know, he, he knew he would not be allowed to enter the 463 00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:17,800 land, but he was to appoint Joshua as his successor and to 464 00:31:17,800 --> 00:31:23,000 encourage him and equip him to do the job which he most desired 465 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:27,520 to do. And yet as we, as we see Moses 466 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:30,280 and as we, as, as we see him in, in the, in the chapters to come, 467 00:31:30,280 --> 00:31:31,400 we see that he's, he's not a man. 468 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:34,720 He didn't withdraw. He didn't grow bitter. 469 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:40,040 He didn't say, well, if I can't cross, then I won't help. 470 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:45,280 Instead, we see a man that that finishes well, a man who was who 471 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:50,080 was most concerned that the people be prepared, that they 472 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:54,680 had a faithful man to guide them into the Promised Land. 473 00:31:56,760 --> 00:32:00,320 The chapters that follow in Deuteronomy record Moses's 474 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:02,880 instructions, both the Joshua and to the people. 475 00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:07,680 And in Deuteronomy 3123, when commissioning Joshua for the 476 00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:11,600 work, he exhorts him saying, Be strong and courageous for you 477 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:14,600 shall bring the sons of Israel into the land which I swore to 478 00:32:14,600 --> 00:32:23,160 them, and I will be with you. It's a it's an incredibly 479 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:26,840 commendable thing to go from a place from wanting to be that 480 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:32,440 man to commissioning someone else to do that work in in your 481 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:34,440 stead. And I think we can say that the 482 00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:38,000 the efficacy of of Moses instructions is is referenced in 483 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:41,280 chapter 34 nine, where it's written that Joshua, the son of 484 00:32:41,280 --> 00:32:45,640 Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom for Moses had laid his 485 00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:49,560 hands on him and the sons of Israel listened to him and did 486 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:56,920 as the Lord had commanded Moses. It wasn't 1/2 hearted effort to 487 00:32:56,920 --> 00:33:00,600 equip the people and God, the man that Moses devoted himself 488 00:33:00,600 --> 00:33:07,720 to. As we as we conclude, I'd like 489 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:12,720 us to re examine the figures of of Moses and and David who we 490 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:14,760 mentioned earlier, just a little deeper. 491 00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:19,800 We can make the comparison that they were both denied something 492 00:33:19,800 --> 00:33:22,920 that they longed for. But but I think we can draw a 493 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:27,200 deeper, A deeper parallel and that in the case of both men, 494 00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:32,680 neither entered into the fullness of God's rest during 495 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:35,600 their lifetime. You know, in the case of Moses, 496 00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:38,760 he led the people out of Egypt. He bore the burdens of the 497 00:33:38,760 --> 00:33:41,520 people. He received the law, He mediated 498 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:44,240 the law to the people. He shepherded the people through 499 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:46,680 the wilderness. He brought them to the very edge 500 00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:49,720 of the Promised Land, and yet he did not enter. 501 00:33:50,520 --> 00:33:54,320 He saw it, but he did not possess it. 502 00:33:57,560 --> 00:33:59,360 David was a king after God's own heart. 503 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:04,360 He united the Kingdom of Israel. He defeated Israel's enemies, He 504 00:34:04,360 --> 00:34:07,480 established Jerusalem as the political and spiritual center 505 00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:11,080 of the nation, and Scripture even tells us that God gave him 506 00:34:11,080 --> 00:34:14,120 a measure of rest from his enemies. 507 00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:18,600 But the temple wasn't built yet. The dwelling place of God among 508 00:34:18,800 --> 00:34:22,360 the people was not established in its fullness, and and David, 509 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:26,239 like Moses, would not live to complete the work which he 510 00:34:26,239 --> 00:34:30,199 desired to do. He gathered materials and set 511 00:34:30,199 --> 00:34:35,719 the stage, but he was unable to enter the fullness of what he 512 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:38,159 longed to see. In the case of both men, they 513 00:34:38,159 --> 00:34:41,760 stood on the threshold, but neither fully entered. 514 00:34:42,520 --> 00:34:45,000 I think when we look at this, this is, this is not accidental. 515 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:48,199 This is, this is a theological in nature. 516 00:34:48,320 --> 00:34:51,480 Scripture is showing us something greater, that even the 517 00:34:51,480 --> 00:34:54,280 greatest leaders in Israel, Moses the Lawgiver and David 518 00:34:54,520 --> 00:34:59,000 King, do not bring God's people into their final rest. 519 00:35:01,520 --> 00:35:02,960 This is where the New Testament picks up. 520 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:06,480 Hebrews 3 and and four remind us that on account of sin, an 521 00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:11,280 entire generation perished in the wilderness and did not enter 522 00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:14,560 God's rest. Joshua, even in leading the 523 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:17,040 people into the Promised Land, did not give them fullness of 524 00:35:17,040 --> 00:35:19,040 rest. And Hebrews reminds us that a 525 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:22,160 promise of rest still remains for the people of God. 526 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:27,480 What this means for us is that the Promised Land, a place 527 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:30,200 presented in the Old Testament as a place of rest, a place of 528 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:34,760 settlement, of safety, of peace, that it was never intended to be 529 00:35:36,240 --> 00:35:40,480 The final reality, the Kingdom carved out by David, was but a 530 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:44,000 partial fulfillment. What Moses could not do, what 531 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:46,800 David could not complete, Christ fulfills. 532 00:35:47,920 --> 00:35:51,080 Jesus is greater than Moses. He does not merely lead us to 533 00:35:51,080 --> 00:35:55,960 the promise, He brings us in, He says, greater than David. 534 00:35:55,960 --> 00:35:58,400 He does not merely secure partial peace, but He 535 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:02,280 establishes eternal rest. It is he who says, you know, 536 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:07,680 come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give 537 00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:10,320 you rest. Take my yoke upon you and lean 538 00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:17,320 upon and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and 539 00:36:17,320 --> 00:36:18,920 you will find rest for your souls. 540 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:23,920 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 541 00:36:26,120 --> 00:36:30,560 The rest that Jesus promises is, is not a land, it's not a 542 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:39,040 Kingdom, it's not a building. It's rest from sin with the 543 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:43,200 guilt of sin lifted. It's rest from striving, no 544 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:45,800 longer trying to earn or demerit God's favor. 545 00:36:46,520 --> 00:36:49,720 It's rest in the presence of God. 546 00:36:50,120 --> 00:36:55,360 And it's a rest that's both now and yet experience now, but to 547 00:36:55,360 --> 00:37:01,760 be perfected in eternity. So as we look at our text today, 548 00:37:01,760 --> 00:37:06,040 we stand here. We stand here with Moses atop 549 00:37:06,040 --> 00:37:10,000 Mount Pig Son, with David before the temple he would never build. 550 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:12,000 And what and what do they teach us? 551 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:16,760 They teach us that faith is not about seeing everything 552 00:37:17,240 --> 00:37:21,360 fulfilled, but trusting that God fulfills everything. 553 00:37:22,120 --> 00:37:26,200 That while you and I may not see the end, Christ will. 554 00:37:27,480 --> 00:37:31,000 And that is enough. Thanks for listening. 555 00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:33,680 To learn more about Heritage Church or if you'd like to 556 00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:36,120 respond to this sermon, visit our website at 557 00:37:36,120 --> 00:37:39,800 www.heritageshawnee.org.