Where can you find hope for the hopeless? 00:00:03.20\00:00:07.90 Opportunity for transformation? 00:00:07.94\00:00:11.54 Peace amid life's storms? 00:00:11.57\00:00:15.58 Only in God's free gift of eternal life. 00:00:15.61\00:00:20.52 From New York, join us on the Pathway of Hope. 00:00:20.55\00:00:24.75 Moses was casually conversing with God 00:00:30.16\00:00:33.36 and during the dialogue, Moses said to God, 00:00:33.40\00:00:36.20 "Please Lord, can I see Your glory?" 00:00:36.23\00:00:40.30 The loving gracious son, merciful God 00:00:40.34\00:00:42.84 that He is acquiesced to Moses' request, 00:00:42.87\00:00:46.98 but with stipulations. 00:00:47.01\00:00:49.24 One of them had to do with him be in place 00:00:49.28\00:00:52.05 in the cliff of the rock 00:00:52.08\00:00:54.22 and being covered by God's hand until God passed by. 00:00:54.25\00:00:59.99 In the New Testament, 00:01:00.02\00:01:01.82 Luke records that the landscape shone 00:01:01.86\00:01:04.66 bright with the glory of the Lord 00:01:04.69\00:01:06.90 and there the shepherds were badly frightened. 00:01:06.93\00:01:12.97 Oh, but we thank God that one day, 00:01:13.00\00:01:16.10 in the not too distant future, 00:01:16.14\00:01:18.47 we shall see Him face to face, 00:01:18.51\00:01:21.31 far beyond the starry sky, 00:01:21.34\00:01:24.18 face to face in all His glory, 00:01:24.21\00:01:27.85 we shall see Him by and by. 00:01:27.88\00:01:29.88 What a glorious day that will be. 00:01:29.92\00:01:33.29 Sit back with your Bibles opened 00:01:33.32\00:01:36.93 as Dr. A.J. Jules shares in the subject 00:01:36.96\00:01:40.36 he has entitled, 00:01:40.40\00:01:41.96 "The Glory of God." 00:01:42.00\00:01:43.90 When peace like a river 00:02:02.32\00:02:08.36 Attendeth my way 00:02:08.39\00:02:14.33 When sorrows like sea 00:02:14.36\00:02:19.63 Billows roll 00:02:19.67\00:02:26.98 Whatever my lot 00:02:27.01\00:02:32.58 Thou hast taught me to say 00:02:32.61\00:02:38.95 It is well it is well, 00:02:38.99\00:02:44.36 With my soul 00:02:44.39\00:02:50.33 It is well It is well 00:02:50.37\00:02:56.54 With my soul With my soul 00:02:56.57\00:03:02.44 It is well It is well 00:03:02.48\00:03:08.95 With my soul 00:03:08.98\00:03:15.86 My sin, oh, the bliss 00:03:15.89\00:03:20.70 Of this glorious thought 00:03:20.73\00:03:27.80 My sin, not in part 00:03:27.84\00:03:32.77 But the whole 00:03:32.81\00:03:39.41 Is nailed to the cross 00:03:39.45\00:03:45.65 And I bear it no more 00:03:45.69\00:03:51.43 Praise the Lord 00:03:51.46\00:03:54.56 Praise the Lord 00:03:54.60\00:03:57.00 O my soul 00:03:57.03\00:04:03.14 It is well It is well 00:04:03.17\00:04:09.01 With my soul With my soul 00:04:09.04\00:04:14.75 It is well It is well 00:04:14.78\00:04:20.89 With my soul 00:04:20.92\00:04:27.63 And, Lord, haste the day 00:04:27.66\00:04:32.93 When my faith shall be sight 00:04:32.97\00:04:39.77 The clouds be rolled back 00:04:39.81\00:04:44.88 As a scroll 00:04:44.91\00:04:51.85 The trump shall resound 00:04:51.89\00:04:57.66 And the Lord shall descend 00:04:57.69\00:05:03.77 "Even so," it is well 00:05:03.80\00:05:09.00 With my soul 00:05:09.04\00:05:15.04 It is well It is well 00:05:15.08\00:05:21.18 With my soul With my soul 00:05:21.22\00:05:27.32 It is well 00:05:27.36\00:05:30.36 It is well 00:05:30.39\00:05:33.46 With my soul 00:05:33.50\00:05:39.57 It is well It is well 00:05:39.60\00:05:45.81 With my soul 00:05:45.84\00:05:51.98 It is well It is well 00:05:52.01\00:05:58.45 With my soul 00:05:58.49\00:06:06.03 My soul. 00:06:06.06\00:06:13.03 Let us pray. 00:06:16.97\00:06:20.11 Our loving Lord and Father, 00:06:20.14\00:06:21.48 we tonight take another look at You 00:06:21.51\00:06:25.31 and Your goodness and care and compassion toward us. 00:06:25.35\00:06:28.88 As we search Your words 00:06:30.69\00:06:32.02 we find that You are a loving and caring God. 00:06:32.05\00:06:35.06 Tonight we reminisce with the patriarchs of old 00:06:36.52\00:06:40.43 and the believers from ancient days. 00:06:40.46\00:06:45.03 We see that You are merciful, kind and gracious. 00:06:45.07\00:06:50.07 As this word is brought forth 00:06:50.11\00:06:51.77 tonight we pray that 00:06:51.81\00:06:53.48 someone hearing will feel invigorated spiritually 00:06:53.51\00:06:58.11 and make a full surrender to Your lordship. 00:06:58.15\00:07:00.35 May this word go forth 00:07:00.38\00:07:02.35 to bless someone in need of that blessing tonight. 00:07:02.38\00:07:05.59 We pray in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior. 00:07:05.62\00:07:08.79 Amen. Amen. 00:07:08.82\00:07:11.53 There's a word for us. 00:07:11.56\00:07:12.89 As a matter of fact, tonight 00:07:12.93\00:07:14.26 I want to bring to you an exposition 00:07:14.30\00:07:16.73 of a compiled passage of scripture 00:07:16.77\00:07:20.00 from the Book of Exodus 33:18 00:07:20.04\00:07:25.27 to the 34:6. 00:07:25.31\00:07:28.81 But tonight I'll read and you're hearing verses 00:07:28.84\00:07:31.18 18 and 19 00:07:31.21\00:07:33.65 of the Book of Exodus, the 33rd Chapter. 00:07:33.68\00:07:38.55 And it reads, and he said, "I beseech thee, 00:07:38.59\00:07:41.92 show me thy glory." 00:07:41.96\00:07:45.49 And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass 00:07:45.53\00:07:49.16 before thee and I will proclaim 00:07:49.20\00:07:52.67 the name of the Lord before thee 00:07:52.70\00:07:55.34 and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious 00:07:55.37\00:07:59.77 and will show mercy 00:07:59.81\00:08:01.71 on whom I will show mercy." 00:08:01.74\00:08:06.31 Tonight we look at the glory of God 00:08:06.35\00:08:09.02 and what it means out of this passage of Scripture 00:08:09.05\00:08:13.66 as we look at God, 00:08:13.69\00:08:15.99 not what God looks like physically, 00:08:16.02\00:08:18.96 but who God really is in terms of His character. 00:08:18.99\00:08:22.66 I believe God wants us to know Him 00:08:22.70\00:08:25.13 as He really is. 00:08:25.17\00:08:27.37 The devil has portrayed God 00:08:27.40\00:08:29.27 the way he wants to portray Him 00:08:29.30\00:08:32.47 as a tyrant, uncaring, unloving. 00:08:32.51\00:08:35.54 But God wants us to know who He really is, 00:08:35.58\00:08:38.65 what His character is made up of. 00:08:38.68\00:08:41.02 And He wants us to be able to respond in love 00:08:41.05\00:08:44.22 to the kind of God that He is. 00:08:44.25\00:08:46.35 Exodus Chapter 33, all the way to Chapter 34, 00:08:46.39\00:08:50.03 gives us a glimpse into who God really is. 00:08:50.06\00:08:55.03 After months of weary journey, 00:08:55.06\00:08:57.33 the people of Israel finally came to Mount Sinai. 00:08:57.37\00:09:02.90 The cloudy pillar of God's presence rested 00:09:02.94\00:09:06.27 upon its massive summit. 00:09:06.31\00:09:08.84 And the Bible says the people spread their tents 00:09:08.88\00:09:12.61 on the plain beneath. 00:09:12.65\00:09:14.82 Now this was to be their home for almost a year. 00:09:14.85\00:09:18.15 At night, the pillar of fire showed them 00:09:18.19\00:09:20.09 of God's divine protection. 00:09:20.12\00:09:23.12 And while they slept, 00:09:23.16\00:09:26.03 these Israelites while they slept, 00:09:26.06\00:09:29.90 the bread of heaven fell gently in their encampment. 00:09:29.93\00:09:34.04 You see, it was at Mount Sinai that God manifested Himself 00:09:34.07\00:09:37.94 and gave to them His law. 00:09:37.97\00:09:41.18 It was a solemn yet impressive scene, 00:09:41.21\00:09:44.45 the people that entered into covenant with God. 00:09:44.48\00:09:47.35 Scripture tells us in Exodus 24:18 00:09:47.38\00:09:50.82 that God then summoned Moses to Sinai 00:09:50.85\00:09:54.29 to meet with Him in conference. 00:09:54.32\00:09:57.09 Moses had been gone for 40 days. 00:09:57.13\00:10:00.20 Chapter 31 reports that 00:10:00.23\00:10:01.80 when the people did not see Moses, 00:10:01.83\00:10:05.33 they rebelled during His absence 00:10:05.37\00:10:08.07 and this time of waiting in suspense, 00:10:08.10\00:10:10.31 the people violated the covenant. 00:10:10.34\00:10:12.97 Accustomed as they had been 00:10:13.01\00:10:14.61 in Egypt to material representation of the deity, 00:10:14.64\00:10:18.48 it was hard for them to trust an invisible God, 00:10:18.51\00:10:22.62 and they had come to rely upon Moses 00:10:22.65\00:10:25.72 to sustain their faith. 00:10:25.75\00:10:28.42 But day after day, week after week passed, 00:10:28.46\00:10:31.66 and still Moses had not returned. 00:10:31.69\00:10:35.16 And in this moment of testing, they fail. 00:10:35.20\00:10:38.50 Sacred history tells us 00:10:38.53\00:10:40.30 that they built a golden calf and worshiped it. 00:10:40.34\00:10:44.37 This fueled God's anger 00:10:44.41\00:10:45.94 who declared His separation from His people. 00:10:45.97\00:10:49.34 And the Lord said to Moses, "Go get down, 00:10:49.38\00:10:52.98 for your people 00:10:53.01\00:10:54.92 who you brought out of the land of Egypt, 00:10:54.95\00:10:57.72 have corrupted themselves." 00:10:57.75\00:10:59.29 Isn't it amazing 00:10:59.32\00:11:00.66 that God now tells Moses it's his people? 00:11:00.69\00:11:04.33 God wanted to destroy them, and make of Moses a new nation. 00:11:04.36\00:11:08.83 Exodus 32:10 tells us, 00:11:08.86\00:11:11.33 but Moses interceded, asking God to remember 00:11:11.37\00:11:15.24 that they were His children in verse 11. 00:11:15.27\00:11:18.21 Speaking with boldness, 00:11:18.24\00:11:19.57 Moses recalled 00:11:19.61\00:11:20.94 that they were the children of God's covenant people, 00:11:20.98\00:11:24.31 and begged that God would not destroy them. 00:11:24.35\00:11:27.42 God then instructed Moses to return to the camp. 00:11:27.45\00:11:30.62 And upon seeing the idolatry, 00:11:30.65\00:11:32.59 this great man of God was so moved, 00:11:32.62\00:11:34.96 that he destroyed the tables of stone, 00:11:34.99\00:11:37.09 upon which had been written the Ten Commandments. 00:11:37.13\00:11:40.10 Then he passed swift judgment upon the people. 00:11:40.13\00:11:44.97 Having ground the golden calf into a fine powder, 00:11:45.00\00:11:48.54 he mixed it into the water and made the people drink, 00:11:48.57\00:11:51.41 then called for a separation 00:11:51.44\00:11:53.38 between those who are on God's side 00:11:53.41\00:11:55.81 and those who were not. 00:11:55.84\00:11:58.18 We are told that the whole tribe of Levi followed him. 00:11:58.21\00:12:02.38 The people's sin of idolatry 00:12:02.42\00:12:05.79 signally called for their separation from God. 00:12:05.82\00:12:09.46 And in Chapter 33, 00:12:09.49\00:12:10.99 God divorces Himself from the people, 00:12:11.03\00:12:13.33 yet because of His faithfulness to Moses 00:12:13.36\00:12:17.17 and to His covenant, 00:12:17.20\00:12:18.53 He says in verse 2, 00:12:18.57\00:12:19.90 "I will send an angel before you." 00:12:19.93\00:12:22.70 Here God is saying 00:12:22.74\00:12:24.07 that He Himself will not be present 00:12:24.11\00:12:26.74 with these rebellious and rambunctious people. 00:12:26.78\00:12:30.38 Moses reported this to the people, 00:12:30.41\00:12:32.61 they became afraid. 00:12:32.65\00:12:34.48 Moses then went 00:12:34.52\00:12:35.85 to the tabernacle of the congregation 00:12:35.88\00:12:37.65 to meet with God. 00:12:37.69\00:12:39.19 And that meeting is described 00:12:39.22\00:12:40.86 in Exodus 33:12 through 34:3, 00:12:40.89\00:12:47.00 the essence of that conversation 00:12:47.03\00:12:49.73 is Moses' plea, 00:12:49.76\00:12:51.63 that God Himself will accompany the people. 00:12:51.67\00:12:55.44 If God goes with them, then all will be well. 00:12:55.47\00:13:00.14 Without God, 00:13:00.18\00:13:01.64 they would be nothing, verse 16 says. 00:13:01.68\00:13:04.75 Now this is made clear in that if God is with them, 00:13:04.78\00:13:08.48 that is what made them different 00:13:08.52\00:13:10.52 from the surrounding nations. 00:13:10.55\00:13:13.25 I see a few things here. 00:13:13.29\00:13:14.62 First of all, you see it's God's nature to be good. 00:13:14.66\00:13:18.86 That's just how God is. 00:13:18.89\00:13:21.06 We do not have to be afraid of Him. 00:13:21.10\00:13:23.06 He is a wonderful God. 00:13:23.10\00:13:25.50 In Exodus 34:6, 00:13:25.53\00:13:27.77 as God passed by Moses, 00:13:27.80\00:13:29.84 hidden in the cleft of the rock, 00:13:29.87\00:13:31.77 he declared his glory when he exclaimed, 00:13:31.81\00:13:34.11 the Lord, the Lord God, 00:13:34.14\00:13:37.45 merciful and gracious, longsuffering, 00:13:37.48\00:13:42.32 and abundant in goodness and truth. 00:13:42.35\00:13:45.25 Now, the idea of grace is very fascinating. 00:13:45.29\00:13:47.32 Interestingly, grace and mercy frequently go together. 00:13:47.36\00:13:51.69 Look at 33:19. 00:13:51.73\00:13:53.50 God says, "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious. 00:13:53.53\00:13:57.93 And so mercy, to whom I will show mercy." 00:13:57.97\00:14:01.07 In 34:6, 00:14:01.10\00:14:02.90 God proclaims Himself as being merciful and gracious. 00:14:02.94\00:14:07.01 But grace is also associated with patience. 00:14:07.04\00:14:10.48 That's why God declares that He is longsuffering. 00:14:10.51\00:14:14.82 Here we have three words stacked together for emphasis, 00:14:14.85\00:14:18.42 grace, mercy, and longsuffering. 00:14:18.45\00:14:22.09 They are telling us something 00:14:22.12\00:14:23.59 about the nature of God's glory. 00:14:23.63\00:14:25.96 In other words, 00:14:25.99\00:14:27.33 the best manifestation of God's glory 00:14:27.36\00:14:29.53 is seen in His grace. 00:14:29.56\00:14:32.60 And that is sweetened with mercy 00:14:32.63\00:14:35.00 and blessed with longsuffering. 00:14:35.04\00:14:37.61 Grace is often defined, as defined divine favor, 00:14:37.64\00:14:42.54 or divine kindness 00:14:42.58\00:14:44.85 as used here in Exodus 34:6, 00:14:44.88\00:14:47.98 the adjective hannA n used 13 times in the Old Testament, 00:14:48.02\00:14:53.02 is applied only to God. 00:14:53.05\00:14:54.99 He alone is described as gracious. 00:14:55.02\00:14:59.33 By nature, God is gracious 00:14:59.36\00:15:04.00 and He gives His grace without regard or merit 00:15:04.03\00:15:08.40 of the one who receives it. 00:15:08.44\00:15:11.74 Now we have to remember two basics 00:15:11.77\00:15:13.27 when it comes to grace. 00:15:13.31\00:15:15.44 One it is free, 00:15:15.48\00:15:17.35 it cannot be reciprocated or returned. 00:15:17.38\00:15:20.58 It is not a case of you scratch my back 00:15:20.62\00:15:23.08 and I'll scratch yours. 00:15:23.12\00:15:25.05 Grace is free. 00:15:25.09\00:15:26.79 It is not something which is dictated, it is free. 00:15:26.82\00:15:30.83 But secondly, grace is also rooted 00:15:30.86\00:15:32.76 not in what people do, 00:15:32.79\00:15:34.20 but in what God does. 00:15:34.23\00:15:36.26 God's disposition is to be gracious 00:15:36.30\00:15:38.97 in ways that go beyond human thinking, 00:15:39.00\00:15:41.47 reasoning or expectations. 00:15:41.50\00:15:44.17 King James Version says 00:15:44.21\00:15:46.44 that God is abundant in goodness. 00:15:46.47\00:15:50.08 Now this is a translation of the Hebrew word chesed. 00:15:50.11\00:15:53.75 Its meaning is wide. 00:15:53.78\00:15:56.38 It refers to love and kindness, 00:15:56.42\00:15:59.69 steadfast, and unfailing love, 00:15:59.72\00:16:02.42 mercy and goodness. 00:16:02.46\00:16:03.83 It is the kind of goodness and fidelity 00:16:03.86\00:16:06.90 that binds us in covenant relationship. 00:16:06.93\00:16:10.80 One word, one word in English 00:16:10.83\00:16:13.64 is not sufficient to provide an adequate translation 00:16:13.67\00:16:16.50 of that Hebrew word. 00:16:16.54\00:16:18.17 It refers to love that is not easily disrupted. 00:16:18.21\00:16:21.84 Love that does not play games or fools around. 00:16:21.88\00:16:25.08 Chesed is deep, sincere, pure love. 00:16:25.11\00:16:28.98 When all else fails, there's chesed. 00:16:29.02\00:16:33.05 When all else departs, there is chesed. 00:16:33.09\00:16:36.32 When all else is destroyed, there is chesed. 00:16:36.36\00:16:40.20 When all else is despised, there is chesed. 00:16:40.23\00:16:43.80 It is the embodiment of the character of God. 00:16:43.83\00:16:47.17 It is the reflection of the personality of God. 00:16:47.20\00:16:50.01 It is the personification of God. 00:16:50.04\00:16:52.61 Grace and mercy are chesed is who God is. 00:16:52.64\00:16:58.35 Little wonder, Romans 8 declares, 00:16:58.38\00:17:00.42 can anything separate us from the love of Christ? 00:17:00.45\00:17:03.89 Can troubles, suffering, hard times, hunger, 00:17:03.92\00:17:06.89 nakedness, death or danger? 00:17:06.92\00:17:08.79 I am sure that nothing can separate us 00:17:08.82\00:17:11.63 from God's love. 00:17:11.66\00:17:12.99 Not life, nor death, 00:17:13.03\00:17:15.16 not the angels of heaven, 00:17:15.20\00:17:17.47 not the present or the future, 00:17:17.50\00:17:20.07 not the powers above all, the powers below. 00:17:20.10\00:17:23.20 Nothing in our creation 00:17:23.24\00:17:25.01 can separate us from God's love 00:17:25.04\00:17:27.31 in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 00:17:27.34\00:17:31.41 God's love 00:17:31.45\00:17:33.92 demonstrates His glory 00:17:33.95\00:17:36.92 and His character. 00:17:36.95\00:17:39.25 But God's glory is further 00:17:39.29\00:17:41.46 demonstrated through forgiveness. 00:17:41.49\00:17:44.49 The best demonstration of God's glory 00:17:44.53\00:17:47.36 is in His ability to forgive us. 00:17:47.40\00:17:51.63 Exodus 34:7 expresses it this way, 00:17:51.67\00:17:54.90 "Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity, 00:17:54.94\00:17:59.57 and transgression, and sin." 00:17:59.61\00:18:02.28 In Hebrew there are three words which point to wrong doing. 00:18:02.31\00:18:05.91 And all three are used in this text, iniquity, 00:18:05.95\00:18:09.48 transgression and sin. 00:18:09.52\00:18:11.55 The first iniquity from the Hebrew, 00:18:11.59\00:18:14.72 avon, used 229 times, 00:18:14.76\00:18:17.36 speaks about errors or deeds that are crimes against God. 00:18:17.39\00:18:21.73 It is incipient wickedness. 00:18:21.76\00:18:24.53 Then we have the word transgression. 00:18:24.57\00:18:26.70 From the Hebrew, pesha, used 135 times, 00:18:26.74\00:18:30.97 signifies willful, 00:18:31.01\00:18:33.01 knowledgeable violation of the will of God. 00:18:33.04\00:18:35.81 It is not an inadvertent mistake. 00:18:35.84\00:18:38.81 It stems from a rebellious and revolting attitude. 00:18:38.85\00:18:42.82 In international politics 00:18:42.85\00:18:44.19 when one party violated a covenant with another, 00:18:44.22\00:18:48.32 this was the word use 00:18:48.36\00:18:49.82 to designate such breach of contract. 00:18:49.86\00:18:52.46 So it is the rebellion. 00:18:52.49\00:18:55.03 It is the rebellion against God. 00:18:55.06\00:18:57.47 Finally, we have another word, it's called sin, 00:18:57.50\00:19:01.64 from the Hebrew word, chata, used 595 times. 00:19:01.67\00:19:06.11 It means to miss the mark, to miss a specified goal. 00:19:06.14\00:19:09.94 It comes from out of archery. 00:19:09.98\00:19:12.68 When the archer's arrows miss the bulls-eye, 00:19:12.71\00:19:16.12 it misses the mark. 00:19:16.15\00:19:18.15 Now this stacking up of words emphasizes 00:19:18.19\00:19:20.76 the terrible nature of sin and its results, 00:19:20.79\00:19:23.76 its guilt and consequences. 00:19:23.79\00:19:25.93 They do not show gradations of sin. 00:19:25.96\00:19:28.53 These words do not intend to show levels of sin. 00:19:28.56\00:19:31.30 They are all pointing to the nature of sin 00:19:31.33\00:19:34.47 as an egregious and violent 00:19:34.50\00:19:37.67 disregard for the will of God. 00:19:37.71\00:19:40.04 But it is precisely here 00:19:40.08\00:19:42.04 that we see the glory of God 00:19:42.08\00:19:44.01 because He is willing to forgive all of these sins. 00:19:44.05\00:19:50.39 Hebrew for forgive is nasa, 00:19:50.42\00:19:52.99 which literally means to lift up. 00:19:53.02\00:19:55.69 God is willing to lift our sin and guilt 00:19:55.72\00:19:59.39 and its consequences off of our shoulders. 00:19:59.43\00:20:03.20 We do not have to bear that guilt. 00:20:03.23\00:20:05.77 He'll bear it for us, 00:20:05.80\00:20:07.80 He will lift it out of our lives. 00:20:07.84\00:20:10.61 And all of this speaks to God's glory. 00:20:10.64\00:20:14.48 Let us explore the depths of this matter of forgiveness. 00:20:14.51\00:20:18.41 It means to pardon, to acquit, to set free. 00:20:18.45\00:20:22.25 Forgiveness means that whatever wrongs have been committed 00:20:22.28\00:20:25.42 have been completely cleared. 00:20:25.45\00:20:27.66 So much so 00:20:27.69\00:20:29.29 that it is as though the person never committed those offenses. 00:20:29.32\00:20:34.46 What intrigues me is that the Bible, 00:20:34.50\00:20:36.63 the only religious book to speak of 00:20:36.67\00:20:38.37 complete forgiveness uses various paintings 00:20:38.40\00:20:41.07 to depict the loveliness of God's glory 00:20:41.10\00:20:43.74 and forgiveness. 00:20:43.77\00:20:45.67 The Bible speaks of our forgiveness 00:20:45.71\00:20:47.28 as being total. 00:20:47.31\00:20:49.18 The Psalmist sings in Psalm 103:8-12. 00:20:49.21\00:20:53.78 The Lord is merciful and gracious, 00:20:53.82\00:20:57.95 slow to anger and full of mercy. 00:20:57.99\00:21:01.92 He will not always chide, 00:21:01.96\00:21:03.56 He will not always keep His anger. 00:21:03.59\00:21:06.13 He has not dealt with us according to our sin. 00:21:06.16\00:21:09.16 He has not rewarded us according to our iniquities 00:21:09.20\00:21:12.10 for as the heaven is high above the earth, 00:21:12.13\00:21:14.10 so great is His mercy 00:21:14.14\00:21:16.47 toward those who fear Him or reverencing. 00:21:16.50\00:21:20.34 As far as the east is from the west, 00:21:20.38\00:21:23.45 this is how far He has removed our transgression from us. 00:21:23.48\00:21:28.28 It is complete reversal. 00:21:28.32\00:21:30.92 It is a complete transformation. 00:21:30.95\00:21:33.39 Isaiah 1:18 denotes, 00:21:33.42\00:21:35.49 "Though your sins be a scarlet," 00:21:35.52\00:21:38.46 He says, "I will make them white as snow, 00:21:38.49\00:21:41.46 though they'd be red like crimson, 00:21:41.50\00:21:43.70 I shall make them as wool." 00:21:43.73\00:21:45.83 It also represents a blooding out. 00:21:45.87\00:21:49.30 Using an eraser, 00:21:49.34\00:21:50.84 it gets rid of all of our stain. 00:21:50.87\00:21:53.54 Isaiah 43:25 says, 00:21:53.58\00:21:55.88 "I, even I, am He 00:21:55.91\00:21:58.11 who blots out your transgressions." 00:21:58.15\00:22:00.78 It is divine forgetting. 00:22:00.82\00:22:03.22 Jeremiah 31:33 plainly teaches, 00:22:03.25\00:22:06.22 "I will forgive your iniquity 00:22:06.25\00:22:08.02 and I will not remember your sins." 00:22:08.06\00:22:10.43 How is it that God who knows everything 00:22:10.46\00:22:12.56 does not remember your sins? 00:22:12.59\00:22:14.66 It is because He chooses to forget. 00:22:14.70\00:22:17.50 That is His nature. 00:22:17.53\00:22:18.93 That's His character. 00:22:18.97\00:22:20.30 That's His glory. 00:22:20.34\00:22:21.77 It's a cancellation of your death. 00:22:21.80\00:22:24.51 Micah 7:19 declares, 00:22:24.54\00:22:27.88 "I will cast all these sins into the depths of the sea." 00:22:27.91\00:22:31.81 This is a case of impossible retrieval. 00:22:31.85\00:22:35.55 Isaiah 38:17 adds to this by saying 00:22:35.58\00:22:38.82 that God throws all my sins behind His back. 00:22:38.85\00:22:43.39 It is a cleansing. 00:22:43.43\00:22:45.13 1 John 1:9 promises, 00:22:45.16\00:22:47.43 "If we confess our sins, 00:22:47.46\00:22:50.10 He is faithful and just to forgive us 00:22:50.13\00:22:53.03 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 00:22:53.07\00:22:57.27 Now this comes from the picture of washing clothes. 00:22:57.31\00:23:00.98 If there were a stain or dirt mark, 00:23:01.01\00:23:03.01 the person who washes the clothing 00:23:03.04\00:23:06.92 continues to do so 00:23:06.95\00:23:08.28 until that stain is totally removed. 00:23:08.32\00:23:11.52 It is absolutely cleansed. 00:23:11.55\00:23:13.36 Once forgiven, 00:23:13.39\00:23:14.72 those sins are erased, and they are washed away. 00:23:14.76\00:23:18.39 The glory of God is expressed 00:23:18.43\00:23:22.33 in the grace of God, 00:23:22.36\00:23:24.17 which we experience in the forgiveness of God. 00:23:24.20\00:23:29.00 But there's something else about the glory of God. 00:23:29.04\00:23:32.87 The glory of God speaks to the justice of God. 00:23:32.91\00:23:36.88 God's glory is also expressed in His justice. 00:23:36.91\00:23:40.42 God does not leave the guilty unpunished. 00:23:40.45\00:23:44.69 This is the implication of Exodus 34:7 00:23:44.72\00:23:48.26 when God says, 00:23:48.29\00:23:49.62 "I will by no means clear the guilty, 00:23:49.66\00:23:52.76 visiting the iniquity upon generations to come." 00:23:52.79\00:23:56.16 Now this doesn't mean that God is arbitrary 00:23:56.20\00:23:58.97 in His forgiveness. 00:23:59.00\00:24:00.34 It doesn't mean that God forgives some people 00:24:00.37\00:24:03.10 but ignores others. 00:24:03.14\00:24:04.54 Scripture is its own best interpreter. 00:24:04.57\00:24:08.41 So let us allow scripture to interpret this text. 00:24:08.44\00:24:13.48 Dealing with the character of God, 00:24:13.52\00:24:15.25 Psalm 103:8-16 00:24:15.28\00:24:17.89 speaks about God's mercy and His grace, 00:24:17.92\00:24:21.86 and that God being very slow to anger. 00:24:21.89\00:24:24.73 Then in dealing with the justice of God, 00:24:24.76\00:24:26.39 it says, 00:24:26.43\00:24:27.76 "But the mercy of the Lord 00:24:27.80\00:24:30.50 is from everlasting to everlasting 00:24:30.53\00:24:33.00 upon those who reverence Him, 00:24:33.03\00:24:36.44 and His righteousness is unto their children." 00:24:36.47\00:24:40.18 And their children's children unto such as those 00:24:40.21\00:24:43.24 who keep the covenant and those 00:24:43.28\00:24:45.08 that remember His commandments to do them. 00:24:45.11\00:24:48.15 Those who are willing to follow the will of God 00:24:48.18\00:24:51.09 will receive His approval and His blessings. 00:24:51.12\00:24:56.06 But those who refuse to obey are deemed guilty. 00:24:56.09\00:25:01.36 Now that is why 00:25:01.40\00:25:03.30 Exodus 34:7 says that, 00:25:03.33\00:25:06.13 "By no means will He clear the guilty 00:25:06.17\00:25:08.87 those who refuse to follow His will, 00:25:08.90\00:25:11.07 and His way." 00:25:11.11\00:25:12.44 Moses asked to see God's glory. 00:25:12.47\00:25:15.44 And instead of God showing him just His physical features, 00:25:15.48\00:25:20.02 God showed Moses His character. 00:25:20.05\00:25:22.98 He did not show Moses what He looked like, 00:25:23.02\00:25:25.55 He pronounced to who He is. 00:25:25.59\00:25:27.89 God's glory is His character. 00:25:27.92\00:25:30.56 What is intriguing is that upon that revelation, 00:25:30.59\00:25:33.63 Moses fell before God in worship. 00:25:33.66\00:25:36.46 Today we get a lot of hype in worship, 00:25:36.50\00:25:38.23 we can sing and shout, 00:25:38.27\00:25:40.04 and shout amen and praise the Lord 00:25:40.07\00:25:42.07 and clap until the heavens resound. 00:25:42.10\00:25:44.87 But before that, 00:25:44.91\00:25:46.24 we must experience the glory of God. 00:25:46.27\00:25:48.54 We receive His goodness and His grace. 00:25:48.58\00:25:51.31 He has placed His name upon us. 00:25:51.35\00:25:53.72 We enjoy His forgiveness, 00:25:53.75\00:25:55.42 in His justice He will not excuse sin. 00:25:55.45\00:25:58.35 Like Moses, 00:25:58.39\00:25:59.89 if you want to see His face, 00:25:59.92\00:26:01.96 fall before our God and worship Him. 00:26:01.99\00:26:05.39 Our God is good, and merciful, and gracious. 00:26:05.43\00:26:09.56 He's a forgiving God, He's a loving God. 00:26:09.60\00:26:12.63 If you want to know what God is like, 00:26:12.67\00:26:14.80 look at His glory and see Him 00:26:14.84\00:26:18.01 as He truly is. 00:26:18.04\00:26:20.94 Loving Lord, we thank You for this revelation tonight. 00:26:20.98\00:26:24.95 As You have revealed Yourself to us, 00:26:24.98\00:26:27.88 help us tonight and always 00:26:27.92\00:26:30.82 to embrace You as our Lord and our Savior. 00:26:30.85\00:26:34.19 May we see You for who You really are, 00:26:34.22\00:26:36.73 a great and loving God. 00:26:36.76\00:26:38.63 Who is not willing that any should perish, 00:26:38.66\00:26:41.56 but that we should all come to repentance. 00:26:41.60\00:26:44.53 Thank You for this Word. 00:26:44.57\00:26:46.33 Thank You for what it has done for us. 00:26:46.37\00:26:48.90 Thank You for the blessings that has brought to our lives. 00:26:48.94\00:26:52.01 In the name of Jesus we pray, amen. 00:26:52.04\00:26:56.14 Thanks for watching Pathway of Hope. 00:26:56.18\00:26:59.18 If you would like to be prayed for 00:26:59.21\00:27:01.48 or would like to learn more about God's Word, 00:27:01.52\00:27:04.62 please call 1 (877) 520-Hope 00:27:04.65\00:27:10.99 or 1 (877) 520 (4673). 00:27:11.03\00:27:18.27 You may also watch more of our programs online 00:27:18.30\00:27:21.37 at www.pathwayofhope.tv. 00:27:21.40\00:27:28.31 If you would like to make a tax deductible love gift, 00:27:28.34\00:27:32.08 please send your gifts to Pathway of Hope, 00:27:32.11\00:27:35.62 at P.O. 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