Welcome, children of God,
to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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This week we are on lesson
number six, which is called,
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I Will Arise.
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And if you want to join us
with a Sabbath school quarterly,
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you can get one
by downloading it at
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3ABNSabbathSchoolPanel.com
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Or if you would like
to head to your local
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Seventh-Adventist church they'd
be happy to share one with you.
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Can't wait for what we
hear in this study today.
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Welcome back to
Sabbath School Panel.
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This week we're
on lesson number six.
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I'm Daniel Perrin, and
we've been going through the
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book of Psalms, which really
takes us from start to finish
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in the Bible, and
we're going to see it all.
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This week we've got some
really important parts of
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God's character to be revealed.
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So if you've been following
along and you'd like to know
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more of how we put together
our notes and what we've got,
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then give us an email at...
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And what they'll send you is
the notes that we're using here.
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And you can use them for
yourself and add to them,
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and let them help you as
you think about Sabbath school.
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So we're going to look at
who we've got with us today.
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Starting over here to my
left we have Jill Morikone.
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Thank you so much, Daniel.
I'm delighted to be here.
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On Monday we look at,
Justice for the Oppressed.
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~ Alright, and thank
you. And Pastor James.
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~ Good to be here, Daniel.
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I have Tuesday's lesson, How
Long Will You Judge Unjustly?
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Okay. Ryan, you're next.
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Wednesday's lesson
is a deep one entitled,
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Pour Out Your Indignation.
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Alright. And Shelley.
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Well I get to lift
ours up a little bit.
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Mine is Thursday, The Lord's
Judgment and the Sanctuary.
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Alright, from the sound of it,
this is going to be a somewhat
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heavy set of topics.
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But I think God
will lead us through it.
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Shelley, would you be willing
to open us with prayer today?
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~ I would love to, thank you.
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Our most gracious,
loving, heavenly Father,
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help us to always keep
our mind aware of Your love,
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and Your righteousness,
and Your consistency.
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Lord, now we ask that
You would fill us afresh
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with Your Holy Spirit.
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Give us all ears to hear
what the Spirit has to say.
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In Christ, we pray, amen.
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Amen.
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So as we look through
the lesson this week called,
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I Will Arise, it
starts us off with the
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memory text from Psalm 12:5.
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And the text says, "'For
the oppression of the poor,
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for the sighing of the
needy, now I will arise,'
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says the Lord; 'I
will set him in the safety
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for which he yearns.'"
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And so the context of this
lesson says we're going to look
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to God, and it's
going to be what He does
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in the midst of oppression.
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Psalm 12 starts
with the word, "Help."
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Maybe you've cried out, "Help."
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I think the human condition
has led every one of us
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at some point
to cry out, "Help."
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And I know that as a
child, and I've got kids myself,
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they sometimes say, "Help me."
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Sometimes it's
something really big.
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And sometimes it's
something that I say,
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"Oh you're going to have to
figure that out on your own."
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But ultimately I have my eyes on
them and I'm going to give them
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the help that they need.
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The word for,
"help," there is, "yasha,"
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which means to
liberate, to save,
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and especially
to save in battle.
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In other words, the deliverance
that is going to take place
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is going to come with a fight.
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There's going to be something
that is going to be in conflict
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with an enemy.
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Now the help that is needed
in this chapter 12 of the Psalms
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focuses not on me, but on
the oppression of the poor.
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And so this is
where we're looking today.
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That word, "oppression,"
the Hebrew word is, "shod,"
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which really
deals with devastation,
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destruction, or ruin.
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Oppression isn't just an idea.
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It has results and consequences
for real people's lives.
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Looking around at our world
today, about 50 million people
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in our world, 50
million are in modern slavery.
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Like full-on slavery.
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And the average cost of
a slave in the world today
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is about 90 to 100 dollars US.
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20 million of those 50
million are in debt bondage.
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What that means is, they're
free, but not really free.
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They have a debt that
they can never pay off,
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so they are locked in bondage
to pay this unpayable debt.
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160 million children
in the world, children,
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are in child labor.
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In the poorest countries of
the world, one in five children
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are involved in
some kind of child labor.
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And this is not making
their bed in the morning.
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This is making bricks,
mining gold, sugar cane, coffee,
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cocoa, cotton,
textiles and manufacturing,
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agriculture, and mining.
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All sorts of
different industries.
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9.2% of the world's population,
that's 720 million people,
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are living in poverty every day
with less than $2.15 to live on.
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And it doesn't matter
what economy you're in,
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that is next to nothing.
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Most of those usually
working for next to nothing
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in the most undesirable
positions at the lowest rung
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of the supply chain
ladders that we benefit from.
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The Bible tells us that
God takes special interest
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in the poor, and the widows,
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and the orphans,
and the foreigners.
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Just one statement out of
many from Exodus 22:22-25.
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"You shall not afflict any
widow or fatherless child."
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This is God speaking, don't
hurt the widows or orphans.
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"If you afflict them in any way,
and they cry out at all to Me,
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I will surely hear their cry;
and My wrath will become hot,
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and I will kill
you with the sword;
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your wives shall be widows,
and your children fatherless."
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These are words in the Bible.
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God says, "I will
personally care for their needs
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when there's no
one to care for them."
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These words are strong, we
should pay attention to them.
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Israel knew what it
was like; oppression.
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At one time or another, they
had been either on the giving
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or receiving end of oppression.
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And so the
seventh century prophets,
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especially that's
Micah, Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah,
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they talk a lot about a
wealthy prosperous Israel
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who've joined house to
house and field to field.
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And they living at ease,
and they have large houses
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hewn out of stone, while
they're exacting heavy taxes.
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And the Bible, the
prophets, describe them as
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grinding the faces of the poor,
oppressing down on the poor,
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buying the poor
for a pair of sandals.
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selling them for
money or for silver.
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Sunday's lesson.
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The problems associated with
oppression needs serious study
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and evaluation
in our world today.
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And we need to participate
in relieving the needs
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of the suffering, and
the needy, and the poor.
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But we are not to turn
away from them and simply say,
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"God is going to help them.
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God is going to
take care of it."
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We are called to participate
with what God is doing.
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So this lesson right
here begins with focusing on
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God's role, what
God is going to do.
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But we always keep in mind
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that He's inviting
us into the process.
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Because sometimes we jump
into the problems of poverty,
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or sickness, or
things that we think that
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we're going to
solve them on our own.
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And while we are
supposed to be involved,
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God is ultimately the problem
solver that we participate with.
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So He solves, we participate.
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Sunday's lesson
looks into Psalm 18,
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especially verses 4-19.
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And this one gets us an up-close
picture of the delivering God;
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a majestic warrior.
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Think of this psalm, Psalm
18, as one of those moments
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when the newscaster
says, "We've got breaking news.
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A firsthand account here.
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There's a report from
someone on the ground."
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So I want you to picture
this scene here of someone
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being pulled out into safety.
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They've been rescued
from a burning structure,
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or the car pushed
off the railroad tracks.
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And right there, the
collision was about to happen,
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but at the last
moment somebody stepped in
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powerfully and delivered them.
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And so you've got
a dramatic rescue,
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and you have someone with
exuberance and breathlessness
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pouring out the
firsthand details.
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There they are with a
fresh wide-eyed memory saying,
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"Here's what happened. I
just saw it, I was there."
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Their adrenaline is pumping,
their heart rate is elevated,
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and they're
speaking probably louder and
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faster than necessary.
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Maybe like me, I feel right now.
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And so we're looking
back through the 3000 years
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of history, through the poetry,
to a person who speaks this.
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And so when we look at Psalm 18,
it actually begins like this.
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Listen to what it says there.
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It says, "...this song on the
day that the Lord delivered him
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from the hand of
all his enemies..."
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This is David, not years
later, but he is now saying this
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in the moment.
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Alright, so we're now looking at
Psalm 18, starting with verse 4.
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And this is the
firsthand witness.
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Alright, here is it saying this.
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"The pangs of
death surrounded me,
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and the floods of
ungodliness made me afraid.
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The sorrows of
Sheol surrounded me;
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the snares of
death confronted me.
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In my distress, I
called out to the Lord,
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and cried upon my God.
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He heard my
voice from His temple,
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and my cry came
before Him, even to His ears.
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Then the earth
shook and trembled;
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and the foundations of the hills
also quaked and were shaken,
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because He was angry.
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Smoke went up from His nostrils,
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and devouring fire
came out of His mouth;
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coals were kindled by it.
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He bowed the heavens
also, and He came down
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with darkness under His feet.
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And He rode upon a
cherub, and He flew;
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He flew upon the
wings of the wind.
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He made darkness
His secret place;
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His canopy around
Him was dark waters
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and thick clouds of the skies."
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Are you hearing him now?
He's telling the experience.
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"Look at what I went through."
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"From the brightness
before Him, His thick clouds
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passed with
hailstones and coals of fire.
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The Lord thundered from heaven,
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and the Most High
uttered His voice,
00:11:12.93\00:11:15.40
hailstones and coals of fire.
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He sent out His arrows
and He scattered the foe,
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lightnings in abundance,
and He vanquished them.
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Then the channels
of the sea were seen,
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the foundations of the
world were uncovered..."
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Here he is saying, "Look,
remember what they went through?
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Remember what God did for them?
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God did it for me."
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"...at Your rebuke, O Lord..."
00:11:40.53\00:11:42.16
Here he's looking up to God.
00:11:42.20\00:11:43.67
"...at the blast of the
breath of Your nostrils.
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He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
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He delivered me
from my strong enemy,
00:11:53.17\00:11:56.34
from those who hated me,
for they were too strong for me.
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They confronted me in
the day of my calamity,
00:12:01.65\00:12:04.85
but the Lord was my support.
00:12:05.15\00:12:08.32
He also brought me
out into a broad place;
00:12:08.56\00:12:11.83
He delivered me
because He delighted in me."
00:12:11.86\00:12:15.80
And there his
testimony has ended.
00:12:16.06\00:12:18.43
And then the camera
pans off to the distance,
00:12:18.47\00:12:21.50
and you see the
aftermath of what God has done.
00:12:21.54\00:12:24.17
And David here
is excited, saying,
00:12:24.21\00:12:26.17
"God, look what
He's done for me."
00:12:26.21\00:12:28.54
So here's the message.
00:12:28.98\00:12:30.35
And I hope you have a message
like this that you can share
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with someone when
they need to hear it.
00:12:33.62\00:12:35.62
"Look at God.
00:12:35.85\00:12:37.19
Let me tell you
what He's done for me.
00:12:37.22\00:12:39.39
There was a time in my
life when it wasn't like this.
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Oh man, I was
facing hard things.
00:12:42.66\00:12:44.93
But look at God and look
at what He's done for me."
00:12:45.23\00:12:47.90
This is a primary witness.
00:12:48.20\00:12:50.43
It's not some researcher
who's gone through the books
00:12:50.83\00:12:53.64
and said, "Here's some
evidence from the past."
00:12:53.67\00:12:57.07
God is powerful and He is good.
00:12:57.11\00:13:00.31
Look what He's done.
00:13:00.34\00:13:01.68
David doesn't take
any credit for this.
00:13:01.71\00:13:03.88
He gives all the glory to God.
00:13:03.91\00:13:06.65
And this is the theme through
the whole book of Psalms,
00:13:06.68\00:13:09.12
through psalm and
through the whole Bible.
00:13:09.15\00:13:11.19
God is the one who is
going to bring it to completion.
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Let's take a few
more statements, because
00:13:14.89\00:13:16.99
David has got more to say
before the camera is off of him.
00:13:17.03\00:13:19.69
Go to verse 31 of Psalm 18.
00:13:19.73\00:13:22.63
"For who is God except the Lord?
00:13:23.97\00:13:26.47
And who is a
rock except our God?"
00:13:26.50\00:13:29.60
Nobody else
could have done this.
00:13:29.64\00:13:31.87
Verse 46 and 47.
00:13:32.31\00:13:34.81
"The Lord lives.
Blessed be my Rock.
00:13:34.84\00:13:38.51
Let the God of my
salvation be exalted.
00:13:38.55\00:13:41.45
It is God who avenges me..."
00:13:41.48\00:13:43.99
He says, "I've got
to thank my Rescuer."
00:13:44.02\00:13:46.45
And then verse 49 says this:
00:13:46.49\00:13:49.09
"Therefore I will
give thanks to You, O Lord,
00:13:49.12\00:13:51.53
among the Gentiles..."
00:13:51.56\00:13:53.23
"I want everybody
else to know God is good,
00:13:53.26\00:13:56.23
He will win."
00:13:56.26\00:13:57.73
~ Amen. Thank you so much.
00:13:57.77\00:14:00.24
Glory, we're having
church. I love that.
00:14:00.27\00:14:03.30
God the Majestic Warrior.
Thank you, Daniel, for that.
00:14:03.34\00:14:07.34
My name is Jill Morikone.
00:14:07.38\00:14:08.88
On Monday we look at,
Justice for the Oppressed.
00:14:08.91\00:14:13.25
Daniel gave us
those sobering statistics
00:14:13.28\00:14:17.29
of the people who are oppressed
right now in the world.
00:14:17.32\00:14:22.09
I want to start with a question.
00:14:22.12\00:14:23.46
How do we protect and provide
justice for the vulnerable
00:14:23.66\00:14:29.10
and the oppressed in society?
00:14:29.13\00:14:31.53
Does this question
keep you awake at night?
00:14:32.23\00:14:34.14
I have to be honest with you.
00:14:34.64\00:14:36.00
Sometimes it does me.
00:14:36.04\00:14:37.41
When I look out and I see
the people who are broken,
00:14:37.44\00:14:41.88
the people who
are lost and alone,
00:14:42.31\00:14:45.05
the people who are in bondage,
God, what can I do about it?
00:14:45.51\00:14:50.82
How do we protect those people?
00:14:51.22\00:14:53.22
How do we seek
to provide justice?
00:14:53.25\00:14:56.59
First of all, who are
the vulnerable in society?
00:14:57.23\00:14:59.79
David refers to them as the
poor and the needy, does he not?
00:15:00.00\00:15:03.33
Who are they?
00:15:03.50\00:15:04.83
What about
physically vulnerable?
00:15:04.87\00:15:06.84
Are people
physically vulnerable?
00:15:06.87\00:15:08.60
That would be people
maybe through poverty;
00:15:08.80\00:15:10.81
lack of food, as
you talked about,
00:15:10.84\00:15:12.61
lack of education,
lack of health care.
00:15:12.64\00:15:15.21
Maybe people who are disabled;
00:15:15.31\00:15:16.98
some sort of
deformity or weakness.
00:15:17.08\00:15:19.55
Maybe the orphans.
00:15:19.58\00:15:21.52
They have nobody
to take care of them.
00:15:21.55\00:15:24.35
What about a mental or
emotional vulnerability?
00:15:24.59\00:15:28.72
These would be people
who are abused right now.
00:15:29.02\00:15:31.93
People who are beat down,
and bruised, and oppressed.
00:15:32.29\00:15:36.40
These would maybe be people
who even are mentally unstable
00:15:36.63\00:15:40.94
or struggle with mental illness.
00:15:40.97\00:15:43.44
These could be children right
now who are being trafficked.
00:15:44.01\00:15:48.54
What about people who
are spiritually vulnerable?
00:15:48.58\00:15:51.61
People maybe who have a
twisted understanding of
00:15:51.98\00:15:54.98
Scripture because their
pastor taught them wrongly.
00:15:55.02\00:15:58.49
Or a religious
leader held over them
00:15:58.52\00:16:01.06
some sort of God of judgment and
oppression, and condemnation.
00:16:01.09\00:16:05.96
People lack
understanding of who our God is.
00:16:05.99\00:16:10.23
How do we protect these people?
00:16:10.47\00:16:12.53
How do we provide
justice for the vulnerable
00:16:12.57\00:16:15.40
and the oppressed in society?
00:16:15.60\00:16:18.14
Now this lesson is
just very practical.
00:16:18.24\00:16:20.28
And I want to give you
four steps that I gleaned from
00:16:20.31\00:16:23.31
my study of
Psalms and the scriptures
00:16:23.35\00:16:25.48
that we have for my lesson.
00:16:25.51\00:16:27.12
Let's go first to Psalm 9.
00:16:27.62\00:16:29.72
"For the needy shall
not always be forgotten;
00:16:32.69\00:16:36.62
the expectation of the
poor shall not perish forever."
00:16:36.83\00:16:41.10
Now this could mean people who
are experiencing poverty, yes.
00:16:41.13\00:16:44.53
But especially it's
talking about the oppressed.
00:16:44.57\00:16:47.47
It occurs over 30 times
there in the book of Psalms.
00:16:47.50\00:16:51.74
And it talks about
those who are afflicted,
00:16:51.77\00:16:53.51
those who are
oppressed, those who are poor.
00:16:53.54\00:16:56.44
This is the fatherless, this is
the stranger, this is the widow.
00:16:56.48\00:16:59.98
These are those who need help.
00:17:00.02\00:17:02.35
Step number one,
choose to keep these
00:17:02.55\00:17:06.52
people's needs at the forefront.
00:17:06.55\00:17:08.42
You know, it's easy to be
like the priest and Levite
00:17:08.72\00:17:11.59
and walk on the other side.
00:17:11.63\00:17:13.06
"I don't have
time to get involved."
00:17:13.09\00:17:14.53
"Well, it won't
matter if I just help one.
00:17:15.00\00:17:17.20
There's a million
others who need help.
00:17:17.23\00:17:19.00
I'm going to harden my heart
or become callous to their needs
00:17:19.20\00:17:23.61
and push them aside."
00:17:23.64\00:17:25.37
Or, "I'm too
busy doing God's work
00:17:25.41\00:17:26.84
to help this person over here."
00:17:26.88\00:17:28.38
Choose to keep their
needs at the forefront.
00:17:28.68\00:17:32.41
Let's look at Psalm 12:5.
00:17:32.51\00:17:36.05
"'For oppression of the poor,
for the sighing of the needy,
00:17:36.08\00:17:40.39
now I will
arise,' says the Lord.
00:17:40.42\00:17:44.26
'I will set him in the
safety for which he yearns.'"
00:17:44.29\00:17:49.43
How is God going
to set them in safety
00:17:49.46\00:17:51.93
unless you and I
do something about it?
00:17:51.97\00:17:54.00
Psalm 113:7, "He raises
the poor out of the dust,
00:17:54.37\00:17:59.01
and lifts the needy
out of the ash heap."
00:17:59.04\00:18:03.31
Step number two, you and
I need to seek safe places
00:18:03.98\00:18:08.58
to provide for the
vulnerable and the oppressed.
00:18:08.62\00:18:12.35
Now what does that look like?
00:18:12.55\00:18:13.89
That looks
different for every person.
00:18:13.92\00:18:15.66
Maybe you could
financially support
00:18:15.69\00:18:17.89
or pray for those who
do provide safe houses,
00:18:17.93\00:18:21.03
safe places for others.
00:18:21.06\00:18:23.43
Maybe God is calling you
to step out in a ministry
00:18:23.83\00:18:27.54
to seek to provide a safe place.
00:18:27.57\00:18:30.31
Maybe it's someone
who is traveling through
00:18:30.51\00:18:32.77
and who needs a bed
for a night, and God says,
00:18:32.81\00:18:35.21
"Open up your
home to them tonight."
00:18:35.24\00:18:37.88
Step out of your own
comfort zone and reach out and
00:18:37.91\00:18:42.58
help someone else.
00:18:42.62\00:18:44.42
Let's look at Psalm 40:17.
00:18:45.02\00:18:48.12
"But I am poor and needy;
yet the Lord thinks upon me.
00:18:48.36\00:18:53.56
You are my help
and my deliverer;
00:18:53.60\00:18:56.67
do not delay, O my God."
00:18:56.70\00:18:59.13
Here, he's crying out to God.
00:18:59.17\00:19:01.80
Step number three,
you and I need to ask
00:19:02.10\00:19:04.11
for divine assistance.
00:19:04.14\00:19:05.47
We can't seek to
help the oppressed,
00:19:05.51\00:19:07.61
we can't seek
to provide justice,
00:19:07.64\00:19:09.44
we can't seek to do
anything without going to God.
00:19:09.48\00:19:13.15
Clearly, only God is
the Majestic Warrior.
00:19:13.18\00:19:15.52
Only He can
deliver the oppressed.
00:19:15.55\00:19:18.19
Only He can help the vulnerable.
00:19:18.22\00:19:20.16
But He asks you and I to
work in concert with Him.
00:19:20.26\00:19:25.53
We can help, but only God is
the one who brings deliverance.
00:19:25.99\00:19:29.93
So go to God and ask Him, "God,
what would You have me do?"
00:19:29.96\00:19:35.20
One of my favorite
psalms is Psalm 146.
00:19:35.57\00:19:38.47
And we're going to go there.
00:19:38.51\00:19:39.84
This is so practical.
00:19:39.87\00:19:41.61
And I know in the
psalm it's talking about God
00:19:41.64\00:19:43.98
and who He is to
us, but I think we can
00:19:44.01\00:19:47.38
apply it for us today
and how we can reach out
00:19:47.42\00:19:49.95
to the vulnerable and
those who are oppressed.
00:19:49.98\00:19:52.32
We'll pick it up in verse 5.
00:19:52.65\00:19:54.16
And all of this goes
along with step number four,
00:19:57.06\00:19:59.49
which is, you and I
need to find practical ways
00:19:59.69\00:20:02.86
that we can help the
oppressed and the vulnerable.
00:20:03.06\00:20:06.13
Verse 5, "Happy is he who has
the God of Jacob for his help,
00:20:06.94\00:20:09.90
whose hope is in
the Lord his God..."
00:20:10.27\00:20:13.24
God is our helper.
00:20:13.27\00:20:15.98
Verse 6, "...who made
heaven and earth, the sea,
00:20:16.08\00:20:18.71
and all that is in them..."
00:20:18.75\00:20:20.18
God is our Creator.
00:20:20.22\00:20:23.28
"...who keeps truth forever..."
00:20:23.55\00:20:26.09
God is unchanging.
00:20:26.12\00:20:29.59
Now it gets really
practical for you and me.
00:20:29.82\00:20:31.86
Verse 7, "...who executes
justice for the oppressed..."
00:20:31.89\00:20:36.83
Now we can say God is
our judge, and that is true.
00:20:36.87\00:20:39.03
But how could you and I
find justice for the oppressed?
00:20:39.30\00:20:43.04
Maybe we need to
listen and offer support
00:20:43.74\00:20:46.94
to those who are oppressed.
00:20:46.98\00:20:48.48
Maybe we need to go
attend a court hearing.
00:20:48.74\00:20:52.08
That's very practical.
00:20:52.11\00:20:53.45
You have someone who
is engaged in something,
00:20:53.55\00:20:56.02
you go to the
courthouse with them
00:20:56.05\00:20:58.35
and attend that court hearing.
00:20:58.55\00:21:00.56
Maybe... God needs lawyers.
00:21:00.76\00:21:03.09
You could be a lawyer or a
judge and execute that judgment
00:21:03.29\00:21:08.26
or seek to defend
those who need help.
00:21:08.30\00:21:12.63
Maybe you could be an
advocate and raise awareness
00:21:13.03\00:21:17.44
for those who are oppressed.
00:21:17.47\00:21:19.81
Let's keep
reading. We're in verse 7.
00:21:19.84\00:21:21.94
"...who gives
food to the hungry."
00:21:21.98\00:21:23.88
Now we could say God is
our provider, and that is true.
00:21:23.91\00:21:27.02
But in what ways can you provide
food to those who are hungry?
00:21:27.05\00:21:30.89
There's an incredible ministry,
they've been many times on
00:21:31.12\00:21:33.62
3ABN, they're called SALT.
00:21:33.66\00:21:35.39
Service And Love Together.
00:21:35.59\00:21:37.69
They operate out of Florida.
00:21:37.73\00:21:39.06
And what they do, they
have trailers, shower trailers
00:21:39.09\00:21:42.90
for the homeless.
00:21:42.93\00:21:44.27
People come in
and can take a shower.
00:21:44.30\00:21:46.70
They provide food and
clothing for those who need it.
00:21:46.74\00:21:51.61
And then maybe they
go for a job interview
00:21:51.81\00:21:53.68
and seek to get
themselves back on their feet.
00:21:53.71\00:21:56.41
Maybe you need to volunteer
at a local soup kitchen.
00:21:56.81\00:21:59.51
Or bring food to the homeless or
those people who need it most.
00:21:59.78\00:22:04.89
Let's keep reading.
We're still in verse 7.
00:22:04.92\00:22:06.96
"The Lord gives
freedom to the prisoners."
00:22:07.42\00:22:11.09
So God is
ultimately our deliverer.
00:22:11.13\00:22:14.03
But in what way can
you and I bring freedom
00:22:14.06\00:22:16.40
to the prisoners?
00:22:16.43\00:22:17.77
3ABN has an
incredible prison ministry.
00:22:17.80\00:22:20.34
We mail out thousands
of Remnant Study Bibles
00:22:20.37\00:22:23.87
and Andrews Study
Bibles to prisoners,
00:22:23.91\00:22:25.64
to those who are incarcerated.
00:22:25.67\00:22:27.84
We provide religious literature
to them, we pray with them.
00:22:27.88\00:22:31.01
I have on the set out
latest 3ABN Bible study guides.
00:22:31.35\00:22:34.85
And we're giving
this in an addition
00:22:35.65\00:22:38.45
that will be
glued instead of stapled
00:22:38.49\00:22:40.56
so that it can go into prisons.
00:22:40.59\00:22:42.96
What is God calling
you to do to support
00:22:42.99\00:22:45.66
those who are incarcerated?
00:22:45.69\00:22:47.80
Maybe you need to go.
00:22:47.83\00:22:49.16
Maybe you need to pray for them.
00:22:49.20\00:22:50.90
Maybe you need to become
involved in prison ministry.
00:22:50.93\00:22:54.67
Let's keep going. Verse 8.
00:22:54.70\00:22:56.20
"The Lord opens
the eyes of the blind."
00:22:56.24\00:22:58.41
The Lord is our healer.
00:22:58.44\00:23:00.54
What can you and I
do to provide healing?
00:23:00.84\00:23:02.78
Can you pray for
those who are sick?
00:23:02.98\00:23:05.01
Can you help provide for
the needs of those who struggle
00:23:05.05\00:23:07.98
with health illness?
00:23:08.02\00:23:09.48
Maybe you can become
involved in an organization
00:23:09.58\00:23:11.99
that provides free medical care
to those who cannot afford it.
00:23:12.02\00:23:16.49
Let's keep going.
00:23:16.52\00:23:17.86
"The Lord raises
those who are bowed down."
00:23:17.89\00:23:20.90
God is our encourager.
00:23:21.03\00:23:22.43
Who can you encourage today?
00:23:22.46\00:23:24.87
Who can you send a
text to, who can you call?
00:23:25.03\00:23:28.14
Who can you write a letter to?
00:23:28.17\00:23:30.37
How can you intercede for the
depressed and the discouraged?
00:23:30.41\00:23:34.41
Who can you invite to
your Bible study group?
00:23:34.51\00:23:36.95
Or to go out to lunch with
you and try to encourage them.
00:23:36.98\00:23:40.82
Keep reading verse 8.
00:23:40.85\00:23:42.28
"The Lord loves the righteous."
00:23:42.48\00:23:44.59
The Lord is a friend to us.
00:23:44.62\00:23:47.59
Who can you be
a friend to today?
00:23:47.62\00:23:50.16
Verse 9, "The Lord
watches over the strangers."
00:23:50.19\00:23:53.80
How can you protect those
who can't protect themselves?
00:23:53.93\00:23:58.33
There are ministries
out there who seek to help
00:23:58.53\00:24:01.20
those who are trafficked.
00:24:01.24\00:24:02.67
Who seek to help those
who cannot help themselves.
00:24:02.70\00:24:06.04
"The Lord watches
over the stranger,
00:24:06.54\00:24:09.24
and helps the
fatherless and widow.
00:24:09.28\00:24:11.31
The Lord turns the way
of the wicked upside down."
00:24:11.61\00:24:15.98
We can't do everything,
but you can go to God and say,
00:24:16.38\00:24:19.65
"God, what are
practical ways that I can seek
00:24:19.69\00:24:22.92
to help the
vulnerable in society?"
00:24:22.96\00:24:25.69
Thank you, that was a practical
real-world look at the lesson.
00:24:26.33\00:24:29.93
We're going to take a brief
break and we'll be right back.
00:24:29.96\00:24:32.40
Ever wish you could
study more deeply along with
00:24:36.54\00:24:38.94
the 3ABN Sabbath
School Panel members?
00:24:38.97\00:24:41.21
Well, now you can.
00:24:41.24\00:24:42.81
Just send an email request to...
00:24:42.84\00:24:44.81
...and we'll email you
the Sabbath School panelist
00:24:47.15\00:24:49.22
notes on a weekly
basis to enhance your
00:24:49.25\00:24:51.59
own study of God's Word.
00:24:51.62\00:24:53.05
That address again is...
00:24:53.09\00:24:54.42
We'd love to
send you their notes
00:24:56.83\00:24:58.29
just as they've prepared them.
00:24:58.33\00:25:00.00
Thank you for watching.
00:25:00.03\00:25:01.36
Welcome back.
00:25:07.44\00:25:08.77
We are now passing it
on to Pastor James Rafferty
00:25:08.80\00:25:10.74
for Tuesday's lesson.
00:25:10.77\00:25:12.11
Thank you, Daniel. I
have Tuesday's lesson.
00:25:12.14\00:25:13.68
How Long Will
You Judge Unjustly?
00:25:13.71\00:25:17.11
The lesson quarterly
says, "The Lord has endowed
00:25:17.15\00:25:19.25
Israel's leaders with authority
to maintain justice in Israel.
00:25:19.28\00:25:23.72
Psalm 72:1-7, 12-14
00:25:23.75\00:25:27.16
Israel's kings were to execute
their authority in accordance
00:25:27.19\00:25:30.66
with God's will.
00:25:30.69\00:25:32.03
The leader's central
concern should be ensuring
00:25:32.06\00:25:35.23
peace and justice
in the land and caring
00:25:35.26\00:25:37.93
for the socially disadvantaged."
00:25:37.97\00:25:39.63
Which we've been talking
about with Jill and with Daniel.
00:25:39.67\00:25:42.44
"Only then shall the land and
the entire population prosper.
00:25:42.80\00:25:46.88
The king's throne is
strengthened by faithfulness
00:25:46.91\00:25:49.38
to God, not by human power."
00:25:49.41\00:25:52.71
So we have Psalm 82.
00:25:53.31\00:25:54.65
We're just going to
rest right there in Psalm 82.
00:25:54.68\00:25:57.25
It's going to be our
main focus for this lesson.
00:25:57.29\00:25:59.82
We're going to look
at some other verses
00:25:59.85\00:26:01.42
in the Bible, but Psalm 82
is going to be our main focus.
00:26:01.96\00:26:04.79
So let's settle in there.
00:26:04.83\00:26:06.16
The question is asked
by the lesson quarterly,
00:26:06.19\00:26:08.50
what happens when the
leaders pervert justice
00:26:08.53\00:26:11.70
and oppress the people
that they are tasked to protect?
00:26:11.93\00:26:15.40
And then we quote Psalm 82.
00:26:15.44\00:26:17.67
These are some difficult
passages for me because...
00:26:17.71\00:26:20.31
Well, we'll talk
about that in just a second.
00:26:20.34\00:26:22.14
Verse 1, "God stands in
the congregation of the mighty;
00:26:22.18\00:26:24.95
He judges among the gods."
00:26:24.98\00:26:27.25
Okay, there's verse 1.
00:26:27.28\00:26:28.75
Verse 2, "How long
will ye judge unjustly,
00:26:28.98\00:26:32.22
and accept the
persons of the wicked? Selah."
00:26:32.25\00:26:34.22
Verse 3, "Defend
the poor and fatherless:
00:26:34.52\00:26:36.93
do justice to the
afflicted and needy.
00:26:36.96\00:26:39.13
Deliver the poor and needy:
00:26:39.16\00:26:40.70
rid them out of the
hand of the wicked."
00:26:40.73\00:26:42.50
Now verse 5, "They know not,
neither will they understand;
00:26:43.26\00:26:46.70
they walk in darkness: all
the foundations of the earth
00:26:46.74\00:26:49.67
are out of course."
00:26:49.70\00:26:51.07
Verse 6, "I have said,"
here it is, "Ye are gods;
00:26:51.27\00:26:54.94
and all of you are
children of the Most High."
00:26:54.98\00:26:58.15
Verse 7, "But ye
shall die like men,
00:26:58.81\00:27:00.75
and fall like
one of the princes."
00:27:00.85\00:27:03.69
Verse 8, "Arise, O
God, judge the earth:
00:27:03.72\00:27:06.25
for Thou shalt
inherit all nations."
00:27:06.55\00:27:09.22
If you picked up those two
verses, verse 1 and verse 6,
00:27:09.26\00:27:13.56
you're going to know that these
verses have been difficult,
00:27:13.86\00:27:16.70
at least for me, to
understand, you're gods?
00:27:16.73\00:27:19.57
Now it's a small "g".
00:27:19.60\00:27:20.94
Yes it's a small "g", but it's
still saying, "Ye are gods."
00:27:20.97\00:27:23.74
You know, "In Psalm 82,"
the lesson quarterly says,
00:27:24.01\00:27:27.08
"God declares His judgments
upon Israel's corrupt judges.
00:27:27.11\00:27:31.01
The 'gods', Psalm 82:1, 6,
are clearly neither pagan gods
00:27:31.41\00:27:36.38
nor angels because they were
never tasked with delivering
00:27:36.42\00:27:39.89
justice to God's
people, and so could not
00:27:39.92\00:27:43.09
be judged for
not fulfilling it."
00:27:43.12\00:27:44.73
Well then, who are these gods?
00:27:45.03\00:27:46.66
"The charges listed in
Psalm 82:2-4 echo the laws
00:27:47.33\00:27:50.87
of the Torah, identifying
the 'gods' as Israel's leaders."
00:27:50.90\00:27:56.10
And then the quarterly quotes
Deu 1:16-18, Deu 16:18-20,
00:27:56.30\00:28:03.51
and finally John 10:33-35.
00:28:03.55\00:28:08.38
We're going to
look at John 10 because
00:28:08.42\00:28:10.55
this is where
Jesus quotes Psalm 82
00:28:10.75\00:28:15.22
in defending
Himself as the Son of God.
00:28:15.59\00:28:18.86
The Jews are
trying to stone Him.
00:28:19.06\00:28:20.50
"And the Jews said unto
Him," verse 33 of John 10,
00:28:20.73\00:28:24.00
"'For a good work, we stone
thee not; but for blasphemy;
00:28:24.03\00:28:26.20
because thou being a
man maketh thyself a God.'
00:28:26.23\00:28:30.41
Jesus answers, 'Is it
not written in your law,
00:28:30.61\00:28:34.08
"I said, 'Ye are gods?'"'"
00:28:34.11\00:28:36.44
Verse 35, "If he called them
gods, unto whom the word of God
00:28:36.81\00:28:40.32
came, and the
scripture cannot be broken
00:28:40.35\00:28:42.68
say ye of him," that is,
"of Me", "whom the Father
00:28:42.88\00:28:45.29
hath sanctified and
sent into the world,
00:28:45.32\00:28:47.49
'Thou blasphemist,' because
I said I am the Son of God?"
00:28:47.52\00:28:50.93
Now obviously, Jesus
is not quoting the psalms
00:28:51.26\00:28:53.83
in reference to this.
00:28:53.86\00:28:55.20
He's quoting the law.
00:28:55.23\00:28:56.56
And so we look in Exodus 22:28.
00:28:56.60\00:28:59.47
Exodus 22:28 says that
the judges appointed by God
00:28:59.67\00:29:04.37
are called gods;
notice this, verse 28.
00:29:04.41\00:29:06.91
"Thou shalt not
revile the gods," comma,
00:29:06.94\00:29:09.98
"nor curse the
ruler of thy people."
00:29:10.01\00:29:12.11
So whether we're
quoting Exodus 22:28
00:29:12.51\00:29:15.95
or we're quoting Psalm 82:1, 6,
we still have three references
00:29:15.98\00:29:23.63
in the Bible that refers
to people as gods, small "g".
00:29:23.66\00:29:28.46
I've struggle with this
just a little bit over time.
00:29:28.96\00:29:31.10
I've actually wondered if
we'd ever get this question
00:29:31.13\00:29:33.13
in a 3ABN Q and A, and
how to answer this question.
00:29:33.17\00:29:36.24
It's clear though from the
Bible, and the lesson quarterly
00:29:36.77\00:29:39.41
brings this out, that God uses
that word, "god," small "g",
00:29:39.44\00:29:43.61
in reference to rulers
or judges of the people.
00:29:43.65\00:29:47.12
But why does He do that?
00:29:47.15\00:29:49.22
"Scripture," the lesson
quarterly goes on to say,
00:29:49.75\00:29:52.52
unswervingly upholds the view
that the Lord is the only God."
00:29:52.55\00:29:56.93
Capital "G".
00:29:56.96\00:29:58.29
"God," capital "G", "shares
His governance of the world
00:29:58.33\00:30:01.73
with appointed human
leaders as His representatives.
00:30:01.76\00:30:04.93
Romans 13:1
00:30:04.97\00:30:06.53
How often, however, have
these human representatives,
00:30:06.57\00:30:09.47
both in history and
even now, perverted the
00:30:09.60\00:30:12.21
responsibility that
they have been given?"
00:30:12.24\00:30:14.41
The lesson
quarterly goes on to say,
00:30:14.74\00:30:16.18
"Psalm 82 mockingly exposes the
apostasy of some of the leaders
00:30:16.21\00:30:20.32
who believed themselves
to be gods," small "g",
00:30:20.35\00:30:23.02
"above the people.
00:30:23.05\00:30:24.39
Although God gave the
authority and the privilege
00:30:24.42\00:30:28.32
to the Israelite leaders
that they were called the
00:30:28.36\00:30:31.09
'children of the Most
High' and were to represent Him,
00:30:31.13\00:30:33.83
God renounces
these wicked leaders.
00:30:33.86\00:30:36.23
God reminds them that they
are mortal, they are subject
00:30:36.26\00:30:38.97
to the same moral
laws as all the people.
00:30:39.00\00:30:42.27
No one is above the law of God."
00:30:42.30\00:30:44.64
So God is actually
describing them this way because
00:30:44.67\00:30:48.38
as judges and
rulers of the people,
00:30:48.41\00:30:50.21
they've got an attitude.
00:30:50.41\00:30:51.75
And their attitude
is, well, they're god.
00:30:51.78\00:30:54.45
It reminds me of a
poster that I once saw
00:30:54.48\00:30:56.48
in a restroom that said, "Two
facts of human enlightenment:
00:30:56.52\00:31:01.36
There is a God,
and you are not Him."
00:31:01.46\00:31:04.46
Sometimes we get this
God feeling in the way
00:31:05.73\00:31:09.20
that we relate to people.
00:31:09.23\00:31:10.57
In the way that we
relate to people because perhaps
00:31:10.60\00:31:12.83
we're in positions of
authority, or rulership,
00:31:12.87\00:31:14.57
or positions as judge.
00:31:14.60\00:31:17.01
And this is the
issue that is being
00:31:17.04\00:31:19.57
dealt with here in Psalm 82.
00:31:19.61\00:31:21.58
The quarterly goes on to
say, "What kind of authority
00:31:21.78\00:31:24.91
do you hold over others?
00:31:24.95\00:31:26.28
How justly and fairly are
you exercising that authority?"
00:31:26.31\00:31:30.22
Right? So we look at the Bible,
we have a couple of verses,
00:31:30.25\00:31:33.89
for example in Rev 3:21,
00:31:33.92\00:31:37.53
where Jesus makes a
promise to God's people.
00:31:37.63\00:31:39.96
He says, "To him that overcomes
I will grant to sit with Me
00:31:40.00\00:31:43.73
on My throne, even as I
also overcame and sat down
00:31:43.77\00:31:47.74
with My Father on His throne."
00:31:47.77\00:31:49.60
So we're going to sit
with Christ and do what?
00:31:49.64\00:31:52.27
Well we're told in 1 Cor 6:1-3,
00:31:52.54\00:31:56.18
"Dare any of you, having
a matter against another,
00:31:56.21\00:31:58.48
go to law before the unjust
and not before the saints?
00:31:58.51\00:32:01.38
Do you not know that the
saints will judge the world?
00:32:01.68\00:32:04.69
And if the world
will be judged by you,
00:32:05.15\00:32:07.09
are you unworthy to
judge the smallest matters?
00:32:07.96\00:32:10.23
Know ye not that
we shall judge angels?
00:32:10.63\00:32:13.09
How much more the things
that pertain to this life?"
00:32:13.29\00:32:15.96
So here we find in
the context of Rev 3:21,
00:32:16.16\00:32:20.64
in the context of 1 Cor
6:1-3, that we're going to sit
00:32:20.67\00:32:25.54
in judgment, we're
going to sit on thrones
00:32:25.57\00:32:28.38
with Christ
judging fallen angels.
00:32:28.58\00:32:31.05
Putting judgment upon
those who have rejected
00:32:31.08\00:32:35.38
God's mercy and God's grace.
00:32:35.42\00:32:36.75
In fact,
Revelation 20 tells us this.
00:32:36.79\00:32:38.52
"I saw thrones," verse
4, "and they sat on them,
00:32:38.55\00:32:41.86
and judgment was
given unto them."
00:32:41.89\00:32:43.73
That's talking
about the redeemed,
00:32:43.93\00:32:45.26
that's talking
about God's people.
00:32:45.29\00:32:46.70
"And I saw the souls of
them that were beheaded for
00:32:46.73\00:32:48.86
their witness of
Jesus and the word of God,
00:32:48.90\00:32:50.67
that had not worshiped
the beast, neither his image,
00:32:50.70\00:32:52.83
nor received his mark upon their
foreheads or in their hands.
00:32:52.87\00:32:55.20
And they lived and reigned with
Christ for a thousand years."
00:32:55.24\00:32:58.24
During the thousands of years
God's people sit in judgment
00:32:58.27\00:33:01.71
with Christ upon this
great controversy theme,
00:33:01.74\00:33:04.48
upon fallen angels
and those who are lost.
00:33:04.51\00:33:06.92
So if God called judges and
rulers, "gods," because they
00:33:06.95\00:33:11.79
were God's voice on the
earth set up on earthly thrones
00:33:11.82\00:33:15.09
to judge justly and righteously
according to His word,
00:33:15.12\00:33:17.89
how much more, Christ is
saying is the Son of God,
00:33:18.53\00:33:21.20
Jesus Christ Himself, God?
00:33:21.23\00:33:23.37
Again, redeemed human
beings will sit with Christ
00:33:23.63\00:33:26.23
on His throne judging angels,
00:33:26.27\00:33:28.47
and in a sense is god, who
has given judgment to the Son,
00:33:28.77\00:33:32.87
though never are they as
God in the sense of Creator.
00:33:33.07\00:33:37.61
He who alone is
immortal, having self-existence,
00:33:37.81\00:33:41.48
infinite, omniscient,
omnipotent, or in any other
00:33:41.52\00:33:46.89
sense in which God alone is God.
00:33:46.92\00:33:49.36
No, they are rulers.
00:33:49.62\00:33:50.96
They sit in
judgment with Christ.
00:33:51.09\00:33:53.36
But again, the
scripture cannot be broken.
00:33:53.46\00:33:55.56
That is, taken
apart and discarded.
00:33:55.60\00:33:58.03
Though I've often wished
at times the scripture could
00:33:58.07\00:34:01.17
kind of be missing from the text
00:34:01.20\00:34:03.14
because it seems
like such a hard one.
00:34:03.17\00:34:04.94
But these
verses are unbreakable.
00:34:05.17\00:34:08.61
And they called judges of
the people, gods; Ps 82:1, 6,
00:34:08.64\00:34:13.55
and also Exodus 22:28.
00:34:13.65\00:34:15.85
Yet only in the sense that
they are sitting on thrones
00:34:15.88\00:34:19.39
and judging in God's
behalf, or sitting with Christ
00:34:19.42\00:34:23.16
in judgment during
the thousand years.
00:34:23.19\00:34:25.19
They are not gods in
the sense of God as Creator,
00:34:25.23\00:34:29.40
God as all-powerful, God
as immortal and infinite.
00:34:29.43\00:34:33.27
And so Jesus uses
these unbreakable scriptures
00:34:33.37\00:34:35.40
to establish how
much more is His position
00:34:35.44\00:34:38.01
as Judge, capital "J", of all,
00:34:38.04\00:34:40.61
even of all of those finite
judges called at times, "gods."
00:34:40.64\00:34:44.71
And therefore, God of
all, equal with the Father,
00:34:44.75\00:34:48.75
Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
00:34:48.78\00:34:51.15
Jesus Christ, the
one who is immortal;
00:34:51.19\00:34:53.56
Jesus Christ, the one
before whom all will stand
00:34:53.59\00:34:57.43
in the last days.
00:34:57.46\00:34:58.89
For it says in the Scriptures,
"The Father judges no man,
00:34:58.93\00:35:03.67
but He has committed
all judgment to the Son
00:35:03.70\00:35:05.77
that all men
should honor the Son
00:35:05.80\00:35:07.80
even as they honor the Father."
00:35:08.00\00:35:10.54
~ Amen. Thank
you, Pastor Rafferty.
00:35:11.47\00:35:13.61
Appreciate that
beautiful lesson.
00:35:13.88\00:35:15.24
I am Ryan Day, and I have
Wednesday's lesson entitled,
00:35:15.28\00:35:19.71
Pour Out Your Indignation.
00:35:19.75\00:35:22.55
Now I'm just going to say,
some of these text that I'm
00:35:22.58\00:35:25.29
about to read, whoa, if I
were to post some of these
00:35:25.32\00:35:33.09
on Facebook, and I were not
to quote them or to provide any
00:35:33.13\00:35:40.64
type of references
to where they came from,
00:35:40.67\00:35:43.04
as if they were coming from me,
the storm that would follow...
00:35:43.07\00:35:47.14
People accusing me
of being unChrist-like,
00:35:48.31\00:35:51.15
and having lost my mind,
and having no love and no care.
00:35:51.18\00:35:54.55
As I was reading these
passages, I thought to myself...
00:35:55.52\00:35:58.55
Because I
actually thought these...
00:35:58.59\00:36:00.46
Because we're conditioned
to think that way sometimes.
00:36:00.49\00:36:02.36
We read these very
heavy, heavy, deep passages
00:36:02.39\00:36:05.76
where it seems like
God's people who are writing
00:36:05.79\00:36:10.37
have taken the gloves off.
00:36:10.40\00:36:11.80
And they're
letting that very angry,
00:36:12.27\00:36:18.87
carnal side of
their nature comes out.
00:36:18.91\00:36:22.51
And it's quick and easy to
dismiss it as unChrist-like,
00:36:22.54\00:36:26.21
not right, "What are you doing?"
00:36:26.51\00:36:28.28
"That's not the
spirit of Jesus."
00:36:28.32\00:36:30.29
But yet I believe that the
Bible does show us glimpses
00:36:30.49\00:36:33.76
and instances, as we're
about to read right now,
00:36:33.79\00:36:35.82
where there are
moments where God understands,
00:36:35.92\00:36:39.49
He relates, He
sympathizes with these feelings.
00:36:39.53\00:36:42.16
And even though they're
extremely difficult to read,
00:36:42.20\00:36:45.13
let me give you an example.
00:36:45.17\00:36:46.57
I'm going to start with verse 6.
00:36:49.57\00:36:50.91
And if I were to
say this to my enemies,
00:36:51.17\00:36:54.18
if I were to pray
to God and ask this,
00:36:54.81\00:36:56.54
"Lord, break their
teeth in their mouth.
00:36:56.58\00:36:59.08
Break out the fangs of
the young lions, O Lord.
00:37:00.38\00:37:03.05
Let them flow away as
waters rush continually.
00:37:03.08\00:37:06.52
When he bends his bow, let his
arrows be as if cut in pieces.
00:37:06.82\00:37:13.40
Let them be like a snail
which melts away as it goes,
00:37:13.43\00:37:16.77
like a stillborn
child of a woman,
00:37:16.80\00:37:20.44
that they may not see the sun."
00:37:20.47\00:37:23.30
Have mercy!
00:37:23.34\00:37:24.67
I mean, but you can just
sense the spiritual agony
00:37:25.01\00:37:31.11
and the
righteousness indignation
00:37:31.15\00:37:33.62
that is pouring
forth from his heart,
00:37:33.65\00:37:35.28
tough very difficult to take in.
00:37:35.48\00:37:37.92
Psalm 69:22-28, you
get the same feeling.
00:37:38.09\00:37:41.66
"Let their table
become a snare before them,
00:37:42.39\00:37:44.46
and their wellbeing a trap.
00:37:44.76\00:37:46.29
Let their eyes be darkened,
so that they do not see;
00:37:46.33\00:37:48.93
and make their
loins shake continually.
00:37:48.96\00:37:51.67
Pour out Your
indignation upon them,
00:37:51.70\00:37:55.54
and let Your wrathful
anger take hold of them.
00:37:56.04\00:37:59.07
Let their
dwelling place be desolate;
00:37:59.11\00:38:01.34
let no one live in their tents."
00:38:01.54\00:38:04.45
Now again, if we just left
it at that, it would be like,
00:38:04.48\00:38:08.25
"Whoa, calm down there."
00:38:08.28\00:38:10.19
But you can sense the
judgment that is coming from
00:38:10.42\00:38:14.29
the mind of these righteous
individuals saying this.
00:38:14.32\00:38:16.99
For the reasoning
behind it, verse 26:
00:38:17.19\00:38:19.16
"For they persecute
the ones You have struck,
00:38:19.19\00:38:22.06
and talk of the grief
of those You have wounded.
00:38:22.10\00:38:25.27
Add iniquity to their iniquity,
00:38:25.30\00:38:28.10
and let them not come,"
now this is tough right here,
00:38:28.14\00:38:31.17
"let them not come
into Your righteousness.
00:38:31.21\00:38:34.24
Let them be blotted out
of the book of the living,
00:38:34.28\00:38:37.11
and not be written
with the righteous."
00:38:37.15\00:38:39.85
I mean, that would be like
me going online and saying,
00:38:39.88\00:38:41.95
"Lord, this enemy of
mine, may they not go to heaven.
00:38:41.98\00:38:45.12
May they rot in hell forever."
00:38:45.15\00:38:46.72
Well, that's tough
words to hear, right?
00:38:46.76\00:38:50.43
But essentially, that is the
spirit that's coming forth here.
00:38:50.46\00:38:53.70
The enemies of God
are being called out.
00:38:53.73\00:38:57.03
And actually the writers here
are calling out God and saying,
00:38:57.07\00:39:00.14
"Lord, what are You going to do?
00:39:00.17\00:39:01.50
Please, answer.
00:39:01.64\00:39:03.61
Come forth and bring a judgment
against these enemies of mine."
00:39:03.64\00:39:07.74
This is Psalm 83:9-17.
00:39:08.21\00:39:11.81
I'm probably not
going to read all of this
00:39:11.85\00:39:13.48
because it's a lengthy passage.
00:39:13.52\00:39:14.85
But I do want to
start, let's say, in verse 13.
00:39:14.88\00:39:19.39
Verse 13 of Psalm 83.
00:39:19.42\00:39:21.12
"O my God, make them
like the whirling dust,
00:39:21.22\00:39:24.03
like the chaff before the wind.
00:39:24.06\00:39:25.46
As the fire burns the woods,
00:39:25.49\00:39:27.23
and as the flame sets
the mountains on fire,
00:39:27.26\00:39:29.13
so pursue them
with Your tempest,
00:39:29.16\00:39:31.33
and frighten
them with Your storm.
00:39:31.37\00:39:33.20
Fill their faces with shame,
00:39:33.23\00:39:34.87
that they may seek
Your name, O Lord."
00:39:34.90\00:39:37.01
Oh did you see that?
00:39:37.04\00:39:38.37
Now there's a
little bit of a spirit.
00:39:38.41\00:39:39.74
"Lord, bring about what
is necessary that they may
00:39:39.77\00:39:42.14
seek Your name, O Lord."
00:39:42.18\00:39:44.01
"Let them be
confounded and dismayed forever;
00:39:44.05\00:39:46.92
let them be put to
same and perish..."
00:39:46.95\00:39:49.12
Psalm 94:1-2, again just
setting the ground of the fact
00:39:49.45\00:39:53.82
that these men in their, again,
full of the Spirit of God,
00:39:53.86\00:39:57.33
are pouring out and
sharing with us, with God,
00:39:57.36\00:40:02.20
their pouring their
heart out to God in a psalm
00:40:02.23\00:40:04.40
of prayer saying,
"Lord, avenge the righteous,
00:40:04.43\00:40:08.34
and help bring vengeance
upon those who are deserving."
00:40:08.44\00:40:12.67
And it says, "O Lord,
to whom vengeance belongs,
00:40:12.94\00:40:15.84
O God, to whom
vengeance belongs, shine forth.
00:40:15.88\00:40:19.21
Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
00:40:19.25\00:40:21.38
render punishment to the proud."
00:40:21.58\00:40:24.62
And again, as I'm
reading these, I just want to go
00:40:24.82\00:40:27.72
crawl under a table
because it's hard to hear this.
00:40:27.76\00:40:31.13
Because we have been conditioned
with all of the Word of God,
00:40:31.16\00:40:34.90
that we know with all of
the information that we have
00:40:34.93\00:40:38.03
of character of God.
00:40:38.07\00:40:39.40
Again, even the destruction of
the wicked at the end of time.
00:40:39.43\00:40:42.10
It's called what?
God's strange act.
00:40:42.14\00:40:44.84
So it's kind of
like, you want to be like,
00:40:44.87\00:40:46.64
"Whoa brothers, calm
down. What are you saying?"
00:40:46.68\00:40:49.14
But yet, this is what we
find often times in the psalms.
00:40:49.34\00:40:52.38
It's a part of the psalms.
00:40:52.41\00:40:53.75
It's a part of the
anger, the righteous indignation
00:40:53.78\00:40:57.35
that the righteous
feel towards the injustices,
00:40:57.39\00:41:00.52
and all of the angry
acts, and the unkindness,
00:41:00.56\00:41:04.89
and the oppression that
has been brought against
00:41:05.09\00:41:07.36
the righteous.
00:41:07.40\00:41:08.73
And so, even in Psalm 137,
00:41:08.76\00:41:10.27
and this one was
tough for me to read.
00:41:10.30\00:41:11.73
"Remember, O Lord,
against the sons of Edom
00:41:14.17\00:41:16.37
the day of Jerusalem, who
said, 'Raze it, raze it...'"
00:41:16.40\00:41:19.34
That simply means to basically
tear it down, tear it down.
00:41:19.37\00:41:22.78
"...to its very foundation.
00:41:22.81\00:41:24.28
O daughter of Babylon,
who are to be destroyed,"
00:41:24.38\00:41:27.65
here it is, "happy
the one who repays you
00:41:27.85\00:41:31.09
as you have served us.
00:41:31.12\00:41:32.45
Happy the one
who takes and dashes
00:41:32.65\00:41:35.36
your little ones
against the rock."
00:41:35.39\00:41:38.56
Wow!
00:41:39.39\00:41:40.73
But the lesson brings out
and says, "God's retribution
00:41:40.76\00:41:43.20
is measured with
justice and grace.
00:41:43.23\00:41:46.00
God's children are called to
pray for those who mistreat them
00:41:46.50\00:41:49.80
and even to hope
for their conversion,"
00:41:49.84\00:41:52.57
according to Psalm
83:18 and of course Jer 29:7.
00:41:52.61\00:41:57.31
We have to bring
balance to what we've just read.
00:41:57.35\00:41:59.11
That's heavy stuff.
00:41:59.15\00:42:00.55
The lesson goes on to say,
"However while seeking to fit
00:42:01.15\00:42:04.59
these psalms with the biblical
norms of love your enemies,"
00:42:04.62\00:42:08.09
that's what Jesus said, right,
00:42:08.12\00:42:09.46
"we must be careful not
to minimize the agonizing
00:42:09.82\00:42:12.89
experience expressed in them.
00:42:12.93\00:42:15.26
God acknowledges the
suffering of His children
00:42:15.56\00:42:17.73
and reassures them
that 'precious in the sight
00:42:17.77\00:42:21.44
of the Lord is the
death of His saints.'"
00:42:21.47\00:42:24.81
In other words, God does
not look at the oppression.
00:42:25.04\00:42:27.34
He does not look at the
injustices that are done
00:42:27.38\00:42:30.05
against the righteous
and just turn a blind eye.
00:42:30.08\00:42:32.41
That He will bring
the proper justice,
00:42:32.65\00:42:35.08
because He is a just God.
00:42:35.12\00:42:37.02
"Divine judgment obliges God's
people to raise their voices
00:42:37.42\00:42:40.59
against all evil
and seek the coming of
00:42:40.62\00:42:43.56
God's kingdom in its fullness.
00:42:43.59\00:42:45.56
The Psalms also give
voice to those who suffer,
00:42:45.76\00:42:48.06
letting them know that God
is aware of their suffering
00:42:48.10\00:42:50.33
and that one day
justice will come."
00:42:50.53\00:42:53.27
This is not just an
Old Testament theme,
00:42:53.30\00:42:56.57
as I know some people
have read text like this,
00:42:56.60\00:42:58.94
and they say, "The God of
the Old Testament is an angry,
00:42:58.97\00:43:01.24
you know, vengeful God."
00:43:01.28\00:43:02.81
But we also see
that these issues come up
00:43:03.01\00:43:05.58
even in the New Testament.
00:43:05.61\00:43:06.98
For instance, I'll
give you just a couple here.
00:43:07.02\00:43:08.65
I don't have
time to read them all.
00:43:08.68\00:43:10.02
But I will make it clear here.
00:43:10.05\00:43:12.22
Right there within the
context of the fifth seal.
00:43:14.29\00:43:17.39
It says, "When He opened..."
00:43:17.43\00:43:18.76
This is verses 9 through
11 in Revelation chapter 6.
00:43:18.79\00:43:21.33
"When He opened the fifth
seal, I saw under the altar
00:43:21.36\00:43:23.90
the souls of those who had
been slain for the word of God
00:43:23.93\00:43:26.23
and for the
testimony which they held."
00:43:26.43\00:43:28.47
So again, injustice
is brought against them.
00:43:28.50\00:43:30.71
Verse 10, "And they cried
out with a loud voice saying,
00:43:30.91\00:43:33.61
'How long, O Lord, holy and
true, until You judge and avenge
00:43:33.64\00:43:38.38
our blood on those
who dwell on the earth?'
00:43:38.41\00:43:41.78
Then a white robe was
given to each of them;
00:43:41.82\00:43:44.42
and it was said to
them that they should
00:43:44.45\00:43:45.99
rest a little while longer
until both the number of their
00:43:46.02\00:43:48.66
fellow servants and their
brethren, who would be killed
00:43:48.69\00:43:51.16
as they were, was accomplished."
00:43:51.19\00:43:52.69
God is basically saying
"Look, hold off a little longer,
00:43:52.79\00:43:55.60
because justice will come."
00:43:55.63\00:43:57.50
And this is
normal even of all of us.
00:43:57.53\00:44:00.74
Even as much as we try to follow
God, we try to understand His
00:44:00.77\00:44:03.94
will, and we try to
understand all of the injustices
00:44:03.97\00:44:06.34
and the things that are
brought against the righteous,
00:44:06.54\00:44:08.24
you cannot take away
from the fact that sometimes
00:44:08.44\00:44:10.81
we find ourselves
calling out to God and saying,
00:44:10.85\00:44:12.48
"Lord, are you going to continue
to allow this to happen?
00:44:12.51\00:44:15.95
Is there ever going
to come an end to this?
00:44:16.22\00:44:17.79
Are You going to bring righteous
judgment against those who
00:44:17.82\00:44:21.96
are oppressing
others, who have hurt
00:44:21.99\00:44:23.89
and who have destroyed others?"
00:44:23.93\00:44:25.83
And so, this is just a
natural thing, I think,
00:44:26.33\00:44:28.86
that the Bible is bringing
out here, this book of Psalms
00:44:28.90\00:44:31.33
brings out over and over,
that this is not necessarily
00:44:31.37\00:44:34.37
a bad thing, but obviously must
be kept within a perfect balance
00:44:34.70\00:44:38.37
of understanding that we do not
necessarily wish these things
00:44:38.41\00:44:41.84
in an unbalanced and
an unrighteous type way.
00:44:41.88\00:44:45.75
But rather according to
the righteous judgment of God.
00:44:45.78\00:44:48.15
"Lord, bring proper justice."
00:44:48.18\00:44:49.88
Even in Rev 16:4-7, we see
God allowing a plague to be
00:44:49.92\00:44:55.69
poured out in the last
days still yet to come.
00:44:55.72\00:44:57.89
And what are His
remarks? What does it say there?
00:44:57.93\00:45:00.03
"Because you have shed
the blood of the saints,
00:45:00.06\00:45:02.06
God will give
you blood to drink."
00:45:02.10\00:45:04.47
God understands in
His perfect righteousness
00:45:04.57\00:45:07.27
what the judgment shall be.
00:45:07.30\00:45:08.84
And sometimes
even in our humanity
00:45:08.87\00:45:11.01
we call out to God and say,
00:45:11.04\00:45:12.37
"Lord, why are You
allowing this to happen?"
00:45:12.41\00:45:14.51
But I think the
overall thing that we see here
00:45:14.54\00:45:16.81
in this message entitled,
Pour Out Your Indignation,
00:45:16.85\00:45:19.98
"Lord, pour it out righteously.
00:45:20.02\00:45:21.68
You are Judge, we trust
You. We put our hand in Yours.
00:45:21.72\00:45:24.42
And we know that You
will do right by Your saints."
00:45:24.45\00:45:27.89
~ Amen.
00:45:27.92\00:45:29.26
It was heavy, what
you were going through.
00:45:29.29\00:45:32.53
But I have to say, I
grew up in a church that
00:45:32.56\00:45:36.77
I was taught that the
God of the Old Testament
00:45:36.80\00:45:40.17
was the God of wrath, and
the God of the New Testament
00:45:40.20\00:45:42.47
was the God of love.
00:45:42.50\00:45:43.84
That the God of
the Old Testament
00:45:43.87\00:45:45.21
was the God of judgment,
00:45:45.24\00:45:46.57
and the God of the New Testament
was the God of mercy and peace.
00:45:46.91\00:45:50.75
And we're missing the point.
00:45:51.01\00:45:54.92
I'm Shelley Quinn, I
have Thursday's lesson,
00:45:55.22\00:45:59.12
The Lord's
Judgment and the Sanctuary.
00:45:59.72\00:46:01.99
I want to set a
foundation for this.
00:46:02.02\00:46:04.13
Because we've got to get rid
of our preconceived opinions.
00:46:04.16\00:46:08.83
We've got to quit
telling this story wrongly.
00:46:08.86\00:46:13.10
Before we start,
just remember this:
00:46:13.67\00:46:16.84
The Bible says God is love.
00:46:16.87\00:46:19.21
The Bible says God is light.
00:46:19.24\00:46:21.18
That's His righteous character.
00:46:21.21\00:46:23.65
The Bible says God
is just. He is fair.
00:46:23.68\00:46:27.55
All of His ways are perfect.
00:46:27.85\00:46:31.19
He judges without partiality.
00:46:31.55\00:46:35.26
He governs by
love. He never forces.
00:46:35.29\00:46:38.83
And He has boundaries of love.
00:46:38.86\00:46:41.83
They're called
His Ten Commandments.
00:46:41.86\00:46:43.90
They are the charter
of His government of love.
00:46:44.20\00:46:49.77
Now, they're
found all in Genesis.
00:46:49.80\00:46:53.34
These weren't new in Exodus.
00:46:53.38\00:46:55.91
God announced the penalty
of death for unrighteousness.
00:46:56.75\00:47:01.85
You know what
unrighteousness is?
00:47:01.88\00:47:03.59
Unrighteousness is, we
don't do things God's way.
00:47:03.89\00:47:07.02
And 1 John 5:17 says
all sin is unrighteous.
00:47:07.26\00:47:11.99
So when Adam and Eve
lost, when they sinned,
00:47:12.03\00:47:15.20
they lost their
spiritual innocence.
00:47:15.23\00:47:17.73
They could not
replace it on their own.
00:47:17.77\00:47:20.17
But God's holiness
demanded this God of justice
00:47:20.20\00:47:26.81
He wanted to...
00:47:27.24\00:47:30.38
He decided He was going to
restore their righteousness.
00:47:31.05\00:47:35.62
God could not just get
rid of His moral code of love.
00:47:35.88\00:47:39.92
If He meted out the
punishment they deserved,
00:47:40.19\00:47:43.06
they would die.
00:47:43.09\00:47:44.43
So what did God do?
00:47:44.46\00:47:45.86
He stepped down out of
heaven and took our flesh.
00:47:46.26\00:47:53.37
God became a human.
00:47:54.20\00:47:57.21
You know, we read
earlier in one of these lessons
00:47:57.24\00:48:00.91
that humans are a
little lower than the angels.
00:48:01.28\00:48:05.01
The created order:
God created angels,
00:48:06.15\00:48:09.25
humans are a little
lower, animals, and insects.
00:48:09.28\00:48:12.72
God didn't just lower Himself
to the position of an angel.
00:48:13.56\00:48:17.46
He became a human.
00:48:17.49\00:48:19.53
That would be like a
human, not lowering themself
00:48:19.56\00:48:23.73
to the position of an
animal, but to the position of a
00:48:23.77\00:48:26.74
cockroach to save a cockroach.
00:48:26.77\00:48:28.80
Can you imagine?
00:48:29.07\00:48:30.54
So here's the point.
00:48:30.94\00:48:32.44
He came to be our substitute.
00:48:32.47\00:48:35.54
He fulfilled His own justice
by dying to pay our sin penalty.
00:48:35.84\00:48:45.35
So what you see in the
Sanctuary is, we see a picture.
00:48:45.39\00:48:52.16
It is theology in physical form.
00:48:52.46\00:48:56.90
The outer court represented
justification by faith.
00:48:56.93\00:49:00.94
It was the dealing of the
Messiah with our sin penalty.
00:49:00.97\00:49:06.41
The Holy Place, which was the
first of the two compartments
00:49:06.78\00:49:11.61
of the Sanctuary
represented sanctification.
00:49:11.65\00:49:15.28
The daily empowerment of
the Messiah and the Holy Spirit
00:49:15.32\00:49:19.69
to influence our lives.
00:49:19.72\00:49:21.22
The Most Holy Place represented
direct access to God.
00:49:21.32\00:49:26.56
So let me ask you, what
are the practical implications
00:49:26.59\00:49:30.80
of the Sanctuary being
the place of divine judgment?
00:49:31.00\00:49:36.54
It created a constant
awareness of God's holiness.
00:49:36.87\00:49:40.38
It demonstrated God's
requirements of righteous living
00:49:40.91\00:49:45.35
for those who enter into a
covenant relationship with Him,
00:49:45.38\00:49:49.55
who are saved by
grace through faith,
00:49:49.58\00:49:52.02
through the
Messiah Jesus Christ.
00:49:52.22\00:49:55.52
The Sanctuary was the
place of divine judgment.
00:49:56.09\00:50:00.70
And the psalmist
saw the Sanctuary
00:50:00.73\00:50:04.53
as a place for
forgiveness of sins,
00:50:04.83\00:50:08.10
for restoration
of righteousness.
00:50:08.30\00:50:11.57
Let's look.
00:50:11.61\00:50:12.94
The psalmist says, "Honor
and majesty are before Him;
00:50:20.18\00:50:25.95
strength and beauty
are in His Sanctuary.
00:50:26.39\00:50:31.09
Give to the Lord
glory and strength,
00:50:31.39\00:50:34.36
the glory due His name.
00:50:34.40\00:50:36.23
Bring an offering
and come into His courts.
00:50:36.26\00:50:40.54
Worship the Lord in
the beauty of holiness."
00:50:40.74\00:50:45.34
Holiness means to be
totally separated from sin.
00:50:45.84\00:50:49.34
God cannot sin.
Love does no harm.
00:50:49.84\00:50:53.98
"Worship the Lord in
the beauty of holiness.
00:50:54.02\00:50:57.29
Tremble before
Him, all the earth.
00:50:57.32\00:51:00.06
Say among the
nations, 'The Lord reigns;
00:51:00.26\00:51:03.99
the world also is
firmly established,
00:51:04.36\00:51:08.73
and it shall not be moved.
00:51:08.76\00:51:11.03
He shall judge the
people righteously.'"
00:51:11.07\00:51:15.80
Go makes no mistakes.
00:51:16.07\00:51:17.97
And I'll tell you,
judgment, we know from Daniel,
00:51:18.01\00:51:21.74
is in favor of God's
people who have been made
00:51:21.78\00:51:27.08
righteous by faith.
00:51:27.12\00:51:28.72
But when we think of the
judgment that's coming upon
00:51:29.08\00:51:32.72
the evil, they are
getting what they've chosen.
00:51:32.75\00:51:37.89
They are getting
the consequences of the
00:51:38.39\00:51:43.00
lifestyle they chose.
00:51:43.03\00:51:44.40
They've rejected
God's way of life.
00:51:44.43\00:51:47.84
They would not submit to Him.
00:51:48.10\00:51:50.14
So when we see
the final judgment,
00:51:50.34\00:51:52.97
God is being fair.
00:51:53.01\00:51:55.14
He is not being partial.
00:51:55.18\00:51:57.25
Isaiah 59, we're
not going to turn there,
00:51:57.28\00:52:01.22
but let me just give
you these references.
00:52:01.25\00:52:03.89
Isaiah 59:15-20,
there's a beautiful description
00:52:03.92\00:52:09.29
of how God
intervened through Christ.
00:52:09.32\00:52:12.13
In verse 17, Isaiah 59:17,
00:52:12.16\00:52:15.66
it says, Christ "put on
righteousness as a breastplate."
00:52:16.06\00:52:21.84
And in verse 18 it says He will
repay wrath to His adversaries
00:52:22.37\00:52:29.18
according as
their deeds deserve.
00:52:29.21\00:52:33.62
So the psalmist
saw the Sanctuary
00:52:34.22\00:52:37.95
as a place of forgiveness,
a place of restoration,
00:52:37.99\00:52:41.09
but also as a place where the
wicked would receive vengeance.
00:52:41.42\00:52:49.26
The unrepentant
would receive vengeance.
00:52:49.30\00:52:52.90
"You answered
them, O Lord our God;
00:52:56.37\00:52:59.21
You were to
them, God-Who-Forgives,
00:52:59.24\00:53:03.61
though You took
vengeance on their deeds."
00:53:04.21\00:53:07.52
So some psalms depict God
on His throne in the Sanctuary
00:53:08.85\00:53:13.69
ready to judge the
world for its sin and evil.
00:53:13.89\00:53:17.56
And the Sanctuary, according
to the psalmist's understanding,
00:53:18.16\00:53:22.60
this was the place where
the problem of evil was handled.
00:53:22.63\00:53:26.67
It was transformed.
00:53:26.70\00:53:28.40
We read earlier Psalm 73:17
00:53:28.44\00:53:31.94
where the
psalmist is so confused
00:53:32.61\00:53:35.74
by the great controversy.
00:53:35.78\00:53:37.31
"O how long, how long?"
00:53:37.35\00:53:39.08
And then finally he says
that he went to the Sanctuary
00:53:39.11\00:53:45.25
of God, and then he understood
the end of the wicked.
00:53:45.29\00:53:50.33
So Christ's ministry right
now in the heavenly Sanctuary
00:53:50.79\00:53:54.83
is good news for us.
00:53:54.86\00:53:57.60
Romans 8:34, "Who
is he who condemns?
00:53:57.63\00:54:01.30
It is Christ who died..."
00:54:01.34\00:54:03.44
Christ who was depicted
in the Sanctuary system.
00:54:03.57\00:54:07.71
"...furthermore He is risen,
He's at the right hand of God,
00:54:07.74\00:54:12.71
and He makes
intercession for us."
00:54:13.21\00:54:15.72
And Hebrews 7:25 says, "He
is able to save to the uttermost
00:54:15.98\00:54:22.89
those who come to God through
Him, since He always lives
00:54:22.92\00:54:29.96
to make intercession for them."
00:54:30.17\00:54:32.30
Please just understand this.
00:54:32.83\00:54:36.17
Judgment...
00:54:36.71\00:54:38.04
Let me give you a
quote from Cathleen Falsani.
00:54:38.27\00:54:41.31
She's an American journalist.
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She says, "Justice is
getting what we deserve.
00:54:44.01\00:54:47.95
Mercy is not
getting what we deserve.
00:54:48.88\00:54:51.95
Grace is getting what we
absolutely don't deserve."
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God fulfilled His own
justice by dying for us
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so that He could remain
just and be the justifier.
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Don't be afraid
of God's judgment
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if your heart is
right before Him.
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But if it's not today
is the day of salvation.
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Turn to Him now,
confess your sins, and repent.
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~ Amen. ~ Thank you, Shelley.
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And thank you each for your
work in preparing and sharing.
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We've got a few moments
left for some final thoughts.
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The title of the
lesson is, I Will Arise.
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And we talk about how
God is going to arise.
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But I just want to challenge
you, are there ways that
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you can arise?
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That you can reach out to the
vulnerable in your communities?
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Amen. Tuesday's lesson, How
Long Will You Judge Unjustly?
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You know, God wanted us to judge
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as He judges, but
we failed miserably.
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But the Son of Man
becoming a man and being God,
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all judgment has
been committed to Him.
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And so we can see a
day when God will judge
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with righteousness.
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2 Timothy 2:15
reminds us that we
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need to study to
show ourself approved.
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There's going to be things
that we run into in the Bible,
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such as on my day talking about
pouring out of indignation.
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Sometimes we don't
have all the answers for it,
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but as we continue to
learn and grow and study,
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God's heart on
this issue will become
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clearer and clearer over time.
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Psalm 96:10
says, "The Lord reigns;
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the world also is
firmly established,
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it shall not be moved.
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He shall judge the
people righteously."
00:56:34.72\00:56:38.03
According to His
righteous character.
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~ Amen. ~ Amen.
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You know, as we look
around at the world today,
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we can tell that sin
still is holding sway.
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At least that's
the way it appears.
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There is oppression,
there is unrighteousness
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all around us, but it's not
going to be that way forever.
00:56:53.04\00:56:56.18
Right now here each
week we look forward,
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and we're saying,
"Lord, we're looking forward
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to what You're going to do."
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But in the not-too-distant
future, we know that
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we're going to be looking
back and we're going to be
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saying, "Lord, just
and true are Your ways.
00:57:07.36\00:57:10.23
Lord, Your works are marvelous.
00:57:10.43\00:57:13.09
Just and true, O
King of the saints."
00:57:13.13\00:57:15.76
So maybe you're in a
position right now where you're
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one of the ones who's saying,
00:57:18.13\00:57:19.47
"Lord, when are
you going to act?"
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I want to remind
you that God says
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that He will come
through for each of His people,
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each of His saints.
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And reach out to
those around you.
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For those of you, like
Jill said, you're looking around
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and you're
saying, "What can I do?"
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God has got
something for you to do,
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and it's in your community.
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There are people all around
you who need to be lifted up.
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And you can do that for them.
You can bring that to them.
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I want to share with you
one psalm here right at the end.
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It says, "For Your mercy
reaches unto the heavens,
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and Your truth unto the clouds."
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That brings us into next week's
lesson, lesson number seven,
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which is, Your Mercy
Reaches to the Heavens.
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I'm looking forward to that.
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