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it's a very great honor for sister ann and myself to be with you and we bring and myself to be with you and we bring of course the greetings of our only of course the greetings of our only cliche from warley in england and of cliche from warley in england and of many other brethren and sisters who are many other brethren and sisters who are known to you and who have you in their known to you and who have you in their thoughts and affections i'd like to begin this morning with a question question what is it what is it in nature in nature that particularly impresses you is it the magnificent hues the magnificent hues of a majestic sunset is it the thunderous roar of a waterfall spewing out its foam is it the intricate beauty and fragrance intricate beauty and fragrance of a flower blue is it the sinewy strength of a big cat's paw or is it the purity and the perfect symmetry of a falling and the perfect symmetry of a falling snowflake whatever it is brethren and sisters it wasn't made it wasn't made for its own sake for its own sake now i i don't want in any way to now i i don't want in any way to minimize the minimize the glory of god in creation glory of god in creation or to belittle at all the creator's or to belittle at all the creator's handiwork handiwork those things are wonderful they are those things are wonderful they are marvelous marvelous they beggar description but none of them was made for its own sake sake it's a little bit like it's a little bit like the law which paul mentioned thou shalt the law which paul mentioned thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn and he says doth god take care for corn and he says doth god take care for oxen or seth he is all together for our oxen or seth he is all together for our sex for our sex no doubt this was sex for our sex no doubt this was written now it's a little bit like that with creation creation as a matter of fact god does take care as a matter of fact god does take care for oxen but the apostles point is that for oxen but the apostles point is that that wasn't the reason for the law that wasn't the reason for the law however much care god has for oxen the however much care god has for oxen the point of the law was a spiritual point of the law was a spiritual principle which the apostle paul under principle which the apostle paul under inspiration draws out for us and in the same way with the things that god has made even though there is not a god has made even though there is not a sparrow falls to the ground without your sparrow falls to the ground without your heavenly father says the lord that is heavenly father says the lord that is without god knowing about it without god knowing about it creation is not about birds creation is not about birds even though the lilies of the field were even though the lilies of the field were so glorious that even solomon in all his so glorious that even solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of them glory was not arrayed like one of them still still creation is not about flowers creation is not about flowers is it there's something more brethren and sisters to creation than these things sisters to creation than these things and and we need to think for a few moments we need to think for a few moments as to what it is as to what it is there is a spiritual dimension there is a spiritual dimension to the things that we're being told to the things that we're being told in genesis chapter one in genesis chapter one can i ask you to turn just for a moment can i ask you to turn just for a moment to the second letter of the apostle paul to the second letter of the apostle paul to the corinthians and chapter four to the corinthians and chapter four just by way of illustration of this fact just by way of illustration of this fact 2 corinthians chapter 4 2 corinthians chapter 4 where the apostle paul clearly has the where the apostle paul clearly has the creation of light in mind from genesis creation of light in mind from genesis 1. 1. this is what he says words that are well this is what he says words that are well enough known to us 2 corinthians 4 and enough known to us 2 corinthians 4 and verse 6 verse 6 for god who commanded the light to shine for god who commanded the light to shine out of darkness out of darkness hath shined in our hearts hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of god the glory of god in the face of jesus christ god who in genesis said who in genesis said let there be light let there be light has shined in our hearts that's what the has shined in our hearts that's what the apostle is saying he's picking up on apostle is saying he's picking up on genesis in that way god who who said let genesis in that way god who who said let there be light light has shined in our there be light light has shined in our hearts to give the light hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of god in of the knowledge of the glory of god in the face of jesus christ that's the the face of jesus christ that's the light light when god said let there be light this is when god said let there be light this is what it was about paul is saying what it was about paul is saying not he's not saying here's another not he's not saying here's another example of god making light he's saying example of god making light he's saying that's what the light is that's what the light is when god said let there be light when god said let there be light it was the light of truth that spiritually was involved and although of course god literally and although of course god literally made the light and all the other things made the light and all the other things that are there recorded for us in that are there recorded for us in genesis chapter 1 there is a spiritual genesis chapter 1 there is a spiritual dimension to all of these things dimension to all of these things brethren and sisters brethren and sisters we have to think a little wider we have to think a little wider than simply than simply the page in genesis chapter one the page in genesis chapter one so here it is so here it is god has created the light of the god has created the light of the knowledge of his glory knowledge of his glory in the face of jesus christ in the face of jesus christ and has beamed that and has beamed that by his grace by his grace into the hearts of each of us now come back to genesis chapter 1 and you can see how when we begin to and you can see how when we begin to read genesis 1 in that way read genesis 1 in that way it gives rise it it gives rise it almost invites us almost invites us to make that wider application to see to make that wider application to see the the wider purpose of god here in the the wider purpose of god here in these things these things genesis chapter 1 genesis chapter 1 verse 2 verse 2 the earth was without form and void and the earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep darkness was upon the face of the deep and the spirit of god moved upon the and the spirit of god moved upon the face of the waters and god said let face of the waters and god said let there be light there be light and there was light and god saw the light that it was good and the light of truth brethren and sisters is good god saw the light the sisters is good god saw the light the light light that it was good that it was good there was something special about it there was something special about it that impressed even god that impressed even god he was glad that he had made the light he was glad that he had made the light and you notice what he does immediately and you notice what he does immediately verse 4 god saw the light that it was verse 4 god saw the light that it was good and god divided the light from the good and god divided the light from the darkness god said my light is is going darkness god said my light is is going to have nothing to do with the darkness to have nothing to do with the darkness the earth was covered in darkness it was the earth was covered in darkness it was without form and void and darkness was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep upon the face of the deep and god divided he separated his light and god divided he separated his light from that darkness from that darkness and you can see can't you the wider and you can see can't you the wider purpose of god here purpose of god here light has nothing to do with darkness light has nothing to do with darkness and never was intended and never was intended to have to have they're diametrically opposed to one they're diametrically opposed to one another aren't they they are opposites another aren't they they are opposites as the apostle says again in second as the apostle says again in second corinthians chapter six he comes back to corinthians chapter six he comes back to that same theme that same theme there in his letter to the corinthians there in his letter to the corinthians what has light to do with darkness he what has light to do with darkness he says says what has the temple of god to do with what has the temple of god to do with idols it it's the light of knowledge idols it it's the light of knowledge again it's it's the light of the truth paul is giving these words in genesis that application that application he's thinking in spiritual terms in in he's thinking in spiritual terms in in wider terms than merely the words on the wider terms than merely the words on the page here in genesis 1. page here in genesis 1. and as we've said it's like that with and as we've said it's like that with the whole of creation brethren and the whole of creation brethren and scissors we could had we time to go all scissors we could had we time to go all the way through genesis chapter one the way through genesis chapter one looking at it in in that kind of way and looking at it in in that kind of way and perhaps already some of you will have perhaps already some of you will have done that in your bible classes you know done that in your bible classes you know how that god made the dry land how that god made the dry land to appear and you know how that very to appear and you know how that very often in the old testament that word often in the old testament that word land is the word used for israel the land is the word used for israel the land of israel land of israel and it's as though god were making and it's as though god were making israel to appear out of the sea of the israel to appear out of the sea of the nations nations and again he there's an act of and again he there's an act of separation he separates his people from separation he separates his people from the sea of the other nations around the sea of the other nations around there's a a wider purpose in all that there's a a wider purpose in all that god is doing here but as we said we we haven't time to look in detail look in detail those things those things perhaps perhaps that suggests though that that suggests though that although of course god created all although of course god created all things in genesis chapter one in six things in genesis chapter one in six days as the chapter itself tells us days as the chapter itself tells us that there was in this wider purpose of that there was in this wider purpose of god a creation that was unfolding itself god a creation that was unfolding itself down the ages too down the ages too the creation of israel would not the creation of israel would not actually take place until some years actually take place until some years later later the dry land would appear from the sea the dry land would appear from the sea of the nations of the nations the great light high in the firmament the great light high in the firmament when the sun of righteousness would when the sun of righteousness would arise with healing in his beams would be arise with healing in his beams would be for later years still for later years still the wider purpose of god was unfolding the wider purpose of god was unfolding itself in a creation going on down itself in a creation going on down through the ages which is still not yet through the ages which is still not yet complete is it complete is it not until the lord comes and takes his not until the lord comes and takes his people to himself i suppose brethren and sisters that begs the question as to the question as to what was god's purpose in creation what was god's purpose in creation and here in genesis chapter 1 creation and here in genesis chapter 1 creation is is working towards a marvelous climax is is working towards a marvelous climax it's working towards the climax of the it's working towards the climax of the creation of the man creation of the man and what god does in chapter one and in and what god does in chapter one and in the amplification of of the affairs of the amplification of of the affairs of chapter one here in genesis 2 is to chapter one here in genesis 2 is to create create a man a man and with that man and with that man his bride his bride and god puts them in a perfect and god puts them in a perfect environment he places them in the garden environment he places them in the garden of eden a perfect environment and they enjoy his company there is there is the opportunity at least for fellowship the opportunity at least for fellowship with god with god and there is the commandment to be and there is the commandment to be fruitful fruitful to bring forth for the glory of god to bring forth for the glory of god that's the climax of creation here in that's the climax of creation here in genesis brethren and sisters isn't it genesis brethren and sisters isn't it and you can see can't you the and you can see can't you the implication of those things again implication of those things again thinking more widely thinking thinking more widely thinking spiritually this is about the creation spiritually this is about the creation of the man of the man the man christ jesus and his bride and the man christ jesus and his bride and the perfect environment and the the perfect environment and the fellowship when god will will dwell will fellowship when god will will dwell will tabernacle with men as revelations tells tabernacle with men as revelations tells us us and there will be fruit and there will be fruit the right kind of fruit this time there the right kind of fruit this time there will be well there will be fruit will be well there will be fruit produced to the glory of god produced to the glory of god when the man is united with his bride when the man is united with his bride the ecclesia of christ then that the ecclesia of christ then that brethren and sisters is the first time brethren and sisters is the first time when there will be real fruit for the when there will be real fruit for the glory of god glory of god christ and his ecclesia will be christ and his ecclesia will be productive productive in the age of the kingdom in the age of the kingdom producing the right kind of fruit i have to be very careful brethren and have to be very careful brethren and sisters what i say at this point i'm sisters what i say at this point i'm very anxious that i should not be very anxious that i should not be misunderstood but it does seem to me that god in his foreknowledge god in his foreknowledge must have been aware that must have been aware that the fulfillment of these things in the fulfillment of these things in genesis 1 was genesis 1 was for want of a better phrase a two-stage for want of a better phrase a two-stage process now i'm pleased i'm not by any means suggesting that god made man sin suggesting that god made man sin that of course is wrong that of course is wrong absolutely and utterly wrong isn't it absolutely and utterly wrong isn't it there is there is no way that god there is there is no way that god planned the fall it wasn't his failure planned the fall it wasn't his failure it was man's failure entirely man's it was man's failure entirely man's failure i don't want anyone pleased to failure i don't want anyone pleased to think that i'm suggesting that that god think that i'm suggesting that that god in any way engineered the fall or or in any way engineered the fall or or planned the fall or was in any way planned the fall or was in any way responsible for man's sin responsible for man's sin that would certainly not be the case but god was not unaware of the fall of the fall the failure of man didn't take god by the failure of man didn't take god by surprise did it brethren and sisters he surprise did it brethren and sisters he didn't suddenly have to think of a didn't suddenly have to think of a salvation plan and swing into operation salvation plan and swing into operation with it with it god in his foreknowledge knew exactly god in his foreknowledge knew exactly what adam and eve would do what adam and eve would do and he'd already taken that on board and he'd already taken that on board and there is therefore perhaps a way in and there is therefore perhaps a way in which which let us make man in our image was let us make man in our image was fulfilled fulfilled by the creation of adam by the creation of adam in a physical and a mental way in a physical and a mental way man was a physical and a mental creature but there is perhaps also in those words let us make man in our image and after let us make man in our image and after our likeness something prophetic our likeness something prophetic again of the making the creation of the again of the making the creation of the man man and his bride and his bride not now a physical mental creature but a not now a physical mental creature but a moral and a spiritual creature moral and a spiritual creature and surely the purpose of god always and surely the purpose of god always intended intended that image of himself the moral that image of himself the moral the spiritual the spiritual which because of adam's sin would have which because of adam's sin would have to be to be a two-stage process a two-stage process in his foreknowledge god knew all about in his foreknowledge god knew all about it brethren and sisters it brethren and sisters but but it had to wait its time and it seems that because of the failure of man of man the climax of god's creation was the climax of god's creation was deferred perhaps deferred perhaps now again we're treading on difficult now again we're treading on difficult ground here and ground here and i don't want to be dogmatic in what i'm i don't want to be dogmatic in what i'm suggesting this morning suggesting this morning i'm really throwing out ideas for you to i'm really throwing out ideas for you to think about think about to try and help us to to change gear as to try and help us to to change gear as it were to think more spiritually to to it were to think more spiritually to to try and begin to see these things from try and begin to see these things from god's point of view that's what's so god's point of view that's what's so important about scripture isn't it i'm important about scripture isn't it i'm sure i've said that from from platforms sure i've said that from from platforms at the eastern bible school many times at the eastern bible school many times before before we're here brethren and sisters to try we're here brethren and sisters to try and identify with god and identify with god that's what scripture is all about that's what scripture is all about to help us see things from his to help us see things from his standpoint from his point of view standpoint from his point of view to bring our lives into line our wills to bring our lives into line our wills into subjection into subjection to his will god had created the man given him his bride placed him in that given him his bride placed him in that perfect environment so that they might perfect environment so that they might have the fellowship of the elohim so have the fellowship of the elohim so that they might brethren and sisters that they might brethren and sisters enjoy the rest enjoy the rest that to which god was looking forward that to which god was looking forward on the seventh day when we read and god rested and the rest of our bibles seem to indicate that men seem to indicate that men couldn't handle it couldn't handle it that in some way man wasn't prepared for that in some way man wasn't prepared for the rest or the rest or didn't wish to enter into fellowship didn't wish to enter into fellowship with god or refused to enjoy the with god or refused to enjoy the benefits the blessings the privileges benefits the blessings the privileges that god was holding out to him and throughout scripture you will be aware how time and time again and and i aware how time and time again and and i really mean that though it is time and really mean that though it is time and time and time again our bible picks up time and time again our bible picks up on creation language on creation language and on language of the fall and on language of the fall now i'm indebted to one of our brethren now i'm indebted to one of our brethren in the northeast of england who's done a in the northeast of england who's done a great deal of extensive research into great deal of extensive research into this particular facet of bible teaching this particular facet of bible teaching and and the instances of far far too numerous the instances of far far too numerous to mention in a week of talks here at to mention in a week of talks here at bible school but just just one very bible school but just just one very obvious example turn over to genesis obvious example turn over to genesis chapter 8 please here is just one very obvious occasion where one very obvious occasion where the language of creation is repeated the language of creation is repeated and the language of the fall too and the language of the fall too genesis 8 and verse 1 god remembered genesis 8 and verse 1 god remembered noah and every living thing and all the noah and every living thing and all the cattle that was with him in the ark and cattle that was with him in the ark and god made a wind to pass over the earth god made a wind to pass over the earth and the waters are saged and the waters are saged now the word wind of course is that word now the word wind of course is that word breath or spirit it's the ruach breath or spirit it's the ruach and this is genesis one brother and and this is genesis one brother and sisters isn't it the spirit of god moved sisters isn't it the spirit of god moved upon the face of the waters here it is upon the face of the waters here it is happening again isn't it the wind passed happening again isn't it the wind passed across the face of the waters and the across the face of the waters and the waters are saged it's exactly genesis 1 waters are saged it's exactly genesis 1 again isn't it it's creation language again isn't it it's creation language coming back coming back here after the flood here after the flood coming to chapter 9 and and see again coming to chapter 9 and and see again how the language of genesis 1 and 2 is how the language of genesis 1 and 2 is is recalled for us is recalled for us verse 6 of genesis 9 verse 6 of genesis 9 the end of the verse the end of the verse for in the image of god for in the image of god made he man made he man there's again another powerful reminder there's again another powerful reminder of genesis 1 let us make man in our of genesis 1 let us make man in our image who so sheddeth man's blood by man image who so sheddeth man's blood by man shall his blood be shed for in the image shall his blood be shed for in the image of god made he man of god made he man verse 3 verse 3 every moving thing that liveth shall be every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you even as the green herb have meat for you even as the green herb have i given you all things so god gives them i given you all things so god gives them dietary instructions dietary instructions he says what they can eat he says what they can eat just as he did in eden of all the trees of the garden thou mayest freely eat mayest freely eat but of the tree of the knowledge of good but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die and so here in verse shalt surely die and so here in verse four there's another restriction placed four there's another restriction placed exactly as as was the case in genesis 2 exactly as as was the case in genesis 2 genesis 9 and verse 4 but flesh with the genesis 9 and verse 4 but flesh with the life thereof which is the blood thereof life thereof which is the blood thereof shall he not eat shall he not eat so there are freedoms and dietary so there are freedoms and dietary instructions and there are instructions and there are restrictions again and you see brethren and sisters in verse seven verse seven and you and you be fruitful and multiply bring forth be fruitful and multiply bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply abundantly in the earth and multiply therein therein creation language again isn't it the creation language again isn't it the commandment given to adam and eve long commandment given to adam and eve long before the fall before the fall as we'll see in a moment as we'll see in a moment and then you come to the end of chapter and then you come to the end of chapter nine and you see again a fall i suppose nine and you see again a fall i suppose it's not surprising here is it because it's not surprising here is it because this is the new earth after the flood this is the new earth after the flood perhaps it's not surprising i i i perhaps it's not surprising i i i readily acknowledge that this is the readily acknowledge that this is the easiest perhaps of the examples that i'm easiest perhaps of the examples that i'm setting before you but but by no means setting before you but but by no means is it isolated brethren this is this is it isolated brethren this is this kind of language and these kind of kind of language and these kind of examples come back again and again in examples come back again and again in scripture scripture here at the end of chapter 9 is is the here at the end of chapter 9 is is the language of the fall verse 20. language of the fall verse 20. sorry yes verse 20. and noah began to be sorry yes verse 20. and noah began to be a husbandman he planted a vineyard a husbandman he planted a vineyard so instead of a garden of eden now we so instead of a garden of eden now we have a vineyard very similar isn't it have a vineyard very similar isn't it and he sinned in verse 21 he drank of and he sinned in verse 21 he drank of the wine and was drunken he partook of the wine and was drunken he partook of the fruit of his vineyard exactly as the fruit of his vineyard exactly as adam and eve partaking of the fruit of adam and eve partaking of the fruit of the garden of eden that was forbidden to the garden of eden that was forbidden to them that forbidden fruit the fruit of them that forbidden fruit the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil so noah though it wasn't forbidden evil so noah though it wasn't forbidden him took unwisely him took unwisely of the fruit of his vineyard of the fruit of his vineyard and was drunken as a result and was drunken as a result in verse 22 in verse 22 he was naked he was naked exactly as adam and eve became aware of exactly as adam and eve became aware of their nakedness in the garden when they their nakedness in the garden when they had sinned had sinned and just as for them god provided a and just as for them god provided a covering though they saw the need and covering though they saw the need and covered themselves making themselves covered themselves making themselves aprons from fig leaves aprons from fig leaves so here brethren and sisters in verse 23 so here brethren and sisters in verse 23 noah is covered noah is covered by two of his sons who have much more by two of his sons who have much more respect for him than did ham respect for him than did ham and they walk backwards and cover their and they walk backwards and cover their father with a garment that his nakedness father with a garment that his nakedness should not be seen now those are should not be seen now those are remarkable things aren't they they're remarkable things aren't they they're not there by coincidence one of them we not there by coincidence one of them we might have allowed maybe even two we might have allowed maybe even two we might have said might have said but not all those brethren and sisters but not all those brethren and sisters those verses that come back time and those verses that come back time and again throughout our bibles are not again throughout our bibles are not there by chance are they there by chance are they they're there surely amongst other they're there surely amongst other things perhaps to tell us that that man things perhaps to tell us that that man couldn't handle the rest that god had in couldn't handle the rest that god had in store for him store for him that his failure that his failure was a failure which because of his was a failure which because of his nature would be repeated time and time nature would be repeated time and time again it's been repeated brethren and again it's been repeated brethren and sisters in this man i can tell you sisters in this man i can tell you the same the same fall has dogged my steps as dog adams fall has dogged my steps as dog adams every one of us every one of us is a sinner before god is a sinner before god and surely that's the reason therefore and surely that's the reason therefore that that scripture invites us that that scripture invites us no more than that no more than that scripture tells us that god scripture tells us that god is looking forward is looking forward to a new creation come for example to psalm 102 these are well-known words but i wonder if you've noticed brethren but i wonder if you've noticed brethren and sisters how that and sisters how that the new creation spoken of in these the new creation spoken of in these verses and i think verses and i think in almost every occasion when the new in almost every occasion when the new creation is mentioned creation is mentioned are not about are not about the birds and the flowers again they're the birds and the flowers again they're not about the genesis creation not about the genesis creation they're about a people creation they're they're about a people creation they're about a spiritual aspect a wider purpose about a spiritual aspect a wider purpose that god always had always had in mind that god always had always had in mind psalm 102 and the end of that psalm psalm 102 and the end of that psalm verse 25 verse 25 old hast thou laid the foundation of the old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens of the work of thy earth and the heavens of the work of thy hands they shall perish but thou shalt hands they shall perish but thou shalt endure ye all of them shall wax old like endure ye all of them shall wax old like a garment as a vesture shall thou change a garment as a vesture shall thou change them and they shall be changed them and they shall be changed but thou art the same but thou art the same thy year shall have no end thy year shall have no end the children of thy servants shall the children of thy servants shall continue continue and their seed shall be established and their seed shall be established before thee before thee now i know that now i know that the apostle paul if it is paul in the apostle paul if it is paul in hebrews relates those words to hebrews relates those words to the new covenant the new covenant the creation in christ jesus the creation in christ jesus and that's what those words are about and that's what those words are about the apostle to the hebrews tells us the apostle to the hebrews tells us but brethren and sisters but brethren and sisters do you see that it's a people that's do you see that it's a people that's involved involved the the outcome of that is that the the outcome of that is that the outcome of the new covenant is that the outcome of the new covenant is that the seed shall continue they shall be the seed shall continue they shall be established the children of thy servants established the children of thy servants shall continue their siege shall be shall continue their siege shall be established before thee established before thee this is a people creation this is a people creation ex isaiah chapter 65 ex isaiah chapter 65 just another illustration of of the same just another illustration of of the same thing isaiah 65 and verse 17. for behold i create new heavens and a new earth and the former shall not be new earth and the former shall not be remembered nor come into mind but be ye remembered nor come into mind but be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which i glad and rejoice forever in that which i create for behold i create jerusalem create for behold i create jerusalem rejoicing and her people rejoicing and her people a joy a joy and i will rejoice in jerusalem and joy and i will rejoice in jerusalem and joy in my people in my people and the voice of weeping shall be no and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her nor the voice of more heard in her nor the voice of crying crying it's a people creation isn't it it's a people creation isn't it the place that god has chosen to to the place that god has chosen to to place his name there the the new place his name there the the new jerusalem that descends from god out of jerusalem that descends from god out of heaven at the end of the apocalypse heaven at the end of the apocalypse brethren and sisters is not a city made brethren and sisters is not a city made of stone and timber is it like the old of stone and timber is it like the old jerusalem it's a city made up of people jerusalem it's a city made up of people it's a people city it's a people in whom it's a people city it's a people in whom god's name god's name is established is established and it's a people and it's a people in whom god in whom god desires to rest desires to rest the climax of creation was the creation the climax of creation was the creation of the man of the man and his bride and his bride in a perfect environment that when god in a perfect environment that when god ceased from his labors to rest ceased from his labors to rest he might enjoy that rest with them he might enjoy that rest with them and that rest therefore is not and that rest therefore is not again a physical thing is it again a physical thing is it the rest of genesis 2 brethren and the rest of genesis 2 brethren and sisters is is not so much a physical sisters is is not so much a physical thing as again thinking wider about the thing as again thinking wider about the purpose of god it's it's got a spiritual purpose of god it's it's got a spiritual dimension to it dimension to it it's the idea of god ceasing from his it's the idea of god ceasing from his labors in order that he might rejoice in labors in order that he might rejoice in his people his people and have the joy of fellowship and have the joy of fellowship with those with those whom he had created ultimately in his whom he had created ultimately in his own moral and spiritual image own moral and spiritual image not just physical and mental beings i suppose that in a sense genesis chapter 2 presents us with a genesis chapter 2 presents us with a problem problem on the literal plane doesn't it on the literal plane doesn't it and god and god rested the seventh day rested the seventh day but god doesn't need rest but god doesn't need rest he doesn't get tired he doesn't get tired isaiah 40 tells us that very plainly isaiah 40 tells us that very plainly it says that he which keepeth israel it says that he which keepeth israel neither slumbers nor sleeps neither slumbers nor sleeps isaiah 14 verse 23 you needn't turn to isaiah 14 verse 23 you needn't turn to it just now but i'll quote the words for it just now but i'll quote the words for you you isaiah 14 verse isaiah 14 verse 23 23 says that god is the one who neither says that god is the one who neither slumbers nor sleeps he keeps israel slumbers nor sleeps he keeps israel he looks after israel he looks after israel there is there is sorry it's verse 28 i beg you pardon i sorry it's verse 28 i beg you pardon i can't read my own writing verse 28 can't read my own writing verse 28 hast thou not known hast thou not heard hast thou not known hast thou not heard that the everlasting god the lord the that the everlasting god the lord the creator of the ends of the earth creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not neither is weary fainteth not neither is weary there is no searching of his there is no searching of his understanding understanding interesting isn't it that in that very interesting isn't it that in that very verse that tells us that god is not verse that tells us that god is not weary it mentions him again as creator weary it mentions him again as creator he wasn't weary when he created when he wasn't weary when he created when he'd finished creating he didn't need he'd finished creating he didn't need the rest you might be tempted to say ah yes but of course of course the elohim were involved in creation and the elohim were involved in creation and and the angels have limitations and and the angels have limitations and perhaps they were tired perhaps they perhaps they were tired perhaps they needed a rest we know that that angels needed a rest we know that that angels are limited in their power their are limited in their power their strength their abilities well that is so brethren and sisters but it really won't do again you needn't it really won't do again you needn't turn to it now we shall have occasion to turn to it now we shall have occasion to look at it later in the week god willing look at it later in the week god willing but exodus 31 and 17 says this the but exodus 31 and 17 says this the sabbath is a sign between me and the sabbath is a sign between me and the children of israel forever for in six children of israel forever for in six days the lord that is yahweh jehovah days the lord that is yahweh jehovah made heaven and earth made heaven and earth and on the seventh day and on the seventh day he rested he rested and was refreshed and was refreshed so it won't do to say well it was the so it won't do to say well it was the angels who needed the rest the elohim angels who needed the rest the elohim required refreshment required refreshment here the sabbath is enjoined upon the here the sabbath is enjoined upon the nation of israel nation of israel because yahweh or jehovah because yahweh or jehovah rested rested and was refreshed and was refreshed at the end of his labors in six days at the end of his labors in six days there upon the seventh so there is brethren and sisters clearly arrest which god seeks of a spiritual arrest which god seeks of a spiritual dimension dimension and again if you're still in isaiah come and again if you're still in isaiah come to chapter 66 for a moment to chapter 66 for a moment and see there how god describes his and see there how god describes his desire for rest once again as being in a desire for rest once again as being in a people people god god is looking for a resting place is looking for a resting place in men and women in men and women isaiah 66 thus saith the lord the heaven isaiah 66 thus saith the lord the heaven is my throne and the earth is my is my throne and the earth is my footstool footstool where is the house that ye build unto me where is the house that ye build unto me and where is the place of my rest and where is the place of my rest for all these things hath mine handmade for all these things hath mine handmade and all these things have been saith the and all these things have been saith the lord lord but to this man will i look but to this man will i look even to him that is poor and of a even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit contrite spirit and trembleth at my word and trembleth at my word there's the place of god's rest there's the place of god's rest what what place will you build for me what what place will you build for me says god where is the place of my rest says god where is the place of my rest i've made all these things temples don't i've made all these things temples don't contain me heaven and earth don't contain me heaven and earth don't restrict me says god but restrict me says god but here's the place of my rest i'll tell here's the place of my rest i'll tell you you it's the contrite heart it's the contrite heart it's the humble and the contrite spirit it's the humble and the contrite spirit it's the man who trembles at my word it's the man who trembles at my word there there will i be pleased to dwell will i be pleased to dwell says the lord that's marvelous isn't it brethren and sisters sisters here is god's rest here is god's rest in a people who love him in a people who love him a people who know his word and tremble a people who know his word and tremble because of it because of it not because they are fearful of their not because they are fearful of their god god but because they rejoice but because they rejoice in his greatness in his greatness and willingly humble themselves and willingly humble themselves beforehand can we come back then to genesis chapter 2 for a moment and just look at the implications of what we've said what we've said here in genesis 2. now again i don't want to be dogmatic about this dogmatism here brethren and about this dogmatism here brethren and sisters is entirely out of place sisters is entirely out of place i want you to know that i want you to know that and to be aware that i know that too but it does appear and i'll put it no stronger than that it does appear that stronger than that it does appear that god never enjoyed his rest god never enjoyed his rest here in genesis 2. here in genesis 2. ultimately we know that that's the case ultimately we know that that's the case the issue perhaps is the issue perhaps is for how long god rested for how long god rested we have read genesis chapter 2 thus the we have read genesis chapter 2 thus the heavens and the earth were finished and heavens and the earth were finished and the host of them and on the seventh day the host of them and on the seventh day god ended his work which he had made and god ended his work which he had made and he rested on the seventh day from all he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made i'd like to suggest you brethren and sisters and i've made this suggestion sisters and i've made this suggestion before and i haven't found a single before and i haven't found a single individual who agreed with me so i individual who agreed with me so i shan't be in the least disappointed shan't be in the least disappointed least bit disappointed if you all want least bit disappointed if you all want to disagree and i'm sure you will but to disagree and i'm sure you will but but think about it it seems to me that but think about it it seems to me that there is every likelihood that adam and there is every likelihood that adam and eve eve sinned sinned on that very first sabbath on that very first sabbath now i know we're not used to to we're now i know we're not used to to we're not accustomed to thinking that we not accustomed to thinking that we generally imagined that they were some generally imagined that they were some period of indeterminate length in the period of indeterminate length in the garden of eden garden of eden but that they were there for a time and but that they were there for a time and that may still be right please that that may still be right please that might still be the case i'm not might still be the case i'm not insisting on on anything different insisting on on anything different but it must it seems to me have been a but it must it seems to me have been a fairly a relatively short period fairly a relatively short period for a number of reasons for a number of reasons and i think scripture hints and i think scripture hints one or two reasons why that might have one or two reasons why that might have been the case in the first place you would expect it to be a short time because to be a short time because procreation had not taken place procreation had not taken place prior to their eviction from the garden prior to their eviction from the garden of eden of eden procreation was not something that that procreation was not something that that came about came about as the result of the fall as the result of the fall god had commanded adam and eve before god had commanded adam and eve before their sin be fruitful and multiply and their sin be fruitful and multiply and replenish or fill the earth but they had not done so and i imagine brethren and sisters that and i imagine brethren and sisters that if they had been a very long period then if they had been a very long period then they would have done so in circumstances they would have done so in circumstances where nakedness was not ashamed to them where nakedness was not ashamed to them they had no guilt they had no shame they had no guilt they had no shame it would have been unusual if they had it would have been unusual if they had not procreated not procreated over a long time and clearly they had over a long time and clearly they had not because at the time of their not because at the time of their eviction from the garden of eden then it eviction from the garden of eden then it was that god said to eve thy desire was that god said to eve thy desire shall be to thy husband and he shall shall be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee rule over thee and seed was conceived only and seed was conceived only after after they were ejected they were ejected from the presence of god but there are reasons that suggest that it it might have been a very short time it it might have been a very short time because because well for one thing brethren and sisters well for one thing brethren and sisters if god if god enjoyed a rest enjoyed a rest there on the seventh day and extending there on the seventh day and extending beyond that beyond that as the conditions of the garden of eden as the conditions of the garden of eden continued continued over a period however long over a period however long if god enjoyed and went on enjoying that if god enjoyed and went on enjoying that rest and the presence of the man and rest and the presence of the man and woman prior to their sin prior to their woman prior to their sin prior to their disobedience disobedience well for me i think that takes something well for me i think that takes something off the edge off the edge of the rest that is to come of the rest that is to come what then is the point of what then is the point of there remaineth a rest to the people of there remaineth a rest to the people of god which god willing will examine later god which god willing will examine later this week this week if god has rested surely it takes if god has rested surely it takes something away does it not from the rest something away does it not from the rest that god yet intends and the fellowship that god yet intends and the fellowship to which god is clearly desperately to which god is clearly desperately looking forward looking forward with the those whom he has created those with the those whom he has created those who tremble at his word who tremble at his word those with whom he will find a perfect those with whom he will find a perfect rest rest in due time in due time if god has rested already if god has rested already then it seems to me it's to take then it seems to me it's to take something away from the prospect something away from the prospect of that rest which is to come another reason is genesis 2 verse 2 and god bless the seventh day and god bless the seventh day sorry and on the seventh day god ended sorry and on the seventh day god ended his work which he had made and he rested his work which he had made and he rested on the seventh day from all his work on the seventh day from all his work which he had made which he had made and the the greek version of the old and the the greek version of the old testament testament the septuagint the septuagint has has there a phrase there a phrase all the work which he began all the work which he began to make to make or which he began to do it's the same or which he began to do it's the same verb verb to do or to make to do or to make and that sounds rather like acts chapter and that sounds rather like acts chapter one doesn't it one doesn't it you remember how luke you remember how luke commences the work of the lord jesus commences the work of the lord jesus christ working through the apostles christ working through the apostles there in acts chapter one there in acts chapter one he says that he'd made the former he says that he'd made the former treatise treatise theophilus it is he's writing to of all theophilus it is he's writing to of all that jesus began both to do and teach that jesus began both to do and teach and now he's writing acts to continue and now he's writing acts to continue the story the story the gospel was all that jesus began to the gospel was all that jesus began to do and genesis is the record of all that god began to do in creation that's how god began to do in creation that's how the septuagint puts it now that that may the septuagint puts it now that that may be wrong that may be at fault maybe the be wrong that may be at fault maybe the translators into greek misunderstood translators into greek misunderstood what genesis was about what genesis was about but it it's interesting it's fascinating but it it's interesting it's fascinating isn't it all that god began to do isn't it all that god began to do and if that's a valid translation and if that's a valid translation brethren and sisters if that's a valid brethren and sisters if that's a valid understanding of genesis 2 and verse 2 understanding of genesis 2 and verse 2 then i wonder if luke is is drawing a then i wonder if luke is is drawing a comparison with that or if he's not more comparison with that or if he's not more properly properly not drawing a comparison but displaying not drawing a comparison but displaying a fulfillment of genesis 2. a fulfillment of genesis 2. for all that god began to do in genesis for all that god began to do in genesis is now to be completed fulfilled is now to be completed fulfilled brought to its climax brought to its climax in the work of jesus christ in the work of jesus christ in the gospel in the gospel all that jesus began to do all that jesus began to do to complete and to fulfill and to fill to complete and to fulfill and to fill up the measure up the measure of creation of creation as god always intended it as god always intended it the man the man and his bride and his bride that perfect environment and the fruit that perfect environment and the fruit that would ensue and i wonder too brethren and sisters if we have really taken on board fully if we have really taken on board fully the implications the implications of our lord's words in john chapter 5. of our lord's words in john chapter 5. do you recall how that after he had do you recall how that after he had healed upon the sabbath healed upon the sabbath the jews as was so often the case in the jews as was so often the case in their hard-heartedness rounded upon their hard-heartedness rounded upon jesus and condemned him for what they jesus and condemned him for what they saw as being sabbath-breaking saw as being sabbath-breaking and jesus says in john 5. john 5 and verse 16 therefore did the jews persecute jesus therefore did the jews persecute jesus and sought to slay him because he done and sought to slay him because he done these things on the sabbath day but these things on the sabbath day but jesus answered them my father worketh jesus answered them my father worketh hitherto hitherto and i work and i work now just think about the force of those now just think about the force of those words brother and sisters my father words brother and sisters my father worketh he's the two worketh he's the two so far so far god had to go back to work god had to go back to work almost immediately it seems to me adam almost immediately it seems to me adam and eve sinned and god had to go and eve sinned and god had to go straight back to work and he's been straight back to work and he's been working ever since says jesus god never working ever since says jesus god never enjoyed his rest he never had a sabbath enjoyed his rest he never had a sabbath to speak of to speak of however long or short a period it was my however long or short a period it was my father my father worketh hitherto right father my father worketh hitherto right until now says jesus all down the ages until now says jesus all down the ages from the beginning of time god has been from the beginning of time god has been working for the redemption of man for working for the redemption of man for his reconciliation with his maker and i his reconciliation with his maker and i work for that same aim says the lord well brethren and sisters whether god rested and to what extent he rested god rested and to what extent he rested we cannot be certain as we have said we we cannot be certain as we have said we do know do know that we have a work to do ourselves if that we have a work to do ourselves if we are to enjoy that rest with him we are to enjoy that rest with him we ourselves need to be changed into the we ourselves need to be changed into the same image of his son same image of his son we need to be influenced by this word we need to be influenced by this word we need to think spiritually we need to we need to think spiritually we need to change gear we need to see the wider change gear we need to see the wider purpose of god so that we might be purpose of god so that we might be cooperating with him cooperating with him working upon our natures working upon our natures that we may be changed into the image of that we may be changed into the image of his son his son so that when he appears so that when he appears we shall know him and recognize him we shall know him and recognize him israel brethren and sisters missed their israel brethren and sisters missed their messiah messiah they were looking for the wrong things they were looking for the wrong things they did not see him when he appeared when the scripture says the law was a schoolmaster to bring them to christ schoolmaster to bring them to christ it's not talking about the types and the it's not talking about the types and the shadows you know shadows you know they're a small part of it they're a small part of it but the law was a school master to bring but the law was a school master to bring israel to the christ life israel to the christ life to bring israel to be christ-like so to bring israel to be christ-like so that when he came they would recognize that when he came they would recognize him they would be able to see him and him they would be able to see him and say say that's the man that's the man just look at him he's just look at him he's he's an embodiment of the whole of the he's an embodiment of the whole of the word of god that that's how i've been word of god that that's how i've been trying to live i've been trying to be trying to live i've been trying to be that man and the flesh has been dragging that man and the flesh has been dragging me back and holding me down and i me back and holding me down and i couldn't do it but i can see now couldn't do it but i can see now that's the man that's that's the word of that's the man that's that's the word of god in a person god in a person the living word by the same token brethren and sisters we need to be working at this we need to be working at this that we may be like him that we may be like him that when he comes that when he comes by the grace of god by the grace of god we may know him we may know him as he is bless us that we may cooperate with thee in the great work which thou art about in the great work which thou art about and by thy grace in christ jesus our and by thy grace in christ jesus our lord lord may be found at his coming may be found at his coming with some likeness of him with some likeness of him and received into thy glory and received into thy glory in his name in his name amen

Transcript

making bricks is back-breaking work is back-breaking work the sun that dried the clay brethren and the sun that dried the clay brethren and sisters sisters dried the soul of israel every muscle was weary was weary every limb every limb ached ached there was there was no pay of course no pay of course there was no strength to go on doing the there was no strength to go on doing the work work humanly speaking there was no hope humanly speaking there was no hope of the situation ever being any of the situation ever being any different different there was no future there was only one continual round of toil and labor and sweat toil and labor and sweat and the whip and the whip if one should dare to stop that's what egypt was like until god with mercy with mercy looked upon the affliction of his people looked upon the affliction of his people until until the appointed time came the appointed time came the fullness of time for god to the fullness of time for god to intervene intervene the acceptable year so far as he was the acceptable year so far as he was concerned for the redemption of his concerned for the redemption of his people when israel was a child then i loved him and called my son and called my son out of egypt out of egypt and so in exodus chapter 4 similarly and so in exodus chapter 4 similarly thou shalt say unto pharaoh thus saith thou shalt say unto pharaoh thus saith the lord israel is my son the lord israel is my son even my firstborn and i say unto thee even my firstborn and i say unto thee let my son go let my son go that he may serve me notice that brethren sisters that 23rd verse of exodus 4 verse of exodus 4 not just let my son go not just let my son go full stop full stop but let my son go that he may serve me that's why israel was to be released it is the same with us we are not our it is the same with us we are not our own the apostle reminds us we are bought own the apostle reminds us we are bought with a price we are not brought to a with a price we are not brought to a freedom freedom we are brought to freedom in christ we are brought to freedom in christ which is vastly different which is vastly different we are not free to please ourselves we are not free to please ourselves therefore we are the lords and whatever therefore we are the lords and whatever we do we do we are his servants we are his servants so israel in their redemption from egypt so israel in their redemption from egypt were not being bought out of out of were not being bought out of out of slavery rescued redeemed full stop slavery rescued redeemed full stop they were being bought they were being bought with a price with a price not the precious blood of the lamb not the precious blood of the lamb without spartan without blemish which without spartan without blemish which was to come was to come but with a price nonetheless but with a price nonetheless the price being the price being god's intervention in egypt god's intervention in egypt the plagues that he would send the the plagues that he would send the ruining of the social and economic ruining of the social and economic fabric of egyptian life which god would fabric of egyptian life which god would do for israel's sake do for israel's sake therefore therefore they were his people they were his people obliged to serve him obliged to serve him and because when he destroyed the and because when he destroyed the firstborn of egypt he spared their firstborn of egypt he spared their firstborn those firstborn were in some firstborn those firstborn were in some peculiar and special way peculiar and special way his his children children his people for that reason god commanded israel to observe god commanded israel to observe the sabbath the sabbath because they were his because they were his he had a claim over them they were he had a claim over them they were obliged to hearken to him and god obliged to hearken to him and god enjoined upon them the keeping of a enjoined upon them the keeping of a sabbath sabbath a rest each week a rest each week we saw yesterday from genesis chapter 2 we saw yesterday from genesis chapter 2 and verse 3 how that god blessed the and verse 3 how that god blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he had rested from all his that in it he had rested from all his work which god created and made work which god created and made god blessed the seventh day god blessed the seventh day and sanctified it and sanctified it we didn't have occasion yesterday to we didn't have occasion yesterday to pause and consider what those words pause and consider what those words actually meant actually meant but what do they mean brethren and but what do they mean brethren and sisters sisters in what way was the seventh day blessed in what way was the seventh day blessed was no different from the other days was no different from the other days although the record makes it a little although the record makes it a little different as we shall see later god different as we shall see later god willing willing it was a day in which the moon waned and it was a day in which the moon waned and the sun rose the sun rose and it was really no different from the and it was really no different from the other days of itself the day wasn't other days of itself the day wasn't blessed for its own sake god didn't blessed for its own sake god didn't sanctify that day per se sanctify that day per se the blessing lay in keeping it the blessing lay in keeping it it was israel who would be blessed it was israel who would be blessed by their observance of it by their observance of it the day was sanctified in as much as the day was sanctified in as much as israel were sanctified when they obeyed israel were sanctified when they obeyed the commandment of god and kept it the commandment of god and kept it making it in their lives different from making it in their lives different from the other days just as what's so special about israel isn't what's so special about israel isn't israel israel there's nothing special about israel there's nothing special about israel themselves brethren and sisters themselves brethren and sisters perhaps we sometimes mistakenly think so perhaps we sometimes mistakenly think so there's nothing special about israel there's nothing special about israel themselves they weren't more numerous themselves they weren't more numerous they weren't more strong they weren't they weren't more strong they weren't more righteous than any other nation the more righteous than any other nation the record tells us record tells us what was special about israel was the what was special about israel was the fact that god specially chose them fact that god specially chose them that's what makes them special that's what makes them special it wasn't anything of themselves it wasn't anything of themselves it was something that god made of them it was something that god made of them by choosing them by choosing them and similarly with abraham and similarly with abraham it was nothing special about abraham of it was nothing special about abraham of himself though he was indeed a very himself though he was indeed a very faithful man and i don't want in any way faithful man and i don't want in any way to minimize his faith which is streets to minimize his faith which is streets and streets ahead of my veteran sisters and streets ahead of my veteran sisters that's for sure but he wasn't he wasn't that's for sure but he wasn't he wasn't special of himself there was nothing special of himself there was nothing intrinsically worthy about abraham that intrinsically worthy about abraham that demanded that he should be saved any demanded that he should be saved any more than you or me more than you or me he didn't deserve salvation he couldn't he didn't deserve salvation he couldn't earn eternal life any more than you or i earn eternal life any more than you or i can can what was special about abraham was that what was special about abraham was that god specially chose him god specially chose him and made to him the promises and made to him the promises and so what was special about that and so what was special about that seventh day was the fact that god seventh day was the fact that god blessed and sanctified not the day blessed and sanctified not the day itself but it was no different from the itself but it was no different from the other six of itself but blessed and other six of itself but blessed and sanctified those who in obedience to his sanctified those who in obedience to his commandment would keep it commandment would keep it come then please to exodus 31 come then please to exodus 31 a small portion of which we've just read a small portion of which we've just read together and see there how that these together and see there how that these verses testify to that very fact exodus verses testify to that very fact exodus chapter 31 chapter 31 we began reading at verse 12 we began reading at verse 12 and if we look for a moment there at and if we look for a moment there at verses 13 and the beginning of 14 the verses 13 and the beginning of 14 the lord spoke to moses saying speak thou lord spoke to moses saying speak thou also unto the children of israel saying also unto the children of israel saying verily my sabbath ye shall keep it for verily my sabbath ye shall keep it for it is a sign between me and you it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations that ye may throughout your generations that ye may know that i am the lord that doth know that i am the lord that doth sanctify you sanctify you that's where the sanctification of the that's where the sanctification of the sabbath day comes in sabbath day comes in that the lord may sanctify you keep the that the lord may sanctify you keep the sabbath that you may be sanctified in sabbath that you may be sanctified in the keeping thereof the keeping thereof ye shall keep the sabbath therefore for ye shall keep the sabbath therefore for it is holy unto you it is holy unto you notice the emphasis in these verses notice the emphasis in these verses breton and sisters breton and sisters verily verily my my sabbaths sabbaths god's sabbath god's sabbath ye ye shall keep and the lord will sanctify you in the middle of verse 14 you in the middle of verse 14 it shall be holy unto you it shall be holy unto you the lord will sanctify you you will be the lord will sanctify you you will be holy the sabbath will be holy unto you holy the sabbath will be holy unto you but it is but it is my my god's sabbath god's sabbath and it's a sign and it's a sign notice that it's a sign notice that it's a sign verily my sabbath shall keep verily my sabbath shall keep for because it is a sign for because it is a sign between me and you between me and you throughout your generations so that you throughout your generations so that you may know that i am the lord that doth may know that i am the lord that doth sanctify you just as the lights were set in the heavens for heavens for times and seasons and days and years so the sabbath the seventh the seventh the day of rest for god the day of rest for god was also a sign it wasn't that god needs times and seasons or days and years god is outside seasons or days and years god is outside of time brethren and sisters the of time brethren and sisters the invention of times and seasons and days invention of times and seasons and days and years is is fascinating isn't it why and years is is fascinating isn't it why should god involve himself in those should god involve himself in those things unless it were for man's sake things unless it were for man's sake unless it were that god knew that we unless it were that god knew that we have need of a limited objective we have have need of a limited objective we have need continually of a new start again need continually of a new start again and again just imagine that there was and again just imagine that there was nothing nothing like that like that no night following day or day following no night following day or day following night night no new week no months no years no years that time just stretched interminably that time just stretched interminably before us wouldn't that be awful before us wouldn't that be awful imagine just facing life in that way we imagine just facing life in that way we need that limited objective don't we and need that limited objective don't we and god in his mercy was aware of our need god in his mercy was aware of our need for times and seasons and days and years for times and seasons and days and years when we might start again when we might when we might start again when we might be refreshed when we might turn over a be refreshed when we might turn over a new leaf and try again new leaf and try again continually we need those things but god continually we need those things but god has no need of those things and god had has no need of those things and god had no need of rest as we we discovered and no need of rest as we we discovered and said yesterday said yesterday he had no need of the seventh day for he had no need of the seventh day for rest and refreshment and yet he was rest and refreshment and yet he was refreshed refreshed he ceased from his labors he rested in he ceased from his labors he rested in that sense that sense this was his sabbath this was his sabbath his ceasing from his labor his ceasing from his labor and it was a sigh and it was a sigh sign of what sign of what a sign of god's purpose a sign of god's purpose a sign of the final rest a sign of the final rest a sign of final redemption a sign of final redemption again it was to teach israel wasn't it again it was to teach israel wasn't it that seventh day was there as a sign that seventh day was there as a sign that there was a sabbath to come way that there was a sabbath to come way down the line brethren and sisters god down the line brethren and sisters god had a sabbath had a sabbath my sabbath my sabbath and the weekly sabbath was a sign a and the weekly sabbath was a sign a shadow a pointer a pattern shadow a pointer a pattern to that which is to come a sign of the to that which is to come a sign of the final redemption that god had prepared final redemption that god had prepared for his people that's why in the end of verse 14 in the end of verse 14 and the verses that follow and the verses that follow because the sabbath is a sign of god's because the sabbath is a sign of god's purpose purpose god's eternal purpose god's eternal purpose of that which he intends to do of that which he intends to do it is so serious a matter it is so serious a matter if man should treat it with contempt if man should treat it with contempt the middle of verse 14 the middle of verse 14 everyone that defileth it shall surely everyone that defileth it shall surely be put to death be put to death for whosoever doeth any work therein for whosoever doeth any work therein that soul shall be cut off from among that soul shall be cut off from among his people six days may work be done but his people six days may work be done but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest in the seventh is the sabbath of rest holy to the lord whosoever doeth any holy to the lord whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day he shall surely work in the sabbath day he shall surely be put to death be put to death this is a serious matter this is a serious matter contempt for the sabbath is contempt for contempt for the sabbath is contempt for the whole purpose of god the whole purpose of god contempt for the sabbath is like siding contempt for the sabbath is like siding with adam and eve it's like siding with with adam and eve it's like siding with the sinner it's like the sinner it's like demonstrating that we're on the side of demonstrating that we're on the side of the sinner who disturbed god's rest as the sinner who disturbed god's rest as we saw yesterday who disturbed that we saw yesterday who disturbed that first sabbath first sabbath anyone who shows contempt for my sabbath anyone who shows contempt for my sabbath says god is on the side of the sinner says god is on the side of the sinner they are demonstrating that disturbing they are demonstrating that disturbing my rest was right and fair my rest was right and fair that soul will be cut off that soul will be cut off that soul will die can you see then how the contempt for the sabbath was a serious issue not the sabbath was a serious issue not because the day itself was in some way because the day itself was in some way holy or significant holy or significant except in this way except in this way that it was the sign of final redemption that it was the sign of final redemption and contempt for the sabbath was and contempt for the sabbath was contempt for all that god had purposed contempt for all that god had purposed and demonstrated before his people now did you notice how that in those verses there verses there the word any in the phrase any work the word any in the phrase any work is in italics it is so in verse 14 whosoever doeth work therein whosoever doeth work therein that soul shall be cut off that soul shall be cut off and similarly in verse 15 whosoever and similarly in verse 15 whosoever doeth work in the sabbath the word any doeth work in the sabbath the word any isn't actually there isn't actually there and it's not any work and it's not any work in a way our translators have have in a way our translators have have misled us in that misled us in that the sabbath was never the sabbath was never never ever intended brethren and sisters never ever intended brethren and sisters to be a time of idleness to be a time of idleness that wasn't its purpose at all it was a day of work the work that was forbidden to israel the work that was forbidden to israel wasn't any work it was work for oneself wasn't any work it was work for oneself work for selfish ends work for selfish ends work for profit remuneration work for profit remuneration sustenance support sustenance support work which in any shape or form was for work which in any shape or form was for oneself but work for god was not oneself but work for god was not excluded it was his sabbath now i don't think that as a community we have always understood that have always understood that i sometimes hear and i'm sure you do i sometimes hear and i'm sure you do brethren and sisters lamenting the fact brethren and sisters lamenting the fact that the sabbath was supposed to be a that the sabbath was supposed to be a day of rest and and sunday is my busiest day of rest and and sunday is my busiest day of all well it ought to be that's day of all well it ought to be that's fine that's no problem fine that's no problem there are two faults with that brethren there are two faults with that brethren and sisters one is that sunday is not and sisters one is that sunday is not the sabbath and the seventh day observant societies frequently confuse that the sunday is frequently confuse that the sunday is the first day of the week the sabbath the first day of the week the sabbath was the seventh so sunday has nothing was the seventh so sunday has nothing whatsoever to do with the sabbath in the whatsoever to do with the sabbath in the first place but in the second place it first place but in the second place it is right that sunday be the busiest day is right that sunday be the busiest day of the work week and it's right that the of the work week and it's right that the sabbath was the busiest day of the week sabbath was the busiest day of the week for god shouldn't be a day of being busy for ourselves but never did god prohibit work for him work for him that's why jesus was not a sabbath that's why jesus was not a sabbath breaker breaker he fulfilled the sabbath he understood he fulfilled the sabbath he understood its purpose its purpose that which he wrought on the sabbath day that which he wrought on the sabbath day was the work of god and it was was the work of god and it was absolutely right we should never say absolutely right we should never say that jesus broke the sabbath he never that jesus broke the sabbath he never did come to isaiah 58 for a moment you may know that isaiah 58 tells us the same know that isaiah 58 tells us the same truth truth just one verse isaiah 58 towards the end just one verse isaiah 58 towards the end of that chapter isaiah 58 13 if thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath from doing thy pleasure from the sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day on my holy day see the emphasis doing thy pleasure you see the emphasis doing thy pleasure you could do god's pleasure on god's holy could do god's pleasure on god's holy day no problem day no problem but if you turn away your foot from the but if you turn away your foot from the sabbath and from doing thy pleasure on sabbath and from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the sabbath to my holy day and call the sabbath to delight the holy of the lord honorable delight the holy of the lord honorable and shall honor him not doing thine own and shall honor him not doing thine own ways ways nor finding thine own pleasure nor nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thy words thine own words the speaking thy words thine own words the authorized version translators have authorized version translators have supplied again the word isn't there but supplied again the word isn't there but it's correct this time isn't it you can it's correct this time isn't it you can read it not doing thine own pleasure nor read it not doing thine own pleasure nor speaking words speaking words it's clear isn't it that it's your own it's clear isn't it that it's your own words not doing your own pleasure or words not doing your own pleasure or speaking words of your own making speaking words of your own making then verse 14 then shalt thou delight then verse 14 then shalt thou delight thyself in the lord and i will cause thyself in the lord and i will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the thee to ride upon the high places of the earth earth you see it was work for oneself that was you see it was work for oneself that was forbidden it was one's own pleasure forbidden it was one's own pleasure one's own prosperity and benefit one's own prosperity and benefit which seeking was a sin which seeking was a sin the day therefore was never a day of the day therefore was never a day of idleness in the mind of god it was a day idleness in the mind of god it was a day rather for service rather for service and you can see here from isaiah 58 13 and you can see here from isaiah 58 13 how that israel were commanded to how that israel were commanded to rejoice in the lord they were to make rejoice in the lord they were to make the sabbath a delight it was not to be the sabbath a delight it was not to be irksome they weren't to moan and to irksome they weren't to moan and to murmur that no we can't go out to work murmur that no we can't go out to work today you know terrible in there today you know terrible in there it was to be a delight it was to be a delight they were to resort to the priest and they were to resort to the priest and the prophet for instruction the prophet for instruction and the faithful in israel did that they and the faithful in israel did that they used the sabbath in that way used the sabbath in that way perhaps you hadn't thought of that what perhaps you hadn't thought of that what did they do on the sabbath well they did they do on the sabbath well they went to listen to the word of god went to listen to the word of god it has just a little hint of that now it has just a little hint of that now and again in scriptures one of them is and again in scriptures one of them is in second kings 4 and 23 you needn't in second kings 4 and 23 you needn't turn it up you will recall it it's when turn it up you will recall it it's when the shunammite woman's son was sick and the shunammite woman's son was sick and she says saddle me the ass and i'll ride she says saddle me the ass and i'll ride to the man of god and her husband says to the man of god and her husband says what for it's not not the new moon or what for it's not not the new moon or the sabbath the sabbath so you see it was the habit to go and so you see it was the habit to go and and seek the man of god on the sabbath and seek the man of god on the sabbath day day and her husband couldn't understand why and her husband couldn't understand why she wanted to go if it wasn't the she wanted to go if it wasn't the sabbath so that's what they did on the sabbath so that's what they did on the sabbath that's that's one of the customs sabbath that's that's one of the customs they went to seek the man of god to to they went to seek the man of god to to listen to the instruction just as we use listen to the instruction just as we use our first day of the week our first day of the week our sunday to come to the meetings it's our sunday to come to the meetings it's right that it should be busy in those right that it should be busy in those right things and it's right that we right things and it's right that we should use it to delight in the lord and should use it to delight in the lord and to rejoice in the lord perhaps i might just take a minute brethren and sisters to comment on that brethren and sisters to comment on that phrase rejoice in the lord because that phrase rejoice in the lord because that also is a little misunderstood sometimes also is a little misunderstood sometimes sadly in our own midst isn't it sadly in our own midst isn't it so often it seems to me i hear it said so often it seems to me i hear it said by brethren and sisters who ought to by brethren and sisters who ought to know better that we're not a very joyful know better that we're not a very joyful community you know our hymns aren't very community you know our hymns aren't very joyful and we we need a bit more joyful and we we need a bit more gladness and so on in our in our worship gladness and so on in our in our worship and well all right that's fine but the rejoicing in scripture is nothing to do with wearing a permanent nothing to do with wearing a permanent smile and going about you know all smile and going about you know all frothy and jolly and frothy and jolly and as though life was some great big joke as though life was some great big joke rejoicing in the lord is what it says rejoicing in the lord is what it says it's rejoicing in the lord it's rejoicing in the lord in other words it's what we were talking in other words it's what we were talking about yesterday it's identifying with about yesterday it's identifying with god it's bringing our wills our feelings god it's bringing our wills our feelings into line with gods into line with gods so that we rejoice in whatever makes god so that we rejoice in whatever makes god happy happy we rejoice in whatever he rejoices in we rejoice in whatever he rejoices in we're glad and we're joyful we're glad and we're joyful in whatever god brings about in his will in whatever god brings about in his will and the fulfillment of his will we and the fulfillment of his will we rejoice to see his purpose unfolding and rejoice to see his purpose unfolding and taking place and and finding its place taking place and and finding its place in our world in our world sometimes brethren and sisters that sometimes brethren and sisters that purpose of god will result in trouble purpose of god will result in trouble for us for us in times of great distress in times of great distress in times of temptation or evil in times of temptation or evil in tremendous problems and difficulties in tremendous problems and difficulties but we shall rejoice in the lord but we shall rejoice in the lord whatever our circumstances we still whatever our circumstances we still rejoice rejoice in the lord in the lord confident that this is his way confident that this is his way and it will ultimately prove to be right and it will ultimately prove to be right because god is right because god is right he is righteous we shall rejoice in the lord even in the sufferings of jesus christ even in the sufferings of jesus christ we might have thought there was little we might have thought there was little cause for rejoicing in all that jesus cause for rejoicing in all that jesus suffered veteran and sisters and indeed suffered veteran and sisters and indeed in one sense there isn't is that no one in one sense there isn't is that no one would would rejoice would would rejoice to be nailed upon the stake and yet we do rejoice we do rejoice it pleased the lord to bruise him not it pleased the lord to bruise him not that god was glad to see jesus on the that god was glad to see jesus on the stake but that stake but that god god was prepared to do that was prepared to do that it's the word the use of the word it's the word the use of the word pleased pleased in the old english if you please if you in the old english if you please if you will it was god's will god was willing will it was god's will god was willing to see that and jesus for the joy set to see that and jesus for the joy set before him was able to endure the cross before him was able to endure the cross count the shame as nothing despise it as count the shame as nothing despise it as a little thing as a nonsense a little thing as a nonsense to rejoice in the purpose of god being to rejoice in the purpose of god being fulfilled and going forward stage by fulfilled and going forward stage by stage stage that's our rejoicing brethren and that's our rejoicing brethren and sisters nothing to do with with laughing sisters nothing to do with with laughing and being jolly all the time though of and being jolly all the time though of course there's a place for that as well course there's a place for that as well but rejoicing in the lord is a far more but rejoicing in the lord is a far more deep rooted deep-seated thing deep rooted deep-seated thing rejoicing in what god has done what god rejoicing in what god has done what god has shown us has shown us and what by his grace he is doing and and what by his grace he is doing and will do with us will do with us and for us if we will allow him and for us if we will allow him so the sabbath was was a cause of so the sabbath was was a cause of rejoicing a cause of delight in god rejoicing a cause of delight in god now i suspect that moses well knew that now i suspect that moses well knew that even back in egypt come back to exodus even back in egypt come back to exodus we looked at chapter four we looked at chapter four where moses was sent to plead with where moses was sent to plead with pharaoh let my son go israel is my son pharaoh let my son go israel is my son my firstborn let my son go that he may my firstborn let my son go that he may serve me serve me and it looks brethren and sisters as and it looks brethren and sisters as though the next thing that moses did and though the next thing that moses did and we can't be absolutely certain about we can't be absolutely certain about that but here's a fascinating that but here's a fascinating possibility it looks rather from exodus possibility it looks rather from exodus five as though what moses did was to five as though what moses did was to introduce the sabbath into the life of introduce the sabbath into the life of israel in egypt israel in egypt now if that's the case that's a now if that's the case that's a fantastic thing isn't it can you imagine fantastic thing isn't it can you imagine what pharaoh thought about that what pharaoh thought about that he already thought that moses was a he already thought that moses was a troublemaker troublemaker but here he was like a trade union but here he was like a trade union leader i suppose leader i suppose standing up for the rights of israel standing up for the rights of israel championing the cause of the slaves you championing the cause of the slaves you know know and making them rest one day a week can and making them rest one day a week can you believe it you believe it they're gonna stop work now one in every they're gonna stop work now one in every seventh day that's it down tools chaps seventh day that's it down tools chaps no bricks today no bricks today it's amazing isn't it it's amazing isn't it how pharaoh must have seen moses in that how pharaoh must have seen moses in that light light that's what the record seems to suggest that's what the record seems to suggest brother and sisters exodus 5 and verse 5 brother and sisters exodus 5 and verse 5 pharaoh said behold the people of the pharaoh said behold the people of the land now are many and ye make them rest land now are many and ye make them rest the word is sabbath the word is sabbath you make them sabbath from their burdens you make them sabbath from their burdens what right of you pharaoh is saying to what right of you pharaoh is saying to tell israel to rest one day a week tell israel to rest one day a week if it doesn't mean that and we can't be if it doesn't mean that and we can't be certain that it does but if it doesn't certain that it does but if it doesn't mean that if if moses hadn't introduced mean that if if moses hadn't introduced the sabbath one day a week into israel's the sabbath one day a week into israel's life here in egypt then what does it life here in egypt then what does it mean mean does it mean that moses demanded they does it mean that moses demanded they should have a five-minute coffee break should have a five-minute coffee break each morning each morning hardly think so brethren and sisters do hardly think so brethren and sisters do you you pharaoh says that moses was making them pharaoh says that moses was making them rest sabbath from their burdens what rest sabbath from their burdens what does it mean does it mean well i put it to you well i put it to you the most likely thing that it can mean the most likely thing that it can mean is that moses had introduced the sabbath is that moses had introduced the sabbath into the life of israel who would an into the life of israel who would an idolatrous people at this time remember idolatrous people at this time remember they weren't serving god and i suspect they weren't serving god and i suspect they weren't keeping sabbath they weren't keeping sabbath and moses recognizing the importance of and moses recognizing the importance of that that introduced it perhaps into the life of introduced it perhaps into the life of israel here in egypt israel here in egypt certainly when we get to exodus 16 we certainly when we get to exodus 16 we find the sabbath in operation there find the sabbath in operation there exodus 16 is the record of of the exodus 16 is the record of of the provision of manner and you know that in provision of manner and you know that in that provision of manner there was that provision of manner there was commandment given that they were to commandment given that they were to gather gather on the sixth day on the sixth day double rations double rations because they wouldn't find the manner on because they wouldn't find the manner on the seventh the seventh and some wickedly went out to find it on and some wickedly went out to find it on the sabbath and of course it wasn't the sabbath and of course it wasn't there there so in exodus 16 the sabbath appears to so in exodus 16 the sabbath appears to be an established routine you find it be an established routine you find it mentioned in verses 23 26 29 and 30 at mentioned in verses 23 26 29 and 30 at least four times there in exodus 16 the least four times there in exodus 16 the sabbath is mentioned we shall look at sabbath is mentioned we shall look at those for reasons of time and that's why those for reasons of time and that's why when we come to exodus 20 if we can turn when we come to exodus 20 if we can turn now to exodus 20 the ten commandments note that exodus 16 was prior to the ten commandments the was prior to the ten commandments the commandment to keep the sabbath has not commandment to keep the sabbath has not yet been given that's the point about yet been given that's the point about exodus 16 that the sabbath is in exodus 16 that the sabbath is in operation before the ten commandments operation before the ten commandments were given when we come to the ten were given when we come to the ten commandments in exodus 20 the commandments in exodus 20 the commandment there is verse eight commandment there is verse eight remember remember remember the sabbath day remember the sabbath day that again makes it sound as though it's that again makes it sound as though it's already established doesn't it it's not already established doesn't it it's not keep the sabbath day it's remember to keep the sabbath day it's remember to keep the sabbath day keep the sabbath day remember the sabbath day to keep it holy remember the sabbath day to keep it holy six days shalt thou labor and do all thy six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work but the seventh day is the sabbath work but the seventh day is the sabbath of the lord thy god in it thou shalt do of the lord thy god in it thou shalt do that shall not do any work thou nor thy that shall not do any work thou nor thy son nor thy daughter thy manservant nor son nor thy daughter thy manservant nor thy maidservant nor thy cattle nor thy thy maidservant nor thy cattle nor thy stranger that is within thy gates for in stranger that is within thy gates for in six days the lord made heaven and earth six days the lord made heaven and earth the sea and all that in them is and the sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the rested the seventh day wherefore the lord blessed the sabbath day and lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it hallowed it that's extraordinary isn't it really remember a deliberate act a deliberate act of remembrance of remembrance here is enjoined upon israel here is enjoined upon israel it's not remember because you might it's not remember because you might forget it if you've got a bad memory is forget it if you've got a bad memory is it it's it's do it it it's it's do it keep on going over it keep on going over it remember it operate it it's not remember it operate it it's not remembering something is it remembering something is it it's something that's a part of your it's something that's a part of your life life it's remembered in that sense as a it's remembered in that sense as a deliberate act but why deliberate act but why why why well we've read the reason in verses 9 well we've read the reason in verses 9 to 11 to 11 because god created the earth in six because god created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh but why days and rested on the seventh but why what possible reason is their brethren what possible reason is their brethren and sisters and sisters to to tie israel's working week tie israel's working week to creation to creation why what logical reason can you think of why what logical reason can you think of for that there's no reason is there for that there's no reason is there really why should the working week be really why should the working week be tied to creation tied to creation why why what's it got to do with it what's it got to do with it why in the sabbath were israel being why in the sabbath were israel being commanded to think about creation commanded to think about creation what's it got to do with creation what's it got to do with creation you will rest on the sabbath god is you will rest on the sabbath god is saying on the seventh day because saying on the seventh day because god made the earth in six days and god made the earth in six days and rested on the seventh and you will think rested on the seventh and you will think about that you will remember that you about that you will remember that you will remember creation why will remember creation why what has that to do with the working what has that to do with the working week week we've tended to accept that i think we've tended to accept that i think without questioning it but what sense without questioning it but what sense does it make does it make when you think about it when you think about it why link the working week to creation why link the working week to creation unless brethren and sisters unless brethren and sisters god is saying here that god is saying here that you will not work you will not work because god stopped work because god stopped work for you is that what it's saying is there an implication here that that is there an implication here that that you won't work because because god you won't work because because god didn't work for your sake so the least didn't work for your sake so the least you can do is to stop work for him is you can do is to stop work for him is that is that the logic that is that the logic is that what this commandment is saying is that what this commandment is saying god worked for six days and then he god worked for six days and then he ceased and you will do the same thing ceased and you will do the same thing god ceased for you do you remember how god ceased for you do you remember how we saw that yesterday didn't we we saw that yesterday didn't we god was looking forward to the god was looking forward to the refreshment refreshment of fellowship of fellowship he wanted the company of the man whom he wanted the company of the man whom he'd made and the sabbath was about looking forward to that time when the man and forward to that time when the man and his bride would be in that perfect his bride would be in that perfect environment bringing forth fruit for god environment bringing forth fruit for god enjoying fellowship with his maker enjoying fellowship with his maker and maybe just maybe that's the and maybe just maybe that's the implication here implication here you will work for six days and you will you will work for six days and you will stop stop that's the least you can do for god that's the least you can do for god because god worked six days and stopped because god worked six days and stopped for you for you he wanted your fellowship he wanted your fellowship and the minimum that you can give him and the minimum that you can give him is your attention is your attention and your affection and your affection and yourself and yourself on that seventh day on that seventh day you will give that day to god you will give that day to god and we can extend that can't we brethren and we can extend that can't we brethren and sisters and sisters it's it was to teach them to look it's it was to teach them to look forward then forward then to the final redemption we've seen to the final redemption we've seen already in exodus 31 that it was a sign already in exodus 31 that it was a sign of those things so it was to teach them of those things so it was to teach them to look forward to that to look forward to that it was to teach them not just that they it was to teach them not just that they were resting then for the day but that were resting then for the day but that there was something greater that god there was something greater that god desired and that therefore they should desired and that therefore they should desire desire and even more than that it was to teach and even more than that it was to teach them surely them surely that their time was god's their time belonged to god their time was his their time was his they were to share their time with god they were to share their time with god in recognition in acknowledgment that it in recognition in acknowledgment that it belonged to him belonged to him this was his desire for their rest and this was his desire for their rest and their fellowship their fellowship and their time was god's time and their time was god's time their times were in his hands their times were in his hands so so ceasing to do their own work ceasing to do their own work devoting their time to him was a devoting their time to him was a recognition of that fact recognition of that fact can you see then the seriousness of not can you see then the seriousness of not doing it doing it i don't think brethren and sisters this i don't think brethren and sisters this has sunk in with us has it it has of has sunk in with us has it it has of course with the seventh-day adventists course with the seventh-day adventists and i don't want to suggest they're and i don't want to suggest they're right they're not they're very wrong in right they're not they're very wrong in the way that they look at the sabbath the way that they look at the sabbath and carry it forward as something which and carry it forward as something which has to be kept today but they are right has to be kept today but they are right in the sense that at least they've seen in the sense that at least they've seen the seriousness of it brethren and the seriousness of it brethren and sisters i wonder if we have we're sisters i wonder if we have we're sometimes so taken up with the fact that sometimes so taken up with the fact that the sabbath does not apply as a day to the sabbath does not apply as a day to be kept today and indeed it does not in the new testament jesus fulfilled the sabbath as we shall jesus fulfilled the sabbath as we shall see later this week god willing he is see later this week god willing he is the sabbath he's fulfilled it the sabbath he's fulfilled it and now like all the rest of the law of and now like all the rest of the law of moses that jesus talks so much further moses that jesus talks so much further we are to make every day holy unto the we are to make every day holy unto the lord not just one out of seven not just lord not just one out of seven not just one per week every day is holy to him one per week every day is holy to him the seventh-day adventist is wrong in the seventh-day adventist is wrong in that regard that regard but he's right brethren and sisters to but he's right brethren and sisters to appreciate the seriousness of it this is appreciate the seriousness of it this is one of the ten commandments one of the ten commandments have you thought about that have you thought about that not keeping the sabbath day ranks with not keeping the sabbath day ranks with murder murder or adultery or adultery or idolatry or idolatry turning the back on god turning the back on god not keeping the sabbath is as important not keeping the sabbath is as important as those things it ranks with those as those things it ranks with those doesn't it it's one of the ten doesn't it it's one of the ten commandments just like thou shalt commandments just like thou shalt worship the lord thy god and him only worship the lord thy god and him only shalt thou serve thou shalt have no shalt thou serve thou shalt have no other gods before me thou shalt not kill other gods before me thou shalt not kill remember the sabbath day to keep it holy remember the sabbath day to keep it holy do you see how vitally important in the do you see how vitally important in the life of israel this commandment is life of israel this commandment is and how breaking it and how breaking it is a cardinal sin and offense before god so brethren and sisters was expressed for israel god's desire was expressed for israel god's desire for them for them in bringing them out of egypt in bringing them out of egypt in wanting to give them rest in wanting to give them rest the sabbath was the sign the sabbath was the sign of god's desire of god's intention of god's desire of god's intention of god's purpose of god's purpose it was the sign of their ultimate their it was the sign of their ultimate their final redemption and israel didn't want to leave didn't want to leave tragic isn't it tragic isn't it come back again to the earlier chapters come back again to the earlier chapters of exodus exodus 4 see how here in exodus 4 it sounds fine no problem no problem exodus 4 and verse 31 exodus 4 and verse 31 the people believed the people believed aaron spake all the words that the lord aaron spake all the words that the lord had spoken unto moses and did the signs had spoken unto moses and did the signs in the sight of the people and the in the sight of the people and the people believed and when they had heard people believed and when they had heard that the lord had visited the children that the lord had visited the children of israel and that he had looked upon of israel and that he had looked upon their affliction they bowed their heads their affliction they bowed their heads and worshiped fine and worshiped fine god had visited them looked upon their god had visited them looked upon their affliction they accepted that god was affliction they accepted that god was come to redeem them come to redeem them but how quickly that changed chapter 5 but how quickly that changed chapter 5 verse 21 children of israel said unto moses and aaron the lord look upon you and judge aaron the lord look upon you and judge because you've made our savior to be because you've made our savior to be aboard in the eyes of pharaoh and in the aboard in the eyes of pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants to put a sword in eyes of his servants to put a sword in their hand to slay us their hand to slay us and moses returned unto the lord and the and moses returned unto the lord and the lord said wherefore hast thou s and said lord said wherefore hast thou s and said lord wherefore hast thou so evil and lord wherefore hast thou so evil and treated this people why is it that has treated this people why is it that has sent me for since i came to pharaoh to sent me for since i came to pharaoh to speak in thy name he hath done evil to speak in thy name he hath done evil to this people neither hast thou delivered this people neither hast thou delivered thy people at all thy people at all now things were not running so smoothly now things were not running so smoothly and the attitude was beginning to change and the attitude was beginning to change and to harden and to harden chapter 6 and verse 7 i will take you to me for a people i will be to you a god and ye shall know i will be to you a god and ye shall know that i am the lord your god which that i am the lord your god which bringeth you out from under the burdens bringeth you out from under the burdens of the egyptians of the egyptians verse 9 and moses spake so unto the verse 9 and moses spake so unto the children of israel children of israel but they hearken not unto moses but they hearken not unto moses for anguish of spirit for anguish of spirit and for cruel bondage they weren't able to lift up the head their spirit was bowed down their spirit was bowed down the sun that dried the clay had dried the sun that dried the clay had dried the soul of israel and baked it hard the soul of israel and baked it hard egypt had cunningly dealt with israel egypt had cunningly dealt with israel and so demoralized the nation brethren and so demoralized the nation brethren and sisters that and sisters that they could not see their emancipation they could not see their emancipation they could not believe in freedom they they could not believe in freedom they could not lift up the head could not lift up the head and bring themselves to appreciate the and bring themselves to appreciate the sense of relief that the promise of god sense of relief that the promise of god should have brought chapter 14 should have brought chapter 14 and verse 12. as the egyptians pursued them towards the shores of the red sea is not this the shores of the red sea is not this the word that we did tell thee in egypt the word that we did tell thee in egypt saying let us alone that we may serve saying let us alone that we may serve the egyptians for it had been better for the egyptians for it had been better for us to serve the egyptians than that we us to serve the egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness should die in the wilderness they had said that to moses previously they had said that to moses previously apparently apparently let us alone that we may serve the let us alone that we may serve the egyptian we told you so we said that egyptian we told you so we said that while we were there we were better off while we were there we were better off in egypt as slaves isn't that a tragedy brethren and sisters the fullness of time had come in a measure the acceptable year of the in a measure the acceptable year of the lord had come the appointed time for god lord had come the appointed time for god looking upon their affliction and looking upon their affliction and rescuing them but they were so entrenched in their bondage bondage they couldn't believe it they couldn't believe it cruelty was so burnt into their cruelty was so burnt into their consciousness consciousness that they felt that they felt no relief the sabbath brethren and sisters was a reminder of that reminder of that when they came out of egypt when they came out of egypt deuteronomy chapter 5 deuteronomy chapter 5 moses says this moses says this he gives one he gives one further reason for keeping the sabbath further reason for keeping the sabbath in addition to those that we've examined in addition to those that we've examined already this morning and he says already this morning and he says deuteronomy 5 15 remember that there was a servant a bond servant in the land of egypt servant in the land of egypt and that the lord thy god and that the lord thy god brought thee out thence through a mighty brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm hand and by a stretched out arm therefore therefore the lord thy god commanded thee to keep the lord thy god commanded thee to keep the sabbath day do you see again how the sabbath day do you see again how it's related then isn't it to this it's related then isn't it to this rest rest from egypt from egypt remember that that was to bond man in remember that that was to bond man in the land of egypt and god brought you the land of egypt and god brought you out out therefore he commanded you to keep the therefore he commanded you to keep the sabbath day sabbath day even the exodus brethren and sisters even the exodus brethren and sisters the sabbath commemorated the sabbath commemorated the sabbath was a sign of their final the sabbath was a sign of their final redemption of which the exodus was a redemption of which the exodus was a foretaste an earnest foretaste an earnest of that much greater redemption yet to of that much greater redemption yet to come come therefore therefore the lord thy god commanded thee to keep the lord thy god commanded thee to keep the sabbath day the sabbath day remember remember remember the sabbath day to keep it remember the sabbath day to keep it remember that there was to bond men in remember that there was to bond men in the land of egypt the land of egypt god had afforded them rest there's a powerful word of excitation in those words brethren and sisters isn't those words brethren and sisters isn't there for us the truth is not a matter of theory is not a matter of theory our baptism is not a matter of theology our baptism is not a matter of theology or eschatology or eschatology not at all our egypt whatever our background brethren egypt whatever our background brethren and sisters whether we grew up in a and sisters whether we grew up in a christadelphian home or not our egypt christadelphian home or not our egypt was as real was as real our slavery our bondage to sin was as our slavery our bondage to sin was as wretched and as miserable as ever could wretched and as miserable as ever could be be maybe we haven't always appreciated that maybe we haven't always appreciated that but it is the case but it is the case and god and god has afforded you rest god has afforded me has afforded me rest god has loved us and called us and he commands us remember that remember that you were abundant remember that you have been bought with remember that you have been bought with a price a price remember what that price remember what that price remember the rest remember the rest that god has given and israel didn't and even when god took them forward to and even when god took them forward to the land they didn't the land they didn't god's desire brethren and sisters was to god's desire brethren and sisters was to bring them into the land to give them bring them into the land to give them the rest that he prepared for them in the rest that he prepared for them in the land that he had chosen to place his the land that he had chosen to place his name there his earnest desire was for name there his earnest desire was for their fellowship that they should be their fellowship that they should be unto him a kingdom of priests and and unto him a kingdom of priests and and holy nation in his land holy nation in his land that he might dwell with them in some that he might dwell with them in some measure there measure there and israel was not willing they treated with contempt the promise he had made contempt the promise he had made and they brought forth his wrath and therefore says the psalm says the psalm he swear in his wrath he swear in his wrath they shall not enter into my rest where do you stand brother sister sister in relation in relation to that which god has promised us help us to appreciate the enormity of thy work thy work the salvation thou hast wrought in the salvation thou hast wrought in christ jesus on our behalf and no more heedless through the world to rome but to seek that eternal home and rest which thou dost offer which thou dost offer in christ jesus our lord in christ jesus our lord in whom we ask this and all things in whom we ask this and all things amen

Transcript

there are at least two good reasons are at least two good reasons why joshua might have been inclined to why joshua might have been inclined to disobey disobey the word of god to him that we have just the word of god to him that we have just read read moses my servant is dead now therefore moses my servant is dead now therefore arise go over this jordan arise go over this jordan thou and all this people thou and all this people unto the land which i do give to them unto the land which i do give to them even to the children of israel one reason was that it was inconvenient it was inconvenient can you imagine a more difficult time to can you imagine a more difficult time to go over jordan than now go over jordan than now when the record explicitly tells us it when the record explicitly tells us it was in flood the river that normally was contained within fairly narrow banks was now i within fairly narrow banks was now i don't know how wide brethren sisters don't know how wide brethren sisters and this congregation consisted not just and this congregation consisted not just of fighting men but of women and of of fighting men but of women and of children and of herds of cattle children and of herds of cattle why on earth make all those people why on earth make all those people struggle through the flood waters of struggle through the flood waters of jordan jordan fast flowing as presumably they must fast flowing as presumably they must have been have been with all the attendant dangers and with all the attendant dangers and difficulties that that involved difficulties that that involved when there was no reason why they when there was no reason why they couldn't wait a couple of months until couldn't wait a couple of months until the jordan had shrunk back to its normal the jordan had shrunk back to its normal width width and the passage would have been so much and the passage would have been so much easier it didn't make sense why now why now why not wait why not wait why involve the whole congregation in why involve the whole congregation in such a a difficult and dangerous such a a difficult and dangerous escapade unnecessarily the second reason equally valid equally valid was the fact brethren and sisters that was the fact brethren and sisters that joshua had had a pretty busy time lately joshua had had a pretty busy time lately in fact it's amazing how how little time in fact it's amazing how how little time there is there is to fit in all the events of of these few to fit in all the events of of these few chapters chapters the book of deuteronomy begins by the book of deuteronomy begins by telling us that moses spake all the telling us that moses spake all the words of deuteronomy beginning on the words of deuteronomy beginning on the first day of the 11th month of that 40th first day of the 11th month of that 40th year year so there was a bare two months to the so there was a bare two months to the end end of moses of moses 40th year 40th year sorry moses 120th year the 40th out of sorry moses 120th year the 40th out of egypt and yet they mourned 30 days for moses they mourned 30 days for moses there's one complete month of that time there's one complete month of that time the spies were sent out to jericho the spies were sent out to jericho however long that took however long that took and when they were let down by the the and when they were let down by the the rope rope from rahab's house they hid for three from rahab's house they hid for three days before they came back days before they came back the congregation were three days the congregation were three days sanctifying themselves and preparing sanctifying themselves and preparing themselves to cross the jordan themselves to cross the jordan they crossed it and was circumcised at they crossed it and was circumcised at gilgal and waited until the men were gilgal and waited until the men were healed which must have been at least healed which must have been at least seven or eight days there seven or eight days there and they kept the passover on the 14th and they kept the passover on the 14th day of the first month that's a lot of things to happen in that short period of time short period of time and in that short period of time and in that short period of time brethren and sisters particularly with brethren and sisters particularly with the mourning for moses and all the other the mourning for moses and all the other things that joshua had on his plate now things that joshua had on his plate now as he took over as he took over a successor to moses he had no time to a successor to moses he had no time to prepare his strategies his battle plans prepare his strategies his battle plans he wasn't ready and the moment he crossed the jordan well it was like throwing down the well it was like throwing down the gauntlet wasn't it it was a challenge to gauntlet wasn't it it was a challenge to the nations of the land they would the nations of the land they would immediately attack him and he wasn't immediately attack him and he wasn't prepared he hadn't got his strategies prepared he hadn't got his strategies and his battle plans worked out and his battle plans worked out surely far better to stay on the east of surely far better to stay on the east of jordan jordan sit down and think out the strategies sit down and think out the strategies work out the plans think about it work out the plans think about it carefully systematically how he was carefully systematically how he was going to approach canaan whether it was going to approach canaan whether it was going to be north or south or all at going to be north or south or all at once or whatever and then when he was once or whatever and then when he was ready then to cross the jordan ready then to cross the jordan the very act of which as we said the very act of which as we said represented a challenge to the nations represented a challenge to the nations of the land of the land so there were at least two excellent so there were at least two excellent reasons reasons why joshua might have been inclined to why joshua might have been inclined to disobey god disobey god to his eternal credit he did not to his eternal credit he did not he accepted the word of god he accepted he accepted the word of god he accepted the urgency of the commandment of god the urgency of the commandment of god and he crossed jordan as quickly as and he crossed jordan as quickly as israel were able to prepare for it and israel were able to prepare for it and cross it sometimes brother and sisters we find those things very hard to accept don't those things very hard to accept don't we my ways are not your ways are not your ways says god says god the very things that sometimes seem to the very things that sometimes seem to us to be absurd us to be absurd seem to seem to do all the wrong things do all the wrong things are just those which god uses are just those which god uses and in which he can work and in which he can work and the glory be and the glory be to his name and so it still was when they had crossed the jordan crossed the jordan come to joshua chapter 5. joshua was a fighting man he was a trained soldier he was a trained soldier undoubtedly he hadn't been so to begin undoubtedly he hadn't been so to begin with but you remember that newly out of with but you remember that newly out of egypt israel were attacked by amalek and egypt israel were attacked by amalek and moses instructed joshua to run through moses instructed joshua to run through the host and put together a fighting the host and put together a fighting force force untrained undisciplined men who'd never untrained undisciplined men who'd never faced battle before faced battle before joshua somehow was able to weld them joshua somehow was able to weld them together to make an army out of them together to make an army out of them and recently and recently under god's good hand that army had seen under god's good hand that army had seen enormous success in fighting against ogg enormous success in fighting against ogg and sihon so joshua naturally would want once he crossed the jordan to be up and at him crossed the jordan to be up and at him so to speak so to speak he'd not want further delays he'd not want further delays surprise surprise is always the best form of attack is always the best form of attack joshua would want to get on with the job joshua would want to get on with the job quickly quickly and now that they had crossed the and now that they had crossed the natural barrier of the jordan and natural barrier of the jordan and nothing stood physically between them nothing stood physically between them and the nations the cities and the nations the cities of canaan of canaan joshua would want to begin joshua would want to begin seeking to dispatch them as quickly as seeking to dispatch them as quickly as ever it was possible to do but there were delays some of which we've mentioned already some of which we've mentioned already joshua chapter 5 it came to pass when joshua chapter 5 it came to pass when all the kings of the amorites which were all the kings of the amorites which were on the side of jordan westward and all on the side of jordan westward and all the kings of the canaanites which were the kings of the canaanites which were by the sea heard that the lord had dried by the sea heard that the lord had dried up the waters of jordan from before the up the waters of jordan from before the children of israel until we were passed children of israel until we were passed over that their heart melted over that their heart melted neither was their spirit in them anymore neither was their spirit in them anymore because of the children of israel and because of the children of israel and the time was just ripe for attack and the time was just ripe for attack and they were all scared stiff and and they were all scared stiff and and joshua was all ready to pounce joshua was all ready to pounce at that time the lord said unto joshua at that time the lord said unto joshua make these sharp knives and circumcise make these sharp knives and circumcise again the children of israel the second again the children of israel the second time time he didn't say he didn't say go on then get on with it and go to go on then get on with it and go to battle battle he made him wait for some reason circumcision had not been practiced in the wilderness we been practiced in the wilderness we don't know exactly why but the don't know exactly why but the generation born in the wilderness generation born in the wilderness had not been circumcised perhaps there had not been circumcised perhaps there was good reason perhaps israel was good reason perhaps israel recognized that they themselves had recognized that they themselves had proved unfaithful to the covenant and proved unfaithful to the covenant and the sign of the covenant was of no avail the sign of the covenant was of no avail without the covenant conditions without the covenant conditions themselves being kept themselves being kept perhaps that generation who were turned perhaps that generation who were turned back into the wilderness because of back into the wilderness because of their faith last nas saw no point in the their faith last nas saw no point in the token the sign of the covenant and token the sign of the covenant and rightly so or perhaps it was just simply that without thinking about it circumcision without thinking about it circumcision had fallen into disuse had fallen into disuse and had not been practiced and had not been practiced whatever the reason brethren and sisters whatever the reason brethren and sisters it had to be undertaken now it had to be undertaken now god could not work with his people god could not work with his people unless they were in covenant unless they were in covenant relationship with him and there had to relationship with him and there had to be again that cutting off of the flesh be again that cutting off of the flesh which symbolized the willingness to cut which symbolized the willingness to cut off the flesh and all that it off the flesh and all that it represented all that it stood for from represented all that it stood for from one's life and that was a vitally important lesson for israel for israel before ever they could approach the before ever they could approach the enemies in the land enemies in the land they had first of all to be aware they had first of all to be aware of the need to overcome enemy number one it's ourselves first and foremost brethren and sisters isn't it brethren and sisters isn't it who foul our own path the greatest enemy we have is not an external force external force it's the enemy within and israel and joshua the head of israel had to learn again that lesson and these had to learn again that lesson and these delays which to a captain like joshua delays which to a captain like joshua must have seemed in many ways extremely must have seemed in many ways extremely frustrating frustrating were necessary the virulence of that enemy number one was plain enough was plain enough a little later brethren and sisters when a little later brethren and sisters when jericho fell jericho fell and it proved to be the case that enemy and it proved to be the case that enemy number one had not been overcome number one had not been overcome despite all the preparations in which despite all the preparations in which god had made them indulge for acan god had made them indulge for acan took took of the spoil of of the spoil of jericho jericho jericho was the first fruits of the land jericho was the first fruits of the land the first fruits of victory to be the first fruits of victory to be dedicated and devoted holy to god dedicated and devoted holy to god and they can in his actions though no and they can in his actions though no doubt in his heart he reasoned that he doubt in his heart he reasoned that he wasn't hurting anyone he wasn't stealing wasn't hurting anyone he wasn't stealing from anyone stole from god and they can and those others who dissembled with him for it was not just dissembled with him for it was not just aiken we sometimes hear it said that the aiken we sometimes hear it said that the whole nation suffered on his account and whole nation suffered on his account and that's not right brethren and sisters that's not right brethren and sisters god does not make the congregation god does not make the congregation suffer for the wickedness of one suffer for the wickedness of one just as he doesn't make the children just as he doesn't make the children suffer for the wickedness of the fathers suffer for the wickedness of the fathers israel dissembled god said to joshua israel dissembled god said to joshua israel have dissembled they they were aware of what akan had done some of them and it was like receiving stolen goods and it was like receiving stolen goods they kept quiet they said nothing about they kept quiet they said nothing about it and you can be sure that if akan had got away with it then others would have away with it then others would have tried it the next time tried it the next time others would have thought that god had others would have thought that god had not seen not seen so it was important that they can be so it was important that they can be dealt with and those who dissembled with dealt with and those who dissembled with him so that proved the virulence of that number one enemy virulence of that number one enemy and even when they had circumcised the and even when they had circumcised the flesh and flesh and shone again their willingness to cut it shone again their willingness to cut it off from their lives and reminded off from their lives and reminded themselves of the covenant that god had themselves of the covenant that god had established with them and the established with them and the relationship in which they stood to god relationship in which they stood to god still they weren't ready verse 8 8 it came to pass when they had done it came to pass when they had done circumcising all the people that they circumcising all the people that they are burdened their place in the camp are burdened their place in the camp till they were whole and the lord said till they were whole and the lord said unto joshua this day have i ruled away unto joshua this day have i ruled away the reproach of egypt from our few the reproach of egypt from our few wherefore the name of the place is wherefore the name of the place is called gilgal unto this day called gilgal unto this day and the children of israel encamped in and the children of israel encamped in gilgal and kept the passover gilgal and kept the passover on the 14th day of the month and even in on the 14th day of the month and even in the plains of jericho so there were further delays it was yet more difficult a test of it was yet more difficult a test of faith for joshua faith for joshua still he couldn't get on with his still he couldn't get on with his program his schedule in the land program his schedule in the land still he had to wait still he had to wait feast of passover feast of passover and the seven days of unleavened bread and the seven days of unleavened bread and another week ticked by and another week ticked by these were testing times brethren and these were testing times brethren and sisters for joshua were they not sisters for joshua were they not but again seeing from god's point of but again seeing from god's point of view how essential this was view how essential this was and what a tremendous comfort and and what a tremendous comfort and encouragement it must have been to many encouragement it must have been to many in the camp of israel all those under 20 in the camp of israel all those under 20 at the exodus at the exodus would remember the first passover would remember the first passover and this and this was only the third was only the third they kept passover just once before they kept passover just once before after the exodus after the exodus at mount sinai at mount sinai and they had not kept it again and they had not kept it again in all their wilderness journeys in all their wilderness journeys this was the third passover and this was the third passover and therefore in the minds of those who had therefore in the minds of those who had been young and impressionable at the been young and impressionable at the time of the exodus this would mean time of the exodus this would mean something special wouldn't it to to be something special wouldn't it to to be re-taking redoing the passover after so re-taking redoing the passover after so long a time would bring back precious long a time would bring back precious memories just as memories just as the anniversary of the bible school has the anniversary of the bible school has for some of you this year for some of you this year in the minds of those in the minds of those young impressionable people at the young impressionable people at the exodus there would be an association of exodus there would be an association of ideas between ideas between passover and the destruction of the egyptian host as god threw the horses and their riders as god threw the horses and their riders into the sea and they were washed up into the sea and they were washed up upon the shore upon the shore and what an assurance that must have and what an assurance that must have given us now they kept passover given us now they kept passover and crossed the jordan and crossed the jordan and god was giving them a guarantee and god was giving them a guarantee of victory over their enemies the of victory over their enemies the destruction destruction of the nations of canaan of the nations of canaan in just the same way that the egyptian in just the same way that the egyptian host had been destroyed god was inviting host had been destroyed god was inviting them to make the comparisons to be them to make the comparisons to be assured to receive comfort and assured to receive comfort and encouragement from these very things encouragement from these very things again again the delay was vitally important the delay was vitally important in god's book and just as we have been reminded already this week on one occasion from already this week on one occasion from behind this desk here was another time when israel looked back back and looked forward and looked forward they were looking back to the exodus they were looking back to the exodus in the keeping of this passover in the keeping of this passover but forward to the conquest of the land but forward to the conquest of the land the reality of the kingdom of god the reality of the kingdom of god the rest that god had promised the rest that god had promised the acceptable year of the lord when now the acceptable year of the lord when now they should become in reality his they should become in reality his kingdom his people settled in his land so it is for us brethren and sisters at the breaking of bread isn't it the breaking of bread isn't it we look back we look back and we look forward and we look forward and we have the privilege and we have the privilege unlike unlike israel all israel all through the remainder of their history through the remainder of their history who looked back to the passover only in who looked back to the passover only in commemoration of an historical event commemoration of an historical event in which they had not participated we look back as being the people who personally have as being the people who personally have come from egypt come from egypt the people who the people who each each individually were delivered individually were delivered by god by god through jesus christ through jesus christ our breaking of bread is our breaking of bread is so much more so much more than the commemoration of the passover than the commemoration of the passover could ever be so at last israel and joshua were prepared verse 13 of joshua 5 it came to prepared verse 13 of joshua 5 it came to pass when joshua was by jericho that he pass when joshua was by jericho that he lifted up his eyes and looked and behold lifted up his eyes and looked and behold there stood a man over against him with there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand and joshua his sword drawn in his hand and joshua went unto him and said unto him thou for went unto him and said unto him thou for us or for our adversaries and he said nay but as captain of the host of the lord am i now come what kind of an answer is that brethren sisters my wife gets most frustrated sisters my wife gets most frustrated with me when with me when she says to me sometime or used to she says to me sometime or used to do you want tea or coffee do you want tea or coffee the moment i'm not drinking either do the moment i'm not drinking either do you want tea or coffee and i'd say yes she'd say shall i mix them up do you want both i said you didn't offer me want both i said you didn't offer me both you offered me tea or coffee both you offered me tea or coffee i'm quite happy with either and that's the kind of answer the angel gives here isn't it joshua says are you gives here isn't it joshua says are you for us all for our enemies and the angel for us all for our enemies and the angel says no says no now just a minute hang on now just a minute hang on are you for us or for our enemies are you for us or for our enemies no no i've come as captain of the lord's host it's a sort of you tell me joshua am i for you or for your enemies it all depends depends it all depends on you it all depends on you i am captain of the lord's host if i am captain of the lord's host if israel is with the lord i'm for you israel is with the lord i'm for you if israel is not with the lord if israel is not with the lord then i shall be against you then i shall be against you that surely brethren and sisters is the that surely brethren and sisters is the message isn't it of the angel here message isn't it of the angel here he'd come as captain of the lord's host he'd come as captain of the lord's host and whether he fought for israel and and whether he fought for israel and with israel or against them as on some with israel or against them as on some occasions later in their history the occasions later in their history the angel of the lord would be obliged to do angel of the lord would be obliged to do depended on them depended on them on whether they were ready whether they on whether they were ready whether they were prepared whether they were with god the lord is with thee if you are with him if you are with him said the prophet later to asa said the prophet later to asa and on many other occasions similar and on many other occasions similar phrases to those occur phrases to those occur through our scriptures so the angel of god was sent to accompany joshua if joshua and israel accompany joshua if joshua and israel would go with him and that's really the would go with him and that's really the way round of it isn't it not the angel way round of it isn't it not the angel with them but they with the angel with them but they with the angel to overcome the canaanites to obtain the to overcome the canaanites to obtain the rest rest in the land it's interesting isn't it that god had quite definitely promised them quite definitely promised them rest come back for a moment to exodus rest come back for a moment to exodus chapter 33 this is the occasion when israel had sinned and moses pleaded for the sinned and moses pleaded for the congregation congregation though god would have destroyed them and though god would have destroyed them and made of moses a great nation made of moses a great nation moses pleads with god for god still to moses pleads with god for god still to go with go with the congregation the congregation and he asked that he might see and he asked that he might see the glory of god the glory of god and he's shown that glory and he's shown that glory in the goodness and the character of god in the goodness and the character of god exodus 33 and verse 14 where moses has exodus 33 and verse 14 where moses has begun his pleadings begun his pleadings and god said my presence shall go with and god said my presence shall go with thee and i will give thee thee and i will give thee rest rest that's moses personally that's moses personally i will give the rest that's not the i will give the rest that's not the whole of israel not the whole nation whole of israel not the whole nation that's moses himself i will give thee that's moses himself i will give thee rest rest but rest was promised to the whole but rest was promised to the whole nation too nation too come to deuteronomy 25 close to the end of moses speech and very close to the end of his life there very close to the end of his life there in moses 25 and verse 19. therefore it shall be when the lord thy god hath given thee when the lord thy god hath given thee rest this is the nation now as a whole rest this is the nation now as a whole given the rest from all thine enemies given the rest from all thine enemies round about in the land which the lord round about in the land which the lord thy god giveth thee for inheritance to thy god giveth thee for inheritance to possess it that thou shalt blot out the possess it that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of amalek from under heaven remembrance of amalek from under heaven thou shalt not forget it when the lord thou shalt not forget it when the lord thy god hath given thee rest from all thy god hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about so rest was thine enemies round about so rest was clearly promised clearly promised it was something that israel were it was something that israel were looking forward to and were to attend to looking forward to and were to attend to by the strength and power of god by the strength and power of god and so they did and so they did come back into the book of joshua come back into the book of joshua brethren and sisters and see how intent brethren and sisters and see how intent is the writer of this book whoever he is the writer of this book whoever he was that we should know that the was that we should know that the promises of god did not fail promises of god did not fail nothing of what god had promised nothing of what god had promised failed israel joshua 11 first of all failed israel joshua 11 first of all here's just a little series of verses a here's just a little series of verses a little run of verses that really tell us little run of verses that really tell us the same story over and over again it's the same story over and over again it's interesting to see how often the writer interesting to see how often the writer emphasizes and underlines this point emphasizes and underlines this point joshua 11 and verse 23 so joshua took the whole land according to all that the lord said unto moses to all that the lord said unto moses and joshua gave it for an inheritance and joshua gave it for an inheritance unto israel according to their divisions unto israel according to their divisions by their tribes by their tribes and the land rested and the land rested from war from war now that's very plain isn't it joshua now that's very plain isn't it joshua took the whole land took the whole land exactly as god had promised moses it exactly as god had promised moses it came to pass nothing failed and the land came to pass nothing failed and the land rested rested from from war war come over to chapter 14. here we're concerned with caleb and the inheritance of caleb in and the inheritance of caleb in particular verse 15 and the name of particular verse 15 and the name of hebron before was kiryathaba which arbor hebron before was kiryathaba which arbor was a great man among the anakims was a great man among the anakims the land had rest the land had rest from wall from wall so there it is again the writer so there it is again the writer underlining that point so that we're not underlining that point so that we're not in any doubt about it chapter 21 the end of the chapter verse 44. verse 44. joshua 21 44 here again very explicit and the lord gave them rest round about according to gave them rest round about according to all that he swear unto their fathers and all that he swear unto their fathers and there stood not a man of all their there stood not a man of all their enemies before them the lord delivered enemies before them the lord delivered all their enemies into their hand all their enemies into their hand unmistakable isn't it brethren and unmistakable isn't it brethren and sisters there wasn't a man able to stand sisters there wasn't a man able to stand before them all their enemies were before them all their enemies were delivered into the hand exactly again as delivered into the hand exactly again as god had promised god had promised as god had sworn to the fathers as god had sworn to the fathers he gave them rest he gave them rest in chapter 22 in chapter 22 just a couple of verses over chapter 22 just a couple of verses over chapter 22 and verse 4 and verse 4 and now the lord your god hath given and now the lord your god hath given rest unto your brethren this is to the rest unto your brethren this is to the two and a half tribes now who are to two and a half tribes now who are to return to their possession on the east return to their possession on the east of jordan now the lord your god hath of jordan now the lord your god hath given rest unto your brethren as he given rest unto your brethren as he promised them therefore now return ye promised them therefore now return ye and get you unto your tents and unto the and get you unto your tents and unto the land of your possession which moses the land of your possession which moses the servant of the lord gave you on the servant of the lord gave you on the other side of jordan other side of jordan the lord has given your brethren rest the lord has given your brethren rest again exactly as he promised nothing again exactly as he promised nothing failed of what god had said how is it then brethren and sisters that when we come to hebrews 4 and you that when we come to hebrews 4 and you needn't turn to it you know the words needn't turn to it you know the words well enough well enough the writer to the hebrews says in the writer to the hebrews says in chapter 4 and verse 8 chapter 4 and verse 8 for if joshua had given them rest for if joshua had given them rest then would he not afterward have spoken then would he not afterward have spoken of another day this writer to the hebrews is saying plainly that joshua did not give them plainly that joshua did not give them rest rest if jesus if jesus it's joshua of course it's the same name it's joshua of course it's the same name jesus is the greek form of the same jesus is the greek form of the same hebrew word if joshua the old testament hebrew word if joshua the old testament jesus had given them jesus had given them rest rest so obviously he didn't so obviously he didn't then would not god afterward have spoken then would not god afterward have spoken of another day there have been no need of another day there have been no need still to speak of another day of rest still to speak of another day of rest later later and god did and god did he did speak about rest later he would he did speak about rest later he would not afterward have spoken not afterward have spoken says this verse in hebrews he would not says this verse in hebrews he would not afterward have spoken of another day by afterward have spoken of another day by afterward he's referring back to an afterward he's referring back to an earlier verse in hebrews 4 where he's earlier verse in hebrews 4 where he's quoted from psalm 95 quoted from psalm 95 psalm 95 11. again you needn't turn to psalm 95 11. again you needn't turn to it this morning psalm 95 11 it this morning psalm 95 11 says as i have sworn says as i have sworn in my wrath in my wrath if they shall enter into my rest or they if they shall enter into my rest or they shall not enter into my rest and in as much the writer to the hebrews is saying inasmuch as that is in the is saying inasmuch as that is in the psalm psalm and the psalm is a psalm of david and the psalm is a psalm of david it's clear the writer of the hebrews is it's clear the writer of the hebrews is saying that in the days of david israel saying that in the days of david israel had still not attained their rest had still not attained their rest in the days of david god was saying in the days of david god was saying they won't enter into my rest they won't enter into my rest so clearly the rest was still future so clearly the rest was still future they will not enter into my rest they will not enter into my rest clearly the rest was still ahead clearly the rest was still ahead of david of david future from the days of david future from the days of david it was spoken of afterwards after the it was spoken of afterwards after the days of joshua days of joshua david talked about it and obviously david talked about it and obviously israel had not attained it even in israel had not attained it even in david's days that's the point that the david's days that's the point that the writer to the hebrews is making if writer to the hebrews is making if joshua had given them rest then would joshua had given them rest then would would he god not afterward in the days would he god not afterward in the days of david have spoken of another rest it of david have spoken of another rest it wouldn't have been necessary wouldn't have been necessary he wouldn't have spoken of another day he wouldn't have spoken of another day another day of rest there remaineth another day of rest there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of god is therefore a rest to the people of god is this writer's conclusion this writer's conclusion conclusion be it noted so how is it brethren and sisters that this writer can say that joshua didn't this writer can say that joshua didn't give them rest in the face of the verses give them rest in the face of the verses we've looked at in joshua which clearly we've looked at in joshua which clearly say that god was as good as his word say that god was as good as his word nothing failed everything came true and nothing failed everything came true and they had their rest from wall well can i take you to two further verses in joshua which also speak of verses in joshua which also speak of this rest and i think which perhaps this rest and i think which perhaps contain a clue to the answer to this contain a clue to the answer to this conundrum conundrum joshua 23 and it came to pass a long time after that the lord had a long time after that the lord had given rest unto israel so there it is given rest unto israel so there it is again again from all their enemies round about from all their enemies round about that joshua waxed old and stricken in that joshua waxed old and stricken in age age and joshua called for all israel and joshua called for all israel and for their elders and for their heads and for their elders and for their heads and for their judges and for their and for their judges and for their officers and said unto them officers and said unto them i am old and stricken in age i am old and stricken in age and ye have seen all that the lord your and ye have seen all that the lord your god hath done unto all these nations god hath done unto all these nations because of you for the lord your god is because of you for the lord your god is he that hath fought for you behold i he that hath fought for you behold i have divided unto you by lot these have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain to be an inheritance nations that remain to be an inheritance for your tribes from jordan with all the for your tribes from jordan with all the nations that i have cut off even under nations that i have cut off even under the great sea westward and the lord your god he shall expel them from before you and drive them out them from before you and drive them out drive them from out of your sight and ye drive them from out of your sight and ye shall possess their land as the lord shall possess their land as the lord your god your god hath promised unto you now there's a passage which at one in the same time says in verse one the same time says in verse one a long time after that the lord had a long time after that the lord had given them rest given them rest and at the same time says in verse 5 the and at the same time says in verse 5 the lord your god will expel these nations lord your god will expel these nations go and drive them out and you will go and drive them out and you will possess their land in the circumstances of his day no contradiction in what he was saying no contradiction in what he was saying that through him god had given rest to that through him god had given rest to israel in the land and he divided up all israel in the land and he divided up all the land for them for their inheritance the land for them for their inheritance and now they were to go and possess it and now they were to go and possess it there's no contradiction there there's no contradiction there somehow somehow let's just look at one more chapter 18 let's just look at one more chapter 18 of joshua just again the first three verses of this chapter this chapter joshua 18 joshua 18 and the whole congregation of the and the whole congregation of the children of israel children of israel assembled together at shiloh assembled together at shiloh and set up the tabernacle of the and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there congregation there and the land was subdued before them and the land was subdued before them and they remained among the children of and they remained among the children of israel seven tribes which had not yet israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance and joshua received their inheritance and joshua said unto the children of israel how said unto the children of israel how long are ye slack to go to possess the long are ye slack to go to possess the land which the lord god of your fathers land which the lord god of your fathers hath given you hath given you get out there and get on with it joshua get out there and get on with it joshua is saying and he's assembled the the is saying and he's assembled the the elders of all the tribes at shiloh to elders of all the tribes at shiloh to give them this message and again there's in the mind of joshua at least no in the mind of joshua at least no contradiction here verse one tells us contradiction here verse one tells us the land was subdued before them the land was subdued before them but in verse 3 he's saying but in verse 3 he's saying go and get on and possess the land go and get on and possess the land you've been given i think those two last passages brethren and sisters joshua 23 and joshua 18 give and sisters joshua 23 and joshua 18 give us a clue to what was going on here us a clue to what was going on here it seems that the occupation of the land it seems that the occupation of the land of canaan had always been intended to be of canaan had always been intended to be a two-stage process if it was not so then joshua was very remiss then joshua was very remiss as a leader and captain of israel he was very remiss because if it had not been intended to be a two-stage process been intended to be a two-stage process then what he'd done was simply then what he'd done was simply overcome the nations of the land so overcome the nations of the land so quickly and in such a way that he quickly and in such a way that he allowed them to regroup allowed them to regroup he must have underestimated their their he must have underestimated their their ability to regroup and and to reoccupy ability to regroup and and to reoccupy the cities that had been taken from them the cities that had been taken from them surely he ought to have secured his surely he ought to have secured his victories victories as israel went through the land as israel went through the land clearly he didn't do that and clearly joshua was not remiss in not doing that in not doing that joshua did his work and did it well joshua did his work and did it well brethren and sisters and is commended in brethren and sisters and is commended in scripture for it scripture for it he he was used by god was used by god to give israel the land to give israel the land and they had it and they had it exactly as god had sworn to their exactly as god had sworn to their fathers fathers nothing failed nothing failed joshua did his job well and if that's the case then the only conclusion we're left with is that conclusion we're left with is that it was never joshua's part it was never joshua's part to settle the nation in the land fully to settle the nation in the land fully in that sense it was all was intended as in that sense it was all was intended as we said to be a two-stage process there we said to be a two-stage process there was joshua's part was joshua's part and there was the part which belonged to and there was the part which belonged to the tribes the tribes the nation as a whole the nation as a whole in their separate tribes the nation had a part to play themselves the tribes had a part to play the tribes had a part to play joshua's role was to go through the land joshua's role was to go through the land and overcome those cities and it was and overcome those cities and it was israel's job israel's job in their tribes to occupy those cities in their tribes to occupy those cities either to prevent the canaanites and the either to prevent the canaanites and the other six nations regrouping and other six nations regrouping and retaking them retaking them or to possess those cities in such a way or to possess those cities in such a way as to ensure that they secured them for as to ensure that they secured them for themselves you see the verses that we have looked at it seems to me at it seems to me make a distinction at least in the make a distinction at least in the hebrew if not always in the english hebrew if not always in the english between the words between the words inheritance inheritance and and possession we tend to read the record and regard those two read the record and regard those two things as being roughly one the same things as being roughly one the same in very different hebrew words they have in very different hebrew words they have very different meanings very different meanings and i suggest they have very different and i suggest they have very different connotations connotations inheritance has to do with something inheritance has to do with something that is given that is given indeed the hebrew word comes from a word indeed the hebrew word comes from a word that means that means or the word that has to do with descent or the word that has to do with descent the idea of dissent it an inheritance is the idea of dissent it an inheritance is something that's passed down isn't it something that's passed down isn't it it's something that you you get whether it's something that you you get whether you deserve it or not whether you work you deserve it or not whether you work for it or not and the word means to for it or not and the word means to divide to distribute it's got the idea divide to distribute it's got the idea of giving an inheritance is something of giving an inheritance is something that you receive you're given it that you receive you're given it you may not deserve it you may not have you may not deserve it you may not have done anything all you have to do to get done anything all you have to do to get an inheritance is to be there an inheritance is to be there to be alive and the inheritance comes to to be alive and the inheritance comes to you doesn't it you doesn't it now possession is different now possession is different possession brethren and sisters possession brethren and sisters has to be taken has to be taken and the hebrew word again seems to belie and the hebrew word again seems to belie that the word means to seize that the word means to seize to take hold of to take hold of to fasten to fasten or to fasten on to or to fasten on to that's the idea behind the the word that's the idea behind the the word possession can you see the difference possession can you see the difference the inheritance was being given them the inheritance was being given them god took joshua and israel into the land god took joshua and israel into the land and he gave them the land and he gave them the land he said here is your land this is it he said here is your land this is it but it was their responsibility to take but it was their responsibility to take it it joshua wiped out all the enemies there joshua wiped out all the enemies there stood not a man before joshua not a man stood not a man before joshua not a man nothing failed of all that god promised nothing failed of all that god promised god gave them exactly what he said he'd god gave them exactly what he said he'd give them true to his word and the land give them true to his word and the land had rest but it was a two-stage operation and the nation should then have taken and the nation should then have taken possession of it possession of it seized it seized it secured the cities occupied them secured the cities occupied them prevented the regrouping of the nations prevented the regrouping of the nations who were there who were there made sure that they made sure that they got the rest that they were being given got the rest that they were being given took hold of it took hold of it seized it possessed the land to tragedy brethren and sisters isn't it really really and yet what a powerful exhibition it is and yet what a powerful exhibition it is again for us again for us god does not do for us god does not do for us what it is our work to do for ourselves what it is our work to do for ourselves god has done immense things for us god has done immense things for us brethren and sisters he has wrought brethren and sisters he has wrought mightily through the lord jesus christ mightily through the lord jesus christ but he does not give us on a plate what but he does not give us on a plate what it is our duty to do god has given us the victory through christ through christ that's our inheritance that's our inheritance as brethren and sisters in christ but we need to take possession we need to seize it we need to seize it to grasp it to grasp it to hold on fast to it to hold on fast to it all those words that that form the the all those words that that form the the basis of the idea of possession basis of the idea of possession it's just the same in law today brethren it's just the same in law today brethren insisted as we said you only need to be insisted as we said you only need to be there to have an inheritance but there to have an inheritance but possession has to be taken if you take possession has to be taken if you take possession of something you have possession of something you have physically to walk with the land physically to walk with the land or you have physically to enter a or you have physically to enter a property in law in order to take property in law in order to take possession of it to occupy it possession of it to occupy it it's just the same it's just the same in spiritual things in spiritual things god has given us a most marvelous god has given us a most marvelous victory but we need to work at it we victory but we need to work at it we need to subdue the enemies need to subdue the enemies and especially enemy number one and especially enemy number one the most virulent of them all the most virulent of them all it's a two-stage process brethren and it's a two-stage process brethren and sisters sisters it's not one battle that has been fought it's not one battle that has been fought and won and won as some of the churches around was ha as some of the churches around was ha would have us imagine would have us imagine it's a whole campaign it's a whole campaign you can't give up yet nor indeed at all you can't give up yet nor indeed at all until the master returns until the master returns one battle doesn't win the day does it one battle doesn't win the day does it there is a series of battles to be there is a series of battles to be fought again and again the flesh has to fought again and again the flesh has to be overcome again and again still it be overcome again and again still it it's dead but it won't lie down will it it's dead but it won't lie down will it it rears its ugly head it rears its ugly head we need to fight we need to fight and go on fighting to do our part in and go on fighting to do our part in working at our natures working at our natures that we may take possession of the that we may take possession of the inheritance god has given us inheritance god has given us that we may enter into his rest that's exactly what the writer to the hebrews says hebrews says hebrews 4 and verse 11 he says hebrews 4 and verse 11 he says let us therefore let us therefore labor labor that we may enter into that rest we thank thee for that which thou hast wrought in for that which thou hast wrought in jesus christ and beseech thee that thou wilt speedily fulfill fulfill all that thou has promised rend the heavens and with the voice of the archangel and and with the voice of the archangel and the trump of god let him come with all the holy angels attendant upon him attendant upon him to establish thy righteousness in the to establish thy righteousness in the earth save us from this untoward generation in which we live which we live strengthen us we pray thee for the strengthen us we pray thee for the strife and the conflict in which we must strife and the conflict in which we must engage and by thy grace engage and by thy grace grant us that we may overcome grant us that we may overcome to be partakers of thy divine nature to be partakers of thy divine nature to enter into thy rest to enter into thy rest whatever our struggles whatever our struggles and toil and toil might be here for we commend ourselves unto thee in the name of jesus christ our lord in the name of jesus christ our lord amen

Transcript

the order of these talks was always going to be difficult and now i know i going to be difficult and now i know i got it wrong on tuesday we talked about we talked about moses moses and the and the rest which god was offering to israel in rest which god was offering to israel in the weekly sabbath the weekly sabbath under the law under the law and it seemed reasonable at that stage and it seemed reasonable at that stage to go straight on to talk about joshua to go straight on to talk about joshua and the rest which god promised to and the rest which god promised to israel in the land which we did israel in the land which we did yesterday yesterday today however we need to go back to the today however we need to go back to the law law to see how that the sabbath day had its to see how that the sabbath day had its counterpart in months and years as well counterpart in months and years as well so that's perhaps why the order might so that's perhaps why the order might seem a little strange seem a little strange and why in some to some extent we're and why in some to some extent we're backtracking a little bit today and backtracking a little bit today and tomorrow tomorrow the point is that the exodus was not the point is that the exodus was not just a rest just a rest god brought his people out from egypt god brought his people out from egypt redeemed them from the house of bondage redeemed them from the house of bondage commanded that they should remember commanded that they should remember always that they had been bond men in always that they had been bond men in egypt egypt not just to offer them rest from their not just to offer them rest from their burdens burdens but to offer them release but to offer them release from the bondage itself from the bondage itself that's what this sabbath year or seventh that's what this sabbath year or seventh year is really about the seventh year year is really about the seventh year was known as the year of release was known as the year of release so it's a rest so it's a rest from their burdens from their burdens and release from bondage and release from bondage the release being a rest in greater the release being a rest in greater measure as it were we mentioned on tuesday that the weekly sabbath taught that man's time was god's sabbath taught that man's time was god's time time and we suggested various and we suggested various ways in which the sabbath was a sign as ways in which the sabbath was a sign as god described it god described it a sign of the purpose of god a sign of a sign of the purpose of god a sign of the final redemption which god had in the final redemption which god had in mind had in store for his people if they mind had in store for his people if they would be obedient to him would be obedient to him the sabbath year went further than that the sabbath year went further than that it taught not only that man's time was it taught not only that man's time was god's time but that man himself was god's time but that man himself was god's god's that man belonged to god because as we that man belonged to god because as we have said earlier in this series he was have said earlier in this series he was bought with a price he was not his own and so it was that the sabbath year was not just about time but about life not just about time but about life the man his life the man his life is god's is god's and we might like to think just for a and we might like to think just for a moment or two as to what this would mean moment or two as to what this would mean to the average servant to the average servant in israel not easy for us between sisters is it few if any of us have been in such a few if any of us have been in such a situation situation ever and those of us who have it wasn't ever and those of us who have it wasn't really a situation quite akin to that really a situation quite akin to that which israel endured in the bondage of which israel endured in the bondage of egypt egypt but let's do our best let's try and but let's do our best let's try and imagine that that we were a servant and imagine that that we were a servant and and try to see how the servant would and try to see how the servant would really look forward really look forward to these opportunities of rest to these opportunities of rest relaxation and ultimately release relaxation and ultimately release first of all the weekly sabbath the one first of all the weekly sabbath the one day in seven every seven days there was day in seven every seven days there was a day off a day off that's not just a wise precaution that's not just a wise precaution brethren sisters we saw again on tuesday brethren sisters we saw again on tuesday how vital how vital that was that was from god's point of view from god's point of view how important that it ranked with other how important that it ranked with other of the ten commandments that we of the ten commandments that we mentioned mentioned but from the servant's point of view the but from the servant's point of view the slaves point of view slaves point of view once in every seven days once in every seven days he was he was to be allowed to be allowed to rest to rest the mercy of god the mercy of god demanded it for him demanded it for him god championed his cause whatever his god championed his cause whatever his master was like whether his master master was like whether his master wanted him to rest or not wanted him to rest or not god had taken the part of the slave god had taken the part of the slave god was concerned about his welfare god god was concerned about his welfare god saw to it that he had something to look saw to it that he had something to look forward to in every week forward to in every week god demanded not only that the god demanded not only that the israelites should rest on the sabbath israelites should rest on the sabbath but that neither their ox nor their ass but that neither their ox nor their ass nor their manservant nor their nor their manservant nor their maidservant should be employed in their maidservant should be employed in their service and then of course there was the feast of weeks of weeks i'm sure this overhead won't be i'm sure this overhead won't be unfamiliar to you brethren and sisters unfamiliar to you brethren and sisters but it does perhaps serve to remind us but it does perhaps serve to remind us of the year of the year of israel's calendar of israel's calendar our january is up here at the top where our january is up here at the top where one o'clock would be on our daily clocks one o'clock would be on our daily clocks and uh the passover of course was in the and uh the passover of course was in the first month of israel's religious year first month of israel's religious year the 14th day of the first month the 14th day of the first month and from the day after the passover they and from the day after the passover they numbered seven weeks numbered seven weeks down to the feast of weeks or of down to the feast of weeks or of pentecost pentecost 50 days after the waving of the first 50 days after the waving of the first fruits here the day after passover the fruits here the day after passover the 15th day of the first month 15th day of the first month the 14th day of this third month sorry the 14th day of this third month sorry the sixth day of this third month was the sixth day of this third month was the the feast of weeks only one day the the feast of weeks only one day but again a day of but again a day of rest rest a day of great rejoicing a day of great rejoicing just come to deuteronomy chapter 16 for just come to deuteronomy chapter 16 for a moment a moment 15 we read from but deuteronomy 16 first 15 we read from but deuteronomy 16 first of all of all and there in verse 10 thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the lord thy god with a tribute of a the lord thy god with a tribute of a free will offering of thine hand which free will offering of thine hand which thou shalt give unto the lord thy god thou shalt give unto the lord thy god according as the lord thy god hath according as the lord thy god hath blessed thee blessed thee and thou shalt rejoice before the lord and thou shalt rejoice before the lord thy god thou and thy son and thy thy god thou and thy son and thy daughter and thy manservant and thy daughter and thy manservant and thy maidservant and the levite that is maidservant and the levite that is within thy gates and the stranger and within thy gates and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow that are the fatherless and the widow that are among you in the place which the lord among you in the place which the lord thy god hath chosen to place his name thy god hath chosen to place his name there there and thou shalt remember that thou was to and thou shalt remember that thou was to bond men in egypt and thou shalt observe bond men in egypt and thou shalt observe and do and do these statutes these statutes so there was the next thing which the so there was the next thing which the the servant the slave might look forward the servant the slave might look forward to to a day's rest at the feast of weeks and a a day's rest at the feast of weeks and a time of rejoicing time of rejoicing but then particularly in the seventh but then particularly in the seventh month the feast of tabernacles month the feast of tabernacles and here there was a week-long feast and here there was a week-long feast again rather like passover here in the again rather like passover here in the the seventh month the beginning of the seventh month the beginning of israel's political year here israel's political year here and once again the manservant and the and once again the manservant and the maidservant were commanded to be allowed maidservant were commanded to be allowed to rest to rest and they were to enjoy this week-long and they were to enjoy this week-long holiday an annual holiday with the holiday an annual holiday with the children of israel children of israel deuteronomy 16 again verse 12 we've just deuteronomy 16 again verse 12 we've just read ignore the paragraph marker at read ignore the paragraph marker at verse 13 see again how this commandment verse 13 see again how this commandment also is linked with the memory of also is linked with the memory of israel's slavery in egypt verse 12 thou israel's slavery in egypt verse 12 thou shalt remember that thou wast abundment shalt remember that thou wast abundment in egypt in egypt and thou shalt observe and do these and thou shalt observe and do these statutes thou shalt observe the feast of statutes thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days tabernacles seven days after that thou hast gathered in after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine thy corn and thy wine and thou shalt rejoice in thy feast thou and thou shalt rejoice in thy feast thou and thy son and thy daughter and thy and thy son and thy daughter and thy manservant and thy maidservant and the manservant and thy maidservant and the levite the stranger and the fatherless levite the stranger and the fatherless and the widow that are within thy gates and the widow that are within thy gates seven days shalt thou keep a solemn seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the lord thy god in the place feast unto the lord thy god in the place which the lord shall choose so there again very plainly something for the servant for the servant to look forward to and here particularly to look forward to and here particularly with a week off the drudgery of his with a week off the drudgery of his daily life the slave would indeed daily life the slave would indeed rejoice at the time of the feast of rejoice at the time of the feast of tabernacles tempting isn't it to think that if we'd been in israel been in israel we'd have been looking forward to our we'd have been looking forward to our holiday holiday and anxious to leave the slave to look and anxious to leave the slave to look after the house after the house who's going to take care of everything who's going to take care of everything while you're away what's the good of having a slave if he goes on holiday at the same time as you goes on holiday at the same time as you do do these in some measure brethren and these in some measure brethren and sisters were very inconvenient things sisters were very inconvenient things for israel for israel and they were so deliberately and they were so deliberately israel was obliged israel was obliged as a nation as a nation to share their holiday with the slaves to share their holiday with the slaves they were not allowed to be selfish in they were not allowed to be selfish in this matter the slaves went with them on this matter the slaves went with them on holiday holiday they were allowed the same rejoicing as they were allowed the same rejoicing as everyone else but how much more now do you suppose the slave looked forward slave looked forward to the seventh year how much more would that year of release mean here was not a temporary period of rest one day one day or even one week here was his opportunity once more to be free on the first day of the month the trumpet sounded and that happened on the trumpet sounded and that happened on the first day of every month but on the the first day of every month but on the first day of the seventh month the first day of the seventh month the trumpet sounded intermittently all day trumpet sounded intermittently all day long long a little bit like new year's day in some a little bit like new year's day in some countries isn't it where the students go countries isn't it where the students go around in their cars all day long around in their cars all day long sanding the hooters sanding the hooters it would be that kind of thing wouldn't it would be that kind of thing wouldn't it it from time to time throughout the day from time to time throughout the day the priests blew the trumpet and the the priests blew the trumpet and the slave knew brethren and sisters that it slave knew brethren and sisters that it was the first day of the seventh month was the first day of the seventh month this was not just the new moon and the this was not just the new moon and the trumpet being blown to herald the new trumpet being blown to herald the new moon this was the seventh month moon this was the seventh month he'd lose count when he was about his he'd lose count when he was about his daily activities daily activities he hardly had time to lift his head he hardly had time to lift his head it's hard for us to imagine his it's hard for us to imagine his circumstances but it was one long round circumstances but it was one long round of chores there was no respite brethren of chores there was no respite brethren and sisters you don't have a slave and and sisters you don't have a slave and do the job yourself just as you don't do the job yourself just as you don't have a dog and bark yourself have a dog and bark yourself the slave was there to work he'd been the slave was there to work he'd been paid for usually paid for usually so he was made to work and he wouldn't so he was made to work and he wouldn't have time to remember which month it was have time to remember which month it was or to keep count or to keep count when he heard that trumpet sound when he heard that trumpet sound throughout the day throughout the day there were only 10 days to go there were only 10 days to go ten days and and he'd be free ten days and and he'd be free in the seventh year in the seventh year this was the year of release this was the year of release so he'd he'd know that and he'd know so he'd he'd know that and he'd know that come the day of atonement his that come the day of atonement his release would be complete only 10 days release would be complete only 10 days to go to go and that's quite remarkable isn't it and that's quite remarkable isn't it brethren sisters really because he brethren sisters really because he really must have looked forward to that really must have looked forward to that and yet when it came to it and yet when it came to it it wasn't a day of rejoicing at all it wasn't a day of rejoicing at all you would have thought wouldn't you that you would have thought wouldn't you that with all that anticipation the slave with all that anticipation the slave would walk out of the door on at the would walk out of the door on at the start of the of the tenth day of the start of the of the tenth day of the seventh month and he'd say i'm free but that was a day of mourning it was a day of fasting it was a day to afflict the soul wasn't a day of rejoicing at all the wasn't a day of rejoicing at all the rejoicing started on the following day rejoicing started on the following day didn't it and then there was the didn't it and then there was the week-long rejoicing of the feast of week-long rejoicing of the feast of tabernacles as we have said tabernacles as we have said but isn't that lovely really that that but isn't that lovely really that that the slave looked forward to it so much the slave looked forward to it so much brother and sisters and the first day brother and sisters and the first day wasn't a day to celebrate his release wasn't a day to celebrate his release the fact that he was free the fact that he was free it was the day to remember iniquity it was the day to remember iniquity it just drove home didn't it very it just drove home didn't it very forcibly that it was god forcibly that it was god who'd brought about his release who'd brought about his release he owed everything he owed everything everything to god everything to god the very first day of his freedom was the very first day of his freedom was not a day of rejoicing at all it was a not a day of rejoicing at all it was a day of national mourning day of national mourning of sorrow of confession of sin and of of sorrow of confession of sin and of seeking earnestly the forgiveness of god seeking earnestly the forgiveness of god through prayer and sacrifice and so it through prayer and sacrifice and so it was that the released slave was not in a was that the released slave was not in a position to rejoice that day position to rejoice that day the next day would be different the next day would be different but first he must remember where his but first he must remember where his release had come from and in release had come from and in thankfulness and confession of his sin thankfulness and confession of his sin and his unworthiness to be free and his unworthiness to be free along with all the rest of israel he along with all the rest of israel he joined in the day of atonement let's come then to deuteronomy chapter 15 a portion of which we've read 15 a portion of which we've read together together and have a look at some of the details and have a look at some of the details of this year of release this seventh of this year of release this seventh year year let's go in first at verse 12 let's go in first at verse 12 which which because we've talked about the mercy of because we've talked about the mercy of god and the remembrance of his mercy in god and the remembrance of his mercy in providing the release providing the release reminds us that israel too had to show reminds us that israel too had to show mercy deuteronomy 15 and 12. mercy deuteronomy 15 and 12. and if thy brother and hebrew marron or and if thy brother and hebrew marron or an hebrew woman be sold unto thee and an hebrew woman be sold unto thee and serve these six years then in the serve these six years then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee from thee when thou sendest him out free from thee when thou sendest him out free from thee thou shalt not let him go away empty thou shalt not let him go away empty thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock and out of thy floor and out thy flock and out of thy floor and out of thy winepress of thy winepress that wherewith the lord thy god hath that wherewith the lord thy god hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him so the servant brethren and sisters the servant brethren and sisters was being rehabilitated wasn't he was being rehabilitated wasn't he he wasn't just being given his freedom he wasn't just being given his freedom it wasn't a case of opening the door and it wasn't a case of opening the door and saying off you go then saying off you go then oh no oh no no no you had to load him up with as no no you had to load him up with as many benefits as he could carry many benefits as he could carry sheep from the herd grain from the sheep from the herd grain from the threshing floor threshing floor grapes from the wine press grapes from the wine press you had to set him up you had to set him up not set him up in business but set him not set him up in business but set him up in life up in life you had to be merciful to him because you had to be merciful to him because you were god's representative you were god's representative you were representing the mercy that god you were representing the mercy that god had shown to you when you were had shown to you when you were abandonment in egypt and now you were abandonment in egypt and now you were being obliged in your life to do a being obliged in your life to do a retake of that to remember that forcibly retake of that to remember that forcibly and to show the same kindness and mercy and to show the same kindness and mercy undeserved as it was undeserved as it was to the servant it had to be done liberally he had to go out laden you liberally he had to go out laden you were not just sending him away were not just sending him away you were sending him away rich setting you were sending him away rich setting him up rehabilitating him it was clear him up rehabilitating him it was clear brethren and sisters wasn't it from the brethren and sisters wasn't it from the very way that this was done that you very way that this was done that you were giving back the slave his life were giving back the slave his life not just his freedom you understand his not just his freedom you understand his life you were giving him life life you were giving him life you were setting him up you were setting him up you were inviting him to go and and live you were inviting him to go and and live and giving him a good start with the and giving him a good start with the things that he was allowed to take from things that he was allowed to take from your house from your home your house from your home and so verse 15 of deuteronomy 15 and so verse 15 of deuteronomy 15 you will send him away liberally he will you will send him away liberally he will not go away empty thou shalt furnish him not go away empty thou shalt furnish him and so on as we've read in verse 14 and and so on as we've read in verse 14 and then verse 15 thou shalt remember that then verse 15 thou shalt remember that thou was to bondman in the land of egypt thou was to bondman in the land of egypt and the lord thy god redeemed thee and the lord thy god redeemed thee therefore therefore i command thee this thing today. i command thee this thing today. always you see it came back to israel's always you see it came back to israel's circumstances in egypt and the mercy circumstances in egypt and the mercy that god had shown to them that god had shown to them just keep your finger in deuteronomy 15 just keep your finger in deuteronomy 15 for a moment or a bookmark and just for a moment or a bookmark and just flick over to exodus 23 which says more flick over to exodus 23 which says more or less the same thing but there's just or less the same thing but there's just a phrase there brethren and sisters a phrase there brethren and sisters which i think is a very telling phrase which i think is a very telling phrase exodus 23 and 9. you are to remember that there was to bond men in egypt and that there was to bond men in egypt and therefore i command thee this thing therefore i command thee this thing today verse 8 of exodus 23 for today verse 8 of exodus 23 for connection thou shalt take no gift for connection thou shalt take no gift for the gift blindeth thee the wise and the gift blindeth thee the wise and perverteth the words of the righteous perverteth the words of the righteous also thou shalt not oppress a stranger also thou shalt not oppress a stranger for for ye know the heart of a stranger ye know the heart of a stranger seeing ye were strangers in the land of seeing ye were strangers in the land of egypt that's a very telling phrase i egypt that's a very telling phrase i think isn't it you know the heart of a think isn't it you know the heart of a stranger you think about it and you know stranger you think about it and you know what it was like what it was like you went through it just remember that you went through it just remember that you know the heart of a strain you you know the heart of a strain you understand what it's like you know how understand what it's like you know how it feels it feels and you will have that empathy that and you will have that empathy that sympathy with your slave and you'll know sympathy with your slave and you'll know how it feels and you'll know his heart how it feels and you'll know his heart and and you'll know what he longs for and and you'll know what he longs for and and what is his anticipation and his and and what is his anticipation and his joy joy and you'll enter into the spirit of that and you'll enter into the spirit of that and you will send him away fully laden and you will send him away fully laden and glad to do so and glad to do so because you know because you know you felt it yourself you felt it yourself you know the heart of a you know the heart of a stranger back in deuteronomy 15 then stranger back in deuteronomy 15 then brethren and sisters please and the brethren and sisters please and the first two verses of the chapter which first two verses of the chapter which again show that same kindness that again show that same kindness that israel were to demonstrate deuteronomy israel were to demonstrate deuteronomy 15 at the end of every seven years thou 15 at the end of every seven years thou should make a release and this is the should make a release and this is the manner of the release every creditor manner of the release every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbor that lendeth ought unto his neighbor shall release it he shall not exact it shall release it he shall not exact it of his neighbor or of his brother of his neighbor or of his brother because it is called the lord's because it is called the lord's release release the revised version changes that the revised version changes that slightly and perhaps is a little better slightly and perhaps is a little better it says because the lord's release hath it says because the lord's release hath been proclaimed been proclaimed the trumpet has sounded the trumpet has sounded the release has been proclaimed by the the release has been proclaimed by the priest god's representative this is priest god's representative this is god's release he has proclaimed it god's release he has proclaimed it therefore therefore you will show kindness you will show kindness you will obey this proclamation you will obey this proclamation and and every debt was to be released as well every debt was to be released as well not just the slave then but debt too not just the slave then but debt too were to be were to be let go we read verses 1 to 6 we needn't go over those again you know what's there let's those again you know what's there let's just have a look at verses 7 to 10 just have a look at verses 7 to 10 if there be among you a poor man of of if there be among you a poor man of of one of thy brethren with any any of thy one of thy brethren with any any of thy gates in thy land which the lord thy god gates in thy land which the lord thy god giveth thee thou shalt not harden thine giveth thee thou shalt not harden thine heart nor shut thine hand from thy poor heart nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother but thou shalt open thine hand brother but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him and shalt surely lend him wide unto him and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need in that which he sufficient for his need in that which he wanteth that means not what he asks you wanteth that means not what he asks you for it's wanteth in the sense of lacketh for it's wanteth in the sense of lacketh it's not what he wants he might have it's not what he wants he might have wanted the world you didn't have to give wanted the world you didn't have to give him the world but it's that which he him the world but it's that which he lacks you had to supply his lack you had lacks you had to supply his lack you had to supply his need and you had to be to supply his need and you had to be liberal and generous in so furnishing liberal and generous in so furnishing him him you had to open wide the hand that's you had to open wide the hand that's an expression isn't it that shows there an expression isn't it that shows there was nothing to be withheld you hadn't to was nothing to be withheld you hadn't to clutch at things and say that's mine you clutch at things and say that's mine you can't have that keep off you had to open can't have that keep off you had to open wide the hand as the pentateuch wide the hand as the pentateuch describes god opening wide his hand to describes god opening wide his hand to bless israel nothing is withheld is it bless israel nothing is withheld is it that's how god has acted towards us that's how god has acted towards us brethren and sisters brethren and sisters how shall he how shall he not with him he who has opened wide his not with him he who has opened wide his hand and given even his only begotten hand and given even his only begotten son how shall he not with him freely son how shall he not with him freely give us all things there's nothing give us all things there's nothing withheld god's hand is open wide withheld god's hand is open wide nothing is is retained nothing is is retained god has given everything for our god has given everything for our redemption redemption for our salvation for our salvation everything everything that was needful that was needful and so again the israelite was called and so again the israelite was called upon to imitate god in that you will upon to imitate god in that you will open your hand wide to lend to your open your hand wide to lend to your brother brother to give to him to give to him verse 9 beware that there be not a verse 9 beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked hearts saying the thought in thy wicked hearts saying the seventh year the year of release is at seventh year the year of release is at hand and thine i be evil against thy hand and thine i be evil against thy poor brother and thou givest him naught poor brother and thou givest him naught and he cry unto the lord against thee and he cry unto the lord against thee and it be sin unto thee thou shalt and it be sin unto thee thou shalt surely give him and thy heart shall not surely give him and thy heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him be grieved when thou givest unto him because that for this thing the lord thy because that for this thing the lord thy god shall bless thee in all thy works god shall bless thee in all thy works and in all that thou put us thine hand and in all that thou put us thine hand unto yes it was wickedness wickedness to reason to reason well i'm not going to lend you my my well i'm not going to lend you my my mower this month i might not get it back mower this month i might not get it back you know it's the year release coming up you know it's the year release coming up and you know if i lend him the tractor and you know if i lend him the tractor murray you know he might hang on to it murray you know he might hang on to it and i shall have to let it go and i shall have to let it go it would be a great tendency towards it would be a great tendency towards that sort of thing brethren and sisters that sort of thing brethren and sisters wasn't there you know whatever it was wasn't there you know whatever it was you know joe comes along and he wants to you know joe comes along and he wants to borrow it and well hang on a minute borrow it and well hang on a minute we've only got a few weeks to go and we've only got a few weeks to go and well i want it back tomorrow then all well i want it back tomorrow then all right right once you get to the year of release you once you get to the year of release you can't demand it goes against the grain doesn't it goes against our human nature and the goes against our human nature and the way we are brethren and sisters and way we are brethren and sisters and of course it does deliberately so of course it does deliberately so that's the whole point about it isn't it that's the whole point about it isn't it and surely that's the whole point about and surely that's the whole point about this this year of release not just were this this year of release not just were they to show kindness not just were they they to show kindness not just were they to be willing to lend without any to be willing to lend without any grudging but by this very act brethren grudging but by this very act brethren and sisters they were becoming involved and sisters they were becoming involved in the freedom of the slave weren't they in the freedom of the slave weren't they they weren't just setting the man free they weren't just setting the man free as we said opening the door and saying as we said opening the door and saying okay off you go they weren't even just okay off you go they weren't even just loading him up with benefits loading him up with benefits they weren't even being not grudging and they weren't even being not grudging and liberal and generous in this liberal and generous in this it was more than all of those things it was more than all of those things god was inviting israel if they would god was inviting israel if they would to share in the freedom of the slave to share in the freedom of the slave to be partakers of it to be partakers of it to load him up with benefits and and to load him up with benefits and and share his joy you know the heart of a share his joy you know the heart of a stranger then sharing his freedom to stranger then sharing his freedom to rejoice with him in his rejoicing and you could do that by being involved in it in it hang on have one of these look i know hang on have one of these look i know you haven't got let me give you one of you haven't got let me give you one of these i have this do you know it's all these i have this do you know it's all right i've i've got others you you have right i've i've got others you you have that one you know you could share in his that one you know you could share in his joy you could be partaker with him of it joy you could be partaker with him of it that was the opportunity brethren and that was the opportunity brethren and sisters that this seventh year afforded sisters that this seventh year afforded to those who entered into the spirit of to those who entered into the spirit of it and we're generous not just giving it and we're generous not just giving because they were obliged to give we've because they were obliged to give we've got to give you this so we better let got to give you this so we better let you have that we're not having that you have that we're not having that because that's the best one you can have because that's the best one you can have that one it's scratched and it's a bit that one it's scratched and it's a bit damaged you know damaged you know it's not that is it bonuses here's an it's not that is it bonuses here's an opportunity really to enter into it opportunity really to enter into it to be partaker with him to be partaker with him that's that's that brethren and sisters is what that brethren and sisters is what fellowship is some of us have been saying at the meal table earlier this week table earlier this week sadly we as a community sadly we as a community have begun to fall into the era of some have begun to fall into the era of some of the churches about us and to devalue of the churches about us and to devalue that word fellowship quite dramatically that word fellowship quite dramatically and that's very sad and that's very sad you hear brethren and sisters say very you hear brethren and sisters say very well meaning from the very best of well meaning from the very best of motives well we've had a lovely time of motives well we've had a lovely time of fellowship here at bible school haven't fellowship here at bible school haven't we we when all we really mean is we've had a when all we really mean is we've had a nice time together we felt good about it nice time together we felt good about it that's not fellowship brethren and that's not fellowship brethren and sisters i'm sorry that is not fellowship sisters i'm sorry that is not fellowship you can have the same feeling in a stamp you can have the same feeling in a stamp club club or a photographic society or a photographic society fellowship is not an association of fellowship is not an association of people with the same interests and i'm people with the same interests and i'm sure that some of you will have heard me sure that some of you will have heard me say that before say that before fellowship is is an interdependence with fellowship is is an interdependence with one another it's an interrelation of our one another it's an interrelation of our lives lives it's not just associating with people it's not just associating with people it's it's participating in their lives participating in their lives as israel we're being invited to do here as israel we're being invited to do here it's it's involvement veterans sisters it's it's involvement veterans sisters in the sorrows and the sadnesses of one in the sorrows and the sadnesses of one another and in the rejoicing of one another and in the rejoicing of one another too the gladness another too the gladness that here israel were invited to share that here israel were invited to share with their slaves with their slaves that's fellowship it's not feeling good that's fellowship it's not feeling good it's not rubbing shoulders with people it's not rubbing shoulders with people with the same interests or the same with the same interests or the same beliefs beliefs fellowship is not an association with fellowship is not an association with it's a participation in it's a participation in and we need to get back much more i and we need to get back much more i would suggest would suggest to participating in the lives of one to participating in the lives of one another to becoming much more closely another to becoming much more closely involved even even to the extent of involved even even to the extent of intrusion it's sad isn't it that we now intrusion it's sad isn't it that we now regard it as intrusion into the lives of regard it as intrusion into the lives of one another but brethren and sisters the one another but brethren and sisters the life of the church of god the ecclesia life of the church of god the ecclesia of god is intrusive of god is intrusive inevitably so god always intended that inevitably so god always intended that it would be we should not resent the intrusion of one another one another into our lives into our lives our lives are wrapped up with one our lives are wrapped up with one another we are interdependent we are another we are interdependent we are interrelated we are built up as living interrelated we are built up as living stones into the same building into the stones into the same building into the same body of christ we're members of one same body of christ we're members of one body body and we can't be that without some degree and we can't be that without some degree of intrusion into one another's lives if of intrusion into one another's lives if intrusion is what you want to call it intrusion is what you want to call it we can't do it without fellowship so that's what was involved in the life of israel of israel that's exactly how this matter was for that's exactly how this matter was for the slave and those who released slaves the slave and those who released slaves now very clearly brethren and sisters now very clearly brethren and sisters that didn't always happen did it that didn't always happen did it in israel in israel for a variety of reasons that year of for a variety of reasons that year of release was not practiced we have very release was not practiced we have very little if any evidence of a year of little if any evidence of a year of release at all we'll perhaps look at release at all we'll perhaps look at just one example tomorrow if the lord just one example tomorrow if the lord will will of course one reason was that the of course one reason was that the servant loved his master and wanted to servant loved his master and wanted to stay and he had that option so the stay and he had that option so the servant might elect not to be released servant might elect not to be released not to go free not to go free but there were other less noble reasons but there were other less noble reasons for example the master might have been for example the master might have been cruel and refused to let the servant go cruel and refused to let the servant go and what could the slave do about it if and what could the slave do about it if that were the case that were the case if the master was cruel and wouldn't if the master was cruel and wouldn't release him release him the slave could hardly run away the slave could hardly run away he'd have no means of support if he did he'd have no means of support if he did if his master wasn't prepared to release if his master wasn't prepared to release him him if there were any hint of intimidation if there were any hint of intimidation if he wanted release if he wanted release then the slave would feel obliged to then the slave would feel obliged to stay stay and perhaps sometimes brethren and and perhaps sometimes brethren and sisters it might even have been the case sisters it might even have been the case that the servant was afraid of being that the servant was afraid of being released released perhaps he was afraid of the unknown perhaps he was afraid of the unknown afraid to go he was comfortable where he afraid to go he was comfortable where he was and he liked it there and though he was and he liked it there and though he didn't like being a slave and didn't didn't like being a slave and didn't particularly want to elect to stay particularly want to elect to stay forever forever he just didn't want to go either he just didn't want to go either he couldn't face he couldn't face what the world might have in store for what the world might have in store for him him i want us to spend our remaining few i want us to spend our remaining few moments this morning just looking very moments this morning just looking very briefly at those things deuteronomy 15 briefly at those things deuteronomy 15 still first of all still first of all here is the first of those where the here is the first of those where the servant loved his master and the law servant loved his master and the law prescribed for that prescribed for that and of course as we read these verses and of course as we read these verses we're to recognize that god is the we're to recognize that god is the perfect master deuteronomy 15 and verse perfect master deuteronomy 15 and verse 16 16 it shall be it shall be if he the servant say unto thee i will if he the servant say unto thee i will not go away from thee not go away from thee because he loveth thee and thine house because he loveth thee and thine house because he is well with thee because he is well with thee then thou shalt take an all and thrust then thou shalt take an all and thrust it through his ear unto the door and he it through his ear unto the door and he shall be thy servant forever shall be thy servant forever and also unto thy maidservant thou shalt and also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise so there was the opportunity for the servant to elect to stay because he servant to elect to stay because he loves you and he loves your house he's loves you and he loves your house he's happy there you've treated him well and happy there you've treated him well and he's going to stay forever he's going to stay forever six years was sufficient to make that six years was sufficient to make that decision it is clear isn't it brethren and sisters is clear isn't it brethren and sisters that that although our lord jesus christ was not a although our lord jesus christ was not a bond slave in any way his service was bond slave in any way his service was entirely willing entirely willing and freely given and freely given his devotion to his heavenly father his devotion to his heavenly father fulfilled this to the letter fulfilled this to the letter he might have gone free he might have called 12 legions of angels to his assistants angels to his assistants who would have rescued him had he so who would have rescued him had he so wished wished but our lord jesus christ but our lord jesus christ loved loved his master his master his father his father and elected to be obedient unto death and elected to be obedient unto death that's really what's involved here isn't that's really what's involved here isn't it in he shall serve thee forever it in he shall serve thee forever the servant was electing to be obedient the servant was electing to be obedient unto death unto death just as our lord jesus christ humbled just as our lord jesus christ humbled himself and became obedient unto death himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross as even the death of the cross as philippians 2 tells us but then as we've said brethren and sisters there were those other less sisters there were those other less noble reasons why a servant might not be noble reasons why a servant might not be freed just come for a moment to jeremiah freed just come for a moment to jeremiah 34. one illustration of the way in which israel certainly in later years israel certainly in later years ignored the law ignored the law refused the provisions that god made refused the provisions that god made and treated their servants cruelly and and treated their servants cruelly and wickedly wickedly jeremiah 34 8 this is the word that came unto jeremiah this is the word that came unto jeremiah from the lord after that the king from the lord after that the king zedekiah had made a covenant with all zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at jerusalem to the people which were at jerusalem to proclaim liberty unto them proclaim liberty unto them that every man should let his manservant that every man should let his manservant and every man his maidservant being in and every man his maidservant being in hebrew or in hebrews go free that none hebrew or in hebrews go free that none should serve himself of them to whit of should serve himself of them to whit of a jew his brother a jew his brother now when all the princes and all the now when all the princes and all the people which had entered into the people which had entered into the covenant heard that everyone should let covenant heard that everyone should let his manservant and everyone his his manservant and everyone his maidservant go free that none should maidservant go free that none should serve themselves of them any more than serve themselves of them any more than they obeyed and let them go and they did they obeyed and let them go and they did so with a solemn covenant brethren and so with a solemn covenant brethren and sisters rather like the covenant that sisters rather like the covenant that god made with abraham in genesis 15 with god made with abraham in genesis 15 with a sacrifice divided in the middle and a a sacrifice divided in the middle and a solemn procession between the parts of solemn procession between the parts of the sacrifice later verses of this the sacrifice later verses of this chapter tell us there was that solemn chapter tell us there was that solemn oath as they made the covenant to oath as they made the covenant to release their servants clearly they had release their servants clearly they had not done it in a long time and god responded to that covenant the babylonians departed from jerusalem the babylonians departed from jerusalem for a short time for a short time and verse 11 here tells us and verse 11 here tells us but afterward but afterward they turned and caused the servants and they turned and caused the servants and the handmaids whom they had let go free the handmaids whom they had let go free to return and brought them into to return and brought them into subjection for servants and for subjection for servants and for handmaids handmaids therefore the word of the lord came to therefore the word of the lord came to jeremiah and the wrath of god was jeremiah and the wrath of god was against them brethren and sisters for against them brethren and sisters for having committed two evils one for having committed two evils one for having denied the covenant that they had having denied the covenant that they had so recently made and proving unfaithful so recently made and proving unfaithful to that covenant that vow that solemn to that covenant that vow that solemn oath oath and secondly for taking again the and secondly for taking again the servants servants whom they had no right to take whom they had no right to take now this is a little different from the now this is a little different from the law because these are hebrew servants law because these are hebrew servants who should never have been bond servants who should never have been bond servants in any case hebrews might be hired as in any case hebrews might be hired as paid servants under the law but could paid servants under the law but could never be slaves never be slaves and here there is again a double and here there is again a double wickedness in as much as israel have wickedness in as much as israel have made slaves out of hebrews made slaves out of hebrews they're not hired servants these they're they're not hired servants these they're not paid these are bond servants not paid these are bond servants but you see again the the principle the but you see again the the principle the idea of release and the cruelty and idea of release and the cruelty and wickedness in which israel indulged by wickedness in which israel indulged by not releasing them and even on that not releasing them and even on that occasion when they had released them by occasion when they had released them by re-engaging them and forcing them again re-engaging them and forcing them again to serve and you can imagine that the to serve and you can imagine that the slave had little option brethren and slave had little option brethren and sisters but sisters but to go and serve again so there's the the second example of how the greed of of israel was not prepared the greed of of israel was not prepared to give up to give up a slave a slave and you can well understand can't you and you can well understand can't you how how that would be how how that would be again it would be most inconvenient again it would be most inconvenient wouldn't it you've just got a good slave wouldn't it you've just got a good slave and then he goes you know you've got to and then he goes you know you've got to find another one now and they're hard to find another one now and they're hard to come by good servants aren't they you come by good servants aren't they you know trustworthy ones it jolly jolly know trustworthy ones it jolly jolly side inconvenient this isn't it side inconvenient this isn't it that's how the law was and so often we suspect greed and selfishness and self-interest led israel selfishness and self-interest led israel to be disobedient to make capital out of to be disobedient to make capital out of others others and we can so easily fall into the same and we can so easily fall into the same trap well you know it's only the world i trap well you know it's only the world i mean these were these were foreigners mean these were these were foreigners that were to be the slaves it's only the that were to be the slaves it's only the world isn't it doesn't matter how we world isn't it doesn't matter how we treat them does it really as long as we treat them does it really as long as we don't do that to our veteran don't do that to our veteran the world doesn't count the world doesn't count but brothers and sisters it does but brothers and sisters it does all that we do is a witness all that we do is a witness in all our behavior in every action of in all our behavior in every action of our lives our lives we are preaching we are preaching or not preaching or not preaching as the case may be as the case may be like israel in this matter as we have like israel in this matter as we have seen so clearly there in deuteronomy we seen so clearly there in deuteronomy we also are the representatives of our god also are the representatives of our god and we are never off duty brethren and and we are never off duty brethren and sisters we are never off duty as the sisters we are never off duty as the representatives of god always there is representatives of god always there is someone watching us someone watching us for whom we are a good witness for whom we are a good witness or a bad one well finally i'd like you to step outside the law for a moment because so outside the law for a moment because so far as i know there's no historical far as i know there's no historical example of what we have in mind here but example of what we have in mind here but it does seem to me that there is a a it does seem to me that there is a a powerful exhortation in the law that powerful exhortation in the law that we've looked at and in the disobedience we've looked at and in the disobedience that israel clearly did show towards it that israel clearly did show towards it so i want to take a different example so i want to take a different example it's not an example of a bond servant at it's not an example of a bond servant at all all but it is an example a scriptural but it is an example a scriptural example that illustrates the same example that illustrates the same lessons and the same exhortation lessons and the same exhortation i want you to come just for a moment to i want you to come just for a moment to genesis 19 genesis 19 and the story of lot here if ever there was was a man in a very similar position to us brethren and very similar position to us brethren and sisters and that's why we're looking at sisters and that's why we're looking at lot lot a man in a similar position to us in a man in a similar position to us in bondage bondage in a sense in the world in which he in a sense in the world in which he lived he was a free man as we are free lived he was a free man as we are free men and women men and women but he lived in a world that was we but he lived in a world that was we suspect very like our world suspect very like our world and the sad thing is brethren and and the sad thing is brethren and sisters that rather like israel in egypt sisters that rather like israel in egypt whom we saw on tuesday who didn't want whom we saw on tuesday who didn't want to leave it to leave it lot it appears did not want to leave lot it appears did not want to leave sodom some suggest that he was enjoying it and i don't think that's right i think and i don't think that's right i think that lot has had a bad press as far as that lot has had a bad press as far as that goes that goes and i have some sympathy with the man and i have some sympathy with the man you will be well acquainted i'm sure you will be well acquainted i'm sure with the way in which in chapter 13 lot with the way in which in chapter 13 lot lifts up his eyes and chooses the plane lifts up his eyes and chooses the plane of jordan which is well watered and of jordan which is well watered and where sodom and gomorrah are situated where sodom and gomorrah are situated and he pitches his tent towards them and he pitches his tent towards them and then how in chapter 14 we learn that and then how in chapter 14 we learn that he was living in sodom he was living in sodom when that city was taken captive when that city was taken captive then in chapter 19 when the angels visit then in chapter 19 when the angels visit sodom lot is sitting in the gate not in sodom lot is sitting in the gate not in his deck chair there in the sunshine but his deck chair there in the sunshine but as a ruler or a judge of the city of as a ruler or a judge of the city of course a magistrate to some extent course a magistrate to some extent responsible for the works of that city responsible for the works of that city now we may you may be right those of you now we may you may be right those of you who think that that was his fault that who think that that was his fault that there was a a downward progression there there was a a downward progression there and that lot had put his feet on the and that lot had put his feet on the slippery slope and down into sodom he slippery slope and down into sodom he went you may be right i suspect brethren went you may be right i suspect brethren and sisters that it wasn't quite like and sisters that it wasn't quite like that that lot was a very righteous man our new lot was a very righteous man our new testament tells us that he was a man who testament tells us that he was a man who vexed his righteous soul from day to day vexed his righteous soul from day to day he didn't like what he saw in sodom it he didn't like what he saw in sodom it distressed him and it distressed him distressed him and it distressed him daily but he didn't move out that was his mistake that was his mistake quite sure that lot was a very righteous quite sure that lot was a very righteous man the scripture itself tells us so we man the scripture itself tells us so we can't argue with that and i suspect that can't argue with that and i suspect that he was in sodom despite himself he was in sodom despite himself he pitched his tent towards it he pitched his tent towards it and then well you know tents are very and then well you know tents are very inconvenient aren't they and mrs lott inconvenient aren't they and mrs lott had seen this nice little house and it had seen this nice little house and it was only just inside the gate of sodom was only just inside the gate of sodom you understand and it would just be so you understand and it would just be so much more convenient than the tent much more convenient than the tent wouldn't it wouldn't it so they put the tent in the loft so they put the tent in the loft or the basement or the basement with the junk with the junk and they took up a more settled and they took up a more settled existence existence and they hadn't been there more than a and they hadn't been there more than a few weeks when sodom was invaded and lot few weeks when sodom was invaded and lot was carried off and by the grace of god was carried off and by the grace of god abraham rescued lot and all sodom abraham rescued lot and all sodom and abraham wouldn't take anything for and abraham wouldn't take anything for that you know not from a thread to a that you know not from a thread to a shoe actually he wouldn't have anything shoe actually he wouldn't have anything that belonged to the king of sodom that belonged to the king of sodom but i wanted to do something for him i but i wanted to do something for him i mean goodness me you know he'd been so mean goodness me you know he'd been so marvelous in fetching them back and then marvelous in fetching them back and then they discovered that lot was related to they discovered that lot was related to him him well we'd better on a lot then hadn't we well we'd better on a lot then hadn't we could make lot of free man of the city could make lot of free man of the city couldn't we we'll make him an alderman couldn't we we'll make him an alderman or whatever it is here in the states or whatever it is here in the states so that's what they did they made him a so that's what they did they made him a free man they made him a magistrate it free man they made him a magistrate it wasn't that he sought it it wasn't that wasn't that he sought it it wasn't that he wanted it brethren and sisters it was he wanted it brethren and sisters it was that he was pressed into it you know you that he was pressed into it you know you well you couldn't throw their kindness well you couldn't throw their kindness in their face and say no could you i in their face and say no could you i mean you couldn't say no thanks i don't mean you couldn't say no thanks i don't want to be an alderman you know when want to be an alderman you know when they were offering you that it was so they were offering you that it was so kind of them wasn't it and well perhaps kind of them wasn't it and well perhaps if he was there he could have some if he was there he could have some influence in the running of the city and influence in the running of the city and make it a better place and make it a better place and and he was pressed into it almost and he was pressed into it almost despite himself now i don't know that despite himself now i don't know that that's what it was like that none of us that's what it was like that none of us do do we do do we but it might have been like that might but it might have been like that might didn't and that's so much more like our didn't and that's so much more like our lives isn't it it isn't necessary that lives isn't it it isn't necessary that we deliberately set out to seek sodom we deliberately set out to seek sodom brethren and sisters but so often it brethren and sisters but so often it comes our way despite ourselves we're comes our way despite ourselves we're pressed into the mold aren't we the pressed into the mold aren't we the world pressures us and and we're not world pressures us and and we're not strong enough always to resist or it's strong enough always to resist or it's not convenient or or it doesn't seem not convenient or or it doesn't seem doesn't seem fair and and thankful to doesn't seem fair and and thankful to resist does it resist does it so often that's exactly how it happens so often that's exactly how it happens without happens with our young people without happens with our young people isn't it in their work they're pressed isn't it in their work they're pressed to go up the ladder they don't they're to go up the ladder they don't they're not particularly ambitious they don't not particularly ambitious they don't especially want to get on but the especially want to get on but the company forces it on them and you can company forces it on them and you can hardly say no can you unless you want to hardly say no can you unless you want to be out on your ear be out on your ear that's that's the kind of world in which that's that's the kind of world in which we live we live and i suspect brethren and sisters and i suspect brethren and sisters that's probably how it was with lot that's probably how it was with lot he just wasn't strong enough to get out he just wasn't strong enough to get out he was a righteous man and he hated he was a righteous man and he hated sodom sodom distressed him much distressed him much but he didn't move out and so brethren and sisters it seems to me that that's very much a parallel with me that that's very much a parallel with with our own lives and and perhaps a lot with our own lives and and perhaps a lot didn't move out because didn't move out because sodom sodom provided him with some security provided him with some security and there's an element of that in all of and there's an element of that in all of us which is a grave danger us which is a grave danger if he left sodom where would he if he left sodom where would he go back to the tent life well it was so go back to the tent life well it was so works and wasn't it i know we managed works and wasn't it i know we managed but you know it but you know it ah i don't think i could face that again ah i don't think i could face that again once you've had the settled existence once you've had the settled existence it's not easy going back to the nomadic it's not easy going back to the nomadic way of life brethren sisters is it way of life brethren sisters is it and there was a security there he didn't and there was a security there he didn't want the unknown and none of us do we want the unknown and none of us do we like what we're familiar with like what we're familiar with most of you know that i'm not an most of you know that i'm not an englishman i'm a yorkshireman englishman i'm a yorkshireman and i come from a town called and i come from a town called huddersfield and i have been heard to huddersfield and i have been heard to say that huddersfield is the best place say that huddersfield is the best place on earth on earth and it is you should you should go and and it is you should you should go and see see actually red and sisters if you were to actually red and sisters if you were to back me against the wall and interrogate back me against the wall and interrogate me i would have to admit that me i would have to admit that huddersfield is actually a dreadful huddersfield is actually a dreadful place these days place these days it's a concrete jungle and it's got all it's a concrete jungle and it's got all the problems of any other modern town or the problems of any other modern town or city social housing and so on city social housing and so on but you see to me but you see to me it's home it's home i know it i know my way around i know i know it i know my way around i know the people i i know the dialect and the the people i i know the dialect and the accents and i'm at home there accents and i'm at home there and there's a little bit of that in all and there's a little bit of that in all of us isn't there we forget don't we we of us isn't there we forget don't we we have here no continuing city at all have here no continuing city at all we're not yorkshire or british or we're not yorkshire or british or american or anything else are we american or anything else are we we're citizens of the kingdom of god but we like what we're familiar with there's a what we're familiar with there's a certain security in it that we don't certain security in it that we don't want to give up want to give up for the unknown and so brethren and sisters we find that even when even when the angels brought lot out the angels brought lot out of sodom of sodom in the mercy of god they took hold of in the mercy of god they took hold of his of his hands and the hands of his his of his hands and the hands of his wife and and his two daughters and they wife and and his two daughters and they brought them out of sodom brought them out of sodom and they say escape to the mountain and they say escape to the mountain verse 19 of genesis 19 lot says behold verse 19 of genesis 19 lot says behold now thy servant hath found grace in thy now thy servant hath found grace in thy sight and thou sh sight and thou sh magnified thy mercy which thou has magnified thy mercy which thou has showed unto me and was saving my life i showed unto me and was saving my life i can't escape to the mount unless some can't escape to the mount unless some evil overtake me and i die that's how illogical we are brethren and sisters how inconsistent it's no good sisters how inconsistent it's no good pointing the finger at lot before we pointing the finger at lot before we point it here is it point it here is it that's just how we are that's just how we are stupid isn't it a lot saying well thank stupid isn't it a lot saying well thank you ever so much for saving my life i'm you ever so much for saving my life i'm so grateful for your great mercy in so grateful for your great mercy in saving my life i can't do what you say i saving my life i can't do what you say i might die might die that's what he says isn't it that's what he says isn't it you've shown great mercy in saving my you've shown great mercy in saving my life but i can't do what you suggest and life but i can't do what you suggest and go to the mountain i might die go to the mountain i might die so he goes to zore instead so he goes to zore instead and he's so afraid in zore that he has and he's so afraid in zore that he has to leave zoro and go to live on the to leave zoro and go to live on the mountain mountain and he's taken all that mercy brethren and he's taken all that mercy brethren says god has expended all that effort to says god has expended all that effort to get lot back to the mountain get lot back to the mountain from where he started when he first left from where he started when he first left abraham abraham isn't that a salutary lesson and aren't we sometimes just as foolish and just as illogical and just as and just as illogical and just as inconsistent inconsistent here brethren and sisters god has given here brethren and sisters god has given us release us release he's given us freedom he's given us more he's given us freedom he's given us more than that he's given us life and we turn again to sodom the weak and beggarly elements of the the weak and beggarly elements of the world world because there's a security there that we because there's a security there that we rather like rather like we've got jobs we've got jobs and houses and houses and cars and cars and material possessions the unknown there's no attractions does it but it's that unknown that god demands that we seek that we seek with our trust and confidence with our trust and confidence firmly firmly in him and strengthen us and bless us we pray the earnestly that we may lead lives the earnestly that we may lead lives that are a delight unto thee that we may so live that thou wilt take pleasure in us that thou wilt take pleasure in us that we may be a cause of rejoicing that we may be a cause of rejoicing unto thee unto thee and unto one another and unto one another through jesus christ our lord through jesus christ our lord amen