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WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.059 x I<00:00:01.100><c> forgot</c><00:00:02.500><c> to</c><00:00:02.779><c> mention</c><00:00:03.259><c> over</c><00:00:03.899><c> the</c><00:00:04.059><c> last</c><00:00:04.259><c> couple</c><00:00:04.540><c> of</c><00:00:04.719><c> weeks</c><00:00:04.860><c> for</c> 00:00:05.059 --> 00:00:08.179 x some<00:00:05.299><c> reason,</c><00:00:06.879><c> I</c><00:00:07.040><c> was</c><00:00:07.259><c> out</c><00:00:07.480><c> in</c><00:00:07.660><c> Indiana</c> 00:00:08.179 --> 00:00:12.039 x a<00:00:08.900><c> couple</c><00:00:09.039><c> of</c><00:00:09.220><c> weeks</c><00:00:09.400><c> ago,</c><00:00:10.320><c> the</c><00:00:10.419><c> week</c><00:00:10.560><c> before</c><00:00:10.900><c> Thanksgiving,</c> 00:00:12.060 --> 00:00:16.839 x where<00:00:12.240><c> I</c><00:00:12.560><c> exhorted.</c><00:00:14.199><c> And</c><00:00:14.599><c> the</c><00:00:16.260><c> presiding</c><00:00:16.620><c> brother</c> 00:00:16.839 --> 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he</c><00:00:33.219><c> feels</c><00:00:33.520><c> good,</c><00:00:33.859><c> and</c><00:00:34.119><c> he</c><00:00:34.219><c> asked</c><00:00:34.640><c> that</c><00:00:35.020><c> I</c><00:00:35.320><c> please</c><00:00:35.539><c> personally</c><00:00:36.039><c> extend</c> 00:00:36.820 --> 00:00:38.799 x his<00:00:37.479><c> love</c><00:00:37.679><c> and</c><00:00:37.960><c> greetings</c><00:00:38.280><c> to</c> 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:41.340 x those<00:00:39.039><c> here</c><00:00:39.280><c> in</c><00:00:39.479><c> Boston.</c><00:00:39.960><c> He</c><00:00:40.159><c> remembers</c><00:00:40.500><c> visiting</c><00:00:40.880><c> here</c><00:00:41.200><c> in</c> 00:00:41.340 --> 00:00:43.280 x the<00:00:41.500><c> days</c><00:00:41.640><c> of</c><00:00:41.820><c> his</c><00:00:42.020><c> youth,</c><00:00:42.579><c> and</c><00:00:42.899><c> he</c><00:00:43.060><c> hopes</c> 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:48.060 x he's<00:00:43.600><c> remembered</c><00:00:43.979><c> by</c><00:00:44.520><c> some</c><00:00:44.799><c> of</c><00:00:44.960><c> us</c><00:00:45.159><c> here.</c><00:00:46.479><c> So,</c><00:00:47.340><c> with</c><00:00:47.579><c> that</c> 00:00:48.060 --> 00:00:50.859 x said,<00:00:49.179><c> today's</c><00:00:49.579><c> excitation</c><00:00:50.259><c> comes</c> 00:00:50.859 --> 00:00:56.340 x from<00:00:51.439><c> Zephaniah.</c><00:00:53.979><c> And</c><00:00:54.479><c> I</c><00:00:54.619><c> think</c><00:00:54.840><c> it's</c><00:00:55.280><c> a</c><00:00:55.439><c> fair</c><00:00:55.640><c> statement</c><00:00:56.020><c> to</c> 00:00:56.340 --> 00:00:58.780 x say<00:00:56.539><c> that</c><00:00:56.840><c> throughout</c><00:00:57.179><c> the</c><00:00:57.399><c> Old</c><00:00:57.640><c> Testament,</c> 00:00:58.820 --> 00:01:04.519 x we<00:00:59.159><c> are</c><00:00:59.619><c> educated</c><00:01:00.359><c> in</c><00:01:01.100><c> regards</c><00:01:01.579><c> to</c><00:01:01.840><c> the</c><00:01:02.119><c> relationship</c><00:01:02.960><c> between</c><00:01:03.899><c> God</c> 00:01:04.519 --> 00:01:09.819 x and<00:01:05.739><c> his</c><00:01:06.060><c> creation,</c><00:01:08.120><c> especially</c><00:01:08.819><c> the</c> 00:01:09.819 --> 00:01:19.540 x world<00:01:10.439><c> that</c><00:01:10.879><c> he</c><00:01:11.319><c> loves,</c><00:01:12.640><c> namely</c><00:01:13.140><c> Israel.</c><00:01:16.219><c> In</c><00:01:16.620><c> Genesis,</c><00:01:18.739><c> we</c><00:01:19.060><c> read</c><00:01:19.340><c> of</c> 00:01:19.540 --> 00:01:21.340 x the<00:01:19.819><c> rapid</c><00:01:20.180><c> downfall</c> 00:01:21.460 --> 00:01:27.620 x of<00:01:21.760><c> man,</c><00:01:24.180><c> starting</c><00:01:24.400><c> in</c><00:01:24.620><c> the</c><00:01:24.780><c> Garden</c><00:01:25.019><c> of</c><00:01:25.260><c> Eden</c><00:01:25.859><c> and</c><00:01:26.920><c> spiraling</c> 00:01:27.620 --> 00:01:30.819 x downwards<00:01:28.359><c> to</c><00:01:28.920><c> the</c><00:01:29.140><c> day</c><00:01:29.819><c> of</c><00:01:30.099><c> the</c><00:01:30.359><c> great</c> 00:01:30.819 --> 00:01:40.620 x flood.<00:01:33.420><c> We</c><00:01:33.900><c> learn</c><00:01:34.260><c> such</c><00:01:34.620><c> history</c><00:01:35.439><c> as</c><00:01:36.840><c> the</c><00:01:37.140><c> calling</c><00:01:37.379><c> of</c><00:01:37.640><c> Abraham,</c><00:01:40.420><c> his</c> 00:01:40.620 --> 00:01:44.640 x obedience,<00:01:42.640><c> his</c><00:01:43.040><c> faithfulness.</c> 00:01:45.079 --> 00:01:48.099 x Can<00:01:45.280><c> you</c><00:01:45.420><c> imagine</c><00:01:45.900><c> being</c><00:01:46.200><c> told</c><00:01:46.719><c> to</c><00:01:47.140><c> leave</c><00:01:47.379><c> the</c><00:01:47.640><c> land</c><00:01:47.879><c> where</c> 00:01:48.099 --> 00:01:49.920 x you<00:01:48.400><c> live,</c><00:01:48.620><c> where</c><00:01:48.819><c> you</c><00:01:49.040><c> grew</c><00:01:49.239><c> up,</c><00:01:49.500><c> all</c><00:01:49.680><c> your</c> 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:56.739 x family,<00:01:50.939><c> and</c><00:01:51.180><c> go</c><00:01:51.840><c> to</c><00:01:52.560><c> a</c><00:01:52.760><c> place</c><00:01:53.299><c> that</c><00:01:54.620><c> God</c><00:01:54.879><c> has</c><00:01:55.159><c> decided?</c><00:01:56.459><c> Well,</c> 00:01:56.739 --> 00:01:58.400 x where<00:01:56.799><c> am</c><00:01:56.939><c> I</c><00:01:57.060><c> going?</c><00:01:57.620><c> You'll</c><00:01:57.900><c> find</c><00:01:58.120><c> out</c><00:01:58.280><c> when</c> 00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:03.939 x you<00:01:58.500><c> get</c><00:01:58.760><c> there.</c><00:02:00.420><c> What</c><00:02:00.599><c> an</c><00:02:00.939><c> incredible</c><00:02:01.420><c> act</c><00:02:01.840><c> of</c><00:02:02.180><c> faith.</c><00:02:03.420><c> I</c><00:02:03.599><c> know</c><00:02:03.719><c> we</c> 00:02:03.939 --> 00:02:05.599 x always<00:02:04.200><c> think</c><00:02:04.480><c> of</c><00:02:04.700><c> Abraham</c><00:02:05.019><c> as</c><00:02:05.200><c> a</c><00:02:05.379><c> faithful</c> 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yeah,</c><00:02:31.560><c> she</c><00:02:32.340><c> was</c><00:02:32.560><c> his</c><00:02:32.840><c> half</c><00:02:33.080><c>-sister,</c><00:02:33.560><c> but</c><00:02:34.439><c> we</c> 00:02:34.900 --> 00:02:36.240 x knew<00:02:35.020><c> that</c><00:02:35.280><c> wasn't</c><00:02:35.520><c> the</c><00:02:35.719><c> point</c><00:02:35.879><c> that</c><00:02:36.000><c> was</c> 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:39.780 x trying<00:02:36.539><c> to</c><00:02:36.719><c> be</c><00:02:36.919><c> made.</c><00:02:37.460><c> But</c><00:02:37.680><c> in</c><00:02:37.979><c> general,</c><00:02:38.719><c> we</c><00:02:38.919><c> really</c><00:02:39.340><c> look</c><00:02:39.560><c> at</c> 00:02:39.780 --> 00:02:43.319 x Abraham<00:02:40.300><c> as</c><00:02:40.680><c> a</c><00:02:40.919><c> pillar</c><00:02:41.280><c> of</c><00:02:42.000><c> truth</c><00:02:42.500><c> and</c><00:02:43.060><c> with</c> 00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:51.960 x good<00:02:43.439><c> reason</c><00:02:43.939><c> and</c><00:02:44.699><c> with</c><00:02:44.919><c> good</c><00:02:45.199><c> reason.</c><00:02:48.379><c> Jacob's</c><00:02:49.280><c> sons,</c><00:02:51.439><c> we</c><00:02:51.620><c> think</c><00:02:51.819><c> of</c> 00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:54.580 x their<00:02:52.159><c> betrayal</c><00:02:52.759><c> to</c><00:02:54.400><c> their</c> 00:02:54.580 --> 00:03:00.060 x young<00:02:54.800><c> brother</c><00:02:55.080><c> Joseph,</c><00:02:57.259><c> but</c><00:02:57.960><c> we</c><00:02:58.520><c> can</c><00:02:58.740><c> also</c><00:02:59.020><c> be</c><00:02:59.340><c> encouraged</c> 00:03:00.060 --> 00:03:07.099 x by<00:03:01.460><c> their</c><00:03:01.979><c> repentance</c><00:03:02.580><c> later</c><00:03:03.819><c> in</c><00:03:04.099><c> life.</c><00:03:06.680><c> We</c><00:03:06.900><c> think</c> 00:03:07.099 --> 00:03:12.300 x of<00:03:07.180><c> Joseph</c><00:03:07.699><c> in</c><00:03:07.900><c> Egypt,</c><00:03:09.840><c> the</c><00:03:10.080><c> 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we</c><00:03:27.680><c> see</c><00:03:27.860><c> that</c><00:03:28.060><c> even</c><00:03:28.360><c> in</c> 00:03:28.620 --> 00:03:31.460 x diversity,<00:03:29.580><c> God</c><00:03:30.099><c> has</c><00:03:30.740><c> a</c><00:03:31.039><c> plan</c> 00:03:31.460 --> 00:03:37.080 x and<00:03:32.120><c> his</c><00:03:32.560><c> works</c><00:03:33.199><c> will</c><00:03:33.639><c> be</c><00:03:34.020><c> accomplished.</c><00:03:35.599><c> We</c><00:03:36.159><c> can't</c><00:03:36.620><c> expect</c> 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:39.520 x to<00:03:37.419><c> always</c><00:03:37.719><c> be</c><00:03:38.060><c> living</c><00:03:38.300><c> in</c><00:03:38.639><c> wonderful</c><00:03:39.120><c> and</c> 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:45.960 x happy<00:03:39.900><c> times.</c><00:03:40.699><c> If</c><00:03:40.979><c> we</c><00:03:41.240><c> did,</c><00:03:41.919><c> what</c><00:03:42.080><c> would</c><00:03:42.259><c> the</c><00:03:42.460><c> point</c><00:03:42.680><c> of</c><00:03:42.860><c> the</c><00:03:43.120><c> kingdom</c><00:03:43.400><c> be?</c><00:03:44.560><c> Because</c><00:03:45.000><c> there</c><00:03:45.240><c> is</c><00:03:45.419><c> a</c><00:03:45.639><c> much</c> 00:03:45.960 --> 00:03:49.560 x greater<00:03:46.360><c> time</c><00:03:46.719><c> to</c><00:03:47.039><c> come.</c><00:03:47.620><c> Yes,</c><00:03:47.979><c> we</c><00:03:48.199><c> do</c><00:03:48.500><c> have</c><00:03:48.780><c> difficulties</c><00:03:49.360><c> in</c> 00:03:49.560 --> 00:03:53.879 x this<00:03:49.800><c> present</c><00:03:50.120><c> age,</c><00:03:51.900><c> but</c><00:03:52.759><c> maybe</c><00:03:53.039><c> it</c><00:03:53.240><c> makes</c><00:03:53.580><c> us</c> 00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:57.759 x look<00:03:54.060><c> that</c><00:03:54.319><c> much</c><00:03:54.580><c> more</c><00:03:54.979><c> forward</c><00:03:55.580><c> to</c><00:03:56.139><c> the</c><00:03:56.400><c> great</c><00:03:56.620><c> hope</c><00:03:57.159><c> that</c><00:03:57.560><c> is</c> 00:03:57.759 --> 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great</c><00:04:17.240><c> exodus</c><00:04:17.660><c> from</c><00:04:17.899><c> Egypt,</c> 00:04:20.459 --> 00:04:25.279 x going<00:04:20.819><c> forth</c><00:04:21.180><c> from</c><00:04:21.420><c> a</c><00:04:21.620><c> land</c><00:04:22.540><c> riddled</c><00:04:23.259><c> with</c><00:04:23.600><c> plagues</c><00:04:24.279><c> and</c><00:04:24.759><c> yet</c> 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:29.439 x the<00:04:25.860><c> plagues</c><00:04:26.120><c> escaped</c><00:04:26.660><c> them.</c><00:04:28.839><c> In</c><00:04:29.040><c> Egypt</c> 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:33.360 x there<00:04:29.600><c> were</c><00:04:29.959><c> plagues,</c><00:04:31.899><c> but</c><00:04:32.019><c> in</c><00:04:32.240><c> Goshen</c><00:04:32.560><c> where</c><00:04:32.800><c> the</c><00:04:33.100><c> slaves</c> 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:37.860 x dwelled,<00:04:34.199><c> they</c><00:04:34.339><c> were</c><00:04:34.699><c> spared.</c><00:04:37.079><c> And</c><00:04:37.680><c> what</c> 00:04:37.860 --> 00:04:43.399 x about<00:04:38.019><c> the</c><00:04:38.300><c> angel</c><00:04:38.500><c> of</c><00:04:38.740><c> death</c><00:04:39.519><c> and</c><00:04:41.060><c> the</c><00:04:41.300><c> Passover</c><00:04:41.720><c> dinner?</c><00:04:43.060><c> To</c> 00:04:43.399 --> 00:04:45.860 x have<00:04:43.540><c> the</c><00:04:43.920><c> faith</c><00:04:44.220><c> to</c><00:04:44.500><c> follow</c><00:04:44.839><c> the</c><00:04:45.399><c> instructions</c> 00:04:45.860 --> 00:04:51.980 x that<00:04:46.139><c> Moses</c><00:04:46.560><c> gave</c><00:04:46.980><c> them</c><00:04:47.259><c> through</c><00:04:47.519><c> the</c><00:04:47.759><c> Lord,</c><00:04:49.779><c> prepare</c><00:04:50.199><c> the</c><00:04:50.480><c> dinner,</c><00:04:51.540><c> eat</c><00:04:51.779><c> it</c> 00:04:51.980 --> 00:04:54.019 x in<00:04:52.180><c> haste,</c><00:04:53.220><c> eat</c><00:04:53.379><c> it</c><00:04:53.579><c> in</c><00:04:53.720><c> this</c> 00:04:54.019 --> 00:05:01.220 x manner,<00:04:54.699><c> be</c><00:04:54.939><c> ready</c><00:04:55.220><c> to</c><00:04:55.500><c> go,</c><00:04:57.779><c> because</c><00:04:58.019><c> we're</c><00:04:58.220><c> going</c><00:04:58.420><c> out</c><00:04:58.759><c> quickly.</c><00:05:00.939><c> And</c> 00:05:01.220 --> 00:05:08.000 x so<00:05:01.399><c> they</c><00:05:01.620><c> did.</c><00:05:06.720><c> And</c><00:05:07.279><c> not</c><00:05:07.480><c> to</c><00:05:07.699><c> mention</c> 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:11.879 x the<00:05:08.279><c> fact</c><00:05:08.480><c> that</c><00:05:08.699><c> Moses</c><00:05:09.579><c> fulfilled</c><00:05:10.500><c> the</c><00:05:10.779><c> request</c><00:05:11.160><c> of</c><00:05:11.399><c> Joseph</c> 00:05:11.879 --> 00:05:15.959 x in<00:05:12.660><c> carrying</c><00:05:12.980><c> his</c><00:05:13.420><c> bones</c><00:05:14.019><c> out</c><00:05:14.779><c> of</c><00:05:14.959><c> Egypt.</c> 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:20.160 x Oh,<00:05:17.899><c> and</c><00:05:18.019><c> let</c><00:05:18.139><c> us</c><00:05:18.379><c> not</c><00:05:18.560><c> forget</c><00:05:18.819><c> the</c><00:05:19.079><c> great</c><00:05:19.259><c> miracles</c><00:05:19.800><c> in</c><00:05:20.000><c> the</c> 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:24.500 x wilderness,<00:05:22.560><c> the</c><00:05:22.800><c> piding</c><00:05:23.040><c> of</c><00:05:23.259><c> the</c><00:05:23.399><c> Red</c><00:05:23.699><c> Sea</c> 00:05:24.939 --> 00:05:29.699 x Oh,<00:05:25.600><c> despite</c><00:05:25.879><c> the</c><00:05:26.160><c> grumblings</c><00:05:26.579><c> and</c><00:05:26.779><c> the</c><00:05:27.120><c> fear</c><00:05:27.279><c> of</c><00:05:27.459><c> the</c><00:05:27.660><c> people,</c><00:05:28.980><c> oh,</c><00:05:29.199><c> were</c><00:05:29.279><c> there</c><00:05:29.420><c> no</c> 00:05:29.699 --> 00:05:30.519 x graves<00:05:30.000><c> in</c><00:05:30.240><c> Egypt</c> 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:35.699 x that<00:05:30.720><c> we</c><00:05:30.899><c> should</c><00:05:31.079><c> die</c><00:05:31.399><c> here</c><00:05:31.639><c> in</c><00:05:31.720><c> the</c><00:05:31.879><c> wilderness?</c><00:05:34.199><c> No</c><00:05:34.579><c> problem,</c><00:05:35.240><c> just</c><00:05:35.439><c> have</c><00:05:35.579><c> a</c> 00:05:35.699 --> 00:05:36.379 x little<00:05:35.920><c> padding</c><00:05:36.160><c> of</c> 00:05:36.379 --> 00:05:41.759 x the<00:05:36.500><c> ocean.</c><00:05:38.699><c> Oh,</c><00:05:39.000><c> problem</c><00:05:39.259><c> for</c><00:05:39.519><c> us,</c><00:05:39.779><c> yes.</c><00:05:40.259><c> Problem</c><00:05:40.579><c> for</c><00:05:40.839><c> God,</c> 00:05:42.019 --> 00:05:51.300 x no.<00:05:46.480><c> The</c><00:05:46.959><c> receiving</c><00:05:47.279><c> of</c><00:05:47.500><c> the</c><00:05:47.680><c> Ten</c><00:05:47.879><c> Commandments</c> 00:05:51.730 --> 00:05:57.259 x followed<00:05:52.180><c> by</c><00:05:52.980><c> the</c><00:05:53.160><c> building</c><00:05:53.459><c> of</c><00:05:53.720><c> a</c><00:05:53.860><c> golden</c><00:05:54.180><c> calf.</c><00:05:56.860><c> They're</c> 00:05:57.259 --> 00:06:03.060 x already<00:05:58.240><c> worshipping</c><00:05:59.319><c> false</c><00:06:00.100><c> gods.</c><00:06:02.720><c> That</c> 00:06:03.060 --> 00:06:07.699 x brass<00:06:03.459><c> serpent,</c><00:06:04.399><c> a</c><00:06:04.540><c> salvation</c><00:06:05.040><c> to</c><00:06:05.240><c> the</c><00:06:05.420><c> venomous</c><00:06:05.920><c> snake</c><00:06:06.199><c> bites</c><00:06:06.620><c> of</c><00:06:07.480><c> a</c> 00:06:07.699 --> 00:06:11.819 x murmuring<00:06:08.180><c> people.</c><00:06:10.759><c> And</c><00:06:11.459><c> the</c> 00:06:11.819 --> 00:06:15.579 x premature<00:06:12.259><c> death</c><00:06:12.540><c> of</c><00:06:12.779><c> Moses,</c><00:06:13.699><c> his</c><00:06:13.879><c> punishment</c><00:06:14.420><c> for</c><00:06:15.259><c> striking</c> 00:06:15.579 --> 00:06:20.779 x the<00:06:15.860><c> rock.</c><00:06:18.920><c> Triumph,</c><00:06:20.759><c> triumph</c><00:06:20.779><c> of</c><00:06:20.779><c> the</c> 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:26.259 x people<00:06:21.480><c> living</c><00:06:21.879><c> in</c><00:06:22.060><c> the</c><00:06:22.379><c> promised</c><00:06:22.680><c> land</c><00:06:23.100><c> when</c><00:06:23.860><c> Israel</c><00:06:24.300><c> obeyed</c> 00:06:26.259 --> 00:06:32.319 x and<00:06:26.759><c> destruction</c><00:06:27.500><c> when</c><00:06:28.939><c> they</c><00:06:29.220><c> disobeyed.</c> 00:06:32.339 --> 00:06:37.060 x These,<00:06:33.800><c> excuse</c><00:06:34.240><c> me,</c><00:06:34.480><c> there</c><00:06:34.540><c> were</c><00:06:34.740><c> many,</c><00:06:35.480><c> many</c><00:06:36.040><c> good</c><00:06:36.379><c> judges</c> 00:06:37.060 --> 00:06:41.519 x such<00:06:38.120><c> as</c><00:06:38.360><c> Eli</c><00:06:38.800><c> who</c><00:06:40.439><c> unfortunately</c><00:06:41.120><c> came</c> 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:50.779 x up<00:06:41.879><c> short</c><00:06:42.319><c> at</c><00:06:42.740><c> the</c><00:06:42.939><c> end</c><00:06:43.379><c> and</c><00:06:44.240><c> whose</c><00:06:44.560><c> children</c><00:06:45.180><c> did</c><00:06:45.779><c> not</c><00:06:46.040><c> walk</c><00:06:46.639><c> in</c><00:06:47.279><c> God's</c><00:06:47.740><c> way.</c><00:06:49.620><c> Sometimes</c><00:06:50.100><c> I</c><00:06:50.360><c> think</c> 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:56.220 x King<00:06:51.360><c> Saul</c><00:06:52.040><c> was</c><00:06:52.759><c> thrust</c><00:06:53.000><c> into</c><00:06:53.259><c> a</c><00:06:53.459><c> position</c><00:06:53.860><c> that</c><00:06:54.180><c> he</c><00:06:55.139><c> personally</c><00:06:55.560><c> did</c><00:06:55.819><c> not</c> 00:06:56.220 --> 00:06:58.899 x seek,<00:06:57.060><c> but</c><00:06:57.899><c> he</c><00:06:58.420><c> was</c><00:06:58.660><c> still</c> 00:06:58.899 --> 00:07:05.819 x very<00:06:59.319><c> fond</c><00:06:59.600><c> of</c><00:06:59.819><c> the</c><00:07:00.019><c> perks.</c><00:07:03.000><c> He</c><00:07:03.399><c> did</c><00:07:03.680><c> some</c><00:07:04.000><c> things</c><00:07:04.319><c> very</c><00:07:04.759><c> well,</c> 00:07:06.620 --> 00:07:09.379 x but<00:07:06.819><c> ended</c><00:07:07.120><c> up</c><00:07:08.259><c> serving</c><00:07:08.720><c> as</c><00:07:09.040><c> a</c><00:07:09.220><c> prime</c> 00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:16.040 x example<00:07:10.360><c> of</c><00:07:11.000><c> why</c><00:07:11.980><c> God's</c><00:07:12.779><c> choice</c><00:07:13.399><c> is</c><00:07:14.300><c> so</c><00:07:14.620><c> much</c><00:07:14.879><c> better</c><00:07:15.480><c> than</c> 00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:17.579 x man's<00:07:16.600><c> choice.</c> 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:25.279 x After<00:07:19.800><c> Saul,</c><00:07:21.959><c> there</c><00:07:22.000><c> were</c><00:07:22.240><c> kings</c><00:07:22.660><c> such</c><00:07:23.000><c> as</c><00:07:23.220><c> David</c><00:07:23.680><c> who</c><00:07:25.019><c> were</c> 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:30.160 x righteous<00:07:25.620><c> in</c><00:07:25.819><c> God's</c><00:07:27.060><c> sight,</c><00:07:28.660><c> but</c><00:07:28.699><c> unfortunately</c> 00:07:30.660 --> 00:07:39.139 x there<00:07:31.220><c> were</c><00:07:31.459><c> many</c><00:07:32.120><c> who</c><00:07:32.899><c> were</c><00:07:33.360><c> far</c><00:07:33.579><c> beyond</c><00:07:34.339><c> evil.</c><00:07:38.120><c> The</c><00:07:38.540><c> worship</c> 00:07:39.139 --> 00:07:43.279 x of<00:07:39.800><c> idols.</c><00:07:41.360><c> After</c><00:07:41.759><c> all</c><00:07:42.319><c> this</c><00:07:42.660><c> nation</c> 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:50.560 x had<00:07:43.680><c> witnessed,</c><00:07:45.259><c> after</c><00:07:45.620><c> all</c><00:07:46.120><c> the</c><00:07:46.439><c> history</c><00:07:46.860><c> of</c><00:07:47.160><c> being</c><00:07:47.439><c> in</c><00:07:47.740><c> Egypt,</c><00:07:49.100><c> after</c><00:07:49.360><c> being</c><00:07:49.839><c> brought</c><00:07:50.220><c> out</c> 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:51.079 x of<00:07:50.759><c> that</c> 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:55.519 x land,<00:07:53.540><c> the</c><00:07:53.720><c> things</c><00:07:53.899><c> they</c><00:07:54.180><c> went</c><00:07:54.360><c> through</c><00:07:54.680><c> in</c><00:07:54.860><c> the</c><00:07:55.040><c> wilderness</c> 00:07:55.519 --> 00:08:00.920 x to<00:07:56.720><c> have</c><00:07:57.120><c> the</c><00:07:57.740><c> absolute</c><00:07:58.480><c> gall</c><00:07:59.240><c> to</c><00:08:00.639><c> put</c> 00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:07.819 x God<00:08:01.279><c> aside</c><00:08:01.959><c> and</c><00:08:02.279><c> worse</c><00:08:02.620><c> than</c><00:08:02.819><c> put</c><00:08:03.000><c> him</c><00:08:03.300><c> aside,</c><00:08:04.199><c> to</c><00:08:04.399><c> worship</c><00:08:04.839><c> false</c><00:08:05.439><c> gods.</c><00:08:07.060><c> Bad</c><00:08:07.259><c> enough</c><00:08:07.620><c> to</c> 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:08.279 x put<00:08:07.959><c> him</c> 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:18.259 x aside,<00:08:09.959><c> but</c><00:08:10.759><c> to</c><00:08:11.160><c> throw</c><00:08:11.300><c> him</c><00:08:11.600><c> aside</c><00:08:12.339><c> and</c><00:08:13.100><c> worship</c><00:08:13.600><c> another</c><00:08:13.920><c> God?</c><00:08:17.740><c> What</c><00:08:17.939><c> a</c> 00:08:18.259 --> 00:08:19.819 x terrible,<00:08:18.759><c> terrible</c><00:08:19.360><c> chapter</c> 00:08:19.819 --> 00:08:31.660 x in<00:08:20.240><c> world's</c><00:08:20.680><c> history.</c><00:08:23.660><c> They</c><00:08:24.079><c> sacrificed</c><00:08:24.980><c> their</c><00:08:25.819><c> own</c><00:08:26.500><c> children</c><00:08:27.220><c> to</c><00:08:28.759><c> idols.</c><00:08:31.100><c> They</c> 00:08:31.660 --> 00:08:32.820 x killed<00:08:32.200><c> their</c> 00:08:32.820 --> 00:08:40.240 x own<00:08:33.080><c> children,</c><00:08:34.919><c> sacrificing</c><00:08:35.840><c> them</c><00:08:36.240><c> to</c><00:08:36.659><c> false</c><00:08:37.220><c> gods.</c><00:08:39.419><c> This</c><00:08:39.820><c> is</c> 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:43.379 x the<00:08:40.399><c> nation</c><00:08:41.039><c> that</c><00:08:41.720><c> God</c><00:08:42.019><c> brought</c><00:08:42.340><c> out</c><00:08:42.659><c> of</c> 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:48.559 x Egypt<00:08:43.980><c> and</c><00:08:45.840><c> this</c><00:08:46.080><c> is</c><00:08:46.360><c> the</c><00:08:46.539><c> thanks</c><00:08:47.080><c> he</c><00:08:47.620><c> gets.</c> 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:58.759 x By<00:08:51.860><c> the</c><00:08:52.100><c> time</c><00:08:52.740><c> we</c><00:08:54.120><c> get</c><00:08:54.360><c> to</c><00:08:54.500><c> the</c><00:08:54.700><c> prophet</c><00:08:55.519><c> Zephaniah,</c><00:08:58.059><c> God</c><00:08:58.440><c> is</c> 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:02.799 x ready<00:08:59.039><c> to,</c><00:08:59.659><c> as</c><00:09:00.080><c> stated</c><00:09:00.419><c> in</c><00:09:00.840><c> verse</c><00:09:01.360><c> 2,</c><00:09:02.639><c> utterly</c> 00:09:02.820 --> 00:09:07.120 x consume<00:09:03.679><c> all</c><00:09:04.100><c> things</c><00:09:04.519><c> from</c><00:09:04.799><c> off</c><00:09:05.059><c> the</c><00:09:05.240><c> earth,</c><00:09:06.460><c> consume</c><00:09:06.759><c> man</c> 00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:10.720 x and<00:09:07.399><c> beasts,</c><00:09:07.980><c> fowls,</c><00:09:08.679><c> fish,</c><00:09:09.580><c> and</c><00:09:09.840><c> cut</c><00:09:10.019><c> off</c><00:09:10.340><c> man</c> 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:14.899 x from<00:09:10.980><c> the</c><00:09:11.200><c> land.</c><00:09:12.840><c> A</c><00:09:13.179><c> sentence</c><00:09:13.399><c> that</c><00:09:13.639><c> was</c><00:09:13.919><c> carried</c><00:09:14.200><c> out</c><00:09:14.500><c> on</c><00:09:14.659><c> the</c> 00:09:14.899 --> 00:09:17.820 x sons<00:09:15.159><c> of</c><00:09:15.480><c> Adam</c><00:09:15.759><c> in</c><00:09:16.019><c> a</c><00:09:16.240><c> worldwide</c><00:09:16.740><c> flood,</c> 00:09:18.500 --> 00:09:23.100 x but<00:09:18.580><c> a</c><00:09:18.779><c> punishment</c><00:09:19.279><c> that</c><00:09:20.080><c> the</c><00:09:20.340><c> children</c><00:09:20.659><c> of</c><00:09:20.919><c> Abraham</c><00:09:21.539><c> were</c><00:09:22.360><c> spared.</c> 00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:29.559 x Through<00:09:25.379><c> all</c><00:09:25.700><c> this,</c><00:09:27.379><c> Zephaniah</c><00:09:27.879><c> was</c><00:09:28.299><c> trying</c><00:09:28.720><c> to</c><00:09:29.059><c> lead</c><00:09:29.279><c> the</c> 00:09:29.559 --> 00:09:32.799 x people<00:09:29.860><c> away</c><00:09:30.340><c> from</c><00:09:30.659><c> idolatry</c><00:09:31.940><c> and</c><00:09:32.759><c> toward</c> 00:09:32.820 --> 00:09:41.179 x repentance.<00:09:36.039><c> From</c><00:09:36.320><c> his</c><00:09:36.620><c> own</c><00:09:36.899><c> personal</c><00:09:37.460><c> lineage</c><00:09:38.000><c> that</c><00:09:39.000><c> our</c><00:09:39.360><c> brother</c><00:09:39.720><c> Chris</c><00:09:40.259><c> read</c><00:09:40.799><c> so</c> 00:09:41.179 --> 00:09:42.639 x well<00:09:41.299><c> this</c><00:09:41.620><c> morning,</c> 00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:53.399 x it<00:09:45.059><c> is</c><00:09:45.299><c> apparent</c><00:09:45.899><c> that</c><00:09:47.019><c> he</c><00:09:47.539><c> is</c><00:09:48.379><c> a</c><00:09:48.639><c> descendant</c><00:09:49.860><c> of</c><00:09:50.379><c> King</c><00:09:50.820><c> Hezekiah.</c><00:09:53.059><c> Notice</c> 00:09:53.399 --> 00:09:54.919 x he<00:09:53.519><c> doesn't</c><00:09:53.980><c> list</c><00:09:54.299><c> a</c><00:09:54.639><c> whole</c> 00:09:54.919 --> 00:10:01.559 x lot<00:09:55.220><c> of</c><00:09:56.639><c> family</c><00:09:57.799><c> history</c><00:09:58.360><c> here.</c><00:09:58.840><c> In</c><00:09:59.159><c> a</c><00:09:59.240><c> lot</c><00:09:59.460><c> of</c><00:09:59.980><c> books,</c><00:10:00.419><c> it</c><00:10:00.960><c> goes</c><00:10:01.279><c> on</c> 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:02.799 x for<00:10:01.759><c> a</c><00:10:01.799><c> whole</c><00:10:02.120><c> chapter</c><00:10:02.679><c> on</c><00:10:02.799><c> Zephaniah</c> 00:10:02.820 --> 00:10:05.700 x and<00:10:03.259><c> someone's</c><00:10:03.820><c> begat</c><00:10:04.139><c> someone,</c><00:10:04.679><c> begat</c><00:10:04.919><c> someone</c><00:10:05.279><c> else,</c><00:10:05.700><c> and</c> 00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:09.879 x onward.<00:10:07.139><c> Zephaniah</c><00:10:07.639><c> doesn't</c><00:10:09.600><c> seem</c> 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:12.820 x to<00:10:10.039><c> do</c><00:10:10.240><c> that.</c><00:10:11.159><c> Maybe</c><00:10:11.440><c> because</c><00:10:11.799><c> there</c><00:10:11.899><c> were</c><00:10:12.039><c> so</c><00:10:12.259><c> many</c><00:10:12.460><c> people</c> 00:10:12.820 --> 00:10:14.659 x in<00:10:12.919><c> his</c><00:10:13.220><c> family</c><00:10:13.559><c> line</c><00:10:13.860><c> that</c><00:10:14.019><c> he</c><00:10:14.179><c> just</c><00:10:14.440><c> didn't</c> 00:10:14.659 --> 00:10:19.639 x want<00:10:14.899><c> to</c><00:10:15.059><c> mention.</c><00:10:17.019><c> When</c><00:10:17.200><c> you</c><00:10:17.360><c> think</c><00:10:17.500><c> of</c><00:10:17.620><c> some</c><00:10:17.799><c> of</c><00:10:17.940><c> the</c><00:10:18.080><c> acts</c><00:10:18.259><c> they</c><00:10:18.860><c> have</c><00:10:19.100><c> committed,</c><00:10:19.519><c> I</c> 00:10:19.639 --> 00:10:19.980 x don't<00:10:19.820><c> think</c> 00:10:19.980 --> 00:10:26.279 x I'd<00:10:20.220><c> want</c><00:10:20.320><c> to</c><00:10:20.460><c> mention</c><00:10:20.700><c> them</c><00:10:20.879><c> either.</c><00:10:24.500><c> There</c><00:10:24.860><c> is</c><00:10:25.340><c> no</c><00:10:25.799><c> question</c> 00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:29.559 x that<00:10:26.639><c> the</c><00:10:27.820><c> descendants</c><00:10:28.279><c> of</c><00:10:28.620><c> David</c> 00:10:29.419 --> 00:10:34.940 x were<00:10:29.779><c> often</c><00:10:30.240><c> a</c><00:10:30.679><c> heartless</c><00:10:31.399><c> and</c><00:10:31.820><c> a</c><00:10:32.100><c> despicable</c><00:10:32.700><c> lot,</c><00:10:34.539><c> and</c><00:10:34.779><c> yet</c> 00:10:34.940 --> 00:10:38.879 x to<00:10:35.120><c> his</c><00:10:35.440><c> credit,</c><00:10:36.480><c> King</c><00:10:36.779><c> Hezekiah</c><00:10:37.559><c> was</c><00:10:38.679><c> one</c> 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:48.200 x of<00:10:39.000><c> the</c><00:10:39.139><c> good</c><00:10:39.379><c> kings.</c><00:10:41.620><c> In</c><00:10:41.899><c> 2</c><00:10:42.200><c> Kings</c><00:10:42.659><c> 18,</c><00:10:45.379><c> verse</c><00:10:45.840><c> 5,</c><00:10:47.700><c> we're</c><00:10:47.960><c> told</c> 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:50.500 x that<00:10:48.399><c> Hezekiah</c><00:10:49.179><c> trusted</c><00:10:49.659><c> in</c><00:10:49.899><c> the</c><00:10:50.139><c> Lord,</c> 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:56.500 x the<00:10:51.059><c> God</c><00:10:51.259><c> of</c><00:10:51.460><c> Israel.</c><00:10:52.379><c> There</c><00:10:52.600><c> was</c><00:10:52.960><c> no</c><00:10:53.220><c> one</c><00:10:53.419><c> like</c><00:10:53.759><c> him</c><00:10:54.399><c> among</c><00:10:55.039><c> all</c><00:10:55.659><c> the</c><00:10:55.860><c> children</c><00:10:56.159><c> of</c> 00:10:56.500 --> 00:10:58.779 x Judah,<00:10:57.879><c> either</c><00:10:58.259><c> before</c> 00:10:58.779 --> 00:11:05.840 x him<00:10:58.960><c> or</c><00:11:00.059><c> after</c><00:11:00.639><c> him.</c><00:11:02.840><c> Given</c><00:11:03.159><c> the</c><00:11:04.299><c> history</c><00:11:04.779><c> of</c><00:11:05.080><c> idol</c><00:11:05.360><c> worship</c> 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:08.019 x and<00:11:06.120><c> the</c><00:11:06.279><c> total</c><00:11:06.539><c> disregards</c><00:11:07.240><c> of</c><00:11:07.440><c> God's</c> 00:11:08.019 --> 00:11:10.659 x covenant<00:11:08.539><c> that</c><00:11:08.960><c> were</c><00:11:09.200><c> prevalent</c><00:11:09.539><c> throughout</c><00:11:09.940><c> that</c><00:11:10.240><c> time</c><00:11:10.440><c> in</c> 00:11:10.659 --> 00:11:13.159 x history,<00:11:11.620><c> it</c><00:11:11.679><c> is</c><00:11:11.879><c> a</c><00:11:11.980><c> refreshing</c><00:11:12.559><c> feeling</c> 00:11:13.159 --> 00:11:16.139 x to<00:11:13.460><c> know</c><00:11:13.940><c> that</c><00:11:14.399><c> there</c><00:11:14.639><c> were</c><00:11:14.779><c> those</c><00:11:15.059><c> honorable</c><00:11:15.559><c> descendants</c> 00:11:16.139 --> 00:11:19.919 x of<00:11:16.379><c> King</c><00:11:16.720><c> David</c><00:11:17.340><c> prior</c><00:11:17.899><c> to</c><00:11:18.139><c> the</c><00:11:18.259><c> birth</c><00:11:18.740><c> of</c><00:11:18.980><c> Jesus.</c> 00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:27.840 x It<00:11:21.539><c> was</c><00:11:21.740><c> the</c><00:11:21.960><c> prophet</c><00:11:22.259><c> Isaiah</c><00:11:23.139><c> who</c><00:11:24.299><c> foretold</c><00:11:24.820><c> King</c><00:11:27.019><c> Hezekiah</c> 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:28.759 x that<00:11:28.720><c> the</c><00:11:28.759><c> Lord</c><00:11:28.759><c> of</c><00:11:28.759><c> Israel</c><00:11:28.759><c> would</c><00:11:28.759><c> be</c> 00:11:28.779 --> 00:11:33.480 x and<00:11:28.799><c> the</c><00:11:28.879><c> time</c><00:11:29.519><c> will</c><00:11:30.740><c> surely</c><00:11:31.139><c> come</c><00:11:31.899><c> when</c><00:11:32.500><c> everything</c><00:11:32.960><c> in</c><00:11:33.220><c> your</c> 00:11:33.480 --> 00:11:36.480 x palace<00:11:34.039><c> and</c><00:11:34.740><c> all</c><00:11:35.399><c> that</c><00:11:35.639><c> your</c><00:11:35.919><c> predecessors</c> 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:40.840 x have<00:11:36.899><c> stored</c><00:11:37.120><c> up</c><00:11:37.840><c> until</c><00:11:38.259><c> this</c><00:11:38.659><c> day</c><00:11:39.200><c> will</c><00:11:39.720><c> be</c><00:11:40.000><c> carried</c><00:11:40.240><c> off</c><00:11:40.559><c> to</c> 00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:44.360 x Babylon.<00:11:41.940><c> Nothing</c><00:11:42.379><c> will</c><00:11:42.700><c> be</c><00:11:43.019><c> left,</c><00:11:44.159><c> saith</c> 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:54.860 x the<00:11:45.039><c> Lord.</c><00:11:49.399><c> Likewise,</c><00:11:52.200><c> we</c><00:11:52.379><c> read</c><00:11:52.539><c> of</c><00:11:52.779><c> King</c><00:11:53.019><c> Josiah,</c><00:11:54.460><c> of</c><00:11:54.720><c> whom</c> 00:11:54.860 --> 00:11:58.399 x it<00:11:55.039><c> is</c><00:11:55.279><c> recorded,</c><00:11:56.879><c> he</c><00:11:57.039><c> did</c><00:11:57.480><c> what</c><00:11:57.740><c> was</c><00:11:58.100><c> right</c> 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:01.759 x in<00:11:58.500><c> the</c><00:11:58.700><c> eyes</c><00:11:59.000><c> of</c><00:11:59.220><c> the</c><00:11:59.379><c> Lord</c><00:11:59.759><c> and</c><00:12:00.580><c> followed</c><00:12:00.860><c> completely</c><00:12:01.480><c> the</c> 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:04.500 x ways<00:12:02.039><c> of</c><00:12:02.220><c> his</c><00:12:02.440><c> father</c><00:12:02.759><c> David,</c><00:12:03.879><c> not</c><00:12:04.100><c> turning</c> 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:11.399 x aside<00:12:05.179><c> to</c><00:12:05.659><c> the</c><00:12:05.860><c> right</c><00:12:06.500><c> or</c><00:12:07.320><c> to</c><00:12:07.620><c> the</c><00:12:07.820><c> left.</c><00:12:09.299><c> It</c><00:12:09.740><c> is</c><00:12:10.080><c> obvious</c><00:12:10.580><c> that</c> 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:14.000 x the<00:12:11.659><c> major</c><00:12:12.100><c> religious</c><00:12:12.759><c> reform</c><00:12:13.360><c> accredited</c> 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:24.100 x to<00:12:14.259><c> Josiah</c><00:12:14.940><c> was</c><00:12:15.559><c> necessary,</c><00:12:17.500><c> but</c><00:12:17.639><c> unfortunately</c><00:12:18.720><c> short</c><00:12:19.919><c> lived.</c><00:12:23.940><c> When</c> 00:12:24.100 --> 00:12:27.419 x those<00:12:24.340><c> of</c><00:12:24.620><c> you,</c><00:12:25.919><c> unlike</c><00:12:26.440><c> myself</c> 00:12:27.419 --> 00:12:32.259 x and<00:12:28.100><c> apparently</c><00:12:28.820><c> our</c><00:12:29.220><c> brothers</c><00:12:29.519><c> Steve</c><00:12:29.840><c> Davis</c><00:12:30.279><c> and</c><00:12:30.620><c> Jim</c><00:12:30.940><c> Sullivan,</c><00:12:31.860><c> who</c> 00:12:32.259 --> 00:12:35.759 x do<00:12:32.659><c> follow</c><00:12:33.399><c> the</c><00:12:34.980><c> standard</c><00:12:35.379><c> reading</c> 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:41.840 x plan,<00:12:37.679><c> will</c><00:12:37.840><c> get,</c><00:12:38.500><c> Lord</c><00:12:38.779><c> willing,</c><00:12:40.100><c> to</c><00:12:40.340><c> chapter</c><00:12:40.679><c> 2</c><00:12:41.179><c> tomorrow</c> 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:44.720 x where<00:12:43.080><c> Zephaniah</c><00:12:43.799><c> will</c><00:12:44.039><c> be</c><00:12:44.419><c> speaking</c> 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:50.100 x of<00:12:44.940><c> the</c><00:12:45.299><c> destruction</c><00:12:45.659><c> and</c><00:12:45.860><c> the</c><00:12:46.120><c> judgment</c><00:12:46.600><c> of</c><00:12:47.179><c> Judah's</c><00:12:47.720><c> enemies,</c><00:12:49.940><c> the</c> 00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:54.980 x Philistia,<00:12:51.519><c> Moab,</c><00:12:52.659><c> Assyria,</c><00:12:53.659><c> Ethiopia,</c> 00:12:55.339 --> 00:12:59.100 x and<00:12:56.059><c> then</c><00:12:56.299><c> followed</c><00:12:56.659><c> I</c><00:12:56.779><c> think</c><00:12:56.980><c> in</c><00:12:57.200><c> chapter</c><00:12:57.519><c> 3</c><00:12:57.980><c> by</c><00:12:58.539><c> Jerusalem</c> 00:12:59.100 --> 00:13:03.860 x and<00:12:59.460><c> other</c><00:12:59.659><c> nations</c><00:13:00.120><c> to</c><00:13:00.399><c> come.</c><00:13:02.320><c> Of</c><00:13:02.639><c> Jerusalem</c> 00:13:03.980 --> 00:13:13.860 x it<00:13:04.340><c> is</c><00:13:04.679><c> said,</c><00:13:06.620><c> she</c><00:13:07.100><c> obeys</c><00:13:08.679><c> no</c><00:13:09.120><c> one.</c><00:13:10.620><c> She</c><00:13:10.980><c> accepts</c><00:13:11.399><c> no</c><00:13:11.960><c> correction.</c><00:13:13.340><c> She</c><00:13:13.580><c> does</c> 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:15.720 x not<00:13:14.120><c> trust</c><00:13:14.480><c> in</c><00:13:14.679><c> the</c><00:13:14.899><c> Lord.</c> 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:20.860 x She<00:13:16.159><c> does</c><00:13:16.500><c> not</c><00:13:16.860><c> draw</c><00:13:17.200><c> near</c><00:13:17.679><c> to</c><00:13:17.960><c> the</c><00:13:18.200><c> Lord.</c><00:13:20.080><c> Sounds</c><00:13:20.259><c> more</c><00:13:20.580><c> like</c> 00:13:20.860 --> 00:13:23.580 x a<00:13:21.179><c> spoiled</c><00:13:21.500><c> rotten</c><00:13:21.940><c> daughter</c><00:13:22.539><c> than</c><00:13:23.379><c> the</c> 00:13:23.580 --> 00:13:29.019 x blessing<00:13:23.799><c> of</c><00:13:24.039><c> Abraham's</c><00:13:24.779><c> seed.</c><00:13:26.480><c> And</c><00:13:26.779><c> yet,</c><00:13:28.120><c> like</c><00:13:28.340><c> a</c><00:13:28.639><c> parent</c> 00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:33.299 x who<00:13:29.779><c> loves</c><00:13:30.159><c> his</c><00:13:30.500><c> rebellious</c><00:13:31.139><c> child,</c><00:13:32.720><c> God</c> 00:13:33.299 --> 00:13:40.480 x still<00:13:34.720><c> loves</c><00:13:35.620><c> the</c><00:13:36.179><c> world,</c><00:13:37.379><c> that</c><00:13:37.700><c> being</c><00:13:38.539><c> Israel,</c><00:13:39.840><c> and</c><00:13:40.220><c> loves</c> 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:43.539 x Israel<00:13:40.919><c> to</c><00:13:41.120><c> the</c><00:13:41.360><c> point</c><00:13:41.879><c> that</c><00:13:42.379><c> he</c><00:13:42.620><c> is</c><00:13:42.779><c> prepared</c> 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:53.059 x to<00:13:44.299><c> sacrifice</c><00:13:45.139><c> his</c><00:13:45.759><c> only</c><00:13:46.480><c> begotten</c><00:13:47.460><c> son.</c><00:13:51.139><c> Further,</c><00:13:51.600><c> Zephaniah</c><00:13:52.100><c> tells</c><00:13:52.440><c> us</c> 00:13:53.059 --> 00:13:53.559 x that<00:13:53.559><c> he</c><00:13:53.559><c> is</c><00:13:53.559><c> prepared</c><00:13:53.559><c> to</c> 00:13:53.580 --> 00:13:58.340 x sacrifice<00:13:53.580><c> his</c><00:13:53.580><c> only</c><00:13:53.580><c> begotten</c><00:13:53.580><c> son.</c><00:13:53.580><c> Her</c><00:13:54.200><c> prophets</c><00:13:54.799><c> are</c><00:13:55.840><c> unprincipled.</c><00:13:57.559><c> They</c><00:13:57.799><c> are</c> 00:13:58.340 --> 00:14:00.059 x treacherous<00:13:59.200><c> people.</c> 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:05.580 x Her<00:14:01.860><c> priests</c><00:14:02.240><c> profane</c><00:14:02.960><c> the</c><00:14:03.299><c> sanctuary.</c><00:14:04.460><c> They</c><00:14:04.559><c> do</c><00:14:04.919><c> violence</c> 00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:10.000 x to<00:14:05.860><c> the</c><00:14:06.080><c> law.</c><00:14:09.019><c> And</c><00:14:09.220><c> we're</c><00:14:09.460><c> not</c><00:14:09.700><c> talking</c> 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:15.179 x one<00:14:10.279><c> or</c><00:14:10.399><c> two</c><00:14:10.700><c> isolated</c><00:14:11.340><c> instances</c><00:14:11.879><c> here,</c><00:14:12.379><c> brothers</c><00:14:12.480><c> and</c><00:14:12.799><c> sisters.</c><00:14:13.659><c> We're</c><00:14:14.039><c> talking</c><00:14:14.539><c> an</c> 00:14:15.179 --> 00:14:16.100 x almost<00:14:15.600><c> endless</c> 00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:22.720 x history<00:14:16.639><c> of</c><00:14:17.360><c> such</c><00:14:17.620><c> behavior.</c><00:14:19.200><c> Complete</c><00:14:19.820><c> and</c><00:14:20.360><c> total</c><00:14:20.980><c> disregard</c><00:14:21.899><c> for</c><00:14:22.519><c> the</c> 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:25.139 x word<00:14:22.860><c> of</c><00:14:23.179><c> God</c><00:14:23.600><c> and</c><00:14:24.700><c> for</c><00:14:24.899><c> the</c> 00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:29.639 x principles<00:14:25.720><c> that</c><00:14:26.279><c> they</c><00:14:26.659><c> are</c><00:14:27.039><c> aware</c><00:14:27.440><c> of.</c><00:14:27.919><c> It's</c><00:14:28.240><c> not</c><00:14:28.399><c> like</c><00:14:28.580><c> we're</c><00:14:28.840><c> talking</c><00:14:29.100><c> a</c><00:14:29.240><c> group</c><00:14:29.419><c> of</c> 00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:30.019 x people<00:14:29.840><c> that</c> 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:34.440 x didn't<00:14:30.299><c> know</c><00:14:30.580><c> any</c><00:14:30.879><c> better.</c><00:14:32.320><c> Far</c><00:14:32.460><c> from</c><00:14:32.740><c> it.</c><00:14:33.720><c> The</c><00:14:34.000><c> things</c><00:14:34.179><c> that</c> 00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:37.440 x their<00:14:34.779><c> ancestors</c><00:14:35.200><c> saw</c><00:14:35.580><c> in</c><00:14:35.779><c> Egypt,</c><00:14:37.000><c> the</c><00:14:37.179><c> account</c> 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:41.240 x of<00:14:37.600><c> them</c><00:14:37.759><c> coming</c><00:14:38.039><c> out</c><00:14:38.360><c> across</c><00:14:38.720><c> the</c><00:14:38.960><c> wilderness,</c><00:14:40.639><c> God</c><00:14:40.940><c> giving</c> 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:43.389 x them<00:14:41.519><c> that</c><00:14:41.960><c> promised</c><00:14:42.360><c> land</c><00:14:42.820><c> in</c><00:14:43.080><c> the</c> 00:14:43.389 --> 00:14:49.309 x face<00:14:43.570><c> of</c><00:14:43.889><c> overwhelming</c><00:14:44.549><c> odds.</c><00:14:46.350><c> He</c><00:14:46.590><c> did</c><00:14:46.870><c> all</c><00:14:47.230><c> these</c><00:14:47.529><c> things</c><00:14:47.809><c> for</c><00:14:48.049><c> them.</c><00:14:48.649><c> And</c><00:14:48.970><c> what</c><00:14:49.070><c> is</c> 00:14:49.309 --> 00:14:53.950 x his<00:14:49.690><c> thanks?</c><00:14:53.350><c> What</c> 00:14:53.950 --> 00:15:00.210 x kind<00:14:54.269><c> of</c><00:14:54.470><c> behavior</c><00:14:55.009><c> is</c><00:14:56.149><c> that</c><00:14:56.370><c> to</c><00:14:56.629><c> show?</c><00:14:58.289><c> And</c><00:14:58.529><c> again,</c><00:14:58.710><c> we're</c><00:14:58.909><c> not</c><00:14:59.210><c> talking</c><00:14:59.529><c> about</c><00:14:59.830><c> one</c><00:15:00.049><c> or</c> 00:15:00.210 --> 00:15:01.129 x two<00:15:00.549><c> isolated</c> 00:15:01.129 --> 00:15:10.889 x instances.<00:15:02.169><c> We're</c><00:15:02.450><c> talking</c><00:15:02.830><c> about</c><00:15:03.250><c> a</c><00:15:03.450><c> way</c><00:15:03.629><c> of</c><00:15:03.970><c> life.</c><00:15:08.389><c> And</c><00:15:08.610><c> yet,</c><00:15:09.750><c> through</c><00:15:09.750><c> all</c> 00:15:10.889 --> 00:15:13.269 x this<00:15:11.149><c> self</c><00:15:11.490><c>-imposed</c><00:15:11.950><c> misery,</c> 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:20.289 x God<00:15:13.789><c> still</c><00:15:14.490><c> loves</c><00:15:15.370><c> his</c><00:15:16.289><c> child</c><00:15:16.870><c> Israel.</c><00:15:19.049><c> And</c><00:15:19.429><c> also</c><00:15:19.830><c> fair</c><00:15:20.009><c> to</c> 00:15:20.289 --> 00:15:22.809 x say<00:15:20.529><c> that</c><00:15:20.769><c> throughout</c><00:15:21.190><c> our</c><00:15:21.590><c> own</c><00:15:21.929><c> self</c><00:15:22.289><c>-imposed</c> 00:15:22.809 --> 00:15:33.549 x misery,<00:15:24.250><c> he</c><00:15:24.490><c> loves</c><00:15:24.830><c> us</c><00:15:25.690><c> as</c><00:15:26.269><c> well.</c><00:15:29.350><c> Brothers,</c><00:15:30.830><c> sisters,</c><00:15:31.450><c> Sunday</c><00:15:31.610><c> school</c><00:15:31.929><c> students,</c><00:15:33.370><c> dear</c> 00:15:33.549 --> 00:15:37.009 x friends,<00:15:35.870><c> Israel</c> 00:15:37.149 --> 00:15:49.450 x has<00:15:37.730><c> a</c><00:15:38.909><c> hope.</c><00:15:40.769><c> And</c><00:15:41.570><c> we</c><00:15:41.850><c> have</c><00:15:42.070><c> a</c><00:15:42.250><c> hope.</c><00:15:44.649><c> And</c><00:15:44.909><c> it</c><00:15:45.029><c> is</c><00:15:45.289><c> the</c><00:15:45.470><c> same</c><00:15:45.690><c> hope.</c><00:15:47.230><c> Through</c><00:15:47.610><c> the</c><00:15:47.889><c> waters</c><00:15:48.129><c> of</c><00:15:48.429><c> baptism,</c> 00:15:50.470 --> 00:16:00.009 x we<00:15:50.570><c> may</c><00:15:51.049><c> become</c><00:15:51.610><c> in,</c><00:15:53.409><c> we</c><00:15:53.610><c> may</c><00:15:53.809><c> put</c><00:15:54.090><c> on</c><00:15:54.509><c> Christ</c><00:15:55.250><c> and</c><00:15:56.529><c> be</c><00:15:56.950><c> in</c><00:15:57.370><c> Christ.</c><00:15:59.549><c> We</c> 00:16:00.009 --> 00:16:02.370 x may<00:16:00.289><c> become</c><00:16:00.669><c> one</c><00:16:01.149><c> of</c><00:16:01.450><c> Abraham's</c> 00:16:02.370 --> 00:16:14.149 x seed.<00:16:06.049><c> I</c><00:16:06.669><c> don't</c><00:16:06.809><c> know</c><00:16:06.909><c> how</c><00:16:07.250><c> close</c><00:16:07.610><c> God</c><00:16:07.909><c> came</c><00:16:08.710><c> to</c><00:16:09.370><c> destroying</c><00:16:09.850><c> the</c><00:16:10.210><c> world</c><00:16:10.929><c> for</c><00:16:13.990><c> a</c> 00:16:14.149 --> 00:16:17.230 x second<00:16:14.350><c> time.</c><00:16:17.090><c> But</c> 00:16:17.230 --> 00:16:20.549 x if<00:16:17.350><c> it</c><00:16:17.470><c> was</c><00:16:17.730><c> not</c><00:16:17.950><c> for</c><00:16:18.169><c> the</c><00:16:18.350><c> love</c><00:16:18.590><c> that</c><00:16:18.830><c> he</c><00:16:18.970><c> had</c><00:16:19.190><c> for</c><00:16:19.490><c> Abraham,</c> 00:16:21.750 --> 00:16:24.230 x and<00:16:21.889><c> to</c><00:16:22.169><c> remember</c><00:16:22.509><c> his</c><00:16:22.870><c> promise</c><00:16:23.350><c> to</c><00:16:23.690><c> Abraham</c> 00:16:24.230 --> 00:16:32.350 x that<00:16:24.529><c> his</c><00:16:24.850><c> seed</c><00:16:25.210><c> would</c><00:16:26.029><c> live</c><00:16:26.409><c> forever,</c><00:16:31.529><c> things</c><00:16:31.730><c> may</c><00:16:31.970><c> have</c><00:16:32.169><c> come</c><00:16:32.350><c> to</c> 00:16:32.350 --> 00:16:32.350 x a<00:16:32.350><c> standstill.</c><00:16:32.350><c> I</c><00:16:32.350><c> don't</c><00:16:32.350><c> know</c><00:16:32.350><c> how</c> 00:16:32.370 --> 00:16:39.789 x close.<00:16:35.110><c> But</c><00:16:35.710><c> God</c><00:16:36.009><c> kept</c><00:16:36.330><c> his</c><00:16:36.570><c> promise</c><00:16:37.029><c> to</c><00:16:37.309><c> Abraham.</c><00:16:39.389><c> Oh,</c><00:16:39.750><c> look</c> 00:16:39.789 --> 00:16:41.549 x north,<00:16:40.149><c> south,</c><00:16:40.769><c> east,</c><00:16:40.789><c> and</c><00:16:40.929><c> west,</c><00:16:41.409><c> all</c> 00:16:41.549 --> 00:16:44.610 x the<00:16:41.710><c> land</c><00:16:41.909><c> that</c><00:16:42.110><c> thou</c><00:16:42.350><c> see,</c><00:16:42.889><c> to</c><00:16:43.090><c> thee</c><00:16:43.250><c> will</c><00:16:43.509><c> I</c><00:16:43.669><c> give</c><00:16:43.850><c> it,</c><00:16:44.429><c> and</c> 00:16:44.610 --> 00:16:48.690 x to<00:16:45.129><c> your</c><00:16:45.549><c> seed</c><00:16:45.870><c> forever.</c><00:16:48.110><c> And</c><00:16:48.289><c> later</c><00:16:48.509><c> in</c> 00:16:48.690 --> 00:16:54.090 x Galatians,<00:16:49.830><c> if</c><00:16:50.169><c> you</c><00:16:50.470><c> be</c><00:16:50.789><c> Christ's,</c><00:16:52.529><c> then</c><00:16:52.889><c> you</c><00:16:53.129><c> are</c><00:16:53.309><c> Abraham's</c> 00:16:54.090 --> 00:17:02.350 x seed<00:16:54.669><c> and</c><00:16:55.750><c> heirs</c><00:16:56.289><c> according</c><00:16:57.070><c> to</c><00:16:57.750><c> the</c> 00:17:02.350 --> 00:17:04.890 x word<00:17:02.350><c> of</c><00:17:02.370><c> God.</c><00:17:02.370><c> God</c><00:17:02.370><c> did</c><00:17:02.370><c> not</c><00:17:02.370><c> let</c><00:17:02.370><c> down</c><00:17:02.590><c> their</c><00:17:02.870><c> creator.</c><00:17:04.670><c> But</c> 00:17:04.890 --> 00:17:08.109 x God<00:17:05.210><c> did</c><00:17:05.470><c> not</c><00:17:05.630><c> let</c><00:17:05.789><c> us</c><00:17:06.109><c> down.</c><00:17:07.369><c> And</c><00:17:07.509><c> he</c><00:17:07.589><c> did</c><00:17:07.829><c> not</c> 00:17:08.109 --> 00:17:16.390 x let<00:17:08.269><c> Israel</c><00:17:08.670><c> down.</c><00:17:12.690><c> It</c><00:17:12.910><c> is</c><00:17:13.190><c> our</c><00:17:13.410><c> behavior</c><00:17:13.930><c> that</c><00:17:15.589><c> will</c><00:17:15.849><c> decide</c> 00:17:16.390 --> 00:17:22.390 x whether<00:17:16.690><c> or</c><00:17:16.890><c> not</c><00:17:17.410><c> we</c><00:17:17.970><c> stay</c><00:17:18.210><c> in</c><00:17:18.509><c> Christ.</c><00:17:21.970><c> The</c> 00:17:22.390 --> 00:17:27.569 x children<00:17:22.710><c> of</c><00:17:22.930><c> God</c><00:17:23.430><c> were</c><00:17:24.789><c> enslaved</c><00:17:25.309><c> in</c><00:17:25.509><c> Egypt</c><00:17:25.910><c> and</c><00:17:27.250><c> they</c><00:17:27.349><c> were</c> 00:17:27.569 --> 00:17:32.230 x captive<00:17:28.109><c> in</c><00:17:28.490><c> Babylon.</c><00:17:30.210><c> They</c><00:17:30.690><c> were</c><00:17:31.069><c> scattered</c> 00:17:31.829 --> 00:17:37.309 x in<00:17:32.329><c> the</c><00:17:32.509><c> days</c><00:17:32.910><c> of</c><00:17:33.250><c> Rome.</c><00:17:34.589><c> And</c><00:17:35.210><c> they</c><00:17:35.450><c> remained</c><00:17:35.829><c> scattered</c><00:17:36.329><c> nearly</c><00:17:36.809><c> 2</c> 00:17:37.309 --> 00:17:40.990 x ,000<00:17:37.750><c> years</c><00:17:38.250><c> until,</c><00:17:39.630><c> quite</c><00:17:39.890><c> recently,</c> 00:17:41.589 --> 00:17:46.190 x when<00:17:41.829><c> God</c><00:17:42.190><c> brought</c><00:17:42.529><c> them</c><00:17:42.829><c> back</c><00:17:43.390><c> to</c><00:17:43.809><c> a</c><00:17:44.009><c> reestablished</c><00:17:45.190><c> nation.</c> 00:17:47.470 --> 00:17:57.369 x 2<00:17:48.069><c>,000</c><00:17:48.950><c> years.</c><00:17:54.109><c> We</c><00:17:55.109><c> still</c><00:17:55.890><c> have</c><00:17:56.369><c> a</c><00:17:57.109><c> number</c> 00:17:57.369 --> 00:18:03.809 x of<00:17:57.529><c> members</c><00:17:58.069><c> who</c><00:18:00.509><c> remember</c><00:18:01.130><c> those</c><00:18:01.609><c> closing</c><00:18:02.029><c> days</c><00:18:02.809><c> of</c><00:18:03.490><c> World</c> 00:18:03.809 --> 00:18:07.569 x War<00:18:04.069><c> II</c><00:18:04.630><c> and</c><00:18:05.829><c> the</c><00:18:06.250><c> excitement</c><00:18:06.930><c> that</c><00:18:07.329><c> must</c> 00:18:07.569 --> 00:18:11.910 x have<00:18:07.730><c> been</c><00:18:07.890><c> within</c><00:18:08.230><c> the</c><00:18:08.490><c> heart</c><00:18:08.730><c> of</c><00:18:09.250><c> every</c><00:18:09.589><c> Bible</c><00:18:10.049><c> student</c><00:18:10.890><c> when</c><00:18:11.509><c> the</c> 00:18:11.910 --> 00:18:14.710 x scattered<00:18:12.309><c> Jews</c><00:18:13.150><c> returned</c><00:18:14.230><c> to</c> 00:18:14.710 --> 00:18:24.549 x the<00:18:15.029><c> promised</c><00:18:15.369><c> land.</c><00:18:19.670><c> A</c><00:18:19.930><c> few</c><00:18:20.089><c> more,</c><00:18:21.490><c> including</c><00:18:21.890><c> myself,</c><00:18:23.930><c> remember</c><00:18:24.289><c> the</c> 00:18:24.549 --> 00:18:27.849 x Six<00:18:24.789><c>-Day</c><00:18:25.009><c> War</c><00:18:25.549><c> of</c><00:18:25.950><c> 1967.</c><00:18:27.349><c> I</c><00:18:27.349><c> remember</c> 00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:32.269 x when<00:18:28.009><c> a</c><00:18:28.509><c> vastly</c><00:18:29.049><c> outnumbered</c><00:18:30.069><c> Israeli</c><00:18:30.569><c> military</c><00:18:31.490><c> launched</c> 00:18:32.269 --> 00:18:35.329 x an<00:18:32.630><c> attack</c><00:18:33.130><c> which</c><00:18:33.769><c> resulted</c><00:18:34.329><c> in</c><00:18:34.609><c> the</c><00:18:34.789><c> capture</c> 00:18:35.329 --> 00:18:41.829 x of<00:18:35.869><c> the</c><00:18:36.089><c> Gaza</c><00:18:36.430><c> Strip,</c><00:18:38.049><c> the</c><00:18:38.250><c> Sinai</c><00:18:38.710><c> Peninsula,</c><00:18:40.089><c> the</c><00:18:40.250><c> West</c><00:18:40.529><c> Bank,</c><00:18:41.130><c> including</c><00:18:41.529><c> East</c> 00:18:41.829 --> 00:18:43.329 x Jerusalem,<00:18:42.970><c> and</c><00:18:43.150><c> the</c> 00:18:43.329 --> 00:18:51.529 x Golan<00:18:43.569><c> Heights,</c><00:18:45.150><c> not</c><00:18:45.329><c> to</c><00:18:45.549><c> mention</c><00:18:45.829><c> prompting</c><00:18:46.390><c> the</c><00:18:46.750><c> humiliating</c><00:18:47.609><c> resignation</c><00:18:48.430><c> of</c><00:18:49.029><c> Egyptian</c><00:18:49.589><c> King</c><00:18:50.210><c> Nasser.</c> 00:18:52.730 --> 00:18:58.890 x Perhaps<00:18:53.910><c> the</c><00:18:54.089><c> most</c><00:18:54.549><c> ignominious</c><00:18:55.349><c> defeat</c><00:18:55.990><c> that</c><00:18:57.009><c> Egypt</c><00:18:57.369><c> experienced</c><00:18:58.289><c> since</c> 00:18:58.890 --> 00:19:02.390 x the<00:18:59.150><c> Exodus</c><00:18:59.710><c> of</c><00:19:00.150><c> Moses.</c><00:19:02.130><c> And</c> 00:19:02.390 --> 00:19:11.630 x perhaps<00:19:02.750><c> the</c><00:19:03.029><c> only</c><00:19:03.250><c> thing</c><00:19:03.890><c> that</c><00:19:04.569><c> saved</c><00:19:04.809><c> Egypt</c><00:19:05.430><c> from</c><00:19:06.029><c> total</c><00:19:06.609><c> destruction</c><00:19:07.369><c> was</c><00:19:08.349><c> God's</c><00:19:09.089><c> mercy</c><00:19:09.690><c> in</c><00:19:10.349><c> recognition</c> 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:18.769 x of<00:19:12.109><c> the</c><00:19:12.349><c> days</c><00:19:13.009><c> of</c><00:19:13.829><c> Joseph</c><00:19:14.289><c> and</c><00:19:14.710><c> Mary</c><00:19:15.150><c> and</c><00:19:15.349><c> Jesus</c><00:19:16.150><c> when</c><00:19:16.769><c> they</c><00:19:17.089><c> found</c><00:19:17.430><c> safety</c><00:19:18.049><c> in</c> 00:19:18.769 --> 00:19:20.369 x that<00:19:19.029><c> land,</c><00:19:19.930><c> fulfilling</c> 00:19:20.369 --> 00:19:26.289 x the<00:19:20.470><c> prophecy</c><00:19:21.130><c> of</c><00:19:21.410><c> Hosea.</c><00:19:22.890><c> Out</c><00:19:22.890><c> of</c><00:19:23.130><c> Egypt</c><00:19:23.750><c> have</c><00:19:24.450><c> I</c><00:19:24.809><c> called</c><00:19:25.170><c> my</c> 00:19:26.289 --> 00:19:33.789 x son.<00:19:30.390><c> Even</c><00:19:30.710><c> more</c><00:19:30.990><c> of</c><00:19:31.170><c> us</c><00:19:33.009><c> living</c><00:19:33.609><c> in</c> 00:19:33.789 --> 00:19:41.710 x this<00:19:34.029><c> nation</c><00:19:34.390><c> will</c><00:19:34.670><c> recall</c><00:19:35.309><c> on</c><00:19:36.529><c> December</c><00:19:36.950><c> 6,</c><00:19:38.910><c> 2017,</c><00:19:41.529><c> when</c> 00:19:41.710 --> 00:19:44.930 x President<00:19:42.069><c> Donald</c><00:19:42.509><c> Trump</c><00:19:43.529><c> formally</c><00:19:44.109><c> recognized</c> 00:19:44.930 --> 00:19:53.009 x Jerusalem<00:19:45.809><c> as</c><00:19:46.490><c> the</c><00:19:46.650><c> capital</c><00:19:46.990><c> of</c><00:19:47.190><c> Israel</c><00:19:47.809><c> and</c><00:19:48.750><c> stated</c><00:19:49.089><c> that</c><00:19:49.329><c> the</c><00:19:49.589><c> American</c><00:19:50.089><c> ambassador</c><00:19:51.309><c> would</c><00:19:52.349><c> be</c><00:19:52.670><c> moved</c> 00:19:53.009 --> 00:19:58.970 x from<00:19:53.329><c> Tel</c><00:19:53.690><c> Aviv</c><00:19:54.650><c> to</c><00:19:55.630><c> Jerusalem,</c><00:19:57.490><c> a</c><00:19:57.809><c> promise</c><00:19:58.069><c> carried</c><00:19:58.450><c> out</c><00:19:58.769><c> on</c> 00:19:58.970 --> 00:20:03.789 x May<00:19:59.190><c> 14,</c><00:20:00.529><c> 2018,</c><00:20:02.329><c> the</c><00:20:02.549><c> 70th</c><00:20:03.109><c> anniversary</c> 00:20:03.789 --> 00:20:11.529 x day<00:20:04.329><c> of</c><00:20:04.970><c> the</c><00:20:05.170><c> creation</c><00:20:05.809><c> of</c><00:20:06.490><c> the</c><00:20:06.869><c> modern</c><00:20:07.009><c> state</c><00:20:07.849><c> of</c><00:20:08.069><c> Israel.</c><00:20:10.690><c> We</c> 00:20:11.529 --> 00:20:15.410 x live<00:20:12.230><c> in</c><00:20:12.670><c> amazing</c><00:20:13.230><c> times.</c><00:20:14.069><c> We</c><00:20:14.910><c> have</c> 00:20:15.730 --> 00:20:21.210 x the<00:20:16.410><c> luxury</c><00:20:17.029><c> of</c><00:20:18.190><c> being</c><00:20:18.490><c> able</c><00:20:18.849><c> to</c><00:20:19.150><c> read</c><00:20:19.309><c> in</c><00:20:19.549><c> our</c><00:20:19.750><c> Bibles</c><00:20:20.230><c> of</c><00:20:20.950><c> the</c> 00:20:21.210 --> 00:20:24.769 x events<00:20:21.470><c> of</c><00:20:21.730><c> the</c><00:20:21.890><c> Old</c><00:20:22.109><c> Testament,</c><00:20:24.390><c> of</c><00:20:24.569><c> the</c> 00:20:24.769 --> 00:20:29.210 x horrendous<00:20:25.369><c> behavior</c><00:20:26.029><c> of</c><00:20:26.609><c> the</c><00:20:26.930><c> kings</c><00:20:27.369><c> and</c><00:20:27.829><c> judges</c><00:20:28.329><c> in</c><00:20:28.650><c> Israel</c> 00:20:29.210 --> 00:20:33.069 x and<00:20:30.410><c> look</c><00:20:30.589><c> to</c><00:20:30.890><c> confidence</c><00:20:31.569><c> to</c><00:20:32.369><c> the</c><00:20:32.549><c> behavior</c> 00:20:33.069 --> 00:20:36.549 x of<00:20:33.470><c> certain</c><00:20:33.750><c> kings</c><00:20:34.089><c> in</c><00:20:34.250><c> Israel</c><00:20:34.769><c> who</c><00:20:35.210><c> would</c><00:20:35.490><c> not</c><00:20:35.829><c> follow</c><00:20:36.150><c> those</c> 00:20:36.549 --> 00:20:38.769 x ways<00:20:36.890><c> but</c><00:20:37.170><c> rather</c><00:20:37.589><c> would</c><00:20:37.930><c> follow</c><00:20:38.210><c> the</c><00:20:38.470><c> ways</c> 00:20:38.769 --> 00:20:44.309 x of<00:20:38.890><c> God.</c><00:20:41.289><c> And</c><00:20:41.569><c> to</c><00:20:41.769><c> this</c><00:20:42.049><c> day</c><00:20:42.269><c> there</c><00:20:42.509><c> are</c><00:20:42.910><c> still</c><00:20:43.170><c> people</c><00:20:43.609><c> throughout</c><00:20:44.029><c> the</c> 00:20:44.309 --> 00:20:46.589 x earth<00:20:44.769><c> who</c><00:20:45.589><c> would</c><00:20:45.869><c> rather</c><00:20:46.130><c> follow</c> 00:20:46.589 --> 00:20:54.190 x the<00:20:46.829><c> ways</c><00:20:47.089><c> of</c><00:20:47.349><c> God</c><00:20:48.130><c> than</c><00:20:48.910><c> succumb</c><00:20:49.950><c> to</c><00:20:50.309><c> the</c><00:20:50.589><c> misery</c><00:20:51.150><c> of</c><00:20:51.710><c> this</c><00:20:52.049><c> present</c><00:20:52.410><c> age.</c><00:20:54.089><c> It</c> 00:20:54.190 --> 00:20:55.309 x doesn't<00:20:54.490><c> matter</c><00:20:54.869><c> what</c> 00:20:55.309 --> 00:20:59.509 x we<00:20:55.589><c> may</c><00:20:55.910><c> accomplish</c><00:20:56.569><c> in</c><00:20:56.769><c> this</c><00:20:57.089><c> life.</c><00:20:57.890><c> It</c><00:20:57.970><c> may</c><00:20:58.230><c> not</c><00:20:58.490><c> matter</c><00:20:58.789><c> what</c><00:20:59.089><c> kind</c><00:20:59.369><c> of</c> 00:20:59.509 --> 00:21:01.029 x riches<00:20:59.710><c> we</c><00:20:59.990><c> may</c><00:21:00.369><c> store</c><00:21:00.690><c> up.</c> 00:21:01.410 --> 00:21:06.549 x They<00:21:01.670><c> are</c><00:21:02.170><c> worthless</c><00:21:02.809><c> when</c><00:21:03.529><c> we</c><00:21:03.849><c> are</c><00:21:04.210><c> dead.</c><00:21:05.529><c> And</c><00:21:05.890><c> dead</c><00:21:06.069><c> we</c><00:21:06.289><c> will</c> 00:21:06.549 --> 00:21:09.250 x be<00:21:07.150><c> if</c><00:21:07.690><c> we</c><00:21:07.890><c> do</c><00:21:08.170><c> not</c><00:21:08.630><c> follow</c><00:21:08.750><c> the</c><00:21:08.750><c> ways</c><00:21:08.750><c> of</c> 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:19.089 x Christ.<00:21:13.309><c> Our</c><00:21:14.009><c> days</c><00:21:14.529><c> are</c><00:21:15.109><c> short.</c><00:21:17.789><c> The</c><00:21:18.009><c> gift</c><00:21:18.230><c> of</c><00:21:18.509><c> everlasting</c> 00:21:19.089 --> 00:21:23.109 x life<00:21:19.769><c> is</c><00:21:20.529><c> just</c><00:21:20.930><c> that.</c><00:21:21.309><c> It</c><00:21:21.470><c> is</c><00:21:21.950><c> everlasting.</c> 00:21:25.390 --> 00:21:30.450 x We<00:21:26.069><c> have</c><00:21:26.329><c> a</c><00:21:26.509><c> choice.</c><00:21:27.710><c> We</c><00:21:27.910><c> have</c><00:21:28.190><c> an</c><00:21:28.349><c> opportunity.</c><00:21:29.809><c> We</c><00:21:30.069><c> have</c><00:21:30.289><c> the</c> 00:21:30.450 --> 00:21:31.970 x luxury<00:21:30.809><c> of</c><00:21:31.089><c> seeing</c><00:21:31.349><c> what</c><00:21:31.650><c> happened</c> 00:21:31.970 --> 00:21:35.990 x in<00:21:32.069><c> the</c><00:21:32.329><c> past.</c><00:21:33.430><c> We</c><00:21:33.990><c> can</c><00:21:34.269><c> see</c><00:21:34.430><c> what</c><00:21:34.690><c> happened</c><00:21:34.930><c> to</c><00:21:35.190><c> people</c><00:21:35.630><c> when</c> 00:21:35.990 --> 00:21:38.650 x they<00:21:36.230><c> didn't</c><00:21:36.569><c> follow</c><00:21:37.029><c> God's</c><00:21:37.630><c> way.</c> 00:21:38.970 --> 00:21:42.750 x Likewise<00:21:39.470><c> we</c><00:21:39.769><c> can</c><00:21:40.089><c> see</c><00:21:40.289><c> the</c><00:21:40.549><c> great</c><00:21:40.750><c> hope</c><00:21:40.950><c> that</c><00:21:41.150><c> is</c><00:21:41.349><c> before</c><00:21:41.710><c> those</c><00:21:42.329><c> who</c> 00:21:42.750 --> 00:21:46.210 x do.<00:21:44.849><c> God</c><00:21:45.109><c> makes</c><00:21:45.430><c> no</c><00:21:45.750><c> mistakes</c> 00:21:46.210 --> 00:21:50.089 x in<00:21:46.410><c> his</c><00:21:46.690><c> judgments.</c><00:21:48.269><c> There's</c><00:21:48.529><c> nobody</c><00:21:48.869><c> going</c><00:21:49.210><c> to</c><00:21:49.450><c> be</c><00:21:49.630><c> left</c><00:21:49.849><c> out</c> 00:21:50.089 --> 00:21:52.750 x of<00:21:50.190><c> the</c><00:21:50.390><c> kingdom</c><00:21:50.730><c> on</c><00:21:51.109><c> a</c><00:21:51.309><c> technicality.</c> 00:21:54.490 --> 00:21:59.750 x God<00:21:54.769><c> will</c><00:21:55.049><c> not</c><00:21:55.269><c> be</c><00:21:55.529><c> mocked.</c><00:21:58.069><c> He</c><00:21:58.289><c> has</c><00:21:58.509><c> a</c><00:21:58.750><c> plan,</c><00:21:58.950><c> a</c><00:21:59.170><c> purpose,</c><00:21:59.529><c> and</c> 00:21:59.750 --> 00:22:01.950 x he<00:22:00.029><c> has</c><00:22:00.369><c> told</c><00:22:00.549><c> us</c><00:22:00.809><c> what</c><00:22:01.029><c> it</c><00:22:01.230><c> is.</c><00:22:01.950><c> He</c><00:22:01.950><c> has</c><00:22:01.950><c> told</c> 00:22:01.970 --> 00:22:05.430 x us<00:22:01.970><c> what</c><00:22:02.109><c> it</c><00:22:02.109><c> is.</c><00:22:02.109><c> We</c><00:22:02.690><c> accept</c><00:22:03.109><c> it</c><00:22:03.650><c> or</c><00:22:03.849><c> we</c><00:22:04.069><c> deny</c><00:22:04.430><c> it.</c><00:22:05.210><c> And</c><00:22:05.269><c> it's</c> 00:22:05.430 --> 00:22:14.670 x as<00:22:05.670><c> simple</c><00:22:05.890><c> as</c><00:22:06.170><c> that.</c><00:22:13.650><c> Zephaniah</c><00:22:14.309><c> knew</c> 00:22:14.670 --> 00:22:20.230 x only<00:22:15.029><c> too</c><00:22:15.349><c> well</c><00:22:16.049><c> that</c><00:22:16.970><c> the</c><00:22:17.269><c> grief</c><00:22:17.430><c> of</c><00:22:17.630><c> the</c><00:22:17.769><c> children</c><00:22:18.029><c> of</c><00:22:18.210><c> Israel</c><00:22:18.670><c> was</c><00:22:20.009><c> a</c> 00:22:20.230 --> 00:22:22.150 x direct<00:22:20.430><c> consequence</c><00:22:21.269><c> of</c><00:22:21.890><c> their</c> 00:22:22.150 --> 00:22:29.089 x behavior<00:22:22.789><c> or</c><00:22:23.930><c> rather</c><00:22:24.210><c> the</c><00:22:24.430><c> lack</c><00:22:24.609><c> thereof.</c><00:22:26.690><c> Our</c><00:22:27.170><c> grief</c><00:22:27.630><c> is</c><00:22:28.170><c> likewise</c><00:22:28.829><c> in</c> 00:22:29.089 --> 00:22:32.450 x part<00:22:29.450><c> a</c><00:22:30.410><c> consequence</c><00:22:31.130><c> of</c><00:22:31.849><c> ours.</c> 00:22:33.629 --> 00:22:39.250 x And<00:22:34.309><c> together</c><00:22:34.930><c> all</c><00:22:35.990><c> mankind's</c><00:22:37.450><c> salvation</c><00:22:37.450><c> rests</c><00:22:38.069><c> in</c><00:22:38.789><c> the</c><00:22:38.930><c> hope</c><00:22:39.069><c> of</c> 00:22:39.250 --> 00:22:41.849 x the<00:22:39.509><c> salvation</c><00:22:40.190><c> in</c><00:22:40.869><c> Jesus</c><00:22:41.329><c> Christ</c> 00:22:41.849 --> 00:22:46.049 x our<00:22:42.089><c> Lord,</c><00:22:42.509><c> the</c><00:22:42.589><c> son</c><00:22:42.750><c> of</c><00:22:43.029><c> God,</c><00:22:43.750><c> who</c><00:22:43.910><c> we</c><00:22:44.230><c> remember</c><00:22:44.589><c> this</c><00:22:44.910><c> morning</c><00:22:45.349><c> at</c><00:22:45.789><c> his</c> 00:22:46.049 --> 00:22:47.849 x table<00:22:46.390><c> of</c><00:22:46.710><c> communion</c><00:22:47.150><c> to</c> 00:22:47.849 --> 00:22:51.849 x share<00:22:48.069><c> his</c><00:22:48.410><c> body</c><00:22:48.750><c> and</c><00:22:48.970><c> his</c><00:22:49.329><c> blood</c><00:22:49.609><c> as</c><00:22:50.289><c> he</c><00:22:50.529><c> has</c><00:22:50.789><c> asked</c><00:22:51.029><c> us</c><00:22:51.269><c> to</c><00:22:51.470><c> do</c> 00:22:51.849 --> 00:22:56.549 x in<00:22:52.230><c> remembrance</c><00:22:52.690><c> of</c><00:22:53.089><c> him.</c><00:22:55.529><c> We</c><00:22:55.930><c> owe</c><00:22:56.150><c> a</c><00:22:56.309><c> great</c> 00:22:56.549 --> 00:23:02.109 x deal<00:22:56.869><c> to</c><00:22:57.029><c> the</c><00:22:57.190><c> lessons</c><00:22:57.769><c> contained</c><00:22:58.329><c> in</c><00:22:58.609><c> Zephaniah.</c><00:23:01.130><c> It</c><00:23:01.250><c> is</c><00:23:01.529><c> amazing</c><00:23:01.910><c> how</c> 00:23:02.109 --> 00:23:04.150 x many<00:23:02.390><c> opportunities</c><00:23:03.230><c> that</c> 00:23:04.170 --> 00:23:08.410 x God<00:23:04.869><c> gave</c><00:23:05.369><c> the</c><00:23:05.670><c> children</c><00:23:06.069><c> of</c><00:23:06.269><c> Israel</c><00:23:06.829><c> of</c><00:23:07.390><c> the</c><00:23:07.549><c> Old</c><00:23:07.769><c> Testament</c> 00:23:08.410 --> 00:23:12.430 x to<00:23:09.109><c> repent.</c><00:23:10.890><c> It</c><00:23:11.029><c> is</c><00:23:11.390><c> amazing</c><00:23:11.849><c> how</c><00:23:12.089><c> many</c> 00:23:12.430 --> 00:23:18.410 x opportunities<00:23:13.230><c> God</c><00:23:13.690><c> gave</c><00:23:14.009><c> the</c><00:23:14.309><c> children</c><00:23:14.769><c> of</c><00:23:15.309><c> the</c><00:23:15.450><c> New</c><00:23:15.670><c> Testament</c><00:23:16.369><c> to</c><00:23:16.970><c> repent.</c><00:23:18.089><c> And</c> 00:23:18.410 --> 00:23:19.470 x it<00:23:18.529><c> is</c><00:23:18.890><c> amazing</c> 00:23:19.470 --> 00:23:25.950 x how<00:23:19.730><c> many</c><00:23:20.069><c> opportunities</c><00:23:20.990><c> that</c><00:23:21.650><c> God</c><00:23:22.150><c> has</c><00:23:22.650><c> given</c><00:23:22.910><c> us</c><00:23:23.930><c> to</c><00:23:24.349><c> repent.</c><00:23:25.529><c> Even</c> 00:23:25.950 --> 00:23:26.529 x so,<00:23:26.369><c> come</c><00:23:26.529><c> Lord.</c> 00:23:26.549 --> 00:23:28.730 x Jesus.<00:23:27.970><c> Amen.</c>