Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:05.400
Well, let's return to second chronicles
now and hear God's Word From Second Chronicles
2
00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:14.269
Chapter Twelve. Second Chronicles Chapter Twelve. This concludes the council the life of
3
00:00:14.669 --> 00:00:21.230
Raya Boem, Solomon's son, the
now fourth king in Israel, after Saul
4
00:00:21.500 --> 00:00:29.379
and David and then his father Solomon. Second Chronicles Chapter Twelve, let's give
5
00:00:29.420 --> 00:00:36.130
attention to God's word. When the
rule of Raya Balm was established and he
6
00:00:36.369 --> 00:00:42.289
was strong, he abandoned the law
of the Lord and all Israel with him.
7
00:00:43.570 --> 00:00:47.289
In the fifth year of King Raya
Balm, because they had been unfaithful
8
00:00:47.450 --> 00:00:52.640
to the Lord. Shishak, King
of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem with
9
00:00:52.759 --> 00:00:58.799
a thousand two hundred chariots and sixty
thousand horsemen, and the people were without
10
00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:04.310
number. Who came with with him
from Egypt, Libyans, Sukikim and Ethiopians,
11
00:01:04.989 --> 00:01:10.030
and he took the fortified cities of
Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.
12
00:01:11.069 --> 00:01:15.629
Then Shemaiah, the Prophet, came
to Rayabalm and to the princes of
13
00:01:15.670 --> 00:01:19.260
Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem
because of Shishak, and said to them,
14
00:01:21.019 --> 00:01:26.700
thus says the Lord, you abandoned
me, so I have abandoned you
15
00:01:26.219 --> 00:01:32.340
to the hand of Shishak. Then
the prince of Israel, then the princes
16
00:01:32.379 --> 00:01:38.209
of Israel and the king humbled themselves
and said the Lord is righteous. The
17
00:01:38.370 --> 00:01:42.689
Lord saw that they humbled themselves.
The word of the Lord came to Shemaiah.
18
00:01:44.849 --> 00:01:49.040
They have humbled themselves. I will
not destroy them, but I will
19
00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:53.920
grant them some deliverance, and my
wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem
20
00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:59.519
by the hand of Shishak. Nevertheless, they shall be servants to him that
21
00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:04.390
they may know my service and the
service of the kingdoms, of the countries.
22
00:02:05.909 --> 00:02:08.830
So Shishak, King of Egypt,
came up against Jerusalem. He took
23
00:02:08.830 --> 00:02:12.909
away the treasures of the House of
the Lord and the Treasures of the king's
24
00:02:12.949 --> 00:02:16.300
house. He took away everything.
He also took away the shields of gold
25
00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:22.819
that Solomon had made and King Raybalm
made in their place shields of bronze,
26
00:02:23.460 --> 00:02:27.219
and committed them into the hands of
the officers of the guard who kept the
27
00:02:27.379 --> 00:02:30.330
door of the king's house. And
as often as the king went into the
28
00:02:30.370 --> 00:02:34.770
House of the Lord, the guard
came and carried them and brought them back
29
00:02:35.129 --> 00:02:38.810
to the guard room. And when
he'd humbled, and when he humbled himself,
30
00:02:38.930 --> 00:02:42.409
the wrath of the Lord turned from
him so as not to make a
31
00:02:42.610 --> 00:02:49.639
complete destruction. Moreover, conditions were
good in Judah, so king raybalm grew
32
00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:53.599
strong in Jerusalem and reigned. Raubalm
was forty one years old when he began
33
00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:59.189
to reign, and he reigned seventeen
years in Jerusalem, the city that the
34
00:02:59.310 --> 00:03:01.789
Lord had chosen out of all the
tribes of Israel to put his name there.
35
00:03:02.629 --> 00:03:07.310
His mother's name was not am the
ammonite, and he did evil,
36
00:03:07.789 --> 00:03:13.340
for he did not set his heart
to seek the Lord. Now the acts
37
00:03:13.340 --> 00:03:15.539
of Rayebalm, from first to last. Are They not written in the chronicles
38
00:03:15.620 --> 00:03:22.379
of Shemi Shemaiah, the Prophet,
and of Edo? This year they work.
39
00:03:22.539 --> 00:03:27.650
There were continual wars between rayobalm and
Jeobalm, and rayobalm slept with his
40
00:03:27.729 --> 00:03:30.810
father's and was buried in the city
of David, and Abijah, his son
41
00:03:31.449 --> 00:03:37.409
reigned in his place. This is
God's word. He bless it to us.
42
00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:50.159
Well, here we have the end
of King Rayobalm's reign and various summary
43
00:03:50.280 --> 00:03:53.879
statements to that end, especially at
the end we hear of the length of
44
00:03:54.000 --> 00:04:00.909
Rayobalm's reigns. It's characterized by this
sad comment that he did evil for he
45
00:04:00.030 --> 00:04:05.310
did not set his heart to seek
the Lord. After several events that happen
46
00:04:05.430 --> 00:04:10.819
in the chapter, we also see
something that's happening in Israel and will continue
47
00:04:10.939 --> 00:04:15.939
to happen, and that's that the
glory that was once there and the plans
48
00:04:15.979 --> 00:04:19.660
of David and his rule and of
the temple that Solomon made it's all beginning
49
00:04:20.259 --> 00:04:26.689
to slip a little bit. There
are wars continually between Rayobalm and Jerobalm,
50
00:04:26.889 --> 00:04:30.329
between the north and the south.
Israel is not united as it once was,
51
00:04:30.449 --> 00:04:35.329
and though there's not a lot of
attention given to Jarobalm, the chronicler
52
00:04:35.410 --> 00:04:42.560
reminds us of the fact that he's
still there and there's still problems within Israel
53
00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:47.040
and from without. Enemies are starting
to attack her and making progress in ways
54
00:04:47.399 --> 00:04:55.029
that they didn't under Solomon and under
David. These this note about the the
55
00:04:55.670 --> 00:05:02.069
shields of gold being taken away and
replaced by shields of bronze as another reminder
56
00:05:02.230 --> 00:05:10.060
of sort of glory slipping away,
but not entirely and not completely yet,
57
00:05:10.100 --> 00:05:15.139
as God says to through his Prophet, to the King, I'm he won't
58
00:05:15.259 --> 00:05:21.170
can destroy a Jerusalem completely, that
the king will continue to reign. And
59
00:05:21.370 --> 00:05:28.649
indeed there is success there as well, success that Rayo Balm has particularly because
60
00:05:28.810 --> 00:05:33.730
of an action he took in the
midst of his disobedience, in the midst
61
00:05:33.769 --> 00:05:41.120
of his sin, an action that
we can rightly call repentance. I want
62
00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:45.199
to think about that with you this
evening. I want to think with you
63
00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:51.069
particularly about how this king relates to
the law of God and what that teaches
64
00:05:51.149 --> 00:05:56.470
us about Jesus, the king who
has who has come and how he rules.
65
00:05:56.790 --> 00:06:01.430
For us today, to understand ray
of Balm, the King of Israel,
66
00:06:01.709 --> 00:06:04.980
and how he relates to God's law
and repentance and all the rest,
67
00:06:05.019 --> 00:06:12.019
it's helpful to understand and remember how
God had arranged things in Israel. There's
68
00:06:12.019 --> 00:06:15.300
a lot of assumptions going on here
that you may or may not remember.
69
00:06:16.420 --> 00:06:21.410
One of them is mentioned, that's
that this is a chosen people. Israel
70
00:06:21.529 --> 00:06:26.209
is not just one of many nations
in the world. In a sense,
71
00:06:26.290 --> 00:06:30.889
that's true. God rules over them
all, but God's people, under ray
72
00:06:30.930 --> 00:06:35.720
of Balm and Jerobom as well,
our special they are a chosen people.
73
00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:41.240
God had promised Jerusalem is an example, as a place where he would set
74
00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:48.029
his name. The reminders here of
Egypt attacking them are well they these facts
75
00:06:48.149 --> 00:06:51.269
remind us of the fact that they
were once brought out of Egypt by the
76
00:06:51.389 --> 00:06:57.069
hand of God himself. Why?
Because he said his eye on them.
77
00:06:57.310 --> 00:07:02.899
He had made promises to Abraham,
a covenant with their father, and he
78
00:07:02.980 --> 00:07:08.540
had promised that he would make Abraham
a great nation, he would make a
79
00:07:08.620 --> 00:07:13.459
great people, and that's why they're
here, because God has set his eye
80
00:07:13.540 --> 00:07:16.410
on them. God made a covenant
with them through their father, Abraham.
81
00:07:17.889 --> 00:07:21.730
A second thing to remember about the
context here is that God made a second
82
00:07:21.769 --> 00:07:28.529
covenant under Moses. And here God
took this family of Abraham and organized them
83
00:07:28.569 --> 00:07:32.879
into a political body. He brought
them out of Egypt and he declared himself
84
00:07:33.319 --> 00:07:39.920
king over them. They political king, a ruler, and he established a
85
00:07:40.040 --> 00:07:44.949
covenant with them with all kinds of
various laws. We read it in the
86
00:07:45.029 --> 00:07:49.629
early chapters of the Bible, Deuteronomy
and Exodus in particular, and under that
87
00:07:49.870 --> 00:07:55.470
covenant the God made Unwe with Moses, his mediator, and with his people.
88
00:07:56.310 --> 00:08:01.259
God established himself as a King,
as a special king. They were
89
00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:09.980
to obey him and there were consequences
for disobedience, curses that would come upon
90
00:08:09.420 --> 00:08:15.410
the nation and the people if they
disobeyed, and there were blessings corresponding to
91
00:08:15.490 --> 00:08:22.209
it for obedience. These might be
experienced individually, but largely they were felt
92
00:08:22.250 --> 00:08:28.319
and experienced corporately. Israel as a
nation could have a king, but he
93
00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:33.159
was a servant King. He was
a king under God, a vassal king
94
00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:39.000
who was called to uphold the will
of God and his ways. That meant
95
00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:43.950
the king was very important because he
was not just a leader who had the
96
00:08:43.990 --> 00:08:50.950
ability to issue commands and do public
works, project projects and other kinds of
97
00:08:50.070 --> 00:08:54.980
things that kings do, but he
was under God to be a leader,
98
00:08:56.059 --> 00:09:01.620
to direct people in the will of
the Lord. In various places in the
99
00:09:01.659 --> 00:09:07.340
Old Testament the Kings of God's kings
are called shepherds. They are leaders in
100
00:09:07.460 --> 00:09:11.809
this way over their people. They
are to shepherd their flock, protect them,
101
00:09:11.850 --> 00:09:16.889
oversee them, watch out for them, keep them, feed them.
102
00:09:18.370 --> 00:09:22.049
A Good Shepherd is one who directs
them in the ways of his master,
103
00:09:22.370 --> 00:09:30.840
the Lord, who takes them to
good fields and good paths into righteousness and
104
00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:33.720
holiness. A king who is evil, though, is one who takes his
105
00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:39.549
people into barren wastelands, who takes
his sheet and puts them in hard places
106
00:09:39.750 --> 00:09:46.509
and puts them among wolves. There's
a hint to the evils that ray of
107
00:09:46.549 --> 00:09:52.940
Balm commits and the wolves that he
brought among them when we read at the
108
00:09:52.980 --> 00:09:58.500
end of that chapter his mother's name
was not am the ammonite, and he
109
00:09:58.580 --> 00:10:01.620
did evil, for he did not
set his heart to seek the Lord.
110
00:10:01.659 --> 00:10:09.009
Obviously is mother is not his fault, that's Solomon's fault. But what we
111
00:10:09.129 --> 00:10:13.809
see here are there are these actions
that are taken. Solomon goes against the
112
00:10:13.850 --> 00:10:18.129
will of the Lord and takes foreign
wives, and he has this son who
113
00:10:18.850 --> 00:10:24.480
follows in the ways of his mother
and not his father, ways of idolatry
114
00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:31.080
and disobedience, and in that the
nation follows after him. Remember the beginning
115
00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:35.240
of this chapter, when the rule
of ray of Balm was established and he
116
00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:39.629
was strong, he abandoned the law
of the Lord and all Israel with him.
117
00:10:41.950 --> 00:10:46.669
This teaches us that of what both
the king should do and shouldn't do,
118
00:10:46.830 --> 00:10:52.059
and and it creates in us an
anticipation, a waiting for a king
119
00:10:52.220 --> 00:10:54.220
to come. Because there was yet
one more covenant that we need to mention.
120
00:10:54.340 --> 00:10:58.779
That's in the background here, not
just with Abraham and Moses, but
121
00:10:58.899 --> 00:11:05.809
remember also with Rayobalm's grandfather, David, where we promised that one of David's
122
00:11:05.809 --> 00:11:11.169
sons would rule on his throne and
would do so forever if he followed after
123
00:11:11.289 --> 00:11:15.250
his ways. And so with each
of these kings were reading this going is
124
00:11:15.450 --> 00:11:18.600
this the king? Is this the
one who is going to follow in God's
125
00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:22.679
ways? Is this the one who
is going to rule and reign over this
126
00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:28.600
eternal Kingdom of God? And when
we read at the beginning of Chapter Twelve
127
00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:33.350
the rule of ray of Balm was
established and he was strong, our hearts
128
00:11:33.830 --> 00:11:37.830
jump up a little bit. We
Go Aha, is this the one?
129
00:11:37.029 --> 00:11:45.629
And then we read he abandoned the
law of the Lord, Not Raya Balm.
130
00:11:48.539 --> 00:11:54.179
Rayobalm's life helps us to understand what
it is the people were waiting for,
131
00:11:54.340 --> 00:11:58.460
what it is the world was waiting
for, as God would exercise his
132
00:11:58.500 --> 00:12:03.090
kingship over Israel and, by extension, over the world through this king.
133
00:12:03.289 --> 00:12:07.129
It teaches us what we now have
in Jesus, the kingdom or the king
134
00:12:07.169 --> 00:12:13.730
who has come. So that's the
background. Not Think about some of the
135
00:12:13.850 --> 00:12:18.759
particulars of this story. The first
thing I want you to notice is that
136
00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:26.120
the whole story turns on the obedience
of Raya Boem in relation to God's law.
137
00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:28.559
Now this makes, of course,
a lot of sense within the context
138
00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:33.190
that I've given. That was Raya
Balm's job was to uphold the Covenant,
139
00:12:33.230 --> 00:12:37.710
to enforce the Covenant, to make
sure that people were following it in most
140
00:12:37.750 --> 00:12:43.940
particularly himself. But rayabalm did not
follow the law of God. That's how
141
00:12:45.059 --> 00:12:52.779
his rule was is class, is
categorizer characterized here. He abandoned the law
142
00:12:52.580 --> 00:12:56.980
the Lord, the law of Yahwe, the one who had ruled over them
143
00:12:56.059 --> 00:13:01.490
and brought them out of Egypt.
Notice how are ray of Balm did not
144
00:13:01.769 --> 00:13:07.929
fail. Ray of Balm was not
a weak leader. Ray Of Balm was
145
00:13:09.129 --> 00:13:13.919
a strong leader. He failed when
he abandoned the law of the Lord,
146
00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:20.159
and that happened when he was established, when he was strong. He didn't
147
00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:24.000
fail because he act had weakness in
him. He failed because he had sin
148
00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:28.309
in him. He was a powerful
king, a strong king. He had
149
00:13:28.590 --> 00:13:35.070
withstood Jereboam, he had with stood
coup, he had withstood people that had
150
00:13:35.830 --> 00:13:39.870
been upset with him because of the
the rules that he was enforcing. All
151
00:13:41.029 --> 00:13:43.379
this he withstood he had established,
as we read in a past chapter,
152
00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:50.500
fortress cities around his kingdom. The
king was a strong king, and yet
153
00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:56.690
he failed. Why? Because he
abandoned the law of the Lord. You
154
00:13:56.769 --> 00:14:00.169
see that in verse one and then
again in verse fourteen. What do we
155
00:14:00.289 --> 00:14:05.929
read? He did evil, for
he did not set his heart to seek
156
00:14:05.049 --> 00:14:11.840
the Lord David, that was his
heart. When you read the Psalms,
157
00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:16.799
what do you read? You read
David's heart, the expressions how he felt,
158
00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:20.240
what he wanted, and over and
over again we see that David had
159
00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:24.509
set his heart in a particular way. He tuned his heart to the law
160
00:14:24.590 --> 00:14:28.590
of God, to the grace of
God, to seeking after him and his
161
00:14:28.750 --> 00:14:33.830
ways, not rea balm. And
that's what happens when we two in our
162
00:14:33.909 --> 00:14:41.460
hearts to respond to another pattern,
to follow after other ways. We don't
163
00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:46.899
follow after God, and that's what
happened with Raya Balm. It's a good
164
00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:50.379
question, if you'd allow me to
pause for a second and apply this to
165
00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:54.730
our own lives. Do you think
of your own lives in terms of Selfficience,
166
00:14:54.850 --> 00:15:01.210
selfsufficiency and strength, or perhaps possessions? Do I have the things that
167
00:15:01.289 --> 00:15:05.330
I need to have? Am I
in control? Am I do I have
168
00:15:05.409 --> 00:15:11.320
enough money? Or are my children
obedient enough? or Am I getting enough
169
00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:15.080
rest? Or how is my health, or am I a strong person?
170
00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:20.240
Do we evaluate in those terms primarily, or do we evaluate ourselves in terms
171
00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:26.070
of obedience? Are we waiting for
the day when we are and hoping for
172
00:15:26.110 --> 00:15:31.669
the day when we are only established
and strong, or are we hoping for
173
00:15:31.830 --> 00:15:39.740
obedience and trust and faith in God? It's that second that's important. Health,
174
00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:43.899
finances, relationships, these things go
up and down, they come and
175
00:15:45.019 --> 00:15:50.129
go. God, the Lord,
stands forever and so he has to take
176
00:15:50.129 --> 00:15:54.169
priority in our lives. If he
is king, of the greatest king in
177
00:15:54.409 --> 00:16:00.330
the world, surely he should be
king of our own individual lives. When
178
00:16:00.370 --> 00:16:03.840
we think about our lives, are
we thinking about our them in terms of
179
00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:08.679
the Law of God? Are we
thinking about law our lives in terms of
180
00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:15.440
obedience and submission and faith, or
just in terms of how strong we are,
181
00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:22.029
how wealthy we are or some other
earthly thing? It's a good hush
182
00:16:22.110 --> 00:16:23.870
and to ask, because here we
see what happens when you go wrong,
183
00:16:23.909 --> 00:16:30.230
when you establish yourself based on your
strength and you abandon the law of the
184
00:16:30.350 --> 00:16:36.139
Lord. This is what happens.
We read in verse two that in the
185
00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:40.299
Fifth Year of King Ray of Balm, because they had been unfaithful to the
186
00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:45.779
Lord, Shishak, King of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem. Now it
187
00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:49.769
doesn't say this, but my guess
is that Shishak wasn't thinking in these terms.
188
00:16:51.649 --> 00:16:55.169
He probably didn't think, wow,
Israel's being really disobedient. I better
189
00:16:55.730 --> 00:17:00.409
go and force the law of Yahway
and and punish them for their sins.
190
00:17:00.330 --> 00:17:04.680
No, Egypt was making a move
on e on Israel. Israel was in
191
00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:11.680
this has always been in this important
place geographically, this land sort of in
192
00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:17.829
between empires that various people have wanted
to control. Trade routes that are important
193
00:17:18.069 --> 00:17:23.069
port cities, they are important lands, that are important, and Egypt wanted
194
00:17:23.150 --> 00:17:27.630
them, no doubt. So Shishak
goes up. And yet, no matter
195
00:17:27.750 --> 00:17:33.180
what the motivations of Shishak were,
we know that God was in control.
196
00:17:33.859 --> 00:17:38.460
That's why this happened, because they
had been a unfaithful to the Lord.
197
00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:47.289
That's why this happened and it's also
why things turned around the other way that
198
00:17:47.369 --> 00:17:51.930
we see that the kingship of Raya
Balm is all turning on is obedience.
199
00:17:52.930 --> 00:17:57.130
Is What happens after he disobeys.
So shishak comes in, he takes the
200
00:17:57.250 --> 00:18:03.799
fortified cities of Judah, comes right
up to the doorsteps of Jerusalem. Scared,
201
00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:08.799
they gather together. The prophet comes
to them and says, thus says
202
00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:14.150
the Lord, you abandoned me,
so I have abandoned you. To Shishak.
203
00:18:15.990 --> 00:18:18.509
Here, Solomon and all the or
sorry, Rahaboem and all the princes
204
00:18:18.630 --> 00:18:23.630
are reminded that their strength did not
come because they had a lot of shields
205
00:18:23.670 --> 00:18:29.019
or a lot of soldiers or a
lot of fortified cities. Their strength was
206
00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:33.740
from the Lord. They were protected
because of him. So to abandon him
207
00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:37.940
was to abandon the very things that
they were hoping in. They hoped in
208
00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:45.529
these secondary things, forgetting the primary
thing, their Lord and King. And
209
00:18:45.690 --> 00:18:48.809
so God does a very just thing. Eye for an eye, tooth for
210
00:18:48.849 --> 00:18:53.769
a tooth. You abandon me,
so I have abandoned you. But what
211
00:18:53.970 --> 00:19:03.279
happens? A wonderful, beautiful thing
happens in verses six and seven. The
212
00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:08.759
princes of Israel and the king humbled
themselves and said, the Lord is righteous.
213
00:19:10.990 --> 00:19:14.230
And then in verse seven, when
the Lord saw that they humbled themselves,
214
00:19:14.269 --> 00:19:18.430
the word of the Lord came to
Shemaiah said, they have humbled themselves.
215
00:19:18.549 --> 00:19:23.460
I will not destroy them, but
I will grant them some deliverance,
216
00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:29.660
and my wrath shall not be poured
out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
217
00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:37.539
Now it's not an an absolute pardon, we might say. He says,
218
00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:41.289
nevertheless, they shall be servants to
him. But notice that the the
219
00:19:41.490 --> 00:19:49.769
reason changes in verse eight. It's
not a punishment, necessarily, but instruction
220
00:19:51.009 --> 00:19:55.119
and Training and discipline. Nevertheless,
they shall be servants to him that they
221
00:19:55.200 --> 00:20:00.279
may know my service. He humbles
them under Shishak. He requires a certain
222
00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:07.750
obedience to this foreign king that they
might know that ultimately, their obedience needs
223
00:20:07.789 --> 00:20:11.269
to be to the Lord. As
we go back to our own personal lives,
224
00:20:11.390 --> 00:20:17.750
this is another truth to remember.
God often times will bring us and
225
00:20:17.869 --> 00:20:22.019
deliver us out of things, I'm
out of the consequences of our sin,
226
00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:27.259
but sometimes he leaves us in them, not because he is punishing us,
227
00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:33.539
but because he is teaching us.
He wants us to grow not just in
228
00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:40.329
obeying but in knowing him, in
serving him. He even has them served
229
00:20:40.410 --> 00:20:45.089
this king of Egypt, that they
might know what it means to serve the
230
00:20:45.210 --> 00:20:52.920
living God who is over both Egypt
and Israel. Another thing to mention about
231
00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:59.160
the repentance that they offer. I
want to ask you a question. I
232
00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:03.279
want you to have you think,
you think about something. What is the
233
00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:07.869
basis for the repentance? Or,
maybe better, why does repentance work?
234
00:21:07.910 --> 00:21:17.309
Why does repentance work? Why did
it change what the Lord did? First
235
00:21:17.309 --> 00:21:21.059
of all, consider what repentance is. It's a humbling of oneself. That's
236
00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:26.299
what we read when the king and
the princess of Israel humbled themselves. We
237
00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:30.500
also know from other portions of scripture
that this humility and repentance isn't merely saying
238
00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:36.369
I'm sorry, but it's turning away
from sin, it's taking a new path.
239
00:21:36.930 --> 00:21:41.009
But well again, why did that
work? Why did that change they
240
00:21:41.250 --> 00:21:48.680
way that God was treating them?
Because once a law is broken, it
241
00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:55.960
can't really be made up by being
sorry or simply by, Oh, being
242
00:21:56.079 --> 00:22:00.039
obedient. Once a law is broken, it's broken. The Covenant Has Been
243
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:04.390
Broken, the contract has been broken. You can't just make it up.
244
00:22:06.230 --> 00:22:10.390
You've maybe experienced this personally. If, if someone steals some money from you,
245
00:22:11.589 --> 00:22:15.029
maybe if, even in the case
where they give it back, it
246
00:22:15.230 --> 00:22:18.539
still doesn't feel very satisfying. Does
it not totally. I mean, of
247
00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:22.180
course you appreciate that and you're glad
for that, but it's not complete.
248
00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:27.900
There's something more that's required, something
was still broken. What we see is
249
00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:33.690
that there is forgiveness that is required. You can't make up for your sins
250
00:22:33.769 --> 00:22:40.410
simply by doing other righteous things.
God has to forgive our sins, and
251
00:22:41.130 --> 00:22:45.920
that's where repentance comes in. Repentance
is coming in not merely by humbling yourself
252
00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:51.519
and turning to a new path,
but really trusting in the grace of God.
253
00:22:52.440 --> 00:23:00.269
Repentance, Evangelical Repentance, Gospel Repentance, godly repentance, makes a difference
254
00:23:00.309 --> 00:23:04.549
because it doesn't merely continue on in
one's own works, though they may be
255
00:23:04.750 --> 00:23:10.069
good now, but it trusts in
God's works, in His grace and in
256
00:23:10.150 --> 00:23:18.940
his goodness. Repentance works because God
works. Repentance works because God is Gracious.
257
00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:26.650
Repentance works because God is good.
He doesn't when he forgives our sins,
258
00:23:26.690 --> 00:23:30.009
he's not merely adding things on the
scale and saying, well, you
259
00:23:30.089 --> 00:23:33.490
did this many good things in this
many bad things, and so okay,
260
00:23:33.609 --> 00:23:41.519
we're even. That's not where repentance
is. That's justice. But we can't
261
00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:45.440
have justice with God because we can
never do enough good to make up for
262
00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:49.200
the things we lost. We can
never sacrifice ourselves enough to atone for the
263
00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:53.640
things that we've done, and so
we don't go to God on the basis
264
00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:57.349
of our good works. We go
to God on the basis of His grace.
265
00:24:00.109 --> 00:24:03.589
And that's what they do here.
That's what this humbling themselves themselves is.
266
00:24:03.869 --> 00:24:12.539
They go to the Lord. Maybe
rayabalm remembered the words of David and
267
00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:18.940
Psalm thirty two about how the forgiveness
of the Lord Washes Away Iniquity and cleans
268
00:24:19.059 --> 00:24:26.490
transgressions. Maybe he heard the story
about his grandfather's disobedience and how the Lord
269
00:24:26.569 --> 00:24:32.930
had forgiven him. Or maybe,
with Rayabo or with Solomon, his father,
270
00:24:33.210 --> 00:24:37.329
he had heard Solomon's prayer at the
temple or heard of it when the
271
00:24:37.410 --> 00:24:41.440
temple was constructed, and solemn prayed
and said, when they're people repent,
272
00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:49.920
may you turn to them and forgive
their sins, because God is gracious,
273
00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:56.309
because God works and fulfilling his promises
to keep his people and to forgive their
274
00:24:56.470 --> 00:25:07.660
sins, repentance works. So what
promised did Rayabalm have? What thing was
275
00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:11.940
he depending on and the other princes, when they humbled themselves before the Lord.
276
00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:15.779
They were depending on the Lord who
is Gracious, the Lord who is
277
00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:21.259
made promises to keep his people,
promises experienced by his own family, by
278
00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:26.210
his father and his grandfather, and
our hope is the same. We can
279
00:25:26.250 --> 00:25:30.970
also look at the promises God made
to Abraham and to Moses and to David
280
00:25:30.049 --> 00:25:36.160
and to Solomon and say the Lord
is Faithful, the Lord is good,
281
00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:41.000
the Lord forgives the sins of those
who repent and trust in him. His
282
00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:48.680
Wrath can be turned away when I
go to him and ask it and trust
283
00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:55.950
in him by faith. What's more
is that God has given us not only
284
00:25:56.109 --> 00:26:02.190
these promises that have been made to
these various men and leaders of his people
285
00:26:03.390 --> 00:26:07.460
and to the people as a whole, but he's also given us the hope
286
00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:15.500
and promise of Jesus Christ himself.
One day a king did come, not
287
00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:18.250
Yabalm, not Abijah, and May
and we would have to wait a long
288
00:26:18.289 --> 00:26:25.809
time, but Jesus did come and
he never had to repent because he never
289
00:26:25.890 --> 00:26:33.039
sinned. But, as our representative, his life also turned on his relationship
290
00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:37.480
to the law, just like ray
of balms did on the basis of Jesus
291
00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:42.039
is obedience. He would be exalted
on the bus eases of the disobedience,
292
00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:48.349
not that he committed, but on
the disobedience that was placed on him,
293
00:26:48.069 --> 00:26:55.430
the sins for which he suffered.
He was not exalted, but he was
294
00:26:55.470 --> 00:27:00.700
humbled. He was put to death, even death on a cross, even
295
00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:07.980
by the hand of God. How
could Jesus be both obedient and disobedient?
296
00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:12.859
Well, because he did so in
different ways. He was a different sort
297
00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:17.690
of king. He was no ray
of Balm. He was the God man.
298
00:27:19.250 --> 00:27:30.359
Jesus was obedient according to his divinity
and his perfect sinless humanity. Jesus
299
00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:33.039
obeyed every single thing. He did
everything that he was called to do,
300
00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:37.799
and in that he was exalted.
But it was as our mediator and as
301
00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:42.279
our substitute that he suffered for us, and he suffered for our sins.
302
00:27:45.950 --> 00:27:52.990
The people under Raeabalm rose and fell
with him as king. We do the
303
00:27:52.069 --> 00:27:56.549
same under Jesus, but Jesus is
a different sort of king. As I
304
00:27:56.710 --> 00:28:03.859
said, we don't have to worry
about him being another Rayabalem or worse.
305
00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:08.259
There's never been a better king.
We could not have a better king and
306
00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:14.849
will never have a worse one,
because Jesus is the final king. Jesus
307
00:28:14.930 --> 00:28:18.930
comes sort of in the way of
Raya Balm and in the Office of Raya
308
00:28:18.009 --> 00:28:25.490
Balm, but not as Raya Balm. He comes as God himself to rule
309
00:28:25.690 --> 00:28:30.839
us and to watch over US and
to defend us and to be our substitute.
310
00:28:32.599 --> 00:28:36.960
Paul says that we go up and
down with him, or, to
311
00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:41.430
put it more precisely, that we
have died in him and, if brought
312
00:28:41.509 --> 00:28:48.990
to new life in him, we
have been risen with him. When we
313
00:28:48.109 --> 00:28:52.150
think about these things, when we
think about who Jesus is a is as
314
00:28:52.190 --> 00:28:56.539
a king, all the promises that
have been made to God's people in the
315
00:28:56.579 --> 00:29:03.380
Old Testament are made even more sure
and even fulfilled in these majestic and kingly
316
00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:08.380
ways in Jesus. That's means that
every single one of you has not a
317
00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:15.730
single reason not to turn in repentance
to God, no matter what your sins
318
00:29:15.769 --> 00:29:18.849
are, no matter how bad they
are, no matter how deep they are,
319
00:29:18.009 --> 00:29:23.289
no matter how long they've been going
on. We can go to Jesus,
320
00:29:23.289 --> 00:29:30.599
this great king, and have life
in him. We can repent based
321
00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:34.480
on the promises of God fulfilled in
Him, and know that as we live
322
00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:38.670
as or as we die, and
live in him, that we will have
323
00:29:38.990 --> 00:29:47.710
our sins forgiven. Rayobalm's life teaches
us of the great necessity of obedience,
324
00:29:47.829 --> 00:29:52.980
both personally and for God's King.
It also teaches us the need agree.
325
00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:57.779
Of Balm's life also teaches us of
the need for repentance, because we sin
326
00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:04.900
because we need God in His grace. And finally, Rayobalm's life teaches us
327
00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:10.170
of the need, for Jesus,
a king who would not fail in the
328
00:30:10.250 --> 00:30:15.130
way that Jay ray of Balm did, a king who would secure forever the
329
00:30:15.329 --> 00:30:22.119
favor of God and the forgiveness of
our sins. So when your heart is
330
00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:27.799
pricked, when the word of God
comes to you and says you have sinned,
331
00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:34.440
and your conscience twists within you and
tells you that something needs to change,
332
00:30:36.910 --> 00:30:41.349
then remember the word of the Lord
from his Prophet here Sham. I
333
00:30:41.470 --> 00:30:45.150
remember the word of the Lord as
it came to Rayobalm, remember the word
334
00:30:45.190 --> 00:30:51.220
of the Lord as it comes to
us in Jesus, and know that in
335
00:30:51.380 --> 00:30:56.740
Him we can have all the repentance
we could ever or all the forgiveness we'd
336
00:30:56.779 --> 00:31:02.779
ever need, and a king who
would give us God's favor forever. In
337
00:31:02.900 --> 00:31:10.609
Jesus we find salvation for our souls. Let's pray in his name and ask
338
00:31:10.690 --> 00:31:11.769
that he would forgive us of our
sins.
