1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Hi there, faithful listeners, Welcome to the Bible 2 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: Explain podcast on this lovely Monday morning, and thank you 3 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 1: so much for being here on a Monday morning to 4 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: share a delicious cup of coffee with me. As we 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 1: start our week out right by reading through the Bible together, 6 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 1: We're going to be a Niamiah nine today, only talking 7 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: about the first half of it because it's actually a 8 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: very long chapter, but it's a beautiful poem in the 9 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 1: middle of Namayah, which I'm excited to talk about this 10 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:38,239 Speaker 1: poem because it ties in I think pretty well with 11 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: everything we talked about in the Book of James recently 12 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: last week. So right after this quick sponsored ad, we 13 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: will get into Niamiyah chapter nine together. All right, faithful listeners, 14 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: Let's grab our Bibles out of the version that you prefer, 15 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: but as always, I'll be reading from the web version. 16 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: Let's read Niamiah nine one through twenty three together as 17 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: we do, so, let's give reverence to God's word. Now. 18 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: In the twenty fourth day of this month, the children 19 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: of Israel were assembled with fasting, with sackcloth and with 20 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: dirt on them. The offspring of Israel separated themselves from 21 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 1: all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the 22 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:18,119 Speaker 1: iniquities of their fathers. They stood up in their place 23 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: and read in the book of the Law of Yahweh 24 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: their God, a fourth part of the day and a 25 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 1: fourth part. They confessed and worshiped Yahweh their God. Then 26 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: Jeshua Banni, Cadmiel, Shabania, Booni, Sherebayah, Banni, and Shannani of 27 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 1: the Levites stood up on stairs and cried with a 28 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 1: loud voice to Yahweh their God. Then the Levites, Jeshua 29 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: and Cadmiel, Banni, Heshpineah, Sherebayah, Hodiah, Shbiniah, and Petheah, said 30 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: stand up and bless yahwe or God, from everlasting to everlasting. 31 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all. 32 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 1: Blessing and praise You are Yahweh, even you alone. You 33 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their army, 34 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: the earth and all things that are on it, and 35 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: all that is in them, and you preserve them. All 36 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: the army of heaven worships you. You are Yahweh, the 37 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,359 Speaker 1: God who chose Abram, brought him out of er of 38 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: the childees, gave him the name of Abraham, found his 39 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:13,799 Speaker 1: heart faithful before you, and made a covenant with him 40 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: to give him the land of Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorites, 41 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: the Perizites, the Jebusite, and the Gergashite, to give it 42 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: to his offspring. And have performed your works, for you 43 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: are righteous. You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, 44 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 1: and heard their cry by the Red Sea, and showed 45 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his servants, and 46 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: against all the people of his land. For you knew 47 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 1: that they had dealt proudly against them, and made a 48 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,640 Speaker 1: name for yourself as it is today. You divided the 49 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: sea before them, so that they went through the middle 50 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 1: of the sea on the dry land, and you cast 51 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:48,079 Speaker 1: their pursuers into the depths as a stone into the 52 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:51,359 Speaker 1: mighty waters. Moreover, in a pillar of cloud you led 53 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 1: them by day, and in a pillar of fire by night, 54 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 1: to give them light in the way in which they 55 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: should go. You also came down on Mount Sinai and 56 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right to 57 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments. And you 58 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: made known to them your holy Sabbath, and commanded them commandments, statutes, 59 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: and a law by Moses your servant, and gave them 60 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: bread from the sky for their hunger, and brought water 61 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 1: out of the rock for them for their thirst, and 62 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 1: commanded them that they should go in to possess the 63 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,239 Speaker 1: land which you had sworn to give them. But they 64 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: and our fathers behaved proudly, hearden their necks, and didn't 65 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: listen to your commandments, and refused to obey. They weren't 66 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 1: mindful of your wonders that you did among them. But 67 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: they heardened their neck, and in rebellion appointed a captain 68 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: to return to their bondage. But you are a god 69 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and 70 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 1: abundant in loving kindness. And you didn't forsake them. Yes, 71 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 1: when they had made themselves a molded calf, and said, 72 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: this is your God who brought you up out of Egypt, 73 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 1: and had committed awful blasphemies. Yet you and your manifold 74 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: mercies didn't forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of 75 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 1: cloud didn't depart from them over them by day to 76 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: lead them in the way. Neither did the pillar of 77 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: fire by night to show them the light. And in 78 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: the way in which they should go. You gave also 79 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 1: your good spirit to instruct them, and didn't withhold your 80 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. Yes, 81 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing. 82 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: Their clothes didn't grow old, and their feet didn't swell. Moreover, 83 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: you gave them kingdoms and peoples, which you allotted according 84 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 1: to their portions. So they possessed the land of Scion, 85 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: even the land of King Heshbah, and of the land 86 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: of og King of Bashan. You also multiplied their children 87 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,479 Speaker 1: as the stars of the sky and brought them into 88 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:39,799 Speaker 1: the land concerning which you had said to their fathers 89 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: that they should go in to possess it. So this 90 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: is a psalm right in smack dab in the middle 91 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 1: of the book of Nehemiah. Now, if you guys remember 92 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: what we talked about last week, The people were going 93 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:54,799 Speaker 1: through all of these different festivals in the month of September, 94 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,160 Speaker 1: because for the Jewish people, the month of September is 95 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: very big. I believe there's three main festivals. The first 96 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: one is the Feast of trumpets. The second one is 97 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: the Day of Atonement, which is like the holiest day 98 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 1: in the Jewish calendar. And then there's also the Feast 99 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 1: of Booths, which is a eight day long celebration essentially 100 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 1: where people have feasts and joy before God and they 101 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 1: basically camp out and make little shelters and everything just 102 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: around the city. So those are some big festivals that 103 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:28,039 Speaker 1: take place in September. But now the people, it looks like, 104 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,359 Speaker 1: are gathering not because of any particular Jewish holiday, but 105 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: because they're feeling convicted over everything that they had read 106 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: in the laws. Because in the first day of the 107 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:38,919 Speaker 1: month of September, which is the Feast of Booths, the 108 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: people had Ezra come out and read the law to them, 109 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 1: and so they were really discouraged during that time because 110 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: they're like, oh my gosh, we are not following any 111 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,839 Speaker 1: of these laws. And then in the last chapter it 112 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: mentions how the people started celebrating the Feast of Booths 113 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:56,839 Speaker 1: and that was again a time where they had the 114 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: law brought out and read to them. And I am 115 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 1: sure the majority of the people this is the first 116 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: time they've ever even heard some of these laws of God, 117 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 1: and they realize that as a collective group, as Israelites, 118 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 1: they are not actually following the law that they promised 119 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:14,479 Speaker 1: God they would follow. So they're feeling pretty convicted. So 120 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 1: now in the twenty fourth day of the month, they 121 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: decide to hold a holiday all on their own. It 122 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: says in verse one, on the twenty fourth day of 123 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 1: this month, the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, 124 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:29,480 Speaker 1: with sackcloth and with dirt on them. So this was 125 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,119 Speaker 1: the typical way to mourn back in these days. They'd 126 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: wear itchy, uncomfortable clothing, they would put dirt on themselves 127 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: to show that they were in mourning, and they would 128 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: also fast from eating. So this is a good response 129 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: that the people are having. They are finally recognizing their 130 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: sins in front of God. So it says that the 131 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 1: offspring of Israel separated themselves from all the foreigners and 132 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: stood and confessed to their sins and the iniquities of 133 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 1: their fathers. So they are coming together specifically to ask 134 00:06:57,320 --> 00:06:59,599 Speaker 1: for forgiveness of God. And it mentions here that they 135 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:03,480 Speaker 1: separated themselves from all foreigners, which is kind of interesting 136 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: and a lot of people speculate as to what that means. 137 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: Some people think that this took place during Ezra's reform, 138 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 1: where he forced all of those men in the Book 139 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: of Ezra to divorce their foreign wives. This could also 140 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: mean that they are separating themselves from the foreign idols 141 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: or people that worship the foreign idols. Or it could 142 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 1: be that because this is directly after the feast of Booths, 143 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 1: which by the way, anybody, including the foreigners, could celebrate 144 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: the feast of Booths, that they were just separating themselves 145 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: from those particular foreigners. So no one's really sure what 146 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: that means about how they separated themselves from the foreigners, 147 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 1: But they did, and it says they stood and confessed 148 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. And verse 149 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: three says they stood up in their place, and they 150 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:51,679 Speaker 1: read the book of the Law of Yahweh their God 151 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: for a fourth part of the day, and a fourth 152 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 1: part they confessed and worshiped Yahweh their God. Then it 153 00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: mentions a handful of these Leevites, twelve to be exact, 154 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: who are standing up praising Yahweh and leading the people 155 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 1: into prayer and worship essentially and praise as well. So 156 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 1: it says that the Levites all said, stand up and 157 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: bless Yahweh, or God, from everlasting to everlasting. And now 158 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 1: the psalm begins in verse five. We don't know who 159 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: stated this psalm. We don't know if it was a 160 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 1: song that was common back in these days, or if 161 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: it was a reading that was done where the people 162 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 1: would repeat it back, or it could have just been 163 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: a poem that was read to the people. We don't 164 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: know if the Levites all said it at the same time, 165 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 1: or if one particular person said this psalm. Maybe Neamiah did, 166 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 1: maybe Ezra did. It does not say. The only thing 167 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 1: that is recorded here is the psalm itself. So here 168 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 1: it starts, Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted 169 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: above all. Blessing and praise you are Yahweh, even you alone. 170 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:59,679 Speaker 1: You have made heaven, the heaven of Heaven's with all 171 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 1: their army, the earth and all the things that are 172 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: on it, the seas and all that is in them, 173 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 1: and you preserve them. All the army of Heaven worships you. 174 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 1: So that, of course, is talking about God being the 175 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: creator of the universe. He created everything, and just for 176 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: that sole reason alone, the fact that he is our creator, 177 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 1: he deserves our worship. And adoration. But he's also the 178 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:25,440 Speaker 1: one that created the entire heavens and the angels that 179 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: are within the heavens, and the angels of heaven worship 180 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:32,079 Speaker 1: God as well. And if the angels are worshiping God, 181 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 1: then we should certainly worship God. It says in verse seven, 182 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 1: you are Yahweh, the God who chose Abram, who brought 183 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 1: him out or of the Childees, and gave him the 184 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: name of Abraham. The author of this psalm goes immediately 185 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:48,960 Speaker 1: into Abraham, the first patriarch of the Israelite nation. So 186 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 1: God is amazing. God is the creator, and he created Israel, 187 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 1: and he sets someone apart to be the patriarch, the 188 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: founder essentially of the Israelite nation. And that person was 189 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,320 Speaker 1: named Abraham, who God brought out of ear of the 190 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 1: Childees and gave him the name Abraham, who found his 191 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 1: heart faithful before you and made a covenant with him 192 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 1: to give him the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, 193 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: the Amorite, the Parizite, the Jebusite, the Gurgoshite, and to 194 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: give it to his offspring. And the author said, and you, 195 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 1: God have performed your words, for you are righteous. God 196 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: does not do anything in half measures. When he tells 197 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: Abram that his children, his descendants, are going to receive 198 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: the promised land, God is going to do it. In fact, 199 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 1: God even showed this to Abraham by changing his name 200 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:41,719 Speaker 1: from Abram to Abraham, because Abram means father and Abraham 201 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 1: means father of many. So God even changed Abraham's name 202 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: to help him understand how important this promise was and 203 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: how God was going to keep it to all of 204 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: Abraham's descendants. So God did it. He gave the land 205 00:10:56,480 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 1: to the descendants, but unfortunately the descendants didn't necessarily want 206 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: to take it, and that is what the psalmist goes 207 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: into next. In fact, this entire psalm you're going to 208 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:11,320 Speaker 1: see is actually really focusing on the apostate nation of Israel, 209 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 1: how they just constantly kept rebelling against God. And it 210 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 1: makes a lot of sense why the Levites in this 211 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 1: situation would quote this particular psalm to all of these people, 212 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 1: because these people are asking for forgiveness for their previous sins. 213 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 1: So it's important to teach all of these people that 214 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 1: are gathered here the history of their ancestors and everything 215 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 1: that happened. But yet, how God was so incredibly faithful 216 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 1: throughout all of this. So the next part of the 217 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 1: Psalm starts in verse nine, and it says, you saw 218 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and you heard 219 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 1: their cry by the Red Sea, and you showed signs 220 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:49,559 Speaker 1: and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his servants, and against 221 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: all the people of his land, for you knew that 222 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 1: they dealt proudly against them, and made a name for 223 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,439 Speaker 1: yourself as it is today. And that is actually very 224 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: true if you read through the Exitus account, which I'm 225 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: so excited that I'm actually reading that in my personal 226 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 1: study right now, there's actually a verse that says, like 227 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:11,559 Speaker 1: right before the last plague that God sends to Egypt, 228 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 1: it says that the Egyptians actually regarded Moses as a prophet, 229 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: like as a very wise man, and also they feared 230 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: Yahweh a lot of the Egyptians did. In fact, many 231 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:29,040 Speaker 1: Egyptians actually went with the Israelites after they were kicked 232 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,679 Speaker 1: out of the land when God sent all of those plagues. 233 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 1: So God really did make a name for himself in Egypt. 234 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:39,719 Speaker 1: The Egyptians feared God after seeing what he could do. 235 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 1: And this was a way, of course, for God to 236 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: bring the Israelites out of Egypt because they were stuck 237 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: there as slaves. They were being deeply mistreated, their children 238 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:54,320 Speaker 1: were getting killed by the Egyptians, drowned in the Nile River. 239 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: Really terrible stuff was happening. So God brings them out. 240 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: He shows the Egyptian where they're wrong. God actually judged 241 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 1: all of the different Egyptian gods by sending particular plagues 242 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 1: that were associated with the Egyptian god. So, for example, 243 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 1: the plague where God sent the frogs to the Egyptians, 244 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 1: they had a frog god that they probably were trying 245 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:21,680 Speaker 1: to pray to to get rid of all of these frogs, 246 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:24,839 Speaker 1: and of course that God was proven to be absolutely 247 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 1: useless and just a hunk of stone because that God 248 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 1: could do nothing for them to get rid of the frogs. 249 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: And yet when Moses prayed to Yahweh, suddenly the frogs 250 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 1: were all dead the very next day. So it's just 251 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 1: things like that where God was really showing who he 252 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 1: was to the Egyptian people. Truly amazing stuff. So it 253 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 1: says that God divided the sea before the Israelites so 254 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 1: that they went through the middle of the sea onto 255 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 1: dry land. But yet the Egyptians or the pursuers who 256 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: are trying to kill all the people. They were thrown 257 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: into the depths as a star, into the mighty waters. 258 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 1: So I'm sure you guys know the story with that one. 259 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 1: But God divided the sea so that the Israelites could 260 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:11,200 Speaker 1: walk through on dry land. And right behind them were 261 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 1: the Egyptian army, who wanted to kill all of them 262 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 1: because of the plagues that had happened. And so they 263 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: went through the Red Sea suspecting that they could also 264 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 1: go through on dry land, and God sent the waters 265 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 1: crashing over all of them. But this was not the 266 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: only thing that God showed his people, not to mention 267 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: all of those plagues he sent to Egypt and the 268 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: splitting of the Red Sea, it says he also in 269 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: verse twelve showed them the pillar of cloud, which led 270 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: them by day and in a pillar of fire by night, 271 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: to give them light in the way in which they 272 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 1: should go. So God's presence was always around them. There 273 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: was constantly a pillar of cloud nearby them. All of them, 274 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 1: every single person in that camp, all two million people 275 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:56,640 Speaker 1: that traveled out of Egypt, could see that cloud by day, 276 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: and also the pillar of fire by night, and specifically, 277 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: God was doing this not just to show his presence, 278 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 1: but to cool them off during the heat of the day, 279 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: and also to give them light and a warmth by night, 280 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: so they would know which way that they were supposed 281 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: to go. Then in verse thirteen, it says, you also 282 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 1: came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from 283 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: heaven and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good 284 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: statutes and commandments. And you made known to them your 285 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: holy Sabbath and commanded them the commandments, statutes, and a 286 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 1: law by Moses, your servant. So that, of course, is 287 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 1: all talked about in Exodus nineteen sixteen through twenty, where 288 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: God is speaking to the people like audibly through the cloud. 289 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 1: God spoke those laws to the people. So God wasn't 290 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: just showing his presence to them, He was also speaking 291 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: to them audibly so they could hear him. He was 292 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 1: doing everything to show them that he was God and 293 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 1: that he was with them. It also says in this 294 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: psalm in Nehemiah that God gave them bread from the 295 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: sky for their hunger, and brought water out of the 296 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: rock for them for their thirst, and commanded them that 297 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 1: they should go in to possess the land which you 298 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 1: had sworn to give to them. So God is showing 299 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: them all these miraculous things, everything from the time that 300 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: they were in Egypt to the time that they're in 301 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: the wilderness, sustaining every fiber of their being through bread 302 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 1: coming down from Heaven, through water from the rock, through 303 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 1: the amazing things that God is stating to them in 304 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: the clouds. And yet here's what it says in verse sixteen. 305 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: But they and our fathers behaved proudly. They hardened their 306 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 1: neck and didn't listen to your commandments and refused to obey. 307 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 1: They weren't mindful of your wonders that you did among them. 308 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 1: But you harden their neck, and in their rebellion, appointed 309 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: a captain to return to their bondage. And that is 310 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 1: talked about in numbers chapter fourteen one through four. It says, 311 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: all the congregation lifts up their voice, and they cried, 312 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 1: and the people wept. That night, all the children of 313 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, and the whole 314 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: congregation said to them, we wish that we had died 315 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 1: in the land of Egypt, or that we had died 316 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,359 Speaker 1: in this wilderness. Why does Yahweh bring us into this 317 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 1: land to fall by the sword. Our wives and our 318 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 1: little ones will be captured and killed. Wouldn't it be 319 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 1: better for us to return to Egypt? And they said 320 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:21,480 Speaker 1: to one another, let's choose a leader, and let's return 321 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: into Egypt. And if you jump down to verse ten, 322 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 1: it says that after Moses and Aaron and Joshua try 323 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: to calm the people down, the congregation threatened to stone 324 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:36,159 Speaker 1: them with stones. So that was the response of the 325 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 1: people to God being with them, to God commanding them, 326 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:44,160 Speaker 1: like for the first time, really to go and do 327 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 1: something that was kind of hard for them. The command 328 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 1: was go into the promised land. I'm going to give 329 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 1: it to you. And the people, after they heard that 330 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 1: they were giants living in the land, were like, no, 331 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:54,919 Speaker 1: we can't do it. It's too hard for us. We're 332 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 1: gonna die. In fact, we wish we could die here 333 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 1: in this wilderness, or we wish we could die in 334 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: each In fact, let's just go back to Egypt. Let's 335 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:06,119 Speaker 1: appoint a captain to lead us back into Egypt. That 336 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 1: was how the people responded to all of God's amazing 337 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:11,919 Speaker 1: miracles that they were constantly seeing, and the presence of 338 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: God that was always around them, and the bread that 339 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:17,880 Speaker 1: was on the ground every single morning for them. That's 340 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 1: how they responded to God's command. But if you go 341 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: back to verse seventeen of Neamiah nine, it says, but God, 342 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 1: you are ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, 343 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 1: and abundant in loving kindness. And you didn't forsake them. Yes, 344 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 1: when they had made themselves a molded calf and said, 345 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:40,919 Speaker 1: this is your God who brought you up out of 346 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 1: Egypt and had committed awful blasphemies, Yet in your manifold 347 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:48,399 Speaker 1: mercies didn't forsake them in the wilderness. Your pillar of 348 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:51,479 Speaker 1: cloud didn't depart from them by day to lead them 349 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:53,879 Speaker 1: in the way. Neither did your pillar of fire by 350 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: night to show them the light and the way in 351 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 1: which they should go. So, in spite of this absolute 352 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 1: apostasy that his people were committing, God did not abandon 353 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:06,920 Speaker 1: his people. Because he loves his people. He promised them something. 354 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,439 Speaker 1: He promised Abraham, I'm going to give this land to 355 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 1: your descendants. God was going to fulfill his promise, even 356 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 1: though these people were absolutely unthankful to God and just 357 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:20,200 Speaker 1: acting really Braddy in general, just refused to do any 358 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 1: of the commands that God commanded them to do. Yet 359 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 1: in spite of all that, God didn't give up on 360 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:31,120 Speaker 1: those people. He continued to give them his presence day 361 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 1: after day in the form of that cloud and also 362 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:37,119 Speaker 1: the form of the fire at night. It says, you 363 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:40,879 Speaker 1: also gave your good spirit to instruct them in verse twenty, 364 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 1: and didn't withhold germana from their mouth and gave them 365 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:47,160 Speaker 1: water for their thirst. So God didn't just stop feeding them. 366 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 1: He didn't just stop giving them water to drink in 367 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 1: the wilderness. He kept supplying all of their needs. Can 368 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 1: you imagine if somebody treated you like that, You know, 369 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 1: if you were doing everything for them, like bending over 370 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 1: backwards to make sure that they knew you were a 371 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 1: friend to them, make sure that you knew that you 372 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:09,399 Speaker 1: loved them, and they just were constantly rejecting you and 373 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: using you and complaining about you and mistreating you, like 374 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:15,960 Speaker 1: over and over and over again, how would you feel 375 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:18,480 Speaker 1: After a while, You'd probably be like, Okay, I'm never 376 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:23,680 Speaker 1: helping you ever again. By you absolutely would. And yet 377 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 1: God did not do that to these people. He sustained them. 378 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:31,160 Speaker 1: It says, actually for forty years, he kept on sustaining 379 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 1: them in verse twenty one. Yes, for forty years you 380 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:37,200 Speaker 1: sustained them in the wilderness. That's a really long time 381 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 1: to sustain people who are constantly complaining against you. Right, 382 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:45,640 Speaker 1: and yet they lacked nothing, is what it says right here. 383 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 1: Their clothes didn't grow old, and their feet didn't swell. 384 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:52,880 Speaker 1: So God took care of everything from their feet, from 385 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 1: their sandals to their clothes. Nothing was wearing out nothing. 386 00:20:57,600 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: God even sustained the clothes on their back. Because they 387 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 1: didn't have a lot in the wilderness, they probably didn't 388 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 1: have many ways to make new clothes for themselves. God 389 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:09,160 Speaker 1: sustained even the clothes that they had on their backs 390 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 1: and the sandals that were on their feet. It says. Moreover, 391 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 1: you gave them kingdoms and peoples, which you allotted according 392 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: to their portions. So they possessed the land of Scion, 393 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 1: even the land of king of Heshbon and the land 394 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 1: of og king of Bashan. So those two kings are 395 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 1: mentioned also, I think in the Book of Numbers they 396 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:31,560 Speaker 1: are mentioned where the Israelites defeated these two kings before 397 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 1: they even entered into the Promised Land. And so God 398 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 1: gave them the land of those two kings, so that 399 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 1: they could, you know, at least have a place that 400 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:43,880 Speaker 1: they called home somewhat before they entered into the Promised Land. 401 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 1: Like God was giving them everything that they could possibly 402 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 1: need in this wilderness. And not to mention, they're thriving 403 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 1: in the wilderness as well. It says you multiplied their 404 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:56,240 Speaker 1: children as the stars of the sky and brought them 405 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 1: into the land concerning what you said to their fathers 406 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:02,199 Speaker 1: that they should go in to possess it. God was 407 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:06,159 Speaker 1: faithful to the very end with his people. He was 408 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: faithful though they were not faithful to him, And that's 409 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: a verse in scripture. Though we are unfaithful, God always 410 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 1: remains faithful. He loves us, He cares about us, and 411 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 1: even when we do things to go against God, God 412 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 1: continues to give us second chances. He loves us very much. 413 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:26,679 Speaker 1: And if he can love the Israelites in the wilderness 414 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 1: who were constantly in rebellion towards him, does he not 415 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:34,200 Speaker 1: love you when you backslide or when you fall away 416 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:36,920 Speaker 1: from God? Does he not love you? Of course he does. 417 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: He loves you very very much. And stories like this 418 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:43,160 Speaker 1: that we read in Neamiah nine, just I think, really 419 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:45,639 Speaker 1: solidify the amount of God's love that he has for 420 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 1: each one of us. All righty, faithful listeners, Before I 421 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 1: end today's episode, please listen to one last sponsored ad. 422 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 1: You know, I think today's episode came at a really 423 00:22:56,800 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 1: good time because right now we're going through on the 424 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 1: New Testament side of stuff. The Book of Hebrews and James, 425 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:05,160 Speaker 1: and those are fantastic books, but they talk a lot 426 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:09,640 Speaker 1: about how faith without works are dead. In fact, we've 427 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 1: been covering that topic a lot on the New Testament 428 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 1: side of stuff, and I think it's really hard for 429 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,719 Speaker 1: us a lot of times to wrap our mind around 430 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:20,760 Speaker 1: how works don't save us, and yet when we become Christians, 431 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:23,199 Speaker 1: works are required of us. And not only does that 432 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:26,879 Speaker 1: maybe confuse some people, but it also might have certain 433 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:31,199 Speaker 1: Christians questioning their faith, questioning their salvation. How can we 434 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 1: possibly be saved if we're not doing you know, such 435 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: and such. We have to be giving this amount of money. 436 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:38,679 Speaker 1: If we're not, then we might not be saved. If 437 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 1: we don't have a good prayer life, maybe we're not saved. 438 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:43,919 Speaker 1: And these questions might come up in your mind. But 439 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 1: interestingly enough, it is not the works that save us. 440 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:50,440 Speaker 1: Only God alone can save us. Once we are saved, 441 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:53,720 Speaker 1: we are required to do good works after we become 442 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:57,160 Speaker 1: a Christian, and that keeps our faith alive in Jesus. 443 00:23:57,560 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 1: But you know, passages like this, what we read in 444 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 1: Neamiah and I really show God's love for his people. 445 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:06,240 Speaker 1: You know, a lot of times everybody thinks that Yahweh 446 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:08,399 Speaker 1: and the Old Testament he's the mean God that strikes 447 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:11,639 Speaker 1: everybody down. But like look at this story. He's constantly 448 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:15,119 Speaker 1: showing up for these rebellious people time and time again 449 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:18,399 Speaker 1: because of his immense love for them. So think about 450 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 1: yourself if you are struggling with your own salvation. Nothing 451 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: you do for God can make him love you any 452 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:29,439 Speaker 1: more than he already does. He has already accepted you. 453 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:31,879 Speaker 1: When you believed on the name of Jesus. You have 454 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:35,399 Speaker 1: been accepted. Now. The works are proof of your faith. 455 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 1: It is proof that your faith is alive and genuine 456 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:42,159 Speaker 1: and true. But the works don't save you because your 457 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:45,159 Speaker 1: works cannot make God think anything different of you than 458 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:49,240 Speaker 1: he already does. He loves you so incredibly deeply, So 459 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 1: all you have to do is believe on the name 460 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:53,719 Speaker 1: of Jesus and you will be saved. And so I 461 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:56,959 Speaker 1: really like that we talked about Neamiah and nine today, 462 00:24:57,240 --> 00:25:02,879 Speaker 1: right after discussing on Thursday how faith without works is dead. So, guys, 463 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:05,840 Speaker 1: I hope you tune in tomorrow for another episode from James. 464 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 1: Hopefully I'll see you guys tomorrow six am or whenever 465 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 1: you choose to wake up and listen. Make sure to 466 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:12,359 Speaker 1: check out the links for all the other things that 467 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 1: I do with P forty Ministries and the Bible Explained Podcast, 468 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 1: and don't forget to sign up for the email list 469 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:21,360 Speaker 1: as well to keep updated with everything that I'm doing 470 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:24,719 Speaker 1: here on the podcast. Faithful listeners to have a fantastic 471 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 1: and wonderful rest of your day, happy listening, and God bless. 472 00:25:33,119 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 1: I just want to take a second to thank the 473 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:36,840 Speaker 1: team at Life Audio for their partnership with me on 474 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:39,359 Speaker 1: the Bible Explain Podcast. In fact, if you go to 475 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: lifeaudio dot com, you'll find dozens of other faith centered 476 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: podcasts in their network. They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, 477 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:47,480 Speaker 1: and more.