1 00:00:08,060 --> 00:00:11,420 S1: There's an end coming, you know. Our spinning globe has 2 00:00:11,420 --> 00:00:14,600 S1: an end date as certain as the expiration date on 3 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:18,500 S1: a milk carton. Now, should that sour our stomachs or 4 00:00:18,500 --> 00:00:21,860 S1: bring us comfort, just how should we respond? Well, these 5 00:00:21,860 --> 00:00:23,660 S1: are the questions we're going to dig into in just 6 00:00:23,660 --> 00:00:26,660 S1: a minute as we talk with special guest Max Lucado. 7 00:00:26,690 --> 00:00:29,600 S1: Welcome to the land and the book from Moody Radio. 8 00:00:29,630 --> 00:00:33,320 S1: Our host, author and Israel expert, Doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm 9 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:36,620 S1: John Geiger. Charlie Fall is here again. And that means 10 00:00:36,620 --> 00:00:39,769 S1: the Jewish high holidays are just around the corner. These 11 00:00:39,770 --> 00:00:42,589 S1: biblical feasts have been celebrated for thousands of years, but 12 00:00:42,590 --> 00:00:45,920 S1: this year, of course, has added weight and significance as 13 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,010 S1: Jewish people around the world mark one year since that 14 00:00:49,010 --> 00:00:51,710 S1: brutal attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists. 15 00:00:51,740 --> 00:00:54,620 S2: Yeah, absolutely. That's why our friends at Life in Messiah 16 00:00:54,620 --> 00:00:57,230 S2: want to help you learn more about the fall feasts, 17 00:00:57,230 --> 00:01:00,120 S2: the significance they have for us as believers in Jesus 18 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,300 S2: and how to stand with Jewish people during this time. 19 00:01:03,300 --> 00:01:07,170 S2: They're offering a live zoom teaching session where they're knowledgeable. 20 00:01:07,170 --> 00:01:10,620 S2: Field staff will walk you through the history and significance 21 00:01:10,620 --> 00:01:13,500 S2: of the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and 22 00:01:13,500 --> 00:01:16,680 S2: the Feast of Tabernacles. You'll also hear how you can 23 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,560 S2: use these holidays as a point of connection with your 24 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:23,160 S2: Jewish friends and neighbors, to show and share the love 25 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:26,309 S2: of Jesus with them. To sign up for this free teaching, 26 00:01:26,310 --> 00:01:28,590 S2: all you have to do is visit Life in Messiah. 27 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:31,590 S2: Org and click on the Moody Radio logo there to 28 00:01:31,620 --> 00:01:34,680 S2: sign up. Be sure to sign up today to discover 29 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:39,360 S2: the fascinating connections between these feasts and Jesus at Life 30 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:41,610 S2: in messiah.org. 31 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,040 S1: And now a look at current events from the Middle East. 32 00:01:44,069 --> 00:01:48,720 S1: Story number one fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues to escalate, 33 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:51,510 S1: as we saw this week. Is Israel planning to take 34 00:01:51,510 --> 00:01:54,750 S1: on Hezbollah militarily, or will the conflict in the North 35 00:01:54,750 --> 00:01:57,960 S1: remain at sort of a low level for the foreseeable future? 36 00:01:57,980 --> 00:02:00,770 S2: Well that conflict in the north is heating up. Prime 37 00:02:00,770 --> 00:02:04,400 S2: Minister Netanyahu has said the situation can't continue, with over 38 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,750 S2: 60,000 Israelis still living as refugees from their own homes 39 00:02:08,750 --> 00:02:12,410 S2: and towns. Hours after Israel foiled a second plot by 40 00:02:12,410 --> 00:02:16,370 S2: Hezbollah to kill a former senior defense minister, thousands of 41 00:02:16,370 --> 00:02:20,840 S2: encrypted pagers used by Hezbollah exploded, killing 12 and wounding 42 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:26,180 S2: nearly 3000, including some top officials. Israel hasn't claimed responsibility, 43 00:02:26,180 --> 00:02:28,670 S2: but this has all the earmarks of one of their 44 00:02:28,669 --> 00:02:33,799 S2: clandestine operations. Several other events also suggest a major conflict 45 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:37,160 S2: could be close at hand. This past week, Israel's defense 46 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,429 S2: minister met with both the US secretary of defense and 47 00:02:40,430 --> 00:02:43,100 S2: a senior US adviser who's been trying to broker a 48 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:46,010 S2: deal with Hezbollah. He stressed that the time for a 49 00:02:46,010 --> 00:02:50,180 S2: diplomatic solution is running out. Israel's top general in the 50 00:02:50,180 --> 00:02:53,750 S2: north has been actively pushing to begin the ground operation, 51 00:02:53,750 --> 00:02:56,359 S2: and some of the forces that were fighting in Gaza 52 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,660 S2: are now being moved to the north, with the winter 53 00:02:59,660 --> 00:03:02,420 S2: rainy season set to begin in October. The time to 54 00:03:02,419 --> 00:03:05,750 S2: move forward is before bad weather sets in. In fact, 55 00:03:05,750 --> 00:03:09,230 S2: the first rain of the year actually fell this past Tuesday, 56 00:03:09,230 --> 00:03:12,080 S2: reminding them that the time is short. The US is 57 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:15,260 S2: trying to keep Israel from attacking at least until after 58 00:03:15,260 --> 00:03:18,800 S2: our presidential elections. But if Israel waits too long, it 59 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,859 S2: could be another six months before the weather would cooperate 60 00:03:21,860 --> 00:03:25,490 S2: to make a full scale land and air operation possible. 61 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:29,450 S2: The Israeli attack on Hezbollah missile positions on August 25th 62 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,780 S2: was a major success, with Israel destroying the majority of 63 00:03:32,780 --> 00:03:36,440 S2: rockets and drones being prepared by Hezbollah before they could 64 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:40,010 S2: be fired. And last weekend, Israel launched a surprise attack 65 00:03:40,010 --> 00:03:44,150 S2: in Syria, destroying an Iranian missile production facility built to 66 00:03:44,180 --> 00:03:48,380 S2: provide Hezbollah with precision missiles. There are three major differences 67 00:03:48,380 --> 00:03:53,090 S2: between an attack against Hezbollah versus the war against Hamas. First, 68 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,720 S2: Hamas had the element of surprise. They captured all those hostages, 69 00:03:56,720 --> 00:04:00,230 S2: which complicated the way Israel could respond. Well, that's not 70 00:04:00,230 --> 00:04:03,589 S2: true here. By moving Israelis off the border to the north. 71 00:04:03,620 --> 00:04:08,330 S2: Israel kept Hezbollah from capturing civilian hostages. A second, the 72 00:04:08,330 --> 00:04:11,900 S2: fight in Gaza was in a densely populated urban area, 73 00:04:11,900 --> 00:04:14,180 S2: but much of the region in the north, not all 74 00:04:14,180 --> 00:04:18,950 S2: but much, is more mountainous and less populated. The third difference, however, 75 00:04:18,950 --> 00:04:22,730 S2: is that Hezbollah has more sophisticated rockets and drones and 76 00:04:22,730 --> 00:04:25,040 S2: as a result will be a more formidable foe. 77 00:04:25,070 --> 00:04:29,180 S1: Story number two as America focuses on our upcoming elections, 78 00:04:29,180 --> 00:04:32,780 S1: the U.S. appears to be quietly shifting its priorities in 79 00:04:32,779 --> 00:04:35,989 S1: the Middle East. What's happening and what impact could this 80 00:04:35,990 --> 00:04:37,220 S1: have on Israel? 81 00:04:37,250 --> 00:04:39,589 S2: Yeah, and it actually started more than a decade ago. 82 00:04:39,620 --> 00:04:42,169 S2: The U.S. began shifting its focus from the Middle East 83 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:44,839 S2: to the Far East to protect against a growing threat 84 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,990 S2: from China. Making a nuclear deal with Iran and pulling 85 00:04:47,990 --> 00:04:50,630 S2: our forces out of Afghanistan were all part of that 86 00:04:50,630 --> 00:04:54,610 S2: larger repositioning. However, things didn't go according to According to plan, 87 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:57,730 S2: Iran has pushed to extend its control over large parts 88 00:04:57,730 --> 00:05:01,360 S2: of the Middle East, while the Taliban have retaken Afghanistan. 89 00:05:01,390 --> 00:05:05,530 S2: As a result, Israel remains stuck in a very bad neighborhood. 90 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:09,430 S2: The US temporarily re-engaged to help Israel face the threatened 91 00:05:09,430 --> 00:05:12,669 S2: attacks from Iran and Hezbollah, but now things could be 92 00:05:12,670 --> 00:05:16,000 S2: changing again. The US and Iraq have reached an understanding 93 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,180 S2: on plans to withdraw US forces from Iraq over the 94 00:05:19,180 --> 00:05:22,870 S2: next year, while they've been there officially to fight against ISIS. 95 00:05:22,900 --> 00:05:25,839 S2: They've also served as a blocking force to stop Iran's 96 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:29,440 S2: push to the west. Iran linked groups continue to attack 97 00:05:29,470 --> 00:05:32,469 S2: US forces in Iraq, including a recent attack on a 98 00:05:32,470 --> 00:05:36,190 S2: US diplomatic compound in the Baghdad airport. The US had 99 00:05:36,190 --> 00:05:39,310 S2: positioned two aircraft carriers in the region as a warning 100 00:05:39,339 --> 00:05:43,300 S2: to Iran against attacking Israel, but one of those carriers 101 00:05:43,330 --> 00:05:46,930 S2: is now being sent home in Jordan's elections this past week. 102 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:51,370 S2: Islamists affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood made significant gains in parliament. 103 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:55,979 S2: Their political goals include supporting Hamas and scrapping Jordan's peace 104 00:05:55,980 --> 00:05:59,820 S2: treaty with Israel and in Afghanistan. The Taliban have allowed 105 00:05:59,820 --> 00:06:04,050 S2: two of Osama bin Laden's sons to re-establish Al-Qaeda bases 106 00:06:04,050 --> 00:06:06,990 S2: once again. The bottom line here is that as the 107 00:06:06,990 --> 00:06:09,779 S2: US pulls back from its leadership role in the Middle East, 108 00:06:09,779 --> 00:06:13,200 S2: the holes were leaving behind are being filled by Islamic 109 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,710 S2: fundamentalist groups. Israel could end up feeling as if we're 110 00:06:16,710 --> 00:06:20,099 S2: abandoning them to face these threats alone. And that would 111 00:06:20,100 --> 00:06:20,970 S2: not be good. 112 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,460 S1: Not at all. This is the land and the book 113 00:06:23,460 --> 00:06:26,700 S1: from Moody Radio. Our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer, has traveled 114 00:06:26,700 --> 00:06:28,710 S1: to the Holy Land more than 100 times. He's been 115 00:06:28,710 --> 00:06:31,200 S1: to Iraq, he's been to Jordan, he's been to Turkey. 116 00:06:31,230 --> 00:06:34,770 S1: He understands what's at play here. Story number three. Still, 117 00:06:34,770 --> 00:06:38,280 S1: another project has surfaced to bring help to restore the 118 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:41,430 S1: water level of the Dead Sea. What's so unusual about 119 00:06:41,430 --> 00:06:44,280 S1: this latest proposal, Charlie? And does it have any chance 120 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:45,690 S1: of becoming reality? 121 00:06:45,690 --> 00:06:48,960 S2: Well, several things make this project unique. First, it seeks 122 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:51,510 S2: to bring water from the Mediterranean rather than the Red 123 00:06:51,540 --> 00:06:54,299 S2: sea to the Dead Sea. And second, it wants to 124 00:06:54,330 --> 00:06:57,750 S2: combine technologies to use green energy to make the project 125 00:06:57,750 --> 00:07:01,980 S2: both sustainable and ecologically beneficial. It starts with the reality 126 00:07:01,980 --> 00:07:05,670 S2: that the Dead Sea is actually 1400 feet below sea level. 127 00:07:05,700 --> 00:07:08,220 S2: The plan is to install a series of pumping stations 128 00:07:08,220 --> 00:07:11,340 S2: to bring water from the Mediterranean into the hill country, 129 00:07:11,340 --> 00:07:15,060 S2: where several desalination plants would be built. The fresh water 130 00:07:15,060 --> 00:07:18,090 S2: produced by the plants would enter a large reservoir, while 131 00:07:18,090 --> 00:07:20,790 S2: the brine left over would be temporarily stored in special 132 00:07:20,790 --> 00:07:24,330 S2: pools during the day. The pumping stations would use electricity 133 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:27,240 S2: from solar panels, then at night, the brine would be 134 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,000 S2: released from the pools to flow down into the Dead Sea, 135 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,369 S2: and along the way the brine would cascade through a 136 00:07:32,370 --> 00:07:37,740 S2: series of hydropower stations to generate additional electricity. The electricity 137 00:07:37,770 --> 00:07:40,620 S2: from the solar panels and the energy from the hydropower 138 00:07:40,620 --> 00:07:43,920 S2: stations would more than offset the energy needed to pump 139 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:47,250 S2: the water up to the desalination plants. So what are 140 00:07:47,250 --> 00:07:49,830 S2: the chances of this ever becoming a reality? Well, the 141 00:07:49,830 --> 00:07:53,610 S2: researchers stress stressed the benefits, including additional fresh water, halting 142 00:07:53,610 --> 00:07:55,830 S2: the decline in the water level at the Dead Sea, 143 00:07:55,830 --> 00:07:59,970 S2: and possibly doing all this with a project that's energy self-sufficient. 144 00:07:59,970 --> 00:08:03,270 S2: But the project now needs to move into scientific trials 145 00:08:03,270 --> 00:08:05,820 S2: to see if it can accomplish its goals. And then 146 00:08:05,850 --> 00:08:08,160 S2: Israel would need to determine how it can pay for 147 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:10,470 S2: such a project at a time when its economy is 148 00:08:10,470 --> 00:08:13,290 S2: taking a beating from the war. Now, all that to say, 149 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,950 S2: don't expect this engineering marvel anytime soon. 150 00:08:16,980 --> 00:08:20,520 S1: Well, an Israeli father's quest to help his son has 151 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:24,210 S1: led to a new stroke recovery technology. Tell us about 152 00:08:24,210 --> 00:08:26,820 S1: this encouraging story out of amazing Israel. 153 00:08:26,850 --> 00:08:29,610 S2: And this really is an encouraging story. It began when 154 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,819 S2: an Israeli physicist had a son who, at the age 155 00:08:32,820 --> 00:08:36,570 S2: of three months, was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder. 156 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:39,930 S2: The father decided to devote his energy, his passion, his 157 00:08:39,929 --> 00:08:43,770 S2: intellect into finding an effective treatment. Now he's still searching 158 00:08:43,770 --> 00:08:46,230 S2: for that cure for his son. But in the process, 159 00:08:46,230 --> 00:08:49,890 S2: he made some remarkable discoveries about the brain's ability to 160 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,550 S2: repair itself. And in fact, it's resulted in treatment proven 161 00:08:53,550 --> 00:08:56,730 S2: to help stroke victims. Now, he believes this same technology 162 00:08:56,730 --> 00:09:01,829 S2: will at some point be able to help people with depression, PTSD, ADHD, 163 00:09:01,860 --> 00:09:07,050 S2: spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries and familial dysautonomia, 164 00:09:07,170 --> 00:09:09,810 S2: the condition that impacts his son. Now, he's developed a 165 00:09:09,809 --> 00:09:14,699 S2: cloud based brainwave helmet that activates a low intensity electromagnetic 166 00:09:14,700 --> 00:09:19,080 S2: field around a patient's head. The artificial brainwaves mimic healthy 167 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:22,559 S2: neural networks to encourage the growth of new links between 168 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:26,190 S2: brain cells. The company he started is called brain Q, 169 00:09:26,220 --> 00:09:29,040 S2: that is, brain with a letter Q following it. The 170 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,949 S2: helmet has been approved by the European Union, has been 171 00:09:31,950 --> 00:09:34,710 S2: designated by the US Food and Drug Administration as a 172 00:09:34,710 --> 00:09:38,610 S2: breakthrough device in clinical trials in India. Patients who wore 173 00:09:38,610 --> 00:09:41,160 S2: the helmet for 45 minutes a day for two months 174 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:44,610 S2: recovered more quickly from strokes than those who did not. 175 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:47,700 S2: The treatment doesn't affect the brain directly. It affects the 176 00:09:47,730 --> 00:09:52,109 S2: ability of the brain to regenerate connections between cells. The 177 00:09:52,110 --> 00:09:53,850 S2: father is still hopeful he's going to find a way 178 00:09:53,850 --> 00:09:57,839 S2: to regrow neural links in people with his son's condition. Meanwhile, 179 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:01,650 S2: he's gratified that technology has been able to aid stroke victims. 180 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:05,370 S2: The dedication and compassion of this one father in amazing 181 00:10:05,370 --> 00:10:08,610 S2: Israel is hopefully going to impact the lives of stroke 182 00:10:08,610 --> 00:10:10,800 S2: victims around the world, but. 183 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,590 S1: That's a great story, very encouraging, and we'll look forward 184 00:10:13,590 --> 00:10:15,870 S1: to further developments there. Thank you, Charlie, and for the 185 00:10:15,870 --> 00:10:17,940 S1: update on the news as well. You know, as you 186 00:10:17,940 --> 00:10:20,400 S1: listen to the program, maybe you've never been to our website. 187 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:22,680 S1: We welcome you to check it out. It's the Land 188 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:27,750 S1: and the book.org. Program summaries, previews of things to come. 189 00:10:27,780 --> 00:10:30,179 S1: Links to Charlie's books and a lot more at the 190 00:10:30,179 --> 00:10:35,189 S1: land and the book.org. Well, what's happening next? Oh, not 191 00:10:35,190 --> 00:10:37,470 S1: just in the program. I'm talking about the end of 192 00:10:37,470 --> 00:10:40,349 S1: the world. It's coming. The question is, you know, what's 193 00:10:40,350 --> 00:10:43,050 S1: going to happen for you personally? Are you ready for that? 194 00:10:43,050 --> 00:10:45,840 S1: Should our stomachs sour when we think about these things 195 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,170 S1: or be comforted. Our special guest, Max Lucado, sits down 196 00:10:49,170 --> 00:10:51,719 S1: for a conversation you don't want to miss. That's next. 197 00:10:51,720 --> 00:11:09,059 S1: Right here on the land and the book. There is 198 00:11:09,059 --> 00:11:12,150 S1: an end coming, you know, an end to this age. 199 00:11:12,150 --> 00:11:15,179 S1: In fact, this spinning globe of ours has an end 200 00:11:15,210 --> 00:11:18,780 S1: date as certain as the expiration date on a milk carton. 201 00:11:18,780 --> 00:11:21,450 S1: And could it be just as soon, hey, should that 202 00:11:21,450 --> 00:11:24,900 S1: sour our stomachs or bring us comfort, just how should 203 00:11:24,900 --> 00:11:27,449 S1: we respond? Well, these are the questions we'll dig into 204 00:11:27,450 --> 00:11:30,240 S1: next as we talk with Max Lucado here on the 205 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:34,140 S1: land and the book. Welcome. I'm John Gager, and before 206 00:11:34,140 --> 00:11:36,959 S1: jumping into today's conversation, I want you to think with 207 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:40,050 S1: me briefly about a creative idea for showing your Jewish 208 00:11:40,050 --> 00:11:44,160 S1: friend something of the love of Jesus for them as 209 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:47,370 S1: followers of Messiah, one of the wonderful texts that we 210 00:11:47,370 --> 00:11:50,490 S1: love to refer to again and again by way of 211 00:11:50,490 --> 00:11:55,229 S1: prophetic evidence from the Old Testament as Isaiah 53. And yet, 212 00:11:55,230 --> 00:11:57,510 S1: if you've ever had a conversation with a Jewish friend, 213 00:11:57,540 --> 00:12:00,120 S1: you're aware that many Jewish people look at that text 214 00:12:00,150 --> 00:12:02,880 S1: quite a bit differently than we do. How do we 215 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:06,689 S1: bridge the gap and understand their understanding? That's a question 216 00:12:06,690 --> 00:12:09,270 S1: for Justin Crone of Chosen People Ministries. 217 00:12:09,300 --> 00:12:12,870 S3: Well, a lot of Jewish people today believe is that 218 00:12:12,870 --> 00:12:17,880 S3: Isaiah 53 is speaking of the nation of Israel, that 219 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:22,440 S3: they are the suffering servant. And yes, in many respects, 220 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:26,850 S3: the people of Israel throughout the centuries, including Israel today, 221 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:30,870 S3: has suffered. But if you look at the context of 222 00:12:30,900 --> 00:12:35,280 S3: that passage, it really seems to be clearly speaking of 223 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:38,100 S3: an individual, of of a person. In fact, if you 224 00:12:38,130 --> 00:12:40,500 S3: were to have a Jewish person who really doesn't know 225 00:12:40,500 --> 00:12:44,670 S3: scripture all that well, read Isaiah 53. In my experience, 226 00:12:44,670 --> 00:12:47,760 S3: nine times out of ten they say, oh, that's speaking 227 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:51,210 S3: of Jesus. We also, I think, really need to note 228 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:54,270 S3: here too, that it wasn't until a thousand years or 229 00:12:54,270 --> 00:12:57,780 S3: so after the time of Jesus that the normative view 230 00:12:57,809 --> 00:13:01,500 S3: within the Jewish community was that Isaiah 53 was speaking 231 00:13:01,500 --> 00:13:05,189 S3: of Israel. So prior to that time, uh, there was 232 00:13:05,190 --> 00:13:07,559 S3: debate over it. In fact, the closer you get to 233 00:13:07,590 --> 00:13:10,860 S3: the time of Jesus, the consensus was that Isaiah 53 234 00:13:10,860 --> 00:13:14,070 S3: was speaking of a person, not the nation of Israel. 235 00:13:14,070 --> 00:13:17,760 S1: That's Justin Crone helping us see Isaiah 53 through the 236 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:20,970 S1: eyes of your Jewish friend today on the land and 237 00:13:20,970 --> 00:13:25,740 S1: the book. If you haven't read one of Max Lucado's books, 238 00:13:25,740 --> 00:13:29,640 S1: you are in a shockingly small minority and you've missed out. 239 00:13:29,670 --> 00:13:32,640 S1: Max has the unique ability to share the plain truths 240 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:35,219 S1: of the Bible, but also comfort us with the kindness 241 00:13:35,220 --> 00:13:39,570 S1: of Christ. It's a recipe so effective 150 million of 242 00:13:39,570 --> 00:13:42,300 S1: his titles have been sold. Max is also a Bible 243 00:13:42,330 --> 00:13:45,569 S1: teacher at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. And 244 00:13:45,570 --> 00:13:49,110 S1: we're here today to continue our conversation about his first 245 00:13:49,110 --> 00:13:52,620 S1: full book on the end times, What Happens Next? A 246 00:13:52,620 --> 00:13:55,770 S1: Traveler's Guide to the end of the age. Thanks for 247 00:13:55,770 --> 00:13:57,059 S1: connecting again, Max. 248 00:13:57,090 --> 00:14:00,630 S4: Oh, it's my privilege, John. It's just a joy to 249 00:14:00,660 --> 00:14:03,599 S4: be on your program, and I'm very honored to spend 250 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:04,710 S4: this time with you. 251 00:14:04,740 --> 00:14:08,580 S1: You've written so many devotional books, people might wonder why 252 00:14:08,580 --> 00:14:11,370 S1: this book now? Why write it at this time? 253 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,510 S4: I found, you know, on my next birthday will require 254 00:14:15,540 --> 00:14:18,540 S4: 70 candles on a cake. And I don't know if 255 00:14:18,540 --> 00:14:21,359 S4: any cake can hold that many. But as I've gotten 256 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,360 S4: older and my bald spots gotten bigger and my hair's 257 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:28,170 S4: gotten grayer and my gate's gotten slower, I find myself, John, 258 00:14:28,170 --> 00:14:34,320 S4: just thinking about end times. I'm genuinely, personally curious what's 259 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:36,810 S4: going to happen. You know, when I when I take 260 00:14:36,810 --> 00:14:39,930 S4: my final breath, what's the next thing I will see 261 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:42,710 S4: when my life is over on this earth. What awaits 262 00:14:42,710 --> 00:14:47,420 S4: me in God's plan? And, um, I've always had those questions. 263 00:14:47,420 --> 00:14:50,990 S4: But as I've gotten older, uh, realizing that so much 264 00:14:50,990 --> 00:14:53,450 S4: more sand on the bottom of the hourglass than there 265 00:14:53,450 --> 00:14:58,070 S4: is on the top, I have been personally very interested. 266 00:14:58,220 --> 00:15:01,910 S4: And as I found myself reading and studying more, I 267 00:15:01,940 --> 00:15:05,960 S4: found other people who are genuinely curious as well. Maybe 268 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:08,600 S4: not because they're getting older, but. But just because they 269 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:11,510 S4: look around the world and they see it such a mess. 270 00:15:11,510 --> 00:15:15,230 S4: There's so much tragedy, so much heartache, and many of 271 00:15:15,230 --> 00:15:19,550 S4: the prophecies that we read in Scripture we're seeing come true. 272 00:15:19,550 --> 00:15:23,300 S4: And that's why so many people believe we are living 273 00:15:23,300 --> 00:15:26,690 S4: in the end times or the end of the end times. 274 00:15:26,750 --> 00:15:28,760 S4: I'm one of them, and it just makes sense. You know, 275 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:31,310 S4: if you go on a trip, you want to know 276 00:15:31,310 --> 00:15:35,270 S4: all you can about your destination. How much more as 277 00:15:35,300 --> 00:15:38,750 S4: we're preparing for the next life, should we know all 278 00:15:38,750 --> 00:15:44,380 S4: we can About what Christ has in store for his church. 279 00:15:44,410 --> 00:15:48,250 S1: Well, despite the cataclysmic world events that we're seeing around us, 280 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:51,220 S1: a lot of Americans still have it pretty good right now. 281 00:15:51,220 --> 00:15:54,790 S1: And frankly, they can't get real excited about the return 282 00:15:54,820 --> 00:15:57,100 S1: of Christ. It seems to me that's a problem. How 283 00:15:57,100 --> 00:15:59,680 S1: do we realign our affections? 284 00:15:59,950 --> 00:16:03,580 S4: That's really a great question. And maybe that's why, you know, 285 00:16:03,610 --> 00:16:08,200 S4: the apostle Paul said, set your affections on things above. 286 00:16:08,230 --> 00:16:11,980 S4: It's an act of discipleship, John, to set our affections 287 00:16:11,980 --> 00:16:15,460 S4: on things above. To think about what is to come 288 00:16:15,460 --> 00:16:19,240 S4: and not allow the blessings of this life, or the 289 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:23,500 S4: burdens of this life to be the dominant thought of 290 00:16:23,500 --> 00:16:27,550 S4: this life. Every good thing about your life, whether it 291 00:16:27,580 --> 00:16:31,180 S4: be health or wealth, all of those good things that's 292 00:16:31,180 --> 00:16:34,420 S4: going to pass away, all of these things are passing away. 293 00:16:34,420 --> 00:16:36,880 S4: And also, I can say that just as quickly about 294 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:40,810 S4: all the burdens in this life, the sickness or the 295 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:46,150 S4: anxiety or the burdens, the bad relationships, those are going 296 00:16:46,180 --> 00:16:48,940 S4: to pass away as well. We must see that this 297 00:16:48,940 --> 00:16:52,090 S4: life is just a vapor. It's just here for a 298 00:16:52,090 --> 00:16:55,810 S4: moment and then it's gone. It could not be any 299 00:16:55,810 --> 00:16:58,780 S4: briefer than it is. I mean, it is an instant 300 00:16:58,780 --> 00:17:02,500 S4: in comparison with eternity. So don't get too caught up 301 00:17:02,500 --> 00:17:05,650 S4: in either what's good or what's bad about right now. 302 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:09,399 S4: Let your focus be on what's about to happen, because 303 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:11,169 S4: that's what's going to matter the most. 304 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:14,350 S1: Max Lucado is a writer whose books you've read, and 305 00:17:14,350 --> 00:17:18,010 S1: he joins us today on the Land and the book. Well, 306 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:22,300 S1: God is certainly not captive to his own emotions still. 307 00:17:22,300 --> 00:17:23,800 S1: And I don't want to, you know, beat this to 308 00:17:23,830 --> 00:17:26,169 S1: a pulp. You can't help but wonder if he doesn't 309 00:17:26,170 --> 00:17:29,710 S1: feel a sense of hurt over our lack of anticipation, 310 00:17:29,740 --> 00:17:32,919 S1: our lack of excitement at the thought of what's to come. 311 00:17:32,950 --> 00:17:33,820 S1: Your thoughts? 312 00:17:33,970 --> 00:17:36,310 S4: I think we see that when Jesus, you know, on 313 00:17:36,340 --> 00:17:41,380 S4: the one of his final messages before his own betrayal 314 00:17:41,380 --> 00:17:44,109 S4: and crucifixion. You know, he looked out over the city 315 00:17:44,109 --> 00:17:48,429 S4: of Jerusalem and said, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you have stoned the 316 00:17:48,430 --> 00:17:51,850 S4: prophets and the preachers. How many times would I have 317 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:55,240 S4: gathered you as a as a hen gathers her chicks, 318 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:59,020 S4: but you would not come? I hear a lot of sorrow, John, 319 00:17:59,020 --> 00:18:02,620 S4: and in his voice. And I can't help but think 320 00:18:02,619 --> 00:18:05,859 S4: that as he looks upon the earth and sees how 321 00:18:05,859 --> 00:18:11,170 S4: quickly we are to turn to pleasures or possessions for 322 00:18:11,170 --> 00:18:14,920 S4: our fulfillment. How often, he says, how many times have 323 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:18,460 S4: I called you? How many times have I called you? 324 00:18:18,460 --> 00:18:22,210 S4: And maybe somebody listening today, and you're sensing that nudging 325 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:24,940 S4: of the spirit that's telling you to quit turning to 326 00:18:24,970 --> 00:18:29,980 S4: stuff or to people or to approval for your satisfaction? 327 00:18:29,980 --> 00:18:32,860 S4: It's not going to last. It doesn't work. It's not 328 00:18:32,859 --> 00:18:35,950 S4: because God doesn't love you. It's just the opposite. He 329 00:18:35,950 --> 00:18:39,460 S4: does love you and it's because he loves you. He's 330 00:18:39,460 --> 00:18:42,370 S4: telling you, don't set your affections on things of the earth, 331 00:18:42,369 --> 00:18:46,030 S4: but set them on things to come in heaven. 332 00:18:46,090 --> 00:18:48,910 S1: There are others who genuinely want to feel excited about 333 00:18:48,910 --> 00:18:51,219 S1: the end of the age and the coming of Christ, 334 00:18:51,220 --> 00:18:54,070 S1: but they are either intimidated by what they read or 335 00:18:54,070 --> 00:18:56,650 S1: just plain fearful. What's your counsel there? 336 00:18:56,950 --> 00:19:01,780 S4: Well, I can understand because we're talking about, um, in 337 00:19:01,780 --> 00:19:05,710 S4: the book I call prophecy the Serengeti of Scripture. It's vast, 338 00:19:05,710 --> 00:19:09,700 S4: it's wild. And for many people, it's unexplored. And you're 339 00:19:09,700 --> 00:19:15,010 S4: afraid of what awaits you. And yet prophecy, appropriately received 340 00:19:15,010 --> 00:19:18,700 S4: and appropriately taught, is really a tool to encourage the church, 341 00:19:18,730 --> 00:19:22,719 S4: not to intimidate the church. There are many books and 342 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:28,149 S4: many Bible teachers who have an approachable form of prophecy. 343 00:19:28,180 --> 00:19:31,210 S4: Now there are those, I understand. There are those who 344 00:19:31,210 --> 00:19:34,120 S4: like to use prophecy and end times as a way 345 00:19:34,119 --> 00:19:37,959 S4: to Self-promote, just like they use other topics. So stay 346 00:19:38,020 --> 00:19:41,620 S4: away from those, but find a trustworthy teacher. Find an 347 00:19:41,619 --> 00:19:45,790 S4: approachable book. Find a sermon series and you'll you'll soon 348 00:19:45,820 --> 00:19:49,720 S4: see there are differing opinions about a variety of things 349 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:53,740 S4: like the millennium or the rapture. And that's okay. We 350 00:19:53,740 --> 00:19:56,770 S4: all agree that Christ is coming, that the dead will 351 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,890 S4: be living and will be reigning with him. That's what 352 00:19:59,890 --> 00:20:02,530 S4: we all agree. We agree right there. Now, the other 353 00:20:02,530 --> 00:20:05,889 S4: topics we're going to have discussions about until the until 354 00:20:05,890 --> 00:20:10,120 S4: the Lord returns. But dive in, explore, and I think 355 00:20:10,150 --> 00:20:12,940 S4: you'll you'll find your heart stirred as you try to 356 00:20:12,970 --> 00:20:15,520 S4: imagine or envision what awaits us. 357 00:20:15,550 --> 00:20:19,240 S1: What happens next? A Traveler's Guide to the end of 358 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:22,090 S1: the age. That's our focus today on the land and 359 00:20:22,090 --> 00:20:25,270 S1: the book. It is the latest from Max Lucado. I'm 360 00:20:25,270 --> 00:20:28,660 S1: John Geiger, joined today by best selling author Max Lucado. 361 00:20:28,660 --> 00:20:31,419 S1: And since you brought it up, many people wonder, Max, 362 00:20:31,420 --> 00:20:34,330 S1: why couldn't God have been just a little bit more 363 00:20:34,330 --> 00:20:38,320 S1: clear in laying out the future. Why so much imagery? 364 00:20:38,350 --> 00:20:41,830 S1: Why so much left open for debate and discussion? 365 00:20:42,490 --> 00:20:46,630 S4: My goodness, what a good question. You know, when I 366 00:20:46,630 --> 00:20:50,110 S4: was growing up, you can probably tell by my Texas 367 00:20:50,109 --> 00:20:53,530 S4: twang I can't quite get rid of it, but I 368 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:56,139 S4: grew up in a small West Texas town, and and 369 00:20:56,140 --> 00:20:59,080 S4: I remember my dad, uh, promising to take us on 370 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:02,770 S4: a camping trip from the flatlands. And I mean, seriously 371 00:21:02,770 --> 00:21:07,150 S4: flat as a skillet flatlands of West Texas to the 372 00:21:07,150 --> 00:21:11,020 S4: Rocky Mountains. And, um, I recall we were, I think 373 00:21:11,020 --> 00:21:13,180 S4: I was eight years old, and my dad sat my 374 00:21:13,180 --> 00:21:16,119 S4: brother and me down and tried to describe what it 375 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:19,480 S4: was going to be like to see mountains, to see 376 00:21:19,510 --> 00:21:22,570 S4: big trees, to breathe thin air. And because he had 377 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:26,710 S4: he had made several trips there. Well, I was just overwhelmed. 378 00:21:26,710 --> 00:21:28,810 S4: I couldn't get my mind around it, you know, my 379 00:21:28,810 --> 00:21:31,630 S4: little eight year old brain. Yeah. And, uh, I don't 380 00:21:31,660 --> 00:21:34,070 S4: know if my dad said it, but somewhere either he 381 00:21:34,070 --> 00:21:36,560 S4: said it or I thought it and that is just 382 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:39,170 S4: got to trust him. Just got to trust the father. 383 00:21:39,170 --> 00:21:43,010 S4: So maybe that's it. Maybe our little puny brains simply 384 00:21:43,010 --> 00:21:48,380 S4: don't have the capacity to receive or embrace and comprehend 385 00:21:48,380 --> 00:21:52,010 S4: all the great things that God has prepared for us. 386 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:55,940 S4: I have found it to be a fascinating subject to study. 387 00:21:55,970 --> 00:21:59,930 S4: I'm genuinely excited about it. Over the years, I think 388 00:21:59,930 --> 00:22:02,990 S4: I've trends changed in some of my opinions. I know 389 00:22:02,990 --> 00:22:07,130 S4: I have, and I've come to embrace a more literal 390 00:22:07,130 --> 00:22:10,160 S4: interpretation of the book of Revelation as opposed to an 391 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:14,960 S4: allegorical interpretation. And those are good exercises for us, John. 392 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:18,139 S4: We need to work through those kind of questions. Again, 393 00:22:18,170 --> 00:22:20,900 S4: it's where we're going to spend eternity. So it's very, 394 00:22:20,900 --> 00:22:24,619 S4: very important. We do our best to try to understand 395 00:22:24,650 --> 00:22:26,510 S4: what God has in store for us. 396 00:22:26,510 --> 00:22:29,869 S1: So what's a good and godly way to resolve the 397 00:22:29,869 --> 00:22:34,120 S1: disagreements believers sometimes have over which images in revelation are 398 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:37,420 S1: metaphorical versus those that may be literal. 399 00:22:37,900 --> 00:22:42,100 S4: Well, I lean literal, and here's why. You know, Daniel, 400 00:22:42,130 --> 00:22:45,939 S4: the Old Testament prophet, was a prophet, of course. And 401 00:22:45,940 --> 00:22:49,060 S4: Daniel chapter nine includes one of the great prayers of 402 00:22:49,060 --> 00:22:52,330 S4: the Bible. And the reason that Daniel was praying is 403 00:22:52,330 --> 00:22:55,540 S4: because he had read the prophecy from a prophet of 404 00:22:55,540 --> 00:22:59,800 S4: a prior generation, and Jeremiah prophesied that the children of 405 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:04,030 S4: Israel would be in captivity for 70 years. And so 406 00:23:04,060 --> 00:23:07,240 S4: toward the end of those 70 years, more specifically, at 407 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:11,740 S4: about year 67 or 68, Daniel prayed this prayer for 408 00:23:11,740 --> 00:23:14,889 S4: God to keep his promise and deliver his people and 409 00:23:14,890 --> 00:23:19,179 S4: return them to Jerusalem. So here's a prophet reading the 410 00:23:19,180 --> 00:23:22,600 S4: words of a prophet teaching us how to interpret prophecy. 411 00:23:22,869 --> 00:23:25,480 S4: Daniel didn't read the number 70 and say, well, that's 412 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:28,750 S4: probably allegorical or symbolic. He said, you know, that's a 413 00:23:28,750 --> 00:23:31,490 S4: real number. So when I flip my Bible over to 414 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:36,290 S4: revelation chapter 20 and read about a thousand year reign 415 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:39,830 S4: of Christ, I used to interpret that as a symbol 416 00:23:39,830 --> 00:23:43,310 S4: or a picture. No longer John, I say, well, I 417 00:23:43,310 --> 00:23:46,760 S4: think Daniel would have said, if John says a thousand years, 418 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:49,669 S4: then I'm going to reign with Christ for a thousand years. 419 00:23:49,670 --> 00:23:53,060 S4: And so I came to embrace that as my tool 420 00:23:53,060 --> 00:23:58,130 S4: in understanding prophecy. I lean literal now, not always can 421 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:00,980 S4: we do that, but when possible, and unless there's a 422 00:24:00,980 --> 00:24:04,490 S4: prevailing reason not to, I try to lean literal in 423 00:24:04,490 --> 00:24:07,040 S4: my understanding of prophetic books. 424 00:24:07,190 --> 00:24:10,790 S1: Well, we're talking with Max Lucado about what happens next. 425 00:24:10,820 --> 00:24:14,000 S1: It's a traveler's guide to the end of the age. 426 00:24:14,030 --> 00:24:17,240 S1: You've got, let's say, 30s. It seems to me the 427 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:19,460 S1: number one thing we have to do to be ready 428 00:24:19,490 --> 00:24:23,149 S1: is to know Jesus, to receive Jesus as Savior. Talk 429 00:24:23,150 --> 00:24:25,820 S1: to that listener right now who's been dancing on the edges, 430 00:24:25,850 --> 00:24:29,239 S1: is interested, but has never really crossed that bridge. What 431 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:30,260 S1: would you say to them? 432 00:24:30,650 --> 00:24:33,110 S4: I would say cross has done all the work. He's 433 00:24:33,109 --> 00:24:36,440 S4: done the heavy lifting. He came for you. He showed 434 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:39,350 S4: his love for you. He taught you. He died for you. 435 00:24:39,350 --> 00:24:41,600 S4: And he raised from the dead to show you that 436 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:45,470 S4: he has authority over life and death. So trusting. All 437 00:24:45,470 --> 00:24:48,260 S4: you need to do is turn your heart to him. 438 00:24:48,290 --> 00:24:51,590 S4: Say a simple prayer like, Lord, I'm a sinner, I 439 00:24:51,590 --> 00:24:55,280 S4: admit it. I need a Savior, I trust you, I 440 00:24:55,310 --> 00:24:58,280 S4: give you my heart. In Jesus name. 441 00:24:58,609 --> 00:25:02,270 S1: Amen. And if you just prayed that prayer, we welcome 442 00:25:02,270 --> 00:25:06,950 S1: your email to the land and the book@moody.edu. That's the 443 00:25:06,950 --> 00:25:13,159 S1: land and the book@moody.edu. Speaking of books, Max's is titled 444 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:15,919 S1: What Happens Next? A Traveler's Guide to the end of 445 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:18,379 S1: the age. We'll link you to that book when you 446 00:25:18,380 --> 00:25:23,060 S1: visit our website. The land and the book.org. It has 447 00:25:23,060 --> 00:25:24,920 S1: been a pleasure to speak with you the last couple 448 00:25:24,950 --> 00:25:27,410 S1: of weeks. Max, thanks for carving out time to be 449 00:25:27,410 --> 00:25:28,250 S1: with us. 450 00:25:28,340 --> 00:25:30,980 S4: John, it's my privilege. I hope we get to do 451 00:25:30,980 --> 00:25:32,000 S4: it again someday. 452 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:34,160 S1: And we're looking forward to more. There's more in this 453 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:36,380 S1: series than just this book, I understand. 454 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:40,609 S4: We're going to keep revealing. And as God reveals to us, 455 00:25:40,609 --> 00:25:43,850 S4: keep writing and and revealing. So I pray that it'll 456 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:45,350 S4: be an encouragement to others. 457 00:25:45,350 --> 00:25:47,929 S1: That's Max Lucado here on the land and the book. 458 00:25:47,930 --> 00:25:50,270 S1: We're coming up. It's a visit with our friend Doctor 459 00:25:50,270 --> 00:25:53,330 S1: Charlie Dyer and his answers to your Bible questions. That's 460 00:25:53,359 --> 00:26:07,730 S1: next on the land and the book. Welcome back to 461 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:10,970 S1: the land and the book. Fall is here. And that 462 00:26:10,970 --> 00:26:14,600 S1: means the Jewish High Holidays are right around the corner. 463 00:26:14,630 --> 00:26:17,899 S1: These biblical feasts have been celebrated for thousands of years, 464 00:26:17,900 --> 00:26:21,440 S1: but this year kind of has added weight, added significance 465 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:24,980 S1: because Jewish people around the world are marking one year 466 00:26:24,980 --> 00:26:28,429 S1: since the brutal attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists. 467 00:26:28,460 --> 00:26:30,980 S2: Yeah, John, that's why our friends at Life in Messiah 468 00:26:30,980 --> 00:26:33,410 S2: want to help you learn more about the fall feasts, 469 00:26:33,410 --> 00:26:36,080 S2: the significance they have for us as believers in Jesus, 470 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:39,439 S2: and how to stand with Jewish people during this time. 471 00:26:39,470 --> 00:26:43,100 S2: They're offering a live zoom teaching session where their knowledgeable 472 00:26:43,100 --> 00:26:46,760 S2: field staff will walk you through the history and significance 473 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:49,640 S2: of the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and 474 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:52,610 S2: the Feast of Tabernacles. You'll also hear how you can 475 00:26:52,609 --> 00:26:55,370 S2: use these holidays as a point of connection with your 476 00:26:55,369 --> 00:26:58,730 S2: Jewish friends and neighbors, to show and share the love 477 00:26:58,730 --> 00:27:01,850 S2: of Jesus with them. To sign up for this free teaching, 478 00:27:01,850 --> 00:27:05,030 S2: all you have to do is visit Life in Messiah org. 479 00:27:05,030 --> 00:27:07,970 S2: Click on the Moody Radio logo and sign up. Be 480 00:27:07,970 --> 00:27:11,240 S2: sure to sign up today and discover the fascinating connection 481 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:16,670 S2: between these feasts and Jesus at Life in messiah.org. 482 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:19,760 S1: And with that, we'll dig into our question and answer segment, 483 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:23,210 S1: beginning with somebody who's a bit of a critic. Charlie 484 00:27:23,330 --> 00:27:27,110 S1: Williams says, I disagree with people like you, David Jeremiah, 485 00:27:27,140 --> 00:27:32,180 S1: Michael Wright, and others who only give generalizations on Bible prophecy, 486 00:27:32,210 --> 00:27:35,960 S1: you don't know or see the details happening before your eyes. 487 00:27:35,990 --> 00:27:39,950 S1: For example, when the Bible prophesied and the Trump will sound, 488 00:27:39,950 --> 00:27:43,820 S1: it was predicting President Trump would declare Jerusalem the capital 489 00:27:43,820 --> 00:27:48,080 S1: of Israel. So many theologians, churches and Christians are just 490 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:51,350 S1: blind to what is happening. Charlie, your reactions? 491 00:27:51,350 --> 00:27:54,020 S2: Well, I'm happy to be associated with Michael Rolnick and 492 00:27:54,020 --> 00:27:56,930 S2: David Jeremiah. In fact, I would issue a caution right now. 493 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,690 S2: I'd caution you to be very careful about reading into 494 00:27:59,690 --> 00:28:02,480 S2: the Word of God by pulling words and phrases out 495 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:05,180 S2: of context. I see two major dangers in the way 496 00:28:05,210 --> 00:28:10,160 S2: some people approach Bible prophecy. Some become prophetic agnostics. They're 497 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:13,369 S2: afraid to accept the reality that God did predict events 498 00:28:13,369 --> 00:28:16,490 S2: that are future. In Second Peter three, Peter talks about 499 00:28:16,490 --> 00:28:19,429 S2: those who say, where's the promise of his coming? For 500 00:28:19,430 --> 00:28:22,490 S2: ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as 501 00:28:22,490 --> 00:28:25,430 S2: it was from the beginning of creation. That's a danger. 502 00:28:25,430 --> 00:28:27,830 S2: But the second danger is that some go the opposite 503 00:28:27,830 --> 00:28:32,300 S2: direction and develop what I would call prophetic ADHD. They 504 00:28:32,300 --> 00:28:34,879 S2: run from current event to current event and try to 505 00:28:34,910 --> 00:28:37,760 S2: find each event in the Bible, pulling verses out of 506 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:40,880 S2: context to do so. Just for example, your reference to 507 00:28:40,910 --> 00:28:43,730 S2: the trump will sound. It's only found in first Corinthians 508 00:28:43,730 --> 00:28:47,540 S2: 15 and it refers to the rapture, not to Mr. Trump. 509 00:28:47,570 --> 00:28:50,180 S2: The bottom line is that God shared enough about the 510 00:28:50,180 --> 00:28:53,390 S2: future to keep us from being unnerved by world events, 511 00:28:53,390 --> 00:28:56,060 S2: but he left enough out to keep us walking by faith, 512 00:28:56,060 --> 00:28:59,450 S2: not by sight. Take what God said literally, at face 513 00:28:59,450 --> 00:29:02,480 S2: value in its context, and don't try to find some 514 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:05,360 S2: deeper hidden meaning. That's what I believe it means when 515 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:07,850 S2: we're told to be workmen who don't need to be ashamed, 516 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:10,280 S2: accurately handling the word of truth. 517 00:29:10,310 --> 00:29:14,060 S1: Deb has a question for us about dates in biblical history. 518 00:29:14,060 --> 00:29:17,240 S1: In First Kings, chapter six, Solomon began to construct the 519 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:20,870 S1: temple in the fourth year of his reign, 480 years 520 00:29:20,870 --> 00:29:23,630 S1: after the people of Israel were rescued from slavery in 521 00:29:23,630 --> 00:29:27,890 S1: Egypt in Acts 1317 through 20. In Paul's sermon at 522 00:29:27,890 --> 00:29:32,720 S1: Antioch in Pisidia, he said all this took about 450 years. 523 00:29:32,750 --> 00:29:35,600 S1: Talking about the 40 years in the wilderness, plus the 524 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:38,720 S1: destroying of seven nations and Canaan, and giving their land 525 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:41,930 S1: to Israel as an inheritance. So how can these dates 526 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:43,220 S1: be reconciled? 527 00:29:43,340 --> 00:29:45,620 S2: Well, I think the key is recognizing that they can 528 00:29:45,620 --> 00:29:48,830 S2: be harmonized. If we look at two things. First, first 529 00:29:48,830 --> 00:29:52,700 S2: Kings six one. The 480 years is an exact time. 530 00:29:52,880 --> 00:29:55,100 S2: It's a timestamp in the Bible that marks the length 531 00:29:55,100 --> 00:29:57,560 S2: of time between when Israel came out of the land 532 00:29:57,560 --> 00:30:01,790 S2: of Egypt. That's 1446 B.C., and the date when Solomon 533 00:30:01,790 --> 00:30:04,460 S2: began to build the house of the Lord. That was 534 00:30:04,460 --> 00:30:07,850 S2: 966 BC. It's one of the fixed dates we have 535 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:10,820 S2: that actually helps us date the time of the Exodus. Now, 536 00:30:10,820 --> 00:30:14,210 S2: in acts 13, Paul is giving a broad historical overview 537 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:17,780 S2: covering three connected time periods. He talks about Israel's stay 538 00:30:17,780 --> 00:30:20,960 S2: in the land of Egypt, the Exodus and the time 539 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:23,960 S2: of the conquest when God overthrew the nations in Canaan. 540 00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:27,800 S2: So Paul, starting with Israel's entrance into Egypt and ending 541 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:31,370 S2: with Joshua's conquest twice. In those verses, Paul uses the 542 00:30:31,370 --> 00:30:35,330 S2: Greek word hosts, which is translated about indicating he's speaking 543 00:30:35,330 --> 00:30:38,960 S2: in a broad, general time frame. And in that broad sense, 544 00:30:38,990 --> 00:30:42,020 S2: Israel's sojourn in Egypt, its time in the wilderness and 545 00:30:42,020 --> 00:30:46,700 S2: its years of conquest under Joshua did take about 450 years. 546 00:30:46,700 --> 00:30:50,810 S2: So basically one passage is very specific and focuses on 547 00:30:50,810 --> 00:30:52,850 S2: time all the way down to the time of Solomon. 548 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:55,940 S2: The other passage is more general. Each one is referring 549 00:30:55,970 --> 00:30:58,790 S2: to a different starting point and a different ending point 550 00:30:58,790 --> 00:31:00,050 S2: in the accounts. 551 00:31:00,230 --> 00:31:03,440 S1: Sharon says, I'm teaching job, and a question came up 552 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:06,380 S1: about what it means to curse God. We spoke about 553 00:31:06,380 --> 00:31:08,540 S1: blessing God, then went on to cursing. And as I 554 00:31:08,540 --> 00:31:10,880 S1: got into the study of cursing, I learned there are 555 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:14,600 S1: six common words for curse. What is God teaching us 556 00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:17,390 S1: by using all these different words for curse? 557 00:31:17,420 --> 00:31:20,570 S2: Yeah, and a lot of the words are synonymous, just 558 00:31:20,570 --> 00:31:22,730 S2: like we have synonyms in our language. But I did 559 00:31:22,730 --> 00:31:25,100 S2: find something fascinating in all this. Let me start with 560 00:31:25,100 --> 00:31:27,650 S2: the words that are found in chapters one and two. 561 00:31:27,770 --> 00:31:29,870 S2: This might come as a surprise, but one word is 562 00:31:29,870 --> 00:31:32,900 S2: used there three times. It's actually the normal Hebrew word 563 00:31:32,900 --> 00:31:35,900 S2: for bless. It comes from the idea of kneeling down. 564 00:31:35,900 --> 00:31:38,450 S2: And while that's how the word is used most often, 565 00:31:38,450 --> 00:31:42,979 S2: it can be rather infrequently, like here mean just the opposite. 566 00:31:43,010 --> 00:31:45,410 S2: An illustration in English would be something like a person 567 00:31:45,410 --> 00:31:48,890 S2: who's extremely disappointed in what someone's done for them, and 568 00:31:48,890 --> 00:31:53,060 S2: they respond by saying sarcastically, that's great, thanks a lot. Well, 569 00:31:53,060 --> 00:31:54,800 S2: the tone of their voice makes it clear it's not 570 00:31:54,800 --> 00:31:57,740 S2: great and they're not thankful. The bottom line is, though, 571 00:31:57,770 --> 00:32:00,350 S2: most of the words for curse are just synonyms in 572 00:32:00,350 --> 00:32:03,770 S2: the Bible. But the most unusual aspect in job, especially 573 00:32:03,770 --> 00:32:06,860 S2: is that word used in chapters one and two. That's 574 00:32:06,860 --> 00:32:10,490 S2: translated curse, but really means bless. And it's used in 575 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:14,390 S2: that context by Satan twice and once by job's wife. 576 00:32:14,390 --> 00:32:16,880 S2: And I think in all three cases there's a strong 577 00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:18,810 S2: sense of sarcasm being used. 578 00:32:18,810 --> 00:32:21,270 S1: Well with all the options you have in listening today, 579 00:32:21,270 --> 00:32:24,030 S1: whether online or on air. Here you are with us 580 00:32:24,030 --> 00:32:26,280 S1: at The Land and the book. And we're honored that 581 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:28,620 S1: you've chosen to do that. Thank you for your company. 582 00:32:28,650 --> 00:32:32,370 S1: Our host, doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm John Gager. Buddy wants 583 00:32:32,370 --> 00:32:35,490 S1: to know our Bible study group is studying Genesis. We're 584 00:32:35,490 --> 00:32:37,320 S1: in chapter one. Can you give us any of your 585 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:41,610 S1: ideas or comments on issues such as the dinosaurs and 586 00:32:41,610 --> 00:32:44,400 S1: their timing, how they fit into the biblical account? The 587 00:32:44,400 --> 00:32:48,570 S1: worldview is that dinosaurs died much earlier than Adam was formed, 588 00:32:48,570 --> 00:32:51,120 S1: and that brings up the issue of when did death 589 00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:54,510 S1: enter the world before or after Adam and Eve's fall? 590 00:32:54,510 --> 00:32:58,140 S1: And how did sin enter God's world? Did he create 591 00:32:58,140 --> 00:33:01,020 S1: it and allow sin to enter the world and tempt man, 592 00:33:01,020 --> 00:33:03,870 S1: knowing that he would fail? How does all this work together? 593 00:33:03,900 --> 00:33:06,959 S2: Yeah, I wish I could answer all those questions you asked. However, 594 00:33:06,990 --> 00:33:09,090 S2: that would take up this whole program. Probably the next 595 00:33:09,090 --> 00:33:11,430 S2: one as well. Now, when it comes to creation, though, 596 00:33:11,460 --> 00:33:15,209 S2: I just accept the reality of the creation account in Genesis. 597 00:33:15,210 --> 00:33:18,810 S2: I believe in a seven day A literal creation. However, 598 00:33:18,810 --> 00:33:21,300 S2: I also don't believe we have all the details that 599 00:33:21,300 --> 00:33:24,240 S2: we might need to answer all those questions. For example, 600 00:33:24,270 --> 00:33:28,020 S2: God created angels before he created the universe as we 601 00:33:28,020 --> 00:33:31,470 S2: know it. I think that's clear in job chapter 38, 602 00:33:31,650 --> 00:33:34,440 S2: verses 1 to 7 there. God asked job. He says, 603 00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:36,780 S2: where were you when I created the world? When the 604 00:33:36,780 --> 00:33:40,530 S2: morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy. 605 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:43,050 S2: Now my point here is that the angels were evidently 606 00:33:43,050 --> 00:33:46,380 S2: created before the creation of the world as we know it, 607 00:33:46,380 --> 00:33:49,650 S2: that created order. That angelic order is also likely when 608 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:52,710 S2: Satan rebelled against God before the creation of the world 609 00:33:52,710 --> 00:33:55,260 S2: as we see it. That's why an evil serpent can 610 00:33:55,290 --> 00:33:59,010 S2: suddenly appear in the Garden of Eden right after creation. Now, 611 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:01,560 S2: could other animals, like dinosaurs, have been part of that 612 00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:05,219 S2: earlier creation that was destroyed when God judged Satan and 613 00:34:05,220 --> 00:34:08,100 S2: his followers? The answer is we don't know. Or could 614 00:34:08,100 --> 00:34:10,920 S2: dinosaurs have existed on Earth prior to the time of 615 00:34:10,920 --> 00:34:12,960 S2: the flood and died out with the flood and and 616 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:15,990 S2: climate change that took place at that time? Again, we 617 00:34:15,989 --> 00:34:18,450 S2: don't know, but I'm content in knowing that there are 618 00:34:18,450 --> 00:34:22,020 S2: at least two reasonable explanations that can help explain how 619 00:34:22,050 --> 00:34:24,990 S2: dinosaur fossils came into being. Now, if I start with 620 00:34:24,989 --> 00:34:27,600 S2: what the Bible clearly says, I end up with a 621 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:30,480 S2: seven day creation that fashioned the universe as we see 622 00:34:30,480 --> 00:34:33,750 S2: it today. And that culminated in the creation of humanity. 623 00:34:33,750 --> 00:34:36,479 S2: And I believe that that creation was marred when Adam 624 00:34:36,480 --> 00:34:38,940 S2: and Eve sinned in the garden. And that's when sin 625 00:34:38,940 --> 00:34:41,819 S2: and death entered our current world. Now, in terms of 626 00:34:41,820 --> 00:34:44,760 S2: how sin entered the world, we do know that God's 627 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:47,430 S2: not the author of sin. In describing the fall of 628 00:34:47,430 --> 00:34:50,850 S2: Satan in Ezekiel 28, God's very careful. He says about Satan. 629 00:34:50,850 --> 00:34:53,640 S2: He says, you were blameless in your ways from the 630 00:34:53,640 --> 00:34:57,210 S2: day you were created, till wickedness was found in you. 631 00:34:57,239 --> 00:35:01,230 S2: God didn't create him evil. Satan chose to rebel against God. 632 00:35:01,230 --> 00:35:03,719 S2: So I suggest you give yourself permission in your Bible 633 00:35:03,719 --> 00:35:06,089 S2: study to say something like, you know, we don't have 634 00:35:06,090 --> 00:35:08,520 S2: all the answers to all these questions. So at least 635 00:35:08,520 --> 00:35:10,650 S2: right now, let's focus on what we do know and 636 00:35:10,650 --> 00:35:12,930 S2: give ourselves permission to hold the other things off to 637 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:16,290 S2: the side until we have more information. Now here's also 638 00:35:16,290 --> 00:35:19,830 S2: some good resources you asked about. The Institute for Creation 639 00:35:19,830 --> 00:35:23,070 S2: Research is a great source online that can help and 640 00:35:23,070 --> 00:35:27,150 S2: provide scientifically respectable answers in support of a young earth. 641 00:35:27,150 --> 00:35:30,390 S2: And Henry Morris wrote a book called The Genesis Record. 642 00:35:30,540 --> 00:35:33,090 S2: It's also a great commentary on the Book of Genesis 643 00:35:33,090 --> 00:35:36,480 S2: that provides additional information, and you can find access to 644 00:35:36,510 --> 00:35:38,970 S2: it at the Institute for Creation Research. 645 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:42,390 S1: I love Todd's question. Do you think the designation of 646 00:35:42,390 --> 00:35:46,740 S1: Judah's kings as good or bad, corresponds to them having 647 00:35:46,739 --> 00:35:50,010 S1: salvation or not? I know that everybody's a mixed bag, 648 00:35:50,010 --> 00:35:52,259 S1: so I'm wondering about how the writer of First and 649 00:35:52,260 --> 00:35:55,950 S1: Second Kings determined, under the Spirit's guidance, of course, what 650 00:35:55,950 --> 00:35:58,980 S1: designation to give each king. Your thoughts? Yeah. 651 00:35:59,010 --> 00:36:00,480 S2: I'm not sure we can say there's a one for 652 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:04,470 S2: one correspondence between that phrase and personal salvation. The phrase 653 00:36:04,500 --> 00:36:07,710 S2: is a summary of the specific actions taken by each king, 654 00:36:07,710 --> 00:36:11,219 S2: but were not given the details of their heart motivation. Now, 655 00:36:11,219 --> 00:36:13,859 S2: in general, I probably assume that when they did evil 656 00:36:13,860 --> 00:36:15,330 S2: in the sight of the Lord, or did what was 657 00:36:15,330 --> 00:36:17,820 S2: right in the sight of the Lord, that does somehow 658 00:36:17,850 --> 00:36:21,570 S2: translate spiritually. So I suspect there's at least some general 659 00:36:21,570 --> 00:36:24,990 S2: summary there of their spiritual character. But just because someone's 660 00:36:24,989 --> 00:36:27,360 S2: not saved, they can still live a good moral life. 661 00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:29,700 S2: So it is possible that those kings who even did 662 00:36:29,700 --> 00:36:32,100 S2: what was right may not spiritually have been in a 663 00:36:32,100 --> 00:36:34,680 S2: right relationship with God. Though I like to think that 664 00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:35,340 S2: they were. 665 00:36:35,370 --> 00:36:37,110 S1: And that's a look at the questions that have come 666 00:36:37,110 --> 00:36:39,030 S1: into us here at the land and the book. Again, 667 00:36:39,060 --> 00:36:44,730 S1: our email address for your question. The land and the book@moody.edu. 668 00:36:44,760 --> 00:36:47,400 S1: Our program isn't done. No. We got one more segment. 669 00:36:47,400 --> 00:36:50,430 S1: It's Charlie's devotional. Stick around for that here on the 670 00:36:50,430 --> 00:37:06,060 S1: land and the book. Let's be honest, there are things 671 00:37:06,060 --> 00:37:09,360 S1: in life we dislike, strongly dislike. And then there are 672 00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:12,810 S1: those things that we detest. Welcome back to the land 673 00:37:12,810 --> 00:37:15,570 S1: and the book. I'm John Gager, confessing that one of 674 00:37:15,570 --> 00:37:19,080 S1: those things I detest is creamed corn. I know it 675 00:37:19,080 --> 00:37:22,290 S1: might be your favorite, but I detest creamed corn. We've 676 00:37:22,290 --> 00:37:25,830 S1: had many a conversation about this around the office. But Charlie, 677 00:37:25,860 --> 00:37:28,320 S1: some things are detestable to our God, and it's a 678 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:31,080 S1: whole lot more serious than a can of creamed corn. Right? 679 00:37:31,110 --> 00:37:32,189 S2: Ah, you're right, John. 680 00:37:32,219 --> 00:37:35,070 S1: Okay, that's the subject of your devotional, which takes us 681 00:37:35,070 --> 00:37:38,160 S1: to Proverbs 15. I'm looking forward to that. After we 682 00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:41,790 S1: listen to a Holy Land experience testimony, what does somebody 683 00:37:41,790 --> 00:37:44,670 S1: who's been to Israel take back with them? Listen. 684 00:37:48,630 --> 00:37:51,569 S5: Hi. My name is Beth. I'm from Texas and going 685 00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:55,980 S5: to Hungary and seeing the waterfall and the difficulty of 686 00:37:55,980 --> 00:38:00,299 S5: the passage for Ruth and Naomi. I've always loved that story, 687 00:38:00,300 --> 00:38:04,230 S5: but it really deepened my understanding of the difficulties that 688 00:38:04,230 --> 00:38:09,870 S5: Ruth went through in being there for Naomi and brought 689 00:38:09,870 --> 00:38:13,230 S5: home again How richly God blessed her for her faithfulness. 690 00:38:13,260 --> 00:38:16,890 S5: There were a number of stories that seeing where they 691 00:38:16,890 --> 00:38:22,020 S5: happened deepened my understanding and helped me to fully appreciate 692 00:38:22,050 --> 00:38:23,279 S5: what they went through. 693 00:38:23,310 --> 00:38:25,950 S6: Hi, I'm Michelle from Philadelphia, and one of the things 694 00:38:25,950 --> 00:38:28,739 S6: I loved about this trip was Masada. And I think 695 00:38:28,739 --> 00:38:32,070 S6: it was because Masada was a stronghold for David and 696 00:38:32,070 --> 00:38:34,350 S6: so many of his Psalms. He mentions God being his 697 00:38:34,350 --> 00:38:38,640 S6: stronghold and looking out over the Dead Sea, the mountains 698 00:38:38,640 --> 00:38:41,729 S6: and the valleys. It was just it brings new meaning 699 00:38:41,760 --> 00:38:44,850 S6: to those Psalms as you read them, that his stronghold, 700 00:38:44,850 --> 00:38:47,820 S6: that big, huge rock we were on, is really God. 701 00:38:49,980 --> 00:38:53,279 S1: All right. Proverbs 15 is our focus. Creamed corn is 702 00:38:53,280 --> 00:38:56,460 S1: not the subject. So, Charlie, what is John? 703 00:38:56,460 --> 00:38:58,470 S2: Well, I'm on the opposite of you. On the creamed corn. 704 00:38:58,469 --> 00:39:01,080 S2: I love creamed corn. But there are things in life 705 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:04,500 S2: that we all dislike, even though those dislikes might differ. 706 00:39:04,530 --> 00:39:07,500 S2: Now I'm part of a small group that dislikes coffee. 707 00:39:07,500 --> 00:39:09,810 S2: I tried to drink a cup of coffee twice in 708 00:39:09,810 --> 00:39:12,690 S2: my life, once when I was 16 and the second 709 00:39:12,690 --> 00:39:16,170 S2: time about 50 years later. I couldn't finish either cup. 710 00:39:16,170 --> 00:39:19,170 S2: I love the smell of coffee, but I can't overcome 711 00:39:19,170 --> 00:39:22,469 S2: that taste now. My wife loves a good cup of coffee, 712 00:39:22,469 --> 00:39:24,660 S2: but if I offer her a taste of my Diet 713 00:39:24,660 --> 00:39:27,960 S2: Coke with a fresh squeezed slice of lime, well, let's 714 00:39:27,960 --> 00:39:31,710 S2: just say that particular beverage is all mine. She dislikes 715 00:39:31,710 --> 00:39:34,770 S2: the taste of lime in a Diet Coke, and I'd 716 00:39:34,770 --> 00:39:37,680 S2: ask each person listening, what are your particular dislikes? It 717 00:39:37,680 --> 00:39:40,350 S2: can be a food or a beverage, or a particular 718 00:39:40,350 --> 00:39:43,590 S2: texture or fragrance. Sometimes it can even be a person 719 00:39:43,590 --> 00:39:45,960 S2: who just seems to rub us the wrong way. But 720 00:39:45,960 --> 00:39:48,630 S2: let's face it, we all have things that we just 721 00:39:48,630 --> 00:39:52,290 S2: dislike or don't care for. Likes and dislikes can be 722 00:39:52,290 --> 00:39:54,900 S2: a matter of personal preference. Often they can be traced 723 00:39:54,900 --> 00:39:58,170 S2: back to experiences we had in our younger days, but 724 00:39:58,170 --> 00:40:01,260 S2: there are times when something or someone moves from a 725 00:40:01,260 --> 00:40:05,700 S2: personal dislike to an intense abhorrence. The action or item 726 00:40:05,700 --> 00:40:09,810 S2: or person becomes detestable. The name Adolf Hitler generates that 727 00:40:09,810 --> 00:40:12,630 S2: kind of response in most people. So does the smell 728 00:40:12,630 --> 00:40:15,510 S2: of a skunk. Did you ever notice that there are 729 00:40:15,510 --> 00:40:19,050 S2: also things that God detests? And I'm not talking about 730 00:40:19,050 --> 00:40:23,190 S2: personal preferences here. I mean things that God dislikes intensely, 731 00:40:23,190 --> 00:40:26,129 S2: so much so that a Hebrew word is used, which 732 00:40:26,130 --> 00:40:31,380 S2: is translated detests in some Bibles and abomination in others. 733 00:40:31,410 --> 00:40:34,080 S2: In fact, this word is used three times in Proverbs 734 00:40:34,080 --> 00:40:37,830 S2: 15 to describe things that are detestable to God. So 735 00:40:37,860 --> 00:40:40,379 S2: travel back with me to the time of King Solomon 736 00:40:40,380 --> 00:40:44,219 S2: to see what generates such a negative reaction from God. 737 00:40:44,250 --> 00:40:48,420 S2: In Proverbs 15 eight, Solomon writes, the Lord detests the 738 00:40:48,420 --> 00:40:51,150 S2: sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright 739 00:40:51,150 --> 00:40:55,230 S2: pleases him. That's the NIV translation. The New American Standard 740 00:40:55,230 --> 00:40:58,799 S2: Bible translates the Hebrew this way the sacrifice of the 741 00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:01,800 S2: wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer 742 00:41:01,800 --> 00:41:04,350 S2: of the upright is his delight. So what is it 743 00:41:04,350 --> 00:41:06,900 S2: that God finds so detestable that it can be called 744 00:41:06,900 --> 00:41:11,069 S2: an abomination to him. It's a morally corrupt person, someone 745 00:41:11,070 --> 00:41:15,060 S2: who's wicked, who believes that simply offering a sacrifice will 746 00:41:15,060 --> 00:41:19,290 S2: somehow clear things with God. Ritual is no substitute for 747 00:41:19,290 --> 00:41:23,790 S2: genuine repentance. Offering an animal sacrifice didn't atone for sin 748 00:41:23,790 --> 00:41:26,939 S2: if it wasn't accompanied by a heart of genuine sorrow. 749 00:41:26,969 --> 00:41:30,150 S2: Isaiah used the same word in Isaiah one As God 750 00:41:30,150 --> 00:41:33,660 S2: rebuked the nation for their sin. Bring your worthless offerings 751 00:41:33,660 --> 00:41:37,620 S2: no longer. Incense is an abomination to me. The prophet 752 00:41:37,620 --> 00:41:41,040 S2: goes on to describe the impact such hypocritical worship had 753 00:41:41,070 --> 00:41:43,770 S2: on God. When you spread out your hands in prayer, 754 00:41:43,770 --> 00:41:46,320 S2: I will hide my eyes from you. Even if you 755 00:41:46,320 --> 00:41:49,169 S2: offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are 756 00:41:49,170 --> 00:41:52,650 S2: full of blood. Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your 757 00:41:52,650 --> 00:41:56,730 S2: evil deeds out of my sight. So in Proverbs 15 eight, 758 00:41:56,760 --> 00:42:00,330 S2: if a religious ritual offered from an impure heart is 759 00:42:00,330 --> 00:42:03,540 S2: detestable to God, what will please him? Will. The second 760 00:42:03,540 --> 00:42:06,120 S2: half of the verse provides the answer, The prayer of 761 00:42:06,120 --> 00:42:09,120 S2: the upright is his delight. The word upright comes from 762 00:42:09,120 --> 00:42:11,700 S2: a word having the idea of straight or level, as 763 00:42:11,700 --> 00:42:14,700 S2: opposed to the wicked, who are constantly deviating from God's 764 00:42:14,700 --> 00:42:18,780 S2: pathway of righteousness. The upright try to follow God's standards 765 00:42:18,780 --> 00:42:22,710 S2: of right and wrong. To summarize verse eight, God is saying, 766 00:42:22,710 --> 00:42:25,470 S2: it doesn't matter how much religious stuff you try to do, 767 00:42:25,500 --> 00:42:28,290 S2: if you're unwilling to submit to God and follow him, 768 00:42:28,290 --> 00:42:30,989 S2: he will detest anything you try to do to buy 769 00:42:30,989 --> 00:42:34,500 S2: him off. He hates religious hypocrisy, but if you want 770 00:42:34,530 --> 00:42:37,110 S2: God to listen to your prayers, then focus on being 771 00:42:37,110 --> 00:42:40,320 S2: a faithful follower living in obedience to him. The very 772 00:42:40,320 --> 00:42:44,250 S2: next verse describes the second thing God dislikes intensely. The 773 00:42:44,250 --> 00:42:47,220 S2: Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves 774 00:42:47,219 --> 00:42:50,790 S2: those who pursue righteousness. If the first proverb focused on 775 00:42:50,790 --> 00:42:55,710 S2: religious hypocrisy, this one focuses on specific actions and activities. 776 00:42:55,739 --> 00:42:58,380 S2: The pathway of life chosen by the wicked is an 777 00:42:58,380 --> 00:43:01,500 S2: abomination to the Lord. The word for way is the 778 00:43:01,500 --> 00:43:04,170 S2: Hebrew word derekh, which pictures a roadway or a course 779 00:43:04,170 --> 00:43:07,790 S2: of action. We can try to fool others or make excuses, 780 00:43:07,790 --> 00:43:10,340 S2: but God can see into our hearts to know our 781 00:43:10,340 --> 00:43:14,540 S2: thoughts and motives. And he dislikes intensely someone who deliberately 782 00:43:14,540 --> 00:43:18,020 S2: chooses to follow a pathway that leads away from God. 783 00:43:18,050 --> 00:43:23,000 S2: In contrast, God loves a person who pursues righteousness rather 784 00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:25,490 S2: than choosing the roadway of the wicked which leads away 785 00:43:25,489 --> 00:43:28,219 S2: from God. The one whom God loves is someone who 786 00:43:28,219 --> 00:43:34,219 S2: passionately seeks after righteousness. Righteousness is demonstrated in the way 787 00:43:34,219 --> 00:43:36,890 S2: we act, the way we speak, the way we live 788 00:43:36,890 --> 00:43:40,430 S2: according to God's ethical and moral standards. It's aligning our 789 00:43:40,430 --> 00:43:44,360 S2: lives with the righteous standards set by God. But Solomon 790 00:43:44,360 --> 00:43:47,719 S2: has one more example of something God dislikes intensely. In 791 00:43:47,719 --> 00:43:51,920 S2: this chapter. It's found in verse 26. The NIV expresses 792 00:43:51,920 --> 00:43:54,890 S2: the verse this way the Lord detests the thoughts of 793 00:43:54,890 --> 00:43:58,130 S2: the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him. 794 00:43:58,400 --> 00:44:02,180 S2: The New American Standard provides a slightly more literal translation 795 00:44:02,210 --> 00:44:05,950 S2: evil plans are an abomination to the Lord, but pleasant 796 00:44:05,950 --> 00:44:09,609 S2: words are pure. So what is it that God detests? Well, 797 00:44:09,610 --> 00:44:12,010 S2: the word evil has the idea of something being bad 798 00:44:12,010 --> 00:44:15,250 S2: or malignant or causing pain or misery. It's used of 799 00:44:15,250 --> 00:44:18,340 S2: figs that had become rotten. God, who can see into 800 00:44:18,340 --> 00:44:21,400 S2: the human heart, detest the evil, wicked thoughts that can 801 00:44:21,400 --> 00:44:24,550 S2: creep into a person's mind. What kind of thoughts might 802 00:44:24,580 --> 00:44:28,210 S2: these be? Perhaps thoughts of revenge or vengeance or wishing 803 00:44:28,239 --> 00:44:32,200 S2: ill on someone if God detests. Thoughts contemplating anger or 804 00:44:32,200 --> 00:44:35,500 S2: wishing evil on others. What's the opposite? What is it 805 00:44:35,500 --> 00:44:39,400 S2: that pleases God? Pure and pleasant thoughts, especially when they're 806 00:44:39,400 --> 00:44:43,000 S2: communicated to that person rather than wishing a person harm. 807 00:44:43,030 --> 00:44:45,850 S2: God looks with favor on those who seek to build 808 00:44:45,850 --> 00:44:48,729 S2: up others and encourage them. So what is it that 809 00:44:48,730 --> 00:44:53,710 S2: God dislikes intensely? He dislikes a hypocritical individual who tries 810 00:44:53,710 --> 00:44:56,740 S2: to pretend he or she is religious. God dislikes a 811 00:44:56,739 --> 00:45:00,700 S2: person who pursues an ungodly lifestyle rather than seeking to 812 00:45:00,730 --> 00:45:04,029 S2: arrange his or her life according to God's standards, and 813 00:45:04,030 --> 00:45:07,510 S2: God dislikes a person who tries to harm others rather 814 00:45:07,510 --> 00:45:10,180 S2: than build them up. So how does your life align 815 00:45:10,180 --> 00:45:13,600 S2: with the likes and dislikes of God? Two pathways that 816 00:45:13,600 --> 00:45:17,380 S2: diverge in opposite directions that might not always be visible 817 00:45:17,380 --> 00:45:19,990 S2: to others, but are clearly visible to the God of 818 00:45:19,989 --> 00:45:23,470 S2: the universe, who can peer into the human heart. The 819 00:45:23,469 --> 00:45:26,590 S2: author of Psalm one described the same two pathways and 820 00:45:26,590 --> 00:45:29,770 S2: their results. So let's end by looking at his description 821 00:45:29,770 --> 00:45:32,890 S2: of these two pathways the one God dislikes and the 822 00:45:32,890 --> 00:45:36,160 S2: one God chooses to bless. Blessed is the man who 823 00:45:36,160 --> 00:45:38,710 S2: does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or 824 00:45:38,710 --> 00:45:40,600 S2: stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the 825 00:45:40,600 --> 00:45:43,150 S2: seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law 826 00:45:43,150 --> 00:45:45,760 S2: of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day 827 00:45:45,760 --> 00:45:48,670 S2: and night. He is like a tree planted by streams 828 00:45:48,670 --> 00:45:51,879 S2: of water, which yields its fruit in season, and whose 829 00:45:51,880 --> 00:45:56,020 S2: leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so 830 00:45:56,020 --> 00:45:59,200 S2: the wicked. They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 831 00:45:59,230 --> 00:46:01,870 S2: Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor 832 00:46:01,870 --> 00:46:04,660 S2: sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord 833 00:46:04,660 --> 00:46:07,300 S2: watches over the way of the righteous, but the way 834 00:46:07,300 --> 00:46:09,340 S2: of the wicked will perish. 835 00:46:09,370 --> 00:46:12,759 S1: Sobering words and words we need to hear. Thank you. Charlie. 836 00:46:12,790 --> 00:46:15,790 S1: Maybe you'd like to play today's program again. Or specifically 837 00:46:15,790 --> 00:46:18,490 S1: this devotional again. You can hear it all at the 838 00:46:18,489 --> 00:46:22,330 S1: Land and the book.org. We'd love to get your email. 839 00:46:22,360 --> 00:46:25,779 S1: How is this program impacting your life? Helping you see 840 00:46:25,780 --> 00:46:29,710 S1: Scripture differently? Maybe teach a Bible passage differently? We'd love 841 00:46:29,710 --> 00:46:32,530 S1: to hear that story. And you can email us anytime 842 00:46:32,530 --> 00:46:36,460 S1: at The Land and the Book at Moody Dot. Edu. 843 00:46:36,489 --> 00:46:41,260 S1: The land and the book at Moody dot. Edu. Well, 844 00:46:41,260 --> 00:46:43,419 S1: our time has gone too quickly, but we sure appreciate 845 00:46:43,420 --> 00:46:46,000 S1: your spending part of your day with us. On behalf 846 00:46:46,000 --> 00:46:48,670 S1: of our host, Charlie Dyer, our producer, Dan Anderson, I'm 847 00:46:48,670 --> 00:46:51,700 S1: John Gager. The land and the book is a production 848 00:46:51,700 --> 00:46:55,120 S1: of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.