All right, if you wish to follow
along, turn to Jeremiah chapter 33. Jeremiah chapter 33. Before I
read my text this morning, let me say these few words. I
can, to some degree, And I say to some degree, and I hope this
will make sense here in a moment, I say to some degree because
what I'm about to read, we are on the other side of that. From
Jeremiah and Judah and Israel and Jerusalem in their day. What
I'm about to read is a prophecy concerning the coming of the
Lord Jesus Christ. And for these folks, it was future. But for us, it is not future.
And as I said, I can to some degree imagine, just imagine
the hope that God's dear chosen ones in that time of Jeremiah's
day. And remember that day, Jerusalem
was full of idolatry and rebellion. And this not from the unbelieving
heathen, but from the very people whose name had God over themselves. But I can just imagine the hope
that God's dear chosen ones rested in as they heard these words.
And remember, men like Daniel and three others who were later
called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, some of them may well
have been alive during this very time. Now let me read these words,
Jeremiah 33. Are you there? Now look at verse
14. This is one of the reasons why I chose that song this morning,
Joy to the World. Sadly, most people think the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is a seasonal thing. Isn't that
sad? And this false religion is so
much a part of what I am by nature that it feels odd to me that
we sang Joy to the World here in the beginning of November.
And it should not feel that way. It should not fail, but that's
all of that false antichrist religion embedded down in here
That's a pretty decent song Every heart ought to make him room,
but they don't But he rules the world and he makes the nation's
prove the glory of his righteousness even when they don't intend to
But listen to what Jeremiah wrote, and remember, think back now,
I've preached from Jeremiah several, a few Sundays now, think of the
degradation that was there in Jerusalem and Judah in that day,
and Jeremiah's prophesied, Nebuchadnezzar's coming, and you're going into
captivity for 70 years. If you fight against it, God'll
wipe you out. Bow down to God's sovereign purpose. And this captivity's coming,
why? Because of their sin. But then
look at what Jeremiah writes. And remember, Jeremiah preached
this. He preached this, just like I would be doing similar
to what I'm doing to you today, and yet then God moved him later
to write this all down. Look at his words, verse 14.
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord. that I will perform
that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel
and to the house of Judah. Most people have no idea what
that means when you read the house of Israel and the house
of Judah, especially in the same sentence. You know that? They
really don't. Look at it. In those days and
at that time, and let me just stop. This is not about the Babylonian
captivity ending. Think of it. Those who did believe
God in that day have been told you're going into captivity.
Mason, many of them knew since Jeremiah had said it's going
to be 70 years long before I bring you back into this land, most
of them knew they were going to die in Babylon. Did they not? You're 50, 60, 70 years old at
this time. and you hear a 70-year captivity
is coming upon you, thus saith the Lord, you know you'll never
make it back to God's land. You see what I'm saying? That
in itself had to be Difficult at best to deal with. Yet faith
says I must believe God. I must believe God. But then
Jeremiah steps up and says this. Look at it. In those days and
at that time. Why'd he have to say that? Because
he wants us to know the time period he's talking about. In
those days, the very days he just mentioned in verse 14. In
those days and at that time. will I cause the branch of righteousness
to grow up unto David, and he shall execute judgment and righteousness
in the land. Let me pause for another moment. Beware of those who like to break
down the scripture and tell you, well, this phrase has to do with
his first coming, this phrase has to do with his second coming,
the phrase after that one then goes back to his first coming,
and then maybe the next phrase after that jumps again to his
second coming. I was basically born and raised
in my adolescence and in my teenage years under doctrine like that. Now there are passages that deal
with that. And they may go from one phrase,
Mason, the first advent, to a second phrase, the second advent. But
we best beware that we know what we're talking about when we make
that distinction. You remember our Lord stood up
in the synagogue? The synagogue where he was raised.
and he read from that one passage and he stopped right in the middle
of the verse. He did that for a reason because a part of that
verse was being fulfilled in those people's ears at that very
time. But there was yet another part
of that that was yet to come. So our Lord stopped right there.
But he is the word of God after all. He knows where to stop and
where not to stop. We better make sure if we stop
and we put something to mean another time that we know what
we're talking about. If you don't, the best advice
I have is leave it alone. Leave it alone. But look, in
those days and at that time, you see it? Well I calls the
right branch of righteousness to grow up unto David and he
shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. There's hope. There's hope. Because as we will
see, this is not as some would say, well, this is his second
coming and he's going to come to condemn the world and bring
in pure righteousness upon the earth. That's not what he's talking
about. This is a message of hope. This is that good thing that
God is going to perform for Israel and for Judah. In those days,
verse 16 again, right? Is that what it says or not?
So are we talking about a different day? Or the same day? In those
days and at that time. So verse 16, in those days shall
Judah be saved. The same days as verse 15 and
14. Is that right, David, right or not? That's what it says,
doesn't it? In those days shall Judah be
saved, and she was. I'm saying it now from this side.
And she was. And you say, well, she doesn't
see. She and Judah. God puts it that way. I'm not
making this up. God's the one that says this.
Look at what it says. In those days shall Judah be saved and
Jerusalem shall dwell safely. And this is the name wherewith
she shall be called the Lord our righteousness. For, still
the continuing, same continuing thought, is it not? For thus
saith the Lord, David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne
of the house of Israel. Notice now, Jeremiah is moved
to put his own personal twist, being inspired by the Spirit
of God, mind you, upon exactly what David had prophesied a few
hundred years or several years before this. Neither, isn't that
what the next verse says? Neither, so it's still connected.
Still the same days, still the same time. Neither shall the
priests, the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings
and to kindle meat offerings and to do sacrifice continually. I can only imagine some of those
believing Jews in that day who knew we got a captivity to go
through. we're gonna be hauled off into
a heathen land where we will be surrounded by idolatry and
won't be able to do a thing about it. Why? Because when we were
in God's land, we didn't have to be surrounded by idolatry,
but yet we pulled it right into our very bosoms. And God says,
now, what I'm gonna do because of that sin is I'm gonna put
you right in the midst of all of it right over there in Babylon.
And yet to these sinners. Yet to these sinners. Think about
it. And yet to these sinners, God
sends Jeremiah with a message of hope that goes far beyond
being released from Babylonian captivity. Does it not? Oh, think of it, the glory of
God's sovereign rule in saving mercy for them and for us. Because their salvation happened
the same day mine did. And my salvation happened the
same day theirs did. As we consider our text this
morning, I want us first of all, though, not to forget the divine
imperative given here. And what do I mean by that? It
means a command. But it's more than just a dry command. This
is not a legal command. Look at the one, here's the one
thing that we ought to do. Here's the one thing that God
will move some people to do. Everything else in these verses
I've read is what God Almighty's going to do. What's the one thing
in verses 14 through verse 18 that men ought to do and that
some by God's free reigning grace will do? Look at it, it's the
first word in verse 14. Behold. You want to do something? Here's something to do. Behold
this. There you go. Isn't that right?
The Philippian jailer said, sirs, sirs, what must I do? And I can
see us good Calvins now. Well, you don't have to do anything.
Is that the way they responded? Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Well, you can't do anything to be saved. Isn't that the way
we would typically respond in our theological lectures? No,
they didn't even deal with that, did they? They said, believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ and you'll be saved in your house. As we consider, let us never
forget this one, one divine imperative, behold, Behold, look, gaze upon
him in admiration and love and trust. Behold, behold him, look
to his promise herein. Do this, behold, if you can,
if you can. I'm sure there were hundreds.
As a matter of fact, if you read the rest of Jeremiah, you'll
find out there were those who refused to behold this. Did they
not? They still rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar
and were wiped out. And yet here God gave this people
this wonderful promise of grace and mercy and yet they said within
themselves, I will not look. I will not behold. I will not
believe. I will do my own thing. Go through,
read through the book. And let me tell you something,
my brothers and sisters, that's you and I by nature. Apart from
a work of God in our hearts and minds and our very innermost
being, we will not behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ. We'll look for it anywhere else
other than in the face of Jesus Christ. We'll look for it in
religion, we'll look for it in our church, we'll look for it
in our denomination, we'll look for it in our creed, we'll even
look for it in ourselves. But we won't look for it in the
face of Jesus Christ. See, see, I say to us this morning,
our king, that's what I said, our king in his condescension,
the branch of righteousness, and it's almost a redundancy,
shall grow up. Branch means a little sprout.
When I first read that, you think of a branch, a big long branch.
That's not what it's talking about. It means a little sprout.
Now yes, it may grow into a large beam. But how does it all begin,
David Wright? As a little twig that pops out.
Behold what? The branch of righteousness.
This very branch of righteousness is God himself. because there is none righteous
but who? God. See our king in his condescension. The branch of righteousness shall
grow up. He shall sprout, he shall bud
forth in the very tenderness of human flesh. Think about this
passage. You all know it. And we will
hear the season is coming upon us, that season in December when
men say that Jesus Christ was born. But listen to this, there's
Luke chapter two, and I just wanna read these verses to you.
And it came to pass, why? The Jerebiah said it would by
the mouth of the Lord several hundred years before this happened.
About four or 500 years before this happened, somewhere around
that. And it came to pass in those days, there went out a
decree from Caesar Augustus. Who? A heathen king. And if you read through this
book, it's almost as if these heathen kings would get the Old
Testament, read it and say, all right, what am I supposed to
do next? Now, they weren't doing that. Mind you, that was a little
tongue in cheek. They weren't doing that, but
they were doing exactly what God Almighty had prophesied by
his prophets would be done hundreds of years before it ever came
to pass. And here is God moving an unbelieving, idolatrous Caesar
to perform his wondrous work. You see it? And it came to pass
in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus
that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first
made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be
taxed, everyone into his own city. Now you think, isn't that
the most stupid thing you could ever think of in your life? Here
these people were having to spend money, all of them, to go back
to their original place of birth just to pay their taxes. That
sounds like something our politicians would do if they could get away
with it. Why not just have them stay where
they are, pay a little bit extra, and what they were going to spend
to go wherever they had to go. Mason, wouldn't that bring in
more taxes? But you know what it is? No matter how stupid men
may conduct themselves, and no matter how asinine they are,
they are fulfilling the sovereign decrees of God Almighty. And
Joseph also, no wonder, and Joseph also went up from Galilee out
of the city of Nazareth into Judea under the city of David,
which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage
of, who? David. David to be taxed with
Mary his espoused wife being great with child And so it was
that while they were there the days were accomplished that she
should be delivered Here is this little sprout About ready to
actually bud forth into human sight And let me tell you something,
while nobody else may have known other than Joseph and Mary, I
can tell you this, Joseph knew he wasn't the daddy of that baby
in that womb. Nobody else may have had any
idea other than Mary, but Joseph knew that baby ain't mine. I
ain't touched her. Now you men swallow that one.
Think about if God put you to deal with that one, and then
think about your troubles that you have at home. It'd take an
act of God to make you believe something like that, wouldn't
it? Wouldn't it? And that's a different
message, but look at it. And so it was that while they
were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered,
and look at this. And she brought forth her firstborn
son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a feeding
trough. Behold, the days come, saith
the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I had promised
unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. What's
that mean? Think about it. Every time you hear that phrase,
house of Israel, house of Judah, think of sin. Think of sin. What's that mean? Here's one
nation under God. Were they not? Israel, now they're
split. Right? Why? Because of sin. Because
of rebellion. because of condemnation that's
down in here. We'll do what we want to do even
if God Almighty has kicked off his throne. But kicked off his
throne he will not be. In those days and at that time
will I cause, do you see it? He didn't just allow this, God
caused it. Mary was pregnant with child of the Holy Ghost. And I can't explain that. And
neither can you. And don't try, after this is
over, don't come to me and say, I know how that happened. No,
you don't know how that happened. You don't know how that happened.
She was a child with the Holy Ghost. In those days and at that
time will I cause the branch of righteousness to grow up under
David and he shall execute, I like that word. I don't have to give
you what the Hebrew word means. God Almighty is pleased to give
us an English word that sums it up quite well, does it not?
Execute, I like that. Execute, not offer, not attempt,
not try. Execute judgment and righteousness,
not for the land. But where? In the land. And bless
God, all that he did was in that land. He was born in that land,
in the very little town that God Almighty said hundreds of
years before, where he said he'd be born. And he calls the heathen
king to come up with a stupid decree to cause it to come to
pass. Isn't that just the way God works? That's why this song
says, he rules the world with truth and grace and makes the
nations prove the glories of his righteousness. They will
not see it, but God does. They will not see it, but God's
people get a little glimpse of it. As I've told you before,
if you wanna know what God purposed for yesterday, look at the news
of today. and whatever took place yesterday
is exactly what God Almighty ordained to be done yesterday. Exactly. If you read it in the
newspaper or you see it on the TV and it's true, and I gotta
throw that one in there now, but that's what God ordained
to be done, no matter how asinine it may be. no matter how difficult
it may be. This could not have been an easy
trip for a woman who was about ready to give birth to a child.
But God Almighty was gonna have this child born exactly where
he said he'd be born. Bethlehem, there were a lot of
little Bethlehems, but there was one in particular. That just
boggles my mind. Here's Caesar Augustus sitting
up there in his castle, whatever it was, his big house, and he's
writing out, I think I'll do it this way. Didn't know he was
fulfilling the very sovereign purpose of God Almighty. In those
days shall Judah be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell safely
and this is the name wherewith she shall be called. The Lord,
our righteousness. Think of it. She wrapped that
little baby up in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. And
Joe, I don't have scripture for this, but I'm sure Joseph picked
that little baby up at some time or another. Don't you figure?
Can you imagine he picked that little baby up and he knew this
was not his. but he believed God and only
by grace could he do it. That this child here is something
the world has never seen before and will never see again. This is Emmanuel. That is God with us. Here's the very branch of righteousness. Even as that little infant, Joe,
he was God Almighty righteousness right there. Wrapped in that
swaddling clothes. Laying in that manger. And I
don't say this to be brash, even when he filled his diaper. Even
when they filled that cloth that they wrapped him in. Seth, he
was God Almighty, manifest in the flesh. What a thing. The Lord, the Lord, our righteousness,
and that's the name that God's gonna call these people he's
gonna be good to. Isn't that glorious? I'm gonna put my name
on you. The Lord, and the name we're
with, she, not he, he is that, yes, but also she, Jerusalem,
Israel, Judah divided because of sin, Jerusalem full of idolatry
and deceit and immorality, unrighteousness, yet she shall be called she. Her name's this, the Lord, our
righteousness. Think of it. This is the divine
time of God's purpose. Behold, the days come, verse
14. In those days and at that time, verse 15. What time? When the Lord will perform that
good thing. You know what he says? When the Lord will perform
that good thing. Note, Jeremiah connects all of
this by divine affirmation, because even in the last two verses of
it, because you look, verse 19, and the word of the Lord came
into Jeremiah saying, letting us know, what he's about to say
next certainly may have connection to what he's just said, but it's
a totally different message, Joe. I mean, this was one sermon,
verse 19 introduces another sermon. This sermon right here, when
Jeremiah preached, he was talking about the coming of the Lord
Jesus Christ into this world to suffer as our reigning king
and sacrifice. That's what it's all about. Behold
this Lord. Behold this God, the Lord, our
righteousness. And he did. This was a prophecy. That prophecy is fulfilled now.
He did execute judgment and righteousness. And I'm gonna tell you, David
doesn't need a man to sit on his throne. Christ is sitting
there. And you go back and read Peter's
message in Acts chapter two, Peter said this is exactly what
it was about. Go back and read it. Now for
years I've been so lied to and so hoodwinked into believing
certain things, and they're just not so. No, just not so. Jesus Christ reigns on David's
throne now. Do you really think that God's
got a piece of wood, maybe even covered with gold or brass, tucked
away somewhere in Jerusalem? Do you think it's up there in
heaven somewhere and God's got it up there and in one of these
days, Jesus is gonna get a sit on that seat? Or do you think
he's talking about David reigned over God's people? Look at what Jeremiah says. For
thus saith the Lord. This is connected. When he's
going to do what? Execute judgment and righteousness
in the land. When he's going to establish
such a righteousness that his people shall be called, she shall
be called the Lord our righteousness. For David shall never want, never
or not. Now if it's still future, then
David is wanting. He's still waiting. Yes or no? Now go to Acts. I want us to
read what God Almighty's word says. Again, I told you. Let us defend the word of God,
never a system. Look at what Peter says, Acts
chapter two and verse 29. Men and brethren, let me freely
speak unto you of the patriarch David. Was he asking their permission
to talk about David or is he saying that God's given me some
liberty here in something and I'm gonna tell it to you? That's
what he's talking about. He's not asking for permission
to speak. He's already been speaking and
he speaks with the authority of God Almighty. Look, men and
brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David,
that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us
unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and
knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that the fruit
that, let me find my spot, that of the fruit of his loins, according
to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne.
Is that what he said? That's exactly what he said.
Is that what he meant? That's exactly what he meant.
But is David, was David's glory some chair he was sitting on? He ruled from different places
when he ruled over God's people. Did he not? Go back and look
at the history. Huh? Go back and look at the history.
We're not talking about a seat. We're talking about a position.
That's what we're talking about. We're not talking about some
wood or some gold. We're talking about a state that
God Almighty gave a man. David, you rule over my people. That was the man after God's
own heart. And that's what God meant when he said that. Not
that David was such a great guy. God was just in admiration of
David. God Almighty chose that man as his king to rule over
his people. Now look at what Peter said.
Therefore, being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with
an oath to him that of the fruit of his loins, according to the
flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne, he seeing
this before spake of the resurrection of Christ. Not the return of
Christ. Not the second advent of Christ. And you say, why? Why are you
so upset? I'm not upset. I thank God that
I see the truth of God. He's our king. He's not coming
back to be king. Even his second advent says he
will come and will show who is king of kings and lord of lords. He's not gonna come back to be
king. He is the king. And he reigns over God's people
now. Sinners. Judah's, Israel's, Jerusalem's. Look at it. He seeing this before
spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not
left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus
hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses. And he could
have just left it right there. But look what he goes on to say.
Therefore, being by the right hand of God, what's that next
word? Exalted That means he sits on
the throne the right hand of God exalted There it is There
it is Hmm God help us to preach his son. He did execute judgment
and righteousness in The land gaze upon this with admiration
behold this reigning King He performed the good He saved. We now dwell in safety. And you say, I don't feel safe. It ain't about how you feel.
If God was keeping this one, Joseph, Mary, Jesus, that little
baby, he's keeping you in no less the very same way. You remember
when they sought the life of that little baby? So much so
that here's another stupid asinine thing. One said, we're gonna
kill all the young children from two years and under. And they
did. Ramah lamented. Children were
being slaughtered by the hundreds, if not the thousands, all because
a God-hating king felt threatened by a little baby. But what did
God do for Joseph and for Mary and for Jesus? He protected them. And if you're His, that's what
He's doing for you as well. Even if it means you have to
be destroyed in the process, you're dwelling in safety. What
is it if they kill my body? They can't touch my soul. Now
if what you want is safety in some physical piece of land,
then you go ahead and hope for that. You go ahead and hope for
that. But in the end, you'll find out
it ain't about that. Even in the new Jerusalem, where
there is the new heavens and the earth, what are we going
to be worshiping? Oh, look at what we got, a brand
new earth. Is that what our eyes are gonna be fixed upon? No,
our eyes will be fixed upon the Lamb of God that took away our
sins. He'll be our life and our light.
Literally. There'll be no moon and sun.
And I don't know exactly, Mason, what all that really means. It
don't matter. Whatever it's going to be, it'll
be a glory far beyond what I can even imagine at this moment. Oh, think of it. Look at this
man. Behold this man. Behold this
branch, even as a little tender plant, but it shall grow up as
a what? What's the book say? A great
tree. a great tree. For this is the God-man accomplishing
with reigning power sacrifice. Look, neither shall the priests,
the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offering, kindle
meat offering, and do sacrifice. Why? Because he's offered one
sacrifice foreseeing forever. They don't need another one.
Do they? And his sacrifice has continual
effect even though it was only made one time. in time, in the
land. We are still feeling the great
and glorious effects of that sacrifice even right now today. What better reason for the Levites,
shall the priests of the Levites never want a man? Because he's
already done all that needs to be done. So much so that the
writer of Hebrews puts it this way, this is the new covenant.
Even our Lord said when he instituted the Lord's table, which God willing,
we'll take here in just a moment. When he instituted, he said,
this is the new covenant of my blood. He executed judgment. He didn't come to judge men,
he came to judge sin. Look at Romans chapter eight,
verse three. He came to judge sin and he did so in his own
self. Isn't that a glory? Isn't that
a glory? He came to judge sin, execute
judgment, and execute righteousness. Romans 5, 19 says this, by the
righteousness of one man. One man shall be saved. And then
Paul goes on to say that grace of that man reigns. Even so might
grace, what? reign through righteousness unto
eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. You see, if you don't
know Christ as your righteousness now, you will never know him
as your righteousness when he comes again the second time. And let me tell you, isn't it
amazing, you think about this, isn't it amazing that there are some who
when it talks about the glorious perfection of Him executing judgment
and righteousness, they always want to put it off into the future,
even yet today. Why? Is it because they really
see the book of God or is it because they despise the sovereign
work of His grace? in the actual sacrifice, the
reigning sacrifice of the king. Joe, he's not only the sacrifice,
he's the sacrificer. And he's also the king that rules
over it all to make sure that what he accomplished, what he
executed, shall be carried out fully. You know, isn't there
times, think, what is it, is it Peter? Who says that even,
what talks about faith, the trying of your faith, be much more precious
than of gold that perisheth. And it says, it's what? The salvation,
the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. He's
speaking almost as if we don't have salvation today. Is he not? That there's still salvation
to come. Is he not? But the only reason there's any
salvation to come is because he's already executed it in time
when he was here the first time. He reigns so that David never
has any war now. A man reigns. And he reigns specifically
over God's people. Does he not? Was David not the
head of Israel? And when sometimes and I know
this is this but this is a true not an illustration of Christ
when David screwed up What happened to Israel? Yeah, they suffered
Didn't huh? Did it not David numbered the
people and what happened trouble came down? Hmm David let his
eyes wonder what happened trouble came down even David's family
was vexed because of these things and you're a bloody man and the
sword will not depart from your family and Isn't that the truth?
Why? Because he was their head. He
was their king. He was over them. But now take
this to the positive side. Our Lord never did anything like
that. He is our head. He is our king. We are his body. What he does, We reap the benefits
of it. We reap the benefits of it. He
wrought one all-need-filling, burnt-offering, meat-offering
sacrifice. There are actually people who
believe, say they believe in free, sovereign grace, that believe
one day that God Almighty's gonna reestablish the burnt offerings
and the sacrifices in a temple in Jerusalem. Yeah, exactly right,
Joe. Oops. What does Hebrews say? Those things are dead works now.
You know what he said? They are dead works now. At one
time they were good works. but they're dead works now. As
a matter of fact, those things now are abomination in God's
sight. Just like that serpent of brass,
did God not use that? But what did the people of Israel
do? They turned right around a few hundred years later and
started worshiping that very thing. And yet there are men
who claim to believe free sovereign grace that thinks God's gonna
establish burnt offerings and sacrifices and meat offerings
and meal offerings for Israel one day. You think that's salvation?
You think that's glory? That's condemnation. That's law. Christ is the end of the law. Hold on. To everyone that believes. As I told you last Sunday, there are some It's amazing to
me. You begin to read this book and
cry, oh God, help me to get rid of all the garbage that's been
put in here from years past. Oh God, help me. There are people
in this country and all over this world, as a matter of fact,
who if they began to rebuild that temple over there in Jerusalem,
there would be churches today that would pour in thousands
and thousands and thousands of dollars to do that. and what
is the book quite clear about? There will be a temple. Now I
know some people disagree with what I'm gonna say on this. I
take it to mean what it means, but it's still metaphorical,
still has a lot of metaphors. There's gonna be a temple one
day, and someone is gonna sit in that temple, and who's it
gonna be that sits in that temple? Antichrist. You know, Christ ain't gonna sit
in that temple. He reigns over all, and he reigns
specifically for our good. He reigns over us. Oh, I thank
God. Behold this. Look at it, sinners. Christ Jesus came into this world
to save what? Sinners! And Paul said this is
a faithful saying, and it's worthy of all acceptation. Don't ever
grow beyond that. Sinners. I'm a sinner. Are you a sinner? Jeremiah 34,
verses 14 through 18 is hope for who? Sinners. sinners. Hope. Oh God make me
behold him. Oh God, make me behold his person,
his work. Oh God, sweetly by your grace,
force me to see him in a way that I cannot help but see him. Oh God, turn my affection toward
him. Oh God, set my heart and my mind
and my soul and my conscience all toward him. Oh God, help
me to find a place with Israel in their house. Don't it, it's
worthy of all acceptation. That means I'd never grow out
of being a house of Israel, or a house of Judah, or Jerusalem. I'm still a sinner saved by grace.
God help me to behold all that Christ has done. Has done. And acknowledge my corrupt, sinful,
rebellious state. Let me tell you something. You
know how it is as well as I do. When all around you goes to hell,
We are bent toward trying to go to hell with everything around
us as well. When you work with people day
in and day out, it will affect you. I don't care who you are.
Would you have to be around unbelievers every day? Seth, when you go
to school and you have to be around men and women, young men,
old men, it doesn't matter. You're around, it will affect
the way you think, the way you walk, the way you believe. That's
right, folks. And I'm not saying this preaching,
Joe, I'm not preaching at you. I'm preaching to you. I know
that because God helped me and thank God for forgiveness. I've
been there. If I'd have been living in Jeremiah's
day, Joe, I'd have been one of the rebels that were there. Go through that book and find
how many Daniels are mentioned by Jeremiah. They're mentioned
later once the captivity starts. There's one or two that helped
Jeremiah, stood with Jeremiah, but not many. Not many. Yet God
had his people even then. Where? Buried in the morass.
Buried in the morass. That's exactly where you and
I still are. By nature. Think about it. To behold something
we do? No. Behold what? What God Almighty
was gonna do. That's what Jeremiah was telling
you. Behold what God's gonna do. I'm declaring to you, behold
what God has done. Don't be looking at what God's
going to do. Look at what God's already done. Look at what God's
already done. Behold that, behold that. Behold what he has done in a
way that holds no merit even in my beholding. God's not gonna give me merit,
David, right, because I behold. I behold because I stand in the
merit of his son. And this is the name wherewith
she, even Jerusalem, think about that. Is he talking about a city?
No, it's all about the people. The people of God. God's Israel,
God's Judah, God's elect. And this is the name wherewith
she shall be called the Lord, our righteousness. It's a custom
we practice in this country. Getting away from it now, and
that's all right. I'm not saying it's some commandment from God.
But when a man and woman get married in this country, what
does the woman usually do? She takes upon herself the last
name of her husband. Is that not true? This hints
at that very thing. I'm not saying our practice of
that came from this. That's not what I'm saying. I'm
just trying to illustrate this. What's my wife's last name now?
Penny, what is your last name now? Pendleton. That's the way it is. How do
I know that? Go to the courthouse and look.
Right, David, right? That's her name. That's her name! That's her name. I'm the head. She stands under the head. Aren't
you glad that he gave you his name? Aren't you glad? What is your name? The Lord,
our righteousness. I like that. Don't you, Father? Oh, God, teach us these things. Teach us never to think, we gotta
grasp on all of it. But oh God, help us to behold
Christ. Behold him first of all in that good thing that he performed
for all of your people when he came. And Lord, to be expecting
him to return and to enable us to be delivered completely and
fully from all of this Babylon in which we're still in bondage.
I thank you in Christ's name, amen. All right.