1 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:15,240 Last Sunday, for our prayers of intercession, I prayed on our 2 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:19,440 behalf for the girls and boys before the Lord and the young people 3 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:23,320 and the exams that they're undertaking currently at this time. 4 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:27,110 So it'll be no surprise to any of us that that with exam season 5 00:00:27,750 --> 00:00:31,270 and sorry, don't want to send chills down anyone's back at that 6 00:00:31,270 --> 00:00:31,590 thought. 7 00:00:31,670 --> 00:00:34,550 But after exam season will always come reports. 8 00:00:35,830 --> 00:00:39,830 And so as much as teachers now have to mark reports, they also mark 9 00:00:39,830 --> 00:00:40,270 exams. 10 00:00:40,270 --> 00:00:41,350 They have to write reports. 11 00:00:42,150 --> 00:00:46,150 And reports will demonstrate what has been taught over the year. 12 00:00:46,710 --> 00:00:49,670 The exams will gauge what has been understood, but the reports 13 00:00:49,830 --> 00:00:54,200 will reflect the teacher's feeling or thinking based on those 14 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,600 results and other things about how our young people and our children 15 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,400 have spent the past year in school. 16 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:05,400 And maybe you remember your school reports, maybe you remember 17 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:06,280 what they were like. 18 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,520 And for those sitting GCSEs and A levels, I can't quite remember 19 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:12,520 if you get a report, but basically your results are your report. 20 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,320 You've either done well or maybe not as well as you hoped, but 21 00:01:15,320 --> 00:01:19,110 for everybody else, which is the vast majority of children and 22 00:01:19,110 --> 00:01:22,310 young people at school, you get a report and it'll tell you. 23 00:01:22,310 --> 00:01:24,870 And for some of you, you'll run home with that report happy. 24 00:01:25,190 --> 00:01:27,590 For others, you might make sure it's stuffed down the bottom 25 00:01:27,590 --> 00:01:29,750 of your bag, not to be discovered until August. 26 00:01:30,390 --> 00:01:34,070 But either way, the school report will come home and it will 27 00:01:34,469 --> 00:01:39,110 say something of what your year at school has been like. 28 00:01:40,230 --> 00:01:44,680 There will be praise where praise can be given, but there will 29 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:52,000 also be the comment of must try harder, I think, and as a teacher 30 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,720 who had to write a report, although in my day all you had to 31 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:58,400 put in was a number and the computer generated it for you, there 32 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:00,960 wasn't one for that until I created one. 33 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,840 And so in my reports there would have been for a few Pupils 34 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:07,440 must try harder, because needing to try harder is one of those 35 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:11,840 phrases that suggest there is an ability there to that's not been 36 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:15,480 used to its full potential, that if only the pupil would try 37 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,080 a little bit harder, then they would achieve. 38 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,520 And so teaching staff recognize that the pupil has the 39 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,160 ability if only they would apply themselves a little more to 40 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:25,760 the subject. 41 00:02:26,719 --> 00:02:30,400 A teacher will only put this comment on the page if they truly 42 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,880 believe that the student can achieve higher grades in that subject. 43 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,340 Earlier this or well towards the end of last year, earlier in 44 00:02:39,340 --> 00:02:42,660 this academic year, I had the privilege of returning to my old 45 00:02:42,660 --> 00:02:47,740 high school and speaking at parents night or prize giving, and 46 00:02:47,740 --> 00:02:53,020 I saw the headmaster lift out a ledger as I got up to speak, and 47 00:02:53,020 --> 00:02:59,420 in that ledger he had all of my grades and my attendance, which 48 00:02:59,420 --> 00:03:00,220 I questioned. 49 00:03:00,220 --> 00:03:01,980 I had full attendance, he said I didn't. 50 00:03:01,980 --> 00:03:04,020 So we had a wee bit of a scuffle on the stage, but it was 51 00:03:04,020 --> 00:03:04,500 okay. 52 00:03:06,250 --> 00:03:08,530 But I'm glad he didn't read out because there would have been 53 00:03:08,530 --> 00:03:11,130 quite a few subjects that would have tried harder. 54 00:03:11,130 --> 00:03:12,170 PE being one of them. 55 00:03:12,170 --> 00:03:13,290 Could try harder. 56 00:03:13,770 --> 00:03:16,530 Technology had no hope whatsoever, and I didn't even get 57 00:03:16,530 --> 00:03:18,050 a could try harder. 58 00:03:18,050 --> 00:03:22,650 Just said, all the best for next year, but you know what it's 59 00:03:22,650 --> 00:03:22,970 like. 60 00:03:23,370 --> 00:03:27,770 There's subjects that you're naturally good at, but in honesty, 61 00:03:27,770 --> 00:03:29,010 there are subjects. 62 00:03:29,010 --> 00:03:32,610 Or if we move it on now to the majority of us here this morning, 63 00:03:32,610 --> 00:03:37,810 in life, we must or could try harder. 64 00:03:39,010 --> 00:03:42,570 Well, young people, whatever way your reports come back at the 65 00:03:42,570 --> 00:03:46,770 end of June, there may be one or two places for improvement. 66 00:03:47,170 --> 00:03:50,530 But don't worry, there's always next year and all the best. 67 00:03:51,730 --> 00:03:55,210 But over the past weeks, we have been looking at a people whose 68 00:03:55,210 --> 00:04:01,170 report card has said must try harder, because that's what we've 69 00:04:01,170 --> 00:04:02,450 seen for the children of Israel. 70 00:04:02,450 --> 00:04:03,810 They're now free from Egypt. 71 00:04:03,810 --> 00:04:06,050 They're on their way to the promised Land, although it's going 72 00:04:06,050 --> 00:04:07,690 to take them a lot longer than they think. 73 00:04:08,890 --> 00:04:13,289 But written across their report card of how they've handled 74 00:04:13,289 --> 00:04:17,570 themselves so far is that they must try harder. 75 00:04:17,570 --> 00:04:20,690 Now, I'm not suggesting that their existence in the wilderness 76 00:04:20,690 --> 00:04:22,650 can be achieved by their own effort. 77 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:27,480 It's only by their trust in God to provide that they can look 78 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:27,800 to. 79 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,680 And that's what has been lacking, their ability to understand 80 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:31,640 who God is. 81 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,160 That as he is the God who has brought them out of Egypt, so he'll 82 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:35,480 be the God who will keep them. 83 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:40,760 And let's remind ourselves, God has provided for them. 84 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:46,520 But yet they've continued to grumble against Moses and quarreled 85 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:48,200 over their access to water. 86 00:04:49,010 --> 00:04:53,010 Remember, at Marah and Elam, the Lord provided miraculously and 87 00:04:53,010 --> 00:04:57,250 abundantly for them when they found the water too bitter to drink. 88 00:04:57,650 --> 00:05:01,010 As they moved into the desert of sin, they grumbled for the lack 89 00:05:01,010 --> 00:05:03,330 of food, and the Lord provided manna and quail. 90 00:05:04,130 --> 00:05:07,850 And at Rephidim, they quarreled with Moses over the lack 91 00:05:07,850 --> 00:05:08,850 of drinking water. 92 00:05:09,090 --> 00:05:12,530 And the Lord provided water miraculously from the rock. 93 00:05:13,410 --> 00:05:17,410 Each of these had been a test to see if Israel would truly know 94 00:05:17,410 --> 00:05:21,880 the Lord and know him as their provider. 95 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:27,160 And initially they have failed in each test. 96 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:32,360 And so that's why they must try harder if they are truly to be 97 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:33,480 his people. 98 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:37,080 And so, as we come now to the second half of chapter 17. 99 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,440 We see again, an opportunity for the people to trust in the Lord 100 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:44,760 to keep them and to keep them from harm as the Amalekites come 101 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:45,680 and attack them. 102 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:49,400 Now, geographically, the Amalekites are associated with the 103 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:54,660 Negev in the south of Canaan and Edom, which is just east of the 104 00:05:54,660 --> 00:05:55,220 Negev. 105 00:05:55,220 --> 00:05:57,860 If you look at that map, you're looking at where it says the 106 00:05:57,940 --> 00:06:02,420 wilderness of Zin, and that's heading down south really, from where 107 00:06:02,420 --> 00:06:03,220 Canaan is. 108 00:06:03,540 --> 00:06:07,180 And so they're not in their territory, but the Amalekites are 109 00:06:07,180 --> 00:06:09,460 coming to where the children of Israel are. 110 00:06:10,580 --> 00:06:15,380 And so here in the Negev, both of these places are east of Israel's 111 00:06:15,380 --> 00:06:16,660 current encampment. 112 00:06:17,570 --> 00:06:18,410 And relationally. 113 00:06:18,410 --> 00:06:22,210 And this is important to know, the Amalekites come from Esau's descendants, 114 00:06:22,610 --> 00:06:24,930 and that's told us there in Genesis 36. 115 00:06:25,010 --> 00:06:27,970 So the people who are coming to attack the children of Israel 116 00:06:27,970 --> 00:06:30,930 are actually the Israelites, distant cousins. 117 00:06:31,570 --> 00:06:34,930 And that might suggest that they should interact well as family. 118 00:06:34,930 --> 00:06:39,730 But as we know, Jacob and Esau had their great divisions. 119 00:06:40,370 --> 00:06:42,530 And so instead of coming with a. 120 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:47,000 A sense of a family and forgiveness and working together, 121 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:49,560 the Amalekites come to make war. 122 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,040 And this will be the first time since leaving Egypt that the 123 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:55,320 Israelites will have to engage in battle. 124 00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:00,120 And so with this, then the stakes are extremely high. 125 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:04,640 Because whatever happens here, now, in this wilderness of sin, or 126 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:09,120 just as they head out of Rephidim, will foreshadow, positively 127 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:12,300 or negatively, one what will happen when the Israelites have to 128 00:07:12,300 --> 00:07:14,460 fight in the promised land. 129 00:07:15,180 --> 00:07:19,460 And verse nine tells us of the action Moses takes in preparing for 130 00:07:19,460 --> 00:07:19,900 battle. 131 00:07:20,380 --> 00:07:24,180 Moses said to Joshua, choose some of our men and go out to fight 132 00:07:24,180 --> 00:07:25,260 the Amalekites. 133 00:07:25,260 --> 00:07:29,340 Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God 134 00:07:30,060 --> 00:07:31,180 in my hands. 135 00:07:31,580 --> 00:07:34,700 Now, this is the first mention that we have in Scripture of Joshua. 136 00:07:34,780 --> 00:07:40,090 And later passages will tell us that this is a young man and he 137 00:07:40,090 --> 00:07:41,490 is Moses helper. 138 00:07:41,810 --> 00:07:45,810 But here in this passage, we see that he is young and is evidently 139 00:07:45,810 --> 00:07:49,250 courageous because he is appointed to lead the battle against 140 00:07:49,250 --> 00:07:50,450 the Amalekites. 141 00:07:50,530 --> 00:07:54,410 And so, while Joshua leads the troops to battle, Moses will go to 142 00:07:54,410 --> 00:07:59,090 a hill overlooking the battle and take with him the staff with 143 00:07:59,090 --> 00:08:02,610 which he has performed miracles on the Lord's behalf. 144 00:08:03,660 --> 00:08:08,300 Joshua and the Israelites are to fight, but with Moses on the hill. 145 00:08:08,300 --> 00:08:13,660 And as we'll discover, with outstretched arms, we now see a spiritual 146 00:08:13,660 --> 00:08:17,820 dimension, because even though Joshua and the Israelites will be 147 00:08:17,820 --> 00:08:22,140 in place on the battleground, Moses overseeing things from the 148 00:08:22,140 --> 00:08:22,540 mountain. 149 00:08:23,020 --> 00:08:28,740 The Lord will in some way fight for them, just as he did with 150 00:08:28,740 --> 00:08:29,580 the Egyptians. 151 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:34,800 On the next day, Joshua leads the Israelite army into battle, while 152 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:39,280 Moses goes to the hilltop and he takes with him Aaron and hur. 153 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:43,560 And verses 10 and 11 tell us so Joshua fought the Amalekites as 154 00:08:43,560 --> 00:08:46,880 Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of 155 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:47,360 the hill. 156 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:52,560 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning. 157 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:57,740 But whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 158 00:08:59,420 --> 00:09:03,700 Just as verse 9 was the first mention of Joshua, so here verse 159 00:09:03,700 --> 00:09:05,740 10 is the first mention of Hur. 160 00:09:06,140 --> 00:09:09,900 And later in Exodus, we'll be told that he is one of Israel's top 161 00:09:09,900 --> 00:09:15,500 leaders and belongs to Judah's tribe, well alongside Aaron's. 162 00:09:15,660 --> 00:09:21,220 His role is crucial because whenever Moses, we're told, lifts 163 00:09:21,220 --> 00:09:24,460 his hands with the staff, Israel succeeds in battle. 164 00:09:24,930 --> 00:09:29,370 But whenever he grows tired and lowers his hands, then Amalek 165 00:09:29,370 --> 00:09:31,330 prevails over the Israelites. 166 00:09:31,810 --> 00:09:36,290 And I think we all know what it's like to have weary and tired 167 00:09:36,370 --> 00:09:41,330 arms, either in our daily work or doing jobs around the house. 168 00:09:42,130 --> 00:09:46,330 To extend your arms, to bear weight on them, or to carry something 169 00:09:46,330 --> 00:09:49,490 can only be sustained for a short period of time. 170 00:09:50,700 --> 00:09:54,300 So Moses, like any of us, grows weary. 171 00:09:55,180 --> 00:10:02,460 And when he does, right beside him, Aaron and Hur are there to support 172 00:10:02,620 --> 00:10:03,020 him. 173 00:10:03,420 --> 00:10:11,180 And they do this by holding up his arms just as a little aside. 174 00:10:11,180 --> 00:10:17,060 Here it is a beautiful picture of what the family of God is to be 175 00:10:17,060 --> 00:10:17,340 like. 176 00:10:19,060 --> 00:10:22,740 Because we will see as we move through Exodus, and I hope we will 177 00:10:22,740 --> 00:10:25,900 know as we go through the rest of the Old Testament and into the 178 00:10:25,900 --> 00:10:28,260 New Testament and particularly into the Acts of the Apostles that 179 00:10:28,260 --> 00:10:30,020 we looked at just a few years ago. 180 00:10:31,060 --> 00:10:34,500 The Christian life was never one to be on your own. 181 00:10:35,220 --> 00:10:38,260 It was never one to be endured as an individual. 182 00:10:39,060 --> 00:10:43,580 The Christian life is to be done in community, as God will form 183 00:10:43,580 --> 00:10:47,220 his community around him in Sinai and around the Ten Commandments, 184 00:10:47,650 --> 00:10:50,570 as that community will move into the promised land and populate 185 00:10:50,570 --> 00:10:56,170 it, as Christ will gather around him 72 and 12, and particularly 186 00:10:56,170 --> 00:10:58,130 the three who are closest to him. 187 00:10:59,090 --> 00:11:03,010 And as there is the one anothers or the togethers in the 188 00:11:03,010 --> 00:11:06,690 Acts of the Apostles, we are told throughout Scripture of what 189 00:11:06,690 --> 00:11:11,810 it means to trust in the Lord, that yes, our individual salvation 190 00:11:12,130 --> 00:11:16,520 must be ours, but it doesn't mean we live as individuals when 191 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:17,840 it comes to God's people. 192 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:22,920 And here we have a beautiful picture of when we go to do a work 193 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,520 or as we simply live as God's people. 194 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:32,640 There are those who are around to support us and to help us to move 195 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:40,700 a stone, to hold up arms, so that indeed, together we play vital 196 00:11:40,700 --> 00:11:46,020 roles in this great ministry that God calls us each to as his 197 00:11:46,020 --> 00:11:46,380 children. 198 00:11:47,980 --> 00:11:53,060 And so we see with Moses and Aaron and Hur, and even with Joshua 199 00:11:53,060 --> 00:11:59,660 down below, a team at work of one mind, of service for the Lord. 200 00:11:59,980 --> 00:12:02,580 And look at the practical things they do, because Moses and 201 00:12:02,580 --> 00:12:06,890 her knowing that, sorry, Aaron and her knowing that Moses is getting 202 00:12:06,890 --> 00:12:10,170 tired, they move a stone in place so that he can sit on it as 203 00:12:10,170 --> 00:12:10,850 he gets tired. 204 00:12:10,850 --> 00:12:14,490 And with this, then they're able to ensure that Moses hands are 205 00:12:14,490 --> 00:12:15,410 always kept up. 206 00:12:15,730 --> 00:12:20,130 And with this, Joshua and the Israelites defeat Amalek. 207 00:12:20,849 --> 00:12:23,170 And it's simply recorded for us in verse 13. 208 00:12:23,170 --> 00:12:27,090 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 209 00:12:27,490 --> 00:12:31,290 This is actually a very succinct retelling of what this battle 210 00:12:31,290 --> 00:12:31,690 was like. 211 00:12:31,690 --> 00:12:35,150 And when you think about this approach to battle with a modern 212 00:12:35,150 --> 00:12:40,030 view, then some might consider this as some sort of primitive magic 213 00:12:40,030 --> 00:12:43,030 or indeed superstition of everything that was at play here. 214 00:12:43,830 --> 00:12:47,710 But there's so much more to this than simply the leader of the 215 00:12:47,710 --> 00:12:51,230 people standing on top of a hill with his arms outstretched as 216 00:12:51,230 --> 00:12:52,550 the rest of the people fought. 217 00:12:53,350 --> 00:12:56,070 Because remember that when they came out of Egypt, they were 218 00:12:56,070 --> 00:12:56,910 ready to fight. 219 00:12:56,910 --> 00:12:58,150 They were ready for battle. 220 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:02,240 Well, at least practically, they were in verse 18 of chapter 221 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:02,560 13. 222 00:13:02,560 --> 00:13:06,240 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red 223 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:06,640 Sea. 224 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:10,280 The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle. 225 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:11,840 So they were armed for it. 226 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,520 But now is the first time that they're ready for it, but not in 227 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:16,400 their own strength. 228 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:20,080 You see, they were a people who had a lot of instruments and 229 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:21,200 weapons for battle. 230 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:25,880 But so much going on here that we need to pay attention to, because 231 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:29,840 God has already demonstrated his great power in rescuing the Israelites. 232 00:13:30,430 --> 00:13:33,550 He's rescued them through the ten plagues by the crossing of the 233 00:13:33,550 --> 00:13:37,630 Red Sea on dry ground and providing food and water in the wilderness. 234 00:13:37,950 --> 00:13:41,870 And so their battle against the Amalekites, which is only the 235 00:13:41,870 --> 00:13:46,830 first of many battles to be fought, is no less the action of 236 00:13:46,830 --> 00:13:51,190 a saving God, as these people have already witnessed in what he 237 00:13:51,190 --> 00:13:52,510 has already done. 238 00:13:53,310 --> 00:13:57,190 And so, as Moses stands on the hill with his arms outstretched, 239 00:13:57,190 --> 00:13:59,710 he is coming before the Lord in prayer. 240 00:13:59,710 --> 00:14:04,330 Because throughout Scripture, outstretched hands are a common sign 241 00:14:04,570 --> 00:14:05,450 for prayer. 242 00:14:06,010 --> 00:14:11,370 For example, Psalm 143, 6 says, I spread out my hands to you. 243 00:14:12,490 --> 00:14:16,810 So that position of prayer and what comes next, my soul Thirsts 244 00:14:16,810 --> 00:14:17,370 for you. 245 00:14:18,170 --> 00:14:19,370 Isn't that what prayer is? 246 00:14:19,370 --> 00:14:22,490 It's coming before the Lord because our souls thirst for him. 247 00:14:22,890 --> 00:14:27,530 And the description here is a soul thirsting like a parched land. 248 00:14:28,900 --> 00:14:34,060 We see in Psalm 143, the Psalmist in a posture of prayer before 249 00:14:34,060 --> 00:14:42,660 the Lord, raising hands as a sign of total submission for Moses, 250 00:14:42,740 --> 00:14:47,060 his actions here are unmistakable because they are a sign 251 00:14:47,060 --> 00:14:51,380 of dependence upon God alone to win the battle. 252 00:14:52,340 --> 00:14:57,070 Moses was also holding his staff, the instrument of design, 253 00:14:57,310 --> 00:15:00,910 power, and the token of God's covenant promise. 254 00:15:01,550 --> 00:15:05,870 And by holding it to heaven, he was appealing to God to defend 255 00:15:05,870 --> 00:15:09,310 his people, just as God had done previously. 256 00:15:09,950 --> 00:15:13,510 And so the events on the hill will make clear to the Israelites 257 00:15:13,510 --> 00:15:17,350 that they must depend continually on the Lord's power and 258 00:15:17,350 --> 00:15:21,470 presence in their midst, because without him, they should 259 00:15:21,470 --> 00:15:23,570 expect nothing but defeat. 260 00:15:24,610 --> 00:15:29,290 And if we reread this passage carefully again, we will see that 261 00:15:29,290 --> 00:15:35,330 its entire focus is not on Israel's fighting, but on what is 262 00:15:35,330 --> 00:15:39,490 taking place with the staff of God on the hill. 263 00:15:40,370 --> 00:15:45,450 The Lord is the one fighting this battle through them, just like 264 00:15:45,450 --> 00:15:49,650 he said in Exodus 14:14, all you need to do is stand there. 265 00:15:49,890 --> 00:15:52,260 I, the Lord, will fight for for you. 266 00:15:53,060 --> 00:15:56,660 And so, with the victory won, the Lord commands Moses to record 267 00:15:56,740 --> 00:16:00,220 it on a scroll so that it can be remembered, so that we can be 268 00:16:00,220 --> 00:16:02,820 reading it today as part of exodus. 269 00:16:03,380 --> 00:16:07,060 And verse 14 gives very specific instructions as to why this 270 00:16:07,060 --> 00:16:07,460 is. 271 00:16:08,260 --> 00:16:11,900 Write this on a scroll, the Lord said to Moses, as something 272 00:16:11,900 --> 00:16:16,660 to be remembered, and make sure that Joshua hears it, because 273 00:16:16,660 --> 00:16:21,740 I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. 274 00:16:22,860 --> 00:16:26,620 Now we can understand why a victory like this is to be recorded, 275 00:16:26,940 --> 00:16:31,260 but it seems a little bit odd that he wants Joshua to hear it. 276 00:16:31,820 --> 00:16:34,780 After all, wasn't Joshua at the front line of the battle? 277 00:16:34,860 --> 00:16:37,020 And he knows that the victory happened. 278 00:16:37,340 --> 00:16:41,100 So why is this specifically being pointed out for Joshua? 279 00:16:41,660 --> 00:16:45,430 Well, the Lord wants to make sure that Joshua is aware that in 280 00:16:45,430 --> 00:16:49,590 response to the Amalekites actions, the Lord plans to wipe them 281 00:16:49,590 --> 00:16:51,670 off the face of the Earth. 282 00:16:53,030 --> 00:16:56,550 And this being told to Joshua, it means that he shouldn't attempt 283 00:16:56,550 --> 00:17:00,510 to engage in peaceful relations with them, because that's 284 00:17:00,510 --> 00:17:01,670 what would normally happen. 285 00:17:01,910 --> 00:17:07,430 Once you subdue a people, you subsume them, you bring them in, 286 00:17:07,830 --> 00:17:10,150 and you have dominion over them. 287 00:17:11,360 --> 00:17:12,800 The Lord says, don't waste your time. 288 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:17,840 Make sure Joshua doesn't do this, because these people will be 289 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:20,000 wiped off the face of the earth. 290 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:23,880 And after the record of the battle is made, Moses ensures that 291 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:28,360 appropriate worship is given to God because verses 15 and 16 tell 292 00:17:28,360 --> 00:17:28,640 us. 293 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:32,480 Moses built an altar and called it the Lord is my banner, 294 00:17:33,120 --> 00:17:37,280 he said, for hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord. 295 00:17:37,770 --> 00:17:41,210 The Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation 296 00:17:41,690 --> 00:17:42,730 to generation. 297 00:17:43,450 --> 00:17:46,490 And so after the victory, Moses builds an altar. 298 00:17:46,810 --> 00:17:49,850 And throughout the book of Genesis, we know that the Israelites 299 00:17:49,850 --> 00:17:54,290 forefathers often did this, usually in response to the Lord's 300 00:17:54,290 --> 00:17:58,010 making his presence known in a special way or through answering 301 00:17:58,090 --> 00:17:58,650 prayer. 302 00:17:59,210 --> 00:18:02,290 And so the altar serves to commemorate the event and also to 303 00:18:02,290 --> 00:18:06,380 provide Israel a place to offer sacrificial worship, which 304 00:18:06,380 --> 00:18:08,220 Moses presumably does here. 305 00:18:08,220 --> 00:18:14,540 And he names the altar, he calls the altar the Lord is my Banner. 306 00:18:16,220 --> 00:18:21,740 In the ancient Near East, a banner or a standard or a signal 307 00:18:21,900 --> 00:18:27,260 was a rallying sign to which members of a people or fighting force 308 00:18:27,340 --> 00:18:32,500 could flee, finding safety in the company of those gathering to 309 00:18:32,500 --> 00:18:34,880 it, marching forward under it. 310 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:39,520 That practice continued throughout all of military warfare, 311 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:44,320 where even in the Middle Ages, we would see, or at least we would 312 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:48,480 have evidence of these banners coming not only to tell the enemy 313 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:53,040 that the victory ones were here, but also to tell their own 314 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:56,560 troops who to gather around and who to be with, because uniforms 315 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:58,080 were not part of what they did. 316 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:02,220 And so banners were given as a sign of where to gather. 317 00:19:03,020 --> 00:19:08,540 And so to say the Lord is my banner is to say that he is his people's 318 00:19:08,540 --> 00:19:13,900 leader, the one that they rally around, and that he will go 319 00:19:13,900 --> 00:19:17,180 before his people as they face the foe. 320 00:19:18,380 --> 00:19:22,660 And so this chapter ends clearly stating that the Lord will 321 00:19:22,660 --> 00:19:26,380 have war with Amalek from generation to generation. 322 00:19:26,380 --> 00:19:32,380 In other words, they will face his opposition in the coming generations 323 00:19:32,460 --> 00:19:35,660 because of their stance against God's people. 324 00:19:37,020 --> 00:19:42,540 And God will do this not to be a vindictive God, but to encourage 325 00:19:42,780 --> 00:19:47,260 his people that he himself will wage war against their enemies. 326 00:19:48,300 --> 00:19:53,860 You see, whenever Moses says, the Lord is my banner, well, he truly 327 00:19:53,860 --> 00:19:55,180 is their banner. 328 00:19:56,710 --> 00:20:02,470 Moses is saying, let us follow the Lord and let us do it in faith. 329 00:20:04,070 --> 00:20:08,550 So as we conclude this chapter this morning, we must ask ourselves 330 00:20:08,630 --> 00:20:12,150 about our end of year report card. 331 00:20:12,950 --> 00:20:13,990 That's how we started. 332 00:20:15,430 --> 00:20:19,270 We have held the Israelites to account for their trust in God or 333 00:20:19,270 --> 00:20:22,930 their lack of it, because God himself told us that all of these 334 00:20:22,930 --> 00:20:24,890 things were a test to the people. 335 00:20:25,770 --> 00:20:28,730 The question moving forward will be if they will remain faithful 336 00:20:28,730 --> 00:20:32,530 to understanding God as their great leader, as their great provider, 337 00:20:32,530 --> 00:20:33,930 and their great savior. 338 00:20:34,410 --> 00:20:38,890 And as we will see, their report will come back often could 339 00:20:39,290 --> 00:20:44,090 try harder, even with the rallying call, to come to the Lord 340 00:20:44,090 --> 00:20:47,370 and to know him as their banner of assembly and trust. 341 00:20:48,580 --> 00:20:51,780 At times they will choose to ignore and reject him. 342 00:20:53,540 --> 00:20:55,060 And are we any different? 343 00:20:58,580 --> 00:21:07,180 Is truly the Lord our banner, the one to whom we go to and none 344 00:21:07,180 --> 00:21:07,460 other? 345 00:21:09,700 --> 00:21:12,220 Well, as we finish up and before we come to think about the 346 00:21:12,220 --> 00:21:15,220 Lord as our banner, I just want to jump back one little bit, 347 00:21:15,850 --> 00:21:18,010 and that's to talk about the place of prayer. 348 00:21:18,970 --> 00:21:23,170 Because before the altar is named, the Lord is our banner, or 349 00:21:23,170 --> 00:21:24,250 the Lord is my banner. 350 00:21:24,570 --> 00:21:30,010 We know of that posture that Moses took as he spiritually led 351 00:21:30,010 --> 00:21:35,410 his people so with outstretched arms, he cried to the 352 00:21:35,410 --> 00:21:35,770 Lord. 353 00:21:36,410 --> 00:21:40,250 And Moses demonstrates that to know the Lord in our lives is to 354 00:21:40,250 --> 00:21:42,650 come before him in prayer. 355 00:21:43,820 --> 00:21:48,940 Prayer in the first instance is to confess sin and seek Christ 356 00:21:48,940 --> 00:21:49,900 as Savior. 357 00:21:50,860 --> 00:21:55,140 And, you know, maybe you've wanted to become a Christian and 358 00:21:55,140 --> 00:21:56,220 you've never known how. 359 00:21:56,220 --> 00:22:00,420 Maybe you know about Christ, maybe even like Christ, but you're 360 00:22:00,420 --> 00:22:02,180 not yet in his hands. 361 00:22:02,180 --> 00:22:03,300 How do you do that? 362 00:22:03,300 --> 00:22:05,260 How do you become a Christian? 363 00:22:05,980 --> 00:22:09,740 Well, you come become a Christian by knowing what Christ 364 00:22:09,740 --> 00:22:14,550 has done, that he is the one who has given his life for you. 365 00:22:15,590 --> 00:22:19,790 And then you come to him in prayer in that same posture, knowing 366 00:22:19,790 --> 00:22:23,750 that there's no one else can save you but God alone, because of 367 00:22:23,750 --> 00:22:28,350 Jesus, that even though the sins of your life deserve to be punished 368 00:22:28,350 --> 00:22:33,950 by you, Christ has taken on himself that punishment so that you 369 00:22:33,950 --> 00:22:35,270 will not have to face it. 370 00:22:37,360 --> 00:22:41,520 So maybe you know of Christ, you know about him, maybe you even 371 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:45,760 like him and the idea of him, but you've not yet entrusted your 372 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:47,120 life into his hands. 373 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:54,160 Well, the first place is prayer, acknowledging the sin and 374 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:58,400 coming before him and seeking him as your Savior and that you will 375 00:22:58,400 --> 00:22:59,200 live for him. 376 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:01,600 Because that's what continues to happen. 377 00:23:02,460 --> 00:23:06,140 It's not just a prayer in a moment, but it's a life of prayer. 378 00:23:06,940 --> 00:23:11,020 And so as salvation begins by coming before the Lord in prayer, 379 00:23:11,180 --> 00:23:12,660 prayer doesn't stop there. 380 00:23:12,660 --> 00:23:16,500 We must be, as Moses was, in the posture of prayer before the 381 00:23:16,500 --> 00:23:17,300 Lord every day. 382 00:23:17,300 --> 00:23:23,380 Because prayer demonstrates our total reliance on the Lord, knowing 383 00:23:23,380 --> 00:23:26,220 that there are things we simply cannot do. 384 00:23:27,020 --> 00:23:30,380 But as our great leader, as our great provider, and as our great 385 00:23:30,460 --> 00:23:34,840 Savior, he is the one to whom we turn so that we bring before him 386 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:40,560 prayers of praise and prayers of request for ourselves and for 387 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:40,760 others. 388 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:44,920 And that's what Paul writes about in 1st Thessalonians, chapter 389 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:45,240 5. 390 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:46,760 Be joyful always. 391 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:48,920 Pray continually. 392 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:52,880 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's 393 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:55,480 will for you in Christ Jesus. 394 00:23:56,360 --> 00:23:58,840 Yes, please pray at home. 395 00:24:00,450 --> 00:24:05,690 Pray in your car with your eyes open, of course, but pray in 396 00:24:05,690 --> 00:24:13,490 your car, if you find yourself alone, be it in the workplace, and 397 00:24:13,490 --> 00:24:15,649 you know that you can pray. 398 00:24:17,810 --> 00:24:21,010 Prayer doesn't have to be five minutes in length. 399 00:24:21,810 --> 00:24:24,690 It can be 30 seconds, it can be 90 seconds. 400 00:24:26,340 --> 00:24:28,900 What we need is a posture of prayer to come before the Lord. 401 00:24:29,140 --> 00:24:32,660 And trust me, as someone who's learned this way, prayer grows. 402 00:24:33,220 --> 00:24:35,540 You may think, well, what do I pray for? 403 00:24:35,700 --> 00:24:36,700 What do I pray? 404 00:24:36,700 --> 00:24:39,940 Well, simply start and you will learn how to pray. 405 00:24:39,940 --> 00:24:43,500 The first outreach team I went on to was down in Carlow where the 406 00:24:43,500 --> 00:24:45,940 Reverend Stephen Johnson, who's now in Kilkeel, was the minister. 407 00:24:46,820 --> 00:24:51,300 And I remember we were given one whole hour in the morning for 408 00:24:51,300 --> 00:24:52,220 a quiet time. 409 00:24:52,380 --> 00:24:53,340 One whole hour. 410 00:24:53,580 --> 00:24:56,940 As a 17 year old, I had no idea what to do in that whole hour. 411 00:24:57,740 --> 00:25:01,420 And after 10 or so years of doing that team, I loved that hour 412 00:25:01,500 --> 00:25:03,660 and found myself wanting more time. 413 00:25:04,620 --> 00:25:09,020 Because we learn how to pray, we learn how to talk to God. 414 00:25:09,020 --> 00:25:12,220 So don't feel that your prayers are worthless or pointless 415 00:25:12,220 --> 00:25:13,980 because you don't think you're doing them right. 416 00:25:14,620 --> 00:25:18,710 The Lord delights because as Paul says, be joyful always. 417 00:25:18,950 --> 00:25:20,310 Pray continually. 418 00:25:20,710 --> 00:25:24,870 Give thanks in all situations, for this is God's will for you in 419 00:25:24,870 --> 00:25:25,510 Christ Jesus. 420 00:25:25,510 --> 00:25:27,110 He wants you to pray. 421 00:25:27,670 --> 00:25:31,110 So pray at home, pray in the car, pray at work, but join others 422 00:25:31,110 --> 00:25:34,710 to pray, pray together, pray publicly. 423 00:25:35,270 --> 00:25:40,110 Come and be part of prayer meetings on a Wednesday evening when 424 00:25:40,110 --> 00:25:43,660 we take time to pray at the end of our time in midweek where 425 00:25:43,660 --> 00:25:47,740 we get 20 minutes to bring before the Lord those things that 426 00:25:47,740 --> 00:25:52,020 are impacting us as a congregation, as individuals and 427 00:25:52,020 --> 00:25:54,020 as a community and things for the world. 428 00:25:54,820 --> 00:25:57,180 Join us on Sunday morning and Sunday evening. 429 00:25:57,180 --> 00:25:58,540 Come and be part of that. 430 00:25:58,540 --> 00:26:00,420 And it might be that you come and don't pray. 431 00:26:00,820 --> 00:26:04,740 And that's okay because we all have to learn how to pray. 432 00:26:04,740 --> 00:26:08,100 But look at what Moses does and look at the image that's given 433 00:26:08,260 --> 00:26:08,660 here. 434 00:26:09,550 --> 00:26:12,270 It is in the posture of prayer that as he leads the people, he is 435 00:26:12,270 --> 00:26:12,990 supported. 436 00:26:14,670 --> 00:26:16,110 Do Aaron and her pray? 437 00:26:16,110 --> 00:26:19,950 We don't know, but they're there beside him as Moses does this 438 00:26:19,950 --> 00:26:20,230 work. 439 00:26:20,230 --> 00:26:22,270 Do not belittle the place of prayer. 440 00:26:23,150 --> 00:26:27,630 And as we are commanded, as is God's will for us in Christ Jesus, 441 00:26:28,110 --> 00:26:32,910 pray continually, giving thanks in all circumstances and always 442 00:26:33,230 --> 00:26:34,350 being joyful. 443 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:41,400 Will you look at your end of year report and will you consider 444 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:43,000 the place of prayer? 445 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:48,880 I'm not going to be a teacher and judge and punch in key number 446 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:49,160 six. 447 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:53,120 That said, you must try harder because if I did that to you, I would 448 00:26:53,120 --> 00:26:54,360 have to say it to myself. 449 00:26:55,640 --> 00:27:03,370 We grow in prayer, but we must begin in prayer, begin today and 450 00:27:03,370 --> 00:27:07,570 get into these wonderful habits of what it means to come before 451 00:27:07,570 --> 00:27:08,090 the Lord. 452 00:27:08,090 --> 00:27:12,210 Just as Moses demonstrates here in the posture he presents before 453 00:27:12,210 --> 00:27:12,810 the Lord. 454 00:27:14,330 --> 00:27:18,490 But the second thing that we must consider is about our banner. 455 00:27:19,770 --> 00:27:22,490 It might be, well, we all have banners. 456 00:27:23,210 --> 00:27:25,290 It might be that our banner is politics. 457 00:27:26,180 --> 00:27:28,740 We'll talk more of politics than anything else. 458 00:27:28,740 --> 00:27:29,620 It might be sport. 459 00:27:29,620 --> 00:27:32,260 We'll talk about sport more than anything else. 460 00:27:32,900 --> 00:27:35,260 Or it might be individual things that consume us. 461 00:27:35,260 --> 00:27:39,580 We'll always be chasing after money, or we'll always be chasing 462 00:27:39,580 --> 00:27:43,820 after success, or a name for ourselves, or we'll always be trying 463 00:27:43,820 --> 00:27:45,620 to have a better family. 464 00:27:46,020 --> 00:27:49,220 And so we'll work things to make our family good, or maybe our 465 00:27:49,220 --> 00:27:49,580 career. 466 00:27:49,580 --> 00:27:51,100 We want to be able to progress up. 467 00:27:51,100 --> 00:27:53,380 And that's what is most important to us. 468 00:27:54,110 --> 00:27:58,110 You see, whatever we have as most important in our lives is that 469 00:27:58,110 --> 00:27:58,590 banner. 470 00:27:59,550 --> 00:28:02,110 And so take out your report card again this year. 471 00:28:02,590 --> 00:28:04,110 What have you spoken most about? 472 00:28:05,870 --> 00:28:08,510 What have you talked most about with others? 473 00:28:09,710 --> 00:28:12,350 Because that will tell you here and now what your banner is. 474 00:28:16,750 --> 00:28:18,190 We have to be very careful. 475 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:23,680 If we're talking about these things more then we are talking and 476 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:26,120 thinking about the things of the Lord. 477 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:32,200 Moses in verse 15 says that the Lord is his banner first and 478 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:32,840 foremost. 479 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:36,760 And so it should also be for us. 480 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:39,720 Every one of us has a banner. 481 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:41,080 I have a banner. 482 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:46,160 It's something that we all look to for identity security. 483 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:53,120 But if it's not Christ, then it's not truth. 484 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:58,720 I don't know if many of you will have heard of the name Dante. 485 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:03,600 Dante lived well, he was from Florence and he lived in the 1200s. 486 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:07,840 And one of his classic works is called Inferno, Dante's Inferno. 487 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:11,640 And in one of the he writes about one of the outer circles of 488 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:16,320 hell where people were chasing back and forth after a banner. 489 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:21,720 They could never reach this banner, but they never stopped chasing 490 00:29:21,720 --> 00:29:22,360 it either. 491 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:28,319 Because Dante writes, I saw a banner there upon the mist, circling 492 00:29:28,319 --> 00:29:32,160 and circling, that seemed to scorn all pause. 493 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:37,920 So it ran on and still behind it pressed a never ending rout of 494 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:40,200 souls, pain. 495 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:45,160 See, Dante understood something important about human nature. 496 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:50,440 People need a standard, something to look to for our identity 497 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:51,560 and our security. 498 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:57,160 Some people spend their whole lives chasing after it without ever 499 00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:59,400 reaching a place of rest. 500 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:02,600 So again, what is your banner? 501 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:05,720 What is the emblem of your hope? 502 00:30:06,940 --> 00:30:10,860 Where do you look to for courage in times of difficulty and 503 00:30:10,860 --> 00:30:11,500 despair? 504 00:30:12,780 --> 00:30:15,740 Well, again, Moses has the best answer for us. 505 00:30:16,300 --> 00:30:18,580 He said, the Lord is my banner. 506 00:30:18,580 --> 00:30:23,820 Whenever I am under attack, I rally to his side. 507 00:30:25,180 --> 00:30:31,140 And so the Lord is to be our banner, but in a way that even Moses 508 00:30:31,140 --> 00:30:32,460 could hardly have imagined. 509 00:30:33,020 --> 00:30:37,740 Because the prophet Isaiah promised a day when the root of Jesse 510 00:30:37,740 --> 00:30:40,060 shall stand as a signal for the peoples. 511 00:30:40,300 --> 00:30:45,060 Of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall 512 00:30:45,060 --> 00:30:45,740 be glorious. 513 00:30:45,740 --> 00:30:47,580 And that's in Isaiah 11, verse 10. 514 00:30:47,900 --> 00:30:51,020 Isaiah's promise is now fulfilled in Jesus Christ. 515 00:30:51,340 --> 00:30:56,300 He is the root of Jesse, the Son of David and the Son of God. 516 00:30:56,380 --> 00:31:01,580 Now he stands as a banner for God's people who rally to him from 517 00:31:01,580 --> 00:31:02,460 every nation. 518 00:31:04,410 --> 00:31:08,090 Now, the Bible doesn't say that Jesus has a banner. 519 00:31:08,570 --> 00:31:11,690 It says that he is the banner. 520 00:31:12,090 --> 00:31:17,250 It is by looking to Jesus that we are saved, specifically by looking 521 00:31:17,250 --> 00:31:19,930 to his cross and what was accomplished there for us. 522 00:31:20,090 --> 00:31:23,690 And that's why Jesus, early on in his ministry in John chapter 3 523 00:31:23,770 --> 00:31:27,650 and verses 14 and 15, would say, just as Moses lifted up the 524 00:31:27,650 --> 00:31:30,520 snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up. 525 00:31:30,830 --> 00:31:34,030 Up that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 526 00:31:34,030 --> 00:31:38,510 And of course, we'll come in the weeks to follow that story about 527 00:31:38,510 --> 00:31:39,870 the snake being lifted up. 528 00:31:40,990 --> 00:31:43,830 But it's the same image that's been presented to us here. 529 00:31:43,830 --> 00:31:45,710 Jesus is the one we're to look to. 530 00:31:46,190 --> 00:31:48,510 He is the man on the middle cross. 531 00:31:49,070 --> 00:31:51,790 He was lifted up to die for our sins. 532 00:31:52,270 --> 00:31:56,190 And so now it is by looking to the crucified and risen Christ that 533 00:31:56,190 --> 00:31:56,830 we live. 534 00:31:57,600 --> 00:32:01,800 Our banner is the cross of Christ where He bled and died for 535 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:02,480 our sins. 536 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:07,920 And whenever we come under attack, it is Christ and the cross 537 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:10,720 that is to give us courage for the fight. 538 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:15,120 So let me ask you this morning, is Christ truly your banner? 539 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:19,440 Is he the One you trust more than anything else? 540 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:21,680 Because he needs to be. 541 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:28,000 Otherwise, whatever you will chase, you will chase to the day 542 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:28,640 you die. 543 00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:31,680 And it will never fulfill. 544 00:32:34,800 --> 00:32:39,480 You see, when we know him truly as our all in all, then we 545 00:32:39,480 --> 00:32:43,840 will want to come before him in prayer with arms outstretched, 546 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:48,960 knowing that we are depending on no one nor anything else for salvation 547 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:51,070 but him alone. 548 00:32:52,900 --> 00:32:58,020 Who would have thought an ancient battle in the desert of sin 549 00:32:59,060 --> 00:33:04,580 between two sets of cousins would challenge us to look to a banner 550 00:33:04,580 --> 00:33:06,580 that is above everything else of this world? 551 00:33:07,300 --> 00:33:13,380 A banner that can only fulfill that banner is Christ and His cross. 552 00:33:14,980 --> 00:33:16,260 So will you come to Him? 553 00:33:17,870 --> 00:33:19,630 Will you look to that banner? 554 00:33:20,430 --> 00:33:23,830 Will you look to him alone so that today you can have that wonderful 555 00:33:23,830 --> 00:33:27,310 assurance that you're not chasing something in vain? 556 00:33:28,670 --> 00:33:32,989 But indeed, he will keep you to the end, that he will keep you 557 00:33:32,990 --> 00:33:34,590 in his hands. 558 00:33:36,430 --> 00:33:38,510 And I say again, for some here. 559 00:33:38,830 --> 00:33:40,270 You know about Jesus. 560 00:33:40,990 --> 00:33:44,880 You actually like the idea of Jesus, but as yet, you're not in 561 00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:45,640 his hands. 562 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:50,360 Well, today he invites each and every one of us to know him truly. 563 00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:57,120 So that indeed, with Moses, we will recite and say and declare that 564 00:33:57,120 --> 00:33:59,160 the Lord is my banner. 565 00:33:59,720 --> 00:34:01,720 May it be so for you this day. 566 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:02,920 Let us pray. 567 00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:07,280 Our Father God, we thank you for your word that encourages us 568 00:34:07,280 --> 00:34:12,010 and challenges us, but helps us to focus on whose we are to be. 569 00:34:12,490 --> 00:34:16,250 And so indeed may Christ be our banner as we live for him day 570 00:34:16,250 --> 00:34:19,970 by day, not chasing after things we can never catch, nor can 571 00:34:19,970 --> 00:34:24,050 they ever fulfill, but rather looking only ever to Christ, the 572 00:34:24,050 --> 00:34:25,530 one who will keep us. 573 00:34:26,650 --> 00:34:28,770 So help us to respond well to you this day. 574 00:34:28,770 --> 00:34:30,890 In Jesus name, Amen. 575 00:34:35,859 --> 00:34:45,859 Sam.