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		<title>Advent: King of Heaven | Hope Fellowship of Hillsboro - Advent: King of Heaven</title>
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		<description>Beholding Christ, The Hope of Glory</description>
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					<title>King of Peace</title>
					<link>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/king-of-peace</link>
											<comments>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/king-of-peace#respond</comments>
					
					<pubDate>Sun, 23 Dec 2018 21:18:26 +0000</pubDate>
					<dc:creator><![CDATA[Bobby Gaither]]></dc:creator>
					
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					<description><![CDATA[Bible Text: Isaiah 11:1-10 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: Advent: King of Heaven | It appears to be tradition in our society that children are asked what they would wish for in the year to come. Children possess an innocence, and a capacity for faith, that, as the years progress, tends to fade in the human soul. We live in an age where the terrors of the world are visible to our children, both in the home, on the street, and at the school. If they don’t see violence there, they can easily find it on the internet, and learn of the war-torn countries where the civilians, especially women and children, suffer as the men go to war. Their resounding request reflects both the innocence of their heart, and the desire that things be as they ought to be. I believe their request represents the innate desire of mankind, knowing what ought to be, though it is not. That request that resounds in the heart and soul of all who recognize the value and dignity life is this: world peace.

World peace accomplished would first mean a relinquishment from war. There would be no more fighting, killing, loss of loved ones. It would also include the removal of enmity between man, ethnicities, and nations. It would mean people working together for the common good of all people, that all would flourish, and none would be under poverty or political oppression. Do I sound like I’m running for [political] office?

The world believes that, if we put forth the right energy, the right political platform, the right rules and regulations, the right diplomatic incentives, The right allies, well written and informed treaties, we can have this world peace! Thousands of years of history have proven that there is nothing new under the sun. We can have a populous who desires peace, but that peace will always be dictated and enforced by in imperfect, make-believe and self-proclaimed king. It will not be true peace. The peace the world desires, and so desperately needs, can only be administered by a perfect King, a true King, anointed by God.

The historical context of the passage: Isaiah prophesied to a divided Israel. All biblical prophesy has an immediate and future fulfillment. This division was not of God, but the result of sin, and a power grab within the people of Israel. Israel had 3 kings under one monarchy (Saul, David, then Solomon), and after Solomon died, the 10 northern tribes rebelled, and forsook the scripture that the scepter was to stay with the tribe of Judah. They wanted a kingdom that looked like the nations, and that is what they received. There was fighting between the kingdoms, and within the kingdom for the throne. This division and unrest culminated in 722 BC, when Syria and the Northern Kingdom of Israel joined forces to invade Judah. As this was about to take place, Isaiah went to Ahaz, king of Judah, and invited him to place his faith in Yahweh, even offering a sign. Ahaz wouldn’t have it, and decided to trust the power of man, and make an alliance with Assyria. Isaiah responded that God would give a sign anyhow, that “the virgin shall be with child, and shall call his name Immanuel” and by the time the child could learn how to refuse evil and choose good, the king of Syria and the king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, would be defeated. They would be defeated by Assyria, who would later be defeated by Babylon and Judah would also be carried off into captivity.

History lesson? Because it gives context to what the people where thinking, and feeling. The house of Israel was divided. Judah had been conquered. It had seemed as if God had failed in His promise, that there would be a king on the throne of David. This would communicate either that God had abandoned his people, or that God was not strong enough to deliver, to save, that the gods of the nations were more powerful. Neither was true. Israel was in the position she was because of disobedience. God had not abandoned his people, but had disciplined them, and was cleansing them. God was not lacking in power, but instead was using the nations to purify his bride, and bring forth His eternal king. Isaiah was pointing to the one King in whom the nation could hope, the one king whom would reunite Israel under one head. So, As Israel would hear the passage we read today, the would hear it under the oppression of Babylon. They would hear this message as a war-torn country, a people who live in fear, under the rule and oppression of a foreign nation, one whom despised them. They would hear these words when it would have seemed that all hope of restoration was lost, that the nation was a felled tree, in the shadow of the cedars of Lebanon.

These are the headings under which we will look at the text:

The Promised King (Root / Shoot; Indwelled by the Spirit, Spirit )

Who is… The True Judge (Not deceived, judgement flows from His character)

Who brings… True And Lasting Peace (Predator and Prey, Nature changed, Seed and Snake - curse reversed)

In A Glorious Kingdom (Source of true wisdom, Reconciles all nations

Isaiah 11:1–10

 [1] There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,

 and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

 [2] And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,

 the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

 the Spirit of counsel and might,

 the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

 [3] And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

 He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

 or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

 [4] but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

 and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

 and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

 and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

 [5] Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

 and faithfulness the belt of his loins. 

 [6] The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,

 and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

 and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;

 and a little child shall lead them.

 [7] The cow and the bear shall graze;

 their young shall lie down together;

 and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

 [8] The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,

 and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.

 [9] They shall not hurt or destroy

 in all my holy mountain;

 for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

 as the waters cover the sea.

 [10] In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. (ESV)

The Promised King (Root / Shoot; Indwelled by the Spirit, Spirit )

Who is… The True Judge (Not deceived, judgement flows from His character)

Who brings… True And Lasting Peace (Predator and Prey, Nature changed, Seed and Snake - curse reversed)

In A Glorious Kingdom (Source of true wisdom, Reconciles all nations

[Pray]The Promised King (Root / Shoot; Indwelled by the Spirit, Spirit )

 [1] There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,

 and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

Isaiah, when he was commissioned by God to be the prophet to the nation, was forwarded that Israel would fall, but God would preserve a remnant. The tree of the monarchy would be felled, but the stump would remain. Look at chapter 6:13. After the tree falls, a stump remains. Then he comments: “The holy seed is its stump.”

Fast forward to chapter 9, and Isaiah informs us about this stump. The stump he spoke of is the line of the kings of Judah. The stump is Jesse, the first God-appointed king of Israel (Saul was chosen by the people). Jesse’s son, the only one who could be Jesse’s son, was David. Isaiah foretold that there would be a king who arose from the line of David, but also would come as another David, one after God’s own heart. This would be a God-appointed King who would reign and rule in glory, under the Spirit of God, the blessings of God, and the peace of God. 

Furthermore, this Promised King arises not from the stump, but from the root! Don’t be confused - the shoot from the stump and the branch from the roots are the same branch. The stump is representative of the genealogy of the kings of Judah. Isaiah was stating that the King that will proceed from the stump of Jesse, yet has its origins in the root, which pre-existed Jesse. This is the King from of old. This branch which springs forth and produced fruit is the coming forth of the holy seed.

A shoot from a stump is not a promising site. It’s still fragile, easily clipped or chopped down. The image by itself is just a glimmer of hope, easily crushed. However, Isaiah says this shoot will bear fruit. It will come to maturity. It will spread out its branches and provide food and safety for all who will find shade under it. There is a certainty about it. This certainty is brought about by God. This is a God-appointed King, who is indwelled by God. Read with me:

 [2] And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,

 the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

 the Spirit of counsel and might,

 the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

 [3] And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

Whereas other kings may have had seasons where God’s presence was with them, this King enjoys constant communion with God, and the Spirit rests upon him. The word from which we read rests, has the idea of dwelling, remaining, and unmovable. This King, whom they’ve longed for, will have the Spirit of God, which will not be moved.

This passage laid out the seven-fold characteristics of the Spirit which this King possessed: Spirit of the LORD, Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord.

The Promised King and the Spirit of the LORD (Yahweh).

The promised King pre-existed Jesse, and was himself the holy seed. This promised King was and is none other than God himself. He possessed the Spirit of the Lord, for He was and is the Lord. And he possesses within himself all the attributes of the Spirit of God. These are attributes other kings of Judah possessed in part, but this King possesses in full.

Wisdom: the application of knowledge. Solomon was known for his wisdom, so much that Queen Sheba lost her breath when she grasped the depth of his understanding. The wisdom of this King surpassed that of Solomon. The promised King is a better King. 

Understanding: To know how things work. Understanding increases strength. It enables one to make proper decisions that effect the future.

Counsel: strategy. Specifically in a military context, strategy was important for the safety of the nation.

Might: power. A king of might has the ability to put down their foes and protect the weak. This is divine power, which no man can combat.

Knowledge: divine knowing that is hidden from the eyes of men. To have the Spirit of Knowledge is to know the things only God can know.

Fear of the Lord: We know the fear of the Lord to be the beginning of wisdom. It is the fear of the Lord that guards our way, keeps us from falling. This King will forever be steadfast as our perfect King, for he has the Spirit of the fear of the Lord, and he delights in it! He delights in the ways of the Lord, His precepts, His rule! He has a heart after God, like David, only this King is greater than David.

Both David and Solomon fell. They were imperfect kings. They were merely human. This promised King was and is divine. Think of the promise this was to the people of Israel, who were scattered, oppressed, under the rule of other nations. This promised King, His dominion will reign forever and bring peace…

For He alone is the One Who is… The True Judge

 [3b] He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

 or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

 [4] but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

 and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

 and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

 and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

 [5] Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

 and faithfulness the belt of his loins. 

This judge is not deceived!

Have you ever been accused, or even found guilty, of doing something you did not do? All the signs point to your guilt, and yet you were not the perpetrator? This has happened to me, twice that I can think of. 

This judge has divine knowledge. He doesn’t judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes based on biassed testimony, what his ears hear. He makes judgements that are righteous because He knows all truth! And he decides not according to politics or power or prestige, but with equity he decides for the meek of the earth. Do you know how good that is? God is not a respecter of persons. There is nothing you or I can give to God that he doesn’t already possess! There is no one person more important that the other, or that can bring more value to the Kingdom of God.

I’ve heard it said by well-meaning Christians: “Man, such and such is wealthy, and if we could lead that person to Jesus, think of the influence, the resources, God would gain!” 

Dear friends, God is not in need of your green paper. The heart of the king is water in his hands; he sets up kingdoms and tears them down; he is not in need of what we might have or bring. This is good news, because His judgement isn’t swayed by what we own or possess, but he has perfect knowledge and makes perfect judgements for all who are on the earth.

Furthermore, He will administer justice! And His justice will be perfect!

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

 and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

The image of striking the earth with the rod of His mouth, some commentators say is the preaching of the gospel. The gospel is this: All mankind have rebelled against their Creator, their true King, and are therefore treasonous outlaws, deserving of a traitor’s death.

[4] But God… being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—[6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:4–10

The rod of his mouth is the gospel, and the rule is this: if you would open your eyes, and see the goodness and kindness of God, and come, repent of your sin, you will be saved and live in peace that only He can provide. 

But if you will not, if you refuse the goodness of God, if you refuse the glory, power, might, love, kindness, and authority of His rule, you will perish, for with his breath he shall kill the wicked. There is nothing more wicked to God than refusing His Son, the embodiment of His love for us rebellious sinners.

And His judgement is perferct, for His judgement flows from His character. 

That is the meaning of the personification of righteousness as the belt, and faithfulness as his loins in verse 5. These attributes are so close to the person of God that they are like his closest and most secure garments.

This is why it is only this Promised King …Who brings… True And Lasting Peace

Look at verse 6 - 9 with me:

 [6] The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,

 and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

 and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;

 and a little child shall lead them.

 [7] The cow and the bear shall graze;

 their young shall lie down together;

 and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

 [8] The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,

 and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.

 [9] They shall not hurt or destroy

 in all my holy mountain;

 for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

 as the waters cover the sea.

Do you see the pattern of life under His reign? The very pattern of life has changed, and will continue to be changed into this pattern. True and lasting peace will happen when human nature will finally return to that which it was in the garden. There will be no Predator and Prey, in fact, they will lay down together. There will be no emnity, nor reason to fear the beast, the wolf, the leopard, for man will exercise dominion over them— a child will exercise dominion over them.

The nursing child will play over the hole of the cobra, the weaned child shall put his hand on the viper’s babies, and not be bitten! Isaiah is making reference to the very curse of God in Genesis chapter 3. Genesis 3:14–15

[14] The LORD God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,

cursed are you above all livestock

and above all beasts of the field;

on your belly you shall go,

and dust you shall eat

all the days of your life.

[15] I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel.” (ESV)

Do you see what Isaiah was referring to? The enmity between mankind and the serpent will be reversed. The very animal used by Satan to fall mankind will become the playmate of the nursing child, the offspring!

The reason we, normal people, hate snakes, is because of the fall! They won’t give us the heibie-geibies anymore! There will be no reason for fear, for man and beast will be reconciled under the reign of this Promised King, the King of Peace!

There is another reference here that, if you’re paying attention, you may have caught. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Remember that all biblical prophesy has an immediate and future fulfillment? The offspring, or seed in some translations, is that of the promised King. He was promised to us in the 3rd chapter of Genesis. The bruising (or crushing) of the head of the serpent, of Satan and his kingdom, his plan to destroy the world and all the good that God had created, was set in motion when Jesus, our promised King, our King of Peace, was crucified for us. His heal was bruised in the crushing of the serpent. But it was just his heal… he would rise from the dead, and therefore prove his kingship, for all eternity! 

This King draws us in, invites all who would come, into His glorious Kingdom!

His Glorious Kingdom

 [9b]for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

 as the waters cover the sea.

 [10] In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

The people of Israel, both north and south, saw this as a promise to reconcile the people of Israel; and thus recover one strong kingdom from the two waring nations. That stood as a beacon of hope for the people, those most innocent and yet effected by their nations at war.

The promise was much bigger than that. The Promised King was not promised to merely bring peace to Israel, but to the world. Jesus is the King for which World Peace will actually be realized! He is the King of Peace! And this is so, for under His reign, all of our nature, yours and mine, and all of humanity, and all creation, will be truly and finally changed! For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea! And His reign will reach far beyond Israel, for He will stand as a signal and all nations will come to him! 

And his resting place shall be glorious… 

The queen of Sheba fainted at the sight of Solomon’s kingdom. How much more glorious will be the glory of the Root of Jesse, He who existed before Abraham was, He who spoke the world into existence, and upholds the universe by the word of His power. The glory of His kingdom will be marked with true peace, glorious shalom. 

What does this mean for us now, we who live in the 21st century? We live in a time of great unrest, uncertainty, fear, hatred, and violence. It can appear as if the world is spinning out of control. All attempts towards peace are thwarted by selfish ambition. 

Encouragement:

God is sovereign. 

God will bring His Kingdom of Peace.

We pray, Come, Lord Jesus!]]></description>
					<content:encoded><![CDATA[Bible Text: Isaiah 11:1-10 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: Advent: King of Heaven | It appears to be tradition in our society that children are asked what they would wish for in the year to come. Children possess an innocence, and a capacity for faith, that, as the years progress, tends to fade in the human soul. We live in an age where the terrors of the world are visible to our children, both in the home, on the street, and at the school. If they don’t see violence there, they can easily find it on the internet, and learn of the war-torn countries where the civilians, especially women and children, suffer as the men go to war. Their resounding request reflects both the innocence of their heart, and the desire that things be as they ought to be. I believe their request represents the innate desire of mankind, knowing what ought to be, though it is not. That request that resounds in the heart and soul of all who recognize the value and dignity life is this: world peace.

World peace accomplished would first mean a relinquishment from war. There would be no more fighting, killing, loss of loved ones. It would also include the removal of enmity between man, ethnicities, and nations. It would mean people working together for the common good of all people, that all would flourish, and none would be under poverty or political oppression. Do I sound like I’m running for [political] office?

The world believes that, if we put forth the right energy, the right political platform, the right rules and regulations, the right diplomatic incentives, The right allies, well written and informed treaties, we can have this world peace! Thousands of years of history have proven that there is nothing new under the sun. We can have a populous who desires peace, but that peace will always be dictated and enforced by in imperfect, make-believe and self-proclaimed king. It will not be true peace. The peace the world desires, and so desperately needs, can only be administered by a perfect King, a true King, anointed by God.

The historical context of the passage: Isaiah prophesied to a divided Israel. All biblical prophesy has an immediate and future fulfillment. This division was not of God, but the result of sin, and a power grab within the people of Israel. Israel had 3 kings under one monarchy (Saul, David, then Solomon), and after Solomon died, the 10 northern tribes rebelled, and forsook the scripture that the scepter was to stay with the tribe of Judah. They wanted a kingdom that looked like the nations, and that is what they received. There was fighting between the kingdoms, and within the kingdom for the throne. This division and unrest culminated in 722 BC, when Syria and the Northern Kingdom of Israel joined forces to invade Judah. As this was about to take place, Isaiah went to Ahaz, king of Judah, and invited him to place his faith in Yahweh, even offering a sign. Ahaz wouldn’t have it, and decided to trust the power of man, and make an alliance with Assyria. Isaiah responded that God would give a sign anyhow, that “the virgin shall be with child, and shall call his name Immanuel” and by the time the child could learn how to refuse evil and choose good, the king of Syria and the king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, would be defeated. They would be defeated by Assyria, who would later be defeated by Babylon and Judah would also be carried off into captivity.

History lesson? Because it gives context to what the people where thinking, and feeling. The house of Israel was divided. Judah had been conquered. It had seemed as if God had failed in His promise, that there would be a king on the throne of David. This would communicate either that God had abandoned his people, or that God was not strong enough to deliver, to save, that the gods of the nations were more powerful. Neither was true. Israel was in the position she was because of disobedience. God had not abandoned his people, but had disciplined them, and was cleansing them. God was not lacking in power, but instead was using the nations to purify his bride, and bring forth His eternal king. Isaiah was pointing to the one King in whom the nation could hope, the one king whom would reunite Israel under one head. So, As Israel would hear the passage we read today, the would hear it under the oppression of Babylon. They would hear this message as a war-torn country, a people who live in fear, under the rule and oppression of a foreign nation, one whom despised them. They would hear these words when it would have seemed that all hope of restoration was lost, that the nation was a felled tree, in the shadow of the cedars of Lebanon.

These are the headings under which we will look at the text:

The Promised King (Root / Shoot; Indwelled by the Spirit, Spirit )

Who is… The True Judge (Not deceived, judgement flows from His character)

Who brings… True And Lasting Peace (Predator and Prey, Nature changed, Seed and Snake - curse reversed)

In A Glorious Kingdom (Source of true wisdom, Reconciles all nations

Isaiah 11:1–10

 [1] There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,

 and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

 [2] And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,

 the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

 the Spirit of counsel and might,

 the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

 [3] And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

 He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

 or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

 [4] but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

 and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

 and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

 and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

 [5] Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

 and faithfulness the belt of his loins. 

 [6] The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,

 and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

 and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;

 and a little child shall lead them.

 [7] The cow and the bear shall graze;

 their young shall lie down together;

 and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

 [8] The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,

 and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.

 [9] They shall not hurt or destroy

 in all my holy mountain;

 for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

 as the waters cover the sea.

 [10] In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. (ESV)

The Promised King (Root / Shoot; Indwelled by the Spirit, Spirit )

Who is… The True Judge (Not deceived, judgement flows from His character)

Who brings… True And Lasting Peace (Predator and Prey, Nature changed, Seed and Snake - curse reversed)

In A Glorious Kingdom (Source of true wisdom, Reconciles all nations

[Pray]The Promised King (Root / Shoot; Indwelled by the Spirit, Spirit )

 [1] There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,

 and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

Isaiah, when he was commissioned by God to be the prophet to the nation, was forwarded that Israel would fall, but God would preserve a remnant. The tree of the monarchy would be felled, but the stump would remain. Look at chapter 6:13. After the tree falls, a stump remains. Then he comments: “The holy seed is its stump.”

Fast forward to chapter 9, and Isaiah informs us about this stump. The stump he spoke of is the line of the kings of Judah. The stump is Jesse, the first God-appointed king of Israel (Saul was chosen by the people). Jesse’s son, the only one who could be Jesse’s son, was David. Isaiah foretold that there would be a king who arose from the line of David, but also would come as another David, one after God’s own heart. This would be a God-appointed King who would reign and rule in glory, under the Spirit of God, the blessings of God, and the peace of God. 

Furthermore, this Promised King arises not from the stump, but from the root! Don’t be confused - the shoot from the stump and the branch from the roots are the same branch. The stump is representative of the genealogy of the kings of Judah. Isaiah was stating that the King that will proceed from the stump of Jesse, yet has its origins in the root, which pre-existed Jesse. This is the King from of old. This branch which springs forth and produced fruit is the coming forth of the holy seed.

A shoot from a stump is not a promising site. It’s still fragile, easily clipped or chopped down. The image by itself is just a glimmer of hope, easily crushed. However, Isaiah says this shoot will bear fruit. It will come to maturity. It will spread out its branches and provide food and safety for all who will find shade under it. There is a certainty about it. This certainty is brought about by God. This is a God-appointed King, who is indwelled by God. Read with me:

 [2] And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,

 the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

 the Spirit of counsel and might,

 the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

 [3] And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

Whereas other kings may have had seasons where God’s presence was with them, this King enjoys constant communion with God, and the Spirit rests upon him. The word from which we read rests, has the idea of dwelling, remaining, and unmovable. This King, whom they’ve longed for, will have the Spirit of God, which will not be moved.

This passage laid out the seven-fold characteristics of the Spirit which this King possessed: Spirit of the LORD, Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord.

The Promised King and the Spirit of the LORD (Yahweh).

The promised King pre-existed Jesse, and was himself the holy seed. This promised King was and is none other than God himself. He possessed the Spirit of the Lord, for He was and is the Lord. And he possesses within himself all the attributes of the Spirit of God. These are attributes other kings of Judah possessed in part, but this King possesses in full.

Wisdom: the application of knowledge. Solomon was known for his wisdom, so much that Queen Sheba lost her breath when she grasped the depth of his understanding. The wisdom of this King surpassed that of Solomon. The promised King is a better King. 

Understanding: To know how things work. Understanding increases strength. It enables one to make proper decisions that effect the future.

Counsel: strategy. Specifically in a military context, strategy was important for the safety of the nation.

Might: power. A king of might has the ability to put down their foes and protect the weak. This is divine power, which no man can combat.

Knowledge: divine knowing that is hidden from the eyes of men. To have the Spirit of Knowledge is to know the things only God can know.

Fear of the Lord: We know the fear of the Lord to be the beginning of wisdom. It is the fear of the Lord that guards our way, keeps us from falling. This King will forever be steadfast as our perfect King, for he has the Spirit of the fear of the Lord, and he delights in it! He delights in the ways of the Lord, His precepts, His rule! He has a heart after God, like David, only this King is greater than David.

Both David and Solomon fell. They were imperfect kings. They were merely human. This promised King was and is divine. Think of the promise this was to the people of Israel, who were scattered, oppressed, under the rule of other nations. This promised King, His dominion will reign forever and bring peace…

For He alone is the One Who is… The True Judge

 [3b] He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

 or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

 [4] but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

 and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

 and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

 and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

 [5] Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

 and faithfulness the belt of his loins. 

This judge is not deceived!

Have you ever been accused, or even found guilty, of doing something you did not do? All the signs point to your guilt, and yet you were not the perpetrator? This has happened to me, twice that I can think of. 

This judge has divine knowledge. He doesn’t judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes based on biassed testimony, what his ears hear. He makes judgements that are righteous because He knows all truth! And he decides not according to politics or power or prestige, but with equity he decides for the meek of the earth. Do you know how good that is? God is not a respecter of persons. There is nothing you or I can give to God that he doesn’t already possess! There is no one person more important that the other, or that can bring more value to the Kingdom of God.

I’ve heard it said by well-meaning Christians: “Man, such and such is wealthy, and if we could lead that person to Jesus, think of the influence, the resources, God would gain!” 

Dear friends, God is not in need of your green paper. The heart of the king is water in his hands; he sets up kingdoms and tears them down; he is not in need of what we might have or bring. This is good news, because His judgement isn’t swayed by what we own or possess, but he has perfect knowledge and makes perfect judgements for all who are on the earth.

Furthermore, He will administer justice! And His justice will be perfect!

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

 and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

The image of striking the earth with the rod of His mouth, some commentators say is the preaching of the gospel. The gospel is this: All mankind have rebelled against their Creator, their true King, and are therefore treasonous outlaws, deserving of a traitor’s death.

[4] But God… being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—[6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:4–10

The rod of his mouth is the gospel, and the rule is this: if you would open your eyes, and see the goodness and kindness of God, and come, repent of your sin, you will be saved and live in peace that only He can provide. 

But if you will not, if you refuse the goodness of God, if you refuse the glory, power, might, love, kindness, and authority of His rule, you will perish, for with his breath he shall kill the wicked. There is nothing more wicked to God than refusing His Son, the embodiment of His love for us rebellious sinners.

And His judgement is perferct, for His judgement flows from His character. 

That is the meaning of the personification of righteousness as the belt, and faithfulness as his loins in verse 5. These attributes are so close to the person of God that they are like his closest and most secure garments.

This is why it is only this Promised King …Who brings… True And Lasting Peace

Look at verse 6 - 9 with me:

 [6] The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,

 and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

 and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;

 and a little child shall lead them.

 [7] The cow and the bear shall graze;

 their young shall lie down together;

 and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

 [8] The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,

 and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.

 [9] They shall not hurt or destroy

 in all my holy mountain;

 for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

 as the waters cover the sea.

Do you see the pattern of life under His reign? The very pattern of life has changed, and will continue to be changed into this pattern. True and lasting peace will happen when human nature will finally return to that which it was in the garden. There will be no Predator and Prey, in fact, they will lay down together. There will be no emnity, nor reason to fear the beast, the wolf, the leopard, for man will exercise dominion over them— a child will exercise dominion over them.

The nursing child will play over the hole of the cobra, the weaned child shall put his hand on the viper’s babies, and not be bitten! Isaiah is making reference to the very curse of God in Genesis chapter 3. Genesis 3:14–15

[14] The LORD God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,

cursed are you above all livestock

and above all beasts of the field;

on your belly you shall go,

and dust you shall eat

all the days of your life.

[15] I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel.” (ESV)

Do you see what Isaiah was referring to? The enmity between mankind and the serpent will be reversed. The very animal used by Satan to fall mankind will become the playmate of the nursing child, the offspring!

The reason we, normal people, hate snakes, is because of the fall! They won’t give us the heibie-geibies anymore! There will be no reason for fear, for man and beast will be reconciled under the reign of this Promised King, the King of Peace!

There is another reference here that, if you’re paying attention, you may have caught. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Remember that all biblical prophesy has an immediate and future fulfillment? The offspring, or seed in some translations, is that of the promised King. He was promised to us in the 3rd chapter of Genesis. The bruising (or crushing) of the head of the serpent, of Satan and his kingdom, his plan to destroy the world and all the good that God had created, was set in motion when Jesus, our promised King, our King of Peace, was crucified for us. His heal was bruised in the crushing of the serpent. But it was just his heal… he would rise from the dead, and therefore prove his kingship, for all eternity! 

This King draws us in, invites all who would come, into His glorious Kingdom!

His Glorious Kingdom

 [9b]for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

 as the waters cover the sea.

 [10] In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

The people of Israel, both north and south, saw this as a promise to reconcile the people of Israel; and thus recover one strong kingdom from the two waring nations. That stood as a beacon of hope for the people, those most innocent and yet effected by their nations at war.

The promise was much bigger than that. The Promised King was not promised to merely bring peace to Israel, but to the world. Jesus is the King for which World Peace will actually be realized! He is the King of Peace! And this is so, for under His reign, all of our nature, yours and mine, and all of humanity, and all creation, will be truly and finally changed! For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea! And His reign will reach far beyond Israel, for He will stand as a signal and all nations will come to him! 

And his resting place shall be glorious… 

The queen of Sheba fainted at the sight of Solomon’s kingdom. How much more glorious will be the glory of the Root of Jesse, He who existed before Abraham was, He who spoke the world into existence, and upholds the universe by the word of His power. The glory of His kingdom will be marked with true peace, glorious shalom. 

What does this mean for us now, we who live in the 21st century? We live in a time of great unrest, uncertainty, fear, hatred, and violence. It can appear as if the world is spinning out of control. All attempts towards peace are thwarted by selfish ambition. 

Encouragement:

God is sovereign. 

God will bring His Kingdom of Peace.

We pray, Come, Lord Jesus!]]></content:encoded>
					<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Bible Text: Isaiah 11:1-10 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: Advent: King of Heaven | It appears to be tradition in our society that children are asked what they would wish for in the year to come. Children possess an innocence, and a capacity for faith, that, as the years progress, tends to fade in the human soul. We live in an age where the terrors of the world are visible to our children, both in the home, on the street, and at the school. If they don’t see violence there, they can easily find it on the internet, and learn of the war-torn countries where the civilians, especially women and children, suffer as the men go to war. Their resounding request reflects both the innocence of their heart, and the desire that things be as they ought to be. I believe their request represents the innate desire of mankind, knowing what ought to be, though it is not. That request that resounds in the heart and soul of all who recognize the value and dignity life is this: world peace.

World peace accomplished would first mean a relinquishment from war. There would be no more fighting, killing, loss of loved ones. It would also include the removal of enmity between man, ethnicities, and nations. It would mean people working together for the common good of all people, that all would flourish, and none would be under poverty or political oppression. Do I sound like I’m running for [political] office?

The world believes that, if we put forth the right energy, the right political platform, the right rules and regulations, the right diplomatic incentives, The right allies, well written and informed treaties, we can have this world peace! Thousands of years of history have proven that there is nothing new under the sun. We can have a populous who desires peace, but that peace will always be dictated and enforced by in imperfect, make-believe and self-proclaimed king. It will not be true peace. The peace the world desires, and so desperately needs, can only be administered by a perfect King, a true King, anointed by God.

The historical context of the passage: Isaiah prophesied to a divided Israel. All biblical prophesy has an immediate and future fulfillment. This division was not of God, but the result of sin, and a power grab within the people of Israel. Israel had 3 kings under one monarchy (Saul, David, then Solomon), and after Solomon died, the 10 northern tribes rebelled, and forsook the scripture that the scepter was to stay with the tribe of Judah. They wanted a kingdom that looked like the nations, and that is what they received. There was fighting between the kingdoms, and within the kingdom for the throne. This division and unrest culminated in 722 BC, when Syria and the Northern Kingdom of Israel joined forces to invade Judah. As this was about to take place, Isaiah went to Ahaz, king of Judah, and invited him to place his faith in Yahweh, even offering a sign. Ahaz wouldn’t have it, and decided to trust the power of man, and make an alliance with Assyria. Isaiah responded that God would give a sign anyhow, that “the virgin shall be with child, and shall call his name Immanuel” and by the time the child could learn how to refuse evil and choose good, the king of Syria and the king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, would be defeated. They would be defeated by Assyria, who would later be defeated by Babylon and Judah would also be carried off into captivity.

History lesson? Because it gives context to what the people where thinking, and feeling. The house of Israel was divided. Judah had been conquered. It had seemed as if God had failed in His promise, that there would be a king on the throne of David. This would communicate either that God had abandoned his people, or that God was not strong enough to deliver, to save, that the gods of the nations were more powerful. Neither was true. Israel was in the position she was because of disobedience. God had not abandoned his people, but had disciplined them, and was cleansing them. God was not lacking in power, but instead was using the nations to purify his bride, and bring forth His eternal king. Isaiah was pointing to the one King in whom the nation could hope, the one king whom would reunite Israel under one head. So, As Israel would hear the passage we read today, the would hear it under the oppression of Babylon. They would hear this message as a war-torn country, a people who live in fear, under the rule and oppression of a foreign nation, one whom despised them. They would hear these words when it would have seemed that all hope of restoration was lost, that the nation was a felled tree, in the shadow of the cedars of Lebanon.

These are the headings under which we will look at the text:

The Promised King (Root / Shoot; Indwelled by the Spirit, Spirit )

Who is… The True Judge (Not deceived, judgement flows from His character)

Who brings… True And Lasting Peace (Predator and Prey, Nature changed, Seed and Snake - curse reversed)

In A Glorious Kingdom (Source of true wisdom, Reconciles all nations

Isaiah 11:1–10

 [1] There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,

 and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

 [2] And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,

 the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

 the Spirit of counsel and might,

 the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

 [3] And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

 He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

 or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

 [4] but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

 and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

 and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

 and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

 [5] Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

 and faithfulness the belt of his loins. 

 [6] The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,

 and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

 and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;

 and a little child shall lead them.

 [7] The cow and the bear shall graze;

 their young shall lie down together;

 and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

 [8] The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,

 and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.

 [9] They shall not hurt or destroy

 in all my holy mountain;

 for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

 as the waters cover the sea.

 [10] In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. (ESV)

The Promised King (Root / Shoot; Indwelled by the Spirit, Spirit )

Who is… The True Judge (Not deceived, judgement flows from His character)

Who brings… True And Lasting Peace (Predator and Prey, Nature changed, Seed and Snake - curse reversed)

In A Glorious Kingdom (Source of true wisdom, Reconciles all nations

[Pray]The Promised King (Root / Shoot; Indwelled by the Spirit, Spirit )

 [1] There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,

 and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

Isaiah, when he was commissioned by God to be the prophet to the nation, was forwarded that Israel would fall, but God would preserve a remnant. The tree of the monarchy would be felled, but the stump would remain. Look at chapter 6:13. After the tree falls, a stump remains. Then he comments: “The holy seed is its stump.”

Fast forward to chapter 9, and Isaiah informs us about this stump. The stump he spoke of is the line of the kings of Judah. The stump is Jesse, the first God-appointed king of Israel (Saul was chosen by the people). Jesse’s son, the only one who could be Jesse’s son, was David. Isaiah foretold that there would be a king who arose from the line of David, but also would come as another David, one after God’s own heart. This would be a God-appointed King who would reign and rule in glory, under the Spirit of God, the blessings of God, and the peace of God. 

Furthermore, this Promised King arises not from the stump, but from the root! Don’t be confused - the shoot from the stump and the branch from the roots are the same branch. The stump is representative of the genealogy of the kings of Judah. Isaiah was stating that the King that will proceed from the stump of Jesse, yet has its origins in the root, which pre-existed Jesse. This is the King from of old. This branch which springs forth and produced fruit is the coming forth of the holy seed.

A shoot from a stump is not a promising site. It’s still fragile, easily clipped or chopped down. The image by itself is just a glimmer of hope, easily crushed. However, Isaiah says this shoot will bear fruit. It will come to maturity. It will spread out its branches and provide food and safety for all who will find shade under it. There is a certainty about it. This certainty is brought about by God. This is a God-appointed King, who is indwelled by God. Read with me:

 [2] And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,

 the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

 the Spirit of counsel and might,

 the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

 [3] And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

Whereas other kings may have had seasons where God’s presence was with them, this King enjoys constant communion with God, and the Spirit rests upon him. The word from which we read rests, has the idea of dwelling, remaining, and unmovable. This King, whom they’ve longed for, will have the Spirit of God, which will not be moved.

This passage laid out the seven-fold characteristics of the Spirit which this King possessed: Spirit of the LORD, Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord.

The Promised King and the Spirit of the LORD (Yahweh).

The promised King pre-existed Jesse, and was himself the holy seed. This promised King was and is none other than God himself. He possessed the Spirit of the Lord, for He was and is the Lord. And he possesses within himself all the attributes of the Spirit of God. These are attributes other kings of Judah possessed in part, but this King possesses in full.

Wisdom: the application of knowledge. Solomon was known for his wisdom, so much that Queen Sheba lost her breath when she grasped the depth of his understanding. The wisdom of this King surpassed that of Solomon. The promised King is a better King. 

Understanding: To know how things work. Understanding increases strength. It enables one to make proper decisions that effect the future.

Counsel: strategy. Specifically in a military context, strategy was important for the safety of the nation.

Might: power. A king of might has the ability to put down their foes and protect the weak. This is divine power, which no man can combat.

Knowledge: divine knowing that is hidden from the eyes of men. To have the Spirit of Knowledge is to know the things only God can know.

Fear of the Lord: We know the fear of the Lord to be the beginning of wisdom. It is the fear of the Lord that guards our way, keeps us from falling. This King will forever be steadfast as our perfect King, for he has the Spirit of the fear of the Lord, and he delights in it! He delights in the ways of the Lord, His precepts, His rule! He has a heart after God, like David, only this King is greater than David.

Both David and Solomon fell. They were imperfect kings. They were merely human. This promised King was and is divine. Think of the promise this was to the people of Israel, who were scattered, oppressed, under the rule of other nations. This promised King, His dominion will reign forever and bring peace…

For He alone is the One Who is… The True Judge

 [3b] He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

 or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

 [4] but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

 and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

 and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

 and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

 [5] Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

 and faithfulness the belt of his loins. 

This judge is not deceived!

Have you ever been accused, or even found guilty, of doing something you did not do? All the signs point to your guilt, and yet you were not the perpetrator? This has happened to me, twice that I can think of. 

This judge has divine knowledge. He doesn’t judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes based on biassed testimony, what his ears hear. He makes judgements that are righteous because He knows all truth! And he decides not according to politics or power or prestige, but with equity he decides for the meek of the earth. Do you know how good that is? God is not a respecter of persons. There is nothing you or I can give to God that he doesn’t already possess! There is no one person more important that the other, or that can bring more value to the Kingdom of God.

I’ve heard it said by well-meaning Christians: “Man, such and such is wealthy, and if we could lead that person to Jesus, think of the influence, the resources, God would gain!” 

Dear friends, God is not in need of your green paper. The heart of the king is water in his hands; he sets up kingdoms and tears them down; he is not in need of what we might have or bring. This is good news, because His judgement isn’t swayed by what we own or possess, but he has perfect knowledge and makes perfect judgements for all who are on the earth.

Furthermore, He will administer justice! And His justice will be perfect!

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

 and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

The image of striking the earth with the rod of His mouth, some commentators say is the preaching of the gospel. The gospel is this: All mankind have rebelled against their Creator, their true King, and are therefore treasonous outlaws, deserving of a traitor’s death.

[4] But God… being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—[6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:4–10

The rod of his mouth is the gospel, and the rule is this: if you would open your eyes, and see the goodness and kindness of God, and come, repent of your sin, you will be saved and live in peace that only He can provide. 

But if you will not, if you refuse the goodness of God, if you refuse the glory, power, might, love, kindness, and authority of His rule, you will perish, for with his breath he shall kill the wicked. There is nothing more wicked to God than refusing His Son, the embodiment of His love for us rebellious sinners.

And His judgement is perferct, for His judgement flows from His character. 

That is the meaning of the personification of righteousness as the belt, and faithfulness as his loins in verse 5. These attributes are so close to the person of God that they are like his closest and most secure garments.

This is why it is only this Promised King …Who brings… True And Lasting Peace

Look at verse 6 - 9 with me:

 [6] The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,

 and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

 and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;

 and a little child shall lead them.

 [7] The cow and the bear shall graze;

 their young shall lie down together;

 and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

 [8] The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,

 and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.

 [9] They shall not hurt or destroy

 in all my holy mountain;

 for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

 as the waters cover the sea.

Do you see the pattern of life under His reign? The very pattern of life has changed, and will continue to be changed into this pattern. True and lasting peace will happen when human nature will finally return to that which it was in the garden. There will be no Predator and Prey, in fact, they will lay down together. There will be no emnity, nor reason to fear the beast, the wolf, the leopard, for man will exercise dominion over them— a child will exercise dominion over them.

The nursing child will play over the hole of the cobra, the weaned child shall put his hand on the viper’s babies, and not be bitten! Isaiah is making reference to the very curse of God in Genesis chapter 3. Genesis 3:14–15

[14] The LORD God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,

cursed are you above all livestock

and above all beasts of the field;

on your belly you shall go,

and dust you shall eat

all the days of your life.

[15] I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel.” (ESV)

Do you see what Isaiah was referring to? The enmity between mankind and the serpent will be reversed. The very animal used by Satan to fall mankind will become the playmate of the nursing child, the offspring!

The reason we, normal people, hate snakes, is because of the fall! They won’t give us the heibie-geibies anymore! There will be no reason for fear, for man and beast will be reconciled under the reign of this Promised King, the King of Peace!

There is another reference here that, if you’re paying attention, you may have caught. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Remember that all biblical prophesy has an immediate and future fulfillment? The offspring, or seed in some translations, is that of the promised King. He was promised to us in the 3rd chapter of Genesis. The bruising (or crushing) of the head of the serpent, of Satan and his kingdom, his plan to destroy the world and all the good that God had created, was set in motion when Jesus, our promised King, our King of Peace, was crucified for us. His heal was bruised in the crushing of the serpent. But it was just his heal… he would rise from the dead, and therefore prove his kingship, for all eternity! 

This King draws us in, invites all who would come, into His glorious Kingdom!

His Glorious Kingdom

 [9b]for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

 as the waters cover the sea.

 [10] In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

The people of Israel, both north and south, saw this as a promise to reconcile the people of Israel; and thus recover one strong kingdom from the two waring nations. That stood as a beacon of hope for the people, those most innocent and yet effected by their nations at war.

The promise was much bigger than that. The Promised King was not promised to merely bring peace to Israel, but to the world. Jesus is the King for which World Peace will actually be realized! He is the King of Peace! And this is so, for under His reign, all of our nature, yours and mine, and all of humanity, and all creation, will be truly and finally changed! For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea! And His reign will reach far beyond Israel, for He will stand as a signal and all nations will come to him! 

And his resting place shall be glorious… 

The queen of Sheba fainted at the sight of Solomon’s kingdom. How much more glorious will be the glory of the Root of Jesse, He who existed before Abraham was, He who spoke the world into existence, and upholds the universe by the word of His power. The glory of His kingdom will be marked with true peace, glorious shalom. 

What does this mean for us now, we who live in the 21st century? We live in a time of great unrest, uncertainty, fear, hatred, and violence. It can appear as if the world is spinning out of control. All attempts towards peace are thwarted by selfish ambition. 

Encouragement:

God is sovereign. 

God will bring His Kingdom of Peace.

We pray, Come, Lord Jesus!]]></itunes:summary>

					<itunes:author>Bobby Gaither</itunes:author>
					<itunes:subtitle>Bible Text: Isaiah 11:1-10 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: Advent: King of Heaven | It appears to be tradition in our society that children are asked what they would wish for in the year to come. Children possess an innocence, and a capacity for faith,...</itunes:subtitle>
					
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					<itunes:duration>48:34</itunes:duration>
					
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					<title>The King of Joy</title>
					<link>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/the-king-of-joy</link>
											<comments>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/the-king-of-joy#respond</comments>
					
					<pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2018 21:48:26 +0000</pubDate>
					<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
					
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					<description><![CDATA[Bible Text: Luke 1:39-56 | Speaker: Cris Comp | Series: Advent: King of Heaven]]></description>
					<content:encoded><![CDATA[Bible Text: Luke 1:39-56 | Speaker: Cris Comp | Series: Advent: King of Heaven]]></content:encoded>
					<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Bible Text: Luke 1:39-56 | Speaker: Cris Comp | Series: Advent: King of Heaven]]></itunes:summary>

					<itunes:author></itunes:author>
					<itunes:subtitle>Bible Text: Luke 1:39-56 | Speaker: Cris Comp | Series: Advent: King of Heaven</itunes:subtitle>
					
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					<itunes:duration>32:28</itunes:duration>
					
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					<title>The King of Hope</title>
					<link>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/the-king-of-hope</link>
											<comments>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/the-king-of-hope#respond</comments>
					
					<pubDate>Sun, 09 Dec 2018 20:46:04 +0000</pubDate>
					<dc:creator><![CDATA[Bobby Gaither]]></dc:creator>
					
					<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hopefellowship.life/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&#038;p=588</guid>
					<description><![CDATA[Bible Text: Isaiah 9:1-7 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: Advent: King of Heaven]]></description>
					<content:encoded><![CDATA[Bible Text: Isaiah 9:1-7 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: Advent: King of Heaven]]></content:encoded>
					<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Bible Text: Isaiah 9:1-7 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: Advent: King of Heaven]]></itunes:summary>

					<itunes:author>Bobby Gaither</itunes:author>
					<itunes:subtitle>Bible Text: Isaiah 9:1-7 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: Advent: King of Heaven</itunes:subtitle>
					
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					<itunes:duration>43:17</itunes:duration>
					
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					<title>The King of Love</title>
					<link>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/the-king-of-love</link>
											<comments>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/the-king-of-love#respond</comments>
					
					<pubDate>Sun, 02 Dec 2018 21:35:19 +0000</pubDate>
					<dc:creator><![CDATA[Bobby Gaither]]></dc:creator>
					
					<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hopefellowship.life/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&#038;p=576</guid>
					<description><![CDATA[Bible Text: Deut 7:6-12 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: Advent: King of Heaven | It was the winter of my 8th grade year. We were heading into tournament season, and the coaches decided to combined the AAU A-team and B-team for a practice and scrimmage. I loved the game of basketball. It was the game I most enjoyed to play, and I was on the B-team. When it came to basketball, I was always on the B-team. I seemed to lack whatever was needed to jump to the next level. It didn’t stop me from longing to play with the upper level guys, but by 8th grade, the idea that I was short, both in physical stature and in skill, had set in.

The coaches had decided to have a competition within the teams. They picked two captains, the coach’s sons of the A team. This was a natural choice, as those were the two most skilled and developed players. We lined up. The captains flipped a coin to see who would pick first, and I sunk into the crowd of boys, expecting it to be while before I heard my name called. It’s the greatest fear of any athlete, or any person, to be picked last, to be the left over, the unwanted. My defense mechanisms kicked in. I started adjusting my expectations. I looked around, and began to calculate at what point my name may or may not be called.

Within seconds, I was deep calculations, and it was then I heard my friend call my name, “Gaither.” He was one of the coach’s son, a captain. Not realizing what had just happened, I responded, “What?” I was calculating my 8th-grade AAU fantasy basketball draft in my head. He responded, “What do you mean, ‘what?’ I pick you!” My face went flush. I calculated myself 9th at best, maybe closer the 12th, or the 14th pick. I respond— “Me? Why?”  The team chuckled. Ryan responded, “Because your the fastest one on the court and this drill requires speed!”

Friends, I know I wasn’t the best player in the draft, or the fastest person on the court; but that night felt like I was! My legs moved faster than they ever had. I flew like a jet during the rest of that practice! But I must be honest: The truth of the matter wasn’t that I was fast. I wasn’t chosen because I added to Ryan’s team. There were 8 more A-team players to choose from, not to mention the other guys on the B-team, who could be chosen ahead of me. The truth of the matter was that my friend chose me because he loved me. It was 8th grade guy-love, but none-the-less, love. It shocked me, honored me, and I’ve never forgotten it. I didn’t earn it, I didn’t deserve it, but it changed the way I played that night. 

Today we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent. We celebrate advent with the following themes: Love, Hope, Joy, Peace, and Christ. In the Season of Advent, we look back to the promises of God in Scripture, which have been fulfilled in His Son, and in looking back we are reminded of His faithfulness to His promises as we look forward to His coming, the King’s return, when He who was, and is, will finally come and reign on the earth. 

So, we begin by looking back. Our passage today is in Deuteronomy chapter 7. Deuteronomy is the last book of the Pentateuch, the books of Moses. Moses was the mediator between Yahweh— God, and the people of Israel. He was a prophet, and had spoke on God’s behalf to the people. He led them out of Egypt, brought the 10 commandments down from the mountain, and met with God on behalf of the people. At this point in scripture, 39 years and 11 months of wandering in the desert had passed. They were about to enter the Promised Land. Moses could not enter the land because of former disobedience. So, before they entered without him, Moses gave them what we could see as his last words. It was a reminder of the covenant they had made with Yahweh. You may recall from world history, the term Suzerainty Treaty. A Suzerainty Treaty between two unequal parties. It would be like one who is Lord, making a covenant with a vassal. The security of the treaty was dependent upon the faithfulness of the more powerful party. This is essentially what we see in Deuteronomy.

Would you stand and read with me.

Deuteronomy 7:6–11

[6] “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. [7] It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, [8] but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. [9] Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, [10] and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face. [11] You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today. (ESV)

[pray] 

We are going to look at the passage under the following headings:

Chosen to be treasured, Love is the why, The Demands of Love, Obedience born of Love, The King of Love

First, we were…

Chosen to be Treasured

Look at verse 6 with me: [6] “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth…

The word we translate as treasured carries a specific connotation to it. It has the sense of being carefully preserved, and privately possessed. It’s not shared with others, but alone is to be enjoyed by the one who possesses it. It is exclusive to the one who possesses it. It is precious, and to be kept as such. Men and women, this use of the word would aptly apply to our marriage relationship. There are things we only share with our spouse; them, and no one else. There are thoughts, dreams, affections, that belong to them alone. This is why we make a covenant in marriage; its intimacy demands that only the closest of persons should have, see, and know this relationship. 

Moses had told the people of Israel that they were a treasured possession, to belong exclusively to the God of Gods. This is further iterated in the phrase, “you are a people holy to the Lord your God.” Holy, or set apart, consecrated, for a singular purpose or entity. And that entity was, and is, the LORD!

Do you notice the capital letters of the word LORD? When you see the name LORD in all capitals, you should think, Tetragrammaton. No, this is not the name of the original transformer, this is the term for the distinct personal name of God. It is sacred. It is so sacred, Hebrew people will not pronounce it, but simply say, “the name…”

Here, we read that the people of Israel are the personal possession of YHWH, the LORD. God had called the people of Israel to an exclusive, personal relationship with himself, and He used His personal name. He called them to know Him—personally, and to be known by Him. 

The people of Israel were chosen to be treasured by God. They were chosen, them and only them, out from all the peoples on the face of the earth.

Why? Why them? Love is the why

Why can be the most offensive of questions, and it can also provide the most powerful of answers. Within why is the purpose for which one exists. You and I both have our why, our purpose. It is while living in our why that we are most alive, and our soul sings with the heavens. Listen to the given why of God’s choosing Israel:

[7] It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, [8] but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

It was not because they were great in number. What would a great number of people indicate? Power, for they would have a mighty army. It was not because they had land and possessions, for they had been slaves for the past 400 years, in a foreign land! Friends, without land, and without people, you wont beat your 10 year old son at the game of Risk! Land and people are a necessity! The people of Israel were the last logical choice for the Fantasy Draft of Nations! 

Furthermore, Verse 7 tells us that “the LORD set His Love on them.” The rendering “set His love” expresses the idea to cling, or to want strongly. This is a loving response to a desire. The same term is used to describe romantic love between man and wife, and it is also used between close friends, as in the case of David and Jonathon. 

So, why?

Verse 8 tells us: “It was because the LORD loves you…” Love is the why. It was the primary reason for His choosing. This is consistent with the character and nature of God. 1 John 4:8, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Galatians 5:22, “The fruit of the Spirit is love.” And His love is genuine- Romans 12:9. And His love is steadfast: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lam 3:22-23).

His love is rooted in His character! This is good for us, friends! Because if it were rooted in my performance, God would be a hot mess trying to figure out what to do with me! My spiritual fantasy draft position is low, fluctuates little, and rarely — if ever, does it improve. 

Here, we see God, in covenant relationship with His people Israel, because He loves them, which is rooted in His character. 

Furthermore, that love is secure. This is a steadfast love because it is rooted in His character, and because he keeps His covenant. Verse 8, “becayse the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers…”

In Genesis, God promised land, people, and blessing to Abraham (12, 13, 15, 17, 26, 28…). That is the reason He brought the people of Israel out of slavery, out of Egypt. He redeemed them with His mighty hand out from Egypt, the largest and most powerful empire that existed at that time, and over Pharaoh, the most powerful king who was worshiped as, and called himself, a god.

So, the LORD took the least of nations, and rescued them from the most powerful of nations, and called them His treasured possession, because he loved them. He didn’t leave them in the desert, but he made a covenant with this people. Friends, there are demands of love. There would be no security in intimacy if there were not. When my wife and I made a covenant to be married, we pledged to love and care for each other, we pledged our affections, our finance, our bodies, to each other, and no one else. Those were the demands of love. There is no true relationship, no true knowing each other, unless there are demands of love. 

What were…

The Demands of Love

It’s baffling that the first demand is to know… and not only to know, but to know something about God, the one with whom Israel was making a covenant.

[9] Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations…

The people of Israel are called to know that this personal God, YHWH, whom is their God, is the ultimate sovereign God. There is no one higher. There is none more powerful. There is none who can sway or move him. If there is no one higher, then there is no one who can coerce him, change him, move him. This is the God who loves you! 

Furthermore, He is faithful! He is not going to renege on his promise! This is not a bate and switch! This promise is based on divine love, not human love. It’s born out of His character, not your worthiness. And his promise is to keep the covenant to a thousand generations. Moses wasn’t exacting a number of generations, but expressing a faithfulness that was never ending. The first demand of love is to know and believe God, and to trust in his love, his power, his faithfulness to His promises.

Because He is God of Gods, LORD of all the earth, the second demand of love is to know He exacts judgement against all who hate him. 

[10] and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face. 

The holy, perfect, God of the universe is deserving of love from all that he has created. This is only just. Truly, we have nothing by which we can compare this to, for we could never sit in the place of God, nor could we deem ourself worthy of the honor, love, and respect He deserves. The closest situation we can imagine would be a good king, who hired poor and wayward beggars, brought them into his house, fed and clothed them, and the beggars rebelled. Instead of gratefulness, they were spiteful. Instead of loving, they were hateful towards the king of the house. 

We were made in the image of God. We are His children. We have been given the earth to have and enjoy, to nurture, to eat from, to steward, and in large part, humanity has rejected its King. They have ignored the owner, and ransacked the house. They were given love, and have returned with insult.

The King of Love will also be just. There are proper demands to the Love of God. And, there is a proper response. Obedience is the proper response. It’s only right… it’s only fair… it’s only just, for a beggar, like you and I, who were loved and brought into His Kingdom. It’s only natural to obey His rules. It’s only fitting to honor Him in His house.

This is

Obedience born of Love

Love is the basis for the choosing of God. Love is also the basis for which commands of God are upheld. That is what we’ve established in our passage thus far. Then we read:

[11] You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today. (ESV)

Now, Moses had already reiterated the 10 Commandments. Then, just before this chapter, he gives additional instruction, and sums up the commandments in chapter 6. The first commandment given should be the most logical, the easiest to keep. Furthermore, it is the basis of keeping all other commands. Turn back to chapter 6:1 “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules— that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you…

4:The first commandment: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

His love for the people of Israel gave birth in the true believer, the Israelite who understood their lowly position, and the great love that caused their God to choose them, a love for Yahweh, the personal God of Israel, the God of Gods. This was a love that motivated and empowered them to keep the statutes of God. I want you to see the grace and mercy of God, friends, that was wrapped up in the sacrificial system. The LORD knew His people could not keep the covenant perfectly. If one party breaks the covenant, the covenant is broken! The other party does not have to make good on their promise. But God provided mercy and forgiveness through sacrifice, which externally sanctified the people until the Ultimate Sacrifice would come. In love, He made provision in the covenant for those whom he knew would break the covenant. 

Remember, the genesis, the source of His covenant love, is His character, not ours! But the blood of bulls and goats and sheep could not atone for the sin the people of Israel had committed against the holy King of Kings. In order for this grievous sin to be atoned for, a sacrifice of the same value, dignity, and worth, had to be made. Friends, we are in the same position. The payment for our sin must be equal to the value, dignity, and worth of the one we’ve sinned against. In order for you and I to be God’s treasured possession, to be given life, God had to send His Son, whom He loved, to redeem a fallen people.

Who would do that? Which one of us would die for people who turned against us, whom we brought in our house and yet they spurned our love, ignored the rules of our house, and in spite, broke our belongings. Only one person. Only one King.

The King of Love

At Advent, we look back in order to look forward. God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. We see his loving character in the book of Deuteronomy, and then now we see His loving character in the book of John. Would you turn with me to John 15:9–17.

Jesus, the only Mediator between man and God, shortly before he went to the cross to die, had these words for His disciples:

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

He continued in John 15:

[9] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. [10] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. [11] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

[12] “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

How has he loved us?

[13] Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

He is the King of Love! The disciples surely were not the projected fantasy draft of the day either! And yet, he tells them no one has greater love for you than me. He is the King of Love. He laid His life down for his friends, because He loved. Love is the Why.  Friends, it’s only fitting that we love in return. Jesus statement to his disciples is a litmus test of our love for God: to know Him, and love as He loved. 

This is why Advent is celebrated among the Church. We celebrate the birth of Jesus because He came and proved the Love of the LORD for the church, His people. We celebrate His first advent, but we look to the Day the King of Love will reign on the earth. We look to the day when all evil and hatred will be removed from the earth. We look to the Day our faith will be sight. We look to the Day we, the Bride of Christ, will be with the groom, our King. We look to the day we will fully be in the arms of the Lord, as His treasured possession.

Come, Lord Jesus. Come, King of Love.]]></description>
					<content:encoded><![CDATA[Bible Text: Deut 7:6-12 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: Advent: King of Heaven | It was the winter of my 8th grade year. We were heading into tournament season, and the coaches decided to combined the AAU A-team and B-team for a practice and scrimmage. I loved the game of basketball. It was the game I most enjoyed to play, and I was on the B-team. When it came to basketball, I was always on the B-team. I seemed to lack whatever was needed to jump to the next level. It didn’t stop me from longing to play with the upper level guys, but by 8th grade, the idea that I was short, both in physical stature and in skill, had set in.

The coaches had decided to have a competition within the teams. They picked two captains, the coach’s sons of the A team. This was a natural choice, as those were the two most skilled and developed players. We lined up. The captains flipped a coin to see who would pick first, and I sunk into the crowd of boys, expecting it to be while before I heard my name called. It’s the greatest fear of any athlete, or any person, to be picked last, to be the left over, the unwanted. My defense mechanisms kicked in. I started adjusting my expectations. I looked around, and began to calculate at what point my name may or may not be called.

Within seconds, I was deep calculations, and it was then I heard my friend call my name, “Gaither.” He was one of the coach’s son, a captain. Not realizing what had just happened, I responded, “What?” I was calculating my 8th-grade AAU fantasy basketball draft in my head. He responded, “What do you mean, ‘what?’ I pick you!” My face went flush. I calculated myself 9th at best, maybe closer the 12th, or the 14th pick. I respond— “Me? Why?”  The team chuckled. Ryan responded, “Because your the fastest one on the court and this drill requires speed!”

Friends, I know I wasn’t the best player in the draft, or the fastest person on the court; but that night felt like I was! My legs moved faster than they ever had. I flew like a jet during the rest of that practice! But I must be honest: The truth of the matter wasn’t that I was fast. I wasn’t chosen because I added to Ryan’s team. There were 8 more A-team players to choose from, not to mention the other guys on the B-team, who could be chosen ahead of me. The truth of the matter was that my friend chose me because he loved me. It was 8th grade guy-love, but none-the-less, love. It shocked me, honored me, and I’ve never forgotten it. I didn’t earn it, I didn’t deserve it, but it changed the way I played that night. 

Today we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent. We celebrate advent with the following themes: Love, Hope, Joy, Peace, and Christ. In the Season of Advent, we look back to the promises of God in Scripture, which have been fulfilled in His Son, and in looking back we are reminded of His faithfulness to His promises as we look forward to His coming, the King’s return, when He who was, and is, will finally come and reign on the earth. 

So, we begin by looking back. Our passage today is in Deuteronomy chapter 7. Deuteronomy is the last book of the Pentateuch, the books of Moses. Moses was the mediator between Yahweh— God, and the people of Israel. He was a prophet, and had spoke on God’s behalf to the people. He led them out of Egypt, brought the 10 commandments down from the mountain, and met with God on behalf of the people. At this point in scripture, 39 years and 11 months of wandering in the desert had passed. They were about to enter the Promised Land. Moses could not enter the land because of former disobedience. So, before they entered without him, Moses gave them what we could see as his last words. It was a reminder of the covenant they had made with Yahweh. You may recall from world history, the term Suzerainty Treaty. A Suzerainty Treaty between two unequal parties. It would be like one who is Lord, making a covenant with a vassal. The security of the treaty was dependent upon the faithfulness of the more powerful party. This is essentially what we see in Deuteronomy.

Would you stand and read with me.

Deuteronomy 7:6–11

[6] “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. [7] It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, [8] but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. [9] Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, [10] and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face. [11] You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today. (ESV)

[pray] 

We are going to look at the passage under the following headings:

Chosen to be treasured, Love is the why, The Demands of Love, Obedience born of Love, The King of Love

First, we were…

Chosen to be Treasured

Look at verse 6 with me: [6] “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth…

The word we translate as treasured carries a specific connotation to it. It has the sense of being carefully preserved, and privately possessed. It’s not shared with others, but alone is to be enjoyed by the one who possesses it. It is exclusive to the one who possesses it. It is precious, and to be kept as such. Men and women, this use of the word would aptly apply to our marriage relationship. There are things we only share with our spouse; them, and no one else. There are thoughts, dreams, affections, that belong to them alone. This is why we make a covenant in marriage; its intimacy demands that only the closest of persons should have, see, and know this relationship. 

Moses had told the people of Israel that they were a treasured possession, to belong exclusively to the God of Gods. This is further iterated in the phrase, “you are a people holy to the Lord your God.” Holy, or set apart, consecrated, for a singular purpose or entity. And that entity was, and is, the LORD!

Do you notice the capital letters of the word LORD? When you see the name LORD in all capitals, you should think, Tetragrammaton. No, this is not the name of the original transformer, this is the term for the distinct personal name of God. It is sacred. It is so sacred, Hebrew people will not pronounce it, but simply say, “the name…”

Here, we read that the people of Israel are the personal possession of YHWH, the LORD. God had called the people of Israel to an exclusive, personal relationship with himself, and He used His personal name. He called them to know Him—personally, and to be known by Him. 

The people of Israel were chosen to be treasured by God. They were chosen, them and only them, out from all the peoples on the face of the earth.

Why? Why them? Love is the why

Why can be the most offensive of questions, and it can also provide the most powerful of answers. Within why is the purpose for which one exists. You and I both have our why, our purpose. It is while living in our why that we are most alive, and our soul sings with the heavens. Listen to the given why of God’s choosing Israel:

[7] It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, [8] but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

It was not because they were great in number. What would a great number of people indicate? Power, for they would have a mighty army. It was not because they had land and possessions, for they had been slaves for the past 400 years, in a foreign land! Friends, without land, and without people, you wont beat your 10 year old son at the game of Risk! Land and people are a necessity! The people of Israel were the last logical choice for the Fantasy Draft of Nations! 

Furthermore, Verse 7 tells us that “the LORD set His Love on them.” The rendering “set His love” expresses the idea to cling, or to want strongly. This is a loving response to a desire. The same term is used to describe romantic love between man and wife, and it is also used between close friends, as in the case of David and Jonathon. 

So, why?

Verse 8 tells us: “It was because the LORD loves you…” Love is the why. It was the primary reason for His choosing. This is consistent with the character and nature of God. 1 John 4:8, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Galatians 5:22, “The fruit of the Spirit is love.” And His love is genuine- Romans 12:9. And His love is steadfast: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lam 3:22-23).

His love is rooted in His character! This is good for us, friends! Because if it were rooted in my performance, God would be a hot mess trying to figure out what to do with me! My spiritual fantasy draft position is low, fluctuates little, and rarely — if ever, does it improve. 

Here, we see God, in covenant relationship with His people Israel, because He loves them, which is rooted in His character. 

Furthermore, that love is secure. This is a steadfast love because it is rooted in His character, and because he keeps His covenant. Verse 8, “becayse the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers…”

In Genesis, God promised land, people, and blessing to Abraham (12, 13, 15, 17, 26, 28…). That is the reason He brought the people of Israel out of slavery, out of Egypt. He redeemed them with His mighty hand out from Egypt, the largest and most powerful empire that existed at that time, and over Pharaoh, the most powerful king who was worshiped as, and called himself, a god.

So, the LORD took the least of nations, and rescued them from the most powerful of nations, and called them His treasured possession, because he loved them. He didn’t leave them in the desert, but he made a covenant with this people. Friends, there are demands of love. There would be no security in intimacy if there were not. When my wife and I made a covenant to be married, we pledged to love and care for each other, we pledged our affections, our finance, our bodies, to each other, and no one else. Those were the demands of love. There is no true relationship, no true knowing each other, unless there are demands of love. 

What were…

The Demands of Love

It’s baffling that the first demand is to know… and not only to know, but to know something about God, the one with whom Israel was making a covenant.

[9] Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations…

The people of Israel are called to know that this personal God, YHWH, whom is their God, is the ultimate sovereign God. There is no one higher. There is none more powerful. There is none who can sway or move him. If there is no one higher, then there is no one who can coerce him, change him, move him. This is the God who loves you! 

Furthermore, He is faithful! He is not going to renege on his promise! This is not a bate and switch! This promise is based on divine love, not human love. It’s born out of His character, not your worthiness. And his promise is to keep the covenant to a thousand generations. Moses wasn’t exacting a number of generations, but expressing a faithfulness that was never ending. The first demand of love is to know and believe God, and to trust in his love, his power, his faithfulness to His promises.

Because He is God of Gods, LORD of all the earth, the second demand of love is to know He exacts judgement against all who hate him. 

[10] and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face. 

The holy, perfect, God of the universe is deserving of love from all that he has created. This is only just. Truly, we have nothing by which we can compare this to, for we could never sit in the place of God, nor could we deem ourself worthy of the honor, love, and respect He deserves. The closest situation we can imagine would be a good king, who hired poor and wayward beggars, brought them into his house, fed and clothed them, and the beggars rebelled. Instead of gratefulness, they were spiteful. Instead of loving, they were hateful towards the king of the house. 

We were made in the image of God. We are His children. We have been given the earth to have and enjoy, to nurture, to eat from, to steward, and in large part, humanity has rejected its King. They have ignored the owner, and ransacked the house. They were given love, and have returned with insult.

The King of Love will also be just. There are proper demands to the Love of God. And, there is a proper response. Obedience is the proper response. It’s only right… it’s only fair… it’s only just, for a beggar, like you and I, who were loved and brought into His Kingdom. It’s only natural to obey His rules. It’s only fitting to honor Him in His house.

This is

Obedience born of Love

Love is the basis for the choosing of God. Love is also the basis for which commands of God are upheld. That is what we’ve established in our passage thus far. Then we read:

[11] You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today. (ESV)

Now, Moses had already reiterated the 10 Commandments. Then, just before this chapter, he gives additional instruction, and sums up the commandments in chapter 6. The first commandment given should be the most logical, the easiest to keep. Furthermore, it is the basis of keeping all other commands. Turn back to chapter 6:1 “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules— that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you…

4:The first commandment: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

His love for the people of Israel gave birth in the true believer, the Israelite who understood their lowly position, and the great love that caused their God to choose them, a love for Yahweh, the personal God of Israel, the God of Gods. This was a love that motivated and empowered them to keep the statutes of God. I want you to see the grace and mercy of God, friends, that was wrapped up in the sacrificial system. The LORD knew His people could not keep the covenant perfectly. If one party breaks the covenant, the covenant is broken! The other party does not have to make good on their promise. But God provided mercy and forgiveness through sacrifice, which externally sanctified the people until the Ultimate Sacrifice would come. In love, He made provision in the covenant for those whom he knew would break the covenant. 

Remember, the genesis, the source of His covenant love, is His character, not ours! But the blood of bulls and goats and sheep could not atone for the sin the people of Israel had committed against the holy King of Kings. In order for this grievous sin to be atoned for, a sacrifice of the same value, dignity, and worth, had to be made. Friends, we are in the same position. The payment for our sin must be equal to the value, dignity, and worth of the one we’ve sinned against. In order for you and I to be God’s treasured possession, to be given life, God had to send His Son, whom He loved, to redeem a fallen people.

Who would do that? Which one of us would die for people who turned against us, whom we brought in our house and yet they spurned our love, ignored the rules of our house, and in spite, broke our belongings. Only one person. Only one King.

The King of Love

At Advent, we look back in order to look forward. God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. We see his loving character in the book of Deuteronomy, and then now we see His loving character in the book of John. Would you turn with me to John 15:9–17.

Jesus, the only Mediator between man and God, shortly before he went to the cross to die, had these words for His disciples:

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

He continued in John 15:

[9] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. [10] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. [11] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

[12] “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

How has he loved us?

[13] Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

He is the King of Love! The disciples surely were not the projected fantasy draft of the day either! And yet, he tells them no one has greater love for you than me. He is the King of Love. He laid His life down for his friends, because He loved. Love is the Why.  Friends, it’s only fitting that we love in return. Jesus statement to his disciples is a litmus test of our love for God: to know Him, and love as He loved. 

This is why Advent is celebrated among the Church. We celebrate the birth of Jesus because He came and proved the Love of the LORD for the church, His people. We celebrate His first advent, but we look to the Day the King of Love will reign on the earth. We look to the day when all evil and hatred will be removed from the earth. We look to the Day our faith will be sight. We look to the Day we, the Bride of Christ, will be with the groom, our King. We look to the day we will fully be in the arms of the Lord, as His treasured possession.

Come, Lord Jesus. Come, King of Love.]]></content:encoded>
					<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Bible Text: Deut 7:6-12 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: Advent: King of Heaven | It was the winter of my 8th grade year. We were heading into tournament season, and the coaches decided to combined the AAU A-team and B-team for a practice and scrimmage. I loved the game of basketball. It was the game I most enjoyed to play, and I was on the B-team. When it came to basketball, I was always on the B-team. I seemed to lack whatever was needed to jump to the next level. It didn’t stop me from longing to play with the upper level guys, but by 8th grade, the idea that I was short, both in physical stature and in skill, had set in.

The coaches had decided to have a competition within the teams. They picked two captains, the coach’s sons of the A team. This was a natural choice, as those were the two most skilled and developed players. We lined up. The captains flipped a coin to see who would pick first, and I sunk into the crowd of boys, expecting it to be while before I heard my name called. It’s the greatest fear of any athlete, or any person, to be picked last, to be the left over, the unwanted. My defense mechanisms kicked in. I started adjusting my expectations. I looked around, and began to calculate at what point my name may or may not be called.

Within seconds, I was deep calculations, and it was then I heard my friend call my name, “Gaither.” He was one of the coach’s son, a captain. Not realizing what had just happened, I responded, “What?” I was calculating my 8th-grade AAU fantasy basketball draft in my head. He responded, “What do you mean, ‘what?’ I pick you!” My face went flush. I calculated myself 9th at best, maybe closer the 12th, or the 14th pick. I respond— “Me? Why?”  The team chuckled. Ryan responded, “Because your the fastest one on the court and this drill requires speed!”

Friends, I know I wasn’t the best player in the draft, or the fastest person on the court; but that night felt like I was! My legs moved faster than they ever had. I flew like a jet during the rest of that practice! But I must be honest: The truth of the matter wasn’t that I was fast. I wasn’t chosen because I added to Ryan’s team. There were 8 more A-team players to choose from, not to mention the other guys on the B-team, who could be chosen ahead of me. The truth of the matter was that my friend chose me because he loved me. It was 8th grade guy-love, but none-the-less, love. It shocked me, honored me, and I’ve never forgotten it. I didn’t earn it, I didn’t deserve it, but it changed the way I played that night. 

Today we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent. We celebrate advent with the following themes: Love, Hope, Joy, Peace, and Christ. In the Season of Advent, we look back to the promises of God in Scripture, which have been fulfilled in His Son, and in looking back we are reminded of His faithfulness to His promises as we look forward to His coming, the King’s return, when He who was, and is, will finally come and reign on the earth. 

So, we begin by looking back. Our passage today is in Deuteronomy chapter 7. Deuteronomy is the last book of the Pentateuch, the books of Moses. Moses was the mediator between Yahweh— God, and the people of Israel. He was a prophet, and had spoke on God’s behalf to the people. He led them out of Egypt, brought the 10 commandments down from the mountain, and met with God on behalf of the people. At this point in scripture, 39 years and 11 months of wandering in the desert had passed. They were about to enter the Promised Land. Moses could not enter the land because of former disobedience. So, before they entered without him, Moses gave them what we could see as his last words. It was a reminder of the covenant they had made with Yahweh. You may recall from world history, the term Suzerainty Treaty. A Suzerainty Treaty between two unequal parties. It would be like one who is Lord, making a covenant with a vassal. The security of the treaty was dependent upon the faithfulness of the more powerful party. This is essentially what we see in Deuteronomy.

Would you stand and read with me.

Deuteronomy 7:6–11

[6] “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. [7] It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, [8] but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. [9] Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, [10] and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face. [11] You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today. (ESV)

[pray] 

We are going to look at the passage under the following headings:

Chosen to be treasured, Love is the why, The Demands of Love, Obedience born of Love, The King of Love

First, we were…

Chosen to be Treasured

Look at verse 6 with me: [6] “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth…

The word we translate as treasured carries a specific connotation to it. It has the sense of being carefully preserved, and privately possessed. It’s not shared with others, but alone is to be enjoyed by the one who possesses it. It is exclusive to the one who possesses it. It is precious, and to be kept as such. Men and women, this use of the word would aptly apply to our marriage relationship. There are things we only share with our spouse; them, and no one else. There are thoughts, dreams, affections, that belong to them alone. This is why we make a covenant in marriage; its intimacy demands that only the closest of persons should have, see, and know this relationship. 

Moses had told the people of Israel that they were a treasured possession, to belong exclusively to the God of Gods. This is further iterated in the phrase, “you are a people holy to the Lord your God.” Holy, or set apart, consecrated, for a singular purpose or entity. And that entity was, and is, the LORD!

Do you notice the capital letters of the word LORD? When you see the name LORD in all capitals, you should think, Tetragrammaton. No, this is not the name of the original transformer, this is the term for the distinct personal name of God. It is sacred. It is so sacred, Hebrew people will not pronounce it, but simply say, “the name…”

Here, we read that the people of Israel are the personal possession of YHWH, the LORD. God had called the people of Israel to an exclusive, personal relationship with himself, and He used His personal name. He called them to know Him—personally, and to be known by Him. 

The people of Israel were chosen to be treasured by God. They were chosen, them and only them, out from all the peoples on the face of the earth.

Why? Why them? Love is the why

Why can be the most offensive of questions, and it can also provide the most powerful of answers. Within why is the purpose for which one exists. You and I both have our why, our purpose. It is while living in our why that we are most alive, and our soul sings with the heavens. Listen to the given why of God’s choosing Israel:

[7] It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, [8] but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

It was not because they were great in number. What would a great number of people indicate? Power, for they would have a mighty army. It was not because they had land and possessions, for they had been slaves for the past 400 years, in a foreign land! Friends, without land, and without people, you wont beat your 10 year old son at the game of Risk! Land and people are a necessity! The people of Israel were the last logical choice for the Fantasy Draft of Nations! 

Furthermore, Verse 7 tells us that “the LORD set His Love on them.” The rendering “set His love” expresses the idea to cling, or to want strongly. This is a loving response to a desire. The same term is used to describe romantic love between man and wife, and it is also used between close friends, as in the case of David and Jonathon. 

So, why?

Verse 8 tells us: “It was because the LORD loves you…” Love is the why. It was the primary reason for His choosing. This is consistent with the character and nature of God. 1 John 4:8, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Galatians 5:22, “The fruit of the Spirit is love.” And His love is genuine- Romans 12:9. And His love is steadfast: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lam 3:22-23).

His love is rooted in His character! This is good for us, friends! Because if it were rooted in my performance, God would be a hot mess trying to figure out what to do with me! My spiritual fantasy draft position is low, fluctuates little, and rarely — if ever, does it improve. 

Here, we see God, in covenant relationship with His people Israel, because He loves them, which is rooted in His character. 

Furthermore, that love is secure. This is a steadfast love because it is rooted in His character, and because he keeps His covenant. Verse 8, “becayse the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers…”

In Genesis, God promised land, people, and blessing to Abraham (12, 13, 15, 17, 26, 28…). That is the reason He brought the people of Israel out of slavery, out of Egypt. He redeemed them with His mighty hand out from Egypt, the largest and most powerful empire that existed at that time, and over Pharaoh, the most powerful king who was worshiped as, and called himself, a god.

So, the LORD took the least of nations, and rescued them from the most powerful of nations, and called them His treasured possession, because he loved them. He didn’t leave them in the desert, but he made a covenant with this people. Friends, there are demands of love. There would be no security in intimacy if there were not. When my wife and I made a covenant to be married, we pledged to love and care for each other, we pledged our affections, our finance, our bodies, to each other, and no one else. Those were the demands of love. There is no true relationship, no true knowing each other, unless there are demands of love. 

What were…

The Demands of Love

It’s baffling that the first demand is to know… and not only to know, but to know something about God, the one with whom Israel was making a covenant.

[9] Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations…

The people of Israel are called to know that this personal God, YHWH, whom is their God, is the ultimate sovereign God. There is no one higher. There is none more powerful. There is none who can sway or move him. If there is no one higher, then there is no one who can coerce him, change him, move him. This is the God who loves you! 

Furthermore, He is faithful! He is not going to renege on his promise! This is not a bate and switch! This promise is based on divine love, not human love. It’s born out of His character, not your worthiness. And his promise is to keep the covenant to a thousand generations. Moses wasn’t exacting a number of generations, but expressing a faithfulness that was never ending. The first demand of love is to know and believe God, and to trust in his love, his power, his faithfulness to His promises.

Because He is God of Gods, LORD of all the earth, the second demand of love is to know He exacts judgement against all who hate him. 

[10] and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face. 

The holy, perfect, God of the universe is deserving of love from all that he has created. This is only just. Truly, we have nothing by which we can compare this to, for we could never sit in the place of God, nor could we deem ourself worthy of the honor, love, and respect He deserves. The closest situation we can imagine would be a good king, who hired poor and wayward beggars, brought them into his house, fed and clothed them, and the beggars rebelled. Instead of gratefulness, they were spiteful. Instead of loving, they were hateful towards the king of the house. 

We were made in the image of God. We are His children. We have been given the earth to have and enjoy, to nurture, to eat from, to steward, and in large part, humanity has rejected its King. They have ignored the owner, and ransacked the house. They were given love, and have returned with insult.

The King of Love will also be just. There are proper demands to the Love of God. And, there is a proper response. Obedience is the proper response. It’s only right… it’s only fair… it’s only just, for a beggar, like you and I, who were loved and brought into His Kingdom. It’s only natural to obey His rules. It’s only fitting to honor Him in His house.

This is

Obedience born of Love

Love is the basis for the choosing of God. Love is also the basis for which commands of God are upheld. That is what we’ve established in our passage thus far. Then we read:

[11] You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today. (ESV)

Now, Moses had already reiterated the 10 Commandments. Then, just before this chapter, he gives additional instruction, and sums up the commandments in chapter 6. The first commandment given should be the most logical, the easiest to keep. Furthermore, it is the basis of keeping all other commands. Turn back to chapter 6:1 “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules— that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you…

4:The first commandment: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

His love for the people of Israel gave birth in the true believer, the Israelite who understood their lowly position, and the great love that caused their God to choose them, a love for Yahweh, the personal God of Israel, the God of Gods. This was a love that motivated and empowered them to keep the statutes of God. I want you to see the grace and mercy of God, friends, that was wrapped up in the sacrificial system. The LORD knew His people could not keep the covenant perfectly. If one party breaks the covenant, the covenant is broken! The other party does not have to make good on their promise. But God provided mercy and forgiveness through sacrifice, which externally sanctified the people until the Ultimate Sacrifice would come. In love, He made provision in the covenant for those whom he knew would break the covenant. 

Remember, the genesis, the source of His covenant love, is His character, not ours! But the blood of bulls and goats and sheep could not atone for the sin the people of Israel had committed against the holy King of Kings. In order for this grievous sin to be atoned for, a sacrifice of the same value, dignity, and worth, had to be made. Friends, we are in the same position. The payment for our sin must be equal to the value, dignity, and worth of the one we’ve sinned against. In order for you and I to be God’s treasured possession, to be given life, God had to send His Son, whom He loved, to redeem a fallen people.

Who would do that? Which one of us would die for people who turned against us, whom we brought in our house and yet they spurned our love, ignored the rules of our house, and in spite, broke our belongings. Only one person. Only one King.

The King of Love

At Advent, we look back in order to look forward. God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. We see his loving character in the book of Deuteronomy, and then now we see His loving character in the book of John. Would you turn with me to John 15:9–17.

Jesus, the only Mediator between man and God, shortly before he went to the cross to die, had these words for His disciples:

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

He continued in John 15:

[9] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. [10] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. [11] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

[12] “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

How has he loved us?

[13] Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

He is the King of Love! The disciples surely were not the projected fantasy draft of the day either! And yet, he tells them no one has greater love for you than me. He is the King of Love. He laid His life down for his friends, because He loved. Love is the Why.  Friends, it’s only fitting that we love in return. Jesus statement to his disciples is a litmus test of our love for God: to know Him, and love as He loved. 

This is why Advent is celebrated among the Church. We celebrate the birth of Jesus because He came and proved the Love of the LORD for the church, His people. We celebrate His first advent, but we look to the Day the King of Love will reign on the earth. We look to the day when all evil and hatred will be removed from the earth. We look to the Day our faith will be sight. We look to the Day we, the Bride of Christ, will be with the groom, our King. We look to the day we will fully be in the arms of the Lord, as His treasured possession.

Come, Lord Jesus. Come, King of Love.]]></itunes:summary>

					<itunes:author>Bobby Gaither</itunes:author>
					<itunes:subtitle>Bible Text: Deut 7:6-12 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: Advent: King of Heaven | It was the winter of my 8th grade year. We were heading into tournament season, and the coaches decided to combined the AAU A-team and B-team for a practice and scrimmage....</itunes:subtitle>
					
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