WEBVTT 00:00:00.880 --> 00:00:03.600 Well, you learn a lot of lessons from dad. 00:00:03.919 --> 00:00:06.959 My old man, dudes, as we used to call him, here's a picture of him and I. 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:08.480 I used to be really cute back in the day. 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:09.599 I don't know what happened. 00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:13.759 He left me with an awful lot of wisdom. 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:18.960 A couple things that came to mind this week as I was thinking about it is things he left me. 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:20.800 Don't spend more than you make. 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:22.719 Put others' needs above your own. 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:24.079 Work hard. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:27.280 Memories are probably more important gifts than stuff. 00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:29.120 Never speak unkindly to your wife. 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:32.560 And most important, don't you dare cook a steak above medium rare. 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:34.000 And the church said, Amen. 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:34.560 Amen. 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:35.600 Hallelujah. 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:41.679 The lesson that I might have taken the heart the most from old dudes is the importance of last words. 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:47.679 I realized at a young age that my dad said, love you, every single time him and I parted ways. 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:51.759 And that could have been for dropping me off at baseball, youth group, wherever it might have been. 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:55.840 We might have been leaving each other for 15 minutes and without fail every single time. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:58.640 Those were the two words I heard him say last. 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:00.320 And most of the time it was really sweet. 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:06.319 When I was 14 and trying to be cool, it was probably a little annoying, but in all of it, I found that it was notable. 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:11.599 And so I finally asked him, I said, Hey Dad, why do you always say love you when you say goodbye to somebody? 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:12.480 To me especially. 00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:13.680 And he said, I'll never forget it. 00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:17.200 He said, You never know when it's the last time you're gonna see somebody. 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:22.879 And so I want everyone I love to know and be convinced that I love them. 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:25.040 Last words have power. 00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:29.040 And you know what the deepest thing I continually remember about him is? 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:30.480 Is that he loves me. 00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:35.040 Some movies have gotten the hang of last words really well, like Casablanca's Louis. 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:37.439 I think this is the beginning of a really beautiful friendship. 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:39.040 Or Back to the Future, I love this one. 00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:42.079 Rhodes, we're going, we don't need Rhodes. 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:44.879 Or E.T., I'll be right here. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:57.840 The last words stick with you, and this morning we see our guy, Moses, again, the end of Leviticus, where Moses, still on Mount Sinai, is giving the people of God the last words of this book. 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:11.360 We've been studying this book, Leviticus, for the last six months or so, and as we've been talking about and seeing week in and week out, is the big issue of Leviticus is this a holy God and an unholy people, so how can they dwell together? 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:24.159 This book, the book that often kills Bible reading plans, uh, has shown us the answer is this a lot of rules, a lot of commandments, a lot of sacrifice, and above all, an awful lot of grace. 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:25.280 That's what we've seen. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:30.479 So we pick up here in Leviticus 26, pick up in verses 3 through 10 with me. 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:31.919 It's a bit of a read. 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:44.240 God says this if you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. 00:02:44.479 --> 00:03:02.639 Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing, and you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land securely, and I will give you peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid, and I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land. 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:06.000 You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:12.159 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:16.719 I will turn to you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and confirm my covenant with you. 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:21.599 You shall eat old store, long kept, and you shall clear out the old to make way for the new. 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:27.280 So, point number one is this Israel's covenant faithfulness leads to God's superabundant blessing. 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:32.240 Israel's covenant faithfulness leads to God's superabundant blessing. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:36.479 So the section that we just read begins with a big important word, if. 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:40.800 Israel, if you obey, it's gonna go really well. 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:48.319 And then the thing is, in this passage, all the verbs are plural, so it's it's not about an individual Israelite's personal obedience in their relationship with the Lord. 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:51.520 It's primarily about the entirety of the nation's obedience. 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:55.520 Almost every time you see the word you in this passage, it could be more like Georgian, it could be y'all. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:59.039 Alright, so this is a very Georgian passage from Moses here. 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:03.120 And every blessing here gets better and better and better. 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:08.400 It begins with rains in their season, like that well-timed rain we finally got Wednesday afternoon for my grass. 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:08.960 I love that. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:14.400 But God will send rains at the right time of year so that the harvest will grow to be the most plentiful. 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:17.120 Israel, you're gonna eat your food in plenty. 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:23.360 And not only that, hey, you're gonna have peace in the land because an awful lot of food, but without security, is not very helpful. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:26.160 And so God goes deeper in the promise of blessing. 00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:30.319 Not only will you have a lot of food, you're gonna be protected. 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:32.240 You're gonna have peace in the land. 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:35.040 You'll be able to sleep at night not having a care in the world. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:36.560 Wouldn't that be great? 00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:38.560 You'll have nothing to be afraid of. 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:42.959 And then God goes further, I will remove all the beasts from the field. 00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:46.160 And there's gonna be no one attacking you by the sword. 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:53.600 So God's promising here, hey, Israelites, if you just obey this word, you're gonna have more food than you know what to do with. 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:58.639 You're gonna have nobody attacking you, you'll have peace in the land and from all harm. 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:03.040 And you know what a lot of food and a lot of security creates for a people? 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:05.920 A rapidly growing and multiplying people. 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:08.319 What was God's promise to Abram all those years earlier? 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:09.920 Pick up in Genesis 12 with me. 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:19.360 Verse 2, he says this, and I will make of you, this is Moses still talking, and I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:26.399 So this promise of blessing here in Leviticus 26 would have brought all the Israelites back to this famous story they heard about Father Abraham. 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:30.480 Hey, remember when God showed up to Abram and said he's gonna make us a great nation? 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:36.399 When they heard Leviticus 26, their eyes would have been brought right back to this moment when God made this promise. 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:40.079 The Israelites obey, they would see the covenant to Abram fulfilled. 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:43.279 A great nation in the land promised, with abundance and peace. 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:45.759 But God's promise gets better. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:47.439 Pick up in verse 11 with me. 00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:51.040 And if you highlight or mark in your Bible, this is a really good spot to do that. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:56.000 I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor or hate you. 00:05:56.240 --> 00:06:00.079 And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:07.920 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should walk not be their slaves, and I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk wreck. 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:13.839 So, point number two is this the treasure of God's blessing is God's indwelling presence. 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:22.399 So God says, Hey, Israel, if you just obey my word, I will shower you with food, with abundance, with plenty. 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:29.439 You're gonna have more than you know what to do with, but not only that, you're gonna have peace, and then not only that, I will be there. 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:36.160 Which means you're gonna have full access to me, unhindered, the author of giver and giver of life and all things good. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:37.600 And this is the ultimate goal. 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:42.079 This is what the covenant is all about is the people of God with God. 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:53.759 Grace and I have two little nephews and two nieces, and every year for Christmas, we give them each a little gift, and part of the gift is like a truck or Legos or something, and then the other part of the gift is we get a sleepover with them. 00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:58.079 Um, and the most important part of the sleepover, and if you have siblings, you can say amen to this. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:02.480 Your siblings aren't invited, just you and aunt and uncle, Sam and Grace. 00:07:02.720 --> 00:07:08.879 And each time we have them come with any five things in the whole world that they want to do, whatever five things, and then they pick the restaurant. 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:12.399 All of them picked La Puria, by the way, which I think is hilarious. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:15.759 Hey, pick any five things you want to do. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:17.839 No questions asked, we'll do it. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:18.959 They could say anything. 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:20.720 And by our rules, we have to do it. 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:23.199 We make the rules, and they would have we would have to do it. 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:28.800 So if they said, hey, Sam and Grace, we want to go to Houston's and get a fillet, medium rare, uh, say, okay, I gotta do it. 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:34.560 But when the world was set before them, this little three, five, seven-year-old, they could do anything they wanted. 00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:35.920 You know what each of them said? 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:38.720 They each said what any little kid would say. 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:47.519 They want to do their favorite things, they want to color, they want to build Legos, they want to play catch, and they want to make friendship bracelets. 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:53.759 The things they always do, day in and day out, they just want Uncle Sam and Aunt Grace right there with them. 00:07:53.920 --> 00:07:57.920 There's a couple pictures uh from our sleepovers that I'm gonna show y'all, so that's one that's why. 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:11.600 That's a couple moments that we had with them because the the biggest thing that they got from this Christmas present was not a thing, it was our uninterrupted, undistracted, and fully focused presence with them. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:13.839 And that's the greatest gift to a little kid. 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:15.920 To be with somebody that you love. 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:26.000 The ultimate treasure to this messy and broken and beat-up people in Israel is the uninterrupted, unchanging, and loving presence of the God who called them to himself. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:37.360 The English translation of verse 11 says, I will make my dwelling among you, but a better translation would be, I will make my tabernacle among you, and to the people of God who only saw the priests go into the holy place in the tabernacle. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:38.559 This would have been the best news. 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:45.600 Hey, Israel, my full, uninterrupted presence, the holiest place, is right here with you. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:53.200 In the Gospel of John, about 1500 years after these events in Leviticus, John writes something very similar to Leviticus 26. 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:55.440 Look at this in John 1 with me. 00:08:55.679 --> 00:09:02.720 And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:09.679 John bore witness about him and cried out, This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me. 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:13.840 For from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:18.399 For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth come through Jesus Christ. 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:23.919 No one has ever seen God, the only God who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:42.480 So we see John explaining Jesus, the word of God, the self-declaration of God, and John says that he, Jesus, dwelt among us, and a better translation again could be He tabernacled among us, which means that Jesus is even more clearly fulfilling the law in this way, the blessing of Leviticus 26. 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:49.200 About 30 years later, this same apostle John sees a picture of what heaven is going to be like. 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:52.480 And he writes this look at this in Revelation 21 with me. 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:59.679 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:02.559 Which would have been really good news, because that means there's no more chaos. 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:08.960 Verse 2, and I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:09.840 And look at this. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:19.919 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:21.519 Think you're picking up with me. 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:28.320 Whenever it says dwelling place here, it's talking about God saying, I will be their tabernacle with them. 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:33.360 He will tabernacle with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:38.399 The presence of God with his people is the ultimate promise of the gospel. 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:44.080 And King David would say in Psalm 16 that in God's presence is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:47.200 That's not the way we think about the presence of God often. 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:51.600 And that's because he is the most compassionate and merciful being there is. 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:54.480 And compassion fuels good faith. 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:58.799 Ultimately, getting to the point of God's presence is the treasure of the covenant. 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:00.080 That's the treasure. 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:07.919 And then he closes his covenant promise of blessing with a self-declaration and a reminder to this people hey, here's how far you've come. 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:15.519 He says, I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves, and I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk upright. 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:18.559 So, Israelites, stand with your heads held high. 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:27.039 I have set you free, I have removed the chains that once held you captive off of your shoulders, and above all the treasure, I am with you. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:28.399 So, hey, keep your chin up. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:29.759 It's going to be okay. 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:38.480 The promise of the gospel is the full, unhindered, compassionate presence of God available to you in your mess today. 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:46.080 I love how we say in the confessional prayer so we go to the Lord in confession, not needing to grovel in guilt, and what that means is we know we're sinners. 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:48.639 We know that we messed up this week and this morning. 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:51.279 We're not as put together as we'd like to be. 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:55.039 But the gospel promises that we don't have to beat ourselves up. 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:58.639 That, oh, if only I feel guilty enough, then I can return to God. 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:01.679 I'll justify myself before him, and then he'll accept me. 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:05.840 We're actually freed in Jesus to go exactly in our mess as we are. 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:13.360 And then Moses in Leviticus 26, he makes a bit of a turn here, shifting into the discipline for Israel's disobedience. 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:14.639 And again, all of it's plural. 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:17.200 So whenever you see you, think y'all. 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:18.960 Read 14-15 with me. 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:29.360 But if you will not listen to me, will not do all these commandments, if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors or hates my rules, so that you will not do my commandments but break my covenant. 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:34.000 So God here shifts from blessing to cursing or discipline. 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:36.559 And the root of this cursing, the discipline is right here. 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:44.159 If you don't do my commandments, if you don't listen, then he fleshes it out a little bit with one of the most important phrases in the section that kind of helps us make sense of it. 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:49.039 If your soul hates my rules, if your soul hates my rules. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:59.279 So the ultimate issue here is not of outward moral conformity, the issue here is the hearts of the Israelites, whether or not they really love the word that God gives to them. 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:03.200 And is that not exactly what happened to Eve in the garden? 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:13.840 All those years before God makes Adam and Eve in their image, makes them beautiful in his image, and he gives them this big, beautiful garden with all sorts of trees to eat. 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:15.600 All of it is available to them. 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:16.480 Eat whatever you want. 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:23.279 But hey, there is this one tree, and it's right in the middle of the garden, and you just can't eat from that one, but every other tree you can eat from. 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:29.279 It's interesting that he puts it in the middle of the garden because that might mean that Adam and Eve had to walk by it every single day. 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:30.720 Notice it. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:33.919 But even as they walked by it, they weren't lacking. 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:40.080 They were safe to know that the outside of the garden was all available to them. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:43.279 All of the trees would have been really good looking to eat from. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:44.960 But hey, just there's this one right here in the middle. 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:46.159 You just can't have that one. 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:51.200 And then that agent serpent Satan, he shows up as he always does, and he shows up to Eve. 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:53.440 Adam is notably nowhere in sight. 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:57.840 And he asks the question that he likes to ask everyone Did God actually say? 00:13:58.399 --> 00:13:59.840 Did God actually say? 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:03.039 This serpent's question is getting to this point. 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:05.600 Hey, Eve, you know what you really want. 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:08.559 You, you, Eve, you know the path to true life. 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:10.320 Not God, he's just trying to limit you. 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:13.360 You know that if you eat from that tree, it's gonna make all your dreams come true. 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:14.799 You'll be like God even. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:18.000 God is just trying to keep you from being happy. 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:20.879 He's trying to keep you from joy. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:24.480 He's not a God of fullness of joy and pleasures forever. 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:27.519 This is exactly what's happening in Leviticus 26. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:30.159 There's something better, Israelites, maybe. 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:31.600 God says it even clearly. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:36.080 If your soul hates my rules, if you hate my word, you will not do my commandments. 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:40.720 Begins with the condition of the heart, and here's what Derek Tidball on this writes. 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:44.159 He says, Moses had continually spoken the words of God. 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:51.600 The children of Israel were distinguished from other nations, and that they had received the oracles or word of God and had covenanted to live by them. 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:55.919 To be the people of God meant that they were people of the Word of God. 00:14:56.159 --> 00:15:01.360 Their refusal to listen was the fundamental error from which all other difficulties flowed. 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:06.320 So, point number three, all sin is rooted in unbelief that God's word is good. 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:10.080 All sin is rooted in unbelief that God's word is good. 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:17.120 So God then, from this, gives five curses that will come upon the people of Israel if they continue on in disobedience. 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:23.360 And remember, all their disobedience is not ultimately about moral conformity, it's way more about whether or not they're gonna love God's word. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:29.039 And even after each curse, God gives a moment to return. 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:33.759 He begins each curse with, hey, even still you can come back. 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:37.279 Even if you won't listen, you can still come back. 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:45.279 And in the midst of this discipline, God's entire goal is not just to punish his people, his goal is to rekindle their love for his word. 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:47.919 And trust that his ways are good. 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:49.919 And then that would produce obedience. 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:51.519 It's having the safe base there. 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:55.120 Hebrews 12, 6 says that God disciplines those he loves. 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:58.879 It's actually out of his protective love and grace that he is disciplining them. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:02.240 It would be far worse for God to just let them go altogether. 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:05.360 If you have a kid, you're not gonna let him just run into traffic. 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:06.879 You're gonna go grab them. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:12.320 Each of these five curses gets worse as they go, much like how the blessings got better and better. 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:17.360 They begin with the broken covenant, and then in succession, these curses undo the blessings that were just given. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:22.960 The curses begin with droughts and with poor harvests, which would have undid the promise of rains and food. 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:28.559 Curses continue on with wild animals and war, a lack of peace undoing the promise of peace. 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:36.000 And the final curse would have been the worst news ever: full devastation and the removal of God's presence. 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:39.600 This is the opposite of the blessing and covenant of Abraham. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:42.960 The people would be scattered, they would be rummaged through. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:50.000 Even the symbols of God's presence would have been removed, like the tabernacle, the incense altars, the sanctuaries. 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:52.639 They were they would be no longer. 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:58.320 This is a very covenantal structure in this day, a very typical covenantal structure, which is here's the promise. 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:00.240 If you follow the promise, it's gonna go good. 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:02.960 If you don't follow the promise, it's not gonna go so well. 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:08.000 And with all of God's words of warnings, they always end on promise. 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:09.599 They never end on judgment. 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:11.680 Pick up in verse 40 with me. 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:23.119 Writes this but if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers and their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me, so that I walked contrary to them, and brought them into the land of their enemies. 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:35.359 If then their uncircumcised heart is humbled, and they make amends for their iniquity, then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:38.079 And this remembrance isn't as if God forgot it. 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:40.720 This remembrance is it's it's coming back. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:46.640 So, point number four with this in mind is this lavish grace is always available to those who seek it. 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:49.599 Lavish grace is always available to those who seek it. 00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:53.359 And as is the story of the Bible, mercy triumphs. 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:59.920 No matter how far Israel might wander, which turns out to be pretty far, God will never forsake his covenant. 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:06.240 God's final word is always a word of promise, always a word of grace and hope. 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:08.640 The word of discipline is real, though. 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:12.640 The consequences are real for Israel for their sin. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:15.119 But no one can outs in the grace of God. 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.880 His hand is way too long. 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:22.000 These words of judgment and sin, they can feel very Old Testament, if we're honest. 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:28.160 But we need to remember that Jesus in the New Testament spoke with intensity as well, even in his own churches in Revelation 2 and 3. 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:30.799 These churches that he loved deeply. 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:36.079 He spoke with pretty real words of warning to them, and in all of it is because he loves them. 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:41.039 Chapter 26 here feels like a great way for the book of Leviticus to end, doesn't it? 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:49.440 It wraps up the covenant, a word of forgiveness to broken people, a word of God's extravagant and lavish grace to sinners, even if they fail. 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:51.119 But strangely, it doesn't end here. 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:54.799 It ends with one more chapter, which on the surface feels very out of place. 00:18:55.039 --> 00:19:01.119 Leviticus 27, the next chapter, gives us a return back to the beginning of the book, a full circle back. 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:07.200 In the beginning of Leviticus, we see these three voluntary offerings, not required but voluntary, that the people of God could do. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:09.599 The burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the peace offerings. 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:13.920 And then here at the end, we see a return to these voluntary offerings. 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:25.279 Because chapter 27 is about God's people expressing their love and devotion back to them, back to Him, freely and fully, beyond the call of duty, because lovers delight in giving gifts. 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:29.119 Because lavish love and grace lead to lavish response. 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:31.279 That's what chapter 27 is all about. 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:45.119 This chapter gives very detailed instructions on hey, if you decide out of your own overflow of love for God that you want to dedicate property, uh, land, uh, a child or a spouse to dedication to God's ministry, here's the right way to do it. 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:47.440 Here's the most helpful way to do it. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:53.279 Leviticus 27 is about a superabundant response to a superabundant grace. 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:56.799 Well, that's the story of Leviticus 27. 00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:59.759 Chapter 26 leaves Israel with a choice. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:03.519 Hey, if you obey, if you follow God's word, it's gonna go well. 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:06.720 And if you don't, things aren't gonna go so great. 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:11.599 The bad news, if you know your Bible, is that the Israelites didn't do it. 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:16.160 They did not follow the covenantal conditions set forth in chapter 26. 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:21.119 They fell short again and again into their own misery. 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:31.759 The temple would ultimately be destroyed, they would be attacked by the sword and fall, they would see the presence of God fall away a bit, and they would find themselves stubborn and hopeless. 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:38.480 And the rest of the Old Testament is story after story of what happened to Israel as they didn't fulfill this covenant. 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:41.440 I want to close with a story from the Gospels. 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:46.640 That's one of my favorite stories because it shows that the gospel is a little messier than we'd like to admit. 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:52.160 But it's also a story that shows what happens to someone when they've received lavish grace. 00:20:53.039 --> 00:21:00.480 Jesus, he's he's hanging out with this Pharisee and they're at the dinner table together and having a meal, and it turns out this Pharisee is he's pretty proud of himself. 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:05.759 He's a really big fan of his own self-righteousness, not a very big fan of grace and mercy. 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:16.079 And then this woman shows up, and Luke uses a very particular word to describe this woman, one word, a sinner, which is just exactly who Jesus wanted to be with. 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:20.720 And she shows up and she bows at his feet, and the text says that she's weeping. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:24.319 And this isn't just like a single tear down the cheek when you're watching a sad movie. 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:28.319 This is like on your face, wailing, is the kind of word used here. 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:29.279 Maybe you've been there. 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:35.279 And as she's weeping, she starts pouring out this really expensive ointment onto his feet, and she's kissing his feet. 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:40.960 She's probably just overjoyed that this prophet or son of God, whoever he might be, loves her. 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:43.839 Because nobody else has ever figured out how to yet. 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:46.960 And this Pharisee, his name is Simon, he's pretty smug. 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:57.039 He even just kind of says to himself, kind of whispers to himself Hey, if this man were a prophet, he'd know exactly what kind of woman this is, a sinner, unlike me. 00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:59.759 And then Jesus responds in a parable, which is something. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.799 He did a lot. 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:03.200 Let's read Luke 7, 41 through 50 together. 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.880 So this is Jesus talking. 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:11.039 A certain moneylender had two debtors, one owed 500 denera days' wage, and the other fifty. 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:14.000 And when they could not pay, he canceled the debt of both. 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.759 Now which of them will love him more? 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:20.799 And Simon, this Pharisee, he answered, the one I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt. 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:23.039 And Jesus said to him, You have judged rightly. 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:26.160 And then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, Do you see this woman? 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:32.960 I entered your house and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:37.519 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:40.880 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:46.160 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:48.880 But he who is forgiven little loves little. 00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:51.039 And he said to her, Your sins are forgiven. 00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:57.119 And then those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, Who is this who even forgives sins? 00:22:57.279 --> 00:23:01.200 And he said to the woman, Your faith has saved you, go in peace. 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:12.720 To the surprise of the religious leaders sitting at this table with our boy Simon, this woman, the sinner, she's the one who is saved. 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:16.880 She's the one who's told by Jesus of Nazareth to go in peace. 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:21.599 She had received lavish grace from this new man who she just met. 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:27.039 Leviticus closes with a picture of a people enamored with God's grace. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:33.440 Just like this woman who can't believe that God would forgive and love someone like her. 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:40.240 The last words of Leviticus here's the open door to forgiveness and life, if you would just believe. 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:45.440 Hey, Israel, I know you didn't obey, but my forgiveness is lavish. 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:47.839 And Israel bore the curse for their disobedience. 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:48.720 They did. 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:51.039 They did not follow the covenant, and they bore the curse. 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:56.720 But what the good news of the gospel is is that you and I broke the curse, and yet Jesus took it upon himself. 00:23:57.279 --> 00:24:02.400 Jesus took upon separation from his Father so that you and I wouldn't have to. 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:07.440 If you're not a Christian here this morning, I just want you to know that you can never outsend the grace of Jesus. 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:10.000 His covenant is way too strong. 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:11.839 You can never be too far gone. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:15.039 Your doubts could never be too deep. 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:19.119 To believe in this God who accepts you, I would invite you to do that. 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:24.720 Even right now, as you're in your mess, to just simply place your faith in him. 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:28.480 The gospel shows us that Jesus actually died for the messy people. 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:32.720 Not to put together religious people, but the messy people who know that they are. 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:40.799 I would invite you now to have your sin placed upon him and his righteousness placed upon you, given to you freely. 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:56.559 If you are a Christian this morning, my invitation to you is the same invitation we give week in and week out to collapse even in your mess once again into your Savior, to see him as your treasure, because you are fully covered, fully, freely, and forever forgiven. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:01.200 And therefore you have a safe home base with this God of lavish grace. 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:01.920 Amen. 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:03.200 Let's pray. 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:05.599 Lord, thank you for this morning. 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.640 Thank you for your word. 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:14.079 This tricky book, Leviticus, Lord, has shown us that you are a God of lavish grace. 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:30.720 As we've seen that the center of the book of Leviticus is a moment of cosmic forgiveness of the day of atonement, would we, as we see the center of our stories, as Jesus atoning for us, fall even more into this lavish grace in his name. 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:36.079 Lord, as we come to you this morning, we are each a mess in our own ways. 00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:44.240 And Lord, I pray that we would find an empathetic, a compassionate, and a welcoming Savior even this morning. 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:45.759 Pray this all in Jesus' name. 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:46.160 Amen.