Allen: Well, welcome back to the SCC Saver Podcast. As always, I'm one of your co-hosts, Alan, Pastoral Apprentice at Sanibel Community Church, and I get to do this with a good friend of mine, Bobby Kunkel. Bobby Kunkel. Associate Pastor at Sanibel Community Church. Sorry to all those avid listeners who are looking for Pastor Jeremy.

Bobby: Well, welcome back to the SCC Saver Podcast. As always, I'm one of your co-hosts, Alan, Pastoral Apprentice at Sanibel Community Church, and I get to do this with a good friend of mine, Bobby Kunkel. Bobby Kunkel. Associate Pastor at Sanibel Community Church. Sorry to all those avid listeners who are looking for Pastor Jeremy.

Allen: He is out roaming the Great Plains of South Dakota. Yes. Is he riding a motorcycle or no? He's riding a Buffalo. Buffalo Buffalo. Yep. that's dude. Have you ever been out there before? Yeah. I lived in Nebraska. you did live in Nebraska. Is it fun? What's it like out there? Where in Nebraska? Like just like that portion of the country. I'm from Ohio, but that portion of the country I just have no concept for.

Bobby: He is out roaming the Great Plains of South Dakota. Yes. Is he riding a motorcycle or no? He's riding a Buffalo. Buffalo Buffalo. Yep. that's dude. Have you ever been out there before? Yeah. I lived in Nebraska. you did live in Nebraska. Is it fun? What's it like out there? Where in Nebraska? Like just like that portion of the country. I'm from Ohio, but that portion of the country I just have no concept for.

Allen: Like Nebraska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota. When I lived in Minneapolis, most people referred to Omaha, which is a million people, you know, so it's a city. Like this is for real. Like they have buildings. They and they referred to it as I've driven through there. So that's how valuable it is. What are they known for? What do they do? Like crops Nebraskans have beef. yeah. Corn, soybeans, and the corn huskers. They do have the corn huskers. That's

Bobby: Like Nebraska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota. When I lived in Minneapolis, most people referred to Omaha, which is a million people, you know, so it's a city. Like this is for real. Like they have buildings. They and they referred to it as I've driven through there. So that's how valuable it is. What are they known for? What do they do? Like crops Nebraskans have beef. yeah. Corn, soybeans, and the corn huskers. They do have the corn huskers. That's

Allen: Encompasses most of Nebraska. Yeah. Yep. How many people go to Nebraska? The university? Yeah, the university. I don't know. Tens of thousands. I don't know. I know that the stadium has the longest sellout record. I think it's forty or fifty years of sellouts. No way. Yeah. That's unbelievable. But that goes to show you there's nothing different. That's telling. Exactly. Yeah. But go watch some college football. That's right. So are you a corn outside fan or no? I think I know this. I am not. You don't care about sports.

Bobby: Encompasses most of Nebraska. Yeah. Yep. How many people go to Nebraska? The university? Yeah, the university. I don't know. Tens of thousands. I don't know. I know that the stadium has the longest sellout record. I think it's forty or fifty years of sellouts. No way. Yeah. That's unbelievable. But that goes to show you there's nothing different. That's telling. Exactly. Yeah. But go watch some college football. That's right. So are you a corn outside fan or no? I think I know this. I am not. You don't care about sports.

Allen: I care when I'm playing because I'm highly competitive. Yeah, you are. But like you wouldn't turn a game on. I I would if my father in law's around or my son really wants to go see a game, like we'll go to Buffalo Wild Wings or something. But yeah, I don't know. I I always wonder if it's seeing everyone else in my family go nuts about it growing up that I just didn't care. But I kind of went the arts, you know, and philosophy thinking route.

Bobby: I care when I'm playing because I'm highly competitive. Yeah, you are. But like you wouldn't turn a game on. I I would if my father in law's around or my son really wants to go see a game, like we'll go to Buffalo Wild Wings or something. But yeah, I don't know. I I always wonder if it's seeing everyone else in my family go nuts about it growing up that I just didn't care. But I kind of went the arts, you know, and philosophy thinking route.

Allen: But I loved Nebraska corn huskers. Are those mutually exclusive? Yes, one hundred percent. Okay. I loved the football games because we would always get Valentino's pizza, which is a Nebraska treasure. Best pizza on earth. Okay. And I would just down one piece after another. My grandpa liked black olive and hamburger pizza. That sounds disgust. Black olives are gross.

Bobby: But I loved Nebraska corn huskers. Are those mutually exclusive? Yes, one hundred percent. Okay. I loved the football games because we would always get Valentino's pizza, which is a Nebraska treasure. Best pizza on earth. Okay. And I would just down one piece after another. My grandpa liked black olive and hamburger pizza. That sounds disgust. Black olives are gross.

Allen: Yeah, they're amazing. All right. Well, if you end up in Nebraska, listeners, Valentino's Pizza. That's right. Sponsored Bobby P S C C Saver. That's right. That we we don't get paid for them, by the way. But Bob, you might pay for your your meal if you visit. How can can we can we do that? Can I bind you your conscience? I will pay for your meal. If you go. Go to Valentino's, send me a photo. There we go. Do they have to do like one bite? Everyone knows the rules thing. Like, no, that probably passes. Just give me a photo. That's all I need. All right. Just a photo. No AI. No AI.

Bobby: Yeah, they're amazing. All right. Well, if you end up in Nebraska, listeners, Valentino's Pizza. That's right. Sponsored Bobby P S C C Saver. That's right. That we we don't get paid for them, by the way. But Bob, you might pay for your your meal if you visit. How can can we can we do that? Can I bind you your conscience? I will pay for your meal. If you go. Go to Valentino's, send me a photo. There we go. Do they have to do like one bite? Everyone knows the rules thing. Like, no, that probably passes. Just give me a photo. That's all I need. All right, just a photo. No AI. No AI.

Allen: Great. Well, Bobby is going to comment on the Bible with me. This man loves the Bible a lot. He loves sing do you what do you like more? Singing or the Bible? Singing the Bible. Ooh, that's well, that last one's an interesting one. I love the Bible more than singing because the Bible is what gives me something to sing about. So then it's weird when you combine them. Yep. Cause I think we'll see this even in some of the texts we look at today.

Bobby: Great. Well, Bobby is going to comment on the Bible with me. This man loves the Bible a lot. He loves sing do you what do you like more? Singing or the Bible? Singing the Bible. Ooh, that's well, that last one's an interesting one. I love the Bible more than singing because the Bible is what gives me something to sing about. So then it's weird when you combine them. Yep. Cause I think we'll see this even in some of the texts we look at today.

Allen: The aim of the Bible is to get really happy in God. And reading is one thing, but singing, I think we might even see this in a couple texts, is seemingly one of the chief, if not the chief, sign of joy in the Bible.

Bobby: The aim of the Bible is to get really happy in God. And reading is one thing, but singing, I think we might even see this in a couple texts, is seemingly one of the chief, if not the chief, sign of joy in the Bible.

Allen: So I guess if those are the three options, singing the Bible is the best. I mean, that's that's what all creation culminates in, in in the end when we sing Worthy as the Lamb. So there you go. There's something to think about. Yeah, that's great. I'm gonna put in the show notes then, or you can just look it up. Guys, you guys have to check out this new resource from ESV, the ESV Symphony of Scripture. Ing ESV is the English standard version. It's put up by Crossway.

Bobby: So I guess if those are the three options, singing the Bible is the best. I mean, that's that's what all creation culminates in, in in the end when we sing Worthy as the Lamb. So there you go. There's something to think about. Yeah, that's great. I'm gonna put in the show notes then, or you can just look it up. Guys, you guys have to check out this new resource from ESV, the ESV Symphony of Scripture. Ing ESV is the English standard version. It's put up by Crossway.

Allen: we're not sponsored by them, by the way. and they put the just right now, they're coming with the whole Bible, but the Gospel of John to an orchestra and it is the coolest thing ever. Have you listened to some of it, Bobby? We were just in Nashville, a crew of us from the praise band here and they it was kind of the grand unveiling of it and they performed with a full symphony orchestra on stage portions of it. That's cool. And so it was it was very moving.

Bobby: we're not sponsored by them, by the way. and they put the just right now, they're coming with the whole Bible, but the Gospel of John to an orchestra and it is the coolest thing ever. Have you listened to some of it, Bobby? We were just in Nashville, a crew of us from the praise band here and they it was kind of the grand unveiling of it and they performed with a full symphony orchestra on stage portions of it. That's cool. And so it was it was very moving.

Allen: That's great. Yeah, I'll put that in the show notes. You guys can go check that out. But let's hop in on our reading plan. So this is month nine, days seven through thirteen. And we're gonna comment on Isaiah seventeen through thirty-six, Proverbs twenty-one, seventeen through twenty-four, thirty-four, Luke twenty-two, fourteen through the end of that chapter, seventy-one, and then Hebrews four twelve through eight, six. So we're gonna jump back in. I'm gonna start with Isaiah here. essentially there's kind of a big category

Bobby: That's great. Yeah, I'll put that in the show notes. You guys can go check that out. But let's hop in on our reading plan. So this is month nine, days seven through thirteen. And we're gonna comment on Isaiah seventeen through thirty-six, Proverbs twenty-one, seventeen through twenty-four, thirty-four, Luke twenty-two, fourteen through the end of that chapter, seventy-one, and then Hebrews four twelve through eight, six. So we're gonna jump back in. I'm gonna start with Isaiah here. essentially there's kind of a big category

Allen: Of Isaiah, which is the idea of judgment and restoration. And what we see is this playing out. So we have oracles against the nations, so God's judgment through Isaiah against the nations on Egypt and Ethiopia. we have the fall of Babylon, Edom, Arabia, and in Jerusalem itself, God's very own people. and then what we see is this woe.

Bobby: Of Isaiah, which is the idea of judgment and restoration. And what we see is this playing out. So we have oracles against the nations, so God's judgment through Isaiah against the nations on Egypt and Ethiopia. we have the fall of Babylon, Edom, Arabia, and in Jerusalem itself, God's very own people. and then what we see is this woe.

Allen: Well, I I I I've heard it one time, just a little helpful Bible reading tip. Like when you see the word woe in the Bible, you should think, Whoa, like this is something serious. And so it's God's judgment over them. And what's what's happened is is there's pride, there's the disobeying of God's covenant from the people of Israel in Jerusalem specifically, and he's prophesying in this time of these two kingdoms, two nations. but then also you have a turn kind of really in chapters

Bobby: Well, I I I I've heard it one time, just a little helpful Bible reading tip. Like when you see the word woe in the Bible, you should think, Whoa, like this is something serious. And so it's God's judgment over them. And what's what's happened is is there's pride, there's the disobeying of God's covenant from the people of Israel in Jerusalem specifically, and he's prophesying in this time of these two kingdoms, two nations. but then also you have a turn kind of really in chapters

Allen: twenty twenty-four through thirty-six, when you start the transition of there's just worldwide judgment on all of the nations, but then God promises to restore his people in chapter twenty-seven. And this is based not on accordance of what the covenant people of Israel had done, but it's according to God's promises that he would establish his king his kingdom through Israel because of his covenant with David, set someone on the throne. And so what we happen is when the people of Israel turn and repent and

Bobby: twenty twenty-four through thirty-six, when you start the transition of there's just worldwide judgment on all of the nations, but then God promises to restore his people in chapter twenty-seven. And this is based not on accordance of what the covenant people of Israel had done, but it's according to God's promises that he would establish his king his kingdom through Israel because of his covenant with David, set someone on the throne. And so what we happen is when the people of Israel turn and repent and

Allen: He will restore them, which obviously always points towards the future restoration in Christ. But that's kind of just big picture of what's going on in Isaiah here. Bob, do have any comments on Isaiah? I have a number of comments on Isaiah. Great. Let's go, we'll we'll walk it through a little bit. it is interesting how a prophet to God's people also speaks in in the context of judgment toward Jerusalem.

Bobby: He will restore them, which obviously always points towards the future restoration in Christ. But that's kind of just big picture of what's going on in Isaiah here. Bob, do have any comments on Isaiah? I have a number of comments on Isaiah. Great. Let's go, we'll we'll walk it through a little bit. it is interesting how a prophet to God's people also speaks in in the context of judgment toward Jerusalem.

Allen: Also judgment toward the nations around them. This is just a reminder that God doesn't let sin slide by. Yeah. which is helpful just because I think sometimes we look at the world and we say, Why does you know, like like the Psalms, why do the wicked prosper? And this is a reminder they don't. The the Lord puts them in slippery places, as the Psalm says, and He will have justice on earth.

Bobby: Also judgment toward the nations around them. This is just a reminder that God doesn't let sin slide by. Yeah. which is helpful just because I think sometimes we look at the world and we say, Why does you know, like like the Psalms, why do the wicked prosper? And this is a reminder they don't. The the Lord puts them in slippery places, as the Psalm says, and He will have justice on earth.

Allen: What's intriguing, one that stands out to me that should be a shock as you read through the scriptures, read through Isaiah, when you get to chapter nineteen, you hear about Egypt. We already know Egypt, bad place of slavery. It starts with an oracle concerning Egypt. The Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt, and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. They're terrified because they know what he's coming for. He's coming in judgment.

Bobby: What's intriguing, one that stands out to me that should be a shock as you read through the scriptures, read through Isaiah, when you get to chapter nineteen, you hear about Egypt. We already know Egypt, bad place of slavery. It starts with an oracle concerning Egypt. The Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt, and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. They're terrified because they know what he's coming for. He's coming in judgment.

Allen: What's utterly surprising in this is what happens later in verse sixteen and following. It says in that day of judgment, or maybe post that day of judgment, the Egyptians will be like women and tremble with fear before the hand of the Lord of the the hand that the Lord of hosts shakes over them, and the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians. Everyone to whom it's mentioned will fear because of the purpose of the Lord of hosts.

Bobby: What's utterly surprising in this is what happens later in verse sixteen and following. It says in that day of judgment, or maybe post that day of judgment, the Egyptians will be like women and tremble with fear before the hand of the Lord of the the hand that the Lord of hosts shakes over them, and the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians. Everyone to whom it's mentioned will fear because of the purpose of the Lord of hosts.

Allen: has purposed against them. But then he goes on, and he says in verse nineteen.

Bobby: has purposed against them. But then he goes on, and he says in verse nineteen.

Allen: In that day, there will be an altar to the Lord, to Yahweh, in the midst of the land of Egypt. Now, first off, just the contrast, if you remember back in verse one, it talks about the idols of Egypt, and now God has crushed them with his own altar and replaced them with an altar to the Lord. Second,

Bobby: In that day, there will be an altar to the Lord, to Yahweh, in the midst of the land of Egypt. Now, first off, just the contrast, if you remember back in verse one, it talks about the idols of Egypt, and now God has crushed them with his own altar and replaced them with an altar to the Lord. Second,

Allen: This should just be alarming to a Jewish reader saying, no, no, no, no, no. The altar is in Jerusalem. Why is there an altar in Egypt of all places? This should be an offense. And then, third, what this suggests, which we'll see in a moment, is that Egyptians have yoked themselves to the Lord. It says in verse 23.

Bobby: This should just be alarming to a Jewish reader saying, no, no, no, no, no. The altar is in Jerusalem. Why is there an altar in Egypt of all places? This should be an offense. And then, third, what this suggests, which we'll see in a moment, is that Egyptians have yoked themselves to the Lord. It says in verse 23.

Allen: In that day, there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria. So that's from down south in Egypt, way up north to us to Assyria. So this is kind of like that whole Middle Eastern section. The highway's going to go through Jerusalem. So flanked on both sides. Israel's enemies, Egypt to the south, Assyria to the north. Both of them are traveling back and forth. And it says in Egypt.

Bobby: In that day, there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria. So that's from down south in Egypt, way up north to us to Assyria. So this is kind of like that whole Middle Eastern section. The highway's going to go through Jerusalem. So flanked on both sides. Israel's enemies, Egypt to the south, Assyria to the north. Both of them are traveling back and forth. And it says in Egypt.

Allen: The Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. They're worshiping God. In that day, Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, Blessed be Egypt, my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance. Now it's interesting because he uses that word blessing there, blessing in the midst of the earth, which is a textual clue that Isaiah's riffing on.

Bobby: The Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. They're worshiping God. In that day, Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, Blessed be Egypt, my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance. Now it's interesting because he uses that word blessing there, blessing in the midst of the earth, which is a textual clue that Isaiah's riffing on.

Allen: The promise to Abraham in Genesis twelve. God s said to Abraham, I'm gonna bless you and in you all the nations will be blessed. And here we start to see that whisper or that shadow of hope that the Gentiles too will come to Yahweh and worship him. And Israel's included, but this is a a shared experience now. Yeah. Grafted in, adopted in. What a hope, man. What a hope. Yeah. Yeah. That's

Bobby: The promise to Abraham in Genesis twelve. God s said to Abraham, I'm gonna bless you and in you all the nations will be blessed. And here we start to see that whisper or that shadow of hope that the Gentiles too will come to Yahweh and worship him. And Israel's included, but this is a a shared experience now. Yeah. Grafted in, adopted in. What a hope, man. What a hope. Yeah. Yeah. That's

Allen: That's great commentary. What a hope of I I think what as you mentioned is surprising and and and shocking is the inclusion of these people who they had did not expect.

Bobby: That's great commentary. What a hope of I I think what as you mentioned is surprising and and and shocking is the inclusion of these people who they had did not expect.

Allen: It's offensive. It's offensive. Like yeah. Egypt were our slave masters. Assyria ripped us out of our land. Mm. And now they're our bros. Yeah. Like that's crazy. This I mean, this is what you read when you read the gospels. Jesus hanging out with prostitutes and tax collectors, and the Jews are saying, Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. You're hanging out with a whore. Yeah. You're hanging out with a cheat. Those aren't those aren't our friends. They're against us. Yeah. And again it just shows

Bobby: It's offensive. It's offensive. Like yeah. Egypt were our slave masters. Assyria ripped us out of our land. Mm. And now they're our bros. Yeah. Like that's crazy. This I mean, this is what you read when you read the gospels. Jesus hanging out with prostitutes and tax collectors, and the Jews are saying, Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. You're hanging out with a whore. Yeah. You're hanging out with a cheat. Those aren't those aren't our friends. They're against us. Yeah. And again it just shows

Allen: J Jesus is enacting this, he's bringing this in into being. You know, I think about this in one sense. we might see the first hopes of this being fulfilled in where is it? Acts eight, when Philip witnesses, you remember there's the story to the Ethiopian eunuch. Yep. So somebody down from Africa is up in Jerusalem worshiping, and now they're traveling back. And Philip gets the moment.

Bobby: J Jesus is enacting this, he's bringing this in into being. You know, I think about this in one sense. we might see the first hopes of this being fulfilled in where is it? Acts eight, when Philip witnesses, you remember there's the story to the Ethiopian eunuch. Yep. So somebody down from Africa is up in Jerusalem worshiping, and now they're traveling back. And Philip gets the moment.

Allen: To use Isaiah of all texts to help convert this new convert from Ethiopia and the gospel spreads down to Egypt and to Ethiopia and northern Africa. Yeah. Yeah, I think w what this does is as far as just me and my and my thinking about man, do I have a big enough picture of the kingdom of God that includes

Bobby: To use Isaiah of all texts to help convert this new convert from Ethiopia and the gospel spreads down to Egypt and to Ethiopia and northern Africa. Yeah. Yeah, I think w what this does is as far as just me and my and my thinking about man, do I have a big enough picture of the kingdom of God that includes

Allen: anyone that would come to Christ in faith and repentance. And do I seek after that? Like, do I earnestly desire that enough for for everyone to to come to Christ? I think it's it's shaking it. It should shake us up a little bit. It shakes me up as as you even talk about it. Where it's like in a challenge to our listeners of like, is this your vision? Cause it's God's vision. You know, we talk about a lot about missions here, right? And God's missions, a heart for the nations and for the people in to come and even the most vile sinner in our eyes.

Bobby: anyone that would come to Christ in faith and repentance. And do I seek after that? Like, do I earnestly desire that enough for for everyone to to come to Christ? I think it's it's shaking it. It should shake us up a little bit. It shakes me up as as you even talk about it. Where it's like in a challenge to our listeners of like, is this your vision? Cause it's God's vision. You know, we talk about a lot about missions here, right? And God's missions, a heart for the nations and for the people in to come and even the most vile sinner in our eyes.

Allen: can come to Christ. It's the gospel, right? Yeah. Yeah. One, we can go to, you know, global a global sense and saying d d would it not be glorious for Putin to convert and confess Christ? He'd probably be killed, but wouldn't that be a glorious martyrdom? Like to share, or if if China, you know, everybody's fearful of China surpassing us economically, militarily

Bobby: can come to Christ. It's the gospel, right? Yeah. Yeah. One, we can go to, you know, global a global sense and saying d d would it not be glorious for Putin to convert and confess Christ? He'd probably be killed, but wouldn't that be a glorious martyrdom? Like to share, or if if China, you know, everybody's fearful of China surpassing us economically, militarily

Allen: What if they surpassed us spiritually and China gets converted? Yeah. You know? that's one way to think about it. Because he is speaking on these kind of national levels. But maybe it's those people that you really don't like in your life. They're pests, they've called you names, they've said nasty things about you, and you're you kind of have the sense I'd rather they just die. the hope that God promises here and then Jesus carries out

Bobby: What if they surpassed us spiritually and China gets converted? Yeah. You know? that's one way to think about it. Because he is speaking on these kind of national levels. But maybe it's those people that you really don't like in your life. They're pests, they've called you names, they've said nasty things about you, and you're you kind of have the sense I'd rather they just die. the hope that God promises here and then Jesus carries out

Allen: in the gospels is they too can be saved and that's a win for all of us. You know, I think here's here's maybe I'll tie this into another Isaiah text. Where is it?

Bobby: in the gospels is they too can be saved and that's a win for all of us. You know, I think here's here's maybe I'll tie this into another Isaiah text. Where is it?

Allen: A bit later in the reading. Are you going ahead? no, in Isaiah 35. we actually know that's in our text. Yep. where this is a picture of the exiles returning to their land. So they've been exiled, Israel's been exiled from the land, and now they're coming back. So many things I want to say about this. One is it just listen to the terms again, the happiness, gladness, joy.

Bobby: A bit later in the reading. Are you going ahead? no, in Isaiah 35. we actually know that's in our text. Yep. where this is a picture of the exiles returning to their land. So they've been exiled, Israel's been exiled from the land, and now they're coming back. So many things I want to say about this. One is it just listen to the terms again, the happiness, gladness, joy.

Allen: As the goal of all of this, God's goal is to get us happy in Him. It starts with the wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice, and the blossom and the crocus, it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. So the creation itself is rejoicing. And then it goes later. Let's let's read verse eight. and a highway shall be there. So it's interesting. Wasn't that interesting? There's a highway earlier from Egypt to Assyria.

Bobby: As the goal of all of this, God's goal is to get us happy in Him. It starts with the wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice, and the blossom and the crocus, it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. So the creation itself is rejoicing. And then it goes later. Let's let's read verse eight. and a highway shall be there. So it's interesting. Wasn't that interesting? There's a highway earlier from Egypt to Assyria.

Allen: God likes roads that connect people. Now a highway shall be there, it shall be called the way of holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way, even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come upon it. They shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And where's the highway going to? The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion.

Bobby: God likes roads that connect people. Now a highway shall be there, it shall be called the way of holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way, even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come upon it. They shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And where's the highway going to? The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion.

Allen: So it's a highway back to Zion, back to God, from exile, for their punishment, for all the things the Lord that is is judging them for. And again, just like creation, this chapter ends with joy. They're coming back with singing. They come back with everlasting joy upon their heads. They shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. It's a shared joy, right? This isn't just

Bobby: So it's a highway back to Zion, back to God, from exile, for their punishment, for all the things the Lord that is is judging them for. And again, just like creation, this chapter ends with joy. They're coming back with singing. They come back with everlasting joy upon their heads. They shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. It's a shared joy, right? This isn't just

Allen: Me and God. This is something we all share together. And as we see that picture of Egypt and Assyria joining in this joy, you would think that they would have a double joy because they didn't deserve it in the first place. This there was no promise made to them in the first place. And now they're inheriting it and they're saved. I find something just for our listeners to to ponder is do you think about God wanting you to be happy? God wants you to be very happy and he wants you to be very happy in him. Why?

Bobby: Me and God. This is something we all share together. And as we see that picture of Egypt and Assyria joining in this joy, you would think that they would have a double joy because they didn't deserve it in the first place. This there was no promise made to them in the first place. And now they're inheriting it and they're saved. I find something just for our listeners to to ponder is do you think about God wanting you to be happy? God wants you to be very happy and he wants you to be very happy in him. Why?

Allen: Because that makes him look good. Right? When we'll see this in the proverbs in a minute.

Bobby: Because that makes him look good. Right? When we'll see this in the proverbs in a minute.

Allen: A happy son, a wise son makes a father happy and honored and glad. When when a child's happy, that says something about the parents who raised him. When a wife is happy, that says something about her husband, it shows him honor and glory. Similarly, or more importantly, when God's people are happy when they sing, when they can't shut up about how glad and joy they are, joyful they are.

Bobby: A happy son, a wise son makes a father happy and honored and glad. When when a child's happy, that says something about the parents who raised him. When a wife is happy, that says something about her husband, it shows him honor and glory. Similarly, or more importantly, when God's people are happy when they sing, when they can't shut up about how glad and joy they are, joyful they are.

Allen: That makes God look really good. And so maybe a a charge to our listeners as you read through Isaiah, you'll see this happen a few more times as there's talk of coming back to the land, or even hopes of a new heavens and new earth. And I hope you note the joy that's marked. Later in Isaiah, there's going to be the joy of a bridegroom rejoicing in his bride mutually one for another. And this should be your aim.

Bobby: That makes God look really good. And so maybe a a charge to our listeners as you read through Isaiah, you'll see this happen a few more times as there's talk of coming back to the land, or even hopes of a new heavens and new earth. And I hope you note the joy that's marked. Later in Isaiah, there's going to be the joy of a bridegroom rejoicing in his bride mutually one for another. And this should be your aim.

Allen: This should be something you pray for it, you seek after. It's not bad to be happy in the Lord. This is what he wants. This is what he desires for you. That his name would be glorified. Amen. Amen. Man, that's such a sweet charge. it reminds me of that song that we sing on Sunday, We will feast in the house of Zion. We will feast in the house of Zion. We will sing with our hearts restored. He has done great things. We will say together, we will feast and weep no more. Man, I long for that day. As I was reading that,

Bobby: This should be something you pray for it, you seek after. It's not bad to be happy in the Lord. This is what he wants. This is what he desires for you. That his name would be glorified. Amen. Amen. Man, that's such a sweet charge. it reminds me of that song that we sing on Sunday, We will feast in the house of Zion. We will feast in the house of Zion. We will sing with our hearts restored. He has done great things. We will say together, we will feast and weep no more. Man, I long for that day. As I was reading that,

Allen: This week, man, I was longing for the new Jerusalem. Well, we'll feast and weep no more and be happy and satisfied in God completely. Yeah. It's we're so accustomed to the things that are listed in here in Isaiah thirty f thirty-six. We are accustomed to unclean people being around God's people. So we're just accustomed to w wicked wickedness and righteousness together, rubbing shoulders. We're we're accustomed to verse nine, threats.

Bobby: This week, man, I was longing for the new Jerusalem. Well, we'll feast and weep no more and be happy and satisfied in God completely. Yeah. It's we're so accustomed to the things that are listed in here in Isaiah thirty f thirty-six. We are accustomed to unclean people being around God's people. So we're just accustomed to w wicked wickedness and righteousness together, rubbing shoulders. We're we're accustomed to verse nine, threats.

Allen: To our lives, to our children, to our hurricanes, you know, all these things. We're accustomed to sorrow and sighing. It's it's a real challenge to imagine a world where those all are gone. It's a relief to imagine a world where they're all gone. But we s maybe we're too complacent at times. We we've we lose our hope. That's one reason why singing songs, giving voice.

Bobby: To our lives, to our children, to our hurricanes, you know, all these things. We're accustomed to sorrow and sighing. It's it's a real challenge to imagine a world where those all are gone. It's a relief to imagine a world where they're all gone. But we s maybe we're too complacent at times. We we've we lose our hope. That's one reason why singing songs, giving voice.

Allen: To our desires, like a song like that, a a longing song, Lord, come, is helpful for our souls. It draws our souls up into that i sacred, holy imagination that one day this will be reality. and that helps us to hold on, you know? Yeah. Amen.

Bobby: To our desires, like a song like that, a a longing song, Lord, come, is helpful for our souls. It draws our souls up into that i sacred, holy imagination that one day this will be reality. and that helps us to hold on, you know? Yeah. Amen.

Allen: Great. Well let's go over to the Proverbs twenty-one seventeen through twenty-four. Thirty-four. I mean, the Proverbs have just been so sweet for me as I've been reading, reflecting. One thing that stood out for me in this reading as I was going through was there's a lot of warning about those about making friendship with 22 24. Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful.

Bobby: Great. Well let's go over to the Proverbs twenty-one seventeen through twenty-four. Thirty-four. I mean, the Proverbs have just been so sweet for me as I've been reading, reflecting. One thing that stood out for me in this reading as I was going through was there's a lot of warning about those about making friendship with 22 24. Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful.

Allen: Man. There was a lot about just desiring after people who are envious, who are drunkards, gluttonous eaters of meat. This is this is Proverbs twenty-three. For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty and slumber will clothe them with rags. Twenty four one. Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble. And I was I've just been thinking a lot about this week.

Bobby: Man. There was a lot about just desiring after people who are envious, who are drunkards, gluttonous eaters of meat. This is this is Proverbs twenty-three. For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty and slumber will clothe them with rags. Twenty four one. Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble. And I was I've just been thinking a lot about this week.

Allen: about the dichotomy between wisdom and folly where it's like that foolish lifestyle, it looks attractive. They are winning in the eyes of the world. I was listening in couple with this I was listening to Tim Keller one time, to commenting on Romans one and he says that the worst thing that can happen to someone is that God actually gives them over to their desires and passions and they live a prosperous life in the eyes of the world and have money and success and all this and like

Bobby: about the dichotomy between wisdom and folly where it's like that foolish lifestyle, it looks attractive. They are winning in the eyes of the world. I was listening in couple with this I was listening to Tim Keller one time, to commenting on Romans one and he says that the worst thing that can happen to someone is that God actually gives them over to their desires and passions and they live a prosperous life in the eyes of the world and have money and success and all this and like

Allen: Man, that is scary. Like that, you know, just to avoid that, to flee from that, and to to just not wed myself to that and even desire envy that, man, it just leads to worse. Like you you're we're talking about like being happy in God. Like God wants us to be satisfied in Him and these other things that appear satisfying to the world are actually lead to their destruction and their demise. And it made me just do a r reality of a heart check of like, man, do I desire some of these things more than God that just creep in so so easily and take my eyes after?

Bobby: Man, that is scary. Like that, you know, just to avoid that, to flee from that, and to to just not wed myself to that and even desire envy that, man, it just leads to worse. Like you you're we're talking about like being happy in God. Like God wants us to be satisfied in Him and these other things that appear satisfying to the world are actually lead to their destruction and their demise. And it made me just do a r reality of a heart check of like, man, do I desire some of these things more than God that just creep in so so easily and take my eyes after?

Allen: Off the prize when everything else looks to be having more fun. And so yeah, that was just something that I was reflecting on this week. Yeah, I mean, you think about what you quoted Proverbs twenty two, twenty-four, make no friendship with a man given to anger, and then verse twenty five is lest you learn his ways. If if what I asserted, and I think the Bible holds this to be true, is that God's aim is for you to be happy in Him.

Bobby: Off the prize when everything else looks to be having more fun. And so yeah, that was just something that I was reflecting on this week. Yeah, I mean, you think about what you quoted Proverbs twenty two, twenty-four, make no friendship with a man given to anger, and then verse twenty five is lest you learn his ways. If if what I asserted, and I think the Bible holds this to be true, is that God's aim is for you to be happy in Him.

Allen: Becoming an angry person and a wrathful person is a 180 contrary to God's purposes. This is this is not the course you should set yourself on. That's not the course once that God wants you with. You know, it's such a good lesson when you read little sections like this, or I think about even in Isaiah or other prophets, where they talk about those who make idols become like them. So again, what you give your heart and your attention to, you will become like.

Bobby: Becoming an angry person and a wrathful person is a 180 contrary to God's purposes. This is this is not the course you should set yourself on. That's not the course once that God wants you with. You know, it's such a good lesson when you read little sections like this, or I think about even in Isaiah or other prophets, where they talk about those who make idols become like them. So again, what you give your heart and your attention to, you will become like.

Allen: So this suggests what you give your eyes to, what you watch, what you listen to, what you read. These things will form you. You can't help it. Similarly, the relationships you have, those who you keep near and you treat it's interesting you uses word friendship. When you have friends, you let your guard down a little bit, right? You because you can hang out with enemies and not become like them, but you have guards up all around. Right. When you're with your friends though, you kind of whatever, you know, and you kind of

Bobby: So this suggests what you give your eyes to, what you watch, what you listen to, what you read. These things will form you. You can't help it. Similarly, the relationships you have, those who you keep near and you treat it's interesting you uses word friendship. When you have friends, you let your guard down a little bit, right? You because you can hang out with enemies and not become like them, but you have guards up all around. Right. When you're with your friends though, you kind of whatever, you know, and you kind of

Allen: Everybody knows what it's like to be with their friends and you start talking like each other, using the same slang, whatever. You you start to form new likes that are shared, all sorts of things. and this is just such a a good warning to you know, be careful who you associate with. Yep. you know, it it can't be said enough to we're you know, we're pot we're d distributing this on the internet, for better or for worse. The internet, especially social media, is a place of

Bobby: Everybody knows what it's like to be with their friends and you start talking like each other, using the same slang, whatever. You you start to form new likes that are shared, all sorts of things. and this is just such a a good warning to you know, be careful who you associate with. Yep. you know, it it can't be said enough to we're you know, we're pot we're d distributing this on the internet, for better or for worse. The internet, especially social media, is a place of

Allen: Marked chiefly by anger and wrath. Yeah. It's always trying to get a reaction out of you. That's all it is. Yeah. And and it's going to play to the the most vile and sharp of the passions. Mm-hmm. So if you want to not get caught in that snare, this text listen to the SCC Saber Podcast. This text suggests don't hang there. Find new friends. Yeah. Right. Yeah.

Bobby: Marked chiefly by anger and wrath. Yeah. It's always trying to get a reaction out of you. That's all it is. Yeah. And and it's going to play to the the most vile and sharp of the passions. Mm-hmm. So if you want to not get caught in that snare, this text Listen to the SCC Saber Podcast. This text suggests don't hang there. Find new friends. Yeah. Right. Yeah.

Allen: And it might be something like you said, like a podcast, something that draws you up. Yeah. Right? Rather than draws you into just endless debauchery and endless quarreling. Yeah. You will always have friends. You'll always give your attention to something. You'll always give your heart to something. So give it to something good. What whatever you want to become like, give yourself to that thing. Yeah. it's been said that if you want to.

Bobby: And it might be something like you said, like a podcast, something that draws you up. Yeah. Right? Rather than draws you into just endless debauchery and endless quarreling. Yeah. You will always have friends. You'll always give your attention to something. You'll always give your heart to something. So give it to something good. What whatever you want to become like, give yourself to that thing. Yeah. it's been said that if you want to.

Allen: See what someone really loves, look at their calendar and their credit card statement. That's right, man. Right. And so like, okay, look at your time. How are you spending your money and how are you using your time? I was talking with a friend this past week, not a Christian. However, we were talking about, you know, time is money. But he's actually, you know, I think what it really is is money buys time. And so, you know, like so when you're spending your money to save yourself time, well it's like, okay, think about your time as investments, right? It's like, okay, what do you put your money towards?

Bobby: See what someone really loves, look at their calendar and their credit card statement. That's right, man. Right. And so like, okay, look at your time. How are you spending your money and how are you using your time? I was talking with a friend this past week, not a Christian. However, we were talking about, you know, time is money. But he's actually, you know, I think what it really is is money buys time. And so, you know, like so when you're spending your money to save yourself time, well it's like, okay, think about your time as investments, right? It's like, okay, what do you put your money towards?

Allen: Is it is it buying you time that's gonna draw you up into the Lord? Or is it going to draw you to this anger and wrath and the media that's just consuming you? I feel that too. when I use media sometimes like, man, this is just making me angry. I need I need to check myself. one of the biggest reflections as you're you're you're you're pulling that out. in in the proverbs and just what I've learned about following Christ is if you wanna be wise, hang out with wise people.

Bobby: Is it is it buying you time that's gonna draw you up into the Lord? Or is it going to draw you to this anger and wrath and the media that's just consuming you? I feel that too. when I use media sometimes like, man, this is just making me angry. I need I need to check myself. one of the biggest reflections as you're you're you're you're pulling that out. in in the proverbs and just what I've learned about following Christ is if you wanna be wise, hang out with wise people.

Allen: You were mentioned this a little bit on Sunday school in Sunday school. It's like think about, what would my spiritual mentor do? What would he do? What would she do in this context? Just hang around those people and it just rubs off on people. Yeah, man. Yeah, you know, one more thing, because you brought this up that's worthwhile for the listeners that live in our context down here in Sanibel or Southwest Florida. my experience, this is a different world in a number of ways. We live on an island. We're in Southwest Florida. That's crazy. I'm a Midwesterner.

Bobby: You were mentioned this a little bit on Sunday school in Sunday school. It's like think about, what would my spiritual mentor do? What would he do? What would she do in this context? Just hang around those people and it just rubs off on people. Yeah, man. Yeah, you know, one more thing, because you brought this up that's worthwhile for the listeners that live in our context down here in Sanibel or Southwest Florida. my experience, this is a different world in a number of ways. We live on an island. We're in Southwest Florida. That's crazy. I'm a Midwesterner.

Allen: But one thing that marks out the little island we live on is that nobody, you know, nobody's h hiding this. It's just obvious. There's a lot of affluence here. And so, like you said, that gives the opportunity to free yourself up of certain burdens, maybe thing like mowing your lawn, cleaning your house, cleaning your car, walking your dogs. Like you could just if you have enough money, you could pay somebody to do pretty much everything in your life.

Bobby: But one thing that marks out the little island we live on is that nobody, you know, nobody's h hiding this. It's just obvious. There's a lot of affluence here. And so, like you said, that gives the opportunity to free yourself up of certain burdens, maybe thing like mowing your lawn, cleaning your house, cleaning your car, walking your dogs. Like you could just if you have enough money, you could pay somebody to do pretty much everything in your life.

Allen: That's not necessarily right or wrong. In some ways there's a goodness in that because you're employing other people, right? That's a that's a noble thing to do. But are you thinking about what's on the flip side of that? Why did you free up your time? Is it just for ease and relaxation? Is it to increase your shell collection? Is it to get a better tan? Or or is it something that honors the Lord, you know? And so w we in the wealthy West need to think about what you brought up.

Bobby: That's not necessarily right or wrong. In some ways there's a goodness in that because you're employing other people, right? That's a that's a noble thing to do. But are you thinking about what's on the flip side of that? Why did you free up your time? Is it just for ease and relaxation? Is it to increase your shell collection? Is it to get a better tan? Or or is it something that honors the Lord, you know? And so w we in the wealthy West need to think about what you brought up.

Allen: And and count the cost of that trade we make whenever we buy our time back. Yeah. Is what am I buying it for? You you can get overly analytical about this and and and strung out. But having a few moments, you know, maybe once or twice a year, Sarah and I think about this. We have some like financial goals of if we get extra money, what do we do with it? We plan that in advance. Because if we don't make a plan in advance, it just finds a way to something that usually more suits our flesh. Yeah.

Bobby: And and count the cost of that trade we make whenever we buy our time back. Yeah. Is what am I buying it for? You you can get overly analytical about this and and and strung out. But having a few moments, you know, maybe once or twice a year, Sarah and I think about this. We have some like financial goals of if we get extra money, what do we do with it? We plan that in advance. Because if we don't make a plan in advance, it just finds a way to something that usually more suits our flesh. Yeah.

Allen: Then serves the Lord's purposes. Yeah, that's great. Yeah, that's great. That's a great thought. Planning ahead. Any other comments on the proverbs? I mean, we were talking about this before we turned the mic on. There are a number of things in this section about parenting. You know, there's these classics, 226, train up a child in the way he should go. Even when he is old, he will not depart from it. Related to that, 2215, folly is bound up in the heart of a child.

Bobby: Then serves the Lord's purposes. Yeah, that's great. Yeah, that's great. That's a great thought. Planning ahead. Any other comments on the proverbs? I mean, we were talking about this before we turned the mic on. There are a number of things in this section about parenting. You know, there's these classics, 226, train up a child in the way he should go. Even when he is old, he will not depart from it. Related to that, 2215, folly is bound up in the heart of a child.

Allen: But the rod of discipline drives it far from him. There's another one in twenty three, thirteen, and fourteen related to the rod as well.

Bobby: But the rod of discipline drives it far from him. There's another one in twenty three, thirteen, and fourteen related to the rod as well.

Allen: Comments from a dad. I was gonna say, I have no kids. You have four. I I just on a more personal note, I think that's what I mentioned, hey, if you want to be wise, you want to how to do these things. I learn how to parent from you. I watch the way that you interact with your wife and kids, and it's noble and honorable. So it's really sweet to see that. Instruct us a little bit, encourage listeners. Yeah, so maybe a couple things. first

Bobby: Comments from a dad. I was gonna say, I have no kids. You have four. I I just on a more personal note, I think that's what I mentioned, hey, if you want to be wise, you want to how to do these things. I learn how to parent from you. I watch the way that you interact with your wife and kids, and it's noble and honorable. So it's really sweet to see that. Instruct us a little bit, encourage listeners. Yeah, so maybe a couple things. first

Allen: A friend has once described to me what parenting is, what godly parenting is, is Christian enculturation. So think about that term for a moment. So trying to enculturate, so work a culture, a way of being, a way of seeing the world, a way of living, a way of using your money, using your words, a way of thinking, all these things, a culture into your child. That's the goal. Sometimes in the church, I think.

Bobby: A friend has once described to me what parenting is, what godly parenting is, is Christian enculturation. So think about that term for a moment. So trying to enculturate, so work a culture, a way of being, a way of seeing the world, a way of living, a way of using your money, using your words, a way of thinking, all these things, a culture into your child. That's the goal. Sometimes in the church, I think.

Allen: People conceive of parenting as information transfer. I need to get my kids to believe certain things or at least know them and recite them. Because kids are recitation machines. Yeah, they are. Other times I think parents believe that parenting is behavioral modification. I'm going to get my kids to look like they are doing the right thing, whether or not they're doing it for the right reasons. Yeah. While both of those are part of Christian enculturation.

Bobby: People conceive of parenting as information transfer. I need to get my kids to believe certain things or at least know them and recite them. Because kids are recitation machines. Yeah, they are. Other times I think parents believe that parenting is behavioral modification. I'm going to get my kids to look like they are doing the right thing, whether or not they're doing it for the right reasons. Yeah. While both of those are part of Christian enculturation.

Allen: it's kind of like maybe some of those put the cart before the horse, right? The behavior follows. and maybe putting just the the deposit of information in their mind is having a horse but no cart or something like that, right? There's no, there's no life that follows after that. So when Sarah and I think about our parenting, yes, we think about are we, you know, reading the Bible with our kids? Are we praying the Bible with our kids? But other things we're thinking about are

Bobby: it's kind of like maybe some of those put the cart before the horse, right? The behavior follows. and maybe putting just the the deposit of information in their mind is having a horse but no cart or something like that, right? There's no, there's no life that follows after that. So when Sarah and I think about our parenting, yes, we think about are we, you know, reading the Bible with our kids? Are we praying the Bible with our kids? But other things we're thinking about are

Allen: How does that stuff that we do, maybe around the kitchen table or we do it before school each morning from 8 30 to about 9 15, sing a hymn, pray for the missionary of the week at church, we pray together a a daily prayer, we read the scriptures, and the kids kind of recite that back and try to work through some applications. Beyond that, though, we're thinking all day long.

Bobby: How does that stuff that we do, maybe around the kitchen table or we do it before school each morning from 8 30 to about 9 15, sing a hymn, pray for the missionary of the week at church, we pray together a a daily prayer, we read the scriptures, and the kids kind of recite that back and try to work through some applications. Beyond that, though, we're thinking all day long.

Allen: Our behavior, kind of like that, who your friends are, right now, we're their friends in their eyes, in the sense of we're their mentors, our kids want to grow up to become like us. Right. Are we setting an example for them of what we think a Christian should live like, what a Christian should think like, how a Christian should react, how a Christian should parent? Because that's what they're gonna emulate in their own lives. Right. So we're thinking throughout the day, how does that get worked out and trying to

Bobby: Our behavior, kind of like that, who your friends are, right now, we're their friends in their eyes, in the sense of we're their mentors. Our kids want to grow up to become like us. Right. Are we setting an example for them of what we think a Christian should live like, what a Christian should think like, how a Christian should react, how a Christian should parent? Because that's what they're gonna emulate in their own lives. Right. So we're thinking throughout the day, how does that get worked out and trying to

Allen: Trying to meet our kids regularly to impress those lessons in moments where they really count. I mean, this happens if you have multiple kids in the house, this happens all the time, especially if they're close in age. There's disagreements. There's the toy that both of them want at the same time. Yeah. There's one person gets to go on a date with dad and the other doesn't, you know, and there's jealousy or there's envy. Like these are all the things, you know, these are the things we pray about in in our morning assembly time. We read about in the scriptures. And our job is at the moments where we don't really want to.

Bobby: Trying to meet our kids regularly to impress those lessons in moments where they really count. I mean, this happens if you have multiple kids in the house, this happens all the time, especially if they're close in age. There's disagreements. There's the toy that both of them want at the same time. Yeah. There's one person gets to go on a date with dad and the other doesn't, you know, and there's jealousy or there's envy. Like these are all the things, you know, these are the things we pray about in in our morning assembly time. We read about in the scriptures. And our job is at the moments where we don't really want to.

Allen: Have a spiritual moment because we're just want to get other things done. Yeah. You know, there's all the task list at home. Is to continually reinforce those and help the kids work through it. Teach them how to pray through those things and trust the Lord. You know, it is, it is notable. a number of people listening may have kids that they believe they've trained up in the way they should go. And they're saying, Well, why when they got older did they depart from it? That's right. Yeah, it's good. No, no. So this is one thing as as

Bobby: Have a spiritual moment because we're just want to get other things done. Yeah. You know, there's all the task list at home. Is to continually reinforce those and help the kids work through it. Teach them how to pray through those things and trust the Lord. You know, it is, it is notable. a number of people listening may have kids that they believe they've trained up in the way they should go. And they're saying, Well, why when they got older did they depart from it? That's right. Yeah, it's good. No, no. So this is one thing as as

Allen: People have said about the proverbs are they are true isms in the sense that these are truths about the world that generally hold to be true. you know, there's there's the proverb that says, don't answer a fool according to his folly, lest you become like him. And then the next proverb says, answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own sight, which

Bobby: People have said about the proverbs are they are true isms in the sense that these are truths about the world that generally hold to be true. you know, there's there's the proverb that says, don't answer a fool according to his folly, lest you become like him. And then the next proverb says, answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own sight, which

Allen: Is a lesson in how to read the proverbs, just those two proverbs next to each other. That these proverbs don't apply all the time in every way. That's right. Another thing which is the value of wisdom. Like that's exactly wisdom. Yeah. another thing that that's worthwhile is you just if you scan the whole of Proverbs, not just plucking them out like fortune cookies, is trying to say what is the book of Proverbs, right? Because people think sometimes think about it as just this just scattered sayings, blah de blah. Yeah.

Bobby: Is a lesson in how to read the proverbs, just those two proverbs next to each other. That these proverbs don't apply all the time in every way. That's right. Another thing which is the value of wisdom. Like that's exactly wisdom. Yeah. another thing that that's worthwhile is you just if you scan the whole of Proverbs, not just plucking them out like fortune cookies, is trying to say what is the book of Proverbs, right? Because people think sometimes think about it as just this just scattered sayings, blah de blah. Yeah.

Allen: When you start it, you realize this is a book that's at least pr you get the the image is this is coming from Solomon to his son. The book ends with actually instruction from a mother to her son. Yeah. And both of those, though, are royal families. So I like to think about the book of Proverbs as this is a lesson on how to be king, or you could say how to be queen, even. Sure. In the sense of this is a king passing down or

Bobby: When you start it, you realize this is a book that's at least pr you get the the image is this is coming from Solomon to his son. The book ends with actually instruction from a mother to her son. Yeah. And both of those, though, are royal families. So I like to think about the book of Proverbs as this is a lesson on how to be king, or you could say how to be queen, even. Sure. In the sense of this is a king passing down or

Allen: Trying to instill in his in his son, his prince, what what it will be like when he's in charge when he grows up. And there's recognition throughout it that the son needs to choose for himself. and so this is one of those challenges for parents is as you the the the son, your son, your daughter, is under your kingly quote, rule in your house for a time, and then they leave and they cleave, right?

Bobby: Trying to instill in his in his son, his prince, what what it will be like when he's in charge when he grows up. And there's recognition throughout it that the son needs to choose for himself. and so this is one of those challenges for parents is as you the the the son, your son, your daughter, is under your kingly quote, rule in your house for a time, and then they leave and they cleave, right?

Allen: That's part of the plan is learning to allow them to make their own mistakes. Though, I will say, if anything, that Proverb 226, when they're older, while their behavior and even their soul may depart from it, it's very hard for them to shake the knowledge of what you've taught them. That there is a God, that sin is is despicable to God.

Bobby: That's part of the plan is learning to allow them to make their own mistakes. Though, I will say, if anything, that Proverb 226, when they're older, while their behavior and even their soul may depart from it, it's very hard for them to shake the knowledge of what you've taught them. That there is a God, that sin is is despicable to God.

Allen: He'll punish it. They they know these things. They they they're baked into them. They can deny them all they want, but you've given them a good deposit. Mm-hmm. And the Lord uses that as they grow.

Bobby: He'll punish it. They they know these things. They they they're baked into them. They can deny them all they want, but you've given them a good deposit. Mm-hmm. And the Lord uses that as they grow.

Allen: There's a few things riffing on parenting. Excellent. I am certainly blessed by it.

Bobby: There's a few things riffing on parenting. Excellent. I am certainly blessed by it.

Allen: Yeah, I know our readers will be blessed by your parenting advice. Though many of our listeners probably their kids are out of the the house by now, but still I think an encouragement. let's go over to Luke. yeah, this is this is the the conclusion of Luke really, where Jesus is about to go to trial. He's with his disciples and celebrating the last Passover with them and the institution of the Lord's Supper, and we have this

Bobby: Yeah, I know our readers will be blessed by your parenting advice. Though many of our listeners probably their kids are out of the the house by now, but still I think an encouragement. let's go over to Luke. yeah, this is this is the the conclusion of Luke really, where Jesus is about to go to trial. He's with his disciples and celebrating the last Passover with them and the institution of the Lord's Supper, and we have this

Allen: his teachings about, you know, Peter who denies him three times and then finally, he gets arrested. Jesus is arrested because he's betrayed by Judas, who was destined to pr betray him, and then he Peter didn't then denies him, and then we'll go we'll see the crucifixion of Christ here at the end before Pilate and Herod. But Bobby, do you wanna hop in and tie together some of our

Bobby: his teachings about, you know, Peter who denies him three times and then finally, he gets arrested. Jesus is arrested because he's betrayed by Judas, who was destined to pr betray him, and then he Peter didn't then denies him, and then we'll go we'll see the crucifixion of Christ here at the end before Pilate and Herod. But Bobby, do you wanna hop in and tie together some of our

Allen: our thoughts here. Yeah, yeah. I'm gonna tie some things together from Luke and Hebrews in just a few short minutes as we wrap up this podcast. First, because some of our eager listeners are gonna say, what about Melchizedek? Yeah. In the show notes, we're gonna drop a link. You should check it out. It's a brief article that summarizes Melchizedek, his character in the Bible, his relationship to Jesus really well.

Bobby: our thoughts here. Yeah, yeah. I'm gonna tie some things together from Luke and Hebrews in just a few short minutes as we wrap up this podcast. First, because some of our eager listeners are gonna say, what about Melchizedek? Yeah. In the show notes, we're gonna drop a link. You should check it out. It's a brief article that summarizes Melchizedek, his character in the Bible, his relationship to Jesus really well.

Allen: Better than I could do, I would just talk for an hour and then you would scratch your head. Uh-huh. but it's just a helpful, helpful clue into a little bit more of why Melchizedek shows up in Hebrews. Yeah. The name of that that that article is Why Did Melchizedek bring out bread and wine by Dr. Andy Nasali who he was one of your professors at the seminar? Yeah, he was a professor and I count him now as a friend. but just a dear brother up there in Minneapolis. Yeah. He's blessed me. I I I've consumed a lot of his content resources so helpful. But

Bobby: Better than I could do, I would just talk for an hour and then you would scratch your head. Uh-huh. but it's just a helpful, helpful clue into a little bit more of why Melchizedek shows up in Hebrews. Yeah. The name of that that that article is Why Did Melchizedek bring out bread and wine by Dr. Andy Nasali who he was one of your professors at the seminar? Yeah, he was a professor and I count him now as a friend. but just a dear brother up there in Minneapolis. Yeah. He's blessed me. I I I've consumed a lot of his content resources so helpful. But

Allen: Yeah, I'll drop in the show notes. Yeah. So here's here's what I was thinking, because y you listeners have the unique blessing, the gift of the worship pastor being on the podcast this week is I'll take a little bit of time, maybe selfishly, to promote the things that I think about often, which are the design of a worship service, why we do what we do when we gather on Sunday mornings. And I just want to whet your appetite with a few things from the texts you read.

Bobby: Yeah, I'll drop in the show notes. Yeah. So here's here's what I was thinking, because y you listeners have the unique blessing, the gift of the worship pastor being on the podcast this week is I'll take a little bit of time, maybe selfishly, to promote the things that I think about often, which are the design of a worship service, why we do what we do when we gather on Sunday mornings. And I just want to whet your appetite with a few things from the texts you read.

Allen: Chiefly about the Lord's Supper and then about Jesus as a priest. The main thing I want to draw your attention to is the language the New Testament uses for worship and how similar it is to the language of the Old Testament.

Bobby: Chiefly about the Lord's Supper and then about Jesus as a priest. The main thing I want to draw your attention to is the language the New Testament uses for worship and how similar it is to the language of the Old Testament.

Allen: I find that folks, Christians, even Christians of fifty years, often have this really sharp dichotomy drawn between worship in the old testament and worship in the New Testament. Mm-hmm. There are some sharp things. We are not at s note internet, we at Sanibel Community Church, we are not sacrificing animals

Bobby: I find that folks, Christians, even Christians of fifty years, often have this really sharp dichotomy drawn between worship in the old testament and worship in the New Testament. Mm-hmm. There are some sharp things. We are not at s note internet, we at Sanibel Community Church, we are not sacrificing animals

Allen: And blood's not, you know, thrown around and all this. This is not happening. Yes. So there are some dichotomies. Would it be sin if we did? Yes. Yes, it would be. I will take a send the tangent. you can finish it though. But note these the the language of worship given to us in the New Testament. So first, in Luke, when Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper.

Bobby: And blood's not, you know, thrown around and all this. This is not happening. Yes. So there are some dichotomies. Would it be sin if we did? Yes. Yes, it would be. I will take a send the tangent. you can finish it though. But note these the the language of worship given to us in the New Testament. So first, in Luke, when Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper.

Allen: Here's the language he gives and the elements he gives. He takes bread. He says, This is my body. Takes a cup. He says, This is the new covenant in my blood. So note a couple things. There is a sacrifice of sorts taking place because there is someone who has been sacrificed, namely Jesus.

Bobby: Here's the language he gives and the elements he gives. He takes bread. He says, This is my body. Takes a cup. He says, This is the new covenant in my blood. So note a couple things. There is a sacrifice of sorts taking place because there is someone who has been sacrificed, namely Jesus.

Allen: There's food. Do you remember? I mean, this is the Old Testament, like bread. There's like part of worshiping God in the Old Testament was especially you bring a free will offering, and that's the the offering that the the worshipper gets to eat and they get to eat before the Lord and celebrate. This is this is similar to that. There's covenant language. It says new, so there's a difference, there's a change, there's a escalation from the Old Testament, but there's a covenant still, just like the Mosaic Covenant.

Bobby: There's food. Do you remember? I mean, this is the Old Testament, like bread. There's like part of worshiping God in the Old Testament was especially you bring a free will offering, and that's the the offering that the the worshipper gets to eat and they get to eat before the Lord and celebrate. This is this is similar to that. There's covenant language. It says new, so there's a difference, there's a change, there's a escalation from the Old Testament, but there's a covenant still, just like the Mosaic Covenant.

Allen: That then established these rules, regulations for worship, mainly in in Leviticus, all the language, the terminology, and I think some of the images even of the old old covenant are drawn to mind. Similarly, in Hebrews, it's interesting to note the language around worship. For instance, in Hebrews chapter four, right at the end.

Bobby: That then established these rules, regulations for worship, mainly in in Leviticus, all the language, the terminology, and I think some of the images even of the old old covenant are drawn to mind. Similarly, in Hebrews, it's interesting to note the language around worship. For instance, in Hebrews chapter four, right at the end.

Allen: beloved text, since we have a great high priest who's passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession, etc. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Note again, there's a priest, a high priest. Now he gets a better title. He's the great high priest. Amen. So again, escalation from the old, but we still have priests. Do you know that? We like we have priests in our faith. Yeah. He

Bobby: beloved text, since we have a great high priest who's passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession, etc. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Note again, there's a priest, a high priest. Now he gets a better title. He's the great high priest. Amen. So again, escalation from the old, but we still have priests. Do you know that? We like we have priests in our faith. Yeah. He

Allen: We have a priest, Jesus. Yeah. Similarly, there is a and then sorry, just real quick. And then in Christ we have a priesthood of all believers. Yeah. That's great. Yeah, that's we yeah, we'll see that in well there's a little bit of it hinted at the end of Hebrews and and Peter writes about this. Yeah. Which has to do with our worship as a priest bringing our offerings and sacrifices in our contemporary worship right now. That's right. There's at the end of Hebrews chapter four, there is drawing near to the throne of grace. Do you remember, you know, in the in the tabernacle in the temple?

Bobby: We have a priest, Jesus. Yeah. Similarly, there is a and then sorry, just real quick. And then in Christ we have a priesthood of all believers. Yeah. That's great. Yeah, that's we yeah, we'll see that in well there's a little bit of it hinted at the end of Hebrews and and Peter writes about this. Yeah. Which has to do with our worship as a priest bringing our offerings and sacrifices in our contemporary worship right now. That's right. There's at the end of Hebrews chapter four, there is drawing near to the throne of grace. Do you remember, you know, in the in the tabernacle in the temple?

Allen: Drawing near to the throne was going in once a year into the holy of holies. That was a throne. God, you know, it would rest there, would meet with the priest, and we get ushered in by Jesus to receive mercy and grace. But again, I just want to say there's drawing near to a throne, just like in the old covenant. And then later on in chapter seven and chapter eight, we get more terms again. So covenant, chapter seven.

Bobby: Drawing near to the throne was going in once a year into the holy of holies. That was a throne. God, you know, it would rest there, would meet with the priest, and we get ushered in by Jesus to receive mercy and grace. But again, I just want to say there's drawing near to a throne, just like in the old covenant. And then later on in chapter seven and chapter eight, we get more terms again. So covenant, chapter seven.

Allen: 22, but again, there's an escalation. It's a better covenant. In verse 26, there's a high priest. It's fitting that we still have a high priest. He's holy, unstained, separate from sinners, just like the priests of the Old Testament were supposed to be. They're supposed to be consecrated unto the Lord. But then the difference here's the dichotomy if you want to draw one or the distinction, verse 27 He has no need like those high priests to offer sacrifices daily.

Bobby: 22, but again, there's an escalation. It's a better covenant. In verse 26, there's a high priest. It's fitting that we still have a high priest. He's holy, unstained, separate from sinners, just like the priests of the Old Testament were supposed to be. They're supposed to be consecrated unto the Lord. But then the difference here's the dichotomy if you want to draw one or the distinction, verse 27 He has no need like those high priests to offer sacrifices daily.

Allen: Because he's perfect. He has no sins to offer. no sins of his own to offer a sacrifice. Then you go into verse chapter eight. We have high priest who's seated at the right hand of the throne of majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places in the true tent. We have a tabernacle. Like the tabernacle's not done. No, we just have the true one, the real one. Yeah. And we see then in verse five and yeah, five.

Bobby: Because he's perfect. He has no sins to offer. no sins of his own to offer a sacrifice. Then you go into verse chapter eight. We have high priest who's seated at the right hand of the throne of majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places in the true tent. We have a tabernacle. Like the tabernacle's not done. No, we just have the true one, the real one. Yeah. And we see then in verse five and yeah, five.

Allen: A reminder of when Moses erected the tabernacle, when he set up the tent, it was a copy. It was a a shadow. It was modeled after something that already existed. What I think happened is when Moses went up on in on the mountain, because God's up in the you know, in the Bible narrative, God is up. He's on mountains, he lives, rides on clouds, those are up in the air, right? Moses gets a vision into heaven, into the true tent.

Bobby: A reminder of when Moses erected the tabernacle, when he set up the tent, it was a copy. It was a a shadow. It was modeled after something that already existed. What I think happened is when Moses went up on in on the mountain, because God's up in the you know, in the Bible narrative, God is up. He's on mountains, he lives, rides on clouds, those are up in the air, right? Moses gets a vision into heaven, into the true tent.

Allen: He sees the the model of it. There's a throne, there's a priest, there's drawing near, there's sacrifice, which is the sacrifice of our lips. He sees that there's the distance between him and God that needs to be paid for. And God tells him, All right, now go down from the mountain and make a copy of that on earth. So everybody knows like no knows what it's like to draw near to me. And so when I show up in Jesus, they'll know what to do. They'll know how to worship. Yeah.

Bobby: He sees the the model of it. There's a throne, there's a priest, there's drawing near, there's sacrifice, which is the sacrifice of our lips. He sees that there's the distance between him and God that needs to be paid for. And God tells him, All right, now go down from the mountain and make a copy of that on earth. So everybody knows like no knows what it's like to draw near to me. And so when I show up in Jesus, they'll know what to do. They'll know how to worship. Yeah.

Allen: All of that is to say. So now some practical application. When we think about worship in the church, there are things we do that might not fit certain contemporary tastes because we're in a millennia old tradition of worship. We inherit things from the past. We think about what it takes to draw near to the Lord, and part of that is confession. That's why we we have a prayer of confession every week.

Bobby: All of that is to say. So now some practical application. When we think about worship in the church, there are things we do that might not fit certain contemporary tastes because we're in a millennia old tradition of worship. We inherit things from the past. We think about what it takes to draw near to the Lord, and part of that is confession. That's why we we have a prayer of confession every week.

Allen: Because just like that text from Hebrews 4, we need to draw near to the Lord to receive mercy for our sins. That's what he tells us to do. And every time we gather, we reenact that. And we do it though. We actually do it truly. We confess our sins so that we can then draw near to the Lord and feast with him at his table when he serves us the supper. This might be odd to some, but I hope those who are part of SCC for a year or two, five years.

Bobby: Because just like that text from Hebrews 4, we need to draw near to the Lord to receive mercy for our sins. That's what he tells us to do. And every time we gather, we reenact that. And we do it though. We actually do it truly. We confess our sins so that we can then draw near to the Lord and feast with him at his table when he serves us the supper. This might be odd to some, but I hope those who are part of SCC for a year or two, five years.

Allen: When they visit other churches, they should find it very odd that a church that many churches do not confess their sins publicly and regularly to the Lord. Yeah. Sometimes that seems a little audacious to me. Similarly, in our sac in our services, we offer sacrifices continually. Just like the end of Hebrews, it says we offer the sacrifices, the the fruit of the lips, the sacrifice of the lips, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Our praises, we sing a lot in the church.

Bobby: When they visit other churches, they should find it very odd that a church that many churches do not confess their sins publicly and regularly to the Lord. Yeah. Sometimes that seems a little audacious to me. Similarly, in our sac in our services, we offer sacrifices continually. Just like the end of Hebrews, it says we offer the sacrifices, the the fruit of the lips, the sacrifice of the lips, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Our praises, we sing a lot in the church.

Allen: Because that is our sacrifice. Sacrifice culminates at that, is us praising the Lord. And all of this, just like in the Old Testament, if you follow the some of the moments when Israel gathers together for collected worship. So it's either at the foot of the mountain at Mount Sinai, when the temple is built up for the first time, the culmination of worship, just like we even saw in in Isaiah, when the people of God come back.

Bobby: Because that is our sacrifice. Sacrifice culminates at that, is us praising the Lord. And all of this, just like in the Old Testament, if you follow the some of the moments when Israel gathers together for collected worship. So it's either at the foot of the mountain at Mount Sinai, when the temple is built up for the first time, the culmination of worship, just like we even saw in in Isaiah, when the people of God come back.

Allen: To Zion. The culmination is a meal and joy. Just trace this. Trace this through the Bible. When do people eat big, happy meals? When do they feast? And it's the culmination of worship. This is why the Lord's Supper should come at the end of a service rather than beginning. This is why the Lord's Supper should be a joyful event, not just it's there is a difference between the Last Supper and the Lord's Supper. The Last Supper is primarily, if not completely, grave, a sobering moment.

Bobby: To Zion. The culmination is a meal and joy. Just trace this. Trace this through the Bible. When do people eat big, happy meals? When do they feast? And it's the culmination of worship. This is why the Lord's Supper should come at the end of a service rather than beginning. This is why the Lord's Supper should be a joyful event, not just it's there is a difference between the Last Supper and the Lord's Supper. The Last Supper is primarily, if not completely, grave, a sobering moment.

Allen: The Lord's Supper is post-resurrection. There's a joy, a triumph in it, while there is introspection and a realization that we proclaim his death. But our worship follows a pattern like that of the Old Testament, one that goes from sorrow for sin to joy and feasting with our Lord as he serves us at his table. So as you pay attention in our worship service, as you observe, I hope you see some of those things take place.

Bobby: The Lord's Supper is post-resurrection. There's a joy, a triumph in it, while there is introspection and a realization that we proclaim his death. But our worship follows a pattern like that of the Old Testament, one that goes from sorrow for sin to joy and feasting with our Lord as he serves us at his table. So as you pay attention in our worship service, as you observe, I hope you see some of those things take place.

Allen: And it starts to whet your appetite for what we read in Isaiah of a day when we will truly be in the true tent with the Lord and we will feast with joy. Like that song, we will feast in the house of Zion forever and ever. Amen. I love hanging with the worship pastor. I love hanging with the worship pastor too. Man, I think what's cool is

Bobby: And it starts to whet your appetite for what we read in Isaiah of a day when we will truly be in the true tent with the Lord and we will feast with joy. Like that song, we will feast in the house of Zion forever and ever. Amen. I love hanging with the worship pastor. I love hanging with the worship pastor too. Man, I think what's cool is

Allen: Obviously, I mean, I could draw it so much, but I think super helpful because I think a lot of the times church members probably I mean, they're obviously not thinking about these things as you are every single week. But I hope that just kind of as you mentioned, wets their appetite for like, man, it's intentional w the w the way that we worship and it's a blessing to our soul. And it's really good and beneficial. And even just the idea of formation of how the structure or the order of our service

Bobby: Obviously, I mean, I could draw it so much, but I think super helpful because I think a lot of the times church members probably I mean, they're obviously not thinking about these things as you are every single week. But I hope that just kind of as you mentioned, wets their appetite for like, man, it's intentional w the w the way that we worship and it's a blessing to our soul. And it's really good and beneficial. And even just the idea of formation of how the structure or the order of our service

Allen: Called liturgy is shaping us into a type of people. And when we confess our sins, it's shaping us into a people who are contrite in spirit, who are humble and lowly, who are who are exalting in God and praising God and feasting with one another as the supper is and looking around and having a family meal with one another, who are in Christ and happy in God. So I pray that our listeners are blessed and encouraged.

Bobby: Called liturgy is shaping us into a type of people. And when we confess our sins, it's shaping us into a people who are contrite in spirit, who are humble and lowly, who are who are exalting in God and praising God and feasting with one another as the supper is and looking around and having a family meal with one another, who are in Christ and happy in God. So I pray that our listeners are blessed and encouraged.

Allen: By this episode, as we think about worship, we think about parenting, we think about what Christ has done for us in the victory that we have in Christ. Bobby, would you pray for our listeners? And then we'll end this episode. Gladly. Father in heaven, thank you for your holy word and what it tells us about who you are, about who we are, about our relationship to you, and about the hope of the future.

Bobby: By this episode, as we think about worship, we think about parenting, we think about what Christ has done for us in the victory that we have in Christ. Bobby, would you pray for our listeners? And then we'll end this episode. Gladly. Father in heaven, thank you for your holy word and what it tells us about who you are, about who we are, about our relationship to you, and about the hope of the future.

Allen: There are sobering things that we read and just talked about judgment, discipline, death. And yet we're reminded by your word that you swallowed up death forever in Jesus and give us an eternal hope, a joyful hope. I pray that you would sustain those listening to this, that you would sustain them in their Bible reading and open their eyes.

Bobby: There are sobering things that we read and just talked about judgment, discipline, death. And yet we're reminded by your word that you swallowed up death forever in Jesus and give us an eternal hope, a joyful hope. I pray that you would sustain those listening to this, that you would sustain them in their Bible reading and open their eyes.

Allen: To behold wonders in your law. Your law is filled with wonders. Let them see a few fresh ones and satisfy their soul. Amen. Amen. Well, this has been another episode of the SCC Saver Podcast. We're on Apple, YouTube, Spotify. Be sure to share with your friends who would be blessed by these. Hopefully that's anyone and everyone. So share with your friends. We also

Bobby: To behold wonders in your law. Your law is filled with wonders. Let them see a few fresh ones and satisfy their soul. Amen. Amen. Well, this has been another episode of the SCC Saver Podcast. We're on Apple, YouTube, Spotify. Be sure to share with your friends who would be blessed by these. Hopefully that's anyone and everyone. So share with your friends. We also

Allen: I don't think this is the first time I've asked, but we would also love a rating or a view. Those are helpful. So we'll see you next time. Or or a sponsorship. A spot dude, yeah, we've we've mentioned so someone send this. Who did we mention? Valentino. Someone send this to Valentino. Yes. It's gonna be huge. all right. Till next time.

Bobby: I don't think this is the first time I've asked, but we would also love a rating or a view. Those are helpful. So we'll see you next time. Or or a sponsorship. A spot dude, yeah, we've we've mentioned so someone send this. Who did we mention? Valentino. Someone send this to Valentino. Yes. It's gonna be huge. all right. Till next time.