WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.060 All right, welcome back to the deep dive, everyone. 00:00:02.960 --> 00:00:05.519 You know, we love to get granular here, really 00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:09.019 pull apart all the threads of some pretty incredible 00:00:09.019 --> 00:00:12.320 texts. We do, we do. And today, we're doing a 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:16.199 deep dive into one powerful, resonant piece of 00:00:16.199 --> 00:00:19.219 writing. We're talking Tobit's Song of Praise. 00:00:19.980 --> 00:00:22.600 Yeah, imagine, if you will, a song. And it's 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:24.839 not a victory song. It's not something that's 00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:30.100 sung after some big triumph. Right. It's more 00:00:30.100 --> 00:00:32.820 like something that's whispered and then declared 00:00:32.820 --> 00:00:35.140 from the heart of exile, really, from the heart 00:00:35.140 --> 00:00:37.060 of hardship. That's the interesting, surprising 00:00:37.060 --> 00:00:38.679 birthplace of the words we're going to be looking 00:00:38.679 --> 00:00:41.399 at. And it's not just a lament. It's a full -throated. 00:00:41.740 --> 00:00:43.799 It's a joyful. It's a wonderful expression of 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:46.159 praise. Yeah. And for you joining us today, what 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:47.539 we're going to be doing is really getting into 00:00:47.539 --> 00:00:51.240 the core of this We want to uncover all the different 00:00:51.240 --> 00:00:53.179 layers. We want to understand what it reveals 00:00:53.179 --> 00:00:55.640 about us, about our own ability to be resilient, 00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:58.399 our ability to hold on to faith, to find hope 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:01.060 when things feel, I don't know, just really overwhelming. 00:01:01.259 --> 00:01:04.019 Yeah. And, you know, as we'll see, this song, 00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:06.480 it comes directly from Tobit himself. It does. 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:08.700 It does. Okay, let's jump right in. That opening. 00:01:09.379 --> 00:01:12.819 That opening is just so powerful. blessed be 00:01:12.819 --> 00:01:16.140 God who lives forever because his kingship lasts 00:01:16.140 --> 00:01:19.099 for all ages. Just think about that as a starting 00:01:19.099 --> 00:01:21.439 point. You're in exile. You're away from your 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:24.519 home. What strikes you about starting with that, 00:01:24.599 --> 00:01:27.739 with this huge statement of God's power, when 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:30.579 Everything around you seems to suggest that there's 00:01:30.579 --> 00:01:32.180 not a lot of power there for your people. Well, 00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:34.879 it's immediate right. It's this instant declaration. 00:01:35.480 --> 00:01:38.200 It's a bold move. It feels like an anchor in 00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:40.659 the middle of a storm. Your whole world is crumbling 00:01:40.659 --> 00:01:43.719 around you, and yet you are declaring this... 00:01:43.769 --> 00:01:46.790 this eternal reign, it's powerful. And then, 00:01:46.969 --> 00:01:48.569 I mean, just the very next verse, right, brings 00:01:48.569 --> 00:01:51.349 in this really complex idea, for he afflicts 00:01:51.349 --> 00:01:53.530 and shows mercy, cast down to the depths of Hades, 00:01:53.730 --> 00:01:55.870 brings up from the great abyss, this idea that 00:01:55.870 --> 00:01:58.510 God can do both. And he can harm and he can heal, 00:01:58.689 --> 00:02:01.049 he can bring you low and lift you up. What is 00:02:01.049 --> 00:02:03.549 the significance of introducing that right away, 00:02:03.829 --> 00:02:06.319 this duality? Well, I think it's incredibly fascinating 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:08.800 because, I mean, number one, it doesn't present 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:11.819 God as sort of, you know, passively benevolent. 00:02:12.039 --> 00:02:13.860 Right. You know, everything's just sort of well 00:02:13.860 --> 00:02:16.939 and good. Right. No. This is a God who is in 00:02:16.939 --> 00:02:20.039 control. Right. He's acknowledging a comprehensive 00:02:20.039 --> 00:02:23.699 power, a power that encompasses the full spectrum 00:02:23.699 --> 00:02:25.979 of the human experience, the light, the dark, 00:02:26.139 --> 00:02:29.020 the good, the bad. And also, he's not shying 00:02:29.020 --> 00:02:31.539 away from a difficult truth, right? Yeah. Which 00:02:31.539 --> 00:02:33.960 is that hardship can be a part of the divine 00:02:33.960 --> 00:02:37.000 plan. You're out. While also at the same time 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:39.930 affirming that mercy and redemption. That's always 00:02:39.930 --> 00:02:43.210 available. That's never off the table. And that 00:02:43.210 --> 00:02:45.569 rhetorical question I think is so cool. What 00:02:45.569 --> 00:02:48.289 is there that can snatch from his hand? I mean, 00:02:48.310 --> 00:02:50.789 it really just drives home the sense that God's 00:02:50.789 --> 00:02:53.210 authority, God's power, it's over all things. 00:02:53.650 --> 00:02:56.110 Nothing escapes that. It's not just about power 00:02:56.110 --> 00:02:58.150 though. It's about sovereignty. It's about this 00:02:58.150 --> 00:03:00.509 idea that nothing happens outside of his divine 00:03:00.509 --> 00:03:02.909 reach. Right. Whether we're experiencing blessing 00:03:02.909 --> 00:03:05.710 or suffering, it's all, we're still within his 00:03:05.710 --> 00:03:07.930 domain. That's right. That's right. And then 00:03:07.930 --> 00:03:10.340 we shift a little bit. here, now the song shifts 00:03:10.340 --> 00:03:12.819 to a very direct instruction to the Israelites. 00:03:14.219 --> 00:03:16.979 Give thanks to him, you Israelites, in the presence 00:03:16.979 --> 00:03:19.479 of the nations, for though he has scattered you 00:03:19.479 --> 00:03:21.340 among them, even there recount his greatness. 00:03:22.759 --> 00:03:25.520 Why is it so important to praise God publicly 00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:28.180 among the nations that have scattered them? What's 00:03:28.180 --> 00:03:30.360 the purpose? I mean, beyond personal devotion, 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:32.919 is there something bigger going on here? I think 00:03:32.919 --> 00:03:36.169 so. I mean, think about Think about exile. Think 00:03:36.169 --> 00:03:39.169 about just the psychological and the communal 00:03:39.169 --> 00:03:41.550 impact of being taken away from your home. This 00:03:41.550 --> 00:03:43.650 public act of praise, I mean, this is huge. This 00:03:43.650 --> 00:03:45.789 is a way of maintaining your identity. This is 00:03:45.789 --> 00:03:48.689 maintaining solidarity in the face of potential 00:03:48.689 --> 00:03:51.449 despair. In the face of assimilation, it's saying, 00:03:51.610 --> 00:03:53.870 we are still here. We are dispersed. We may look 00:03:53.870 --> 00:03:56.370 vulnerable, but we're not. Our allegiance to 00:03:56.370 --> 00:03:58.750 our God remains unbroken and you will not silence 00:03:58.750 --> 00:04:02.009 us. And on top of that, it can also be seen as 00:04:02.009 --> 00:04:04.979 a form of witness. You know, they're keeping 00:04:04.979 --> 00:04:06.939 the faith alive, not just for themselves, but 00:04:06.939 --> 00:04:09.560 for others who might see, wait a second, these 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:11.379 people, they're different. They have something 00:04:11.379 --> 00:04:14.319 that we don't have. It's a spiritual declaration. 00:04:14.909 --> 00:04:17.009 It's a spiritual declaration of resilience. I 00:04:17.009 --> 00:04:19.189 love that, this idea of spiritual resistance. 00:04:19.810 --> 00:04:23.009 It's so powerful. And then, I mean, the call 00:04:23.009 --> 00:04:26.269 to praise, it expands even more, it goes so much 00:04:26.269 --> 00:04:29.829 bigger. Exalt him before every living being because 00:04:29.829 --> 00:04:32.629 he is your Lord and he is your God, our Father 00:04:32.629 --> 00:04:34.910 and God forever and ever. This isn't just about 00:04:34.910 --> 00:04:37.389 the Israelites anymore, is it? No, no, this is 00:04:37.389 --> 00:04:39.810 universal. What is, what's going on here? What's 00:04:39.810 --> 00:04:42.639 this all about? This is saying that God's authority 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:45.920 and His sovereignty, it covers all of creation, 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:48.399 not just one nation. I mean, you see the language. 00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:51.019 Every living being, Lord God, Father, this is 00:04:51.019 --> 00:04:53.100 about a fundamental relationship that we all 00:04:53.100 --> 00:04:55.920 have. And right after that, he connects it back 00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:58.420 to that idea of suffering and mercy that we were 00:04:58.420 --> 00:05:00.860 talking about just a minute ago. He will afflict 00:05:00.860 --> 00:05:03.620 you for your iniquities, but will have mercy 00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:07.519 on all of you. So how do you see those two ideas 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:09.579 working together? Because they seem kind of different, 00:05:09.699 --> 00:05:12.399 don't they? Yeah, they do. But it's like, it's 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:14.399 like he's setting up this framework, right? Yes. 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:17.500 Where even in the context of universal dominion, 00:05:17.620 --> 00:05:20.100 we're still accountable for what we do. Our actions 00:05:20.100 --> 00:05:24.579 matter. But there's always that promise of compassion. 00:05:24.939 --> 00:05:27.560 It's not a free pass, but it's also not a life 00:05:27.560 --> 00:05:30.319 sentence without the possibility of parole. Right. 00:05:30.620 --> 00:05:32.860 And then he says, he will gather you from all 00:05:32.860 --> 00:05:34.620 the nations among whom you have been scattered. 00:05:36.350 --> 00:05:39.410 I mean, to be in exile and to hear that, that 00:05:39.410 --> 00:05:41.050 must have been just this huge, I don't know, 00:05:41.310 --> 00:05:43.029 like a light at the end of a tunnel. Oh, absolutely. 00:05:43.350 --> 00:05:46.370 For a community that's experiencing dispersal, 00:05:46.670 --> 00:05:48.269 you know, the potential loss of their identity, 00:05:48.730 --> 00:05:50.589 this is the promise we're gonna bring you back 00:05:50.589 --> 00:05:52.730 together. Yeah. And it would have been so comforting. 00:05:52.949 --> 00:05:55.149 It's this incentive to hold on to your faith, 00:05:55.350 --> 00:05:58.649 to hold on to your traditions, because in the 00:05:58.649 --> 00:06:01.269 end, it's gonna be okay. What was broken will 00:06:01.269 --> 00:06:03.550 be made whole again. Right. But then there's 00:06:03.550 --> 00:06:05.370 this really important element that gets introduced, 00:06:05.589 --> 00:06:08.850 this condition for restoration. When you turn 00:06:08.850 --> 00:06:11.350 back to him with all your heart and with all 00:06:11.350 --> 00:06:14.569 your soul, do what is right before him, then 00:06:14.569 --> 00:06:17.209 he will turn to you and will hide his face from 00:06:17.209 --> 00:06:20.850 you no longer. This turning point, this idea 00:06:20.850 --> 00:06:23.670 that you have to change. What does that tell 00:06:23.670 --> 00:06:25.870 us about this whole relationship? Well, I think 00:06:25.870 --> 00:06:28.170 it really, it just underscores that it's a two 00:06:28.170 --> 00:06:30.550 -way street. Yeah, it's interactive. It's not 00:06:30.550 --> 00:06:32.370 just, okay, God said this. And so that's how 00:06:32.370 --> 00:06:34.949 it is. No, no, no. We have a responsibility here. 00:06:35.170 --> 00:06:37.589 You know, we respond with all your heart and 00:06:37.589 --> 00:06:41.149 with all your soul. This is a complete internal 00:06:41.149 --> 00:06:42.910 transformation. It's not just doing the right 00:06:42.910 --> 00:06:45.709 things. It's about genuine repentance. It's about 00:06:45.709 --> 00:06:49.350 being committed to living the way that God has 00:06:49.350 --> 00:06:51.810 called you to live. And so, I mean, it raises 00:06:51.810 --> 00:06:53.370 a big question, right? What does it really mean 00:06:53.370 --> 00:06:56.370 to turn back with your whole being? You know, 00:06:56.430 --> 00:06:58.290 that's a pretty tall order. What does that look 00:06:58.290 --> 00:07:00.610 like? It's not just going through the motions. 00:07:00.970 --> 00:07:03.610 It's it's got to be so deep. And then then we 00:07:03.610 --> 00:07:06.850 get this again this renewed call to action. Now 00:07:06.850 --> 00:07:09.730 consider what he has done for you and give thanks 00:07:09.730 --> 00:07:12.490 with full voice. Bless the Lord of righteousness 00:07:12.490 --> 00:07:16.649 and exalt the king of the ages. What's prompting 00:07:16.649 --> 00:07:19.189 this renewed emphasis on praise? I think it's 00:07:19.189 --> 00:07:22.509 almost a natural result. He's just presented 00:07:22.509 --> 00:07:25.829 this idea that God's favor can be restored to 00:07:25.829 --> 00:07:28.110 you. And so, okay, what's the natural response? 00:07:28.310 --> 00:07:31.550 You're thankful. You're praising. You're reflecting 00:07:31.550 --> 00:07:34.550 on the tough times, on the mercies, and you express 00:07:34.550 --> 00:07:36.750 it through thanksgiving. You recognize, wow, 00:07:37.189 --> 00:07:39.430 God, you're righteous even when it's hard to 00:07:39.430 --> 00:07:41.430 understand what you're doing. Then we get this 00:07:41.430 --> 00:07:44.329 super personal moment from Tobit himself. As 00:07:44.329 --> 00:07:47.170 for me, I exalt my God, my soul exalts the king 00:07:47.170 --> 00:07:49.850 of heaven and rejoices all the days of my life. 00:07:50.449 --> 00:07:52.470 What's the impact of hearing that individual 00:07:52.470 --> 00:07:55.209 voice and what's been up to this point kind of 00:07:55.209 --> 00:07:57.410 a communal song? It's really moving because you 00:07:57.410 --> 00:08:00.769 shift from you Israelites, this big group, right? 00:08:01.189 --> 00:08:04.329 And now it's just Tobit. And this is, it's personal. 00:08:04.550 --> 00:08:08.230 It's grounding these huge ideas in a lived experience. 00:08:08.629 --> 00:08:11.410 And he's an example, isn't he? He's this example 00:08:11.410 --> 00:08:14.949 of faith and devotion, unwavering devotion that 00:08:14.949 --> 00:08:17.329 can inspire the entire community. It's like he's 00:08:17.329 --> 00:08:19.250 saying, it doesn't matter what's going on in 00:08:19.250 --> 00:08:21.509 my life. This is the truth. This is my truth. 00:08:21.649 --> 00:08:24.069 This is my joy. It's constant. It just brings 00:08:24.069 --> 00:08:25.990 it all down to earth in a really powerful way. 00:08:26.329 --> 00:08:28.889 And then it opens back up again. Let all sing 00:08:28.889 --> 00:08:31.490 praise to his greatness. Let all speak and give 00:08:31.490 --> 00:08:34.480 thanks in Jerusalem. Even though Jerusalem is 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:37.120 still in this state of hardship, why mention 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:39.899 it specifically? Why is it the focus of this 00:08:39.899 --> 00:08:43.259 praise? Well, Jerusalem is the holy city. It's 00:08:43.259 --> 00:08:46.320 their spiritual home. It's everything to them. 00:08:46.419 --> 00:08:48.620 Their national identity. It's their heritage. 00:08:48.940 --> 00:08:51.600 It's their heart. And so even in its ruined state, 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:54.559 it's still that aspirational center. That's where 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:56.720 their worship will be. That's where their praise 00:08:56.720 --> 00:08:58.960 will be. It's this unwavering hope that one day 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:02.549 it will be restored. It's a statement. It's a 00:09:02.549 --> 00:09:05.250 statement of loyalty and hope. Then we turn our 00:09:05.250 --> 00:09:09.549 attention to the city itself. Jerusalem. Holy 00:09:09.549 --> 00:09:11.669 city. He will afflict you for the works of your 00:09:11.669 --> 00:09:14.230 hands, but will again pity the children of the 00:09:14.230 --> 00:09:17.250 righteous. So again, we see that same duality, 00:09:17.389 --> 00:09:20.450 right? Affliction and mercy. But this time, it's 00:09:20.450 --> 00:09:23.149 applied specifically to Jerusalem. We see that 00:09:23.149 --> 00:09:26.070 tension between what was done wrong, you know, 00:09:26.129 --> 00:09:28.590 their failings and this incredible future hope. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:31.659 Absolutely. And acknowledging that affliction 00:09:31.659 --> 00:09:35.379 is a result of their actions. It's not random. 00:09:35.740 --> 00:09:37.620 It's not God's just doing this to us. But then 00:09:37.620 --> 00:09:40.360 it shifts. It shifts to this future pity for 00:09:40.360 --> 00:09:42.519 the children of the righteous. So even in this 00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:44.120 community that's suffering, there's going to 00:09:44.120 --> 00:09:46.779 be people who, because they're faithful, they're 00:09:46.779 --> 00:09:49.120 going to experience God's compassion. And they're 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:51.340 going to see that city restored. So it's this 00:09:51.340 --> 00:09:54.799 beautiful weaving together of justice and mercy. 00:09:55.340 --> 00:09:58.240 And then he gives us this image that I just love. 00:09:58.850 --> 00:10:02.490 So that your tabernacle may be rebuilt in you 00:10:02.490 --> 00:10:05.690 with joy may he gladden within you all who are 00:10:05.690 --> 00:10:08.809 captives May he cherish within you all who are 00:10:08.809 --> 00:10:11.929 distressed for all generations to come for those 00:10:11.929 --> 00:10:15.409 people I mean living in exile longing for home 00:10:15.409 --> 00:10:19.190 What would that have meant to them? To hear that 00:10:19.190 --> 00:10:21.350 I think it would have been huge. Yeah Because 00:10:21.350 --> 00:10:23.470 the tabernacle, that represents their religious 00:10:23.470 --> 00:10:25.529 life. It represents their connection to God. 00:10:25.889 --> 00:10:28.370 And when he talks about gladdening the captives 00:10:28.370 --> 00:10:31.269 and cherishing the distressed, that's them. That's 00:10:31.269 --> 00:10:33.029 exactly where they are. And he's offering them 00:10:33.029 --> 00:10:35.549 comfort. He's offering them security. And it's 00:10:35.549 --> 00:10:39.330 not just temporary. It's enduring joy for generations. 00:10:39.789 --> 00:10:42.169 It's this promise that it will be healed, completely 00:10:42.169 --> 00:10:44.789 restored. And then we get this even bigger vision, 00:10:45.009 --> 00:10:47.370 almost universal. A bright light will shine to 00:10:47.370 --> 00:10:49.629 the limits of the earth. What does that represent? 00:10:49.809 --> 00:10:52.429 Is it still just about Jerusalem or is this something 00:10:52.429 --> 00:10:54.429 more? It's more. It's bigger that light. It's 00:10:54.429 --> 00:10:58.870 God's glory. It's truth. It's salvation and it 00:10:58.870 --> 00:11:00.950 goes out from Jerusalem It goes out from that 00:11:00.950 --> 00:11:03.899 city and it goes out to the whole World yeah, 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:06.440 it's saying that what happens in Jerusalem is 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:08.840 not just for them. It affects everyone Yeah, 00:11:08.919 --> 00:11:11.019 it's gonna bring enlightenment. It's gonna bring 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:14.860 hope to everyone Wow, and then we get many nations 00:11:14.860 --> 00:11:17.519 will come to you from afar and Inhabitants of 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:20.240 all the ends of the earth to your holy name bearing 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:22.440 in their hands gifts for the king of heaven so 00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:24.720 other people other nations They're coming to 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:26.659 Jerusalem now. What does that tell us about the 00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:28.799 role that Jerusalem will play in the world? It's 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:31.360 gonna be the center. It's gonna be this place 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:34.179 where everyone comes to, this global pilgrimage. 00:11:34.700 --> 00:11:37.320 Because they're recognizing that God is in control. 00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:40.679 He's sovereign. And Jerusalem, it's holy, it's 00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:42.840 special. And they're bringing gifts to the King 00:11:42.840 --> 00:11:44.799 of Heaven. So it's like this picture of this 00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:48.500 future peace where everyone is submitting to 00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:50.600 God and it all starts in Jerusalem. But then 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:53.259 it gets kind of harsh. Cursed be all who despise 00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:55.899 you and revile you, but blessed forever be all 00:11:55.899 --> 00:11:58.980 those who respect you. Why is there such a stark 00:11:58.980 --> 00:12:02.559 contrast? Why is it such a big deal how you respond 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:05.240 to Jerusalem? It's because Jerusalem is not just 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:08.820 a city. It's not just bricks and mortar. It represents 00:12:08.820 --> 00:12:12.039 something much deeper. It's a spiritual reality. 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:14.639 And so if you look at Jerusalem and you hate 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:16.440 it, you despise it, what you're really doing 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:18.240 is you're rejecting God. You're rejecting his 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:21.100 plan. But if you respect Jerusalem, if you see 00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:23.220 the holiness, you are aligning yourself with 00:12:23.220 --> 00:12:25.679 God. And there are blessings for that. So it's 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:27.779 like drawing a line in the sand. You're either 00:12:27.779 --> 00:12:30.379 with God or you're against Him. And then we're 00:12:30.379 --> 00:12:33.639 back to joy, back to that reunification. Go then, 00:12:33.799 --> 00:12:36.139 rejoice and exult over the children of the righteous, 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:38.500 for they will all be gathered together and will 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:41.679 bless the Lord of the ages. What's the heart 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:44.000 of this joy? Why are they so happy? Because they're 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:47.080 together again. The scattering is over, the suffering 00:12:47.080 --> 00:12:49.159 is over, they're finally back where they belong 00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:52.659 and it's God who did that. He promised and He 00:12:52.659 --> 00:12:55.220 delivered and so now they can praise Him together 00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:58.480 and it's this beautiful image of faithfulness 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:01.120 being rewarded. I love this next line. Happy 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:03.320 are those who love you and happy are those who 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:05.919 rejoice in your peace. Happy too are all who 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:08.240 grieve over all your afflictions for they will 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:10.799 rejoice over you and behold all your joy forever. 00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:15.480 This link between present sorrow and future happiness, 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:18.539 it's just, it's so powerful. It's this idea that 00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:21.200 if you've suffered with Jerusalem, if you've 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:23.740 felt its pain, you're gonna experience the glory 00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:26.399 even more. You're gonna feel that peace so much 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:29.740 deeper. It's this emotional and spiritual connection 00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:32.240 where the pain, it doesn't get erased, it becomes 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:34.539 part of the story. It becomes a way to appreciate 00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:37.509 the joy even more. And Tobin ends his song with 00:13:37.509 --> 00:13:40.029 this beautiful personal blessing and this amazing 00:13:40.029 --> 00:13:43.110 vision of what Jerusalem will be like. My soul, 00:13:43.309 --> 00:13:45.450 bless the Lord, the great King, for Jerusalem 00:13:45.450 --> 00:13:48.909 will be rebuilt as his house forever. This commitment 00:13:48.909 --> 00:13:51.629 from him really shows us just how important Jerusalem 00:13:51.629 --> 00:13:55.049 is. Yeah. He's saying Jerusalem matters. It matters 00:13:55.049 --> 00:13:57.429 now and it matters forever. And notice that word 00:13:57.429 --> 00:14:01.049 forever. Yeah. This isn't temporary. Right. This 00:14:01.049 --> 00:14:04.529 is a permanent restoration. God and Jerusalem, 00:14:04.889 --> 00:14:07.750 they're together. And then he says this. This 00:14:07.750 --> 00:14:17.909 really gets me. What a beautiful human thing 00:14:17.909 --> 00:14:20.950 to say. What's he saying here? He wants his family 00:14:20.950 --> 00:14:23.769 to be a part of this. He wants his descendants 00:14:23.769 --> 00:14:26.809 to see Jerusalem restored to its glory. And he 00:14:26.809 --> 00:14:29.370 wants them to carry on that tradition of praising 00:14:29.370 --> 00:14:31.809 God. It shows us that his faith, it's not just 00:14:31.809 --> 00:14:34.730 for him. It's for his children. It's for future 00:14:34.730 --> 00:14:36.929 generations. And then he gives us this picture 00:14:36.929 --> 00:14:39.389 of what Jerusalem will look like. And it's just 00:14:39.389 --> 00:14:42.049 amazing. It's extravagant. The gates of Jerusalem 00:14:42.049 --> 00:14:44.730 will be built with sapphire and emerald and all 00:14:44.730 --> 00:14:47.370 your walls with precious stones. The towers of 00:14:47.370 --> 00:14:49.710 Jerusalem will be built with gold and their battlements 00:14:49.710 --> 00:14:52.110 with purest gold. The streets of Jerusalem will 00:14:52.110 --> 00:14:55.750 be paved with rubies and stones of Ophir. I mean, 00:14:55.850 --> 00:14:57.820 wow. What is he trying to tell us with all this? 00:14:57.960 --> 00:15:00.960 He's trying to capture the magnificence, the 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:03.539 splendor of what Jerusalem will be. He's using 00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:06.559 these precious stones and these incredible materials 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:09.639 to show us that this isn't just a normal city. 00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:12.519 It's holy, it's powerful, it's God's dwelling 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:15.259 place and it reflects his glory. It's like heaven 00:15:15.259 --> 00:15:18.919 on earth. And then he ends the song with this 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:22.500 incredible almost auditory Image the gates of 00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:24.539 Jerusalem will sing hymns of gladness and all 00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:27.620 his houses will cry out hallelujah Blessed be 00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:30.500 the God of Israel for all ages for in you the 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:33.259 blessed will bless the holy name forever and 00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:35.700 ever What a way to end I mean, what's the message 00:15:35.700 --> 00:15:38.580 here? What's he leaving us with pure joy? Complete 00:15:38.580 --> 00:15:41.600 celebration unwavering faith Jerusalem singing 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:44.539 the house is shouting hallelujah It's this picture 00:15:44.539 --> 00:15:47.460 of God's power his faithfulness is enduring love 00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:49.720 for his people and that blessing at the end. 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:52.960 It's not temporary It's forever. Hope, redemption, 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:55.940 they win in the end. Wow. So we've been on quite 00:15:55.940 --> 00:15:58.019 a journey today. We have. We've gone deep into 00:15:58.019 --> 00:16:02.059 Tobit's song and we've seen this incredible expression 00:16:02.059 --> 00:16:05.600 of faith. Faith that not only survives but thrives 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:08.940 even in exile. It's a reminder that even when 00:16:08.940 --> 00:16:11.360 things are hard, remembering, turning towards 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:13.940 what's right and choosing to praise, these can 00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:16.899 be such powerful sources of hope. And even after 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:18.879 the darkest times, there can be restoration, 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:20.799 there can be recognition. Things can be made 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:23.659 right. Absolutely. And so, I want to leave you 00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:25.440 with this question. Okay. What's your song of 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:28.059 praise? When you face challenges, when things 00:16:28.059 --> 00:16:29.779 are tough, what gets you through? What helps 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:32.480 you to remember that there's hope? And what about 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:35.419 that idea of a future Jerusalem, that place of 00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:38.700 peace and joy? What does that mean for you? Thanks 00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:40.460 for joining us today on the Deep Dive. It's been 00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:42.799 a pleasure. Until next time, keep digging. Keep 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:43.019 searching.