WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.960 I'm particularly interested in how the New Testament 00:00:01.960 --> 00:00:03.680 is shaped by the Old. And of course, there's 00:00:03.680 --> 00:00:07.639 no place better to go than Isaiah, to just dwell 00:00:07.639 --> 00:00:13.960 in Isaiah and let that speak and try and get 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:16.359 what Isaiah is saying. So I've been pottering 00:00:16.359 --> 00:00:18.719 around in Isaiah for these last number of months, 00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:23.879 meditating, chewing, occasionally going to somebody 00:00:23.879 --> 00:00:26.640 much cleverer than I am just to check out my 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:30.170 Hebrew. That is Eric Ortlund, of course. But 00:00:30.170 --> 00:00:34.350 I came across this verse, Isaiah 35, 4, and I've 00:00:34.350 --> 00:00:38.289 now been personally meditating on it for about 00:00:38.289 --> 00:00:43.210 six months. And I'm wrestling with it, wrestling 00:00:43.210 --> 00:00:47.229 with the application of it. I came across it 00:00:47.229 --> 00:00:51.750 initially, coincided with the launch of the MACCL 00:00:51.750 --> 00:00:55.630 back last September or so. And it was a time 00:00:55.630 --> 00:00:59.869 when I realized coming up towards our first residential 00:00:59.869 --> 00:01:03.090 intensive and I thought I am feeling really anxious 00:01:03.090 --> 00:01:05.609 and worried about this and I was noticing how 00:01:05.609 --> 00:01:08.409 I was feeling about it and here I was at this 00:01:08.409 --> 00:01:12.909 first residential with students who are wanting 00:01:12.909 --> 00:01:15.450 to learn more about leadership and I'm encouraging 00:01:15.450 --> 00:01:19.569 them in the necessity of growing in self -awareness 00:01:19.569 --> 00:01:24.030 in order that we might become safer. more faithful 00:01:24.030 --> 00:01:27.250 leaders, steward our power more faithfully as 00:01:27.250 --> 00:01:30.930 we are more aware, self -aware, and use every 00:01:30.930 --> 00:01:33.629 means possible to grow in that self -awareness. 00:01:33.829 --> 00:01:37.109 And here I was being aware, beginning to be aware 00:01:37.109 --> 00:01:40.709 of some of my own unhealthy reactions, or more 00:01:40.709 --> 00:01:43.109 aware of my unhealthy reactions. I was noticing 00:01:43.109 --> 00:01:48.069 a certain fear and a negativity and an anxiety 00:01:48.069 --> 00:01:53.290 and frequently anger. And rather than just attribute 00:01:53.290 --> 00:01:56.129 that to my scottishness i thought this might 00:01:56.129 --> 00:01:58.250 be something good to talk with someone about 00:01:58.250 --> 00:02:02.650 just to to chat through so rather than be a hypocrite 00:02:02.650 --> 00:02:04.890 and encourage others to take every means of growing 00:02:04.890 --> 00:02:06.829 in self -awareness and not do it myself i thought 00:02:06.829 --> 00:02:10.030 i'm going to try and meet with somebody and chat 00:02:10.030 --> 00:02:12.949 some of this through and so for the first time 00:02:12.949 --> 00:02:15.729 in my life i've been meeting with a counselor 00:02:15.729 --> 00:02:18.050 and that's been a really interesting process 00:02:18.050 --> 00:02:22.500 really that word interesting process right it's 00:02:22.500 --> 00:02:26.080 been provocative it's been challenging and it's 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:28.479 been helpful it's been really helpful one of 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:32.400 the first things that that this chap said to 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:37.280 me it sounds terribly simple almost trite was 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:49.930 stop just stop breathe stop breathe Slow down. 00:02:52.590 --> 00:02:58.449 Recognize and welcome the Lord's promised presence. 00:03:00.370 --> 00:03:08.669 Pause before you respond. Now, that sounds really 00:03:08.669 --> 00:03:13.389 simple, doesn't it? But actually, it's incredibly 00:03:13.389 --> 00:03:18.300 profound. It's incredibly difficult. For someone 00:03:18.300 --> 00:03:21.560 like me, especially. I've always been, I've got 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:23.740 a busy brain and I'm quick with the answers. 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:30.460 It's a great defense mechanism. To pause, slow 00:03:30.460 --> 00:03:36.259 down and wait. I've just about chewed my tongue 00:03:36.259 --> 00:03:38.840 off in the last six months trying to do exactly 00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:41.979 that. But this advice is also incredibly helpful. 00:03:42.520 --> 00:03:44.879 And I want to offer a bit of a meditation on 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:47.759 what I think is one of the biblical bases for 00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:50.819 this, which is in this verse, really verse 4 00:03:50.819 --> 00:03:56.639 of Isaiah 35. And I hope that it might help you 00:03:56.639 --> 00:04:00.219 as much as it's helped me. And I'll just share 00:04:00.219 --> 00:04:02.740 this very much in first person, and if it applies, 00:04:02.780 --> 00:04:05.620 if it fits, great. And if it doesn't, you can 00:04:05.620 --> 00:04:07.919 head off to lunch and just go and enjoy your 00:04:07.919 --> 00:04:14.930 lunch after this short meditation. So, the text 00:04:14.930 --> 00:04:21.250 of Isaiah 35, 4, to look at the Hebrew more literally, 00:04:21.350 --> 00:04:24.610 what struck me and really smacked me in the face 00:04:24.610 --> 00:04:28.589 was this. Although it's translated fearful, I 00:04:28.589 --> 00:04:31.529 think that was in the NIV, it's translated the 00:04:31.529 --> 00:04:35.790 anxious of heart in the ESV, the Hebrew is literally 00:04:35.790 --> 00:04:41.560 the hasty of heart. Say to the hasty of heart. 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:43.920 And that's what made me sit up and take notice. 00:04:44.740 --> 00:04:47.439 Because the idea of being hasty of heart rather 00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:49.860 than just anxious of heart seems a much richer 00:04:49.860 --> 00:04:54.220 concept to me and a concept that gives itself 00:04:54.220 --> 00:04:59.000 much more to practical application. So it says 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:02.300 literally, say to the hasty of heart, be strong. 00:05:02.980 --> 00:05:08.620 Don't be afraid. Behold, your God comes. And 00:05:08.620 --> 00:05:12.620 he will come with vengeance. And he will come 00:05:12.620 --> 00:05:15.060 with, I think the ESV puts it, the recompense 00:05:15.060 --> 00:05:18.980 of God or the benefits of God. It's the same 00:05:18.980 --> 00:05:22.620 word used there as in Psalm 103, getting all 00:05:22.620 --> 00:05:27.259 his benefits. So he comes with, God comes, he 00:05:27.259 --> 00:05:29.860 comes with vengeance, with the recompense or 00:05:29.860 --> 00:05:32.139 the benefits of God, and he will come and save 00:05:32.139 --> 00:05:38.220 you. So that idea of not so much anxiety or fear, 00:05:38.459 --> 00:05:41.160 although those might be symptoms of it, but fundamentally 00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:46.279 a hastiness of heart is the concept that I have 00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:50.240 been wrestling with. For someone always in a 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:54.480 rush, beginning to reflect on that has been really 00:05:55.209 --> 00:05:59.689 rich and challenging. I reflected on the harm 00:05:59.689 --> 00:06:04.470 that I have done over my 57 years when I have 00:06:04.470 --> 00:06:08.449 responded hastily to things. When I have gone 00:06:08.449 --> 00:06:12.629 with the hasty heart and let that determine a 00:06:12.629 --> 00:06:17.089 response or an action. And then reflected on 00:06:17.089 --> 00:06:20.490 the times when I may have waited and not let 00:06:20.490 --> 00:06:23.449 that hasty heart determine a response, I thought, 00:06:23.529 --> 00:06:26.089 are there any times where that's done harm? And 00:06:26.089 --> 00:06:28.170 I had to conclude, well, no, I can't think of 00:06:28.170 --> 00:06:31.110 any. Partly because there aren't many, but I 00:06:31.110 --> 00:06:36.470 can't think of many. So what I want to do then 00:06:36.470 --> 00:06:39.350 is just explore that basic idea in this text 00:06:39.350 --> 00:06:42.329 and then unpack the text a wee bit more and think 00:06:42.329 --> 00:06:45.149 about some of the practical applications of it. 00:06:46.220 --> 00:06:49.379 The idea is something like this, that as we are 00:06:49.379 --> 00:06:52.360 going through life, we receive various stimuli, 00:06:52.600 --> 00:06:56.079 various things that provoke us, that demand some 00:06:56.079 --> 00:07:00.319 kind of response. Our hearts, if you like, are 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:04.420 provoked. There's some form of stimulus that 00:07:04.420 --> 00:07:07.079 acts upon our hearts, and then there's some sort 00:07:07.079 --> 00:07:10.680 of response or outcome as a result of how we 00:07:10.680 --> 00:07:16.060 process that stimulus, right? the hasty heart 00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:21.620 will respond in certain ways. The text goes on 00:07:21.620 --> 00:07:24.139 to say that the first thing to say is, be strong 00:07:24.139 --> 00:07:26.879 and don't be afraid. The implication is that 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:31.639 the heart that responds hastily is one that is 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:38.420 weak and fearful, first of all. And so, thinking 00:07:38.420 --> 00:07:42.970 through this text, What is it that my hasty heart 00:07:42.970 --> 00:07:47.509 needs to have said to it so that I respond rightly 00:07:47.509 --> 00:07:51.810 and not respond in the wrong kinds of ways? So 00:07:51.810 --> 00:07:54.649 I respond in ways that are honoring to God, pleasing 00:07:54.649 --> 00:07:58.129 to Him, and not in ways that aren't. And there's 00:07:58.129 --> 00:08:00.769 the four things here then that need to be said 00:08:00.769 --> 00:08:07.110 to my heart. Behold, your God comes. He comes 00:08:07.110 --> 00:08:12.649 with vengeance. He comes with benefits. And He 00:08:12.649 --> 00:08:17.709 comes to save. And so think about each of those 00:08:17.709 --> 00:08:21.889 four in turn and think about how the application, 00:08:22.050 --> 00:08:26.129 stopping and pausing long enough to speak those 00:08:26.129 --> 00:08:31.250 things to a hasty heart before responding. The 00:08:31.250 --> 00:08:39.230 first one, God comes. Our God. He is present. 00:08:39.690 --> 00:08:45.470 If I forget that fundamentally, then my responses 00:08:45.470 --> 00:08:50.450 can be all kinds of unhealthiness. How often 00:08:50.450 --> 00:08:53.870 I've been forced to challenge myself on this. 00:08:53.950 --> 00:08:58.269 How often do I stop simply to acknowledge that 00:08:58.269 --> 00:09:03.919 fundamental promise? I will be with you. Behold, 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:06.679 I am with you to the very end of the age after 00:09:06.679 --> 00:09:11.139 Jesus has given the great commission. I am with 00:09:11.139 --> 00:09:15.399 you, Emmanuel, God, with us. How often in the 00:09:15.399 --> 00:09:19.940 average day do I actually simply stop to recognize 00:09:19.940 --> 00:09:26.860 I don't feel this. I don't see it. I am not consciously 00:09:26.860 --> 00:09:29.620 aware of it. But even just simply to stop and 00:09:29.620 --> 00:09:33.460 remember that promise. and keep reminding myself 00:09:33.460 --> 00:09:35.940 of it and i'm ashamed to say that in the average 00:09:35.940 --> 00:09:38.580 day i'm so busy getting on with stuff that i 00:09:38.580 --> 00:09:42.500 stop so seldom to remind myself of this basic 00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:47.580 fundamental promise god is there so number one 00:09:47.580 --> 00:09:53.899 to stop the lord is present he says i am with 00:09:53.899 --> 00:09:57.419 you that's his promise regardless of how i feel 00:09:57.419 --> 00:10:02.210 or how i see things And then let my actions be 00:10:02.210 --> 00:10:06.289 in accord with that promised presence. The second 00:10:06.289 --> 00:10:10.710 thing is, he says, God comes with vengeance. 00:10:12.250 --> 00:10:18.350 If I rush past that point, if I forget that God 00:10:18.350 --> 00:10:21.950 is the one who comes to avenge what is wrong, 00:10:22.330 --> 00:10:26.409 He is the one who comes to bring justice and 00:10:26.409 --> 00:10:30.190 judgment. If I rush past that and forget that 00:10:30.190 --> 00:10:33.429 and then let my actions play out accordingly, 00:10:33.690 --> 00:10:38.669 then I very quickly become frustrated and angry 00:10:38.669 --> 00:10:44.389 and at times despairing. I default to being judgmental 00:10:44.389 --> 00:10:46.909 of all the stuff that's wrong and I want it to 00:10:46.909 --> 00:10:52.029 be put right. But it's when I rush past, God 00:10:52.029 --> 00:10:57.639 is the one who brings vengeance. angry responses 00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:01.980 to things that happen in life my my tendency 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:06.139 and i notice it to to find myself verging into 00:11:06.139 --> 00:11:09.500 beginning to to hate the world and get angry 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:12.700 and frustrated instead of loving people and serving 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:17.139 them are when my hasty heart rushes past the 00:11:17.139 --> 00:11:19.100 fact that god is the one who brings vengeance 00:11:19.100 --> 00:11:26.129 he is the judge he will sort it He will bring 00:11:26.129 --> 00:11:29.450 justice. And I can leave that with him because 00:11:29.450 --> 00:11:34.950 it's not my job. Speak to my hasty heart. God 00:11:34.950 --> 00:11:37.809 brings vengeance. And God is the one, thirdly, 00:11:37.809 --> 00:11:41.750 who brings benefits. Forget not all his benefits. 00:11:41.850 --> 00:11:46.090 If I rush past this one and forget that God is 00:11:46.090 --> 00:11:50.960 the one who is good and he is generous. And he 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:53.500 wants what's best for me more than I want what's 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:56.419 best for me. And he wants what's best for the 00:11:56.419 --> 00:11:59.100 people I love and care about more than I want 00:11:59.100 --> 00:12:02.399 what's best for the people I love and care about. 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:06.440 And if I rush past that point too quickly, I 00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:10.039 can then slip into things, ugly things like insecurity, 00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:17.799 like fear of failure, like a chronic negativity. 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:26.720 Like a fear that I'm unloved or unlovable. And 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:29.120 then I begin to relate to others out of that 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:32.039 place. And it's a much less healthy place to 00:12:32.039 --> 00:12:36.039 relate to people out of. But to relate out of 00:12:36.039 --> 00:12:38.899 a place that stops long enough to think of the 00:12:38.899 --> 00:12:41.980 Lord who is present, who will bring justice and 00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:44.820 who brings benefits because he is good and he 00:12:44.820 --> 00:12:48.360 is for us and not against us. To relate to others 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:50.940 out of that place is entirely life transforming. 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:55.100 That changes all of my relationships with those 00:12:55.100 --> 00:12:56.799 around about me. That's good for me and it's 00:12:56.799 --> 00:13:00.759 good for those around about me. And lastly, fourth, 00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:07.350 the God who comes. And we'll save. And if I rush 00:13:07.350 --> 00:13:11.809 past that and forget that, if my hasty heart 00:13:11.809 --> 00:13:15.509 responds without remembering that first and rush 00:13:15.509 --> 00:13:19.730 past this fact that He is the one who saves and 00:13:19.730 --> 00:13:22.649 He brings salvation, then I'm going to try to 00:13:22.649 --> 00:13:27.870 do it myself. I'm going to try to justify myself 00:13:27.870 --> 00:13:33.759 instead of repenting. and letting Him do that 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:38.080 justification. I'm going to get defensive if 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:44.299 I'm challenged. I might try to control and direct 00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:48.740 others as though I am the Savior and God isn't. 00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:54.559 All these are features. Maybe you identify with 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:57.200 some of them. Maybe you don't identify with some 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:59.080 of them. If you don't, you're a better man or 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:03.350 woman than I am. But these are all the things 00:14:03.350 --> 00:14:08.850 that need to be said to the hasty heart. God 00:14:08.850 --> 00:14:13.870 comes. He brings vengeance. He brings justice. 00:14:14.169 --> 00:14:17.009 He brings his benefits. He's good and he's for 00:14:17.009 --> 00:14:20.909 us. And he is the one who saves. And you and 00:14:20.909 --> 00:14:24.809 I need to stop frequently about once every 30 00:14:24.809 --> 00:14:31.340 seconds or more. And just recall. Remind. These 00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:34.539 things are true, however I might feel about them. 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:38.039 And if my reactions and responses to the people 00:14:38.039 --> 00:14:42.039 around about me are shaped by stopping long enough 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:44.139 to remember, that's going to be good for me. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:47.379 It's going to be good for the people around about 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:51.220 me. It's going to be good for the world. So there's 00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:56.299 some meditations on this text of Isaiah 35, 4. 00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:59.299 I wonder if we could all just stop now for a 00:14:59.299 --> 00:15:04.559 few seconds in prayer as we close. Just breathe 00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:14.299 deeply. Just stop. Breathe. The Lord is present. 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:20.899 He promises to be. And say to your hasty heart, 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:32.700 be strong. Fear not. Your God comes Your God 00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:39.860 comes with vengeance Your God comes with benefits 00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:58.190 Your God comes to save Thank you, Lord Jesus.