Pete Owen - What the Judges Teach us about the work of Jesus and His Comming - Class 4 - Exhortation - The Dew of the Morning

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1. 0:04

   Thank you, brother Harry, and good morning brothers and sisters, young people and those of you in the hall or online. Good morning. Well, we try, don’t we generally to give an exitation from the readings. And I was thinking, well, you know, we’ve got this series that we’re trying to work through this weekend on the judges.

2. 0:22

   So I did feel. Exceptionally well blessed when the readings were Psalm 110 and 2nd Corinthians 4, which I think we’re going to be able to tie in to the character of Gideon and to that story. I would like you to turn first please to Judges chapter 6 and I wonder if if you VE ever noticed I haven T. Until recently, that before.

3. 0:46

   Gideon there SA prophet and and if I asked you the name of the prophet, none of you would know because none of us do know. So so just jump to verse seven of Judges chapter. 6. Where we read that it came to pass when the children of Israel cried to the Lord because the Midianites, the Lord sent a prophet, and the end of the record of that prophet is verse 10. And so a prophet is.

4. 1:10

   Sent before. Gideon who we come. Across in verse 11. And. Immediately and in our studies this weekend, we VE been trying to unpick. What it is that the judges teach? Us about the work of the Lord Jesus, both at his first coming. And his return. And a prophet going before well, we think Don T we immediately off and I could ask you and if perhaps inappropriate in an exhortation, so I won. T.

5. 1:40

   But all of your minds are at John the Baptist, aren T they? And if I said to you what? About the time of the end, Well, who is the prophet that S going to go before the Lord Jesus at the time of the end and I can see all of your minds are at Elijah. I’d like you to keep a marker, but will you come to John Chapter one where we read of John the Baptist coming onto the scene and the elders, the Jewish elders? Are challenged.

6. 2:13

   By John the Baptist and they ask him, who are you John one verse 22 they said to him, who are you that we may give us answer to them that sent. Us what? Says thou of thyself and he. Answers to them. I am the. Voice. At no point does he say I am John the Baptist.

7. 2:36

   Well, have you still got your marker in Judges? What do you read at the end of? Judges 6 and Verse. 10 Regarding that unnamed prophet. He is well, he S just a. Voice they VE got obeyed. God S voice. He says, I, John the Baptist, back in John one says I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness makes straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah.

8. 3:04

   And so he. Quotes doesn T he from Isaiah chapter 40 and you remember that in Isaiah 40 the. Prophet, who is the? Voice of one crying in the wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord, that prophet, the great shout of that. Prophet is all flesh is grass.

9. 3:31

   There’s the flower of the field, the only thing. The Prophet goes on to explain. That will last forever, is the word we’ve. Seen in our studies this. Weekend. The significance? Of the word all. Flesh. Is grass, the prophet says in Isaiah 14. But the word of the Lord endures forever now. The. Reason John the Baptist is sent is to repair the way of the Lord and so when in John chapter one now. We see the Lord Jesus Christ.

10. 4:06

    Come on to the. Sea. John. Is going to exit and so we see. Don’t we in verse 29 that where John is baptising? He sees Jesus coming. To him and says, Behold the Lamb of God, behold the Lamb of God. And so John’s. Key message to the world is to tell everyone. All flesh is grass, the only thing that will last.

11. 4:39

    Is the. Word of God verse 14 of John one that is the Lord Jesus. Christ. The one who’s been made flesh to dwell among us you’re going to behold. His glory and he introduces. Him now to the world, behold the Lamb of God.

12. 5:00

    Now, why is that so significant in relation to the story of Gideon? And the story of. Gideon that you could. Do a whole Bible school on. So we’re going to have to do some jumping and I apologise for that, but you’ll be thrilled to know that I’m going to try and behave this morning in terms of time I want you to come back to.

13. 5:18

    Judges, Chapter 6. And I want. You to just. Cast your eye. And I’ll. Give you a clue, Perhaps go towards the end of the chapter. See if you. Can find a lamb? Did you find a lamb well? It’s not all that easy, is it? But I. Suspect that most of you a penny.

14. 5:46

    Is dropping because actually. We find a. Fleece, don’t we? How do you get a fleece? Is that what you’ve got? Is that what you’ve got? How do we get that fleece? Well, Allah has perhaps had to be sacrificed to have a fleece. And as soon as you get this, I find. What I’m about to tell you now.

15. 6:13

    Spine tingling because. Up until really recently, I thought the story. Of the fleece. When it was simply an extraordinary miracle. That gave Gideon assurance. Of the fact that God was with him. Well, it is that, but it S altogether marvellous because look carefully if we. Apply the principle here that the. Lamb The. Fleece is a lamb, and that the lamb is pointing forward to the Lord.

16. 6:46

    Jesus Christ Let S read verse 36. Gideon said to God, if, if you will save Israel by my. Hand, as you said. Behold, I LL put a fleece of wool on the floor, and if the dew be on the fleece only, and if it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that you’ll save Israel by my hand, as you’ve said.

17. 7:06

    Now, first of all, let’s just pick out a couple. Of words here the fleece. Well, I’m sure that you’ve already made a note, and Brother Steve has already pointed out the fact that I can’t help myself. Can I say get your pencil out? But all the same, I’m going to tell you again. Look next to the word fleece.

18. 7:23

    Put John 129. It’s the lamb. OK, the fleece is of wool. Well, there are two references I’m going to give you. I’m going. To suggest that you make a note of for the wool, I’ll tell you them and then we’ll look at them. Isaiah one, verse 18 and Revelation one and verse 14.

19. 7:51

    So I’m going to turn there. You might want to make a note Isaiah 1 and verse 18. What do we read about the wool? Come now, Isaiah 118. Let S reason. Together, saith the Lord, though your sins. Be a scarlet they. Shall be white as snow. Though they be. Red like Crimson, they.

20. 8:11

    Shall be as wool, so the wool is going to somehow. Point forward to the idea. Of sin being forgiven. Ayes I 118 we give you the other one Revelation chapter one. Now we turned here yesterday, young people, because in Revelation chapter one we saw didn T we the the multitudinous Christ or the one man or the rainbowed Angel, and we saw didn T we in verse 16 the sharp 2 edged sword coming out of his mouth. But this picture of this immortal man of us as Saints, well look verse 14.

21. 9:00

    His head and his hair were white. Like wool as white. As snow well. We know immediately from Isaiah 118 that Speaking of the fact. Sin has been dealt with, that’s why this. Is an immortal man OK? Come back to judges. 6. To keep moving with our clues and our reading today or one of our readings is Psalm 110, and we looked at some length yesterday at Psalm 100. And 10 I want.

22. 9:36

    You to turn. There for this. If nothing else, for our brothers and sisters who are joining us this morning because in Psalm 100. And 10 we read. This this Kingdom Psalm. And we read. Thy people will be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning. Thou hast the Jew.

23. 10:02

    Of thy. Youth from the. Womb of the morning. The womb. This is about birth, isn’t it? The womb. Of the morning. Thou hast the Jew of thy youth. What is this metaphor? Getting at the. Womb of the Morning. The Jew of thy thy youth. Well, when is our youth? Going to be renewed at the resurrection. Come on, come to Isaiah 26 and verse 19. Isaiah 26.

24. 10:45

    And verse 19 thy dead men shall live now if that S not a clue, nothing is what are we talking about in Isaiah 2619, the resurrection all right, I’m sure you VE made a note already. If you haven T put a note next to verse 19 the resurrection, thy dead men shall. Live.

25. 11:04

    Together with my dead body shall they arise. This is resurrection. Language ISN T it Awake and see ye that. Dwell in dust for thy. Jew is thus the Jew of herbs and the earth. Shall cast out the. Dead. So the Jew is a symbol of the resurrection. Psalm 110, verse three. Isaiah 26, verse 19.

26. 11:40

    The Jew in Scripture is the symbol. Of the resurrection. Now I want you to keep a marker in Isaiah 2619, or at least remember this phrase. As the Jew of. Herbs. The Earth. That word Earth is elsewhere, translated. We’ll get to it in a minute in Judges 6. Ground it’s the same. Hebrew word we’re going to see. In Judges 6 ground.

27. 12:08

    So you could read. The ground. Shall cast out the dead come back. To Judges Chapter 6 please. So with these types. Echoing in our mind, Let S look again at verse 37. I will put a fleece of wool on the floor. Who is the? Fleece of wool pointing. To who? Is the Lamb of God the Lord?

28. 12:37

    Jesus Christ and if the Jew be. On the fleece only the. Jew is speaking about the resurrection. And if it be dry on the earth or on the ground, then shall I know that you LL save Israel by my hand. As you VE spoken, so it S speaking first. Of the resurrection. Of the Lord Jesus Christ.

29. 13:11

    But then Gideon says. I hope you don’t. Could. I have another sign. This time could the Jew just. Be on the ground, but not on the fleece. Isaiah 26 Thy. Dead. Men shall live together. Thy Jews is the Jew. Of herbs and the earth the ground will cast out the dead. So now look Judges 6 verse 39.

30. 13:49

    It was so he rose up early in the morning, or verse 39 rather, Gideon said to God, let not thine anger. Be hot against me and I will. Speak with this once, let me prove, I beseech thee, but this once with the fleece, let it now be dry on the fleece, but on all the ground, let there be due.

31. 14:08

    Now here is the clincher reference. I said to the children this week when we were doing the readings, and I won T get them to call it out, but they should be able to tell you. You can ask them afterwards. What is First Corinthians 15 about And all of us should know, shouldn’t we, that when we say First Corinthians 15, we know the resurrection. So of course, when we’re looking at the resurrection, we go to 1st Corinthians 15 and we’re told the order of events of the resurrection in First Corinthians 15, verse 20. Do you know for time?

32. 14:47

    I’m going to say verse. 23 straight away. Each man in his own order, Christ the. First fruits. Where was the Jew first? The Jew was only. On the fleece.

33. 15:05

    Afterward they that. Are. Christs at his coming, the Jew in the second. Miracle. Was. Only on. The ground well. What an amazing sign. Being given to Gideon. I don’t know if he understood. It I’m. Sure, he’s a more spiritual man than most of us, and he probably got it. And could see that.

34. 15:34

    Before he was going. Into battle, he had nothing to worry about. Now come that to. Judges 6. Because when the final hair on the back of my neck stood up, looking at that, I found myself thinking, well, I’ve got to look at this more and, and look carefully now at verse 38, because he rose up early on the Morrow. Well, that’s resurrection language, isn’t it? Rising up early on the Morrow.

35. 16:07

    And he? Thrust the fleece together and. Wringed. The Jew out of the fleece. He wrote the Jew. Out of the fleece, now in our. First readings at the moment we’re in Leviticus, aren’t we? And in the sin offering, a note to make next to the word ring here is Leviticus 5 verse nine. I’m not going to turn there because of time, but with the sin offering they wrung the blood out of the sin offering. They.

36. 16:40

    Wrung it out. So imagine. Gideon with this fleece, he’s. Picked the fleece up and he’s ringing every last drop of water to fill up this. Bowl full of water, but this fleece is speaking to us. About the Lord Jesus. Christ. And what was it? That he did. Would he come to Philippians Chapter 2 Keep your mark cover come to philippians. Chapter 2.

37. 17:15

    The Lord Jesus. We read in verse. Seven made himself. Of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant being in the likeness of men. Now we reflected on aspects of the atonement didn T we yesterday, particularly in the likelihood but. This. Captures what we looked at yesterday in terms of that. Aspect of the Atonement.

38. 17:46

    Being made in the likeness. Of men. But I wanted to concentrate at the beginning of that verse where the revised version. Says he emptied himself. Take you on the form of a servant. He emptied. Himself. What did they do? With that fleece, what did he do? He wrung it out. Until the fleece was empty of water.

39. 18:14

    What did they do with the sin offering? They. Wrung it out. Until it was empty of blood. And now I ask you the question.

40. 18:27

    When the. Lamb of God gave Himself as the sacrifice to deal with the problem of our sin. When he hung. On the cross, that’s where we see him emptied, empty himself. Before we go. Back to the recording judges, will you come? To the Gospel. Of John. Chapter 19 we LL come back to philippians two in a bit if we have. Time so.

41. 19:04

    Keep a marker in John 19. The Lord Jesus has emptied himself. He’s sacrificed himself. There’s just a fleece, as it were. He’s died. He’s fallen asleep just like that fleece. The Lamb of God. Has emptied himself, and as he’s emptied himself, the soldiers came. And they broke the legs, didn? T they of. Those who were crucified alongside the. Lord Jesus.

42. 19:49

    But when they got. To the Lord Jesus it was so clear it was already dead, it need to break. A bone of his. This was the Lamb of God. This was the Passover lamb. A bone would never be broken.

43. 20:09

    So what they did? Verse 34. One of the. Soldiers with a spear pierced his side. And forthwith. Came out blood and water. The sin offering has been wrung out. The fleece has been. Wrung out. Why you and I might sit here this morning? Knowing whatever we VE done. This week. Whatever we VE done in our.

44. 20:44

    Life our sin. Can be dealt with and forgiven. What an extraordinary sign that fleece was Forgive you. Will you come back to the record? In Judges to judges. Chapter 7 and you know the story very well and we re not going to go into this story in any depth. You remember that many are called but few are chosen that the number has to be whittled down, doesn’t it of the faithful. There’s a refining process.

45. 21:23

    We’re not surprised. We’ve seen the importance of a refining process that takes place for those who are called out. And, and, and we read then, don’t we, that the 300 men with Gideon go. And he divided verse 16 of Chapter 7, the 300 men into three companies. And he put the trumpet in every man’s hand with empty pictures and lamps within the pictures.

46. 21:46

    And he said to them, look on me and do likewise. And behold, I when I come to the outside of the camp, you do what I do when I blow the trumpet, I, and all that with me will blow the trumpet on every side of the camp. And say the sword. Of Yahweh and of Gideon.

47. 22:03

    So what do they do? Well, they do, exactly. As he says, they. They stand there with the with their torches in the earthen vessels. When the call comes, they break the earthen vessels and they shout and cause chaos, don’t they in the camp? The. Sword of the Lord and the Gideon. Now go to Isaiah chapter 10, because in Isaiah 10 we’re told that when the latter day Assyrian will come to the land of Israel.

48. 22:44

    So we’re talking now about Gog, the king of the north, coming down against Israel. He will be destroyed and we’re told. In verse 26 that. The Lord of Hosts will stir. Up a. Skirt for him, according to the slaughter of. Midian. At the Rock of Orel. So look at Imagine Judges Chapter 7.

49. 23:08

    So this. Battle that. Gideon Fights is compared. With shown in scripture to the time. Of the end when. The Battle of Armageddon. Takes place. It’s. Going to be the same. Thing now I wonder. What’s happening here? Will it come to Zechariah 14? Zechariah Chapter 14.

50. 23:36

    This is a chapter, isn’t it? That’s an Armageddon chapter where we see the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ and the rainbowed angels stand verse four, upon the Mount of Olives, and the great earthquake goes off and the earth is shattered as we currently know it. We reflected yesterday, didn’t we, on the earthquake. We’ve seen.

51. 23:55

    In Turkey and Syria and the awfulness of the destruction and realise it is as. Nothing compared to when this earthquake goes. Look what happens. The end of verse 4. There shall be a very great. Valley the the earthquake just going back a bit cleaves the the mountain towards the. East. And the West and there will be a very great valley and it will remove the mountain will remove toward the north and toward the South. So this is how.

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    Enormous this earthquake is. Not only does it open up to create a valley, east and West half of the mountain goes N, half of it goes S. We re told that when this earthquake happens. It will create. Devastation in the earth like. Never seen before.

53. 24:43

    But you and I, we hope and pray. Well, we we, we’re going to be as the Jew of. The morning. We’re going to be as youth. Having energy, we’ll be immortal. And so has the mount of on his. Brakes. And dust and rubble goes everywhere and. At the slaughter of Gideon, do you remember? That they fought against each other. In Ezekiel 38 we re told that they start to fight against each other.

54. 25:14

    But what will we do? Will we just stand there? No. What will we do? Well verse the end of verse five the Lord my God will come and all the Saints with you. We re going to go and help. And save those. Left in the city, it will come to pass in that day. That the light.

55. 25:34

    Shall not be clear nor dark. And we ask ourselves well, what does that mean? The light will not be clear nor dark. Well, in my mind that I VE got an authorised version and a revised version and the revised version margin says this. So that phrase, the light shall not be clear nor dark. It suggests that the Hebrew could. Mean this there shall not.

56. 26:01

    Be light the. Bright ones shall. Contract themselves now. Think of our story. What have they done? With the lights. In the time. Of Gideon, the lights are hidden. The light is hidden, isn’t it? Until the call goes, there shall not be light. The bright ones will hide the light and then the call.

57. 26:38

    Goes. And what will we do? Well, I believe that we’ll go in. We’ll go in to Jerusalem. We come to Isaiah 30 for the people verse 19 that dwell in Zion at Jerusalem. Thou shalt weep no more. He LL be graciously at the voice of thy cry when he shall hear it. You will answer thee and know the Lord did give you the bread of adversity in the water affliction.

58. 27:05

    Yet shall not thy teachers be removed in the corner anymore? Thy. Eyes will see thy teachers, and your ears will hear a word behind you saying. This is the way. Walk. In it so we. LL we re immortal, we walk? Through the dust. And the rubber. As every wall collapses. And we get into.

59. 27:26

    Jerusalem And we say, hold my hand, Come. This is the way. Walking it, go to the left, left. Right. We bring people out. Just come up to chapter 40 of Isaiah. What did the prophet call? Well, Elijah has gone ahead of the Lord Jesus. Christ, he was the. Messenger that goes before and what was it that he called out all?

60. 27:51

    Flesh is grass. That S what the Jews have got to. Learn ISN T it? Inside. Jerusalem, the grass Withers. Verse 8. The flower. Fades, but the word of our God shall stand forever. O Zion, that brings good tidings. Get up into the high mountain. Why? Zechariah 14 Half. The city S been. Taken the high mountain. Is.

61. 28:13

    Zion, get up into Zion, O Jerusalem, that brings good tidings. Lift up your voice with strength. Lift it up. Be not afraid. Save the city of Judah. Behold your This Is Us now, coming, going. To save the. Tents of Judah getting. Into the city the inhabitants of Jerusalem to save. Them as they look. On the Lord Jesus Christ, and they realise that He S their Saviour.

62. 28:39

    The whole the Lord God will come with. Strong hand his arm will. Rule for him. His reward is with him and his work before him. He shall feed his. Flock like a. Shepherd he shall. Gather the lambs in his arm and carry them. In his bosom. And shall gently. Lead those little with young.

63. 28:59

    Isn’t that such a lovely? Picture that you say. Listen, pass me to that. Mum who’s broken and she’s got a baby in her arms. You say I’ll. Hold your baby. For you. I’ll take your little lamb. Yeah, but I’ve got a I’ve got another little girl here. And a little boy. I’m immortal. I can carry as many.

64. 29:24

    People as you want and you scoot these. Lambs up in your. Arms. And as the rubble. Falls and as the dust is so thick they can’t see you gently leave those that are with young and you say. Come on. Come on. I’ll get you out of the city. It’s going to be OK. What a privilege is ours, brothers and sisters, to be there.

65. 29:57

    Even after will he come finally? It’s the Second Corinthians. Chapter 4. You see for all of us today. Well, we’re trying to fight that battle. We’re trying to. Deal with the Midianites in our life. But really? We’ve got this treasure. What’s the treasure we’ve got? Well, it it was the torch on fire.

66. 30:35

    Some of you might have a marker in Philippians 2. What are we told later on in Philippians 2? We won’t go there because of time. You’ve got to shine as lights in this Dark World.

67. 30:47

    Well, we’ve got. This. Light. It’s on your lap or your table. We’ve got it, it’s in US. It is the sword. Of the Lord and of Gideon. This is it. It’s the sword of. Eard. It’s the water dropping out of the clouds of Deborah and Beira. This is it. It’s even the dew.

68. 31:16

    Of the morning, Deuteronomy 32. We won’t go there. This is it. And it’s the light that’s shining. But at the moment, well. This earth and vessel, it keeps messing up. Day on day, week on week, I’ll be thrilled of it if I get home this afternoon without an argument taking place in our car. Are we delighted?

69. 31:44

    It’ll be the first ever. And that’s just me and Beck. Not really. Do you know we’ve got it in earthen vessels? Do you see? We’re going to keep messing up, that is. What we do, it’s the. Problem of the Flesh in US. I gotta keep the light. Shining and be so. Thankful for God who command you.

70. 32:11

    The light to shine out of darkness has shined in our. Hearts. To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face. Of the Lord Jesus. Christ, the one whom we are going to come to remember now. We do have this treasure on earth and vessels. Why, that the Excellency of the power may be of God, not of us. So, so long.

71. 32:40

    As in your life. You say I’m so. Grateful. To God, for those of us who. Take the emblems. Now be so thankful. To God to provide the land. Then he’ll deal. With the fact that we’re in. Earthen vessels. He wants. Us in an athem vessels. That we might never think that anything. Is of our strength. And so we can know.

72. 33:14

    That he which raised. Up the Lord. Jesus, this. Ecclesia is thought today of sister. Rose for she lives in the sure and. Certain home of the Resurrection. That fleece. He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up also by. Jesus. And shall present us. With you and so as we. Leave or as we.

73. 33:38

    Take him shortly. We reflect on our earth and. Vessel. And we do. That and we look back at the weak and there are things to say sorry for. We should be encouraged. We need faith because thou our outward. Man. Perish yet the inward. Man, the light shining in the earthen. Vessel, the sword of the Lord is renewed.

74. 34:06

    Day by day for our light. Affliction. It’s just for a moment worketh for us a. Far. More exceeding and. Eternal weight of glory while we look not at the things which are. Seen but the things. Which are not seen. The things which are seen in a temple, the things which are Nazi, are returned.