Ryan King - Geography of the Holy Lands - Class 2 - Shechem The Place Of Decision

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1. 0:15

   Now ask for your attention to our brother Ryan as he delivers the topic on Shechem, the place of decision. Thanks. Thanks, brother Ed, and good morning, my dear brothers and sisters and the. Lord Jesus Christ. In our. Study yesterday, we endeavoured. To just give you a nice. Layout of the. Land of Israel.

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   With its various sections. And we saw that the land of Israel. Is divided up into a. Hump with two planes. On either side. It sort of follows a a hump like shape across the breadth of its territory. You may have remembered that. There are three. Ranges of hills along this hump. There are the Galilee. Hills in the North.

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   There are the. Samaritan Hills in the center. That’s. Where we’ll be this morning at Shechem and the Judean hills in the South and on the other. Side of these. Plains. This is known as the Hill Country Jerusalem happens to be. Right about here. This morning will be at. Shechem which is about. Here along these.

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   Hills. They range about 3. To 3 1/2 thousand. Feet high and. Then when you go on either. Side you drop. Down to the. Floor so on. Either end of the hump there are two famous plains. There is the Plain of Sharon which is on the. Western side. And then there is what’s known as the Arabah, which is on the eastern.

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   Side, which is the term that the scripture uses? For the. Depression of the Jordan Valley as it slopes down towards. The Dead Sea. The Dead Sea in certain. Parts of Scripture is called the Sea of the Arabah. It appears in the AV. As the sea of the. Plain. So it’s very very easy to remember you’ve got 3 ranges of hills. Down the center and then plains on either. Side.

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   This morning we want to look at a very famous. Place which is right. In the centre of the land at. Shechem Another. Fact that we pointed out yesterday, brothers and sisters. Was is that the? Land reinforces the principles. Of Scripture. That we know to be true. It serves as a confirmation, if you like, of what we know to be true in the faith.

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   Both our doctrinal principles. As well as our moral. Principles are verified. By the land of Israel and one of the principles that we have to come to. Grips with when we come to a knowledge. Of the truth. Is this that every day is a struggle? Every day we have to make a. Choice. The Lord Jesus Christ says.

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   That if you’re going to follow after me, you must. Take up your cross daily. And it just so happens that there is a place in the Land of Israel that reminds us. Of that very important principle. And this morning. I’d like to. Take you there the place. Is known as. Shechem. Now Shechem, just looking at that map, what do you notice? About it straight away.

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   Well, it’s the physical center of the land. It’s right in the very heart of the Hill Country, and it’s about the same distance to either end. Either to the. Plain of Sharon. Or down to the Arabah. It’s right in the middle. It’s the. Physical centre of the land. Which thereby highlights. It’s important so it’s obvious. That if.

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    There’s going to be anything significant about this place. It must be very, very. Important because God put it. Right in the centre. Now I’d like to open our studies in First Kings chapter 12. Very, very quickly, we’re going to see a principle established with Shechem that. You and I. Have to make every day.

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    You know, in the truth, we’re never able to be content with ourselves. Every day has to be a. Struggle, First Kings chapter. 12 We read something peculiar what they did. With the new King Rehoboam now we’re told in first Kings Chapter 12 and Rehoboam went to. Shechem for all Israel. Will come to Shechem to make him king. Now Rahabaum was going to be the king over the Kingdom of Judah, the Kingdom of.

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    Judah, of course. Its capital was Jerusalem. And he was going to go back to Jerusalem and he was going to sit on David. ‘S throne, but that wasn’t. Where they anointed him in order that they might make Rahabaum king. Over all Israel they took. Him to Shechem now. Why would they take? Him to Shechem when he’s going to go down to Jerusalem.

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    And sit on David’s. Throne. Well establishes. Here once again a very. Important principle for which Shechem stands and we’d. Like to look at that. Principle right now.

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    The first person to ever. Come to this place. Quite appropriately. Was Abraham. He’s the. Father of the faithful. He’s the one that we’re supposed. To follow, so he is the first. That comes to Shechem, and in Genesis chapter 12, we see an important principle set down when Abraham comes to this place, and we’ll figure out.

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    From this why it was that they took rehoboam? To Shechem of all places. To be anointed king over. Israel, if we come back. To Genesis chapter. 12 the first stop by. Abraham in the land. And he must. Have come to many. Different places as he went. Came down from here in way up in the north and he was removed, as Stephen says in Acts Chapter 7 into the land Now there must have been many.

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    Places that he would have. Come to as he came from from way up here in Haran, down into the land of Israel. He might have had many stops along that journey, but the Bible only points out one It was Abraham’s. 1st. Stop. When he entered the promised land, he came to Shechem. Now, as we’ve said before.

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    Good Bible study is based. Upon good Bible. Reading very few. Of us will ever become. Experts at Greek or Hebrew? But we. Can be good contextual students of the Bible. And we can be. Careful readers and sometimes the. Bible says so much. By just reading it. Notice how Genesis chapter 12 and verse five reads. It says there in Genesis 12 verse 5 and Abram. Took Suraya his wife.

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    And Lot, his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered. And the souls that they had gotten in here, and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan and into the land of Canaan they came. So you notice. How? The end of verse five is almost redundant. They went to go into the land of Canaan, OK?

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    I would expect that they. Went into the land of Canaan then but. The rest of the verse. Says and into the land of Canaan they came, and Abram passed through the land unto the place. Of Shechem, unto the oak. Of Moray, and the Canaanite was then in the land. Well, wouldn’t you expect? That if they went into the land of Canaan. Verse five that it’s logical that the people. That you would find would be Canaanites. Yeah, I arrived.

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    Here on Friday night in the land of Newfoundland. I expected that when I got to Newfoundland I would find Newfies. Of course, when he’s going into the land of Canaan, he’s going to find Canaanites. Why is the record? Emphasizing this. Well, it says. At the end of verse 6 and the Canaanite was then in the land. And then verse 7 Yahweh appeared unto Abram and said unto. Thy seed will I give this land.

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    But it’s absolutely swarming with. Canaanites. So what are you going to do? Abram, are you going to believe God? Who’s told you that? He will. Give you this land as a possession, or you can look around you and see all the Canaanites. You’re going to look around and see all the people in the world and everything seemingly so permanent.

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    Are you going to mingle? Yourselves with the Canaanites. Or are you going to? Believe God and the promise. That he has made to you and he made. That particular choice. At Shechem, What did Abraham? Decide. Well, it says there. At the end of verse 7 and there builded he an altar unto. Yahweh who appeared unto him. He had a choice.

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    He could either. Separate from the Canaanites. Or he could assimilate with the Canaanites, and there Abram made. That decision to keep separate he. Builded an altar unto Yahweh. And so enshrined in this. Place of Shechem is the. Principle of decision. God created this place almost to teach. This important lesson and ever after, whenever anybody came to Shechem in the record.

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    Of scripture we find that. They had an important decision to make. Either to choose life or. To choose death. Abraham comes here in Genesis. Chapter 12. He’s got a choice the. Canaanite is then in the land. Do we believe God or do we? Mingle with the Canaanites in Genesis chapter 30. 4 and 35 Jacob. And his family came here.

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    They were coming back from Paden. Aram after he had served. At his Uncle Laban’s. House for 40 years. And he said to his. Family at Shechem put away the strange gods. That are among you do it here at. Shechem. Of course they were. Coming back with some Lucky Charms that they had gotten in the land of Paden, Arim and Jacob said to his family.

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    We’re going up to the House of God. We’re going up to Bethel. Put him away, right? Here at Shechem, it was of course at. Shechem where Dinah made her decision to go out and see the daughters of the Lamb in Genesis chapter. 37 Joseph went to keep his father’s flock at Shechem, the record says.

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    And he goes to find his brothers and and they’ve. Disappeared they had gone to. Dothan a word which means two wells. You see, they wanted it both ways that. Took place. In Genesis chapter 37 at Shechem, he came to seek his. Brethren. And he didn’t find them. When the children of Israel came into the land, Moses.

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    Gave Joshua very clear instructions. He says the day you crossover. Into the land. You take the. People to Shechem. And there you chant the blessings and the cursings, and you tell Israel that they’ve got to make up. Their mind 6 tribes. On Evil 6 on Gerizim. Make up your mind. Who is it?

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    That you are going. To serve. We’re not done yet. Joshua Chapter 24, when Joshua was giving his famous farewell. Speech to the people. He took the people. Back to Shechem. And there, he said, Choose. You this day. Whom ye will serve? Put away. The strange. Gods that your father served. On the other. Side of the flood.

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    Choose you. This day and he told them that. Here at Shechem. In Judges Chapter 9, we’re going to read about a man named Jotham whose name means. Yahweh is upright. This Bramble king Abimelech had made himself king after. The death of Gideon. He had slain the 69 sons of Gideon and proclaimed himself a king. And Jotham escaped, and he ran up on top of Mount Gerizim, and he gave the men of Shechem a charge. Who do you want?

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    Do you want to follow? In the ways of my. Father. Or do you want this Bramble King Abimelech and in order to do that he? Called out. From the top of Mount Gerizim at Shechem and the men of Shechem. There, had to make up. Their mind. Is it any wonder then, why when Rehoboam was crowned king? They took him to Shechem.

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    Even though he was going to go down to Jerusalem. And sit on David’s throne, they took him to that. Place to. Shechem that there he might. Be made king. That was where Jesus. Met the woman of Samaria. And she said. To him, our father said. It was in that. Mountain that you ought to. Worship.

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    What do you say? And he said salvation. Is of the Jews. You need to make. Up your mind who it is that you’re going to. Worship, whether it’s the plethora of the gods of. The Samaritans or the One? True God of Israel. She had to make up her mind in that place. So in both Old and New Testaments we see that this principle is made. Very, very clear at.

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    This one little. Place right in the middle of the lane. Called Shechem and. It reminds us. Brothers and sisters. That each day we also. Have to come to Shechem. We have to make up our. Minds who it is that we are going to follow. Whether we’re going to follow? Our own instincts. The gods that we served before we were baptized or? Whether we’re going to pitch our. Tent and build an altar.

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    Unto Yahweh as Abram. Did and. You know you’ll find that in all of these events. There are connections. It’s not just that they happened in the same place, but there are word connections. There are thematic connections between all of these events. You’ll find that Jacob. In Genesis chapter 35. Draws on the incident of Genesis.

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    Chapter 12 You’ll find that. Joshua and Joshua, 24. Quotes from Jacob in Genesis chapter 35. We’ll find that Abimelech in Judges Chapter 9. When he wanted to make himself king, he went back to Genesis 12 in order to give his New Kingdom quote, UN quote some legitimacy. And so they’re. All. Connected. So God took this one place in the land. Right in the very.

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    Center and memorialized this principle. It’s something that we all. Understand but God. Gave us all of these. Events at. Shechem to remind us. Of what we must do each and every day. Let’s just look. At some of the parallels. That we find in these incidents come firstly to that one there in the center in Joshua Chapter 24, You know the Tabernacle during the time of Joshua and.

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    Judges was at Shiloh Shiloh. Is maybe about 20 miles South of Shechem. Since that was where the. Tabernacle was you would think that. Joshua would have. Gathered all the people together to Shiloh but Joshua chapter. 24 And verse one tells us and. Joshua gathered all the tribes. Of Israel to Shechem.

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    And called. For the elders of Israel. And for their heads and for their judges. And for their officers, and they presented themselves before. God, Joshua said. Unto all the people thus saith Yahweh elohim of. Israel, your father’s dwelt on the other. Side of the. Flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham.

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    The Father of Nahor and they. Served other gods. So he takes them back. Here to the initial call of Abraham in Genesis chapter. 12 And where was the 1st place that Abram? Came to in Genesis. Chapter 12 it was. Shechem, look down at verse 14. He now gives. Them a charge having recounted.

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    Some of their history to them in verses 2 to 14 verse 14 says now therefore fear. Yahweh and serve. Him in sincerity and in. Truth and put away. The gods which your father served on the other. Side of the flood in. Egypt and serve. Ye Yahweh, it’s very. Similar to the choice that.

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    Abraham had to make in Genesis chapter 12. Isn’t it either the Canaanite? Or Yahweh. And if it seemed evil unto. You to serve Yahweh choose you this day. Whom ye? Will serve, and he said that here, Shechem. Because Shechem’s all about having to make a. Choice. Whether the gods which your father served. Were on the other side of the.

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    Flood. Well the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell, but As for me and my house? We will serve Yahweh, so we told the people. There in verse 14 to. Serve. God in sincerity and in. Truth now those two. Words. Very often come up. In the History of Shechem. Serve him in sincerity the the word actually means to be without.

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    Wax. To be completely crystal clear. And in truth, the word means to be straight. Up and down it’s where? You’ve got to make a. Firm. Choice. What you want to do now, just come. Over a few pages. To judges Chapter 9, let’s come to the next event that took. Place there at Shechem.

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    Gideon has died, and one of his. Sons, Abimelech now makes himself a king. You know, we want to to learn in Sunday school and and we teach our our Sunday school students. That Saul. Was the first king of Israel. And of course. He was. He was the 1st. Divinely appointed king of Israel. But you know there was a king in the land of. Israel long before Saul.

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    He was an impostor, a self appointed king. His name was Abimelech in the The Cycle. Of the judges he. Happens to be the 6th. Judge. Because he. Represents the man of Sid, and he stands up and he proclaims himself a king, and he says in verse two of Judges Chapter 9, Speak, I pray you in the ears of all the men of Shechem, whether it’s better for. You other than all the.

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    Sons of Jeroboel, which are 70. Reign over you or that one reign. Over. You remember that also? That I am your bone and your flesh. You know, do we really need? 70 people to to lead us. Why? Can’t we just have one? So he stands up and he makes himself a king, and in order to give some sort of legitimacy to this new quote UN quote Kingdom that Abimelech was establishing.

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    Look where he goes. Verse 6. And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the. House of Milo. And went and made Abimelech king by the plain of the pillar. That was in Shechem. Now if you have a margin. For that phrase by the. Plane. Of the. Pillar. You’ll see that the.

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    Margin has. #5 or by the? Oak of the pillar. So he was made king. By the. Oak of the pillar. Now where have we read in scripture? About an oak at Shechem. Well, it. Was back in Genesis chapter. 12 and verse. 6 Where it says Abram. Passed through the land unto the place of Shechem unto the.

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    Oak of Moray, the Word. Plain as it is in the AV. Really should be rendered as oak. So it was likely that. Same oak that Abimelech now comes and he makes himself king over the land he wanted to give. Some sort of legitimacy to his Kingdom, so he. Goes back to the very place where Abraham.

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    Was first called and 1st brought that he might say. Now I am king. Well, the men of Shechem have to make up their mind. Who is it are you going to serve? Is it this new Bramble King of Emelec? Or is it? Going to be Yahweh, who our father. Gideon stood with Gideon said. I’m not going to rule over.

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    You, Yahweh, shall rule over you. And so when Jotham who’s the one son left, the other 69 are dead. Jotham. Whose name means. Yahweh is upright He. Stands up in verse 7. And he goes. To the top of Gerizim. And lifted up his voice and. Cried and said hearken. Unto me ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.

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    Verse 17 My father fought for you, and hazarded his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian. Verse 18 And you are risen up against my father’s house. This. Day. See Abimelech. Was rebelling against? The House of Gideon. And have slain his sons 3 score and 10 persons upon one stone, and have made Abimelech the son of his maidservant king over the men of Shechem.

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    Because he is your brother. If then where do these words come from? If, then ye have done. Truly. And sincerely. With Jeroboel and with his. House this day. Then rejoice, she with Abimelech, if that’s who you want. To serve, serve. Him But if not verse 20 let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem and Jotham ran away in verse 21, and he flees. So he left the men of Shechem before he went away. With that choice, do you want to? Serve this Bramble King Abimelech. Or do you want to serve God in sincerity and in truth? And he was quoting.

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    From Joshua’s speech. In Joshua chapter 24. So not only is there the principle of choice here at Shechem, but. You’ve also got to do. It in sincerity and in truth. Not in malice or in wickedness, but in sincerity and in truth, and as we’ll see in a moment there. Are consequences to that decision as there are consequences to all of the decisions. That we make and we need to.

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    Take those in mind when we make. The decisions that. We do, John. Chapter 4. You know the Lord. Jesus Christ said. With all of this history. In mind I must needs go through Samaria you know that wasn’t the normal. Route that you would take. To go back home to Galilee. You would go over. To Parea, to the land across and then go up the eastern side of the Jordan.

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    But he said. I must needs go through. Samaria, I’ve got to go. Through Shechem. John chapter 4 and verse. Three, he left Judea. And departed again into Galilee, and he must needs. Go through Samaria. Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which. Is called Cycar. But that should be rendered Shechem and we know that.

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    It’s shechem because it says. It’s near to the parcel of ground. That Jacob. Gave to his son Joseph, and of course the the. Parcel of ground that Jacob. Bought where? Joseph. Was buried according to Genesis. Chapter 33 was up there at Shechem. Now Jacob’s. Well, was there Jesus? Therefore being wearied with his journey.

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    Sat thus. On that well, look. Look at how that’s put. He sat thus. On that well knowing. That this. Place was saturated with history. He comes there and he sits down and he contemplates. The history of that place. Knowing all that we’ve said this morning, and a whole lot more. And then a woman comes out to him, a woman of Samaria. Whose life?

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    Was an absolute mess. And he starts. Speaking to her about water, after all, he’s. Sitting upon Jacob’s well, and he’s going. To put before. Her the choice that she. Has to make, he says in verse 13. Whosoever. Drinketh of this water shall. Thirst again but. Whosoever drinketh of the water. That I shall give him shall never.

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    Thirst but the water? That I shall give him shall be in him a well of. Water. Springing up into everlasting life, the woman said unto him. Sir. Give me. This water that I thirst. Not. Neither come hit her to. Draw. You see, she wants the water. Of life.

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    So that she won’t thirst. Again. And that she won’t have to keep coming back here and drawing water. See, she she’s trying to come to grips with just what the Lord is saying here. What is he talking about? The water that I shall. Give if you drink it. You will never thirst again.

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    What does he mean by? That so, she says. I I want the water. But we don’t. Get something for nothing. In the truth, everything comes. With a price. Everything comes with probation and testing, so Jesus gives her a test. And he says. Go get your husband.

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    My husband. Yes, go get your husband. For 16 and and and come hit. Her. So what’s? She going to do? She’s got quite a checkered history.

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    Well, she decided to tell the truth. Verse 17, The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou. Hast well, said I. Have no husband for. Thou hast had five husbands. And he whom thou now hastest not. Thy husband, in that thou saidest. Now notice this. Word truly.

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    In. That sense thou truly she had a choice. She could either tell the truth or she could. Spin a lie. She decided to tell the. Truth, I have no. Husband, he said. You’ve said truly. And of course, the great. Issue of the day was where is the true place of worship? Is it in Samaria here, or is it in Jerusalem? He says to in verse 22.

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    Woman, ye worship. Ye know not what we know, what we worship. For salvation is out of. The Jews. Not that it’s restricted. Only to. Jews, but that it’s only available to Gentiles through the Jewish. Channel and you need to come to. Grips with that. Salvation is out. Of the Jews. But the hour? Cometh and now is when the notice this true. Worshippers shall worship the Father. In spirit and in.

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    Truth, Joshua and Jotham. Said in sincerity and in. Truth. For the father seeketh such. To worship him God is spirit and they that worship. Him. Must do so in spirit. And in truth, and they had. To he said that. She had to make up her mind. Here at Shechem in this place. Serve him in sincerity and in. Truth.

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    So it should. Come as no surprise. To you, brothers and sisters, that the word Shechem literally. Means burden bearer. If you were to. Sort of. Boil it down to its actual Hebrew. It means between the shoulders. And if you look at Shechem here. You see it looks like 2 shoulders there’s. Evil. There’s Gerizim, There’s Shechem in the middle.

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    It looks like 2 shoulders. Where you’ve got to make. Up your mind, you’ve got to. Bare. Responsibility. Life is not about. Avoiding. Our responsibilities life is about. Accepting our responsibilities and Shechem reminds. Us. Of that the word. Is only used a handful of times in Scripture. It’s first use of. Shem and Japheth, who Who put a garment?

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    Upon their shoulder and covered. The the nakedness. Of their father. And it’s a word that. Speaks. Brothers and sisters about accepting. Responsibility about saying yes. Here am I send me. The way might be difficult, but I’m going to accept my responsibilities. That’s the principle of Shechem, and perhaps its most famous occurrence. Is in Isaiah Chapter 9 in a passage that I think we all know.

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    Isaiah Chapter 9 speaking about the Lord Jesus Christ and his Kingdom. Where he will faithfully accept the responsibilities that his father. Has committed into his hand. And the word that Isaiah. Chooses here the spirit through Isaiah. Chooses, fittingly, is Shechem. Firstly, he’s going to have to. Deal as we know. With the Assyrian, the Russian.

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    Isaiah Chapter 9 and verse. Four for thou hast. Broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of. His Shechem. The word shoulder there in verse four is Shechem. The rod of his oppressor. As in the day of Midian. Verse 6 For unto us a child is. Born, and unto us a son is given, and the government, the government of the Kingdom, age. Will be upon.

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    His shechem, his shoulder, He will faithfully bear the responsibilities of the. Kingdom of the Millennial age. He will be the. Father of. The millennial age as the phrase. Everlasting Father. There means the father of. The age. And the Lord Jesus Christ. Will deal faithfully he will. Bear on his shechem the responsibilities that his father.

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    Has given to him until the end of the thousand years when he will hand. That back over to the Father. That the Father might be all and in all. So I think. We see that principle, brothers and sisters. Very clearly before us, we. Have to make up our minds who it is. That we’re going to. Serve the land reinforces.

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    All of the principles. Of our daily lives. Whenever I’m in. Difficulty. You can almost. Think about a place in the land that reminds you of the decision that you have to make, or the position that you’re in. God has given us the land to remind. Us of our. Lessons now with every choice as we know.

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    There are consequences we don’t. Just make decisions and then nothing happens. God is going to judge us based upon the decisions that we make. Well, in order that. We might be reminded. Of that, there are two mountains at Shechem, you’ll see. Here this is Mount Ebal and this is Mount Gerizim and Mount Evil. Is the hill of cursing.

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    Mount Gerizim here. Is the hill of. Blessing, you know in Genesis chapter. 12 When Abraham comes to Shechem, he comes. To Shechem right after he’s told I will bless. Them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee. And there we find those two mountains. So the. Israelites, when they came into the land, put 6 tribes on evil, 6 on Gerizim, and in the middle they.

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    Were able to hear each other and echo the. Blessings and the Cursings. Of the law. Let’s look. At Mount Evil, appropriately evil. Means. To be bald. So if we make the wrong decisions in our lives. If we don’t produce fruit. We’re like this mountain here. Evil. Means to be bald, and you can see that most of it.

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    Is dry and airy. When you go there. Today it looks exactly the. Same as it would have in the days when Joshua. Took the tribes. There No. Life, No. Vegetation. It’s the Hill of. Cursing. We can either have a. Blessing or a curse? You know when. Joshua. Following the instructions of Moses. Took the tribes there, he put the altar. Here on Gerizim.

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    I mean, I’m sorry on evil, not on. Gerizim because he knew the choice that the people would make. You know, Moses said after my departing. I know. That you’ll corrupt yourselves. And so he. Put the altar here on the hill of cursing. Knowing, of course. Prophetically, What choice The people? Would. Make and evil. Is.

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    Taller, Slightly taller, maybe? A few 100 feet. Taller than Gerizim? Because as we know, many are called. Few are chosen more choose. Cursing. Than blessing many there be. That go the Broadway of destruction few that there be. That find the narrow. Way to life so evil. Is higher than Gerizim. Now I wanted to show you something interesting about mount able.

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    Here is a map and. As you can see. Here we’ve got Mount Able. We find Mount Gerizim, Nablus, which is the modern name. For Shechem is right. Here in the middle, Nablus was meant to be the the equivalent of Naples in Italy now. Because the Arabs can’t say. Pennsylvania. They can only say Bah.

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    Nablus. The Naples became Nablus. It’s a it’s an Arab town today. Now you’ll notice that just not far from Shechem. Is this place called? Samaria So you can be here in Samaria and look right down. The Valley to. The town of Shechem, now Samaria as we know, became the northern, the capital of the northern Kingdom of Israel. And it was.

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    Where? A very famous king lived. I’d like you to come to 1st Kings, chapter 22 and just show you something about the the topography of the land which was almost as an indictment to this evil king. His name was Ahab here in Samaria. Of course, Ahab had many. Of these palaces he. Had one up here in. Jezreel by Naboth.

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    And he had one here in Samaria. Amos refers to them in his. Prophecy as the Winter House and the summer. House when first Kings chapter 22 and verse 39 we’re. Told about this palace that Ahab built. Now the rest. Of the acts of Ahab. And all that he did, and the ivory house which he made.

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    And all the. Cities that he built. Are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? Now the interesting thing about that palace. Is is that they’ve actually. Found it the one in. Samaria Ahab’s ivory. Palace. They’ve actually discovered this is the walls of Ahab’s palace. In Samaria.

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    That is Ahab’s palace archaeologists have. Proven that beyond all dispute and you know when you stand here. At Ahab’s palace in. Samaria and you look down that valley as we just did on our map. You look down towards Shechem. And you look for the two mountains Ebel and Gerazy. Guess which mountain is? Glaring right at Ahab’s.

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    Palace. It’s Mount Ebel. Guess which mountain you cannot? See from Ahab’s palace. You can’t see gerazy. The Hill of. Cursing is just glaring right at him looking. Right at him as an. Indictment to that evil king who who brought in all of this ivory from Africa, and had. Taxed the people heavily so. That he, he and his.

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    Wife could live lavishly. When you look down the valley from Ahab. ‘S palace you can see evil. But you can’t see Gersey, almost as an indictment to that. King was the land, staring right at him, so we can have cursing. We all know that sin. Brings suffering. If we serve the flesh. It will only make us miserable in the end. Our.

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    Lives will be a mess. We’ll be tormented or we can have peace, and that comes through Gersey and the word Gersey means. To be separate. It’s used of, sort of. Of hedging off something, of separating one thing from another, which is. Really the choice that. Abram had to make separate or assimilate. It’s the choice that Jacob.

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    Gave his family. Put away the strange gods. And. You can go through all of the events at Shechem and you’ll see that it’s. Blessing that comes through separation. It’s greener than Mount Evil. This is actually a. A drawing of Gerizim. If you go there today, there’s more greenery on Gerizim than there is on evil.

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    It’s very easy to. Detect evil because it’s just. Bald as can be. But Gerizim? Is a little bit more lush, a little bit more. Vegetation on it. It’s the hill of blessing. And we’ll have a little. Bit to say about the Hill of. Blessing here in a moment Jotham went to. The top of Gerizy, not. Evil to invite the men of Shechem to share in blessing. You know he didn’t call out from. Evil he called out from.

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    Gerizim because he wanted the men of. Shechem to separate. Themselves from that Bramble king that they might not be consumed and it’s shorter than evil. Because fewer people choose life. More people. Choose cursing than blessing. And so this hill. Is just a little bit shorter, although it’s right next. To it, it’s a. Little bit shorter.

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    So we have. The consequences of our decisions, we can either have blessing or we can have. Cursing now, of course we would. All say to ourselves, we. Don’t want to be cursed. We all want life. We all want to be in God’s Kingdom. We all want to. Receive blessing well, Shechem reminds us of something else. That helps us to choose life.

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    That helps us to choose. Blessing and not cursing. If you come back to. Deuteronomy, Chapter 27 and the reading that we had, we’re given the list of. Tribes. That were to be on mount Gerizim the six tribes on Gerizim and. The six tribes that were to be. Upon Mount Evil verse 12. Of Deuteronomy, chapter 27.

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    These shall. Stand upon Mount Gerizim to. Bless the people. When they are come over Jordan, Simeon and Levi. Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. And these shall stand upon mount. Evil to curse. Reuben and Gad and Asher and Zebulun, Dan and Naftalai. Now, have you ever wondered? Brothers and sisters. Why certain tribes are? On the hill of.

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    Blessing and certain tribes are on the hill of. Cursing. I mean why were? Those tribes picked. In verse 13 to be. On the hill of cursing. And why was it that, you know, Simeon, that had such a? Rotten history why is? Simeon on the hill of. Blessing. I mean a few pages over in Deuteronomy chapter 33 when the blessings are. Given upon the tribes.

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    Simeon’s not even mentioned. Why is it that Simeon? Is placed in verse 12. With those tribes. That are on the hill of blessing? Well, I think. That there’s there’s an important. Principle here in these. Tribes I’d like to do a little. Exercise now if I got. To have a volunteer pass out some maps.

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     What we’re going to do is just going to. Have a look at these tribes. And see if we can find. Why certain tribes? Are on the hill of. Blessing and certain tribes are on the. Hill of Cursing If everyone could just take a Map and. If you had a coloured. Pencil if you have a coloured pencil or a marker or something like.

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     That. We’ll just do a little exercise with these traps. Most of you will recognize that this is a map. Of the 12 tribes. In the land in their. Various portions.

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     Thanks for doing that. Now let’s just note. Brothers and Sisters verse 13. Let’s note the tribes. That are on the hill. Of cursing the first. Tribe on the hill of Cursing is Reuben. Now where was Reuben located? We know they were one of the tribes that were on the other. Side of the Jordan Reuben is located right here. So with a.

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     Coloring in pencil or any sort of marker, just Mark Reuben. The next tribe is Gad. Now GAD is just north of. Reuben. Also on the other side. Of the Jordan, Mark Gad. Next tribe is Asher. Now Asher is on the Northwestern. Side Long Mount Carmel. All the way up to tyre right here. The far north is Asher.

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     Color in Asher. The next tribe is Zebulun, so Zebulun. Next to Asher. Right here color in Zebulun. Dan is next. Now Dan is an interesting tribe because remember their inheritance initially was down here in the northern. Part of the Shephilah, right where Joppa is, but what did the tribe? Of Dan end up doing well, they abandoned the inheritance. That God had.

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     Given them and they went all the way up here in the north. To laish to a people that were weak. And easy to fight and. Overcome the tribe. Of the Danites abandoned this area here and they ended up. All the way. Up here so this little.

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     Part up here which the. Map I believe actually highlights. His Dan color in that little area. Up there, you’ll recall that. That’s the great conflict. Of Samson’s life. His tribe of the Danites. Had failed. To take their inheritance down here, and they went way up in the north of the land where the pickings were.

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     Easy the coloring Dan, right? There at the very, very top. And then? Lastly, the tribe of. Naphtalai Naphtalai is right next to Dan. Here in the very, very north, in the Galilee hills.

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     All right. Now look at your map. Where are the? Tribes that are on the. Hill of Cursing They’re. All on the perimeter, They’re all on the outside or they’re on the. Other side of the Jordan where are the tribes? That are on the hill. Of blessing they’re. Right in the very center you know Simeon really belongs to.

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     Judah, Because they were. Put inside the tribe of. Judah as punishment. Divide them in Jacob, scatter them in Israel. So Simeon, even though it had a. Very checkered past. Is on the hill of. Blessing, of course, because it. Belongs to Judah, which is right in. The very heart. Of the land, so if you. Look at the tribes, the borders of the. Tribes on the hill of Blessing Gerizim their borders. All converge around the center around Shechem. Where are the tribes that are on the hill? Of cursing.

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     They’re all on the perimeter, on the. Outskirts now, Shechem is all. About choosing life. And the best way that. We can find blessing in our lives. Is to be active at the. Center of our ecclesias with. God as the basis of our lives. That’s the principle. Of why these tribes, I believe. Are on the hill of. Blessing and why other tribes?

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     Are on the hill of. Cursing because geographically, they teach us a lesson. The tribes. That are on the hill. Of cursing are all on the outskirts. They’re all on the perimeter. The. Tribes that are on the hill. Of blessing are right in the middle and so the best way. To choose life is to be active. At the center of our.

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     Ecclesias when the ecclesia. Needs a job done. You don’t say well, I’ve got to walk the dog. I’m not. Qualified you put your. Hand up and you say. I will do it active at the heart of the. Ecclesion. We have these. Two references up here. Which for lack of time, we won’t look at, but numbers.

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     Chapter 11, verse one and Deuteronomy. Chapter 25 verses 17 to 19. Where were the complainers in the Camp of Israel? In Numbers, Chapter 11. And Tabarab, Well, it says they. Were in the. Outside parts of the. Camp in the uttermost parts of the camp, that was where complaining originated. And it’s very often where. Complaining in the Ecclesia originates from the fringes. Deuteronomy chapter 25 is speaking about Amalek. And who did Amalek?

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     Attack. It was those that were. On. The outside, the stragglers at the back. They didn’t go after Aaron and. Her and Moses and the. People at the front, the fighting men, they didn’t go after those that were active in the center, they went after the weaklings and the tribes that are on the outside. Are the tribes.

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     That are on the. Hill of Cursing the tribes. That are on the inside. Are on the hill of blessing. So where are you in in the Ecclesia?

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     Outside just show up. On Sunday morning And then don’t see your brothers and sisters again for another week. Or are we active? At the heart of our. Ecclesias shouldn’t come as any surprise. You know that Shechem? Was a city of refuge.

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     Because Refuge is. Found only to those. That choose life. And there are. Steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in the work of. Their God. I’d like to close brothers and sisters. With some words from Zephaniah chapter 3, Shechem has some wonderful things to teach us. We have to choose life. We have to accept.

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     Our responsibilities and you know, one day. All the world. Will come to. Appreciate the importance. And the significance of this term and this place. And the history of these things that we revel in now. This is the last occurrence of the word. Shechem in our Old Testament it’s in Zephaniah, chapter 3. A very unique verses we know in the Hebrew language. Zephaniah chapter.

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     Three and verse 9. For then, Speaking of the Kingdom age, I will turn to the people A. Pure language. They’ll all know the truth. That they may all call upon the name of. Yahweh, Remember Abraham. He pitched his. Tent, And he called upon the name of. Yahweh. He built an altar. To serve him with one consent, now the word consent.

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     There. As the margin indicates. Is the word shoulder or shechem all the? Earth will one day call upon the name of Yahweh and serve him with one. Shechem, They will accept. Their responsibilities. Which the Lord Jesus? Christ and the Saints will put upon them, and they will learn the. Importance of the. Place that we have considered. This morning, brothers and sisters. Let us choose life.