Diving Deep, Growing Strong

Phillip Chong

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Introduction

Topic given is “Diving Deep and Growing Strong” as we study the Bible

Based on the passage that was read just now:

Historical Background

After the golden ages of David and Solomon, the nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms: The northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah.

The northern kingdom was ruled by different families of kings, all wicked. Decades before Josiah’s time, God used the Assyrians to destroy northern Israel in judgment first

The southern kingdom remained loyal to the family of David. Many of the southern kings were wicked too. But some were pretty good.

Josiah is the last good king of Judah

Josiah is the last good king of Judah.

In the sovereign plan of God, sometimes godly parents produce ungodly children, and sometimes ungodly parents produce godly children.

Both Josiah’s grandfather Manasseh and father Amon were very evil. Yet from them came arguably the best ever king of Judah.

And yet somehow God preserved young Josiah to be arguably the best king of Judah ever.

Outline of the passage: In order to Dive Deep and Grow Strong we need to 1. Rediscover the word of God 2. Respond to the word of God 3. Recognise the Word who is God

Rediscovering the word of God

Original Context

Josiah out of his desire to please God decided to repair God’s temple

while repairing the temple his men found the “Book of the Law” ().

For so many years the spiritual condition in Judah was so bad that the temple was neglected and the written Law of God was entirely lost.

So they brought the book to King Josiah and read it to him, for the very first time.

Contemporary Reflection

Imagine if for the last 100 years, the Bible has been missing. No more Bibles. How would our life be different now? (pause)

Doesn’t seem possible that God’s word can be lost in today’s world right?

Bibles of all kinds can be found in book shops, hotel rooms (thanks to the Gideons), and now even in your pocket-easily downloadable on your phone.

We really are blessed. Christians in the past would have given anything to have the kind of access to God’s word that we enjoy today

So God’s word isn’t lost. But has God’s word lost its place in our life?

How often do you spend time really diving deep into God’s word?

It doesn’t mean someone who reads the Bible 4 hours a day is automatically more spiritual than one who reads the Bible one hour a day

Its also unfair to compare people in different circumstances and different stages in life e.g. single people generally have more time to read their Bibles than parents of young kids. People who need to work two or three jobs to feed their family can’t be expected to spend six hours a day in the Bible, compared to a retiree.

As I’ll go into next, when it comes to bible reading it's not the quantity but the quality of your reading. But quantity still means something. 0 hours a month means something.

It reveals where your heart is e.g. if you’re interested in someone you’ll spend all your time trying to find out more about that person

the spiritual condition in Judah was so bad that they lost God’s Word.

They didn’t care about God so they didn’t care about what He says.

Yes we must allow for different circumstances and different stages in life e.g. single people generally have more time to read their Bibles than parents of young children. If you need to work two or three jobs to feed their family can’t be expected spend six hours a day in the Bible.

Illustration: In ancient China, most people never get to see the Emperor in person. But when a scroll arrives with the Emperor’s words they must bow bow prostrate as it is read. The Emperor’s words represent the Emperor. It makes no sense to say I honour the Emperor but don’t care about His words.

In same way, it makes no sense to say you love God but don’t care what He has to say.

If you have the desire to know God more you’ll squeeze some time in some how to know His word.

Going back to my original question. ‘If the Bible has been lost for a hundred years, what difference would it make?’ I think if we’re honest, for many of us, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. Life goes on.

Going back to my original question. ‘If the Bible has been lost for a hundred years, what difference would it make?’ I think if we’re honest,

Or are your Bibles somewhere in your house collecting dust? Are you in your Facebook app far more often than your Bible app?

Don’t you realise that the Bible is in some sense God’s Facebook?

the spiritual condition in Judah was so bad that they lost God’s Word.

They didn’t care about God so they didn’t care about what He says.

Illustration: In ancient China, one had to bow prostrate before the Emperor’s scroll as it is read. The Emperor’s words represent the Emperor. It makes no sense to say I honour the Emperor but don’t care about His words.

In same way, it makes no sense to say you love God but don’t care what He has to say.

Going back to my original question. ‘If the Bible has been lost for a hundred years, what difference would it make?’ I fear for many of us, it wouldn’t make any difference. Bible lost? No big deal. Life goes on.

If thats the case then the Bible is effectively lost to you. Its lost its place in your life. You need to rediscover the priority of reading God’s word.

We need to rediscover the priority of reading God’s word in your life.

But of course just reading the Bible is not enough. We must respond to it.

Of course simply reading the Bible is not enough. We must respond to it.

After finding the Book of the Law it was read to King Josiah.

Responding to the word of God

Original Context:

But of course just reading the Bible is not enough. We must respond to it.

There’s two type of responses: one is the heart (emotional response) the other is the hand (practical response).

After hearing for the first time, the words of God’s Law, King Josiah

Heart/emotional response

Original Context:

The book that was being read to Josiah was most likely the book of Deuteronomy.

In Deuteronomy God promises blessings to Israel if they are faithful to Him. He also promises judgment and destruction if they abandon Him.

Hearing for the first time, all these promises of blessings and curses, King Josiah responds by tearing his clothes - an intense sign of grief- and weeps before God.

The book that Josiah was reading was probably Deuteronomy.

Because his people have not been faithful to God. That can only mean one thing.

The book that Josiah was reading was probably Deuteronomy.

But to be sure, King Josiah sends his men to double check with a prophetess. She confirms his worst fears. It is too late.

For generations Judah has rebelled against God and worshiped idols. God sent prophets to warn them yet they refuse to listen. So God is finally going to destroy Judah. Even during Josiah’s grandfather Manasseh’s time God sent prophets to warn them: I will do to you what I did to the northern kingdom. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down” ().

It is too late. Nothing can save Judah.

Even during Josiah’s grandfather Manasseh’s time God send a prophet to tell them: I will do to you what I did to the northern kingdom. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down” (). It is too late. Nothing can save Judah.

It is too late. Nothing is going to change that.

But the prophetess adds one thing: because Josiah, because your heart was tender/responsive (NIV) and you humbled yourself before the Lord when he heard [God’s word] and because you tore his clothes and wept before the Lord…you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster that God is bringing upon this place ( HCSB)

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 22

because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I Myself have heard you—this is the LORD’s declaration— 20 therefore, I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster that I am bringing on this place.’ ”

because Josiah’s heart was tender (HCSB/NKJV) and responsive (NIV) and tore his robes and wept in God’s presence (), God will not carry out His judgment in his lifetime. Josiah will be buried in peace.

God will not carry out His judgment in Josiah’s lifetime because of how he responded to God’s word.

God will not carry out His judgment in his lifetime. Josiah will be buried in peace.

Contemporary Reflection:

When was the last time you were emotionally affected by the Bible?

Just now when Elycia read the passage, did you see anyone tear their clothes? Thats not part of our culture, fine, but did you feel even a little twitch in your heart?

Josiah wasn’t listening to a rousing sermon by the prophet Jeremiah etc, he was just listening to Scripture being read to him and he wept.

The book that Josiah was reading was probably Deuteronomy.

Lets be honest if Elycia read to us the book of Deuteronomy the only tears in our eyes will be tears from yawning.

I’m aware everybody’s emotional range is different. Some people won’t even cry at their own mother’s funeral. They love their mother but they’re just not the type to show it. Its all inside. And thats fine. There don’t have to be visible signs, as long as you’re touched in the inside.

But if you’re the type to cry in every Korean drama when the girl lost her memory then after recover her memory lost her eyesight/kena cancer, so you cry nonstop, but you’re never moved by God’s Word, something’s off.

Before you object that emotions don’t matter and whats more important is practical responses: don’t worry I’m going to talk about the practical response next, but there are lots of people, who do good things out there, but they have no love for God at all.

In , Paul says its possible for you to give away all your possessions to the poor and have no love.

Some of you may be thinking: wait but isn’t the giving away of your possessions to the poor love? To Paul it isn’t. Your confusing love with acts of love/results of love. But it isn’t love itself.

If you’re like “I don’t care about God or His people, but here’s some good works”, thats not love!

Love is not merely a feeling, but it is not less than a feeling. Emotions matter. Deep down you know this to be true.

When we sing worship songs, we don’t want to just recite lyrics e.g. Okay God I don’t feel anything but my mouth is moving so that means I love you right?

No we all want to feel something as we sing. We know that God’s truth is supposed to affect us emotionally.

If emotion doesn't matter the Psalms make no sense. The Psalms are full of emotion, expressing how they feel about God. particularly expresses how the writer felt about God’s Law.

If emotion don't matter psalms make no sense full of emotion esp love letter to the law

Emotions matter. Both positive and negative emotions.

(NIV) My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.

(HCSB) Their hearts are hard and insensitive, but I delight in Your instruction.

(HCSB) How sweet Your word is to my taste— sweeter than honey in my mouth.

(NIV) I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands.

ESV My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law (thats Josiah!)

Yes there is such a thing as emotionalism. But I suspect the real reason many of us shy away from talking about emotional responses is because we can’t directly control our emotions. You can’t force it. Practical acts you can force. Don’t want to do but you still force yourself to do.

Whereas you can’t force emotions. e.g. Pastor tough guy with tender heart. His eyes were full of tears when we voted to exercise church discipline on this unrepentant member.

Whereas emotions aren’t controlled, they’re spontaneous. So they betray whats inside. You either are moved by God’s word or you’re not. And if you’re not that means you don’t have a tender heart like Josiah.

But of course emotional responses by themselves are not enough. There are people who can cry all day long about anything but change nothing in their life.

There must not only be a heart response there must also be a hand response.

Josiah did not just try tear his clothes, he tore down all the idols in Israel. And this is remarkable.

Hand/practical response

Original Context

Josiah not only tore his clothes, he tore down all the idols in Israel.

If I was told, i) its already too late, God is going to judge your kingdom. Nothing you do can change that. ii) But you yourself will be fine - you’ll be buried in peace - I’ll be tempted to just relax and maintain (don’t become worse) and enjoy the rest of my peaceful reign.

But Josiah doesn’t rest. He responds by reforming the nation.

First he reads the word of God to the people and makes a covenant with them to obey all the commandments

Next Josiah does spring-cleaning - God’s temple was full of idols and even prostitution which Josiah removed

Besides getting rid of temple prostitutes he also got rid of corrupt priests.

He destroyed all the altars that his father and grandfather had built. He was not afraid to go against family practice and tradition when it was against God’s Law.

There were even altars preserved from the time of King Solomon, so Josiah destroyed them too. He did what other good kings before him e.g. Jehosophat/Hezekiah failed to do. He was very thorough.

In fact he didn’t just stay in Jerusalem or Judah. Josiah went north and destroyed all the idols in the former kingdom of Israel including the altar to the golden calves made by King Jeroboam after the north split from the south.

In doing so Josiah reestablished David’s but more importantly God’s influence and authority in northern Israel.

But I think you also noticed right that when Josiah wanted to get rid of idolatry, he didn’t just destroy he also defiled those places of worship

e.g. He didn’t just smash the sacred pillars used to for worship, he also scattered human bones over those places to defile those places

This is because it was believed that things or places that have been defiled could no longer be used for worship of any sort

In other words, Josiah was so zealous to please God he wanted to make sure that idolatry will never resurface again.

Contemporary Reflection

Removing false gods

If you’re a non-Christian, thank you for visiting us. But I think the most loving thing I can do is to tell you that there is only one true God. Everybody else are just false gods. Khrisna is not god. Buddha is not god. Allah of Islam is not the true god.

Muslims believe that the Lord Jesus whom we worship is not truly God either. So no need to get so upset about that. We can still be peaceful neighbours who agree to disagree.

My point is all religions are not the same. There are big differences, and somebody’s right and somebody’s wrong.

I’ll say more about the uniqueness of Christianity in a moment but I also hope you will stay back for the lunch and talk to other people, make friends, ask them why they became Christians.

But let me now address the Christians.

Remember that idols are not necessarily statues made of wood or stone. Anything that takes the place of God in your life is a false god.

They may not necessarily be inherently bad things. You can idolise success or even your family.

The Greeks worshipped many gods. Ares the god of war. Athena the goddess of wisdom. Hermes the god of trade and commerce. Aphrodite the goddess of love and beauty.

So if you’re going off to war you make offerings to Ares. If you want business to expand you sacrifice to Hermes. If you’re going on a date tonight, you pray to Aphrodite.

Nobody today worships Hermes or Aphrodite. But are we that different? Can we really say money-making or romance are not worshipped? e.g. What fills our billboard advertisements? Or our TV commercials?

Tim Keller, pastor in New York said before that modern people look down on ancient people who sacrificed their children on the altar of their gods but failed to realise they’ve sacrificed their children on the altar of their careers.

What fills our billboard advertisements? Or our TV commercials?

Whats fundamentally wrong with us humans is not that we doing something that is purely evil all the time like murder or rape.

Whats fundamentally wrong with us is our disordered loves. We love very often good things, but we love them in the wrong order.

So for example just now, loving your career isn’t wrong. But loving your career more than your children is. Loving books more than your neighbour is wrong. So is loving your spouse more than you love God.

Business and romance aren’t sinful in themselves, but when they take priority over God, then those are your false gods.

Your Bible reading is a good indicator of this.

Many Christians don’t read their Bibles because they say the Bible is irrelevant: It doesn’t answer the questions they asking.

The Bible is about God, who He is, what He has done, what He will do for you, and how you are to respond to Him.

The only way the Bible is irrelevant is if the Lord is not your God. If the Bible is irrelevant to you, then thats a clear sign your heart has turned to false gods.

No matter how hard the prosperity gospel teachers try to twist Scripture the Bible is not a manual for how to get rich. It is not a book of business strategies. So if wealth is your god, all you care about is how to make your first million, the Bible is irrelevant to you.

Of course theology itself can become an idol but I don’t think thats a danger to most of you. But it can be a danger to someone like me.

Take stock of your life. What are the things you care about most? Where do you pour your time and energy into? Where does your money go?

What is the one thing that gives you the most joy in your life? What is the one thing that if it were taken away from you, your life will just fall apart?

Those are big clues as to who or what your true god is.

If they are not the Lord, then repent. Repent from your heart and do whatever it takes to remove its threat from your life.

If certain movies or websites cause you to crave other things more than the things of God, then stop watching those movies. Stop visiting those websites e.g. Instagram or Lazada.

Be radically thorough like Josiah.

Repent and reform regardless of results

What impresses me the most about Josiah is that he repented and reformed the nation regardless of results

Remember that according to both the Law and the prophecy, Judah’s fate was sealed.

If I was told, i) its already too late, God is going to judge your kingdom. Nothing you do can change that. ii) it won’t happen in your lifetime - I’ll be tempted to just relax and maintain (don’t become worse) and enjoy the rest of my peaceful reign.

But Josiah doesn’t rest. He responds by reforming the nation thoroughly regardless of what is to come.

We should repent and reform simply because it is the right thing to do. Because it is right to please God. Because we do not ultimately love the gifts but the Giver.

Likewise we should repent and reform our life simply because it is the right thing to do. Because we want to please God. Because we do not ultimately love the gifts but the Giver.

This is critical because being a faithful Christian who studies the Bible all day does not guarantee you a life of health and wealth

Often your life will become worse

Removing false gods

In the book of Jeremiah the people complain that Josiah’s reforms actually made them suffer. When they worshipped some goddess they prospered, when they stopped worshipping her they experienced only war and famine

You can often hear of people saying that if we all turn to the Lord, Malaysia will become a land flowing with milk and honey

Did you know that for more than a thousand years Rome prospered as a pagan nation? Rome prospered while persecuting the church.

30 years after Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, Rome fell to pagan barbarians.

This provides a lesson to so many of us are results driven.

Do you know that

This provides a lesson to so many of us are results driven.

Christianity was blamed for making Rome weak.

Rejoicing in God’s grace

Because it is right to please God. Because we do not ultimately love the gifts but the Giver.

This provides a lesson to so many of us who are results driven.

Just because something doesn’t appear to bring success doesn’t mean its wrong. Just because something appears to work, doesn’t mean its the right thing to do.

I hear so often, Bible study puts people off. If you have Bible study, people won’t come. So don’t have Bible study. Just eat and chit-chat and more people will join.

The biggest culprit is always evangelism.

Thats like saying don’t teach Christ is the Son of God so that Muslims will become Christians.

There are people today advocating that since the doctrine of the Trinity stumbles Jews and Muslims we should reject the doctrine of the Trinity

See the logic? Its not about what is right or true, but what works.

Evangelists are always the biggest culprit of this results-driven pragmatic approach.

Don’t misunderstand me, evangelism is absolutely crucial, but historically wrong teachings and wrong practices have come into the church under the excuse of evangelism.

Here’s a thought: Non-Christians want the wrong things so why give them what they want? Like any good doctor we’re supposed to give them what they need, not what they want.

The church is always susceptible to pragmatic and results-driven.

In any case like Josiah we must do what is right, not because it works, but because it is right and pleases the Lord. The results we leave to God.

And in this case, Josiah’s reforms couldn’t save his nation from destruction.

New Living Translation Chapter 23

25 Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.

26 Even so, the LORD was very angry with Judah because of all the wicked things Manasseh had done to provoke him. 27 For the LORD said, “I will also banish Judah from my presence just as I have banished Israel. And I will reject my chosen city of Jerusalem and the Temple where my name was to be honored.”

If the Lord gives, or the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

New Living Translation Chapter 23

Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.

We must learn from Josiah and do what is right, not because it works, but because it is right and pleases the Lord. The results we leave to God.

Josiah did much good, and during his reign the nation did enjoy peace.

But it didn’t last long. Josiah himself dies at a very young age of 31.

Aren’t godly people supposed to live long lives? Yet Josiah is killed in battle.

Josiah wasn’t perfect, and 20 years after his death, his kingdom is destroyed by Babylon.

20 years after Josiah’s death, his kingdom is destroyed by Babylon.

Recognising the Word who is God

Josiah was not enough to save Judah

New Living Translation Chapter 23

25 Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.

26 Even so, the LORD was very angry with Judah because of all the wicked things Manasseh had done to provoke him.

New Living Translation Chapter 23

25 Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.

The nation enjoyed peace under Josiah but that didn’t last long.

The greatest king of Judah, did all he could, yet it was not enough to save the nation.

Some commentators think that its because the people themselves never truly repented. That might be true but we need not speculate.

The passage tells us that the Lord was still angry because of all the wicked things Josiah’s grandfather Manasseh had done.

Going back to what I said earlier, we must do what is good because it is good. You’re supposed to do what is good, so doing what is good doesn’t earn you extra points. Doing what is good doesn’t make up for wrongs done earlier.

When we Christians say God is a loving and gracious God many people wrongly think its means that when you sin against God, its okay, just try harder next time and He’ll forgive you.

But going back to what I said earlier, we must do what is good because it is good. You’re supposed to do what is good, so doing what is good doesn’t earn you extra points.

Doing what is good doesn’t make up for wrongs done earlier.

This makes Christianity unique. Our good works cannot save us. Nothing can. Everything we do is not enough.

We sing this truth in some of our songs e.g. Rock of Ages

Not the labor of my hands Can fulfill Thy law’s demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone

Josiah did much good, and during his reign the nation did enjoy peace.

But it didn’t last long. Josiah himself dies at a very young age of 31.

Aren’t godly people supposed to live long lives? Yet Josiah is killed in battle.

Josiah was not enough to save his people.

Thankfully God gave us one greater than Josiah.

Jesus the ultimate Word

In Jesus Christ, God not only gave us a King who fully obeyed God’s word, He was Himself the Word who became a human being.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (, NIV)

Why is Jesus referred to as the Word?

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Without getting lost in what the Greeks meant by the term logos, basically Jesus is the Word because He is the One who fully reveals and represents God.

Remember how I said that the words of the emperor come from the emperor and are essentially the emperor himself? So the listeners must bow down as his words are read? Its kinda the same thing.

Jesus comes from the Father, perfectly revealing the Father to us. What is God like? Look at Jesus. If you’ve seen Him you’ve seen the Father.

He’s not talking about physical description by the way. Notice there is no physical description of Jesus in the Bible. Because thats not important.

It means that everything Jesus did and said, perfectly reveals the beautiful character of our God because He is God in the flesh.

All other religions, some guy comes and tells you that they’ve found a way to God. But in Christianity Jesus says He is God come to find you.

Because He is God in the flesh.

We should not look for any other revelation after Jesus. Because that would be saying that Jesus didn’t perfectly reveal God to us.

But Jesus also perfectly reveals the Father because He only does what the Father tells Him to do. He is the one who truly loved the Father with all His heart, soul , mind and strength. Jesus said His food was to do the will of God.

So you cannot say you know or love God if you don’t know or love Jesus. He is the litmus test.

We can't dive deep or grow strong without being rooted in Christ. He is the only foundation that matters.

Reading the word of God all the day won’t save you unless it leads you to faith in the Word who is God.

If you read the Bible, even the Old Testament, and you don’t recognise Jesus then you’re reading the Bible like a Pharisee.

We can't dive deep or grow strong without being rooted in Christ. He is the only foundation that matters.

If you read the Bible, even the Old Testament, and you don’t recognise Jesus then you’re reading the Bible like a Pharisee.

The whole Bible is Jesus’ Facebook.

There are previews of Christ all over the OT. Josiah himself is a preview of Christ. But so is the Passover.

Jesus our Passover Lamb

The greatest proof of this was Jesus’ death on the cross

Sinners deserve to be destroyed, like Judah was. Like all of us are supposed to be.

If there was anyone who deserved a long life of health and wealth, peace and comfort, it was the Lord Jesus. Yet He gave all of that up, to take our place, dying the worst possible death, for us.

There are previews of Christ all over the OT. Josiah himself is a preview of Christ. But so is the Passover.

In King Josiah orders the nation to celebrate the Passover to the Lord as required in the Book of the Covenant.

God’s law required His people to celebrate the Passover annually, which they barely did, to remember God’s grace to them in the past. But it was also to prepare them to understand and recognise the grace of our Lord Jesus.

What is the Passover? Hundreds of years before the time of Josiah, the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. God sent Moses to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Pharoah refused and eventually, God sent an angel of death to kill every firstborn son in Egypt.

But God also told the Israelites to kill a lamb and paint its blood over their doorpost. So that when the angel of death comes to kill their first born son, he will see the blood, and pass over their house. Hence the word passover.

The Israelites were literally saved by the blood of a Lamb. If you’re a Christian, thats exactly what happened to you.

Thats why later on the apostle Paul writes that Christ is our passover lamb, sacrificed for us.

Sinners deserve to be destroyed, like Judah was. Like all of us are supposed to be. It should be our blood smeared across our own door posts.

If there was anyone who deserved a long life of health and wealth, peace and comfort, it was the Lord Jesus. Yet He gave all of that up, to take our place

By living the perfect life Jesus fulfills the demands of the Law and atones for all our sins by shedding His blood on the cross for us.

His perfect sacrifice is enough to save us.

Does that not move your heart? I hope you never get bored of hearing about the love of God in Christ.

If there was anyone who deserved a long life of health and wealth, peace and comfort, it was the Lord Jesus. Yet He gave all of that up, to take our place, dying the worst possible death, for us.

Does that not move your heart? It isn’t just the bad news of the Law that should move God’s people to tears, the good news of the gospel should move you to tears of joy too.

It isn’t just the bad news of the Law but also the good news of the gospel that should always move you emotionally.

There’s a great scene in LOTR - where the city is under attack by evil forces. It looks like all hope is lost until suddenly out of no where horns are blown from a distance. This is the signal that their friends the Riders of Rohan have arrived. The Riders of Rohan are severely outnumbered but they charge to their deaths anyway and the city is saved.

Pippin was inside the city. In the book it says that ever since that day, whenever Pippin hears horns blown, tears will fill his eyes, because he will always think back to the day of his salvation.