He Captured the Captives

These are unchartered waters for me. I have never done this before. Although I have tried to meet as many of you as possible and remember your names and study the photo directory and contact some of you through phone calls, facetime, texting and WhatsApp…most of you are strangers to me.

That word stranger has the word “strange” in it. This is unusual and surprising. All this is somewhat unsettling and hard to process. I look out and see faces, but people I don’t know. I am in a strange land. The landscape is different. Now, I like what I see, but is sure is different. Where are the tall buildings, or the people that drive aggressively? In a very real sense I am in a foreign land. Babe we are 2,183 miles from home. When the Israelites were exiled by the Babylonians they were taken 900 miles ways. In a way I feel like I am in exile. I feel like I am away from where I should be. At BCC today, I should be helping Auntie Cherie manage the 20+ little kids on stage and helping them sing Away in a Manger. I should be getting ready to our congregation in Christmas music worship experience with our live band and adult worship choir. But here I am. It’s strange.

I bet you feel the same, but probably for a different reason. 2020 has been strange right? Does anything feel normal? Does anyone want this to be “the new normal?” Nothing feels normal and nothing really is normal. Everything feels strange and everything is strange. It is like we are exiled from our former way of life. Thanksgiving cancelled! Christmas get togethers taken away. Songs have been taken away from us to express our corporate praise to God.

Andrew Peterson…do you feel the world is broken? We do!” (we did this at my ordination service with my worship team and it was comical for a few reasons: 1) the worship team just stands there for an 8-bar intro and then I start singing, then they collectively say the words “we do.” It’s just kind of funny…but the 2) reason it was comical is because the answer is completely obvious. Like do you even need to ask the question? Do you want the Seahawks to beat the “Washington Football Team” today? Do you feel the world is broken? (yeah).

So, what do we do when nothing feels normal…not only feels normal and we look around and everything feels foreign or different or strange. And we long for a change. We sadly realize that really adversity is our normal experience. Like Job said, “a man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.”

What do we do when we feel like we are in exile? What do we do when it doesn’t just feel like it but we look around and see that we actually are in exile. What should I feel when I look at my weather app and realize that I am living in a land where it is going to rain ( ) out of ( ) days? What do we do when we realize that nothing is like it was? And what might God’s message be to his people who find themselves in exile? Does God know what we are going through? We can know what He might say, because He has already said it.

No doubt about it, 2020 has been difficult. We are all in a sense “exiled” from our former ways of life. What have you been consoling yourself with? food? drink? binge watching? internet? the Lord?

Thematic sermon verses Expository Sermon – Unfold a theme and make a point.

A primary theme in Scripture is the exile of God’s people from His presence.

exile and death

· Genesis 2:8 (ESV) - 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.

· Gen. 3:8 – And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

· Why would the hide?

After disobeying God in the garden, Adam and Eve attempted to hide from Him to no avail. Are you trying to hide something from Him? From your spouse? From your friends? If so, realize it will be brought to light at some point. It is better to get out in front of it and own it NOW.

· They disobeyed what God had told them – eat from any tree…but not this one…so what do they do? What would you have done? I wouldn’t do that…Really? You did it today. Did you treat anyone poorly on the way to this building this morning? Did you see someone in this place and have any bitterness or resentment flare up in your heart? Did you complain to someone about anything? You would have done it too.

· Genesis 3:23–24 (ESV) 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

· Two terrifying things in these two verses.

· FIRST THING - Sent out / Drove out

· shaw·lakh - Sent out – expulsion – put away – left alone to suffer consequences

· Psalm 81:12 (ESV) - 12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.

· gaw·rash - drove out - term for cattle – go feed somewhere else.

· This is the first occurrence of exile in the Bible.

· Unfortunately, what happens in Genesis doesn’t stay in Genesis…it carries on throughout the Scriptures.

· Exiled from the garden – exiled from God is the ultimate death – Remember when Jesus said later, “apart from me you can do nothing?”

· SECOND THING - Cherubim and a flaming sword – to get back into the presence of God. Seems a little intimidating.

The flaming sword in Genesis 3 reminds me of the light sabers in Star Wars. On a scale of 1-10, how much a Star Wars fan are you?

exile and death

· This is devastating on the first pages of Scripture. Now I hesitate calling any narrative in the bible or the bible as a whole as a “story.” Sometimes that implies a non-reality. This is just the conjuring up of a fictitious tale. We know that the happenings in the Bible and the Bible as a whole are unfolding of actual reality. This is non-fiction. So, let’s make sure we are clear on that…but for the ease of communication let’s use the word story. When an author compose a story, he will introduce conflict in the story somewhat early on to set the hook. IT makes you want to keep reading. You get emotionally engaged with the content. So, the author allows for a scenario or situation to happen to the main character that he/she has to overcome. So here we go. We know this…it is just kind of good story telling. It is seen in literature everywhere. The reason we see it in literature everywhere is because there is nothing new under the sun. All of literature that follows this story line has gotten its cues from the Author of Life.

· So, we get to Genesis 1-3 and we see that humans are not only expelled from God’s presence, but they are driven out like cattle to go find pasture and “very literally” food from somewhere else.

· No more eating of the fruit of the trees in this garden. You can’t abide here anymore and to remind you of that here is a warrior angel with a FLAMING SWORD to block the way back.

· Does that sound like conflict? – Pretty incredible!

· Humans are met with adversity in chapter 3. We see conflict between the humans and their own selves. “When she saw the fruit was good for food and a delight to her eyes she took and ate.” (the desires).

· They had inner conflict within themselves (desires were waging war).

· They had outer conflict with the crafty serpent.

· They had outer conflict with God Himself. – (The woman YOU gave me).

· But if we read it like that…I think we have read it wrong.

· Why? Because the way I just summarized the story…I summarized it in a way in which the humans were the main characters.

· And we aren’t. Genesis 1:1 doesn’t start with in the beginning HUMANS…it begins with in the beginning GOD.

· We have to read the bible that way. We will get some much more right in our lives if we make all of the universe and reality itself about him and not us. It is so easy to twist and

· ILLUSTRATION: Carnival ladder – climb to the top to get the prize. It flips over so easy.

· The main character in the bible is not US it is GOD. We have to get that right.

· So, since this is the case…what are the implications for the conflict we see in Genesis 2-3.

· The conflict is between God and Us. In a way He is the one in conflict. He loves His creation but His image bearers have wrecked it. It is stained with our guilt and shame and sin. It is cursed and the curse is found everywhere.

· So, He being the one in conflict…will have to come up with a solution to bring us back from exile. He will need a plan to free us from our futile works and our enslavement to our sin and ultimate death.

tabernacle and temple

What structure was God’s built and what occured within its walls in order for unholy wretches to live in close proximity to Himself in the Old Testament?

· Earlier on before the people of God had a land to live in…there was a tabernacle. The tabernacle and temple really served the same function. It provided a place whether in the wilderness or the land for unholy wretches to be in close proximity to a holy God.

· Since there was a natural separation that existed between God and man and there needed to be a place where God and man could come together. God’s solution was temple building.

· Leviticus 26:11–12 (ESV) 11 I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. 12 And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.

· Walk – same word in Genesis 3:8 – walking in the coolness of the day…walking among you.

· This was a physical structure were deity would dwell. (put a pin in that thought)

· One of the most fascinating parts of Scripture is found at end of Exodus and the beginning of Leviticus and beginning of Numbers. Have you ever seen this? Amazing!

· Exodus 40:1–2 (ESV) 1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“On the first day of the first month you shall erect the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.

· Exodus 40:16 (ESV) 16 This Moses did; according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did.

· Exodus 40:34–35 (ESV) 34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

· Leviticus 1:1–2 (ESV) 1 The Lord called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, when any one of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock.

· Numbers 1:1 (ESV) 1 The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting…”

· What is the difference? What happened between Lev. 1 and Number 1 that would allow Moses to enter into God’s presence?

atonement

· This should floor us.

· While in the wilderness God allowed His people to be in His presence as long as there was a proper covering for their sin. As long as there was proper atonement made, even if it had to be done yearly, it was better than nothing.

· 1 out of 365 is better than 0 out of 365.

· What does the Psalmist say…” better is ONE DAY in your court…”

The Psalmist says, “better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” Do you agree? Does your your church attendance and devotional life demonstrate that?

· And all this is just a foreshadowing. (All that the OT foreshadowed – Christ was the substance).

· This was a just foreshadowing…of not only of a greater cleansing and greater covering…but also a greater exile experience.

· Fast forward in biblical history and you see the people of God dwelling in the land, but due to their sin and disobedience (much like Adam and Eve in the garden) they saw their meeting place with God destroyed and they themselves being carried off by a cruel empire to exile. (put a pin in that thought – the destruction of the temple)

2 Kings 17:1–2 ESV

1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel, and he reigned nine years. 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him.

· 2 Kings 17:1–2 (ESV) 1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel, and he reigned nine years. 2And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord…

2 Kings 17:5–7 ESV

5 Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria, and for three years he besieged it. 6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. 7 And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods

· 2 Kings 17:5–7 (ESV) 5Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria, and for three years he besieged it. 6In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria…7And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God…

· God pleaded to the hearts of His people through His prophets…but to no avail.

2 Kings 17:13–15 ESV

13 Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.” 14 But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God. 15 They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them.

· 2 Kings 17:13–15 (ESV) “the Lord warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes,...” 14But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God. 15They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false...”

Why did God exile His people? (Hint: 2 Kings 17)

· They hated God – and the started to look like everyone else surrounding them.

Hosea 9:15 ESV

15 Every evil of theirs is in Gilgal; there I began to hate them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house. I will love them no more; all their princes are rebels.

· Hosea 9:15 (ESV) 15Every evil of theirs is in Gilgal; there I began to hate them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house. I will love them no more; all their princes are rebels.

· Gilgal was the first place they camped when they entered the promised land.

· Not only the Northern Tribes (Israel) but the Southern Tribes of Judah as well.

· We won’t read those passages…basically the same thing…except you swap out names and locations.

· Ways of identifying and communing with God was annihilated when the temple was destroyed.

· Fast forward 70 years in biblical history we see the children of Israel back in the land because of the King of Persia had captured Babylon).

· People started returning - (Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah) – built walls and the temple…but it was a shadow of what it used to be…

· The people are looking at the temple and they are weeping.

Ezra 3:11–12 ESV

11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy,

· Ezra 3:11–12 (ESV) 11all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid…”

Haggai 2:3–9 ESV

3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”

· Haggai 2:3–9 (ESV) 3‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? 4Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 6For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, (MAGI) and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place, I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’”

When the exiles returned to Jerusalem and saw the foundation of the temple laid, some rejoiced while other wept. This is the classic controversy: is the glass half full or is it half empty? What are your tendency when things change?

How will the “latter day glory of this house be greater than the former?”

· There will actually be peace and final covering…remember the High Priest could only enter in once a year and never without blood with him to cover his own sins and the sins of the people He had to do this year after year after year. Hard year after hard year. It’s like the year 2020 on repeat. Rinse, spin repeat.

a greater exile to build a greater temple

Galatians 4:4–5 ESV

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

· Galatians 4:4–5 (ESV) 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

· SENT FORTH – ἐξαποστέλλω – to send out with a purpose.

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

· John 1:14 (ESV) 14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

· Let’s take those pins out…

· Pin 1 – Tabernacle and Temple was a place the glory of God dwelt.

Colossians 2:9 ESV

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

· Colossians 2:9 – in him the whole fulness of deity dwelt bodily.

· Pin 2 – in exile the temple destroyed…

John 2:19 ESV

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

· John 2:19 (ESV) - 19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Mark 11:18 ESV

18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching.

· Parallel passage is Mark 11:18 (ESV) 18And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching.

1 John 3:8 ESV

8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

· Why did Jesus come? – He came to be destroyed in order to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8).

Have you ever thought of Jesus being “exiled” from heaven?

jesus exiled?

· Matthew 4:1 (ESV) - 1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

· John 12:27 (ESV) 27“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose, I have come to this hour.

· Mark 14:43–46 (ESV) 43And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” 45And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 46And they laid hands on him and seized him.

· They took him to the High Priest and the scribes and they condemned him…

· Mark 15:1 (ESV) - 1And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate.

· Mark 15:15 (ESV) - 15So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

· Romans 4:25 (ESV) 25who was delivered up for our trespasses…

· And so, like a lamb led to the slaughter he went to Golgotha… (Isaiah 53)

why?

Why would he do this? Why willfully go into exile and exchange the glories of heaven for the miseries of a crooked and depraved world?

John 3:16–17 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

· John 3:16–17 (ESV) 16“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

· He did this so that could identify with us in our sin and misery.

Hebrews 2:9 ESV

9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Hebrews 2:14–15 ESV

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Hebrews 2:17–18 ESV

17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

· Hebrews 2:9, 14-15, 17-18 (ESV) 9But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone…14Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery… 17Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

· All of this so that after His death, burial, resurrection and ascension back to the Father on our behalf…He could do what Ephesians 4:8 says,

Ephesians 4:8 ESV

8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

· Ephesians 4:8 (ESV) 8Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,”

· He captured those of us who were held captive.

· And He looks at you and me and extends the call every disciple has ever heard…

· FOLLOW ME.

· And as we follow Him into the garden city of God we sing the song of the Lamb.

· Revelation 5:9–10 (ESV) 9“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

· He captured the captives and those whom the Son sets free are free indeed

· John 6:37 (ESV) 37All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

· John 10:28–28 (ESV) 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

· Ephesians 2:17 (ESV) 17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.

· Ephesians 2:14 (ESV) 14For he himself is our peace,

So, what is the message on this Sunday before Christmas (to the elect exiles)

To those in exile, hear these words from our God spoken to the OT exiles from the Great Prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 40:1–5 (ESV) 1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. 3A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

To those in exile, hear these words from the Greater Prophet Jesus:

John 14:27 (ESV) 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

As we conclude this morning it is my sincere desire that we find encouragement from the Scriptures that “all shall be well.” Like the old Christmas carol states, ‘Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: ‘God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men!’

Prayer -

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night…

The reason Jesus was “exiled” from heaven was twofold: to save sinner and to fully identify with us in our weaknesses. Take a moment to verbally speak or sing your praise to Him.