• connection to Isa. 60
• a focus on discipleship following the beatitudes (5:1-12)

• emphatic declaration of identity
• distinctive features: preservation and purification
• assessment of “unsalty” salt
• objective: permeation

• derived and not generated
• inevitable visibility
• objective: illumination

• good work as evidence of internal transformation
• behavior beyond human terms
• between promise and fulfillment

• Because your obedience glorifies God, live distinctively and visibly as a transformed disciple.
• Reject both cultural isolation and cultural assimilation.
• Doxological living: lives that function like a great hymn
• “Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ; Ye blind, behold your Savior come, and leap ye lame for joy.” (“O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” Wesley)
• “So, our hearts and voices raising through the ages long, ceaselessly upon You gazing, this shall be our song: Yours the glory and the crown, the high renown, the eternal name.” (“Christ Triumphant, Ever Reigning,” Saward)

• a focus on the coming anointed conqueror (59:14-63:6)
• a conflation of advents

• summons to “walk” in the light
• subjective experience with an objective basis
• addressing a national and global need
• magnetizing manifestation of glory

• a gathering not hindered by distance or frailty
• a thrilling and enriching processional
• from begrudging enemies to glad tributaries

• Magi in Matt. 2:1-12
• Simeon in Lk. 2:25-32
• Jesus in Jn. 8:12
• Paul in Rom. 13:11-4
• John in Rev. 21:23-26

• Because Jesus Himself is the arrival of prophesied light, cherish His presence and treasure His promises.
• “There I find an experience fully God-centered, asking of God no gift more urgently than His presence, the gift of Himself, joyous to the highest degree, and unmistakably real.” (C. S. Lewis in Reflections on the Psalms)
• “And our eyes at last shall see Him, through His own redeeming love; for that Child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heav’n above, and He leads His children on to the place where He is gone.” (“Once in Royal David’s City,” F. Alexander)

• shift from condemnation to consolation
• a focus on the advent of the Warrior Shepherd

• a lifting of voice
• a prohibition of fear
• a God to behold

• look at the verbs
• a Sovereign who rules mightily
• a Shepherd who sustains tenderly

• pardoned iniquity
• revealed glory
• enduring word
• sole Creator and Controller

• Considering Scripture’s absolute accuracy and enduring character, magnify its message of consolation this Christmas.
• Connections to NT and Christ: Matt. 9:36, Jn. 10:11, 14; Heb. 13:20
• “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!” (“O Holy Night” J. Dwight)
• “Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed, but yet in love He sought me; and on His shoulder gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me.” (“The King of Love My Shepherd Is” H.W. Baker)

• start of a series of “woe oracles” (Isa. 28-33)
• more than 700 years before the first Christmas

• Ephraim’s drunken pride
• trusting everything except the LORD
• case of misplaced confidence

• rebuke of Jerusalem’s leaders
• the scoffing of spiritual cynics
• weakness revealed by crisis

• foundation stone in Zion (Rom. 9:33, 1 Pet. 2:6)
• proven, precious and permanent
• settled and not scrambled

• Because God exposes the folly of human pursuit of ultimate security, heed His warnings and hope in His Son.
• Only the installed foundation can bear the weight of reality.
• What particles of panic do you need to discard this Christmas season?
• connection to Christ and NT: 1 Cor. 3:10-15
• “And we will never face life alone now that God has made Himself known, Father and Friend with us to the end, Emmanuel!” (Steven Curtis Chapman, “Our God Is with Us”)

A. A Historical Review (vv. 1–4; see Acts 7:38, 53; Gal 3:19; Heb 2:2)
B. The Longing for the Messianic King (v. 5)
C. A Prayer for the Coming of the Messianic King (v. 7; see Gen 49:10)
D. Praise for the Lord Who Blesses Israel (vv. 26–29)

• last psalm in Book II of the Psalter (Psalms 42-72)
• messianic psalm with connections to Isa. 11:1-5 and Zech 9:9 (immediate reference/ultimate fulfillment)

• petition for the king
• guardian of justice and protector of the poor (Mt. 25:35)

• dynastic endurance (2 Sam. 7:16)
• a word from Pastor Watts (“Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun”)

• extension of the empire of God’s chosen king
• prophecy of worldwide dominion

• tender care of a sovereign
• display of “diverse excellencies”

• blessed by all and a blessing to all

• delight in the hope of His forever rule (2 Sam. 23:1-7; Rev. 21:24)

• Because all your blessings flow from the identity and activity of King Jesus, thank Him for His reign.
• “He comes with succor speedy to those who suffer wrong; to help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong; to give them songs for sighing, their darkness turn to light, whose souls, condemned and dying, are precious in His sight.” (James Montgomery, “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”)

• transition from exposition of the law to allegiance to the LORD as lawgiver
• Moses engages in strategic reinforcement.

• exalted over other nations by God’s sovereign choice
• conditional
• comprehensive
• edification

• consigned to Baalism’s illusory offerings
• conditional
• comprehensive
• disintegration

• Because conformity to the LORD’S commands has distinct consequences, prioritize obedience.
• connection to Christ: Gal. 3:13
• Christ bore the covenant curse that we might inherit covenant blessing.
• “His oath, His covenant, His blood, support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.” (E. Mote, “The Solid Rock”)

• start of second speech of Moses (Dt. 12:1-26:15)
• contrasting pure worship and pagan worship

• land/obedience connection
• not assimilation but annihilation
• not in the same kind of way

• where the LORD put His name…
• present/future aspects and catalog of offerings
• acknowledgement of deficiency (Judg. 17:6, 21:25)
• repeated emphases of rest/inheritance and cause for rejoicing (Psa. 132:13-14)
• provision for the Levite

• directed and distinct
• things permitted and prohibited
• the blood/life connection (Lev. 17:11)
• repetition of solemn warning
• not in that way…

• Because the LORD is the exclusive God of His people, worship Him exclusively.
• connections to Christ: Jn. 1:14, Acts 4:12, Heb. 4:14-16
• “Mighty God! The Ruler of my heart! Mighty God! My Heart’s true King! You alone reign in majesty! You alone reign in glory! You alone! You alone! You alone are King!” (D. Jernigan, “You Alone Are King”)

• restatement of Ten Commandments (5:1-21) and summary of Law giving (5:22-33)
• right response to the LORD’S sovereign care

• purpose of instruction: that you may do…
• that you may fear…by keeping (Psa. 111:10, 1 Jn. 5:3)
• hearing and doing
• contingency to consider (Ex. 3:7-8)

• passion expressed in the shema
• foundational fidelity to the only One to be worshiped (4:35, 39; Ex. 20:5)
• heart, soul and might: totality of being
• stress on the LORD’S unity and uniqueness

• “words” as the “bridge” between love and obedience
• total “immersion”
• establishment and elimination (Psa. 119:165)
• repeated reminders

• Because you transmit what you treasure, treasure the LORD supremely.
• connections to Christ: Jn. 10:30, 14:31
• “May the Living God, who is the portion and rest of the saints, make these our carnal minds so spiritual, and our earthly hearts so heavenly, that loving Him and delighting in Him may be the work of our lives.” (R. Baxter)

• Deut. 4: hinge between preceding historical prologue and covenant stipulations of Deut. 5-26
• conclusion of Moses’s first major speech in Deuteronomy

• invitation to ponder
• chronological and geographical inquiry
• references to earth and heaven

• hearing God’s voice (revelation)
• extraction from Egypt (redemption)
• the LORD’S methodology detailed and His sovereignty described (mighty hand…outstretched arm)

• that you might know…
• hearing from heaven and discipline
• seeing on earth and deliverance

• know it: intellectual assent
• take it to heart: internal appropriation
• claim the promises of prolonged days and permanent possession

• Because God is matchless in grace and power, trust Him and obey Him
• Connection to Christ: Heb. 1:1-4, Jn. 1:14 and Col. 1:13
• “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” (L. Stead)