WEBVTT 00:00.600 --> 00:06.300 This morning's text opens with a stirring call, one might almost call 00:06.300 --> 00:12.400 it a Reformational call. To reflect on the holy scriptures to take 00:12.400 --> 00:18.100 them to heart. To read, mark, learn and inwardly digest 00:18.400 --> 00:19.400 God's word. 00:19.900 --> 00:25.300 Hear the word of the Lord give ear to the teaching of our God. 00:27.000 --> 00:28.500 What could be more Reformational? 00:29.100 --> 00:32.400 What could be more Lutheran than this? 00:33.300 --> 00:36.800 And what could be more Seminary frankly than this? 00:37.500 --> 00:42.000 Because we are here and by here, I mean Concordia Seminary St. 00:42.000 --> 00:46.300 Louis and Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. 00:46.900 --> 00:52.000 And I mean, Boards of Regents, faculty, Administration staff and yes, 00:52.400 --> 00:54.100 especially you students. 00:54.100 --> 00:55.700 We are here 00:56.700 --> 01:03.100 to hear and study God's word. Reflect upon it, to learn, to preach it, 01:03.700 --> 01:06.600 to apply it and acts of mercy. 01:07.300 --> 01:12.700 In short, we are here to ensure that these words are not just words. 01:13.600 --> 01:14.200 Rather 01:15.800 --> 01:21.100 they are words that are taken to heart and more than simply informing 01:21.100 --> 01:23.700 us of information. 01:24.100 --> 01:29.500 They actually form us for service in the name of Christ. 01:31.300 --> 01:35.500 The text fits all so perfectly with the church year when we've just 01:35.500 --> 01:39.500 celebrated, the Festival of the Reformation. And reminded ourselves for 01:39.800 --> 01:43.400 upwards of the 505th time that Luther 01:43.400 --> 01:48.700 and we Lutheran's affirm justification by grace alone, through faith 01:48.800 --> 01:51.900 alone because of Christ alone. 01:51.900 --> 01:54.900 As recorded in the scriptures alone. 01:55.900 --> 01:56.800 I can assure you 01:56.900 --> 02:00.600 we did that celebration upright in Fort Wayne 02:01.400 --> 02:04.800 with maybe even a whiff of incense. 02:06.800 --> 02:10.199 And I do understand that was often the case here, back in the day of 02:10.199 --> 02:10.600 Dr. 02:10.600 --> 02:11.600 Horace Hummel. 02:12.900 --> 02:17.100 Regardless, this text seems to be Reformational all to its core. 02:17.100 --> 02:19.400 It is perfect for us 02:20.700 --> 02:22.400 or is it? By now 02:22.400 --> 02:24.100 you're probably saying to yourself. 02:24.100 --> 02:28.100 That's a nice way of carving up the text for yourself 02:28.100 --> 02:33.400 preacher. Take the part you like remove the parts you don't. 02:35.000 --> 02:39.300 Well, I won't defend myself, I left a couple of things out and yes, 02:39.900 --> 02:41.700 they're kind of important. 02:42.900 --> 02:44.300 Hear the word of the Lord. 02:44.300 --> 02:46.300 You rulers of Sodom. 02:47.800 --> 02:52.500 Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah. 02:55.300 --> 02:55.700 Well 02:56.800 --> 02:59.600 maybe we're still alright, because 03:00.200 --> 03:02.500 we are not them. 03:03.300 --> 03:05.300 We are not rulers of Sodom. 03:05.900 --> 03:11.600 We are not people of Gomorrah, not me, not us for we all know about 03:11.600 --> 03:16.800 Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the 03:16.800 --> 03:17.500 Lord. 03:18.800 --> 03:24.100 And the way they expressed that sinfulness was public and exhaustive. 03:24.900 --> 03:30.200 You know the story well enough. You know, that the evil of Sodom and 03:30.200 --> 03:35.700 Gomorrah extended through its entire population, both young and old 03:35.700 --> 03:39.400 all the people to the last man. 03:41.100 --> 03:45.000 The account of Sodom and Gomorrah offends on so many levels. 03:46.300 --> 03:52.700 But I believe it is misapplied when we use it to claim, we are not 03:52.900 --> 03:53.500 them. 03:55.200 --> 04:02.500 For God through Isaiah applies it to the people of Israel and through 04:02.500 --> 04:04.500 them to us. 04:05.500 --> 04:11.600 He confronts us with the reality that we are the rulers of Sodom the 04:11.600 --> 04:14.600 people of Gomorrah. That in truth 04:14.600 --> 04:20.100 the evil displayed their extended through the entire human population 04:20.100 --> 04:25.700 both young and old all the people to the last man. 04:27.100 --> 04:29.000 You and me. 04:30.600 --> 04:32.000 And the people of Israel knew it? 04:32.500 --> 04:32.800 Yes, 04:32.800 --> 04:34.800 they were God's called and chosen people. 04:35.100 --> 04:38.500 And yes, they intended to put things right. 04:39.300 --> 04:41.200 They established the temple. 04:42.000 --> 04:47.100 They had done were doing intended to keep on doing the things God had 04:47.100 --> 04:47.900 commanded. 04:49.000 --> 04:54.100 So, when Isaiah speaks God's word, when you come to appear, before me 04:54.100 --> 04:58.500 who has required of you, this trampling of my courts. 04:58.700 --> 05:01.600 I can easily imagine the people responding. 05:01.700 --> 05:03.300 Well, you did God. 05:04.200 --> 05:06.000 You're the one who said this. 05:06.900 --> 05:11.100 Maybe there's been a little bit of enhancement over the years, but in 05:11.100 --> 05:15.400 the end were simply doing what you commanded. 05:17.000 --> 05:18.700 And God's remarkable answer. 05:20.300 --> 05:21.000 Stop. 05:22.400 --> 05:24.600 Just stop. 05:25.700 --> 05:27.400 Bring no more vain offerings. 05:27.700 --> 05:32.000 Incense is an abomination to me. New moon, and Sabbath, and the 05:32.000 --> 05:33.500 calling of convocations 05:33.700 --> 05:38.600 I cannot endure iniquity, and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your 05:38.600 --> 05:39.500 appointed feasts 05:39.500 --> 05:43.600 my soul hates, they have become a burden 05:44.100 --> 05:48.000 to me. I am weary a bearing them. 05:51.100 --> 05:54.300 Now, how can God be frustrated with his own arrangements? 05:55.500 --> 05:59.800 Well, certainly at the very least, their original point had been 06:00.000 --> 06:05.400 obscured. The temple and its sacrifices had become ends with a means in 06:05.400 --> 06:10.100 themselves and the ultimate ultimate purpose had been lost. 06:11.200 --> 06:15.900 They had become such a burden to God that he was weary of bearing 06:16.600 --> 06:17.400 anymore. 06:20.500 --> 06:21.500 So what would he do? 06:23.400 --> 06:25.700 He would bear it all himself. 06:26.700 --> 06:29.600 He would become the temple. 06:30.500 --> 06:34.000 He would become the sacrifice. 06:34.600 --> 06:40.400 When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Even 06:40.400 --> 06:43.100 though you make many prayers, I will not 06:43.100 --> 06:47.300 listen, your hands are full of blood. 06:48.700 --> 06:53.200 Because we rulers of Sodom, we people of Gomorrah had spoiled the 06:53.200 --> 06:54.700 purposes of the temple. 06:55.500 --> 06:59.800 God in Christ came and fulfilled it all for us. 07:00.700 --> 07:03.400 He became sin in our place. 07:04.100 --> 07:08.300 He spread out his hands on the cross in our place. 07:09.200 --> 07:15.900 He cried out to God in abandonment as God hide His eyes from him in our 07:15.900 --> 07:16.500 place. 07:17.700 --> 07:23.700 As the perfect law keeper in the place of the lawless, Jesus died to 07:23.700 --> 07:28.700 ransom all. How much more will the blood of Christ 07:28.800 --> 07:33.600 who through the eternal spirit offered himself without blemish to God 07:34.100 --> 07:38.900 purify, our conscience from dead works to serve the Living 07:38.900 --> 07:39.500 God. 07:41.400 --> 07:50.300 So Christ fulfilled it all. And Christ has freed you to serve. Wash 07:50.300 --> 07:51.100 yourselves. 07:51.300 --> 07:55.900 Make yourselves clean remove the evil of your deeds from before my 07:55.900 --> 07:59.800 eyes cease to do evil. Learn to do 07:59.800 --> 08:04.300 Good. Seek justice. Correct 08:04.600 --> 08:09.600 oppression. Bring justice to the fatherless plead the windows cause. 08:09.600 --> 08:10.600 Come now 08:11.200 --> 08:16.100 let us reason together says the Lord. Though, your sins are like 08:16.100 --> 08:19.200 Scarlet, they shall be white as snow. 08:20.200 --> 08:25.600 Though, they are red like, Crimson they shall become like wool. 08:27.300 --> 08:33.000 All In Christ. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the 08:33.000 --> 08:33.900 Holy Spirit. 08:34.500 --> 08:34.900 Amen.