-Sung Psalm- 47---The Pharisees said that -no prophet arises from Galilee.- Jesus doesn't bother to correct them. It would serve no practical purpose to tell them that he was from Bethlehem. So instead Jesus says -I am the light of the world---We are still on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Earlier Jesus has said that he was the fountain of living water - he is the rock in the wilderness that provides rivers of living water for his people. He did this on the same day that the priests in the temple were preparing their annual water ceremony.--Another ceremony that the priests had developed was focused around reminding the people of the pillar of fire. And so, in our text today Jesus calls himself -the light of the world.-- -Jesus claims to be the pillar of fire and cloud that Israel is to follow. -Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.---I am the pillar of fire. Follow me---This echoes John's statement in 1-4-5 -In him was life, and the life was the light of men.-The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.---The light of the world has come. The one who follows him will never walk in darkness, because the light of life will shine before his path...

How do you plan wisely---After all, if God is in control, why plan- If all of our plans are subject to God's sovereign rule, who needs to plan-- --Proverbs 16 shows how God's sovereignty includes our planning in his purposes. Likewise, Proverbs 16 talks about the role of the King - the Son of David - in the life of God's people- -In the light of a king's face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rains- -v15-.--The gospel of John agrees- -In him was life, and the life was the light of men.---And so, as we plan and prepare for our future, we need to keep our eyes on the King---The end of chapter 15 points both backwards and forwards in its themes- but it also points forward in using synthetic parallels - like the following chapters.--Notice that the -light of the eyes- comment in verse 30 will be reflected later in 16-15, with the light of the king's face.--And at the heart of these four verses at the end of chapter 15 is the fear of the LORD...

-Sung Psalm- 72---Paul will point out in 1 Corinthians 10 that the people of Israel -drank from that spiritual rock that followed them - and that rock was Christ.---How can Paul say -that rock was Christ-- Well, think back to the Exodus. Moses has just led Israel out of Egypt. They are in the wilderness. They have no water. The people complain -they are not grumbling yet - just complaining--. And God says that Moses should take the staff with which he struck the Nile - the staff of judgment with which God had struck Egypt with the plagues - God says,---take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.- -Ex 17-5-6---I will stand on the rock. You strike the rock and water will come out.--Why did Paul say -that rock was Christ-- Strike me - and living water will flow to my people-

We are starting to see more and more about what God thinks. The LORD is named eight times in our passage -more than any other chapter since chapter 3-.--We have been looking mostly at what it means to live wisely and uprightly in God's world. Tonight we will see a little more about what it means to live wisely and uprightly before God.--We've seen the -tree of life- image used already in Proverbs. The picture reminds us of the tree of life in the Garden in Genesis - and the tree of life in the heavenly City in Revelation. A gentle tongue is a tree of life that brings healing.

-Sung Psalm- 25---What does Jesus mean when he says, -My time has not yet come-- Or later, his -hour had not yet come-- What is Jesus' hour---Children, have you ever been expecting something really great- Maybe you waited for it for a long time, eagerly expecting that wonderful thing- You spent days, weeks, maybe even months hoping for it. And then it happened. And it was over just like that.--Jesus' whole life was focused on his -hour-. But Jesus' hour was not merely an important event in his life- It was the most important event in all of history. All of the ages--past and future--would be centered on this hour.--We have already seen in John 6-15 that Jesus wants to avoid the crowds who wish to make him king. He is indeed the Prophet of whom Moses had spoken, but his hour has not yet come.--John is beginning to move his narrative toward the cross. John 5-18 says that the Jews were seeking to kill Jesus because he made himself equal with God. Now chapter 7 reminds us of this.--The rest of John's gospel is going to keep us focused on this. In every passage from John 7-11 there will be an emphasis on the attempt to arrest and kill Jesus...

We have seen a pretty regular pattern in this opening part of the proverbs of Solomon. What you say - and how you live - form the pattern of your life.- -If you don't like the trajectory - then turn - repent - change your path. How do you do that- Change your words. Change your actions. --Easier said than done---In a manner of speaking, yes. But Proverbs isn't talking about a -quick fix.- After all, Proverbs isn't saying that just one little change will fix everything---Rather, Proverbs is saying that a life characterized by wisdom is one that pursues wisdom in every area of life. If you just want to change one little thing - and leave other areas of your life a mess - well, then, don't be surprised when nothing really changes...- -Because repentance is not just one little thing. Repentance involves a whole-souled turning from the old way to the new.--Proverbs 13 opens with a call to such wisdom...

There is a certain trajectory in chapter 14. The opening seven verses set up the two sorts of people you could hang out with. Lady Wisdom who builds her house, or Dame Folly who tears her own house down.--Then verses 8-15 urge us to distinguish between appearance and reality. Because folly often appears wise and prudent---There is a way that seems right to a man - it's easier - cheaper - let's go that way- But the man of prudence counts the cost and sees the path of wisdom.--The final half of chapter 14 then deals with the way of wisdom in community, pointing to the Fear of the LORD as the foundation for wisdom in the neighborhood, and in the king's court.

-Sung Psalm- 95---Is complaining a good thing or a bad thing- You often hear me say that we should be good complainers. A complaint is a proper way to handle a bad situation.--But the word -complain- is very much like the word -anger.- Is anger good or bad- Well, in one sense, anger is good. We should be angry that George Floyd is dead. We should be angry at the way that he died - with a police officer's knee in his neck.--And proper anger results in a proper complaint.- -Unfortunately in the case of the people of Israel, their anger results in a misdirected complaint.--In Numbers 10, we are told that the people of Israel have just left Mt. Sinai. They were at Sinai for a year - and now they are leaving Sinai in order to go to the promised Land.--The people complain in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes - and the LORD sends fire against them -11-1-3-.--Then the rabble among them have a strong craving - and the people start to grumble about having no meat. All we have is this manna to eat-- -They remember the fish - the cucumbers, leeks, and melons - and they are craving meat.--They are not content with God's provision. Notice that Moses asks where he is to get meat -in John 6, Jesus will ask where are we to buy bread--. In both stories there is a very definite disproportion between need and resources.- -Also, in both stories there is grumbling.--And Jesus not only refers to himself as the bread which came down from heaven, but also says that the bread that he will give for the life of the world is his flesh...

-Sung Psalm- 78---Yes, Jesus is the Christ - the Son of God - the prophet who was to come. But there had been many prophets- There had been many sons of David - many anointed kings---What will be different this time- In the backdrop is the catastrophic failure of Israel. As you look back in your life - do you see catastrophic failures- Maybe you've avoided 'catastrophe' so far - but still, when you hear the story of Israel, it's really easy to see yourself there---You've battled against sin and temptation - you saw real victory and change - only to crumble...again...--What is going to be different this time---This is why the three-fold message of John 6 is so important---First, you must come to Jesus and believe in him as the Bread of Life.--Second, all those whom the Father has given Jesus will come to him - God must call you and draw you to Jesus.--And third, those who continue to feed upon Christ will have eternal life, and Jesus will raise him up at the last day.

Stupidity is bipartisan. Governors - presidents - judges - doctors - scientists - even ordinary people are capable of stupidity---I was going to say that even ordinary people are capable of extraordinary stupidity - but no, stupidity is so ordinary that it takes real effort to pull of extraordinary stupidity- Why do I say this- ---He who hates reproof is stupid.- How many of you love reproof-