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HallelujahinHelliPsalm22ThePsalms(no.6intheseries)April21,2019GuestSpeaker:TheSecondGreatestSongwriterintheWorldVideoandaudioversionsavailableonline:https://relentless-love.org/sermons/hallelujah-in-hell-the-sermon/Transcriptdocumentpreparedby:MichaelHanna(themichaelhanna@thesanctuarydowntown.org)ThisdocumentwaspreparedbyMichaelHannausingPeter’snotesandthevideoversionofthissermon.Ifyouencounteranysignificantdiscrepanciesorerrorsinthisdocument,pleaseletMichaelknow.Thankyou!

Message

“KingDavid”entersfromthedoorsbesidethestage.Heiswearingasleevelessplaidshirt,baggycargoshorts,andblackleatherboots.Hecarrieswithhima5-gallonbucketandaruggedwalking-stickthatisseveralfeettallerthanhimself.

Hecrossestocenter,laysdownhisbucketandstick,andcriesouttotheheavens:

MyGodmyGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme?

Iwrotethat.It’sthefirstlineofasong…andIwroteit.

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Hesitsatthepianoandbeginstoplayandsing:

from“IWritetheSongs”byBruceJohnston(1975)

(madefamousbyBarryManilow) Iwritethesongsthatmakethewholeworldsing Iwritethesongsofloveandspecialthings Iwritethesongsthatmaketheyounggirlscry Iwritethesongs,Iwritethesongs…

It’strue.I’mthemostpopularsongwriterthat’severlived.I’vebeeninthetop40,somewhereinthisworld,forthelast3000years.IwrotemostofthePsalms,whichisjustHebrewfor“songs.”MynameisDavid.KingDavid.Youmaybethinking,“Youdon’tlooklikenoking!”WellIwasn’talwaysaking…I’mreallyashepherd.Thisishowshepherdsdress,andifyoulike,Icouldteachyouhowshepherdssmell.Everybodylovesshepherds,innativityscenes;notinreallife.Sowhathappened?Onedayaprophetcomestoourtrailer.Nextthingyouknow,I’mthe“anointed.”MashiyachinHebrew.Orasyousayit,“Messiah.”Allatonce,I’mtheanointedone—theKing.Iwasking,Ijustcouldn’ttellnooneIwasking,especiallytheking—KingSaul.But“shepherd”and“king”havealotincommon.Ashepherdloveshissheepandsavesthemfromlionsandbearsandtheirownjudgment.Andakingloveshispeopleandsavesthemfromtheirenemies.Andsheepandpeoplehavealotincommon:they’rebothlovableandstupid.Turntoyourneighborandsay,“I’masheepbaah,baah,baah.”Doyoueversay,“TheLordismyshepherd”?Doyou?WellIwrotethat.That’sPsalm23:“TheLordIsMyShepherd.”IftheLordisyourshepherd—you’reasheep.Turntoyourneighborandsay,“I’masheep,baah,baah,baah.I’mloveable,baahtstupid…Wehavegoneastray,everyonehasturnedtohisownway…baah,baah…TheLordismyShepherd.”That’sPsalm23.ThisisPsalm22.

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Psalm22 Tothechoirmaster:accordingtoTheDoeoftheDawn.APsalmofDavid.1 MyGod,myGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme? Whyareyousofarfromsavingme,fromthewordsofmygroaning?2 OmyGod,Icrybyday,butyoudonotanswer, andbynight,butIfindnorest.

NoSabbath. “MyGodmyGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme?”Forsomereason,peoplealwayswanttoknowwhereIwaswhenIwrotethat.YouknowsomeofthePsalmssaywhereIwas,andwhatIwasdoing,whenIwrotethem.ButnotPsalm22.Iwrotesongsasashepherdlyinginthefieldsstaringatthestars,andsongsasakingsittingonathrone…butpeoplealwayswanttoknowwherewasIwhenIwrote“MyGodmyGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme?”MaybeIwascountingforeskins…yeah,youheardcorrect.AfterIwasanointedmashiyach,afterIslayedGoliath,afterIbecameawarhero(andso,forme,therewasalwaysa“victorymarch”),afterthat,IexpectedtomarryprincessMerab,KingSaul’sdaughter—hehadpromisedhertotheonewhoprovedtobehischampion.Hewedhertoanother,andthensaid,“YoucanmarrymydaughterMichalifyoupaythebrideprice—ifyoubringmetheforeskinsof100Philistines…”Ibroughthimnotonly100,but200!Butyoushould’veseenmecountingforeskins:“1skin,2skin…”

Davidcountingforeskins.ii

Youknow,circumcisionwasthecommandmentofGod:Itmeantthatyourbasar,yourJohnson,belongedtoGod…butevenmorethatyourheartbelongedtoGod,andwasexposedtoGod,andthereforeyoucouldbelovedbyGod,andcouldloveanother,namelyyourbride.Itwasthebrideprice.Anyway…“1skin,2skin,3skin,4skin…MyGod,myGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme?”

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MaybeIwascountingforeskins…maybeIwashidingfromKingSaul.See?Evenaftertheforeskindebacle,KingSaultriedtokillme.Foraboutadecade,afterbecomingthechampionofallIsrael,Ilivedasafugitiveconstantlyontherunandhidingincaves,wonderingifGodhadforsakenme… “MyGod,myGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme?”MaybeIwashidingfromKingSaul,maybeIwashidingfromGod.LongafterIwasproclaimedKingoverallIsrael,Iwentforawalkontheroofofthepalaceandsawawomantakingabath—notjustasheba,aBathsheba.Shebameans7,andtoHebrews,7isperfection.Shewasa7inabathtub…BathshebaIseducedher,impregnatedher,andthenmurderedherhusband.IhidmyheartfromGod.IfeltlikeGodforsookme,butIhadforsakenhim…andIhidfromhim.Ihidmyheart,until,withaWordlikeaknife,Nathantheprophet,cutthecallousesawayfrommyheart,andexposedmyhearttotheGloryofGod.Nathansaidtome,“Yahwehhasforgivenyoursin….Nevertheless,thechildwhowillbeborntoyou—thesonofDavid—willdie.”Ithrewmyselfontheground,intothedustoftheearthandremainedthereforsevendays,untilthesonofDaviddied… “MyGodmyGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme?”MaybeIwashidingfromSaul,maybeIwashidingfromGod,maybeIwashidingfrommyself—myownfleshandblood.Nathantheprophettoldme,“Youareforgiven,butthesonofDavid,willdieandwhatyouhavedoneinsecret,willbedonetoyouinthelightofthesun.”Youprobablyknowthestory—myoldestsonAmnon,rapedhishalf-sister(andmydaughter)Tamar,andsoTamar’sfullbrother,andmythirdson,Absalom,murderedAmnon.ThenAbsalom,overthecourseofyears,plottedtooverthrowmykingdom.(Ifyouthinkyouhaveadysfunctionalfamily—youhaven’tseenmine.)Absalomrapedmywivesontheroofofthepalace,underthesun,asIfledthecityandpeoplehurledinsultsandstonesattheoncegreatKingDavid… “MyGodmyGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme?”*MaybeIwashidinginthedark;maybeIwasweepinginthedustoftheearth;maybeIwasbearingtheinsultsofanentirenationasIfledthekingdom;maybeIwasinHell.Psalm18:5(KJV)·“ThesorrowsofHellcompassedmeallabout”iiiPsalm86:13(KJV)·my“soul”wasinthe“lowestHell.”

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Psalm18isasong;Psalm86isasong;Psalm22isasong.“MyGodmyGodwhyhaveyouforsakenme?”isthefirstlineofasong.Howdoyousingaboutheaven,whenyoufeellikeHell…orfindyourselftrappedinHell?DoyoubelieveinHell?No,ofcourseyoudon’t.YoumaybelievethereisaHell,butnobodybelievesinHell.BecauseHellisnotbelieving.Ofcourse,I’mtalkingabout,whatIcallHell#1.Youpeoplehavesuchahardtimewith“Hell”becausenoonestudiestheirBible.“Hell”isanEnglishword,notreallyaBibleword.It’sanEnglishword,thatyouusetorefertoatleastthreedifferentBiblicalrealitiesthatyouthinkofasonerealitycalled“Hell.”Youknow,yourpastorisfartoohumbletoactuallytellyouthishimself……buthe’sreally,quiteintelligent…andveryhandsome…andhiswifeshouldbeincrediblygratefultobemarriedtosuchaman,andshewouldbewisetodowhateverhesays…Wellanyway,yourpastorhasexplainedthistoyou,andheshouldexplainitoverandoveragain.It’sthatimportant:ThreeHells.MaybeyoucouldthinkofHell#1overhere.

It’sfaithlessness,trustless-ness,it’snotbelieving…It’stheHebrewwordSheol,alsotranslated“grave”or“pit.”InGreekit’stranslatedasHades.Iftheword“Hell”showsupatallinyourEnglishOldTestaments,it’stranslatingtheHebrewword,Sheol.

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Sheolistheplaceofouterdarkness“wheremenweepandgnashtheirteeth.”Itbeginsonthesurfaceoftheearthandcancontinueundertheearthafterthebodydies—thedeeperyougo,theworseitgets.SheolisDarkness,DeathandLies…Thechiefpunishmentoftheliarisnotsomuchthatheisnotbelieved,butthathecannolongerbelieve.ivAndthatmeanstheliarcannolongerconnect,cannolongerbelieve,cannolongerloveorbeloved.Heisalone.Thisplace,Sheol,ischaoswithnologos.· It’sthevoidwithoutreason.· It’sthemanifestabsenceofGodwhoisLight,Life,TruthandLove.· It’sthelandofthelost.

Ecclesiastes9:10(mysonSolomonwrotethis)·“ThereisnoworkorthoughtorwisdominSheol,towhichyouaregoing.”IntheOldTestamenteveryonesinksintoSheol.InPsalm6,Iwrote,“InSheol,ohLord,whowillgiveyoupraise?”

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InSheol,thereisnosinging,nofaith,nohope,nolove…andallfeelforsaken.InSheol,noonesings…exceptofcourseforone.Well,thinkofHell#1righthere…andthinkofHell#2wayoverhere.

Hell#2isEternalFire.· Mosessaid“OurGodisaConsumingFire…”v· “Whocandwellwiththeconsumingfire,”crythesinnersonMt.ZioninIsaiah.vi· GodistheeternalconsumingfirethatignitesthealtarinthetempleandfillsthetemplewithGlory.vii

· “IsnotmyWordlikeFire?”saysGod,throughJeremiah.viii· TheWordofGodridesontheBreathofGodandit’sallFire.

Hell#2isnotfaithlessness…butfaithfulness.

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· It’sLightthatburnsawaydarkness.· It’sLifethatraisesthedead· It’sTruththatdestroyseverylie.· It’sLovethatbindseverythingtogether.· It’stheLogosthatmakesasymphonyoutofallthechaos.· It’stheWordspokenintothevoidcreatingallthingsandmakingallthingsnew.

Hell#2isnottheexperienceofGod’sabsence,butthemanifestationofhispresence.It’ssinthat’sbeenfilledwithGrace.It’semptinessthathasbeenfilledwith“I-Am-ness,”untileverythinghasbeentransformedintoaceaselesssongoffreelygivenpraise,withtheLordGodenthroneduponauniverseofHallelujahs.

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Hell#2istheexactoppositeofHell#1—nowondery’allareconfused!You’reusingonewordtorefertotwooppositethings.Opposite,butnotequal.BecauseHell#1willbedestroyedbyHell#2.

Hell#1istemporal;it’spartofourspaceandtime.ButHell#2iseternal.Revelation20:14·“DeathandHades(Hell#1)werethrownintotheLakeofFire[anddivinity](Hell#2)”ixRevelation21:4·“Anddeathwillbenomore.”ABetterWordforHell#2is“Heaven.”

OratleastthesubstanceofHeaven.InHeavennoonefeelsforsakenandeveryonesings.Hell#2,thatisHeaven,istheNewJerusalemcomingdown.

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ThecityofDavid—Jerusalem—wasboundedontwosidesbythevalleyofHinnom,Ge-HinnomorGehenna,whichforsomecrazyreasonisoftentranslated“Hell”inalotofyourBibles.ToenterJerusalem,youoftenpassedthroughGehenna.

“ThebreathofYahwehlikeastreamofbrimstonesetsitablaze,”writesIsaiah.xHell#3istheburningboundarybetweenHell#2andHell#1.

Theboundarybetweencreationandchaos,betweenTheNewJerusalemandtheOuterDarkness.Hell#3isanencounterwiththeunmitigatedpresenceofGod.It’sthemanifestJudgmentofGod.GodishisJudgmentandhisJudgmentisGod,butit’smanifestattheboundary.

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Butthisisourquestion:HowdoyousingaboutHeavenwhenyoufeellikeHell?HowdidIsing“Hallelujah”fromthedustofdeath?Idon’tknow.OrmaybeIshouldsay,Ididn’tknowatthetime.ButIdidsing…andIfounditbaffling…HidingfromKingSaulinthecaveIfeltforsaken.Andthen,ItoldGodIfeltforsaken,anditturnedintoasong...Hallelujah.WhenNathanrevealedmyshame,Ilayinthedustofdeathforsevendays.Mysondied—thesonofDaviddiedformysin—then,Igotup,enteredthehouseoftheLord,andbegantosing,toworship.xiWhenIheardthatAbsalom,myson,haddied,Icriedout“OmysonAbsalom,myson,myson,wouldthatIhaddiedinsteadofyou.”xiiIwept,andthenitwasasifIrealizedsomeonewasweepingthroughme,andforme,andforallhumanity,andIwassweptawayinapassionIcouldnotcomprehend…butthatwascomprehendingme.Howdoyousingaboutheavenwhenyoufeellikehell?I’mnotsureyoucan.ButmaybeGodcan.Inyou,inme,inhell.Howdoyousingaboutheavenwhenyoufeellikehell?MaybeweshouldaskJesus.Youknowhesangmysonginhell.Inmyday,thePsalmsdidn’thavenumbers,soyoureferencedaPsalmbyrepeatingitsfirstline:“MyGodMyGodwhyhaveyouforsakenme?”Onthecross,attheedgeofJerusalem,theedgeoftimeandeternity,theedgeofthishellandGod’sHeaven…Jesus,sonofDavid,descendedintohellandhewassinging.Let’sreadit:

1 MyGod,myGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme? Whyareyousofarfromsavingme,fromthewordsofmygroaning?

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2 OmyGod,Icrybyday,butyoudonotanswer, andbynight,butIfindnorest.3 Yetyouareholy, enthronedonthepraisesofIsrael.4 Inyouourfatherstrusted; theytrusted,andyoudeliveredthem.5 Toyoutheycriedandwererescued; inyoutheytrustedandwerenotputtoshame.6 ButIamawormandnotaman, scornedbymankind(adam)anddespisedbythepeople.7 Allwhoseememockme; theymakemouthsatme;theywagtheirheads;8 “HetrustsintheLord;lethimdeliverhim; lethimrescuehim,forhedelightsinhim!”9 Yetyouarehewhotookmefromthewomb; youmademetrustyouatmymother’sbreasts.10 OnyouwasIcastfrommybirth, andfrommymother’swombyouhavebeenmyGod.11 Benotfarfromme, fortroubleisnear, andthereisnonetohelp.12 Manybullsencompassme; strongbullsofBashansurroundme;13 theyopenwidetheirmouthsatme, likearaveningandroaringlion.14 Iampouredoutlikewater, andallmybonesareoutofjoint; myheartislikewax; itismeltedwithinmybreast;15 mystrengthisdrieduplikeapotsherd, andmytonguestickstomyjaws; youlaymeinthedustofdeath.16 Fordogsencompassme; acompanyofevildoersencirclesme; theyhavepiercedmyhandsandfeet—

WhydidIwritethatin1000BC?Crucifixionhadnotevenbeeninventedyet.NooneknewwhataRomanwas.DoyourealizethatyouhaveanactualphysicalmanuscriptofthisverseintheDeadSeaScrollsthathasbeencarbondatedtoatimebeforethegospelswasevenwritten?xiii

theyhavepiercedmyhandsandfeet—17 Icancountallmybones— theystareandgloatoverme;18 theydividemygarmentsamongthem,

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andformyclothingtheycastlots.19 Butyou,OLord,donotbefaroff! Oyoumyhelp,comequicklytomyaid!20 Delivermysoulfromthesword, mypreciouslifefromthepowerofthedog!

21 SaveMefromthelion’smouth Andfromthehornsofthewildoxen! YouhaveansweredMe.xiv

GodalwaysanswerswithhisWord,andhisWordisJesus.Perhaps,heevenhelpsusaskthequestion?

YouhaveansweredMe.22 Iwilltellofyournametomybrothers[hisnamemeans“YahwehisSalvation”]; inthemidstofthecongregationIwillpraise[hallel]you:23 YouwhofeartheLord,praise[hallel]him! AllyouoffspringofJacob,glorifyhim, andstandinaweofhim,allyouoffspringofIsrael!24 Forhehasnotdespisedorabhorred theafflictionoftheafflicted, andhehasnothiddenhisfacefromhim, buthasheard,whenhecriedtohim…

Hehasheard.

Icried“myGod,myGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme?”ButthenIsangthathehasnotforsakenme.Actually…Isangthathehasnotforsakenhim…

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WhenJesushungonthecross,didGodforsakeGod?No.He’sthefaithfulone.ButdidtheFaithfulOnedescendintomyfaithlessness,myhell?Yes.Did“TheWay”descendintothatplaceinwhichIwaslost,suchthathefeltlostwithme?Ithinkso.

Onthecross,Jesusdescendedintomyhell,andyourhell,andtherehespeakstheprayerthatthechildrenofAdamaretooterrifiedtospeak.

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Onthecross,Faithdescendedintoourfaithlessnessandspokeforus: “MyGod,myGod,why?”

25 Fromyou[notme!]comesmypraise[tahillah–mysongofhillel,myhallelujahofferedtoGod]inthegreatcongregation;

TopraiseGod,isnotmyjudgment,butsomeoneelse’sjudgment.Faithisnotmyjudgment,butthejudgementofJesus—it’sagift.I’masheep(baah)…asheepisnotsavedbyitsownjudgment.Asheepissavedbymyownjudgment.Asheepgetsintroublebecauseofitsownjudgment.Itnibblesitswayintohell.Thesheepissavedbythejudgmentofthegreatshepherd.

25 Fromyoucomesmypraiseinthegreatcongregation; myvowsIwillperformbeforethosewhofearhim.26 Theafflictedshalleatandbesatisfied; thosewhoseekhimshallpraisetheLord! Mayyourheartsliveforever!27 Alltheendsoftheearthshallremember andturntotheLord, andallthefamiliesofthenations shallworshipbeforeyou.28 ForkingshipbelongstotheLord, andherulesoverthenations.29 Alltheprosperous[thefat]oftheeartheatandworship; beforehimshallbowallwhogodowntothedust, eventheonewhocouldnotkeephimselfalive.

(That’sKingSaulandAbsalom…andGoliath.That’severyPhilistineIeverslaughtered.Andthat’sthesonofDavid,whodiedformysin.)

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Andwhat’sthe“greatcongregation”?It’severythingthathasbreath…inheavenandonearthandundertheearthandintheseaandallthatiswithinthem.xv

30 Posterityshallservehim; itshallbetoldoftheLordtothecominggeneration;31 theyshallcomeandproclaimhisrighteousnesstoapeopleyetunborn, thathehasdoneit.

“Itisfinished.”Onatreeinagarden,atthe“endoftheages”xviandtheedgeofJerusalem,Jesussanghissong,cried“Itisfinished,”liftedhishead,andsaid,“IntoyourhandsIcommitmySpirit”(that’sPsalm31—IthoughtIwroteit;but,Hewroteit!).“IntoyourhandsIcommitmySpirit,”theearthshook,Sheolwasopened,andsaintscameoutthetombsandenteredthecity.TheSonofDavidstartedsingingonthecrossandhekeptsingingevenashedescendedintohell.Andthereheburstthebondsofhellfromtheinsideout,withtheresonantfrequencyofhisHallelujah.Andthenandthere,hedelivereduphisSpirit—hisBreath.That’sthesameSpiritthatfellonthechurchastonguesoffireonPentecost.That’sthesameSpiritthatfilledthetemplebuiltbythesonofDavidnamedSolomonandthesonofDavidnamedJesus,(PrinceofPeace).That’sthesameSpiritthatmetmeinthedark,thedustoftheearth,andthedepthsofmysorrow,andcausedmetosing,“MyGod,MyGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme?”Andthentokeepsingingallthewaytotheend.WhendidIfeelforsaken?Well,everytimemyjudgmentwasoutofharmonywithGod’sjudgment;everytimeIlackedfaith;everytimeIsinned.AndwhendidIwritePsalm22?Ididn’twriteit.Itwroteme.It’smorelikeGodwrotemewiththatsong.It’smorelikeGodcreatedmewithhisWordandIgottowitnessmyowncreation.Isang“Whyareyousofarfromthewordsofmygroaning?”AnditturnsoutthatheistheWordofmygroaning—givingbirthtofaithinmeandfaiththroughme.IwasabaffledkingcomposingHallelujah,becausetheHallelujahwascomposingme.Ifeltforsaken,countingforeskinsandpayingthebrideprice.ButdoyouknowthatJesuspaidthebrideprice,forus,onhistreeinthegarden?Throughhim,Godcutawaythedeadflesh,thatencirclesourhardhearts,thathemightenterus,andfilluswithhislife.Wearehistemple,hisBride.xviiIfeltforsakenasthesonofDaviddied.ButthenIenteredthehouseoftheLordandworshipped.Then,Imadelovetomybride,andthesonofDavid,thePrinceofPeace,wasconceivedinthatplaceofmysin.JesusisthegreatgrandsonofSolomonthroughBathsheba.ThesonofDaviddiedformysin,andthesonofDavidwasbornoutofmysin.“Wheresinincreased,Graceaboundedallthemore.”AndallofitwasJesus.

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Ifeltforsaken,whenIlearnedthedeedsofmywickedsonAbsalom.Andyet,IweptforAbsalom,justasGodourFatherweepsforeachofus.IweptbecauseGodhadgivenmehisheart.xviiiIcried,Isang,“Oh,Absalom,Absalom,ifonlyIhaddiedinsteadofyou.”God,ourFather,notonlysingsit,hedoesit.LikeRabiSaulwrote,“GodwasinChristreconcilingtheworldtohimself.”xixItwastheheartofGodthathungonthattree,thatwemightknowGodisLoveandhisWordisLoveandwearecreatedwithLove;thatwemightforeverknowandbeknownbyLove,PraisingourLordwhoisLove,sweptawayinandendlesssymphonyofLove,thatistheKingdomofGodandtheKingdomofHeaven,theentirenewcreation.

IheardtherewasasecretchordthatDavidplayed,anditpleasedtheLord,butyoudon’treallycareformusic,doyou?Itgoeslikethisthefourth,thefifth,theminorfall,andthemajorlift.Thebaffledkingcomposinghallelujah…

[from“Hallelujah”byLeonardCohen]Mostmusicisbuiltonaseven-chordscale,whichremindsmeofthesevendaysofCreation.Thefallonthesixthmakesuslongforthemajorliftontheseventh.SinonthesixthdaymakesusyearnforGraceontheseventh.DissonancemakesuslongforConsonance,andonceweknowthesong,eventhedissonanceismadeglorious.Thefallonthesixthdayiscompletedwithgloryontheseventh:“itisfinished.”JesuswascrucifiedonatreeinagardenattheedgeofJerusalemonthesixthdayofcreation,sixthdayoftheweek,atthesixthhouroftheday,sothathemightdescendintoyourhellandhelpyousingthe“Hallelujah.”Attheendoftime,helliscastintoheavenanddeathisnomore.Atthecross,heavendescendedintohellandtheKingofHeavenwouldn’tstopsingingThat’snotasmallthing;that’showGodmakeseverything,that’sanything…GodsingscreationintoexistencewithhisWord.

He’sbeenaliveforeverandHewrotetheveryfirstsongHeputthewordsandthemelodytogether,He’stheLordGod,andHewritesthesongs.HewritesthesongsthatmakethewholeworldsingHewritesthesongsofloveandspecialthingsHewritesthesongsthatmaketheyounggirlscryHewritesthesongs,hewritesthesongs.

[paraphrasedfrom“IWritetheSongs”byBruceJohnston]GodsingscreationintoexistencewithhisWordxxAndbylettingyouwitnessHimdoingthat,Hemakesyouinhisownimage—theimageofLove,whoconstantlychoosestheGoodinabsoluteFreedom.That’shischoice.That’shisdecision.That’shisjudgment.

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Jesusdidn’tdieandrisefromthedeadbecauseyoumadeagooddecision.YoucanonlymakeaGooddecision,becauseJesusdiedandrosefromthedead,withinthegardenofyoursoul.Youcanonlysing“Hallelujah”becauseGodissingingyou…andyouhavecometoknowit,orbeknownbyit.“ThereremainsaSabbathRestforthepeopleofGod,”saystheScripture.Heavenisanendlessseventhday,whichisaneighth8thday.xxiIt’sEasterSunday.It’sthatplacewhereeverythingisgood,itisfinished,andeveryonesingsbecausetheywantto.TheywanttopraisetheLord.“PraisetheLord.”InHebrew,that’s“Hallelujah.”Thewordshowsup52timesinthelast6Psalms.InPsalm145Iwrite,“Allyourworks—all—shallpraiseyou,OhLord.”ThebookofPsalmsendswiththisline:Psalm150:6·“LeteverythingthathasbreathpraisetheLord.”Doyouknowwhatyourpastortoldme?· Hetoldme,thatthereare“folks”whowon’t“leteverythingthathasbreathpraisetheLord!”· Hetoldme,thattherearepeople,whothinkthereareotherpeoplethatcannotbesavedbytheLordandwill,therefore,nevereverpraisetheLord.

· Hetoldmethattherearesheep,whothinkthatthereareothersheep,thataretoolostfortheGreatShepherdtoeverfind.

Stupid,Stupid,Stupid,Sheep!· Don’tyouseethat,aslongasyoudon’tleteverythingthathasbreathepraisetheLord,youarenotpraisingtheLord—theLord,whocametoseekandtosavethelost…sheep.The1outofthe99.

· AslongasyouwillnotallowotherstopraisetheLord,youcannotrestintheplacewhereeveryonepraisestheLord.

· Aslongasyouwillnotletthembesaved,youcannotbesaved.· Aslongasyoudonotforgive,youwillnotknowforgiveness.

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· Aslongasyoudonotforgive,youtrapyourselfinouterdarkness…Itcannotlastforeverwithoutend,butwhywouldyouwantittolastatall?

Saythisafterme:“InthenameofJesus,Iforgive,everyone.”“InthenameofJesus,IthankGod,thatIamforgiven.”“InthenameofJesus,Ileteverythingthathasbreath,praisetheLord!”Hallelujah.

CommunionIfyoujustsaidthat,andmeantthat,itwasn’tsimplyyourchoice.ItwasGod’schoice,whodescendedintoyourdarkness,asaWord.Itwasthis:OnthenighttheWordofGodandtheSongofGodtheSonofDavidwasbetrayed,Hetookbreadandbrokeitsayingthisismybodygiventoyou.AndHetookthecupsayingthisisthecovenantinmybloodpouredoutfortheforgivenessofsins.Drinkofit,allofyou.Andnowifyoustillfeelforsaken…Ifyoufeellikeyou’vedoneeverythingright,butstillyourheartmeltswithinyou.Stilltheymockyouandrevileyou.Perhapsthey’veevenpiercedyourhandsandyourfeet.Nowifyoustillfeelforsaken…Praythiswithme,“MyGodmyGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme?”“Whyareyousofar…fromthewordsofmygroaning?”Maybeheisthewordsofyourgroaning?Heprayedthat,longbeforeyou…andIthinkhejustprayeditinhistemple,whichisyou.Iheardtherewasasecretchord,thatDavidplayed,anditpleasedtheLord…Thesecretchordissorrow—ifyouhangontothesorrow,it’shell.Butifyouplayit—ifyousurrenderit,andsingit,withJesus—hesingsitwithyou,andinyou,allthewaytotheEnd,andheistheEnd.Hehasdoneit.Love,actually,isaneternalvictorymarch…evenif,especiallyif,atfirstitfeelslikeacoldandabrokenhallelujah.Cometothetable,takeapieceofbrokenbreadandletitdescendintothedepthsofyoursorrow,sinandshame.ThenletJesussingyoursorrow,intotheJoy,yoursinintoGrace,andyourshameintoEternalLife.Darkcupsarewine,lightcupsarejuice,andbotharetheRhythmofthesong.

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BenedictionHolymeansdifferentfromus.We’redivided.Godisone.TheGospelisthis:thatGodisGod.ThatmeansthatGodisLove.AndGodissalvation.That’sthenameofJesus.Andhehascometoyou,histemple.Godissalvation.Andwhenhecausesyoutobelievethat,Sheollosesitsgriponyou.Itdoesn’tmeanthatyouwon’tsuffer.Itdoesn’tmeanthattherewon’tbedifficulttimes.Itdoesn’tmeanthatyouwon’tbedisciplinedinthiswalkthroughthiswildernessworld.ButitmeansthatSheollosesitsgriponyouanditcannotholdyoudown.But,yousee,untilyoubelievethatGodissalvation,thatthat’swhoheis,andthathe’sundivided,well,Ithinkitdoeskeepagripuponyou.Andsowhynotbelieverightnow,today,believethegospel.It’sEaster.InJesus’name.Amen.

EndnotesiTobetterunderstandthissermon,checkoutthe“HallelujahinHell”videoonourwebsite: https://relentless-love.org/videos/ii“Lightenup!”hesays,“they’reonionrings.Aprop.Tohelpmegettheideaacross!”Thefullschtickdoesnotappearinthistranscript.Forthat,you’llhavetowatchthevideo: https://relentless-love.org/sermons/hallelujah-in-hell-the-sermon/iiiPsalm18referstoDavid’stimehidingfromKingSaul.ivParaphrasing“…theliar’spunishmentis,notintheleastthatheisnotbelieved,butthathecannotbelieveanyoneelse…”(GeorgeBernardShawin“TheQuintessenceofIbsenism,”1891)vDeuteronomy4:24,9:3NoticeGodisaconsumingfireand“theWay,”thatgoesbeforethem(thepillarofFire)isaconsumingFire.GodandHisWordareFire.viIsaiah33:14viiLeviticus6:12-13,9:24;1Chronicles21:26;2Chronicles7:1-3;IKings18:38viiiJeremiah23:29ixTheRevelationreferstothe“lakeoffireandbrimstone.”BrimstoneistheGreekwordtheion.Theioncomesfromthewordtheoswhichisalwaystranslated“God,”“god”or“godly.”Theioncanbetranslated“brimstone,”“sulfur,”“divinity,”or“DivineBeing”(Acts17:29).IntheancientworldsulfurorbrimstonewasperceivedtobeasubstancethatcamefromdivinityasisevidencedinIsaiah30:33.xIsaiah30:33xi2ndSamuel12:7-25xii2ndSamuel18:33xiiiCheckoutthesefascinatinglinksinreferenceto“piercedmyhandsandfeet,”andthestoryoftheMasoreticText,Septuagint,andtheDeadSeaScrolls:

HallelujahinHell(thesermon)

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https://www.torahresource.com/EnglishArticles/Ps22.16.pdf https://theologicalmatters.com/2012/06/06/why-the-dead-sea-scrolls-matter/ https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3716&context=byusqxivIhaveusedPsalm22intheESVthroughoutthismessageexceptinverse21fortheNKJVistranslatedmoreaccurately,inmyopinion,anddoesabetterjobofpreservingtheturningpointofthePsalm:“Youhaveansweredme.”xvPsalm150,Revelation5:13-14xviHebrews9:26xviiColossian2:11-15xviii“NoonehaseverseenGod;theonlySon,whoisinthebosomoftheFather,hehasmadehimknown.”-John1:18RSVxix2ndCorinthians5:19xxAllofcreationislikethemanifestationofvibrationson“superstrings”inmultipledimensions.xxiSheminiAtzeret:The8thdayfestivalthatsymbolizesanendless7thday.It’sLifeonceyouknowtheSongandlovetheSinger.