Church Order: Worship, Sacraments, and the Lord's Supper

For The Lord's Sake

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Church Government

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2024-07-20

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver continues his exposition of Daniel 9, focusing on the motivation behind Daniel's prayer for deliverance from captivity. He argues that Daniel beseeched God not merely for personal or national relief, but 'for the Lord's sake'—for God's honor, glory, and the vindication of His name. Weaver demonstrates through numerous Old and New Testament passages that God acts in redemption, providence, and judgment primarily for His own name's sake. He challenges believers to examine their prayer lives, urging them to shift from self-centered requests to petitions that prioritize God's glory, especially in desiring liberty and an end to tyranny so that God may be freely worshiped and honored.

[John Weaver] All right Daniel chapter 9 the title of the message is for the Lord's sake So if you look into Daniel 9 beginning there with verse 12 Daniel 9 verse 12 and he has confirmed his words which he spake against us and against our judges that judged us and by bringing upon us a great evil, for unto the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem, as it is written in the law of Moses. All this evil has come upon us, yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand thy truth. Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil and brought it upon us. For the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth, for we obeyed not his voice. And now, O Lord our God, thou hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and has gotten thee renowned as at this day. We have sinned, we have done wickedly.

[John Weaver] O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city, Jerusalem, thy holy mountain, because for our sins and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people have become a reproach. to all that are about us.

[John Weaver] Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant in his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon my sanctuary that is desolate for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear, open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name. For we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies.

[John Weaver] O Lord, O Lord, forgive. O Lord, hearken and do. Defer not for thine own sake, O my God, and for thy city and for thy people called by thy name. So last week I brought a message where we should begin as a nation. And I was pointing out the fact that Daniel was in captivity in Babylon. And Babylon had been captured by the Medieval Persian Empire. And Daniel understood by the reading of the Book of Jeremiah, and probably other prophets as well, that the captivity was supposed to last 70 years. And he was perceiving that that captivity was pretty well near its ending. And so he set himself then to pray and to supplicate the Lord God and to seek to get out from under the tyranny that they had been under for 70 years as well. So you must consider the fact that under tyranny there are many, many injustices. For instance, you remember Daniel and his three, not Daniel, but Daniel's three friends were thrown into the fiery furnace because they would not bow to the king's image.

[John Weaver] They're in the book of Daniel. Also, Daniel was thrown in the den of lions because of the jealousy of all the other presidents there. And so there were many injustices when you come to tyranny. Babylon was not a godly country. And once it was captured by the Medieval Persian Empire, that was not a godly country as well. And so Daniel then was eager to see the captivity and the tyranny ended.

[John Weaver] So we looked at two truths last week. And I just want to point them out by way of reminiscing today. And that is this. First of all, there was a very serious and a solemn beseeching God for the end of the captivity and the end of the tyranny. In fact, we saw where Daniel then began to not only fast and supplicate, But the Bible also says that he also was with fasting and sackcloth and ashes as well. So he was very serious. He was very solid. And I pointed out how all of those things exhibited an inward desire that would be holy and would be for God's honor and God's glory as well. And I gave you two verses as I ended last week.

[John Weaver] One was Joel chapter one in verse 14. where the Word of God says, sanctify you a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord our God, and cry unto the Lord. And then in Joel chapter 2, verses 12 and 13, therefore also now saith the Lord, turn you even to me with all of your heart and with fasting with weeping and with mourning and rend your hearts and not your garments and turn unto me the Lord your God and For he is gracious

[John Weaver] and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness and repented him of the evil. So there had to be, first of all, a very serious and a solemn beseeching of the Lord.

[John Weaver] Secondly, I pointed out that there was a genuine confession. And in that confession, there was an acknowledgement and there was also an admonition. The acknowledgement, of course, had to do with the righteousness and the holiness and the justice of God. In other words, God was absolutely right in afflicting them and judging them because they were sinners. That's why Daniel said confusion of face belonged to them, but righteousness belonged unto God. And then, of course, in the mission, as we look through Daniel chapter nine, we saw over and over where they were saying that they had sinned, they had rebelled, they refused to listen to the prophets, they refused to hear the word of God. So today I want to continue with this thought, but I want to develop it from a little different perspective, and that is this, that Daniel was beseeching the Lord, and he was confessing, and he was admitting and asking and beseeching all of these things for the Lord's sake.

[John Weaver] That is simply for God's honor and God's glory. Everything revolves around God. Man is not the center of the universe. God is a center. It is true that many times, in fact, all the time, God does indeed do things for our good, yet primarily and objectively, he does things also for his own honor and glory. So let me give you a couple of verses to begin with.

[John Weaver] The first one is Revelation chapter 4 and verse 11. There the Word of God says, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for Thou hast created all things by Thy pleasure. And he says, they are and were created.

[John Weaver] Now, the word pleasure is the Greek word philema, where we get the word will many times or purpose sometimes as well. So literally saying that all things were created for God's honor and glory, according to his will, according to his purpose.

[John Weaver] Now, there's another verse that I think will help tie this together for us. And that's Romans 11 in verse 36. Because in that passage the Bible says, for of him, and through him, and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever, amen. So, of him, that is originally, through him, that is providentially, and to him, that is ultimately, are all things. In other words, so that God may be glorified. Now, God is not only good, God is the chief good. So you might want to ask the question, why are all things done for God's honor and God's glory? And the answer is, because God is the chief good, and since he is the chief good, he has to live for himself, because if he did not, Since we are not good, there's none good, no not one, says the word of God. Then obviously he would not be living for the cheap good.

[John Weaver] And you remember how that in Mark chapter 10, the rich young ruler came running to the Lord Jesus. And he knelt before him and said, Good Master, what must I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus Christ said, Why callest thou me good? There is one good, and that is God. So our Lord was saying, If I'm good, then I'm God. And if I'm God, you don't come running into my presence demanding something of me. So truly, then, God is indeed the chief good. That is for sure.

[John Weaver] Now, the interesting thing is this. There are many terms in the Bible that I'm going to be referring to temporarily that are synonymous in their meanings. You're going to find these all through the Bible. You'll find terms like, for the Lord's sake, or for his name's sake, or for thy great name's sake, or for thy truth's sake, or for thy honor's sake. Now, they may be different terms, but they're referring to the same principle. There are times that you can read scripture that these terms are not used, but you can see them in those passages.

[John Weaver] So let me give you a couple of examples. The first one is Psalm 138 and verse two. Listen to what the Bible said. David said, I will worship toward thy holy temple and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth. Now listen, for thou hast magnified by word above thy name. Thou hast magnified by word above thy name. In other words, Here's the truth's sake. Here's God's honor for his honor's sake. In other words, if the word of God ever failed, then God would basically cease to be God. That was magnified by word above by name.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to hold Daniel chapter nine, but I want you to turn back in your Bibles to the book of Exodus chapter 32. And I want to show you how this works out. In Moses's prayer, Although he does not use any of these terms, yet you can see the same principle in this prayer. Now remember in Exodus chapter 32, Israel had sinned against God, they had made the golden calf, and they were worshiping this golden calf, and Moses came down from the mountain, and of course he broke the law of God that had been given unto him. And of course, he was very, very upset. And so God basically tells Moses, step aside.

[John Weaver] I'm going to wipe these Israelites out and I will make of thee a greater nation. And so Moses didn't begin to be in center scene for the people. So look at it in Exodus, chapter 32, verse nine. And the Lord said to Moses, I've seen this people and behold, it is a stiff necked people. Now therefore, let me alone that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them, and I will make of thee a great nation." Now I want you to look at Moses' request. And Moses besought the Lord his God and said, Lord, why did thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?

[John Weaver] Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say, for mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in this mountain, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servant, whom thou swearest by thine own self. And since of them I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it forever. And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto these people."

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note this prayer. Nothing in this prayer uses the terms, for the Lord's sake, or for the truth's sake, or for his honor's sake. And yet that is exactly what Moses is talking about. He said, Lord, you brought this people out. Your honor, your glory is involved. You can't just drop them. You can't just kill them because the Egyptians will say, well, you brought them out, but you were not able to bring them in. Moreover, Lord, here's your word.

[John Weaver] You said to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, you promised. And so here Moses is once again asking for the Lord's sake.

[John Weaver] Now, You're going to find this term used many times in different ways. For instance, if you will turn right on over in your Bibles, the second Chronicles chapter six, first and second Samuel, first and second Kings and first and second Chronicles, second Chronicles chapter six. Solomon is dedicating the temple and he gives a prayer request. And here is that request spoken of. 2nd Chronicles chapter 6 notice if you would verses 32 and 33 he's praying he says moreover concerning the stranger which is not of my people Israel but it's come from a far country for thy great name's sake and thy mighty hand and thy stretched out arm if they come and pray to this house Then hear thou from heaven, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth on thee for, that all people of the earth may know thy name and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name. But know he comes into the land and into the temple for thy great name's sake.

[John Weaver] And then he talks about, for thy mighty hand, thy stretched out arm. That would be for God's almighty power as well.

[John Weaver] Now, if you would turn back in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Joshua, chapter seven, Joshua, chapter seven. And I want to I want you to see before I get started on Daniel nine, how this phrase is used. And I understand how many times in many different ways it is used, so In Joshua chapter 7, if you look at verse 9, of course the children of Israel had been defeated at Ai, and I think 36 Israelites had been killed. Joshua is praying, He says in Joshua 7 verse 9 for the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear it and shall Environ us round and cut off our name from the earth and what wilt thou do to thy great name? In other words Lord. We're in trouble We need your help, and we need your protection, but Lord if you don't help us What will thou do for thy great name the Lord's Lord? You're the one that brought us out You're the one that promised us this land. What will you do for thy great name?

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn right on over to First Samuel, chapter 12. First Samuel, chapter 12. I think it's very important that we see this because it should affect our prayer life very greatly. And First Samuel, chapter 12 and verse 22. Look at this promise. First Samuel 12 verse 22 For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake Because it is pleased the Lord to make you his people that amazing God is not going to forsake us for his great name's sake because it is pleased him to make us his people Now I want you to see how for his sake for his Lord's sake for his great name's sake How this phrase is used over and over. So turn in your Bibles to Psalm 25, and look if you would please at verse 11. Psalm 25 and verse 11. Look at this. Psalm 25 and verse 11. Look what David prays. For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity, for it is great. Isn't that amazing? He's asking the Lord to forgive his sin for his name's sake If you will turn to Psalm 109 and look at verse 21 Psalm 109 verse 21 Again, you're going to see this Psalm 109 verse 21 David says but do thou for me O God the Lord for thy name's sake Because thy

[John Weaver] mercy is good, deliver thou me. The Lord's do it for thy name's sake. And if you'd look in Psalm 115 and verse one, look at this, where David says, not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but in thy name give glory for thy mercy and for thy truth's sake.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to understand a very important principle. And that principle is this. This universe and everything in our lives should be theocentric and not anthropocentric. Of course, theos is the Greek word for God. That means we should be God-centered and not man-centered. Anthropos is the word for man. So everything is to revolve around God and not necessarily to revolve around us. In fact, our Lord taught this very truth.

[John Weaver] In Matthew, chapter six and verse thirty three, when he said, but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and then all these other things shall be added unto you. In other words, God must come first. That's why our Lord taught us to pray. And Luke 11, our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. The five will be done on earth as in heaven by King of God. In other words, God is to be first. Now, I want you to go to the book of Ezekiel, right after the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and look at Ezekiel chapter 20 and verse 44. Ezekiel 20 and verse 44. I'm going to begin putting things together for you, hopefully just momentarily. Ezekiel chapter 20, look in verse 44. The Word of God says, and you shall know that I am the Lord when I have wrought with you for my name's sake. not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel, saith the Lord God.

[John Weaver] Now look at that again. And you shall know that I am the Lord when I have wrought with you for my name's sake. In other words, what I'm going to do to you in judgment, in chastening, I'm going to do for my name's sake. So if you'll turn right over to the book of Ezekiel chapter 36, look at verse 22 Ezekiel 36 in verse 22 and Here he says this same truth Ezekiel 36 and verse 22 Therefore saying to the house of Israel thus saith the Lord God. I do not miss for your sakes Oh house of Israel but for mine holy name's sake I which you have profaned among the heathen whither you went." Now, I want you to listen to what I'm going to tell you. I'm going to repeat this before I close today. Whatever God does in redemption, in providence, or in judgment, He does for His name's sake.

[John Weaver] He does for his own honor and glory. Now, does he not do things for our good? Obviously, he does. Clearly, he does. Romans 828. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. But although God works out things for our good, primarily and objectively, he's working out for his honor and for his glory.

[John Weaver] So here's where we mess up in our prayer life so many times. If you'll notice your prayers, your prayers normally, usually, center upon yourself, your needs, your wants, and your desires. So here's a good question. When is the last time you've asked anything for the Lord's sake? for his truth's sake, for his own honor and his own glory. So let me put this in the context of Daniel chapter 9. I told you when you look at Daniel chapter 9, Daniel was tired of the tyranny.

[John Weaver] He wanted the captivity to come to an end. and he set himself to beseech God in a very serious and solemn way. He made his confession. He made an acknowledgement and admission in that confession. So let me ask, are we at that state yet? Are we where we should be? In the sense that we become tired of tyranny and wickedness and injustice? Are we tired of tyranny, inflation, bureaucrats, bureaucracy, three letter agencies, and rules and regulations over which we have no control, and over people from whom we never elected.

[John Weaver] And now they're ruling and reigning over us and demanding things that are not only unscriptural, unconstitutional. I'm fixing to give you three quotes. And I want you to think about this last week, I talked about economic tyranny, and then personal, or government and political tyranny. This first quote is from Robert E. Byrd, who was Speaker of the House in 1910. You know the Federal Reserve Act was enacted in 1913. Well, it was being tossed around in 1910. And Robert Byrd gave this warning of what would happen if Congress did indeed pass the Federal Reserve Act.

[John Weaver] So here's what he said. Our hands from Washington will be stretched out and placed upon every man's business. The eye of the federal inspector will be in every man's counting house. The law will of necessity have inquisitical features. It will provide penalties. It will create complicated machinery. Under it, men will be hauled into courts distant from their homes. Heavy fines imposed by distant and unfamiliar tribunals will constantly menace the taxpayer. An army of federal inspectors, spies, arid detectives will descend upon the state."

[John Weaver] Well, he pretty well saw what was going to happen, and that is exactly what has happened, only I would say worse. Now, Thomas Jefferson said it like this, to compel a man to subsidize with his taxes, the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical. Now, to compel a man to subsidize with his taxes, the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical. When you stop and think about your property tax, which I believe is one of the most unbiblical taxes there is, why?

[John Weaver] Because the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein. God made everything. I don't know when the state claimed ownership of God's creation, but now they think that they have the power to tax property that belongs to God. And one of the things I despise about property tax is about 90% of it goes to support government education. My wife and had four children, not one ever went to one day of public or government school in their entire life.

[John Weaver] And yet, all these years I have to pay for other people to be indoctrinated in ideas that I believe are unconstitutional as well as unscriptural and ungodly. And if I don't, then they come and steal my property. So I'm just simply pointing out the fact, this is what Thomas Jefferson was saying. This is what Robert Bird was saying. Now, I'm going to give you one more. This quote is from john Whitehead, who is a constitutional attorney who is head of the Rutherford Institute.

[John Weaver] And he said it like this. This is what comes from a 1.2 trillion spending bill. Someone's got to foot the bill for the government's fiscal insanity. And that someone is the US taxpayer. The government's schemes to swindle, cheat, scam, and generally defraud taxpayers of their hard-earned dollars have run the gamut from wasteful port barrel legislation, cronyism, and graft-to-asset forfeiture, costly stimulus packages, and a national security complex that continues to undermine our freedoms while failing to make us any safer.

[John Weaver] Americans have also been made to pay through the nose for the government's endless wars, subsidization of foreign nations, military empire, welfare state, roads to nowhere, bloated workforce, secret agencies, fusing centers, private prisons, biometric databases, invasive technologies, arsenal of weapons, and every other budgetary line item that is contributing to the fast-growing wealth of the corporate elite at the expense of those who are barely making ends meet, that is, we the taxpayers. Well, these quotes are true and accurate.

[John Weaver] But I've got a question to ask you and I'm asking this question in light of Daniel chapter 9. Here it is. Why should we desire liberty? Why should we desire freedom? So let me ask this another way. Should we desire our liberty and our freedom just to be out from under an unbiblical an unconstitutional scheme of taxation? Should we desire to have liberty and freedom and be out from under tyranny just so that we can do what we want to do unrestrained?

[John Weaver] And the answer to both of those questions happens to be no. According to Daniel chapter 9, we should desire liberty and freedom and an end of tyranny and wickedness and injustice for the Lord's sake. We should desire for his great namesake. We should desire it so that we would be free to worship Him and honor Him and do that which He has commanded us without interference. In other words, we would want liberty and freedom that we might serve Him more efficiently and more effectively. Now, I want you to look at one other passage before we go back to Daniel 9. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 7. 1 Corinthians 7. And I want you to look at verse 23. First Corinthians chapter 7 and verse 23. Here's a powerful, powerful verse. First Corinthians 7 verse 23. Look at what the word of God declares.

[John Weaver] You are bought with a price. Be not ye the servants of men. And the word servants is Dulos, I'm sure. They'll be the slaves of men. You're bought with a price. That's what he said. First Corinthians chapter six verses 19 and 20. What? No, you're not. You're not your own. You've been bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are his. And so he says, we're not to be slaves, the man, because we are his property. He bought us.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back to Daniel chapter nine. And I want you to look, if you would please, at verses 16 through 19. I'm going to come back and emphasize these. But look, if you would, based upon what I've just been telling you and what he is saying, Daniel nine, beginning there in verse 16. Look at this. He says, Oh, Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from my city, Jerusalem, thy holy mountain, because of our sins. And for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.

[John Weaver] Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant in his supplication and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate. Are you looking? For the Lord's sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear, open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name. For we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies, O Lord, hear, O Lord, forgive, O Lord, hearken, and do defer not for thine own sake. O my God, for thy city, and for thy people that are called by thy name." Do you see the impact of Daniel's prayer?

[John Weaver] He was asking for restoration. He was asking for forgiveness. He was asking for mercies. He was asking for an end of tyranny for the Lord's sake. So when is the last time in prayer you've asked a specific request for the Lord's sake. When is the last time you've asked something in prayer that His great name would be honored? When is the last time you've asked anything in prayer for His Word's sake or for His truth's sake? Daniel wanted freedom. Daniel wanted liberty. But he didn't want it just because he wanted to do what he wanted to do. He wanted to be out from under Babylon and Persia. No Daniel wanted truth and he wanted freedom and he wanted liberty for the Lord's sake I Would want liberty and freedom so that God's law Would once again rule our land and God could be honored and God to be glorified Now I made a statement earlier I'm gonna make that statement again. I want you to listen Here it is. Whatever God does, either in redemption, providence or judgment, he does for his name's sake.

[John Weaver] Yes, it is always for our good, but primarily and objectively, it is for his honor and for his glory. So here, let me ask you a question. Ah, what did God do to Judah and Jerusalem? You're going to answer He judged them. Wonderful. Here's my question. Why did he judge them? Now you're going to answer because they were sinners and because they've sinned. That is true. But there's more to that than just simply because they've sinned. God judged them to restore the honor of his word and his righteousness and his holiness, which they had profaned.

[John Weaver] So let me show you. Look back in Daniel chapter nine. We're going to cover just a little bit that we covered last week, but not much. Look in Daniel chapter nine, verse five. We're just talking and showing you the wickedness of the people. Daniel nine, verse five. Daniel says, We have sinned and have committed iniquity. We've done wickedly and have rebelled even by departing from my precepts and my judgments. Yes. Now look in verse six.

[John Weaver] Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets. We didn't listen. Which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, our fathers, to all the people of the land. Look in verse seven. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion effaces at this day to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to all Israel that are near, that are far off, to all the countries where thou hast driven them because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. Look in verse 8. Again, the latter part, he says, because we have sinned against thee. If you look in verse 9, the latter part, we have rebelled against thee. Look in verse 10. Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. Look in verse 11. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice. Wow. Look in verse 13. He said, As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil has come upon us.

[John Weaver] Yet make we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities. In other words, we didn't want to repent. We did not even think of repentance. Look in verse 14. Therefore, the Lord watched upon the evil and brought it upon us. But Lord, our God is righteous in all his works, which he do it for. We have not obeyed his voice. That is, we've sinned. Look in verse 15 again. And now, oh, Lord, our God, thou has brought by people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand that's got the renown of this day. We have sinned and we have done wickedly. And then in verse 16, He says that we have become a reproach to all of those that are round about us. We're a reproach to all the nations.

[John Weaver] So in light of all the sin and wickedness and rebellion and a failure to listen and a failure to hear the preaching of the Word of God, here's my question. What else could God do but judge them?

[John Weaver] Now, He brought upon them the evil that he had promised them Now I want you to go back and look in Daniel 9 and verse 12. Look at this Stay with me And he has confirmed his words Which he spake against us He's confirmed he told us what he's going to do to us when we violated his covenant And now he's confirmed these words, which he spake against us and against our judges, that judged us by bringing upon us a great evil, according to the whole heaven, hath not been done, has been done upon Jerusalem. Now look in verse 13, as it is written in the law of Moses, Read Leviticus 26, read Deuteronomy 28. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil has come upon us.

[John Weaver] Yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God that we might turn from our iniquities and understand thy truth. Wow. Wow. And then in verse 14, therefore, have the Lord watched upon the evil and brought it upon us. For the Lord our God is righteous in all his works, which he doeth. for we obeyed not his voice."

[John Weaver] Now, what I want you to see is this. God brought his judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem for his namesake. Please listen. He is righteous, even if we are not. He is faithful, even if we are not. God did exactly as he said he was going to do. I want you to turn over in your Bibles to the book of Zechariah, which is right before the book of Malachi. And I want you to look in Zechariah chapter 1. Zechariah chapter 1. And I want you to notice, beginning there with verse 4. Zechariah 1 verse 4. Look what God tells the people.

[John Weaver] Be ye not as your fathers, adumed of former prophets of pride, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings. But they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord. Now hang on. Look what he said. Be ye not as your fathers. Don't be rebellious, don't be stubborn, don't be hard-headed like them. Of whom the former prophets of pride saying, thus said the Lord God of hosts, turn you from your evil ways and from your evil doings. But they did not hear nor hearken unto me, said the Lord. Now look in verse five. Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, did they live forever? No. But look in verse six. But my words and my statutes Which I commanded my servants the prophets Did they not take hold of your fathers? And they returned and said like is the Lord of hosts thought to doing to us according to our ways and according our doing so that he dealt with us.

[John Weaver] In other words, God did exactly that which he said he was going to do. He did. I want you to turn back to the book of Ezekiel one more time. I want you to look in Ezekiel chapter 36 and notice if you would verse 23. Ezekiel 36 verse 23. Watch this. Look what God says. And I will sanctify my great name. You see that? And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which you have profaned in the midst of them. And the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, said the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes." How did God sanctify his great name? He judged them. God said, you've lived a horrible life. You've profaned my name.

[John Weaver] You're supposed to be my people. You've profaned my name. And now, said God, I'm going to sanctify my name. I will judge you. I will let them know that I am not like you.

[John Weaver] Now, let's try to put some things together. What do you think about Daniel chapter nine? I hope you understand this principle that God is concerned with his honor and his glory, even if his creatures are not. Let me say this another way. God is concerned with his honor and his glory, even if his people are not. God is going to be sanctified. God is going to be glorified either in redemption or in judgment.

[John Weaver] Because God's great name is at stake. I want you to look, if you would take the time to turn back to Isaiah chapter five. Isaiah chapter five. Look if you would please at verse 16 Isaiah chapter 5 verse 16 look what God says Isaiah 5 verse 16 Here it is for the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness God's name is exalted in judgment God is sanctified in his righteousness when he judges those who are wicked and wrong. Wow. So Daniel is praying and Daniel chapter nine for an end of tyranny and injustice. For the great namesake.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you, leading question. Do you know why Aaron and Moses were not allowed to go into the promised land? And the answer is because they failed to sanctify the Lord. I want you to turn back in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 32 and you will see where God says this specifically. Look in Deuteronomy chapter 32. Moses got to see the land from the mountain in which he was going to die, but he never got to enter into the land. And Aaron had already died on Mount Hor. So notice if you would, in Deuteronomy chapter 32, and let's begin reading there with verse 48. Look at this. Deuteronomy 32 verse 48. And the Lord spake unto Moses that self same day, saying, Get thee up into this mountain of Byram, unto Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, which is over against Jericho, and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for possession. And die in the mount, whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people, as ere thy brother died in Mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people, because Here's the reason you can't go in.

[John Weaver] Here's the reason you're dying. Because you trespass against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin, because you sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. Yet God says you can see it, but you cannot go into the land. What in the world did they do? God told Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock. And the rock would bring forth water. And Moses was so aggravated with the people, he took the rod and he smoked the rock and said, Here now, you rebels, must I bring water out of this rock for you? So that's it.

[John Weaver] No, you fail to sanctify me. You fail to obey me. You fail to honor me. You fail to honor my word. I told you to speak and you smoke.

[John Weaver] Now you say, oh, that's Old Testament. Really? The same exact principle is in the New Testament. So I want you to turn to 1 Corinthians 11. Look in 1 Corinthians 11, and notice, if you would please, beginning of verse 29. Because here we're talking about the Lord's Supper. And how the Lord's Supper oftentimes is abused. Verse Corinthians chapter 11. Verse 28. In fact, we'll read verse 27, just so you can see the Lord's Supper is involved.

[John Weaver] He said, Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily. Shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.

[John Weaver] Now look at the admonition. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation or condemnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. Are you listening? For this cause, for what cause? For a failure to sanctify the Lord in celebrating his person in work, for this cause, Many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. Some are dead, some are weak, some are sick.

[John Weaver] And then he says, for if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we're judged, we're chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. So notice it's the same principle. It is a failure to sanctify the Lord. So Where should we begin as a nation? I think we should begin with that solemn and serious beseeching of the Lord, that is for sure. And I think we should begin with a acknowledgement and an admission in our confession.

[John Weaver] But it should be beyond that. We should want what we are asking for the Lord's sake. Not just so we can be free from unjust taxation. Not just so we can be free to do what we want to do. No. So we can honor the Lord and worship the Lord. This is His world. We are His people. Everything in this life belongs to Him. The earth is the Lord's and the fullest thereof. The world and they that dwell therein. And He's to be honored and sanctified in the totality of His world and in the totality of His life. So we need to learn to pray for the Lord's sake, for his great name's sake, for his truth's sake, for his word's sake, for his honor's sake. In other words, we need to have our prayer, we need to have our worship, we need to have our desires to revolve around him and not just that which we want and what we think.

[John Weaver] God is the center of the universe. not man. His glory is more important than our needs. O Lord, deliver us, as Daniel prayed, for Thy great name's sake. Whatever God does, in redemption or in judgment, it is for His great name's sake. Let's pray. Father, we do ask you in the name of Jesus Christ that you would teach us and help us, Lord, to see the importance of sanctifying thy name and learning, Lord, to ask for thy sake, for the Lord's sake, for thy honor, for thy glory. You take precedence over each one of us you take precedence over all of us now has commanded us to seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these other things shall be added unto you the truth is Lord we're so carnal we're so fleshly we're so faithless that we fail to see How great thou art. We acknowledge that thou art not only the good, but the chief good and the only good. And we ask, Lord, that you'd be pleased to work in our hearts, work in our lives for thine own sake.

[John Weaver] For thy great name's sake and thy truth's sake. Give us, I pray, Father, your mercy through the Lord Jesus Christ. so that he might be honored and glorified. Amen.

[John Weaver] you you

For The Lord's Sake

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	QFFyHtJcvS4
Subject	Church Government
Course	Church Order: Worship, Sacraments, and the Lord's Supper
Genre	Sermon
Date	2024-07-20
Dictation Name
Book	Book 040: Church Order and Worship - Volume 2 — Chapter 46
Source Timed Segments	69

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review of Daniel's Solemn Beseeching

Weaver reviews last week's message on Daniel's serious prayer with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes, and his genuine confession acknowledging God's righteousness and Israel's sin.

All right, Daniel chapter 9. The title of the message is "For the Lord's Sake." So if you look into Daniel 9, beginning there with verse 12: Daniel 9, verse 12:

Scripture Reading — Daniel 9:12-15

"And he has confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, and by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly."

Scripture Reading — Daniel 9:16-19

"O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us." "Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies." "O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name."

So last week I brought a message where we should begin as a nation. And I was pointing out the fact that Daniel was in captivity in Babylon. And Babylon had been captured by the Medo-Persian Empire. And Daniel understood by the reading of the book of Jeremiah, and probably other prophets as well, that the captivity was supposed to last 70 years. And he was perceiving that that captivity was pretty well near its ending. And so he set himself then to pray and to supplicate the Lord God and to seek to get out from under the tyranny that they had been under for 70 years as well. So you must consider the fact that under tyranny there are many, many injustices. For instance, you remember Daniel and his three—not Daniel, but Daniel's three friends were thrown into the fiery furnace because they would not bow to the king's image.

They're in the book of Daniel. Also, Daniel was thrown in the den of lions because of the jealousy of all the other presidents there. And so there were many injustices when you come to tyranny. Babylon was not a godly country. And once it was captured by the Medo-Persian Empire, that was not a godly country as well. And so Daniel then was eager to see the captivity and the tyranny ended.

So we looked at two truths last week. And I just want to point them out by way of reminiscing today. And that is this. First of all, there was a very serious and a solemn beseeching God for the end of the captivity and the end of the tyranny. In fact, we saw where Daniel then began to not only fast and supplicate, but the Bible also says that he also was with fasting and sackcloth and ashes as well. So he was very serious. He was very solemn. And I pointed out how all of those things exhibited an inward desire that would be holy and would be for God's honor and God's glory as well. And I gave you two verses as I ended last week.

One was Joel chapter 1 and verse 14, where the Word of God says, "Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord." And then in Joel chapter 2, verses 12 and 13, "Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil." So there had to be, first of all, a very serious and a solemn beseeching of the Lord. Secondly, I pointed out that there was a genuine confession. And in that confession, there was an acknowledgement and there was also an admission. The acknowledgement, of course, had to do with the righteousness and the holiness and the justice of God. In other words, God was absolutely right in afflicting them and judging them because they were sinners. That's why Daniel said confusion of face belonged to them, but righteousness belonged unto God. And then, of course, in the admission, as we look through Daniel chapter 9, we saw over and over where they were saying that they had sinned, they had rebelled, they refused to listen to the prophets, they refused to hear the word of God. So today I want to continue with this thought, but I want to develop it from a little different perspective, and that is this, that Daniel was beseeching the Lord, and he was confessing, and he was admitting and asking and beseeching all of these things for the Lord's sake.

The Centrality of God's Honor and Glory

Weaver establishes that all things exist for God's pleasure and glory, citing Revelation 4:11 and Romans 11:36, and explains that God is the chief good who must live for Himself.

That is simply for God's honor and God's glory. Everything revolves around God. Man is not the center of the universe. God is the center. It is true that many times, in fact, all the time, God does indeed do things for our good, yet primarily and objectively, he does things also for his own honor and glory. So let me give you a couple of verses to begin with. The first one is Revelation chapter 4 and verse 11. There the Word of God says,

Scripture Reading — Revelation 4:11

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

Now, the word "pleasure" is the Greek word thelema, where we get the word "will" many times or "purpose" sometimes as well. So literally saying that all things were created for God's honor and glory, according to his will, according to his purpose. Now, there's another verse that I think will help tie this together for us. And that's Romans 11 and verse 36. Because in that passage the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 11:36

"For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."

So, of him, that is originally; through him, that is providentially; and to him, that is ultimately, are all things. In other words, so that God may be glorified. Now, God is not only good, God is the chief good. So you might want to ask the question, why are all things done for God's honor and God's glory? And the answer is, because God is the chief good, and since he is the chief good, he has to live for himself, because if he did not, since we are not good—"there is none good, no, not one," says the word of God—then obviously he would not be living for the chief good.

And you remember how that in Mark chapter 10, the rich young ruler came running to the Lord Jesus. And he knelt before him and said, "Good Master, what must I do that I may inherit eternal life?" And Jesus Christ said, "Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God." So our Lord was saying, "If I'm good, then I'm God. And if I'm God, you don't come running into my presence demanding something of me." So truly, then, God is indeed the chief good. That is for sure.

Now, the interesting thing is this. There are many terms in the Bible that I'm going to be referring to temporarily that are synonymous in their meanings. You're going to find these all through the Bible. You'll find terms like, "for the Lord's sake," or "for his name's sake," or "for thy great name's sake," or "for thy truth's sake," or "for thy honor's sake." Now, they may be different terms, but they're referring to the same principle. There are times that you can read scripture that these terms are not used, but you can see them in those passages.

Biblical Examples of Praying for God's Sake

Weaver shows how Moses, Joshua, David, and Solomon prayed or acted for God's great name's sake, even when the exact phrase is not used, demonstrating a God-centered motivation.

So let me give you a couple of examples. The first one is Psalm 138 and verse 2. Listen to what the Bible said. David said,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 138:2

"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name."

Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. In other words, here's the truth's sake. Here's God's honor, for his honor's sake. In other words, if the word of God ever failed, then God would basically cease to be God. He has magnified his word above his name.

Now, I want you to hold Daniel chapter 9, but I want you to turn back in your Bibles to the book of Exodus chapter 32. And I want to show you how this works out in Moses's prayer. Although he does not use any of these terms, yet you can see the same principle in this prayer. Now remember in Exodus chapter 32, Israel had sinned against God, they had made the golden calf, and they were worshiping this golden calf, and Moses came down from the mountain, and of course he broke the law of God that had been given unto him. And of course, he was very, very upset. And so God basically tells Moses,

Scripture Reading — Exodus 32:9-14

"Step aside. I'm going to wipe these Israelites out and I will make of thee a greater nation."

And so Moses didn't begin to be interceding for the people. So look at it in Exodus chapter 32, verse 9.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 32:9-14

"And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation."

Now I want you to look at Moses' request.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 32:9-14

"And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever." And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people. Now, I want you to note this prayer. Nothing in this prayer uses the terms, "for the Lord's sake," or "for the truth's sake," or "for his honor's sake." And yet that is exactly what Moses is talking about. He said, "Lord, you brought this people out. Your honor, your glory is involved. You can't just drop them. You can't just kill them because the Egyptians will say, 'Well, you brought them out, but you were not able to bring them in.' Moreover, Lord, here's your word.

You said to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, you promised." And so here Moses is once again asking for the Lord's sake. Now, you're going to find this term used many times in different ways. For instance, if you will turn right on over in your Bibles to 2 Chronicles chapter 6—1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Chronicles—2 Chronicles chapter 6. Solomon is dedicating the temple and he gives a prayer request. And here is that request spoken of. 2 Chronicles chapter 6, notice if you would verses 32 and 33. He's praying, he says, "Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house; then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name." But note he comes into the land and into the temple for thy great name's sake.

And then he talks about, "for thy mighty hand, thy stretched out arm." That would be for God's almighty power as well. Now, if you would turn back in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Joshua, chapter 7. Joshua chapter 7. And I want you to see before I get started on Daniel 9, how this phrase is used. And I understand how many times in many different ways it is used. So in Joshua chapter 7, if you look at verse 9, of course the children of Israel had been defeated at Ai, and I think 36 Israelites had been killed. Joshua is praying. He says in Joshua 7 verse 9, "For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?" In other words, "Lord, we're in trouble. We need your help, and we need your protection, but Lord, if you don't help us, what will thou do for thy great name? Lord, you're the one that brought us out. You're the one that promised us this land. What will you do for thy great name?"

Now, I want you to turn right on over to 1 Samuel chapter 12. 1 Samuel chapter 12. I think it's very important that we see this because it should affect our prayer life very greatly. And 1 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 22. Look at this promise. 1 Samuel 12 verse 22: "For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people." That's amazing. God is not going to forsake us for his great name's sake, because it hath pleased him to make us his people. Now I want you to see how "for his sake," "for the Lord's sake," "for his great name's sake"—how this phrase is used over and over. So turn in your Bibles to Psalm 25, and look if you would please at verse 11. Psalm 25 and verse 11. Look at this. Psalm 25 and verse 11. Look what David prays. "For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great." Isn't that amazing? He's asking the Lord to forgive his sin for his name's sake. If you will turn to Psalm 109 and look at verse 21. Psalm 109 verse 21. Again, you're going to see this. Psalm 109 verse 21, David says, "But do thou for me, O God the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy

mercy is good, deliver thou me." The Lord's—do it for thy name's sake. And if you'd look in Psalm 115 and verse 1, look at this, where David says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 115:1

"Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake."

Now, I want you to understand a very important principle. And that principle is this. This universe and everything in our lives should be theocentric and not anthropocentric. Of course, theos is the Greek word for God. That means we should be God-centered and not man-centered. Anthropos is the word for man. So everything is to revolve around God and not necessarily to revolve around us. In fact, our Lord taught this very truth.

The Theocentric vs. Anthropocentric Principle

Weaver teaches that the universe and our lives should be God-centered, not man-centered, and that God acts for His name's sake in redemption, providence, and judgment.

In Matthew chapter 6 and verse 33, when he said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 6:33

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

In other words, God must come first. That's why our Lord taught us to pray in Luke 11, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." In other words, God is to be first. Now, I want you to go to the book of Ezekiel, right after the book of Lamentations—Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel—and look at Ezekiel chapter 20 and verse 44. Ezekiel 20 and verse 44. I'm going to begin putting things together for you, hopefully just momentarily. Ezekiel chapter 20, look in verse 44. The Word of God says, "And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord God."

Now look at that again.

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 20:44

"And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake."

In other words, what I'm going to do to you in judgment, in chastening, I'm going to do for my name's sake. So if you'll turn right over to the book of Ezekiel chapter 36, look at verse 22. Ezekiel 36 and verse 22. And here he says this same truth. Ezekiel 36 and verse 22:

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 20:44

"Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went."

Now, I want you to listen to what I'm going to tell you. I'm going to repeat this before I close today. Whatever God does in redemption, in providence, or in judgment, He does for His name's sake.

He does for his own honor and glory. Now, does he not do things for our good? Obviously, he does. Clearly, he does. Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." But although God works out things for our good, primarily and objectively, he's working out for his honor and for his glory.

So here's where we mess up in our prayer life so many times. If you'll notice your prayers, your prayers normally, usually, center upon yourself, your needs, your wants, and your desires. So here's a good question. When is the last time you've asked anything for the Lord's sake? For his truth's sake, for his own honor and his own glory. So let me put this in the context of Daniel chapter 9. I told you when you look at Daniel chapter 9, Daniel was tired of the tyranny.

Contemporary Tyranny and the Wrong Motivation for Liberty

Weaver cites quotes on governmental overreach and asks whether we desire liberty merely for personal comfort or for the Lord's sake, concluding that biblical freedom is for serving God without interference.

He wanted the captivity to come to an end. And he set himself to beseech God in a very serious and solemn way. He made his confession. He made an acknowledgement and admission in that confession. So let me ask, are we at that state yet? Are we where we should be? In the sense that we become tired of tyranny and wickedness and injustice? Are we tired of tyranny, inflation, bureaucrats, bureaucracy, three-letter agencies, and rules and regulations over which we have no control, and over people whom we never elected?

And now they're ruling and reigning over us and demanding things that are not only unscriptural, unconstitutional. I'm fixing to give you three quotes. And I want you to think about this. Last week, I talked about economic tyranny, and then personal, or government and political tyranny. This first quote is from Robert E. Byrd, who was Speaker of the House in 1910. You know the Federal Reserve Act was enacted in 1913. Well, it was being tossed around in 1910. And Robert Byrd gave this warning of what would happen if Congress did indeed pass the Federal Reserve Act.

So here's what he said: "Our hands from Washington will be stretched out and placed upon every man's business. The eye of the federal inspector will be in every man's counting house. The law will of necessity have inquisitorial features. It will provide penalties. It will create complicated machinery. Under it, men will be hauled into courts distant from their homes. Heavy fines imposed by distant and unfamiliar tribunals will constantly menace the taxpayer. An army of federal inspectors, spies, and detectives will descend upon the state."

Well, he pretty well saw what was going to happen, and that is exactly what has happened, only I would say worse. Now, Thomas Jefferson said it like this: "To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical." Now, to compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical. When you stop and think about your property tax, which I believe is one of the most unbiblical taxes there is, why? Because "the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." God made everything. I don't know when the state claimed ownership of God's creation, but now they think that they have the power to tax property that belongs to God. And one of the things I despise about property tax is about 90% of it goes to support government education. My wife and I had four children, not one ever went to one day of public or government school in their entire life.

And yet, all these years I have to pay for other people to be indoctrinated in ideas that I believe are unconstitutional as well as unscriptural and ungodly. And if I don't, then they come and steal my property. So I'm just simply pointing out the fact, this is what Thomas Jefferson was saying. This is what Robert Byrd was saying. Now, I'm going to give you one more. This quote is from John Whitehead, who is a constitutional attorney who is head of the Rutherford Institute. And he said it like this: "This is what comes from a 1.2 trillion spending bill. Someone's got to foot the bill for the government's fiscal insanity. And that someone is the US taxpayer. The government's schemes to swindle, cheat, scam, and generally defraud taxpayers of their hard-earned dollars have run the gamut from wasteful pork barrel legislation, cronyism, and graft to asset forfeiture, costly stimulus packages, and a national security complex that continues to undermine our freedoms while failing to make us any safer.

Americans have also been made to pay through the nose for the government's endless wars, subsidization of foreign nations, military empire, welfare state, roads to nowhere, bloated workforce, secret agencies, fusion centers, private prisons, biometric databases, invasive technologies, arsenal of weapons, and every other budgetary line item that is contributing to the fast-growing wealth of the corporate elite at the expense of those who are barely making ends meet, that is, we the taxpayers." Well, these quotes are true and accurate. But I've got a question to ask you and I'm asking this question in light of Daniel chapter 9. Here it is. Why should we desire liberty? Why should we desire freedom? So let me ask this another way. Should we desire our liberty and our freedom just to be out from under an unbiblical, an unconstitutional scheme of taxation? Should we desire to have liberty and freedom and be out from under tyranny just so that we can do what we want to do unrestrained?

And the answer to both of those questions happens to be no. According to Daniel chapter 9, we should desire liberty and freedom and an end of tyranny and wickedness and injustice for the Lord's sake. We should desire it for his great name's sake. We should desire it so that we would be free to worship Him and honor Him and do that which He has commanded us without interference. In other words, we would want liberty and freedom that we might serve Him more efficiently and more effectively. Now, I want you to look at one other passage before we go back to Daniel 9. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 7. 1 Corinthians 7. And I want you to look at verse 23. 1 Corinthians chapter 7 and verse 23. Here's a powerful, powerful verse. 1 Corinthians 7 verse 23. Look at what the word of God declares.

Daniel's Prayer Analyzed: For the Lord's Sake

Weaver returns to Daniel 9:16-19, highlighting that Daniel's requests for restoration, forgiveness, and an end to tyranny were explicitly 'for the Lord's sake' and 'for thine own sake.'

"Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." And the word "servants" is doulos, I'm sure. "Be not ye the slaves of men." You're bought with a price. That's what he said. 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verses 19 and 20: "What? know ye not that... ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." And so he says, we're not to be slaves of men, because we are his property. He bought us.

Now, I want you to go back to Daniel chapter 9. And I want you to look, if you would please, at verses 16 through 19. I'm going to come back and emphasize these. But look, if you would, based upon what I've just been telling you and what he is saying, Daniel 9, beginning there in verse 16. Look at this. He says, "O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.

Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name." Do you see the impact of Daniel's prayer? He was asking for restoration. He was asking for forgiveness. He was asking for mercies. He was asking for an end of tyranny for the Lord's sake. So when is the last time in prayer you've asked a specific request for the Lord's sake? When is the last time you've asked something in prayer that His great name would be honored? When is the last time you've asked anything in prayer for His Word's sake or for His truth's sake? Daniel wanted freedom. Daniel wanted liberty. But he didn't want it just because he wanted to do what he wanted to do. He wanted to be out from under Babylon and Persia. No, Daniel wanted truth and he wanted freedom and he wanted liberty for the Lord's sake. I would want liberty and freedom so that God's law would once again rule our land and God could be honored and God could be glorified. Now I made a statement earlier. I'm going to make that statement again. I want you to listen. Here it is. Whatever God does, either in redemption, providence or judgment, he does for his name's sake.

God's Judgment as Sanctifying His Name

Weaver explains that God judged Judah to restore the honor of His word and righteousness, citing Ezekiel 36:23 and Isaiah 5:16, and that God is sanctified either in redemption or judgment.

Yes, it is always for our good, but primarily and objectively, it is for his honor and for his glory. So here, let me ask you a question. Ah, what did God do to Judah and Jerusalem? You're going to answer, "He judged them." Wonderful. Here's my question. Why did he judge them? Now you're going to answer, "Because they were sinners and because they've sinned." That is true. But there's more to that than just simply because they've sinned. God judged them to restore the honor of his word and his righteousness and his holiness, which they had profaned.

So let me show you. Look back in Daniel chapter 9. We're going to cover just a little bit that we covered last week, but not much. Look in Daniel chapter 9, verse 5. We're just talking and showing you the wickedness of the people. Daniel 9, verse 5. Daniel says, "We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments." Yes. Now look in verse 6.

"Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets." We didn't listen. "Which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land." Look in verse 7. "O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee." Look in verse 8. Again, the latter part, he says, "because we have sinned against thee." If you look in verse 9, the latter part, "we have rebelled against thee." Look in verse 10. "Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets." Look in verse 11. "Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice." Wow. Look in verse 13. He said, "As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us.

Yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities." In other words, we didn't want to repent. We did not even think of repentance. Look in verse 14. "Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice." That is, we've sinned. Look in verse 15 again. "And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly." And then in verse 16, he says that we have become a reproach to all of those that are round about us. We're a reproach to all the nations.

So in light of all the sin and wickedness and rebellion and a failure to listen and a failure to hear the preaching of the Word of God, here's my question. What else could God do but judge them? Now, He brought upon them the evil that he had promised them. Now I want you to go back and look in Daniel 9 and verse 12. Look at this. Stay with me. "And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us." He's confirmed. He told us what he's going to do to us when we violated his covenant. And now he's confirmed these words, "which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem." Now look in verse 13, "As it is written in the law of Moses." Read Leviticus 26, read Deuteronomy 28. "As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us.

Yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth." Wow. Wow. And then in verse 14, "Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice." Now, what I want you to see is this. God brought his judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem for his name's sake. Please listen. He is righteous, even if we are not. He is faithful, even if we are not. God did exactly as he said he was going to do. I want you to turn over in your Bibles to the book of Zechariah, which is right before the book of Malachi. And I want you to look in Zechariah chapter 1. Zechariah chapter 1. And I want you to notice, beginning there with verse 4. Zechariah 1 verse 4. Look what God tells the people.

"Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord." Now hang on. Look what he said. "Be ye not as your fathers." Don't be rebellious, don't be stubborn, don't be hard-headed like them. "Unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord." Now look in verse 5. "Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?" No. But look in verse 6. "But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us."

In other words, God did exactly that which he said he was going to do. He did. I want you to turn back to the book of Ezekiel one more time. I want you to look in Ezekiel chapter 36 and notice if you would verse 23. Ezekiel 36 verse 23. Watch this. Look what God says. "And I will sanctify my great name." You see that? "And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes." How did God sanctify his great name? He judged them. God said, "You've lived a horrible life. You've profaned my name.

You're supposed to be my people. You've profaned my name. And now," said God, "I'm going to sanctify my name. I will judge you. I will let them know that I am not like you."

Now, let's try to put some things together. What do you think about Daniel chapter 9? I hope you understand this principle that God is concerned with his honor and his glory, even if his creatures are not. Let me say this another way. God is concerned with his honor and his glory, even if his people are not. God is going to be sanctified. God is going to be glorified either in redemption or in judgment.

Because God's great name is at stake. I want you to look, if you would take the time to turn back to Isaiah chapter 5. Isaiah chapter 5. Look if you would please at verse 16. Isaiah 5 verse 16. Look what God says. Isaiah 5 verse 16: "But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness." God's name is exalted in judgment. God is sanctified in his righteousness when he judges those who are wicked and wrong. Wow. So Daniel is praying in Daniel chapter 9 for an end of tyranny and injustice. For the great name's sake.

The Consequence of Failing to Sanctify God

Weaver gives examples of Moses and Aaron being barred from the Promised Land and the Corinthian church's sickness and death due to failing to sanctify the Lord, applying the principle to New Testament believers.

Now, let me ask you a leading question. Do you know why Aaron and Moses were not allowed to go into the promised land? And the answer is because they failed to sanctify the Lord. I want you to turn back in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 32 and you will see where God says this specifically. Look in Deuteronomy chapter 32. Moses got to see the land from the mountain in which he was going to die, but he never got to enter into the land. And Aaron had already died on Mount Hor. So notice if you would, in Deuteronomy chapter 32, and let's begin reading there with verse 48. Look at this. Deuteronomy 32 verse 48: "And the Lord spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying, Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: and die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people: because"—here's the reason you can't go in.

Here's the reason you're dying. "Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel." Yet God says you can see it, but you cannot go into the land. What in the world did they do? God told Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock. And the rock would bring forth water. And Moses was so aggravated with the people, he took the rod and he smote the rock and said, "Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" So that's it. No, you failed to sanctify me. You failed to obey me. You failed to honor me. You failed to honor my word. I told you to speak and you smote.

Now you say, "Oh, that's Old Testament." Really? The same exact principle is in the New Testament. So I want you to turn to 1 Corinthians 11. Look in 1 Corinthians 11, and notice, if you would please, beginning of verse 29. Because here we're talking about the Lord's Supper. And how the Lord's Supper oftentimes is abused. 1 Corinthians chapter 11. Verse 28. In fact, we'll read verse 27, just so you can see the Lord's Supper is involved.

He said, "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." Now look at the admonition. "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body." Are you listening? "For this cause"—for what cause? For a failure to sanctify the Lord in celebrating his person and work—"for this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." Some are dead, some are weak, some are sick. And then he says, "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." So notice it's the same principle. It is a failure to sanctify the Lord. So where should we begin as a nation? I think we should begin with that solemn and serious beseeching of the Lord, that is for sure. And I think we should begin with an acknowledgement and an admission in our confession.

Application: Praying for the Lord's Sake Today

Weaver calls believers to shift their prayers from self-centered requests to petitions that seek God's honor, desiring liberty and revival for His great name's sake.

But it should be beyond that. We should want what we are asking for the Lord's sake. Not just so we can be free from unjust taxation. Not just so we can be free to do what we want to do. No. So we can honor the Lord and worship the Lord. This is His world. We are His people. Everything in this life belongs to Him. "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." And He's to be honored and sanctified in the totality of His world and in the totality of our lives. So we need to learn to pray for the Lord's sake, for his great name's sake, for his truth's sake, for his word's sake, for his honor's sake. In other words, we need to have our prayer, we need to have our worship, we need to have our desires to revolve around him and not just that which we want and what we think.

God is the center of the universe, not man. His glory is more important than our needs. O Lord, deliver us, as Daniel prayed, for Thy great name's sake. Whatever God does, in redemption or in judgment, it is for His great name's sake. Let's pray. Father, we do ask you in the name of Jesus Christ that you would teach us and help us, Lord, to see the importance of sanctifying thy name and learning, Lord, to ask for thy sake, for the Lord's sake, for thy honor, for thy glory. You take precedence over each one of us. You take precedence over all of us. Thou hast commanded us to seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these other things shall be added unto you. The truth is, Lord, we're so carnal, we're so fleshly, we're so faithless that we fail to see how great thou art. We acknowledge that thou art not only the good, but the chief good and the only good. And we ask, Lord, that you'd be pleased to work in our hearts, work in our lives for thine own sake.

For thy great name's sake and thy truth's sake. Give us, I pray, Father, your mercy through the Lord Jesus Christ, so that he might be honored and glorified. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Primacy of God's Glory

Summary: All things, including redemption, providence, and judgment, are ultimately for God's honor and glory, not merely for human benefit.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'Whatever God does in redemption, in providence, or in judgment, He does for His name's sake.'

Praying for the Lord's Sake

Summary: Believers should model their prayers after Daniel, asking for deliverance and blessings not for selfish reasons but for God's name, truth, and honor.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'When is the last time you've asked anything for the Lord's sake? For his truth's sake, for his own honor and his own glory.'

God's Faithfulness to His Word in Judgment

Summary: God judges His people to uphold the integrity of His word and to sanctify His name when they profane it, as seen in the Babylonian captivity.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'God judged them to restore the honor of his word and his righteousness and his holiness, which they had profaned.'

The Danger of Anthropocentric Prayer

Summary: Most prayers are self-centered, focusing on personal needs and desires, rather than being theocentric and seeking God's kingdom and righteousness first.

Evidence: Weaver observes, 'Your prayers normally, usually, center upon yourself, your needs, your wants, and your desires.'

Liberty for the Purpose of Worship

Summary: The biblical reason to desire freedom from tyranny is not personal autonomy but the ability to worship and serve God without hindrance.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'We should desire liberty and freedom and an end of tyranny and wickedness and injustice for the Lord's sake... that we might serve Him more efficiently and more effectively.'

Sanctifying the Lord in Obedience

Summary: Failure to honor God's commands, as seen in Moses striking the rock and the Corinthians abusing the Lord's Supper, results in severe consequences because it fails to sanctify Him.

Evidence: Weaver cites Deuteronomy 32:51 and 1 Corinthians 11:30 to show that God chastens those who do not sanctify Him.

Key Arguments

God is the chief good and must act for His own glory

Summary: Since God alone is good, He must live for Himself; if He acted for any lesser good, He would not be living for the chief good.

Evidence: Weaver argues, 'God is the chief good, and since he is the chief good, he has to live for himself, because if he did not, since we are not good... then obviously he would not be living for the chief good.'

Daniel's prayer was motivated by God's reputation

Summary: Daniel's plea for Jerusalem's restoration was explicitly 'for the Lord's sake,' linking the city and people to God's own name and honor.

Evidence: Weaver points to Daniel 9:17-19, where Daniel says, 'cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake... defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.'

Moses interceded based on God's honor, not Israel's merit

Summary: In Exodus 32, Moses appealed to God's reputation among the Egyptians and His covenant promises, effectively praying for the Lord's sake without using the phrase.

Evidence: Weaver notes, 'Moses said, Lord, you brought this people out. Your honor, your glory is involved... the Egyptians will say, Well, you brought them out, but you were not able to bring them in.'

God's judgment is an act of self-sanctification

Summary: When God's people profane His name, He judges them to demonstrate His holiness and to show the nations that He is not like His sinful people.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Ezekiel 36:23, 'I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them.'

Desiring liberty for personal comfort is unbiblical

Summary: Christians should not seek freedom merely to escape taxation or do as they please, but to honor God and obey His law without interference.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'Should we desire to have liberty and freedom and be out from under tyranny just so that we can do what we want to do unrestrained? And the answer... happens to be no.'

The New Testament reinforces the principle of sanctifying the Lord

Summary: The Corinthians' sickness and death resulted from failing to discern the Lord's body in the Supper, paralleling the Old Testament principle of sanctifying God.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep... It is a failure to sanctify the Lord.'

Scripture References

Daniel 9:12-15

Context: Weaver reads the opening passage of Daniel's prayer, confessing Israel's sin and God's righteous judgment.

Daniel 9:16-19

Context: Weaver reads the climax of Daniel's prayer, where he pleads for restoration 'for the Lord's sake' and 'for thine own sake.'

Joel 1:14

Context: Weaver cites this verse from the previous week's message on calling a solemn assembly and crying unto the Lord.

Joel 2:12-13

Context: Weaver quotes this passage on rending the heart and turning to God with fasting and weeping.

Revelation 4:11

Context: Weaver uses this verse to show that all things were created for God's pleasure and glory.

Romans 11:36

Context: Weaver cites this to demonstrate that all things are of, through, and to God for His glory.

Mark 10:17-18

Context: Weaver references the rich young ruler to illustrate that only God is good.

Psalm 138:2

Context: Weaver quotes this to show God magnifies His word above His name, emphasizing truth's sake.

Exodus 32:9-14

Context: Weaver reads Moses' intercession, where he appeals to God's honor and covenant promises.

2 Chronicles 6:32-33

Context: Weaver cites Solomon's prayer for the stranger who comes 'for thy great name's sake.'

Joshua 7:9

Context: Weaver quotes Joshua's plea, 'what wilt thou do unto thy great name?' after the defeat at Ai.

1 Samuel 12:22

Context: Weaver reads the promise that God will not forsake His people 'for his great name's sake.'

Psalm 25:11

Context: Weaver quotes David's prayer, 'For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity.'

Psalm 109:21

Context: Weaver cites David's request for deliverance 'for thy name's sake.'

Psalm 115:1

Context: Weaver quotes, 'Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.'

Matthew 6:33

Context: Weaver references seeking first God's kingdom and righteousness as the theocentric priority.

Luke 11:2

Context: Weaver alludes to the Lord's Prayer, emphasizing 'Hallowed be thy name' as putting God first.

Ezekiel 20:44

Context: Weaver quotes God's declaration that He works 'for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways.'

Ezekiel 36:22

Context: Weaver reads, 'I do not this for your sakes... but for mine holy name's sake.'

Romans 8:28

Context: Weaver mentions that all things work for good, but primarily for God's glory.

Historical References

Babylonian Captivity

Context: Weaver describes Daniel's context of being in captivity under Babylon, which was later conquered by the Medo-Persian Empire, and the 70-year prophecy from Jeremiah.

Fiery Furnace and Daniel's Friends

Context: Weaver mentions the injustice of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown into the furnace for not bowing to the king's image.

Daniel in the Lions' Den

Context: Weaver references Daniel being thrown into the den of lions due to the jealousy of other officials.

Federal Reserve Act (1913)

Context: Weaver quotes Robert E. Byrd's 1910 warning about the Federal Reserve Act leading to federal overreach and tyranny.

Thomas Jefferson on Compelled Taxation

Context: Weaver quotes Jefferson's statement that compelling a man to subsidize ideas he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical.

John Whitehead on Government Waste and Tyranny

Context: Weaver quotes the Rutherford Institute head on government fiscal insanity, endless wars, and the burden on taxpayers.

Moses and Aaron at Meribah-Kadesh

Context: Weaver recounts the incident where Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it, failing to sanctify God, resulting in their exclusion from the Promised Land.

Important Quotes

Whatever God does in redemption, in providence, or in judgment, He does for His name's sake.

Significance: This is the central thesis of the sermon, summarizing that all of God's actions are ultimately for His own glory.

When is the last time you've asked anything for the Lord's sake? For his truth's sake, for his own honor and his own glory.

Significance: Weaver's piercing application question challenges believers to examine the motivation of their prayers.

We should desire liberty and freedom and an end of tyranny and wickedness and injustice for the Lord's sake.

Significance: This reorients the desire for political freedom from selfish motives to a God-centered purpose.

God is the center of the universe, not man. His glory is more important than our needs.

Significance: A succinct statement of the theocentric worldview Weaver advocates throughout the message.

God judged them to restore the honor of his word and his righteousness and his holiness, which they had profaned.

Significance: Explains the deeper reason behind God's judgment on Judah beyond mere punishment for sin.

Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

Significance: Weaver uses this verse to argue that Christians belong to God and should not be enslaved to human tyranny.

I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord.

Significance: Key Old Testament proof that God acts in judgment to vindicate His own name when His people profane it.

For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Significance: New Testament example showing that failure to sanctify the Lord in worship leads to severe chastening.

Discussion Questions

How does understanding that God acts 'for His name's sake' change the way you view both answered and unanswered prayers?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that God's primary motivation is His own glory, not our comfort.

In what ways have your prayers been more anthropocentric (man-centered) than theocentric (God-centered)? What practical steps can you take to reorient them?

Context: Weaver challenges the congregation to examine the self-centered nature of most prayers.

Why is it wrong to desire liberty merely for personal comfort or to do whatever we want? How does 'for the Lord's sake' transform our pursuit of freedom?

Context: Weaver argues that biblical freedom is for serving God without hindrance.

How does the example of Moses interceding for Israel in Exodus 32 model praying for God's honor even when we are frustrated with others?

Context: Weaver highlights Moses' appeal to God's reputation and covenant rather than Israel's worthiness.

What does it mean to 'sanctify the Lord' in our daily lives, and what are the consequences of failing to do so, as seen in Moses and the Corinthians?

Context: Weaver connects the Old and New Testament examples of failing to honor God's holiness.

How should the truth that 'the earth is the Lord's' affect our view of property taxes, government overreach, and our ultimate allegiance?

Context: Weaver critiques property tax as unbiblical because the earth belongs to God.

In what areas of your life are you most tempted to seek your own kingdom rather than God's? How can Daniel's prayer inspire you to seek God's glory first?

Context: Weaver applies Matthew 6:33 to the need for a theocentric life.

How can we cultivate a genuine confession like Daniel's that acknowledges God's righteousness and our sin, rather than merely complaining about tyranny?

Context: Weaver reviews Daniel's admission of sin and rebellion as the starting point for restoration.

Applications

Examine your prayer motives

Summary: Evaluate whether your prayers are primarily self-centered or whether you regularly ask for things 'for the Lord's sake,' seeking His honor and glory above personal comfort.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'When is the last time you've asked anything for the Lord's sake?'

Desire liberty for God's glory

Summary: Reframe your desire for political and economic freedom as a means to worship and serve God without hindrance, not as an end in itself.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'We should desire liberty and freedom... for the Lord's sake... that we might serve Him more efficiently.'

Sanctify the Lord in obedience

Summary: Take seriously the call to honor God in all areas of life, recognizing that failure to obey His Word profanes His name and invites chastening.

Evidence: Weaver warns from 1 Corinthians 11 that not discerning the Lord's body leads to weakness, sickness, and death.

Begin with solemn confession

Summary: Follow Daniel's example by approaching God with serious, heartfelt confession of sin, acknowledging His righteousness and our rebellion, before petitioning for national or personal deliverance.

Evidence: Weaver reviews Daniel's use of fasting, sackcloth, and ashes, and his admission of sin.

Trust God's faithfulness in judgment

Summary: Recognize that when God brings or allows hardship, He is acting to uphold His Word and sanctify His name, and respond with repentance rather than complaint.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'God judged them to restore the honor of his word and his righteousness.'

Live as God's possession

Summary: Remember that you are bought with a price and belong to God; therefore, refuse to be enslaved to human systems or to live for yourself.

Evidence: Weaver quotes 1 Corinthians 7:23, 'Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-04T22:27:34Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T22:53:53Z

Clean Transcript

For The Lord's Sake

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

All right, Daniel chapter 9. The title of the message is "For the Lord's Sake." So if you look into Daniel 9, beginning there with verse 12: Daniel 9, verse 12: "And he has confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, and by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly."
#1 | 0:11 to 1:11 | cleaned
"O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us."
#2 | 1:11 to 1:30 | cleaned
"Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies."
#3 | 1:30 to 1:57 | cleaned
"O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name." So last week I brought a message where we should begin as a nation. And I was pointing out the fact that Daniel was in captivity in Babylon. And Babylon had been captured by the Medo-Persian Empire. And Daniel understood by the reading of the book of Jeremiah, and probably other prophets as well, that the captivity was supposed to last 70 years. And he was perceiving that that captivity was pretty well near its ending. And so he set himself then to pray and to supplicate the Lord God and to seek to get out from under the tyranny that they had been under for 70 years as well. So you must consider the fact that under tyranny there are many, many injustices. For instance, you remember Daniel and his three—not Daniel, but Daniel's three friends were thrown into the fiery furnace because they would not bow to the king's image.
#4 | 1:57 to 3:13 | cleaned
They're in the book of Daniel. Also, Daniel was thrown in the den of lions because of the jealousy of all the other presidents there. And so there were many injustices when you come to tyranny. Babylon was not a godly country. And once it was captured by the Medo-Persian Empire, that was not a godly country as well. And so Daniel then was eager to see the captivity and the tyranny ended.
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So we looked at two truths last week. And I just want to point them out by way of reminiscing today. And that is this. First of all, there was a very serious and a solemn beseeching God for the end of the captivity and the end of the tyranny. In fact, we saw where Daniel then began to not only fast and supplicate, but the Bible also says that he also was with fasting and sackcloth and ashes as well. So he was very serious. He was very solemn. And I pointed out how all of those things exhibited an inward desire that would be holy and would be for God's honor and God's glory as well. And I gave you two verses as I ended last week.
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One was Joel chapter 1 and verse 14, where the Word of God says, "Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord." And then in Joel chapter 2, verses 12 and 13, "Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious
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and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil." So there had to be, first of all, a very serious and a solemn beseeching of the Lord.
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Secondly, I pointed out that there was a genuine confession. And in that confession, there was an acknowledgement and there was also an admission. The acknowledgement, of course, had to do with the righteousness and the holiness and the justice of God. In other words, God was absolutely right in afflicting them and judging them because they were sinners. That's why Daniel said confusion of face belonged to them, but righteousness belonged unto God. And then, of course, in the admission, as we look through Daniel chapter 9, we saw over and over where they were saying that they had sinned, they had rebelled, they refused to listen to the prophets, they refused to hear the word of God. So today I want to continue with this thought, but I want to develop it from a little different perspective, and that is this, that Daniel was beseeching the Lord, and he was confessing, and he was admitting and asking and beseeching all of these things for the Lord's sake.
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That is simply for God's honor and God's glory. Everything revolves around God. Man is not the center of the universe. God is the center. It is true that many times, in fact, all the time, God does indeed do things for our good, yet primarily and objectively, he does things also for his own honor and glory. So let me give you a couple of verses to begin with.
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The first one is Revelation chapter 4 and verse 11. There the Word of God says, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
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Now, the word "pleasure" is the Greek word thelema, where we get the word "will" many times or "purpose" sometimes as well. So literally saying that all things were created for God's honor and glory, according to his will, according to his purpose.
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Now, there's another verse that I think will help tie this together for us. And that's Romans 11 and verse 36. Because in that passage the Bible says, "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." So, of him, that is originally; through him, that is providentially; and to him, that is ultimately, are all things. In other words, so that God may be glorified. Now, God is not only good, God is the chief good. So you might want to ask the question, why are all things done for God's honor and God's glory? And the answer is, because God is the chief good, and since he is the chief good, he has to live for himself, because if he did not, since we are not good—"there is none good, no, not one," says the word of God—then obviously he would not be living for the chief good.
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And you remember how that in Mark chapter 10, the rich young ruler came running to the Lord Jesus. And he knelt before him and said, "Good Master, what must I do that I may inherit eternal life?" And Jesus Christ said, "Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God." So our Lord was saying, "If I'm good, then I'm God. And if I'm God, you don't come running into my presence demanding something of me." So truly, then, God is indeed the chief good. That is for sure.
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Now, the interesting thing is this. There are many terms in the Bible that I'm going to be referring to temporarily that are synonymous in their meanings. You're going to find these all through the Bible. You'll find terms like, "for the Lord's sake," or "for his name's sake," or "for thy great name's sake," or "for thy truth's sake," or "for thy honor's sake." Now, they may be different terms, but they're referring to the same principle. There are times that you can read scripture that these terms are not used, but you can see them in those passages.
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So let me give you a couple of examples. The first one is Psalm 138 and verse 2. Listen to what the Bible said. David said, "I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. In other words, here's the truth's sake. Here's God's honor, for his honor's sake. In other words, if the word of God ever failed, then God would basically cease to be God. He has magnified his word above his name.
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Now, I want you to hold Daniel chapter 9, but I want you to turn back in your Bibles to the book of Exodus chapter 32. And I want to show you how this works out in Moses's prayer. Although he does not use any of these terms, yet you can see the same principle in this prayer. Now remember in Exodus chapter 32, Israel had sinned against God, they had made the golden calf, and they were worshiping this golden calf, and Moses came down from the mountain, and of course he broke the law of God that had been given unto him. And of course, he was very, very upset. And so God basically tells Moses, "Step aside.
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I'm going to wipe these Israelites out and I will make of thee a greater nation." And so Moses didn't begin to be interceding for the people. So look at it in Exodus chapter 32, verse 9. "And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation." Now I want you to look at Moses' request. "And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?
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Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever." And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
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Now, I want you to note this prayer. Nothing in this prayer uses the terms, "for the Lord's sake," or "for the truth's sake," or "for his honor's sake." And yet that is exactly what Moses is talking about. He said, "Lord, you brought this people out. Your honor, your glory is involved. You can't just drop them. You can't just kill them because the Egyptians will say, 'Well, you brought them out, but you were not able to bring them in.' Moreover, Lord, here's your word.
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You said to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, you promised." And so here Moses is once again asking for the Lord's sake.
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Now, you're going to find this term used many times in different ways. For instance, if you will turn right on over in your Bibles to 2 Chronicles chapter 6—1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Chronicles—2 Chronicles chapter 6. Solomon is dedicating the temple and he gives a prayer request. And here is that request spoken of. 2 Chronicles chapter 6, notice if you would verses 32 and 33. He's praying, he says, "Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house; then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name." But note he comes into the land and into the temple for thy great name's sake.
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And then he talks about, "for thy mighty hand, thy stretched out arm." That would be for God's almighty power as well.
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Now, if you would turn back in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Joshua, chapter 7. Joshua chapter 7. And I want you to see before I get started on Daniel 9, how this phrase is used. And I understand how many times in many different ways it is used. So in Joshua chapter 7, if you look at verse 9, of course the children of Israel had been defeated at Ai, and I think 36 Israelites had been killed. Joshua is praying. He says in Joshua 7 verse 9, "For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?" In other words, "Lord, we're in trouble. We need your help, and we need your protection, but Lord, if you don't help us, what will thou do for thy great name? Lord, you're the one that brought us out. You're the one that promised us this land. What will you do for thy great name?"
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Now, I want you to turn right on over to 1 Samuel chapter 12. 1 Samuel chapter 12. I think it's very important that we see this because it should affect our prayer life very greatly. And 1 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 22. Look at this promise. 1 Samuel 12 verse 22: "For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people." That's amazing. God is not going to forsake us for his great name's sake, because it hath pleased him to make us his people. Now I want you to see how "for his sake," "for the Lord's sake," "for his great name's sake"—how this phrase is used over and over. So turn in your Bibles to Psalm 25, and look if you would please at verse 11. Psalm 25 and verse 11. Look at this. Psalm 25 and verse 11. Look what David prays. "For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great." Isn't that amazing? He's asking the Lord to forgive his sin for his name's sake. If you will turn to Psalm 109 and look at verse 21. Psalm 109 verse 21. Again, you're going to see this. Psalm 109 verse 21, David says, "But do thou for me, O God the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy
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mercy is good, deliver thou me." The Lord's—do it for thy name's sake. And if you'd look in Psalm 115 and verse 1, look at this, where David says, "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake."
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Now, I want you to understand a very important principle. And that principle is this. This universe and everything in our lives should be theocentric and not anthropocentric. Of course, theos is the Greek word for God. That means we should be God-centered and not man-centered. Anthropos is the word for man. So everything is to revolve around God and not necessarily to revolve around us. In fact, our Lord taught this very truth.
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In Matthew chapter 6 and verse 33, when he said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." In other words, God must come first. That's why our Lord taught us to pray in Luke 11, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." In other words, God is to be first. Now, I want you to go to the book of Ezekiel, right after the book of Lamentations—Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel—and look at Ezekiel chapter 20 and verse 44. Ezekiel 20 and verse 44. I'm going to begin putting things together for you, hopefully just momentarily. Ezekiel chapter 20, look in verse 44. The Word of God says, "And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord God."
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Now look at that again. "And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake." In other words, what I'm going to do to you in judgment, in chastening, I'm going to do for my name's sake. So if you'll turn right over to the book of Ezekiel chapter 36, look at verse 22. Ezekiel 36 and verse 22. And here he says this same truth. Ezekiel 36 and verse 22: "Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went." Now, I want you to listen to what I'm going to tell you. I'm going to repeat this before I close today. Whatever God does in redemption, in providence, or in judgment, He does for His name's sake.
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He does for his own honor and glory. Now, does he not do things for our good? Obviously, he does. Clearly, he does. Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." But although God works out things for our good, primarily and objectively, he's working out for his honor and for his glory.
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So here's where we mess up in our prayer life so many times. If you'll notice your prayers, your prayers normally, usually, center upon yourself, your needs, your wants, and your desires. So here's a good question. When is the last time you've asked anything for the Lord's sake? For his truth's sake, for his own honor and his own glory. So let me put this in the context of Daniel chapter 9. I told you when you look at Daniel chapter 9, Daniel was tired of the tyranny.
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He wanted the captivity to come to an end. And he set himself to beseech God in a very serious and solemn way. He made his confession. He made an acknowledgement and admission in that confession. So let me ask, are we at that state yet? Are we where we should be? In the sense that we become tired of tyranny and wickedness and injustice? Are we tired of tyranny, inflation, bureaucrats, bureaucracy, three-letter agencies, and rules and regulations over which we have no control, and over people whom we never elected?
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And now they're ruling and reigning over us and demanding things that are not only unscriptural, unconstitutional. I'm fixing to give you three quotes. And I want you to think about this. Last week, I talked about economic tyranny, and then personal, or government and political tyranny. This first quote is from Robert E. Byrd, who was Speaker of the House in 1910. You know the Federal Reserve Act was enacted in 1913. Well, it was being tossed around in 1910. And Robert Byrd gave this warning of what would happen if Congress did indeed pass the Federal Reserve Act.
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So here's what he said: "Our hands from Washington will be stretched out and placed upon every man's business. The eye of the federal inspector will be in every man's counting house. The law will of necessity have inquisitorial features. It will provide penalties. It will create complicated machinery. Under it, men will be hauled into courts distant from their homes. Heavy fines imposed by distant and unfamiliar tribunals will constantly menace the taxpayer. An army of federal inspectors, spies, and detectives will descend upon the state."
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Well, he pretty well saw what was going to happen, and that is exactly what has happened, only I would say worse. Now, Thomas Jefferson said it like this: "To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical." Now, to compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical. When you stop and think about your property tax, which I believe is one of the most unbiblical taxes there is, why?
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Because "the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." God made everything. I don't know when the state claimed ownership of God's creation, but now they think that they have the power to tax property that belongs to God. And one of the things I despise about property tax is about 90% of it goes to support government education. My wife and I had four children, not one ever went to one day of public or government school in their entire life.
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And yet, all these years I have to pay for other people to be indoctrinated in ideas that I believe are unconstitutional as well as unscriptural and ungodly. And if I don't, then they come and steal my property. So I'm just simply pointing out the fact, this is what Thomas Jefferson was saying. This is what Robert Byrd was saying. Now, I'm going to give you one more. This quote is from John Whitehead, who is a constitutional attorney who is head of the Rutherford Institute.
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And he said it like this: "This is what comes from a 1.2 trillion spending bill. Someone's got to foot the bill for the government's fiscal insanity. And that someone is the US taxpayer. The government's schemes to swindle, cheat, scam, and generally defraud taxpayers of their hard-earned dollars have run the gamut from wasteful pork barrel legislation, cronyism, and graft to asset forfeiture, costly stimulus packages, and a national security complex that continues to undermine our freedoms while failing to make us any safer.
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Americans have also been made to pay through the nose for the government's endless wars, subsidization of foreign nations, military empire, welfare state, roads to nowhere, bloated workforce, secret agencies, fusion centers, private prisons, biometric databases, invasive technologies, arsenal of weapons, and every other budgetary line item that is contributing to the fast-growing wealth of the corporate elite at the expense of those who are barely making ends meet, that is, we the taxpayers." Well, these quotes are true and accurate.
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But I've got a question to ask you and I'm asking this question in light of Daniel chapter 9. Here it is. Why should we desire liberty? Why should we desire freedom? So let me ask this another way. Should we desire our liberty and our freedom just to be out from under an unbiblical, an unconstitutional scheme of taxation? Should we desire to have liberty and freedom and be out from under tyranny just so that we can do what we want to do unrestrained?
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And the answer to both of those questions happens to be no. According to Daniel chapter 9, we should desire liberty and freedom and an end of tyranny and wickedness and injustice for the Lord's sake. We should desire it for his great name's sake. We should desire it so that we would be free to worship Him and honor Him and do that which He has commanded us without interference. In other words, we would want liberty and freedom that we might serve Him more efficiently and more effectively. Now, I want you to look at one other passage before we go back to Daniel 9. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 7. 1 Corinthians 7. And I want you to look at verse 23. 1 Corinthians chapter 7 and verse 23. Here's a powerful, powerful verse. 1 Corinthians 7 verse 23. Look at what the word of God declares.
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"Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." And the word "servants" is doulos, I'm sure. "Be not ye the slaves of men." You're bought with a price. That's what he said. 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verses 19 and 20: "What? know ye not that... ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." And so he says, we're not to be slaves of men, because we are his property. He bought us.
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Now, I want you to go back to Daniel chapter 9. And I want you to look, if you would please, at verses 16 through 19. I'm going to come back and emphasize these. But look, if you would, based upon what I've just been telling you and what he is saying, Daniel 9, beginning there in verse 16. Look at this. He says, "O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
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Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name." Do you see the impact of Daniel's prayer?
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He was asking for restoration. He was asking for forgiveness. He was asking for mercies. He was asking for an end of tyranny for the Lord's sake. So when is the last time in prayer you've asked a specific request for the Lord's sake? When is the last time you've asked something in prayer that His great name would be honored? When is the last time you've asked anything in prayer for His Word's sake or for His truth's sake? Daniel wanted freedom. Daniel wanted liberty. But he didn't want it just because he wanted to do what he wanted to do. He wanted to be out from under Babylon and Persia. No, Daniel wanted truth and he wanted freedom and he wanted liberty for the Lord's sake. I would want liberty and freedom so that God's law would once again rule our land and God could be honored and God could be glorified. Now I made a statement earlier. I'm going to make that statement again. I want you to listen. Here it is. Whatever God does, either in redemption, providence or judgment, he does for his name's sake.
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Yes, it is always for our good, but primarily and objectively, it is for his honor and for his glory. So here, let me ask you a question. Ah, what did God do to Judah and Jerusalem? You're going to answer, "He judged them." Wonderful. Here's my question. Why did he judge them? Now you're going to answer, "Because they were sinners and because they've sinned." That is true. But there's more to that than just simply because they've sinned. God judged them to restore the honor of his word and his righteousness and his holiness, which they had profaned.
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So let me show you. Look back in Daniel chapter 9. We're going to cover just a little bit that we covered last week, but not much. Look in Daniel chapter 9, verse 5. We're just talking and showing you the wickedness of the people. Daniel 9, verse 5. Daniel says, "We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments." Yes. Now look in verse 6.
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"Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets." We didn't listen. "Which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land." Look in verse 7. "O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee." Look in verse 8. Again, the latter part, he says, "because we have sinned against thee." If you look in verse 9, the latter part, "we have rebelled against thee." Look in verse 10. "Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets." Look in verse 11. "Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice." Wow. Look in verse 13. He said, "As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us.
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Yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities." In other words, we didn't want to repent. We did not even think of repentance. Look in verse 14. "Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice." That is, we've sinned. Look in verse 15 again. "And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly." And then in verse 16, he says that we have become a reproach to all of those that are round about us. We're a reproach to all the nations.
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So in light of all the sin and wickedness and rebellion and a failure to listen and a failure to hear the preaching of the Word of God, here's my question. What else could God do but judge them?
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Now, He brought upon them the evil that he had promised them. Now I want you to go back and look in Daniel 9 and verse 12. Look at this. Stay with me. "And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us." He's confirmed. He told us what he's going to do to us when we violated his covenant. And now he's confirmed these words, "which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem." Now look in verse 13, "As it is written in the law of Moses." Read Leviticus 26, read Deuteronomy 28. "As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us.
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Yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth." Wow. Wow. And then in verse 14, "Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice."
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Now, what I want you to see is this. God brought his judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem for his name's sake. Please listen. He is righteous, even if we are not. He is faithful, even if we are not. God did exactly as he said he was going to do. I want you to turn over in your Bibles to the book of Zechariah, which is right before the book of Malachi. And I want you to look in Zechariah chapter 1. Zechariah chapter 1. And I want you to notice, beginning there with verse 4. Zechariah 1 verse 4. Look what God tells the people.
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"Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord." Now hang on. Look what he said. "Be ye not as your fathers." Don't be rebellious, don't be stubborn, don't be hard-headed like them. "Unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord." Now look in verse 5. "Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?" No. But look in verse 6. "But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us."
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In other words, God did exactly that which he said he was going to do. He did. I want you to turn back to the book of Ezekiel one more time. I want you to look in Ezekiel chapter 36 and notice if you would verse 23. Ezekiel 36 verse 23. Watch this. Look what God says. "And I will sanctify my great name." You see that? "And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes." How did God sanctify his great name? He judged them. God said, "You've lived a horrible life. You've profaned my name.
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You're supposed to be my people. You've profaned my name. And now," said God, "I'm going to sanctify my name. I will judge you. I will let them know that I am not like you."
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Now, let's try to put some things together. What do you think about Daniel chapter 9? I hope you understand this principle that God is concerned with his honor and his glory, even if his creatures are not. Let me say this another way. God is concerned with his honor and his glory, even if his people are not. God is going to be sanctified. God is going to be glorified either in redemption or in judgment.
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Because God's great name is at stake. I want you to look, if you would take the time to turn back to Isaiah chapter 5. Isaiah chapter 5. Look if you would please at verse 16. Isaiah 5 verse 16. Look what God says. Isaiah 5 verse 16: "But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness." God's name is exalted in judgment. God is sanctified in his righteousness when he judges those who are wicked and wrong. Wow. So Daniel is praying in Daniel chapter 9 for an end of tyranny and injustice. For the great name's sake.
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Now, let me ask you a leading question. Do you know why Aaron and Moses were not allowed to go into the promised land? And the answer is because they failed to sanctify the Lord. I want you to turn back in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 32 and you will see where God says this specifically. Look in Deuteronomy chapter 32. Moses got to see the land from the mountain in which he was going to die, but he never got to enter into the land. And Aaron had already died on Mount Hor. So notice if you would, in Deuteronomy chapter 32, and let's begin reading there with verse 48. Look at this. Deuteronomy 32 verse 48: "And the Lord spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying, Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: and die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people: because"—here's the reason you can't go in.
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Here's the reason you're dying. "Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel." Yet God says you can see it, but you cannot go into the land. What in the world did they do? God told Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock. And the rock would bring forth water. And Moses was so aggravated with the people, he took the rod and he smote the rock and said, "Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" So that's it.
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No, you failed to sanctify me. You failed to obey me. You failed to honor me. You failed to honor my word. I told you to speak and you smote.
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Now you say, "Oh, that's Old Testament." Really? The same exact principle is in the New Testament. So I want you to turn to 1 Corinthians 11. Look in 1 Corinthians 11, and notice, if you would please, beginning of verse 29. Because here we're talking about the Lord's Supper. And how the Lord's Supper oftentimes is abused. 1 Corinthians chapter 11. Verse 28. In fact, we'll read verse 27, just so you can see the Lord's Supper is involved.
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He said, "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord."
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Now look at the admonition. "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body." Are you listening? "For this cause"—for what cause? For a failure to sanctify the Lord in celebrating his person and work—"for this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." Some are dead, some are weak, some are sick.
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And then he says, "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." So notice it's the same principle. It is a failure to sanctify the Lord. So where should we begin as a nation? I think we should begin with that solemn and serious beseeching of the Lord, that is for sure. And I think we should begin with an acknowledgement and an admission in our confession.
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But it should be beyond that. We should want what we are asking for the Lord's sake. Not just so we can be free from unjust taxation. Not just so we can be free to do what we want to do. No. So we can honor the Lord and worship the Lord. This is His world. We are His people. Everything in this life belongs to Him. "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." And He's to be honored and sanctified in the totality of His world and in the totality of our lives. So we need to learn to pray for the Lord's sake, for his great name's sake, for his truth's sake, for his word's sake, for his honor's sake. In other words, we need to have our prayer, we need to have our worship, we need to have our desires to revolve around him and not just that which we want and what we think.
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God is the center of the universe, not man. His glory is more important than our needs. O Lord, deliver us, as Daniel prayed, for Thy great name's sake. Whatever God does, in redemption or in judgment, it is for His great name's sake. Let's pray. Father, we do ask you in the name of Jesus Christ that you would teach us and help us, Lord, to see the importance of sanctifying thy name and learning, Lord, to ask for thy sake, for the Lord's sake, for thy honor, for thy glory. You take precedence over each one of us. You take precedence over all of us. Thou hast commanded us to seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these other things shall be added unto you. The truth is, Lord, we're so carnal, we're so fleshly, we're so faithless that we fail to see how great thou art. We acknowledge that thou art not only the good, but the chief good and the only good. And we ask, Lord, that you'd be pleased to work in our hearts, work in our lives for thine own sake.
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For thy great name's sake and thy truth's sake. Give us, I pray, Father, your mercy through the Lord Jesus Christ, so that he might be honored and glorified. Amen.
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you you
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-04T22:27:34Z

For The Lord's Sake

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver continues his exposition of Daniel 9, focusing on the motivation behind Daniel's prayer for deliverance from captivity. He argues that Daniel beseeched God not merely for personal or national relief, but 'for the Lord's sake'—for God's honor, glory, and the vindication of His name. Weaver demonstrates through numerous Old and New Testament passages that God acts in redemption, providence, and judgment primarily for His own name's sake. He challenges believers to examine their prayer lives, urging them to shift from self-centered requests to petitions that prioritize God's glory, especially in desiring liberty and an end to tyranny so that God may be freely worshiped and honored.

Introduction and Review of Daniel's Solemn Beseeching

Weaver reviews last week's message on Daniel's serious prayer with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes, and his genuine confession acknowledging God's righteousness and Israel's sin.

All right, Daniel chapter 9. The title of the message is "For the Lord's Sake." So if you look into Daniel 9, beginning there with verse 12: Daniel 9, verse 12:

Scripture Reading — Daniel 9:12-15

"And he has confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, and by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly."

Scripture Reading — Daniel 9:16-19

"O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us." "Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies." "O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name."

The Centrality of God's Honor and Glory

Weaver establishes that all things exist for God's pleasure and glory, citing Revelation 4:11 and Romans 11:36, and explains that God is the chief good who must live for Himself.

Scripture Reading — Revelation 4:11

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

Scripture Reading — Romans 11:36

"For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."

Biblical Examples of Praying for God's Sake

Weaver shows how Moses, Joshua, David, and Solomon prayed or acted for God's great name's sake, even when the exact phrase is not used, demonstrating a God-centered motivation.

So let me give you a couple of examples. The first one is Psalm 138 and verse 2. Listen to what the Bible said. David said,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 138:2

"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name."

Scripture Reading — Exodus 32:9-14

"Step aside. I'm going to wipe these Israelites out and I will make of thee a greater nation."

And so Moses didn't begin to be interceding for the people. So look at it in Exodus chapter 32, verse 9.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 32:9-14

"And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation."

Now I want you to look at Moses' request.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 32:9-14

"And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

mercy is good, deliver thou me." The Lord's—do it for thy name's sake. And if you'd look in Psalm 115 and verse 1, look at this, where David says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 115:1

"Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake."

The Theocentric vs. Anthropocentric Principle

Weaver teaches that the universe and our lives should be God-centered, not man-centered, and that God acts for His name's sake in redemption, providence, and judgment.

In Matthew chapter 6 and verse 33, when he said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 6:33

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Now look at that again.

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 20:44

"And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake."

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 20:44

"Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went."

Now, I want you to listen to what I'm going to tell you. I'm going to repeat this before I close today. Whatever God does in redemption, in providence, or in judgment, He does for His name's sake.

Contemporary Tyranny and the Wrong Motivation for Liberty

Daniel's Prayer Analyzed: For the Lord's Sake

Weaver returns to Daniel 9:16-19, highlighting that Daniel's requests for restoration, forgiveness, and an end to tyranny were explicitly 'for the Lord's sake' and 'for thine own sake.'

God's Judgment as Sanctifying His Name

Weaver explains that God judged Judah to restore the honor of His word and righteousness, citing Ezekiel 36:23 and Isaiah 5:16, and that God is sanctified either in redemption or judgment.

You're supposed to be my people. You've profaned my name. And now," said God, "I'm going to sanctify my name. I will judge you. I will let them know that I am not like you."

The Consequence of Failing to Sanctify God

Application: Praying for the Lord's Sake Today

Weaver calls believers to shift their prayers from self-centered requests to petitions that seek God's honor, desiring liberty and revival for His great name's sake.

For thy great name's sake and thy truth's sake. Give us, I pray, Father, your mercy through the Lord Jesus Christ, so that he might be honored and glorified. Amen.

For The Lord's Sake

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	QFFyHtJcvS4
Subject	Church Government
Course	Church Order: Worship, Sacraments, and the Lord's Supper
Genre	Sermon
Date	2024-07-20
Dictation Name
Book	Book 040: Church Order and Worship - Volume 2 — Chapter 46
Source Timed Segments	69

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review of Daniel's Solemn Beseeching: Weaver reviews last week's message on Daniel's serious prayer with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes, and his genuine confession acknowledging God's righteousness and Israel's sin.
The Centrality of God's Honor and Glory: Weaver establishes that all things exist for God's pleasure and glory, citing Revelation 4:11 and Romans 11:36, and explains that God is the chief good who must live for Himself.
Biblical Examples of Praying for God's Sake: Weaver shows how Moses, Joshua, David, and Solomon prayed or acted for God's great name's sake, even when the exact phrase is not used, demonstrating a God-centered motivation.
The Theocentric vs. Anthropocentric Principle: Weaver teaches that the universe and our lives should be God-centered, not man-centered, and that God acts for His name's sake in redemption, providence, and judgment.
Contemporary Tyranny and the Wrong Motivation for Liberty: Weaver cites quotes on governmental overreach and asks whether we desire liberty merely for personal comfort or for the Lord's sake, concluding that biblical freedom is for serving God without interference.
Daniel's Prayer Analyzed: For the Lord's Sake: Weaver returns to Daniel 9:16-19, highlighting that Daniel's requests for restoration, forgiveness, and an end to tyranny were explicitly 'for the Lord's sake' and 'for thine own sake.'
God's Judgment as Sanctifying His Name: Weaver explains that God judged Judah to restore the honor of His word and righteousness, citing Ezekiel 36:23 and Isaiah 5:16, and that God is sanctified either in redemption or judgment.
The Consequence of Failing to Sanctify God: Weaver gives examples of Moses and Aaron being barred from the Promised Land and the Corinthian church's sickness and death due to failing to sanctify the Lord, applying the principle to New Testament believers.
Application: Praying for the Lord's Sake Today: Weaver calls believers to shift their prayers from self-centered requests to petitions that seek God's honor, desiring liberty and revival for His great name's sake.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

God is the chief good and must act for His own glory

Since God alone is good, He must live for Himself; if He acted for any lesser good, He would not be living for the chief good.

Weaver argues, 'God is the chief good, and since he is the chief good, he has to live for himself, because if he did not, since we are not good... then obviously he would not be living for the chief good.'

Daniel's prayer was motivated by God's reputation

Daniel's plea for Jerusalem's restoration was explicitly 'for the Lord's sake,' linking the city and people to God's own name and honor.

Weaver points to Daniel 9:17-19, where Daniel says, 'cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake... defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.'

Moses interceded based on God's honor, not Israel's merit

In Exodus 32, Moses appealed to God's reputation among the Egyptians and His covenant promises, effectively praying for the Lord's sake without using the phrase.

Weaver notes, 'Moses said, Lord, you brought this people out. Your honor, your glory is involved... the Egyptians will say, Well, you brought them out, but you were not able to bring them in.'

God's judgment is an act of self-sanctification

When God's people profane His name, He judges them to demonstrate His holiness and to show the nations that He is not like His sinful people.

Weaver quotes Ezekiel 36:23, 'I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them.'

Desiring liberty for personal comfort is unbiblical

Christians should not seek freedom merely to escape taxation or do as they please, but to honor God and obey His law without interference.

Weaver asks, 'Should we desire to have liberty and freedom and be out from under tyranny just so that we can do what we want to do unrestrained? And the answer... happens to be no.'

The New Testament reinforces the principle of sanctifying the Lord

The Corinthians' sickness and death resulted from failing to discern the Lord's body in the Supper, paralleling the Old Testament principle of sanctifying God.

Weaver states, 'For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep... It is a failure to sanctify the Lord.'

Scripture References

Daniel 9:12-15: Weaver reads the opening passage of Daniel's prayer, confessing Israel's sin and God's righteous judgment.
Daniel 9:16-19: Weaver reads the climax of Daniel's prayer, where he pleads for restoration 'for the Lord's sake' and 'for thine own sake.'
Joel 1:14: Weaver cites this verse from the previous week's message on calling a solemn assembly and crying unto the Lord.
Joel 2:12-13: Weaver quotes this passage on rending the heart and turning to God with fasting and weeping.
Revelation 4:11: Weaver uses this verse to show that all things were created for God's pleasure and glory.
Romans 11:36: Weaver cites this to demonstrate that all things are of, through, and to God for His glory.
Mark 10:17-18: Weaver references the rich young ruler to illustrate that only God is good.
Psalm 138:2: Weaver quotes this to show God magnifies His word above His name, emphasizing truth's sake.
Exodus 32:9-14: Weaver reads Moses' intercession, where he appeals to God's honor and covenant promises.
2 Chronicles 6:32-33: Weaver cites Solomon's prayer for the stranger who comes 'for thy great name's sake.'
Joshua 7:9: Weaver quotes Joshua's plea, 'what wilt thou do unto thy great name?' after the defeat at Ai.
1 Samuel 12:22: Weaver reads the promise that God will not forsake His people 'for his great name's sake.'
Psalm 25:11: Weaver quotes David's prayer, 'For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity.'
Psalm 109:21: Weaver cites David's request for deliverance 'for thy name's sake.'
Psalm 115:1: Weaver quotes, 'Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.'
Matthew 6:33: Weaver references seeking first God's kingdom and righteousness as the theocentric priority.
Luke 11:2: Weaver alludes to the Lord's Prayer, emphasizing 'Hallowed be thy name' as putting God first.
Ezekiel 20:44: Weaver quotes God's declaration that He works 'for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways.'
Ezekiel 36:22: Weaver reads, 'I do not this for your sakes... but for mine holy name's sake.'
Romans 8:28: Weaver mentions that all things work for good, but primarily for God's glory.

Historical References

Babylonian Captivity: Weaver describes Daniel's context of being in captivity under Babylon, which was later conquered by the Medo-Persian Empire, and the 70-year prophecy from Jeremiah.
Fiery Furnace and Daniel's Friends: Weaver mentions the injustice of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown into the furnace for not bowing to the king's image.
Daniel in the Lions' Den: Weaver references Daniel being thrown into the den of lions due to the jealousy of other officials.
Federal Reserve Act (1913): Weaver quotes Robert E. Byrd's 1910 warning about the Federal Reserve Act leading to federal overreach and tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson on Compelled Taxation: Weaver quotes Jefferson's statement that compelling a man to subsidize ideas he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical.
John Whitehead on Government Waste and Tyranny: Weaver quotes the Rutherford Institute head on government fiscal insanity, endless wars, and the burden on taxpayers.
Moses and Aaron at Meribah-Kadesh: Weaver recounts the incident where Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it, failing to sanctify God, resulting in their exclusion from the Promised Land.

Important Quotes

Whatever God does in redemption, in providence, or in judgment, He does for His name's sake.

This is the central thesis of the sermon, summarizing that all of God's actions are ultimately for His own glory.

When is the last time you've asked anything for the Lord's sake? For his truth's sake, for his own honor and his own glory.

Weaver's piercing application question challenges believers to examine the motivation of their prayers.

We should desire liberty and freedom and an end of tyranny and wickedness and injustice for the Lord's sake.

This reorients the desire for political freedom from selfish motives to a God-centered purpose.

God is the center of the universe, not man. His glory is more important than our needs.

A succinct statement of the theocentric worldview Weaver advocates throughout the message.

God judged them to restore the honor of his word and his righteousness and his holiness, which they had profaned.

Explains the deeper reason behind God's judgment on Judah beyond mere punishment for sin.

Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

Weaver uses this verse to argue that Christians belong to God and should not be enslaved to human tyranny.

I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord.

Key Old Testament proof that God acts in judgment to vindicate His own name when His people profane it.

For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

New Testament example showing that failure to sanctify the Lord in worship leads to severe chastening.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does understanding that God acts 'for His name's sake' change the way you view both answered and unanswered prayers?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that God's primary motivation is His own glory, not our comfort.

[Question]

In what ways have your prayers been more anthropocentric (man-centered) than theocentric (God-centered)? What practical steps can you take to reorient them?

[Context]

Weaver challenges the congregation to examine the self-centered nature of most prayers.

[Question]

Why is it wrong to desire liberty merely for personal comfort or to do whatever we want? How does 'for the Lord's sake' transform our pursuit of freedom?

[Context]

Weaver argues that biblical freedom is for serving God without hindrance.

[Question]

How does the example of Moses interceding for Israel in Exodus 32 model praying for God's honor even when we are frustrated with others?

[Context]

Weaver highlights Moses' appeal to God's reputation and covenant rather than Israel's worthiness.

[Question]

What does it mean to 'sanctify the Lord' in our daily lives, and what are the consequences of failing to do so, as seen in Moses and the Corinthians?

[Context]

Weaver connects the Old and New Testament examples of failing to honor God's holiness.

[Question]

How should the truth that 'the earth is the Lord's' affect our view of property taxes, government overreach, and our ultimate allegiance?

[Context]

Weaver critiques property tax as unbiblical because the earth belongs to God.

[Question]

In what areas of your life are you most tempted to seek your own kingdom rather than God's? How can Daniel's prayer inspire you to seek God's glory first?

[Context]

Weaver applies Matthew 6:33 to the need for a theocentric life.

[Question]

How can we cultivate a genuine confession like Daniel's that acknowledges God's righteousness and our sin, rather than merely complaining about tyranny?

[Context]

Weaver reviews Daniel's admission of sin and rebellion as the starting point for restoration.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T22:53:53Z