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[0:00] Let's turn back to the psalm that we read, the book of Psalms, Psalm 143. I want us to consider the whole psalm today, just to run through it.

[0:15] As we know, David, we'll just read at the beginning. Hear my prayer, O Lord. Give ear to my pleas for mercy. In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.

[0:34] And so on. As we know, David didn't compose all the psalms, but he certainly composed a lot of them. And there is something special about the Davidic psalms.

[0:47] All the psalms are special, but there's something special about the Davidic psalms because they seem, I know all the psalms have been, it's by inspiration, by the inspiration of God, the Holy Spirit.

[1:02] But there's something about the Davidic psalms that enter into you, they get right into your heart, almost like right into your bones. It's almost like that they can reach places, again by God's spirit, that other psalms maybe can't.

[1:20] David was somebody who seemed to be able to experience and had experienced the highest joys and the most thrilling moments.

[1:31] David seemed sometimes almost to ride in chariots where he's very, some of the psalms are just euphoric. But he also plummets the depths.

[1:44] And it doesn't matter how high or uplifted we may feel in any particular given situation. When you go to the psalms, you will find, oh, David's been there and higher.

[1:55] And it doesn't seem to matter how low we may go, how much in the depths we may go, we'll find that David has also been there and maybe even deeper. And so that's part of why the psalms, and particularly the Davidic psalms, have such an incredible place within people's lives.

[2:14] And I know that for myself, I have preached more from the Gospel of John and the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Psalms and from any of the other books in the Bible.

[2:28] And if I had only one book, if you're only allowed to take one book with you, I think it would be the Book of Psalms, because there is everything really within it.

[2:40] And so we find in this particular psalm that it says a psalm of David, but Psalm 142 is also a psalm of David.

[2:52] And a lot of people think that the two psalms were written at the time of the same experience. And if that is the case, then it was when David, it tells us in Psalm 142, when David was in the cave.

[3:04] And that was, remember, when he was in the cave, we read the account in 1 Samuel, when he was hiding from Saul. It would also be a companion of Psalm 57, which was also written in the cave.

[3:16] And Psalm 142 and 143, because there are so many similarities, although there are differences, there are so many similarities within the psalm that people think that they were written at the same time.

[3:31] Because they're both times of great trouble, both psalms, we find that the spirit fails him.

[3:42] We find that he's in so much trouble and writes about that in both these psalms. But, as we say, there are also differences. And the interesting thing is, if you go to Psalm 57, while there's also the cry for deliverance and the sense of being at the end of one's tether, Psalm 57 is a much more positive psalm than these two.

[4:07] And some people say, how could you write Psalm 142, 143, and Psalm 57 at the same time? Because people will say, well, that's not consistent.

[4:20] Because it seems like, sometimes going through the psalm, that he's at the very end of himself. But yet in Psalm 57, there's just such a sense of that he will be delivered, that this calamity is going to pass, and that everything will be all right.

[4:38] Well, very simply, because while we're going through trial, we go through different emotions. We look at the same thing with different eyes at different moments.

[4:50] And that's how we find, for instance, in the cave, that David displays tremendous faith. Where he had Saul in his reach, he could have killed Saul.

[5:04] He was being pressurized by his people, by his men, to kill Saul. They were actually saying, God has put him here for you, to take him, to kill him, so that you'll become king. And yet David wouldn't do that.

[5:17] And yet, after that amazing display of faith and courage and rightness before God, he's then saying, almost in the next breath, surely one day I shall die by the hand of Saul.

[5:31] So you can see how his emotions swing. And that's quite normal when you're going through a time of trial. That there are moments of faith is soaring, and then you plummet.

[5:44] And it's an up and down, it's like a seesaw. It's like a rollercoaster, up and down, and up and down. But so there's no inconsistency in writing about the same situation in different ways.

[5:57] It's a moment, the way you're meeting it at one particular moment, and then the next moment you might be looking at it in a different way. So there's really very little difference in that.

[6:08] So that explains how there can be that difference. And as David begins his prayer, and he's in real need, and he says, Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my pleas for mercy.

[6:24] And I love what David, this is how David is beginning his prayer. He's basing his prayer on two things about God. First of all, on God's faithfulness. And you know, that's a beautiful quality.

[6:36] Faithfulness is one of the endearing qualities, is one of the rich qualities that you will find in any person's life if somebody is faithful. I suppose that's why dogs are so, people are so fond of dogs, because dogs tend to be so faithful.

[6:54] We talk often that dog is called gilis, because they're faithful animals. You will find there's been often when somebody is falling out in the moor out with a dog, the dog will stay with the passion.

[7:07] Sometimes dogs have, you remember the story of Greyfriars, Bobby and all that, because there's this kind of endearing thing within a dog. The faithfulness, and people look at that, that's lovely.

[7:20] But much more so in human. But it's one of the great attributes, the great pictures that the scripture gives us of who God is. He is absolutely faithful.

[7:34] And that is one of the most wonderful and sweet things that we have in our mind, in our heart. That even when we're unfaithful to him, which we all are, that doesn't break his faithfulness or turn his faithfulness away from us.

[7:52] In fact, you remember when David sinned with his adultery and with his murder, and when he was convicted of it, that he comes to God. And he comes brokenhearted, but he comes basing his prayer requests upon God's faithfulness.

[8:10] You'll find that in Psalm 51. And God's covenant love and his faithfulness, which is going to be unchanging. David knew, oh, I've just, Lord, I have so let you down, particularly in my position as king.

[8:23] And I've actually murdered one of the most loyal, faithful men that I have in order to cover my own tracks. Because that's what he did when he had Uriah killed.

[8:34] And yet, so conscious of his own unfaithfulness. And that was really highlighted in David's life at that particular moment. Killing one of his most loyal soldiers.

[8:48] And yet, he's coming to God and saying, but you're faithful, Lord. And that's one of the wonderful things that gives us so much security in this life of ours that we're living, which is often so uncertain and insecure.

[9:01] And we say, what's going to happen? Well, the one thing is God remains. And he's always true to himself. Always, always. And so he's a covenant-keeping God. And he's absolutely faithful.

[9:13] And then the second thing that David bases his prayer, in your faithfulness, answer me in your righteousness. And that's the second thing.

[9:24] God's faithfulness first, and then God's righteousness. David, you see, has been treated so unfairly. He's been hounded. And it's been so unjust. He's never, God remember, David never did anything but good to Saul.

[9:37] And it was out of sheer jealousy and envy that Saul's heart was turned with utter malice. And just like the other Saul in the New Testament used to be breathing out, before he was converted, breathing out slaughter against the church.

[9:57] Well, Saul, King Saul, was breathing out slaughter towards David. He was putting all his energy into scouring the countryside and the hillsides and whatnot to get hold of David.

[10:11] Why? Because the women had sung Saul as slain as thousands, and David as tens of thousands. And at that moment, the spirit of jealousy took over.

[10:24] And from then on, it was a downward in Saul's life. And David had never, ever done anything but good to Saul. And that's why David is, he feels, he's being so hard done by, driven from his home, driven from every privilege, a price in his head.

[10:43] He's public enemy number one. Anybody who could kill him and be rewarded by the king. And it's very, very difficult when you're suffering for having done right.

[10:53] And so, that's why David is coming to the Lord. And again, he's so thankful, first of all, that God is faithful when everything else is going belly up, so to speak.

[11:05] And that God is righteous, even although all around they are dealing in an unrighteous way with him. And that's one of the wonderful things that we have, the confidence that we have in the Lord, is that he will deal rightly.

[11:21] Remember when Abraham was praying for the safety and the security of Sodom, because he knew that Lot was there. And he was praying, oh, when he heard when the Lord was going to bring judgment on Sodom.

[11:36] And straight away the alarm bells went off, and Abraham said, oh. And he was beginning to think of the Lot and his wife and the family.

[11:46] And remember how he began to pray, Lord, if you find 50 people, if you find 40, down, he worked all the way down to 10 people. And the Lord said, if I find 10, I will spare it for the sake of 10.

[11:58] And we find Abraham saying, shall not the judge of all the earth do right? Abraham was so convinced of God's righteousness, that he will do what is right.

[12:12] And so was David. So that's why David is coming, basing his prayer on God's faithfulness and on God's righteousness. And that's what we must do as well.

[12:25] And David is then praying, enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. And David is so conscious of God's holiness, of his righteousness.

[12:39] And although David has been severely wronged, David is also aware of his sin. And he's conscious that if God was to enter into judgment with him, David was finished.

[12:52] And he's saying, Lord, I know you're right. I'm not right. You are right. You are righteous. But don't enter into judgment with me. And as again, as we know, a Psalm 130 says, if the Lord should mark iniquity, who could stand there?

[13:07] And none of us could. But you see, God in his faithfulness has dealt with our sin if we've accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. And his judgment against us has been placed upon Christ.

[13:22] And because he is faithful, he won't punish us twice. He won't bring down his judgment upon us. Yeah, he may chastise us. And in fact, the Word tells us that, that he will chastise us.

[13:34] Because he wants us to, he has to discipline us. Discipline is part of our Christian growth. Because you and I know that if children are allowed to grow up any way they want, they will grow up in discipline.

[13:50] It won't. It's no kindness to a parent to allow a child just to do whatever they want. It's no kindness to children to allow in school for teachers to allow, or education authorities to allow children just to do whatever they want.

[14:06] It's not, it's not good for the children. They won't grow up as proper citizens if they're allowed just to do whatever they want. And it's the same with the Lord. He has to discipline us.

[14:17] He has to correct us. He has to show us a way to go because we're natural rebels. So there's a big difference between the Lord and his discipline.

[14:28] But that's what he does to his people. He brings judgment against those who are not his people. But David is, because of the situation, he's pleading and he's basing on God's mercy and his covenant faithfulness and his righteousness.

[14:46] And then in verses 3 and 4, David shows us kind of just how low he has gone. You see, he's under unrelenting pressure. And David feels overwhelmed.

[14:56] He feels that his spirit faints within him. For the enemy has pursued my soul. See the kind of the words he's using. Crushed. Darkness. I feel like those long dead.

[15:10] My spirit faints within me. My heart is appalled. You know, if you sat down with David and you just walked into the cave at that moment.

[15:22] And you heard David. And this is all you heard. The enemy has pursued my soul. He has crushed my life to the ground. He has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.

[15:36] Therefore, my spirit faints within me. My heart within me is appalled. That's all you heard. And you know, you would say to yourself, oh David. You.

[15:46] You're finished. You are so crushed in your mind. You are so distraught. You are so at the end of yourself. You would feel, here's a man.

[15:58] I don't think he's ever going to sing again. Here's a man who is just so broken. And well, that's exactly how. David was like that at that moment.

[16:09] But that's not the end of the psalm. And that wasn't the end of David's life. But that's where he was at that particular time. And that's why the psalms are so comforting to God's people.

[16:22] Because there are times that you would be able to use the same language about the situation that you're in. Because of the pain or the circumstances that you might find yourself in.

[16:35] Your heart. Maybe somebody like that is here today. And that's how you feel that. You just feel crushed and broken. And you're saying to yourself, you know, nobody in here has any idea what I am going through and what I am feeling.

[16:51] The struggle just to make it through each day. I just feel overwhelmed within myself. And maybe as you read these words, you can say, you know, David, I know exactly what you're saying.

[17:04] I've been there or I am there. And as I say that, that's what part of what makes the psalm so real, so, so helpful. But then, verse 5, David does, like he started, remember, he started the psalm focusing on God's faithfulness and God's righteousness.

[17:25] But then he does something else which is so important. See when you're really rock bottom when you're down. Do you know what's so important to do? This is what David does. He forces himself to look up to God again.

[17:38] And he begins to ponder and reflect upon God's greatness. I remember the days of old. I meditated on all that you have done.

[17:51] I ponder the work of your hands. You see, that was a kind of a, that was the beginning of a turning point for David. Because he began to stop right.

[18:01] He says, I can't go lower. I'm down in the brink here. But then he turns and he begins to think of what God has already done in his life. Remember when David went out to fight Goliath?

[18:13] That's what he did. Before he went to fight Goliath, he reflected and meditated upon what God had done for him in the past. In fact, he told Saul, when Saul said, you're just a youth.

[18:27] Ah, David said, it's okay. Well, I tell you, I'm going to give you a wee bit of personal testimony here, Saul. When I was a shepherd there, and you know, a lion came and a bear came.

[18:37] Two different occasions. And they stole lambs. Now, if I'd been a shepherd and a bear came and a lion came, how would I just say, on you go and eat?

[18:51] But not David. He went after them. And he killed the lion and he killed the bear. And he had asked God to help him. And that's what he's telling Saul.

[19:02] You know, Saul, I killed a lion and I killed a bear. And it was God who helped me. And if God helped me kill the lion and kill a bear, he'd help me against this Philistine who was blaspheming your name.

[19:16] You see, that's the way David worked. And you know, it's a great thing to do. Is to remember God's works of old. Of what he has done. What he has done in your life in the past.

[19:27] He's taken you through. Maybe for some of you here, he's taken you through situations. There was a period in your life and you thought you were finished. And you say, you know, I don't think I can go on. But you've gone on.

[19:39] And you are where you are today. Because God has taken you on. And it's so important to remember that. And that's one of the things when you go back to the Bible. And you see how God has taken on and taken on and taken on his people.

[19:53] And when you look at the history of David. Here's a man. You think he's finished. But he stops. He reflects on what God has done. And God has still an awful lot to do in the life of David.

[20:06] And in verse 6, this verse is kind of pivotal. Because while David has been crying for help and for deliverance. And for safety and strength and security and all these things.

[20:21] David now switches as it were. From his own personal deliverance. And now his desire is for God himself. And you know, this is almost key to the psalm.

[20:36] And you'll often find that in David's psalms. It's kind of, he's going down and down and down. And then bang. And he hits this kind of state. And as he begins to refocus and search up to, look to the Lord.

[20:49] Then this growing awareness of God. And God who is there. And what God has done. And who God is. Then. It's almost like he forgets. The plight he's in.

[21:01] And says, you know Lord, it's you I actually want. Above everything else. Above my deliverance. Above my trials. Lord, it's you I want. And that's what he's saying.

[21:12] I stretch out my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you. Like a perched land. And so here's this.

[21:23] Here's David. And he knows. That the source of his light. The source of his life. The source of his energy. Is in the Lord alone. And you know.

[21:35] It's one of the great discoveries. Of how the Lord can energize us. And isn't it quite remarkable. How there are times. It doesn't happen all the time. But sometimes you can come to church.

[21:45] And you're really, really tired. I've heard people often say this in midweek. It's happened to myself. And maybe you're so tired. You've had a really busy day. And you say. Boy, you know. Because I don't think I can face going to the meeting today.

[21:57] I'm so, so tired. And yet. By the time it's over. You're a different person. There's a new kind of energy.

[22:07] Has come back into you. You've been revitalized. Sometimes that can happen. Even in your own personal devotions. And you might be really down. And flat. And you begin.

[22:18] And gradually. The Lord begins to lift you up. As you begin to seek him. And you're re-energized. Well that's. That's what David is looking for here.

[22:30] Because he knows that. That if the Lord. Unless he has the Lord. Deliverance is okay. Yes, it's fine if I get delivered. And all that. But I need you Lord. You need to be the heartbeat of my life.

[22:42] He's hungering for the Lord alone. And then verse 7. He's saying. Answer me quickly. Oh Lord. My spirit fails. We often pray that.

[22:56] Don't we? When we're. Particularly when we're in need. When we're in the middle of a trial. We don't just say. Lord answer me. But answer me quickly. Because.

[23:08] You see David. And we can understand that. David's trial. Wasn't like. It wasn't an overnight thing. It wasn't like. A couple of days. David was. David.

[23:19] There was seven years. In David's life. From. Where he was. Initially. Set apart. Going to be king. Until he became king. Until Saul's death.

[23:30] Seven years. And in these seven years. You're going to go down. And no wonder. David is saying to the Lord. Answer me quickly. Because he has prayed.

[23:41] And he's prayed. And he's prayed to the Lord. And you and I know. Sometimes we can be praying. Not weeks. Not months. But years. And again.

[23:51] That's what brings us. The encouragement. In God's word. Because. We live in this day of the instant. Snap your fingers. Whatever you. It's just. Everything is. Just at the press of a button.

[24:02] We live in the. It's in. It's in. In some ways. It's almost bizarre. Where. Every provision. Is made for us in life. Just so easily.

[24:13] So simply. And yet. Never. People have never been so busy. Everybody is just rushing. As it says in the Bible. In end times. That. Knowledge will be increased. And everybody will run to and fro.

[24:24] And that's exactly. Where we are. But because. We live in this age. Where everything is happening. Instantly. We think God. Should work the same way.

[24:36] And we go to the Lord. And we pray. The Lord says. No. No. No. That's. That's not the way I work. I can work that way. In fact. Sometimes I answer. Before you've actually asked. He tells us that.

[24:48] But the Lord. The Lord is gracious. There's a version scripture. Which says. The Lord waits. That he may be gracious. If the Lord was to answer.

[24:58] Everything that we asked. Just like that. Then we would miss out. All the benefits. Of coming to know him. Because as we struggle in prayer.

[25:09] And as we. Go to him again. And again. And again. In prayer. It is through the returning. Of ourselves. To be with him. That we get to know him better. And we come to understand him better.

[25:22] So the Lord says. You know. I wait sometimes. In order that I may be gracious. You will. For what you are praying. It will be a greater blessing to you. When you receive it.

[25:33] But it's going to be down the line a bit. And through that waiting upon me. You are going to develop patience. And understanding. And there's just. Different graces.

[25:44] Are going to be at work. Within your life. But here is David. And David is. Oh Lord. I need your help now. Answer me quickly Lord. Because my spirit is failing.

[25:55] And that's a bad place to be. When your. When your spirit fails. Hide not your face from me. Lest I be like those who go down to the pit. And you know. When the Lord doesn't answer your prayer.

[26:07] You often feel that he's hiding his face from you. Because we tend to think that. When God answers prayer. That he's. That's great. It's like you almost feel that.

[26:17] The smile of his favor is on you. When he doesn't answer. And when the time goes on. And on and on. You think that he's hidden his face from you. That he's turned his face from you.

[26:28] Which is something you don't want. It's one of the descriptions in the Bible. Of God's face is set against those that do wickedly. He just doesn't. He doesn't like to look. On that.

[26:39] Whereas. He looks in favor. Look with favor upon his people. And David feels. Because of his helpless situation. And because this prayer is not being answered.

[26:50] That the Lord has hidden his face. And if the Lord hides his face from him. He says. Well I'm going to be like those. Who go down to the pit. And then.

[27:01] In verse 8 he says. Let me hear. Let me hear in the morning. Of your steadfast love. Now this word here.

[27:12] Let me hear. Has the idea of. To enjoy. Or to possess. Let me enjoy. Let me possess. Your covenant faithfulness. Or steadfast love.

[27:23] And. David is saying. Look Lord. Please. Give me your shelf. This is again. He's coming back to that. Let me hear in the morning. Let me possess. You know.

[27:34] The psalmist says. I'll hear what God the Lord will speak. To his folk. He'll speak peace. And that's. That's what. What the Lord does. He speaks peace.

[27:45] Into our heart. And so. It's. It's important for us. To. To know that. And to. To be able to. Enjoy. His peace. When we have it. Within our heart.

[27:56] Well. That's really what. What David is saying here. He's. So conscious. Of. Of the fact that. He needs. That the Lord. Will indeed make.

[28:07] Himself known to him. And then he says. Make me. Know the way. That I should go. For to you. I lift up. My soul. And again.

[28:18] That's something. That we're always looking for. In. In life. Is that the Lord. Would lead us. And direct us. And show us. The way to go. That's. That's. Our great prayer.

[28:29] Because we don't know. The way to go. You know. When everything's going well. And. Life is working out. For us. We feel. You know. We're saying. Life's good.

[28:39] And you think. I'm in control. I'm in control. Of my life. Just now. I feel on top. Have you ever said that. To yourself. You know. Things are going well.

[28:50] I feel on top. I feel in control. Of the situation. And then. Bang. Something happens. And you're out of control. All of a sudden. You say to yourself.

[29:01] Oh. I feel lost. Where I am. I am. I'm no longer in control. Circumstances. Are. They're way beyond me. And it's.

[29:11] It's. It's not a nice place to be. We. We don't like being there. But it's in this place. That we have to go back to the Lord. And say. Lord. I need your help.

[29:22] I'm not. I'm just not coping here just now. And quite frankly. Lord. I don't know what to do. You know. In a sense. We should actually go to the Lord. Every day. Even when things are going well.

[29:34] Even when we feel. That we're kind of in control. And say Lord. I know that today things. This last wee while. Things have been going right. All right. But Lord. I need your help right now.

[29:44] I need. I need you to be. And it's. We shouldn't just be going. When. When things are. Have gone off. We should be going. When things are going well. I remember when.

[29:56] Shortly after I became a. A Christian. We were in Calendash at the time. And. I was so conscious. We had a great sense of peace. In the congregation. I remember saying to. One of the old elders. Neil McKeever.

[30:07] Near the faddy. And I said. You know. There's a wonderful sense of peace here. Oh yes. He said. But. He said. You pray every single day. That that will continue. Never ever. Ever. Take these things for granted.

[30:18] I thought. It was a very important lesson to learn. When. When things are going well. Don't take it for granted. Keep. Keep praying. That that's how it'll be. And sometimes we.

[30:29] Sometimes we take our foot off the. The throttle. So to speak. We take our eye off the Lord. And we begin to. Because things are going all right. And the Lord all of a sudden.

[30:40] Show. You're not in control. You're not. It doesn't take long. To change things. So this is how David is praying. And he's saying. Lord. Make me to know the way that I should go.

[30:51] For to you. I lift up my soul. Now the thing is. That the Lord has a way for us all to go. The Lord has set out certain principles. In his word.

[31:01] To direct us. His word is the direction of our life. Having said that. There is a different way. For each one of us to travel. The way that you travel.

[31:13] Yes. There are. We're all going down. The narrow road. That leads to glory. But the way that you walk. And the way that I walk.

[31:24] While still. Within the. On. Based on the principles. That God has set out. In his word. And how we are to live. Yet God's. Personal. Root. For you.

[31:34] Along there. Might be very different. From mine. And to the person. Beside you. Because God has a road. For each one of us. He has set out. A course.

[31:45] Let us run with race. Let us run with patience. A race. That God has set out. For us. And. We see that in the Bible. Over and over again.

[31:56] You look at the like of Joseph. Joseph. Had a course set out for him. And. It certainly was not the course. That Joseph would have. Picked for himself. Because it involved.

[32:08] Being. His brothers. Ganging up on him. Being sold. As a slave. To Egypt. Being falsely accused. And thrust into a prison. For years.

[32:20] For only doing right. And you say to yourself. Lord. What are you doing? I am sure. There are many a time. Joseph must have said. Lord. Why?

[32:31] Well. We have always got to remember. That although the Lord. Has an interest. In your life. Individually. And personally. He has a big picture. In view. And sometimes the Lord.

[32:43] Will touch you. For the good of others. In fact. He invariably does. For the good of others. And if the Lord. Had not. Guided. Joseph's life.

[32:53] In the way. Despite. The wickedness. Of his brothers. And the lie. Of Potiphar's wife. And all these things. The Lord was still. Overruling. And he was preparing. Joseph.

[33:04] For an exaltation. That he could never. Have handled. Were it not. For the humility. He had gone through. But he was also. Preparing a way. For his people. Always. He is looking after. His people.

[33:14] And sometimes. You are at the very heart. Of that. What is going on. In your life. Might not make sense to you. But God says. You know. He doesn't say. I am sorry. But he is saying.

[33:26] I am actually. Dealing with you. Yes. This is going to be. For your own good. But. There is somebody over there. And I am. I am actually. And you might not be aware of it. And you are wondering. What is happening.

[33:36] But God is blessing somebody. Or reaching somebody. Through. What you are going through. And so. That is one of the things. That the Bible shows us. And so.

[33:47] God is our way. And always. Always. Even although it seems. Sometimes so unfair. And reasonable. And doesn't make sense. There is sense in it. From God's side.

[33:58] And when we get to glory. We will see. That he did all things well. Jacob. Jacob in his life. There was one point in his life. And he said. You know. If all these things.

[34:11] Are against me. There was one thing. After. Another. And another. And that is what he said. It is all. A going against me. And from Jacob's perspective.

[34:22] It was. And from. When we are reading. But that was not the end. It was not actually. Going against him. It was actually. Working for him. And working for the people of God. So.

[34:33] Always got to remember that. This is the way it is working. So. That is what David is saying. Make me know the way that I should go. For to you. I lift up my soul. And then again. Verse 9.

[34:43] Times quote. Just very briefly. He says. He is crying for deliverance. I have fled to. To you. For refuge. How through that. I fled to you. I have. Is that what he says.

[34:54] I have fled. I have fled to you. For refuge. That is how we began the road as a Christian. Wasn't it? Remember. You can put your mind back.

[35:06] The discovery that you were lost. The discovery that. You couldn't make it through life on your own. What did you do? Did you say. Did you become more determined than ever.

[35:17] And say. I have got to make it. Did you go and buy some self-help books. To give you confidence. To try and deal with the situation. No. You fled to Christ. You fled to him.

[35:29] He became your refuge. And your strength. And because you have done that once. And are now secure in him. All along life's way. You continue to do that.

[35:40] And that's what David was doing. He said. I have fled. To you. For refuge. Teach me to do your will. For you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on level ground.

[35:54] See what David is saying. David. David. David. Was a man after God's own heart. He was a good man. But he had his falls. And his slips.

[36:06] You read about that. The steps of a good man. Are ordered by the Lord. Though he fall. He shall not be utterly cast down. For the Lord upholds him with his hand. David understood all that. David knew what it was.

[36:18] To sin. To fall. And that's why he says. Lord. Lead me. And it's a lovely place. Let your good spirit lead me on level ground. In other words. Lord. I'm prone to stumble.

[36:31] I'm liable to. I'm liable to trip. Lord. Try and make the way. As straight. And as level for me. As possible. And then he says.

[36:41] In the very last. Verse 11. For your name's sake. Oh Lord. Preserve my life. In your righteousness. Bring my soul out of trouble. David is here. He's turning in.

[36:51] And he's saying. Lord. Your reputation is on this. Remember the promises. You gave me. What happens if I. If I die. Lord.

[37:02] It's your reputation. It's the same as Joshua. I was saying. Remember. When. When Israel. Attacked Ai. And they were chased. After the taking of Jericho. And of course.

[37:13] Remember the man. Achan. Had disobeyed God. And he had taken stuff. And he had hidden it. And Israel couldn't stand. Before their enemies. And Joshua. Is on his knees.

[37:24] Before the Lord. Or flat on the ground. And he's praying. Lord. What will you. What will the enemy. Say of you. That you were no longer. Able to help.

[37:34] And Joshua. This is his great prayer. It was the same with Moses. They were so concerned. For the reputation of God. For his great name. They often base their prayers on that. That's what David is doing as well.

[37:46] It's not just about himself. Lord. Your name is involved in this. If I perish Lord. Your name. Because you have given the promises to me. And so this is part of the boldness.

[37:58] That we have in prayer. As we come before our Lord. And so as we've just reflected over. Over this psalm. We pray that the Lord will indeed bless.

[38:10] These thoughts to us. That we will know more and more. Of the leading. The guiding. The protection. The safety. That we can only find. In the Lord alone. Let us pray.

[38:21] Lord. We ask that you will do us good. Bless each and every one of us. Bless us with health. And with strength. In our bodies. Minds and souls. Enable us to go forward.

[38:32]  Looking to you. And leaning upon you. And we pray that you'll take us all. To our home safely. Forgive us our every sin. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.