WEBVTT

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 I'm going to read for us scripture now.

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 We're going to read from the book of Psalms, Psalm 51.

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 I'm going to read the passage and then David's going to come up.

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 He's going to preach to us from this passage.

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 This is Psalm 51.

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 To the choir master, a psalm of David,

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 when Nathan the prophet went to him after he'd gone into Bathsheba.

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 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love.

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 According to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions.

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 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

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 For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me.

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 Against you, you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,

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 so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

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 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me.

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 Behold, you delight in truth and the inward being

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 and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

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 Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean.

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 Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

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 Let me hear joy and gladness.

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 Let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

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 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.

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 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

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 Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

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 Restore me to the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.

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 Then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will return to you.

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 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God.

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 O God, my salvation and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

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 O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise.

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 For you will not delight in sacrifice or I would give it.

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 You will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

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 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God.

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 You will not despise.

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 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure.

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 Build up the walls of Jerusalem.

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 Then will I delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.

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 Then bulls will be offered on your altar.

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 Amen.

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 This is God's holy word.

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 I've decided not to make the long climb to the pulpit this morning.

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 It's good to be with you.

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 My name is David Court.

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 I'm the associate minister here.

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 We're going through in the mornings a series in the Psalms.

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 And we turn this morning to Psalm 51.

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 Let me take you back in time to the summer of 1974.

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 It was my first boys' brigade camp.

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 And if you don't know what the boys' brigade are, then you can speak to me at the end.

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 It was my first extended period away from home and family.

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 And the campsite that we were located on was situated on a farm near Kirkcaldy in Fife.

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 I was joined at the camp by a number of my school friends.

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 Among them was John.

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 His father owned the local chip shop in the village.

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 But unfortunately for John, the camp was not a great experience.

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 One afternoon, he found himself escorted back to camp by two police officers.

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 He'd been caught shoplifting in Kirkcaldy.

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 Now, it transpired that there was a single in the charts by the perils.

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 It reached, I think, number 10 in the charts in June of that year.

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 And it had just a one-word title.

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 And that title was this, Guilty.

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 And that song, with its chorus, reverberated all around the campsite.

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 It played on the radio.

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 It even had a record player.

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 It was listened to there.

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 Its chorus was sung repeatedly all across the campsite.

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 The words of the song simply could not be avoided.

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 You have been found and convicted of a serious crime

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 because you're guilty, guilty, guilty.

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 And just as all those years ago, my friend John could find no hiding place

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 from those accusing words, guilty.

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 So, that was surely true of the author of Psalm 51.

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 That man, of course, was David, King David.

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 And even though no one had been singing those words to him,

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 he had heard them nonetheless.

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 Because you're guilty, guilty, guilty.

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 It wasn't that David had been caught shoplifting in Woolworths.

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 No, his theft had been on a far grander scale.

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 Indeed, for a long time, his crime or crimes had gone unnoticed.

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 He had appeared to have…

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 He'd got off scot-free.

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 So, what brought him to this point,

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 to this famous prayer petition, Psalm 51?

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 Well, we can read the story more fully for yourself.

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 2 Samuel chapters 11 and 12.

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 We didn't have time to do that this morning.

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 It began with a careless and lustful glance at a beautiful woman.

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 Bathsheba was her name.

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 And unfortunately for David, she was already married

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 to one of his own army officers, Uriah the Hittite.

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 And perhaps David only meant it to be a brief fling,

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 a one-night stand.

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 But Bathsheba fell pregnant by him.

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 And that's when things really started to get complicated.

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 Uriah was away from home.

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 He was serving in the armed forces.

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 A scandal was sure to break.

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 And so, David sought to cover things up.

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 He had Uriah sent back home to his wife.

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 But Uriah wouldn't play ball.

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 And because his fellow soldiers were still on the front line and fighting,

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 he did not go to his wife.

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 And so then David conspired to have Uriah killed in battle.

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 And David's operation cover-up went really smoothly, without hitch.

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 And it wasn't long before Uriah was just another casualty of war.

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 With the husband out of the way, David was free to marry the grieving widow,

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 adopt her unborn son as a royal prince,

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 and they could all live happily ever after.

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 I have little doubt that David hoped that his catalog of sin, adultery, deceit, lies, murder,

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 would all end there.

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 He may have broken at least four of the Ten Commandments,

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 but at least he hadn't broken the eleventh.

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 Thou shalt not get found out.

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 He'd covered his tracks well.

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 The few that were in the know could be relied upon to keep their mouths shut.

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 It had been an unfortunate episode, but it was now over and done with.

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 It was in the past.

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 It could be forgotten.

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 Life goes on.

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 And so David, as it were, shut the cupboard door,

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 turned the key, walked away,

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 hoping to leave this festering skeleton of sin out of sight and out of mind.

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 But in doing that, David made a great mistake.

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 Because in reality, sin cannot be dealt with in such an easy and painless fashion.

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 It cannot really be locked away in the cupboard and forgotten.

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 Even if it's not penalized by the law,

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 even if it's not exposed by the press,

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 even if it's buried and hidden away from prying eyes,

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 even if we continue as if nothing had happened,

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 as I suspect David himself did,

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 the skeleton still remains,

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 rotting away in the cupboard.

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 And sooner or later,

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 the stench seeps out under the door,

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 through the cracks,

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 and begins to suffocate us.

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 It's impossible to cover up the skeleton of your sin and guilt.

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 No matter how hard you try,

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 it cannot be done.

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 The smell lingers,

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 and before long,

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 the odor permeates every room in the house.

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 There's only one thing to do with that skeleton.

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 You need to get someone in to clean out the cupboard.

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 And there's only one person who has the power to do that.

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 There's only one person who can clean out the skeleton of our sin,

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 erase the stench of our guilt,

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 and disinfect our hearts.

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 And that was the lesson that David had to learn.

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 He learned it through the ministry of the prophet Nathan.

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 One day, Nathan confronted David

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 with what was lurking behind the cupboard door.

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 And Psalm 51 is the song he wrote

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 in the wake of that door being flung open

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 for all to see in his guilt being unmasked and uncovered.

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 It's an intensely personal composition.

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 Unlike some of the Psalms,

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 it's not as carefully crafted and structured.

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 It's raw.

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 It's emotional.

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 In the light of his sin being exposed,

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 a torrent of different feelings cascade to the surface.

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 Here is David facing up to what he has done,

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 to the kind of person he really is.

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 And it turns out to be an excruciating discovery.

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 Here is David casting himself,

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 throwing himself on the mercy of God.

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 Thomas Chalmers,

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 one of the founding fathers of the free church,

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 observed,

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 this is the most deeply affecting of all the Psalms.

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 And I am sure the one most applicable to me.

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 Psalm 51 is perhaps the most famous of the seven,

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 they're known as the seven penitential Psalms.

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 It was written because David wanted others

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 to learn from his experience.

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 Look at verse 13.

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 Then I will teach transgressors your ways

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 and sinners will return to you.

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 Here is what we need to do

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 with our own festering skeletons of sin and guilt

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 that we're often tempted to bury and forget.

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 Here is David teaching us

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 the path of true repentance.

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 And I want to summarize, really,

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 the message of the Psalm under three headings,

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 three things from the Psalm

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 that David wants us to learn.

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 And the first is this.

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 There's something that we need to acknowledge.

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 Something we need to acknowledge.

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 What is that?

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 It is our own sin and guilt before God.

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 I know my transgressions, verse three,

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 my sin is ever before me.

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 Before, David had covered it up.

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 He'd concealed it.

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 He'd buried it.

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 But now it has been exposed.

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 His sin is before him.

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 He cannot avoid it.

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 The cupboard door has been flung open.

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 And he's been forced to acknowledge what lies within.

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 And in the opening verses of the Psalm,

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 you'll notice David uses a whole variety

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 of different words to describe the truth about himself.

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 He talks, verses one and three,

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 about his transgressions.

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 It's a word that conveys the idea of rebellion.

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 He speaks of iniquity in verse two and five.

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 That word suggests something of being twisted out of shape

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 or made crooked.

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 He mentions sin in verse two and four.

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 That word means to miss the mark, to fall short.

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 And then again in verse four,

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 he uses the word evil.

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 He openly and publicly acknowledges

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 the uncomfortable truth

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 that he had discovered about himself.

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 And what was that?

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 It was this.

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 It was he was a sinner.

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 I came across this quote from the late Professor MacLeod.

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 He says,

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 evangelicalism is not first and foremost

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 about belief in an inerrant Bible.

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 Rather, it begins with a certain kind of self-understanding.

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 The knowledge of our own guilt,

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 our own depravity,

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 our own alienation from God.

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 Before David's guilt could be dealt with,

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 he had to acknowledge,

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 admit what he had done.

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 He had to look into his own heart.

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 He had to face the awful reality of what he found there.

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 Now, that's not an easy thing for us to do

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 because it calls for brutal honesty.

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 It can be an uncomfortable,

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 a profoundly unsettling experience.

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 It can be a shock to ourselves

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 to see ourselves naked in our sin,

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 to see ourselves warts and all,

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 to see who and what we really are.

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 I've discovered over the years

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 that people will go,

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 frequently go to enormous lengths

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 to avoid acknowledging the truth about themselves.

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 Why?

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 Because it's a painful thing to do.

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 We much prefer to make our excuses,

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 to rationalize our behavior,

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 anything to avoid facing personal responsibility.

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 Did David do this?

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 Well, I suspect he probably did.

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 It's what we all do.

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 I mean, how could Bathsheba have been so careless

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 as to get pregnant?

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 How could Uriah have been so honorable?

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 If only they had done things differently,

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 it would all be okay.

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 It's really their fault, not mine.

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 How readily and easily we spray our excuses

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 to cover up our sin.

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 And of course, today we live in a culture

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 where people are increasingly encouraged

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 to move responsibility away from themselves.

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 Huge attitude shift in the past couple of generations.

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 We are now a society of victims.

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 It's always someone else's fault.

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 Now, I'm not saying there are not victims,

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 and I'm not saying that on occasion

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 it is someone else's fault,

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 but it's always someone else's fault.

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 And that's a very dangerous way of thinking.

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 Why is that?

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 It's because without an acknowledgement

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 of personal responsibility,

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 there can be no repentance.

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 There can be no change.

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 You can't repent of that

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 which you don't feel responsible for.

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 And if people continually believe themselves

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 to be innocent victims

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 rather than guilty sinners,

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 then their repentance is impossible.

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 But then, of course,

00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:38.759
 perhaps there are others of us here

00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:42.359
 who are more inclined to take the moral high ground,

00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:45.919
 to bolster our sense of self

00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:48.620
 by telling ourselves how much better we are than others.

00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:51.379
 We run down others.

00:15:51.479 --> 00:15:52.779
 We assassinate their characters,

00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:56.479
 all to enhance our own feelings of moral superiority.

00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:58.420
 It makes us feel a little cleaner.

00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:02.019
 And who of us here has not done that?

00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:07.580
 Indeed, David himself exhibited this very characteristic.

00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:09.560
 On that occasion,

00:16:09.659 --> 00:16:12.100
 when the prophet Nathan told him the story,

00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:14.100
 the famous story of the poor man

00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:16.440
 who had his ewe lamb taken from him

00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:17.740
 by his rich neighbor,

00:16:18.940 --> 00:16:21.519
 we're told there in 2 Samuel 12, 5,

00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:25.080
 David's anger was greatly kindled against the man.

00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:26.160
 He said to Nathan,

00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:27.120
 as the Lord lives,

00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:29.940
 the man who has done this deserves to die.

00:16:32.180 --> 00:16:33.720
 Friends, how often we do the same.

00:16:34.900 --> 00:16:36.759
 Our anger is greatly kindled

00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:38.500
 against this and that and the other.

00:16:39.420 --> 00:16:41.280
 And yet much of it is a smokescreen

00:16:41.280 --> 00:16:45.660
 to deflect from our own sin and guilt.

00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:49.300
 It was Robert Burns who famously said,

00:16:49.299 --> 00:16:52.620
 Oh, what some power the gift of Gias

00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:55.419
 to see ourselves as others see us.

00:16:56.459 --> 00:16:59.359
 But what about the power to see ourselves

00:16:59.359 --> 00:17:00.819
 as God sees us?

00:17:01.699 --> 00:17:03.740
 This is what happens to David.

00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:07.619
 He comes to see his sin as God sees it.

00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:09.240
 He comes to acknowledge it

00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:11.359
 for the awful thing that it really is.

00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.259
 Verse 4,

00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:26.160
 Now that may at first glance appear

00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:27.859
 a very strange thing for David to say.

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.900
 I mean, what about Bathsheba?

00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:31.000
 What about Uriah?

00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:33.099
 Hadn't he sinned against them

00:17:33.099 --> 00:17:34.900
 in a most despicable manner?

00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:36.720
 Well, yes, of course he had.

00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:39.880
 But what David came to realize

00:17:39.880 --> 00:17:42.240
 and acknowledge was that ultimately

00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:44.539
 his sin was against God himself.

00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:47.720
 That's a really important thing to understand.

00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:51.900
 Sin is not primarily a sociological

00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:54.140
 or psychological category.

00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:55.839
 It is theological.

00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:59.019
 It is to do with our relationship with God.

00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:01.860
 Our guilt before God is something

00:18:01.860 --> 00:18:03.400
 real and objective.

00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:06.280
 It is something that stands

00:18:06.280 --> 00:18:07.900
 between us and God.

00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.000
 When we sin,

00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:10.920
 we are doing more than just

00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:13.200
 flouting a social convention.

00:18:13.580 --> 00:18:16.120
 We are offending the living God

00:18:16.120 --> 00:18:17.000
 who made us.

00:18:18.100 --> 00:18:20.100
 We are expressing a rejection

00:18:20.100 --> 00:18:22.080
 of the one who created us

00:18:22.080 --> 00:18:23.259
 and the one to whom,

00:18:23.360 --> 00:18:24.360
 in the final analysis,

00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:26.980
 we are ultimately accountable to.

00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:30.980
 Sometimes you hear people saying,

00:18:31.060 --> 00:18:31.220
 you know,

00:18:31.300 --> 00:18:33.160
 I've let myself down.

00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:34.620
 Or, you know,

00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:36.120
 I'm angry with myself.

00:18:36.560 --> 00:18:38.060
 I should have done better.

00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:40.720
 It's never enough

00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:42.300
 just to be angry with ourselves.

00:18:43.600 --> 00:18:44.420
 We have to realize

00:18:44.420 --> 00:18:45.660
 that God Himself is angry.

00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:48.040
 Our sin has injured Him,

00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:49.680
 provoked Him,

00:18:50.840 --> 00:18:52.019
 placed us under His

00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:54.019
 just judgment and condemnation.

00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:57.720
 And so we need to take sin seriously.

00:18:57.720 --> 00:19:00.720
 We need to understand it

00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:03.259
 as an offense against a holy

00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:04.420
 and righteous God.

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:07.960
 And unless we're prepared to do that,

00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:10.539
 we can never be free from it.

00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:13.860
 Because the God of the Bible

00:19:13.860 --> 00:19:17.400
 desires truth in the inner parts.

00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:18.900
 Verse 6,

00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:19.300
 Behold,

00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.800
 you delight in truth

00:19:20.800 --> 00:19:22.480
 in the inward being.

00:19:22.820 --> 00:19:23.900
 You teach me wisdom

00:19:23.900 --> 00:19:25.620
 in the secret heart.

00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:28.460
 Here is where we need

00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:29.320
 to be made clean.

00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:31.380
 Here is where we need

00:19:31.380 --> 00:19:32.259
 to be renewed.

00:19:33.600 --> 00:19:35.060
 And for that to happen,

00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:37.220
 the truth must be acknowledged.

00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:39.400
 What lies within

00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:40.740
 must be exposed

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:42.259
 and opened up

00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:44.620
 so that God Himself

00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:46.679
 might deal with us.

00:19:48.219 --> 00:19:49.000
 There's something

00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:49.939
 we need to acknowledge.

00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:52.719
 I wonder this morning

00:19:52.719 --> 00:19:54.000
 if you acknowledged

00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.719
 that you're a sinner.

00:19:57.699 --> 00:19:58.319
 And secondly,

00:19:58.439 --> 00:19:59.839
 I think we have here

00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:01.879
 something we need to ask for.

00:20:02.199 --> 00:20:03.979
 What is it that David asks for

00:20:03.979 --> 00:20:05.000
 in this psalm?

00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:06.619
 Look at verse 1.

00:20:07.439 --> 00:20:07.839
 And 2,

00:20:07.939 --> 00:20:09.500
 Have mercy on me, O God,

00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:11.319
 according to your steadfast love,

00:20:11.379 --> 00:20:13.039
 according to your abundant mercy,

00:20:13.419 --> 00:20:14.599
 blot out my transgressions,

00:20:15.399 --> 00:20:16.239
 Wash me thoroughly

00:20:16.239 --> 00:20:17.319
 from my iniquity,

00:20:17.699 --> 00:20:19.759
 cleanse me from my sin.

00:20:20.419 --> 00:20:21.379
 A little later on,

00:20:21.419 --> 00:20:22.839
 verse 7 and following,

00:20:23.179 --> 00:20:24.459
 Purge me with hyssop,

00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.399
 I shall be clean.

00:20:25.699 --> 00:20:26.319
 Wash me,

00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:27.939
 I shall be whiter than snow.

00:20:28.219 --> 00:20:30.319
 Let me hear joy and gladness.

00:20:30.419 --> 00:20:31.039
 Let the bones

00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:32.419
 that you have broken rejoice.

00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:34.439
 Hide your face from my sins,

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:36.299
 blot out all my iniquities.

00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:38.459
 Create in me a clean heart,

00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:39.119
 O God.

00:20:39.439 --> 00:20:41.339
 Renew a right spirit within me.

00:20:41.339 --> 00:20:45.359
 There's something to ask for.

00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:47.059
 Most of us,

00:20:47.139 --> 00:20:47.659
 by nature,

00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:50.299
 don't like asking for things.

00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:52.559
 It's often a kind of last resort.

00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.839
 We sense that in some way,

00:20:54.919 --> 00:20:56.279
 asking can be viewed

00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:58.220
 as an admission of weakness.

00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:01.220
 In asking for help,

00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:02.619
 we're tacitly admitting

00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:04.279
 that we don't have the resources

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:05.119
 to cope with

00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:06.419
 or manage on our own.

00:21:06.420 --> 00:21:08.680
 Asking, therefore,

00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:09.700
 can often be a sign

00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.400
 that we've come

00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:12.620
 to an end of ourselves

00:21:12.620 --> 00:21:14.039
 and an end of our resources.

00:21:15.660 --> 00:21:17.100
 And here in Psalm 51,

00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:18.100
 David asks,

00:21:18.360 --> 00:21:19.420
 what does he ask for?

00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:22.440
 Well, having acknowledged

00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:23.840
 the reality of his sin

00:21:23.840 --> 00:21:25.019
 and guilt before God,

00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:26.620
 he asks God

00:21:26.620 --> 00:21:27.920
 to clean him up.

00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:31.200
 He doesn't ask God

00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:32.840
 to make him feel better

00:21:32.840 --> 00:21:34.120
 about himself.

00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:36.500
 He asks God

00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:38.039
 to deal with the heart

00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:38.739
 of the problem.

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.819
 Clean out the cupboard

00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.579
 of my sin.

00:21:42.699 --> 00:21:43.979
 Remove that rotting,

00:21:44.219 --> 00:21:45.939
 festering skeleton of guilt.

00:21:47.939 --> 00:21:48.959
 And what David

00:21:48.959 --> 00:21:50.299
 had come to realize,

00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:51.899
 of course,

00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:52.979
 was that his sin

00:21:52.979 --> 00:21:54.619
 went far beyond

00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:56.519
 the particular circumstances

00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:57.739
 of his affair

00:21:57.739 --> 00:21:58.479
 with Bathsheba,

00:21:59.119 --> 00:22:00.739
 his conspiracy

00:22:00.739 --> 00:22:01.739
 against Uriah.

00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:04.079
 Look at verse 5.

00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:04.900
 Behold,

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:06.039
 I was brought forth

00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:06.799
 in iniquity,

00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:08.180
 and in sin

00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:09.380
 did my mother

00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:10.319
 conceive me.

00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.279
 As you see,

00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:13.660
 sin is no minor flaw

00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:14.480
 in his character.

00:22:15.620 --> 00:22:16.240
 It's something

00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:17.039
 deeply embedded

00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:18.279
 in his heart

00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:19.019
 and mind.

00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:20.440
 And friends,

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:20.819
 that's true

00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.539
 for all of us.

00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.059
 Sin

00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:25.180
 is the moral defect

00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:26.500
 that we're all born with,

00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:27.420
 a corruption

00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:28.240
 of our nature,

00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:30.380
 the very heart

00:22:30.380 --> 00:22:30.779
 and core

00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:32.140
 of our human personalities

00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:32.900
 are twisted

00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:34.200
 and misshapen

00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:34.779
 by sin.

00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:36.539
 There is no part

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:36.960
 of us

00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:38.019
 that remains

00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:39.519
 unaffected.

00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:41.960
 It is an all-pervasive

00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.720
 influence

00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.759
 in our lives.

00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:47.859
 This is what the Bible,

00:22:48.700 --> 00:22:49.759
 this is what theologians

00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:50.460
 talk when they talk

00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:52.480
 about human depravity.

00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:53.400
 It's not that we're all

00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:55.279
 as bad as we could be.

00:22:55.879 --> 00:22:56.859
 It's rather that sin

00:22:56.859 --> 00:22:57.519
 has tainted

00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:58.619
 and touched

00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:59.879
 every aspect

00:22:59.879 --> 00:23:00.740
 of us.

00:23:02.339 --> 00:23:03.160
 And this idea,

00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:04.619
 again,

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.720
 a common one today,

00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:06.940
 that all human beings

00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:08.420
 are intrinsically good,

00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:10.220
 is one that is

00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:11.660
 fundamentally flawed.

00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.599
 I think it was

00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:14.359
 the American preacher,

00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:15.259
 Dale Ralph Davis,

00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:16.720
 who commented

00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:18.119
 that he was always glad

00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:18.599
 when he had,

00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:20.180
 it was in American context,

00:23:20.420 --> 00:23:21.099
 when he had members

00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:22.339
 of the highway patrol

00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:23.500
 or local police

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.559
 in his congregations.

00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:25.799
 Why?

00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:27.279
 Well, he said,

00:23:27.379 --> 00:23:28.079
 because you don't need

00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:28.920
 to convince them

00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:30.099
 of the depravity

00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:30.859
 of human nature.

00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.180
 You see,

00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:35.539
 if we don't understand this,

00:23:35.639 --> 00:23:36.339
 we're going to be

00:23:36.339 --> 00:23:38.139
 destined to experience

00:23:38.139 --> 00:23:39.879
 disappointment

00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:41.119
 and disillusionment.

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:43.599
 Sin is the great problem

00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:45.579
 we have as human beings.

00:23:46.619 --> 00:23:47.539
 The evil habits

00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:48.619
 we cannot break,

00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.859
 the selfish desires

00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:51.200
 we must gratify,

00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:52.099
 the weight of guilt

00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:53.559
 we cannot escape.

00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:55.519
 By nature,

00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:56.779
 we stand in opposition

00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:58.220
 to the purposes of God.

00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.659
 We're in rebellion

00:23:59.659 --> 00:24:01.259
 against His authority

00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:02.179
 as our Creator.

00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.879
 We're in defiance

00:24:03.879 --> 00:24:04.779
 of His will.

00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:06.240
 We're in disobedience

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.200
 to His law.

00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:09.599
 And before a holy God,

00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:11.119
 we all stand

00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:11.839
 stained,

00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:12.539
 dirty,

00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.619
 and unclean.

00:24:14.579 --> 00:24:15.759
 That is the extent

00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.720
 of our human plight.

00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:19.160
 And so,

00:24:19.339 --> 00:24:20.299
 it's not a minor

00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:21.360
 repair job

00:24:21.360 --> 00:24:22.579
 that's required.

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.759
 It's a complete overhaul.

00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:26.819
 We need renewal,

00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.880
 total renewal,

00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:29.000
 and regeneration.

00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:30.500
 David asks in verse 10,

00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.460
 create in me

00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:32.279
 a clean heart,

00:24:32.360 --> 00:24:32.819
 O God,

00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:34.200
 renew a right spirit

00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:34.920
 within me.

00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:37.100
 He's asking for

00:24:37.100 --> 00:24:39.660
 heart transplant surgery.

00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:42.120
 He's asking the Lord

00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:42.600
 to give him

00:24:42.600 --> 00:24:43.580
 a renewed heart,

00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:44.480
 a clean heart,

00:24:44.620 --> 00:24:45.620
 a pure heart.

00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:47.200
 He's asking God

00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:48.420
 to wash away the dirt

00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:49.700
 and change him

00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.720
 from within.

00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:53.100
 I wonder,

00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:53.820
 have you ever

00:24:53.820 --> 00:24:54.860
 asked for that?

00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:56.700
 Have you really,

00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:58.240
 ever really asked God

00:24:58.240 --> 00:25:00.640
 to change your heart?

00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.820
 Truth is that

00:25:03.820 --> 00:25:04.480
 many people

00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:06.480
 don't want to take

00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.120
 those words

00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:08.379
 on their lips.

00:25:09.699 --> 00:25:10.159
 Why?

00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:11.579
 Because they're radical.

00:25:12.699 --> 00:25:13.819
 They're scary words.

00:25:14.979 --> 00:25:15.399
 I mean,

00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:16.379
 we don't mind God

00:25:16.379 --> 00:25:17.739
 sticking a little bit

00:25:17.739 --> 00:25:19.419
 of spiritual elastoplast

00:25:19.419 --> 00:25:20.119
 on our lives.

00:25:20.159 --> 00:25:20.619
 We don't mind

00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:21.679
 Him patching us up

00:25:21.679 --> 00:25:22.099
 a bit

00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:24.419
 or giving us

00:25:24.419 --> 00:25:25.519
 a religious tonic

00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.799
 to pep us up.

00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:29.319
 But a new heart?

00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:31.879
 That's way too radical.

00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:33.839
 Why,

00:25:33.919 --> 00:25:34.919
 that might mean

00:25:34.919 --> 00:25:35.619
 everything would have

00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:36.239
 to change.

00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:38.419
 Who knows where

00:25:38.419 --> 00:25:39.539
 all of that might lead?

00:25:40.399 --> 00:25:41.219
 That's scary.

00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:44.399
 We much prefer

00:25:44.399 --> 00:25:45.219
 our cover-ups.

00:25:46.239 --> 00:25:47.259
 We like things

00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:47.979
 the way they are.

00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:49.359
 We like to be

00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:50.079
 in control.

00:25:50.879 --> 00:25:51.539
 We don't really

00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:52.619
 want to change.

00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:55.079
 And if truth be told,

00:25:55.699 --> 00:25:56.799
 we don't really

00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.659
 want to be clean.

00:25:59.179 --> 00:26:00.919
 We're often much

00:26:00.919 --> 00:26:02.559
 happier wallowing

00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:04.039
 in our own filth.

00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:06.259
 for even the smell

00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:06.819
 from the cupboard

00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:07.740
 isn't that bad

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:09.920
 when you get used to it.

00:26:11.619 --> 00:26:12.980
 I remember visiting

00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:15.539
 in a flat

00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.279
 in WrestleRig

00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:17.159
 many years ago.

00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.740
 And

00:26:19.740 --> 00:26:21.720
 this guy's flat

00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:23.240
 was in a horrific state.

00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:25.720
 It was the smell,

00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.620
 the stench

00:26:26.620 --> 00:26:28.819
 that made me wretch.

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.620
 The smell

00:26:30.620 --> 00:26:31.700
 was unbearable.

00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:33.500
 He,

00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:33.920
 however,

00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:36.140
 was utterly

00:26:36.140 --> 00:26:36.819
 oblivious.

00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:38.759
 He'd become

00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:40.039
 accustomed to it.

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.259
 For him,

00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:41.620
 it was

00:26:41.620 --> 00:26:42.539
 absolutely

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.920
 normal.

00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:46.640
 friends,

00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.460
 the desire

00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.660
 to be clean

00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:50.279
 is something

00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:51.279
 that God alone

00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:52.140
 can give us.

00:26:52.840 --> 00:26:53.820
 Only when

00:26:53.820 --> 00:26:54.840
 His Holy Spirit

00:26:54.840 --> 00:26:55.840
 is active

00:26:55.840 --> 00:26:57.240
 in our lives

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.680
 can we ever

00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.880
 come to the place

00:26:59.880 --> 00:27:00.980
 of asking

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:02.580
 for a cleansed

00:27:02.580 --> 00:27:03.900
 and renewed heart.

00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:06.800
 Will you dare

00:27:06.800 --> 00:27:07.660
 to ask God

00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:08.580
 for a new heart

00:27:08.580 --> 00:27:09.400
 this morning?

00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:11.960
 Will you dare

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.720
 to ask Him

00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.839
 to cleanse you

00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:15.440
 and wash you

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:17.240
 and forgive you

00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:19.180
 and change you?

00:27:21.100 --> 00:27:22.480
 Something to acknowledge.

00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:25.059
 Something to ask for.

00:27:26.120 --> 00:27:27.120
 And then thirdly here,

00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:28.600
 something

00:27:28.600 --> 00:27:30.400
 to accept.

00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:31.620
 Something we need

00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:32.360
 to accept.

00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.559
 What is that?

00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:35.079
 Well,

00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:37.360
 we need to accept

00:27:37.360 --> 00:27:38.500
 the promises

00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.980
 that God has made

00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:42.000
 to us

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.579
 on the basis

00:27:42.579 --> 00:27:43.660
 of His own character.

00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:44.880
 We have to take

00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:46.299
 God at His word.

00:27:47.380 --> 00:27:48.599
 We have to believe

00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:50.740
 what He tells us

00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:51.720
 about Himself.

00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:54.359
 We have to trust Him

00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:55.819
 and throw ourselves

00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:57.299
 upon His mercy.

00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:58.500
 Look at what David says.

00:27:58.880 --> 00:27:59.759
 The sacrifices

00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.500
 of God,

00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:01.140
 verse 17,

00:28:01.400 --> 00:28:02.740
 are a broken spirit,

00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:03.680
 a broken

00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:05.200
 and contrite heart,

00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:05.799
 O God,

00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:08.099
 you will not despise.

00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:10.500
 How could David

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.099
 be so sure?

00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:14.099
 How did he know

00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:14.839
 that God wouldn't

00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:15.959
 just kind of slam

00:28:15.959 --> 00:28:17.099
 the door in his face

00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.799
 and tell him

00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:18.980
 to take a hike?

00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:21.219
 How did he know

00:28:21.219 --> 00:28:22.359
 that God would hear

00:28:22.359 --> 00:28:23.539
 and answer

00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:24.240
 his prayer?

00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:24.859
 After all,

00:28:24.959 --> 00:28:26.419
 God would have been

00:28:26.419 --> 00:28:27.259
 quite justified

00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:28.299
 in telling him

00:28:28.299 --> 00:28:29.439
 to get lost.

00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:33.220
 So, maybe there's a clue

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:34.580
 in the words

00:28:34.580 --> 00:28:35.880
 of verses 11 and 12.

00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:38.200
 Cast me not

00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:39.059
 away from

00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:40.019
 Your presence

00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:41.380
 and take not

00:28:41.380 --> 00:28:42.240
 Your Holy Spirit

00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:42.900
 from me.

00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:44.759
 Restore to me

00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:45.420
 the joy

00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:46.500
 of Your salvation

00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:48.400
 and uphold me

00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:49.980
 with a willing spirit.

00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:52.880
 God

00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:54.820
 was no stranger

00:28:54.820 --> 00:28:55.640
 to David.

00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:57.560
 In the past,

00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.800
 he had enjoyed

00:28:58.800 --> 00:28:59.900
 a deep,

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.280
 a real,

00:29:00.360 --> 00:29:01.520
 a vital relationship

00:29:01.520 --> 00:29:02.140
 with Him.

00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:04.120
 And deep down,

00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:04.700
 David knew

00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.840
 that God's character

00:29:05.840 --> 00:29:08.000
 was one of steadfast love

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:09.259
 and abundant mercy.

00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:10.320
 And it's only

00:29:10.320 --> 00:29:11.340
 on that basis

00:29:11.340 --> 00:29:13.860
 that he is able

00:29:13.860 --> 00:29:15.440
 to speak to God.

00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.100
 Yes,

00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.259
 David knew full well

00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:18.759
 that God

00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.600
 in His righteousness

00:29:19.600 --> 00:29:20.740
 and justice

00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:22.180
 could have banished him

00:29:22.180 --> 00:29:22.560
 forever,

00:29:22.840 --> 00:29:23.800
 cast him into hell.

00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:26.159
 But he also knew

00:29:26.159 --> 00:29:27.700
 that a broken

00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:28.740
 and contrite heart

00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.899
 he would not despise.

00:29:30.919 --> 00:29:31.299
 And so,

00:29:31.379 --> 00:29:32.019
 in faith,

00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:34.279
 he casts himself

00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:35.599
 on the mercy

00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:36.259
 of God

00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:37.799
 and turns

00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:39.039
 towards God

00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:40.299
 in repentance

00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:41.460
 and faith.

00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:43.659
 Friends,

00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:44.319
 that's what we need

00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:44.980
 to do as well.

00:29:46.460 --> 00:29:47.680
 If our sin and guilt

00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.519
 are to be cleansed

00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:49.019
 and forgiven,

00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:51.279
 if we're to be made new

00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:52.259
 and stand in a right

00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:53.339
 relationship with God,

00:29:53.339 --> 00:29:54.699
 there is no other way.

00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.220
 Repentance,

00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:57.740
 you see,

00:29:58.799 --> 00:29:59.919
 occurs not only

00:29:59.919 --> 00:30:00.679
 when we see

00:30:00.679 --> 00:30:01.419
 the horror

00:30:01.419 --> 00:30:02.879
 of our own sin,

00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:05.419
 but also when,

00:30:05.879 --> 00:30:06.539
 if I can quote

00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:06.939
 the words

00:30:06.939 --> 00:30:08.199
 of the Shorter Catechism,

00:30:08.899 --> 00:30:10.740
 we have an apprehension

00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.919
 of the mercy

00:30:11.919 --> 00:30:12.500
 of God

00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:13.359
 in Christ.

00:30:14.839 --> 00:30:16.220
 Turning from sin

00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:18.879
 and towards God

00:30:18.879 --> 00:30:20.500
 involves us

00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.000
 seeing

00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:22.400
 that with Him

00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:23.680
 there is forgiveness.

00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:27.539
 How can we be sure

00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:28.680
 that if we come

00:30:28.680 --> 00:30:29.579
 to Him in repentance

00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.240
 that He will

00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:31.339
 welcome us,

00:30:31.660 --> 00:30:32.440
 receive us,

00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:33.519
 forgive us?

00:30:34.119 --> 00:30:35.680
 How can we be sure

00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:37.099
 He will accept us?

00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:39.539
 Notice how

00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.339
 in the opening verse

00:30:40.339 --> 00:30:40.960
 David speaks

00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:42.420
 of God's steadfast love

00:30:42.420 --> 00:30:43.839
 and abundant mercy.

00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:44.859
 That's the very

00:30:44.859 --> 00:30:46.859
 basis and foundation

00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:47.859
 of His request

00:30:47.859 --> 00:30:48.500
 for cleansing,

00:30:49.059 --> 00:30:49.759
 for forgiveness,

00:30:49.959 --> 00:30:50.480
 for renewal.

00:30:50.699 --> 00:30:51.859
 Have mercy on me,

00:30:51.879 --> 00:30:52.240
 O God,

00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:53.419
 according to

00:30:53.419 --> 00:30:54.579
 Your steadfast love,

00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:55.720
 according to

00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:56.980
 Your abundant mercy.

00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:57.879
 Blot out

00:30:57.879 --> 00:30:59.099
 my transgressions.

00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.059
 It's not,

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:01.220
 have mercy on me

00:31:01.220 --> 00:31:02.359
 because I'm important,

00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:04.019
 I'm very religious,

00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:05.699
 because of my social

00:31:05.699 --> 00:31:06.339
 standing,

00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.039
 because of all,

00:31:07.199 --> 00:31:07.859
 look at all the good

00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:08.740
 things I've done.

00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:10.059
 It's,

00:31:10.179 --> 00:31:11.139
 have mercy on me

00:31:11.140 --> 00:31:12.020
 according to

00:31:12.020 --> 00:31:13.600
 Your steadfast love.

00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:16.660
 And friends,

00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.460
 in this regard,

00:31:17.580 --> 00:31:18.980
 we have far more

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:19.700
 to go on

00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.940
 than did David

00:31:20.940 --> 00:31:22.340
 because we have

00:31:22.340 --> 00:31:23.200
 nothing less

00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:24.160
 than the cross

00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:25.259
 of Jesus Christ

00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:27.460
 because it's at the cross

00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:28.960
 we see most clearly

00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:31.040
 a God of steadfast love

00:31:31.040 --> 00:31:32.400
 and abundant mercy.

00:31:36.040 --> 00:31:37.080
 One of his books

00:31:37.080 --> 00:31:39.000
 may have told this story

00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:39.259
 before,

00:31:39.360 --> 00:31:39.920
 I can't remember,

00:31:40.220 --> 00:31:40.940
 can never remember

00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:41.720
 where I've told him

00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:42.120
 stories,

00:31:42.299 --> 00:31:42.779
 these stories,

00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:43.279
 but anyway.

00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:44.420
 In one of his books,

00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:44.720
 David,

00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:45.840
 a man called David Redding,

00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:46.920
 he relates a story

00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:48.200
 told to him

00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:49.700
 by a prison warden

00:31:49.700 --> 00:31:51.779
 and it involved

00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:52.720
 a friend of his,

00:31:52.860 --> 00:31:53.860
 a fellow warden

00:31:53.860 --> 00:31:55.080
 traveling by train

00:31:55.080 --> 00:31:57.200
 in the United States

00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:57.779
 and he's,

00:31:58.140 --> 00:31:59.320
 the person next to him

00:31:59.320 --> 00:32:01.120
 is in a pretty poor condition,

00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:01.820
 very shabby,

00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:02.600
 very woebegone

00:32:02.600 --> 00:32:04.759
 and as he got into

00:32:04.759 --> 00:32:05.580
 conversation

00:32:05.580 --> 00:32:06.440
 with this young man,

00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:07.820
 the young man confessed

00:32:07.820 --> 00:32:08.380
 that he just,

00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:09.440
 he just got out of prison.

00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:11.539
 And he,

00:32:12.100 --> 00:32:12.700
 his whole life

00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.539
 had cast a shadow

00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:14.420
 over his family,

00:32:15.120 --> 00:32:16.160
 his criminal record

00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:17.120
 had brought them shame

00:32:17.120 --> 00:32:18.320
 and his grace

00:32:18.320 --> 00:32:19.059
 in the community.

00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:20.380
 And over the years,

00:32:20.500 --> 00:32:22.140
 he'd almost lost

00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:23.039
 complete contact

00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:23.519
 with them.

00:32:24.380 --> 00:32:25.240
 And he'd hoped

00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:25.960
 that the silence

00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:26.660
 of the years

00:32:26.660 --> 00:32:28.420
 meant that they were

00:32:28.420 --> 00:32:30.180
 just too poor,

00:32:30.340 --> 00:32:31.380
 maybe too illiterate

00:32:31.380 --> 00:32:31.940
 to write.

00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:34.019
 So before his sentence

00:32:34.019 --> 00:32:34.580
 was up,

00:32:34.620 --> 00:32:35.539
 he hatched a plan

00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:37.000
 to find out

00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:38.019
 how they really felt

00:32:38.019 --> 00:32:38.619
 about him.

00:32:39.659 --> 00:32:40.759
 And he wrote a letter

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:42.000
 explaining,

00:32:42.119 --> 00:32:42.859
 home explaining

00:32:42.859 --> 00:32:43.500
 that he would be

00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:44.200
 on a train

00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:46.180
 past their little farm

00:32:46.180 --> 00:32:47.019
 on the outskirts

00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:47.619
 of town.

00:32:49.139 --> 00:32:49.639
 And in the letter

00:32:49.639 --> 00:32:49.879
 he said,

00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:50.339
 if they were able

00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:51.079
 to forgive him,

00:32:52.259 --> 00:32:53.019
 they were to hang

00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:53.740
 a white ribbon

00:32:53.740 --> 00:32:56.000
 on an old apple tree

00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:56.920
 near the tracks.

00:32:58.619 --> 00:33:00.559
 If it was not

00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:01.139
 hanging there

00:33:01.139 --> 00:33:01.639
 when his train

00:33:01.639 --> 00:33:02.180
 went by,

00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:03.039
 he wouldn't bother them.

00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:04.799
 He'd never see them again.

00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:07.399
 And so as the train

00:33:07.399 --> 00:33:09.220
 approached the familiar

00:33:09.220 --> 00:33:10.259
 haunts of his childhood,

00:33:11.420 --> 00:33:12.519
 the suspense,

00:33:12.899 --> 00:33:14.079
 the anxiety,

00:33:14.619 --> 00:33:15.500
 was more than

00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:16.379
 he was able to bear.

00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:18.299
 And so he exchanged

00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:19.619
 seats with his companion

00:33:19.619 --> 00:33:21.200
 and asked him

00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:22.579
 to watch and to report

00:33:22.579 --> 00:33:23.319
 what he saw.

00:33:25.399 --> 00:33:26.440
 Within a few minutes,

00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:28.680
 the tree came into view

00:33:28.680 --> 00:33:31.159
 and his companion's eyes

00:33:31.159 --> 00:33:32.139
 filled with tears.

00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:34.779
 He placed his hand

00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:35.759
 on the young man's shoulder.

00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:37.639
 In a hoarse whisper,

00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:38.159
 he said,

00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:40.139
 it's all right.

00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:42.200
 The whole tree

00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:44.500
 is white with ribbons.

00:33:46.399 --> 00:33:47.220
 And friends,

00:33:47.299 --> 00:33:48.339
 isn't that what the cross

00:33:48.339 --> 00:33:49.879
 of Jesus Christ tells us?

00:33:50.680 --> 00:33:51.899
 Isn't that the message

00:33:51.899 --> 00:33:53.220
 that this table

00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:54.139
 this morning

00:33:54.139 --> 00:33:55.619
 proclaims to us?

00:33:56.639 --> 00:33:58.519
 The cross is the tree,

00:33:59.359 --> 00:34:00.500
 white with the ribbons

00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:01.440
 of God's grace

00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:02.059
 and forgiveness.

00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:04.319
 A tree that shouts

00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:05.599
 to us to come home.

00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:08.079
 A tree of steadfast love

00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:09.340
 and abundant mercy.

00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:11.019
 A tree that tells us

00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:12.019
 of God's welcome

00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:13.400
 for prodigal sons

00:34:13.400 --> 00:34:14.039
 and daughters.

00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:16.719
 Because here is the God,

00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:17.219
 you see,

00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:18.300
 who blots out

00:34:18.300 --> 00:34:19.480
 our transgressions,

00:34:19.659 --> 00:34:20.940
 who hides his face

00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.820
 from our sins,

00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:23.019
 who washes us

00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:24.340
 and cleanses us,

00:34:24.460 --> 00:34:25.559
 who restores us,

00:34:25.659 --> 00:34:27.420
 who doesn't cast us away,

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:29.099
 but welcomes us

00:34:29.099 --> 00:34:30.500
 and embraces us.

00:34:32.099 --> 00:34:33.960
 We see this God

00:34:33.960 --> 00:34:35.440
 and his love for sinners

00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:38.240
 in the cleansing blood

00:34:38.240 --> 00:34:39.840
 of Jesus Christ.

00:34:40.720 --> 00:34:44.240
 What can wash away my sin?

00:34:45.180 --> 00:34:45.680
 Nothing.

00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:48.320
 Nothing but the blood

00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:49.180
 of Jesus.

00:34:51.559 --> 00:34:52.539
 Here is a cleansing

00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:54.539
 deeper than that

00:34:54.539 --> 00:34:55.800
 of any ritual

00:34:55.800 --> 00:34:56.679
 or ceremony.

00:34:57.719 --> 00:34:58.900
 Because on the cross,

00:34:59.039 --> 00:35:00.079
 Jesus was pierced

00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:01.279
 for our transgressions

00:35:01.279 --> 00:35:02.400
 and crushed

00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:03.460
 for our iniquities.

00:35:04.340 --> 00:35:05.099
 There the Lord

00:35:05.099 --> 00:35:05.900
 laid on him

00:35:05.900 --> 00:35:06.980
 the iniquity

00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:07.759
 of us all.

00:35:09.779 --> 00:35:10.480
 Can you believe

00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:11.139
 and accept that

00:35:11.139 --> 00:35:11.639
 this morning?

00:35:12.779 --> 00:35:13.619
 That the God

00:35:13.619 --> 00:35:14.239
 of the Bible

00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:15.480
 delights to welcome

00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:15.920
 sinners?

00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:18.059
 That he is a God

00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:19.259
 rich in mercy,

00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:20.960
 abundant in grace?

00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:23.639
 Do you really believe

00:35:23.639 --> 00:35:24.940
 that God is like this?

00:35:26.139 --> 00:35:27.740
 Well, here's the test.

00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:30.019
 If you do,

00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:33.159
 you won't run away

00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:34.199
 from him.

00:35:35.579 --> 00:35:37.240
 Instead, you will run

00:35:37.240 --> 00:35:38.539
 towards him.

00:35:39.860 --> 00:35:41.619
 And in Jesus Christ,

00:35:42.340 --> 00:35:44.280
 you will come to discover

00:35:44.280 --> 00:35:45.400
 for yourself

00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:47.900
 the God who is running

00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:48.960
 towards you.

00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:52.300
 Augustine says

00:35:52.300 --> 00:35:53.019
 of this psalm,

00:35:54.059 --> 00:35:54.760
 listen to David

00:35:54.760 --> 00:35:55.500
 crying out

00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:56.460
 and cry with him.

00:35:57.199 --> 00:35:57.900
 Listen to him

00:35:57.900 --> 00:35:59.139
 groaning and groan too.

00:35:59.860 --> 00:36:00.440
 Listen to him

00:36:00.440 --> 00:36:01.179
 weeping and add

00:36:01.179 --> 00:36:02.119
 your tears to his.

00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:03.159
 Listen to him

00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:03.740
 corrected

00:36:03.740 --> 00:36:05.539
 and share his joy.

00:36:05.760 --> 00:36:06.659
 What is that joy?

00:36:08.720 --> 00:36:10.300
 It's the cleansing joy

00:36:10.300 --> 00:36:12.380
 of divine forgiveness

00:36:12.380 --> 00:36:13.280
 and salvation.

00:36:15.159 --> 00:36:16.019
 What are you doing

00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:16.699
 with your sin?

00:36:16.699 --> 00:36:18.819
 what are you doing

00:36:18.819 --> 00:36:19.559
 with your guilt?

00:36:20.819 --> 00:36:22.000
 Are you one of those

00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:23.659
 who's just content

00:36:23.659 --> 00:36:24.480
 to bury it,

00:36:25.139 --> 00:36:25.799
 cover it up,

00:36:25.939 --> 00:36:26.679
 hide it away,

00:36:27.379 --> 00:36:28.119
 pretend it never

00:36:28.119 --> 00:36:28.960
 happened,

00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:30.939
 point the finger

00:36:30.939 --> 00:36:31.719
 at other people?

00:36:33.779 --> 00:36:34.579
 Or are you going

00:36:34.579 --> 00:36:35.419
 to learn from David?

00:36:37.079 --> 00:36:38.079
 Will you acknowledge

00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:39.000
 that you're in the wrong,

00:36:39.980 --> 00:36:40.739
 that before God

00:36:40.739 --> 00:36:41.239
 you're a sinner?

00:36:42.379 --> 00:36:43.460
 Will you ask God

00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:44.219
 to forgive you,

00:36:44.480 --> 00:36:45.000
 cleanse you,

00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:45.659
 change you?

00:36:47.219 --> 00:36:48.199
 Can you accept

00:36:48.199 --> 00:36:49.239
 that he really is

00:36:49.239 --> 00:36:50.880
 a God of steadfast love

00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:52.159
 and abundant mercy?

00:36:54.380 --> 00:36:55.199
 Have you come

00:36:55.199 --> 00:36:56.000
 to understand

00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:58.460
 that while your sins

00:36:58.460 --> 00:36:58.940
 are many,

00:36:59.679 --> 00:37:00.659
 his mercy

00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:02.619
 is so much

00:37:02.619 --> 00:37:03.360
 more?

00:37:03.360 --> 00:37:06.019
 Will you take

00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:07.480
 and travel

00:37:07.480 --> 00:37:09.320
 the path

00:37:09.320 --> 00:37:11.900
 that David outlines here,

00:37:11.900 --> 00:37:13.480
 the path

00:37:13.480 --> 00:37:15.039
 of true repentance?

00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:18.000
 Let's pray together.

00:37:20.519 --> 00:37:21.599
 Lord, our prayer

00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:22.980
 is simply this.

00:37:24.019 --> 00:37:25.139
 Have mercy

00:37:25.139 --> 00:37:25.960
 on me,

00:37:26.059 --> 00:37:26.619
 O God,

00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:29.059
 according to your

00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:30.099
 steadfast love,

00:37:31.099 --> 00:37:32.440
 according to your

00:37:32.440 --> 00:37:33.360
 abundant mercy,

00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:34.200
 blot out my

00:37:34.200 --> 00:37:35.280
 transgressions,

00:37:36.220 --> 00:37:37.500
 wash me thoroughly

00:37:37.500 --> 00:37:38.860
 from my iniquity

00:37:38.860 --> 00:37:41.059
 and cleanse me

00:37:41.059 --> 00:37:42.599
 from my sin.

00:37:43.500 --> 00:37:44.559
 And we pray this

00:37:44.559 --> 00:37:46.179
 in Jesus' name.

00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:47.099
 Amen.