WEBVTT

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 Father, you know the state of our hearts and the state of our minds and the state of our wills.

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 Father, you see us perfectly and you see how much we deceive ourselves and how we are confused about ourselves

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 and how we are not aware of our deception or our confusion, but think we are wise.

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 Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would gently but deeply fall upon us

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 so that we might see ourselves, begin more and more to see ourselves as we really are.

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 But Father, please do not reveal ourselves to ourselves just in a naked way.

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 But Father, help us to see ourselves and understand ourselves according to your word

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 and by the great work that your Son did on the cross for us when he died for us.

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 So Father, may your Holy Spirit fall upon us,

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 helping us to see ourselves as we see and hear and understand your word

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 and draw us to Jesus.

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 This we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 Why is God absent so often in our lives?

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 Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?

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 Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

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 And why is it that not only do many of us experience God's absence as anguish

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 at many times in our lives,

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 maybe some of you who are here this morning are experiencing the absence of God

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 as anguish or as despair,

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 but why is it that often in church on a Sunday morning

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 or in small groups throughout the week,

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 we aren't even sort of allowed to be honest about the fact

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 that we are experiencing some anguish

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 because it seems as if God is absent.

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 And it's even made worse

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 because it seems that God is absent to us.

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 But when we come on a Sunday morning

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 or maybe we meet our good friend at work

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 or a family member

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 and God seems to be so present to them,

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 yet he seems to be so absent to us.

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 And why, some of you are wondering,

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 is George even talking about this on a Sunday morning?

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 I'm asking this question

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 because those are the two questions

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 that the psalm that John read

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 just a few minutes ago,

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 they, the psalm, God's word,

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 asks that question.

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 So it would be very, very helpful to me

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 and to you

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 if you open your Bibles right now

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 and turn to Psalm 10

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 and let's look at that psalm

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 and see the question that the psalm asks

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 and see how it is

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 that God, in his word,

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 responds to that question.

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 And if you've forgotten your Bibles,

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 there's always some Bibles here

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 at the front of the church.

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 I don't know if there's always Bibles

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 at that door when you enter.

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 There's something wrong with the mic.

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 Is it just in my ears?

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 Just my ears?

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 Okay.

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 And that's fine.

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 And if, or if you come in that door,

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 there's always some Bibles

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 that we can give you.

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 But Psalm 10,

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 sort of in the middle of the Bible

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 or you can look it up in the index

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 and listen again to how the psalm began.

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 And the psalm began this way.

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 Why, O Lord, do you stand far away?

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 Why do you hide yourself

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 in times of trouble?

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 That's how the psalm begins.

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 And it means,

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 if you accept as I do,

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 Jesus' understanding and teaching

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 of the Bible,

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 which is that the Bible

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 was ultimately written by God,

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 it means that God

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 is giving us permission

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 to ask this question of him,

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 to say to him,

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 why, O Lord,

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 do you stand far away?

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 Why do you hide yourself

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 in times of trouble?

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 Why are you absent, God?

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 For some of us,

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 this is maybe a very,

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 very profound intellectual question.

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 For many people in our culture,

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 one of the main reasons

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 why they will not believe

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 in the God of the Bible

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 is because of the existence

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 of evil in the world

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 and God seeming to stand

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 far away at times of trouble.

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 For others,

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 it's not an intellectual question

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 per se,

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 but it might be a very

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 lived question right now

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 that you're going through

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 some type of trouble

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 and God just seems to be hiding

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 or he seems to be very far away.

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 And the Bible,

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 believe it or not,

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 actually has an awful lot

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 to say about the absence

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 and the hiddenness of God.

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 It's very nuanced

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 and it's very wise.

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 And this psalm

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 isn't going to cover

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 everything that the Bible

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 says about it,

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 but this psalm

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 raises the question

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 and one sort of form

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 or subset

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 of that type of experience

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 and question

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 and addresses it.

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 And so this,

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 the very, very first point

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 this morning is this.

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 Because this is in the Bible,

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 this isn't just George

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 coming at it

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 from a therapeutic sense,

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 you know,

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 because I have a degree

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 in pastoral counseling,

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 you know,

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 100 million years ago

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 and I'm asking

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 some type of therapeutic question.

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 The Bible raises this question.

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 So here's the very first thing.

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 True faith can include

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 asking the living God

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 honest questions.

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 True faith can include

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 asking the living God

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 honest questions.

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 You know,

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 often in life,

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 stereotypes have,

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 I mean,

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 they're always dangerous

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 stereotypes,

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 but on the other hand,

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 often stereotypes

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 have some truth

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 in reality.

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 And, you know,

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 it's not a big stretch.

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 Probably many of,

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 maybe some of us here

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 feel the same way,

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 but many of us

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 have probably come

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 in contact with people

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 who say,

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 don't doubt,

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 don't even say that,

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 don't even raise

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 that question.

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 What you need to do

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 is you need to spend

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 more time in praise.

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 You need to spend

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 more time in prayer.

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 You need to spend

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 more time in church.

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 You need to give more money

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 to God in tithing.

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 You need to spend

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 more time with the poor.

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 Don't even ask

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 that question.

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 Don't even let it

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 into your mind.

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 Don't even let it

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 start to come to you

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 at all.

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 You just got to

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 push it away

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 and keep going forward.

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 And I've met

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 people like that.

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 And maybe at some time

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 in my life,

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 I was a person like that.

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 Maybe it'd be one of

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 those things that

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 in heaven,

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 God's going to replay

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 those times in my life

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 that I said something

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 like that to somebody.

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 And I,

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 well,

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 in heaven,

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 I'll get over the shame

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 pretty quickly

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 because I'm in heaven,

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 right?

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 But it probably

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 would be embarrassing.

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 And so it's very,

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 very easy for churches,

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 often the churches

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 that seem to be

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 the most faithful,

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 to say that you're

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 not allowed to ask

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 honest questions.

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 You're not even allowed

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 to raise the question

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 of why God seems

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 to be absent.

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 But as we see here

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 from Psalm 1,

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 it's in God's word

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 that true faith

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 can include

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 asking the living God

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 honest questions.

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 So,

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 God has said,

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 we can ask,

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 why, O Lord,

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 do you stand far away?

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 Why do you hide yourself

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 in times of trouble?

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 So what is the Bible saying?

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 Like,

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 how does it handle it?

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 Well,

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 let's look.

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 Here's how it goes.

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 In arrogance,

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 the wicked

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 hotly pursue the poor,

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 verse 2,

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 let them be caught

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 in the schemes

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 that they have devised.

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 For the wicked

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 boasts of the desires

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 of the soul,

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 and the one greedy

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 for gain curses

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 and renounces the Lord.

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 In the pride of his face,

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 the wicked does not seek him.

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 All his thoughts are

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 there is no God.

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 His ways prosper

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 at all times.

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 Your judgments are on high,

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 out of his sight.

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 For all his foes,

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 he puffs at them.

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 He says in his heart,

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 I shall not be moved.

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 Throughout all generations,

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 I shall not meet adversity.

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 Let's just stop for a second.

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 Let's be honest.

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 This is a very disappointing answer.

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 Like,

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 if we're honest with ourselves,

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 we were hoping

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 for something better

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 from God.

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 God's word.

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 Now,

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 that's another type of thing

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 that we feel

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 very uncomfortable

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 acknowledging.

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 But if we're honest,

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 this isn't going anywhere

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 that we want to go

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 particularly.

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 In fact,

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 very quickly,

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 our eyes glaze over,

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 our ears glaze over,

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 our mind glazes over,

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 and we internally

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 are saying,

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 whatever,

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 to God's word.

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 Whatever.

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 Yada, yada, yada, yada.

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 But you see,

00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:52.500
 here's actually

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 one of the very,

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 very powerful things

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 about God's word.

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 Why am I disappointed?

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 Why am I disappointed

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 by what's happening?

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 I'm going to suggest

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 one of three reasons

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 why we're disappointed.

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 The first reason

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 is because,

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 especially for those of us

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 who are suffering,

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 what were we hoping

00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:13.620
 that would happen?

00:09:13.620 --> 00:09:16.000
 we were hoping

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 that God would do

00:09:18.139 --> 00:09:18.919
 a miracle

00:09:18.919 --> 00:09:21.759
 so that when we leave

00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:22.340
 this church,

00:09:22.440 --> 00:09:23.440
 our abusive husband,

00:09:23.560 --> 00:09:24.539
 the abusive boss,

00:09:24.820 --> 00:09:25.700
 that we would go home

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 and we would get news

00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:27.700
 that in Iraq,

00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:29.840
 ISIS has been completely

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 and utterly annihilated,

00:09:31.899 --> 00:09:33.139
 and the survivors

00:09:33.139 --> 00:09:34.399
 are building churches

00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:35.879
 and giving money

00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:36.639
 to the people

00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:37.759
 whose kids

00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:38.480
 they beheaded.

00:09:39.379 --> 00:09:40.399
 And on one hand,

00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:41.120
 we're hoping that

00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:42.240
 when something's going to happen,

00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:43.180
 so that there's a miracle,

00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:44.019
 and at the same time,

00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:44.720
 if we're feeling

00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:45.419
 God's absence,

00:09:45.539 --> 00:09:46.299
 we would get something

00:09:46.299 --> 00:09:47.379
 like Prozac

00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:49.220
 that would come into us

00:09:49.220 --> 00:09:50.399
 and completely

00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:50.799
 and utterly

00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:51.820
 make us feel good.

00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:54.940
 The other thing

00:09:54.940 --> 00:09:55.460
 some of us

00:09:55.460 --> 00:09:56.200
 are maybe hoping

00:09:56.200 --> 00:09:57.639
 is that God

00:09:57.639 --> 00:09:58.340
 would give us

00:09:58.340 --> 00:09:59.500
 a knock-down,

00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:00.940
 drag-down,

00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:02.759
 guaranteed,

00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:04.360
 block-buster,

00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:06.000
 philosophical answer

00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:07.100
 so we could refute

00:10:07.100 --> 00:10:08.519
 Hitchens and Dawkins

00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:09.320
 and Harris

00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:11.060
 and our boss

00:10:11.059 --> 00:10:12.239
 and our nephew

00:10:12.239 --> 00:10:13.699
 and everybody else,

00:10:13.739 --> 00:10:14.579
 and we could just say,

00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:15.619
 you just read that,

00:10:15.699 --> 00:10:16.699
 that's going to completely

00:10:16.699 --> 00:10:17.859
 and utterly refute

00:10:17.859 --> 00:10:19.639
 everything you said.

00:10:20.179 --> 00:10:20.559
 Ha-ha!

00:10:21.099 --> 00:10:21.539
 Ha-ha!

00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:24.019
 Or the third thing

00:10:24.019 --> 00:10:24.619
 we were hoping

00:10:24.619 --> 00:10:25.339
 might happen

00:10:25.339 --> 00:10:28.459
 is secret knowledge,

00:10:29.459 --> 00:10:31.179
 that God would give us

00:10:31.179 --> 00:10:32.059
 secret knowledge

00:10:32.599 --> 00:10:34.059
 about what was going on

00:10:34.059 --> 00:10:35.179
 so we could be

00:10:35.179 --> 00:10:36.919
 insiders with God,

00:10:36.919 --> 00:10:38.939
 and the rest

00:10:38.939 --> 00:10:40.059
 of the hoi polloi

00:10:40.059 --> 00:10:40.979
 don't really know

00:10:40.979 --> 00:10:41.899
 what's going on,

00:10:42.339 --> 00:10:43.419
 but I'm part

00:10:43.419 --> 00:10:44.459
 of the Illuminati.

00:10:45.339 --> 00:10:46.360
 I know what's

00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:47.219
 really going on.

00:10:48.419 --> 00:10:49.599
 Now maybe I'm just

00:10:49.599 --> 00:10:50.699
 vastly more sinful

00:10:50.699 --> 00:10:51.620
 than the rest of you,

00:10:51.860 --> 00:10:53.959
 but if when you start

00:10:53.959 --> 00:10:55.439
 to read verses 2 to 11

00:10:55.439 --> 00:10:56.939
 you realize

00:10:56.939 --> 00:10:57.719
 that your mind

00:10:57.719 --> 00:10:58.459
 is wandering,

00:10:59.399 --> 00:11:00.000
 it's showing

00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:01.079
 that you're disappointed

00:11:01.079 --> 00:11:01.759
 in God,

00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:02.599
 and the Bible

00:11:02.599 --> 00:11:03.360
 in a sense

00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:04.759
 is saying to us,

00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:07.240
 examine yourself.

00:11:08.740 --> 00:11:09.680
 Why is it

00:11:09.680 --> 00:11:10.399
 that you think

00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:11.840
 that wisdom itself

00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:13.600
 is not wise?

00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:18.740
 See, here's

00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:19.940
 the second point.

00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:22.899
 When God's word

00:11:22.899 --> 00:11:24.060
 disappoints me,

00:11:24.899 --> 00:11:26.139
 I do not have

00:11:26.139 --> 00:11:27.279
 to kiss my brains

00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:27.860
 goodbye

00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:29.800
 or become cynical.

00:11:29.799 --> 00:11:32.620
 I am being invited

00:11:32.620 --> 00:11:34.559
 to carefully examine

00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:35.479
 God's word

00:11:35.479 --> 00:11:36.819
 and myself.

00:11:38.779 --> 00:11:40.019
 When God's word

00:11:40.019 --> 00:11:41.059
 disappoints me,

00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:42.159
 I do not have

00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:43.159
 to kiss my brains

00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:43.659
 goodbye

00:11:43.659 --> 00:11:44.979
 or become cynical.

00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:46.819
 I am being invited

00:11:46.819 --> 00:11:48.439
 to carefully examine

00:11:48.439 --> 00:11:49.599
 God's word

00:11:49.599 --> 00:11:51.579
 and myself.

00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:53.699
 You see,

00:11:53.819 --> 00:11:54.939
 God's word

00:11:54.939 --> 00:11:56.919
 examines us.

00:11:58.359 --> 00:11:59.279
 I can't remember,

00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:00.039
 it was one of the novels

00:12:00.039 --> 00:12:00.759
 I read while I was

00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:01.299
 on holidays,

00:12:01.459 --> 00:12:02.279
 but somebody said

00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:03.100
 that, you know,

00:12:03.179 --> 00:12:05.139
 with Facebook

00:12:05.139 --> 00:12:05.959
 and Twitter

00:12:05.959 --> 00:12:06.519
 and all that,

00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:07.439
 I'm not dumping,

00:12:07.659 --> 00:12:07.819
 okay,

00:12:08.199 --> 00:12:09.079
 Facebook and Twitter

00:12:09.079 --> 00:12:09.839
 and all that stuff,

00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:10.959
 that in our age,

00:12:11.019 --> 00:12:11.519
 what we do

00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:13.039
 is we exhibit ourselves

00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:15.259
 but don't examine ourselves.

00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:17.779
 That we like to exhibit

00:12:17.779 --> 00:12:18.620
 what goes on

00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:19.699
 but we don't like to examine

00:12:19.699 --> 00:12:20.459
 what's going on.

00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:21.659
 And the Bible here,

00:12:22.059 --> 00:12:22.439
 in fact,

00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:23.559
 the beginning of God's

00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:25.259
 answer to this question

00:12:25.259 --> 00:12:26.639
 and what he's going

00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:27.559
 to do in our lives

00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:28.519
 comes from us

00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:29.360
 recognizing that

00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:30.179
 we're disappointed

00:12:30.179 --> 00:12:32.740
 because as soon as

00:12:32.740 --> 00:12:33.439
 we realize we're

00:12:33.439 --> 00:12:34.059
 disappointed,

00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:35.720
 we can start to ask

00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:36.360
 ourselves the question,

00:12:36.460 --> 00:12:36.539
 well,

00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:37.399
 why is it that I'm

00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:38.699
 disappointed in this answer?

00:12:39.299 --> 00:12:40.259
 Why am I disappointed

00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:41.179
 with where God

00:12:41.179 --> 00:12:41.879
 is going in this?

00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:43.120
 And then I maybe

00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:43.799
 start to realize

00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:44.500
 that maybe I didn't

00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:45.319
 identify one of the

00:12:45.319 --> 00:12:45.860
 three reasons.

00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:46.579
 Maybe your reasons

00:12:46.579 --> 00:12:47.279
 are a little bit different

00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:47.980
 but all of us

00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:48.699
 will probably have

00:12:48.699 --> 00:12:49.659
 something in common

00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:50.819
 which is actually

00:12:50.819 --> 00:12:51.799
 fairly shocking

00:12:51.799 --> 00:12:52.600
 to understand,

00:12:52.740 --> 00:12:53.539
 especially for some

00:12:53.539 --> 00:12:54.519
 of us who are clergy

00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:55.399
 who have been

00:12:55.399 --> 00:12:56.379
 Christians for a long

00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:58.379
 time and it is this,

00:12:59.100 --> 00:13:00.480
 when I come to God's

00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:00.720
 word,

00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:01.959
 I often believe

00:13:01.959 --> 00:13:03.459
 that I am God

00:13:03.459 --> 00:13:05.159
 and I want to see

00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:06.559
 if God's word

00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:08.959
 meets my standards.

00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:12.959
 And when it doesn't,

00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:13.679
 I'm disappointed.

00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:18.059
 And I never stop,

00:13:18.179 --> 00:13:19.120
 often don't stop

00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:19.659
 to think

00:13:19.659 --> 00:13:22.519
 that I am acting

00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:23.279
 like I am

00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:24.879
 over God's word,

00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:26.500
 not learning

00:13:26.500 --> 00:13:27.679
 from God's word.

00:13:31.179 --> 00:13:31.839
 In fact,

00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:32.240
 actually,

00:13:32.339 --> 00:13:33.179
 that starts to begin

00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:33.719
 a little bit

00:13:33.719 --> 00:13:34.419
 of an insight

00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:35.059
 into us

00:13:35.059 --> 00:13:35.939
 as to how hard

00:13:35.939 --> 00:13:36.799
 it is for God

00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:38.500
 to actually,

00:13:39.699 --> 00:13:40.319
 that when God

00:13:40.319 --> 00:13:41.899
 hears our question,

00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:42.659
 part of what

00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:43.339
 he's wanting to do

00:13:43.339 --> 00:13:44.139
 is make me start

00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:44.679
 to realize,

00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:45.159
 one moment,

00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:48.939
 do I understand?

00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:51.100
 Can I understand?

00:13:51.339 --> 00:13:51.500
 Like,

00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:52.219
 even when God

00:13:52.219 --> 00:13:53.240
 starts to speak to me,

00:13:53.299 --> 00:13:54.179
 if I just dismiss

00:13:54.179 --> 00:13:54.699
 and write off

00:13:54.699 --> 00:13:55.480
 what he says,

00:13:56.419 --> 00:13:58.100
 what's going on there?

00:14:01.439 --> 00:14:01.839
 So,

00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:04.579
 in fact,

00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:05.480
 if you think about it

00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:05.980
 like this,

00:14:06.379 --> 00:14:07.179
 like one of the fears

00:14:07.179 --> 00:14:07.899
 that we have,

00:14:07.980 --> 00:14:08.879
 even maybe with what

00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:09.600
 I'm saying about

00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:10.819
 examining God's word

00:14:10.819 --> 00:14:12.519
 when we're disappointed

00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:13.000
 by God,

00:14:13.059 --> 00:14:14.159
 that it's an invitation

00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:15.120
 for us to examine

00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:15.939
 God's word

00:14:15.939 --> 00:14:17.339
 and to have God's word

00:14:17.339 --> 00:14:18.839
 in a sense examine me,

00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:21.139
 part of our innate fear

00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:21.980
 is that God

00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:23.040
 will crush me

00:14:23.040 --> 00:14:24.259
 if I do that.

00:14:24.420 --> 00:14:25.700
 But this passage

00:14:25.700 --> 00:14:26.160
 of scripture

00:14:26.160 --> 00:14:27.000
 doesn't crush us.

00:14:27.780 --> 00:14:28.540
 It doesn't crush us

00:14:28.540 --> 00:14:28.879
 at all.

00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:29.560
 In fact,

00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:30.240
 let's go back

00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:30.960
 to verse two

00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:31.920
 and just pay a little

00:14:31.920 --> 00:14:32.460
 bit of attention,

00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:33.220
 especially for the

00:14:33.220 --> 00:14:34.139
 first three verses

00:14:34.139 --> 00:14:35.120
 about something

00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:35.879
 very subtle

00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:36.600
 that goes on.

00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:37.960
 Now that we've realized

00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:38.460
 that we're a bit

00:14:38.460 --> 00:14:39.460
 disappointed with this

00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:40.280
 and maybe God's

00:14:40.280 --> 00:14:41.340
 asking me to examine

00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:42.220
 myself as to

00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:43.100
 my disappointment

00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:44.480
 and actually

00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:46.600
 give God

00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:47.120
 the benefit

00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:47.600
 the doubt

00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:48.139
 that maybe

00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:49.440
 he has some wisdom

00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:50.060
 to speak

00:14:50.060 --> 00:14:51.700
 into my situation.

00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:53.740
 So let's go back

00:14:53.740 --> 00:14:54.480
 to verse two.

00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:56.779
 In arrogance,

00:14:57.460 --> 00:14:57.919
 the wicked,

00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:00.240
 and just remember,

00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:00.560
 I mean,

00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:02.259
 it's just so you know,

00:15:02.460 --> 00:15:02.980
 wicked here

00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:03.639
 doesn't mean

00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:04.940
 really cool,

00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:06.159
 I have to have it.

00:15:06.820 --> 00:15:09.679
 It means like bad.

00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:10.279
 Okay?

00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:11.039
 It means like

00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:12.360
 rancid meat.

00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:14.159
 One year

00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:14.899
 when we lived

00:15:14.899 --> 00:15:15.879
 in our rectory,

00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:17.159
 Louise and I

00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:17.939
 went on holidays

00:15:17.939 --> 00:15:18.980
 and when we came back,

00:15:20.059 --> 00:15:21.459
 the power had gone out

00:15:21.459 --> 00:15:23.199
 while we were gone

00:15:23.199 --> 00:15:26.799
 and it had been out

00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:27.759
 for several days

00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:29.740
 and then it came on

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:30.819
 and all of the meat

00:15:30.819 --> 00:15:31.519
 in our freezer

00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:33.100
 had gone bad.

00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:33.860
 It was rancid.

00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:34.139
 I mean,

00:15:34.220 --> 00:15:35.679
 if you open the freezer up,

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:38.220
 it would make you gag

00:15:38.220 --> 00:15:40.799
 and that's how you have

00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:41.600
 to understand wicked.

00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:42.759
 Not really cool,

00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:43.720
 I got to have it,

00:15:43.779 --> 00:15:44.759
 I wish I could do it.

00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:45.980
 So in arrogance,

00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:46.559
 the wicked

00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:48.559
 hotly pursue the poor

00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:51.659
 like a sign

00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:52.679
 of being evil

00:15:52.679 --> 00:15:54.819
 and having evil

00:15:54.819 --> 00:15:55.240
 within us

00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:56.120
 is that we pursue

00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:56.639
 the poor

00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:58.559
 to take advantage

00:15:58.559 --> 00:15:58.939
 of them

00:15:58.939 --> 00:16:00.100
 and then the psalmist

00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:00.340
 says,

00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:01.100
 let them be caught

00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:01.819
 in the schemes

00:16:01.819 --> 00:16:03.159
 that they have devised.

00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:05.120
 For the wicked

00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:06.860
 boasts of the desires

00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.679
 of the soul

00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:09.240
 and the one greedy

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:09.860
 for gain

00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:10.699
 curses

00:16:10.699 --> 00:16:11.779
 and renounces

00:16:11.779 --> 00:16:12.439
 the Lord

00:16:12.440 --> 00:16:14.100
 in the pride

00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:14.940
 of his face

00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:15.380
 the wicked

00:16:15.380 --> 00:16:16.320
 does not seek

00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:17.040
 God

00:16:17.040 --> 00:16:18.760
 all his thoughts

00:16:18.760 --> 00:16:19.740
 are there is

00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:20.500
 no God.

00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:23.340
 In the original language,

00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:24.060
 you see that word

00:16:24.060 --> 00:16:25.020
 in verse 4,

00:16:25.160 --> 00:16:25.620
 thoughts,

00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:26.860
 all his thoughts

00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:27.860
 are there is no God

00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:29.040
 and look up to verse 2,

00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.780
 the second part,

00:16:30.380 --> 00:16:31.040
 let them be caught

00:16:31.040 --> 00:16:31.800
 in the schemes

00:16:31.800 --> 00:16:33.000
 that they have devised.

00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:34.740
 In the original language,

00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:35.960
 that's the same word.

00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:39.340
 it's the same word.

00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:41.759
 It could be translated

00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:43.480
 as all his schemes

00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:45.560
 are there is no God.

00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:45.960
 It's actually

00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:48.320
 a very, very clever thing

00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:52.800
 that one of the things

00:16:52.800 --> 00:16:53.500
 that can happen

00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.540
 to us as individuals,

00:16:55.060 --> 00:16:55.860
 we might still have

00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:57.420
 a very, very high IQ

00:16:57.420 --> 00:16:59.440
 and we might still

00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:01.240
 be unbelievably good

00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:02.519
 at using language,

00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:04.740
 but what characterizes

00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:06.359
 what's going on

00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:07.799
 between our two ears

00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:09.379
 is scheming,

00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:11.500
 not thinking.

00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:14.039
 In thinking,

00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.779
 we want to know.

00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:17.539
 We're curious.

00:17:18.879 --> 00:17:19.819
 In scheming,

00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:22.059
 we want to do

00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:23.259
 something to others

00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:24.920
 in such a way

00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:25.660
 that we come out

00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:26.279
 on top

00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:28.980
 and it's easy

00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:29.599
 for us

00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:30.940
 to have times

00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:31.599
 in our lives

00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:32.419
 where we think

00:17:32.419 --> 00:17:33.059
 we're thinking

00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:34.019
 and we are thinking,

00:17:34.139 --> 00:17:35.279
 but it's not thinking,

00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:36.879
 it's scheming.

00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:39.740
 And we can be unaware

00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:40.359
 of the fact

00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:40.980
 that that's even

00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:42.019
 going on within us.

00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:44.399
 And in verse 3,

00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:45.219
 it's impossible

00:17:45.219 --> 00:17:46.079
 to be translated

00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:47.399
 properly into English.

00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:48.099
 For the wicked

00:17:48.099 --> 00:17:49.179
 boasts of the desires

00:17:49.179 --> 00:17:49.799
 of the soul

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.959
 and the one greedy

00:17:50.959 --> 00:17:51.480
 for gain

00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.619
 curses and renounces

00:17:52.619 --> 00:17:53.219
 the Lord.

00:17:53.959 --> 00:17:54.719
 It's all,

00:17:54.859 --> 00:17:56.079
 it's idol language

00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:57.659
 and worship language

00:17:57.659 --> 00:17:58.899
 and it's as if

00:17:58.899 --> 00:18:00.339
 that there's a state

00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:00.899
 of affairs

00:18:00.900 --> 00:18:01.880
 for what the Bible

00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:02.600
 is calling wicked

00:18:02.600 --> 00:18:03.720
 that there's a type

00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.580
 of a worshipping

00:18:04.580 --> 00:18:05.320
 of the soul,

00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:07.080
 worshipping of my own soul

00:18:07.080 --> 00:18:09.160
 and worshipping gain

00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:10.220
 and it's as if

00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:11.080
 that there's a way

00:18:11.080 --> 00:18:11.640
 of me starting

00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:12.980
 to organize my life

00:18:12.980 --> 00:18:14.820
 whereby I not only

00:18:14.820 --> 00:18:16.600
 seek to exalt myself

00:18:16.600 --> 00:18:17.700
 and worship myself,

00:18:17.820 --> 00:18:18.680
 but I want to worship

00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:19.300
 two gods.

00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:20.759
 I want to worship myself

00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:21.980
 and I want to worship

00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:22.540
 prophet

00:18:22.540 --> 00:18:23.580
 and I believe

00:18:23.580 --> 00:18:24.480
 that there's such a way

00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:25.060
 of worshipping

00:18:25.060 --> 00:18:25.860
 both me

00:18:25.860 --> 00:18:26.720
 and prophet

00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:27.680
 that's going to be

00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:28.440
 good for prophet

00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.140
 and going to be good

00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:29.759
 for me.

00:18:31.320 --> 00:18:32.420
 And so it is

00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:33.560
 that when the prophet

00:18:33.560 --> 00:18:34.580
 is either just getting

00:18:34.580 --> 00:18:35.920
 the final word

00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:36.800
 in the conversation

00:18:36.800 --> 00:18:38.060
 or getting my way

00:18:38.060 --> 00:18:39.000
 in my relationship

00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:40.220
 or getting my way

00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:40.740
 at work

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.800
 or making more money

00:18:41.800 --> 00:18:42.780
 that if I don't get

00:18:42.780 --> 00:18:43.680
 those things happening

00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.660
 I'm depressed,

00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:45.520
 I'm anxious,

00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:46.360
 I'm frustrated

00:18:46.360 --> 00:18:48.880
 because it's confounding

00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:50.500
 my idol worship

00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:51.600
 and even,

00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:52.540
 and it's impossible

00:18:52.540 --> 00:18:53.440
 to translate properly

00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:53.960
 into English

00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:54.600
 and when it says

00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:55.420
 and the one for greedy,

00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:56.500
 sorry,

00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:57.079
 in verse 3

00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:57.960
 and the one greedy

00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:58.819
 for gain curses

00:18:58.819 --> 00:18:59.819
 and renounces the Lord

00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:01.420
 it's actually,

00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:02.460
 it's actually

00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.319
 in the original language

00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:04.039
 it's actually saying

00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:05.000
 blesses God

00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.559
 but in a particular context.

00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:08.359
 It's exactly like

00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:09.019
 what we do

00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:10.500
 if you meet somebody

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.480
 who's stupid

00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:13.059
 or you know somebody

00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:13.680
 maybe at work

00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:14.200
 or in your family

00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:14.940
 they've done something

00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:15.259
 really,

00:19:15.380 --> 00:19:15.559
 really,

00:19:15.660 --> 00:19:15.859
 really,

00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:16.519
 really dumb,

00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:17.079
 okay?

00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:18.940
 And they come into the room

00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:19.500
 after they've done

00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:20.039
 something really,

00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:20.660
 really dumb

00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:21.480
 and you say to everybody

00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:21.740
 look,

00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:22.559
 here's genius.

00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:24.559
 Okay?

00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:26.139
 So it appears

00:19:26.139 --> 00:19:27.299
 as if you're complimenting

00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:28.240
 but everybody knows

00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:29.099
 in that context

00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:30.259
 you're just rubbing

00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:32.659
 that person's face in it

00:19:32.659 --> 00:19:34.339
 and that's what's trying

00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:35.179
 to be communicated

00:19:35.179 --> 00:19:36.159
 in verse 3

00:19:36.159 --> 00:19:37.980
 that there's a way

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.579
 for us

00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.700
 to so worship

00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:40.839
 other things

00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:42.139
 that what we're saying

00:19:42.139 --> 00:19:43.039
 when we look at God

00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:43.599
 at all is

00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:43.919
 oh yeah,

00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.480
 there's God,

00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.539
 look how just he is,

00:19:45.619 --> 00:19:45.759
 oh,

00:19:45.859 --> 00:19:47.240
 look how great God is,

00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.440
 ha, ha, ha,

00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:49.379
 dummy.

00:19:50.379 --> 00:19:51.119
 And we might think

00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:51.919
 that we never do that.

00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:52.580
 I'm going to get to that

00:19:52.580 --> 00:19:52.980
 in a second

00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:54.340
 but here's the main thing

00:19:54.340 --> 00:19:55.880
 about these first three verses.

00:19:56.620 --> 00:19:56.880
 Remember,

00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.940
 look at verse 1 again,

00:19:58.600 --> 00:19:59.080
 anguish.

00:19:59.259 --> 00:20:00.080
 Why, oh Lord,

00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:01.620
 do you stand far away?

00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:02.320
 There's anguish.

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:04.340
 Why do you hide yourself

00:20:04.340 --> 00:20:05.460
 in times of trouble?

00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:07.220
 And now look at verse 4,

00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:08.740
 in the pride of his face

00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:09.920
 the wicked does not seek him.

00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:11.000
 All his thoughts are,

00:20:11.380 --> 00:20:12.680
 there is no God.

00:20:14.300 --> 00:20:15.420
 And the person who says that

00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:16.060
 is happy,

00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:18.360
 not in anguish.

00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:22.659
 Here's the point.

00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:26.059
 I am divided

00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:27.819
 and confused.

00:20:28.719 --> 00:20:31.000
 Sometimes I am in anguish

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:32.539
 over God's absence

00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:35.500
 and sometimes I consciously

00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:37.319
 and unconsciously

00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:39.240
 organize my world

00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:41.819
 to keep God absent.

00:20:41.819 --> 00:20:49.159
 I am in anguish

00:20:49.159 --> 00:20:50.279
 and I am in anguish

00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:51.659
 over God's absence

00:20:51.659 --> 00:20:54.299
 and sometimes I consciously

00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.159
 and unconsciously

00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:58.359
 organize my world

00:20:58.359 --> 00:21:01.159
 to keep God absent.

00:21:03.159 --> 00:21:05.099
 And I am not aware of it.

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.460
 You doubt it?

00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:10.480
 When a young man

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.579
 or a man of any age

00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:12.680
 is looking at pornography,

00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:13.480
 does he want God

00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.039
 to show up?

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.740
 When you're telling a lie,

00:21:18.840 --> 00:21:19.539
 do you want God

00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:20.140
 to show up?

00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:22.880
 When you're slandering

00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:23.559
 somebody,

00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:25.039
 do you want God

00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:25.680
 to show up?

00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:28.480
 When you're cheating

00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:29.380
 on your taxes,

00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:31.579
 do you want God

00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:32.100
 to show up?

00:21:32.600 --> 00:21:33.539
 When you're selling

00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:34.759
 something on Kijiji

00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.900
 and you tell the person

00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:36.920
 it's been lightly used

00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:37.840
 and it's two years old

00:21:37.840 --> 00:21:39.220
 and it's actually heavily used

00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:40.180
 and it's ten years old,

00:21:40.600 --> 00:21:41.380
 do you want God

00:21:41.380 --> 00:21:41.920
 to show up?

00:21:44.560 --> 00:21:46.140
 When you're overspending

00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:47.840
 on your credit card

00:21:47.840 --> 00:21:49.800
 to buy things

00:21:49.800 --> 00:21:51.980
 because you're feeling depressed,

00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:53.640
 do you want God

00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:54.180
 to show up?

00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:58.420
 When you read a Bible text

00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:59.640
 and it tells you to tithe

00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:02.500
 and you don't want to do it,

00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:04.080
 do you want God

00:22:04.080 --> 00:22:04.640
 to show up?

00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:11.840
 You see,

00:22:12.080 --> 00:22:12.980
 this psalm

00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:13.980
 is taking us

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:15.460
 in a very

00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:17.420
 startling direction.

00:22:18.560 --> 00:22:19.240
 You see,

00:22:19.600 --> 00:22:20.160
 and we'll see it

00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:20.680
 as we go on,

00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.960
 at no point in time

00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:22.940
 does this psalm

00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:24.080
 diminish the fact

00:22:24.080 --> 00:22:25.300
 that at times

00:22:25.300 --> 00:22:25.960
 in my life

00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:26.820
 I experience

00:22:26.820 --> 00:22:29.220
 God's absence

00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:29.800
 as anguish.

00:22:30.340 --> 00:22:31.160
 The psalm

00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:32.100
 is never going

00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:32.660
 to deny

00:22:32.660 --> 00:22:33.600
 that experience

00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:34.180
 at all.

00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:37.279
 and it's never

00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:38.400
 going to deny

00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:39.880
 that it can be

00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:40.820
 a very honest

00:22:40.820 --> 00:22:42.380
 question I ask

00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:44.299
 in my anguish

00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:45.120
 about God.

00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:47.740
 But now the psalm

00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.360
 is starting

00:22:48.360 --> 00:22:49.019
 to force me

00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:50.200
 to examine myself

00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:52.279
 and I realize

00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:54.320
 that I judge God

00:22:54.320 --> 00:22:54.980
 to see whether

00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:55.799
 he's going to meet

00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.600
 my standards.

00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:57.639
 I realize

00:22:57.639 --> 00:22:59.039
 that in fact

00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.740
 there's ways

00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.659
 in my world

00:23:00.659 --> 00:23:01.559
 and in my life

00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:02.500
 that I organize

00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.579
 my time,

00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:04.619
 I organize

00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:05.579
 my career,

00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.359
 I organize

00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:07.500
 my family,

00:23:07.719 --> 00:23:08.339
 I organize

00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:09.500
 my thought life,

00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.719
 that there's things

00:23:10.719 --> 00:23:11.319
 in my life

00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:12.099
 that I organize

00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:12.859
 in such a way

00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:13.459
 so that God

00:23:13.459 --> 00:23:14.519
 will be absent.

00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:18.400
 And I would

00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:19.740
 experience anguish

00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.779
 if he showed

00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:22.460
 up in those

00:23:22.460 --> 00:23:22.920
 times.

00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:28.039
 So it's actually

00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:29.200
 not a very simple

00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:30.299
 question to ask

00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:30.720
 God.

00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:32.500
 Why do you

00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:33.420
 stand far away?

00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:35.579
 And the Bible

00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:36.619
 starts to have us

00:23:36.619 --> 00:23:37.779
 examine ourselves

00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:38.720
 but not in a way

00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.599
 to crush us

00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:41.160
 as the psalm

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:41.799
 will continue

00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.539
 to go on.

00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:44.779
 You see,

00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:48.420
 he's not

00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:49.279
 blowing off

00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:50.180
 my question.

00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:52.940
 He's going

00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:53.399
 to more

00:23:53.399 --> 00:23:53.940
 subtly

00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:54.619
 continue

00:23:54.619 --> 00:23:55.240
 to probe

00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:55.920
 my desires.

00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:56.440
 Let's look

00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:57.259
 how he continues

00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:57.920
 to subtly

00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:58.440
 probe

00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:59.399
 our desires.

00:24:00.099 --> 00:24:00.460
 I think we

00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:00.920
 got up to

00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:02.579
 verse 4.

00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:02.960
 Let's look

00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:03.720
 at verse 5.

00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:05.680
 And this,

00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:06.119
 by the way,

00:24:06.139 --> 00:24:06.559
 is going to be

00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:07.339
 something very,

00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:07.700
 very,

00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.700
 very shocking

00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:09.720
 to us Canadians

00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.599
 in our culture.

00:24:11.379 --> 00:24:12.059
 The direction

00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:12.799
 that this psalm

00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:13.319
 is going to

00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:14.039
 go is

00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:14.879
 completely

00:24:14.879 --> 00:24:15.659
 and utterly

00:24:15.659 --> 00:24:16.419
 shocking

00:24:16.419 --> 00:24:18.460
 and counterintuitive.

00:24:20.139 --> 00:24:20.879
 Here's how it

00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:21.099
 goes.

00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:21.740
 Verse 5.

00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:22.819
 He's now

00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:23.379
 talking about

00:24:23.379 --> 00:24:23.899
 the person

00:24:23.899 --> 00:24:24.519
 who says

00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:25.240
 there is no

00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:25.679
 God

00:24:25.679 --> 00:24:27.480
 and likes it.

00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:29.500
 It's convenient

00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:31.879
 for my life

00:24:31.879 --> 00:24:32.599
 to say

00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:33.099
 there is no

00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:33.419
 God.

00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:34.940
 Verse 5.

00:24:35.179 --> 00:24:35.539
 His ways

00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:36.399
 prosper at all

00:24:36.399 --> 00:24:36.899
 times.

00:24:37.659 --> 00:24:38.299
 Your judgments

00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:39.279
 are on high,

00:24:39.419 --> 00:24:39.960
 out of his

00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.319
 sight.

00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:42.859
 As for all

00:24:42.859 --> 00:24:43.599
 his foes,

00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:44.559
 he puffs at

00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:44.779
 them,

00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.539
 outruns

00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:45.720
 them,

00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.179
 blows them

00:24:47.179 --> 00:24:47.480
 off.

00:24:48.439 --> 00:24:48.919
 He says

00:24:48.919 --> 00:24:49.179
 in his

00:24:49.179 --> 00:24:49.399
 heart,

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:49.919
 verse 6,

00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:50.299
 I shall

00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:50.720
 not be

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:50.939
 moved

00:24:50.939 --> 00:24:51.200
 throughout

00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:51.439
 all

00:24:51.439 --> 00:24:51.919
 generations.

00:24:52.159 --> 00:24:52.519
 I shall

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:52.960
 not meet

00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.419
 adversity.

00:24:54.159 --> 00:24:54.480
 That's

00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:54.960
 his motto.

00:24:55.659 --> 00:24:55.980
 That's

00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:56.579
 his organizing

00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:57.079
 principle

00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:57.279
 of his

00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:57.539
 life.

00:24:58.139 --> 00:24:58.519
 That's

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.019
 how his

00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.419
 religion

00:24:59.419 --> 00:24:59.619
 is

00:24:59.619 --> 00:24:59.960
 organized.

00:25:00.179 --> 00:25:00.359
 That's

00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:00.599
 how his

00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:01.000
 spirituality

00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.419
 is

00:25:01.419 --> 00:25:01.700
 organized.

00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:02.159
 That's

00:25:02.159 --> 00:25:04.659
 how her

00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:05.759
 secular

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:07.399
 life is

00:25:07.399 --> 00:25:07.720
 all

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.319
 organized

00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:09.220
 throughout

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:09.480
 all

00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:09.960
 generations.

00:25:10.099 --> 00:25:10.319
 I shall

00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:10.500
 not

00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:10.659
 meet

00:25:10.659 --> 00:25:11.059
 adversity.

00:25:11.179 --> 00:25:11.639
 Verse 7.

00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:13.039
 His mouth

00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:13.439
 is filled

00:25:13.439 --> 00:25:14.139
 with cursing

00:25:14.139 --> 00:25:14.679
 and deceit

00:25:14.679 --> 00:25:15.259
 and oppression.

00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.319
 Sounds hard.

00:25:16.399 --> 00:25:16.839
 We'll get to it

00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:17.139
 in a moment.

00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:17.679
 Under his

00:25:17.679 --> 00:25:18.019
 tongue

00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:18.639
 are mischief

00:25:18.639 --> 00:25:19.240
 and iniquity.

00:25:19.939 --> 00:25:20.399
 He sits

00:25:20.399 --> 00:25:21.139
 in ambush

00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:22.159
 in the

00:25:22.159 --> 00:25:22.519
 villages

00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:23.159
 and hiding

00:25:23.159 --> 00:25:23.559
 places.

00:25:23.700 --> 00:25:24.159
 He murders

00:25:24.159 --> 00:25:24.720
 the innocent.

00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:25.200
 One moment.

00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:25.659
 This is the

00:25:25.659 --> 00:25:26.039
 person who

00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:26.359
 said there

00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:26.639
 is no

00:25:26.639 --> 00:25:27.000
 God?

00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:28.259
 Verse 8

00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:28.700
 continues.

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.220
 His eyes

00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:29.819
 stealthily

00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:30.339
 watch for

00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:30.899
 the helpless.

00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:32.059
 He lurks

00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:32.639
 in ambush

00:25:32.639 --> 00:25:33.319
 like a lion

00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:33.619
 in his

00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:34.000
 thicket.

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:34.460
 He lurks

00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:34.679
 that he

00:25:34.679 --> 00:25:35.200
 may seize

00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:35.679
 the poor.

00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:36.519
 He seizes

00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:36.960
 the poor

00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.240
 when he

00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:37.740
 draws him

00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.220
 into his

00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:38.460
 net.

00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.279
 The helpless

00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:39.940
 are crushed,

00:25:40.080 --> 00:25:40.580
 sink down,

00:25:40.660 --> 00:25:41.019
 and fall

00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:41.440
 by his

00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:41.740
 might.

00:25:42.060 --> 00:25:42.620
 He says

00:25:42.620 --> 00:25:42.940
 in his

00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.460
 heart,

00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:45.039
 God has

00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:45.759
 forgotten.

00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:47.039
 He has

00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:47.600
 hidden his

00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:47.940
 face.

00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:48.740
 He will

00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:49.560
 never see

00:25:49.560 --> 00:25:49.860
 it.

00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:53.560
 His life

00:25:53.560 --> 00:25:54.140
 is organized

00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:54.620
 around the

00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:55.259
 absence of

00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:55.620
 God.

00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:57.120
 And surely,

00:25:57.460 --> 00:25:58.279
 as this text

00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:59.000
 goes on,

00:25:59.080 --> 00:25:59.820
 it's way

00:25:59.820 --> 00:26:00.539
 over the

00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:01.100
 top.

00:26:02.360 --> 00:26:03.039
 It's way

00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:03.680
 over the

00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.100
 top.

00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:06.259
 One of

00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:07.579
 the unfortunate

00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:08.179
 parts about

00:26:08.179 --> 00:26:08.519
 me being

00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.079
 on holidays

00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:10.099
 is that I

00:26:10.099 --> 00:26:10.679
 actually had

00:26:10.679 --> 00:26:11.439
 very few

00:26:11.439 --> 00:26:13.079
 conversations

00:26:13.079 --> 00:26:13.899
 about God

00:26:13.899 --> 00:26:14.819
 because one

00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.159
 of the main

00:26:15.159 --> 00:26:15.599
 ways I get

00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:16.299
 into conversations

00:26:16.299 --> 00:26:16.959
 about God

00:26:16.959 --> 00:26:17.679
 is I go to

00:26:17.679 --> 00:26:18.219
 a Starbucks

00:26:18.219 --> 00:26:18.779
 to work on

00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.319
 my sermon,

00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:20.279
 and when you

00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:20.699
 open your

00:26:20.699 --> 00:26:21.379
 Bible and

00:26:21.379 --> 00:26:22.319
 work on a

00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:22.759
 sermon in a

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.099
 place like

00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:23.500
 Starbucks,

00:26:23.679 --> 00:26:24.079
 it often

00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:24.599
 provokes

00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:24.939
 different

00:26:24.939 --> 00:26:25.619
 conversations.

00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:27.039
 And there's

00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:27.359
 this one

00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:27.919
 conversation

00:26:27.919 --> 00:26:28.439
 that I had

00:26:28.439 --> 00:26:28.899
 with a fellow

00:26:28.899 --> 00:26:29.259
 a couple

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:29.579
 of months

00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:29.879
 ago,

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.240
 and he

00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:31.779
 was talking

00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:32.419
 about how

00:26:32.419 --> 00:26:33.000
 to be

00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:33.439
 spiritual,

00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:33.740
 not

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.200
 religious,

00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:35.660
 was vastly

00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:35.960
 better.

00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:36.500
 Why is it

00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:36.960
 better to be

00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.580
 spiritual and

00:26:37.580 --> 00:26:38.080
 not religious?

00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:39.620
 Because there's

00:26:39.620 --> 00:26:40.100
 no God

00:26:40.100 --> 00:26:40.880
 judging you.

00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:43.400
 That's what he

00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:43.759
 said to me.

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.320
 I'm not saying

00:26:44.320 --> 00:26:44.900
 that's what he

00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:45.380
 said to me.

00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:46.400
 And then he

00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:46.640
 said,

00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:47.320
 but it's even

00:26:47.320 --> 00:26:47.740
 better to

00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:48.100
 believe in

00:26:48.100 --> 00:26:48.559
 no God

00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:48.880
 whatsoever.

00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.120
 In fact,

00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:49.580
 you can be

00:26:49.580 --> 00:26:50.320
 spiritual without

00:26:50.320 --> 00:26:50.960
 any type of

00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:51.460
 God existing.

00:26:51.580 --> 00:26:51.900
 It's far

00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:52.380
 better for

00:26:52.380 --> 00:26:52.620
 there to

00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:52.940
 be no

00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:53.340
 God,

00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:54.160
 because when

00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:54.580
 there's no

00:26:54.580 --> 00:26:54.880
 God,

00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:55.420
 that's when

00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:56.160
 prosperity

00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:56.680
 happens.

00:26:56.820 --> 00:26:57.160
 That's when

00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:57.680
 freedom

00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.279
 happens.

00:26:58.620 --> 00:26:58.980
 That the

00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.380
 more you

00:26:59.380 --> 00:27:00.240
 cast off

00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:01.140
 any notion

00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:01.460
 of your

00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:01.759
 God,

00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:02.120
 the more

00:27:02.119 --> 00:27:02.679
 free you

00:27:02.679 --> 00:27:02.799
 are,

00:27:02.879 --> 00:27:03.139
 the more

00:27:03.139 --> 00:27:03.479
 you will

00:27:03.479 --> 00:27:04.039
 prosper.

00:27:04.379 --> 00:27:04.799
 That's what

00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.279
 he said to

00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:05.459
 me.

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.539
 And I

00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:07.959
 said to

00:27:07.959 --> 00:27:08.119
 him,

00:27:08.479 --> 00:27:08.619
 well,

00:27:08.659 --> 00:27:08.979
 what about

00:27:08.979 --> 00:27:09.500
 the Soviet

00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:09.979
 Union?

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:11.939
 What about

00:27:11.939 --> 00:27:12.839
 communist China?

00:27:12.979 --> 00:27:13.339
 What about

00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:13.979
 Cambodia?

00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:14.879
 What about

00:27:14.879 --> 00:27:15.239
 Hitler?

00:27:15.379 --> 00:27:15.719
 He didn't

00:27:15.719 --> 00:27:16.139
 believe in

00:27:16.139 --> 00:27:16.459
 God.

00:27:16.739 --> 00:27:17.139
 Did that

00:27:17.139 --> 00:27:17.399
 bring

00:27:17.399 --> 00:27:18.019
 prosperity?

00:27:18.959 --> 00:27:19.579
 He said,

00:27:19.639 --> 00:27:19.739
 no,

00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:19.859
 no,

00:27:19.859 --> 00:27:20.099
 you have

00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:20.319
 to look

00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:20.459
 at

00:27:20.459 --> 00:27:20.879
 Sweden.

00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:25.599
 And I

00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:25.859
 said,

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.599
 how come

00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:27.259
 it's fair

00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:27.979
 for you to

00:27:27.979 --> 00:27:28.399
 point out

00:27:28.399 --> 00:27:28.799
 to me a

00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:29.059
 Russian

00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:29.500
 Orthodox

00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:30.899
 priest with

00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:32.600
 a $25,000

00:27:32.600 --> 00:27:34.019
 watch while

00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.780
 he's blessing

00:27:34.780 --> 00:27:35.940
 tanks about

00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:36.720
 to invade

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.580
 the Ukraine

00:27:37.580 --> 00:27:39.080
 as a

00:27:39.080 --> 00:27:39.600
 picture of

00:27:39.600 --> 00:27:40.480
 all people

00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:41.380
 who worship

00:27:41.380 --> 00:27:42.000
 Jesus.

00:27:44.340 --> 00:27:45.080
 And I

00:27:45.080 --> 00:27:45.759
 can't point

00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:46.400
 to Mother

00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:47.200
 Teresa or

00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:47.620
 a holy

00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:48.080
 person,

00:27:48.360 --> 00:27:48.980
 but when I

00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.480
 raise up

00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:50.280
 something against

00:27:50.280 --> 00:27:50.680
 your thought,

00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:50.980
 you're saying,

00:27:51.040 --> 00:27:51.120
 no,

00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:51.240
 no,

00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:51.480
 you're not

00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:51.820
 allowed to

00:27:51.820 --> 00:27:52.080
 look at

00:27:52.080 --> 00:27:52.560
 Hitler and

00:27:52.560 --> 00:27:53.120
 Stalin and

00:27:53.120 --> 00:27:53.240
 Mao,

00:27:53.280 --> 00:27:53.519
 you have

00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:53.880
 to look at

00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:54.300
 Sweden.

00:27:56.360 --> 00:27:57.420
 And his

00:27:57.420 --> 00:27:58.440
 eyes glazed

00:27:58.440 --> 00:27:58.720
 over,

00:27:58.800 --> 00:27:59.140
 he couldn't

00:27:59.140 --> 00:27:59.660
 understand it

00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:00.100
 because it's

00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:00.779
 so deeply

00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:01.259
 ingrained

00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:01.600
 in our

00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:03.320
 culture that

00:28:03.320 --> 00:28:04.380
 spirituality is

00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:04.800
 better than

00:28:04.800 --> 00:28:05.220
 religion.

00:28:05.400 --> 00:28:05.640
 Why?

00:28:05.800 --> 00:28:06.300
 Because in

00:28:06.300 --> 00:28:07.220
 spirituality there's

00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:07.840
 no judgment.

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:10.820
 God's judgments

00:28:10.820 --> 00:28:11.380
 are out of

00:28:11.380 --> 00:28:11.680
 sight.

00:28:13.900 --> 00:28:14.660
 And that when

00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:15.240
 there is no

00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.560
 God,

00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:16.200
 there's peace

00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:16.920
 and prosperity.

00:28:17.100 --> 00:28:17.519
 But this

00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.420
 describes

00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:20.220
 something more

00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:22.000
 like what

00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.800
 happens in

00:28:22.800 --> 00:28:23.279
 the Soviet

00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:23.519
 Union.

00:28:23.600 --> 00:28:24.200
 And it's not

00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:24.980
 just secular

00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:25.360
 things.

00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:26.480
 This describes

00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.140
 in this text

00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:27.759
 what's happening

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.600
 in Iraq.

00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:30.079
 because in

00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:30.279
 fact,

00:28:30.379 --> 00:28:31.119
 religion can

00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:31.699
 be organized

00:28:31.699 --> 00:28:32.240
 in such a

00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:32.439
 way to

00:28:32.439 --> 00:28:33.119
 actually keep

00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:33.619
 God at a

00:28:33.619 --> 00:28:34.119
 distance and

00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:34.559
 to deify

00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.179
 ourselves.

00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.000
 That's what

00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:36.740
 religion does

00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:37.219
 as well.

00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:37.539
 It's what

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.119
 spirituality

00:28:38.119 --> 00:28:38.980
 can do.

00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.219
 In fact,

00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:40.799
 at the

00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.319
 heart of

00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:42.279
 that in

00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:42.559
 fact,

00:28:42.659 --> 00:28:43.179
 what often

00:28:43.179 --> 00:28:43.819
 appears as

00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:44.379
 religion and

00:28:44.379 --> 00:28:44.879
 what often

00:28:44.879 --> 00:28:45.419
 appears as

00:28:45.419 --> 00:28:45.980
 Christianity,

00:28:46.179 --> 00:28:46.639
 what often

00:28:46.639 --> 00:28:47.179
 appears as

00:28:47.179 --> 00:28:47.639
 spirituality,

00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:48.459
 what often

00:28:48.459 --> 00:28:48.959
 appears as

00:28:48.959 --> 00:28:49.719
 secular life,

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.980
 is merely a

00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:51.599
 worship of

00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:52.119
 power.

00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.740
 A worship of

00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:54.879
 my power or

00:28:54.879 --> 00:28:55.980
 my tribe's

00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:56.500
 power.

00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:56.579
 power.

00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.339
 So it is

00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:02.680
 that a

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:03.200
 church can

00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:03.720
 be organized

00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.500
 in such a

00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:04.839
 way so

00:29:04.839 --> 00:29:05.319
 that when a

00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:05.839
 husband is

00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:06.500
 abusing his

00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:07.380
 wife and

00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:07.779
 the wife

00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:08.359
 complains,

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.119
 the wife is

00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:10.019
 rebuked for

00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:10.660
 not submitting

00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:11.079
 to her

00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:11.380
 husband.

00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:11.799
 That's a

00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:12.299
 worship of

00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:12.859
 power,

00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:13.779
 not listening

00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.099
 to the

00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:14.440
 Bible.

00:29:16.099 --> 00:29:16.440
 And so

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:16.960
 it is that

00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:17.819
 what is it

00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:18.799
 at the heart

00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.420
 of listening

00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:20.099
 to Oprah

00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:20.579
 and what

00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:20.960
 is at the

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.880
 heart of

00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:22.619
 Deepak

00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:23.279
 Chopra and

00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:23.720
 what is at

00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:24.099
 the heart

00:29:24.099 --> 00:29:27.179
 of Islam

00:29:27.179 --> 00:29:27.899
 and what

00:29:27.899 --> 00:29:28.279
 is at the

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:28.559
 heart of

00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:29.079
 so much

00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:29.779
 things is a

00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:30.359
 worship of

00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:30.859
 power.

00:29:31.179 --> 00:29:31.519
 What is at

00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.139
 the heart

00:29:32.139 --> 00:29:32.819
 of the

00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:34.480
 secret is

00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:35.719
 power.

00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:39.619
 Dostoevsky

00:29:39.619 --> 00:29:40.500
 very famously

00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:42.240
 said, and I

00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:42.659
 believe it's

00:29:42.659 --> 00:29:43.159
 never been

00:29:43.159 --> 00:29:43.639
 refuted

00:29:43.639 --> 00:29:44.959
 properly, that

00:29:44.959 --> 00:29:45.559
 if God is

00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:46.099
 dead, all

00:29:46.099 --> 00:29:46.559
 things are

00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:47.039
 permissible.

00:29:47.919 --> 00:29:48.359
 But what

00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:49.339
 this psalm is

00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:49.839
 saying is

00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:51.000
 something similar

00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.740
 but different.

00:29:52.219 --> 00:29:52.659
 What this

00:29:52.659 --> 00:29:53.319
 psalm is saying,

00:29:53.319 --> 00:29:53.740
 and this is

00:29:53.740 --> 00:29:54.179
 my next

00:29:54.179 --> 00:29:55.559
 point, is

00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:56.439
 that if I

00:29:56.439 --> 00:29:58.299
 am God, all

00:29:58.299 --> 00:29:58.899
 things are

00:29:58.899 --> 00:30:00.359
 permissible and

00:30:00.359 --> 00:30:01.000
 the weak

00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.919
 cower.

00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:04.879
 If I am

00:30:04.879 --> 00:30:06.879
 God, all

00:30:06.879 --> 00:30:07.519
 things are

00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.720
 permissible and

00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.259
 the weak

00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:09.939
 cower.

00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:11.559
 Now you're

00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:11.960
 saying, George,

00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:12.500
 that's just not

00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:13.039
 true of me.

00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.220
 Well, first

00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:16.480
 of all, I

00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:16.700
 think it's

00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:16.960
 what the

00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:17.559
 Bible say,

00:30:17.659 --> 00:30:18.599
 not George,

00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:21.139
 but is it

00:30:21.139 --> 00:30:21.740
 not true?

00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:23.839
 See, the

00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:24.240
 fact of the

00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:24.599
 matter is

00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:26.500
 that there's

00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:27.259
 probably nobody

00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:27.839
 here in this

00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:28.500
 room that

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.879
 has God-like

00:30:29.879 --> 00:30:30.439
 power.

00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:31.839
 We're

00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:33.480
 constrained by,

00:30:34.439 --> 00:30:35.019
 and we're not

00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:35.879
 all evil, by

00:30:35.879 --> 00:30:36.460
 the way, because

00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:37.679
 remember, we're a

00:30:37.679 --> 00:30:38.619
 divided type of

00:30:38.619 --> 00:30:39.579
 person and we do

00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:40.259
 want to do good

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:41.019
 things and stuff

00:30:41.019 --> 00:30:41.439
 like that.

00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:42.399
 And we do

00:30:42.399 --> 00:30:43.299
 sometimes experience

00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:44.000
 God's absence

00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.819
 as anguish.

00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:46.339
 But the fact of

00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:46.740
 the matter is,

00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:47.519
 if we try to,

00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:49.240
 let me tell you,

00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:51.099
 if I try to

00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:51.819
 just boss my

00:30:51.819 --> 00:30:52.579
 wife around and

00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:53.700
 tell her exactly

00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:54.319
 what she would

00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:54.700
 do, do you

00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:55.839
 know how well

00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:56.460
 that would work

00:30:56.460 --> 00:30:56.900
 for me?

00:30:59.000 --> 00:30:59.640
 Months later,

00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:00.460
 when she speaks

00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:01.200
 to me again,

00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:03.259
 after having

00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:04.220
 very properly

00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:04.960
 refused to do

00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:05.660
 every single

00:31:05.660 --> 00:31:06.380
 thing I tried

00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:06.940
 to boss her

00:31:06.940 --> 00:31:07.779
 around to do,

00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:10.019
 she would help

00:31:10.019 --> 00:31:10.759
 me to examine

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.539
 my conscience

00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.420
 in my life.

00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:14.279
 And so,

00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:14.680
 you know,

00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.700
 often we have

00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:16.319
 bosses that

00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:16.839
 push back,

00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:17.480
 we have kids

00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:18.180
 that push back,

00:31:18.279 --> 00:31:18.740
 we have people

00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:19.240
 who push back,

00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:19.700
 but what are

00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.140
 we like in

00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:20.579
 our thought

00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:20.839
 life?

00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:23.539
 How would

00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:25.299
 it be if

00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:26.079
 God was to

00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:27.279
 show up and

00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:28.120
 on that screen,

00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:28.940
 I'll use myself,

00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:29.480
 not you,

00:31:29.620 --> 00:31:30.259
 and God was

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:30.900
 just merely to

00:31:30.900 --> 00:31:31.220
 say, I don't

00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:31.519
 know what it

00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:31.779
 is now,

00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:32.200
 it's coming up

00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:32.900
 to 11 o'clock,

00:31:33.180 --> 00:31:33.700
 11 o'clock,

00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:33.980
 George,

00:31:34.059 --> 00:31:34.700
 from 11 o'clock

00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:35.160
 yesterday to

00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:35.680
 11 o'clock

00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:35.980
 today,

00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:36.779
 I'm just going

00:31:36.779 --> 00:31:37.180
 to replay

00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:37.880
 everything that

00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:38.220
 went through

00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:38.819
 your mind.

00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:41.519
 I'm going to

00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:41.980
 put it up on

00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:43.019
 that screen so

00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:44.120
 everybody can hear,

00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:45.519
 see the images

00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.200
 you were thinking

00:31:46.200 --> 00:31:47.079
 of and hear what

00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:47.660
 was going through

00:31:47.660 --> 00:31:48.180
 your mind,

00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:48.660
 how you

00:31:48.660 --> 00:31:49.940
 analyze situations,

00:31:50.080 --> 00:31:50.600
 what you thought

00:31:50.600 --> 00:31:50.840
 about.

00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:53.240
 I'm just going

00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:53.580
 to do that,

00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:54.040
 George,

00:31:54.540 --> 00:31:54.980
 because you know

00:31:54.980 --> 00:31:55.700
 in your mind,

00:31:55.860 --> 00:31:56.600
 that's where you

00:31:56.600 --> 00:31:57.420
 sort of are like

00:31:57.420 --> 00:31:57.720
 God,

00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:58.120
 aren't you,

00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:58.540
 George?

00:32:00.300 --> 00:32:00.900
 And I'm just

00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:01.460
 going to replay

00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:02.340
 all of the things

00:32:02.340 --> 00:32:03.440
 that you wanted

00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:04.360
 to do and

00:32:04.360 --> 00:32:05.080
 didn't want to

00:32:05.080 --> 00:32:05.640
 do and your

00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:06.380
 reactions to

00:32:06.380 --> 00:32:06.940
 other people

00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:07.440
 and what you

00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:07.840
 said.

00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:09.100
 And George,

00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:10.240
 the congregation

00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:11.500
 won't just do

00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:12.220
 like in your own

00:32:12.220 --> 00:32:12.840
 mind where you

00:32:12.840 --> 00:32:13.580
 have that telling

00:32:13.580 --> 00:32:14.080
 thought,

00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.620
 but they still

00:32:15.620 --> 00:32:16.400
 have to be with

00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:16.900
 you because

00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:17.300
 you see,

00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:18.340
 if I actually,

00:32:18.660 --> 00:32:19.300
 if all of a

00:32:19.300 --> 00:32:19.820
 sudden for the

00:32:19.820 --> 00:32:21.300
 last 24 hours

00:32:21.300 --> 00:32:22.100
 I just was

00:32:22.100 --> 00:32:22.820
 every single

00:32:22.820 --> 00:32:23.300
 thing that went

00:32:23.300 --> 00:32:24.380
 through my mind

00:32:24.380 --> 00:32:25.519
 actually happened

00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:26.380
 in real world,

00:32:27.380 --> 00:32:29.600
 people would

00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:30.060
 cower.

00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:39.800
 And all I would

00:32:39.800 --> 00:32:40.440
 think all sorts

00:32:40.440 --> 00:32:40.900
 of things were

00:32:40.900 --> 00:32:41.960
 permissible for me

00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:43.000
 and many of

00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:43.420
 those things

00:32:43.420 --> 00:32:43.640
 that were

00:32:43.640 --> 00:32:44.400
 permissible for

00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:44.759
 me would

00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:45.319
 lead people

00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:45.840
 to cower.

00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:47.440
 And you as

00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:48.019
 you watch it

00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:48.440
 all on the

00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:48.940
 screen would

00:32:48.940 --> 00:32:49.700
 be horrified.

00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:53.779
 And I actually

00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:54.200
 think I had a

00:32:54.200 --> 00:32:54.980
 pretty good 24

00:32:54.980 --> 00:32:55.440
 hours.

00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:58.240
 I had pretty

00:32:58.240 --> 00:32:59.100
 worse ones than

00:32:59.100 --> 00:32:59.480
 that.

00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:05.700
 You see,

00:33:07.420 --> 00:33:08.960
 this psalm is

00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:10.140
 trying to bring

00:33:10.140 --> 00:33:10.860
 to us that

00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:11.460
 if I am

00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:11.700
 God,

00:33:11.780 --> 00:33:12.140
 all things

00:33:12.140 --> 00:33:12.740
 are permissible

00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:13.060
 and the

00:33:13.060 --> 00:33:13.660
 weak cower.

00:33:15.380 --> 00:33:16.000
 It's trying

00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.520
 to communicate

00:33:16.520 --> 00:33:18.280
 to me that

00:33:18.280 --> 00:33:20.560
 I often

00:33:20.560 --> 00:33:21.460
 consciously and

00:33:21.460 --> 00:33:22.180
 unconsciously

00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:22.900
 organize my

00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:23.520
 way in such

00:33:23.520 --> 00:33:23.840
 a way to

00:33:23.840 --> 00:33:24.300
 keep God

00:33:24.300 --> 00:33:24.900
 far away.

00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.700
 And that I

00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:27.820
 actually think

00:33:27.820 --> 00:33:28.240
 that I will

00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:29.060
 be happier

00:33:29.060 --> 00:33:29.880
 for much of

00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:30.360
 my day and

00:33:30.360 --> 00:33:30.860
 much of my

00:33:30.860 --> 00:33:31.540
 life if God

00:33:31.540 --> 00:33:32.160
 is absent.

00:33:35.560 --> 00:33:36.320
 And that's

00:33:36.320 --> 00:33:36.860
 who I am.

00:33:39.040 --> 00:33:39.520
 That's who

00:33:39.520 --> 00:33:39.820
 you are.

00:33:40.140 --> 00:33:45.780
 Now, some

00:33:45.780 --> 00:33:46.100
 of you might

00:33:46.100 --> 00:33:46.500
 be wondering,

00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:47.300
 okay, George,

00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:48.100
 I have my

00:33:48.100 --> 00:33:48.360
 time.

00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:49.740
 Does that

00:33:49.740 --> 00:33:50.100
 mean the

00:33:50.100 --> 00:33:50.700
 Bible is

00:33:50.700 --> 00:33:52.160
 saying that,

00:33:52.900 --> 00:33:53.480
 okay, we

00:33:53.480 --> 00:33:55.100
 all sin, so

00:33:55.100 --> 00:33:55.720
 therefore you

00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:56.320
 can't say

00:33:56.320 --> 00:33:56.940
 anything to the

00:33:56.940 --> 00:33:57.740
 abusive husband?

00:33:58.320 --> 00:33:59.180
 You can't say

00:33:59.180 --> 00:33:59.960
 anything to the

00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:00.680
 person who's

00:34:00.680 --> 00:34:01.660
 kidnapping, part

00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:02.380
 of a kidnapping

00:34:02.380 --> 00:34:03.300
 ring of

00:34:03.300 --> 00:34:04.759
 kidnapping people

00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:05.259
 in a poor

00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:05.860
 country and

00:34:05.860 --> 00:34:06.220
 bringing them

00:34:06.220 --> 00:34:06.660
 to a rich

00:34:06.660 --> 00:34:07.380
 country to be

00:34:07.380 --> 00:34:09.119
 sexual objects

00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:09.719
 for men or

00:34:09.719 --> 00:34:10.099
 women?

00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:10.440
 Are you

00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:10.819
 saying that

00:34:10.819 --> 00:34:11.239
 you can't

00:34:11.239 --> 00:34:11.559
 say anything

00:34:11.559 --> 00:34:11.980
 about what's

00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:12.579
 going on right

00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.199
 now in Iraq

00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:13.819
 and Syria?

00:34:14.339 --> 00:34:15.319
 Because I'm a

00:34:15.319 --> 00:34:15.859
 sinner, they're a

00:34:15.859 --> 00:34:16.400
 sinner, therefore

00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:16.799
 we're all

00:34:16.799 --> 00:34:17.359
 sinners, therefore

00:34:17.359 --> 00:34:17.839
 we can say

00:34:17.839 --> 00:34:18.019
 nothing.

00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:18.539
 Is that what

00:34:18.539 --> 00:34:19.079
 the psalm is

00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:19.339
 saying?

00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:22.199
 Not at all.

00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:24.019
 In fact, the

00:34:24.019 --> 00:34:25.099
 psalm is very,

00:34:25.239 --> 00:34:26.079
 very powerfully

00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:26.900
 working at two

00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.639
 levels at the

00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:28.400
 same time

00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:31.300
 without confusing

00:34:31.300 --> 00:34:31.660
 them.

00:34:32.599 --> 00:34:33.360
 Let's look how it

00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:34.059
 continues in

00:34:34.059 --> 00:34:34.680
 verse 12.

00:34:35.780 --> 00:34:36.840
 It's not saying

00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:38.740
 that we merely

00:34:38.740 --> 00:34:39.860
 say that because

00:34:39.860 --> 00:34:40.740
 all of us have

00:34:40.740 --> 00:34:41.539
 this issue in

00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:42.139
 our lives of

00:34:42.139 --> 00:34:42.579
 thinking like

00:34:42.579 --> 00:34:43.119
 we're God, that

00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:43.860
 we can't say

00:34:43.860 --> 00:34:44.519
 that there's not

00:34:44.519 --> 00:34:45.440
 real evil that's

00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:46.700
 going on that

00:34:46.700 --> 00:34:47.519
 has to be spoken

00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:47.860
 against.

00:34:48.260 --> 00:34:48.820
 Look at verse

00:34:48.820 --> 00:34:49.320
 12 and

00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:49.680
 following.

00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:51.079
 Arise.

00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:52.019
 Remember, so

00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:52.920
 verse 11 says,

00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:54.039
 he says in his

00:34:54.039 --> 00:34:54.720
 heart, God has

00:34:54.720 --> 00:34:55.440
 forgotten, he has

00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:56.099
 hid in his face,

00:34:56.160 --> 00:34:56.720
 he will never

00:34:56.720 --> 00:34:57.220
 see it.

00:34:57.219 --> 00:34:58.019
 Verse 12,

00:34:58.099 --> 00:34:59.159
 Arise, O

00:34:59.159 --> 00:35:01.679
 Lord, O God, lift

00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:03.139
 up your hand, forget

00:35:03.139 --> 00:35:04.559
 not the afflicted.

00:35:04.939 --> 00:35:05.819
 Why does the

00:35:05.819 --> 00:35:06.679
 wicked renounce

00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:07.579
 God and say in

00:35:07.579 --> 00:35:08.519
 his heart, you

00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:09.399
 will not call to

00:35:09.399 --> 00:35:09.819
 account?

00:35:10.379 --> 00:35:12.359
 But you do see, for

00:35:12.359 --> 00:35:13.439
 you note mischief

00:35:13.439 --> 00:35:14.799
 and vexation, that

00:35:14.799 --> 00:35:16.019
 you may take it

00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:16.899
 into your hands.

00:35:17.199 --> 00:35:17.839
 To you the

00:35:17.839 --> 00:35:18.699
 helpless commits

00:35:18.699 --> 00:35:19.199
 himself.

00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:20.839
 You have been the

00:35:20.839 --> 00:35:21.519
 helper of the

00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:22.079
 fatherless.

00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:23.619
 Break the arm of

00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:24.259
 the wicked and

00:35:24.259 --> 00:35:24.879
 evildoer.

00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:26.339
 Call his wickedness

00:35:26.339 --> 00:35:26.959
 to account.

00:35:27.219 --> 00:35:27.919
 Till you find

00:35:27.919 --> 00:35:28.319
 none.

00:35:28.879 --> 00:35:29.779
 The Lord is

00:35:29.779 --> 00:35:30.939
 king forever

00:35:30.939 --> 00:35:31.379
 and ever.

00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:32.239
 The nations

00:35:32.239 --> 00:35:33.359
 perish from

00:35:33.359 --> 00:35:34.000
 his land.

00:35:34.359 --> 00:35:35.119
 O Lord, you

00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:36.239
 hear the desire

00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:37.139
 of the afflicted.

00:35:37.319 --> 00:35:37.619
 You will

00:35:37.619 --> 00:35:38.399
 strengthen their

00:35:38.399 --> 00:35:38.679
 heart.

00:35:38.939 --> 00:35:39.219
 You will

00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:39.939
 incline your

00:35:39.939 --> 00:35:40.879
 ear to do

00:35:40.879 --> 00:35:41.799
 justice to the

00:35:41.799 --> 00:35:42.500
 fatherless and

00:35:42.500 --> 00:35:43.019
 the oppressed

00:35:43.019 --> 00:35:44.159
 so that man

00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:45.000
 who is of the

00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:46.219
 earth may strike

00:35:46.219 --> 00:35:47.719
 terror no more.

00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:50.939
 What's going on

00:35:50.939 --> 00:35:51.159
 here?

00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:52.839
 What's going on

00:35:52.839 --> 00:35:53.059
 here?

00:35:53.059 --> 00:35:54.799
 Here's what's

00:35:54.799 --> 00:35:55.579
 going on.

00:35:56.299 --> 00:35:57.579
 First, my next

00:35:57.579 --> 00:35:57.900
 point.

00:35:58.739 --> 00:35:59.500
 Who is the

00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:00.139
 living God?

00:36:01.139 --> 00:36:01.940
 He's revealed

00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:02.199
 here.

00:36:02.299 --> 00:36:02.759
 Who is the

00:36:02.759 --> 00:36:03.380
 living God?

00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:05.320
 Helper of the

00:36:05.320 --> 00:36:05.619
 helpless.

00:36:06.299 --> 00:36:07.179
 That's one way we

00:36:07.179 --> 00:36:07.779
 can pray to him.

00:36:07.799 --> 00:36:08.559
 When we pray to the

00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:09.699
 living God, we can

00:36:09.699 --> 00:36:10.960
 say, helper of the

00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:11.279
 helpless.

00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:12.559
 That is your name.

00:36:13.340 --> 00:36:14.119
 And what is a

00:36:14.119 --> 00:36:15.219
 fundamental part of

00:36:15.219 --> 00:36:16.199
 becoming a godly

00:36:16.199 --> 00:36:17.159
 man or a godly

00:36:17.159 --> 00:36:17.460
 woman?

00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:19.440
 I use the

00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:20.519
 strength that comes

00:36:20.519 --> 00:36:21.679
 from God to help

00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:22.280
 the helpless.

00:36:24.740 --> 00:36:25.599
 Who is the

00:36:25.599 --> 00:36:26.260
 living God?

00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:28.119
 Helper of the

00:36:28.119 --> 00:36:28.420
 helpless.

00:36:29.220 --> 00:36:29.760
 What is a

00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:30.599
 fundamental part of

00:36:30.599 --> 00:36:31.420
 becoming a godly

00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:32.019
 man or woman?

00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:33.699
 I use the strength

00:36:33.699 --> 00:36:34.820
 that comes from

00:36:34.820 --> 00:36:36.820
 God to help the

00:36:36.820 --> 00:36:37.179
 helpless.

00:36:38.519 --> 00:36:39.380
 So what do we

00:36:39.380 --> 00:36:39.720
 say?

00:36:40.199 --> 00:36:41.240
 If there is a

00:36:41.240 --> 00:36:42.360
 man in here who

00:36:42.360 --> 00:36:43.280
 is abusing his

00:36:43.280 --> 00:36:44.500
 wife, abusing his

00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:45.699
 children, you are

00:36:45.699 --> 00:36:46.460
 doing wrong, you

00:36:46.460 --> 00:36:47.320
 should stop it.

00:36:47.720 --> 00:36:48.599
 If you are a

00:36:48.599 --> 00:36:49.360
 wife in such a

00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:50.820
 situation, you

00:36:50.820 --> 00:36:51.480
 should come and

00:36:51.480 --> 00:36:52.159
 speak to me or

00:36:52.159 --> 00:36:52.800
 should call the

00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:53.159
 office.

00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:54.139
 You need to deal

00:36:54.139 --> 00:36:55.079
 with that situation

00:36:55.079 --> 00:36:55.820
 and we will

00:36:55.820 --> 00:36:56.579
 support you.

00:36:57.460 --> 00:36:58.440
 What is going on

00:36:58.440 --> 00:36:59.059
 in Iraq?

00:36:59.480 --> 00:37:01.119
 That is completely

00:37:01.119 --> 00:37:01.740
 and utterly

00:37:01.740 --> 00:37:02.760
 abhorrent to the

00:37:02.760 --> 00:37:04.900
 living God that

00:37:04.900 --> 00:37:05.579
 you would kill

00:37:05.579 --> 00:37:06.840
 children who are

00:37:06.840 --> 00:37:08.280
 Christians because

00:37:08.280 --> 00:37:08.980
 they do not

00:37:08.980 --> 00:37:10.019
 convert to Islam.

00:37:10.679 --> 00:37:11.480
 That is a

00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:12.260
 horrible thing.

00:37:13.880 --> 00:37:15.019
 If you are a

00:37:15.019 --> 00:37:15.860
 slum landlord,

00:37:16.659 --> 00:37:17.240
 what you are

00:37:17.239 --> 00:37:18.459
 doing is pursuing

00:37:18.459 --> 00:37:19.379
 the poor to

00:37:19.379 --> 00:37:20.159
 their hurt and

00:37:20.159 --> 00:37:21.199
 hurting them and

00:37:21.199 --> 00:37:21.819
 you need to

00:37:21.819 --> 00:37:22.779
 stop, you need

00:37:22.779 --> 00:37:23.879
 to repent, it

00:37:23.879 --> 00:37:24.500
 is wrong.

00:37:27.379 --> 00:37:28.159
 That is what the

00:37:28.159 --> 00:37:28.859
 psalm is telling

00:37:28.859 --> 00:37:29.500
 us that we can

00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:30.579
 save, that we

00:37:30.579 --> 00:37:31.279
 should save.

00:37:33.159 --> 00:37:34.319
 That God gives

00:37:34.319 --> 00:37:35.079
 us strength, it is

00:37:35.079 --> 00:37:36.259
 his earth, even

00:37:36.259 --> 00:37:37.459
 the most mighty

00:37:37.459 --> 00:37:38.219
 emperor, if you

00:37:38.219 --> 00:37:38.699
 look at verse

00:37:38.699 --> 00:37:39.459
 18, even the

00:37:39.459 --> 00:37:40.039
 most mighty

00:37:40.039 --> 00:37:41.559
 emperor is an

00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:43.059
 emperor in God's

00:37:43.059 --> 00:37:43.379
 earth.

00:37:43.380 --> 00:37:44.559
 He never

00:37:44.559 --> 00:37:45.280
 relinquishes

00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:46.200
 sovereignty.

00:37:48.099 --> 00:37:49.180
 We are always

00:37:49.180 --> 00:37:50.140
 but a vassal who

00:37:50.140 --> 00:37:51.320
 receives from God

00:37:51.320 --> 00:37:52.500
 and we receive

00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:53.760
 our strength not

00:37:53.760 --> 00:37:54.640
 to pursue the

00:37:54.640 --> 00:37:55.680
 poor or oppress

00:37:55.680 --> 00:37:57.500
 them, but to

00:37:57.500 --> 00:37:58.680
 help the helpless.

00:37:59.519 --> 00:38:00.260
 And here I am

00:38:00.260 --> 00:38:01.000
 going to be very

00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:02.320
 politically incorrect

00:38:02.320 --> 00:38:03.400
 and maybe offend

00:38:03.400 --> 00:38:03.660
 you.

00:38:06.019 --> 00:38:07.660
 Who on all the

00:38:07.660 --> 00:38:09.200
 earth is the most

00:38:09.200 --> 00:38:09.660
 helpless?

00:38:09.659 --> 00:38:12.659
 helpless, the

00:38:12.659 --> 00:38:13.940
 fetus, the

00:38:13.940 --> 00:38:15.500
 unborn in a

00:38:15.500 --> 00:38:16.119
 mother's womb.

00:38:18.099 --> 00:38:19.819
 No person is

00:38:19.819 --> 00:38:20.819
 more helpless

00:38:20.819 --> 00:38:22.799
 than a fetus.

00:38:26.399 --> 00:38:27.440
 And what are we

00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:28.359
 called to do who

00:38:28.359 --> 00:38:29.219
 are strength and

00:38:29.219 --> 00:38:30.799
 have power?

00:38:33.259 --> 00:38:34.339
 As in the

00:38:34.339 --> 00:38:35.119
 National Post

00:38:35.119 --> 00:38:35.879
 this week with an

00:38:35.879 --> 00:38:36.659
 article by I think

00:38:36.659 --> 00:38:37.679
 it was Dawkins about

00:38:37.679 --> 00:38:38.559
 how if the baby

00:38:38.559 --> 00:38:39.399
 within your womb

00:38:39.400 --> 00:38:40.340
 is going to have

00:38:40.340 --> 00:38:41.579
 Down syndrome, the

00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:42.420
 just and moral

00:38:42.420 --> 00:38:43.340
 thing to do is to

00:38:43.340 --> 00:38:44.200
 kill that baby?

00:38:45.900 --> 00:38:46.260
 No.

00:38:47.960 --> 00:38:48.980
 God gives me

00:38:48.980 --> 00:38:50.460
 strength to help

00:38:50.460 --> 00:38:51.340
 the helpless.

00:38:53.579 --> 00:38:54.280
 And we have to

00:38:54.280 --> 00:38:55.240
 say something about

00:38:55.240 --> 00:38:56.220
 the unborn in the

00:38:56.220 --> 00:38:56.420
 womb.

00:38:57.360 --> 00:38:58.260
 And a culture

00:38:58.260 --> 00:38:59.820
 increasingly organized

00:38:59.820 --> 00:39:00.940
 in Canada to keep

00:39:00.940 --> 00:39:02.559
 God absent and as

00:39:02.559 --> 00:39:03.760
 God becomes more

00:39:03.760 --> 00:39:04.880
 absent the weak

00:39:04.880 --> 00:39:05.460
 cower.

00:39:05.460 --> 00:39:05.559
 God.

00:39:05.559 --> 00:39:06.460
 God is

00:39:06.460 --> 00:39:06.519
 going to have

00:39:06.519 --> 00:39:06.599
 to be

00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:06.720
 God.

00:39:06.720 --> 00:39:07.460
 God is

00:39:07.460 --> 00:39:07.519
 going to have

00:39:07.519 --> 00:39:07.920
 to be

00:39:07.920 --> 00:39:08.400
 God.

00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:08.840
 God is

00:39:08.840 --> 00:39:09.400
 going to have to

00:39:09.400 --> 00:39:09.639
 be

00:39:09.639 --> 00:39:10.400
 God.

00:39:10.400 --> 00:39:11.840
 And virtually every

00:39:11.840 --> 00:39:12.840
 politician in this

00:39:12.840 --> 00:39:14.019
 country is terrified

00:39:14.019 --> 00:39:15.099
 to speak about it

00:39:15.099 --> 00:39:16.360
 and even make the most

00:39:16.360 --> 00:39:17.579
 minute limit.

00:39:22.920 --> 00:39:25.599
 Now I don't say this.

00:39:27.199 --> 00:39:28.619
 There's undoubtedly in

00:39:28.619 --> 00:39:29.619
 this room today some

00:39:29.619 --> 00:39:30.300
 people who have either

00:39:30.300 --> 00:39:32.260
 had abortions or have

00:39:32.260 --> 00:39:33.119
 helped people had

00:39:33.119 --> 00:39:35.139
 abortions or counsel

00:39:35.139 --> 00:39:36.000
 people to have

00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:37.000
 abortions and I

00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:37.719
 don't mean to pick

00:39:37.719 --> 00:39:38.420
 you out and to

00:39:38.420 --> 00:39:39.000
 demonize you.

00:39:39.019 --> 00:39:39.639
 I really don't.

00:39:40.219 --> 00:39:40.900
 I really don't.

00:39:42.900 --> 00:39:44.299
 In fact, one of the

00:39:44.299 --> 00:39:44.940
 things you can pray

00:39:44.940 --> 00:39:45.839
 for me every week is

00:39:45.839 --> 00:39:46.759
 that I don't take

00:39:46.759 --> 00:39:47.779
 this opportunity that

00:39:47.779 --> 00:39:48.420
 I have to be up

00:39:48.420 --> 00:39:49.139
 front to try to

00:39:49.139 --> 00:39:50.880
 demonize anybody or

00:39:50.880 --> 00:39:51.920
 to further my own

00:39:51.920 --> 00:39:52.339
 power.

00:39:54.579 --> 00:39:56.500
 You see, the

00:39:56.500 --> 00:39:57.639
 Bible convicts us

00:39:57.639 --> 00:39:59.400
 of sin not to

00:39:59.400 --> 00:40:01.599
 shame us and drive

00:40:01.599 --> 00:40:02.599
 us to despair,

00:40:03.119 --> 00:40:04.299
 but to turn our

00:40:04.299 --> 00:40:05.400
 hearts to God,

00:40:06.299 --> 00:40:07.259
 to abandon

00:40:07.259 --> 00:40:08.440
 ourselves to God.

00:40:09.679 --> 00:40:10.679
 And the text does

00:40:10.679 --> 00:40:11.420
 this in a very,

00:40:11.579 --> 00:40:13.159
 very powerful and

00:40:13.159 --> 00:40:13.920
 interesting way.

00:40:14.019 --> 00:40:15.019
 Look at verse 13

00:40:15.019 --> 00:40:15.719
 and 14.

00:40:17.639 --> 00:40:18.299
 Why does the

00:40:18.299 --> 00:40:19.480
 wicked, maybe I

00:40:19.480 --> 00:40:20.159
 might have the

00:40:20.159 --> 00:40:21.799
 wrong, we'll start

00:40:21.799 --> 00:40:22.699
 reading until I get

00:40:22.699 --> 00:40:23.380
 to the right part.

00:40:24.359 --> 00:40:25.219
 Why does the

00:40:25.219 --> 00:40:26.199
 wicked renounce God

00:40:26.199 --> 00:40:26.699
 and say in his

00:40:26.699 --> 00:40:27.339
 heart you will not

00:40:27.339 --> 00:40:28.199
 call to account?

00:40:28.319 --> 00:40:29.199
 But you do see,

00:40:29.480 --> 00:40:30.799
 for you note mischief

00:40:30.799 --> 00:40:31.839
 and vexation that you

00:40:31.839 --> 00:40:32.719
 may take it into your

00:40:32.719 --> 00:40:33.159
 hands.

00:40:33.819 --> 00:40:34.500
 To you the helpless

00:40:34.500 --> 00:40:35.359
 commits himself.

00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:36.659
 You have been the

00:40:36.659 --> 00:40:37.279
 helper of the

00:40:37.279 --> 00:40:37.839
 fatherless.

00:40:38.359 --> 00:40:38.899
 Here's the thing,

00:40:39.000 --> 00:40:39.659
 verse 15,

00:40:39.779 --> 00:40:40.859
 break the arm of the

00:40:40.859 --> 00:40:42.199
 wicked and evildoer.

00:40:42.980 --> 00:40:44.199
 Call his wickedness

00:40:44.199 --> 00:40:46.000
 to account till you

00:40:46.000 --> 00:40:47.000
 find none.

00:40:49.000 --> 00:40:49.500
 You know, that's

00:40:49.500 --> 00:40:51.179
 actually, for those

00:40:51.179 --> 00:40:52.139
 of us who've suffered

00:40:52.139 --> 00:40:53.279
 under great injustice,

00:40:53.759 --> 00:40:54.919
 it's a very merciful

00:40:54.919 --> 00:40:55.439
 prayer.

00:40:57.500 --> 00:40:58.319
 You see, in this

00:40:58.319 --> 00:40:59.739
 culture where there's

00:40:59.739 --> 00:41:01.079
 three primary types of

00:41:01.079 --> 00:41:01.960
 weapons apart from

00:41:01.960 --> 00:41:03.900
 your fists, there's

00:41:03.900 --> 00:41:06.299
 the sword, there's

00:41:06.299 --> 00:41:07.119
 the bow and arrow,

00:41:07.519 --> 00:41:08.019
 and there's the

00:41:08.019 --> 00:41:08.340
 spear.

00:41:09.500 --> 00:41:10.199
 And if I am a

00:41:10.199 --> 00:41:11.119
 powerful person

00:41:11.119 --> 00:41:11.920
 oppressing another

00:41:11.920 --> 00:41:13.340
 person, and I pray

00:41:13.340 --> 00:41:14.440
 that that person's

00:41:14.440 --> 00:41:17.119
 arm be broken, I'm

00:41:17.119 --> 00:41:18.239
 not praying that they

00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:20.500
 go to hell, I'm

00:41:20.500 --> 00:41:21.019
 praying that they

00:41:21.019 --> 00:41:21.819
 become weak.

00:41:21.820 --> 00:41:27.720
 And this entire

00:41:27.720 --> 00:41:30.320
 psalm is couched in

00:41:30.320 --> 00:41:32.180
 mercy, that we

00:41:32.180 --> 00:41:34.140
 might heed God and

00:41:34.140 --> 00:41:34.980
 realize our

00:41:34.980 --> 00:41:35.440
 weakness.

00:41:38.559 --> 00:41:39.460
 And in fact, it

00:41:39.460 --> 00:41:40.980
 goes even deeper.

00:41:41.539 --> 00:41:43.400
 You know, who is it

00:41:43.400 --> 00:41:45.440
 in the Bible who

00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:46.460
 most prominently

00:41:46.460 --> 00:41:47.620
 experienced the

00:41:47.620 --> 00:41:48.360
 forsake, the

00:41:48.360 --> 00:41:49.780
 anguish of God

00:41:49.780 --> 00:41:50.700
 being hidden and

00:41:50.699 --> 00:41:51.339
 far away?

00:41:52.259 --> 00:41:53.299
 It's Jesus upon

00:41:53.299 --> 00:41:53.839
 the cross.

00:41:53.980 --> 00:41:55.079
 My God, my God,

00:41:55.179 --> 00:41:56.099
 why hast thou

00:41:56.099 --> 00:41:56.939
 forsaken me?

00:41:57.879 --> 00:41:58.980
 Who is it in all

00:41:58.980 --> 00:41:59.739
 of the Bible who

00:41:59.739 --> 00:42:00.759
 most completely and

00:42:00.759 --> 00:42:02.299
 utterly typified

00:42:02.299 --> 00:42:03.659
 committing themselves

00:42:03.659 --> 00:42:04.879
 to God, abandoning

00:42:04.879 --> 00:42:05.759
 themselves to God?

00:42:05.799 --> 00:42:06.339
 It's Jesus.

00:42:06.559 --> 00:42:07.460
 Into thy hands I

00:42:07.460 --> 00:42:08.299
 commit my spirit.

00:42:08.379 --> 00:42:09.359
 I commend my spirit.

00:42:09.439 --> 00:42:10.019
 It's Jesus.

00:42:11.460 --> 00:42:12.539
 Who is it?

00:42:12.539 --> 00:42:17.079
 And, and, well,

00:42:17.399 --> 00:42:18.599
 look at, look at

00:42:18.599 --> 00:42:20.559
 verse 15 again.

00:42:21.380 --> 00:42:22.559
 Call his wickedness

00:42:22.559 --> 00:42:23.519
 to account till you

00:42:23.519 --> 00:42:24.119
 find none.

00:42:24.900 --> 00:42:26.339
 The image there is

00:42:26.339 --> 00:42:27.139
 like if you watch

00:42:27.139 --> 00:42:28.900
 mystery movies or

00:42:28.900 --> 00:42:29.880
 read mystery novels

00:42:29.880 --> 00:42:30.519
 and you know there's

00:42:30.519 --> 00:42:30.940
 been a murder

00:42:30.940 --> 00:42:31.659
 committed and they

00:42:31.659 --> 00:42:32.440
 bring in the crime

00:42:32.440 --> 00:42:34.259
 scene investigators and

00:42:34.259 --> 00:42:34.880
 they look for the

00:42:34.880 --> 00:42:36.000
 DNA, they look for

00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:37.079
 dandruff, they look

00:42:37.079 --> 00:42:38.059
 for hair samples,

00:42:38.159 --> 00:42:38.500
 they look for

00:42:38.500 --> 00:42:39.019
 everything they

00:42:39.019 --> 00:42:40.299
 possibly can find to

00:42:40.299 --> 00:42:42.299
 get every trace of

00:42:42.299 --> 00:42:43.659
 that which was left

00:42:43.659 --> 00:42:44.440
 behind by the

00:42:44.440 --> 00:42:44.960
 evildoer.

00:42:44.960 --> 00:42:45.400
 And that's that

00:42:45.400 --> 00:42:46.559
 same idea that we

00:42:46.559 --> 00:42:47.840
 want God to pursue

00:42:47.840 --> 00:42:49.320
 every single trace

00:42:49.320 --> 00:42:50.039
 of evil.

00:42:51.920 --> 00:42:52.900
 And what we

00:42:52.900 --> 00:42:54.079
 understand on the

00:42:54.079 --> 00:42:55.460
 cross, well, here's

00:42:55.460 --> 00:42:57.079
 how I put it in the

00:42:57.079 --> 00:42:57.659
 point, if you could

00:42:57.659 --> 00:42:58.320
 put it up, Andrew.

00:42:59.340 --> 00:43:00.639
 God calls my

00:43:00.639 --> 00:43:01.920
 wickedness to account

00:43:01.920 --> 00:43:03.480
 till he can find no

00:43:03.480 --> 00:43:03.880
 more.

00:43:04.840 --> 00:43:06.000
 And this is what in

00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:08.079
 love Jesus really

00:43:08.079 --> 00:43:09.559
 bears for me on the

00:43:09.559 --> 00:43:09.960
 cross.

00:43:09.960 --> 00:43:13.220
 God calls my

00:43:13.220 --> 00:43:14.539
 wickedness to account

00:43:14.539 --> 00:43:16.980
 till he can find no

00:43:16.980 --> 00:43:17.400
 more.

00:43:18.519 --> 00:43:19.860
 And this is what in

00:43:19.860 --> 00:43:22.480
 love Jesus freely

00:43:22.480 --> 00:43:25.240
 bears for me on the

00:43:25.240 --> 00:43:25.639
 cross.

00:43:27.980 --> 00:43:29.860
 And even in these

00:43:29.860 --> 00:43:31.820
 few verses, verses

00:43:31.820 --> 00:43:33.460
 14 and 15, but you

00:43:33.460 --> 00:43:34.380
 do see for you know

00:43:34.380 --> 00:43:35.500
 mischief and vexation

00:43:35.500 --> 00:43:36.220
 that you may take it

00:43:36.220 --> 00:43:36.820
 into your hands.

00:43:37.400 --> 00:43:38.019
 To you the helpless

00:43:38.019 --> 00:43:39.260
 commits himself.

00:43:39.260 --> 00:43:40.400
 And actually the

00:43:40.400 --> 00:43:41.820
 original language, the

00:43:41.820 --> 00:43:42.480
 word there is

00:43:42.480 --> 00:43:43.820
 abandoned himself.

00:43:46.140 --> 00:43:49.140
 This psalm, on one

00:43:49.140 --> 00:43:50.940
 hand, it never reduces

00:43:50.940 --> 00:43:52.580
 our call to speak out

00:43:52.580 --> 00:43:53.420
 against evil.

00:43:54.500 --> 00:43:56.120
 It never diminishes

00:43:56.120 --> 00:43:56.660
 that.

00:43:57.200 --> 00:43:58.160
 And it never, not only

00:43:58.160 --> 00:44:00.160
 diminishes us not only

00:44:00.160 --> 00:44:01.000
 speaking out, but doing

00:44:01.000 --> 00:44:02.140
 what we can to help the

00:44:02.140 --> 00:44:02.520
 helpless.

00:44:03.100 --> 00:44:04.280
 As Jeremiah said

00:44:04.280 --> 00:44:06.020
 earlier, to love, mercy,

00:44:06.060 --> 00:44:06.640
 and compassion.

00:44:06.760 --> 00:44:07.860
 But at the same time, it

00:44:07.860 --> 00:44:09.240
 speaks directly to me

00:44:09.239 --> 00:44:10.500
 at my heart level, at

00:44:10.500 --> 00:44:11.759
 the very center of whom

00:44:11.759 --> 00:44:14.359
 I am, to recognize my

00:44:14.359 --> 00:44:15.419
 helplessness.

00:44:15.859 --> 00:44:17.199
 That I can't, by a mere

00:44:17.199 --> 00:44:18.659
 act of my will, stop

00:44:18.659 --> 00:44:20.179
 myself from ever trying.

00:44:20.239 --> 00:44:21.239
 Like, I still will

00:44:21.239 --> 00:44:22.879
 continue to organize my

00:44:22.879 --> 00:44:23.979
 life at different times

00:44:23.979 --> 00:44:25.079
 as if God does not

00:44:25.079 --> 00:44:25.500
 exist.

00:44:25.799 --> 00:44:26.619
 And there will be times

00:44:26.619 --> 00:44:27.619
 I don't want God to

00:44:27.619 --> 00:44:27.859
 show up.

00:44:27.959 --> 00:44:29.139
 And I'm helpless to

00:44:29.139 --> 00:44:29.719
 stop that.

00:44:29.779 --> 00:44:30.619
 And the psalm is trying

00:44:30.619 --> 00:44:31.519
 to help me to understand

00:44:31.519 --> 00:44:32.799
 that I am helpless.

00:44:32.800 --> 00:44:34.760
 And it's saying that I

00:44:34.760 --> 00:44:36.840
 am called, I am invited

00:44:36.840 --> 00:44:38.160
 by the living God.

00:44:38.360 --> 00:44:40.060
 God himself, the living

00:44:40.060 --> 00:44:42.160
 God, invites me to

00:44:42.160 --> 00:44:44.180
 respond to this, not by

00:44:44.180 --> 00:44:46.060
 more religion, not by

00:44:46.060 --> 00:44:47.880
 more Bible memorizing, not

00:44:47.880 --> 00:44:49.260
 by going to church more,

00:44:49.400 --> 00:44:50.680
 not by doing all of these

00:44:50.680 --> 00:44:52.140
 things, but for me to

00:44:52.140 --> 00:44:56.800
 abandon myself to God.

00:44:56.800 --> 00:45:02.300
 And the cross is an act

00:45:02.300 --> 00:45:04.060
 not only of unsurpassed

00:45:04.060 --> 00:45:06.260
 mercy, but of unsurpassed

00:45:06.260 --> 00:45:06.660
 justice.

00:45:07.660 --> 00:45:09.300
 Here's the shocking thing

00:45:09.300 --> 00:45:10.140
 about the cross.

00:45:10.180 --> 00:45:11.400
 When you put your faith

00:45:11.400 --> 00:45:12.580
 and trust, when you

00:45:12.580 --> 00:45:14.220
 abandon yourself to what

00:45:14.220 --> 00:45:15.460
 God does for you in the

00:45:15.460 --> 00:45:16.660
 person of Jesus upon the

00:45:16.660 --> 00:45:18.580
 cross, that God has in

00:45:18.580 --> 00:45:19.860
 fact looked into the

00:45:19.860 --> 00:45:20.760
 wicked of my life from

00:45:20.760 --> 00:45:21.340
 the moment of my

00:45:21.340 --> 00:45:22.140
 conception to the moment

00:45:22.140 --> 00:45:23.320
 of my death, and he's

00:45:23.320 --> 00:45:24.100
 looked at it until he's

00:45:24.100 --> 00:45:25.640
 found every single trace

00:45:25.640 --> 00:45:26.000
 of it.

00:45:26.000 --> 00:45:27.280
 And that's what Jesus

00:45:27.280 --> 00:45:28.800
 bears upon himself in the

00:45:28.800 --> 00:45:29.159
 cross.

00:45:29.460 --> 00:45:30.360
 It means that when I

00:45:30.360 --> 00:45:31.360
 accept him, when you

00:45:31.360 --> 00:45:32.119
 accept him as your

00:45:32.119 --> 00:45:32.900
 savior and as your

00:45:32.900 --> 00:45:34.619
 Lord, you are no more

00:45:34.619 --> 00:45:36.039
 forgiven as you enter

00:45:36.039 --> 00:45:37.199
 heaven than you are

00:45:37.199 --> 00:45:37.780
 right now.

00:45:40.159 --> 00:45:41.860
 Which is why as we're

00:45:41.860 --> 00:45:43.340
 gripped by the gospel,

00:45:44.539 --> 00:45:48.280
 as we're gripped by the

00:45:48.280 --> 00:45:51.119
 gospel, as disciples of

00:45:51.119 --> 00:45:53.460
 Christ, it creates within

00:45:53.460 --> 00:45:55.199
 us the desire to live for

00:45:55.199 --> 00:45:55.820
 his glory.

00:45:56.000 --> 00:45:58.820
 And use our strength to

00:45:58.820 --> 00:46:01.059
 help the helpless, as we're

00:46:01.059 --> 00:46:05.039
 gripped by the gospel, by

00:46:05.039 --> 00:46:07.500
 how God deals with our

00:46:07.500 --> 00:46:09.000
 helplessness and our

00:46:09.000 --> 00:46:10.960
 rebellion as it grips us.

00:46:13.139 --> 00:46:14.960
 A normal Holy Spirit-induced

00:46:14.960 --> 00:46:16.219
 desire will be to help the

00:46:16.219 --> 00:46:16.500
 helpless.

00:46:16.500 --> 00:46:17.500
 God bless you.

00:46:17.500 --> 00:46:19.179
 Please stand.

00:46:19.179 --> 00:46:19.219
 Please stand.

00:46:26.500 --> 00:46:27.639
 Let's bow our heads in

00:46:27.639 --> 00:46:27.900
 prayer.

00:46:27.900 --> 00:46:43.700
 Father, you are so kind to us

00:46:43.700 --> 00:46:45.019
 and so gentle with us.

00:46:46.280 --> 00:46:48.340
 We ask, Father, that your

00:46:48.340 --> 00:46:50.039
 word would enter deeply into

00:46:50.039 --> 00:46:51.700
 our lives and that your word

00:46:51.700 --> 00:46:53.579
 would form us and that we not

00:46:53.579 --> 00:46:54.880
 be those types of different

00:46:54.880 --> 00:46:56.440
 types of soil, Father, that

00:46:56.440 --> 00:46:58.619
 just ignore your word or allow

00:46:58.619 --> 00:46:59.619
 it just to come in for a

00:46:59.619 --> 00:47:01.400
 moment or get choked by weeds.

00:47:02.099 --> 00:47:03.380
 But, Father, that your word

00:47:03.380 --> 00:47:04.840
 would come into our lives and

00:47:04.840 --> 00:47:06.200
 that your word would bear much

00:47:06.200 --> 00:47:06.480
 fruit.

00:47:06.599 --> 00:47:08.480
 Father, turn our eyes to Jesus.

00:47:09.740 --> 00:47:11.340
 Grip us with the gospel that we

00:47:11.340 --> 00:47:12.519
 might know that we are to

00:47:12.519 --> 00:47:15.159
 abandon ourselves to you alone,

00:47:15.260 --> 00:47:16.179
 who are the helper of the

00:47:16.179 --> 00:47:19.220
 helpless, to you alone, who can

00:47:19.220 --> 00:47:20.960
 deal with all traces of wickedness

00:47:20.960 --> 00:47:23.579
 in our lives, that you alone can

00:47:23.579 --> 00:47:24.880
 deal with that which keeps us

00:47:24.880 --> 00:47:26.300
 separate from you, that you

00:47:26.300 --> 00:47:28.280
 alone deal with this in the

00:47:28.280 --> 00:47:30.139
 weakness of your son's death

00:47:30.139 --> 00:47:32.360
 upon the cross to redeem us.

00:47:32.559 --> 00:47:34.380
 Father, grip us by the gospel.

00:47:35.420 --> 00:47:37.280
 Make us disciples who live for

00:47:37.280 --> 00:47:37.820
 your glory.

00:47:38.659 --> 00:47:40.320
 And, Father, as we are gripped by

00:47:40.320 --> 00:47:43.119
 the gospel, may it do its proper

00:47:43.119 --> 00:47:45.000
 work in our lives, strengthening us

00:47:45.000 --> 00:47:47.440
 in our hearts to help the

00:47:47.440 --> 00:47:47.800
 helpless.

00:47:49.179 --> 00:47:51.019
 And this we ask in Jesus' name.

00:47:51.740 --> 00:47:52.059
 Amen.