Well, seeking the Lord's help, please turn with me back to the passage we read in the Old Testament, in the Book of Psalms, and in Psalm 83.
And for our text and for our thoughts, we shall consider verse 3.
Psalm 83, verse 3, where it says,
They lay crafty plans against your people. They consult together against your treasured ones.
Thinking especially about those words at the end, your treasured ones.
Psalm 83, most people would agree, is a little red psalm.
It's not as well known as the other psalms that we find in the Psalter.
Its neighboring psalms, Psalm 84 and Psalm 82, are quite well known.
Psalm 84, for its familiarity,
How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of hosts to me, etc.
And Psalm 82, because it is quoted by our Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament,
where he is affirming his divinity, where he is defending it.
But then, sandwiched in between these two psalms is this little red psalm, Psalm 83.
But this psalm, although it is little red by many,
it does have a special interest of its own.
It is actually the completion of Asaph's collection of psalms.
In the title of this psalm, we read that it was a psalm of Asaph.
Now Asaph, much like David, was a skilled musician.
He was one of the men responsible for ministering with song
before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting
until Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem.
He was responsible for writing 12 of the psalms that we find today in the Psalter.
Psalm 50 and Psalm 73 to 83 here.
The children of Israel were commanded to sing praises to the Lord
with the words of David and of Asaph the seer in 2 Chronicles 29.
He was indeed a very important figure.
And Psalm 83 was the completion, the climax of the psalms that he wrote.
This psalm also, as we mentioned before we sung it,
happens to be an imprecatory psalm.
Those psalms which many people don't like to read or to sing
because in it the psalmist is asking God to judge
or even to curse his enemies.
Why is this the climax or culmination of Asaph's collection of psalms?
Well, friends, could it be because this will also be our own end also?
For it is appointed for men to once die
and after that comes the judgment
where we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ
and give an account for everything that we have done, good or bad.
Perhaps this is what Asaph is showing us here
with the culmination of this collection of psalms.
But what is it that we find in this psalm itself?
Well, in this psalm, the enemies of God are pursuing the people of God.
The enemies are saying in verse 4
that they are going to wipe out the people of God.
In verse 12, they say that they are going to take possession of them.
This is the background as we come into this psalm.
And Asaph begins in verse 1
by asking God not to ignore what is happening
but for him to look down
and to act against the enemies of the people of God.
Now, the enemies of the people of God
are described as the enemies of God themselves.
As we see in verse 2
where it says,
For behold, your enemies,
God's enemies.
Now, the enemies are listed in verse 7, 8, and 9
where we read of 10 nations that are spoken of.
And commentators are unsure
if this is speaking about a particular time in Israel's history
or whether it's referring to their entire history collectively.
Those who think it's referring to a specific time
believe it's speaking about the victory won
during Jehoshaphat's time in 2 Chronicles 20.
But we're unsure what time exactly it may be referring to.
The psalmist, after listing the enemies of God,
he then looks back
and he looks back to times
where God delivered his people from the enemies.
In verse 9 and 10,
the psalmist's mind is drawn back to the Canaanites
with Tabora and Barak
with the help of Jael also
where God used them
to destroy the enemies of God.
And then in verse 11 and 12,
he's brought to that of the Midianites
where Gideon this time,
where the Lord through Gideon
brought deliverance for the people of Israel.
He's remembering what God did in times past.
And as one writer said,
recalling these events,
these events of God delivering his people,
gave Asaph fresh boldness
to ask something similar
in this dire situation.
The psalm concludes with Asaph
asking God that all the enemies of God
may know that the Lord,
Yahweh, Jehovah,
is the most high over all the earth.
The psalmist takes comfort in knowing
that God will judge his enemies
and deliver his enemies
and deliver his people, sorry.
And the reason he knows
that God will deliver his people
lies in the fact that he knows
that the people of God
are God's treasured hidden ones.
Take a look again at our text in verse 3
at the end of that
where we read that
we, the people of God,
are said to be your treasured ones.
God's treasured ones.
In the Psalter
and in the authorised version,
it says thy hidden ones.
In the New King James,
it says your sheltered ones.
In the NIV,
it says those you cherish.
They are all trying to convey
what this word means.
You see,
in the Hebrew,
it's actually only one word.
It's the word
tzafan.
And what this word essentially means
is how we,
the people of God,
are tucked away
and hidden away by God,
as it were,
as his most prized possession,
his most treasured possession.
I wonder if you've ever toured
around a football stadium before.
As you enter into their trophy room,
you can see all the trophies
that they've won in their history.
But you know,
don't you,
that these trophies
aren't the real trophies themselves.
They're just a replica.
However,
if a team has recently won a trophy,
where they actually have possession
of the real thing itself,
oftentimes it's locked in a cabinet.
And people are often even
prevented to not even touch it.
Well,
similarly,
that is how we are described
here.
As God's
treasured,
hidden
ones.
Locked away
and prevented
from being touched
by anyone
else.
We are said to be
God's treasured,
hidden ones.
But what more
do these three words
in English
and one word
in Hebrew
tell us?
Well,
with the time
we have remaining,
using Strong's definition,
I want us to consider
three definitions
that we find this word
to safan,
to mean.
Firstly,
as God's
treasured,
hidden ones,
we are
reserved.
Reserved.
And what I mean by that
is that we are reserved
in Christ
from all eternity.
Just like a parking space
might be reserved
for a very special person,
we are reserved
in a very
special
person.
The Lord
Jesus
Christ.
Before the wheels
of time
were set
in motion,
in eternity
past,
God chose us
in Christ.
And he chose us
not based on any
foreseen faith
or foreseen
merit.
It's not as though
God looked into
the future
and see who would be
good enough
and then he chose
them.
No,
friends.
He chose a people
simply out of his
mere good pleasure.
as the confession
of faith
tells us,
those of mankind
that are
predestinated
unto life,
God,
before the
foundation of the
world was laid
according to his
eternal and
immutable purpose
and the secret
counsel and good
pleasure of his
will,
have chosen
in Christ
unto everlasting
glory
out of his mere
free grace
and love
without any
foresight
of faith
or good works
or perseverance
in either of them
or of any other
thing in the
creature
as conditions
or causes
moving him
thereunto
and all to the
praise of his
glorious grace.
We are reserved
in Christ,
being chosen
in Christ
according to the
secret counsel
of his will.
This is one
aspect of what
it means to be
one of those
who are treasured
by God,
his treasured
hidden ones.
And friends,
this doctrine
of election,
yes it can be
hard for our
heads to wrap
around it,
but this doctrine
was revealed
to be a comfort
to the church.
You'll remember
how St. Paul
encourages the
churches in
Ephesus in his
first chapter
to the Ephesians.
He gives God
the glory for
the Trinitarian
work of salvation.
He speaks of
how the Father
chose us,
the Son
purchased us
and the Spirit
seals us.
I remember
hearing one
speaker
speaking of
that chapter
about the
ABCs
of our
salvation.
How we are
A,
adopted,
B,
blessed,
C,
chosen.
How the Spirit
has been given
to us as a
deposit.
Deposit.
How we have
received E,
every spiritual
blessing in the
heavenly places.
How we are
F,
forgiven.
How we have
received G,
grace upon
grace.
And the list
goes on.
It's a very
comforting chapter
to the church.
The doctrine
of election
is comforting
because it
truly shows us
that salvation
belongs unto
the Lord.
It deprives us
of any glory
or any honour
or any praise
and instead
gives all glory,
honour and praise
to the most
high God.
It shows us
that he is
truly sovereign.
And this
doctrine,
it actually
also gives us
confidence
in our
evangelism.
Lots of
people ask,
if election
is true,
why bother
evangelise?
What's the
point?
If God
has reserved
a people
in Christ,
they'll come
no matter
what.
Well,
friends,
it's actually
the case
that we
evangelise
because
of
election.
If it
was left
to the
freedom
of our
own
wills,
we who
are dead
in our
sins,
we who
are God
haters,
what's the
point of
evangelism?
We have
no care
for God
naturally.
Our God
is a God
who accomplishes
his purposes
through means,
through instruments,
even through
sinful human
beings.
And as faith
comes by
hearing,
and hearing
by the
word of
Christ,
God is
pleased,
even through
the foolishness
of preaching,
to bring souls
from darkness
into his
most marvellous
light.
Oh,
dear friends,
keep praying
for those
family members
that are still
strangers to
grace and
to God.
Keep praying
for those
friends
who
might appear
that they
want nothing
to do with
the things
of God.
Keep praying
for those
who are
God
haters,
because our
God is
able to
turn even
the murderous
heart of
Saul to
come to
know him
in an
instant.
Our God
is able
to change
hearts.
No matter
how far
your loved
one may
be,
in this
day of
mercy,
they are
never too
far for
the
almighty,
all
powerful,
God to
work in
them.
The Lord
can intervene,
for salvation
belongs,
as we've
mentioned,
not unto
us,
but to
the Lord.
Not unto
us,
Lord,
not to
us,
but do
thou glory
take unto
thy name,
even for
thy truth
and for
thy mercy's
sake,
says the
psalmist.
God has
reserved a
people in
Christ.
So then
the question
arises,
how can
we make
sure,
how can
we know
our calling
and our
election?
How can
we know
that we
are the
people of
God?
Well,
John Calvin
spoke about
how Christ
was like
a mirror
that we
look into
to make
our election
sure.
We know
we are
elect
by looking
to the
elect
one
of God,
the Lord
Jesus
Christ.
We see
our election
in him.
Look to
him,
friends,
tonight.
Look to
the Lord
Jesus
Christ.
Isaiah
writes,
look unto
me,
all ye
ends of
the earth
and be
ye saved
for I
am God
and there
is none
else.
There is
none else
we can go
to,
friends.
There is
none else
where we
can find
hope.
We can
be certain
that we
are safe
in the
arms of
Christ
for all
time
because this
reservation,
this being
chosen in
Christ,
happened in
eternity
before the
very
foundations
of the
world
were laid.
God
chose us
in
Christ.
But
however,
just as
we find
in this
psalm,
we have
enemies
and we
have an
enemy
looking to
take possession
of us
and looking
to wipe
us
out.
We have
him who
prowls
around like
a roaring
lion seeking
whom he
may devour.
Those false
Christs,
those false
prophets
looking to
deceive,
if it were
possible,
even the
elect of
God.
Satan
hates
that which
belongs to
God and
he especially
hates God's
most prized
possession.
He tries
to find
them
and so
as he's
looking for
them,
he's looking
to take
possession of
them and
he's looking
to destroy
them.
And so
as he tries
to find
these chosen
hidden ones
of God,
he cannot
go far
back into
the councils
of eternity
because he
is a creature
made in
time.
And so
as he's
looking for
these hidden
ones of
God,
he tempts
mankind to
sin.
He tries
to find
if there's
a secret
in them.
He tempts
mankind to
sin and
he influences
them to
go against
God.
God,
in his
searching of
the hidden
ones of
God,
he knows
that he
cannot find
where God
has hidden
them.
And so
he thinks
in himself,
if I
but tempt
them to
sin against
God,
to make
them God
haters,
to make
them filthy
in sin
and misery,
to make
them deserving
of his
eternal
wrath,
then surely,
surely God
would cancel
his reservation
of them.
Surely they
would no
longer be
his most
prized
possession.
Surely they
would no
longer be
his treasured
hidden
ones.
Surely I
will take
possession of
what God
says are
his.
Well,
does God
cancel his
reservation
then?
The enemy
managed to
tempt mankind
into sin.
Did he
take possession
of them?
Did he
wipe out
the people
of God,
those who
are reserved
in
Christ?
No,
brethren.
We,
as God's
treasured
hidden ones,
are not
only reserved
in Christ,
but secondly,
we are
hidden
by a
covering.
To
saphan
also means
that we
are hidden
by a
covering.
As those
who are
God's
treasured
ones,
as God's
hidden
ones,
we are
hidden,
as it
were,
in the
side of
Christ's
pierced
side.
Just as
Adam's
bride came
from his
side,
so to
we,
the
church
of God,
as God's
treasured
hidden
ones,
we find
ourselves
hidden
in
Christ's
side,
as
blood and
water pour
forth,
covering
them.
Even after
we sinned
against the
Most High
God,
after we
essentially
spat in
his face,
wanting
nothing to
do with
him,
after through
the temptation
of the
enemy,
we were
polluted
and covered
with sin,
having no
good within
ourselves,
being so
unlovable,
he continued
to love
us.
He
continued
to love
us with
that everlasting
love,
and he
continued to
value us
as his
most prized
possession.
He was
not letting
the enemy
have his
most prized
possession.
He was
not letting
the enemy
have those
who are
reserved
in
Christ.
He would
not,
and he
could not
let them
go.
And so
again,
in the
councils of
eternity,
the most
holy trinity,
the three
persons within
the Godhead,
they make a
covenant,
one with
another,
with their
perfect,
united
will.
And as
the Father
reserved a
people in
Christ,
Christ
agreed,
to
willingly
redeem
them.
The people
of God,
he willingly
agreed to
redeem them
through his
life,
through his
death,
through his
burial,
and through
his
resurrection
and ascension
up on
high.
As those
who are
God's
treasured
hidden ones,
we who
had fallen
from the
estate in
which we
were created,
we see that
the Son of
God would
not let us
go.
God
and so
he embodies
human flesh,
he becomes
a man,
and he
gives his
own life
as a ransom
for many.
As the
Son of
God gives
his own
life,
we see that
the demands
of justice
has been
met.
Through the
temptation of
the evil
one,
we who
sinned
against God
have an
infinite price
to pay
because we
sinned
against an
infinitely
holy
God.
And we
cannot pay
that price.
That's why
hell is
eternal,
because we
cannot pay
an infinite
price that
we owe.
But Christ,
friends,
he who is
of himself
of infinite
value,
because he
himself is
divine,
took that
punishment
upon himself.
An infinite
price paid
by an infinite
person.
He met
the demands
that was
due to us
in himself.
He took
our punishment,
that curse
that was ours,
he took
upon himself.
That hell
that awaited
us for our
many sins,
he poured
upon himself
willingly
for his
most prized
possession.
Oh,
dear brethren,
as God
treasured
hidden ones,
we are
hidden by
a covering
of his
blood.
It's like
the Passover
as we see
in the Old
Testament.
It's what
the Passover
lamb was
looking ahead
to,
what he was
pointing to.
When the
angel of the
Lord was
sent to
bring death
upon the
firstborn of
all those
who were in
Egypt,
he would
pass by
and not
kill anyone
in the
house which
had the
blood on
the door,
those homes
that were
covered by
the blood.
And you
know,
friends,
in that
time,
I'm sure
many of
the Israelites
probably had
weak faith.
Many of
them probably
struggled with
many sins.
But we
find that
the reason
why the
angel of
the Lord
doesn't
smite them
is not
because they
had a
great,
bold faith.
It's not
because they
were seen
to be
sinless,
but it
is only
because there
was blood
on the
door.
Friends,
we are
forgiven,
not for
any efforts
we make
on our
own,
not for
any great
acts of
faith,
but only
by the
blood of
Jesus
Christ are
we covered
in the
sight of
God.
As the
late
Jonathan
Edwards
said,
you contribute
nothing to
your salvation
except the
sin that
made it
necessary.
Nothing
except the
sin that
made it
necessary.
By his
blood,
through the
blood of
the Son,
we find
forgiveness.
We find
ourselves
under the
shadow of
his wing,
hidden from
any harm
that may
befall us.
If we
continued to
sing our
opening
psalm,
we would
have sung
there,
no ill,
that no
plague shall
near thy
dwelling
come,
no ill
shall thee
befall,
for thee
to keep
in all
thy ways
his angels
charge,
he shall.
Hidden
from all
harm,
forgiven
and covered
by his
blood.
We are
cleansed and
covered by
his blood.
We are
also cleansed
with water,
I mentioned
at the start,
how we
are hidden
as it
were in
Christ's
side,
where both
blood and
water poured
out.
This water
can show
us the
water which
Christ said
when he
said,
whoever drinks
of that
water,
I will
give him,
sorry,
whoever drinks
of the
water that
I will
give him
will become
in him
a spring
of water
welling up
to eternal
life.
In Christ
we have
new life,
we are
given a
new identity,
and oh
how much
the world
today,
in a world
filled with
such confusion
and such
lies,
struggles
with
identity.
Beloved
of God,
as God's
treasured
ones,
our identity
is in
Christ.
Our identity
is not in
ourselves.
When we
come to
faith,
our past
self is
dead.
Our sins
do not
define us.
we are
a new
creature,
a new
creation.
Is that
not what
St. Paul
said in
our New
Testament
reading,
in Colossians
chapter 3,
but we
read there,
for you
have died
and your
life is
hidden with
Christ
in God.
Our old
selves have
died.
Those sins
which severed
our communion
with God
have now
been hidden
and thrown
into the
sea of
his forgetfulness,
has
given us.
He
has
been
!
He
has
removed
in his
love
all our
iniquity.
All our
iniquity,
brothers and
sisters,
those very
regrettable
sins of
our youth
and of our
past,
God has
removed in
his love.
love.
Those
present
darling
sins
that we
struggle
with today,
God has
removed in
his love.
Those sins
that we
shall commit
in the
future,
for there
is none
that sins
not,
God has
removed
in his
love
for God's
treasured
hidden
ones.
In
Christ we
have a
covering,
and if we
have been
covered,
friends,
by he
who is
the light
of the
world,
should we
not also
let our
light so
shine before
men,
that others
may see
your good
works,
and glorify
your Father
who is
in heaven.
Let our
light shine
in our
homes,
in our
workplaces,
in our
communities,
that they
may see
our good
works,
good works
that we
do not
to get
saved,
but because
we are
saved,
and that
they might
see him
who is
the light
of the
world,
oh,
that they
would see
him,
and that
they would
honour,
and praise
him,
for he
is worthy
of all
glory,
honour,
and praise,
friends.
We,
as God's
treasured
hidden ones,
friends,
should we
not be
encouraged,
and motivated,
to serve,
and to
live,
for him,
who is our
great,
sovereign
Lord,
and who
has done
all things
necessary for
our
salvation.
we have
been
reserved
in
Christ,
chosen
in
him
before
the
foundation
of
the
world.
We
have
been
hidden
by a
covering
of
his
blood.
And
lastly,
friends,
very briefly,
moving on to a
third and
final heading,
we are
protected.
To
Safan also
means we
are
protected.
You know,
this word,
Safan,
is the
same word
used for
when Moses'
family hid
him.
They hid
him because
the Pharaoh
saw that
the Israelites
were growing
in might
and in
number.
And so
the Pharaoh
made a
decree.
He made
a decree
that all
the baby
boys of
Israel
should be
murdered.
But
Moses'
family
chose
rather to
serve God
than men,
and they
hid him.
they hid
him to
try and
stop
the
Pharaohs
from
killing
them.
And
this
same
Moses,
who was
hidden
by his
parents,
he was
one who
could not
be overcome
by the
Egyptians,
but rather
he was the
one who
led the
children of
Israel out
of Egypt,
out of the
land of
bondage,
and even
through the
Red Sea.
he was
one who
brought
them out
of bondage,
out of
slavery.
Just as
Moses was
protected from
being murdered
by the
evil one,
so we
too in
Christ,
as God's
treasured
hidden ones,
are protected
from leaving
Christ.
Or perhaps
I should say
that we are
protected from
Christ leaving
us,
because it
is him
who works
in us.
This is
often a
worry that
some people
have.
In fact,
there are
some those,
perhaps they
may be here
tonight,
that don't
want to
profess their
faith in
the fear
that in
the future
they might
fall away.
They're
scared that
they might
bring shame
upon the
name of
Christ,
and so
they refuse
to profess
faith.
Oh,
friends,
we do not
persevere in
the faith
because of
our own
efforts or
because of
anything we
do.
We only
preserve in
the faith
because he
which began
a good work
in us
will bring
it to
completion.
He
produces
in us,
he performs
in us,
he works
in us.
it is
Christ who
said,
I give
them eternal
life and
they will
never perish
and no one
will snatch
them out of
my hand,
no one.
My Father
who has
given them
to me is
greater than
all and
no one is
able to
snatch them
out of
the Father's
hand.
But we
are secure
in the
hands of
Christ and
of the
Father.
There is
none who
is able to
snatch us
out,
friends.
As one
writer of
old said,
we are
secure,
not because
we hold
tightly to
Jesus,
but because
he holds
tightly to
us.
He who
called you
is faithful
friends.
He will
lead you
by the
hand until
in Zion
you appear
before the
Lord at
length.
As well
as
saphan
being the
word used
for how
Moses was
hidden.
It's also
the same
word used
for when
the prostitute
Rahab
hid the
spies.
She hid
them and
their lives
were preserved.
And then
the children
of Israel
eventually
went on
to conquer
and enter
into the
promised land,
bringing
Rahab and
all who
were found
in her
household
with them.
In like
manner then,
we as
God's
treasured
ones,
as we
journey this
wilderness of
life,
going from
strength
to strength
until we
reach the
promised land
of glory.
We are
protected from
the Lord,
from the
enemies who
seek for
our eternal
life.
Christ has
conquered all
the enemies,
friends,
even death
itself.
O death,
where is
thy sting?
O grave,
where is
thy victory?
Thanks be
to God,
which
giveth us
the victory
through our
Lord Jesus
Christ,
says the
Apostle Paul.
In Christ,
friends,
we are
protected.
The
Pharaohs,
they cannot
take us
away.
The Lord
provides a
way for
us out
of Egypt,
the land
of bondage,
and he
also provides
a way for
us through
the waters
of judgment.
You'll
remember as
the children
of Israel
were exiting
the land
of Egypt,
how the
Egyptians
followed
them,
they pursued
them,
they were
going to
take possession
of them,
they were
going to
destroy
them,
but the
Lord
provided a
way for
the Israelites
to walk
through the
Red Sea.
And what
happened to
the Egyptians,
friends?
What happened
to the
Pharaohs?
What happened
to the
enemies of
God?
Well,
the waters
closed in
and they
perished.
They were
consumed by
the waters
of God's
judgment,
but not
his people,
friends,
not his
treasured
ones.
As God's
hidden ones,
he also
provides a
way for
us to
enter into
the promised
land,
since he
has conquered
over all
of his
enemies.
He has
nobody else
to face.
He has
faced them
all and
he has
conquered
them all,
and so he
will lead
us to
the promised
land.
God's
people,
his
treasured
ones,
his
hidden
ones,
his
most
prized
possession.
And as
the enemy
has been
trying to
find these
hidden ones
of God,
he saw
that he
could not
find them.
he
couldn't
find where
they were
hidden.
And then
he began
to try
through his
temptations
and flew
his
influences
to cause
these people
to no
longer be
God's
most
treasured
possession,
his
most
prized
possession,
to instead
be his
own
possession,
the enemy's
possession.
But he
could not,
friends.
And he
continues
today,
trying to
cause doubt
and deception
to deceive
even the
elect,
trying to
prevent them
from getting
into glory.
But friends,
he cannot.
Our salvation
is secure
in Christ.
We have
been reserved,
we have
been covered,
and we
were and
we are
protected
from any
harm that
may prevent
us from
entering
into glory.
We are
God's hidden
ones,
God's
treasured
ones.
As we
close tonight,
friends,
I want to
ask you a
question.
question,
how does
God view
you?
How does
God view
you?
We are
often asked
the question,
what do you
think about
God?
Or what do
you think
about Jesus
Christ?
But how is
it that the
Lord views
you?
Can you say
with one of
old,
I am my
beloved,
it,
and my
beloved
is mine?
Can you
say that
despite your
many
shortcomings,
despite your
inability to
do any
good,
despite your
utter pollution
in sin
and in
misery,
that you
are God's
treasured,
hidden
one.
One he has
reserved,
one he has
covered,
and one
he protects.
You can
know,
friends,
you can
know you
have eternal
life by
believing on
the name
of the
Son of
God.
You can
be in awe
and wonder
at his
marvelous
grace,
grace which
brought us
from darkness
into his
most marvelous
light.
How could
we not
but turn
to him,
friends?
How shall
we escape
if we
neglect
so great
a salvation?
God has
revealed
through his
word that
Christ has
done everything
necessary for
us.
Christ is
enough.
May the
Lord be
pleased to
show these
truths to
you.
I may be
pleased to
bless our
meditations.
Amen.
Let us
conclude by
singing to
God's
praise.
In
Sing
Psalms
and in
Psalm 31.
This is on
page 37
of the
blue
psalm
books.
Psalm 31
we shall
sing from
verse 19
to the
verse 24
to the
end.
The tune
is rocking
him.
psalm.
In this
psalm,
the
psalmist
after
acknowledging
God's
goodness
to
himself
and to
others,
he
encourages
himself
and others
to firmly
trust in
the Lord.
And that
is indeed
what we
are to do
also.
We all
have a
duty here
tonight
as you
hear the
word of
God to
trust in
the Lord.
We shall
sing from
verse 19.
Your
goodness,
Lord,
is very
great,
prepared for
those who
fear your
name.
You show
your goodness
openly to
all who
your protection
claim.
Your presence
hides and
shelters them
from those
who plot to
take their
life, as we
considered in
the sermon.
And in
your tent
you keep
them safe
from evil
tongues that
stir up
strife.
The Lord
be praised
because he
showed the
wonder of
his love
to me
when in
a city
I was
trapped,
surrounded
by the
enemy.
In my
alarm I
rashly
said that
I was
hidden
from your
eyes.
But when
I called
to you
for help
in grace
you listened
to my
cries.
O love
the Lord
all you
his saints,
the faithful
will be
kept by
God,
but he
will give
the proud
their
true.
Be strong,
take heart,
hope in
the Lord.
And that
is indeed
what we
are to
do,
friends.
Be strong,
take heart,
hope in
the Lord.
We shall
stand with
Abel as
we sing
these
verses of
Psalm 31
19 to
the end
to God's
praise.
God's
praise.
Prepare for
those who
hear your
name,
to show
your goodness
openly,
to honor
your protection
name.
Good
presence
hides
such
shelters
men,
from
those who
fought
to take
their
life,
and in
your
hand
you
gave
them
safe,
from
evil
times
that
stir
us
try.
Our
Lord
be
praised
because
he
showed
the
wonder
of
his
love
to
me.
When
in
a
city
I
was
not
surrounded
by
the
enemy,
and
I
alone
I
must
be
said
that
I
was
hidden
from
your
eyes,
but
when
I
call
to
you
for
help,
in
grace
you
listen
to
my
kind.
O
love
the
Lord,
all
you
best
saints,
the
faithful
wealth
he
kept
by
God,
but
he
will
give
a
brother
who
dares
you,
his
strong
take
heart,
open
in
the
Lord.
Let us
conclude
with a
word of
prayer.
Our
gracious
Father,
we give
thanks
that
thou
indeed
has
a
most
prized
possession,
and we
give
thanks
that thou
has
been
pleased
to
reserve
us,
to
cover
us,
and to
protect
us.
And so
help us
then,
as we
have
just
sung,
to
be
strong,
to
take
heart,
and to
hope
in
the
Lord.
To
hope
in
thee,
for
there
is
plenteous
redemption,
ever
found in
him whom
thou
hast
given,
to be
our
surety.
And so
be
pleased to
bless our
meditations
here
tonight,
be
pleased to
!
go
forth
with
thy
blessing
with
us,
going
before
us
in
the
week
that
lies
ahead,
and be
pleased to
forgive anything that was said amiss,
and take us to our homes in safety,
and all this we ask in Christ's name,
and for his sake,
Amen.
Thank you.