WEBVTT

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 Psalms, Psalm 84, and I'm just going to bring out some points from the whole stretch of the psalm.

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 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts.

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 Now it's obvious as you read through the psalm that it's one of those pilgrimage psalms.

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 It's one of those psalms that speaks about a journey to Zion, a journey to the temple,

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 because as we'll see, he is away from the temple.

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 The psalmist is lamenting the fact that he's not in God's house or near God's house

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 and wants to know again of the benefit of being in the Lord's house.

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 It doesn't tell us where he is or how long he's been away,

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 but he does obviously have a longing to be back in the courts of the Lord, as he says in verse 2.

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 And you can see too that three times, at least through the psalm, you have the word blessed.

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 And in some ways you could say that blessed, as you find in verses 4 and 5 and 12,

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 the psalm is in a sense a meditation on the meaning of blessed

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 and how the whole concept of being blessed applies to God's people.

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 One of the beautiful things about the psalm, and it is such a comforting thought,

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 is that blessedness is not affected by whatever conditions we may find ourselves in.

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 Because the psalm takes us through different circumstances and different conditions,

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 even the fact that he's there and then in a place of longing,

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 and where he talks to later, as we'll see, to the valley of Baker,

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 the difficulties of the journey, the challenges of the journey,

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 and then reaching journey's end, throughout all of these varied experiences,

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 his blessedness remains in place.

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 God has blessed him. Nothing can alter that.

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 And all the way through, he's carrying the blessedness that belongs to him,

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 of which he speaks through each and all of these circumstances.

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 It remains intact for the whole of his journey.

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 And isn't that a comforting and reassuring thought for yourself tonight as a Christian?

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 That however things change in your experience or in the conditions of your life from day to day,

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 none of that affects your blessedness.

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 You are as blessed after God has blessed you.

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 You are as blessed in times of adversity and temptation and difficulty

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 as you are in times of comfort and joy.

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 The blessedness is not conditional upon the outward circumstances.

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 The blessedness continues right through every instance of life.

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 And that's, of course, what God demonstrated way back in the Old Testament days there,

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 further back in the days of Balaam coming to try and curse the Lord's people in the book of Numbers,

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 chapters 23, 24, as you read through that,

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 that Balak, the king of Moab, had hired him to come and curse these people of God.

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 He took him up to a mountain, as you remember, and sought to curse them from there.

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 And God came and put a word in his mouth.

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 And instead of uttering curses against the people of God,

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 he pronounced some of the most beautiful blessings from God upon these people.

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 And in pronouncing that, one of the things he said more than once was,

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 how can I curse whom God has not cursed?

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 And how can I bless whom God has not blessed?

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 If tonight your life is blessed, and as a Christian your life is blessed,

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 nothing is going to be able to curse you.

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 Nothing is going to alter that blessedness that God has actually laid upon you or taken you into.

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 Now, there are three points, just briefly, that we can divide the psalm into.

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 First of all, verses 1 to 4, and also verse 10,

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 you find that there is what you might call the element of pining.

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 He's pining for the house of the Lord.

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 He has a longing in his heart.

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 Secondly, verses 5 to 7 speaks about pilgrimage.

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 And then, finally, verses 11 to 12 speak about plenty,

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 the plenteousness that God has for his people,

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 as the one who is their son and their shield,

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 bestowing favour and honour.

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 No good thing does he withhold the plenteousness of goodness,

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 as God showers them with good things.

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 So, pining, pilgrimage, and plenty.

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 And the first verses, 1 to 4, here he is saying,

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 how lovely is your dwelling place.

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 He's thinking about the dwelling place of God, the temple of God.

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 And then he says, my soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord.

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 And one of the things that strikes you all the way through that,

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 especially in the beginning, how lovely is your dwelling place.

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 As he pines for the house of God, his mind is caught up with the beauty of that.

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 And with the beauty of the house of God, because of God's own beauty.

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 Because that's what you find right throughout,

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 where God makes his presence, that makes a place or a person beautiful.

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 You find that in Psalm 27, for example.

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 When you think of how the same reference there is to the temple or the house of God,

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 and the psalmist there in 27,

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 the Lord is my light and my salvation.

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 This is David this time, how that gives him encouragement and strength.

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 But then in verse 4,

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 one thing I have asked of the Lord, that will I seek after,

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 that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

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 Why? To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, to inquire in his temple.

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 See what comes through to us from the word of God.

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 From the study of the word of God, from our meditation on the word of God.

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 What comes through to us as God impresses us with his word in our hearts

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 is the beauty of the Lord.

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 Every single thing that has beauty about it in this world.

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 And let's face it, this is still a world that's marred by sin,

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 waiting for the day of its deliverance at the end of the world

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 and the reconstitution into the new heavens and the new earth,

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 where righteousness dwells.

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 Nevertheless, all around you, you have beauty.

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 You have beauty in terms of your own human being.

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 The beauty of your mind.

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 The beauty in which God has put you together with the different faculties that you have.

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 Where does that beauty come from?

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 Where does the beauty of salvation come from?

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 Where does the beauty of redemption in Christ come from?

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 Where does the beauty of your adoption come from?

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 The fact that you've been made and brought into the family of God

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 and have become a child of God.

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 The beauty of that position and that relationship with God is from him.

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 Everything is derived that is beautiful is derived from his beauty.

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 God places his own beauty.

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 The beauty of his holiness.

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 The beauty of his life.

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 The life that he gives to us.

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 He impresses us and puts that upon us.

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 And so you find the same in verse 10.

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 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.

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 I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

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 than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

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 In other words, he's really saying the least position in the house of God

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 is of infinitely more beauty than the highest position in the world.

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 To dwell in the tents of wickedness.

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 To have that dwelling place instead of the dwelling place

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 of being in the house of the Lord.

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 There is no comparison.

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 Tonight you are in a beautiful situation.

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 Of course, the temple of the Lord, house of the Lord,

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 is more than this building.

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 The concept of God's dwelling place moves as we come into the New Testament.

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 It being now the church of God, the people of God.

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 That's where he dwells.

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 That's where he's placed his name.

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 That's the place he makes beautiful for his own presence

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 and by his own presence.

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 And you know, as we come to another Lord's day

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 and another Lord's supper, God willing.

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 One of the things that we ought to seek from God

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 as we come once again to take communion

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 is that the Lord would bless his word to us

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 and by his spirit enable us once again

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 just to dwell upon the beauty of the Lord.

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 To dwell upon what these elements of bread and of wine represent.

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 That this is the beauty of Christ.

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 Christ's own death, which is such a cursed death.

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 And the ugliness of death.

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 And the ugliness of bearing the punishment of God.

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 And yet, nevertheless, it is, in the other sense,

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 the most beautiful place in the world.

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 Because that is where the beauty of righteousness shines.

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 The beauty of God's love as it penetrates the darkness of Calvary.

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 And as you look at those things in emblem in the Lord's supper,

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 it should be for us a conveying of that sense of beauty.

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 How beautiful is our salvation.

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 How beautiful is our saviour.

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 How beautiful is that relationship to him

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 in which we have communion with God.

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 How beautiful is the prospect in the hope that he's given us

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 of eternal life with him in heaven.

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 Every single aspect of our relationship with God

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 has beauty in some way attached to it.

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 And we can say how lovely, how beautiful is your dwelling place, O Lord.

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 And you know that word lovely, it is beautiful.

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 It does mean beautiful.

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 But it also conveys with it a sense of beloved, of being valued.

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 How beloved is your dwelling place?

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 How valued is your dwelling place?

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 How precious to me is the fact that you dwell, Lord, in my heart.

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 That you've chosen this as your dwelling place.

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 It's something that I prize, something that I value.

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 Of course, that carries you into what the Bible many ways presents as,

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 the lament of God's people when they're not as aware as they once were of being near to God.

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 When they lament the fact that they have caused perhaps some distance between themselves and God

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 by disobedience, by something other that they know has caused that God's face has,

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 to an extent, been hidden from them.

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 They don't have the same comfort they used to have.

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 They don't have the same sense of nearness to God.

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 And they can say with the psalmist, Lord, my soul longs, faints.

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 I want this back.

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 I want to have that relationship restored to the way that I enjoyed you as I used to.

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 But, you know, tonight, if you are in that situation where you say,

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 I'm not as close to the Lord as I used to be.

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 I'm not as close to the Lord as I've been recently.

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 And I lament the fact that that's the case.

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 And I'd like to have it restored.

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 If that is the case, don't let that keep you back from the Lord's table.

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 Don't let it keep you from coming to take communion.

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 Because, after all, what could be better for you than to use a means of grace like the Lord's Supper,

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 by which the Lord channels grace into our lives?

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 What could be better for you than to come and avail yourself once again of it,

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 asking that the Lord would restore your soul,

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 would actually bring back to you that sense of his nearness,

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 if you've lost that to some extent.

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 So, this is his desire.

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 The soul is longing.

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 He's crying out for the courts of the Lord.

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 And these words in verse 2,

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 my heart and flesh sing for joy.

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 I think the old translation in that instance is probably better.

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 It's crying out to the living God.

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 And it's not necessarily devoid of joy,

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 but the prominent element, I think,

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 in his longing and his pining for the house of God,

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 he has that pain in his heart.

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 And he is crying out for the Lord.

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 This is really serious to him.

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 This is something he really wants to know,

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 and God's answer to God answering his prayer and his longing.

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 My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord.

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 She is envious at the sparrow and the swallow,

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 who have found a place to nest at your altars, O Lord of hosts.

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 He's really saying,

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 Lord, here I am, and I'm conscious I'm not at your house.

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 I'm not where I would desire to be.

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 At the moment, I'm distanced from your altars,

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 from your temple,

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 and I envy these very little birds that have a place in your temple.

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 If only I were as one of them to actually be at your altars,

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 O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.

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 And so that's the blessed state he speaks of.

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 Blessed are those, verse 4,

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 who dwell in your house,

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 ever singing your praise.

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 Well, is this not our desire tonight?

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 However much we've known the Lord in the past up to this moment,

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 whether we've been in this pilgrimage a long time or a short time,

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 that's not really the issue.

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 The issue is that tonight we want to see God spiritually with our longing eyes.

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 We want to come to this communion on the Lord's day,

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 praying that the Lord would reveal himself to us through his word

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 and through the elements of the Lord's Supper.

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 And that once again, we would gaze upon his beauty.

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 And that he would reinforce to our longing souls

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 the fact that he is our God,

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 that we are his people,

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 that he's taken us as his people,

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 that we are, in other words, blessed.

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 Blessed by him.

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 Because he speaks of him here as,

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 O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.

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 By that he shows that this Lord, this God, has no rivals.

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 None can take his place.

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 None can dethrone him.

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 More than that,

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 the Psalms very often are polemic.

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 That's to say they're directed against idolatry

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 and against the kind of religions

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 that Israel had around her at all times.

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 And so in the Psalms, you'll find so much of an emphasis on God,

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 their God being the true God,

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 the only God, the living God,

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 the creator God, the sovereign God,

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 the saving God, the covenant God.

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 All of that is a polemic against

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 those idols and these idolaters around them.

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 And really these gods in Psalm 115,

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 they're dead.

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 They're made by human hands.

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 They have certain shapes.

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 They've even got human form.

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 They have eyes.

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 They have ears.

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 They have mouths, but they can't hear.

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 They can't speak.

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 Because they're dead, worthless idols.

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 But your God is this God.

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 And as this God is your God,

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 so you'll love to have that made known

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 to the world in which you live.

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 And by coming to once again take communion,

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 and even by being here tonight,

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 you have demonstrated and you're demonstrating

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 that this God is your God,

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 that you're not living for the gods of this world.

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 That whatever shape the gods of this world take,

00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:21.759
 they are varied and they are many.

00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:25.560
 As we heard in the Lord's Day from Kalmurda,

00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:26.440
 if I remember rightly,

00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:30.000
 that the idolatry of our age

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:33.019
 is not confined to things that people make with their hands.

00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:37.639
 There's all kinds of ideologies and philosophies and lifestyles

00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:39.299
 and many things related to that

00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:41.000
 that are just idolatrous.

00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:44.439
 Man worshipping himself and his own mind

00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:46.199
 and his own so-called ability

00:16:46.199 --> 00:16:47.759
 and putting God aside.

00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:51.340
 But this is your God.

00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:55.419
 Blessed are those whose God is this God.

00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:58.019
 At your altar, O Lord of hosts,

00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:00.100
 my King and my God.

00:17:00.139 --> 00:17:01.120
 And isn't it marvellous

00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:03.360
 how that little word, my,

00:17:03.539 --> 00:17:06.319
 just clinches that argument for us, doesn't it?

00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:09.059
 He's not just God.

00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:12.579
 He's not just God in terms of being the King

00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:15.639
 and the Sovereign Lord of the universe.

00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:17.579
 The psalmist is here saying,

00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:20.059
 I'm away from where I would long to be,

00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:22.279
 where I'm longing to be back at.

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:24.939
 My soul is longing for the courts of the Lord.

00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:30.319
 At your altar, my King and my God.

00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.740
 Reminds you, doesn't it,

00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:36.899
 of the great words you find in John's Gospel

00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:41.040
 when Jesus came to reveal himself to Thomas?

00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:43.640
 Thomas not having been there a week before

00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:45.080
 when he revealed himself

00:17:45.080 --> 00:17:46.860
 as the risen Christ to the disciples.

00:17:48.140 --> 00:17:50.620
 And of course, he knew of Thomas' objection

00:17:50.620 --> 00:17:52.880
 and the words that Thomas had spoken,

00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:54.900
 even though Jesus wasn't physically present.

00:17:55.780 --> 00:17:57.420
 We invited Thomas specifically.

00:17:58.040 --> 00:17:59.980
 And what a marvellous thing that is as well,

00:18:00.040 --> 00:18:02.380
 that the Lord would make the effort,

00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:03.600
 if we can put it that way,

00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:06.179
 and would take such concern

00:18:06.179 --> 00:18:09.079
 to present himself to that one disciple

00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:11.480
 who had been missing from the previous gathering,

00:18:11.659 --> 00:18:14.119
 just to reveal himself to him this time.

00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:20.279
 And after Thomas had come with conviction

00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:22.039
 to realise who this was,

00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:23.419
 that this was the risen Christ,

00:18:24.099 --> 00:18:25.699
 how did he respond?

00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:30.240
 My Lord and my God.

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:33.980
 My Lord and my God.

00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:36.599
 What a great confession.

00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:40.000
 One of the greatest confessions in the Bible,

00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:42.319
 combining as it did

00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:47.620
 the personal attachment of Thomas to Jesus

00:18:47.620 --> 00:18:48.680
 and Jesus to him,

00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:53.980
 but also Jesus himself being both Lord and God.

00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:56.180
 So there's pining,

00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:58.519
 pining for the house of the Lord,

00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:00.180
 the presence of God,

00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:01.759
 secondly,

00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:03.960
 there's pilgrimage from verse five.

00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:06.359
 Blessed are those whose strength is in you

00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:09.319
 and whose heart are the highways to Zion.

00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:11.660
 As they go through the valley of Beka,

00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:13.799
 they make it a place of springs.

00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:17.000
 The early rain also covers it with pools.

00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:19.079
 They go from strength to strength.

00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:22.059
 Each one appears before God in Zion.

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:23.359
 Now the journey to Zion,

00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:25.180
 or back to the temple,

00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:26.700
 wherever he was situated this time,

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.819
 was obviously going to be

00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:29.339
 through difficult terrain,

00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:30.759
 valley of Beka,

00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:34.559
 generally is interpreted by commentators

00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:36.099
 as a place of dryness.

00:19:37.879 --> 00:19:39.000
 Difficult to be precise,

00:19:39.139 --> 00:19:41.359
 but the meaning of the word Beka itself,

00:19:41.459 --> 00:19:43.579
 but certainly it was a desert place,

00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:44.899
 a place of dryness,

00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:46.399
 very arid place,

00:19:47.059 --> 00:19:48.799
 a place for which you needed strength

00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:50.319
 to actually walk through it

00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:51.699
 and come out the other side.

00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:53.279
 And he's saying here

00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:55.640
 that he requires that strength

00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:57.299
 so that they will go

00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:59.480
 and he will go from strength to strength

00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:01.140
 with those who are traveling.

00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:03.819
 It involves a tough journey.

00:20:04.620 --> 00:20:06.059
 It's the journey of life.

00:20:07.340 --> 00:20:09.480
 It's the journey on which you and I are set

00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:12.500
 as pilgrims heading towards Zion

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:14.460
 because that road takes you,

00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:15.660
 as you very well know,

00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:16.720
 through difficult,

00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:18.340
 challenging territory.

00:20:18.339 --> 00:20:21.399
 You're going to meet with enemies

00:20:21.399 --> 00:20:22.679
 that will frighten you.

00:20:23.199 --> 00:20:24.339
 You're going to meet with failures

00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:25.859
 on your own part and mine.

00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:28.599
 You're going to meet with temptations

00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:31.240
 to some of which you will yield to,

00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:31.899
 and I too.

00:20:33.619 --> 00:20:35.199
 There's so much you're going to meet with

00:20:35.199 --> 00:20:36.899
 that really in themselves

00:20:36.899 --> 00:20:39.079
 are designed to put you off,

00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:40.980
 to make you turn back.

00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:43.899
 You're going to meet with Satan,

00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:45.860
 especially different forms

00:20:45.860 --> 00:20:46.780
 and different ways

00:20:46.780 --> 00:20:49.060
 in which he has access to our lives.

00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:51.540
 So as to try and intimidate us,

00:20:52.280 --> 00:20:53.960
 you're going to meet with the ways of the world,

00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:56.700
 with the hostility of those enemies of Christ.

00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:00.040
 So many ways in which the path,

00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:00.680
 the pilgrimage,

00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:02.280
 is a really testing one,

00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:05.360
 one of difficulty for which you and I need,

00:21:05.820 --> 00:21:07.360
 the strength that God gives.

00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:08.680
 That's why he's saying in verse 5,

00:21:09.080 --> 00:21:12.460
 blessed are those whose strength is in you.

00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:14.220
 In other words, he's saying,

00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:17.700
 blessed are those for whom you are the strength.

00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:19.360
 You are the one who gives them

00:21:19.360 --> 00:21:20.779
 the strength for the journey.

00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:23.980
 And really that's very much in line

00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:25.700
 with what the apostle wrote.

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:28.779
 You remember to the Corinthians

00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:31.220
 in the second letter to the Corinthians

00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:32.740
 where he spoke about the difficulties

00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:34.660
 that he himself was facing.

00:21:35.340 --> 00:21:37.319
 But then as he came to chapter 12,

00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:39.620
 as you read it in chapter 12,

00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:41.299
 the experiences he spoke of there,

00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:44.599
 the thorn in the flesh that was given him,

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:46.259
 to buffet him,

00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:48.240
 a messenger of Satan,

00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:49.759
 to harass me,

00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:52.019
 to keep me from being too elated.

00:21:52.139 --> 00:21:55.000
 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this,

00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:56.119
 that it should leave me.

00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:57.579
 But he said to me,

00:21:57.639 --> 00:21:59.339
 my grace is sufficient for you,

00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:02.720
 for my power is made perfect in your weakness.

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:06.299
 Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly

00:22:06.299 --> 00:22:07.359
 of my weaknesses,

00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:10.839
 so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:12.799
 For the sake of Christ, then,

00:22:13.159 --> 00:22:16.359
 I am content with weaknesses,

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:19.379
 insults, hardships, persecutions,

00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.619
 and calamities.

00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:22.259
 For when I am weak,

00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:24.440
 then I am strong.

00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:27.299
 He's saying that I am content.

00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:29.319
 For the sake of Christ,

00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:32.180
 I'm content with weaknesses,

00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:32.779
 and so on.

00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:35.840
 He knew that as he depended upon Christ,

00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:38.519
 as he depended on the grace of God

00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:39.880
 that was promised him,

00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:42.380
 he knew that the strength he needed

00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:43.660
 was given to him.

00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:47.279
 The strength to actually meet those challenges

00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:49.500
 that he speaks of in this chapter,

00:22:49.580 --> 00:22:50.299
 in these verses.

00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:54.539
 And the word he uses there for content.

00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:55.740
 For the sake of Christ,

00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:58.539
 I am content with weaknesses,

00:22:58.799 --> 00:22:59.259
 insults.

00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:00.480
 It's the very same word

00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:02.220
 that's actually used

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:04.639
 for God's,

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:06.960
 the Father's words about Jesus.

00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:09.099
 This is my beloved son

00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:13.019
 in whom I am well pleased.

00:23:13.859 --> 00:23:16.279
 That word in Greek for well pleased,

00:23:16.639 --> 00:23:17.139
 content,

00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:19.120
 is exactly the word

00:23:19.120 --> 00:23:20.600
 that Paul uses there

00:23:20.600 --> 00:23:23.040
 in 2 Corinthians chapter 12.

00:23:23.560 --> 00:23:26.580
 I am well pleased to be like this.

00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:29.620
 I am content that this is my lot,

00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:33.600
 that I know whatever circumstances I have,

00:23:34.080 --> 00:23:36.060
 my blessedness will not run out,

00:23:36.580 --> 00:23:38.860
 and it will not be taken from me.

00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:40.500
 My status will not change.

00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:43.100
 The grace of God will not fail me.

00:23:43.820 --> 00:23:46.580
 It is sufficient for me.

00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:51.200
 Whatever we're afraid of,

00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:52.660
 and we're afraid of many things,

00:23:54.120 --> 00:23:55.600
 whatever we're afraid of

00:23:55.600 --> 00:23:58.160
 must never deflect our minds

00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:59.320
 and our conviction

00:23:59.320 --> 00:24:01.440
 that the grace of God

00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:03.220
 is not sufficient for us.

00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:06.060
 Many people have fears

00:24:06.060 --> 00:24:07.759
 about coming to meet with the elders,

00:24:07.860 --> 00:24:08.280
 for example,

00:24:08.300 --> 00:24:09.900
 to come to take communion

00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:10.780
 for the first time.

00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:13.280
 And however much we do try

00:24:13.280 --> 00:24:15.140
 and emphasize and do again emphasize,

00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:16.720
 this is not to be seen

00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:18.500
 as a formidable challenge.

00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:20.440
 It's not there to prove

00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:22.259
 how much you don't know

00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:22.920
 or do know.

00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:24.060
 It's actually there to be

00:24:24.060 --> 00:24:26.240
 very much a stepping stone,

00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.820
 very much to do with

00:24:27.820 --> 00:24:29.920
 an encouraging step

00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.960
 for you to take

00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:32.580
 in terms of

00:24:32.580 --> 00:24:34.840
 coming to the Lord's table

00:24:34.840 --> 00:24:36.200
 for the first time.

00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:37.560
 In other words,

00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:39.100
 the challenge of that,

00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:40.400
 think of it in the words of Paul,

00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:42.360
 I am therefore content.

00:24:42.840 --> 00:24:44.280
 I am therefore pleased

00:24:44.280 --> 00:24:46.440
 that there's such a thing for me

00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:48.340
 that I can take this step,

00:24:48.380 --> 00:24:49.800
 even if it's a challenge,

00:24:50.100 --> 00:24:52.060
 because then the power of Christ

00:24:52.060 --> 00:24:53.160
 will rest upon me

00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:56.200
 and the grace that's promised me

00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:58.240
 will be my experience.

00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.620
 So he has the strength

00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:03.340
 even in the times of testing,

00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:05.000
 but notice how he's saying

00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:05.880
 as they go through

00:25:05.880 --> 00:25:07.300
 the valley of Beka,

00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:10.579
 they make it a place of springs.

00:25:11.879 --> 00:25:12.819
 And I think the imagery

00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:14.299
 that you've got there

00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:15.659
 is a very precious one.

00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.579
 He's not saying

00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:18.159
 as they go through

00:25:18.159 --> 00:25:19.139
 the valley of Beka,

00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:20.099
 the rain comes down.

00:25:20.159 --> 00:25:21.180
 He does mention that

00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:22.700
 in the end of verse 6,

00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:24.000
 but the first thing he says here

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:25.159
 is they make it.

00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:26.079
 These pilgrims

00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:27.919
 make the valley of Beka.

00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:30.299
 They make it a place of wells.

00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:31.319
 In other words,

00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:33.639
 they have to actually use means

00:25:33.639 --> 00:25:35.500
 by which to dig up

00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:37.000
 the water for themselves.

00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:38.279
 The valley of Beka

00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:39.700
 is arid on top.

00:25:40.139 --> 00:25:40.960
 It's a desert.

00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:42.319
 There's nothing to be seen

00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:42.960
 on the surface,

00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:44.240
 but when you dig down

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:44.879
 deep enough,

00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:46.139
 you'll come across water

00:25:46.139 --> 00:25:46.940
 and you can actually

00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:48.359
 get a refreshing drink.

00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:50.039
 That's the image

00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:51.099
 that you've got here.

00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:54.220
 And that image follows you

00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:56.240
 into the Christian's experience

00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:56.980
 as well.

00:25:57.859 --> 00:25:58.960
 Because there are circumstances

00:25:58.960 --> 00:25:59.839
 in your life,

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.379
 and if we can put it

00:26:01.379 --> 00:26:02.859
 in the language of the psalm,

00:26:03.139 --> 00:26:04.240
 you have to dig

00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.740
 a blessing out of it.

00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:08.059
 It takes effort

00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:09.599
 on our part.

00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:11.579
 We can't bless ourselves.

00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:15.000
 We cannot earn

00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:16.220
 the blessing of God,

00:26:16.339 --> 00:26:17.660
 but God places us

00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:18.640
 in situations

00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.799
 of distress,

00:26:20.140 --> 00:26:21.240
 sometimes of anguish,

00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:22.720
 sometimes of

00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:24.640
 whatever difficulties

00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.559
 they may be.

00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:28.539
 And he's saying to us

00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:29.519
 from this psalm,

00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:31.779
 however difficult it is,

00:26:31.879 --> 00:26:33.079
 whatever kind of difficulty

00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:33.519
 it is,

00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:35.279
 you have to dig down.

00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:38.279
 You have to search through it

00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:41.220
 and find the hand of God

00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:43.420
 and find the water

00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:45.259
 that God has provided

00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:45.960
 for his people

00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:46.980
 throughout the journey.

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:49.180
 They make it

00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:51.980
 a place of springs,

00:26:52.440 --> 00:26:54.220
 a place of a well.

00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:56.759
 So if you're facing

00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:58.700
 tonight a specific

00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.420
 difficulty,

00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:00.100
 even if you find

00:27:00.100 --> 00:27:01.519
 it's one that

00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.339
 you may feel

00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:02.920
 nobody else

00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.440
 can actually

00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:04.500
 help you with

00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.380
 or understand,

00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.680
 maybe different

00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:07.640
 to what anybody

00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:08.600
 else may be going

00:27:08.600 --> 00:27:08.980
 through,

00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:10.680
 here is the Lord

00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:11.600
 encouraging you,

00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.420
 dig into it

00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.120
 in such a way

00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:15.299
 as you pray

00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:15.799
 to me,

00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:17.079
 you pray for me,

00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.019
 you pray that

00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:19.059
 I will actually

00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:20.160
 make myself

00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:20.900
 known to you,

00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:21.839
 that I will bless

00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.559
 this to you,

00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:23.519
 that you will find

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.480
 that it is in fact

00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:25.399
 by my blessing

00:27:25.399 --> 00:27:26.679
 and coming to see

00:27:26.679 --> 00:27:27.440
 me in it

00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:28.940
 a place of wells,

00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:31.740
 a place of real

00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:33.579
 blessing to your soul.

00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:36.200
 And that's why

00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:36.859
 he's saying here

00:27:36.859 --> 00:27:39.619
 the early rain

00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:40.480
 also covers it

00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:40.980
 with pools,

00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:41.519
 well that's

00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:42.619
 in addition to

00:27:42.619 --> 00:27:42.879
 needing,

00:27:43.419 --> 00:27:44.379
 to blessing,

00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:45.679
 to digging

00:27:45.679 --> 00:27:46.519
 for the blessings,

00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:47.819
 God graciously

00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:48.879
 sometimes just comes

00:27:48.879 --> 00:27:49.480
 with a shout

00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:50.079
 of blessing

00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:51.319
 even if you haven't

00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:52.000
 done much digging

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.619
 at all

00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:54.279
 because he's God

00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:55.779
 and because he's

00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.279
 kind.

00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:58.960
 He comes with

00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.259
 unexpected blessings.

00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:02.859
 He showers

00:28:02.859 --> 00:28:03.640
 down blessings

00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:04.380
 upon us.

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:05.740
 And so

00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:06.319
 verse 7,

00:28:06.380 --> 00:28:06.740
 they go

00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:08.039
 from strength

00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:08.619
 to strength

00:28:08.619 --> 00:28:09.440
 each one appears

00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:10.240
 before God

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.380
 in Zion.

00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:13.259
 And you have

00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:14.099
 something quite

00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:14.880
 wonderful again

00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:15.519
 in this.

00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.059
 You've got both

00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:18.039
 an emphasis on

00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:18.940
 the company

00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:20.400
 of God's pilgrims

00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.640
 and each

00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:22.220
 individual

00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:23.100
 appearing before

00:28:23.100 --> 00:28:24.060
 God in Zion.

00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:25.480
 And what a benefit

00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:26.420
 it is for us,

00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:26.720
 friends,

00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:28.180
 especially when

00:28:28.180 --> 00:28:28.780
 the testing

00:28:28.780 --> 00:28:29.800
 comes to us

00:28:29.800 --> 00:28:30.300
 and the going

00:28:30.300 --> 00:28:30.960
 is tough

00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.860
 and the pilgrimage

00:28:31.860 --> 00:28:32.519
 really is through

00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:33.820
 very difficult territory

00:28:33.820 --> 00:28:34.420
 spiritually.

00:28:35.080 --> 00:28:35.940
 What a blessing

00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:36.660
 it is to know

00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:37.140
 that you're not

00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:37.759
 on your own,

00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:39.240
 that you're part

00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:39.980
 of a company,

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.280
 that you belong

00:28:41.280 --> 00:28:42.100
 to a fellowship,

00:28:43.100 --> 00:28:43.660
 that you're

00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.420
 traveling together

00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:45.039
 with others

00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:46.200
 who are pilgrims

00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:46.759
 on the same

00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.220
 journey,

00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.220
 who maybe

00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:48.600
 have been

00:28:48.600 --> 00:28:49.180
 through similar

00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:49.880
 circumstances

00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:51.279
 before and

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.779
 can help you

00:28:51.779 --> 00:28:52.080
 through it,

00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.000
 but even not,

00:28:53.080 --> 00:28:54.000
 if not,

00:28:54.060 --> 00:28:54.320
 they're there

00:28:54.320 --> 00:28:55.160
 for your support.

00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.460
 They go from

00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.580
 strength to strength

00:28:59.580 --> 00:29:01.400
 and as we dig

00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:02.100
 for blessings,

00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:04.200
 let's make sure

00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:05.580
 that we're looking

00:29:05.580 --> 00:29:06.240
 out for those

00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.220
 that we can help

00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:09.100
 and let's make sure

00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:09.600
 that we're willing

00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:10.299
 to receive

00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:11.399
 the help we need

00:29:11.399 --> 00:29:13.119
 whenever others

00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:14.559
 offer it to us.

00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:15.939
 We are there

00:29:15.939 --> 00:29:17.339
 for each other.

00:29:18.139 --> 00:29:18.799
 We are there

00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:20.439
 as fellow pilgrims.

00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:21.799
 We are there

00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:23.119
 sharing the journey.

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.059
 We are there

00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.559
 so that in

00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:26.359
 sharing the journey

00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:27.539
 we may go

00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:28.399
 from strength

00:29:28.399 --> 00:29:28.919
 to strength

00:29:28.919 --> 00:29:30.259
 step by step,

00:29:31.159 --> 00:29:32.480
 strengthening each other

00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:34.199
 until we come

00:29:34.199 --> 00:29:35.539
 to appear

00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:36.259
 before God

00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:36.659
 and sign

00:29:36.659 --> 00:29:37.539
 until we reach home,

00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:38.459
 until we reach

00:29:38.459 --> 00:29:39.419
 the temple above,

00:29:39.420 --> 00:29:40.440
 the heavenly Zion.

00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:41.800
 But you notice

00:29:41.800 --> 00:29:42.440
 how it's changed

00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:43.940
 from they go

00:29:43.940 --> 00:29:45.500
 to from strength

00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:46.039
 to strength

00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:47.320
 to each one

00:29:47.320 --> 00:29:48.500
 appears before God

00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:48.900
 and sign.

00:29:49.100 --> 00:29:50.300
 None is left out.

00:29:51.640 --> 00:29:52.259
 Now this life

00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:54.800
 may for some Christians,

00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:56.160
 many indeed be

00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:57.920
 a very lonely journey.

00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:00.340
 They may find

00:30:00.340 --> 00:30:00.960
 difficulties

00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:02.300
 sharing things

00:30:02.300 --> 00:30:02.960
 with others.

00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.480
 They know they belong

00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.740
 to the company

00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:06.640
 of God's people.

00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:07.400
 It doesn't necessarily

00:30:07.400 --> 00:30:08.700
 mean that it's easy

00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:09.380
 for them to die

00:30:09.380 --> 00:30:10.380
 divulge their needs

00:30:10.380 --> 00:30:10.840
 to others

00:30:10.840 --> 00:30:11.760
 or their thoughts.

00:30:14.080 --> 00:30:14.900
 But whatever

00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:16.740
 experiences we have

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.800
 and whatever the company

00:30:17.800 --> 00:30:18.860
 needs to go through,

00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:21.600
 each one appears.

00:30:22.820 --> 00:30:23.960
 He's not going to leave you

00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:24.500
 in the desert.

00:30:26.060 --> 00:30:27.180
 He's not going to leave you

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:28.180
 in the valley of Baca.

00:30:30.060 --> 00:30:31.340
 He's not going to take away

00:30:31.340 --> 00:30:32.060
 his strength

00:30:32.060 --> 00:30:34.100
 for the latter part

00:30:34.100 --> 00:30:34.700
 of the journey

00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:36.039
 or for the section

00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:36.059
 or for the section

00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:36.660
 you're going through

00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.299
 just now.

00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.680
 Each one

00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:42.120
 appears before God

00:30:42.120 --> 00:30:43.259
 in Zion.

00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:45.319
 Be thankful tonight

00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:47.120
 for that emphasis

00:30:47.120 --> 00:30:49.180
 on individuality

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:51.519
 set in the context

00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:53.360
 of the corporateness

00:30:53.360 --> 00:30:54.660
 of God's people together.

00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:56.759
 Because that's what we have

00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:58.420
 to always hold on to.

00:30:58.420 --> 00:30:59.700
 I'm not alone.

00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:01.920
 And even though

00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:03.140
 I'm part of a crowd,

00:31:03.300 --> 00:31:04.279
 I'm not lost

00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:04.980
 in the crowd.

00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:07.380
 I belong to the company

00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:09.440
 of those pilgrims

00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:11.160
 that are traveling home.

00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:12.980
 Pining,

00:31:13.820 --> 00:31:14.160
 pilgrimage,

00:31:14.880 --> 00:31:16.500
 and then plenty.

00:31:17.560 --> 00:31:18.539
 Because from verse 11,

00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:20.240
 he speaks here about

00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:21.039
 the Lord God

00:31:21.039 --> 00:31:22.099
 is a sun and shield.

00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:23.940
 The Lord bestows

00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.859
 favor and honor.

00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:25.779
 No good thing

00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:26.519
 does he withhold

00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:28.319
 from those who walk

00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:29.460
 uprightly.

00:31:29.579 --> 00:31:30.940
 So it's really

00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:31.620
 in these two verses

00:31:31.620 --> 00:31:32.940
 what God is

00:31:32.940 --> 00:31:35.019
 and what God does.

00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:35.819
 He is a sun

00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:36.680
 and he's a shield.

00:31:37.380 --> 00:31:38.240
 He gives light

00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:39.259
 and he gives protection

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:40.259
 at the same time.

00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:41.680
 That's the God

00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:43.160
 who takes his people

00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:44.779
 through this pilgrimage

00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:46.180
 until they appear

00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:47.359
 in his presence.

00:31:48.599 --> 00:31:49.319
 To counter

00:31:49.319 --> 00:31:50.899
 all the fears

00:31:50.899 --> 00:31:51.839
 that we may have.

00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:53.779
 Here is God saying,

00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:55.299
 if you need light,

00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:56.059
 then I've got light

00:31:56.059 --> 00:31:56.559
 for you.

00:31:57.220 --> 00:31:58.399
 If you need strength,

00:31:58.659 --> 00:31:59.599
 I've got the strength

00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:00.259
 you need.

00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:02.399
 If you need protection

00:32:02.399 --> 00:32:03.159
 as a shield,

00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:05.259
 I am your shield

00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:06.220
 and I am your exceeding

00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:06.899
 great reward,

00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:07.899
 as he said to Abraham.

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:10.159
 I will look after you.

00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.899
 I will protect you.

00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:13.339
 I will be your defense.

00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:15.740
 And also,

00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:17.439
 he gives

00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:20.360
 favor and honor

00:32:20.360 --> 00:32:22.440
 the Lord bestows.

00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.360
 And again,

00:32:25.420 --> 00:32:26.220
 the old translation

00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:27.880
 has,

00:32:28.900 --> 00:32:29.600
 he bestows

00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:30.259
 grace

00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:32.140
 and glory.

00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:33.660
 There's nothing wrong

00:32:33.660 --> 00:32:34.380
 with putting it as

00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:35.660
 favor and honor,

00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:36.240
 but somehow,

00:32:36.600 --> 00:32:37.559
 especially for those of us

00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:39.039
 of an older disposition,

00:32:39.700 --> 00:32:41.180
 perhaps we might prefer

00:32:41.180 --> 00:32:41.779
 these words.

00:32:42.100 --> 00:32:42.480
 He gives

00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:44.200
 grace,

00:32:44.860 --> 00:32:45.519
 which is,

00:32:45.640 --> 00:32:45.819
 of course,

00:32:45.900 --> 00:32:47.420
 favor and honor,

00:32:47.620 --> 00:32:48.440
 which is really

00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:49.539
 ultimately glory.

00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:51.279
 Isn't it

00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:53.200
 whichever translation

00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:53.920
 we choose,

00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:54.519
 it really amounts

00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:55.799
 pretty much to the same thing.

00:32:56.620 --> 00:32:57.640
 He gives grace

00:32:57.640 --> 00:32:58.759
 and he gives glory.

00:32:59.180 --> 00:33:00.319
 He gives you his favor.

00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:01.880
 He bestows that upon you

00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:03.420
 and he gives you

00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:05.820
 his honor.

00:33:05.960 --> 00:33:06.840
 He honors you.

00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:08.460
 He gives you glory.

00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:11.740
 That's really a description

00:33:11.740 --> 00:33:13.380
 of a Christian.

00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:14.600
 What am I as a Christian?

00:33:14.940 --> 00:33:16.040
 What are you as a Christian?

00:33:16.340 --> 00:33:17.180
 What are we together

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:17.900
 as Christians?

00:33:17.900 --> 00:33:19.020
 We have people

00:33:19.020 --> 00:33:20.180
 on whom God

00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:21.960
 has bestowed

00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:23.620
 grace and glory,

00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:27.020
 favor and honor.

00:33:27.900 --> 00:33:29.160
 That's our portion.

00:33:29.160 --> 00:33:31.700
 And that's why

00:33:31.700 --> 00:33:33.420
 when every Lord's

00:33:33.420 --> 00:33:34.540
 supper opportunity

00:33:34.540 --> 00:33:35.340
 comes around,

00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:37.440
 we have to respond

00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:38.820
 to the fact

00:33:38.820 --> 00:33:39.740
 of what this is saying

00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:40.160
 to us.

00:33:40.560 --> 00:33:41.240
 The blessing,

00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:42.320
 the blessed people,

00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:43.540
 we have to respond

00:33:43.540 --> 00:33:44.040
 by saying,

00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:44.500
 well,

00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:45.800
 how can I not go

00:33:45.800 --> 00:33:47.779
 and take communion?

00:33:48.540 --> 00:33:49.360
 When God

00:33:49.360 --> 00:33:50.259
 is all of this

00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:50.820
 to me,

00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:52.759
 when this is the fact

00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:53.680
 of what he has done

00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:54.460
 and is doing,

00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:56.480
 how can I possibly

00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:57.220
 think of

00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:58.680
 anything less

00:33:58.680 --> 00:34:00.320
 than taking

00:34:00.320 --> 00:34:01.220
 the cup

00:34:01.220 --> 00:34:02.220
 and taking the bread

00:34:02.220 --> 00:34:03.940
 and doing this

00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:05.580
 in remembrance

00:34:05.580 --> 00:34:07.080
 of him?

00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:09.440
 Really similar

00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:09.800
 isn't it?

00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:11.440
 Romans chapter 8

00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:12.280
 and verse 28.

00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:12.860
 It says there

00:34:12.860 --> 00:34:14.599
 in verse 12

00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:15.099
 of the psalm,

00:34:15.180 --> 00:34:15.780
 O God of hosts,

00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:16.360
 Lord of hosts,

00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:17.900
 blessed is the one

00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:19.019
 who trusts in you.

00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:22.880
 As Romans 8, 28

00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:23.420
 puts it,

00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:25.760
 blessed indeed,

00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:28.040
 where Romans says

00:34:28.040 --> 00:34:31.220
 that as Paul saw

00:34:31.220 --> 00:34:32.040
 the wonder

00:34:32.040 --> 00:34:33.100
 of being in Christ,

00:34:33.200 --> 00:34:33.540
 the wonder

00:34:33.540 --> 00:34:34.580
 of the blessings

00:34:34.580 --> 00:34:35.440
 of Christ,

00:34:36.300 --> 00:34:38.480
 that all of the things

00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:39.820
 that he had mentioned

00:34:39.820 --> 00:34:40.460
 there actually

00:34:40.460 --> 00:34:41.880
 in verse 28,

00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:42.500
 just give me a minute

00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:43.140
 to look it up,

00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:45.400
 the surrounding verses

00:34:45.400 --> 00:34:46.020
 as well,

00:34:47.140 --> 00:34:47.720
 where he said

00:34:47.720 --> 00:34:49.640
 that the spirit

00:34:49.640 --> 00:34:50.220
 helping them

00:34:50.220 --> 00:34:51.720
 in their infirmities

00:34:51.719 --> 00:34:53.719
 and the calling

00:34:53.719 --> 00:34:54.259
 of God,

00:34:54.319 --> 00:34:55.000
 the justifying

00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:55.399
 of God,

00:34:55.459 --> 00:34:56.119
 what shall we then

00:34:56.119 --> 00:34:57.519
 say to these things?

00:34:57.959 --> 00:34:59.019
 If God is for us,

00:34:59.059 --> 00:35:00.619
 who can be against us?

00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:02.939
 And we know

00:35:02.939 --> 00:35:04.239
 in verse 28,

00:35:04.339 --> 00:35:04.859
 we know that

00:35:04.859 --> 00:35:05.579
 for those

00:35:05.579 --> 00:35:07.059
 who love God,

00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:09.219
 all things

00:35:09.219 --> 00:35:10.019
 work together

00:35:10.019 --> 00:35:11.619
 for good.

00:35:12.779 --> 00:35:13.779
 Just like

00:35:13.779 --> 00:35:14.619
 the psalm has said,

00:35:15.359 --> 00:35:15.959
 he will give

00:35:15.959 --> 00:35:16.459
 grace

00:35:16.460 --> 00:35:16.659
 grace

00:35:16.659 --> 00:35:17.960
 and glory.

00:35:18.860 --> 00:35:20.019
 No good thing

00:35:20.019 --> 00:35:20.820
 will he withhold

00:35:20.820 --> 00:35:22.179
 because

00:35:22.179 --> 00:35:23.619
 all things

00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:24.280
 work together

00:35:24.280 --> 00:35:25.139
 for good

00:35:25.139 --> 00:35:26.900
 to the Lord's people.

00:35:27.760 --> 00:35:28.280
 May he bless

00:35:28.280 --> 00:35:28.780
 these thoughts

00:35:28.780 --> 00:35:29.679
 on his word.

00:35:29.800 --> 00:35:30.099
 Let's

00:35:30.099 --> 00:35:32.480
 sing in his praise

00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:33.500
 in Psalm

00:35:33.500 --> 00:35:35.800
 let's

00:35:40.500 --> 00:35:42.400
 pinch enrage

00:35:42.440 --> 00:35:43.420
 for good

00:35:43.420 --> 00:35:48.099
 Schluss

00:35:48.099 --> 00:35:48.320
 into

00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:48.920
 the

00:35:48.920 --> 00:35:50.760
 truth

00:35:50.760 --> 00:35:53.079
 after

00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:53.639
 you

00:35:53.639 --> 00:35:54.239
 should

00:35:54.239 --> 00:35:54.920
 tell

00:35:54.920 --> 00:35:56.039
 he

00:35:56.039 --> 00:35:56.360
 to

00:35:56.360 --> 00:35:59.000
 UN

00:35:59.000 --> 00:36:00.119
 do

00:36:00.119 --> 00:36:01.079
 the

00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:02.139
 us

00:36:02.139 --> 00:36:03.139
 and