WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.179 Thanks very much, Aaron. Good morning, everyone. Really good to have you with us, whether in person or through the wonders of science. 00:00:07.540 --> 00:00:10.099 Does the Bible ever surprise you? 00:00:10.779 --> 00:00:15.800 I think if you read it regularly and thoughtfully, you'll find it quite often does. 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:20.960 You may be reading a passage you feel is quite familiar, you've read many times before, 00:00:21.260 --> 00:00:26.460 and you suddenly see something in it that you hadn't thought of in the past. 00:00:26.460 --> 00:00:31.539 It's God through the Spirit revealing his word to us, making it real. 00:00:31.780 --> 00:00:39.660 The Bible is like a kaleidoscope. Every time you look at it, you see something a little bit different, something very wonderful. 00:00:41.020 --> 00:00:46.900 Sometimes, though, you come to a verse when you're reading a passage, and you almost think, well, does it really say that? 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:49.060 Does it mean what it says? 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:53.719 And sometimes you just have to read it again, and you realize, yes, I wasn't reading it quite right. 00:00:53.719 --> 00:01:00.619 Sometimes you're reading the context round about it, or think of other passages and come to understand it through that. 00:01:01.619 --> 00:01:06.700 But sometimes I think there are verses that are in the Bible almost there to surprise us, 00:01:07.239 --> 00:01:13.359 so that we stop and think and can reflect a bit more on what we've just read. 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:19.180 And I think the last verse of Psalm 119 is a bit like that. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:21.620 Aaron referred to it in his prayer. 00:01:21.620 --> 00:01:27.640 Now, before we talk about it, let me just recap a little bit for the benefit of those who haven't been here, 00:01:27.719 --> 00:01:29.320 a reminder for those who have. 00:01:29.960 --> 00:01:35.520 For the last half dozen weeks, we've been going through Psalm 119, a wonderful poem, 00:01:36.240 --> 00:01:41.840 beautifully constructed, 176 verses in 22 equal sections, 00:01:42.219 --> 00:01:45.060 with each section headed by a letter from the Hebrew alphabet, 00:01:45.060 --> 00:01:50.740 and every verse in that section starting with that same letter. 00:01:50.739 --> 00:01:56.060 It has a wonderful theme, which is the psalmist's love for God's word, 00:01:56.339 --> 00:02:03.899 and he has eight different words he uses time and again to describe the Bible and God's laws and God speaking to us. 00:02:04.899 --> 00:02:07.119 And he really loves his Bible. 00:02:07.299 --> 00:02:12.719 He loves God's words, God's law, what God has revealed to us. 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:16.180 But alongside that, he has some enemies. 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:19.159 He has foes in high places who are out to get him. 00:02:19.659 --> 00:02:24.659 And a large part of the psalm is the psalmist praying to God for preservation, 00:02:24.919 --> 00:02:29.699 for deliverance, that he may be rescued from his enemies. 00:02:30.699 --> 00:02:35.460 And he feels that he can come and pray that to God because he loves God's word 00:02:35.460 --> 00:02:38.980 and because he trusts God's promises. 00:02:39.980 --> 00:02:42.860 And the impression you get very much as you read the psalm 00:02:42.860 --> 00:02:46.400 is that here's someone who sees himself as one of the good guys, 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:50.020 and there are lots of bad guys who are out to get him. 00:02:50.100 --> 00:02:53.400 People who in their wickedness have no time for God's law 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:57.080 and want to destroy those who love God. 00:02:58.020 --> 00:03:01.439 And then we come to the very last verse in the psalm. 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:05.340 Right at the end, verse 176 starts, 00:03:05.780 --> 00:03:09.199 I have strayed like a lost sheep. 00:03:09.819 --> 00:03:11.319 And that seemed to come out of nowhere. 00:03:12.099 --> 00:03:15.439 It's completely different from what's in the book of the psalm, 00:03:15.620 --> 00:03:18.879 which is talking about the psalmist's love for God and his word 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:21.659 and his desire to follow God. 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:24.120 So where does that come from? 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:28.740 I'm going to offer two suggestions, one just now and one at the end. 00:03:28.740 --> 00:03:33.400 And you can see which, if either of them, makes sense to you. 00:03:34.640 --> 00:03:37.240 My rule of thumb when I come to a psalm, 00:03:37.300 --> 00:03:39.659 and I want quickly to establish what it's about, 00:03:40.140 --> 00:03:43.140 is to look at the beginning, look at the end, 00:03:43.460 --> 00:03:45.140 and then look at the middle. 00:03:45.700 --> 00:03:48.300 Psalm 119 is a very long middle, 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:52.460 but we'll talk briefly about the beginning and the end. 00:03:52.460 --> 00:03:56.540 In the first few verses, the psalmist talks about 00:03:56.540 --> 00:04:00.719 how blessed the people are who love God's law and obey it. 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:03.000 And then in verse 5 he says, 00:04:03.219 --> 00:04:06.439 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decree, 00:04:07.219 --> 00:04:12.580 then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. 00:04:12.580 --> 00:04:15.040 So right at the beginning of the psalm, 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:17.040 the psalmist is establishing with us, 00:04:17.340 --> 00:04:19.120 actually he's not perfect, 00:04:19.540 --> 00:04:23.280 he longs to be more obedient to God. 00:04:24.300 --> 00:04:26.060 And so then he comes at the end, 00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:27.819 and he says something similar, 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:29.560 I have strayed like a lost sheep, 00:04:30.120 --> 00:04:31.160 seek your servant, 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:35.040 for I have not forgotten your commands. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:38.220 Now see the parallels in these verses. 00:04:38.220 --> 00:04:41.580 On the one hand, the psalmist is confessing 00:04:41.580 --> 00:04:45.260 that he hasn't followed God's law in the way he should. 00:04:46.100 --> 00:04:47.380 But he's also saying, 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:49.500 I really love your word, 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:50.700 I love your commands, 00:04:50.940 --> 00:04:52.400 I haven't forgotten them, 00:04:52.700 --> 00:04:56.300 I want them to be the basis for my life. 00:04:56.900 --> 00:04:58.440 And the verses that come in the middle 00:04:58.440 --> 00:05:02.940 expand on that in a wonderful way. 00:05:04.100 --> 00:05:06.080 I find this quite encouraging. 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:10.219 If you just read the middle sections of the psalm, 00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:13.379 the psalmist could come across as a bit smug, 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:15.620 maybe a bit self-righteous. 00:05:16.159 --> 00:05:18.339 You might even think he's a bit hypocritical, 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:20.439 because we know that no one apart from Jesus 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:23.979 was able fully to obey God's law. 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:27.500 But the psalmist is very honest with us. 00:05:28.339 --> 00:05:30.860 I'm not obeying God's decrees the way I should. 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:33.180 I've strayed like a lost sheep. 00:05:33.180 --> 00:05:36.459 But despite that, I love God's word, 00:05:36.579 --> 00:05:37.400 I trust him, 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:40.740 I want to be obedient to him. 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:44.579 All of us, I'm sure, can say that we have strayed, 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:46.220 that we have done things that are wrong, 00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:48.660 that we don't live the lives we should. 00:05:49.460 --> 00:05:51.280 I wonder whether we can also say, 00:05:51.740 --> 00:05:52.660 I love my Bible, 00:05:52.780 --> 00:05:53.860 I love God's word, 00:05:54.040 --> 00:05:55.399 I want to be obedient, 00:05:55.600 --> 00:05:58.420 do everything that God tells me to. 00:05:59.100 --> 00:06:00.140 That's a huge challenge, 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:02.680 but it makes the psalm seem more realistic to me, 00:06:02.819 --> 00:06:05.000 that we can identify with the psalmist, 00:06:05.379 --> 00:06:10.040 and we can take the challenge of our love of God's word. 00:06:11.740 --> 00:06:12.840 Now, having been through the psalm, 00:06:12.900 --> 00:06:14.780 if you've been here the last half dozen weeks, 00:06:15.220 --> 00:06:17.240 you may be wondering what's new or different 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:19.759 in the section we're looking at today. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:22.579 The psalm is deliberately quite repetitive, 00:06:23.039 --> 00:06:25.019 as the psalmist comes back again and again 00:06:25.019 --> 00:06:26.039 to similar themes, 00:06:26.439 --> 00:06:29.300 and draws out new things from them. 00:06:30.279 --> 00:06:32.259 Well, I suggest that the thing that's distinctive 00:06:32.259 --> 00:06:34.120 about these last four sections 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:38.379 is the intensity with which the psalmist writes. 00:06:39.159 --> 00:06:41.060 It starts with talking about God, 00:06:41.159 --> 00:06:42.959 I call with all my heart. 00:06:43.620 --> 00:06:45.879 Four times in 11 verses, he says, 00:06:46.180 --> 00:06:47.920 preserve my life. 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:50.800 Here's someone who's in grave danger. 00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:53.120 He's in danger of being killed 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:54.400 or believes that he is, 00:06:54.740 --> 00:06:56.560 and he knows his only hope 00:06:56.560 --> 00:06:59.780 is to be found in God's promises. 00:07:01.140 --> 00:07:02.480 Now, rather than go conceptually 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:03.460 through the four sections, 00:07:03.540 --> 00:07:05.319 what I want to do is to focus 00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:07.480 on the very last section in the psalm, 00:07:07.900 --> 00:07:09.100 which is called Ta, 00:07:09.220 --> 00:07:10.960 if you've got the Bible in front of you, 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:14.400 but we'll also bring in the earlier sections 00:07:14.400 --> 00:07:16.680 and see how they relate to that. 00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:17.700 So here's where we're going. 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:20.040 We've got three simple headings. 00:07:20.520 --> 00:07:21.439 Hear my prayer. 00:07:22.340 --> 00:07:23.759 Accept my praise. 00:07:24.400 --> 00:07:25.680 Save my life. 00:07:25.780 --> 00:07:27.220 You've reached in this two or three verses 00:07:27.220 --> 00:07:29.600 from this, the end of the psalm, 00:07:29.980 --> 00:07:31.379 and then there's another section 00:07:31.379 --> 00:07:33.460 that we'll refer to as well. 00:07:34.340 --> 00:07:35.500 So first of all, 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:37.759 hear my prayer. 00:07:38.620 --> 00:07:40.759 Verses 160 and 170, 00:07:40.939 --> 00:07:41.680 the psalmist says, 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:43.720 may my cry come before you, Lord. 00:07:44.259 --> 00:07:47.220 Give me understanding according to your words. 00:07:47.860 --> 00:07:50.160 May my supplication come before you. 00:07:50.780 --> 00:07:54.579 Deliver me according to your promise. 00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:57.600 The psalmist is desperate that God should hear 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:01.060 and should answer his prayer. 00:08:01.060 --> 00:08:02.100 His prayer, 00:08:02.100 --> 00:08:04.660 when he's in a time of difficulty and danger, 00:08:05.019 --> 00:08:07.379 he knows he needs God's help. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:09.720 So going back to the other section, 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:10.699 which is the one that's headed, 00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:11.199 Quoth, 00:08:11.280 --> 00:08:12.980 from verse 145 on, 00:08:13.280 --> 00:08:14.379 he says things like, 00:08:14.379 --> 00:08:17.019 I call with all my heart. 00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:18.500 Answer me, Lord. 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:22.920 Hear my voice in accordance with your love. 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:25.639 But maybe the intensity of his prayer 00:08:25.639 --> 00:08:27.399 and his desire for God to hear him 00:08:27.399 --> 00:08:28.819 is most evident, 00:08:28.939 --> 00:08:30.120 if you've got your Bible in front of you, 00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:33.419 in verse 147 and 148. 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:34.379 The psalmist says, 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:38.120 I rise before dawn and cry for help. 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:40.860 I have put my hope in your words. 00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:45.000 My eyes stay open throughout the watches of the night 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:49.139 that I may meditate on your promises. 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:51.840 Here's someone who's so focused 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:53.659 on bringing his prayers to God, 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:56.620 who is so eager to come before God 00:08:56.620 --> 00:08:59.820 and to lay all his concerns on God, 00:09:00.220 --> 00:09:01.860 that he lies awake at night 00:09:01.860 --> 00:09:03.820 thinking about God's promises, 00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:06.000 recognizing what God has said 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:07.300 and claiming them for himself. 00:09:07.820 --> 00:09:10.120 And then he's up before everyone else in the morning 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:12.159 to start his prayers. 00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:14.240 He knows his enemies are close. 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:16.980 He knows they've got no time for God's law. 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:20.320 But he says God is also near 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:23.100 and he can be completely trusted 00:09:23.100 --> 00:09:25.440 because he never changes 00:09:25.440 --> 00:09:27.440 and nor do his promises. 00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:29.659 As the old Tim says, 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:32.500 standing on the promises that cannot fail, 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:36.259 when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, 00:09:36.259 --> 00:09:38.860 by the living word of God, 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:40.139 I shall prevail, 00:09:41.139 --> 00:09:44.840 standing on the promises of God. 00:09:45.740 --> 00:09:48.019 I wonder how much that's true of us, 00:09:48.659 --> 00:09:50.639 that we believe God's promises, 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:53.120 that we take God's word seriously, 00:09:53.860 --> 00:09:56.379 and that we come before him fervently, 00:09:56.939 --> 00:09:57.519 constantly, 00:09:58.039 --> 00:10:00.179 bringing the desires of our hearts, 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:03.799 knowing that he is the one who is able to save us 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:08.379 and relying on his strength in our weakness. 00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:12.620 When it comes to recognising the value of scripture 00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:13.639 in modern times, 00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:15.019 one of the great examples 00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:17.860 is the man who's known as Brother Andrew. 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:19.279 Brother Andrew is the founder 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:21.159 of the Open Doors organisation 00:10:21.159 --> 00:10:22.600 that you may have heard of. 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:24.000 He's a Dutchman, 00:10:24.379 --> 00:10:26.179 but he's best known for his book 00:10:26.179 --> 00:10:28.299 called God's Smuggler. 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:32.379 When he went behind the Iron Curtain in the 1950s, 00:10:32.379 --> 00:10:35.019 he saw just how few people had Bibles, 00:10:35.019 --> 00:10:38.360 even a church that might be no Bible or one Bible, 00:10:38.779 --> 00:10:40.600 and he was determined that he wanted 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:44.319 to get God's word into the hands of more people. 00:10:44.460 --> 00:10:46.960 Christians were desperate to get Bibles, 00:10:47.319 --> 00:10:48.539 and they couldn't. 00:10:49.579 --> 00:10:52.720 So Brother Andrew started to smuggle Bibles 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:55.000 into communist countries. 00:10:56.139 --> 00:10:57.019 Fairly early on, 00:10:57.059 --> 00:10:58.319 one of the best-known stories 00:10:58.319 --> 00:11:00.000 is when he was travelling to Romania, 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:02.100 he was going there in a Volkswagen Beetle, 00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:04.379 and hidden around the car, 00:11:04.800 --> 00:11:06.540 there were lots of Bibles. 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:08.980 And he came to a checkpoint at the border, 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:10.800 and he quickly realised 00:11:10.800 --> 00:11:13.399 that the guards were going through every car 00:11:13.399 --> 00:11:14.920 with a fine-tooth comb. 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:17.040 They would take spending up to an hour 00:11:17.040 --> 00:11:20.100 searching the cars for anything illegal. 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:22.259 Brother Andrew knew 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:25.560 he had lots of illegal things in his car, 00:11:25.560 --> 00:11:28.680 that he would at the very best be turned back 00:11:28.680 --> 00:11:30.420 and have his Bibles confiscated, 00:11:30.419 --> 00:11:32.659 maybe even be arrested. 00:11:33.839 --> 00:11:34.879 So here was a situation 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:36.439 where he had to come to God 00:11:36.439 --> 00:11:38.139 with a desperate plea, 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:41.879 recognising that there was nothing he could do. 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:43.879 And here's what he prayed. 00:11:43.939 --> 00:11:44.199 He said, 00:11:44.319 --> 00:11:46.579 Dear Lord, what am I going to do? 00:11:47.299 --> 00:11:50.319 I know that no amount of cleverness on my part 00:11:50.319 --> 00:11:52.419 can get me through this border search. 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:54.719 Dare I ask for a miracle? 00:11:55.939 --> 00:11:57.599 Let me take some Bibles out 00:11:57.599 --> 00:11:58.779 and leave them in the open 00:11:58.779 --> 00:12:00.220 where they will be seen. 00:12:01.179 --> 00:12:03.799 Then, Lord, I cannot possibly be relying 00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:06.379 on my own stratagems, can I? 00:12:06.959 --> 00:12:10.659 I will be depending utterly on you. 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:12.019 So he got us some Bibles, 00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:14.179 spread them in the seat behind him, 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:15.159 and went, 00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:16.519 no doubt, with great trepidation, 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:18.659 drove forward to the checkpoint. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:21.659 He handed over his paper to the official there. 00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:22.980 He was going to get out of his car, 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:24.700 and the official said no. 00:12:25.259 --> 00:12:26.960 He just scribbled on the papers, 00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:28.139 handed them back, 00:12:28.420 --> 00:12:29.060 and said, 00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:30.180 You can go. 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:32.279 The Bibles were open sight. 00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:34.759 Anyone could have seen them, 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:37.220 but they weren't challenged. 00:12:37.860 --> 00:12:38.680 On other occasions, 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:40.259 Brother Andrew developed a prayer 00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:41.639 which was something like this. 00:12:42.060 --> 00:12:43.980 Lord, you made blind eyes see. 00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:47.980 Now I pray that you make seeing eyes blind. 00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:51.340 Despite many times taking Bibles 00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:53.340 into communist Europe, 00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:56.200 he managed to do it with God's strength 00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:58.019 and through his prayers 00:12:58.019 --> 00:13:01.420 and to deliver to many Christians 00:13:01.420 --> 00:13:04.420 the book that they most needed. 00:13:05.060 --> 00:13:07.120 That's an unusual story. 00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:08.240 It's remarkable. 00:13:08.659 --> 00:13:10.480 In many ways, it's exceptional. 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:12.539 We may not expect that kind of thing 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:14.720 particularly to happen to us. 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:16.639 But all of us are called 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:19.460 to have this kind of faith in God. 00:13:20.060 --> 00:13:21.879 To believe that in the most difficult 00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:24.000 and desperate situations, 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:27.139 we can continue to trust in his goodness. 00:13:28.019 --> 00:13:31.120 We can continue to rely on his promises. 00:13:31.940 --> 00:13:33.080 And to pray fervently 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:35.100 for what matters most to us, 00:13:35.560 --> 00:13:38.440 knowing that God is faithful to what he says 00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:41.899 and that he will work things for our best. 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:44.399 That doesn't always mean we get the answer 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:45.120 we expect. 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:48.079 God's ways are higher than our ways 00:13:48.079 --> 00:13:49.699 and we have to trust that he knows 00:13:49.699 --> 00:13:51.899 a lot better than we do. 00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:54.039 But James says in his letter 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:54.899 in the New Testament, 00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:55.919 when you ask, 00:13:56.459 --> 00:13:58.240 you must believe and not doubt 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:00.340 because the one who doubts 00:14:00.340 --> 00:14:01.899 is like a wave of the sea 00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:05.319 blown and tossed by the wind. 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:08.799 Do we really believe God's promises? 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:12.159 And do we constantly and fervently 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:15.979 bring to him the desires of our heart? 00:14:17.219 --> 00:14:18.120 Psalmist prayer. 00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:19.719 Hear my prayer. 00:14:21.719 --> 00:14:23.559 The second heading I've got is 00:14:23.559 --> 00:14:24.899 accept my praise. 00:14:24.979 --> 00:14:27.359 And this is verse 171 to 172. 00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:29.219 I'm going back to the section 00:14:29.219 --> 00:14:34.819 in verse 161 to 168. 00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:37.160 Verse 171 says, 00:14:37.160 --> 00:14:38.980 My lips overflow with praise 00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:41.260 for you teach me your decrees. 00:14:42.180 --> 00:14:44.020 May my tongue sing of your word 00:14:44.020 --> 00:14:47.940 for all your commands are righteous. 00:14:47.940 --> 00:14:51.220 The psalmist is in a desperate situation. 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:54.880 He's in real danger for his life. 00:14:55.520 --> 00:14:56.800 But despite that, 00:14:57.160 --> 00:15:00.460 he's determined to keep praising God. 00:15:01.180 --> 00:15:02.360 If we look back at the section 00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:04.400 between 161 and 168, 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:06.520 you might see there are two letters 00:15:06.520 --> 00:15:06.960 at the top. 00:15:07.040 --> 00:15:08.460 Looks like it's two Hebrew letters. 00:15:08.900 --> 00:15:10.100 It is actually just one. 00:15:10.520 --> 00:15:12.520 It's pronounced apparently sin or shin 00:15:12.520 --> 00:15:14.440 depending on whether there's a dot 00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:15.620 to the left or the right. 00:15:15.680 --> 00:15:16.960 So if anyone was confused by that, 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:19.200 that apparently is the explanation. 00:15:19.379 --> 00:15:20.379 What's more important though 00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:22.660 is what's in the Bible. 00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:24.400 And this section is unlike 00:15:24.400 --> 00:15:25.500 any of the others 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:27.100 that we're looking at today 00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:28.780 because it's not made up 00:15:28.780 --> 00:15:30.120 of requests to God. 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:32.220 It's made up of statements 00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:34.420 expressing the psalmist's confidence 00:15:34.420 --> 00:15:35.740 in God. 00:15:36.300 --> 00:15:36.860 He says, 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:39.300 I rejoice in your promise. 00:15:39.940 --> 00:15:41.300 I love your law. 00:15:42.160 --> 00:15:45.259 I wait for your salvation. 00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:46.639 And then most powerfully of all, 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.679 perhaps in verse 164, 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:48.840 he says, 00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:50.519 seven times a day, 00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:51.939 I praise you 00:15:51.939 --> 00:15:55.000 for your righteous laws. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:56.799 Seven times a day 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:58.600 is probably meant to represent 00:15:58.600 --> 00:16:00.580 a continuous attitude of praise 00:16:00.580 --> 00:16:02.240 rather than a strict count 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:03.340 every day. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:05.340 But despite his plight, 00:16:05.460 --> 00:16:06.720 the psalmist is determined 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:08.059 to keep trusting 00:16:08.059 --> 00:16:09.319 and praying. 00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:11.120 During the night, 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:12.059 he reminds himself 00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:13.019 of God's promises. 00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:14.219 He gets up early 00:16:14.219 --> 00:16:15.979 to bring his prayers to God. 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.579 And then his days 00:16:17.579 --> 00:16:19.039 are filled with reflections 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:21.859 of God's goodness to him. 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:23.079 Not that also his prayers, 00:16:23.199 --> 00:16:24.500 but partly highlights here 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:27.219 reflections on God's goodness. 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:30.399 I think one of the greatest tests 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:31.719 of our Christian faith 00:16:31.719 --> 00:16:33.059 is how we respond 00:16:33.579 --> 00:16:35.339 when things seem to be going 00:16:35.339 --> 00:16:37.179 badly for us. 00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:39.139 When we face opposition 00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:42.279 or when tragedy strikes, 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:44.899 when we're asking God why 00:16:44.899 --> 00:16:46.859 and we don't really seem 00:16:46.859 --> 00:16:48.419 to get an answer, 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:51.199 can we still recognize 00:16:51.199 --> 00:16:52.120 God's goodness 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:53.799 and praise him? 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:55.679 Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5, 00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:57.059 rejoice always, 00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:58.839 pray continually, 00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:01.719 give thanks in all circumstances, 00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:04.759 for this is God's will for you 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:06.399 in Christ Jesus. 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:08.220 Now I realize 00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:09.800 that's easier to say 00:17:09.800 --> 00:17:10.900 than to do 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:11.780 and I'm very aware 00:17:11.780 --> 00:17:12.420 that some of you 00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:12.940 have suffered 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:14.180 far, far more 00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:15.380 than I have. 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:17.080 But in the most difficult 00:17:17.080 --> 00:17:17.800 of times, 00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:19.700 it's good to recognize 00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:20.860 that we worship 00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:22.280 a faithful God 00:17:22.280 --> 00:17:23.780 and to bring him 00:17:23.780 --> 00:17:24.540 our praise 00:17:24.540 --> 00:17:26.380 and our thanksgiving. 00:17:26.460 --> 00:17:27.840 He will never let us down 00:17:27.840 --> 00:17:29.380 and we can praise him 00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:30.580 for that. 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.600 Lara Martin is, 00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:34.420 among other things, 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.240 a worship leader 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:37.120 and a songwriter. 00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:39.079 And shortly after 00:17:39.079 --> 00:17:40.640 the 9-11 atrocity, 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:41.460 Lara Martin 00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:42.859 visited Ground Zero 00:17:42.859 --> 00:17:43.400 in New York. 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:44.259 I'm sure many of us 00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:44.799 have done 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:46.599 a place where you 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:47.720 really feel 00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:48.920 the weight 00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:50.299 of what happened 00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:51.720 on that day. 00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:53.259 And Lara Martin, 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:54.279 as she was there, 00:17:54.620 --> 00:17:55.559 was moved to write 00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:56.240 the song 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:57.559 The Voice of Hope. 00:17:57.620 --> 00:17:58.539 It's one that we sing 00:17:58.539 --> 00:17:59.720 fairly regularly. 00:17:59.859 --> 00:18:00.700 Let me remind you 00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:01.740 of some of the words. 00:18:03.120 --> 00:18:04.340 And through the storm, 00:18:04.860 --> 00:18:05.920 yet I will praise you. 00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:07.019 Despite it all, 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:08.559 yet I will sing. 00:18:09.380 --> 00:18:10.559 Through good and bad, 00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:12.380 yet I will worship. 00:18:13.340 --> 00:18:14.340 For you remain 00:18:14.340 --> 00:18:15.120 the same 00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:16.240 King 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:18.019 of kings. 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:19.440 And faced with 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:19.880 the greatest 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:20.799 of tragedy, 00:18:21.299 --> 00:18:21.720 faced with 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:22.860 the most difficult 00:18:22.860 --> 00:18:23.799 situations 00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:24.600 that the world 00:18:24.600 --> 00:18:25.980 has had to cope with 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:27.340 in most of our 00:18:27.340 --> 00:18:28.420 lifetimes, 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:30.019 she was reminded 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:31.380 that even in 00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:32.160 these kind of 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:32.980 circumstances, 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.560 we can bring 00:18:34.560 --> 00:18:35.580 our praise to God 00:18:35.580 --> 00:18:36.640 because we know 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:38.039 that He is good 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:39.740 and that He has 00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:40.920 our interests 00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:42.000 at heart. 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:43.539 And we have the strength 00:18:43.539 --> 00:18:44.400 to do that too, 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:46.060 even in the darkest 00:18:46.060 --> 00:18:46.660 times, 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:48.060 to bring our praise 00:18:48.060 --> 00:18:48.880 and our thanksgiving 00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:49.360 to God 00:18:49.360 --> 00:18:50.440 for all that He is 00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:51.759 for the Lord Jesus 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:53.860 and for His help 00:18:53.860 --> 00:18:55.200 in our lives. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:58.680 That heading today 00:18:58.680 --> 00:19:00.480 is Save My Life. 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.180 That's the last 00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:01.920 four verses 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:02.980 of the psalm 00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.920 and again 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:04.700 looking backwards 00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:05.420 is from verse 00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:07.840 153 to 160. 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:09.360 From verse 173 00:19:09.360 --> 00:19:10.420 the psalmist says, 00:19:11.080 --> 00:19:11.759 May your hand 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:13.000 be ready to help me 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:14.539 for I have chosen 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.200 your precepts. 00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:17.120 I long for 00:19:17.120 --> 00:19:17.880 your salvation, 00:19:18.120 --> 00:19:18.259 Lord. 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:19.240 Your law gives me 00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:19.700 delight. 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:21.640 Let me live 00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:23.019 that I may praise you 00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:24.980 and may your laws 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:26.400 sustain me. 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:27.839 So again, 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:28.460 as he's done 00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:29.799 time and time again 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:30.960 that the psalmist 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.900 says he needs 00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:32.740 God's help, 00:19:33.139 --> 00:19:34.299 he pleads for it 00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:36.359 and he reminds himself 00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:37.720 of the value 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:38.559 of God's law 00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:39.859 and how much 00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:41.519 he loves it. 00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:43.000 As I said, 00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:44.119 the similar theme 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:45.639 in verse 153 00:19:45.639 --> 00:19:46.379 to 160 00:19:46.379 --> 00:19:46.900 section 00:19:46.900 --> 00:19:47.420 is headed 00:19:47.420 --> 00:19:48.319 Resh. 00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:49.559 This is maybe 00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:50.480 the most intense 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.379 part of all 00:19:51.380 --> 00:19:53.200 in Psalm 119. 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.400 It's where the psalmist 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:56.640 is really feeling 00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:57.300 the burden, 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.020 the weight 00:19:58.020 --> 00:19:59.460 of what is happening 00:19:59.460 --> 00:19:59.980 to him 00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:01.220 and the danger 00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:01.780 he faces 00:20:01.780 --> 00:20:03.280 and his need 00:20:03.280 --> 00:20:04.420 for God. 00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:06.060 So three times 00:20:06.060 --> 00:20:06.660 he says, 00:20:07.020 --> 00:20:08.500 preserve my life. 00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:09.800 He's asking 00:20:09.800 --> 00:20:10.780 for deliverance. 00:20:11.020 --> 00:20:12.200 He asks for redemption. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.660 He looks for 00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:14.320 God's 00:20:14.320 --> 00:20:15.260 compassion. 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:17.760 I'm not sure 00:20:17.760 --> 00:20:18.460 there's very much 00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:19.100 more I need 00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:20.200 to say about this 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:21.880 except that God 00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:22.580 wants us 00:20:22.580 --> 00:20:23.500 to be honest 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:24.880 when we pray. 00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:27.019 He wants to bring us, 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:27.880 bring him 00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:29.740 our worries, 00:20:30.340 --> 00:20:31.120 our fears, 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.740 our questions. 00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.200 Now of course 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:34.960 God knows all 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.519 these already. 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:36.240 God knows 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:36.980 everything. 00:20:37.880 --> 00:20:38.880 But as a father, 00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:39.880 as an earthly father, 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.880 likes his children 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:41.720 to talk about 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.380 their needs 00:20:42.380 --> 00:20:43.759 and their desires 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.360 to him. 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:45.880 So our heavenly 00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:47.480 father wants us 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:48.360 to express 00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:49.299 our true feelings, 00:20:49.419 --> 00:20:50.299 not to hide them 00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:51.039 or to pretend 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:52.419 that they don't exist, 00:20:52.919 --> 00:20:53.619 to express 00:20:53.619 --> 00:20:54.659 our true feelings 00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:55.240 to him, 00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:57.179 but at the same time 00:20:57.179 --> 00:20:58.159 to trust 00:20:58.159 --> 00:20:59.819 in his goodness. 00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.259 To trust 00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:01.879 that he is 00:21:01.879 --> 00:21:03.159 the all-powerful 00:21:03.159 --> 00:21:04.099 God who is able 00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:05.000 to help us 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:05.939 and he is 00:21:05.939 --> 00:21:06.579 the all-loving 00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:07.919 God who wants 00:21:07.919 --> 00:21:09.099 what is good 00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:10.279 for us. 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:11.740 As the psalmist 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.199 says, 00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:13.419 he loves us, 00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:15.059 his compassion 00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:16.619 is great 00:21:16.619 --> 00:21:18.000 and we can 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:18.599 trust him 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:19.759 with every aspect 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:21.079 of our lives. 00:21:21.139 --> 00:21:21.659 And if today 00:21:21.659 --> 00:21:22.179 some of us 00:21:22.179 --> 00:21:22.700 are going through 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.639 difficult times, 00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:24.480 we have worries 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:25.359 about the future, 00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:26.279 perhaps fears 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:28.059 of what lies ahead. 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:29.559 Let's recognize 00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:30.720 this God 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.919 who loves us 00:21:31.919 --> 00:21:33.500 and let's be honest 00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:34.440 about our fears 00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:35.039 with him 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:36.139 but let's put 00:21:36.139 --> 00:21:37.259 our trust in him 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:38.379 knowing that 00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:39.240 he cares 00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:40.419 for us. 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.220 I said I'd 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:42.679 finished by 00:21:42.679 --> 00:21:43.480 returning to 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.379 the surprising 00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:44.940 confession 00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:47.280 in verse 176 00:21:47.280 --> 00:21:48.580 that the psalmist 00:21:48.580 --> 00:21:49.400 has strayed 00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:50.580 like a lost 00:21:50.580 --> 00:21:51.260 sheep. 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:52.480 Earlier we 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:52.960 compared the 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:53.720 start and the 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.680 end of this psalm. 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:55.920 I want to finish 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:56.920 by comparing it 00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:58.000 with a different 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.680 psalm. 00:21:59.560 --> 00:22:00.540 Psalm 1 in many 00:22:00.540 --> 00:22:01.460 ways is very 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:02.180 similar to 00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:03.400 Psalm 119. 00:22:03.600 --> 00:22:03.800 Now it's an 00:22:03.800 --> 00:22:04.440 awful lot shorter, 00:22:04.540 --> 00:22:05.340 only six verses 00:22:05.340 --> 00:22:06.860 in Psalm 1 00:22:06.860 --> 00:22:08.440 but the overall 00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:09.400 theme is similar. 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:10.780 It's about those 00:22:10.780 --> 00:22:11.720 who love God's 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.800 words and the 00:22:12.800 --> 00:22:13.420 blessings that 00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:14.240 come to them 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.620 and contrary 00:22:15.620 --> 00:22:16.620 to that, 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:18.000 the judgment 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.680 that comes 00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:19.460 to those 00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.220 who ignore 00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:20.720 God. 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.319 So verse 1 00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:23.019 of both psalms, 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:23.819 Psalm 1 says, 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:24.480 blessed is the 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:25.019 one who does 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.779 not walk in 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:26.440 step with the 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:26.680 wicked. 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.660 Psalm 119 00:22:28.660 --> 00:22:29.519 says, 00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.579 blessed are those 00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:31.240 whose ways 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:32.940 are blameless. 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:34.440 Now we go right 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:35.059 to the end of 00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:35.539 both of the 00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:36.019 psalms. 00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:36.980 Here's the way 00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:37.539 they end. 00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:38.859 Psalm 1 00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:39.200 ends, 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:40.019 the way of the 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:41.059 wicked leads 00:22:41.059 --> 00:22:41.819 to destruction. 00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:43.940 Psalm 119 00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:44.380 ends, 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.720 I have strayed 00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:47.039 like a lost 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:47.779 sheep. 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:49.259 These may not 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:50.100 look very 00:22:50.100 --> 00:22:50.559 similar, 00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:52.120 but the two 00:22:52.120 --> 00:22:52.860 words I've 00:22:52.860 --> 00:22:53.299 highlighted, 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:53.620 their 00:22:53.620 --> 00:22:54.460 distraction and 00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:54.799 lost, 00:22:55.080 --> 00:22:55.860 are actually 00:22:55.860 --> 00:22:56.660 exactly the 00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:57.319 same word 00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:58.019 in the 00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:59.160 original Hebrew. 00:22:59.160 --> 00:22:59.819 I think it 00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.200 pronounced 00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:01.059 abad. 00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:02.779 It is a word 00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.460 that has a 00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:04.299 variety of 00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:05.279 different nuances 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:06.740 depending on 00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:07.339 the context. 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.339 Perhaps the 00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:09.139 extremes are 00:23:09.139 --> 00:23:10.000 in these two 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:10.799 verses. 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:11.220 One, 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:12.259 destruction. 00:23:12.899 --> 00:23:13.200 The other, 00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:13.779 someone who 00:23:13.779 --> 00:23:14.399 is lost, 00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:14.960 who is in 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:15.379 danger, 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:16.500 and who 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:17.480 needs to 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:18.599 be found. 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:20.180 I think the 00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:21.240 contrast there 00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.319 is quite 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:23.579 telling as 00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.019 we think 00:23:24.019 --> 00:23:24.859 about ourselves 00:23:24.859 --> 00:23:25.839 and our 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:26.460 relationship 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:27.599 to God. 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.379 In Psalm 00:23:29.379 --> 00:23:30.000 1, at the 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.440 end of the 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:31.339 psalm, the 00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:31.879 psalmist is 00:23:31.879 --> 00:23:32.500 talking about 00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:33.099 those who 00:23:33.099 --> 00:23:33.960 have rejected 00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:34.639 God, those 00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:35.300 he calls 00:23:35.300 --> 00:23:36.060 the wicked. 00:23:37.080 --> 00:23:37.440 And he 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.160 says they 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:38.860 can only 00:23:38.860 --> 00:23:39.600 look forward 00:23:39.600 --> 00:23:41.060 to destruction. 00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:42.340 If they 00:23:42.340 --> 00:23:42.900 keep going 00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:43.220 on the 00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:43.780 path that 00:23:43.780 --> 00:23:44.040 they've 00:23:44.040 --> 00:23:44.440 chosen, 00:23:45.020 --> 00:23:45.380 there is 00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:45.840 going to 00:23:45.840 --> 00:23:46.580 be judgment 00:23:46.580 --> 00:23:47.780 from God 00:23:47.780 --> 00:23:48.740 at the 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.100 end. 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:50.800 Now, we 00:23:50.800 --> 00:23:51.420 mustn't think 00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:51.840 that the 00:23:51.840 --> 00:23:52.500 wicked is 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:52.940 just kind 00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:53.360 of evil 00:23:53.360 --> 00:23:54.000 people out 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.080 there and 00:23:55.080 --> 00:23:55.300 there's 00:23:55.300 --> 00:23:55.820 nothing to 00:23:55.820 --> 00:23:56.700 do with 00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.100 us. 00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:58.420 What the 00:23:58.420 --> 00:23:58.720 psalmist 00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.400 would describe 00:23:59.400 --> 00:23:59.900 here is the 00:23:59.900 --> 00:24:00.800 wicked is 00:24:00.800 --> 00:24:01.580 anyone who 00:24:01.580 --> 00:24:02.640 rejects God's 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.840 way and 00:24:03.840 --> 00:24:04.360 who chooses 00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:04.979 to go 00:24:04.979 --> 00:24:06.039 their own 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:06.339 way. 00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:07.479 And looking 00:24:07.479 --> 00:24:08.019 at it from 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:08.659 a New 00:24:08.659 --> 00:24:09.059 Testament 00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:10.399 context, we 00:24:10.399 --> 00:24:10.859 could say 00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:11.439 that the 00:24:11.439 --> 00:24:11.979 wicked in 00:24:11.979 --> 00:24:12.719 this context 00:24:12.719 --> 00:24:13.579 are those 00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:14.459 who reject 00:24:14.459 --> 00:24:15.979 Jesus and 00:24:15.979 --> 00:24:16.500 don't put 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:17.159 their trust 00:24:17.159 --> 00:24:18.079 in him. 00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:19.179 A New 00:24:19.179 --> 00:24:19.519 Testament 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.240 teaches us 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:20.679 that Jesus 00:24:20.679 --> 00:24:21.459 is the only 00:24:21.459 --> 00:24:21.939 way to 00:24:21.939 --> 00:24:23.000 God and 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:23.439 those who 00:24:23.439 --> 00:24:24.099 don't trust 00:24:24.099 --> 00:24:24.619 in him, 00:24:24.959 --> 00:24:25.339 those who 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:26.000 rely on 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:26.619 themselves, 00:24:27.139 --> 00:24:27.979 will inevitably 00:24:27.979 --> 00:24:29.699 face God's 00:24:29.699 --> 00:24:30.159 judgment. 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.419 They will face 00:24:31.419 --> 00:24:32.179 the destruction 00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:33.160 that the 00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:33.460 psalmist 00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:34.200 talks about 00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:34.980 here. 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:36.519 When we 00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:36.820 come to 00:24:36.820 --> 00:24:37.660 Psalm 119, 00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:38.539 it is 00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.019 clearly 00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:39.960 different. 00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:40.840 Same 00:24:40.840 --> 00:24:41.320 word, 00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:42.640 slightly 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:43.060 different 00:24:43.060 --> 00:24:43.440 meaning. 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:44.759 The 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.080 psalmist 00:24:45.080 --> 00:24:45.759 can describe 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.480 himself later 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:46.759 in the 00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.220 verse as 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:47.660 God's 00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.019 servant. 00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:49.240 He says 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:49.680 he hasn't 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:50.180 forgotten 00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:51.299 God's 00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:52.120 commands. 00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:53.120 Yes, 00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:53.500 he's gone 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:53.980 astray. 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:55.259 He's wandered 00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:55.940 like a sheep. 00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.320 He's got 00:24:56.320 --> 00:24:57.000 himself in a 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.299 pickle. 00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:58.180 He's in 00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:58.680 danger. 00:24:59.140 --> 00:24:59.799 He needs 00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:00.639 help. 00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:02.039 But he 00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:02.559 knows the 00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:04.019 shepherd and 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:04.579 he knows 00:25:04.579 --> 00:25:04.960 that he 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.680 can rely 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.740 on him. 00:25:07.419 --> 00:25:07.919 The good 00:25:07.919 --> 00:25:08.779 shepherd won't 00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:09.619 let him go 00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:11.220 despite all 00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:12.460 his failings. 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:13.500 And of 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:13.879 course, we 00:25:13.879 --> 00:25:14.440 know from 00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:14.839 our New 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:16.000 Testament that 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.960 Jesus is 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:17.839 the good 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:19.720 shepherd and 00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.419 that no one 00:25:20.419 --> 00:25:21.019 can pluck 00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:21.740 his sheep 00:25:21.740 --> 00:25:22.799 from his 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.619 hands. 00:25:24.339 --> 00:25:25.019 Whatever we 00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.720 may face, 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.839 if our trust 00:25:26.839 --> 00:25:27.460 is in him, 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:28.480 we can have 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.299 confidence that 00:25:29.299 --> 00:25:29.779 he will be 00:25:29.779 --> 00:25:30.440 with us, 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:31.220 that he 00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:32.159 will protect 00:25:32.159 --> 00:25:32.759 us. 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:34.019 That when we 00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:34.700 go astray, 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.419 he will seek 00:25:35.419 --> 00:25:36.720 us out and 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.940 find us and 00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:38.839 bring us back 00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:40.019 to the fold. 00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:41.599 And we know 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:42.579 how great his 00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:43.359 love for us 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:44.539 is because he 00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:45.240 said the good 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:46.579 shepherd gives 00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:48.139 his life for 00:25:48.139 --> 00:25:48.619 the sheep. 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.119 And of course, 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:50.539 Jesus died on 00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.639 the cross to 00:25:51.639 --> 00:25:52.139 take the 00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:53.419 punishment for 00:25:53.419 --> 00:25:54.759 our sins. 00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:56.220 So I think 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:56.740 just as I 00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:57.180 finish, 00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.200 there's a 00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:59.340 question for 00:25:59.340 --> 00:25:59.759 each of 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:00.039 us. 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.279 For some, 00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:01.960 perhaps the 00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.819 question is, 00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:03.799 are you 00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:04.799 willing to 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.400 commit your 00:26:05.400 --> 00:26:06.279 life to 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:06.700 God? 00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:07.620 Do you 00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:08.640 know the 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:09.360 good shepherd? 00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:10.640 Are you 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:11.220 willing to 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:12.120 trust Jesus 00:26:12.120 --> 00:26:13.240 to have your 00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:13.940 sins forgiven 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:14.620 because he 00:26:14.620 --> 00:26:15.120 took the 00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:16.440 punishment and 00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:17.100 to know that 00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:17.740 you won't be 00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.440 counted among 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:19.779 the wicked who 00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:20.279 will be 00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:21.400 ultimately 00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:22.960 judged by 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.440 God? 00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:24.559 For other 00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:24.980 of us, 00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:25.360 those who 00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:25.700 maybe have 00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.160 been Christians 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:26.700 for a long 00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:26.960 time, 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:28.019 maybe for a 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:28.640 short time, 00:26:29.140 --> 00:26:30.019 the question 00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.799 of this 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:31.480 passage of 00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:31.940 the whole 00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:33.200 psalm is 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:33.860 whether we 00:26:33.860 --> 00:26:34.819 cultivate our 00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.799 love for 00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:36.580 God's word. 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.039 Do we 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:39.140 treasure it? 00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:40.580 Do we 00:26:40.580 --> 00:26:41.340 read it 00:26:41.340 --> 00:26:42.140 looking for 00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:43.160 God to 00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:43.680 speak to 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.019 us? 00:26:44.580 --> 00:26:45.340 Do we 00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:46.100 seek to 00:26:46.100 --> 00:26:46.779 obey it? 00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:48.400 Do we 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:49.700 see this 00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:50.200 as the 00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:50.960 most important 00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:52.160 book in 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:52.720 the world 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.720 God? 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:54.180 one which 00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:55.000 can lead 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:55.819 us in 00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.299 the right 00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:57.400 ways that 00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:58.180 God has 00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:59.180 for us? 00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:00.380 And we 00:27:00.380 --> 00:27:00.740 know that 00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:01.660 if that is 00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:02.860 us, then 00:27:02.860 --> 00:27:03.279 yes, we 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:03.880 will stray. 00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:05.059 Yes, we 00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:05.500 will go 00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.059 wrong 00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:07.319 regularly. 00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:08.559 But we 00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:08.960 will be 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:09.339 welcomed 00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:10.460 back by 00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:11.059 our shepherd 00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:12.160 as we 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:12.920 confess our 00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:14.039 sins to 00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.360 him. 00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:15.559 Let's not 00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:16.039 forget our 00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:16.620 little season, 00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:17.740 Psalm 119. 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:18.319 It's been a 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:19.079 great privilege 00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:20.100 to go through 00:27:20.100 --> 00:27:21.299 it and to 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:22.059 think of the 00:27:22.059 --> 00:27:22.779 wonders of 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.539 God's law 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.500 and of 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.220 God's word. 00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:26.339 But let's 00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:26.799 particularly 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.579 apply it in 00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:28.899 our lives and 00:27:28.899 --> 00:27:29.599 make sure we're 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:30.500 trusting him in 00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:32.039 every aspect and 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:33.039 seeking to 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:33.679 follow him. 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.720 Let's pray 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.139 together. 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.740 Father, we 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.200 thank you for 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:39.859 this wonderful 00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:40.480 Psalm that 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:41.079 we've considered 00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:41.819 over the last 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:42.359 few weeks. 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:43.740 We thank you 00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:44.139 for the 00:27:44.139 --> 00:27:44.960 Psalmist and 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:45.599 his great 00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:46.259 love for 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.480 you and 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:47.960 for your 00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:48.379 word. 00:27:49.179 --> 00:27:49.940 We thank 00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:50.299 you that 00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:50.919 your law 00:27:50.919 --> 00:27:51.379 which to 00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:51.819 some would 00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:52.179 be seen 00:27:52.179 --> 00:27:52.539 as a 00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:52.859 burden, 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:53.899 to him 00:27:53.899 --> 00:27:54.500 as a 00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:54.939 delight, 00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:55.679 something he 00:27:55.679 --> 00:27:57.139 can enjoy 00:27:57.139 --> 00:27:58.779 and use 00:27:58.779 --> 00:27:59.099 as the 00:27:59.099 --> 00:28:00.240 basis for 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:00.879 his life. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.339 I pray that 00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:02.639 you will 00:28:02.639 --> 00:28:03.319 help us to 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:03.799 have that 00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:04.339 love for 00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:04.939 your word 00:28:04.939 --> 00:28:05.659 that the 00:28:05.659 --> 00:28:06.099 Psalmist 00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:06.399 did, 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:07.720 that we 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.740 may value 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.419 it greatly, 00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:10.339 that we 00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:10.819 may spend 00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:11.960 time daily 00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:12.939 reading it 00:28:12.939 --> 00:28:13.439 and thinking 00:28:13.439 --> 00:28:14.039 about it 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:14.679 and asking 00:28:14.679 --> 00:28:15.099 you to 00:28:15.099 --> 00:28:15.619 speak to 00:28:15.619 --> 00:28:16.460 us from 00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:16.619 it. 00:28:16.679 --> 00:28:17.039 We thank 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:17.379 you there 00:28:17.379 --> 00:28:18.019 is so much 00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:18.439 we can 00:28:18.439 --> 00:28:18.859 learn, 00:28:18.859 --> 00:28:19.459 even 00:28:19.459 --> 00:28:19.799 from 00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.240 passages 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:21.039 we have 00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:21.599 read many, 00:28:21.719 --> 00:28:22.399 many times 00:28:22.399 --> 00:28:23.259 over the 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:23.699 years. 00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:24.779 We pray 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.240 above all 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:25.699 that all 00:28:25.699 --> 00:28:26.159 of us 00:28:26.159 --> 00:28:26.819 will have 00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.439 our trust 00:28:27.439 --> 00:28:28.399 in Jesus, 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:29.740 that we 00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:30.459 will know 00:28:30.459 --> 00:28:30.859 him as 00:28:30.859 --> 00:28:31.099 our 00:28:31.099 --> 00:28:31.679 saviour, 00:28:32.139 --> 00:28:32.639 as the 00:28:32.639 --> 00:28:32.979 one who 00:28:32.979 --> 00:28:33.559 died for 00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:34.039 our sins, 00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:34.419 the one 00:28:34.419 --> 00:28:34.759 who is 00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.539 our good 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:35.919 shepherd, 00:28:36.659 --> 00:28:37.319 and that 00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:37.679 we may 00:28:37.679 --> 00:28:38.559 know that 00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:39.159 we have 00:28:39.159 --> 00:28:39.819 in him 00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:40.639 eternal 00:28:40.639 --> 00:28:41.159 life. 00:28:41.639 --> 00:28:41.979 We thank 00:28:41.979 --> 00:28:42.179 you for 00:28:42.179 --> 00:28:42.699 your presence 00:28:42.699 --> 00:28:43.059 today. 00:28:43.159 --> 00:28:43.439 We thank 00:28:43.439 --> 00:28:43.719 you for the 00:28:43.719 --> 00:28:44.279 privilege of 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:44.599 being able 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.099 to worship 00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:46.039 you and 00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:46.440 to learn 00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:47.059 from you. 00:28:47.559 --> 00:28:47.899 We again 00:28:47.899 --> 00:28:48.259 pray for 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:48.899 Edmund Fiona 00:28:48.899 --> 00:28:49.519 and pray 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:49.799 for your 00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:50.379 blessing on 00:28:50.379 --> 00:28:50.940 their work 00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:52.039 in Argentina 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:53.240 as we give 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:53.960 your thanks 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:54.940 in Jesus' 00:28:55.160 --> 00:28:55.359 name. 00:28:56.420 --> 00:28:56.759 Amen.