WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.740 But it is a joy to be back here worshiping with my home church. 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:07.080 And so I'm thankful for that. 00:00:07.480 --> 00:00:12.120 Last week Evan gave a wonderful exposition of Psalm chapter 4. 00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:12.099 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.000 Absalom as their backdrop. 00:00:32.219 --> 00:00:34.719 And we've already talked about that pretty extensively. 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:37.539 So we're not going to go into that as much. 00:00:37.539 --> 00:00:42.759 But I do want to mention that James Hamilton, he notes as we look forward to Psalm 5, 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:45.700 where we'll be today in our Summer in the Psalms series. 00:00:46.980 --> 00:00:48.659 James Hamilton notes, he says, 00:00:48.659 --> 00:00:54.119 If Psalms 3 and 4 reflect that night crisis, 00:00:54.759 --> 00:01:00.319 Psalm 5 is David's prayer on the morning after those difficulties. 00:01:01.099 --> 00:01:04.939 But it doesn't just tie into Psalm 3 and Psalm 4. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:09.359 If what we mentioned when we began our Summer in the Psalms series is accurate, 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:17.280 it's true that Psalm 1 and 2 really stand as a gateway, as a doorway into the entire Psalter, 00:01:17.280 --> 00:01:21.280 that we must understand those in order to understand the remaining Psalms, 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:24.980 and that the remaining Psalms, as James Montgomery Boyce notes, 00:01:25.060 --> 00:01:28.719 that are essentially exposition of these first two Psalms, 00:01:29.019 --> 00:01:31.879 then it really does tie in well to those as well. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:37.840 So we're continuing to build on everything that we've been going through up to this point. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:41.740 This is much of what we see in Psalm 5, 00:01:41.859 --> 00:01:44.840 is exposition of those first two Psalms. 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:53.000 The prayer of Psalm 5 is based squarely on the truths and promises of Psalms 1 and 2. 00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:59.020 David began, David being the blessed man of Psalm 1 and the anointed king of Psalm 2, 00:01:59.140 --> 00:02:02.560 ultimately pointing to the true and better David in Jesus, 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:05.840 but praise these truths of Psalm 5. 00:02:06.800 --> 00:02:11.719 In Psalm 5, David's prayer functions as a kind of personal reassurance 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:15.979 that God will keep his word and do justice against the wicked. 00:02:16.460 --> 00:02:20.520 Now there are parts of this Psalm that we're about to read that are a little bit difficult, 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:24.039 a lot of times are challenging for us to think about, 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:29.079 because we like to think of God as a nice, tame God that we can wrap our minds around, 00:02:29.340 --> 00:02:30.599 that doesn't offend anyone, 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:32.960 and then we get to passages like this, 00:02:33.060 --> 00:02:36.719 but it's important that we see God for who he is. 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:41.340 And so even through some of these difficult passages that we'll be tackling 00:02:41.340 --> 00:02:43.460 and working our way through this morning, 00:02:43.580 --> 00:02:47.159 it's important to see that God is at work, 00:02:47.319 --> 00:02:49.479 that God is in the midst of this. 00:02:49.579 --> 00:02:51.060 And so with this in mind, 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:54.360 I hope you'll turn with me to Psalm chapter 5 00:02:54.360 --> 00:02:58.180 and listen to these words that we find starting in verse 1. 00:02:58.180 --> 00:03:28.159 It says, 00:03:28.180 --> 00:03:30.580 You hate all evildoers. 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:33.260 You destroy those who speak lies. 00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:36.620 The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man, 00:03:37.140 --> 00:03:41.719 but I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, 00:03:42.140 --> 00:03:43.599 will enter your house. 00:03:44.260 --> 00:03:48.480 I will bow down towards your holy temple in the fear of you. 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:51.620 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness. 00:03:52.020 --> 00:03:55.600 Because of my enemies, make your way straight before me, 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:58.259 for there is no truth in their mouth. 00:03:58.379 --> 00:04:00.239 Their inmost self is destruction. 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:02.259 Their throat is an open grave. 00:04:02.379 --> 00:04:03.719 They flatter with their tongue. 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:06.579 Make them bear their guilt, O God. 00:04:06.959 --> 00:04:09.019 Let them fall by their own counsels. 00:04:09.019 --> 00:04:12.159 Because of the abundance of their transgressions, 00:04:12.620 --> 00:04:13.879 cast them out. 00:04:14.419 --> 00:04:16.120 For they have rebelled against you. 00:04:16.860 --> 00:04:19.560 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice. 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:25.339 Let them ever sing for joy and spread your protection over them, 00:04:25.399 --> 00:04:28.939 that those who love your name may exult in you. 00:04:29.379 --> 00:04:32.079 For you bless the righteous, O Lord, 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:37.060 and you cover them with favor as with a shield. 00:04:37.060 --> 00:04:39.879 And so as we look at this passage this morning, 00:04:39.959 --> 00:04:44.860 as we take some time to dive through this beautiful psalm of David here, 00:04:44.899 --> 00:04:48.000 there's a few truths that I want us to keep in mind, 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:51.560 that I want to draw our attention to this morning. 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:54.079 And the first is this, to begin with, 00:04:54.139 --> 00:04:57.959 I want us to see the importance of being dependent on God. 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:02.579 Dependence on God is what we see that comes out of this. 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:06.860 Listen to what David is doing and when he is doing it. 00:05:06.860 --> 00:05:08.400 I want to read those first two verses again. 00:05:08.660 --> 00:05:11.879 I want you to listen and pick out what David is doing 00:05:11.879 --> 00:05:14.020 and when he is doing it. 00:05:14.300 --> 00:05:14.720 He says, 00:05:14.939 --> 00:05:17.300 Give ear to my words, O Lord. 00:05:17.460 --> 00:05:18.860 Consider my groaning. 00:05:19.340 --> 00:05:22.420 Give attention to the sound of my cry. 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:27.259 My King and my God, for to you do I pray. 00:05:27.879 --> 00:05:30.139 And so what David is doing, he's praying. 00:05:30.960 --> 00:05:33.000 And what we're showing next is when he's praying. 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:36.120 He says, O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice. 00:05:36.120 --> 00:05:41.319 In the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. 00:05:42.139 --> 00:05:47.399 You see, starting your day with the Lord shows and produces dependence on him. 00:05:48.379 --> 00:05:51.360 David is praying to God here in the morning. 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:54.019 You can hear the desperation in his words. 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:57.939 He is begging God to listen to him and listen to his words. 00:05:58.340 --> 00:06:00.780 There's a sense of urgency in this prayer, 00:06:01.240 --> 00:06:05.000 showing David's desperation and his dependence on God. 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:08.019 And it says he's starting his day this way. 00:06:08.439 --> 00:06:11.920 Starting his day showing that he is dependent on God. 00:06:12.519 --> 00:06:18.160 Now I know that we all have different times when we are most fully present with God 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:22.560 and different times in which we can have a quiet time, have that time with God. 00:06:22.660 --> 00:06:25.779 Some of you may not even fully wake up until 10 o'clock 00:06:25.779 --> 00:06:30.000 or after you've had a couple cups of coffee or a couple pots of coffee for some of you. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:35.300 But there's a time, there's an importance to this of starting your day 00:06:35.300 --> 00:06:38.980 when you wake up saying, God, I need you. 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:40.879 I need you now. 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:43.759 I can't do this day without you. 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:48.779 So David is starting his day with this dependence on God, 00:06:48.920 --> 00:06:53.139 where he is showing that he is in desperate need of God. 00:06:53.139 --> 00:06:57.579 One of the many wonderful benefits to prayer in our lives 00:06:57.579 --> 00:07:02.180 is it shows in a very real way our dependence on God, 00:07:02.740 --> 00:07:07.819 which sadly I think is one of the reasons that we don't pray as we should. 00:07:08.419 --> 00:07:13.719 Because in our lives we aren't doing anything where we are forced to be dependent on God. 00:07:14.419 --> 00:07:20.079 We like to live comfortable, safe lives where we feel like we are the ones in control. 00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:22.899 So let's only do things that we're comfortable with. 00:07:22.979 --> 00:07:26.560 Let's only do things that we know what the outcome is going to be 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:27.779 before we even get started. 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:29.259 Let's not rock the boat. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:33.560 Let's only do things that will keep us safe and happy. 00:07:34.339 --> 00:07:39.000 And the truth is, this often is coming from a place of insecurity and anxiety. 00:07:39.719 --> 00:07:42.399 Because we want to control all aspects of our life. 00:07:42.459 --> 00:07:43.740 We want to control the outcome. 00:07:43.860 --> 00:07:46.439 We're not going to attempt anything that we could fail at 00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:52.100 because we want to rely on our own abilities and we want to control those situations. 00:07:52.980 --> 00:07:55.719 The truth is that we are not in control. 00:07:55.800 --> 00:08:01.160 And the security that we are trying to build is a false sense of security. 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:06.199 But in this controlled world that we are attempting to create, 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:08.879 we are the ones who are in charge. 00:08:09.060 --> 00:08:11.220 And we are the ones that we depend on. 00:08:11.220 --> 00:08:15.520 And so if we were to pray in this world that we've created for ourselves, 00:08:15.520 --> 00:08:17.760 a lot of times what we'd be praying to is ourselves. 00:08:18.520 --> 00:08:21.340 Because we're the ones who want to be in control. 00:08:21.940 --> 00:08:24.920 Oftentimes this is how we live our lives. 00:08:24.940 --> 00:08:28.120 Like everything is depending on us. 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:30.320 We work at our jobs this way. 00:08:30.420 --> 00:08:32.560 We invest in our marriages this way. 00:08:32.620 --> 00:08:34.279 We raise our kids this way. 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:38.299 And we oftentimes do ministry in the church this way. 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:41.419 But this is not how God intended. 00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:48.419 You see in John 15, Jesus reminds us in a very real way of our desperate need for him. 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:54.259 And so as David is coming to God right here in this desperate situation in his life 00:08:54.259 --> 00:08:56.419 where he's saying, God, I'm dependent on you. 00:08:56.559 --> 00:09:00.079 Jesus reminds us in John 15 that this is for all of us. 00:09:00.079 --> 00:09:03.860 He says there, he says, abide in me and I in you. 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:09.339 As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, 00:09:09.939 --> 00:09:13.000 neither can you unless you abide in me. 00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:16.159 I am the vine, you are the branches. 00:09:16.319 --> 00:09:22.019 Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. 00:09:22.339 --> 00:09:25.559 For apart from me you can do very little. 00:09:25.819 --> 00:09:26.500 Is that what it says? 00:09:27.220 --> 00:09:29.639 Apart from me you can do just a few little things. 00:09:30.419 --> 00:09:31.879 That's not what it says. 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:36.340 It says apart from me you can do nothing. 00:09:37.019 --> 00:09:42.580 And so what we are reminded of in a very powerful way in this psalm and in Jesus' teaching 00:09:42.580 --> 00:09:45.299 is our dependence on God. 00:09:45.500 --> 00:09:47.799 That we need him for everything. 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:49.580 Think about it like this. 00:09:49.580 --> 00:09:55.860 This past week I was on vacation and we rented a pontoon as a family and we drove the pontoon 00:09:55.860 --> 00:09:57.820 over to Shell Island in Panama City. 00:09:58.100 --> 00:10:00.200 Anybody ever been to Shell Island in Panama City? 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:03.379 Okay, several of you have been to Shell Island in Panama City. 00:10:03.460 --> 00:10:08.320 We went over there and we were looking on the island and actually saw very few shells. 00:10:08.800 --> 00:10:09.680 It's a little misleading. 00:10:09.920 --> 00:10:11.620 Not many shells on Shell Island. 00:10:11.620 --> 00:10:17.240 But we went over there and one of the things that Ressie found while we were there was this 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:18.580 tiny little coconut. 00:10:19.139 --> 00:10:24.960 It was probably the size of a golf ball but sure enough it was a coconut and it looked 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:30.240 just like a coconut but it was just really tall and really small and tiny there. 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:33.460 And so we brought it back with us and it was funny. 00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:37.560 She was showing everybody and we're like, I've never seen a coconut this small. 00:10:38.039 --> 00:10:40.139 But there wasn't really anything you could do with it. 00:10:40.139 --> 00:10:45.659 You couldn't crack it open to get some of the coconut meat out or anything like that because 00:10:45.659 --> 00:10:46.699 it was so small. 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:52.360 Now imagine that we decided that, you know what, we'd really like a coconut. 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:57.600 So let's put this coconut in the table right here and we're going to all gather around and 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:03.179 we're going to start brainstorming ideas of how we can make this coconut grow in size and 00:11:03.179 --> 00:11:07.200 become bigger and become actually a coconut that we could use. 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:10.879 And we all start talking about different ways and different ideas of how we could do that. 00:11:11.080 --> 00:11:16.220 If you saw us in that situation, you'd probably be like, Brett, it's time to come home from 00:11:16.220 --> 00:11:16.660 vacation. 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:20.400 This something down here is deeply wrong in your mind. 00:11:20.460 --> 00:11:24.840 You need to leave this and come back to normal because we would all think that's crazy. 00:11:25.879 --> 00:11:28.320 Because that coconut can't grow anymore. 00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:32.100 Because it's disconnected from the source of life. 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:34.379 It's disconnected from this tree. 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:37.779 And so there's nothing that you could ever do to make this coconut grow. 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:41.000 And on top of that, I really would love to have brought it back. 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:43.399 In fact, I asked Ressie if she still had it. 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:44.740 She's like, no, I had to throw it away. 00:11:44.800 --> 00:11:45.700 It started stinking. 00:11:46.040 --> 00:11:49.259 It started rotting very quickly and smelling very badly. 00:11:49.340 --> 00:11:50.899 And so it was thrown away. 00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:53.779 Not only could it grow anymore, but it was dying. 00:11:53.899 --> 00:11:54.620 It was dead. 00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:56.159 It was rotting now. 00:11:57.060 --> 00:11:59.200 This is how it is many times in our life. 00:11:59.700 --> 00:12:05.120 When we try to do life and do ministry, when we're disconnected from the source of life. 00:12:05.740 --> 00:12:09.899 When we try to do this on our own, when we try to live this life on our own, when we're 00:12:09.899 --> 00:12:14.120 disconnected from the source of life, it's like trying to make this coconut grow when it's 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:15.759 already disconnected from the tree. 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:18.060 It's not going to happen. 00:12:18.560 --> 00:12:21.080 We must learn to be dependent on God. 00:12:21.460 --> 00:12:24.299 We must learn to be dependent on Him in all that we say and do. 00:12:24.299 --> 00:12:27.179 Looking to Him to give our marriages purpose. 00:12:27.439 --> 00:12:29.099 Trusting in Him with the raising of our kids. 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:35.139 Focusing on God to completely, completely to give meaning and purpose to our lives. 00:12:35.839 --> 00:12:39.699 And being completely dependent on Him for everything in our lives. 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:46.240 And everything as a church, recognizing that we are dependent on Him. 00:12:46.459 --> 00:12:48.799 This is how David lived much of his life. 00:12:49.079 --> 00:12:52.039 As a shepherd, he was dependent on God for protection. 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:55.779 When the bear and lions would come, he was dependent on God for protection. 00:12:56.259 --> 00:12:58.639 As a boy standing before Goliath. 00:12:58.679 --> 00:13:02.659 And he really wasn't even standing because if you read that, he's running to Goliath. 00:13:02.819 --> 00:13:04.639 He's charging after Goliath. 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:09.559 As in that situation, as a boy before a giant, he's dependent on God. 00:13:10.439 --> 00:13:13.899 There are times in David's life as king that he was dependent. 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:15.299 There were times when he wasn't. 00:13:15.299 --> 00:13:26.919 Because let's face it, so many times when things are going well for us, when we think we have everything figured out, it's those times where it's hardest to be dependent on God. 00:13:27.719 --> 00:13:31.959 Because all of a sudden, we start looking at ourselves and thinking we've got it all figured out. 00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:35.580 But it's important that we must see our dependence on God. 00:13:35.660 --> 00:13:38.200 I heard it said one time this way by a pastor. 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:43.160 He says, if dependence is the objective, then weakness is an advantage. 00:13:43.160 --> 00:13:47.960 Because in those moments of weakness, we're forced to be dependent on God. 00:13:48.660 --> 00:13:56.400 But now at this point in David's life, when he's on the run from Absalom, his son, he is forced to be dependent on God. 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:59.399 And this is what gives his life strength. 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:05.980 To build this confidence in and dependence on God even more, what we get a glimpse of next is this. 00:14:06.419 --> 00:14:07.899 The character of God. 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:10.659 See the importance of being dependent on God. 00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:14.240 Now we see next the importance of seeing the character of God. 00:14:14.860 --> 00:14:18.899 This is the section that can sometimes be difficult to wrap our minds around. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:22.759 Many times we don't like to think about the wrath of God. 00:14:23.100 --> 00:14:25.319 We don't like a God that offends us. 00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:27.700 We don't like a God that's tame. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:29.300 We want a God that's tame. 00:14:29.780 --> 00:14:32.460 A God who is a slightly better version of ourselves. 00:14:32.580 --> 00:14:37.560 But the reality is this is not only not beneficial to us to see God this way. 00:14:37.640 --> 00:14:43.340 But it's a necessity for us to see God as he truly is. 00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:48.260 Listen to this middle section as we read it again right here starting in verse 4. 00:14:49.060 --> 00:14:52.200 It says, for you are not a God who delights in wickedness. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:54.640 Evil may not dwell with you. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:57.580 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes. 00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:58.980 You hate all evildoers. 00:14:59.100 --> 00:15:01.000 You destroy those who speak lies. 00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:04.340 The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. 00:15:04.939 --> 00:15:11.019 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. 00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:14.679 I will bow down towards your holy temple in the fear of you. 00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:19.679 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:21.959 Make your way straight before me. 00:15:21.959 --> 00:15:24.439 For there is no truth in their mouth. 00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:27.000 Their inmost self is destruction. 00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:28.719 Their throat is an open grave. 00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:30.620 They flatter with their tongue. 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:33.659 Make them bear their guilt, O God. 00:15:33.739 --> 00:15:36.039 Let them fall by their own counsels. 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:40.899 Because of the abundance of their transgressions, cast them out. 00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:43.740 For they have rebelled against you. 00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:49.699 Did you hear some of those attributes and characteristics of God as we read that passage? 00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:54.139 David says, he says, you're not a God who delights in wickedness. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:56.959 Evil may not dwell in you. 00:15:57.500 --> 00:16:00.280 David's not teaching God something about God here. 00:16:00.700 --> 00:16:03.660 He's not saying, God, you're not somebody who likes wickedness. 00:16:03.780 --> 00:16:09.300 Remember, what David's doing is he's reminding himself of who God is. 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:15.560 He's reminding himself in the midst of this desperation of the character and attributes of God 00:16:15.560 --> 00:16:19.720 in some of his most difficult and trying times of his life. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:22.820 And this is what's giving his life power. 00:16:22.920 --> 00:16:24.820 This is what's giving his life meaning here. 00:16:24.820 --> 00:16:27.060 This is what's giving him comfort. 00:16:27.680 --> 00:16:33.680 He is saying that wickedness that we see all around us is not characteristic of who you are. 00:16:34.420 --> 00:16:36.180 This is not something that you approve. 00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:41.600 In fact, David reminds himself that God hates evildoers. 00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:48.500 He is reminding himself that, in fact, these enemies of the faithful, if they were to succeed, 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:54.280 it would contradict who God is and the character of what he has called him to. 00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:59.480 So James Montgomery Boyce, he notes the connection between this psalm and the previous psalms. 00:16:59.680 --> 00:17:04.980 Here we see God's distaste and distress for the wicked, but we also see this is something 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:08.860 that God has spoken about all through the psalms up to this point. 00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:14.860 Up to this point, we see each of the preceding psalms has spoken of the wicked through different, 00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:16.440 though differently in each psalm. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:20.299 Psalm 1 considers the way of the wicked as opposed to the way of the righteous. 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:26.419 Psalm 2 traces the rebellion of the wicked against God, particularly that of the kings 00:17:26.419 --> 00:17:27.500 and the rulers of the earth. 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:33.220 In Psalm 3, the psalmist has been attacked by wicked persons and asked God for protection 00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:34.000 from them. 00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:39.899 In Psalm 4, the wicked have slandered the psalmist and he is asking God for vindications. 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:45.740 In this psalm that we're studying today, in Psalm 5, what we're seeing is David refers 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:52.160 to the wicked as those whose prayers the Lord will not hear and in whom he has no pleasure. 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:57.319 David is distinguishing himself from those opposed to God. 00:17:57.839 --> 00:18:02.579 Again, David is reminding himself that God hears when his children call out. 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:08.539 Later in the psalms, in Psalm 66, another psalmist makes mention of the importance of this 00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:14.299 and how he says, if I had cherished iniquity in my heart, if he had cherished sin in his 00:18:14.299 --> 00:18:17.599 heart, he says the Lord would not have listened. 00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:26.259 And oftentimes, we take sin too lightly, probably because we don't fully understand the righteousness 00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:26.960 of God. 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:31.619 Probably we take it too lightly because we don't understand the character of God. 00:18:31.619 --> 00:18:36.739 Because if we did, we would not sin as much or as grievously as we do. 00:18:37.379 --> 00:18:41.719 But we live in a time where sin is often celebrated and rarely called out. 00:18:42.359 --> 00:18:44.399 And there's a real danger in this. 00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:48.699 One of those dangers is that we no longer see our need for God's grace. 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:53.979 Because you see, if we don't have a high view of sin, we're not going to have a high view 00:18:53.979 --> 00:18:54.919 of God's grace. 00:18:55.399 --> 00:19:00.719 A low view of sin leads to a low view of grace because when we don't see our sin as something 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:05.039 that separates us from God, then all of a sudden, we don't need something, we don't need to see 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:08.180 Jesus as a savior because we don't need it to be saved from anything. 00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:14.299 And so, when we see sin for what it is, it leads to a high view of God's grace. 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:18.620 But also, when we don't see it this way, there's no real repentance. 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:22.140 The turning from sin to God. 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:29.100 Charles Spurgeon once said, he says, if I hate sin because of the punishment, I have not 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:33.719 repented of sin, I merely regret that God is just. 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:37.839 You see, we must see the character of God in our lives. 00:19:38.459 --> 00:19:42.779 It's clear how God sees the wicked and the sin in this passage, but listen to the words 00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:43.599 of verse 7. 00:19:44.179 --> 00:19:50.339 It says, but I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. 00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:52.819 Through your love, I will enter the house. 00:19:52.819 --> 00:19:58.519 And so, we see God's wrath, his justice here, but we also see God's love as we look at this. 00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:03.220 This, when I was reading through this, it kept reminding me of a song that a lot of times 00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:03.659 we'll sing. 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:06.720 In fact, one that the choir led us in just a few weeks ago. 00:20:07.179 --> 00:20:11.700 Our sins, they are many, but his mercy is more. 00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:16.059 This is the beauty of seeing God for who he is. 00:20:16.340 --> 00:20:22.799 We see our sin against a holy and perfect and righteous God, but we also clearly see the 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:26.180 beauty of God's grace when we see it this way. 00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:32.880 Praise God that even in our sin, God has made a way for redemption that doesn't even compromise 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:36.240 one of his characteristics or his attributes. 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:40.559 And where we can see this beautifully displayed is by looking to the cross. 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:45.659 We can look at the cross and see the attributes of God on perfect display. 00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:48.619 God's love, of course, when we look to the cross. 00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:54.059 We can see God's love and the fact that he would send his son, his only son, to live in 00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:59.220 this world, to leave the glory of heaven, live a life that we couldn't live and die a death 00:20:59.220 --> 00:21:02.899 that he doesn't deserve, but a death that we deserve. 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:08.659 We can clearly see God's love, but we can also clearly see God's justice when we look 00:21:08.659 --> 00:21:09.359 at the cross. 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:13.599 You see, God couldn't just look down and say, everybody's forgiven and make a blanket statement 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:16.219 because he is perfect in his justice. 00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:21.259 He's perfect in his justice, meaning there has to be a payment for this sin. 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.699 So we look to the cross. 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.779 We see God's love. 00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:24.779 We see his justice. 00:21:25.219 --> 00:21:31.779 We see his wrath completely poured out on his son, but we also see God's grace. 00:21:32.459 --> 00:21:34.079 We see God's mercy. 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:40.419 We see God's righteousness on full and perfect display when we look to the cross. 00:21:40.420 --> 00:21:47.340 By looking at God's attributes and the character of God, we begin to see God more clearly for 00:21:47.340 --> 00:21:48.400 who he is. 00:21:48.820 --> 00:21:55.620 This is part of what it means to magnify God, to make much of God, to magnify him. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:22:00.660 I was reading a book one time talking about the different ways that you can magnify something. 00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:02.660 The author basically said there's two ways. 00:22:03.100 --> 00:22:07.279 He says you can either magnify something by taking something incredibly small and making 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:12.400 it big, and you do this through a microscope or a magnifying glass. 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:18.060 And you use those to take something that's incredibly small and make it really big. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:22.300 But he said there's another way that you can magnify something, and he said that's with a 00:22:22.300 --> 00:22:22.740 telescope. 00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:30.279 You can take a telescope and look at something that's infinitely large and focus in on one 00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:31.140 part of it. 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:37.819 And by focusing in on one part, let's say a star that is light years and light years 00:22:37.819 --> 00:22:42.059 and light years and light years away, focusing on that star, and all of a sudden you realize 00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:43.779 how big this star is. 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:49.500 And then all of a sudden by realizing how big this one star is, then it opens your eyes to 00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:51.859 seeing how big the universe is. 00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:54.259 how big everything is. 00:22:54.579 --> 00:22:57.519 And he says this is what it means to magnify God. 00:22:57.939 --> 00:23:04.599 We start taking those attributes and those characteristics of who God is, and we get a little glimpse of that, 00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:09.579 and then all of a sudden it opens our eyes to the creator God who spoke everything into existence. 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:14.379 The one who speaks and worlds and galaxies are formed. 00:23:14.459 --> 00:23:20.859 The one who is our savior, who sent his son so that we could have a relationship restored with him. 00:23:20.859 --> 00:23:27.519 We start looking at these things and we are reminded of God's omnipotence, that he's all-powerful over 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:27.839 everything. 00:23:27.939 --> 00:23:30.879 We're reminded of his omniscience, that he knows everything. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:35.639 We're reminded that he's omnipresent, that he's everywhere that we may go in this life. 00:23:35.719 --> 00:23:37.039 He is with us. 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:41.940 We're reminded of his immutability, that God is never changing. 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:52.859 And so as we get a glimpse of these things, and as we start focusing in on these things, we start magnifying and putting in perspective who God truly is. 00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:57.639 And so this is what David is reminding himself of in this. 00:23:58.399 --> 00:24:02.359 He's reminding himself of the character and nature of who God is. 00:24:02.939 --> 00:24:04.839 He's showing that he's dependent on him. 00:24:04.939 --> 00:24:07.799 He's reminding himself of the character of who God is. 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:14.859 And then because of this, we have the privilege of experiencing the joy that can only come from God. 00:24:15.719 --> 00:24:18.459 The joy that can only come from God. 00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:20.000 Listen to these last two verses. 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:23.019 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice. 00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:30.620 Let them ever sing for joy and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:32.500 For you bless the righteous. 00:24:32.660 --> 00:24:37.400 O Lord, you cover him with favor as with a shield. 00:24:38.360 --> 00:24:44.740 The perspective of those who are dependent on the Lord and make much of God is seen clearly in these verses. 00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:51.859 With God as our refuge, we can experience joy that could not otherwise be explained. 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:58.140 Charles Spurgeon, who I love to read, and I think it's pretty obvious by now that if you don't know I like to read Charles Spurgeon, 00:24:58.599 --> 00:25:05.299 then you haven't been listening very much because I quote him quite often, but especially when it comes to the Psalms. 00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:10.940 Especially in the Psalms, his words are so helpful and relevant for us today. 00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:15.259 Charles Spurgeon, he speaks of this joy here in four different ways. 00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:21.539 He says the joy that's being talked about that David has right here in the midst of this is universal. 00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:25.680 He says the joy is universal to all who trust the Lord. 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:30.259 Let all who take refuge in him rejoice. 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:38.359 Let everyone who puts their trust and takes their refuge in God, makes God their safety and not anything in this world, 00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:43.879 let those who find God as their refuge, let them rejoice. 00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:47.400 But he also says that he is constant. 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:49.140 The joy is constant. 00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:51.519 Let them ever sing for joy. 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:53.779 It's not something that's going to end. 00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:55.500 It's going to go on and on forever. 00:25:55.500 --> 00:26:01.160 The joy that we get to experience as believers isn't something that's going to be taken away. 00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:02.819 It's constant. 00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:05.579 He says let them ever sing for joy. 00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:09.559 But also Spurgeon notes that this joy is manifested. 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:11.339 It's actualized. 00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:14.400 The joy is not just theoretical, but it's actual. 00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:17.759 And it's displayed in many ways in the life of the believer. 00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:21.819 In this passage in particular, this joy is manifested. 00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:24.059 It's made real through their singing, through David's singing. 00:26:24.159 --> 00:26:25.960 He says, I will sing for you. 00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:32.039 And so the joy that we experience as believers is not just in theory like, oh yeah, we should have joy. 00:26:32.439 --> 00:26:38.359 But no, it's something that actually gets displayed in our lives as we experience this. 00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:41.859 And finally, he says this joy is logical. 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:44.519 Our joy as believers is logical. 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:48.599 The joy we experience has an explanation. 00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:53.759 Spurgeon notes, he says, a man may be sad, though he cannot explain his sadness. 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:59.339 Or he may be greatly glad, though he cannot set forth the reasons for his joy. 00:26:59.939 --> 00:27:05.019 But the joy of a believer in God has a firm foundation. 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:08.379 It's not the baseless fabric of a vision. 00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:14.879 The joy of faith burns like coals, and yet it can be calmly explained and justified. 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:19.920 The joyful believer is no lunatic carried away by delusion. 00:27:20.600 --> 00:27:25.260 He has a because which to account for all of his joy. 00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:31.160 And the because that we have as believers is Jesus Christ. 00:27:32.040 --> 00:27:35.900 Because of what he accomplished, we have a reason for joy. 00:27:36.020 --> 00:27:42.280 There is a real lasting joy that comes from taking our refuge in God. 00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:49.700 Many times we see taking refuge in God as a temporal event in our lives until we get our lives figured out. 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:53.519 We think of God as kind of a band-aid that we'll put on when we're hurting. 00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:55.539 And while we're hurting, we'll put that on. 00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:58.000 And God's going to depend on him then. 00:27:58.059 --> 00:28:01.079 And we're going to have the joy during that difficult time. 00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:05.420 But then once we get through it, then we'll rip that band-aid off and try to do it ourselves again. 00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:08.480 We think of God as an umbrella in a rainstorm. 00:28:08.620 --> 00:28:12.640 While it's raining, I'm going to hold him up here to cover me during this time. 00:28:12.800 --> 00:28:19.800 But we don't understand the beauty of taking that refuge in him no matter what we're going through in this life. 00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:26.539 And when we do understand that we experience joy like nothing else in this world. 00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:30.279 This is what it means to give your life to Jesus. 00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:33.700 To let him be your refuge, period. 00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:38.500 Not a reset to fix your problems just so that you can fall back into them. 00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:42.119 But as a constant source of refuge. 00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:47.659 In order for us to experience this joy, we must truly be dependent on Jesus. 00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:52.680 We look at our own sinful lives and let that point us to dependence. 00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:58.100 Let it show us that left to us, we can never save ourselves. 00:28:58.180 --> 00:29:01.240 And we're completely dependent on God for salvation. 00:29:02.120 --> 00:29:06.720 But we're also to be dependent on him to live in this world. 00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:10.320 To experience the joy that comes from serving God. 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:16.160 We must continue to see our works not as a means of gaining something from God. 00:29:16.340 --> 00:29:20.380 But as a response to his love and his grace to us. 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:24.000 One of my favorite authors, Jerry Bridges, he puts it this way. 00:29:24.080 --> 00:29:29.960 He says, all of us have a natural drift towards a performance-based relationship with God. 00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:34.700 We know that we are saved through faith, not by works. 00:29:35.340 --> 00:29:39.680 But we somehow get the idea that we bear blessings by our works. 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:43.860 After throwing overboard our works as a means of salvation, 00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:48.880 we drag them back on board as a means of maintaining favor with God. 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:55.960 All of a sudden we start this vicious cycle all over again that where we have to do in order to gain. 00:29:56.700 --> 00:30:03.380 Let us continue in our dependence because that is where joy is found. 00:30:04.380 --> 00:30:07.600 So is there any place in the Christian life for the practice of spiritual disciplines? 00:30:08.080 --> 00:30:11.600 For obedience to God and for sacrificial service to him? 00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:13.540 Of course there is. 00:30:13.539 --> 00:30:20.480 The more a person counts his loss, his own righteousness, and lays hold by faith of the righteousness of Christ, 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:23.619 the more he'll be motivated to live and to work for God. 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:31.539 The more we are dependent on Jesus, the more joy we will experience and the more that we want to give our lives to him. 00:30:32.119 --> 00:30:33.000 Think of it this way. 00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:37.720 The same Christian activity can either be an expression of our own righteousness, 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:40.200 where we think earns his favor with God, 00:30:40.299 --> 00:30:48.839 or it can be an expression of love and gratitude because we already have his favor through the righteousness of Christ. 00:30:50.120 --> 00:30:52.880 Righteous living is essential to the believer, 00:30:53.279 --> 00:31:00.940 but it comes from a relationship with Jesus and not as a means of getting or even keeping that relationship. 00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:04.940 So as we close, I want to ask you a couple of questions this morning. 00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:11.519 To begin with, have you ever experienced salvation by depending on Jesus? 00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:17.059 In other words, have you placed your faith and your trust in Jesus to save you from your sins? 00:31:17.360 --> 00:31:21.660 Not based on your works, but based on Christ's work on the cross. 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:26.720 If not, then in just a moment when we have a time of invitation, I encourage you to come forward. 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:29.480 That's something I'd love to talk with you about. 00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:34.819 Would love to get that right today where you can know that you are dependent on God 00:31:34.819 --> 00:31:37.599 as the only one who will never fail you. 00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:42.140 And so we'd love to have that conversation with you today, right now. 00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:45.640 But if not now, maybe as you're continuing to think about this, 00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:47.819 maybe God is continuing to work in your lives, 00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:52.380 give me a call, text me, stop by the office sometime this week. 00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:55.680 This is a conversation I would love to have with you. 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:58.099 But if that's something you have already done, 00:31:58.099 --> 00:32:00.000 and you've placed your faith and your trust in him, 00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:01.740 then I want to ask you this question. 00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:04.819 If this is something you've already done, 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:07.500 are you continuing to be dependent on him? 00:32:08.219 --> 00:32:10.839 Are you saying, God, I need you every hour? 00:32:11.439 --> 00:32:12.740 I need you now. 00:32:12.939 --> 00:32:14.599 I need you in an hour from now. 00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.619 I need you today. 00:32:15.719 --> 00:32:16.439 I need you tomorrow. 00:32:16.439 --> 00:32:17.619 I need you forever. 00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:19.359 God, I need you. 00:32:19.359 --> 00:32:23.039 Are you living that life where you're dependent on him? 00:32:23.639 --> 00:32:30.779 And a great way to show this and to cultivate this is by starting your day in prayer and reading God's word. 00:32:31.199 --> 00:32:38.939 Because what you're doing in a very practical and real way is showing that you're dependent on him to move and to work and to sustain. 00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:47.120 As we see God as our constant refuge, as we constantly see God's attributes and his characteristics, 00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:50.279 as we magnify God by looking at who he is, 00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:54.340 it will produce joy like nothing else in this world. 00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:56.700 Because he is a refuge. 00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:58.480 He is a strength. 00:32:58.860 --> 00:33:03.759 He is our hope that will never fail no matter what we are going through in this life. 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:11.819 And so wherever God is speaking to you this morning, I want to encourage you to respond in a way that brings his name, honor, and glory. 00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:14.680 Father, thank you so very much for your word. 00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:17.700 Thank you for what it teaches us about you. 00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:23.839 Thank you for what we are reminded of as we read through your word that you are our source of strength. 00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:26.299 God, help us to be dependent on you. 00:33:26.859 --> 00:33:32.059 Help us to live lives where we look to you and we attempt great things for you 00:33:32.059 --> 00:33:33.919 because we are dependent on you. 00:33:34.659 --> 00:33:37.279 Because if you're not working, then they're going to fail. 00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:40.799 So Lord, help us to live lives that are dependent on you. 00:33:41.619 --> 00:33:44.519 And help us to do so by looking at who you are. 00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:45.919 Looking at your attributes. 00:33:46.179 --> 00:33:47.339 Looking at your characteristics. 00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:52.440 Reminding ourselves, not of something new, but of something we already know. 00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:54.519 That you are the creator, God. 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:56.879 That you are greater than anything in this world. 00:33:56.980 --> 00:34:00.339 And so Lord, let that be what gives us boldness. 00:34:00.339 --> 00:34:06.740 Let that be what gives our lives meaning and purpose and joy like nothing else can. 00:34:07.379 --> 00:34:12.539 And so Lord, if there's somebody here today that's never placed their faith and their trust in you, 00:34:12.779 --> 00:34:16.219 then Lord, I pray that today they would go from death to life. 00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:22.519 And Lord, for us that have, I pray that you would use this passage, strengthen our lives, 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:26.659 help us to point us to you as a source of everything that we need in this life. 00:34:26.659 --> 00:34:29.059 And we ask all these things in Jesus' name. 00:34:29.699 --> 00:34:29.980 Amen. 00:34:30.819 --> 00:34:34.259 I'm going to invite you to take your hymnal and turn to hymn number 104. 00:34:35.239 --> 00:34:36.179 Amazing grace. 00:34:36.679 --> 00:34:41.099 And if God is speaking to you this morning, won't you respond as we stand together and sing? 00:34:41.099 --> 00:34:41.259 Amen. 00:34:41.259 --> 00:34:41.299 Amen. 00:34:41.299 --> 00:34:41.299 00:34:41.299 --> 00:34:41.299 00:34:41.299 --> 00:34:41.299 00:34:41.299 --> 00:34:41.299 00:34:41.299 --> 00:34:41.299 00:34:41.299 --> 00:34:41.299