WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.439 to 73. Psalm 73. 00:00:12.060 --> 00:00:18.800 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:25.500 almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw 00:00:25.500 --> 00:00:31.620 the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pangs until death. Their bodies are fat 00:00:31.620 --> 00:00:37.340 and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are. They are not stricken like the rest of 00:00:37.340 --> 00:00:44.780 mankind. Therefore, pride is their necklace. Violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes 00:00:44.780 --> 00:00:52.019 swell out through fatness. Their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice. 00:00:52.020 --> 00:00:58.520 Loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens and their tongue 00:00:58.520 --> 00:01:05.200 struts through the earth. Therefore, his people turn back to them and find no fault in them. 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:14.820 And they say, how can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High? Behold, these are the wicked, 00:01:14.819 --> 00:01:23.579 always at ease. They increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed 00:01:23.579 --> 00:01:29.599 my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. 00:01:30.739 --> 00:01:36.079 If I had said, I will speak thus, I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:43.959 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task until I went 00:01:43.959 --> 00:01:47.739 into the sanctuary of God. Then I discerned their end. 00:01:49.620 --> 00:01:54.039 Truly you set them in slippery places. You make them fall to ruin. 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:59.060 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors. 00:01:59.060 --> 00:02:06.740 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. 00:02:07.600 --> 00:02:13.580 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant. 00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:16.300 I was like a beast toward you. 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:22.599 Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You hold my right hand. 00:02:23.319 --> 00:02:27.460 You guide me with your counsel and afterward you will receive me to glory. 00:02:27.460 --> 00:02:30.360 Whom have I in heaven but you? 00:02:31.200 --> 00:02:34.800 And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:42.439 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 00:02:43.980 --> 00:02:46.900 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish. 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:50.379 You put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 00:02:51.240 --> 00:02:53.480 But for me it is good to be near God. 00:02:53.479 --> 00:02:58.459 I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. 00:03:00.459 --> 00:03:09.259 Right, as we go into this psalm, I think you've already probably got the impression that life is just not simple. 00:03:10.259 --> 00:03:11.919 The world is not simple. 00:03:11.919 --> 00:03:16.099 There is so much uncertainty in our lives. 00:03:16.739 --> 00:03:20.399 And let me tell you, we don't actually cope very well with uncertainty as people. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:31.459 I didn't realise this, but there's an intolerance of uncertainty index that you can actually discover how well or poorly you tolerate uncertainty by doing a certain questionnaire. 00:03:32.839 --> 00:03:34.459 They even did an experiment in 2014. 00:03:34.460 --> 00:03:43.879 They experiment on people, probably college students, we, Andrew and his kind, usually experiment on college students. 00:03:44.540 --> 00:03:55.879 And they did an experiment on people to see whether they would prefer the certainty of a shock now or the possibility of a shock later. 00:03:56.740 --> 00:03:58.840 A possibility that they couldn't actually determine. 00:03:59.460 --> 00:04:02.460 The certainty of a shock now or the possibility of a shock later. 00:04:02.460 --> 00:04:06.780 And the vast majority of people in that experiment chose the certainty of a shock now. 00:04:07.960 --> 00:04:10.439 We so dislike uncertainty. 00:04:10.620 --> 00:04:18.939 It so erodes our confidence, our assurance and pushes us towards anxiety in life that we would prefer to have something bad now and get it over with, 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:21.980 even if it was not necessarily going to come our way. 00:04:21.980 --> 00:04:26.580 The world is not simple. 00:04:26.580 --> 00:04:29.080 And we struggle to exist within it. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:34.500 And into that uncertainty, Asaph writes this psalm. 00:04:35.640 --> 00:04:37.700 It's the beginning of book three of the psalms. 00:04:37.960 --> 00:04:40.500 It's the first of a series of psalms by Asaph. 00:04:40.500 --> 00:04:52.540 And it's like what he's doing is turning back the pages to Psalm 1, where David started the book of Psalms and saying, 00:04:52.779 --> 00:04:52.980 Really? 00:04:54.139 --> 00:04:55.959 All I have to do is prosper? 00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:00.420 Do you remember those words where David writes, 00:05:00.420 --> 00:05:17.360 Really? 00:05:18.360 --> 00:05:21.879 All we have to do is obey God and we will prosper? 00:05:21.879 --> 00:05:31.079 Asaph takes that psalm and actually exposes it to life itself and how life unfolds. 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:33.620 He takes an honest look at life too as he does it. 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:35.139 And it's a growth point for him. 00:05:35.180 --> 00:05:37.040 And I hope it is for you as we go through this psalm. 00:05:37.420 --> 00:05:43.040 You see, he comes to the same conclusion even after exposing the psalm promise of David to life. 00:05:43.719 --> 00:05:46.399 He comes to the same conclusion that David did in Psalm 1. 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:50.479 And perhaps even helping us to have a deeper understanding. 00:05:52.019 --> 00:05:59.120 Because he learns to see the goodness of God even through a harsh and unfair world. 00:06:00.659 --> 00:06:02.639 This psalm explores the matter of doubt. 00:06:04.159 --> 00:06:09.399 Let's just understand here as well, in terms of definition of doubt, this doubt is not unbelief. 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:13.199 So if you're actually here and you're not a Christian and you're kind of thinking, 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:18.060 well, is this psalm really going to help me move towards believing in God? 00:06:18.139 --> 00:06:21.279 Well, it's not actually addressing whether you believe or disbelieve. 00:06:21.639 --> 00:06:26.039 What this psalm is doing is taking, for those who do believe, 00:06:26.980 --> 00:06:31.639 what happens when we look at the world and the injustices and the unfairness of it 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:39.699 challenge our confidence, our assurance, our peace of mind in the faith that we have. 00:06:39.699 --> 00:06:44.159 Doubt is not wrong like temptation is not wrong. 00:06:46.699 --> 00:06:53.800 And doubt provides the opportunity to know with even more confidence than we did before. 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:57.259 And I hope that's what comes your way as we go through this psalm. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:00.360 But let's start where Asaph does, with the goodness of God. 00:07:00.719 --> 00:07:04.699 In verse 1, Asaph starts with these words. 00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:13.019 Asaph begins emphatically. 00:07:13.659 --> 00:07:18.439 The use of truly like this is a means of stating something that is beyond doubt. 00:07:19.599 --> 00:07:21.360 God is good. 00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:24.399 We know God's character. 00:07:24.860 --> 00:07:29.459 We know it because God has revealed it time and time again throughout history. 00:07:29.459 --> 00:07:35.039 Perhaps Asaph even recalls how it was revealed to Moses. 00:07:36.459 --> 00:07:41.180 When God revealed as much of himself, as much of his goodness as he could without actually killing Moses. 00:07:43.259 --> 00:07:47.219 If you remember these words from Exodus 33, 18. 00:07:47.359 --> 00:07:50.759 Sorry, Moses said to God, please show me your glory. 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:56.699 And in 34 verses 6 to 7, when God actually answers that request. 00:07:56.699 --> 00:07:58.620 The Lord passed before him. 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:03.259 He hit him in a cleft in the rock, covered him with his hand and passed before him and proclaimed. 00:08:03.719 --> 00:08:06.800 The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious. 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:10.839 Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:08:11.860 --> 00:08:14.079 Keeping steadfast love for thousands. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:17.680 Forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. 00:08:18.439 --> 00:08:20.939 But who will by no means clear the guilty. 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:25.819 Visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children. 00:08:26.519 --> 00:08:28.500 To the third and fourth generation. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:35.460 This wasn't just an overwhelming experience that Moses was having at this point. 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:39.700 God was narrating exactly what Moses was seeing. 00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:46.639 He was seeing the covenant-keeping God. 00:08:46.940 --> 00:08:49.259 The ultimate promise-keeper in all the earth. 00:08:49.259 --> 00:08:52.759 The definition of faithful and true. 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:56.259 The loving, forgiving and just God. 00:08:57.419 --> 00:09:00.679 In a world that is impoverished in all of these ways. 00:09:03.539 --> 00:09:08.179 And this God is good to Israel, says Asaph. 00:09:08.899 --> 00:09:12.580 All this goodness is directed and focused on Israel. 00:09:13.179 --> 00:09:14.460 God's chosen people. 00:09:15.659 --> 00:09:19.220 God's chosen people whom we are the continuation of through Christ. 00:09:19.259 --> 00:09:26.159 The Old Testament is like a diary of God's unwavering faithfulness to his people. 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:30.319 A love that expressed to those who are pure in heart. 00:09:31.899 --> 00:09:34.960 The bridegroom's relentless faithfulness. 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:42.240 Contrasted throughout with the abject unfaithfulness of God's bride. 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:43.159 His people. 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:44.100 Israel. 00:09:44.700 --> 00:09:45.059 Us. 00:09:45.059 --> 00:09:49.159 The world resonates with God's goodness. 00:09:49.659 --> 00:09:53.679 A good part of our frustration is that we can't seem to get enough of God's goodness. 00:09:54.199 --> 00:09:55.359 It creates uncertainty. 00:09:55.859 --> 00:09:57.419 Weren't we promised more, we think? 00:09:57.419 --> 00:10:03.079 Despite God's faithfulness and our failure. 00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:10.139 The way that this question forms in our hearts is actually toward God, demanding more of God. 00:10:10.939 --> 00:10:19.039 The way this question forms is to question and challenge God's faithfulness or his goodness to God. 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:20.259 We doubt God. 00:10:22.419 --> 00:10:24.099 And this is where Asaph goes. 00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:27.599 He says, quite honestly, but as for me in verse 2, 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:42.240 Notice that word prosperity. 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:48.519 The very thing that God's people are promised should they be faithful to him. 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:54.579 The very thing that God's people are promised is going to the enemies of God. 00:10:57.100 --> 00:11:02.139 The world is not a simple formula as Psalm 1, surface reading of Psalm 1 suggests. 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:05.799 We live wholeheartedly for God. 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:09.659 And the ones who don't are the ones that get the blessings. 00:11:09.659 --> 00:11:13.679 How true this seems at times. 00:11:15.259 --> 00:11:16.059 Just think. 00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:19.659 Donald Trump is the President of the United States. 00:11:21.860 --> 00:11:24.199 Documentaries have been filmed about his shady business practices. 00:11:25.459 --> 00:11:29.019 And his conduct as President has done little to change our minds about his character. 00:11:30.860 --> 00:11:33.319 Now I know Donald Trump is a bit of a cheap shot. 00:11:33.699 --> 00:11:35.919 And don't worry, I'll get more personal in a moment. 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:40.039 You get my point though, don't you? 00:11:42.939 --> 00:11:45.879 People who do not submit to God's Lordship 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:50.579 somehow seem to be getting blessings that we who do don't. 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:56.199 They live rich and worry-free lives, Asaph describes in verse 4. 00:11:56.599 --> 00:11:59.559 Not only worry-free, they are trouble-free in verse 5. 00:11:59.899 --> 00:12:01.819 Nothing bad seems to happen to them. 00:12:01.820 --> 00:12:07.360 Asaph began with an honest look at life and he continues with honesty. 00:12:07.780 --> 00:12:10.580 It's not as simple as saying these people are getting the blessing. 00:12:10.980 --> 00:12:15.000 He is fully aware of their wickedness even in receiving their blessing. 00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:17.160 You see, not only are these people blessed, 00:12:18.820 --> 00:12:22.160 but they are proud and violent, we read in verse 6. 00:12:22.300 --> 00:12:24.460 Self-indulgent in verse 7. 00:12:25.280 --> 00:12:28.400 Threatening and tearing people down with their words in verse 8. 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:31.360 Self-promoting in verse 9. 00:12:32.780 --> 00:12:35.980 It's an uncomfortable thing to envy people like this. 00:12:36.580 --> 00:12:38.160 We want what they have. 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:43.680 But to get it, we have to become like them. 00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:48.440 Asaph says in verse 10, this is exactly what has happened. 00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:56.140 Therefore, his people, that's God's people, turn back to them and find no fault in them. 00:12:56.900 --> 00:12:59.920 And they say, how can God know? 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:02.840 Is there knowledge in the Most High? 00:13:02.840 --> 00:13:10.860 We are drawn so powerfully to the end that we desire that we will do what it takes to get it. 00:13:12.800 --> 00:13:19.700 We question God's goodness when other people get what we think is good and when we don't. 00:13:19.700 --> 00:13:24.920 We overlook the wrongness in our pursuit of what our hearts desire. 00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:31.259 So even among God's people, even amongst us, we turn to pridefulness, 00:13:31.459 --> 00:13:34.620 seeing ourselves as superior to the people sitting next to us. 00:13:35.299 --> 00:13:36.979 Perhaps not next to us, maybe that's too close. 00:13:37.219 --> 00:13:38.819 In front and behind us in rows. 00:13:38.820 --> 00:13:43.780 We become self-indulgent by pursuing these thoughts, feeding them. 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:50.200 And we begin to craft our words and our actions to promote ourselves and tear others down. 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:58.820 When my husband or wife or brother or sister or friend or elder or neighbor don't deliver what I desire, 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:02.960 will I manipulate or bully them until they do? 00:14:04.140 --> 00:14:06.280 And tear them down if they don't? 00:14:08.780 --> 00:14:12.140 When I'm overlooked, undervalued, disrespected, disappointed, 00:14:12.280 --> 00:14:15.000 and these may be legitimate responses given certain circumstances, 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.900 but what do I do with them? 00:14:16.899 --> 00:14:21.919 Do I grow in harshness and bitterness, coldness, sharpness of tongue? 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:28.459 When I experience injustice at the hands of those, 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:32.419 even those close to me, as David described last week, 00:14:32.939 --> 00:14:33.679 what do I do? 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:37.059 Do I take matters into my own hands? 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:44.139 This kind of life is an ugly, heartbreaking thing to see, 00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:46.819 and Asaph portrays that picture so clearly. 00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:49.779 It's awful. 00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:53.620 It's an awful, heart-wrenching life to be caught up in. 00:14:55.879 --> 00:15:00.059 You see, to do this, we have to turn our hearts away from our good God. 00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:03.659 We say to ourselves, how can God know? 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:07.079 Does the Most High even know what's best? 00:15:08.579 --> 00:15:10.059 Hear the irony in these words? 00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:11.120 The Most High. 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:15.039 Does the one who knows best even know what's best? 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:22.000 And it brings such bitterness of heart if we believe these words. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:26.779 In verse 12 and 13, Asaph goes on to say, 00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:29.899 Behold, these are the wicked always at ease. 00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:31.659 They increase in riches. 00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:36.659 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:41.019 For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning, 00:15:41.059 --> 00:15:43.379 in contrast to their blessings or perceived blessings. 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:45.679 All in vain have I kept my heart clean? 00:15:46.460 --> 00:15:53.279 I, the beneficiary of God's goodness, am stricken while others receive my blessing? 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:58.000 What was my heart actually hoping for? 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:08.620 It's no accident that Asaph begins this psalm by describing Israel as those who are pure in heart. 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:14.759 Because sin in all its forms is a sickness of heart. 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:20.100 Envy, where all this started, is a sickness of the heart. 00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:29.860 When these words become our words, we move not just from exposure to a contagion, 00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:33.860 but to actually contracting that illness with all its symptoms. 00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:38.060 But even though he was teetering on the edge of giving in to the bitterness, 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:40.399 Asaph shows us the way through. 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:44.480 In verse 15 is a point where things start to turn. 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:45.100 He says, 00:16:45.180 --> 00:16:51.019 If I had said, I will speak thus, I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:58.960 To give in is to agree with the conclusion that God is not good to us. 00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:02.159 To agree without challenging it. 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:06.700 Without testing it on anything but the level of our own immediate experience. 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:09.480 And just to simply own it. 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:13.259 But to own it. 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:17.920 Especially for a worshiper like Asaph would be to cause many others to stumble. 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:22.759 You see, when we own a lie like this, we actually live it. 00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:24.299 It affects how we live. 00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:26.460 And the people around us are tainted by it. 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.519 Tempted by it. 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:28.880 Caused to stumble by it. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:37.220 So the first step in the way through that Asaph shows us is to actually challenge that bitterness of heart. 00:17:37.840 --> 00:17:40.580 But it's a hard, hard thing to do alone. 00:17:42.280 --> 00:17:44.660 See how Asaph acknowledges it when he says this. 00:17:45.800 --> 00:17:46.820 In verse 16. 00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:53.520 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task. 00:17:55.020 --> 00:17:56.160 In verse 17. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:58.580 Until I went into the sanctuary of God. 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:01.900 Then I discerned their ends. 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:07.860 It seemed to me a wearisome task, he starts with. 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:10.340 I can't do it alone. 00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:12.180 It's too big. 00:18:12.860 --> 00:18:16.920 This kind of question will wear me down to the point that bitterness becomes depression. 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:25.600 The first thing we need to do is interrogate our hearts. 00:18:26.920 --> 00:18:29.400 To recognize that we can't even do that alone. 00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:31.320 We actually need to come into the sanctuary. 00:18:31.820 --> 00:18:34.660 And so Asaph's second step is vital. 00:18:35.060 --> 00:18:36.039 To get help. 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:41.659 In this psalm, he went to the sanctuary of God. 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:43.799 This was the place where the glory of God was present. 00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:47.159 The glory that Moses couldn't see in all its fullness without dying. 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:53.099 The glory that others in the Bible, when they saw visions of it, were even just visions. 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:56.139 Were rendered speechless or fell flat on their faces. 00:18:57.420 --> 00:18:59.480 The glory of the Most High. 00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:07.039 This sanctuary is the place where the people of God gathered before their glorious God. 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.039 To worship. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:10.860 To offer sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings. 00:19:11.660 --> 00:19:13.220 To hear God's word taught. 00:19:15.620 --> 00:19:19.279 Paul tells us that God is present in a similar way when we are gathered as church. 00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:23.319 When we gather in worship as God's people, we become the sanctuary. 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:28.880 Where the glory of God resides. 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:31.799 Like Asaph. 00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:36.400 When we rub shoulders with our brother and sister in Christ. 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:38.059 When we sing praises to God. 00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:39.640 When we open up his word to us. 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:43.259 Our perspective is refreshed. 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:49.319 And this leads to Asaph's third step. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:53.680 To allow that perspective to be reset. 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:58.380 Our perspective so easily settles on the immediate. 00:19:58.380 --> 00:20:00.560 The right here and now of life. 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:05.740 But God's perspective takes in far more than that. 00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:13.440 Only with God's perspective can we truly judge outcomes. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:18.920 God's perspective. 00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:20.859 And when that becomes my perspective. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:23.620 My renewed or my new perspective. 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:27.579 It's like waking from a dream, Asaph says. 00:20:28.140 --> 00:20:29.599 Look at verses 20 to 22. 00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:31.740 Like a dream when one awakens. 00:20:31.879 --> 00:20:33.319 Oh Lord, when you rouse yourself. 00:20:33.659 --> 00:20:35.419 You despise them as phantoms. 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:37.159 When my soul was embittered. 00:20:37.179 --> 00:20:38.459 When I was pricked in heart. 00:20:39.219 --> 00:20:41.000 I was brutish and ignorant. 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:44.179 I was like a beast towards you. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:48.119 Doubting God's goodness embitters us. 00:20:48.379 --> 00:20:49.619 It wounds our hearts. 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:54.099 You know what I mean when I say that bitterness wounds our hearts. 00:20:54.399 --> 00:20:55.079 You've seen it. 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:57.439 Bitterness is an ugly thing when it gets a hold of us. 00:20:58.699 --> 00:21:00.179 We feel pity for someone. 00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:04.720 We move to like almost withdraw from someone who's caught up in bitterness. 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:07.240 When they can think no good of a person. 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:10.059 When bitterness invades and conquers their life. 00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:15.220 And it's just as toxic and caustic in our own. 00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:19.119 Bitterness invades and conquers. 00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:25.039 It takes over our lives and transforms us into another creature. 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:26.679 A beast. 00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:32.039 But like waking from a dream. 00:21:33.139 --> 00:21:35.599 We can discover how good God is. 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:38.220 How faithful he's been all along. 00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.900 For example in verse 23. 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:41.079 Asaph explains. 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:42.519 Nevertheless. 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:45.079 I am continually with you. 00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:47.839 Part of his new perspective that he's rewoken to is. 00:21:49.140 --> 00:21:51.019 I am continually with you. 00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:54.600 You guide me with your counsel. 00:21:55.120 --> 00:21:57.079 And afterward you receive me to glory. 00:21:59.860 --> 00:22:01.779 Whom have I in heaven but you. 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:06.559 And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:11.200 My flesh and my heart may fail. 00:22:11.899 --> 00:22:15.200 But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 00:22:17.419 --> 00:22:19.399 Even when I'm beastly. 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:21.779 I am continually with God. 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:25.720 Not because I necessarily want to be in that moment. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:27.279 But because he is faithful. 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:32.000 I am like the child in a tantrum trying to run across the road. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:36.099 And my heavenly father scoops me up in his arms and holds me safely. 00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:38.379 Until I return to my senses. 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.799 Notice in these verses. 00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:44.299 He holds my hands. 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:46.299 He guides me. 00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:49.220 He will receive me into glory. 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:52.859 Who's the one that's active here while I'm struggling to be? 00:22:52.859 --> 00:22:53.339 God. 00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:55.500 God. 00:22:58.919 --> 00:23:02.379 I was brought up with a bunch of false prophets throughout my life. 00:23:03.199 --> 00:23:06.579 The first false prophet I came across was the little engine that could. 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:09.039 Maybe you've heard of this. 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:10.419 I think I can. 00:23:10.619 --> 00:23:11.519 I think I can. 00:23:12.679 --> 00:23:15.779 So many times it's frustrating until finally he says, I know I can. 00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:16.619 And he gets up the hill. 00:23:18.399 --> 00:23:19.599 That's a false prophet. 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:21.519 Don't let your kids read that book. 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:24.980 There is always a hill that we can't. 00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:28.240 There is a hill that we can't. 00:23:30.379 --> 00:23:32.220 More recently, maybe you haven't read that book. 00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:38.519 And maybe that's, you know, it's no longer transposed into digital media. 00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:40.259 So you young folk probably haven't seen it. 00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:42.039 So maybe I'll tell you another false prophet. 00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:44.680 And that's a false prophet called Yoda. 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:48.519 You see, Yoda once said, do or do not. 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:50.299 There is no try. 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:53.399 What a load of rubbish that is. 00:23:55.399 --> 00:24:01.019 I think my life is an endless expression of try. 00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:04.639 Maybe it looks like do or do not. 00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:07.240 But from my perspective, it is try, try, try. 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:12.259 What I want to suggest to you is this. 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:21.000 The perfection that's being portrayed before us here, the perfection of an unwavering heart is not ours, but God's. 00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:22.920 God's on our behalf. 00:24:23.879 --> 00:24:25.539 And God can cope with my doubts. 00:24:25.859 --> 00:24:28.519 He will comfort and guide me as I struggle with assurance. 00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:33.660 He won't turn away from me even when I long to turn away from him to other things. 00:24:33.859 --> 00:24:34.839 Can you believe that? 00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:35.799 I'm going to say it again. 00:24:36.159 --> 00:24:41.179 He won't turn away from me even though I long to turn away from him to other things. 00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:44.439 Friends, doubt grows. 00:24:45.879 --> 00:24:50.779 It either grows a heart that turns away from the goodness of God and tries to fill itself with other things. 00:24:51.859 --> 00:24:55.179 A heart that will do what is necessary, whatever is necessary to get those things. 00:24:55.180 --> 00:25:04.480 Or it grows a heart that turns more deeply toward God, seeing things as they really are, seeing God as he really is. 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:11.259 The only one whose heart is to turn other people's hearts back to him. 00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:17.400 The only one who can fill us to overflowing, as Asaph was discovering. 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:22.180 And when this happens, our appreciation of God deepens. 00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:26.860 There is no one more precious in heaven or on earth, says Asaph. 00:25:29.060 --> 00:25:32.480 Who or what else would we desire? 00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:41.799 Even in the imperfection of our relationships, we know that our greatest fulfillment... 00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:44.360 I just want to distinguish here between things and relationships. 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:47.340 Our greatest fulfillment is found in relationship. 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:52.459 And you'll know that because you can test the things of your life against the relationships that you have. 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:55.220 I live in a nice house. 00:25:55.879 --> 00:25:59.599 But it means nothing to me next to my family. 00:26:00.699 --> 00:26:05.579 If one of my children would become sick, I would sell it in a heartbeat if it would help. 00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:10.619 I know that relationships are what fill my heart best. 00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:16.220 And I know that none of them can fill my heart like God can. 00:26:19.159 --> 00:26:22.319 None of my family or friends love me like God does. 00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:28.619 I am committed to loving my family far more than any of you are. 00:26:29.559 --> 00:26:35.740 And yet, God loves them far more than I do. 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:42.919 My love for them is pitiful next to this kind of love that Asaph is describing here. 00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:46.019 Why am I saying this? 00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:52.839 Well, Asaph said at the beginning of his psalm that God's good is directed to the pure in heart. 00:26:55.099 --> 00:27:01.319 And now he's finishing by admitting that his flesh and his heart may fail him. 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:08.660 As we've worked through this psalm, you may feel like you've gone far beyond where Asaph stopped. 00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:11.920 In terms of your doubts, expressing your doubts. 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:14.440 Perhaps you may even feel that you're still out there. 00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:18.440 Out on that arm, that limb, that creaking limb. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:24.220 Perhaps you even feel that you've gone way too far for God. 00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:29.560 To you, Asaph says these words. 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.940 In verse 26. 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:38.380 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart. 00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:40.440 And my portion forever. 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:44.560 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish. 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:47.340 You put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 00:27:47.560 --> 00:27:50.620 But for me, it is good to be near God. 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:56.960 I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. 00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:03.580 God is our refuge. 00:28:04.120 --> 00:28:10.420 Even in the depth of those doubts, he holds on to us with a strength that we just cannot possibly match. 00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:16.360 Even having said that, though, maybe your doubt is stubborn. 00:28:17.080 --> 00:28:23.160 And you're thinking now, hang on a minute, but how do I know that I'm not the unfaithful that God is going to put an end to? 00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:29.220 Because it says right here, God will put an end to all the unfaithful. 00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:33.759 It's an uncomfortable truth here, isn't it? 00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:35.839 My flesh and my heart, they do fail. 00:28:38.299 --> 00:28:41.620 So God has become my refuge. 00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:43.420 Even in failure. 00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:49.840 Something that Asaph knew, but did not know the mechanism for it, didn't know how it was going to work out. 00:28:50.320 --> 00:28:51.480 He knew this truth. 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:59.360 But it wasn't until Jesus that the means of that truth was revealed. 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:06.000 My flesh and my heart do fail. 00:29:06.379 --> 00:29:08.779 If you're feeling that deeply, join the club. 00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:09.899 All of us are like that. 00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:14.899 But where I can't, Jesus did. 00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:18.659 His heart is pure. 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:21.039 He never failed. 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:30.559 And he gave that pure heart, that perfect life, so that nobody, including you, could condemn you. 00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:32.879 And hear that clearly. 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:35.720 Nobody can condemn you, including you. 00:29:39.220 --> 00:29:40.899 Jesus did that. 00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:46.839 Make him your refuge. 00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:54.679 In the depths of doubt, the anxiety that it produces, the despair of struggling with it, 00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:57.500 the results. 00:29:58.500 --> 00:30:01.359 Choose him to be your refuge. 00:30:05.579 --> 00:30:06.359 Let me pray. 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:18.359 Father God, may it be a truth for our lives that we can say these words in verse 25. 00:30:18.639 --> 00:30:20.279 Whom do we have in heaven but you? 00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:28.879 And to realize that there is nothing on earth that we desire beside you. 00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:36.720 That there is nothing in heaven or on earth that compares to you. 00:30:40.100 --> 00:30:45.260 And not just as a kind of a quaint spiritualism, Lord, but a recognition of how that is grounded 00:30:45.260 --> 00:30:49.660 in how you've constantly shown your faithfulness to us. 00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:59.259 And even though our flesh and our hearts fail, Lord, even at that point, which we would think 00:30:59.259 --> 00:31:04.080 would break the bonds of any commitment you might have to us, even at that point you meet us. 00:31:06.320 --> 00:31:07.860 Thank you for your son, Jesus. 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:16.279 And for the truth that he brings, that you are our refuge. 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:19.299 In Jesus' name. 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:20.059 Amen.