WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.020 to the end of the psalm. You can read again just verse 34 though. 00:00:07.179 --> 00:00:14.380 Psalm 69 reading at verse 34. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that 00:00:14.380 --> 00:00:21.780 moves in them. For God will save Sion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell 00:00:21.780 --> 00:00:28.400 there and possess it. The offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:36.519 shall dwell in it. We come back to look at this psalm for the fourth time and final time 00:00:36.519 --> 00:00:45.079 this evening. We've looked at it a couple of times now, just seeing how real the psalmist 00:00:45.079 --> 00:00:51.119 is in his prayer to God here. It's not a polished prayer, it's a prayer that so often seems to 00:00:51.119 --> 00:00:57.140 be just jumping around from one thing to another. He's distressed, he's in turmoil at what's going 00:00:57.140 --> 00:01:03.020 on around him and within him as well, and just questioning of God, why, and crying out 00:01:03.020 --> 00:01:10.939 to God in so many different ways. His opening cry in verse 1, save me, O God. So we see 00:01:10.939 --> 00:01:19.019 immediately that there's this sense of trouble that the psalmist is in. Verse 5 has a confession, 00:01:19.579 --> 00:01:25.400 O God, you know my folly. The wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. So he's not hiding 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:32.060 the fact that he has done wrong before God. But we saw then, secondly, that there was a recognition 00:01:32.060 --> 00:01:40.600 of who God is as he's praying to him. He realizes who he is praying to, recognizing his reproach, 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:49.800 his suffering, unjust as it is, is for God, because he still loves God. And he spoke of the seal for God 00:01:49.799 --> 00:01:58.179 that has consumed him and his cause. Then the last time we were looking at verse 14 through to 21, 00:01:58.399 --> 00:02:05.200 and we saw how he was crying out in prayer, initially saying, Lord, answer me in your own time. 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:11.219 And then coming to the point where he's saying, Lord, answer me quickly. Look at the suffering I'm in. 00:02:11.219 --> 00:02:19.000 Is it hidden from you? But we saw too that in verse 19 that God does know. Verse 19 says, 00:02:19.180 --> 00:02:27.560 you know my reproach. You know my suffering. And in these words, there is confidence. And it's this 00:02:27.560 --> 00:02:36.199 confidence that we see grow towards the end of the psalm. So the psalm is a prayer. And it's a powerful 00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:43.439 reminder to ourselves that at all times and in all circumstances, we can pray to God that he is 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:50.979 there for us. William Barclay once said, there are three things that we should remember as we pray. 00:02:51.859 --> 00:02:59.819 The first thing is the love of God that wants the best for us. The second thing is the wisdom of God 00:02:59.819 --> 00:03:06.759 that knows what is best for us. And the third thing is the power of God that can accomplish it. 00:03:07.639 --> 00:03:14.180 Now you hear these things and it would be great to approach God in that way each time to have this 00:03:14.180 --> 00:03:19.699 this confidence, the love of God that wants the best for us, the wisdom of God that knows what's 00:03:19.699 --> 00:03:24.900 best for us and the power of God that he has to do it. But we acknowledge at times, just like the 00:03:24.900 --> 00:03:29.479 psalmist here, there's times when we come to God forgetting these things. 00:03:29.819 --> 00:03:35.340 And we always need to remind ourselves that we are not the ones who are powerful. We are not the 00:03:35.340 --> 00:03:43.280 ones who are wise. We are not the ones who can do, but that God can. And so the psalmist here, he knows 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:52.139 his situation. He knows his reproach, his suffering, and he feels he doesn't deserve it because of his love 00:03:52.139 --> 00:04:02.939 for God. And that's why he is crying out to God. But he knows too, that he is redeemed by God's grace, and that he 00:04:02.939 --> 00:04:13.899 lives in a fallen world where there are always enemies around. And that is true for ourselves today as well. He 00:04:13.900 --> 00:04:23.259 doesn't downplay how deeply discouraged he is, how many questions he has as to what and why it's happening. 00:04:23.899 --> 00:04:33.500 But what he does is take it to the Lord in prayer. You see many twists and turns in this prayer. And if you 00:04:33.500 --> 00:04:41.100 look at your own prayer life, day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year, you look back over your 00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:49.980 prayer life, and you will see so many of the same twists and turns in your own experience too. The times 00:04:49.980 --> 00:04:56.540 when there's great rejoicing and hope and joy in the Lord, and the times when there's great challenges and 00:04:56.540 --> 00:05:03.259 many questions that you're asking of God. And sometimes the two are just together in the same 00:05:03.259 --> 00:05:13.980 moment. But what it does, what prayer does is, it brings us to God. It brings us to his word. And that is 00:05:13.980 --> 00:05:22.460 what always brings us back on track and keeps us on track. And that's what we see as we conclude this 00:05:22.460 --> 00:05:29.660 psalm. There's three things I want us to take just briefly in the conclusion of this psalm. There's three 00:05:29.660 --> 00:05:37.259 final sections we want to take from verse 22 down to verse 36. They're both challenges for us and 00:05:37.259 --> 00:05:46.060 encouragements to us as well. There's three things we have to deal with. And the psalmist makes it clear 00:05:46.060 --> 00:05:55.180 for us. First of all, we have to deal with our enemies. We have to deal with our enemies. The second 00:05:55.180 --> 00:06:03.899 thing is we have to deal with ourselves. And then finally, we'll see we have to deal with God. So we have 00:06:03.899 --> 00:06:14.219 to deal with our enemies first. The psalmist's prayer here in verse 22 to verse 28. What you see is a cry 00:06:14.779 --> 00:06:24.779 to God that he would have this outpouring of judgment on his enemies. And you see it in very vivid 00:06:25.419 --> 00:06:32.139 language here. He's talking about things becoming a snare and a trap, their eyes to be darkened. Pour out 00:06:32.139 --> 00:06:39.899 your indignation upon them and let your burning anger overtake them. There in verse 24. There's so much 00:06:39.899 --> 00:06:46.779 powerful language here about the psalmist crying out, deal with these people, deal with them in this way. 00:06:48.860 --> 00:06:56.539 But remembering this psalm and how we've seen how much it speaks to us of the suffering of Christ. 00:06:56.540 --> 00:07:06.060 Christ. That's why we read in Luke chapter 23 as well. We're in the midst of the enemy bringing 00:07:06.700 --> 00:07:18.300 Jesus to the cross. What is Jesus's cry on the cross? Father, forgive them for they know not what to do. 00:07:18.300 --> 00:07:27.740 And there lies the challenge that we see to ourselves here. The psalmist has to face up. 00:07:28.460 --> 00:07:36.060 Is it right to pray like this? There's so many things that we look at in the world today and we know it's 00:07:36.060 --> 00:07:44.300 wrong. And it makes us angry. And is this our prayer today for so many people and situations? 00:07:44.300 --> 00:07:52.939 Lord, pour out your indignation upon them. Let your burning anger overtake them. I'm sure there's times 00:07:52.939 --> 00:08:00.540 when we feel like praying like that. Maybe we do pray like that. Is it appropriate to pray like that? Well, 00:08:01.100 --> 00:08:08.379 here we have. It shows us that it is. That the prayer for God's righteous judgment is not a wrong 00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:17.180 prayer. That seeking God, dealing with people who are obviously doing wickedness to so many people in 00:08:17.180 --> 00:08:25.579 so many different situations. It's not wrong in and of itself. But it shouldn't be the only prayer 00:08:25.579 --> 00:08:33.019 that we have. But there is a reminder to us here that God's judgment is something serious. 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:39.980 And it's a reminder to us. So we said of this psalm, it's one of the most quoted psalms in the New 00:08:39.980 --> 00:08:47.980 Testament. And when you're looking at the judgment that he's speaking about here, you see it quoted in the 00:08:47.980 --> 00:08:57.500 New Testament in situations where there's a cry for judgment. One example is in the book of Acts, chapter 1, 00:08:57.500 --> 00:09:11.500 1 and verse 20. And there it's speaking about Judas. In verse 19, it says, sorry, verse 24 is written in the book of Psalms, 00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:20.139 may his camp become desolate and let there be no one to dwell in it. Now, this is in the midst of the 00:09:20.139 --> 00:09:27.899 Bible. And it's speaking about Judas, who it speaks of in verse 16. Brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled, 00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:35.740 which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those 00:09:35.740 --> 00:09:46.220 who arrested Jesus. So it's speaking there about judgment. In Romans chapter 11, verse 9 and 10, 00:09:46.220 --> 00:09:54.220 it's speaking about God's judgment upon an unbelieving people, unbelieving Israel. And it's quoting 00:09:54.860 --> 00:10:02.220 verse 22 from this psalm, let their own table before them become a snare. And when they're at peace, 00:10:02.220 --> 00:10:11.980 let it become a trap. It's a warning of judgment. In Revelation chapter 16, verse 1, there it says, 00:10:11.980 --> 00:10:18.940 go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God. And it's so close there to what is 00:10:18.940 --> 00:10:25.740 in verse 24. Pour out your indignation upon them and let your burning anger overtake them. 00:10:27.259 --> 00:10:33.259 So it's not a case of you just see a wrathful God in the Old Testament and God in the New Testament is 00:10:33.259 --> 00:10:40.700 just a loving God. You have the wrath of God throughout in the same way as you have the love and grace of God 00:10:40.700 --> 00:10:49.740 throughout as well. So we have to see this psalm is showing forth that God will judge. 00:10:52.379 --> 00:11:00.060 But we see too how it reminds us of the Lord Jesus too. How we've seen it speak of his suffering. 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:07.420 How it speaks of the fact that he was going to come and die for our sins, that he is the one 00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:14.620 who would redeem his people. We've seen all of these things. And notice here how it says in 00:11:16.299 --> 00:11:22.860 in this psalm as well, it speaks about that they gave him in verse 21, 00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:29.659 they gave me poison for food and for my thirst, they gave me sour wine to drink. That is what they gave to 00:11:29.659 --> 00:11:41.419 Jesus on the cross. And yet in the very next verse as it speaks about judgment coming. We see that Jesus 00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:50.779 too in Luke, what did he say? Father, forgive them for they know not what they're doing. And you see a powerful 00:11:50.779 --> 00:11:58.620 contrast there for us. When it comes to dealing with our enemies, how do we deal with them? 00:11:59.659 --> 00:12:10.059 You see, judgment is right. But we have to remember that will come from God. And what we see with Jesus is 00:12:10.059 --> 00:12:20.859 that he came to show mercy and grace. Because we can't judge. Where would we be without the grace of God 00:12:20.859 --> 00:12:31.419 ourselves? We are under the judgment of God. And it's only through repentance and forgiveness of our sins 00:12:31.979 --> 00:12:34.619 that we don't receive the judgment that we deserve. 00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:43.419 And so it's a challenge to us. Yes, we can look on our enemies, the ones we see on our screens day by day, 00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:50.379 but those people around us who stir us up in our hearts, who reject God, who we can become angry with. 00:12:51.259 --> 00:13:00.060 How do we deal with them? What's more important to us this evening to see a people judged or to see a 00:13:00.059 --> 00:13:07.419 people receive the mercy of God? The mercy that we have received for our sins? 00:13:09.419 --> 00:13:18.539 Matthew 5 verse 44 says, But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. 00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:29.500 Yes, we can at times pray, Lord, we know, come in judgment. But Lord, we pray to come in mercy. 00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:38.539 Turn these hearts that are wicked to you. Just like our hearts that are wicked, let them be turned to you. 00:13:38.539 --> 00:13:47.099 So dealing with our enemies. We look to God. The second thing we see here is dealing with self. 00:13:48.459 --> 00:13:56.059 And the two go hand in hand. When we move through to verse 29 down to verse 33, 00:13:56.699 --> 00:14:01.259 we see David in the psalm here move from pain to praise. 00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:09.819 And what is it that makes the difference? How does it come to this point where there's such a change 00:14:09.819 --> 00:14:19.100 in his experience? Well, it's about focus. And here we see David dealing with himself and doing so in two ways. 00:14:20.939 --> 00:14:27.980 First, you have to take in that section, verse 22 to verse 28, how he deals with his enemies. What does he do? 00:14:27.980 --> 00:14:37.659 Is he going to deal with them himself? Is he going to get an army together and go and deal with them in that way? 00:14:38.700 --> 00:14:47.980 No, he lets God deal with them. And there is such an important lesson for ourselves. 00:14:49.820 --> 00:14:55.899 You know, he's talking there in verse 24. It's not I'm going to pour out my anger upon these people. 00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:59.419 He's saying to God, pour out your indignation upon them. 00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:10.860 So he leaves it with God. And we can do that ourselves as well. But for that, we have to deal 00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:17.100 with ourselves, with our own hearts, our own hearts that are so naturally inclined to anger and wrath 00:15:17.100 --> 00:15:24.620 against a people who do wrong. We have to deal with ourselves. But the book of Romans again reminds us 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:32.379 to leave it with God. In chapter 12, verse 18, if possible, so far as it depends on you, live 00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:38.919 peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God. For it is written, 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:45.659 vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. 00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:52.919 If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For by so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head. 00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:58.500 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 00:16:00.079 --> 00:16:07.480 So again, there's both a challenge and an encouragement to us there. How do we deal with our enemies? 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:11.419 Do we deal with them in this way? If your enemy is hungry, feed him. 00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:17.679 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:28.059 So we have to deal with that challenge in our own hearts. Lord, will you not change my heart that's so angry 00:16:28.059 --> 00:16:29.779 towards people? 00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:35.779 It's so easy to let anger consume us. 00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:43.240 And when we're in that situation, it's so difficult to forgive and to love. 00:16:44.579 --> 00:16:50.019 But remember how we looked at earlier in this psalm, in verse 9, 00:16:50.179 --> 00:16:54.120 for seal for your house has consumed me. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:56.620 Seal for the Lord. 00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:59.480 Love for the Lord has consumed me. 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:03.539 And that is the way we are to seek to live as well. 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:05.500 That's a challenge to ourselves. 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:08.680 What is it that we allow to consume our hearts? 00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:12.559 Is it the seal in anger? 00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:18.940 Or is it seal for the Lord's house and the Lord's cause? 00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:26.960 Because the second thing you see about the way he deals with himself here is his focus turns 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:29.820 to God for himself as well. 00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:36.059 As well as leaving the judgment of the enemies to God, he puts himself into God's hands. 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:37.840 In verse 29, he says, 00:17:37.840 --> 00:17:40.259 But I am afflicted and in pain. 00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:44.900 Let your salvation, O God, set me on high. 00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:46.360 Lord, lift me up. 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:51.199 We've seen how he was sinking down in verse 1. 00:17:51.399 --> 00:17:55.119 Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:57.199 I sink in deep mire. 00:17:57.279 --> 00:18:00.119 But now there's this change that's coming. 00:18:00.439 --> 00:18:04.419 Let your salvation, O God, set me on high. 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:06.359 Lift me up. 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:09.079 Deal with me in this way. 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:15.959 Help me to deal with myself, with my heart, my anger, this way I've been praying to you. 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:21.259 So selfishly at times, saying, Lord, do it now. 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:23.620 Why, Lord, are you doing these things? 00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:26.680 All of these things we see throughout the psalm. 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:31.120 But we're seeing here the psalm deals with us too. 00:18:32.120 --> 00:18:33.740 How we deal with ourselves. 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:39.599 I'm afflicted and in pain, but Lord, let your salvation, let it lift me on high. 00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:43.079 I will praise the name of God with a song. 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:45.779 I will magnify him with thanksgiving. 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:51.259 There's this sense of beginning to see God again, focusing on God. 00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:55.900 Dealing with ourselves is one of the hardest challenges that we face. 00:18:55.900 --> 00:19:02.060 We maybe deal with others in a way that we know is not right. 00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:07.220 And we can judge so many different people in so many different ways. 00:19:08.060 --> 00:19:09.540 But what about ourselves? 00:19:11.360 --> 00:19:17.540 It's one of the hardest challenges to realize the faults and blemishes that are in our own hearts. 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:20.340 Sometimes we know it all too well. 00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:24.299 But other times we need them pointing out. 00:19:25.659 --> 00:19:28.480 They need constantly ironing out of who we are. 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:31.740 And the Lord needs to be constantly working in us. 00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:36.699 And for that we need to be examining ourselves through his word. 00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:41.659 And looking to him and focusing on him. 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:43.679 And praising him. 00:19:44.859 --> 00:19:49.319 I will praise the name of God with a song he says here. 00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:50.879 We see there's a change. 00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:54.939 And that's what you find throughout this prayer. 00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:58.240 And it's what we should pray for ourselves. 00:19:58.379 --> 00:20:00.119 That Lord as we approach you in prayer. 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.439 You would calm us. 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.500 You would still us. 00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:04.960 You would give us peace. 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:09.939 So that our focus comes away from everything else that's going on around us. 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:11.679 That's out of our control. 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:14.240 And we say Lord it is in your hands. 00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:17.879 Lord I thank you for your salvation. 00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:20.600 Your salvation that lifts me on high. 00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:22.280 And I will praise you. 00:20:23.600 --> 00:20:25.180 C.S. Lewis once said. 00:20:25.620 --> 00:20:28.460 I think we delight to praise what we enjoy. 00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:32.160 Because the praise not merely expresses. 00:20:32.840 --> 00:20:35.500 But completes that enjoyment. 00:20:36.760 --> 00:20:40.820 So it's not just a case of this praise as we sing to God. 00:20:41.100 --> 00:20:44.100 It's expressing our praise to him. 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:47.679 It's completing our praise to him. 00:20:49.199 --> 00:20:53.219 It's reminding us how good it is to praise the Lord. 00:20:53.579 --> 00:20:57.579 How good it is that we have a song to sing to him. 00:20:58.259 --> 00:21:00.779 A song that like Psalm 40. 00:21:00.919 --> 00:21:04.359 When it waited for the Lord our God and patiently did bear. 00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:08.219 But at length to me didn't climb my voice and cry to hear. 00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:12.100 That song that we're able to sing with that joy of salvation. 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:14.819 That assurance of salvation. 00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:16.779 That we find in Christ. 00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:19.940 And so it reminds us here. 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:22.140 Not to put confidence in ourselves. 00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:25.120 But to deal with ourselves by bringing it to God. 00:21:25.600 --> 00:21:29.180 And asking the Lord to change our hearts. 00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:33.779 To replace that anger that so easily consumes us. 00:21:34.100 --> 00:21:35.279 With that seal. 00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:37.500 For him and for his house. 00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:40.420 And that praise for his name. 00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:44.600 So we are to come in prayer with confidence. 00:21:45.600 --> 00:21:47.360 But it doesn't stop there. 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:53.259 We see then in verse 34 to 36. 00:21:54.119 --> 00:21:56.359 There's a conclusion there for us. 00:21:57.039 --> 00:22:00.859 Because here we see that it's about dealing with God. 00:22:02.379 --> 00:22:03.819 Dealing with God. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:07.719 There's both an encouragement and a challenge for us here as well. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:15.000 The psalmist is talking here about a relationship with God. 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:19.700 And you have these wonderful words at the end of this psalm. 00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:22.920 And it's almost like the change is complete. 00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:27.220 Lord, save me was his cry. 00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:31.240 Now we're seeing the Lord has saved. 00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.900 And the Lord will keep. 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:36.039 The Lord will guard. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:39.480 And the Lord will bring it to completion. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.859 Let heaven and earth praise. 00:22:41.859 --> 00:22:44.960 And the seas and everything that moves in them. 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:47.099 For God will save Zion. 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:48.839 God will save his people. 00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:51.079 And build up the cities of Judah. 00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:54.259 And people shall dwell there and possess it. 00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:56.799 The offspring of his servants shall inherit it. 00:22:57.319 --> 00:23:01.480 And those who love his name shall dwell in it. 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:04.700 There's a sense of finality here. 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:07.420 A sense of security. 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:10.299 The Lord builds his city. 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:14.339 And isn't that the reason that Jesus came? 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:19.440 When he said, as he came into this world, as he was about to leave this world, 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:23.119 I go to prepare a place for you. 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:27.539 That where I am, you may be also. 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:31.779 And we have this assurance of that in this psalm as well. 00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:35.519 The offspring of his servants shall inherit it. 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:39.159 Those who love his name shall dwell in it. 00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:41.379 They shall rest secure. 00:23:41.879 --> 00:23:45.519 Away from all the troubles and the wickedness of this world, 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:49.299 One day we will rest secure with him. 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:53.160 So the change is complete. 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:56.099 From the beginning, save me, O God. 00:23:56.359 --> 00:24:00.539 We see the many twists and turns throughout this psalm. 00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:06.339 But ultimately it ends with a sense of confidence and a sense of security. 00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:10.000 For God will save his people. 00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:15.659 And as we think of this time of year, 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:18.099 What does it mean to us? 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:20.879 We can see Christmas and see, 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:24.420 Yes, there's so many things wrong with it. 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:27.740 So many things we'd love to be different. 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:29.480 We may even say, 00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:32.940 Well, it's not even the time when Jesus was born. 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:36.319 But what is right about it? 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.640 What is good about it? 00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:45.940 It is right and good to remember that God sent his son into this world. 00:24:47.140 --> 00:24:49.980 That you shall call his name Emmanuel. 00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:53.339 That God will be with us. 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:55.440 That he will dwell with us. 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:58.960 That he came to save us from our sin. 00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:04.220 That is what is right and good to remember. 00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:08.440 For God will save Sion, his people. 00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:08.940 How? 00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:13.539 He will send his son into this world. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:17.580 We've seen how much of this psalm points towards the cross. 00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:25.839 And the journey to the cross began with the word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:29.980 God sent his son into this world. 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:32.099 And that is our hope. 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:34.159 That is our security. 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:38.339 That we put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:46.859 So that even as we hear songs being sung at this time, we can praise God that he sent his son into this world. 00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:49.819 Joy to the world, the Lord has come. 00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:52.019 Let earth receive her king. 00:25:52.899 --> 00:25:58.179 We can sing these words knowing that our king has come. 00:25:58.180 --> 00:26:02.080 That God will save his people. 00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:06.380 And you notice the words there in verse 34. 00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:09.320 Let heaven and earth praise him. 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:13.820 Isn't that a wonderful prayer for us just now? 00:26:14.600 --> 00:26:18.500 Let heaven and earth come to praise him. 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:25.859 I came across a hymn that it's called Let heaven and earth rejoice. 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:28.500 And it says this. 00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:30.599 Let heaven and earth rejoice and sing. 00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:33.039 Salute this happy morn. 00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:36.079 The saviour which is Christ our king. 00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:38.420 He on this day was born. 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:41.720 Come let us join our hearts to God. 00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:43.900 And thus exalt his fame. 00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.759 To save us all. 00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:48.940 This babe was born and Jesus is his name. 00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:51.059 Wise men and kings. 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:52.559 Rich gifts did bring. 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:54.680 To Bethlehem straight away. 00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:57.640 Conducted by a leading star. 00:26:57.779 --> 00:27:00.140 Where Christ our saviour lay. 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:03.379 O Lord to thee all glory be. 00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:05.359 Whom heaven and earth adore. 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:08.279 For our redeemer we will praise. 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:10.519 This day and evermore. 00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:13.839 For our redeemer we will praise. 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:16.639 This day and evermore. 00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:21.579 Whatever else Christmas means to us. 00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:24.019 May it make us praise. 00:27:24.679 --> 00:27:25.500 Our Lord. 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:28.220 Who came to save. 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:30.179 O Lord to thee. 00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:31.799 All glory be. 00:27:31.959 --> 00:27:33.399 Whom heaven and earth adore. 00:27:33.959 --> 00:27:35.139 For our redeemer. 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.859 We will praise. 00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:39.859 This day and evermore. 00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:43.000 May this prayer in Psalm 69. 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:45.859 In all its twists and turns. 00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:48.240 Lead us to praise. 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:49.500 Our redeemer. 00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.459 Today. 00:27:51.199 --> 00:27:52.279 And every day. 00:27:52.959 --> 00:27:53.719 More and more. 00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:55.039 Let us pray. 00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:58.819 Our father in heaven. 00:27:58.939 --> 00:27:59.639 We thank you. 00:28:00.199 --> 00:28:01.879 For all that you have done for us. 00:28:01.979 --> 00:28:03.379 We thank you that you are a God. 00:28:03.419 --> 00:28:05.459 Of such love and grace and mercy. 00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:07.160 That you know Lord. 00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:08.759 The wickedness of our hearts. 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:11.319 And you know the wickedness of this world. 00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:12.940 And we leave. 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:15.240 That wickedness in your hands. 00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:17.460 For you are the judge of all. 00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:19.160 You are our judge. 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:20.740 As well as the judge of all. 00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:22.059 Who we see around us. 00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:23.559 You are the judge of all people. 00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:26.000 And Lord we know that you will judge. 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:27.559 Rightly and justly. 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:31.000 But we thank you that in the midst of your judgment. 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:33.240 That there is a hope. 00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:36.440 For you sent your son into this world. 00:28:36.879 --> 00:28:38.299 To redeem his people. 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:41.279 To save his people from their sins. 00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:44.799 And we thank you that as we hear the gospel. 00:28:45.419 --> 00:28:46.899 As we hear the good news. 00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:48.819 It is that remind us to us. 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:51.139 That God will save Zion. 00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:53.259 That you will save your people. 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:55.399 That you will give them an inheritance. 00:28:55.400 --> 00:28:58.880 A place to dwell with you forevermore. 00:28:59.540 --> 00:29:01.259 And we pray Lord that we will know. 00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:03.240 That security ourselves. 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:06.380 And that we pray Lord that heaven and earth. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:08.380 Will come to praise you. 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:10.420 To praise your name today. 00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:11.860 And forevermore. 00:29:12.080 --> 00:29:13.740 Lord may your glory come. 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.960 In our lands in these days. 00:29:16.100 --> 00:29:18.259 As we ask it in Jesus name. 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.140 Amen.