WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.400 Psalm 3, a psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son. 00:00:06.020 --> 00:00:08.560 O Lord, how many are my foes? 00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:11.080 Many are rising against me. 00:00:11.980 --> 00:00:16.500 Many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation from him in God. 00:00:17.339 --> 00:00:22.620 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory and the lifter of my head. 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:27.379 I cried aloud to the Lord and he answered me from his holy hill. 00:00:27.379 --> 00:00:29.679 I lay down and slept. 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:32.719 I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. 00:00:33.659 --> 00:00:39.659 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all round. 00:00:40.820 --> 00:00:43.539 Arise, O Lord, save me, O my God. 00:00:44.379 --> 00:00:48.799 If you strike all my enemies on the cheek, you break the teeth of the wicked. 00:00:49.799 --> 00:00:51.500 Salvation belongs to the Lord. 00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:53.700 Your blessing be on your people. 00:00:53.700 --> 00:01:07.159 There's many challenges to living as a Christian, but one of the toughest ones, I think, is to keep together that which we believe about God or we think we believe about God. 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:15.239 When our circumstances often seem to be at odds with that or often feel as though they're at odds with that. 00:01:17.259 --> 00:01:20.359 We believe in God's goodness and commitment to us. 00:01:21.979 --> 00:01:26.219 And yet so often in our hearts we're overwhelmed with sadness. 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:29.759 We're paralyzed by fear. 00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:32.340 Sometimes we're even consumed by anger. 00:01:34.180 --> 00:01:37.380 And it's a struggle keeping those two things together. 00:01:38.100 --> 00:01:43.260 When our circumstances push us one way and what we believe draws us another way. 00:01:44.219 --> 00:01:50.219 And that gets worse because sometimes in that sort of situation we're already super aware of our sinfulness. 00:01:50.219 --> 00:02:01.340 And then from there it's very easy to conclude that our circumstances are evidence that God's actually abandoned us. 00:02:03.780 --> 00:02:09.259 So often we slip into that pattern of doing our theology by circumstance. 00:02:09.259 --> 00:02:14.959 Now perhaps our church family life is a current example of this struggle. 00:02:17.340 --> 00:02:23.699 For nine weeks we've soaked up and we really have enjoyed soaking up from the letter of Colossians. 00:02:23.780 --> 00:02:29.979 The wonderful truth that our story, our story, is inseparably bound to the story of Jesus Christ. 00:02:29.979 --> 00:02:37.879 That in Christ and united to him, the image we've been using is that our buckets are full and overflowing. 00:02:39.479 --> 00:02:44.899 Buckets of identity, meaning and purpose and security and satisfaction. 00:02:45.819 --> 00:02:52.359 In Christ we have the good life, the full life, the rich life that God intends us to have. 00:02:52.360 --> 00:03:01.240 But then you just need to look over the last two weeks in our church family and so much has been happening. 00:03:03.600 --> 00:03:05.000 There's been so many in hospital. 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:06.320 I've never seen it like that before. 00:03:06.420 --> 00:03:08.340 So many at the one time in hospital. 00:03:10.280 --> 00:03:14.940 We had the birth and very short life of Narrahan. 00:03:17.020 --> 00:03:19.640 We got the impending death of John King. 00:03:19.639 --> 00:03:24.919 We got so many struggling in their marriages. 00:03:25.779 --> 00:03:32.859 We got so many grief stricken by rebellious children and at their wits end as to what to do with them. 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:36.479 Then a bit of wider thing, we got the threat of economic recession. 00:03:37.939 --> 00:03:41.560 We got the growing fear of escalating war. 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:53.280 And so it seems like perhaps, I can't speak with the authority of the Lord, but it seems like, at least we need to consider that, 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:59.840 perhaps our theoretical knowledge and enjoyment of that notion of fullness in Christ, 00:03:59.920 --> 00:04:02.000 that we have everything we need to live well, 00:04:03.140 --> 00:04:05.879 is actually being severely tested by circumstances. 00:04:05.879 --> 00:04:14.439 Will we live as those whose buckets are full in Christ, 00:04:14.799 --> 00:04:19.180 in the uncertainty of life, in the messiness of life, 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:22.420 in at times the grief of life? 00:04:22.420 --> 00:04:30.500 That takes us into Psalm 3 that we're going to be looking at this morning. 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:36.600 And I just want to mention that Psalm 3 is actually an important progression from Psalm 1 and 2, 00:04:36.680 --> 00:04:38.140 and that's not just an Irish-ism. 00:04:39.580 --> 00:04:43.480 There's an important progression in the themes of the Psalms. 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:48.540 So Psalm 1 declares that good life is sourced in obedience to the Lord. 00:04:49.740 --> 00:04:55.819 Psalm 2 declares the absolute sovereignty of God to achieve His purpose in and through His people. 00:04:57.180 --> 00:04:59.800 And Psalm 3 puts us sort of in between those two things, 00:04:59.900 --> 00:05:03.540 in the life of faith, as we see it expressed by King David, 00:05:04.080 --> 00:05:05.980 a life grounded in those two truths, 00:05:06.060 --> 00:05:07.620 that there is the good life, 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:10.879 and that it is to be found living under the sovereignty of God. 00:05:10.879 --> 00:05:14.120 But it's a challenge. 00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:18.459 It's a challenge. 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:24.500 We struggle through daily circumstances and experience of living in a world that's broken by sin, 00:05:25.819 --> 00:05:27.379 broken by rebellion. 00:05:28.659 --> 00:05:31.100 And that's why we're going to jump into Psalm 3 now. 00:05:32.379 --> 00:05:34.100 Because at the very start, 00:05:34.259 --> 00:05:38.300 we see that David's bleak circumstances 00:05:38.300 --> 00:05:41.300 cause him to retreat or flee. 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:48.439 Now, some of this stuff, I'm assuming you've read the backstory in 2 Samuel 14 to 18. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:52.280 If you haven't, you're a guest here this morning, 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:53.400 then you should read it sometime. 00:05:53.580 --> 00:05:55.560 It'll really fill in the picture of Psalm 3. 00:05:57.259 --> 00:06:00.280 That's the awfulness behind verses 1 and 2. 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:03.199 And to put it in this blunt form, 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:06.699 the awfulness is a coup d'etat 00:06:06.699 --> 00:06:10.619 organized against King David by his very own son Absalom, 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:13.679 whom he had treated with such kindness and generosity. 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:17.679 And coup d'etats are always, by definition, 00:06:18.179 --> 00:06:19.239 bloody affairs. 00:06:19.240 --> 00:06:27.319 The backstory, therefore, is an outrageous political drama 00:06:27.319 --> 00:06:30.740 where secretly, over a four-year period, 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:35.819 Absalom worked to win the hearts of the nation of Israel to himself 00:06:35.819 --> 00:06:38.519 against his father, King David, 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:41.160 through intrigue and deception. 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:43.560 Essentially, he was saying to the people, 00:06:43.879 --> 00:06:45.360 look, come over and demise it. 00:06:45.540 --> 00:06:46.879 I will be a better king. 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:51.199 And eventually, Absalom got the support 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:53.519 and marched openly with a huge army 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:58.240 and occupied Jerusalem, the center of the nation. 00:06:58.860 --> 00:06:59.659 His intent? 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:05.240 To depose and kill his father, King David. 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:08.600 So it wasn't just an outrageous political drama, 00:07:08.779 --> 00:07:10.779 it was a really sad family drama. 00:07:11.579 --> 00:07:12.439 Because of the monarchy, 00:07:12.819 --> 00:07:14.819 the only way Absalom could get the throne 00:07:14.819 --> 00:07:16.620 was actually to kill his father. 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:18.240 Who was the current king? 00:07:21.379 --> 00:07:22.279 Murderous intent. 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:29.699 Now imagine the pain that David was feeling, 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:30.819 King David was feeling. 00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:36.319 When he thought about what his son intended to do. 00:07:37.459 --> 00:07:39.959 When he thought about how his son had planned this 00:07:39.959 --> 00:07:41.799 for four or five or six years, 00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:51.019 in verse one, 00:07:52.500 --> 00:07:54.879 David's situation was getting worse by the day. 00:07:55.099 --> 00:07:55.719 David knew 00:07:55.719 --> 00:07:58.899 that this had got a momentum 00:07:58.899 --> 00:08:02.000 and that trusted loyal people 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:03.879 that were abandoning him by the day 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:05.299 and signing up with Absalom. 00:08:07.699 --> 00:08:08.659 And caught unawares, 00:08:08.719 --> 00:08:09.539 if you read the back story, 00:08:09.639 --> 00:08:10.939 caught unawares and unprepared, 00:08:11.620 --> 00:08:13.239 David decided to retreat 00:08:13.239 --> 00:08:15.599 or flee from Jerusalem. 00:08:16.599 --> 00:08:18.479 Remember, Jerusalem was the seat of his throne, 00:08:18.620 --> 00:08:19.419 the seat of his power, 00:08:20.179 --> 00:08:21.279 the center of the kingdom, 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:25.079 the very place where God had installed him. 00:08:26.179 --> 00:08:29.299 And David decides to retreat or flee. 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:31.119 Now a very important question in here, 00:08:31.219 --> 00:08:33.059 why did David flee or retreat? 00:08:34.079 --> 00:08:37.220 Well, I don't think it was because he feared Absalom. 00:08:38.419 --> 00:08:39.100 Quite the opposite. 00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:41.340 I think it was because he loved Absalom. 00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:43.920 He loved Absalom 00:08:43.920 --> 00:08:46.300 and he could see the foolishness 00:08:46.300 --> 00:08:48.420 and the stupidity of his son. 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:51.060 Recognizing the son wasn't just dealing with him, 00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:52.440 but he was taking on God. 00:08:54.259 --> 00:08:56.340 But I think also David loved his people 00:08:56.340 --> 00:09:01.120 and he refused to subject them 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:04.540 to a bloody savagery of a coup d'etat. 00:09:04.539 --> 00:09:10.059 A bloody civil war. 00:09:11.659 --> 00:09:13.620 So David retreats. 00:09:14.699 --> 00:09:17.719 But that action was a loving action 00:09:17.719 --> 00:09:18.839 for the good of his son 00:09:18.839 --> 00:09:20.740 and for the good of his nation. 00:09:23.299 --> 00:09:25.139 But perhaps most hurtful of all 00:09:25.139 --> 00:09:27.539 is that last line in verse 2 00:09:27.539 --> 00:09:29.539 was the rumors. 00:09:29.899 --> 00:09:31.279 Rumors are always hurtful, aren't they? 00:09:31.779 --> 00:09:33.039 Because they're everywhere, 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:34.679 but you can't actually get a hold of them. 00:09:35.579 --> 00:09:36.860 Rumors are devastating things. 00:09:38.899 --> 00:09:39.899 And the rumor circulating 00:09:39.899 --> 00:09:42.659 was that David's own sinful behavior 00:09:42.659 --> 00:09:44.899 had brought all this upon him. 00:09:45.819 --> 00:09:47.120 Perhaps it was a reference to the fact 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:49.799 that David himself had replaced King Saul. 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:52.279 Or perhaps it was a reference 00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:54.399 to David's sin with Bathsheba 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:56.740 and subsequent murder of her husband. 00:09:58.079 --> 00:10:00.019 In other words, the rumor was saying, 00:10:00.139 --> 00:10:02.740 look, God has abandoned King David. 00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:05.120 And now he's put his blessing on Absalom. 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:05.779 So if you want to be 00:10:05.779 --> 00:10:06.820 on the right side of history, 00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:08.120 that's a modern frame, 00:10:08.560 --> 00:10:09.580 get with Absalom. 00:10:14.560 --> 00:10:16.840 And again, imagine David's feeling there. 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:18.399 Imagine what that would do 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:19.879 with his inner landscape. 00:10:21.340 --> 00:10:22.620 Well, perhaps it's true. 00:10:23.720 --> 00:10:25.840 I thought that this, 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:27.200 my sin had been, 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:28.740 I had repented of it 00:10:28.740 --> 00:10:30.060 and had been dealt with by the Lord 00:10:30.060 --> 00:10:31.120 and the Lord had restored me. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:32.700 But maybe, maybe not. 00:10:35.779 --> 00:10:37.560 It would have caused enormous torment 00:10:37.560 --> 00:10:38.360 in David's mind 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:40.340 as he considered this possibility. 00:10:42.279 --> 00:10:43.379 So friends, it's not hard 00:10:43.379 --> 00:10:46.120 to sense something of the agony 00:10:46.659 --> 00:10:48.419 and the distress and confusion 00:10:48.419 --> 00:10:50.019 that afflicted King David. 00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:54.060 And most of us will recognize 00:10:54.060 --> 00:10:56.039 the thinking that quickly flows from that. 00:10:56.039 --> 00:10:58.199 And we look at our circumstances 00:10:58.199 --> 00:10:59.839 and we quickly move to thinking 00:10:59.839 --> 00:11:01.559 that, well, perhaps my circumstances 00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:04.139 reflect that I've forfeited 00:11:04.139 --> 00:11:07.079 any support or blessing 00:11:07.079 --> 00:11:10.419 or ongoing relationship with the Lord. 00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:14.879 Now, at this point, 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:16.539 we have to look at this 00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:19.179 strange little word in the text 00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:20.219 called Selah 00:11:20.220 --> 00:11:22.580 at the end of verse 2. 00:11:23.379 --> 00:11:24.580 Now, nobody really knows 00:11:24.580 --> 00:11:26.240 what it is in detail. 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:29.840 The best guess, I suppose, 00:11:29.920 --> 00:11:31.019 the best scholarly guess 00:11:31.019 --> 00:11:33.660 is that it's a musical notation 00:11:33.660 --> 00:11:35.779 which is something like 00:11:35.779 --> 00:11:38.000 pause or rest or interlude. 00:11:38.259 --> 00:11:38.960 In other words, I think 00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:40.060 what it's really saying is, 00:11:40.580 --> 00:11:42.360 look, given what I've just said, 00:11:42.600 --> 00:11:43.860 stop and reflect. 00:11:44.019 --> 00:11:44.920 Remember, this is poetry. 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:46.860 So it's actually saying, 00:11:47.219 --> 00:11:48.500 stop and reflect 00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:49.879 what's just been said. 00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:55.559 Is the growing majority right 00:11:55.559 --> 00:11:57.159 in their assessment of King David? 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:01.199 Should he be doing his theology 00:12:01.199 --> 00:12:02.819 by circumstance? 00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:06.519 Could it possibly be true 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:09.719 that God has abandoned 00:12:09.719 --> 00:12:11.159 his servant, King David? 00:12:12.899 --> 00:12:14.339 We'll pause and reflect. 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:33.279 It's a huge concept 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:34.779 with so much writing on it. 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:37.199 Next point I want to make 00:12:37.199 --> 00:12:37.899 if you've fallen through 00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:38.360 in the outline 00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:40.860 is that King David does retreat, 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:43.059 but it's really important 00:12:43.059 --> 00:12:44.459 to know how he retreats. 00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:46.200 He doesn't retreat into himself 00:12:46.200 --> 00:12:48.300 or into his own fears, 00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:51.600 but he retreats into God's character 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:53.340 and God's word 00:12:53.340 --> 00:12:55.340 if you look at verses 3 and 4. 00:12:57.660 --> 00:12:59.000 But you, O Lord, 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:01.019 are a shield about me, 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:03.379 my glory, 00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:06.120 and the lifter of my head. 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:12.019 Isn't it true that so often 00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:13.080 when life gets tough 00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:14.700 we do retreat into ourselves, 00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:16.820 into our own inner thinking, 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:19.039 into our scrambling 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:20.600 for a new connection 00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:21.600 with our own resources 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:24.259 to begin the process 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:25.320 of self-salvation? 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:29.720 And sometimes that's expressed 00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:30.460 in victimhood 00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:32.259 where the best way 00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:32.960 to deal with things 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:33.659 is to say that 00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:34.680 somebody else is to blame 00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:35.659 for my circumstance. 00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:40.019 Or perhaps it's withdrawal 00:13:40.019 --> 00:13:41.059 from relationships 00:13:41.059 --> 00:13:42.120 generally in life 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:43.939 and engaging 00:13:43.939 --> 00:13:45.219 only with those people 00:13:45.219 --> 00:13:46.199 that we think are safe 00:13:46.199 --> 00:13:47.139 who will actually deliver 00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:47.839 some happiness 00:13:47.839 --> 00:13:50.620 and well-being to us. 00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:55.399 But there's nothing like that 00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:56.659 in David's response. 00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:58.919 Instead, 00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:00.860 David moves deeper 00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:02.259 into the heart of God. 00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:05.700 Convinced that strength 00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:07.120 and refreshment 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:08.580 and courage to thrive 00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:11.200 is not in changed circumstance, 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:14.580 but in a fresh appreciation 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:15.659 of God's beauty 00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:17.340 and God's covenant faithfulness 00:14:17.340 --> 00:14:18.980 and God's sufficiency 00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:20.200 for his every situation. 00:14:20.920 --> 00:14:21.840 But you, O Lord, 00:14:22.259 --> 00:14:22.940 are a shield. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:26.160 He starts to rehearse 00:14:26.160 --> 00:14:27.360 what he knows about God. 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:28.639 You, O Lord, 00:14:28.680 --> 00:14:29.680 are my bodyguard. 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:30.600 That's the emphasis 00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:31.720 of that word there. 00:14:32.280 --> 00:14:33.560 Picture a cluster 00:14:33.560 --> 00:14:34.840 of CIA men 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:35.840 gathered around 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:36.780 the president, 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:39.120 literally protecting him 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:40.080 from every angle. 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:43.680 For any enemy out there 00:14:43.680 --> 00:14:44.580 who wants to harm him, 00:14:45.280 --> 00:14:46.200 that's the picture 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:48.840 that David retreats into. 00:14:56.440 --> 00:14:57.500 God is the source 00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:58.980 of my value, 00:14:59.120 --> 00:14:59.639 security, 00:14:59.780 --> 00:15:00.400 and reputation. 00:15:01.060 --> 00:15:01.960 That's the force 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:02.680 of my glory 00:15:02.680 --> 00:15:03.879 and the lifter of my head. 00:15:05.540 --> 00:15:05.660 See, 00:15:05.900 --> 00:15:06.480 King David 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:07.700 isn't interested 00:15:07.700 --> 00:15:09.680 in popular esteem. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:14.379 He knows 00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:15.840 that he has no glory 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:16.540 in himself. 00:15:19.220 --> 00:15:20.920 But since his position 00:15:20.920 --> 00:15:22.259 is a reflected glory, 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:22.720 that is, 00:15:23.180 --> 00:15:24.300 as God's king, 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:26.300 he has the reflected glory 00:15:26.300 --> 00:15:27.379 of God himself, 00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:28.680 the covenant God himself, 00:15:29.300 --> 00:15:30.940 as a servant of the Lord, 00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:32.800 then David knows 00:15:32.800 --> 00:15:34.220 that he can trust the Lord 00:15:34.220 --> 00:15:35.980 to act for his own glory. 00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:44.519 God is his vindicator, 00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:45.139 in other words. 00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:47.680 David is confident 00:15:47.680 --> 00:15:49.060 that Yahweh, 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:49.879 that is the name 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:50.639 of the Lord God 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.759 here used in this psalm, 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:52.560 Yahweh, 00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:53.639 the personal name of God, 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:54.980 Yahweh himself 00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:55.840 will fight 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:57.700 for David. 00:15:58.379 --> 00:15:58.720 Why? 00:15:58.980 --> 00:15:59.800 Because David 00:15:59.800 --> 00:16:01.720 is God's appointed king. 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:03.600 And therefore, 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:04.840 equally true 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:05.800 that when his enemies 00:16:05.800 --> 00:16:07.060 take on King David, 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:08.420 they should realize 00:16:08.420 --> 00:16:09.980 that they're taking on Yahweh. 00:16:16.060 --> 00:16:17.019 And in the end, 00:16:17.160 --> 00:16:18.019 David knows 00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:20.180 that it's God's assessment 00:16:20.180 --> 00:16:20.680 of him 00:16:20.680 --> 00:16:21.340 that matters. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:24.800 And that physical circumstances 00:16:24.800 --> 00:16:25.720 are not 00:16:26.300 --> 00:16:28.680 an accurate guide 00:16:28.680 --> 00:16:29.940 to God's assessment 00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:30.279 of him. 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:35.799 And verse 4, 00:16:37.439 --> 00:16:38.539 he continues to rehearse 00:16:38.539 --> 00:16:38.980 what he knows. 00:16:39.100 --> 00:16:40.500 God's salvation purpose 00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:42.959 gives my apparent 00:16:42.959 --> 00:16:43.899 chaos 00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:45.079 order. 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.919 I cried aloud 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:48.459 to the Lord 00:16:48.459 --> 00:16:49.379 and he answered me 00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:50.240 from his holy hill. 00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:51.480 Now again, 00:16:51.579 --> 00:16:52.939 in poetry terms, 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:53.899 it's a little bit 00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:54.519 cryptic here. 00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:56.679 But the point 00:16:56.679 --> 00:16:57.120 I want to say 00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:57.519 is this, 00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:58.000 is that 00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:59.379 David's predicament 00:16:59.379 --> 00:17:00.259 does not drive 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:00.840 him away 00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:01.559 from the Lord 00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:04.039 in a frenetic 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:05.700 attempt at self-salvation, 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:07.599 but drives him 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.599 to the Lord 00:17:08.599 --> 00:17:09.940 in urgent prayer. 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:10.400 Why? 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:12.180 Because the Lord 00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:12.680 is the one 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:13.960 who has the answers. 00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:14.400 The Lord 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:15.359 who knows everything 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:17.660 can put order 00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:18.920 into the chaos 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:19.980 of David's life. 00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:23.019 and his confidence 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:23.860 is rewarded 00:17:23.860 --> 00:17:26.880 because the Lord 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:27.599 answers him. 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:29.519 Confirming what? 00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:29.740 Well, 00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:30.680 we're not told here, 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:31.900 so we assume 00:17:31.900 --> 00:17:33.660 that the answer 00:17:33.660 --> 00:17:34.519 is confirming 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:35.700 David's analysis 00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:37.220 in verses 2 and 3, 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:39.039 verses 3 and 4 rather. 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:47.759 confirming David's faith 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:49.279 and trust in God alone. 00:17:50.099 --> 00:17:51.019 And sensing that God 00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:51.619 answers him 00:17:51.619 --> 00:17:52.659 from his holy hill 00:17:52.659 --> 00:17:54.379 or another word 00:17:54.379 --> 00:17:55.200 would be Zion 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:56.899 or both of those things 00:17:56.899 --> 00:17:57.399 are just words 00:17:57.399 --> 00:17:58.099 for Jerusalem. 00:17:59.859 --> 00:18:00.799 And Jerusalem 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.940 is very significant 00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:03.799 because that's the place 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:04.460 where God 00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:05.220 has taken up 00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:05.799 his dwelling 00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:06.579 among his people. 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:08.899 That's the place 00:18:08.899 --> 00:18:10.419 where God rules 00:18:10.419 --> 00:18:11.519 both the nation of Israel 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:12.539 and the whole world. 00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:18.379 So, 00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:19.220 the confirmation 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:19.980 for David 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:21.159 is that Absalom 00:18:21.159 --> 00:18:22.220 who has now 00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:23.440 occupied Jerusalem 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:24.460 may think 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:26.039 that his word 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:27.279 is going to rule. 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.879 But David's confidence 00:18:30.879 --> 00:18:31.480 is no. 00:18:32.379 --> 00:18:33.659 The sovereign Lord 00:18:33.659 --> 00:18:34.839 is still enthroned 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:35.859 and his word 00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:37.559 will be the final word 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:39.319 heard and acted on 00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:40.480 from Jerusalem. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:43.359 It will be God's power, 00:18:43.539 --> 00:18:44.279 God's voice 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:45.480 that will be heard 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:45.939 ultimately. 00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:48.559 And so, 00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:50.059 there's a really lovely 00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:52.799 confirmation 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.839 and rehearsal 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:54.579 here for David. 00:18:55.139 --> 00:18:55.539 That is, 00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:56.799 King David's confidence 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:58.799 is not that God 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:00.059 is on his side, 00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:03.980 but that he 00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:04.980 as God's king 00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:06.179 is on God's side. 00:19:07.379 --> 00:19:08.339 That's a hugely 00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:09.099 different statement. 00:19:12.379 --> 00:19:13.700 That he's part 00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:14.319 of God's 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:15.179 much bigger 00:19:15.179 --> 00:19:16.119 salvation plan 00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:16.700 for his people. 00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:18.779 And again, 00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:20.859 with that thought 00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.500 we say, 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:22.679 Selah. 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:24.720 Just pause 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.399 and reflect 00:19:25.399 --> 00:19:26.619 on that truth, 00:19:26.619 --> 00:19:28.899 on God's character 00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:30.379 and purpose 00:19:30.379 --> 00:19:33.559 as we struggle 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:34.319 through the mess 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:34.959 of life. 00:19:34.960 --> 00:20:02.720 Flaying into God's character 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:04.339 enables King David 00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:05.700 to press on 00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:06.779 in confident 00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:07.600 faith and trust 00:20:07.600 --> 00:20:08.640 verses 5 and 6. 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:12.900 Knowing God's character 00:20:12.900 --> 00:20:13.960 and rehearsing 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:14.940 in his own mind 00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:16.779 and regaining 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:17.559 a confident 00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:18.279 trust 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:19.480 in that 00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:20.420 and seeing the beauty 00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:21.720 of his situation 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:23.039 as being 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:24.519 on God's side 00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:25.839 enables David, 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:26.900 frees David 00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:28.120 to do 00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:29.039 what he needs 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:29.500 to do. 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.220 Confident 00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:31.240 that the Lord 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:31.600 will do 00:20:31.600 --> 00:20:32.620 what only he can do. 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:34.220 And so in the short term 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:36.220 David needs 00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:37.779 to get some rest. 00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:41.180 And so 00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:42.660 he lies down 00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:43.319 and he sleeps. 00:20:43.360 --> 00:20:44.200 He sleeps sound. 00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:46.559 And you can hear him 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:47.440 getting up the next morning 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:48.180 saying, 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:49.700 my goodness me, 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:51.019 in spite of all 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.900 that's been happening 00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:54.220 I slept so sound 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:54.779 last night. 00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:56.880 That of itself 00:20:56.880 --> 00:20:57.460 is evidence 00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:58.180 that God 00:20:58.180 --> 00:20:58.900 is sustaining me. 00:20:59.079 --> 00:20:59.700 And what's more 00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:00.960 he's saying to his advisors 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:02.559 I woke this morning 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:04.599 strangely 00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:05.740 without fear. 00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:09.159 Even though 00:21:09.159 --> 00:21:09.659 my enemies 00:21:09.659 --> 00:21:10.359 are still there, 00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:10.759 even though 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.480 my circumstances 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:12.299 are still the same 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:12.799 as where they were 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:13.259 last night, 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.899 I woke fresh 00:21:14.899 --> 00:21:15.460 this morning. 00:21:16.159 --> 00:21:16.639 Again, 00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:16.980 why? 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:20.379 Because God 00:21:20.379 --> 00:21:21.720 is on the job. 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:22.220 God 00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:25.620 now, 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.140 again, 00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:26.720 it's important 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.600 to realize here 00:21:27.600 --> 00:21:28.559 that this is not 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.299 the sleep 00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:31.339 of an arrogant fool 00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:32.819 who's lost touch 00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.400 with reality. 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:38.400 it's not the sleep 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:39.640 of an arrogant man 00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:41.000 supremely confident 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:41.900 in his own resources 00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:42.200 saying, 00:21:42.320 --> 00:21:42.519 well, 00:21:42.600 --> 00:21:43.040 let them do 00:21:43.040 --> 00:21:43.400 what they want, 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.019 I'll sort them 00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:44.519 out in the morning. 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:49.440 It was the confident, 00:21:49.800 --> 00:21:50.220 trusting, 00:21:50.540 --> 00:21:51.340 faithful words, 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.580 the actions of faith 00:21:52.580 --> 00:21:54.460 in God's control 00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:55.200 of the situation. 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:58.900 Yes, 00:21:59.080 --> 00:21:59.759 David's enemies 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.819 were all about him, 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:03.559 but so was the Lord 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:04.759 and the terms there 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:06.039 are very much parallel. 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:06.900 His enemies 00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:07.860 were all about him 00:22:07.860 --> 00:22:08.819 and it's meant 00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.660 to bounce off 00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:10.860 what David's already 00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:11.860 become convinced of, 00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:12.759 that the Lord 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:13.580 was all about him. 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:19.500 And so, 00:22:19.619 --> 00:22:20.139 as we're told 00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:20.939 in the back story, 00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:22.740 David gets up 00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:25.480 and prepares himself 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:26.639 for the battle 00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.699 that Absalom 00:22:27.699 --> 00:22:28.579 has left him 00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:29.299 no choice 00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:30.039 but to fight. 00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:35.379 And I think David 00:22:35.379 --> 00:22:36.220 goes into that battle 00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:36.939 and if you read 00:22:36.939 --> 00:22:37.439 the back story, 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:38.419 you can get that 00:22:38.419 --> 00:22:39.119 from the back story. 00:22:39.439 --> 00:22:41.240 He goes into that battle, 00:22:41.679 --> 00:22:42.619 not actually sure 00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:43.559 how it's going to turn out, 00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:44.839 but what he is sure about 00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:45.740 is that whether 00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:47.240 he lives or dies, 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.579 God's purpose 00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:50.139 for his people 00:22:50.139 --> 00:22:50.879 will be achieved. 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.939 But we're not done yet 00:22:58.939 --> 00:23:00.319 because David's still 00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:01.159 stepping through 00:23:01.159 --> 00:23:02.099 this process 00:23:02.099 --> 00:23:06.039 and he does press forward 00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:06.859 with new confidence 00:23:06.859 --> 00:23:09.139 but he's always longing 00:23:09.139 --> 00:23:11.039 for God's ultimate renewal 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:13.379 of his rebellious people. 00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.539 verses 7 and 8. 00:23:16.859 --> 00:23:17.579 Now again, 00:23:17.659 --> 00:23:19.099 we see in verse 7, 00:23:19.699 --> 00:23:21.319 David's faith perspective. 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:24.259 He says, 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:25.500 Arise, O Lord. 00:23:26.679 --> 00:23:27.639 It's a call, 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.039 as it were, 00:23:28.139 --> 00:23:29.259 a pleading with God 00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:29.839 to act. 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:33.159 This is your show, God. 00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:35.599 I'm on your side. 00:23:35.699 --> 00:23:36.579 You're my commander 00:23:36.579 --> 00:23:37.159 in a sense. 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:41.400 over to you, 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:41.900 in a sense. 00:23:45.560 --> 00:23:46.240 David's hope 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:47.480 for that day 00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:49.640 and for every day 00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:50.200 in the future 00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:52.160 was God's action, 00:23:52.540 --> 00:23:53.240 God's activity. 00:23:54.120 --> 00:23:54.259 Now, 00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:55.480 this is a really important 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.220 balance here 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:56.460 because, 00:23:56.820 --> 00:23:56.940 see, 00:23:57.040 --> 00:23:57.759 we can look back 00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:58.040 and we say 00:23:58.040 --> 00:23:59.400 David had displayed 00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:00.600 incredible faith, 00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:02.500 incredible trust 00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:03.220 in response 00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:04.420 to his circumstances. 00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:06.620 There's no question 00:24:06.620 --> 00:24:06.940 about that. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:07.740 He had done 00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.360 what was right 00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:09.340 in terms of responding 00:24:09.340 --> 00:24:10.220 to his circumstances 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.300 but here's the point. 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:13.580 David was never satisfied 00:24:13.580 --> 00:24:14.660 with his response. 00:24:17.620 --> 00:24:18.920 He was never satisfied 00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:19.700 with his actions. 00:24:20.060 --> 00:24:21.340 He never relies on them 00:24:21.339 --> 00:24:23.419 and he certainly 00:24:23.419 --> 00:24:24.240 never thinks 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:25.339 that he can deliver 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:27.359 what God's people 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:28.000 really need 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.779 because, 00:24:28.899 --> 00:24:29.119 you see, 00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:30.099 David himself 00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:31.059 was a man of sin. 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:31.859 He knew 00:24:31.859 --> 00:24:33.519 that his faith today 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.199 could crumble 00:24:34.199 --> 00:24:35.539 into foolishness tomorrow. 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:36.879 That's been his history 00:24:36.879 --> 00:24:37.500 in the past. 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:39.019 So, 00:24:39.139 --> 00:24:39.859 while he was seeking 00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:40.599 to do the right thing, 00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:41.699 he was never satisfied 00:24:41.699 --> 00:24:42.059 with it. 00:24:42.159 --> 00:24:43.159 He never relied on it 00:24:43.159 --> 00:24:44.099 and he never, 00:24:44.339 --> 00:24:44.980 ever for a moment 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:46.779 thought he could deliver 00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:47.619 in this situation 00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:49.059 what God's foolish people 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:50.839 in the height of rebellion 00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:51.599 really need. 00:24:54.679 --> 00:24:55.559 And so he says, 00:24:55.659 --> 00:24:56.439 Arise, O Lord. 00:24:57.919 --> 00:24:58.740 And then he says, 00:24:58.879 --> 00:24:59.899 Save me, O my God. 00:24:59.959 --> 00:25:00.079 Now, 00:25:01.179 --> 00:25:01.959 it seems 00:25:01.959 --> 00:25:03.079 and looks immediately 00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:04.139 like it's self-interested 00:25:04.139 --> 00:25:05.359 but I don't think it is. 00:25:09.399 --> 00:25:09.799 Rather, 00:25:09.959 --> 00:25:10.679 he knows 00:25:10.679 --> 00:25:11.500 the fortunes 00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:12.220 of his people 00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:13.879 are tied to his. 00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.779 He's their king 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:16.259 and what comes 00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:17.519 to King David 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.579 comes to his people. 00:25:20.839 --> 00:25:23.079 So, 00:25:23.159 --> 00:25:24.179 his ultimate concern 00:25:24.179 --> 00:25:25.599 as God's king 00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:26.740 is to see 00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:28.519 God's salvation purpose 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:30.679 achieved through him 00:25:30.679 --> 00:25:33.299 for all God's foolish, 00:25:33.939 --> 00:25:35.000 rebellious people. 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:38.559 And David includes himself 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:38.939 in that. 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:45.179 He's capable of equal foolishness, 00:25:45.379 --> 00:25:46.319 equal stupidity 00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:48.639 and has been. 00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:52.619 See, 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:53.240 at this point, 00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:53.960 I think David 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:55.859 is preparing 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:56.740 for a battle 00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:57.799 that's in front of him 00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:59.700 but he's longing 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:00.500 for much, 00:26:00.639 --> 00:26:01.240 much more 00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:02.359 than just 00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:04.480 political 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.679 reunification. 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:12.440 He knows 00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:14.100 what his people need. 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:14.560 He knows 00:26:14.560 --> 00:26:15.140 what he needs 00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:15.640 and that is 00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.600 he knows 00:26:16.600 --> 00:26:17.820 that rebellion 00:26:17.820 --> 00:26:19.360 comes from the heart 00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:19.720 and therefore 00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:21.080 to properly address 00:26:21.080 --> 00:26:22.000 and fix rebellion 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:24.160 then he and his people 00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:25.140 need new hearts, 00:26:25.320 --> 00:26:25.980 new desires, 00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:27.000 new attitudes 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:29.560 if the cycle 00:26:29.560 --> 00:26:30.320 of foolish, 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:31.480 rebellious, 00:26:31.600 --> 00:26:32.120 destructive, 00:26:32.340 --> 00:26:33.000 sinful actions 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:33.700 is to be broken 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:34.900 finally and fixed properly. 00:26:36.320 --> 00:26:37.360 So David's longing 00:26:37.360 --> 00:26:38.840 even as he prepares 00:26:38.840 --> 00:26:39.720 for an immediate battle 00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:40.140 he's longing 00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:41.180 for something much bigger, 00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:42.700 a bigger battle 00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:43.060 as it were 00:26:43.060 --> 00:26:43.620 to be fought 00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:46.320 to deliver God's people. 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.180 And if you look 00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:48.900 then at verse 8, 00:26:49.060 --> 00:26:50.019 salvation belongs 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.560 to the Lord, 00:26:51.080 --> 00:26:51.720 your blessing 00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.799 be on your people. 00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:54.320 David knows 00:26:54.320 --> 00:26:55.860 that salvation 00:26:55.860 --> 00:26:56.580 and blessing 00:26:56.580 --> 00:26:58.240 are inseparably linked, 00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.240 two sides 00:26:59.240 --> 00:26:59.940 of one coin 00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:01.940 and that both 00:27:01.940 --> 00:27:04.039 are God's intention 00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.640 to deliver 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:05.500 to his people 00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.900 through his appointed king. 00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:10.960 So to know 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.779 God's blessing, 00:27:13.380 --> 00:27:13.940 Psalm 1, 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.579 is to be delivered 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:17.259 from rebellion 00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:19.000 into new obedience 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:19.700 and righteousness. 00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:22.299 That is the blessed life. 00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:29.660 To know God's salvation 00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:31.380 requires new submission, 00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:32.940 new loyalty 00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:34.279 to God's sovereign king. 00:27:35.600 --> 00:27:36.920 That's Psalm 2 again. 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:41.259 So in this situation, 00:27:41.900 --> 00:27:43.259 David understands 00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:43.740 his people. 00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.200 He understands 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:46.039 that they're craving 00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:47.320 for the life of blessing, 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:49.019 the good life. 00:27:49.380 --> 00:27:49.759 And that's a 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:51.400 proper craving. 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:53.059 That's a real craving. 00:27:53.779 --> 00:27:55.299 But they're foolishly 00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:56.559 trying to find it 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:57.320 in Absalom, 00:27:57.319 --> 00:28:01.220 which is what Absalom 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:01.960 is foolishly 00:28:01.960 --> 00:28:02.720 promising 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.579 God's people. 00:28:03.879 --> 00:28:04.879 That he will give them 00:28:04.879 --> 00:28:05.679 a better life, 00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:07.019 the life that David 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.779 couldn't give them 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.500 and didn't give them. 00:28:13.679 --> 00:28:14.579 So he feels 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.119 for his people. 00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:16.659 He sees their plight, 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.639 one stupidity 00:28:18.639 --> 00:28:19.480 building on another. 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:24.039 And King David 00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:25.039 longs for the Lord 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:25.539 to act, 00:28:26.180 --> 00:28:27.180 claiming back 00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:28.420 his rightful honour, 00:28:29.339 --> 00:28:30.839 delivering true blessing 00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:32.640 for the truly good life 00:28:32.640 --> 00:28:33.079 for his people. 00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.339 And friends, 00:28:35.860 --> 00:28:36.720 if you haven't already 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.620 come with me 00:28:37.620 --> 00:28:38.140 to this point, 00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:40.360 you can hear 00:28:40.360 --> 00:28:41.440 the whisper of Jesus 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:41.860 in that, 00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:42.240 can't you? 00:28:43.120 --> 00:28:43.920 You can hear 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:44.980 the whisper of Jesus 00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:47.019 in that longing 00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:47.519 of David. 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:52.220 Jesus is the one 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:52.839 who actually 00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:53.779 delivers 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:55.079 on that 00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:55.700 which David 00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:57.039 can only long for 00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:59.220 and articulate. 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:02.700 See, 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:03.599 like King David, 00:29:04.839 --> 00:29:05.859 Jesus experienced 00:29:05.859 --> 00:29:06.960 the awfulness 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:09.119 of hatred, 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:11.139 rebellion, 00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:12.500 disloyalty, 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.440 and betrayal 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:14.900 from his own family. 00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:17.840 John chapter 1, 00:29:18.280 --> 00:29:19.380 he came to those 00:29:19.380 --> 00:29:20.060 who were his own 00:29:20.060 --> 00:29:22.280 but they wouldn't 00:29:22.280 --> 00:29:22.920 receive him 00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:29.320 because they could 00:29:29.320 --> 00:29:30.340 get a better life 00:29:30.340 --> 00:29:31.740 apart from Jesus. 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:37.460 but like 00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:38.759 King David, 00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:40.180 the Lord Jesus 00:29:40.180 --> 00:29:42.859 continued 00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:44.000 to be committed 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:45.880 to their best interests 00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:47.000 even while 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:48.740 they were rejecting him. 00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:56.299 and if you look 00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:57.620 at 2 Samuel 18 00:29:57.620 --> 00:29:58.279 verse 32, 00:29:58.400 --> 00:29:58.900 there's a really 00:29:58.900 --> 00:29:59.920 poignant verse there 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:01.120 right at the very end 00:30:01.120 --> 00:30:01.960 of this whole story 00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:03.400 when David is grieving 00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:04.880 for his son Absalom. 00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:07.839 You could just feel 00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:08.519 the pathos. 00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:09.200 David said, 00:30:09.859 --> 00:30:10.220 Absalom, 00:30:10.380 --> 00:30:10.740 Absalom, 00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:11.160 my son, 00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:12.539 I wish that I could 00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:13.120 have died 00:30:13.120 --> 00:30:14.579 in your place. 00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:19.079 My friends, 00:30:19.159 --> 00:30:20.059 that's the gospel. 00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:22.599 David was breathing 00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:23.079 the gospel 00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:24.159 without even knowing it. 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:26.240 Would that I 00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:26.939 could have died 00:30:26.939 --> 00:30:27.960 in your place. 00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:29.299 You're the rebel, 00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:30.539 you're the fool, 00:30:30.659 --> 00:30:30.980 Absalom, 00:30:31.879 --> 00:30:32.579 but I, 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:33.299 as God's king, 00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:34.399 would gladly have died 00:30:34.399 --> 00:30:35.139 for you if I could. 00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:37.879 And of course he couldn't 00:30:37.879 --> 00:30:38.699 because David's hands 00:30:38.699 --> 00:30:39.460 had blood on him. 00:30:40.419 --> 00:30:41.559 But the Lord Jesus did. 00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:46.119 what David could only 00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:46.879 long for 00:30:46.879 --> 00:30:48.220 and experience in part, 00:30:49.879 --> 00:30:52.519 Jesus did. 00:30:56.639 --> 00:30:57.379 And again, 00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:58.779 verse 7 and verse 8, 00:30:59.919 --> 00:31:00.799 David's longing 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:02.139 was literally 00:31:02.139 --> 00:31:03.059 played out 00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:04.339 on 00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:05.440 Jesus. 00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:07.839 He was the one 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:08.519 who took the 00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.200 knockout blow, 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:10.220 the humiliation 00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:11.279 of being struck 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:13.139 and that picture 00:31:13.139 --> 00:31:13.740 in verse 7 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.539 is the ultimate 00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:15.200 humiliation 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:15.839 that they've been, 00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:16.579 you know, 00:31:16.639 --> 00:31:17.220 taking the head 00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:17.899 off type blow. 00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:20.119 Well, 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:22.119 God did it 00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:22.619 to his son, 00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:23.000 Jesus. 00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:24.480 Why? 00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:25.680 Because that's 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:26.440 what was required 00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:28.319 to deal with enemies, 00:31:28.819 --> 00:31:29.160 rebels, 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:30.200 in the name 00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:30.759 of justice. 00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:34.839 Jesus took 00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:35.920 God's knockout blow, 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.940 his humiliation 00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:38.559 and death 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:40.799 as the consequences 00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:41.579 and the punishment 00:31:41.579 --> 00:31:42.220 of rebellion 00:31:42.220 --> 00:31:44.019 as he took it 00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:44.619 upon himself. 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:46.839 And the result 00:31:46.839 --> 00:31:47.859 for us who are believers 00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:48.460 here this morning 00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:49.419 is absolutely incredible. 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:52.220 By sheer grace 00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:53.419 and mercy, 00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:56.039 God, 00:31:56.139 --> 00:31:57.500 in a very real sense, 00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:59.599 has become 00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:00.460 our bodyguard, 00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:01.879 verse 2, 00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:03.019 has become 00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:03.720 our glory, 00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:07.500 has become 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:08.500 the lifter 00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.120 of our head. 00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:10.400 As Dave 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:11.480 prayed at the start, 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:12.620 the removal 00:32:12.620 --> 00:32:13.180 of shame 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:13.720 and guilt, 00:32:15.180 --> 00:32:15.500 restoration 00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:16.860 of reputation 00:32:16.860 --> 00:32:17.579 and meaning 00:32:17.579 --> 00:32:18.160 and identity 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:18.740 and purpose, 00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:19.420 security. 00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:27.920 What David 00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:28.300 could only 00:32:28.300 --> 00:32:29.000 long for, 00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:30.019 we now 00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:30.900 enjoy 00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:31.240 and fill 00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:31.640 the life 00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:32.240 of blessing. 00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:33.160 We create 00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:33.779 validation, 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.480 security, 00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:35.180 reputation, 00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:36.860 all of that 00:32:36.860 --> 00:32:37.240 which is 00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:38.220 unchanging 00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:39.259 and inexhaustible. 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.360 The full bucket 00:32:40.360 --> 00:32:41.180 I spoke of 00:32:41.180 --> 00:32:42.039 in the introduction. 00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:48.279 That's for us 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:48.779 as believers. 00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:50.359 But there's 00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:50.879 one more thing 00:32:50.879 --> 00:32:51.420 I want to say 00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:52.440 just before I sit down. 00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:54.819 I've no doubt 00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:55.379 there's some here 00:32:55.379 --> 00:32:55.940 who aren't yet 00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:56.319 believers. 00:32:57.279 --> 00:32:57.879 You may be in, 00:32:58.379 --> 00:32:59.740 your parents may 00:32:59.740 --> 00:33:00.180 be believers 00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:00.899 and you may have 00:33:00.899 --> 00:33:01.399 grown up in a 00:33:01.399 --> 00:33:01.980 Christian family 00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:02.480 all your life 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:03.079 but not yet 00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:03.579 be a believer 00:33:03.579 --> 00:33:03.980 yourself. 00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:05.960 Well, 00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:06.740 all of that 00:33:06.740 --> 00:33:07.480 that I just said 00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:08.279 is immediately 00:33:08.279 --> 00:33:09.680 available to you 00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:10.159 also. 00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:12.619 Like verse 4, 00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:13.079 you just need 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:13.740 to cry out 00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.220 to the Lord 00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:15.599 and he will 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:16.059 answer you. 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:18.819 You're craving 00:33:18.819 --> 00:33:19.399 for the life 00:33:19.399 --> 00:33:19.899 of blessing, 00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:21.059 security, 00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.379 identity and purpose, 00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:23.359 trying to fit 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:24.059 into this world 00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:24.619 that's broken 00:33:24.619 --> 00:33:25.639 and horrible. 00:33:28.819 --> 00:33:29.740 Come to Jesus. 00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:36.859 The Colby Cannon 00:33:36.859 --> 00:33:39.139 song reflects 00:33:39.139 --> 00:33:39.659 these words. 00:33:39.779 --> 00:33:39.920 It says, 00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:40.960 in this situation 00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:41.480 if you fear 00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:42.059 you can go to 00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:42.360 Jesus, 00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:46.220 if you're lost, 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:47.720 he will come 00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:48.360 to you. 00:33:51.660 --> 00:33:52.519 All you need 00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:52.880 to do is 00:33:52.880 --> 00:33:53.519 recognize that 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:54.380 salvation is 00:33:54.380 --> 00:33:55.420 God's prerogative 00:33:55.420 --> 00:33:57.579 and that salvation 00:33:57.579 --> 00:33:58.660 through Jesus, 00:33:59.140 --> 00:33:59.620 that he's having 00:33:59.620 --> 00:34:00.360 a new heart, 00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:01.400 new desires, 00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:01.940 new adages, 00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:02.620 having your sin 00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:03.120 and rebellion 00:34:03.120 --> 00:34:03.819 dealt with 00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:04.860 properly and 00:34:04.860 --> 00:34:05.319 finally, 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:07.620 is the pathway 00:34:07.620 --> 00:34:09.320 to blessing 00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:09.940 and life. 00:34:10.179 --> 00:34:10.760 That life 00:34:10.760 --> 00:34:11.420 you're craving 00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:13.100 but currently 00:34:13.100 --> 00:34:14.600 trying to 00:34:14.600 --> 00:34:16.220 find somewhere else. 00:34:19.580 --> 00:34:20.380 Come to him 00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:22.140 begging for that 00:34:22.140 --> 00:34:23.160 renewal. 00:34:24.260 --> 00:34:24.740 Come to him 00:34:24.740 --> 00:34:25.280 as a guilty 00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:25.820 rebel 00:34:25.820 --> 00:34:28.260 asking for 00:34:28.260 --> 00:34:29.240 inside-out 00:34:29.240 --> 00:34:29.660 renewal 00:34:29.659 --> 00:34:30.899 and you know 00:34:30.899 --> 00:34:31.099 what? 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.440 He'll be 00:34:32.440 --> 00:34:33.000 delighted 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:33.759 to give it 00:34:33.759 --> 00:34:34.039 to you. 00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:37.039 Pray with me. 00:34:45.619 --> 00:34:46.099 Father, 00:34:46.179 --> 00:34:47.119 we finish 00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:47.440 where the 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:47.739 psalm 00:34:47.739 --> 00:34:48.099 finished 00:34:48.099 --> 00:34:48.539 with a 00:34:48.539 --> 00:34:49.099 sealah 00:34:49.099 --> 00:34:51.519 and we 00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:52.199 pause and 00:34:52.199 --> 00:34:54.299 reflect on 00:34:54.299 --> 00:34:54.819 David's 00:34:54.819 --> 00:34:55.199 longing 00:34:55.199 --> 00:34:57.440 for an 00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:58.219 inner renewal, 00:34:58.920 --> 00:35:00.579 not just a 00:35:00.579 --> 00:35:01.039 change of 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:01.719 circumstances 00:35:01.719 --> 00:35:02.799 to renewed 00:35:02.799 --> 00:35:04.339 political unity 00:35:04.339 --> 00:35:05.319 in the nation 00:35:05.319 --> 00:35:08.319 without bloodshed 00:35:08.319 --> 00:35:09.159 if possible 00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:10.380 but Lord, 00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:10.940 something 00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:12.119 far, 00:35:12.259 --> 00:35:13.019 far greater, 00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:14.619 renewal from 00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:15.519 the inside-out 00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:17.319 and a 00:35:17.319 --> 00:35:18.059 freedom from 00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:18.880 a rebellion 00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:20.679 and a 00:35:20.679 --> 00:35:21.519 true experience 00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:21.779 of the 00:35:21.779 --> 00:35:22.239 fullness of 00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:22.619 life 00:35:22.619 --> 00:35:24.900 and how 00:35:24.900 --> 00:35:25.719 that longing 00:35:25.719 --> 00:35:27.719 became reality 00:35:27.719 --> 00:35:28.239 in the Lord 00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:28.579 Jesus. 00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:29.339 Lord, 00:35:29.359 --> 00:35:30.019 at that point 00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:31.679 we say 00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:32.539 sealah, 00:35:33.279 --> 00:35:34.159 we pause 00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:34.839 and reflect 00:35:34.839 --> 00:35:36.119 on your 00:35:36.119 --> 00:35:36.559 goodness. 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:36.679 Amen. 00:35:36.679 --> 00:35:36.759 Amen. 00:35:36.759 --> 00:35:36.779 Amen. 00:35:36.779 --> 00:35:36.880 Amen. 00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:36.900 Amen. 00:35:36.900 --> 00:35:36.960 Amen. 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:37.000 Amen. 00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:37.039 Amen. 00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:37.079 Amen. 00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:37.179 Amen. 00:35:37.179 --> 00:35:37.679 Amen. 00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:38.679 Amen. 00:35:38.679 --> 00:35:38.719 Amen. 00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:38.759 Amen. 00:35:38.759 --> 00:35:38.799 Amen. 00:35:38.799 --> 00:35:40.759 Amen. 00:35:40.759 --> 00:35:40.799 Amen. 00:35:40.799 --> 00:35:41.299 Amen. 00:35:41.299 --> 00:35:41.380 Amen. 00:35:41.380 --> 00:35:41.400 Amen. 00:35:41.400 --> 00:35:41.420 Amen. 00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:41.440 Amen. 00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:41.460 Amen. 00:35:44.619 --> 00:35:48.779 Amen. 00:35:48.779 --> 00:35:49.219 Amen. 00:35:49.219 --> 00:35:49.699 We thank you 00:35:49.699 --> 00:35:50.460 for the example 00:35:50.460 --> 00:35:52.099 of King David 00:35:52.099 --> 00:35:53.559 as a man 00:35:53.559 --> 00:35:54.279 of faith 00:35:54.279 --> 00:35:54.920 and trust 00:35:54.920 --> 00:35:56.619 in this word 00:35:56.619 --> 00:35:57.480 but we thank 00:35:57.480 --> 00:35:58.380 you even 00:35:58.380 --> 00:35:59.199 more Lord 00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:00.839 that he was a man 00:36:00.839 --> 00:36:01.359 who was not 00:36:01.359 --> 00:36:02.380 satisfied with his 00:36:02.380 --> 00:36:02.960 own efforts 00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:03.619 no matter how 00:36:03.619 --> 00:36:04.339 good they were 00:36:04.339 --> 00:36:06.000 but pointed us 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:07.299 to that which we 00:36:07.299 --> 00:36:07.940 know now to be 00:36:07.940 --> 00:36:08.679 the Lord Jesus. 00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:11.420 I pray that we 00:36:11.420 --> 00:36:12.359 might not be 00:36:12.359 --> 00:36:13.079 like Absalom 00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:13.980 or the people 00:36:13.980 --> 00:36:14.400 of Israel 00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:18.039 at that time, despising your goodness and your grace to us. 00:36:19.180 --> 00:36:22.320 Help us to live humbly and confidently 00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:25.099 under King Jesus 00:36:25.099 --> 00:36:28.920 and know blessing and salvation and security. 00:36:29.780 --> 00:36:31.280 In his name I pray. Amen. 00:36:32.500 --> 00:36:33.840 Thank you very much for listening.