WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.760 If you're visiting today, my name is Niels, part of the staff team. 00:00:04.360 --> 00:00:06.140 It's really great to be with you. 00:00:06.280 --> 00:00:07.560 I'll be preaching in a moment. 00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:13.679 But yeah, before the reading, before Annalise and Catherine will come and read, 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:16.760 why don't we pray that God would speak to us. 00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:19.260 So let's pray together. 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:23.420 In verse 31 of today's passage, we read, 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:26.640 The word of the Lord proves true. 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:30.480 He is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. 00:00:31.219 --> 00:00:32.899 Father, thank you that your word is true. 00:00:33.240 --> 00:00:34.100 It's reliable. 00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:36.140 We can stake our whole lives on it. 00:00:36.980 --> 00:00:39.460 It makes it a shield, something we can take refuge in. 00:00:39.560 --> 00:00:40.439 Pray that we would do that. 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:42.299 Speak to each of our hearts. 00:00:43.579 --> 00:00:45.460 Make each of us hear what we need to hear. 00:00:45.799 --> 00:00:47.980 That we would come to you and take refuge in you. 00:00:48.219 --> 00:00:49.260 In Jesus' name. 00:00:49.880 --> 00:00:50.200 Amen. 00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:07.340 Today we're going to be reading from 2 Samuel, chapter 22 to 23. 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:12.359 Feel free to follow along in your bulletin or on the screen or in your Bible. 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:22.500 And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 00:01:22.939 --> 00:01:23.539 He said, 00:01:23.540 --> 00:01:37.020 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior. 00:01:37.440 --> 00:01:38.860 You saved me from violence. 00:01:39.400 --> 00:01:44.000 I call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:47.260 For the waves of death encompassed me. 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:49.859 The torrents of destruction assailed me. 00:01:50.239 --> 00:01:52.239 The cords of Sheol entangled me. 00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:55.099 The snares of death confronted me. 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:57.840 In my distress, I called upon the Lord. 00:01:58.340 --> 00:01:59.680 To my God I called. 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:04.519 From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears. 00:02:05.219 --> 00:02:07.079 Then the earth reeled and rocked. 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:10.879 The foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked because he was angry. 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:15.259 Smoke went up from his nostrils and devouring fire from his mouth. 00:02:15.780 --> 00:02:17.979 Glowing coals flamed forth from him. 00:02:18.539 --> 00:02:20.340 He bowed the heavens and came down. 00:02:20.900 --> 00:02:22.740 Thick darkness was under his feet. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:24.799 He rode on a cherub and flew. 00:02:25.259 --> 00:02:26.879 He was seen on the wings of the wind. 00:02:27.340 --> 00:02:29.620 He made darkness around him his canopy. 00:02:30.159 --> 00:02:32.120 Thick clouds, a gathering of water. 00:02:32.740 --> 00:02:36.599 Out of the brightness before him, coals of fire flamed forth. 00:02:37.139 --> 00:02:39.120 The Lord thundered from heaven. 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:42.080 And the Most High uttered his voice. 00:02:42.620 --> 00:02:44.900 And he sent out arrows and scattered them. 00:02:45.560 --> 00:02:47.819 Lightning and routed them. 00:02:48.420 --> 00:02:50.580 Then the channels of the sea were seen. 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:52.939 The foundations of the world were laid bare. 00:02:53.379 --> 00:02:55.039 At the rebuke of the Lord. 00:02:55.379 --> 00:02:57.800 At the blast of the breath of his nostrils. 00:02:58.520 --> 00:02:59.620 He sent from on high. 00:02:59.780 --> 00:03:00.460 He took me. 00:03:00.860 --> 00:03:02.680 He drew me out of many waters. 00:03:03.180 --> 00:03:05.140 He rescued me from my strong enemy. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:06.840 From those who hated me. 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:08.800 For they were too mighty for me. 00:03:09.259 --> 00:03:11.560 They confronted me in the day of my calamity. 00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:13.340 But the Lord was my support. 00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:15.819 He brought me out into a broad place. 00:03:16.199 --> 00:03:17.039 He rescued me. 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:18.640 Because he delighted in me. 00:03:19.020 --> 00:03:21.740 The Lord dealt with me accordingly to my righteousness. 00:03:22.520 --> 00:03:25.360 According to the cleanness of my hands, he rewarded me. 00:03:25.780 --> 00:03:27.560 For I have kept the ways of the Lord. 00:03:27.920 --> 00:03:30.379 And have not wickedly departed from my God. 00:03:30.379 --> 00:03:32.960 For all his rules were before me. 00:03:33.259 --> 00:03:36.519 And from his statues, I did not turn aside. 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:39.099 I was blameless before him. 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:41.079 And I kept myself from guilt. 00:03:41.799 --> 00:03:43.060 And the Lord was rewarded. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:46.419 And the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness. 00:03:46.919 --> 00:03:48.859 According to my cleanness in his sight. 00:03:48.860 --> 00:03:51.960 With the merciful, you show yourself merciful. 00:03:52.320 --> 00:03:55.120 With the blameless man, you show yourself blameless. 00:03:55.420 --> 00:03:57.580 With the purified, you deal purely. 00:03:58.060 --> 00:04:00.960 And with the crooked, you make yourself seem torturous. 00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:02.840 You save a humble people. 00:04:03.140 --> 00:04:05.620 But your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down. 00:04:07.380 --> 00:04:09.140 For you are my lamp, O Lord. 00:04:09.500 --> 00:04:11.380 And my God lightens my darkness. 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:14.460 For by you, I can run against a troop. 00:04:14.720 --> 00:04:17.080 And by my God, I can leap over a wall. 00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:20.039 This God, his way is perfect. 00:04:20.519 --> 00:04:22.079 The word of the Lord proves true. 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:25.300 He is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. 00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:28.719 You delivered me from strife with my people. 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:31.560 You kept me as the head of the nations. 00:04:32.060 --> 00:04:34.279 People whom I had not known served me. 00:04:34.839 --> 00:04:36.860 Foreigners came cringing to me. 00:04:37.180 --> 00:04:39.599 As soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me. 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:43.819 Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses. 00:04:44.199 --> 00:04:46.219 The Lord lives and blessed be my rock. 00:04:46.220 --> 00:04:49.280 And exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation. 00:04:49.720 --> 00:04:53.040 The God who gave me vengeance and brought down people under me. 00:04:53.220 --> 00:04:54.960 Who brought me out from my enemies. 00:04:55.500 --> 00:04:58.200 You exalted me above those who rose against me. 00:04:58.540 --> 00:05:00.480 You delivered me from men of violence. 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:04.500 For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations. 00:05:04.819 --> 00:05:06.460 And sing praises to your name. 00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:09.000 Great salvation he brings to his king. 00:05:09.280 --> 00:05:11.420 And shows steadfast love to his anointed. 00:05:11.840 --> 00:05:13.840 To David and his offspring forever. 00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:21.859 And in 2 Samuel 23, verses 1-7. 00:05:21.860 --> 00:05:25.300 Now, these are the last words of David. 00:05:25.300 --> 00:05:28.180 The oracle of David, the son of Jesse. 00:05:28.439 --> 00:05:30.960 The oracle of the man who was raised on high. 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:33.460 The anointed of the God of Jacob. 00:05:33.720 --> 00:05:35.660 The sweetest palmist of Israel. 00:05:35.660 --> 00:05:38.340 The spirit of the Lord speaks by me. 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:39.939 His word is on my tongue. 00:05:40.439 --> 00:05:41.880 The God of Israel has spoken. 00:05:42.340 --> 00:05:44.060 The rock of Israel has said to me. 00:05:44.620 --> 00:05:48.940 When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, 00:05:49.280 --> 00:05:51.180 he dawns on them like the morning light. 00:05:51.520 --> 00:05:54.300 Like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning. 00:05:54.700 --> 00:05:57.440 Like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. 00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:00.579 For does not my house stand so with God? 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:03.439 For he has made me an everlasting covenant. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:05.860 Ordered in all things and secure. 00:06:06.579 --> 00:06:11.740 For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire? 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:15.480 But worthless men are like thorns that are thrown away. 00:06:15.699 --> 00:06:18.100 For they cannot be taken with the hand. 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:22.879 But the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear. 00:06:23.240 --> 00:06:25.259 And they are utterly consumed with fire. 00:06:25.420 --> 00:06:26.399 This is the word of God. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:28.439 The word of God. 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:32.920 Great. 00:06:33.259 --> 00:06:34.680 Thanks so much Annalise and Kristen. 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:35.680 It's a long reading. 00:06:35.980 --> 00:06:36.839 Beautifully read. 00:06:37.959 --> 00:06:39.639 But yeah, it's very different. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:40.379 Poetry. 00:06:41.100 --> 00:06:44.379 But let's start today's sermon with dreaming. 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:46.120 Dreaming. 00:06:46.180 --> 00:06:49.180 And I don't mean the kind of unconscious thing you do when you sleep 00:06:49.180 --> 00:06:51.100 and you see all kinds of weird things in your head. 00:06:52.279 --> 00:06:52.759 Daydreaming. 00:06:53.860 --> 00:06:55.959 I don't know what is your dream. 00:06:55.959 --> 00:06:59.459 The kind of thing that you wish for. 00:06:59.539 --> 00:07:00.799 The kind of thing you hope is true. 00:07:01.599 --> 00:07:04.039 Usually something different from what life is now, right? 00:07:04.099 --> 00:07:07.719 Maybe you're single and you dream about being married. 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:13.319 Or you're getting old and you dream of when I was young and those kind of things. 00:07:13.319 --> 00:07:15.459 Usually things are different. 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:17.360 Maybe a better job. 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:21.719 Now, how realistic is that dream? 00:07:22.719 --> 00:07:24.920 Do you think it will be realized? 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:25.699 And how? 00:07:26.540 --> 00:07:27.600 Because that's the thing, right? 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:29.120 We all know kind of dreams. 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:31.720 Well, dreams are not true. 00:07:32.220 --> 00:07:32.360 Right? 00:07:32.379 --> 00:07:33.300 That's what we usually say. 00:07:34.280 --> 00:07:36.520 And so it's just something that we think about maybe. 00:07:36.640 --> 00:07:38.660 But it doesn't really affect us, right? 00:07:38.700 --> 00:07:40.360 We're kind of resigned to life now. 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:43.520 And things don't really affect us. 00:07:44.840 --> 00:07:46.520 And yet there's another kind of dream, right? 00:07:46.580 --> 00:07:48.560 That is very different. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:51.280 So Martin Luther King, he said, I have a dream. 00:07:51.860 --> 00:07:55.040 Now, he didn't mean that this is something that I kind of wish was true. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:58.560 That was something he really worked really hard for to realize, right? 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:01.860 Maybe you know the American dream, the expression. 00:08:02.660 --> 00:08:03.899 That's not a kind of wish. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:07.220 That is something, okay, if you work hard enough, you can achieve anything. 00:08:07.840 --> 00:08:09.459 That's the idea of the American dream. 00:08:10.340 --> 00:08:12.160 So two kinds of dreaming. 00:08:12.540 --> 00:08:15.600 And that is, yeah, of course, a dream that dominates your life. 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:20.879 Now, the big question is, what is Christianity like? 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:24.040 Because the Bible talks about the kingdom of God. 00:08:24.140 --> 00:08:27.379 One day, everything will be perfect. 00:08:27.660 --> 00:08:32.840 And there will be a beautiful kingdom of love and joy and peace and rest and perfection. 00:08:33.300 --> 00:08:35.279 And it's where all our dreams come true. 00:08:36.920 --> 00:08:37.879 But what is that? 00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:38.840 Is that a wish? 00:08:39.620 --> 00:08:40.420 Is that a dream? 00:08:40.519 --> 00:08:43.300 Is that something that would be nice if it was like that? 00:08:43.299 --> 00:08:46.159 But it's just kind of something in the background? 00:08:46.740 --> 00:08:52.259 Or is that something that we really have to work hard for to achieve that is up to us? 00:08:52.859 --> 00:08:54.699 Well, that is where we're going today. 00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:57.659 Because today is the last sermon in this series. 00:08:57.939 --> 00:09:02.459 If you're new with us, we've been going through most of the book of 2 Samuel. 00:09:02.759 --> 00:09:03.599 It's a long book. 00:09:04.059 --> 00:09:05.639 Of course, today is kind of the end. 00:09:05.779 --> 00:09:09.019 It's, you know, in a way, it's the end of the whole thing of 1 and 2 Samuel. 00:09:09.019 --> 00:09:11.860 And so you need an introduction and a conclusion. 00:09:12.500 --> 00:09:13.740 And today is kind of the conclusion. 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:19.659 We started back a few years ago with this prayer by Hannah. 00:09:20.299 --> 00:09:23.000 And then about a king, about a kingdom. 00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:29.840 And then throughout the book, God set up a beautiful kingdom under David, the chosen king. 00:09:29.980 --> 00:09:30.960 Man after God's heart. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:36.580 Although, as we've seen over the past few weeks, well, David ultimately wasn't that great king, right? 00:09:36.620 --> 00:09:39.420 And everything fell apart due to his sin. 00:09:39.780 --> 00:09:43.460 And even when the kingdom was restored, well, it lost his glory. 00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:46.620 But we've seen a glimpse of how beautiful things can be. 00:09:47.460 --> 00:09:51.220 And then today, well, it's the conclusion of the book. 00:09:51.900 --> 00:09:55.300 Now, you may wonder why aren't we doing the last chapter if it's the conclusion. 00:09:55.800 --> 00:09:57.780 That's because these last chapters are a bit weird. 00:09:57.779 --> 00:10:01.259 If you see this, this is kind of these four chapters. 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:04.579 You can notice the change in genre. 00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:08.399 We have a story, a narrative, and then we have some military records. 00:10:08.579 --> 00:10:09.399 And then we get a poem. 00:10:09.579 --> 00:10:10.539 And then we get another poem. 00:10:10.699 --> 00:10:13.500 And then we get military records and a story. 00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:18.480 And both stories are about the same thing, about the sin of a king and the need for atonement. 00:10:19.319 --> 00:10:21.699 So, yeah, that's often in the Bible. 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:24.179 It's called a sandwich or a chiasm. 00:10:24.179 --> 00:10:29.879 But basically, that's why we're doing these two poems that are really at the center of it. 00:10:30.939 --> 00:10:33.579 Because the other two parts are very negative, right? 00:10:33.620 --> 00:10:34.959 It's about a king who sins. 00:10:35.059 --> 00:10:36.479 And we've seen quite a lot of that already. 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:42.699 We've seen about a king who is weak and getting old, who needs mighty men for his kingdom. 00:10:43.699 --> 00:10:45.959 But here at the center, we have these poems. 00:10:46.179 --> 00:10:47.719 And poems are very different, right? 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:51.460 I mean, the thing about narrative is that it's real. 00:10:51.700 --> 00:10:52.940 It's stories that really happened. 00:10:53.540 --> 00:10:55.759 Military records are things that really happened. 00:10:56.620 --> 00:11:01.259 But poetry is kind of real, but it's not real, right? 00:11:02.060 --> 00:11:03.300 Poetry is kind of beautiful. 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:05.100 It's a bit idealized. 00:11:05.180 --> 00:11:07.040 It's a bit rose-tinted, right? 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:08.820 The Valentine's Day card. 00:11:09.139 --> 00:11:10.920 You're the most beautiful woman in the world. 00:11:11.040 --> 00:11:12.200 I've always loved you. 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:14.240 I will love you for the rest of my life. 00:11:14.420 --> 00:11:15.940 It's a bit idealized, right? 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:16.800 That kind of idea. 00:11:17.779 --> 00:11:18.639 So that's what we see. 00:11:18.719 --> 00:11:21.379 We have an ideal rose-tinted picture. 00:11:21.539 --> 00:11:24.259 And that is what we need, actually. 00:11:24.659 --> 00:11:32.139 Because in chapter 22, where we'll go first, it's about we get a picture of the ideal king. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:34.879 The ideal perfect king. 00:11:36.179 --> 00:11:40.719 Now, when you read it, maybe you haven't read Samuel much, but maybe it sounded familiar. 00:11:40.719 --> 00:11:42.199 Hey, I know this, right? 00:11:42.200 --> 00:11:46.660 Actually, the same song is also in Psalms, Psalm 18. 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:48.580 So maybe that's how you know it, right? 00:11:48.940 --> 00:11:50.360 The kind of memory verse. 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:53.660 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. 00:11:53.659 --> 00:11:57.199 When did David write this song? 00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:58.579 22 verse 1. 00:11:58.579 --> 00:12:08.659 And David spoke to the Lord the word of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 00:12:08.659 --> 00:12:12.879 It's praising God for rescuing him. 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:17.439 Saul was kind of his great enemy in 1 Samuel. 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:19.779 So, you know, in the first half of the book. 00:12:21.059 --> 00:12:23.299 The previous king who persecuted him. 00:12:23.299 --> 00:12:26.839 So, I don't think he wrote this kind of at the end of his life. 00:12:26.899 --> 00:12:30.299 He probably wrote it, you know, kind of early in 2 Samuel. 00:12:30.479 --> 00:12:32.199 Kind of after he was delivered from Saul. 00:12:33.059 --> 00:12:34.419 So, before Bathsheba. 00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:36.259 At kind of the high point of his reign. 00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:38.319 When we thought David was still the good guy. 00:12:39.479 --> 00:12:41.059 Now, what do we see here? 00:12:41.179 --> 00:12:43.359 What do we see in this psalm? 00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:50.919 First, I think the thing we all are struck by is his great relationship with God. 00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:51.360 Right? 00:12:51.779 --> 00:12:54.979 David has such a beautiful relationship with God. 00:12:55.539 --> 00:12:57.199 I mean, just the way it opens. 00:12:57.339 --> 00:12:57.479 Right? 00:12:58.019 --> 00:13:01.759 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. 00:13:02.219 --> 00:13:03.079 My God. 00:13:03.219 --> 00:13:03.839 My rock. 00:13:03.939 --> 00:13:05.000 In whom I take refuge. 00:13:05.439 --> 00:13:08.179 My shield and the horn of my salvation. 00:13:08.839 --> 00:13:10.919 My stronghold and my refuge. 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:11.919 My savior. 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:13.799 You save me from violence. 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:15.699 And you hear that repeated word. 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:15.879 Right? 00:13:15.959 --> 00:13:17.099 My, my, my. 00:13:17.719 --> 00:13:19.559 God is not just a rock out there. 00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:21.699 He's not just a savior out there. 00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:24.099 He's, yeah, it's really my. 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:24.439 Right? 00:13:24.539 --> 00:13:25.779 It's so personal. 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:28.519 God is everything to him. 00:13:30.059 --> 00:13:30.739 That's so beautiful. 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:33.259 I mean, you may wonder why am I talking about the king? 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:34.879 Isn't this psalm about God? 00:13:35.439 --> 00:13:36.759 Well, it's kind of both. 00:13:36.819 --> 00:13:37.000 Right? 00:13:37.599 --> 00:13:40.159 It is the king praising God. 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:44.579 But that means you learn a lot about the king from this psalm. 00:13:44.719 --> 00:13:44.860 Right? 00:13:45.139 --> 00:13:46.399 It's about the relationship. 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.659 As a silly example. 00:13:48.779 --> 00:13:49.360 Well, it's not silly. 00:13:49.459 --> 00:13:50.279 Beautiful example. 00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:57.059 When I turned 40, my wife made this really nice book for me with all these kind of messages from friends and photos. 00:13:57.719 --> 00:14:00.319 Now, that tells you a lot about me, of course. 00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:01.939 But it also tells you a lot about her. 00:14:02.019 --> 00:14:02.219 Right? 00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:04.779 Her love and devotion that she made this. 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:06.860 And that's the idea here. 00:14:07.059 --> 00:14:09.620 And I think in context, it's the king that's important. 00:14:10.579 --> 00:14:12.559 I mean, David could write a psalm like that. 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:12.740 Right? 00:14:12.839 --> 00:14:14.379 Saul would never write this psalm. 00:14:14.459 --> 00:14:15.459 He would just praise himself. 00:14:16.199 --> 00:14:17.139 Absalom was evil. 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:18.679 He wouldn't write a psalm like this. 00:14:19.579 --> 00:14:19.860 No. 00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:25.959 This relationship is, yeah, it's a king with wonderful relationship with God. 00:14:26.419 --> 00:14:28.779 They're so together like father and son. 00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:31.399 Again, because we need that. 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:31.639 Right? 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:36.840 How can we, little sinners, have come to God? 00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:41.159 Well, the only way we can is through the king. 00:14:42.059 --> 00:14:42.480 Right? 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:44.779 Because God is not naturally on our side. 00:14:44.860 --> 00:14:46.340 We need someone to get us to him. 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:53.500 So, again, a silly, you know, a few years ago, there was this ordinary British girl called Kate. 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:58.259 And then she became really close to Queen Elizabeth. 00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:00.279 How could she? 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:01.519 She was just an ordinary girl. 00:15:02.199 --> 00:15:03.080 Well, we all know, right? 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:07.379 It was through Prince William, who, of course, had a great relationship with the queen. 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:10.580 And, well, it was his girlfriend and now his wife. 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:11.419 Right? 00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:12.620 That's how it works. 00:15:13.059 --> 00:15:17.559 She couldn't come to the queen by herself, but she can through the royal son. 00:15:18.779 --> 00:15:20.340 So, that's the idea for us. 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:21.139 Right? 00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:25.600 We need a king who is close to God so that he can get us to God. 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:28.879 But how do we see that relationship in the psalm? 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:33.340 Second, because the king is rescued from death. 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:35.800 It starts with this. 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:39.240 David was in great trouble. 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:40.819 He was almost dead. 00:15:40.959 --> 00:15:42.259 And God rescued him. 00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:42.459 Right? 00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:43.920 So, verse 5. 00:15:43.920 --> 00:15:46.600 For the waves of death encompassed me. 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:49.180 The torrents of destruction assailed me. 00:15:49.900 --> 00:15:51.139 And so, he prayed. 00:15:51.280 --> 00:15:53.660 In my distress, verse 7, I called upon the Lord. 00:15:54.060 --> 00:15:55.080 To my God I called. 00:15:55.560 --> 00:15:57.520 And he was as good as dead, but he prayed. 00:15:57.920 --> 00:16:03.800 And then we get this amazing vision of God kind of getting angry and rising from his throne. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:09.240 And getting on his chariot with thunder and lightning and earthquakes and coming to rescue. 00:16:10.160 --> 00:16:12.780 I mean, that shows how much he cares about Dave. 00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:15.200 I mean, if my kids are in trouble, I would do the same. 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:15.400 Right? 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:17.460 I would get up and go and rescue them. 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:19.480 And that is, of course, it's poetry. 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:22.200 God doesn't have nostrils and feet and stuff. 00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:26.900 But you get the feeling, right, that God really, God and the king, they're so close. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:29.140 And so, God comes and rescues him. 00:16:30.680 --> 00:16:31.820 It's like the pattern. 00:16:31.920 --> 00:16:33.060 So often we've seen that. 00:16:33.660 --> 00:16:36.340 David, he almost dies, but God rescues him. 00:16:36.400 --> 00:16:38.720 It's like that's the pattern for God's king. 00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:40.300 That he'd be rescued from death. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:44.140 But why does God love him so much? 00:16:44.280 --> 00:16:45.080 Well, verse 20. 00:16:45.940 --> 00:16:47.940 He brought me out into a broad place. 00:16:48.020 --> 00:16:50.860 He rescued me because he delighted in me. 00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:53.460 Why does God delight in him? 00:16:54.659 --> 00:16:55.460 Well, verse 21. 00:16:56.300 --> 00:16:59.180 The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness. 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:01.419 Again, verse 25. 00:17:01.539 --> 00:17:04.620 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness. 00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:05.339 Right? 00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:07.240 David says, well, because I'm righteous. 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:08.460 Right? 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.620 I'm right with God. 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:15.440 And the verses in between talk about, you know, I've kept the ways of the Lord. 00:17:15.620 --> 00:17:16.500 Verse 23. 00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:18.680 All his rules were before me. 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:21.180 From his statutes, I didn't turn aside. 00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:21.420 Right? 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:22.440 I've kept the law. 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:23.980 I've obeyed God. 00:17:24.140 --> 00:17:26.240 I've, yeah, I'm faithful to him. 00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:28.319 And that's why I'm righteous. 00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:29.880 Yeah? 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.759 Because, yeah. 00:17:31.400 --> 00:17:33.099 Now, of course, we struggle with that. 00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:33.339 Right? 00:17:33.420 --> 00:17:35.859 We struggle with people who say, I'm so good. 00:17:35.900 --> 00:17:36.779 I'm so righteous. 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:38.480 Because we think that's proud. 00:17:38.619 --> 00:17:39.420 Aren't we all sinners? 00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:46.180 And just to remember, I think he didn't write this when he was on the run from Absalom. 00:17:46.360 --> 00:17:46.460 Right? 00:17:46.660 --> 00:17:49.700 He wrote this before Bathsheba when he was a lot better. 00:17:51.100 --> 00:17:53.920 He doesn't claim perfect sinlessness. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:56.259 I think, again, this is poetry. 00:17:56.560 --> 00:17:57.640 This is how he feels. 00:17:58.259 --> 00:18:00.500 He feels like he and God has this great relationship. 00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:03.340 Again, think about that Valentine's card. 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:04.140 Yeah? 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:06.340 I will love you for the rest of my life. 00:18:07.080 --> 00:18:08.120 That is not true. 00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:09.439 Right? 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.379 Because we're sinners. 00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:12.419 Our hearts are idolatrous. 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:15.500 Of course, I won't love my wife every day of the rest of my life. 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.019 Of course not. 00:18:16.479 --> 00:18:17.839 It's just this general feeling. 00:18:17.959 --> 00:18:18.119 Right? 00:18:18.959 --> 00:18:20.279 The feeling is true. 00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:29.139 But if you've been here for the rest of 2 Samuel, you do think this is kind of what we need. 00:18:29.219 --> 00:18:29.359 Right? 00:18:31.179 --> 00:18:35.159 Ultimately, we do need a king, as we've seen, who actually, who really does this. 00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:39.759 For whom this is not just poetically true, but literally, absolutely true. 00:18:40.340 --> 00:18:40.500 Right? 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:45.420 Ultimately, what if you have a king who really keeps the law perfectly? 00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:47.660 Who really is blameless? 00:18:48.540 --> 00:18:51.200 Who really never does anything wrong? 00:18:51.300 --> 00:18:53.440 So that he always has God on his side. 00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:55.259 So that there's never judgment. 00:18:55.259 --> 00:19:00.640 It makes you think, yeah, what if there's a king for whom this is really true? 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:05.220 Because after all, God is just, right? 00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.319 Verse 26. 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:09.240 With the merciful, you show yourself merciful. 00:19:09.660 --> 00:19:11.980 With the blameless man, you show yourself blameless. 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:13.619 With the purified, you deal purely. 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:16.619 And with the crooked, you make yourself seem tortuous. 00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:20.660 You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:21.839 God is a God of justice. 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:23.259 He cares about right and wrong. 00:19:23.259 --> 00:19:26.920 And so to be with God, well, you need to be righteous. 00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:29.759 And this king is righteous. 00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:34.259 And the result, well, a worldwide victory. 00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:38.359 Now, we had to leave out some of the reading because it didn't fit in the bulletin. 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.579 So we didn't read it. 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:44.640 But God helps him, gives him victory over his enemies, which, of course, is good. 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:46.359 It means peace and security. 00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:48.419 But not just internal. 00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:49.939 External. 00:19:50.139 --> 00:19:51.039 Verse 44. 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:54.119 You delivered me from strife with my people. 00:19:54.639 --> 00:19:56.500 You kept me as the head of the nations. 00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:59.639 People whom I had not known served me. 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:01.979 Foreigners came cringing to me. 00:20:02.439 --> 00:20:04.740 As soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me. 00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:08.720 It is like David, well, he's the victorious king. 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:12.599 And now all the nations around him come and serve him. 00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:15.960 They all, it's like he's now the king over the whole world, right? 00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:19.259 Because so that there's peace and no one will attack anymore. 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:20.380 And everything is right. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:22.120 It's beautiful. 00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:25.339 And, yeah, and that's where it ends. 00:20:25.699 --> 00:20:26.559 Verse 51. 00:20:27.179 --> 00:20:34.279 Great salvation he brings to his king and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to his Messiah. 00:20:36.219 --> 00:20:40.819 Well, you see this and you think, wow, if we only had this king, right? 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:49.079 This king who is so close to God and so righteous so that God rescues him and makes him the king over everything 00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:54.599 and makes him victorious and everything is safe and everything is peaceful, wouldn't it be wonderful? 00:20:55.659 --> 00:20:57.139 Otherwise, it will never work. 00:20:59.139 --> 00:21:02.439 Now, it's obvious, right, that who this is. 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:05.559 Obviously, this talks about Jesus, right? 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:08.199 Who is really like this? 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.599 Who is really God's son? 00:21:09.679 --> 00:21:11.299 Who really loves God like this? 00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:14.079 Who is this, you know, who? 00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:15.759 Yeah, we can see that, right? 00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:17.859 Because what does this psalm say? 00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:24.500 Well, the king goes, he goes into death, but he's rescued out of it and made the king of the whole world. 00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:25.759 That's exactly Jesus, right? 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:31.439 He died on the cross for our sins, but God raised him and now he's sitting on the throne. 00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:35.439 It's a beautiful prophecy, in a way, of Jesus. 00:21:35.699 --> 00:21:38.000 But it's so clear that he is going to do this. 00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:38.659 Right? 00:21:38.679 --> 00:21:42.579 If you see this is what you need to be with God, this is what you need for the kingdom. 00:21:42.699 --> 00:21:45.359 It's very, it's not an American dream, right? 00:21:45.379 --> 00:21:46.759 It's not something that we are going to do. 00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:48.940 We are never going to build this. 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:53.220 We are never going to be like this because we're just little people. 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.339 We're just sinners. 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.799 We can't do this. 00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:57.700 We can't change ourselves. 00:21:57.859 --> 00:21:59.099 We can't change our circumstances. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:01.099 It's very obvious. 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:02.339 We need Jesus. 00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:07.179 But this all sounds great. 00:22:07.179 --> 00:22:11.139 But at the same time, it remains just a poem, right? 00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:15.339 Isn't this just a wish, a dream? 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.419 Wouldn't it be nice? 00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:19.240 But how do we know this will happen? 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:21.400 Well, it is a poem. 00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:22.220 Yes and no. 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:24.660 But there are some hints, right? 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:28.740 I didn't read that last verse at the end. 00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:37.420 At the end of verse 51, he shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever. 00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:40.620 Now, why mention David's offspring? 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:43.599 Why mention David's descendants? 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:47.699 Well, that takes you back to earlier in the book, right? 00:22:48.959 --> 00:22:52.659 We saw that at the beginning of the year, 2 Samuel chapter 7. 00:22:53.179 --> 00:22:55.019 God made a promise to David. 00:22:55.959 --> 00:22:57.899 2 Samuel 7, I've put it here on the screen. 00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:05.079 That quote from 2 Samuel chapter 7, when God made a promise to David. 00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:35.059 Right? 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:40.419 God promised that one of David's descendants would be that king who would rule forever. 00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:42.279 And his kingdom would be forever. 00:23:42.419 --> 00:23:43.220 He promised that. 00:23:43.339 --> 00:23:46.419 And now, this psalm points us to that. 00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:48.439 That, hey, David's offspring. 00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:49.480 Yeah? 00:23:49.699 --> 00:23:50.980 God promised it. 00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:56.619 And that's even more than in that second poem, that shorter one that we read. 00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:01.519 Yeah, I've called it God's covenanted king. 00:24:02.139 --> 00:24:02.659 Covenanted. 00:24:02.660 --> 00:24:05.460 Now, it's much shorter. 00:24:05.600 --> 00:24:06.540 It's again poetry. 00:24:08.300 --> 00:24:10.279 But this is not a psalm, is it? 00:24:10.360 --> 00:24:11.420 Look at what it is. 00:24:12.120 --> 00:24:14.000 Verse 1, 23 verse 1. 00:24:14.580 --> 00:24:16.100 On the last page of your bulletin. 00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:19.759 Now, these are the last words of David. 00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:23.419 The oracle of David, the son of Jesse. 00:24:23.679 --> 00:24:26.419 The oracle of the man who was raised on high. 00:24:27.379 --> 00:24:27.539 Right? 00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:28.539 This is an oracle. 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:32.259 You know, the oracle, it's like a prophecy. 00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:33.920 A vision of the future. 00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:35.339 A kind of, right? 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.799 Some prediction of the future. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:40.180 This is, okay, it's the last words of David. 00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:41.299 It's important, right? 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:42.539 He's God's chosen king. 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:44.559 But more. 00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:46.339 These are God's words, right? 00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:47.779 That's what he emphasizes. 00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:48.440 Verse 2. 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:50.920 The spirit of the Lord speaks by me. 00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:52.600 His word is on my tongue. 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:54.600 The God of Israel has spoken. 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:56.740 The rock of Israel has said to me. 00:24:57.299 --> 00:24:57.480 Right? 00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:59.700 This is a message from God. 00:24:59.820 --> 00:25:02.559 An oracle from God that David is relaying. 00:25:03.900 --> 00:25:05.080 And what is that oracle? 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:05.900 What is that vision? 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:08.840 Well, second half of verse 3. 00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:11.939 When one rules justly over man. 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.859 Ruling in the fear of God. 00:25:14.859 --> 00:25:17.500 Now, I don't think that's really the best translation. 00:25:18.419 --> 00:25:19.579 Commentaries will tell you the same. 00:25:19.679 --> 00:25:21.000 The word when isn't there. 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:22.359 This is a vision. 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:25.059 Someone ruling justly over man. 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:27.039 Someone ruling in the fear of God. 00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:31.139 It's a vision that one day there will be a righteous ruler. 00:25:31.439 --> 00:25:33.759 Someone who, well, same idea, right? 00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:35.119 Someone who fears God. 00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:37.299 Who does everything God's way. 00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:42.339 And the result is he's ruling justly, righteously over mankind. 00:25:43.180 --> 00:25:43.299 Right? 00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:45.639 A king who is a righteous ruler. 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:48.539 And what is that like? 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:50.039 Verse 4. 00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:53.119 He dawns on them like the morning light. 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:56.659 Like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning. 00:25:57.159 --> 00:26:00.200 Like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. 00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:03.559 Three beautiful images. 00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:06.680 Dawning like the morning light. 00:26:06.680 --> 00:26:07.880 So it's dark. 00:26:08.340 --> 00:26:09.060 It's scary. 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:10.180 You don't see anything. 00:26:10.340 --> 00:26:11.840 But then here's the light. 00:26:12.080 --> 00:26:12.259 Right? 00:26:12.340 --> 00:26:14.640 Making everything safe again. 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:20.220 Or like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning. 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:23.279 So the clouds, they trap the heat in the desert. 00:26:23.420 --> 00:26:23.539 Right? 00:26:23.600 --> 00:26:25.539 So if there's no clouds, it's really cold. 00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:28.440 So it's really a bit like, well, for you guys out here. 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:30.380 So it's really cold. 00:26:30.380 --> 00:26:31.240 But then the sun. 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.440 And it's warm. 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.880 Warm instead of cold. 00:26:36.340 --> 00:26:37.520 Light instead of darkness. 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:42.880 Like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. 00:26:43.080 --> 00:26:44.080 Again, a desert. 00:26:44.360 --> 00:26:45.040 It's dry. 00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:46.140 It's dead. 00:26:46.380 --> 00:26:47.520 But then there's rain. 00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:48.960 And there's life. 00:26:49.040 --> 00:26:49.860 And there's grass. 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:51.140 And there's renewal. 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:51.620 Right? 00:26:52.419 --> 00:26:54.279 I don't know how to summarize it. 00:26:54.339 --> 00:26:55.379 A breath of fresh air. 00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:56.279 Right? 00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:58.479 It's just, it's going to be so wonderful. 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:04.439 When this righteous ruler is there, it's going to be, everything will be right. 00:27:05.459 --> 00:27:06.879 And of course, it's, yeah. 00:27:07.239 --> 00:27:08.319 Because it's so unusual. 00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:08.679 Right? 00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:10.899 Most kings and rulers are corrupt. 00:27:11.199 --> 00:27:12.239 Power corrupts. 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:13.479 Absolute power corrupts. 00:27:13.479 --> 00:27:13.899 Absolutely. 00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:18.339 And as they say, but here is a ruler over mankind who is different. 00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:22.899 So again, this is the same theme, the ideal king that we need. 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.919 But this is not a wish. 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:25.819 It's not a psalm. 00:27:25.899 --> 00:27:26.740 It's an oracle. 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:27.659 Right? 00:27:27.959 --> 00:27:29.879 It's, it's a prophecy. 00:27:30.139 --> 00:27:32.199 And because, you know, God doesn't dream. 00:27:32.959 --> 00:27:33.980 God doesn't wish. 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.579 Because he's almighty. 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:35.899 Right? 00:27:35.939 --> 00:27:37.599 If you are almighty, you don't wish. 00:27:37.679 --> 00:27:38.259 You just do. 00:27:38.859 --> 00:27:39.959 And that's the thing. 00:27:40.399 --> 00:27:42.799 And you see that more clearly in verse five. 00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:44.720 Because what does David say? 00:27:45.379 --> 00:27:48.259 For does not my house stand so with God? 00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:50.959 For he has made with me an everlasting covenant. 00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:53.279 Isn't this my house? 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:54.399 Isn't this my family? 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.480 It's true, right? 00:27:56.679 --> 00:28:00.939 Again, the promise that God made a few chapters earlier in chapter seven. 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.500 Isn't this my family? 00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:03.899 Hasn't God promised this to me? 00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:07.179 Hasn't God made a covenant with me that he would do this? 00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:10.039 The answer, yes, he has. 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:10.359 Right? 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:13.000 This is promised by covenant. 00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:19.160 God made an everlasting covenant with David's house that one of David's offspring will be this king. 00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:21.240 So it is going to happen. 00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:24.420 It's a, it's more than a promise, right? 00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:25.039 It's a covenant. 00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:26.960 I mean, promises are already, right? 00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:28.819 If God promises it, we should believe it. 00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:30.559 But it's, it's more than a promise. 00:28:30.679 --> 00:28:31.359 It's a covenant. 00:28:33.059 --> 00:28:37.119 And so, so when I make a promise, I'll buy some milk on the way home. 00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:39.119 That's different from a marriage, right? 00:28:39.139 --> 00:28:39.759 That's a covenant. 00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:42.859 Now you don't, uh, okay, I'll buy some milk. 00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:46.059 Let's get a hundred people together and witnesses and legal signing. 00:28:46.159 --> 00:28:47.039 I'm going to buy milk. 00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:51.479 No, of course, because, but you can see how big a covenant is. 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:53.399 If God makes a covenant, right? 00:28:53.439 --> 00:28:57.199 If I don't do this, you can cut me in half as we saw earlier this year. 00:28:57.939 --> 00:29:00.159 This is, this is really going to happen. 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:01.159 This is a covenant. 00:29:01.939 --> 00:29:03.639 And so it's, it's not a wish. 00:29:03.979 --> 00:29:06.179 This is a guaranteed promise. 00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:09.259 There will be this king one day. 00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:13.279 What a, what a wonderful ending to the book, right? 00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:16.519 Yeah, it's been quite a journey. 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:21.180 It's been quite a few sermons, a lot of sin, a lot of death. 00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:23.819 But here is the happy ending. 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:25.480 One day there will be this king. 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:27.259 It's absolutely guaranteed. 00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:31.759 God made a covenant, direct words from God saying this will happen. 00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:34.859 And it will be a breath of fresh air for all of us. 00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:37.940 Isn't that what we dream? 00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:40.400 Isn't that, isn't that what we want? 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:43.880 And, and, and for us, it's even more, right? 00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:45.180 Because this was Old Testament. 00:29:45.360 --> 00:29:46.180 We're in the New Testament. 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:48.920 I mean, this king, yeah, he's going to come back. 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:50.080 And that's what we're waiting for. 00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:51.500 But he's already come once, right? 00:29:52.120 --> 00:29:53.700 Next week, we're starting Advent. 00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:55.039 We're starting Christmas. 00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:56.660 And that king came. 00:29:57.620 --> 00:30:03.340 And yeah, and, and, and this passage, this idea gets referenced again and again and again. 00:30:03.340 --> 00:30:07.200 So here's a few verses that we're going to look at the coming few weeks. 00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.180 Yeah? 00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:11.820 So, uh, uh, the angel says to Mary about Jesus. 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:14.759 He will be great and will be called the son of the most high. 00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:18.480 And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father, David. 00:30:19.820 --> 00:30:20.759 Uh, Zechariah. 00:30:21.080 --> 00:30:25.700 Uh, he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant, David. 00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:32.120 Uh, the angel to the shepherds for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior 00:30:32.120 --> 00:30:33.019 who is Christ the Lord. 00:30:33.120 --> 00:30:33.259 Right? 00:30:33.819 --> 00:30:38.380 Constantly David, David, David, because that is the big promise of the whole Bible. 00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:39.460 The son of David. 00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:44.799 Uh, now that we've seen to Samuel, I hope Christmas will be just much more meaningful. 00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:45.080 Yeah. 00:30:45.140 --> 00:30:48.180 This is the king that we want, that we need. 00:30:48.180 --> 00:30:49.720 And he's here. 00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:50.060 Right? 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:53.220 So wonderful. 00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:55.900 Now, how should we respond to that? 00:30:56.080 --> 00:30:57.820 This is wonderful, but how should we respond? 00:30:59.160 --> 00:31:04.220 I guess one initial question, of course, is, well, is Jesus your king? 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:05.240 Right? 00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:07.559 Because who is a kingdom for? 00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:11.359 It's usually for the citizens of that kingdom, right? 00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:15.700 For the subjects, for those who belong to the king, uh, not for anyone else. 00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:21.859 Uh, back in chapter 23, uh, the, the oracle ends a bit on a downer. 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:28.460 Maybe you feel, uh, verse six, but worthless men are all like forms that are thrown away for 00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:30.019 they cannot be taken with the hands. 00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:32.120 Uh, end of verse seven. 00:31:32.120 --> 00:31:34.099 And they are utterly consumed with fire. 00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:37.539 Uh, not everyone will be part of the kingdom. 00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:42.839 Uh, the citizens, yes, but worthless men, rebels, people who don't want the king, of course, 00:31:42.859 --> 00:31:43.319 they will not. 00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:45.720 I mean, it's going to be a perfect kingdom. 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:50.579 If you want a perfect king, uh, perfect kingdom, you need to have no sin and no sinners. 00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:53.059 So yeah, there will be a judgment. 00:31:53.380 --> 00:31:55.960 So yeah, do you belong to the king? 00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:58.440 That's, I guess, uh, a first good question. 00:31:58.920 --> 00:31:59.079 Yeah. 00:31:59.160 --> 00:32:01.960 I, uh, you know, how do you make Jesus your king? 00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:04.019 Well, are you, are you trusting him? 00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:07.160 Uh, he died on the cross to forgive you. 00:32:07.240 --> 00:32:08.660 Have you accepted that forgiveness? 00:32:08.940 --> 00:32:14.359 And, and do you live now, you know, loving him, uh, following him, obeying him? 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:16.980 Now that, that sounds difficult. 00:32:17.079 --> 00:32:18.319 People don't like that word, right? 00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:20.660 Jesus is the king and right. 00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.740 Doing what he says. 00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:26.680 But I, I hope we've seen here, you know, Jesus rule is wonderful, right? 00:32:26.680 --> 00:32:32.039 It's like, uh, light instead of darkness, warmth instead of cold, right? 00:32:32.120 --> 00:32:36.000 That, that is following Jesus is the best thing there is actually. 00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:40.440 But yeah, but that's the fear, the, the big thing. 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:44.779 But I think for most readers, you know, they were already like that. 00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:47.240 But I want to focus more on this. 00:32:47.339 --> 00:32:47.500 Okay. 00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:48.559 Here is a covenant. 00:32:48.779 --> 00:32:51.819 Here is an absolute certain promise from God. 00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:53.460 How should we respond to that? 00:32:55.139 --> 00:32:57.639 Well, what do you do? 00:32:57.700 --> 00:33:00.139 I guess in biblical language, right? 00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:01.539 You stand on the promise. 00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:03.779 You stand on the covenant promise. 00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:10.619 This is something that you bank on, something that you, you rely on, something you do something about. 00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:13.099 And that's so different from a wish, right? 00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:14.859 A wish you don't do anything about. 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:18.940 But if this is a guaranteed promise, you will. 00:33:20.599 --> 00:33:22.720 There's an illustration, right? 00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:25.940 Think of a job application versus a job offer. 00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:32.299 As of nine years ago, we wanted to go to Hong Kong, be closer to EJ's family. 00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:33.799 Sounded an exciting opportunity. 00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:36.779 And so we, we applied for a job in Hong Kong. 00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:39.240 But of course, it was just a wish, right? 00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:40.460 A wish that we'd be in Hong Kong. 00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:45.059 After some delay, seven months later, we got a job offer. 00:33:45.159 --> 00:33:45.940 We got a contract. 00:33:46.619 --> 00:33:48.940 Well, that was completely different, right? 00:33:49.639 --> 00:33:53.759 It's very different whether you have a wish or a contract. 00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:56.639 And that turned our life around. 00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:59.279 So what will that look like? 00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:05.859 I think some applications that we've seen, first of all, of course, don't look elsewhere. 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:06.899 Right? 00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:11.440 If this is absolutely guaranteed, well, you wouldn't look anywhere else. 00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:12.800 Right? 00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:16.059 If something is not certain, yeah, you look elsewhere. 00:34:16.219 --> 00:34:20.579 I mean, when we applied for a job, but we just applied, of course you apply for other jobs too. 00:34:21.219 --> 00:34:25.639 Once you have a job contract that you really want, you don't apply for any other jobs, right? 00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:37.900 So if all our hopes are going to be fulfilled in Jesus, and that's absolutely certain, why would we seek our happiness in TV and relationships? 00:34:38.099 --> 00:34:40.659 Why do we seek security in jobs and money? 00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:41.960 We don't need to, right? 00:34:42.359 --> 00:34:43.659 I mean, those things aren't certain. 00:34:43.859 --> 00:34:47.239 But we know Jesus is certain and his kingdom is certain. 00:34:47.379 --> 00:34:49.420 And that is where all our dreams are going to be fulfilled. 00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:51.379 So why would you look elsewhere? 00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:52.199 Right? 00:34:52.199 --> 00:34:54.960 And it's not an American dream. 00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:57.419 We just trust Jesus and he's done all the work. 00:34:57.539 --> 00:34:59.839 We just need to make sure we belong to him. 00:34:59.939 --> 00:35:00.960 We are on his side. 00:35:01.759 --> 00:35:02.359 He will win. 00:35:02.419 --> 00:35:03.119 He's already won. 00:35:03.259 --> 00:35:06.219 He's raised from the dead, seated at God's right hand. 00:35:06.419 --> 00:35:06.539 Right? 00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:08.219 We don't need to look elsewhere. 00:35:10.119 --> 00:35:13.079 If this is a certain promise, don't lose heart. 00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:16.259 The kingdom will come. 00:35:16.799 --> 00:35:17.919 Our dreams will come true. 00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:23.139 And so even if life isn't perfect now, if life isn't great now, that's okay. 00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:23.420 Right? 00:35:23.460 --> 00:35:24.420 It's only temporary. 00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:27.240 All our dreams will be fulfilled one day. 00:35:27.320 --> 00:35:28.059 It's guaranteed. 00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:32.380 You know, sometimes things don't matter. 00:35:32.980 --> 00:35:39.320 I remember when we were moving to Hong Kong, our toilet broke a week before we flew. 00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:43.559 And that was annoying, but, you know, hey, a week later we're moving. 00:35:43.680 --> 00:35:44.320 We're flying anyway. 00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:45.039 So who cares? 00:35:45.740 --> 00:35:45.920 Right? 00:35:46.080 --> 00:35:48.800 It's a bit annoying, but hey, well, you know, it's okay. 00:35:50.140 --> 00:35:52.039 Isn't it the same thing with here? 00:35:53.059 --> 00:35:54.740 Maybe your job isn't great. 00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:55.440 It's okay. 00:35:55.920 --> 00:35:56.080 Right? 00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:59.000 Jesus will absolutely certainly come. 00:35:59.639 --> 00:36:01.659 Maybe you're single. 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:02.819 That's hard. 00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:04.880 But Jesus will come. 00:36:05.319 --> 00:36:05.500 Right? 00:36:05.579 --> 00:36:07.480 Maybe your relationship is difficult. 00:36:07.639 --> 00:36:08.099 That's okay. 00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:09.900 Because Jesus will come. 00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:13.599 And maybe, I don't know, in the summer we had this body series. 00:36:13.699 --> 00:36:15.519 Maybe you don't like the way you look or whatever. 00:36:16.179 --> 00:36:17.099 Jesus will come. 00:36:17.299 --> 00:36:17.500 Right? 00:36:17.539 --> 00:36:19.539 All these things that go on. 00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.380 Maybe our health. 00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:22.279 You know, it's okay. 00:36:22.420 --> 00:36:23.239 Don't lose heart. 00:36:23.239 --> 00:36:26.799 If we weren't certain that Jesus would come. 00:36:26.879 --> 00:36:29.679 If we're not certain that everything will be all right. 00:36:29.819 --> 00:36:30.000 Yeah. 00:36:30.179 --> 00:36:32.439 Then life would be tough. 00:36:32.939 --> 00:36:35.559 But if we know there's absolute hope at the end. 00:36:35.959 --> 00:36:37.379 Maybe we can keep going. 00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:42.239 And finally, more positively, well, go and invest. 00:36:43.159 --> 00:36:43.299 Right? 00:36:44.539 --> 00:36:47.919 If this is absolutely true, then we can live for Jesus. 00:36:48.099 --> 00:36:49.199 We can serve him. 00:36:49.299 --> 00:36:51.359 We can give our lives to this. 00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:59.079 Again, when we had applied for this job, it would be a bit foolish to kind of already book our flights. 00:36:59.519 --> 00:37:00.640 And look for flats in Hong Kong. 00:37:00.740 --> 00:37:00.840 Right? 00:37:00.860 --> 00:37:02.200 We've only applied for a job. 00:37:02.360 --> 00:37:02.500 Right? 00:37:02.559 --> 00:37:03.700 It's just a wish. 00:37:04.380 --> 00:37:06.360 It would be foolish to spend so much money. 00:37:07.300 --> 00:37:10.840 Of course, once we got a job offer, yeah, that's when we booked flights. 00:37:11.059 --> 00:37:11.180 Right? 00:37:11.240 --> 00:37:12.860 That's when we looked for housing in Hong Kong. 00:37:12.940 --> 00:37:13.240 Et cetera. 00:37:13.960 --> 00:37:14.840 Now it's real. 00:37:14.920 --> 00:37:15.760 It's really going to happen. 00:37:15.760 --> 00:37:21.000 Now I'm going to, yeah, going to give my whole life to this and get it organized. 00:37:21.740 --> 00:37:27.960 So again, if Jesus is just a dream, yeah, don't invest in it. 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:32.020 But if it's really going to happen, well, we can work for it. 00:37:32.060 --> 00:37:32.200 Right? 00:37:32.220 --> 00:37:34.760 We can spend time serving and discipling. 00:37:34.760 --> 00:37:41.700 We can, you know, give to mission and store up treasure in heaven. 00:37:41.820 --> 00:37:41.940 Right? 00:37:42.040 --> 00:37:44.040 And, you know, use it for something. 00:37:44.160 --> 00:37:49.180 You know, if Jesus' kingdom will last and nothing else will last, well, that's where we should invest. 00:37:49.280 --> 00:37:49.420 Right? 00:37:50.180 --> 00:37:51.820 We will spread the gospel. 00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:52.680 Right? 00:37:52.740 --> 00:37:56.620 It's worth it because, you know, Jesus is building his kingdom. 00:37:56.780 --> 00:37:57.740 It's going to happen. 00:37:57.860 --> 00:37:58.020 Right? 00:37:58.620 --> 00:38:00.780 You want to point people to something real. 00:38:00.780 --> 00:38:06.500 I mean, all the people in Hong Kong are looking for hope and the only real, certain, guaranteed hope is Jesus. 00:38:06.660 --> 00:38:09.260 So isn't it wonderful to share that with people? 00:38:09.460 --> 00:38:09.560 Right? 00:38:10.060 --> 00:38:20.019 If this is true and real and we know it, that it's guaranteed by covenant by God, well, it's the greatest news and it's worth giving your life to. 00:38:20.100 --> 00:38:21.200 It's worth investing in. 00:38:21.260 --> 00:38:23.200 It's worth living our lives for. 00:38:23.280 --> 00:38:23.420 Right? 00:38:24.380 --> 00:38:27.660 And that is, I think, what we should do at the end of this book. 00:38:27.659 --> 00:38:32.099 It's been a long journey, but this is real. 00:38:32.199 --> 00:38:32.799 This is happening. 00:38:32.920 --> 00:38:33.519 This is coming. 00:38:33.960 --> 00:38:36.599 We're going to think about it more the coming weeks over Christmas. 00:38:37.799 --> 00:38:40.299 But let's give our lives to this Watermark Church. 00:38:41.539 --> 00:38:42.480 Why don't we pray? 00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:55.760 Our Father, thank you that we don't need to wish. 00:38:56.980 --> 00:38:58.039 We don't need to dream. 00:38:58.480 --> 00:39:01.019 But everything will come true in Jesus. 00:39:01.159 --> 00:39:04.400 Thank you that he is real and he will come. 00:39:04.860 --> 00:39:09.039 Thank you that we already know he died on the cross and he paid for all our sin. 00:39:09.039 --> 00:39:12.860 And he made everything possible for us to be yours and to be with you. 00:39:13.259 --> 00:39:14.460 And he will come back. 00:39:15.219 --> 00:39:22.259 Lord, we often are so distracted by the things around us, the things that seem more real, more secure. 00:39:23.039 --> 00:39:32.579 And yet the only thing that's secure ultimately is your promise, your covenant that Jesus will inherit the world and that his kingdom will last forever. 00:39:33.039 --> 00:39:35.880 Please lift our eyes to that and help us to live for that. 00:39:35.880 --> 00:39:46.160 Help us to, yeah, would our lives be changed because we really give our whole lives, trust our whole lives to your promise that is absolutely real. 00:39:46.680 --> 00:39:47.740 In Jesus' name. 00:39:48.260 --> 00:39:48.599 Amen.