WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.719 Psalm 116 and it's on page 615. 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:16.960 Psalm 116 beginning at verse 1. 00:00:17.960 --> 00:00:22.320 I love the Lord for he heard my voice. He heard my cry for mercy. 00:00:23.339 --> 00:00:27.560 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. 00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:33.839 The cords of death entangled me. The anguish of the grave came upon me. 00:00:34.780 --> 00:00:36.640 I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:41.579 Then I called on the name of the Lord. O Lord, save me. 00:00:42.679 --> 00:00:46.539 The Lord is gracious and righteous. Our God is full of compassion. 00:00:47.599 --> 00:00:52.399 The Lord protects the simple-hearted. When I was in great need, he saved me. 00:00:52.399 --> 00:00:58.159 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. 00:00:59.299 --> 00:01:04.879 For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:08.459 that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 00:01:08.459 --> 00:01:14.919 I believed, therefore I said, I am greatly afflicted. 00:01:15.419 --> 00:01:18.299 And in my dismay I said, all men are liars. 00:01:19.459 --> 00:01:22.639 How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? 00:01:23.819 --> 00:01:27.299 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. 00:01:27.859 --> 00:01:31.719 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:36.039 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 00:01:36.920 --> 00:01:39.019 O Lord, truly, I am your servant. 00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:42.219 I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. 00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:44.319 You have freed me from my chains. 00:01:45.219 --> 00:01:49.700 I will sacrifice a thank-offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. 00:01:50.439 --> 00:01:54.579 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:57.079 in the courts of the house of the Lord, 00:01:57.939 --> 00:01:59.780 in your midst, O Jerusalem. 00:02:00.519 --> 00:02:01.480 Praise the Lord. 00:02:01.719 --> 00:02:02.719 Thank you. 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:05.679 Thanks, Chris. 00:02:06.260 --> 00:02:07.079 I'm going to ask Tom. 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:08.719 He's going to come up and speak. 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:18.460 Before he does, I'm going to pray for Tom. 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:19.560 Is that okay? 00:02:19.939 --> 00:02:20.180 Yep. 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:21.000 Easy. 00:02:21.639 --> 00:02:22.439 Good now. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:25.719 Let's pray for Tom. 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:32.939 Father, we thank you again for your goodness to us, 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:37.860 and we thank you for your gifts towards us in people. 00:02:37.860 --> 00:02:38.860 We thank you for Tom. 00:02:38.860 --> 00:02:39.940 We thank you for Tom. 00:02:41.020 --> 00:02:48.640 And we ask now that you would help him as he preaches and seeks to explain this psalm to us. 00:02:48.639 --> 00:02:55.759 We pray that our attention, our focus will be drawn not to him, but to you. 00:02:55.759 --> 00:03:07.759 We pray that you would fill him and us with your Holy Spirit, so that we may not only hear your words, but understand them. 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:13.379 That they would take effect in our lives, changing us and transforming us. 00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:24.180 And so we pray that we will all be encouraged and built up through what we are now going to do together. 00:03:24.180 --> 00:03:27.219 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:03:27.860 --> 00:03:28.180 Amen. 00:03:29.180 --> 00:03:29.439 Amen. 00:03:32.020 --> 00:03:34.620 Sorry, before you start, there are pens around. 00:03:34.740 --> 00:03:39.780 If anybody wants to take notes, on the back of your new sheet, there's a little spot there. 00:03:39.920 --> 00:03:41.580 If you'd like a pen, I have some here. 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:43.680 Anybody want one? 00:03:54.180 --> 00:03:55.180 Okay. 00:04:11.640 --> 00:04:12.120 Okay. 00:04:12.340 --> 00:04:15.780 Well, it wouldn't be right unless I had my usual Sunday morning greeting. 00:04:16.060 --> 00:04:17.540 So, good morning, everyone. 00:04:17.899 --> 00:04:18.360 Good morning. 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:19.199 Good morning. 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:19.279 Good morning. 00:04:20.939 --> 00:04:24.420 So, as Johnny has mentioned, today we're going to be talking about love. 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:31.219 And by way of introduction, I'm going to talk a little bit about who or what do we love. 00:04:31.539 --> 00:04:34.420 So if we can think of some things that we love in our lives. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:37.159 And as Johnny mentioned, how do we know that we love them? 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:41.079 So I'm going to play a little, well, it's not a game, but a little exercise. 00:04:41.459 --> 00:04:48.599 That if you know that I love these things, raise your hand, nod your head, whatever it might be. 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:51.879 So when I was younger, I loved the turtles. 00:04:52.159 --> 00:04:53.000 Did anyone know that? 00:04:54.500 --> 00:04:54.779 Yeah. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:57.180 Now, I love football. 00:04:58.439 --> 00:04:59.019 I don't know that. 00:05:00.099 --> 00:05:00.479 Yeah. 00:05:00.819 --> 00:05:01.899 I love grace. 00:05:03.459 --> 00:05:04.279 Does anyone know that? 00:05:06.099 --> 00:05:06.500 Okay. 00:05:06.620 --> 00:05:09.439 And I hope that you all know that I love the Lord. 00:05:10.740 --> 00:05:13.319 Some of these things were demonstrated. 00:05:13.459 --> 00:05:18.639 So like with the turtles, people knew that I loved the turtles because I dressed up like Raphael. 00:05:19.479 --> 00:05:20.500 The red turtle. 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:22.779 I had borrowed my mum's red bandana. 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:25.159 She didn't mind. 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:30.899 But yeah, so the way we show that we love things is we live it out. 00:05:31.060 --> 00:05:32.659 We demonstrate that love. 00:05:33.060 --> 00:05:34.759 So with football, I play football. 00:05:34.980 --> 00:05:35.939 I talk about football. 00:05:36.439 --> 00:05:38.180 With grace, I show her my love. 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:39.319 I tell her about my love. 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:43.599 And it's the same with the Lord that we need to show him that we love him. 00:05:43.680 --> 00:05:44.959 We need to tell him that we love him. 00:05:46.779 --> 00:05:49.319 Yeah, so this psalm is all about God's love. 00:05:50.300 --> 00:05:51.899 So we're going to go behind the scenes first. 00:05:52.139 --> 00:05:57.759 And we're going to look a little bit about this psalm and where it fits in with the Bible. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:04.560 So a bit of background is that this psalm makes up what is called by the Jewish the Hallel. 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:06.539 This word means praise. 00:06:07.319 --> 00:06:11.240 And if you haven't made the connection, Hallelujah means praise the Lord. 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:14.199 And Hallel is the Hebrew word for praise. 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:19.639 So there are six psalms in the Hallel, 113 to 118. 00:06:19.639 --> 00:06:27.779 And these psalms form part of their liturgy, their customary public worship together, things they sing at feasts. 00:06:28.699 --> 00:06:30.379 So it's part of that. 00:06:30.500 --> 00:06:31.759 It's a psalm of praise. 00:06:32.919 --> 00:06:37.740 And looking more specifically at this psalm, it's a personal experience of a man. 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:39.479 It could have been a king. 00:06:39.899 --> 00:06:40.860 It may have been David. 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:43.399 But we're not told who it was. 00:06:44.019 --> 00:06:45.699 So there's one man's experience of death. 00:06:45.699 --> 00:06:52.860 When communally sung, that death may have been understood as a deliverance from Egypt of the Jewish people. 00:06:53.719 --> 00:06:58.800 But nonetheless, this psalm is about the experience of God's love in the psalmist's life. 00:06:59.879 --> 00:07:02.079 So this psalm can be roughly taken in two sections. 00:07:02.699 --> 00:07:06.740 From verses 1 to 11, which is talking about God's love being shown. 00:07:07.599 --> 00:07:11.659 And verses 12 to 19, where we can see the response to God's love. 00:07:11.660 --> 00:07:17.640 Okay, so the first point is that the Lord loves the psalmist. 00:07:19.820 --> 00:07:24.380 So when I was preparing this, what hit me straight away was the first four words. 00:07:25.160 --> 00:07:26.040 I love the Lord. 00:07:26.640 --> 00:07:31.720 And that's what I kind of focused on in preparing that it's about the psalmist's love for the Lord. 00:07:31.860 --> 00:07:33.520 About how he loves the Lord. 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:39.500 But then in thinking a bit more, it's not actually his love that's primary. 00:07:39.779 --> 00:07:42.060 It's God's love for the psalmist. 00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:47.560 So as we read on, we see how God demonstrates his love to the psalmist. 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:53.539 So we see in verses 1 to 2, that the Lord hears the psalmist's cry for mercy. 00:07:54.599 --> 00:07:56.359 The psalmist was in a terrible situation. 00:07:57.000 --> 00:07:58.339 Death was very close to him. 00:07:58.899 --> 00:08:00.240 But he cried out to God. 00:08:00.859 --> 00:08:03.199 And the Lord heard him. 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:07.240 So in verses 1 to 2, I love the Lord, for he heard my voice. 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:09.199 He heard my cry for mercy. 00:08:10.219 --> 00:08:14.199 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:18.019 So our God is a God who listens. 00:08:19.099 --> 00:08:21.819 He's not a far off and distant God who we can't be in touch with. 00:08:22.180 --> 00:08:25.259 But he is one who hears and answers when we talk to him. 00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:29.279 Okay, so how else does the Lord show his love to that psalmist? 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:32.419 He delivers him from death. 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:38.519 We are made aware of this, again, terrible situation that the psalmist is in in verse 3. 00:08:39.079 --> 00:08:40.960 The cords of death entangled me. 00:08:41.419 --> 00:08:43.559 The anguish of the grave came upon me. 00:08:44.379 --> 00:08:47.019 I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. 00:08:47.019 --> 00:08:50.360 Okay, so this man is in fear of death. 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:52.019 He suffered anguish. 00:08:52.419 --> 00:08:54.460 As we read, he was overcome by trouble and sorrow. 00:08:55.399 --> 00:08:58.379 Yet the Lord delivered him from that situation. 00:08:59.539 --> 00:09:04.100 In verse 6, we see that he was in great need and the Lord saved him. 00:09:04.100 --> 00:09:08.580 In verse 8, he declares that his soul has been delivered from death. 00:09:09.379 --> 00:09:11.720 His eyes from tears and his feet from stumbling. 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:18.279 So the Lord has shown to the psalmist his great love by delivering him from death. 00:09:20.040 --> 00:09:24.019 Okay, and another way in which the Lord shows his love is that he protects him. 00:09:24.019 --> 00:09:25.919 So in verse 6, it says, 00:09:26.620 --> 00:09:28.579 The Lord protects the simple-hearted. 00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:32.019 When I was in great need, he saved me. 00:09:33.819 --> 00:09:38.879 Okay, so the psalmist comes out with a statement of how the Lord protects the simple-hearted. 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:42.480 It's just a simple, sincere, it's not complicated. 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:44.779 He trusts and that's it. 00:09:44.860 --> 00:09:46.759 There's no complication about his faith. 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:51.580 And the psalmist has the assurance that the Lord will continue to protect him. 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:53.740 It's not, he says this in the present tense. 00:09:54.059 --> 00:09:54.960 The Lord protects. 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:56.519 It's not a past thing only. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:10:00.759 It's not only for the future, but it's a present protection for the simple-hearted. 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:05.720 Okay, so having looked at how the Lord demonstrates his love to the psalmist, 00:10:06.319 --> 00:10:08.460 we can ask, why does he show that love? 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:15.679 Okay, so in verse 7, we can see that the Lord shows his love to the psalmist so that he can rest. 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:20.659 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:26.159 In the Lord's deliverance and protection, the psalmist can rest. 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:33.460 A good note I saw on rest was that he can enjoy a state of unthreatened well-being, 00:10:34.259 --> 00:10:36.539 knowing that the Lord is protecting him. 00:10:38.860 --> 00:10:40.179 So he can rest. 00:10:40.179 --> 00:10:47.959 Another reason why the Lord delivers the psalmist is so that he can walk before the Lord. 00:10:48.139 --> 00:10:49.579 So in verses 8 and 9. 00:10:50.659 --> 00:10:56.099 For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, 00:10:56.579 --> 00:10:59.779 that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 00:10:59.779 --> 00:11:05.720 So delivered so that he can rest, and delivered so that he may walk before the Lord. 00:11:06.839 --> 00:11:10.559 And this walking for the Lord, living his life for him, is a public thing. 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:11.579 It's in the land of the living. 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:13.000 It's not in his bedroom. 00:11:13.379 --> 00:11:14.419 It's not in his own house. 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:17.480 It's in the land where there are people all around him. 00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:22.980 And we see in verse 10 that these things come about by faith. 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:27.159 So that resting and that walking for the Lord is by faith. 00:11:27.240 --> 00:11:28.159 In verse 10 it says, 00:11:29.180 --> 00:11:33.220 I believed, therefore I said, I am greatly afflicted. 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:38.779 So these, in verse 4 and verse 10 and 11, there are quotations. 00:11:38.779 --> 00:11:43.180 And I think those can be taken as the psalmist's prayer when he was in trouble. 00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:46.960 So it was his faith that caused him to cry out to God. 00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:50.039 And it's through his faith that he can rest. 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:52.379 And that he can walk and live for God. 00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:59.080 So now having, we can see how this psalm talks to us about how the Lord loves the psalmist. 00:11:59.580 --> 00:12:01.240 How he does that and why he does that. 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:05.420 We can move on to talk about how the Lord loves us. 00:12:05.560 --> 00:12:08.680 This psalm points us to how the Lord loves us. 00:12:09.539 --> 00:12:11.080 So how does he show that love? 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:16.080 As I previously mentioned, this psalmist may have been a king. 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:17.980 It may have been David. 00:12:19.020 --> 00:12:24.000 But there is a king who went through anguish, trouble and sorrow for us. 00:12:24.680 --> 00:12:25.860 Let's look back at verse 3. 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:28.520 It says, 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:43.460 So when preparing this, what came to mind was Jesus' experience in the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:12:44.179 --> 00:12:48.360 He was overcome by trouble and sorrow because of what was ahead of him. 00:12:48.980 --> 00:12:50.460 Listen to his words in Matthew. 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:54.040 Then he said to them, this is Jesus speaking, 00:12:55.040 --> 00:12:58.379 My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:00.879 Stay here and keep watch with me. 00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:05.480 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:09.820 My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. 00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:13.000 Yet not as I will, but as you will. 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:17.279 So he cried out to his father that if it were possible, 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:21.000 that this task that God had prepared for him would be taken away. 00:13:22.039 --> 00:13:23.320 But he was obedient. 00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:27.540 He followed through with what God the Father had planned for him. 00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:33.580 And Jesus was delivered over to death at that time for us. 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:35.440 So that we can have life. 00:13:36.540 --> 00:13:39.480 We, like the psalmist, are in danger of death. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:43.500 Not only a physical death, but also a spiritual one, 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:45.640 because of our rebellion against God. 00:13:46.280 --> 00:13:47.680 Because of our natural state, 00:13:48.040 --> 00:13:51.540 we deserve to be separated from God because he is perfect. 00:13:51.539 --> 00:13:54.919 We have a sinful nature and we deserve to be separated. 00:13:56.399 --> 00:14:00.159 But like God shows in verse 5 to the psalmist, 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:03.959 his graciousness, righteousness and compassion, 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:06.639 likewise he does to us in Christ. 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:09.659 Listen to this in Romans 5 verse 8. 00:14:10.719 --> 00:14:13.480 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this. 00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:17.860 While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:22.720 So we deserve not only punishment in the future, 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:24.620 but we deserve immediate punishment, 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:27.759 that is death, for our rebellion. 00:14:28.300 --> 00:14:30.159 There's nothing stopping God, 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:32.419 apart from his own grace towards us, 00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:35.980 from ending everything now because of our sin. 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:38.539 But God has delivered us from that. 00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:40.539 And then by faith, 00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:43.159 he promises to protect us 00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:45.159 and give us life for all eternity, 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:47.759 trusting in what Jesus has done. 00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:50.319 So like the psalmist, 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:52.860 we can see how the Lord loves us 00:14:52.860 --> 00:14:55.240 and how he's shown it to us in Christ. 00:14:56.219 --> 00:14:57.000 And likewise, 00:14:57.379 --> 00:14:59.480 there are also reasons why he delivers us. 00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:01.879 So again in verse 7, 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:03.399 we can have rest. 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:06.259 We can have perfect rest in Jesus 00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:09.419 and listen to his invitation to us 00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:11.279 in Matthew chapter 11. 00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:12.879 Come to me, 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:14.659 all you who are weary and burdened, 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:16.379 and I will give you rest. 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.679 Take my yoke upon you 00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:20.299 and learn from me, 00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:22.319 for I am gentle and humble in heart, 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:26.480 and you will find rest for your souls. 00:15:27.659 --> 00:15:29.259 We can have rest in Jesus 00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:31.419 because he has done it all for us. 00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:33.860 We don't need to earn God's love. 00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:36.219 He has already loved us. 00:15:37.699 --> 00:15:38.620 And yeah, 00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:39.599 when speaking this, 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:40.139 when preparing, 00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:41.659 rest is something that 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:43.519 I need to preach this to myself 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:45.240 as much as to anyone else. 00:15:45.939 --> 00:15:47.139 That we can have rest 00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:48.259 from fear of punishment, 00:15:48.979 --> 00:15:50.219 rest from feeling the need 00:15:50.219 --> 00:15:51.740 to earn a salvation, 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:53.139 rest from fear, 00:15:53.620 --> 00:15:54.399 rest from worry, 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:55.639 rest from feeling 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:56.879 that you have to get everything right. 00:15:58.399 --> 00:15:59.159 Rest from everything 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:00.459 because of what Jesus has done. 00:16:01.419 --> 00:16:03.539 So, 00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:04.699 another reason, 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:05.719 just like the psalmist, 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:07.159 is that we are delivered 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:08.159 so that we can walk 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:09.139 before the Lord. 00:16:09.199 --> 00:16:10.000 So we can rest 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:11.079 in Jesus 00:16:11.079 --> 00:16:12.279 and we are delivered 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:13.319 so that we can walk 00:16:13.319 --> 00:16:14.519 before the Lord. 00:16:14.579 --> 00:16:14.959 And again, 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:16.159 it's in the land of the living. 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:18.139 God saves us 00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:20.059 and then sends us 00:16:20.059 --> 00:16:20.839 into the world 00:16:20.839 --> 00:16:22.159 to be his witnesses, 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:24.500 to demonstrate 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:26.459 that love that he has shown us 00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:27.500 to other people. 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.800 And again, 00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:31.660 this resting 00:16:31.660 --> 00:16:32.660 and walking 00:16:32.660 --> 00:16:33.780 comes by faith. 00:16:33.920 --> 00:16:34.500 In verse 10, 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.560 I believed, 00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:37.580 said the psalmist, 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.519 therefore I said, 00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:40.180 I am greatly afflicted. 00:16:40.420 --> 00:16:41.519 And it's through faith 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.519 that we can rest, 00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:43.580 through faith 00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:44.860 that we can walk. 00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:48.720 So we need to trust 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.720 in him 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:51.300 and we will find rest 00:16:51.300 --> 00:16:52.720 and we will be commissioned 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:54.060 to live for him 00:16:54.060 --> 00:16:54.680 in this world. 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:56.639 So we have seen 00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:57.960 that the Lord loves the psalmist 00:16:57.960 --> 00:16:59.720 and the Lord loves us. 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:01.279 But how did the psalmist 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:01.820 respond 00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:03.399 to the Lord's love? 00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:05.440 Okay. 00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:06.900 The psalmist 00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:08.619 loves the Lord. 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.259 In verses 1 00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:12.759 and in 12 to 19, 00:17:12.879 --> 00:17:13.259 we can see 00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:15.000 the psalmist's response 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:16.460 to the Lord's love 00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:17.519 that was shown to him. 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:19.500 As I mentioned earlier on, 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:20.700 what I focused on 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:21.379 initially 00:17:21.379 --> 00:17:22.920 was the psalmist's love. 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:24.859 But that in fact 00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:25.779 was a response 00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:26.879 to God's love. 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:27.579 Listen to this. 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:29.339 I love the Lord 00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:31.660 for he heard my voice. 00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:33.079 He heard my cry 00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:33.619 for mercy. 00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:35.639 So it was the love 00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:37.039 expressed 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:37.819 because of love 00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:38.519 towards him. 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:40.000 And as we read 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:40.480 through the rest 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:41.019 of the psalm, 00:17:41.379 --> 00:17:42.019 we can see 00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:42.839 how he responds. 00:17:44.139 --> 00:17:44.960 In verse 12, 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:45.720 the psalmist asks 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:46.359 the question, 00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:48.000 How can I repay 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:48.460 the Lord 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:49.240 for all his goodness 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:49.720 to me? 00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:51.859 He then goes on 00:17:51.859 --> 00:17:52.659 in the following verses 00:17:52.659 --> 00:17:54.199 to explain to us 00:17:54.199 --> 00:17:55.579 how he responds 00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:57.220 to the Lord's love 00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:58.179 towards him. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:17:59.500 Okay. 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.199 So in verse 13, 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:00.720 it says, 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:02.779 I will lift up 00:18:02.779 --> 00:18:03.779 the cup of salvation 00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:05.119 and call 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:06.019 on the name 00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:06.579 of the Lord. 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:09.519 One translation 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.660 of the Bible 00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.599 puts it like this. 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:13.240 I will take 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:14.339 the cup of salvation 00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:15.920 and call upon 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:16.759 the name of the Lord. 00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:18.460 I think this is helpful 00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:19.240 to understand 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:20.539 what is meant 00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:21.799 by this lifting up 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:22.799 of the cup of salvation. 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:24.940 That it's a receiving 00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:26.579 of what God has done. 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:27.920 The receiving 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:28.759 of God's love. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:29.759 It's not something 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:30.619 that he needs to do 00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:31.679 to add on 00:18:31.679 --> 00:18:32.519 to what God has done, 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:33.559 but it's something 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:34.339 that he needs 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:35.039 to receive, 00:18:36.199 --> 00:18:37.879 receiving God's love. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:40.659 From what I understand 00:18:40.659 --> 00:18:41.879 about the cup of salvation, 00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:43.000 that this could be 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:44.119 referring to a cup 00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:44.899 of wine drunk 00:18:44.899 --> 00:18:45.679 by the Jews 00:18:45.679 --> 00:18:46.659 at a meal, 00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:47.739 which would then 00:18:47.739 --> 00:18:49.039 result in a 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:49.659 thank offering. 00:18:49.919 --> 00:18:50.699 They had sacrifices 00:18:50.699 --> 00:18:51.259 at Thanksgiving 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:52.659 in the Old Testament. 00:18:53.199 --> 00:18:53.739 Or it could be 00:18:53.739 --> 00:18:54.639 referring to the cup 00:18:54.639 --> 00:18:55.719 drank at the 00:18:55.719 --> 00:18:56.479 Passover meal. 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:58.160 But whatever cup 00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:58.980 has been referred to, 00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:00.420 it's been in reference 00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:01.599 to Thanksgiving 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:03.900 for what God has done. 00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:05.579 So in response 00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:06.319 to God's love, 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.539 the psalmist is thankful. 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:09.000 And we can see 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:09.680 that thankfulness 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:10.460 in verse 17. 00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:11.940 I will sacrifice 00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:12.640 a thank offering 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.160 to you 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:14.259 and call 00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:14.700 on the name 00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:15.220 of the Lord. 00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:17.140 So, 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:18.339 in receiving 00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:18.819 God's love 00:19:18.819 --> 00:19:19.620 with thankfulness, 00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:20.839 he calls 00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:21.120 on the name 00:19:21.120 --> 00:19:21.420 of the Lord. 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:22.299 So he is thankful 00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:23.720 for what God has done 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:24.920 and he calls 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:25.319 on the name 00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:25.819 of the Lord. 00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:26.879 The Lord is the one 00:19:26.879 --> 00:19:27.740 that he will call on, 00:19:28.139 --> 00:19:29.119 who he will cry out to 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:29.619 for help. 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:30.579 He is the one 00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:31.359 he can trust in 00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:32.139 and depend on 00:19:32.139 --> 00:19:33.439 for the rest of his life. 00:19:33.659 --> 00:19:34.399 Like in verse 2, 00:19:34.919 --> 00:19:35.879 I will call on him 00:19:35.879 --> 00:19:37.299 as long as I live. 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:40.740 So another response, 00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:42.500 so there's being thankful, 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:44.619 calling on God's name 00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:46.099 and service. 00:19:47.939 --> 00:19:49.259 In verses 14 00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:50.879 and 16 and 18 00:19:50.879 --> 00:19:51.579 we see how 00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:53.559 he wants to serve 00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:54.000 the Lord. 00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:55.200 He's talking about 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:56.319 fulfilling his vows 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:57.539 about how he is 00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:58.360 God's servant. 00:19:59.100 --> 00:19:59.360 Again, 00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:00.440 fulfilling my vows 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:01.039 to the Lord 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:02.120 in the presence 00:20:02.120 --> 00:20:03.160 of all his people. 00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:05.960 So the psalmist 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:06.700 declares himself 00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:07.160 to be someone 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:07.779 who is going to 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.940 serve the Lord. 00:20:10.380 --> 00:20:10.940 And again, 00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:12.000 it's not a private matter, 00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:13.480 it's a public thing, 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.700 to be lived out 00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:15.259 in the presence 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.900 of all the Lord's people. 00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:19.319 So the response 00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:20.200 is to God's love, 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:22.299 receiving that love, 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:23.759 being thankful, 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:25.920 calling on the Lord 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:26.940 and service. 00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:30.099 So having looked 00:20:30.099 --> 00:20:31.319 at the psalmist's response, 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.259 let's ask the question, 00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:35.099 what will our response be? 00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.960 Do we love the Lord? 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:41.180 What is our response 00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:43.039 to God's amazing love? 00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:44.400 Will we, 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.059 like the psalmist, 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:46.539 take the cup of salvation 00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:48.160 and call on the name 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:48.660 of the Lord? 00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:50.759 Have we received 00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:51.720 what the Lord 00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:52.620 has done for us? 00:20:53.040 --> 00:20:53.500 It's not something 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:54.380 we need to do more, 00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:55.320 but it's an accepting 00:20:55.320 --> 00:20:56.600 of what he has done. 00:20:58.140 --> 00:20:58.940 So as I mentioned, 00:20:59.340 --> 00:21:00.120 the cup of salvation 00:21:00.120 --> 00:21:00.800 could be referring 00:21:00.800 --> 00:21:01.740 to a cup drunk 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.720 at the Passover meal 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:04.360 called the cup 00:21:04.360 --> 00:21:05.019 of redemption. 00:21:06.120 --> 00:21:06.860 And this is something 00:21:06.860 --> 00:21:07.980 that the Jews use 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:09.519 at the Passover meal 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.600 to symbolize 00:21:10.600 --> 00:21:11.340 the blood 00:21:11.340 --> 00:21:12.380 of the Passover lamb 00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:14.480 back in the times 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.000 of Egypt 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:16.140 when that blood 00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:16.900 saved them 00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:18.900 from the punishment 00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:20.460 that the Egyptians 00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:21.019 faced 00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:22.019 of the death 00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:23.000 of the firstborns. 00:21:24.119 --> 00:21:24.839 And Jesus, 00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:25.460 on the night 00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:26.259 that he was betrayed, 00:21:26.900 --> 00:21:27.460 while observing 00:21:27.460 --> 00:21:28.400 the Passover meal, 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:30.319 he took a cup 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:31.539 and he used it 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:32.200 to symbolize 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:32.940 his own blood. 00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:33.980 Not the blood 00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:34.519 of the lamb 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.660 of long ago, 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:36.500 but his own blood 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:37.940 shed for us. 00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:40.220 So have we received 00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.279 that cup of salvation 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:42.720 that Jesus offers 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:43.240 to us? 00:21:43.900 --> 00:21:44.759 The salvation 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.420 that is available 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:45.940 to us 00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:46.839 by faith. 00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:48.240 That in Jesus' 00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.359 blood shed for us 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:50.720 for our sin, 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.879 we can be forgiven 00:21:52.879 --> 00:21:53.920 and enjoy 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:54.759 spending eternity 00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:55.240 with him. 00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:57.700 Okay, 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:58.759 so have we received? 00:21:59.220 --> 00:21:59.900 Do we call 00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:00.259 on the name 00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:00.720 of the Lord? 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.619 In verse 13, 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:03.839 I will lift up 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:04.759 the cup of salvation 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:06.839 and call 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:07.220 on the name 00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:07.720 of the Lord. 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.339 So this calling, 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.099 it's not just 00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:11.099 a vocal exercise, 00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:12.819 it's a living exercise. 00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:14.059 It's not just 00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:14.519 a verbal 00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.440 expression, 00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:15.960 it's not just 00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:16.379 words. 00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:17.940 In Romans, 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:18.960 Paul says, 00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:19.579 for everyone 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:20.099 who calls 00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:20.480 on the name 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.000 of the Lord 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:22.160 will be saved. 00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:23.259 And it's not 00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:24.279 just a verbal 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:24.599 thing. 00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:25.980 The word 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.720 that Paul uses 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:27.519 for calls 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.779 is the same 00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:29.599 that he uses 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:30.420 when talking 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:31.019 about how he 00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:32.339 appeals to Caesar 00:22:32.339 --> 00:22:32.859 in Acts. 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.599 In that case, 00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:35.279 he was asking 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.720 that his case 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:37.740 as he was arrested 00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.500 would be judged 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:39.579 by Caesar. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.339 He was throwing 00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:42.380 himself on 00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:43.240 Caesar's mercy. 00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:45.119 He was submitting 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:46.319 to Caesar's 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:46.819 authority. 00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:49.039 And there were 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.819 implications of 00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:50.660 calling on Caesar. 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.519 He would have to be 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:54.019 obedient to Caesar's 00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.279 ruling. 00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.420 Whatever Caesar said, 00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:57.279 that is what would go. 00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.279 He had to be obedient 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:00.720 to Caesar's procedure, 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:02.160 the way of doing things. 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:03.559 And it's exactly 00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:04.339 the same with us. 00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:05.319 That calling 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:05.779 that we need 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.559 to do on the Lord 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:08.099 is an obedience 00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:09.259 to God's authority. 00:23:10.379 --> 00:23:11.039 It's to throw 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:11.879 ourselves at his 00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:12.240 mercy 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:13.519 and to 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:15.319 submit to what 00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:16.319 he wants for us. 00:23:18.159 --> 00:23:18.980 But it's not 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:19.839 submission to a 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:20.240 tyrant 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.639 or to a far-off 00:23:21.639 --> 00:23:22.000 king, 00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.480 but to a loving, 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:24.579 gracious, 00:23:25.439 --> 00:23:25.740 righteous, 00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:27.259 and compassionate 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:28.179 God that we can 00:23:28.179 --> 00:23:29.079 see in this psalm. 00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:31.039 Verse 5, 00:23:31.199 --> 00:23:31.759 The Lord is 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:32.619 gracious and 00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:33.039 righteous. 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:34.659 Our God is 00:23:34.659 --> 00:23:35.119 full of 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:35.579 compassion. 00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:37.879 So have we 00:23:37.879 --> 00:23:38.460 received? 00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:39.940 Do we call on 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.440 the name of the 00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:40.680 Lord? 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.740 Do we respond 00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.519 with thanksgiving? 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.539 So like the 00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:47.039 psalmist, 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:49.159 he offered a 00:23:49.159 --> 00:23:49.819 sacrifice of 00:23:49.819 --> 00:23:51.099 thanksgiving to 00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:51.539 the Lord. 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:53.200 But for us, 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:53.799 we don't need to 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:54.639 offer those same 00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:56.039 types of sacrifices 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.700 like they did in 00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.319 the Old Testament. 00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:58.819 But we have a 00:23:58.819 --> 00:23:59.319 different way of 00:23:59.319 --> 00:23:59.899 doing things. 00:24:00.659 --> 00:24:01.539 And Paul explains 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:02.579 a bit about this 00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:03.659 in Romans chapter 00:24:03.659 --> 00:24:04.139 12. 00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:05.779 Therefore I 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:06.119 urge you, 00:24:06.199 --> 00:24:06.419 brothers, 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:07.639 in view of 00:24:07.639 --> 00:24:08.279 God's mercy, 00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:09.639 to offer your 00:24:09.639 --> 00:24:10.439 bodies as 00:24:10.439 --> 00:24:11.439 living sacrifices. 00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:12.919 Holy and 00:24:12.919 --> 00:24:13.720 pleasing to God, 00:24:14.579 --> 00:24:15.339 this is your 00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:16.279 spiritual act of 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:16.539 worship. 00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:18.500 So this is our 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.359 sacrifice done to 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:19.619 God. 00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:21.379 This is our 00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:22.439 thank offering. 00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.359 This is to 00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:25.259 offer ourselves 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:26.259 in service to 00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.179 him out of 00:24:27.179 --> 00:24:27.960 thankfulness for 00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:28.439 all that he has 00:24:28.439 --> 00:24:28.639 done. 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:30.840 So this 00:24:30.840 --> 00:24:31.860 verse in Romans 00:24:31.860 --> 00:24:32.640 also talks about 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.120 service. 00:24:33.880 --> 00:24:34.600 Another way that 00:24:34.600 --> 00:24:35.800 the end of it can 00:24:35.800 --> 00:24:36.920 be translated is 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:38.320 that this is your 00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:39.420 rational service. 00:24:40.280 --> 00:24:40.720 And the word 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.400 that's used there 00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:42.540 is logikos, 00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.220 it's the Greek 00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:45.060 word, and that 00:24:45.060 --> 00:24:45.660 means logical. 00:24:46.540 --> 00:24:47.140 And when Paul 00:24:47.140 --> 00:24:48.040 says in view of 00:24:48.040 --> 00:24:48.640 God's mercy, 00:24:49.080 --> 00:24:50.020 the logical thing, 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:50.980 the rational thing 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:52.600 to do is to 00:24:52.600 --> 00:24:54.000 serve him because 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.560 of all that he 00:24:54.560 --> 00:24:55.400 has done for us. 00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:57.380 So as the 00:24:57.380 --> 00:24:58.019 psalmist offers 00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:58.820 his service to 00:24:58.820 --> 00:24:59.240 the Lord, 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:02.140 in verses 14, 00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.620 I will fulfill 00:25:03.620 --> 00:25:04.320 my vows to 00:25:04.320 --> 00:25:04.720 the Lord, 00:25:05.540 --> 00:25:06.480 16, I will 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.120 fulfill my, 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:08.500 18, I will 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:08.960 fulfill my 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:09.420 vows to the 00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:10.660 Lord, and 00:25:10.660 --> 00:25:11.240 16, he 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:11.960 declares himself 00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:12.700 to be God's 00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:13.040 servant. 00:25:14.300 --> 00:25:14.840 And just like 00:25:14.840 --> 00:25:15.340 the psalmist, 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.100 so should we 00:25:16.100 --> 00:25:17.320 declare ourselves 00:25:17.320 --> 00:25:18.160 to be servants 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:19.700 to the Lord. 00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:21.880 But what does 00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:22.340 that service 00:25:22.340 --> 00:25:22.860 look like? 00:25:23.540 --> 00:25:24.160 What is it 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:24.800 like to serve 00:25:24.800 --> 00:25:25.180 God? 00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:26.580 Well, it's 00:25:26.580 --> 00:25:27.420 to live as 00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:28.120 he wants us 00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:28.360 to. 00:25:28.800 --> 00:25:29.480 He wants us 00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:29.940 to get to 00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:30.340 know him 00:25:30.340 --> 00:25:31.580 more through 00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:32.220 reading his 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:33.220 word, through 00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:34.040 talking to him, 00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:34.880 through spending 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.420 time with his 00:25:35.420 --> 00:25:35.740 people. 00:25:37.040 --> 00:25:37.580 He wants us 00:25:37.580 --> 00:25:37.820 to be 00:25:37.820 --> 00:25:40.019 representatives for 00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:40.519 him in this 00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:41.640 world, doing 00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:42.160 what he would 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:43.100 do, saying 00:25:43.100 --> 00:25:43.580 what he would 00:25:43.580 --> 00:25:44.759 say, if it 00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.180 were him in 00:25:45.180 --> 00:25:45.880 that situation. 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:47.980 He wants us 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:48.460 to make him 00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:49.620 known to other 00:25:49.620 --> 00:25:50.700 people through 00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:51.259 what we say 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:51.880 and how we 00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:52.140 live. 00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:53.680 We need to 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.259 live God's 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:55.300 way, not 00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:55.700 our own. 00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:56.960 We need to 00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:57.480 live like 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.180 Jesus lived. 00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.619 So, in 00:26:00.619 --> 00:26:01.240 response to 00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:01.799 God's love, 00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:03.139 do we receive 00:26:03.139 --> 00:26:03.960 what he has 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:04.639 done for us? 00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:07.139 Are we 00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:07.500 thankful? 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.039 Do we call 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.680 on his name 00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.859 and will we 00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:11.399 serve him? 00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:13.819 And one of the 00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:15.159 ways, as we've 00:26:15.159 --> 00:26:16.079 seen, that the 00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:16.859 psalmist responds 00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:17.659 is with rest. 00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:19.620 And that, too, 00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:20.100 should be our 00:26:20.100 --> 00:26:20.420 way of 00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:20.840 responding. 00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:22.660 We can be 00:26:22.660 --> 00:26:23.500 responding by 00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:24.140 resting in all 00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:24.700 the ways that I 00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:25.440 was mentioning 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:25.900 earlier. 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:27.820 And that 00:26:27.820 --> 00:26:28.540 resting is one 00:26:28.540 --> 00:26:29.100 of the ways in 00:26:29.100 --> 00:26:29.660 which we can 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.460 publicly 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.220 demonstrate our 00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:31.700 love for the 00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:31.960 Lord. 00:26:32.800 --> 00:26:33.340 Resting in 00:26:33.340 --> 00:26:33.580 Jesus. 00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:34.140 People will 00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:35.500 notice that we 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.160 are a peaceful, 00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:37.259 a joyful, 00:26:37.800 --> 00:26:38.640 a loving people 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.279 because of that 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:39.880 rest that we 00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:40.180 have. 00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:42.100 So, like in 00:26:42.100 --> 00:26:42.519 the case of 00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:43.000 the psalmist, 00:26:43.560 --> 00:26:45.480 these acts of 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:47.279 receiving, of 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:48.100 thanksgiving, of 00:26:48.100 --> 00:26:48.660 calling, of 00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:49.920 service, of 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:51.580 resting, are 00:26:51.580 --> 00:26:52.340 all public 00:26:52.340 --> 00:26:53.840 demonstrations of 00:26:53.840 --> 00:26:54.500 our own love 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.660 for the Lord. 00:26:58.940 --> 00:26:59.900 So, as sinful 00:26:59.900 --> 00:27:01.620 people, we will 00:27:01.620 --> 00:27:02.400 never be able to 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:03.000 love the Lord as 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:03.420 we should. 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.259 We'll never be 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:05.940 able to love him 00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:08.100 as he wants us 00:27:08.100 --> 00:27:08.600 to love him. 00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:10.039 But thanks to 00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:10.759 God's amazing 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:12.079 grace, his love 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:12.819 for us doesn't 00:27:12.819 --> 00:27:14.119 depend on whether 00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:14.799 we love him or 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.099 not. 00:27:15.659 --> 00:27:16.319 He has already 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:16.940 loved us. 00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:19.940 The title of 00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:21.519 this, of what 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.139 I'm talking about 00:27:22.139 --> 00:27:23.579 is, we love 00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:24.960 because he first 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:25.599 loved us. 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:28.700 And it is 00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.579 Jesus' life that 00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:30.799 counts for us if 00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.639 we trust in him. 00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:32.759 He is the one 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:33.579 who loves God 00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:34.720 as we should. 00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:36.440 And because of 00:27:36.440 --> 00:27:37.039 God's grace, 00:27:37.639 --> 00:27:38.420 through faith in 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:39.420 Jesus, it's as 00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:40.019 if we are 00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:41.319 not only Jesus 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:42.039 has done it, it's 00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:42.859 as if we have 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:44.099 done it as well 00:27:44.099 --> 00:27:45.079 by faith. 00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:48.400 So we can rest 00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:49.160 in Jesus, that we 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:49.759 don't need to love 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.900 God any certain 00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:52.240 amount, any degree 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:53.420 before being loved 00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:53.859 by him. 00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:54.700 That's already 00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:54.980 done. 00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:55.720 God has already 00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:56.299 loved us. 00:27:57.299 --> 00:27:58.220 And then we are 00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:59.359 free to respond to 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:00.960 God's love by 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:01.579 loving him in 00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:01.920 return. 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:04.580 So from this 00:28:04.580 --> 00:28:05.279 psalm we can see 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:05.960 how the Lord 00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:07.100 loves the 00:28:07.100 --> 00:28:07.539 psalmist. 00:28:08.360 --> 00:28:09.240 And he shows 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:09.840 that love to 00:28:09.840 --> 00:28:10.779 him and has 00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:11.620 reasons for it. 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.220 And it's the 00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.779 same with us. 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:14.039 It points to how 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:14.700 the Lord loves 00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.000 us. 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.720 Again, he 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:18.019 demonstrates it to 00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:19.120 us and there are 00:28:19.120 --> 00:28:19.960 reasons for it. 00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:22.539 The psalmist's 00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:23.420 response to God's 00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:25.140 love is in loving 00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:25.860 him in return. 00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:28.500 And then the 00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.599 challenge is, do 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.119 we love the 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:30.359 Lord? 00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:32.359 Do people around 00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:33.599 us know that we 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:34.179 love the Lord? 00:28:34.819 --> 00:28:35.799 If I were to do 00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:36.679 that same exercise 00:28:36.679 --> 00:28:38.159 at work or in 00:28:38.159 --> 00:28:39.000 college or in 00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:40.119 school with my 00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:41.819 friends or if you 00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.479 did it with your 00:28:42.479 --> 00:28:43.539 friends, would 00:28:43.539 --> 00:28:44.199 people raise their 00:28:44.199 --> 00:28:44.599 hands? 00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:45.599 Would people nod 00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:46.740 their heads if 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.279 they asked? 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:48.839 If you asked, do 00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:49.379 you know that I 00:28:49.379 --> 00:28:49.899 love the Lord? 00:28:50.919 --> 00:28:51.639 Let's make that a 00:28:51.639 --> 00:28:51.859 challenge. 00:28:51.979 --> 00:28:52.599 Can we make that 00:28:52.599 --> 00:28:53.639 known to other 00:28:53.639 --> 00:28:54.559 people that we 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:55.259 love the Lord? 00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:57.319 Can we, like the 00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.179 psalmist, declare in 00:28:58.179 --> 00:28:59.879 verse 1, I love 00:28:59.879 --> 00:29:00.339 the Lord? 00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:02.479 And it's because of 00:29:02.479 --> 00:29:03.359 how he first loved 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:03.679 us. 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.439 Let's pray. 00:29:17.399 --> 00:29:18.500 Father, thank you 00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:20.379 for your great love 00:29:20.379 --> 00:29:20.939 to us. 00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:25.360 thank you that 00:29:25.360 --> 00:29:26.880 before we were 00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:29.500 born, before we 00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.420 could walk or talk, 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:31.180 you loved us. 00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:33.380 And Lord, thank you 00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:33.960 that that love 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:34.779 doesn't depend on 00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.320 what we do. 00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:39.160 It just depends on 00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:40.720 you and how much 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.299 you love us. 00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:44.640 Thank you for your 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:46.080 word which teaches 00:29:46.080 --> 00:29:47.799 us about your love. 00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:47.859 love. 00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.619 Thank you for how 00:29:50.619 --> 00:29:51.339 you have loved the 00:29:51.339 --> 00:29:51.980 psalmist and 00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:53.539 demonstrated that 00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:55.559 to him for our 00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:56.720 benefit as well as 00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:56.980 his. 00:29:58.119 --> 00:29:58.919 Thank you for how 00:29:58.919 --> 00:29:59.639 you love us in 00:29:59.639 --> 00:30:00.039 Christ. 00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.399 Please help us to 00:30:03.399 --> 00:30:05.359 trust in what Jesus 00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:06.039 has done, that he 00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:07.700 has taken our 00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:08.119 punishment. 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:11.059 And by faith we 00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:11.700 can have life. 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:14.819 thank you for the 00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:15.799 psalmist response 00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:17.259 modelling how we 00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:18.340 are to respond to 00:30:18.340 --> 00:30:20.880 your love in 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:21.500 loving you in 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:21.840 return. 00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:24.039 Please help us to 00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:26.240 love you as we 00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:28.059 should in a 00:30:28.059 --> 00:30:28.940 public way, not 00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:30.299 just on a Sunday, 00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:31.480 not just with our 00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:32.819 church family, but 00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:33.420 amongst our 00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:34.920 friends, to be 00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:35.700 someone, to be 00:30:35.700 --> 00:30:36.220 people who are 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:37.980 known to love the 00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.220 Lord. 00:30:38.220 --> 00:30:39.980 Lord, please 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:40.480 help us with 00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:40.759 this. 00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:42.339 Help us to be 00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:43.160 confident in our 00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:43.700 love for him. 00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:47.000 Lord, thank you 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.839 that you teach us 00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:49.200 and Lord, thank you 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:50.100 that you help us to 00:30:50.100 --> 00:30:50.980 live as you want us 00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:51.160 to. 00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:53.720 Amen. 00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:53.819 Amen. 00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:53.839 Amen. 00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:53.860 Amen. 00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:54.779 Amen. 00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:55.839 Amen. 00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:55.860 Amen.