WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.099 Well, it's an absolute privilege to be able to speak about God's Word today and to open up the passage that Adi has just read to us. 00:00:08.339 --> 00:00:12.820 A passage that reminds us of God reigning and our holy and awesome God. 00:00:12.900 --> 00:00:16.800 Let's pray as we open up his Word and think about this, God. 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:23.760 Father God, we are struck by your awesomeness and greatness as described in this psalm. 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:33.660 Now, you are holy and in and of ourselves we are so weak and feeble. 00:00:34.740 --> 00:00:42.079 How can we find words to describe and understand your greatness and awesomeness? 00:00:42.079 --> 00:01:01.640 We ask that your Holy Spirit might speak into the hearts and lives of each one of us as we seek to use our limited language and understanding to comprehend again in some way the greatness of you, our God. 00:01:02.420 --> 00:01:03.000 Amen. 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:11.799 So this isn't necessarily the psalm that I would choose to speak on if you'd given me a choice of some of the psalms round about. 00:01:11.960 --> 00:01:17.340 I suspect that I would have instinctively maybe gone for the one before or the one after. 00:01:17.859 --> 00:01:22.579 It's sandwiched in between two that just seems so full of joy. 00:01:22.579 --> 00:01:24.960 You can have a look at them again. 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:40.859 You heard about Ian speaking on Psalm 98 last week where we're singing new songs, where we're shouting for joy to the Lord all the earth, where we're bursting into song with music, where we're not even just doing Gary's metaphorical dancing. 00:01:40.859 --> 00:01:47.899 It sounds like there's literal dancing going on there in Psalm 98 with harps, with singing, with trumpets, with shouting. 00:01:48.339 --> 00:01:50.539 Goodness, there's even clapping of hands. 00:01:50.859 --> 00:01:52.439 At least the rivers are clapping their hands. 00:01:52.659 --> 00:01:54.379 That's all going on in Psalm 98. 00:01:54.379 --> 00:01:59.679 And then you go on to Psalm 100 and we're shouting for joy to the Lord again. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:00.979 We are glad. 00:02:01.140 --> 00:02:02.879 We've got joyful songs. 00:02:03.239 --> 00:02:04.340 We've got thanksgiving. 00:02:04.539 --> 00:02:05.479 We've got praise. 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:09.659 And we've got references to God's unending love and faithfulness. 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:16.180 And then right in the middle, we've got Psalm 99, which repeats again and again. 00:02:16.259 --> 00:02:18.659 If you see it there, it's at the end of verse 3. 00:02:19.719 --> 00:02:23.039 Praising your great and awesome name for he is holy. 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:27.959 And then verse 5 again, worshipping the Lord who is holy. 00:02:28.340 --> 00:02:35.439 And then again verse 9, exalting the Lord our God, worshipping in his holy mountain for the Lord our God is holy. 00:02:35.500 --> 00:02:39.919 Almost like a chorus that comes three times in this Psalm. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:44.719 A reminder that this great and awesome God is holy. 00:02:44.719 --> 00:03:00.520 And I don't think Psalm 99 is intended to be a particular break in our worship and in our joyful celebration of the living God that we see in Psalm 98 and that we see again in Psalm 100. 00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:08.020 Rather, Psalm 99 forms an integral part of this invitation. 00:03:08.700 --> 00:03:18.320 This invitation that extends to all of us today to worship a great and glorious God. 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:28.620 And as we look at this Psalm through the lens of what Jesus has done for each of us and through the teaching of the whole of Scripture, 00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:40.979 we are able, through Jesus, to approach this great, holy and awesome God with boldness and with confidence. 00:03:40.979 --> 00:03:48.780 So let me share three things that I hope we might all take away from spending a few minutes together in this Psalm. 00:03:48.939 --> 00:03:56.280 First, I hope we might be encouraged to have a bigger view of who God is. 00:03:57.219 --> 00:04:03.979 Second, a confidence in his goodness no matter what is going on around us. 00:04:03.979 --> 00:04:10.719 And third, a certainty that he hears and answers our prayers. 00:04:11.099 --> 00:04:13.699 And I think for many of us that's what we need to have. 00:04:13.780 --> 00:04:22.000 Maybe it's one or two or three of these things that we particularly need to have spoken into our hearts and lives today. 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:23.680 A bigger picture of who he is. 00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:28.319 A confidence in his goodness no matter what is going on around us. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:33.539 And a certainty that he hears and answers our prayers. 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:38.960 Alistair and Sabina, you've really challenged us through what you have brought to us already today. 00:04:39.260 --> 00:04:44.520 And you guys could have had the whole service and it would have been so helpful for us. 00:04:44.540 --> 00:04:51.620 And I just pray that what we're looking at in Psalm 99 might serve to complement the challenge that you have already brought to us. 00:04:51.660 --> 00:04:56.080 Particularly as we think about this bigger picture of who God is. 00:04:56.079 --> 00:05:03.859 Let's drill into verses 1 to 3 which I think will help us have this bigger picture of who God is. 00:05:03.939 --> 00:05:11.839 Just look at some of the words that are used to describe what and who God is. 00:05:12.500 --> 00:05:18.240 There in verse 1, he reigns and let the nations tremble. 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:26.120 Later in verse 1, he sits enthroned between the cherubim and let the earth shake. 00:05:26.379 --> 00:05:30.900 There at the start of verse 2, he is great in Zion. 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:37.500 As we go on in verse 2, he is exalted over all the nations. 00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:46.500 Verse 3, we should praise his great and his awesome name for he is holy. 00:05:46.500 --> 00:05:54.800 Just allow some of these words to sink into our hearts and our souls this morning. 00:05:55.500 --> 00:06:03.360 I wonder if we have recognised in our to-ing and our fro-ing this week, this month, and as we think about the future, 00:06:04.139 --> 00:06:06.480 that the Lord reigns. 00:06:06.839 --> 00:06:08.680 That he is enthroned. 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:11.120 That he is great. 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:14.339 That he is exalted over all. 00:06:14.339 --> 00:06:16.500 That he is awesome. 00:06:17.159 --> 00:06:19.159 And that he is holy. 00:06:20.299 --> 00:06:23.699 And we're invited to worship this God. 00:06:24.459 --> 00:06:30.979 One of the definitions of worship that I've come across this week that I particularly liked was this. 00:06:31.459 --> 00:06:36.299 To worship is to remember who owns the house. 00:06:36.300 --> 00:06:42.120 It struck me because I'm just back from a week, hence the very red face and head. 00:06:42.400 --> 00:06:47.420 Just back from a week in Arran where we had lots of rain but we finally had two days of sweltering sunshine. 00:06:48.079 --> 00:06:53.519 And you know, in Arran, the reality is, I think we can say this, that we own a house. 00:06:54.259 --> 00:06:55.620 Yes, we own a house. 00:06:56.139 --> 00:06:59.639 The trouble is we own it along with about 50 other people. 00:06:59.639 --> 00:07:06.839 We own that house for seven days out of 365 days of the year. 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:10.659 Now we very much enjoy it for those seven days. 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:15.339 But at the end of the seven days, that house is no longer ours. 00:07:15.800 --> 00:07:20.599 At the end of that seven days, our 2% of the ownership of the year is gone. 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:24.399 And the other 98% of owners take their way. 00:07:24.459 --> 00:07:28.120 We're hardly driving the car away while the next car is coming in. 00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:32.840 Those who can also say that they own that house. 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:42.300 And in contrast to our partial ownership, our tiny sliver of ownership of that house in Arran, 00:07:42.740 --> 00:07:50.340 we approach the God and are reminded in verse 1 to 3 that he is the one who owns it all. 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:54.500 He owns the ground on which the house is built. 00:07:54.500 --> 00:07:58.699 He owns the hills and mountains that surround it. 00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:04.660 He is the one who is holy, ruling, reigning, and set apart. 00:08:04.939 --> 00:08:07.060 Take a coin, take a banknote. 00:08:07.139 --> 00:08:09.620 What do you see today if you look at it? 00:08:09.660 --> 00:08:12.360 You see the head of the queen. 00:08:12.360 --> 00:08:19.980 And we see that as a reminder that she is the one who is, at least in ceremonial terms, 00:08:20.439 --> 00:08:24.800 the one who is the ruling and reigning monarch in our country. 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:30.400 Every single note, every single coin, her head is there. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:40.699 I wonder if we recognize that even the breath we take is a gift from the God who owns everything. 00:08:41.500 --> 00:08:46.120 As I've tried to reflect on these verses in Psalm 1 to 3, 00:08:46.360 --> 00:08:57.620 I've realized that so many of our songs of worship seek to capture our hearts with the truths that are in these verses. 00:08:57.620 --> 00:09:06.240 And I've felt that in some ways they are easier sung than preached, these truths. 00:09:06.820 --> 00:09:10.860 So let me share with you some of the songs that have been in my mind, 00:09:10.940 --> 00:09:13.519 and one or two of them have been sung already today. 00:09:13.779 --> 00:09:16.539 How great is our God. 00:09:16.700 --> 00:09:19.220 Sing with me how great is our God. 00:09:19.500 --> 00:09:24.320 And all will see how great, how great is our God. 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:25.279 It's there, isn't it? 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:27.740 Great is the Lord, verse 2. 00:09:27.959 --> 00:09:31.579 Name above all names, worthy of our praise. 00:09:32.059 --> 00:09:35.559 My heart will sing how great is our God. 00:09:35.620 --> 00:09:38.100 Is that what some of us need to be reminded of today? 00:09:38.199 --> 00:09:42.159 Have some of us lost sight of the fact that our God is great? 00:09:42.459 --> 00:09:49.319 Maybe it's part of that fear of sharing our faith in Jesus that Alistair and Sabina have challenged about. 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:55.780 I wonder if the antidote to that is a reminder of how great our God is. 00:09:57.540 --> 00:09:59.560 Verse 1, the Lord reigns. 00:10:00.280 --> 00:10:04.940 Does that bring back to mind for some a song that you might not have sung for ages? 00:10:05.160 --> 00:10:06.700 Our God reigns. 00:10:06.700 --> 00:10:09.620 He was despised and we took no account of him. 00:10:09.900 --> 00:10:11.960 Yet now he reigns with the Most High. 00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:15.060 Out of the tomb he came with grace and majesty. 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:16.280 He is alive. 00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:17.100 He is alive. 00:10:17.940 --> 00:10:19.160 God loves us so. 00:10:19.580 --> 00:10:22.460 See here his hands, his feet, his side. 00:10:22.780 --> 00:10:24.720 Yes, we know he is alive. 00:10:25.160 --> 00:10:26.480 Our God reigns. 00:10:27.060 --> 00:10:29.240 Our God reigns. 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:34.820 Staying with verse 1, he sits enthroned. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:39.680 The song that came to mind there that will maybe be in the minds of some of you. 00:10:39.820 --> 00:10:42.240 God is still on his throne. 00:10:43.060 --> 00:10:45.600 And he will remember his own. 00:10:46.340 --> 00:10:51.940 Though trials may press us and burdens distress us, he never will leave us alone. 00:10:52.279 --> 00:10:53.680 His promise is true. 00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:55.639 He will not forget you. 00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:59.580 God is still on his throne. 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:06.860 And verse 3 invites us to praise the great and awesome name of God. 00:11:06.980 --> 00:11:11.840 And verse 9 encourages us to worship at his holy mountain. 00:11:12.059 --> 00:11:15.419 And a song that's been a favourite of mine over many years says, 00:11:15.939 --> 00:11:19.939 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise. 00:11:19.940 --> 00:11:25.700 The city of our God, the holy place, the joy of the whole earth. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:29.680 Great is the Lord in whom we have the victory. 00:11:30.060 --> 00:11:32.440 He aids us against the enemy. 00:11:32.580 --> 00:11:34.220 We bow down on our knees. 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:37.460 And Lord, we want to lift your name on high. 00:11:37.880 --> 00:11:41.940 And Lord, we want to thank you for the works you've done in our lives. 00:11:41.940 --> 00:11:45.880 And Lord, we trust in your unfailing love. 00:11:45.880 --> 00:11:51.900 For you alone are God eternal throughout earth and heaven above. 00:11:52.680 --> 00:12:03.660 I thank God for the wonderful songs of worship that he has given us as individuals and as a church to sing to him. 00:12:03.659 --> 00:12:11.279 And we're blessed and thank you to our musicians and worship leaders and those who make sure we can hear it all clearly. 00:12:11.439 --> 00:12:21.779 Who week by week are enabling us to sing songs that remind us of our great and our awesome and our powerful God. 00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:27.059 Elizabeth and I and the boys were at a tiny little church last week in Aran. 00:12:27.819 --> 00:12:33.959 Where, do you know, we got the decided sense as we sat through the service that no one was singing. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:36.299 The hymn books were there. 00:12:36.839 --> 00:12:38.500 The numbers were turned to. 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:40.199 But you couldn't hear a sound. 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:47.240 And folks, as we think of our great God and as we are invited to worship him. 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:50.259 And of course we know that worship is much more than singing. 00:12:50.580 --> 00:12:54.700 But worship, as we see from these three psalms, absolutely includes singing. 00:12:55.060 --> 00:13:00.740 Can I encourage us to be people who find all the songs possible. 00:13:01.680 --> 00:13:04.799 New, old, familiar, unfamiliar. 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:11.000 To sing praises to our great and awesome gods. 00:13:11.860 --> 00:13:13.200 Let's sing them on a Sunday. 00:13:13.740 --> 00:13:17.060 But folks, let's not restrict it to singing it only on a Sunday. 00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:24.019 Let's play them and sing them and hum them and read them and watch them day after day. 00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:31.759 Because it's some of these songs of worship that can turn our hearts and minds back to the greatness and awesomeness of God. 00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:39.600 Who we are so prone to have becoming smaller rather than larger in our own minds. 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:45.820 It's only fairly recently I've discovered the joy of some of the YouTube worship videos. 00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:54.800 I love to see the fact that millions and millions of people have watched some of these worship videos by groups like Hillsong and many others. 00:13:55.240 --> 00:14:08.100 Music streaming services probably making it easier than ever for us just to tune in to some of the songs that the church globally are using to worship our great and our awesome gods. 00:14:08.100 --> 00:14:19.240 Let's make sure that we are taking every opportunity today and in the days ahead to tune our hearts and minds to the fact that our God reigns. 00:14:19.820 --> 00:14:21.659 He sits in thrones. 00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:23.399 He is great. 00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:26.080 He is exalted over all the nations. 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:28.659 And he is holy. 00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:34.299 But let me move to my second point today. 00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:44.879 We do not only need to recognise that God is great and holy. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:52.600 We also need to have confidence in his goodness no matter what is going on round about us. 00:14:52.600 --> 00:15:01.420 You see it would be possible wouldn't it for us to be thinking about a mighty ruler who is corrupt. 00:15:01.899 --> 00:15:03.500 Who is totalitarian. 00:15:03.740 --> 00:15:05.639 Who is only to be feared. 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:09.580 And maybe our minds go to some of the regimes that we can think of. 00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:12.860 Whether it's North Korea and some of what we've heard there. 00:15:12.940 --> 00:15:21.379 Maybe it's some of what we've heard about countries that will not allow their citizens to choose to worship and serve Jesus. 00:15:21.379 --> 00:15:23.740 But they will be in fear of their life. 00:15:23.799 --> 00:15:29.200 And it's very easy to think about this awesome rule and reign. 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:32.659 And for it simply to evoke fear. 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:37.419 Which is why I'm delighted when we come to verse 4. 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:40.039 We read the king is mighty. 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:43.419 But he is also just. 00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:45.659 He is mighty. 00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:48.220 But he loves justice. 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:53.180 You have established equity or fairness. 00:15:54.040 --> 00:15:58.080 This all powerful and all reigning one. 00:15:58.779 --> 00:16:00.940 Is not unpredictable. 00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:05.680 But is one who is just and fair. 00:16:06.540 --> 00:16:11.379 One of the films that we watched over the course of the week was now a relatively old one. 00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:14.500 It was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. 00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:20.500 That great film that captures the brilliant book by C.S. Lewis. 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:22.179 Part of the Narnia series. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:25.000 And there was a line towards the end of the film. 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:26.360 And I've been thinking about this message. 00:16:26.439 --> 00:16:27.519 Which just thought. 00:16:27.559 --> 00:16:28.480 Oh that's brilliant. 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:30.480 This just slots it in place for me. 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:36.420 As we try and think through the balance between the greatness and awesomeness of God. 00:16:36.800 --> 00:16:43.820 But the fact that he invites us to approach him and to recognise his justice. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:47.360 Susan is speaking to Mr Beaver. 00:16:48.420 --> 00:16:49.960 And Susan says Aslan. 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:51.440 Aslan for those who are not familiar. 00:16:51.560 --> 00:16:54.980 Aslan is the lion that represents God. 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:56.740 And who dies. 00:16:56.899 --> 00:16:58.220 So a picture of Christ. 00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.720 And rises again. 00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:01.680 Susan speaking to Mr Beaver says. 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:03.019 Aslan is a lion. 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:04.360 The lion. 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:05.920 The great lion. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.940 Oh said Susan. 00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:09.500 I thought he was a man. 00:17:10.360 --> 00:17:12.480 Is he quite safe? 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:16.480 I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion. 00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:18.279 Safe? 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.599 Said Mr Beaver. 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:22.599 Who said anything about safe? 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:24.940 Of course he isn't safe. 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:26.539 But he's good. 00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:28.279 He's the king. 00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:29.440 I tell you. 00:17:30.380 --> 00:17:31.920 This great God. 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:32.880 Not safe. 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:34.860 You don't look at verses 1 to 3. 00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:37.220 And think oh here's a God who is safe. 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:40.120 But we look at the psalm as a whole. 00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:43.240 Here's a God who is good. 00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:45.579 You're rich in love. 00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:47.680 And you're slow to anger. 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:49.319 And then this little couplet. 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:51.279 Your name is great. 00:17:52.059 --> 00:17:54.440 And your heart is kind. 00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:56.440 Your name is great. 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:58.460 And your heart is kind. 00:17:58.900 --> 00:18:01.519 For all your goodness I will keep on singing. 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:05.019 10,000 reasons for my heart to find. 00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:06.140 Bless the Lord. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.380 Oh my soul. 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:09.240 Worship his holy name. 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:11.259 Sing like never before. 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.579 Oh my soul. 00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:15.660 I'll worship your holy name. 00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:22.580 Some of us may be facing great uncertainty about the days ahead. 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:27.200 We have no idea what the future will hold. 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:32.920 Some of us come deeply worried about our own health. 00:18:33.860 --> 00:18:37.519 About that of close family and friends. 00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:39.779 About death. 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:42.500 About life. 00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:52.840 We come to this psalm and we recognise that we are small and in many respects insignificant and not powerful. 00:18:52.839 --> 00:19:00.119 We experience at times what seems like the world crashing in around us. 00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:10.539 Part of my summer reading is a brilliant book by a guy who was a neurosurgeon and a neuroscientist in America. 00:19:10.699 --> 00:19:12.799 A book called When Breath Becomes Air. 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:14.299 Any of you come across it? 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:16.659 If not, highly recommend it. 00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:18.599 I'm glad to see one of the doctors has at least. 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:22.619 Paul Califani, I think his name is too, if you've read it, When Breath Becomes Air. 00:19:22.879 --> 00:19:32.419 There he is in his 30s as a brilliant doctor who has poured his heart and life into his medicine. 00:19:32.719 --> 00:19:38.519 Who is passionate about bringing healing and new hope to those who are desperately ill. 00:19:38.699 --> 00:19:39.599 And then bang. 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:47.019 He gets the diagnosis that he himself is dying of lung cancer. 00:19:47.699 --> 00:19:58.779 And describes powerfully and eloquently his journey and indeed his life and his death as he comes to terms with what's going on. 00:19:58.819 --> 00:20:03.519 And indeed it seems it also recaptures something of his Christian faith. 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:06.939 Although the book is not necessarily a Christian book. 00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:15.360 But reading that certainly reminded me again of what we're reading about and the themes in this psalm. 00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:18.240 We are not strong. 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:20.559 We are not powerful. 00:20:20.820 --> 00:20:25.019 In contrast to our God, we do not know what will happen at the end of this day. 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:28.580 Let alone all that the future holds. 00:20:28.579 --> 00:20:39.599 But we are invited in worship and surrender today to come to this God who is not safe but who is good. 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:47.460 And to entrust our lives, our present and our future wholly to him. 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:50.939 And to say, God, you are the one who reigns. 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:54.079 You are the one who is great and exalted. 00:20:54.079 --> 00:21:03.159 My life is in your hand and I am happy that it is staying and it is safe there. 00:21:05.179 --> 00:21:13.119 And so we can have confidence in the goodness of this king as well as his greatness. 00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:16.139 And then my third point today. 00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:18.599 He is also the one who is great. 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:21.339 He is the one who is good. 00:21:21.939 --> 00:21:25.439 And he is the one who hears and answers our prayers. 00:21:25.959 --> 00:21:28.799 Let's look through the rest of the psalm. 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.599 Verse 5. 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:33.480 Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool. 00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:34.679 He is holy. 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:35.359 Verse 6. 00:21:35.459 --> 00:21:37.819 Moses and Aaron were among his priests. 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:41.139 Samuel was among those who called on his name. 00:21:41.719 --> 00:21:46.039 They called on the Lord and he answered them. 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:48.519 He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud. 00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:51.619 They kept his statutes and decrees he gave them. 00:21:51.899 --> 00:21:52.700 Verse 8 again. 00:21:52.879 --> 00:21:55.980 O Lord our God, you answered them. 00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:57.299 Do you see that repeated? 00:21:57.740 --> 00:21:58.519 Verse 6. 00:21:58.859 --> 00:22:01.299 They called on the Lord, he answered them. 00:22:01.619 --> 00:22:02.319 Verse 8. 00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:05.379 O Lord our God, you answered them. 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:11.099 You were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds. 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:15.579 And so we're taking on this tour of some of God's prophets. 00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:18.279 Moses, Aaron, Samuel. 00:22:18.919 --> 00:22:24.819 And we're reminded of the fact that these were people who themselves were not powerful. 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:30.339 Themselves were not able to meet the needs of those who they were ministering to. 00:22:30.899 --> 00:22:35.919 But they called on his name and God answered. 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:42.240 We're reminded of Exodus chapter 16 and Exodus chapter 17 here. 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:50.100 Where the people are crying out for food and Moses calls out and God provides the manna and the quail. 00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:51.400 Exodus 17. 00:22:51.920 --> 00:23:00.420 The people are thirsty and they're complaining and Moses calls out and God answers and provides water from the rock. 00:23:00.420 --> 00:23:14.160 And explicitly we're reminded that God speaks to them from the pillar of cloud that surrounded those people as they made their way through the wilderness towards the promised land. 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:23.140 And if that was the experience of these prophets and of these people that they called out to God and he answered them. 00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:30.100 Then very simply I hope that we today can be assured that we too can call out to God. 00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:35.139 And he will hear an answer. 00:23:35.719 --> 00:23:36.539 We don't need Moses. 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:40.399 We don't need a prophet to be doing the asking for us. 00:23:40.399 --> 00:23:45.500 Let's not forget what we reflected on just a few weeks ago as we read in Romans chapter 8. 00:23:45.579 --> 00:23:48.039 Do you remember Romans chapter 8 verse 26? 00:23:48.459 --> 00:23:51.939 In the same way the spirit helps us in our weakness. 00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:54.279 We don't know what we ought to pray for. 00:23:54.620 --> 00:24:01.240 But the spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:10.240 We have the assurance from Jesus that we should keep asking, keep seeking and keep knocking. 00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:19.080 He said, which of you if your son asks for bread will give him a stone or if he asks for fish will give him a snake. 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:25.039 If you then though you are evil know how to give good gifts to your children. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:32.740 How much more will your father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him? 00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:42.899 I wonder if we are taking the time to really pour out our requests to our gods. 00:24:42.899 --> 00:24:46.539 Who wants to hear them and who promises. 00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:55.299 And we can take it from Psalm 99 that whenever he has been asked, he has always answered. 00:24:55.759 --> 00:25:03.099 I wonder if as we think about life now, for some of us we may be struggling through life by ourselves. 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:10.159 Rather than reaching out to him with our requests, big and small. 00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:16.220 Confident that he will hear and that he will answer. 00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:25.159 I want to finish with just three quotes that have struck me in recent days. 00:25:25.159 --> 00:25:34.639 From three authors who I have found helpful that I think will just unpack a little more of what is in this psalm. 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:49.580 Firstly, I think it's really important that we recognise that we look at this psalm through the reality of all that Jesus Christ has now done for us. 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:58.800 Millions of people will have heard this psalm read, sung and will have read it themselves over thousands of years. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.680 Isn't that remarkable? 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:08.980 Isn't that remarkable? These psalms, thousands of years old, read and heard by millions upon millions of our fellow human beings walking this earth. 00:26:10.419 --> 00:26:16.759 For those first hearing it, their worship would largely have been at the temple. 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:22.940 For us now, listen to what Rabbi Zacharias says. 00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:32.619 There are now no unique postures and times and limitations that restrict our access to God. 00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:38.220 My relationship with God is intimate and personal. 00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:42.799 The Christian does not go to the temple to worship. 00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:47.620 The Christian takes the temple with him or her. 00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:59.279 Jesus lifts us beyond any building and pays the human body the highest compliment by making it his dwelling place. 00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:03.539 The place where he meets with us. 00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:08.779 Right here, right now, wherever this week might take us. 00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:12.920 Wherever the rest of the year and the years ahead might take us. 00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:18.920 Through Christ we are invited to access this great and awesome God. 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:22.960 And indeed we are assured that he comes and dwells within. 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:25.759 We worship God for his greatness. 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.119 Yes. 00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:34.219 We worship God for his goodness and his justice as reflected in this psalm. 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:34.899 Yes. 00:27:35.679 --> 00:27:45.439 But we worship God perhaps most preciously for the salvation that he has offered us in Christ. 00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:51.739 We must keep our eyes on Jesus, his cross and forgiveness. 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:56.819 And allow that to be the thing that keeps taking us back to worship. 00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:58.939 Tom Wright says this. 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:09.299 If your idea of God and if your idea of the salvation offered in Christ is vague or remote. 00:28:09.959 --> 00:28:15.259 Then your idea of worship will be fuzzy and ill-informed. 00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:21.500 But the closer you get to the truth, the clearer becomes the beauty. 00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:25.539 And the more you will find worship welling up within you. 00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:30.059 That's why theology and worship belong together. 00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:32.779 The one isn't just a head trip. 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:35.440 The other isn't just emotion. 00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:48.100 I love that quote because we really put a great priority in this church here of unpacking God's word and seeking to understand what God's word has to say for us. 00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:54.079 The closer you get to the truth, the closer you get to the truth, the clearer becomes the beauty. 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:58.899 And the more you will find worship welling up within you. 00:28:59.559 --> 00:29:13.579 And finally, worshipping this big, awesome, mighty, reigning God freezes from living small, puny and self-absorbed lives. 00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:16.500 Listen to John Ortberg who said this. 00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:24.960 I need to worship because without it I can forget that I have a big God beside me and live in fear. 00:29:25.919 --> 00:29:34.720 I need to worship because without it I can forget his calling and begin to live in a spirit of self-preoccupation. 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:45.819 I need to worship because without it I lose a sense of wonder and gratitude and plod through life with blinkers on. 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:57.019 I need to worship because my natural tendency is towards self-reliance and stubborn independence. 00:29:57.640 --> 00:30:04.700 Let's worship this great God today and in all the days ahead. 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.600 Let's pray. 00:30:09.600 --> 00:30:16.000 Show us something great and mighty God of who you are. 00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:27.759 Help us not to live lives which seek to be independent, which seek to be self-reliant. 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:37.200 But may we all throw ourselves, our present and our future entirely on you, God. 00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:42.559 Thanking you that you are great and you are good. 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:53.539 But thanking you most of all that you have offered us salvation through Jesus Christ. 00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:56.639 We worship you this day. 00:30:57.539 --> 00:30:58.019 Amen.