WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:21.400 Well, good morning, everybody. It's good to see you all. I bring you greetings from Middleton Baptist Church. Thank you for praying for us and thank you for praying for Carrick tool. It's two weeks away from being a year since we planted Carrick to a Baptist. 00:00:21.399 --> 00:00:34.200 So we thank God for his faithfulness to us and time flies and we're very glad that they're doing very well. We miss them, but we're very glad that they're doing well. So thank you for praying for them. 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:47.340 Our passage this morning is Psalm 73. Psalm 73, if you'd like to turn there in your Bibles. Psalm 73. 00:00:51.399 --> 00:01:12.700 Psalm 73. 00:01:12.700 --> 00:01:21.540 who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped, 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:30.939 for I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked, for they have no pangs 00:01:30.939 --> 00:01:39.180 until death. Their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are. They are not 00:01:39.180 --> 00:01:45.280 stricken like the rest of mankind. Therefore, pride is their necklace. Violence covers them 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:51.760 as a garment. Their eyes swell out through fatness. Their hearts overflow with follies. 00:01:52.780 --> 00:02:00.660 They scoff and speak with malice. Loftily, they threaten oppression. They set their mouths 00:02:00.660 --> 00:02:07.780 against the heavens and their tongue struts through the earth. Therefore, his people turn 00:02:07.780 --> 00:02:16.020 back to them and find no fault in them. And they say, how can God know? Is there knowledge 00:02:16.020 --> 00:02:25.879 in the Most High? Behold, these are the wicked, always at ease. They increase in riches. All 00:02:25.879 --> 00:02:33.060 in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long, 00:02:33.060 --> 00:02:42.659 I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. If I had said, I will speak thus, I would have 00:02:42.659 --> 00:02:47.780 betrayed the generation of your people. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed 00:02:47.780 --> 00:03:03.520 to me a wearisome task. Until I went into the sanctuary of God. Then I discerned their end. Truly, 00:03:03.699 --> 00:03:11.080 you set them in slippery places. You make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, 00:03:11.080 --> 00:03:19.480 swept away utterly by terrors. Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord. When you rouse yourself, 00:03:19.480 --> 00:03:27.520 you despise them as phantoms. When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, 00:03:27.760 --> 00:03:36.580 I was brutish and ignorant. I was like a beast towards you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you. 00:03:36.580 --> 00:03:45.680 You hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel. And afterward, you will receive me to glory. 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:52.560 Whom in heaven have I but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 00:03:54.020 --> 00:04:00.760 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, 00:04:00.759 --> 00:04:08.840 those who are far from you shall perish. You put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:21.639 But for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. 00:04:21.639 --> 00:04:24.279 Let's pray for a moment. 00:04:28.519 --> 00:04:34.519 I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you, the psalmist says. 00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:42.680 Father, I pray that as we think and reflect on this psalm now in these next few moments, 00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:47.899 that you would help us by your spirit to store up your word in our hearts, 00:04:47.899 --> 00:04:50.399 that we might not sin against you. 00:04:51.779 --> 00:04:57.159 Lord, where there is hardness of heart, I pray that you would bring tenderness and openness. 00:04:58.419 --> 00:05:01.239 Where there is hopelessness, I pray you would bring hope. 00:05:02.500 --> 00:05:04.199 Where there is sin, conviction, 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:07.399 and where there is coldness, 00:05:08.019 --> 00:05:09.839 we pray you would bring warmth and fire. 00:05:11.060 --> 00:05:13.719 I ask all these things and for your help in the name of Jesus. 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:14.899 Amen. 00:05:17.899 --> 00:05:21.859 Reading this psalm, when I was preparing, 00:05:22.019 --> 00:05:24.479 reminded me of when we lived in the US. 00:05:24.579 --> 00:05:27.539 It was a couple of years ago and it was during the COVID-19 pandemic. 00:05:28.259 --> 00:05:30.819 A time of our lives I'm sure we're all keen to forget. 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:34.519 It was a strange time to be alive, wasn't it? 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:37.299 Do you remember how certain things were very hard to buy? 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:41.259 Like hand sanitizer suddenly was like more precious than gold. 00:05:42.219 --> 00:05:44.199 Couldn't get a hold of it, at least where we were living. 00:05:44.199 --> 00:05:48.079 Even toilet paper for a time had to be rationed out. 00:05:48.159 --> 00:05:50.139 People were panicking in the shops. 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:53.360 It had to be rationed out so that they didn't sell out. 00:05:54.099 --> 00:05:57.339 I remember as it all sort of kicked off and it was maximum panic, 00:05:58.699 --> 00:06:02.919 I remember trying to get my hands on any sort of disinfectant spray that I could. 00:06:02.920 --> 00:06:08.860 And one evening I was on Amazon and I found a tiny little bottle of Dettol fluid. 00:06:08.920 --> 00:06:09.819 It was about that size. 00:06:10.540 --> 00:06:13.640 Which, you know, would cost about three or four euro or three or four dollars. 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:15.220 And it was like fifteen dollars. 00:06:16.860 --> 00:06:17.840 But I panicked. 00:06:18.620 --> 00:06:19.540 And I bought it. 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:22.120 And I thought it was a good idea at the time. 00:06:22.200 --> 00:06:22.980 I thought, I need this. 00:06:23.060 --> 00:06:23.980 Who knows it's going to happen. 00:06:24.220 --> 00:06:25.379 There's a lot of uncertainty here. 00:06:25.379 --> 00:06:30.159 But as it turns out, we never used that bottle of Dettol even once. 00:06:30.939 --> 00:06:33.839 It went under our kitchen sink into a little cabinet. 00:06:34.100 --> 00:06:36.699 And it stayed there until we moved out about two years later. 00:06:37.139 --> 00:06:38.019 Never even opened it. 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:42.439 And every now and again I would open the cupboard and see it there. 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:43.719 And just think, what was I thinking? 00:06:43.800 --> 00:06:46.360 Paying all that money for a small little bottle of Dettol. 00:06:47.420 --> 00:06:49.659 But of course, hindsight is twenty-twenty, isn't it? 00:06:50.339 --> 00:06:52.100 You look back at the decisions you made. 00:06:52.100 --> 00:06:55.240 And you think, how could I have gotten it so wrong? 00:06:56.260 --> 00:06:57.960 Why did I think that was such a good idea? 00:06:59.540 --> 00:07:00.520 What was I thinking? 00:07:02.200 --> 00:07:04.040 Of course, that's a pretty harmless example. 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:06.300 But we all have times like this in our lives, don't we? 00:07:06.660 --> 00:07:10.540 When we look back on a rash decision or some faulty reasoning and wonder, 00:07:10.980 --> 00:07:12.140 what was I thinking? 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:15.540 How did I believe that? 00:07:16.500 --> 00:07:17.740 Why did I do that? 00:07:18.960 --> 00:07:21.400 How did I get so confused? 00:07:23.100 --> 00:07:25.800 Sometimes things that make total sense in the moment 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:28.720 make no sense in hindsight. 00:07:28.960 --> 00:07:31.480 And it's exactly this sort of realization, 00:07:31.740 --> 00:07:34.320 this sort of what was I thinking, feeling, 00:07:35.660 --> 00:07:39.860 that the psalmist is talking about here in our passage this morning. 00:07:40.080 --> 00:07:41.840 Asaph, who wrote this psalm, 00:07:42.100 --> 00:07:44.879 is looking back to the recent past, 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:48.220 back to a time when he was envious or jealous 00:07:48.220 --> 00:07:51.100 of godless, wicked people. 00:07:52.100 --> 00:07:56.740 A time when life as a believer didn't seem to make any sense at all. 00:07:57.800 --> 00:07:59.280 I wonder if you ever felt like that. 00:08:00.740 --> 00:08:03.580 But now, at the time of writing this psalm, 00:08:03.660 --> 00:08:04.960 now with the benefit of hindsight, 00:08:05.520 --> 00:08:09.879 he can see just how confused and wrongheaded he had become. 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:12.019 He looks back and says, so to speak, 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:13.339 what was I thinking? 00:08:15.259 --> 00:08:16.920 Two quick things to note about this psalm, 00:08:16.980 --> 00:08:18.040 just to give us some context. 00:08:18.159 --> 00:08:21.920 The first is that this is what is referred to as a psalm of wisdom, 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:22.980 or a wisdom psalm. 00:08:23.980 --> 00:08:26.259 The psalms have a huge variety. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:27.139 There's different types. 00:08:27.259 --> 00:08:30.139 There's psalms of praise, psalms of judgment, psalms of repentance, 00:08:30.659 --> 00:08:32.799 royal psalms that speak of the coming king, 00:08:33.059 --> 00:08:35.200 who will be fulfilled explicitly by Jesus. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:39.000 And this psalm is generally agreed to be a psalm of wisdom. 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:42.879 In other words, it's written in order to make you and I wise people, 00:08:43.540 --> 00:08:48.560 that we would avoid living unwisely in this world that God has created. 00:08:50.160 --> 00:08:52.220 Second, a note about the author. 00:08:52.440 --> 00:08:53.360 It's Asaph. 00:08:53.820 --> 00:08:56.879 Asaph lived at the same time as King David. 00:08:56.879 --> 00:09:02.340 And in 1 Chronicles 6, we read that King David put Asaph, along with others, 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:05.939 in charge of the service of the psalm in the temple. 00:09:07.139 --> 00:09:09.320 So he was, you might say, a worship leader. 00:09:09.439 --> 00:09:12.080 He was the chief music leader in the temple. 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:17.279 And in 1 Chronicles 25, verse 2, it also says that he prophesied 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:20.120 under the direction of the king. 00:09:21.320 --> 00:09:25.039 So Asaph isn't just some random guy who managed to get one of his writings 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:25.679 into the Bible. 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:31.879 He's someone deeply involved in the religious life of Israel. 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:34.000 He's a friend of the king. 00:09:34.839 --> 00:09:36.799 He's the worship leader at the temple. 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:38.879 And he prophesies. 00:09:40.859 --> 00:09:43.419 And knowing all this about Asaph will help us understand 00:09:43.419 --> 00:09:48.379 the crisis of faith that he is having here in these verses. 00:09:49.639 --> 00:09:50.819 Okay, so to begin with, 00:09:51.259 --> 00:09:54.599 he begins by stating up front his final conclusion. 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:56.240 So he begins at the end, as it were. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:09:58.960 Here's what I now know to be true. 00:09:59.259 --> 00:10:05.120 Truly, God is good to Israel and to those who are pure in heart. 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:10.480 But as you move into verse 2, he moves back in time. 00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:12.980 He says, it wasn't always like this. 00:10:13.740 --> 00:10:16.539 And from verse 2 all the way down to verse 16, 00:10:17.100 --> 00:10:20.580 he's reflecting on this time, which I think was pretty recent, 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:22.820 when he was having a crisis of faith, 00:10:22.820 --> 00:10:26.700 and he doubted God's goodness toward his people. 00:10:28.220 --> 00:10:29.400 Maybe you're here this morning, 00:10:29.640 --> 00:10:33.940 and you wouldn't express it in such explicit terms, 00:10:34.500 --> 00:10:37.379 but you're doubting if God is good. 00:10:37.379 --> 00:10:41.000 He puts it this way. 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:42.700 As for me, my feet had almost stumbled. 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:44.519 My steps had nearly slipped. 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:48.080 Because I was envious of the arrogant 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:51.980 when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 00:10:51.980 --> 00:10:56.539 He's looking at the world around him 00:10:56.539 --> 00:11:00.420 and seeing people who want nothing to do with God, 00:11:00.680 --> 00:11:03.120 and they're having a great life. 00:11:05.220 --> 00:11:06.800 He says they're prospering. 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:09.139 The word there is the word shalom. 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:12.259 It's this idea of wholeness and peacefulness. 00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:14.440 Everything is as it's meant to be. 00:11:14.440 --> 00:11:20.080 So they are living the shalom life, 00:11:20.180 --> 00:11:23.380 even though they are rejecting God. 00:11:24.820 --> 00:11:27.180 And Asaph essentially is looking out at this 00:11:27.180 --> 00:11:29.620 and saying, what gives? 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:33.520 Why do the wicked seem to have such a great life? 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:37.060 And this really troubles him. 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:38.820 He cannot stop thinking about it. 00:11:38.880 --> 00:11:39.540 Do you ever get that? 00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:42.200 Like some problem that starts to annoy you in your head. 00:11:42.820 --> 00:11:44.080 It doesn't go away. 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:46.920 It just goes, it warms its way deeper and deeper 00:11:46.920 --> 00:11:47.820 into your thoughts. 00:11:48.680 --> 00:11:49.960 And it consumes him. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:52.180 It's all that he can think of. 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:55.700 In verses 4 to 12, he goes into great detail 00:11:55.700 --> 00:11:59.000 about both their prosperity and their wickedness. 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:01.259 First in verse 4 to 7, 00:12:02.520 --> 00:12:04.580 their prosperity says they have no pangs, 00:12:04.680 --> 00:12:06.139 no pain until death. 00:12:06.700 --> 00:12:08.740 And their bodies are fat and sleek. 00:12:08.820 --> 00:12:10.500 So while the rest of us are working hard 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:13.220 just trying to keep ends, make ends meet, 00:12:13.220 --> 00:12:16.040 these guys have so much food, they're fat. 00:12:16.899 --> 00:12:18.259 They've got such an abundance. 00:12:19.800 --> 00:12:21.200 And they have great health. 00:12:21.920 --> 00:12:25.720 They live pain-free lives right up to the day they die. 00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:28.040 In verse 5, they're not in trouble as others are. 00:12:28.800 --> 00:12:30.720 They're not stricken like the rest of mankind. 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:33.420 It's as if the curses of the fall 00:12:33.420 --> 00:12:35.100 and all the brokenness of this world 00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:36.139 just skips over them. 00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:38.500 everything's easy for them, 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:41.240 at least as Asaph sees it. 00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:42.699 Their whole life just looks like 00:12:42.699 --> 00:12:45.179 one continuous Instagram story. 00:12:48.059 --> 00:12:50.240 In fact, life is going so well for them, 00:12:50.779 --> 00:12:53.240 they are openly proud. 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:54.720 Verse 6, 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:56.519 therefore pride is their necklace 00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:59.299 and violence covers them as a garment. 00:13:00.659 --> 00:13:01.379 They're smug. 00:13:01.379 --> 00:13:04.240 They feel free to be violent towards other people. 00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:08.080 That's their prosperity. 00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:10.080 And then he, from verse 8, 00:13:10.220 --> 00:13:11.480 recounts their wickedness. 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:11.779 He says, 00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:13.820 they scoff and speak with malice 00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:15.899 and loftily they threaten oppression. 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:20.480 It seems that the people that Asaph has in mind here 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:21.659 are people with power 00:13:21.659 --> 00:13:23.220 and influence. 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:27.580 Because when you have power, 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:29.220 you can threaten oppression, can't you? 00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:33.920 Like a bad landlord 00:13:33.920 --> 00:13:35.180 who puts up the rent 00:13:35.180 --> 00:13:36.519 year after year 00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:39.620 and when their tenants ask for a break, 00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:40.300 they just say, 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:41.000 if you don't like it, 00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:41.519 you can get out 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:42.879 and they'll find someone else who can pay. 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:46.920 Or like a bad business owner 00:13:46.920 --> 00:13:48.420 who mistreats their staff 00:13:48.420 --> 00:13:49.480 and doesn't pay them 00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:50.940 their full wages. 00:13:52.560 --> 00:13:53.560 When you have power, 00:13:53.660 --> 00:13:54.279 you can be a jerk 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:55.259 and get away with it, can't you? 00:13:55.259 --> 00:14:00.700 Their speech also shows their wickedness. 00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:01.000 It says, 00:14:01.139 --> 00:14:03.259 they set their mouths against the heavens. 00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:06.080 They speak blasphemous things 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:09.819 and speak against heaven where God is 00:14:09.819 --> 00:14:11.559 as if there's no one up there. 00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:15.299 And their tongues struck through the earth. 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:16.379 This confident, 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:16.899 imagine, 00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:18.740 look at that imagery of their tongue, 00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:19.500 their speech, 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:21.360 walking around like they're the boss. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:23.700 They can say whatever they want, 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:26.259 whenever and wherever they want. 00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:27.580 And all of this, 00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:28.820 their great wickedness 00:14:28.820 --> 00:14:31.360 and their seemingly great prosperity, 00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:32.700 Asaph says, 00:14:32.899 --> 00:14:35.560 has a terrible effect on God's people. 00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:36.419 Look at verse 10. 00:14:36.800 --> 00:14:37.100 He says, 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:37.500 therefore, 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:38.659 his people, 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:39.779 that is God's people, 00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:41.139 turn back to them. 00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:42.399 They turn to the wicked 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:44.560 and find no fault in them. 00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:47.720 So God's people look at these people 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:48.000 and say, 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:49.960 there's nothing wrong there, is there? 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:51.740 They seem to be just living the good life. 00:14:53.100 --> 00:14:54.379 And they're deceived. 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:56.400 They think, 00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:58.379 well, I guess living like that is fine. 00:14:58.440 --> 00:14:58.900 In other words, 00:14:59.160 --> 00:15:00.879 sin looks safe. 00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:05.400 It looks advantageous. 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:07.620 And it looks like the only way 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:09.360 to really get ahead in this life. 00:15:09.400 --> 00:15:10.200 You ever feel like that? 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:14.500 The way of this world 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:16.300 does not flow in the way of righteousness. 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:17.780 It flows in the way of sin. 00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:22.440 And Asaph is saying, 00:15:22.540 --> 00:15:23.800 it sure would be nice to swim 00:15:23.800 --> 00:15:26.060 along with the current for once. 00:15:27.660 --> 00:15:28.660 The wicked say, 00:15:28.780 --> 00:15:29.259 verse 11, 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:30.180 how can God know? 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:31.560 Is there knowledge of the Most High? 00:15:32.780 --> 00:15:34.240 This is peak arrogance. 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:38.400 God does not see what's going on. 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:39.100 That's what they're saying. 00:15:39.660 --> 00:15:41.100 You think God's watching all of us? 00:15:41.940 --> 00:15:43.200 God's not watching all of us. 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:44.940 We can do whatever we want. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:48.320 And it's a might makes right kind of world. 00:15:49.080 --> 00:15:50.440 We see that in the news all the time, 00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:51.280 don't we, with politicians? 00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:53.660 If you can get away with it, do it. 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:56.280 If you can get it, take it. 00:15:57.060 --> 00:15:58.840 And whoever has the biggest hammer 00:15:58.840 --> 00:16:01.700 gets to push everybody else around. 00:16:01.700 --> 00:16:05.300 Let's see where that ends. 00:16:05.520 --> 00:16:06.580 Finally, in verse 12, 00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:08.720 Asaph summarizes what he's seeing. 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:08.980 He says, 00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:10.640 Behold, look, 00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:12.420 these are the wicked. 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:13.860 Always at ease, 00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:16.060 they increase in riches. 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:20.840 Friends, can you see Asaph's dilemma here? 00:16:20.920 --> 00:16:22.160 Can you relate to what he's feeling? 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:25.879 How do I reconcile the wickedness 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:27.120 of these people 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:29.980 with their abundant prosperity? 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:33.159 Why is life so good 00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:37.000 for those who reject God? 00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:41.279 This dilemma causes Asaph 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:44.360 to question his own life choices. 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:45.379 Look at verse 13. 00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:47.820 He says, 00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:50.240 All in vain have I kept my heart clean 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:52.740 and washed my hands in innocence. 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:54.480 What's he saying there? 00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:56.659 He's essentially saying this. 00:16:57.779 --> 00:16:58.799 Why do I bother? 00:17:01.560 --> 00:17:02.879 Why am I striving 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:04.539 to follow after the Lord 00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:06.000 and live a life 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:07.319 that is pleasing to him? 00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:08.200 Why have I spent 00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:09.559 all of this effort 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:11.640 fighting temptation and sin 00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:13.480 to keep myself clean? 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:15.759 I mean, look where that's gotten me. 00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:18.660 Verse 14, he says, 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:19.880 All the day long 00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:21.319 I have been stricken 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:22.539 and rebuked 00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:23.900 every morning. 00:17:23.900 --> 00:17:27.140 I think Asaph here 00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:28.720 is referring to a physical illness 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:29.360 in his body 00:17:29.360 --> 00:17:31.320 that he has been stricken 00:17:31.320 --> 00:17:32.200 with ill health 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:34.240 and also there is this rebuke 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:36.160 which I think is God's discipline 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:36.980 in his life. 00:17:38.340 --> 00:17:40.259 Like we read in Hebrews chapter 12, 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:42.180 God disciplines his people, 00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:44.160 God disciplines us 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:44.980 for our good 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:46.039 that we may share 00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:46.820 in his holiness. 00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:49.139 For the moment, 00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:50.539 it says, 00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:52.179 all discipline seems painful 00:17:52.179 --> 00:17:53.000 rather than pleasant, 00:17:53.179 --> 00:17:53.919 but later 00:17:53.919 --> 00:17:55.679 it yields 00:17:55.679 --> 00:17:56.559 the peaceful fruit 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:57.119 of righteousness 00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:58.480 to those who have been 00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:59.960 trained by it. 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:02.860 God disciplines us 00:18:02.860 --> 00:18:05.019 not to punish us. 00:18:05.360 --> 00:18:06.039 Christ has taken 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:06.920 all of our punishment 00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:07.500 on the cross. 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.460 God disciplines us 00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:12.720 rather to purify us 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:14.480 that we might share 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:16.420 in his holiness. 00:18:19.120 --> 00:18:20.400 Asaph knows the pain 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:21.980 of physical suffering 00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:24.420 as well as the discomfort 00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:26.180 of God's rebuke 00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:28.019 and he's starting 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:29.559 to resent it. 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:33.220 Here I am, Lord, 00:18:33.379 --> 00:18:34.779 serving in your temple 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:36.319 day after day, 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:39.359 putting in all this hard work, 00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:41.039 striving to keep my heart 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:41.980 and my hands clean 00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:43.099 from sin 00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:44.400 and instead of prosperity, 00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:45.859 instead of shalom, 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:47.559 I have a body 00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:48.539 that is breaking down 00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:50.339 and from you, 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:51.039 rebuke. 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.660 And meanwhile, 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:55.619 the wicked walk around 00:18:55.619 --> 00:18:56.639 like they own the place. 00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:59.740 And their lives 00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:00.639 are just going 00:19:00.639 --> 00:19:01.339 fabulously. 00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:04.519 It's like Asaph 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.559 is driving along. 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.460 If you think of life 00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:06.879 like a journey, 00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:07.660 he's driving along 00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:08.220 in his car, 00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:10.440 but it's a real old 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:11.259 banger of a car. 00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:12.660 You know, 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:13.400 when you start driving, 00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:13.720 you always, 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:14.720 it's kind of like tradition, 00:19:14.900 --> 00:19:15.400 you start off, 00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:16.460 your first car is terrible. 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:18.579 It's like he's been driving 00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:19.319 for many years 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:20.059 and he's still got 00:19:20.059 --> 00:19:20.799 that first car 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:21.660 that's just about 00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:22.299 hanging in there. 00:19:22.619 --> 00:19:22.740 You know, 00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:24.220 the dash is full of lights. 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:25.740 It's sputtering out 00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:28.279 smoke and leaking oil. 00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:30.339 And as he's driving 00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:31.279 along slowly, 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:33.400 he hears the sound 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:34.500 of a sports car 00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.880 driving up behind him 00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:36.519 and he looks in the 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.140 rear view mirror 00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:37.759 and he sees this 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:39.539 brand new jet black 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:40.940 Porsche just gliding 00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:42.059 along in the fast lane. 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:45.140 And as this beautiful 00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:46.620 Porsche just whizzes 00:19:46.620 --> 00:19:47.140 by him, 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:48.680 he sees the driver 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:49.200 and says, 00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:50.039 I know that guy. 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:53.319 That's that wicked man 00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:54.159 who lives down the road 00:19:54.159 --> 00:19:54.599 from me, 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:55.940 who does whatever 00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:56.519 he wants, 00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:58.399 who rejects God 00:19:58.399 --> 00:20:00.980 and is evil. 00:20:02.139 --> 00:20:03.099 And as that car 00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:03.920 just glides off 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:04.500 into the sunset 00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:05.000 ahead of him, 00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:05.480 he thinks, 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:07.279 why does he get 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:07.779 that car 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:09.659 and this is mine? 00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:13.319 I should be driving 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:13.859 the Porsche. 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:15.879 He should have 00:20:15.879 --> 00:20:16.339 this banger. 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:17.980 This is not fair. 00:20:18.139 --> 00:20:18.879 Why is my life 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:19.540 so rough 00:20:19.540 --> 00:20:21.460 and his so smooth? 00:20:24.060 --> 00:20:24.780 Have you ever 00:20:24.780 --> 00:20:25.360 thought like this 00:20:25.360 --> 00:20:25.920 as a Christian? 00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:31.140 Maybe just quietly 00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:31.880 to yourself 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:33.960 as you lie in bed 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:36.480 you ask yourself, 00:20:36.780 --> 00:20:38.240 what's the point? 00:20:39.320 --> 00:20:41.420 This is so hard. 00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:44.900 Following Christ 00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:45.600 in this world, 00:20:46.020 --> 00:20:46.960 swimming against 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:47.640 the stream, 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:48.620 fighting 00:20:48.620 --> 00:20:49.700 outwardly 00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.640 and inwardly 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:51.580 sin and temptation 00:20:51.580 --> 00:20:53.240 day after day 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:54.220 after day 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.140 after day 00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:56.740 while those 00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.780 who ignore God 00:20:57.780 --> 00:20:59.759 seem to have 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.420 it so easy. 00:21:04.520 --> 00:21:05.280 For any of you 00:21:05.280 --> 00:21:05.820 ever been tempted 00:21:05.820 --> 00:21:06.800 to think like this? 00:21:07.280 --> 00:21:08.100 You look over 00:21:08.100 --> 00:21:08.700 the fence 00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:11.440 at your non-Christian 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:12.100 neighbor and say, 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:12.320 man, 00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:13.040 the grass really 00:21:13.040 --> 00:21:13.620 does look 00:21:13.620 --> 00:21:14.540 a bit greener 00:21:14.540 --> 00:21:14.900 over there. 00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:17.900 I think if we're 00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:18.200 honest, 00:21:18.300 --> 00:21:19.060 we've all thought 00:21:19.060 --> 00:21:19.580 things like that 00:21:19.580 --> 00:21:20.140 in the past. 00:21:21.080 --> 00:21:21.880 Maybe you're thinking 00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:22.440 of right now 00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:24.280 when we've envied 00:21:24.280 --> 00:21:25.240 those who 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:26.120 reject God 00:21:26.120 --> 00:21:27.160 like Asaph 00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:28.200 did here. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:29.820 And it's no 00:21:29.820 --> 00:21:30.759 exaggeration to say 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:31.440 that Asaph 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.540 is having a crisis 00:21:32.540 --> 00:21:33.519 of faith here. 00:21:33.580 --> 00:21:34.420 This is no small 00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:34.840 thing. 00:21:34.840 --> 00:21:35.100 He's thinking 00:21:35.100 --> 00:21:40.060 of throwing in the 00:21:40.060 --> 00:21:40.900 towel and walking 00:21:40.900 --> 00:21:41.440 away and just 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:41.519 saying, 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:42.079 I can't do 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:42.559 this anymore. 00:21:44.139 --> 00:21:44.660 He even 00:21:44.660 --> 00:21:45.400 considers in 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:46.059 verse 14 00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:46.400 what would 00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:47.000 happen if he 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.420 were to walk 00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:48.720 away. 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:49.379 He said, 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:50.079 if I had spoken 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:50.779 out like that, 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:51.480 if I had just 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:52.079 come out and 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:52.319 said, 00:21:52.619 --> 00:21:53.119 there is no 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:53.400 God, 00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:53.859 just do 00:21:53.859 --> 00:21:54.259 whatever you 00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:54.619 want. 00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:57.700 He realizes 00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.799 I would have 00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.579 betrayed the 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:00.240 generation of 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.579 your people. 00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:00.980 In other words, 00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:01.420 if I were to 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:01.900 just say that, 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.240 I'd have been 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:02.940 a traitor to 00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:03.400 your people. 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:05.579 I'm not going 00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:06.000 to do that, 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:06.519 but that doesn't 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:06.940 solve his 00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:07.299 problem. 00:22:09.139 --> 00:22:09.639 He says in 00:22:09.639 --> 00:22:10.220 verse 16, 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:10.579 but when I 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:11.039 thought how to 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:11.740 understand this, 00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:12.380 it seemed to 00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:13.500 me a wearisome 00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:13.920 task. 00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:15.279 I cannot make 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:15.839 heads or tails 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:16.319 of what's going 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:16.680 on here. 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:18.759 I love the 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.420 honesty of this 00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:19.720 psalm. 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:21.200 There's no 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:22.000 plastic religion 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:22.579 in the Bible. 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:24.539 It's real 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.740 people dealing 00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.299 with real 00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:28.100 life, following 00:22:28.100 --> 00:22:28.880 the real 00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:29.880 God. 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:32.839 The turning 00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:33.400 point of this 00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:33.880 psalm, the 00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:34.480 hinge of it 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.440 all, is in 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:36.259 verse 17. 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.160 This problem 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:38.460 vexes Asaph 00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.799 until, he 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:40.140 says, 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:41.559 until I 00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:42.279 went to the 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:43.579 sanctuary of 00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:44.160 God. 00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:45.759 Then I 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.900 discerned their 00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:47.180 end. 00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:47.680 That is the 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:48.920 end of the 00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:49.180 wicked. 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.799 His breakthrough 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:51.400 comes when he 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:52.059 goes to this 00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:53.140 specific place, 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:53.940 the sanctuary, 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.339 that place where 00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:56.680 God is worshipped 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:58.980 and praised as 00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.779 the creator and 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.319 judge of this 00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:00.620 world. 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:01.500 And it is there 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:02.319 in that holy 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:03.240 place where he 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:04.360 encounters God 00:23:04.360 --> 00:23:05.220 in a fresh 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:05.640 way. 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:07.140 It is there 00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:07.860 that he is 00:23:07.860 --> 00:23:09.000 reminded of the 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.559 truth. 00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:12.059 and his 00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:13.200 perspective on 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.079 life is 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:14.619 corrected. 00:23:15.899 --> 00:23:16.859 And he sees 00:23:16.859 --> 00:23:17.619 things as they 00:23:17.619 --> 00:23:18.339 really are. 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.000 Brothers and 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.799 sisters, you 00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:20.099 know when we 00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:20.599 need to come to 00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:21.779 church every 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.079 week? 00:23:22.899 --> 00:23:23.539 One of the 00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:24.000 reasons is 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:24.399 because we 00:23:24.399 --> 00:23:25.139 need to have 00:23:25.139 --> 00:23:26.740 our eyesight 00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:27.579 corrected at 00:23:27.579 --> 00:23:28.179 least once a 00:23:28.179 --> 00:23:28.399 week. 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.419 You know that 00:23:30.419 --> 00:23:30.859 thing, I 00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:31.099 should have 00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:31.379 gone to 00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:31.960 Specsavers, 00:23:32.099 --> 00:23:32.399 that ad 00:23:32.399 --> 00:23:32.879 campaign, 00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:33.700 of all the 00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:34.159 silly things 00:23:34.159 --> 00:23:34.440 that people 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:34.940 do because 00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:35.500 they never 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:35.839 went to 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:36.480 Specsavers and 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:36.759 got their 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.500 eyesight checked. 00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:38.880 Think of 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:39.660 church as 00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:40.240 Specsavers. 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.299 You go to 00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:43.259 see things as 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:44.039 they really 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:44.900 are. 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:47.920 In a world 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:48.720 that screams 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.160 at you, 00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:50.460 that there's 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.360 nothing special 00:23:51.360 --> 00:23:51.920 about you, 00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:53.920 and that it's 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:54.299 just, 00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:56.039 might makes 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:57.339 right. 00:23:57.339 --> 00:24:00.039 every Sunday 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:00.439 we gather 00:24:00.439 --> 00:24:00.939 together as 00:24:00.939 --> 00:24:01.480 God's people, 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:02.039 we open 00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.619 our Bibles, 00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:03.819 and we 00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:04.319 hear, 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:05.259 thus saith 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:05.939 the Lord. 00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:07.799 That's true 00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.220 north. 00:24:08.959 --> 00:24:10.000 That's 20-20 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:10.399 vision. 00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:11.679 That is 00:24:11.679 --> 00:24:12.740 wisdom that 00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:13.259 will never 00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:13.639 let you 00:24:13.639 --> 00:24:13.839 down. 00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:18.659 That's what 00:24:18.659 --> 00:24:19.199 happens to 00:24:19.199 --> 00:24:20.019 Asaph here in 00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:20.659 verse 19. 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:21.179 Now that he 00:24:21.179 --> 00:24:21.980 is inside the 00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:22.659 temple looking 00:24:22.659 --> 00:24:23.240 out as it 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:23.579 were, he 00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.319 considers the 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:24.939 wicked again, 00:24:25.439 --> 00:24:25.959 and he 00:24:25.959 --> 00:24:27.059 draws this 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:28.480 sobering 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.899 conclusion in 00:24:29.899 --> 00:24:30.819 verses 19 00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:31.440 and 20. 00:24:33.859 --> 00:24:34.559 How they 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.259 are destroyed 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:35.859 in a moment, 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:38.079 swept away 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:38.679 utterly by 00:24:38.679 --> 00:24:39.200 terrors, 00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:41.220 like a 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:41.740 dream when 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.299 one awakes, 00:24:42.399 --> 00:24:42.779 O Lord. 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:43.619 You rouse 00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:44.119 yourself. 00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:46.000 You despise 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.299 them as 00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:46.759 phantoms. 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.720 It would 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.000 be a 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:53.859 mistake to 00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:54.639 read these 00:24:54.639 --> 00:24:56.319 words of 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.000 Asaph and 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.339 think that 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:57.539 he's 00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:58.000 gloating. 00:24:59.359 --> 00:24:59.819 As if 00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:00.559 he's happy 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.619 or in 00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:02.480 some twisted 00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:03.359 way excited 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:03.740 about the 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.180 fact that 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:05.160 God in 00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:05.680 a moment 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.079 will bring 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:06.799 judgment upon 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.160 the wicked. 00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.019 He's not 00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:08.480 doing that. 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:10.799 No, 00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:11.420 Asaph's 00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:12.299 words here 00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:13.160 are words 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:14.460 of somber 00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:15.859 realization. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.480 He's not 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:18.980 gloating. 00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:21.019 He's 00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:21.599 realizing 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:23.259 realizing that 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:23.839 whatever 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:25.579 prosperity the 00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:26.199 wicked have 00:25:26.199 --> 00:25:26.759 now, in 00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:28.179 the end, it 00:25:28.179 --> 00:25:29.000 will all 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:30.119 disappear in 00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:30.679 a moment 00:25:30.679 --> 00:25:32.299 and they 00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:32.879 will be 00:25:32.879 --> 00:25:34.319 judged by 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:34.779 God 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.179 himself. 00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:35.380 self. 00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:39.360 This is a 00:25:39.360 --> 00:25:39.920 sobering 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.340 truth. 00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:43.180 God is 00:25:43.180 --> 00:25:44.039 not indifferent 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:44.519 to the 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:44.940 evil of 00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:45.460 this world. 00:25:50.820 --> 00:25:51.420 Asaph 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:52.320 remembers the 00:25:52.320 --> 00:25:52.720 day is 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.220 coming when 00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:54.220 God, in 00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:55.180 his righteous, 00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:56.220 perfectly 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:56.880 appropriate 00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:58.080 anger, will 00:25:58.080 --> 00:25:58.799 come with 00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.519 his perfect 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.560 justice and 00:26:00.560 --> 00:26:01.279 put an end 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:01.580 to the 00:26:01.580 --> 00:26:01.779 wicked. 00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:04.099 And now 00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:04.359 that he 00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:05.220 sees that 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:05.879 that's where 00:26:05.879 --> 00:26:06.539 wickedness 00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:07.859 ends, that 00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:08.420 that's the 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:09.639 final destination 00:26:09.639 --> 00:26:10.700 of those who 00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:11.359 reject God, 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:12.220 now he 00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:14.500 sees his 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.399 own situation 00:26:15.399 --> 00:26:16.019 in a 00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:16.519 completely 00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.139 different light. 00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:17.460 He goes, 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:18.339 if you think 00:26:18.339 --> 00:26:18.920 back to the 00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:19.539 car analogy, 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:20.619 he realizes 00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:21.000 the most 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:21.539 important thing 00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.079 is not how 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:22.859 easy your 00:26:22.859 --> 00:26:23.359 journey through 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:23.839 this life 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:24.299 is. 00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:25.700 What matters 00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.119 is what 00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:26.759 path you're 00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:27.480 on and 00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:27.920 where you 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:28.420 end up 00:26:28.420 --> 00:26:28.920 in the 00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:29.220 end. 00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:32.100 Jesus 00:26:32.100 --> 00:26:32.799 himself 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:33.640 taught us 00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:33.980 in the 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.519 Sermon on 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:34.880 the Mount, 00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:35.420 there are 00:26:35.420 --> 00:26:35.980 only two 00:26:35.980 --> 00:26:36.440 paths that 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:36.640 you can 00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:36.960 take through 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.460 this life. 00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:38.680 He says, 00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:39.500 the gate 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.100 is wide 00:26:40.100 --> 00:26:40.380 and the 00:26:40.380 --> 00:26:40.720 way is 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:41.400 easy, 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:42.460 that leads 00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:43.160 to destruction 00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:44.000 and those 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.600 who enter 00:26:44.600 --> 00:26:45.200 through it 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:46.400 are many. 00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:49.700 But the 00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:50.120 gate is 00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:51.279 narrow and 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:51.559 the way 00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:52.440 is hard 00:26:52.440 --> 00:26:53.500 that leads 00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:53.960 to life. 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.180 And those 00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:56.680 who find 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:58.200 it are 00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:58.600 few. 00:26:59.220 --> 00:27:00.019 Fred, 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:00.279 let me 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:00.640 ask you 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:00.839 this 00:27:00.839 --> 00:27:01.120 morning, 00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.860 what path 00:27:02.860 --> 00:27:03.140 are you 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:03.380 on? 00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:07.100 Are you 00:27:07.100 --> 00:27:07.420 on the 00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:08.620 narrow and 00:27:08.620 --> 00:27:09.519 hard path 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:10.579 of Jesus 00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:11.819 that leads 00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:12.339 to life? 00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:14.160 Or are 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:14.740 you on the 00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:15.380 easy, 00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:16.600 well-lit, 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:17.600 comfortable, 00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:18.799 broad, 00:27:19.380 --> 00:27:19.779 freshly 00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:20.539 tarmacadam 00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.059 road that 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:21.819 leads straight 00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:22.240 to hell? 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:27.120 Can you 00:27:27.120 --> 00:27:28.319 see that 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:28.579 it is 00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:29.119 infinitely 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:30.359 better to 00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:30.960 plod 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:31.960 painfully 00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:32.759 through this 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:33.700 life following 00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:35.480 Jesus than 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:35.859 it is to 00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:36.720 ignore him 00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.919 and glide 00:27:37.919 --> 00:27:38.859 smoothly to 00:27:38.859 --> 00:27:39.339 destruction? 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.200 There are 00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:42.960 only two 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:43.919 paths in 00:27:43.919 --> 00:27:44.460 this life. 00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:45.200 Christian, 00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:46.119 Jesus told 00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:46.819 us this way 00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:47.220 is narrow 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:47.619 and hard. 00:27:47.879 --> 00:27:48.359 No false 00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:49.059 advertising from 00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:49.359 Jesus. 00:27:50.399 --> 00:27:51.220 He never 00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:51.799 said this was 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.099 going to be 00:27:52.099 --> 00:27:52.399 easy. 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:52.500 easy. 00:27:55.300 --> 00:27:56.180 It's always 00:27:56.180 --> 00:27:56.620 been like 00:27:56.620 --> 00:27:57.000 this for 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.300 God's 00:27:57.300 --> 00:27:57.740 people in 00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.280 this world. 00:28:00.780 --> 00:28:01.140 And just 00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:01.820 like Asaph 00:28:01.820 --> 00:28:02.460 here, let 00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:02.820 us not 00:28:02.820 --> 00:28:03.820 lose our 00:28:03.820 --> 00:28:04.140 right 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:04.800 perspective 00:28:04.800 --> 00:28:06.340 on life. 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:06.780 So whereas 00:28:06.780 --> 00:28:07.740 before when 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.320 Asaph was 00:28:08.320 --> 00:28:09.080 focused on 00:28:09.080 --> 00:28:09.600 the here 00:28:09.600 --> 00:28:10.100 and now 00:28:10.100 --> 00:28:10.800 and sort 00:28:10.800 --> 00:28:11.240 of throwing 00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:11.620 himself a 00:28:11.620 --> 00:28:11.920 bit of a 00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:12.540 pity party, 00:28:14.540 --> 00:28:15.220 he was 00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:15.940 filled with 00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:16.660 envy of 00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:17.000 the wicked. 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.080 Now he 00:28:18.080 --> 00:28:19.259 can see all 00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:19.880 the way down 00:28:19.880 --> 00:28:20.259 to the end 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:20.700 of the road 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:20.980 and he 00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.440 sees a 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:22.000 fork in 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.380 the road 00:28:22.380 --> 00:28:26.059 where the 00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:26.640 one lane 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:27.259 leads to 00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:28.259 eternal joy 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:29.819 and the 00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.620 other leads 00:28:30.620 --> 00:28:31.680 to sudden 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:32.779 judgment. 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:34.680 And now 00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:36.700 his old 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.259 banger of 00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:37.680 a car, 00:28:38.600 --> 00:28:39.259 his difficult 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:39.759 life, 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.799 seems like 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.279 a noble 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:42.960 chariot and 00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:43.440 that black 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:44.039 Porsche just 00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:44.539 looks like 00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:45.220 a hearse. 00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.180 Friend, 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:48.700 let me ask 00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:49.160 you again, 00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:50.680 what path 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.400 are you 00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:51.740 on? 00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:52.799 Are you 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.240 following 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:55.019 Jesus or 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:55.759 someone or 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.400 something else? 00:28:58.840 --> 00:28:59.539 Where will 00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:00.240 you end up 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:01.779 when your 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.400 life's journey 00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:03.320 comes to an 00:29:03.320 --> 00:29:03.660 end? 00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:04.180 And don't 00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:04.600 think you 00:29:04.600 --> 00:29:05.019 have more 00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:08.740 time because 00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.600 judgment comes 00:29:09.600 --> 00:29:10.140 suddenly. 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:12.700 And tomorrow 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:13.240 is promised 00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:13.920 to no man 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.600 or no woman. 00:29:15.840 --> 00:29:16.200 Are you 00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:16.820 trusting in 00:29:16.820 --> 00:29:17.279 Jesus and 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:17.920 following him? 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:18.940 Have you 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:19.560 come to him 00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:20.220 for forgiveness 00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:21.659 or eternal 00:29:21.659 --> 00:29:22.039 life? 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:22.899 Jesus is 00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:23.460 the one 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:24.960 who has 00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:26.179 been cast 00:29:26.179 --> 00:29:26.720 off from 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.319 God for 00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:27.480 us. 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:28.099 Jesus is 00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:28.500 the one 00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:28.879 who has 00:29:28.879 --> 00:29:29.500 suffered 00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.539 in our 00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:31.099 place. 00:29:33.179 --> 00:29:33.879 And if we 00:29:33.879 --> 00:29:34.419 trust in 00:29:34.419 --> 00:29:34.659 him, 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:36.099 we will 00:29:36.099 --> 00:29:36.940 have eternal 00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.379 life. 00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:37.919 And I 00:29:37.919 --> 00:29:38.339 plead with you 00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:38.720 this morning, 00:29:38.899 --> 00:29:39.539 listen to the 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.259 wisdom that 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:41.200 Asaph imparts 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:41.899 to us here. 00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:43.780 do not 00:29:43.780 --> 00:29:44.420 think because 00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:45.019 you have a 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:45.540 prosperous 00:29:45.540 --> 00:29:46.759 life now 00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.740 that that's 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.400 a sign that 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:48.800 you're okay 00:29:48.800 --> 00:29:49.420 with God 00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:50.280 and that 00:29:50.280 --> 00:29:50.540 you'll be 00:29:50.540 --> 00:29:51.200 prosperous in 00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:51.860 eternal life. 00:29:53.140 --> 00:29:54.019 We live in a 00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:54.780 very wealthy 00:29:54.780 --> 00:29:55.300 part of the 00:29:55.300 --> 00:29:56.680 world, a 00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:57.700 very comfortable, 00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:59.160 easy place to 00:29:59.160 --> 00:29:59.400 live. 00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:01.019 And that is 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:01.519 surely a 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.060 blessing from 00:30:02.060 --> 00:30:03.600 God, but 00:30:03.600 --> 00:30:04.519 it is not a 00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:06.000 sign in and 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:06.780 of itself that 00:30:06.780 --> 00:30:07.340 you have peace 00:30:07.340 --> 00:30:07.720 with God. 00:30:07.780 --> 00:30:08.620 The only way to 00:30:08.620 --> 00:30:09.420 know you have 00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:10.080 peace with God 00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:10.639 is through 00:30:10.639 --> 00:30:11.319 faith in his 00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:11.799 son Jesus 00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:12.779 Christ, the 00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.460 righteous one 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.299 who died in 00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:14.799 the place of 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:15.839 sinners like 00:30:15.839 --> 00:30:16.740 you and 00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.079 me. 00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.659 If you turn 00:30:20.659 --> 00:30:21.319 to Jesus in 00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:22.019 simple faith 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:22.539 this morning, 00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:23.599 he will save 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:23.799 you. 00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:24.879 He will not 00:30:24.879 --> 00:30:25.199 hesitate. 00:30:26.659 --> 00:30:27.439 And he will 00:30:27.439 --> 00:30:28.119 put you on 00:30:28.119 --> 00:30:28.799 that narrow, 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.119 difficult path 00:30:30.119 --> 00:30:32.019 that leads 00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:33.220 to eternal 00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:34.299 life. 00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:35.960 Jesus says, 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:36.659 follow me. 00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:39.859 If you're not 00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:40.359 a Christian, 00:30:40.879 --> 00:30:41.539 then wisdom 00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:42.519 compels you to 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.199 turn to Jesus 00:30:43.199 --> 00:30:45.079 today before 00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:45.500 it's too 00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:45.879 late. 00:30:47.939 --> 00:30:48.579 For those of 00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:49.019 us who are 00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:49.479 Christians, 00:30:49.959 --> 00:30:50.639 let's let the 00:30:50.639 --> 00:30:51.279 wisdom of 00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:52.000 this psalm 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.059 correct and 00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:54.379 calibrate our 00:30:54.379 --> 00:30:55.759 perspective on 00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:56.059 life. 00:30:56.219 --> 00:30:56.939 Ask yourself, 00:30:58.159 --> 00:30:59.399 have I lost 00:30:59.399 --> 00:31:00.539 the true 00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:01.979 perspective on 00:31:01.979 --> 00:31:02.339 things? 00:31:03.979 --> 00:31:04.579 Are there 00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:05.240 times, even 00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:05.740 in this past 00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:06.199 week, where I 00:31:06.199 --> 00:31:06.899 have sinfully 00:31:06.899 --> 00:31:07.500 grumbled 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:10.160 about how 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:10.740 hard it is 00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:11.140 to follow 00:31:11.140 --> 00:31:12.680 Jesus and 00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:13.299 how unfair 00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:14.980 it is that 00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:15.759 others prosper 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.259 instead of 00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:16.480 me? 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:19.000 It's not 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.700 wrong to be 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.079 weary. 00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:20.960 I'm not 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:23.039 criticizing that, 00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:23.920 to be weary in 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:24.299 the Christian 00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:24.900 life, but to 00:31:24.900 --> 00:31:26.599 grumble out of 00:31:26.599 --> 00:31:27.299 unbelief. 00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:31.079 in verse 21 00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:32.000 to 22, Asaph 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:32.700 looks back on 00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:33.440 his own sinful 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:34.159 grumbling and 00:31:34.159 --> 00:31:35.019 he is ashamed. 00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:35.419 He said, 00:31:35.559 --> 00:31:36.019 when my heart 00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:36.779 was grieved 00:31:36.779 --> 00:31:37.980 and my spirit 00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:38.759 embittered, I 00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:39.519 was senseless 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.059 and ignorant. 00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:40.720 I was a 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:41.460 brute towards 00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:41.680 you. 00:31:43.159 --> 00:31:43.460 In other 00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:43.899 words, what 00:31:43.899 --> 00:31:44.220 was I 00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:44.619 thinking? 00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:46.220 Having an 00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:46.759 attitude like 00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:47.359 that towards 00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:47.619 God. 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:47.819 But it 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:48.279 doesn't end 00:31:48.279 --> 00:31:48.480 there. 00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:49.359 He also sees 00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:49.819 that throughout 00:31:49.819 --> 00:31:50.759 it all, God 00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.639 never left 00:31:51.639 --> 00:31:53.339 him, even 00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:53.940 when he was a 00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:54.259 brute. 00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:56.079 Thank God 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:56.480 that God 00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.059 never leaves 00:31:57.059 --> 00:31:57.480 us, even 00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:57.960 in our worst 00:31:57.960 --> 00:31:58.299 moments. 00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:59.500 Nevertheless, I 00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:00.059 am continually 00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:00.700 with you. 00:32:01.099 --> 00:32:01.859 You hold my 00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:02.500 right hand. 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:03.700 You guide me 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:04.000 with your 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.700 counsel and 00:32:04.700 --> 00:32:05.420 afterward, 00:32:05.839 --> 00:32:06.500 afterward, 00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:08.619 you will 00:32:08.619 --> 00:32:09.579 receive me 00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:10.920 into glory. 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.279 Asaph's new 00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:15.400 perspective shifts 00:32:15.400 --> 00:32:17.160 his focus from 00:32:17.160 --> 00:32:17.839 envying the 00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:18.819 wicked to 00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.740 praising God. 00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:23.539 Whom have I 00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.079 in heaven but 00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:24.220 you? 00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:24.659 He asks, 00:32:24.699 --> 00:32:24.859 and there 00:32:24.859 --> 00:32:25.500 is nothing I 00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:25.960 desire in 00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:26.579 heaven besides 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:26.859 you. 00:32:27.679 --> 00:32:28.699 My flesh and 00:32:28.699 --> 00:32:29.339 my heart may 00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:31.079 fail, but God 00:32:31.079 --> 00:32:31.599 is the strength 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:32.419 of my heart and 00:32:32.419 --> 00:32:33.039 my portion 00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:33.480 forever. 00:32:33.659 --> 00:32:33.919 So he's 00:32:33.919 --> 00:32:34.599 saying, my 00:32:34.599 --> 00:32:35.339 physical health 00:32:35.339 --> 00:32:35.720 may give 00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:36.759 way, my 00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.399 heart may 00:32:37.399 --> 00:32:38.079 wobble and 00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:39.699 fall, but 00:32:39.699 --> 00:32:40.539 God is 00:32:40.539 --> 00:32:42.019 enough for 00:32:42.019 --> 00:32:42.339 me. 00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:45.419 Christian, don't 00:32:45.419 --> 00:32:45.839 lose your 00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:46.980 perspective on 00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:47.339 life. 00:32:48.159 --> 00:32:48.980 However tough 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:49.639 life is for 00:32:49.639 --> 00:32:50.159 you now and 00:32:50.159 --> 00:32:50.559 however you 00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:51.899 may feel day 00:32:51.899 --> 00:32:53.119 to day, fix 00:32:53.119 --> 00:32:53.819 your mind 00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:54.679 on these 00:32:54.679 --> 00:32:55.419 truths that 00:32:55.419 --> 00:32:56.039 Christ will 00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:56.859 never leave 00:32:56.859 --> 00:32:57.119 you nor 00:32:57.119 --> 00:32:57.700 forsake you. 00:32:59.059 --> 00:32:59.500 He will 00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.279 strengthen your 00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:01.259 heart day 00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:02.700 by day by 00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:03.399 his spirit and 00:33:03.399 --> 00:33:03.740 through his 00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:05.259 word and he 00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:06.000 will continually 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.839 guide you 00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:07.960 along that 00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:08.579 narrow, 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:10.159 difficult path 00:33:10.159 --> 00:33:12.079 and afterwards 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:15.319 it will lead 00:33:15.319 --> 00:33:16.339 to glory. 00:33:16.339 --> 00:33:20.579 in the end, 00:33:20.659 --> 00:33:21.179 the narrow and 00:33:21.179 --> 00:33:21.959 hard path of 00:33:21.959 --> 00:33:22.799 Jesus leads 00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:23.519 to Jesus. 00:33:23.919 --> 00:33:24.659 Christian, that's 00:33:24.659 --> 00:33:24.919 where you're 00:33:24.919 --> 00:33:25.220 going. 00:33:27.419 --> 00:33:28.240 So don't 00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:28.699 lose your 00:33:28.699 --> 00:33:30.279 perspective on 00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:30.639 life. 00:33:32.859 --> 00:33:33.879 Asaph concludes 00:33:33.879 --> 00:33:34.859 in verses 27 00:33:34.859 --> 00:33:35.679 to 28 by 00:33:35.679 --> 00:33:36.659 distilling his 00:33:36.659 --> 00:33:37.819 experience and 00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:38.559 the wisdom he 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:39.199 has gained 00:33:39.199 --> 00:33:40.159 through his 00:33:40.159 --> 00:33:40.740 crisis of 00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:41.099 faith. 00:33:41.799 --> 00:33:42.079 And I'm 00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:42.579 simply going to 00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:43.839 end by reading 00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:44.519 these words. 00:33:46.419 --> 00:33:47.259 For behold, 00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:48.139 he says, 00:33:48.259 --> 00:33:49.319 look, this is 00:33:49.319 --> 00:33:49.799 the wisdom I 00:33:49.799 --> 00:33:50.279 want to impart 00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:50.639 to you. 00:33:51.299 --> 00:33:52.659 Behold, those 00:33:52.659 --> 00:33:53.419 who are far 00:33:53.419 --> 00:33:54.059 from you 00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:54.939 shall perish. 00:33:56.039 --> 00:33:56.579 You put an 00:33:56.579 --> 00:33:57.539 end to everyone 00:33:57.539 --> 00:33:58.459 who is unfaithful 00:33:58.459 --> 00:33:58.879 to you. 00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:00.740 But for me, 00:34:01.579 --> 00:34:02.500 it is good 00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:03.480 to be near 00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:03.859 God. 00:34:04.699 --> 00:34:05.559 I have made 00:34:05.559 --> 00:34:06.299 the Lord God 00:34:06.299 --> 00:34:07.059 my refuge 00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:08.840 that I may 00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:10.539 tell of all 00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:11.079 your works. 00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:13.219 Let's pray. 00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:21.300 Father, I 00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:22.380 pray that 00:34:22.380 --> 00:34:24.659 this 00:34:24.659 --> 00:34:25.179 psalm that we 00:34:25.179 --> 00:34:25.639 have now 00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.699 reflected upon 00:34:26.699 --> 00:34:27.420 would bear 00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:28.300 much fruit 00:34:28.300 --> 00:34:28.880 in all of 00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:29.519 our lives. 00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:31.300 Whether in 00:34:31.300 --> 00:34:32.380 someone coming 00:34:32.380 --> 00:34:33.000 to trust in 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:33.579 Jesus for the 00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:34.380 first time, 00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:35.980 or for many 00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:36.840 of us to be 00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:38.300 renewed in 00:34:38.300 --> 00:34:39.219 our trust in 00:34:39.219 --> 00:34:39.859 you as we 00:34:39.859 --> 00:34:40.419 continue to 00:34:40.419 --> 00:34:41.219 follow you 00:34:41.219 --> 00:34:42.379 along the 00:34:42.379 --> 00:34:42.939 narrow and 00:34:42.939 --> 00:34:43.599 hard path 00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:44.000 that leads 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:44.480 to life. 00:34:45.959 --> 00:34:46.939 Jesus, thank 00:34:46.939 --> 00:34:48.079 you that on 00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:49.199 the cross you 00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:50.000 took away all 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:50.619 of our sins, 00:34:50.739 --> 00:34:51.179 all of our 00:34:51.179 --> 00:34:51.659 punishment, 00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:53.919 and that you 00:34:53.919 --> 00:34:54.759 secured all 00:34:54.759 --> 00:34:55.519 the grace that 00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:56.239 is necessary 00:34:56.239 --> 00:34:57.879 to keep us 00:34:57.879 --> 00:34:59.039 until we are 00:34:59.039 --> 00:34:59.579 with you 00:34:59.579 --> 00:35:00.939 face to face 00:35:00.939 --> 00:35:02.619 eternally 00:35:02.619 --> 00:35:04.159 in the joy 00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:04.639 of heaven. 00:35:05.859 --> 00:35:06.679 Holy Spirit, 00:35:06.739 --> 00:35:07.819 I pray that 00:35:07.819 --> 00:35:08.299 you would take 00:35:08.299 --> 00:35:09.039 this word and 00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:09.699 plan to deepen 00:35:09.699 --> 00:35:10.320 our hearts 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:11.059 and our minds 00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:12.460 and help us 00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:14.039 to keep going 00:35:14.039 --> 00:35:15.539 ahead with a 00:35:15.539 --> 00:35:16.360 true perspective. 00:35:17.900 --> 00:35:18.500 Help us, 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:19.059 Lord, not to 00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:19.800 envy the wicked, 00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:21.559 but to realize 00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:22.420 where that 00:35:22.420 --> 00:35:23.360 wickedness ends 00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:25.440 and to tell 00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:25.900 others about 00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:26.619 Jesus that they 00:35:26.619 --> 00:35:28.300 may leave the 00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:30.199 broad path and 00:35:30.199 --> 00:35:30.820 follow Jesus 00:35:30.820 --> 00:35:31.279 instead. 00:35:32.380 --> 00:35:33.380 We ask all of 00:35:33.380 --> 00:35:34.179 this in the name 00:35:34.179 --> 00:35:34.860 of Christ, 00:35:35.340 --> 00:35:36.019 our Lord, 00:35:36.380 --> 00:35:36.920 who is the 00:35:36.920 --> 00:35:37.279 head of the 00:35:37.279 --> 00:35:37.619 church. 00:35:38.619 --> 00:35:38.860 Amen. 00:35:39.039 --> 00:35:41.719 We're going 00:35:41.719 --> 00:35:42.300 to stand 00:35:42.300 --> 00:35:43.739 in response 00:35:43.739 --> 00:35:44.219 and sing 00:35:44.219 --> 00:35:44.840 in response 00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:45.739 to God's 00:35:45.739 --> 00:35:46.400 word and sing 00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:46.920 in Christ 00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:47.539 alone and 00:35:47.539 --> 00:35:48.039 afterwards, 00:35:48.219 --> 00:35:48.679 Jonathan will 00:35:48.679 --> 00:35:49.059 come up 00:35:49.059 --> 00:35:50.079 to lead the 00:35:50.079 --> 00:35:50.380 Lord's 00:35:50.380 --> 00:35:50.579 supper. 00:35:50.579 --> 00:36:03.679 Thank you 00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:33.659 Thank you.