WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.919 If you have a Bible, go ahead and turn with me to Psalm 25. 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:08.080 If you're here this morning, that means you have survived. 00:00:08.199 --> 00:00:10.900 You survived the sickness that is going around, 00:00:11.240 --> 00:00:14.700 and you survived not breaking your neck in the parking lot this morning. 00:00:16.120 --> 00:00:18.920 So I'm glad that you're here. I'm glad to be with you. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:24.240 And I'm glad that you are joining with us in worship. 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:27.740 If you have been with us for any amount of time, 00:00:27.739 --> 00:00:30.879 you'll know that we are taking a little bit of a break from Romans. 00:00:31.820 --> 00:00:36.099 We saw that last week with, or two weeks ago, 00:00:36.219 --> 00:00:41.799 with Jonathan Clark coming to us and talking about what it's like to walk with Christ. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:44.659 And then last week with Luke as well. 00:00:44.859 --> 00:00:47.640 Over the next couple weeks, we'll be in the Psalms. 00:00:48.179 --> 00:00:51.719 So we're taking a break from Romans. We're in the Psalms. 00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:55.719 And we are delighted that you are with us. 00:00:55.719 --> 00:00:59.000 With that, let's turn our attention to God's Word. 00:01:02.740 --> 00:01:03.799 Psalm 25. 00:01:03.799 --> 00:01:06.819 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 00:01:06.819 --> 00:01:09.579 O my God, in you I trust. 00:01:09.959 --> 00:01:11.519 Let me not be put to shame. 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:14.739 Let not my enemies exult over me. 00:01:15.179 --> 00:01:18.920 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame. 00:01:19.640 --> 00:01:22.819 They shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 00:01:23.640 --> 00:01:25.579 Make me to know your ways, O Lord. 00:01:25.700 --> 00:01:26.920 Teach me your paths. 00:01:27.579 --> 00:01:29.859 Lead me in your truth and teach me. 00:01:29.859 --> 00:01:32.840 For you are the God of my salvation. 00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:36.099 And for you I wait all the day long. 00:01:37.060 --> 00:01:40.680 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love. 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:42.859 For they have been from of old. 00:01:43.700 --> 00:01:47.420 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions. 00:01:47.480 --> 00:01:51.359 According to your steadfast love, remember me. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:54.239 For the sake of your goodness, O Lord. 00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:57.000 Good and upright is the Lord. 00:01:57.180 --> 00:01:59.560 Therefore, he instructs sinners in the way. 00:02:00.099 --> 00:02:02.359 He leads the humble in what is right. 00:02:02.620 --> 00:02:04.640 And teaches the humble his way. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:09.639 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:13.500 For those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. 00:02:13.500 --> 00:02:18.500 For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. 00:02:19.460 --> 00:02:21.360 Who is the man who fears the Lord? 00:02:22.020 --> 00:02:25.180 Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:30.539 His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:34.539 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, 00:02:34.819 --> 00:02:36.979 and he makes known to them his covenant. 00:02:37.740 --> 00:02:43.000 My eyes are ever towards the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. 00:02:43.500 --> 00:02:48.159 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 00:02:48.740 --> 00:02:51.159 The troubles of my heart are enlarged. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:53.379 Bring me out of my distress. 00:02:54.099 --> 00:02:58.180 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. 00:02:59.020 --> 00:03:04.020 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. 00:03:04.780 --> 00:03:06.780 O guard my soul and deliver me. 00:03:07.340 --> 00:03:10.699 Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 00:03:10.699 --> 00:03:15.859 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. 00:03:16.759 --> 00:03:21.099 Redeem, O Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. 00:03:21.399 --> 00:03:21.919 Let's pray. 00:03:22.899 --> 00:03:24.780 Lord, we thank you for your word. 00:03:25.139 --> 00:03:28.620 We ask that you might use it to show us your glory, 00:03:28.780 --> 00:03:30.959 that we would see Christ more clearly. 00:03:31.780 --> 00:03:35.479 And Father, that we might know your love more intimately. 00:03:35.479 --> 00:03:38.419 And we ask this in Christ's name. 00:03:38.679 --> 00:03:39.000 Amen. 00:03:40.539 --> 00:03:42.859 Like I said, I'm thankful to be with you this morning. 00:03:42.979 --> 00:03:46.060 Last week, we had Luke fill in because I was sick. 00:03:46.359 --> 00:03:48.419 If you're here, you've made it. 00:03:48.500 --> 00:03:50.159 You're not sick, or not yet. 00:03:50.819 --> 00:03:54.459 It's funny, though, when you're sick, it has a reorienting principle. 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:58.839 I like to think of myself as somewhat of a tough guy, right? 00:03:58.840 --> 00:04:02.240 Like I've been in the Army, that stands for something. 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:05.240 You know, I'm a dad, I get beat up on a lot. 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:10.000 But something about being sick kind of reorients you and makes you realize, 00:04:10.539 --> 00:04:12.240 man, I'm not as tough as I thought. 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:14.920 I think there's a word for this. 00:04:15.020 --> 00:04:16.180 It's called the man flu. 00:04:16.740 --> 00:04:19.860 You know, when things are really bad, I am really good. 00:04:20.220 --> 00:04:23.939 But if I'm a little bit sick, and in this case, I was kind of a lot sick. 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:28.379 I don't think I suffered from the man flu, despite the accusations in my home. 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:35.139 I think that when you're sick a little bit, just a little bit, it gives us room to complain. 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:44.480 It gives us room in the space, because you're not that ill, to think about, woe is me, how hard life is. 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:53.019 And so as I was preparing for this sermon a couple weeks ago, I was thinking about, man, this is just so hard. 00:04:53.019 --> 00:04:55.039 And life is just so hard. 00:04:55.240 --> 00:05:02.120 I am in the midst of difficulty, not even thinking about all those times that I've done things that are really, really hard, 00:05:02.359 --> 00:05:05.000 or the people that are actually really, really suffering. 00:05:05.699 --> 00:05:12.699 Instead, you kind of go into your own little pain cave, and I reside in that cave, and let no one in. 00:05:13.139 --> 00:05:16.279 And don't take encouragement from anyone else or correction. 00:05:16.839 --> 00:05:18.439 I think that's what the man flu is. 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:28.000 But if you've been with us for these last couple weeks, Jonathan started off our new year by talking about how difficult it was to walk the Christian life. 00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:32.000 And what are you going to do in those times of trouble? 00:05:32.660 --> 00:05:34.319 Are you going to fold? 00:05:34.899 --> 00:05:36.600 Are you going to fold to the man flu? 00:05:37.500 --> 00:05:39.199 Are you going to fold to your emotions? 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:42.319 Or are we going to trust in the Lord? 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:51.920 Here in this text this morning, we have a very clear explanation of emotions, of our emotional state and frame, 00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:54.680 and what to do in the Christian life with it. 00:05:55.079 --> 00:05:59.060 And that kind of creates a difficult situation for many of us, 00:05:59.620 --> 00:06:03.719 because we don't know how to reconcile these great truths of the gospel, 00:06:04.180 --> 00:06:06.259 the truth of God's word, 00:06:06.699 --> 00:06:08.139 and how we feel. 00:06:08.139 --> 00:06:13.000 And by me even saying that, some of us here are going, 00:06:13.139 --> 00:06:15.419 I don't even have a category for that. 00:06:15.500 --> 00:06:18.339 I'm an engineer, or I'm a construction person, 00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:20.579 or I love math, right? 00:06:20.899 --> 00:06:23.360 But God's word speaks to us, 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:24.479 whether we're an artist, 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:28.399 or whether we use only one side of our brain exclusively. 00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:31.579 He meets us in the midst of all of that. 00:06:32.039 --> 00:06:35.039 And Jonathan did a great job of challenging us 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:36.840 a couple weeks ago and saying, 00:06:37.640 --> 00:06:40.200 when those times come, what are you going to do? 00:06:41.080 --> 00:06:43.319 Now, one of those times is here, 00:06:43.480 --> 00:06:45.140 we can see in David's life. 00:06:45.500 --> 00:06:46.960 What does David do? 00:06:47.580 --> 00:06:50.020 He doesn't shut any of those emotions out. 00:06:50.100 --> 00:06:51.560 In fact, he embraces them. 00:06:51.939 --> 00:06:53.240 And as we'll see in a few minutes, 00:06:53.340 --> 00:06:55.939 he redirects them towards the Lord. 00:06:56.920 --> 00:06:59.400 You see, oftentimes in our Christian experience, 00:06:59.520 --> 00:07:00.540 we've been tricked, 00:07:00.939 --> 00:07:03.040 or maybe we trick ourselves into thinking, 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:05.460 if I feel a certain way, 00:07:05.900 --> 00:07:07.220 then I might not be a Christian. 00:07:07.819 --> 00:07:09.800 If I doubt God's goodness, 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:12.260 or bad things are happening to me, 00:07:12.500 --> 00:07:14.500 maybe a little worse than the man flu, 00:07:15.700 --> 00:07:19.240 right, actual sickness, actual hurt, 00:07:20.320 --> 00:07:22.580 then where do I turn? 00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:24.360 How do I respond? 00:07:26.500 --> 00:07:28.520 Well, we've tricked ourselves into thinking 00:07:28.520 --> 00:07:32.439 that feelings have no place at all in the Christian life. 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:36.959 I must be happy and joyful all the time. 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:38.579 Every time. 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:41.600 And when we come to a text of scripture like this, 00:07:41.620 --> 00:07:42.740 we don't know what to do, 00:07:42.819 --> 00:07:46.279 because that doesn't seem so happy and joyful, does it? 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:51.860 What do we do when we face those challenges? 00:07:52.139 --> 00:07:53.620 Is something wrong with me? 00:07:54.379 --> 00:07:56.620 Am I off? 00:07:56.620 --> 00:07:58.740 When you feel as if, 00:07:58.860 --> 00:08:00.920 if I just had one more thing, 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:05.019 if I had to bear one more trial, 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:06.740 it would all fall apart. 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:10.340 Maybe stress is mounting at work, 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:11.220 at home, 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:13.600 there's relationships that need to be fixed. 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:15.600 When we look at our checkbooks, 00:08:15.699 --> 00:08:17.579 or our online banking account, 00:08:17.660 --> 00:08:18.000 we think, 00:08:18.139 --> 00:08:19.579 I don't even know how I'm going to make it. 00:08:19.579 --> 00:08:23.479 When we really want to restore that relationship 00:08:23.479 --> 00:08:24.459 with a parent, 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:25.639 a friend, 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:26.599 a neighbor, 00:08:27.259 --> 00:08:28.919 and we don't know how it's going to happen. 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:30.759 Or, 00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:33.059 you feel the anger rising in you 00:08:33.059 --> 00:08:35.059 because you've been slighted once again. 00:08:35.500 --> 00:08:36.860 Maybe it's by your own children, 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:39.480 or maybe it's the infamous, 00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:42.539 per my last email at work. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:44.480 Right? 00:08:44.579 --> 00:08:45.960 That one always gets me. 00:08:45.960 --> 00:08:48.000 And it makes my blood boil. 00:08:48.280 --> 00:08:50.240 But when I respond with anger, 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:52.540 is that right? 00:08:53.900 --> 00:08:55.240 Maybe it's not anger, 00:08:55.420 --> 00:08:56.080 but sadness. 00:08:56.639 --> 00:09:00.000 You can't wait for the Christmas season to be over 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:01.980 because it's not one of joy, 00:09:02.680 --> 00:09:05.139 but of sadness. 00:09:05.460 --> 00:09:07.740 And you can't wait to go back to what is normal. 00:09:09.340 --> 00:09:11.600 Or you look out and you see the joy 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:12.560 in so many others, 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:13.080 and you think, 00:09:13.320 --> 00:09:14.980 it doesn't reside in here, 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:16.220 and why not? 00:09:19.340 --> 00:09:21.980 The problem is not that these feelings exist, 00:09:22.700 --> 00:09:24.759 and we've all felt some version of them 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:25.700 at some point. 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:28.120 But we need to know 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:30.000 what to do with them. 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:32.420 Or as one has put it, 00:09:32.980 --> 00:09:33.379 we 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:35.840 expect the world 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:38.139 to not have much time for weakness. 00:09:39.340 --> 00:09:41.620 Especially the weakness of the psalmist's cries. 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:42.940 That makes sense. 00:09:42.940 --> 00:09:45.280 But even in the church, 00:09:45.540 --> 00:09:47.380 we have drunk so deeply 00:09:47.380 --> 00:09:49.480 at the well of modern, 00:09:49.720 --> 00:09:51.540 Western materialism 00:09:51.540 --> 00:09:54.080 that we simply don't know 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:55.180 what to do 00:09:55.180 --> 00:09:56.540 with such cries. 00:09:57.900 --> 00:09:59.460 And we regard them 00:09:59.460 --> 00:10:01.840 as little more than embarrassing. 00:10:03.040 --> 00:10:04.400 Here we have in Scripture 00:10:04.400 --> 00:10:06.520 David crying out to God. 00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:10.159 And we don't know what to do with it. 00:10:11.259 --> 00:10:13.439 Because it's not going swimmingly, 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:14.919 it's not happy, 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:16.100 it's not well. 00:10:17.100 --> 00:10:18.919 But because of God, 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:19.840 we'll see this. 00:10:20.500 --> 00:10:22.539 We'll see that we can cry out to Him 00:10:22.539 --> 00:10:23.720 for deliverance. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:25.819 We can cry out to Him 00:10:25.819 --> 00:10:27.159 for instruction. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:30.039 We can cry out to Him 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:31.240 for forgiveness. 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:31.799 forgiveness 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:33.580 because of God. 00:10:34.580 --> 00:10:36.139 Whether we have the man flu 00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:37.799 or whether we're facing 00:10:37.799 --> 00:10:39.139 death itself, 00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:42.680 that we can cry out to God. 00:10:43.539 --> 00:10:44.379 This morning, 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:45.639 as I mentioned, 00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:46.299 we're starting 00:10:46.299 --> 00:10:48.519 a little kind of mini-series 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:49.259 in the Psalms. 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:51.100 We'll have a number of Psalms 00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:51.759 that we go through 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:53.200 in the next month, 00:10:53.259 --> 00:10:54.080 and we'll see 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:55.700 that the full spectrum 00:10:55.700 --> 00:10:56.600 of emotion 00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:57.820 is on display. 00:10:57.820 --> 00:10:59.379 It ain't always happy. 00:11:00.520 --> 00:11:01.879 And we're forced 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:03.379 to confront this idea 00:11:03.379 --> 00:11:04.100 that in Scripture 00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:05.160 we have this thing 00:11:05.160 --> 00:11:05.920 called lament. 00:11:06.700 --> 00:11:08.940 It's more than just being sad. 00:11:09.140 --> 00:11:10.800 Because if it was just being sad, 00:11:10.860 --> 00:11:11.800 you'd be stuck there 00:11:11.800 --> 00:11:12.700 with the man flu 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:13.820 or whatever else 00:11:13.820 --> 00:11:14.600 is going on. 00:11:14.700 --> 00:11:16.280 But it redirects us 00:11:16.280 --> 00:11:17.260 back to God. 00:11:18.020 --> 00:11:19.020 And that's what we have 00:11:19.020 --> 00:11:19.640 before us. 00:11:19.760 --> 00:11:20.540 David's lament 00:11:20.540 --> 00:11:22.260 not over things 00:11:22.260 --> 00:11:23.080 that were in the hands 00:11:23.080 --> 00:11:23.720 of his enemies. 00:11:24.020 --> 00:11:24.880 He's got those, 00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:26.200 and we'll see those 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:27.760 in successive weeks. 00:11:27.820 --> 00:11:29.520 He's got real enemies 00:11:29.520 --> 00:11:30.600 who really want 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:31.240 to kill him, 00:11:31.860 --> 00:11:33.240 to really put him 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:33.940 in the grave. 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:35.560 But David here 00:11:35.560 --> 00:11:37.000 seems to be crying out 00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:38.080 over something else, 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:39.480 even though he calls it 00:11:39.480 --> 00:11:40.420 his enemies. 00:11:40.940 --> 00:11:42.500 It's kind of his own sin. 00:11:43.180 --> 00:11:43.920 And David 00:11:43.920 --> 00:11:45.340 and Israel 00:11:45.340 --> 00:11:46.379 that followed after him 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:47.440 used this in worship. 00:11:48.060 --> 00:11:48.760 They used it 00:11:48.760 --> 00:11:49.540 as a means 00:11:49.540 --> 00:11:51.220 by which to cry out 00:11:51.220 --> 00:11:51.960 to God and say, 00:11:52.160 --> 00:11:53.160 we need your help. 00:11:54.260 --> 00:11:54.860 Now, 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:57.020 as we may well know, 00:11:57.019 --> 00:11:58.199 there's strong emotions 00:11:58.199 --> 00:11:58.980 in life. 00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:00.419 There's strong emotions 00:12:00.419 --> 00:12:01.579 in the Christian life. 00:12:02.139 --> 00:12:03.299 And those feelings 00:12:03.299 --> 00:12:04.179 oftentimes 00:12:04.179 --> 00:12:05.340 can overtake 00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:06.039 what we see 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:06.819 as clarity 00:12:06.819 --> 00:12:08.100 or logic 00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:09.679 or progression 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:10.360 of thought. 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:11.699 But it doesn't mean 00:12:11.699 --> 00:12:12.699 that they're not there. 00:12:13.079 --> 00:12:13.980 It just means 00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:15.279 that the emotions 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:16.559 are what's driving it, 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:17.919 not an orderliness. 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:19.059 Think about 00:12:19.059 --> 00:12:20.079 what we've just come from 00:12:20.079 --> 00:12:20.960 in Romans, right? 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:22.780 Paul is systematically 00:12:22.780 --> 00:12:24.080 explaining 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:25.400 the outworkings 00:12:25.400 --> 00:12:26.040 of the gospel. 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:27.180 And here, 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:28.680 we can feel 00:12:28.680 --> 00:12:30.639 David is doing 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:31.720 something very different. 00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:33.139 That doesn't mean, 00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:33.379 though, 00:12:33.400 --> 00:12:33.900 that there's not 00:12:33.900 --> 00:12:34.540 a structure 00:12:34.540 --> 00:12:35.620 or an orderliness 00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:36.259 to it. 00:12:36.780 --> 00:12:38.200 And we can sense that 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:39.220 because it seems like 00:12:39.220 --> 00:12:39.960 he's returning 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:40.780 again and again 00:12:40.780 --> 00:12:41.600 to some themes. 00:12:41.940 --> 00:12:43.160 But what are those themes 00:12:43.160 --> 00:12:44.340 and how do we 00:12:44.340 --> 00:12:45.980 appropriate that? 00:12:46.060 --> 00:12:46.200 Like, 00:12:46.200 --> 00:12:47.200 how do we figure out 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:48.060 what exactly 00:12:48.060 --> 00:12:48.940 is going on? 00:12:48.940 --> 00:12:50.420 Now, 00:12:50.520 --> 00:12:51.400 I'll tell you this. 00:12:51.800 --> 00:12:52.940 Logic is present, 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:54.700 but the experience 00:12:54.700 --> 00:12:56.480 of David's life 00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:57.620 is what's driving 00:12:57.620 --> 00:12:58.920 and organizing this. 00:12:59.480 --> 00:12:59.780 Now, 00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:01.300 in a psalm like Psalm 25, 00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:02.640 there is a structure, 00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:04.360 but it's not apparent 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:05.040 to us 00:13:05.040 --> 00:13:06.700 because we're reading 00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:07.320 in English, 00:13:07.520 --> 00:13:08.380 to be quite frank. 00:13:08.820 --> 00:13:09.080 Now, 00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:10.520 and there's some psalms 00:13:10.520 --> 00:13:11.700 that have a structure 00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:12.240 to it 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:13.160 where they take 00:13:13.160 --> 00:13:14.040 something like 00:13:14.040 --> 00:13:15.640 who remembers 00:13:15.640 --> 00:13:16.200 dare 00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:17.460 from your younger years 00:13:17.460 --> 00:13:17.980 if you're, 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:18.620 or, 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:20.960 maybe your older years. 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:22.120 We have a word, 00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:22.460 right? 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:23.279 I think it's 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:25.139 drug abuse resistance education. 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:26.000 I think that's right. 00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:27.360 And that word 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:28.360 also stands 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:29.620 for every part 00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:31.060 of that organization. 00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:31.960 Now, 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:33.179 in a psalm 00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:34.080 like Psalm 25, 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:35.460 it's not dare, 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.500 but it takes 00:13:36.500 --> 00:13:37.340 the alphabet, 00:13:37.560 --> 00:13:38.320 the Hebrew alphabet, 00:13:38.779 --> 00:13:40.320 and it organizes things 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:42.000 based on that first letter 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:43.320 of every line 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:43.980 in order. 00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:44.200 So, 00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:44.659 it'd be like 00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:45.960 A, B, C, D, E, F, 00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:46.259 right? 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:47.659 All the way down to Z. 00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:48.219 So, 00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:49.000 there's an organization 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:49.620 to it. 00:13:49.699 --> 00:13:50.899 It's just not emanating 00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:51.439 from us. 00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:52.319 But then, 00:13:52.719 --> 00:13:53.299 the author, 00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:54.539 so David is kind of 00:13:54.539 --> 00:13:55.959 organizing all of this 00:13:55.959 --> 00:13:57.539 to follow in sequence 00:13:57.539 --> 00:13:58.319 with that alphabet. 00:13:58.740 --> 00:14:00.000 But it's not apparent 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:00.600 to us, 00:14:00.819 --> 00:14:02.199 but we can feel. 00:14:02.539 --> 00:14:03.839 There's some organization 00:14:03.839 --> 00:14:04.559 behind it, 00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:05.779 but I can't put my finger 00:14:05.779 --> 00:14:06.159 on it. 00:14:06.459 --> 00:14:06.779 So, 00:14:06.819 --> 00:14:07.639 that's what David's 00:14:07.639 --> 00:14:08.240 doing here. 00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:09.120 Now, 00:14:09.199 --> 00:14:09.939 as we'll see, 00:14:10.319 --> 00:14:11.539 they're in a kind of pattern, 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:12.879 not just from start 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:13.439 to beginning, 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:14.960 but it moves 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:15.640 towards something 00:14:15.640 --> 00:14:16.200 in the middle. 00:14:16.640 --> 00:14:16.900 Okay? 00:14:17.400 --> 00:14:17.760 And so, 00:14:17.880 --> 00:14:19.080 imagine the letter X 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:21.180 where at opposite ends, 00:14:21.520 --> 00:14:22.300 you have something 00:14:22.300 --> 00:14:23.300 that couldn't be further 00:14:23.300 --> 00:14:24.000 from each other. 00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:24.680 And then, 00:14:24.800 --> 00:14:25.540 as you move 00:14:25.540 --> 00:14:26.280 towards the middle, 00:14:26.400 --> 00:14:27.020 they do what? 00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:27.940 They get closer. 00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:29.360 They get closer 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:30.460 until you get 00:14:30.460 --> 00:14:31.880 to that inflection point 00:14:31.880 --> 00:14:33.760 when that central theme 00:14:33.760 --> 00:14:35.200 is everything around 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:36.780 which it spins. 00:14:37.160 --> 00:14:37.440 Okay? 00:14:37.560 --> 00:14:38.100 And that's what 00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:38.960 we have here today. 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:39.720 So, 00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:40.820 as it starts 00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:41.460 at the beginning 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:42.300 and the end, 00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:43.920 those two match. 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:44.540 And then, 00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:45.700 as they go closer 00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:46.980 or up, 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:48.360 those two match. 00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:48.800 And then, 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:49.460 those match. 00:14:49.580 --> 00:14:49.840 And then, 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:51.660 they go to one central theme. 00:14:52.160 --> 00:14:53.280 And that central theme 00:14:53.280 --> 00:14:53.800 this morning 00:14:53.800 --> 00:14:54.519 is God, 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:55.519 quite frankly. 00:14:56.139 --> 00:14:57.340 And we'll see that 00:14:57.340 --> 00:14:57.759 in a minute. 00:14:58.100 --> 00:14:58.240 So, 00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:59.060 we're marching 00:14:59.060 --> 00:15:00.259 on this way 00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:01.920 to this idea 00:15:01.920 --> 00:15:02.680 that God 00:15:02.680 --> 00:15:03.620 is at the center 00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:05.420 of even these emotions. 00:15:06.280 --> 00:15:06.519 And so, 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:07.639 David's experience 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:08.900 will unpack 00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:09.899 and drive 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:10.740 towards God, 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:11.779 David's experience 00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.559 towards God. 00:15:13.079 --> 00:15:13.840 But first, 00:15:13.980 --> 00:15:15.279 he pleads for what? 00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:17.340 He pleads for deliverance 00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:17.959 from his enemies. 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:19.519 That's a normal thing 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:20.139 in the Psalms, 00:15:20.199 --> 00:15:20.379 right? 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:21.779 Look back with me 00:15:21.779 --> 00:15:23.179 at verse one. 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:26.480 To you, 00:15:26.539 --> 00:15:26.879 O Lord, 00:15:26.939 --> 00:15:28.100 I lift up my soul. 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:28.899 And then he continues 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:29.439 in verse two. 00:15:29.819 --> 00:15:30.279 O God, 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:31.539 in you I trust. 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:33.159 Let me not be put to shame. 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:35.139 Let not my enemies 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:36.500 exult over me. 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:38.179 We see in this 00:15:38.179 --> 00:15:39.679 first part of the Psalm, 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:41.199 there's a reference point. 00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:42.639 It's a reference point. 00:15:42.719 --> 00:15:43.639 I already gave the answer 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:44.239 to the test 00:15:44.239 --> 00:15:45.179 that it's all driving 00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:45.979 towards God. 00:15:46.319 --> 00:15:47.500 But even in the midst 00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:48.219 of this battle 00:15:48.219 --> 00:15:49.019 with his enemies, 00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:51.459 God is the reference point 00:15:51.459 --> 00:15:53.479 by which he interprets 00:15:53.479 --> 00:15:55.000 everything that's going on. 00:15:55.439 --> 00:15:56.579 He starts there 00:15:56.579 --> 00:15:57.359 and then we're going 00:15:57.359 --> 00:15:58.579 to end there as well. 00:15:59.399 --> 00:15:59.599 Now, 00:15:59.699 --> 00:16:01.059 think about how often 00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:02.559 we hear about emotions, 00:16:02.859 --> 00:16:04.259 especially anger. 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:05.759 We're told what? 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:06.799 That maybe 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:08.139 if you're a teenage boy 00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:09.259 that you should just go 00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:10.600 and let those emotions out, 00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:10.879 right? 00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:12.200 Just yell it out. 00:16:12.439 --> 00:16:13.500 There is some goodness 00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:14.639 to that sometimes. 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:16.019 But what happens 00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:16.840 at the end of that? 00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:18.659 You're going to come back 00:16:18.659 --> 00:16:19.399 and do it again. 00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:21.179 And it's kind of like a muscle. 00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:22.519 Maybe one week 00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:22.919 you're lifting 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:24.580 the five pound anger weight 00:16:24.580 --> 00:16:26.279 and then the next week 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:26.639 you're lifting 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:28.080 the 50 pound anger weight 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:29.039 because it doesn't have 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:29.939 an effect anymore. 00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.240 It's a muscle 00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:32.200 that keeps working. 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:33.280 But that's not 00:16:33.280 --> 00:16:34.600 what David does here, 00:16:34.640 --> 00:16:35.000 is it? 00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:36.759 In the midst 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:37.720 of his enemies, 00:16:38.020 --> 00:16:38.620 in the midst 00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:39.460 of his emotions, 00:16:39.900 --> 00:16:41.280 he isn't submitting 00:16:41.280 --> 00:16:42.720 himself to nothing. 00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:44.680 There's a reference 00:16:44.680 --> 00:16:45.840 point of God. 00:16:46.540 --> 00:16:47.980 He's the focal point. 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:49.620 But he's not the recipient 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.580 of that anger. 00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:51.900 But in the midst 00:16:51.900 --> 00:16:52.379 of that, 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:53.660 that is his more. 00:16:54.160 --> 00:16:54.920 That is the thing 00:16:54.920 --> 00:16:55.980 he is tied to 00:16:55.980 --> 00:16:57.200 and returns to. 00:16:57.780 --> 00:16:58.660 Think of a lighthouse 00:16:58.660 --> 00:16:59.500 and a storm. 00:16:59.780 --> 00:17:00.520 That's the thing 00:17:00.520 --> 00:17:01.580 that gives him hope. 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:04.080 It's an affirmation 00:17:04.080 --> 00:17:05.400 of who God is 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:06.980 and then it's a plea 00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:08.460 based on that relationship 00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:09.860 which we'll see 00:17:09.860 --> 00:17:10.259 in a minute. 00:17:11.120 --> 00:17:12.360 There's a very real sense 00:17:12.360 --> 00:17:13.160 in which David 00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:14.539 is under some type 00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.080 of oppression. 00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:16.200 I mentioned this before. 00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:16.940 We don't know 00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:18.160 exactly what it is. 00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:19.559 It could very well 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:20.799 be physical danger. 00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:24.100 David has a lot of that. 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:24.759 Think of some 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:25.480 of the Psalms 00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:26.180 that we know 00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:27.920 when he's on the run 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:28.580 from people 00:17:28.580 --> 00:17:29.779 that want to kill him. 00:17:30.860 --> 00:17:31.480 Psalm 34 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.240 is very much 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:32.819 in that vein. 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:34.259 He doesn't tell us 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:35.079 exactly though 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:36.380 who these enemies are 00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:37.380 or what they're trying 00:17:37.380 --> 00:17:37.779 to do. 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:38.860 We just know 00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:40.480 that they are after him. 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:42.400 But he is going back 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:43.180 to that source, 00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:44.559 to that reference point 00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:45.620 for a plea 00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:46.380 for deliverance. 00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:47.240 He's begging 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:48.799 for deliverance. 00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:49.819 And for us 00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:50.259 as the reader, 00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:51.400 this seems natural 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:52.420 to go to the Lord. 00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:53.380 After all, 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.339 what else do you have? 00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:57.759 But this reason 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.759 is not based 00:17:58.759 --> 00:17:59.679 just because 00:17:59.679 --> 00:18:01.319 we're great theologians, 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:02.599 but it's based 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:03.240 on the witness 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:03.959 of Scripture. 00:18:04.699 --> 00:18:05.879 Think about what comes 00:18:05.879 --> 00:18:07.099 before Psalm 25. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:08.039 Yes, Psalm 24. 00:18:08.179 --> 00:18:08.839 I know that part. 00:18:09.199 --> 00:18:10.359 And Psalm 23. 00:18:11.439 --> 00:18:12.740 But what's in those 00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:14.480 that makes David 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:15.919 in this work 00:18:15.919 --> 00:18:17.019 go straight back 00:18:17.019 --> 00:18:17.619 to the Lord? 00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:19.220 We have these laments 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:20.599 where we cry out to God, 00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:22.799 but why is he so quick 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:23.980 to go back to the Lord 00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:25.519 when our experience 00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:26.679 is anything but? 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:29.619 Well, he goes back to him 00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:30.699 because he knows 00:18:30.699 --> 00:18:31.719 that is true. 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:33.219 What comes before 00:18:33.219 --> 00:18:33.799 is, yes, 00:18:33.919 --> 00:18:34.599 Psalm 24 00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:35.659 and Psalm 23. 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:36.500 That one's familiar 00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.319 to us, right? 00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:38.939 This declaration 00:18:38.939 --> 00:18:40.179 of who God is 00:18:40.179 --> 00:18:41.219 in the midst of darkness. 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.899 Even though I walk 00:18:42.899 --> 00:18:43.559 through the valley 00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:44.599 of the shadow of death, 00:18:44.919 --> 00:18:45.119 what? 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:46.199 I fear no evil 00:18:46.199 --> 00:18:48.459 because God's presence 00:18:48.459 --> 00:18:49.119 is there. 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:50.739 God leads them. 00:18:50.879 --> 00:18:51.959 God delivers them. 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:53.339 But he's also 00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:55.099 the king in Psalm 24. 00:18:55.459 --> 00:18:56.539 This king of glory. 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:58.039 Everything on the earth 00:18:58.039 --> 00:18:59.019 belongs to him. 00:19:00.659 --> 00:19:01.219 Everything. 00:19:02.679 --> 00:19:03.939 This is the same God 00:19:03.939 --> 00:19:05.339 who in Psalm 23 00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.819 is referenced 00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:08.019 as leading his people 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:08.919 because what? 00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:10.079 In the Exodus, 00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.259 God is the one 00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:12.139 who delivers them 00:19:12.139 --> 00:19:13.099 and leads his people 00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:13.739 out of it. 00:19:14.399 --> 00:19:15.279 He's the shepherd 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:16.619 not caring for the little 00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:17.939 fluffy cute sheep, 00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:18.319 right? 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:19.419 that simply 00:19:19.419 --> 00:19:19.799 bah 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:22.119 and mine 00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:22.779 their master. 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:23.939 But he's the shepherd 00:19:23.939 --> 00:19:25.980 steering wayward children 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:27.200 that are mindless 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:28.439 and complaining 00:19:28.439 --> 00:19:29.259 and murmuring 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:30.220 and doing all those 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:31.539 bad and nasty things 00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.200 and saying, 00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:33.159 why can't we go back 00:19:33.159 --> 00:19:33.599 to Egypt? 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:36.159 That same shepherd idea 00:19:36.159 --> 00:19:36.960 is the one 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:38.240 who in Psalm 23 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:39.939 is doing those things 00:19:39.939 --> 00:19:40.899 and he's doing that 00:19:40.899 --> 00:19:41.980 because he did it 00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:43.200 in the Exodus as well. 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:45.439 He's a warrior 00:19:45.439 --> 00:19:46.159 that fights 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:47.560 on behalf of his people 00:19:47.560 --> 00:19:48.720 when what? 00:19:48.820 --> 00:19:50.400 When Pharaoh's army 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:51.300 rises up, 00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:52.380 God is the one 00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:53.080 who leads them. 00:19:53.860 --> 00:19:54.640 God is the one 00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:55.500 who delivers them. 00:19:56.100 --> 00:19:56.779 And that's why 00:19:56.779 --> 00:19:58.320 David can say 00:19:58.320 --> 00:19:59.640 with confidence, 00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:00.779 to you, 00:20:00.860 --> 00:20:01.259 oh God, 00:20:01.320 --> 00:20:02.400 I lift up my soul. 00:20:02.840 --> 00:20:03.940 In you I trust. 00:20:04.040 --> 00:20:04.820 In the midst of 00:20:04.820 --> 00:20:06.000 disaster 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.360 and war, 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:10.100 David returns again 00:20:10.099 --> 00:20:11.779 to God, 00:20:11.959 --> 00:20:12.639 the God 00:20:12.639 --> 00:20:13.579 who had delivered 00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:14.759 his people again. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:16.740 Let's go back 00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:17.439 to those enemies. 00:20:17.639 --> 00:20:18.500 Who are those enemies? 00:20:18.679 --> 00:20:19.079 We don't know 00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:19.599 who they are. 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.839 But whatever it is, 00:20:21.859 --> 00:20:22.699 it's causing David 00:20:22.699 --> 00:20:23.519 to cry out 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:23.919 and say, 00:20:24.099 --> 00:20:25.899 he's on the run again 00:20:25.899 --> 00:20:26.759 but from this time 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:27.199 we don't know 00:20:27.199 --> 00:20:27.879 what it is. 00:20:27.959 --> 00:20:29.159 It's very generic though. 00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:31.519 But we know 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.659 that these enemies 00:20:32.659 --> 00:20:33.619 pop up again. 00:20:33.879 --> 00:20:34.980 Remember what I told you 00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:36.039 about that picture 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.719 of the X. 00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:37.879 They come back again 00:20:37.879 --> 00:20:38.599 at the end 00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:39.639 of Psalm 25. 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:41.579 Look at verse 19 00:20:41.579 --> 00:20:42.059 with me. 00:20:42.959 --> 00:20:44.099 Consider how many 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:44.959 are my foes 00:20:44.959 --> 00:20:45.639 and with what 00:20:45.639 --> 00:20:46.579 violent hatred 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.439 they hate me. 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:49.240 Oh guard my soul 00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:50.059 and deliver me. 00:20:50.179 --> 00:20:51.179 Let me not be put 00:20:51.179 --> 00:20:51.819 to shame. 00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:53.459 They come back again. 00:20:54.139 --> 00:20:55.459 David is pleading 00:20:55.459 --> 00:20:56.659 and is asking 00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:57.339 with God, 00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:57.959 pleading 00:20:57.959 --> 00:21:00.619 for deliverance. 00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:01.759 He's saying, 00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:03.059 listen, 00:21:03.959 --> 00:21:04.279 Lord, 00:21:04.399 --> 00:21:05.459 I need your help. 00:21:05.639 --> 00:21:07.019 They want to destroy me. 00:21:07.699 --> 00:21:08.519 And God answers 00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:08.839 him. 00:21:09.639 --> 00:21:10.339 Be gracious, 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:11.980 look upon my affliction 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:14.359 and deliver me again. 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.579 Now if you'll note, 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:18.879 there's a lot of action verbs 00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:19.339 in here. 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:19.900 Right? 00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:21.000 Think about this. 00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:23.579 Turn to me. 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.519 Be gracious. 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:26.519 Look upon my affliction. 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.759 Take away my sin. 00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:29.139 Guard my life. 00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:29.879 Rescue me. 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:30.879 Let me not be put 00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:31.319 to shame. 00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:33.180 They almost come 00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:34.480 with those graphics 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.220 and cartoons, 00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:35.539 right? 00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:36.339 With the bubbles 00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:37.000 and the like, 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:38.399 pow and bam. 00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:39.980 But it ain't David 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:40.679 who's doing that. 00:21:41.159 --> 00:21:41.740 It's God 00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:42.439 who's doing it. 00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:44.679 God 00:21:44.679 --> 00:21:45.699 and not David 00:21:45.699 --> 00:21:46.419 is at work. 00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.220 God is at work 00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:49.859 even in the presence 00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:51.000 of his enemies, 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:52.740 both yours 00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:54.799 and David's. 00:21:55.379 --> 00:21:56.299 But we get 00:21:56.299 --> 00:21:57.419 a small glimpse 00:21:57.419 --> 00:21:59.039 at who this enemy is. 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:00.559 it's not one 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:01.339 that does battle 00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:02.779 simply with swords 00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:04.259 and chariots 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:06.819 and military might. 00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.659 The one 00:22:08.659 --> 00:22:09.159 that David 00:22:09.159 --> 00:22:10.159 battles against, 00:22:10.399 --> 00:22:11.000 he fights 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:12.180 with uprightness, 00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:13.659 integrity, 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:14.980 and hope. 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.920 And for that battle, 00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:17.480 David 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:18.779 has nowhere else 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:19.299 to turn 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.240 but back 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.200 to the deliverer. 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:24.519 For he is the only one 00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:25.379 that can release 00:22:25.379 --> 00:22:26.539 from the snare of sin, 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:27.700 that can free 00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.599 from anguish, 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.039 that can cure 00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.599 loneliness 00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:31.359 and affliction. 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:32.700 My eyes 00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:33.180 are ever 00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:33.920 on the Lord 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:34.559 for only 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.519 he will release 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:36.139 my feet. 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:37.019 Turn 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:38.000 and be gracious 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.519 to me. 00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:39.980 David's cry 00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:41.000 for deliverance 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:41.799 is back 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.680 towards the Lord 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:44.299 from the hands 00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:44.839 of his enemies. 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.980 That's the only thing 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:48.079 he can ask for. 00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:49.500 Now as we move 00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.839 from those outside parts, 00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:51.359 we're moving 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:52.159 a little closer. 00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:53.099 What's the next thing 00:22:53.099 --> 00:22:54.059 that David asks for? 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:55.559 He asks for guidance 00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:56.319 or instruction. 00:22:57.859 --> 00:22:58.259 Really, 00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:59.299 he doesn't ask for it. 00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:00.419 He begs for it. 00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:02.119 Sometimes when we think 00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:02.619 guidance, 00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.599 we think of 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:05.139 like a scene 00:23:05.139 --> 00:23:06.059 from Andy Griffith, 00:23:06.139 --> 00:23:06.379 right? 00:23:06.659 --> 00:23:07.879 Where the little boy, 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:08.279 Opie, 00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:09.799 he asks his dad, 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:10.839 oh man, 00:23:10.899 --> 00:23:11.619 I have this like 00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:12.839 situation at school, 00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:14.359 this minor moral dilemma, 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.679 if it's even a moral dilemma. 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:17.119 And oftentimes 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:17.779 they're fishing. 00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:19.000 I love Andy Griffith 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.639 and I love fishing. 00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:20.419 That's not a commentary 00:23:20.419 --> 00:23:20.879 on it. 00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:23.319 But then Andy 00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:23.940 will say, 00:23:24.139 --> 00:23:24.440 well, 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.340 you remember something 00:23:25.340 --> 00:23:25.940 like this. 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:28.180 And there's a sense 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:28.820 of nostalgia 00:23:28.820 --> 00:23:30.059 for something like that. 00:23:30.120 --> 00:23:31.420 Where it's a bestowal 00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:31.920 of wisdom 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:32.660 that we already 00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:33.400 kind of knew 00:23:33.400 --> 00:23:34.100 but we needed 00:23:34.100 --> 00:23:35.019 a father figure 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:36.019 to turn us back 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:36.420 to that. 00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:38.080 That's not what's 00:23:38.080 --> 00:23:38.720 going on here. 00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:40.620 That is not the picture 00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:41.779 that David has 00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:43.559 of asking for guidance 00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.360 in the midst 00:23:44.360 --> 00:23:44.920 of trouble. 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.059 It's not like an, 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:46.740 oh shucks, 00:23:46.860 --> 00:23:47.019 Andy, 00:23:47.059 --> 00:23:48.039 I knew that anyway. 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:50.820 This is a crying out 00:23:50.820 --> 00:23:51.460 in the midst 00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.259 of darkness 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:53.120 and chaos. 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:54.220 I don't know 00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:55.019 what to do. 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:55.440 Lord, 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.019 help me. 00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:57.799 We see that again 00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.880 in the Gospels too. 00:23:59.079 --> 00:23:59.299 Lord, 00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:00.180 help me 00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:01.360 in the midst 00:24:01.360 --> 00:24:02.519 of my unbelief. 00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:04.759 He's begging 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.480 for help. 00:24:05.840 --> 00:24:06.460 Look at verses 00:24:06.460 --> 00:24:07.840 four through six. 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:08.579 Make known 00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:09.559 to me your ways, 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:09.900 oh Lord. 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:10.900 Teach me your past. 00:24:11.380 --> 00:24:12.360 Lead me in your truth 00:24:12.360 --> 00:24:13.180 and teach me 00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:14.700 for you are the God 00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:15.539 of my salvation 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.740 for I will wait 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.900 all the day long. 00:24:17.900 --> 00:24:19.780 Remember your mercy, 00:24:19.900 --> 00:24:20.220 oh Lord, 00:24:20.300 --> 00:24:21.480 and your steadfast love 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:22.540 for they have been 00:24:22.540 --> 00:24:24.140 of old. 00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:27.460 We don't see that 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.140 very often. 00:24:28.300 --> 00:24:29.220 We're told often 00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:30.700 in our day and age 00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:31.580 and even sometimes 00:24:31.580 --> 00:24:32.780 we function like this. 00:24:33.060 --> 00:24:34.180 If we need wisdom, 00:24:34.580 --> 00:24:35.380 we just need 00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:36.759 to silence ourselves. 00:24:37.340 --> 00:24:38.660 Silence all the distractions 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:39.820 and all the noises 00:24:39.820 --> 00:24:41.080 and if I get alone 00:24:41.080 --> 00:24:41.860 by myself, 00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:44.280 I can think clearly. 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:46.300 I know what to do. 00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:49.559 That says 00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:50.180 that the answer 00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:51.819 arises from within us. 00:24:52.399 --> 00:24:53.539 In David's experience, 00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:54.740 I'm not against silence 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:55.619 and I'm not against 00:24:55.619 --> 00:24:56.579 being by myself. 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.279 I'm a little bit 00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:58.440 on the introvert scale. 00:24:59.180 --> 00:25:01.240 But David is saying, 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:02.139 hey, 00:25:02.399 --> 00:25:03.940 this instruction, 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:04.759 this guidance, 00:25:04.919 --> 00:25:05.480 this clarity 00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:06.799 is not coming inside 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.720 of me, 00:25:08.379 --> 00:25:09.599 from inside of me. 00:25:09.659 --> 00:25:10.180 It's coming 00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:11.000 from the Lord. 00:25:11.899 --> 00:25:13.119 That the Lord 00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:14.240 is giving him 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:14.879 guidance. 00:25:15.399 --> 00:25:15.899 The Lord 00:25:15.900 --> 00:25:16.540 is the one 00:25:16.540 --> 00:25:17.180 that's working 00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:18.080 in his life. 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.580 Our innermost being 00:25:19.580 --> 00:25:20.340 is not the thing 00:25:20.340 --> 00:25:21.340 that's going to guide us, 00:25:21.600 --> 00:25:22.780 but God speaking 00:25:22.780 --> 00:25:23.800 to us. 00:25:24.300 --> 00:25:24.740 Again, 00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:25.519 he's the one 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.180 that's active. 00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:27.240 He is the one 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:27.860 that's teaching. 00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:28.740 He is the one 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.320 that's showing. 00:25:30.380 --> 00:25:31.340 He is the one 00:25:31.340 --> 00:25:32.840 that's delivering us. 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:34.519 It's a street fight 00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:35.460 for truth 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:37.140 in our own hearts 00:25:37.140 --> 00:25:37.940 and minds. 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:39.120 And the Lord 00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:39.680 is the one 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.440 doing battle. 00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:41.780 But David, 00:25:42.340 --> 00:25:43.100 in doing this, 00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:43.740 is submitting 00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:44.380 to the will 00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:44.880 of his Father 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:45.700 and asking 00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:47.900 to be led, 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.880 to be shown. 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:51.960 It's kind of like 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:53.059 when we have a house 00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:54.000 and we decorate it 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:54.819 and organize it 00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:55.579 in such a way. 00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:56.720 We're asking 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.200 the Lord 00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:58.019 to come in 00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:58.759 and rearrange 00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.400 the furniture 00:25:59.400 --> 00:26:00.279 and throw things 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:01.099 in the dumpster 00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:03.200 and to reorient 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:03.799 everything. 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:04.680 That's what David 00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:05.160 is doing. 00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:06.740 We're not asking 00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.559 him just to clean 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:08.440 up the dust bunnies. 00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:09.900 We're asking him 00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:11.620 to reorganize 00:26:11.620 --> 00:26:12.660 and reorient 00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:13.600 our lives 00:26:13.600 --> 00:26:14.900 according to 00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:15.620 his principles. 00:26:17.820 --> 00:26:18.420 Imagine 00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.660 in the midst 00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:20.640 of difficulty 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:21.320 and trial, 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.480 not wallowing 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:23.240 in grief, 00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:26.080 kind of like pigs. 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.440 Pigs love mud. 00:26:27.880 --> 00:26:28.780 They roll back 00:26:28.780 --> 00:26:29.580 and forth 00:26:29.580 --> 00:26:30.900 and they wallow 00:26:30.900 --> 00:26:31.360 in mud. 00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:32.240 We do that 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:33.220 sometimes 00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:34.340 in our emotional state 00:26:34.340 --> 00:26:35.400 when things are hard. 00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:36.420 We don't go 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:37.060 to the Lord. 00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:37.880 We just roll 00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:38.800 around in it. 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:40.000 We think about 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:40.779 anxiety 00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.519 and sadness 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.339 and fear 00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:43.460 and they're our 00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:44.099 companions 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:45.319 and we act 00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:46.019 like Israel 00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:46.639 in the Exodus. 00:26:46.899 --> 00:26:47.539 We complain 00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:48.180 and murmur 00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:48.839 about it 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:49.799 with things 00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:50.139 that are 00:26:50.139 --> 00:26:51.000 maybe bigger 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:51.799 than the man flu. 00:26:53.339 --> 00:26:54.059 But David's 00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:55.019 example is showing 00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:55.779 us to go 00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:57.000 back to the Lord 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:58.460 and to ask him 00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.379 in the midst 00:26:59.379 --> 00:26:59.819 of that 00:26:59.819 --> 00:27:00.579 for guidance. 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.879 Show us the way 00:27:01.879 --> 00:27:02.319 O Lord. 00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:04.019 But we also 00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:05.119 have that promise 00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:06.019 that God 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:06.879 is going to do 00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:07.700 something, 00:27:07.879 --> 00:27:08.500 that he is going 00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.119 to be at work. 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:09.960 Look at verse 12. 00:27:10.839 --> 00:27:11.500 Who is the man 00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.500 who fears the Lord? 00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:14.099 He will instruct him 00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:14.619 or him 00:27:14.619 --> 00:27:15.660 will he instruct 00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:16.099 in the way 00:27:16.099 --> 00:27:17.140 that he should choose. 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.259 There's a pleading 00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:20.779 and then there's a promise. 00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:22.400 But that promise, 00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:23.759 we don't know 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.480 the timing 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:25.339 of the answer 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:26.740 but we know 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:27.500 that he answers, 00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:29.480 that he will instruct him, 00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:30.619 he will answer him. 00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:31.880 But that guidance 00:27:31.880 --> 00:27:32.519 is formed 00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:33.579 by relationship. 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.440 The answer 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:36.700 that's been given 00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.220 to David 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:37.880 flows out 00:27:37.880 --> 00:27:38.720 of this relationship 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.559 with this covenant 00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:40.360 keeping God. 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:42.259 Remember, 00:27:42.620 --> 00:27:43.640 this is the same God 00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:44.660 that promised 00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:46.519 that he would be 00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.100 their God 00:27:47.100 --> 00:27:47.819 and they would be 00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:48.360 his people. 00:27:48.660 --> 00:27:49.900 That's the ground 00:27:49.900 --> 00:27:50.480 of assurance 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:51.460 that David has. 00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:53.640 That he knows 00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:54.740 it will come to pass. 00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:55.840 He knows 00:27:55.840 --> 00:27:56.400 that he will have 00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:56.840 an answer 00:27:56.840 --> 00:27:57.799 because he has 00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:59.180 fellowship with God. 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:01.620 And that relationship 00:28:01.620 --> 00:28:02.700 is good. 00:28:02.860 --> 00:28:03.779 Look at verse 13. 00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:05.200 His soul 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.839 shall abide 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:06.500 in well-being. 00:28:06.859 --> 00:28:07.680 His offering 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.319 shall inherit 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:08.859 the land. 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:09.759 14. 00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:10.379 The friendship 00:28:10.379 --> 00:28:11.079 of the Lord 00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:11.759 is for those 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.379 who fear him 00:28:12.379 --> 00:28:13.160 and makes known 00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:13.759 his covenant. 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.039 Guidance 00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:16.940 and instruction 00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:18.359 is the outworking 00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:19.359 of our relationship 00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:20.019 with God. 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:21.180 When we plead 00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:21.819 for him 00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:22.539 to answer, 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:24.220 it's because 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:25.599 he is near to us. 00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:26.879 It flows out 00:28:26.879 --> 00:28:27.940 of this relationship 00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:28.639 that we had 00:28:28.639 --> 00:28:29.299 with the Lord. 00:28:29.619 --> 00:28:30.000 And we get 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.879 a small glimpse 00:28:30.879 --> 00:28:31.619 of that here 00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:33.220 in Psalm 25. 00:28:34.379 --> 00:28:35.200 Now we know 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:36.220 David has pled 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:37.819 for what? 00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:38.920 He's pled 00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:39.920 for all these things 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:40.859 up until this point. 00:28:41.240 --> 00:28:41.899 He's pled 00:28:41.899 --> 00:28:42.619 for deliverance 00:28:42.619 --> 00:28:43.079 from enemies. 00:28:43.559 --> 00:28:44.240 He's asked 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:44.980 for guidance 00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:46.039 because of this 00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:46.599 relationship. 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:48.119 But what else 00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:48.960 does he ask for? 00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:50.079 Again, 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:50.599 we're moving 00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:51.680 closer and closer 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.920 to that inflection point. 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:54.099 He's asking 00:28:54.099 --> 00:28:54.940 for forgiveness. 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:55.920 We saw 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:56.799 a hint of that 00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.539 in verse 6. 00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:59.779 Remember your mercy, 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.259 O Lord, 00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:01.539 and your steadfast love, 00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:02.579 for they have 00:29:02.579 --> 00:29:03.500 been from old. 00:29:03.879 --> 00:29:04.799 He continues on. 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:05.599 Remember not 00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:06.079 the sins 00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:06.659 of my youth 00:29:06.659 --> 00:29:08.200 or my transgressions 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:09.039 according to 00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:10.159 your steadfast love. 00:29:10.659 --> 00:29:11.420 Remember me 00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:12.420 for the sake 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:13.099 of your goodness. 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:15.039 It's not simply 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:15.480 a statement 00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:16.299 of God's mercy. 00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:17.180 It is that, 00:29:17.639 --> 00:29:18.639 but it's saying 00:29:18.639 --> 00:29:19.659 remember how 00:29:19.659 --> 00:29:20.200 you've worked 00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:21.000 in the past. 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:21.680 God, 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.119 you've done 00:29:22.119 --> 00:29:22.579 these things 00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.279 in the past. 00:29:23.700 --> 00:29:24.599 Do them again. 00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:26.759 May it continue. 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:29.119 It's an outworking 00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:29.879 of that covenant 00:29:29.879 --> 00:29:31.519 promise to God's people. 00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:33.920 It's taking Israel's 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:34.920 history and saying, 00:29:35.299 --> 00:29:35.900 hey, remember 00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:36.619 how you've dealt 00:29:36.619 --> 00:29:37.180 with Abraham. 00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:38.480 He sinned, 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.519 but you were so 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.420 gracious to him. 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:42.099 Remember not just 00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:42.519 Abraham, 00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.500 but remember Isaac. 00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.400 Remember Jacob. 00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:45.759 Remember your people, 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:46.319 Israel, 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:48.859 how you've dealt 00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:49.319 with them. 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:51.180 Remember me 00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:51.940 according to 00:29:51.940 --> 00:29:53.160 that same love. 00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:55.680 David is pleading 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.259 with the Lord 00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:57.039 to do the same. 00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:58.100 If we see the pattern 00:29:58.100 --> 00:29:58.400 here, 00:29:58.660 --> 00:29:59.620 he pleads for these 00:29:59.620 --> 00:30:00.279 things and then 00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:01.259 he answers these 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:02.140 things in the same 00:30:02.140 --> 00:30:02.480 way. 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:05.140 But most of all, 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:05.759 he asked, 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:07.940 remember not my sin. 00:30:09.620 --> 00:30:10.900 David is keenly 00:30:10.900 --> 00:30:11.840 aware of his sin 00:30:11.840 --> 00:30:12.500 in this moment. 00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:13.180 I think that's 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:14.039 who the enemy is. 00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:15.120 The fact that 00:30:15.120 --> 00:30:15.799 he's dealing 00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:16.620 with a struggle 00:30:16.620 --> 00:30:17.600 against his own 00:30:17.600 --> 00:30:18.580 flesh and the devil. 00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:20.120 And we've circled 00:30:20.120 --> 00:30:21.060 around to the fact 00:30:21.060 --> 00:30:22.080 that David is back 00:30:22.080 --> 00:30:23.100 in this bad spot. 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:24.539 He needs guidance, 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:24.940 yes, 00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.820 he needs deliverance 00:30:25.820 --> 00:30:26.259 from that, 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:27.759 but he is really 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:28.700 aware that he's a 00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:28.880 sinner. 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:32.200 He knows that he 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:33.100 needs a redeemer. 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:35.799 And in that moment, 00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:37.500 he knows that he 00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.100 needs God. 00:30:38.200 --> 00:30:39.000 He's looking back 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.759 over his youth 00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.080 and saying, 00:30:40.320 --> 00:30:41.160 don't deal with me 00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.120 according to all 00:30:42.120 --> 00:30:42.779 those things. 00:30:43.580 --> 00:30:44.480 And he has these 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.840 very acute points, 00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:46.380 if you know the 00:30:46.380 --> 00:30:47.059 life of David, 00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:47.900 where he's aware 00:30:47.900 --> 00:30:48.500 that he is a 00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:48.660 sinner, 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.640 the gravity of 00:30:49.640 --> 00:30:50.259 what he's done. 00:30:50.860 --> 00:30:51.840 And he knows 00:30:51.840 --> 00:30:52.400 that he needs 00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:53.059 a deliverer. 00:30:53.140 --> 00:30:54.019 He knows he needs 00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:54.539 a redeemer. 00:30:55.900 --> 00:30:56.900 But he's asking 00:30:56.900 --> 00:30:57.759 the Lord not to 00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:58.559 look on that, 00:30:58.879 --> 00:30:59.619 but look back 00:30:59.619 --> 00:31:00.279 on love. 00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:02.639 Remember what you 00:31:02.639 --> 00:31:03.480 have done to your 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:03.879 people. 00:31:05.639 --> 00:31:06.559 As a pastor, 00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.639 I'm often privileged 00:31:07.639 --> 00:31:09.180 to see this picture. 00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:11.400 Remember your promise 00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:12.119 to love. 00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:13.680 And I see it most 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:15.440 often in marriages, 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.900 but not on the 00:31:16.900 --> 00:31:17.460 wedding day. 00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:19.420 But when things 00:31:19.420 --> 00:31:20.519 are really dark 00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.500 and things are 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.420 really bad, 00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:24.440 and there seems 00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:25.200 like there's no 00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:25.720 hope, 00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:27.920 and oftentimes 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:28.900 what is said, 00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:30.400 even with people 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:31.299 that don't confess 00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:31.779 Christ, 00:31:32.360 --> 00:31:33.140 I remember, 00:31:33.340 --> 00:31:34.340 remember that you 00:31:34.340 --> 00:31:35.400 promised to love me. 00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:36.400 I've heard that on 00:31:36.400 --> 00:31:37.319 more than one occasion, 00:31:37.640 --> 00:31:38.460 and I'm always 00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:39.259 struck by that 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:40.160 because that 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:41.240 is the picture 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:42.240 that we are 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:43.120 claiming of God, 00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:44.039 except for 00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:44.900 he has never 00:31:44.900 --> 00:31:46.039 stopped loving us. 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:48.000 in spite of our sin. 00:31:48.399 --> 00:31:49.139 And David is 00:31:49.139 --> 00:31:50.460 pleading that promise 00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:52.180 on his own behalf. 00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:53.720 But we have 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:54.740 that assurance, 00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:55.799 again, 00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:56.859 the pleading for it, 00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:57.639 but the assurance 00:31:57.639 --> 00:31:58.200 of forgiveness. 00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.700 Look at verse 11. 00:32:00.619 --> 00:32:02.159 For your name's sake, 00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:02.599 O Lord, 00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:03.879 pardon my guilt, 00:32:04.099 --> 00:32:05.460 for it is great. 00:32:06.299 --> 00:32:07.019 There's a sense 00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:07.859 of expectation 00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:09.180 that David has 00:32:09.180 --> 00:32:10.159 because he's dealing 00:32:10.159 --> 00:32:10.859 with his people. 00:32:11.240 --> 00:32:11.659 He says, 00:32:12.819 --> 00:32:13.740 because of the covenant, 00:32:13.879 --> 00:32:14.960 because of the promise, 00:32:15.159 --> 00:32:15.960 do these things. 00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:16.700 Not because of 00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:17.579 anything in myself, 00:32:18.099 --> 00:32:19.079 but because of 00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:19.779 what you have done. 00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:23.899 The same is true 00:32:23.899 --> 00:32:24.460 in the gospel. 00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:26.159 That we are not 00:32:26.159 --> 00:32:27.799 claiming eternal life 00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:28.220 on anything 00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:29.119 that we have done. 00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:31.059 This message 00:32:31.059 --> 00:32:31.759 that we have 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:32.359 in the good news 00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:32.759 of Jesus 00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:34.079 is because of 00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:34.519 your love, 00:32:34.599 --> 00:32:34.839 O Lord, 00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:35.899 because of who you are, 00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:37.339 because of your promise 00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:38.940 that we should love. 00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:42.259 Please love us 00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:43.119 because of that. 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:44.619 There's a comfort 00:32:44.619 --> 00:32:45.379 and that forgiveness 00:32:45.379 --> 00:32:46.239 when we know 00:32:46.239 --> 00:32:47.819 that we are in Christ, 00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:49.739 that God 00:32:49.739 --> 00:32:51.959 is faithful 00:32:51.959 --> 00:32:52.939 to his promise 00:32:52.939 --> 00:32:54.459 because of his covenant. 00:32:55.459 --> 00:32:56.519 So David can call 00:32:56.519 --> 00:32:57.599 for deliverance. 00:32:57.659 --> 00:32:58.179 He can call 00:32:58.179 --> 00:32:58.799 for guidance. 00:32:59.159 --> 00:33:00.059 He can even call 00:33:00.059 --> 00:33:00.679 for forgiveness. 00:33:01.079 --> 00:33:02.099 But that center point, 00:33:02.199 --> 00:33:02.879 that inflection 00:33:02.879 --> 00:33:04.459 of this whole psalm 00:33:04.459 --> 00:33:05.379 is God himself. 00:33:05.939 --> 00:33:06.500 Look with me 00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:07.699 at verses 8 and 10. 00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:09.000 Good and upright 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:09.659 is the Lord, 00:33:09.779 --> 00:33:10.839 therefore he instructs 00:33:10.839 --> 00:33:11.980 the sinners in the way. 00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:13.399 He leads the humble 00:33:13.399 --> 00:33:14.199 in what is right. 00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:15.899 He teaches the humble 00:33:15.899 --> 00:33:16.500 his way. 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:18.000 And all the paths 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:18.500 of the Lord 00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:19.899 are steadfast love 00:33:19.899 --> 00:33:21.019 and faithfulness 00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:22.679 for those who keep 00:33:22.679 --> 00:33:23.159 his covenant 00:33:23.159 --> 00:33:24.240 and his testimonies. 00:33:24.639 --> 00:33:25.899 We can feel that 00:33:25.899 --> 00:33:26.639 because it's not 00:33:26.639 --> 00:33:27.679 to you, O Lord. 00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:29.220 We see that it's kind of 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:30.399 like in third person now. 00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:32.980 It's about God himself. 00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:34.599 He is the center point 00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:36.319 of all of what's going on. 00:33:36.659 --> 00:33:37.379 He's the center point 00:33:37.379 --> 00:33:38.339 of David's life, 00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:39.699 even in the midst 00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:40.440 of not knowing 00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:41.100 how to feel 00:33:41.100 --> 00:33:41.880 or what to do, 00:33:42.500 --> 00:33:43.200 but he's also 00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:44.120 the center point 00:33:44.120 --> 00:33:45.519 of this text. 00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:46.799 It's a shift, 00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:48.140 not pleading, 00:33:49.100 --> 00:33:50.400 but statements 00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:51.140 about God, 00:33:51.900 --> 00:33:53.080 who he is. 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:54.580 The difficulty though, 00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:55.559 we know this 00:33:55.559 --> 00:33:56.380 from our experiences, 00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:57.400 we can gloss over 00:33:57.400 --> 00:33:58.400 that really quickly. 00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:00.039 We can be consumed 00:34:00.039 --> 00:34:01.080 by how we feel 00:34:01.080 --> 00:34:02.000 in the moment, 00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:05.180 but David is encouraging us 00:34:05.180 --> 00:34:06.539 to go back 00:34:06.539 --> 00:34:07.779 to that reference point, 00:34:07.900 --> 00:34:09.679 to God himself. 00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:10.119 himself, 00:34:10.739 --> 00:34:11.559 who's at the center 00:34:11.559 --> 00:34:13.039 because he's not silent, 00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:15.000 he is not absent. 00:34:15.719 --> 00:34:16.279 In fact, 00:34:16.339 --> 00:34:17.599 he is the one delivering, 00:34:18.379 --> 00:34:19.319 giving guidance, 00:34:19.859 --> 00:34:21.519 and even forgiving sin. 00:34:22.219 --> 00:34:23.319 And that's the beauty 00:34:23.319 --> 00:34:24.000 of the Savior. 00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:25.379 That's the beauty 00:34:25.379 --> 00:34:25.859 of Jesus, 00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:27.299 the fact that we have 00:34:27.299 --> 00:34:28.399 Christ who intercedes 00:34:28.399 --> 00:34:29.319 even now, 00:34:29.779 --> 00:34:30.619 that God has sent 00:34:30.619 --> 00:34:31.439 his son 00:34:31.439 --> 00:34:33.319 to be the focal point 00:34:33.319 --> 00:34:34.039 of our lives. 00:34:34.900 --> 00:34:35.519 I've kind of made 00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:36.059 a big deal 00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:36.980 throughout this sermon 00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:38.420 about the structure 00:34:38.420 --> 00:34:39.759 of Psalm 25. 00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:40.519 Now, 00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:41.279 not every Psalm 00:34:41.279 --> 00:34:42.360 is structured like this, 00:34:42.759 --> 00:34:43.880 but the ones that are, 00:34:44.279 --> 00:34:45.719 it's very telling 00:34:45.719 --> 00:34:47.179 when it doesn't follow 00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:47.800 that model. 00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.360 There's one part 00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:50.119 that doesn't follow 00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:50.960 this whole model, 00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:52.880 and it's the last verse. 00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:56.279 Redeem Israel, 00:34:56.500 --> 00:34:56.739 O God, 00:34:56.820 --> 00:34:57.739 out of his troubles. 00:34:58.539 --> 00:34:59.659 It's a misstep 00:34:59.659 --> 00:35:00.359 in this flow. 00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:03.359 But in that misstep, 00:35:03.479 --> 00:35:04.559 we see that it's not 00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:05.939 just David's experience. 00:35:06.239 --> 00:35:07.139 It's the experience 00:35:07.139 --> 00:35:08.039 of God's people. 00:35:08.819 --> 00:35:09.899 This calling back 00:35:09.899 --> 00:35:10.459 for God 00:35:10.459 --> 00:35:11.839 to be the center point 00:35:11.839 --> 00:35:12.859 of our lives. 00:35:14.059 --> 00:35:16.019 So that we might cry 00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:17.659 in the midst of storm 00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:18.479 for deliverance, 00:35:18.979 --> 00:35:20.159 ask for instruction, 00:35:20.939 --> 00:35:22.199 but most of all, 00:35:22.299 --> 00:35:23.059 we are crying 00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:24.599 and asking the Lord 00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:26.079 to be the focus 00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:26.899 of our lives. 00:35:27.739 --> 00:35:29.099 May we do that this day. 00:35:29.419 --> 00:35:29.719 Let's pray. 00:35:30.759 --> 00:35:31.000 Lord, 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:31.539 we are thankful 00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:32.359 for the reminder 00:35:32.359 --> 00:35:33.279 from your word 00:35:33.279 --> 00:35:34.339 of your promises 00:35:34.339 --> 00:35:34.979 in Scripture. 00:35:35.519 --> 00:35:36.859 We ask that you might 00:35:36.859 --> 00:35:37.579 remind us, 00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:38.359 even now, 00:35:39.379 --> 00:35:41.039 that you are to be 00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:41.839 the focal point 00:35:41.839 --> 00:35:42.459 of our lives, 00:35:42.479 --> 00:35:43.459 that we are offered 00:35:43.459 --> 00:35:44.879 forgiveness in the gospel. 00:35:45.439 --> 00:35:46.659 May we plead for it, 00:35:47.019 --> 00:35:47.500 and Father, 00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:49.039 may we be assured of it. 00:35:49.619 --> 00:35:50.959 In our times of trouble 00:35:50.959 --> 00:35:51.699 and distress, 00:35:51.859 --> 00:35:53.000 may you give us instruction. 00:35:53.699 --> 00:35:54.899 May we plead for it. 00:35:55.579 --> 00:35:56.659 May you grant us it. 00:35:56.659 --> 00:35:57.859 And Father, 00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:58.960 even in the presence 00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.739 of our enemies, 00:36:00.399 --> 00:36:02.000 just like your servant David, 00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:05.359 may we plead for deliverance, 00:36:05.719 --> 00:36:07.119 and may we be assured of it 00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:08.659 in all these things 00:36:08.659 --> 00:36:10.159 because of what Christ has done. 00:36:10.699 --> 00:36:12.379 We ask this in Christ's name. 00:36:12.599 --> 00:36:12.819 Amen.