WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 Psalm 29. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.359 The voice of the Lord is majestic. 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:35.079 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars. 00:00:35.820 --> 00:00:38.740 The Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 00:00:39.320 --> 00:00:42.019 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, 00:00:42.679 --> 00:00:44.880 Siron like a young wild ox. 00:00:45.420 --> 00:00:48.460 The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. 00:00:49.079 --> 00:00:50.840 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert. 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:53.299 The Lord shakes the desert of Kadesh. 00:00:54.060 --> 00:00:56.159 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks 00:00:56.159 --> 00:00:57.780 and strips the forest bare. 00:00:57.780 --> 00:01:01.679 And in his temple all cry glory. 00:01:02.760 --> 00:01:05.920 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood. 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:08.620 The Lord is enthroned as king forever. 00:01:09.299 --> 00:01:11.260 The Lord gives strength to his people. 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:14.740 The Lord blesses his people with peace. 00:01:15.859 --> 00:01:16.379 Amen. 00:01:16.379 --> 00:01:22.159 Thank you, Steve. 00:01:23.339 --> 00:01:24.899 Before we get stuck in, let me pray. 00:01:26.679 --> 00:01:30.039 Heavenly Father, thank you for your word and your voice. 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:32.899 We pray that your spirit would be with us today, 00:01:33.259 --> 00:01:34.539 giving us the ears to hear, 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:36.120 the minds to understand, 00:01:36.579 --> 00:01:38.039 and the hearts to accept your fruit. 00:01:38.859 --> 00:01:40.780 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:01:40.780 --> 00:01:45.879 So this psalm is all about a powerful storm. 00:01:46.739 --> 00:01:48.820 God in his humour has sent us a typical, 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:50.840 dreary London grey day, 00:01:50.920 --> 00:01:52.379 so we're going to need to use our imaginations 00:01:52.379 --> 00:01:54.280 to imagine this powerful storm. 00:01:55.159 --> 00:01:56.740 Have you ever been in a powerful storm? 00:01:57.200 --> 00:01:58.819 You know, the sort of one that shakes your house? 00:02:00.299 --> 00:02:03.840 This psalm talks about the image of God's voice 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:05.520 as a powerful storm. 00:02:06.140 --> 00:02:07.180 We see the thunder. 00:02:07.700 --> 00:02:08.460 We see the lightning. 00:02:08.460 --> 00:02:09.920 We see the flood. 00:02:11.200 --> 00:02:13.020 Let me bring this imagery to life 00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:14.719 with an example from Jesus' life. 00:02:15.740 --> 00:02:17.219 Keep one finger in Psalm 29 00:02:17.219 --> 00:02:20.480 and flick forwards to page 1006, 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:24.219 Mark chapter 4, verses 35 to 41. 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:37.500 It's perhaps a familiar story of a storm in the Bible. 00:02:38.460 --> 00:02:40.580 But put yourselves in the shoes of the disciples. 00:02:42.140 --> 00:02:44.939 Jesus had been teaching large crowds of people 00:02:44.939 --> 00:02:46.120 by the edge of the lake. 00:02:46.980 --> 00:02:48.480 And now he says in verse 35, 00:02:49.140 --> 00:02:50.840 let's go to the other side of the lake. 00:02:51.580 --> 00:02:53.280 And so, in verse 36, 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:55.140 leaving the crowd behind, 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:56.520 they took him along, 00:02:57.000 --> 00:02:58.740 just as he was in the boat. 00:02:59.580 --> 00:03:01.000 There were also other boats with him. 00:03:01.700 --> 00:03:03.219 This event didn't happen in secret. 00:03:03.219 --> 00:03:05.340 There were eyewitnesses on the boat 00:03:05.340 --> 00:03:06.359 who saw what happened. 00:03:08.099 --> 00:03:09.379 Imagine you're on the lake. 00:03:10.099 --> 00:03:10.960 It's evening, 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:12.960 so it's probably already dark. 00:03:13.900 --> 00:03:16.240 But it just starts to get a bit darker 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:17.780 as the clouds draw in. 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:19.620 Now this lake, by the way, 00:03:19.860 --> 00:03:21.900 is 13 miles by 8 miles. 00:03:22.340 --> 00:03:23.340 So it's a big lake. 00:03:23.419 --> 00:03:24.219 It's more like a sea. 00:03:24.860 --> 00:03:26.319 And you're a long way out. 00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:29.079 And then, 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:31.620 the wind starts picking up. 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:33.900 You can just hear the wind 00:03:33.900 --> 00:03:35.239 whistling through the boat. 00:03:35.879 --> 00:03:37.780 And the waves against the sides of the boat. 00:03:38.459 --> 00:03:40.340 And you're starting to get worried. 00:03:40.340 --> 00:03:43.979 You go on for a few more minutes. 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:46.879 And it gets even darker. 00:03:47.480 --> 00:03:48.900 It's almost pitch black. 00:03:49.539 --> 00:03:50.699 Now this is no joke. 00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:52.840 Several of Jesus' disciples 00:03:52.840 --> 00:03:54.080 were professional fishermen. 00:03:54.539 --> 00:03:55.460 They knew what it was like 00:03:55.460 --> 00:03:56.360 to be out on sea. 00:03:57.560 --> 00:03:58.500 They were scared. 00:03:58.980 --> 00:04:00.280 And they don't get scared for nothing. 00:04:00.920 --> 00:04:02.259 They knew that this was serious. 00:04:03.860 --> 00:04:05.560 And then the thunder starts. 00:04:06.180 --> 00:04:07.400 The wind gets louder. 00:04:07.960 --> 00:04:09.180 And the waves start coming up 00:04:09.180 --> 00:04:10.020 the side of the boat. 00:04:10.340 --> 00:04:12.640 The waves come crashing into the boat. 00:04:13.060 --> 00:04:14.640 The water is coming into the boat. 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:16.100 And it's almost swamped. 00:04:16.500 --> 00:04:18.560 It's a life and death situation. 00:04:19.180 --> 00:04:21.280 But Jesus is sleeping on a cushion. 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:23.459 The disciples are desperate. 00:04:23.980 --> 00:04:24.759 They're terrified. 00:04:25.420 --> 00:04:26.519 They wake Jesus and say, 00:04:26.620 --> 00:04:28.019 don't you care if we drown? 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:30.259 Jesus gets up, 00:04:30.840 --> 00:04:31.740 rebukes the wind, 00:04:31.860 --> 00:04:32.879 and says to the waves, 00:04:33.259 --> 00:04:33.600 quiet! 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:35.600 Be still. 00:04:36.780 --> 00:04:38.160 Then the wind died down. 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:40.180 And it was completely calm. 00:04:40.339 --> 00:04:42.799 Verse 40, 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:43.959 Jesus says to his disciples, 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:45.819 why are you so afraid? 00:04:46.479 --> 00:04:47.939 Do you still have no faith? 00:04:49.560 --> 00:04:50.259 Verse 41, 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:51.439 they were terrified. 00:04:52.859 --> 00:04:54.439 At first they were terrified of the storm. 00:04:55.019 --> 00:04:57.099 But now they're terrified of Jesus. 00:04:57.879 --> 00:04:58.679 They ask each other, 00:04:59.179 --> 00:04:59.959 who is this? 00:04:59.959 --> 00:05:03.379 Even the wind and the waves obey him. 00:05:05.139 --> 00:05:08.019 This psalm is about exactly that. 00:05:08.799 --> 00:05:09.099 You see, 00:05:09.180 --> 00:05:12.740 the disciples started by fearing the storm itself. 00:05:13.419 --> 00:05:16.240 And it must have been quite the storm to get the disciples terrified. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:21.460 But they ended by fearing the one who commands the wind and the waves. 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:23.600 Come back with me to Psalm 29, 00:05:23.960 --> 00:05:26.560 and let's get stuck in on page 558. 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:29.319 Firstly, 00:05:29.480 --> 00:05:31.780 we're called to ascribe glory to the Lord. 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:35.680 This psalm begins with three calls to ascribe glory to the Lord. 00:05:35.780 --> 00:05:37.280 Have a look down at verses 1 and 2. 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:39.420 Ascribe to the Lord, 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:40.459 you heavenly beings. 00:05:41.019 --> 00:05:43.399 Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 00:05:44.019 --> 00:05:46.540 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name. 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:51.160 That word ascribe means to give the credit for something to someone. 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:52.340 You see, 00:05:52.400 --> 00:05:56.460 the trap that we and the disciples fall into sometimes when we see something amazing 00:05:56.460 --> 00:06:00.900 like a powerful storm or a sunset or a beautiful landscape is to say, 00:06:01.180 --> 00:06:02.040 isn't nature wonderful? 00:06:02.700 --> 00:06:04.400 Wasn't that storm so powerful? 00:06:05.200 --> 00:06:06.800 And in some ways that's factually true. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:11.500 But we forget the one who sent the storm or who painted that landscape. 00:06:12.740 --> 00:06:17.440 It's not just that God created the world and is letting it run its course 00:06:17.440 --> 00:06:18.940 like some epic domino run. 00:06:18.939 --> 00:06:20.060 But no, 00:06:20.139 --> 00:06:24.379 we know that Jesus is intimately involved in everything that we see and in 00:06:24.379 --> 00:06:25.219 everything that happens. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:26.439 In him, 00:06:26.620 --> 00:06:27.719 all things hold together. 00:06:28.759 --> 00:06:32.120 So it's right that we ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name. 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:36.079 So much so that the psalmist repeats that instruction three times. 00:06:36.759 --> 00:06:38.879 And when we see something repeated in the Bible three times, 00:06:39.060 --> 00:06:40.480 we've got to pay attention to it. 00:06:40.579 --> 00:06:41.379 We've got to look at it. 00:06:43.800 --> 00:06:47.420 Verse 1 calls to the heavenly beings or the mighty ones. 00:06:47.420 --> 00:06:49.580 That's a reference to angels. 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:54.560 But we know from other psalms that it's just as much of an instruction to us here today. 00:06:56.300 --> 00:06:59.640 Spurgeon says that the reason this is repeated three times is because, 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:00.620 in his words, 00:07:01.259 --> 00:07:03.480 we are backward in glorifying God. 00:07:04.180 --> 00:07:08.720 And especially great people who are often too much swollen in their own glory 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:11.720 to spare time to give God his rightful praise. 00:07:11.720 --> 00:07:16.980 When was the last time you ascribed glory and strength to the Lord? 00:07:17.720 --> 00:07:20.220 If you do find yourself in the midst of a powerful storm, 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:22.420 do you ascribe glory and strength to the Lord? 00:07:23.080 --> 00:07:28.260 When you see the London weather go from rain to hail to sunshine in the space of 15 minutes, 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:30.460 do you ascribe glory and strength to the Lord? 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:33.160 What about when your prayers are answered? 00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:35.500 Do you take the credit? 00:07:36.220 --> 00:07:39.380 Or will you ascribe glory and strength to the Lord? 00:07:41.480 --> 00:07:42.960 And what's the right way of doing that? 00:07:43.280 --> 00:07:45.000 Well, it's in the second half of verse 2. 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:49.240 It says to worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness. 00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:54.360 This word, worship, means to bow low in loving submission. 00:07:55.820 --> 00:08:00.060 Wourshipping the Lord is all about making more of him and less of us, 00:08:00.060 --> 00:08:03.199 of delighting in his splendour and not our own. 00:08:04.139 --> 00:08:07.399 So let us ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name. 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:13.240 The next verses all centre on the voice of the Lord, 00:08:13.500 --> 00:08:18.480 which we hear seven times as it comes in judgment through the storm against his enemies. 00:08:19.420 --> 00:08:24.399 We see in these verses just how almighty and powerful the voice of the Lord is, 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:26.040 and it's right to fear it. 00:08:26.040 --> 00:08:30.980 It's interesting that we see the strength and power of God through his voice. 00:08:31.960 --> 00:08:34.899 I think that's because his voice is unlike our voices. 00:08:35.259 --> 00:08:38.220 When we say that we'll do something, it may or may not happen. 00:08:38.759 --> 00:08:41.320 But when God says something, it does happen. 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:44.259 And that's part of what makes his voice so almighty. 00:08:46.019 --> 00:08:47.560 Have a look down at verse 3. 00:08:47.559 --> 00:08:51.899 We see that the voice of the Lord is over the waters. 00:08:52.419 --> 00:08:54.139 The God of glory thunders. 00:08:54.659 --> 00:08:57.379 The Lord thunders over the mighty waters. 00:08:58.459 --> 00:09:01.019 The focus here is on the waters. 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:05.099 And there are clear echoes here of God's voice in Genesis 1, 00:09:05.659 --> 00:09:08.179 with the Spirit of God hovering over the waters. 00:09:09.239 --> 00:09:13.839 In Genesis 1, God's voice creates everything out of nothingness. 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:18.879 God spoke and everything we see and hear and touch was created. 00:09:19.780 --> 00:09:23.800 Not only that, but the voice of the Lord is the cause of this storm, 00:09:24.259 --> 00:09:26.759 just as it was the cause of the storm in Mark's Gospel. 00:09:28.259 --> 00:09:30.019 The glory of God thunders. 00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:33.000 The Lord thunders over the mighty waters. 00:09:34.340 --> 00:09:35.580 Verse 4 goes on to say, 00:09:35.580 --> 00:09:37.520 The voice of the Lord is powerful. 00:09:38.060 --> 00:09:40.300 The voice of the Lord is majestic. 00:09:41.460 --> 00:09:44.300 The voice of the Lord isn't just creative and loud, 00:09:44.580 --> 00:09:45.500 but it's powerful. 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:47.560 Powerful in judgment. 00:09:48.220 --> 00:09:50.200 And even more powerful in salvation. 00:09:51.420 --> 00:09:53.000 And more than that, it's majestic. 00:09:54.300 --> 00:09:57.720 I don't know how many of you heard clips of King Charles III 00:09:57.720 --> 00:09:59.180 when he was in the US. 00:09:59.179 --> 00:10:03.239 His words somehow, partly because he was king, 00:10:03.819 --> 00:10:05.639 partly because those words were carefully chosen, 00:10:06.319 --> 00:10:08.959 they managed to unite both Democrats and Republicans 00:10:08.959 --> 00:10:10.000 in standing ovation, 00:10:10.599 --> 00:10:13.159 which is not something that many people can do. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:16.839 So in some ways, you could say that his voice was full of majesty. 00:10:17.839 --> 00:10:21.139 But the Lord Jesus Christ is king over all. 00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:25.079 And his voice is full of even more majesty than that. 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:28.980 His voice is not about diplomacy 00:10:28.980 --> 00:10:31.620 and trying to get people to agree with each other. 00:10:32.100 --> 00:10:35.580 But his voice is full of the truth and grace 00:10:35.580 --> 00:10:37.520 that we all desperately need to hear. 00:10:39.680 --> 00:10:42.379 Verse 5 goes on to talk about the cedars. 00:10:42.560 --> 00:10:42.879 It says, 00:10:43.060 --> 00:10:44.960 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars. 00:10:45.560 --> 00:10:48.740 The Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 00:10:50.040 --> 00:10:52.520 Now, you might not know me very well, 00:10:52.640 --> 00:10:54.400 but I am actually a bit of a nerd. 00:10:55.080 --> 00:10:58.220 And have been known to read books about trees. 00:10:59.300 --> 00:11:01.020 And one of the amazing things about trees 00:11:01.020 --> 00:11:03.900 is that living wood is an amazing material. 00:11:04.340 --> 00:11:07.220 And it's able to withstand storms and rain 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:08.520 like no other material. 00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:10.379 Build a tree out of metal 00:11:10.379 --> 00:11:12.800 and the branches will collapse under their own weight 00:11:12.800 --> 00:11:13.920 if they don't rust first. 00:11:14.680 --> 00:11:16.720 Build it out of plastic and they'll snap. 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:18.900 And the cedars of Lebanon 00:11:18.900 --> 00:11:20.860 were even more impressive than that. 00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:24.940 They were trees that grew up to 30 to 40 meters tall, 00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:27.879 with trunks that were 10 meters in diameter. 00:11:28.540 --> 00:11:31.020 And they lived for thousands of years 00:11:31.020 --> 00:11:33.040 because of their strength and their ability 00:11:33.040 --> 00:11:35.120 to withstand everything that was thrown at them. 00:11:36.160 --> 00:11:37.000 And yet, 00:11:37.560 --> 00:11:40.340 they are no match for the voice of the Lord. 00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:44.520 They are broken into pieces by the Lord. 00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:49.139 The cedars of Lebanon are used throughout the Old Testament 00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:50.240 to refer to people, 00:11:51.079 --> 00:11:52.319 sometimes positively, 00:11:53.059 --> 00:11:57.360 but often as a representation of a proud and rebellious people. 00:11:57.879 --> 00:11:59.980 And that's what the psalmist is doing here. 00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:02.480 These proud and rebellious people 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:04.620 come in their own strength against God 00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:08.740 and God breaks them in judgment. 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:12.379 That's a great comfort to us, isn't it? 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:15.000 When we see powerful opposition to the church, 00:12:15.539 --> 00:12:18.100 when we see leaders in this world who are unjust, 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:21.080 or when we ourselves face injustice, 00:12:21.080 --> 00:12:25.220 to know that God is going to come in judgment against those people. 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:27.600 And we were looking at that a bit this morning, weren't we, in Romans 12. 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:31.920 But actually, if I think about it, 00:12:32.060 --> 00:12:33.680 I used to be like one of these cedars. 00:12:34.680 --> 00:12:37.120 When I went to university to study natural sciences, 00:12:37.420 --> 00:12:39.080 I used to be a proud individual. 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:42.580 My pride came from thinking that I could figure out the answers, 00:12:42.940 --> 00:12:45.740 and actually the answers were to be found in science. 00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:50.940 And that spiritual matters of all kinds were outdated and irrelevant. 00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:54.399 Morally, I knew that I wasn't perfect, 00:12:55.100 --> 00:12:56.019 but I wasn't that bad. 00:12:56.019 --> 00:12:57.500 You know, I tried to keep the rules, 00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:59.620 and I probably did that better than most people. 00:13:01.059 --> 00:13:03.579 But just as the storm of God's voice 00:13:03.579 --> 00:13:06.120 exposed the weaknesses in these proud cedars 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:07.179 and broke them to pieces, 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:12.179 the Holy Spirit revealed to me all of my sins and flaws, 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:15.000 and that I too was a sinner in need of grace. 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:17.919 My eyes were opened to see that science, 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:20.299 while it might explain how the world works, 00:13:20.740 --> 00:13:22.579 can never explain why the world was. 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:24.559 And through his word, 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:29.179 God revealed to me the truth of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus, 00:13:29.599 --> 00:13:31.259 and how that was the hope I needed. 00:13:32.819 --> 00:13:34.919 Being humbled and broken in this way, 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:37.359 I accepted Jesus' offer of forgiveness. 00:13:38.299 --> 00:13:40.919 And that offer of forgiveness is here for us today. 00:13:42.119 --> 00:13:43.339 Don't stay a proud cedar. 00:13:43.340 --> 00:13:45.620 If you rely on your own strength, 00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:46.920 then in the time of judgment, 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:48.840 God's voice will break. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:52.600 If you're already a believer here today, 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:56.220 don't let that pride and self-reliance creep back in. 00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:57.920 It has a way of doing that, doesn't it? 00:13:58.899 --> 00:14:02.440 Give everything over to the sustainer of the universe, 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:04.960 and trust in his plan for your life. 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:09.660 Verse 6 goes on to say, 00:14:10.180 --> 00:14:12.420 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, 00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:14.620 Syrian like a wild ox. 00:14:15.560 --> 00:14:19.100 You see, God's voice doesn't just influence individual cedar trees, 00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:21.460 but whole civilizations like Lebanon, 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:25.420 or whole landscapes like Syrian or Mount Hebron. 00:14:26.199 --> 00:14:28.399 They're like wheat calves or young oxes 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:30.439 in comparison with the strength of his voice. 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:32.539 Verse 7 says, 00:14:32.719 --> 00:14:35.579 The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. 00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:37.059 Verse 8, 00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:39.579 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:42.139 The Lord shakes the desert of Kadesh. 00:14:43.459 --> 00:14:46.819 This desert or wilderness is meant to conjure up images 00:14:46.819 --> 00:14:49.599 of a terrifying and vast landscape. 00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:53.240 Yet the Lord shakes up even this vast landscape. 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:57.159 The desert is not an easy place for humans to live. 00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:59.340 There are many snares and dangers, 00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:02.600 whether it's the heat of the day or the cold of the night, 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:05.259 whether the sandstorms or the snakes, 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:09.019 whether the difficulty to navigate through the shifting dunes, 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:10.519 the size of the sheer place, 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:12.060 and the lack of water. 00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:14.759 All of those things are dangers of the desert. 00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:17.100 And in some ways, 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:20.220 we as Christians live in a wilderness today. 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:22.779 There are many snares and dangers 00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:23.679 in the world out there 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:25.579 that are looking to draw us away from Jesus 00:15:25.579 --> 00:15:27.919 while we await the perfect new creation. 00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:29.899 But even in this time, 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:33.480 God has the power to shake those snares and dangers off us. 00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:36.740 Verse 9, 00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:39.799 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks 00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:41.240 and strips the forest bare, 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:44.559 and in his temple all cry glory. 00:15:45.959 --> 00:15:48.100 Again, we see the power of God's storm 00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:50.259 to twist the oaks and strip the forest bare. 00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:52.600 There is no hiding from God's judgment. 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:55.259 And so why do we hide our sins from him? 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:58.000 We should confess them all to him, 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:01.159 even our darkest sins, 00:16:01.300 --> 00:16:03.159 and let the Spirit work in us 00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:04.620 to transform us. 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:07.420 Having heard how almighty 00:16:07.420 --> 00:16:08.680 the voice of the Lord is 00:16:08.680 --> 00:16:10.600 and how it's overcome his enemies, 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:13.540 there is nothing to do in his temple 00:16:13.540 --> 00:16:14.940 but to cry glory. 00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:19.259 We've seen that the voice of the Lord 00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:19.980 is almighty, 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:22.220 and verses 10 and 11 00:16:22.220 --> 00:16:23.379 leave us with a warning 00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:25.120 and a promise. 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.860 We see the warning of judgment 00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:29.120 in verse 10. 00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:30.620 Have a look at what it says. 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:33.840 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood. 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:37.820 The Lord is enthroned as king forever. 00:16:38.940 --> 00:16:40.680 The word for flood that's used here 00:16:40.680 --> 00:16:41.899 is the same that was used 00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:43.060 in the flood of Noah. 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:45.300 In that time, 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:47.500 God saw that every inclination 00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:49.379 of the thoughts of the human heart 00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:52.399 was only evil all of the time. 00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:54.100 It's one of the most depressing verses 00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:54.879 in the Bible, isn't it? 00:16:56.040 --> 00:16:57.000 And so in judgment, 00:16:57.680 --> 00:17:00.519 God sent a flood to judge the earth. 00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:03.220 On the last day when Jesus returns, 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:04.779 there will be another judgment to come. 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.799 But there's a choice now. 00:17:07.620 --> 00:17:09.319 Having seen the power in God's voice, 00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:11.519 do you want to stand like a tall, proud cedar 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:13.860 and take your chances against the storm 00:17:13.860 --> 00:17:14.900 of the Lord's judgment, 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:17.539 or do you accept his offer of forgiveness? 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:23.120 Verse 11 has an amazing promise 00:17:23.120 --> 00:17:23.779 on the other hand, 00:17:24.120 --> 00:17:26.400 and it's the promise of strength and peace. 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:27.339 Have a look at what it says. 00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:29.900 The Lord gives strength to his people. 00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:32.460 The Lord blesses his people with peace. 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:35.140 At first reading, 00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:38.019 it's strange how the ferocity of the storm 00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:39.019 that we've been thinking about 00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:43.420 is finished with peace and strength 00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:45.600 rather than dismay and destruction. 00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:47.799 How does this work? 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:50.400 How can a God who brings a storm 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:51.539 with his almighty voice 00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:53.440 also bring strength and peace? 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.420 It seems impossible, doesn't it? 00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:57.860 But the key to unlocking this mystery 00:17:57.860 --> 00:17:58.779 is Jesus. 00:17:58.779 --> 00:18:02.079 You see, God isn't just a distant God, 00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:04.960 but he is our loving God. 00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:06.460 And he's ours, 00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:07.819 not because of what we've done 00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:09.319 or because of who we are, 00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:11.799 but because of what Jesus achieved for us 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:12.500 on the cross. 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.359 At the cross, 00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:16.700 accompanied with darkness and an earthquake, 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:20.039 Jesus bore the storm of God's judgment 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:21.359 so that we wouldn't have to. 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:25.179 He has paid the price that our sins deserve, 00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:27.579 earning forgiveness for us. 00:18:28.419 --> 00:18:30.479 And we also know that Jesus didn't stay dead. 00:18:31.199 --> 00:18:32.439 He came back from the dead 00:18:32.439 --> 00:18:33.899 on that glorious Easter morning. 00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:36.279 And so in bringing us back 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:37.479 into relationship with him 00:18:37.479 --> 00:18:39.359 and in conquering sin and death, 00:18:39.899 --> 00:18:42.500 the Lord gives us strength and peace. 00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:45.059 Here on earth, 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:46.240 we need strength. 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:49.240 There are challenges and trials and storms 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.259 that we will face into 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:52.200 and they will not be easy. 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:54.160 But God in his mercy 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:55.000 gives us strength 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.500 to face those challenges and storms. 00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:58.180 We know that one day 00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:59.259 he will overcome them. 00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:01.460 And we know that we're not alone 00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:02.160 in facing them, 00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:03.799 but we have God with us 00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:05.640 every step of the way. 00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:07.579 Jesus is in the boat 00:19:07.579 --> 00:19:08.700 of those storms with us. 00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:11.660 And if God is for us, 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:13.279 then who can be against us? 00:19:15.080 --> 00:19:16.080 And more than that, 00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:17.019 we know that the wind 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:18.000 and the waves of the storms 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:18.580 that we face 00:19:18.580 --> 00:19:20.559 are in the hands of the one 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:21.380 who loves us 00:19:21.380 --> 00:19:22.559 and who saves us. 00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:25.860 As hard as any storm is 00:19:25.860 --> 00:19:26.799 in the present moment, 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:28.340 looking back, 00:19:28.600 --> 00:19:29.840 I can see how God 00:19:29.840 --> 00:19:31.220 was using those hard situations 00:19:31.220 --> 00:19:32.259 to strengthen me 00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:33.220 and strengthen my faith. 00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:34.539 And that's what he does 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:35.200 with those storms. 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:39.620 God also brings peace 00:19:39.620 --> 00:19:40.480 to his people. 00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:42.900 Just as Jesus is sleeping 00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.860 in the midst of the storm, 00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:45.580 trusting in the sovereign plan 00:19:45.580 --> 00:19:46.279 of the Father, 00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:47.740 we too can rest 00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:48.920 and not be afraid 00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:50.140 in the storms of this life. 00:19:51.120 --> 00:19:51.920 The peace of God 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:53.059 is something that the world 00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:54.279 just cannot offer. 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:57.340 Jesus has conquered sin and death 00:19:57.340 --> 00:19:58.680 and so now we can have 00:19:58.680 --> 00:19:59.480 ultimate peace 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:00.920 as the children of God. 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:03.080 As we come to our time 00:20:03.080 --> 00:20:03.840 of communion shortly, 00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:05.619 let us reflect on the storm 00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:07.079 that was heading our way 00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:08.179 and that we've now 00:20:08.179 --> 00:20:08.959 been saved from. 00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:11.919 Jesus promises peace. 00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:13.159 In John chapter 14, 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.759 he says to his disciples, 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:16.699 Peace I leave with you. 00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:18.179 My peace I give you. 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:19.659 I do not give to you 00:20:19.659 --> 00:20:20.439 as the world gives. 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:22.059 Do not let your hearts 00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:22.500 be troubled 00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:24.220 and do not be afraid. 00:20:25.679 --> 00:20:26.359 Rest assured 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:27.339 in this supernatural 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:29.299 and sure peace from God, 00:20:29.679 --> 00:20:30.879 regardless of what the world 00:20:30.879 --> 00:20:31.879 has to throw at you. 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:33.900 and let us confidently 00:20:33.900 --> 00:20:35.300 join in the song 00:20:35.300 --> 00:20:36.260 in shouting aloud 00:20:36.260 --> 00:20:37.220 that it is well 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:38.100 with my soul. 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:41.180 The next time you're in a storm, 00:20:41.520 --> 00:20:42.620 literal or figurative, 00:20:43.080 --> 00:20:44.260 bring this psalm to mind 00:20:44.260 --> 00:20:45.140 and rejoice 00:20:45.140 --> 00:20:46.240 in all the ways 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:47.000 in which God 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:48.120 has triumphed. 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:49.720 Worship him 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:50.820 and ascribe him 00:20:50.820 --> 00:20:51.440 the glory 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.340 that is due to him. 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:53.600 Yes, 00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:54.960 because his almighty voice 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:56.380 is unimaginably powerful, 00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:58.420 but more than that 00:20:58.420 --> 00:21:00.540 because the Lord Jesus Christ 00:21:00.540 --> 00:21:01.940 brings peace 00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:02.840 and strength 00:21:02.840 --> 00:21:04.100 to those he loves. 00:21:05.560 --> 00:21:06.320 Let us pray. 00:21:10.580 --> 00:21:11.320 Heavenly Father, 00:21:11.380 --> 00:21:11.940 we thank you 00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.600 for the power 00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:14.160 of your almighty voice 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:15.740 and all that it has done 00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:16.260 for us. 00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:18.020 Thank you 00:21:18.020 --> 00:21:19.220 for the Lord Jesus Christ 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:20.360 who brings us strength 00:21:20.360 --> 00:21:21.300 and peace 00:21:21.300 --> 00:21:22.060 through his death 00:21:22.060 --> 00:21:22.620 on the cross. 00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:24.959 help us to see you 00:21:24.959 --> 00:21:25.899 at work in the world 00:21:25.899 --> 00:21:26.599 around us 00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:27.699 and in our lives 00:21:27.699 --> 00:21:28.739 and help us 00:21:28.739 --> 00:21:29.539 to ascribe you 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.399 all the glory 00:21:30.399 --> 00:21:31.679 that is due to your name. 00:21:32.719 --> 00:21:33.599 In Jesus' name, 00:21:34.339 --> 00:21:34.559 Amen.