So let us come before God in worship. Let us worship Him by singing to His praise in Psalm 34 of the Sing Psalms version.
Psalm 34, Sing Psalms, find that on page 40 of the Blue Book.
And at the bottom of that page, we'll begin our singing at verse 11.
Come here, my children, gather round and listen to my word, and I will help you understand how you may fear the Lord.
Does anyone delight in life and long to see good days?
Then keep your tongue from evil speech, your lips from lying ways.
We'll sing from verse 11 down to the end of verse 18 to God's praise.
Come here, my children, gather round and listen to my word.
We'll stand to sing.
Come here, my children, gather round and listen to my word.
And I will help you understand how you may fear the Lord.
We'll help you understand how you may fear the Lord.
The Lord's high Son upon the just, He listens to their free.
The wicked, He rejects and lost, on earth there is no need.
The righteous cry, the Lord responds, and feeds them when this sheds.
The Lord responds, and feeds them when this sheds.
The Lord draws here, the Lord draws here, the Lord draws here, and makes it still in heaven.
The Lord draws here, the Lord draws here, and makes it still in heaven.
Amen.
And that we may wonder at all.
And that we may wonder at what you speak to us.
And Lord, we just pray for the young in our congregation.
We pray for the little children.
We pray that they may grow up to know God and to trust in Him.
We just pray for them as they'll go through to Sunday school in a wee moment, and that they may learn of God, and learn what Jesus Christ has done for them on the cross at Calvary.
But Lord, we just pray that you would bless our time together.
Watch over us as we join in worship to you, and come before you, drawing near in your presence.
So be with us, we pray, in our time together.
Watch over us and keep us.
All these things we ask in Jesus' name.
Amen.
I'd just like to say a word to the younger ones that are with us today.
Now, as you grow up, you'll have lots of questions.
There'll be lots of things that you see, and you'll ask, well, what is that?
Or, what does that do?
Or, why is that there?
We have lots of questions about lots of different things.
I wonder what question you ask your parents most of the time.
That, can I have a snack?
Maybe.
What's for dinner tonight?
It's one of my favorite questions.
But, maybe that's a question I should be asking myself more often than I do.
But we generally, as we're young, we ask someone that knows better.
We ask grown-ups questions, and hopefully they'll have an answer for us.
And it's a really, really good thing to do in our lives.
As you grow older, always ask questions.
And always wonder why things are done, and what things are.
Question things as you grow up.
But sometimes, we don't have all the answers.
And you won't find all the answers to all your questions.
I remember being in a gathering where Christianity Explored,
and they were talking about God, and someone asked the minister a question,
and he didn't know.
He said, we just don't know the answer.
And I was quite surprised that the minister didn't know the answer for the question.
But there's times where we just don't know what the answer is.
But that is also a really good thing to do in our lives.
When we don't know to say we don't know.
Quite often, we like to pretend that we know everything,
and we've got all the answers to all the questions.
But it's a really good thing to ask questions.
It's a really good thing to say, well, we just don't know at times.
And in your lesson today, you're going to see that you're going to have an old man
and a young boy.
A young boy is called Samuel.
The old man is called Eli.
And Eli asks Samuel a really important question.
And it's almost the wrong way around, because Eli was a priest,
and he knew and he studied about God.
He should have known lots of things about God.
But he came to Samuel and asked him, what did God say?
Because God spoke to Samuel.
And God can speak to us no matter what age we are.
That we hear God's voice.
And as we go next door to our classes,
we all pray that we would hear God speaking to us.
God speaks to the old.
God speaks to the young.
But this is one of the best questions we can ask in our lives.
What has God said?
What does God say?
And often, when we don't have answers to the big questions of our lives,
maybe it's a good thing to ask them, well, what does God say?
And we read, well, we find what God says in the Bible.
That's why the Bible is so important.
When we don't have answers to our questions.
We can ask ourselves, well, what does God say?
And what has God said?
And we can come and read about it in the Bible.
So as you grow up, ask lots of questions.
But remember, we don't have all the answers.
But there are times in our lives to ask a really important question and just ask,
what has God said to us?
And we come to the Bible and we pray that we would all find an answer.
So let us say the Lord's prayer together before you go through.
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
Thank you all for listening.
And before you go through, we'll sing to God's praise in Psalm 92.
I find that in the Sing Psalms version on page 122.
That's Psalm 92a.
Page 122 of the Blue Book.
And we'll sing from verse Mark 7 there.
Although the wicked spring like grass, the foolish do not see
that all who flourish in their sin will die eternally.
But Lord, you are forevermore exalted very high,
all evildoers will be crushed, your foes will surely die.
You made me strong as any ox with oil anointed me.
I've seen my enemies defeat, and I have heard them flee.
Like palms and cedars flourishing, the righteous all will be,
and planted in the house of God will grow abundantly.
So in old age they still bear fruit.
They will stay fresh and strong.
They will proclaim, the Lord is just, my rock who does no wrong.
So let us stand together and sing these words to God's praise.
Although the wicked spring like grass, the foolish do not see.
That all who flourish in their sin will guide me eternally.
The wicked spring like grass, the wicked spring like grass, the foolish do not see.
But all who flourish in their sin will guide me eternally.
The wicked fall of sin will guide me eternally.
For new and forevermore, exalted very high, all evil doers will be crushed.
The forces you leave down.
You make me so much steady, with oil anointed me.
I've seen my enemies defeat, and I have left them free.
Like palms and seers flourishing, the righteous all will be.
And planted in the house of God, will drop apart at me.
So in old days they still bear fruit, they will stay fresh and strong.
They will proclaim, the Lord is just my God who does so wrong.
Amen.
And for many, we'll have read through this to Sam a few times.
But in many ways, I make no apology for reading the same scripture over and over again.
It is good for us to do that, and often that's what it takes before we understand what it says.
And we sit and read it a few times.
And I remember hearing a story about a man who was dying.
And the minister sat with him, and they read through John chapter 3 a number of times.
And he said, the man that was dying said, well, why are we reading this passage again?
But they read it together, and as he read it, it was only then that the Spirit of the Lord really applied it to him.
And he understood what it meant by the love of God in sending his Son to save his people,
that they should not perish but have eternal life.
It was after reading it a number of times that the Lord blessed it to him.
So likewise, as we come to read this, may the Lord bless it to us.
Psalm 71.
In you, O Lord, do I take refuge.
Let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me.
Incline your ear to me and save me.
Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may continually come.
You have given the command to save me.
You are my rock and my fortress.
Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked.
From the grasp of the unjust and the cruel man.
For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust.
O Lord, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from before my birth.
You are he who took me from my mother's womb.
My praise is continually of you.
I have been as a portent or a wonder to many.
But you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise and with your glory all the day.
Do not cast me off in the time of old age.
Forsake me not when my strength is spent.
For my enemies speak concerning me.
Those who watch for my life consult together and say,
God has forsaken him.
Pursue and seize him.
For there is none to deliver him.
O God, be not far from me.
O my God, make haste to help me.
May my accusers be put to shame and consumed.
With scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my heart.
But I will hope continually.
And will praise you yet more and more.
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts.
Of the deeds of salvation all the day.
For their number has passed my knowledge.
With the mighty deeds of the Lord God, I will come.
I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.
O God, from my youth you have taught me.
And I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
So even to old age and grey hair, O God, do not forsake me.
Until I proclaim your might to another generation.
Your power to all those to come.
Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things, O God, who is like you.
You who have made me see many troubles and calamities.
Will revive me again from the depths of the earth.
You will bring me up again.
You will increase my greatness and comfort me.
I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God.
I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O holy one of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you.
My soul also, which you have redeemed.
And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long.
For they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt.
Amen.
May the reading of God's word be blessed to each of us who have heard it.
May we join together in prayer.
Let us pray.
Our Father in heaven, as we come before your word, may it be as a book opened before us and speaking to us.
Lord, let us have an inclination to draw near to you, that we would be sitting at your feet and hearing what you shall speak.
And though many of us will come with questions, questions surrounding you, questions surrounding our lives.
Lord, may you give an answer to them.
May we find answers for the deepest searching questions of life within your word.
And may we stand before you in awe for all that you have done and how you have kept us and keep us every day.
Lord, let us fall humbly before you as the creator of all things.
You have created us even within our mother's womb.
You are one that kept us and so have continued to keep us through life.
Lord, it is a wonder that you do so.
When our hearts are so inclined to the love of sin and that we often turn our backs against you and seek after pleasures in this world.
Lord, things that we think will satisfy us, but things that leave us empty.
We try and fill our lives as we fill bags with things, but the bag is full of holes.
We put money in these bags and all we are left with is emptiness.
If we do not come to you and trust in you.
So, Lord, as we come to your word, may your spirit apply it to us.
If we do so without your spirit, it will come to nothing.
And so in our own weaknesses, we come and consider this word together as the psalmist wrote on life.
And may you bless it to each of us.
Bless it to our hearts and minds.
And that we may fall before you with praise and adoration.
And that you may work faith within us.
That we may come and trust and hope in you.
Whatever situation we are at in life.
Whatever our age.
Whatever we have experienced.
Lord, be with us.
Lord, keep us.
Lord, save us.
Lord, we just pray that this gospel message would go across our land and our nation.
As a hope for those who are lost.
And that may come with saving power.
And Lord, we pray for those who proclaim this gospel message today.
That you may be with them.
And bless their words as it is spoken.
That the unsearchable riches of Christ may be known.
And that people would fall before you.
Trust in their lives.
And find in their joy of their soul.
When they come and worship God.
And trust in him.
Lord, we pray for those who are laid aside.
Those who cannot come out this morning to gather with your people.
And Lord, we pray that they may know the blessing of being together.
If not in body and spirit.
And that this word may be enriching and nourishing for their lives also.
We pray for those who are laid aside in sickness.
And we remember them.
Those in hospital.
Those that are struggling.
Those that are battling.
Things of this life.
We just pray that you would draw near to them and be their comfort.
Lord, we just pray that you would be with all the staff.
As they administer care.
And we thank you for the provision we have.
And the blessings of having care available to us.
We pray for those who do not have availability of such things.
We pray for those who are finding themselves in situations of war.
Or fleeing from their homeland.
We pray that you would be with them.
We pray that they would turn to you in their unrest.
An experience that none of us can really truly understand.
We pray that your word may be a light and guide.
To show them a way in which to walk.
We pray, Lord.
That though we cannot come to gather this evening.
That the weather would not cause significant damage.
And that we do not threaten our lives.
But we just pray that we would be secure in our homes.
And we thank you for having such security.
We pray that you would be the strength of our lives.
And that you would be the one that would watch over us.
Even when the storms of life come to us.
That you would be our protector.
And that we would find you to be a strong fortress.
Against the threats of the evil one.
And the threats of the devil.
And the little foxes that try to sneak in.
And eat what we have.
We just pray that you would be our guard.
And defense against these schemes of the evil one.
So guard our minds this morning as we come to your word.
Open it up to us that we may understand from it.
And give us a renewed hope and joy.
As we come and draw near.
To the Lord who does not leave us.
Who does not forsake us.
Who does not depart from us.
But is the Lord who loves us.
So be with us.
As we give our mind to your word.
Guide our thoughts.
And all these things we ask with the confessions of our sins.
In the name of Jesus Christ.
Your son and our saviour.
Amen.
We'll turn now to praise God.
In Psalm 148.
In the Scottish Psalter version.
You'll find that at the end of the blue book.
On page 448.
And we'll sing there from verse marks 7 to 14.
Psalm 148.
From verse marks 7.
Scottish Psalter.
Praise ye Jehovah from the earth.
Dragons and every deep.
Fire, hail, snow, vapour, stormy wind.
This word that fully keep.
It is a psalmist.
That with a psalmist.
Praises God.
And calls upon all things.
To give praise.
To God.
Both young men.
Ye and maidens too.
Old men.
And children small.
Let them.
God's name praise.
For his name alone is excellent.
His glory reaches.
Far above.
The earth.
And firmament.
Let us stand together.
And lift our hearts to praise to God.
Praise ye Jehovah from the earth.
The cross of every deep.
Our hills so big.
Our stormy wind.
His heart that fully keep.
O hills and mountains.
Bruteful trees.
And O deceitless high.
His camp of cattle.
Be green things.
And O ye birds that fly.
Kings of the earth.
All nations.
Princes hath judged his own.
A lot of people arenen.
Players that fly.
The Lord is excellent.
His glory reacheth on above,
the earth and the earth.
His people's heart, the praise of God,
his saints exalted thee.
Even his mercy have people near
to him, the Lord is ye.
We'll turn back to that psalm that we read together,
Psalm 71.
As I said, we've been looking at this psalm
in the midweek meeting,
and by no means will anyone be lacking in anything
by considering the last passage here.
We'll consider from verse 17 down to the end of verse 24.
But in one sense, I probably wish that you would feel
like you had missed out.
That you would feel like you had missed joining with the Lord's people
and joining to consider more of God's word
and to learn from it.
Nevertheless, we'll look at Psalm 71 from verse 17.
Psalm 71 from verse 17.
On this psalm, it's very thought-provoking,
as you hopefully read through it with me,
as we read it.
And it's a psalm that is suitable for the entirety of life.
It's very suitable this morning to take this passage
because it is a psalmist.
It's a psalm where the psalmist looks back over life,
and he is commending God as a suitable God for whatever age,
whatever stage you are at, whatever stage I am at in our lives.
That he can come to God and trust in God and lift his heart
and praise to God for all that he has done for him.
It's a very encouraging psalm.
The words through it are encouraging for us to come constantly before our Lord.
And it is honest reflections when he's going through the most difficult things of life.
And in many ways, it's a jewel of a psalm, Psalm 71.
Because of these words that are written so encouraging, so true,
but when you consider the context in which it is written,
where the psalmist feels like all his strength is spent,
he is feeling particularly weak, particularly vulnerable,
he is feeling absolutely empty,
it kind of makes this psalm more precious.
It is like a jewel, like a diamond in a hard place.
The diamond that is formed in the darkest of circumstances.
We have this jewel of a psalm that comes out of the experiences of his life.
And for many of the psalms, that's what makes a psalm so special.
Because it portrays truthful feelings,
whether it's the good, the bad, or the ugly.
And so when we are in these places, when we feel like that,
when we feel like we're empty,
when we feel like we have nothing left in the tank,
we see that the psalmist who was so close to God,
and who wrote such wonderful words about God,
has the same experience in his life.
So when we come to read it, it's a comforting reassurance for us,
that our feelings are not just of ourselves.
The psalmist echoes the same thing in what he writes.
It makes them so precious to us,
and so beautiful in our eyes,
and these psalms are so suitable for our lives,
whatever stage we are at.
At one point we did emphasize, as we looked at this psalm,
was the main point of it,
which is usually found in the center of the psalm.
And we see that in verse 14.
The psalmist has his hope continually in his Lord,
with a praise that is increasing more and more.
He trusts in this Lord.
Regardless of the situation he is in,
he feels it so bleak, he feels himself so empty.
But that's exactly what faith is.
Regardless of what the circumstances are,
he holds on to this hope that he has in his Lord and his God.
His faith is a diamond.
His faith is the jewel in the darkness.
He is faithful in the darkness.
And it is faith that God values at the end of the day.
A faithful life pleasing to God will receive honor at death
by entering into glory.
Faith is of utmost value.
So the psalmist here,
he looks back in his life of faith.
With old age approaching,
feels so vulnerable, feels so weak.
And he gives us his thoughts on life.
And there's three things that come across to us
in this passage from 17 down.
He says that his God is a God for all ages.
In verse 17 and 18.
He says that his God is a God for all times.
In verses 19 to 21.
And he says thoroughly that his God is a God for all eternity.
From verse 22 to 24.
A God for all ages.
A God for all time.
A God for all eternity.
And this is where his soul finds its joy.
Knowing that God is suitable for him and his life.
So may we know that joy.
And having faith in this God.
In our lives.
And that we may be honored.
In having that faith.
So the key is a God of all ages firstly.
Verse 17.
O God from my youth you have taught me.
And I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
So even to old age and grey hair.
O God do not forsake me.
Until I proclaim your might to another generation.
Your power to all those to come.
The psalmist recalling his youth.
And you can take note that he has been well taught.
He has been taught by the best and wisest of all teachers.
For he is taught of God.
You have taught me.
And if there's ever a place for any of us to start.
Then surely this is the best place.
To be as the psalmist in verse 25.
For he prays to God.
Show me thy ways O Lord.
Thy path so teach thou me.
Surely if we're taught by God.
We're taught and directed.
To the best of paths.
For our lives.
And as we teach our young people.
About God.
We pray.
That the teachers next door.
As they do so.
By the power of the spirit.
It may be as.
God himself.
Would be teaching these young people.
As if it is the voice of God.
Instructing them in their young lives.
And as we wish and pray.
That it would be true for them.
We pray also that.
For ourselves.
For it is true that.
Regardless of what age we are at.
We all need to be instructed.
In the ways of the Lord.
We all need to be taught by God.
We all need to seek his instruction.
Whether we're young.
Whether we're old.
That he would direct us.
In our lives.
And as we look.
At this passage.
He says that.
And I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
It implies that he has.
Lived a life of faith.
That he proclaimed the wonders of God.
When he was young.
And he's still doing so today.
But most importantly.
It is not something that.
He has achieved himself.
By saying.
I still.
It's not something that he has.
Managed to do of his own strength.
Because he has relied on the Lord.
To be his strength.
He has trusted in the Lord.
To guide him.
And to lead him.
Even when he felt like he was just holding on.
Even when he felt like all his strength was spent.
It was the Lord that kept him.
It was the Lord that kept him from his young life.
Even back into the womb.
It was the Lord that shall keep him now.
When he grows old.
And the grey hairs are on his head.
And he looks back and wonders.
That it's not that he still.
Has kept himself.
It is that the Lord.
Has kept him.
And it is a wonder to him.
That the Lord.
Would keep him.
And still the Lord.
Has kept him.
And that is truly a thing for him.
That is worth proclaiming.
To others.
And we see that in verse 18.
The inescapable truth.
Of growing old.
Is there.
And he asks his Lord.
Not to forsake him.
When he feels so weak.
As his strength depletes.
We see this.
Increasing strength.
And love.
Of God.
Do not forsake me.
Until I proclaim your might.
To another generation.
Your power.
To those.
To come.
He is saying.
Let me live.
That I may tell others.
Of what you have done for me.
Looking back over his life.
There's nothing else.
To compare it to.
And he wants to tell others.
He wants to tell the next generation.
He wants to proclaim.
The power of God.
To all those.
That will live after him.
And.
He wants to tell them.
That the Lord has been my rock.
The Lord has been my strength.
The Lord has been my salvation.
The Lord has saved me.
The Lord never abandoned me.
He sees a need in the people.
To know.
That they must understand.
Who God is.
He sees others.
That do not love God.
But he wants them.
To understand.
He wants them.
To grasp.
How God.
Has guided him.
In his life.
As he looks back.
This is one of the most beautiful hearts.
We can have as a believer in the Lord.
Someone who puts his life.
Before his own.
To make known.
The things of God.
All for the glory of God.
Not for his own glory.
To elevate to the name of God.
And he is saying there.
Do not forsake me.
Until I proclaim your might.
To another generation.
He is longing to tell people.
Before he dies.
That the Lord would not forsake him.
And even if he should die a death.
Where he would be forsaken.
But that will never happen.
He wants to show forth.
That power and might.
It is a beautiful heart.
Because it is the heart of Christ.
He is the one who came into this world.
To make known to all.
The love of God.
To make known to God.
Make known to all.
The salvation of God.
To proclaim good news to the poor.
To bind up the broken hearted.
To proclaim liberty to the captives.
To manifest the name of God.
So that everyone may believe.
People may understand.
And he did this.
Even knowing.
That he would die.
Even the death.
Of the cross.
Even.
A death.
That he would be forsaken.
By God.
Oh God.
My God.
Why have you forsaken me?
He endured all these things.
Knowing that there was joy set before him.
Such was his love for the people.
That he endured these things.
This is the greatest heart.
We can have as believers.
Because this is the heart of Christ.
And there is much more that could be said about that.
But the psalmist here.
Commends God as the joy of his life.
Whatever his age.
A Lord for all ages.
He has been faithful to God.
Obedient to God.
Because he knows there's a joy.
Set before him too.
And it will be the same for all who believe in the Lord.
The Lord is suitable.
For all ages.
God has been his rock and his salvation.
He wants to tell others about it.
What would you as a Christian.
Want to tell an unbeliever?
What would you as a Christian.
Want to tell a young person.
About your Lord.
And your God.
The wondrous things that God has done for you in your life.
What would you want to tell.
If you had one thing to tell.
And the other side of the coin is.
What would you want to ask a believer.
If you're not a believer.
What question would you have for them.
What has God done for you in your life.
Why do you worship this God.
Maybe that's a challenge for us as we leave today.
If we ask each other.
Or say to someone.
Why I believe in God.
And what God has done for me.
God is a God for all ages.
We need to interact with the young ones.
We need to tell them about God.
We need to make God known to the young ones.
God is a God for all ages.
God is a God for all times.
See there in verse 19.
Your righteousness.
God reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things.
Who is like you.
But you who have made me see many troubles and calamities.
Will revive me again.
From the depths of the earth.
He will bring me up again.
He's looking back over his life.
And he recalls the different times that he has been in.
Times where he has felt so close to God.
And praising God in his.
Just felt like he was on top of the mountain.
And there's other times where he felt like he was in the depths of the earth.
Far from heaven.
Far from God.
Yet his God did not forsake him.
He looks back and he says God is a God that is suitable for all times of life.
Whatever the time is.
This praise of God.
When he thinks about him and his righteousness.
In the heights of heaven.
The things he has done.
O God who is like you.
There is no one to compare to him.
There is no error in his ways.
No flaws in his person.
You alone are upright.
His throne is established in righteousness.
In all that he does.
There is no king like this.
No Lord like this.
No one who will show him the right way.
To go in his life.
No error in his ways.
And he knows that he can hold fast to this Lord.
And this God who is righteous.
Who has commanded all things.
And will not forsake him.
When he considers God.
He is abounding in praise.
Of all that he has done.
But as I believe that his life has not always been like that.
We see there in verse 20.
He has seen many trouble and calamities in his life.
And this is the honesty of life coming through in the psalmist's experience.
He looks back and he remembers hard days.
Days where his enjoyment had been robbed.
Days that he had been knocked down.
Days that his whole life had been sucked out of him.
That's truly the extent to what it seems to be.
Because he needed revived again.
He says, will you revive me again?
The Lord does.
He will.
He knows the Lord will revive him again.
Brought back to life.
And often that is our experience.
We are made to see many things that are hard in our lives.
That is the reality of living in a world of sin.
And the truthfulness of sin within our own lives.
We are not immune as Christians or believers to the troubles and calamities.
Which can take many forms in this life.
And can strike us so very hard that we feel like we are in the depths of the earth.
As if there were no lower place to be.
This is what the psalmist feels.
And this is how we often feel.
We are not immune from these things.
But he has a hope.
Isn't he?
He knows that his Lord will not leave him there.
He knows that the Lord will revive me again from the depths of this earth.
You will bring me up.
You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.
He knows that there is a joy awaiting him.
And you can see that he relies on God.
Entirely in this section.
When you look at the psalm.
There is a lot of I wills and I still through it.
Either side of verses 19 to 21.
There is a lot of I wills and I still or I proclaim.
But 19 to 21.
It is all you.
He is talking about God.
Your righteousness.
You who have done these great things.
Who is like you.
You who have kept me.
You will revive me.
You will bring me up again.
You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.
You see it.
That is the life of faith.
It is not I wills or I still.
It is holding on to someone else.
This is faith.
Trusting in God.
Entirely of what he will do for you.
We come to him and we place our trust entirely.
In what the Lord can do for us.
The psalmist is commending God.
In all that he has done.
And he finds his joy in considering God and his works.
He is in wonder.
He is saying there is no one like you.
He will bring me up and increase my greatness and comfort me again.
Sometimes it is just comfort that we need.
In the midst of troubles and calamities.
But even as we know the comfort of the Lord in our lives.
It instills a joy and praise.
That he will never leave us or forsake us.
All times the Lord is suitable.
Whatever the time.
Heights of heaven.
Depths of earth.
But he goes on to speak about all eternity.
And it's not.
It doesn't come across that clear in the passage.
I will also praise you with a harp.
With your faithfulness oh my God.
I will sing praises to you with a lyre.
Oh holy one of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you.
My soul also which you have redeemed.
My tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long.
For they have been put to shame and disappointed.
Who sought to do me hurt.
He comes before his Lord and his God.
Oh holy one of Israel.
An honourable title of God.
He is the holy one.
He has a people who is Israel.
And you see there he praises him with a harp.
With a lyre.
With these instruments.
And in his context as he would have written these things.
The instruments of God would have been used in the temple.
Not in the synagogue.
But in the temple.
Where the dwelling place of God would be.
Just like heaven.
He speaks of the use of these instruments in the presence of God.
As the angels do in Revelation.
They play these instruments likewise.
He has this heavenly direction to be dwelling with God.
He looks back in his life of faith.
And he sees that.
When he is with God.
He will be lifted and praised to him.
God has been with him every step of the way.
God has not abandoned him.
He's trusted in God.
He's done nothing of it for himself.
Christ.
Has redeemed him.
It is all the work of the Lord.
There is no one like him.
In this world that can compare.
To what the Lord has done for him in his life.
And if we are here this morning.
To hear these things.
And to hear the expressions of the psalmist.
Will you not come.
And trust in his Lord.
The Lord who is suitable for all ages.
In all times.
He sees that he.
Is full of praise.
He is abounding with praise.
To his Lord.
His lips will shout for joy.
His soul also.
Will have joy.
In the presence of God.
And it says.
That it is something.
That will be of.
All the day long.
And that is a theme.
That has been recurring.
Through this.
All the day long.
It's in verse 8.
It's in verse 15.
And it's in verse 24 there.
All the day long.
And though a Christian.
May desire to praise God.
All the day long.
And it's not a reality for him.
But it will be.
An eternal reality.
For those who have lived a life of faith.
That they will praise God.
All the day long.
And when they are in glory.
In the dwelling place.
Of God.
When they come into.
His presence.
It will be abundant praise.
All the day long.
It will never cease to end.
His joy.
His soul will have joy.
His life.
Will be glorifying God.
And enjoying him forever.
But he concludes with a solemn note.
He says.
For they that have been put to shame.
And disappointed.
Who sought to do me hurt.
Those who.
Returned against him.
Have been put.
To shame.
And this is also a.
Theme that reoccurs in the psalm.
Three times.
It's in.
Verse 1.
Where he himself.
Did not want to be put to shame.
He wanted.
That trust in the Lord.
It was the trust in the Lord.
That that would never be something.
To cause him to shame.
He would feel shame.
For having trust in the Lord.
It's something.
I would bring him.
Honor.
In verse 13.
He speaks of people.
Who attack him.
That they.
Would.
Have.
Shame.
For their behavior.
But he longed.
That they would.
See their shame.
And know their shame.
That they may turn.
And.
Trust in God.
But 24.
He talks of shame as well.
And he says.
They have.
Been put to shame.
There's a difference.
In the tense.
Of it.
He wished that.
Previously.
That they would be put to shame.
And realize.
The shameful ways.
In which they had lived their lives.
But now he's saying.
They have.
It's been.
They've been put to shame.
Those who have turned their lives.
Against God.
Those who.
Did not.
Believe.
In the psalmist.
Words.
Here.
Those who.
Interacted.
With the psalmist.
And despised him.
Despised his God.
Have been put.
To shame.
That is an eternal reality.
Of those who do not.
Trust in the Lord.
To be their.
God.
When you've heard.
The gospel message.
You've heard.
The hope of salvation.
You've heard this.
Psalmist.
Commend to you.
For your life.
That the Lord.
Will not leave you.
The Lord.
Will not forsake you.
The Lord.
Will.
Lead you.
Through.
Times.
Yes.
Of trouble.
And calamity.
But you will be a jewel.
To him.
You will be a diamond.
To him.
You will have value.
To him.
If you trust in him.
You will be honoured.
To enter into.
His glory.
Is it shame.
For.
Turning your back.
Against that today.
Today.
Knowing.
Knowing that.
That hope.
Was set before you.
And you wouldn't trust in it.
That people would speak.
Of the Lord.
To you.
Is it an eternity.
Of shame.
For having not.
Trusted in the Lord.
May you come.
And receive.
The most precious.
Precious gift.
Of knowing.
Joy.
Of your soul.
The full enjoyment.
Of being with God.
Trusting in him.
In your life.
Whatever your age.
Whatever time.
You are going through.
The Lord is faithful.
The Lord will not.
Leave you.
Or depart from you.
The Lord will.
Give you joy.
Joy.
Isn't that.
What we all.
Look for.
Something in us.
That longs for joy.
And our soul.
Will find it.
In God.
May we know it.
And may we not.
Be put to shame.
For having known.
These things.
And never.
Trusted.
In it.
Amen.
May these thoughts.
Be blessed to us.
We conclude.
By singing.
In Psalm 71.
From verse.
21 to 24.
Find that in the Psalter version.
Page 312.
Psalm 71.
My greatness.
And my power.
Thy will.
Increase.
And far.
Extend.
On every side.
Against all grief.
Thou wilt me comfort send.
Even thy truth.
I'll also praise.
My God.
With psaltery.
O thou.
Holy one of Israel.
With heart.
I'll sing to thee.
My lips.
Shall much.
Rejoice in thee.
When thee.
Thy praise is sound.
My soul.
Which thou redeemed.
And hast.
In joy.
Shall much abound.
My tongue.
Thy justice.
Shall proclaim.
Continuing.
All day long.
For they.
Confounded.
Are.
And shamed.
That seek.
To do me wrong.
May we sing these words.
To God's praise.
My greatness.
And my power.
Thy will.
Increase.
And far.
Extend.
My greatness.
And my power.
Will.
Endlessly.
komstaya.
All every sight.
in story.
Thou wilt become our saint.
In light of fire on so great,
my God bless all day.
The Holy One of Israel,
with heart and sin to Thee.
Thy lips shall much rejoice in me,
when I thy grace is found.
Thy soul which the redeemed us,
in joy shall not shall I.
Thy tongue, thy justice shall prove me,
up to the name of the law.
For they come under our ashes,
that seek to do me all.
Conclude in a word of prayer.
Our Father in heaven,
we pray that we may know the love of Jesus Christ for us.
He went to the cross to die for us
and redeem our soul.
May you work faith in us for this man,
that we may love him before all other loves
and set our hearts a desire upon him,
that we may come to you
and know the joy of our souls,
that we would trust in you for our lives,
through the heights and depths
and whatever times we go through,
that we would have a reality of eternal joy
with you in heaven.
Be with us, we pray as we part,
watch over us, guide us and keep us
through the watches of the remainder of the day
and the watches of the night.
We will ask these things in the name of Christ Jesus.
Amen.