WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.700 So we're going to be looking at Psalm 19 and Sarah's going to come and read it for us. Oh, Natalie, a quick sibling swap at the last minute. That's great. Thanks. And then we'll hand over to you, Nathan. 00:00:14.699 --> 00:00:20.739 So it's Psalm 19 on 552 of the Church Bibles. 00:00:44.700 --> 00:01:14.680 It's Psalm 19. 00:01:14.700 --> 00:01:20.719 The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:29.159 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. 00:01:29.960 --> 00:01:37.120 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold. They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:42.180 By them your servant is warned. In keeping them there is great reward. 00:01:42.180 --> 00:01:49.480 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins. 00:01:49.960 --> 00:01:55.260 May they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 00:01:55.920 --> 00:02:02.920 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:04.960 Good evening, church. 00:02:05.879 --> 00:02:07.140 Hey, there we go. 00:02:08.460 --> 00:02:12.560 Yeah, this is such a joy to be able to look through Psalm 19 together. 00:02:14.140 --> 00:02:17.680 Before I get into it and get myself set up over here, 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:22.040 I'd love to say that as I was thinking about talking here, 00:02:23.300 --> 00:02:26.540 what was the purpose and reason with which we're doing this, 00:02:27.159 --> 00:02:29.700 I was reminded of Acts 17.11. 00:02:30.099 --> 00:02:33.480 And the desire in my heart and the prayer is that we, as a church here today, 00:02:33.560 --> 00:02:35.780 would be an Acts 17.11 type of church. 00:02:36.580 --> 00:02:37.900 And the reason I say that is, 00:02:38.439 --> 00:02:41.840 in Acts 17, Paul is talking to this group of Jewish people 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:46.240 and explaining the scriptures and who Jesus is and sharing the gospel. 00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:48.259 And this is what is said of them. 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:50.240 Acts 17.11 says, 00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:52.240 they received the message with great eagerness 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:56.319 and examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 00:02:57.460 --> 00:02:59.719 My heart is that we would be a church here today 00:02:59.719 --> 00:03:02.280 that would receive the message with great eagerness, 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:03.900 not because I have some special words, 00:03:04.020 --> 00:03:05.539 but because we are looking at God's word, 00:03:05.819 --> 00:03:07.620 which is alive and active today 00:03:07.620 --> 00:03:11.439 and wants to move through the Holy Spirit in our hearts to change us. 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:14.420 Now, we would examine the scriptures and that you would have, 00:03:14.500 --> 00:03:16.840 can I encourage you to keep the Bible open in front of you, 00:03:17.379 --> 00:03:20.379 see and make sure that what I'm saying is true and godly 00:03:20.379 --> 00:03:22.840 and in right standing with what God's word says. 00:03:23.620 --> 00:03:26.539 So as I say that, let me pray for us and then we'll get into Psalm 19. 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:31.420 Lord, thank you that we get to come around your word. 00:03:31.900 --> 00:03:33.340 Thank you for the freedom of that. 00:03:33.420 --> 00:03:35.099 We know not every Christian has that. 00:03:35.860 --> 00:03:39.439 And Lord, we pray that you would help us to delight in what you say, 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:41.900 or that you would feed us through your word, 00:03:41.979 --> 00:03:45.780 but that we would also leave here hungry to share it with others. 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:51.539 Lord, we pray, and Lord, I pray with the end of the Psalm 19, 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:54.639 which says, may these words in my mouth and this meditation in my heart 00:03:54.639 --> 00:03:56.379 be pleasing in your sight. 00:03:57.079 --> 00:03:57.259 Amen. 00:03:58.099 --> 00:03:58.500 Amen. 00:03:59.979 --> 00:04:00.300 Great. 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:04.159 Why don't I start with the story of how Steve approached me 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:05.539 to get me to do this evening service? 00:04:07.099 --> 00:04:09.000 He came on a Sunday morning going, 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:10.599 hey, do you want to do an evening talk? 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:11.699 I said, great, absolutely. 00:04:11.819 --> 00:04:12.400 Would love to. 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:13.680 Joy of joys. 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:16.079 He said, great, why don't you do Psalm 18? 00:04:16.860 --> 00:04:18.060 And I thought, great, okay. 00:04:18.500 --> 00:04:21.420 I went home, opened up the pages, and started reading, 00:04:21.899 --> 00:04:23.480 and kept turning pages, 00:04:23.540 --> 00:04:26.360 because it's about 50 verses long, like we saw today morning. 00:04:26.939 --> 00:04:28.439 And what has Steve done to me? 00:04:28.439 --> 00:04:32.100 The first talk that I get to do is 50 verses. 00:04:32.339 --> 00:04:35.060 How do I fit this into a 20, 25-minute slot? 00:04:35.959 --> 00:04:37.319 And then a couple of days later, he says, 00:04:37.399 --> 00:04:38.899 hey, actually, Ray's going to do that in the morning. 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:40.120 You handle Psalm 19. 00:04:40.259 --> 00:04:41.019 And I thought, great. 00:04:41.740 --> 00:04:42.819 I've got 14 verses. 00:04:43.079 --> 00:04:44.199 I can get into this. 00:04:44.659 --> 00:04:47.079 I can divulge and understand this, I hope. 00:04:48.060 --> 00:04:49.199 And do you know what? 00:04:49.240 --> 00:04:50.540 I was very wrong on that. 00:04:51.019 --> 00:04:54.139 There is so much depth in the words of Psalm 14, 00:04:54.579 --> 00:04:56.800 that I only think I could cover even half of it, 00:04:56.800 --> 00:05:00.280 but I think there's something in here that God wants us to see today. 00:05:00.759 --> 00:05:02.860 So why don't we get into that? 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:07.660 But if there is anything that Psalm 19 screams and shouts about, 00:05:07.780 --> 00:05:09.379 is this one statement that says, 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:12.259 God is a God who wants to be known. 00:05:12.819 --> 00:05:15.460 God is a God who wants to be known. 00:05:16.280 --> 00:05:19.180 Through the heavens that declare of his glory at the start, 00:05:19.319 --> 00:05:21.300 to the righteous commands that he gives us, 00:05:21.740 --> 00:05:24.560 there's a God that wants to be known. 00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:28.240 So in order to sort of unpack that, 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:30.860 this God that wants to be known reveals himself to us. 00:05:30.939 --> 00:05:33.740 And I want to introduce us to two terms you might have heard many times, 00:05:33.800 --> 00:05:34.980 you might never have heard before. 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:36.199 But it's this idea, 00:05:36.980 --> 00:05:39.160 the first term is general revelation, 00:05:39.639 --> 00:05:42.300 and the second term is special revelation. 00:05:42.660 --> 00:05:44.800 So general revelation and special revelation. 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:47.860 And this is how I'm going to explain it. 00:05:48.199 --> 00:05:51.740 So general revelation is the idea of what we see in creation. 00:05:51.740 --> 00:05:53.240 So as we look at creation, 00:05:53.780 --> 00:05:56.600 maybe as we look at the beauty of all that God has created 00:05:56.600 --> 00:05:58.259 in different things that he's created, 00:05:58.300 --> 00:06:00.379 from humans to the mountains you see on holiday, 00:06:01.280 --> 00:06:03.019 there is creativity in God. 00:06:03.079 --> 00:06:04.000 As we see creation, 00:06:04.100 --> 00:06:06.220 we see a little bit of that revealed to us. 00:06:06.840 --> 00:06:09.040 General revelation is the fact that in creation, 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:12.100 we see something of who God is and what he's all about. 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:13.319 That could be, 00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:15.879 as Daisy often tells me, 00:06:15.960 --> 00:06:16.540 as we sit, 00:06:16.939 --> 00:06:18.220 if we're mainly outside of London, 00:06:18.280 --> 00:06:19.480 because you can't see the stars around here, 00:06:19.480 --> 00:06:21.300 but as you sit and see the stars, 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:25.060 you see a little bit of just how small you are in this world 00:06:25.060 --> 00:06:26.700 and the vastness of what God's created. 00:06:26.939 --> 00:06:27.300 And you say, 00:06:27.420 --> 00:06:28.660 God is a powerful God. 00:06:28.700 --> 00:06:30.740 We can see that from just how much he's created 00:06:30.740 --> 00:06:32.400 and how much he sustains. 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:33.960 That is general revelation, 00:06:34.200 --> 00:06:34.720 what we see, 00:06:35.060 --> 00:06:35.980 what God has created. 00:06:36.819 --> 00:06:38.180 And then there is special revelation. 00:06:38.660 --> 00:06:40.819 That is the idea that God has revealed himself 00:06:40.819 --> 00:06:42.020 specifically to us, 00:06:42.060 --> 00:06:43.220 that he's spoken to us. 00:06:43.400 --> 00:06:46.259 We see this as he talks in the burning bush to Moses. 00:06:46.259 --> 00:06:48.740 We see this as the prophets speak and say, 00:06:48.899 --> 00:06:50.699 this is what the Lord says to Israel. 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:51.339 And ultimately, 00:06:52.019 --> 00:06:52.259 and wholeheartedly, 00:06:52.860 --> 00:06:56.180 we see that in the word that we hold so dear in front of us. 00:06:56.599 --> 00:06:59.719 God's word is a special revelation to us. 00:07:01.259 --> 00:07:05.420 And Psalm 19 starts with the idea of general revelation, right? 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:08.259 So what God is revealing through his creation. 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:09.740 Look down with me at verse one. 00:07:10.259 --> 00:07:11.180 I'm just going to read that again. 00:07:11.259 --> 00:07:11.500 It says, 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:31.740 As Paul Tripp puts it, 00:07:31.860 --> 00:07:34.019 you can't get up in the morning without bumping into God. 00:07:34.620 --> 00:07:37.680 There is something of what we see as we walk out of our doors 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:41.959 that is his creation and speaks to who he is and what he's all about. 00:07:42.699 --> 00:07:46.019 And we see that as well in Romans 1.20, 00:07:46.379 --> 00:07:47.199 where he says, 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:47.900 where it says, 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:49.360 for since the creation of the world, 00:07:49.459 --> 00:07:50.480 God's invisible qualities, 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:51.560 his eternal power, 00:07:51.980 --> 00:07:52.579 divine nature, 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:54.000 have been clearly seen, 00:07:54.340 --> 00:07:56.060 being understood from what has been made, 00:07:56.379 --> 00:07:57.720 so that the people are without excuse. 00:07:58.340 --> 00:07:58.920 What is that saying? 00:07:58.960 --> 00:08:01.680 It's saying essentially that God in creation 00:08:02.439 --> 00:08:04.420 has shown us that he is eternally powerful 00:08:04.420 --> 00:08:08.199 and his divine nature as we see what has been made. 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:09.840 Nobody is without excuses. 00:08:09.980 --> 00:08:11.120 You look at creation. 00:08:11.420 --> 00:08:12.819 There's no excuse to not say 00:08:12.819 --> 00:08:14.939 there is a God and a creator behind this. 00:08:16.460 --> 00:08:19.140 And I think we see some of what God's character is 00:08:19.140 --> 00:08:21.500 through this general revelation that we see. 00:08:21.780 --> 00:08:23.759 So if you look down at the end of verse four, 00:08:23.840 --> 00:08:24.040 it says, 00:08:24.139 --> 00:08:26.080 In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 00:08:26.740 --> 00:08:28.800 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:31.660 like a champion rejoicing to erase his course. 00:08:31.660 --> 00:08:34.160 It rises at one end of the heavens 00:08:34.160 --> 00:08:35.580 and makes its circuit to other. 00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:38.200 Nothing is deprived of its warmth. 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:42.220 Nothing is deprived of its warmth. 00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:44.879 The sun rises and sets each day. 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:46.519 We feel its warmth. 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:48.800 It grows the crops that we eat 00:08:48.800 --> 00:08:51.060 and it sustains so much of our life. 00:08:52.580 --> 00:08:56.180 And it is a great show of God's common grace to us all 00:08:56.180 --> 00:08:58.759 that whether you are a saint or a sinner, 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:01.639 the sun rises and sets on us. 00:09:02.419 --> 00:09:04.539 It runs its course and sets. 00:09:05.019 --> 00:09:06.100 Whether you love the Lord, 00:09:06.459 --> 00:09:07.579 your God with everything you have 00:09:07.579 --> 00:09:08.480 and worship him daily, 00:09:08.659 --> 00:09:10.299 or whether you deny his existence, 00:09:10.699 --> 00:09:13.480 God is gracious in making the sunrise and sunset, 00:09:13.939 --> 00:09:15.939 sustaining so much of our life. 00:09:16.419 --> 00:09:22.279 It is God's common grace to humanity as a whole in this. 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:24.600 Matthew 5, 45 puts it like this. 00:09:24.659 --> 00:09:24.860 He says, 00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:27.779 He causes the sun to rise in the evil and the good 00:09:27.779 --> 00:09:31.120 and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous alike. 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:35.439 God is gracious to us and we see that through creation, 00:09:35.740 --> 00:09:37.899 through the sun that rises, runs its course, 00:09:38.219 --> 00:09:39.519 and sets each day. 00:09:40.459 --> 00:09:43.120 And then we run into the special revelation part, right? 00:09:43.259 --> 00:09:45.819 Where we start talking about God's word. 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:47.480 We see from verse 7, he says, 00:09:47.480 --> 00:09:50.580 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. 00:09:51.080 --> 00:09:52.539 The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, 00:09:53.100 --> 00:09:54.420 making wise the simple. 00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:57.440 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. 00:09:57.740 --> 00:10:00.740 The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 00:10:00.940 --> 00:10:02.899 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. 00:10:02.899 --> 00:10:06.199 The decrees of the Lord are firm and all of them are righteous. 00:10:06.500 --> 00:10:09.439 And some of the best words that I've ever seen in the Bible, 00:10:09.579 --> 00:10:09.740 it says, 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:12.279 They are more precious than gold, they're much pure gold. 00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:15.000 They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 00:10:15.379 --> 00:10:16.799 By them, your servant is warned. 00:10:17.179 --> 00:10:19.740 In keeping them, there is great reward. 00:10:19.740 --> 00:10:29.180 It is fair to say that David is not buying the lie that the world tries to say, 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:32.680 which is that the Bible is a bunch of rules that make your life a bit more boring 00:10:32.680 --> 00:10:34.019 and maybe slightly easier. 00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:36.539 He doesn't buy that lie from what we see. 00:10:36.940 --> 00:10:37.360 Verse 10 says, 00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:40.240 They are more precious than gold, they're much pure gold. 00:10:40.460 --> 00:10:42.879 God's commands are great in David's eyes. 00:10:43.659 --> 00:10:46.159 And this is not somebody, even though it would be just as true, 00:10:46.419 --> 00:10:49.039 David is not somebody who hasn't experienced wealth 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:49.659 and is saying, 00:10:50.019 --> 00:10:51.939 This is worth more than that. 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:55.079 He is a person who is powerful and king of a nation, 00:10:55.339 --> 00:10:57.339 has much pure gold of his own, 00:10:57.740 --> 00:11:00.159 and yet says God's words are more precious than this. 00:11:01.419 --> 00:11:02.759 And so I want us to take a pause here. 00:11:03.319 --> 00:11:07.819 I want you guys all to think personally of something that you are passionate about, 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:10.120 maybe a food or a drink, 00:11:10.860 --> 00:11:12.620 something that you would call yourself a connoisseur in. 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:14.199 As in, if I told you, 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:16.819 you need to do 30 minutes of a talk right now, 00:11:17.339 --> 00:11:18.459 come up and give it to us. 00:11:18.460 --> 00:11:19.580 What would you talk about? 00:11:20.300 --> 00:11:20.420 Okay? 00:11:20.680 --> 00:11:22.560 Some people, just think of that in your head. 00:11:23.040 --> 00:11:24.259 For some people, that's wine. 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:26.860 Some people will go to the winery and say, 00:11:26.940 --> 00:11:29.379 Hey, this is the pure stuff that I want to get straight from the winery. 00:11:30.139 --> 00:11:33.000 For some people, I know for a few people in this room, 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:35.519 I've realized Grace is one of these people today morning. 00:11:36.160 --> 00:11:38.759 But coffee is also something of a connoisseur thing. 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:44.779 I mean, David Brown definitely talks to you about all the coffee things that you want to. 00:11:45.460 --> 00:11:48.600 And I love coffee as well. 00:11:49.319 --> 00:11:52.799 But I've got to admit, looking at Instagram, looking at the reels, 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:53.960 I think it's gone too far. 00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:58.800 I saw a video as I scroll through my Instagram, 00:11:59.340 --> 00:12:00.639 and it has this guy with a cup. 00:12:00.980 --> 00:12:03.100 He's on a little weight measurement thing. 00:12:03.400 --> 00:12:05.940 He's got to get 18 grams worth of coffee beans in there, stat, 00:12:06.139 --> 00:12:07.500 and then pulls it through, 00:12:07.800 --> 00:12:09.820 and then spritz it with this water. 00:12:10.100 --> 00:12:10.900 Never heard of that. 00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:13.080 And at this point, I'm already thinking these coffee beans 00:12:13.080 --> 00:12:15.040 are living a better quality of life than I am. 00:12:15.379 --> 00:12:17.840 And then he grinds them in the best way possible. 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:19.240 He continues going, 00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:22.620 and he strolls them again with a little fork 00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:24.220 and then puts it in the coffee machine. 00:12:24.680 --> 00:12:26.580 And out of that, in his eyes, I'm sure, 00:12:26.700 --> 00:12:30.159 what comes is this beautiful, pure nectar of coffee. 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:33.039 To all of us that don't love coffee 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:36.039 or don't have that level of effort to put into that, 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:37.039 it's ridiculous. 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:41.220 But to him, to the person that loves and is passionate about that, 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:42.940 what he's doing is going, 00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:43.980 I like this thing. 00:12:43.980 --> 00:12:46.740 I want the purest form of it, the best form of it. 00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:50.600 And in David, where he says, 00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:54.120 they're sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb, 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:55.899 where you see the purest form of that coffee, 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:57.419 whatever is purest to you, 00:12:57.500 --> 00:13:00.100 whatever is honey straight from the honeycomb, 00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:01.919 whatever is purest form of the best thing, 00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:04.000 of the best thing that you consider sweet, 00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:07.879 he's saying Lord's commands are much better than all of that. 00:13:08.560 --> 00:13:09.940 They're sweeter than honey. 00:13:10.680 --> 00:13:13.659 And as you look at the verses before, 00:13:14.379 --> 00:13:16.200 I don't think it's that hard to see why. 00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:18.700 What the psalmist is basically saying is, 00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:23.299 your deepest desires are satisfied in following God's commands here. 00:13:24.680 --> 00:13:25.940 If you are walking here, 00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:28.419 tired of the world that is in front of you, 00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:30.120 of the brokenness that we walk around, 00:13:30.539 --> 00:13:31.159 verse 7 says, 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:32.299 the law of the Lord is perfect, 00:13:32.680 --> 00:13:34.019 refreshing the soul. 00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:36.399 If you are walking around, 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:37.560 looking at the world and saying, 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:39.899 there are so many lies and divisive things, 00:13:39.899 --> 00:13:43.959 verse 7 seems to say, 00:13:44.179 --> 00:13:46.559 he is trustworthy and he makes wise the simple. 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:52.259 If you are disheartened and looking for something that will satisfy you daily, 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:53.059 he says, 00:13:53.459 --> 00:13:56.059 the precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. 00:13:56.939 --> 00:13:58.860 If you look for clarity in what this world is all about, 00:13:58.919 --> 00:14:00.759 he says it gives light to the eyes. 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:05.279 And if you're yearning for something that is bigger than you to be part of, 00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:06.759 that sustains, 00:14:06.939 --> 00:14:09.379 that is a purpose for your life, 00:14:09.439 --> 00:14:09.819 he says, 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:12.240 the fear of the Lord is pure and endures forever. 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:15.259 In these passages, 00:14:15.419 --> 00:14:16.960 what we see is God's commands, 00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:21.399 fulfill all of what our deepest longings are. 00:14:22.060 --> 00:14:22.519 Yet, 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:25.500 the law has also a different purpose. 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:28.680 And that is to expose us. 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:31.680 Look down with me in verse 12, 00:14:31.779 --> 00:14:32.120 he says, 00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:34.060 but who can discern their own errors? 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:36.500 They discern their own errors. 00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:38.259 Forgive my hidden faults. 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:40.639 Keep your servant also from willful sins. 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:42.139 May they not rule over me. 00:14:42.500 --> 00:14:43.560 Then I will be blameless, 00:14:44.060 --> 00:14:45.419 innocent of great transgression. 00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:48.399 See, 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:50.580 in this idea, 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:52.320 David sees that the law, 00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:55.139 the thing that he holds so preciously to him, 00:14:55.659 --> 00:14:58.759 is also something of a mirror to soul. 00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:00.480 Much like, 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:04.539 this illustration has been used many a time, 00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:07.779 but the law of the Lord is like a mirror to us. 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:08.940 In the same way, 00:15:09.180 --> 00:15:10.139 as we look at a mirror, 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:11.399 you can see the little speck 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:12.360 of something, 00:15:12.539 --> 00:15:13.019 of a stain. 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:14.519 I actually had one as I walked in, 00:15:14.579 --> 00:15:15.459 which I thought was quite ironic. 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:17.539 But a speck of a stain, 00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:18.360 as you look into the mirror, 00:15:18.419 --> 00:15:19.740 you see that stain on you. 00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:22.139 And this mirror shows it to you. 00:15:22.319 --> 00:15:23.639 The law is something like that. 00:15:24.220 --> 00:15:25.879 As you see the great commands of God, 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:27.259 the good commands of God, 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:28.939 as we try to walk them out, 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:29.860 and live them out, 00:15:30.319 --> 00:15:31.439 David's experience is, 00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:34.179 he has hidden faults that he knows not of, 00:15:34.179 --> 00:15:37.139 and willful sins that he still continues to commit. 00:15:37.419 --> 00:15:40.359 He is sinful in front of God. 00:15:41.079 --> 00:15:42.120 The law shows him, 00:15:42.199 --> 00:15:42.919 just like a mirror, 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:44.059 that he is sinful. 00:15:44.239 --> 00:15:46.059 There is a speck on his t-shirt. 00:15:47.199 --> 00:15:47.579 And actually, 00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:48.939 it's probably inaccurate to say, 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:50.639 he thinks of it as just a little speck 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:52.039 on an otherwise white t-shirt. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:53.679 He says, 00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:54.199 in verse 12, 00:15:54.239 --> 00:15:55.059 forgive my hidden faults. 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:55.459 He's going, 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:55.959 Lord, 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:58.079 there are faults I am aware of, 00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:59.179 but there are faults I'm not aware of. 00:15:59.219 --> 00:16:00.539 When my heart drifts from you, 00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:00.819 Lord, 00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:02.319 this is a heart problem. 00:16:03.539 --> 00:16:05.019 But my flesh keeps on going, 00:16:05.359 --> 00:16:06.399 even to willful sins. 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:06.579 Lord, 00:16:06.599 --> 00:16:07.699 I know that they are wrong, 00:16:07.899 --> 00:16:10.639 but I still continue to engage in them. 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:11.019 Lord, 00:16:11.079 --> 00:16:12.500 keep me from willful sins. 00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:15.259 May they not rule over me. 00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:19.159 But I think there is some hope here. 00:16:19.539 --> 00:16:20.699 Even as we see, 00:16:20.699 --> 00:16:23.539 what looks like a drenched in dirt, 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:25.059 t-shirt in front of the mirror, 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:27.039 that is the law of our sin. 00:16:27.859 --> 00:16:29.339 What we see is something that, 00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:30.179 I'm going to quote him again, 00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.259 Paul Tripp says, 00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:34.120 the law as celebrated in Psalm 19, 00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:35.579 is not a heavy burden, 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:37.139 but a merciful light. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:39.939 It exposes the sin we've grown comfortable with 00:16:39.939 --> 00:16:42.239 and invites us into something far better, 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:44.039 the grace of God. 00:16:45.359 --> 00:16:47.139 The grace of God is something that I think 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:48.919 David is very aware of. 00:16:48.919 --> 00:16:50.339 Look at verse 14. 00:16:50.459 --> 00:16:50.659 He says, 00:16:50.819 --> 00:16:51.959 may these words in my mouth 00:16:51.959 --> 00:16:53.339 and this meditation in my heart 00:16:53.340 --> 00:16:54.560 be pleasing in your sight, 00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:54.860 Lord, 00:16:55.160 --> 00:16:55.860 my rock 00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:57.820 and my redeemer. 00:16:58.800 --> 00:17:01.200 David is incredibly aware of the fact 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:03.139 that his redeemer lives, 00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:05.240 that God is able and willing 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:07.960 to forgive the faults and sins of his heart 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:10.660 and to redeem him from the penalty of sin. 00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:13.259 And how much more should we, 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:15.019 who live on this side of the cross, 00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:16.200 be completely confident 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:18.420 that our redeemer lives? 00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:20.980 For we know that God is a God 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:22.759 who wants to be known in creation 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.460 and in his word. 00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:24.539 We've seen that here. 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:28.000 But he also sent his son down 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:29.300 to live a perfect life, 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:30.860 fulfilling every one of the commands 00:17:30.860 --> 00:17:32.519 that we couldn't fulfill, 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:34.460 died for us on the cross 00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:36.420 and rose again to be able to forgive 00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:37.960 every one of our sins 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:39.700 that separated us from God. 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:42.180 So how can we ever deny 00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:43.799 that our redeemer lives? 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:46.519 Dietrich Bonhoeffer puts it like this, 00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:48.160 Psalm 19 leads us 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:49.819 from the wonderful works of God 00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:50.420 in creation 00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:51.759 to his wonderful word. 00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:53.100 Both have one 00:17:53.100 --> 00:17:54.299 and the same end 00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:56.319 to bring us to God. 00:17:57.100 --> 00:17:58.160 As we stand 00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:59.460 in awe of God's creation, 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:00.960 we see a God 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:02.460 who graciously speaks to us 00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:03.220 through creation. 00:18:03.840 --> 00:18:04.759 The heavens declare 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:06.080 the glory of the God, 00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:07.880 the skies proclaim 00:18:07.880 --> 00:18:09.220 the work of his hands. 00:18:10.060 --> 00:18:10.960 And as we see the goodness 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:11.820 in his commands, 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:13.920 we're also forced to see 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:15.100 the sin that separates us 00:18:15.100 --> 00:18:15.660 from him. 00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:17.640 Yet what he says 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:18.540 is he calls us 00:18:18.540 --> 00:18:19.820 to run to him, 00:18:20.120 --> 00:18:21.500 to call upon the grace 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:23.820 that's found in Jesus Christ. 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:25.000 And what we find there 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:26.900 is a father with open arms 00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:28.700 saying welcome home 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.560 because he knows 00:18:29.560 --> 00:18:30.420 that our sins 00:18:30.420 --> 00:18:31.360 have already been forgiven 00:18:31.360 --> 00:18:33.280 on the cross by Jesus 00:18:33.280 --> 00:18:34.740 who would just repent 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.640 and believe. 00:18:35.640 --> 00:18:38.900 So we started by saying 00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:39.580 this psalm 00:18:39.580 --> 00:18:40.480 is about the fact 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:41.120 that God 00:18:41.120 --> 00:18:43.120 in his great grace 00:18:43.120 --> 00:18:43.820 is one that wants 00:18:43.820 --> 00:18:44.320 to be known. 00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:46.700 But he is not only one 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.820 that wants to be known, 00:18:48.520 --> 00:18:49.259 but he is also one 00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:50.000 that even when we 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:50.820 messed it all up, 00:18:51.300 --> 00:18:52.380 he made a way for us 00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:53.300 to know him. 00:18:54.100 --> 00:18:55.740 And that is a great story 00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:56.440 of grace 00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:57.100 that we see 00:18:57.100 --> 00:18:58.380 in the Bible 00:18:58.380 --> 00:18:59.420 and in this psalm. 00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:00.780 So let me pray 00:19:00.780 --> 00:19:02.400 and I'll draw us to an end. 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:04.460 Lord, we thank you 00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.500 for your great goodness 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:06.400 and grace 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:06.980 that we see 00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:07.900 in this psalm. 00:19:08.360 --> 00:19:09.000 Thank you 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:09.980 that your commands 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.660 are great 00:19:10.660 --> 00:19:12.000 and that Lord, 00:19:12.100 --> 00:19:13.040 they bring us 00:19:13.040 --> 00:19:14.040 joy to our heart. 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:15.840 Lord, we fall so short 00:19:15.840 --> 00:19:16.780 so many times. 00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:17.440 We fail 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.100 and fumble 00:19:18.100 --> 00:19:19.000 our way. 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:20.220 We've fallen short 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:21.540 of that standard 00:19:21.540 --> 00:19:22.600 of the perfect law 00:19:22.600 --> 00:19:24.320 that you provided 00:19:24.320 --> 00:19:26.280 a sin offering 00:19:26.280 --> 00:19:26.740 for us 00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.519 in Jesus Christ. 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:28.480 That our sins 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:28.920 have been taken 00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:29.360 on the cross 00:19:29.360 --> 00:19:29.880 by him 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:30.860 and that we get 00:19:30.860 --> 00:19:32.020 to light 00:19:32.020 --> 00:19:33.200 and running to him 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:34.040 knowing that he's 00:19:34.040 --> 00:19:34.520 forgiven us 00:19:34.520 --> 00:19:35.260 for all of our sins. 00:19:36.060 --> 00:19:36.780 Lord, help us 00:19:36.780 --> 00:19:37.760 to meditate on that 00:19:37.760 --> 00:19:38.240 daily. 00:19:38.600 --> 00:19:39.320 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:19:39.820 --> 00:19:40.120 Amen. 00:19:40.120 --> 00:19:40.260 Amen.