WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.780 It's very good to be back tonight. 00:00:02.879 --> 00:00:05.919 It's good to see so many of you for a second time today. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:09.919 And, of course, very nice to be preaching again. 00:00:12.140 --> 00:00:12.019 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.579 I'm having a kind of dried-out Christian life, feeling a bit dull or bland as a Christian. 00:00:37.780 --> 00:00:41.359 And this has been a really good conversation for the two of us. 00:00:42.280 --> 00:00:46.460 And it really has me thinking about Psalm 63, when David can cry out, 00:00:46.579 --> 00:00:48.519 earnestly I seek you, God. 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:55.019 And it's remarkable at how many psalms really depend on this idea of a need for God, 00:00:55.020 --> 00:01:00.940 as if the kind of expectation for the Christian life is that we don't often feel, 00:01:01.400 --> 00:01:03.359 from our perspective, like we're that close to God. 00:01:05.140 --> 00:01:09.560 Now, of course, we know that as Christians we are in Christ. 00:01:09.820 --> 00:01:13.359 We can't be any closer to God than we are on this side of heaven. 00:01:14.140 --> 00:01:16.700 And so a lot of it is a matter of perception and feeling. 00:01:16.859 --> 00:01:19.379 The truth is that God is with us. 00:01:21.219 --> 00:01:22.859 So that's basically the sermon. 00:01:22.859 --> 00:01:26.340 But I'm going to go on and talk about Psalm 63 for a little bit longer than that. 00:01:27.719 --> 00:01:29.939 When we talk about psalms, we hear about David a lot. 00:01:30.039 --> 00:01:31.000 David this, David that. 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:31.799 He needs God. 00:01:31.859 --> 00:01:32.819 He's crying out for God. 00:01:32.900 --> 00:01:33.959 He's in the temple or not. 00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:35.579 And so on. 00:01:35.640 --> 00:01:39.620 And a lot of the psalms make an explicit turn towards the congregation. 00:01:40.219 --> 00:01:42.219 So in the final verse of this psalm, it says sort of, 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:44.180 all who call upon the name of the Lord, 00:01:44.340 --> 00:01:49.060 or all who regard his king and trust God, and so on. 00:01:49.140 --> 00:01:49.840 That sort of thing. 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:55.400 So it is safe for us as Christians to sing the psalms wholeheartedly. 00:01:56.040 --> 00:02:00.260 Even if we are not David, there's a little difference here and there. 00:02:00.620 --> 00:02:05.680 But I just want you to think that we can identify with a lot of this. 00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:09.439 So David begins. 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:11.900 Life is indeed a wilderness. 00:02:12.780 --> 00:02:17.420 He talks about it in this way, as if he's remote from God. 00:02:17.740 --> 00:02:20.740 He's in a place that is dry and arid, maybe unsafe. 00:02:21.760 --> 00:02:23.400 It's a place where you conserve water. 00:02:24.520 --> 00:02:25.700 It's hot during the day. 00:02:25.780 --> 00:02:26.640 It's cold at night. 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:29.819 And it is certainly remote. 00:02:33.419 --> 00:02:36.479 The psalm wants to move us from that sort of place. 00:02:36.979 --> 00:02:37.500 The wilderness. 00:02:38.419 --> 00:02:41.279 And it wants to instill a passion for God. 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:46.839 It wants us to feel a passion for God even amidst the wilderness. 00:02:48.519 --> 00:02:52.339 Now, I could say that this wilderness is likened to David's spiritual life. 00:02:52.859 --> 00:02:54.539 It's just a kind of spiritual thing. 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:56.079 Or it's a physical thing. 00:02:56.780 --> 00:02:59.040 He needs God's protection, for example. 00:03:01.100 --> 00:03:02.920 But David considers his whole life. 00:03:03.540 --> 00:03:07.980 His physical life, his emotional, spiritual, mental. 00:03:09.760 --> 00:03:12.460 All of these are in need of God. 00:03:14.860 --> 00:03:19.400 Now, his wilderness, as I've said, is really a perception that God is not with him. 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:23.920 I'm in a dry and weary land, he says at the beginning, 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:27.159 where there is no water. 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:31.159 There is no satisfaction for his soul. 00:03:31.259 --> 00:03:34.719 There seems to be no resource of life for him. 00:03:34.799 --> 00:03:36.579 No source of life in the wilderness. 00:03:36.580 --> 00:03:41.120 And the psalm's title suits the psalm very well. 00:03:42.120 --> 00:03:45.540 Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 00:03:45.539 --> 00:03:50.699 And thus he begins, my soul thirsts for you. 00:03:50.699 --> 00:03:54.239 My flesh faints for you. 00:03:55.000 --> 00:03:59.099 As in a dry and weary land, where there is no water. 00:03:59.099 --> 00:04:06.299 All life of all sorts dissolves without God. 00:04:06.300 --> 00:04:13.100 One of Job's companions, Elihu, is right when he says this. 00:04:13.480 --> 00:04:19.160 If God should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath. 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:25.439 So if God sort of inhales off of creation, all flesh would perish together. 00:04:26.220 --> 00:04:28.400 And man would return to dust. 00:04:31.140 --> 00:04:34.920 Were God to withdraw his power from the earth, life would perish. 00:04:36.780 --> 00:04:40.160 And it's no slow or gradual kind of turning off. 00:04:40.280 --> 00:04:42.020 Not a slow and steady process. 00:04:42.019 --> 00:04:46.159 It means all things cease in an instant without God. 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:53.519 The whole universe, ourselves included, relies upon God at all times. 00:04:55.099 --> 00:04:58.099 It's not like a fading battery where the lights gradually dim. 00:04:59.379 --> 00:05:01.359 No, it's like a blown fuse and the lights just go out. 00:05:02.019 --> 00:05:02.479 That's it. 00:05:05.019 --> 00:05:07.539 And so David needs this source of life. 00:05:08.219 --> 00:05:09.199 He needs it desperately. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:12.120 For him, he doesn't immediately see it. 00:05:13.459 --> 00:05:15.939 David needs God like someone needs water. 00:05:18.060 --> 00:05:20.099 Now, does David need physical protection? 00:05:20.860 --> 00:05:21.639 Yes, he does. 00:05:21.740 --> 00:05:24.060 Near the end of the psalm, it talks about his enemies. 00:05:24.199 --> 00:05:25.480 It talks about him being in danger. 00:05:26.719 --> 00:05:28.539 Liars, people have turned against him. 00:05:30.180 --> 00:05:32.240 Does he want emotional rejuvenation? 00:05:33.339 --> 00:05:35.120 Yes, I think he wants that too. 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:37.959 Fear, longing, 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:39.359 worry. 00:05:41.500 --> 00:05:43.259 He needs God to deal with these things. 00:05:44.060 --> 00:05:45.919 Does he need spiritual invigoration? 00:05:46.060 --> 00:05:47.859 Well, yes, he needs that too. 00:05:47.959 --> 00:05:50.039 He has a longing for the sanctuary. 00:05:51.180 --> 00:05:51.919 And this will be central. 00:05:53.659 --> 00:05:56.219 But to whom does he turn for all of these things? 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:58.819 He turns to one person, God. 00:05:58.819 --> 00:06:03.019 All of these things he finds in God. 00:06:03.079 --> 00:06:04.480 And this is what the whole psalm is about. 00:06:04.819 --> 00:06:06.000 We need God himself. 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:09.579 And God provides himself when we seek him. 00:06:09.719 --> 00:06:10.800 We need God himself. 00:06:11.219 --> 00:06:14.740 And God provides himself when we seek him. 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:18.319 Verse 8 almost says it all. 00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:19.680 My soul clings to you. 00:06:20.340 --> 00:06:22.139 And your right hand upholds me. 00:06:23.720 --> 00:06:24.840 My soul clings to you. 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:25.460 I seek you. 00:06:26.960 --> 00:06:28.259 And the Lord provides himself. 00:06:28.259 --> 00:06:32.399 But it's not that simple. 00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:33.539 God provides himself. 00:06:33.639 --> 00:06:35.920 But he provides himself in several ways. 00:06:37.019 --> 00:06:40.259 And what I want us to see here is four sources of life. 00:06:40.339 --> 00:06:44.560 There are four ways that God provides himself according to the psalm. 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:48.240 And the first source of life is the sanctuary. 00:06:49.980 --> 00:06:52.480 And a talk on this whole psalm could be called 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:55.280 From the Wilderness to the Sanctuary. 00:06:56.199 --> 00:06:57.860 Or maybe even better. 00:06:58.220 --> 00:07:00.379 When the wilderness becomes a sanctuary. 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:04.160 When the place where it feels like God is not there. 00:07:05.220 --> 00:07:06.420 A place that is remote from God. 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:07.680 In a dry and weary land. 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:13.220 When that becomes the very place where God gives his own presence. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:17.780 David thinks back. 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:19.980 I have looked upon you in the sanctuary. 00:07:20.220 --> 00:07:20.600 He says. 00:07:21.319 --> 00:07:23.259 Now this may mean he's in the sanctuary currently. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:27.600 But I think it's referring back to a time when he was. 00:07:27.660 --> 00:07:29.800 He's recalling the sanctuary from the wilderness. 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:32.459 Whatever this place looked like that he worshipped in. 00:07:32.540 --> 00:07:35.340 Prior to the big constructed temple. 00:07:37.399 --> 00:07:39.680 One interpreter writes. 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:40.319 Biblically. 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:43.540 The highest privilege a mortal can enjoy. 00:07:43.540 --> 00:07:46.860 Is to become a welcome member of the worshipping congregation. 00:07:48.140 --> 00:07:50.280 The highest privilege a mortal can enjoy. 00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:54.000 Is to become a welcome member of the worshipping congregation. 00:07:56.879 --> 00:07:59.700 The sanctuary was the dwelling place of God. 00:08:01.420 --> 00:08:02.700 It was God's house. 00:08:03.180 --> 00:08:05.780 It was the place that ultimately David wanted to build. 00:08:05.779 --> 00:08:05.839 Lord. 00:08:06.839 --> 00:08:07.199 Lord. 00:08:07.319 --> 00:08:08.679 I am living in a house of cedar. 00:08:09.359 --> 00:08:09.819 And you. 00:08:10.039 --> 00:08:10.839 I worship in a tent. 00:08:10.979 --> 00:08:14.059 I want you to have a really wonderful temple. 00:08:14.539 --> 00:08:15.199 As your king. 00:08:19.239 --> 00:08:21.619 Of course that has to wait until David's son Solomon. 00:08:21.779 --> 00:08:23.379 But the temple nevertheless was holy. 00:08:23.500 --> 00:08:25.639 In any place God's people got together to worship. 00:08:26.139 --> 00:08:27.799 Was holy and inviting. 00:08:28.259 --> 00:08:28.979 It was terrifying. 00:08:28.980 --> 00:08:31.220 It was a place for repentance. 00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:32.940 For thanksgiving. 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:35.379 For praise. 00:08:36.580 --> 00:08:37.500 For meditation. 00:08:37.740 --> 00:08:39.940 It was a place to be with God's family. 00:08:40.100 --> 00:08:40.740 And it is. 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:45.899 David can say that in this very place. 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:48.300 I look upon God. 00:08:48.299 --> 00:08:54.500 It is remarkable that when he needs God. 00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:57.199 The sanctuary is the first place he thinks of. 00:08:57.779 --> 00:08:59.240 It is the first place that comes to mind. 00:08:59.459 --> 00:09:00.779 I am in a land without water. 00:09:01.859 --> 00:09:03.899 But I have looked upon you in the sanctuary. 00:09:04.959 --> 00:09:06.079 That is the first thing. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:07.939 That his mind is drawn to. 00:09:10.179 --> 00:09:14.719 And so his wilderness becomes God's very dwelling place. 00:09:15.799 --> 00:09:17.639 The wilderness does become a sanctuary. 00:09:18.299 --> 00:09:23.199 Now if David looks upon God in the sanctuary. 00:09:23.399 --> 00:09:25.459 Then what exactly does he see? 00:09:25.599 --> 00:09:27.279 Well this takes us to the second source of life. 00:09:28.199 --> 00:09:29.899 He sees God's power and glory. 00:09:33.439 --> 00:09:34.599 And the interesting thing here. 00:09:34.659 --> 00:09:35.299 Is what we see is that. 00:09:35.539 --> 00:09:37.899 Our needs match God's attributes. 00:09:38.539 --> 00:09:40.079 So what we need. 00:09:41.959 --> 00:09:43.039 God provides most. 00:09:43.199 --> 00:09:43.919 Or to put it another way. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:47.039 God provides what his people need most. 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:50.659 If David's life is a wilderness. 00:09:51.019 --> 00:09:52.599 And his enemies have turned against him. 00:09:52.719 --> 00:09:53.759 What does he need? 00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:56.779 He needs the power and the glory of God. 00:09:58.439 --> 00:10:01.099 He does not call upon the tenderness of God. 00:10:01.179 --> 00:10:02.139 Though he will sometimes. 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:04.299 He doesn't call upon the ear of God. 00:10:05.599 --> 00:10:06.879 Or the wisdom of God. 00:10:06.959 --> 00:10:07.659 In this case. 00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:09.719 David calls. 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:11.600 He calls upon God's protection. 00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:15.459 He sits in the shadow of God's wings. 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:18.799 God's right hand upholds him. 00:10:18.860 --> 00:10:19.339 And so on. 00:10:22.079 --> 00:10:24.519 Have you ever tried to figure out what a baby needs? 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:28.399 There's a brilliant movie about a widowed father. 00:10:30.079 --> 00:10:31.840 He's left with his baby daughter. 00:10:32.919 --> 00:10:33.419 And so. 00:10:33.620 --> 00:10:35.600 This man's mom and his mother-in-law. 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:37.720 Have offered to take the baby. 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:38.360 Thinking that. 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:40.460 It's just going to be a little too much for him to handle. 00:10:40.579 --> 00:10:41.439 It's too much responsibility. 00:10:41.860 --> 00:10:42.199 But no. 00:10:42.379 --> 00:10:43.679 The father is resolved. 00:10:44.460 --> 00:10:45.319 To raise the child. 00:10:47.620 --> 00:10:49.659 And of course the baby starts to cry. 00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:50.840 And get in these crying fits. 00:10:51.079 --> 00:10:52.559 These sort of marathon crying sessions. 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:53.719 Where she doesn't stop. 00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:55.500 And he doesn't really know what to do. 00:10:56.139 --> 00:10:57.139 He gives her food. 00:10:57.839 --> 00:10:58.799 He changes the nappy. 00:10:59.599 --> 00:11:00.319 He holds her. 00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:02.659 Puts her down in different positions. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:04.779 Sings to her. 00:11:05.899 --> 00:11:06.779 Puts on a movie. 00:11:07.359 --> 00:11:08.159 Takes her for a walk. 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:09.759 Truly. 00:11:09.859 --> 00:11:10.639 He tries everything. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:14.179 And he doesn't actually know what the baby needs. 00:11:14.459 --> 00:11:15.599 And she just keeps crying. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:20.039 So being desperate as he was. 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:22.620 He goes to a new mother's group. 00:11:23.399 --> 00:11:24.559 And he just walks in. 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:26.919 And there are five or six mothers around. 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:30.299 Talking about raising their babies. 00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:31.519 And he interrupts the meeting. 00:11:31.620 --> 00:11:31.860 And he says. 00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:32.299 Listen. 00:11:32.579 --> 00:11:32.819 Ladies. 00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:34.759 I can't stop this baby from crying. 00:11:35.819 --> 00:11:36.699 I've tried everything. 00:11:38.459 --> 00:11:39.919 And one of the moms asks. 00:11:40.039 --> 00:11:41.519 If he's tried the vacuum trick. 00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:43.299 And he says. 00:11:43.339 --> 00:11:44.179 The vacuum trick. 00:11:45.439 --> 00:11:46.019 She says. 00:11:46.620 --> 00:11:47.019 Yeah. 00:11:47.019 --> 00:11:47.600 That's right. 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:48.000 You know. 00:11:48.139 --> 00:11:49.120 You turn a vacuum on. 00:11:49.179 --> 00:11:50.000 It creates white noise. 00:11:50.100 --> 00:11:51.779 And it puts some babies right out. 00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:54.460 So he goes home. 00:11:54.980 --> 00:11:55.860 Puts his daughter on the bed. 00:11:55.919 --> 00:11:57.019 Puts the vacuum next to the bed. 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:57.720 And turns it on. 00:11:58.980 --> 00:11:59.699 And it works. 00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:01.079 The baby stops crying immediately. 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:03.879 It works in the movie. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:04.939 It works in the movie at least. 00:12:04.940 --> 00:12:10.540 It can be difficult to know what a baby needs. 00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:12.760 Never mind a teenager. 00:12:13.760 --> 00:12:14.520 A brother. 00:12:15.800 --> 00:12:16.500 A sister. 00:12:17.580 --> 00:12:18.220 A spouse. 00:12:19.380 --> 00:12:20.120 A friend. 00:12:20.900 --> 00:12:21.460 A boyfriend. 00:12:22.460 --> 00:12:23.140 A girlfriend. 00:12:23.400 --> 00:12:23.860 A parent. 00:12:26.140 --> 00:12:28.480 God knows what we need. 00:12:28.620 --> 00:12:31.260 And he provides what we need most. 00:12:32.920 --> 00:12:33.840 Most of all. 00:12:34.040 --> 00:12:34.520 We need him. 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:36.240 Most of all. 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:36.720 We need him. 00:12:36.780 --> 00:12:38.320 And that brings us to the third source. 00:12:39.160 --> 00:12:39.540 Of life. 00:12:42.400 --> 00:12:43.440 The third source of life. 00:12:43.520 --> 00:12:44.500 Is God's grace. 00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:45.580 Or steadfast love. 00:12:47.100 --> 00:12:48.320 Have a look at verse three. 00:12:50.280 --> 00:12:51.560 Because your steadfast love. 00:12:51.640 --> 00:12:52.820 Is better than life. 00:12:52.920 --> 00:12:54.180 My lips will praise you. 00:12:56.540 --> 00:12:57.340 All this time. 00:12:57.400 --> 00:12:58.960 We thought that David wanted life. 00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:01.300 I'm parched. 00:13:01.300 --> 00:13:02.080 There's no water. 00:13:02.180 --> 00:13:02.880 There's no food. 00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:04.580 He's on the run. 00:13:04.580 --> 00:13:05.580 He's in the wilderness. 00:13:08.580 --> 00:13:09.860 Does he not want life. 00:13:09.920 --> 00:13:11.480 Or at least life in God. 00:13:11.540 --> 00:13:12.460 Or something like that. 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:14.240 Now he's saying. 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:15.460 That God's steadfast love. 00:13:15.680 --> 00:13:16.759 Is better than life. 00:13:18.920 --> 00:13:19.560 In other words. 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:20.940 David seems to say. 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:21.940 That he'd rather die. 00:13:22.040 --> 00:13:23.639 Than live a life without God. 00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:26.240 Sounds like Paul. 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:27.280 To live is Christ. 00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:29.040 And yet to die. 00:13:29.040 --> 00:13:30.040 Is gain. 00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:33.179 Death for him. 00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:34.219 Means the certainty. 00:13:34.219 --> 00:13:35.579 Of God's presence. 00:13:36.419 --> 00:13:37.559 And he holds up really. 00:13:37.719 --> 00:13:39.019 These two options. 00:13:39.819 --> 00:13:40.719 On the one hand. 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:42.139 We get God's eternal character. 00:13:42.419 --> 00:13:44.059 His steadfast love. 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:44.899 That never ceases. 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:46.500 The presence of the Holy One. 00:13:47.819 --> 00:13:49.059 Versus a frail body. 00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:50.819 Temperamental. 00:13:51.079 --> 00:13:51.779 Spiritual life. 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:52.319 And the pains. 00:13:52.379 --> 00:13:53.120 And frustrations. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:55.039 Of earthly existence. 00:13:57.899 --> 00:13:58.460 No wonder. 00:13:58.580 --> 00:13:59.480 That the majority of Psalms. 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:00.419 Have someone crying out. 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:00.860 For help. 00:14:05.560 --> 00:14:06.419 So in the next verse. 00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:07.480 David makes a resolution. 00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:08.159 Verse four. 00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:09.720 So. 00:14:10.340 --> 00:14:11.120 I will bless you. 00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:11.879 As long as I live. 00:14:12.700 --> 00:14:13.679 If God's steadfast. 00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:15.480 Love is better than life. 00:14:15.560 --> 00:14:16.279 I will bless you Lord. 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:16.980 As long as I live. 00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:18.019 In your name. 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:19.259 I will lift up my. 00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:19.980 Hands. 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:22.820 Just as a side note. 00:14:22.920 --> 00:14:23.700 Notice the language there. 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:24.720 I will lift up my hands. 00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:25.440 It is okay. 00:14:25.820 --> 00:14:26.700 To praise God. 00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:27.720 And lift up. 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:29.039 Your hands. 00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:32.620 If we have breath. 00:14:32.820 --> 00:14:33.560 In our lungs. 00:14:33.920 --> 00:14:34.539 Then it is God. 00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:35.340 We ought to praise. 00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:38.159 God is the source of life. 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:39.159 The sustainer of life. 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:39.879 And he himself. 00:14:40.060 --> 00:14:40.580 Is better. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:41.320 Than. 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:42.039 This. 00:14:42.300 --> 00:14:42.659 Life. 00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:45.560 One commentator says. 00:14:45.820 --> 00:14:47.279 All that a person can have. 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:48.860 And experience in this life. 00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:50.720 Everything that we know. 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:51.840 And can experience. 00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:53.680 Is inferior. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:54.580 To grace. 00:14:58.180 --> 00:14:59.200 I don't know about you. 00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:00.399 But there are so many things. 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:01.080 In this life. 00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:02.820 That I love. 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:04.639 When I ought to be loving God. 00:15:06.680 --> 00:15:07.580 I love work. 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:10.720 I love having my own time. 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:11.639 Under my control. 00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:13.560 I love when things work. 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:14.200 Correctly. 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.580 Maybe it's food. 00:15:17.700 --> 00:15:18.340 Maybe it's leisure. 00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:19.480 Maybe it's a person. 00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:23.060 But these things are inferior. 00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:24.620 To God's steady. 00:15:24.920 --> 00:15:25.160 Love. 00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:25.820 For us. 00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:30.259 Nevertheless. 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.300 Here we are as mortals. 00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:32.639 Here we are. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.019 Human beings. 00:15:34.560 --> 00:15:35.100 On earth. 00:15:36.440 --> 00:15:37.379 We're not in heaven. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:38.040 Yet. 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:41.660 And this is the incredible bit. 00:15:42.060 --> 00:15:42.900 God desires. 00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:43.820 That here and now. 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:44.580 We partake. 00:15:44.660 --> 00:15:45.400 Of eternal. 00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:46.379 Activities. 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:48.399 Drinking from the source. 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:49.000 Of life. 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:50.159 Being satisfied. 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:51.000 With the riches. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:51.779 Of God's mercy. 00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:52.899 Having a passion. 00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:53.779 For God. 00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:54.960 These things. 00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:55.500 Do you realize. 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:56.399 Will last forever. 00:15:57.299 --> 00:15:57.980 These activities. 00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:58.720 We partake in. 00:15:58.799 --> 00:15:59.340 Right now. 00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:00.779 Are some of the things. 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:02.100 That we do. 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:02.639 That will. 00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:04.000 Last forever. 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.299 Proverbs 12. 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:07.720 28. 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:07.980 Says. 00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:08.560 In the path. 00:16:08.560 --> 00:16:09.460 Of righteousness. 00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:10.220 Is life. 00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:12.560 And in its past. 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:14.279 There is no death. 00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.879 We could say that passion. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:20.779 Is an enthusiastic. 00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:21.759 Dedication. 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:22.840 To something. 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:23.680 Or someone. 00:16:24.820 --> 00:16:26.279 It's been expressed. 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:26.759 Most clearly. 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:27.100 Right now. 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:27.639 In the Olympics. 00:16:28.539 --> 00:16:29.420 An enthusiastic. 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.399 Dedication. 00:16:31.060 --> 00:16:32.899 To this sport. 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:34.419 These people's. 00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:35.100 Entire lives. 00:16:35.179 --> 00:16:36.139 Revolves around. 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:37.620 That 100 meters. 00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:38.480 Or that track. 00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:38.840 Or. 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:40.360 That pool. 00:16:40.459 --> 00:16:41.179 Whatever it is. 00:16:41.819 --> 00:16:42.519 They give everything. 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:42.939 For that. 00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:45.019 That is passion. 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:46.600 It's not just a feeling. 00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:48.100 If there are any. 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:48.740 Boston fans. 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:49.500 Not of the city. 00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:50.120 But of the band. 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:50.399 It's. 00:16:50.500 --> 00:16:51.539 It's more than a feeling. 00:16:55.059 --> 00:16:56.059 You hear about people. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:57.019 On first dates. 00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:57.559 And they say. 00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:59.179 He's too keen. 00:16:59.639 --> 00:17:00.419 She's coming on. 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:01.120 Too strong. 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:03.100 Too much. 00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:03.740 Passion. 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.660 Before God. 00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:07.660 We cannot be too keen. 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:09.259 We cannot be too passionate. 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:11.920 Before God. 00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:12.940 The right response. 00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:13.900 Is. 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:14.559 Passion. 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.099 Of heart. 00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:15.920 And mind. 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:16.759 To love God. 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:17.500 With our heart. 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:19.339 With all our mind. 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.359 And with all our strength. 00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:26.740 I went to university. 00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:27.720 Where I didn't know anyone. 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:28.880 And. 00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:29.680 As an undergraduate. 00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:30.059 And. 00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:30.359 And. 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:32.379 My primary prayer. 00:17:32.379 --> 00:17:33.019 Was that I would meet. 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:33.919 Some Christian friends. 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:35.079 And make some Christian friends. 00:17:35.179 --> 00:17:35.779 And sure enough. 00:17:35.919 --> 00:17:36.199 I was. 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:37.679 I was paired with a random roommate. 00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:38.459 When I showed up. 00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:39.539 And he was not a Christian. 00:17:39.699 --> 00:17:40.500 We became good friends. 00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:40.719 But. 00:17:41.699 --> 00:17:42.739 He was not a Christian. 00:17:42.939 --> 00:17:44.139 And I walked across the hall. 00:17:44.179 --> 00:17:44.839 Of my dorm. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:46.879 And little did I know. 00:17:46.959 --> 00:17:47.159 That my. 00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:47.939 Two. 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:49.259 To be best friends. 00:17:49.459 --> 00:17:50.399 Were there in that room. 00:17:50.899 --> 00:17:51.639 Two Christian men. 00:17:51.699 --> 00:17:52.299 That I got to know. 00:17:53.139 --> 00:17:53.739 Very well. 00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:56.500 When they found out. 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:57.279 I hadn't read. 00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:58.299 Two books. 00:17:58.839 --> 00:17:59.459 They kind of joked. 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:00.340 We can't read those books. 00:18:00.340 --> 00:18:01.519 And not be a Christian. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.019 And those two books. 00:18:04.120 --> 00:18:04.819 Were mere Christianity. 00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:06.700 And John Piper's desiring God. 00:18:06.840 --> 00:18:06.980 Now. 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:08.779 I don't know if I would stand by that. 00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:09.319 Now. 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:09.519 But. 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:11.039 But we still have a laugh about that. 00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:13.120 In 1986. 00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:14.140 John Piper released. 00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:14.720 One of the most. 00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:17.480 Popular contemporary books. 00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:17.780 On. 00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:18.960 The Christian life. 00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:21.460 And his. 00:18:21.520 --> 00:18:22.200 His main point. 00:18:22.280 --> 00:18:23.100 He says. 00:18:23.320 --> 00:18:23.980 Every time he. 00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:24.860 Says anything. 00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:26.380 God is most glorified in us. 00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:28.020 When we are most satisfied in him. 00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:28.740 That's what he says. 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:30.520 God is most glorified in us. 00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:32.259 When we are most satisfied. 00:18:32.800 --> 00:18:33.140 In him. 00:18:35.520 --> 00:18:36.680 There's a lot of truth there. 00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:39.960 And we certainly cannot max out. 00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:41.680 Our satisfaction in God. 00:18:46.120 --> 00:18:47.500 The fourth and final. 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:48.140 Source. 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:49.200 Of life. 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:49.680 Is. 00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:50.960 Thinking about God. 00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:52.559 Thinking about God. 00:18:54.860 --> 00:18:56.140 God gives David. 00:18:56.420 --> 00:18:56.860 Memories. 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:57.860 About himself. 00:18:58.100 --> 00:18:58.480 When David. 00:18:58.660 --> 00:18:59.299 Is in the wilderness. 00:18:59.500 --> 00:18:59.980 Verse six. 00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:03.059 David says that he praises God. 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:03.980 When I remember you. 00:19:04.100 --> 00:19:04.840 Upon my bed. 00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:06.079 And meditate on you. 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:06.700 In the watches. 00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:07.640 Of the night. 00:19:07.840 --> 00:19:08.200 And. 00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:10.700 You know the hymn. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:11.620 Be thou my vision. 00:19:12.580 --> 00:19:13.539 O Lord of my heart. 00:19:14.140 --> 00:19:15.259 Not be all else to me. 00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:17.400 Save that thou art. 00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:20.140 Thou my best thought. 00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:20.779 By day. 00:19:20.860 --> 00:19:21.759 Or by night. 00:19:22.360 --> 00:19:23.240 Waking or sleeping. 00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:24.140 Thy presence. 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:25.279 My light. 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.500 David meditates. 00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:30.580 From his bed. 00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:33.500 And it becomes clear. 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:34.500 That God provides himself. 00:19:34.600 --> 00:19:35.160 In the wilderness. 00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:37.380 God provides himself. 00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:38.580 In the sanctuary. 00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:40.780 God provides himself. 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:41.380 While waking. 00:19:42.040 --> 00:19:43.200 Or while sleeping. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.380 The wilderness has. 00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:48.880 Indeed become a sanctuary. 00:19:49.040 --> 00:19:50.520 Because God provides himself. 00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:52.980 For those who seek him. 00:19:53.060 --> 00:19:53.980 He displays his power. 00:19:54.040 --> 00:19:54.580 And his glory. 00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:56.380 He gives. 00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:57.920 Steadfast love. 00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.620 And he offers. 00:19:59.320 --> 00:20:00.720 Up great thoughts. 00:20:01.080 --> 00:20:01.620 Of himself. 00:20:01.619 --> 00:20:02.899 Let me close. 00:20:02.899 --> 00:20:06.979 Let me close. 00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:07.719 With just a few. 00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:08.859 More thoughts. 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:12.519 When you tell someone. 00:20:12.699 --> 00:20:13.379 My spiritual life. 00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:14.239 Is pretty dry. 00:20:14.239 --> 00:20:14.759 Right now. 00:20:16.699 --> 00:20:17.419 Consider reading. 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:17.959 This psalm. 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.319 And when someone. 00:20:20.399 --> 00:20:20.779 Tells you. 00:20:20.899 --> 00:20:21.859 My spiritual life. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:22.379 Is dry. 00:20:22.439 --> 00:20:22.859 Right now. 00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:25.079 Then you can tell them. 00:20:25.219 --> 00:20:26.079 Read psalm 63. 00:20:26.399 --> 00:20:26.639 Or. 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:27.759 A psalm. 00:20:27.819 --> 00:20:28.059 That's. 00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:28.559 Like it. 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:32.179 And here's part of the. 00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:33.259 The really good news about this. 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:33.819 When we. 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:35.220 Feel that God is absent. 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:37.019 We still feel for God. 00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:39.619 And when we think. 00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:40.259 That God. 00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:41.299 Cannot be found. 00:20:41.919 --> 00:20:42.839 We still. 00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:43.539 Think. 00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:44.220 Of God. 00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:47.960 Any concern. 00:20:48.099 --> 00:20:48.799 That you might have. 00:20:48.899 --> 00:20:49.500 About dull. 00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.740 Christian spirituality. 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.299 Means that God. 00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:53.799 Is at work. 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:56.399 And the best thing. 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:56.919 That we can do. 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:57.579 In that situation. 00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:58.299 Is not to really. 00:20:58.299 --> 00:20:59.539 Figure out how to fix it. 00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:01.180 But to call out to God. 00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:02.159 Like David does here. 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:02.759 To seek. 00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:03.819 For God. 00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:06.819 And this is one great point. 00:21:06.859 --> 00:21:07.659 Of commonality. 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:08.599 For Christians. 00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:10.359 And those who are not Christians. 00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:12.319 The starting point. 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.700 Of life. 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:14.419 Of true life. 00:21:14.639 --> 00:21:15.779 Is a need for God. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:16.659 And crying out. 00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:18.220 For God's help. 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:19.559 And crying out. 00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:20.240 For God himself. 00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:23.359 God is delighted. 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.019 When we do this. 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:24.839 And it is good. 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:25.579 For the soul. 00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:28.639 Secondly. 00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:30.980 Seek for God. 00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:31.899 And do it now. 00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.439 Charles Spurgeon says. 00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:34.559 Those who thirst for God. 00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.579 Thirst for him now. 00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:38.139 We don't need to put it off. 00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:39.419 Until bedtime. 00:21:39.619 --> 00:21:40.179 Until the morning. 00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:41.179 Until after a holiday. 00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:41.919 Whatever it is. 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.679 We thirst for God now. 00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:45.579 We seek him now. 00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:48.720 Jesus Christ said. 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:50.119 Blessed are those who hunger. 00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:51.359 And thirst for righteousness. 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.460 For they will be satisfied. 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:53.600 God. 00:21:55.120 --> 00:21:56.539 At a feast in John 7. 00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:57.160 He gets up. 00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:58.019 And he announces. 00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.340 If anyone thirst. 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:00.640 Let him come to me and drink. 00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:03.000 Whoever believes in me. 00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:04.160 As the scripture has said. 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.579 Out of his heart. 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.400 Will flow. 00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:07.980 Rivers of living. 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:08.579 Water. 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:12.420 Passion for God overflows. 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.340 And it is good. 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:15.440 For your friends. 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:16.579 For your family. 00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:17.460 For your classmates. 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.420 And for your church. 00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:22.759 We have no greater need. 00:22:22.820 --> 00:22:23.680 Than Christ himself. 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:26.340 And Christ provides himself. 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:28.920 So let us come to the throne of God. 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:30.759 Beholding his glory and power. 00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:31.980 Enjoying life with God. 00:22:32.060 --> 00:22:33.220 More than life itself. 00:22:34.140 --> 00:22:35.840 Filling our mind with thoughts of God. 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.820 And our hearts with a passion. 00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:40.200 For our Lord and Savior. 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.279 Let us pray. 00:22:42.279 --> 00:23:12.259 Let us pray.