WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 Thank you. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:59.980 Thank you. 00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:08.159 When others seem to be against you and there's nothing you can do to change it, when you 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:15.799 feel that there's no easy escape from the difficulties you are facing, what do you do? 00:01:15.799 --> 00:01:23.120 How do you respond in hard circumstances? 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:32.000 And you know, your circumstances may be severe or they may be trivial. 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:38.099 You may be facing a life-threatening illness or you may have spilled your coffee all over 00:01:38.099 --> 00:01:42.079 your clothes five minutes before you walked out the door to come to church this morning. 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:52.980 But no matter how serious or how trivial your circumstances, when they are difficult, when 00:01:52.980 --> 00:01:57.759 they are hard, things aren't going your way. 00:01:58.359 --> 00:02:00.640 How do you respond? 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:08.599 I don't know if you're like me, but I know that I have an unerring heart response to it, 00:02:08.659 --> 00:02:10.800 and that is that I want to fix it. 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:18.160 And I might fix it by trying to correct it and make it right, or I might want to fix it 00:02:18.160 --> 00:02:20.980 by escaping it and simply getting out of it. 00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:25.900 But whatever I'm trying to do, my heart cry is, make it stop. 00:02:25.900 --> 00:02:34.400 Whatever the circumstance I'm facing, I want to make it stop, either by making it right or 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:36.620 by removing myself from it. 00:02:37.580 --> 00:02:43.939 And you know, I don't just simply want to make it stop, but I become consumed by it. 00:02:45.099 --> 00:02:50.719 I find that this then becomes my number one priority when life doesn't go the way I think 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:53.120 it ought to, is how do I fix it? 00:02:53.120 --> 00:03:00.759 And in doing this, then all of my life energies and all of my thoughts, and in fact, the very 00:03:00.759 --> 00:03:12.180 affections of my heart, become focused on this task of somehow addressing my situation, my circumstances. 00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:18.520 I become distracted from everything else by this. 00:03:19.939 --> 00:03:21.140 And you know what I find? 00:03:21.139 --> 00:03:27.239 I become a fairly joyless person when I do this. 00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:34.259 When I am trying to fix my life one way or another, I am not a joyful person. 00:03:36.459 --> 00:03:46.699 Maybe you, like me, are tempted in those situations to run, to escape somehow, to find some pleasure of the world, 00:03:46.699 --> 00:03:48.699 some distraction, some little entertainment. 00:03:48.699 --> 00:03:55.379 Some little entertainment to take the sting out of your disappointment. 00:03:55.379 --> 00:04:06.560 Some of you may have the impulse to become the crusader, to not only fix it in your life, but to fix the whole world so it will never happen again. 00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:19.860 But whatever it is, the driving force is, in the face of hard circumstances, to want to fix in some way or another. 00:04:19.860 --> 00:04:23.860 And where is God in this? 00:04:23.860 --> 00:04:25.960 Where is God in this process of wanting to fix the world? 00:04:25.960 --> 00:04:39.580 Well, it seems that often, as circumstances are hard, as things don't go our way, as it builds up over time, our hearts turn to bitterness, resentment. 00:04:39.579 --> 00:04:40.579 We question God. 00:04:40.579 --> 00:04:41.259 We question God. 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:45.680 We ask God, God, why does it have to be so hard? 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:52.560 And that's if we account for God at all. 00:04:53.259 --> 00:04:58.860 Sometimes, in the midst of a circumstance that we want to fix, we just exclude Him altogether. 00:04:58.860 --> 00:05:10.120 And in our frustration and our drivenness or our escapism or whatever it is, we end up actually living in despair because there's no God in there at all. 00:05:10.420 --> 00:05:13.480 It's just us and our circumstances. 00:05:16.980 --> 00:05:22.020 Well, as we turn to Psalm 57 this morning, we will find that there is another way. 00:05:22.019 --> 00:05:25.740 I forgot to note it, but it's in your bulletin. 00:05:26.039 --> 00:05:30.819 It's probably right in the middle of your Bible, Psalm 57, if you want to turn there with me. 00:05:31.099 --> 00:05:38.240 And as we turn and look at that together, this psalm is going to point us beyond our circumstances. 00:05:38.599 --> 00:05:40.599 It's going to point us to something else. 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:45.279 Today, our psalm points us to the glory of God. 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:50.299 And so, let's read it together and then explore it. 00:05:50.300 --> 00:05:51.480 Psalm 57. 00:05:53.480 --> 00:05:55.439 Be merciful to me, O God. 00:05:55.540 --> 00:05:56.780 Be merciful to me. 00:05:57.319 --> 00:05:59.840 For in you, my soul takes refuge. 00:06:00.699 --> 00:06:03.699 In the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:13.280 Till the storms of destruction pass by, I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me. 00:06:14.280 --> 00:06:16.780 He will send from heaven and save me. 00:06:17.019 --> 00:06:19.439 He will put to shame Him who tramples me. 00:06:20.300 --> 00:06:24.060 God will send out His steadfast love and His faithfulness. 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:27.819 My soul is in the midst of lions. 00:06:27.980 --> 00:06:36.199 I lie down among fiery beasts, the children of man whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 00:06:36.199 --> 00:06:40.539 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. 00:06:40.539 --> 00:06:43.300 Let your glory be over all the earth. 00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:46.899 They set a net for my steps. 00:06:47.159 --> 00:06:49.139 My soul was bowed down. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:51.420 They dug a pit in my way. 00:06:51.819 --> 00:06:54.360 But they have fallen into it themselves. 00:06:54.360 --> 00:06:58.300 My heart is steadfast, O God. 00:06:58.379 --> 00:06:59.860 My heart is steadfast. 00:07:00.220 --> 00:07:02.580 I will sing and make melody. 00:07:03.180 --> 00:07:04.540 Awake, my glory. 00:07:04.960 --> 00:07:06.780 Awake, O harp and lyre. 00:07:06.860 --> 00:07:08.600 I will awake the dawn. 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:12.960 I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples. 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:16.139 I will sing praises to You among the nations. 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:22.699 For Your steadfast love is great to the heavens and Your faithfulness to the clouds. 00:07:23.959 --> 00:07:26.859 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:30.740 Let Your glory be over all the earth. 00:07:30.740 --> 00:07:32.860 Let's pray. 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:42.480 God, we pray this morning that You would show us Your glory. 00:07:44.340 --> 00:07:50.780 Even as Moses long ago stood on the mountain and pleaded for You, saying, 00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:54.960 Who will we be, God, if You do not go with us? 00:07:55.220 --> 00:07:58.400 So go with us and show us Your glory. 00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:03.060 God, we pray this morning that You would show us Your glory. 00:08:05.659 --> 00:08:11.399 That our hearts might be captured by all the greatness of who You are. 00:08:14.060 --> 00:08:19.279 Spirit, we pray that You would open our hearts to the truth of Your Word this morning. 00:08:19.699 --> 00:08:22.719 I pray that You would give me words to speak. 00:08:23.419 --> 00:08:26.560 That You would be exalted, O God. 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:29.180 That Your glory would be seen. 00:08:30.300 --> 00:08:31.939 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:08:32.860 --> 00:08:33.179 Amen. 00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:41.600 When you look at the superscription, you realize the situation that David is in. 00:08:41.899 --> 00:08:46.679 Remember, this is David who at the tender age of, we don't know, young, 00:08:46.940 --> 00:08:53.120 he was anointed to be the future king of Israel while he was still a shepherd of his father's sheep. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:59.519 We know that he was the one who God led to the front lines in the battle against the Philistines 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:07.460 and won a tremendous victory over the giant Goliath and sent the enemies of God's people scattering. 00:09:08.419 --> 00:09:12.360 This is the David who was brought in to the king's house, 00:09:12.360 --> 00:09:17.779 who was made a leader and a captain in the army and who had great success. 00:09:17.779 --> 00:09:27.980 And yet, as we see in the superscription, he is now in a cave pursued by that very king. 00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:33.559 Saul is now seeking his life in his jealousy, in his hard heart. 00:09:34.039 --> 00:09:38.980 He has now spent time pursuing David, and David is on the run. 00:09:38.980 --> 00:09:44.539 David's army is outmanned six to one probably. 00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:51.139 A small band against a large army seeking to capture and destroy him. 00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:58.639 And not only that, but David has become poison to others who seek to help him. 00:09:58.840 --> 00:10:03.860 Earlier in the account in 1 Samuel, if you remember a couple weeks ago, 00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:08.139 Pastor Nick preached on the psalm that talked about Doeg the Edomite. 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:15.919 Those who helped David lost their lives because of the vengeful wrath of Saul. 00:10:16.860 --> 00:10:18.740 His circumstances were dire. 00:10:20.500 --> 00:10:23.000 You see how he describes them in the psalm. 00:10:23.060 --> 00:10:26.720 In verse 1, he says, they are like a storm of destruction. 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:30.620 Verse 2 says, they want to trample me. 00:10:30.620 --> 00:10:35.320 I'm sorry, verse 4. 00:10:35.620 --> 00:10:37.080 They want to trample me. 00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:40.620 It says that they are like… 00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:44.399 He is surrounded like a man camping out in the wilderness 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:47.179 where he knows that there are dangerous wild beasts 00:10:47.179 --> 00:10:51.100 and that he's encircled by these lions prowling. 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:54.340 Imagine him putting his head down every night, 00:10:54.560 --> 00:10:56.440 and every snap of a twig, 00:10:56.919 --> 00:10:59.519 every sound that he doesn't know what it is 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:00.819 will make him jump. 00:11:01.179 --> 00:11:04.240 That's the kind of danger that he is in. 00:11:05.980 --> 00:11:09.860 They're like hunters laying traps with nets and pits 00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:13.659 to capture him and to destroy him. 00:11:14.460 --> 00:11:15.699 They seek his death. 00:11:17.319 --> 00:11:22.120 And in the midst of these most difficult circumstances, 00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:27.860 and in the face of the disappointment that he must be feeling 00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:31.600 and at times he must have, you would have thought, 00:11:31.700 --> 00:11:32.419 humanly thought, 00:11:32.580 --> 00:11:33.879 God, what are you doing? 00:11:35.019 --> 00:11:36.940 I'm going to be the anointed king, 00:11:37.080 --> 00:11:38.759 and I'm hiding in a cave. 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:43.840 In the midst of this, 00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:48.080 David does not seek to fix his circumstances. 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:53.039 He does not seek, in fact, to escape his situation. 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:57.159 But instead, he employs a different strategy 00:11:57.159 --> 00:11:59.500 to respond to his circumstances. 00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:02.220 Rather than fixing his circumstances, 00:12:02.220 --> 00:12:07.759 he fixes his heart and his eyes on the glory of God. 00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:11.639 And this is what I want us to hear this morning, 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:15.620 is that it is not in fixing our circumstances, 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:18.920 but in fixing our eyes on the glory of God, 00:12:19.060 --> 00:12:22.660 that there is real help for us today. 00:12:24.560 --> 00:12:26.540 Want to unpack the word glory? 00:12:26.700 --> 00:12:28.980 John already did it some at the beginning of the service, 00:12:28.980 --> 00:12:31.399 but just to take it one step further, 00:12:31.500 --> 00:12:32.360 in the Old Testament, 00:12:32.560 --> 00:12:36.000 according to a biblical scholar, 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:37.519 the Old Testament, 00:12:37.680 --> 00:12:38.960 the word translated glory 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:42.539 was originally expressed in the idea of weight. 00:12:42.899 --> 00:12:45.019 And so glory came to be applied 00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:47.300 to the characteristic of a person 00:12:47.300 --> 00:12:49.560 that makes him weighty, 00:12:50.539 --> 00:12:51.440 that makes him… 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:54.100 that is, that in the eyes of other people, 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:56.279 they are seen as weighty, 00:12:56.279 --> 00:12:58.580 and it prompts them to honor him. 00:12:58.980 --> 00:13:00.320 And to respect him. 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:03.159 So it is the characteristics of a person 00:13:03.159 --> 00:13:07.560 that makes them honorable or praiseworthy. 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:10.800 And that's what glory is. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:12.560 And you see in this psalm, 00:13:12.659 --> 00:13:15.259 this refrain in verse 5 and verse 11, 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:18.019 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. 00:13:18.420 --> 00:13:23.279 Let your glory be seen over all the earth. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:27.459 And this is David's cry in the midst of his circumstances. 00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:33.799 And as we see that refrain frame our psalm, 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:35.860 we see it gives us our structure as well. 00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:38.120 The first part of the psalm gives us 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:40.339 David looking to a God 00:13:40.339 --> 00:13:42.480 whose glory fills him with confidence. 00:13:43.819 --> 00:13:46.500 And the second part from 6 to 11 is 00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:48.319 David looking to a God 00:13:48.319 --> 00:13:50.879 whose glory fills him with praise. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:53.139 So first, 00:13:53.939 --> 00:13:57.059 a God whose glory gives him confidence. 00:13:58.179 --> 00:13:59.720 One of the things that struck me 00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:01.779 is that this psalm starts out like a lament. 00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:04.779 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful. 00:14:05.779 --> 00:14:08.439 And many other psalms will continue in this strain 00:14:08.439 --> 00:14:09.059 for long… 00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:11.299 for verse upon verse upon verse. 00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:13.980 But David almost immediately in this psalm 00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:16.980 turns to statements instead of confidence. 00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:21.399 He knew how needy he was 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:23.539 and how dire his circumstance was. 00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:24.340 He said, 00:14:24.420 --> 00:14:25.720 God, I need your mercy. 00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:27.120 I need your grace. 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:29.539 I need you to save me 00:14:29.539 --> 00:14:31.460 because I can't save myself. 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:34.879 I need you to be my refuge 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:38.019 because I don't have the wherewithal 00:14:38.019 --> 00:14:39.620 to be my own refuge. 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:45.759 And yet, in the midst of all of that neediness, 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:48.299 he says, 00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:51.860 God, I am confident in you. 00:14:54.060 --> 00:14:55.820 Look, in verse 2, he says, 00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:57.860 I am confident that you are a God 00:14:57.860 --> 00:15:00.580 who will fulfill your purposes in my life. 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:02.460 My life is in your hands 00:15:02.460 --> 00:15:03.840 and I won't be let go. 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:07.420 Verse 3 is confidence. 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:11.620 He will send from heaven and save me. 00:15:11.820 --> 00:15:14.540 He will send his steadfast love 00:15:14.540 --> 00:15:15.560 and his faithfulness. 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:18.740 He will put to shame those who trample me. 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:23.680 He had confidence in God 00:15:23.680 --> 00:15:25.820 that he would do all of these things. 00:15:25.820 --> 00:15:30.280 He had confidence because he knew 00:15:30.280 --> 00:15:32.600 that God was a God 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:36.660 who was able to do all of these things. 00:15:36.820 --> 00:15:38.220 Think about David's story. 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:40.160 Think about what he could remember. 00:15:40.300 --> 00:15:41.240 In his past, 00:15:41.640 --> 00:15:43.480 he saw God help him 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:44.520 as he was a shepherd 00:15:44.520 --> 00:15:46.879 fighting against lions and wolves 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:48.800 and God preserved his life. 00:15:49.140 --> 00:15:51.300 He saw God preserve him 00:15:51.300 --> 00:15:52.700 as he walked onto the battlefield 00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:54.040 against Goliath. 00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:56.419 He saw God preserve him 00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:58.219 when Saul tried to kill him 00:15:58.219 --> 00:15:59.659 while he was still living 00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:01.899 in the palace. 00:16:02.839 --> 00:16:05.179 David had seen God's faithfulness 00:16:05.179 --> 00:16:07.000 and there was a track record of it. 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:10.099 There was also a promise. 00:16:10.699 --> 00:16:12.579 There was a promise of the anointing 00:16:12.579 --> 00:16:13.919 that David had received 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:16.259 that Samuel came and anointed him 00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:16.480 and said, 00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:18.139 you will be the king one day. 00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:20.599 How will God anoint him 00:16:20.599 --> 00:16:21.519 and then kill him? 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:23.779 He will live. 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:26.000 To reign on the throne of Israel. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.360 And not only that, 00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:30.839 but David's confidence 00:16:30.839 --> 00:16:34.259 is in the steadfast love 00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:36.659 and faithfulness of God. 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:38.899 You see it in verse 3. 00:16:40.099 --> 00:16:40.659 And friends, 00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:42.599 any Hebrew reading this text, 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:43.679 these words, 00:16:43.819 --> 00:16:45.480 steadfast love and faithfulness, 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:46.399 will resound. 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:47.779 And I'm hoping you will hear me 00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:49.219 say this enough from this pulpit 00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:50.620 that you'll begin to see it 00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.379 for yourself. 00:16:52.300 --> 00:16:53.840 Steadfast love and faithfulness, 00:16:53.920 --> 00:16:55.100 these are the words 00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:57.340 that God used on Mount Sinai 00:16:57.340 --> 00:16:58.960 when Moses cried out, 00:16:59.060 --> 00:17:00.540 God, show me your glory. 00:17:01.420 --> 00:17:01.920 God said, 00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:03.620 you can't see my glory and live, 00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:04.400 but I will put you 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:05.400 in the cleft of the rock 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:06.480 and I will pass by 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:09.059 and I will declare to you my name. 00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:10.899 And the name is the Lord, 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:11.419 the Lord, 00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:13.099 slow to anger and abounding 00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:14.839 in steadfast love 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:16.240 and faithfulness. 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:18.359 This is who God is. 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:21.139 And David knew that. 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:23.919 And so both from the past faithfulness of God 00:17:23.919 --> 00:17:26.119 and the future promises of God 00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:28.339 and the covenant reality 00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:29.740 of who God is 00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:31.359 and how he has revealed himself, 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:33.899 David faced his situation 00:17:33.899 --> 00:17:36.279 with great confidence. 00:17:39.159 --> 00:17:40.619 Now some of you 00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:42.740 may be sitting there and thinking, 00:17:43.179 --> 00:17:45.319 how could he do that? 00:17:46.419 --> 00:17:47.659 I mean, really, 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:49.759 how could God 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:52.639 be trustworthy 00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:55.039 if all these terrible things 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:56.479 are happening to David? 00:17:58.159 --> 00:18:00.159 And maybe you're asking that question 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:01.180 because that's a question 00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:02.500 you ask in your own life. 00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:05.279 How can God be trustworthy? 00:18:05.800 --> 00:18:07.980 How can this glory be so wonderful 00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:10.500 if my life is so messed up, 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:12.960 if my life is so hard, 00:18:13.340 --> 00:18:14.700 if my circumstances 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:17.519 don't get better? 00:18:18.360 --> 00:18:21.240 How can God be good? 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:26.600 Friends, that's a huge question. 00:18:26.920 --> 00:18:29.060 I can't give you the full-blown answer. 00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:30.940 But what I want you to see 00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:32.359 is that David's confidence 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:34.339 and our confidence, 00:18:35.639 --> 00:18:39.079 while it may not be watertight, 00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:41.079 it is reasonable. 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:43.980 Because we too can look back 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:46.159 and see God's faithfulness. 00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:47.480 For many of you, 00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:49.079 you can think of instances 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:49.940 in your life 00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:51.919 when God has provided for you, 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.559 when God has protected you, 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:55.500 when God has taken care of you 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.899 in particular ways. 00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:59.420 And God wants you to remember 00:18:59.420 --> 00:19:00.420 those times 00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:01.580 and cling to them 00:19:01.580 --> 00:19:02.960 when you don't see Him 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:04.220 doing it right now. 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:06.420 There are promises 00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:07.740 that God has given 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:09.060 to His people. 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:11.100 I will never leave you 00:19:11.100 --> 00:19:12.600 nor forsake you. 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:15.940 Though you die, 00:19:16.120 --> 00:19:17.420 yet you will live 00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:19.320 if you have believed in Me. 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:22.240 There are promises 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:23.660 that God has given. 00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:26.180 He is a heavenly Father 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:27.340 who knows what you need. 00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:29.440 He will not give you stone 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:31.080 when you ask Him for bread. 00:19:33.820 --> 00:19:35.060 And so there's both 00:19:35.060 --> 00:19:36.460 past faithfulness 00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:38.120 and future promises 00:19:38.120 --> 00:19:40.279 that are yours 00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:41.580 as much as they are 00:19:41.580 --> 00:19:42.980 for David. 00:19:44.340 --> 00:19:45.660 And so there is a reasonableness 00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:47.480 to trusting in God 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:49.000 even when right now 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:50.160 you can't see it. 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:52.360 because the glory of God 00:19:52.360 --> 00:19:53.120 has been revealed 00:19:53.120 --> 00:19:54.880 in so many various ways, 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:57.000 in so many rich ways, 00:19:57.620 --> 00:20:00.940 that David's confidence 00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:02.279 is reasonable. 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.680 And I say to you, 00:20:04.800 --> 00:20:06.019 it is reasonable as well 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:06.640 for you 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:07.960 to have confidence 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:09.200 in this, 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:11.060 in this God, 00:20:11.380 --> 00:20:12.160 in this God 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:13.620 who has shown His glory 00:20:13.620 --> 00:20:17.320 in so many ways. 00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:19.759 most of all, 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:20.720 and we'll return 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.519 to this later, 00:20:22.139 --> 00:20:22.799 in the cross 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:23.819 of Jesus Christ, 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:27.339 He who loved us enough 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:28.819 to die in our place 00:20:28.819 --> 00:20:30.480 and to take our sin 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:32.659 and to rise again, 00:20:33.919 --> 00:20:34.980 God would not let 00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.980 His anointed one 00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:36.559 see death, 00:20:36.639 --> 00:20:38.039 but He would let Him live. 00:20:38.419 --> 00:20:39.819 He would raise Him again. 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:44.439 And that is the ground 00:20:44.439 --> 00:20:46.319 of our confidence 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:48.119 because that is the display 00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:49.359 of the glory of God. 00:20:53.639 --> 00:20:55.159 And so for you this morning, 00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:56.379 the question I wanted to ask is, 00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:58.019 do you let your circumstances 00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:59.980 define you? 00:21:00.679 --> 00:21:02.460 Have you allowed your desire 00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:04.379 to fix your circumstances, 00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:05.939 to consume you, 00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:07.500 and to distract you? 00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:08.000 Father, 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:12.599 friends, 00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:13.859 our psalm this morning 00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:15.460 points us to a different way, 00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:18.799 to confess your need for God, 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:23.220 to rehearse His faithfulness 00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:25.460 and His promises to you. 00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:28.519 And it is okay 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:30.220 to cry out for help. 00:21:30.859 --> 00:21:32.220 It is good to say, 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.819 God, will You help me 00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:35.059 in my circumstances? 00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:37.240 Will You heal me? 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.799 Will You reconcile 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:40.180 this situation? 00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:43.180 It is okay to cry out 00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:44.319 for those things 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.380 and to ask God 00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:46.140 to do them. 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.039 But ultimately, 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:50.859 our confidence 00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:52.000 is not in God 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:53.500 doing those things, 00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:54.859 but in the glory 00:21:54.859 --> 00:21:55.960 of God Himself. 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:57.680 That He is a God 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.740 who can save you 00:21:58.740 --> 00:21:59.900 from every circumstance. 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:01.279 And if He can, 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:02.279 if He will, 00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:03.279 He can. 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.279 He can save you 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:05.599 and so we set our heart 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:06.359 and our hope 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:07.480 on Him. 00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:13.399 The second half 00:22:13.399 --> 00:22:14.099 of the psalm 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:15.279 moves beyond 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:16.399 just this statement 00:22:16.399 --> 00:22:17.139 of confidence 00:22:17.139 --> 00:22:17.940 in God 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:19.500 to an even, 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:20.319 perhaps, 00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:21.339 more surprising 00:22:21.339 --> 00:22:22.119 response. 00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:23.559 For we see 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:24.759 David 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:26.000 fixing his eyes 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:26.839 on a God 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:27.859 whose glory 00:22:27.859 --> 00:22:28.660 fills him 00:22:28.660 --> 00:22:29.519 with praise. 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:31.160 in the midst 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:32.200 of his circumstances, 00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:33.180 he is in the back 00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:33.920 of the cave 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:34.900 and likely, 00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:35.779 not only is he 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.259 in the back 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:36.819 of the cave, 00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:37.480 but Saul 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:38.119 and his army 00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:38.740 are camped 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:39.200 in the front 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:39.819 of the cave 00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.859 between him 00:22:40.859 --> 00:22:41.579 and the exit. 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:44.599 David is not 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:46.079 filled with worry 00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:47.299 or fear. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.440 Instead, 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:51.059 he is filled 00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:52.339 with praise. 00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:53.659 Look with me 00:22:53.659 --> 00:22:54.639 again at the psalm 00:22:54.639 --> 00:22:56.379 starting in verse 7. 00:22:58.379 --> 00:22:59.759 My heart is steadfast, 00:22:59.879 --> 00:23:00.179 O God. 00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:01.559 My heart is steadfast. 00:23:03.959 --> 00:23:05.339 I will sing 00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:06.459 and make melody 00:23:06.459 --> 00:23:07.299 to you. 00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:09.699 He calls 00:23:09.699 --> 00:23:10.359 to his heart, 00:23:10.659 --> 00:23:11.119 awake! 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:12.099 He calls 00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:13.079 to the instruments, 00:23:13.399 --> 00:23:13.879 awake! 00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:14.799 He says, 00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:15.679 I will be up 00:23:15.679 --> 00:23:17.079 before the dawn. 00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:18.240 I will awaken 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:18.859 the dawn 00:23:18.859 --> 00:23:20.579 with my praises 00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:22.019 to this God 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.740 in the middle 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.679 of these 00:23:23.679 --> 00:23:25.559 incredibly hard 00:23:25.559 --> 00:23:27.039 circumstances. 00:23:29.419 --> 00:23:30.460 He would be 00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:31.500 the one singing, 00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.159 crown him 00:23:32.159 --> 00:23:33.220 with many crowns, 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:33.939 the Lamb upon 00:23:33.939 --> 00:23:34.599 the throne. 00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:35.899 Awake, 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:36.559 my soul, 00:23:36.639 --> 00:23:37.159 and sing 00:23:37.159 --> 00:23:37.619 of him 00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:38.179 who died 00:23:38.179 --> 00:23:38.779 for me. 00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:41.699 This is what's 00:23:41.699 --> 00:23:42.079 happening 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:43.179 in David's heart. 00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:44.579 He's not looking 00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:45.579 at his circumstances. 00:23:46.159 --> 00:23:47.000 He's looking 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:48.619 up at the glory 00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:49.419 of God 00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:51.000 and his heart 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.900 is filled 00:23:51.900 --> 00:23:53.200 with praise. 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:55.080 And we see 00:23:55.080 --> 00:23:56.140 again in verses 00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:58.019 9 and 10, 00:23:58.820 --> 00:23:59.580 thanksgiving. 00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:00.640 I will give 00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:01.759 thanks to you 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:03.360 among the peoples. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.279 I will sing 00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:05.279 praises to you 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.360 among the nations. 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.019 Why? 00:24:08.340 --> 00:24:09.080 And I don't have 00:24:09.080 --> 00:24:09.720 to explain this 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.200 to you, right? 00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:11.000 I just did it. 00:24:11.320 --> 00:24:12.620 For your steadfast 00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:14.279 love is great 00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:16.640 to the heavens 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:18.080 and your faithfulness 00:24:18.080 --> 00:24:19.520 to the clouds 00:24:19.520 --> 00:24:20.759 because you 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:22.020 are a God 00:24:22.020 --> 00:24:23.120 who has made 00:24:23.120 --> 00:24:23.940 a covenant 00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:25.000 with his people 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:26.160 and you 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:27.520 in your glory 00:24:27.520 --> 00:24:29.500 will not forsake me. 00:24:30.300 --> 00:24:30.660 And so, 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.780 instead of seeing 00:24:31.780 --> 00:24:32.840 my circumstances 00:24:32.840 --> 00:24:33.960 and being consumed 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:35.280 with worry, 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:38.020 being consumed 00:24:38.020 --> 00:24:39.060 with fear, 00:24:40.120 --> 00:24:41.080 trying desperately 00:24:41.080 --> 00:24:42.280 to fix it, 00:24:43.120 --> 00:24:43.660 in fact, 00:24:43.800 --> 00:24:44.240 interestingly, 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:45.140 in this account, 00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:46.060 if we place it 00:24:46.060 --> 00:24:47.080 right in the story, 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.300 David had a chance 00:24:49.300 --> 00:24:50.140 to kill Saul 00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:51.040 and to fix 00:24:51.040 --> 00:24:52.380 the situation himself 00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:53.700 and he didn't 00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:55.560 because Saul 00:24:55.560 --> 00:24:56.420 was God's 00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:57.180 anointed one 00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:58.020 and David 00:24:58.020 --> 00:24:59.620 chose to honor God 00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:00.860 and to honor Saul 00:25:00.860 --> 00:25:01.940 because of what 00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:02.660 God had done 00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:03.180 for him. 00:25:03.620 --> 00:25:04.280 And he chose 00:25:04.280 --> 00:25:05.280 not to fix 00:25:05.280 --> 00:25:06.060 his circumstances 00:25:06.060 --> 00:25:07.100 when he could 00:25:07.100 --> 00:25:09.420 because of his 00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:09.940 commitment 00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:11.380 to God 00:25:11.380 --> 00:25:12.560 and God's glory 00:25:12.560 --> 00:25:13.759 in all that he did. 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:16.559 and so he did not 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.379 try to fix 00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:17.759 his circumstances 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.779 but he fixed 00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:19.279 his heart 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:19.940 on the glory 00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:20.500 of God 00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:21.680 and up from 00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:22.160 his heart 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:23.000 welled 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:25.140 steadfastness, 00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:27.259 joy, 00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:29.039 praise, 00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:30.359 thanksgiving. 00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:32.500 And again, 00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:33.379 our refrain, 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:35.019 be exalted, 00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:35.680 O God, 00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.839 above the heavens. 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.759 Let your glory 00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:39.720 be over 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:41.839 all of the earth. 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:43.659 God, 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.939 may the world 00:25:44.939 --> 00:25:45.480 see 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:46.899 your grace 00:25:46.899 --> 00:25:47.519 and mercy, 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.859 your power 00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:49.779 and strength, 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:52.359 your steadfastness 00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:53.439 and faithfulness, 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.740 your righteousness 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:56.019 and justice, 00:25:56.939 --> 00:25:58.059 your right 00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:59.559 to be honored 00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:00.619 and worshipped 00:26:00.619 --> 00:26:01.839 and served. 00:26:03.199 --> 00:26:05.119 May all the world 00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:05.759 see it. 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:07.699 That is my heart's cry. 00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:08.939 That is my greatest 00:26:08.939 --> 00:26:09.639 desire. 00:26:09.640 --> 00:26:09.759 God's cry. 00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:16.080 So again, 00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:16.560 friends, 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.759 maybe some of you 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.360 are thinking, 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:20.160 well this sounds like 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:21.759 a whole lot of 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:23.400 really religious 00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:25.780 self-talk. 00:26:26.280 --> 00:26:27.360 Isn't this just 00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:28.820 the power of positive thinking? 00:26:29.040 --> 00:26:30.000 I think things 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:30.840 are going to get better 00:26:30.840 --> 00:26:32.280 and I believe in God 00:26:32.280 --> 00:26:33.020 so I'll sort of 00:26:33.020 --> 00:26:34.040 pin it on Him. 00:26:34.320 --> 00:26:35.500 But isn't this just 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.700 trying to hope 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.680 that things are better? 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:38.560 I don't know 00:26:38.560 --> 00:26:39.539 if you've ever read 00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:41.120 Voltaire's Candide. 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:41.799 There's a character 00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:42.940 in it named Pangloss 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:44.060 who walks around 00:26:44.060 --> 00:26:44.799 the world saying, 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:45.779 this is the best 00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:47.060 of all possible worlds 00:26:47.060 --> 00:26:47.900 in the face of 00:26:47.900 --> 00:26:49.480 dire circumstances 00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:50.880 and terrible suffering. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.920 And do you know what? 00:26:53.080 --> 00:26:53.960 Voltaire was making 00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:55.000 fun of the church 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:57.620 and the church's hope 00:26:57.620 --> 00:26:59.539 in God 00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:00.740 as he wrote that. 00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:03.140 And maybe you think 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:03.779 that too. 00:27:04.320 --> 00:27:05.060 Maybe you're sitting 00:27:05.060 --> 00:27:05.779 there going, 00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:08.039 this is just 00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:08.720 a bunch of 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:10.359 hopeful, 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:13.480 unbelievable, 00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:15.139 like mysticism. 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:15.960 You think that 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:17.139 the world is going 00:27:17.139 --> 00:27:17.660 to be better 00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.279 just because you 00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:19.240 hope it will be? 00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.799 And you pin it 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.359 on God? 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.279 No, 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:24.119 I don't think 00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:24.599 it's that. 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:26.980 That's a straw man. 00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:28.960 That's an empty picture. 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:30.559 Because the amazing 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:31.680 thing is that David, 00:27:31.899 --> 00:27:32.619 and note this, 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:34.039 David did not say, 00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:34.940 my circumstances 00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:35.620 are fine. 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:36.680 I'm great. 00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:38.180 This is not hard. 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:39.160 This is easy. 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:42.220 We rehearsed it earlier. 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.500 David walked through 00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:44.440 how dire his 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:45.600 circumstances were. 00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:46.500 He said, 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:48.140 the storms of destruction 00:27:48.140 --> 00:27:51.059 ride over me 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:51.940 again and again 00:27:51.940 --> 00:27:52.460 and again. 00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:54.620 The men who seek me 00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:56.120 have these sharp teeth. 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:56.660 They're seeking 00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:57.740 to devour me 00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.680 and trample me. 00:27:58.680 --> 00:28:04.100 David is not saying 00:28:04.100 --> 00:28:05.420 the world is not hard. 00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:06.799 He is not saying 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:07.920 that your circumstances 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:09.259 are not dire. 00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.900 He is not saying 00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:12.340 that the world 00:28:12.340 --> 00:28:13.360 is going all 00:28:13.360 --> 00:28:14.539 as it ought to be 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:16.860 in ease 00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.660 and comfort. 00:28:19.120 --> 00:28:20.519 What David is saying 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.660 is in the midst 00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:23.539 of the very hard things, 00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.519 in the midst 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.740 of the most dire 00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:26.580 circumstances, 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.919 as well as the most 00:28:27.919 --> 00:28:29.779 trivial inconveniences, 00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:32.039 there is something 00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:32.699 greater 00:28:32.699 --> 00:28:33.720 that we 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:34.779 were made for. 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.599 There is a deeper 00:28:36.599 --> 00:28:38.199 reality of God 00:28:38.199 --> 00:28:39.299 and His glory 00:28:39.299 --> 00:28:40.559 and His kingdom 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:41.819 and His purposes 00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.679 in the world. 00:28:42.919 --> 00:28:43.679 And this 00:28:43.679 --> 00:28:45.099 is the foundation 00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:46.819 upon which 00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:48.179 then we experience 00:28:48.179 --> 00:28:49.299 our circumstances. 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.799 And when we see 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:51.699 that foundation, 00:28:51.859 --> 00:28:52.919 it undergirds 00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:53.740 and shapes 00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:54.840 not only 00:28:54.840 --> 00:28:56.539 what these circumstances 00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.700 truly are, 00:28:57.840 --> 00:28:58.980 but also how we 00:28:58.980 --> 00:29:00.600 can respond to them. 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.519 David says 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.340 we can look 00:29:04.340 --> 00:29:06.140 beyond the circumstances 00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:08.259 to the eternal 00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:09.580 weight of glory 00:29:09.580 --> 00:29:11.779 of a God 00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:13.940 who is faithful, 00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.320 of a God 00:29:15.320 --> 00:29:16.180 who is love, 00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:17.640 of a God 00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:18.720 who sets 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:20.120 His strength 00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:21.099 and His power 00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:22.339 to do right 00:29:22.339 --> 00:29:23.439 and to do good 00:29:23.439 --> 00:29:24.639 in the world. 00:29:27.679 --> 00:29:29.039 Not to fix it, 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:32.159 but to bring glory 00:29:32.159 --> 00:29:33.419 to Himself. 00:29:36.859 --> 00:29:37.679 Do you remember 00:29:37.679 --> 00:29:38.279 the story? 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.719 Tragedy happens 00:29:39.719 --> 00:29:40.659 and they ask Jesus, 00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:41.539 Jesus, 00:29:41.659 --> 00:29:42.519 why did this happen? 00:29:42.899 --> 00:29:43.759 Who sinned? 00:29:44.139 --> 00:29:45.039 Who is to blame 00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:45.579 that this was 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.319 God's judgment? 00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.139 Jesus said, 00:29:48.140 --> 00:29:48.520 no, 00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:49.320 no, 00:29:49.380 --> 00:29:49.860 you're thinking 00:29:49.860 --> 00:29:50.880 about this wrong. 00:29:52.600 --> 00:29:53.500 This happens 00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.160 so that you might 00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:55.520 see the glory of God. 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:57.080 So you might see 00:29:57.080 --> 00:29:57.520 a God 00:29:57.520 --> 00:29:58.060 who is able 00:29:58.060 --> 00:29:58.740 to save. 00:29:59.080 --> 00:29:59.640 So you might 00:29:59.640 --> 00:30:00.960 see a God 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:01.580 who is able 00:30:01.580 --> 00:30:02.320 to redeem 00:30:02.320 --> 00:30:03.920 out of the pit, 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.020 out of the most 00:30:05.020 --> 00:30:06.400 difficult circumstances. 00:30:12.360 --> 00:30:12.840 Friends, 00:30:12.920 --> 00:30:13.580 when we see 00:30:13.580 --> 00:30:14.180 this kind 00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:14.780 of a God, 00:30:15.900 --> 00:30:17.220 we are able, 00:30:17.400 --> 00:30:18.000 like David, 00:30:18.140 --> 00:30:20.120 to be steadfast, 00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:21.500 not consumed 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.180 with worry 00:30:22.180 --> 00:30:22.920 or anxiety, 00:30:23.360 --> 00:30:24.160 not pursuing 00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:25.080 our strategies 00:30:25.080 --> 00:30:26.340 of escaping 00:30:26.340 --> 00:30:27.180 or correcting, 00:30:28.340 --> 00:30:29.640 not fixing them, 00:30:30.860 --> 00:30:31.860 but in the midst 00:30:31.860 --> 00:30:32.180 of them, 00:30:32.340 --> 00:30:33.400 fixing our eyes, 00:30:34.660 --> 00:30:35.720 fixing our eyes 00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:36.600 on God 00:30:36.600 --> 00:30:37.640 whom we were 00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:38.780 made for. 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:40.259 The Westminster 00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:41.500 Catechism tells us 00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:42.160 that the chief 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:43.420 end of man, 00:30:43.520 --> 00:30:43.880 that is, 00:30:44.020 --> 00:30:44.620 the reason 00:30:44.620 --> 00:30:45.080 for which 00:30:45.080 --> 00:30:45.980 we were created, 00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:48.039 is to glorify 00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:48.720 God 00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:50.319 and to enjoy 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:51.079 Him forever. 00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:51.819 That is, 00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:52.720 to see Him 00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:53.539 in all of His 00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:54.779 manifest glory 00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:56.140 and to reflect 00:30:56.140 --> 00:30:57.000 back to Him 00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:57.980 the praise 00:30:57.980 --> 00:30:58.640 and the honor 00:30:58.640 --> 00:30:59.339 and the worship 00:30:59.339 --> 00:31:00.360 and the service 00:31:00.360 --> 00:31:01.579 that is due. 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.860 And in doing that, 00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:05.839 we enjoy Him 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:07.339 and we are satisfied 00:31:07.339 --> 00:31:08.339 at the very 00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:09.920 core of our soul. 00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:11.140 And we no longer 00:31:11.140 --> 00:31:12.420 seek the satisfaction 00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:14.140 of a comfortable life, 00:31:14.140 --> 00:31:15.280 of an easy life, 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:16.080 of a life 00:31:16.080 --> 00:31:17.120 where our circumstances 00:31:17.120 --> 00:31:18.180 are not hard. 00:31:20.300 --> 00:31:21.140 But instead, 00:31:21.280 --> 00:31:22.600 we seek this God 00:31:22.600 --> 00:31:23.880 and with Paul 00:31:23.880 --> 00:31:24.620 we can say, 00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:25.800 whether we live 00:31:25.800 --> 00:31:26.480 or we die, 00:31:26.580 --> 00:31:27.680 our greatest desire 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:28.420 is that God 00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:29.540 would be glorified 00:31:29.540 --> 00:31:30.620 in us. 00:31:30.620 --> 00:31:30.680 In us. 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:39.259 this is my greatest hope 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:39.940 for us 00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:41.740 as a church 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:43.019 as well as for each 00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:44.400 of us individually. 00:31:45.560 --> 00:31:46.700 My hope is that 00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.860 in our circumstances, 00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:49.259 when they are hard, 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:50.480 we do not 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.720 become 00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.519 distracted 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:53.720 and consumed 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:54.600 with fixing 00:31:54.600 --> 00:31:56.519 all the little things 00:31:56.519 --> 00:31:57.660 that don't go 00:31:57.660 --> 00:31:58.920 just as we planned. 00:31:58.920 --> 00:32:00.320 Oh, we want 00:32:00.320 --> 00:32:01.300 to pursue excellence. 00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:01.960 Oh, we want 00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:03.259 to pursue goodness. 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:04.180 We want to pursue 00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:04.940 good things 00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:05.640 in our midst. 00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.440 But friends, 00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:08.900 if we are a church 00:32:08.900 --> 00:32:09.920 that is consumed 00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:11.259 with the glory of God, 00:32:11.400 --> 00:32:12.840 if we lift our eyes 00:32:12.840 --> 00:32:14.320 out of our circumstances, 00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:19.220 what God will do 00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:21.039 in us 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:21.920 and through us, 00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:24.080 how God will make 00:32:24.080 --> 00:32:25.519 the glory of the gospel 00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:27.500 shine in us, 00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:29.019 resound 00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:29.900 in us. 00:32:33.180 --> 00:32:34.119 And friends, 00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:34.920 of course, 00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:37.140 we, 00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:38.660 even more than David, 00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:39.140 have 00:32:39.140 --> 00:32:41.160 a greater reason 00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:42.279 to fix our eyes 00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:43.440 on the glory of God 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:45.519 because we have seen Him. 00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:47.559 We have seen Him come. 00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:49.299 John 1.14, 00:32:49.559 --> 00:32:51.019 the Word became flesh 00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:52.319 and dwelt among us 00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:53.440 and we have seen 00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.519 His glory, 00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:56.099 the glory of the 00:32:56.099 --> 00:32:57.519 only begotten One, 00:32:57.619 --> 00:32:59.119 the One who has come 00:32:59.119 --> 00:32:59.960 from the Father. 00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:01.960 We have seen His glory. 00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:03.160 And the passage, 00:33:03.299 --> 00:33:04.440 it was read earlier 00:33:04.440 --> 00:33:06.000 from John 12. 00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:09.180 If you ever want 00:33:09.180 --> 00:33:10.139 to read the book of John, 00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:10.839 watch this. 00:33:10.980 --> 00:33:11.599 Jesus says, 00:33:11.720 --> 00:33:12.799 my hour has not yet come, 00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:13.940 my hour has not yet come, 00:33:13.980 --> 00:33:15.000 my hour has not yet come, 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:16.240 my hour has not yet come. 00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:17.799 And then in chapter 12, 00:33:17.900 --> 00:33:18.440 He says, 00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:20.380 now has the hour 00:33:20.380 --> 00:33:21.299 have come 00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:22.880 for the Son of Man 00:33:22.880 --> 00:33:24.660 to be glorified. 00:33:26.839 --> 00:33:27.640 He says, 00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:29.160 unless a wheat of grain 00:33:29.160 --> 00:33:30.299 falls to the ground 00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:31.039 and dies, 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:33.599 it cannot produce fruit. 00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:36.140 Where is the greatest glory 00:33:36.140 --> 00:33:36.700 of God? 00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:38.019 Where have we seen 00:33:38.019 --> 00:33:39.000 God show 00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:40.559 His past faithfulness 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:41.720 and His future promises 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:43.460 and His covenant love 00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:45.400 most clearly? 00:33:47.259 --> 00:33:48.319 You know the answer 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:49.200 to this already. 00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:51.100 It is at the cross 00:33:51.100 --> 00:33:52.100 of Jesus Christ 00:33:52.100 --> 00:33:53.240 and in His resurrection 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:54.660 where He did not 00:33:54.660 --> 00:33:55.960 forsake His justice, 00:33:56.519 --> 00:33:58.160 but also committed 00:33:58.160 --> 00:33:59.460 to showing grace 00:33:59.460 --> 00:34:00.039 and mercy 00:34:00.039 --> 00:34:00.680 to sinners 00:34:00.680 --> 00:34:01.920 like you and me. 00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:04.100 He sent His own Son. 00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:06.980 Jesus displays 00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:08.139 this glory 00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:10.179 by taking the punishment 00:34:10.179 --> 00:34:11.539 for our wrath, 00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:14.079 by taking the alienation, 00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:15.839 He who was separated 00:34:15.839 --> 00:34:16.759 from God 00:34:16.759 --> 00:34:18.559 so that we might be 00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:20.079 brought back to God. 00:34:21.279 --> 00:34:22.739 He who faced 00:34:22.739 --> 00:34:24.500 the worst circumstances 00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:26.879 ever on this earth 00:34:26.879 --> 00:34:29.159 as God poured out on Him 00:34:29.159 --> 00:34:30.599 the wrath against 00:34:30.599 --> 00:34:31.839 the sin of the world 00:34:31.839 --> 00:34:37.159 so that we might not, 00:34:37.159 --> 00:34:40.619 so that we might be saved. 00:34:41.879 --> 00:34:43.779 This is where we see it. 00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:46.000 And you know what? 00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:48.279 This glorious Christ 00:34:48.279 --> 00:34:49.099 who has died 00:34:49.099 --> 00:34:50.319 and risen for us, 00:34:51.279 --> 00:34:52.839 He does not promise 00:34:52.839 --> 00:34:54.500 to fix our circumstances 00:34:54.500 --> 00:34:55.539 in this life. 00:34:56.059 --> 00:34:57.399 In fact, He says, 00:34:57.639 --> 00:34:59.519 if I suffered, 00:34:59.839 --> 00:35:00.920 you will suffer too. 00:35:01.659 --> 00:35:03.199 If they persecuted me, 00:35:03.279 --> 00:35:05.539 they will persecute you too. 00:35:05.539 --> 00:35:07.920 The message of the gospel 00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:08.840 is not that it will 00:35:08.840 --> 00:35:09.980 make your life easier. 00:35:10.119 --> 00:35:10.579 In fact, 00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:11.500 it often means 00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:12.659 your life will be harder 00:35:12.659 --> 00:35:14.800 and your circumstances 00:35:14.800 --> 00:35:16.519 will be filled 00:35:16.519 --> 00:35:18.320 with greater opposition 00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:19.420 and difficulty. 00:35:22.920 --> 00:35:23.960 And yet, 00:35:25.279 --> 00:35:27.440 in that, 00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:29.639 as Paul says 00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:30.960 in Corinthians 4, 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:31.880 we carry around 00:35:31.880 --> 00:35:33.380 the death of Christ in us 00:35:33.380 --> 00:35:35.320 so that the very life 00:35:35.320 --> 00:35:35.840 of Christ 00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:37.880 may also be manifested 00:35:37.880 --> 00:35:39.800 in our mortal bodies. 00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:42.820 The glory of Christ 00:35:42.820 --> 00:35:43.380 is that 00:35:43.380 --> 00:35:45.119 the worst circumstances 00:35:45.119 --> 00:35:46.220 here on earth 00:35:46.220 --> 00:35:48.640 cannot shake the glory 00:35:48.640 --> 00:35:49.780 that God has set 00:35:49.780 --> 00:35:51.119 on us 00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:53.619 and that we have Christ in us, 00:35:53.680 --> 00:35:54.820 the hope of glory, 00:35:55.180 --> 00:35:56.840 and we know that one day 00:35:56.840 --> 00:35:59.079 Christ will return 00:35:59.079 --> 00:36:00.440 and He will make 00:36:00.440 --> 00:36:01.220 all things right 00:36:01.219 --> 00:36:02.819 and we will be raised 00:36:02.819 --> 00:36:03.500 with Him. 00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:05.799 And finally, 00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:07.959 God will fix 00:36:07.959 --> 00:36:08.899 the circumstances 00:36:08.899 --> 00:36:09.719 of the world 00:36:09.719 --> 00:36:10.919 in His judgment 00:36:10.919 --> 00:36:12.079 on evil and sin, 00:36:12.439 --> 00:36:14.039 in His exalting 00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:15.639 of those 00:36:15.639 --> 00:36:16.699 who have put their faith 00:36:16.699 --> 00:36:17.639 and trust 00:36:17.639 --> 00:36:18.759 and confidence 00:36:18.759 --> 00:36:19.839 in Christ. 00:36:22.679 --> 00:36:23.919 So, friends, 00:36:24.219 --> 00:36:25.559 this morning, 00:36:25.559 --> 00:36:28.019 if you are here 00:36:28.019 --> 00:36:30.920 and your circumstances 00:36:30.920 --> 00:36:31.739 are hard, 00:36:34.219 --> 00:36:36.179 I appeal to you. 00:36:36.659 --> 00:36:37.539 This psalm 00:36:37.539 --> 00:36:38.799 gives you language. 00:36:39.500 --> 00:36:41.019 It gives you words 00:36:41.019 --> 00:36:43.199 to cry out to God 00:36:43.199 --> 00:36:44.360 with. 00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:46.639 And it may be 00:36:46.639 --> 00:36:47.400 a cry 00:36:47.400 --> 00:36:50.259 that has no heart 00:36:50.259 --> 00:36:50.820 behind it 00:36:50.820 --> 00:36:52.000 when you first say it 00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:54.119 because you're so overwhelmed 00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:55.359 and so filled. 00:36:58.139 --> 00:36:59.279 But I pray 00:36:59.279 --> 00:36:59.880 that you would 00:36:59.880 --> 00:37:00.759 take this psalm 00:37:00.759 --> 00:37:01.759 and put it on your lips 00:37:01.759 --> 00:37:02.460 this week. 00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:03.699 Be exalted, 00:37:03.880 --> 00:37:04.400 O God. 00:37:05.139 --> 00:37:05.920 Be exalted 00:37:05.920 --> 00:37:06.900 in my life. 00:37:07.400 --> 00:37:08.039 Be exalted 00:37:08.039 --> 00:37:09.059 in our church. 00:37:09.199 --> 00:37:09.839 Be exalted 00:37:09.839 --> 00:37:10.719 in our city. 00:37:11.639 --> 00:37:12.699 Let your glory 00:37:12.699 --> 00:37:13.519 be seen. 00:37:17.000 --> 00:37:17.519 Awake, 00:37:17.639 --> 00:37:18.259 my soul, 00:37:18.380 --> 00:37:18.980 and sing. 00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:21.299 I will give thanks 00:37:21.299 --> 00:37:22.799 and sing praises 00:37:22.799 --> 00:37:23.460 to you. 00:37:24.119 --> 00:37:24.880 This psalm 00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:25.779 gives you language 00:37:25.779 --> 00:37:26.779 in the worst 00:37:26.779 --> 00:37:28.019 circumstances. 00:37:29.039 --> 00:37:29.480 And friends, 00:37:29.539 --> 00:37:30.000 if you're here 00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:30.539 this morning 00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:31.400 and you've never 00:37:31.400 --> 00:37:32.699 trusted in Christ, 00:37:33.059 --> 00:37:33.699 I hope that you 00:37:33.699 --> 00:37:34.819 will look at His glory 00:37:34.819 --> 00:37:35.619 at the cross 00:37:35.619 --> 00:37:36.579 and you will think 00:37:36.579 --> 00:37:37.619 this is what you 00:37:37.619 --> 00:37:38.239 were made for 00:37:38.239 --> 00:37:39.199 and this is the only 00:37:39.199 --> 00:37:40.559 place where your 00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:41.239 circumstances 00:37:41.239 --> 00:37:42.019 ultimately 00:37:42.019 --> 00:37:44.420 can be made sense of 00:37:44.420 --> 00:37:45.500 and can find 00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:46.900 ultimate hope 00:37:46.900 --> 00:37:48.859 and resolution in. 00:37:48.859 --> 00:37:48.920 Amen. 00:37:48.920 --> 00:37:48.980 Amen. 00:37:48.980 --> 00:37:49.059 Amen. 00:37:49.059 --> 00:37:49.079 Amen. 00:37:49.079 --> 00:37:49.119 Amen. 00:37:49.119 --> 00:37:49.139 Amen. 00:37:54.119 --> 00:37:55.139 I want to end 00:37:55.139 --> 00:37:55.880 with a quote. 00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:58.000 It's from a 00:37:58.000 --> 00:38:00.039 book called 00:38:00.039 --> 00:38:01.179 Shattered Dreams 00:38:01.179 --> 00:38:02.759 written by Larry Crabb. 00:38:02.940 --> 00:38:03.880 This is a testimony 00:38:03.880 --> 00:38:04.579 of a man 00:38:04.579 --> 00:38:05.139 who he had 00:38:05.139 --> 00:38:07.059 been counseling 00:38:07.059 --> 00:38:08.440 as he worked 00:38:08.440 --> 00:38:09.000 through it 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:09.940 and I want to leave 00:38:09.940 --> 00:38:10.859 these words with you. 00:38:11.319 --> 00:38:11.719 Faith, 00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:12.859 as I'm growing 00:38:12.859 --> 00:38:13.900 to understand it 00:38:13.900 --> 00:38:14.380 more, 00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:15.940 is about looking 00:38:15.940 --> 00:38:17.279 beyond my circumstances 00:38:17.279 --> 00:38:18.239 to a person. 00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:19.859 To have faith 00:38:19.859 --> 00:38:21.039 in better circumstances, 00:38:21.039 --> 00:38:22.079 even in God 00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:23.739 creating better circumstances 00:38:23.739 --> 00:38:25.840 is not true faith. 00:38:26.880 --> 00:38:27.460 I want to be 00:38:27.460 --> 00:38:28.219 the kind of man 00:38:28.219 --> 00:38:28.880 who can watch 00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:29.619 every dream 00:38:29.619 --> 00:38:30.699 go down in flames 00:38:30.699 --> 00:38:32.440 and still yearn 00:38:32.440 --> 00:38:33.980 to be intimately involved 00:38:33.980 --> 00:38:35.199 in kingdom living, 00:38:36.219 --> 00:38:37.239 intimately involved 00:38:37.239 --> 00:38:38.619 with my friend, 00:38:38.779 --> 00:38:39.340 the King, 00:38:39.739 --> 00:38:40.820 and still be willing 00:38:40.820 --> 00:38:42.300 to take another risk 00:38:42.300 --> 00:38:44.259 just because 00:38:44.259 --> 00:38:45.300 it delights him. 00:38:46.440 --> 00:38:47.719 And my flesh shivers 00:38:47.719 --> 00:38:49.320 to think about that. 00:38:49.320 --> 00:38:51.100 Friends, 00:38:51.180 --> 00:38:53.000 if all of your dreams 00:38:53.000 --> 00:38:54.220 go down in flame, 00:38:55.220 --> 00:38:56.580 will you fix your heart 00:38:56.580 --> 00:38:58.260 on the glory of God? 00:38:58.640 --> 00:38:59.920 Will you continue 00:38:59.920 --> 00:39:01.580 to trust in Him 00:39:01.580 --> 00:39:04.039 and have confidence in Him? 00:39:04.620 --> 00:39:06.059 Sing praises to Him 00:39:06.059 --> 00:39:08.980 because He's loved you 00:39:08.980 --> 00:39:10.100 so well. 00:39:10.860 --> 00:39:11.760 Let's pray. 00:39:11.760 --> 00:39:11.860 Amen. 00:39:11.860 --> 00:39:11.880 Amen. 00:39:19.320 --> 00:39:24.380 Spirit, we ask 00:39:24.380 --> 00:39:25.519 that you would show us 00:39:25.519 --> 00:39:27.400 where we have been 00:39:27.400 --> 00:39:28.539 committed to fixing, 00:39:29.900 --> 00:39:30.960 committed to trying 00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:31.740 to correct 00:39:31.740 --> 00:39:32.780 or to escape 00:39:32.780 --> 00:39:33.840 our circumstances 00:39:33.840 --> 00:39:35.400 in pursuit 00:39:35.400 --> 00:39:36.220 of an easier 00:39:36.220 --> 00:39:37.860 or a more comfortable life. 00:39:39.180 --> 00:39:40.440 God, we pray 00:39:40.440 --> 00:39:42.360 that as you show us this, 00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:43.059 that you would, 00:39:43.700 --> 00:39:44.960 Lord, remind us 00:39:44.960 --> 00:39:46.320 and show us 00:39:46.320 --> 00:39:47.019 your glory. 00:39:47.019 --> 00:39:49.739 Lord, capture our hearts. 00:39:50.880 --> 00:39:52.039 Lord, for we can't 00:39:52.039 --> 00:39:53.199 simply will 00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:54.559 ourselves to do this, 00:39:54.780 --> 00:39:56.659 but we plead for you. 00:39:57.219 --> 00:39:58.460 Capture our hearts 00:39:58.460 --> 00:39:59.400 with your glory, 00:39:59.519 --> 00:40:00.980 with your steadfast love, 00:40:01.559 --> 00:40:03.559 with your faithfulness, 00:40:04.159 --> 00:40:07.639 so that we might be filled 00:40:07.639 --> 00:40:08.619 with confidence 00:40:08.619 --> 00:40:10.480 and songs of praise. 00:40:11.519 --> 00:40:12.840 We pray these things 00:40:12.840 --> 00:40:13.659 in Jesus' name. 00:40:14.259 --> 00:40:14.539 Amen. 00:40:14.539 --> 00:40:14.639 Amen.