WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.160 The reading is from Psalm 147. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.840 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving. 00:00:34.179 --> 00:00:36.219 Make melody to our God on the lyre. 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:38.539 He covers the heavens with clouds. 00:00:38.859 --> 00:00:40.399 He prepares rain for the earth. 00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:42.560 He makes grass grow on the hills. 00:00:43.219 --> 00:00:44.880 He gives to the beasts their food 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:46.560 and to the young ravens that cry. 00:00:47.379 --> 00:00:49.700 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, 00:00:49.859 --> 00:00:51.900 nor his pleasure in the legs of man. 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:55.100 But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, 00:00:55.100 --> 00:00:58.420 in those who hope, in his steadfast love. 00:00:58.420 --> 00:01:01.020 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem. 00:01:01.460 --> 00:01:02.700 Praise your God, O Zion. 00:01:03.060 --> 00:01:05.180 For he strengthens the bars of your gates. 00:01:05.540 --> 00:01:07.519 He blesses your children within you. 00:01:07.900 --> 00:01:09.299 He makes peace in your borders. 00:01:09.960 --> 00:01:12.159 He fills you with the finest of the wheat. 00:01:12.599 --> 00:01:14.840 He sends out his command to the earth. 00:01:15.079 --> 00:01:16.200 His words run swiftly. 00:01:17.079 --> 00:01:18.460 He gives snow like wool. 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:20.320 He scatters frost like ashes. 00:01:20.980 --> 00:01:23.439 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs. 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:25.540 Who can stand before his cold? 00:01:26.460 --> 00:01:28.240 He sends out his word and melts them. 00:01:28.420 --> 00:01:30.799 He makes his wind blow and the waters flow. 00:01:31.379 --> 00:01:33.079 He declares his word to Jacob, 00:01:33.500 --> 00:01:35.180 his statutes and rules to Israel. 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:38.159 He has not dealt thus with any other nation. 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:39.740 They do not know his rules. 00:01:40.120 --> 00:01:40.740 Praise the Lord. 00:01:40.739 --> 00:01:46.199 So as I mentioned, Psalm 147 is a hymn of praise. 00:01:46.939 --> 00:01:53.259 And on first glance, it's not so dissimilar to the hymns we looked at last week and the week before. 00:01:53.419 --> 00:01:56.379 So the Psalter is coming to its end. 00:01:57.079 --> 00:01:59.719 Psalm 145 to the end, 150. 00:02:00.219 --> 00:02:03.560 They're all hymns of praise, psalms of praise. 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:07.820 And there's a lot of similarities between the various psalms. 00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:14.240 But underlying this psalm lies a very difficult reality that could have easily sunk God's people. 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:18.000 This is a post-exilic psalm. 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:20.379 Now, what do I mean by post-exilic? 00:02:20.580 --> 00:02:25.460 The history of Israel, the people of God, were... 00:02:25.460 --> 00:02:27.939 I mean, you could go back to creation, but say we'll start at Abraham. 00:02:28.199 --> 00:02:30.500 God makes a promise to Abraham as descendants. 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:32.159 Fast forward. 00:02:32.300 --> 00:02:34.860 They find themselves in Egypt to escape a famine. 00:02:34.860 --> 00:02:36.220 They prosper. 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:37.560 They grow in Egypt. 00:02:37.900 --> 00:02:41.560 Only to find themselves in slavery for centuries. 00:02:42.300 --> 00:02:44.620 Now, eventually, God takes them out of slavery. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:46.660 Gives them the promised land. 00:02:46.900 --> 00:02:48.340 There's a conquering of the land. 00:02:48.460 --> 00:02:49.800 There's a lot of idolatry. 00:02:49.940 --> 00:02:50.960 There's a lot of... 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:52.100 We're for God. 00:02:52.160 --> 00:02:53.080 We're against God. 00:02:54.780 --> 00:02:56.000 Our enemies are coming. 00:02:56.080 --> 00:02:56.640 God, help us. 00:02:56.700 --> 00:02:57.420 We're for God. 00:02:57.560 --> 00:02:58.180 We're against God. 00:02:58.300 --> 00:02:59.060 Our enemies are coming. 00:02:59.160 --> 00:03:03.420 There's a cycle of apostasy, of disobedience. 00:03:03.419 --> 00:03:07.780 And then, eventually, they are utterly conquered. 00:03:09.819 --> 00:03:15.219 By the time they're conquered, the kingdom, the people of Israel, they're already splintered. 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:17.959 And then, they're taken away to foreign lands. 00:03:18.079 --> 00:03:24.919 And eventually, those foreign powers are conquered by other foreign powers, are conquered by other foreign powers. 00:03:24.919 --> 00:03:30.899 And then, we find ourselves where this psalm takes place. 00:03:31.479 --> 00:03:33.060 About 2,500 years ago. 00:03:34.039 --> 00:03:36.459 We're not exactly sure who wrote it or when it was written. 00:03:36.979 --> 00:03:50.939 But it's called post-exilic because by the time we get to the Persian Empire, the Persian king sponsors the Israelites to go back to their land to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, to rebuild the temple. 00:03:52.119 --> 00:03:54.619 And then, that's why we call it post-exilic. 00:03:54.819 --> 00:03:56.099 After the exile. 00:03:56.099 --> 00:04:00.180 And it seems like it would be actually a cause for great celebration. 00:04:00.419 --> 00:04:02.180 And it is, to an extent. 00:04:02.299 --> 00:04:03.680 But we have to remember one thing. 00:04:05.180 --> 00:04:07.280 The Israelites returned to the promised land. 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:13.680 But their trust and hope in the Lord, it had to be shaken. 00:04:13.740 --> 00:04:16.300 And we see it shaken in a psalm like this. 00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:20.540 Can we believe in the promises of Scripture again? 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:22.960 Is God truly good? 00:04:24.220 --> 00:04:26.540 Will he provide for what we need? 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:29.280 Can we trust him once again? 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:32.819 Can we be optimistic about our future? 00:04:34.739 --> 00:04:39.439 You see, not all of the Israelites went back. 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:46.360 And those that went back were very much products of Persia. 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:56.120 Interestingly, Jewish people that live in Israel or all over the world today that have come from what is modern-day Iran, 00:04:56.620 --> 00:04:59.259 they look like Persians. 00:04:59.459 --> 00:05:01.060 They eat like Persians. 00:05:01.620 --> 00:05:02.860 They speak Farsi. 00:05:02.860 --> 00:05:09.740 In many respects, whatever culture you find yourself in, you can't help but absorb it. 00:05:10.860 --> 00:05:13.860 And a part of that is seeing some of the benefits of that culture. 00:05:14.020 --> 00:05:20.920 So what happens is the Israelites come back, and their confidence isn't necessarily rock solid. 00:05:21.220 --> 00:05:23.740 But it starts to become a bit shaky. 00:05:25.180 --> 00:05:31.560 You know, the circumstances we experience are not similar to a post-exilic Israel. 00:05:32.860 --> 00:05:36.620 We have not been uprooted. 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:40.240 I mean, actually, in Canada, that's the case. 00:05:40.379 --> 00:05:49.540 In other parts of the world, Christians have totally been plucked up from their home and brought to other foreign lands. 00:05:49.879 --> 00:05:52.020 I'm talking specifically in our context. 00:05:52.960 --> 00:06:00.280 But whether you're a Christian or somebody that's on the outside of the faith that might be peering in, 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:11.199 the fear, the doubt, the shaky heart towards the goodness of God is quite real. 00:06:11.399 --> 00:06:13.739 It could be very much a reality that you experience. 00:06:13.740 --> 00:06:18.139 We're in a psalm of praise. 00:06:18.139 --> 00:06:25.959 And Psalm 147 is a psalm, again, with a backdrop of post-exile, 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:32.719 a psalm that helps the people of God deal with their shaky trust in him 00:06:32.719 --> 00:06:39.459 by not shrinking back from God, not taking a break from God, 00:06:39.459 --> 00:06:48.319 not being okay with just going through the motions but not being zealous for God, 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:54.019 but rather the way forward is to lean in to praise. 00:06:54.919 --> 00:06:57.339 You have doubts, they're real. 00:06:57.859 --> 00:06:59.099 Don't shy away from them. 00:07:00.779 --> 00:07:04.719 Embrace them for what they are, but don't take a break from God. 00:07:04.839 --> 00:07:05.740 Lean into him. 00:07:05.740 --> 00:07:08.699 This is what the psalm will teach us this morning. 00:07:10.420 --> 00:07:12.720 So the psalm is divided into three parts. 00:07:13.620 --> 00:07:18.120 Each part, verse 1, verse 7, and I think verse 12, 00:07:18.740 --> 00:07:20.540 will all begin with a call to praise. 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:24.180 Praise the Lord, or some variation of praise the Lord. 00:07:24.819 --> 00:07:30.220 It will then have an affirmation of what God does, 00:07:30.220 --> 00:07:35.080 and then almost like a proof of why he is trustworthy to do it. 00:07:35.500 --> 00:07:40.260 And it will all be around God being a creator and a sustainer of his creation. 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:44.520 So if you have a Bible, please turn with me to Psalm 147. 00:07:44.880 --> 00:07:50.280 If you don't have a Bible and you're prone to distraction on your phone 00:07:50.280 --> 00:07:53.740 and you don't want to open your Bible app, I totally understand. 00:07:53.740 --> 00:07:57.620 There's Bibles at the welcome table just outside, 00:07:57.879 --> 00:07:59.960 and you can grab one of those at any time. 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:03.400 So we'll divide the psalm into three parts, 00:08:03.460 --> 00:08:05.300 or actually the psalm is divided into three parts. 00:08:06.340 --> 00:08:09.780 And the psalm will teach us to praise God first, 00:08:10.500 --> 00:08:12.860 for he gathers the outcast and heals the wounded. 00:08:12.860 --> 00:08:24.240 And finally, the psalm will teach us to praise God, 00:08:24.620 --> 00:08:27.060 for he shows favor and gives grace. 00:08:28.020 --> 00:08:30.680 He gathers the outcast and heals the wounded. 00:08:30.840 --> 00:08:33.620 He provides for those in need and takes pleasure in his people. 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:36.340 And he shows favor and gives peace. 00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:38.159 Let's get right into it, verse 1. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:43.899 Praise the Lord, for it is good to sing praises to our God, 00:08:44.219 --> 00:08:47.679 for it is pleasant, and the song of praise is fitting. 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:51.860 We'll stop there because the psalmist is actually incredibly wise 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:58.779 to open up the psalm, a psalm again to bolster our faith 00:08:58.779 --> 00:09:00.379 in who God is and what he does, 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:05.399 by first saying that it is actually just a really good thing to praise God. 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:05.980 It's fitting. 00:09:06.539 --> 00:09:07.360 It is beautiful. 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:08.120 It is pleasant. 00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:14.019 The language here conveys something like a lovely, pleasurable, 00:09:14.339 --> 00:09:16.179 beautiful, delightful experience. 00:09:17.199 --> 00:09:20.379 Worship is a joy, the psalmist tells us. 00:09:20.959 --> 00:09:23.179 And before we get into what God does, 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:27.379 the psalmist wants us to know that praise is due to the Lord 00:09:27.379 --> 00:09:28.500 because he's the Lord. 00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:33.240 And what's important for us to understand first, 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:35.959 as we come into the psalm, 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:38.920 but also as we come to the Lord in prayer, 00:09:39.379 --> 00:09:45.080 is we need to learn not to bypass giving glory to God for who he is 00:09:45.080 --> 00:09:48.480 and go right to our requests. 00:09:49.060 --> 00:09:49.280 Okay? 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:54.419 But to first learn how to engage in prayer, 00:09:54.419 --> 00:10:01.439 in praise to the one true God who desires and has made a way of relationship between him and his people. 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:05.480 Verse 1 is very much in relational type of language. 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:14.040 It reminds us that praise is first and foremost a relational reality well before it's a transactional one. 00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:15.599 I'll give an example. 00:10:15.599 --> 00:10:22.539 This is Christine's actually teaching the younger ones, 00:10:22.599 --> 00:10:24.959 so I don't mind if this embarrasses her. 00:10:25.059 --> 00:10:25.399 That's fine. 00:10:25.439 --> 00:10:30.079 When we were dating, Christine, we dated for just a few weeks before she went to France. 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:36.139 And it was really, I was working two jobs and I was trying to hammer out student debt 00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:41.580 because I don't have a girl in my life and I want to provide for her and all that stuff. 00:10:41.700 --> 00:10:46.720 And anyways, so we would Skype twice a week. 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:57.259 It was kind of in this interesting between time between buying long distance cards at convenience stores or gas stations 00:10:57.259 --> 00:11:01.200 and then well before WhatsApp video calls. 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:05.040 So I think WhatsApp was a thing at the time, but we'd have to Skype. 00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:06.759 And Skype was a headache. 00:11:07.300 --> 00:11:15.379 And it was even more of a headache because we didn't have internet at our bachelor compound that we lived in. 00:11:15.379 --> 00:11:17.279 So Fridays, it was okay. 00:11:17.899 --> 00:11:19.759 I was at job number two. 00:11:20.340 --> 00:11:22.939 I would do overnights, but I would sleep for a bit of the overnight. 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:30.879 And I'd wake up really early, around 5 o'clock, use the internet, log on to Skype, if I could log on. 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:38.460 And then we would have this delightful, grainy conversation until the staff came 00:11:38.460 --> 00:11:42.759 or the kids at this group home started wrestling before they woke up. 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:45.399 But Mondays were different. 00:11:45.399 --> 00:11:47.220 That was the main job. 00:11:47.899 --> 00:11:49.419 And it was a day job. 00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:52.120 So I would wake up pretty early. 00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:54.840 I want to say 5 o'clock, but I don't think it was quite 5 o'clock. 00:11:55.759 --> 00:12:01.740 I'd bundle up, especially in the winter because we were dating primarily when she was gone in the wintertime. 00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:10.180 And I would trek it from our place in Vanier to the Starbucks at Chapters on Rideau Street, if you guys remember that place. 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:13.240 And the internet at Starbucks wasn't great. 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:24.700 But it didn't matter because I got to see this lady that I was dating and quite interested in at the Starbucks. 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:34.060 Primarily a romantic, relational, I just wanted to see her face. 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:35.220 It was that kind of relationship. 00:12:35.220 --> 00:12:41.080 I go to great distances and inconvenience myself happily to make it happen. 00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:47.300 The psalmist envisions praise towards the Lord as something akin to a romance. 00:12:50.040 --> 00:12:54.460 Enjoying prayer and praise for the sake of the other person. 00:12:54.660 --> 00:12:55.960 There's a relational dynamic. 00:12:56.220 --> 00:13:00.660 This is what the psalmist is beginning with in verse 1 here. 00:13:00.659 --> 00:13:09.879 Again, we see language that is first and foremost a relational reality rather than a transactional one. 00:13:11.939 --> 00:13:15.559 This is what the psalmist wants us to know right off the get-go. 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:17.319 Verse 2 and 3. 00:13:19.019 --> 00:13:20.659 The Lord builds up Jerusalem. 00:13:21.439 --> 00:13:23.360 He gathers the outcasts of Israel. 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:26.659 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 00:13:26.659 --> 00:13:29.699 The people of Israel, they're returning to Jerusalem. 00:13:30.259 --> 00:13:33.139 Again, like I mentioned, they're in a bit of a terrible state. 00:13:33.439 --> 00:13:35.219 They aren't just weary from travel. 00:13:35.779 --> 00:13:42.000 I looked up what, and I don't know if it is, if it was the capital in ancient Persia. 00:13:43.179 --> 00:13:46.539 Susa, it's not really a place, but there's a neighboring city nearby. 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:47.959 And I Google mapped it. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:52.459 It's a bit over 1,500 kilometers to get from there to Jerusalem. 00:13:52.460 --> 00:13:56.980 It gave me an estimate of how long it would take to walk. 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:59.580 It's like 360-something days. 00:13:59.660 --> 00:14:00.000 I don't know. 00:14:00.540 --> 00:14:02.300 You don't want to walk it. 00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:03.259 It would be very perilous. 00:14:03.900 --> 00:14:06.440 Nevertheless, there wasn't a high-speed train. 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:10.040 They didn't hop on whatever airline. 00:14:10.300 --> 00:14:11.759 They had to walk it. 00:14:12.420 --> 00:14:14.040 They were weary from travel. 00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:17.080 But these people, like I mentioned, they're spiritually weary. 00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:20.080 Notice how they are described here. 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:23.740 Again, verses 2 and 3 are describing God's people. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:27.500 Not just a generic people, but in this case, it's God's people. 00:14:27.900 --> 00:14:30.180 How are they described in verse 2 and 3? 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:31.420 They're outcast. 00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:33.660 They're brokenhearted. 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:37.800 They look to God by faith. 00:14:37.799 --> 00:14:49.120 We can see some of this in the books of Nehemiah and Ezra in the Hebrew Scriptures that really detail the rebuilding of the temple and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. 00:14:50.299 --> 00:15:05.139 But they are woefully unprepared to rebuild this city, the temple that was absolutely razed to the ground during the Assyrian and then the Babylonian conquest of the land. 00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:06.840 They were proud people. 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:09.720 They turned their back to God. 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:12.100 And as a result, they went into exile. 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:14.179 But they are not returning as proud people. 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:17.340 They are returning as pretty broken and humble people. 00:15:18.939 --> 00:15:22.019 But friends, this is what the Lord specializes in. 00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:22.740 Okay? 00:15:23.340 --> 00:15:34.319 He specializes in taking a needy and broken and outcast people, a humbled people, and pouring upon them love and grace. 00:15:34.939 --> 00:15:37.539 What does it say in the Proverbs? 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:41.360 God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble. 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:53.120 He opposes those who turn their noses up at God, who claim that their words and their plans are far greater than God's word and plans. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:16:03.620 That, in fact, God's ways are not ways that lead to life, but are actually the ways that stunt our growth and maybe even lead to death. 00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:15.179 That God's ways are not beautiful, but kind of ugly, maybe bigoted, and not joyful, but certainly not joyful, but maybe even dreary. 00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:17.419 So what does God do? 00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:20.779 He gives them over to what their wills demanded. 00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:21.819 Okay? 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:24.120 And that's what brought them into exile. 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:26.579 But in doing so, we find the grace of God at work. 00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:26.859 Why? 00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:32.979 Because God, desiring to bless and to heal and to restore, what does he do? 00:16:33.059 --> 00:16:35.759 He gathers, he binds up, in this case. 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:45.379 He allows their pride to cause them to crash so that then he has them in a humbled state so that he can bless them. 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:51.279 What we see here is an act of God's grace at work to let people suffer. 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:54.500 To let proud people suffer. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:17:00.259 You know, that might not seem like a loving thing, but just consider this. 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:13.000 Because if somebody has a broken bone that they don't get set properly, okay, and it becomes, I don't know, crooked, it doesn't work the way it's supposed to. 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:23.599 A proper surgeon, a proper doctor will break the bone, will re-break the bone so that it can be set properly, so that the leg can be of use again. 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:26.740 It's something similar to the Lord. 00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:33.819 He needs us to understand just the consequences of a prideful life. 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:42.339 Not because he's an egotistical maniac, but because he is a God who has created this world so that at the pinnacle, and we'll see this in a bit, 00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:45.140 the pinnacle of our existence is praising him. 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:46.819 And when we do so, life goes well. 00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:53.779 Not necessarily in a monetary way or a material way, but well in our souls. 00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:58.920 And God is much more concerned about our souls than our comfort. 00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:06.339 The psalmist is telling us not to run away from God when we are confronted with our pride. 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:10.779 Friends, do not run away from God if you are confronted with your pride. 00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:19.039 When your heart is exposed as a selfish heart or a hard heart, do not run away from the Lord. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:28.839 When your plans that you once thought were foolproof prove to be your undoing, do not run away from the Lord. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:29.700 Look to him. 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:38.180 Ask, what are you allowing me to go through in this season so that I may see something of your goodness, God? 00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:39.619 Will you help me? 00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:42.680 Because what does it say again in verses 2 and 3? 00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:44.620 The Lord builds up. 00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:46.080 The Lord gathers. 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.720 The Lord heals. 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:49.140 He binds. 00:18:50.340 --> 00:18:53.019 This is a God that delights in restoration. 00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:56.720 And we can be sure that God does it. 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:59.820 And this is where we'll see the first part of the, almost like a proof, 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:05.720 that he is capable of doing it by this understanding that God is all-powerful. 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:07.900 Look with me at verses 4 to 6. 00:19:10.360 --> 00:19:12.120 He determines the number of the stars. 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:15.580 He gives to all of them their names. 00:19:16.340 --> 00:19:18.940 Great is our Lord and abundant in power. 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:21.340 His understanding beyond measure. 00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:23.539 The Lord lifts up the humble. 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:26.360 He casts the wicked to the ground. 00:19:27.820 --> 00:19:30.960 If God can create the universe, 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:36.539 and we are still exploring aspects of the solar system, 00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:41.940 but in his infinite power, 00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:43.819 in his infinite presence, 00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:46.659 the fact that he is the uncreated creator, 00:19:47.059 --> 00:19:48.139 he knows everything. 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:52.159 Can he then not bind your wounds? 00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:55.319 Can he then not gather you if you are an outcast? 00:19:56.019 --> 00:20:02.799 Can he not set your broken limbs so that you can live in fullness, 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:05.339 or at least continue to grow into that fullness? 00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:06.240 Can he not do it? 00:20:08.159 --> 00:20:09.220 The psalmist is saying, 00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:12.279 look at the stars and then consider yourself. 00:20:12.379 --> 00:20:12.879 He is able. 00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:16.879 The Lord who is master over all, 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:18.700 he can surely heal his people. 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:21.879 And this next section continues to show God's care 00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:23.920 and highlighting his provision. 00:20:24.100 --> 00:20:25.100 So our second point, 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:27.580 for he provides for those in need 00:20:27.580 --> 00:20:29.840 and takes pleasure in his people. 00:20:32.040 --> 00:20:34.400 Read with me verses 7, 8, and 9. 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:37.460 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:40.640 Make melody to our God on the lyre. 00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:42.360 He covers the heavens with clouds. 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:44.920 He prepares rain for the earth. 00:20:45.060 --> 00:20:47.500 He makes grass grow on the hills. 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:50.160 He gives to the beasts their food 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:52.700 and to the young ravens that cry. 00:20:53.100 --> 00:20:57.580 The Lord, he is incredible in strength and grandeur, 00:20:57.840 --> 00:21:01.980 but also he delights in upholding the creation that he has created. 00:21:02.580 --> 00:21:09.440 He loves to see life exist and flourish and grow. 00:21:10.100 --> 00:21:13.800 There's the bit about seeing grass grow on a hill. 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:18.340 A hill or a mountaintop is not exactly the most ideal place, 00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:20.839 but because there is life even on a hill, 00:21:20.939 --> 00:21:22.220 even on a mountain, 00:21:22.879 --> 00:21:25.099 God will provide sustenance. 00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:28.179 Even to the ravens that cry out to him. 00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:29.679 And we see ravens. 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:31.240 I mean, ravens are kind of cool, 00:21:31.699 --> 00:21:33.799 but they can be a nuisance. 00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:36.439 In the ancient world to the ancient Israelites, 00:21:36.639 --> 00:21:38.419 they were unclean. 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.159 They're carrion. 00:21:39.339 --> 00:21:42.339 They are an unclean animal. 00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:48.339 And here we see that God cares even for those aspects of his creation 00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:49.799 that are maybe a bit unsightly. 00:21:51.159 --> 00:21:54.899 It's not just the city centers and the beautiful areas 00:21:54.899 --> 00:21:58.539 and the well-to-do people he takes care of, 00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.639 but all of creation. 00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:03.899 He delights in bringing life forward in. 00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:09.360 This is the God who is highlighted here. 00:22:09.580 --> 00:22:14.040 He sustains, for he designed it, all creation intelligently. 00:22:16.600 --> 00:22:21.060 You know, we, and I think things are turning a little bit, 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:26.140 but by and large, we're not connected to creation very well. 00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:26.580 All right? 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:29.440 We're no longer an agrarian society. 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:34.539 We don't hunt or gather for sustenance, only sport. 00:22:36.320 --> 00:22:40.100 We are not subject to the seas and what they can give to us 00:22:40.100 --> 00:22:41.779 so that we can live. 00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:48.440 So we find ourselves potentially in this delusion 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:52.100 that we can, we are the ones that create life. 00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:53.559 We are the ones that sustain life. 00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:56.500 But that is not the case. 00:22:56.500 --> 00:23:01.680 It is God who sets forward the ecosystem 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:04.700 so that we can, if we were in an agrarian society, 00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:10.740 that we could plant and grow and reap. 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:15.319 God is the one who has the oceans in his hands 00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:19.039 so that fish can be fished out of it for sustenance 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:21.140 or we can hunt the fields. 00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:26.520 In the end, whether or not we are removed from God's creation, 00:23:27.320 --> 00:23:31.960 we are still subject to it and we need his provision. 00:23:33.020 --> 00:23:35.040 And the psalmist is reminding us of that. 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:39.840 God's provision is universal. 00:23:40.840 --> 00:23:43.400 He makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust. 00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:47.360 But the psalmist continues in this section, verses 10 and 11, 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:50.500 to show that there's actually a special care that God extends 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:54.860 to those that love him, to his particular people. 00:23:55.780 --> 00:23:57.400 Look with me at verses 10 and 11. 00:23:57.400 --> 00:24:02.120 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, 00:24:02.580 --> 00:24:05.600 nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, 00:24:06.360 --> 00:24:09.259 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:15.620 in those whose hope is in his steadfast love. 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:20.280 These are, if you've been around the church for some time, 00:24:20.340 --> 00:24:21.140 you would have heard these. 00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:23.160 It's actually a wonderful reminder, 00:24:23.840 --> 00:24:26.980 worthy of a fridge magnet, if I can say. 00:24:28.060 --> 00:24:29.740 These are wonderful verses to remember. 00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:32.300 In fact, I would say that this is really the high point 00:24:32.300 --> 00:24:34.620 of this particular psalm. 00:24:36.140 --> 00:24:38.140 And it's really the high point of God's provision 00:24:38.140 --> 00:24:39.240 for his creation. 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:44.220 You see, God, the sustainer and the creator and sustainer 00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:46.560 of all things, at the very pinnacle, 00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:49.140 at the very high point of how he provides 00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:54.620 and how he sustains is by giving himself to us 00:24:54.620 --> 00:24:59.200 so that he is delightful and pleasurable 00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:02.180 to us and we to him. 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:07.640 But it's very specifically, we see this in verse 11, 00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.320 the second part. 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:11.200 But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him. 00:25:12.040 --> 00:25:14.640 The fear here is, I mean, to recognize that God 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:17.620 is greater than us, that he is stronger than us, 00:25:17.619 --> 00:25:19.959 but also that apart from him, we are nothing. 00:25:20.939 --> 00:25:23.439 So again, we have this theme of humility 00:25:23.439 --> 00:25:26.119 being the thing that God wants to see, 00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:27.739 the thing that God embraces. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:33.359 It's a wonderful declaration of what God delights in, 00:25:33.419 --> 00:25:36.739 but also it's a warning and an encouragement for us 00:25:36.739 --> 00:25:41.019 that we ought not to find our ultimate hope 00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:46.359 in this earthly, our earthly vision of strength and bounty. 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:48.460 You see, here in verse 10, 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:50.900 his delight is not in the strength of the horse. 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:53.940 This is a war horse, right? 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:59.940 Think chariots, think a sea of soldiers 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:01.579 arrayed for battle. 00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:05.019 The pleasures in the legs of a man, the same idea. 00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:11.119 We're prone to this, to look for strength in strong things, 00:26:11.579 --> 00:26:12.720 earthly strong things. 00:26:14.639 --> 00:26:16.799 We want to find our strength in money, 00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:23.519 our security in a well-planned-for future, 00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:26.420 in our health, you name it. 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:28.000 And these things are good, 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:29.859 and they're worthy of your time, 00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:33.419 as you plan, as you work. 00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:36.639 But they are a terrible, terrible thing 00:26:36.639 --> 00:26:40.000 if you are putting your eternal hope in them, 00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:44.539 your strength, the hope of your very soul. 00:26:47.619 --> 00:26:49.419 I mean, just this past week, 00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:52.359 trade talks broke off, 00:26:52.879 --> 00:26:56.459 and now the economy is maybe a bit more perilous 00:26:56.459 --> 00:26:57.419 than it was the week before. 00:26:57.420 --> 00:27:00.600 A group of people are negotiating. 00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:04.519 It's affecting us hundreds of miles away. 00:27:06.140 --> 00:27:09.560 You think that good times will continue to last, 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:12.200 and then a sickness hits, 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.960 a tragedy. 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:17.560 I got a bit of a dose of this this summer. 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:23.320 We went to PEI for a family reunion, 00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:25.440 and we went to this one beach. 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:26.600 We've been there in the past, 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:28.600 and there's this place where you can jump off. 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:30.420 It's like 10, 15 feet, whatever. 00:27:31.360 --> 00:27:33.779 And Joseph, he's a big guy now, 00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:35.120 so he wants to jump off. 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.539 We didn't have a life jacket, 00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:37.740 but he's been taking swim lessons, 00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:39.740 and I'm a bit of a dumb dad, okay? 00:27:40.320 --> 00:27:41.960 So the way this works is, 00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:43.160 you jump off, 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:45.019 and if the tide's going out, 00:27:45.360 --> 00:27:46.720 you just kind of swim, 00:27:46.840 --> 00:27:48.120 and then you swim to the side, 00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:49.039 you can get out, no problem. 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:50.340 The tide's going in, 00:27:50.360 --> 00:27:51.200 there's a nice little lagoon. 00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:53.180 So I jumped with Joseph. 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.860 We caught the ladder. 00:27:55.080 --> 00:27:55.660 It was fine. 00:27:56.180 --> 00:27:56.980 Later that day, 00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:58.880 we decided to jump again, 00:27:59.360 --> 00:28:01.120 and in this case, 00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:02.380 he didn't want me to hold his wrist. 00:28:02.680 --> 00:28:03.600 Again, he's a big guy. 00:28:04.100 --> 00:28:05.200 So we held hands, 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:06.140 and we jumped, 00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:10.039 and I'm slightly bigger than my son, 00:28:10.360 --> 00:28:11.400 so I went under, 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:13.680 and it takes me a bit of time to come up, 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:15.019 but soon as we jumped, 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:16.080 and hit the water, 00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:16.940 I lost his hand, 00:28:17.360 --> 00:28:18.380 and I came up, 00:28:18.980 --> 00:28:19.920 and he wasn't there, 00:28:20.600 --> 00:28:22.380 and I panicked, 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:23.779 and I put my head underneath, 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:24.840 and by the way, 00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:25.980 the tide was going out, 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:26.580 but not crazy, 00:28:26.660 --> 00:28:27.340 like it wasn't heavy, 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:29.200 it wasn't fast moving, 00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.960 but I put my head underneath, 00:28:31.080 --> 00:28:32.580 and I had like a foot of visibility, 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:34.420 and I put my head up again, 00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:36.279 and it's like my, 00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:39.039 I had four seconds where my life was over, 00:28:39.380 --> 00:28:39.600 okay? 00:28:40.060 --> 00:28:40.920 I turn around, 00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:41.980 and the boy floats, 00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:45.440 so he's like halfway up the ladder, 00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:46.360 and I'm okay. 00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:47.920 I had a nightmare that night. 00:28:48.059 --> 00:28:48.640 Like it was, 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:50.900 it was like four or five seconds of, 00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:52.700 of my life, 00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:57.059 just crashing around me, 00:28:57.720 --> 00:29:00.480 and it reminded me how fragile this life is. 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:04.240 Maybe you have a certain experience, 00:29:04.360 --> 00:29:05.480 maybe something similar, 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.160 and hopefully, 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.220 you know, 00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:10.039 something you laugh about that wasn't tragic, 00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:13.200 but to put all of our hope in, 00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:13.559 in, 00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:14.759 in the horse, 00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:16.399 all of our hope in, 00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:16.579 in, 00:29:16.639 --> 00:29:17.339 in the legs, 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:19.039 the thighs of men, 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.200 all of our, 00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:22.460 all of our strength in things that are strong, 00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:25.259 that we think will last forever, 00:29:25.379 --> 00:29:25.960 but won't, 00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:26.579 it is, 00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:28.859 it is a very tempting thing, 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.819 but it is a problem, 00:29:30.159 --> 00:29:33.420 because whatever it will be in this life, 00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:35.519 where you are putting your ultimate hope into, 00:29:35.879 --> 00:29:36.180 that is, 00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:36.480 that is, 00:29:36.599 --> 00:29:37.259 that is in a, 00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:38.480 in an eternal way, 00:29:38.619 --> 00:29:38.839 in a, 00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:39.759 in a temporal thing, 00:29:40.059 --> 00:29:40.879 it will let you down. 00:29:41.879 --> 00:29:43.000 It will let you down. 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:46.640 The psalmist is saying that God, 00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:51.319 he actually delights in us putting our strength in him, 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:53.740 taking our pleasure, 00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:57.039 and putting our hope in his steadfast love. 00:29:57.039 --> 00:30:00.899 So the psalmist reminds God's people about, 00:30:00.899 --> 00:30:03.099 about his, 00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:03.920 his provision, 00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:04.399 and, 00:30:04.440 --> 00:30:06.039 and how he delights in us, 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:10.200 and especially those that are his own, 00:30:10.399 --> 00:30:10.720 that he, 00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:13.059 that put their faith in him. 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:16.639 Now we enter into the third and final point, 00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:18.180 where God shows his favor, 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:20.659 and gives his peace. 00:30:20.879 --> 00:30:24.980 Look with me at verses 12 to 14. 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:27.960 Praise the Lord, 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.380 O Jerusalem. 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.500 Praise your God, 00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.039 O Zion. 00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:34.039 For he strengthens the bars of your gates. 00:30:34.140 --> 00:30:35.900 He blesses your children within you. 00:30:36.620 --> 00:30:38.039 He makes peace in your borders. 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:41.180 He fills you with the finest of the wheat. 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:45.120 Here we see that Israel has returned from exile, 00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:46.240 and has begun to, 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:46.819 to rebuild. 00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:49.360 And continuing with this affirmation, 00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:51.740 that strength ultimately comes from the Lord, 00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:53.500 that the psalmist reminds the people, 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.339 that their safety, 00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.380 and security, 00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:56.920 and therefore their satisfaction, 00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:59.420 comes not from gates, 00:30:59.539 --> 00:31:01.700 but from the Lord who strengthens the gates. 00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:03.900 It doesn't come from the borders, 00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:07.000 but the Lord who gives peace within the land. 00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:10.039 Hope is beginning to bud amongst God's people, 00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:11.220 once again. 00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:15.740 When our hope is in the Lord, 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:17.779 our hope is in something sure. 00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:22.600 Our longings are there, 00:31:22.860 --> 00:31:25.819 and we will try to satisfy them in anything. 00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:27.620 And we want to grow, 00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.680 we want to be filled. 00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:32.140 And like I mentioned in the previous point, 00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:33.559 we look to other things, 00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:34.559 but God here, 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.400 the psalmist here, 00:31:35.620 --> 00:31:37.759 and the Lord really through the psalmist, 00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:39.420 he is affirming, 00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:41.319 that the very things we want, 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:42.960 are only found in him. 00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:45.119 The hope of peace, 00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:46.500 amongst people and nations. 00:31:47.140 --> 00:31:48.160 Where there is no peace, 00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:48.859 there's war. 00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:51.099 A society can't flourish, 00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:52.960 if there's a constant bombardment, 00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:54.099 of calamity. 00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:57.420 When men can no longer till the ground, 00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.359 because of invasion, 00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:59.319 or the spread of evil, 00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:01.740 they put down the shovel, 00:32:01.879 --> 00:32:03.059 they put down the hoe, 00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:04.660 they pick up the rifle and the sword. 00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:08.340 The land doesn't produce, 00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:09.500 the way it ought to. 00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:11.620 Once again, 00:32:12.580 --> 00:32:14.500 we see that God is the one, 00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:15.759 who brings peace ultimately. 00:32:16.800 --> 00:32:18.300 We can have an absence of war, 00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:19.519 but can we have the peace, 00:32:19.600 --> 00:32:20.240 that we need, 00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:22.460 to see society, 00:32:22.620 --> 00:32:24.140 to see human beings grow, 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.980 in the way that we want them to, 00:32:26.040 --> 00:32:27.800 to see our longings be met. 00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:29.140 Once again, 00:32:30.100 --> 00:32:30.660 the psalmist, 00:32:30.860 --> 00:32:32.180 calls us to praise the Lord. 00:32:32.340 --> 00:32:32.820 Once again, 00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:34.939 he tells us what he's going to do, 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.700 and then once again, 00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:37.439 he gives us a bit of a proof text. 00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:39.200 Verses 15 to 20. 00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:44.179 He sends out his command, 00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:45.960 to the earth. 00:32:46.500 --> 00:32:47.740 His word runs swiftly. 00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:49.139 He gives snow like wool, 00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:51.079 he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. 00:32:51.879 --> 00:32:53.500 He hurls down his crystals, 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:54.740 of ice like crumbs. 00:32:55.359 --> 00:32:57.839 Who can stand before his cold? 00:32:58.539 --> 00:32:59.519 He sends out his word, 00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:00.159 and melts them. 00:33:00.639 --> 00:33:01.960 He makes his wind blow, 00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:03.019 and the waters flow. 00:33:03.140 --> 00:33:05.420 He declares his word to Jacob, 00:33:05.539 --> 00:33:07.000 his statutes and rules to Israel. 00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:09.500 He has not dealt thus with any other nation. 00:33:10.100 --> 00:33:11.299 They do not know his rules. 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:12.620 And then it closes, 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:13.900 as it began, 00:33:14.140 --> 00:33:15.100 praise the Lord. 00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:16.140 Once again, 00:33:16.660 --> 00:33:18.299 God can do all of this, 00:33:18.360 --> 00:33:19.420 because he influences, 00:33:20.100 --> 00:33:21.539 and upholds his creation. 00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:23.160 And in this case, 00:33:23.420 --> 00:33:24.680 the psalmist wants us to see, 00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:25.559 that he does so, 00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:27.380 by the power of his word. 00:33:27.380 --> 00:33:27.860 Look again, 00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.500 verse 15, 00:33:28.600 --> 00:33:30.320 he sends out his command. 00:33:30.980 --> 00:33:32.400 His word runs swiftly, 00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:33.600 down to verse 18. 00:33:33.600 --> 00:33:35.300 He sends out his word. 00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:37.400 Verse 19, 00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.460 he declares his word, 00:33:38.560 --> 00:33:39.360 his statutes, 00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:41.060 and his rules to Israel. 00:33:41.780 --> 00:33:42.400 And then finally, 00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:43.620 verse 20, 00:33:44.060 --> 00:33:44.840 he has not dealt, 00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:47.659 he has not dealt thus with any other nation. 00:33:48.119 --> 00:33:49.939 They do not know his rules, 00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:51.539 which is to say, 00:33:51.699 --> 00:33:52.899 his Torah, 00:33:53.159 --> 00:33:54.139 his ways, 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:54.740 his word. 00:33:56.519 --> 00:33:59.480 How does God ultimately sustain everything? 00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:04.519 Does he have a whole host of workers 00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:06.639 that patch up holes 00:34:06.639 --> 00:34:08.799 in the cosmic fabric, 00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:09.519 so to speak? 00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:10.159 No, 00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:13.500 in the same way that we see in Genesis 1, 00:34:14.039 --> 00:34:14.860 with creation, 00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:15.699 and then here, 00:34:15.820 --> 00:34:17.219 with his sustaining of creation, 00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:18.980 God merely speaks. 00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:20.519 And it is done. 00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:24.500 He reveals himself also to us, 00:34:24.679 --> 00:34:25.800 so that he can be known. 00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:28.500 He declares his statutes to us, 00:34:28.940 --> 00:34:32.139 so that flourishing and praise may fill the earth. 00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:33.239 You see, 00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:36.099 God's word is at the center of his power, 00:34:36.300 --> 00:34:39.199 and at the center of his covenant love, 00:34:39.199 --> 00:34:41.099 towards those whom he favors. 00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:44.919 Look at verse 19, 00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:46.960 and we get a bit more of an insight into this. 00:34:47.919 --> 00:34:49.219 Verse 19 says this, 00:34:50.379 --> 00:34:51.779 he declares his word to Jacob, 00:34:52.119 --> 00:34:53.719 his statutes and rules to Israel. 00:34:53.839 --> 00:34:54.119 Jacob, 00:34:54.279 --> 00:34:56.339 a short for the people of God, 00:34:56.439 --> 00:34:57.359 the people of Israel. 00:34:57.659 --> 00:34:58.559 You'll notice also, 00:34:59.179 --> 00:35:01.159 the people of Israel are called Jerusalem, 00:35:01.399 --> 00:35:02.679 or he talks about Zion. 00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:04.339 But why hear Jacob? 00:35:05.139 --> 00:35:05.699 Now, listen, 00:35:05.839 --> 00:35:08.039 I wasn't bright enough to come up with this. 00:35:08.039 --> 00:35:10.380 This is one of the commentaries that I went to 00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:12.579 that was very helpful in this regard. 00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:13.739 But why Jacob here? 00:35:13.820 --> 00:35:14.460 Why not Abraham? 00:35:14.779 --> 00:35:16.840 He's talked about his covenants and his statutes. 00:35:18.639 --> 00:35:18.840 You know, 00:35:18.900 --> 00:35:20.440 God makes the covenant with Abraham. 00:35:21.460 --> 00:35:22.519 Why not Isaac, 00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:24.019 the son of promise? 00:35:24.579 --> 00:35:26.019 Why not Joseph, 00:35:26.239 --> 00:35:28.000 who is the deliverer of Israel, 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:28.980 or Moses, 00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:29.340 right? 00:35:29.380 --> 00:35:32.099 Because God gives Israel the law through Moses. 00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:33.519 Why not King David? 00:35:33.659 --> 00:35:34.719 Why Jacob here? 00:35:36.199 --> 00:35:38.920 I think it has something to do with what I opened up with 00:35:38.920 --> 00:35:40.699 at the beginning of the sermon, 00:35:40.900 --> 00:35:43.719 that life being full of difficulty, 00:35:44.340 --> 00:35:46.059 that might very well call into question 00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:47.960 the promises and goodness of God, 00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:52.219 that cause us to flee from him. 00:35:52.219 --> 00:35:53.519 And this was, 00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:56.480 this was in many respects, 00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:57.619 Jacob's experience. 00:35:58.159 --> 00:36:01.299 Jacob has a terrible life, 00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:02.859 in many respects. 00:36:03.699 --> 00:36:06.259 He is on the run from family members. 00:36:06.939 --> 00:36:07.839 He is duped. 00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:10.739 He is himself a deceiver. 00:36:10.899 --> 00:36:13.039 He is constantly on the run. 00:36:13.319 --> 00:36:17.239 And he is all that while looking for blessing. 00:36:17.779 --> 00:36:19.519 He is looking for affirmation. 00:36:19.519 --> 00:36:23.039 He is looking for the longings of his soul to be fulfilled. 00:36:25.599 --> 00:36:26.940 In Genesis 32, 00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:34.199 we see Jacob running from his father-in-law, 00:36:35.099 --> 00:36:38.320 and then melting like wax, 00:36:38.579 --> 00:36:40.460 because of his brother, 00:36:40.599 --> 00:36:42.800 who he thinks is going to come for revenge. 00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:45.820 And then we have this very bizarre story, 00:36:46.619 --> 00:36:47.239 where Jacob, 00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:48.480 the son is going down, 00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:49.579 and he is by himself. 00:36:50.039 --> 00:36:52.199 And this mystery figure shows up. 00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:55.000 And it says that he wrestles with him. 00:36:55.740 --> 00:36:56.980 He struggles with him. 00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:57.860 He wrestles with him. 00:36:58.559 --> 00:37:00.900 And what's even more bizarre about this 00:37:00.900 --> 00:37:02.900 is that the figure turns out to be God. 00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:05.619 And then what's even more bizarre about it 00:37:05.619 --> 00:37:06.599 is that somehow, 00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:11.480 Jacob is prevailing against this figure, 00:37:11.639 --> 00:37:13.139 who turns out to be God. 00:37:13.139 --> 00:37:18.059 And that's where we'll pick up the bit here. 00:37:18.779 --> 00:37:20.980 Verse 26 of Genesis 32. 00:37:22.239 --> 00:37:23.199 Then he said, 00:37:23.259 --> 00:37:24.679 this is this mysterious figure, 00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:26.099 Let me go, 00:37:26.219 --> 00:37:27.299 for the day has broken. 00:37:27.799 --> 00:37:29.199 They're wrestling all through the night. 00:37:30.279 --> 00:37:30.960 But Jacob said, 00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:33.279 I will not let you go unless you bless me. 00:37:34.420 --> 00:37:35.319 And he said to him, 00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:36.339 What is your name? 00:37:36.900 --> 00:37:37.619 And he said, 00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:37.940 Jacob. 00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:39.300 Then he said, 00:37:39.500 --> 00:37:41.599 Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, 00:37:41.720 --> 00:37:42.300 but Israel. 00:37:42.820 --> 00:37:45.280 For you have striven with God and with men 00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:46.220 and have prevailed. 00:37:46.539 --> 00:37:47.159 Verse 29. 00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:48.920 Then Jacob asked him, 00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:51.280 Please tell me your name. 00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:52.659 But he said, 00:37:52.780 --> 00:37:55.039 Why is it that you ask my name? 00:37:55.780 --> 00:37:56.900 And there he blessed him. 00:37:56.900 --> 00:38:00.360 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, 00:38:00.539 --> 00:38:00.780 saying, 00:38:01.380 --> 00:38:03.740 For I have seen God face to face, 00:38:03.920 --> 00:38:06.240 and yet my life has been delivered. 00:38:07.480 --> 00:38:09.180 Again, remember verses 10 and 11. 00:38:09.539 --> 00:38:09.680 Okay? 00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:11.579 Verses 10 and 11. 00:38:12.139 --> 00:38:13.300 His delight, God's delight, 00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:14.680 is not in the strength of the horse, 00:38:14.780 --> 00:38:15.340 the pleasure, 00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:18.780 or his pleasure in the legs of a man, 00:38:18.860 --> 00:38:21.360 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, 00:38:21.420 --> 00:38:24.559 and those whose hope is in his steadfast love. 00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:27.619 You see, God takes pleasure in those who seek after him, 00:38:27.960 --> 00:38:28.840 who trust in him, 00:38:28.960 --> 00:38:32.480 who look not for blessings and solutions in the world, 00:38:32.659 --> 00:38:36.239 but come to the realization that all of our hopes 00:38:36.239 --> 00:38:39.559 and our longings and the true love that we so desire 00:38:39.559 --> 00:38:41.039 is found in God alone. 00:38:41.179 --> 00:38:42.900 And I think this is what we see with Jacob, 00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:45.900 and maybe that's why the psalmist included it 00:38:45.900 --> 00:38:49.039 at the end of our psalm this morning. 00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:55.279 This psalm is about a people who are partially restored. 00:38:56.099 --> 00:38:57.340 Israel came back, 00:38:57.579 --> 00:38:59.380 at least a portion of Israel came back, 00:38:59.619 --> 00:39:00.920 to the promised land, 00:39:00.980 --> 00:39:03.099 yet still struggled with brokenness, 00:39:03.539 --> 00:39:05.940 temptations, fragility of life. 00:39:06.840 --> 00:39:10.759 The promise of full restoration that we see here in this psalm, 00:39:11.119 --> 00:39:14.659 it doesn't come to take place ultimately, 00:39:14.659 --> 00:39:18.299 but it's pointing to something else. 00:39:19.460 --> 00:39:21.440 The people of Israel knew a season of peace, 00:39:22.039 --> 00:39:24.619 but their ultimate and eternal peace was to come. 00:39:27.239 --> 00:39:28.460 Ultimately, the psalmist, 00:39:28.960 --> 00:39:32.500 he is writing this psalm to highlight for the people 00:39:32.500 --> 00:39:34.299 and to remind them of God's provision, 00:39:34.440 --> 00:39:36.299 but ultimately for us as well, 00:39:36.639 --> 00:39:37.619 to point to us, 00:39:38.279 --> 00:39:40.039 to point to Christ 00:39:40.039 --> 00:39:42.480 so that we can see him. 00:39:43.219 --> 00:39:45.579 We can see beyond the physical rebuilding of Jerusalem 00:39:45.579 --> 00:39:47.139 some 2,500 years ago 00:39:47.139 --> 00:39:49.440 to the birth of this new Jerusalem, 00:39:50.059 --> 00:39:51.599 which is to say, 00:39:51.840 --> 00:39:54.420 the place where God will dwell with his people forever, 00:39:54.579 --> 00:39:56.559 where we will be in his presence 00:39:56.559 --> 00:39:58.659 to know love abounding, 00:39:58.900 --> 00:40:04.119 to enjoy his goodness and kindness for all time. 00:40:05.400 --> 00:40:06.500 You know, in the new Jerusalem, 00:40:06.619 --> 00:40:07.840 there's no need for the war horse, 00:40:07.840 --> 00:40:10.079 because there's peace. 00:40:10.780 --> 00:40:12.519 There's wholeness and fullness. 00:40:13.100 --> 00:40:15.559 There's no need for the strength of men 00:40:15.559 --> 00:40:17.620 to fight battles against enemies 00:40:17.620 --> 00:40:20.360 because there are no battles to be fought. 00:40:21.100 --> 00:40:21.980 Christ has fought them. 00:40:23.500 --> 00:40:26.120 It's remarkable then that both Isaiah and Micah, 00:40:26.280 --> 00:40:27.880 two prophets of God to Israel, 00:40:29.120 --> 00:40:32.440 they proclaim this picture 00:40:32.440 --> 00:40:34.440 of what this heavenly peace will look like. 00:40:34.940 --> 00:40:36.039 And this is what we'll end with. 00:40:36.039 --> 00:40:41.079 I'll read Isaiah's version from Isaiah 2 00:40:41.079 --> 00:40:44.639 because it's almost verbatim in Micah chapter 4. 00:40:44.759 --> 00:40:45.519 And this is what it says. 00:40:46.360 --> 00:40:48.460 He shall judge between the nations 00:40:48.460 --> 00:40:51.539 and shall decide disputes for many peoples. 00:40:52.519 --> 00:40:55.019 And they shall beat their swords into plowshares 00:40:55.019 --> 00:40:57.639 and their spears into pruning hooks. 00:40:58.980 --> 00:41:01.860 Nation shall not lift up sword against nation. 00:41:02.860 --> 00:41:05.360 Neither shall they learn war anymore. 00:41:05.360 --> 00:41:06.920 It's a wonderful, beautiful picture. 00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:09.320 In fact, it's etched in the side 00:41:09.320 --> 00:41:12.700 of the United Nations in New York City. 00:41:14.860 --> 00:41:15.940 It's a wonderful hope. 00:41:17.039 --> 00:41:18.700 But we understand through this psalm 00:41:18.700 --> 00:41:21.340 that only in Christ can this vision of peace be achieved. 00:41:22.079 --> 00:41:24.079 For he is the only one who has made peace 00:41:24.079 --> 00:41:25.120 between us and God. 00:41:26.220 --> 00:41:27.480 And it is through his cross. 00:41:27.480 --> 00:41:30.420 I mean, it is only through the cross 00:41:30.420 --> 00:41:33.460 where we can know the delight and goodness of God towards us. 00:41:34.500 --> 00:41:36.219 And because he suffered far more pain 00:41:36.219 --> 00:41:38.460 than the exiles of Israel 00:41:38.460 --> 00:41:40.500 and far more pain than you and I, 00:41:40.639 --> 00:41:42.880 far more indignity, 00:41:43.840 --> 00:41:45.099 far greater humiliation, 00:41:45.760 --> 00:41:48.240 and then tasted not a portion of death, 00:41:48.320 --> 00:41:49.460 but all of death, 00:41:49.460 --> 00:41:55.559 then we can trust that he is trustworthy. 00:41:56.300 --> 00:42:00.079 That when we are feeling like our knees are feeble 00:42:00.079 --> 00:42:02.360 and that we ought to trust in other people, 00:42:02.880 --> 00:42:04.220 that we can press in, 00:42:04.300 --> 00:42:07.240 we can lean into him in the same way Jacob did 00:42:07.240 --> 00:42:09.619 and hold on to him and trust that he will bless. 00:42:11.800 --> 00:42:13.659 Friends, don't misplace your hope. 00:42:13.659 --> 00:42:16.319 Do not put them in, 00:42:16.920 --> 00:42:20.239 do not put your hope or trust in the war horse 00:42:20.239 --> 00:42:23.679 and everything that this world has to offer. 00:42:23.839 --> 00:42:25.279 Put it in the one true God. 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.739 He is trustworthy. 00:42:27.559 --> 00:42:28.279 Lean into him.