WEBVTT

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 I have sorrow in my heart. How long will my enemy triumph over me?

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 Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes or I will sleep in death.

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 My enemy will say, I have overcome him, and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

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 But I trust in your unfailing love. My heart rejoices in your salvation.

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 I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.

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 Amen.

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 Thanks, Chris. Well, let's pray and ask for God's help as we look at his words together.

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 We come as a people before a great and mighty God.

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 A God who cares. A God who loves.

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 A God who understands exactly how we feel.

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 A God who understands us better than we understand our own emotions and thoughts.

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 And so, Father, we ask that you would speak into our lives today.

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 Would you please enable us and cause us, in the midst of our life, to trust in you alone.

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 And that you would teach us what all that brings to us.

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 We ask for your help as we look at your word together.

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 In Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 How long.

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 How long must I put up with this constant, unrelenting pain?

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 How long must I face false accusations and lies?

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 How long, O Lord, do I have to go through bitter disappointment?

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 How long, O Lord, will it be until this darkness that consumes me passes?

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 Our journey through life is marked with all kinds of struggles.

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 And that's the experience of David in Psalm 13.

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 Let's read the beginning of Psalm 13.

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 Don't forget the little note, the beginning, for the director of music.

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 So, this is something that should be sung and proclaimed and announced.

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 It's a psalm of David.

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 How long, O Lord?

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 David was, of course, God's chosen king.

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 And he has experienced something that is causing him great difficulty.

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 It could be that he is facing opposition.

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 If you look at the end of verse 2, he cries out,

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 How long will my enemy triumph over me?

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 It could be that he's experienced some kind of ill health.

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 So, look at the end of verse 3.

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 Give light to my eyes or I will sleep in death.

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 Whatever the reason of his pain, it is a very real experience.

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 How long, O Lord?

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 You see, we all live in a broken world where suffering is the normal experience of life.

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 Apartment towers burn down.

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 Terror attacks happen.

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 Loved ones are taken from us.

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 Cancer strikes.

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 Injustice goes unchecked.

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 If we live long enough in this world, we will suffer in some way.

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 And if God's king, King David, was not immune from suffering, then neither are we.

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 So, what do we learn from this personal experience of suffering?

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 Well, first, a cry of despair.

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 Look at verse 1 again.

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 How long, O Lord?

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 This is a cry deep from the heart.

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 Life has become unbearable.

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 There's no hope.

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 No escape.

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 And that's how we can feel when we struggle.

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 There's an isolation, a rejection.

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 And what's worse, the God that we thought we could trust,

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 the one who is supposed to be all-powerful and all-loving,

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 seems to be completely absent.

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 Like David, we feel God has forgotten me.

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 Verse 1,

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 How long, O Lord, will you forget me forever?

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 How long will you hide your face from me?

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 It's the cry like that of a child whose father has walked out on him,

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 left to fend for himself without support.

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 The father who is supposed to be there in times of trouble has just gone.

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 And that's sometimes how we can feel God is treating us.

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 Did I do something wrong?

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 Is God punishing me?

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 Does he not love me?

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 How long will you hide your face from me?

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 Rejected, abandoned, forgotten by the God who is supposed to care.

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 Do you ever feel like that?

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 And in these times of despair,

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 we think,

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 not only has he forgotten me,

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 but God will not answer me.

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 Look at verse 2.

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 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts,

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 and every day have sorrow in my heart.

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 We call out to our Father God,

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 but it's like he just doesn't want to listen.

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 God's not interested.

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 He's too busy.

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 It seems God is unconcerned.

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 My suffering is not bad enough to get God's attention.

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 And what's worse,

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 we know God is there,

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 we know he's in,

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 but he refuses to answer the door.

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 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts?

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 We're left in the darkness to carry our own problems.

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 And as verse 2 tells us,

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 it is unending sorrow.

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 Every day we cry out,

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 but the response is just the same.

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 Earth-shattering silence.

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 And our only conclusion

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 is that God can't help me.

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 Look at the end of verse 2.

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 How long will my enemy triumph over me?

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 It's as if suffering is the strong arm

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 and it has the upper hand.

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 Everything is piling and pushing up against us.

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 Have you ever thought,

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 why is it that when we most need our health,

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 that's when we get sick?

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 Or why is it that when we're going through a difficult time,

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 something worse happens?

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 Or we're financially under pressure

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 and then we lose our job?

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 Does God not see what is going on in my life?

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 Either God can't help

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 or he won't help.

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 We come to the conclusion

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 that God has forgotten me.

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 God won't answer me.

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 And God can't help me.

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 Is that your cry of despair?

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 Have you ever cried out like that to him?

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 You see, look where this cry is directed.

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 How long, O Lord?

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 This isn't a cry into the abyss,

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 into the emptiness.

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 This is directed to the Lord.

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 You see, who do we go to

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 when God is not doing his job?

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 Who are we going to shout and give off to

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 when everything collapses around us?

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 At the very least,

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 this psalm is telling us

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 that we have a God who is big enough

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 to handle all our cries.

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 He is not going to be put off

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 by our shouts at him.

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 We can get angry with him.

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 We can voice our complaint to him.

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 We can cry out,

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 how long must I put up with this?

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 Sometimes we just need to be real with God

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 and tell him exactly how we feel.

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 Because in our cry of despair

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 comes a cry of hope.

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 You see, in the midst of our pain,

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 as we wrestle with God,

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 as we do battle with God,

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 we do have hope.

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 God is personal.

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 Look at verse 3.

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 Look on me and answer,

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 O Lord my God.

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 Even though this prayer begins with despair

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 and disappointment and doubt,

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 how long, O Lord?

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 There is in the midst of it

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 a sure and certain hope

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 that God is not distant.

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 He is not removed from us.

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 God is personally involved in our lives.

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 Look how he cries out, verse 3.

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 O Lord my God.

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 This is personal and relational.

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 And we have the assurance of God's personal commitment to us.

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 Again, look at the beginning of verse 3.

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 He says,

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 Look on me and answer,

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 O Lord my God.

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 Have you ever wondered and noticed

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 why Lord is in capitals?

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 It's not that when they were typing

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 they forgot to turn off caps lock.

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 Lord is the personal name

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 that God gave to his people.

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 By giving of his name to his people,

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 God is committing himself to them.

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 He is binding himself to them.

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 It's his covenant name.

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 I am yours and you are mine.

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 I belong to you and you belong to me.

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 I am the promise maker

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 and the promise keeper.

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 So as we cry out to God,

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 we are calling upon one

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 who will never abandon his people.

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 He is faithful and loyal and committed.

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 God has not forgotten you.

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 God will answer you.

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 God will help you.

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 God will help you.

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 God will help you.

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 So why is it,

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 if that is true,

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 why is it that God seems so silent at times?

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 Why is it that God just seems distant

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 and uninvolved?

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 God will help you.

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 God will help you.

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 Well, as he cries out to this personal God,

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 look how he prays.

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 Look at verse 3.

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 Look on me and answer,

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 O Lord my God.

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 Give light to my eyes

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 or I will sleep in death.

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 You see, the request is not what we would expect.

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 It's not like how we pray.

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 He doesn't pray,

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 Lord, change my situation.

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 He doesn't pray,

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 Lord, put an end to all of my suffering.

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 He doesn't ask,

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 make my life easier.

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 No.

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 Do you see what he prays?

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 Give light to my eyes.

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 It's a prayer to see life

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 from God's perspective.

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 Just have a quick look at Psalm 19,

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 just a couple of pages on.

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 Psalm 19 and verse 8.

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 We get the same phrase

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 in this Psalm.

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 Verse 8.

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 It says,

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 The precepts,

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 talking about the word of God,

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 the precepts of the Lord are right,

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 giving joy to the heart.

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 The commands of the Lord are radiant,

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 giving light to the eyes.

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 You see, as we meditate,

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 as we think upon God's word,

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 his commands,

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 his precepts,

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 we begin to view and see life

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 from God's perspective.

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 So when we are asking,

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 as this Psalm does in Psalm 13, verse 3,

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 give light to my eyes,

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 we are asking,

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 Lord, change not my circumstances,

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 but change me.

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 We're asking,

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 Lord, it's not I want this thing

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 or this person in my life,

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 but I want you in my life.

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 So often as we come,

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 we're wanting God to change our situations,

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 to end our struggles.

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 We ask for more time,

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 more money,

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 better health,

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 better success.

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 But do we ever stop and ask,

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 Lord, I want more of you in my life.

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 Prayer is not asking God to fit into my plans,

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 but prayer is essentially asking God to shape me

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 so that I fit in with his plans.

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 It's not my will,

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 but your will.

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 You see,

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 if we don't have this perspective of life,

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 if we constantly look at life through our eyes,

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 we will become disappointed and disillusioned with God.

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 We will be overcome by our circumstances.

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 It will be like a living death.

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 Look how the rest of verse 3 goes.

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 Give light to my eyes,

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 or I will sleep in death.

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 My enemy will say,

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 I have overcome him,

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 and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

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 So in your despair,

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 in your wrestle with God,

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 cry out to him,

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 and ask,

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 Give light to my eyes.

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 Change me.

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 I want to know you.

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 Through this experience,

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 I want to know you more.

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 Help me see life from your perspective.

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 Enable me to walk life as you have willed.

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 And from this cry of despair

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 comes a cry of hope,

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 and ultimately,

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 a cry of joy.

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 Now let's be clear about this

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 as we come to the end of the psalm.

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 The struggle is not yet resolved.

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 The suffering has not been taken away.

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 There is still this wrestling going on.

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 However,

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 despair

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 gives way to joy.

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 There's two kinds of joy we see.

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 There is a present joy.

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 Look at verse 5.

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 But I trust

00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:10.019
 in your unfailing love.

00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:10.079
 love.

00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:13.319
 My heart rejoices

00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:15.480
 in your salvation.

00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:17.660
 In our struggles,

00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:20.240
 and that's going to be different

00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:22.519
 for each and every person here this morning,

00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:24.680
 in your suffering,

00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:29.339
 you can experience joy.

00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:31.220
 Here's how.

00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.599
 Do you see what it says,

00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:34.639
 the beginning of verse 5?

00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:36.560
 I trust

00:17:36.560 --> 00:17:40.000
 in your unfailing love.

00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:43.600
 The unfailing love of God

00:17:43.600 --> 00:17:45.300
 is that steadfast,

00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:46.440
 loyal,

00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:47.800
 and committed

00:17:47.800 --> 00:17:49.520
 love of God.

00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:51.620
 It's that love of God

00:17:51.620 --> 00:17:52.640
 that we read about

00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:54.200
 when God proclaims

00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:55.940
 or tells people

00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:57.080
 what he is like.

00:17:58.300 --> 00:17:59.140
 Faithful,

00:17:59.840 --> 00:18:00.280
 loyal,

00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:02.100
 steadfast.

00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:05.279
 the love that endures

00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:07.139
 when we fail and fall.

00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:09.099
 It's a love that persists

00:18:09.099 --> 00:18:11.039
 when we doubt and despair.

00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:13.619
 It's a love that pursues us

00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:15.359
 and chases after us

00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:16.659
 when we walk away.

00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:19.299
 It's a love that will hold us

00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:20.939
 and keep us.

00:18:23.679 --> 00:18:25.359
 It's the kind of love

00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:27.639
 we encounter in Romans 8,

00:18:28.279 --> 00:18:29.559
 verse 38.

00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:32.559
 For I am convinced

00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:34.019
 that neither death

00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:35.200
 nor life,

00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:36.559
 neither angels

00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.679
 or demons,

00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:39.839
 neither the present

00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:40.879
 or the future

00:18:40.879 --> 00:18:42.119
 or any powers,

00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.299
 neither height

00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:44.000
 nor depth,

00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:45.000
 nor anything

00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.679
 in all creation,

00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:49.099
 nothing,

00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:50.899
 no matter what

00:18:50.899 --> 00:18:51.819
 you experience

00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:52.720
 in your life,

00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.519
 no matter what

00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:55.079
 you may be going through now,

00:18:55.419 --> 00:18:56.019
 nothing

00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:57.879
 will be able

00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:58.960
 to separate us

00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:00.120
 from the love of God

00:19:00.120 --> 00:19:02.460
 that is in Christ Jesus

00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.740
 our Lord.

00:19:05.540 --> 00:19:06.300
 You see,

00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:07.200
 to trust

00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:09.620
 in the unfailing

00:19:09.620 --> 00:19:10.460
 love of God

00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:11.540
 is not trusting

00:19:11.540 --> 00:19:12.780
 in our ability

00:19:12.780 --> 00:19:13.920
 to understand

00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:14.800
 or comprehend

00:19:14.800 --> 00:19:16.520
 or to battle through

00:19:16.520 --> 00:19:17.500
 or get through.

00:19:18.520 --> 00:19:19.700
 Our trust

00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:21.540
 is in God's ability

00:19:21.540 --> 00:19:23.900
 to hold us

00:19:23.900 --> 00:19:26.180
 in the suffering.

00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:28.580
 God's love

00:19:28.580 --> 00:19:30.299
 is unfailing.

00:19:31.340 --> 00:19:32.340
 He does not

00:19:32.340 --> 00:19:33.019
 give up

00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:34.320
 or let go.

00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:36.240
 It is an everlasting

00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:38.380
 grip upon us.

00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:39.420
 Therefore,

00:19:40.860 --> 00:19:41.940
 my heart

00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:42.180
 rejoices

00:19:42.820 --> 00:19:45.080
 in your salvation.

00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:47.360
 Here is a God

00:19:47.360 --> 00:19:48.440
 who has you

00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:49.580
 in the palm

00:19:49.580 --> 00:19:50.360
 of his hand

00:19:50.360 --> 00:19:51.840
 and has a grip

00:19:51.840 --> 00:19:52.500
 upon you

00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:53.560
 that will not

00:19:53.560 --> 00:19:54.560
 let you go,

00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:56.700
 even though

00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:58.599
 we despair

00:19:58.599 --> 00:20:00.079
 and doubt.

00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:02.240
 In this

00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:04.480
 we can rejoice.

00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:08.099
 But not only

00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:08.599
 do we have

00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:09.579
 a present joy,

00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:12.819
 we have a future joy.

00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.119
 Look at verse 6.

00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:18.940
 He cries out,

00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:20.639
 I will

00:20:20.639 --> 00:20:22.519
 sing to the Lord.

00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.879
 Here is a confidence

00:20:23.879 --> 00:20:26.420
 that looks forward

00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:27.440
 in time

00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:27.900
 and says,

00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:30.139
 I despair

00:20:30.139 --> 00:20:31.180
 right now,

00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:32.079
 I struggle

00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:32.740
 right now,

00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:34.220
 but I will

00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:35.879
 sing to the Lord.

00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:38.700
 You see,

00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:39.259
 a heart

00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:40.319
 that cries out

00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:40.940
 in pain

00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:42.119
 can also

00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:43.339
 at the same time

00:20:43.339 --> 00:20:44.599
 cry out in joy.

00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:46.099
 How is that possible?

00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:46.980
 Well,

00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:47.779
 look at verse 6.

00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:48.819
 I will

00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:49.980
 sing to the Lord

00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:51.720
 because

00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:54.039
 he has

00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:54.779
 been good

00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:55.299
 to me.

00:20:57.880 --> 00:20:58.420
 Well,

00:20:58.460 --> 00:20:58.900
 where is

00:20:58.900 --> 00:20:59.579
 God's goodness?

00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:01.519
 How has

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.079
 God been

00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:02.660
 good to me?

00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:03.539
 When we're

00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:04.339
 in the thick

00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:04.819
 of it,

00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:05.900
 it's hard

00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.500
 to see

00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:07.360
 God's goodness.

00:21:09.120 --> 00:21:09.980
 But that's

00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:10.660
 why we are

00:21:10.660 --> 00:21:11.620
 directed here

00:21:11.620 --> 00:21:12.140
 not only

00:21:12.140 --> 00:21:12.799
 to think

00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:13.240
 forward

00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:13.620
 and say,

00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:14.460
 I will

00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:15.539
 sing to the

00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:15.819
 Lord.

00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:17.339
 We will

00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:18.059
 sing to the

00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:18.819
 Lord because

00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:19.700
 he has

00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:20.099
 been

00:21:20.099 --> 00:21:21.079
 past tense

00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:22.039
 being good

00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:22.539
 to me.

00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.359
 So here

00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:23.879
 he is saying,

00:21:24.379 --> 00:21:25.399
 look back

00:21:25.399 --> 00:21:26.740
 over the

00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:27.299
 course of

00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:28.000
 your life

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:29.720
 and do

00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:30.599
 not stop

00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:31.200
 looking

00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:32.500
 until you

00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:33.139
 come to

00:21:33.139 --> 00:21:33.859
 the cross

00:21:33.859 --> 00:21:37.000
 because

00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.679
 there you

00:21:37.679 --> 00:21:38.139
 will see

00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:38.659
 the goodness

00:21:38.659 --> 00:21:39.259
 of God

00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.059
 for you

00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:40.819
 and for

00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.099
 me.

00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:42.839
 You see,

00:21:42.919 --> 00:21:43.440
 the words

00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.039
 of Psalm

00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:44.639
 13

00:21:44.639 --> 00:21:45.799
 are not

00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.379
 just the

00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:47.220
 experience

00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:47.860
 of King

00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:48.360
 David.

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:49.420
 It is

00:21:49.420 --> 00:21:50.420
 the experience

00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:51.020
 of our

00:21:51.020 --> 00:21:51.680
 true and

00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:52.220
 ultimate

00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:52.720
 King,

00:21:52.860 --> 00:21:53.300
 the Lord

00:21:53.300 --> 00:21:53.740
 Jesus

00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:54.300
 Christ.

00:21:54.580 --> 00:21:55.060
 As we

00:21:55.060 --> 00:21:55.600
 read

00:21:55.600 --> 00:21:56.040
 Psalm

00:21:56.040 --> 00:21:56.760
 13,

00:21:58.440 --> 00:21:59.340
 it echoes

00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:00.260
 what Jesus

00:22:00.260 --> 00:22:01.260
 cried out

00:22:01.260 --> 00:22:01.600
 on the

00:22:01.600 --> 00:22:02.160
 cross as

00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:02.640
 he hung

00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:03.100
 there for

00:22:03.100 --> 00:22:03.560
 you and

00:22:03.560 --> 00:22:03.960
 for me.

00:22:04.340 --> 00:22:04.980
 He cried

00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:05.280
 out,

00:22:05.580 --> 00:22:06.280
 my God,

00:22:06.360 --> 00:22:06.940
 my God,

00:22:07.020 --> 00:22:07.520
 why have

00:22:07.520 --> 00:22:08.340
 you forsaken

00:22:08.340 --> 00:22:08.640
 me?

00:22:09.860 --> 00:22:10.380
 In the

00:22:10.380 --> 00:22:10.960
 depths of

00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:11.540
 his agony

00:22:11.540 --> 00:22:12.260
 he is

00:22:12.260 --> 00:22:13.000
 crying out,

00:22:13.260 --> 00:22:13.980
 how long

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.480
 oh Lord

00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:15.200
 will you hide

00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:15.700
 your face

00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:16.000
 from me?

00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:16.700
 Will you

00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:17.460
 forget me

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.059
 forever?

00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.259
 You see,

00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:24.200
 Jesus knows

00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:25.099
 what it is

00:22:25.099 --> 00:22:26.680
 to be in

00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.299
 despair,

00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:29.640
 to go

00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:30.200
 through that

00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:30.700
 struggle,

00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:31.259
 to go

00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:31.839
 through that

00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:32.380
 suffering.

00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:34.400
 But it's

00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:34.839
 so much

00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:35.339
 more than

00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:35.880
 just an

00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:36.460
 example.

00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:38.140
 Because as

00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:39.059
 Jesus dies

00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:39.460
 on the

00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:40.019
 cross for

00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:40.440
 you and

00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:40.839
 for me,

00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:41.480
 he is

00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.220
 taking my

00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:42.880
 place and

00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:43.700
 your place.

00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:45.880
 for as

00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:46.740
 Jesus dies,

00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:47.160
 he is

00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:47.900
 taking upon

00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:48.779
 us the

00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.400
 greatest

00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:50.200
 despair,

00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:52.460
 sin and

00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:53.019
 death.

00:22:53.840 --> 00:22:54.680
 He takes

00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.279
 it on

00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:56.559
 himself and

00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:57.319
 he suffers

00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:58.600
 instead of

00:22:58.600 --> 00:22:58.880
 you.

00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:00.860
 And as

00:23:00.860 --> 00:23:01.920
 Jesus cries

00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:02.620
 out to the

00:23:02.620 --> 00:23:03.480
 Father in

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.160
 the darkness,

00:23:04.860 --> 00:23:05.740
 there is

00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:06.420
 no answer,

00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:07.819
 there is

00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:08.559
 no help.

00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:10.000
 It is

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.400
 earth-shattering

00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:12.560
 silence.

00:23:13.080 --> 00:23:14.540
 Jesus dies

00:23:14.540 --> 00:23:15.019
 alone,

00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:16.080
 rejected and

00:23:16.080 --> 00:23:16.580
 abandoned.

00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.720
 He dies

00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.600
 our death

00:23:18.600 --> 00:23:19.140
 so we

00:23:19.140 --> 00:23:19.700
 don't have

00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:19.900
 to.

00:23:20.340 --> 00:23:21.100
 Jesus was

00:23:21.100 --> 00:23:21.780
 shut out

00:23:21.780 --> 00:23:22.180
 from the

00:23:22.180 --> 00:23:22.900
 presence of

00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:23.700
 God so

00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:24.200
 that we

00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:25.019
 would never

00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:25.820
 ever be

00:23:25.820 --> 00:23:26.740
 removed from

00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:27.519
 his presence.

00:23:30.600 --> 00:23:31.519
 So look

00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:33.780
 back and

00:23:33.780 --> 00:23:34.580
 keep looking

00:23:34.580 --> 00:23:35.240
 back till

00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:35.860
 you come to

00:23:35.860 --> 00:23:36.640
 the cross and

00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:37.300
 you will see

00:23:37.300 --> 00:23:37.920
 the goodness

00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:38.820
 of God on

00:23:38.820 --> 00:23:39.440
 display.

00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:41.100
 here we

00:23:41.100 --> 00:23:41.559
 see a

00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:42.039
 God who

00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:42.640
 loves you

00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:43.420
 so much

00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:44.100
 that he

00:23:44.100 --> 00:23:44.940
 suffered for

00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.259
 you.

00:23:46.360 --> 00:23:46.980
 A God

00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:47.759
 who cares

00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:48.400
 for you so

00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:48.880
 much that

00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:49.240
 he would

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.980
 die for

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.240
 you.

00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:52.080
 Here we

00:23:52.080 --> 00:23:52.559
 have a

00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:53.880
 God who

00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:54.559
 will never

00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.519
 reject you,

00:23:56.320 --> 00:23:57.360
 never abandon

00:23:57.360 --> 00:23:58.519
 you, never

00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.420
 forget you.

00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:00.320
 He has

00:24:00.320 --> 00:24:01.100
 promised that

00:24:01.100 --> 00:24:01.960
 he will walk

00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:02.640
 with you in

00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.340
 your pain and

00:24:03.340 --> 00:24:04.559
 he understands

00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:05.259
 your pain.

00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:07.240
 And he

00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:07.920
 hears your

00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:09.000
 every cry.

00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:11.180
 before we

00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:11.640
 can even

00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:12.460
 voice it to

00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:12.759
 him.

00:24:13.580 --> 00:24:13.980
 His

00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:15.140
 unfailing

00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:16.960
 love will

00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:18.160
 not let

00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:19.100
 you go.

00:24:21.340 --> 00:24:22.519
 So look

00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:23.880
 to our

00:24:23.880 --> 00:24:24.600
 true king,

00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:26.360
 the Lord

00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:27.400
 Jesus Christ.

00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.960
 Look to

00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:29.880
 him on the

00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:30.840
 cross and in

00:24:30.840 --> 00:24:31.680
 the midst of

00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:32.640
 our despair

00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.940
 and wrestle

00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:35.100
 and struggle,

00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:38.159
 trust his

00:24:38.159 --> 00:24:39.000
 unfailing

00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:39.500
 love.

00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:41.759
 Experience

00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.740
 a joy

00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.299
 today

00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:44.980
 and

00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.639
 experience

00:24:45.639 --> 00:24:46.399
 a joy

00:24:46.399 --> 00:24:47.000
 to come

00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:47.480
 where we

00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:48.099
 will say

00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:48.879
 I will

00:24:48.879 --> 00:24:49.559
 sing to

00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:50.079
 the Lord

00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:52.299
 for he

00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:53.099
 has been

00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:53.519
 good

00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.899
 to me.

00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:56.880
 to

00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:58.280
 love.

00:24:58.280 --> 00:24:58.800
 Let's

00:24:58.800 --> 00:24:58.980
 just

00:24:58.980 --> 00:24:59.400
 take a

00:24:59.400 --> 00:24:59.740
 moment

00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.440
 right now

00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:02.080
 to bring

00:25:02.080 --> 00:25:02.940
 our cries

00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:04.759
 and our

00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.220
 prayers

00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:06.000
 to him.

00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:06.540
 Let's do

00:25:06.540 --> 00:25:07.080
 that now.

00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:30.000
 in this moment

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:34.399
 cry out to the Lord

00:25:34.399 --> 00:25:36.779
 whatever it is that is upon our hearts

00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:41.379
 maybe something we go through or somebody else

00:25:41.379 --> 00:25:44.180
 how long oh Lord

00:25:44.180 --> 00:26:05.859
 Father

00:26:05.859 --> 00:26:08.399
 give light to our eyes

00:26:08.399 --> 00:26:12.259
 help us to see

00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:16.399
 life to see things through your perspective

00:26:16.399 --> 00:26:22.240
 change me

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:28.440
 give us more of yourself

00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:36.660
 Father we trust in your

00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:38.380
 unfailing

00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:38.779
 steadfast

00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:40.900
 loyal

00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:41.700
 love

00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:53.360
 thank you that we can say

00:26:53.360 --> 00:26:57.279
 that I will sing to the Lord

00:26:57.279 --> 00:27:01.059
 for he has been good to me

00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:07.759
 Father help us to be real where we need to be

00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:13.700
 and give us that confidence that we might trust in you

00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:15.039
 and you alone

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:18.639
 Amen

00:27:18.639 --> 00:27:23.980
 we're going to sing together

00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:26.359
 which helps us to

00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:31.359
 reflect a little bit of what this psalm is

00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:32.939
 calling us to do when

00:27:32.939 --> 00:27:33.899
 you