WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.179 Evil will slay the wicked. The foes of the righteous will be condemned. The Lord will 00:00:06.179 --> 00:00:13.620 rescue his servants. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. Amen. 00:00:14.980 --> 00:00:24.719 So, here is David sharing the story of salvation in his own experience. Now, I guess we 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:32.739 know and appreciate the power and appeal of personal stories. You maybe read in the news this 00:00:32.739 --> 00:00:38.420 week that Prince Harry has just signed a contract for his biography, and even before pen is put to 00:00:38.420 --> 00:00:45.620 paper, you can guarantee that's going to be a bestseller. We love to learn about rich, famous, 00:00:45.739 --> 00:00:51.460 powerful, influential, important people to learn what makes them tick. In a very different vein, 00:00:51.460 --> 00:00:57.439 as a child growing up in church, one of the highlights for me on either a Friday night or 00:00:57.439 --> 00:01:03.140 a Sunday night on occasion, the church would gather for, I guess, kind of testimony evenings, 00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:09.540 and sometimes that would be folks from within our church. One that sticks in my head was a local 00:01:09.540 --> 00:01:15.180 fisherman. Sometimes it would be folks coming to visit. I remember hearing African missionaries 00:01:15.180 --> 00:01:21.439 come to visit, and they were sharing their stories of coming to faith in Jesus and how they 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:31.819 had known God's help and God's guidance in their lives. Psychology recognizes that the stories that we 00:01:31.819 --> 00:01:40.879 tell about ourselves are important to creating our sense of identity, indeed helping to sustain us 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:46.500 in difficult times. And that kind of fits with testimony. We understand as Christians that we are 00:01:46.500 --> 00:01:51.299 children of God, that we've been saved, that we have eternal hope, and that helps to sustain 00:01:51.299 --> 00:01:57.959 us and create our sense of identity. Well, today we're in Psalm 34, and in Psalm 34, we have personal 00:01:57.959 --> 00:02:08.680 testimony from King David. King David has been saved from trouble, and because of that, he is now praising God. 00:02:10.699 --> 00:02:16.539 And what we discover is David saying, my life is not defined by the troubles that I experience, 00:02:16.539 --> 00:02:23.639 but by the redemption from God that I came to know. And then he encourages the people more widely and says, 00:02:23.699 --> 00:02:31.819 this can be your story too. So our approach today is that we're going to listen to Psalm 34 as personal 00:02:31.819 --> 00:02:39.000 testimony from King David, and see how we can connect that to our own lives, and also to connect it to the story 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:45.560 and the life of King Jesus. Well, look with me at the first three verses, where in a sense we get a 00:02:45.560 --> 00:02:51.080 summary and we get David's heart, where in effect he's saying, I will praise God and you should join me. 00:02:51.620 --> 00:02:58.939 So verse one, I will extol the Lord at all times. His praise will always be on my lips. And then verse 00:02:58.939 --> 00:03:07.719 three, glorify the Lord with me, let us exalt his name together. So we didn't read the story of 00:03:07.719 --> 00:03:14.579 David's escape, but you can find that in 1 Samuel 21. This is a period in David's life where God has 00:03:14.579 --> 00:03:20.979 anointed him as future king, but the current king Saul is jealous of David, wants to kill David. So 00:03:20.979 --> 00:03:28.079 David has been running from Saul, finds himself in the enemy country of Gath, taking shelter with the 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:35.800 king there. But then David's reputation as a warrior, serving the people of God, becomes known. 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:43.920 And so there is fear in the palace there at Gath. And so in response to that danger that David is now 00:03:43.920 --> 00:03:51.140 facing, he pretends that he's gone insane. So the king thinks, well, this guy is no threat, and then he 00:03:51.140 --> 00:03:57.220 runs away. But it's really important for us to recognize when it comes to how David thinks about this story, 00:03:57.219 --> 00:04:07.520 how does he think he's been saved? He doesn't praise his own cunning plan. He praises God, the Savior. 00:04:08.300 --> 00:04:16.500 And he tells this story to emphasize God's glory as Savior. And he has a further aim. Verse two, 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:22.699 I will glory in the Lord. That's what I'm going to do. And then he says, let the afflicted hear and 00:04:22.699 --> 00:04:27.199 rejoice. This is what you ought to do. Here is hope, David is saying, for those who are afflicted. 00:04:27.220 --> 00:04:35.560 We feel ourselves needy. We feel ourselves troubled. David reminds us to hope in the Lord, 00:04:35.660 --> 00:04:41.680 the one who is committed, committed to love his people, to rescue and to be for his people. 00:04:42.340 --> 00:04:48.360 So here is King David, as we so often find him functioning as a praise leader. And his story is 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:54.060 that God rescued me. And he wants to encourage God's people, the church, so that we together, 00:04:54.060 --> 00:05:03.480 we'd praise our God. It's a reminder of that point that C.S. Lewis made so well about praising, 00:05:03.660 --> 00:05:09.699 completing our joy. We know that when we share recommendations of something, a book that we 00:05:09.699 --> 00:05:16.819 read, a TV show that we watched, a restaurant that we went to, our joy is heightened, completed when we 00:05:16.819 --> 00:05:23.720 pass that review on to someone else. And they too enjoy that. So David wants to do for the people of God, 00:05:23.720 --> 00:05:30.360 as he comes to remind himself once again of God's saving power. So it's a reminder for us as 00:05:30.360 --> 00:05:40.160 Christians that we praise our God and our Savior in our stories, so that others will join the praise. 00:05:40.700 --> 00:05:45.340 It's a reminder to us about the conversations that we have together and the conversation that we have 00:05:45.339 --> 00:05:54.179 with folks around us. Maybe especially today, it reminds us about the privilege and the purpose 00:05:54.179 --> 00:06:00.539 of singing together as God's people. What do we do? We gather around the message of salvation. 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:08.000 We sing songs that focus on who is our God, that focus on God's truth and God's love and the gospel 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:14.379 of the Lord Jesus, so that together we join in the praise. We are saying to one another, 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:19.639 I believe this. And we're saying to people who join with us, we're saying to the watcher, I believe this. 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:28.579 And so when it comes to our lives and sharing our story, we want to highlight, if we're Christians, 00:06:28.579 --> 00:06:37.639 the fact that God has saved us, that God is with us and for us, showing us mercy, that he is good even 00:06:37.639 --> 00:06:46.599 when times are bad. Because that gives glory to God and that encourages our brothers and sisters in 00:06:46.599 --> 00:06:55.799 Christ and that helps to point a watching world to Jesus. So moving from David's summary in David's 00:06:55.800 --> 00:07:02.259 heart, let's get into the main message, David's testimony. That really takes up the rest of the 00:07:02.259 --> 00:07:07.720 sound. And again, we could summarize it and he's saying, this is my story, it can be yours too. 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:14.080 We're going to focus on four truths to highlight from this part of David's life. Four truths that I 00:07:14.080 --> 00:07:20.319 think in many ways speak to deep human longings. I'm sure that we will resonate with some, if not all 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:28.560 of these. The first thing to draw our attention to is this, God hears his people's prayers. 00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:39.019 Verse four, I sought the Lord and he answered me, he delivered me from all my fears. 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:47.120 This week, we've seen lots of stories, tragic stories of people getting into difficulty in open 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:52.519 waters because of the heat. I was reading one story of a beach rescue, one that ended well. And as the 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:59.420 mum was sharing her story, she said in that moment, I prayed to God. And that's often people's instinct 00:07:59.420 --> 00:08:05.980 in a crisis, isn't it? Even when people don't have faith, when trouble comes, when we get beyond 00:08:05.980 --> 00:08:13.240 ourselves, often people will find themselves praying to the God they do not know. But for David, 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:19.500 that's not his story, David is crying out, he's praying to the God he knows, the God who is his 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:32.120 Lord. His covenant-making personal God, the one who he knows, acting for him as a father. And so David is 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:40.940 inviting us to know this God and to put our faith in God such that we would pray to this God also. 00:08:40.940 --> 00:08:52.620 Now, it needs to be said, other Psalms, Psalms of David, focus on the experience of silence from God, 00:08:53.760 --> 00:09:02.480 of waiting and of prayers not being answered. And perhaps we have known, perhaps we're in a season 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:09.620 where that's how we are feeling. But it's important to say that that doesn't make Psalm 34 any less true. 00:09:09.620 --> 00:09:19.080 Sometimes we may find silence, but sometimes we hear God speak and act. And so there is an 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:24.299 encouragement for us here to persevere in our praying, to press on with those things that are 00:09:24.299 --> 00:09:31.440 on our hearts. Look with me if you have a Bible at the pattern of verse 4 and verse 6. There's a 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:38.120 wonderfully basic pattern that David prays. Verse 4, I sought the Lord. Verse 6, as he's reflecting, 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:47.060 this poor man called. And then we see God responds. In verse 4, it says, God answered me. In verse 6, 00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:56.120 it says, the Lord heard him. And then we see God acts. In verse 4, the word is, he delivered me from my 00:09:56.120 --> 00:10:06.680 fears. Verse 6, saved him out of all his troubles. David prayed, God heard, God acted. And then in verse 15, 00:10:06.679 --> 00:10:18.279 there's a lovely picture of God towards his people. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:25.539 are attentive to their cry. Doesn't that remind us of God as our loving Father in heaven? Attemptive, 00:10:25.939 --> 00:10:33.699 caring. It's his love and his care that prompts him to response, to action, ultimately to send Jesus. 00:10:33.700 --> 00:10:42.160 David's story is one in which Saul wanted to kill him, in which Achish and his leading men were 00:10:42.160 --> 00:10:51.000 beginning to threaten him. But he can say, I prayed and God saved. Now let's think about another king. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:56.680 Let's connect this to King Jesus. What do we know about Jesus and prayer? Wasn't Jesus' life characterized 00:10:56.679 --> 00:11:04.059 by prayer? He, of course, taught his disciples the Lord's prayer. And how does that prayer begin? 00:11:04.219 --> 00:11:11.899 Begins, our Father. Jesus wants his followers to know that we have a Father who loves us and who 00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:18.259 cares for us. And he's in heaven. He is powerful. He is full of glory. This is the God that we pray to, 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:26.319 our loving, powerful, caring, glorious God. Jesus' life was marked by times of praying 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:30.820 to his Father, enjoying fellowship with him, sometimes spending all night, sometimes getting 00:11:30.820 --> 00:11:39.960 up early for hours of undivided time with his Father in heaven. But we know, too, there was one 00:11:39.960 --> 00:11:50.280 time in Jesus' life where he prayed and he experienced silence. Jesus prayed the night before the cross, 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:57.000 if it is possible, if it is possible, take this cup, this cup of suffering, this cup of bearing the anger 00:11:57.000 --> 00:12:08.120 of God against sin. Take this cup from me. For the next day, Jesus, we know, would suffer in the place 00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:18.199 of sinners. He would feel alone as the sin bearer of the world, so that by faith in Jesus, 00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:25.480 you and I can know that even if we are met with a feeling of silence, we know that we will never be 00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:34.180 abandoned, even when our prayer is not answered. Think about connections to our stories. 00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:40.960 So many people are wondering, not is Christianity true? Many people are asking the question, 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:47.540 does Christianity work? Does it make any difference to a person's life? And so here's an opportunity for 00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:55.019 us to talk about answered prayer, to talk about how we invite God into our troubles and how we see 00:12:55.019 --> 00:13:03.179 God, whether it's give us peace or give us answer. We want, again, to give glory to God. We want to 00:13:03.179 --> 00:13:09.099 demonstrate our view of the world. Our instinct as Christians is not to try and sort all the problems 00:13:09.099 --> 00:13:14.500 ourselves and just sort of bash on and get on with it. We want our instinct to be dependents, 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:20.460 to be dependent children, to be prayerful, and to be open to see God working. And then we can share 00:13:20.460 --> 00:13:26.419 those stories, again, to encourage one another, but also to speak to a faith that is credible 00:13:26.419 --> 00:13:34.600 and is real. So God hears us when we pray. That's David's testimony. Another part of David's testimony 00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:47.879 is that God saves from shame. Verse 5, those who look to him are radiant. Their faces are never covered 00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:54.159 with shame. Ed Welch, who's a biblical counselor, has written a very helpful book on shame called 00:13:54.159 --> 00:14:00.200 Shame Interrupted. And he has lots of other good resources as well. When he talks about shame, 00:14:00.200 --> 00:14:09.460 he talks about that feeling of being unacceptable, of feeling unclean. That sense of shame being like 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:15.660 dirt that clings to us no matter how hard we try and get rid of it. Shame can come because of 00:14:15.660 --> 00:14:22.840 something that we do. It can be guilt that we, shame that we feel from the past or something we've done in 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:30.100 the present. But shame can also be because of actions that others do to us. We can feel shame 00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:38.800 because of association. Those connected to us or situations that we are connected with can bring us 00:14:38.800 --> 00:14:49.879 shame. That sense of shame comes from a feeling that a community, a group of people, look at us and say, 00:14:49.879 --> 00:15:00.559 you don't belong. You are a disgrace. You are unworthy. Shame is a very powerful feeling 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:09.919 still in modern culture. We can think very basically about what we still see happen today of naming and 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:16.899 shaming of offenders. For example, after the trouble at Wembley, after the Euros, we saw images on our 00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:25.179 television screens of some of the worst offenders named and shamed. We see social media shaming of 00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:32.519 those who don't share our beliefs, values, causes. Why is shame so powerful? 00:15:35.059 --> 00:15:40.240 Well, isn't it because we instinctively want to feel that we are clean? 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:49.360 That we want to feel that we are worthy, that we are welcomed by others? 00:15:51.220 --> 00:15:59.379 Perhaps today we come with a burden of shame. And if we do, then King David has good news for us. 00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:07.159 Think about David's story for a moment. He was honored by God, anointed as God's future king. So, 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:14.339 that's part of his story. But right now, or just previous to writing the psalm, he's been despised, 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:23.379 rejected, hated by King Saul. He's on the run. He's living in a land regarded as unclean. He's been 00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:31.720 rejected, refused honor and welcome even by these foreigners. And so, he is living in a moment where 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:41.259 shame could have defined his life. But he knows God working in his life. And so, he can say, 00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:50.120 those who look to God are radiant. Their faces are never covered with shame. Radiant and unashamed. 00:16:51.420 --> 00:16:58.279 God has reversed his status and given him honor. When we use the idea of radiant, we can perhaps think of 00:16:58.279 --> 00:17:04.920 that idea of delight when someone's face lights up. Think of children on Christmas morning, 00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:13.460 see the presents under the tree. Radiant faces. We can think about Moses, when his face was radiant, 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:23.480 shining because he'd been in the presence of the God of glory. David knows delight because no matter 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:30.880 what happens to him, he enjoys fellowship with, living in the presence of the God of glory. 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:37.519 That's a wonderful privilege for all of God's people. There is no shame for him because of that 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:46.339 reality. He may be an outcast in the eyes of others, but in God's eyes, he's God's child. He's loved 00:17:46.339 --> 00:17:53.839 and he's valued and that's going to define him. When you start thinking about shame in the Bible, 00:17:54.079 --> 00:18:00.839 you discover that the removal of shame is actually a powerful gospel image. 00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:09.539 And then we think about the ministry of Jesus, what Jesus came to do. He came to bear our sin 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:19.500 and our shame on himself at the cross. Jesus took the most shameful death it was possible for a person 00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:30.680 in his time to experience. And he did that for people like us. People who fall short of God's glory. 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:37.759 People who dishonor God. People who do not deserve a welcome from God. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:45.299 By faith in Jesus, God in his love and kindness changes our status too. 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:55.779 So that before God, we can be considered righteous. That we can know honor from God. 00:18:56.879 --> 00:19:03.420 A wonderful truth. Jesus in his story, he went through shame. He went through the cross. But now, 00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:08.140 after the resurrection, he's returned to the glory of heaven, he's crowned with glory and honor. 00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:19.240 And by faith in Jesus, this is our story too. Jesus can and he will end shame in the lives of his people 00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:22.039 by his powerful love and grace. 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:30.720 So if you're here today and you have that sense of feeling unclean, 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:38.099 come to Jesus who promises to wash us white as snow, 00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:43.619 to give us that clear conscience, to give us the joy of forgiveness. 00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:56.359 If we feel unworthy, recognize what's going on in the life of Jesus, he came and he took our dishonor 00:19:56.359 --> 00:20:03.299 so that we, by trusting in him, might be crowned with honor and glory. His status, 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:07.159 in that sense, becomes ours as we trust in him. 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:19.019 If we feel unwelcome, outsiders, there's an invitation to trust in Jesus as our way home 00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:24.560 to a father who's waiting to love, to welcome, to delight in us. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:31.580 And there is here for us too as Christians, of course, a reminder to live out our true identity, 00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:35.019 that we are loved and valued children of God. 00:20:35.899 --> 00:20:41.259 And we can share that story. We can share how God changes our lives 00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:47.339 and changes even how we feel about ourselves by the power of his grace. 00:20:48.619 --> 00:20:54.839 Next part of David's testimony, verses 8 to 14, God gives what is good. 00:20:54.839 --> 00:21:05.039 I was watching a TED talk this week by a New York professor called Barry Schwartz called The Paradox of Choice. 00:21:06.339 --> 00:21:08.179 It's a very helpful talk, actually. 00:21:08.659 --> 00:21:12.339 And he makes the point that as modern Western society in particular, 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:18.919 we have never had it so good or been at the same time so dissatisfied. 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:22.779 He was making the observation that the choices that we have, 00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:24.619 so freedom means freedom to choose, 00:21:24.859 --> 00:21:27.819 but all these choices that we have in every part of life, 00:21:27.879 --> 00:21:29.079 they raise expectations. 00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:31.160 Somewhere there's a choice that's going to be absolutely perfect. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:35.899 So it raises expectations, but at the same time increases our disappointment 00:21:35.899 --> 00:21:38.099 with the choices that we make. 00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:41.039 I was living this this week. 00:21:41.420 --> 00:21:46.879 In our heat wave, I decided to try to make iced coffee at home. 00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:48.879 Some of you will like iced coffee. 00:21:49.420 --> 00:21:52.619 Maybe you can resonate with my desire to find the perfect iced coffee. 00:21:52.619 --> 00:21:57.479 So my first attempt last week, I simply went iced coffee, milk. 00:21:57.679 --> 00:21:58.819 Didn't think about it too much. 00:21:59.339 --> 00:21:59.979 It was good. 00:22:00.739 --> 00:22:05.039 And then I made the schoolboy error of Googling how to make iced coffee at home. 00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:08.359 And I found dozens of recipes. 00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:11.139 And now every day my news feed will tell me, 00:22:11.219 --> 00:22:14.419 here's another way to make the perfect iced coffee. 00:22:14.679 --> 00:22:16.559 Since then, I have been juggling. 00:22:16.719 --> 00:22:17.299 I've been trying. 00:22:17.399 --> 00:22:18.159 They're getting worse. 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:19.019 I'm feeling worse. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.660 And it's proving the point. 00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:24.940 Choice doesn't necessarily make us feel any better. 00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:27.320 But it does point to the fact that instinctively, 00:22:27.540 --> 00:22:29.580 we want to find the good life. 00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:32.240 Whether that's in a drink, whether that's in a career, 00:22:32.360 --> 00:22:34.300 whether it's a relationship we want, what's truly good. 00:22:34.300 --> 00:22:36.460 Now, I guess what is good? 00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:38.440 Where do we find it? 00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:44.779 And David gives a profound answer in verses 8 and 10. 00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:47.600 There's an image here in verse 8. 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:52.620 He says, taste and see that the Lord is good. 00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:57.759 Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. 00:22:58.740 --> 00:23:02.220 Conjures up the image of a delicious meal. 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:04.920 Oh, there's always two mistakes. 00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:09.019 Well, probably at least two mistakes that we can and should avoid. 00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:14.500 One is not just to settle for either looking at the menu 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:17.039 and admiring all those wonderful fresh ingredients 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:18.620 that are going to go onto the plate 00:23:18.620 --> 00:23:22.360 or to just look at the plate but never actually to sample it. 00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:25.940 What is good is to be experienced personally. 00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:31.000 Knowing God isn't just something that's in our heads. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:32.079 It's to be in our hearts. 00:23:32.119 --> 00:23:34.000 It's not enough to just know about Jesus. 00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:38.079 We need to know Jesus personally as Lord and Savior. 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:40.640 So we must experience. 00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:44.640 But the other mistake when we get this delicious meal in front of us 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:49.779 is simply to wolf it down and to not notice how wonderful it is. 00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:55.200 Goodness is supposed to be savored, to be truly enjoyed. 00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:58.619 And David is saying, if you want to know what is truly good, 00:23:59.019 --> 00:24:00.519 you need to know God. 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:02.819 You need to experience God in your life 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:04.599 and you need to enjoy God, 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:07.819 to savour a relationship with Him, 00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:11.420 the love that He gives, the truth that He is. 00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:13.960 Verse 10 has another image. 00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:17.299 The lions may grow weak and hungry, 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:22.240 but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:25.980 So it's the image of a hungry lion pride. 00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:27.519 They've been out all night hunting, 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:30.460 but come back empty. 00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:37.019 The king of beasts may find themselves dissatisfied and hungry, 00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:39.460 but David is saying in his story, 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:42.000 to know the king of the universe 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:47.279 is to be satisfied by true goodness. 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:50.379 Not something that's temporary, 00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:52.819 but something that's eternal. 00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:54.539 Not a goodness that's partial, 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:56.319 but one that is complete. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:00.059 Not one that relies on finding something good in creation, 00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:02.000 but finding true goodness in God, 00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:03.420 the Creator. 00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:08.400 Question, verse 12 says, 00:25:08.560 --> 00:25:10.940 whoever of you loves life 00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:12.980 and desires to see many good deeds, 00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.800 see many good days rather, 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:16.300 keep your tongue from evil, 00:25:16.860 --> 00:25:18.220 your lips from telling lies. 00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:20.380 There's an implied question, I think. 00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:23.800 How do we enjoy the good life? 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:26.039 How do we enjoy life to the full? 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:31.059 And David's answer is in part to know the God who is good 00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:36.859 and to then live under the rule of the king who is good. 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:40.579 Goodness is a life that centers on knowing 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:43.180 and enjoying and living for God. 00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:45.859 Now we connect this with the story of King Jesus 00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:48.259 and we start to think about his sayings 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:52.180 and we see that he points in the same direction. 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:54.920 Jesus says, I am living water. 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:57.340 I am the bread of life. 00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:59.039 I have come that you might have life, 00:25:59.140 --> 00:25:59.880 life to the full. 00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:01.840 He's come to give eternal life. 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:04.140 He's saying, I am the something more 00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:06.120 that every heart is longing for. 00:26:08.100 --> 00:26:10.120 In Jesus, we know true goodness. 00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:13.160 That longing for what is good is found. 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:20.000 Jesus has come to die so we might truly live 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:23.960 and to live knowing the God who is truly good. 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:26.860 So again, when we think about our stories, 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:28.180 when we think about our own lives 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:30.000 or how we talk about ourselves, 00:26:30.620 --> 00:26:35.420 do we have that focus on God and true goodness? 00:26:35.600 --> 00:26:37.000 Do we focus, for example, 00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:40.160 on the eternal weight of glory still to come 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:43.720 or are we fixated on the here and the now? 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:47.860 Do we think about that and do we meditate on, 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:51.460 do we savor with joy and satisfaction knowing Jesus? 00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:54.019 And do we talk about being satisfied 00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:57.360 in knowing Jesus come what may? 00:27:00.180 --> 00:27:02.380 The last part of David's testimony, 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:04.860 in a sense, it wheels back to the introduction. 00:27:05.620 --> 00:27:07.160 Fourth thing to say, 00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:10.500 God rescues the righteous. 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:13.299 Verse 15 to 22. 00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:16.380 Let me read verse 17. 00:27:16.380 --> 00:27:27.220 Let me go back for a minute to psychology research. 00:27:27.780 --> 00:27:30.560 There was a study done of a thousand volunteers 00:27:30.560 --> 00:27:32.480 and they were simply given a piece of paper 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.600 and a pencil untold, 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:35.340 write down your life story. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:38.480 And as they looked at those stories 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:42.140 and as they considered the people before them, 00:27:42.140 --> 00:27:45.740 they recognized that those who told redemption stories, 00:27:46.620 --> 00:27:49.759 those who were able even in difficulties to find the good, 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:52.440 they had more well-being 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:56.160 and a greater sense of satisfaction in life. 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:59.540 They drew a connection between redemption stories 00:27:59.540 --> 00:28:02.100 and personal well-being. 00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:05.360 Well, think about David's story here. 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:08.479 He finds himself in true danger, 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:11.479 in the hands of the forces of evil, 00:28:11.659 --> 00:28:15.319 but God rescued and David praised 00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:18.459 and David is satisfied. 00:28:19.419 --> 00:28:22.179 He has joy in his God. 00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:26.159 In verses 15 to 22, 00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:28.259 you may have noticed as we're reading 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:29.319 and if you flick down it, 00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:31.279 you'll see a repeated word. 00:28:31.379 --> 00:28:32.879 The word is the righteous. 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:36.220 David describes himself as a righteous person. 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:39.680 He says there is a category of people who are righteous. 00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:40.880 Let's just see that. 00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:41.480 Verse 15, 00:28:41.560 --> 00:28:43.200 the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous. 00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:47.080 17, the righteous cry out and the Lord hears them. 00:28:47.660 --> 00:28:50.120 19, the righteous person may have many troubles, 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:53.300 but the Lord delivers from them all. 00:28:54.900 --> 00:28:56.840 When David says, I am righteous, 00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:59.180 he's not saying I am perfect. 00:28:59.780 --> 00:29:01.480 He's not saying I have never sinned. 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:06.340 And when we hear someone in the Bible say that they are righteous, 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.080 we are not to think, 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:10.260 oh, here's just another self-righteous Pharisee, 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.560 another hypocrite. 00:29:12.300 --> 00:29:14.960 Rather, we recognize all through the Bible 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:18.960 that this idea of being righteous, 00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:20.420 in God's eyes, 00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:22.180 is a gift from God. 00:29:22.840 --> 00:29:25.580 It's something that's received through faith. 00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:28.539 To have clear conscience before God, 00:29:28.619 --> 00:29:31.279 to have right standing in God's sight, 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:33.500 is not something that person has earned, 00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:35.099 but rather it comes as a gift. 00:29:35.179 --> 00:29:38.299 Ultimately, we understand that in the coming of Jesus, 00:29:38.859 --> 00:29:42.339 who dies for sinners and who credits his perfect righteousness 00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:45.299 to sinful people. 00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:48.500 Now, how does God act for the righteous? 00:29:48.919 --> 00:29:50.199 In this last section, 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:51.539 we see two aspects. 00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:52.100 We see one, 00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:54.819 that he judges their enemies. 00:29:56.360 --> 00:29:57.819 Verse 16 is a good example. 00:29:57.960 --> 00:30:00.779 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:03.779 There's the unwelcoming face of God, 00:30:03.840 --> 00:30:04.240 as it were, 00:30:04.360 --> 00:30:06.100 as a reminder of the holiness of God, 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:08.440 the judgment of God. 00:30:09.080 --> 00:30:11.140 So, he judges their enemies, 00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:13.539 but then there is salvation for his people. 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:15.600 Perhaps we can look at verse 22, 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:16.459 the last verse, 00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:16.839 which says, 00:30:16.959 --> 00:30:19.559 the Lord will rescue his servants. 00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:23.219 No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. 00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:24.719 There's incredible confidence in that, 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.199 isn't there? 00:30:26.879 --> 00:30:29.159 Guaranteed salvation and rescue. 00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:31.379 Guaranteed no condemnation. 00:30:33.419 --> 00:30:35.319 Maybe sounds too good to be true. 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.399 Some might say, 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.939 sounds a bit pie in the sky, perhaps. 00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:40.599 But notice that David is very realistic 00:30:40.599 --> 00:30:42.679 in his view of the world. 00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:44.959 We read it, 00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:45.920 we'll read another one. 00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:47.640 Verse 19, 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:50.960 the righteous person may have many troubles, 00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:54.180 but the Lord delivers him from them all. 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:57.120 God's people, Christians, 00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:59.460 we face the same pains and struggles 00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:01.620 and grief as everyone else. 00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:03.880 We know this to be true. 00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:05.539 We are not immune from suffering 00:31:05.539 --> 00:31:08.259 because we come to trust in God. 00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:10.120 But we have this wonderful promise 00:31:10.120 --> 00:31:10.980 that in the end, 00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:11.840 God will save, 00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:12.700 God will deliver. 00:31:12.840 --> 00:31:14.700 We will not be condemned. 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:17.559 David understands that his hope is rested, 00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:20.019 rooted in God's character 00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:22.920 and God's covenant promises 00:31:22.920 --> 00:31:25.279 that are unbreakable. 00:31:26.059 --> 00:31:27.880 He has that hope 00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:30.400 that is unshakable 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:32.620 because he knows his God 00:31:32.620 --> 00:31:35.420 and the promises of God. 00:31:35.420 --> 00:31:39.220 Now, how does that connect with the story of Jesus? 00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:42.300 Jesus comes as the great king. 00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:45.860 Jesus comes and he faces down all our enemies. 00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:48.279 Satan, sin, death, 00:31:48.860 --> 00:31:50.519 defeated there at the cross. 00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:53.420 We see Jesus' victory at the resurrection 00:31:53.420 --> 00:31:55.080 and his return to glory. 00:31:55.079 --> 00:32:00.500 We know that Jesus is the fulfillment of the righteous sufferer 00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:02.899 who is saved and delivered 00:32:02.899 --> 00:32:05.779 because God raised him in glory. 00:32:05.980 --> 00:32:07.659 Now he's on the throne of the universe. 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:09.939 Now he's close to the brokenhearted 00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:13.100 and he promises there is no condemnation 00:32:13.100 --> 00:32:14.860 for those who are trusting in him. 00:32:17.640 --> 00:32:20.559 So how does this connect to ourselves as we close? 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:25.080 To have Jesus as your king 00:32:25.080 --> 00:32:29.240 is to know that rescue from sin that leads to death, 00:32:29.580 --> 00:32:32.380 to be given the promise of eternal life, 00:32:32.380 --> 00:32:35.940 to know that there is no condemnation awaiting us 00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:38.200 because the judgment fell on Jesus 00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:40.420 so it will not fall on us. 00:32:41.900 --> 00:32:44.480 And so David's story of praise here, 00:32:44.820 --> 00:32:47.240 his testimony is all about the God who saves. 00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:51.259 And he calls the church, the people of God, 00:32:51.340 --> 00:32:53.000 to have that same story 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:55.480 at the heart of our life together. 00:32:56.700 --> 00:32:58.920 So let's pray that that would be true for us 00:32:58.920 --> 00:33:01.360 and be true for our church 00:33:01.360 --> 00:33:04.000 for the sake of God's glory and honor 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:06.180 and to help others 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:07.960 and to see and to delight, 00:33:08.259 --> 00:33:09.980 to taste and see that God is good. 00:33:10.680 --> 00:33:14.819 May we share our salvation stories in that light. 00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:16.880 Let's pray together briefly. 00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:19.259 Lord our God, 00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:22.240 thank you for David's wonderful testimony. 00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:24.559 A testimony that you're a God 00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:26.640 who hears our prayers. 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:29.000 May you encourage us to keep praying 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:31.519 if we feel flat 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.819 or we feel that we've been praying 00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:35.200 for certain people or situations for a long time. 00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:37.399 Will you help us to pray 00:33:37.399 --> 00:33:40.019 with that trust in your character, 00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:40.919 in your goodness? 00:33:42.619 --> 00:33:44.179 Lord, we thank you that you are a God 00:33:44.179 --> 00:33:45.779 who rescues from shame. 00:33:47.079 --> 00:33:48.579 Lord, you know our hearts, 00:33:48.679 --> 00:33:49.960 you know our lives. 00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:53.299 You know how much we need to hear 00:33:53.299 --> 00:33:54.720 that hope and that truth. 00:33:56.899 --> 00:33:58.139 Lord, we thank you 00:33:58.140 --> 00:33:59.540 that you are the one 00:33:59.540 --> 00:34:00.840 who is truly good. 00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:04.180 We so often find ourselves 00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:06.520 in that exhausting search for goodness. 00:34:07.140 --> 00:34:08.180 We find ourselves 00:34:08.180 --> 00:34:10.099 so easily dissatisfied. 00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:12.599 We take up so much attention 00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:14.220 on stuff that doesn't last. 00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:16.539 We pray that you would turn 00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:18.539 our focus to what is true 00:34:18.539 --> 00:34:19.099 and lasting, 00:34:19.340 --> 00:34:20.940 eternal and eternally good. 00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:23.240 That we would look to you. 00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:25.500 And we thank you so much 00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:26.300 that you are the God 00:34:26.300 --> 00:34:27.619 who rescues the righteous. 00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:29.360 That in Jesus, 00:34:29.880 --> 00:34:30.760 the rescuer, 00:34:31.280 --> 00:34:32.880 his record of righteousness 00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:34.599 is credited to us, 00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:35.900 sinners as we are. 00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:37.699 That by faith in Jesus, 00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:40.119 we can be reckoned to be righteous 00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:41.719 so we can stand in your presence 00:34:41.719 --> 00:34:43.139 and we can call you our Father. 00:34:43.719 --> 00:34:44.760 Lord, as your people, 00:34:44.820 --> 00:34:46.019 we have a wonderful story. 00:34:46.760 --> 00:34:47.880 We pray that you'd help us 00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:48.420 as a church, 00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.059 as individuals, 00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:50.260 to share that story, 00:34:50.739 --> 00:34:51.800 to encourage one another 00:34:51.800 --> 00:34:52.500 and for the good 00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:53.660 of those around us. 00:34:54.260 --> 00:34:55.680 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:34:56.260 --> 00:34:56.539 Amen. 00:34:58.360 --> 00:35:01.300 Now, let's stand together 00:35:01.300 --> 00:35:03.860 and let's sing again, 00:35:04.460 --> 00:35:05.560 this time the hymn, 00:35:05.560 --> 00:35:08.720 All I Have Is Christ. 00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:25.600 I once was lost 00:35:25.600 --> 00:35:27.820 in darkest night, 00:35:28.180 --> 00:35:30.180 yet thought I knew 00:35:30.180 --> 00:35:32.720 the way, 00:35:33.340 --> 00:35:35.880 the sin that promised 00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:37.840 joy and life 00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:42.740 had led me to the grave. 00:35:42.740 --> 00:35:45.800 I had no hope 00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:48.200 that you would own 00:35:48.200 --> 00:35:50.560 a rebel to 00:35:50.560 --> 00:35:53.120 your will. 00:35:53.620 --> 00:35:56.180 And if you had 00:35:56.180 --> 00:35:58.340 not loved me first, 00:35:58.720 --> 00:36:00.460 I would refuse 00:36:00.460 --> 00:36:03.460 you still. 00:36:03.460 --> 00:36:18.340 but as I ran 00:36:18.340 --> 00:36:21.240 my help and race 00:36:21.240 --> 00:36:23.480 indifferent to 00:36:23.480 --> 00:36:26.099 the cause, 00:36:26.599 --> 00:36:28.240 you looked upon 00:36:28.240 --> 00:36:31.159 my helpless state 00:36:31.159 --> 00:36:32.859 and led me 00:36:32.859 --> 00:36:36.259 to the cross. 00:36:36.739 --> 00:36:39.099 And I beheld 00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:41.019 God's love displayed, 00:36:41.779 --> 00:36:42.960 you suffered 00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:46.559 in my place, 00:36:47.179 --> 00:36:49.639 you bore the wrath 00:36:49.639 --> 00:36:51.699 reserved for me, 00:36:51.699 --> 00:36:54.960 now all I know 00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:58.139 is grace. 00:36:58.139 --> 00:37:03.920 Alleluia, 00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:09.679 All I have is Christ. 00:37:09.679 --> 00:37:13.960 Alleluia, 00:37:13.960 --> 00:37:19.460 Jesus is my life. 00:37:19.719 --> 00:37:23.679 Alleluia, 00:37:23.679 --> 00:37:29.079 All I have is Christ. 00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:33.079 Alleluia, 00:37:33.079 --> 00:37:38.940 Jesus is my life. 00:37:38.940 --> 00:37:39.940 Alleluia, 00:37:39.940 --> 00:37:40.940 Alleluia, 00:37:40.940 --> 00:37:41.940 Alleluia, 00:37:41.940 --> 00:37:42.940 Alleluia, 00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:43.940 Alleluia, 00:37:43.940 --> 00:37:44.940 Alleluia, 00:37:44.940 --> 00:37:45.940 Alleluia, 00:37:45.940 --> 00:37:46.940 Alleluia, 00:37:46.940 --> 00:37:47.940 Alleluia, 00:37:47.940 --> 00:37:48.940 Alleluia, 00:37:48.940 --> 00:37:48.960 Now, 00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:49.519 Lord, 00:37:49.619 --> 00:37:53.059 I would be yours alone 00:37:53.059 --> 00:37:58.320 and live so all might see. 00:37:58.320 --> 00:38:01.480 The strength to follow 00:38:01.480 --> 00:38:03.519 your commands 00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:08.240 could never come from me. 00:38:08.239 --> 00:38:10.239 O Father, 00:38:10.239 --> 00:38:11.239 O Father, 00:38:11.239 --> 00:38:13.719 use my ransom life 00:38:13.719 --> 00:38:16.239 in any way 00:38:16.239 --> 00:38:18.679 you choose 00:38:18.679 --> 00:38:21.279 and let my song 00:38:21.279 --> 00:38:23.699 forever be 00:38:23.699 --> 00:38:26.239 my only boast 00:38:26.239 --> 00:38:28.239 Christ is you. 00:38:28.239 --> 00:38:33.239 Alleluia, 00:38:33.239 --> 00:38:35.239 Alleluia, 00:38:35.239 --> 00:38:40.239 All I have is Christ. 00:38:40.239 --> 00:38:44.239 Alleluia, 00:38:44.239 --> 00:38:45.239 Alleluia, 00:38:45.239 --> 00:38:53.619 Jesus is my life. 00:38:53.619 --> 00:38:56.000 Alleluia, 00:38:56.000 --> 00:38:59.839 All I have is Christ. 00:38:59.839 --> 00:39:03.959 Alleluia, 00:39:03.960 --> 00:39:10.760 Jesus is my life. 00:39:14.539 --> 00:39:19.139 Lord, may that be the story and the joy of every one of us 00:39:19.139 --> 00:39:22.019 to be able to say, all I have is Christ. 00:39:23.019 --> 00:39:24.280 Jesus is my life. 00:39:24.940 --> 00:39:26.699 And for that to be an item of praise. 00:39:27.780 --> 00:39:30.579 And may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:39:30.579 --> 00:39:34.940 and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 00:39:34.940 --> 00:39:36.619 be with you all. 00:39:36.619 --> 00:39:37.779 Amen.