WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.480 Good morning, church. 00:00:02.600 --> 00:00:09.220 What a privilege for me to be able to share God's word with you this morning, for us to look 00:00:09.220 --> 00:00:09.820 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.359 Let's ask the Lord to open our hearts this morning to the truths that we find here. 00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:44.480 So read, as I read, if you would, in your hearts, read along with me, chapter 31 of Psalm. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:48.320 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge. 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:51.400 Let me never be put to shame. 00:00:52.359 --> 00:00:54.840 In your righteousness, deliver me. 00:00:55.859 --> 00:00:57.219 Incline your ear to me. 00:00:57.420 --> 00:00:58.980 Rescue me speedily. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.959 Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me. 00:01:06.799 --> 00:01:10.280 For you are my rock and my fortress. 00:01:11.060 --> 00:01:14.359 And for your namesake, you lead me and guide me. 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:20.379 And you take me out of the net there they have laid hidden for me. 00:01:20.740 --> 00:01:22.640 For you are my refuge. 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:25.780 Into your hand I commit my spirit. 00:01:26.140 --> 00:01:29.539 You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:33.200 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols. 00:01:33.959 --> 00:01:35.719 But I trust in the Lord. 00:01:35.959 --> 00:01:39.960 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love. 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:42.200 Because you have seen my affliction. 00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:45.420 You have known the distress of my soul. 00:01:45.420 --> 00:01:48.760 And you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy. 00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:52.040 You have set my feet in a broad place. 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:54.800 Be gracious to me, O Lord. 00:01:54.800 --> 00:01:56.500 For I am in distress. 00:01:57.000 --> 00:01:59.780 My eye is wasted from grief. 00:01:59.900 --> 00:02:02.219 My soul and my body also. 00:02:02.960 --> 00:02:05.120 For my life is spent with sorrow. 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:08.120 And my years was sighing. 00:02:08.379 --> 00:02:11.360 My strength fails because of my iniquity. 00:02:11.640 --> 00:02:13.819 And my bones waste away. 00:02:13.819 --> 00:02:17.000 Because of all my adversaries. 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:18.780 I have become a reproach. 00:02:19.379 --> 00:02:20.859 Especially to my neighbors. 00:02:21.959 --> 00:02:24.840 And an object of dread to my acquaintances. 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:28.259 For those who see me in the street flee from me. 00:02:28.900 --> 00:02:31.719 I have been forgotten like one who is dead. 00:02:31.719 --> 00:02:34.699 I have become like a broken vessel. 00:02:34.919 --> 00:02:37.560 For I hear the whispering of many. 00:02:38.300 --> 00:02:40.180 Terror on every side. 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:42.840 As they scheme together against me. 00:02:42.900 --> 00:02:45.419 As they plot to take my life. 00:02:45.819 --> 00:02:47.699 But I trust in you, O Lord. 00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:49.960 I say, you are my God. 00:02:50.900 --> 00:02:52.860 My times are in your hand. 00:02:53.780 --> 00:02:55.800 Rescue me from the hand of my enemies. 00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:57.659 And from my persecutors. 00:02:58.099 --> 00:03:00.539 Make your face shine on your servant. 00:03:00.819 --> 00:03:01.479 Save me. 00:03:01.719 --> 00:03:03.400 In your steadfast love. 00:03:03.460 --> 00:03:03.960 O Lord. 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:06.539 Let me not be put to shame. 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:08.360 For I call upon you. 00:03:08.819 --> 00:03:10.560 Let the wicked be put to shame. 00:03:10.979 --> 00:03:13.719 Let them go silently to Sheol. 00:03:14.419 --> 00:03:16.400 Let the lying lips be mute. 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:19.939 With which insolently against the righteous. 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:22.159 Which speak insolently against the righteous. 00:03:22.439 --> 00:03:23.699 In pride and contempt. 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:26.460 O how abundant is your goodness. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:29.560 Which you have stored up for those who fear you. 00:03:29.979 --> 00:03:31.659 And worked for those who take. 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:32.859 Refuge in you. 00:03:32.859 --> 00:03:35.859 In the sight of the children of mankind. 00:03:36.680 --> 00:03:39.439 In the cover of your presence you hide them. 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:41.079 From the plots of men. 00:03:41.960 --> 00:03:45.919 You store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. 00:03:45.919 --> 00:03:47.599 Blessed be the Lord. 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:51.739 For he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me. 00:03:52.099 --> 00:03:54.139 When I was in a besieged city. 00:03:54.679 --> 00:03:56.279 I had said in my alarm. 00:03:56.399 --> 00:03:57.899 I am cut off from your sight. 00:03:58.439 --> 00:04:01.060 But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. 00:04:01.060 --> 00:04:03.259 When I cried to you for help. 00:04:03.259 --> 00:04:04.860 Love the Lord. 00:04:05.020 --> 00:04:06.699 All you his saints. 00:04:06.699 --> 00:04:08.920 The Lord preserves the faithful. 00:04:09.420 --> 00:04:12.659 But abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. 00:04:13.020 --> 00:04:15.379 Be strong and let your heart take courage. 00:04:15.819 --> 00:04:18.340 All you who wait for the Lord. 00:04:18.339 --> 00:04:21.519 God bless the reading of his word. 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:22.359 Let me pray. 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:25.019 Father we give you thanks for your word. 00:04:25.159 --> 00:04:26.159 The power of your word. 00:04:26.259 --> 00:04:27.500 The truth of your word. 00:04:27.779 --> 00:04:30.359 The transforming grace of your word. 00:04:30.479 --> 00:04:31.839 God I pray that this morning. 00:04:32.099 --> 00:04:33.939 That your word would come alive to us. 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:34.879 And touch our hearts. 00:04:35.039 --> 00:04:35.859 Not just our heads. 00:04:35.860 --> 00:04:40.100 God we come before you now. 00:04:40.199 --> 00:04:42.860 To open the word that you've graciously given to us. 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:44.639 That we might receive from you. 00:04:44.699 --> 00:04:46.400 So God would you give to us. 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:48.460 That which is your truth. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:49.819 And would you touch us deeply. 00:04:50.020 --> 00:04:50.680 We pray in your name. 00:04:50.900 --> 00:04:51.139 Amen. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:52.920 You can have a seat. 00:04:57.560 --> 00:05:00.759 This morning as we look at this passage. 00:05:00.900 --> 00:05:01.520 I want to ask. 00:05:01.620 --> 00:05:02.740 I want to start with a question. 00:05:02.740 --> 00:05:08.139 Have you ever had times in your life. 00:05:08.900 --> 00:05:10.019 That were hard. 00:05:12.579 --> 00:05:15.879 Have you ever had unexpected trials. 00:05:19.220 --> 00:05:21.400 Have you ever been in a spot. 00:05:21.960 --> 00:05:23.240 Where you would say. 00:05:23.639 --> 00:05:25.900 How in the world do I get out of this. 00:05:28.040 --> 00:05:31.079 Have you ever been so down on your luck. 00:05:32.740 --> 00:05:35.620 That you say. 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:36.480 Why? 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:39.500 Why is this happening to me? 00:05:41.100 --> 00:05:42.860 Have you ever been in a place. 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:43.980 Where you didn't know. 00:05:44.139 --> 00:05:44.240 What. 00:05:44.960 --> 00:05:46.740 How you would make it to the next day. 00:05:48.620 --> 00:05:51.600 Have you ever been so emotionally spent. 00:05:53.079 --> 00:05:55.400 That you didn't have anything left to give. 00:05:56.500 --> 00:05:57.560 Have you ever. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:00.160 Had hard times in your life. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:02.660 Well this morning. 00:06:02.840 --> 00:06:03.580 We're going to see. 00:06:03.780 --> 00:06:04.420 That David. 00:06:05.880 --> 00:06:07.120 Is expressing. 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:08.720 That very thing. 00:06:08.780 --> 00:06:09.500 In his life. 00:06:10.620 --> 00:06:12.360 And we want to look at the word. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:13.340 And see. 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:14.920 What it is. 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:16.440 David's trying to tell us. 00:06:16.520 --> 00:06:16.879 This morning. 00:06:17.900 --> 00:06:19.240 And even better yet. 00:06:19.340 --> 00:06:21.280 What is it that God's trying to tell us. 00:06:21.400 --> 00:06:21.960 Through David. 00:06:22.500 --> 00:06:24.020 As we look at this. 00:06:24.400 --> 00:06:24.740 Psalm. 00:06:24.980 --> 00:06:25.480 This morning. 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:27.520 So what I want to do. 00:06:27.660 --> 00:06:29.960 Is I want to ask three questions first. 00:06:30.120 --> 00:06:32.040 That really comprises the whole. 00:06:32.540 --> 00:06:32.920 Psalm. 00:06:33.340 --> 00:06:35.200 And then after those three questions. 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:36.540 I want to look specifically. 00:06:36.540 --> 00:06:38.360 At verses one through five. 00:06:38.500 --> 00:06:40.020 And dig a little deeper. 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:43.319 And find the nuggets of gold. 00:06:43.460 --> 00:06:44.759 That are in those five verses. 00:06:44.960 --> 00:06:45.319 First. 00:06:45.819 --> 00:06:46.819 This question. 00:06:47.960 --> 00:06:50.540 What is it that we see this morning. 00:06:50.540 --> 00:06:51.360 About God. 00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:53.660 What does this Psalm reveal. 00:06:53.660 --> 00:06:55.340 About God. 00:06:56.460 --> 00:06:58.540 What did David know. 00:06:58.540 --> 00:06:59.620 About God. 00:06:59.820 --> 00:07:02.180 How well did David know. 00:07:02.720 --> 00:07:03.040 God. 00:07:03.820 --> 00:07:05.540 What does he say here. 00:07:06.700 --> 00:07:08.020 In this Psalm. 00:07:09.980 --> 00:07:12.580 Well let's look at a few verses. 00:07:12.900 --> 00:07:14.379 And we want to look and see. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:16.000 What David declares. 00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:18.280 About who is this God. 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:20.160 You know I think that is. 00:07:20.600 --> 00:07:21.920 Incredibly important. 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:24.819 When we have these difficult times. 00:07:24.819 --> 00:07:25.580 In our life. 00:07:26.259 --> 00:07:28.780 That we know who he is. 00:07:29.840 --> 00:07:31.120 And so we look. 00:07:31.300 --> 00:07:32.360 At verse one. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:34.180 And do you notice. 00:07:34.360 --> 00:07:36.080 That David calls him Lord. 00:07:38.379 --> 00:07:38.939 Lord. 00:07:39.020 --> 00:07:39.759 What is the Lord. 00:07:39.939 --> 00:07:40.240 One. 00:07:40.900 --> 00:07:42.060 To whom you bow. 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:47.100 And he makes this claim. 00:07:47.100 --> 00:07:47.460 That. 00:07:48.040 --> 00:07:49.379 God is righteous. 00:07:49.379 --> 00:07:56.139 Coupled with that. 00:07:56.219 --> 00:07:57.079 Is this concept. 00:07:57.279 --> 00:07:58.699 Of the righteous God. 00:07:58.779 --> 00:08:00.300 Does righteous things. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:03.180 And all that God ever does. 00:08:03.180 --> 00:08:03.899 Is righteous. 00:08:04.980 --> 00:08:06.740 I think that's important. 00:08:07.420 --> 00:08:09.620 When we're in the midst of the trials. 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:10.899 The deep time. 00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:12.259 Hard times in our life. 00:08:12.980 --> 00:08:14.060 Reminding ourselves. 00:08:14.060 --> 00:08:15.019 That he's righteous. 00:08:15.159 --> 00:08:16.439 And not only is he righteous. 00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:18.259 He is able to deliver. 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:18.899 Do you see it? 00:08:18.899 --> 00:08:19.339 David. 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:22.139 David knows this. 00:08:22.239 --> 00:08:23.319 And calls out on God. 00:08:23.379 --> 00:08:23.620 And says. 00:08:23.799 --> 00:08:24.659 Deliver me. 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:27.039 Why would he ask that. 00:08:27.159 --> 00:08:27.919 If he didn't believe. 00:08:28.019 --> 00:08:28.979 That God was able. 00:08:29.159 --> 00:08:29.699 To deliver. 00:08:29.859 --> 00:08:30.639 You know he is. 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:32.759 He's able to deliver. 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:33.519 You and I. 00:08:34.379 --> 00:08:35.480 According to the truth. 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:36.340 Of this passage. 00:08:36.939 --> 00:08:38.419 And then David says. 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:40.439 Incline your ear to me. 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:42.199 Rescue me speedily. 00:08:42.259 --> 00:08:43.039 What is he saying? 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:45.159 I know you hear. 00:08:46.039 --> 00:08:47.779 God is able to hear. 00:08:47.779 --> 00:08:48.779 So what do we see? 00:08:48.860 --> 00:08:50.279 This Lord is righteous. 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:52.919 He's able to deliver. 00:08:53.319 --> 00:08:54.959 He's able to hear. 00:08:55.699 --> 00:08:57.360 The cries of his people. 00:08:58.059 --> 00:08:59.439 Verse 3 declares this. 00:08:59.860 --> 00:09:00.539 David says. 00:09:00.659 --> 00:09:01.740 You are my rock. 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:04.539 And we will dig a little deeper on this. 00:09:05.019 --> 00:09:06.199 In just a few minutes. 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:10.159 Rock. 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:10.199 Rock. 00:09:10.740 --> 00:09:11.899 What is he saying? 00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:15.259 That you are my rock. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:18.240 And on top of that. 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:20.120 It says you're my fortress. 00:09:20.339 --> 00:09:22.299 Well a rock would be something stable. 00:09:22.299 --> 00:09:22.600 Right? 00:09:23.659 --> 00:09:25.139 You are my stability. 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:26.620 And you are my fortress. 00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:28.139 The place that I run to. 00:09:29.939 --> 00:09:31.319 Do you believe that true? 00:09:31.439 --> 00:09:32.980 Do you know God in that way? 00:09:33.059 --> 00:09:34.399 That he is a rock for you? 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:35.839 That he is a fortress for you? 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:39.860 Verse 4 declares this. 00:09:39.920 --> 00:09:40.220 He says. 00:09:40.300 --> 00:09:41.780 You are my refuge. 00:09:43.060 --> 00:09:45.200 The place that I flee to. 00:09:45.740 --> 00:09:48.100 The place that I find protection. 00:09:50.300 --> 00:09:53.379 David declares that God is that for him. 00:09:53.460 --> 00:09:54.300 His rock. 00:09:54.899 --> 00:09:55.960 His fortress. 00:09:56.580 --> 00:09:57.480 His refuge. 00:09:57.480 --> 00:09:57.780 His refuge. 00:09:59.340 --> 00:10:01.200 Do you think of those things? 00:10:01.340 --> 00:10:02.820 Do you meditate on those things? 00:10:02.940 --> 00:10:05.300 Do you so deeply know those things? 00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:08.180 That at moments in your life that are the hardest. 00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:09.460 Do you remember these? 00:10:09.560 --> 00:10:10.640 Do you declare these? 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:15.440 And he goes on to say this. 00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:16.840 That you are my redeemer. 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:25.879 To redeem or to purchase or to take out of this situation. 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:29.240 And redeem the situation for David. 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:32.860 That he is the one who is able to redeem. 00:10:35.139 --> 00:10:38.440 That has more depth that we will explore in a couple of minutes. 00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:40.820 Again he says. 00:10:41.019 --> 00:10:41.399 Lord. 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:43.620 You are my Lord. 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:44.680 And you are faithful. 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:46.460 Think about these truths. 00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:49.279 He is Lord. 00:10:49.419 --> 00:10:50.820 He is able to deliver. 00:10:51.060 --> 00:10:52.060 He hears. 00:10:53.139 --> 00:10:54.299 Not only our mouth. 00:10:54.379 --> 00:10:55.440 But he hears our heart. 00:10:56.220 --> 00:10:57.200 He is a rock. 00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:58.080 He is a fortress. 00:10:58.080 --> 00:10:59.240 He is a refuge. 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:00.460 He is a redeemer. 00:11:00.620 --> 00:11:01.360 He is Lord. 00:11:01.460 --> 00:11:02.520 And he is faithful. 00:11:04.060 --> 00:11:07.200 This God is always faithful. 00:11:08.060 --> 00:11:11.060 He always does what he says he's going to do. 00:11:14.060 --> 00:11:15.020 Look with me. 00:11:15.180 --> 00:11:16.900 I'll skip to verse 14. 00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:19.200 Notice he says. 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:20.600 You are my God. 00:11:21.180 --> 00:11:23.320 Very personal here. 00:11:23.320 --> 00:11:30.080 There is something to do about a relationship that he has. 00:11:30.160 --> 00:11:31.320 You are my God. 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:34.960 God is the one who is sovereign and above all. 00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:40.620 And we could spend the whole sermon talking about what he means when he says you're my God. 00:11:41.920 --> 00:11:44.440 But we want to move on and look at more. 00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:47.460 He says you are the one who rescues. 00:11:47.460 --> 00:11:51.420 Able to rescue in verse 15. 00:11:53.280 --> 00:11:57.380 And notice in 16 that God is a God of steadfast love. 00:12:00.060 --> 00:12:06.720 Have you so embraced that, Christian, that it's never questioned in your heart? 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:15.080 Do you truly believe in all circumstances that God is a God of steadfast love? 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:16.519 You know what it means to be steadfast? 00:12:16.940 --> 00:12:17.820 It means never changing. 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:23.519 The love of God for you never changes, Christian. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:29.180 No matter how bad the situation, it never changes. 00:12:29.179 --> 00:12:33.799 Does that give you comfort? 00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:41.839 Notice in verse 19 that God is full of goodness. 00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:51.259 You know what that means? 00:12:51.339 --> 00:12:53.299 That there's nothing else in the cup. 00:12:55.199 --> 00:12:57.500 There's no badness there. 00:12:58.019 --> 00:12:58.979 He's full of goodness. 00:12:58.980 --> 00:13:00.399 He's the source of all good. 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:04.100 That is the God that David knows. 00:13:06.539 --> 00:13:09.879 Again, in 21, we see this steadfast love. 00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:17.300 And again, we see that in 22, that he is the one who sees and he is the one who hears. 00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:20.300 Do you ever doubt that? 00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:26.240 Have you ever had a time in your life where you questioned whether that was true? 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:37.460 Have you ever been in such a place that you prayed because you wanted to commune with God? 00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:39.240 You wanted to talk to God. 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:42.200 You wanted to hear from God and the ceiling was just too strong? 00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:45.480 It's as if your prayers bounced right off the ceiling. 00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:46.680 It's like, where are you? 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:47.759 Don't you hear me? 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:55.939 And we begin to question because we don't quite get what we think we need. 00:13:55.940 --> 00:14:02.000 But he declares here that he is the one who sees and the one who hears. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:05.560 And not only that, look at the beautiful picture in 23. 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:15.139 When David's talking to other believers, he said, all of you saints, the Lord preserves the faithful. 00:14:15.579 --> 00:14:16.599 A sermon by itself. 00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:19.459 The Lord preserves. 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:22.559 He is the one who preserves. 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:24.579 What does he preserve from? 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:27.219 What does he preserve to? 00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:35.820 Ultimately, do you know that our salvation is because he preserves us unto eternal life? 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:41.259 He's the source of and the preservation to salvation. 00:14:42.180 --> 00:14:45.180 It is the hand of God that he would keep us. 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:50.840 And notice this also in 23, the opposite side of that coin. 00:14:51.920 --> 00:14:55.440 God is the one who preserves, but God is also the judge. 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.060 Do you see it? 00:14:57.220 --> 00:15:03.080 He abundantly repays the one who turns away from him. 00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:07.139 In this case, the one who acts in pride and chases his own way. 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:12.940 God is the preserver of life and the judge of those who turn away from him. 00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:17.820 Do you hear these amazing truths about God? 00:15:18.680 --> 00:15:20.740 Do you, Christian, know him in this way? 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:30.500 And maybe there's someone here who is not in the kingdom, who doesn't profess Christ as Lord and Savior, who is not saved. 00:15:31.299 --> 00:15:37.240 But you're investigating the claims of the Bible to see what does it say? 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:43.100 Do you hear the beauty of who God is? 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:47.519 The declaration that David shares here in this psalm? 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:57.079 And by the way, as you dig in Scripture, you will see that over and over and over and over again, these truths are displayed. 00:15:57.080 --> 00:16:00.540 Not only in the words of the pages, but in the lives of the people. 00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:04.820 Christian, have you come to know him in this way? 00:16:07.940 --> 00:16:10.860 Seeker, do you believe it? 00:16:11.520 --> 00:16:21.680 Do you believe that this is the God, the one who redeems, the one who is the rock, the fortress, the one who is able to be a refuge, the one who loves steadfastly? 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:22.299 Do you believe it? 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:25.719 So question one is this. 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:27.959 What do we see here? 00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:29.879 Who do we see this God to be? 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:31.159 What do we see about God? 00:16:31.239 --> 00:16:32.459 What do we learn about God? 00:16:32.579 --> 00:16:36.179 All these truths are declared throughout the pages of Scripture. 00:16:36.739 --> 00:16:37.739 Question number two. 00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:41.259 What is David's circumstance? 00:16:42.239 --> 00:16:43.419 What is his situation? 00:16:44.959 --> 00:16:47.939 What does David declare about his situation here? 00:16:47.939 --> 00:16:51.099 Why is it that he's reaching out to God? 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:54.459 This God who he knows is able to hear? 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:57.059 This God who's not far away? 00:16:57.459 --> 00:16:58.819 This God who loves him? 00:16:59.059 --> 00:17:00.379 This God who redeems him? 00:17:00.439 --> 00:17:01.759 The God that's able? 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:05.159 What is this situation? 00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:13.839 Let's look primarily at the middle section of this psalm and see the situation that David finds himself in. 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:23.699 I would love to dig phrase by phrase, verse by verse, but I just want you to see quickly what David says about his situation. 00:17:25.859 --> 00:17:27.199 See in verse 7? 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:31.660 He says that he's in affliction. 00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:35.080 Now we don't know the time frame. 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:42.200 It's very difficult in this psalm to figure out when does this actually, when did it actually happen in the life of David? 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:48.120 I don't know that anybody with confidence can say it's that moment. 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:53.799 So not knowing that, we have to try to glean what is going on in David's life. 00:17:53.860 --> 00:17:59.680 Though we don't know the exact moment, we really do get a glimpse of the difficulty that he's in right now. 00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:01.759 So listen again to these things. 00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:03.000 He says he's in affliction. 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:05.279 He's in distress of soul. 00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:06.220 Have you ever been there? 00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:13.839 Have you ever been so distressed as if it's at the deepest core of who you are? 00:18:14.620 --> 00:18:17.980 And it's affecting every ounce of who you are. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:23.240 Have you ever been so despondent that you didn't know where to turn, where to go, what to do. 00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:25.600 And it was heavy. 00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:28.299 And the future was totally unknown. 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:32.740 And the moment is so strong that you can't hardly endure. 00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:36.940 This distress of soul. 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:42.759 In verse 9 he says, the tears in my eyes were abundant. 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:46.000 My eye is wasted from grief. 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:56.380 This never leaving gnawing in his heart, this grief that won't go away, has produced in him these tears. 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:58.359 He can't cry it out. 00:18:58.359 --> 00:19:03.719 He's cried and he's cried to the point where the tears don't even flow anymore. 00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:06.019 That level of grief. 00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:11.359 And he says in verse 10, this sorrow and sighing and this failing of strength. 00:19:11.659 --> 00:19:12.500 Are you depressed yet? 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:17.219 You know, some of the Psalms are just like that, aren't they? 00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:19.119 David is just raw and real. 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:28.739 And the truth is probably as I'm sharing this that perhaps memories have flashed in your mind. 00:19:29.739 --> 00:19:33.079 Our memories have touched your heart even this morning. 00:19:33.939 --> 00:19:38.019 If I were to challenge you to say, has there ever been a time like this for you? 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:49.400 Have you ever been in a place that was so heavy and full of distress, full of grief, full of sorrow, full of sighing, 00:19:49.639 --> 00:19:53.319 so much so that you're like, I have no energy to do anything. 00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:56.079 I am spent. 00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:58.900 I don't know what the future holds. 00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:02.019 I don't know how this is ever going to change. 00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:06.119 He goes on, he says, my bones waste away. 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:09.679 Have you ever been in a time where your bones waste away? 00:20:09.919 --> 00:20:11.159 What does he mean by that? 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:14.259 He doesn't mean his bones melt and he doesn't have a hand. 00:20:14.379 --> 00:20:19.279 What he means is it's touching me to the depth, the greatest depth of who I am. 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:20.519 It's touching my soul. 00:20:20.659 --> 00:20:21.619 It's touching my eyes. 00:20:21.679 --> 00:20:22.679 It's touching my bones. 00:20:22.859 --> 00:20:24.699 It's affecting me fully. 00:20:24.899 --> 00:20:26.519 I can't run from this thing. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:35.399 Notice what he says about how people view him. 00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:40.959 Have you ever been in one of those places and you look and there's nobody to turn to? 00:20:41.919 --> 00:20:44.819 It's like, who can I go to to get relief? 00:20:44.919 --> 00:20:46.659 Who can I go to to get help? 00:20:48.159 --> 00:20:51.399 And he says this, he says, I have become a reproach. 00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:56.100 Especially to my neighbors. 00:20:57.900 --> 00:21:01.519 Those who are closest to me, to them I've become a reproach. 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:06.800 It's like I'm a leper and they're putting me out to pasture and said, don't come close to me. 00:21:06.840 --> 00:21:08.100 I don't want anything to do with you, man. 00:21:11.300 --> 00:21:13.940 He's in a rough spot, evidently. 00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:18.160 I have been forgotten like one who is dead. 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:20.180 Where did all my friends go? 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:24.759 Does that remind you of anybody else in Scripture? 00:21:27.080 --> 00:21:30.840 Is anyone coming to mind as I'm reading through this? 00:21:31.080 --> 00:21:37.820 Do you see in this situation the last week of Christ's life? 00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:47.019 If we were to think of what the Scriptures declare about that week, the Passion Week, 00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:49.379 do we see distress? 00:21:50.579 --> 00:21:51.839 Do we see affliction? 00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:54.679 Do we see tears? 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:58.559 Do we see sorrow, sighing? 00:21:58.559 --> 00:22:06.079 Do you see his friends fleeing from him and leaving him by himself? 00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:06.899 Do you remember that? 00:22:08.379 --> 00:22:09.879 It was prophesied even. 00:22:10.899 --> 00:22:17.480 Do we see that he's been forgotten in a sense by all his friends they've out of fear run? 00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:28.539 Even in this situation, there's the picture of Christ through whatever it is that's going on in the life of David. 00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:34.319 Notice in 13, it says there's terror on every side. 00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:38.879 They plot to take my life. 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.940 David's in a rough spot. 00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:45.379 Christ was in a rougher spot. 00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:52.099 However, you know what Jesus knew? 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:56.299 He knew his Father more than we could possibly imagine. 00:22:56.299 --> 00:23:04.480 The fellowship and the understanding of who he is, who the Father is, was a comfort to Christ. 00:23:04.639 --> 00:23:04.839 Yes? 00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:11.240 Do you think the knowledge of God was also a comfort to David? 00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:14.000 Let me ask this question again. 00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:18.700 Where do you turn in those hard times in your life? 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:24.360 You know where I tend to turn? 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:29.319 At least in my prior life. 00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:30.519 That's before I was really born. 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:32.220 I was here, but I wasn't really born. 00:23:32.340 --> 00:23:33.259 I wasn't born of the Spirit. 00:23:33.340 --> 00:23:33.980 I wasn't a Christian. 00:23:34.100 --> 00:23:36.019 I wasn't in a relationship with God. 00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:37.259 Where did I turn? 00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:39.900 How high is the mountain? 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.640 I can climb it. 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:49.220 You know, there's a sense when you're a young kid, you can do anything, especially a guy, athletic. 00:23:49.879 --> 00:23:51.940 I'll climb whatever mountain you say I can't climb. 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:52.539 Just watch. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.279 I can do that. 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:54.940 I can do it. 00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:59.500 In a sense, we thought we could conquer any foe, so to speak. 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:01.799 Any challenge we could conquer. 00:24:02.320 --> 00:24:04.180 We, me, and me, and those like me. 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:06.960 There was a time when I thought I could do it. 00:24:08.120 --> 00:24:10.759 My own ability, my own skills, my own whatever. 00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:15.860 And if I didn't have enough wisdom to figure it out, I could go ask a few friends, 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:20.240 and I could try to rally all that information and figure out how to make it happen and fix it. 00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:22.860 You ever tried to fix it yourself? 00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:27.700 Isn't that where we often turn, I'm going to figure this thing out. 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:29.519 I'm going to tighten my belt a little bit tighter. 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:31.299 I'm going to really focus. 00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:31.920 I'm going to leave it. 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.559 I'm going to do this thing. 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:39.920 We tend to want to do it ourselves, our own strength, our own ability, our own wisdom, 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:41.440 our own thinking, our own ways. 00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:48.160 Me, me, me, me, me, me, and me is often how we try to fight these tough times. 00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:51.299 But we're reminded here. 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:52.980 David is reminding himself. 00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:53.779 Do you hear it? 00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:55.079 No, this is God. 00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:55.779 This is God. 00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:56.420 This is God. 00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.039 This is God. 00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:57.619 This is God. 00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:59.000 Here's who God is. 00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:03.899 Steadfast love, redeemer, rock, fortress, refuge. 00:25:04.139 --> 00:25:04.720 He's able. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.160 He hears. 00:25:06.420 --> 00:25:07.139 He sees. 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:12.279 He's reminding himself that in the midst of the worst of the worst, God is still there. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:15.279 God's not gone. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:18.180 God didn't go take a break. 00:25:18.180 --> 00:25:23.580 Do you know, Christian, that that's very true for you and me too? 00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:26.740 Do we know it? 00:25:26.840 --> 00:25:30.920 Do we so know it that that's our reflex? 00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:37.460 Do we still try to figure out things on our own strength, our own wisdom, our own time, our own ability? 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:41.160 Do we go to the smart guys? 00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:46.120 Do we go to the guys with all the earthly smarts and say, man, you've been through this. 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:46.960 How do you fix this thing? 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:50.279 Or do we do what he did? 00:25:50.320 --> 00:25:50.960 Well, what do you do? 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:52.040 What do we see here? 00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:59.060 In the midst of the difficulty with the understanding of who God is, question number three, what did David do? 00:25:59.059 --> 00:26:29.059 What do you do? 00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:32.539 I'm calling out on you to deliver me, not somebody else. 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:39.539 He says in verse two, incline your ear to me, rescue me. 00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:44.579 It's almost like if you ever been around seeing, I know we watch movies. 00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:54.379 You ever know when someone's almost just on the edge of death that you can't hear what they're saying because they can't quite get it out. 00:26:54.380 --> 00:26:59.640 They put their ear as close to the mouth as they can and the person breathes something out. 00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:04.260 It's almost like David is saying, incline your ear. 00:27:04.380 --> 00:27:06.560 Can you come a little closer where you can hear me? 00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:09.040 I can't hardly even get it out. 00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:10.680 All I can do is whisper it. 00:27:14.840 --> 00:27:17.540 Fourteen, I trust in you. 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:23.120 I trust in you. 00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:25.639 You are my God. 00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:34.619 Don't you love that he's taking all of this stuff that he finds real in his life and he's saying, here it is. 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.279 Here it is. 00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:37.939 I trust in you. 00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:39.359 I'm not going anywhere else. 00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:45.000 I'm not going to chase after anyone else, anything else, any other method. 00:27:45.919 --> 00:27:47.039 I'm going to do this. 00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:48.739 I'm going to put it right in your hands. 00:27:50.479 --> 00:27:51.979 I'm going to trust you. 00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:53.360 I'm going to lean into you. 00:27:53.460 --> 00:27:55.200 I'm going to take my chances with you. 00:27:57.860 --> 00:28:00.360 My times are in your hand. 00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:02.620 Boy, what a depth there is there. 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:05.480 My times are in your hands. 00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:07.299 Do you think like that? 00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:12.019 Do you think like that? 00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:17.119 Do you understand that the sovereign God is overseeing the events of your life? 00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:23.259 Do you realize that those tough times are not out of his jurisdiction? 00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:26.239 They're not out of his range of ability. 00:28:26.379 --> 00:28:28.379 They're not out of his sovereign oversight. 00:28:28.380 --> 00:28:33.020 And he's saying, all right, it's bad. 00:28:33.840 --> 00:28:35.500 And I don't know how I'm getting out. 00:28:35.820 --> 00:28:37.420 And I'm crying out to you. 00:28:38.560 --> 00:28:40.600 Do you see the prayer this thing is? 00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.700 What did he do? 00:28:42.780 --> 00:28:43.800 He prayed. 00:28:45.300 --> 00:28:48.680 He verbally entrusted himself to God. 00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:52.380 God, my times are in your hands. 00:28:52.600 --> 00:28:55.620 No matter how bad it is now, you've got this. 00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:57.180 You do whatever you want to do. 00:28:59.340 --> 00:29:02.320 I'm trusting in you no matter what. 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:08.119 16, make your face shine on your servant. 00:29:08.659 --> 00:29:09.579 What is he doing? 00:29:09.659 --> 00:29:10.399 He's seeking God. 00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:14.439 Do you find in those hard times, Christian, 00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:20.279 that the best thing you can possibly do 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:23.460 is go wherever it is you need to go 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:30.000 and pour your heart out. 00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:34.159 You ever been there? 00:29:36.919 --> 00:29:39.000 You know, tough times are different. 00:29:39.179 --> 00:29:40.819 Sometimes they're physically tough. 00:29:40.919 --> 00:29:42.439 Sometimes they're emotionally tough. 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:44.079 Sometimes they're financially tough. 00:29:44.179 --> 00:29:45.799 Sometimes they're relationally tough. 00:29:46.639 --> 00:29:48.579 There's all these components of life. 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:51.639 And you don't necessarily get them all at one time. 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:55.099 Sometimes it's just one little type of difficulty 00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:58.119 and overwhelmingness that is in one arena. 00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:01.159 There's this place in West Ashley. 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.220 I'm a salesman, by the way. 00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:04.660 I get to drive my truck wherever I want to drive it. 00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:07.100 They don't let me go out of state often. 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:09.940 But I'm driving around in circles in my little territory. 00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:12.940 But I find myself when I'm overwhelmed, 00:30:13.140 --> 00:30:15.720 when I have not this level of distress, 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:17.759 but even just one little level of distress. 00:30:17.900 --> 00:30:18.440 You know what I do? 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:20.740 There's this ball field 00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:24.920 that nobody seems to ever hardly use. 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:26.920 It is in horrendous shape. 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:28.940 They don't know how to grow grass on this thing. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.160 It's just nasty. 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:31.320 Who would ever want to play ball? 00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:32.140 There's holes everywhere. 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:35.460 It is unsightly, but it is quiet. 00:30:36.540 --> 00:30:38.080 Since nobody likes to use it. 00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:41.660 For whatever reason, God has met me there. 00:30:41.660 --> 00:30:53.400 Where do you go? 00:30:56.100 --> 00:30:58.420 You know, there's nothing special about that ball field. 00:30:58.420 --> 00:31:05.240 Except for me, I heard him. 00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:09.560 He touched me right here. 00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:14.400 He comforted me. 00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:16.900 Not just once. 00:31:17.340 --> 00:31:18.300 Not just twice. 00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:20.019 Multiple times. 00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:24.920 When I'm the heaviest, I'm going there. 00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:25.460 Why? 00:31:25.700 --> 00:31:26.280 I don't know. 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:28.519 I don't know. 00:31:28.860 --> 00:31:29.680 There's a history. 00:31:32.360 --> 00:31:34.820 There's a history for me to be able to open up. 00:31:36.180 --> 00:31:37.920 For me to be able to be real. 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:42.800 And, you know, it's not about the place. 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:44.019 It's about the heart. 00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:44.680 Have you noticed? 00:31:45.840 --> 00:31:48.700 That God can do that in any spot, in any time. 00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:52.320 It doesn't take a ball field in West Ashley that looks really bad. 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:59.299 But it takes a guy who can get rid of all the noise and just be real with God. 00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:02.460 And trust themselves in God and say, God, I need your direction. 00:32:02.579 --> 00:32:03.619 I need you to show me. 00:32:03.679 --> 00:32:04.720 I need you to comfort me. 00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:06.819 I need to know what to do, God. 00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:08.460 I need to know where to step and how to go. 00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:12.240 That's what David did. 00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:12.779 Do you see it? 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:14.480 He turned to God. 00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:15.460 He said, I'm all in. 00:32:16.659 --> 00:32:18.179 I'm not going anywhere else. 00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:20.500 I'm seeking you and I'm you alone. 00:32:20.500 --> 00:32:22.099 I trust in you and you alone. 00:32:22.099 --> 00:32:23.480 I don't trust in anybody else. 00:32:23.619 --> 00:32:25.399 And you know what the result is? 00:32:25.459 --> 00:32:26.159 Look at 21. 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:35.859 If you ever had that moment when it breaks, you know, we think about that when it comes 00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:36.419 to fever. 00:32:36.619 --> 00:32:40.539 You know, we got a fever and then there's that moment when it breaks and you feel like you've 00:32:40.539 --> 00:32:42.579 gotten over the hurdle and it starts getting a little better. 00:32:43.639 --> 00:32:45.119 Yeah, it's almost in 21. 00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:46.639 It says, blessed be the Lord. 00:32:46.640 --> 00:32:52.100 There's a rejoicing and a blessing and a thankfulness. 00:32:52.300 --> 00:32:53.960 It's almost like he's singing. 00:32:55.100 --> 00:32:56.259 Listen, 21. 00:32:56.780 --> 00:33:01.920 Blessed be the Lord for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me. 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:11.220 It's almost like this remembrance of who he is in the spot in which he is with a heart that's 00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:14.860 willing to give him everything and to be all in. 00:33:15.120 --> 00:33:16.519 What happens rejoicing? 00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:20.359 What does that sound like to you? 00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:28.119 If I get you to toss around some New Testament scriptures, what does that sound like? 00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:34.399 Sounds a lot to me like James chapter 1 verses 2, 3, and 4. 00:33:36.199 --> 00:33:40.779 Where it talks about, he says, count it all joys, my brother, when you encounter various 00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:44.439 trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces what? 00:33:44.919 --> 00:33:50.319 This character quality, this peace, this incredible change. 00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:53.899 Count it all joy. 00:33:53.979 --> 00:33:54.859 What does that sound like? 00:33:54.899 --> 00:33:55.899 I just want to sing. 00:33:55.979 --> 00:33:56.939 I want to raise my hands. 00:33:56.940 --> 00:33:57.860 I want to rejoice. 00:33:58.340 --> 00:34:00.019 I want to give thanks to you. 00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:08.340 You know, I find this to be true is that when we really, truly in our heart of hearts entrust 00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:10.639 ourselves to God and go all in. 00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:13.800 I said, I'm not going anywhere else. 00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:15.900 I'm not seeking from anybody else. 00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:18.159 Not even the closest person I know. 00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:20.460 Not the smartest person I know. 00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:22.000 Not the strongest person I know. 00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:23.260 I'm not going to any of them. 00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:23.539 You know what? 00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:24.240 I'm going to you. 00:34:24.740 --> 00:34:25.940 I'm seeking you. 00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:27.619 You know what God does? 00:34:28.780 --> 00:34:30.039 It's about time. 00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:32.320 It's about time. 00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:33.400 What's taking you so long? 00:34:34.619 --> 00:34:39.340 You know, isn't that where he wants us to be in this life of dependency on him? 00:34:39.340 --> 00:34:44.800 I love it. 00:34:44.800 --> 00:34:52.579 And he tells the saints in verse 24, hey, saints, let your heart take courage. 00:34:53.880 --> 00:34:55.059 Wait on the Lord. 00:34:55.180 --> 00:34:55.440 Wait. 00:34:55.600 --> 00:34:56.800 What does the word wait mean? 00:34:57.980 --> 00:35:00.360 Wait means it ain't happened yet, but it will. 00:35:00.360 --> 00:35:09.660 There's a confidence that God has a perfect time to care for us in a perfect way and we can entrust ourselves to him. 00:35:10.420 --> 00:35:10.940 You see it? 00:35:11.960 --> 00:35:16.079 That he would instruct others to be strong and let your heart take courage, Christian. 00:35:16.460 --> 00:35:19.320 I'm going through it and I know you're going to go through it. 00:35:19.320 --> 00:35:21.059 Hey, this is the way to walk it. 00:35:21.420 --> 00:35:21.920 Verse 1. 00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:22.900 Turn with me, if you will. 00:35:23.220 --> 00:35:24.720 Let's dig a little deeper right quick. 00:35:30.840 --> 00:35:36.860 Interesting to me that verse 1, I didn't know this because I hadn't talked to Martin Luther in a while. 00:35:36.860 --> 00:35:44.320 So I didn't really remember this, but I heard somebody else that read something that he wrote who wrote it and I read it. 00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:44.920 Do you get that? 00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:50.059 Turns out that this verse was the inspiration for his salvation. 00:35:51.220 --> 00:35:52.840 Psalm 31, verse 1. 00:35:52.900 --> 00:35:53.360 Do you see it? 00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:55.880 It confused him. 00:35:57.519 --> 00:35:58.620 It confused him. 00:35:58.640 --> 00:35:59.599 Why did it confuse him? 00:35:59.620 --> 00:36:00.500 Look at it with me. 00:36:01.300 --> 00:36:04.480 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge. 00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:06.480 Let me never be put to shame. 00:36:06.599 --> 00:36:08.280 In your righteousness, deliver me. 00:36:08.900 --> 00:36:10.000 You know when he stopped? 00:36:10.679 --> 00:36:11.360 Wait a minute. 00:36:11.699 --> 00:36:12.740 That doesn't make any sense. 00:36:13.659 --> 00:36:15.199 In your righteousness, deliver me? 00:36:15.559 --> 00:36:16.380 What do you mean? 00:36:18.599 --> 00:36:18.980 Wait a minute. 00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:20.440 In your righteousness, deliver me. 00:36:20.460 --> 00:36:22.199 How is this righteousness going to deliver me? 00:36:23.300 --> 00:36:24.539 So he's confused. 00:36:26.860 --> 00:36:31.840 Wouldn't it be a better alternative if he would have said, David would have said, 00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:33.659 in your strength, deliver me. 00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:36.219 But it didn't say this. 00:36:36.300 --> 00:36:38.059 It said, in your righteousness, deliver me. 00:36:38.599 --> 00:36:39.740 What is being said here? 00:36:40.820 --> 00:36:48.260 Well, I don't have time to go to the real depth of this thing, but here's what Martin Luther did. 00:36:48.599 --> 00:36:51.320 He remembered Romans. 00:36:51.559 --> 00:36:55.000 And I forgot to put a marker on this, so let's see how fast I am. 00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:59.900 He remembered Romans 1, verse 17. 00:37:00.260 --> 00:37:06.059 And coupled with this verse, Martin Luther realized what salvation really is. 00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:09.500 Verse 17 says, for in it, in it what? 00:37:10.219 --> 00:37:11.000 In the gospel. 00:37:11.739 --> 00:37:12.500 What is the gospel? 00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:19.940 It said, salvation comes through faith in the finished work of Jesus for you. 00:37:19.940 --> 00:37:22.119 That's the gospel. 00:37:22.119 --> 00:37:24.460 If we were to read Romans 1, we would see it. 00:37:25.400 --> 00:37:27.179 And we get to verse 16. 00:37:27.260 --> 00:37:28.539 I'm not ashamed of the gospel. 00:37:29.240 --> 00:37:33.300 There's the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, Martin Luther reading. 00:37:34.240 --> 00:37:35.000 It's the 17. 00:37:35.220 --> 00:37:39.900 For it is the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. 00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:43.480 The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. 00:37:43.559 --> 00:37:45.740 That is written, the righteous shall live by faith. 00:37:45.739 --> 00:37:49.059 The righteousness of God was revealed. 00:37:50.059 --> 00:37:52.219 Those two verses led him into the kingdom. 00:37:52.339 --> 00:37:54.500 Do you know who the righteousness of God that was revealed? 00:37:54.979 --> 00:37:56.259 His name is Jesus. 00:37:57.759 --> 00:38:00.559 And it's through Jesus that we receive salvation. 00:38:03.539 --> 00:38:11.459 David might be thinking about it in a physical perspective, but in truth, God also meant it in a spiritual perspective. 00:38:12.139 --> 00:38:14.639 You know who the deliverer is spiritually? 00:38:15.739 --> 00:38:16.459 There's only one. 00:38:16.919 --> 00:38:17.559 It's Jesus. 00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:25.179 It's Jesus who lived in my place and died in my place that I might be in relationship to this holy God. 00:38:26.919 --> 00:38:28.000 So we keep going. 00:38:28.099 --> 00:38:31.679 It says that I take refuge in you and you alone. 00:38:31.799 --> 00:38:33.459 I trust in you alone. 00:38:33.719 --> 00:38:34.479 You are my Lord. 00:38:34.579 --> 00:38:35.159 You're my God. 00:38:35.219 --> 00:38:35.919 You're my refuge. 00:38:36.019 --> 00:38:36.599 You're my rock. 00:38:36.659 --> 00:38:37.439 You're my strength. 00:38:39.479 --> 00:38:40.839 Incline your ear to me, God. 00:38:40.840 --> 00:38:44.120 And verse 2, isn't this beautiful? 00:38:44.680 --> 00:38:46.720 Be a rock of refuge for me. 00:38:46.800 --> 00:38:48.940 And if you look at the next verse, it says you are a rock. 00:38:49.820 --> 00:38:50.620 Isn't it interesting? 00:38:52.180 --> 00:38:53.200 You are a rock. 00:38:53.300 --> 00:38:54.320 Be a rock for me. 00:38:56.559 --> 00:38:59.200 What is this thing about a rock? 00:38:59.300 --> 00:38:59.840 Isn't it cool? 00:38:59.900 --> 00:39:02.720 He says, I want you to be my rock. 00:39:03.460 --> 00:39:04.320 What is a rock? 00:39:04.400 --> 00:39:05.220 Think about this for a second. 00:39:05.559 --> 00:39:06.780 The picture is beautiful. 00:39:07.300 --> 00:39:09.820 In my mind, you know where I went first is the rock of Gibraltar. 00:39:11.100 --> 00:39:17.940 I don't know if y'all listened in geography class when you were younger, but there's this rock right where you enter the Mediterranean that's tall. 00:39:18.940 --> 00:39:19.580 The rock of Gibraltar. 00:39:19.660 --> 00:39:20.860 You know how many years it's been there? 00:39:23.220 --> 00:39:26.860 I bet a lot of people have come and gone, died, been born, died. 00:39:27.400 --> 00:39:29.140 I bet some wars have been fought nearby. 00:39:29.780 --> 00:39:30.160 Guess what? 00:39:30.180 --> 00:39:30.940 That rock's still there. 00:39:32.340 --> 00:39:33.500 That rock ain't going nowhere. 00:39:33.500 --> 00:39:34.460 That rock is stable. 00:39:35.360 --> 00:39:36.640 You know God's like that too? 00:39:37.240 --> 00:39:37.940 He ain't going nowhere. 00:39:38.920 --> 00:39:39.560 He's stable. 00:39:40.380 --> 00:39:42.680 You know a rock can also be viewed as a foundation. 00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:46.000 You know when you build a building, you better have a nice rock on the corner or you're in trouble. 00:39:46.920 --> 00:39:49.920 You know he talked about a cornerstone and Jesus is what? 00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:51.220 The chief cornerstone? 00:39:51.620 --> 00:39:54.820 Upon this rock I'll build my church and the gates of hell not prevail. 00:39:57.200 --> 00:39:58.980 You're my rock and you're my fortress. 00:39:59.140 --> 00:40:00.280 But I want you to see this. 00:40:00.280 --> 00:40:03.180 In you is the first two words. 00:40:04.060 --> 00:40:04.920 In you, Lord. 00:40:05.060 --> 00:40:05.900 In you. 00:40:06.780 --> 00:40:07.580 Interesting. 00:40:08.340 --> 00:40:10.900 In you, I trust. 00:40:13.800 --> 00:40:15.720 And then he goes in verse 3 and says, you are. 00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:18.060 Why does he trust? 00:40:18.140 --> 00:40:20.200 Because you are the rock. 00:40:20.300 --> 00:40:22.340 You are the fortress. 00:40:22.340 --> 00:40:23.039 You are. 00:40:29.559 --> 00:40:35.960 If you look, and I don't know if y'all notice this, but if you look at 2, 3, 4, and 5, how many times do you see the word me and my? 00:40:37.720 --> 00:40:39.280 Looks pretty personal, doesn't it? 00:40:39.280 --> 00:40:48.560 You know when we're in relationship to God and we know these things to be true, it's a powerful place to be. 00:40:48.559 --> 00:40:52.199 Our rock. 00:40:52.199 --> 00:40:54.860 Is God a rock for you? 00:40:58.440 --> 00:40:59.559 Isaiah 26. 00:40:59.559 --> 00:41:00.559 He's a rock. 00:41:00.559 --> 00:41:12.980 He's a rock. 00:41:13.039 --> 00:41:13.779 He's not going anywhere. 00:41:13.900 --> 00:41:14.360 He's stable. 00:41:15.299 --> 00:41:16.559 You can bet the house on it. 00:41:16.559 --> 00:41:24.960 Did you notice in verse 5 a phrase that was repeated in the New Testament? 00:41:26.719 --> 00:41:29.320 Into your hand I commit my spirit. 00:41:29.320 --> 00:41:32.720 You know who said that in the New Testament? 00:41:35.620 --> 00:41:36.019 Jesus. 00:41:36.160 --> 00:41:36.519 Thank you. 00:41:37.180 --> 00:41:37.600 Jesus. 00:41:37.740 --> 00:41:39.460 Jesus is quoting this verse. 00:41:41.880 --> 00:41:44.660 Do you think Jesus entrusted himself to God? 00:41:45.420 --> 00:41:46.900 Do you think Jesus was all in? 00:41:47.539 --> 00:41:51.940 Do you think Jesus knows what it's like to go through grief and suffering and hard times? 00:41:51.940 --> 00:42:07.420 You know, if we were to go read through the book of Luke or the book of Matthew, we would see the difficulty that Christ endured towards the end of his life before he was crucified on the cross. 00:42:07.420 --> 00:42:12.659 Listen to what Jesus says when he's on the Mount of Olives right before he dies. 00:42:12.740 --> 00:42:13.400 He says this. 00:42:13.820 --> 00:42:18.519 And he came out and went as was his custom to the Mount of Olives and his disciples followed him. 00:42:18.519 --> 00:42:24.440 And when he came to the place, he said to them, pray that you may not enter into temptation. 00:42:24.440 --> 00:42:26.900 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw. 00:42:26.960 --> 00:42:31.639 And he knelt down and prayed and said, Father, if you're willing, remove this cup from me. 00:42:31.900 --> 00:42:34.780 Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. 00:42:34.880 --> 00:42:36.659 Are we there? 00:42:39.099 --> 00:42:40.239 God, this is hard. 00:42:40.800 --> 00:42:43.079 I'm asking you to remove it from me. 00:42:43.420 --> 00:42:45.759 But if you don't, I'm okay with it. 00:42:45.760 --> 00:42:48.900 I want your will to be done, not mine. 00:42:49.220 --> 00:42:53.580 And if you have a purpose in this that I don't understand, praise be to your name. 00:42:59.080 --> 00:43:05.000 And then Christ, he wasn't delivered, was he, in the physical sense? 00:43:06.140 --> 00:43:11.080 He endured unimaginable suffering at the hands of lawless men. 00:43:11.080 --> 00:43:14.100 He was elevated on a tree, hung on a cross. 00:43:14.099 --> 00:43:15.579 He said this right before he died. 00:43:15.920 --> 00:43:20.860 Then Jesus called out with a loud voice, said, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. 00:43:21.319 --> 00:43:21.819 What does he mean? 00:43:23.159 --> 00:43:25.299 Into your hands I commit my spirit. 00:43:25.519 --> 00:43:33.639 Though this difficult thing in my life is happening, though I am on the cross about to die, 00:43:33.960 --> 00:43:35.940 into your hands I commit my spirit. 00:43:36.019 --> 00:43:40.360 Do you think that Christ was mocked? 00:43:40.400 --> 00:43:40.619 Yes. 00:43:40.619 --> 00:43:43.299 Do you think that he was mocked after he died? 00:43:44.599 --> 00:43:45.699 Do you think that Christ was? 00:43:45.880 --> 00:43:54.179 Here's what Spurgeon said about this total surrender, this total submission to the God that he knew, 00:43:54.659 --> 00:43:55.880 the God that David knows. 00:43:56.359 --> 00:44:01.500 Thus he does not surrender his life despondingly to death for destruction, 00:44:01.500 --> 00:44:06.500 but with triumphant consciousness to the Father for resurrection. 00:44:06.639 --> 00:44:07.360 You know what he knew? 00:44:08.360 --> 00:44:10.820 And he declared three days later, you know what's about to happen? 00:44:11.260 --> 00:44:12.619 That Jesus is going to rise from the dead. 00:44:12.619 --> 00:44:25.500 Though he died, he said, into your hands I commit my spirit. 00:44:25.619 --> 00:44:29.759 God, whatever you're planning, whatever your purpose, it's good with me. 00:44:30.739 --> 00:44:31.839 Christian, are we there? 00:44:31.840 --> 00:44:38.900 Do we realize that God loves us far beyond anything we can possibly imagine? 00:44:39.559 --> 00:44:42.720 Do you believe that God's sovereign and able to do all things? 00:44:42.820 --> 00:44:45.800 Do you believe that God has a plan for your good and his glory? 00:44:47.000 --> 00:44:52.340 You know, if we believe those three things, then in these moments we can have peace. 00:44:52.340 --> 00:44:56.240 It's hard to imagine in those moments we can rejoice. 00:44:56.460 --> 00:44:59.740 Have you ever found yourself in the heaviest of times with your hands up in the air saying, 00:44:59.820 --> 00:45:00.519 praise be your name? 00:45:01.559 --> 00:45:03.019 You find yourself singing. 00:45:05.200 --> 00:45:09.120 There's men who have gone before us and there's other men who use that phrase, 00:45:09.220 --> 00:45:10.519 into your hands I commit my spirit. 00:45:10.660 --> 00:45:12.940 You know, Polycarp was burned on the stake. 00:45:13.019 --> 00:45:14.160 You know what he said right before he died? 00:45:14.680 --> 00:45:16.260 Into your hands I commit my spirit. 00:45:16.260 --> 00:45:23.500 It's possible, Christian, to trust in him in such a deep way that in the midst of the greatest storm, 00:45:23.880 --> 00:45:28.260 you can have peace, you can rejoice, you can be thankful. 00:45:29.520 --> 00:45:35.160 And God's going to glorify himself, guaranteed, and God's going to do what's best for you and his people. 00:45:36.560 --> 00:45:38.500 You know, death's not the final answer, is it? 00:45:40.460 --> 00:45:43.320 Jesus conquered death, and because he conquered death, 00:45:43.320 --> 00:45:46.400 those who've trusted in him for salvation also have conquered death. 00:45:47.260 --> 00:45:49.760 We've conquered death because Christ did it in our place. 00:45:50.180 --> 00:45:57.180 That we might be in the heavenly kingdom with this holy God who loves us in a way we can't possibly imagine. 00:45:57.300 --> 00:45:57.640 Let's pray. 00:45:58.620 --> 00:45:59.019 Father, 00:46:03.220 --> 00:46:07.519 sometimes we don't want the hard times in our life, God. 00:46:07.600 --> 00:46:09.180 Sometimes we run from them. 00:46:09.180 --> 00:46:11.840 Sometimes we do everything to unwind them. 00:46:13.320 --> 00:46:17.860 But God, I pray that you do a work in our hearts so that we would instead run to you, 00:46:17.980 --> 00:46:19.600 and we would pour our heart to you. 00:46:19.680 --> 00:46:24.780 We would remember who you are, that God, in truth, you are our rock. 00:46:25.880 --> 00:46:27.700 You are our fortress. 00:46:27.900 --> 00:46:29.360 You are our refuge. 00:46:29.920 --> 00:46:33.860 You are the one who loves us with steadfastness. 00:46:37.260 --> 00:46:40.840 God, you desire what's best for us. 00:46:40.840 --> 00:46:43.140 You desire what brings glory to you. 00:46:43.320 --> 00:46:50.460 Father, help us to entrust ourselves and to rejoice when you're doing a work in our life and through our life. 00:46:51.760 --> 00:46:58.260 God, I pray that you would grow us to the place where we trust you. 00:46:58.340 --> 00:47:00.660 We really, truly trust you. 00:47:00.659 --> 00:47:05.139 Father, we, in a sense, we burn the ship. 00:47:06.739 --> 00:47:08.299 There's no other way. 00:47:09.099 --> 00:47:10.699 There's no other method. 00:47:10.699 --> 00:47:11.339 It's you. 00:47:12.279 --> 00:47:18.239 Father, help us to live in that type of way where we depend on you and you alone, God. 00:47:18.519 --> 00:47:21.420 Do a work in our lives because in ourselves we can't get there. 00:47:22.200 --> 00:47:24.740 But by your grace, take your children there, God. 00:47:24.780 --> 00:47:25.519 We pray in your name. 00:47:25.700 --> 00:47:25.960 Amen. 00:47:25.960 --> 00:47:26.099 Amen. 00:47:26.099 --> 00:47:26.099 00:47:26.099 --> 00:47:26.099 00:47:26.099 --> 00:47:26.099 00:47:26.099 --> 00:47:26.099 00:47:26.099 --> 00:47:26.099 00:47:26.099 --> 00:47:26.960 Amen. 00:47:26.960 --> 00:47:26.980 ! 00:47:26.980 --> 00:47:26.980 00:47:26.980 --> 00:47:26.980 00:47:26.980 --> 00:47:26.980 00:47:26.980 --> 00:47:26.980