WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.099 If you have your Bibles, you can turn with me to Psalm 124. 00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:12.660 And we can keep our Bibles open there as we think about this Psalm, 00:00:12.660 --> 00:00:18.420 which invites us to confident trust in God's deliverance. 00:00:18.420 --> 00:00:21.500 So let's again hear God's word together. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:28.379 If the Lord had not been on our side, let Israel say, 00:00:28.379 --> 00:00:33.399 if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, 00:00:33.619 --> 00:00:38.159 they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us. 00:00:38.600 --> 00:00:40.939 The flood would have engulfed us. 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:44.140 The torrent would have swept over us. 00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:47.719 The raging waters would have swept us away. 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:54.500 Praise be to the Lord who has not let us be torn by their teeth. 00:00:54.500 --> 00:00:58.679 We have escaped like a bird from the fowler's snare. 00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:02.920 The snare has been broken and we have escaped. 00:01:03.700 --> 00:01:11.120 Our help is in the name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. 00:01:12.180 --> 00:01:12.740 Amen. 00:01:14.340 --> 00:01:16.379 Boys and girls, let me talk to you for just a moment. 00:01:16.519 --> 00:01:22.460 I want to begin with a story of something that happened to me a long, long time ago. 00:01:22.459 --> 00:01:27.979 So when I was in university and I was playing in one of the university sports teams, 00:01:28.099 --> 00:01:30.099 we took a trip for an away game. 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:34.000 So we went on a minibus and I came back on the minibus, 00:01:34.379 --> 00:01:40.659 left the bus, started walking from home only to discover I'd left my keys on the bus 00:01:40.659 --> 00:01:43.799 and I'd left my wallet on the bus. 00:01:44.099 --> 00:01:48.199 And this was in the olden days before mobile phones. 00:01:48.200 --> 00:01:53.480 So panic started to set in immediately. 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:56.740 And then I prayed. 00:01:57.780 --> 00:02:00.840 And literally, literally two minutes later, 00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:05.079 a guy from our team who lived on the other side of the city, 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:10.319 he happened to be driving by and he stopped and he asked what the problem was. 00:02:10.659 --> 00:02:12.400 And he just happened to know, 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:15.719 the only person in the whole team who knew where the bus driver lived, 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:16.819 he happened to know where he lived. 00:02:16.819 --> 00:02:23.659 And the bus driver just happened to have been a little bit lazy in returning the bus. 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:29.019 So he still had the bus and the keys and I could get my possessions again. 00:02:29.560 --> 00:02:30.560 And I was happy. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:33.500 And that was a narrow escape. 00:02:34.280 --> 00:02:36.859 Grand scheme of things, no big deal. 00:02:37.659 --> 00:02:42.680 But some 20 plus years later, I have never forgotten that lesson. 00:02:43.359 --> 00:02:44.400 There's a number of lessons. 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:48.659 The lesson, God listens and God will answer our prayers. 00:02:49.340 --> 00:02:55.259 That God cares for us in the big important stuff and in the little things of life. 00:02:55.740 --> 00:02:57.420 And that was really good for my faith. 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:00.120 And I think as we come to Psalm 124, 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:03.900 we can all learn those lessons whatever age we are. 00:03:03.900 --> 00:03:06.860 I imagine all of us, maybe especially if we're a bit older, 00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:11.840 we can think about times when God intervened in our lives. 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:13.659 God did something. 00:03:13.860 --> 00:03:14.960 God got involved. 00:03:15.040 --> 00:03:16.259 It might have been a really big thing. 00:03:16.319 --> 00:03:17.920 It might have been a really small thing. 00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:20.060 Here's my question. 00:03:20.140 --> 00:03:23.040 As you think about ways in your past that God intervened, 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:28.560 what do you do with those moments and those memories? 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:36.019 How can you make them work for your faith and for your trust? 00:03:37.019 --> 00:03:38.659 And to push it one step further, 00:03:38.979 --> 00:03:45.479 how can we make those stories work for other people's faith in God to grow too? 00:03:45.479 --> 00:03:53.039 What we have in Psalm 124 is a story of King David's escape. 00:03:53.259 --> 00:03:56.379 We're not told which of his many escapes it was, 00:03:56.620 --> 00:04:00.479 but we know it's a song of ascents of David. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:03.639 And David is a poet and David is a singer. 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:09.060 And so he turns one of these acts of God's rescue into a song. 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:15.140 And then he invites everyone within Israel to listen along and to sing 00:04:15.140 --> 00:04:20.620 so that together the people of God could share his great conclusion. 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:27.759 Our help is in the name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. 00:04:28.660 --> 00:04:31.040 So this song is here in the Bible, 00:04:31.100 --> 00:04:32.279 and we're thinking about it this morning, 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:33.639 so that you and I today, 00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:40.819 we might remember and rejoice in God's many rescues in our lives 00:04:40.819 --> 00:04:47.620 and ultimately the great rescue as we think about Jesus' death on the cross. 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:54.819 Psalm 124 is one of those Psalms that has a special place in the history of God's church. 00:04:55.740 --> 00:05:00.659 We began saying together, Psalm 124 verse 8, 00:05:00.660 --> 00:05:04.439 John Calvin in the church in Geneva, 00:05:04.939 --> 00:05:06.780 when the Reformation happened, 00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:11.060 he used that week by week as their call to worship. 00:05:11.939 --> 00:05:15.300 Who is it that we are invited to worship together? 00:05:16.100 --> 00:05:19.540 The God who helps us, who is our maker. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:23.320 And he felt that the church needed a weekly reminder 00:05:23.320 --> 00:05:27.920 because in his day, the church was very much under attack. 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:34.360 People very much wanted to shut down the message coming from Calvin's Geneva, 00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:36.939 the message of the Reformation. 00:05:38.180 --> 00:05:41.660 And so this Psalm became precious in that generation, 00:05:41.740 --> 00:05:42.780 and by God's grace, 00:05:43.660 --> 00:05:45.480 it may be precious to us too, 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:50.020 as this Psalm helps us to see that God delivers his church from great dangers 00:05:50.020 --> 00:05:55.819 so that we might live with deep confidence in his redeeming love. 00:05:55.819 --> 00:05:58.000 So we're just going to walk through the Psalm. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:00.300 The first thing we're going to notice in the first couple of verses 00:06:00.300 --> 00:06:03.099 is our great Redeemer. 00:06:03.620 --> 00:06:06.040 Now notice the style of these verses, 00:06:06.519 --> 00:06:09.920 and we might call it call and response. 00:06:10.759 --> 00:06:15.839 So you have David and then a choir master beginning, 00:06:16.360 --> 00:06:18.899 if the Lord had not been on our side. 00:06:18.899 --> 00:06:21.519 And then it's as if the Psalm pauses 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:24.000 so that David can say, 00:06:24.419 --> 00:06:26.259 sing it with me, everybody, 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:29.719 if the Lord had not been on our side. 00:06:29.859 --> 00:06:32.639 This is for the whole church. 00:06:34.819 --> 00:06:37.739 And what David invites the whole church to do 00:06:37.739 --> 00:06:42.799 is to look back on a great deliverance that God brought 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:46.100 and to imagine the outcome 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:48.800 if God had been absent. 00:06:49.639 --> 00:06:52.400 If the Lord had not been on our side, 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:54.960 how would things have been different? 00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:58.240 And so clearly, right from the beginning of this Psalm, 00:06:58.340 --> 00:07:01.160 for David and for the pilgrim people of God, 00:07:01.540 --> 00:07:05.720 the Lord is introduced as their only source of hope and help. 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:10.820 They're not trying to reason away their rescue. 00:07:11.060 --> 00:07:14.680 Well, yeah, actually it was because we had a great military strategy. 00:07:16.660 --> 00:07:21.980 Nor is he taking credit for what properly belongs to God. 00:07:22.920 --> 00:07:25.240 David is absolutely humble, doesn't want any attention, 00:07:25.380 --> 00:07:26.960 wants it all to belong to the Lord. 00:07:27.780 --> 00:07:30.980 And nor does he minimize the salvation 00:07:30.980 --> 00:07:33.320 the way sometimes we can do. 00:07:33.319 --> 00:07:35.959 We can pray and then we get an answer 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:37.399 and then we can begin to think, 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:39.300 well, would that have happened even if I didn't pray? 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:40.300 David doesn't go there. 00:07:41.139 --> 00:07:43.879 He recognizes God is at work. 00:07:44.659 --> 00:07:46.360 If the Lord had not been on our side, 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:50.579 defeat, destruction, disaster. 00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:55.319 Now, Ian read for us from 2 Samuel 5, 00:07:55.939 --> 00:07:58.699 and you can turn back there, page 309, 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:01.259 just to think about how this plays out 00:08:01.259 --> 00:08:04.819 in a real life deliverance from God. 00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:07.259 So just to give you the background while you're turning there, 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:10.199 David has now been set on the throne. 00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:13.219 God's chosen king has now been recognized 00:08:13.219 --> 00:08:16.639 as king over Judah and over all Israel. 00:08:17.060 --> 00:08:19.500 And now that he sits in that place, 00:08:20.019 --> 00:08:21.719 enemies, verse 17, 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:24.500 they hear that David had been anointed king, 00:08:24.719 --> 00:08:27.500 and so they went up in full force to search for him. 00:08:27.500 --> 00:08:31.319 So these cruel enemies we meet over and over in the Old Testament, 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:35.100 they come on this search and destroy mission. 00:08:36.539 --> 00:08:39.279 And so David, see his response in verse 19. 00:08:40.299 --> 00:08:42.759 He doesn't call out the commanders of the army, 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:44.340 figure out what's the plan. 00:08:44.980 --> 00:08:46.460 David inquired of the Lord, 00:08:46.840 --> 00:08:48.320 shall I go and attack the Philistines? 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:51.039 Will you deliver them into my hands? 00:08:51.100 --> 00:08:51.899 The Lord answered him, 00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:55.000 go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines. 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:57.500 So he is dependent on God. 00:08:57.779 --> 00:08:59.320 God, I'll go if you tell me to. 00:08:59.559 --> 00:09:02.139 God, I will go if you're going to give the victory. 00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:04.799 And look at his testimony. 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:07.639 After he defeats the Philistines the first time, 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:08.419 verse 20, 00:09:08.940 --> 00:09:12.700 the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me. 00:09:13.059 --> 00:09:14.580 David is taking no credit. 00:09:14.779 --> 00:09:17.220 All glory and honor belongs to God. 00:09:17.460 --> 00:09:18.740 Now, verse 22, 00:09:19.220 --> 00:09:20.240 notice what happens. 00:09:20.659 --> 00:09:23.259 These Philistines who oppose God and the people of God, 00:09:23.259 --> 00:09:25.159 they come back again. 00:09:26.539 --> 00:09:30.200 And again, David's response is to pray. 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:32.819 David inquired of the Lord. 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:35.200 And the Lord answers, 00:09:35.319 --> 00:09:36.139 don't go straight up, 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:39.039 but circle around and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 00:09:39.439 --> 00:09:40.279 And then this, 00:09:40.700 --> 00:09:44.519 as soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:45.480 move quickly, 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:48.939 because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you 00:09:48.939 --> 00:09:50.500 to strike the Philistine army. 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:52.279 And that's what happens. 00:09:52.419 --> 00:09:52.820 And again, 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:56.200 we see the battle belongs to the Lord. 00:09:56.360 --> 00:09:58.419 Story after story of the Old Testament. 00:09:58.940 --> 00:10:03.179 Think about the story of David as the little shepherd boy, 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:07.860 the teenager who goes to fight against the Philistine champion, 00:10:08.019 --> 00:10:08.600 Goliath. 00:10:09.139 --> 00:10:09.740 And again, 00:10:09.840 --> 00:10:15.860 David speaks with such faith that it's evident that he is coming in the name of the Lord, 00:10:15.860 --> 00:10:18.460 and it will be the Lord who will give that great victory. 00:10:19.460 --> 00:10:21.460 Or go even further back. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:23.399 Go back to the time of Noah. 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:25.340 There's another deliverance. 00:10:25.680 --> 00:10:27.879 God saved his tiny church, 00:10:28.379 --> 00:10:32.100 just Noah and his family from the flood of judgment. 00:10:32.279 --> 00:10:33.940 Or go to the book of Exodus 00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:38.740 and recognize God delivering his people from slavery in Egypt. 00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:40.899 Or go to the story of Esther. 00:10:41.720 --> 00:10:44.600 And think about how God raises Esther to the palace 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:48.060 so he can rescue Israel from the threat of extinction. 00:10:48.560 --> 00:10:49.980 Over and over, 00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:51.820 the Old Testament declares, 00:10:52.200 --> 00:10:54.720 God the Lord is his people's redeemer. 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:56.340 And that salvation, 00:10:56.580 --> 00:10:58.180 as we see it and experience it, 00:10:58.519 --> 00:10:59.860 it should lead to praise. 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:02.460 And truly without God, 00:11:02.560 --> 00:11:05.799 it would be game over for God's people. 00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:11.519 And we need to recognize that's not just true of the Old Testament. 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:13.199 In the New Testament, 00:11:13.319 --> 00:11:16.399 think about the number of times we see the apostles, 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:18.779 where various leaders, 00:11:18.959 --> 00:11:20.500 Jewish and Roman leaders, 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:23.639 attack and imprison them. 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:27.419 And think about Peter being rescued from prison by an angel. 00:11:27.559 --> 00:11:30.139 Think about Paul being delivered by an earthquake. 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:32.959 Think about the reality of the mission of the church 00:11:32.959 --> 00:11:35.059 growing and growing rapidly, 00:11:35.059 --> 00:11:37.199 despite all human opposition. 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:39.739 Go all the way to the book of Revelation 00:11:39.739 --> 00:11:43.059 and you get this wonderful image of, 00:11:43.339 --> 00:11:45.699 yes, the church is under fire and under attack, 00:11:45.859 --> 00:11:46.799 but yes, 00:11:47.299 --> 00:11:49.539 the church is protected from Satan 00:11:49.539 --> 00:11:50.919 and from the forces of evil 00:11:50.919 --> 00:11:54.139 by the great God of heaven. 00:11:55.179 --> 00:11:55.979 And now, 00:11:56.859 --> 00:11:58.439 think of Jesus. 00:11:59.379 --> 00:12:01.219 While he walked this earth, 00:12:01.599 --> 00:12:04.239 singing Psalm 124. 00:12:05.059 --> 00:12:08.139 And if you know anything of the life of Jesus, 00:12:08.139 --> 00:12:09.459 you will probably know 00:12:09.459 --> 00:12:12.239 that he often faced anger 00:12:12.239 --> 00:12:14.199 and hostility 00:12:14.199 --> 00:12:16.699 and attacks from other people, 00:12:16.979 --> 00:12:18.439 both words and actions, 00:12:18.439 --> 00:12:21.779 and they were attempts made on his life. 00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:24.740 And in all of his narrow escapes, 00:12:24.740 --> 00:12:27.740 he trusted in his father 00:12:27.740 --> 00:12:30.360 to help save him through them all. 00:12:31.959 --> 00:12:33.959 And his greatest escape, 00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:37.259 his most astonishing escape, 00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:41.500 was when Jesus escaped the clutches of death, 00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:44.059 that first Easter Sunday 00:12:44.059 --> 00:12:46.559 in his resurrection victory, 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:49.039 breaking those chains of slavery 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:51.679 to sin and Satan for us 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:52.539 so that we, 00:12:52.899 --> 00:12:53.939 through faith in Jesus, 00:12:54.059 --> 00:12:55.000 we could be delivered. 00:12:56.539 --> 00:12:58.539 This is why in the church, 00:12:58.539 --> 00:13:01.699 we always think back 00:13:01.699 --> 00:13:03.959 to the gospel events. 00:13:04.959 --> 00:13:07.059 That's why we want our worship 00:13:07.059 --> 00:13:08.799 to be full of God's word 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:10.279 and full of the gospel. 00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:13.779 That's why Jesus gave us 00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:15.939 the Lord's Supper and baptism, 00:13:15.939 --> 00:13:18.120 so that we can have these physical, 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:19.439 visible reminders 00:13:19.439 --> 00:13:21.199 of God's work 00:13:21.199 --> 00:13:23.059 to rescue us through Jesus. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:26.459 And every week as we gather here, 00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:27.480 we're being reminded 00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:28.740 that God, 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.259 through his Son, 00:13:30.299 --> 00:13:30.959 the Lord Jesus, 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:32.279 he has rescued, 00:13:33.139 --> 00:13:34.559 he has redeemed 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:35.980 by his life, 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:36.399 death, 00:13:36.459 --> 00:13:37.240 and resurrection. 00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:39.580 We remind ourselves 00:13:39.580 --> 00:13:41.840 that he is still working for us now. 00:13:42.060 --> 00:13:43.659 He continues to rescue. 00:13:44.019 --> 00:13:45.360 He continues to redeem. 00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:47.180 He continues to be with us 00:13:47.180 --> 00:13:47.820 and for us. 00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:48.639 And one day, 00:13:49.460 --> 00:13:50.700 he'll come back. 00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:53.000 And that rescue 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:53.879 and that redemption 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:55.060 will be complete. 00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:56.639 And God's people 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:58.539 will enjoy eternal safety 00:13:58.539 --> 00:14:00.680 and security. 00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:04.720 And we need these constant reminders 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:06.019 because life is full 00:14:06.019 --> 00:14:07.240 of constant challenges. 00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:09.819 And that's why 00:14:09.819 --> 00:14:10.579 we should think back 00:14:10.579 --> 00:14:12.639 to our own narrow escapes. 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:14.500 We should think back 00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:15.159 to those times 00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:16.460 when we did see God 00:14:16.460 --> 00:14:18.120 working for us 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:20.019 so that we can look back 00:14:20.019 --> 00:14:20.939 with gratitude, 00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:23.299 so that we can remember 00:14:23.299 --> 00:14:23.919 personally 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:25.000 that God's covenant love, 00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:26.699 it doesn't fail, 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:29.539 that he does care for us. 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:31.159 Sometimes it's through his word. 00:14:31.819 --> 00:14:32.840 Sometimes it's the ministry 00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:33.600 of his spirit. 00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:34.759 Sometimes it's through 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:35.799 the people of God. 00:14:36.139 --> 00:14:37.980 Sometimes it's through circumstances. 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:42.080 But this psalm reminds us 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:43.799 that we both praise 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:45.639 and we pray to 00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:48.620 God who is on the throne. 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:51.539 God who decides the outcomes. 00:14:52.179 --> 00:14:53.279 The God of covenant 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:54.759 who cannot and will not 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:55.799 fail his people. 00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:59.079 And he invites each one of us 00:14:59.079 --> 00:14:59.879 to know him 00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:01.899 and to trust 00:15:01.899 --> 00:15:02.959 in his 00:15:02.959 --> 00:15:04.219 rescue. 00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:07.179 So we have first of all 00:15:07.179 --> 00:15:08.359 our great redeemer. 00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:09.779 And then right in the middle 00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:10.799 of the psalm, 00:15:12.079 --> 00:15:13.339 David reminds us 00:15:13.339 --> 00:15:14.179 of our 00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:15.079 great 00:15:15.079 --> 00:15:16.259 dangers. 00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:17.459 All the way from verse 3 00:15:17.459 --> 00:15:18.359 to verse 7. 00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:19.879 But before we get into our text, 00:15:19.959 --> 00:15:20.500 let's 00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:21.839 step back in time 00:15:21.839 --> 00:15:22.379 for a moment. 00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:23.500 Edinburgh 00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:25.679 1582. 00:15:26.419 --> 00:15:27.679 The date is 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:28.399 September 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:29.759 the 4th. 00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:31.259 John 00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:31.899 Jury 00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:33.639 was a gospel 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:34.240 preacher 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:35.600 who has been 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:36.360 imprisoned 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:38.100 and banished 00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:39.720 for faithfully 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:40.759 proclaiming the word 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:41.240 of God. 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:42.039 But now 00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:42.700 on September 00:15:42.700 --> 00:15:43.299 the 4th, 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:43.980 1582, 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:45.399 he's back. 00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:47.460 And down at 00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:47.960 Netherbo, 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:48.980 which is not too far 00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:49.759 away from here, 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:51.360 he was met by 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:53.180 200 friends 00:15:53.180 --> 00:15:54.440 and supporters. 00:15:55.019 --> 00:15:55.740 And they then 00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:56.620 walked up 00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:57.680 in procession 00:15:57.680 --> 00:15:59.019 on Sunday morning 00:15:59.019 --> 00:16:00.420 up the high street 00:16:00.420 --> 00:16:02.580 to St. Giles Cathedral. 00:16:03.060 --> 00:16:04.300 So we know where we are. 00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:05.620 We're at St. Giles Cathedral 00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:07.159 on the Royal Mile. 00:16:07.300 --> 00:16:08.159 And by that point, 00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:09.560 the crowd had swelled 00:16:09.560 --> 00:16:10.920 to around about 00:16:10.920 --> 00:16:12.779 2,000 people. 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:14.639 And while 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:16.159 enemy soldiers 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:17.620 watched on, 00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:19.519 wondering what 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:19.960 they should do 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:20.539 about John, 00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:20.860 Judy, 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:21.659 and a little bit 00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:22.560 fearful about 00:16:22.560 --> 00:16:23.840 this growing mob 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:24.860 within the city, 00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:26.179 you know what 00:16:26.179 --> 00:16:26.960 the crowd did? 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:29.980 The crowd sang. 00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:31.799 Guess what? 00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:32.100 Sam. 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:32.779 They sang 00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:34.980 Psalm 124, 00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:36.940 four-part harmony, 00:16:36.940 --> 00:16:38.120 and the testimony 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:39.019 was that that 00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:40.639 was more terrifying 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:42.000 than any mere 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:43.080 mob riot 00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:43.720 the soldiers 00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.440 might have 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:45.259 suspected. 00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:48.179 The reality 00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:48.679 that we find 00:16:48.679 --> 00:16:49.159 in the Bible, 00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:50.500 the reality 00:16:50.500 --> 00:16:51.259 we meet in life 00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:52.120 and in the Christian 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:52.480 life, 00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.159 is that life 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:54.120 is full of 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:55.039 hazard and 00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:55.620 difficulty 00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:56.899 and sometimes 00:16:56.899 --> 00:16:57.759 menace. 00:16:59.439 --> 00:17:00.080 We've been 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:00.460 thinking about 00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:01.360 on Sunday evenings 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:01.860 that Jesus 00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:02.840 prepared his 00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:04.180 disciples for that 00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:04.779 as he sent 00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.500 them for mission. 00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:07.799 He'd say, 00:17:07.879 --> 00:17:08.079 listen, 00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:09.140 they hated me, 00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:09.640 they're going 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:10.460 to hate you too. 00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:11.480 I'm going to 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:12.000 send you out 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:12.559 like a sheep 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:13.480 among wolves. 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:15.120 So we shouldn't 00:17:15.120 --> 00:17:15.819 be surprised. 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.759 And Psalm 124 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:19.240 stands as a 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.660 reminder in song 00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:21.240 that we should 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:22.120 be alert, 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:23.819 that we should 00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:24.819 know the situation, 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:25.400 we should know 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:26.039 the times that 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:26.759 we live in, 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:27.640 that spiritually 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:28.660 we're in a war 00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:28.940 zone, 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:30.079 but also 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:31.819 that we should 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:32.700 know the solution 00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:33.980 and the security 00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:35.539 that comes from 00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:36.920 our great 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:37.759 God. 00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:40.319 So Psalm 124, 00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:41.440 as David 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:42.380 composes it, 00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:42.980 and then as we 00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:43.259 sing it, 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:43.680 it doesn't 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:44.200 hide the 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:44.960 dangers from 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:45.220 us. 00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:46.599 It doesn't 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:47.359 suggest that 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:48.980 following God 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:49.539 in the way of 00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:49.819 faith, 00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:50.319 that following 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:52.019 Jesus is easy 00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:53.240 and leads to 00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:53.799 peace and 00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:54.420 comfort and 00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:55.220 everyone welcoming 00:17:55.220 --> 00:17:55.700 us and say, 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:56.619 this is wonderful. 00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:58.119 Rather, 00:17:58.200 --> 00:17:58.779 he gives very 00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.559 graphic, 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:01.279 mental pictures 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:02.859 to capture our 00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:03.720 imagination and 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.700 to work on our 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:06.259 hearts to 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.059 recognize that, 00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:07.359 yes, 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:08.259 these things may 00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:08.799 come, 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:09.759 but there is a 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:11.059 God who delivers 00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:12.139 and who gives 00:18:12.139 --> 00:18:12.679 the final 00:18:12.679 --> 00:18:13.419 outcome. 00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:14.960 If the Lord 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:15.919 had not been 00:18:15.919 --> 00:18:16.899 on our side, 00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:18.679 truly the church 00:18:18.679 --> 00:18:19.159 would be done 00:18:19.159 --> 00:18:19.539 for. 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.119 Look at the 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:22.079 four pictures. 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:24.119 Boys and 00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:24.279 girls, 00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:24.740 look at these 00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:25.099 pictures. 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:26.179 You'll recognize 00:18:26.179 --> 00:18:28.119 some of these. 00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:28.819 The first one 00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:29.779 we find in 00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:31.000 verse 3. 00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:31.940 If the Lord 00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:32.460 had not been 00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:33.259 on our side 00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:33.759 when people 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.519 attacked us, 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.319 they would 00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:36.440 have swallowed 00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:37.259 us alive. 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.120 Now, 00:18:39.140 --> 00:18:39.700 when I read 00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:39.920 that, 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.519 I was thinking 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.200 of some kind 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:42.080 of lurking 00:18:42.080 --> 00:18:42.820 predator. 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.380 I was imagining 00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:45.200 a snake 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:47.059 curled up 00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:47.860 in a dark 00:18:47.860 --> 00:18:48.559 corner 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:50.160 waiting 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:51.400 for the 00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:52.340 unsuspecting 00:18:52.340 --> 00:18:52.799 mouse. 00:18:53.320 --> 00:18:54.019 And then, 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:54.480 when the 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.700 strike comes, 00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:57.580 the mouse 00:18:57.580 --> 00:18:58.019 is swallowed 00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:58.460 whole. 00:18:59.600 --> 00:19:00.140 And the 00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:00.779 idea of 00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:01.940 Psalm 124 00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:02.840 is that by 00:19:02.840 --> 00:19:03.900 ourselves, 00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:05.200 we are 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:06.299 outmatched 00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:07.379 by our 00:19:07.379 --> 00:19:08.259 spiritual 00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:09.119 enemies 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:10.579 if the 00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:10.960 Lord had 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:11.339 not been 00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:11.659 on our 00:19:11.659 --> 00:19:12.019 side. 00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:13.259 Picture 00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:13.740 two. 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:15.779 If the 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.079 Lord had 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:16.399 not been 00:19:16.399 --> 00:19:16.720 on our 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.159 side, 00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:19.159 verse 4, 00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:19.839 the flood 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:20.339 would have 00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:20.940 engulfed 00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:21.240 us, 00:19:21.639 --> 00:19:22.419 the torrent 00:19:22.419 --> 00:19:22.799 would have 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:23.480 swept over 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:23.819 us, 00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:24.819 the raging 00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.440 waters 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:25.839 would have 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:26.440 swept us 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:26.819 away. 00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:30.019 Picture 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:31.440 a raging 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.019 flood. 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:33.779 Maybe 00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:34.200 some of 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:34.319 us, 00:19:34.399 --> 00:19:34.819 we still 00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:35.399 remember 00:19:35.399 --> 00:19:35.720 those 00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:36.139 Christmas 00:19:36.140 --> 00:19:37.500 day images 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.000 of the 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.600 tsunami 00:19:38.600 --> 00:19:39.380 that struck 00:19:39.380 --> 00:19:39.860 back in 00:19:39.860 --> 00:19:40.680 2004. 00:19:41.860 --> 00:19:42.220 Maybe 00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:42.660 we've seen 00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:43.540 firsthand 00:19:43.540 --> 00:19:44.720 the power 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:45.200 of a 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:45.620 river as 00:19:45.620 --> 00:19:46.100 it bursts 00:19:46.100 --> 00:19:46.720 its banks 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.320 and swept 00:19:47.320 --> 00:19:47.840 through a 00:19:47.840 --> 00:19:48.340 city or 00:19:48.340 --> 00:19:48.900 a town. 00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:50.740 And again, 00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:51.580 the idea 00:19:51.580 --> 00:19:53.060 here is 00:19:53.060 --> 00:19:53.340 that if 00:19:53.340 --> 00:19:53.900 the Lord 00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:54.580 had not 00:19:54.580 --> 00:19:54.960 been on 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:55.420 the side 00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:55.780 of his 00:19:55.780 --> 00:19:56.259 people, 00:19:57.580 --> 00:19:58.200 they and 00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:59.140 we would 00:19:59.140 --> 00:19:59.380 be 00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:00.200 overwhelmed 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:01.580 and 00:20:01.580 --> 00:20:02.300 overcome. 00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:02.619 come. 00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:05.319 Picture 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:05.579 number 00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:06.119 three 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:08.139 is of 00:20:08.139 --> 00:20:08.359 a 00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:08.839 savage 00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:09.559 beast. 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:10.259 Verse 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:10.720 six, 00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:11.659 praise 00:20:11.659 --> 00:20:12.779 be to 00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:12.960 the 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.460 Lord 00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:14.379 who 00:20:14.379 --> 00:20:14.839 has 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:15.099 not 00:20:15.099 --> 00:20:15.500 let 00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:15.720 us 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:15.980 be 00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:16.519 torn 00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:17.460 by 00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:17.980 their 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.500 teeth. 00:20:19.659 --> 00:20:19.960 Now, 00:20:20.119 --> 00:20:20.599 I'm 00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:20.799 going to 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:21.099 confess 00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:21.460 the first 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.180 time I 00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:23.779 read that 00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:24.559 my mind 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:25.200 went to 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:25.539 our 00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:25.819 little 00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:26.240 dog. 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:26.680 Because 00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:27.399 you know 00:20:27.399 --> 00:20:27.960 with dogs 00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:28.220 when they 00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:28.720 have dog 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.200 toys, 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:29.480 their 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:29.940 instinct 00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:30.279 is to 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:30.700 get it 00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:30.900 in their 00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:31.120 mouth 00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:31.700 and shake 00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.019 it all 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:33.019 about as 00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:33.380 if they're 00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:33.980 being truly 00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:34.740 ferocious. 00:20:35.840 --> 00:20:36.299 That's 00:20:36.299 --> 00:20:37.000 their instinct. 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:37.640 But that 00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:38.000 wouldn't be 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:38.480 particularly 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.240 terrifying. 00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:40.620 Instead, 00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:41.240 perhaps, 00:20:41.340 --> 00:20:41.580 we can 00:20:41.580 --> 00:20:41.980 think of 00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:42.180 an 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:42.799 orca. 00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:44.059 Imagine 00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:44.319 an 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:44.799 orca. 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:45.100 You know 00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:45.620 those horrible 00:20:45.620 --> 00:20:46.140 scenes where 00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:46.480 you see an 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.340 orca playing 00:20:47.340 --> 00:20:47.759 with a 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.080 seal. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:48.819 It's 00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:49.340 managed to 00:20:49.340 --> 00:20:49.819 grab one 00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:50.059 and it 00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:50.500 flings it 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:50.819 up in the 00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:51.000 air and 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:51.200 it's just 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:51.600 playing 00:20:51.600 --> 00:20:52.019 with it. 00:20:52.600 --> 00:20:53.200 Or maybe 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:53.740 think of 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:54.400 a lion. 00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:55.279 And now 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:55.720 that it's 00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.720 tracked down 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.440 a gazelle 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:57.940 and it's 00:20:57.940 --> 00:20:58.480 struck. 00:20:59.200 --> 00:20:59.940 And it's 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:01.720 ready to 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.319 savage. 00:21:03.580 --> 00:21:04.480 The idea 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.960 again is 00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:06.420 that we 00:21:06.420 --> 00:21:07.059 would have 00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:08.000 been trapped 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.299 if the 00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:09.779 Lord had 00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.340 not been 00:21:10.340 --> 00:21:10.700 on our 00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:11.039 side. 00:21:11.120 --> 00:21:11.460 But look 00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:11.720 at how 00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:12.360 verse 6 00:21:12.360 --> 00:21:13.000 begins. 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:13.759 Praise 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:14.440 be to 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:14.980 the Lord 00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.799 who has 00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:16.559 not let 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:16.880 us be 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:17.299 torn by 00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:17.480 their 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:17.720 teeth. 00:21:19.180 --> 00:21:19.519 And then 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:19.940 the last 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:21.440 picture is 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:22.000 the picture 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.539 of the 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:24.080 captured 00:21:24.080 --> 00:21:24.700 bird. 00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:26.120 We have 00:21:26.120 --> 00:21:26.920 escaped like 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:27.559 a bird from 00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:28.319 the fowler's 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:28.740 snare. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:29.799 The snare 00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:30.220 has been 00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:30.779 broken and 00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.259 we have 00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:31.860 escaped. 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:33.620 So the 00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:34.640 unsuspecting 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:36.460 bird walking 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:36.920 through the 00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:37.360 woods all 00:21:37.360 --> 00:21:37.860 of a sudden 00:21:37.860 --> 00:21:39.299 triggers the 00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:39.799 trap and 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.220 maybe the 00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.180 net falls or 00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:42.000 maybe the 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.019 noose tightens 00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:44.080 around its 00:21:44.080 --> 00:21:44.880 leg. 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:45.759 And the 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.539 inevitable 00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:48.080 is that the 00:21:48.080 --> 00:21:48.580 hunter is 00:21:48.580 --> 00:21:48.980 going to 00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:50.160 come and 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:50.900 that bird is 00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:51.519 heading for 00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:51.880 the cooking 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:52.240 pot. 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:53.580 And again 00:21:53.580 --> 00:21:53.880 it's the 00:21:53.880 --> 00:21:54.240 idea of 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:54.860 being helpless 00:21:54.860 --> 00:21:56.140 and hopeless 00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:57.160 if the Lord 00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:57.740 was not on 00:21:57.740 --> 00:21:58.400 the side of 00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:58.780 his people. 00:21:58.860 --> 00:21:59.160 But what 00:21:59.160 --> 00:21:59.440 does it 00:21:59.440 --> 00:21:59.740 say? 00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.500 The snare 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.360 has been 00:22:02.360 --> 00:22:03.560 broken and 00:22:03.560 --> 00:22:04.340 we have 00:22:04.340 --> 00:22:05.519 escaped and 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.320 that breaking 00:22:06.320 --> 00:22:07.100 and that 00:22:07.100 --> 00:22:08.300 escaping and 00:22:08.300 --> 00:22:09.100 that rescue 00:22:09.100 --> 00:22:09.940 doesn't come 00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:10.240 from the 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:10.700 birds. 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:11.720 It doesn't 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.140 come from 00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:12.540 the people 00:22:12.540 --> 00:22:12.980 of God. 00:22:13.120 --> 00:22:14.019 It comes 00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:15.120 from the 00:22:15.120 --> 00:22:15.780 rescuer. 00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.400 It's a 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:18.860 wonderful 00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:20.140 reality that 00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:20.560 in the 00:22:20.560 --> 00:22:21.580 darkest of 00:22:21.580 --> 00:22:22.300 dangers 00:22:22.300 --> 00:22:24.320 God ensures 00:22:24.320 --> 00:22:25.200 that his 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:25.920 church is 00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:26.480 protected. 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:28.599 You 00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:29.079 might ask 00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:29.420 David, 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.599 why are you 00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:31.220 telling us 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:32.180 this four 00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:33.079 times over? 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:34.980 We got it 00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:35.220 with the 00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:36.079 first image. 00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:38.099 Well maybe 00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:38.620 it's because 00:22:38.620 --> 00:22:39.380 there are so 00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:40.220 many dangers 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:42.120 and so many 00:22:42.120 --> 00:22:42.839 threats. 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:44.620 And maybe 00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.319 it's a reminder 00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:45.960 that there is a 00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:46.660 great need 00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.740 always for the 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.420 people of God 00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:49.360 to be alert. 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.019 Remember 00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:53.180 Peter's 00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:53.599 warning. 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:55.519 you have 00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:56.039 an enemy, 00:22:56.699 --> 00:22:57.219 the devil, 00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.219 and he 00:22:58.219 --> 00:22:59.139 prowls around 00:22:59.139 --> 00:22:59.579 like a 00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:00.379 roaring lion 00:23:00.379 --> 00:23:00.959 seeking 00:23:00.959 --> 00:23:02.539 someone to 00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.000 devour. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.679 So we need 00:23:04.679 --> 00:23:05.379 to look 00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:05.859 and be 00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:06.359 alert. 00:23:07.139 --> 00:23:07.519 But it's 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:07.959 also a 00:23:07.959 --> 00:23:08.599 reminder that 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:09.039 we need to 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:09.719 live our 00:23:09.719 --> 00:23:10.480 days looking 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:11.219 with faith 00:23:11.219 --> 00:23:13.079 to God, 00:23:13.459 --> 00:23:14.099 his people's 00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:15.059 great deliverer 00:23:15.059 --> 00:23:17.059 and rescuer. 00:23:18.419 --> 00:23:19.159 Martin Luther 00:23:19.159 --> 00:23:19.679 was another 00:23:19.679 --> 00:23:20.219 reformer. 00:23:20.339 --> 00:23:20.539 He was 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:21.019 another who 00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:22.379 loved this 00:23:22.379 --> 00:23:22.919 psalm. 00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:23.539 He often 00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:24.039 felt that 00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:24.539 the world 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.600 was against 00:23:25.600 --> 00:23:25.840 him. 00:23:26.120 --> 00:23:26.500 He often 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.840 felt spiritual 00:23:27.840 --> 00:23:29.100 oppression as 00:23:29.100 --> 00:23:29.660 he sought 00:23:29.660 --> 00:23:30.720 to communicate 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.440 the truths 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:31.800 of the 00:23:31.800 --> 00:23:32.200 gospel. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:32.900 And that 00:23:32.900 --> 00:23:33.500 led him to 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.660 compose a 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:35.140 version of 00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:36.259 Psalm 124. 00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:36.800 We sometimes 00:23:36.800 --> 00:23:37.160 sing it, 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:37.800 a mighty 00:23:37.800 --> 00:23:39.700 fortress is 00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:41.120 our God. 00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:43.140 And just 00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:43.600 to say 00:23:43.600 --> 00:23:44.320 at a 00:23:44.320 --> 00:23:44.759 practical 00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.259 level, 00:23:46.340 --> 00:23:46.880 whether we're 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:47.220 thinking of 00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:47.720 Martin Luther 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.519 composing a 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.400 hymn or 00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:49.800 whether we're 00:23:49.800 --> 00:23:50.380 thinking about 00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:51.019 the people of 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:51.720 God singing 00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.519 as they 00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:53.319 recognize a 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:54.420 great deliverance. 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.660 I wonder if 00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:56.319 we understand 00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:57.000 in our 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.440 day to 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:58.480 day the 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.039 wisdom and 00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.480 the goodness 00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:00.360 of answering 00:24:00.360 --> 00:24:01.200 our fears 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:03.200 with songs 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:03.779 of faith. 00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:05.259 It does our 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:06.339 hearts good 00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:07.480 to sing, 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:08.519 to remind 00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.600 ourselves of 00:24:09.600 --> 00:24:10.160 what we know 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:10.740 to be true 00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.220 in God's 00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:11.640 word. 00:24:14.120 --> 00:24:14.960 This remains 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.539 the hope for 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.180 the church in 00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:17.140 every age, 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:18.339 including 00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:18.880 ours. 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:19.560 we have 00:24:19.560 --> 00:24:20.440 a Lord 00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:20.980 God who 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:21.440 delivers. 00:24:21.600 --> 00:24:21.880 Christopher 00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:22.440 Ash, 00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:23.660 he has a 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.020 nice little 00:24:24.020 --> 00:24:24.440 sentence, 00:24:24.620 --> 00:24:24.900 he says, 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:25.420 the life 00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:26.160 of faith 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:28.000 consists of 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.880 many narrow 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:29.760 escapes, 00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:31.220 all of them 00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:32.760 undergirded 00:24:32.760 --> 00:24:33.900 by one 00:24:33.900 --> 00:24:34.860 very big 00:24:34.860 --> 00:24:35.580 escape. 00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:37.640 The point 00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:38.040 is this, 00:24:38.120 --> 00:24:38.900 our faith 00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:40.500 is in 00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.180 the Lord 00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:41.700 God, 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:42.420 the one 00:24:42.420 --> 00:24:43.060 who sent 00:24:43.060 --> 00:24:43.880 his own 00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:45.280 son to 00:24:45.280 --> 00:24:45.700 be our 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:46.400 true king 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:47.340 and to 00:24:47.340 --> 00:24:47.820 be our 00:24:47.820 --> 00:24:48.220 savior. 00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:49.540 To 00:24:49.540 --> 00:24:50.040 acknowledge 00:24:50.040 --> 00:24:50.560 that by 00:24:50.560 --> 00:24:51.320 nature, 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:52.780 because of 00:24:52.780 --> 00:24:53.220 our sin, 00:24:53.320 --> 00:24:53.700 because of 00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:54.380 our rebellion, 00:24:54.560 --> 00:24:54.940 because of 00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:55.680 our pride, 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:58.120 we should 00:24:58.120 --> 00:24:58.820 be swallowed 00:24:58.820 --> 00:24:59.960 up and 00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:00.420 we should 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:01.000 be swept 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.380 away, 00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.300 we should 00:25:02.300 --> 00:25:03.480 be savaged 00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:05.519 because what 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.320 we deserve 00:25:06.320 --> 00:25:08.600 is God's 00:25:08.600 --> 00:25:09.040 judgment. 00:25:10.340 --> 00:25:11.320 But by 00:25:11.320 --> 00:25:11.980 God's 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:12.740 grace, 00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:14.440 he sends 00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:15.120 his son 00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:16.619 and Jesus 00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:17.639 faces down 00:25:17.639 --> 00:25:19.099 death in 00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:19.839 our place 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.739 as our 00:25:20.739 --> 00:25:21.500 representative 00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:23.179 and Jesus 00:25:23.179 --> 00:25:24.419 defeats the 00:25:24.419 --> 00:25:25.299 power of 00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:25.559 death. 00:25:25.819 --> 00:25:26.699 He robs it 00:25:26.699 --> 00:25:27.719 of its power 00:25:27.719 --> 00:25:28.619 and victory. 00:25:28.879 --> 00:25:29.619 He secures 00:25:29.619 --> 00:25:30.799 deliverance for 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.639 all who 00:25:31.639 --> 00:25:33.019 trust in 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:33.459 him. 00:25:34.219 --> 00:25:34.959 And that 00:25:34.959 --> 00:25:36.119 great event, 00:25:36.239 --> 00:25:36.639 the great 00:25:36.639 --> 00:25:37.500 event of 00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:38.939 the gospel, 00:25:40.459 --> 00:25:40.839 God's 00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:41.899 salvation of 00:25:41.899 --> 00:25:43.179 us through 00:25:43.179 --> 00:25:43.799 Jesus, 00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:44.680 that becomes 00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:45.399 the solid 00:25:45.399 --> 00:25:45.839 rock 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:46.559 foundation 00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.039 that we 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:47.960 build on. 00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:50.180 That's 00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:50.899 our source 00:25:50.899 --> 00:25:51.700 of safety 00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:52.740 and security 00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:54.339 when the 00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:55.240 storms come. 00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:57.440 And that's 00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:58.079 our security 00:25:58.079 --> 00:25:59.220 when the 00:25:59.220 --> 00:25:59.779 storm of 00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.079 God's 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:00.940 final judgment 00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.419 comes. 00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:02.740 We will 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:04.379 stand when 00:26:04.379 --> 00:26:04.980 we stand 00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:05.559 on the 00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:06.220 truths of 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:06.779 Jesus and 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.399 his word. 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:08.680 So that 00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:09.639 trusting in 00:26:09.639 --> 00:26:10.119 the Lord 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:10.639 Jesus, 00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:12.299 just like the 00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:12.799 singers of 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.940 Psalm 124 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:14.740 back then, 00:26:14.899 --> 00:26:15.500 we can 00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:16.079 look any 00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:16.700 trouble, 00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:18.019 any danger 00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:19.180 square in 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.139 the eye and 00:26:20.139 --> 00:26:20.919 say, since 00:26:20.919 --> 00:26:22.019 God is 00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:22.879 for us, 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.819 who can be 00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:25.680 against us? 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:28.740 In all of 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.639 these things, 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.299 we are more 00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:32.180 than conquerors 00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:34.119 through Jesus 00:26:34.119 --> 00:26:35.980 who loved 00:26:35.980 --> 00:26:36.440 us. 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:38.019 we can 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:38.660 say with 00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:39.039 faith, 00:26:39.320 --> 00:26:39.860 I am 00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:40.980 convinced 00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:42.240 that 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:43.220 nothing in 00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:43.900 all creation, 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.860 no opposition, 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:46.259 no trauma, 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:47.320 no disappointment, 00:26:47.620 --> 00:26:48.400 no sin, 00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:50.140 nothing will 00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:50.620 be able to 00:26:50.620 --> 00:26:51.400 separate us 00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:51.720 from the 00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.259 love of God 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:52.779 that is in 00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:53.600 Christ Jesus. 00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.620 The great 00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:57.299 answer to 00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:57.779 our great 00:26:57.779 --> 00:26:59.000 danger is 00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:59.759 our great 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.240 redeemer. 00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:00.660 And that 00:27:00.660 --> 00:27:01.100 takes us 00:27:01.100 --> 00:27:02.120 finally to 00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:02.820 verse 8 00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:03.299 and our 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:03.900 great 00:27:03.900 --> 00:27:05.200 confidence. 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:06.080 It closes 00:27:06.080 --> 00:27:06.440 with this 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:06.759 wonderful 00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.420 statement of 00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:07.680 faith. 00:27:07.840 --> 00:27:08.019 Our 00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:08.500 help 00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:10.120 collectively 00:27:10.120 --> 00:27:10.840 as the 00:27:10.840 --> 00:27:11.200 church, 00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:11.580 our 00:27:11.580 --> 00:27:12.019 help 00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:12.880 is in 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:13.140 the name 00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:13.400 of the 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:13.559 Lord, 00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:13.940 the maker 00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.299 of heaven 00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:14.600 and earth. 00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:14.920 Now, 00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.100 we've 00:27:15.100 --> 00:27:15.360 already 00:27:15.360 --> 00:27:15.700 met 00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:16.080 this 00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:17.000 statement 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.200 of 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:17.420 faith 00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:17.740 on the 00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:18.100 pilgrim 00:27:18.100 --> 00:27:18.480 journey. 00:27:18.620 --> 00:27:18.779 Psalm 00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:19.680 121 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:20.299 verse 2, 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.299 my help 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:21.960 comes from 00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:22.400 the Lord, 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:22.940 the maker 00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:24.100 of heaven 00:27:24.100 --> 00:27:25.080 and earth. 00:27:26.100 --> 00:27:26.580 And here 00:27:26.580 --> 00:27:26.920 again, 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:27.640 David invites 00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:27.940 us to 00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:28.539 look back 00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:29.259 after a 00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:29.600 danger 00:27:29.600 --> 00:27:29.819 has 00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:30.360 passed 00:27:30.360 --> 00:27:31.660 with a 00:27:31.660 --> 00:27:32.140 real sense 00:27:32.140 --> 00:27:32.779 of gratitude. 00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:34.440 He leads 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:34.880 the people 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:35.420 of God 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:36.120 into 00:27:36.120 --> 00:27:37.040 confident 00:27:37.040 --> 00:27:37.780 trust 00:27:37.780 --> 00:27:38.460 as they 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:38.860 sing. 00:27:39.140 --> 00:27:39.900 After all, 00:27:40.100 --> 00:27:40.480 the one 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:40.780 who is 00:27:40.780 --> 00:27:41.160 on the 00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:41.600 side 00:27:41.600 --> 00:27:42.480 of his 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:43.100 church 00:27:43.100 --> 00:27:43.640 and his 00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:44.120 people, 00:27:44.600 --> 00:27:44.840 the one 00:27:44.840 --> 00:27:45.340 who provides 00:27:45.340 --> 00:27:45.620 help, 00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:46.420 is none 00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:47.500 other than 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.720 our almighty 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.500 maker, 00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:50.120 the creator 00:27:50.120 --> 00:27:50.540 of heaven 00:27:50.540 --> 00:27:50.900 and earth. 00:27:52.060 --> 00:27:52.920 He made 00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:53.660 all things 00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:55.500 and right 00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:55.840 now he 00:27:55.840 --> 00:27:56.420 sustains 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.080 all things 00:27:57.080 --> 00:27:58.500 and even 00:27:58.500 --> 00:27:58.860 now he 00:27:58.860 --> 00:27:59.620 is directing 00:27:59.620 --> 00:28:00.280 all things 00:28:00.280 --> 00:28:00.860 to his 00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:01.500 intended 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:02.200 purpose 00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:02.760 and outcome 00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.440 and we 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:03.980 can 00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:04.440 trust 00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:04.839 him. 00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:07.119 Notice 00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:07.539 our help 00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:07.799 is in 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.140 the name 00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:08.539 of the 00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:08.819 Lord, 00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:09.160 all 00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:09.500 block 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.019 capitals. 00:28:10.119 --> 00:28:10.440 We'll keep 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.019 saying this, 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:11.859 that is 00:28:11.859 --> 00:28:12.539 the personal 00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:13.059 covenant 00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:14.059 name of 00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:14.700 God. 00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:17.019 And just 00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:17.920 as in 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.740 the ancient 00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.480 Near East 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:20.700 when a 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:21.319 great king 00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:22.079 entered into 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:22.559 a covenant 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.180 treaty with 00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:23.599 a lesser 00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:24.140 nation, 00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:25.339 there was 00:28:25.339 --> 00:28:25.720 an agreement 00:28:25.720 --> 00:28:26.180 on both 00:28:26.180 --> 00:28:26.740 sides. 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:28.279 So the 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:28.759 great king 00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:29.140 would say 00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:29.440 to the 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:29.700 lesser 00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.019 king, 00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:30.740 you are 00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:31.220 to show 00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:31.420 me 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:32.059 loyalty 00:28:32.059 --> 00:28:32.519 and 00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:33.059 honour 00:28:33.059 --> 00:28:33.779 and 00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:33.980 if 00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:34.180 you 00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:34.480 do, 00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:35.140 I 00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:35.680 will 00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:36.039 offer 00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:36.319 you 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:37.059 protection 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:37.579 and 00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:38.120 security. 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:40.940 Maybe we 00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:41.259 think of 00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:41.599 it a little 00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:42.140 bit like 00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:43.240 the allies 00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:43.660 in World 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.220 War I. 00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:44.640 You know 00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:45.680 when Austria 00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:46.319 decided they 00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:46.620 were going 00:28:46.620 --> 00:28:47.120 to wage 00:28:47.120 --> 00:28:47.720 war on 00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:48.620 Serbia, 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:49.859 the allies 00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:50.420 stood with 00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:50.839 Serbia. 00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:52.140 The great 00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:52.640 king will 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.279 stand for 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:53.799 the lesser 00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:54.700 in time 00:28:54.700 --> 00:28:55.160 of war. 00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:55.819 God 00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:56.579 says I 00:28:56.579 --> 00:28:57.359 will stand 00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:58.299 for my 00:28:58.299 --> 00:28:59.099 people in 00:28:59.099 --> 00:28:59.939 all dangers. 00:29:01.480 --> 00:29:01.759 And so 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.599 confident faith 00:29:02.599 --> 00:29:03.839 begins here. 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:04.639 As we 00:29:04.639 --> 00:29:05.500 understand our 00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:06.879 maker is our 00:29:06.879 --> 00:29:07.539 father in 00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:08.519 heaven, is the 00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:08.919 one who has 00:29:08.919 --> 00:29:09.480 entered into 00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:10.740 covenant with 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.679 us, he will 00:29:11.679 --> 00:29:12.460 defend us, he 00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:13.119 cannot break 00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:13.799 his promises. 00:29:15.939 --> 00:29:16.539 Our 00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:17.480 confidence is 00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.559 in Jesus who 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:19.480 said I will 00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:19.980 build my 00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:21.259 church and 00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:21.779 the gates of 00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.480 hell will not 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.399 prevail against 00:29:23.399 --> 00:29:23.659 it. 00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:25.519 God's people 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.359 in all 00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:27.319 times, including 00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:28.319 our time, can 00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:29.259 confidently say 00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:30.799 our help is 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.680 in the name 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:32.379 of the Lord, 00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:33.559 the maker of 00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:34.700 heaven and 00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.240 earth. 00:29:37.079 --> 00:29:37.779 The psalm says 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.500 to us, yes, 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:40.200 there will be 00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:40.619 suffering. 00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:43.299 And yes, there 00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:44.339 will even be 00:29:44.339 --> 00:29:45.900 martyrs. 00:29:46.660 --> 00:29:47.480 Think Nigeria, 00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:48.920 think Yemen, 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.420 think North 00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:50.839 Korea. 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:51.679 God's people 00:29:51.679 --> 00:29:53.059 but for the 00:29:53.059 --> 00:29:54.299 church, for the 00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:55.799 church as a 00:29:55.799 --> 00:29:56.939 whole, for the 00:29:56.939 --> 00:29:57.879 church for 00:29:57.879 --> 00:29:59.339 eternity, it 00:29:59.339 --> 00:30:01.339 will survive, it 00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:03.019 will grow and 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:04.299 in the end we 00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:05.259 will be delivered 00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:06.679 and glorified. 00:30:08.419 --> 00:30:09.259 And so David 00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:10.419 presents for us 00:30:10.419 --> 00:30:11.559 the wisdom and 00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.699 humility of faith 00:30:12.699 --> 00:30:15.379 as he gratefully 00:30:15.379 --> 00:30:16.240 looks away from 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:17.919 himself to look 00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:18.860 to his great 00:30:18.860 --> 00:30:19.779 God in utter 00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:21.300 dependence, to 00:30:21.300 --> 00:30:22.380 rejoice totally 00:30:22.380 --> 00:30:23.160 in his 00:30:23.160 --> 00:30:24.039 redemption, 00:30:25.140 --> 00:30:25.860 inviting us to 00:30:25.860 --> 00:30:26.779 be honest enough 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:28.060 to say, if 00:30:28.060 --> 00:30:29.140 Jesus was not my 00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:29.800 Lord and my 00:30:29.800 --> 00:30:31.080 Savior, there is 00:30:31.080 --> 00:30:31.940 no way I could 00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:33.500 follow God, there 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:34.360 is no way I could 00:30:34.360 --> 00:30:35.240 be good enough for 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:36.440 God, there is no 00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:37.480 way I could hope to 00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:38.640 stand before his 00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:40.720 judgment seat and 00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:41.640 be welcomed into 00:30:41.640 --> 00:30:42.200 his kingdom. 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:42.360 freedom. 00:30:44.140 --> 00:30:45.840 So as we close, 00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:49.620 can you and I, can 00:30:49.620 --> 00:30:50.660 we sing this song? 00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:52.740 Can we sing it 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:53.620 personally? 00:30:54.940 --> 00:30:55.920 Can we look back 00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:57.480 and say, God has 00:30:57.480 --> 00:30:58.680 worked for me. 00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:01.460 God has delivered 00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:03.039 me when I was 00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:03.759 helpless and 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:04.180 hopeless. 00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:05.620 He delivered me 00:31:05.620 --> 00:31:06.900 there at the cross 00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:07.920 and he continues to 00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:09.019 be for me today. 00:31:09.019 --> 00:31:12.440 If so, then be 00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:13.099 glad. 00:31:14.599 --> 00:31:17.279 Sing for joy and 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:19.339 give him glory and 00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:22.379 share those stories 00:31:22.379 --> 00:31:24.819 to encourage one 00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:26.220 another to keep 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:27.920 walking with Jesus. 00:31:29.839 --> 00:31:31.980 But if this isn't 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:33.019 your personal 00:31:33.019 --> 00:31:35.220 experience, then the 00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:35.900 word of God would 00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:37.400 say, this then is 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:38.700 your greatest need. 00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:40.900 that you would 00:31:40.900 --> 00:31:42.359 ask Jesus to 00:31:42.359 --> 00:31:43.879 deliver you from 00:31:43.879 --> 00:31:46.759 your sin, to be 00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:47.819 your savior. 00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:49.559 And there is the 00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:50.339 promise in the 00:31:50.339 --> 00:31:50.980 Bible that if we 00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:52.299 ask him with faith, 00:31:53.299 --> 00:31:54.180 if we turn from 00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:55.160 sin to trust in 00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:56.160 him, then he 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:57.639 will do it. 00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:00.839 Well, may Psalm 00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:02.279 124 be precious 00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:04.779 to us as we think 00:32:04.779 --> 00:32:06.319 about this rhythm 00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:07.359 that every week we 00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:08.779 would be learning to 00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:09.599 look back with 00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:10.519 thankfulness and 00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:10.960 joy. 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:12.899 God sent Jesus 00:32:12.899 --> 00:32:14.680 for me to 00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:15.779 face the attacks 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.819 of the evil one 00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:17.879 for me, to be 00:32:17.879 --> 00:32:19.440 overwhelmed under 00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:20.740 the flood of God's 00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.960 judgment in my 00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:24.019 place, to be in 00:32:24.019 --> 00:32:25.460 the teeth of lions 00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:27.799 on the cross for 00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:30.639 me, to enter into 00:32:30.639 --> 00:32:33.899 death, to secure my 00:32:33.899 --> 00:32:34.839 salvation. 00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:36.799 may we find 00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:37.500 ourselves looking 00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:38.799 back to that great 00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:40.779 rescue as we 00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:42.259 also look forward to 00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:44.879 final rescue, to 00:32:44.879 --> 00:32:46.000 Jesus returning to 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:47.139 make everything new, 00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:49.059 to bring perfect 00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:51.059 justice and security 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:52.599 and joy so we 00:32:52.599 --> 00:32:54.599 might live today with 00:32:54.599 --> 00:32:56.159 confident trust, not 00:32:56.159 --> 00:32:57.720 in ourselves, not in 00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:59.240 our strategies, not in 00:32:59.240 --> 00:33:01.379 our successes, but 00:33:01.380 --> 00:33:02.980 looking to Jesus 00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:06.140 saying our help 00:33:06.140 --> 00:33:08.620 is in the name of 00:33:08.620 --> 00:33:10.420 the Lord, the 00:33:10.420 --> 00:33:12.140 maker of heaven 00:33:12.140 --> 00:33:12.480 and earth. 00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:14.160 Let's pray together 00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:14.540 briefly. 00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:17.320 Lord, we thank you 00:33:17.320 --> 00:33:19.780 that the Bible is so 00:33:19.780 --> 00:33:22.800 full of rescue and 00:33:22.800 --> 00:33:24.120 redemption stories. 00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:26.639 it's so full of 00:33:26.639 --> 00:33:27.839 encouragements as we 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:29.739 see your people in 00:33:29.739 --> 00:33:31.959 need, crying out to 00:33:31.959 --> 00:33:33.519 you and you being 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:35.639 patient and kind and 00:33:35.639 --> 00:33:37.339 faithful and answering 00:33:37.339 --> 00:33:38.979 and delivering in 00:33:38.979 --> 00:33:41.039 power so that your 00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:42.219 people might live with 00:33:42.219 --> 00:33:45.039 security and in praise 00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:45.719 of your name. 00:33:46.959 --> 00:33:47.679 And Lord, we thank you 00:33:47.679 --> 00:33:48.919 that all of those small 00:33:48.919 --> 00:33:49.959 acts of deliverance 00:33:49.959 --> 00:33:51.000 point us to the 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:53.239 ultimate salvation, the 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:54.980 ultimate rescue of 00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:56.200 the Lord Jesus through 00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:57.039 his death and 00:33:57.039 --> 00:33:57.620 resurrection. 00:33:58.420 --> 00:33:59.380 May we find 00:33:59.380 --> 00:34:01.019 ourselves often 00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:02.819 returning back to 00:34:02.819 --> 00:34:03.799 the truths of the 00:34:03.799 --> 00:34:05.559 gospel, to give us 00:34:05.559 --> 00:34:06.799 hope in your covenant 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:08.159 love and to 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:09.739 recognize our help 00:34:09.739 --> 00:34:11.820 that comes from the 00:34:11.820 --> 00:34:12.820 Lord, the maker of 00:34:12.820 --> 00:34:13.420 heaven and earth. 00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:15.099 May you help us to 00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:16.480 live today with 00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:18.480 confident trust as we 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:20.280 look forward to that 00:34:20.280 --> 00:34:22.199 coming deliverance when 00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:23.159 Jesus returns. 00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:26.019 help us, give us 00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:27.679 confidence and hope, 00:34:27.939 --> 00:34:28.899 not in ourselves, but 00:34:28.899 --> 00:34:29.399 in Jesus. 00:34:30.119 --> 00:34:31.179 We pray in his name. 00:34:31.819 --> 00:34:32.099 Amen.