WEBVTT

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 Well, good evening. It is great to be with you, although slightly terrifying to be up here with you.

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 But that's just the way it is.

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 If you have a Bible in front of you, please open it to Psalm 13 if you don't have it there already.

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 And as Neil was saying, if you've been with us over the past few Sunday evenings,

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 we've settled into something of a theme as we've been looking at our soul-bearing Psalms.

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 Each Psalm has so far included something of God as creator.

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 And we've seen God as the creator, as the king, as the governor, as the ruler.

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 But as we come to our Psalm this evening, we're brought up short.

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 As we have read and sung, our Psalm does not open with a confident assertion that God is in control.

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 But with a despairing cry that implies God is nowhere to be seen.

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 And I think the central theme of our Psalm tonight must be that on some level or another,

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 the Psalmist's expectations of God have been failed.

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 The Psalmist, in a word, is disappointed in God.

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 But surely that can't be right.

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 Doesn't the New Testament quote Psalm 22,

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 saying whoever believes in him, that is in Christ, will not be disappointed?

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 I can assure you it does.

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 It does it three times.

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 But yet it is clear that the Psalmist is disappointed with God.

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 The Psalmist clearly has expected different experience of God than what he is currently experiencing.

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 And that leaves us with something of a dilemma.

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 Firstly, what do we do when our expectations are failed?

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 Secondly, what do we expect from God even when we are disappointed?

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 And finally, why do we expect what we expect from God?

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 I hope that as we work through this incredible little Psalm,

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 we will find a good and biblical way of dealing with our disappointments.

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 But until we get there, we've perhaps got an interesting way to go as we look at this Psalm.

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 Let's just pray before we go any further.

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 Father, we come to you.

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 And as we're found here this evening,

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 we want to be satisfied in you.

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 We long to know that you are a good and a faithful God.

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 That you are trustworthy.

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 That you are dependable.

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 And yet, perhaps as we have experienced in our lives,

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 or perhaps as we look through the window of this Psalm,

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 we can see that life doesn't always work out the way that we had hoped.

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 And you do not always answer our prayers in the ways that we want.

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 Father, we long to make this right.

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 Father, we long to make this right.

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 To understand what's gone wrong.

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 And to know fellowship with you fully and clearly.

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 To be able to say with the confidence of the end of this Psalm.

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 That we trust you.

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 And that we are sure that you will bring salvation.

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 So, Father, help us, we pray.

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 Send your spirit to open our eyes and our ears.

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 And enable us to see you through everything else.

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 We pray these things in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 So, what do we do when our expectations are failed?

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 When we come to this Psalm,

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 all of us have information about God in our minds.

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 Perhaps for some of you,

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 that information has been maturing for 60 or 70 years

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 of Bible study and prayer and relationship with God.

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 For some of you, perhaps,

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 what you know of God is just what you have thought.

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 What you've heard from others

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 is maybe second-hand experience.

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 And as we come to this Psalm,

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 we are expected to have something of a backdrop in place.

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 We're expected to know something of the God

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 that we find in the Bible.

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 of a faithful God.

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 A God who keeps His promises,

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 who does not forget His people.

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 Before we get to this Psalm,

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 as we've seen through the previous Psalms in our series,

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 we see a God who is absolutely reliable,

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 who has a proven track record

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 as creator and sustainer,

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 whose words and whose works are good.

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 But what happens when all this seems contradicted

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 by the sad realities of life?

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 We cannot read these first two verses

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 and be unmoved or callous

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 in our estimation of the psalmist, can we?

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 This is the heartfelt cry of a man

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 who is broken about his circumstances.

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 He's distraught

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 that there's a breakdown of communication with God.

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 And we have to be careful

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 that we're not like Job's friends.

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 Don't we?

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 Oh Job, it's so simple.

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 Job, we have a soundbite of theology for your problem.

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 Job, don't you know that you're just a sinner

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 and you're just getting your comeuppance?

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 That's almost what some have said

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 about this Psalm

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 when they've been commenting on it.

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 But we have no reason for believing

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 there's any sin here.

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 And so we ought to be moved

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 with compassion for the writer.

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 And we need to be moved with compassion

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 for anyone who finds themselves

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 uttering these words.

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 How long, O Lord?

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 Will you forget me forever?

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 How long will you hide your face from me?

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 Perhaps even some of us

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 have taken these words on our lips

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 in times past.

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 Can't this be resolved?

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 Whether illness or distress,

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 whether a lingering situation

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 at work or at home,

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 inner turmoil or problems with people.

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 I think we should be able

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 to take these words

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 without any hesitation as Christians.

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 But I suppose we need to wonder

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 why do these come?

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 Why do we ever need to ask the question,

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 how long, O Lord?

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 Perhaps it sounds like a silly question to ask

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 because it's obvious.

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 It's instinctive to us.

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 But for many,

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 this question is alien and unusual.

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 For the atheist,

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 there is no God to ask.

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 For the agnostic or the deist,

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 there's no point in asking.

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 To the fatalist,

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 this is subversive.

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 To the prosperity gospel believer,

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 this is a moot point.

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 This should never happen.

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 But to those who believe

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 the gospel of Jesus Christ,

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 who believe in a good God

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 who is sovereign,

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 to us and only us,

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 does it make sense

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 to ask this question.

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 How long, O Lord,

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 will you forget me forever?

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 However,

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 this world is not as it should be

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 according to the principles

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 of a good God

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 who's in sovereign control.

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 And only as we come

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 to this understanding

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 that we have of the fall

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 and of sin

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 and of the brokenness

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 of this world

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 will we ever be able

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 to make any sense

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 of this question.

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 However,

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 as we come to an understanding

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 of God's faithful dealings

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 with His people,

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 it dredges up

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 a whole new level

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 of this problem.

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 Because here's the problem

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 that this psalm

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 is fundamentally dealing with.

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 God is not treating

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 the psalmist

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 as the psalmist expects.

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 The writer of these words

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 is a part

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 of the covenant people of God.

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 He's an Israelite.

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 And as such,

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 God has promised blessings

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 and curses

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 through the nation

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 of God's.

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 We can go back

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 to Deuteronomy.

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 Go back to chapter 30

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 and see that God promises

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 life and prosperity

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 to the obedient

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 and death and adversity

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 to the disobedient.

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 And yet fundamentally,

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 that's not what's happening here.

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 That's not what's happening

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 in the case

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 of this man's life.

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 He is,

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 to all the information we have,

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 living in obedience.

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 And yet we clearly see

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 that he is in danger

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 of receiving death

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 and adversity.

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 Why?

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 Why does the world

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 not match up

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 to what

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 is expected

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 of God's faithful work

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 in his life?

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 We need to recognize,

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 I think,

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 that those promises

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 were to the whole nation

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 and not to a disparate

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 group of individuals.

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 You see,

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 the Old Testament

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 doesn't work

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 on a system of karma.

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 You don't get

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 what you pay for.

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 If the nation

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 falls away

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 from God,

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 both the righteous

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 and the unrighteous

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 fall under the curses

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 that were prescribed.

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 And so,

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 this righteous author

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 is feeling the pain

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 of God's righteous rebuke

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 against the nation

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 of an apostate Israel.

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 I missed that

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 when I read the psalm

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 at first

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 and perhaps you did too.

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 It's hiding there

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 in the very first verse.

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 How long,

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 O Lord,

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 will you forget me forever?

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 How long will you

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 hide your face

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 from me?

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 Isn't that an odd phrase?

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 Why does the psalmist

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 use this idea

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 of hiding

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 God's face?

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 And perhaps

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 as you start

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 to think about that,

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 you'll hear an echo

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 of words in your mind.

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 May the Lord

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 bless and keep you.

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 May the Lord

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 make His face

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 to shine upon you.

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 And if you thought of that,

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 you're probably

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 onto a good idea.

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 It's a quote

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 from number six,

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 a blessing

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 that the priests

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 were to use.

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 And this is

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 a fuller version

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 of the quote.

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 The Lord said to Moses,

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 tell Aaron

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 and his sons,

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 this is how you are

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 to bless the Israelites.

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 Say to them,

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 the Lord bless you

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 and keep you.

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 The Lord make His face

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 shine upon you

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 and be gracious to you.

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 The Lord turn His face

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 toward you

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 and give you peace.

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 And here's where

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 it gets interesting.

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 So they will put

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 my name

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 on the Israelites

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 and I will bless them.

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 This language

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 of having your face

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 turned towards

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 or turned away

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 from somebody,

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 that's intensely

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 covenant language.

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 And perhaps we

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 in the 21st century

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 think that that's

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 awfully distant

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 from us.

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 perhaps that puts

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 a little bit

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 of distance

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 between us

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 and this psalm.

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 It's not so simple

00:12:33.580 --> 00:12:34.300
 anymore.

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 This psalm of David

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 deals with

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 an expectation

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 of prosperity

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 that has been

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 failed.

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 And we don't

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 have that issue.

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 We don't have

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 that issue

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 because in Christ

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 we should have

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 no expectations

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 for material blessings

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 on this earth.

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 It isn't part

00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:55.879
 of the Christian's

00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:56.139
 deal.

00:12:56.740 --> 00:12:57.399
 We're promised

00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:57.899
 good things

00:12:57.899 --> 00:12:58.559
 from our Father,

00:12:58.679 --> 00:12:59.059
 absolutely.

00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:00.360
 We're intended

00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:01.000
 to have our

00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:01.819
 daily bread.

00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:03.039
 But the Christian

00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:03.980
 gospel has a

00:13:03.980 --> 00:13:05.240
 promise of suffering,

00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:06.639
 not prosperity

00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:07.799
 in this life.

00:13:10.459 --> 00:13:11.240
 It's rather

00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:11.720
 negative,

00:13:12.079 --> 00:13:12.559
 isn't it?

00:13:13.459 --> 00:13:14.299
 And perhaps

00:13:14.299 --> 00:13:14.980
 you're wondering

00:13:14.980 --> 00:13:16.039
 why on earth

00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:17.319
 would I be

00:13:17.319 --> 00:13:17.839
 saying this?

00:13:17.899 --> 00:13:18.439
 Why on earth

00:13:18.439 --> 00:13:19.559
 would that help us?

00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:21.379
 Does that mean

00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:22.159
 that we can never

00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:23.239
 cry out these words

00:13:23.239 --> 00:13:24.019
 because we should

00:13:24.019 --> 00:13:24.939
 expect suffering?

00:13:25.859 --> 00:13:26.639
 Does that mean

00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:27.479
 that this psalm

00:13:27.479 --> 00:13:28.559
 and many others

00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:29.639
 are interesting

00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:30.919
 but basically

00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:31.819
 historical

00:13:31.819 --> 00:13:32.679
 and irrelevant?

00:13:33.939 --> 00:13:34.279
 No.

00:13:34.859 --> 00:13:36.139
 No, not at all.

00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:38.759
 I merely hope

00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:39.679
 to show in that

00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:40.599
 that beneath

00:13:40.599 --> 00:13:41.279
 this psalm

00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:42.339
 there is a depth

00:13:42.339 --> 00:13:43.339
 of understanding

00:13:43.339 --> 00:13:44.479
 that we could

00:13:44.479 --> 00:13:45.659
 so easily miss.

00:13:46.179 --> 00:13:47.000
 And now that we

00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:47.839
 see the distance

00:13:47.839 --> 00:13:48.459
 between us

00:13:48.459 --> 00:13:49.299
 and the psalmist,

00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:50.839
 perhaps we can

00:13:50.839 --> 00:13:51.979
 see how near

00:13:51.979 --> 00:13:53.179
 it is to our

00:13:53.179 --> 00:13:54.039
 situations all

00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:54.539
 the same.

00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:56.619
 We ask the

00:13:56.619 --> 00:13:57.000
 question,

00:13:57.219 --> 00:13:58.359
 what do we do

00:13:58.359 --> 00:13:59.000
 when our

00:13:59.000 --> 00:13:59.919
 expectations are

00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:00.399
 failed?

00:14:01.439 --> 00:14:02.459
 We also ask

00:14:02.459 --> 00:14:02.879
 the question,

00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:03.539
 what do we

00:14:03.539 --> 00:14:04.859
 expect from God

00:14:04.859 --> 00:14:06.139
 even when we

00:14:06.139 --> 00:14:06.899
 are disappointed?

00:14:08.299 --> 00:14:09.479
 Because despite

00:14:09.479 --> 00:14:10.859
 the failure

00:14:10.859 --> 00:14:12.279
 of the psalmist's

00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:12.959
 expectations,

00:14:13.859 --> 00:14:14.959
 he's actually

00:14:14.959 --> 00:14:15.659
 still writing.

00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:18.980
 even though

00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:19.879
 disappointed

00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:21.279
 by God's

00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:21.740
 seeming

00:14:21.740 --> 00:14:22.639
 abandonment,

00:14:22.819 --> 00:14:23.559
 he is still

00:14:23.559 --> 00:14:24.299
 crying out to

00:14:24.299 --> 00:14:24.719
 God.

00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:26.279
 If he wasn't,

00:14:26.319 --> 00:14:26.679
 we wouldn't

00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:27.759
 have this psalm.

00:14:29.179 --> 00:14:29.879
 And we see

00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:30.659
 that in verses

00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:32.519
 3 and 4.

00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:34.860
 He still has

00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:35.919
 expectations of

00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:36.319
 God.

00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:37.620
 What does he

00:14:37.620 --> 00:14:38.159
 pray there?

00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.439
 Consider me

00:14:39.439 --> 00:14:40.579
 and answer,

00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:41.220
 O God,

00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:41.680
 Lord my

00:14:41.680 --> 00:14:42.080
 God.

00:14:42.660 --> 00:14:43.100
 Light up

00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:43.720
 my eyes

00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:44.220
 lest I

00:14:44.220 --> 00:14:45.160
 sleep the

00:14:45.160 --> 00:14:45.620
 sleep of

00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:46.180
 death.

00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:48.740
 You see,

00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:49.360
 the psalmist,

00:14:49.460 --> 00:14:49.960
 he doesn't

00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:50.660
 just throw in

00:14:50.660 --> 00:14:51.220
 the towel

00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:52.460
 because it's

00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:52.920
 all gone

00:14:52.920 --> 00:14:53.320
 wrong.

00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:55.259
 He doesn't

00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:55.680
 turn his

00:14:55.680 --> 00:14:56.320
 back on

00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:57.220
 this God

00:14:57.220 --> 00:14:57.700
 and go to

00:14:57.700 --> 00:14:58.240
 find some

00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:58.759
 convenient

00:14:58.759 --> 00:14:59.259
 idol.

00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:01.700
 Rather,

00:15:01.899 --> 00:15:02.660
 he pleads

00:15:02.660 --> 00:15:03.560
 with this

00:15:03.560 --> 00:15:04.820
 true God

00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:06.680
 and has

00:15:06.680 --> 00:15:07.519
 a fresh

00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:08.580
 hope in

00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:08.920
 him.

00:15:08.919 --> 00:15:11.599
 And that

00:15:11.599 --> 00:15:12.559
 is so

00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:13.559
 close to

00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:14.379
 our lives

00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:16.299
 because,

00:15:16.459 --> 00:15:16.679
 again,

00:15:16.740 --> 00:15:17.360
 we can ask

00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:17.879
 what will

00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:18.639
 we expect

00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:19.399
 from God

00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:20.459
 even when

00:15:20.459 --> 00:15:20.919
 we are

00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:21.579
 disappointed

00:15:21.579 --> 00:15:22.319
 in life?

00:15:24.479 --> 00:15:25.459
 Will we

00:15:25.459 --> 00:15:26.199
 expect

00:15:26.199 --> 00:15:26.759
 answered

00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:27.240
 prayer

00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:28.819
 even if

00:15:28.819 --> 00:15:29.179
 everything

00:15:29.179 --> 00:15:29.740
 seems to

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:30.279
 go wrong?

00:15:31.319 --> 00:15:32.079
 Will we

00:15:32.079 --> 00:15:32.679
 expect

00:15:32.679 --> 00:15:33.139
 God's

00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:33.839
 presence

00:15:33.839 --> 00:15:35.419
 even though

00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:35.860
 there seems

00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:36.339
 to be a

00:15:36.339 --> 00:15:36.860
 chasm

00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:37.579
 and eternity

00:15:37.579 --> 00:15:38.159
 wide?

00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:40.360
 will we

00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:41.379
 expect to

00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:41.759
 be

00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.879
 vindicated

00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:45.559
 or will

00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:46.179
 our faith

00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:47.360
 be crippled

00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:48.559
 and crushed

00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:49.099
 by the

00:15:49.099 --> 00:15:49.620
 weight and

00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:50.099
 weariness

00:15:50.099 --> 00:15:50.579
 of our

00:15:50.579 --> 00:15:50.979
 life?

00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:52.919
 Dear

00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:53.339
 Christian,

00:15:53.479 --> 00:15:54.299
 hold on.

00:15:55.179 --> 00:15:55.939
 Keep on

00:15:55.939 --> 00:15:56.419
 going.

00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:58.399
 Dear

00:15:58.399 --> 00:15:58.799
 Christian,

00:15:58.959 --> 00:15:59.279
 keep

00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:00.259
 praying.

00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:02.419
 Yes,

00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:02.839
 and I

00:16:02.839 --> 00:16:03.219
 don't say

00:16:03.219 --> 00:16:03.679
 this lightly,

00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:04.360
 our hopes

00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:05.059
 and our

00:16:05.059 --> 00:16:06.000
 dreams may

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.759
 be shredded.

00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:08.700
 and yes,

00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:09.259
 it is far

00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:09.740
 too much

00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:10.259
 for any

00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:10.700
 of us

00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:11.159
 to deal

00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:11.639
 with.

00:16:12.899 --> 00:16:13.620
 I don't

00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.200
 deny any

00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:14.939
 of that,

00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:16.259
 but yet we

00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:17.000
 have a

00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:18.059
 hope that

00:16:18.059 --> 00:16:18.840
 is sure

00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:20.200
 and certain.

00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:22.439
 Yet we

00:16:22.439 --> 00:16:23.439
 can expect

00:16:23.439 --> 00:16:24.259
 from our

00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:25.220
 good God

00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:27.399
 recognizing

00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:28.159
 that He

00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:28.860
 is God

00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:29.179
 and that

00:16:29.179 --> 00:16:29.639
 we are

00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:30.179
 not.

00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:33.159
 and this

00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:33.620
 is part

00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:33.859
 of the

00:16:33.859 --> 00:16:34.079
 great

00:16:34.079 --> 00:16:34.599
 difficulty

00:16:34.599 --> 00:16:34.979
 of the

00:16:34.979 --> 00:16:35.339
 Christian

00:16:35.339 --> 00:16:35.879
 faith.

00:16:36.939 --> 00:16:37.199
 We

00:16:37.199 --> 00:16:37.439
 aren't

00:16:37.439 --> 00:16:37.599
 the

00:16:37.599 --> 00:16:38.059
 boss.

00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:39.879
 We

00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:40.159
 don't

00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:40.620
 get to

00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:41.079
 set the

00:16:41.079 --> 00:16:41.639
 agenda

00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:43.419
 and that

00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:44.279
 rips and

00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.079
 tears at

00:16:45.079 --> 00:16:45.739
 the values

00:16:45.739 --> 00:16:46.059
 that we

00:16:46.059 --> 00:16:46.519
 have drank

00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:47.039
 in since

00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:47.519
 birth.

00:16:48.819 --> 00:16:49.459
 We

00:16:49.459 --> 00:16:49.919
 aren't the

00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:50.599
 center of

00:16:50.599 --> 00:16:51.179
 the universe

00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:52.799
 and our

00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:53.759
 lives aren't

00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:55.000
 conformed to

00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:56.059
 our wishes,

00:16:56.059 --> 00:16:56.199
 faith,

00:16:57.119 --> 00:16:59.219
 but yet we

00:16:59.219 --> 00:16:59.819
 can still

00:16:59.819 --> 00:17:00.419
 return to

00:17:00.419 --> 00:17:00.819
 God.

00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:02.339
 Yet we

00:17:02.339 --> 00:17:02.919
 can still

00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:03.739
 return to

00:17:03.739 --> 00:17:04.559
 our source

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.440
 of life.

00:17:06.159 --> 00:17:06.720
 We can

00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.399
 still ask

00:17:07.399 --> 00:17:07.700
 of our

00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:08.240
 good God

00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:08.839
 who gives

00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:09.720
 good gifts.

00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:13.799
 We can

00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.839
 yet pray

00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:15.940
 for the

00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:16.899
 strength to

00:17:16.899 --> 00:17:17.659
 last the

00:17:17.659 --> 00:17:18.119
 trial.

00:17:19.679 --> 00:17:20.379
 That's

00:17:20.379 --> 00:17:21.599
 exactly what

00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:22.119
 the psalmist

00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:22.740
 asks for

00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.039
 here,

00:17:23.139 --> 00:17:23.539
 isn't it?

00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:25.319
 Light up

00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:26.359
 my eyes

00:17:26.359 --> 00:17:27.740
 lest I

00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:28.379
 sleep the

00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:28.759
 sleep of

00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:29.159
 death.

00:17:29.659 --> 00:17:29.980
 Light up

00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:30.539
 my eyes,

00:17:30.659 --> 00:17:31.679
 refresh me,

00:17:32.679 --> 00:17:33.359
 give me

00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:34.079
 the strength

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:34.599
 to keep

00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:35.159
 going.

00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:38.740
 Show me

00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:40.259
 your face

00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:42.200
 so that

00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:42.700
 even though

00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:43.419
 my life is

00:17:43.419 --> 00:17:44.179
 falling apart,

00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:44.619
 I might

00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:45.159
 still

00:17:45.159 --> 00:17:46.059
 continue.

00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:50.379
 And it's

00:17:50.379 --> 00:17:50.980
 the puzzle

00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:51.759
 of Psalm

00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:52.359
 13.

00:17:53.399 --> 00:17:53.819
 And I

00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:54.339
 doubt that

00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.099
 any sermon

00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:55.299
 or at

00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:55.740
 least any

00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:56.019
 sermon

00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.359
 that I

00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:56.799
 can preach

00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.339
 can take

00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:58.179
 you into

00:17:58.179 --> 00:17:58.740
 the depths

00:17:58.740 --> 00:17:59.119
 of this

00:17:59.119 --> 00:17:59.599
 tension.

00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:01.139
 Here is a

00:18:01.139 --> 00:18:02.119
 broken man

00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:03.279
 at the

00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:03.959
 end of his

00:18:03.959 --> 00:18:04.719
 own resources

00:18:04.719 --> 00:18:06.199
 looking into

00:18:06.199 --> 00:18:06.759
 the surrounding

00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:07.719
 circumstances

00:18:07.719 --> 00:18:08.599
 that have

00:18:08.599 --> 00:18:10.039
 utterly no

00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:10.639
 light in

00:18:10.639 --> 00:18:10.980
 them.

00:18:12.439 --> 00:18:12.939
 And his

00:18:12.939 --> 00:18:14.299
 response is

00:18:14.299 --> 00:18:14.799
 to turn

00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:15.559
 back to

00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.219
 the God

00:18:16.219 --> 00:18:17.259
 who has

00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:18.319
 been seemingly

00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.839
 silent and

00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:20.399
 laid out

00:18:20.399 --> 00:18:21.199
 his case

00:18:21.199 --> 00:18:22.659
 once again

00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:23.019
 to the

00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:23.940
 God in

00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:24.360
 whom he

00:18:24.360 --> 00:18:25.080
 trusts.

00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:27.259
 Neil

00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:27.779
 pointed me

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:28.259
 towards a

00:18:28.259 --> 00:18:28.840
 quote from

00:18:28.840 --> 00:18:29.220
 C.S.

00:18:29.300 --> 00:18:30.540
 Lewis from

00:18:30.540 --> 00:18:31.180
 the Screwtape

00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:31.680
 Letters.

00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:32.720
 If you

00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:33.380
 haven't read

00:18:33.380 --> 00:18:33.660
 them,

00:18:35.100 --> 00:18:35.759
 they're from

00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.120
 an odd

00:18:36.120 --> 00:18:36.779
 perspective.

00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:39.340
 The speaker

00:18:39.340 --> 00:18:39.980
 here is an

00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.920
 imagined demon

00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:42.900
 and so when

00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:43.740
 it says our

00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:44.400
 cause,

00:18:44.800 --> 00:18:45.420
 it's the

00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:45.880
 cause of

00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:46.300
 hell.

00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:47.840
 And when it

00:18:47.840 --> 00:18:48.300
 says our

00:18:48.300 --> 00:18:48.720
 enemy,

00:18:49.060 --> 00:18:49.519
 it means

00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:49.960
 God.

00:18:50.379 --> 00:18:50.900
 So try

00:18:50.900 --> 00:18:51.440
 and adjust

00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:51.900
 your mind

00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:52.900
 to hear

00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:53.180
 that.

00:18:53.819 --> 00:18:54.220
 This is

00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:54.579
 the quote.

00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:55.279
 Do not

00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:56.000
 be deceived

00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:56.599
 Wormwood.

00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:58.480
 Our cause,

00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.160
 the cause

00:18:59.160 --> 00:18:59.539
 of hell,

00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:00.299
 is never

00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:00.940
 more in

00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:02.139
 danger than

00:19:02.139 --> 00:19:02.619
 when a

00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:03.039
 human,

00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:04.460
 no longer

00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.839
 desiring but

00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:06.839
 still intending

00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:08.039
 to do our

00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:09.059
 enemy's will,

00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:10.400
 that still

00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:11.240
 desiring to

00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.440
 do God's

00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:12.680
 will,

00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:14.240
 looks round

00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:14.940
 upon a

00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:16.720
 universe from

00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.599
 which every

00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:18.660
 trace of

00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:19.220
 him of

00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:20.420
 God seems

00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:21.040
 to have

00:19:21.040 --> 00:19:23.500
 vanished and

00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:24.440
 still asks

00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:26.000
 why he has

00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.920
 been forsaken

00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:28.820
 and still

00:19:28.820 --> 00:19:29.480
 obeys.

00:19:30.360 --> 00:19:30.920
 I'll read

00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:31.800
 that again to

00:19:31.800 --> 00:19:32.620
 try and get

00:19:32.620 --> 00:19:33.220
 it across.

00:19:33.840 --> 00:19:34.600
 Do not be

00:19:34.600 --> 00:19:36.019
 deceived Wormwood.

00:19:36.560 --> 00:19:37.820
 Our cause is

00:19:37.820 --> 00:19:39.100
 never more in

00:19:39.100 --> 00:19:40.160
 danger than

00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:40.720
 when a

00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.160
 human,

00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:43.200
 no longer

00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:44.960
 desiring but

00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.040
 still intending

00:19:46.040 --> 00:19:46.940
 to do our

00:19:46.940 --> 00:19:47.840
 enemy's will,

00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:49.659
 looks round

00:19:49.659 --> 00:19:50.419
 upon a

00:19:50.419 --> 00:19:52.139
 universe from

00:19:52.139 --> 00:19:53.000
 which every

00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.939
 trace of

00:19:53.939 --> 00:19:54.639
 him seems

00:19:54.639 --> 00:19:55.220
 to have

00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:57.019
 vanished and

00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:58.000
 asks why he

00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.419
 has been

00:19:58.419 --> 00:20:00.419
 forsaken and

00:20:00.419 --> 00:20:01.599
 still obeys.

00:20:03.679 --> 00:20:04.779
 To this

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:06.079
 world that

00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:06.819
 is utterly

00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:07.539
 stupid.

00:20:08.679 --> 00:20:09.839
 This makes

00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:10.839
 no sense to

00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.419
 the person

00:20:11.419 --> 00:20:12.419
 without faith.

00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.480
 It's

00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:14.679
 incomprehensible

00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.539
 to the

00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:16.140
 person who

00:20:16.140 --> 00:20:16.640
 does not

00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:17.660
 believe in

00:20:17.660 --> 00:20:18.100
 a loving

00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:18.700
 God.

00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:19.680
 But this

00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.560
 is exactly

00:20:20.560 --> 00:20:21.340
 what Jesus

00:20:21.340 --> 00:20:21.840
 did.

00:20:22.560 --> 00:20:23.240
 We saw it

00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:23.660
 didn't we

00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:24.100
 when we were

00:20:24.100 --> 00:20:24.779
 studying Psalm

00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:25.700
 22 before

00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:26.120
 Easter.

00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.460
 Jesus took

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.160
 those words

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:29.060
 on his lips

00:20:29.060 --> 00:20:30.180
 that echo a

00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:31.120
 different form of

00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:32.019
 the cry that we

00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:32.700
 get here.

00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:33.900
 My God,

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:34.680
 my God,

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:36.060
 why have you

00:20:36.060 --> 00:20:37.799
 forsaken me?

00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:40.579
 and yet he

00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:41.639
 still intended

00:20:41.639 --> 00:20:43.339
 to and he

00:20:43.339 --> 00:20:44.980
 did finish

00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:45.779
 the work for

00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.379
 which he was

00:20:46.379 --> 00:20:47.059
 sent by his

00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:47.419
 father.

00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:51.339
 This Psalm

00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:52.559
 then is an

00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.740
 incredible challenge

00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:54.379
 to us.

00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.599
 Will we take

00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:57.079
 the same

00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:58.960
 attitude and

00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:00.299
 continue faithfully

00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:01.240
 when our

00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:02.299
 expectations are

00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:03.019
 dashed?

00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:04.660
 will we

00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:05.759
 still expect

00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:06.319
 an answer

00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:06.980
 from heaven

00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:08.019
 when all

00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:08.639
 trace of

00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:09.440
 God seems

00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:10.000
 to have

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.539
 vanished?

00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.700
 Or will

00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:14.420
 we allow

00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:15.639
 our present

00:21:15.639 --> 00:21:16.579
 circumstances

00:21:16.579 --> 00:21:17.440
 to drown

00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:17.900
 out the

00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:18.700
 reality of

00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:19.099
 God in

00:21:19.099 --> 00:21:19.720
 our lives?

00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:23.220
 Look on

00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:24.839
 me and

00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:25.339
 answer,

00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:26.119
 Lord my

00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:26.599
 God.

00:21:27.379 --> 00:21:28.119
 Give

00:21:28.119 --> 00:21:28.700
 light to

00:21:28.700 --> 00:21:29.680
 my eyes

00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.759
 or I

00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:31.500
 will sleep

00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:33.079
 in death.

00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:36.200
 We've

00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:36.740
 asked what

00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:36.960
 do we

00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:37.420
 do when

00:21:37.420 --> 00:21:37.579
 our

00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.220
 expectations

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:38.559
 are

00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:38.920
 filled?

00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.079
 We've

00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:40.740
 asked what

00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.099
 do we

00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:41.900
 expect from

00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:42.339
 God even

00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:42.759
 when we're

00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:43.339
 disappointed?

00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:44.940
 And we

00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.400
 get into

00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:45.859
 our third

00:21:45.859 --> 00:21:46.380
 question,

00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:47.339
 why do

00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:48.119
 we expect

00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:48.619
 what we

00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:49.400
 expect from

00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:49.759
 God?

00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:51.880
 As we

00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:52.460
 come to

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.240
 the last

00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.059
 stanza of

00:21:54.059 --> 00:21:54.680
 the Psalm,

00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.119
 we ought

00:21:56.119 --> 00:21:56.539
 to be

00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:57.380
 surprised

00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:58.380
 by the

00:21:58.380 --> 00:21:59.220
 speed of

00:21:59.220 --> 00:21:59.839
 change of

00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:00.259
 tone.

00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.279
 I was

00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:02.920
 chatting to

00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:04.400
 Peter and

00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:04.819
 he said

00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.539
 it sounds

00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:06.180
 wrong.

00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.079
 It almost

00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:09.019
 sounds trite,

00:22:09.140 --> 00:22:10.259
 this bit

00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:10.640
 kind of

00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:11.359
 tagged on

00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:11.740
 to the

00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:12.319
 end.

00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:14.960
 I don't

00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.519
 think this

00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.000
 Psalm is

00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:16.420
 one that

00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:17.420
 naturally fits

00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:17.839
 into our

00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.400
 thinking about

00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:18.920
 life and I

00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:19.240
 don't think

00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:19.759
 it's meant

00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.140
 to.

00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:21.819
 As we

00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:22.539
 read verses

00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:23.240
 five and

00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:23.700
 six,

00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:25.200
 we could so

00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:25.660
 easily be

00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:26.400
 forgiven for

00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.140
 thinking that

00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:27.759
 time has

00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:28.660
 elapsed maybe

00:22:28.660 --> 00:22:30.360
 or circumstances

00:22:30.360 --> 00:22:31.080
 have somehow

00:22:31.080 --> 00:22:32.060
 changed in

00:22:32.060 --> 00:22:34.200
 that full

00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:35.960
 stop or

00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:36.600
 the Psalmist

00:22:36.600 --> 00:22:37.580
 has had some

00:22:37.580 --> 00:22:38.680
 monumental

00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:39.920
 revelation from

00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:40.580
 God which has

00:22:40.580 --> 00:22:41.100
 transformed

00:22:41.100 --> 00:22:42.019
 everything for

00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:42.340
 him.

00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:44.040
 But I don't

00:22:44.040 --> 00:22:44.420
 believe that

00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:44.840
 that's the

00:22:44.840 --> 00:22:45.240
 case.

00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:47.940
 I think that

00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:48.779
 verse five and

00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.940
 six ought to

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:50.800
 be surprising

00:22:50.800 --> 00:22:53.580
 because nothing

00:22:53.580 --> 00:22:54.980
 has fundamentally

00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:55.800
 changed.

00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:55.940
 changed.

00:22:59.139 --> 00:23:00.139
 They are the

00:23:00.139 --> 00:23:01.500
 answer to

00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:01.960
 our third

00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:02.579
 question.

00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:05.599
 Why do we

00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:06.519
 expect what we

00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.220
 expect from

00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:07.680
 God?

00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:10.559
 But I have

00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:11.579
 trusted in

00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:12.680
 your steadfast

00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:13.259
 love.

00:23:13.779 --> 00:23:15.099
 My heart shall

00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:16.079
 rejoice in your

00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:16.579
 salvation.

00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.559
 I will sing to

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:19.639
 the Lord and

00:23:19.639 --> 00:23:20.480
 I think here's

00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:21.240
 the kicker

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:23.500
 because he has

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:25.220
 dealt bountifully

00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:26.579
 with me.

00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:29.519
 These verses

00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.160
 form the

00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:31.339
 rationale for

00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:32.019
 what we've been

00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:32.740
 thinking about

00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:33.620
 so far.

00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:35.579
 And without

00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:36.319
 these verses

00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:37.299
 everything that

00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:38.079
 has gone before

00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:39.500
 is a bit vague

00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:39.960
 and a bit

00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.720
 piecemeal.

00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:42.180
 Without these

00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:43.279
 last two verses

00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:44.759
 there exists a

00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.400
 God out there

00:23:45.400 --> 00:23:47.120
 somewhere but

00:23:47.120 --> 00:23:47.779
 we're given no

00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:48.500
 real reason to

00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:49.120
 trust him.

00:23:50.360 --> 00:23:51.559
 But here is a

00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:52.839
 God who has

00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:54.839
 unfailing love.

00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:56.500
 who is loyal,

00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.740
 who is steadfast

00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:58.799
 in his care for

00:23:58.799 --> 00:23:59.500
 his people.

00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:01.720
 Without these

00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.819
 last two verses

00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:07.059
 there is some

00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:08.039
 idea of a

00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:08.740
 God who is

00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.200
 willing to

00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:10.059
 interfere in

00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:11.019
 human affairs.

00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.200
 But who knows

00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:13.220
 when or why.

00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:15.380
 But here we

00:24:15.380 --> 00:24:16.319
 find a God

00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:17.400
 who saves,

00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:19.200
 who steps

00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:19.900
 into the

00:24:19.900 --> 00:24:21.160
 fray for the

00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:21.740
 sake of his

00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.180
 people.

00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:23.440
 a God who

00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:23.900
 will bring

00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:25.299
 joy as he

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.140
 intervenes in

00:24:26.140 --> 00:24:26.840
 our distress.

00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.940
 Without these

00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:31.759
 final verses

00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.700
 we may think

00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.080
 that the

00:24:33.080 --> 00:24:33.720
 psalmist has

00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:35.200
 some relationship

00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:36.000
 with God.

00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:36.779
 But as we

00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:39.820
 read that

00:24:39.820 --> 00:24:40.799
 this is a

00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:41.259
 God who

00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:41.940
 accepts the

00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:42.660
 praise of

00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:43.400
 his people

00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:44.620
 and a God

00:24:44.620 --> 00:24:45.180
 who has a

00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:46.299
 track record

00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:47.100
 of good,

00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:48.779
 then finally

00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.720
 we have an

00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.920
 objective basis

00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:51.860
 for the faith

00:24:51.860 --> 00:24:52.300
 that the

00:24:52.300 --> 00:24:53.240
 psalmist has.

00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:55.880
 It's only in

00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:56.400
 the resolution

00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:57.279
 of this very

00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:58.140
 last verse

00:24:58.140 --> 00:24:58.800
 that we see

00:24:58.800 --> 00:24:59.740
 the reason

00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.380
 why this

00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:01.640
 change of

00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:02.360
 tone has

00:25:02.360 --> 00:25:02.940
 come at

00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.320
 all.

00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:05.320
 The psalmist

00:25:05.320 --> 00:25:06.300
 is remembering

00:25:06.300 --> 00:25:07.039
 who God

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:09.220
 is and

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:09.640
 that makes

00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:10.279
 all the

00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:11.039
 difference to

00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.920
 his situation.

00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.120
 Yes, the

00:25:14.120 --> 00:25:14.980
 threat of

00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.640
 death may

00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:16.259
 stand.

00:25:17.820 --> 00:25:18.580
 Yes, the

00:25:18.580 --> 00:25:19.080
 shame of

00:25:19.080 --> 00:25:20.140
 defeat may

00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:20.860
 still be a

00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:21.560
 possibility.

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.259
 Yes, God

00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:23.900
 is still

00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:24.520
 seemingly

00:25:24.520 --> 00:25:26.180
 silent, but

00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:27.100
 God is a

00:25:27.100 --> 00:25:27.420
 covenant

00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:27.940
 keeper.

00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:30.120
 But God

00:25:30.120 --> 00:25:31.540
 is enduring

00:25:31.540 --> 00:25:32.140
 in his

00:25:32.140 --> 00:25:32.840
 love.

00:25:33.840 --> 00:25:34.360
 But this

00:25:34.360 --> 00:25:35.259
 God is the

00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:35.759
 God who

00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:36.600
 saves.

00:25:37.540 --> 00:25:38.060
 And so the

00:25:38.060 --> 00:25:38.480
 psalmist

00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:40.000
 trusts and

00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:41.259
 even sings,

00:25:42.080 --> 00:25:43.759
 even in the

00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.320
 darkness of

00:25:44.320 --> 00:25:45.160
 his situation,

00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:47.020
 even in the

00:25:47.020 --> 00:25:48.220
 very middle of

00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:49.140
 disappointment

00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:50.319
 and distress,

00:25:51.120 --> 00:25:52.039
 he can

00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:53.319
 yet praise

00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:54.480
 God because

00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:55.600
 he is absolutely

00:25:55.600 --> 00:25:56.600
 sure that God

00:25:56.600 --> 00:25:57.380
 will live up to

00:25:57.380 --> 00:25:57.940
 his name.

00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:02.480
 For most of

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.400
 us, this is a

00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:04.480
 hard message to

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:04.740
 hear.

00:26:05.860 --> 00:26:06.779
 I don't deny

00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.680
 that this flies

00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.559
 in the face of

00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:09.079
 our natural

00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:09.759
 tendencies.

00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:12.039
 When we're in

00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:13.180
 the middle of

00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:13.860
 a trial,

00:26:14.339 --> 00:26:15.220
 the ending of

00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:16.000
 this psalm

00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:17.019
 seems utterly

00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:17.859
 out of sync

00:26:17.859 --> 00:26:18.720
 with reality.

00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:21.839
 And perhaps

00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:22.339
 you're sitting

00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:22.880
 here this

00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:25.160
 evening and

00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:26.359
 you feel like

00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:26.920
 you're in the

00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:27.579
 middle of what

00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:28.380
 the psalmist is

00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:29.119
 going through.

00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:30.960
 Perhaps you

00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:32.099
 can identify

00:26:32.099 --> 00:26:32.839
 with verses

00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:34.299
 one or two

00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:36.559
 still smarting

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:36.960
 from the

00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.619
 situation,

00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.400
 unable to

00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:40.259
 see any

00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:41.339
 real situation

00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:41.900
 at all.

00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:44.480
 Perhaps you're

00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:45.220
 just about

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:45.880
 able to

00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:47.000
 muster the

00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:47.500
 words of

00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.240
 verses three

00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:48.860
 and four.

00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:50.240
 You know

00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:50.880
 that God is

00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:51.220
 your only

00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:51.920
 option, but

00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:52.980
 you're really

00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:53.740
 unclear how

00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.420
 anything can

00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:55.360
 be resolved.

00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.339
 But see

00:26:58.339 --> 00:26:59.339
 here that

00:26:59.339 --> 00:27:00.039
 we can look

00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:02.019
 back to

00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:02.779
 God's goodness

00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.519
 to us in

00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.339
 the past,

00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:05.400
 to God's

00:27:05.400 --> 00:27:06.539
 track record,

00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:08.099
 and we can

00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:08.860
 be utterly

00:27:08.860 --> 00:27:10.140
 sure that

00:27:10.140 --> 00:27:10.700
 there will be

00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.500
 salvation at

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:11.980
 the end of

00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:12.579
 our trials.

00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.319
 For some

00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:15.900
 of us,

00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:18.240
 that salvation

00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:18.960
 will come in

00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:19.339
 a good

00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:19.920
 death.

00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:23.360
 For others

00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:23.980
 of us,

00:27:24.120 --> 00:27:25.120
 that salvation

00:27:25.120 --> 00:27:26.339
 will come in

00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:26.740
 God's

00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:27.640
 strengthening us

00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:29.500
 to persevere

00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:30.720
 through a

00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:31.360
 long and

00:27:31.360 --> 00:27:32.480
 arduous trial.

00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:35.039
 But be

00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:36.200
 sure that

00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:36.799
 God will

00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:37.700
 not disappoint

00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:39.000
 us if we

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.740
 take him

00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:40.539
 at his

00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.039
 word.

00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:41.099
 Amen.

00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:46.940
 We've

00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:47.400
 asked,

00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:48.180
 what do

00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:48.880
 we do

00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:50.279
 when our

00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:50.900
 expectations

00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:51.660
 are filled?

00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:53.039
 What do we

00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:53.620
 expect from

00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:54.220
 God even

00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:54.779
 when we are

00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.380
 disappointed?

00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:57.220
 And why do

00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:57.860
 we expect

00:27:57.860 --> 00:27:58.259
 what we

00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:59.059
 expect from

00:27:59.059 --> 00:27:59.519
 God?

00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:01.079
 And I

00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:01.900
 hope that

00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:02.799
 we've seen

00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:03.759
 that this

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.440
 isn't some

00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.200
 fanciful

00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.759
 dream,

00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:08.140
 but a

00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:09.279
 solid reality

00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:10.460
 based on

00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:10.839
 God's

00:28:10.839 --> 00:28:11.420
 character

00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:12.420
 and God's

00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:12.980
 actions.

00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:15.700
 I fear

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:17.279
 that the

00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:17.940
 reality of

00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.720
 our lives

00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:20.740
 is that we

00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:21.599
 expect from

00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:22.299
 God what

00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:23.019
 he never

00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:24.519
 promises to

00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:24.960
 us.

00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:26.440
 I don't think

00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:26.980
 that's what's

00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:27.579
 happened here

00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:27.940
 with the

00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:28.279
 psalmist,

00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:28.819
 but I fear

00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:29.279
 that's where

00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:30.220
 many of our

00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:31.039
 disappointments

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:31.599
 with God

00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:32.599
 come from.

00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:34.480
 And for

00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:35.319
 many of us,

00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.759
 I can think

00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.319
 of a number

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:38.880
 in my own

00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:39.299
 case,

00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.319
 for many

00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:41.000
 of us,

00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:41.880
 this is an

00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:42.599
 especially

00:28:42.599 --> 00:28:43.339
 difficult

00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:44.059
 lesson to

00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.439
 learn.

00:28:46.119 --> 00:28:47.000
 But hear

00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.599
 Paul's

00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:48.339
 words to

00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:48.879
 the suffering

00:28:48.879 --> 00:28:49.719
 Christians in

00:28:49.719 --> 00:28:50.659
 Rome as

00:28:50.659 --> 00:28:51.359
 we finish.

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.659
 This is from

00:28:52.659 --> 00:28:53.439
 Romans 5.

00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:55.159
 We also

00:28:55.159 --> 00:28:56.099
 exalt in

00:28:56.099 --> 00:28:56.299
 our

00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:57.159
 tribulations.

00:28:59.039 --> 00:28:59.839
 Did you

00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:00.139
 hear that?

00:29:00.199 --> 00:29:00.899
 We also

00:29:00.899 --> 00:29:03.579
 exalt in

00:29:03.579 --> 00:29:03.759
 our

00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.399
 tribulations,

00:29:04.399 --> 00:29:05.179
 knowing that

00:29:05.179 --> 00:29:05.919
 tribulation

00:29:05.919 --> 00:29:06.639
 brings about

00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:07.339
 perseverance,

00:29:07.919 --> 00:29:09.159
 and perseverance

00:29:09.159 --> 00:29:10.399
 proven character,

00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:14.480
 hope, and

00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:15.519
 hope does

00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.780
 not disappoint,

00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:20.560
 because the

00:29:20.560 --> 00:29:21.320
 love of

00:29:21.320 --> 00:29:22.960
 God has

00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:23.860
 been poured

00:29:23.860 --> 00:29:25.620
 out within

00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:26.620
 our hearts

00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:28.060
 through the

00:29:28.060 --> 00:29:29.019
 Holy Spirit

00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:30.300
 who was

00:29:30.300 --> 00:29:30.940
 given to

00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:31.400
 us.

00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:34.920
 Yes, our

00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:35.720
 circumstances

00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:36.360
 may be

00:29:36.360 --> 00:29:37.040
 hard.

00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:39.259
 yes, there

00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:39.879
 may be all

00:29:39.879 --> 00:29:40.379
 sorts of

00:29:40.379 --> 00:29:42.000
 reasons why

00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.819
 we want to

00:29:42.819 --> 00:29:43.859
 just clam

00:29:43.859 --> 00:29:45.119
 up and

00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:46.019
 not engage,

00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:49.759
 but Paul

00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:51.019
 assures us

00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:53.619
 that we

00:29:53.619 --> 00:29:54.200
 can have

00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:54.659
 hope,

00:29:55.379 --> 00:29:56.220
 even in the

00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:56.899
 darkest of

00:29:56.899 --> 00:29:57.500
 times,

00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:59.920
 not because

00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:00.839
 everything always

00:30:00.839 --> 00:30:01.399
 works out

00:30:01.399 --> 00:30:02.000
 beautifully,

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:04.740
 not because God

00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.539
 has promised us

00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:06.200
 a painless

00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:06.920
 path through

00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:08.940
 life, but

00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:09.539
 because the

00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:10.319
 love of God

00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:10.879
 has been

00:30:10.879 --> 00:30:11.659
 poured out

00:30:11.659 --> 00:30:12.299
 into our

00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:12.839
 hearts

00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:14.960
 through the

00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:15.879
 Holy Spirit

00:30:15.879 --> 00:30:18.079
 who God

00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:18.720
 has given

00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:19.460
 to us.

00:30:20.859 --> 00:30:21.519
 Let's

00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:21.980
 pray.

00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.180
 Father,

00:30:29.180 --> 00:30:31.759
 many of

00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:33.220
 us perhaps

00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:33.980
 have prayed

00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.700
 this prayer

00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:35.200
 at times

00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:35.799
 past.

00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:37.880
 How long,

00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:38.720
 O Lord,

00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:40.120
 will you

00:30:40.120 --> 00:30:40.960
 forget me

00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.559
 forever?

00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:44.360
 Perhaps

00:30:44.360 --> 00:30:45.140
 many of

00:30:45.140 --> 00:30:45.799
 us yet

00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:46.900
 pray,

00:30:47.140 --> 00:30:47.740
 how long

00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.180
 will you

00:30:48.180 --> 00:30:48.839
 hide your

00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:49.740
 face from

00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:50.099
 me?

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.400
 And

00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:52.759
 Father,

00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:53.599
 we ask

00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:54.240
 this evening

00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:56.220
 that you

00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:57.319
 would answer,

00:30:58.720 --> 00:30:59.319
 that you

00:30:59.319 --> 00:31:00.140
 would consider

00:31:00.140 --> 00:31:00.920
 and answer

00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:01.500
 us,

00:31:02.100 --> 00:31:03.800
 that you

00:31:03.800 --> 00:31:04.720
 would even

00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.360
 give us

00:31:05.360 --> 00:31:06.279
 the strength

00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:06.640
 and the

00:31:06.640 --> 00:31:07.400
 refreshment

00:31:07.400 --> 00:31:07.759
 that we

00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:09.820
 need to

00:31:09.820 --> 00:31:10.580
 live in

00:31:10.580 --> 00:31:11.259
 this broken

00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:13.320
 world as

00:31:13.320 --> 00:31:14.100
 your children

00:31:14.100 --> 00:31:15.880
 who are

00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:16.740
 full of

00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.279
 faith,

00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:18.759
 even in

00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:19.400
 the hardest

00:31:19.400 --> 00:31:20.539
 of circumstances.

00:31:22.300 --> 00:31:22.980
 Father,

00:31:23.100 --> 00:31:24.360
 we thank you

00:31:24.360 --> 00:31:26.279
 because you

00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:26.860
 are a good

00:31:26.860 --> 00:31:28.720
 God and we

00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:29.640
 trust in you.

00:31:29.640 --> 00:31:31.640
 praying these

00:31:31.640 --> 00:31:32.200
 things in

00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:32.880
 Jesus' name.

00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:34.300
 Amen.