WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.380 Psalm 5 to the chief musician upon the Nehaloth, a Psalm of David. 00:00:09.500 --> 00:00:12.939 Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. 00:00:13.939 --> 00:00:20.580 Hearken unto the sound of my voice, my cry, my King and my God, for unto thee will I pray. 00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:24.839 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord. 00:00:25.100 --> 00:00:29.039 In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:35.299 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness, neither shall evil dwell with thee. 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:39.219 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight. 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:42.320 Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:47.019 Verse 6, Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:51.579 The Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. 00:00:51.579 --> 00:00:56.699 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy. 00:00:57.239 --> 00:01:01.739 And in the fear of you, I will worship toward your holy temple. 00:01:02.759 --> 00:01:04.659 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness. 00:01:05.219 --> 00:01:09.579 Because of mine enemies, make thy way straight before my face. 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:13.319 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. 00:01:14.259 --> 00:01:16.579 Their inward part is very wickedness. 00:01:16.980 --> 00:01:19.500 Their throat is an open sepulcher. 00:01:19.500 --> 00:01:22.000 However, they flatter with their tongue. 00:01:23.620 --> 00:01:25.140 Destroy thou them, O God. 00:01:25.459 --> 00:01:27.680 Let them fall by their own counsels. 00:01:28.540 --> 00:01:33.799 Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against thee. 00:01:35.099 --> 00:01:38.760 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice. 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:43.640 Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them. 00:01:43.640 --> 00:01:48.420 Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 00:01:49.099 --> 00:01:52.579 For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous. 00:01:52.819 --> 00:01:56.439 With favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield. 00:01:57.099 --> 00:01:59.079 This is the word of the Lord. 00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:00.640 Thanks be to God. 00:02:01.019 --> 00:02:01.680 You may be seated. 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:11.020 The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord endures forever. 00:02:12.680 --> 00:02:13.840 Would you pray with me? 00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:21.140 Father, thank you for how you have breathed out scripture. 00:02:22.580 --> 00:02:31.159 By the power of your Holy Spirit, you have put these words through the mouth of various prophets over thousands of years. 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:32.939 And you've preserved your word. 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:38.259 You've kept your word pure for the benefit of us, your people, and every living generation. 00:02:38.259 --> 00:02:44.539 We gather, Lord, to hear your word, to hear from you by the power of your spirit. 00:02:45.659 --> 00:02:54.199 We ask that you will speak despite the preacher, despite the shortcomings that each of us bring with our listening. 00:02:55.139 --> 00:03:00.739 Lord, we pray that you will speak with power, the power of your Holy Spirit through your word. 00:03:00.740 --> 00:03:06.600 And even more than that, that your Holy Spirit will take your truth and apply it to our lives. 00:03:06.680 --> 00:03:08.560 That we will leave here changed. 00:03:09.180 --> 00:03:16.320 That we will become more and more the pure bride that's prepared to receive you, the groom, when you return. 00:03:17.960 --> 00:03:23.379 From 1 Timothy 1.17, we ask now unto you, our King, 00:03:23.379 --> 00:03:29.919 eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God. 00:03:30.019 --> 00:03:34.240 Be all honor, all glory, forever and ever. 00:03:35.139 --> 00:03:35.460 Amen. 00:03:42.099 --> 00:03:45.019 Beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:03:45.780 --> 00:03:52.060 my exhortation for you today from Psalm 5 is live unto the King of heaven. 00:03:53.379 --> 00:04:00.900 Live your life on earth as you're living unto the King of heaven. 00:04:03.620 --> 00:04:07.079 One of the joys of being part of a church plant with each one of you 00:04:07.079 --> 00:04:11.340 is by hearing of God's enduring love, 00:04:12.300 --> 00:04:15.780 his long-suffering faithfulness in your lives. 00:04:15.780 --> 00:04:21.699 And there are times when each one of us, when he gives you a new heart, 00:04:21.860 --> 00:04:25.899 there's something that changes in the way that you experience being with God. 00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:30.079 And part of the thing that's the hardest about this church, 00:04:30.180 --> 00:04:32.000 and I think church life in general, 00:04:32.139 --> 00:04:34.959 is as we hear one another's stories, there's also pain. 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:36.980 There's very real pain. 00:04:36.980 --> 00:04:42.900 I think the hardest type of pain is the pain that we experience within the kingdom of God, 00:04:42.980 --> 00:04:43.900 within the church. 00:04:46.780 --> 00:04:51.379 And so Psalm 5, I really believe, is perfect for you today and for me. 00:04:52.060 --> 00:04:55.100 Because Psalm 5, it's David. 00:04:56.259 --> 00:04:59.580 Most likely, I think all the clues of the text point to the time 00:04:59.580 --> 00:05:02.319 where he is in the wilderness with his family and household. 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:04.540 He's away from the temple of God. 00:05:05.860 --> 00:05:11.060 And his prayer is that the king of heaven will rule over him and over Israel. 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:12.860 He's not on the throne. 00:05:13.180 --> 00:05:14.439 The throne is up for grabs. 00:05:14.819 --> 00:05:17.060 There's been turmoil and rebellion within the kingdom. 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:19.199 And that's the context of Psalm 5. 00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:22.639 David away from the kingdom, praying for the kingdom, 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:24.600 looking to the king of heaven. 00:05:26.500 --> 00:05:30.879 Well, sometimes when there's dissent against the high king of heaven within the church, 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:32.240 it's blatant and it's obvious. 00:05:33.060 --> 00:05:37.019 And I've heard stories from you of church meetings where someone openly says, 00:05:37.219 --> 00:05:39.399 I don't care if that's what God's word says. 00:05:39.459 --> 00:05:40.599 We need to do this this way. 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:42.099 That's blatant. 00:05:42.180 --> 00:05:42.759 That's obvious. 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:49.519 My stomach turned when I'm sitting in the seat and the pastor from the pulpit 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:54.039 spends, you know, two-thirds of the sermon disparaging the word of God, 00:05:54.819 --> 00:05:56.159 pushing the word of God down. 00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:56.800 That's blatant. 00:05:56.860 --> 00:05:57.500 That's obvious. 00:05:58.420 --> 00:06:00.600 But sometimes the pain we suffer within the church, 00:06:00.660 --> 00:06:03.079 it comes in a twisted, subtle form. 00:06:03.139 --> 00:06:04.459 And that's really hard to discern. 00:06:05.019 --> 00:06:06.220 Because we question ourselves. 00:06:06.220 --> 00:06:07.279 Like, David, we're sinners. 00:06:07.740 --> 00:06:08.639 I know I'm twisted. 00:06:09.379 --> 00:06:10.220 What am I hearing? 00:06:10.220 --> 00:06:14.940 So as I try to apply what I've read in Psalm 5, 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:16.120 that's the context. 00:06:16.340 --> 00:06:19.940 It's a man in the wilderness looking to the high king of heaven 00:06:19.940 --> 00:06:22.880 and praying for the kingdom of heaven to come on earth, 00:06:23.180 --> 00:06:24.460 beginning with his own kingdom. 00:06:24.459 --> 00:06:29.000 And the first observation is this. 00:06:29.219 --> 00:06:30.139 What does David do? 00:06:31.339 --> 00:06:34.500 How does David live before the invisible king of heaven 00:06:34.500 --> 00:06:37.019 when the visible kingdom on earth is so corrupt? 00:06:38.099 --> 00:06:41.079 Number one, I've got about seven of these. 00:06:41.319 --> 00:06:42.159 First one is this. 00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:49.179 Before all else, David submits himself with reverence to the high king of heaven. 00:06:49.599 --> 00:06:50.319 Look at verse two. 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:53.359 David says, give attention to the sound of my cry. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:57.620 Even if my words are unintelligible, I'm crying out to you, Lord. 00:06:59.420 --> 00:07:00.540 Notice who he says. 00:07:01.500 --> 00:07:05.939 Listen, my king and my God, to you do I pray. 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:08.100 I don't put my hope in Egypt. 00:07:08.360 --> 00:07:10.420 I don't put my hope in Babylon or Assyria, 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:13.120 the other surrounding empires or kings. 00:07:13.379 --> 00:07:15.639 I don't even put my hope in who's going to be my successor. 00:07:16.259 --> 00:07:19.420 To you, my king and my God, do I lift my voice. 00:07:21.220 --> 00:07:22.960 See, David's sick of gossip. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:25.780 He's sick of trying to get validation from men. 00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:26.639 What do men know? 00:07:27.139 --> 00:07:28.460 He goes straight to the Lord. 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:31.040 That's our first application. 00:07:31.780 --> 00:07:34.879 When life inside the kingdom of God is hard, even confusing, 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:40.920 before all else, submit yourself to the high king of heaven with reverence. 00:07:40.920 --> 00:07:44.879 He doesn't do this at the end of the day. 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:48.140 He doesn't just pray a little bit before he eats his food at lunch. 00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:50.160 Look at when David prays. 00:07:51.140 --> 00:07:54.900 He says, in the morning, in the morning will I direct my prayer. 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:59.639 In verse three, unto thee I will pray in the morning and I will look up. 00:07:59.639 --> 00:08:03.939 I'm going to deliberately take my eyes off of those around me. 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:06.099 And I'm going to try to be like Stephen. 00:08:06.099 --> 00:08:09.919 When God opened the skies and he could see the kingdom of heaven. 00:08:10.539 --> 00:08:14.800 With the eyes of faith, I look up, Lord, because I don't know what else to do. 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:25.480 Someone pointed out, David also teaches us that there's no amount of injustice, discomfort, corruption, or even danger 00:08:25.480 --> 00:08:30.840 that should keep any one of us from fellowship with God each morning. 00:08:31.840 --> 00:08:34.259 And David says, I will direct my prayer. 00:08:34.500 --> 00:08:35.720 See that word in verse three? 00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:38.940 I will direct my prayer unto thee and I will look up. 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:42.799 That word direct, it can be translated a lot of different ways. 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:46.399 And the connotations are either of a priest or the military. 00:08:47.159 --> 00:08:48.459 So I will direct my prayers. 00:08:48.659 --> 00:08:51.779 I will systematically lay them out before you. 00:08:52.099 --> 00:08:54.979 Like a priest lays out the loaves around the altar. 00:08:55.359 --> 00:08:58.199 Like a priest arranges the wood for the sacrifice. 00:08:58.500 --> 00:09:02.859 Takes the pieces of meat and sets them on the altar as God has instructed. 00:09:03.319 --> 00:09:05.139 To direct his prayers to God. 00:09:05.719 --> 00:09:08.319 That's how David says, even in the wilderness, away from the temple, 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:09.839 I will lay out my prayers. 00:09:09.839 --> 00:09:12.519 I will direct them following your orders. 00:09:13.599 --> 00:09:17.500 And it's also used to describe a soldier reporting for duty. 00:09:18.279 --> 00:09:19.259 Give me my orders. 00:09:19.439 --> 00:09:20.599 I direct my prayers to you. 00:09:20.659 --> 00:09:24.159 I direct myself as a soldier to receive what you tell me to do. 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:26.000 And I will say, yes, sir, and go do it. 00:09:26.359 --> 00:09:29.000 Or like an army that's been arrayed for battle. 00:09:29.079 --> 00:09:30.139 It's the same Hebrew word. 00:09:30.659 --> 00:09:31.679 That's what David says. 00:09:31.799 --> 00:09:36.479 In the morning, I will lay out my prayers systematically before my God, 00:09:36.479 --> 00:09:38.500 the way you have asked me to do that. 00:09:38.500 --> 00:09:43.679 So how do you know how to pray in a way that pleases God, 00:09:43.740 --> 00:09:45.200 how God has ordered it and directed? 00:09:46.039 --> 00:09:48.019 Well, let Scripture teach you. 00:09:48.500 --> 00:09:49.980 When you don't know how else to pray, 00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:52.659 open up the Word of God in front of you. 00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:54.620 Take a psalm. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:56.120 If you don't know which psalm to pick, 00:09:56.200 --> 00:09:58.000 you can, there's 150 of them. 00:09:58.100 --> 00:09:59.440 Divide them by the days of the month. 00:09:59.899 --> 00:10:02.100 You can have one psalm, you know, every day, 00:10:02.100 --> 00:10:03.659 and just get a good rotation going. 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:05.399 So you're not repeating yourself. 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:07.279 And do your best to read a verse 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:10.120 and redirect that verse as a prayer to God. 00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:11.980 Let God order your thoughts. 00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:15.360 Let the Scripture shape how you even pray to God. 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:19.800 See, the kingdom on earth, we feel the injustice. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:23.759 And in that injustice, we can all testify, 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:25.740 it's in those moments of injustice 00:10:25.740 --> 00:10:27.920 with what's supposed to be the kingdom of God on earth 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:31.779 that then Satan comes in and twists it into lies 00:10:31.779 --> 00:10:33.799 and sends us into backsliding and sin 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:35.719 and a hard heart toward God, 00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:39.879 eventually a hard heart toward Christ and His church. 00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:44.219 But you need to look to the King of Heaven 00:10:44.219 --> 00:10:46.959 and remember, He is just. 00:10:47.979 --> 00:10:53.159 He is the just King who does rule over heaven and earth. 00:10:55.079 --> 00:10:56.639 Proverbs 29.4 says, 00:10:56.639 --> 00:11:01.779 By justice, a king shall build up his land. 00:11:02.419 --> 00:11:03.840 So you hold on to that promise. 00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:05.399 Even though I feel the injustice, 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:07.500 I direct my cry to the Lord 00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:10.399 because by justice, our King Jesus 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:12.879 will build up His kingdom. 00:11:13.419 --> 00:11:15.379 And praise God, I'm part of it. 00:11:15.580 --> 00:11:16.539 By His grace. 00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:20.580 So live unto the King of Heaven, church. 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:24.819 Submit yourself first thing each day 00:11:24.819 --> 00:11:26.100 unto the High King. 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:27.899 Who sits on the throne. 00:11:29.179 --> 00:11:32.460 Well, how else do you live before the invisible King of Heaven 00:11:32.460 --> 00:11:35.000 when the visible kingdom on earth is corrupt? 00:11:35.779 --> 00:11:36.319 Number two, 00:11:37.539 --> 00:11:39.759 evaluate what you are seeing 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:41.879 by the law of His kingdom. 00:11:42.580 --> 00:11:43.399 He is just. 00:11:43.460 --> 00:11:44.299 He sits on the throne. 00:11:44.299 --> 00:11:46.659 He has a just law. 00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:49.299 Don't let your emotions, your view. 00:11:49.699 --> 00:11:54.419 Don't let the words of men shape how you evaluate what you're going through. 00:11:54.699 --> 00:11:59.000 Let the Word of God Himself shape how you view His kingdom. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:01.079 Look at verse 4. 00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:05.040 David, he has studied God's law. 00:12:06.020 --> 00:12:08.860 He has sought to understand the heart of God. 00:12:08.980 --> 00:12:11.500 And in verse 4, David can say with confidence, 00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:15.259 God is displeased with wickedness. 00:12:15.920 --> 00:12:18.780 Evil cannot dwell with God. 00:12:18.779 --> 00:12:21.199 And too often, 00:12:21.419 --> 00:12:22.279 in the name of Christ, 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:23.860 people want to lower the standard. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:28.000 They want to say things that God is clearly not pleased with. 00:12:28.059 --> 00:12:29.360 They want to pretend like He is. 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:32.220 And they want to try to put words in God's mouth. 00:12:32.839 --> 00:12:34.500 We need to realize what's going on 00:12:34.500 --> 00:12:36.559 and evaluate what we are seeing 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:38.000 by the law of God's kingdom 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:39.279 and His kingdom alone. 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:43.059 How do you know what pleases God? 00:12:43.139 --> 00:12:43.980 Can we even know that? 00:12:45.740 --> 00:12:48.759 You must know what God has revealed. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:52.279 Every kingdom has a law. 00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:55.620 God has revealed what pleases Him 00:12:55.620 --> 00:12:56.860 throughout all of Scripture. 00:12:57.279 --> 00:13:00.159 All of Scripture gives us glimpses into the character, 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:04.000 the attributes, the desires of our God for His people. 00:13:05.699 --> 00:13:08.740 And even better than that is through Jesus Christ, 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:10.600 He's taken that law 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:12.259 and He's put it inside of you. 00:13:12.439 --> 00:13:13.919 He's written it on your hearts 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:15.360 and He's put it in your mind. 00:13:15.839 --> 00:13:17.799 That's what we read in Jeremiah 31, 00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:20.600 interpreted and applied in Hebrews 8, 00:13:21.079 --> 00:13:24.879 that the church is able to test and approve 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:26.299 what is God's will, 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:28.519 His good, pleasing, and perfect will. 00:13:29.059 --> 00:13:29.659 Romans 12. 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:31.819 Because God has taken His moral law 00:13:31.819 --> 00:13:34.259 and He has reformed your heart. 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:35.620 He's renewed your mind. 00:13:35.959 --> 00:13:38.220 He has put His law inside of you. 00:13:38.220 --> 00:13:41.800 So we can, as a church, know what pleases God. 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:43.980 And we must evaluate ourselves 00:13:43.980 --> 00:13:46.100 and what goes on inside of His kingdom 00:13:46.100 --> 00:13:47.800 by the law He has given. 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:51.240 In the book of Revelation, 00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:55.980 we read of the unfolding events of the last things. 00:13:57.060 --> 00:13:59.740 Something that should make all of us tremble in our boots 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:02.320 from Revelation is that Jesus Christ, 00:14:02.420 --> 00:14:04.519 when He comes back to judge the living and the dead, 00:14:04.519 --> 00:14:08.120 He begins His judgment with His own church. 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:11.480 He begins bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:13.759 with the kingdom on earth first. 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:15.860 And then He judges everyone else. 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:18.639 That should make us tremble in our boots. 00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:22.059 We need to seek what is it that pleases God. 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:25.079 And we need to pray and beg for His Spirit 00:14:25.079 --> 00:14:26.559 to work that out in our lives. 00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:29.100 And when there are areas where we are out of line, 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:31.639 we need to confess that quickly and humbly. 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:33.500 We need to forgive one another 00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:37.399 and realign ourselves to the words of our King in heaven. 00:14:37.699 --> 00:14:39.039 His judgment is coming 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:42.360 and He will begin by judging His own church. 00:14:44.939 --> 00:14:48.720 See, if you don't align yourself with the kingdom of Christ 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:52.299 and you don't hide behind His righteousness alone, 00:14:52.580 --> 00:14:56.259 you will stand before the judge of all the earth. 00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:59.200 He will judge every soul 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:01.060 for the life you live. 00:15:02.060 --> 00:15:04.860 Not one of us can live a life that's blameless. 00:15:05.300 --> 00:15:07.740 We need the righteousness of Christ put on us. 00:15:08.780 --> 00:15:09.820 And by God's grace, 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:12.060 He has done that. 00:15:12.300 --> 00:15:13.540 Romans 3 tells us, 00:15:13.900 --> 00:15:15.600 one is justified by faith 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:17.340 apart from the works of the law. 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:20.060 But listen to what Paul writes next. 00:15:20.540 --> 00:15:23.560 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:25.239 By no means, 00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:26.239 on the contrary, 00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:28.239 we uphold the law. 00:15:29.219 --> 00:15:29.799 So you see, 00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:32.039 we don't save ourselves by keeping the law. 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:33.539 We can't do that perfectly. 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:35.599 Christ fulfilled the law for us. 00:15:35.839 --> 00:15:37.639 His righteousness is put on His people. 00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:40.419 But He doesn't leave His people lawless. 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:43.659 He doesn't send us out to be licentious. 00:15:44.959 --> 00:15:46.859 The Greek word for law is nomos. 00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:49.200 And this has been a controversy 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:50.240 over all the centuries. 00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:51.580 We need to be very careful 00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:54.259 that we don't fall to one side or the other. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:58.259 We do not work for our own salvation under the law. 00:15:58.840 --> 00:16:00.779 But if we belong to the true kingdom of heaven, 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:02.860 His law does rule in us. 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:04.659 By the work of His Spirit, 00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:06.879 He has put it inside of His people. 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:08.840 And by His help, 00:16:09.180 --> 00:16:11.300 we seek to uphold the law. 00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:13.200 It does work its way out. 00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:14.480 We are regulated. 00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:16.759 We are constrained by His love. 00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:20.820 So live unto the King of heaven. 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:22.720 Evaluate what you are seeing 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:25.300 by the law of His kingdom. 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:29.659 How else do we live 00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:32.419 before the invisible kingdom of heaven 00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:35.080 when the visible kingdom on earth 00:16:35.080 --> 00:16:36.480 is so corrupt and twisted? 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:40.399 What we want to do 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:42.659 is we want to go around fixing 00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:44.240 what we see broken, don't we? 00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:46.960 We see the brokenness here on earth 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:48.500 and we want to go around 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:50.320 trying to fix other people's lives. 00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:52.659 Maybe with our kids and spouse, 00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:53.680 it shows up first, 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:54.879 but that's in our heart 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:56.360 and that'll be that way for the church. 00:16:56.620 --> 00:16:57.820 That's what we want to do. 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:00.899 What we need to do 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:02.299 is to pray for God 00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:04.519 to purify His kingdom. 00:17:05.819 --> 00:17:07.039 See, there's a part 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:08.579 inside of every person 00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:10.400 that man cannot touch. 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:12.240 Words cannot get in there. 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:14.580 The Holy Spirit Himself 00:17:14.580 --> 00:17:15.720 must go 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:17.080 and renew the soul, 00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:18.440 renew the inner being. 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.900 So the best we can do 00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:21.540 is to pray 00:17:21.540 --> 00:17:23.440 for God to work powerfully 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:25.120 and change what we can never touch. 00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.640 Notice how 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:28.940 David prays, though. 00:17:29.560 --> 00:17:30.480 He's evaluated 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.259 what's going on 00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:31.720 in the kingdom. 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:33.860 These are a wicked people, Lord. 00:17:33.859 --> 00:17:35.819 Just like you told with Moses 00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:36.879 that they will desire 00:17:36.879 --> 00:17:38.519 a king like all the other nations? 00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:40.539 That's exactly what happened. 00:17:41.179 --> 00:17:42.099 What did both Saul 00:17:42.099 --> 00:17:43.759 and Absalom have in common? 00:17:44.699 --> 00:17:45.779 They were handsome men. 00:17:46.399 --> 00:17:47.419 Saul stood head and shoulders 00:17:47.419 --> 00:17:48.439 above all the other men. 00:17:48.919 --> 00:17:49.979 Absalom was beautiful 00:17:49.979 --> 00:17:50.859 from head to toe, 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:52.119 the scripture says. 00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:54.000 They wanted a king, 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:54.819 a poster boy, 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:55.859 so they could be like 00:17:55.859 --> 00:17:56.699 all the other nations. 00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:58.119 That's the temptation. 00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:59.119 They want an earthly, 00:17:59.679 --> 00:18:00.299 worldly king. 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:02.859 Well, don't we want 00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:03.859 that same type of thing? 00:18:03.919 --> 00:18:05.139 We want something worldly 00:18:05.139 --> 00:18:06.359 because we think 00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:07.779 that's the ultimate way 00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:08.399 to have peace 00:18:08.399 --> 00:18:09.299 and enjoy life. 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:11.099 It's with earthly prosperity 00:18:11.099 --> 00:18:12.099 or earthly comfort. 00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:15.339 And then we get puffed up. 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:15.879 You know, 00:18:15.879 --> 00:18:16.859 just like they were puffed up. 00:18:16.919 --> 00:18:17.279 Look at us. 00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:18.379 We got Saul as our king. 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:19.480 We got Absalom. 00:18:19.619 --> 00:18:20.819 Let's rally around him. 00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:22.159 Forget David 00:18:22.159 --> 00:18:22.940 and his shame 00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:24.639 and his God clearly 00:18:24.639 --> 00:18:26.159 is not a God 00:18:26.159 --> 00:18:26.980 we can follow. 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:28.339 Not like he does. 00:18:28.879 --> 00:18:30.279 So let's bring Absalom 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:30.940 and let's be like 00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:31.759 all the other nations. 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:33.440 And look at verse 5. 00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:34.359 David sees this. 00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:35.480 He's evaluated it 00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.839 by the law of God 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:38.920 and he prays this way. 00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:39.200 He says, 00:18:39.339 --> 00:18:41.440 fools who do not fear God. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:43.579 They perform their iniquities 00:18:43.579 --> 00:18:44.299 before him 00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:46.420 and they bring the wrath of God 00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:48.240 upon themselves. 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:50.379 He prays in verse 6. 00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:51.720 God hates. 00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:53.379 God abhors those 00:18:53.379 --> 00:18:54.639 who speak lies. 00:18:54.639 --> 00:18:56.180 He says they are bloody 00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:57.139 and deceitful. 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:59.839 And he trusts God will 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:01.819 destroy them. 00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:03.720 Now these are some of the 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:05.000 strongest words 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:05.939 in Psalm 5. 00:19:06.939 --> 00:19:07.879 I want to break down 00:19:07.879 --> 00:19:08.519 a couple of them. 00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:09.179 In verse 5, 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.159 he refers to these 00:19:10.159 --> 00:19:11.240 arrogant men 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:11.899 that are worldly. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:12.899 He refers to them 00:19:12.899 --> 00:19:13.859 as fools. 00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:16.099 The word fools, 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:17.599 it's been translated 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:18.059 otherwise 00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:19.599 as transgressors 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.199 of the law. 00:19:21.459 --> 00:19:21.659 You know, 00:19:21.679 --> 00:19:22.379 he says they do their 00:19:22.379 --> 00:19:23.619 iniquities before God. 00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:24.519 Iniquity is a, 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:26.240 it's a hand lifted up 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:26.919 to heaven like 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:27.900 I don't care 00:19:27.900 --> 00:19:29.039 what God says. 00:19:29.580 --> 00:19:30.160 And they do that 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:30.840 before God. 00:19:31.060 --> 00:19:32.080 That's why they're foolish. 00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:33.779 It's been translated 00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:35.039 as the unrighteous. 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:37.019 Those who contradict 00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:38.440 the precepts of God. 00:19:39.120 --> 00:19:40.680 It comes from a root 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.960 which signifies 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:44.240 praisers of themselves, 00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:45.900 proud boasters 00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:47.560 and mockers. 00:19:48.900 --> 00:19:49.820 David says 00:19:49.820 --> 00:19:51.039 these are fools 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:52.400 that bring the wrath 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:52.880 of God 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:54.140 upon themselves. 00:19:54.140 --> 00:19:56.160 and he says, 00:19:56.280 --> 00:19:56.520 God, 00:19:56.600 --> 00:19:57.860 I know you hate that. 00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:00.160 I'm evaluating 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.780 what I'm seeing 00:20:00.780 --> 00:20:01.440 by your law. 00:20:01.560 --> 00:20:02.960 I know you hate this. 00:20:03.040 --> 00:20:04.100 You abhor this. 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:05.160 You will destroy 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:06.700 men who act that way. 00:20:08.280 --> 00:20:09.580 And it's not necessary 00:20:09.580 --> 00:20:10.240 for us to try 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:11.820 to soften those words 00:20:11.820 --> 00:20:13.440 to dilute the word 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:13.860 hate 00:20:13.860 --> 00:20:14.800 or wrath 00:20:14.800 --> 00:20:15.840 or destroy. 00:20:17.780 --> 00:20:18.759 One commentator 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:19.360 pointed out 00:20:19.360 --> 00:20:21.020 the reason God 00:20:21.020 --> 00:20:21.720 hates that 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:23.240 it's because 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:24.319 there is no such thing 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:25.759 as abstract evil. 00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:27.940 What that means 00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:28.480 is that 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.740 anytime evil 00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:30.400 is happening 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:31.339 it's happening 00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:32.400 to someone else. 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:33.339 Evil 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:34.420 has victims. 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:36.120 Evil 00:20:36.120 --> 00:20:36.799 hurts 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.839 the image bearers 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:38.420 and the people 00:20:38.420 --> 00:20:38.940 of God. 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:40.299 So you see 00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:40.900 these proud 00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:41.880 arrogant men 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:42.740 within the kingdom 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.200 of God 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:44.140 in Israel 00:20:44.140 --> 00:20:45.079 they are 00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:45.880 hurting 00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:47.120 God's sheep. 00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:48.960 And God's wrath 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:50.120 boils up 00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:51.319 to stop that. 00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:57.360 See evil 00:20:57.360 --> 00:20:58.480 is such a terrible 00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:59.539 force in this world 00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:00.579 as someone said 00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:01.740 it wrecks 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.819 the lives 00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:03.860 of God's 00:21:03.860 --> 00:21:04.539 image bearers 00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:05.900 and it ensnares 00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.740 souls 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.980 for eternity. 00:21:08.900 --> 00:21:09.860 And when God 00:21:09.860 --> 00:21:11.240 hates such evil 00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:12.339 that hurts his people 00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:13.640 it's not an emotional 00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:15.059 or reactionary 00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:16.519 hatred. 00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:17.339 It is 00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:18.160 judicial. 00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:19.259 See God 00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:20.240 is not passive. 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.359 God is not 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:21.980 sitting there 00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:22.539 letting us 00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:23.640 inflict anything 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:24.220 on him. 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:25.880 God is 00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:26.359 holy. 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.579 God is 00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:28.279 just. 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:29.339 And his 00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:30.319 justice 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:31.380 it bears 00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:31.880 forth 00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:32.920 on those actions 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:33.859 against him 00:21:33.859 --> 00:21:34.819 and against his 00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:35.180 people. 00:21:36.579 --> 00:21:37.539 The justice 00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:38.160 the wrath 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:38.500 of God 00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:38.980 is merely 00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.880 an expression 00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:41.120 of God's 00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:41.900 holiness. 00:21:44.440 --> 00:21:45.360 We read in 00:21:45.360 --> 00:21:46.000 Romans 3 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.740 verse 26 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.600 that God 00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:48.780 shows his 00:21:48.780 --> 00:21:49.400 righteousness 00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:50.860 and how 00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:51.560 does he do it? 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.700 God who is 00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:54.880 both just 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:55.760 and the 00:21:55.760 --> 00:21:56.520 justifier 00:21:56.520 --> 00:21:57.620 of his 00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:58.020 people. 00:21:58.780 --> 00:21:59.600 That's how he 00:21:59.600 --> 00:22:00.060 shows his 00:22:00.060 --> 00:22:00.460 justice. 00:22:01.520 --> 00:22:02.140 If you have 00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:02.640 faith in 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:03.440 Jesus Christ 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:05.340 you no longer 00:22:05.340 --> 00:22:06.140 get the wrath 00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:06.680 of God 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:07.320 for he is 00:22:07.320 --> 00:22:07.740 just. 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:08.779 you now 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.740 get justified 00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:10.400 by that 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:11.460 very same 00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:11.859 God 00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:12.440 in the 00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:12.960 person and 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.400 work of 00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:14.120 Jesus Christ 00:22:14.120 --> 00:22:14.660 his son. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.680 So we pray 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.339 for Christ 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:18.900 to keep 00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:19.940 his congregation 00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:20.680 pure. 00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:21.839 We pray 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.339 for God 00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:22.920 alone to 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:24.019 purify his 00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:24.380 people. 00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:25.620 God change 00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:26.359 our hearts 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:26.960 where we 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.480 can't change 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:28.000 ourselves. 00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:29.779 God when 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:30.420 you see the 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:30.900 wickedness 00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:31.559 the injustice 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:32.620 you go 00:22:32.620 --> 00:22:33.220 and you 00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:33.920 change it 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:34.180 Lord. 00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:35.420 whatever it 00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:36.460 takes you 00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:37.420 bring your 00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.019 true people 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:38.860 into alignment 00:22:38.860 --> 00:22:39.620 with your 00:22:39.620 --> 00:22:40.700 kingdom in 00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.060 heaven. 00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.340 And he 00:22:43.340 --> 00:22:43.799 does this 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:44.380 through his 00:22:44.380 --> 00:22:44.940 church as 00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:45.240 well. 00:22:47.120 --> 00:22:48.000 See the 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:48.860 church is 00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:49.500 preparing the 00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.560 bride for 00:22:50.560 --> 00:22:51.000 Christ. 00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:53.200 And there's 00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:53.700 a word that 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:54.740 we hate as 00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:55.820 Americans as 00:22:55.820 --> 00:22:56.820 as Westerns 00:22:56.820 --> 00:22:57.880 and it's the 00:22:57.880 --> 00:22:58.640 word discipline. 00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:00.120 But if you 00:23:00.120 --> 00:23:00.620 are a true 00:23:00.620 --> 00:23:01.380 disciple of 00:23:01.380 --> 00:23:02.960 Christ it 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:03.480 means that you 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:03.980 are being 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:05.259 disciplined in 00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:05.680 Christ. 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.280 He says my 00:23:07.280 --> 00:23:08.180 yoke is easy 00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:08.720 and my burden 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:09.960 is light but 00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:10.540 you will be 00:23:10.540 --> 00:23:11.300 discipled with 00:23:11.300 --> 00:23:11.460 me. 00:23:11.540 --> 00:23:11.900 You will 00:23:11.900 --> 00:23:13.000 walk as 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.780 I walked. 00:23:14.380 --> 00:23:14.860 My yoke 00:23:14.860 --> 00:23:15.280 will be on 00:23:15.280 --> 00:23:15.820 your shoulders 00:23:15.820 --> 00:23:16.860 and I will 00:23:16.860 --> 00:23:17.320 carry the 00:23:17.320 --> 00:23:18.080 load but 00:23:18.080 --> 00:23:18.800 you will be 00:23:18.800 --> 00:23:19.940 discipled by 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:20.500 me Jesus 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:20.960 says. 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:21.820 And he does 00:23:21.820 --> 00:23:22.380 that through 00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:23.080 his church. 00:23:23.520 --> 00:23:24.000 So when there 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:25.020 is blatant sin 00:23:25.020 --> 00:23:25.740 within the 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:26.620 church it's 00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:27.280 through church 00:23:27.280 --> 00:23:27.840 discipline. 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:29.340 It's through 00:23:29.340 --> 00:23:30.080 church discipline 00:23:30.080 --> 00:23:31.080 that Christ 00:23:31.080 --> 00:23:31.940 brings sinners 00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:32.680 to repentance 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:34.040 again and 00:23:34.040 --> 00:23:34.780 restores them 00:23:34.780 --> 00:23:35.560 to true 00:23:35.560 --> 00:23:35.940 worship. 00:23:36.860 --> 00:23:37.700 The call to 00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:38.280 be disciplined 00:23:38.280 --> 00:23:38.820 and the call 00:23:38.820 --> 00:23:39.860 to pray for 00:23:39.860 --> 00:23:40.360 the purity 00:23:40.360 --> 00:23:41.060 of the bride 00:23:41.060 --> 00:23:42.000 that's really 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:42.780 to share with 00:23:42.780 --> 00:23:43.300 the heart 00:23:43.300 --> 00:23:44.259 of the groom. 00:23:45.560 --> 00:23:45.880 You know in 00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:46.580 Gethsemane when 00:23:46.580 --> 00:23:47.340 Jesus prayed he 00:23:47.340 --> 00:23:48.460 was in anguish. 00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:50.300 That word is 00:23:50.300 --> 00:23:51.080 hardly ever used 00:23:51.080 --> 00:23:51.420 when it's 00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:52.400 describing Jesus 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:53.440 praying. 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.400 He's in 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:55.060 anguish. 00:23:55.840 --> 00:23:56.440 Someone defied 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:57.820 anguish as 00:23:57.820 --> 00:23:58.340 anger, 00:23:58.640 --> 00:23:59.040 anger, 00:23:59.040 --> 00:24:00.140 love. 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.040 Anguish is 00:24:02.040 --> 00:24:03.220 anger plus 00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:03.660 love. 00:24:04.360 --> 00:24:04.700 And when you 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.580 pray for Christ 00:24:05.580 --> 00:24:06.480 to purify his 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.420 church you're 00:24:07.420 --> 00:24:08.080 joining, you're 00:24:08.080 --> 00:24:08.580 letting Christ 00:24:08.580 --> 00:24:09.660 bind your 00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:10.480 heart to his 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:11.240 and you're 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:11.780 praying that 00:24:11.780 --> 00:24:12.420 he will 00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.600 purify you 00:24:13.600 --> 00:24:14.440 and purify 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:15.120 his church 00:24:15.120 --> 00:24:15.960 to live 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.740 unto him 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.700 in his 00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:18.220 kingdom in 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:18.500 heaven. 00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:20.700 We read in 00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.280 Hebrews 5 00:24:21.280 --> 00:24:22.180 7 that during 00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:22.920 the days of 00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:23.800 Jesus's life 00:24:23.800 --> 00:24:24.480 on earth 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.560 he offered 00:24:25.560 --> 00:24:26.100 up prayers 00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:26.879 and petitions 00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:28.240 with fervent 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.099 cries 00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:30.379 and tears 00:24:30.379 --> 00:24:31.500 to the 00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.559 one who 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:33.179 could save 00:24:33.179 --> 00:24:34.159 him from 00:24:34.159 --> 00:24:34.639 death. 00:24:35.379 --> 00:24:36.019 And he 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.519 was heard 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:38.559 because of 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.559 his reverent 00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:40.500 submission. 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:42.279 Being God 00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:43.099 of very God 00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:44.219 that's how 00:24:44.219 --> 00:24:45.199 Jesus prayed 00:24:45.199 --> 00:24:46.179 while he was 00:24:46.179 --> 00:24:46.639 on earth. 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:47.619 While he was 00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:48.219 bringing the 00:24:48.219 --> 00:24:48.659 kingdom of 00:24:48.659 --> 00:24:49.519 heaven here 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.759 to earth. 00:24:50.959 --> 00:24:51.639 That's how 00:24:51.639 --> 00:24:52.359 our Lord Jesus 00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:52.799 prayed. 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.639 And that's 00:24:53.639 --> 00:24:53.940 how we 00:24:53.940 --> 00:24:54.259 ought to 00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:55.059 pray for 00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:55.379 him to 00:24:55.379 --> 00:24:56.680 purify his 00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:57.079 bride, 00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.259 the church. 00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:00.680 So how 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:01.480 do we live 00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:02.500 before the 00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.440 invisible king 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:03.879 of heaven 00:25:03.879 --> 00:25:05.159 when the 00:25:05.159 --> 00:25:05.859 visible kingdom 00:25:05.859 --> 00:25:06.339 on earth 00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:07.319 feels so 00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:07.680 broken? 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:10.039 I want to 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:10.379 draw your 00:25:10.379 --> 00:25:11.000 attention next 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:11.480 to verse 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.180 9. 00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:13.980 I'm skipping 00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.839 verses 7 and 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:15.419 8 for now 00:25:15.419 --> 00:25:16.139 because I see 00:25:16.139 --> 00:25:16.879 those as really 00:25:16.879 --> 00:25:17.440 the heart 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.480 of Psalm 5. 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:18.879 So I want to 00:25:18.879 --> 00:25:19.319 bring those to 00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:19.859 you last. 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:21.359 So look at 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:21.940 verse 9. 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.740 David teaches 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:25.000 us to 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:26.019 guard yourself 00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:26.940 against deadly 00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:28.839 temptation out 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:30.339 of love for 00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:30.899 your king. 00:25:32.419 --> 00:25:33.539 He prays in 00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:34.319 verse 9. 00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:35.200 There is no 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:36.539 faithfulness in 00:25:36.539 --> 00:25:37.379 the mouth of 00:25:37.379 --> 00:25:37.899 those wicked 00:25:37.899 --> 00:25:38.259 ones. 00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:39.460 Their inward 00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:40.680 part is very 00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.039 wicked. 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.500 He says their 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:43.659 throat is an 00:25:43.659 --> 00:25:45.059 open sepulcher 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:46.480 and they flatter 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.720 with their tongue. 00:25:48.379 --> 00:25:49.240 That's verse 9. 00:25:49.639 --> 00:25:50.480 Look at verse 11. 00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:50.919 He says, 00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:52.640 let them that 00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:53.740 love thy name 00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:55.360 be joyful in 00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:56.060 thee. 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.480 I highlight that 00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:59.720 because he 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.800 says these 00:26:00.800 --> 00:26:02.740 men, they are 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.660 flatterers. 00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:06.039 In other words, 00:26:06.060 --> 00:26:06.620 they're trying to 00:26:06.620 --> 00:26:07.560 hold out for me 00:26:07.560 --> 00:26:08.720 a fake joy. 00:26:09.340 --> 00:26:10.220 They're trying to 00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:11.640 use their words 00:26:11.640 --> 00:26:12.100 in their mouth 00:26:12.100 --> 00:26:12.980 to draw me 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:13.880 toward them. 00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:15.440 But in verse 11, 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.140 he's resolved. 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:16.900 No, let those who 00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:17.820 find their joy in 00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:18.279 God. 00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:20.259 Let those who 00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:21.700 find their joy 00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:23.139 in God be 00:26:23.139 --> 00:26:24.460 protected by 00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:25.039 your love. 00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:27.099 That's why he 00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:28.079 says their throat 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:29.179 is an open 00:26:29.179 --> 00:26:29.960 sepulcher. 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.619 A sepulcher is 00:26:31.619 --> 00:26:33.079 like a hole 00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:34.240 cut into a cave. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.339 And he's 00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:36.039 describing that's 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:36.439 where you would 00:26:36.439 --> 00:26:37.259 carry in a dead 00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:37.759 corpse. 00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:39.359 So that's the 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:40.019 entrance to 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:40.960 death itself. 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:43.039 It's decay and 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:44.539 rotting and 00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:45.899 eternal damnation. 00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:47.200 If I listen to 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:47.780 what comes out 00:26:47.780 --> 00:26:48.019 of their 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:49.420 throats, what 00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:49.900 comes out of 00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:50.759 their lips is 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.519 death for me. 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.680 It's not 00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:56.560 faithful because 00:26:56.560 --> 00:26:57.900 it spews out 00:26:57.900 --> 00:26:58.680 what's in their 00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.540 hearts. 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:00.500 Their inward 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.920 part is very 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:02.600 wicked. 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:03.600 They're fools 00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:04.220 who don't love 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:04.560 God. 00:27:05.860 --> 00:27:06.820 So David 00:27:06.820 --> 00:27:07.720 says guard 00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.960 yourself, guard 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:10.300 your ears from 00:27:10.300 --> 00:27:11.740 deadly temptation. 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:13.460 And why do you 00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:13.880 do that? 00:27:13.880 --> 00:27:15.040 You do it 00:27:15.040 --> 00:27:15.900 because of 00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:16.540 verse 11, 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:17.520 because you 00:27:17.520 --> 00:27:18.500 love the 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.180 name of the 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:20.280 Lord and you 00:27:20.280 --> 00:27:20.960 know that true 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:21.680 joy is only 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.680 found in 00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:23.080 him. 00:27:26.360 --> 00:27:26.980 Colossians 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.680 1 16 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:28.620 encourages me. 00:27:29.040 --> 00:27:29.600 Listen to the 00:27:29.600 --> 00:27:30.820 promise we have 00:27:30.820 --> 00:27:32.000 of the love of 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:32.860 God and the 00:27:32.860 --> 00:27:33.660 joy of belonging 00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:34.240 to him. 00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:36.020 For by him 00:27:36.020 --> 00:27:37.020 all things were 00:27:37.020 --> 00:27:38.020 created in 00:27:38.020 --> 00:27:39.040 heaven and on 00:27:39.040 --> 00:27:40.120 earth, visible 00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:41.120 and invisible, 00:27:41.620 --> 00:27:42.660 whether thrones 00:27:42.660 --> 00:27:43.920 or dominions or 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.840 rulers or 00:27:44.840 --> 00:27:46.360 authorities, all 00:27:46.360 --> 00:27:47.300 things were 00:27:47.300 --> 00:27:48.580 created through 00:27:48.580 --> 00:27:50.100 him and for 00:27:50.100 --> 00:27:50.800 him. 00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:52.800 So do you 00:27:52.800 --> 00:27:53.779 hear the words 00:27:53.779 --> 00:27:54.960 of someone in 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:56.019 a position of 00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:57.000 influence? 00:27:57.540 --> 00:27:58.220 Do you hear 00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:59.019 these words of 00:27:59.019 --> 00:27:59.740 temptation that 00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:00.360 are leading you 00:28:00.360 --> 00:28:01.600 away from joy 00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:02.480 and loving the 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:03.140 name of God? 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:05.420 See, they serve 00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:06.300 a higher king. 00:28:07.080 --> 00:28:08.240 It was God who 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:09.180 set every ruler 00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:09.900 on his throne. 00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:11.080 If someone 00:28:11.080 --> 00:28:12.440 enjoys influence 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:13.259 for a small 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:14.240 short season, it's 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:15.560 because God gave 00:28:15.560 --> 00:28:16.140 that to them. 00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.140 Think of 00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:17.840 Nebuchadnezzar. 00:28:18.280 --> 00:28:19.000 He wanted to be 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.680 like this foolish 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:19.940 king. 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.440 He wanted to 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:21.400 puff himself up 00:28:21.400 --> 00:28:22.620 and the Lord 00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:23.320 humbled that 00:28:23.320 --> 00:28:23.620 man. 00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:24.600 He said, 00:28:24.800 --> 00:28:25.380 Nebuchadnezzar, 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:26.200 if you have had 00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:27.000 any kind of 00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:28.280 influence on my 00:28:28.280 --> 00:28:28.759 earth, it's 00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:29.880 because I gave 00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:30.800 it to you for 00:28:30.800 --> 00:28:31.960 a season for 00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.900 my purpose. 00:28:33.320 --> 00:28:34.140 So don't be 00:28:34.140 --> 00:28:34.960 ensnared by the 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:35.660 words of those 00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.720 who are puffed up 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.380 against God. 00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:38.860 There is a 00:28:38.860 --> 00:28:39.680 higher king in 00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:40.420 heaven, the 00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:41.700 creator of heaven 00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:42.640 and earth, who 00:28:42.640 --> 00:28:43.540 made all things 00:28:43.540 --> 00:28:45.020 visible or 00:28:45.020 --> 00:28:45.840 invisible. 00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:47.300 Don't fall for 00:28:47.300 --> 00:28:47.800 any other 00:28:47.800 --> 00:28:48.320 temptation. 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:49.680 Don't bow your 00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:50.460 knee to any 00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:51.820 lesser king. 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:54.440 Live unto the 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.220 king of heaven. 00:28:56.300 --> 00:28:57.260 Out of love for 00:28:57.260 --> 00:28:58.460 your king, guard 00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.660 yourself against 00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:01.020 deadly temptation. 00:29:03.320 --> 00:29:04.340 Well, how else 00:29:04.340 --> 00:29:05.220 do we live before 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:06.340 the invisible king 00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:07.639 of heaven when 00:29:07.639 --> 00:29:08.299 the kingdom of 00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:09.259 earth feels so 00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:10.159 corrupt? 00:29:12.379 --> 00:29:13.220 Not only do you 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:13.720 need to guard 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:14.500 yourself, David 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.799 teaches us in 00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.379 verse 10, you 00:29:16.379 --> 00:29:17.119 need to separate 00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:18.159 yourself from 00:29:18.159 --> 00:29:19.059 those who rebel 00:29:19.059 --> 00:29:20.439 against your 00:29:20.439 --> 00:29:20.759 king. 00:29:20.919 --> 00:29:21.559 Look at verse 10. 00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:22.779 He says, make 00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:23.919 them bear their 00:29:23.919 --> 00:29:24.339 guilt. 00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:26.319 Oh God, let them 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:27.859 fall by their own 00:29:27.859 --> 00:29:29.379 counsels because of 00:29:29.379 --> 00:29:30.539 the abundance of 00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:31.500 their transgressions. 00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:34.279 Cast them out for 00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:36.220 they have rebelled not 00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:36.779 against me. 00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:37.900 They have rebelled 00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:38.940 against you. 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.500 David is asking the 00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:45.279 Lord to take the 00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.640 punishment, the 00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:47.519 justice that their 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:49.779 sin deserves and put 00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:51.259 it on them and let 00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:53.039 that justice weigh on 00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:54.259 them and drive them 00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:55.279 out of the presence of 00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:55.539 God. 00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:57.420 He's asking God, 00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.460 Lord, this is your 00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:58.799 kingdom. 00:29:59.100 --> 00:30:00.400 You purge your 00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:00.740 kingdom. 00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:02.900 Separate from this 00:30:02.900 --> 00:30:03.480 congregation. 00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:04.420 Separate from your 00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:05.700 people, this church. 00:30:06.140 --> 00:30:07.460 Separate those who 00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:08.400 have sinned against you 00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:09.440 blatantly, who are 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.279 unrepentant. 00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.319 That's what he's 00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:11.900 calling for. 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.660 And it's hard for us 00:30:14.660 --> 00:30:15.819 to live in that 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:17.299 mindset of ancient 00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:18.579 Israel and a time of 00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:18.900 war. 00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:21.539 And out of the 150 00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:23.220 Psalms, Psalm 5 here 00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:24.819 is one of the 12 00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:25.480 that's an imprecatory 00:30:26.120 --> 00:30:26.620 psalm. 00:30:27.079 --> 00:30:28.120 It's a psalm where 00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:30.480 the believer is 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:31.839 crying down judgment 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:33.519 on those who have 00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:34.539 opposed God and his 00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:34.880 kingdom. 00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:36.920 Does that make David, 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:37.900 as some have accused, 00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:39.819 a vengeful brute? 00:30:43.120 --> 00:30:44.380 I think that the 00:30:44.380 --> 00:30:45.440 answer is no. 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:47.700 I think that this is a 00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:49.200 sanctified way to 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:50.819 uphold the purity of 00:30:50.819 --> 00:30:52.079 God's kingdom even on 00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:52.360 earth. 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:55.059 And to understand what 00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:56.120 David is asking, he's 00:30:56.120 --> 00:30:57.539 asking that those who 00:30:57.539 --> 00:30:58.559 are in the land, 00:30:58.559 --> 00:31:00.559 outside of covenant 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:01.879 relationship with God, 00:31:02.159 --> 00:31:03.500 they need an awakening 00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:04.179 right now. 00:31:04.619 --> 00:31:05.480 You are not in his 00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:05.779 kingdom. 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:07.960 You are exiled from his 00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:08.779 holy presence. 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:10.679 So to understand what 00:31:10.679 --> 00:31:11.559 David is praying and 00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:12.940 asking, we need to 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:14.980 situate Psalm 5 in 00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:16.039 redemptive covenant 00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:16.619 history. 00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:20.159 When the Lord Jesus, 00:31:20.419 --> 00:31:21.019 or I'm sorry, when the 00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:22.599 Lord God, through Moses, 00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:23.339 when he called his 00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:24.319 people to the base of 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:26.339 Mount Sinai, he says, 00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.779 I am the Lord your God, 00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:28.839 you are my people. 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:30.039 He gave them covenant 00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:30.660 language. 00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:31.839 In the book of 00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:32.839 Deuteronomy, he laid 00:31:32.839 --> 00:31:34.599 before them the two 00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:35.460 ways to live. 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:36.940 There's the way that 00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:38.059 brings blessing and 00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:39.359 obedience to my law. 00:31:39.660 --> 00:31:40.879 And there's a way that 00:31:40.879 --> 00:31:41.920 leads to death and 00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:43.160 curses and banishment 00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:45.279 and exile from my land. 00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:46.839 He laid that before the 00:31:46.839 --> 00:31:47.139 people. 00:31:48.420 --> 00:31:49.740 So blessing in the land 00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:51.139 of God is tied to 00:31:51.139 --> 00:31:52.680 obedience to God. 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.440 Blatant disobedience to 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:55.740 God. 00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:58.460 Flagrantly disobeying 00:31:58.460 --> 00:31:59.099 his covenant, 00:31:59.380 --> 00:32:00.599 disregarding his law. 00:32:01.120 --> 00:32:02.960 That is what leads to 00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:04.019 being cast out of the 00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:04.279 land. 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.960 Covenant breaking rebels, 00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:08.059 they're rejecting the 00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:09.680 gracious God who rules 00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:10.160 over them. 00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:12.160 So God, David here is 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:13.400 simply asking for God to 00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:14.980 carry out the terms that 00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:15.880 you gave our nation. 00:32:16.380 --> 00:32:17.819 Carry out the terms under 00:32:17.819 --> 00:32:18.460 this law. 00:32:20.859 --> 00:32:22.000 Purge the land, Lord. 00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:23.279 Purify it so that you 00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:24.779 might preserve your 00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.099 kingdom. 00:32:27.639 --> 00:32:28.639 Well, for the church 00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:30.279 today, this is one 00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:31.639 reason it's so important 00:32:31.639 --> 00:32:33.660 that we very carefully 00:32:33.660 --> 00:32:36.500 present the free gospel 00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:38.379 to whosoever will come. 00:32:39.779 --> 00:32:41.119 And at the same time, 00:32:41.619 --> 00:32:42.799 like John the Baptist, 00:32:42.920 --> 00:32:44.720 we look for fruit in 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:46.119 keeping with repentance. 00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:47.720 We don't want to give a 00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:48.680 false assurance to 00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:49.960 someone who later will 00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:50.720 come under church 00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:51.220 discipline. 00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:53.779 So as a church, we need 00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:54.720 to be very vigilant. 00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:56.600 We need to show that 00:32:56.600 --> 00:32:57.220 kind of love. 00:32:57.319 --> 00:32:58.400 We need to disciple one 00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:59.700 another out of love 00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:01.380 and preparation, knowing 00:33:01.380 --> 00:33:02.680 that Christ will come for 00:33:02.680 --> 00:33:03.579 his church first. 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:05.420 We need to encourage one 00:33:05.420 --> 00:33:06.579 another toward holy 00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:07.059 lives. 00:33:07.620 --> 00:33:08.740 We need to confess our 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:10.319 sin and encourage one 00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:12.259 another to be cleansed, 00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:13.319 be purified as the 00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:15.120 bride of Christ before he 00:33:15.120 --> 00:33:15.559 returns. 00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:16.759 There's a sense of 00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:18.700 earnestness and urgency 00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:19.860 for the people of God. 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:25.279 Many will say, well, 00:33:25.380 --> 00:33:26.539 isn't God love? 00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:27.920 Isn't that what John 00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:28.460 preaches? 00:33:28.779 --> 00:33:29.940 God is love. 00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:31.559 Yes, and John also 00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:32.759 preaches that God is 00:33:32.759 --> 00:33:33.259 light. 00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:34.920 And he preaches that 00:33:34.920 --> 00:33:36.480 the light of God 00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:37.539 through Jesus Christ, 00:33:37.579 --> 00:33:39.799 it repels all darkness. 00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:42.180 And there are parts of 00:33:42.180 --> 00:33:43.700 the life of a Christian 00:33:43.700 --> 00:33:45.299 that need that darkness 00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:46.940 to be chased away by 00:33:46.940 --> 00:33:47.860 more and more of the 00:33:47.860 --> 00:33:49.100 presence of Jesus 00:33:49.100 --> 00:33:49.960 Christ. 00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:53.579 with Christ, there can 00:33:53.579 --> 00:33:54.960 be no darkness. 00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:59.339 How do you live before 00:33:59.339 --> 00:34:00.920 the invisible king of 00:34:00.920 --> 00:34:01.940 heaven, knowing that his 00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:03.019 kingdom will come on 00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:03.980 earth as it is in 00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:04.240 heaven? 00:34:05.460 --> 00:34:06.860 You stay close to your 00:34:06.860 --> 00:34:07.960 king by the abundance 00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:10.679 of his steadfast love. 00:34:10.679 --> 00:34:10.739 love. 00:34:12.419 --> 00:34:13.759 This brings us back to the 00:34:13.759 --> 00:34:14.779 heart of Psalm 5. 00:34:14.859 --> 00:34:16.599 Look at verses 7 and 8. 00:34:18.339 --> 00:34:19.879 I picture David in the 00:34:19.879 --> 00:34:20.339 wilderness. 00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:21.879 In 2 Samuel, we read how 00:34:21.879 --> 00:34:22.899 the people in the towns, 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:23.960 they were giving them bread 00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:25.819 and honey and milk and 00:34:25.819 --> 00:34:27.039 nourishment because they 00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:27.699 were in exile. 00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:29.039 They were going to starve in 00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:29.519 the wilderness. 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:32.219 And look at where David's 00:34:32.219 --> 00:34:34.119 prayers take him in verses 00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:34.920 7 and 8. 00:34:35.719 --> 00:34:36.219 David says, 00:34:36.340 --> 00:34:37.980 But I, through the 00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:39.480 abundance of your 00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:40.820 steadfast love, 00:34:40.820 --> 00:34:42.759 will enter your 00:34:42.759 --> 00:34:43.599 house. 00:34:44.599 --> 00:34:45.480 Lead me, O Lord, 00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:46.920 in your righteousness 00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:48.800 because of mine enemies. 00:34:49.659 --> 00:34:51.300 Make your way 00:34:51.300 --> 00:34:53.179 straight before me. 00:34:53.179 --> 00:34:58.159 So there's David in the 00:34:58.159 --> 00:34:58.460 wilderness. 00:34:59.980 --> 00:35:01.519 He's not even near the 00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:02.159 tabernacle. 00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:03.419 The temple hasn't been 00:35:03.419 --> 00:35:03.699 built. 00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:07.039 David was of the tribe of 00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:07.319 Judah. 00:35:07.739 --> 00:35:08.919 He was not of the tribe of 00:35:08.919 --> 00:35:09.179 Levi. 00:35:09.759 --> 00:35:11.899 So he could never enter into 00:35:11.899 --> 00:35:12.819 the tabernacle. 00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:14.679 He could never be inside. 00:35:15.940 --> 00:35:16.960 But he prays, 00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:18.199 Through the abundance of 00:35:18.199 --> 00:35:20.119 your steadfast love, I will 00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:21.619 enter your house. 00:35:21.619 --> 00:35:24.460 I'm there in my soul, in my 00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:24.900 prayers. 00:35:25.179 --> 00:35:26.059 I'm with you. 00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:29.199 David's thoughts are with 00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:29.839 the priests. 00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:32.339 The holy reverence as they 00:35:32.339 --> 00:35:33.579 got themselves dressed. 00:35:35.239 --> 00:35:36.319 As they prepared 00:35:36.319 --> 00:35:37.239 themselves, went through a 00:35:37.239 --> 00:35:39.239 purification ceremony and 00:35:39.239 --> 00:35:40.799 entered in to minister the 00:35:40.799 --> 00:35:42.219 sacrifices that God called 00:35:42.219 --> 00:35:42.519 for. 00:35:44.940 --> 00:35:47.199 David was obeying the Lord, 00:35:47.259 --> 00:35:48.980 even in exile, using the 00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:50.440 means of grace available to 00:35:50.440 --> 00:35:51.659 him at that time. 00:35:52.760 --> 00:35:55.500 And he was enjoying the 00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:56.740 presence of God leading 00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:57.079 him. 00:35:57.599 --> 00:35:59.420 He says, lead me, O Lord, in 00:35:59.420 --> 00:36:00.280 your righteousness. 00:36:01.780 --> 00:36:03.139 My enemies are many, but you 00:36:03.139 --> 00:36:04.720 make the way straight for me, 00:36:04.780 --> 00:36:05.000 Lord. 00:36:06.460 --> 00:36:07.860 And then verse 8, he says, I 00:36:07.860 --> 00:36:09.800 will bow down toward your 00:36:09.800 --> 00:36:10.380 house. 00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:12.559 This can be translated your 00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:14.019 holy temple or your 00:36:14.019 --> 00:36:14.639 tabernacle. 00:36:15.900 --> 00:36:17.000 Even though I'm not there 00:36:17.000 --> 00:36:18.740 physically, I will bow down in 00:36:18.739 --> 00:36:20.199 that direction, thinking of 00:36:20.199 --> 00:36:21.899 you, turning my life toward 00:36:21.899 --> 00:36:23.419 you and your gracious 00:36:23.419 --> 00:36:24.459 presence. 00:36:25.079 --> 00:36:26.579 Out of the steadfastness of 00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:28.739 your love, I direct myself 00:36:28.739 --> 00:36:30.459 back to you, the place where 00:36:30.459 --> 00:36:32.399 you promised to me saved 00:36:32.399 --> 00:36:33.419 sinners like me. 00:36:35.359 --> 00:36:37.019 He says, I prepare a sacrifice 00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:39.439 for you in verse 3, and I 00:36:39.439 --> 00:36:39.959 watch. 00:36:40.739 --> 00:36:43.099 I watch to see how you will 00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:44.500 work, O Lord. 00:36:48.819 --> 00:36:50.279 See, there's comfort for you 00:36:50.279 --> 00:36:50.619 and me. 00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:53.799 On this earth, when things 00:36:53.799 --> 00:36:56.799 feel confused, when we feel 00:36:56.799 --> 00:36:58.739 so deeply hurt, even by other 00:36:58.739 --> 00:37:00.679 Christians or by our own 00:37:00.679 --> 00:37:03.139 family, those cuts that cut the 00:37:03.139 --> 00:37:05.940 deepest, it's not your 00:37:05.940 --> 00:37:07.960 faithfulness to God that gives 00:37:07.960 --> 00:37:09.659 you grounds to approach him, his 00:37:09.659 --> 00:37:10.559 throne of glory. 00:37:10.559 --> 00:37:11.559 God's love for you. 00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:14.480 It's the steadfastness of God's 00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:15.940 love for you. 00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:18.219 The same steadfastness that he 00:37:18.219 --> 00:37:18.920 showed David. 00:37:19.679 --> 00:37:21.340 He calls for you to turn 00:37:21.340 --> 00:37:22.860 yourself back to him. 00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:25.699 Turn your life toward his holy 00:37:25.699 --> 00:37:27.259 hill in heaven. 00:37:28.219 --> 00:37:30.199 And the Lord Jesus Christ is your 00:37:30.199 --> 00:37:31.739 priest that you're thinking of. 00:37:32.259 --> 00:37:34.059 He is the one who has prepared 00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:34.639 everything. 00:37:35.079 --> 00:37:37.460 He has laid out the means, the way 00:37:37.460 --> 00:37:39.199 that you can receive grace from the 00:37:39.199 --> 00:37:39.799 holy God. 00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:42.779 Think of Christ interceding on your 00:37:42.779 --> 00:37:45.779 behalf from his throne in heaven. 00:37:47.039 --> 00:37:49.039 And you stay close to your king 00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:52.079 because his steadfast love for you 00:37:52.079 --> 00:37:53.899 is so abundant. 00:37:55.579 --> 00:37:57.419 If you are more close to your king 00:37:57.419 --> 00:37:59.179 today than you were one year ago, 00:37:59.319 --> 00:38:03.460 it's because he is steadfast to you. 00:38:03.460 --> 00:38:06.380 If you look back on your life five 00:38:06.380 --> 00:38:08.440 years ago and you think of ways in 00:38:08.440 --> 00:38:11.380 which your sin is so embarrassing and 00:38:11.380 --> 00:38:14.119 so shameful and you look at ways in 00:38:14.119 --> 00:38:16.199 which he's cleaned you up now, it's 00:38:16.199 --> 00:38:18.440 because of the steadfast Lord for you 00:38:18.440 --> 00:38:19.500 over these years. 00:38:19.639 --> 00:38:22.039 It has been so abundant for you. 00:38:23.460 --> 00:38:26.260 So when you're in that distress of the 00:38:26.260 --> 00:38:29.179 kingdom on earth feeling twisted, know 00:38:29.179 --> 00:38:32.179 that same steadfast love will carry you. 00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:33.779 It will be for you tomorrow. 00:38:34.480 --> 00:38:36.179 And that same steadfast love will carry 00:38:36.179 --> 00:38:38.879 you one year from now, five years from 00:38:38.879 --> 00:38:41.399 now, as many days as God gives you on 00:38:41.399 --> 00:38:41.619 earth. 00:38:41.699 --> 00:38:43.919 And it's the steadfast love of Christ 00:38:43.919 --> 00:38:46.199 that will usher you into his heavenly 00:38:46.199 --> 00:38:49.259 kingdom when he returns or when your 00:38:49.259 --> 00:38:51.059 soul gets there before your body. 00:38:52.460 --> 00:38:55.919 Stay close to your king by the abundance 00:38:55.919 --> 00:38:58.699 of his steadfast love. 00:38:58.699 --> 00:39:01.539 Live unto the king of heaven. 00:39:03.619 --> 00:39:05.679 See the last little image here in Psalm 00:39:05.679 --> 00:39:08.159 five is of protection in battle. 00:39:08.379 --> 00:39:10.079 Look again at verses 11 and 12. 00:39:11.079 --> 00:39:13.139 David says, let all those that put their 00:39:13.139 --> 00:39:14.259 trust in the rejoice. 00:39:14.799 --> 00:39:17.619 Let them ever shout for joy because thou 00:39:17.619 --> 00:39:18.579 defendest them. 00:39:19.219 --> 00:39:22.779 Let them that love thy name be joyful in 00:39:22.779 --> 00:39:23.359 thee. 00:39:23.360 --> 00:39:26.820 That's emotional language shouts for joy. 00:39:27.320 --> 00:39:29.420 It's the cry of an army after a great 00:39:29.420 --> 00:39:30.559 battle has won. 00:39:32.599 --> 00:39:34.079 God came and avenged them. 00:39:34.160 --> 00:39:35.099 He defended them. 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:37.519 Now notice the emotions. 00:39:37.920 --> 00:39:39.740 They flow from the truth. 00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:43.460 He begins by declaring who God is and 00:39:43.460 --> 00:39:44.599 it's not the other way around. 00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:47.300 It's not a whipped up emotionalism. 00:39:47.620 --> 00:39:48.720 That's really empty. 00:39:48.719 --> 00:39:52.139 It's the the word of God ministering to 00:39:52.139 --> 00:39:54.199 David, ushering him back in by the 00:39:54.199 --> 00:39:55.639 means of grace God has provided. 00:39:55.879 --> 00:39:57.939 But it's loaded with emotions on the 00:39:57.939 --> 00:39:58.319 backside. 00:39:59.659 --> 00:40:02.480 So if you're truly in God's kingdom, if 00:40:02.480 --> 00:40:04.419 Christ is truly your defender, you 00:40:04.419 --> 00:40:05.459 should not be cold. 00:40:06.179 --> 00:40:08.759 You should not be emotionless, but it 00:40:08.759 --> 00:40:11.619 should be an outcome of his true work 00:40:11.619 --> 00:40:12.639 in your heart. 00:40:13.059 --> 00:40:15.159 We should hear some shouts for joy when 00:40:15.159 --> 00:40:16.679 we go when we gather as a congregation. 00:40:16.679 --> 00:40:19.279 I know we're more influenced by the 00:40:19.279 --> 00:40:20.719 Greek, you know, Northern European 00:40:20.719 --> 00:40:22.839 maybe, but man, we need to learn from 00:40:22.839 --> 00:40:24.239 our brothers and sisters around the 00:40:24.239 --> 00:40:24.440 world. 00:40:24.719 --> 00:40:26.519 There should be some loud amens every 00:40:26.519 --> 00:40:27.039 now and then. 00:40:27.339 --> 00:40:28.159 Shouldn't be fake. 00:40:28.559 --> 00:40:29.960 Should be in response to truth. 00:40:30.519 --> 00:40:31.919 There should be, you know, clapping. 00:40:32.079 --> 00:40:35.219 I mean, it's OK to express your joy in 00:40:35.219 --> 00:40:35.639 Christ. 00:40:35.879 --> 00:40:37.839 In fact, you're disobeying him if you 00:40:37.839 --> 00:40:38.480 don't. 00:40:39.659 --> 00:40:41.059 And look at what he says in verse 12. 00:40:41.179 --> 00:40:43.119 Thou, Lord, will bless the righteous. 00:40:43.519 --> 00:40:46.419 With favor will thou encompass him. 00:40:46.679 --> 00:40:48.239 As with a shield. 00:40:49.759 --> 00:40:52.119 He's used the word shield before in the 00:40:52.119 --> 00:40:53.619 earlier Psalms, but here it's a 00:40:53.619 --> 00:40:54.619 different word for shield. 00:40:55.119 --> 00:40:57.019 The word he's used before is a smaller 00:40:57.019 --> 00:40:59.039 shield that was a circular that you'd 00:40:59.039 --> 00:40:59.799 wear in your arm. 00:41:00.139 --> 00:41:01.019 So it's lighter way. 00:41:01.139 --> 00:41:01.559 It's mobile. 00:41:01.659 --> 00:41:03.440 You could run with it and you could go 00:41:03.440 --> 00:41:03.940 into battle. 00:41:04.199 --> 00:41:06.319 The shield that he uses here at the end 00:41:06.319 --> 00:41:08.559 of verse 12 of Psalm 5. 00:41:08.679 --> 00:41:10.139 It's the size of a door. 00:41:10.319 --> 00:41:11.239 It's rectangular. 00:41:11.599 --> 00:41:13.339 It's going to cover your whole body. 00:41:13.779 --> 00:41:15.639 You are you're not walking with this 00:41:15.639 --> 00:41:17.539 thing. You're standing there holding it 00:41:17.539 --> 00:41:19.119 like this, forming a wall. 00:41:19.799 --> 00:41:22.079 What a great picture for the church. 00:41:22.839 --> 00:41:24.699 Christ is our shield. 00:41:25.359 --> 00:41:27.940 Every part of us is tucked behind him 00:41:27.940 --> 00:41:30.879 and nothing can get through the shield 00:41:30.879 --> 00:41:31.900 of Jesus Christ. 00:41:32.099 --> 00:41:33.460 We're behind the shield. 00:41:33.559 --> 00:41:34.599 We're shouting for joy. 00:41:34.859 --> 00:41:36.159 He defended us. 00:41:36.900 --> 00:41:38.099 Though they came after us. 00:41:38.099 --> 00:41:41.099 Our God is our shield. 00:41:43.759 --> 00:41:46.500 Because our king became our high priest. 00:41:48.059 --> 00:41:50.279 In Hebrews 4 verse 16. 00:41:51.079 --> 00:41:53.679 Let us then approach God's throne of grace 00:41:53.679 --> 00:41:56.839 with confidence so that we may receive 00:41:56.839 --> 00:42:01.480 mercy and find grace to help us in our time 00:42:01.480 --> 00:42:02.500 of need. 00:42:02.500 --> 00:42:04.119 So Christian, 00:42:04.579 --> 00:42:06.699 if you trust God 00:42:06.699 --> 00:42:08.659 and if you love his name, 00:42:09.420 --> 00:42:11.980 live unto the king of heaven. 00:42:13.719 --> 00:42:16.940 You can be truly joyful 00:42:16.940 --> 00:42:18.300 even on earth 00:42:18.300 --> 00:42:21.380 because Christ is your shield. 00:42:22.039 --> 00:42:24.519 So live unto this king of heaven. 00:42:25.960 --> 00:42:28.159 God's favor is upon you 00:42:28.159 --> 00:42:29.280 in Christ. 00:42:29.280 --> 00:42:32.480 So live unto the king of heaven. 00:42:33.980 --> 00:42:34.760 Let's pray. 00:42:39.980 --> 00:42:41.780 Echoing verses 11 and 12. 00:42:41.920 --> 00:42:42.180 Father, 00:42:43.400 --> 00:42:46.760 let all who put their trust in you rejoice. 00:42:47.580 --> 00:42:49.880 Let us ever shout for joy 00:42:49.880 --> 00:42:51.300 because you defend us. 00:42:52.040 --> 00:42:53.720 Let us who love your name 00:42:53.720 --> 00:42:54.800 be joyful in you. 00:42:55.500 --> 00:42:57.400 In you alone is true joy. 00:42:57.400 --> 00:42:59.940 By the work of your son, 00:43:00.119 --> 00:43:01.119 apply to us 00:43:01.119 --> 00:43:02.700 by your Holy Spirit. 00:43:04.059 --> 00:43:05.619 The sanctifying work. 00:43:05.900 --> 00:43:06.760 Prepare your bride. 00:43:08.079 --> 00:43:08.800 Keep us pure. 00:43:10.220 --> 00:43:11.539 We trust that you, 00:43:11.700 --> 00:43:11.800 Lord, 00:43:11.860 --> 00:43:13.099 will bless the righteous. 00:43:13.720 --> 00:43:14.380 With favor, 00:43:14.500 --> 00:43:15.300 you will encompass 00:43:15.300 --> 00:43:16.440 your own people. 00:43:17.099 --> 00:43:17.820 Those upon whom 00:43:17.820 --> 00:43:19.059 you have put your righteousness 00:43:19.059 --> 00:43:20.599 as with a shield. 00:43:20.599 --> 00:43:23.579 and help us to trust 00:43:23.579 --> 00:43:24.179 your promise 00:43:24.179 --> 00:43:25.500 that King Jesus 00:43:25.500 --> 00:43:27.420 is with us 00:43:27.420 --> 00:43:29.360 and his favor 00:43:29.360 --> 00:43:30.599 shields us. 00:43:31.460 --> 00:43:33.179 By his most precious name, 00:43:33.380 --> 00:43:34.239 we ask, 00:43:34.360 --> 00:43:34.440 Lord, 00:43:34.500 --> 00:43:35.980 that you will be glorified 00:43:35.980 --> 00:43:36.799 in our lives 00:43:36.799 --> 00:43:38.000 as we live unto you, 00:43:38.360 --> 00:43:39.380 our high king of heaven, 00:43:39.659 --> 00:43:40.799 for your glory alone 00:43:40.799 --> 00:43:42.179 and for the sake of Christ's name 00:43:42.179 --> 00:43:42.599 we pray. 00:43:43.259 --> 00:43:43.599 Amen. 00:43:43.599 --> 00:43:43.739 Amen. 00:43:46.239 --> 00:43:47.839 Take a moment to respond 00:43:47.839 --> 00:43:49.000 to the word that you've heard 00:43:49.000 --> 00:43:49.860 from Psalm 5.