WEBVTT 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:03.459 Well, good morning. It's great to see you all here this morning. 00:00:03.960 --> 00:00:09.179 We're in Psalm 22, and if you have a Bible in front of you, that would be helpful. 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:17.480 Psalm 22. But I don't know if perhaps some mornings you wake up and you're a little bit groggy. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:22.519 Maybe this is a common occurrence for you, like it is for people like myself. 00:00:23.059 --> 00:00:25.780 Perhaps some of you, this is a rare occurrence. 00:00:25.780 --> 00:00:33.520 But you wake up groggy, and it's dark, and you don't quite manage to open your eyes before you stumble into the bathroom. 00:00:34.160 --> 00:00:37.100 And then you do the most foolish thing you could possibly do. 00:00:37.579 --> 00:00:47.299 You pull on the light cord, and suddenly you are utterly astounded by what happens next. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:54.920 The light comes on, and it is the most disorienting thing that you can possibly imagine. 00:00:54.920 --> 00:01:03.300 And this has happened to me far too many times for me to say, and perhaps that just shows you what sort of character I am. 00:01:04.040 --> 00:01:09.420 But as we're in Psalm 22, it's a psalm of two very different halves. 00:01:09.939 --> 00:01:14.540 And we've been in an incredibly dark place for the last couple of weeks. 00:01:14.540 --> 00:01:22.860 The psalmist has written about forsakenness, about mockery, about being completely surrounded by enemies, 00:01:23.500 --> 00:01:26.520 about being weak and at the very door of death. 00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:32.740 And as we step into this second half, we could almost become very disoriented. 00:01:33.520 --> 00:01:37.480 Because there is a massive change, an astounding change. 00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:41.359 You see, David has been saved from his distress. 00:01:41.880 --> 00:01:44.219 It happens there at the end of verse 21. 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:48.460 You've rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen. 00:01:49.159 --> 00:01:55.500 David has been saved from his distress, and now there's a rousing anthem of praise and celebration. 00:01:55.500 --> 00:02:07.120 From the intense darkness of verses 1 through 21, we come into the incredible light of verses 22 to 31. 00:02:08.020 --> 00:02:11.960 Like the first half of the psalm, this half falls into two sections. 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:15.960 This week we're dealing with verses 22 through 26. 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:19.460 And next week we'll deal with the remainder of the psalm. 00:02:19.460 --> 00:02:28.360 So just as we begin, let's pray, then let's read what this psalm has to say to us, and then we'll see. 00:02:28.819 --> 00:02:31.719 So let's pray as we come together this morning. 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:38.840 Father, you are the God of our salvation. 00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:52.400 You are the one who has saved us from all of the distress, all of the affliction that we righteously deserve for our sin. 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:57.379 And yet this morning we still live in this sin-stained world. 00:02:58.060 --> 00:03:04.000 We still struggle with hard news and with sadness and with grief. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:09.219 And so, Father, as we read your word, would you minister to us? 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:12.259 Would you bind up our broken hearts? 00:03:13.080 --> 00:03:16.819 And would you release from us a song of praise? 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:26.979 Because we see your incredible nature, your wonderful work, and who you really are. 00:03:26.979 --> 00:03:30.739 Father, help us to see your Son this morning. 00:03:31.299 --> 00:03:34.000 And by your Spirit, open our hearts, we pray. 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:36.239 In Jesus' name. Amen. 00:03:37.780 --> 00:03:43.219 Verses 22 to 31, they'll be on the screen behind me as well, if you don't have a Bible in front of you. 00:03:44.019 --> 00:03:47.560 I will declare your name to my brothers. 00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:51.219 In the congregation, I will praise you. 00:03:52.219 --> 00:03:55.839 You who fear the Lord, praise Him. 00:03:55.840 --> 00:03:59.300 All you descendants of Jacob, honor Him. 00:03:59.920 --> 00:04:03.099 Revere Him, all you descendants of Israel. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:09.840 For He has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one. 00:04:10.480 --> 00:04:18.019 He has not hidden His face from Him, but has listened to His cry for help. 00:04:19.459 --> 00:04:23.720 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly. 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:28.940 Before those who fear you, I will fulfill my vows. 00:04:29.560 --> 00:04:32.440 The poor will eat and be satisfied. 00:04:33.420 --> 00:04:36.560 They who seek the Lord will praise Him. 00:04:37.580 --> 00:04:40.840 May your hearts live forever. 00:04:40.839 --> 00:04:49.219 To begin with, we have the celebration after salvation. 00:04:49.459 --> 00:04:50.199 That's point one. 00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:53.679 To begin with, we have celebration after salvation. 00:04:54.139 --> 00:04:57.599 And then we have the reason for the celebration. 00:04:58.759 --> 00:05:01.479 Fairly simple, and so we'll keep going. 00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:05.740 The psalmist has been saved from his distress. 00:05:06.740 --> 00:05:09.080 And now comes the time for celebration. 00:05:10.400 --> 00:05:13.240 See the total reversal of what has gone before. 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:16.140 And you really can't understate this. 00:05:16.500 --> 00:05:19.700 Where he has been surrounded by the enemy, 00:05:20.080 --> 00:05:22.379 by these animals of men, 00:05:22.660 --> 00:05:24.920 now he's in the middle of a congregation. 00:05:24.920 --> 00:05:29.020 Now he's surrounded by brothers, 00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:32.300 by family in the faith. 00:05:33.020 --> 00:05:38.360 No longer are his ears subjected to the mockery of God. 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:43.420 Now his tongue is free to proclaim the goodness of God. 00:05:43.900 --> 00:05:49.980 And he isn't content just to sing or to cry aloud himself. 00:05:49.980 --> 00:05:55.580 He incites all around him to offer their praises to God. 00:05:56.220 --> 00:05:58.400 Look at what God has done for me. 00:05:58.680 --> 00:05:59.500 Praise God. 00:06:00.420 --> 00:06:04.000 That's the psalmist's cry this morning. 00:06:04.960 --> 00:06:07.920 This is an incredible challenge to me 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:10.060 as I was preparing this week. 00:06:11.140 --> 00:06:14.379 You see, I will readily pray in desperation. 00:06:15.220 --> 00:06:17.759 And I'm sure many of you are like me in that regard. 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:22.659 We will readily pray when we have no other recourse. 00:06:22.939 --> 00:06:26.199 When something cannot be solved any other way, 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:27.779 we'll turn to God. 00:06:29.019 --> 00:06:34.039 But how often do we take time to praise God when he answers us? 00:06:36.180 --> 00:06:39.599 So often we cry out to God in our distress, 00:06:40.259 --> 00:06:44.599 but we forget to praise him when he comes through for us. 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:50.560 We're creatures with short memories for God's mercies. 00:06:50.820 --> 00:06:55.780 And we need to be often reminded of all that he has done for us. 00:06:56.740 --> 00:07:00.340 A phrase that has been indelibly printed in my mind. 00:07:00.840 --> 00:07:02.180 We leak the gospel. 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:08.120 And we need to so often be reminded of what God has done for us. 00:07:08.840 --> 00:07:12.379 That's why as a church family, we regularly celebrate communion. 00:07:12.379 --> 00:07:14.459 We'll celebrate it here this morning again. 00:07:14.860 --> 00:07:18.540 To remember what Jesus has done for us 00:07:18.540 --> 00:07:22.040 and to praise God for his salvation that he has given us. 00:07:22.899 --> 00:07:26.439 That's why some Christians advocate keeping a prayer journal. 00:07:26.899 --> 00:07:30.500 It's a thing that I am hopeless at keeping up with. 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:33.439 But it's a record of all your prayers. 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:36.920 And then when God answers, you make a note of it. 00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:42.120 So that you have these little books filled with God's answers 00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:45.680 that you can praise him for at a future date. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:49.779 Maybe that's something you should try if you struggle with this like I do. 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:56.000 If you struggle to think of what God has done in answer to your prayers, 00:07:56.720 --> 00:07:58.120 maybe write a prayer journal. 00:07:58.120 --> 00:08:04.519 But even more challenging is that the psalmist tells other people 00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:07.220 to praise God because of what's happened to him. 00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:14.160 How rarely do I share with others my personal struggles? 00:08:15.019 --> 00:08:16.860 And that leaves me no opportunity. 00:08:18.139 --> 00:08:21.259 It leaves me no opportunity to tell others 00:08:21.259 --> 00:08:23.639 the great ways that God has worked in my life. 00:08:23.639 --> 00:08:29.959 Because encouraging other people to praise only works 00:08:29.959 --> 00:08:33.480 if I am in real relationships with you, 00:08:33.860 --> 00:08:35.779 my brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:08:37.179 --> 00:08:40.879 So much so that when the trial comes my way 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:43.080 and when God steps in, 00:08:43.460 --> 00:08:46.340 then I can encourage you to praise God. 00:08:47.059 --> 00:08:49.200 And when the trials come to you 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:53.080 and when God steps miraculously into your situations, 00:08:53.080 --> 00:08:55.759 then I will be overjoyed 00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:57.540 and I will be able to praise. 00:08:58.780 --> 00:09:01.680 But all too often we live in anonymity. 00:09:02.340 --> 00:09:04.800 We struggle away in silence. 00:09:05.540 --> 00:09:08.120 And we rob God of the honor he deserves. 00:09:09.400 --> 00:09:10.720 Isn't that a sad thing? 00:09:11.460 --> 00:09:14.800 We need to learn to share life with each other. 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:16.940 To be honest with one another. 00:09:16.940 --> 00:09:19.620 To realize that we're a family. 00:09:19.620 --> 00:09:22.120 A new family. 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:24.460 And we have responsibility to one another. 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:27.820 To encourage one another to praise God. 00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:30.240 Just like the psalmist is doing here. 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:33.880 David calls the people to praise God 00:09:33.880 --> 00:09:36.300 for the salvation that has been accomplished. 00:09:37.620 --> 00:09:39.700 And here is a great opportunity to notice 00:09:39.700 --> 00:09:42.040 what has happened through this psalm already. 00:09:42.880 --> 00:09:44.780 Remember back to verse 1. 00:09:44.779 --> 00:09:47.819 To these heart-wrenching words. 00:09:48.259 --> 00:09:49.839 My God, my God, 00:09:50.039 --> 00:09:52.879 why have you forsaken me? 00:09:53.959 --> 00:09:57.439 Remember that terrible cry of verse 2. 00:09:58.439 --> 00:10:02.799 O God, I cry day by day, 00:10:02.980 --> 00:10:05.740 but you will not answer. 00:10:06.939 --> 00:10:09.939 But now the forsakenness of those first verses 00:10:09.939 --> 00:10:12.759 are replaced with something so very different. 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:16.879 God has drawn near. 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:19.639 See what's said in verse 24. 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:21.860 God has not turned away. 00:10:22.860 --> 00:10:24.559 He hasn't turned tail 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:27.960 to flee the horrors of this evil world. 00:10:29.539 --> 00:10:30.879 God has heard. 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:34.559 God has shown up. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:36.559 And He's saved. 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:42.479 And there's been a progression going through this psalm. 00:10:43.659 --> 00:10:47.019 In verse 1, God begins as a distant deity. 00:10:48.359 --> 00:10:50.879 But here He is now identified 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:54.299 as the present Yahweh. 00:10:54.299 --> 00:10:58.240 It's like you're looking at a person 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:00.399 coming from a far distance. 00:11:01.639 --> 00:11:02.899 And to begin with, 00:11:02.979 --> 00:11:04.740 you can't really see who it is. 00:11:05.179 --> 00:11:07.799 You can't really recognize who they are. 00:11:08.500 --> 00:11:10.079 But as they come closer, 00:11:10.899 --> 00:11:14.399 very quickly you recognize the friendly face. 00:11:15.179 --> 00:11:17.779 Very quickly you see who it is. 00:11:17.779 --> 00:11:22.139 The first people in this psalm 00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:23.959 to mention God by name 00:11:23.959 --> 00:11:25.319 were the mockers. 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:28.039 Isn't that odd? 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:31.000 It turns out that these mockers 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:33.319 weren't unthinking or unknowing people. 00:11:34.059 --> 00:11:35.860 They had their theology right. 00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:40.740 But they considered the psalmist's real trust in God 00:11:40.740 --> 00:11:42.379 to be a foolish thing. 00:11:42.379 --> 00:11:45.120 They knew about God, 00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:47.539 but they weren't trusting in Him. 00:11:49.019 --> 00:11:50.519 And they're shown to be fools 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:53.379 when their jeers and their mockery 00:11:53.379 --> 00:11:55.019 turns on their heads. 00:11:56.059 --> 00:11:57.659 See, because by verse 19, 00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:00.580 David calls out to this God of ours, Yahweh. 00:12:01.379 --> 00:12:02.899 And here in verse 23, 00:12:03.580 --> 00:12:06.399 we now see that it is Yahweh who has rescued. 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:09.340 It probably reads in your Bible, 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:11.039 the Lord in small capitals. 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:15.179 That's how many Bibles translate the name of God. 00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:18.379 But given how our text began this morning, 00:12:18.599 --> 00:12:21.159 we need to make so much of this name of God. 00:12:22.019 --> 00:12:25.159 You see, this is not one of the fickle gods 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:26.719 of the Greek pantheon. 00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:31.480 This isn't the deist cosmic creator 00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:34.899 who has walked away to leave us to our own devices. 00:12:35.779 --> 00:12:38.500 This isn't Allah who will leave you to fate 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:42.200 or Brahma who requires karma of you 00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:45.299 or any of the other false gods of this world. 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:49.559 This God is identified as Yahweh, 00:12:49.700 --> 00:12:51.799 the one true God. 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:55.620 He is a covenant-keeping God. 00:12:56.620 --> 00:12:57.840 He's true to His Word. 00:12:59.399 --> 00:13:02.159 He's a merciful and a gracious God. 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:04.519 He cares for us, 00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:07.219 for people beyond what we deserve. 00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:09.799 He's a holy God. 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:12.120 He's pure and without fault. 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:13.719 He's a loving God, 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:17.740 caring for us more than we can even dare to hope. 00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:21.559 And this is the God who is worthy of our worship. 00:13:21.559 --> 00:13:28.759 Don't think that we come to a vague shadowy figure 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:30.659 as we praise on a Sunday morning. 00:13:31.319 --> 00:13:35.399 We come to the God who has revealed Himself in His Word 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:41.119 and who has shown Himself to be glorious above all others. 00:13:42.179 --> 00:13:45.559 We come to our God who is without rival or peer 00:13:45.559 --> 00:13:48.739 in all the religions or philosophies of this world. 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:51.240 And I wonder, 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:54.879 have you come to know and to trust this God? 00:13:57.659 --> 00:14:01.279 Perhaps you need some proof of all that I've just said about Him. 00:14:02.539 --> 00:14:06.100 And maybe if you haven't heard the last couple of sermons on Psalm 22, 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:09.940 I strongly suggest that you go and you hear 00:14:09.940 --> 00:14:12.159 what this God has done for us. 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:14.519 When you get a spare moment, 00:14:14.659 --> 00:14:17.600 go to the website and listen to the last few recordings. 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:23.960 Because although this psalm was written a thousand years before Jesus came, 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:28.360 yet it tells us exactly what would happen to Him. 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:33.240 300 years before anyone thought up crucifixion, 00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:37.480 it shows us exactly what would happen to Christ. 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:41.960 For us, Jesus felt the terrible separation 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:46.280 of all our wrongdoing and our wrong thinking that we deserved. 00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:49.480 Because of our need to be saved, 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:52.840 Jesus took on Himself all of our sin. 00:14:53.420 --> 00:14:57.519 And God gave to Him all of the punishment that we deserved. 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:01.240 Because of our helplessness, 00:15:02.060 --> 00:15:05.660 Jesus stepped uninvited into this world. 00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:11.120 And He worked out this incredible salvation plan. 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:16.299 And all that we have to do is to trust in Him. 00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:21.039 And now we can join in this celebration. 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:26.919 Because Jesus has gone through that incredible pain in our place. 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:29.120 This is our God. 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:31.919 And He's drawn near to us. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:37.059 The same God who David called on here, 00:15:38.099 --> 00:15:40.579 we see proved reliable in Jesus. 00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:46.879 And we have seen this incredible celebration 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:48.339 after this salvation. 00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:53.759 Let's see again what David has to say 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:56.200 about the reason for the celebration. 00:15:57.879 --> 00:16:01.660 Look with me at verse 24 again. 00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:08.700 For He has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted. 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:12.259 And He has not hidden His face from Him, 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:15.280 but has heard when He cried to Him. 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:20.100 You see, Yahweh, He is the champion of the week. 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:24.559 Our God, He isn't a betting man. 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:29.360 And He doesn't support the pundit's choice in a fight. 00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:32.240 This God of ours, He doesn't choose 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:34.639 based on the probability of success. 00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:37.120 Thank God. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:39.939 Because if He did, He would never have chosen me. 00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:43.059 I wonder if He would ever have chosen you. 00:16:43.059 --> 00:16:45.759 He's never picked His people 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:49.119 based on their strength or their breeding 00:16:49.119 --> 00:16:51.399 or their ability to pull themselves up 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:52.719 by their bootstraps. 00:16:54.459 --> 00:16:58.939 This God of ours, He has always looked kindly on the weak, 00:16:59.579 --> 00:17:00.879 the broken and the helpless. 00:17:03.199 --> 00:17:05.940 And that's no different now than it ever was. 00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:12.960 God has seen me in all of my neediness. 00:17:13.360 --> 00:17:16.779 And He has extended His love to even me. 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:22.480 God sees you in whatever situation you are in. 00:17:24.840 --> 00:17:27.519 And He can extend His love to even you. 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:32.039 Perhaps this morning you feel afflicted. 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:36.200 You feel like you are under this weight. 00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:39.759 And for whatever reason, 00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:42.680 perhaps you think that God wouldn't have you. 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:48.700 But this is the incredible good news about our God. 00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:54.920 This is the incredible good news of the Christian faith. 00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:58.700 God does not despise affliction. 00:17:59.600 --> 00:18:04.200 He doesn't hide His face from people who are under darkness. 00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:09.460 But He hears and He will answer. 00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:13.539 Perhaps you're here as a Christian, 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:17.299 but you still feel that affliction. 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:21.660 Perhaps you feel, as I have felt, 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:23.319 that you can't worship today. 00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:26.580 Today I am under a weight 00:18:26.580 --> 00:18:28.559 and I just can't get out from it. 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:31.619 Not today. 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:33.700 Not with the news that you've had. 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:37.559 Not with the stress or the pressure that you are under. 00:18:37.859 --> 00:18:40.139 Not with the hurt and the pain that you face. 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:45.179 But notice in verse 25 00:18:45.179 --> 00:18:50.079 that God is the one who creates praise within His people. 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:57.200 From you comes my praise in the great congregation. 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:01.319 From you, from God. 00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:05.659 He is the one who enables us to worship. 00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:10.759 If you're among the afflicted this morning, 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:12.419 call out to God. 00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:16.679 Trust Him with what you're going through. 00:19:18.359 --> 00:19:20.339 And do not fear 00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:23.859 if you feel that you cannot praise. 00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:27.619 Worship comes from God. 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:31.359 Now maybe that doesn't put your mind at ease. 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:34.099 Nothing that I have just said 00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:36.159 perhaps helps you 00:19:36.159 --> 00:19:37.720 in how you feel. 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:40.859 But see the confidence that David has 00:19:40.859 --> 00:19:42.079 in verse 26. 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:46.179 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied. 00:19:46.919 --> 00:19:48.179 This is certain. 00:19:48.679 --> 00:19:49.759 This is sure. 00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.379 Those who seek Him 00:19:51.379 --> 00:19:53.240 shall praise the Lord. 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:54.619 This is dead cert. 00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:57.479 This isn't up to chance. 00:19:58.419 --> 00:20:00.299 David knows this. 00:20:00.919 --> 00:20:02.719 He's been in this number. 00:20:05.219 --> 00:20:07.359 Those who seek God 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:09.179 will praise Him. 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:11.059 David's proved it. 00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:15.619 And this is a constant theme of the Bible. 00:20:15.619 --> 00:20:18.959 almost anywhere you go, 00:20:19.159 --> 00:20:20.759 you will find this call 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:22.359 to seek the Lord 00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:24.779 and that He will answer you. 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:27.579 Whether you go to Deuteronomy 4 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:29.199 or Isaiah 55, 00:20:29.879 --> 00:20:31.459 you will find this call 00:20:31.459 --> 00:20:33.579 to seek the Lord, 00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:36.779 to call on Him 00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:39.359 whatever circumstance, 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:41.799 whatever hardship. 00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:46.899 I could make these sorts of statements, 00:20:47.139 --> 00:20:48.639 but it wouldn't do you any good. 00:20:49.639 --> 00:20:51.399 But this is coming from a man 00:20:51.399 --> 00:20:53.039 who saw God at work. 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:56.099 This is written by a man 00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:59.839 who has been proved right time and again 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:01.059 through millennia. 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:03.799 And it's been proved right 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.859 most clearly 00:21:04.859 --> 00:21:07.059 in the experiences of Jesus. 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:13.299 As we begin to come to the end this morning, 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:16.700 we see that Jesus went through the horrors 00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:18.319 of verses 1 to 21. 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:21.220 We've already seen 00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:23.000 that Jesus is the one 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:24.299 who fulfills 00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:27.119 all that these verses say. 00:21:28.639 --> 00:21:30.339 But according to Hebrews, 00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:33.899 the words of verses 22 to 31 00:21:33.899 --> 00:21:35.899 are also Jesus' experience. 00:21:37.399 --> 00:21:38.500 I'd never seen this 00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:40.220 before I started looking into the psalm 00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:40.799 for this morning. 00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:44.579 Jesus didn't just go through the pain, 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:48.299 but He is also part of the celebration. 00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:52.460 Jesus is now exalted in heaven, 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:54.480 the one who has gone through 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:56.319 unimaginable anguish, 00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:59.639 and He is praising His Father 00:21:59.639 --> 00:22:02.720 among all those who are there with Him. 00:22:04.439 --> 00:22:06.259 Jesus will lead worship 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:09.319 and will stir us to praise God 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:11.919 for the rest of eternity. 00:22:13.179 --> 00:22:15.240 And this was the aim all along, 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:19.339 to bring us into a real relationship 00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:20.160 with God 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:21.900 and to be united 00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:24.079 with His people as a family. 00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:28.420 In Hebrews 2.12, 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:31.059 we get a glimpse into that heaven, 00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:32.899 and we see Jesus 00:22:32.899 --> 00:22:35.099 surrounded by all those 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:37.039 who have put their trust in Him. 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:40.879 And He is urging all of us 00:22:40.879 --> 00:22:43.980 to worship His Father with Him. 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:49.539 We are brought into the family of God 00:22:49.539 --> 00:22:51.759 as adopted children, 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:55.539 and Jesus, His eternal Son, 00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:57.740 is not ashamed to call us family. 00:22:57.740 --> 00:23:01.740 Jesus is not ashamed to call us 00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:03.180 brothers and sisters. 00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:07.140 Isn't that an incredible reason 00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:09.579 to praise Him this morning? 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:13.539 Whether you are in the middle of the storm, 00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:15.960 or whether you are enjoying 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:18.460 a peaceful season of life, 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:21.700 we can all look into the beginning 00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:22.839 of the psalm 00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:24.319 and see the lengths 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:25.459 to which Jesus went 00:23:25.459 --> 00:23:27.379 to bring us into this relationship. 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:32.179 And as that reality sinks in, 00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:35.039 as we consider 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:37.480 the depths of the cross, 00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:41.099 we can come into this second half 00:23:41.099 --> 00:23:41.819 of the psalm 00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:45.379 and come to the very heights of praise, 00:23:46.179 --> 00:23:47.819 and we can join 00:23:47.819 --> 00:23:50.959 with the anthem of Psalm 22. 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:53.400 Let's praise God together 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:54.480 this morning.