WEBVTT

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 Let me ask you to open up your word to Psalm 131.

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 Psalm 131.

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 Let me lead us in a prayer for the hearing of God's word.

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 Father God, as we open up your word this morning,

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 we recognize that we need your help to hear from it.

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 And Father, we need to hear from you this morning.

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 So Lord, we ask that you would work mightily by your spirit

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 as I speak from your word and as your people hear it.

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 And receive it.

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 Father, help it to change us from one degree of glory to another.

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 And we pray this in Christ's name and for his sake.

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 Amen.

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 All right.

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 Psalm 131.

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 Before I read it, beloved, let me remind you that this is God's word to us

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 written for his glory and our good.

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 We would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises

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 and obey its commands.

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 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up.

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 My eyes are not raised too high.

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 I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.

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 But I have calmed and quieted my soul like a weaned child with its mother,

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 like a weaned child is my soul within me.

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 O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.

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 There is much unknown about the date or occasion of the writing of this psalm.

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 We do know, however, that David is its author and that he was a man of ambition.

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 He was a king, a husband, a soldier, an administrator, and a poet.

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 David was a busy man.

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 He stabilized and built up a kingdom and he was troubled at every turn.

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 He had ambition and a lot on his plate.

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 But despite all of that, all that was going on in his life,

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 in this world, this psalm gives us a glimpse into the soul of a man who is at rest.

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 David was a man who had learned the secret of having a calm and quieted soul.

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 Are you at rest this morning?

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 Is your soul calmed and quieted within you today?

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 Or do you find yourself in a state of stress or anxiety or worry?

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 Is your soul, rather than being calm and quiet, rather noisy?

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 What is the source of this noise?

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 Our lives are full of many challenges.

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 Our souls are encroached upon at every turn by some trouble.

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 This past year, we have felt the need to become epidemiologists, economists, political theorists, and sociologists.

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 We are unsure of what will come next, which tends toward a noisiness in our souls.

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 I have felt this, despite all my encouragement to you over these past months.

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 Many things can be blamed for us not being at rest, for our uncalmed and unquieted souls,

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 for the noisiness that is within us, for our lack of peace.

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 But the blame does not lie without, but David tells us, rather, that it lies within.

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 In his closing comments to the Thessalonian church, Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 3, verse 16,

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 Paul prays that God would provide peace, calmed and quieted souls at all times in every way.

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 No matter the circumstances, no matter what is happening around you, inner calm and quiet is possible.

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 So let's consider this matter together with three questions and the answers that David provides for us by the inspiration of God.

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 And let us recognize that we have some work ahead of us.

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 All of us have noisy souls at one time or another, and we may have experienced this in greater measure at the close of this year and the beginning of this coming year.

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 Charles Spurgeon said in a commentary on Psalm 131,

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 Psalm 131 is one of the shortest psalms to read, but one of the longest to learn.

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 Let us be about that work this morning by asking the following three questions.

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 Number one, why do we lack inner calm and quiet?

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 Number two, how do we have inner calm and quiet?

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 And number three, who is the source of inner calm and quiet?

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 So question one, why do we lack inner calm and quiet?

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 Let's not forget that we are looking into a moment of David's life in which he is at rest.

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 In his writing, he is presently at rest.

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 But if we take the positive statements of verse one and consider them in the negative,

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 we can understand that the lack of inner calm and quiet comes from pride.

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 Here's Psalm 131 in verse one in the negative, in the opposite, right?

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 David's at rest.

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 Let's hear what it would say if he was not at rest.

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 God, I feel proud.

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 I am looking to and desiring things that are beyond your intentions for me.

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 I am occupied with matters outside of my control.

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 When read this way, we can see that David's statements in verse one are against these ideas.

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 He is not these things.

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 But if he were, he would not have inner calm and quiet.

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 If his life was characterized by pride in these ways, his soul would be in turmoil and it would be noisy.

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 A life of self-exaltation and self-reliance and self-governance is not a life at rest because it takes on roles that are not ours to own.

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 They are too big for us.

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 And we should entrust our identity and our provision and our direction to the one who can handle such matters.

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 We must know our place if we are to have inner calm and quiet.

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 David addresses this peace-robbing pride in this psalm in all of its insidious forms and combats it at the levels of feeling, at appearing, and at acting.

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 At the beginning of verse one, we see in his feeling he addresses it.

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 Oh, Lord, my heart is not lifted up.

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 The phrase my heart here meaning his inner being, his very core of who he is, his thoughts, his desires, his emotions.

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 He did not think or feel too much of himself.

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 A lack of inner calm and quiet can come from considering ourselves greater than we really are

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 because deep down we know our shortcomings and putting on a show to protect others' perception of us is absolutely exhausting.

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 We know deep down that we are not God.

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 We know that we cannot know everything.

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 And yet, we feel the pressure to act as if we can.

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 I think it's a great scheme of the devil to take what many people call the fear of missing out.

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 Everybody wanted to know which color the dress was online.

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 You had to know or else you couldn't talk to other people about what was going on.

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 All the things that go around on social media.

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 And he's turned that into matters that are serious.

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 We all feel the pressure to know exactly what we ought to think about any given thing.

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 This past year has been full of opinions, hasn't it?

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 How do we know?

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 How should we navigate?

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 It becomes this pressure to be able to answer all of the questions.

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 And frankly, we can't.

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 We just can't.

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 I came across this quote by Eugene Peterson earlier this week.

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 And it's specifically about preachers, but I hope you hear it in the application to all of us.

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 He said, we are most of us Augustinians in our pulpits.

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 High view of the sovereignty of God in all things.

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 We preach the sovereignty of our Lord, the primacy of grace, the glory of God.

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 But the minute we leave our pulpits, we become Pelagians.

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 Pelagius argued for work salvation.

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 Augustine and him had a great debate over this.

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 In our committee meetings and planning sessions, in our obsessive attempts to meet the expectations of people,

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 in our anxiety to please, in our hurry to cover all the bases,

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 we practice a theology that puts moral effort as the primary element in pleasing God.

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 And we have all been doing this this year.

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 Saying on the one hand, our Lord is sovereign over all things,

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 but acting as if we matter so much.

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 We've done this in so very many ways.

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 Recognize your feeling at the core of who you are,

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 that there are things outside of your control.

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 David also addresses this as it comes to appearance.

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 He says, my eyes are not raised too high.

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 This phrase is a reference to his countenance, to how he looks on the outside.

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 If he were to look to the way he looks or to the things that make him look good,

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 then he would not have inner calm and quiet.

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 Contentment, true soul-satisfying contentment,

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 never comes from without.

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 Has nothing to do with the way we appear.

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 Has everything to do with who our God is to us.

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 And also, he says, in his acting, he says,

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 I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.

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 Did David act?

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 Of course he did.

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 But he was not a listless man,

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 but he did not act outside of his ordered purpose and sphere of control.

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 The more I grow in maturity in Christ,

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 the more I realize how very small my sphere of control really is.

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 Has God granted to me responsibilities?

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 Absolutely.

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 Are there things I must do as a husband and a father and a pastor?

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 Of course, right?

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 There's too many things.

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 I have so much to do, but I can't control any of it.

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 My sphere is around my very feet.

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 It's around my own attitude as I tackle the things that God has laid before me.

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 A person who is always at work trying to control matters that they cannot control

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 will not be at rest.

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 You could do nothing about some things.

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 We trouble ourselves with stuff that ought not trouble us.

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 So pride, you see, robs us of inner calm and quiet.

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 Not understanding and enjoying our place in the cosmos

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 makes our souls noisy.

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 John Calvin, I put this on your bulletin today.

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 In Heart of Flame, speaking of this text, said,

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 Those who, like David, submit themselves to God,

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 keeping in their own sphere, moderate in their desires,

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 will enjoy a life of tranquility and assurance.

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 Doesn't that sound nice?

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 Tranquility and assurance.

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 This brings us to the second of our questions,

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 which is,

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 How do we have inner calm and quiet?

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 We do not feel or appear or act in pride.

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 We do not think too much of ourselves and respond accordingly.

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 David says,

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 Oh Lord, my heart is not lifted up.

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 My eyes are not raised too high.

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 I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.

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 This is the way we humble ourselves.

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 I am but a man created by a creator who reigns over all things.

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 Paul writes to the Roman believers in the first part of Romans chapter 12 and verse 2,

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 Do not be conformed to this world,

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 but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

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 As we think on the truth,

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 we will feel the truth,

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 be motivated by the truth,

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 and act according to the truth.

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 Too many of us are being discipled by our culture.

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 Too many of us are spending way too much time on social media.

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 Social media is an expression of the reality,

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 but it is not the reality.

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 There is a lot of stuff that happens online that doesn't happen person to person,

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 face to face,

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 and so much of it does not accord with the truth.

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 The average college student spends two and a half hours a day on social media.

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 I'd like for you to stop and think for a moment.

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 How much time do you think you spend a day on social media,

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 being discipled by the culture?

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 There's helpful things out there.

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 I'm not saying that there's not some reason to be on social media.

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 There's helpful stuff.

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 There's helpful people,

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 resources that are good for us.

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 How much time do you spend taking in garbage,

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 things that don't make you humble,

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 things that don't quiet your soul,

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 but rather work you up into a frenzy?

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 Turn on talk radio.

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 You will find a channel that will upset you as you drive in your car.

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 How much of that are you allowing to disciple you?

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 What if instead you spent just a little bit of that time in God's word?

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 Let God speak to your soul.

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 I've done this math for you before,

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 and I wouldn't expect that anybody would do this.

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 I think it'd be unreasonable for anybody to do this,

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 but if you took that time instead,

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 two and a half hours a day,

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 five days a week,

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 50 weeks out of the year,

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 so I'm giving you some time to still be on social media,

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 but if you instead read the Bible,

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 average reading speed,

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 instead,

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 do you know how many times in a year you could read the scripture?

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 Eight and a half times.

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 Eight and a half times.

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 John Piper famously said

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 that the one thing that Facebook will accomplish for us

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 at the end of all things

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 is to show that we had time to pray,

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 and I would say,

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 and read our Bibles.

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 What are you being discipled by?

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 I will tell you,

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 it is a stressful thing

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 to be a pastor in our age,

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 knowing that the sheep go out

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 and spend countless hours

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 being discipled by the culture,

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 and I've got roughly a half an hour

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 to preach a sermon on a Sunday morning.

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 How could I possibly?

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 The truth is I can't.

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 It's not possible to speak to every fear you may have,

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 every anxiety that comes up,

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 everything that disquiets your soul.

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 It's not possible.

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 Sermons are important.

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 They're not enough

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 to be in the scripture

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 all the time.

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 In order to be at peace,

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 we must think rightly.

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 We must be transformed

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 by the renewal of our minds,

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 be able to take in the stuff

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 that's going on around us

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 and think biblically about it.

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 David recognizes his place.

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 That's what he expresses in this psalm.

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 He knows his place.

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 He combats pride

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 and puts on humility

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 through careful consideration

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 of what God would have him be concerned with

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 and what God would not have him be concerned with.

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 Let me show you another text

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 that speaks to this.

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 I want you to keep yourself marked

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 in Psalm 131.

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 Turn with me to Philippians chapter 4.

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 I'm going to begin reading in verse 4.

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 Singing strains my voice more than I realized.

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 Beginning in verse 4.

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 Paul writes,

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 Rejoice in the Lord always.

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 Again, I will say, rejoice.

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 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

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 Pause for a second.

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 Has reasonableness defined

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 the Christian church in America

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 this past year?

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 I hope it's defined ours.

00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.880
 I'm not so sure.

00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:26.240
 Has it defined the American church

00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:27.539
 as we can observe it, right?

00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:29.000
 On social media?

00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.720
 Gosh, no.

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:32.480
 No, it has not.

00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:34.740
 Paul goes on to say,

00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:35.860
 the last part of verse 5,

00:18:36.100 --> 00:18:39.360
 The Lord is at hand.

00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:41.959
 We are to reason,

00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:43.659
 to know the truth

00:18:43.659 --> 00:18:45.579
 and rightly express the truth

00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:49.019
 that God is near.

00:18:49.899 --> 00:18:53.319
 We have his very presence

00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:55.419
 because of the sacrificial work

00:18:55.419 --> 00:18:56.699
 of Jesus Christ.

00:18:57.639 --> 00:18:58.619
 Verse 6.

00:18:59.159 --> 00:19:00.899
 Do not be anxious about anything,

00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:01.779
 but in everything,

00:19:01.919 --> 00:19:03.259
 by prayer and supplication,

00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:04.039
 with thanksgiving,

00:19:04.419 --> 00:19:06.259
 let your requests be made known

00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.599
 to God.

00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:09.659
 This is written by Paul

00:19:09.659 --> 00:19:10.740
 who is presently,

00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.599
 when he's writing this letter,

00:19:11.679 --> 00:19:12.439
 in a Roman prison.

00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:15.919
 And the peace of God,

00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:18.599
 which surpasses all understanding,

00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.959
 will guard your hearts

00:19:19.959 --> 00:19:21.859
 and your minds

00:19:21.859 --> 00:19:23.699
 in Christ Jesus.

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:25.839
 Finally, brothers,

00:19:25.939 --> 00:19:26.719
 whatever is true,

00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:27.519
 whatever is honorable,

00:19:27.679 --> 00:19:28.419
 whatever is just,

00:19:28.539 --> 00:19:29.279
 whatever is pure,

00:19:29.399 --> 00:19:30.159
 whatever is lovely,

00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:31.399
 whatever is commendable,

00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:33.099
 if there is any excellence,

00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:35.319
 if there is anything worthy of praise,

00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:38.480
 think about these things.

00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:40.399
 What you have learned

00:19:40.399 --> 00:19:41.099
 and received

00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:41.799
 and heard

00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:42.899
 and seen in me,

00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:44.939
 practice these things

00:19:44.939 --> 00:19:47.099
 and the God of peace

00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:49.279
 will be with you.

00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:52.359
 This is the life

00:19:52.359 --> 00:19:53.639
 that we are meant

00:19:53.639 --> 00:19:54.980
 to live

00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:57.299
 in a trying time.

00:19:57.839 --> 00:19:58.299
 And beloved,

00:19:58.419 --> 00:19:59.480
 this is not trying

00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:00.860
 compared to the times

00:20:00.860 --> 00:20:01.720
 of trial

00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.519
 that the church

00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.240
 has experienced

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.099
 throughout the history

00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:05.460
 of the church.

00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:06.819
 I would say to you

00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:07.220
 this morning,

00:20:07.380 --> 00:20:08.420
 for a practical application,

00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:09.539
 read the scripture.

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.440
 Read more and more

00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:11.099
 and more of the scripture.

00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:12.220
 Get a higher view of God

00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:12.740
 and his sovereignty

00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.240
 and his control

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:14.200
 of the world.

00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:15.380
 As a second application,

00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.440
 read a little bit

00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:17.059
 of church history.

00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:19.140
 Understand just a little

00:20:19.140 --> 00:20:20.240
 what the church

00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:20.779
 has endured

00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:21.980
 throughout the ages

00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:22.839
 and what much

00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:23.299
 of the church

00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:24.980
 endures today.

00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:27.339
 This is light

00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:28.599
 and momentary affliction

00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:30.940
 compared to the light

00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:31.860
 and momentary affliction

00:20:31.860 --> 00:20:32.519
 of the church

00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:33.400
 throughout time

00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:34.860
 and space.

00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:36.920
 All of the uncertainty,

00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:38.160
 all of the challenge

00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:40.620
 is really rather minor

00:20:40.620 --> 00:20:41.559
 in comparison

00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:42.559
 to what we see

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:44.120
 the church suffering.

00:20:45.120 --> 00:20:46.019
 And all of this

00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:47.059
 ought to give us

00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:48.339
 a greater confidence

00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:51.240
 in who our God is.

00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:52.700
 This God of peace

00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.599
 who will be with us.

00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:56.559
 This God who is at hand,

00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:58.599
 who is with us

00:20:58.599 --> 00:21:00.199
 and who grants to us

00:21:00.199 --> 00:21:03.439
 calmed and quieted souls.

00:21:04.139 --> 00:21:05.619
 Look again at the result

00:21:05.619 --> 00:21:07.079
 of David believing

00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:08.319
 in the truth.

00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:10.039
 Back in Psalm 131,

00:21:10.139 --> 00:21:10.839
 verse 2,

00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:11.559
 he says,

00:21:11.639 --> 00:21:12.559
 But I have calmed

00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:14.000
 and quieted my soul

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:16.039
 like a weaned child

00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:16.899
 with its mother,

00:21:17.379 --> 00:21:18.619
 like a weaned child

00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:20.879
 is my soul within me.

00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:23.039
 David uses a simile here

00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:25.019
 to express the degree

00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:28.799
 of his calm and quiet.

00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:30.500
 John Piper,

00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:31.519
 speaking of this text,

00:21:31.619 --> 00:21:31.940
 says,

00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:33.680
 This weaned child

00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.539
 is a picture

00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:36.259
 of contentment.

00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:37.899
 The unweaned child

00:21:37.899 --> 00:21:39.259
 is frantically rooting around

00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.259
 and craves milk

00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:41.000
 for his stomach.

00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:42.980
 The weaned child

00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:44.319
 is simply enjoying

00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.500
 the way it feels

00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.879
 to be in the lap

00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:47.980
 of his mother.

00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:49.879
 He is satisfied.

00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:51.180
 And it is not

00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:52.180
 about his stomach.

00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:54.240
 It's about his heart.

00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.160
 Piper's just saying

00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:56.640
 the child is just happy

00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:57.500
 to be held.

00:21:57.600 --> 00:21:58.060
 It's not looking

00:21:58.060 --> 00:21:58.740
 for anything

00:21:58.740 --> 00:22:00.360
 from the mom

00:22:00.360 --> 00:22:01.520
 except to be with

00:22:01.520 --> 00:22:02.820
 the mom.

00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:04.860
 Piper goes on to say,

00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:05.720
 This is a picture

00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:07.320
 of David's restfulness,

00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:08.720
 contentment,

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:10.020
 satisfaction,

00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:11.260
 joy,

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.360
 peace,

00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:13.379
 and the secure,

00:22:13.959 --> 00:22:14.979
 loving presence

00:22:14.979 --> 00:22:16.219
 of God.

00:22:16.939 --> 00:22:17.339
 End quote.

00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:19.339
 David renounces

00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:20.759
 self-exaltation

00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.699
 and self-reliance

00:22:21.699 --> 00:22:22.759
 and self-governance

00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.759
 and trusts God

00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:24.539
 with his identity

00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.719
 and his provision

00:22:25.719 --> 00:22:27.019
 and his direction.

00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:28.879
 Which brings us

00:22:28.879 --> 00:22:29.759
 to the final verse

00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.939
 of this short psalm

00:22:30.939 --> 00:22:32.439
 and our final question.

00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:34.339
 Who is the source

00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:36.039
 of inner calm

00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:36.719
 and quiet?

00:22:36.959 --> 00:22:37.839
 I know that I've

00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:38.479
 answered the question.

00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:39.279
 I hope you've answered it

00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:40.719
 in your own mind already.

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:43.200
 David says

00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:43.960
 in verse 3,

00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:44.759
 O Israel,

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:46.640
 hope in the Lord

00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:48.779
 from this time forth

00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:50.299
 and forevermore.

00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:51.980
 David,

00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:53.140
 having experienced

00:22:53.140 --> 00:22:54.100
 the inner calm

00:22:54.100 --> 00:22:54.640
 and quiet

00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:55.680
 that comes from God,

00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:57.779
 calls the people of God

00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:59.460
 to also hope in him.

00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:02.259
 Here in David's appeal,

00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:04.319
 a call to you.

00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:07.000
 He calls Israel by name

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:08.360
 and if you have believed

00:23:08.360 --> 00:23:09.019
 in Christ,

00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:10.940
 he calls to you

00:23:10.940 --> 00:23:12.579
 and he calls you

00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:14.599
 to hope in the Lord.

00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:17.599
 Psalm 131 is paired

00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:20.099
 with Psalm 130,

00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:22.000
 which is most likely

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:23.319
 also written by David

00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:24.779
 and expresses trust

00:23:24.779 --> 00:23:26.279
 in God's mercy.

00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:28.539
 It is aimed at helping

00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:29.480
 those who have trusted

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:31.019
 in Christ to see themselves

00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:32.480
 as forgiven people,

00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:34.139
 granted the right

00:23:34.139 --> 00:23:35.400
 to enter God's presence

00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:37.019
 because of his mercy.

00:23:37.019 --> 00:23:37.680
 mercy.

00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:39.859
 It finds its author

00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:40.680
 in a state

00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:41.779
 of restlessness

00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:43.720
 but looking

00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:44.759
 to God

00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:46.160
 for rest.

00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:47.839
 Let's read it,

00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:48.599
 the eight verses,

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.279
 beginning in

00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:50.579
 verse 1.

00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:52.599
 out of the depths

00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:54.159
 I cry to you,

00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.319
 O Lord.

00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:56.699
 O Lord,

00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:57.699
 hear my voice.

00:23:57.859 --> 00:23:58.419
 Let your ears

00:23:58.419 --> 00:23:58.919
 be attentive

00:23:58.919 --> 00:23:59.539
 to the voice

00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:00.539
 of my pleas

00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:01.759
 for mercy.

00:24:02.699 --> 00:24:03.619
 If you, O Lord,

00:24:03.699 --> 00:24:04.740
 should mark iniquities,

00:24:04.899 --> 00:24:05.559
 O Lord,

00:24:05.659 --> 00:24:07.179
 who could stand?

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:08.960
 But with you

00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:10.139
 there is forgiveness

00:24:10.139 --> 00:24:11.980
 that you may be feared.

00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:13.740
 I wait for the Lord.

00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.599
 My soul waits

00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:15.619
 and in his word

00:24:15.619 --> 00:24:16.779
 I hope.

00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:18.259
 My soul waits

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:18.659
 for the Lord

00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:19.660
 more than watchmen

00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:20.320
 for the morning,

00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.660
 more than watchmen

00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:22.660
 for the morning.

00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:24.440
 O Israel,

00:24:24.800 --> 00:24:26.100
 hope in the Lord.

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.340
 For with the Lord

00:24:27.340 --> 00:24:28.460
 there is steadfast love

00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:29.000
 and with him

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:30.560
 is plentiful redemption.

00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:32.779
 And he will redeem Israel

00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:35.460
 from all his iniquities.

00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:38.160
 So in times of trouble,

00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:38.900
 when our souls

00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:39.960
 are not calmed

00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:41.140
 and are not quieted,

00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:42.940
 we can look to the God

00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:43.840
 of our salvation

00:24:43.840 --> 00:24:45.640
 and hope in him.

00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:47.480
 We can be humbled

00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:48.720
 by his great mercy

00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:49.360
 toward us.

00:24:49.860 --> 00:24:51.019
 We can trust God

00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:51.840
 with our identity

00:24:51.840 --> 00:24:52.860
 and our provision

00:24:52.860 --> 00:24:54.480
 and our direction.

00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:56.019
 We can know

00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:57.340
 that God is for us

00:24:57.340 --> 00:24:59.440
 because we are his people

00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:01.500
 and because we have peace

00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.680
 with him.

00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:05.000
 that tumult

00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:06.140
 that existed

00:25:06.140 --> 00:25:07.519
 before we were in Christ

00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:09.259
 no longer exists

00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:10.100
 and therefore

00:25:10.100 --> 00:25:11.820
 we can be calmed

00:25:11.820 --> 00:25:13.519
 and quieted.

00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:15.240
 Recall the words

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:15.660
 of Jesus

00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:17.140
 from Matthew chapter 11

00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:18.120
 that I read

00:25:18.120 --> 00:25:19.680
 previously

00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:20.960
 beginning in verse 28.

00:25:21.620 --> 00:25:22.220
 Jesus says,

00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:23.340
 Come to me

00:25:23.340 --> 00:25:24.720
 all who labor

00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:26.019
 and are heavy laden

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:28.100
 and I will give you rest.

00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:29.980
 Take my yoke upon you

00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:30.660
 and learn from you

00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:31.519
 for I am gentle

00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.880
 and lowly in heart

00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:34.340
 and you will find rest

00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:35.360
 for your souls

00:25:35.360 --> 00:25:37.400
 for my yoke is easy

00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.759
 and my burden

00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:40.220
 is light.

00:25:41.660 --> 00:25:43.620
 So are you at rest

00:25:43.620 --> 00:25:44.180
 this morning?

00:25:45.040 --> 00:25:46.420
 Is your soul

00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:48.220
 calmed and quieted

00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:49.019
 within you today

00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:50.540
 or do you find yourself

00:25:50.540 --> 00:25:51.500
 in a state of stress

00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:53.120
 or anxiety

00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:54.060
 or worry?

00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:55.400
 Is your soul

00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:56.320
 noisy

00:25:56.320 --> 00:25:58.140
 this morning?

00:25:58.140 --> 00:26:00.580
 We, I think,

00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:02.259
 have some work to do

00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:03.240
 in this area.

00:26:03.580 --> 00:26:05.600
 Some meditation to do

00:26:05.600 --> 00:26:07.180
 on these good promises

00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:08.320
 of God to us.

00:26:08.560 --> 00:26:09.500
 Taking up

00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.440
 and reading his word

00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.280
 and understanding

00:26:11.280 --> 00:26:12.600
 that he is a God

00:26:12.600 --> 00:26:13.600
 that we can

00:26:13.600 --> 00:26:14.759
 hope in

00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:16.080
 from this time forth

00:26:16.080 --> 00:26:18.200
 and forevermore.

00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:19.540
 We ought to be

00:26:19.540 --> 00:26:21.020
 an unshakable people

00:26:21.020 --> 00:26:23.340
 and immovable people

00:26:23.340 --> 00:26:24.060
 because we have

00:26:24.060 --> 00:26:24.720
 a confidence

00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.500
 in such

00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.960
 a great God.

00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:29.520
 So I hope

00:26:29.520 --> 00:26:30.220
 that you can join

00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:30.759
 with me

00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:32.100
 in saying,

00:26:33.080 --> 00:26:33.320
 O Lord,

00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:34.160
 my heart is not

00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:34.660
 lifted up.

00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:35.720
 My eyes are not

00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.700
 raised too high.

00:26:37.100 --> 00:26:38.320
 I do not occupy

00:26:38.320 --> 00:26:39.300
 myself with things

00:26:39.300 --> 00:26:39.940
 too great

00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:40.700
 and too marvelous

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.720
 for me.

00:26:42.380 --> 00:26:43.520
 But I have calmed

00:26:43.520 --> 00:26:44.780
 and quieted my soul

00:26:44.780 --> 00:26:46.360
 like a weaned child

00:26:46.360 --> 00:26:46.980
 with its mother,

00:26:47.280 --> 00:26:48.460
 like a weaned child

00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.340
 is my soul

00:26:49.340 --> 00:26:50.600
 within me.

00:26:51.520 --> 00:26:52.200
 O Israel,

00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.460
 hope in the Lord

00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.640
 from this time forth

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 and forevermore.

00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:57.800
 Let's pray together.

00:26:58.580 --> 00:26:58.720
 Let's pray together.

00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:58.720


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