WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.480 We are doing a double song today. 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:08.179 Psalm 1 was this morning, and I think the rest of you were there for that. 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:10.919 But let me say a little bit about it again. 00:00:11.080 --> 00:00:13.839 I mentioned it's the gateway to the psalm. 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:18.780 So if we're going to look at any other psalm, then we might as well look back at that. 00:00:20.920 --> 00:00:24.440 The first psalm orients us to all the psalms. 00:00:25.140 --> 00:00:28.879 Puts us on one of two paths in life, with God and without God. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.240 And it says the source of life are the instructions of God, the law of the Lord. 00:00:36.859 --> 00:00:40.740 What we receive as the scriptures from God. 00:00:41.820 --> 00:00:42.460 Precepts. 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:47.760 One form of that instruction, then, is the psalms. 00:00:48.299 --> 00:00:52.400 And so it sort of has to win our appetite for the rest of the psalms. 00:00:53.480 --> 00:00:56.879 Prepare us for reading and singing the psalms themselves. 00:00:56.980 --> 00:00:57.799 They were originally sung. 00:00:57.900 --> 00:00:59.420 It is Israel's hymn book. 00:00:59.420 --> 00:01:01.460 It has been called correctly. 00:01:03.399 --> 00:01:09.579 As we meditate on them, like Psalm 145, we can expect to grow in Christian maturity. 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:12.640 And to benefit those around us. 00:01:13.079 --> 00:01:13.240 Right? 00:01:13.320 --> 00:01:18.500 So the tree, the person, the blessed person, like this tree, bears fruit. 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:24.459 That benefits the community may provide shade, comfort, stability. 00:01:24.459 --> 00:01:32.099 This is why the letters of the Colossians again can say, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. 00:01:32.219 --> 00:01:34.399 Teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom. 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:38.579 Singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. 00:01:38.739 --> 00:01:40.199 With thankfulness in your hearts to God. 00:01:40.259 --> 00:01:41.239 It seems strange. 00:01:41.319 --> 00:01:46.119 How am I teaching and admonishing other people and then I break into song and help them out? 00:01:46.120 --> 00:01:49.920 But the idea is really that we sing songs properly together. 00:01:50.460 --> 00:01:53.320 And it is a way of ministering to one another. 00:01:54.340 --> 00:01:56.900 We might know someone across the room who's going through a hard time. 00:01:56.960 --> 00:01:59.939 And we think, wow, those words and that was in life. 00:02:01.100 --> 00:02:03.480 Must really be something special today. 00:02:03.480 --> 00:02:04.719 And so on. 00:02:04.820 --> 00:02:06.280 And we rejoice with those who rejoice. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:08.060 And we mourn with those who mourn. 00:02:10.939 --> 00:02:15.759 This is the fundamental perspective on living life together. 00:02:17.200 --> 00:02:18.379 We have these two ways. 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:20.460 We feed on God's instruction. 00:02:21.699 --> 00:02:24.460 And with God, we proceed to life. 00:02:24.620 --> 00:02:25.360 Life everlasting. 00:02:26.280 --> 00:02:26.920 It's perspective. 00:02:28.640 --> 00:02:30.960 As we see in Psalm 145 tonight, 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:36.000 a lot of what the Psalms wish to do is put our life in perspective. 00:02:36.540 --> 00:02:37.860 Put our life in perspective. 00:02:39.879 --> 00:02:42.920 One group of people that I think has a good perspective on life, 00:02:42.980 --> 00:02:44.360 at least in a certain way, are soldiers. 00:02:45.780 --> 00:02:48.420 I actually have a lot of admiration for military veterans. 00:02:48.540 --> 00:02:53.200 I'm not just talking about or necessarily talking about the fighting part. 00:02:53.300 --> 00:02:55.180 But I'm talking about everyday life. 00:02:55.260 --> 00:02:57.740 How a soldier lives his or her life. 00:02:57.740 --> 00:03:03.080 Because once they've left the military and reentered civilian life, 00:03:03.420 --> 00:03:06.420 they have a particular perspective on the world. 00:03:07.640 --> 00:03:09.659 They've dealt with extreme situations. 00:03:11.200 --> 00:03:13.159 By that I mean they've signed up for a profession 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:17.420 that requires you to live, one, without a lot of life's comforts, 00:03:18.100 --> 00:03:19.280 where you're treated harshly, 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:23.819 where discipline is among probably the top three virtues. 00:03:25.439 --> 00:03:29.639 And many of these people have seen combat or life and death scenarios. 00:03:31.460 --> 00:03:35.800 A mission, for example, may be important than some of the very life or survival. 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:38.680 And there's a lot of tough love in the military. 00:03:38.680 --> 00:03:43.939 It's thanks to all of these things that soldiers and veterans 00:03:43.939 --> 00:03:46.159 have a particular perspective on life. 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:49.080 A heavy workload. 00:03:50.520 --> 00:03:51.560 Angry colleagues. 00:03:52.200 --> 00:03:53.420 Take these as a few examples. 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:54.379 An anxious partner. 00:03:55.600 --> 00:03:56.580 Difficult students. 00:03:58.420 --> 00:04:02.819 These are just not so serious or difficult for soldiers, 00:04:02.920 --> 00:04:04.080 in my experience at least. 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:08.800 They're abnormally calm, unfazed by difficulties. 00:04:09.920 --> 00:04:11.060 I don't know if that's your experience, 00:04:11.180 --> 00:04:13.780 but this is the perspective that I'm referring to. 00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:17.580 The threshold for what bothers military people 00:04:17.580 --> 00:04:19.800 is much higher than the average person's. 00:04:22.040 --> 00:04:24.300 I think this is by and large because of what they've dealt with 00:04:24.300 --> 00:04:25.660 and experienced and how they've been trained. 00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:30.480 Most of the psalms, and certainly Psalm 145, 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:33.160 are trying to put your life in perspective. 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:40.859 And the psalms do so by orienting us towards the greatest thing in life. 00:04:42.659 --> 00:04:46.259 Psalm 1 declares it a blessed thing to delight in the law of the Lord 00:04:46.259 --> 00:04:48.620 and meditate it on it day and night. 00:04:49.620 --> 00:04:53.899 Psalm 4 expresses confidence in the fact that God will answer those who call to him. 00:04:55.379 --> 00:04:58.560 Psalm 8 puts humankind in the perspective of God's majesty. 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:05.519 Psalm 13 proclaims trust in God despite and in the midst of his apparent absence. 00:05:07.420 --> 00:05:10.639 You get the idea that psalms are life in perspective. 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:13.879 Particularly in God's perspective. 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:20.959 What Psalm 145 wants us to see and to believe and to feel, 00:05:21.159 --> 00:05:27.339 the psalms are all about feeling, orienting our desires towards godly emotion, 00:05:27.879 --> 00:05:29.319 is this, great is the Lord. 00:05:30.100 --> 00:05:31.839 That's the psalm, great is the Lord. 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:35.259 Let's have a look at the first few verses. 00:05:37.619 --> 00:05:41.479 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 00:05:42.359 --> 00:05:46.799 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. 00:05:47.919 --> 00:05:51.479 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. 00:05:52.419 --> 00:05:54.299 And his greatness is unsearchable. 00:05:54.300 --> 00:06:00.060 The psalmist is crazy about God. 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:03.199 He not only believes that the Lord is great, 00:06:03.300 --> 00:06:04.680 he is impressed by God, 00:06:05.400 --> 00:06:06.040 awed by God, 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:07.720 commends him daily, 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:08.879 thinks about him daily, 00:06:09.080 --> 00:06:10.240 values God endlessly, 00:06:10.740 --> 00:06:11.819 tells others about him, 00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:12.720 promotes God, 00:06:13.259 --> 00:06:15.519 and passes God on to his children. 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:17.220 If you read the whole of the psalm, 00:06:17.280 --> 00:06:20.199 that's what the psalmist is doing. 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:25.159 Unrestrained admiration and full satisfaction. 00:06:29.180 --> 00:06:30.759 The idea of God as king, 00:06:30.939 --> 00:06:31.579 the first verse says, 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:33.480 I will extol you, my God and King. 00:06:34.099 --> 00:06:35.199 This is a familiar idea, 00:06:35.860 --> 00:06:36.740 but the exact word, 00:06:36.860 --> 00:06:38.219 likening God to a king, 00:06:39.099 --> 00:06:41.459 I think only occurs twice in the psalms. 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:42.800 Now God, of course, 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:45.500 governs and rules and acts like a king, 00:06:45.579 --> 00:06:46.379 but to call him a king 00:06:46.379 --> 00:06:48.319 doesn't happen that often. 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:51.480 The other place is Psalm 98, 00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:53.699 with trumpets and the sound of the horn 00:06:53.699 --> 00:06:55.000 that make a joyful noise 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:57.079 before the king, the Lord. 00:06:59.259 --> 00:07:01.319 The idea here is that God is great, 00:07:01.399 --> 00:07:02.439 and that he does great things, 00:07:02.500 --> 00:07:04.199 and that he's deserving of great praise, 00:07:04.259 --> 00:07:06.480 and a king would or should be. 00:07:09.939 --> 00:07:10.939 I'm going to say something 00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:12.279 that I think I remember correctly. 00:07:12.459 --> 00:07:13.600 I read a book, 00:07:13.659 --> 00:07:14.800 but I haven't been able to find it. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:18.060 And so I think this is what the author was saying. 00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:20.139 The part of this book was about 00:07:20.139 --> 00:07:22.439 what it meant to bow before a king, 00:07:22.860 --> 00:07:24.759 a symbolization of bowing, 00:07:24.839 --> 00:07:28.660 a special falling on your face before a king, 00:07:29.259 --> 00:07:30.540 which would have been done 00:07:30.540 --> 00:07:31.579 all over the ancient world, 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:33.439 but it is still done in some places today. 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:35.800 Egyptian kings, Assyrian kings, 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:37.060 Greek kings, biblical kings, 00:07:37.939 --> 00:07:40.180 any senior figure really 00:07:40.180 --> 00:07:43.360 would have people bow down before them. 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:47.660 This shows respect and deference, obviously. 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:51.560 But this author thought that it could symbolize 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:52.639 something else. 00:07:54.060 --> 00:07:54.520 Death. 00:07:55.879 --> 00:07:58.620 He said the person would bow and fall before 00:07:58.620 --> 00:08:00.400 the king, 00:08:01.060 --> 00:08:03.060 who would then tell them to stand, 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:04.220 or rise. 00:08:04.780 --> 00:08:07.080 And that was showing that the king 00:08:07.080 --> 00:08:08.280 granted life. 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:10.439 that the king had been ruled 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:11.899 over life itself. 00:08:12.799 --> 00:08:13.979 And that it was symbolically 00:08:13.979 --> 00:08:16.199 dying before this person 00:08:16.199 --> 00:08:18.819 and coming up to life. 00:08:21.399 --> 00:08:23.119 Even if, and the author is very awful, 00:08:23.259 --> 00:08:24.819 even if it's not entirely correct, 00:08:25.039 --> 00:08:26.819 that the idea could even be 00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:28.619 put forward and passed around 00:08:28.619 --> 00:08:30.459 as a real possibility, 00:08:30.619 --> 00:08:33.019 so it's just how much it meant to be king. 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:35.939 I will praise you, 00:08:36.079 --> 00:08:36.960 I will extol you, 00:08:37.059 --> 00:08:38.659 my lord and king. 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:41.259 The very life of those 00:08:41.259 --> 00:08:42.819 in the king's presence 00:08:42.819 --> 00:08:44.659 was sustained by the king. 00:08:44.779 --> 00:08:46.600 And that's just an earthly king 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:48.139 he was talking about. 00:08:48.779 --> 00:08:50.399 Surely King David's greatness 00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:51.159 was searchable, 00:08:51.340 --> 00:08:52.079 quantifiable, 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:53.120 understandable. 00:08:54.439 --> 00:08:55.740 But the greatness of the lord 00:08:55.740 --> 00:08:56.919 who made the heavens and the earth 00:08:56.919 --> 00:08:59.019 who formed many complex 00:08:59.699 --> 00:09:00.860 and wonderful things 00:09:00.860 --> 00:09:01.639 in creation. 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:04.259 His greatness is 00:09:04.259 --> 00:09:05.159 unsurginal, 00:09:05.699 --> 00:09:07.120 as the psalmist puts it. 00:09:09.799 --> 00:09:11.699 The psalm leans into this. 00:09:13.240 --> 00:09:15.139 It's a recognition of greatness. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:17.860 One way this happens, 00:09:18.419 --> 00:09:20.460 to extol God as king like that, 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:21.819 to recognize His greatness, 00:09:21.980 --> 00:09:23.659 is by imbibing God. 00:09:23.699 --> 00:09:24.399 There's really no other way 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:25.019 to put it, 00:09:25.819 --> 00:09:29.100 kind of feasting on the lord. 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:30.919 If we have a look at verse 5, 00:09:31.639 --> 00:09:33.799 on the glorious splendor 00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:34.419 of your majesty 00:09:34.419 --> 00:09:36.100 and on your wondrous works, 00:09:36.259 --> 00:09:37.659 I will meditate. 00:09:38.319 --> 00:09:39.379 This is that word again 00:09:39.379 --> 00:09:39.919 from this morning, 00:09:40.039 --> 00:09:40.460 to meditate. 00:09:42.059 --> 00:09:43.340 The psalmist is in that verse 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:44.580 and the surrounding notes. 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:46.559 He's taken in God's works. 00:09:47.199 --> 00:09:48.600 He's taken in the splendor 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:49.939 of God's majesty. 00:09:49.940 --> 00:09:53.000 And he's taken in the lord's kindness 00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:54.060 and goodness. 00:09:55.500 --> 00:09:56.600 And as much as he takes 00:09:56.600 --> 00:09:57.440 all of this in, 00:09:57.500 --> 00:09:58.440 the whole point really 00:09:58.440 --> 00:10:00.240 is that he gives it back out. 00:10:01.460 --> 00:10:03.220 It's input and output. 00:10:04.100 --> 00:10:05.720 Things that come in about God, 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:07.040 we must give out. 00:10:07.680 --> 00:10:09.240 Or almost have to give out. 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:13.180 Teenage boys, 00:10:13.340 --> 00:10:13.780 particularly, 00:10:14.020 --> 00:10:15.100 love new phrases. 00:10:15.100 --> 00:10:17.620 Multiply month, 00:10:17.680 --> 00:10:18.120 week by week, 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:18.639 year by year. 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:19.759 The teenage population 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:21.340 is regularly processing 00:10:21.340 --> 00:10:23.980 catchphrases and slang. 00:10:25.700 --> 00:10:26.980 I was recently walking 00:10:26.980 --> 00:10:28.100 with a young guy 00:10:28.100 --> 00:10:28.680 who had recently 00:10:28.680 --> 00:10:31.180 taken his theology GCSE exams. 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:33.360 How was it? 00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:33.820 I asked. 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:36.000 Sir, 00:10:36.680 --> 00:10:38.420 it was large. 00:10:39.219 --> 00:10:41.159 It was large, 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:41.719 he said. 00:10:42.860 --> 00:10:43.319 I said, 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:44.319 the theology exam 00:10:44.319 --> 00:10:45.459 was large. 00:10:47.539 --> 00:10:48.500 I took it to mean 00:10:48.500 --> 00:10:49.659 that it was daunting, 00:10:50.319 --> 00:10:51.979 that it was exhilarating. 00:10:52.860 --> 00:10:54.299 Perhaps it was impressive. 00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:57.039 I'm still not quite sure, 00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:57.679 but I get the sense 00:10:57.679 --> 00:10:58.500 that slang for things 00:10:58.500 --> 00:10:59.559 excellent and superior 00:10:59.559 --> 00:11:00.559 is really never in me. 00:11:02.259 --> 00:11:02.519 Now, 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:02.980 the boy, 00:11:03.419 --> 00:11:04.899 this boy had done well 00:11:04.899 --> 00:11:05.579 on the exam 00:11:05.579 --> 00:11:06.740 and proceeded to tell me 00:11:06.740 --> 00:11:07.539 his score. 00:11:08.899 --> 00:11:09.939 And I might say 00:11:09.939 --> 00:11:11.059 that he was then flexing. 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:13.279 He was showing off. 00:11:14.939 --> 00:11:15.479 He didn't know 00:11:15.479 --> 00:11:16.059 how to celebrate 00:11:16.059 --> 00:11:16.919 by eating pizza, 00:11:17.019 --> 00:11:17.860 but we wouldn't eat pizza, 00:11:17.979 --> 00:11:19.379 we would smash it. 00:11:19.939 --> 00:11:20.860 We didn't smash it. 00:11:22.019 --> 00:11:22.740 We're going to smash 00:11:22.740 --> 00:11:23.559 that pizza tonight. 00:11:26.419 --> 00:11:28.019 It's probably enough of that, 00:11:28.079 --> 00:11:28.959 but I should say 00:11:28.959 --> 00:11:29.399 that the adults 00:11:29.399 --> 00:11:30.699 actually enjoy new phrases too. 00:11:31.439 --> 00:11:32.019 Last week, 00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:32.699 I was in Los Angeles 00:11:32.699 --> 00:11:33.879 visiting a family 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:34.419 where we were actually 00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:37.599 and heard some new phrases 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:39.080 like chill vibes, 00:11:39.560 --> 00:11:40.639 which was familiar, 00:11:40.779 --> 00:11:41.820 but the slang 00:11:41.820 --> 00:11:42.680 that's really going now 00:11:42.680 --> 00:11:43.920 is talking about energy. 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:45.820 That's positive energy 00:11:45.820 --> 00:11:50.080 or even college guy energy 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.820 or Polish energy. 00:11:51.820 --> 00:11:54.340 I'm not sure 00:11:54.340 --> 00:11:54.960 if I'll 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:55.620 reuse that. 00:12:02.340 --> 00:12:02.660 Right, 00:12:02.780 --> 00:12:03.280 we might not 00:12:03.280 --> 00:12:04.000 be into these 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:05.180 sorts of things, 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:06.260 but we do repeat jokes, 00:12:06.400 --> 00:12:07.240 we repeat mannerisms, 00:12:07.400 --> 00:12:08.140 we repeat these things, 00:12:08.260 --> 00:12:08.920 but they come in 00:12:08.920 --> 00:12:10.300 and they come out. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:14.120 Double to the law of life. 00:12:14.920 --> 00:12:15.760 We take air in 00:12:15.760 --> 00:12:16.820 and it has to come out. 00:12:16.820 --> 00:12:17.500 We drink coffee 00:12:17.500 --> 00:12:18.420 and find his way 00:12:18.420 --> 00:12:20.800 and we speak 00:12:20.800 --> 00:12:21.680 about those we love 00:12:21.680 --> 00:12:22.740 to future generations 00:12:22.740 --> 00:12:23.520 and the deceased, 00:12:23.620 --> 00:12:24.720 we tell stories about them. 00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:27.840 We even bring it back 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:28.240 to life 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:29.400 by expressing our memories. 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:33.020 Many of the things 00:12:33.020 --> 00:12:33.860 in life that we take in, 00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:34.840 we also give out. 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:35.740 You give the idea. 00:12:37.780 --> 00:12:38.760 The question that 00:12:38.760 --> 00:12:39.700 the psalmist has for us 00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:40.920 is whether or not 00:12:40.920 --> 00:12:43.240 we speak of God. 00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:45.500 And if we don't, 00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:47.000 then it seems that 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:47.560 we haven't really 00:12:47.560 --> 00:12:48.659 taken God in. 00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:51.360 As we saw in Psalm 1, 00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:52.440 to meditate means 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:53.460 to turn over 00:12:53.460 --> 00:12:54.299 in one's thoughts, 00:12:54.940 --> 00:12:55.600 to ponder, 00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:56.740 using the memory 00:12:56.740 --> 00:12:57.560 and considering 00:12:57.560 --> 00:12:59.460 all kinds of material 00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:00.180 or experiences. 00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:01.919 It requires focus 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:03.460 and it expects 00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:03.899 an outcome. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:08.180 The first five says, 00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:09.159 on your wondrous works, 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:09.980 I will meditate. 00:13:11.299 --> 00:13:13.100 And I'll read Psalm 143 00:13:13.100 --> 00:13:14.100 again as I did this morning. 00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:15.740 I remember the days of old. 00:13:15.860 --> 00:13:16.500 I meditate 00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:17.879 on all that you have done. 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:18.580 I ponder 00:13:18.580 --> 00:13:20.399 the work of your hands. 00:13:21.560 --> 00:13:22.379 I stretch out 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:23.259 my hands to you. 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:25.220 My soul thirsts 00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:26.879 for you like a partial lamb. 00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:29.279 I remember, 00:13:29.420 --> 00:13:29.820 I meditate, 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:30.460 I ponder 00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:31.540 what you've done. 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:32.620 God, 00:13:32.680 --> 00:13:33.500 because I need you 00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:34.620 and I expect you 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:36.860 to satisfy my soul. 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:40.500 Meditating is like 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:41.500 punching one's thirst. 00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:43.179 It's taking God in. 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:44.960 But again, 00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:46.419 Psalm 145 is clear 00:13:46.419 --> 00:13:48.440 that by taking God in, 00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:49.679 we also are 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:50.759 and need to be 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:52.320 giving God out. 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:55.460 We can think about this 00:13:55.460 --> 00:13:57.080 as breathing. 00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:57.720 There are several 00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:58.360 different passages 00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:58.960 that deal with 00:13:58.960 --> 00:13:59.539 taking God in 00:13:59.539 --> 00:14:00.179 and giving God out. 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:01.080 God breathes 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:02.639 into Adam the breath of life 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:03.419 and Adam rules 00:14:03.419 --> 00:14:04.259 on God's behalf. 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:05.919 Jesus says, 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:07.220 I am the bread of life. 00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:08.940 And unless you eat 00:14:08.940 --> 00:14:10.100 the flesh of a son of man 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:10.920 and drink his blood, 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:12.820 you have no life in you. 00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:15.580 Paul says, 00:14:15.660 --> 00:14:16.560 Be kind to one another, 00:14:16.700 --> 00:14:17.440 tender hearted, 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:18.500 forgiving one another, 00:14:19.300 --> 00:14:20.580 as God and Christ 00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:21.560 forgave you. 00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:25.660 We take God in 00:14:25.660 --> 00:14:27.340 and give God out. 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:29.259 We find this all over 00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:30.540 the New Testament 00:14:30.540 --> 00:14:31.560 and it becomes imperative 00:14:31.560 --> 00:14:32.480 for Christians. 00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:34.340 It's not just that we 00:14:34.340 --> 00:14:35.660 give out what we take in, 00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:36.399 but there are certain things 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:37.539 we should take in 00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:38.259 and therefore should 00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:39.339 give out. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:41.939 Let's talk a little bit 00:14:41.939 --> 00:14:42.600 about forgiveness. 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:44.459 Some of you will know 00:14:44.459 --> 00:14:45.240 Matthew 18. 00:14:46.839 --> 00:14:48.600 Peter is talking to Jesus. 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.579 How many times 00:14:49.579 --> 00:14:50.679 should I forgive my brother? 00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:51.699 He's just received 00:14:51.699 --> 00:14:53.179 Jesus' teaching 00:14:53.179 --> 00:14:53.899 about forgiveness, 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:55.159 which really puts 00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:55.839 the expectation 00:14:55.839 --> 00:14:57.399 through the roof. 00:14:57.839 --> 00:14:58.219 So Peter says, 00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:58.759 How many times 00:14:58.759 --> 00:14:59.639 do I need to do that? 00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:02.000 Seven times? 00:15:02.659 --> 00:15:04.220 The total number 00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:04.959 is definitely better 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:06.060 than the three 00:15:06.060 --> 00:15:06.700 that the Jews 00:15:06.700 --> 00:15:07.940 were naming. 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:09.340 About three times, 00:15:09.420 --> 00:15:09.940 seven times, 00:15:10.040 --> 00:15:10.280 Jesus. 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:12.000 Jesus says, 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:13.060 77 times. 00:15:13.400 --> 00:15:13.960 He then tells 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:14.639 a parable about 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:15.860 a king and two servants. 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:18.820 The king forgives 00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:19.780 or hardens 00:15:19.780 --> 00:15:20.259 the debt 00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:21.200 of one of his servants. 00:15:21.300 --> 00:15:21.980 Now this servant 00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:22.600 owed 00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:25.379 10,000 talents. 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:27.440 And we think 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:27.980 that a talent 00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:28.460 was about 00:15:28.460 --> 00:15:29.879 20 years wages 00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:30.620 for a labor. 00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:31.780 20 years wages. 00:15:31.920 --> 00:15:32.340 So we're talking 00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:34.700 200,000 years worth 00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:36.019 of accumulated debt. 00:15:37.180 --> 00:15:38.440 It's an unpayable amount. 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:39.240 It's meant to be 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:39.879 unrealistic. 00:15:42.800 --> 00:15:43.560 And so the servant 00:15:43.560 --> 00:15:44.200 begs the king 00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:45.040 to let him try 00:15:45.040 --> 00:15:45.720 to pay it off 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.220 nonetheless. 00:15:46.660 --> 00:15:47.300 And the king says, 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:47.720 You know what? 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.300 The debt 00:15:48.300 --> 00:15:49.500 is forgiven. 00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:50.420 The debt is forgiven. 00:15:52.040 --> 00:15:52.740 And what does 00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:53.580 that servant do? 00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:55.259 Well, he goes 00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:55.680 and finds 00:15:55.680 --> 00:15:56.379 one of his own 00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:57.240 workers. 00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:59.360 And this man 00:15:59.360 --> 00:15:59.840 owes him 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:01.440 100 denarii. 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:03.759 Now a denarii 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:04.740 is about 00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:05.460 a day's wage. 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:06.379 Right? 00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:07.100 So he's got 00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:08.080 a few months 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:08.779 of back bills. 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:10.100 Right? 00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:10.700 Completely, 00:16:11.060 --> 00:16:11.620 I'd say, 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:12.580 fairly realistic 00:16:12.580 --> 00:16:13.139 for some amount 00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:13.480 of time. 00:16:13.539 --> 00:16:14.120 And he could say, 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:15.379 Let me work this off. 00:16:15.659 --> 00:16:15.840 Okay? 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:18.759 And what does 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:19.879 the senior servant do? 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:22.440 He doesn't just deny it. 00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:23.240 He chokes him. 00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:24.779 He chokes the man 00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:25.680 and demands 00:16:25.680 --> 00:16:26.700 repayment. 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:29.180 But this servant, 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:29.440 too, 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:29.840 says, 00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:30.659 Have patience. 00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:33.360 He begs for forgiveness 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:34.259 or pardon. 00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:35.019 Well, not even that. 00:16:35.080 --> 00:16:35.879 He begs for a chance 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:36.600 to pay him back. 00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:37.899 I'll pay. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:40.720 But the servant's 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:41.980 thrown into jail. 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:42.659 There's no forgiveness. 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:43.820 There's no pardon. 00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:44.620 Now if you think 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:46.259 that that's harsh 00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:47.000 and unreasonable 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:48.799 way to treat this 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:49.519 man 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:50.220 who 00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:51.399 owes him 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:52.600 100 denarii, 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:53.779 then you'd be right. 00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:55.159 You'd be exactly right. 00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:56.940 Even if 00:16:56.940 --> 00:16:57.980 that was some sort of 00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:59.360 within the law, 00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:00.560 it was the custom 00:17:00.560 --> 00:17:01.740 and so on. 00:17:02.760 --> 00:17:04.140 What really bothers us 00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:05.100 about that story 00:17:05.100 --> 00:17:07.660 is that it's mean 00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:08.259 and cruel 00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:09.140 and ungrateful 00:17:09.140 --> 00:17:10.539 in light of the fact 00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:11.180 that that servant 00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:11.960 has been forgiven 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:13.539 and has been forgiven 00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:14.980 so much. 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.820 And the king 00:17:17.820 --> 00:17:18.340 in the story 00:17:18.340 --> 00:17:18.799 thinks 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:20.519 that it's also 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.059 not okay. 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:22.420 And he also thinks 00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:23.320 that the senior servant 00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:24.379 hasn't understood 00:17:24.379 --> 00:17:25.159 forgiveness 00:17:25.159 --> 00:17:26.059 correctly, 00:17:26.159 --> 00:17:26.639 that he hasn't 00:17:26.639 --> 00:17:27.319 taken it in, 00:17:27.379 --> 00:17:28.740 that he hasn't 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:29.240 fully 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:31.740 taken it on board, 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:34.059 taken it apart, 00:17:34.159 --> 00:17:34.740 and he's right. 00:17:36.679 --> 00:17:37.500 Forgiveness may be 00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:38.220 the greatest gift 00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:38.700 of God, 00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.319 but it shouldn't 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:40.439 be taken lightly. 00:17:42.439 --> 00:17:43.200 We should take care 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:44.319 to absorb the blessings 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:45.519 and the greatness 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:46.939 of God 00:17:46.939 --> 00:17:48.259 and have those 00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:48.740 things God 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:49.339 in our life. 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:52.119 Be kind to one another, 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:52.899 tenderhearted, 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:54.019 forgiving one another 00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:55.359 as God and Christ 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:56.299 forgave you. 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:58.059 Christ is the pattern 00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:58.980 for our lives. 00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:01.059 And his forgiveness 00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:02.380 is one of the 00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:03.299 principal parts. 00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:07.240 The psalmist spends 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:08.160 a great deal of time 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:09.299 giving God out, 00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:10.480 extolling God, 00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:11.900 praising him 00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:12.700 for his wondrous works, 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:13.539 naming some of his 00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:13.860 mercies, 00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:14.480 and so on. 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:16.559 He's talking about God, 00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:17.339 he's telling us 00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:18.240 who God is, 00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:18.740 and so on. 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:21.599 But you can already 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:22.880 tell that something 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:23.740 else underlies 00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.500 these words. 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:25.599 He's not just 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:26.740 saying them. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.519 He's talking based 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:29.099 on something. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:29.960 I think something 00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:31.599 is an encounter. 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.240 It's an encounter 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.119 with God. 00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:35.980 If we have a look 00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:36.960 at verse 8, 00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:40.019 the Lord is gracious 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:40.599 and merciful, 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:42.940 slow to anger 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:43.740 and abounding 00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:44.819 in steadfast love. 00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:46.000 The Lord is good 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:46.559 to all, 00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:48.279 and his mercy 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:49.420 is over all 00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:50.180 that he has made. 00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:51.799 Note some of these words, 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:52.500 his mercy is over 00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.180 all that he has made. 00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:53.740 Verse 11, 00:18:53.819 --> 00:18:55.240 the saint shall speak 00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:56.359 of the glory 00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:57.099 of your kingdom 00:18:57.099 --> 00:18:58.299 and tell of your 00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:58.859 power 00:18:58.859 --> 00:19:00.379 to make known 00:19:00.379 --> 00:19:00.899 to the children 00:19:00.899 --> 00:19:01.299 of men 00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:02.180 your mighty deeds 00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:03.519 and the glorious 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:04.159 splendor 00:19:04.159 --> 00:19:05.460 of your kingdom. 00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:09.879 I think the psalms 00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:10.359 and those who 00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:11.119 are saying this song, 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.659 and even many of us 00:19:12.659 --> 00:19:13.139 here will have 00:19:13.139 --> 00:19:14.079 a reference point 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:14.720 for these sorts 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.200 of things. 00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:15.819 The mercy, 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.159 the glory, 00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:18.980 the power, 00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:19.779 the splendor, 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:20.440 the mighty deeds 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:20.940 of God. 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:22.319 Even, 00:19:22.419 --> 00:19:23.159 or maybe most of all, 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:24.000 God's kingdom. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:27.000 If you read on 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:27.480 through the final 00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:28.259 third of the psalm, 00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:28.920 the last few verses, 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:29.680 the list only gets 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:29.960 longer. 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:30.779 God's generosity, 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.660 his responses, 00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:32.640 his presence, 00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:33.500 his protection. 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.900 You satisfy the desire 00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:36.880 of every living thing. 00:19:37.579 --> 00:19:38.279 The Lord is near 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:39.319 to all who call on him, 00:19:39.380 --> 00:19:40.319 to all who call on him 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:40.799 in truth. 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:43.240 He fulfills the desire 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:44.299 of those who fear him. 00:19:44.380 --> 00:19:45.720 He also hears them cry 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:47.220 and saves them. 00:19:47.220 --> 00:19:49.420 The Lord preserves 00:19:49.420 --> 00:19:50.860 all who love him. 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.740 These words are about 00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.860 an encounter with God 00:19:54.860 --> 00:19:55.559 because words, 00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:56.620 even words in the Bible, 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.880 are not God themselves. 00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:58.220 Now, 00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:00.019 I know around here 00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:00.779 and I think we rightly 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:02.360 have a close identification 00:20:02.360 --> 00:20:03.620 with the Bible, 00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:04.360 with God's words 00:20:04.360 --> 00:20:05.360 and with God himself. 00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:06.779 They can't really be 00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:07.380 separated because 00:20:07.380 --> 00:20:08.160 they came from God. 00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:11.039 But we can study the Bible 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:12.480 and not know God. 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:13.839 And so there's some 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:14.759 difference going on. 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:18.380 And what the Bible 00:20:18.380 --> 00:20:18.900 should be doing 00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:20.279 is drawing us nearer 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:20.779 to God, 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:21.500 the person, 00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:23.079 God the Lord. 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:24.400 They point us to God. 00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:25.299 They tell us about God. 00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:26.759 They draw us nearer 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:27.579 and closer to him. 00:20:28.100 --> 00:20:29.000 They even make demands 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:29.480 with God. 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:32.000 But we must encounter 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.299 the person of God. 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:35.960 It refers to the opposite 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:36.839 as the dead letter. 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:38.779 The dead letter. 00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:42.460 Let me finish with a few 00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:44.299 of the primary encounters 00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:45.640 from the Bible. 00:20:46.360 --> 00:20:47.140 In the Old Testament, 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:48.180 the main encounter 00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:49.000 for the people of God 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.200 was the Exodus. 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:53.900 We cite the Ten Commandments 00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:55.360 here right in the middle. 00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:57.019 And they begin with this. 00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:58.100 I am the Lord your God 00:20:58.100 --> 00:20:59.620 who brought you out 00:20:59.620 --> 00:21:00.600 of the land of Egypt. 00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:02.579 It's almost like a tagline. 00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:04.079 That's how God 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:05.120 names himself. 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.240 Dozens of times 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.460 this phrase occurs. 00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:09.339 Who took you out 00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:10.039 of the land of Egypt? 00:21:10.140 --> 00:21:11.880 The Lord who brought you up 00:21:11.880 --> 00:21:13.059 out of Egypt. 00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:13.779 And so on. 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:16.619 It's cited in all sorts 00:21:16.619 --> 00:21:17.139 of contexts. 00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:18.599 In preparation for battle, 00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:19.539 I'm the Lord who took you 00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:20.399 out of the land of Egypt. 00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.139 Now therefore, 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:23.519 go and fight. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.960 It's cited as the meaning 00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:26.700 or significance 00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:27.779 of festivals. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:28.920 Remember your time in Egypt, 00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:30.119 out of which I brought you. 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:33.659 It's a justification for loss. 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:36.179 It's the basis of confidence 00:21:36.179 --> 00:21:37.939 that God will act now again. 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:39.919 It's a definitive 00:21:39.919 --> 00:21:41.399 historical reference point 00:21:41.399 --> 00:21:42.959 through which people 00:21:42.959 --> 00:21:44.179 can understand their past. 00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.559 It's an identifier 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.500 for the Lord himself. 00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:48.419 It's like an extension 00:21:48.419 --> 00:21:49.179 of his name. 00:21:51.379 --> 00:21:52.939 And it serves as a contrast 00:21:52.939 --> 00:21:53.619 to the lack 00:21:53.619 --> 00:21:54.779 of people's faithfulness. 00:21:55.379 --> 00:21:56.359 God had been so faithful 00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:56.859 to them, 00:21:57.719 --> 00:21:59.739 yet they are so unfaithful. 00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.640 To him. 00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:04.200 The Exodus, 00:22:04.380 --> 00:22:05.440 God taking the people, 00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:06.640 delivering them out of Egypt, 00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:08.579 is the definitive mercy 00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:09.460 that the Lord showed 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.700 in the Old Testament, 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:11.480 in the Old Testament. 00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:14.140 For the New Testament, 00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:15.380 it's really the whole 00:22:15.380 --> 00:22:16.759 of salvation in Christ. 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:18.519 That's the primary event. 00:22:18.620 --> 00:22:19.380 But I think we can say 00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:20.000 particularly, 00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:21.059 and in parallel 00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:21.779 with the Exodus, 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:23.660 it's a rescue from sin, 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:25.200 deliverance from the power 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:26.279 of sin. 00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:29.339 In Matthew, 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:32.279 we are told that 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:34.000 she will bear a son, 00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:35.240 and you shall call 00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:36.079 his name Jesus, 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:37.779 for he will save 00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:39.279 his people from their sins. 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.940 Or the words in John, 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:42.460 behold, 00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:43.740 the Lamb of God, 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.359 John's looking at Jesus, 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:45.740 behold, 00:22:45.859 --> 00:22:46.839 the Lamb of God 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:48.059 who takes away 00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:49.480 the sin of the world. 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:52.779 In Hebrews, 00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:54.380 Jesus was offered once 00:22:54.380 --> 00:22:56.039 to bear the sins 00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:56.860 of many. 00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:58.240 Now this could go on 00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:58.740 and on. 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:01.319 Liberated from bondage 00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:01.860 to Egypt. 00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:04.380 Then goes from 00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:05.440 liberation 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:07.279 from sin. 00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:13.579 This is so much 00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.620 of Christ's encounters 00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:15.140 with people, 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.420 how he deals with sin. 00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:18.320 Sometimes the outright 00:23:18.320 --> 00:23:19.080 forgives people. 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.560 Sometimes he 00:23:20.560 --> 00:23:22.420 reverses the consequences 00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:22.960 of sin. 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:25.340 And sometimes he just 00:23:25.340 --> 00:23:26.640 invades people's lives 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.039 and gives them 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.820 a little taste 00:23:27.820 --> 00:23:29.039 of what life 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:29.800 would be like 00:23:29.800 --> 00:23:31.340 without all the power 00:23:31.340 --> 00:23:31.740 of sin. 00:23:31.800 --> 00:23:32.600 That's always pushing 00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:34.360 on against us. 00:23:36.320 --> 00:23:37.120 You will have 00:23:37.120 --> 00:23:37.880 your own experience 00:23:37.880 --> 00:23:38.640 with this. 00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:39.440 Amen. 00:23:40.580 --> 00:23:41.440 And we'll never know 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:42.019 anyone greater 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:42.940 than Christ 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:43.980 who takes away 00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:44.660 the sin of the world. 00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:49.519 Psalm 145 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:50.160 wants us to have 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:51.240 a bona fide encounter 00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:53.400 with the triune God 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:54.340 and it does its part 00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:55.100 by telling us 00:23:55.100 --> 00:23:56.200 great is the Lord. 00:23:58.080 --> 00:23:58.519 And we'll have 00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.460 a collection of ways 00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.060 to do so. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:00.440 Mercy, 00:24:00.620 --> 00:24:01.060 generosity, 00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:01.759 response, 00:24:02.060 --> 00:24:02.420 presence, 00:24:02.560 --> 00:24:03.000 protection, 00:24:03.600 --> 00:24:04.039 power, 00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:05.160 and splendor. 00:24:06.840 --> 00:24:07.519 One of the greatest 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.340 things is the forgiveness 00:24:08.340 --> 00:24:08.900 of sin 00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:10.779 and new life 00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:11.560 in Christ. 00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:14.779 God is delighted 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.400 for us to live 00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:16.220 a life of perspective. 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:17.519 A life of full heart 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:17.960 and praise. 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:19.440 A life overwhelmed 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.420 with God's majesty 00:24:20.420 --> 00:24:21.360 and goodness. 00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:23.759 That kind of response 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.740 comes from an encounter 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.720 with God himself, 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:27.100 especially his mercies. 00:24:28.620 --> 00:24:29.259 And so we take 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:30.100 whatever harm, 00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:30.779 despair, 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:31.519 sin we bring, 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.539 even tonight, 00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:35.279 and all the consequences 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:35.740 of sin. 00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:36.720 These are opportunities 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:37.539 to call out 00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:38.480 for the mercies 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:39.360 of God. 00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:43.920 To behold God 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:44.400 and everything 00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:45.720 is called 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.340 the perspective. 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:48.220 Let us pray. 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.799 00:24:48.799 --> 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