WEBVTT

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 Heavenly Father, we long to see

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 your name exalted

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 and the pride of man humbled.

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 And that's the aim of this psalm.

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 So Lord,

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 we pray that you would

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 humble us and bring us down so low

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 to a point where we accurately

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 assess who we are

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 in light of how great you are.

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 So that in our humility, in our

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 emptiness,

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 you might exalt us,

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 you might fill us,

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 you might be all in all.

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 That you might finally receive the glory

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 that is due to your name in our lives.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Psalm 127, verses 1 to 5.

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 Unless the Lord builds the house,

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 those who build it labor in vain.

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 Unless the Lord watches over the city,

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 the watchman stays awake in vain.

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 It is in vain that you rise up early

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 and go lay to rest,

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 eating the bread of anxious toil.

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 For he gives to his beloved sleep.

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 Behold,

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 children are a heritage from the Lord,

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 the fruit of the womb,

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 a reward.

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 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

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 are the children of one's youth.

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 Blessed is the man

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 who fills his quiver with them.

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 He shall not be put to shame

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 when he speaks with his enemies

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 in the gate.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 There's a famous saying

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 that you guys may have heard of.

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 It says,

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 Man proposes,

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 but the Lord disposes.

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 It's a famous translation

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 of a Latin phrase

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 that Thomas DeCempis

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 made famous through his book,

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 The Imitation of Christ.

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 The Imitation of Christ.

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 It's really a distillation

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 of Proverbs 19, 21,

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 which many of you are familiar with.

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 Many are the plans

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 in the mind of a man,

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 but it is the purpose of the Lord

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 that will stand.

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 Because there is a widespread illusion

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 among humankind

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 that we are masters of our own fate.

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 But the truth is that we control

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 an infinitesimally small fraction,

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 a small fraction of the myriad factors

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 in life, in the world,

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 in society,

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 and around us

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 that affect us,

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 influence us.

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 In fact,

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 we are not in control at all

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 if we really reflect on that reality.

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 And Psalm 127

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 is a timely reminder of that,

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 that we should engage

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 all of our endeavors

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 with conscious dependence on the Lord.

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 The first two verses,

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 the first trophy,

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 talks about the vanity

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 of self-sufficiency.

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 And then verses three to five

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 talk about the blessedness

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 of God dependency.

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 So let's look at verses one to two.

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 First,

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 it repeats the phrase

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 in vain three times.

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 Unless the Lord builds the house,

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 those who build it labor in vain.

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 Unless the Lord watches over the city,

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 the watchman stays awake in vain.

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 It is in vain that you rise up early

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 and go late to rest,

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 eating the bread of anxious toil,

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 for he gives to his beloved sleep.

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 The word vanity here

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 means worthlessness

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 or futility,

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 that it's futile,

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 that it is for naught,

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 it's a waste

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 to engage in these activities

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 apart from the Lord's superintendence.

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 First,

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 it says,

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 unless the Lord builds the house,

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 those who build it labor in vain.

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 The Hebrew word for house

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 is often used in scripture

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 to refer to God's temple,

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 the house of God.

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 And for a number of reasons,

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 I think that's the original context

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 in which this psalm was composed.

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 And I think it had the house

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 and the household of God

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 in view at first.

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 First,

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 if you look at

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 the subtitle of the psalm,

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 we know that it belongs

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 to a collection

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 that we've been in

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 for a few months now,

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 the Songs of Ascent,

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 Psalms 120 to 134.

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 The consistent theme

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 of all the psalms

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 in this collection,

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 Songs of Ascent,

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 is that it captures

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 a longing

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 for Jerusalem

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 and for God's temple.

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 It depicts

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 this metaphorical

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 ascent

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 toward the dwelling place

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 of God.

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 And secondly,

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 the rest of the subtitle

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 says,

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 of Solomon.

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 So,

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 this means

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 either that Solomon

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 composed the psalm

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 or that the psalm

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 deals with the circumstances

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 that are related

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 to Solomon.

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 And verse 1

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 can be referring

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 to the time

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 when Solomon,

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 of course,

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 was building up

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 Jerusalem

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 and constructing

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 the temple of God,

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 the house of God.

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 And then,

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 thirdly,

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 verse 2 says,

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 the Lord gives

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 to his beloved

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 sleep.

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 The phrase,

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 his beloved,

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 is likely

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 a reference

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 to Solomon

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 because we know

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 from 2 Samuel

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 chapter 12

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 verse 24

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 and 25

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 that the Lord's

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 beloved

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 is Solomon's

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 nickname.

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 It says

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 in that passage,

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 in that verse,

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 2 Samuel 12,

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 24,

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 25,

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 the Lord loved

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 Solomon

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 and sent the message

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 by Nathan the prophet.

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 So,

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 he called his name,

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 Solomon's name,

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 Jedediah

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 because of the Lord.

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 Jedediah means,

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 literally,

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 the Lord's beloved.

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 It's the same word

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 that's used here

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 in this psalm.

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 So,

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 the subtitle

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 gives us a clue

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 to that,

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 of Solomon.

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 So,

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 if Solomon wrote

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 Psalm 127

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 as the subtitle

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 seems to suggest

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 or if that's

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 the original background

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 in which the psalm

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 was written,

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 Solomon understood

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 that unless

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 the Lord

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 builds his house,

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 unless the Lord

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 watches over his city,

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 even the diligent

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 construction efforts

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 by the greatest

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 architects

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 and engineers

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 and craftsmen,

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 builders,

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 even the vigilant

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 defense of

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 the bravest

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 military

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 would be for nothing.

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 It would all be waste.

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 But this doesn't mean

00:06:49.859 --> 00:06:51.019
 that the psalm

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 only applies

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 to Solomon's

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 original context.

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 We know that

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 this poem

00:06:54.439 --> 00:06:55.180
 was included

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 in the Psalter

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 for God's people

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 to use

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 in corporate worship

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 for generations

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 to come.

00:07:00.439 --> 00:07:00.699
 So,

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 we know that's not

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 the only context

00:07:02.039 --> 00:07:02.859
 in which it applies.

00:07:03.399 --> 00:07:04.139
 The word house

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 is generic.

00:07:05.299 --> 00:07:05.959
 It can refer

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 not only to God's temple,

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 but it can also refer

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 to people's houses,

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 literal,

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 physical houses,

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 or to their households,

00:07:12.620 --> 00:07:13.300
 their families.

00:07:14.259 --> 00:07:15.500
 And the rest of the psalm

00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:16.519
 does seem to apply

00:07:16.519 --> 00:07:17.300
 the phrase more

00:07:17.300 --> 00:07:18.840
 generically in that way,

00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:20.000
 to build a house

00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:21.980
 in a metaphorical sense

00:07:21.980 --> 00:07:22.939
 of building one's family

00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:23.400
 as well.

00:07:23.980 --> 00:07:24.500
 And so then,

00:07:24.540 --> 00:07:25.220
 we can apply this

00:07:25.220 --> 00:07:26.040
 to our own lives

00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:26.960
 in a number of ways,

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 and we could ask ourselves

00:07:28.060 --> 00:07:28.780
 the questions

00:07:28.780 --> 00:07:29.960
 like this,

00:07:29.959 --> 00:07:31.739
 what is the house

00:07:31.739 --> 00:07:33.299
 that you are laboring

00:07:33.299 --> 00:07:34.500
 to build in your life?

00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:38.019
 What is the city

00:07:38.019 --> 00:07:40.560
 that you are watching

00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:41.459
 over in your life?

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 What do you worry

00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:46.299
 about in life?

00:07:49.399 --> 00:07:50.359
 However you answer

00:07:50.359 --> 00:07:50.899
 that question,

00:07:51.019 --> 00:07:51.560
 if the Lord

00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:52.819
 is not in the picture,

00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:55.359
 this psalm is telling us

00:07:55.359 --> 00:07:56.099
 that it's in vain,

00:07:56.219 --> 00:07:57.219
 it's futile,

00:07:57.659 --> 00:07:58.000
 worthless.

00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:00.759
 If we examine our lives,

00:08:00.860 --> 00:08:03.279
 I think often

00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:04.759
 we substitute

00:08:04.759 --> 00:08:05.720
 our own names

00:08:05.720 --> 00:08:07.000
 in the place of the Lord.

00:08:07.300 --> 00:08:08.459
 If you look at verse 1,

00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:12.139
 unless Sean

00:08:12.139 --> 00:08:12.899
 builds the house,

00:08:13.459 --> 00:08:14.180
 those who build it

00:08:14.180 --> 00:08:14.939
 labor in vain.

00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:16.240
 Unless Sean

00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:17.100
 watches over the city,

00:08:17.180 --> 00:08:17.660
 the watchman

00:08:17.660 --> 00:08:18.819
 stays awake in vain.

00:08:20.279 --> 00:08:21.620
 That's what I do sometimes

00:08:21.620 --> 00:08:22.560
 in my sinfulness,

00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:22.980
 right?

00:08:23.079 --> 00:08:23.839
 What arrogance

00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:26.259
 and self-importance

00:08:26.259 --> 00:08:28.659
 we are obsessed

00:08:28.659 --> 00:08:29.480
 with how vital

00:08:29.480 --> 00:08:30.039
 we are

00:08:30.039 --> 00:08:30.860
 to our families

00:08:30.860 --> 00:08:31.879
 and to our society,

00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:32.899
 but the Lord says,

00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:33.179
 no,

00:08:33.259 --> 00:08:34.939
 that's not the truth.

00:08:35.059 --> 00:08:36.120
 Unless the Lord

00:08:36.120 --> 00:08:37.639
 builds the house,

00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:38.799
 those who build it

00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:39.519
 labor in vain.

00:08:40.259 --> 00:08:41.120
 Unless the Lord

00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:42.039
 watches over the city,

00:08:42.120 --> 00:08:42.620
 the watchman

00:08:42.620 --> 00:08:43.519
 stays awake in vain.

00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:44.299
 Unless the Lord

00:08:44.299 --> 00:08:45.279
 builds the church,

00:08:46.340 --> 00:08:47.379
 all pastors

00:08:47.379 --> 00:08:48.159
 labor in vain.

00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:51.079
 we are not in control

00:08:51.079 --> 00:08:52.019
 of our own lives.

00:08:53.620 --> 00:08:55.039
 Our strict diet,

00:08:55.419 --> 00:08:56.319
 exercise regimen

00:08:56.319 --> 00:08:56.919
 for our health

00:08:56.919 --> 00:08:57.480
 and well-being

00:08:57.480 --> 00:08:58.459
 can be derailed

00:08:58.459 --> 00:08:59.259
 by cancer

00:08:59.259 --> 00:09:00.279
 or a car wreck.

00:09:01.079 --> 00:09:02.559
 Our disciplined study

00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:03.579
 and diligent work

00:09:03.579 --> 00:09:04.719
 for our career success

00:09:04.719 --> 00:09:05.600
 can be derailed

00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:06.439
 by a recession.

00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:08.899
 Our best laid plans

00:09:08.899 --> 00:09:09.699
 can be derailed

00:09:09.699 --> 00:09:10.459
 by a pandemic.

00:09:11.819 --> 00:09:12.839
 And these are only

00:09:12.839 --> 00:09:14.159
 the most dramatic

00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:15.139
 examples, right?

00:09:15.199 --> 00:09:16.579
 There are countless ways

00:09:16.580 --> 00:09:17.780
 to demonstrate

00:09:17.780 --> 00:09:18.840
 that we are simply

00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:19.740
 not in control

00:09:19.740 --> 00:09:20.520
 of our own lives.

00:09:22.180 --> 00:09:22.700
 Now,

00:09:22.800 --> 00:09:23.400
 I'm not saying

00:09:23.400 --> 00:09:24.940
 forget about these things

00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:25.340
 altogether.

00:09:25.639 --> 00:09:27.139
 We should work diligently.

00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:28.379
 We should take care

00:09:28.379 --> 00:09:28.940
 of ourselves.

00:09:29.100 --> 00:09:30.379
 We should be prudent.

00:09:31.680 --> 00:09:31.980
 I mean,

00:09:32.020 --> 00:09:32.820
 eating Oreos

00:09:32.820 --> 00:09:34.300
 and drinking Coca-Cola

00:09:34.300 --> 00:09:35.040
 every day,

00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:36.020
 trusting that God's

00:09:36.020 --> 00:09:36.879
 going to keep you healthy

00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:38.120
 is not faith.

00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:39.060
 That's presumption,

00:09:39.500 --> 00:09:39.759
 right?

00:09:41.379 --> 00:09:42.520
 That's not entrusting

00:09:42.520 --> 00:09:43.660
 ourselves to God's

00:09:43.660 --> 00:09:44.660
 purposes and priorities.

00:09:44.660 --> 00:09:46.180
 That's co-opting God

00:09:46.179 --> 00:09:47.000
 for our purposes

00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:48.779
 and priorities, right?

00:09:48.859 --> 00:09:49.259
 Similarly,

00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:51.000
 being irresponsible

00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:52.139
 during a pandemic

00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:53.559
 and attending

00:09:53.559 --> 00:09:54.819
 packed rock concerts

00:09:54.819 --> 00:09:55.919
 and playing flag football

00:09:55.919 --> 00:09:56.719
 with a whole bunch

00:09:56.719 --> 00:09:57.120
 of people,

00:09:57.239 --> 00:09:58.500
 presuming upon God's

00:09:58.500 --> 00:09:59.639
 extraordinary protection

00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:01.219
 while neglecting

00:10:01.219 --> 00:10:02.319
 the ordinary means

00:10:02.319 --> 00:10:02.899
 of protection

00:10:02.899 --> 00:10:03.739
 that he has given us

00:10:03.739 --> 00:10:04.620
 is not faith

00:10:04.620 --> 00:10:06.079
 but presumption.

00:10:07.359 --> 00:10:08.379
 It's difficult

00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:09.539
 to balance this sometimes

00:10:09.539 --> 00:10:10.519
 because presumption

00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:11.659
 often masquerades

00:10:11.659 --> 00:10:12.379
 as faith

00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:13.799
 and faithlessness

00:10:13.799 --> 00:10:15.120
 often masquerades

00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:15.819
 as wisdom.

00:10:16.179 --> 00:10:19.679
 And Numbers 13-14

00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:20.839
 give us a good example

00:10:20.839 --> 00:10:22.319
 give us good examples

00:10:22.319 --> 00:10:22.819
 of both.

00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:24.799
 After the Israelite spies

00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:25.639
 returned from

00:10:25.639 --> 00:10:26.620
 surveying the land

00:10:26.620 --> 00:10:27.099
 of Canaan,

00:10:27.620 --> 00:10:28.439
 the land that the Lord

00:10:28.439 --> 00:10:29.500
 had promised to give them,

00:10:29.599 --> 00:10:30.319
 they bring a

00:10:30.319 --> 00:10:31.259
 discouraging report

00:10:31.259 --> 00:10:32.379
 saying,

00:10:32.739 --> 00:10:33.179
 all the people

00:10:33.179 --> 00:10:33.939
 we saw in it

00:10:33.939 --> 00:10:34.959
 are of great height

00:10:34.959 --> 00:10:36.179
 and there we saw

00:10:36.179 --> 00:10:36.819
 the Nephilim,

00:10:37.019 --> 00:10:37.859
 the sons of Anak

00:10:37.859 --> 00:10:38.939
 who come from the Nephilim

00:10:38.939 --> 00:10:40.399
 and we seem to ourselves

00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:41.299
 like grasshoppers

00:10:41.299 --> 00:10:42.500
 and so we seem to them.

00:10:43.219 --> 00:10:44.299
 So think about it

00:10:44.299 --> 00:10:45.399
 from a worldly perspective.

00:10:46.099 --> 00:10:46.979
 Would you want to go

00:10:46.979 --> 00:10:47.919
 fighting against

00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:51.079
 a society full of

00:10:51.079 --> 00:10:53.099
 LeBron Jameses?

00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:55.639
 Would you want to fight

00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:57.439
 against a society

00:10:57.439 --> 00:10:58.679
 full of Olympic athletes

00:10:58.679 --> 00:10:59.839
 even when they

00:10:59.839 --> 00:11:00.379
 outnumber you?

00:11:00.439 --> 00:11:01.339
 That makes no sense.

00:11:01.539 --> 00:11:02.299
 That is stupid.

00:11:03.099 --> 00:11:05.000
 That is worldly-wise foolish.

00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:07.120
 And so at that point

00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:08.219
 people lose courage

00:11:08.219 --> 00:11:09.339
 and rebel against the Lord

00:11:09.339 --> 00:11:10.000
 saying it would have been

00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:10.500
 better for them

00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:11.299
 to stay in Egypt

00:11:11.299 --> 00:11:13.000
 but Joshua and Caleb

00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:14.079
 challenged them saying,

00:11:14.719 --> 00:11:15.439
 the land which we

00:11:15.439 --> 00:11:15.939
 passed through

00:11:15.939 --> 00:11:16.639
 to spy it out

00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:17.899
 is an exceedingly good land.

00:11:17.979 --> 00:11:19.079
 If the Lord delights in us

00:11:19.079 --> 00:11:19.759
 He will bring us

00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:20.379
 into this land

00:11:20.379 --> 00:11:21.279
 and give it to us.

00:11:21.599 --> 00:11:22.399
 A land that flows

00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:23.179
 with milk and honey.

00:11:23.259 --> 00:11:24.120
 Only do not rebel

00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:24.779
 against the Lord

00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:25.579
 and do not fear

00:11:25.579 --> 00:11:26.519
 the people of the land

00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:28.459
 for they are bred for us.

00:11:29.439 --> 00:11:29.839
 Literally,

00:11:30.039 --> 00:11:30.779
 that's like,

00:11:30.839 --> 00:11:32.579
 I guess that's Hebrew idiom

00:11:32.579 --> 00:11:33.479
 for saying piece of cake.

00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:34.120
 You know,

00:11:34.179 --> 00:11:35.099
 they're bred for us.

00:11:36.059 --> 00:11:36.659
 Their protection

00:11:36.659 --> 00:11:37.839
 is removed from them

00:11:37.839 --> 00:11:39.740
 and the Lord is with us.

00:11:39.799 --> 00:11:40.599
 Do not fear them.

00:11:41.300 --> 00:11:41.980
 Now the people,

00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:42.240
 however,

00:11:42.300 --> 00:11:43.180
 don't listen to Joshua

00:11:43.180 --> 00:11:43.620
 and Caleb

00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:44.399
 and they try instead

00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:45.360
 to stone him to death

00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:46.759
 forcing the Lord

00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:47.399
 to intervene

00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:48.700
 and show up in His glory

00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:49.899
 to put the fear of God

00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:50.920
 back into their hearts.

00:11:51.899 --> 00:11:52.879
 And as a punishment

00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:53.840
 for their faithfulness

00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:54.940
 the Lord decrees

00:11:54.940 --> 00:11:55.940
 that Israel will have to

00:11:55.940 --> 00:11:56.680
 wander the wilderness

00:11:56.680 --> 00:11:57.480
 for 40 years

00:11:57.480 --> 00:11:58.220
 and none of the people

00:11:58.220 --> 00:11:59.159
 who grumbled against Him

00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:00.200
 will enter the promised land.

00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:01.440
 Only their children

00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:03.040
 and Joshua and Caleb

00:12:03.040 --> 00:12:04.040
 who are faithful to Him.

00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:06.220
 And now at that point

00:12:06.220 --> 00:12:07.160
 people regret

00:12:07.160 --> 00:12:08.320
 what they have done

00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:11.320
 and they proceed

00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:12.379
 to march toward battle

00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:13.460
 against the Amalekites

00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:14.240
 and the Canaanites

00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:15.700
 despite the fact

00:12:15.700 --> 00:12:16.220
 that the Lord

00:12:16.220 --> 00:12:18.080
 had already declared

00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:19.240
 that He's no longer

00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:20.720
 with them in battle.

00:12:21.420 --> 00:12:22.280
 And so it says

00:12:22.280 --> 00:12:23.300
 in Numbers 14

00:12:23.300 --> 00:12:24.760
 verses 44 to 45

00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:40.399
 Now this episode

00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:42.600
 is a picture of a contrast

00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:43.899
 between faith

00:12:43.899 --> 00:12:45.019
 and presumption.

00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:46.919
 Joshua and Caleb

00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:47.759
 had faith

00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:49.580
 that God would give them

00:12:49.580 --> 00:12:50.639
 victory in line

00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:51.399
 with His purposes

00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:52.120
 and priorities.

00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:53.100
 The people of Israel

00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:53.740
 on the other hand

00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:54.639
 vacillated between

00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:55.320
 faithlessness

00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:56.299
 and presumption

00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:57.480
 which are actually

00:12:57.480 --> 00:12:58.840
 two sides of the same coin

00:12:58.840 --> 00:13:00.639
 because both have man

00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:01.539
 rather than God

00:13:01.539 --> 00:13:02.379
 at the center

00:13:02.379 --> 00:13:03.399
 of their outlook.

00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:06.639
 Measuring their military strength

00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:08.299
 up against that

00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:09.039
 of the Canaanites

00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:10.340
 and judging their prospect

00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:10.980
 for victory

00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:12.600
 purely in human terms

00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:14.399
 without putting God

00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:15.100
 in the equation

00:13:15.100 --> 00:13:17.399
 and then losing courage

00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:18.279
 and refusing to go up

00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:18.659
 in the battle.

00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:19.899
 That's faithlessness.

00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:22.519
 Of course

00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:23.319
 from the point

00:13:23.319 --> 00:13:25.220
 of worldly wisdom

00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:25.980
 it was stupid

00:13:25.980 --> 00:13:26.419
 and foolish

00:13:26.419 --> 00:13:26.919
 to fight

00:13:26.919 --> 00:13:28.319
 when your strength

00:13:28.319 --> 00:13:28.740
 is small

00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:29.319
 compared to that

00:13:29.319 --> 00:13:29.899
 of your enemies

00:13:29.899 --> 00:13:31.039
 but it's not stupid

00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:33.220
 if God is on your side.

00:13:34.579 --> 00:13:35.120
 Likewise

00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:36.519
 insisting on

00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:37.519
 going up into battle

00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:40.279
 when you are outnumbered

00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:41.899
 and when you don't have

00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:43.500
 God's special assurance

00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:44.299
 of deliverance

00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:46.100
 thinking that you could win

00:13:46.100 --> 00:13:47.100
 that's presumption.

00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:49.120
 we have to avoid both.

00:13:50.340 --> 00:13:51.540
 Now in our area

00:13:51.540 --> 00:13:52.200
 where we live

00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:52.840
 in Cambridge

00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:55.659
 a city full of

00:13:55.659 --> 00:13:56.500
 competent people

00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:57.740
 self-sufficient people

00:13:57.740 --> 00:13:59.240
 we more often find

00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:00.040
 faithlessness

00:14:00.040 --> 00:14:01.180
 masquerading as

00:14:01.180 --> 00:14:02.000
 wisdom.

00:14:02.800 --> 00:14:04.060
 Many people are anxious

00:14:04.060 --> 00:14:04.920
 and fearful

00:14:04.920 --> 00:14:06.519
 because they believe

00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:07.320
 that they are

00:14:07.320 --> 00:14:08.540
 masters of their own fate

00:14:08.540 --> 00:14:10.200
 and that is

00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:11.100
 the truth

00:14:11.100 --> 00:14:12.080
 if you

00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:13.300
 come to grip

00:14:13.300 --> 00:14:13.680
 with it

00:14:13.680 --> 00:14:15.620
 a terrifying possibility

00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:16.320
 if that is true.

00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:17.960
 But verse 2

00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:18.879
 exhorts us otherwise

00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:19.300
 it says

00:14:19.300 --> 00:14:20.379
 it is in vain

00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:21.879
 that you rise up early

00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:23.019
 and go late to rest

00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:24.279
 eating the bread

00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:25.060
 of anxious toil

00:14:25.060 --> 00:14:25.860
 for he gives

00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:27.279
 to his beloved sleep.

00:14:28.040 --> 00:14:29.040
 So let me ask you

00:14:29.040 --> 00:14:30.100
 these questions

00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:31.720
 what keeps you up

00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:32.700
 at night?

00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:35.680
 What preoccupies you

00:14:35.680 --> 00:14:36.580
 with anxiety?

00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:40.940
 maybe it is

00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:41.660
 what people think

00:14:41.660 --> 00:14:42.060
 of you

00:14:42.060 --> 00:14:44.360
 maybe

00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:45.320
 it is

00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:46.580
 concern of

00:14:46.580 --> 00:14:47.400
 keeping yourself

00:14:47.400 --> 00:14:48.620
 and or your family

00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:49.060
 and friends

00:14:49.060 --> 00:14:49.500
 healthy

00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:51.259
 maybe it is

00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:52.000
 making sure

00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:52.560
 that you are

00:14:52.560 --> 00:14:53.200
 getting paid

00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:54.259
 and putting food

00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:54.780
 on the table

00:14:54.780 --> 00:14:56.759
 maybe it is

00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:57.759
 advancing your career

00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:59.060
 being successful

00:14:59.059 --> 00:15:01.339
 you might

00:15:01.339 --> 00:15:04.559
 you know

00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:05.599
 be more careful

00:15:05.599 --> 00:15:06.899
 with sanitary things

00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:07.739
 and social distancing

00:15:07.739 --> 00:15:08.559
 than anybody else

00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:09.000
 in the world

00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:10.519
 you might work

00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:11.299
 more hours

00:15:11.299 --> 00:15:12.139
 than anybody else

00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:12.519
 in the world

00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:13.179
 you might study

00:15:13.179 --> 00:15:13.979
 harder than anybody

00:15:13.979 --> 00:15:14.479
 else in the world

00:15:14.479 --> 00:15:15.019
 you might be more

00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:16.019
 gifted than anybody

00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:16.759
 else in the world

00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.979
 but it is all in vain

00:15:17.979 --> 00:15:19.299
 if the Lord

00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:20.479
 is not with you

00:15:20.479 --> 00:15:21.039
 in your endeavors

00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:24.059
 that is the vanity

00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:25.480
 of self-sufficiency

00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:28.699
 especially for the Christian

00:15:28.699 --> 00:15:33.919
 and then in contrast

00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:35.000
 in verses 3-5

00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:35.959
 the psalmist

00:15:35.959 --> 00:15:36.659
 gives us this picture

00:15:36.659 --> 00:15:37.839
 of the blessedness

00:15:37.839 --> 00:15:39.059
 of God dependency

00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:40.299
 he says

00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:40.899
 behold

00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:43.039
 children are a heritage

00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:43.699
 from the Lord

00:15:43.699 --> 00:15:45.259
 the fruit of the womb

00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:46.000
 a reward

00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:48.959
 notice the contrast

00:15:48.959 --> 00:15:49.559
 in verse

00:15:49.559 --> 00:15:50.620
 between verse 2

00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:51.659
 and verse 3

00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:54.720
 it's described

00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:55.440
 as the bread

00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:56.700
 of anxious toil

00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:58.080
 that we lose sleep over

00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:00.179
 always toiling

00:16:00.179 --> 00:16:02.460
 trying to earn our way

00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:03.779
 towards survival

00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:05.000
 and self-adventment

00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:06.659
 and contrast

00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:07.840
 that with the phrase

00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:08.659
 of verse 3

00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:09.759
 the fruit of the womb

00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.779
 of reward

00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:14.139
 not anxious toil

00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:17.399
 but a reward

00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:19.080
 that God graciously gives

00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:22.240
 and this is the picture

00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:23.440
 of what happens

00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:24.180
 when the Lord

00:16:24.180 --> 00:16:25.220
 builds a house

00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:26.020
 the Lord builds

00:16:26.020 --> 00:16:26.460
 the household

00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:27.940
 children are a heritage

00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:28.920
 through the womb

00:16:28.920 --> 00:16:29.580
 a reward

00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:31.080
 it's given by the Lord

00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:32.440
 not earned

00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:33.860
 by clawing our way

00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.680
 and pulling ourselves

00:16:34.680 --> 00:16:35.259
 up by our own

00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:36.259
 bootstraps

00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:37.960
 and then verse 4

00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:38.300
 continues

00:16:38.299 --> 00:16:53.359
 so the two images

00:16:53.359 --> 00:16:55.000
 of building one's house

00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:55.819
 and one's household

00:16:55.819 --> 00:16:57.699
 and of watching

00:16:57.699 --> 00:16:58.479
 over a city

00:16:58.479 --> 00:16:59.539
 guarding a city

00:16:59.539 --> 00:17:00.939
 in verse 1

00:17:00.939 --> 00:17:01.919
 both of those

00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:03.620
 have their kind of

00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:05.799
 matching sections

00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:07.180
 in verses 3 to 5

00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:08.379
 children are heritage

00:17:08.379 --> 00:17:08.940
 fruit of the womb

00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:09.359
 of reward

00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:11.599
 and our children

00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:13.399
 that we're blessed with

00:17:13.399 --> 00:17:14.579
 when we're in our youth

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.259
 they grow up

00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:16.039
 and are able to

00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:17.159
 stand with us

00:17:17.159 --> 00:17:18.319
 to defend us

00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:20.419
 and to come by our side

00:17:20.419 --> 00:17:21.419
 like arrows

00:17:21.419 --> 00:17:22.500
 in the hand of a warrior

00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:24.619
 this is the city

00:17:24.619 --> 00:17:25.619
 this is the household

00:17:25.619 --> 00:17:27.559
 that is built up securely

00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:28.720
 that is protected

00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:29.700
 by the Lord

00:17:29.700 --> 00:17:31.819
 and that is described

00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:32.879
 not as in vain

00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:34.340
 it's not vanity

00:17:34.340 --> 00:17:35.240
 but rather it is

00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:36.220
 blessedness

00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:39.300
 our own striving

00:17:39.300 --> 00:17:39.780
 and our own

00:17:39.780 --> 00:17:40.140
 and our own

00:17:40.140 --> 00:17:40.820
 self-sufficiency

00:17:40.820 --> 00:17:42.240
 is vanity

00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:43.880
 but our striving

00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:44.520
 in the Lord

00:17:44.520 --> 00:17:45.900
 in God dependency

00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:47.180
 is blessedness

00:17:47.180 --> 00:17:47.800
 verse 5

00:17:47.800 --> 00:17:48.840
 blessed is the man

00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:49.800
 who fills his quiver

00:17:49.800 --> 00:17:50.240
 with them

00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.780
 he shall not be put

00:17:51.780 --> 00:17:52.280
 to shame

00:17:52.280 --> 00:17:53.340
 when he speaks

00:17:53.340 --> 00:17:54.500
 with his enemies

00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.300
 in the gate

00:17:55.300 --> 00:17:56.780
 and

00:17:56.780 --> 00:17:58.820
 and ultimately

00:17:58.820 --> 00:18:00.560
 like all the psalms

00:18:00.560 --> 00:18:01.200
 and like all

00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:02.180
 passages of scripture

00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:03.140
 this is fulfilled

00:18:03.140 --> 00:18:05.519
 in the Lord Jesus

00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:07.560
 who is the

00:18:07.560 --> 00:18:08.779
 who is described

00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:10.539
 in 1 Corinthians

00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:12.259
 as the builder

00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:13.480
 the one

00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:14.299
 who

00:18:14.299 --> 00:18:14.640
 who

00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:15.799
 who builds

00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:16.980
 the household

00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:17.539
 of God

00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:18.140
 ultimately

00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:19.400
 in

00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:19.820
 in the

00:18:19.820 --> 00:18:21.580
 strength of the Lord

00:18:21.580 --> 00:18:22.100
 in the spirit

00:18:22.100 --> 00:18:22.620
 of the Lord

00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:23.580
 and he

00:18:23.580 --> 00:18:24.519
 does everything

00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:24.940
 well

00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:26.220
 and

00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.420
 and he

00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:28.120
 was a picture

00:18:28.120 --> 00:18:29.000
 during his life

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.420
 of being completely

00:18:30.420 --> 00:18:31.680
 entrusted to his father

00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:33.100
 saying and doing

00:18:33.100 --> 00:18:33.980
 only what he saw

00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:34.759
 his father say

00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:35.220
 and do

00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:36.120
 and

00:18:36.120 --> 00:18:36.519
 and in

00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.220
 in perfect

00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:38.640
 example of that

00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.600
 he died on the cross

00:18:39.600 --> 00:18:40.680
 in obedience to the father

00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:43.000
 in perfect submission

00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:44.560
 not

00:18:44.560 --> 00:18:45.900
 not working

00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:46.940
 for the bread

00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:47.840
 of anxious toil

00:18:47.840 --> 00:18:49.240
 but trusting

00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.100
 his father

00:18:50.100 --> 00:18:51.759
 resting in him

00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:53.380
 and out of that

00:18:53.380 --> 00:18:53.779
 came

00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.700
 the fruitful

00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:55.580
 the fruit of the womb

00:18:55.580 --> 00:18:56.160
 a reward

00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:57.860
 the fruit of many children

00:18:57.860 --> 00:18:59.080
 in the household of God

00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:00.619
 all of our salvation

00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:01.799
 and

00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.039
 and

00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:03.119
 and that is what

00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:03.679
 gives us all

00:19:03.679 --> 00:19:04.259
 when we hope

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.359
 that even

00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:06.899
 even

00:19:06.899 --> 00:19:07.839
 when

00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:08.720
 the circumstances

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.279
 in this world

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.039
 are not ideal

00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:10.859
 even when things

00:19:10.859 --> 00:19:11.359
 are not going

00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:12.240
 the way we would like

00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:13.319
 it is

00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:14.439
 God dependency

00:19:14.439 --> 00:19:15.259
 that is blessed

00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:16.579
 not self-sufficiency

00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:17.480
 and

00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.599
 and when we trust in him

00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:19.519
 and live in that way

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.279
 God

00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:21.139
 we

00:19:21.139 --> 00:19:22.000
 our lives too

00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:22.759
 will be fruitful

00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:24.240
 in much the same way

00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:25.199
 Jesus life

00:19:25.199 --> 00:19:25.899
 even though it may have

00:19:25.899 --> 00:19:26.480
 looked like

00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.279
 a tragedy

00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:28.420
 from a worldly

00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:29.059
 point of view

00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:29.779
 was fruitful

00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:31.519
 towards salvation

00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.000
 of many

00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:33.519
 so let's

00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:34.059
 um