WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.459 Of David when he changed his behavior before Abimelech so that he drove him out and he went away. 00:00:09.140 --> 00:00:14.640 I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:20.980 My soul makes its boast in the Lord. Let the humble hear and be glad. 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:27.079 Oh magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together. 00:00:28.440 --> 00:00:33.920 I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:39.719 Those who look to him are radiant and their faces shall never be ashamed. 00:00:40.859 --> 00:00:44.179 This poor man cried and the Lord heard him. 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:46.679 Saved him out of all of his troubles. 00:00:48.119 --> 00:00:53.340 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and delivers them. 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:57.880 Oh taste and see that the Lord is good. 00:00:59.340 --> 00:01:02.120 Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:08.180 Oh fear the Lord you his saints for those who fear him have no lack. 00:01:09.219 --> 00:01:13.980 The young lions suffer want and hunger but those who seek the Lord 00:01:13.980 --> 00:01:15.719 lack no good thing. 00:01:17.460 --> 00:01:19.200 Come old children listen to me. 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:21.460 I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:27.040 What man is there who desires life and loves many good days that he may see good. 00:01:28.320 --> 00:01:32.159 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. 00:01:33.460 --> 00:01:35.200 Turn away from evil and do good. 00:01:35.380 --> 00:01:36.880 Seek peace and pursue it. 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:42.659 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. 00:01:43.579 --> 00:01:46.560 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 00:01:47.259 --> 00:01:49.599 To cut off the memory of them from the earth. 00:01:50.899 --> 00:01:55.840 When the righteous cry for help the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. 00:01:55.840 --> 00:01:59.840 The Lord is near to the broken hearted. 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:02.400 He saves the crushed in spirit. 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:06.040 Many are the afflictions of the righteous. 00:02:06.540 --> 00:02:08.599 But the Lord delivers him out of them all. 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:11.039 He keeps all his bones. 00:02:11.780 --> 00:02:12.879 Not one of them is broken. 00:02:14.340 --> 00:02:15.920 Affliction will slay the wicked. 00:02:16.780 --> 00:02:19.300 And those who hate the righteous will be condemned. 00:02:20.480 --> 00:02:22.900 The Lord redeems the life of his servants. 00:02:22.900 --> 00:02:28.099 None of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:29.360 Amen. 00:02:31.480 --> 00:02:35.159 Well, our study actually begins in 1 Samuel chapter 21. 00:02:35.319 --> 00:02:36.560 Do you want to just turn there quickly? 00:02:37.400 --> 00:02:39.200 1 Samuel chapter 21. 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:46.180 Which is where the context of this particular psalm is found. 00:02:48.219 --> 00:02:50.520 And if I can just quickly fill in some gaps. 00:02:50.599 --> 00:02:52.000 Then we're going to read a portion of it together. 00:02:52.900 --> 00:03:02.280 David, at the end of 1 Samuel 20, was warned by his beloved friend Jonathan, 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:06.759 who is also the son of the current king of Israel, Saul. 00:03:08.140 --> 00:03:14.219 Jonathan has just warned David that Saul, his father, is intent to kill him. 00:03:14.219 --> 00:03:19.120 In fact, he's so intent to kill him that he's just tried to kill his own son, Jonathan, 00:03:19.259 --> 00:03:23.599 for trying to stand in the way and to persuade him away from that. 00:03:24.379 --> 00:03:25.520 So David's on the run. 00:03:26.500 --> 00:03:29.919 And the first place that he goes is to the tabernacle, 00:03:30.099 --> 00:03:33.979 which at this point was in a place called Nob. 00:03:33.979 --> 00:03:38.439 He was forced to leave Gibeah so quickly that he had no provisions with him. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:39.479 He had no food. 00:03:39.579 --> 00:03:40.219 He had no weapons. 00:03:40.419 --> 00:03:41.159 He was all alone. 00:03:41.259 --> 00:03:41.939 He had no people. 00:03:42.620 --> 00:03:45.039 So he stops by the tabernacle of God. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:46.280 He speaks with the priest there. 00:03:46.399 --> 00:03:49.500 He persuades the priest to give him two things. 00:03:49.579 --> 00:03:51.479 The first thing is some food. 00:03:52.239 --> 00:03:53.039 He asks for some bread. 00:03:53.219 --> 00:03:56.099 The only bread that's there is the bread of presence. 00:03:56.099 --> 00:03:57.460 It's the holy bread. 00:03:58.359 --> 00:04:05.459 And David is able to persuade the priest to give him a few loaves of bread from the Lord's table. 00:04:06.280 --> 00:04:09.340 The second thing that David asked for is a weapon. 00:04:10.039 --> 00:04:16.379 He says, is there any weapon at all here that I can take with me for I've had to leave quickly? 00:04:17.639 --> 00:04:19.860 And there was but one weapon there. 00:04:20.219 --> 00:04:21.740 And it was no ordinary weapon. 00:04:21.860 --> 00:04:23.159 It was an extraordinary one. 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:29.120 It was the sword of Goliath of Gath that was there in the tabernacle. 00:04:29.200 --> 00:04:32.260 And of course, David hears that and he says, oh, I'll take it. 00:04:32.460 --> 00:04:34.360 There's no sword like that one, he says. 00:04:36.440 --> 00:04:38.820 And that's where the story gets really interesting. 00:04:40.140 --> 00:04:44.400 Look with me at 1 Samuel 21 verses 10 to 12. 00:04:45.400 --> 00:04:49.920 And David rose from there and fled that day from Saul. 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:55.319 And he went to Achish, the king of Gath. 00:04:56.879 --> 00:05:03.439 And the servants of Achish said to him, is not this David, the king of the land? 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:07.800 Did they not sing to one another of him in dances? 00:05:08.379 --> 00:05:12.160 Saul has struck down his thousands and David his ten thousands. 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:20.100 And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish, the king of Gath. 00:05:21.260 --> 00:05:23.500 David does something very foolish here. 00:05:25.780 --> 00:05:27.900 He goes to the land of Philistia. 00:05:28.100 --> 00:05:29.120 He leaves Israel. 00:05:30.360 --> 00:05:33.840 He's on the run from Saul and he goes to the Philistines. 00:05:33.940 --> 00:05:36.120 He goes to the city of Gath. 00:05:36.120 --> 00:05:48.439 And it seems as if he expects that he might be able to convince Achish or Abimelech, which would have been his title, to hire him as some kind of mercenary. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:59.079 Perhaps he's proven himself enough as an enemy of the Philistines that the Philistines there would want to hire David to fight on their behalf. 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:02.599 Perhaps that's the scheme that he has in his mind as he gets there. 00:06:02.659 --> 00:06:11.439 And immediately, as you would expect, the Philistines recognize who he is and they seize him and they take him before the king. 00:06:12.939 --> 00:06:18.139 Is this not the one who's supposed to be the future king of Israel? 00:06:18.519 --> 00:06:20.279 Maybe they mean that mockingly. 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:25.419 Is this the one he's come along and he's supposed to be the great one of Israel? 00:06:25.620 --> 00:06:26.939 Is this not him? 00:06:26.939 --> 00:06:31.100 Is he not the one they've been singing songs about? 00:06:31.219 --> 00:06:31.959 Think about that. 00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:35.420 Those songs have gotten David into so much trouble. 00:06:36.459 --> 00:06:37.620 He didn't sing them. 00:06:37.699 --> 00:06:40.120 The people sang them all throughout the land. 00:06:40.600 --> 00:06:42.980 Saul, our king, amazing. 00:06:43.399 --> 00:06:44.319 He's killed thousands. 00:06:44.860 --> 00:06:45.839 David's killed more. 00:06:47.139 --> 00:06:48.240 They loved David. 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:50.339 He was capable. 00:06:51.800 --> 00:06:54.600 Those songs got David in a world of trouble with Saul. 00:06:54.600 --> 00:06:59.200 And now it's getting them in a world of trouble with the Philistines. 00:06:59.420 --> 00:07:01.700 Because the Philistines were enemy number one. 00:07:03.060 --> 00:07:09.500 He comes into the land and they say, even we have heard the songs about the 10,000s that David has killed. 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:11.939 And who are the 10,000s David's been killing? 00:07:12.760 --> 00:07:13.160 Them. 00:07:13.820 --> 00:07:14.620 The Philistines. 00:07:14.620 --> 00:07:24.079 And not only that, he chooses to go to the city or town of Gath. 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:27.079 The city of Goliath. 00:07:28.019 --> 00:07:35.899 The Philistine champion that David famously killed with a sling and a stone is just a young man. 00:07:35.899 --> 00:07:50.459 And not only that, he walks into Goliath's own city with Goliath's sword that he stole from Goliath after he killed him and used to cut off his head. 00:07:52.060 --> 00:07:56.259 And somehow David has in his mind, this is all going to work out. 00:07:57.339 --> 00:07:59.000 This is all going to go great. 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:02.019 And of course it doesn't go great. 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:09.660 In his distress and fear, David made a series of foolish decisions. 00:08:10.420 --> 00:08:12.220 And he got himself in a mess. 00:08:12.920 --> 00:08:14.079 He's on the brink of death. 00:08:14.860 --> 00:08:21.439 There was no more dangerous position for David to be in than the one that he just got himself in willingly. 00:08:21.779 --> 00:08:23.019 Now there's a lesson in that. 00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:24.220 It's not the point of the sermon today. 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:26.180 There's a lesson in that for us, isn't there? 00:08:26.180 --> 00:08:35.019 Don't we tend to make seriously foolish decisions at the moments when we're in the most distress and fear? 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:42.000 That rather than listening to the promises of God and trusting in the goodness of God, 00:08:42.580 --> 00:08:45.279 we attempt to take matters into our own hands. 00:08:45.419 --> 00:08:47.379 And does that ever work out for us? 00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:49.620 Of course it doesn't. 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:51.600 Well, that's what David has done. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:54.879 And immediately he realizes the foolishness of his decision. 00:08:55.220 --> 00:09:01.580 And he goes on from there and he makes a bizarre, desperate attempt to escape. 00:09:01.800 --> 00:09:04.100 Look at the next set of verses, beginning in verse 13. 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:05.259 Here's what he does. 00:09:05.540 --> 00:09:06.279 It's unbelievable. 00:09:07.899 --> 00:09:10.180 So he changed his behavior before them. 00:09:10.820 --> 00:09:12.639 He's in the presence of the king of Gath. 00:09:13.779 --> 00:09:19.160 And he just suddenly, schizophrenic, just changes his personality suddenly. 00:09:19.159 --> 00:09:22.179 He pretended to be insane in their hands. 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:25.039 He made marks on the doors of the gate. 00:09:25.139 --> 00:09:27.079 He let his spit run down his beard. 00:09:29.059 --> 00:09:36.019 You've heard of criminals who, as soon as they're arrested, begin to try to make a case for an insanity defense. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:37.480 That's what David's doing. 00:09:39.339 --> 00:09:40.019 Verse 14. 00:09:40.019 --> 00:10:04.559 That's unbelievable. 00:10:05.299 --> 00:10:07.399 Like almost literally unbelievable. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:09.259 I've got this habit right now. 00:10:09.319 --> 00:10:10.039 I don't know why. 00:10:10.579 --> 00:10:11.620 This is not a good thing to do. 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:12.659 I don't recommend that you do it. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:13.319 Pray for me. 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:20.879 But it's like, you know, there's the people that they, when they go to bed, they get on Facebook and they watch all the reels and they're up for hours, right? 00:10:20.980 --> 00:10:24.980 Well, for me right now, it's true crime stuff for some reason. 00:10:25.439 --> 00:10:29.879 And like watching body cam footage from police officers and interrogation videos. 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:34.340 And it's amazing how many times criminals do something stupid. 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:41.340 As soon as they're picked up, they begin to just pretend as if they were out of their minds at the time that this happened, that they're really crazy. 00:10:41.419 --> 00:10:44.539 They're building some kind of defense and it never works. 00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:46.980 For David, it worked. 00:10:47.939 --> 00:10:49.279 They know he's capable. 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:52.100 They know he's mighty. 00:10:52.839 --> 00:11:00.000 But in the providence of God, the king of Gath looks at his greatest enemy. 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:05.600 He has an opportunity in that moment to deal with his greatest enemy. 00:11:05.959 --> 00:11:07.120 And he doesn't take it. 00:11:07.959 --> 00:11:09.240 That's not because of David. 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:11.139 That's the goodness of the Lord. 00:11:11.139 --> 00:11:20.840 I can't help but suspect that in the providence of God, God knowing the foolishness of David's decisions and what he would go on to do, 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:25.080 that perhaps just maybe in the days leading up to David showing up in Gath, 00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:30.399 maybe God just starts sending all kinds of crazy, legitimately crazy people, Achish's way. 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:31.539 Isn't that what he says? 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:32.960 Do I lack madmen? 00:11:33.199 --> 00:11:34.580 Do I need another one like this? 00:11:34.580 --> 00:11:39.899 So that the point that David shows up and acts this way, it's just the thing that finally sets him over the edge. 00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:44.159 There's no rational reason for him to let David go. 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:47.059 But that's exactly what he does. 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:51.759 Now, that's the setting of Psalm 34. 00:11:53.659 --> 00:11:56.720 Two Psalms, actually, that David wrote out of that experience. 00:11:56.860 --> 00:12:00.819 The other one is Psalm 56, and then we have Psalm 34. 00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:07.179 What we find is that David knew his deliverance wasn't ultimately due to his creativity. 00:12:07.179 --> 00:12:14.099 He understood that his deliverance in that moment was due to the mercy and the kindness of God. 00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:21.439 And he uses this experience in Psalm 34 to call us then to trust the Lord, 00:12:21.819 --> 00:12:28.839 knowing that all who will trust God will experience an even greater deliverance, 00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:35.280 and even greater salvation that I believe he begins to foreshadow at the end of this Psalm. 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:42.780 It's a salvation of resurrection unto life that begins to come to the surface here. 00:12:43.820 --> 00:12:46.700 And it's a truth that David doesn't want his people to forget. 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:51.720 So he writes this song in an acrostic pattern with only two exceptions. 00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:56.779 Each verse begins with the subsequent letter in the Hebrew alphabet. 00:12:58.340 --> 00:12:58.759 Why? 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:00.279 To aid our memory. 00:13:01.180 --> 00:13:02.940 He doesn't want us to forget this. 00:13:03.019 --> 00:13:08.139 He sets it to music so that we might sing it again and again and again as God's people. 00:13:09.680 --> 00:13:15.139 Christopher Ashe very helpfully says this in something of a summary of the Psalm. 00:13:15.139 --> 00:13:45.120 He says, 00:13:45.139 --> 00:13:48.379 A final king out of death itself. 00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:57.419 So that the believer to whom this Psalm ultimately points is the one who has been raised from the dead. 00:13:58.139 --> 00:14:05.480 Now I've told you, the Psalms are wonderfully theological, immensely practical, 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:12.059 but they're also deeply Christological, especially when we get to the Psalms of David. 00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:16.479 Who is the ultimate psalmist of Psalm 34? 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:29.519 It is the Lord Jesus, our King, who invites us to take joy in his own experience of deliverance and instructs us in his wisdom. 00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:33.080 So I want you to hear, there's really two clear sections of the Psalm. 00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:37.720 I want you to hear both of them as a personal call from King Jesus. 00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:43.100 For the salvation of God's people is bound up in the salvation of their King. 00:14:43.900 --> 00:14:46.600 First, I want you to see the King's invitation. 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:48.420 The King's invitation. 00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:50.139 It's the first half of the song. 00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:57.419 The King invites us to enter with him into the joy of what he has experienced in the goodness of God. 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:01.740 You've heard it said that misery loves company. 00:15:02.439 --> 00:15:03.319 So does joy. 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:10.100 Whenever we're joyful about something, whenever we love something, we want to share it with others. 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:14.940 We want to invite others into the joy that we know and have experienced. 00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:21.760 And David wants his people to partake in the joy of God's salvation and of God's deliverance. 00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:24.420 There's three parts to the invitation here. 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:25.520 The first one is this. 00:15:25.780 --> 00:15:29.220 It's an invitation to join the King's praise. 00:15:29.920 --> 00:15:32.520 An invitation to join the King's praise. 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:34.179 Look at the first three verses. 00:15:34.659 --> 00:15:36.519 I will bless the Lord at all times. 00:15:37.579 --> 00:15:40.139 His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:43.480 My soul makes its boast in the Lord. 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:48.439 Now let the humble hear it and be glad themselves. 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:53.079 Oh, magnify the Lord with me. 00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:57.139 Let us exalt his name together. 00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:57.419 Father. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:04.759 David opens with this declaration of endless praise in every situation. 00:16:05.539 --> 00:16:09.019 As long as he lives, he's determined to bless the Lord with his mouth. 00:16:09.159 --> 00:16:12.519 He's going to make his boast in God alone. 00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:24.720 Think about it. 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:24.740 Think about it. 00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:32.799 Most people would love to praise themselves in circumstances such as David writes out of here. 00:16:34.060 --> 00:16:35.279 Isn't that what we would do? 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:44.360 We'd sit around the table with our friends and story time with Andy comes up. 00:16:45.079 --> 00:16:47.779 Andy says, let me tell you about what happened to me. 00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:52.379 I went and I was in the presence of the King of Achish. 00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:57.519 And man, you would have thought my days were numbered, but let me tell you what I did. 00:16:58.539 --> 00:17:01.279 I just let the drool just run right down my face. 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:05.819 I had been working out real hard and I started scratching up those gates and doorposts. 00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:06.819 Everybody was afraid of me. 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:08.119 I was so smart. 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:09.299 You should have seen me, right? 00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:10.319 Isn't that what we do? 00:17:11.879 --> 00:17:17.619 Things go well for us and the Lord blesses us in some way or we experience something. 00:17:17.699 --> 00:17:22.579 We just start to think about the means that God uses because God certainly uses means, right? 00:17:22.979 --> 00:17:27.079 We start to think about the means and stop thinking about the God that's behind the means, 00:17:27.159 --> 00:17:28.299 that empowers the means. 00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:30.500 And we start to take all the credit for ourselves. 00:17:30.699 --> 00:17:33.159 We start to praise ourselves around the table. 00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:36.699 We start to praise ourselves with our friends. 00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:37.819 It's in our nature to do. 00:17:38.120 --> 00:17:39.960 David is determined not to do that. 00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:45.620 He was well aware of the fact that his deliverance from danger was the work of God's faithfulness. 00:17:48.120 --> 00:17:55.440 The Lord had brought David to the precipice of death so that he might then remind him 00:17:55.440 --> 00:18:01.220 of his own covenant faithfulness to his chosen king. 00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:09.600 Who is it that you praise in such times of this? 00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:16.579 Too many of us, we pridefully will boast in ourselves. 00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:20.940 And we need to realize that God is actually behind all of it. 00:18:22.380 --> 00:18:26.039 He alone is worthy of this praise. 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:30.659 And so David directed all of his praise to God who saved him. 00:18:32.159 --> 00:18:35.119 But David wasn't content to praise God alone. 00:18:35.899 --> 00:18:36.759 Notice what he does. 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:43.240 He invites the humble, those others who are unwilling to pridefully boast in themselves, 00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:47.420 who understand their true condition before God, 00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:50.319 and cry out to God alone for help. 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:56.539 He says, now let all of you who are like that, let all the humble join me. 00:18:56.859 --> 00:19:00.899 Hear what God has done for me and be glad in it. 00:19:01.939 --> 00:19:08.179 He calls all the faithful to join him in making much of God and exalting the name of the Lord. 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:14.299 Remember, the life of the people is bound up in the life of their king. 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:18.159 His blessing was their blessing. 00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:22.339 His deliverance meant their deliverance. 00:19:23.379 --> 00:19:25.879 And by seeing how God had delivered David, 00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:30.480 the people had hoped that the Lord would do the same for them. 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:35.559 So David's not calling them to rejoice in their own deliverance yet. 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:39.480 He's calling them to look at what God has done for him 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:45.259 and to exalt the name of the Lord for what he has done for their king. 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:49.059 They should praise the king's deliverer. 00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:53.940 And so it is that our king invites us today 00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:59.319 to join him in praise for his deliverance. 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:01.419 Is that not why we've gathered? 00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:04.599 Is that not why we're here today? 00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:05.879 It's Sunday. 00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:08.959 Is that not why we call this the Lord's Day? 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:12.299 Because God has delivered him from death, 00:20:12.439 --> 00:20:15.059 we have hope that he will do the same for us. 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:20.099 Hear and be glad for what God has done for King Jesus 00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:23.599 and join him, the true worship leader, 00:20:24.139 --> 00:20:27.659 as we exalt the name of the Lord together. 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:31.559 So it's an invitation to join in the king's praise. 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:33.500 There's another part to the invitation. 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:37.279 It's an invitation to consider God's faithfulness. 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:39.319 Verses four to seven. 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:42.459 I sought the Lord and he answered me, 00:20:43.459 --> 00:20:45.279 delivered me from all my fears. 00:20:45.439 --> 00:20:47.459 Those who look to him are radiant. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:50.240 Their faces shall never be ashamed. 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:53.480 This poor man cried and the Lord heard him. 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:55.339 He saved them out of all his troubles. 00:20:55.339 --> 00:21:02.799 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and delivers them. 00:21:03.339 --> 00:21:06.419 David begins to describe his experience now. 00:21:06.879 --> 00:21:08.799 And he draws a particular conclusion. 00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:10.459 Here's his conclusion. 00:21:11.879 --> 00:21:12.619 God is faithful. 00:21:12.619 --> 00:21:18.279 Even when I am not, God is. 00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:19.619 He's faithful. 00:21:21.219 --> 00:21:26.559 In his distress, in his moment of trouble in Gath, 00:21:26.679 --> 00:21:30.339 David sought the Lord's help and the Lord answered him. 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:32.919 According to Psalm 2, 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:38.059 it was the birthright of the king for God to hear and answer his prayers. 00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:43.220 And here, God's chosen king prays for the deliverance. 00:21:44.359 --> 00:21:45.139 And God answers. 00:21:46.099 --> 00:21:47.859 He proves himself faithful. 00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:51.579 And David wants us to know it. 00:21:52.639 --> 00:21:56.959 David, poor in spirit, cries to the Lord and God saves him. 00:21:57.019 --> 00:22:02.459 And that leads him to conclude that God's angel surrounds those who fear him. 00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:06.639 That when you trust in the Lord, you'll never be ashamed. 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:10.240 That's what it means by those who fear the Lord, their faces radiant. 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:13.839 We've seen this theme now in the last few Psalms. 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:16.459 David has echoed this over and over. 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:19.579 That when you trust in the Lord, you will not be ashamed. 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:23.920 That is, he will not fail you so that you're embarrassed 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:26.559 when the world looks at you and says, 00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:30.120 see, you put your trust in the wrong place. 00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:31.559 That's what David means. 00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:33.279 You won't be ashamed. 00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:37.480 No, your face is radiant because he really is your deliverer. 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:39.460 He really will save you. 00:22:40.380 --> 00:22:42.519 But then there's a third part to the invitation. 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:48.539 It's an invitation to experience God's goodness by faith. 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.740 Look at verse 8. 00:22:50.740 --> 00:23:14.980 Do you see what the king's doing now? 00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:19.039 The king now becomes the evangelist. 00:23:20.360 --> 00:23:24.960 It isn't enough just to rejoice in his deliverance. 00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:28.960 It isn't enough just to consider how God proves himself faithful. 00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:34.940 The king must call the people to experience the goodness of God for themselves. 00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:38.940 So the king says, the Lord is good. 00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:40.220 Now come and see it. 00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:43.880 Come and see for yourself that he is good. 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:47.460 Ashlyn is the baker in our house. 00:23:48.900 --> 00:23:51.940 And she makes a mean creme brulee. 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:55.059 In fact, she made some yesterday for the 4th of July 00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:58.340 because nothing says happy birthday America like a French dessert. 00:23:58.339 --> 00:24:04.679 Now I can tell you how delicious it is. 00:24:05.679 --> 00:24:08.500 I can enumerate all of the ingredients for you. 00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:12.299 I can talk scientifically about how they all come together 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:15.220 to have this amazingly sweet custard 00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:19.399 and then how the sugar, once it's torched with the fire on the top, 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:23.480 creates this satisfying texture. 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:28.240 I can show you videos of our family indulging themselves yesterday, 00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:32.640 excitedly rejoicing in the goodness of Ashlyn's creme brulee. 00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:38.799 And after all of that, I can convince you to believe 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:43.279 that Ashlyn makes a killer creme brulee. 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:46.660 But you'll never really know 00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:52.039 and you'll never really experience the joy of Ashlyn's creme brulee 00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:54.819 until I bring you one. 00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:56.339 I say, taste it. 00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.859 Just taste it and see. 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.899 James Johnston says, 00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:06.039 many have a secondhand experience of God's goodness. 00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:09.639 They've heard sermons about God's goodness. 00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:13.359 Their parents have said that God is good. 00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:16.480 They truly believe that God is good, 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:19.680 but they haven't trusted and seen for themselves 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:21.420 that God is good. 00:25:22.039 --> 00:25:25.980 They may have trusted with their minds, 00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:29.500 but they haven't trusted him with their lives. 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:32.379 So what does the king do? 00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:36.940 He's not content for you just to acknowledge intellectually 00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:39.519 that this God is good 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:41.680 and that he's been good to his king 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:43.200 and that he's faithful. 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:46.299 No, he says, come for yourself. 00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.620 Taste and see. 00:25:50.940 --> 00:25:53.580 He's not inviting you to affirm a point of doctrine. 00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:58.880 He's inviting you to turn from sin and self and fear 00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:03.680 to trust in his faithfulness completely. 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:08.680 The blessed man, he says, is the one who fears the Lord 00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:10.900 and he lacks no good thing. 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:17.000 Even the capable young lions at times go without, 00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:21.460 but those who seek the Lord find all that they need in him. 00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:24.920 So then the question is begged here. 00:26:26.299 --> 00:26:29.180 Will you accept the king's invitation? 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:35.299 Will you finally just taste and see 00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:38.400 that the Lord indeed is good? 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:42.860 We've just finished studying 1 Peter together. 00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:45.840 At least two times, maybe three times, 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:47.340 Peter quotes Psalm 34. 00:26:48.580 --> 00:26:50.060 When he quotes this verse, 00:26:50.300 --> 00:26:52.040 taste and see that the Lord is good, 00:26:52.800 --> 00:26:55.720 he refers to the Lord as Jesus himself. 00:26:58.280 --> 00:27:00.500 We taste the goodness of God 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:03.400 when we taste Christ by faith. 00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:08.380 He is the final king who fulfills this psalm 00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:11.320 and he invites you to come to him 00:27:11.320 --> 00:27:13.860 and to experience the goodness of God. 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:16.019 Literally, he invites you. 00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:18.860 Matthew 11, come, he says, 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:21.420 all who labor and are heavy laden 00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:24.620 and I will give you rest. 00:27:26.100 --> 00:27:28.860 Take my yoke upon you, he says, 00:27:29.780 --> 00:27:32.740 and learn of me for I am gentle and lowly in heart 00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:36.079 and you will find rest for your soul. 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:39.079 The king, the true king, 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:41.759 invites you to come to him 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:45.359 so that you may know that the Lord indeed is good. 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:48.039 It's the king's invitation. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:50.700 Well, then we get to the king's instruction. 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:54.420 So think about how this is working together. 00:27:55.880 --> 00:27:58.339 David's experience of deliverance in Gath 00:27:58.339 --> 00:28:00.460 has led him to invite all of us 00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:03.220 to then experience God's faithfulness ourselves. 00:28:03.880 --> 00:28:06.220 But flowing out of that same experience 00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:08.319 is also a series of instructions, 00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:13.059 wisdom that is crucial for us to hear 00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:14.559 and obey as God's people. 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:17.539 So in the second half of the psalm, 00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:19.559 the king assumes his place 00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:21.980 as a wise father and counselor. 00:28:23.140 --> 00:28:24.940 Three pieces of instruction then. 00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:28.440 First, we see instruction on the fear of God. 00:28:29.360 --> 00:28:30.400 On the fear of God. 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.720 Look at 11 to 14. 00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:33.440 Come, old children. 00:28:34.820 --> 00:28:38.380 Listen to me, David, as the father of the nation. 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:39.720 Come. 00:28:40.820 --> 00:28:42.080 Hear what I have to say. 00:28:43.080 --> 00:28:43.360 Listen. 00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:43.559 Listen. 00:28:45.959 --> 00:28:47.779 And I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:52.319 What man is there who desires life 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:56.019 and loves many days that he may see good? 00:28:56.439 --> 00:28:57.319 And of course, with that, 00:28:57.399 --> 00:28:58.459 we all raise our hand and say, 00:28:58.759 --> 00:29:01.359 me, I want to have a long life. 00:29:01.859 --> 00:29:03.019 I want to see many days 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:04.459 and I want them to be good days. 00:29:05.179 --> 00:29:05.500 Okay. 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:07.000 If that's what you want, 00:29:07.679 --> 00:29:08.599 hear this wisdom, 00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:10.419 the fear of the Lord. 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:12.599 Keep your tongue from evil. 00:29:13.979 --> 00:29:15.819 And your lips from speaking deceit. 00:29:17.379 --> 00:29:18.899 Do you know how much deceit 00:29:18.899 --> 00:29:21.819 went into David finding himself in Gath 00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:22.779 in that situation? 00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:23.740 Just read the story later. 00:29:24.719 --> 00:29:26.000 He's basically lying to everybody. 00:29:27.699 --> 00:29:28.839 Some may look at that and say, 00:29:28.919 --> 00:29:31.019 well, he hadn't really no choice but to do that. 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:31.439 But did he? 00:29:33.859 --> 00:29:35.219 Could he have trusted the Lord? 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:39.219 Now he turns and he says, 00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:40.759 keep your tongue from evil, 00:29:40.859 --> 00:29:42.459 your lips from speaking deceit. 00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:44.160 Turn away from evil and do good. 00:29:44.579 --> 00:29:48.779 Seek peace and pursue it, he says. 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:51.519 So in verse nine, 00:29:52.100 --> 00:29:54.500 David in his evangelism says 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:56.160 that it is those who fear the Lord 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:57.200 who lack no good thing, 00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:58.299 that we can come to God 00:29:58.299 --> 00:29:59.420 and we can taste and see 00:29:59.420 --> 00:30:01.079 by trusting in him. 00:30:02.360 --> 00:30:03.779 And now he begins to tell us 00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:04.840 what it actually looks like 00:30:04.840 --> 00:30:05.559 to fear the Lord. 00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:06.619 And amazingly, 00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:08.240 fundamentally, 00:30:09.139 --> 00:30:10.659 fearing God in this context 00:30:10.659 --> 00:30:11.879 is not emotional. 00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:13.879 It's moral. 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:17.759 Proverbs says, 00:30:17.879 --> 00:30:18.539 the fear of the Lord 00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:19.679 is the beginning of the wisdom. 00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:20.899 And this wisdom, 00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:21.740 according to David, 00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:23.220 is what brings the good life, 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.679 the blessed life. 00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:27.480 To live in the fear of God then 00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:29.519 is to trust his word. 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:31.180 It's to continually turn away 00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:33.099 from evil and to do good. 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:34.579 It is to live a life 00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:35.579 that is consistent 00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:36.940 with the nature 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:38.420 and the will of God 00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:40.099 because you trust him, 00:30:40.299 --> 00:30:42.359 that he indeed is right 00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:44.700 and that he is good 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:47.279 and that his way is perfect. 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.500 That you can say, 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:50.039 like we read in Psalm 86 00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:51.319 at the beginning of the service, 00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:53.099 teach me your way, 00:30:53.180 --> 00:30:53.619 oh Lord, 00:30:54.599 --> 00:30:56.660 that I may walk in your truth. 00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:59.180 Unite my heart to fear your name. 00:31:00.080 --> 00:31:01.100 It is an obedience 00:31:01.100 --> 00:31:03.900 that flows out of a heart of faith. 00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:07.240 This is the good life 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:08.720 that God blesses. 00:31:08.820 --> 00:31:10.240 He calls his people 00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:11.680 to live it out at all times. 00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:14.140 Peter quotes it, 00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:14.720 if you remember. 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.720 1 Peter chapter 3, 00:31:16.800 --> 00:31:17.640 except the context 00:31:17.640 --> 00:31:18.720 that he addresses there 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:20.160 is suffering Christians 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:21.400 who are now being tempted 00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:24.080 to respond to their persecutors 00:31:24.080 --> 00:31:25.080 in kind. 00:31:25.079 --> 00:31:27.119 insult for insult, 00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:29.199 anger for anger. 00:31:30.159 --> 00:31:31.079 Peter quotes this 00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:33.099 to remind them 00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:35.399 that even your persecution 00:31:35.399 --> 00:31:37.480 is not a justification for evil. 00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:39.480 That you ought to remember 00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:40.480 that the Lord sees 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:42.099 and that he rewards the righteous 00:31:42.099 --> 00:31:44.799 and he judges the wicked. 00:31:45.939 --> 00:31:47.419 Which leads to the next part 00:31:47.419 --> 00:31:48.039 of the instruction. 00:31:48.279 --> 00:31:49.259 It's an instruction 00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:50.500 on the faithfulness of God. 00:31:51.419 --> 00:31:52.179 So he instructs us 00:31:52.179 --> 00:31:52.899 on the fear of the Lord. 00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:54.360 Then he moves a little bit further 00:31:54.360 --> 00:31:55.440 and deeper in 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:56.860 and he wants to teach us 00:31:56.860 --> 00:31:57.519 a little bit more 00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.280 about what it means 00:31:58.280 --> 00:31:59.240 that God is faithful. 00:32:00.620 --> 00:32:02.040 Look at verses 15 to 18. 00:32:02.780 --> 00:32:03.680 The eyes of the Lord 00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:04.740 are toward the righteous 00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:07.980 and his ears toward their cry. 00:32:09.140 --> 00:32:10.400 Now can we not look 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:11.759 at David's situation 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:13.480 and say, 00:32:13.620 --> 00:32:13.800 well, 00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:15.500 David kind of got himself 00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:16.519 in a mess. 00:32:16.600 --> 00:32:18.200 He certainly wasn't acting wisely. 00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:20.340 He was being foolish. 00:32:20.339 --> 00:32:23.000 There was certainly some sin 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:24.720 and fleshly tendencies at work 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.899 in what he was doing. 00:32:26.379 --> 00:32:28.419 So how could David then claim 00:32:28.419 --> 00:32:29.980 some kind of righteousness 00:32:29.980 --> 00:32:31.959 that the Lord would honor 00:32:31.959 --> 00:32:32.740 and would watch 00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:33.679 and deliver him in? 00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:35.159 Well, 00:32:35.179 --> 00:32:35.779 if you've been listening 00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:37.220 for the last several Psalms, 00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:38.519 righteousness, 00:32:38.879 --> 00:32:39.259 of course, 00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:40.679 has a moral component to it. 00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:42.119 There is a literal righteousness 00:32:42.119 --> 00:32:43.740 in a doing of good. 00:32:43.879 --> 00:32:46.119 But we are positionally righteous, 00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:47.619 not by what we do, 00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:49.220 but by faith. 00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:51.880 By faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:53.700 David's playing on that here. 00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:54.799 The eyes of the Lord 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:56.100 are toward the righteous, 00:32:56.240 --> 00:32:57.120 those who trust him. 00:32:57.339 --> 00:32:58.660 His ears are toward their cry. 00:32:58.839 --> 00:33:00.120 But there's another piece to that. 00:33:00.440 --> 00:33:01.279 The face of the Lord 00:33:01.279 --> 00:33:03.079 is against those who do evil. 00:33:04.299 --> 00:33:05.740 To cut off the memory of them 00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:06.539 from the earth, 00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:08.220 utter destruction for them. 00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:10.620 And then David says, 00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:12.140 when the righteous cry for help, 00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:13.519 the Lord hears. 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.819 He delivers them 00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:15.960 out of all their troubles. 00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:19.120 And what amazing comfort 00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:19.920 in verse 18, 00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:23.340 that the Lord is near 00:33:23.340 --> 00:33:25.400 to the brokenhearted. 00:33:26.779 --> 00:33:28.160 He saves 00:33:28.160 --> 00:33:30.259 the crushed in spirit. 00:33:32.840 --> 00:33:34.420 Does this not make you think 00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:35.380 of the Beatitudes 00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:36.279 in Matthew 5? 00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:38.819 Blessed are who? 00:33:39.340 --> 00:33:40.600 The strong and the capable. 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:41.960 No. 00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:44.460 Blessed are the poor in spirit. 00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:47.340 Blessed are those who 00:33:47.340 --> 00:33:48.200 hunger and thirst 00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:48.980 after righteousness, 00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:50.460 not after material wealth. 00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:53.039 Blessed are you 00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:55.940 when others persecute you 00:33:55.940 --> 00:33:56.840 for my namesake. 00:33:57.600 --> 00:33:58.779 That's the blessed life. 00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:00.980 That's the righteous life. 00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:04.680 The Lord is near to those people. 00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:07.079 He's near to the humble. 00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:08.960 He's near to those 00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:09.579 who acknowledge 00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:11.340 their own true condition. 00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:14.140 And He is faithful. 00:34:15.660 --> 00:34:17.380 He always delivers them 00:34:17.380 --> 00:34:19.579 out of all their trouble. 00:34:20.700 --> 00:34:22.039 What an amazing hope that is. 00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:23.980 Why should we live 00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.800 in the fear of God? 00:34:25.300 --> 00:34:26.559 Because God watches 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.320 over the righteous 00:34:27.320 --> 00:34:28.440 and hears their cries. 00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:29.860 And then also because 00:34:29.860 --> 00:34:30.780 He will judge 00:34:30.780 --> 00:34:31.820 all who do evil. 00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:35.480 He's faithful 00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:37.079 both in justice 00:34:37.079 --> 00:34:38.420 and in mercy. 00:34:38.420 --> 00:34:41.099 But there's a third piece 00:34:41.099 --> 00:34:42.019 of instruction here. 00:34:43.180 --> 00:34:44.159 It's an instruction 00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:45.280 on a future hope. 00:34:46.720 --> 00:34:47.420 So we have instruction 00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:48.320 on the fear of the Lord. 00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:50.460 Then He moves a little deeper 00:34:50.460 --> 00:34:51.559 on the faithfulness of God. 00:34:51.639 --> 00:34:52.340 Now He's bringing it 00:34:52.340 --> 00:34:52.960 full circle 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:53.700 back to the beginning. 00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:54.200 Have you noticed 00:34:54.200 --> 00:34:55.500 how so many of these psalms 00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:55.940 do that? 00:34:56.599 --> 00:34:57.400 They're just big circles. 00:34:58.780 --> 00:35:00.119 Now He gives us some hope 00:35:00.119 --> 00:35:01.619 that we might rejoice in. 00:35:03.220 --> 00:35:04.300 Verse 19. 00:35:04.300 --> 00:35:06.440 Many are the afflictions 00:35:06.440 --> 00:35:06.980 of the righteous. 00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:09.600 The Lord delivers Him 00:35:09.600 --> 00:35:10.240 out of them all. 00:35:11.780 --> 00:35:12.920 Notice there's a bit 00:35:12.920 --> 00:35:13.560 of a change here. 00:35:13.640 --> 00:35:14.860 There's some singular pronouns 00:35:14.860 --> 00:35:15.600 happening here. 00:35:15.940 --> 00:35:17.460 We can over interpret that. 00:35:17.720 --> 00:35:18.539 But I do think that 00:35:18.539 --> 00:35:19.519 there's something happening 00:35:19.519 --> 00:35:20.440 prophetically here. 00:35:21.100 --> 00:35:22.560 There's some foreshadowing here 00:35:22.560 --> 00:35:23.380 that's going to take us 00:35:23.380 --> 00:35:24.100 to the cross. 00:35:25.700 --> 00:35:27.060 John quotes the next verse 00:35:27.060 --> 00:35:29.080 almost verbatim 00:35:29.080 --> 00:35:30.900 when he's describing 00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:32.160 the crucifixion of Jesus. 00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:34.019 He keeps all of His bones. 00:35:34.139 --> 00:35:35.199 Not one of them is broken. 00:35:36.059 --> 00:35:36.599 Now I don't know 00:35:36.599 --> 00:35:37.779 that David intends for that 00:35:37.779 --> 00:35:38.659 but John's pulling 00:35:38.659 --> 00:35:39.659 from this clearly 00:35:39.659 --> 00:35:41.219 on the promises 00:35:41.219 --> 00:35:42.239 of the Passover lamb 00:35:42.239 --> 00:35:42.719 and the pictures 00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:43.399 that we see there. 00:35:43.879 --> 00:35:44.460 This is important. 00:35:44.579 --> 00:35:45.539 There's something happening here. 00:35:45.779 --> 00:35:46.719 There's a gospel thing 00:35:46.719 --> 00:35:47.599 happening in this part 00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:48.759 of the psalm. 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:50.099 And he goes on. 00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:51.779 Affliction will slay the wicked 00:35:51.779 --> 00:35:53.759 and those who hate 00:35:53.759 --> 00:35:54.239 the righteous 00:35:54.239 --> 00:35:54.940 will be condemned. 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:56.659 This is a final kind 00:35:56.659 --> 00:35:57.679 of condemnation, right? 00:35:58.059 --> 00:35:58.839 So this isn't just 00:35:58.839 --> 00:36:00.639 the temporal circumstances. 00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:02.259 This is an ultimate 00:36:02.259 --> 00:36:03.639 kind of judgment. 00:36:05.199 --> 00:36:06.819 But the Lord redeems 00:36:06.819 --> 00:36:08.739 the life of His servants. 00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:11.099 None of those 00:36:11.099 --> 00:36:12.279 who take refuge in Him 00:36:12.279 --> 00:36:13.759 will be condemned. 00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:15.819 I want you to think 00:36:15.819 --> 00:36:16.619 about the future hope 00:36:16.619 --> 00:36:17.039 that's here. 00:36:18.039 --> 00:36:18.980 But I also want you 00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:20.019 to notice the tension 00:36:20.019 --> 00:36:21.000 that is here. 00:36:24.659 --> 00:36:25.900 The psalm promises 00:36:25.900 --> 00:36:26.639 deliverance 00:36:26.639 --> 00:36:27.659 for those who fear the Lord. 00:36:27.659 --> 00:36:30.619 It also promises 00:36:30.619 --> 00:36:31.219 affliction. 00:36:32.779 --> 00:36:34.559 Many are the afflictions 00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:35.199 of the righteous. 00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:36.759 That just sounds 00:36:36.759 --> 00:36:39.599 so backward, doesn't it? 00:36:41.819 --> 00:36:43.279 Many struggle to believe 00:36:43.279 --> 00:36:44.119 in the God of the Bible 00:36:44.119 --> 00:36:45.279 for this very reason, 00:36:45.799 --> 00:36:46.859 because of this tension. 00:36:49.559 --> 00:36:50.719 They love to think 00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:51.899 of a God who saves. 00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:53.719 Who wouldn't want that? 00:36:53.719 --> 00:36:56.079 So we emphasize 00:36:56.079 --> 00:36:57.139 God's love, 00:36:57.319 --> 00:36:58.279 God's mercy, 00:36:58.500 --> 00:37:00.099 or whatever it may be. 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:03.399 They loathe the thought 00:37:03.399 --> 00:37:03.939 of a God 00:37:03.939 --> 00:37:04.639 who would put us 00:37:04.639 --> 00:37:05.259 in a position 00:37:05.259 --> 00:37:06.219 of needing saving, 00:37:06.779 --> 00:37:09.779 which is His own 00:37:09.779 --> 00:37:12.159 kind of quandary. 00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:15.679 The Bible doesn't 00:37:15.679 --> 00:37:16.299 actually ignore 00:37:16.299 --> 00:37:16.899 this tension. 00:37:18.500 --> 00:37:19.659 Bad theology 00:37:19.659 --> 00:37:20.619 ignores this tension. 00:37:20.619 --> 00:37:22.819 prosperity gospel 00:37:22.819 --> 00:37:23.699 ignores this tension. 00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:25.500 The Bible doesn't. 00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:27.079 David doesn't. 00:37:29.299 --> 00:37:30.299 The truth is 00:37:30.299 --> 00:37:31.619 that all of the righteous 00:37:31.619 --> 00:37:32.599 will suffer. 00:37:34.380 --> 00:37:35.339 All of the righteous 00:37:35.339 --> 00:37:36.759 will die. 00:37:38.719 --> 00:37:40.000 There came a point 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:41.019 in David's life 00:37:41.019 --> 00:37:42.519 where he suffered 00:37:42.519 --> 00:37:43.359 unto death. 00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:44.739 He died. 00:37:46.859 --> 00:37:47.719 So we ought not 00:37:47.719 --> 00:37:48.420 look at a passage 00:37:48.420 --> 00:37:49.139 like this and say, 00:37:49.279 --> 00:37:49.559 well, this, 00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:51.219 if you believe God, 00:37:51.320 --> 00:37:52.279 that just automatically 00:37:52.279 --> 00:37:53.579 means full deliverance 00:37:53.579 --> 00:37:54.360 in every circumstance 00:37:54.360 --> 00:37:55.179 and every situation 00:37:55.179 --> 00:37:55.699 of your life. 00:37:56.099 --> 00:37:56.880 That's not what 00:37:56.880 --> 00:37:57.860 the Bible's teaching us here. 00:37:57.940 --> 00:37:58.440 That's not what 00:37:58.440 --> 00:37:59.559 this psalm is teaching us here. 00:37:59.860 --> 00:38:00.360 There's something 00:38:00.360 --> 00:38:01.279 much deeper, 00:38:01.400 --> 00:38:01.980 more profound 00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:02.739 at work here. 00:38:05.940 --> 00:38:07.079 We need not take 00:38:07.079 --> 00:38:07.779 from the psalm 00:38:07.779 --> 00:38:08.420 that if we just 00:38:08.420 --> 00:38:09.460 have enough faith, 00:38:09.559 --> 00:38:10.619 all of our problems 00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:11.259 will go away. 00:38:11.340 --> 00:38:11.599 In fact, 00:38:11.719 --> 00:38:12.739 the more faith you have, 00:38:12.820 --> 00:38:13.840 probably the more problems 00:38:13.840 --> 00:38:14.699 you'll begin to notice. 00:38:14.699 --> 00:38:14.899 this. 00:38:17.500 --> 00:38:18.939 The king doesn't promise 00:38:18.939 --> 00:38:19.719 that all suffering 00:38:19.719 --> 00:38:20.899 will cease in this life, 00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:23.179 but he focuses instead here 00:38:23.179 --> 00:38:24.919 on the future hope 00:38:24.919 --> 00:38:26.439 that we have beyond it. 00:38:28.219 --> 00:38:29.659 There is coming a day 00:38:29.659 --> 00:38:30.199 when the Lord 00:38:30.199 --> 00:38:31.239 will indeed deliver 00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:31.879 his people 00:38:31.879 --> 00:38:33.819 from all of their troubles, 00:38:34.779 --> 00:38:35.939 even death itself. 00:38:35.940 --> 00:38:40.079 There is some foreshadowing 00:38:40.079 --> 00:38:41.400 in verse 20 00:38:41.400 --> 00:38:42.840 to the cross, 00:38:43.099 --> 00:38:44.559 but let's just take it 00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:45.119 for what it is 00:38:45.119 --> 00:38:45.880 in Psalm 34 00:38:45.880 --> 00:38:46.720 for just a moment. 00:38:46.960 --> 00:38:47.900 I think this is 00:38:47.900 --> 00:38:48.860 a subtle promise 00:38:48.860 --> 00:38:49.659 of resurrection. 00:38:52.420 --> 00:38:53.420 That the righteous, 00:38:53.659 --> 00:38:53.900 God, 00:38:54.059 --> 00:38:54.900 will deliver them 00:38:54.900 --> 00:38:55.900 out of all of his troubles. 00:38:56.059 --> 00:38:56.840 I think that's even 00:38:56.840 --> 00:38:57.760 beyond death, 00:38:58.039 --> 00:38:59.559 and in that deliverance, 00:38:59.639 --> 00:39:01.320 he keeps all of his bones. 00:39:01.420 --> 00:39:02.000 Not one of them 00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:02.440 is broken. 00:39:02.820 --> 00:39:03.740 No one's limping 00:39:03.740 --> 00:39:04.519 into the kingdom. 00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:08.159 This salvation, 00:39:08.840 --> 00:39:09.820 this deliverance, 00:39:10.179 --> 00:39:11.119 it's whole. 00:39:12.179 --> 00:39:13.200 It's complete. 00:39:14.159 --> 00:39:15.539 It lacks nothing. 00:39:16.119 --> 00:39:18.599 There is no more trouble. 00:39:19.039 --> 00:39:21.280 It is only blessing, 00:39:21.440 --> 00:39:22.440 and what is the nature 00:39:22.440 --> 00:39:23.280 of this blessing? 00:39:23.480 --> 00:39:24.139 Verse 22, 00:39:24.280 --> 00:39:25.019 the last one. 00:39:25.420 --> 00:39:26.720 It is life. 00:39:28.019 --> 00:39:29.280 Life everlasting. 00:39:30.119 --> 00:39:31.519 They will not be condemned 00:39:31.519 --> 00:39:32.460 in the judgment 00:39:32.460 --> 00:39:33.940 as the wicked will be. 00:39:33.940 --> 00:39:35.800 No, the Lord redeems 00:39:35.800 --> 00:39:38.380 the life of his people, 00:39:38.519 --> 00:39:39.680 which means they must 00:39:39.680 --> 00:39:42.800 necessarily go through death. 00:39:45.280 --> 00:39:45.880 Amazing. 00:39:47.140 --> 00:39:48.039 How do we trust 00:39:48.039 --> 00:39:49.280 that God is good 00:39:49.280 --> 00:39:50.280 in the midst of affliction? 00:39:50.840 --> 00:39:52.240 We look to the future 00:39:52.240 --> 00:39:53.519 that he has promised us 00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:54.080 in glory, 00:39:54.440 --> 00:39:56.000 but how can we trust 00:39:56.000 --> 00:39:56.860 that future? 00:39:57.980 --> 00:40:00.300 Because he saved our king. 00:40:00.300 --> 00:40:03.960 Because we look not only 00:40:03.960 --> 00:40:04.539 to David, 00:40:04.840 --> 00:40:06.160 but when we look to David 00:40:06.160 --> 00:40:07.019 in Psalm 34, 00:40:07.260 --> 00:40:08.380 we see David saying, 00:40:08.740 --> 00:40:10.160 okay, nice to see you. 00:40:10.260 --> 00:40:11.320 Now look there. 00:40:12.460 --> 00:40:13.800 Look at the cross. 00:40:14.660 --> 00:40:15.760 Look at the resurrection. 00:40:17.039 --> 00:40:18.880 God saves our king. 00:40:19.220 --> 00:40:20.320 How do we have hope? 00:40:20.519 --> 00:40:21.620 We look to that, 00:40:21.820 --> 00:40:23.320 just as David encourages 00:40:23.320 --> 00:40:24.539 the people of Israel here. 00:40:24.760 --> 00:40:26.800 We have hope in his deliverance 00:40:26.800 --> 00:40:28.320 because that gives us hope 00:40:28.320 --> 00:40:30.180 in our deliverance. 00:40:30.360 --> 00:40:32.320 Because God has saved Jesus 00:40:32.320 --> 00:40:33.600 and raised Jesus, 00:40:34.180 --> 00:40:35.180 we have hope 00:40:35.180 --> 00:40:37.860 that he will raise us. 00:40:39.460 --> 00:40:40.960 And what joy is that? 00:40:42.180 --> 00:40:43.160 It's amazing. 00:40:45.060 --> 00:40:47.019 David's deliverance from Gath 00:40:47.019 --> 00:40:48.580 made him certain 00:40:48.580 --> 00:40:50.860 of deliverance from death. 00:40:51.700 --> 00:40:52.640 And Jesus, 00:40:52.900 --> 00:40:53.880 the greater David, 00:40:54.380 --> 00:40:55.000 proves it. 00:40:55.000 --> 00:40:58.539 He was afflicted 00:40:58.539 --> 00:41:00.739 not for his own foolishness, 00:41:01.579 --> 00:41:02.320 but for ours. 00:41:04.860 --> 00:41:06.019 He was afflicted 00:41:06.019 --> 00:41:07.420 for our transgressions. 00:41:07.940 --> 00:41:08.880 The chastisement 00:41:08.880 --> 00:41:10.800 of us 00:41:10.800 --> 00:41:12.659 was laid on him. 00:41:15.139 --> 00:41:16.820 And then God raised him 00:41:16.820 --> 00:41:19.679 for our deliverance. 00:41:21.800 --> 00:41:23.179 And because the Father 00:41:23.179 --> 00:41:24.679 was faithful to deliver him, 00:41:24.679 --> 00:41:25.440 we can be sure 00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:26.599 that he will also 00:41:26.599 --> 00:41:28.099 be faithful to deliver us. 00:41:28.779 --> 00:41:29.059 Therefore, 00:41:29.259 --> 00:41:30.460 we can come to Psalm 34 00:41:30.460 --> 00:41:31.699 and legitimately, 00:41:32.339 --> 00:41:34.460 we can join the king 00:41:34.460 --> 00:41:35.419 in his praise. 00:41:37.259 --> 00:41:38.779 And then we can follow 00:41:38.779 --> 00:41:39.679 his instruction 00:41:39.679 --> 00:41:41.039 and his wisdom. 00:41:42.219 --> 00:41:44.039 Knowing that all 00:41:44.039 --> 00:41:45.460 who will so taste 00:41:45.460 --> 00:41:47.099 the promise of God 00:41:47.099 --> 00:41:48.699 will see 00:41:48.699 --> 00:41:50.440 that he indeed is good.