WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.080 You good? How's it going? Thumbs up? Yeah. When someone comes up to you who you know and they 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:15.919 say, how's it going? What do you say? What's the response? Good. Yeah, I'm good. Yeah. Dan, 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:19.719 you heard the sermon this morning, can't answer any more questions. Everyone else has to get 00:00:19.719 --> 00:00:25.780 involved, but thank you. Our reflex answer is, I'm good. And it doesn't mean that we're putting 00:00:25.780 --> 00:00:31.500 a hand up and saying, I'm a good person. It's not a morality question or statement. What 00:00:31.500 --> 00:00:37.140 you're saying is actually quite profound. You're saying that, oh, my desires and needs are being 00:00:37.140 --> 00:00:46.079 satisfied. And in summary, yeah, I'm good. So how are you going? Normally, if you know the 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:51.880 person, they'll add something. They'll add some authenticity to the I'm good. They'll say, 00:00:51.880 --> 00:00:59.020 yeah, I'm good, but I'm really busy. Or they'll add, I'm really tired. 00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:05.620 Our declaration that we're in a good place is usually followed by the areas of our life 00:01:05.620 --> 00:01:12.180 where good is not being done to us. So how's it going? What's the extra thing you'd add? 00:01:12.180 --> 00:01:23.860 I'm good, but... Has anyone asked you, instead of how are you going, have they asked, how's it going 00:01:23.860 --> 00:01:33.280 with God? It's a bit more of a challenging variation. But I wonder if someone asked you that, would you 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:40.680 just say, yeah, we're good? Or would you go, yeah, we're good, but I don't always feel close to God. 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:48.100 Or good, but I'm so busy and overwhelmed, I feel like I have no time for Him. I was just talking to 00:01:48.100 --> 00:01:52.760 some guys up the front, and I think all of us pretty much shared that about what we're looking 00:01:52.760 --> 00:02:03.980 forward to in 2019. We're good with God, yeah, but we'd love to be growing in Him. And we were sharing 00:02:03.980 --> 00:02:12.420 ways that we thought we might be able to do that. I think every Christian feels a tension here. Yes, 00:02:12.520 --> 00:02:18.219 God is good and faithful to us, but our circumstances could be better. They're difficult. 00:02:19.259 --> 00:02:25.560 We all desire to be a safer, richer, more well-known, or to have less conflict in our life, 00:02:25.560 --> 00:02:33.400 or just be able to balance a budget. It might be so bad that you're screaming those desires into a 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:40.520 pillow each night. But no matter our circumstance, we know that life can be really hard as we follow 00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:49.560 God through hard times. And it's the hard that challenges our view of God's goodness to us. 00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:58.199 So today, I want to say that we are in part of the Bible that will meet you right here in your hard times. 00:02:58.379 --> 00:03:04.599 Whether you're in hard times now, or whether you will be in the future, it'll prepare you, or it will give 00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:13.000 you word right now. So that's where we're headed. This psalm is a journey through our frustrated desires 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:20.639 to satisfaction in intimacy with God. And there alone, you're going to be able to answer the 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:26.080 question after church tonight when everyone's cheekily asking, how's it going with God? 00:03:26.780 --> 00:03:32.479 You're going to be able to say, satisfied and joyful. You're going to be able to say, great. 00:03:34.099 --> 00:03:41.139 But before I dive in today, let's step aside and just talk about our summer in the Psalms, 00:03:41.139 --> 00:03:44.500 a summer of Psalms. This is what we've got for the next couple of weeks. 00:03:45.500 --> 00:03:51.039 I put this image together and I was really excited about all the hot weather we were having, 00:03:51.179 --> 00:03:56.919 and it was going to feel like in the room, like it does in the picture, and then it was the coldest 00:03:56.919 --> 00:04:06.599 day of the year. Before I dive in, I want to talk a little about Psalms. They are songs that Israel 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:15.680 used to sing together, and they cover all of these areas of human expression, of praise and depression, 00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:27.740 joy and grief. They've been carefully curated into this book of 150, and each psalm had a place in the 00:04:27.740 --> 00:04:36.280 day-to-day life of Israel. Each psalm had a purpose for them. And now, as God's people, each has a place 00:04:36.280 --> 00:04:45.100 in our day-to-day life too. They are for us poems without music. We only have part of their art, 00:04:45.560 --> 00:04:54.560 but we have the important bit. We miss nothing of the meaning of each song because we dive into God's 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:59.860 words in the psalms. And even though you might not have the key change you're longing for as you're 00:04:59.860 --> 00:05:05.360 reading the psalm, or the melody to help ride the emotions of where it's going and help you understand 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:16.300 it, God is speaking by his Spirit through the psalms. So let's look, I'm going to jump back into the psalm now, 00:05:16.300 --> 00:05:25.860 let's look at psalm, or song number 73, a psalm of Asaph. And make sure you've got that page in front of you. 00:05:26.199 --> 00:05:32.139 Grab a pen, scribble all over it. You can make spelling mistakes if you want to write notes. No one will see it. 00:05:32.180 --> 00:05:39.000 It's okay. Sometimes we process things better if we have a pen in our hand. We get to scribble on something. 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:49.839 That's why it's there for you now. Asaph was a Levite. He was a leader in King David's temple song team. 00:05:51.459 --> 00:06:05.040 And he is the man behind this psalm. We hear this psalm like it's his story. And sometimes, 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:13.560 when you hear a Taylor Swift song, I turn the radio off, but you might listen and think, 00:06:13.700 --> 00:06:19.500 oh, I wonder which celebrity relationship that she's had this is about. For Asaph, we don't have 00:06:19.500 --> 00:06:27.120 all that information. But what's revealed to us is that we can be confident that he has put this story 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:31.660 into our hands on purpose for it to be our story as well. 00:06:31.660 --> 00:06:39.700 So here's how to place yourself in the psalm. Look at verse 14. Take up your page or look in your Bible. 00:06:40.220 --> 00:06:41.040 Verse 14. 00:06:41.580 --> 00:06:48.180 All day long I've been afflicted. Every morning brings new punishments. 00:06:50.080 --> 00:06:54.100 So that's his life. Daily persecution and affliction. 00:06:54.100 --> 00:07:02.580 Is that your experience right now? Should we just flick to the next psalm, flick to 74, 00:07:02.780 --> 00:07:13.780 if that's not your experience? No. First, this psalm will prepare you for that day when verse 14 00:07:13.780 --> 00:07:22.800 is exactly how you feel. When your life is just like Asaph's. But secondly, let's jump right up. 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:33.259 Look at verse 2. Asaph says that his persecution and affliction threaten his foothold. 00:07:34.460 --> 00:07:39.000 He's nearly slipped from his sure footing and coping and faith. 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:49.600 That verse is how Asaph invites you into his story. You can't experience his persecution, his circumstance, 00:07:50.300 --> 00:07:56.060 but you know what it's like to have circumstances in your life that just try and knock you down. 00:07:56.060 --> 00:08:08.060 Imagine a huge fight with your spouse or with your best friend. You don't know how to resolve it. It lingers for days. 00:08:08.519 --> 00:08:15.939 It pushes you into dejection and just despondency and it's you're lonely. 00:08:15.939 --> 00:08:20.939 Finally, I have this feeling of loneliness in situations like that. 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:31.980 Asaph's description of faith-shaking difficult season in his life invites us to bring our own into it, 00:08:32.200 --> 00:08:36.879 into this psalm. As we fear that like him, we feel like we're going to fall. 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:42.960 So look later over at verse 21 and 22 when he says, 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:50.539 My heart was grieved. My spirit embittered. I was senseless, ignorant, like a beast. 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:55.519 And then in verse 16, jump down the bottom, verse 16. 00:08:55.879 --> 00:09:01.440 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply. 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:07.600 I know that in hard seasons of my life, I've felt exactly like that. 00:09:10.180 --> 00:09:11.460 I'm sure you have too. 00:09:13.940 --> 00:09:17.700 If someone asked me or asked you right then in that hard season, 00:09:18.020 --> 00:09:19.100 how's it going with God? 00:09:19.780 --> 00:09:26.680 Would your painful, difficult, real circumstances creep into the way that you answered that question? 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:32.079 So let's look at verse 1. 00:09:33.359 --> 00:09:38.219 God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:47.919 That's a promise of God that Asaph seems to be questioning during his hardship. 00:09:48.339 --> 00:09:51.659 He's opening challenge to his heart. 00:09:51.659 --> 00:09:58.860 But soon we'll find out if Asaph finds that God is good, like he has been taught. 00:10:01.839 --> 00:10:09.100 Here, in verse 1, pure in heart is more than just the washing of hands, 00:10:09.179 --> 00:10:13.659 or the doing the right things, or the keeping pure in mind and body, 00:10:13.939 --> 00:10:15.439 like in verse 13. 00:10:16.220 --> 00:10:17.639 It's more than that. 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:21.100 It's a description of someone pursuing God on his terms. 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:25.440 And we heard from Sam Lowe last week, talking from John 8, about exactly that. 00:10:28.340 --> 00:10:34.279 It's a description of someone who's obeying God and caring for others. 00:10:34.980 --> 00:10:40.220 And for Asaph in Israel, that meant obedience, sacrifice, and selflessness. 00:10:40.220 --> 00:10:51.680 And for us, it means following Jesus, trusting in him and his pure heart, trusting in his sacrifice, 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:55.220 as we love others more than we love ourselves. 00:10:58.759 --> 00:11:02.060 Asaph thought that he was following God on God's terms, 00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:04.440 but his life wasn't working out. 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:09.980 This challenged the promise that God is good. 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:14.280 So, do you feel that God is good to you? 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:20.580 If you understand good to mean peaceful, blessed, and prosperous, 00:11:20.860 --> 00:11:21.760 then you might say no. 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:29.679 That's why Asaph wonders, in verse 13, he says, 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:32.360 surely in vain. 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:34.960 Is it all in vain that I've been following God? 00:11:37.379 --> 00:11:42.620 For Asaph, God doesn't seem to be doing to him the good that he expected. 00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:44.419 So, he's at this turning point. 00:11:45.980 --> 00:11:46.259 Okay? 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:49.279 He's in this horrible circumstance, 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:53.299 and he's challenging that promise in verse 1. 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:56.019 He feels like he's falling and slipping. 00:11:57.159 --> 00:11:58.139 And then verse 3, 00:12:00.039 --> 00:12:03.639 Asaph sees the prosperity of those who do not follow God, 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:05.539 and he is envious. 00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:10.759 Friends, envious is so dangerous. 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:15.019 Longing and yearning for a way out of circumstances. 00:12:15.980 --> 00:12:21.500 It turns our eyes to those who have the circumstance that we wish that we had. 00:12:23.340 --> 00:12:28.379 Look at what Asaph sees in the world as he turns in verses 4 to 12. 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:30.399 And just underline them as I go through. 00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:32.500 I'm just going to summarize a few of them. 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:34.600 Because he sees in the world, 00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:36.460 as he turns, 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:38.299 and is envious. 00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:39.859 He sees their health, 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:41.219 their strength, 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:42.159 their safety, 00:12:42.299 --> 00:12:42.899 their freedom, 00:12:43.479 --> 00:12:44.419 their riches, 00:12:45.419 --> 00:12:46.859 their fine clothing, 00:12:47.099 --> 00:12:47.559 jewellery, 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:48.419 influence, 00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:49.379 ease, 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:50.559 wealth. 00:12:53.319 --> 00:12:54.099 Now, those, 00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:54.799 on their own, 00:12:54.839 --> 00:12:55.799 are not bad things. 00:12:55.799 --> 00:13:04.099 But what would the cost be for Asaph to get all of those things? 00:13:05.899 --> 00:13:06.199 Now, 00:13:06.859 --> 00:13:10.379 in Eastern and Western cultures, 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:15.099 we have songs that talk about prosperity like Psalm 73, 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:16.659 just in a totally different way. 00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:20.259 We just wholeheartedly throw ourselves in at verse 3 and go, 00:13:20.319 --> 00:13:21.099 that's amazing! 00:13:21.100 --> 00:13:25.180 Can you think of a song that does that? 00:13:26.800 --> 00:13:28.040 Longs after prosperity? 00:13:30.920 --> 00:13:32.440 Money, money, money, 00:13:33.920 --> 00:13:34.940 always sunny, 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:37.840 in a rich man's world. 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:40.620 Abba's beautiful, 00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:41.759 great song that, 00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:43.600 it was one of my mum's favourites. 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:47.000 If not favourite, 00:13:47.180 --> 00:13:48.500 then why was she playing it? 00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:49.300 It was painful. 00:13:49.580 --> 00:13:51.920 But it is about a woman 00:13:51.920 --> 00:13:53.800 who doesn't care 00:13:53.800 --> 00:13:56.000 about what it costs, 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:57.759 just has to get prosperity. 00:13:58.740 --> 00:14:00.220 She's willing to just take 00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:01.779 any guy who can say, 00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:03.759 hey, I'm worth a decent amount of money, 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:04.240 she's like, 00:14:05.080 --> 00:14:06.759 problem solved. 00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:10.980 Adrian, 00:14:11.220 --> 00:14:13.039 my brother over here, 00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:14.519 shared with me another song, 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:15.460 and we're going to play it 00:14:15.460 --> 00:14:16.379 and absorb it 00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:17.860 and enjoy it together right now. 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:19.299 Can you hit play on that, Sarah? 00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:20.159 We're going to, 00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:20.980 just, 00:14:21.059 --> 00:14:21.259 just, 00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:23.179 turn it up. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:24.580 Turn it up, 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:25.819 just absorb the greatness. 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:28.399 Does anyone know what 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:29.279 tin means? 00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:31.179 Money, 00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:32.100 that's right. 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:35.039 Just keep it going, 00:14:35.179 --> 00:14:35.819 keep it going, 00:14:35.820 --> 00:14:37.379 because we've got to enjoy 00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:39.560 what this is about. 00:14:39.680 --> 00:14:40.680 One of the lines in there 00:14:40.680 --> 00:14:41.240 is literally, 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:42.060 no money, 00:14:42.180 --> 00:14:42.780 no talk, 00:14:43.260 --> 00:14:43.920 which means, 00:14:44.280 --> 00:14:44.900 you've got no money, 00:14:45.040 --> 00:14:46.420 I've got no interest in you at all. 00:14:47.180 --> 00:14:48.520 And I asked Google Translate 00:14:48.520 --> 00:14:50.100 to help me with some of the translation. 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:51.020 Just keep it playing 00:14:51.020 --> 00:14:51.980 while I read some of these. 00:14:53.420 --> 00:14:54.800 I always want more money. 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:56.560 I want more money in my day. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:58.060 Borrowing money 00:14:58.060 --> 00:14:59.100 is the most demeaning. 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:00.660 If you have money, 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:02.060 you'll be less guilty 00:15:02.060 --> 00:15:03.440 driving down the street 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:05.100 and stealing other people's things. 00:15:05.820 --> 00:15:07.900 It's trying to poke fun 00:15:07.900 --> 00:15:09.960 at Hong Kong's pursuit 00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:10.640 of prosperity, 00:15:10.920 --> 00:15:12.020 and yet, 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:13.020 it doesn't provide 00:15:13.020 --> 00:15:13.620 an alternative. 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:14.520 It just says, 00:15:14.940 --> 00:15:16.240 in Hong Kong, 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:16.860 we love money. 00:15:17.760 --> 00:15:18.980 That's just the reality. 00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:21.760 I think all cultures agree, 00:15:22.420 --> 00:15:23.460 and I think we're, 00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:25.520 we're brought up 00:15:25.520 --> 00:15:27.580 to pursue prosperity 00:15:27.580 --> 00:15:28.420 as a good thing. 00:15:28.419 --> 00:15:30.919 And if you get prosperity, 00:15:31.099 --> 00:15:31.899 it'll solve 00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:32.759 all the problems 00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:33.399 of your heart. 00:15:35.099 --> 00:15:36.799 I think that's universal. 00:15:38.339 --> 00:15:39.519 But in Psalm 73, 00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:40.879 prosperity 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:42.500 is paired 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:45.219 with moral poverty. 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:47.899 Prosperity costs 00:15:47.899 --> 00:15:49.539 everything to get it. 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:50.939 The prosperous here, 00:15:51.579 --> 00:15:52.919 and you can circle 00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:53.360 these ones 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:54.139 if you've underlined 00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:54.659 the first ones, 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:55.519 circle these. 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.879 The prosperous here 00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:57.799 are wicked 00:15:57.799 --> 00:15:58.879 and arrogant, 00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:00.159 prideful, 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:01.240 violent, 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:01.799 malicious, 00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:04.100 oppressive, 00:16:05.079 --> 00:16:05.840 blasphemous. 00:16:06.179 --> 00:16:07.259 They spread heresy. 00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:09.100 They lead people astray 00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:10.720 and away from God. 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:12.960 These are not those 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:15.259 who are pure in heart. 00:16:15.659 --> 00:16:16.919 From verse 1. 00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:19.360 But even as Asaph 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:20.179 sees this, 00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:20.459 right, 00:16:21.419 --> 00:16:22.240 he seems to be 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:23.319 angry at them, 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:25.259 yet he can't help 00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:26.360 feeling pulled 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:28.120 into how they 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.059 pursue the world. 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:32.620 That's what envy does. 00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:33.479 It leads 00:16:33.479 --> 00:16:35.699 us to look 00:16:35.699 --> 00:16:36.559 for satisfaction 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:38.019 outside of our 00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:38.779 circumstances. 00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:40.500 And we're constantly 00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:41.779 bombarded by 00:16:41.779 --> 00:16:43.199 envy-fueling 00:16:43.199 --> 00:16:43.879 advertising. 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:45.339 Get a new car 00:16:45.339 --> 00:16:46.559 that we bus next to you 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:47.859 that's helping you 00:16:47.859 --> 00:16:48.619 pursue envy, 00:16:48.739 --> 00:16:49.199 not God. 00:16:49.719 --> 00:16:50.699 Turn on your phone. 00:16:50.819 --> 00:16:51.799 There'll be an advertisement 00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:52.719 on there as well 00:16:52.719 --> 00:16:54.339 doing the same thing. 00:16:54.739 --> 00:16:55.639 Or on Facebook 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:56.219 and there'll be 00:16:56.219 --> 00:16:56.839 someone's 00:16:56.839 --> 00:16:58.939 beautiful cruise 00:16:58.939 --> 00:17:00.899 holiday photos 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:01.859 from Vanuatu 00:17:01.859 --> 00:17:03.619 like Wendy's 00:17:03.619 --> 00:17:04.259 this morning 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:06.379 when I turned 00:17:06.379 --> 00:17:06.899 on Facebook. 00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.040 look, 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:10.620 it's never been 00:17:10.620 --> 00:17:11.240 easier 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:12.720 to envy 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.440 the prosperous. 00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:14.840 But it 00:17:14.840 --> 00:17:15.800 always costs 00:17:15.800 --> 00:17:16.320 us. 00:17:16.840 --> 00:17:17.820 Because if we 00:17:17.820 --> 00:17:19.560 have to stop 00:17:19.560 --> 00:17:20.800 following God 00:17:20.800 --> 00:17:22.600 to pursue 00:17:22.600 --> 00:17:23.880 prosperity. 00:17:24.840 --> 00:17:25.620 And as that 00:17:25.620 --> 00:17:26.620 reality dawns 00:17:26.620 --> 00:17:27.320 on Asaph, 00:17:28.060 --> 00:17:29.340 he feels like 00:17:29.340 --> 00:17:29.840 he's got nowhere 00:17:29.840 --> 00:17:30.300 to go. 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:31.100 So look at 00:17:31.100 --> 00:17:31.780 verse 16. 00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:36.460 When I tried 00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:36.960 to understand 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:37.440 this, 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:39.740 it troubled 00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:40.480 me deeply. 00:17:41.379 --> 00:17:41.920 In other 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:42.399 translations 00:17:42.399 --> 00:17:43.059 it says 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:44.440 life was 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:45.119 wearisome. 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:49.679 It seems 00:17:49.679 --> 00:17:50.500 that hopelessness 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.279 has set in. 00:17:51.459 --> 00:17:51.939 It's like 00:17:51.939 --> 00:17:53.539 he either 00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:54.239 gives into 00:17:54.239 --> 00:17:54.599 envy 00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:56.339 or gives up 00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:56.899 in despair. 00:17:58.519 --> 00:17:59.459 But in his 00:17:59.459 --> 00:17:59.979 weariness 00:17:59.979 --> 00:18:01.179 he turns 00:18:01.179 --> 00:18:02.319 to God. 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:04.119 There are 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:04.779 two points 00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.179 here where 00:18:05.179 --> 00:18:05.639 Asaph, 00:18:05.739 --> 00:18:06.299 he just 00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:06.959 stops in 00:18:06.959 --> 00:18:07.539 his tracks. 00:18:07.659 --> 00:18:08.219 He doesn't 00:18:08.219 --> 00:18:09.259 give into 00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:09.879 envy or 00:18:09.879 --> 00:18:10.279 give up 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:10.899 in despair. 00:18:11.339 --> 00:18:12.039 He stops. 00:18:12.379 --> 00:18:13.239 Verse 15, 00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:13.759 just above 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.339 where we were. 00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:15.319 If I had 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:16.079 spoken out 00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:16.779 like that, 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:19.679 he deliberately 00:18:19.679 --> 00:18:20.879 ceases that 00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:22.480 expression of 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:23.419 envy and 00:18:23.419 --> 00:18:23.939 trades it 00:18:23.939 --> 00:18:24.679 for silence. 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.619 He turns 00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:27.059 away from 00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.659 giving in. 00:18:32.399 --> 00:18:33.240 And then 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.079 in verse 17, 00:18:35.179 --> 00:18:38.039 he enters 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:38.959 the sanctuary 00:18:38.959 --> 00:18:40.019 of God. 00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:42.539 The 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:42.839 psalmist 00:18:42.839 --> 00:18:43.279 went into 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:43.899 the temple 00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:44.920 to be as 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:45.420 physically 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:46.720 near to 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:47.280 God 00:18:47.280 --> 00:18:49.019 as he 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:49.500 could. 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.259 Perhaps 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:50.740 even to 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.380 question God 00:18:51.380 --> 00:18:52.080 himself on 00:18:52.080 --> 00:18:52.620 verse 1. 00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:53.400 God, 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:53.740 you said 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:53.960 you were 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:54.240 good. 00:18:56.600 --> 00:18:57.180 But we 00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:57.580 don't get to 00:18:57.580 --> 00:18:57.880 see what 00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:58.220 happened. 00:18:59.360 --> 00:18:59.920 But we 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:00.200 see the 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:00.640 result. 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:01.860 That near 00:19:01.860 --> 00:19:02.460 to God, 00:19:02.840 --> 00:19:03.480 Asaph's 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:04.259 envy was 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.380 turned upside 00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:05.800 down. 00:19:06.860 --> 00:19:07.640 Now his 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:08.480 envy turns 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:09.220 to pity 00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:09.680 for the 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:10.140 prosperous. 00:19:10.140 --> 00:19:11.360 of those 00:19:11.360 --> 00:19:11.560 who 00:19:11.560 --> 00:19:11.840 follow 00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:12.420 prosperity, 00:19:12.540 --> 00:19:13.100 he says, 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:14.080 then I 00:19:14.080 --> 00:19:14.580 understood 00:19:14.580 --> 00:19:14.960 their 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:15.560 destiny. 00:19:16.320 --> 00:19:17.060 Verse 17, 00:19:17.300 --> 00:19:18.320 I came 00:19:18.320 --> 00:19:18.600 near to 00:19:18.600 --> 00:19:19.460 God and 00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:20.140 I saw 00:19:20.140 --> 00:19:21.000 their 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.460 future. 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:24.900 There's 00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:25.160 something 00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:25.640 coming to 00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:26.060 those who 00:19:26.060 --> 00:19:26.280 sin, 00:19:26.540 --> 00:19:27.040 who abuse 00:19:27.040 --> 00:19:27.700 power and 00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:28.380 lead humanity 00:19:28.380 --> 00:19:28.820 astray, 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:29.900 who perpetrate 00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.560 injustice in 00:19:30.560 --> 00:19:30.900 the world, 00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:31.220 and it's 00:19:31.220 --> 00:19:31.520 God's 00:19:31.520 --> 00:19:31.860 judgment. 00:19:31.859 --> 00:19:33.639 It's 00:19:33.639 --> 00:19:34.219 fair and 00:19:34.219 --> 00:19:34.379 it's 00:19:34.379 --> 00:19:34.819 coming to 00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:35.039 them. 00:19:35.219 --> 00:19:35.740 Maybe not 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:36.539 now, but 00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:37.439 it certainly 00:19:37.439 --> 00:19:38.159 will come. 00:19:41.059 --> 00:19:42.019 But when 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:42.839 God sees 00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:44.579 evil, he 00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:45.000 does not 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:45.559 see it like 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:46.339 Asaph did. 00:19:46.479 --> 00:19:46.919 He doesn't 00:19:46.919 --> 00:19:47.379 look at it 00:19:47.379 --> 00:19:48.079 in envy. 00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:50.259 Rather, 00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:54.959 it's 00:19:54.959 --> 00:19:55.839 perpetrators. 00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:57.240 When he 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:57.859 sees them, 00:19:57.959 --> 00:19:58.419 they're like 00:19:58.419 --> 00:20:00.119 ghosts or 00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:00.959 fantasies to 00:20:00.959 --> 00:20:01.159 him. 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:01.920 They're 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:03.800 mists and 00:20:03.800 --> 00:20:04.560 phantoms that 00:20:04.560 --> 00:20:05.340 he just 00:20:05.340 --> 00:20:06.880 brushes aside 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:08.080 and all 00:20:08.080 --> 00:20:08.580 that's left 00:20:08.580 --> 00:20:09.460 is justice. 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:10.920 You can see 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:11.640 in verse 20 00:20:11.640 --> 00:20:12.000 there, it's 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:12.380 quite a 00:20:12.380 --> 00:20:13.900 difficult verse 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.680 to grasp, 00:20:15.100 --> 00:20:15.500 but that's 00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.080 the imagery 00:20:16.080 --> 00:20:16.720 the psalmist 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:17.320 is using 00:20:17.320 --> 00:20:18.720 for God's 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:19.120 judgment. 00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:21.460 Notice as 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.620 well that 00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:23.400 Asaph went 00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:24.220 from slipping 00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:24.759 and being 00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:25.380 knocked down 00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:26.140 in verse 2 00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:26.860 to his 00:20:26.860 --> 00:20:27.880 persecutors 00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:28.920 being completely 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:29.580 knocked down 00:20:29.580 --> 00:20:30.019 and swept 00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.480 away and 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:30.940 destroyed. 00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:32.660 Their destiny 00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:33.460 is awful 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:35.060 because it's 00:20:35.060 --> 00:20:35.980 away from 00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:36.500 God 00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:37.779 completely. 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:38.900 See, this is 00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:39.340 the worst of 00:20:39.340 --> 00:20:39.920 the punishments 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:40.259 mentioned. 00:20:40.380 --> 00:20:40.580 Look at 00:20:40.580 --> 00:20:41.259 verse 27. 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.500 It's horrific. 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:43.960 Those who are 00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.480 far from 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:44.940 God 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:46.759 will perish. 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:47.980 Nearness 00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:48.740 to God 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:50.519 is safety. 00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:52.300 Without 00:20:52.300 --> 00:20:52.740 him, 00:20:53.600 --> 00:20:54.460 anyone's future 00:20:54.460 --> 00:20:55.279 is destruction, 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:56.080 no matter 00:20:56.080 --> 00:20:56.800 their prosperity. 00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:56.879 authority. 00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.180 So what's 00:20:59.180 --> 00:20:59.839 the insight 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.119 into 00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:00.480 Nearness 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.240 to God 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:01.879 that Asaph 00:21:01.879 --> 00:21:02.399 is clinging 00:21:02.399 --> 00:21:02.700 to? 00:21:05.339 --> 00:21:06.279 I think 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:06.980 that he 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.299 got a 00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:07.559 glimpse 00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:07.980 in the 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:08.220 temple 00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:08.819 that day 00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:10.119 of his 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:10.960 place with 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.359 God 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:13.819 that God 00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:14.720 had graciously 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:15.419 given him. 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:17.659 Listen to 00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:18.379 the impact 00:21:18.379 --> 00:21:18.879 of God's 00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:19.259 promises 00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:19.859 to him. 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:20.119 This is 00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:20.379 where I 00:21:20.379 --> 00:21:22.299 find that 00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:23.159 idea 00:21:23.159 --> 00:21:23.740 in verse 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.399 23. 00:21:26.399 --> 00:21:26.720 And this 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.319 is Asaph 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:27.879 talking to 00:21:27.879 --> 00:21:28.220 God. 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.419 Yet I 00:21:29.419 --> 00:21:30.059 am always 00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:30.579 with you. 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:31.559 You hold 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.139 me by my 00:21:32.139 --> 00:21:32.740 right hand. 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.500 You guide 00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:33.799 me with 00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:34.399 your counsel 00:21:34.399 --> 00:21:35.579 and afterward 00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:36.379 you will 00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:37.220 take me 00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:38.259 into glory. 00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:39.339 It's a 00:21:39.339 --> 00:21:39.879 beautiful 00:21:39.879 --> 00:21:40.399 promise. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:41.960 And as we 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:42.599 follow Jesus 00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:43.059 it's our 00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:43.779 promise too. 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:45.319 Nothing 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:45.899 had changed 00:21:45.899 --> 00:21:46.240 for the 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.639 psalmist 00:21:46.639 --> 00:21:47.079 in his 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:47.480 awful 00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:48.180 situation 00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:49.099 but God 00:21:49.099 --> 00:21:49.879 had affirmed 00:21:49.879 --> 00:21:50.079 his 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:51.180 unshakable 00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:51.799 place 00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:52.700 with him 00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:54.899 right now 00:21:54.899 --> 00:21:56.599 in his 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:56.960 mess 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:59.000 but also 00:21:59.000 --> 00:21:59.740 into 00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.440 his 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:01.099 afterward. 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:06.119 For the 00:22:06.119 --> 00:22:06.619 Israelite 00:22:06.619 --> 00:22:07.279 hearing this 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:07.899 they did 00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:08.539 not have 00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:09.940 the view 00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:10.519 of eternity 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.079 in heaven 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:11.339 that we 00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:11.740 get from 00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:12.039 the New 00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:12.419 Testament. 00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:13.980 Jesus 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.599 brought that 00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.039 promise 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:16.379 but Asaph 00:22:16.379 --> 00:22:17.039 was relying 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:17.440 on God 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:18.279 for deliverance 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:18.720 from his 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:19.259 circumstance 00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:19.940 right now 00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:21.840 and trusting 00:22:21.840 --> 00:22:22.420 in God's 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:22.759 nearness 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.320 to him 00:22:23.320 --> 00:22:23.820 to be 00:22:23.820 --> 00:22:24.299 the only 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:24.720 good 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:25.120 that he 00:22:25.120 --> 00:22:25.799 would ever 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.240 need 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:26.960 regardless 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.380 of what 00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:27.700 that would 00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.180 look like 00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:28.799 in the 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.160 future. 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:31.160 Glory 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:32.000 in verse 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:32.519 24 00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:32.900 have a look 00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:33.279 at verse 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:33.799 24 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:34.740 and afterward 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.519 you will 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:36.140 take me 00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:36.980 into glory. 00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:39.039 The 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:39.640 afterward 00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:40.180 Asaph 00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:41.000 hoped for 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:42.640 was the 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:43.039 end of 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:43.660 this season 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:44.120 in his 00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:44.539 life. 00:22:45.900 --> 00:22:46.920 A future 00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:47.519 beyond 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:47.920 there. 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.360 He did 00:22:49.360 --> 00:22:49.860 not know 00:22:49.860 --> 00:22:50.400 certainty 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:50.940 on into 00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:51.420 eternity 00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:52.240 but for 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:52.600 him 00:22:52.600 --> 00:22:53.240 there is 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:53.740 so much 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.060 more to 00:22:54.060 --> 00:22:54.300 God's 00:22:54.300 --> 00:22:54.580 promise 00:22:54.580 --> 00:22:54.960 there in 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.640 verse 24. 00:22:56.840 --> 00:22:57.420 Asaph's 00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:57.840 hope 00:22:57.840 --> 00:22:58.800 was in 00:22:58.800 --> 00:22:59.259 God's 00:22:59.259 --> 00:22:59.800 sovereignty 00:22:59.800 --> 00:23:00.840 and plan. 00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.360 You see 00:23:01.360 --> 00:23:01.680 that in 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:02.160 28. 00:23:02.820 --> 00:23:03.160 His 00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:03.680 sovereign 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.140 Lord 00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:04.600 is his 00:23:04.600 --> 00:23:05.180 refuge. 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:05.880 The one 00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:06.980 who understands 00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:07.620 all things 00:23:07.620 --> 00:23:08.720 who orchestrates 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:09.340 all things 00:23:09.340 --> 00:23:10.019 the sovereign 00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:10.460 Lord 00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:12.519 and that 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:14.160 sovereign 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:14.620 Lord's 00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:14.920 plan 00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:15.740 is Jesus 00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:17.140 and though 00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:17.539 Asaph 00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:18.299 knew not 00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:19.220 how God 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:19.799 would save 00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:20.140 him he 00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:20.880 trusted in 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:21.240 the God 00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:21.579 who had 00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:21.880 drawn 00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:22.460 into him 00:23:22.460 --> 00:23:24.620 but for 00:23:24.620 --> 00:23:25.420 us we 00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:26.599 see Jesus. 00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:28.259 So we 00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:28.859 look forward 00:23:28.859 --> 00:23:31.039 to God 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:32.380 aiding us 00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:33.220 in our 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:33.779 circumstance 00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:35.019 now but we 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.740 can also look 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.519 beyond it 00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:37.339 through our 00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:38.200 circumstances 00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:39.339 to eternal 00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:40.240 life to 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:40.779 complete 00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.220 nearness 00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:41.859 with God 00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:42.519 forever 00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:44.519 as well 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.059 as help 00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:46.139 injustice 00:23:46.139 --> 00:23:48.379 and our 00:23:48.379 --> 00:23:49.079 circumstances 00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:49.539 today. 00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:52.059 The 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:52.539 psalm 00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:53.200 is a 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:53.960 foreshadowing 00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:54.859 of God's 00:23:54.859 --> 00:23:55.480 bigger 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.019 plan 00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:57.960 a plan 00:23:57.960 --> 00:23:58.319 for our 00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:58.799 eternity 00:23:58.799 --> 00:23:59.579 to fully 00:23:59.579 --> 00:24:00.299 provide 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:02.019 the desires 00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:02.579 for the 00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:03.179 desires 00:24:03.179 --> 00:24:04.339 of Asaph's 00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:04.919 heart 00:24:04.919 --> 00:24:05.679 even beyond 00:24:05.679 --> 00:24:06.099 what he 00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:06.639 could see. 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:09.700 That makes 00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:10.159 me think 00:24:10.159 --> 00:24:10.960 of the 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:11.319 C.S. 00:24:11.379 --> 00:24:12.019 Lewis quote 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.359 from 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:13.660 mere 00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:14.160 Christianity 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:15.480 which I 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:15.879 only know 00:24:15.879 --> 00:24:16.299 through a 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:16.539 song. 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:17.819 So I'm 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:18.000 going to 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:18.319 share the 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:18.879 song version 00:24:18.879 --> 00:24:19.500 because that's 00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:19.779 what I 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:20.160 remember. 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:21.700 But C.S. 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.539 Lewis says 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:24.940 he supposes 00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:26.319 that if I 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:27.200 find in 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:28.000 myself 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:30.200 desires that 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:31.119 no thing in 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:31.759 this world 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:33.000 can satisfy 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:34.700 I can only 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.240 conclude 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:36.740 that I was 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.420 not made 00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:38.019 for here. 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:40.880 Our 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:41.440 desires 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.900 call us 00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:43.980 to eternity 00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:44.619 with God 00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:46.140 not to the 00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:46.579 envy of the 00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:46.839 world. 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:49.819 And with 00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:50.279 God with 00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:51.440 us we 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:51.940 have the 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:52.619 only good 00:24:52.619 --> 00:24:53.140 we'll ever 00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:54.059 need right 00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:54.819 now and 00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:55.460 for eternity 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:56.440 overriding 00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:56.640 our 00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:57.360 circumstances 00:24:57.360 --> 00:24:57.720 and our 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.000 future 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:58.440 worries. 00:25:01.340 --> 00:25:02.000 Hear that 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:02.519 reality 00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:03.400 inspire 00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:04.160 Asaph. 00:25:05.100 --> 00:25:05.400 Look at 00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:05.840 the joy 00:25:05.840 --> 00:25:06.259 that's in 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:07.079 verse 26. 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:08.759 My heart 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:09.120 and my 00:25:09.120 --> 00:25:09.740 flesh may 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.240 fail. 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.200 There's 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:15.779 no may 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.740 in the 00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.299 original 00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:17.779 language. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.519 It's just 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.440 my heart 00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:20.120 and flesh 00:25:20.120 --> 00:25:20.920 fail. 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:21.759 They just 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.259 do. 00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:24.140 But God 00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:24.680 hear that. 00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:25.820 but God 00:25:25.820 --> 00:25:26.519 is the 00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:26.960 strength 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:27.720 of my 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.180 heart 00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:29.200 and my 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:29.700 portion 00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:30.440 forever. 00:25:31.900 --> 00:25:32.240 He can 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:32.680 see that 00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:32.940 God 00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:33.700 steps in 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.039 to be 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:34.500 with us 00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:34.840 in our 00:25:34.840 --> 00:25:35.400 frustration 00:25:35.400 --> 00:25:36.440 and lead 00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:36.779 us to 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.140 joy. 00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:38.720 There's 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:39.539 no gap 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.440 in nearness 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.060 to God 00:25:41.060 --> 00:25:41.680 in that. 00:25:42.560 --> 00:25:43.039 He's 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:43.700 our strength 00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:44.259 of heart 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:45.500 when our 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.039 hearts 00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:47.100 fail. 00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:49.360 And we're 00:25:49.360 --> 00:25:49.799 left in 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.299 our psalm 00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:50.640 with this 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:51.580 stark contrast 00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:52.000 of verse 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:53.259 27 where 00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:53.799 it says 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.980 people 00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:56.399 who are 00:25:56.399 --> 00:25:57.200 those who 00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:57.599 are far 00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:58.039 from you 00:25:58.039 --> 00:25:58.240 will 00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:58.740 perish. 00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:00.799 But 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.180 Asaph 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:01.539 declares 00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:01.819 in the 00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:02.180 midst of 00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:02.359 his 00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:02.879 horrible 00:26:02.879 --> 00:26:03.639 situation 00:26:03.639 --> 00:26:04.579 as for 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:04.940 me 00:26:04.940 --> 00:26:06.399 it is 00:26:06.399 --> 00:26:06.859 good to 00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:07.299 be near 00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:07.700 God. 00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:09.019 I have 00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.659 made the 00:26:09.659 --> 00:26:10.039 sovereign 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:10.480 Lord 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:10.759 my 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.539 refuge. 00:26:12.399 --> 00:26:12.899 God 00:26:12.899 --> 00:26:13.319 is a 00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:13.859 refuge 00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:15.059 a safe 00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:16.240 foundation 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:17.079 that can 00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:17.480 never be 00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:17.799 shaken 00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:18.299 enough 00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:20.159 to break 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:21.960 and cause 00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:22.340 us to 00:26:22.340 --> 00:26:22.720 fall. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.120 The 00:26:24.120 --> 00:26:24.340 psalm 00:26:24.340 --> 00:26:24.720 doesn't 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.320 have 00:26:25.320 --> 00:26:26.180 the 00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:26.620 answer 00:26:26.620 --> 00:26:27.380 in there 00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:28.240 for how 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:28.720 to find 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.060 God 00:26:29.060 --> 00:26:29.380 or how 00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:29.680 to come 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:30.000 near to 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:30.259 him. 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:31.140 We 00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:31.720 have to 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.360 look to 00:26:32.360 --> 00:26:32.660 Jesus 00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:33.259 for that. 00:26:34.540 --> 00:26:34.920 And there 00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.259 are many 00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:35.880 places I 00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:36.400 could go 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:38.060 and I 00:26:38.060 --> 00:26:38.480 just want 00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:38.720 to go 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.279 to one. 00:26:40.380 --> 00:26:40.759 Matthew 00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.360 7, 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.279 24 and 00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:42.900 25, 00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.060 Jesus 00:26:44.060 --> 00:26:44.759 is telling 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.360 a story. 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:49.139 he says, 00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:49.699 everyone 00:26:49.699 --> 00:26:50.459 then who 00:26:50.459 --> 00:26:51.519 hears these 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.019 words of 00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:52.479 mine and 00:26:52.479 --> 00:26:53.000 does them 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:54.179 will be 00:26:54.179 --> 00:26:54.619 like a 00:26:54.619 --> 00:26:55.259 wise man 00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:55.699 who built 00:26:55.699 --> 00:26:56.339 his house 00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:56.779 on the 00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.099 rock. 00:26:57.379 --> 00:26:57.819 And the 00:26:57.819 --> 00:26:58.379 rain fell 00:26:58.379 --> 00:26:58.639 and the 00:26:58.639 --> 00:26:58.879 floods 00:26:58.879 --> 00:26:59.319 came and 00:26:59.319 --> 00:26:59.619 the winds 00:26:59.619 --> 00:27:00.000 blew and 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:00.359 beat on 00:27:00.359 --> 00:27:00.819 that house 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.159 but it 00:27:01.159 --> 00:27:01.779 did not 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.399 fall 00:27:02.399 --> 00:27:03.859 because it 00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:04.139 had been 00:27:04.139 --> 00:27:04.619 founded 00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:05.439 on the 00:27:05.439 --> 00:27:05.879 rock. 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:08.299 So hear 00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:08.839 and do 00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:09.240 Jesus' 00:27:09.439 --> 00:27:11.459 words and 00:27:11.459 --> 00:27:11.819 you will 00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:12.199 not be 00:27:12.199 --> 00:27:12.919 swept away 00:27:12.919 --> 00:27:13.559 no matter 00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:14.019 the tide 00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:14.579 or storm. 00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:16.579 Your feet 00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:16.919 will never 00:27:16.919 --> 00:27:17.339 slip. 00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:17.979 They will 00:27:17.979 --> 00:27:18.500 never lose 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.199 their footholds. 00:27:21.719 --> 00:27:22.279 Jesus 00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:22.759 is the 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.699 way to 00:27:23.699 --> 00:27:24.039 finding 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.479 intimacy 00:27:24.479 --> 00:27:25.099 with God 00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:25.979 as we 00:27:25.979 --> 00:27:26.559 follow him 00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:26.979 through his 00:27:26.979 --> 00:27:27.419 word to 00:27:27.419 --> 00:27:28.019 the cross 00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:30.199 and to 00:27:30.199 --> 00:27:30.359 his 00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:30.879 resurrection 00:27:30.879 --> 00:27:31.779 and into 00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.240 a life 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:32.559 with him 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:32.899 forever. 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:34.799 It's 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.579 through 00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:35.979 Jesus' 00:27:36.159 --> 00:27:36.459 death in 00:27:36.459 --> 00:27:37.059 our place 00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:38.059 that he 00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:38.859 takes us 00:27:38.859 --> 00:27:39.719 off the 00:27:39.719 --> 00:27:40.179 sand 00:27:40.179 --> 00:27:42.059 so graciously 00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:43.539 takes us 00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:43.899 off our 00:27:43.899 --> 00:27:44.240 slippery 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:44.740 ground 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.380 and 00:27:45.380 --> 00:27:46.460 establishes 00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:46.859 us 00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:47.400 firm 00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:47.720 on 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.160 him 00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:48.519 the 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:48.900 rock 00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:49.740 himself. 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:51.380 So we 00:27:51.380 --> 00:27:51.819 find our 00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:52.240 strength 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:54.799 as he 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.500 is lifted 00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:55.940 up in 00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.420 weakness 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.539 on a 00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:57.900 cross 00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:59.039 as he 00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.519 took our 00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.079 sin away 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:01.460 to give 00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:01.980 us back 00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:02.660 our 00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:03.200 intimacy 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:04.359 with God. 00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:04.399 God. 00:28:07.679 --> 00:28:08.359 Let's 00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:09.279 see something 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:09.740 wonderful 00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.240 here in 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.059 verse 26. 00:28:12.199 --> 00:28:13.019 Verse 26 00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:13.519 go back 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:13.839 there. 00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:16.719 Where it 00:28:16.719 --> 00:28:17.379 says God 00:28:17.379 --> 00:28:17.799 is the 00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:18.279 strength 00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:18.740 of my 00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.099 heart. 00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:20.059 The Hebrew 00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:20.500 word for 00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:20.899 strength 00:28:20.899 --> 00:28:21.419 there is 00:28:21.419 --> 00:28:21.859 rock. 00:28:23.639 --> 00:28:24.519 God is 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.459 the rock 00:28:25.459 --> 00:28:26.479 of my 00:28:26.479 --> 00:28:26.819 heart. 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:27.839 We stand 00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:28.519 on rock 00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:29.500 only when 00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.219 we depend 00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:30.860 on Jesus 00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:31.460 himself. 00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:34.380 Today if 00:28:34.380 --> 00:28:34.900 your heart 00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:35.880 is 00:28:35.880 --> 00:28:36.440 embittered 00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:36.860 or weak 00:28:36.860 --> 00:28:37.420 or failing 00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:37.880 or you 00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:38.360 just can't 00:28:38.360 --> 00:28:38.740 understand 00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.059 what's 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:39.420 going on 00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:39.620 in your 00:28:39.620 --> 00:28:40.000 life 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:42.200 run to 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:42.440 him. 00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:43.200 The true 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.039 rock of 00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:44.519 your heart 00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:44.819 and your 00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:45.160 portion 00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:45.559 forever. 00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:46.660 Rely on 00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:47.839 him as 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.019 your 00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:48.539 foundation 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.539 and strength 00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:49.779 for 00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.279 eternity. 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:52.860 And join 00:28:52.860 --> 00:28:53.380 the psalmist 00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:53.740 in verse 00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:54.500 25 and 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:54.980 shout to 00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:55.240 God, 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:55.880 who have 00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:56.400 I in 00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:56.880 heaven but 00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:57.200 you? 00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.299 There is 00:28:58.299 --> 00:28:58.819 nothing on 00:28:58.819 --> 00:28:59.140 the earth 00:28:59.140 --> 00:28:59.440 that I 00:28:59.440 --> 00:28:59.900 desire 00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:00.259 besides 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:00.819 you. 00:29:04.819 --> 00:29:05.599 I have 00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:06.120 all I 00:29:06.120 --> 00:29:06.559 could ever 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.039 desire 00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:07.960 with Jesus 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:09.420 says 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:10.319 Asaph 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:13.759 if he 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.099 saw the 00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:14.279 whole 00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:14.660 picture. 00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.240 Is that 00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:17.779 enough for 00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:18.039 you? 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:20.200 To be 00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:20.799 near God? 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:23.559 The psalm 00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:23.980 has given 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.460 us a 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.120 process to 00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:25.359 walk 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:25.639 through 00:29:25.639 --> 00:29:25.879 when 00:29:25.879 --> 00:29:26.079 we're 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:26.619 frustrated 00:29:26.619 --> 00:29:27.639 in our 00:29:27.639 --> 00:29:28.399 circumstances 00:29:28.399 --> 00:29:29.939 and on 00:29:29.939 --> 00:29:30.279 our way 00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:30.719 to envy 00:29:30.719 --> 00:29:31.019 of the 00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:31.399 world. 00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:33.399 So open 00:29:33.399 --> 00:29:34.359 your Bible 00:29:34.359 --> 00:29:34.819 when you're 00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:35.259 bitter and 00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:35.500 weary. 00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.219 Learn to 00:29:37.219 --> 00:29:37.619 take this 00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:38.079 journey in 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:38.579 prayer and 00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:39.099 come near 00:29:39.099 --> 00:29:39.379 to the 00:29:39.379 --> 00:29:40.000 counsel of 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.319 God. 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.159 Seek 00:29:41.159 --> 00:29:41.979 his word. 00:29:42.439 --> 00:29:42.739 Read 00:29:42.739 --> 00:29:43.239 of Jesus 00:29:43.239 --> 00:29:43.599 in the 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:44.099 gospels. 00:29:44.659 --> 00:29:44.939 Wonder 00:29:44.939 --> 00:29:45.479 in his 00:29:45.479 --> 00:29:46.039 love as 00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:46.539 he comes 00:29:46.539 --> 00:29:47.059 near to 00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:48.500 you to 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:48.899 bring you 00:29:48.899 --> 00:29:49.379 to God. 00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:54.339 How's 00:29:54.339 --> 00:29:54.619 it going? 00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:59.579 Follow 00:29:59.579 --> 00:30:00.500 Asaph and 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.079 share this 00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:01.539 journey with 00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:01.719 other 00:30:01.719 --> 00:30:02.099 believers. 00:30:02.359 --> 00:30:02.639 Remember 00:30:02.639 --> 00:30:02.959 that. 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:04.759 Remind 00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:05.279 each other 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:07.279 of this 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:07.759 psalm and 00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:08.279 journey through 00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:08.739 it together. 00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:09.559 If someone 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:10.099 says how 00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:10.519 you're going 00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:10.899 and you're 00:30:10.899 --> 00:30:11.479 not good, 00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:12.259 talk to 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:12.419 them. 00:30:12.679 --> 00:30:13.179 Recall 00:30:13.179 --> 00:30:15.399 everything 00:30:15.399 --> 00:30:15.879 that's going 00:30:15.879 --> 00:30:16.439 on in your 00:30:16.439 --> 00:30:17.299 life so 00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:17.699 that you're 00:30:17.699 --> 00:30:18.059 given the 00:30:18.059 --> 00:30:18.799 opportunity for 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.459 someone else 00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:20.400 to remind 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:20.720 you of 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.019 all you've 00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:21.319 got in 00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:21.740 Jesus. 00:30:23.579 --> 00:30:24.460 Ask each 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:24.700 other, 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:25.400 how are you 00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:26.460 going with 00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:26.980 God? 00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:28.640 Ask the 00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:29.480 question that 00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:31.700 matters because 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:33.039 life is 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:35.200 hard, but 00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:36.600 hard does 00:30:36.600 --> 00:30:37.160 not mean 00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:37.559 wrong. 00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:39.799 I'll say that 00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.059 one more 00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:40.680 time because 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:41.900 it's late in 00:30:41.900 --> 00:30:42.319 the sermon. 00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:43.700 It's important. 00:30:43.700 --> 00:30:45.299 Life is 00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:46.319 hard, but 00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:47.279 hard does 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:48.380 not mean 00:30:48.380 --> 00:30:49.000 wrong. 00:30:51.319 --> 00:30:53.120 Hard can 00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:53.640 still be 00:30:53.640 --> 00:30:55.319 good with 00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:55.700 God. 00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.420 Last 00:30:58.420 --> 00:30:58.680 thing. 00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:01.960 Have this 00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:02.779 worldview of 00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:03.279 Asaph, 00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:03.559 right? 00:31:04.059 --> 00:31:04.620 He didn't 00:31:04.620 --> 00:31:05.120 see only 00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:07.980 his life in 00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:08.380 the balance 00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:08.819 as he 00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:09.299 wrestled 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:09.980 with envy, 00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:10.580 as he 00:31:10.580 --> 00:31:11.039 stood in 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:11.220 this 00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:11.880 circumstance. 00:31:12.340 --> 00:31:12.480 No, 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:14.259 he could 00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:15.940 see in 00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:16.539 verse 15. 00:31:16.620 --> 00:31:16.900 Just have 00:31:16.900 --> 00:31:17.200 a look at 00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:17.839 verse 15. 00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:19.380 I would 00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:20.200 have betrayed 00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:21.380 your children 00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:21.839 if I had 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:22.380 spoken out 00:31:22.380 --> 00:31:22.860 like that. 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.240 He 00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:26.440 deliberately 00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:27.039 changes 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:27.880 course because 00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:29.019 he does 00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:29.480 not want 00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:30.099 potential 00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:30.799 believers to 00:31:30.799 --> 00:31:31.140 be led 00:31:31.140 --> 00:31:31.500 astray. 00:31:31.860 --> 00:31:32.299 Those who 00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:32.640 he might 00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:32.839 have been 00:31:32.839 --> 00:31:33.440 talking about 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:33.880 in verses 00:31:33.880 --> 00:31:34.360 4 to 00:31:34.360 --> 00:31:34.839 12. 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:37.920 Those who 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:38.480 don't yet 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:39.420 know the 00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.240 benefits of 00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:40.819 nearness to 00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:41.220 God. 00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:43.759 And then 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:44.019 as he 00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:44.420 finishes, 00:31:44.660 --> 00:31:45.259 Asaph 00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:46.880 reaffirms 00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:47.120 that 00:31:47.120 --> 00:31:47.579 commitment 00:31:47.579 --> 00:31:47.980 in verse 00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:48.420 28. 00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:49.519 He ends 00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:50.220 the psalm 00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:51.460 with this 00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:51.940 verse that 00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:52.460 feels like 00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:52.759 it's on 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:53.220 its own. 00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:53.759 If you 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:54.420 don't see 00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:55.440 that it's 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:55.700 on his 00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:56.839 heart in 00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:57.200 the midst 00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:57.539 of his 00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:58.900 trouble and 00:31:58.900 --> 00:31:59.380 wrestling 00:31:59.380 --> 00:32:00.079 with God. 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:01.539 The very 00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:01.960 end of the 00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:02.200 psalm, 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:02.500 it says, 00:32:02.620 --> 00:32:02.920 I will 00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:03.400 tell of 00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:03.700 all your 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:04.099 deeds. 00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:06.599 Would 00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:07.380 you respond 00:32:07.380 --> 00:32:07.759 to your 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.180 joy in 00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:09.259 God as 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:10.059 he fulfills 00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:10.700 all your 00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:11.660 desires in 00:32:11.660 --> 00:32:12.840 him by 00:32:12.840 --> 00:32:13.440 sharing that 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:13.960 good news? 00:32:16.460 --> 00:32:17.100 Go tell 00:32:17.100 --> 00:32:17.500 the world. 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.140 Go tell 00:32:18.140 --> 00:32:18.400 of his 00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:18.720 deeds. 00:32:21.400 --> 00:32:22.040 As we 00:32:22.040 --> 00:32:22.279 go, 00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:23.460 this psalm 00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:23.880 can help 00:32:23.880 --> 00:32:24.160 us be 00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:24.560 ready for 00:32:24.560 --> 00:32:25.240 hard times, 00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:26.560 armed with 00:32:26.560 --> 00:32:27.279 readiness to 00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:27.720 turn to 00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.140 God in 00:32:28.140 --> 00:32:30.320 Jesus and 00:32:30.320 --> 00:32:30.980 rest in 00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:31.680 the relationship 00:32:31.680 --> 00:32:32.640 of intimacy 00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:34.040 that Jesus 00:32:34.040 --> 00:32:35.740 himself has 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.140 won for 00:32:36.140 --> 00:32:36.500 us. 00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:39.319 God 00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:39.880 will 00:32:39.880 --> 00:32:40.779 not have 00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:41.400 the music 00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:42.599 to sing 00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:43.559 Psalm 73 00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:44.940 as they 00:32:44.940 --> 00:32:45.279 did in 00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:45.740 Israel 00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:47.119 3,000 00:32:47.119 --> 00:32:47.880 years ago. 00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:50.900 We're 00:32:50.900 --> 00:32:51.339 blessed with 00:32:51.339 --> 00:32:51.859 songs to 00:32:51.859 --> 00:32:52.339 help us 00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:53.079 turn back. 00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:54.480 Things that 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:54.960 people have 00:32:54.960 --> 00:32:56.119 written with 00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:56.680 the same 00:32:56.680 --> 00:32:57.200 heart and 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:57.640 the same 00:32:57.640 --> 00:32:58.680 intent to 00:32:58.680 --> 00:32:59.240 turn us 00:32:59.240 --> 00:32:59.740 away from 00:32:59.740 --> 00:33:00.940 envy and 00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:01.579 to call us 00:33:01.579 --> 00:33:01.960 back to 00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:02.279 God. 00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:03.660 We're going 00:33:03.660 --> 00:33:04.240 to sing some 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:04.519 of those 00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:05.019 right now.