WEBVTT

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 Well, please do turn with me in your Bibles, if you have one with you, to this very remarkable Psalm, Psalm 88.

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! I wonder if, like me, you often find the Bible deeply unsettling reading.

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 The Bible not only richly encourages us,

00:00:29.140 --> 00:00:33.620
 it at times profoundly perplexes us.

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 And that's because, I think, there is an intense honesty in the Bible about the life of faith.

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 The life of faith is lived before the God who is from everlasting to everlasting,

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 whose thoughts are higher than our thoughts, whose ways are higher and holier and wiser than our ways.

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 We live our days out before Him who has ordained all things from the beginning to the end.

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 And it shouldn't surprise us that life can be deeply, profoundly, unsettlingly perplexing.

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 I wonder if you've ever realized that over 40% of the book of Psalms is laments.

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 59 of the 150 Psalms are laments.

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 Songs in a minor key, sometimes so minor as Psalm 88,

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 you can hardly lift your voice out of the depths to sing them.

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 I wonder if you've ever asked yourself,

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 why are there so many laments in the book of Psalms?

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 This was the songbook of God's Old Covenant Church.

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 This was the songbook of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 He would have sung the Psalms.

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 Why so many laments?

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 Well, of course, the answer is very simple, isn't it?

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 The life of faith is lived out in a fallen, anti-God, anti-Christ world.

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 The life of faith is lived out in a world where the evil one, the devil himself,

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 holds remarkable sway under the sovereign, overruling power and purpose of God.

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 And we have added to that the constant tension of indwelling sin,

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 the sin that yet remains within us to humble us,

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 and at times bring us so low,

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 we all must wonder,

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 Lord, is it possible that someone like me could really be a Christian?

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 Maybe you've never thought that.

00:03:05.639 --> 00:03:09.599
 You would be an unusual beast if you never have.

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 Indwelling sin can be so humbling, so disheartening.

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 You think, Lord, here I am again,

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 after so many years,

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 confessing the same sins.

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 When will I ever learn?

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 Have I ever learned?

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 I've been thinking these past months somewhat about how the Lord Jesus Christ

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 was always pressing on would-be disciples,

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 the cost that would be involved in following Him.

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 We know these words so well,

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 unless you take up your cross and follow me,

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 you cannot be my disciple.

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 But I wonder if we really pause long enough to ask ourselves,

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 what exactly is Jesus saying here?

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 He isn't saying that life will be full of minor inconveniences

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 that will bring a little bit of disturbance into your life.

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 He's saying,

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 unless you're ready to die,

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 and to die a cruel,

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 viciously cruel death,

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 for me,

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 you cannot be my disciple.

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 Imagine someone came to you tonight and said,

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 I know you're a Christian.

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 Tell me,

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 what must I do to become a follower of Jesus Christ?

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 And you say to them,

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 well, our Lord says,

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 unless you take up your cross and follow Him,

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 unless you hate father, mother, wife,

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 husband, child, friend,

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 compared to your love to Him,

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 you cannot be His disciple.

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 I just wonder what they would think.

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 Are you serious?

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 Do you not want me to belong

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 to the community of faith to which you belong?

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 And you would say,

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 with all my heart,

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 but I need to tell you,

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 because this is what our Lord Jesus tells us,

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 that the life of faith can be profoundly,

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 unsettlingly,

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 deeply,

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 pervasively,

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 overwhelmingly,

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 dark,

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 and difficult.

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 Psalm 88 is an extreme song of lament.

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 We're not told why this man of God

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 is suffering so overwhelmingly.

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 Some suggest,

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 some suggest,

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 with the introduction,

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 a song,

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 a psalm of the sons of Korah

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 to the choir master,

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 according to Mahaloth,

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 Le'anoth.

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 Some suggest,

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 excellent Hebrew scholars,

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 that they are,

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 that the words reflect something

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 of mental disturbance.

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 silence.

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 But we're not told.

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 And we're not told,

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 perhaps,

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 so that the psalm can apply

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 to God's overwhelmed people,

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 no matter the reason

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 for their desolation and desperation.

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 for this man is desolate and desperate.

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 And do you notice how the psalm ends?

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 I think our English versions tend to smooth out the Hebrew.

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 My companions have become darkness.

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 I think probably better,

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 darkness is my only friend.

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 Darkness is my only friend.

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 Verse 8,

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 You have caused my companions to shun me.

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 You have made me a horror to them.

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 All I've got left is darkness.

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 darkness.

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 No spark of hope.

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 No upbeat ending.

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 You know,

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 you meet Christians

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 and they always seem to give the impression

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 that everything will turn out fine.

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 Just believe.

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 You want to avoid people like that,

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 as you would avoid the plague.

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 No upbeat ending.

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 This is one man's experience,

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 but God in His wisdom

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 has inscripturated it

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 in the songbook

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 of His people.

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 Now, we don't know who this Haman was.

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 There is a Haman

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 who is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 6.

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 He was one of the temple singers

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 that David appointed

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 to celebrate

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 when the temple would be built.

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 Possibly it's him.

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 We don't really know who he was.

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 We don't know

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 really the nature of his suffering.

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 Was it mental?

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 Was it spiritual?

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 Was it physical?

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 Was it a combination of all three?

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 What we do know

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 is that his whole being

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 is shrouded in darkness.

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 God seems to have

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 abandoned him.

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 And darkness

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 is his only

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 companion.

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 So, in this psalm,

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 we are confronted

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 with a man

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 whose life

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 is a life

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 of unrelieved,

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 unceasing,

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 moment by moment,

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 day by day,

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 utter turmoil.

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 Every moment

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 of the day

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 he is bereft.

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 Look what he says

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 in verse 16 and 17.

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 Your wrath

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 has swept over me.

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 Your dreadful assaults

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 destroy me.

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 They surround me

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 like a flood

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 all

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 day

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 long.

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 There's

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 not a moment

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 where he finds

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 relief

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 from the desolations

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 that have

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 enshrouded him

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 and overwhelmed him.

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 everywhere he looks,

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 it seems

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 that his God,

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 the God of his salvation,

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 look what he writes

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 in verse 1,

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 O Lord,

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 God of my salvation.

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 Everywhere he looks,

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 it seems to him

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 from the providences

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 of his life

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 that the God

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 of his salvation

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 has abandoned him,

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 turned against him,

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 he is

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 a broken

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 man.

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 Now,

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 before I say

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 a number of things

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 about the psalm,

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 I want to

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 ask a question.

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 Is

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 Henman

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 a depressed

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 believer?

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 believer?

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 That would be

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 the conclusion

00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:56.299
 that we could

00:09:56.299 --> 00:09:57.219
 perhaps most

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 obviously jump to

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 as we read

00:09:59.039 --> 00:09:59.839
 through the psalm.

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 Here is a man

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 who is in the depths

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 of depression.

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 And it may be

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 the case.

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 But I wonder

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 myself

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 if the truth

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 is actually

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 a little more

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 profound

00:10:16.019 --> 00:10:16.740
 than that.

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 it's not

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 that he

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 is depressed.

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 It is

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 that he

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 is a

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 faithful

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 believer

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 who is

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 experiencing

00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:27.700
 the cost

00:10:27.700 --> 00:10:29.519
 of faithfulness

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 to the

00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:31.000
 God of his

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 salvation.

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 You know

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 the Psalms

00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:35.480
 42 and 43,

00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:36.180
 why are you

00:10:36.180 --> 00:10:36.799
 cast down,

00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:37.460
 O my soul?

00:10:37.820 --> 00:10:38.340
 Why are you

00:10:38.340 --> 00:10:39.180
 so distressed

00:10:39.180 --> 00:10:39.720
 within me?

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 You read

00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:41.519
 most commentaries

00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:42.000
 and they say,

00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:43.340
 here is a

00:10:43.340 --> 00:10:43.899
 depressed

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 believer.

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 I don't think

00:10:45.660 --> 00:10:46.020
 it is a

00:10:46.020 --> 00:10:46.420
 depressed

00:10:46.420 --> 00:10:46.840
 believer.

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 I think

00:10:48.680 --> 00:10:48.940
 it is

00:10:48.940 --> 00:10:49.820
 someone who

00:10:49.820 --> 00:10:51.120
 has entered

00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:52.560
 into the

00:10:52.560 --> 00:10:53.700
 experience

00:10:53.700 --> 00:10:55.260
 of the

00:10:55.260 --> 00:10:56.020
 costliness

00:10:56.020 --> 00:10:57.340
 of

00:10:57.340 --> 00:10:58.400
 faithfulness.

00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:01.760
 Now don't

00:11:01.760 --> 00:11:02.360
 get me wrong,

00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:03.220
 depression is

00:11:03.220 --> 00:11:03.680
 real and

00:11:03.680 --> 00:11:04.520
 Christians can

00:11:04.520 --> 00:11:05.340
 easily get

00:11:05.340 --> 00:11:05.860
 depressed,

00:11:06.020 --> 00:11:06.600
 overwhelmingly

00:11:06.600 --> 00:11:07.380
 depressed.

00:11:10.560 --> 00:11:11.800
 But perhaps

00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:14.319
 here we

00:11:14.319 --> 00:11:14.919
 are seeing

00:11:14.919 --> 00:11:15.559
 a man

00:11:15.559 --> 00:11:17.279
 who is

00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:17.899
 where he

00:11:17.899 --> 00:11:18.459
 is,

00:11:18.859 --> 00:11:19.679
 not so

00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:20.439
 much because

00:11:20.439 --> 00:11:21.500
 of mental

00:11:21.500 --> 00:11:22.399
 disturbance,

00:11:23.719 --> 00:11:24.359
 or perhaps

00:11:24.359 --> 00:11:25.039
 even of

00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:26.000
 physical

00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:27.039
 illness that

00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:27.740
 has caused

00:11:27.740 --> 00:11:29.019
 his companions

00:11:29.019 --> 00:11:30.059
 to shun him

00:11:30.059 --> 00:11:30.659
 as he puts

00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:30.939
 it.

00:11:31.339 --> 00:11:31.620
 Some

00:11:31.620 --> 00:11:32.579
 commentators

00:11:32.579 --> 00:11:33.179
 think that

00:11:33.179 --> 00:11:33.699
 he has a

00:11:33.699 --> 00:11:34.399
 severe case

00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:35.339
 of leprosy.

00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:38.419
 But perhaps

00:11:38.419 --> 00:11:41.120
 we're simply

00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:42.139
 being confronted

00:11:42.139 --> 00:11:43.059
 with a man

00:11:43.059 --> 00:11:43.759
 who is

00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:46.059
 agonizing

00:11:46.059 --> 00:11:47.479
 over the

00:11:47.479 --> 00:11:49.319
 fact that

00:11:49.319 --> 00:11:49.799
 the Lord

00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:50.599
 God Almighty

00:11:50.599 --> 00:11:51.399
 is the God

00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:51.799
 of his

00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:52.379
 salvation.

00:11:52.699 --> 00:11:54.319
 But look

00:11:54.319 --> 00:11:54.620
 at my

00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:55.139
 life.

00:11:56.819 --> 00:11:57.439
 How do I

00:11:57.439 --> 00:11:58.719
 reconcile my

00:11:58.719 --> 00:11:59.779
 circumstances,

00:12:00.099 --> 00:12:01.019
 my overwhelming

00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:01.759
 darkness,

00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:03.120
 with the fact

00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:03.959
 that God is

00:12:03.959 --> 00:12:04.519
 the God of

00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:05.339
 my salvation?

00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:05.460
 salvation.

00:12:06.899 --> 00:12:07.740
 And it

00:12:07.740 --> 00:12:08.680
 may be that

00:12:08.680 --> 00:12:10.560
 he is simply

00:12:10.560 --> 00:12:11.940
 living out as

00:12:11.940 --> 00:12:12.379
 an old

00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:12.879
 covenant

00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:15.840
 echo the

00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:16.320
 ultimate

00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:17.840
 faithfulness of

00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:19.080
 the faithful

00:12:19.080 --> 00:12:19.960
 servant of

00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:20.500
 the Lord,

00:12:21.899 --> 00:12:23.180
 Jesus Christ

00:12:23.180 --> 00:12:23.680
 himself.

00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:24.000
 But we'll

00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:24.720
 come to that

00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:25.460
 in a short

00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:25.820
 time.

00:12:26.820 --> 00:12:27.399
 Let me make

00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:28.379
 six observations

00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:29.560
 very simply,

00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:30.500
 very briefly.

00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:30.960
 I know our

00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:31.780
 time is hurrying

00:12:31.780 --> 00:12:32.040
 on.

00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:33.720
 Notice first of

00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:34.259
 all that in

00:12:34.259 --> 00:12:34.980
 his darkness,

00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:36.100
 he prayed.

00:12:37.560 --> 00:12:38.440
 His darkness

00:12:38.440 --> 00:12:39.740
 did not drive

00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:40.659
 him from

00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:41.259
 God.

00:12:42.180 --> 00:12:43.180
 It cast

00:12:43.180 --> 00:12:44.779
 him upon

00:12:44.779 --> 00:12:45.340
 God.

00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:46.759
 O Lord,

00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:47.600
 God of my

00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:48.180
 salvation,

00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:49.620
 I cry out

00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:51.279
 day and

00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:52.580
 night before

00:12:52.580 --> 00:12:52.920
 you.

00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:54.180
 Let my

00:12:54.180 --> 00:12:55.039
 prayer come

00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:55.860
 before you.

00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:57.200
 Incline your

00:12:57.200 --> 00:12:58.259
 ear to my

00:12:58.259 --> 00:12:58.720
 cry.

00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:00.000
 He has not

00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:00.500
 turned his

00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:01.320
 back on God,

00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:02.000
 though it seems

00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:02.600
 to him God

00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:03.200
 has turned his

00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:03.860
 back on him.

00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:06.899
 He will

00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:07.600
 not let

00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:08.500
 God go.

00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:12.420
 Life has

00:13:12.420 --> 00:13:12.940
 become

00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:14.480
 unrelieved

00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:15.159
 darkness.

00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:15.620
 What does

00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:16.039
 he do?

00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:19.879
 He lifts

00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:20.500
 up his

00:13:20.500 --> 00:13:22.300
 heart to

00:13:22.300 --> 00:13:22.879
 the Lord.

00:13:25.779 --> 00:13:26.360
 Secondly,

00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:27.159
 notice that he

00:13:27.159 --> 00:13:27.740
 prayed as a

00:13:27.740 --> 00:13:28.139
 man of

00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:28.600
 faith.

00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:30.820
 His faith is

00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:31.440
 battered,

00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:32.080
 perhaps it's

00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:32.860
 even broken,

00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:33.320
 but it's

00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:33.879
 functioning.

00:13:36.820 --> 00:13:37.480
 I don't

00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:37.860
 think there's

00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:38.659
 any suggestion

00:13:38.659 --> 00:13:39.100
 in the

00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:39.720
 psalm that

00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:40.659
 it was his

00:13:40.659 --> 00:13:41.379
 sin that

00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:42.019
 had brought

00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:43.659
 these calamities

00:13:43.659 --> 00:13:44.259
 upon his

00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:44.720
 life.

00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:47.639
 He's left

00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:48.419
 with this

00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:49.759
 conundrum.

00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:52.340
 Why,

00:13:53.340 --> 00:13:54.379
 O Lord,

00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:54.419
 God,

00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:56.360
 you're the

00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:56.740
 God of

00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:57.600
 my salvation.

00:13:58.840 --> 00:13:59.659
 I cry

00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:00.100
 out to

00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:00.679
 you day

00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:01.700
 and night

00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:02.480
 and you

00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:03.080
 can almost

00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:03.899
 feel the

00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:04.779
 perplexity.

00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:05.320
 Why?

00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:08.639
 I sometimes

00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:09.600
 wonder that

00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:12.659
 that elemental

00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:13.799
 cry of our

00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:14.439
 Savior from

00:14:14.439 --> 00:14:15.019
 the cross,

00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:15.600
 my God,

00:14:15.700 --> 00:14:16.139
 my God,

00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:16.820
 why have

00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:17.460
 you forsaken

00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:17.720
 me?

00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:19.059
 That one of

00:14:19.059 --> 00:14:20.139
 the implications

00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:21.240
 of that cry

00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:22.100
 is to tell

00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:23.680
 us that

00:14:23.680 --> 00:14:24.340
 even the

00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:24.899
 holiest,

00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:25.659
 purest,

00:14:25.740 --> 00:14:26.700
 and sinless

00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:27.560
 of men

00:14:27.560 --> 00:14:29.860
 experienced

00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:31.879
 a why

00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:32.600
 that he

00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:33.080
 could not

00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:34.200
 resolve in

00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:34.680
 his holy

00:14:34.680 --> 00:14:35.360
 humanity.

00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:37.680
 I don't

00:14:37.680 --> 00:14:38.360
 know any

00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:38.879
 of you

00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:39.740
 meaningfully

00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:40.379
 at all,

00:14:40.540 --> 00:14:40.899
 and your

00:14:40.899 --> 00:14:41.740
 circumstances

00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:43.460
 may be very

00:14:43.460 --> 00:14:44.100
 different from

00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:44.440
 mine,

00:14:44.540 --> 00:14:44.980
 but perhaps

00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:45.440
 for some

00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:45.820
 of you

00:14:45.820 --> 00:14:46.500
 there is

00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:46.920
 this

00:14:46.920 --> 00:14:47.779
 recurring,

00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:48.180
 Lord,

00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:48.700
 why?

00:14:49.060 --> 00:14:50.120
 Why this?

00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:50.879
 Why now?

00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:51.000
 Why?

00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:55.559
 The Bible

00:14:55.559 --> 00:14:56.340
 does not

00:14:56.340 --> 00:14:57.700
 promise us

00:14:57.700 --> 00:14:58.159
 that this

00:14:58.159 --> 00:14:58.679
 side of

00:14:58.679 --> 00:14:59.080
 glory,

00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:00.000
 our whys,

00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:00.379
 will be

00:15:00.379 --> 00:15:00.919
 resolved.

00:15:02.580 --> 00:15:03.320
 That's why

00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:03.840
 the psalm

00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:04.299
 ends,

00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:05.700
 my only

00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:06.659
 companion is

00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:07.279
 darkness.

00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:09.159
 There's no

00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:10.019
 happy ending.

00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:11.620
 Wouldn't it

00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:12.080
 be lovely

00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:12.580
 just to have

00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:13.360
 happy endings

00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:14.080
 all the time?

00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:15.139
 I've often

00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:15.700
 thought of

00:15:15.700 --> 00:15:16.320
 late when

00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:16.820
 I've been

00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:17.159
 praying,

00:15:17.299 --> 00:15:17.460
 saying,

00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:17.700
 Lord,

00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:19.940
 if it

00:15:19.940 --> 00:15:21.000
 were left

00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:21.560
 to me,

00:15:22.020 --> 00:15:22.820
 I wouldn't

00:15:22.820 --> 00:15:23.680
 have one

00:15:23.680 --> 00:15:24.860
 difficulty,

00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:25.500
 trial,

00:15:25.580 --> 00:15:26.120
 or trouble

00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:26.880
 touch my

00:15:26.880 --> 00:15:27.520
 children or

00:15:27.520 --> 00:15:27.740
 my

00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:28.280
 grandchildren.

00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:29.240
 I would

00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:29.700
 want them

00:15:29.700 --> 00:15:30.900
 to navigate

00:15:30.900 --> 00:15:31.740
 this life

00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:32.740
 safely and

00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:33.400
 sweetly.

00:15:36.540 --> 00:15:37.620
 The Lord,

00:15:38.280 --> 00:15:38.760
 who is

00:15:38.760 --> 00:15:39.340
 wiser,

00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:42.260
 says,

00:15:42.400 --> 00:15:42.640
 that will

00:15:42.640 --> 00:15:43.100
 not be

00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:43.520
 for their

00:15:43.520 --> 00:15:43.880
 good,

00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:46.540
 either for

00:15:46.540 --> 00:15:47.160
 their present

00:15:47.160 --> 00:15:47.780
 good or for

00:15:47.780 --> 00:15:48.340
 their eternal

00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:48.760
 good.

00:15:49.940 --> 00:15:51.220
 And so

00:15:51.220 --> 00:15:51.580
 we live

00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:52.220
 by faith

00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:52.540
 and not

00:15:52.540 --> 00:15:53.280
 by sight.

00:15:54.060 --> 00:15:54.520
 We're

00:15:54.520 --> 00:15:54.920
 Christians

00:15:54.920 --> 00:15:55.540
 not because

00:15:55.540 --> 00:15:55.880
 we've got

00:15:55.880 --> 00:15:56.620
 answers for

00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:57.020
 everything.

00:15:57.140 --> 00:15:57.380
 You want

00:15:57.380 --> 00:15:57.900
 to avoid

00:15:57.900 --> 00:15:58.540
 people like

00:15:58.540 --> 00:15:58.940
 that who

00:15:58.940 --> 00:15:59.140
 have got

00:15:59.140 --> 00:15:59.740
 answers for

00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:00.120
 everything.

00:16:00.420 --> 00:16:00.820
 The older

00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:01.320
 I get,

00:16:01.400 --> 00:16:01.800
 the more

00:16:01.800 --> 00:16:02.820
 ready and

00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:03.300
 willing I

00:16:03.300 --> 00:16:03.720
 am to

00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:03.940
 say,

00:16:04.060 --> 00:16:04.420
 I don't

00:16:04.420 --> 00:16:04.800
 know.

00:16:06.180 --> 00:16:06.600
 But let

00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:07.040
 me tell

00:16:07.040 --> 00:16:07.380
 you what

00:16:07.380 --> 00:16:07.740
 I do

00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:08.060
 know.

00:16:10.520 --> 00:16:11.000
 Thirdly,

00:16:11.040 --> 00:16:11.200
 do you

00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:11.680
 notice he

00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:12.520
 prayed every

00:16:12.520 --> 00:16:12.920
 day?

00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:13.600
 He says it

00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:13.960
 in verse

00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:14.260
 one.

00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:14.700
 He says it

00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:15.140
 again in

00:16:15.140 --> 00:16:15.420
 verse

00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:15.880
 nine.

00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:19.419
 My eye

00:16:19.419 --> 00:16:20.240
 grows dim

00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:21.000
 through sorrow

00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:22.460
 every day

00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:23.740
 I call upon

00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:24.100
 you,

00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:24.919
 O Lord.

00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:26.279
 I spread

00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:26.720
 out my

00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:27.240
 hands to

00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:28.080
 you every

00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:28.899
 day.

00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:31.240
 Do you

00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:31.600
 see what

00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.080
 this man

00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:32.700
 is saying?

00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:34.059
 I've got

00:16:34.059 --> 00:16:34.519
 no one

00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:35.019
 else to

00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:35.600
 go to.

00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:37.620
 I've got

00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:38.139
 no one

00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:38.639
 else to

00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:39.399
 turn to.

00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:40.379
 I will

00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:41.100
 not let

00:16:41.100 --> 00:16:41.899
 you go.

00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:47.720
 to whom

00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:48.220
 else can

00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:48.639
 I go?

00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:51.959
 Every

00:16:51.959 --> 00:16:53.240
 day I

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:53.879
 call upon

00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:54.120
 you,

00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:54.480
 Lord.

00:16:55.819 --> 00:16:56.019
 You

00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:56.100
 know,

00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:56.340
 you meet

00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:56.639
 people

00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:57.159
 occasionally

00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:57.519
 who say,

00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.120
 but if

00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:58.759
 only you

00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.100
 had more

00:16:59.100 --> 00:16:59.500
 faith,

00:16:59.620 --> 00:16:59.899
 if only

00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:00.419
 you prayed

00:17:00.419 --> 00:17:00.840
 more,

00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:01.079
 and,

00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:02.899
 well,

00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:03.840
 please God,

00:17:03.939 --> 00:17:04.539
 I need

00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:05.099
 my faith

00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:05.960
 enriched and

00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.400
 deepened,

00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.019
 it's shallow

00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:07.819
 and shameful.

00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.160
 I need

00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:09.460
 to be

00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:10.000
 praying

00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:12.299
 greatly

00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:12.859
 more than

00:17:12.859 --> 00:17:13.339
 I do.

00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:16.079
 Sometimes

00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:16.960
 we're left

00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:17.700
 with this.

00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:19.640
 Lord,

00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:20.259
 I pray

00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:21.220
 every day,

00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:22.720
 every day,

00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:23.420
 every waking

00:17:23.420 --> 00:17:24.019
 moment,

00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:26.480
 and nothing

00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.220
 happens.

00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:29.279
 Another new

00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.359
 morning breaks

00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:30.880
 and the

00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:31.700
 darkness is

00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:32.099
 there.

00:17:34.099 --> 00:17:34.940
 But he

00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:35.400
 won't let

00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:35.980
 God go.

00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:38.960
 That's one

00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:39.860
 of the

00:17:39.860 --> 00:17:41.000
 stellar,

00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:42.539
 pristine

00:17:42.539 --> 00:17:43.779
 marks of

00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:44.240
 a man

00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:44.640
 or woman

00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:45.200
 of God.

00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:48.380
 They

00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:49.079
 will not

00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:49.640
 let

00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:50.600
 God

00:17:50.600 --> 00:17:51.380
 go.

00:17:53.620 --> 00:17:54.340
 And then

00:17:54.340 --> 00:17:54.740
 fourthly,

00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:55.259
 notice he

00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:56.340
 recognizes that

00:17:56.340 --> 00:17:57.079
 the Lord is

00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:57.480
 the one

00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:58.259
 ultimately

00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:59.160
 behind everything

00:17:59.160 --> 00:17:59.740
 that's happening

00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.160
 to him.

00:18:00.380 --> 00:18:01.000
 He knows

00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:01.680
 that evil

00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:02.500
 is not

00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:03.539
 autonomous.

00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:06.000
 Your wrath

00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:06.779
 has swept

00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.420
 over me.

00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:09.119
 Your dreadful

00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:10.139
 assaults

00:18:10.139 --> 00:18:11.519
 destroy me.

00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:13.039
 He

00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:13.879
 understands

00:18:13.879 --> 00:18:14.379
 that

00:18:14.379 --> 00:18:15.359
 Satan

00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:15.859
 can do

00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:16.319
 nothing

00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:16.960
 beyond

00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:17.759
 God's

00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:18.480
 holy,

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:19.379
 wise,

00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:19.759
 good,

00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:20.899
 and perfect

00:18:20.899 --> 00:18:21.599
 will.

00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:22.940
 He

00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:23.619
 understands

00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:24.019
 that he's

00:18:24.019 --> 00:18:24.519
 a creature

00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:25.359
 under the

00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:25.879
 sovereign,

00:18:26.139 --> 00:18:27.000
 overruling

00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:27.740
 will,

00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:28.440
 purpose,

00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:29.200
 grace,

00:18:29.399 --> 00:18:29.720
 mercy,

00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:30.399
 and kindness

00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:31.420
 of God.

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.559
 And he

00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:34.420
 traces everything

00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:35.440
 back to its

00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:35.920
 origin.

00:18:36.100 --> 00:18:36.559
 He knows

00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.580
 that God

00:18:37.580 --> 00:18:38.539
 uses sin

00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:39.420
 sinlessly

00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:40.039
 for his

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:41.160
 glory and

00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:41.480
 for the

00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:41.799
 good of

00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.340
 his people.

00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:43.600
 And he's

00:18:43.600 --> 00:18:43.799
 saying,

00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:44.120
 Lord,

00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:44.799
 I know

00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:45.299
 that my

00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:45.740
 life is

00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:46.000
 not at

00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:46.519
 the mercy

00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.019
 of mere

00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:47.700
 circumstance.

00:18:48.320 --> 00:18:48.820
 I know

00:18:48.820 --> 00:18:49.240
 that my

00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:49.720
 life is

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.019
 not at

00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:50.480
 the mercy

00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:51.519
 of mental

00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.259
 turmoil

00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.460
 or physical

00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:54.019
 distress

00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:54.720
 or of

00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:55.420
 companions

00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:56.299
 deserting

00:18:56.299 --> 00:18:56.779
 me and

00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:57.440
 rejecting me.

00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.320
 I know

00:18:58.320 --> 00:18:59.340
 that ultimately

00:18:59.340 --> 00:19:00.799
 my times

00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:01.120
 are in

00:19:01.120 --> 00:19:02.080
 your hands,

00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:04.500
 ways that

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.240
 you ordain

00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:05.759
 the way

00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:06.419
 that I

00:19:06.419 --> 00:19:07.259
 have to

00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:07.699
 take.

00:19:11.679 --> 00:19:12.259
 Paul

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:12.639
 prayed,

00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.119
 didn't he,

00:19:13.159 --> 00:19:13.399
 a little

00:19:13.399 --> 00:19:13.839
 earlier,

00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:15.559
 your ways

00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:15.879
 are not

00:19:15.879 --> 00:19:16.559
 our ways.

00:19:18.439 --> 00:19:18.699
 You know,

00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.279
 I sometimes

00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.019
 think we,

00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:21.319
 those of us

00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:21.579
 in the

00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:21.899
 Reformed

00:19:21.899 --> 00:19:22.339
 tradition,

00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:24.419
 we placard

00:19:24.419 --> 00:19:25.480
 very seriously

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:26.339
 the sovereignty

00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:27.099
 of God.

00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:29.939
 Do we

00:19:29.939 --> 00:19:30.299
 really

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:32.099
 understand

00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:32.500
 what we

00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.480
 are placarding?

00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:36.059
 The

00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:36.459
 sovereignty

00:19:36.459 --> 00:19:36.879
 of the

00:19:36.879 --> 00:19:37.259
 God

00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:37.619
 who

00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:39.059
 sends

00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:39.480
 in his

00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:39.919
 wisdom

00:19:39.919 --> 00:19:40.879
 pandemics?

00:19:44.179 --> 00:19:44.799
 You know,

00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:45.159
 I hear

00:19:45.159 --> 00:19:45.959
 people praying

00:19:45.959 --> 00:19:46.319
 and they

00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:46.539
 say,

00:19:46.619 --> 00:19:47.059
 oh God,

00:19:47.159 --> 00:19:48.299
 this awful

00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:48.839
 disease,

00:19:48.959 --> 00:19:49.439
 it's as if

00:19:49.439 --> 00:19:50.599
 God has

00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:51.439
 been benign

00:19:51.439 --> 00:19:53.219
 and passive

00:19:53.219 --> 00:19:54.839
 and it's

00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:55.179
 as if

00:19:55.179 --> 00:19:56.119
 he is to

00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:56.799
 now catch

00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:57.419
 up with

00:19:57.419 --> 00:19:57.719
 this

00:19:57.719 --> 00:19:58.579
 unexpected

00:19:58.579 --> 00:19:59.279
 happening.

00:20:00.399 --> 00:20:01.019
 He ordains

00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:01.479
 all that

00:20:01.479 --> 00:20:02.000
 comes to

00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:02.419
 pass,

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.379
 mysteriously,

00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:04.239
 profoundly,

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.459
 unfathomably.

00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:06.239
 You're left

00:20:06.239 --> 00:20:06.659
 your head

00:20:06.659 --> 00:20:07.079
 spinning.

00:20:07.419 --> 00:20:07.779
 If your

00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.379
 head doesn't

00:20:08.379 --> 00:20:08.919
 spin,

00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:09.859
 I sometimes

00:20:09.859 --> 00:20:10.179
 think,

00:20:10.739 --> 00:20:11.079
 can you

00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:11.479
 really be

00:20:11.479 --> 00:20:12.000
 a Christian?

00:20:12.459 --> 00:20:12.799
 What kind

00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:13.219
 of world

00:20:13.219 --> 00:20:13.500
 are you

00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:14.039
 living in?

00:20:15.939 --> 00:20:16.479
 Our heads

00:20:16.479 --> 00:20:17.039
 spin.

00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:18.299
 We cannot

00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:19.239
 begin to

00:20:19.239 --> 00:20:19.959
 begin to

00:20:19.959 --> 00:20:20.579
 begin to

00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:21.299
 fathom the

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:21.719
 ways of

00:20:21.719 --> 00:20:22.179
 the Almighty.

00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:23.000
 That's why

00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.579
 I love those

00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:24.099
 words at the

00:20:24.099 --> 00:20:24.439
 end of

00:20:24.439 --> 00:20:25.139
 Romans 11.

00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:26.839
 Where Paul

00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:27.500
 having so

00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:28.239
 gloriously,

00:20:28.439 --> 00:20:28.679
 and you'll

00:20:28.679 --> 00:20:29.039
 come to

00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:29.279
 it in

00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:29.879
 about five

00:20:29.879 --> 00:20:30.119
 years'

00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:30.479
 time,

00:20:31.899 --> 00:20:32.759
 where Paul

00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:33.539
 says he

00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:34.319
 so wonderfully

00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:35.179
 explained the

00:20:35.179 --> 00:20:36.199
 gospel and

00:20:36.199 --> 00:20:36.879
 you're swept

00:20:36.879 --> 00:20:37.359
 along and

00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:38.359
 then he

00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:38.779
 ends and

00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:39.019
 he says,

00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:39.899
 oh the

00:20:39.899 --> 00:20:40.519
 depths,

00:20:41.679 --> 00:20:42.339
 both of the

00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:42.919
 riches of

00:20:42.919 --> 00:20:43.379
 the wisdom

00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:43.899
 and knowledge

00:20:43.899 --> 00:20:44.359
 of God,

00:20:44.739 --> 00:20:46.199
 how unsearchable

00:20:46.199 --> 00:20:46.559
 are his

00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:47.019
 judgments.

00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:49.119
 His paths

00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:49.699
 are beyond

00:20:49.699 --> 00:20:50.559
 tracing out.

00:20:51.679 --> 00:20:52.079
 You see,

00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:52.739
 when we

00:20:52.739 --> 00:20:53.319
 preach the

00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:53.819
 cross of

00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:54.479
 Jesus Christ,

00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:54.859
 we must

00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:55.539
 never preach

00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:55.919
 it as

00:20:55.919 --> 00:20:56.759
 some kind

00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:58.000
 of mathematical

00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.799
 theorem.

00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:00.139
 Here are

00:21:00.139 --> 00:21:00.500
 all the

00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:01.079
 parts,

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:01.699
 and when you

00:21:01.699 --> 00:21:02.099
 put them

00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:02.719
 all together,

00:21:02.859 --> 00:21:03.279
 you see

00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:04.059
 marvelous,

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:05.159
 propitiatory,

00:21:05.459 --> 00:21:06.139
 sacrificial

00:21:06.139 --> 00:21:07.119
 atonement.

00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:08.639
 We should

00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:09.319
 be so out

00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:09.719
 of our

00:21:09.719 --> 00:21:10.099
 depth,

00:21:10.199 --> 00:21:10.639
 we hardly

00:21:10.639 --> 00:21:11.179
 know what

00:21:11.179 --> 00:21:11.619
 the next

00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:12.079
 word is

00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:12.799
 to speak.

00:21:13.919 --> 00:21:14.219
 And we

00:21:14.219 --> 00:21:14.599
 speak,

00:21:14.699 --> 00:21:15.339
 Augustine was

00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:15.479
 right,

00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:16.219
 we speak so

00:21:16.219 --> 00:21:16.419
 that we

00:21:16.419 --> 00:21:16.939
 don't remain

00:21:16.939 --> 00:21:17.479
 silent.

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.019
 You say,

00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:18.459
 well God's

00:21:18.459 --> 00:21:18.879
 given us

00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:19.279
 his word.

00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:20.079
 Absolutely

00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:20.679
 he's given

00:21:20.679 --> 00:21:21.079
 us his

00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:21.459
 word.

00:21:22.459 --> 00:21:22.899
 Absolutely

00:21:22.899 --> 00:21:23.500
 true.

00:21:24.859 --> 00:21:25.719
 God,

00:21:25.719 --> 00:21:26.299
 but it

00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:26.759
 takes us

00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.039
 out of

00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:27.219
 our

00:21:27.219 --> 00:21:27.799
 depths.

00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:29.819
 God,

00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:31.500
 become

00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:31.939
 man.

00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:34.719
 I was

00:21:34.719 --> 00:21:35.279
 sharing this

00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:35.679
 with someone

00:21:35.679 --> 00:21:36.119
 recently,

00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:36.779
 I was

00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.199
 ministering

00:21:37.199 --> 00:21:37.679
 Cambridge,

00:21:38.179 --> 00:21:38.699
 one of the

00:21:38.699 --> 00:21:39.159
 girls who

00:21:39.159 --> 00:21:39.939
 started attending

00:21:39.939 --> 00:21:40.319
 church,

00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:40.619
 she'd been

00:21:40.619 --> 00:21:41.259
 brought along,

00:21:41.399 --> 00:21:41.899
 she asked if

00:21:41.899 --> 00:21:42.159
 she could

00:21:42.159 --> 00:21:42.500
 meet with

00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:42.779
 me for

00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.199
 coffee,

00:21:43.379 --> 00:21:44.119
 and I

00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:44.379
 remember

00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:45.000
 yet sitting

00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.339
 with her

00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:45.939
 in Starbucks,

00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:47.379
 and I

00:21:47.379 --> 00:21:47.759
 could see

00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:48.079
 she was

00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:48.659
 building up

00:21:48.659 --> 00:21:49.259
 to something,

00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.539
 and she's

00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:51.879
 a bright

00:21:51.879 --> 00:21:52.199
 girl,

00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:54.000
 and she

00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:54.259
 said,

00:21:54.600 --> 00:21:55.299
 can I

00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:55.620
 ask you

00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:56.200
 a question?

00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:56.880
 I said,

00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:57.140
 yeah,

00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:57.720
 you can

00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:58.259
 ask whatever

00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:58.779
 you like.

00:21:59.440 --> 00:21:59.860
 She says,

00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:01.380
 do you

00:22:01.380 --> 00:22:01.880
 believe in

00:22:01.880 --> 00:22:02.279
 Noah's

00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:02.640
 Ark?

00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.140
 And I

00:22:05.140 --> 00:22:05.660
 burst out

00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:06.100
 laughing,

00:22:07.100 --> 00:22:08.200
 and I

00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:08.539
 could see

00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:09.019
 she was a

00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:09.220
 little

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:10.299
 disconcerted.

00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:11.720
 I said,

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.460
 believe in

00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:13.220
 Noah's Ark.

00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:14.700
 I believe

00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:15.380
 the creator

00:22:15.380 --> 00:22:15.779
 of the

00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:16.200
 cosmos

00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:16.900
 became a

00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:17.620
 zygote in

00:22:17.620 --> 00:22:18.380
 a virgin's

00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:18.640
 womb.

00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:19.740
 You think

00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.460
 Noah's Ark's

00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:20.819
 a problem?

00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:21.259
 Of course I

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:21.640
 believe in

00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:22.279
 Noah's Ark.

00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:23.960
 But the

00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:24.839
 gospel takes

00:22:24.839 --> 00:22:25.400
 us out of

00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:26.299
 all our

00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:27.359
 intellectual

00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:28.660
 categories and

00:22:28.660 --> 00:22:29.319
 canons.

00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:29.900
 Who has

00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:30.400
 known the

00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:30.759
 mind of

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.019
 the Lord?

00:22:31.099 --> 00:22:31.319
 God

00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:32.140
 become man?

00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:34.440
 Jim

00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:35.039
 Packer was

00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:35.319
 right.

00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:36.039
 He says,

00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:37.660
 we simply

00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:38.480
 bow down

00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.019
 and worship

00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:40.640
 because we

00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:41.059
 don't know

00:22:41.059 --> 00:22:41.500
 how to

00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.059
 speculate.

00:22:42.900 --> 00:22:43.180
 And the

00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:43.779
 early church

00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:45.119
 was wonderful.

00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:45.579
 It got

00:22:45.579 --> 00:22:46.259
 some things

00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:46.660
 wrong,

00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:47.579
 but my,

00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:47.920
 it got

00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:48.559
 some things

00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:48.819
 right.

00:22:48.879 --> 00:22:49.140
 But when

00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:49.559
 it came

00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:49.940
 to

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:51.779
 explicate

00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.940
 the union

00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:54.839
 in Jesus

00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:55.639
 Christ of

00:22:55.639 --> 00:22:56.099
 God and

00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:56.319
 man,

00:22:56.379 --> 00:22:56.740
 they just

00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:57.659
 used negative

00:22:57.659 --> 00:22:58.379
 adverbs.

00:22:59.000 --> 00:22:59.399
 They didn't

00:22:59.399 --> 00:22:59.879
 know how

00:22:59.879 --> 00:23:00.419
 to use

00:23:00.419 --> 00:23:01.099
 positive

00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:01.819
 adverbs

00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:02.899
 because they

00:23:02.899 --> 00:23:03.279
 couldn't

00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.659
 fathom the

00:23:04.659 --> 00:23:06.359
 inexplicableness,

00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.079
 so they simply

00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:07.619
 said it was

00:23:07.619 --> 00:23:08.539
 without confusion,

00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:09.259
 without division,

00:23:09.399 --> 00:23:10.240
 without separation,

00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:11.399
 without mixture.

00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:19.060
 life is

00:23:19.060 --> 00:23:19.920
 unfathomable

00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:20.680
 at times.

00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:23.820
 But here

00:23:23.820 --> 00:23:24.360
 is a man

00:23:24.360 --> 00:23:25.300
 who understands

00:23:25.300 --> 00:23:26.000
 that behind

00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:26.980
 all the

00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:28.960
 providences

00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:29.800
 that are

00:23:29.800 --> 00:23:30.519
 overwhelming

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:30.960
 him,

00:23:31.300 --> 00:23:31.780
 it's the

00:23:31.780 --> 00:23:32.160
 Lord.

00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:32.940
 Like Psalm

00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:33.660
 42 and

00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:34.140
 43,

00:23:34.340 --> 00:23:35.080
 all your

00:23:35.080 --> 00:23:35.800
 waves and

00:23:35.800 --> 00:23:36.360
 breakers

00:23:36.360 --> 00:23:37.200
 have swept

00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:37.840
 over me.

00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:43.119
 just two

00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:43.559
 things to

00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:43.679
 go.

00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:43.939
 Number

00:23:43.939 --> 00:23:44.379
 five,

00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:46.199
 the Psalm

00:23:46.199 --> 00:23:47.000
 reminds us

00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:47.319
 that the

00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:47.699
 believing

00:23:47.699 --> 00:23:48.619
 life may

00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:49.399
 be marked

00:23:49.399 --> 00:23:50.740
 by

00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.720
 unrelieved

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.559
 darkness.

00:23:53.859 --> 00:23:54.139
 You know

00:23:54.139 --> 00:23:54.539
 the verse

00:23:54.539 --> 00:23:55.019
 in Isaiah

00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:55.539
 50,

00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.220
 let him

00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:56.919
 who walks

00:23:56.919 --> 00:23:57.279
 in the

00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:58.059
 dark and

00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:58.519
 who has

00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.339
 no light

00:23:59.339 --> 00:24:01.519
 trust in

00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:02.019
 his God.

00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:02.139
 God,

00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:03.539
 I'm sure

00:24:03.539 --> 00:24:04.019
 like me

00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:04.319
 there have

00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:04.960
 been periods

00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:05.660
 of darkness

00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:06.160
 in your

00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:06.579
 life.

00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.160
 I've never

00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:08.779
 known what

00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.379
 it is

00:24:09.379 --> 00:24:10.660
 to have

00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:11.200
 unrelieved

00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:11.700
 darkness.

00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:13.279
 I have a

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:13.779
 friend who

00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.400
 once told

00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:14.779
 me he

00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.660
 envied the

00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:16.700
 lampposts

00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.500
 of Glasgow

00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:18.619
 because they

00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:19.240
 had light.

00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:21.099
 But in

00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:22.019
 Isaiah

00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:22.559
 50,

00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:23.359
 let him

00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:23.900
 who walks

00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:24.200
 in the

00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:24.599
 darkness

00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:25.059
 and who

00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:25.579
 has no

00:24:25.579 --> 00:24:26.139
 light

00:24:26.139 --> 00:24:27.359
 yet

00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:28.019
 trust in

00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:28.579
 his God.

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.519
 There's

00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:31.879
 much I

00:24:31.879 --> 00:24:32.180
 would like

00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:32.539
 to say

00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:32.799
 but I

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.079
 know our

00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:33.519
 time has

00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:33.779
 gone.

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:34.599
 You know

00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:36.000
 this is

00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.779
 one reason

00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:39.139
 why the

00:24:39.139 --> 00:24:39.859
 church needs

00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:40.720
 pastors and

00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:42.319
 elders who

00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:43.019
 are gentle

00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:43.639
 humble

00:24:43.639 --> 00:24:44.639
 physicians of

00:24:44.639 --> 00:24:45.220
 the soul,

00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:45.960
 who are

00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.700
 slow to

00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.339
 speak and

00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:47.660
 who are

00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.319
 quick to

00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:48.680
 listen,

00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:49.359
 who are

00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:50.119
 patient and

00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:50.539
 kind,

00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:51.259
 who don't

00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:52.160
 offer slick

00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:53.079
 answers to

00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:53.660
 people who

00:24:53.660 --> 00:24:54.200
 are walking

00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:54.980
 in darkness.

00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.799
 That's why

00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:58.220
 we need to

00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:58.619
 take the

00:24:58.619 --> 00:24:59.799
 greatest care

00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:02.619
 that the

00:25:02.619 --> 00:25:03.119
 men we

00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:03.859
 set apart

00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:04.919
 to shepherd

00:25:04.919 --> 00:25:05.700
 the flock

00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.379
 will shepherd

00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:07.480
 them with

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.460
 gentleness,

00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:09.299
 tenderness,

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.180
 thoughtfulness.

00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:10.559
 Yes, at

00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:11.259
 times with

00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:13.220
 clarity and

00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:14.539
 conviction but

00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:15.659
 most often

00:25:15.659 --> 00:25:18.240
 almost saying

00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:18.919
 nothing,

00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:22.180
 slow to

00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:22.659
 speak and

00:25:22.659 --> 00:25:23.099
 quick to

00:25:23.099 --> 00:25:23.440
 listen.

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:26.460
 not giving

00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:26.920
 slick

00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:27.720
 answers and

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.019
 maybe,

00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:29.220
 you know,

00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:29.620
 maybe the

00:25:29.620 --> 00:25:30.220
 best thing

00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:30.600
 you could

00:25:30.600 --> 00:25:31.259
 ever do

00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:32.580
 is simply

00:25:32.580 --> 00:25:33.080
 to sit

00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:33.640
 and weep

00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:34.120
 with those

00:25:34.120 --> 00:25:34.700
 who weep

00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:37.140
 and to

00:25:37.140 --> 00:25:37.740
 pray with

00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.380
 them and

00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:39.620
 to break

00:25:39.620 --> 00:25:40.320
 your heart

00:25:40.320 --> 00:25:40.759
 with their

00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.200
 breaking

00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:41.840
 hearts.

00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.160
 And they

00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:44.500
 look to

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.059
 their pastors

00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.660
 and elders

00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:46.920
 and you

00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:47.120
 say,

00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:49.299
 I've got

00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:50.100
 nothing to

00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:50.680
 give you

00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:52.700
 except this.

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.600
 The God

00:25:55.600 --> 00:25:56.220
 who spared

00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:56.720
 not his

00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.480
 only son

00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:57.920
 and who

00:25:57.920 --> 00:25:58.460
 delivered him

00:25:58.460 --> 00:25:58.980
 up for us

00:25:58.980 --> 00:26:01.140
 all is a

00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:02.720
 God we

00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:03.420
 can cast

00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:04.640
 ourselves upon

00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:05.100
 in our

00:26:05.100 --> 00:26:05.960
 extremity,

00:26:06.120 --> 00:26:06.660
 knowing that

00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:07.799
 one day he

00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:08.380
 will wipe

00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:09.320
 every tear

00:26:09.320 --> 00:26:09.799
 from our

00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:10.380
 eyes.

00:26:13.360 --> 00:26:14.160
 And he'll

00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:14.620
 make all

00:26:14.620 --> 00:26:15.560
 things new.

00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:19.879
 well,

00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:20.419
 one last

00:26:20.419 --> 00:26:20.740
 thing,

00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:23.500
 and I'm

00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:24.000
 sure you

00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.359
 would be

00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:24.899
 expecting

00:26:24.899 --> 00:26:25.460
 this.

00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:27.779
 In your

00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.339
 darkness,

00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.579
 whatever that

00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:30.419
 darkness may

00:26:30.419 --> 00:26:30.779
 be,

00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:32.220
 if you

00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:32.480
 were a

00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:32.819
 Christian

00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:33.339
 believer,

00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:34.799
 you have

00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.639
 a companion

00:26:35.639 --> 00:26:37.099
 who knows

00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:37.799
 what it is

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.200
 to be

00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:38.700
 consumed

00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:39.419
 by darkness.

00:26:41.019 --> 00:26:41.879
 On the

00:26:41.879 --> 00:26:42.379
 cross,

00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.079
 all the

00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:43.740
 lights went

00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.859
 out for

00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:45.759
 Jesus Christ.

00:26:46.479 --> 00:26:47.179
 There wasn't

00:26:47.179 --> 00:26:48.159
 a pinprick

00:26:48.159 --> 00:26:48.899
 of light

00:26:48.899 --> 00:26:49.399
 in the

00:26:49.399 --> 00:26:50.379
 cosmos of

00:26:50.379 --> 00:26:50.759
 God's

00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.539
 creation for

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:51.899
 the Son

00:26:51.899 --> 00:26:52.399
 of God.

00:26:54.419 --> 00:26:55.299
 All the

00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:55.859
 lights went

00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:56.219
 out.

00:26:59.139 --> 00:27:00.000
 He is

00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:00.559
 able to

00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.539
 help us,

00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:04.479
 not by

00:27:04.479 --> 00:27:05.759
 the wonder

00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:06.500
 of divine

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.259
 omniscience

00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:07.959
 and divine

00:27:07.959 --> 00:27:08.879
 omnipotence,

00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:09.740
 which he

00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:10.319
 has,

00:27:11.179 --> 00:27:11.919
 but he

00:27:11.919 --> 00:27:12.539
 is able

00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.299
 especially

00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:13.920
 to help

00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:14.359
 us,

00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:16.799
 because he

00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:17.899
 knows our

00:27:17.899 --> 00:27:18.579
 frame,

00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:20.720
 because it

00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.119
 is his

00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:21.839
 own frame.

00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.220
 There is

00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:23.399
 dust on

00:27:23.399 --> 00:27:23.839
 the throne

00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:24.379
 of heaven,

00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:25.819
 and that

00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:26.920
 dust knows

00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:27.619
 darkness

00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:28.619
 personally.

00:27:29.659 --> 00:27:30.279
 It knows

00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:31.000
 darkness

00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:31.779
 intimately.

00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:32.700
 It knows

00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:33.740
 darkness that

00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:34.659
 no one of

00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:35.220
 his people

00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:35.980
 will ever,

00:27:36.139 --> 00:27:36.440
 ever,

00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:38.220
 in 10,000

00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:38.680
 times,

00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.420
 10,000

00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:39.740
 years,

00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:40.440
 begin to

00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:41.080
 begin to

00:27:41.080 --> 00:27:41.880
 understand.

00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:42.440
 His

00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:42.920
 darkness

00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:43.420
 was a

00:27:43.420 --> 00:27:43.960
 diameter

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.620
 removed

00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:45.320
 from all

00:27:45.320 --> 00:27:45.559
 our

00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:46.700
 darknesses.

00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.580
 And

00:27:49.580 --> 00:27:50.500
 because he

00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:52.500
 entered

00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:52.840
 into

00:27:52.840 --> 00:27:53.380
 darkness,

00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.500
 he is

00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:54.940
 able to

00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:55.180
 help

00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.740
 those

00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:57.559
 who are

00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:57.860
 going

00:27:57.860 --> 00:27:58.140
 through

00:27:58.140 --> 00:27:58.660
 darkness.

00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:02.100
 And

00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:02.640
 ultimately,

00:28:02.840 --> 00:28:03.460
 that's

00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.480
 the comfort

00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.779
 the gospel

00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:06.620
 gives.

00:28:07.340 --> 00:28:07.820
 You're

00:28:07.820 --> 00:28:08.539
 not alone.

00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:11.039
 you're

00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:11.759
 not alone.

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.619
 He may

00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:13.460
 feel alone.

00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:15.619
 He may

00:28:15.619 --> 00:28:16.359
 feel that

00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:16.940
 darkness

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:17.480
 was his

00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:17.759
 only

00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.440
 companion,

00:28:18.639 --> 00:28:18.740
 but

00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.299
 actually,

00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:20.399
 actually,

00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:23.240
 there was

00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:24.500
 one with

00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:26.440
 him who

00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.079
 was keeping

00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:27.659
 him from

00:28:27.659 --> 00:28:28.819
 apostatizing,

00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:31.579
 who was

00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:32.420
 keeping him

00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.259
 from turning

00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:34.079
 his back

00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:34.960
 on God

00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:36.339
 and blaspheming

00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:36.599
 him.

00:28:36.599 --> 00:28:41.039
 darkness

00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:43.980
 was not

00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.799
 his only

00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.759
 companion.

00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:47.779
 So let

00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:48.259
 me just

00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:49.679
 say to

00:28:49.679 --> 00:28:49.939
 you,

00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:50.419
 as I say

00:28:50.419 --> 00:28:51.039
 to myself

00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:51.519
 tonight,

00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.119
 however

00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:53.959
 dark your

00:28:53.959 --> 00:28:54.579
 days may

00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:54.919
 be,

00:28:56.719 --> 00:28:57.039
 number

00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:57.419
 one,

00:28:57.719 --> 00:28:58.019
 there is

00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:58.539
 one who

00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:59.079
 knows your

00:28:59.079 --> 00:28:59.559
 darkness

00:28:59.559 --> 00:29:00.379
 because he

00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:00.959
 has been

00:29:00.959 --> 00:29:01.819
 in your

00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:02.279
 darkness.

00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:02.539
 darkness.

00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:05.799
 And secondly,

00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:07.180
 there is

00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:07.720
 one who

00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.019
 said,

00:29:08.139 --> 00:29:08.359
 I will

00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:09.000
 never leave

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.399
 you nor

00:29:09.399 --> 00:29:09.899
 forsake

00:29:09.899 --> 00:29:10.160
 you.

00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:13.000
 He may

00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.700
 seem far

00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.119
 off,

00:29:15.639 --> 00:29:17.079
 but God

00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:17.440
 would

00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.440
 un-God

00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:19.180
 himself

00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:21.279
 if he

00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:21.839
 abandoned

00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:24.299
 one of

00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:25.099
 his blood

00:29:25.099 --> 00:29:26.079
 bought

00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:26.920
 children.

00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:30.880
 let him

00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:31.539
 who walks

00:29:31.539 --> 00:29:31.860
 in the

00:29:31.860 --> 00:29:32.300
 darkness

00:29:32.300 --> 00:29:34.080
 and who

00:29:34.080 --> 00:29:34.539
 has no

00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:34.980
 light

00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:36.720
 yet

00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.460
 trust

00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:39.360
 in

00:29:39.360 --> 00:29:40.660
 his

00:29:40.660 --> 00:29:41.100
 God.

00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:43.880
 May the

00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:44.279
 Lord

00:29:44.279 --> 00:29:46.560
 bless his

00:29:46.560 --> 00:29:47.300
 word to

00:29:47.300 --> 00:29:47.759
 us this

00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.060
 evening.

00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:48.500


00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.559
 Let him

00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:50.179
 let him

00:29:50.179 --> 00:29:50.179


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