WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 Thank you. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:59.980 Thank you. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.000 Thank you. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:04.000 Thank you. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:32.000 Thank you. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:49.460 All of the joy and tragedy of that swan's life was compressed into that single song, which was to be sung only once, with the final breath as it left the lungs of that swan. 00:01:49.459 --> 00:02:02.079 And any man who heard that song was ruined for life, for all other music, which was, by comparison, dull and lifeless. 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:11.639 But, of course, no one ever heard such a song from a swan. 00:02:13.079 --> 00:02:14.500 The story's a myth. 00:02:16.020 --> 00:02:17.240 And the Greeks knew that. 00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:24.659 But what is false with swans is sometimes true of men. 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:28.120 And so it is with this myth. 00:02:28.120 --> 00:02:34.539 Swans, at their dying breath, sing no songs. 00:02:34.759 --> 00:02:39.300 But the life of a person culminates in something. 00:02:39.300 --> 00:02:47.380 There is for us a pinnacle, a summit that one reaches at some point in life. 00:02:47.379 --> 00:03:00.259 And when one reaches that summit and surveys all the glories, joys, and tragedies of life, past and future, the soul of a man sings. 00:03:00.259 --> 00:03:08.239 But what he or she sings is not so clear. 00:03:10.500 --> 00:03:15.599 So what shall be the song that you sing as you survey a life gone by? 00:03:18.079 --> 00:03:20.939 In what song will your life culminate? 00:03:22.859 --> 00:03:25.759 Our text for today is a Psalm of David. 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:31.579 It's placed in our text this evening in the 22nd chapter of 2 Samuel. 00:03:32.099 --> 00:03:36.379 It's repeated in Psalm 18, but we're going to look at the version tonight in 2 Samuel. 00:03:36.799 --> 00:03:39.239 You can turn there with me now if you'd like. 00:03:39.379 --> 00:03:41.019 2 Samuel chapter 22. 00:03:42.219 --> 00:03:48.159 Though it is difficult to identify with precision when in his life David wrote this psalm, 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:53.560 the author of 2 Samuel puts it toward the end of the text. 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:58.039 Toward the end of his life as a culminating moment of all of David's life. 00:03:58.840 --> 00:04:03.680 You'll see right after this in 23 we say we have the last words of David. 00:04:04.180 --> 00:04:07.580 Which is interesting and perplexing because after the last words of David, 00:04:07.780 --> 00:04:09.500 he goes off and says some other stuff. 00:04:10.060 --> 00:04:11.140 We'll get to that next week. 00:04:11.719 --> 00:04:14.240 What we're dealing with now is chapter 22. 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:23.960 22 placed by the narrator as a culminating moment in David's life. 00:04:25.160 --> 00:04:29.860 And my prayer for tonight is that we look together at David's psalm. 00:04:30.060 --> 00:04:36.560 And as we do so, we would gain a vision for the shape we desire our lives to take. 00:04:37.019 --> 00:04:41.439 And for the song we desire to sing at our lives culmination. 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:46.439 Our text this evening teaches us one thing. 00:04:46.860 --> 00:04:48.980 My grand point and three sub points. 00:04:50.019 --> 00:04:54.439 The life of God's beloved culminates in joyful praise. 00:04:55.220 --> 00:04:59.399 The life of God's beloved culminates in joyful praise. 00:04:59.399 --> 00:05:07.239 We see this together in three ways tonight, I hope, from this text. 00:05:07.859 --> 00:05:11.879 The life of God's beloved culminates in joyful praise for battles won, 00:05:12.679 --> 00:05:15.599 for righteousness vindicated, 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:18.899 and for the glory of God himself. 00:05:19.599 --> 00:05:22.919 For battles won, for righteousness vindicated, 00:05:23.219 --> 00:05:25.579 and for the glory of God himself. 00:05:25.579 --> 00:05:29.419 Now let's look at our text together. 00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:31.819 It's a little too long for us to read straight through, 00:05:31.919 --> 00:05:35.719 so I'll read sections of it and give you sort of a running commentary as we go. 00:05:37.159 --> 00:05:40.800 Let's look first at the fact that the life of God's beloved 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:44.279 culminates in joyful praise for battles won. 00:05:45.339 --> 00:05:45.959 Look with me. 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:50.219 2 Samuel chapter 22, verse 1 through 6. 00:05:50.220 --> 00:05:56.760 And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song 00:05:56.760 --> 00:06:00.940 on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all of his enemies 00:06:00.940 --> 00:06:02.740 and from the hand of Saul. 00:06:03.720 --> 00:06:04.480 He said, 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:11.640 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, 00:06:11.840 --> 00:06:15.980 my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, 00:06:16.280 --> 00:06:19.340 my shield and the horn of my salvation, 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:24.620 my stronghold, my refuge, my savior. 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:27.500 You save me from violence. 00:06:27.500 --> 00:06:31.800 I call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised, 00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:34.899 and I am saved from my enemies. 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:38.959 For the waves of death encompassed me. 00:06:39.620 --> 00:06:42.680 The torrents of destruction assailed me. 00:06:43.899 --> 00:06:46.740 The cords of Sheol entangled me. 00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:51.180 The snares of death confronted me. 00:06:51.180 --> 00:06:58.500 This text is a song of deliverance. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:01.680 Before we can have deliverance, 00:07:01.780 --> 00:07:06.960 we need to get an appreciation for the despair that David is in. 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:10.420 At the writing of this song, 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:14.500 the narrator wants us to see David as the conquering king 00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:18.240 whose enemies, the Philistines, Saul, Absalom, 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:21.379 lie defeated around his feet. 00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:25.079 David has taken the field of battle in his life 00:07:25.079 --> 00:07:27.460 over and over and over again, 00:07:27.699 --> 00:07:30.800 and every time the Lord has given him the victory. 00:07:31.540 --> 00:07:33.439 We've seen this over the last months 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:36.680 as we've gone through David's life chapter by chapter. 00:07:38.139 --> 00:07:40.379 And so after he has defeated these enemies, 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:43.019 he's now cleared out a living place 00:07:43.019 --> 00:07:45.000 for the people of God in Israel. 00:07:45.620 --> 00:07:48.100 He's established a reign of peace. 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:51.139 That would be used by his son Solomon 00:07:51.139 --> 00:07:54.379 to marshal all of the resources of Israel, 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:56.620 not this time for warfaring, 00:07:56.980 --> 00:08:00.259 but to build the dwelling place of God. 00:08:02.939 --> 00:08:05.300 Now it's tempting to read these stories 00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:07.019 over the last several chapters 00:08:07.019 --> 00:08:10.540 and get bored with them 00:08:10.540 --> 00:08:12.860 as though the outcome of them is not in question. 00:08:13.780 --> 00:08:16.980 We know David doesn't die in these battles. 00:08:16.980 --> 00:08:19.540 Therefore, we can't feel the drama. 00:08:21.020 --> 00:08:23.920 We've had spoilers without spoiler alerts. 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:26.259 And it takes some work for us 00:08:26.259 --> 00:08:28.660 to go back into the actual stories 00:08:28.660 --> 00:08:33.379 and feel how tenuous the circumstance is. 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:37.860 If we are tempted to get bored with these battles, 00:08:38.019 --> 00:08:40.960 notice that is not how David experienced these battles. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:57.780 David seems here more confident than not 00:08:57.779 --> 00:09:12.740 that he is going to be destroyed by his many enemies. 00:09:12.740 --> 00:09:17.600 If ever we are tempted to read our Bibles 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:20.180 as though the people within his pages are characters 00:09:20.180 --> 00:09:24.960 and not real, living, sometimes fearful human beings like we are, 00:09:25.320 --> 00:09:28.019 let these words of David correct our error. 00:09:29.080 --> 00:09:32.680 David knows the fear of death rattling his very bones. 00:09:32.679 --> 00:09:37.459 And I wonder, 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:41.239 if we begin to see David like this, 00:09:41.779 --> 00:09:46.500 does he not begin to look an awful lot more like us? 00:09:46.500 --> 00:09:52.120 I wonder if you've ever felt this fear 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:55.779 of death rattling your bones, 00:09:56.139 --> 00:10:00.179 of torrents of destruction as they threaten to overwhelm you. 00:10:00.179 --> 00:10:05.419 This fear that though God has made promises to you 00:10:05.419 --> 00:10:09.539 as he did to David at his anointing as king, 00:10:10.719 --> 00:10:14.159 yet nevertheless the torrents of destruction assail you. 00:10:15.099 --> 00:10:17.459 The promises of God are distant. 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:20.459 The swords of your enemies are near. 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:22.599 And you are afraid. 00:10:26.079 --> 00:10:27.120 But take heart. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:30.440 Be not afraid. 00:10:32.299 --> 00:10:34.620 The Lord's anointed king, you see, 00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:36.600 has also been where you are 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:38.700 in the pain of the, 00:10:38.919 --> 00:10:40.860 in the pangs of death. 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:46.500 In this fearful state of enemies encroaching all around him, 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:47.960 what is David's response? 00:10:49.139 --> 00:10:50.320 Look here in verse seven. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:53.639 In my distress, 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:56.220 I called upon the Lord 00:10:56.220 --> 00:10:58.840 and to my God I called. 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:02.080 From his temple he heard my voice 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:05.920 and my cry came to his ears. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:09.759 In my distress, 00:11:10.220 --> 00:11:12.120 in my distress, 00:11:12.580 --> 00:11:14.080 I called upon the Lord. 00:11:15.540 --> 00:11:17.899 The depths of distress 00:11:17.899 --> 00:11:21.580 drive David into the arms of his God. 00:11:21.580 --> 00:11:27.379 When the battle for his life is most intense, 00:11:27.820 --> 00:11:30.580 David flees to one final fortress, 00:11:30.860 --> 00:11:32.160 not his citadel, 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:33.200 castle, 00:11:33.740 --> 00:11:35.200 but God himself. 00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:41.860 What shall be the outcome for those who do such a thing? 00:11:41.860 --> 00:11:45.480 If you identify with David 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:50.019 in the fear of death overwhelming you 00:11:50.019 --> 00:11:52.879 and the torrents of destruction coming upon you, 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:55.180 and you were to do like David, 00:11:55.419 --> 00:11:58.259 and in your distress call out to your God, 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:00.259 what would be the outcome for you? 00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:03.879 What happens for David here? 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:07.439 From his temple, 00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:09.879 he heard my voice 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:13.799 and my cry came to his ears. 00:12:14.460 --> 00:12:17.240 Remember that his earthly temple is not yet built. 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:19.179 The temple he refers to here is 00:12:19.179 --> 00:12:22.980 the temple of the lofty dwelling places of God in heaven. 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:28.759 David's God is enthroned in heaven, 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:35.019 but he is not a God who is aloof from the concerns of his people. 00:12:36.279 --> 00:12:41.920 He's not too busy managing the spiraling of galaxies light years away 00:12:41.920 --> 00:12:46.940 to hear the whimpering voice of a small, fragile man, 00:12:47.560 --> 00:12:49.220 one of God's servants, 00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:52.759 lying on his belly in a cave, 00:12:52.980 --> 00:12:57.180 as the soldiers of Saul surround him. 00:12:58.180 --> 00:12:59.820 He's praying for deliverance. 00:13:02.800 --> 00:13:06.240 Just last week, scientists revealed that they found a black hole, 00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:12.740 diameter of which is 22 billion suns across. 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:17.259 If it were to be placed at the center of our solar system, 00:13:17.340 --> 00:13:19.740 it would encompass all of the planets except Pluto, 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:21.779 which isn't a planet, unfortunately, anymore. 00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:26.680 God keeps that there. 00:13:29.080 --> 00:13:32.399 At every moment, he sustains it in its position in the universe. 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:37.779 And the God who is lofty and enthroned in his temple 00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:44.500 hears the voice of his servants who cry to him in their distress. 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:52.059 Not only does he hear, 00:13:52.059 --> 00:13:54.340 he acts. 00:13:55.679 --> 00:14:04.100 And he acts as one who has all of the power required to sustain the universe in its place. 00:14:05.100 --> 00:14:05.879 Read with me. 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:06.740 Verse 8. 00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:08.519 David says, 00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:09.820 My cry came before his ears. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:10.680 What did he do? 00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:13.580 The earth reeled and rocked. 00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:17.019 The foundations of the heavens trembled 00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:21.519 and quaked because he was angry. 00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:26.820 Smoke went up from his nostrils and devouring fire from his mouth. 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:30.340 Glowing coals flamed forth from him. 00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:35.340 He bowed the heavens and came down. 00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:39.660 Thick darkness was under his feet. 00:14:40.040 --> 00:14:42.160 He rode on a cherub and flew. 00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:44.879 He was seen on the wings of the wind. 00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:47.120 He made darkness around him his canopy. 00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:49.920 Thick clouds, a gathering of water. 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:54.680 Out of the brightness before him, coals of fire flamed forth. 00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:59.559 The Lord thundered from heaven and the Most High uttered his voice. 00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:04.559 He sent out his arrows and scattered them, lightning and routed them. 00:15:05.599 --> 00:15:07.739 Then the channels of the sea were seen. 00:15:07.959 --> 00:15:13.120 The foundations of the world were laid bare at the rebuke of the Lord, 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:16.120 at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:21.019 We are tempted to read these things as hyperbole. 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:24.879 I would suggest that they are understatement. 00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:29.799 The heavens shook. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:34.519 He bowed the heavens and came down. 00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:39.379 This is effortless for David's God, 00:15:39.659 --> 00:15:42.500 who is so big and yet so intimate. 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:46.539 Once David's God gets involved, 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:50.220 then the outcome can be in no doubt. 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:52.480 As it was for him, 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:55.259 so it shall be for you. 00:16:00.340 --> 00:16:05.679 And so as we consider together what we desire our song to be 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:07.939 at the end of our lives that we sing, 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:15.519 we ought to learn from David in the heat of battle not to flee, 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:18.159 not to despair. 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:24.939 For the battles that we fight will one day be the fodder for praise. 00:16:24.940 --> 00:16:33.920 The temptation to run and despair that you feel now will one day at the end of your life 00:16:33.920 --> 00:16:37.540 be the occasion for great rejoicing. 00:16:38.540 --> 00:16:40.700 Do not lose heart. 00:16:41.040 --> 00:16:42.380 Be not afraid. 00:16:42.379 --> 00:16:51.279 I would suggest that one of the reasons that we come together week by week to join as the people of God 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:54.059 is to share our stories with each other 00:16:54.059 --> 00:16:59.980 of the victories that we have seen God win in battles fought for us. 00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:08.599 It's despairing to see only our small bit of the battlefield that lies in front of us, 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:12.039 especially when victory seems so uncertain. 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:19.619 Therefore, stir each other up with tales of the mighty works of God. 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:30.960 And therefore we will see that the life of God's beloved culminates in joyful praise for battles won. 00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:34.680 Secondly, we see from this text, 00:17:34.819 --> 00:17:41.159 the life of God's beloved culminates in joyful praise for righteousness vindicated. 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:44.420 Look with me at verse 21. 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:48.200 David, still praising the Lord, says, 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:51.399 The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness. 00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:55.859 According to the cleanness of my hands, he rewarded me. 00:17:56.819 --> 00:18:01.879 For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:07.180 All of his rules were before me and from his statutes I did not turn aside. 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:09.940 I was blameless before him. 00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:12.220 And I kept myself from guilt. 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:15.960 And the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness. 00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:18.799 According to my cleanness in his sight. 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:27.139 Now I suspect that this is very likely the most difficult part of our passage for us to understand. 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:30.500 Since we know who David was. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:33.180 We know his many failings. 00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:37.799 If he's putting on an airbrushed image of himself here, we know better. 00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:46.779 Now one interpretation of this passage suggests that David wrote these words before his decline into sin with Bathsheba. 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:51.779 But that's not the way the narrator presents him to us here. 00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:55.000 The narrator presumes we've been reading along. 00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:56.079 And we have been. 00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:59.240 And we know the terrible things that David has done. 00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:01.960 Adultery and murder are among them. 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:09.960 And here we find somebody saying that he has kept the ways of the Lord, have not departed from them in any regard. 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:13.059 We are tempted to look at him and say, David, that's nonsense. 00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:22.059 Some cynics might interpret this simply as David trying to escape blame for his fault. 00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:26.179 But that wouldn't explain the Psalms, he writes. 00:19:26.419 --> 00:19:28.559 Wherein he confesses his sin to God. 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:32.220 David is not one who runs from his sin. 00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:36.859 Except to run from his sin to his God. 00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:42.019 And that I think is why he can say the things he says here. 00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:50.440 Instead, I think we ought to see here that David is convinced of two things about God and his sin. 00:19:51.139 --> 00:19:56.419 The first, God really does put behind him the sins of his people. 00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:57.579 He really does. 00:19:58.659 --> 00:20:02.619 Secondly, God's grace empowers his people to live righteously. 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:08.839 That first point, God truly does put behind him the sins of his people. 00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:15.859 You see, all of this that David says here occurs within the covenant that God has made with David. 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:21.059 God has already covenanted to elect him as his anointed one. 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:23.539 To forgive his many sins. 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:33.679 Within the covenant with God, all of these things about the blamelessness of a murderer and adulterer, 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:34.860 they're all true. 00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:40.000 God really does forget David's sin. 00:20:42.320 --> 00:20:45.259 Not like some passive-aggressive friend 00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:50.000 who makes a show about not bringing up your error 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:52.259 by bringing up your error. 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:57.580 Not like one who continually holds it over you 00:20:57.579 --> 00:21:01.679 and then holds their forgiveness over you as well. 00:21:01.939 --> 00:21:04.199 That's not the way God works. 00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:08.019 He drowns our sins in the depths of the sea. 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:12.399 He takes them into the pit of hell and burns them there. 00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.439 They're gone. 00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:18.119 You remember them better than he does. 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:22.159 Of this, David is very convinced, 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:23.919 though he doesn't give an argument for how it works. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:26.360 We'll get to that in a bit. 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:30.660 So, God truly does put behind him the sins of his people. 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:36.180 Secondly, I think David is convinced that God's grace empowers his people to live righteously. 00:21:37.340 --> 00:21:39.900 God's grace empowers his people to live righteously. 00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:42.460 Look at the way he says the things that he's done. 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:45.279 Look at verse 30, talking about his military endeavors. 00:21:45.860 --> 00:21:46.200 He says, 00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:50.200 For by you I can run against a troop, 00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:53.860 and by my God I can leap over a wall. 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:59.180 By you, by my God, I can do these things. 00:21:59.840 --> 00:22:05.240 David is aware of the fact that the motivating force behind all of his military success 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:06.920 is the power of God. 00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:12.440 He is not acting at any moment in this psalm independent of the grace of God. 00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:15.980 Look again at verse 33. 00:22:16.360 --> 00:22:20.080 Not only are David's military exploits motivated by the grace of God, 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:24.360 but also his moral exploits are empowered by the grace of God. 00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:26.180 Verse 33. 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:29.320 The Lord is my strong refuge. 00:22:29.820 --> 00:22:31.680 He has made my way blameless. 00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:33.660 He has done this. 00:22:33.660 --> 00:22:38.980 I don't merely sit here blameless before him by my own doing. 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:41.180 He had some agency in this. 00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:48.080 But if you think that these things are less than obvious in our text, 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:49.440 I don't blame you. 00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:54.740 What is unclear for David about how all this stuff works 00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:57.099 is clear for us. 00:22:58.700 --> 00:23:03.779 We know how God can forget, really forget the sins of his people 00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:08.279 so that we can really say that we stand blameless before him. 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:14.859 And we know how God's grace empowers us to do good action. 00:23:14.859 --> 00:23:19.859 We know something about God that David didn't know. 00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:24.279 We have better insight into this mystery than David did. 00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:27.659 How does it work? 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:33.419 The one who is absent from this text thus far, 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.959 but not until the end of the chapter, 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.500 is Jesus. 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:40.399 For the Christian, 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:47.339 Jesus is the reason that we are able to stand blameless before God. 00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:52.859 Jesus and the purchasing of our souls 00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:54.459 that he did on a cross 00:23:54.459 --> 00:23:59.740 and the Holy Spirit that he sent to indwell the lives of those who love him 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:05.720 make it possible for us to be motivated by God to good works. 00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:08.240 Jesus does this. 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:12.679 Jesus makes David not a liar. 00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:17.960 Jesus has been doing that for all of us ever since. 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.880 We'll come back to Jesus in a bit. 00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:28.180 But we see then that those who take their refuge in the fortress of God 00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:32.660 have good confidence that they will never be ashamed. 00:24:35.080 --> 00:24:38.480 The life of God's beloved culminates in joyful praise 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:41.039 for righteousness vindicated. 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:44.440 Thirdly and finally, 00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:46.839 the life of God's beloved 00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:49.480 culminates in joyful praise 00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:51.579 for the glory of God himself. 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:54.380 The glory of God himself. 00:24:55.860 --> 00:24:57.579 Look with me at verse 47 00:24:57.579 --> 00:24:59.680 and following. 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:05.940 The Lord lives. 00:25:08.100 --> 00:25:10.160 And blessed be my rock 00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:12.460 and exalted be my God, 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:14.080 the rock of my salvation. 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:16.720 The God who gave me vengeance 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:18.900 and brought down peoples under me 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:21.259 who brought me out from my enemies. 00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:24.900 You exalted me above those who rose against me. 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:28.140 You delivered me from men of violence. 00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:31.660 For this I will praise you, O Lord, 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:32.500 among the nations 00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:34.880 and sing praises to your name. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:38.580 Great salvation he brings 00:25:38.580 --> 00:25:40.100 to his king. 00:25:40.840 --> 00:25:43.500 And he shows steadfast love to his anointed, 00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:46.800 to David and his offspring forever. 00:25:51.080 --> 00:25:53.520 The life of God's beloved culminates 00:25:53.520 --> 00:25:57.660 in joyful praise for God himself. 00:25:58.140 --> 00:26:00.640 Look at that first phrase in 47. 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:03.280 The Lord lives. 00:26:04.900 --> 00:26:07.860 Had nothing in this chapter been written 00:26:07.860 --> 00:26:09.020 other than that, 00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:12.120 we would have sufficient motivation for praise. 00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:14.400 The Lord lives. 00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:16.980 He is who he is. 00:26:17.340 --> 00:26:20.600 He cannot be any other than he is. 00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:22.820 He is good. 00:26:23.820 --> 00:26:25.740 He is love. 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:31.500 Therefore, who cares what the Philistines do? 00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:35.319 Yes, it's wonderful that they are now smitten, 00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:39.500 destroyed by David. 00:26:41.079 --> 00:26:42.359 But the Lord lives. 00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:48.399 And though you may not see now victory 00:26:48.399 --> 00:26:50.079 in the battles you fight 00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:52.119 the way David himself did not 00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:53.479 in the middle of the battles 00:26:53.479 --> 00:26:55.639 see victory coming for him, 00:26:55.879 --> 00:26:57.079 the Lord lives. 00:26:58.639 --> 00:27:00.379 And tomorrow morning you will wake up 00:27:00.379 --> 00:27:01.699 and the Lord will live. 00:27:03.199 --> 00:27:05.759 And therefore, you will have reason for rejoicing 00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:07.980 tonight as you lay down 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:10.799 and tomorrow as you rise up. 00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:15.059 And so long as that sun shines on you 00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:17.920 and for trillions of years afterwards, 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:20.519 you will have a reason to rejoice 00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:22.539 because the Lord lives. 00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:25.980 But that's not all. 00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:28.339 Verse 51. 00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:33.180 Great salvation he brings to his king 00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:36.559 and he shows steadfast love to his anointed, 00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:39.379 to David and his offspring forever. 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:42.839 Great salvation he brings. 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:51.599 How very little David knows the truth of this statement. 00:27:54.699 --> 00:27:56.720 You see, this text, this chapter, 00:27:56.939 --> 00:27:58.779 frames the entire text of Samuel, 00:27:58.939 --> 00:28:00.399 first and second Samuel. 00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:03.500 And if you look on the other side of the frame 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:06.000 for a parallel, what you find is this. 00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:07.579 Hannah's song. 00:28:08.439 --> 00:28:09.799 Hannah, the one who prayed, 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:11.679 begged the Lord for a child 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:13.500 and the Lord gave her Samuel. 00:28:14.060 --> 00:28:15.700 And she sings 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:19.620 just like David does here. 00:28:21.080 --> 00:28:22.880 All of these histories 00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:25.580 are framed by songs. 00:28:28.620 --> 00:28:30.600 When Hannah begged the Lord for a son 00:28:30.600 --> 00:28:33.000 to rid her of the disgrace of her barrenness, 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:36.460 the Lord responded by giving her Samuel, 00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:40.299 which set in motion this series of events 00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:44.259 that would culminate in the anointing of David. 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:47.259 But it wouldn't really culminate there. 00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:47.720 No. 00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:50.519 Samuel, you see, is prologue to David. 00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:54.359 But David is prologue to another one 00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:55.200 who would come. 00:28:58.319 --> 00:29:01.000 Hannah could little imagine 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:05.119 the grand story of which she was becoming a part 00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:07.799 when she mumbled her prayers 00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:09.439 through tears. 00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:15.000 David could little imagine 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:16.979 the grandeur of what God would do 00:29:16.979 --> 00:29:18.619 in answering his prayers. 00:29:21.179 --> 00:29:23.119 David knows the goodness of God. 00:29:24.359 --> 00:29:26.839 But there is so much goodness of God 00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:27.939 that David does not know. 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:31.700 And who knows 00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:34.400 what story you are in the middle of 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:37.140 when you pray your prayers through tears. 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.900 Like Hannah, 00:29:42.600 --> 00:29:43.240 alone, 00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:44.960 barren, 00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:46.580 disgraced. 00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:48.620 Or like David, 00:29:49.580 --> 00:29:49.980 alone, 00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:51.860 fleeing from Saul, 00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:53.580 hiding in dank, 00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:55.440 damp caves, 00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:57.140 praying 00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:58.820 to the Lord 00:29:58.820 --> 00:29:59.960 who sustains the universe. 00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:02.380 And the Lord does 00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:03.160 greater 00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:05.200 than they asked for. 00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:09.160 Has he stopped 00:30:09.160 --> 00:30:09.900 responding 00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:11.000 to the prayers 00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:11.799 of his people 00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:13.019 in that way? 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.240 No. 00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:19.080 God, you see, 00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:20.240 is always doing 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:20.680 greater 00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:21.779 than we realize. 00:30:22.600 --> 00:30:23.539 And when David here 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:24.400 thanks the Lord 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.240 for the salvation, 00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:26.140 he brings 00:30:26.140 --> 00:30:27.299 from the Philistines, 00:30:27.420 --> 00:30:28.339 he knows little 00:30:28.339 --> 00:30:29.359 of the salvation 00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:30.160 that is to come 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:31.180 through one 00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:32.140 that will come 00:30:32.140 --> 00:30:34.039 out of his own lineage. 00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.519 When God 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.539 makes to David 00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:38.160 the promise 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:39.859 to put one of his seed 00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:40.799 on the throne 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:41.579 forever, 00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:43.759 little does David know 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.539 that the one 00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.799 who is foretold 00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:47.599 is God himself. 00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:53.279 When we give praise 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:53.700 to God, 00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:54.059 you see, 00:30:54.120 --> 00:30:55.160 for his gracious works, 00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:56.680 be they for righteousness 00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:57.519 vindicated 00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:59.460 or for battles won, 00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:01.240 we can be confident 00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:02.440 that our words 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:05.259 express a slim fraction 00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:06.400 of his greatness 00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:07.420 and glory. 00:31:08.140 --> 00:31:09.220 No matter how 00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:10.579 magnificent your praise 00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:11.920 is to God, 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:13.319 it is always 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:13.920 understatement. 00:31:16.920 --> 00:31:18.140 For God 00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:19.460 is enthroned 00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:20.460 in glory. 00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:25.019 Far surpassing the minds 00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:26.460 of angels, 00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:28.259 far surpassing the minds 00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:28.980 of angels, 00:31:29.340 --> 00:31:30.480 trillions and trillions 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:31.480 of years of study 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:33.100 will yield but a fraction, 00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:35.259 an infinitely small fraction 00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:36.700 of the glory of God. 00:31:36.920 --> 00:31:38.860 There will always be more 00:31:38.860 --> 00:31:40.000 to rejoice in, 00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:41.660 to discover about the glory 00:31:41.660 --> 00:31:42.059 of God. 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:43.519 That's what makes heaven 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:45.579 so worth looking forward to. 00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:48.199 No harps 00:31:48.199 --> 00:31:49.079 and naked winged 00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:50.220 babies on clouds, 00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:52.339 no infinite ravishment 00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:53.220 with the glory 00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:53.960 of God. 00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:58.740 Great salvation 00:31:58.740 --> 00:31:59.299 he brings 00:31:59.299 --> 00:31:59.919 to his king, 00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:01.740 he shows 00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.599 steadfast love 00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:03.220 to his anointed, 00:32:03.619 --> 00:32:04.240 to David 00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:05.659 and his 00:32:05.659 --> 00:32:06.480 offspring, 00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:09.240 to the one 00:32:09.240 --> 00:32:09.939 who will come 00:32:09.939 --> 00:32:10.740 from the line 00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:11.199 of David 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.400 and all 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:13.400 who will associate 00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:14.240 themselves 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:15.680 with the one 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:16.380 who comes 00:32:16.380 --> 00:32:17.340 from the line 00:32:17.340 --> 00:32:17.880 of David. 00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:19.220 Salvation 00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:20.120 he will bring 00:32:20.120 --> 00:32:20.600 to them. 00:32:23.360 --> 00:32:24.559 And this is how 00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:25.440 David can say 00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.440 he walks in righteousness. 00:32:27.100 --> 00:32:28.200 This is how he says 00:32:28.200 --> 00:32:29.480 he can do great things. 00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:31.080 This is how he can say 00:32:31.080 --> 00:32:32.019 the Lord has won 00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:33.200 for him great battles. 00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:34.559 In retrospect, 00:32:34.819 --> 00:32:35.559 all of this makes 00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:36.480 so much more sense 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:37.299 than it did for David. 00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:38.660 We can see 00:32:38.660 --> 00:32:40.000 God being gracious 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:40.640 to David 00:32:40.640 --> 00:32:41.460 in a way that 00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:43.020 David could not 00:32:43.020 --> 00:32:43.600 see. 00:32:44.580 --> 00:32:45.400 God was 00:32:45.400 --> 00:32:46.380 in David's life 00:32:46.380 --> 00:32:47.600 preparing the grounds 00:32:47.600 --> 00:32:48.380 not only for the 00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:49.240 building of a temple 00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:50.420 but for the birth 00:32:50.420 --> 00:32:51.100 of a son, 00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:52.040 Jesus 00:32:52.040 --> 00:32:53.420 himself. 00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:55.020 Yes, 00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:55.940 very shortly 00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:57.040 God would make 00:32:57.040 --> 00:32:57.920 his dwelling place 00:32:57.920 --> 00:32:58.880 with man 00:32:58.880 --> 00:32:59.920 in the temple 00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:01.280 but most supremely 00:33:01.280 --> 00:33:02.180 in the incarnation 00:33:02.180 --> 00:33:02.940 of Jesus. 00:33:09.180 --> 00:33:10.020 These things 00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:11.059 are so great 00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:13.559 that the beauty 00:33:13.559 --> 00:33:14.119 of even 00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:15.460 the swan song 00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:17.019 is not adequate 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:18.039 to tell the full 00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:18.940 glory of God. 00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.539 We will never 00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:23.180 exhaust 00:33:23.180 --> 00:33:24.180 the praises 00:33:24.180 --> 00:33:24.680 of God 00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:26.359 even with 00:33:26.359 --> 00:33:28.259 those last songs 00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:29.259 surveying 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:29.819 the entirety 00:33:29.819 --> 00:33:30.400 of our life 00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:31.160 and the graciousness 00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:31.519 of God 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.220 to us. 00:33:32.619 --> 00:33:33.779 We will never 00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:34.599 exhaust 00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:36.480 his praise. 00:33:38.139 --> 00:33:38.959 The heart 00:33:38.959 --> 00:33:39.519 of God's 00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:39.799 people 00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:40.179 then 00:33:40.179 --> 00:33:40.980 yearn 00:33:40.980 --> 00:33:42.959 for more 00:33:42.959 --> 00:33:43.399 tongues 00:33:43.399 --> 00:33:44.519 to sing. 00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:44.939 Yes, 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:45.219 indeed, 00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:46.099 for a thousand 00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:46.579 tongues 00:33:46.579 --> 00:33:47.139 to sing 00:33:47.139 --> 00:33:47.799 as we 00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:48.219 ourselves 00:33:48.219 --> 00:33:48.759 will sing 00:33:48.759 --> 00:33:49.559 very shortly. 00:33:49.919 --> 00:33:50.659 For a thousand 00:33:50.659 --> 00:33:51.059 tongues 00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:51.519 to sing 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:52.179 our great 00:33:52.179 --> 00:33:52.740 Redeemer's 00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:52.980 love. 00:33:53.179 --> 00:33:53.579 That 00:33:53.579 --> 00:33:54.119 is the 00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:54.480 desire 00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:54.759 for the 00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:54.980 people 00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:55.539 of God. 00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:57.139 The greatest 00:33:57.139 --> 00:33:57.639 poetry 00:33:57.639 --> 00:33:58.000 that we 00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:58.559 can muster, 00:33:58.639 --> 00:33:58.959 the greatest 00:33:58.959 --> 00:33:59.659 rationale 00:33:59.659 --> 00:34:00.159 that we 00:34:00.159 --> 00:34:00.980 can discover 00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:02.140 is insufficient 00:34:02.140 --> 00:34:02.839 to plumb 00:34:02.839 --> 00:34:03.380 the depths 00:34:03.380 --> 00:34:04.200 of God's 00:34:04.200 --> 00:34:04.700 love and 00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.039 mercy. 00:34:06.259 --> 00:34:06.799 And so 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:07.039 we're going 00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:07.259 to need 00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:07.799 infinity, 00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:08.780 eternity 00:34:08.780 --> 00:34:09.679 to do it. 00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:10.219 And we're 00:34:10.219 --> 00:34:10.639 going to need 00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.240 each other 00:34:11.240 --> 00:34:12.420 that we 00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:13.440 can bask 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:13.760 in the 00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:14.340 glory of 00:34:14.340 --> 00:34:14.780 God 00:34:14.780 --> 00:34:16.340 directly 00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:18.240 and reflected 00:34:18.240 --> 00:34:18.719 in each 00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:18.980 other. 00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:22.280 And if you 00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:22.679 desire to 00:34:22.679 --> 00:34:23.320 have a life 00:34:23.320 --> 00:34:24.619 that goes 00:34:24.619 --> 00:34:25.380 about itself 00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:26.280 day by day 00:34:26.280 --> 00:34:27.280 preparing 00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:28.039 to sing 00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:28.800 such a 00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:29.699 grand song 00:34:29.699 --> 00:34:30.260 of God's 00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:30.760 praise, 00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:33.400 day by 00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:33.800 day 00:34:33.800 --> 00:34:34.740 commit 00:34:34.740 --> 00:34:35.340 yourself 00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:36.219 to 00:34:36.219 --> 00:34:36.780 practicing 00:34:36.780 --> 00:34:37.340 this, 00:34:38.099 --> 00:34:39.599 to beholding 00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:40.139 the glory 00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:40.800 of God 00:34:40.800 --> 00:34:42.059 in the 00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:42.519 face of 00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:42.960 Christ 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:43.639 revealed 00:34:43.639 --> 00:34:44.099 in the 00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:44.400 scripture, 00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:45.500 in the 00:34:45.500 --> 00:34:46.099 words of 00:34:46.099 --> 00:34:46.440 Christ 00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:46.940 spoken 00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:47.219 in 00:34:47.219 --> 00:34:47.539 scripture, 00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:49.699 and in 00:34:49.699 --> 00:34:50.159 the image 00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:50.780 of God 00:34:50.780 --> 00:34:51.679 displayed 00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:52.199 in the 00:34:52.199 --> 00:34:52.699 ones who 00:34:52.699 --> 00:34:53.320 sit next 00:34:53.320 --> 00:34:53.740 to you 00:34:53.740 --> 00:34:54.619 and behind 00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:54.960 you 00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:55.760 and before 00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:56.119 you. 00:34:57.480 --> 00:34:58.159 Commit 00:34:58.159 --> 00:34:58.559 yourself 00:34:58.559 --> 00:34:58.920 to the 00:34:58.920 --> 00:34:59.400 love of 00:34:59.400 --> 00:34:59.780 God 00:34:59.780 --> 00:35:00.320 and neighbor 00:35:00.320 --> 00:35:01.840 experience 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:02.620 your soul 00:35:02.620 --> 00:35:02.880 to be 00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:03.500 ravished 00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:03.740 by 00:35:03.740 --> 00:35:04.240 Christ 00:35:04.240 --> 00:35:07.360 and 00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:07.640 prepare 00:35:07.640 --> 00:35:08.080 yourself 00:35:08.080 --> 00:35:09.200 to sing 00:35:09.200 --> 00:35:09.580 a song 00:35:09.580 --> 00:35:10.220 of praise 00:35:10.220 --> 00:35:11.460 for 00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:11.940 eternity 00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:12.900 to come. 00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:13.519 God 00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:16.360 let's 00:35:16.360 --> 00:35:16.500 pray 00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:16.800 together. 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:25.559 We shall 00:35:25.559 --> 00:35:26.039 sing very 00:35:26.039 --> 00:35:26.340 soon 00:35:26.340 --> 00:35:26.539 Lord 00:35:26.539 --> 00:35:26.980 Christ 00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:27.639 that we 00:35:27.639 --> 00:35:28.059 desire 00:35:28.059 --> 00:35:28.800 a thousand 00:35:28.800 --> 00:35:29.220 tongues 00:35:29.220 --> 00:35:30.079 to sing 00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:30.460 your 00:35:30.460 --> 00:35:31.059 great 00:35:31.059 --> 00:35:31.559 praise 00:35:31.559 --> 00:35:32.900 but we 00:35:32.900 --> 00:35:33.160 know 00:35:33.160 --> 00:35:33.539 that a 00:35:33.539 --> 00:35:33.980 thousand 00:35:33.980 --> 00:35:36.160 tongues 00:35:36.160 --> 00:35:36.740 would be 00:35:36.740 --> 00:35:37.119 insufficient 00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:37.619 to sing 00:35:37.619 --> 00:35:38.160 your praise 00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:39.099 and therefore 00:35:39.099 --> 00:35:40.039 we humbly 00:35:40.039 --> 00:35:40.420 come to 00:35:40.420 --> 00:35:40.599 you 00:35:40.599 --> 00:35:40.940 and we 00:35:40.940 --> 00:35:41.219 say 00:35:41.219 --> 00:35:42.759 thank you 00:35:42.759 --> 00:35:45.079 for the 00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:45.440 grand 00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:46.000 things you've 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:46.399 done for 00:35:46.399 --> 00:35:46.819 us in 00:35:46.819 --> 00:35:47.199 Christ. 00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:49.839 We pray 00:35:49.839 --> 00:35:50.199 that even 00:35:50.199 --> 00:35:50.699 as we go 00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:51.039 from this 00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:51.339 place 00:35:51.339 --> 00:35:51.679 tonight 00:35:51.679 --> 00:35:52.179 you would 00:35:52.179 --> 00:35:52.500 give us 00:35:52.500 --> 00:35:52.859 greater 00:35:52.859 --> 00:35:53.440 and clearer 00:35:53.440 --> 00:35:53.899 glimpses 00:35:53.899 --> 00:35:54.159 of what 00:35:54.159 --> 00:35:54.359 you've 00:35:54.359 --> 00:35:54.519 done 00:35:54.519 --> 00:35:55.059 for us 00:35:55.059 --> 00:35:57.239 and that 00:35:57.239 --> 00:35:57.759 new 00:35:57.759 --> 00:35:58.420 morning 00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:59.039 by new 00:35:59.039 --> 00:35:59.500 morning 00:35:59.500 --> 00:35:59.920 your 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:00.379 mercies 00:36:00.379 --> 00:36:00.739 would be 00:36:00.739 --> 00:36:01.139 likewise 00:36:01.139 --> 00:36:01.799 new 00:36:01.799 --> 00:36:02.440 to us. 00:36:03.539 --> 00:36:04.199 That from 00:36:04.199 --> 00:36:04.940 this day 00:36:04.940 --> 00:36:05.779 until the 00:36:05.779 --> 00:36:06.359 day when 00:36:06.360 --> 00:36:07.700 our lungs 00:36:07.700 --> 00:36:08.300 expel 00:36:08.300 --> 00:36:08.980 their last 00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:09.440 breath 00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:10.579 we would 00:36:10.579 --> 00:36:11.240 have clearer 00:36:11.240 --> 00:36:11.960 and clearer 00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:12.500 pictures 00:36:12.500 --> 00:36:13.380 of you. 00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:15.960 And that 00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:16.539 after one 00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:17.039 day you 00:36:17.039 --> 00:36:18.460 breathe back 00:36:18.460 --> 00:36:19.300 life into 00:36:19.300 --> 00:36:20.059 our mortal 00:36:20.059 --> 00:36:20.780 bodies once 00:36:20.780 --> 00:36:21.079 again 00:36:21.079 --> 00:36:22.700 we would 00:36:22.700 --> 00:36:23.900 have infinite 00:36:23.900 --> 00:36:24.519 resources 00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:25.880 for singing 00:36:25.880 --> 00:36:26.440 to you 00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:27.360 a song 00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:27.880 of joyful 00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:28.340 praise. 00:36:29.740 --> 00:36:30.559 In the name 00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:30.920 of Jesus 00:36:30.920 --> 00:36:31.380 I ask 00:36:31.380 --> 00:36:31.900 these things. 00:36:32.740 --> 00:36:32.980 Amen.