WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.439 Amen. So, to get us thinking this morning, I wonder when the last time in your life something happened 00:00:08.439 --> 00:00:11.759 and you thought to yourself, that is too good to keep to myself. 00:00:12.859 --> 00:00:14.220 That is too good to keep to myself. 00:00:14.540 --> 00:00:16.920 Turn to your neighbor round about you for 10 seconds, okay? 00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:20.699 What was the last thing in your life that you said, that is too good to keep to myself? 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:25.320 And this will involve talking, okay? So go for it. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.840 Okay, that is 10 seconds right there. 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:38.060 I wonder what you came up with. 00:00:38.840 --> 00:00:42.740 So I always really, I find it fascinating in life, the things that get us excited. 00:00:43.560 --> 00:00:47.079 Like for me, Airdrie winning a football game gets me excited. 00:00:47.879 --> 00:00:51.659 For me, the discount aisle in Tesco gets me excited. 00:00:52.420 --> 00:00:57.600 But I had a friend run for dinner recently and he was telling me a story about a rare book that he found. 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:00.020 He loves books, does my friend. 00:01:00.460 --> 00:01:07.719 And the story went something like this, that he had his heart set upon finding and reading this antique book that he really wanted to find. 00:01:08.280 --> 00:01:15.819 So he took his fiancée at the time and he dragged her around every secondhand bookstore and every single charity shop that Edinburgh had to offer. 00:01:15.819 --> 00:01:29.099 And after a whole afternoon of no joy, and in his words, in the 12th shop that they went into, there in the middle of the bookshelf was a battered and torn copy of this antique book. 00:01:29.479 --> 00:01:30.519 So he's telling me this story. 00:01:30.599 --> 00:01:32.560 I'm trying to pretend like I'm excited at this point. 00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:34.319 He was ecstatic. 00:01:34.579 --> 00:01:35.259 She was relieved. 00:01:35.319 --> 00:01:36.659 But it gets better, he said. 00:01:37.159 --> 00:01:37.899 It gets better. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:40.679 And you can tell that he's from Scotland with this next comment that he made. 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:45.080 I opened the cover and inside were the words £1.50. 00:01:49.180 --> 00:01:57.840 And so as an excitement, my friend starts telling everybody that he met that he found this rare antique book that he always wanted to find. 00:01:58.300 --> 00:01:59.280 So funny, isn't it? 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:02.260 The things in life that get us excited and get us talking. 00:02:02.260 --> 00:02:11.900 This psalm this morning is a psalm that celebrates the God who is quite simply too good to keep to ourselves. 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:14.120 It's our big idea this morning. 00:02:14.980 --> 00:02:18.300 The God who is too good to keep to ourselves. 00:02:19.819 --> 00:02:28.280 With Psalm 96 open in front of us to fully appreciate what this psalm is saying, we need to see that it's a psalm with a uniquely brilliant context. 00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:32.840 We find it in the book of 1 Chronicles in chapter 16. 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:35.259 Here is King David. 00:02:36.920 --> 00:02:39.159 He's just been crowned king of all Israel. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:41.680 He's just captured Jerusalem. 00:02:41.879 --> 00:02:43.979 He's just made Jerusalem the capital city. 00:02:44.300 --> 00:02:47.580 But there's one thing that's missing from completing the set. 00:02:48.780 --> 00:02:54.280 And it's the thing that down the ages has set Israel apart from all the other nations. 00:02:54.280 --> 00:03:04.599 And that is the very near and the very real presence of the Lord with his people symbolized in the Ark of the Covenant. 00:03:06.199 --> 00:03:10.259 And after some time in the hands of the Philistines, that is the enemies of the Israelites. 00:03:11.199 --> 00:03:15.620 And after some time, it seems in the kind of background, the peripheral of Israel's story, 00:03:16.020 --> 00:03:19.620 David and his men have brought the Ark to rest in Jerusalem. 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:21.020 This is a huge deal. 00:03:21.939 --> 00:03:23.120 A huge deal. 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:33.599 So huge, in fact, that we're told that King David danced and celebrated, making himself, in his words, undignified before the watching world. 00:03:33.879 --> 00:03:37.939 I presume when I read that, that means that he has his hands in the air like he doesn't care. 00:03:38.020 --> 00:03:39.120 He doesn't care what others think. 00:03:39.300 --> 00:03:43.640 He's giving it his all for the Lord because he cannot keep the excitement down in his soul. 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:50.180 And they bring the Ark to rest in the tent that David has prepared for it. 00:03:50.180 --> 00:03:57.020 And as they get the proper worship that God had prescribed started again, David appoints his best musicians, 00:03:58.060 --> 00:04:02.780 complete with the lyres, complete with their harps, complete with their cymbals, complete with their trumpets. 00:04:02.780 --> 00:04:10.140 And he says to them, your job is to lead us in singing the praises of our incomparable gods. 00:04:10.920 --> 00:04:20.120 As we recall who he is and as we recall and celebrate and rejoice in everything that he's done for us. 00:04:20.139 --> 00:04:22.279 It's why we sing our songs on a Sunday morning, isn't it? 00:04:22.360 --> 00:04:26.160 Recall who our God is and celebrate who he is and what he's done for us. 00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:27.020 This is what they're doing. 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:35.560 Psalm 96 is a section of that song that David wrote for this moment as we find it in 1 Chronicles 16. 00:04:37.220 --> 00:04:39.480 Now, Psalm 96, look at it there if you've got it there. 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:43.000 Three times in the first three lines. 00:04:44.320 --> 00:04:46.120 Sing, sing, sing. 00:04:47.340 --> 00:04:47.940 See it? 00:04:48.400 --> 00:04:49.920 Sing, sing, sing. 00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:50.640 Call me crazy. 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:52.000 I think we're supposed to sing. 00:04:53.500 --> 00:05:00.479 You see, in Hebrew poetry, one of the ways that you draw your reader's eyes to the central truth or emotion of what you're writing. 00:05:01.079 --> 00:05:03.740 Remember, nobody owns a MacBook Pro in 1000 BC. 00:05:03.979 --> 00:05:05.199 It's not by putting it in italics. 00:05:05.240 --> 00:05:06.099 You don't put it in bold. 00:05:06.180 --> 00:05:08.099 You don't put it in Comic Sans or Wingdings. 00:05:08.360 --> 00:05:09.459 You repeat it. 00:05:10.740 --> 00:05:13.060 Sing, sing, sing. 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:15.099 He wants them to sing. 00:05:15.100 --> 00:05:20.100 And not just sing this song to the inside. 00:05:22.660 --> 00:05:25.200 Sing this song to the outside. 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:31.480 See, there's something intensely evangelistic about this psalm. 00:05:32.900 --> 00:05:35.560 In other words, this is not just a song for a Sunday. 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:39.420 This is a song for God's people to sing at home. 00:05:39.420 --> 00:05:46.100 This is a song to sing at work, to sing at uni, to sing at school, to sing with your family, to sing on the pitch. 00:05:46.500 --> 00:05:54.520 Because this song invites the peoples of the world to listen and to come and see how good this God is. 00:05:56.120 --> 00:05:57.580 And to come and know him. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:03.460 Come and put your faith and your trust in him and make this song your song. 00:06:05.340 --> 00:06:08.200 Why is this God too good to keep to ourselves? 00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:09.099 There's four reasons. 00:06:09.219 --> 00:06:10.759 We'll rattle through these quickly this morning. 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:14.199 Four reasons why this God is too good to keep to ourselves. 00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:16.019 Here's the first one, verses 1 to 3. 00:06:19.740 --> 00:06:21.519 Because no one rescues like this God. 00:06:22.620 --> 00:06:23.800 Got a new clicker this morning. 00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:24.599 I'm not sure how it works. 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:25.000 Is that right? 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:27.039 No one rescues like this God. 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:29.300 What is worth celebrating? 00:06:29.419 --> 00:06:30.399 Look at there in the psalm. 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:32.980 His salvation. 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:34.939 That's what's worth celebrating. 00:06:34.939 --> 00:06:39.399 That he is the God who has rescued them from Egypt. 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:42.719 He is the God who has parted the Red Sea. 00:06:43.579 --> 00:06:47.639 He is the God who has triumphed over both Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt. 00:06:48.339 --> 00:06:52.600 He is the God who has time and time again protected them from their enemies. 00:06:52.600 --> 00:07:03.340 And he is the God who, by his grace, despite their constant hard hearts, he is the God who has brought them into this land that they now call home. 00:07:03.820 --> 00:07:05.540 Nobody rescues like this God. 00:07:06.220 --> 00:07:07.460 Nobody rescues like him. 00:07:07.459 --> 00:07:11.959 We love a rescue story, don't we, in our culture? 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:19.060 One of the most heartwarming stories of this year, in fact, of this summer, was a rescue story. 00:07:20.859 --> 00:07:24.639 Those 12 boys and their coats stranded in the caves in Thailand. 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:34.659 Helpless, staring death in the face before the most daring and incredible of rescue missions which saw them all make it out alive. 00:07:34.660 --> 00:07:37.020 That was an incredible story. 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:38.140 I hope that got your heart. 00:07:38.200 --> 00:07:40.140 I'm sure it did this summer as we heard about it. 00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:42.340 An incredible story of rescue. 00:07:44.520 --> 00:07:47.580 But friends, no rescue story compares to the gospel. 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:49.620 It just doesn't. 00:07:50.620 --> 00:08:00.879 How much more can we sing this song and make it our own as New Testament believers because we know the full extent and the full contours of the rescue story, 00:08:01.420 --> 00:08:03.660 God's rescue story because of Jesus? 00:08:04.660 --> 00:08:08.240 Because the gospel says that I wasn't just stuck. 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:10.220 I wasn't just drowning. 00:08:10.340 --> 00:08:11.120 I was dead. 00:08:12.840 --> 00:08:19.640 And Jesus stepped into my story and he left the splendor of heaven. 00:08:19.760 --> 00:08:22.120 He humbled himself by taking on flesh. 00:08:23.400 --> 00:08:25.180 And he did what I couldn't do. 00:08:25.300 --> 00:08:28.879 He lived the perfect life before God, the one that I couldn't live. 00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:36.080 And Jesus took, as we've been singing this morning, the death and punishment that should have been mine because of my sin. 00:08:36.659 --> 00:08:38.320 He took it on the cross. 00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:43.399 And Jesus rose to life, meaning that my debt is really paid. 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:50.639 And that death won't have the last say on my life because it didn't have the last word on Jesus' life. 00:08:52.399 --> 00:09:00.079 And Jesus, despite my constant and daily failings, he has me in the palm of his hand. 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:02.820 And no one is taking me from there. 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:05.860 And by his grace, he will take me home. 00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:10.879 No rescue story compares to the gospel. 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:15.740 Now what are God's people to do with this rescue story? 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:16.939 Verses 2 and 3. 00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:19.320 They're to tell it. 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:21.600 To declare it. 00:09:22.659 --> 00:09:29.039 To take the news about who this God is and to take the news about what he's done and go and make it known. 00:09:29.379 --> 00:09:31.019 Among the nations, you'll see it there. 00:09:31.100 --> 00:09:31.899 Among the peoples. 00:09:31.899 --> 00:09:36.679 Of course, this is what God had always envisaged for Israel. 00:09:36.840 --> 00:09:40.579 That it's his chosen and rescued people, those set apart to live for him. 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:44.620 That they were to be shining lights in this world of darkness round about them. 00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:49.000 That people outside were to look in at everything that was going on in Israel and declare, 00:09:49.199 --> 00:09:53.659 Wow, not how good you are, but wow, how great is the God that you know and worship. 00:09:56.319 --> 00:09:58.199 Because this God is a missionary God. 00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:01.220 This God is a global God. 00:10:01.899 --> 00:10:09.299 This God is an eternally loving God with a heart for the unreached and lost people in the world that he has made. 00:10:09.439 --> 00:10:11.539 And he calls his people to go and make him known. 00:10:12.959 --> 00:10:13.899 And notice when. 00:10:14.959 --> 00:10:15.879 Not occasionally. 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:17.980 Not sporadically. 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:22.000 But to make him known from day to day. 00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:23.120 Do you see it in the psalm? 00:10:24.139 --> 00:10:26.360 Every day recalling and celebrating. 00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:28.419 Every day telling and declaring. 00:10:28.419 --> 00:10:32.179 You know, it's so funny as you read your Old Testament and you look at Israel. 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:36.620 If you had to pick two things that they excelled at. 00:10:36.699 --> 00:10:40.779 I mean, if you had to make Israel into a top trump and rate their abilities. 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:42.699 Do you know what would be coming out on top? 00:10:44.599 --> 00:10:46.199 Forgetting and grumbling. 00:10:47.819 --> 00:10:50.120 Forgetting and grumbling. 00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:50.159 Grumbling. 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:51.139 Ten out of ten. 00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:52.379 Top score. 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:53.240 You cannot beat it. 00:10:54.820 --> 00:10:56.779 But as I look into my heart. 00:10:58.399 --> 00:10:59.399 And my life. 00:11:00.539 --> 00:11:02.879 See, if you had to pick two things I'm particularly good at. 00:11:04.259 --> 00:11:06.879 It'd be forgetting and grumbling. 00:11:08.519 --> 00:11:10.519 Not so much what Jesus has done for me. 00:11:10.580 --> 00:11:12.299 I don't forget the fact of the cross. 00:11:12.299 --> 00:11:16.939 But what it means for me in my everyday life. 00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:18.319 That's what I forget. 00:11:18.859 --> 00:11:19.639 All the time. 00:11:21.219 --> 00:11:23.699 Friends, how are we doing with the help of the Holy Spirit. 00:11:24.419 --> 00:11:26.899 At daily reminding ourselves of the gospel. 00:11:27.439 --> 00:11:30.279 And daily declaring the gospel to our families. 00:11:30.479 --> 00:11:31.199 To our friends. 00:11:31.359 --> 00:11:31.919 To our neighbors. 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:33.000 And to our colleagues. 00:11:33.199 --> 00:11:35.979 And doing that day after day. 00:11:37.719 --> 00:11:40.279 Because nobody rescues like this God. 00:11:40.279 --> 00:11:44.240 This God is too good to keep to ourselves. 00:11:44.439 --> 00:11:46.039 Secondly, verses four to six. 00:11:46.699 --> 00:11:48.419 No one compares to this God. 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:50.459 Verse four. 00:11:50.579 --> 00:11:51.059 Look at it there. 00:11:51.179 --> 00:11:52.159 Great is the Lord. 00:11:52.220 --> 00:11:53.019 That's the declaration. 00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:56.159 He's saying that the Lord is the best. 00:11:56.259 --> 00:11:57.159 He is the superior. 00:11:57.639 --> 00:11:58.500 And because of that. 00:11:58.579 --> 00:12:00.220 He is greatly to be praised. 00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:02.899 And he is to be feared. 00:12:04.939 --> 00:12:05.339 Revered. 00:12:05.839 --> 00:12:07.399 Given rightful recognition. 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:08.100 Worshipped. 00:12:08.279 --> 00:12:08.559 Adored. 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:09.939 Above all gods. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:13.019 Notice the small g there. 00:12:15.019 --> 00:12:16.459 Because as the psalmist looks out. 00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:17.679 He sees a world full of people. 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:19.120 But people that are worshipping. 00:12:19.220 --> 00:12:21.279 All sorts of divine pretenders. 00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:22.699 They are cover gods. 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:25.120 Ever been to see a cover band? 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:26.539 Right? 00:12:27.179 --> 00:12:28.559 Pretending to be the real thing. 00:12:28.620 --> 00:12:30.539 But really failing at being the real thing. 00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:33.839 I once heard of a middle-aged man. 00:12:33.839 --> 00:12:34.399 Down in Wales. 00:12:34.459 --> 00:12:35.939 Who was touring the country a while back. 00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:37.500 Calling himself Blobby Williams. 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:42.740 This is what the psalmist is saying to the peoples of the world. 00:12:42.840 --> 00:12:44.080 You are worshipping covers. 00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:44.899 You are worshipping pretenders. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:46.539 Creative things. 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:47.379 Material things. 00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:48.019 Pretending. 00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:49.419 And failing. 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:51.320 At being the real thing. 00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:54.600 Because nobody compares to this God. 00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:57.259 And in comparison to him. 00:12:57.340 --> 00:12:57.779 Verse 5. 00:12:57.779 --> 00:13:00.600 Your gods are worthless idols. 00:13:01.920 --> 00:13:04.740 You're living for things that you think will deliver you. 00:13:05.100 --> 00:13:07.620 You're living for things that you think will satisfy you. 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:10.139 You're living for things that you think will complete you. 00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:11.000 But they will not. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:12.240 Because those things. 00:13:13.220 --> 00:13:15.600 They will be here today and gone tomorrow. 00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:20.059 Those things will be here one minute and gone the next. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:24.899 And do you see how in a world full of many cover gods. 00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:29.480 God's people are invited to lovingly say to the peoples round about them. 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:31.039 You worship the things of creation. 00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:34.360 How about you come and join us and worship the creator. 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:39.200 I wonder what you're worshipping this morning. 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:43.740 If only I could get that promotion. 00:13:45.060 --> 00:13:47.420 If only I could get that boyfriend or girlfriend. 00:13:48.520 --> 00:13:52.420 If only I could get that house that meant that my kids got into that catchment area. 00:13:52.520 --> 00:13:53.960 That meant they can get into that school. 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:56.420 If only we could go on that trip of a lifetime. 00:13:56.560 --> 00:13:59.180 If only I could get into that university. 00:13:59.340 --> 00:14:01.800 If only I could look like that. 00:14:02.440 --> 00:14:03.320 Then I'd be set. 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:04.240 Then I'd be happy. 00:14:06.300 --> 00:14:08.480 Friends how much energy our world spends. 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:13.379 And tells us to spend chasing the things that will not complete us. 00:14:13.420 --> 00:14:15.480 No wonder we stress that our minds in our world. 00:14:16.800 --> 00:14:18.399 These things will not complete us. 00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:19.920 I think of Jim Carrey. 00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:21.759 The famous Hollywood actor. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:23.320 One of my favorite actors growing up. 00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:23.600 He said. 00:14:23.940 --> 00:14:25.759 I think everybody should get rich and famous. 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:27.500 And do everything they ever dreamed of. 00:14:27.560 --> 00:14:30.779 So that they can see that that is not the answer. 00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:37.039 Well enter Jesus Christ to our muddled equation. 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:41.240 Who would say to a stressed out world. 00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:43.419 To a burnt out people. 00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:46.279 Come all ye to me. 00:14:47.659 --> 00:14:50.679 And find in me your all in all. 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.559 And come to me. 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:55.579 And get rest in who I am. 00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:59.280 Find your identity in me. 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:02.160 Let me take your burdens. 00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:04.259 This is our God. 00:15:05.900 --> 00:15:07.879 The immense freedom. 00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:08.680 I wonder if you remember. 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:09.960 If you're here. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:11.259 You're a Christian this morning. 00:15:11.540 --> 00:15:13.540 Remember that moment when you first heard those words. 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:15.860 The immense freedom that there is in coming to Jesus. 00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:19.680 Come all ye to me. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:22.240 What does the psalmist say? 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:24.899 Splendor and majesty are before this God. 00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:27.620 Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:29.259 There's no one that compares with him. 00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:32.879 This God is too good to keep to ourselves. 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:34.259 Verses 7 to 9. 00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:36.220 Thirdly no one invites like this God. 00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:39.320 Again notice in these verses. 00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:41.080 The threefold repetition. 00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:42.100 A scribe. 00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:43.139 A scribe. 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:44.060 A scribe. 00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:46.299 It's almost like there's something three in one about this God. 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:47.500 But we can talk about that later. 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:47.799 Okay. 00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:50.059 It means give to him. 00:15:50.199 --> 00:15:52.139 It means he is worthy of all things. 00:15:52.219 --> 00:15:53.379 He is worthy of that. 00:15:53.599 --> 00:15:54.279 Worthy of what? 00:15:54.419 --> 00:15:54.819 Glory. 00:15:56.619 --> 00:15:59.839 And you see that this is not just God's people who are invited to come. 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:00.539 And to ascribe. 00:16:00.739 --> 00:16:01.579 And to give to God. 00:16:01.719 --> 00:16:03.559 This is all the peoples of the world. 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:06.519 And the thing about this God. 00:16:06.619 --> 00:16:08.139 The wonderful thing about this God. 00:16:08.219 --> 00:16:10.279 Is that he doesn't just invite people to come on. 00:16:10.319 --> 00:16:11.179 And like a painting. 00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:11.839 A gallery. 00:16:11.839 --> 00:16:13.679 Just look at a distance and admire. 00:16:14.059 --> 00:16:16.859 He invites people to come near to him. 00:16:17.539 --> 00:16:18.699 And to know him. 00:16:18.859 --> 00:16:19.459 Verse 8. 00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:23.519 Remember still speaking to the peoples of the nations round about him. 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:26.000 The psalmist invites them to approach this God. 00:16:26.479 --> 00:16:29.659 And to come and to know him for themselves. 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:30.399 What does he say? 00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:30.879 Bring. 00:16:32.079 --> 00:16:33.379 There's a word of invitation. 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:33.979 Bring. 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.659 Bring what? 00:16:35.939 --> 00:16:36.819 An offering. 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:37.719 Bring it where? 00:16:38.299 --> 00:16:39.559 Into his courts. 00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:42.679 See these sacrifices. 00:16:42.939 --> 00:16:44.879 These offerings that God had prescribed. 00:16:45.079 --> 00:16:46.879 That would atone for the people's sin. 00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:49.679 And would make people right with him. 00:16:49.939 --> 00:16:52.459 And would enable people to live in fellowship with him. 00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:54.699 The splendidly holy God. 00:16:56.079 --> 00:16:59.719 How good is this God that he would make a way for us to come to know him? 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:00.859 He didn't need to do that. 00:17:01.859 --> 00:17:03.039 How good is this God? 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:08.700 It's interesting that the people at this point in this psalm are being reminded of God's holiness. 00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:13.759 Of course in the context and the story in 1 Chronicles. 00:17:13.879 --> 00:17:18.579 What's just happened is that when David's men are first carrying the ark to Jerusalem. 00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:20.399 This man called Azza. 00:17:20.919 --> 00:17:23.679 He's done what God has specifically said not to do. 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:24.939 And he's touched the ark. 00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:27.000 And he's dropped down dead. 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:31.319 A poignant reminder at that point in history that this God is holy. 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:33.159 And they are not. 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:38.000 Mr. Beaver said to Lucy about Aslan and Anarnia books. 00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:39.439 Safe, said Mr. Beaver. 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:41.119 Who said anything about safe? 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:42.299 Of course he isn't safe. 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:43.799 But he is good. 00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:45.859 He's the king, I tell you. 00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:50.500 See, God had graciously told them and made a way for them to approach him. 00:17:50.839 --> 00:17:52.979 And only in that way may they approach him. 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:53.979 Not complacently. 00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:57.199 But because of this sacrifice. 00:17:58.899 --> 00:17:59.339 Confidently. 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:05.259 See, God has prescribed a way by which people can worship him. 00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:07.939 God has made a way through which people can know him. 00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:09.939 In the beauty of his holiness. 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:14.399 And again, how much more? 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:17.620 As New Testament believers can we sing this song? 00:18:18.060 --> 00:18:22.180 And how much more can we confidently approach this holy God? 00:18:22.600 --> 00:18:24.000 Because of Christ. 00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:28.120 And his blood shed on the cross for his people. 00:18:28.280 --> 00:18:30.460 The perfect sacrifice. 00:18:31.600 --> 00:18:33.640 That gains us access to him. 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:35.280 Not as orphans. 00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:38.560 But as adopted sons and daughters. 00:18:38.560 --> 00:18:41.460 With access to the very throne room of God. 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:42.960 And address this God. 00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:43.579 Not his sir. 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.700 But his father. 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.779 How good is that? 00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:50.480 As the old hymn says. 00:18:50.620 --> 00:18:51.559 To God be the glory. 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:53.039 Great things he has done. 00:18:53.360 --> 00:18:55.600 So loved he the world that he gave us his son. 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:58.039 Who yielded his life an atonement for sin. 00:18:58.920 --> 00:19:00.600 And opened the life gate. 00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:02.120 That all may go in. 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:03.660 No one invites like this God. 00:19:05.180 --> 00:19:07.180 This God is too good to keep to ourselves. 00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:08.820 And fourthly and finally. 00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:10.799 Verses 10 to 13. 00:19:10.860 --> 00:19:12.259 No one rules like this God. 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:14.560 The Lord reigns. 00:19:14.560 --> 00:19:15.799 See that declaration there? 00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:17.440 It's the one that we've seen throughout this. 00:19:18.120 --> 00:19:19.400 This little set of Psalms. 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:20.519 It began in Psalm 90. 00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:21.340 This is what it's about. 00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:22.120 The Lord reigns. 00:19:22.140 --> 00:19:22.779 He is king. 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:24.740 The world is established. 00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:25.980 It shall never be moved. 00:19:26.060 --> 00:19:27.500 Which I think is a way of saying that. 00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:29.799 Just as the globe will not stop turning. 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:32.660 Just as the sun will not stop rising and setting. 00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:35.279 So this God who will never change. 00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:37.000 Will never be moved from his throne. 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:40.279 This God is never running out of resources. 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:44.000 This God is never finding himself out of control. 00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:46.440 This God is never finding himself a match. 00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:48.519 Because he is the king. 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:52.940 And he will judge the peoples with equity. 00:19:53.140 --> 00:19:55.820 Meaning that his rule is 100% right. 00:19:57.360 --> 00:19:59.080 Friends that is great news. 00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:02.539 Is that not the world that we all want? 00:20:03.879 --> 00:20:05.980 Is that not the leader that we all need? 00:20:07.619 --> 00:20:10.039 As we look out on the mess of our world at the minute. 00:20:10.139 --> 00:20:10.740 Do you know what we see? 00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:13.000 We see lots of people with lots of power. 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:15.099 But there's zero compassion and love. 00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:18.439 And we see lots of people with lots of compassion and love. 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:20.199 But no power to do anything about it. 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:23.519 But in this God we have both in abundance. 00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:26.079 We have a God who is all compassion. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:29.299 All love and all power. 00:20:30.199 --> 00:20:33.599 And we see that so beautifully in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:20:33.659 --> 00:20:35.240 As we see him in the pages of the Bible. 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:39.599 And Jesus will return as heaven's king. 00:20:40.879 --> 00:20:43.019 And on that day, get this, verse 11. 00:20:43.179 --> 00:20:43.619 Look at this. 00:20:43.699 --> 00:20:44.819 The heavens will be glad. 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:46.799 The earth will rejoice. 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:48.339 The sea will roar. 00:20:48.619 --> 00:20:49.819 The field will exalt. 00:20:49.899 --> 00:20:51.519 The trees of the forest shall sing. 00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:53.639 Because here is creation. 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:56.680 No longer, as Paul says in Romans 8. 00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:59.779 Waiting in eager expectation for its renewal. 00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:03.079 Here is creation metaphorically doing to its nth degree. 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:05.779 That which it was always designed to do. 00:21:05.879 --> 00:21:08.379 And that is to give endless praise to the one who made it. 00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:14.119 Creation at the moment, if you like, is like a full piece orchestra. 00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:15.240 It's all set up. 00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:16.299 All ready to go. 00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:19.500 But it's sitting in a darkened hall gathering dust. 00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:25.059 But on that day, on this day, it will gloriously play. 00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:27.539 And I want to be there to hear it play. 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:33.000 Friends, with that you see how what God is doing through the gospel. 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:34.759 What God is doing through the work of his son. 00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:35.940 And through the power of his spirit. 00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:37.640 Is bigger than just me and Jesus. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:43.660 It encompasses the cosmic redemption and renewal of all things. 00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:48.900 So where will you stand on the day that King Jesus comes? 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:54.100 And where will you stand before the perfect judge? 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:57.700 As he gives the perfect judgment about our lives. 00:21:59.580 --> 00:22:01.320 Because we get two choices really, don't we? 00:22:02.340 --> 00:22:05.980 We can either trust that I am paying for my sin. 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:10.680 Or we can trust and by our faith know that Jesus has paid for our sin. 00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:16.240 And we used to live down in Bristol before we moved to Edinburgh. 00:22:16.380 --> 00:22:19.740 There was a man that we knew in our church family called David. 00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:21.319 David was in his 90s. 00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:23.640 David went home to be with the Lord earlier this year. 00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:26.140 I used to speak to him on Sundays when I saw him. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:28.680 And I used to ask him, David, what have you been up to this week in your life? 00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:29.339 What have you been doing? 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:34.779 And he used to say to me that, Graham, I've been taking a few trips on the bus. 00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:37.440 Making the most of that free bus pass. 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:39.299 They love a bargain too, the English. 00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.859 Been going on the bus. 00:22:41.579 --> 00:22:42.700 What have you been doing on the bus? 00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:44.539 I just go and I speak to people on the bus. 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:46.500 So what do you ask them? 00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:48.019 I just ask them how they're doing. 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.879 Ask them about their lives. 00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:53.180 And I just get speaking to them about Jesus. 00:22:54.579 --> 00:22:58.440 And what he was getting at, particularly to people of his generation, 00:22:59.299 --> 00:23:03.059 is that the lawyers were telling them to think about their wills. 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:06.679 The bank was telling them to think about their money. 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:10.019 The funeral directors were telling them to think about the funeral. 00:23:10.659 --> 00:23:13.099 The family were telling them to think about the home. 00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:17.079 But only the Bible was calling you to think about your soul. 00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:20.819 And he used to say to people, have you stopped to consider 00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:23.000 what will happen to you and I once we die? 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:25.779 And so often the person would say back, 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:28.200 do you know what, I've never given it a second thought in life. 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:31.360 Maybe I should start doing that. 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:35.059 David used to say, well, I think that would be a great idea. 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:39.019 How about we meet up together and let's just talk about it. 00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:42.160 A man in his 90s went home to be with the Lord. 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:44.799 His last day, just going at it for Jesus. 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:47.019 Friends, let me ask you, just as we draw this to a close, 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:49.160 when was the last time that you spoke to someone? 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:50.819 He just got talking to them about Jesus. 00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:55.700 Friends, are you here this morning and you need to think about, 00:23:56.859 --> 00:23:58.879 because life is here today and gone tomorrow. 00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:02.399 You need to think about what will happen to your soul on that day 00:24:02.399 --> 00:24:06.220 with this tremendously holy but loving God. 00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:10.179 No one rules like this God. 00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:13.839 And this God is too good to keep to ourselves. 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:17.419 Friends, just as we close, let me take you back to my friend. 00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:20.299 Remember the one that found the rare antique book? 00:24:21.179 --> 00:24:22.559 He's still around at our dinner table. 00:24:22.619 --> 00:24:23.419 He's still talking. 00:24:25.179 --> 00:24:26.299 The story goes on. 00:24:26.399 --> 00:24:27.700 He's really into his book. 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.740 He goes home. 00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:32.059 He's got his book and he shows it to one of his friends. 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:34.720 And one of his friends stares at it for a while. 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:39.000 And she opens it and she examines it. 00:24:39.659 --> 00:24:41.419 And she hands it back to him and she says, 00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:46.000 I think what you've got there is a much bigger deal than you realize. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:50.920 Because what had happened is he hadn't just picked up a rare book. 00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:56.819 What he'd done for £1.50 is that he picked up a first edition of that rare book. 00:24:57.799 --> 00:25:00.119 Long story short, he put it on eBay. 00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:05.160 And a little while later, there's a buyer in America who's given him over £1,300 for it. 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:06.660 There's the honeymoon paid for. 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:11.700 My friend is telling everybody he meets about that story. 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:16.059 And it got me thinking in preparation for Psalm 96 today 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:18.600 that there are some things in life too good to keep to yourself. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:24.080 But the longer I go on as a Christian, the longer I go on as a follower of Jesus, 00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:25.799 life certainly doesn't get easier. 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:29.860 And I'm more aware of my feelings and my sin more than any time in my life. 00:25:29.859 --> 00:25:36.079 But as I go on by God's grace, I increasingly realize that Jesus is a much bigger deal than I think he is. 00:25:39.699 --> 00:25:41.919 He is far more glorious than a first edition. 00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:46.740 And what he's given me is eternal life, way more than £1,300. 00:25:48.439 --> 00:25:51.740 In Jesus Christ, we have a saviour, we have a king, 00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:54.639 who is way too good to keep to ourselves. 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.639 Finally, let's pray. 00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:02.979 And maybe just in the quietness of your own heart, 00:26:03.819 --> 00:26:05.699 just before we proceed on with the service, 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:10.179 maybe you want to just offer your own prayers and your own petitions to the Lord. 00:26:19.139 --> 00:26:23.079 Father, we thank you that you truly are the incomparable God. 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:30.439 And that your son is truly an incomparable saviour. 00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:34.879 And that your spirit truly is an incomparable spirit. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:39.319 And so we simply ask that you would help us this week 00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:45.319 to make John the Baptist's confession our confession, 00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:49.519 that we would decrease and that you would increase. 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:53.639 All for your glory and for the upbuilding of this church 00:26:53.639 --> 00:26:55.700 and the church throughout the world. 00:26:56.179 --> 00:26:57.899 Help us to make you known, we pray. 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:59.059 In Jesus' name we ask. 00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.619 Amen. 00:26:59.619 --> 00:26:59.759 Amen. 00:26:59.759 --> 00:26:59.819 Amen. 00:26:59.819 --> 00:26:59.839 Amen.