WEBVTT 00:00:00.460 --> 00:00:06.860 If you would, please remain standing. You might have noticed we changed up a few things this morning in our order of service. 00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:15.679 One of the reasons why we sing a song this week before I come up here is so that you would still be standing by the time I got here, 00:00:15.800 --> 00:00:21.440 so that you can remain standing while we read the Word of God together as a sign of reverence for the Word. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:26.580 So if you would, I do want you to take your Bibles and open them to Psalm chapter 6. 00:00:26.579 --> 00:00:33.119 We'll read Psalm chapter 6 together as our sermon text this morning. 00:00:40.019 --> 00:00:40.939 David writes, 00:00:40.939 --> 00:00:45.879 O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. 00:00:46.679 --> 00:00:49.879 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing. 00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:52.759 Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. 00:00:53.719 --> 00:00:56.219 My soul also is greatly troubled. 00:00:56.579 --> 00:00:59.839 But you, O Lord, how long? 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:03.359 Turn, O Lord, deliver my life. 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:07.500 Save me for the sake of your steadfast love. 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:11.200 For in death there is no remembrance of you. 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:13.900 In Sheol, who will give you praise? 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:16.599 I am weary with my moaning. 00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:20.079 Every night I flood my bed with tears. 00:01:20.819 --> 00:01:22.939 I drench my couch with my weeping. 00:01:22.939 --> 00:01:26.060 My eye wastes away because of grief. 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:29.099 It grows weak because of all my foes. 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:32.739 Depart from me, all you workers of evil. 00:01:33.239 --> 00:01:35.780 For the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. 00:01:36.359 --> 00:01:38.420 The Lord has heard my plea. 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:40.819 The Lord accepts my prayer. 00:01:40.819 --> 00:01:45.119 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled. 00:01:45.639 --> 00:01:50.000 They shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment. 00:01:50.539 --> 00:01:50.859 Amen. 00:01:50.919 --> 00:01:55.619 The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our Lord endures forever. 00:01:55.759 --> 00:01:57.019 You may be seated. 00:01:57.959 --> 00:01:58.500 Let's pray. 00:01:58.500 --> 00:02:09.400 Lord, we have heard your word and now we pray that you would make it clear to us. 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:13.860 Help us to hear it not just with our ears, but now with our hearts. 00:02:15.060 --> 00:02:20.520 Lord, we ask, even as we've already prayed, Lord, would you comfort those who are discouraged this morning? 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:24.039 Would you challenge those who are idle this morning? 00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:28.819 And would you call us all to deeper trust in Christ, we pray. 00:02:29.739 --> 00:02:30.479 In Jesus' name. 00:02:31.359 --> 00:02:31.639 Amen. 00:02:34.199 --> 00:02:40.659 I was recently asked to share something that was encouraging to me about Seawee Bay. 00:02:41.099 --> 00:02:43.399 About the ministry that's going on here. 00:02:43.519 --> 00:02:45.939 And thankfully, I didn't have to think long and hard about that question. 00:02:46.139 --> 00:02:48.379 Several answers came quickly to mind. 00:02:48.379 --> 00:02:53.180 But a few events over the past few weeks have given me a new answer. 00:02:54.780 --> 00:02:58.219 I am encouraged by the way that you suffer. 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:02.079 I'm not encouraged that you suffer. 00:03:02.819 --> 00:03:03.539 Don't get me wrong. 00:03:04.579 --> 00:03:08.319 I'm encouraged by the way that you suffer. 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:11.560 I want to share a story with you of someone that you know. 00:03:11.659 --> 00:03:12.659 I won't tell you her name. 00:03:14.699 --> 00:03:17.219 But if you know her, then you know exactly who I'm talking about. 00:03:17.219 --> 00:03:21.699 This woman has suffered maybe more than anyone I know. 00:03:22.120 --> 00:03:24.360 Especially so over the past few years. 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:30.079 She had a heart transplant years ago and now is in need of a new heart. 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:35.900 She had a kidney transplant years ago and now is on constant dialysis treatments. 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:40.500 She's had constant unexplained bleeding that keeps her in and out of the hospital. 00:03:40.620 --> 00:03:43.520 And the doctors really have no clear path forward. 00:03:43.620 --> 00:03:44.819 Not sure what to do. 00:03:44.819 --> 00:03:49.579 It has rained and it has poured on this woman's life. 00:03:49.780 --> 00:03:52.900 And I went to go see her in the hospital a few weeks ago. 00:03:53.060 --> 00:03:58.879 And at this point, when I went to go visit her, at this point in her suffering, she thought she was at the point of death. 00:04:00.259 --> 00:04:04.939 In fact, everyone in the room thought that she was at the point of death. 00:04:05.139 --> 00:04:06.780 Her family had gathered there. 00:04:06.780 --> 00:04:11.259 They called in a doctor there to hear what she wanted to do. 00:04:11.340 --> 00:04:12.680 Nobody had great options. 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:14.500 And I'll tell you what she said. 00:04:15.539 --> 00:04:19.339 She sat up in her bed as best as she could and she said, 00:04:19.899 --> 00:04:21.800 You know, I have had a wonderful life. 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:26.639 And the Lord has given me 20 years on a borrowed heart. 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:29.719 He's cared for me in so many ways. 00:04:29.819 --> 00:04:33.939 I love Jesus and I am ready to be with him. 00:04:34.860 --> 00:04:37.219 And the doctor's just sitting there listening to her. 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:40.259 I tell you, there's not a dry eye in the room. 00:04:41.019 --> 00:04:41.599 And you know what she did? 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:45.579 She kept quoting to herself and to everybody else there in the room out loud. 00:04:45.579 --> 00:04:47.359 Psalm 23, she said, 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:51.319 I know that surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. 00:04:51.899 --> 00:04:55.659 I know that surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. 00:04:55.939 --> 00:05:02.719 I know that surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. 00:05:02.779 --> 00:05:07.759 And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 00:05:07.919 --> 00:05:10.860 And I thought, that is how a believer suffers. 00:05:12.620 --> 00:05:14.939 That, I pray, is how I will suffer. 00:05:15.579 --> 00:05:17.699 The next time affliction comes my way. 00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:23.040 What I want to do this morning from Psalm chapter 6 is to convince you, 00:05:23.139 --> 00:05:28.860 to let David convince you that this is how all believers must suffer in this life. 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:35.019 Psalm chapter 6, it teaches us that God's people face remarkable affliction 00:05:35.019 --> 00:05:37.500 with unshakable assurance. 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:40.199 This is the big idea here for us this morning. 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:41.579 This is actually going to be our outline. 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:42.879 We'll look at each part. 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:49.819 God's people face remarkable affliction with unshakable assurance. 00:05:49.980 --> 00:05:55.259 First, we see that God's people face remarkable affliction. 00:05:55.480 --> 00:05:59.360 You know, some people would tell you that being a Christian exempts you from suffering. 00:05:59.959 --> 00:06:05.219 And I hope that we've seen over the past six weeks in the Psalms that those people are very wrong. 00:06:05.220 --> 00:06:08.660 Being a Christian does not exempt you from suffering. 00:06:08.760 --> 00:06:14.540 On the contrary, believers face all sorts of trials in this life. 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:17.260 And we saw last week, it's worth mentioning here again this morning, 00:06:17.420 --> 00:06:21.700 that over a third of the book of Psalms are Psalms of lament. 00:06:22.980 --> 00:06:24.240 They're complaints. 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:28.200 They're lamenting to God about some trial, some issue, some affliction, 00:06:28.199 --> 00:06:31.819 some discouraging event in the psalmist's life. 00:06:32.300 --> 00:06:34.620 This is normal for the life of the believer. 00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:40.039 But aren't you thankful that the Bible gives us an honest perspective on life? 00:06:40.839 --> 00:06:43.920 It gives us an honest look at the life of a believer, 00:06:44.039 --> 00:06:49.719 that life on this side of eternity is difficult for everybody, believer or not. 00:06:49.720 --> 00:06:55.460 But the way a believer faces affliction is completely different from the rest of the world. 00:06:56.520 --> 00:06:59.140 Look here at all the afflictions that David is facing. 00:06:59.260 --> 00:07:01.500 I count five here, at least. 00:07:01.940 --> 00:07:04.920 And I'd be willing to bet that as we go through these five afflictions, 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:08.280 that you can find yourself in at least one or two of them. 00:07:08.960 --> 00:07:13.180 Number one is the affliction of our own sin. 00:07:14.200 --> 00:07:16.240 We got everybody in the room already, didn't we? 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:20.319 And number one is the affliction of our own sin. 00:07:20.439 --> 00:07:21.220 Look there to verse one. 00:07:22.819 --> 00:07:23.400 David says, 00:07:23.500 --> 00:07:28.360 Oh Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. 00:07:29.060 --> 00:07:32.980 Be gracious to me, oh Lord, for I am languishing. 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:34.540 What's the cause? 00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:37.460 What's the source of God's anger towards David? 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:42.060 What's the source of his hard hand of discipline and his wrath against him? 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:45.060 It's David's own sin. 00:07:45.060 --> 00:07:49.819 You may remember some of the context of this section of Psalms that we're in. 00:07:49.939 --> 00:07:52.399 David is on the run from his son Absalom. 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:55.819 Absalom has ripped the kingdom away from David. 00:07:55.959 --> 00:07:57.759 He's stolen away the hearts of the people. 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:00.280 And now he's coming to kill him. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:02.959 And he's bringing a couple thousand men with him. 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:06.420 Some of y'all thought that your family situations were difficult. 00:08:06.840 --> 00:08:09.100 This is more difficult. 00:08:09.100 --> 00:08:16.580 But the cause of this, David knows all of it, all of it can be traced back to his sin. 00:08:17.320 --> 00:08:19.540 2 Samuel 12, you can mark this down for later. 00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:25.960 Nathan the prophet confronts David and he tells him that he has sinned against the Lord. 00:08:26.040 --> 00:08:27.460 He says, you are the man. 00:08:28.360 --> 00:08:30.120 The Lord has made David king. 00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:32.419 He's given him everything he could possibly ever need. 00:08:32.560 --> 00:08:34.500 And yet, David wasn't satisfied. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:39.120 He stole away Bathsheba from Uriah the Hittite. 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:41.279 He made her his wife. 00:08:41.379 --> 00:08:43.740 And then he had Uriah killed to cover it up. 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:48.620 David, the king of Israel, has sinned greatly against the Lord. 00:08:48.620 --> 00:08:53.740 And as is the case with all sin, his sin came with consequence. 00:08:54.100 --> 00:08:58.179 Listen to what 2 Samuel 12 says. 00:08:58.259 --> 00:08:58.759 Nathan says, 00:08:58.840 --> 00:09:02.720 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house. 00:09:03.299 --> 00:09:08.100 Because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife, 00:09:08.179 --> 00:09:09.179 thus says the Lord, 00:09:09.779 --> 00:09:15.480 Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. 00:09:15.480 --> 00:09:20.080 It's clear that this is the source of David's trouble. 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:21.340 It's his own sin. 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:23.800 This is why David's asking for the Lord's grace. 00:09:23.940 --> 00:09:27.360 This is why he's asking for the Lord to relieve him of his discipline. 00:09:27.500 --> 00:09:30.639 Because David knows at the root of his trouble, 00:09:31.220 --> 00:09:32.899 at the root of his suffering, 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:35.060 is his own sin. 00:09:36.440 --> 00:09:37.320 Now unfortunately, 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:41.500 it's not always this clear for us in our own lives, is it? 00:09:41.500 --> 00:09:48.200 And we have the advantage of being able to have God's own commentary on this event in David's life, 00:09:48.299 --> 00:09:53.039 but we don't have that same level of clarity and certainty in our own lives. 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:55.159 And so I want to be clear. 00:09:56.440 --> 00:10:03.620 Not all suffering is directly related to a particular sin in your life. 00:10:04.580 --> 00:10:05.419 Now I'll say that again. 00:10:05.419 --> 00:10:13.959 Not all suffering in your life can be directly connected to a particular sin in your life. 00:10:14.019 --> 00:10:15.899 You might think of Job as an example, 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:18.120 of someone who suffered in innocence. 00:10:18.939 --> 00:10:24.899 Not all suffering is directly related to a particular sin in your life, 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:27.500 but it might be. 00:10:28.779 --> 00:10:29.879 It might be. 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:33.419 We need to have this category in our minds. 00:10:33.419 --> 00:10:35.879 It might be that the Lord, 00:10:36.019 --> 00:10:37.259 as your heavenly Father, 00:10:37.419 --> 00:10:42.219 is disciplining you for a particular sin in your life. 00:10:43.139 --> 00:10:46.019 David is clearly an example of this, isn't he? 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:52.500 We often, I think we want God to do whatever he needs to do to make us comfortable, 00:10:52.740 --> 00:10:53.599 when in reality, 00:10:53.779 --> 00:10:56.459 God is committed to do whatever it takes 00:10:56.459 --> 00:11:00.360 to make us conform more into his holy image. 00:11:00.360 --> 00:11:05.560 This is what Hebrews tells us in Hebrews chapter 12. 00:11:06.680 --> 00:11:06.980 He says, 00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:09.460 He disciplines us, children of God, 00:11:09.560 --> 00:11:13.019 for our good that we may share in his holiness. 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:15.180 For the moment, 00:11:15.300 --> 00:11:17.980 all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant. 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:19.100 Who enjoys discipline? 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:20.360 No one. 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:22.240 But later, 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:24.500 it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:27.840 to those who have been trained by it. 00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:28.059 You know, 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:30.120 if we are suffering, 00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:34.159 if we're experiencing some affliction, 00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:37.179 whether or not we know for certain 00:11:37.179 --> 00:11:39.559 that it's related to a particular sin in our life, 00:11:40.139 --> 00:11:41.940 we would be wise to seek out 00:11:41.940 --> 00:11:44.779 what the Lord might be doing in our affliction. 00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:51.379 We would be wise to ask the Lord to reveal to us any sin in our lives 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:54.419 so that it might be confessed and repented of. 00:11:55.179 --> 00:11:57.659 We would be wise to do as David does here 00:11:57.659 --> 00:12:02.279 and seek the Lord's gracious relief through prayer and repentance. 00:12:04.539 --> 00:12:07.860 Sometimes affliction is a result of our own personal sin, 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:09.000 but often, you know, 00:12:09.059 --> 00:12:12.620 it's simply a result of living in a sin-cursed world. 00:12:12.620 --> 00:12:15.659 Sometimes we face some trial, 00:12:15.779 --> 00:12:16.320 some affliction, 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:17.159 some difficulty, 00:12:17.320 --> 00:12:19.340 and we just have no answer for it. 00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:21.240 All we can do is look at it and say, 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:22.879 that's not how things should be. 00:12:23.560 --> 00:12:24.899 That's sin. 00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:27.600 We should know that all brokenness, 00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:28.399 all affliction, 00:12:28.539 --> 00:12:29.220 all suffering, 00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:30.080 all sickness, 00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:30.919 all decay, 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:34.340 all the stresses and issues that we face every single week, 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:38.799 all of it are the consequence of sin in the world. 00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:40.740 And one of those consequences, 00:12:40.740 --> 00:12:44.220 it says we see affliction number two here is sickness. 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:46.200 Sickness. 00:12:47.180 --> 00:12:48.519 Treg prayed earlier. 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:49.519 I look around the room. 00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:51.379 I see several that are not here, 00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:56.320 and I know it's because of physical ailments that are plaguing our bodies. 00:12:56.419 --> 00:12:57.379 He says there in verse two, 00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:57.740 look there. 00:12:58.759 --> 00:12:59.039 He says, 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:00.000 I'm languishing. 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:00.560 Heal me, 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:00.980 oh Lord, 00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:02.580 for my bones are troubled. 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:04.019 Do you know what it's like to have sick bones? 00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:10.740 Now you're so sick that you feel like you can count every single bone in your body. 00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:11.919 They ache. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:12.779 You don't want to move. 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:13.559 You don't want to think. 00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:14.419 You don't want to do anything. 00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:15.639 You just want to lay there. 00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:17.340 And it never comes at a good time, 00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:17.659 does it? 00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:22.960 I can't imagine a worse time for David to get sick than right now. 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:23.279 Can you? 00:13:23.960 --> 00:13:25.039 He's on the run. 00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:26.740 Armies are coming after him. 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:27.639 He needs to be alert. 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:28.439 He needs to be ready. 00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:29.299 He needs his strength. 00:13:29.299 --> 00:13:31.719 And now sickness comes. 00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:33.779 He's reminded yet again, 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:35.219 he's not as strong, 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:36.939 not as self-sufficient, 00:13:37.479 --> 00:13:41.559 not as self-reliant as he thinks he is. 00:13:42.779 --> 00:13:45.000 But not only is his body sick, 00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:47.459 he says his soul is wearing out as well. 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:47.719 He says, 00:13:47.839 --> 00:13:52.079 my bones are troubled and my soul also is greatly troubled. 00:13:52.939 --> 00:13:56.559 David is both in physical and spiritual turmoil, 00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:57.819 body and soul. 00:13:57.820 --> 00:13:59.360 They are interconnected. 00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:00.879 And David says, 00:14:01.260 --> 00:14:03.400 both here are feeling the effects of sin. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:08.180 Both body and soul are in distress with no end in sight. 00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:08.920 And so he prays, 00:14:08.940 --> 00:14:10.140 he can hardly get out a sentence. 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:10.440 Oh, 00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:10.840 you, 00:14:11.260 --> 00:14:11.800 oh Lord, 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:12.480 but you, 00:14:12.920 --> 00:14:13.379 oh Lord, 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:14.620 how long? 00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:17.220 Have you ever asked that question? 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:20.320 How long, 00:14:20.680 --> 00:14:21.220 oh Lord, 00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:22.880 will I deal with this trial? 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:25.360 How long, 00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:26.200 oh Lord, 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:27.940 will I deal with this sickness? 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:28.879 How long, 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:29.259 oh Lord, 00:14:29.300 --> 00:14:30.580 will I deal with this sin? 00:14:31.460 --> 00:14:32.220 How long, 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:32.720 oh Lord, 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:35.560 until you will bring me some relief? 00:14:35.780 --> 00:14:37.600 All of us at some point or another, 00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:40.320 because we live in a sin-sick world, 00:14:40.640 --> 00:14:44.040 we've all experienced the affliction of sickness. 00:14:45.340 --> 00:14:45.980 For David, 00:14:46.140 --> 00:14:48.259 it seems like his sickness is bad enough, 00:14:48.300 --> 00:14:50.560 it seems to be closing in to the point of death. 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:51.079 Death, 00:14:51.079 --> 00:14:51.359 death, 00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:52.659 this is affliction number three, 00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:54.599 that all of us face. 00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:55.439 Look there to verse four. 00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:59.000 It's the affliction of death. 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:00.559 He says, 00:15:00.919 --> 00:15:00.939 turn, 00:15:01.099 --> 00:15:01.500 oh Lord, 00:15:01.619 --> 00:15:02.839 deliver my life. 00:15:03.739 --> 00:15:06.000 Save me for the sake of your steadfast love, 00:15:06.079 --> 00:15:06.819 for in death, 00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:09.019 there is no remembrance of you. 00:15:09.579 --> 00:15:10.259 In Sheol, 00:15:10.419 --> 00:15:12.599 who will give you praise? 00:15:12.859 --> 00:15:15.619 David is facing death. 00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:20.720 And Romans three tells us that the wages of sin is death. 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:21.879 All of us have sinned. 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:23.500 All of us live in a sin-sick world. 00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:27.799 And so all of us face the grim reality of death. 00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:29.720 No one will escape it. 00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:32.259 And with the presence of sickness, 00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:33.840 with the presence of death, 00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:36.440 you likely have experienced affliction number four, 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:37.740 grief. 00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:40.019 Look there to verse six. 00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:45.139 Just look at the depth of David's grief here. 00:15:46.299 --> 00:15:46.659 He says, 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:48.500 I am weary with my moaning. 00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:52.019 Every night I flood my bed with tears. 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:54.840 I drench my couch with my weeping. 00:15:55.700 --> 00:15:57.940 My eye wastes away because of grief. 00:15:58.039 --> 00:16:01.120 It grows weak because of all of my foes. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:02.080 Are you depressed yet? 00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:06.620 This doesn't sound too encouraging, 00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:07.220 does it? 00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:08.679 You know what? 00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:12.319 I have never heard an attractional, 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:15.659 seeker-sensitive pastor preach on Psalm chapter six. 00:16:15.719 --> 00:16:15.959 Have you? 00:16:17.479 --> 00:16:19.019 Well, there's a reason for that. 00:16:19.599 --> 00:16:22.620 It's because passages like this are not attractive. 00:16:23.419 --> 00:16:25.299 We're talking about real life here. 00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:29.359 We're talking about suffering and sickness and grief and death. 00:16:29.359 --> 00:16:31.479 This isn't things that we want to hear, 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:34.399 but the Bible knows this is our honest experience, 00:16:34.680 --> 00:16:36.759 and so it's things that we need to hear, 00:16:36.940 --> 00:16:39.399 and we need to hear them from God himself. 00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:44.899 Grief, despair, sadness, groaning, crying, 00:16:44.899 --> 00:16:49.920 are all part of the believer's experience on this side of eternity. 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:53.700 The Christian life is not always happy. 00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:58.940 There are seasons of deep and dark and intense grief, 00:16:59.520 --> 00:17:04.059 sadness, isolation, loneliness, sickness. 00:17:05.860 --> 00:17:06.299 And you know what? 00:17:06.360 --> 00:17:08.200 As I read through this psalm, 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:09.900 what stood out to me was 00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:12.660 that the church of all places 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:16.380 ought to be where we can be honest about this truth. 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:22.180 We read this as David's individual prayer, 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:24.039 vertically him in isolation, 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:25.960 individually praying to the Lord, 00:17:26.080 --> 00:17:27.460 expressing his grief to the Lord, 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:28.259 and that's true, 00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:32.480 but also all of us are reading this account right now, aren't we? 00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:37.500 This book of the Psalms is shared with all of God's people. 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:39.140 David is opening up about his grief, 00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:41.360 not just individually to the Lord, 00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:45.200 but corporately to all of God's people. 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:46.799 We should feel the freedom 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:51.700 to walk through seasons of darkness and grief together. 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:54.519 And not be ashamed that we're struggling. 00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:57.240 You know, part of our commitments to one another 00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:58.100 in our church covenant, 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:01.279 we are called to rejoice with those who rejoice 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:03.000 and to what? 00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:06.080 To weep with those who weep. 00:18:06.120 --> 00:18:08.080 We've made this commitment to one another. 00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:09.820 And what an opportunity we have 00:18:09.820 --> 00:18:11.580 to share the love of God 00:18:11.580 --> 00:18:13.480 with our brothers and sisters who are struggling. 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:17.480 I think of an older lady who, 00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:19.900 I served in North Myrtle Beach, 00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:23.319 and she's with the Lord now. 00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:26.599 And she would just come into my office, 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.880 and this happened more than once, 00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:30.180 she would just come into my office 00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:33.539 and sit down with no explanation whatsoever 00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:34.940 and start crying. 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:39.000 And I couldn't get an answer out of her. 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:41.059 I would try to prod her as best I could. 00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:41.819 What's going on? 00:18:41.859 --> 00:18:42.319 What's wrong? 00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:43.819 She had no answer to give. 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:45.880 All she had was tears. 00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:47.599 And you know what? 00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:50.240 When the Lord brought us down here 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.019 and we moved, 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:54.019 for all the sermons that I preached, 00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:55.279 all the lessons that I taught, 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:58.460 all the tasks that I accomplished there at the church, 00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:00.960 the thing that stood out to her most, 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:03.299 what she thanked me for on my way out the door, 00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:05.740 was that she could come in my office and cry. 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:09.880 I don't want to say that to pat myself on the back 00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:11.319 because my part was easy. 00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:12.259 I didn't do a thing. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:14.559 All I did was sit and listen. 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:17.279 Her part, her part was difficult. 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:20.160 She had to open up about her grief 00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:23.579 and let others be the ministering spirit of Christ 00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:25.380 to her in the midst of her darkness. 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:27.359 And so must we, church. 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:32.480 Don't hold your grief in to yourself. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:38.099 The body is here to care for those who are afflicted among us. 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:40.819 One more affliction here. 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:43.839 Affliction number five that all of us face. 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:47.420 We face harm from other sinners. 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:51.140 Why is David weak from crying? 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:52.740 What's going on in his life? 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:53.860 Verse seven, he says, 00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:58.299 I am worn out because of all of my foes. 00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.980 It's interesting, isn't it, 00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:02.460 that out of all of these afflictions, five of them, 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:05.460 this is the only one that's outside of us. 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:08.259 You know, all these other ones are internal. 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:10.160 We experience them internally. 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:11.180 They're personal. 00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:14.019 Our greatest enemy is our sin 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:16.160 and all of its consequences in our life. 00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:18.799 But living in a fallen world, 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:21.860 we also face affliction from other people, 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:23.500 other sinners. 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:26.339 And sometimes, like David, 00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:30.740 sometimes it comes from those who are closest to us. 00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:34.460 Does this sound familiar to any of you? 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:39.019 Can you relate to David at all? 00:20:40.619 --> 00:20:41.980 The truth is, 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:46.400 all of us, believer, non-believer alike, 00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:51.019 all of us face all sorts of afflictions in this life. 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:54.059 But, for the believer, 00:20:54.879 --> 00:20:56.940 the good news is, like David, 00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:59.359 we don't stop at verse seven. 00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:04.420 The believer faces remarkable affliction 00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:07.200 with unshakable assurance. 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:09.279 That's what we see in verses eight through 10. 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:09.960 Look there with me. 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:11.839 This is our second point this morning. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:15.259 Second, God's people face remarkable affliction 00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:18.079 with unshakable assurance. 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:20.199 You know, the difference between a believer 00:21:20.199 --> 00:21:21.599 and a non-believer 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:23.720 and our experience on this side of eternity 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:26.099 is not a difference of suffering. 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:29.139 It's not that they suffer and we don't. 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:31.039 In fact, oftentimes, to our eye, 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:33.299 it seems like the wicked are doing just fine. 00:21:33.919 --> 00:21:36.339 They seem like they're doing well for themselves. 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.839 The difference is that 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:40.139 in the midst of our suffering, believer, 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:43.799 we cling to the promises of God. 00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.859 That's our assurance. 00:21:45.859 --> 00:21:47.979 That's our confidence. 00:21:47.979 --> 00:21:50.699 In the midst of any trial, any affliction, 00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:54.779 our assurance is the steadfast love of the Lord. 00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:56.079 This is what I want you to remember. 00:21:56.740 --> 00:22:00.000 This is the main message here from Psalm chapter six. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:04.819 The only way to endure the trials of this life 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:08.919 is by clinging to the promises of God. 00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:15.640 If you're suffering right now 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:20.080 and you are just in the middle of it, 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:23.940 do everything you can 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:27.580 to hammer the promises of God 00:22:27.580 --> 00:22:29.600 into your weary soul. 00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.880 And if you're not, 00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:34.640 if everything's going well for you, 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.720 you're doing just fine, 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:37.079 you would be wise 00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:39.940 to do everything you can 00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:43.200 to soak your roots deep down 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:44.500 into the word of God 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:46.660 before the storm comes your way. 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.960 What are those promises? 00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:53.720 We've seen David's requests. 00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:55.059 He's given seven of them. 00:22:55.120 --> 00:22:55.920 I don't know if you're counting. 00:22:56.600 --> 00:22:57.500 Don't rebuke me. 00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:59.740 Don't discipline me in your wrath. 00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:01.059 Be gracious to me. 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:01.600 Heal me. 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.539 Turn, O Lord. 00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:04.000 Deliver my life. 00:23:04.399 --> 00:23:05.159 Save me. 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:07.059 Seven requests that he makes. 00:23:07.139 --> 00:23:09.599 But what's the basis of his request? 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:12.039 What's at the root? 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:13.940 What's his assurance that God will act, 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:14.799 that this will be done? 00:23:14.899 --> 00:23:16.619 What grounds does he have 00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:18.200 to make these requests before God? 00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:21.259 He has three unshakable truths here. 00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:22.899 Three promises here 00:23:22.899 --> 00:23:24.579 that give David assurance 00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:26.779 in the face of remarkable affliction. 00:23:26.899 --> 00:23:27.480 Number one. 00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:29.240 Number one. 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:33.220 Our assurance in the face of affliction 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:36.559 is that no matter what happens, 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:39.859 God will act for the good of his people 00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:41.859 and the glory of his name. 00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:43.940 I'll say that again. 00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:45.640 I would love for you to write this down. 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:49.180 Our assurance in the face of affliction 00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:52.240 is that no matter what happens, 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:56.620 our God will act for the good of his people 00:23:56.620 --> 00:23:59.620 and the glory of his name. 00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:01.700 Look there again to verses four and five. 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:04.220 David prays, 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:06.059 Lord, deliver my life. 00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:06.819 Save me. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:07.180 Why? 00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:11.180 For the sake of your steadfast love. 00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:12.819 Save me. 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:13.180 Why? 00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:16.200 For in death there is no remembrance of you. 00:24:16.259 --> 00:24:18.680 And Sheol, who will give you praise? 00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:24.060 And David knows that God's greatest motivator, 00:24:25.100 --> 00:24:27.700 the greatest motivator for God to act 00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:30.100 is the praise of his name. 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:32.620 Everything comes back to this. 00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:36.779 God will always act for the glory of his name. 00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:40.620 And so David recognizes that there is an issue here. 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:41.460 Do you see what it is? 00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:43.299 Do you see the issue here? 00:24:44.100 --> 00:24:47.940 The issue is that God's glory is at stake. 00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:51.559 God's reputation is at stake. 00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:54.580 His praise is at stake in David's suffering. 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:58.980 The steadfast love of God is on trial in David's suffering. 00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:00.299 Do you see this? 00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:04.100 Despite his sin, 00:25:04.860 --> 00:25:07.620 David was God's anointed king, right? 00:25:08.620 --> 00:25:09.720 And more than that, 00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:11.039 God had promised David, 00:25:11.080 --> 00:25:12.019 what had he promised David? 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:16.539 A son from his line to sit on the throne forever. 00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:17.960 So here's the issue. 00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:21.379 How can God stay true to his word 00:25:21.379 --> 00:25:23.200 and allow David to die and suffer? 00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:26.619 What would the nation say about a God 00:25:26.619 --> 00:25:29.000 that turned his back on his promises? 00:25:29.159 --> 00:25:31.180 What would this say about the character of God 00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:33.079 if he turned his back on his plan 00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:36.019 to lead his people through his anointed king? 00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:39.139 What would that say about the character of God? 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:42.259 David prays that God would act 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:45.859 because his own glory and praise is at stake. 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:46.379 So he says, 00:25:46.879 --> 00:25:50.440 Save me for the sake of your steadfast love. 00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:54.799 We need to realize God's greatest motivator 00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:56.140 in all that he does, 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.379 God's greatest motivation 00:25:57.379 --> 00:26:00.160 in all of his actions and creation and redemption 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:02.740 is the glory of his name. 00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:05.640 And here's the good news for us, church. 00:26:05.640 --> 00:26:09.860 If we put our trust in the Lord, 00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:14.940 then our good is tied up with his glory. 00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.800 Let me give you an example. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:22.960 If I tell my boys that we're going on a trip, 00:26:23.560 --> 00:26:24.200 I've got three boys. 00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:25.940 If I tell them we're going on a trip, 00:26:26.020 --> 00:26:28.020 maybe we're going to the Grand Canyon, okay? 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:29.480 Cross-country trip. 00:26:29.580 --> 00:26:31.380 First of all, could you imagine the length of that trip? 00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:35.280 We went to Georgia a couple weeks ago. 00:26:35.420 --> 00:26:37.660 I kid you not, 20 minutes into the drive, 00:26:37.760 --> 00:26:38.280 they were asking, 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:38.840 Are we there? 00:26:39.080 --> 00:26:39.660 Are we there? 00:26:39.840 --> 00:26:40.380 Are we there? 00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:40.940 How long? 00:26:41.020 --> 00:26:41.400 How long? 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:41.900 How long? 00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:44.540 Thankfully, they're pretty good riders. 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:45.480 Most of the time, 00:26:45.520 --> 00:26:46.840 we've never tried cross-country, 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:48.180 but all the stops, 00:26:48.760 --> 00:26:50.000 all the inconveniences, 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:50.920 all the wrecks, 00:26:51.040 --> 00:26:52.520 all the hazards along the way 00:26:52.520 --> 00:26:53.980 to the mind of a child, 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:56.940 that probably seems like it's an eternity, 00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:58.520 that they're never going to get there. 00:26:58.519 --> 00:27:02.420 Their assurance, 00:27:02.859 --> 00:27:07.819 despite the long, difficult, hazard-wrought journey, 00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:10.379 their assurance that we're going to get there 00:27:10.379 --> 00:27:12.400 is that mom and dad told them 00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:13.079 they're going to get there. 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:15.619 And they know 00:27:15.619 --> 00:27:19.480 that if mom and dad turn back on their word 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:22.400 and don't take them on the trip to the Grand Canyon, 00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:22.900 guess what? 00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:24.779 That's not only bad for them, 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:27.639 that brings shame upon mom and dad. 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:32.160 Because our word has bound them up. 00:27:32.379 --> 00:27:36.519 Our glory, our praise in their good are now one. 00:27:36.639 --> 00:27:38.859 For us to do them good is to our praise. 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:41.240 For us to go back on our word brings us shame 00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:42.720 and brings them harm. 00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:45.379 Now, mom and dad aren't perfect 00:27:45.379 --> 00:27:47.279 on this side of eternity, are we? 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:50.119 Sometimes things happen that we can't control. 00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:51.839 Sometimes stuff comes up 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:54.099 that's beyond our ability to control. 00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:58.599 But the Lord God never turns back on his word. 00:28:00.159 --> 00:28:02.319 The Lord God, by his own grace, 00:28:02.439 --> 00:28:04.399 has graciously chosen 00:28:04.399 --> 00:28:08.439 to tie up our good with his glory. 00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:14.779 David's confidence in the face of death 00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:20.359 is that God will bring praise to his name. 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:20.980 But you know what? 00:28:22.180 --> 00:28:24.119 It's also his reason to go on living. 00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:26.379 He says, 00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:28.759 For in death there is no remembrance of you 00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:30.940 and Sheol who will bring you praise. 00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:32.460 It is fascinating to me. 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:36.339 David, he doesn't just pray to be made well, does he? 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:39.440 There's a reason here for his prayer. 00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:42.339 He grounds it in a greater purpose. 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:43.119 He doesn't just pray, 00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:45.439 Lord, make me well so I can go back to being king. 00:28:45.639 --> 00:28:47.720 Lord, make me well so I'm more comfortable. 00:28:47.879 --> 00:28:49.720 Lord, make me well so I feel better. 00:28:50.419 --> 00:28:54.299 He roots his request that good might come to him 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:58.559 in the greater purpose of the praise and glory of God. 00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:01.139 Do we pray like this? 00:29:02.899 --> 00:29:05.859 Do we realize that the purpose of our life 00:29:05.859 --> 00:29:08.659 is to glorify God and enjoy him forever? 00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:12.340 That the purpose of your life is to bring him praise? 00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:16.019 You know, you were made to honor and delight in him 00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:17.740 and bring glory to him. 00:29:17.820 --> 00:29:18.880 And so David prays, 00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:23.000 I want to live so that you might be praised. 00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:25.700 I want to be made well again 00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:28.880 so that in the face of wickedness of this world 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:30.120 you would have a witness. 00:29:31.040 --> 00:29:31.519 He prays, 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:33.019 please heal me, O Lord, 00:29:33.139 --> 00:29:36.160 so that you would have yet another reason 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:38.920 to give me so I could give you praise. 00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:42.180 You know, I've heard a lot of prayers for healing, 00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:42.779 but I'll be honest, 00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:44.819 I have not heard a lot of prayers that sound like this. 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:48.539 David wants to be healed 00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:52.639 so that he might bring glory to the Lord. 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:54.920 Do you pray like this in our suffering? 00:29:56.879 --> 00:29:59.059 And maybe we don't pray like this in our suffering 00:29:59.059 --> 00:30:01.460 because we don't live like this 00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:02.740 when we're well. 00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:07.960 The purpose of our being made well again 00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:09.559 is for the glory of God. 00:30:09.659 --> 00:30:10.839 If you were sick 00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:12.819 and now your mind is no longer foggy, 00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:16.019 use it to think clear thoughts about God. 00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:20.480 If your body was ailing and weak 00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:22.059 and now has regained strength, 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:22.819 use it. 00:30:22.899 --> 00:30:23.980 Use your mobility now 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:25.500 to go out and serve him. 00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:27.319 If your throat is no longer sore, 00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:28.679 use your voice now 00:30:28.679 --> 00:30:30.179 to sing his praises 00:30:30.179 --> 00:30:31.299 and to speak of him. 00:30:31.399 --> 00:30:32.799 That's what they're there for. 00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:36.740 Here's our assurance, church, 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.839 in the face of affliction. 00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:41.019 Our present circumstances 00:30:41.019 --> 00:30:43.639 do not change eternal promises. 00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:46.939 God has spoken. 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:49.899 Our assurance in the face of any trial 00:30:49.899 --> 00:30:52.460 is that God will fulfill his promises 00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:55.819 for our good and his glory. 00:30:55.819 --> 00:30:56.720 But not only this, 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.659 assurance number two, 00:30:59.000 --> 00:31:00.480 no matter what happens, 00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:03.639 our God hears our prayers. 00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:07.879 Our God hears our prayers. 00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:09.579 You know, something shocking happens 00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:10.379 here in verse eight. 00:31:10.939 --> 00:31:11.500 Do you see it? 00:31:12.399 --> 00:31:15.039 There is a major shift. 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:17.379 David moves from vertical prayer, 00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:18.759 his groaning, 00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:20.240 his weeping, 00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:22.679 to now horizontal proclamation 00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:24.940 in shocking confidence. 00:31:26.060 --> 00:31:28.840 In fact, this shift is so drastic 00:31:28.840 --> 00:31:30.200 that there's some critical scholars 00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:30.660 that say, 00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:31.880 well, this must be a mistake. 00:31:32.820 --> 00:31:34.840 There must be two different psalms 00:31:34.840 --> 00:31:35.500 happening here 00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:37.560 that are somehow smashed together. 00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:39.279 This sounds like two different people here. 00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:41.060 Look there to verse eight. 00:31:42.060 --> 00:31:43.400 He just got done saying 00:31:43.400 --> 00:31:45.400 how his eyes were wasting away 00:31:45.400 --> 00:31:46.940 from grief because of his foes. 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:48.380 But now in verse eight, 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:49.440 he says, 00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:50.840 depart from me, 00:31:50.839 --> 00:31:52.039 all you workers of evil. 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:52.519 Why? 00:31:53.139 --> 00:31:53.939 What's his assurance? 00:31:55.159 --> 00:31:56.480 For the Lord has heard 00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.899 the sound of my weeping. 00:31:58.939 --> 00:31:59.959 Depart from me 00:31:59.959 --> 00:32:03.059 because the Lord has heard my plea. 00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:06.619 The Lord accepts my prayer. 00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:10.859 This is the confidence of God's people. 00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:13.039 We go from pouring out our heart 00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:13.939 to God in prayer, 00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:15.519 letting him hear all of our growing, 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.839 all of our lamenting, 00:32:17.459 --> 00:32:19.039 crying out to him for help. 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:21.740 And then we get up out of the closet 00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:24.220 and we walk into this sin-marked world 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.079 with confidence. 00:32:25.659 --> 00:32:25.879 Why? 00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:28.220 Because we know that 00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:31.079 even when things are beyond our control, 00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:33.700 they're never beyond his control. 00:32:34.819 --> 00:32:37.420 Even when things are beyond our understanding, 00:32:37.579 --> 00:32:40.899 they are never beyond his understanding. 00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:43.980 Even when we can't do anything at all 00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:45.420 to change our circumstances, 00:32:45.420 --> 00:32:48.000 the Lord is always at work 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:50.200 and he hears our prayers. 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:52.600 In fact, 00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:53.200 we know that 00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:55.460 even when we don't have the words to say, 00:32:55.560 --> 00:32:56.539 like David, 00:32:56.660 --> 00:32:57.160 we know 00:32:57.160 --> 00:32:59.740 the Spirit helps us in our weakness. 00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.539 For we do not know 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:02.940 what to pray for as we ought, 00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:04.120 but the Spirit himself 00:33:04.120 --> 00:33:05.460 intercedes for us 00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:07.680 with groanings too deep for words. 00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:10.019 And he who searches hearts 00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:11.840 knows what is the mind of the Spirit, 00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:14.579 because the Spirit intercedes for the saints 00:33:14.579 --> 00:33:16.000 according to the will of God. 00:33:16.539 --> 00:33:17.539 And we know that 00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:19.240 for those who love God, 00:33:19.319 --> 00:33:21.379 all things work together for good 00:33:21.379 --> 00:33:23.359 for those who are called 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:25.439 according to his purpose. 00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:27.339 Church, 00:33:27.399 --> 00:33:29.159 we are called to pray 00:33:29.159 --> 00:33:31.559 to the King of all the earth 00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:32.439 with confidence 00:33:32.439 --> 00:33:34.240 because he hears us. 00:33:34.919 --> 00:33:36.359 He uses our prayers 00:33:36.359 --> 00:33:38.119 to accomplish his eternal purposes. 00:33:38.119 --> 00:33:40.739 But not only this, 00:33:40.899 --> 00:33:41.159 third, 00:33:42.219 --> 00:33:43.099 our assurance 00:33:43.099 --> 00:33:45.079 in the face of suffering 00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:45.639 is that 00:33:45.639 --> 00:33:47.679 no matter what happens, 00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:48.699 our God 00:33:48.699 --> 00:33:49.959 will bring 00:33:49.959 --> 00:33:51.079 justice. 00:33:51.959 --> 00:33:53.079 Look there to verse 10. 00:33:54.779 --> 00:33:56.579 David closes here in verse 10 00:33:56.579 --> 00:33:58.519 with the assurance that 00:33:58.519 --> 00:33:59.979 all my enemies 00:33:59.979 --> 00:34:01.119 shall be ashamed 00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:02.419 and greatly troubled. 00:34:03.159 --> 00:34:04.219 They shall turn back 00:34:04.219 --> 00:34:05.819 and be put to shame 00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:06.799 in a moment. 00:34:06.919 --> 00:34:08.059 His assurance is that 00:34:08.059 --> 00:34:09.400 the God who hears 00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:10.179 his prayers, 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:11.360 the God who works 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:12.039 for his good, 00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:13.239 the God who will bring 00:34:13.239 --> 00:34:14.440 praise to his name, 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:17.159 his God will bring 00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:18.340 justice. 00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:22.000 On this side of eternity, 00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:23.480 the wicked may seem like 00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:24.380 they've won. 00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:26.619 And the curse of sin 00:34:26.619 --> 00:34:27.519 and all its effects 00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:29.799 may seem to have won the day, 00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:30.960 but David's confidence 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.340 is that in a moment, 00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:34.759 in the blink of an eye, 00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:36.840 all will be made right. 00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:39.460 The king of the earth 00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:40.820 will do what is right. 00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:42.220 The wicked will be judged 00:34:42.220 --> 00:34:43.559 and God will right 00:34:43.559 --> 00:34:45.300 every wrong. 00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:47.140 That's our hope, church. 00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:51.039 In all the afflictions 00:34:51.039 --> 00:34:52.200 of a sin-cursed world, 00:34:52.300 --> 00:34:53.340 we trust with David 00:34:53.340 --> 00:34:54.120 that the judge 00:34:54.120 --> 00:34:55.220 of all the earth 00:34:55.220 --> 00:34:56.059 will do 00:34:56.059 --> 00:34:57.579 what is right. 00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:01.000 Those were David's assurances. 00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:03.860 But we have a fourth, 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:04.800 don't we? 00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:09.019 David clung to the promises 00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:10.119 of God as clearly 00:35:10.119 --> 00:35:11.059 as he knew them, 00:35:11.139 --> 00:35:12.619 but we know with much 00:35:12.619 --> 00:35:14.000 greater clarity, 00:35:14.420 --> 00:35:14.900 don't we, 00:35:15.619 --> 00:35:17.039 that all the promises 00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:18.500 of God are fulfilled, 00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:20.059 are true, 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:22.099 are extended to us 00:35:22.099 --> 00:35:24.000 in Jesus Christ. 00:35:26.880 --> 00:35:28.239 Blessed assurance, 00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:29.939 Jesus is mine. 00:35:31.159 --> 00:35:32.219 That's our assurance. 00:35:32.459 --> 00:35:33.359 It's likely that 00:35:33.359 --> 00:35:34.419 David's trials 00:35:34.419 --> 00:35:35.439 are far greater 00:35:35.439 --> 00:35:36.179 than ours, 00:35:36.319 --> 00:35:37.399 but it's certain 00:35:37.399 --> 00:35:38.739 that our assurance 00:35:38.739 --> 00:35:41.699 is far more powerful 00:35:41.699 --> 00:35:43.179 than his. 00:35:44.179 --> 00:35:46.559 We know with absolute certainty 00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:47.339 that in all things, 00:35:47.399 --> 00:35:48.619 God works for our good 00:35:48.619 --> 00:35:49.459 and for his glory. 00:35:49.619 --> 00:35:49.839 Why? 00:35:50.840 --> 00:35:52.720 Because he who gave up 00:35:52.720 --> 00:35:54.200 his own son for us, 00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:56.059 how will he not also 00:35:56.059 --> 00:35:56.700 along with him 00:35:56.700 --> 00:35:58.000 graciously give us 00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:58.800 all things? 00:35:59.860 --> 00:36:00.620 We know that God 00:36:00.620 --> 00:36:02.100 has tied up our good 00:36:02.100 --> 00:36:02.840 with his glory. 00:36:02.980 --> 00:36:03.280 Why? 00:36:03.700 --> 00:36:04.500 Because he sent 00:36:04.500 --> 00:36:05.539 his own son 00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:07.059 to live 00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:08.340 and to die 00:36:08.340 --> 00:36:09.400 and to rise 00:36:09.400 --> 00:36:10.100 on our behalf 00:36:10.100 --> 00:36:10.780 that no one 00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:11.960 who trusts in him 00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:12.880 will be put to shame 00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:13.620 that no matter 00:36:13.620 --> 00:36:14.240 what happens 00:36:14.240 --> 00:36:15.079 in this life, 00:36:15.180 --> 00:36:16.320 if we suffer 00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:16.900 with him, 00:36:17.760 --> 00:36:18.460 we will also 00:36:18.460 --> 00:36:19.639 certainly be glorified 00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:20.059 with him. 00:36:21.139 --> 00:36:22.139 If we die 00:36:22.139 --> 00:36:22.740 with him, 00:36:22.840 --> 00:36:23.599 certainly we shall 00:36:23.599 --> 00:36:25.000 also live, 00:36:25.300 --> 00:36:26.639 be raised with him 00:36:26.639 --> 00:36:27.099 that no matter 00:36:27.099 --> 00:36:27.920 what happens, 00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:29.260 neither death 00:36:29.260 --> 00:36:29.940 nor life 00:36:29.940 --> 00:36:30.599 nor angels 00:36:30.599 --> 00:36:31.840 nor rulers 00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:33.059 nor things present 00:36:33.059 --> 00:36:34.139 nor things to come 00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:35.539 nor powers 00:36:35.539 --> 00:36:36.099 nor height 00:36:36.099 --> 00:36:36.659 nor depth 00:36:36.659 --> 00:36:37.940 nor anything else 00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:38.960 in all creation 00:36:38.960 --> 00:36:40.159 will be able 00:36:40.159 --> 00:36:41.320 to separate us 00:36:41.320 --> 00:36:42.539 from the love of God 00:36:42.539 --> 00:36:44.679 in Christ Jesus 00:36:44.679 --> 00:36:45.800 our Lord. 00:36:45.800 --> 00:36:49.680 if the afflictions 00:36:49.680 --> 00:36:50.380 of this life 00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:52.060 ever feel like 00:36:52.060 --> 00:36:52.580 it's too much 00:36:52.580 --> 00:36:53.019 to bear, 00:36:53.260 --> 00:36:53.560 church, 00:36:54.700 --> 00:36:56.660 look to Christ 00:36:56.660 --> 00:36:59.740 who was afflicted 00:36:59.740 --> 00:37:00.400 for us. 00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:02.680 If the sorrows 00:37:02.680 --> 00:37:03.620 of this life 00:37:03.620 --> 00:37:04.500 feel too much 00:37:04.500 --> 00:37:05.060 to bear, 00:37:05.220 --> 00:37:06.080 look to Christ 00:37:06.080 --> 00:37:07.300 the man of sorrows 00:37:07.300 --> 00:37:08.820 well acquainted 00:37:08.820 --> 00:37:09.460 with grief. 00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:10.620 If we should ever 00:37:10.620 --> 00:37:11.440 doubt in the midst 00:37:11.440 --> 00:37:12.000 of our trial 00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:12.480 that the Lord 00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:13.680 cares about us, 00:37:13.780 --> 00:37:14.519 look to Christ 00:37:14.519 --> 00:37:15.280 on the cross 00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:16.599 who came 00:37:16.599 --> 00:37:17.079 and suffered 00:37:17.079 --> 00:37:17.960 in our place 00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:19.800 that any who 00:37:19.800 --> 00:37:20.519 trust in him 00:37:20.519 --> 00:37:21.219 might be brought 00:37:21.219 --> 00:37:23.320 to full healing, 00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:24.940 full restoration, 00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:25.699 not now, 00:37:26.119 --> 00:37:26.739 but in the time 00:37:26.739 --> 00:37:27.179 to come. 00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:30.340 You will suffer 00:37:30.340 --> 00:37:31.599 in this life, 00:37:31.699 --> 00:37:32.179 but Christian, 00:37:32.300 --> 00:37:32.900 we suffer 00:37:32.900 --> 00:37:34.019 with assurance 00:37:34.019 --> 00:37:35.079 that Christ 00:37:35.079 --> 00:37:35.719 has purchased 00:37:35.719 --> 00:37:36.179 for us 00:37:36.179 --> 00:37:38.259 a glorious future. 00:37:39.039 --> 00:37:40.000 Free from sin, 00:37:41.019 --> 00:37:42.380 free from death, 00:37:42.539 --> 00:37:43.360 free from sickness, 00:37:43.559 --> 00:37:44.320 free from grief, 00:37:44.320 --> 00:37:45.660 free from every 00:37:45.660 --> 00:37:46.700 affliction, 00:37:47.039 --> 00:37:48.519 safe and secure 00:37:48.519 --> 00:37:49.700 in the presence 00:37:49.700 --> 00:37:50.240 of God. 00:37:50.380 --> 00:37:51.440 That's our assurance. 00:37:54.320 --> 00:37:57.120 As I left the hospital 00:37:57.120 --> 00:37:57.900 from visiting 00:37:57.900 --> 00:37:59.440 our friend, 00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:01.500 I actually ran into 00:38:01.500 --> 00:38:02.700 the palliative care doctor. 00:38:03.260 --> 00:38:04.100 He was coming back 00:38:04.100 --> 00:38:04.680 from lunch 00:38:04.680 --> 00:38:06.059 and I was leaving 00:38:06.059 --> 00:38:07.120 to head to the parking lot 00:38:07.120 --> 00:38:07.940 and I got to speak 00:38:07.940 --> 00:38:08.920 with him for a moment 00:38:08.920 --> 00:38:10.420 and he commented 00:38:10.420 --> 00:38:12.720 how remarkable 00:38:12.720 --> 00:38:13.900 it was 00:38:13.900 --> 00:38:14.820 to see someone 00:38:14.820 --> 00:38:16.019 suffer so much 00:38:16.019 --> 00:38:16.680 and yet speak 00:38:16.680 --> 00:38:18.400 so confidently 00:38:18.400 --> 00:38:19.720 about their hope 00:38:19.720 --> 00:38:20.180 in the Lord. 00:38:21.340 --> 00:38:21.960 And I said, 00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:22.340 you know what? 00:38:22.380 --> 00:38:22.960 She's not afraid 00:38:22.960 --> 00:38:23.400 to die. 00:38:23.940 --> 00:38:24.460 And he almost 00:38:24.460 --> 00:38:24.980 stopped me. 00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:26.480 He said, 00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:26.960 no, no, no, no, 00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:27.460 no, we don't, 00:38:27.700 --> 00:38:29.000 that's a bad word 00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:29.760 around here. 00:38:30.039 --> 00:38:30.740 We don't say 00:38:30.740 --> 00:38:31.340 that word. 00:38:31.340 --> 00:38:33.420 I had the opportunity 00:38:33.420 --> 00:38:33.760 to say, 00:38:33.860 --> 00:38:33.980 you know, 00:38:34.059 --> 00:38:34.400 a doctor, 00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:36.640 she's a Christian. 00:38:38.140 --> 00:38:39.260 We talk about death 00:38:39.260 --> 00:38:39.780 all the time. 00:38:41.620 --> 00:38:42.920 She's not afraid 00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:43.620 to die 00:38:43.620 --> 00:38:45.920 because she knows 00:38:45.920 --> 00:38:46.640 Christ 00:38:46.640 --> 00:38:47.720 who has delivered 00:38:47.720 --> 00:38:48.800 her soul from death 00:38:48.800 --> 00:38:50.460 so that no matter 00:38:50.460 --> 00:38:51.300 what happens 00:38:51.300 --> 00:38:52.160 in this life, 00:38:52.980 --> 00:38:54.220 she has assurance 00:38:54.220 --> 00:38:55.019 in the Lord. 00:38:56.579 --> 00:38:57.260 Do you have 00:38:57.260 --> 00:38:57.920 that same assurance? 00:38:59.680 --> 00:39:00.320 Let's pray. 00:39:01.340 --> 00:39:07.980 Lord, 00:39:08.059 --> 00:39:08.519 you know 00:39:08.519 --> 00:39:09.500 the afflictions 00:39:09.500 --> 00:39:10.280 that we face. 00:39:13.220 --> 00:39:13.740 Father, 00:39:13.860 --> 00:39:14.720 you sent Christ 00:39:14.720 --> 00:39:16.400 to suffer 00:39:16.400 --> 00:39:17.079 and to die 00:39:17.079 --> 00:39:18.180 on our behalf 00:39:18.180 --> 00:39:18.680 and we know 00:39:18.680 --> 00:39:19.740 that all who 00:39:19.740 --> 00:39:20.620 follow him, 00:39:20.760 --> 00:39:20.860 Lord, 00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:21.840 we will walk 00:39:21.840 --> 00:39:22.960 through many trials 00:39:22.960 --> 00:39:23.800 in this life 00:39:23.800 --> 00:39:25.720 but we take heart, 00:39:26.140 --> 00:39:26.300 Father, 00:39:26.380 --> 00:39:26.840 that Christ 00:39:26.840 --> 00:39:27.340 has overcome 00:39:27.340 --> 00:39:27.920 the world 00:39:27.920 --> 00:39:29.660 and we take heart 00:39:29.660 --> 00:39:30.059 knowing 00:39:30.059 --> 00:39:31.100 that the certain 00:39:31.099 --> 00:39:31.519 future 00:39:31.519 --> 00:39:32.159 that he's purchased 00:39:32.159 --> 00:39:32.819 for us. 00:39:33.679 --> 00:39:34.079 We pray 00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:34.440 that you would 00:39:34.440 --> 00:39:35.039 comfort those 00:39:35.039 --> 00:39:35.719 who are afflicted 00:39:35.719 --> 00:39:36.179 this morning 00:39:36.179 --> 00:39:37.299 with the gospel 00:39:37.299 --> 00:39:37.819 of Christ. 00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:38.299 We pray this 00:39:38.299 --> 00:39:38.940 in Jesus' name. 00:39:40.039 --> 00:39:40.360 Amen. 00:39:42.519 --> 00:39:43.199 What we're going 00:39:43.199 --> 00:39:43.819 to do now 00:39:43.819 --> 00:39:45.219 is respond 00:39:45.219 --> 00:39:46.579 to the Lord. 00:39:47.159 --> 00:39:48.099 Respond to the word 00:39:48.099 --> 00:39:49.079 that we've just heard. 00:39:49.159 --> 00:39:49.500 We'll stand 00:39:49.500 --> 00:39:50.460 and sing our last song 00:39:50.460 --> 00:39:51.699 together in just a moment 00:39:51.699 --> 00:39:53.239 but what I want to do 00:39:53.239 --> 00:39:53.919 and Miss Priscilla 00:39:53.919 --> 00:39:54.460 is going to play 00:39:54.460 --> 00:39:54.980 through a verse. 00:39:55.099 --> 00:39:55.759 I want you to just 00:39:55.759 --> 00:39:57.179 sit and respond now 00:39:57.179 --> 00:39:58.059 in silent prayer 00:39:58.059 --> 00:39:59.199 to the Lord. 00:39:59.279 --> 00:40:00.119 What truth stood out 00:40:00.119 --> 00:40:00.619 to you today 00:40:00.619 --> 00:40:01.339 that you need to 00:40:01.339 --> 00:40:02.359 praise God for 00:40:02.359 --> 00:40:03.659 and what application 00:40:03.659 --> 00:40:04.199 is there for you 00:40:04.199 --> 00:40:04.759 to take away? 00:40:04.859 --> 00:40:05.579 What sin is there 00:40:05.579 --> 00:40:06.579 to be repented of? 00:40:06.659 --> 00:40:07.679 Take a moment right now 00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:08.519 before we close 00:40:08.519 --> 00:40:09.879 and pray to the Lord 00:40:09.879 --> 00:40:10.699 in response. 00:40:10.699 --> 00:40:40.679 Let's pray.