WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.580 2 Samuel chapter 22. 00:00:04.500 --> 00:00:07.900 I'm going to read the whole chapter for us this morning. 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:13.400 David sang to the Lord the words of this song 00:00:13.400 --> 00:00:16.140 when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies 00:00:16.140 --> 00:00:17.679 and from the hand of Saul. 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:19.359 He said, 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:24.400 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. 00:00:25.219 --> 00:00:28.519 My God is my rock in whom I take refuge. 00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:31.039 My shield and the horn of my salvation. 00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:35.380 He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior. 00:00:36.280 --> 00:00:38.079 From violent people you save me. 00:00:38.879 --> 00:00:41.280 I call to the Lord who is worthy of praise 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:42.780 and have been saved from my enemies. 00:00:43.780 --> 00:00:45.960 The waves of death swirled about me. 00:00:46.480 --> 00:00:48.679 The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. 00:00:49.379 --> 00:00:51.640 The cords of the grave coiled around me. 00:00:51.960 --> 00:00:54.299 The snares of death confronted me. 00:00:55.219 --> 00:00:57.399 In my distress, I call to the Lord. 00:00:57.399 --> 00:00:59.359 I called out to my God. 00:01:00.019 --> 00:01:02.239 From his temple he heard my voice. 00:01:02.820 --> 00:01:04.400 My cry came to his ears. 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:06.739 The earth trembled and quaked. 00:01:07.099 --> 00:01:09.019 The foundations of the heavens shook. 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:11.039 They trembled because he was angry. 00:01:12.039 --> 00:01:13.759 Smoke rose from his nostrils. 00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:15.659 Consuming fire came from his mouth. 00:01:16.120 --> 00:01:17.840 Burning coals blazed out of it. 00:01:18.659 --> 00:01:20.620 He parted the heavens and came down. 00:01:21.340 --> 00:01:22.900 Dark clouds were under his feet. 00:01:23.460 --> 00:01:25.060 He mounted the cherubim and flew. 00:01:25.060 --> 00:01:26.920 He soared on the wings of the wind. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:29.439 He made darkness his canopy around him. 00:01:29.799 --> 00:01:31.560 The dark rain clouds of the sky. 00:01:31.960 --> 00:01:35.400 Out of the brightness of his presence, bolts of lightning blazed forth. 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:37.640 The Lord thundered from heaven. 00:01:38.299 --> 00:01:40.340 The voice of the Most High resounded. 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:43.680 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy. 00:01:44.400 --> 00:01:46.780 With great bolts of lightning he routed them. 00:01:47.460 --> 00:01:49.120 The valleys of the sea were exposed. 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:51.680 And the foundations of the earth laid bare. 00:01:52.180 --> 00:01:53.460 At the rebuke of the Lord. 00:01:53.579 --> 00:01:55.579 At the blast of breath from his nostrils. 00:01:57.180 --> 00:02:00.240 He reached down from on high and took hold of me. 00:02:00.880 --> 00:02:02.800 He drew me out of deep waters. 00:02:03.480 --> 00:02:05.340 He rescued me from my powerful enemy. 00:02:05.780 --> 00:02:07.860 From my foes who were too strong for me. 00:02:08.500 --> 00:02:10.759 They confronted me in the day of my disaster. 00:02:11.080 --> 00:02:12.520 But the Lord was my support. 00:02:13.099 --> 00:02:15.599 He brought me out into a spacious place. 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:17.960 He rescued me because he delighted in me. 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:21.800 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness. 00:02:22.659 --> 00:02:25.560 According to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. 00:02:26.360 --> 00:02:28.080 For I have kept the ways of the Lord. 00:02:28.540 --> 00:02:30.560 I am not guilty of turning from my God. 00:02:31.219 --> 00:02:32.580 All his laws are before me. 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:34.740 I have not turned away from his decrees. 00:02:35.319 --> 00:02:38.040 I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. 00:02:38.900 --> 00:02:41.580 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness. 00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:43.780 According to the cleanness. 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:45.920 To my cleanness in his sight. 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:49.179 To the faithful you show yourself faithful. 00:02:49.639 --> 00:02:51.839 To the blameless you show yourself blameless. 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:54.079 To the pure you show yourself pure. 00:02:54.679 --> 00:02:57.179 But to the devious you show yourself shrewd. 00:02:57.779 --> 00:03:01.060 You save the humble but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low. 00:03:02.079 --> 00:03:03.719 You Lord are my lamp. 00:03:03.719 --> 00:03:06.259 The Lord turns my darkness into light. 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:09.219 With your help I can advance against a troop. 00:03:09.340 --> 00:03:10.860 With my God I can scale a wall. 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:13.680 As for God his way is perfect. 00:03:14.819 --> 00:03:16.060 The Lord's word is flawless. 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:19.039 He shields all who take refuge in him. 00:03:19.580 --> 00:03:21.120 For who is a God besides the Lord? 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:23.419 And who is the rock except our God? 00:03:23.699 --> 00:03:27.419 It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. 00:03:27.419 --> 00:03:30.039 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:32.339 He causes me to stand on the heights. 00:03:32.839 --> 00:03:34.280 He trains my hands for battle. 00:03:34.399 --> 00:03:36.219 My arms can bend a bow of bronze. 00:03:37.339 --> 00:03:39.299 You make your saving help my shield. 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:41.379 Your help has made me great. 00:03:42.099 --> 00:03:44.719 You provided a broad path for my feet. 00:03:44.819 --> 00:03:46.439 So that my ankles do not give way. 00:03:47.719 --> 00:03:50.179 I pursued my enemies and crushed them. 00:03:50.699 --> 00:03:52.639 I did not turn back till they were destroyed. 00:03:53.339 --> 00:03:55.679 I crushed them completely and they could not rise. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:57.540 They fell beneath my feet. 00:03:58.180 --> 00:03:59.920 You armed me with strength for battle. 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:02.000 You humbled my adversaries before me. 00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:05.500 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight. 00:04:05.920 --> 00:04:07.599 And I destroyed my foes. 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:10.860 They cried for help but there was no one to save them. 00:04:11.260 --> 00:04:12.700 To the Lord but he did not answer. 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:15.740 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth. 00:04:16.100 --> 00:04:18.639 I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets. 00:04:19.780 --> 00:04:22.139 You have delivered me from the attacks of the peoples. 00:04:23.139 --> 00:04:25.040 You have preserved me as the head of nations. 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:27.980 People I did not know now serve me. 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:29.379 Foreigners cower before me. 00:04:29.620 --> 00:04:31.420 As soon as they hear of me they obey me. 00:04:31.780 --> 00:04:32.959 They lose all heart. 00:04:33.420 --> 00:04:35.540 They come trembling from their strongholds. 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:37.160 The Lord lives. 00:04:37.939 --> 00:04:39.740 Praise be to my rock. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:42.040 Exalted be my God. 00:04:42.280 --> 00:04:43.960 The rock my saviour. 00:04:44.600 --> 00:04:46.199 He is the God who avenges me. 00:04:46.740 --> 00:04:48.220 Who puts the nations under me. 00:04:48.660 --> 00:04:50.360 Who sets me free from my enemies. 00:04:51.340 --> 00:04:53.400 You exalted me from my foes. 00:04:53.819 --> 00:04:55.639 From a violent man you rescued me. 00:04:56.400 --> 00:04:58.680 Therefore I will praise you Lord among the nations. 00:04:59.240 --> 00:05:01.020 I will sing the praises of your name. 00:05:01.980 --> 00:05:03.699 He gives his king great victories. 00:05:04.360 --> 00:05:06.540 He shows unfailing kindness to his anointed. 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:09.780 To David and his descendants forever. 00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:12.020 Well this is God's word. 00:05:12.139 --> 00:05:14.160 Let's pray as we come and look at it together. 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:14.660 Let's pray. 00:05:19.740 --> 00:05:26.720 Heavenly Father our longing desire is that we might hear you speak from your words to us this morning. 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:35.780 We pray that your Holy Spirit who inspired these words might now be at work in me as I speak. 00:05:35.900 --> 00:05:37.060 All of us as we listen. 00:05:37.720 --> 00:05:40.540 That we may encounter you and hear you speak. 00:05:41.100 --> 00:05:43.200 That you might change and transform us. 00:05:43.700 --> 00:05:45.760 That you might comfort us and strengthen us. 00:05:46.320 --> 00:05:51.140 That you might rebuke, encourage, equip us to live lives to your praise and glory. 00:05:51.780 --> 00:05:52.740 In Jesus name. 00:05:53.100 --> 00:05:53.420 Amen. 00:05:53.420 --> 00:05:53.620 Amen. 00:05:53.620 --> 00:05:53.819 Amen. 00:05:56.220 --> 00:06:03.160 Well if you've been with us for the last few months you'll know that we are coming towards the end of our series in 2 Samuel. 00:06:03.720 --> 00:06:06.240 And we noticed last time which was a couple of weeks ago now. 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:08.980 That we're in essentially what is the conclusion of the book. 00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:13.740 So the material towards the end of 2 Samuel is not organized necessarily chronologically. 00:06:13.959 --> 00:06:17.519 But thematically as the writer draws everything to a conclusion. 00:06:17.780 --> 00:06:22.660 And at the heart of his conclusion is a song of David and David's final words. 00:06:22.660 --> 00:06:26.960 So if you've looked at much of the Bible before, it doesn't matter if you haven't. 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:30.900 But if you have, you might know that David is a famous songwriter. 00:06:31.900 --> 00:06:34.680 He is probably the Bible's most famous songwriter. 00:06:34.780 --> 00:06:36.120 He wrote a lot of the Psalms. 00:06:36.660 --> 00:06:38.680 You might know that he played the harp for Saul. 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:41.379 You might remember that he danced in front of the ark. 00:06:41.760 --> 00:06:43.960 He is a musical kind of guy. 00:06:43.959 --> 00:06:50.959 And you know, don't you, that the best way to enjoy a song is what? 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:53.279 Sing it, right? 00:06:53.339 --> 00:06:54.879 Yeah, so that's how you enjoy songs. 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:55.799 You sing along. 00:06:56.259 --> 00:06:57.060 You sing along to a song. 00:06:57.159 --> 00:07:00.359 And the best way to ruin a song is to explain it. 00:07:00.519 --> 00:07:00.639 Yeah? 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:02.899 And so it's like a joke. 00:07:02.979 --> 00:07:04.560 The best way to ruin a joke is to explain it. 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:10.139 And so I'm conscious this morning that really I want us to be able to echo David's words and sing along. 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:19.040 So whilst trying not to ruin the vibe this morning, I do want us to look at the content of what David sings here so that we can join in with him as he sings. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:23.360 Or maybe even dance along with him, if that's appropriate later, maybe. 00:07:23.800 --> 00:07:27.939 Anyway, I want you to see that basically there are three parts to his song. 00:07:27.939 --> 00:07:31.759 The song has a beginning, a middle, and an end, right? 00:07:31.819 --> 00:07:34.879 Like all good songs and essays, a beginning, a middle, and an end. 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:38.180 And the beginning is all about David's personal victories. 00:07:38.540 --> 00:07:41.540 And the end is all about the victories of his army over the nations. 00:07:41.819 --> 00:07:46.259 And the middle is all about him and why God saved him. 00:07:46.339 --> 00:07:50.220 And that's where I want us to start, in the middle, in verses 21 to 37. 00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:54.600 And I want us to look at it under this title, What is Blamelessness? 00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:56.379 What is Blamelessness? 00:07:56.379 --> 00:08:01.800 Now, like I said, to this point, David has been singing about the great victories that God has won for him. 00:08:01.860 --> 00:08:07.360 So if you look down at the passage, you'll see verse 20 that he has been brought into a spacious place. 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:10.899 He has been rescued because the Lord delighted in him. 00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:18.300 And these middle verses, David explains why God has continued to rescue him over and over again, why he delights in him. 00:08:18.920 --> 00:08:24.100 And he says in verse 21 that God has dealt with him according to his righteousness. 00:08:24.100 --> 00:08:29.260 That the great victories are a reward, he says, for the cleanness of his hands. 00:08:29.780 --> 00:08:35.000 If you look down at verse 22, you'll notice that he says he has kept the ways of the Lord. 00:08:35.220 --> 00:08:38.300 That he has not been guilty of turning from God. 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:42.279 In verse 23, he says his laws were before him. 00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:45.980 So much so that in verse 24, he says, sort of summarizing, 00:08:45.980 --> 00:08:50.159 I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. 00:08:52.279 --> 00:08:56.740 Now, I don't want to assume that you've been paying attention in our series in the book of 2 Samuel. 00:08:56.840 --> 00:09:04.019 But if you have been, you should be wondering, oh my goodness, David, have you slightly lost touch with reality here? 00:09:04.460 --> 00:09:09.899 Do you actually know what you have been doing for the last 21 chapters? 00:09:09.899 --> 00:09:12.000 Do you know what's been going on? 00:09:12.579 --> 00:09:15.319 Perhaps he's just gone a little bit senile towards the end of his life. 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:17.699 Because you know, if you know the story, don't you? 00:09:17.699 --> 00:09:20.519 You know that David murdered a guy. 00:09:21.019 --> 00:09:22.740 A guy called Uriah the Hittite. 00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:29.579 And he murdered Uriah the Hittite because he got Uriah the Hittite's wife pregnant, Bathsheba. 00:09:30.259 --> 00:09:32.639 Now, those kind of things are a big deal. 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:39.039 He then basically failed over and over to discipline his wayward children who ended up causing havoc. 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:43.199 Siblings ended up raping one another, murdering one another. 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:45.819 They even staged a coup against his rule. 00:09:47.159 --> 00:09:51.000 So when you come to this song, you know, you come to this song that Dave's written at the end of his life, 00:09:51.059 --> 00:09:54.099 you perhaps expect him to be singing about disappointments. 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:58.000 Oh Lord, you know, my life has not been quite what I hoped it would have been. 00:09:58.839 --> 00:10:01.839 My family's not quite worked out as I would have hoped that they would have worked out. 00:10:02.899 --> 00:10:04.240 I've made lots of mistakes. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:09.879 But in fact, as you look at the song, you find that actually instead he's singing of his blamelessness. 00:10:10.220 --> 00:10:11.060 His blamelessness. 00:10:12.560 --> 00:10:14.980 Now, you might be thinking, oh, I know this, Steve, right? 00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:16.940 I know what you're going to say. 00:10:17.620 --> 00:10:18.960 I've encountered this before. 00:10:19.720 --> 00:10:24.500 This, Steve, this is that doctrine that you were talking about a few weeks ago from David. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:27.519 You were talking about justification by faith, weren't you? 00:10:27.820 --> 00:10:28.480 I know this. 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:29.899 That's what David's talking about, isn't it? 00:10:31.060 --> 00:10:36.019 This truth that the Bible teaches through and through, that basically through faith in Jesus Christ, 00:10:36.300 --> 00:10:42.740 sinners like us, like David, people who have sinned against God and gone their own way can be justified, 00:10:43.300 --> 00:10:49.060 declared not guilty because sinless Jesus stands in our place at the cross. 00:10:49.059 --> 00:10:55.559 The Bible says that for the Christian, their sin has been, it uses kind of, the term is imputed. 00:10:55.899 --> 00:10:59.259 It's like passed on to, counted as. 00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:02.759 So our sin is passed on, imputed to Jesus. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:09.179 And Jesus' righteousness, his goodness, his rightness has been imputed, passed on to us. 00:11:09.439 --> 00:11:13.059 So that the Christian can say, in the eyes of God, I'm covered in Jesus' rightness. 00:11:13.059 --> 00:11:13.659 Whiteness. 00:11:14.439 --> 00:11:15.419 So I'm perfect. 00:11:16.839 --> 00:11:19.119 I've never, it looks like I've never done anything wrong. 00:11:20.259 --> 00:11:21.019 Now that's true, right? 00:11:21.539 --> 00:11:25.239 Justification by faith is probably the most important doctrine in the scriptures. 00:11:26.099 --> 00:11:28.239 But I'm not sure that's what David means here. 00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:31.199 And I don't think that's what he means because that's not what he says. 00:11:32.119 --> 00:11:35.819 Instead, what seems to be going on is that David actually looks back at his life, 00:11:35.819 --> 00:11:41.099 at his time as king, and sees that in an important sense, he has been blameless. 00:11:41.100 --> 00:11:47.200 And that's because blameless in the Bible doesn't always mean sinlessly perfect. 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:54.259 Blameless in the Bible often means wholehearted, as in trusting completely in the Lord. 00:11:55.540 --> 00:12:00.340 Solomon, who comes after David, Solomon is David's son who comes after him. 00:12:00.560 --> 00:12:06.200 And we're told about him in 1 Kings 11, verse 6, that Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord. 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:10.840 He did not follow the Lord completely as David, his father, had done. 00:12:12.040 --> 00:12:20.159 The sense here is that Solomon was not quite like David because David wholly followed, completely followed the Lord. 00:12:21.580 --> 00:12:25.159 Blamelessness of David was not mirrored by Solomon. 00:12:26.060 --> 00:12:31.980 To give you more examples, the Old Testament character Job, if you know him, was called blameless by God, 00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:35.700 as God talks to Satan about him in the opening chapters of the book. 00:12:36.340 --> 00:12:42.300 And it doesn't mean, look at what Job has become because I justified him, but rather, no, look at Job. 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:44.740 He is a man who wholeheartedly follows me. 00:12:45.680 --> 00:12:46.779 He's devoted to me. 00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:50.259 Job later on calls himself blameless. 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:54.460 Again, not meaning sinless because he's repenting of his sin in the same narrative. 00:12:54.460 --> 00:12:57.500 Daniel calls himself blameless. 00:12:57.800 --> 00:13:03.560 Says it's why the Lord rescued him from the lions, even though again and again we see him praying and praying prayers of repentance. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:06.500 The Psalms sing of blamelessness like this. 00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:09.280 The book of Proverbs instructs us to be blameless like this. 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:12.519 Not because the book of Proverbs expects us to be sinlessly perfect, 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:16.600 but because it wants us to and expects us to wholeheartedly trust in the Lord. 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:22.320 It's the same in the New Testament when in Philippians 2 verses 14 to 15, 00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:25.940 Paul tells the people to stop grumbling so that they may become what? 00:13:27.180 --> 00:13:29.379 Blameless and innocent children of God. 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:34.899 Not because stopping grumbling is the same as putting your faith in Jesus and being declared righteous by him, 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:41.060 but because grumbling is a common sin of God's people which betrays a lack of wholehearted trust in God, 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:43.779 who is in charge of all the things you grumble about. 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:44.920 Don't be like that. 00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:45.480 Be blameless. 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:48.840 It's the same idea in 1 Timothy chapter 3, 00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:53.440 when the leaders of the church are told to be above reproach or blameless. 00:13:53.940 --> 00:13:56.680 Not simply meaning that the leaders in the church are to be Christians, 00:13:56.680 --> 00:13:58.480 that's kind of an obvious statement, isn't it? 00:13:58.659 --> 00:14:01.940 But rather they are to be wholehearted in their following of Jesus. 00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:07.460 Dale Ralph Davis, who's written a commentary on these verses, says this, 00:14:07.980 --> 00:14:11.300 when David speaks of his righteousness and purity, 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:15.240 he does not point to sinless perfection, but life direction. 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:19.899 He's not sporting a pharisaical pride over errorless obedience, 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:24.580 but expressing a faithful loyalty via consistent obedience. 00:14:24.580 --> 00:14:32.980 All of this is important for it is such faithful, wholehearted, though afflicted servants that the Lord delights to rescue, 00:14:33.520 --> 00:14:37.700 and who can then revel in the power and safety that the Lord has provided. 00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:42.400 David here, he's looking back across his life and he says, 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:47.379 Do you know, I've always, I've always wanted to walk with the Lord. 00:14:47.980 --> 00:14:49.959 I've always been walking towards him. 00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:51.899 I've always been following the Lord. 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:56.039 I might not have done it perfectly, but I've done it wholeheartedly. 00:14:56.139 --> 00:14:57.500 It's what I've always wanted. 00:14:57.500 --> 00:15:04.259 Let me try and illustrate what's going on, just to give you a bit of time to think and ponder on this some more. 00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:07.720 I want you to imagine that you're walking to Buckingham Palace. 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:09.940 You probably wouldn't walk. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:11.720 You'd probably catch the bus, I know. 00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:13.639 But anyway, imagine if you were walking. 00:15:13.659 --> 00:15:14.879 It's not actually that far to walk. 00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:19.259 But if you were walking to Buckingham Palace, you've got an appointment with a king, perhaps. 00:15:19.340 --> 00:15:19.899 You're determined. 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:21.419 You've got to get to the palace. 00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:23.099 You've got to meet with a king. 00:15:23.179 --> 00:15:24.000 He wants to see you. 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:29.699 But as you start off down Carlton Vale, you get down there and you get a little bit distracted by Paddington Rec. 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:32.679 So you go and, you know, you throw a ball in Paddington Rec for a bit. 00:15:32.819 --> 00:15:37.120 And then you end up walking a little bit through Maida Vale, past Little Venice and Paddington Station. 00:15:37.219 --> 00:15:38.360 It's probably not the quickest way. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:41.659 And then you notice that there's, you know, McDonald's in Paddington. 00:15:41.819 --> 00:15:43.599 And so you get diverted there for a moment. 00:15:43.819 --> 00:15:46.299 And then you carry on down the Edgway Road to Marble Arch. 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:50.339 And then at High Park Corny, take a left instead of a right. 00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:53.259 You end up at Harrods instead of Buckingham Palace. 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:56.860 But then you cut around the back and you end up eventually at Buckingham Palace. 00:15:58.120 --> 00:16:04.960 And as you look back from the doors of Buckingham Palace, what you say is, I've always wanted to arrive here. 00:16:05.780 --> 00:16:09.940 I have been determinedly walking here all morning. 00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:12.460 I've made some mistakes along the way. 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:16.560 But as I look back, my determination was always to walk towards the palace. 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:20.399 Not towards Heathrow Airport, but always towards Buckingham Palace. 00:16:21.459 --> 00:16:25.519 Now, in a sense, and it doesn't quite work all the way through, but that's what's going on here. 00:16:26.619 --> 00:16:32.959 David's godliness is not so much that he's achieved a level and says, right, I've got the badge of honour now. 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:37.920 No, what it is, is that he has been walking in this direction in his life. 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:41.440 I have been walking towards the Lord, says David. 00:16:42.180 --> 00:16:43.480 Not in my own strength. 00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:47.420 Not blazing a trail of my own, but humbly trusting in God. 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:48.540 Verse 28. 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:53.100 And so the whole song is about how God has been his strength to get him to glory. 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:56.360 God has made David wholehearted. 00:16:57.040 --> 00:17:01.920 He has given him a wholehearted heart that unswervingly wants to follow the Lord. 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:05.059 Even if his way has been marked by failure and weakness. 00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:06.839 And so David sings. 00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:09.740 Always wanted to be with the Lord. 00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:11.899 I've always wanted to follow him. 00:17:12.379 --> 00:17:13.879 And God has enabled me. 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:15.960 And God has won great victories. 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:21.960 Now, let me suggest, just before we go any further in the song, it's worth us just thinking about that some more. 00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:27.740 That at the conclusion of everything that's happened, David's singing out the book. 00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:30.659 This is his central piece of advice to you, to me. 00:17:30.660 --> 00:17:36.400 You know, this is the theme of his song, if you like, as he sings at the end of the book. 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:39.700 He says, listen, this is what I want you to know about life. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:46.960 The thing that you will sing about at the end of your life, if you've done it, is to walk wholeheartedly with the Lord. 00:17:47.080 --> 00:17:48.440 That's what life is for. 00:17:49.100 --> 00:17:49.980 That's what it's about. 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:51.640 That's it. 00:17:51.640 --> 00:17:56.240 Lean into what God is doing in you as a Christian by his spirit. 00:17:56.740 --> 00:18:01.300 He's given you a new heart that loves him and longs to walk with him. 00:18:01.800 --> 00:18:03.840 Now, go that way. 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.820 Wholeheartedly go that way. 00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:12.659 So let me ask you this morning, let me ask myself, does this describe us? 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.619 Is this how we're living? 00:18:17.679 --> 00:18:26.319 You know, does the use of my time, does the way that I spend my money, do the dreams of my heart, the aspirations of my ambitions, 00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:30.339 are they marked by this wholehearted desire to follow the Lord? 00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:34.559 Or is the truth is that I've slightly lost my way? 00:18:35.439 --> 00:18:36.579 I'm wandering aimlessly. 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:41.759 I think, though, it's a mistake, isn't it, if we see this just as a challenge? 00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:45.019 Because I think there's a consolation in this, too, isn't there? 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:50.279 You see, there are some of us in this room who have been Christians for a really, really long time. 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:55.220 Some of you, and I'm not going to look in any particular direction, because I know you'll be offended at me saying this, 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:58.680 but some of you, I'm just going to look to a blank page of the balcony, 00:18:58.819 --> 00:19:03.019 some of you are in the final laps, aren't you, of the Christian life? 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:13.359 And maybe for you, as you look back, what sticks most clearly in your mind are the Uriah and Bathsheba moments of your life. 00:19:15.379 --> 00:19:16.960 Not your wholeheartedness. 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:20.840 Perhaps you see the disappointments where you've missed the point, 00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:23.620 where you've been waylaid along the way, 00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:26.539 where you took the wrong turn at High Park Corner. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:32.740 Maybe, as you look back, you see wasted years in pointless pursuits. 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:36.700 Well, let me say this morning, if you're a Christian, 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:39.220 if you believe and trust in the Lord Jesus, 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:41.480 and you long to live for him, 00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:43.920 and you're in the final laps of that race, 00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:45.440 you can sing David's song. 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:47.900 Because the fact that you're here, 00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:50.000 and you want to live for him, 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:51.880 and you want to live for his glory, 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:55.759 is a sign of this wholehearted work that God has done in you. 00:19:56.920 --> 00:20:00.340 You can sing that your godliness was not a destination along the way, 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:03.140 it's not a merit sticker that you received when you obtained a certain standard. 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:06.320 No, godliness is this commitment to keep going, 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:07.640 and keep walking, 00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:09.140 to keep trusting, 00:20:09.320 --> 00:20:10.340 to keep looking to Christ, 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:11.680 to keep looking to please him, 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:13.660 until you see him face to face. 00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:15.980 And if that's you this morning, 00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:19.940 and maybe especially if you're in these final laps, 00:20:20.820 --> 00:20:22.720 let me say to you that we will, 00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:24.000 if we're still here, 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:25.100 which we might not be, 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:27.420 but if we're still here and the Lord has spared us, 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:29.640 with tear-filled rejoicing, 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:32.420 we will stand around your grave and sing 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:35.320 that they finished the race. 00:20:35.900 --> 00:20:38.420 They completed the task that God had given them. 00:20:39.080 --> 00:20:41.460 They wholeheartedly walked with him, 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:43.720 and now they're with him. 00:20:44.340 --> 00:20:45.380 And there's no greater joy. 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:46.779 There's no greater joy. 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:51.259 So that's the centre of the song, 00:20:51.379 --> 00:20:52.420 this wholehearted, 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:54.899 this blamelessness of David, 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:56.639 as he desires to follow the Lord. 00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:59.980 But let me just try and tease out what goes on at the beginning and the end, 00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:02.399 and see some more of its implications for us. 00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:03.759 So let's start with the first bit, 00:21:03.859 --> 00:21:05.480 the personal rescue for the blameless. 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:07.759 Look down at these opening sections, 00:21:07.859 --> 00:21:10.099 and you can't help but notice how many times David says, 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:10.559 my, 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:13.099 I'm not going to count them, 00:21:13.139 --> 00:21:13.799 I think it's nine, 00:21:13.899 --> 00:21:14.599 but I could be wrong. 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:15.740 In verses two to three, 00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:18.179 he talks about God's personal saving and shielding. 00:21:18.959 --> 00:21:21.019 God is not distant or far off to David, 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:22.579 but is nearby and present. 00:21:23.659 --> 00:21:25.099 Belonging to David is a rock, 00:21:25.179 --> 00:21:25.699 a fortress, 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:26.319 a deliverer, 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:26.799 a shield, 00:21:26.879 --> 00:21:27.399 a stronghold, 00:21:27.439 --> 00:21:27.879 a refuge, 00:21:27.939 --> 00:21:28.679 and a saviour. 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:30.199 Now, 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:32.039 the strength of David's praise here, 00:21:32.159 --> 00:21:32.599 in a sense, 00:21:32.659 --> 00:21:34.059 is linked to the depth of his trouble. 00:21:34.419 --> 00:21:35.899 As he's been in trouble, 00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:37.039 in verses five to seven, 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:39.000 as he's been in deep water, 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:41.180 that he knows God's rescue. 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:44.619 And it's probably a reference to the trouble Saul caused him 00:21:44.619 --> 00:21:46.160 when he came so close to death. 00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:48.859 And we've read enough of 2 Samuel to know 00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:52.099 that there have been a number of occasions in David's life 00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:54.539 when it has been really precarious for him. 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:56.059 And yet, 00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:56.579 he says, 00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:57.460 he sings, 00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:59.579 God has always saved me. 00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:01.960 He's always turned up and rescued me. 00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:03.420 So in verse seven, 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:04.660 David cries out. 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.339 In verse eight, 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.460 God is angry. 00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:07.220 And in verse 10, 00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:08.940 comes down in dark clouds, 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:09.619 to save him. 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.099 You might think, 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:12.779 what is David referring to here? 00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:13.900 What is the language here? 00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:15.500 This thunder and lightning. 00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:19.059 It's clearly a kind of apocalyptic type language, 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:19.380 isn't it? 00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:21.140 It's poetry that he is writing. 00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:24.519 He's using pictures to convey God's power 00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:26.240 as he's come to rescue him. 00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:27.539 Actually though, 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:29.099 as he uses those pictures 00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:31.000 and you relate it to the times in his life, 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:32.539 it's actually been quite ordinary. 00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:33.740 You know, 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.579 you think about the time 00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:36.339 when Saul came into the cave 00:22:36.339 --> 00:22:37.459 where David is hiding. 00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:39.679 Saul has been hunting David 00:22:39.679 --> 00:22:40.599 to try and kill him. 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:43.079 And Saul accidentally walks into the cave 00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:44.199 where David is at the, 00:22:44.439 --> 00:22:45.639 hidden at the back of the cave. 00:22:46.699 --> 00:22:48.299 Saul comes in to use the toilet. 00:22:48.959 --> 00:22:49.099 Right? 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:52.099 And David is saved 00:22:52.099 --> 00:22:53.579 by Saul 00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:55.899 wandering into the wrong cave. 00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:58.059 And David says, 00:22:58.119 --> 00:22:58.619 as he sings, 00:22:58.719 --> 00:22:59.799 with those kind of things in mind, 00:22:59.879 --> 00:23:00.119 he goes, 00:23:00.199 --> 00:23:01.719 God came down to save me 00:23:01.719 --> 00:23:03.319 in thunder and lightning. 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.599 And these apocalyptic pictures 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:06.919 are not exaggerations, 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:07.220 are they? 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:08.799 Rather what David is using 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:10.079 is he's using covenant images. 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:12.259 He's recalling Exodus 19 00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:13.359 and the people of Israel 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:15.000 in front of Mount Sinai 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:16.799 where there's thunder and lightning 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.939 and crashing and light. 00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:19.700 And God is speaking to them, 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:21.119 saying that you are my people. 00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:22.439 You belong to me. 00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.439 I'm rescuing you. 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:25.099 You belong to me to live for me. 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:27.559 And David says, 00:23:27.639 --> 00:23:27.759 you know, 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:29.279 those covenant promises, 00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:31.200 those belong to me. 00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:32.639 I've experienced them. 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:34.000 I've seen them working out. 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:35.540 God has saved me. 00:23:38.100 --> 00:23:39.180 So perhaps this morning 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:39.960 you find yourself 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:41.120 in something that might feel 00:23:41.120 --> 00:23:41.700 a little bit like 00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:42.680 verses five to seven. 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:44.620 You know what it feels like 00:23:44.620 --> 00:23:46.440 to be encompassed by death, 00:23:46.840 --> 00:23:47.880 to be drowning 00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:49.160 in the ways of destruction, 00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:50.940 of the sin of our own hearts, 00:23:51.080 --> 00:23:51.340 perhaps. 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:53.360 Well, if that's you, 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:54.340 let me encourage you 00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:56.300 to cry to God right there. 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.580 He will meet you there. 00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:59.980 He will come wholeheartedly 00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:00.720 to save you. 00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:02.180 He will rescue. 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:05.540 God has got a covenant promise, 00:24:06.280 --> 00:24:07.240 a promise that David 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:09.860 sees echoed in Exodus 19. 00:24:10.060 --> 00:24:10.820 He sees echoed 00:24:10.820 --> 00:24:12.240 in what God has promised to him. 00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:14.920 It's fulfilled in Jesus Christ, 00:24:15.780 --> 00:24:16.860 the one who literally 00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:18.140 ripped open the heavens 00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:20.020 and burst into our world, 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.620 who bolted forth 00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:22.280 from the brightness 00:24:22.280 --> 00:24:23.320 of the presence of God 00:24:23.320 --> 00:24:24.680 and still promises 00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:25.800 to save and rescue 00:24:25.800 --> 00:24:26.920 for eternity with him. 00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:29.440 I wonder, though, 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.000 if I can ask you, 00:24:30.080 --> 00:24:30.800 how do you expect 00:24:30.800 --> 00:24:31.460 to encounter 00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:32.360 those promises today? 00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:35.620 Well, let me suggest to you 00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:36.480 that just like David 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.100 encountered 00:24:37.100 --> 00:24:38.320 these great things 00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:38.960 of God 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:40.320 in the ordinariness 00:24:40.320 --> 00:24:41.440 of a cave with Saul, 00:24:42.380 --> 00:24:43.380 so you and I 00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:44.160 encounter 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:45.320 the extraordinariness 00:24:45.320 --> 00:24:46.779 of God's covenant promises 00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:48.360 in the ordinary means 00:24:48.360 --> 00:24:49.580 of things like 00:24:49.580 --> 00:24:50.440 a church gathering, 00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.100 a time around 00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:52.839 the Lord's table, 00:24:53.679 --> 00:24:54.359 singing the words 00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:54.980 of a song, 00:24:55.699 --> 00:24:56.740 the prayer of a Christian 00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.579 brother or sister. 00:24:58.439 --> 00:24:59.339 In those moments, 00:24:59.439 --> 00:25:00.179 the Lord comes 00:25:00.179 --> 00:25:01.259 thundering down 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:02.139 to help us, 00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.519 to keep us walking 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:04.399 blamelessly home. 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:06.539 Perhaps this morning 00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:07.179 you're not a Christian 00:25:07.179 --> 00:25:07.859 or maybe you're just 00:25:07.859 --> 00:25:08.519 not quite sure 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:09.459 exactly where you stand 00:25:09.459 --> 00:25:09.959 with the Lord. 00:25:10.899 --> 00:25:11.619 Perhaps you say, 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.980 well, if all of this 00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.559 is true, 00:25:14.199 --> 00:25:15.419 I would expect to see it 00:25:15.419 --> 00:25:16.599 written in the sky 00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:18.279 as I walk out of here 00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:19.559 or I'd expect 00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:21.259 to have an audible voice 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:21.839 come to me 00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:22.640 as I lie on my bed 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:23.200 at night, 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:24.680 a thunderbolt 00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:25.339 from the sky 00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:25.980 stopping me 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.859 in my tracks. 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.400 Well, obviously, 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.720 God could do that 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.980 and God has done 00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.879 those things on occasion 00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:33.960 but David's song here 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:34.779 is to remind you 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.359 that actually 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.680 more often than not, 00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:37.799 God's salvation 00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:38.980 comes and is seen 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:40.200 in ordinary ways. 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.940 Let me suggest 00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.700 to you this morning 00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:45.879 that actually 00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:47.339 the extraordinary work 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:47.759 of God 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.339 you see 00:25:48.339 --> 00:25:49.660 in the ordinary cry 00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:50.279 of a baby 00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:50.900 in a manger 00:25:50.900 --> 00:25:51.660 in Bethlehem. 00:25:52.560 --> 00:25:53.300 You see 00:25:53.300 --> 00:25:54.800 in the bloodstained 00:25:54.800 --> 00:25:55.600 body of a man 00:25:55.600 --> 00:25:56.380 on a cross 00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:58.640 and now you see it 00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:00.019 in a small church 00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:00.960 in northwest London 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:02.759 preaching a message, 00:26:03.120 --> 00:26:04.019 breaking bread together 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:05.540 and celebrating 00:26:05.540 --> 00:26:06.560 his life and death. 00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:10.220 Here God is at work. 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.220 He's working 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.880 to save 00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:12.540 and to rescue, 00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:13.080 to keep 00:26:13.080 --> 00:26:13.880 and to lead his people. 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.440 Here in this place 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:16.240 God is walking 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:16.860 with his people 00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:17.620 through the snares 00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:18.199 of death, 00:26:18.639 --> 00:26:19.659 the days of disaster 00:26:19.659 --> 00:26:20.799 to bring them 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:21.559 safely home. 00:26:23.959 --> 00:26:24.579 There's a story 00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:25.699 told of a man 00:26:25.699 --> 00:26:26.379 who's praying 00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:26.739 that the Lord 00:26:26.739 --> 00:26:27.059 would get him 00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:28.039 across a river. 00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:29.839 He's earnest 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.500 in his prayers, 00:26:30.599 --> 00:26:31.279 he's there on his knees, 00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:31.699 he's asking, 00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:31.959 you know, 00:26:31.959 --> 00:26:32.419 Lord get me 00:26:32.419 --> 00:26:32.979 to the other side 00:26:32.979 --> 00:26:33.339 of this river, 00:26:33.439 --> 00:26:33.919 get me to the other 00:26:33.919 --> 00:26:34.539 side of this river. 00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.739 Eventually a small boat 00:26:36.739 --> 00:26:37.379 comes along 00:26:37.379 --> 00:26:38.099 and says, 00:26:38.179 --> 00:26:38.759 listen I'll give you 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.979 a ride to the other 00:26:39.979 --> 00:26:40.479 side of the river. 00:26:40.919 --> 00:26:41.179 He says, 00:26:41.239 --> 00:26:41.579 no, no, no, 00:26:41.579 --> 00:26:42.199 don't worry, 00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:42.639 I'm praying, 00:26:42.719 --> 00:26:43.279 God's going to do it 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:43.619 for me, 00:26:43.899 --> 00:26:44.619 God will do it for me. 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.199 Along comes a kid 00:26:46.199 --> 00:26:46.919 on a paddle board, 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:47.519 I'll take you 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.019 across the river, 00:26:48.179 --> 00:26:48.419 he says. 00:26:48.979 --> 00:26:49.279 No, no, 00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:49.619 don't worry, 00:26:49.679 --> 00:26:50.019 I'm praying, 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:50.739 God's going to do it 00:26:50.739 --> 00:26:51.000 for me, 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:51.679 God will do it. 00:26:54.239 --> 00:26:55.259 Guy comes in a canoe, 00:26:55.739 --> 00:26:56.719 I'll take you across. 00:26:57.199 --> 00:26:57.739 No, don't worry, 00:26:57.819 --> 00:26:58.399 God's going to do it 00:26:58.399 --> 00:26:58.719 for me, 00:26:58.799 --> 00:26:59.079 he says. 00:26:59.819 --> 00:27:00.539 I'm waiting for the Lord 00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:00.919 to answer, 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.859 but the answer never comes 00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:03.019 and dejected and sad 00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.619 he walks home 00:27:03.619 --> 00:27:05.099 concluding God's not there 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:07.639 when he meets the Lord 00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:09.099 and he's asked 00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:10.099 why did he give up his faith? 00:27:10.179 --> 00:27:10.519 He says, 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:12.039 you never answered my prayer 00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:13.000 to get me across the river. 00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.279 God says, 00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:15.599 I answered it three times 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:17.039 and he didn't take any of them. 00:27:18.399 --> 00:27:19.099 And that's the thing, 00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:19.500 isn't it? 00:27:19.899 --> 00:27:20.259 Actually, 00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:20.899 God is at work 00:27:20.899 --> 00:27:21.899 in ordinary ways, 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:23.639 doing extraordinary things 00:27:23.639 --> 00:27:24.420 in our lives. 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:26.019 And David encourages us 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.920 to see that. 00:27:27.639 --> 00:27:27.799 You know, 00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:28.379 perhaps it is 00:27:28.379 --> 00:27:29.000 if you're not a Christian 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:29.399 this morning, 00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:30.019 that preacher 00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:30.759 that you walk past 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.259 on the street 00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:32.960 actually is giving out 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.680 eternal treasure. 00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:35.180 You just never stop to listen. 00:27:40.079 --> 00:27:40.720 Let's finish 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:42.059 as we come to the end 00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:42.559 of the song, 00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.619 final victory 00:27:43.619 --> 00:27:45.139 for a blameless king. 00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:46.039 Final victory 00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:47.000 for a blameless king. 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.740 There's a lot more 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.279 in these verses 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:49.960 than we're going 00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:51.139 to have time to tease out. 00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:52.240 But I want you just 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:52.960 to notice with me 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:53.919 as we close 00:27:53.919 --> 00:27:54.659 that the emphasis 00:27:54.659 --> 00:27:55.539 at the end of the song 00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.159 is not so much 00:27:56.159 --> 00:27:57.480 on David's personal salvation, 00:27:57.619 --> 00:27:58.139 but on his role 00:27:58.139 --> 00:27:58.899 as God's king 00:27:58.899 --> 00:28:00.500 in conquering the nations. 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:01.960 Look at verse 35. 00:28:02.399 --> 00:28:03.220 David has hands 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:04.440 that are trained for war. 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.980 He's pursued his enemies 00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:06.980 and destroyed them 00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:07.940 in verse 38. 00:28:08.659 --> 00:28:09.519 In verse 40, 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.259 he's been equipped 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:11.460 with strength for battle 00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:13.180 so that he delivers 00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:13.779 God's people 00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.980 as the head of the nations 00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:15.859 in verse 44. 00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:17.759 In verse 45, 00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:18.920 foreigners come 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:20.160 cowering to him 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:22.180 whose alternative strongholds 00:28:22.180 --> 00:28:22.940 have let them down 00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:23.740 in verse 46. 00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:25.660 Verse 51 00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:26.319 sort of wraps 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:27.220 the whole theme together 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:27.819 where he says 00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:29.240 he gives his king 00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:30.160 great victories. 00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:30.940 He shows 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:32.460 unfailing kindness 00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:33.259 to his anointed, 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:33.859 to David 00:28:33.859 --> 00:28:34.940 and his descendants forever. 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:37.579 Now, 00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:38.779 here we've moved, 00:28:38.879 --> 00:28:39.200 haven't we, 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:41.180 from the personal salvation 00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:42.299 that David was singing about 00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:43.100 in the first third 00:28:43.100 --> 00:28:43.620 of the song. 00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.840 Now we find 00:28:44.840 --> 00:28:45.559 that he's the leader 00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:46.240 of the army 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:46.880 of God's people. 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:48.080 He is the king 00:28:48.080 --> 00:28:48.840 of God's kingdom. 00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.539 And the point is 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:51.980 that David's blamelessness 00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:52.920 has not only been 00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:53.900 good news for him 00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:54.860 as he's received 00:28:54.860 --> 00:28:55.799 personal salvation 00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:56.220 from the Lord, 00:28:56.580 --> 00:28:57.380 it's been good news 00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:57.880 for everybody 00:28:57.880 --> 00:28:58.500 in the kingdom. 00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:00.279 His point is 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:00.660 that really, 00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:01.259 if you like, 00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.000 his blamelessness 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:03.080 has been a funnel 00:29:03.080 --> 00:29:03.640 of blessing 00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:04.539 to the kingdom 00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.220 of God's people. 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:06.080 It's because 00:29:06.080 --> 00:29:07.259 I've walked with the Lord 00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.640 that God has saved 00:29:08.640 --> 00:29:09.240 our armies 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:10.500 and has rescued us 00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.060 as a people. 00:29:12.340 --> 00:29:12.520 Now, 00:29:12.580 --> 00:29:12.800 of course, 00:29:12.860 --> 00:29:13.460 at this point 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:13.900 we find, 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:14.160 don't we, 00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:14.900 that we're no longer 00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:15.320 David, 00:29:15.420 --> 00:29:15.640 are we, 00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.180 in the story? 00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:17.720 Like we've been finding 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.360 over and over 00:29:18.360 --> 00:29:19.080 in 2 Samuel, 00:29:19.540 --> 00:29:20.580 David is the king 00:29:20.580 --> 00:29:21.160 of God's people 00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:22.180 is pointing forward 00:29:22.180 --> 00:29:23.000 to the Lord Jesus. 00:29:26.100 --> 00:29:27.200 Jesus is God's 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:28.160 final king, 00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:29.940 the king of God's people 00:29:29.940 --> 00:29:30.759 who are no longer 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.360 a nation 00:29:31.360 --> 00:29:32.040 but a church 00:29:32.040 --> 00:29:32.880 of many nations. 00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:34.400 And the king 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:35.220 is not just a man 00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:36.180 but it's the God-man, 00:29:36.280 --> 00:29:36.900 Christ Jesus. 00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:38.460 And here we see 00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:39.760 David as a forerunner 00:29:39.760 --> 00:29:40.700 of the Lord Jesus 00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:42.400 as Jesus picks up 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:43.240 these metaphors 00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:43.840 of kingdom 00:29:43.840 --> 00:29:44.340 and king 00:29:44.340 --> 00:29:44.960 and nation 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:46.140 of battle 00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:47.280 and fulfills them 00:29:47.280 --> 00:29:47.920 in his ministry. 00:29:49.060 --> 00:29:49.920 Leading his church 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:50.620 not into a battle 00:29:50.620 --> 00:29:51.420 with flesh and blood 00:29:51.420 --> 00:29:52.480 for nations or states 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.140 but in a battle 00:29:53.140 --> 00:29:54.220 with the spiritual forces 00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:55.180 of the heavenly places 00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:56.240 for the souls 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:56.920 of men and women. 00:29:57.800 --> 00:29:58.440 A battle in which 00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:59.220 Jesus is just 00:29:59.220 --> 00:30:00.220 as comprehensively 00:30:00.220 --> 00:30:01.640 victorious as David is. 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:03.920 Strengthened by the spirit, 00:30:04.440 --> 00:30:05.740 victorious on the cross, 00:30:06.320 --> 00:30:07.340 risen from the grave, 00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:08.820 ascended into heaven, 00:30:09.600 --> 00:30:10.620 seated at the right hand 00:30:10.620 --> 00:30:11.039 of the father 00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:12.240 watching all his enemies 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:13.480 being put beneath his feet 00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:14.580 the last of which 00:30:14.580 --> 00:30:15.420 is death itself. 00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:17.000 It's obvious here, 00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:17.240 isn't it? 00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:18.019 Jesus is the one 00:30:18.019 --> 00:30:18.779 in verse 48 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.779 whom the father 00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.779 has put over the nations. 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:22.080 He's put everything 00:30:22.080 --> 00:30:22.920 under his feet. 00:30:23.559 --> 00:30:24.360 Jesus is the one 00:30:24.360 --> 00:30:25.460 who in verse 45 00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:26.539 who the nations 00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:27.580 come and bow to 00:30:27.580 --> 00:30:28.420 as he gathers people 00:30:28.420 --> 00:30:29.380 from across the globe 00:30:29.380 --> 00:30:29.980 to follow him 00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:30.660 and obey him. 00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:32.539 Christ is the returning king, 00:30:33.120 --> 00:30:33.920 the one who will have 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.779 the final victory, 00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:36.680 who will crush completely 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.560 in verse 39, 00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:38.700 who will beat the devil 00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:39.300 to dust 00:30:39.300 --> 00:30:40.880 and consign him 00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:41.720 to hell 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:42.680 in verse 43. 00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:44.840 And just like 00:30:44.840 --> 00:30:45.740 David's victories 00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.980 have been funneled 00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:48.600 to his people 00:30:48.600 --> 00:30:49.880 through his blamelessness, 00:30:50.080 --> 00:30:51.240 so Jesus' victories 00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:52.380 are funneled to us 00:30:52.380 --> 00:30:54.500 through his blamelessness. 00:30:54.800 --> 00:30:55.140 Jesus, 00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:56.539 who faultlessly 00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:58.300 and wholeheartedly 00:30:58.299 --> 00:30:59.500 trusts in his father 00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:01.220 and obeys his plan. 00:31:02.379 --> 00:31:02.639 Jesus, 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.319 who never takes 00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:04.079 a false turn, 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:05.960 never trips up, 00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:07.359 never stops, 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:08.899 single-mindedly, 00:31:09.659 --> 00:31:10.579 wholeheartedly, 00:31:11.159 --> 00:31:12.359 devoted to his father, 00:31:12.859 --> 00:31:13.740 channeling the blessings 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.259 of victory 00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:14.879 to his people. 00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:17.259 You know, 00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:18.039 think about it like this, 00:31:18.139 --> 00:31:18.879 that the joy 00:31:18.879 --> 00:31:19.960 of being an Israelite 00:31:19.960 --> 00:31:21.299 in David's kingdom 00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:22.980 is because you knew 00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:23.819 David was following 00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:24.299 the Lord. 00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:26.440 God was on his side. 00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:28.159 Everything would be okay 00:31:28.159 --> 00:31:29.059 for him and his kingdom. 00:31:29.859 --> 00:31:30.740 And that's it 00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:31.259 with Jesus. 00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:34.000 Jesus is our blameless king 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:35.779 who wholeheartedly 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:36.680 follows his father. 00:31:37.419 --> 00:31:38.579 And so you and I know 00:31:38.579 --> 00:31:40.359 everything will be okay 00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:41.839 because my king 00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:43.139 is blameless 00:31:43.139 --> 00:31:44.180 and following 00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:45.359 the plan of the father. 00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:47.779 God is on his side. 00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:49.319 We are in his church. 00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:49.899 You know, 00:31:49.900 --> 00:31:50.660 the story of the Bible 00:31:50.660 --> 00:31:52.460 is that God's king wins. 00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:53.960 Jesus wins. 00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:55.780 Blameless Jesus wins 00:31:55.780 --> 00:31:57.259 because God is with him. 00:31:58.360 --> 00:31:59.120 And so if you're trusting 00:31:59.120 --> 00:32:00.259 in him this morning, 00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:01.820 then the truth is 00:32:01.820 --> 00:32:02.680 you and I 00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:03.620 will win too. 00:32:04.580 --> 00:32:05.440 There will be a day 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:06.820 when every tear 00:32:06.820 --> 00:32:07.740 will be wiped away, 00:32:08.420 --> 00:32:09.080 every cancer 00:32:09.080 --> 00:32:09.640 will be healed, 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.560 every panic attack 00:32:10.560 --> 00:32:11.220 will be soothed, 00:32:11.280 --> 00:32:11.820 every exam 00:32:11.820 --> 00:32:12.480 will be smashed, 00:32:12.600 --> 00:32:13.080 every job 00:32:13.080 --> 00:32:14.080 will be a joy, 00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:14.880 every relationship 00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:15.660 will be a delight, 00:32:16.280 --> 00:32:17.080 every problem 00:32:17.080 --> 00:32:18.019 will be solved, 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.400 every money worry 00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:20.040 will be gone, 00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:21.800 every angry outburst 00:32:21.800 --> 00:32:22.540 will be dissolved, 00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:23.400 every addiction 00:32:23.400 --> 00:32:24.220 will be cracked. 00:32:24.380 --> 00:32:24.700 Why? 00:32:25.560 --> 00:32:26.519 Because the son, 00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:28.400 by the power of the spirit 00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:29.640 in the plan of the father, 00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:31.620 blamelessly obeyed 00:32:31.620 --> 00:32:33.200 and so everything 00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:35.080 will be under his feet. 00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:37.500 And until that day, 00:32:38.300 --> 00:32:39.340 we follow him, 00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:41.040 wholeheartedly 00:32:41.040 --> 00:32:42.220 walking towards him, 00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:43.700 losing our lives 00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:44.640 in joyful praise 00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:45.140 of his greatness. 00:32:46.140 --> 00:32:46.780 Let me pray 00:32:46.780 --> 00:32:48.120 and then we'll respond 00:32:48.120 --> 00:32:48.580 and so on. 00:32:49.400 --> 00:33:06.340 Heavenly Father, 00:33:06.420 --> 00:33:07.960 we want to thank you 00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:08.720 for the Lord Jesus. 00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:11.759 We thank you 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:12.860 that the blessings 00:33:12.860 --> 00:33:15.360 of a future kingdom 00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:17.819 where it will be 00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:18.659 our joy 00:33:18.659 --> 00:33:19.339 and our bliss 00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:20.159 for all eternity 00:33:20.159 --> 00:33:21.099 to be with you. 00:33:21.779 --> 00:33:22.740 Come to us 00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.859 through his wholehearted 00:33:23.859 --> 00:33:24.599 obedience. 00:33:26.199 --> 00:33:26.379 And Lord, 00:33:26.399 --> 00:33:27.000 we want to pray 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:27.919 that you would make us 00:33:27.919 --> 00:33:28.719 more like Jesus. 00:33:30.519 --> 00:33:31.679 That like David, 00:33:32.139 --> 00:33:32.819 like Jesus, 00:33:33.459 --> 00:33:34.879 we would wholeheartedly 00:33:34.879 --> 00:33:35.599 follow you, 00:33:36.479 --> 00:33:37.539 trusting in you, 00:33:38.199 --> 00:33:39.119 obeying you. 00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:40.579 Please, 00:33:40.639 --> 00:33:40.879 we pray, 00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:41.819 recognizing maybe 00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:42.579 for some of us 00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:43.019 this morning, 00:33:43.139 --> 00:33:43.720 we've just 00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:45.159 gotten waylaid. 00:33:46.220 --> 00:33:47.359 We've wandered off, 00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:48.579 got distracted. 00:33:49.439 --> 00:33:50.179 Bring us back, 00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:50.659 we pray. 00:33:51.299 --> 00:33:52.059 Keep us going. 00:33:53.139 --> 00:33:53.819 We pray that it would 00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:54.679 be our joy 00:33:54.679 --> 00:33:55.639 and our delight 00:33:55.639 --> 00:33:57.220 to be able to say 00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:58.259 that we have run 00:33:58.259 --> 00:33:58.859 the race. 00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:00.639 We've completed 00:34:00.639 --> 00:34:01.240 the task 00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:02.399 that you have given us. 00:34:03.079 --> 00:34:04.240 All glory to your name. 00:34:05.339 --> 00:34:05.720 Amen. 00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:05.879 Amen. 00:34:06.220 --> 00:34:06.599 Amen. 00:34:06.599 --> 00:34:06.740 Amen. 00:34:07.099 --> 00:34:07.599 Amen. 00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:08.599 Amen. 00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:08.659 Amen. 00:34:08.659 --> 00:34:08.719 Amen. 00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:10.659 Amen. 00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:12.559 Amen.