WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.879 Well, good morning, everyone. Can I just add my welcome to you all. Yeah, I'm JT. I'm one of the elders here. 00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:09.640 I've got the privilege of being able to take us through this psalm this morning. 00:00:11.019 --> 00:00:18.760 We are in a summer series in the Psalms. We've had a couple so far in what is called Book Two of the Psalms. 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:22.480 That may not mean anything to you, but that starts in Psalm 42. 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:26.859 You know, it's great to be in the Psalms. The Psalms is a wonderful book. 00:00:26.859 --> 00:00:32.000 If you don't know much about it, or it's always good to remind ourselves, it is the longest book of the Bible. 00:00:32.619 --> 00:00:35.299 It's got 150 chapters in it. 00:00:36.200 --> 00:00:42.560 You know, there's multiple ways of splitting the Psalms up or looking at them, but a simple way of doing it is that there's two types of Psalm. 00:00:43.299 --> 00:00:46.019 There are laments and there are praise. 00:00:46.939 --> 00:00:50.960 A lament is an appropriate response to the evil in the world. 00:00:52.039 --> 00:00:53.960 And we've seen that over the last couple of weeks. 00:00:54.460 --> 00:00:56.359 And then there are Psalms of praise. 00:00:56.859 --> 00:00:59.039 Celebrating what is good in the world. 00:00:59.740 --> 00:01:02.320 Thanking God for what he has done. 00:01:03.799 --> 00:01:08.519 The Psalms, it's sometimes described as the prayer book of God's people. 00:01:09.219 --> 00:01:12.859 Who are waiting for the messianic kingdom to come. 00:01:13.500 --> 00:01:15.620 That's a bit of a complicated sentence. 00:01:15.799 --> 00:01:21.439 But what it's saying is that it's for God's people who are waiting for the Messiah, the promised one, to come. 00:01:21.719 --> 00:01:23.939 For his kingdom to come. 00:01:23.939 --> 00:01:32.079 And for the people writing this Psalm, for the people, the initial readers of this Psalm, they are waiting for the promised Messiah. 00:01:32.859 --> 00:01:37.560 But for us, in the privileged position we're in, we look back, we know that the Lord Jesus has come. 00:01:38.039 --> 00:01:39.120 The Messiah has come. 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:44.040 But as we read it, we still are looking forward to that messianic kingdom. 00:01:44.040 --> 00:01:50.460 When the Lord Jesus will return and that perfect kingdom of heaven will come into place. 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:53.780 And so we have Psalm 44. 00:01:54.160 --> 00:01:57.400 And thank you, Rachel, for reading that so well to us. 00:01:58.260 --> 00:02:01.120 Psalm 44, it is a national lament. 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:03.660 We see that plural language. 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:06.859 I hope you picked that up as we read through that. 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:11.039 We see a nation that is in complete distress. 00:02:12.780 --> 00:02:14.939 And you maybe have a heading in your Bible. 00:02:15.219 --> 00:02:18.259 Please, if you do have a Bible, please keep it open in front of you. 00:02:18.340 --> 00:02:19.740 There's plenty of pew Bibles about. 00:02:20.180 --> 00:02:22.800 It's page 568 if you have one of them. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:26.219 Please do have your head in the Bible this morning. 00:02:26.219 --> 00:02:29.240 But you might have a little inscription and it says, 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:33.939 For the director of music of the sons of Korah, Amaskal. 00:02:34.819 --> 00:02:37.579 Now, the sons of Korah, we don't entirely know what that means. 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:41.379 There's 11 psalms called the same thing with the same inscription. 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:45.840 But we do know that Amaskal, it's an instruction. 00:02:46.620 --> 00:02:51.340 And it means that this psalm is to be contemplated for wisdom. 00:02:51.340 --> 00:02:57.580 So my prayer is that by the end of this morning, we have done just that. 00:02:58.860 --> 00:03:02.759 The psalms are sometimes called a mirror to the soul. 00:03:03.500 --> 00:03:05.140 A mirror to the soul. 00:03:05.620 --> 00:03:08.080 We've really seen that over the last couple of weeks. 00:03:08.340 --> 00:03:12.879 We've been considering, why are you cast down, O my soul? 00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:16.140 The end of chapter 43 says, 00:03:16.300 --> 00:03:18.240 Why are you in turmoil within me? 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:22.620 Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, 00:03:23.180 --> 00:03:26.260 my salvation and my God. 00:03:27.740 --> 00:03:29.020 So that's the psalms. 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:30.580 And to get us thinking, 00:03:31.540 --> 00:03:35.460 Corrie, I'm glad she's come back in and managed to get Maggie settled in the back. 00:03:35.540 --> 00:03:39.160 Because we have a running joke that we see things as we're walking around, 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:40.379 driving around, and we say, 00:03:40.520 --> 00:03:43.260 You know what? There's a sermon in there somewhere. 00:03:44.060 --> 00:03:45.020 I don't think this is working. 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:46.760 If you could just move on, please, Deb. 00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:49.280 And we saw this the other day. 00:03:49.399 --> 00:03:49.899 We were driving. 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:52.179 It'll definitely not be working now. 00:03:54.019 --> 00:03:55.359 We were driving up north. 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:56.519 I think it was to the weekend away. 00:03:56.620 --> 00:03:58.199 And we went through the bit on the road. 00:03:58.280 --> 00:03:59.280 And there's the roadworks. 00:03:59.459 --> 00:04:04.519 And they often have this because they don't want you to break down and block up the road. 00:04:04.899 --> 00:04:05.060 Okay? 00:04:05.139 --> 00:04:05.639 So it says, 00:04:05.780 --> 00:04:06.599 Free recovery. 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:08.039 Await. 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:09.419 Rescue. 00:04:09.419 --> 00:04:09.539 Rescue. 00:04:10.739 --> 00:04:15.759 We know we all face periods in life that we all have, that there'll be difficulties. 00:04:16.180 --> 00:04:18.000 And if we're driving, we may break down. 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:20.139 But do we trust this? 00:04:20.219 --> 00:04:22.139 Do we think that this is actually going to happen? 00:04:22.180 --> 00:04:22.919 It's just a sign. 00:04:23.060 --> 00:04:26.879 Someone's plonked it there, put down some cones and some sandbags and driven off. 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:31.379 How much faith do we have in this rescue system? 00:04:31.379 --> 00:04:37.180 You know, we once had a driver at work, a van driver, and the van broke down. 00:04:37.459 --> 00:04:41.240 And we phoned the RAC or the whatever, AA, whatever it is. 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:44.180 And they said, yeah, no problem. 00:04:44.379 --> 00:04:45.699 We'll be there in 11 hours. 00:04:46.740 --> 00:04:49.779 What a system that is for recovery. 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:55.740 But you know, there's some good examples of recovery when people find themselves in difficult situations. 00:04:56.759 --> 00:04:58.279 You might recognize these two. 00:04:58.360 --> 00:04:59.579 We have the Chilean miners. 00:04:59.740 --> 00:05:00.600 Remember that story? 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:02.020 An amazing story. 00:05:02.140 --> 00:05:07.400 The Chilean miners, I think it was 69 days, they were stuck underground in a mineshaft. 00:05:07.520 --> 00:05:10.180 What a position of difficulty to be in. 00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:11.420 But you know what? 00:05:11.460 --> 00:05:12.740 They were rescued eventually. 00:05:13.900 --> 00:05:15.000 What an amazing story. 00:05:15.960 --> 00:05:21.960 Well, the other one, you might not make that out, but that is the football team from Thailand. 00:05:22.280 --> 00:05:27.900 And they went down this cave system, miles underground, the waters raised up, and they were stuck. 00:05:27.899 --> 00:05:34.139 And these divers flew from all over the world, and they came, and they managed to save every one of them. 00:05:34.419 --> 00:05:37.839 Quite a remarkable story of rescue. 00:05:38.859 --> 00:05:41.959 You know, in times of difficulty, we do need to look for help. 00:05:41.959 --> 00:05:43.839 But where do we look? 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:55.060 Well, this morning, we'll see that the people here, well, they trust in the Lord, even in their difficult times in life. 00:05:55.060 --> 00:05:57.060 Why do they do so? 00:05:57.060 --> 00:06:00.199 Well, because he has been faithful. 00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:02.800 He will be faithful. 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:07.899 And because he is, by definition, by character, faithful. 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:10.660 The Lord is faithful. 00:06:10.660 --> 00:06:14.800 So we're going to look at it in three sections. 00:06:15.860 --> 00:06:17.180 We have the past. 00:06:17.300 --> 00:06:20.600 We see God's care and provision in verses 1 to 8. 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:22.700 We have the present. 00:06:22.920 --> 00:06:26.540 We see suffering and struggles in verse 9 to 22. 00:06:27.060 --> 00:06:33.780 And then we have the future, our cry, and his faithfulness in verse 23 to 26. 00:06:33.779 --> 00:06:40.079 So let's start with the past, God's care and provision. 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:48.159 So we have this faithful passing on, first of all, of what God has done for the people of Israel. 00:06:48.259 --> 00:06:49.879 Look down in verse 1. 00:06:50.459 --> 00:06:51.039 It says this, 00:06:51.039 --> 00:06:53.279 We have heard it with our ears, O God. 00:06:54.099 --> 00:07:00.719 Our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:05.360 With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors. 00:07:05.640 --> 00:07:09.680 You crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish. 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:15.480 So we see this faithful passing on. 00:07:15.740 --> 00:07:20.100 The people writing this psalm, they have heard from the previous generations. 00:07:20.320 --> 00:07:25.720 It has been passed down just what God has done for them in times gone by. 00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:36.720 And as Peter mentioned this morning, actually, that there is many situations in the Bible where people are instructed to pass on the good that God has done for them. 00:07:37.260 --> 00:07:50.460 In Exodus chapter 10, verse 2, Moses, when the plagues are going on, Moses is instructed by God to pass on to your grandson and your grandchildren all that God has done and that you have seen. 00:07:50.459 --> 00:07:58.560 And in Deuteronomy 6, the people of Israel are instructed to pass on the goodness of God from generation to generation. 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:08.159 And they are remembering times that God drove out the nations, planted their ancestors, crushed the peoples and made the ancestors flourish. 00:08:09.159 --> 00:08:13.259 You know, potentially they're talking about the promised land, the land of Canaan. 00:08:13.259 --> 00:08:22.759 And if we know that story, then the people of Israel, they were taken out of Egypt and eventually they ended up in the promised land, in their own glorious land. 00:08:23.939 --> 00:08:27.719 But they admit in verse 3 that it was all God's work. 00:08:28.839 --> 00:08:34.899 It was not by their sword, the ancestors' sword, that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory. 00:08:34.899 --> 00:08:40.840 It was your right hand, it was your arm, and the light of your face, for you love them. 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:43.279 Referring to God, of course. 00:08:44.179 --> 00:08:45.860 It was all God's hand. 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:47.220 It was all his work. 00:08:48.959 --> 00:08:52.720 I know they would have been thinking about specific examples, but some that came to me. 00:08:53.439 --> 00:08:55.319 Jericho again this morning was mentioned. 00:08:56.059 --> 00:08:57.639 What did the Israelites do at Jericho? 00:08:57.779 --> 00:08:59.439 Well, they marched round the city. 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:05.380 I don't know what general would put that into a battle plan, but most of the time that wouldn't work, would it? 00:09:05.900 --> 00:09:07.660 But God said to them to do so. 00:09:08.060 --> 00:09:11.520 They followed his instruction and the walls fell down. 00:09:11.920 --> 00:09:15.500 God gave that city, that mighty city, into their hands. 00:09:15.660 --> 00:09:16.480 It was all God. 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:18.480 Or Gideon. 00:09:19.160 --> 00:09:23.320 Gideon, with 300 men, conquered the mighty Midianite army. 00:09:24.100 --> 00:09:24.360 Why? 00:09:24.920 --> 00:09:26.140 Not because of their might. 00:09:26.900 --> 00:09:28.080 Because of God's might. 00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:30.980 And it gets personal. 00:09:31.259 --> 00:09:31.740 Verse 4. 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:34.160 The writers here, they say, 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:37.759 You are my king and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. 00:09:38.440 --> 00:09:40.700 Through you, we push back our enemies. 00:09:40.980 --> 00:09:43.300 Through your name, we trample our foes. 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:46.180 I put no trust in my bow. 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:48.759 My sword does not bring me victory. 00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:53.879 God is still the one who brings victory to the people here. 00:09:54.460 --> 00:09:56.860 And they have such faith in him. 00:09:56.860 --> 00:09:59.279 We see that you language there. 00:09:59.940 --> 00:10:02.519 And they admit in verse 6, that it is not of themselves. 00:10:03.180 --> 00:10:03.879 They are bows. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:04.659 They are swords. 00:10:04.779 --> 00:10:08.139 They are useless if God is not with them. 00:10:10.139 --> 00:10:13.399 They trust in God, not their earthly might. 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:14.860 David and Goliath. 00:10:14.860 --> 00:10:15.980 You know, David and Goliath. 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:18.299 We are really doing a tour of the Old Testament this morning. 00:10:18.819 --> 00:10:19.899 But David and Goliath. 00:10:20.539 --> 00:10:26.840 David volunteered to fight this mighty warrior, giant Goliath. 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:30.039 And the people, they wanted to put on the king's armor. 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:32.120 You know, all these mighty things. 00:10:32.259 --> 00:10:33.139 This will help you. 00:10:33.659 --> 00:10:34.819 But in the end, David goes, no. 00:10:35.079 --> 00:10:36.959 I trust in my sling, yes. 00:10:37.079 --> 00:10:38.079 My stone, yes. 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:39.839 But I trust in my God. 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:42.139 He has brought me to this place. 00:10:42.299 --> 00:10:43.799 And he will take me on. 00:10:46.319 --> 00:10:47.980 And so praise is inevitable. 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:49.620 Having gone through all this, 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:53.080 in verse 8, they say, 00:10:53.220 --> 00:10:55.779 In God we make our boast all day long. 00:10:56.659 --> 00:10:59.879 And we will praise your name forever. 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:02.759 Praise is inevitable 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:05.679 when we look back on what God has done. 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:08.440 And hymns, they pour out praise. 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:10.580 And you know, the hymns this morning, 00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:13.500 it's been lovely just to praise God 00:11:13.500 --> 00:11:15.620 when we think about what he has done. 00:11:16.680 --> 00:11:18.500 Look at what God has done. 00:11:18.500 --> 00:11:22.039 He is worthy of all praise forever, 00:11:22.379 --> 00:11:24.580 as the end of verse 8 says. 00:11:25.980 --> 00:11:27.580 And as it says there, 00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:30.700 In God we make our boast all day long. 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:34.440 It's the only thing we can boast in. 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:36.720 The hymn writer says, 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:38.679 I will not boast in anything. 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:41.279 No gifts, no power, no wisdom. 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:44.679 But I will boast in Jesus Christ, 00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:47.100 his death and resurrection. 00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:49.340 And you know, 00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:51.659 this was for the people writing it, 00:11:51.720 --> 00:11:53.559 for the people hearing it for the first time. 00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:54.919 But as we hear it this morning, 00:11:55.320 --> 00:11:57.139 these things are true for us as well. 00:11:58.019 --> 00:12:00.919 If we are Christians and Christ has died for us, 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:03.200 we've sung and thought about that already this morning. 00:12:03.580 --> 00:12:05.500 We look back and we remember, 00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:08.419 it was all him. 00:12:08.419 --> 00:12:10.159 It wasn't us. 00:12:11.579 --> 00:12:13.519 It was his mighty work. 00:12:14.339 --> 00:12:16.839 The Lord Jesus completed the work. 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:19.579 Is that you this morning? 00:12:21.179 --> 00:12:23.899 Do you have that saving faith in the Lord Jesus? 00:12:24.579 --> 00:12:28.379 That is the most important question you'll ever get asked in life, 00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:30.840 that you will ever respond to. 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:34.559 The mighty Messiah who was promised, 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:35.700 he came as a baby. 00:12:35.779 --> 00:12:38.799 We know that from what we remember at Christmastime. 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:41.980 He was fully God and yet fully man. 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:43.299 And he lived that life. 00:12:44.019 --> 00:12:45.500 And through his three years of ministry, 00:12:45.659 --> 00:12:47.059 he claimed to be God. 00:12:47.419 --> 00:12:49.379 He claimed to be that mighty savior. 00:12:49.379 --> 00:12:52.820 And he backed it up by his miracles, 00:12:52.980 --> 00:12:54.659 these things that no one else could do. 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:58.019 He proved that he was who he said he was. 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:01.720 And unlike us, he lived that perfect life. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:03.659 He never messed up. 00:13:04.419 --> 00:13:06.100 We have all messed up. 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:09.139 He went all the way to the cross. 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:12.320 He allowed himself to be killed. 00:13:13.419 --> 00:13:16.240 He allowed himself to be put there on that cross. 00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:18.320 And during those three hours of darkness, 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:21.680 he faced separation from God the Father. 00:13:22.780 --> 00:13:26.280 That separation that we deserve because of our sin, 00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:29.140 the sin that puts that wedge between us and God. 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:30.560 It causes a divide. 00:13:31.640 --> 00:13:34.240 But the Lord Jesus, he took that upon himself, 00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:35.620 undeservedly. 00:13:36.400 --> 00:13:38.120 So that if we trust in him, 00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:41.580 then we can have our sins forgiven. 00:13:44.620 --> 00:13:47.200 And he proved that the work was finished by, 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:48.340 yes, he died. 00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:52.420 That blood poured from him and water poured from his side. 00:13:53.160 --> 00:13:54.440 But he rose again, 00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:58.640 witnessing to many that he was alive again, 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:01.860 and then ascended to the right hand of God on high 00:14:01.860 --> 00:14:03.540 in glory, 00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:06.100 in his glorious place that he deserves. 00:14:06.100 --> 00:14:10.159 If we're a Christian this morning, 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:11.000 then we can, 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:13.920 and we should boast in Christ. 00:14:14.920 --> 00:14:16.540 We have the best news. 00:14:16.700 --> 00:14:17.440 Is it good news? 00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:18.360 Is it bad news? 00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:19.340 Well, I'll tell you what, 00:14:19.420 --> 00:14:20.860 it's over there. 00:14:20.940 --> 00:14:21.639 It's on the high street. 00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:22.540 I'll tell you that for free. 00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:24.920 It is the best news that we have. 00:14:25.379 --> 00:14:26.300 So we can, 00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:29.279 and we should boast in Christ's death 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:30.740 and resurrection. 00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:33.360 You know, 00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:34.779 I don't know if your Bible's got this, 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:35.940 but at the end of verse eight, 00:14:36.019 --> 00:14:37.139 there's a little word, 00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:37.860 Selah, 00:14:38.019 --> 00:14:39.259 S-E-L-A-H. 00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:41.080 Not sure that's how you pronounce it. 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:42.180 You know, 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:43.639 what that means is it is a, 00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:47.639 it is a used in Hebrew poetry for a pause. 00:14:48.680 --> 00:14:50.500 It's a pause for reflection, 00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:52.360 for meditation, 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:56.940 to bring your heart in a state of praise to God. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:59.400 So we're just going to pause for a minute 00:14:59.400 --> 00:15:01.340 and think about the truths of these things 00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:02.700 and how they affect us 00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:05.740 before we move on to our next section. 00:15:09.640 --> 00:15:12.140 And so now to the present. 00:15:14.280 --> 00:15:15.940 Sometimes people like to reminisce 00:15:15.940 --> 00:15:16.980 about the good old days, 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:18.160 and I found this cartoon. 00:15:18.160 --> 00:15:19.800 I remember the good old days 00:15:19.800 --> 00:15:21.740 when the only crisp flavor was salt. 00:15:23.380 --> 00:15:24.800 You made sure you get those salt and shakes. 00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:25.700 I used to quite like them. 00:15:25.700 --> 00:15:27.320 Had a little packet of salt in them. 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:27.860 You know, 00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:28.980 I'm a big crisp fan. 00:15:29.040 --> 00:15:30.600 If we open crisps in our household, 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:32.060 they don't last very long. 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:33.480 That is for sure. 00:15:34.020 --> 00:15:34.200 You know, 00:15:34.220 --> 00:15:36.580 nowadays you've got crisp packets 00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:38.620 for aisles and aisles in the supermarkets. 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:40.160 There's so many different flavors. 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.060 And that personally, 00:15:41.140 --> 00:15:42.160 I don't think that's a bad thing. 00:15:42.900 --> 00:15:43.100 But you know, 00:15:43.140 --> 00:15:43.980 we like to look back, 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:44.360 don't we? 00:15:44.400 --> 00:15:45.980 We like to think about fond times, 00:15:46.160 --> 00:15:47.320 reminisce with one another. 00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:47.759 Oh, 00:15:47.780 --> 00:15:49.080 remember the good old days. 00:15:52.140 --> 00:15:52.720 But you know, 00:15:52.780 --> 00:15:53.920 the present struggles 00:15:53.920 --> 00:15:55.180 that we read about here, 00:15:55.179 --> 00:15:57.279 the difficulties in the present time, 00:15:58.019 --> 00:16:01.120 they're made all the more difficult 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:02.479 because when we look back 00:16:02.479 --> 00:16:04.939 at what the glorious past was like, 00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:07.799 the good times in the past. 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:14.379 If we could move to the next one, 00:16:14.459 --> 00:16:14.759 please. 00:16:15.359 --> 00:16:15.599 Dib. 00:16:17.219 --> 00:16:20.359 So the contrast with the glorious past. 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:20.959 Now, 00:16:20.979 --> 00:16:22.379 if you look through from verse 9 00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:24.059 through to verse 16, 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:27.019 there is such language of rejection, 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:27.799 of defeat, 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:28.620 of shame. 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:30.399 I'll pick out some of the words. 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:31.259 We have rejected, 00:16:32.199 --> 00:16:32.699 humbled, 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:33.980 retreat, 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:35.439 plundered, 00:16:35.819 --> 00:16:36.340 devoured, 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:37.519 scattered, 00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:40.579 reproach, 00:16:40.819 --> 00:16:41.240 scorn, 00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:41.959 derision, 00:16:42.199 --> 00:16:43.000 a byword, 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:44.679 shake their heads, 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:45.340 disgrace, 00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:46.459 shame, 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:47.480 taunt, 00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.179 reproach, 00:16:48.340 --> 00:16:48.939 revile, 00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:50.459 revenge. 00:16:51.559 --> 00:16:53.159 If we were studying English, 00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.919 you would be asked to write an essay 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:56.620 on all that language picked out. 00:16:56.620 --> 00:16:58.399 But it paints that picture 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:00.120 of national humiliation. 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.720 The people of Israel, 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:03.779 they are in complete humiliation, 00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:04.440 distress. 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:06.440 They feel abandoned. 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:10.279 It has made all the more painful 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:11.740 because they have just thought about 00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:12.980 that past glories 00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:13.700 that God 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:16.099 has brought them through. 00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:19.579 And we don't know exactly 00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:21.299 the situation that they're talking about 00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:23.099 in historical context. 00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:25.299 We don't really know why 00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:26.279 this has come upon them. 00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:28.000 But they don't know why. 00:17:28.939 --> 00:17:30.500 In verse 17 to 21, 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:31.899 they are basically saying, 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:33.979 why has God left us? 00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:36.039 They are suffering. 00:17:36.199 --> 00:17:36.539 They say, 00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:37.259 we are suffering, 00:17:37.379 --> 00:17:38.399 but we haven't broken 00:17:38.399 --> 00:17:39.199 our covenant. 00:17:39.979 --> 00:17:40.359 It says, 00:17:40.439 --> 00:17:41.379 we have not been false 00:17:41.379 --> 00:17:42.079 to your covenant. 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:43.759 Our hearts had not turned back. 00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:44.979 Our feet had not strayed 00:17:44.979 --> 00:17:45.799 from your path. 00:17:46.739 --> 00:17:48.099 But you crushed us 00:17:48.099 --> 00:17:49.039 and made us a haunt 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:49.779 for jackals. 00:17:49.939 --> 00:17:50.859 You covered us over 00:17:50.859 --> 00:17:51.739 with deep darkness. 00:17:52.899 --> 00:17:53.879 They don't know why 00:17:53.879 --> 00:17:55.139 they are suffering 00:17:55.139 --> 00:17:56.079 as they are. 00:17:56.619 --> 00:17:59.299 And they say, 00:17:59.459 --> 00:18:00.559 verse 20 and 21, 00:18:01.219 --> 00:18:01.539 God, 00:18:01.699 --> 00:18:03.359 if we had been 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:04.899 unfaithful to you, 00:18:04.939 --> 00:18:05.500 you would know 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:06.959 because you're all-knowing. 00:18:07.419 --> 00:18:08.859 And God knows our hearts. 00:18:08.959 --> 00:18:10.519 He knows each one of our hearts. 00:18:10.619 --> 00:18:12.000 We cannot hide the truths 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.679 from him. 00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:18.940 But verse 22, 00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:21.560 yet for your sake, 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:23.519 we face death all day long. 00:18:24.080 --> 00:18:26.000 We are considered as sheep 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:27.860 to be slaughtered. 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:29.360 They are suffering 00:18:29.360 --> 00:18:31.420 purely for his sake. 00:18:32.600 --> 00:18:33.820 They are suffering 00:18:33.820 --> 00:18:36.700 because they are God's people. 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:38.539 And you know, 00:18:38.580 --> 00:18:39.779 they are a covenant people, 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:40.720 the people of Israel. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.860 They were living 00:18:41.860 --> 00:18:43.299 in a covenant relationship. 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:44.460 And what that meant 00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:45.180 was that when they were 00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:46.019 faithful to God, 00:18:46.120 --> 00:18:48.039 God was faithful to them. 00:18:48.920 --> 00:18:49.279 But you know, 00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:50.339 in times that they 00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:51.779 strayed away from God, 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:53.100 when they worshipped idols 00:18:53.100 --> 00:18:54.759 or followed other nations 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:55.460 or peoples, 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:56.220 well, 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:58.019 God brought direct judgment 00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:59.339 onto them 00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:00.960 in their present situation. 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:02.420 And we know that 00:19:02.420 --> 00:19:03.720 from times where 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:05.100 nations came 00:19:05.100 --> 00:19:06.539 and they conquered Israel. 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:07.299 They took them away 00:19:07.299 --> 00:19:08.120 into exile. 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.319 They ruled over them. 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:10.480 They didn't have 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.299 their own land. 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.920 But it was not direct sin 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:15.279 that they are suffering here. 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:18.100 They are purely suffering 00:19:18.100 --> 00:19:20.059 for his sake. 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:22.340 And you know this here, 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:23.220 this is quoted, 00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.019 this verse, 00:19:24.120 --> 00:19:24.860 verse 22, 00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:27.180 in Romans chapter 8, 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:29.200 verse 36, 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:30.059 by Paul, 00:19:30.120 --> 00:19:31.000 the apostle Paul. 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:32.440 Now Paul, 00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.220 he was a man 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:34.080 who suffered. 00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:34.880 We know that 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:35.680 if you've been along 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.779 to our Timothy series 00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:37.420 in the evenings. 00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:39.840 He is writing to Timothy 00:19:39.840 --> 00:19:41.059 in the second book, 00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:41.620 to Timothy. 00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:42.680 And he is writing 00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.319 because he is 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:44.539 at the end of his life. 00:19:45.120 --> 00:19:45.880 He knows he's about 00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:46.880 to be executed 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:48.600 for God's sake, 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:49.380 for the gospel. 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:50.660 He has suffered 00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:51.640 throughout his life. 00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:52.720 He has been rejected. 00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:54.120 He has been left alone 00:19:54.120 --> 00:19:55.120 by those who should 00:19:55.120 --> 00:19:56.620 have been helping him. 00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:58.980 He has a physical ailment 00:19:58.980 --> 00:19:59.880 that we don't exactly 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:00.839 know what it was. 00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:02.360 He has been in jail 00:20:02.360 --> 00:20:03.299 many times. 00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:06.440 He has suffered a lot. 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:10.960 But he encourages others 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:12.360 to stand firm 00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:13.099 in his letters 00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:14.279 as he did 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:15.539 in the gospel, 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.960 in the good news 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:17.680 of Jesus. 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:19.819 Despite the persecution, 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.660 despite the suffering, 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:23.319 despite the difficult times 00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:24.440 which are inevitable, 00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:26.200 which will come, 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.200 which we know. 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:31.920 if we are Christians, 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:33.039 we are not promised 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:34.980 an easy life. 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.599 The point of salvation 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:38.440 is not where 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:40.579 we suddenly don't have 00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:41.360 any more problems 00:20:41.360 --> 00:20:41.900 in life. 00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:43.940 That is not 00:20:43.940 --> 00:20:44.980 what we are promised 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:45.579 in the Bible, 00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:46.440 so there's no point 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.759 thinking about that. 00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:50.279 But we are promised 00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:50.920 that in the times 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:51.440 to come 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.759 and when the Lord Jesus 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.319 returns, 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.140 that we will be taken 00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:54.900 to that place 00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:55.480 where there is 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:56.220 no more suffering, 00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:58.180 where there is 00:20:58.180 --> 00:20:58.860 no more pain, 00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.839 when everything 00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:02.000 will be made right again. 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.600 I think it's worth 00:21:04.600 --> 00:21:05.500 reading Romans 8 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:07.079 and it should come up 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:07.600 on the screen. 00:21:08.360 --> 00:21:08.940 Verse 31, 00:21:08.940 --> 00:21:10.759 What then shall we say 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.380 in response 00:21:11.380 --> 00:21:12.340 to these things? 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.680 If God is for us, 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:15.360 who can be against us? 00:21:16.360 --> 00:21:17.180 He who did not 00:21:17.180 --> 00:21:18.320 spare his own son 00:21:18.320 --> 00:21:19.460 but gave him up 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:20.400 for us all, 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:22.860 how will he not also 00:21:22.860 --> 00:21:23.960 along with him 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:25.640 graciously give us 00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:26.220 all things? 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.400 Who will bring any charge 00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:29.039 against those 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:30.200 whom God has chosen? 00:21:30.360 --> 00:21:31.080 It is God 00:21:31.080 --> 00:21:32.059 who justifies. 00:21:33.600 --> 00:21:34.779 Who then is the one 00:21:34.779 --> 00:21:35.720 who condemns? 00:21:35.820 --> 00:21:36.320 No one. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:37.740 Christ Jesus 00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:38.399 who died, 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.299 more than that, 00:21:39.379 --> 00:21:40.500 who was raised to life, 00:21:41.139 --> 00:21:41.980 is at the right hand 00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:42.539 of God 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.299 and is also 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:44.939 interceding for us. 00:21:45.879 --> 00:21:47.339 Who shall separate us 00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:48.519 from the love of Christ? 00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:49.740 Shall trouble 00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.419 or hardship 00:21:50.419 --> 00:21:51.299 or persecution 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.099 or famine 00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:52.819 or nakedness 00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:53.419 or danger 00:21:53.419 --> 00:21:54.179 or sword? 00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:56.240 As it is written, 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:57.359 and this is the quote 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:58.359 from our passage, 00:21:59.019 --> 00:21:59.859 For your sake 00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:00.759 we face death 00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:01.639 all day long. 00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.240 We are considered 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:04.099 as sheep 00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:05.179 to be slaughtered. 00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:06.779 Knowing all these things 00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:08.380 we are more than conquerors 00:22:08.380 --> 00:22:09.740 through him who loved us. 00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:11.400 For I am convinced 00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:12.320 that neither death 00:22:12.320 --> 00:22:12.960 nor life, 00:22:13.080 --> 00:22:13.759 neither angels 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:14.420 nor demons, 00:22:15.060 --> 00:22:15.860 neither the present 00:22:15.860 --> 00:22:16.720 nor the future 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:17.820 nor any powers, 00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:18.980 neither height 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:19.580 nor depth 00:22:19.580 --> 00:22:20.539 nor anything else 00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:21.779 in all creation 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:23.680 will be able 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.740 to separate us 00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:25.920 from the love of God 00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:27.580 that is in Christ Jesus 00:22:27.580 --> 00:22:29.560 our Lord. 00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:29.619 God. 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:32.359 We miss God 00:22:32.359 --> 00:22:33.159 when his face 00:22:33.159 --> 00:22:34.440 seems hidden from us, 00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:36.000 when we are suffering 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.559 in life. 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:38.139 We can think back 00:22:38.139 --> 00:22:39.240 to the good times 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.559 and it kind of makes it 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:41.399 all the more painful 00:22:41.399 --> 00:22:43.059 when we are suffering. 00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:45.099 You know, 00:22:45.159 --> 00:22:45.980 we are exhorted 00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:47.079 to stand firm 00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:48.039 in our faith 00:22:48.039 --> 00:22:50.019 despite what's going on 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:51.740 as we do so 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.659 for God 00:22:52.659 --> 00:22:54.659 and we can withstand it 00:22:54.659 --> 00:22:56.539 because he is with us 00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:57.940 in his power, 00:22:57.940 --> 00:22:59.200 in his strength. 00:23:00.340 --> 00:23:00.660 Nothing 00:23:00.660 --> 00:23:02.860 can separate us 00:23:02.860 --> 00:23:04.539 from the love of God 00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:05.320 in Christ Jesus 00:23:05.320 --> 00:23:06.000 our Lord. 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:08.180 Sometimes the image 00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:08.620 is used 00:23:08.620 --> 00:23:09.620 that if we are saved 00:23:09.620 --> 00:23:10.279 then we are put 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.580 in God's mighty hand 00:23:11.580 --> 00:23:13.320 and nothing, 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:14.320 no matter what life 00:23:14.320 --> 00:23:15.140 throws at us, 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:16.880 can change that fact. 00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:22.660 And so to finish 00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:24.039 we look to the future, 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.700 our cry 00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:28.140 and his faithfulness. 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:32.200 So where do we go 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:34.539 in times of crisis? 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:36.279 You know, 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:36.799 you may be seeing 00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.799 one of these before. 00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:38.900 You sometimes get them 00:23:38.900 --> 00:23:39.980 at the side of motorways 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.640 or they're actually 00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:41.559 sometimes just dotted 00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:42.360 about cities. 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:44.259 Now this is the kind 00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:44.960 of button you want 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:46.120 to just go and press 00:23:46.120 --> 00:23:47.799 and just see what happens. 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:48.759 Push button 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:50.140 for assistance. 00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:51.680 You know, 00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:52.600 I don't know the mechanism. 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.960 I've never actually tried it. 00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:54.940 Maybe I should. 00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:56.539 I don't want to 00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:58.519 diss it without 00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.299 having tried it. 00:23:59.400 --> 00:23:59.799 But you know, 00:23:59.840 --> 00:24:00.500 what confidence 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.500 do you have in that? 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:03.860 Is that going to save the day? 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:04.759 Maybe it will. 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:05.500 I don't know. 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:06.660 But you know, 00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:07.579 in times of crisis 00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:08.700 and difficult times, 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:09.539 where do we run? 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:12.259 Is it emergency services? 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:13.299 Is it helplines? 00:24:13.420 --> 00:24:14.140 Is it charities 00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:15.079 that are set up 00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:15.980 for such things? 00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:17.100 And these things are good. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:19.480 Is it friends or family? 00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:20.779 Do we go to those 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:21.799 who can support us, 00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:22.440 help us, 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:24.180 give us wise words? 00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:26.059 Is it our church family 00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:27.160 and all these things are good? 00:24:28.620 --> 00:24:29.799 Or do we run to the world? 00:24:31.320 --> 00:24:33.059 Do we have our go-to sins 00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:35.200 when we are suffering 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:36.460 our times of difficulty? 00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.900 Do we have addictions? 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:42.920 Do we run to the pleasures 00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:43.640 of the world 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:45.019 to try and escape? 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:48.839 Well, we see here 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:50.319 that the people, 00:24:51.099 --> 00:24:54.039 they earnestly plea to God 00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:55.559 for action 00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:57.180 and for help. 00:24:58.279 --> 00:24:59.160 Awake, Lord, 00:24:59.259 --> 00:24:59.980 verse 23. 00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:01.139 Why do you sleep? 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:02.500 Rouse yourself. 00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:04.119 Do not reject us 00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:05.200 forever. 00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:06.900 The people here, 00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:08.119 they turn to God. 00:25:08.119 --> 00:25:11.279 They are in the lowest 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:13.119 place possible. 00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.339 Verse 25. 00:25:15.699 --> 00:25:16.599 We are brought down 00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:17.439 to the dust. 00:25:17.979 --> 00:25:19.239 Our bodies cling 00:25:19.239 --> 00:25:19.939 to the ground. 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.699 You do not get 00:25:21.699 --> 00:25:22.639 any lower than that. 00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.179 In our minds, 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.239 they go to the serpent 00:25:25.239 --> 00:25:26.959 in Genesis 3.14 00:25:26.959 --> 00:25:27.939 who was cursed 00:25:27.939 --> 00:25:29.439 and was caused 00:25:29.439 --> 00:25:30.399 to crawl around 00:25:30.399 --> 00:25:31.500 on its belly 00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:33.199 and eat the dust. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.199 That's where these people 00:25:35.199 --> 00:25:36.139 describe themselves 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:36.720 as being. 00:25:37.120 --> 00:25:38.920 They are at rock bottom. 00:25:40.840 --> 00:25:41.480 In a sense, 00:25:41.560 --> 00:25:42.360 they have nowhere else 00:25:42.360 --> 00:25:42.900 to turn, 00:25:43.780 --> 00:25:44.900 but they make 00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:45.720 the right choice. 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.820 They ask God 00:25:46.820 --> 00:25:47.640 to help them. 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:48.940 You know, 00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:49.640 they do so 00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:50.620 with good motives. 00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.780 They turn to God 00:25:52.780 --> 00:25:53.360 and they do not 00:25:53.360 --> 00:25:54.140 plead their case. 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:54.800 They do not say, 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:55.600 we are so good, 00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:55.960 God, 00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.500 you must help us. 00:25:58.060 --> 00:25:58.480 God, 00:25:58.540 --> 00:25:59.500 we deserve help. 00:26:00.100 --> 00:26:00.340 No, 00:26:01.020 --> 00:26:02.040 they turn to God 00:26:02.040 --> 00:26:02.860 because of 00:26:02.860 --> 00:26:04.240 who he is 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.600 and because of 00:26:05.600 --> 00:26:06.040 what he 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:06.659 has done. 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.700 Verse 26, 00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:10.039 rise up and help us. 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.420 Rescue us 00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:12.139 because of 00:26:12.139 --> 00:26:12.639 your 00:26:12.639 --> 00:26:14.259 unfailing 00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:15.200 love. 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:17.819 God is faithful. 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.319 God is 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.359 merciful. 00:26:22.359 --> 00:26:23.059 When we look back 00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:23.639 on the past, 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.339 we know that God 00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:25.059 has provided 00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:26.279 before 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:27.839 and so we can 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.379 have confidence 00:26:28.379 --> 00:26:29.159 that God 00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:30.619 will do so again. 00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:35.000 so as we close, 00:26:35.079 --> 00:26:35.839 let's consider 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:36.659 these things. 00:26:36.659 --> 00:26:38.000 Where do we turn 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:39.639 when things 00:26:39.639 --> 00:26:40.419 in life 00:26:40.419 --> 00:26:41.359 get difficult? 00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:43.099 Do we cling 00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:43.699 to the God 00:26:43.699 --> 00:26:44.659 who has saved us? 00:26:44.739 --> 00:26:45.619 Do we look back 00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:46.959 on what the Lord 00:26:46.959 --> 00:26:47.839 Jesus has done? 00:26:50.179 --> 00:26:51.479 Do we get lost 00:26:51.479 --> 00:26:52.099 in the present 00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:52.599 struggles? 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:54.479 Do we struggle 00:26:54.479 --> 00:26:55.539 to get our head up 00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:57.319 and look for help? 00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:59.559 Do we run 00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:00.339 to what the world 00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:01.440 has to offer us? 00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:03.980 Do we rely 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.680 on ourselves 00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.879 and our strength? 00:27:08.159 --> 00:27:08.619 You know, 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.279 tough times 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:09.740 will come. 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:12.720 We will face 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.220 suffering. 00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:14.799 We will face 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.460 persecution 00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.240 as Christians. 00:27:17.380 --> 00:27:18.180 It might be 00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:18.940 ill health. 00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:21.140 It might be 00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:21.680 loneliness, 00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:22.740 mockery, 00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:23.319 rejection. 00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:25.160 It might be 00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:26.259 death of loved ones. 00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:27.640 And we all face 00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:28.539 death ourselves 00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:29.720 at some point. 00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:31.940 You might be 00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:32.259 sitting there 00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:32.539 thinking, 00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:33.500 didn't come here 00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:34.220 for this message 00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:34.680 this morning. 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.440 I was hoping 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:36.460 for something happier. 00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:37.440 But you know, 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:37.980 it is. 00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:39.500 These are just 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.539 the facts of life. 00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:41.759 But the good news 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:43.099 is that we have 00:27:43.099 --> 00:27:43.940 the victory 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:45.619 as we read 00:27:45.619 --> 00:27:46.460 in Romans. 00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:47.960 Our home 00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:49.079 is in heaven. 00:27:50.619 --> 00:27:51.559 Christ has done 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.180 the work. 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:53.220 It is complete. 00:27:53.339 --> 00:27:54.359 It is finished. 00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.559 It is all 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:57.000 on him. 00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:59.059 All on his work. 00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:00.559 All on his strength. 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.039 It is not 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:02.859 on ourselves 00:28:02.859 --> 00:28:04.279 and our feeble ways. 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.680 So we can have 00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:06.660 such confidence 00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:08.660 in where our home is, 00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:09.960 where we are headed 00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:10.840 and that God 00:28:10.840 --> 00:28:11.560 is faithful, 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.279 that God 00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:14.080 is with us 00:28:14.080 --> 00:28:15.380 and that he will 00:28:15.380 --> 00:28:16.220 continue to be 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:16.700 with us 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.580 no matter what 00:28:17.580 --> 00:28:19.279 our situation 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:21.000 in present life 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:21.700 may be. 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:23.220 You know, 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:24.240 in all these things, 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.080 as it did 00:28:25.080 --> 00:28:25.840 for these people, 00:28:26.380 --> 00:28:26.880 it should bring 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:27.440 our hearts 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.580 to a point of praise, 00:28:29.640 --> 00:28:30.000 remembering 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.960 who God is 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:32.140 and his faithfulness 00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:33.980 towards us. 00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:36.079 let me just pray 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:37.519 and then 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.500 as is 00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.880 most appropriate 00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:40.700 after this 00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:41.099 is that we're 00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:41.700 going to sing 00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:43.339 hymns of praise 00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:44.200 to our God 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:44.819 who has done 00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:46.039 so much for us. 00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:47.740 The first one being, 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:48.599 yet not I 00:28:48.599 --> 00:28:50.360 but through Christ 00:28:50.360 --> 00:28:50.960 in me. 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.140 And you know, 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:53.880 that's such good lyrics 00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:54.480 for what we've been 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.120 thinking about. 00:28:55.620 --> 00:28:56.740 It's not about us. 00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:58.339 It's about Christ 00:28:58.339 --> 00:28:59.039 in us. 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.420 Let me just pray 00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:01.440 as the band comes up 00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:03.100 and before we 00:29:03.100 --> 00:29:04.299 stand to sing. 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.039 God and Father, 00:29:07.100 --> 00:29:07.720 we just thank you 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.460 for your word. 00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:11.220 We thank you 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:11.720 that your word 00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:12.840 does not shy away 00:29:12.840 --> 00:29:14.759 from the truths 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:16.539 of the world. 00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:20.880 Our hearts 00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:22.660 at times 00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.940 are in agony 00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:25.160 with the suffering 00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:25.799 that goes on 00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:26.400 in the world 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:27.519 either to ourselves 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.320 or to others. 00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:30.519 And as John prayed, 00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:31.259 sometimes we just 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:31.700 do not know 00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:32.420 what to pray 00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:33.240 whether it's 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:34.640 for global situations 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:35.660 or for friends 00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:36.500 or for family 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.440 who are struggling 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:37.980 and going through 00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:38.940 difficult times. 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:42.480 But we just thank you 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:43.559 that we have 00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:44.220 the victory, 00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:46.480 that we are more 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:47.379 than conquerors 00:29:47.379 --> 00:29:48.720 over all these things 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:50.799 if we are in Christ. 00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:52.500 We thank you 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.180 that our home 00:29:53.180 --> 00:29:53.960 is in heaven, 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:57.000 that that salvation plan 00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.900 was hatched 00:29:57.900 --> 00:29:58.480 before the world 00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:59.259 even began. 00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:01.119 And Father, 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:02.019 we just thank you 00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:03.200 for sending the Lord Jesus. 00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:04.839 We thank you 00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:05.779 for his work 00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:06.480 on earth, 00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:07.259 for his work 00:30:07.259 --> 00:30:08.000 of the cross 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:10.740 and that it was enough 00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:12.480 and that it was finished 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:14.359 and that we can trust in it. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:17.160 And we look forward 00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:18.480 to when he will return 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:20.799 and will take us 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.599 to be with him 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:23.000 and with yourself, 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:23.420 Father. 00:30:23.420 --> 00:30:26.700 and we look forward 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.519 to that day 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:28.120 when there will be 00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:28.900 no more suffering, 00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:30.480 there will be no more pain 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:32.539 and that everything 00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:33.320 will be made right. 00:30:34.660 --> 00:30:35.680 And so we bring you 00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:36.000 praise 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:36.779 and we bring you 00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:37.240 the glory. 00:30:38.600 --> 00:30:39.539 We just ask 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.259 that as we 00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:41.759 go from this place 00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:42.120 shortly 00:30:42.120 --> 00:30:43.660 that we will remember 00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:44.300 these things 00:30:44.300 --> 00:30:44.800 and no matter 00:30:44.800 --> 00:30:46.019 what life throws at us 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:46.940 that you will be with us 00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:47.900 as we know you will be 00:30:47.900 --> 00:30:48.820 because you are faithful, 00:30:49.820 --> 00:30:50.539 you are merciful 00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:52.539 and we just ask 00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:54.059 that you will help us 00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:54.740 with your spirit 00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:56.180 to remember these things 00:30:56.180 --> 00:30:58.200 as we go about our lives. 00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:00.039 So we just ask 00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:00.500 these things 00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:01.299 and we thank you 00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:01.839 so much 00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:03.559 for who you are 00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:04.319 and we thank you 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:05.159 for the Lord Jesus 00:31:05.159 --> 00:31:06.680 and it's in his name 00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:07.339 that we pray. 00:31:08.119 --> 00:31:08.440 Amen.