WEBVTT

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 I've given this the title, well you could predict it from what we just heard Jeff read to us,

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 A Dwelling Place for Dust.

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 Because we heard, Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.

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 So before we begin, let's pray.

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 Dear Lord, we thank you that we can gather here in this place.

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 We thank you for the hospitality of this school.

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 We thank you for all the children and their teachers.

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 We thank you so much for all your many blessings.

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 And we ask now as we come to hear from your word that you would incline our hearts to be attentive,

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 to trust as we come to celebrate the Lord's Supper,

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 that we would also receive from you what you offer us as we receive it with open hands and by faith.

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 And we ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Well, I'm not a philosopher,

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 but if I was asked to think philosophically about the way our culture has wrestled with the most basic human longings,

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 I'd probably take us to the 60s.

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 And so I hope you'll humor me as I take us back to the 60s.

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 How many of us were around at the time?

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 A few of us. Fantastic.

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 It was in 1967, excuse me, that the Beatles told us,

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 all you need is love.

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 And it seems the spirit of the age was calling us to kind of love our way into a harmonious collective.

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 Imagine all the people living life in peace, said and preached John Lennon.

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 You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

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 I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one.

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 I think it was still in the 60s, 1969, I think,

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 that another John, John Denver,

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 tried to respond to a deep sense of pessimism about the future.

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 If you know John Denver's music, he has songs about life and love and the environment,

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 and some of them become somewhat philosophical.

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 He hears his friends say to him,

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 so you speak to me of sadness and the coming of the winter.

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 Likely referring to the sense of impending doom.

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 What with war, ecological crisis, corrupt and authoritarian governments that made things worse.

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 And he says to his friend,

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 you wonder where we're going, where's the rhyme, where's the reason?

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 And the prophet's answer comes,

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 you probably remember it,

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 the children and the flowers are my sisters and my brothers.

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 They're a promise of the future and a blessing for today.

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 Now, here's a little confession.

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 This evangelical little fella, missionary kid,

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 if I ever venerated anyone in a big way, it was John Denver.

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 Him and Roger Staubach, who was my hero.

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 Got to meet Roger Staubach.

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 Anybody know who he was?

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 Is? I think he's still alive.

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 He was quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys back when I still watched a lot of football.

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 And got to meet him in Mexico City.

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 John Denver was my other idol.

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 I listened to just about everything he sang.

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 And so you can imagine when he visited in Moscow,

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 when I happened to be studying there,

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 I made arrangements to get to go meet him,

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 along with some of my classmates,

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 because he was singing with Jim Henson

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 at the American Ambassadors residence there in Moscow

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 in about October, November of 1984.

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 We all got to actually talk to him.

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 And so you can imagine how delighted I was.

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 Anyway, that's all part of the confession part.

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 Take you back to the 60s, because that's where we still are.

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 John Denver was writing that song probably right in the wake

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 of all of those student uprisings that happened in Prague and Paris

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 and all over the place, in the States and in Mexico City.

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 One of those student uprisings happened, believe it or not,

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 just blocks from where we were living.

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 The Tlatelolco uprising that led to the massacre of about 500 students,

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 maybe, maybe more, the Mexican army coming in and doing the job.

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 Well, let me take you even a few years further back to 1963,

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 when another poet, this time a man named John Robinson,

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 a theologian and bishop,

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 decided to write this little book.

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 This is even an edition from that year, 1963, Honest to God.

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 You can see there the philosopher thinking,

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 well, maybe philosopher, maybe,

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 I don't know how you interpret that sculpture there,

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 but the idea is that we're under the weight

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 of heaviness of questions about God.

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 And he's writing this book because he's picked up on the fact

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 that as a culture in the West,

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 we've more or less started to give up on the idea

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 that God is there, objectively speaking.

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 In other words, that he's sovereign Lord in relation to creation.

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 Bishop Robinson said this,

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 okay, so we don't believe that God is up there and out there anymore,

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 so, well, let me propose maybe another metaphor.

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 Let me propose a metaphor that God is the ground of our being.

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 He borrowed from Paul Tillich.

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 And from that point, it was fashionable,

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 it became fashionable to think of God as part of the world process.

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 And that truth, consequently,

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 is something that we more or less make up as we go along.

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 Truth about what is good, what is right, what is lovely,

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 especially what is right.

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 The big term was situational ethics and how everything was contextual,

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 which is one of those wonderful little half-truths

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 where you can kind of sneak in a whole pack of lies.

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 And this little book made an impact right into Mexico City

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 where a man walked into the bookshop that we ran there

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 and informed my dad that this book had made of him an atheist.

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 And he was a Christian leader.

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 So, all of this, what's the word we hear today about deconstructing?

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 Well, it was already happening through the influence of books like these.

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 So, what's my point in this little excursion into the 60s?

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 Well, my point is that there are three basic human needs

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 that only God can satisfy.

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 We may settle for a kind of free love

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 and for this worldly hopes and ideas

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 where we're turned in on ourselves,

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 but our real needs are these.

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 First, for fellowship,

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 for the security that we enjoy when we know who we are

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 in relation to God and others.

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 Second, for lasting purpose.

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 And third, for truth,

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 the kind of truth that can only come from the one who made us

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 and who can tell us what our real condition is

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 and what is the rhyme and where is the reason.

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 If we were among God's people around a thousand years before Jesus was born,

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 we would have already known what those three basic longings were

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 when we sang Psalm 27.

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 And I'm thinking of verse 4 in particular.

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 You perhaps know it well.

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 Maybe it's a psalm you've memorized.

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 One thing I have desired of the Lord,

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 says David,

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 that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

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 Do you know the rest?

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 To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

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 and to inquire in his temple.

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 I could almost use that as the text for what I want to share,

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 but I'm going to take us into Psalm 90.

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 But the one thing there that David asks for

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 turns out to be a triple blessing, doesn't it?

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 He longs for a relationship with God,

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 where God dwells.

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 He wants to find delight and purpose in Him

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 and in the beauty of His creation.

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 And he wants to receive the truth that God imparts

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 in the temple.

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 So make a mental note of those three things,

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 if you haven't already.

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 Fellowship, purpose, and truth.

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 Because we're going to come back to them.

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 So let me back up 400 more years

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 to Psalm 90,

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 which God gave us through Moses.

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 Maybe you didn't know that Moses wrote that psalm.

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 But the psalm is ordinarily read on today,

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 the first Sunday in Lent.

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 So it's especially appropriate

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 that we are looking at it together.

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 But I can also add that as I've pondered

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 the oldest psalm in the people of Israel's prayer book,

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 I found it to be especially encouraging

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 as an antidote to the message

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 of our 1960s poet prophets.

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 So I invite you, if you have your Bibles,

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 to look at it with me now.

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 And I would divide the psalm into two parts.

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 The first part, verses 1 to 11,

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 and the remainder afterwards.

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 Because in this first part,

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 we learn about who God is,

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 but not just in the abstract,

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 but about who God is in relation to us.

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 John Calvin, probably from such psalms like this,

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 started off his great institutes of the Christian religion

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 with the idea that we cannot know God

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 unless we know ourselves.

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 And we can't know ourselves unless we know God,

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 so that these things are intertwined.

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 So who is God,

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 as he himself teaches us through Moses?

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 Well, the first verse says,

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 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.

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 So from the way Moses addresses God,

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 we learn that he is Adonai, or Lord.

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 This means sovereign ruler

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 with supreme power and authority over all things.

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 But, as I pointed out,

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 notice in the very next breath,

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 Moses declares who God is in relation to us.

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 You have been our dwelling place.

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 And why is this so important, so significant?

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 Well, it's significant because

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 our knowledge of God, according to Scripture,

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 isn't the kind of knowledge

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 that's somehow disconnected from the human story.

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 Yes, God is Lord of the universe,

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 but he's seen fit not to sit idly by,

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 as Calvin said in his commentary.

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 I don't think it was on this psalm,

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 but he said he's seen fit not to sit idly by up in heaven,

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 but rather to turn towards us with his favor,

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 and even to provide a home for us.

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 To provide a home for us in himself.

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 And this was especially encouraging,

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 because Moses was likely in the wilderness,

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 not yet in the promised land.

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 And the truth that God is our home

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 was especially comforting to the people of Israel.

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 In our earthly pilgrimage,

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 God shows himself to be our refuge,

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 the one who satisfies us with security and shelter.

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 Right from the start,

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 he's a God for us.

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 And we know him because he's taken the initiative

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 to make himself known.

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 So consider some of the other attributes,

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 the other qualities of God.

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 Verse 2 says,

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 Before the mountains were brought forth,

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 or ever you had formed the earth and the world,

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 from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

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 Here we acknowledge that God is everlasting creator

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 of the universe.

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 But notice again,

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 how this leads directly to a truth about ourselves.

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 The fact is,

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 if you consider this phrase,

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 from everlasting to everlasting,

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 well, the force of it

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 only really comes home to us

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 as God tells us in verse 3

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 that we have an expiry date.

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 You return man to dust, it says.

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 Return, O children of man.

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 The season of Lent

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 is a time when we're invited

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 to ponder the truth that we're dust.

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 Not just like dust,

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 but dust.

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 In an intentional, focused way.

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 But I don't think,

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 and Daniel pointed to this already,

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 I don't think the point is

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 to make us focus on the fact

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 that we're dust for its own sake.

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 But rather to help us with that knowledge

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 to look up to God.

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 That's the whole point of Psalm 90.

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 I think you'll see what I mean

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 as I emphasize,

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 what I'm going to emphasize

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 in verses 4 to 6

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 as I read them.

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 For a thousand years in your sight

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 are but as yesterday when it is past,

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 or as a watch in the night.

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 You sweep them away

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 as with a flood.

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 They are like a dream,

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 like grass that is renewed in the morning.

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 In the morning it flourishes

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 and is renewed.

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 In the evening it fades and withers.

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 Now the point here

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 is not that life is an illusion.

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 The point is that

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 from God's point of view,

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 it's as if time meant nothing.

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 It's as if our lives were a dream.

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 Some poets

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 have liked to play with the idea

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 that life is a dream.

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 But here it's as if it were.

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 The truth is

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 there's nothing more real,

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 more solid even,

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 more enduring

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 than dwelling in God's house.

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 There's another truth

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 about who God is.

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 Apart from being sovereign Lord

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 and creator,

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 he is also holy.

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 And this quality,

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 yet again,

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 is explained

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 in relation to

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 how it bears on us.

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 So look with me at verses 7 to 10.

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 For we are brought to an end

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 by your anger.

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 By your wrath

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 we are dismayed.

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 You have set

00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:05.340
 our iniquities before you,

00:16:06.040 --> 00:16:07.420
 our secret sins

00:16:07.420 --> 00:16:08.120
 in the light

00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:09.620
 of your presence.

00:16:10.280 --> 00:16:11.360
 For all our days

00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:12.860
 pass away under your wrath.

00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:14.800
 We bring our years

00:16:14.800 --> 00:16:15.520
 to an end

00:16:15.520 --> 00:16:17.259
 like a sigh.

00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:19.860
 The years of our life

00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:20.440
 are 70

00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:20.840
 or

00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:23.240
 even by reason of strength

00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:23.580
 80.

00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:25.580
 Yet their span

00:16:25.580 --> 00:16:26.920
 is but toil and trouble.

00:16:27.580 --> 00:16:28.740
 They are soon gone

00:16:28.740 --> 00:16:30.660
 and we fly away.

00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:34.100
 So here we see

00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:35.020
 God's holiness

00:16:35.020 --> 00:16:37.520
 on full display,

00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:37.980
 don't we?

00:16:38.680 --> 00:16:39.960
 Since there is no darkness

00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:40.560
 in him,

00:16:40.680 --> 00:16:42.560
 as 1 John 1, 5

00:16:42.560 --> 00:16:43.120
 tells us,

00:16:43.660 --> 00:16:44.800
 well, he does right

00:16:44.800 --> 00:16:46.740
 to bring our lives

00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:47.340
 to an end.

00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:47.879
 He has

00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:49.379
 full rights

00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:50.420
 to bring our lives

00:16:50.420 --> 00:16:51.340
 to an end

00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:52.780
 on account of our wickedness.

00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:54.240
 It's hard

00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:56.059
 to grasp this

00:16:56.059 --> 00:16:58.120
 in our sentimental age.

00:16:58.659 --> 00:16:59.639
 But it's true.

00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.919
 Moses is especially

00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:04.240
 concerned to emphasize

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:06.879
 that secret dimension,

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:08.160
 that hidden dimension

00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:08.700
 of sin.

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:10.079
 The part that we think

00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:11.379
 we can hide from God.

00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:12.940
 The truth is

00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:13.399
 when God

00:17:13.399 --> 00:17:14.680
 looks at us,

00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:16.259
 he sees right into us,

00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:16.700
 doesn't he?

00:17:16.700 --> 00:17:18.519
 And as we say

00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:19.840
 in the Collect for Purity,

00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:22.019
 from him no secrets

00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:22.960
 are hidden.

00:17:23.080 --> 00:17:24.279
 We say it all the time.

00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:25.640
 And his judgment,

00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:26.680
 therefore,

00:17:26.860 --> 00:17:27.500
 applies

00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:28.720
 to the attitudes

00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:29.500
 of the heart.

00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:31.539
 So much of what

00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:32.100
 the Reformation

00:17:32.100 --> 00:17:33.100
 was all about,

00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:33.680
 so much of,

00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:35.279
 in its most basic form,

00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.080
 was about

00:17:36.080 --> 00:17:37.279
 reforming

00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.720
 inward things,

00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:39.019
 right?

00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:40.160
 even though

00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:41.700
 the Reformers

00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:42.279
 disagreed

00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:42.940
 on how much

00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:44.160
 of the outward things

00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:45.299
 needed to be reformed.

00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:47.079
 But at heart,

00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:47.579
 it was about

00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:48.539
 a reformation

00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:51.079
 of inward things

00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:51.980
 first,

00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:53.240
 as a first priority.

00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:54.879
 At this point,

00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:55.200
 we say,

00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:55.420
 well,

00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:56.900
 wait a minute,

00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:58.240
 I really quite like

00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:00.579
 this lovely image

00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:00.980
 of God

00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:01.900
 being our refuge

00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:03.160
 and dwelling place,

00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:04.440
 and I love

00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:05.099
 the majestic

00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:05.900
 bringing forth

00:18:05.900 --> 00:18:06.400
 the mountains

00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.319
 part of it all.

00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:09.019
 But what about

00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.679
 this anger

00:18:09.679 --> 00:18:10.839
 business?

00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:12.059
 That doesn't sound

00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.960
 like good news.

00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:14.779
 Well,

00:18:14.859 --> 00:18:15.559
 it isn't

00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:17.039
 at first glance,

00:18:17.159 --> 00:18:17.980
 and verse 11

00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:18.659
 doesn't seem

00:18:18.659 --> 00:18:19.339
 to make things

00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:20.240
 a whole lot better,

00:18:21.099 --> 00:18:22.299
 because that verse

00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:22.759
 reads,

00:18:22.879 --> 00:18:24.399
 if you're following

00:18:24.399 --> 00:18:25.119
 with me still,

00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:26.720
 who considers

00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:27.659
 the power

00:18:27.659 --> 00:18:28.500
 of your anger

00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:30.339
 and your wrath

00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:31.839
 according to

00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:32.980
 the fear of you?

00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:34.740
 Well,

00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.659
 I think the sense

00:18:35.659 --> 00:18:36.500
 of this verse

00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.640
 is something

00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:38.220
 like this.

00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:38.759
 God

00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:40.259
 is a God

00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:41.220
 whose anger

00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:42.000
 and wrath

00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:42.920
 we simply

00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:43.839
 can't fathom,

00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:45.539
 which is to say

00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:46.299
 we don't know

00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:47.000
 how to think

00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.380
 of it

00:18:47.380 --> 00:18:49.079
 in proportion

00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:50.000
 or relation

00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:51.180
 to who he is.

00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:54.440
 But from there,

00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:54.700
 well,

00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:55.740
 what does Moses say?

00:18:55.859 --> 00:18:56.000
 Well,

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.599
 does he say,

00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:56.799
 well,

00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:57.740
 why should we bother?

00:18:57.740 --> 00:19:00.400
 I was once

00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:01.240
 talking to a

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:01.960
 Saudi man

00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:02.819
 in Cairo,

00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.440
 asking him

00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:04.980
 what he thought

00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:05.500
 of God,

00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:07.180
 and he said

00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:07.539
 to me,

00:19:07.620 --> 00:19:07.819
 well,

00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:09.279
 if you think

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:09.880
 about God

00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:10.380
 for more than

00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:11.019
 a few minutes,

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:11.799
 you go crazy.

00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:12.859
 And that was

00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:13.880
 to change the subject,

00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:14.480
 that we just

00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:15.400
 shifted the subject

00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:15.980
 right away.

00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.160
 But Moses

00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:18.019
 carries on.

00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:18.740
 He says,

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:19.740
 well,

00:19:19.779 --> 00:19:20.259
 what does he do?

00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:21.339
 He calls on God

00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:21.859
 for help.

00:19:21.859 --> 00:19:24.619
 Sometimes you and I,

00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:26.439
 when we feel stuck,

00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.099
 when it comes

00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:28.199
 to knowing God's ways,

00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:29.479
 we tend to either

00:19:29.479 --> 00:19:30.039
 give up

00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:32.119
 or to invent

00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:33.059
 things of our own.

00:19:34.179 --> 00:19:35.339
 We like to fashion

00:19:35.339 --> 00:19:36.339
 God in our image,

00:19:36.459 --> 00:19:38.099
 maybe like a nice

00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:38.939
 but forgetful

00:19:38.939 --> 00:19:40.039
 old granddad,

00:19:40.419 --> 00:19:41.159
 sort of like what

00:19:41.159 --> 00:19:42.359
 a couple of my

00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:43.079
 grandkids

00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:44.519
 are hoping

00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:45.079
 I'll kind of

00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:45.639
 stay with

00:19:45.639 --> 00:19:47.039
 for a little longer.

00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:49.779
 The fact is,

00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:50.679
 God is holy

00:19:50.679 --> 00:19:51.279
 and just.

00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:52.679
 Which means

00:19:52.679 --> 00:19:53.659
 that his anger

00:19:53.659 --> 00:19:55.519
 over sin

00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:56.179
 and rebellion

00:19:56.179 --> 00:19:56.859
 is real.

00:19:57.399 --> 00:19:58.019
 It's not,

00:19:58.119 --> 00:19:58.599
 if you like,

00:19:59.199 --> 00:20:00.319
 that eccentric

00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:01.159
 and occasional

00:20:01.159 --> 00:20:02.019
 part of God

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:03.759
 who is mostly

00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:04.479
 a God of love.

00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:06.779
 Here's a bit

00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:07.359
 of theology.

00:20:08.379 --> 00:20:08.539
 Okay?

00:20:09.459 --> 00:20:10.119
 His love

00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:10.679
 is whole

00:20:10.679 --> 00:20:11.379
 and complete,

00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:12.599
 lacking nothing,

00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.339
 not diminished

00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:14.479
 by his other qualities.

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.759
 His holiness

00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:17.399
 is whole

00:20:17.399 --> 00:20:18.099
 and complete,

00:20:18.959 --> 00:20:19.759
 lacking nothing,

00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:21.059
 not diminished

00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:22.399
 by his other qualities.

00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:24.379
 Which means

00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:25.079
 God's anger

00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:26.139
 is a righteous one,

00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:27.119
 it's a holy one.

00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:29.119
 And it has to be

00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:30.579
 because it's

00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.679
 perfectly consistent

00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:32.539
 with his goodness

00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:33.379
 and his mercy.

00:20:34.919 --> 00:20:36.119
 And that's the good news

00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:36.839
 we want to focus

00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:38.399
 as we move into

00:20:38.399 --> 00:20:39.179
 the second half

00:20:39.179 --> 00:20:39.859
 of the psalm,

00:20:40.419 --> 00:20:41.759
 verses 12 to 17.

00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:45.039
 It's because of God's

00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:45.500
 kindness

00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:46.119
 that we can

00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:47.559
 come boldly

00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:48.000
 to him

00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.819
 with our requests.

00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:49.480
 It's because of

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.240
 God's kindness

00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:52.059
 that as dust

00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:53.319
 we have a dwelling place.

00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:54.819
 To refer

00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.980
 back to

00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:56.779
 Psalm 27

00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.680
 again,

00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:58.980
 it's because

00:20:58.980 --> 00:20:59.839
 he's our light

00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.720
 and our salvation

00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.759
 in the first place

00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:02.920
 that we can say

00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:03.700
 with confidence

00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:05.700
 that our one desire

00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:07.220
 is to dwell

00:21:07.220 --> 00:21:08.619
 in his house,

00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.299
 to seek

00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:10.700
 his beauty

00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:12.159
 and to inquire

00:21:12.159 --> 00:21:13.480
 in his temple.

00:21:13.659 --> 00:21:14.579
 So as we go through

00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:15.799
 these last verses

00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:17.379
 of Psalm 90,

00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:18.759
 I want to highlight

00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:19.779
 those three,

00:21:20.399 --> 00:21:21.279
 I want to highlight

00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:22.859
 three practical lessons

00:21:22.859 --> 00:21:24.799
 that are in it for us.

00:21:25.419 --> 00:21:26.779
 Apart from addressing

00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:28.259
 our basic needs,

00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:30.399
 they can serve us today

00:21:30.399 --> 00:21:31.159
 as we seek

00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:32.779
 to be renewed

00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:34.299
 and to be reformed

00:21:34.919 --> 00:21:35.839
 by God's word.

00:21:36.639 --> 00:21:37.659
 The first need

00:21:37.659 --> 00:21:38.700
 that Moses addresses

00:21:38.700 --> 00:21:40.000
 is our need

00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:41.400
 for truth.

00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.360
 It's not in the order

00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:43.539
 that we saw earlier,

00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:44.460
 but there it is.

00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.799
 The need for truth

00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.340
 is the one

00:21:46.340 --> 00:21:47.500
 that comes first.

00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:48.600
 It's in verse 12.

00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:50.240
 So teach us

00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:51.779
 to number our days

00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:53.920
 that we may get

00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:54.759
 a heart of wisdom.

00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:57.019
 I want to ponder that

00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.700
 with you

00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.740
 a few moments.

00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.559
 The point here

00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.640
 is this.

00:22:03.340 --> 00:22:04.100
 We know

00:22:04.100 --> 00:22:04.840
 that we're dust,

00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:07.039
 but what does it mean

00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:08.439
 to learn this fact

00:22:08.439 --> 00:22:09.099
 from God?

00:22:10.959 --> 00:22:11.619
 Have you thought

00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:12.099
 about that?

00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:15.039
 In the churchyard

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:16.519
 of the little

00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.519
 Lutheran church

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:19.000
 that my daughter

00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:20.119
 and her family

00:22:20.119 --> 00:22:21.279
 were attending

00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.599
 for a while

00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.459
 back when they lived

00:22:23.459 --> 00:22:23.959
 in Alberta

00:22:23.959 --> 00:22:25.240
 near Barhead

00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:27.259
 a few years ago,

00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.259
 I happened to notice

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:30.159
 that many of the graves

00:22:30.159 --> 00:22:31.879
 belonged to children

00:22:31.880 --> 00:22:32.980
 who had died

00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:33.480
 as infants.

00:22:35.340 --> 00:22:35.820
 Now,

00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:37.280
 on a purely human level,

00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:38.620
 just walking

00:22:38.620 --> 00:22:39.560
 through a cemetery

00:22:39.560 --> 00:22:41.140
 reminds us,

00:22:41.780 --> 00:22:43.400
 just in a human sense,

00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:44.980
 whether we've trusted

00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:45.640
 God or not,

00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:46.600
 that life is brief,

00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:47.440
 doesn't it?

00:22:48.060 --> 00:22:48.900
 I also remember,

00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:49.780
 just as another

00:22:49.780 --> 00:22:50.900
 little personal anecdote,

00:22:52.060 --> 00:22:54.140
 a visit to my cardiologist

00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:54.900
 in Vancouver.

00:22:55.140 --> 00:22:55.980
 I'm sure Stella

00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:56.560
 was with me.

00:22:57.120 --> 00:22:58.140
 She remembers it too.

00:22:58.820 --> 00:23:01.040
 Probably 1989 or 90.

00:23:02.760 --> 00:23:04.880
 I had had heart surgery

00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:05.720
 as a teenager,

00:23:06.260 --> 00:23:06.960
 and so this was

00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:08.020
 a routine checkup,

00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:10.320
 and I remember

00:23:10.320 --> 00:23:12.120
 he said something like,

00:23:13.580 --> 00:23:14.580
 Steve, I expect

00:23:14.580 --> 00:23:15.120
 you'll live

00:23:15.120 --> 00:23:15.940
 your whole lifespan.

00:23:18.260 --> 00:23:19.160
 Now, of course,

00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:19.900
 that's good news,

00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:20.360
 isn't it?

00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:22.640
 But it caught me

00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.640
 a little off guard,

00:23:23.780 --> 00:23:24.700
 and I'm assuming

00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.700
 that's why you're chuckling.

00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:28.140
 In those decades of life

00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:30.060
 when not too many

00:23:30.060 --> 00:23:30.980
 of us worry,

00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:32.940
 much about death,

00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:35.039
 I'm not sure

00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:35.599
 that I thought

00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:36.059
 of life,

00:23:36.120 --> 00:23:36.680
 a lifespan,

00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:37.259
 as something

00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:38.500
 that I actually had.

00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:41.740
 But again,

00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:43.220
 sooner or later

00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:44.039
 we come to know

00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:44.819
 this sort of thing

00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.740
 pretty naturally.

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:47.279
 So, back to my point.

00:23:47.819 --> 00:23:48.259
 What's the,

00:23:48.620 --> 00:23:49.160
 what's the,

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.640
 what does it mean

00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:51.140
 to learn

00:23:51.140 --> 00:23:52.099
 that we're finite

00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:53.599
 from God?

00:23:54.140 --> 00:23:54.839
 Well, the answer

00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:55.500
 is quite simple.

00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:57.059
 But we are the ones

00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:57.860
 who complicate it.

00:23:57.859 --> 00:24:00.219
 We complicate things

00:24:00.219 --> 00:24:02.219
 by becoming proficient

00:24:02.219 --> 00:24:03.819
 at counting things

00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:07.019
 except the number

00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:07.699
 of our days.

00:24:09.159 --> 00:24:10.719
 And we tally up

00:24:10.719 --> 00:24:11.939
 our assets,

00:24:12.439 --> 00:24:13.779
 in our academic case,

00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.599
 our publications,

00:24:15.639 --> 00:24:16.779
 our accolades,

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.719
 maybe the number

00:24:18.719 --> 00:24:19.559
 of likes we have

00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:20.500
 on our latest video

00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.719
 that we've posted,

00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:24.500
 and we imagine

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.779
 ourselves to be wise

00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:26.740
 in all of that.

00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:27.259
 And yet,

00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:28.220
 we become fools.

00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:29.299
 And that's why

00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:30.180
 Moses says,

00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.519
 what we need

00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.120
 from you, Lord,

00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:32.680
 is wisdom

00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:33.700
 in this matter.

00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:35.000
 So, teach us

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.759
 to count

00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.920
 our days.

00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:39.559
 Well, I think

00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:40.299
 that when we make

00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:41.100
 that our prayer,

00:24:42.100 --> 00:24:43.380
 and we really,

00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:44.160
 really make it

00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:44.640
 our prayer,

00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:46.180
 what we learn

00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:46.779
 is that our

00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:47.860
 relatively brief

00:24:47.860 --> 00:24:48.600
 appearance

00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:49.919
 is a gift

00:24:49.919 --> 00:24:50.519
 from God.

00:24:51.679 --> 00:24:52.980
 And if it's a gift,

00:24:53.619 --> 00:24:54.879
 then other things

00:24:54.879 --> 00:24:55.359
 apply,

00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:57.359
 like gratitude

00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:59.079
 in the first instance,

00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:00.579
 and stewardship

00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:01.859
 as well.

00:25:02.699 --> 00:25:03.639
 When I think

00:25:03.639 --> 00:25:04.319
 of the idea

00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:06.179
 so common today

00:25:06.179 --> 00:25:07.419
 that God

00:25:07.419 --> 00:25:08.059
 is part

00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:08.539
 of the world

00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:09.139
 process,

00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:09.819
 I realize

00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:11.399
 what good news

00:25:11.399 --> 00:25:12.000
 this is.

00:25:12.899 --> 00:25:13.419
 Think of it.

00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:14.560
 if God

00:25:14.560 --> 00:25:15.740
 is an impersonal

00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:16.279
 force

00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.680
 that animates

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.279
 the world,

00:25:19.600 --> 00:25:19.820
 well,

00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:20.680
 just how

00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.400
 or where

00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:22.160
 is gratitude

00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:22.800
 supposed to

00:25:22.800 --> 00:25:23.660
 actually register?

00:25:25.140 --> 00:25:26.039
 Talk about

00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:27.060
 being thankful

00:25:27.060 --> 00:25:27.380
 today,

00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:27.779
 don't we,

00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:28.880
 even in

00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:30.100
 ordinary discourse.

00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:32.120
 Or is there

00:25:32.120 --> 00:25:32.940
 even a temple

00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:34.039
 to inquire in?

00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:34.960
 The temple

00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.600
 always being

00:25:35.600 --> 00:25:36.279
 that place,

00:25:36.380 --> 00:25:36.759
 that meeting

00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.200
 place,

00:25:37.340 --> 00:25:38.200
 where we

00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:39.140
 inquire,

00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:39.680
 where God

00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.660
 meets us,

00:25:40.660 --> 00:25:41.420
 and we

00:25:41.420 --> 00:25:41.820
 are able

00:25:41.820 --> 00:25:43.860
 to hear

00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:44.240
 what he

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:44.940
 has to say?

00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:45.800
 Well,

00:25:45.820 --> 00:25:46.320
 I don't think

00:25:46.320 --> 00:25:46.600
 so.

00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:48.300
 But with

00:25:48.300 --> 00:25:48.840
 Psalm 90,

00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:49.360
 we can be

00:25:49.360 --> 00:25:49.940
 sure that

00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:50.340
 we're giving

00:25:50.340 --> 00:25:51.000
 thanks to

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.480
 a God

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.340
 who is

00:25:52.340 --> 00:25:52.800
 there,

00:25:53.840 --> 00:25:54.400
 and who

00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:54.900
 by his

00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:55.360
 word and

00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:55.759
 spirit

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:57.040
 actually

00:25:57.040 --> 00:25:57.820
 renews

00:25:57.820 --> 00:25:58.460
 our minds,

00:25:59.019 --> 00:25:59.560
 making us

00:25:59.560 --> 00:26:00.720
 wise unto

00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:01.300
 salvation,

00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:01.820
 as Paul

00:26:01.820 --> 00:26:02.920
 says to

00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:03.440
 Timothy

00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.560
 in 2

00:26:04.560 --> 00:26:05.360
 Timothy 3

00:26:05.360 --> 00:26:05.880
 15.

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.100
 Well,

00:26:08.120 --> 00:26:08.440
 what's the

00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:09.120
 second basic

00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:09.680
 need that

00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.500
 Moses addresses?

00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:12.300
 Well,

00:26:12.580 --> 00:26:13.140
 it follows

00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:13.500
 right in

00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:13.800
 the next

00:26:13.800 --> 00:26:14.380
 few verses.

00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:15.680
 It's the

00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.500
 need for

00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:16.980
 fellowship,

00:26:17.560 --> 00:26:18.320
 for intimacy.

00:26:20.360 --> 00:26:20.960
 Verses

00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:21.580
 13 to

00:26:21.580 --> 00:26:23.100
 15 invite

00:26:23.100 --> 00:26:23.440
 us to

00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:23.900
 ask for

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:24.460
 three more

00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:25.019
 things from

00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.300
 God.

00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:25.600
 And what

00:26:25.600 --> 00:26:25.980
 are they?

00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:26.640
 Well,

00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:27.060
 the first

00:26:27.060 --> 00:26:27.300
 is,

00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.360
 return,

00:26:28.660 --> 00:26:29.120
 O Lord,

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:29.940
 have pity

00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.440
 on your

00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:30.880
 servants.

00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:32.880
 Back in

00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:33.460
 verse 3,

00:26:34.540 --> 00:26:35.259
 we acknowledge

00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:35.960
 that God

00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:37.259
 returns us

00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:37.860
 to dust.

00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:39.820
 And knowing

00:26:39.820 --> 00:26:40.259
 that he

00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:40.700
 has the

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.200
 power to

00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:41.839
 do that,

00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:42.960
 now we

00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.599
 ask of

00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:43.940
 him,

00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:45.140
 will you

00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:45.819
 please now

00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:46.599
 return to

00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:46.980
 us?

00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:48.480
 Will you

00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.839
 come with

00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:50.279
 your mercy

00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:50.660
 and your

00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.000
 power?

00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:52.579
 Now,

00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:52.839
 in the

00:26:52.839 --> 00:26:53.660
 light of

00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:55.099
 God's

00:26:55.099 --> 00:26:55.579
 revelation

00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:56.220
 in Jesus,

00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.859
 what we're

00:26:57.859 --> 00:26:58.480
 praying is,

00:26:58.539 --> 00:26:59.440
 come Lord

00:26:59.440 --> 00:26:59.879
 Jesus,

00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:00.619
 Maranatha.

00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:02.240
 And as

00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:03.019
 Peter says

00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.839
 in 2

00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:04.379
 Peter 3,

00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:05.220
 we can

00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:06.039
 even hasten

00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:06.619
 that day

00:27:06.619 --> 00:27:07.740
 as we

00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:08.079
 pursue

00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:08.659
 godliness.

00:27:08.659 --> 00:27:09.059
 It's

00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:09.639
 quite a

00:27:09.639 --> 00:27:11.799
 truth to

00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:12.099
 ponder.

00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:14.559
 The second

00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:14.980
 and third

00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:15.500
 requests

00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.579
 come right

00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:17.119
 together in

00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:17.960
 verses 14

00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:18.460
 and 15.

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.899
 Satisfy us

00:27:19.899 --> 00:27:20.139
 in the

00:27:20.139 --> 00:27:20.579
 morning with

00:27:20.579 --> 00:27:21.299
 your steadfast

00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:21.659
 love,

00:27:22.139 --> 00:27:22.619
 that we

00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:23.319
 may rejoice

00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:23.759
 and be

00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.379
 glad all

00:27:24.379 --> 00:27:24.940
 our days,

00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:25.960
 and then

00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:26.680
 make us

00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:28.019
 glad for

00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:28.399
 as many

00:27:28.399 --> 00:27:29.399
 days as

00:27:29.399 --> 00:27:29.680
 you have

00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:30.539
 afflicted us,

00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:32.599
 and for

00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:33.000
 as many

00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:33.619
 years as

00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:33.920
 we have

00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:34.460
 seen evil.

00:27:37.379 --> 00:27:38.319
 Moses here

00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:39.159
 is giving

00:27:39.159 --> 00:27:39.920
 us words

00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:40.460
 to call

00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:40.980
 on God

00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:42.099
 early in

00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:42.480
 the day,

00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.339
 asking him

00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:44.819
 to keep

00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:45.159
 us in

00:27:45.159 --> 00:27:45.680
 his care

00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:47.259
 and to

00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:47.559
 give us

00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:48.740
 joy in

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.099
 the midst

00:27:49.099 --> 00:27:49.399
 of the

00:27:49.399 --> 00:27:49.659
 troubles

00:27:49.659 --> 00:27:50.119
 that we're

00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:50.619
 inevitably

00:27:50.619 --> 00:27:51.000
 going to

00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:51.379
 face.

00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:53.700
 So these

00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:55.000
 three requests

00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.619
 speak of a

00:27:55.619 --> 00:27:56.019
 God who

00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:56.579
 gives us

00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.480
 himself as

00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:57.899
 our dwelling

00:27:57.899 --> 00:27:58.399
 place,

00:27:58.899 --> 00:27:59.940
 who teaches

00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:00.519
 us who

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.119
 we are

00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:01.319
 in

00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:01.680
 relation

00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:01.920
 to

00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:02.200
 him,

00:28:03.379 --> 00:28:04.039
 and only

00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:06.180
 his love

00:28:06.180 --> 00:28:06.460
 really

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.099
 endures.

00:28:07.639 --> 00:28:08.119
 Only a

00:28:08.119 --> 00:28:08.720
 relationship

00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:10.139
 with him

00:28:10.139 --> 00:28:11.799
 results in

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.420
 gladness.

00:28:13.900 --> 00:28:14.420
 So this

00:28:14.420 --> 00:28:15.440
 brings us

00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:15.759
 to the

00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.440
 third basic

00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:16.759
 need,

00:28:16.879 --> 00:28:17.160
 which is

00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:18.299
 for purpose.

00:28:18.879 --> 00:28:19.440
 When I say

00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:19.879
 purpose,

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:20.240
 I mean

00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:21.139
 direction,

00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:22.039
 and it's

00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:22.619
 bound up

00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:23.379
 logically in

00:28:23.379 --> 00:28:24.019
 these psalms

00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.680
 with beauty

00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:25.859
 and for the

00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:26.279
 glory,

00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:26.940
 to see

00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:27.660
 God's

00:28:27.660 --> 00:28:28.019
 glory.

00:28:28.160 --> 00:28:28.339
 In the

00:28:28.339 --> 00:28:28.779
 next two

00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:29.160
 verses,

00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.039
 Moses

00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.700
 invites us

00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.039
 to pray

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:31.500
 like this,

00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:32.460
 let your

00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:33.680
 work be

00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.659
 shown to

00:28:34.659 --> 00:28:34.879
 your

00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:35.319
 servants.

00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:36.559
 And here's

00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:36.960
 the glory

00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:37.359
 part,

00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:38.159
 and your

00:28:38.159 --> 00:28:38.740
 glorious

00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.579
 power to

00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:39.879
 their

00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:40.399
 children.

00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:42.899
 Let the

00:28:42.899 --> 00:28:43.539
 favor of

00:28:43.539 --> 00:28:43.920
 the Lord

00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:44.399
 our God

00:28:44.399 --> 00:28:44.960
 be upon

00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:45.259
 us,

00:28:45.399 --> 00:28:46.440
 and establish

00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:47.059
 the work

00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:47.399
 of our

00:28:47.399 --> 00:28:48.019
 hands upon

00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:48.220
 us.

00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:48.579
 Yes,

00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:49.579
 establish

00:28:49.579 --> 00:28:50.259
 the work

00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:50.599
 of our

00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:51.079
 hands.

00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:53.680
 So,

00:28:53.899 --> 00:28:54.500
 to recap,

00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:55.240
 what have we

00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:55.680
 asked for

00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:56.019
 in this

00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:56.279
 psalm?

00:28:56.340 --> 00:28:56.460
 Well,

00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:56.700
 we've

00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.799
 asked God

00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.380
 to teach

00:28:58.380 --> 00:28:58.720
 us,

00:28:59.259 --> 00:28:59.799
 and we've

00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.220
 asked Him

00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:00.620
 to be

00:29:00.620 --> 00:29:02.560
 present with

00:29:02.560 --> 00:29:02.900
 us,

00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:03.400
 with His

00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:03.840
 love,

00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:04.340
 with His

00:29:04.340 --> 00:29:05.340
 steadfast

00:29:05.340 --> 00:29:05.660
 love,

00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:06.140
 and now

00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:07.080
 what are we

00:29:07.080 --> 00:29:07.820
 asking for?

00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.200
 Well,

00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:09.720
 we're asking

00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.580
 Him to do

00:29:10.580 --> 00:29:11.660
 His work

00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:13.259
 through His

00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:13.620
 people,

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.580
 by His

00:29:15.580 --> 00:29:16.060
 power,

00:29:17.060 --> 00:29:17.880
 and for the

00:29:17.880 --> 00:29:19.299
 benefit of

00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:20.200
 generations that

00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:20.779
 are to come.

00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:21.560
 What a

00:29:21.560 --> 00:29:22.840
 glorious thing

00:29:22.839 --> 00:29:23.459
 to be asking

00:29:23.459 --> 00:29:23.879
 for,

00:29:24.919 --> 00:29:25.879
 which is to

00:29:25.879 --> 00:29:26.079
 say,

00:29:26.199 --> 00:29:27.059
 we're looking

00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:28.059
 to Him for

00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:28.699
 hope and

00:29:28.699 --> 00:29:29.379
 direction as

00:29:29.379 --> 00:29:29.819
 we await

00:29:29.819 --> 00:29:30.419
 His promise.

00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.359
 We're asking

00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:32.259
 that His

00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:33.079
 will will be

00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:33.480
 done on

00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:34.519
 earth as

00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:34.980
 it is in

00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.199
 heaven.

00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:36.240
 We're asking

00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:37.439
 to see

00:29:37.439 --> 00:29:38.519
 something of

00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:39.279
 His power

00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:40.480
 and glory

00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.959
 on display,

00:29:41.959 --> 00:29:42.579
 because we

00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:43.199
 want to see

00:29:43.199 --> 00:29:44.240
 its impact

00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:45.220
 in the world

00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:45.899
 around us.

00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:48.139
 So,

00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:48.500
 here's the

00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.099
 question for

00:29:49.099 --> 00:29:49.359
 us.

00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:51.459
 Given the,

00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:53.160
 it's not

00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:56.140
 an exaggeration

00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:56.740
 to say we're

00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.200
 living in

00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:57.680
 times of

00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.539
 cultural upheaval.

00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:00.759
 Given that,

00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:02.660
 how should we

00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:04.120
 trust God

00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:04.960
 for a renewed

00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.620
 vision that's

00:30:05.620 --> 00:30:06.380
 full of this

00:30:06.380 --> 00:30:07.319
 hope that

00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:08.059
 Moses talks

00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:08.340
 about?

00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:10.340
 Well,

00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:11.680
 I can say

00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:13.220
 with certainty

00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:14.500
 that it

00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.279
 can't happen

00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:17.460
 simply by

00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:19.100
 bringing new

00:30:19.100 --> 00:30:19.840
 people into

00:30:19.840 --> 00:30:21.140
 power and

00:30:21.140 --> 00:30:21.920
 changing the

00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:22.620
 systems that

00:30:22.620 --> 00:30:23.020
 are there.

00:30:25.020 --> 00:30:25.680
 This is,

00:30:25.840 --> 00:30:26.000
 of course,

00:30:26.060 --> 00:30:26.720
 not a call

00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:27.120
 to be

00:30:27.120 --> 00:30:28.000
 disengaged

00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:29.480
 or unengaged

00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:29.900
 from our

00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:30.500
 communities,

00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.540
 our cities,

00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:32.120
 and nation.

00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:32.560
 That's where

00:30:32.560 --> 00:30:33.140
 God has put

00:30:33.140 --> 00:30:33.380
 us.

00:30:34.060 --> 00:30:34.840
 But it is a

00:30:34.840 --> 00:30:35.540
 reminder that

00:30:35.540 --> 00:30:36.240
 real change

00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:37.060
 only happens

00:30:37.060 --> 00:30:38.500
 when and as

00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:39.160
 God changes

00:30:39.160 --> 00:30:39.540
 hearts.

00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:40.680
 I love how

00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:41.120
 J.I.

00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:42.620
 Packer put

00:30:42.620 --> 00:30:42.880
 it.

00:30:43.580 --> 00:30:44.160
 There is no

00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:45.900
 peace like

00:30:45.900 --> 00:30:46.540
 the peace of

00:30:46.540 --> 00:30:47.000
 those whose

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.680
 minds are

00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:48.380
 possessed

00:30:48.380 --> 00:30:49.860
 with full

00:30:49.860 --> 00:30:50.700
 assurance

00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:52.140
 that they

00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:52.580
 have known

00:30:52.580 --> 00:30:53.040
 God

00:30:53.040 --> 00:30:55.200
 and God

00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:55.600
 has known

00:30:55.600 --> 00:30:55.980
 them

00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:57.700
 and that

00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.080
 this

00:30:58.080 --> 00:30:58.780
 relationship

00:30:58.780 --> 00:31:00.020
 guarantees

00:31:00.020 --> 00:31:01.260
 God's favor

00:31:01.260 --> 00:31:01.700
 to them

00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.360
 in life

00:31:02.360 --> 00:31:03.900
 through death

00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:04.860
 and on

00:31:04.860 --> 00:31:05.240
 forever.

00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.660
 The peace

00:31:07.660 --> 00:31:08.200
 that God

00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:09.440
 gives us

00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:10.400
 in relationship

00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:10.940
 with him.

00:31:11.040 --> 00:31:11.320
 So the

00:31:11.320 --> 00:31:12.620
 question is

00:31:12.620 --> 00:31:13.020
 this.

00:31:13.080 --> 00:31:13.480
 Have we

00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:14.700
 actually come

00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:15.100
 to know

00:31:15.100 --> 00:31:15.720
 this God

00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:17.420
 who knew

00:31:17.420 --> 00:31:18.120
 us first

00:31:18.120 --> 00:31:18.819
 and has

00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:19.259
 known us

00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:20.180
 first before

00:31:20.180 --> 00:31:20.700
 we even

00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:21.200
 thought to

00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:21.680
 seek him

00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:21.900
 out?

00:31:23.340 --> 00:31:24.160
 If so,

00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:24.559
 I believe

00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:25.160
 we can live

00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:25.620
 with true

00:31:25.620 --> 00:31:26.080
 purpose

00:31:26.080 --> 00:31:27.600
 because ultimately

00:31:27.600 --> 00:31:28.160
 we leave

00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:28.799
 the business

00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:29.880
 of changing

00:31:29.880 --> 00:31:30.480
 hearts to

00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:31.759
 him and

00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:32.220
 then with

00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:32.900
 that when

00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:33.600
 we're confident

00:31:33.600 --> 00:31:34.460
 that he

00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:35.140
 does just

00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:35.900
 that as

00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:36.460
 he's promised,

00:31:36.900 --> 00:31:37.480
 we simply

00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.200
 bear witness

00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:38.980
 to the

00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:39.519
 things he's

00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.660
 done and

00:31:40.660 --> 00:31:41.180
 has promised

00:31:41.180 --> 00:31:41.640
 to do.

00:31:42.580 --> 00:31:43.360
 I think we

00:31:43.360 --> 00:31:43.840
 can do this

00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:44.259
 in a host

00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:44.799
 of ways

00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:46.359
 according to

00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:47.099
 our individual

00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:48.159
 gifts and

00:31:48.159 --> 00:31:48.839
 talents and

00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:49.419
 opportunities,

00:31:50.099 --> 00:31:50.319
 but I'll

00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:50.619
 just,

00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:51.359
 to end,

00:31:51.459 --> 00:31:51.879
 I'll just

00:31:51.879 --> 00:31:53.199
 mention one

00:31:53.199 --> 00:31:53.699
 of the ways

00:31:53.699 --> 00:31:54.859
 we can tell

00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:55.319
 others of

00:31:55.319 --> 00:31:55.720
 what God

00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.159
 has done

00:31:56.159 --> 00:31:56.899
 today.

00:31:57.879 --> 00:31:58.480
 Here's what

00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:58.799
 we're up

00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.199
 against.

00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:00.859
 We're up

00:32:00.859 --> 00:32:01.459
 against a

00:32:01.459 --> 00:32:02.199
 post-Christian

00:32:02.199 --> 00:32:02.919
 culture that

00:32:02.919 --> 00:32:04.220
 says either

00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:04.819
 there's no

00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:06.459
 God or

00:32:06.459 --> 00:32:07.000
 that if there

00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:07.559
 is a God

00:32:07.559 --> 00:32:07.980
 there's no

00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:08.439
 way to really

00:32:08.439 --> 00:32:08.899
 know this

00:32:08.899 --> 00:32:09.279
 God.

00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:11.419
 I mean,

00:32:11.459 --> 00:32:12.339
 that's simply

00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:13.639
 what you would

00:32:13.640 --> 00:32:14.160
 find out

00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:14.800
 taking a

00:32:14.800 --> 00:32:15.200
 poll out

00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:15.420
 there.

00:32:16.120 --> 00:32:16.360
 So what

00:32:16.360 --> 00:32:16.560
 are we

00:32:16.560 --> 00:32:16.960
 left with?

00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:17.400
 Well,

00:32:17.560 --> 00:32:18.240
 in practice

00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:18.700
 we're left

00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:19.080
 with two

00:32:19.080 --> 00:32:19.460
 things.

00:32:19.860 --> 00:32:20.340
 We have a

00:32:20.340 --> 00:32:21.140
 simple public

00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:21.480
 rule,

00:32:21.580 --> 00:32:22.040
 don't hurt

00:32:22.040 --> 00:32:22.520
 or offend

00:32:22.520 --> 00:32:22.980
 anyone,

00:32:23.560 --> 00:32:24.160
 but of course

00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:24.740
 that doesn't

00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.340
 get us very

00:32:25.340 --> 00:32:26.300
 far because

00:32:26.300 --> 00:32:27.180
 sometimes love

00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:28.820
 hurts and

00:32:28.820 --> 00:32:29.360
 the truth

00:32:29.360 --> 00:32:30.340
 can sometimes

00:32:30.340 --> 00:32:30.980
 be offensive

00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:32.600
 even if we

00:32:32.600 --> 00:32:33.440
 don't intend

00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:34.540
 to cause

00:32:34.540 --> 00:32:34.960
 offense.

00:32:35.640 --> 00:32:36.080
 The other

00:32:36.080 --> 00:32:36.560
 thing we're

00:32:36.560 --> 00:32:37.120
 left with

00:32:37.120 --> 00:32:38.640
 are intuitions

00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:39.140
 about what

00:32:39.140 --> 00:32:39.740
 is true and

00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:40.160
 right and

00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:40.400
 good,

00:32:40.580 --> 00:32:41.100
 which we

00:32:41.100 --> 00:32:41.600
 can't really

00:32:41.600 --> 00:32:42.400
 impose on

00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:42.840
 anyone.

00:32:43.880 --> 00:32:44.560
 But then

00:32:44.560 --> 00:32:45.420
 our supposedly

00:32:45.420 --> 00:32:46.440
 open and

00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:47.360
 tolerant world,

00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:47.940
 and it's not

00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:48.500
 just here,

00:32:48.600 --> 00:32:50.460
 but it's in

00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:50.660
 many,

00:32:50.800 --> 00:32:51.400
 many places,

00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.100
 in our

00:32:53.100 --> 00:32:53.920
 tolerant world

00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:55.460
 we find a

00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:56.300
 way to impose

00:32:56.300 --> 00:32:56.840
 a kind of

00:32:56.840 --> 00:32:57.600
 heavy-handed

00:32:57.600 --> 00:33:00.640
 moralism that

00:33:00.640 --> 00:33:01.519
 supposedly gives

00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.259
 us the tools

00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:03.440
 to know and

00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:04.100
 to identify

00:33:04.100 --> 00:33:04.660
 who the

00:33:04.660 --> 00:33:05.900
 really nasty

00:33:05.900 --> 00:33:06.600
 people are

00:33:06.600 --> 00:33:07.340
 and who the

00:33:07.340 --> 00:33:07.800
 good people

00:33:07.800 --> 00:33:08.060
 are.

00:33:08.120 --> 00:33:08.400
 It's really

00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:09.259
 quite remarkable,

00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:09.840
 isn't it?

00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:11.259
 And it

00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:11.799
 offers no

00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:12.959
 relief from

00:33:12.959 --> 00:33:13.559
 the burden

00:33:13.559 --> 00:33:14.119
 of guilt

00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:14.699
 and sin.

00:33:15.459 --> 00:33:15.879
 So what's

00:33:15.879 --> 00:33:16.539
 our response?

00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:18.399
 If we know

00:33:18.399 --> 00:33:18.980
 we're sinners

00:33:18.980 --> 00:33:20.000
 saved by grace,

00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:20.799
 well, we

00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:21.500
 really have no

00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:23.199
 business running

00:33:23.199 --> 00:33:24.579
 around calling

00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.240
 out the nasty

00:33:25.240 --> 00:33:26.299
 people, the

00:33:26.299 --> 00:33:27.339
 haters who

00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:28.299
 are on the

00:33:28.299 --> 00:33:28.879
 wrong side of

00:33:28.879 --> 00:33:29.579
 history, whatever

00:33:29.579 --> 00:33:30.579
 that might mean.

00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:32.059
 We just need

00:33:32.059 --> 00:33:33.000
 to point people

00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:34.019
 to the one,

00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:35.019
 the only one

00:33:35.019 --> 00:33:35.679
 who can rescue

00:33:35.679 --> 00:33:36.059
 us.

00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:37.619
 If Jesus is

00:33:37.619 --> 00:33:38.759
 indeed the truth

00:33:38.759 --> 00:33:39.720
 and the way

00:33:39.720 --> 00:33:40.400
 and the life,

00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:41.059
 as he said,

00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:42.660
 so that no

00:33:42.660 --> 00:33:43.519
 one comes to

00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:44.000
 the Father

00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:45.019
 except through

00:33:45.019 --> 00:33:46.259
 him, then we

00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:47.660
 simply present

00:33:47.660 --> 00:33:48.740
 him, as Leslie

00:33:48.740 --> 00:33:49.500
 Newbigin said

00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:50.299
 some years ago

00:33:50.299 --> 00:33:51.599
 so nicely, we

00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:52.619
 simply present

00:33:52.619 --> 00:33:54.140
 him in all

00:33:54.140 --> 00:33:54.920
 his glory,

00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:56.440
 grace, and

00:33:56.440 --> 00:33:56.740
 beauty.

00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:57.559
 We simply

00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:58.980
 speak of

00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.879
 that Jesus

00:33:59.879 --> 00:34:01.180
 in all his

00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:01.839
 glory, grace,

00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:02.319
 and beauty.

00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:03.460
 Well, in the

00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:04.000
 light of the

00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:04.599
 things that we've

00:34:04.599 --> 00:34:05.140
 looked at this

00:34:05.140 --> 00:34:07.740
 morning, it's

00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:08.800
 in Jesus we

00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.480
 can say that

00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:10.239
 we find our

00:34:10.239 --> 00:34:11.960
 identity as

00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:13.460
 adopted children

00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.019
 of God.

00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:15.500
 It's through

00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.280
 Jesus that we

00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:17.000
 have truth.

00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:17.800
 How?

00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:18.480
 Well, as his

00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:19.539
 words abide in

00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:20.619
 us, as he

00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:23.679
 promised, and

00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:24.420
 giving us the

00:34:24.420 --> 00:34:25.559
 assurance that we

00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:26.340
 have been raised

00:34:26.340 --> 00:34:26.840
 with him.

00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:27.960
 And it's through

00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:29.000
 him and for his

00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:30.199
 glory that we

00:34:30.199 --> 00:34:30.960
 contemplate the

00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.260
 wonder and the

00:34:32.260 --> 00:34:32.880
 beauty of the

00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:35.019
 Lord, even as we

00:34:35.019 --> 00:34:35.760
 learn to count our

00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:36.100
 days.

00:34:37.640 --> 00:34:38.420
 So shall we

00:34:38.420 --> 00:34:38.620
 pray.

00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:47.040
 Father, once

00:34:47.040 --> 00:34:47.660
 again, we thank

00:34:47.660 --> 00:34:48.140
 you for your

00:34:48.140 --> 00:34:49.080
 word, for your

00:34:49.080 --> 00:34:50.600
 Holy Spirit who

00:34:50.600 --> 00:34:51.860
 convicts us, who

00:34:51.860 --> 00:34:53.480
 shows us our

00:34:53.480 --> 00:34:54.460
 need of you, and

00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:55.080
 we ask that you

00:34:55.080 --> 00:34:55.660
 would do just

00:34:55.660 --> 00:34:56.720
 that once again

00:34:56.720 --> 00:34:58.720
 as we continue

00:34:58.720 --> 00:35:00.400
 to pray together,

00:35:00.720 --> 00:35:02.360
 to hear, to

00:35:02.360 --> 00:35:03.980
 attend to your

00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:05.600
 word visible in

00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:06.179
 the breaking of

00:35:06.179 --> 00:35:06.579
 the bread.

00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:10.460
 Teach us day by

00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:11.579
 day to walk with

00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:12.299
 you more closely

00:35:12.299 --> 00:35:13.980
 as we learn to

00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:14.699
 count our days.

00:35:14.860 --> 00:35:15.519
 This we ask in

00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:16.239
 Jesus' name.

00:35:16.519 --> 00:35:16.779
 Amen.