WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.040 Thanks, Stephen. Great to see you folks. My name is Graham. I'm the pastor here of the church. It's lovely to welcome you in particular if this is your first Sunday with us. 00:00:09.040 --> 00:00:16.760 Maybe you're new to the area. Maybe you're visiting Edinburgh for the weekend. Maybe even this is your first Sunday in church. I just want you to know how welcome you are here today. 00:00:17.400 --> 00:00:26.699 And in case you're wondering where those verses fit in, we have been in a series as a church over the summer in this Psalm, Psalm 119, the longest chapter in your Bible that comes up in the pub quiz. 00:00:26.699 --> 00:00:33.060 You can have that for free. We've been working our way through it, thinking about what this tells us about the words of God. 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:40.399 So you're going to need to have those verses open in front of you this morning so we can see the treasure that's contained in it. 00:00:41.619 --> 00:00:47.299 Here is what any financial advisor worth their salt will tell you is a sound investment strategy. 00:00:49.000 --> 00:00:52.480 It's called diversifying your portfolio. 00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:59.339 In other words, it's a good idea to not just invest your money in one thing. 00:01:00.199 --> 00:01:05.799 Actually, it's a really good idea to spread the risk and invest your money in several things. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:14.120 Or if you want to put it another way, if that's kind of above your level like me, really simple, complete the phrase that we use all the time. 00:01:14.219 --> 00:01:18.120 Don't put all your eggs in one basket. 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:18.680 Yeah. 00:01:20.359 --> 00:01:21.880 And this is how we think. 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:25.380 It's good to have a backup plan in life. 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:26.620 It's good to split the risk. 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:33.320 It's good to have all of our kind of hopes and ambitions in lots of different places just in case one of them happens to fall. 00:01:34.020 --> 00:01:41.680 And why this is worth listening to this morning is because the advice of the Psalmist when it comes to the Christian life, the Christian faith, 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:44.220 is that it doesn't work like that. 00:01:46.160 --> 00:01:49.900 And actually embracing that has led the Psalmist not to despair. 00:01:50.960 --> 00:01:54.340 It's actually led this guy to delight. 00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:56.160 And already I'm interested. 00:01:56.660 --> 00:02:00.280 I wonder if you saw that word crop up as we read it through. 00:02:00.360 --> 00:02:00.980 Now here's the question. 00:02:01.080 --> 00:02:02.320 What is the secret sauce? 00:02:03.360 --> 00:02:03.520 Yeah. 00:02:03.580 --> 00:02:05.420 What is his discovery? 00:02:05.420 --> 00:02:09.000 What has he found that he wants to share with the peoples of the world? 00:02:09.319 --> 00:02:11.819 Well, have a look at what he writes at verse 114. 00:02:12.039 --> 00:02:17.640 And if you want to have a verse to kind of grip onto as we go through this this morning, this is a good verse. 00:02:17.740 --> 00:02:19.319 You see it there, Psalm 114? 00:02:20.460 --> 00:02:21.439 Here's what he writes. 00:02:21.699 --> 00:02:22.599 I hope. 00:02:23.620 --> 00:02:24.939 That's going to be our key word this morning. 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:28.020 I hope in your word. 00:02:28.020 --> 00:02:35.400 And that's his way of saying when it comes to life and what it's all about and my future and my present. 00:02:36.180 --> 00:02:37.860 All my eggs are in this basket. 00:02:38.680 --> 00:02:43.780 He holds up his Bible and he says, all my eggs, all my hope, I'm all in with this. 00:02:46.020 --> 00:02:49.160 And the word hope, if you notice it there, comes up a few times in these verses. 00:02:49.320 --> 00:02:51.360 Just scan your eye over it and see if you can spot them. 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:58.260 The word hope comes up along with, if you notice it there, this idea of longing. 00:02:58.720 --> 00:02:59.500 Did you notice that? 00:02:59.660 --> 00:03:03.040 And waiting and panting and desiring. 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:06.660 It's all kind of encapsulated in that word hope. 00:03:06.760 --> 00:03:10.840 Now, I don't know what your current relationship status is with the word hope. 00:03:12.200 --> 00:03:14.820 As you walk in these doors this morning, maybe you're hopeless. 00:03:17.020 --> 00:03:18.180 Maybe you're hopeful. 00:03:18.180 --> 00:03:23.980 If you're a Scotland fan, this has kind of been the journey over the last couple of weeks, hasn't it? 00:03:25.540 --> 00:03:30.599 Notes in our odds for qualifying going from, what was it, 64% to 0.75%. 00:03:30.599 --> 00:03:35.340 The most Scottish thing ever is you looked at that stat and you thought there's still hope. 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:39.080 What is your relationship with the word hope this morning? 00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:42.020 Because we're creatures, aren't we? 00:03:42.020 --> 00:03:44.379 As creatures, we're hardwired for hope. 00:03:44.379 --> 00:03:50.280 Something needs to get us up out of our beds every morning. 00:03:50.379 --> 00:03:51.699 It's a horrible thing when there's not. 00:03:53.819 --> 00:03:55.240 Something needs to give us purpose. 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:57.419 Something needs to give us a reason to live. 00:03:57.979 --> 00:04:01.479 And the psalmist is saying, my hope, the thing that gets me out of bed every morning, 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:04.699 is what I find in your word. 00:04:04.699 --> 00:04:09.859 Now, to some extent, the themes that we're thinking about today, 00:04:09.979 --> 00:04:12.439 if you've been tracking with this series over the last number of weeks, 00:04:12.919 --> 00:04:15.179 in essence, it's really nothing new. 00:04:15.539 --> 00:04:18.699 Because remember, we're kind of dealing with a psalm here. 00:04:20.379 --> 00:04:25.959 And yes, it's a delightfully and deliberately composed celebration of the word of God. 00:04:25.959 --> 00:04:30.899 But we come here not expecting to see a logical, flowing argument. 00:04:31.319 --> 00:04:36.219 Because the psalms are the songs of the soul as we find them in the Bible. 00:04:36.439 --> 00:04:38.099 Here are emotions. 00:04:39.419 --> 00:04:40.759 Here's life in the raw. 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:46.799 Here is what it feels like to be a person of faith in a faithless world. 00:04:47.459 --> 00:04:51.599 I guess it's a bit like this psalm is a bit like looking through a kaleidoscope. 00:04:51.679 --> 00:04:52.899 If you remember this when you were a kid? 00:04:52.899 --> 00:04:58.879 It's the same colors, but you're just seeing it in different dimensions and angles and beauties. 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:03.199 I reckon that's what this guy's playing at in this psalm. 00:05:03.399 --> 00:05:08.060 A new, delightful combination that he keeps seeing as he picks up the Bible and says, 00:05:08.159 --> 00:05:10.939 I hope in your word. 00:05:11.639 --> 00:05:12.959 So there's nothing new here. 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:17.679 But I don't know about you, but I find that really reassuring. 00:05:17.819 --> 00:05:18.479 And here's why. 00:05:18.479 --> 00:05:21.339 Because I am so prone to forgetting. 00:05:22.899 --> 00:05:25.299 And we so quickly forget. 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:29.699 I don't know about you, but my attention span at the minute, it doesn't feel very long. 00:05:30.819 --> 00:05:31.879 We're at a stat this week. 00:05:31.919 --> 00:05:33.719 I don't know what you're like when you're online. 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:39.299 But apparently the average person expects a website to load in two seconds or less. 00:05:39.620 --> 00:05:43.439 And we will give it eight seconds before we either refresh the page, 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:44.959 think there's something wrong with the internet, 00:05:45.079 --> 00:05:46.339 we're on the phone to Virgin Media, 00:05:46.339 --> 00:05:49.619 or we just give up entirely after eight seconds. 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:52.759 We're people who are prone not just to forget. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:55.419 We're people who are prone to be impatient. 00:05:55.420 --> 00:06:02.420 And it's good to be reminded of where our hope is. 00:06:02.540 --> 00:06:06.560 Because I don't know about you, but so often it feels in my life like I'm like a paddling pool 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:09.140 that sat outside in the sun for a few days and been left. 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:11.720 And I've just leaked hope. 00:06:14.520 --> 00:06:15.879 Leaked the gospel. 00:06:15.879 --> 00:06:22.199 It's so good for my soul to be reminded of the certainty of the thing that I am hoping in. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:24.139 And of course, that's exactly what Anna was saying. 00:06:25.139 --> 00:06:26.879 So here's what we're going to see this morning. 00:06:26.980 --> 00:06:30.659 The psalmist is going to tell us one reason why we might stray from the scriptures. 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:36.000 And then he's going to tell us three reasons why we can stick with the scriptures. 00:06:36.159 --> 00:06:37.519 And here's my really simple aim. 00:06:38.500 --> 00:06:42.060 It's to help us see that three is bigger than one. 00:06:43.699 --> 00:06:44.699 Come with me and see. 00:06:44.699 --> 00:06:47.159 Here's the one reason we might stray. 00:06:47.259 --> 00:06:48.259 One of you saw it here. 00:06:48.339 --> 00:06:49.379 One of you noticed it. 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:53.479 One thing that might cause us to feel a little bit hopeless. 00:06:53.800 --> 00:06:58.339 And it really is simply when others mock and despise the Lord. 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:03.560 And in the psalmist, it seems like this is people both from within and without. 00:07:03.980 --> 00:07:05.560 Have a look at it here. 00:07:05.939 --> 00:07:09.699 People from within, he calls them double-minded at verse 113. 00:07:10.519 --> 00:07:11.500 This is our first verse, right? 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:12.500 Double-minded. 00:07:12.500 --> 00:07:14.699 Which is a word in the Bible. 00:07:14.819 --> 00:07:16.000 It's all about your heart attitude. 00:07:16.300 --> 00:07:18.959 It's kind of like you're wearing a 50-50 t-shirt. 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:21.060 You've got a foot in both camps. 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:23.879 This is a double-minded person. 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:30.180 So here are people that he's looking at in the community who are wearing the faith costume. 00:07:30.620 --> 00:07:37.480 But actually, with the words and their deeds, they're giving the message that they're entirely in a different camp. 00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:40.580 They're doing religious things. 00:07:40.580 --> 00:07:46.080 But they've got a heart that's driven by the desires and the behaviors of the world. 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:53.319 And somehow they're thinking that God should be happy with our robotic gestures and our hollow worship. 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:55.279 So this is one camp that he sees. 00:07:56.019 --> 00:07:57.259 People from within. 00:07:58.339 --> 00:08:03.540 But then he also looks out and he sees the people from without who are mocking the living God. 00:08:05.459 --> 00:08:06.860 Verse 119. 00:08:06.980 --> 00:08:08.600 People outwith the people of God. 00:08:08.719 --> 00:08:11.180 He calls them oppressors. 00:08:11.259 --> 00:08:11.719 Do you see that? 00:08:11.779 --> 00:08:14.980 Verses 122 and 134. 00:08:14.980 --> 00:08:20.700 People who mock the idea of faith. 00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:22.460 You're hoping in what? 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:23.420 You're trusting in who? 00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:24.420 You believe in what? 00:08:27.160 --> 00:08:29.600 And in turn, these groups of people, what are they doing? 00:08:29.700 --> 00:08:31.980 Verse 136, as he brings this together. 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:35.600 They are not keeping God's law. 00:08:36.220 --> 00:08:39.680 And you see and do you hear the perplexion in his voice. 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:51.839 And I take it what he writes at verse 126 gives us permission to feel a holy distaste when God's ways are totally violated. 00:08:53.219 --> 00:08:57.779 A compassionate concern when God's ways are ignored. 00:08:59.059 --> 00:09:01.359 But the psalmist is trusting the Lord. 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:09.059 And he's trusting the Lord that he will judge those who mock him in his own way and in his own perfect time. 00:09:09.059 --> 00:09:11.959 But in the meantime, do you see verse 118? 00:09:13.379 --> 00:09:15.859 How he's having this little inner pep talk with himself. 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:16.439 Do you see it? 00:09:17.379 --> 00:09:26.439 Verse 118, he's reminding himself that this group within, this group without their delusions will come to nothing. 00:09:29.119 --> 00:09:32.859 And what the psalmist is saying is that he wants God to help him stay true. 00:09:32.979 --> 00:09:33.699 That's his prayer. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:35.519 And how is he going to stay true? 00:09:35.619 --> 00:09:36.759 How is he going to stay the course? 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:39.759 Only by God's grace. 00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:41.200 Absolutely. 00:09:42.419 --> 00:09:46.120 But I think the psalmist is showing us a much better way to keep the course. 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:51.360 His prayer is not that God would take him out of the world. 00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:52.379 Right? 00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:54.419 Not out of the world. 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:58.939 I always love the insight of Wilbur Chapman here over the years. 00:09:59.039 --> 00:09:59.600 He said this. 00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:03.639 He said, it's not the ship in the water, but the water in the ship that sinks it. 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:08.600 So it is not the Christian in the world, but the world in the Christian that constitutes the danger. 00:10:08.699 --> 00:10:10.879 In other words, the answer is not to come out and be separate. 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:15.319 Neither is it to blend in and conform. 00:10:16.699 --> 00:10:25.580 The psalmist is showing us here that the answer in the Christian life is for God to awaken in us a love for something better. 00:10:25.580 --> 00:10:29.860 And here's how I think this works. 00:10:30.860 --> 00:10:31.780 I hope you find this helpful. 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:32.759 If not, amuse me. 00:10:33.040 --> 00:10:33.160 Okay. 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:40.920 Here's influential New York food critic Mimi Sheraton describing her love affair with caviar. 00:10:40.919 --> 00:10:47.360 It is now odd to think that when I was a child, I tasted caviar. 00:10:47.459 --> 00:10:48.079 It seemed horrible. 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:53.199 All that oily fishiness popping on the tongue, exclamation mark. 00:10:54.299 --> 00:10:58.819 And then one day when I was about 20, I tried it again and couldn't believe I had not loved it at first taste. 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:05.279 What seemed fishy suddenly I perceived as having an alluring deep sea flavor with a silky gliding texture 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:11.699 and a tintillating tongue curling edge of ripe earthiness that spoke to me of endurance, quality and development. 00:11:12.019 --> 00:11:14.039 A lessing in growing up and maturing taste. 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:17.879 Now I understood about 50% of those words, but I got what she was saying. 00:11:19.259 --> 00:11:21.120 Never tasted caviar in my life. 00:11:21.220 --> 00:11:22.759 I'm not sure that's going to change. 00:11:23.659 --> 00:11:25.319 But after reading that, I want to try it. 00:11:26.220 --> 00:11:26.419 Right? 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:28.079 I want to try it. 00:11:28.860 --> 00:11:31.959 And I think the psalmist is playing a similar game in this psalm. 00:11:32.959 --> 00:11:33.240 Right? 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:40.480 For the word that comes up five times in these verses is the word love. 00:11:42.060 --> 00:11:44.680 I love your word. 00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:46.299 Scan your eyes and see if you can see. 00:11:46.419 --> 00:11:49.460 Now, that is not accidental repetition. 00:11:51.139 --> 00:11:54.000 Nor is that evidence of a limited vocabulary. 00:11:55.080 --> 00:11:57.480 That is affectionate emphasis. 00:11:58.680 --> 00:12:01.320 I love your law. 00:12:01.320 --> 00:12:02.320 Verse 113. 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:02.960 Verse 113. 00:12:03.140 --> 00:12:05.400 I love your law. 00:12:05.660 --> 00:12:09.160 And that takes us to the three reasons, friends, why we can stick with the scriptures. 00:12:09.300 --> 00:12:09.860 You ready for this? 00:12:09.920 --> 00:12:10.700 Here's the first one. 00:12:11.420 --> 00:12:12.700 Three reasons we can stick. 00:12:12.780 --> 00:12:15.360 The first one is all to do with what the word is. 00:12:16.680 --> 00:12:18.480 What the Bible is. 00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:21.120 Have a look at verse 115. 00:12:21.420 --> 00:12:21.900 Come with me. 00:12:22.040 --> 00:12:22.340 See it? 00:12:22.340 --> 00:12:29.860 He says, so that I can keep the commandments of my God. 00:12:29.860 --> 00:12:33.879 Now, you do well to notice the personal pronoun there. 00:12:34.060 --> 00:12:34.600 Do you see it? 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:35.600 My God. 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:36.600 My God. 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:37.600 My God. 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:37.759 My God. 00:12:39.560 --> 00:12:41.759 So he's owning the fact that this is my God. 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:42.940 This is not our God. 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:45.820 This is not a Hail Mary prayer to any kind of God. 00:12:45.820 --> 00:12:50.020 This is a God that I know personally and has revealed himself personally to me. 00:12:51.940 --> 00:13:04.700 You know, John Stott always said that his biggest fear for students that came to his church down in London who were studying theology is that they would graduate talking about God in the third person and not the second. 00:13:04.700 --> 00:13:07.780 That's really interesting, isn't it? 00:13:08.140 --> 00:13:08.920 That was his heart. 00:13:10.680 --> 00:13:11.860 Very perceptive. 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:18.340 And I tell you, my biggest fear doing this role is that I get really good at doing this. 00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:21.080 And I get really bored with Jesus. 00:13:24.900 --> 00:13:32.200 And central to that not happening is reminding ourselves what this word is. 00:13:34.700 --> 00:13:35.960 It is God-breathed. 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:41.000 And this is one of the core convictions, I guess, that Christians have about the Bible. 00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:43.540 That this is not a coaching manual. 00:13:43.680 --> 00:13:45.860 This is not a self-help book. 00:13:46.180 --> 00:13:48.860 Nor is this a collection of short sayings. 00:13:49.020 --> 00:13:52.900 Nor is this a collection of Norse myths. 00:13:53.660 --> 00:13:57.120 This is the breathed-out word of the living God. 00:13:59.420 --> 00:14:03.560 Which means that when we open our Bibles, God opens his mouth. 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:07.400 He still speaks through what he has spoken. 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:15.200 And because it is God's word, do you see how he says, the psalmist is saying, this is totally trustworthy. 00:14:15.520 --> 00:14:17.400 Can I tell you that you can trust the Bible today? 00:14:17.920 --> 00:14:20.460 You can trust two things in particular real quick. 00:14:20.560 --> 00:14:22.540 You can trust its composition. 00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:29.099 That the Bible that we have in our hands is in the precise format that God intended it to be in. 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:33.079 We can trust that what we have is what God wanted us to have. 00:14:33.839 --> 00:14:35.039 You can trust the composition. 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:39.240 Listen, if you're struggling with that this morning, thinking I'd love to read a bit more about that, 00:14:39.339 --> 00:14:42.799 can I recommend this little book called Can I Really Trust the Bible? 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:44.319 By a guy called Barry Cooper. 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:47.080 If you're in Kindle, it's in a cheap Kindle deal just now. 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.360 But if you want it, come and grab it. 00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:49.580 I'm sure we can get other copies. 00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:51.300 Because it's really important to think about. 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:54.340 Because if we can't trust this, then the game's off. 00:14:56.300 --> 00:14:58.800 He's saying, the psalmist, I can trust its composition. 00:14:59.180 --> 00:15:01.000 But secondly, I can trust its content. 00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:06.660 Every word in the Bible is there because God wanted it there. 00:15:07.020 --> 00:15:09.200 There are no unexplainable contradictions. 00:15:09.400 --> 00:15:10.380 There are no errors. 00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:13.379 This summary, this holds. 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:22.960 We can trust God's words, all of it, all the time, every verse, without exception, without end. 00:15:23.299 --> 00:15:25.179 And the psalmist meditates on that. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:30.740 And he thinks to himself, this is a place where I can drop down an anchor in my life. 00:15:31.299 --> 00:15:33.580 And maybe that's exactly what you're searching for today. 00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:38.539 It was American lifestyle guru, Tim Ferriss. 00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:40.259 Read him recently. 00:15:41.299 --> 00:15:46.019 He had this phrase where he said, reality is largely negotiable. 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:50.480 And I guess if you're a billionaire, you can kind of play with that for a little bit, right? 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:54.340 And it sounds cutting edge and it sounds snazzy. 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:58.700 But how on earth do you live your life if reality is changing all the time? 00:15:58.700 --> 00:16:03.840 Verse 142. 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:08.620 The psalmist is rejoicing in the fact that God's righteousness is everlasting. 00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:16.960 He looks up and he takes stock that God's word originates in eternity past. 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:20.920 And God's word will not be moved or changed or grow powerless. 00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:24.559 It is timelessly perfect. 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:32.319 And because it's timelessly perfect, this is a safe place to drop the anchor in your life. 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:36.599 You know that old feeling when you look at an old photo of yourself? 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:43.620 And I don't know, maybe from years ago you've got a meticulous comb over you thought was trendy back in the day. 00:16:43.700 --> 00:16:45.600 Or you've got a groovy set of ripped jeans. 00:16:46.700 --> 00:16:47.899 Or whatever it is. 00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:50.139 What do you look at that photo and think to yourself? 00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:52.299 What was I thinking? 00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:53.519 Yeah? 00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:56.980 What was I doing? 00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:02.519 What the psalmist is saying here about God's word is that unlike us, 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:07.139 it's not going to change with the seasons. 00:17:08.139 --> 00:17:08.339 Yeah? 00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:10.019 It's not going to change with the seasons. 00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:14.019 It's not like a carton of milk you've got in your fridge that you've left for a couple of weeks and forgot about and it's gone off. 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:16.220 There's no expiry date with God's word. 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:18.779 There's no expiry date with his promises. 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:26.279 So the psalmist here looks down the line of history and he sees generation after generation after generation 00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:30.899 walking around God's word as it were, kicking the tires, making sure this thing stands. 00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:37.099 And they're testifying, putting their hands up, saying this is something that we can rely upon, the word of God. 00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:39.420 And he's good. 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:42.899 And this God always delivers on his promises. 00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:44.480 Do you see that verse 140? 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:45.579 What is he rejoicing? 00:17:45.579 --> 00:17:49.480 That your promises, God, have been well tested. 00:17:49.639 --> 00:17:50.379 That's what he's saying. 00:17:51.659 --> 00:17:52.839 It's me and my generation. 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:54.859 Generations. 00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:57.119 Generations before me have said 00:17:57.119 --> 00:18:00.319 that God is good all the time and all the time God is good. 00:18:02.899 --> 00:18:05.079 Your servant loves them. 00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:09.740 The second reason, friends, that we can stick with the scriptures is all to do what the word gives. 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:13.519 Do you see him tell us, verse 130, the unfolding of your word? 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:19.939 That just means when we look at it, we hear it preached, when we base our lives upon it, what does it do? 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:21.939 It gives light. 00:18:22.179 --> 00:18:23.659 Now, do you know what woke me up the other night? 00:18:24.899 --> 00:18:25.619 The lightning. 00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:26.480 Do you see it? 00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:29.399 Thought there was a police van outside. 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:31.019 Thought there was fireworks going off. 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:33.859 But I'm waking up because our room is lit. 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:36.500 It's pitch black outside, but it's lit. 00:18:37.639 --> 00:18:38.680 And this is what he's saying. 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:44.940 God's word, when I spend time meditating on it and thinking about it, it's like it lights up my life. 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:45.779 That's what he's saying. 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:49.740 And it imparts understanding to the simple. 00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:54.819 So he's reflecting on the fact that God's word, as it gives light to his life and to our lives, 00:18:55.019 --> 00:19:00.299 it gives him more insight, more wisdom, more understanding than anything else that's out there on the market. 00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:09.359 And so his advice is that when it comes to wisdom, don't start by looking in. 00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:11.440 Don't start by looking out. 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:14.039 Start by looking up. 00:19:15.639 --> 00:19:21.180 The psalmist looks up and he sees the heavens that declare to him the glory of God, 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:23.599 the sky that declares his handiwork, 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:31.500 the stars that are singing about the glory of the creator who made them and gives them number and calls them out. 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:34.699 And as he looks up, he then, as it were, he looks down. 00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:40.059 He looks down to the Bible in his hands and the God that he knows. 00:19:40.959 --> 00:19:44.539 And he says, this is the place where I'm basing my life. 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:51.019 Friends, how easily we're deceived into thinking that our better life and better joy and better wisdom 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:55.139 is to be found out with God's word than it is within it. 00:19:55.140 --> 00:20:02.540 And notice the humility in his voice as he prays verse 144. 00:20:03.820 --> 00:20:06.480 Give me understanding that I may live. 00:20:06.540 --> 00:20:07.060 Do you know what this is? 00:20:07.100 --> 00:20:09.040 It's the confession of a lifelong learner. 00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:12.380 Give me understanding. 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.160 There's a great thing too. 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:15.160 If you're in the habit of reading the Bible every day, 00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:19.440 that is a great verse to put on a post-it note and stick on the front of your Bible. 00:20:20.060 --> 00:20:22.200 Give me understanding. 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:24.900 But it's also more than just a little tip. 00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:27.759 It's actually a revelation that I find really refreshing. 00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:33.240 Because at the end of the day, who is this guy? 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.240 We don't know his name. 00:20:34.360 --> 00:20:35.059 Don't know who he is. 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:38.539 Is he a colossus of the faith? 00:20:40.140 --> 00:20:41.900 Is he a spiritual giant? 00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:44.880 No, actually at the end of the day, do you know what he is? 00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:47.860 He's a lost sheep just like you and I. 00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:56.519 And Mr. Sam 119 is so aware of his weakness, fragility, and complete reliance upon the Lord. 00:20:59.019 --> 00:21:00.779 And is that not the authentic Christian life? 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.919 Do you not know that to be true? 00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:07.519 One minute you're singing, the next minute you're straying. 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:09.799 I take it this should encourage us. 00:21:10.679 --> 00:21:16.879 Like a magnet and with the iron fillings, we should be drawn back to God's word. 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:21.120 And so he concludes about the word, verse 126. 00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:23.460 I love it more than gold. 00:21:23.580 --> 00:21:25.520 And as if he pauses, I can do better than that. 00:21:26.080 --> 00:21:27.760 I love it more than fine gold. 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:36.720 In the midst of all the commotion and he's surrounded by mockers, he says, verse 123, do you know what? 00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:39.960 I long for your salvation. 00:21:40.420 --> 00:21:41.960 In other words, I long for your promise. 00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:46.839 I long to see the thing that you said will happen come true. 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:50.379 He's longing for God's promised rescue to come. 00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:53.180 And he's declaring, would you have mercy on me? 00:21:54.860 --> 00:21:56.640 Would you forgive my mistakes? 00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:59.400 Would you make me yours? 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:01.380 Friends, you know what? 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:05.180 In one way or another, he's longing for the cross. 00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:12.160 And this is where we'll kind of bring it to close this morning and land on that note. 00:22:12.820 --> 00:22:14.279 He's longing for the cross. 00:22:16.140 --> 00:22:25.060 You know, my favorite story from the World Cup so far is the one featuring this guy called Anthony Alanga. 00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:30.299 You might not have even noticed this, but I noticed it because I'm a preacher and I like looking for sermon illustrations. 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:32.599 Anthony Alanga. 00:22:32.919 --> 00:22:34.299 So playing for Sweden. 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:38.079 And in their last group game, they draw 1-1 with Japan. 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:42.279 And Anthony Alanga slumps to his feet in despair. 00:22:43.619 --> 00:22:49.500 Because he's not aware that actually a point was good enough to see them through to the group stages. 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:52.039 So he's sitting there in despair. 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:55.480 And actually all it takes is one of his teammates to come over to him and remind him, 00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:57.639 actually, Anthony, see that point we just won? 00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:59.779 Actually, that got us through. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:01.980 And do you know what? 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:04.920 It reminded me of the reason why I love coming to church every Sunday. 00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:07.960 It's because so often I feel like that. 00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:10.460 It's been a really tough week. 00:23:10.819 --> 00:23:12.399 Messed it up in so many ways. 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:15.259 My thoughts and emotions are all over the place. 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:15.859 And do you know what? 00:23:15.899 --> 00:23:19.259 Sometimes, like, it's a real effort to try and get here. 00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:21.279 But do you know why I love coming here? 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:26.279 I love coming here every Sunday because it reminds me that there's a victory that's already been won. 00:23:27.899 --> 00:23:28.379 You like me? 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:31.440 Reminding ourselves that there's a victory that's already been won. 00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:33.740 Why do we meet on a Sunday of all the days of the week? 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:35.480 Why do Christians meet on the Sunday? 00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:41.299 It's because it's the day when Jesus rose from the dead. 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:46.019 So, friends, there is every reason to hope. 00:23:47.099 --> 00:23:48.940 Be reminded that there's something worth celebrating. 00:23:49.419 --> 00:23:52.059 Just see verse 122 just as we close. 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:55.759 The psalmist is praying here. 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:58.440 And I think the ESV captures it slightly better than the NIV. 00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:02.379 He's saying, God, would you give me a pledge of good? 00:24:03.179 --> 00:24:04.099 So what's he saying? 00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:06.779 Would you show me that you're always for me? 00:24:08.339 --> 00:24:10.059 Would you show me that you love me? 00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:12.279 Would you show me that you're true to your promises? 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:14.079 And I wonder if you're thinking that this morning. 00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:15.879 How do I know God loves me? 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:20.319 How do I know I can trust on his every word? 00:24:20.379 --> 00:24:21.700 How do I know that he's for me? 00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:23.359 Do you know the answer to that question? 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:25.220 Because we're living this side of the cross. 00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:28.720 The answer is Jesus. 00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:34.759 Friends, if you're struggling with that thought this morning, 00:24:34.859 --> 00:24:37.139 drag yourself to the cross. 00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:40.400 It's why we sing about what Christ has done. 00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:42.780 It's why we speak to each other about what Christ has done. 00:24:42.840 --> 00:24:44.840 It's why we spend our time thinking about the Bible 00:24:44.840 --> 00:24:46.960 because it reminds us about what Christ has done. 00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:48.940 It reminds us who our Savior is. 00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:53.120 We drag ourselves to the cross and we see the Son of God, 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:57.780 the living Word, having lived and breathed this psalm. 00:24:57.820 --> 00:24:58.860 We don't have time to go into that, 00:24:58.860 --> 00:25:01.560 but he lives and breathes this psalm. 00:25:03.060 --> 00:25:06.520 Suspended there on the cross for our sin, 00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:09.019 for our mistakes, for our shame, 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:12.460 taking the blame that was ours on his shoulders. 00:25:12.639 --> 00:25:15.779 Jesus, the one who set aside all his glory, 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:18.799 did it so that we could have it by faith in him. 00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:22.960 Jesus, the one who's died and the one who has risen. 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:26.519 Jesus, the one who stands at the right hand of the Father, 00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:30.900 bearing our names as his dearly loved and adopted children. 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:34.279 Jesus, the one who stands at the right hand of God, 00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:36.960 interceding and praying for us. 00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:40.599 Friends, the Word of God is where life is. 00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.180 Do you know why? 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:44.660 Because the God of the Christian faith is a God who speaks. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:49.980 And central to what he speaks is Jesus Christ crucified. 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.519 And here's the point. 00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:53.680 Think in that verse. 00:25:53.680 --> 00:26:01.019 Christ Jesus is God's glorious pledge of good to us. 00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:05.120 Tell me the old, old story. 00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:06.920 Tell me the old, old story. 00:26:07.060 --> 00:26:12.200 Tell me the old, old story of Jesus and his love. 00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:12.799 Let me pray. 00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:18.160 And so, Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for this new day. 00:26:18.320 --> 00:26:19.580 Thank you today is Sunday. 00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:28.699 Thank you that today, Lord, is the day when we remember that Jesus is alive. 00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:35.159 And so, Father, we bring all of our concerns and our worries and our burdens and our sins, 00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:38.679 and we bring them to your Son. 00:26:40.159 --> 00:26:41.579 And we remember his life. 00:26:41.679 --> 00:26:42.720 We remember his death. 00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:44.079 We remember his resurrection. 00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:46.359 We remember his ascension to your right hand. 00:26:46.359 --> 00:26:51.219 And we remember the fact that one day he will return in glory to judge the living and the dead 00:26:51.219 --> 00:26:56.159 and usher in a new creation where righteousness dwells. 00:26:56.399 --> 00:26:58.339 Lord, we remember the old, old story today. 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:01.099 And so, we thank you for your word. 00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:07.979 Thank you for this series in Psalm 119, just reminding us of the centrality of your word. 00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:13.399 Father, we thank you that we've heard through Anna's story today as well, 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:17.480 that you are a God who's in the business of transforming lives. 00:27:18.300 --> 00:27:19.420 So, Lord, encourage us. 00:27:19.560 --> 00:27:20.280 Lift our eyes. 00:27:21.060 --> 00:27:21.740 Lift our chins. 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:24.560 Lift our thoughts to the greatness of Jesus, we pray. 00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:26.300 In his wonderful name. 00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:27.220 Amen. 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:27.360 Amen. 00:27:28.040 --> 00:27:28.360 Amen.