WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.100 Well, good morning, church. Turn with me if you have a Bible, or you can follow along on the screen. 00:00:05.339 --> 00:00:13.200 We'll be reading this morning from Psalm 95. We're doing a series on the Psalms this fall, 00:00:13.700 --> 00:00:18.760 or I guess it's becoming winter. As we've said, the Psalms are a collection of songs and prayers 00:00:18.760 --> 00:00:22.300 that were written over the course of several hundred years by several different people, 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:27.460 and they were gradually collected together and became a song book or a prayer book for the 00:00:27.460 --> 00:00:32.980 ancient Israelites. And we've seen there are all kinds of different Psalms that teach us to pray 00:00:32.980 --> 00:00:38.760 in all kinds of different circumstances. So we've looked at Psalms of lament, people crying out to 00:00:38.760 --> 00:00:43.859 God in the middle of trouble. We've looked at Psalms of confession, people turning to God in the midst 00:00:43.859 --> 00:00:49.640 of failure when they've messed up and finding God's mercy. We've seen Psalms of thanksgiving, 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:54.260 where people are just remembering the blessings that they've received from God. This is a Psalm 00:00:54.259 --> 00:01:00.219 of worship, and in fact of coming together to worship as a community in particular. 00:01:01.099 --> 00:01:10.280 We might call it a call to corporate worship. So let me read Psalm 95 for us this morning. 00:01:11.739 --> 00:01:19.219 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord. Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 00:01:19.219 --> 00:01:26.640 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving. Let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:33.879 praise, for the Lord is a great God. And a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of 00:01:33.879 --> 00:01:42.539 the earth. The heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed 00:01:42.540 --> 00:01:54.180 the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord, our maker, for he is 00:01:54.180 --> 00:02:02.700 our God. And we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. Today if you hear his voice, 00:02:03.380 --> 00:02:09.920 don't harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day at Massa in the wilderness, when your fathers put me 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:16.359 to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. For forty years I loathed that 00:02:16.359 --> 00:02:23.019 generation and said they are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways. 00:02:23.139 --> 00:02:34.000 Therefore I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest. Where is this world headed? 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:42.280 And where is my life going? I wonder if you've asked either of those questions lately. 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:49.979 Probably many of us have seen signs over the last few months saying something like, 00:02:50.099 --> 00:02:56.439 we will get through this together. Right? And I think that expresses a good aspiration towards 00:02:56.439 --> 00:03:01.840 solidarity and steadfastness in an age where there's a division and disillusionment. 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:08.200 But it leaves also an unanswered question. As a society, after we get through this, 00:03:09.140 --> 00:03:14.240 where exactly are we headed? Or we might ask that question on a personal level. 00:03:15.300 --> 00:03:19.819 You know, many people in the ancient world, in the modern world, secular people, religious people, 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:24.780 have spoken of life as a journey. The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu wrote, 00:03:24.900 --> 00:03:30.439 the journey of a thousand miles starts beneath one's feet, or with a single step. 00:03:30.439 --> 00:03:38.240 Aerosmith sang, life's a journey, not a destination, and I just can't tell just what tomorrow brings. 00:03:39.099 --> 00:03:46.340 Right? But if my life's a journey, here's the question. Is it just an endless wandering or meandering? 00:03:46.860 --> 00:03:50.919 Or is there a final destination where we're headed? 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:59.379 Well, the psalm we're looking at today extends an invitation. An invitation to worship. 00:04:00.419 --> 00:04:06.159 In other words, an invitation to join God's people on a journey towards God's presence. 00:04:07.479 --> 00:04:11.939 And according to the Bible, that's what the human race was made to do from the very beginning, 00:04:12.060 --> 00:04:17.219 to worship God and to draw near to Him and to live in His presence. 00:04:17.220 --> 00:04:24.040 Now, we don't know for sure who first wrote this psalm, or when exactly it was written, 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:29.800 but a good possibility is that this psalm was written for Jewish pilgrims 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:33.380 journeying to one of the three annual festivals in Jerusalem. 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:37.420 Three times a year, many of the Jewish people would travel to Jerusalem, 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:39.640 and they would meet together in the temple. 00:04:39.760 --> 00:04:42.100 In the fall, there was a feast called the Feast of Tabernacles. 00:04:42.100 --> 00:04:46.900 So they would gather together, they would come together in the temple 00:04:46.900 --> 00:04:51.000 and listen to God's word where God had promised to be present with them. 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:53.460 If you notice, verse 1 and verse 6 begin with the words, 00:04:53.780 --> 00:04:56.820 O come, right? It's an invitation, come along. 00:04:58.900 --> 00:05:02.620 So just imagine these pilgrims singing the words of this psalm 00:05:02.620 --> 00:05:07.060 as they journeyed toward Jerusalem and finally entering in. 00:05:07.060 --> 00:05:11.379 Ever since the early church, Christians have also looked to this psalm 00:05:11.379 --> 00:05:14.860 and received this psalm as an invitation to corporate worship. 00:05:15.019 --> 00:05:18.780 So in many liturgical churches or churches with sort of a set routine 00:05:18.780 --> 00:05:21.620 for what is read each week, 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:25.120 this is often an invitation at the beginning of morning prayer 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:28.139 or other prayer gatherings. 00:05:29.540 --> 00:05:33.920 So, you know, maybe you're here today exploring faith or spirituality 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:36.040 or maybe you're tuning in for the first time 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:38.980 and you're sort of wondering what Christianity is all about. 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:42.340 I hope this psalm for you could be an introduction 00:05:42.340 --> 00:05:44.480 to the God who Christians worship, 00:05:44.860 --> 00:05:49.660 as well as an invitation to consider orienting your life around him. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:52.300 For those of us who are Christians, 00:05:52.900 --> 00:05:55.439 I hope this psalm will be an encouragement for us, 00:05:55.840 --> 00:05:58.960 an encouragement to worship God and to draw near to him 00:05:58.960 --> 00:06:01.639 and also a guide for what it actually means, 00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:03.180 what it looks like to do that. 00:06:04.580 --> 00:06:08.480 This psalm actually points us to three aspects of worship. 00:06:09.740 --> 00:06:13.120 And the first one I'll call rejoicing before God's greatness. 00:06:13.340 --> 00:06:16.120 The second one I'll call reverence before God's kindness. 00:06:16.300 --> 00:06:19.640 And the third we'll call responding to God's word. 00:06:19.980 --> 00:06:22.680 So rejoicing, reverence, and response. 00:06:22.960 --> 00:06:25.780 We'll see these as we go through the three sections of the psalm. 00:06:25.840 --> 00:06:28.340 So first, rejoicing before God's greatness. 00:06:28.340 --> 00:06:31.460 We see this in verses 1 through 5. 00:06:31.459 --> 00:06:34.359 The psalm begins with a summons to rejoice. 00:06:34.680 --> 00:06:36.919 Look at the verbs in verses 1 and 2. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:39.219 Sing to the Lord. 00:06:39.779 --> 00:06:42.120 It's a word that means give a ringing shout. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:44.639 Make a joyful noise. 00:06:44.740 --> 00:06:48.779 The word was used for a triumphant war cry or for a trumpet blast. 00:06:48.779 --> 00:06:53.279 So we see a picture of God's people speaking to one another, 00:06:53.399 --> 00:06:55.079 sort of urging each other on. 00:06:55.679 --> 00:06:56.479 Let us sing. 00:06:56.619 --> 00:06:57.919 Let us make a joyful noise. 00:06:58.059 --> 00:07:00.879 Let us come before God with thanksgiving. 00:07:01.939 --> 00:07:05.000 In one commentator's words, this is an exuberant opening, 00:07:05.339 --> 00:07:08.079 an expression of unashamed enthusiasm, 00:07:08.419 --> 00:07:10.719 an acclamation fit for a king. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:16.800 And then in verses 3 of 5, we see the reason for this rejoicing. 00:07:17.860 --> 00:07:20.460 For the Lord is a great God. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:23.860 And a great king above all gods. 00:07:23.940 --> 00:07:25.500 Now, as we've been going through the psalms, 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:27.980 if you've been coming or listening to these sermons, 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:31.420 you may have noticed a common pattern in the psalms. 00:07:32.120 --> 00:07:33.140 And the pattern is this. 00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:36.620 One line echoes or builds upon, 00:07:36.700 --> 00:07:39.120 or sometimes contrasts, the prior line. 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:43.840 The technical or literary term for this is called parallelism. 00:07:45.100 --> 00:07:48.319 Now, parallelism can almost seem redundant at times, right? 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:51.699 Here, we have the word great repeated twice. 00:07:51.840 --> 00:07:54.740 The Lord is a great God, a great king above all gods. 00:07:54.780 --> 00:07:57.139 But it's more than just repetition for emphasis. 00:07:58.680 --> 00:08:04.259 The second line often takes the initial idea one step further, 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:06.399 or one step deeper. 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:08.539 So here, it says, 00:08:08.659 --> 00:08:10.000 The Lord is a great God. 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:11.839 And then it goes on to say, 00:08:11.939 --> 00:08:15.159 A great king above all gods. 00:08:15.979 --> 00:08:19.639 You see, the God of the Bible is not just one among many gods out there. 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:25.699 He is the supreme Lord who reigns over every other power and authority 00:08:25.699 --> 00:08:27.819 in heaven and on earth. 00:08:27.959 --> 00:08:29.439 That's what the Bible claims. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:34.679 Now, one of the fascinating things about the psalms 00:08:34.679 --> 00:08:40.879 is that their primary distinguishing feature on a literary level 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:43.399 is what I've called this parallelism. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:45.700 Now, many poems, 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:48.480 if you read different kinds of poetry in different languages, 00:08:48.679 --> 00:08:53.860 some poems are distinguished by steady beats or beautiful rhythms. 00:08:53.860 --> 00:08:58.840 But if you try to translate a poem with a steady beat 00:08:58.840 --> 00:09:02.840 or a beautiful rhythm from one language into another language, 00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:04.680 it's almost impossible to do that. 00:09:05.560 --> 00:09:08.539 And you almost always lose a lot in the process 00:09:08.539 --> 00:09:12.000 because there aren't always the same words that rhyme in another language. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:15.500 But here's the thing. 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:19.580 The psalms can be translated into all kinds of languages 00:09:19.580 --> 00:09:23.860 because their distinguishing feature is not a steady beat or a beautiful rhythm, 00:09:23.860 --> 00:09:28.340 but these echoing or building ideas, 00:09:28.900 --> 00:09:31.780 these images that build on each other. 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:35.580 You see, God designed the psalms not just for the ancient Israelites 00:09:35.580 --> 00:09:39.620 and not just for modern scholars who can study Hebrew and appreciate Hebrew, 00:09:39.780 --> 00:09:43.220 but for people of every nation, speakers of every language, 00:09:43.580 --> 00:09:45.920 to take these prayers upon their lips 00:09:45.920 --> 00:09:49.460 and draw near to the one true God with them. 00:09:50.440 --> 00:09:53.940 You see, these psalms, even in the way they're constructed, 00:09:54.180 --> 00:09:57.660 literarily are meant for the whole world. 00:09:58.560 --> 00:10:02.379 The Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods. 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:05.860 It says the depths and the heights, the sea and the dry land, 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:08.680 the whole world belongs to this God. 00:10:09.660 --> 00:10:12.720 Now in the ancient world, that was a revolutionary idea 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:17.620 because nearly everyone else in the ancient world believed 00:10:17.620 --> 00:10:22.700 that the world was under the rule of various territorial deities. 00:10:22.700 --> 00:10:24.680 So in Canaanite mythology, 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:27.320 Baal was the God of the heights, the mountains, 00:10:28.259 --> 00:10:30.120 the God of fertility and prosperity. 00:10:31.100 --> 00:10:35.920 So people gathered at mountaintop shrines to seek the favor of Baal. 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:39.659 On the other hand, there was a God named Molech, 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:41.079 who was the God of the depths. 00:10:41.979 --> 00:10:44.939 And so people gathered in caves and dark places 00:10:44.939 --> 00:10:50.139 and carried out actually some dark rituals to worship Molech. 00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:55.539 In Babylonian mythology, there was a God of the sea named Tiamat, right? 00:10:55.580 --> 00:10:59.360 The sea was this overpowering, right? 00:10:59.460 --> 00:11:02.279 The sea could easily overpower you, right? 00:11:02.319 --> 00:11:04.860 And so they worshiped this God of the sea, 00:11:05.259 --> 00:11:08.659 the God of power and control and domination. 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:12.080 But you know, throughout the Hebrew Bible, 00:11:12.220 --> 00:11:13.159 throughout the Old Testament, 00:11:13.159 --> 00:11:16.139 we hear a very different idea. 00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:19.679 There's a confident and consistent proclamation 00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:24.639 that there's only one deity truly worth fearing. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:27.259 There's only one living and true God 00:11:27.259 --> 00:11:30.740 who rules over everything, everywhere, without any exceptions. 00:11:31.959 --> 00:11:33.639 And so you don't have to worry. 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:36.219 You see, many people in the ancient world lived in fear 00:11:36.219 --> 00:11:40.600 that there was some God of some place 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:44.379 that maybe they didn't quite know how to please that God. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:49.899 Or maybe that God was having a battle with a nearby God, right? 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:52.639 So there was, you could never be totally secure 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:56.659 with all these territorial gods inhabiting different places, 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:58.700 the heights, the depths, the sea, the desert. 00:12:00.920 --> 00:12:03.180 And so this would have been a liberating message 00:12:03.180 --> 00:12:05.080 for people who had lived in constant fear 00:12:05.080 --> 00:12:08.639 and constant efforts to please many, many different gods. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:12.519 The Lord is a great king above all gods. 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:17.299 You see, no matter where you are on your journey of life, 00:12:17.819 --> 00:12:20.439 whether you're on a highest mountaintop 00:12:20.439 --> 00:12:23.000 or whether you're in the deepest, darkest valley, 00:12:23.100 --> 00:12:27.679 the message of the Bible is that the Lord is God. 00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:32.879 His hands formed it all and his hands hold it all. 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:34.960 He's the only one you really need 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:38.460 because he's the only God who's always there. 00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:41.580 Now, some of you might say, 00:12:41.680 --> 00:12:45.340 well, okay, I guess I can see how that was a revolutionary idea back then 00:12:45.340 --> 00:12:48.580 when people thought the mountains and the valleys and the seas 00:12:48.580 --> 00:12:50.139 were haunted by different spirits. 00:12:50.300 --> 00:12:52.660 But, I mean, we live in the modern world. 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:57.060 I mean, nobody even recognizes those names of ancient gods anymore. 00:12:57.059 --> 00:13:05.459 But I think modern people still worship gods like these. 00:13:06.539 --> 00:13:08.639 Modern people still worship gods like Baal, 00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:12.399 gods of fertility and prosperity and pleasure and success. 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:13.959 People go to great lengths, 00:13:14.599 --> 00:13:16.879 spend huge amounts of money, huge amounts of time, 00:13:16.979 --> 00:13:20.500 huge amounts of energy pursuing fertility, pleasure, success, 00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:21.879 and material prosperity, 00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:24.139 all those things that Baal was supposed to provide. 00:13:24.139 --> 00:13:29.439 And yet that quest for pleasure and prosperity 00:13:29.439 --> 00:13:31.500 can be brought to a screeching halt 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:36.379 when unwanted sickness or suffering or pain or loss intrudes. 00:13:37.500 --> 00:13:40.620 When suffering strikes as it has in so many ways this year, 00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:43.419 gods like Baal have nothing meaningful to say, 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:44.840 nothing helpful to say. 00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:46.220 The only thing they can say is, 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:48.039 just wait until the next party. 00:13:48.819 --> 00:13:51.120 Just wait until the bars and nightclubs open again. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:54.620 Just wait until you can do what you used to be able to do. 00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:59.039 And so some people turn to gods like Molech, 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:00.419 the gods of the depths, 00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:04.320 the gods of darkness and despair and secrecy and shame. 00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:09.519 Just think about how prevalent addictions of all kinds 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:11.139 have become in our society. 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:15.620 How many times people retreat into dark corners 00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:18.120 and hide behind anonymous web browsers 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:20.360 and continue doing the same things 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:22.259 which they would even admit are self-destructive, 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:25.259 but they continue doing the same things over and over again. 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:29.860 Every year the number of deaths of despair, 00:14:31.179 --> 00:14:32.740 suicides and overdoses, 00:14:33.580 --> 00:14:34.340 keeps increasing. 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:40.159 Other people deal with the chaos and unpredictability of the world 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:41.759 by turning to gods like Tiamat, 00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:43.460 the ancient god of the sea, 00:14:43.560 --> 00:14:45.279 the god of power and control. 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:47.720 And we try to seize that power and control. 00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:51.059 We try to obtain and maintain power and control, 00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:54.019 whether it's through physical strength or emotional manipulation. 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:56.939 But the worship of power makes us hardened 00:14:56.939 --> 00:14:59.019 and cynical and selfish, 00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:01.539 and ultimately it dehumanizes us. 00:15:03.199 --> 00:15:05.480 You see, these ancient gods are still very present 00:15:05.480 --> 00:15:07.500 in the modern world, just in different forms. 00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:13.200 But none of those false gods can give lasting joy. 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:18.340 Only the true God, the great king above all gods can do that. 00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:19.580 He's the god of the heights, 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:21.360 the giver of every good gift. 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:23.440 He's the god of the depths who can meet us 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:27.139 and shine his light into our darkest, deepest valley 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:29.639 and who can walk with us through it. 00:15:30.179 --> 00:15:32.360 And he's the god of the turbulent waters 00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:36.139 who can abide with us 00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:39.360 and bring us peace in the midst of the storm. 00:15:40.820 --> 00:15:42.519 You know, if you turn to the New Testament, 00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:45.060 if you read the gospels in the New Testament, 00:15:45.419 --> 00:15:49.159 they show us that Jesus Christ is the lord of all these places. 00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:51.279 One of his first miracles is 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:53.980 Jesus turns water into wine at a wedding. 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:55.440 He's better than Baal. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:59.580 He's the god of joy and life and beauty. 00:16:01.280 --> 00:16:03.500 But he's also the god who meets people 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:07.080 in their place of shame and despair and darkness, 00:16:07.280 --> 00:16:10.700 who touches the lepers and befriends the outcasts 00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:13.080 and heals people who have been sick 00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:14.900 for years and years and years 00:16:14.900 --> 00:16:18.900 and who have been shut out and abandoned. 00:16:19.540 --> 00:16:21.000 And he welcomes them in. 00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:24.700 And he walks on the troubled waters. 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:26.880 And bids the storm be still. 00:16:27.820 --> 00:16:30.420 He's the great king above all gods. 00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:33.060 You see, we have a reason to rejoice 00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:36.720 before the greatness of our God and Savior. 00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:39.400 That's the first aspect of worship 00:16:39.400 --> 00:16:41.420 that this psalm invites us into 00:16:41.420 --> 00:16:45.020 is rejoicing before the greatness of God. 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:47.900 But the second aspect of worship 00:16:47.900 --> 00:16:49.920 that this psalm invites us into 00:16:49.920 --> 00:16:54.240 is reverence before the kindness of God. 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:56.080 In verses 6 and 7, 00:16:57.539 --> 00:17:00.000 O come, let us worship and bow down. 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:02.600 Let us kneel before the Lord, 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:04.200 our maker. 00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:08.160 You see, here we're called to take a posture 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:09.380 of reverent humility, 00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:12.539 of quiet submission before the Lord. 00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:15.480 All these three verbs in verse 6 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:18.519 emphasize the idea of getting low before God, 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:21.460 accepting our own place and acknowledging his. 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.779 He is God. 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:23.880 We are not. 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:26.620 But this is not a distant, 00:17:27.100 --> 00:17:29.220 formal kind of reverence. 00:17:30.340 --> 00:17:31.660 You know, you might have noticed 00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:33.440 that both verse 1 and verse 6 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:34.279 begin with the words, 00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:35.100 O come. 00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:36.799 But the Hebrew verbs are actually 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:37.700 slightly different. 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:39.100 The first one in verse 1 00:17:39.100 --> 00:17:39.860 means something like, 00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:40.620 come along. 00:17:41.600 --> 00:17:43.160 Join us on this journey. 00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:45.040 But the verb in verse 6 00:17:45.040 --> 00:17:45.860 means something like, 00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:46.840 come on in. 00:17:47.600 --> 00:17:48.519 Enter in 00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:50.700 to the presence of this God. 00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:52.900 Come before him. 00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:55.519 Kneel before him with reverence. 00:17:57.120 --> 00:17:58.519 You see, it's not an idea 00:17:58.519 --> 00:18:00.120 of shrinking back from God 00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:01.920 or running away from God in terror. 00:18:02.120 --> 00:18:03.460 It's the idea of drawing near 00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:04.640 to God with reverence. 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.600 That's what this psalm 00:18:05.600 --> 00:18:06.640 is inviting us to. 00:18:07.540 --> 00:18:09.160 And verse 7 gives us the reason 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:10.540 for such reverence. 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:12.519 Because of the Lord's kindness. 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:14.339 He's our maker. 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.220 In other words, 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.879 he's made us who we are. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:19.319 Just like he made the sea 00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:20.099 in verse 5, 00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:21.940 he made us to be 00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:23.159 his very own people, 00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:23.899 his children, 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.879 his inheritance, 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:26.859 whom he loves. 00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:29.240 And he's not just a great God. 00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:30.720 It says he's our God. 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:33.240 We can know him as ours. 00:18:34.399 --> 00:18:36.079 We can know him as a shepherd. 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:38.799 We're the people of his pasture. 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:41.079 We're the sheep of his hand. 00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:43.319 You know, in the ancient world, 00:18:43.419 --> 00:18:45.180 a shepherd during the daytime 00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:48.279 would lead his flock as a group 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:50.000 to a green pasture 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:51.299 where they all could feed. 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:53.079 But at nighttime, 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:55.419 he went one step further. 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:58.379 He would count them one by one. 00:18:58.519 --> 00:19:00.500 Each one would pass under his hand 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:02.519 as they entered the fold. 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:04.379 You know, the Bible says 00:19:04.379 --> 00:19:06.480 that Jesus Christ is a good shepherd. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:10.259 And that he cares for his flock, 00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:11.799 right, his church, 00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:13.099 his people as a group, 00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:15.019 but he also sees us 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:16.940 one by one. 00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:18.720 Jesus said, 00:19:18.819 --> 00:19:20.680 no one can snatch my sheep 00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:22.000 out of my hand. 00:19:23.900 --> 00:19:25.319 Now, before we move on 00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:26.740 to the third point, 00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:28.460 let's consider two implications 00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:29.839 of these first two points. 00:19:30.380 --> 00:19:31.400 First implication, 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:32.460 worship is a matter 00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:33.700 of both rejoicing 00:19:33.700 --> 00:19:35.100 and reverence. 00:19:36.600 --> 00:19:37.039 Right? 00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:38.039 Well, the first part 00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:38.960 and the second part. 00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:40.380 Making a joyful noise 00:19:40.380 --> 00:19:41.279 without reverence 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:43.920 is not really worship. 00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:44.740 It's, it just, 00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:45.799 that just ends up being 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:47.980 superficial and self-indulgent. 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:50.019 But a kind of reverence 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:51.160 or fear of God 00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:52.299 without any joy 00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:54.480 is not the, 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:55.580 that's the attitude 00:19:55.580 --> 00:19:56.799 of a frightened captive, 00:19:57.100 --> 00:19:58.360 not of a beloved child. 00:19:58.359 --> 00:19:59.959 See, neither of those 00:19:59.959 --> 00:20:05.099 are true worship of God. 00:20:06.199 --> 00:20:06.579 You see, 00:20:06.699 --> 00:20:07.839 genuine biblical worship 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:09.159 lives at the intersection 00:20:09.159 --> 00:20:11.500 of rejoicing and reverence. 00:20:12.979 --> 00:20:13.879 There's a time 00:20:13.879 --> 00:20:15.539 for singing songs of praise, 00:20:15.679 --> 00:20:16.939 for clapping our hands 00:20:16.939 --> 00:20:18.059 or raising our hands, 00:20:18.219 --> 00:20:19.240 but there's also a time 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:20.859 for kneeling quietly 00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:22.899 and confessing our sins 00:20:22.899 --> 00:20:24.659 and reverently approaching 00:20:24.659 --> 00:20:25.659 the throne of grace. 00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:28.440 Now, rejoicing and reverence 00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:29.160 can be expressed 00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:30.320 in a variety of styles 00:20:30.320 --> 00:20:30.960 and forms. 00:20:31.360 --> 00:20:31.960 Different churches 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:33.380 do this in different ways. 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:34.340 Some worship services 00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:34.920 are louder, 00:20:35.060 --> 00:20:35.700 some are quieter, 00:20:35.860 --> 00:20:36.440 some are shorter, 00:20:36.560 --> 00:20:37.160 some are longer, 00:20:37.300 --> 00:20:37.540 some are, 00:20:37.820 --> 00:20:38.600 some use choirs, 00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.300 some use bands, 00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:40.160 some have no musical 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:41.019 instruments at all, 00:20:41.320 --> 00:20:42.540 some use prescribed liturgy, 00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:43.880 some avoid prescribed liturgies 00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:45.160 as much as they possibly can. 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.860 But whatever styles 00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:48.100 and forms it may take, 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:50.120 the heart of true worship 00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:51.120 is rejoicing 00:20:51.120 --> 00:20:52.420 and reverence 00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:53.840 before the God 00:20:53.840 --> 00:20:54.759 who is great 00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.960 and who is kind. 00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:58.359 That's what the Bible says 00:20:58.359 --> 00:20:59.039 at the heart 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.480 of genuine worship, 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.960 no matter what 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:03.420 the precise styles 00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:04.599 and forms it might take. 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.200 So that's the first point. 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:07.980 It's about rejoicing 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:08.559 and reverence. 00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.339 Second implication, 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:10.539 notice the reasons 00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:11.980 for rejoicing and reverence. 00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:14.099 I think most of the time 00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:15.460 we would assume 00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:17.359 that the reason 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:18.160 we should rejoice 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:19.420 is because God's done 00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:20.420 good stuff for us. 00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.599 And the reason 00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:23.619 that we should fear God 00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:24.659 is because he's great 00:21:24.659 --> 00:21:25.259 and strong 00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:27.139 and higher than us. 00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:28.519 But this psalm 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.759 actually flips that. 00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:32.339 It says we should rejoice 00:21:32.339 --> 00:21:34.139 because God is great. 00:21:35.179 --> 00:21:36.500 And it says we should 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:38.719 fear God 00:21:38.719 --> 00:21:40.559 because he's so kind. 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:42.879 Now think about that. 00:21:43.179 --> 00:21:44.139 Why does this psalm 00:21:44.139 --> 00:21:45.039 say that? 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:46.479 You see, 00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.619 we don't rejoice 00:21:47.619 --> 00:21:49.239 only because God's 00:21:49.239 --> 00:21:50.079 been good to us, 00:21:50.159 --> 00:21:50.839 only because God, 00:21:50.939 --> 00:21:51.979 only because we like 00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:52.900 the benefits that come 00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:53.940 along with knowing God. 00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:57.019 We also rejoice 00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.960 because God is 00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:58.940 the sovereign king 00:21:58.940 --> 00:21:59.880 and there's no one 00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:00.880 else like him 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:02.259 and he's greater 00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.259 than all other gods 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:04.240 and that's a reason 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.019 to rejoice. 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:07.079 That is a good thing 00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:08.420 that there is a God 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.579 like that. 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.559 And also, 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:13.059 we don't fear God 00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:13.660 just because he's 00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:14.360 more powerful 00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:15.000 than we are. 00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:15.500 You know, 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:16.599 the Bible is not 00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:17.000 talking, 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:17.700 you see, 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.400 God is not 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:19.640 a cosmic bully 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:21.360 that we have 00:22:21.360 --> 00:22:21.940 to live in 00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:23.140 constantly be 00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:24.000 intimidated by 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.560 just because he's 00:22:24.560 --> 00:22:25.080 more powerful 00:22:25.080 --> 00:22:25.700 than us. 00:22:26.060 --> 00:22:26.400 No, 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.380 this psalm says 00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:28.440 we should fear God 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:29.300 because of how 00:22:29.300 --> 00:22:30.140 kind he is, 00:22:30.360 --> 00:22:31.160 because of how 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:32.120 merciful he's been 00:22:32.120 --> 00:22:32.840 to us even though 00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:33.740 we don't deserve it 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.540 because he's been 00:22:34.540 --> 00:22:35.519 our faithful shepherd 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:37.280 and we're the sheep 00:22:37.280 --> 00:22:38.060 of his pasture 00:22:38.060 --> 00:22:40.220 and the flock 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:41.060 under his care. 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:45.320 So corporate worship 00:22:45.320 --> 00:22:46.460 involves rejoicing 00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:48.900 before God's greatness, 00:22:49.340 --> 00:22:50.039 reverence before 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:50.680 God's kindness 00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:51.340 and third, 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.900 from verses 7 to 11, 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:55.900 we see that worship 00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:57.079 involves responding 00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:58.400 to God's word. 00:22:58.579 --> 00:22:59.000 Today, 00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:01.180 if you hear his voice, 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:03.079 don't harden 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:04.700 your hearts. 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:06.600 You see, 00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:07.319 so far, 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:08.660 in the first two sections, 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.740 we've heard God's people 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.900 speaking to each other, 00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:12.180 encouraging one another 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:13.539 to come before God 00:23:13.539 --> 00:23:14.019 in worship. 00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:14.819 But here, 00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:15.779 starting at the end 00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.340 of verse 7, 00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:17.459 we hear God's voice 00:23:17.459 --> 00:23:18.779 speaking to us. 00:23:19.939 --> 00:23:20.319 Again, 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:21.799 that makes sense 00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:22.599 if the psalm was written 00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.740 for these Jewish pilgrims, 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:25.339 sort of the first half 00:23:25.339 --> 00:23:26.539 is them on their journey 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.099 to the temple, 00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:27.659 verse 6, 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.799 they enter into the temple 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:30.019 and then they hear 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:30.699 the word of God, 00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:31.059 right? 00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:31.819 You see that pattern. 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:33.099 And also, 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:34.079 if you think about 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:34.919 what we do 00:23:34.919 --> 00:23:36.059 when we meet here 00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:36.819 on Sundays, 00:23:37.679 --> 00:23:38.259 guess what? 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:40.179 We're doing the same thing. 00:23:41.419 --> 00:23:43.039 We begin with rejoicing 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:44.299 for the greatness of God. 00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:45.339 That's almost always 00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:45.859 the theme 00:23:45.859 --> 00:23:47.079 of our first song 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:47.559 or hymn. 00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:49.680 And then we draw near 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.299 with reverence, 00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:50.519 right? 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:51.680 We come before God, 00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.859 we confess our sins 00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:53.819 and our need 00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.680 for His mercy 00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:56.339 and then we hear 00:23:56.339 --> 00:23:57.099 a reading 00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:58.399 that assures us 00:23:58.399 --> 00:23:59.839 that God's mercy 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:00.480 and forgiveness 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:01.460 have been provided 00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:03.379 and that we can be 00:24:03.379 --> 00:24:04.740 assured of that. 00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:06.099 And then often 00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:07.220 we respond with a song 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:08.039 praising God 00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:09.099 for His kindness. 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.539 And then we listen 00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:11.079 to His voice, 00:24:11.159 --> 00:24:12.139 we listen to the scriptures, 00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:13.460 to God's voice 00:24:13.460 --> 00:24:14.200 speaking to us 00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:14.600 in His word. 00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:14.900 You see, 00:24:15.080 --> 00:24:16.400 when we meet for worship, 00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:17.680 the pastors 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:18.460 are not just 00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:19.340 making up stuff 00:24:19.340 --> 00:24:20.560 that we can do together 00:24:20.560 --> 00:24:21.640 that we think 00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:22.180 sounds good 00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:22.800 and feels good. 00:24:23.560 --> 00:24:23.780 No, 00:24:23.840 --> 00:24:24.500 we're following 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.080 the patterns 00:24:25.080 --> 00:24:25.500 that have been 00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:26.560 laid out for us 00:24:26.560 --> 00:24:27.820 here in this psalm 00:24:27.820 --> 00:24:28.660 and in other parts 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.160 of the Bible 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:30.080 that help us 00:24:30.080 --> 00:24:31.140 to draw near to God. 00:24:32.040 --> 00:24:33.259 You might also notice 00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:34.520 that the tone changes 00:24:34.520 --> 00:24:35.740 in section three 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:36.560 compared to sections 00:24:36.560 --> 00:24:37.160 one and two. 00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:39.740 Instead of rejoicing, 00:24:39.880 --> 00:24:40.820 instead of exuberance 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.619 and enthusiasm, 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.539 the psalm concludes 00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:43.859 with a stern warning. 00:24:45.419 --> 00:24:46.379 One commentator said 00:24:46.379 --> 00:24:47.480 the ending of this psalm 00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:50.000 sacrifices literary grace 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:52.139 to moral urgency. 00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:53.500 You see, 00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:54.039 the point is 00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:54.879 worshiping God 00:24:54.879 --> 00:24:56.099 is not just a matter 00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:57.119 of beautiful songs 00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:57.980 and happy feelings. 00:24:59.439 --> 00:25:00.200 Real worship 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:01.720 involves being confronted 00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:03.259 by the message 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:04.779 of the real God 00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.960 at a heart level. 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:06.759 And you know what? 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:08.119 That isn't always pretty 00:25:08.119 --> 00:25:09.599 and it isn't always pleasant. 00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:13.339 Here the warning is 00:25:13.339 --> 00:25:15.259 don't harden your hearts. 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:17.879 Now you might say, 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:18.619 well what exactly 00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:20.599 is that warning against? 00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:22.619 Well, the psalmist 00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:23.319 gives an example. 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:23.700 He says, 00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:24.720 don't harden your hearts 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.419 like they did 00:25:25.419 --> 00:25:26.200 back in the day 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:27.859 at Masa and Meribah. 00:25:28.899 --> 00:25:30.220 Now we read the account 00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:31.839 of Masa and Meribah 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:32.939 earlier in the service 00:25:32.939 --> 00:25:34.460 from Exodus 17. 00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:37.579 Now just as some context 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.439 for that story, 00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:40.480 the people in that story, 00:25:40.840 --> 00:25:42.559 they were the generation 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:43.259 of Israelites 00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:44.660 who had been rescued 00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:47.120 dramatically from slavery 00:25:47.120 --> 00:25:47.840 in Egypt. 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:49.059 For generations, 00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:49.960 they had been enslaved, 00:25:50.080 --> 00:25:50.759 they had been oppressed, 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:52.160 it got worse and worse, 00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:53.019 the Pharaoh was trying 00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:55.559 to basically exterminate them, 00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:57.220 and God sent them, 00:25:57.660 --> 00:25:58.000 Moses, 00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:59.200 as their leader, 00:25:59.380 --> 00:26:00.360 to deliver them. 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:02.519 And God intervened 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:03.660 on their behalf, 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:04.940 and God had led them 00:26:04.940 --> 00:26:08.540 out of slavery in Egypt 00:26:08.540 --> 00:26:10.140 and they were on a journey 00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:10.800 in the wilderness. 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:14.880 So verse 9 says, 00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:16.180 these people had seen 00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:16.720 my work, 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.800 they had seen my work, 00:26:17.840 --> 00:26:18.720 these people had seen 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:20.100 miracles that most of us 00:26:20.100 --> 00:26:21.060 have never even seen. 00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:23.980 They had seen more miracles 00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:25.180 than almost any other 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:26.400 generation in history 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:27.440 would ever see. 00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:28.700 So they had seen 00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.500 the ten plagues 00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:30.480 coming upon Egypt, 00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:31.880 one after the other, 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:33.260 the Red Sea parting, 00:26:33.800 --> 00:26:34.740 the Egyptian army 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.680 pursuing them 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.300 that was intent 00:26:36.300 --> 00:26:37.300 on devouring them, 00:26:37.580 --> 00:26:39.500 instead perishing 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.120 in the sea, 00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:41.400 God then giving them 00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:42.320 a pillar of cloud 00:26:42.320 --> 00:26:42.820 by day 00:26:42.820 --> 00:26:43.720 and a pillar of fire 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.280 by night 00:26:44.280 --> 00:26:45.340 to guide and lead them 00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:46.060 through the desert, 00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:48.520 making bitter water sweet, 00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:49.640 providing manna 00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:50.660 from heaven every morning. 00:26:51.600 --> 00:26:52.700 God had demonstrated 00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:53.780 his greatness 00:26:53.780 --> 00:26:54.860 and his kindness 00:26:54.860 --> 00:26:55.520 to them 00:26:55.520 --> 00:26:57.580 in countless ways 00:26:57.580 --> 00:26:59.020 already. 00:26:59.760 --> 00:27:00.340 And then 00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:01.419 they come 00:27:01.419 --> 00:27:02.500 to Exodus 7, 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:03.740 that's what happens 00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:05.419 in Exodus 1 through 16, 00:27:05.679 --> 00:27:06.439 and then they come 00:27:06.439 --> 00:27:07.259 to Exodus 17, 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.279 they come to a place 00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:09.019 called Rephidim, 00:27:09.199 --> 00:27:10.159 and there's not any water 00:27:10.159 --> 00:27:10.819 to drink there. 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:12.919 And how do they respond? 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:16.019 Well, they start quarreling 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:17.980 with Moses. 00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.779 It says they grumbled, 00:27:19.919 --> 00:27:20.240 they said, 00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:21.379 why did you bring us 00:27:21.379 --> 00:27:22.139 up out of Egypt 00:27:22.139 --> 00:27:23.500 to kill us 00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.119 and our children 00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:24.859 and our livestock 00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:25.599 with thirst? 00:27:27.319 --> 00:27:28.799 They start accusing Moses, 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:30.159 and by extension 00:27:30.159 --> 00:27:31.379 accusing God, 00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:32.899 because God's the one 00:27:32.899 --> 00:27:33.839 who had appointed Moses 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:35.519 and God had used Moses 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.079 to deliver them. 00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:38.419 And Moses cries out to God, 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:38.659 he says, 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.759 these people are ready 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.680 to stone me. 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:42.720 And I don't think 00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:44.180 Moses was exaggerating 00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:45.200 or overreacting. 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:47.200 The people were ready 00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:48.659 to put Moses on trial, 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:49.779 declare him guilty, 00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.859 and get rid of him 00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.299 for good. 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:54.539 And the end of the story 00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.399 says Moses called 00:27:55.399 --> 00:27:56.139 the name of the place 00:27:56.139 --> 00:27:56.759 Massah, 00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:57.539 which is a word 00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:58.539 that means testing, 00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:00.139 and Meribah, 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:00.700 which is a word 00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:01.839 that means quarreling 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:03.720 because of how 00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:04.779 the people behaved there. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.279 You see, 00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:06.940 here's the picture. 00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:08.079 God had proved himself 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:10.000 to them time and time again. 00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:11.139 And then, 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:11.940 when his people 00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:12.859 faced a test, 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:14.460 when they faced a struggle, 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.099 when they faced 00:28:15.099 --> 00:28:16.539 an uncomfortable situation, 00:28:16.839 --> 00:28:17.720 they very quickly 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.799 turned against God. 00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:20.159 They hardened their hearts, 00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:21.339 they start accusing Moses 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:22.319 and accusing God, 00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:23.539 denying God's power, 00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:24.559 denying God's goodness, 00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.559 denying his presence 00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:25.980 with them. 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.500 They said, 00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:27.880 God, I won't trust you 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:30.759 until you prove yourself again. 00:28:32.660 --> 00:28:33.819 I won't believe 00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:34.740 that you love us 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:36.519 until you make 00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:37.640 our lives easier. 00:28:38.860 --> 00:28:40.299 I won't obey you 00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:41.339 until you give me 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:41.900 what I want. 00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:44.339 And they didn't 00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:45.500 just do that once. 00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:47.880 They did it over and over 00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:48.660 for 40 years 00:28:48.660 --> 00:28:49.160 in the wilderness. 00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:50.759 If you read 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.220 through the book 00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:51.860 of Numbers, 00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:53.640 it shows seven 00:28:53.640 --> 00:28:54.640 different times 00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.620 when the people 00:28:55.620 --> 00:28:56.620 hardened their hearts. 00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:58.960 Same pattern, 00:28:59.080 --> 00:29:00.020 over and over again 00:29:00.020 --> 00:29:01.380 in the wilderness. 00:29:02.060 --> 00:29:02.800 And in the end, 00:29:02.860 --> 00:29:03.140 it says, 00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:04.540 God got fed up with them 00:29:04.540 --> 00:29:05.900 because they never learned. 00:29:06.560 --> 00:29:07.660 And that generation 00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:08.340 of Israelites 00:29:08.340 --> 00:29:11.020 never entered in 00:29:11.020 --> 00:29:13.020 to the promised land. 00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:14.220 They perished 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:14.759 in the wilderness. 00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:15.980 And so, 00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:17.420 the psalmist here, 00:29:18.040 --> 00:29:18.960 writing hundreds of years 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:20.060 after all that happened, 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.660 the psalmist says, 00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:22.740 don't be like them. 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:23.480 Today, 00:29:23.580 --> 00:29:24.580 if you hear God's voice, 00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:26.019 don't harden your hearts. 00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:27.680 In other words, 00:29:27.820 --> 00:29:29.340 don't forget all the ways 00:29:29.340 --> 00:29:31.120 that God has shown himself 00:29:31.120 --> 00:29:32.500 to be great 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.640 and good. 00:29:34.060 --> 00:29:35.200 That he's shown himself 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:36.000 and proved himself 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:36.480 to you 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.519 and to his people 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:38.160 in the past. 00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:39.800 Don't forget all 00:29:39.800 --> 00:29:40.600 that he's already done 00:29:40.600 --> 00:29:40.960 for you 00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:41.740 and all that he's already 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.540 brought you through. 00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:45.480 If we were to 00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:46.400 apply it to today, 00:29:46.560 --> 00:29:47.620 don't stop trusting 00:29:47.620 --> 00:29:48.660 and obeying God 00:29:48.660 --> 00:29:49.800 just because it's 2020 00:29:49.800 --> 00:29:50.840 and life is hard 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:51.480 and disappointing. 00:29:53.959 --> 00:29:55.579 He's still the same God 00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.359 yesterday, 00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:57.159 today, 00:29:57.319 --> 00:29:58.099 and forever. 00:29:58.919 --> 00:30:00.279 He's still the great creator. 00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:01.439 He's still the good shepherd. 00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.279 He's still worthy 00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:03.019 of our trust 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:03.839 and obedience. 00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:05.119 This is a stern warning. 00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:06.939 It's a bit like being 00:30:06.939 --> 00:30:08.439 doused with ice cold water. 00:30:09.419 --> 00:30:09.679 Right? 00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.839 It doesn't feel very pleasant 00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:11.619 to hear this. 00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:14.519 But within this stern warning, 00:30:14.919 --> 00:30:16.039 there's also 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:17.599 a standing invitation. 00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:20.399 If you notice 00:30:20.399 --> 00:30:21.079 in verse 11, 00:30:21.179 --> 00:30:21.519 it says, 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.339 those people 00:30:22.339 --> 00:30:23.119 back then 00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:24.819 never entered 00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:26.259 God's rest. 00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:28.419 But that word 00:30:28.419 --> 00:30:28.839 enter 00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:30.319 is the same word 00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:31.219 that's translated 00:30:31.219 --> 00:30:31.939 O come 00:30:31.939 --> 00:30:32.839 in verse 6. 00:30:33.939 --> 00:30:34.619 It's a word 00:30:34.619 --> 00:30:35.539 that means enter in. 00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:36.980 You see, 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:37.740 the same psalm 00:30:37.740 --> 00:30:38.119 that says 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:39.619 the wilderness generation 00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:40.699 never entered in 00:30:40.699 --> 00:30:41.659 to God's rest 00:30:41.659 --> 00:30:44.219 also invites us 00:30:44.219 --> 00:30:44.619 to enter 00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:45.579 into God's rest. 00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:49.079 And hundreds of years 00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:49.919 after this psalm 00:30:49.919 --> 00:30:50.359 was written, 00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:52.139 the writer of the book 00:30:52.139 --> 00:30:52.639 of Hebrews, 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.779 which is in the New Testament, 00:30:54.679 --> 00:30:56.399 picked up on this detail. 00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:59.000 And if you read 00:30:59.000 --> 00:30:59.740 the book of Hebrews 00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:01.019 chapter 3 and chapter 4, 00:31:01.079 --> 00:31:01.559 it's basically 00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:02.480 a mini sermon 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.619 on this psalm 00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:05.579 that highlights 00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:06.740 that point. 00:31:07.899 --> 00:31:09.099 So Hebrews 4 verse 1 00:31:09.099 --> 00:31:09.799 says, 00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:10.519 the promise 00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:11.399 of entering 00:31:11.399 --> 00:31:12.919 God's rest 00:31:12.919 --> 00:31:14.759 still stands. 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.759 It's a standing 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.720 invitation. 00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:18.920 And he gives 00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:19.839 some very 00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:21.299 dense reasoning 00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:22.559 to explain his point. 00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:22.819 He says, 00:31:22.900 --> 00:31:23.579 those who formerly 00:31:23.579 --> 00:31:24.700 received the good news, 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:25.640 chapter 4 verse 6, 00:31:25.700 --> 00:31:26.119 the Israelites 00:31:26.119 --> 00:31:26.680 who perished 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:27.200 in the wilderness 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:27.960 in Moses' day 00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:28.980 failed to enter, 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:29.500 right? 00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:30.259 They didn't enter 00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:31.319 because of disobedience. 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:33.319 But then, 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:34.920 hundreds of years later, 00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:35.720 when this psalm 00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:36.160 was written, 00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:37.279 the psalm says, 00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:37.859 come along, 00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:38.519 enter in. 00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:40.099 And so the writer 00:31:40.099 --> 00:31:40.839 of Hebrews says, 00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:42.099 the true rest 00:31:42.099 --> 00:31:43.019 God was offering 00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:44.259 wasn't just the promised 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:45.160 land that Joshua 00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:45.700 conquered. 00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.440 He says, 00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:48.319 there remains 00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:49.460 a Sabbath rest 00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:50.119 for the people 00:31:50.119 --> 00:31:50.900 of God. 00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:53.099 For whoever 00:31:53.099 --> 00:31:53.759 has entered 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:54.579 God's rest 00:31:54.579 --> 00:31:55.500 has also rested 00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:56.299 from his works 00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:56.980 as God did 00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.519 from his. 00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:58.619 Let us therefore 00:31:58.619 --> 00:31:59.379 strive to enter 00:31:59.379 --> 00:32:00.400 that rest. 00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:00.980 You see, 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:02.460 what the author 00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:03.299 of Hebrews is saying 00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:04.099 is that this 00:32:04.099 --> 00:32:04.980 is a standing 00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.920 invitation 00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:07.559 to enter 00:32:07.559 --> 00:32:08.960 into God's rest. 00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:09.079 God's rest. 00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:14.299 And the invitation 00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:15.299 is given 00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:16.920 not on the basis 00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:18.420 of our own works 00:32:18.420 --> 00:32:19.480 or our own efforts. 00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:20.640 It's given 00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:21.220 on the basis 00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:22.420 of what Jesus Christ 00:32:22.420 --> 00:32:23.279 himself 00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:24.259 has done. 00:32:25.100 --> 00:32:25.380 You see, 00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:26.079 Jesus Christ 00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:26.920 has made a way 00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:27.259 for us 00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:28.180 to enter in 00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:29.160 to God's 00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:30.140 very own presence 00:32:30.140 --> 00:32:31.640 and to find rest 00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:32.259 and peace 00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:32.920 with God 00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:34.680 that we couldn't 00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:35.299 have otherwise. 00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.500 You know, 00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:38.059 there's even 00:32:38.059 --> 00:32:38.659 a picture 00:32:38.659 --> 00:32:40.019 of what Jesus 00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:40.539 would do 00:32:40.539 --> 00:32:41.379 in the story 00:32:41.379 --> 00:32:42.039 of Masa 00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:42.720 and Meribah. 00:32:44.679 --> 00:32:45.159 Right? 00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:45.559 The Israelites 00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:46.539 were grumbling, 00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:47.359 quarreling, 00:32:47.659 --> 00:32:48.460 making all kinds 00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:49.339 of false accusations 00:32:49.339 --> 00:32:50.119 against Moses, 00:32:50.220 --> 00:32:50.759 against God. 00:32:50.839 --> 00:32:51.179 They were ready 00:32:51.179 --> 00:32:52.079 to get rid of Moses, 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.139 find Moses guilty, 00:32:53.419 --> 00:32:54.200 put him on trial, 00:32:54.460 --> 00:32:55.379 and basically 00:32:55.379 --> 00:32:56.339 sentence him to death 00:32:56.339 --> 00:32:58.019 by stoning. 00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:59.059 That's what they 00:32:59.059 --> 00:32:59.679 were about to do. 00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:01.799 And if you notice, 00:33:01.899 --> 00:33:02.799 God says something 00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:04.039 very strange 00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:05.099 to Moses 00:33:05.099 --> 00:33:06.399 in the middle 00:33:06.399 --> 00:33:07.460 of that situation. 00:33:08.059 --> 00:33:09.879 God said, 00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:11.059 go on before 00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:11.559 the people, 00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:12.599 take your staff, 00:33:12.679 --> 00:33:13.379 your big stick 00:33:13.379 --> 00:33:13.960 in your hand, 00:33:14.059 --> 00:33:14.419 behold, 00:33:14.579 --> 00:33:15.559 I'll stand before 00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:16.659 you on the rock 00:33:16.659 --> 00:33:17.500 at Horeb, 00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:19.799 and you shall 00:33:19.799 --> 00:33:21.019 strike the rock 00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:22.279 with your staff, 00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:23.799 and water 00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:24.579 shall come out 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:24.859 of it, 00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:25.679 and the people 00:33:25.679 --> 00:33:26.359 will drink. 00:33:27.500 --> 00:33:27.940 Now, 00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:29.659 if you paid attention 00:33:29.659 --> 00:33:30.179 to that verse, 00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:30.799 you might ask 00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:31.159 the question, 00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:32.220 what in the world 00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:33.159 is going on there? 00:33:33.679 --> 00:33:34.099 Because that's 00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:34.859 a very strange 00:33:34.859 --> 00:33:35.159 command. 00:33:35.160 --> 00:33:35.580 God says, 00:33:35.660 --> 00:33:36.620 take this big stick, 00:33:37.040 --> 00:33:38.220 I'm going to stand 00:33:38.220 --> 00:33:39.160 right in front of you 00:33:39.160 --> 00:33:40.080 on this rock, 00:33:40.420 --> 00:33:41.320 smack the rock. 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:41.860 Well, 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:42.880 guess what? 00:33:44.360 --> 00:33:45.560 If God's standing 00:33:45.560 --> 00:33:46.460 on the rock, 00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:48.200 and God says to Moses, 00:33:48.360 --> 00:33:49.160 smack the rock 00:33:49.160 --> 00:33:49.720 with your stick, 00:33:49.880 --> 00:33:50.560 guess who's going 00:33:50.560 --> 00:33:51.420 to get smacked? 00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:55.340 What is God 00:33:55.340 --> 00:33:55.940 saying there? 00:33:58.400 --> 00:33:59.000 You see, 00:33:59.080 --> 00:33:59.820 God's saying to Moses, 00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:00.100 look, 00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:01.240 these people are ready 00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:03.460 to stone you. 00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:04.140 In other words, 00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:04.720 they want to get 00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:05.420 rid of me. 00:34:07.579 --> 00:34:08.360 They're convinced 00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:09.340 that I don't love them. 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:09.960 They're convinced 00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:10.920 that I can't provide 00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:11.260 for them. 00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:11.860 They're convinced 00:34:11.860 --> 00:34:12.860 that I've just brought 00:34:12.860 --> 00:34:13.260 them out here 00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:13.780 to kill them, 00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:14.720 but the reality is 00:34:14.720 --> 00:34:15.780 I'm willing to be 00:34:15.780 --> 00:34:16.699 struck down and killed 00:34:16.699 --> 00:34:17.480 for them, 00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:19.139 so that they can live, 00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:20.179 so that they can 00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:22.000 be revived and rescued. 00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:24.720 I'm willing to take 00:34:24.720 --> 00:34:25.220 a punishment 00:34:25.220 --> 00:34:26.579 that I don't deserve, 00:34:27.079 --> 00:34:28.199 so that my people 00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:29.300 can receive the life 00:34:29.300 --> 00:34:30.079 that they so 00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:31.300 desperately need. 00:34:31.300 --> 00:34:33.560 You see, 00:34:33.640 --> 00:34:34.820 that's what Jesus did 00:34:34.820 --> 00:34:35.660 when he came 00:34:35.660 --> 00:34:36.360 into the world. 00:34:37.320 --> 00:34:38.840 He was the son of God, 00:34:39.120 --> 00:34:40.420 and he lived 00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:41.560 a perfectly obedient 00:34:41.560 --> 00:34:42.400 and faithful life. 00:34:42.460 --> 00:34:42.960 He didn't deserve 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:43.620 any punishment 00:34:43.620 --> 00:34:44.120 from God, 00:34:44.160 --> 00:34:44.660 and yet he was 00:34:44.660 --> 00:34:45.620 willing to be crucified 00:34:45.620 --> 00:34:50.640 and falsely accused 00:34:50.640 --> 00:34:51.680 and put to death 00:34:51.680 --> 00:34:54.080 and to receive 00:34:54.080 --> 00:34:54.660 the punishment 00:34:54.660 --> 00:34:56.140 that we deserved 00:34:56.140 --> 00:34:57.220 for our sin 00:34:57.220 --> 00:34:58.120 and for our rebellion 00:34:58.120 --> 00:34:58.920 against God. 00:34:58.920 --> 00:35:02.280 You see, 00:35:02.340 --> 00:35:02.820 if you think 00:35:02.820 --> 00:35:03.539 that God doesn't 00:35:03.539 --> 00:35:04.079 love you, 00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:06.079 or if you think 00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:07.159 that God doesn't care, 00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:08.599 or if you think 00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:09.539 that God can't bring 00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:10.700 good out of hard things, 00:35:10.840 --> 00:35:11.700 look at the cross 00:35:11.700 --> 00:35:12.559 of Jesus Christ. 00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:15.220 Jesus came into 00:35:15.220 --> 00:35:16.000 a world where people 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:17.099 wanted to get rid of him, 00:35:18.099 --> 00:35:21.579 and he didn't just 00:35:21.579 --> 00:35:22.880 immediately strike 00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:23.599 them all down 00:35:23.599 --> 00:35:25.760 in their foolishness 00:35:25.760 --> 00:35:26.940 and in their pride 00:35:26.940 --> 00:35:27.880 and in their rebellion. 00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:31.500 And in their sin, 00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:33.079 he was willing to be, 00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:34.460 he was willing to die 00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:35.380 as a sacrifice 00:35:35.380 --> 00:35:36.980 for them, 00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:37.599 for us, 00:35:38.240 --> 00:35:39.760 so that we could drink 00:35:39.760 --> 00:35:40.659 of the water of life, 00:35:40.720 --> 00:35:41.559 so that our souls 00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.800 could find eternal rest 00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:44.039 in the presence of God. 00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:45.840 Hebrews 10 says, 00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:47.340 we now have confidence 00:35:47.340 --> 00:35:48.099 to enter 00:35:48.099 --> 00:35:49.960 the holy places, 00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:50.400 that is, 00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:51.740 the presence of God, 00:35:52.200 --> 00:35:53.780 by the blood of Jesus, 00:35:54.019 --> 00:35:54.800 by his sacrifice, 00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:55.880 by the new and living way 00:35:55.880 --> 00:35:57.039 that he opened for us 00:35:57.039 --> 00:35:58.119 through his flesh, 00:35:58.119 --> 00:35:59.679 so let us draw near 00:35:59.679 --> 00:36:01.159 with a true heart 00:36:01.159 --> 00:36:02.400 in full assurance 00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:02.940 of faith. 00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:05.139 Let us hold fast 00:36:05.139 --> 00:36:06.139 the confession of our hope 00:36:06.139 --> 00:36:07.079 without wavering, 00:36:07.500 --> 00:36:08.380 because he who promised 00:36:08.380 --> 00:36:08.980 is faithful. 00:36:09.980 --> 00:36:10.699 And let's consider 00:36:10.699 --> 00:36:11.480 how to stir up 00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:12.579 one another toward love 00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:13.500 and good works. 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:13.819 You see, 00:36:13.880 --> 00:36:14.559 that's what it means 00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:15.159 to worship. 00:36:15.159 --> 00:36:17.319 is to join God's people 00:36:17.319 --> 00:36:18.819 on a journey 00:36:18.819 --> 00:36:20.559 towards God's presence, 00:36:21.079 --> 00:36:22.859 a journey of faith 00:36:22.859 --> 00:36:23.659 and hope 00:36:23.659 --> 00:36:24.539 and love 00:36:24.539 --> 00:36:26.719 in response 00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:28.460 to what Jesus Christ 00:36:28.460 --> 00:36:28.980 has done 00:36:28.980 --> 00:36:30.480 for us, 00:36:30.719 --> 00:36:32.139 to open up 00:36:32.139 --> 00:36:33.139 that way for us. 00:36:35.960 --> 00:36:36.960 That's what this psalm 00:36:36.960 --> 00:36:37.719 calls us into, 00:36:38.119 --> 00:36:39.059 to rejoice 00:36:39.059 --> 00:36:40.119 before God's greatness, 00:36:40.299 --> 00:36:41.319 to have reverence 00:36:41.319 --> 00:36:42.259 before God's kindness, 00:36:42.359 --> 00:36:43.219 and to receive 00:36:43.219 --> 00:36:44.779 and respond to his word. 00:36:46.279 --> 00:36:47.039 Augustine wrote, 00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:48.339 our hearts are restless 00:36:48.339 --> 00:36:50.119 until they find 00:36:50.119 --> 00:36:51.079 their rest in you. 00:36:53.019 --> 00:36:53.939 Isn't that true? 00:36:53.940 --> 00:36:56.860 the invitation is, 00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:58.000 come and find your rest 00:36:58.000 --> 00:36:59.139 in Jesus Christ today. 00:36:59.720 --> 00:37:00.220 Let's pray. 00:37:06.280 --> 00:37:06.940 Father God, 00:37:07.019 --> 00:37:08.019 thank you for this psalm. 00:37:09.720 --> 00:37:10.900 Thank you for the 00:37:10.900 --> 00:37:12.639 gracious invitation 00:37:12.639 --> 00:37:14.360 that you extend to us. 00:37:16.820 --> 00:37:17.220 Lord, 00:37:17.300 --> 00:37:18.179 to people like us 00:37:18.179 --> 00:37:18.420 who 00:37:18.420 --> 00:37:21.059 are, 00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:21.980 naturally, 00:37:22.280 --> 00:37:23.860 tend to get ourselves lost, 00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:26.900 and be wandering 00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:28.940 in the wilderness 00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:31.440 and not really knowing 00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:32.500 where we're supposed to go. 00:37:33.159 --> 00:37:33.480 Lord, 00:37:33.559 --> 00:37:34.220 thank you for this 00:37:34.220 --> 00:37:35.079 gracious invitation 00:37:35.079 --> 00:37:35.639 to come 00:37:35.639 --> 00:37:36.500 and enter 00:37:36.500 --> 00:37:37.500 into your presence. 00:37:39.099 --> 00:37:40.260 Thank you for Jesus 00:37:40.260 --> 00:37:41.800 who paid the price 00:37:41.800 --> 00:37:43.000 for our sins 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:43.780 and our failures 00:37:43.780 --> 00:37:44.659 that we might come 00:37:44.659 --> 00:37:45.099 before you 00:37:45.099 --> 00:37:45.900 not on the basis 00:37:45.900 --> 00:37:46.780 of our achievements 00:37:46.780 --> 00:37:47.900 but on the basis 00:37:47.900 --> 00:37:48.940 of what he has done 00:37:48.940 --> 00:37:51.940 and being received 00:37:51.940 --> 00:37:52.599 by your mercy 00:37:52.599 --> 00:37:53.199 and grace. 00:37:54.179 --> 00:37:54.659 Lord, 00:37:54.699 --> 00:37:55.639 would you fill our hearts 00:37:55.639 --> 00:37:56.719 with joy 00:37:56.719 --> 00:37:58.880 and with reverence 00:37:58.880 --> 00:37:59.279 and awe 00:37:59.279 --> 00:37:59.880 before you. 00:38:01.139 --> 00:38:01.819 In Jesus' name 00:38:01.819 --> 00:38:02.259 we pray. 00:38:02.900 --> 00:38:03.219 Amen. 00:38:03.219 --> 00:38:03.339 Amen. 00:38:03.340 --> 00:38:04.420 Amen. 00:38:31.800 --> 00:38:32.480 ...