WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.020 that don't know me, my name is Chris Bradley. I'm not the pastor. Pastor Capone is on vacation 00:00:06.020 --> 00:00:11.679 this week, so I'm filling in for him, but happy to be here continuing our series in the Psalms 00:00:11.679 --> 00:00:18.080 as we study this week's Psalm 49. We'll be in the Psalms all summer. Psalm 49 is the text for today, 00:00:18.260 --> 00:00:24.539 so we'll start with the Psalm and we'll go to the New Testament, which is one of the principles of 00:00:24.539 --> 00:00:28.859 understanding the Old Testament, and it points us to Christ. So that's where we'll be reflecting on 00:00:28.859 --> 00:00:34.060 both in Psalm 49 and if you want to follow along in your worship guide, Psalm 49, and have your Bible 00:00:34.060 --> 00:00:39.320 open if you have it to Luke 12. So a convenient place to start would be Luke 12 in your Bibles and 00:00:39.320 --> 00:00:46.460 have Psalm 49 in your worship guide and follow along with me as I read the text. Psalm 49, I'll be 00:00:46.460 --> 00:00:53.539 reading from the English Standard Version. Hear this, all peoples, give ear all inhabitants of the world, 00:00:53.539 --> 00:01:01.359 both low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth shall speak wisdom. The meditation of my heart 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:08.239 shall be understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will solve my riddle to the music of 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:14.960 the lyre. Verse 5, why should I fear in times of trouble when the iniquity of those who cheat 00:01:14.960 --> 00:01:22.259 surrounds me, who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? Truly no man can 00:01:23.540 --> 00:01:29.760 give to God the price of his life. For the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, 00:01:30.880 --> 00:01:38.560 that he should live on forever and never see the pit. For he sees that even the wise die. The fool and 00:01:38.560 --> 00:01:44.020 the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. Their graves are their homes forever, 00:01:44.800 --> 00:01:50.700 their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. Verse 12, 00:01:50.700 --> 00:01:57.799 man in his pomp will not remain. He is like the beasts that perish. This is the path of those who 00:01:57.799 --> 00:02:03.740 have foolish confidence. Yet after them people approve of their boasts. Like sheep, they are 00:02:03.740 --> 00:02:09.180 appointed for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. 00:02:10.460 --> 00:02:17.020 Their form shall be consumed in Sheol with no place to dwell. But God will ransom my soul from the 00:02:17.020 --> 00:02:23.620 power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of 00:02:23.620 --> 00:02:30.300 his house increases. For when he dies, he will carry nothing away. His glory will not go down after him. 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:36.780 For though while he lives, he counts himself blessed, and though you get praise when you do well for 00:02:36.780 --> 00:02:41.960 yourself, his soul will go to the generation of his fathers who will never again see the light. 00:02:41.960 --> 00:02:47.680 Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, is like the beasts that perish. 00:02:49.040 --> 00:02:53.879 May the Lord add his blessing to the reading and the careful hearing of his word. Amen. 00:02:55.500 --> 00:03:04.080 All right, we've talked about, or Pastor Capone talked about Psalm 2 last week, a psalm expressed in 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:09.100 poetry, which many of the psalms are. This psalm also is expressed in poetry, but this psalm we would 00:03:09.099 --> 00:03:13.900 classify in the category of a psalm of wisdom, and you can see that from the first four verses. 00:03:14.460 --> 00:03:20.000 Look at the beginning of the passage here. Verses 1 through 4 tell us that this is the author, 00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:24.799 the psalmist, giving us wisdom, expressing it in poetry, but there's a specific category of psalm 00:03:24.799 --> 00:03:30.819 where the psalmist is not principally giving us a prayer or even a song, but wisdom. Wisdom in the 00:03:30.819 --> 00:03:36.919 sense that the Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes and Job and Proverbs gives us wisdom to understand the 00:03:36.919 --> 00:03:42.679 world, to interpret it rightly according to the word of God. So there are many definitions of wisdom, 00:03:43.139 --> 00:03:47.619 but the Bible's definition gives us three primary characteristics, three characteristics of wisdom 00:03:47.619 --> 00:03:53.779 that are in the passage here, in the assumptions behind what is wisdom. One is that wisdom is based 00:03:53.779 --> 00:04:00.579 on knowing and fearing God. Job 28, 28 says, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn 00:04:00.580 --> 00:04:07.340 away from evil is understanding. Wisdom is based in knowing and fearing God. Wisdom is knowing the Lord. 00:04:08.180 --> 00:04:14.300 The second characteristic, wisdom is given by God. James 1, 5 tells us to ask for wisdom. He says, 00:04:14.420 --> 00:04:20.340 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will 00:04:20.340 --> 00:04:27.259 be given to him. Wisdom, like all gifts, comes from the Father of lights, the Father who gives gifts to 00:04:27.259 --> 00:04:31.539 his people. Wisdom is one of those gifts. So if we are to seek wisdom, we must seek it from God, 00:04:31.779 --> 00:04:36.699 because wisdom is given by God. And the third characteristic of biblical wisdom is that God, 00:04:36.939 --> 00:04:41.519 wisdom alone, can reveal how God speaks to us through his creation. And that's the most important 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:45.980 characteristic for this passage today. It tells us how God speaks to us through his creation. 00:04:46.500 --> 00:04:52.079 This is from Ecclesiastes 2, 6. The writer says, For the one who pleases him, God has given wisdom and 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:56.539 knowledge and joy. But to the sinner, he has given the business of gathering and collecting, 00:04:56.859 --> 00:05:02.579 only to give to the one who pleases God. In other words, those without wisdom, those without the Lord, 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:07.079 they live their lives gathering and collecting, never understanding the purpose, the meaning behind 00:05:07.079 --> 00:05:11.500 it all, which is what the writer of Ecclesiastes wrestles with through his whole book. They don't 00:05:11.500 --> 00:05:17.839 understand. They don't understand the vanity of what they're subject to. The wise receive it. The wise who 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:23.339 know God receive it, because God explains it to him. The creation speaks of the glory of God. The 00:05:23.339 --> 00:05:28.259 creation tells us about God's attributes, and we need wisdom to understand it. And that wisdom is given 00:05:28.259 --> 00:05:35.739 by God. Wisdom is what God supplies for us to interpret the entire world as a revelation from him. 00:05:36.459 --> 00:05:43.179 Now, have you thought about that? That the entire world is a revelation from God, but it reveals nothing 00:05:43.180 --> 00:05:49.300 until we have wisdom that we can interpret it. That wisdom comes from the word of God. That wisdom 00:05:49.300 --> 00:05:55.040 comes, in this instance, from Psalm 49, who teaches us, the writer teaches us about wisdom to interpret 00:05:55.040 --> 00:06:01.259 the events around us. And only with those, those who have the Holy Spirit can hear what God has to say 00:06:01.259 --> 00:06:07.759 through creation. Wisdom is, or creation is revelation to everyone, but only those with the Holy Spirit can 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:13.500 interpret it. Only those who are followers of the Lord can understand wisdom and understand the world. 00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:19.579 The one who does not hear God's voice in creation is called, in the Psalms and in the Proverbs, a fool. 00:06:20.539 --> 00:06:25.699 He's called a fool because he does not have wisdom. They do not have the Spirit of God that interprets 00:06:25.699 --> 00:06:31.699 the world wisely, according to God's word. In verse 10, they are the fools. They are the stupid. 00:06:31.699 --> 00:06:39.379 The fool says in his heart, Psalm 14, that there is no God. It's foolishness that cannot understand the world 00:06:39.379 --> 00:06:46.579 as God speaking, as a creator expressing himself to his creatures. Put briefly, the only way we can know wisdom 00:06:46.579 --> 00:06:53.839 is to hear it from the Lord. The only way we can know wisdom is to hear it from the Lord. Look at verses 3 and 4. 00:06:55.099 --> 00:07:01.279 The writer's mouth shall speak wisdom. But how? How does the writer's mouth speak wisdom? It answers itself in verse 4. 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:07.399 By inclining his ear to a proverb. And here we have something rather amazing. What is the writer doing? 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:13.079 He's writing down what he has heard. He's inclining his ear. He's inclining it to listen. As a musician, 00:07:13.239 --> 00:07:19.619 inclines his ear to the lyre, verse 4, so that his words might be in tune with what the lyre plays. 00:07:20.859 --> 00:07:27.779 He's hearing what he's expressing. Where is he hearing it from? He's hearing it from God. This is what we call 00:07:27.779 --> 00:07:33.619 inspiration. The writer's not speaking his own mind. He's speaking what he has received from God. 00:07:34.739 --> 00:07:38.019 And this inspiration is the only way that we can have confidence in the Bible. 00:07:38.599 --> 00:07:42.739 By knowing that God put his words in it. That it's not just the words of men. 00:07:43.679 --> 00:07:49.139 The words of Psalm 49 are not the words of men. They're the words that God has expressed to men 00:07:49.139 --> 00:07:53.659 that we might understand his word, as he's done throughout the entire Bible. 00:07:53.660 --> 00:08:00.060 So in a psalm of wisdom, what we can expect to see is the psalmist explain the facts of our existence. 00:08:00.620 --> 00:08:05.180 The just and the unjust facts. The things that give us comfort and the things that challenge and frustrate us. 00:08:05.240 --> 00:08:10.540 He'll lay out those facts. He'll lay out a problem that we see as arising from those facts. 00:08:10.940 --> 00:08:15.920 And we can expect him to interpret those difficulties in the light of what he's heard from God. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:23.080 And what God has revealed to him. And that's what we see here. God in Psalm 49 gives his people 00:08:23.080 --> 00:08:27.040 exclusive knowledge of what is a mystery to the rest of mankind. 00:08:28.020 --> 00:08:33.580 What is the problem? We see it in verses, starting in verse 5. I'm going to read verses 5 to 10 again. 00:08:33.740 --> 00:08:36.680 So follow along. Starting in verse 5 of Psalm 49. 00:08:36.679 --> 00:09:05.479 So what's the problem that we see introduced? 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:11.039 Two problems. The problem of inequity, as well as the problem of death. 00:09:11.659 --> 00:09:14.159 The problem of inequity and the problem of death. 00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:20.019 There are the rich who trust in their wealth, and they gain an advantage over the rest. 00:09:20.920 --> 00:09:25.560 And then at their deaths, there is no comfort knowing that we die the same death they do. 00:09:26.060 --> 00:09:28.039 The just and the unjust alike perish. 00:09:28.940 --> 00:09:31.860 So the problem first is inequity and injustice. 00:09:31.860 --> 00:09:38.139 It's the question, why do the unjust rich cheat and gain advantage over the rest of humanity? 00:09:39.100 --> 00:09:43.919 Or put differently, in life, we seem to be unequal, the just and the unjust. 00:09:44.379 --> 00:09:45.659 But we should be equal. 00:09:46.340 --> 00:09:48.879 In life, we seem to be unequal, but we should be equal. 00:09:49.379 --> 00:09:50.240 That's the first problem. 00:09:50.340 --> 00:09:52.139 And the second problem is the problem of death. 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:58.019 Which asks the question, why must we all, rich and poor, wise and foolish, alike die? 00:09:58.019 --> 00:10:03.100 In other words, in death, we're all equal, just and unjust. 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:04.720 But it shouldn't be that way. 00:10:05.779 --> 00:10:09.779 So the first problem, in life, we're unequal, and it shouldn't be that way. 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:14.279 And the second problem, in death, we're all equal, and it shouldn't be that way. 00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:17.759 So let's look at the first problem first, the problem of inequity. 00:10:18.220 --> 00:10:20.699 The unjust rich seem to always gain the advantage. 00:10:21.860 --> 00:10:23.039 And we know this to be true. 00:10:23.139 --> 00:10:27.120 In fact, given the impunity with which men are able to trust in wealth, 00:10:27.439 --> 00:10:29.459 you might be tempted to think that it's normal, 00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:32.980 that it's even virtuous to be a rich man who, for instance, 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:36.139 leaves his wealth behind him to make a name for himself. 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:38.100 We even have a name for that in our culture. 00:10:38.179 --> 00:10:39.639 We call it philanthropy. 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:44.679 And it's a noble thing for a rich man to leave his wealth behind, 00:10:44.980 --> 00:10:46.199 the abundance of his wealth, 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:48.980 and when he dies, he leaves it behind for others. 00:10:49.539 --> 00:10:52.139 But here's the stumbling block that the psalmist speaks about. 00:10:53.159 --> 00:10:54.819 There's something about that kind of prosperity, 00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:58.519 the prosperity of the wicked in particular, that causes us to fear. 00:10:59.299 --> 00:11:01.419 It's not primarily that we envy them, 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:04.559 and when they gain wealth and prosperity, 00:11:05.220 --> 00:11:07.399 although we do do that, we envy them. 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:10.740 But we look around the world and we see the world's reward system, 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:14.079 and we wonder, sometimes against our better instincts, 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:16.459 we wonder if we've missed out on something. 00:11:17.019 --> 00:11:18.360 Those who are following the Lord, 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:19.759 have we missed out on something 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:22.459 because we're not seeing the rewards that the world gives? 00:11:23.819 --> 00:11:25.799 Maybe you haven't seen any reward yet, 00:11:26.379 --> 00:11:28.779 and you ask, are you doing the right thing? 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:32.279 Shouldn't you be seeing more prosperity 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:33.600 because you're following the Lord? 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:37.000 Maybe the fact that you're not as rich as your neighbor 00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:38.360 is God's judgment against you. 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:42.180 Dig deep and see if you don't have that thought sometimes yourself. 00:11:43.040 --> 00:11:45.200 Because no matter what your bank balances are, 00:11:45.779 --> 00:11:47.600 you don't have to look far around you 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:48.940 to find someone who has more, 00:11:49.779 --> 00:11:51.139 someone who you can envy, 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:53.019 because they have more than you. 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:55.899 So the prosperity of the fool and the wicked 00:11:55.899 --> 00:11:59.240 can make you think that you're striving after the wrong things, 00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:00.820 that you're following the Lord 00:12:00.820 --> 00:12:03.620 and you're not seeing the world reward you for it. 00:12:05.019 --> 00:12:07.460 But keep in mind that what's frustrating you about this 00:12:07.460 --> 00:12:09.440 is God's patience and his kindness. 00:12:10.740 --> 00:12:15.419 All people receive life and gifts and pleasure from God, 00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:17.779 and they receive them on the basis of grace. 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:20.940 And all grace is good, 00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:24.139 and all grace is beautiful regardless of who receives it. 00:12:24.139 --> 00:12:26.860 Matthew 5.45 says, 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:29.340 He makes his sun rise on the evil and the good 00:12:29.340 --> 00:12:32.439 and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 00:12:34.199 --> 00:12:35.000 Remember, though, 00:12:35.699 --> 00:12:36.439 that we are people 00:12:36.439 --> 00:12:38.620 who have received immeasurably more 00:12:38.620 --> 00:12:40.759 than what we call this common grace, 00:12:41.199 --> 00:12:43.639 the grace that the unjust and the just receive alike. 00:12:44.039 --> 00:12:45.340 We have much more than that, 00:12:45.439 --> 00:12:46.279 than common grace. 00:12:47.100 --> 00:12:47.960 So don't fear. 00:12:48.439 --> 00:12:49.139 Verse 16. 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:51.559 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, 00:12:51.559 --> 00:12:53.139 when the glory of his house increases. 00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:54.379 What you see, 00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:57.019 the grace that God gives the just and the unjust alike, 00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:58.519 is not true riches. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:01.220 It's not the treasure that God has waiting 00:13:01.220 --> 00:13:02.699 for the people who follow him. 00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:04.100 It's grace. 00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:06.679 We shouldn't envy or begrudge grace. 00:13:07.539 --> 00:13:09.720 But we ought to look forward to the immeasurable riches 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:11.059 that we have in Christ, 00:13:11.319 --> 00:13:12.279 rather than what we see. 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:14.220 So don't fear them, 00:13:15.139 --> 00:13:16.860 the psalmist says in verses 8 and 9. 00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:18.379 Don't fear the unjust rich, 00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:19.740 but fear for them, 00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:23.279 because the ransom of their life is costly 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:24.980 and can never suffice 00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:26.759 that he should live on forever 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:28.279 and never see the pit. 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:31.560 A ransom, in biblical terms, 00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:32.740 is just the cost to a purchase. 00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:34.259 It's not like a kidnapping, typically. 00:13:34.680 --> 00:13:36.480 We think of a ransom in terms of a kidnapping, 00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:37.120 but it's not. 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:38.480 That's not the sense of the word here. 00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:41.100 A ransom is the price for something. 00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:43.180 A ransom is the price to cost 00:13:43.180 --> 00:13:44.799 or to purchase or to redeem something. 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:45.959 If you have a mortgage, 00:13:46.959 --> 00:13:49.120 you have a ransom to pay for your house. 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:51.079 That's the simple meaning of a ransom. 00:13:51.479 --> 00:13:52.479 What we have in verse 8, 00:13:53.439 --> 00:13:54.699 oh, and the pit, right? 00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:56.299 The pit is an expression of death. 00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:57.919 The Psalms use the pit a lot, 00:13:57.979 --> 00:14:00.219 especially when death comes upon you unawares. 00:14:00.819 --> 00:14:03.579 The grave is talked about as Sheol in the Psalms. 00:14:03.839 --> 00:14:05.799 The pit has a specific connotation 00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:07.879 that death comes up and catches you. 00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:08.759 It's a trap. 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:10.120 The pit is a death trap, 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:12.000 as an animal falls into a pit 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:13.699 as he's captured by the hunter. 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:16.159 So what we have in verse 8 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:17.899 is that whatever the rich man accumulates, 00:14:18.359 --> 00:14:19.579 there will not be enough there 00:14:19.579 --> 00:14:22.120 to pay what's required to live forever. 00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:25.339 The ransom of his life is costly, 00:14:25.859 --> 00:14:27.099 and that's an understatement. 00:14:27.939 --> 00:14:28.919 The ransom of his life 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:30.399 is much more than any riches 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:31.359 that he could accumulate. 00:14:33.059 --> 00:14:34.379 This is the wisdom that God gives 00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:36.219 to those who will hear it, 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:37.859 but wisdom that the foolish 00:14:37.859 --> 00:14:40.159 and the unjust will not receive. 00:14:41.859 --> 00:14:43.139 A foolish rich man 00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:44.399 that we still remember, 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:45.379 we remember for now, 00:14:45.459 --> 00:14:46.000 is Hugh Hefner, 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:48.039 of Playboy magazine fame. 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:48.620 You know the name. 00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:52.340 Did Hugh Hefner's life of pleasure and ease 00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:53.779 contribute anything 00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:55.419 to the ransom for his life? 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:57.699 In all his wealth, 00:14:58.399 --> 00:14:59.340 did he earn enough 00:14:59.340 --> 00:15:01.019 for the price of his life? 00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:03.120 No. 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:05.579 In fact, he's rightly the object of our pity, 00:15:05.699 --> 00:15:06.220 not our envy. 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:07.439 He died, 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:09.220 and now all he owns 00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:10.980 is a small plot of land 00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:11.900 about six feet deep. 00:15:12.900 --> 00:15:14.860 The wisdom that we have before us 00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:16.720 says there are some things 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:17.660 that money can't buy. 00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:19.380 Verse 7, 00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:20.980 no man can ransom another 00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:22.200 or give to God 00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:23.260 the price of his life. 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:24.840 Now, 00:15:24.900 --> 00:15:25.960 does Hugh Hefner have a legacy? 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:26.820 Does he have an estate? 00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:27.680 Well, yes. 00:15:28.380 --> 00:15:29.340 He has a legacy. 00:15:29.640 --> 00:15:31.100 I would say he doesn't have an estate. 00:15:31.540 --> 00:15:33.320 We talk about the term estate. 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:35.960 Estate comes from a Latin word, 00:15:36.040 --> 00:15:37.220 meaning the place you stand in. 00:15:37.300 --> 00:15:38.820 The place you stand in is your estate. 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:40.500 Now, 00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:41.600 what Hugh Hefner has 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:42.540 after he dies 00:15:42.540 --> 00:15:44.700 is not an estate in his mansion 00:15:44.700 --> 00:15:46.300 because he doesn't have it. 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:47.940 It's given to others. 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:49.159 Is he still remembered? 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:50.200 Does he still have a legacy? 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:50.620 Yes. 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:52.180 Like many of the foolish rich, 00:15:52.560 --> 00:15:54.159 their estates live on, 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:56.220 but they live on in the hands of others 00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:57.480 after their deaths. 00:15:58.540 --> 00:15:59.899 And this is what the Spirit says 00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:00.580 about legacies. 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:02.320 They called lands 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:03.279 by their own names, 00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:03.840 verse 11. 00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:05.940 They made a name for themselves 00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:07.720 in the lands that they left behind, 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:09.300 in the estates they left behind. 00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:10.700 But in the end, 00:16:10.800 --> 00:16:12.899 whether a legacy is a noble one or not, 00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:14.379 they leave their wealth. 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:16.240 They leave their estate to others, 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:16.820 verse 10. 00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:18.759 The truth is, 00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:19.540 the glory, 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:20.680 or the legacy, 00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:21.279 we could say, 00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:22.019 they leave behind 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:23.759 will not bring them credit before God. 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:25.180 They're still left 00:16:25.180 --> 00:16:26.940 with no place to dwell, 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:28.720 no estate remaining. 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:31.139 You've probably heard the story 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:32.220 of the two grave diggers 00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:34.360 who are charged with burying a rich man. 00:16:35.399 --> 00:16:37.139 The first grave digger says to the other, 00:16:37.540 --> 00:16:38.540 this was a wealthy man. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:38.980 How much, 00:16:39.060 --> 00:16:40.820 how much do you think he left behind? 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:42.600 And what does the other one say? 00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:44.120 All of it. 00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:45.899 He left all of it behind. 00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:47.519 That's another way of saying 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:48.660 you can't take it with you. 00:16:48.659 --> 00:16:50.559 For all of us, 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:51.199 rich or poor, 00:16:51.579 --> 00:16:53.439 the only earthly thing left to us 00:16:53.439 --> 00:16:55.620 in death 00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:57.779 is a six-foot deep plot of land 00:16:57.779 --> 00:16:58.860 that serves as our grave. 00:16:59.339 --> 00:17:01.079 And this is true of the rich and poor alike. 00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:01.779 Verse 11. 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:03.879 Their graves are their homes forever. 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:06.159 The rich fool thinks 00:17:06.159 --> 00:17:07.220 by leaving a legacy, 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:09.279 he somehow becomes less dead 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.039 at the end. 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:12.700 But we can see how foolish it is 00:17:12.700 --> 00:17:14.339 to be the one who trusts in wealth, 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:16.659 knowing that at their death, 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:19.019 their estate will still be there, 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:20.339 their wealth will still be there, 00:17:20.379 --> 00:17:21.519 it just won't be there for them. 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:24.079 So you can have a legacy, 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:25.099 you can be remembered, 00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:27.439 it just won't make you any less dead. 00:17:29.099 --> 00:17:30.399 You can leave an estate, 00:17:30.959 --> 00:17:32.000 but it won't be yours. 00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.439 We laugh rightly 00:17:33.439 --> 00:17:34.639 because it's foolish. 00:17:35.579 --> 00:17:36.039 And we will, 00:17:36.419 --> 00:17:37.819 even the rich men will not admit 00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:39.439 that I'm trying to beat death 00:17:39.439 --> 00:17:40.899 by leaving my estate. 00:17:41.419 --> 00:17:42.539 But we know in the heart, 00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:44.179 in the heart of the unjust rich, 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:46.019 that's where their confidence is, 00:17:46.399 --> 00:17:47.419 the confidence in wealth, 00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:49.539 that I'll somehow become less dead, 00:17:49.659 --> 00:17:50.399 that I will live on. 00:17:50.459 --> 00:17:51.439 We even use those words, 00:17:51.679 --> 00:17:53.099 I will live on in my estate. 00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:54.839 I will live on in my foundation, 00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:56.519 the foundation that I give 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:58.419 through my wealth. 00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:00.659 So not only is the rich man foolish 00:18:00.659 --> 00:18:01.619 to think that his estate 00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:02.659 will make him less dead, 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:04.059 but he's foolish to think 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:05.039 that it can make him secure 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:05.699 in this life. 00:18:06.699 --> 00:18:07.619 There is a rich fool 00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:08.459 in Jesus' parable. 00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:09.759 This is in Luke 12. 00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:11.619 Who planned out his estate 00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:12.319 for security. 00:18:12.899 --> 00:18:13.759 For years to come, 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:15.640 not knowing that his soul 00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:17.480 still belonged to God. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:19.299 With all his wealth, 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:21.599 his soul still belonged to God. 00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:24.180 And God was calling in the loan. 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:26.740 This is Luke 12, 00:18:26.859 --> 00:18:27.879 starting in verse 16. 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:29.640 Jesus told them a parable, 00:18:29.760 --> 00:18:29.920 saying, 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.900 the land of a rich man 00:18:30.900 --> 00:18:31.680 produced plentifully. 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:33.020 And he thought to himself, 00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:34.280 what shall I do? 00:18:34.520 --> 00:18:36.000 For I have nowhere to store my crops. 00:18:36.760 --> 00:18:37.200 And he said, 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:37.940 I will do this. 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:39.700 I will tear down my barns 00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:40.700 and build larger ones. 00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:41.980 And there I will store 00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:43.740 all my grain and all my goods. 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:45.300 And I will say to my soul, 00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:45.700 soul, 00:18:46.540 --> 00:18:47.300 you have ample goods 00:18:47.300 --> 00:18:48.280 laid up for many years. 00:18:48.280 --> 00:18:48.600 Relax, 00:18:49.120 --> 00:18:49.360 eat, 00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:49.800 drink, 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:50.340 and be merry. 00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:52.079 But God said to him, 00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:52.439 fool, 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:54.519 this night your life 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:55.399 is required of you. 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.939 And the things you have prepared, 00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.319 whose will they be? 00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.679 So is the one who lays up 00:19:00.679 --> 00:19:01.459 treasure in heaven, 00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:03.119 treasure for himself, 00:19:03.379 --> 00:19:05.119 and is not rich toward God. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:07.399 You see, 00:19:07.439 --> 00:19:08.279 Jesus shows us 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.419 how poorly this fool 00:19:09.419 --> 00:19:10.659 has thought through his life 00:19:10.660 --> 00:19:12.320 and how poorly he's thought 00:19:12.320 --> 00:19:13.080 through his death 00:19:13.080 --> 00:19:14.120 in particular. 00:19:15.300 --> 00:19:15.519 You see, 00:19:15.580 --> 00:19:16.140 he had wealth, 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:17.700 but his soul 00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:19.560 still belonged to God. 00:19:20.360 --> 00:19:21.840 And God was calling in the loan. 00:19:22.800 --> 00:19:23.420 His estate 00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:24.460 was not enough 00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.580 to pay off that mortgage, 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:26.440 great as it was. 00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:28.380 The ransom of his life 00:19:28.380 --> 00:19:29.640 was too costly 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:30.360 even for him. 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:33.080 So what's the problem again? 00:19:33.620 --> 00:19:34.560 The first problem, 00:19:34.660 --> 00:19:35.600 the problem of inequity. 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:36.740 The unjust, 00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:37.620 hoarders of wealth 00:19:37.620 --> 00:19:38.580 seem to gain advantage 00:19:38.580 --> 00:19:39.600 over the rest of humanity. 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:41.059 And the problem of death, 00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:42.480 the poor and the innocent 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:43.559 join the unjust, 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:44.399 rich, 00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:45.419 in the same death. 00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:46.879 So the psalm begins 00:19:46.879 --> 00:19:47.799 to answer the first problem 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.419 by showing us 00:19:48.419 --> 00:19:49.399 another side of the problem, 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:50.799 the problem for the fool 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:52.019 who is the rich man 00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:52.839 who trusts in wealth. 00:19:53.159 --> 00:19:53.980 And that alleviates 00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:54.639 some of the problem. 00:19:55.159 --> 00:19:55.819 There's no longer 00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:56.679 a reason to envy 00:19:56.679 --> 00:19:57.939 the unjust rich, 00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.899 but now there's reason 00:19:59.899 --> 00:20:00.299 to pity. 00:20:01.179 --> 00:20:01.919 To pity those 00:20:01.919 --> 00:20:02.859 who trust in riches 00:20:02.859 --> 00:20:04.019 because we know 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:05.279 they have a foolish confidence. 00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.639 God's wisdom says 00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:07.399 it's foolish 00:20:07.399 --> 00:20:09.139 to confide in wealth. 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:10.319 As your security. 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.319 But so far 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:13.619 the inequity isn't removed, 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:14.839 but it's minimized. 00:20:14.939 --> 00:20:15.539 It shows us 00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:16.599 there's false sense 00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:17.199 of confidence. 00:20:17.679 --> 00:20:18.159 Their riches 00:20:18.159 --> 00:20:20.299 only serve to numb them 00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:21.419 as death 00:20:21.419 --> 00:20:23.059 brings them unwittingly nearer. 00:20:23.719 --> 00:20:24.679 Just like a shepherd 00:20:24.679 --> 00:20:26.399 brings his sheep 00:20:26.399 --> 00:20:27.019 peacefully 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.599 to be slaughtered. 00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:31.559 Verses 13 and 14. 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:34.039 In the words of the psalm, 00:20:34.639 --> 00:20:35.679 whatever you trust in 00:20:35.679 --> 00:20:36.679 will lead you 00:20:36.679 --> 00:20:37.240 to your shepherd. 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.480 If you trust in wealth, 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:40.919 then death 00:20:40.919 --> 00:20:41.759 is your shepherd. 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:43.799 Verses 13 to 14. 00:20:43.899 --> 00:20:44.500 This is the path 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:44.839 of those 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:45.879 who have foolish confidence, 00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:46.619 yet after them 00:20:46.619 --> 00:20:47.279 people approve 00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:48.000 of their boasts. 00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:49.079 Like sheep, 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:49.639 they're appointed 00:20:49.639 --> 00:20:50.299 for Sheol, 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:51.039 or the grave. 00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:51.940 Death 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:52.919 shall be their shepherd, 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:53.899 and the upright 00:20:53.899 --> 00:20:54.679 shall rule over them 00:20:54.679 --> 00:20:55.119 in the morning. 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:55.639 Their form 00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:56.399 shall be consumed 00:20:56.399 --> 00:20:57.059 in the grave 00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:57.759 with no place 00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:58.179 to dwell. 00:20:58.180 --> 00:21:00.160 This is the path 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:00.660 of the foolish. 00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:01.799 Like sheep, 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:02.240 they're appointed 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:02.860 for the grave. 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:03.960 Death shall be 00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:04.400 their shepherd. 00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:05.860 When the Bible 00:21:05.860 --> 00:21:06.620 uses the imagery 00:21:06.620 --> 00:21:07.180 of a shepherd, 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:08.560 it brings the idea 00:21:08.560 --> 00:21:09.279 of simple, 00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.700 unquestioning sheep 00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:12.180 following their leader 00:21:12.180 --> 00:21:13.539 wherever he wills 00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.039 them to go. 00:21:15.100 --> 00:21:16.240 This is how sheep are. 00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:17.400 They happily 00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:18.440 and unfailingly 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:19.240 go where their shepherd 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:19.700 leads them. 00:21:20.340 --> 00:21:20.840 And the shepherd 00:21:20.840 --> 00:21:21.580 is leading them 00:21:21.580 --> 00:21:22.980 not to a green pasture 00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:24.160 where they can feed 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:24.960 on rich grass, 00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:26.240 but to a pit 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.759 where death 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:28.619 will feed on them. 00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:29.500 Verse 14. 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:31.359 Now it's been said 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:32.000 that the Old Testament 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:33.019 believers didn't have 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:33.900 a view of the afterlife. 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:34.900 Christian commentators 00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:35.559 say this often. 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:36.319 The Old Testament 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:37.200 believers didn't have 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:37.900 a view of the afterlife. 00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:38.379 They had a view 00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:39.140 of the promised land 00:21:39.140 --> 00:21:40.099 that was an earthly 00:21:40.099 --> 00:21:40.640 inheritance, 00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:42.220 the land of Canaan, 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.339 that there just was 00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:44.579 Sheol, the end, 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:45.700 the grave at the end 00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:46.099 of life. 00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:47.440 But the words of the psalm 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:48.079 tell us differently. 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.519 It's that there is 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:50.319 a death reserved 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:50.879 for the wicked 00:21:50.879 --> 00:21:51.740 that's eternal, 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.799 one that consumes forever. 00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:54.799 As Isaiah told, 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:56.299 he says it's a place 00:21:56.299 --> 00:21:56.799 where the worm 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.559 does not die 00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.200 and the fire 00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:58.940 is not quenched. 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:01.159 This death 00:22:01.159 --> 00:22:02.659 is being consumed 00:22:02.659 --> 00:22:03.099 forever. 00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:05.379 There's a biblical picture 00:22:05.379 --> 00:22:06.240 of the fool for you, 00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:07.399 a rich man 00:22:07.399 --> 00:22:08.919 following his shepherd 00:22:08.919 --> 00:22:10.460 to his miserable death, 00:22:10.659 --> 00:22:11.700 but happily 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:13.500 and unquestioningly, 00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:15.179 and happily in part 00:22:15.179 --> 00:22:15.960 because he's surrounded 00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:16.859 by his own fans 00:22:16.859 --> 00:22:17.299 on the journey. 00:22:17.379 --> 00:22:18.200 This is verse 13. 00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:19.019 Yet after them, 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:19.759 people approve 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.480 of their boasts. 00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:22.839 His self-satisfied happiness 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:23.659 turns out to be 00:22:23.659 --> 00:22:24.539 the most foolish thing 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.940 of all. 00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:26.920 It's happiness 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:28.399 that makes this mistake. 00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:29.839 The mistake is 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:30.299 to think 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:31.960 that God must have 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:32.599 the same opinion 00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:33.079 of them 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:34.500 as the people around them, 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:35.960 as their admirers 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:36.460 around them. 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:38.980 That's the fool's mistake, 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.259 to think that God 00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.579 must think the same thing 00:22:41.579 --> 00:22:42.000 of me 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:43.339 as my admirers, 00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:44.399 as my flatterers 00:22:44.399 --> 00:22:45.000 think of me. 00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:46.759 They say, 00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:47.480 if everyone thinks 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:47.980 I'm wonderful, 00:22:48.119 --> 00:22:49.039 surely God must think 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.480 I'm okay. 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:51.579 the ease of wealth 00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:52.799 and the adulation 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.240 of men 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:53.920 has the effect 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:54.599 of numbing you 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:55.700 to your own guilt 00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.420 before God 00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:58.140 and the enormous cost 00:22:58.140 --> 00:22:59.660 of the ransom you owe. 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:02.220 So the lesson 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:04.039 of the rich fool 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:04.620 in Luke 12 00:23:04.620 --> 00:23:05.160 is this, 00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:06.559 so is the one 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:07.500 who lays up treasure 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:08.180 for himself 00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:09.019 and is not rich 00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:09.720 toward God. 00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:11.599 And what makes 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.640 one rich toward God? 00:23:13.400 --> 00:23:14.240 What makes you 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:14.980 rich toward God 00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:15.880 is having your mortgage 00:23:15.880 --> 00:23:16.420 paid off, 00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:18.440 having the ransom 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:19.160 for the redemption 00:23:19.160 --> 00:23:19.880 of your life 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:20.720 paid for. 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.680 That's treasure in heaven. 00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:23.680 That's riches 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.380 toward God. 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:26.519 And those are the riches 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:27.279 that you trust in, 00:23:27.620 --> 00:23:28.580 that followers of Christ 00:23:28.580 --> 00:23:29.680 trust in beyond 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:30.299 earthly riches. 00:23:31.140 --> 00:23:31.860 Now there is at least 00:23:31.860 --> 00:23:32.840 a substantial portion 00:23:32.840 --> 00:23:33.299 of an answer 00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:33.900 to the question 00:23:33.900 --> 00:23:34.700 about inequity 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.600 and death. 00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:36.980 The inequity 00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:37.840 of the unjust rich 00:23:37.840 --> 00:23:38.840 lording it over the rest 00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:40.200 is really an illusion. 00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.460 There is the answer. 00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:42.900 It isn't really 00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:44.380 that they're better off, 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.400 that there is injustice, 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:46.559 because that reality 00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.140 is an illusion. 00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:48.080 It's foolishness 00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:48.579 to believe 00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:49.159 that the condition 00:23:49.159 --> 00:23:50.099 can last for long, 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:50.879 the condition 00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:52.720 of the unjust prospering, 00:23:53.399 --> 00:23:53.899 for death 00:23:53.899 --> 00:23:54.559 will bring the foolish 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:56.240 down and will consume them. 00:23:57.379 --> 00:23:58.559 But it's also far 00:23:58.559 --> 00:23:59.359 from providing comfort 00:23:59.359 --> 00:23:59.960 to those of us 00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.539 who understand 00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:01.299 wealth to be fleeting, 00:24:01.579 --> 00:24:02.619 who don't trust in riches. 00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.359 It's probably 00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:05.339 no comfort to you 00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:06.699 that the unjust 00:24:06.699 --> 00:24:07.359 and the just 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:08.259 will all die alike. 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.919 So the second problem 00:24:09.919 --> 00:24:10.599 still remains. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:11.779 The second problem 00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:12.859 is the problem of death. 00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.500 The comfort comes 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:15.679 and not the answer 00:24:15.679 --> 00:24:16.179 to the question 00:24:16.179 --> 00:24:17.159 for why must we all 00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:18.019 suffer death alike, 00:24:18.560 --> 00:24:19.380 but in pointing us 00:24:19.380 --> 00:24:20.180 beyond wealth 00:24:20.180 --> 00:24:21.779 and beyond our deaths. 00:24:22.340 --> 00:24:23.980 That's where verse 15 goes. 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:25.000 If you continue with me 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:25.840 to verse 15, 00:24:27.840 --> 00:24:29.240 but God will ransom 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:29.920 my soul 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.580 from the power 00:24:30.580 --> 00:24:31.220 of the grave, 00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:33.600 for he will receive me. 00:24:35.600 --> 00:24:36.440 A but God 00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:36.900 in the Bible 00:24:36.900 --> 00:24:38.180 always brings good news. 00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:40.320 And here's a but God 00:24:40.320 --> 00:24:40.940 that we need 00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:41.640 to pay attention to 00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:42.220 because it brings 00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:42.759 the reversal. 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:43.960 It brings the wisdom 00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:44.600 that explains 00:24:44.600 --> 00:24:45.299 the paradox, 00:24:45.620 --> 00:24:46.799 the frustrating reality 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:47.700 of life 00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:48.720 in an unjust world. 00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:49.799 A but God 00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:51.380 like the but God 00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:52.299 in Acts 13. 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.799 When Paul and Barnabas 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.380 were speaking 00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:55.660 in the church, 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.519 the burgeoning church 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.180 in Antioch, 00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.340 and they're sharing 00:24:58.340 --> 00:24:59.240 the gospel with the people, 00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:00.900 they said of Jesus 00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:01.759 that they took him down 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.319 from the tree 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:03.700 and laid him in a tomb. 00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:04.840 But God 00:25:04.840 --> 00:25:06.380 raised him from the dead. 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.740 The but God 00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.840 brought good news. 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:10.019 And in Romans 5, 00:25:10.100 --> 00:25:10.880 when Paul says, 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:12.300 there's not many places 00:25:12.300 --> 00:25:13.040 you will find 00:25:13.040 --> 00:25:14.480 a just person 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.740 dying for another person. 00:25:16.300 --> 00:25:17.400 He says in Romans 5, 00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:18.460 one will scarcely die 00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:19.480 for a righteous person, 00:25:20.040 --> 00:25:20.760 but God 00:25:20.760 --> 00:25:22.240 shows his love for us 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:23.100 in that while 00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:24.100 we were still sinners, 00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:25.780 Christ died for us. 00:25:26.840 --> 00:25:27.820 The but God here 00:25:27.820 --> 00:25:29.240 is that he will ransom 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:29.860 my soul 00:25:29.860 --> 00:25:30.960 from the power of Sheol, 00:25:31.280 --> 00:25:31.820 from the power 00:25:31.820 --> 00:25:32.340 of the grave, 00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:34.420 for he will receive me. 00:25:35.580 --> 00:25:36.540 Remember that wisdom 00:25:36.540 --> 00:25:37.900 is knowing that God, 00:25:38.080 --> 00:25:38.980 that everything in creation 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.760 is God revealing 00:25:39.760 --> 00:25:40.660 something to us. 00:25:41.100 --> 00:25:42.240 If we have wisdom, 00:25:42.760 --> 00:25:44.440 we will see God speaking 00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:46.220 wherever we find death. 00:25:47.340 --> 00:25:48.560 When we see the death 00:25:48.560 --> 00:25:49.900 of the unjust rich, 00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:52.480 we see their worldly gain erased. 00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:54.280 When we see the death 00:25:54.280 --> 00:25:55.120 of God's people, 00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:57.340 we look at them 00:25:57.340 --> 00:25:58.880 and we see the hope 00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:00.000 that they finally gained. 00:26:01.260 --> 00:26:02.500 They live their lives 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.540 in an unseen hope 00:26:03.540 --> 00:26:05.020 that they now see. 00:26:05.760 --> 00:26:06.880 And it reminds us 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:07.960 that we share 00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:08.620 in the same hope. 00:26:09.100 --> 00:26:10.080 We need that reminder 00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:11.439 because we are living 00:26:11.439 --> 00:26:12.259 by what we see 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.339 and what we see 00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:13.879 is injustice. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.319 We need to be reminded 00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:16.460 by the saints 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:17.519 who have gone before us 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.519 that the hope 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:19.639 that they did not see 00:26:19.639 --> 00:26:21.079 is a hope they now see 00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:22.240 and a hope 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.119 that's waiting for us. 00:26:24.639 --> 00:26:25.720 I'm reminded of the saints 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.119 who have died 00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:27.220 in the last five years 00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.299 in our church family. 00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.419 Since we've been here, 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:30.039 I'm surrounded 00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:31.159 by their witness already 00:26:31.159 --> 00:26:32.679 to their hope in death 00:26:32.679 --> 00:26:34.220 because they were rich 00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:34.899 toward God. 00:26:34.900 --> 00:26:34.940 God. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.480 This isn't all 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.740 that we've seen die, 00:26:38.100 --> 00:26:38.640 saints who've died 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.100 in the church, 00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:40.560 but in the last five years, 00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.340 David Erickson, 00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:42.620 Jane Hudson, 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.360 Stephen Clark, 00:26:44.860 --> 00:26:45.820 and just in the last 00:26:45.820 --> 00:26:46.380 several weeks, 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.280 Doug McClure 00:26:47.280 --> 00:26:48.660 and Walt Pinson. 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.340 That's a lot of death 00:26:51.340 --> 00:26:53.140 in a congregation 00:26:53.140 --> 00:26:53.860 our size 00:26:53.860 --> 00:26:55.300 in a rather short time. 00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:57.340 But if we're wise, 00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:59.019 we'll see God 00:26:59.019 --> 00:26:59.880 speaking to us 00:26:59.880 --> 00:27:01.320 through all of the deaths 00:27:01.320 --> 00:27:02.340 of these, 00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:03.180 our brothers and sisters. 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:05.019 If we're wise, 00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:06.600 we'll see God's word 00:27:06.600 --> 00:27:07.860 explaining their deaths 00:27:07.860 --> 00:27:08.360 to us 00:27:08.360 --> 00:27:10.740 because what we don't see 00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:11.900 is what they see. 00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:13.980 They see their hope realized. 00:27:14.900 --> 00:27:15.560 They don't walk 00:27:15.560 --> 00:27:16.220 by faith anymore. 00:27:16.320 --> 00:27:17.160 They walk by sight. 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:19.299 Look at verse 15 again. 00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:20.120 But God will ransom 00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:20.680 my soul 00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:21.259 from the power 00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:21.820 of the grave 00:27:21.820 --> 00:27:23.799 for he will receive me 00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:25.460 as he has received 00:27:25.460 --> 00:27:26.620 my brothers and sisters. 00:27:27.820 --> 00:27:29.019 In this but God, 00:27:29.620 --> 00:27:30.519 wisdom swoops in 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:32.200 and makes a perplexing 00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:33.620 and a despairing reality 00:27:33.620 --> 00:27:34.640 a reason for comfort. 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:37.019 It says that there are, 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:37.740 though there are 00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:38.539 no worldly riches 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.200 that will make you 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:39.779 less dead 00:27:39.779 --> 00:27:40.819 at the end of your life, 00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:42.259 your soul 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:43.400 has its ransom paid. 00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:45.680 Death won't hold power 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:46.299 over you 00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:48.080 and you won't be 00:27:48.080 --> 00:27:48.960 consumed by it. 00:27:50.039 --> 00:27:50.920 The words are, 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:52.420 he will receive you. 00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:53.860 And you can say this 00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:54.480 about yourself. 00:27:55.140 --> 00:27:56.960 He will receive me. 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:59.380 Mark 10, 45, 00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:00.660 the son of man came 00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:02.000 to give his life 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:03.460 as a ransom for many. 00:28:05.140 --> 00:28:06.160 The faithful dead, 00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.200 the saints, 00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:08.500 have been received by God 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:09.860 because the ransom 00:28:09.860 --> 00:28:10.600 for their lives 00:28:10.600 --> 00:28:11.160 was paid. 00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:13.539 When the psalmist 00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:14.299 got old 00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:15.440 and he saw his brothers 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.220 and sisters die, 00:28:16.340 --> 00:28:17.340 he was able to say 00:28:17.340 --> 00:28:18.160 to his comfort, 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.299 yes, I'll share 00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:20.059 in their same death, 00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.319 but I share 00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:22.340 in the same hope as well, 00:28:23.380 --> 00:28:24.799 that he will receive me. 00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:26.799 So again, 00:28:26.859 --> 00:28:27.740 don't listen to anyone 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.460 who tells you 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.839 that the Old Testament saints 00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:30.700 didn't believe 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.359 in eternal life 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:31.940 after death 00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:33.879 because it's there. 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.619 It's also there 00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:35.859 in verses 14 and 15. 00:28:36.099 --> 00:28:36.559 In death, 00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.720 look at verse 14, 00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:38.399 there is a morning, 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:39.339 the upright shall rule 00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:40.619 over them in the morning. 00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:41.879 There is a morning 00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:42.819 after death 00:28:42.819 --> 00:28:45.180 in which the foolish 00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:47.180 being shepherded 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:47.700 by death 00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:48.159 will be brought 00:28:48.159 --> 00:28:48.720 into judgment 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.779 and ruled 00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.460 by the upright, 00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:51.079 the saints. 00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:52.859 The saints of God 00:28:52.859 --> 00:28:53.579 will rule men 00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:54.119 and angels 00:28:54.119 --> 00:28:55.259 in the kingdom to come 00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:56.979 and this is a morning 00:28:56.979 --> 00:28:57.759 in which God's people 00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:58.639 will be received 00:28:58.639 --> 00:29:00.039 into their eternal dwelling. 00:29:00.899 --> 00:29:01.539 Verse 15, 00:29:01.979 --> 00:29:03.019 he will receive me. 00:29:04.239 --> 00:29:04.759 And the morning 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.259 after death 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.019 is the first time 00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:06.579 we will see 00:29:06.579 --> 00:29:07.899 with our own eyes 00:29:07.899 --> 00:29:09.579 what real riches are. 00:29:10.139 --> 00:29:10.779 The first time 00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.419 we will see it. 00:29:11.899 --> 00:29:12.399 The treasure 00:29:12.399 --> 00:29:13.379 that we did not see, 00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:14.259 the treasure 00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:15.019 that earthly riches 00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:16.039 distracted us from, 00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:17.439 we'll finally see them 00:29:17.439 --> 00:29:18.519 with our own eyes. 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:21.139 So believer in Christ, 00:29:21.959 --> 00:29:22.539 your shepherd 00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:23.920 is also leading you 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:25.519 and he's a better shepherd 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.180 than death 00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:28.159 because he's leading you 00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:29.279 not to your deaths, 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:31.079 he's leading you 00:29:31.079 --> 00:29:32.059 through death 00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:34.200 and into glory 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:35.619 as he did 00:29:35.619 --> 00:29:36.339 with the saints 00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:37.240 that went before us. 00:29:38.619 --> 00:29:39.559 It's like there are 00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:40.139 two shepherds 00:29:40.139 --> 00:29:41.019 leading two flocks. 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.680 They're both walking 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:43.480 in the same direction 00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:44.659 and both apparently 00:29:44.659 --> 00:29:45.559 to the same place 00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:46.720 and you, 00:29:46.879 --> 00:29:47.420 when you're young, 00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.899 you're on the first part 00:29:48.899 --> 00:29:49.519 of this journey 00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:50.420 with your shepherd 00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:51.580 and you don't see the end, 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:53.480 you just see two flocks 00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:55.100 going to approximately 00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:55.880 the same place 00:29:55.880 --> 00:29:57.160 but as you get older, 00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:58.860 you start to see the end. 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:00.620 You start to see the end 00:30:00.620 --> 00:30:01.259 of where the shepherd 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:02.660 is leading his people 00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:04.060 and you look over 00:30:04.060 --> 00:30:05.019 to that other flock 00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:05.700 and you see 00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:07.500 happy sheep, 00:30:08.060 --> 00:30:08.779 fatter sheep, 00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:09.759 sheep that seem 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.560 to be doing very, 00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:11.200 very well 00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:13.259 but then as you approach 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:13.680 the end 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:14.240 of where the shepherd 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:15.019 is bringing the sheep, 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.800 you start to see the pit 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:18.220 and you see 00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:19.019 that shepherd 00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:20.819 is leading his people 00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:21.399 to a pit 00:30:21.399 --> 00:30:23.799 and you start to see 00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:25.000 where the paths diverge. 00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:26.579 This is what age does 00:30:26.579 --> 00:30:27.519 and this is why kids, 00:30:27.659 --> 00:30:28.139 you're not thinking 00:30:28.139 --> 00:30:29.039 about death very much 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:30.379 because you are a sheep 00:30:30.379 --> 00:30:31.440 at the very beginning 00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:32.039 of your journey. 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:32.919 You don't see 00:30:32.919 --> 00:30:33.599 what's up ahead. 00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:34.759 You start to think 00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.859 about that as you get older 00:30:35.859 --> 00:30:37.180 as your shepherd 00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:38.240 is leading the flock 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:40.039 towards their final destination 00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.960 and you look over 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.720 to those happy, 00:30:42.139 --> 00:30:42.759 unfailingly, 00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:44.039 unquestioningly sheep 00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:46.240 and you see 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:46.980 they're being led 00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:47.960 to the pit. 00:30:48.900 --> 00:30:49.759 Death is their shepherd 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:51.579 and your death 00:30:51.579 --> 00:30:52.299 waits for you too. 00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:52.799 You're heading 00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:53.740 to the same place. 00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:54.859 You're heading to death 00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:56.339 but unlike the flock 00:30:56.339 --> 00:30:56.859 of fools, 00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:58.259 that's not where 00:30:58.259 --> 00:30:58.940 you will remain 00:30:58.940 --> 00:31:00.359 because your shepherd 00:31:00.359 --> 00:31:01.160 is not leading you 00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:01.700 to death, 00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:02.799 he's leading you 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.559 through death. 00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:06.539 What does Psalm 23 say? 00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:08.279 The Lord is my shepherd, 00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:09.799 I shall not want. 00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:11.299 He makes me 00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:11.900 to lie down 00:31:11.900 --> 00:31:12.839 in green pastures. 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:13.920 He leads me 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:14.920 beside still waters. 00:31:14.920 --> 00:31:16.400 He, what? 00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:18.920 He restores my soul. 00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:20.779 At death, 00:31:21.360 --> 00:31:22.519 your soul is collected 00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:24.460 but in Christ, 00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:26.279 he restores it to you. 00:31:27.360 --> 00:31:28.580 Everyone sees death 00:31:28.580 --> 00:31:30.779 but believers in Christ, 00:31:31.360 --> 00:31:32.019 your shepherd 00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:33.519 restores your soul 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:34.019 to you. 00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:36.660 At the end of the Psalm, 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:38.519 when the psalmist 00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:39.380 restates the problem 00:31:39.380 --> 00:31:40.180 that he introduces 00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:40.720 at the beginning, 00:31:40.840 --> 00:31:41.140 he says, 00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:42.040 man in his pomp 00:31:42.040 --> 00:31:43.500 yet without understanding 00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:44.259 is like the beast 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:44.800 that perish, 00:31:45.020 --> 00:31:45.460 verse 20. 00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:47.720 The solution is written there 00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.400 right in the statement 00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:49.040 of the problem, 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:51.400 yet without understanding 00:31:51.400 --> 00:31:53.100 or yet without wisdom. 00:31:54.060 --> 00:31:55.120 Yes, all alike die, 00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:56.759 the rich and the poor die, 00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:57.660 and in your lives 00:31:57.660 --> 00:31:58.860 you'll have front row seats 00:31:58.860 --> 00:32:00.300 to the abuse of wealth 00:32:00.300 --> 00:32:01.600 and the prosperity 00:32:01.600 --> 00:32:02.140 of the wicked. 00:32:02.140 --> 00:32:04.560 But God's word 00:32:04.560 --> 00:32:05.340 is interpreting that 00:32:05.340 --> 00:32:05.840 for us 00:32:05.840 --> 00:32:06.960 and it's revealing 00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:07.460 a truth, 00:32:08.020 --> 00:32:08.980 a life-giving truth 00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:10.320 that what you trust in 00:32:10.320 --> 00:32:11.840 leads you to your shepherd. 00:32:12.840 --> 00:32:14.060 If you trust in the Lord, 00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:16.060 Jesus Christ is your shepherd. 00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:17.759 He's not leading you 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.220 to death. 00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:19.620 He's leading you 00:32:19.620 --> 00:32:20.160 through death. 00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:23.380 Psalm 73, 00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:24.600 which we read earlier today, 00:32:25.140 --> 00:32:25.380 says, 00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:26.620 I am continually with you. 00:32:26.840 --> 00:32:28.040 You hold my right hand. 00:32:28.620 --> 00:32:29.160 You guide me 00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:29.780 with your counsel 00:32:29.780 --> 00:32:30.400 and afterward 00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:31.620 you receive me 00:32:31.620 --> 00:32:32.140 into glory. 00:32:33.100 --> 00:32:33.660 There is a hope 00:32:33.660 --> 00:32:34.600 of glory after death. 00:32:34.860 --> 00:32:35.400 The Old Testament 00:32:35.400 --> 00:32:36.080 saints knew it. 00:32:36.420 --> 00:32:36.960 We know it 00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:38.240 because we have a shepherd. 00:32:38.760 --> 00:32:39.520 We have a shepherd. 00:32:40.320 --> 00:32:41.160 We know that it will 00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:42.260 bring us out of the pit, 00:32:42.760 --> 00:32:43.460 out of death, 00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:44.820 because our soul 00:32:44.820 --> 00:32:45.740 belongs to him 00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:47.500 and his desire 00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:48.160 is to return it 00:32:48.160 --> 00:32:48.820 back to us. 00:32:50.100 --> 00:32:50.940 If you continue 00:32:50.940 --> 00:32:51.880 reading Psalm 73, 00:32:52.020 --> 00:32:52.920 you find these words, 00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:54.320 whom have I in heaven 00:32:54.320 --> 00:32:54.700 but you? 00:32:55.380 --> 00:32:56.000 And there is nothing 00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:56.520 on earth 00:32:56.520 --> 00:32:57.440 that I desire 00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:58.560 besides you. 00:32:59.940 --> 00:33:00.960 Those are wise words, 00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:02.400 words of one 00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:03.660 who is rich toward God, 00:33:04.620 --> 00:33:05.340 whose ransom, 00:33:06.100 --> 00:33:06.540 their mortgage 00:33:06.540 --> 00:33:07.080 for their life 00:33:07.080 --> 00:33:07.720 has been paid, 00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:09.100 who sees nothing 00:33:09.100 --> 00:33:09.580 of worth 00:33:09.580 --> 00:33:10.480 when it's set beside 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:11.000 the shepherd 00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:12.260 who sits in heaven, 00:33:12.800 --> 00:33:13.380 leading us, 00:33:14.020 --> 00:33:15.100 leading us through death. 00:33:16.700 --> 00:33:17.380 Let's pray. 00:33:19.380 --> 00:33:20.300 Father, make us 00:33:20.300 --> 00:33:21.140 to be a people 00:33:21.140 --> 00:33:22.160 who walk in this wisdom, 00:33:23.060 --> 00:33:24.000 who are rich in God 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:24.900 and have the understanding 00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:26.660 to know how fleeting 00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:27.780 are our small 00:33:27.780 --> 00:33:29.200 and our worldly riches. 00:33:29.360 --> 00:33:30.620 Whatever our estate is, 00:33:31.340 --> 00:33:32.000 their small 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:32.940 and worldly riches. 00:33:33.780 --> 00:33:34.680 Give us the sense 00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:36.180 not to envy the wealth 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:37.000 of those around us, 00:33:37.060 --> 00:33:37.980 but to seek your kingdom 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:38.940 first and always 00:33:38.940 --> 00:33:39.920 and do this 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:40.400 by the power 00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:41.160 of your Holy Spirit 00:33:41.160 --> 00:33:42.300 and in the name 00:33:42.300 --> 00:33:43.120 of Christ our Savior. 00:33:43.120 --> 00:33:44.120 Amen.