WEBVTT

00:00:00.680 --> 00:00:06.160
 Let's open with a word of prayer. Lord, thank you that we can gather this morning and open your word.

00:00:06.860 --> 00:00:11.419
 Lord, this morning we desire to be drawn closer to you.

00:00:12.259 --> 00:00:21.519
 Help us to navigate this life and to do it well, to live out our days, whether they be many or few, faithfully.

00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:25.199
 Lord, trusting and hoping in you.

00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:37.019
 We pray this morning that, like the deaf man in the passage in Mark that we just read, that our ears would be opened.

00:00:37.480 --> 00:00:42.060
 That we would hear exactly what you would speak to us this morning about.

00:00:42.480 --> 00:00:46.539
 And that we wouldn't just be hearing it, but we'd be doing it.

00:00:46.659 --> 00:00:49.179
 That it would go deep in our hearts and we'd live out this truth.

00:00:49.739 --> 00:00:51.960
 We pray this in Christ's name. Amen.

00:00:51.960 --> 00:00:55.719
 If you have a Bible, turn with me to Psalm 71.

00:00:56.259 --> 00:01:02.760
 We have two more weeks in our summer series in the second book of the Psalter.

00:01:03.380 --> 00:01:07.000
 If you don't have a Bible or you've got it at home, there's a stack at the back.

00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:10.859
 Feel free to grab it at any time. Don't worry about distracting me.

00:01:11.379 --> 00:01:13.579
 I have three young kids. I'm undistractable.

00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:15.219
 That's not true.

00:01:15.780 --> 00:01:18.620
 It feels, though, that I'm pretty good at not being distracted.

00:01:18.620 --> 00:01:27.380
 Anyways, this week I had a great back and forth conversation super early in the morning with a buddy that lives in the Toronto area.

00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:29.840
 He's very driven and successful.

00:01:30.840 --> 00:01:35.020
 And we were talking about goals pertaining to fitness.

00:01:35.400 --> 00:01:38.140
 He's a super goal-oriented guy.

00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:43.920
 He's, it was a bit of a, actually, I shouldn't say it's so much of a conversation.

00:01:44.060 --> 00:01:45.659
 It was like a borderline coaching session.

00:01:45.659 --> 00:01:49.259
 It was, it was great. I love this guy. I've known him for years.

00:01:51.019 --> 00:01:53.679
 He has some fantastic insight and goals.

00:01:54.280 --> 00:01:59.019
 And one of the things that stuck out to me that he shared was how he has,

00:01:59.239 --> 00:02:02.319
 and I found this actually, on one hand, incredibly admirable.

00:02:02.459 --> 00:02:06.280
 On the other hand, I mean, I have it in my notes alarming.

00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:10.079
 I wouldn't say alarming, but I'll explain what I mean by this.

00:02:10.359 --> 00:02:12.099
 He has this goal for when he's 90 years old.

00:02:12.099 --> 00:02:19.159
 And the goal is that he would walk a full 18, play a full 18 with the clubs on his back.

00:02:19.299 --> 00:02:24.259
 No cart, no hand cart that he'd be carrying the clubs on his back.

00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:25.939
 And I just thought, that's great.

00:02:26.079 --> 00:02:31.740
 I mean, I'd love to live to 90, let alone be able to play golf, you know, in such a way.

00:02:31.740 --> 00:02:35.020
 I mean, you have to be in fantastic shape.

00:02:35.219 --> 00:02:38.200
 And my friend is in fantastic shape.

00:02:38.439 --> 00:02:41.320
 And I mean, he's a real stand-up guy.

00:02:41.560 --> 00:02:43.900
 But I thought it was admirable for that reason.

00:02:44.020 --> 00:02:46.120
 But I found it, I guess, alarming or troubling.

00:02:46.939 --> 00:02:52.000
 When I thought about, I mean, my friend, and I mean, he would say this as well,

00:02:52.060 --> 00:02:53.439
 he doesn't know what next year will bring.

00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:58.599
 There's no possible idea what the future holds.

00:02:59.259 --> 00:03:09.099
 We make plans, but we truly can't curate and plan out our life so well that will,

00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:17.340
 in the case of my friend Dave, that he will find himself on a golf course at 90 with the clubs on his back.

00:03:17.500 --> 00:03:18.180
 Like, it's impossible.

00:03:18.180 --> 00:03:21.240
 Now, it might happen, and I really, really hope it does.

00:03:22.120 --> 00:03:26.360
 But God forbid something bad happens to my buddy.

00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:35.180
 And, I mean, one knee accident, or accident that messes up his knee or his back, or God forbid, takes his life.

00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:37.700
 And things are over.

00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:39.420
 That goal is unachievable.

00:03:40.780 --> 00:03:44.960
 It was a strong reminder that although we have great agency in this life,

00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:48.860
 there are so many things that are completely out of our control.

00:03:49.659 --> 00:03:56.540
 There are so many things that we can't figure out, we can't direct or curate in our own lives,

00:03:56.600 --> 00:04:02.860
 let alone the lives of those around us, our friends, our family members, our bosses, our subordinates,

00:04:03.100 --> 00:04:06.760
 whatever it may be, our children, our friends, our neighbors.

00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:14.259
 And when we try to control things, things don't really turn out great, by and large.

00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:16.379
 Especially when we try to control other people.

00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:22.259
 We have lots of agency, but we also have a lot of things out of our control.

00:04:22.839 --> 00:04:28.219
 And if you live long enough, you realize that one of the things you cannot control is suffering.

00:04:29.159 --> 00:04:31.159
 Suffering is a part of the human life.

00:04:31.160 --> 00:04:35.700
 And it is something that in a very real way, if you live long enough,

00:04:36.280 --> 00:04:40.980
 maybe not even if you live long enough, but if you just live, it is unavoidable.

00:04:41.760 --> 00:04:43.460
 Suffering is something that touches us all.

00:04:43.860 --> 00:04:45.240
 Certain degrees of suffering.

00:04:45.720 --> 00:04:48.440
 Some people, it seems like it is a ton of suffering.

00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:50.280
 Other people seem like it's easy street.

00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:53.800
 But truly, everybody experiences some kind of suffering.

00:04:53.800 --> 00:05:02.620
 Our best vision for the good life, in many respects, is completely out of our control.

00:05:03.699 --> 00:05:09.879
 And that's, by the way, like, I'm not naturally somebody who, like, has a 90 year,

00:05:10.280 --> 00:05:12.560
 like, I'm 90 years old and I have a goal for when I'm 90.

00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:15.080
 That doesn't mean we don't plan things out.

00:05:15.840 --> 00:05:20.939
 But we need to understand that our future is certainly not certain.

00:05:20.939 --> 00:05:24.100
 We need to be honest with ourselves about that reality.

00:05:24.660 --> 00:05:28.699
 And also very honest with ourselves if that's a very jarring reality for us.

00:05:29.939 --> 00:05:34.819
 So two things I think that we need to think about and consider when we're thinking about the future

00:05:34.819 --> 00:05:41.120
 and how we want our lives to play out and what vision of the good life we want to engage in.

00:05:42.779 --> 00:05:46.360
 First is, what is the true vision of the good life?

00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:49.139
 What does it mean to live a good life?

00:05:49.139 --> 00:05:52.000
 And on one hand, I mean, it is subjective.

00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:53.360
 You have your personal goals.

00:05:53.740 --> 00:05:54.779
 It's a fantastic thing.

00:05:54.839 --> 00:05:55.839
 I'm not poo-pooing that.

00:05:56.479 --> 00:06:03.459
 But in an objective, general sense, what is the ideal life to live?

00:06:04.599 --> 00:06:05.759
 That's the first thing to consider.

00:06:05.860 --> 00:06:11.379
 And the second thing is, when we fall short of that, how do we deal with disappointment and pain?

00:06:11.379 --> 00:06:25.659
 In our psalm this morning, we find an older or elderly believer that reflects on the life of faith with Almighty God.

00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:33.819
 Now, the commentators, they, they're, you know, some people say this is clearly an elderly person, you know, praying the psalm.

00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:37.620
 Other people are like, it's just a person that might be alluding to the future.

00:06:37.620 --> 00:06:39.420
 I'm going to go with the former.

00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:47.699
 This is an older person, an elderly person in the faith, reflecting on a life of faith lived with Almighty God.

00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:51.420
 And in this psalm, we're going to see a vision of the good life.

00:06:51.420 --> 00:07:03.120
 And that at the core of this good life is this faithful life of placing one's ultimate trust and hope upon the triune God,

00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:07.300
 especially in times of difficulty, frustration, and danger.

00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:10.819
 So, three things to glean from it.

00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:17.759
 First, that we recognize our frailty and our inability to overcome hardships.

00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:23.240
 And that's not to say every single hardship, every last bit of difficulty we can't overcome.

00:07:23.579 --> 00:07:30.480
 I'm saying in general, this psalm teaches us that we ought to recognize our frailty and our inability to overcome hardships.

00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:43.300
 The second thing that teaches us is that we ought to have a trusting and hope-filled faith in the faithful, unchanging God.

00:07:43.300 --> 00:07:48.560
 Key to that, and we'll touch on it a bit, is that God makes promises and He keeps them.

00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:51.199
 And that's what we put our hope and trust in.

00:07:52.020 --> 00:07:58.699
 And then finally, the last thing that we can gather from this psalm is that we can truly endure to the end.

00:07:59.639 --> 00:08:01.780
 And that there is a way forward.

00:08:01.779 --> 00:08:12.639
 Maybe a term that's fallen out of use, but this psalm will teach us to die well.

00:08:14.059 --> 00:08:17.579
 So, recognizing our frailty and our inability to overcome hardships,

00:08:18.199 --> 00:08:22.419
 trusting and hoping in the faithfulness of the unchanging God,

00:08:22.839 --> 00:08:24.719
 and finally, enduring to the end.

00:08:24.939 --> 00:08:27.439
 So let's jump into it, starting in verse 1.

00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:27.599
 1.

00:08:31.779 --> 00:08:35.000
 We're going to be jumping around in the psalm.

00:08:35.579 --> 00:08:39.480
 We're not going to necessarily follow the linear progression of the verses,

00:08:39.659 --> 00:08:42.419
 so jump with me to verse 4.

00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:47.579
 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,

00:08:48.179 --> 00:08:51.579
 from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.

00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:56.459
 Throughout this psalm, there's a recognition that life is difficult,

00:08:56.460 --> 00:09:02.120
 and that there are factors outside of our control that can and often overtake us.

00:09:02.580 --> 00:09:07.540
 In this case, we see three kind of categories here.

00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:10.800
 The wicked, the unjust, and the cruel.

00:09:13.300 --> 00:09:18.400
 Maybe we can prevail against rude people and unjust treatment at work,

00:09:18.460 --> 00:09:20.259
 or even the odd bit of gossip.

00:09:20.259 --> 00:09:24.000
 That is, in a sense, gossip can be a form of cruelty.

00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:29.840
 We can overcome it, but such things are not the exception, but the rule.

00:09:30.059 --> 00:09:36.000
 Oftentimes, we get leveled in degrees by the things we experience,

00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:40.419
 the injustice that we hold on to,

00:09:40.419 --> 00:09:44.579
 and we nurture in our hearts of being overlooked,

00:09:45.419 --> 00:09:48.240
 or being falsely accused, or misunderstood.

00:09:49.079 --> 00:09:52.759
 And we nurture that, and we hold on to that, and it becomes bitter.

00:09:54.039 --> 00:09:56.860
 When we experience some form of cruelty,

00:09:57.299 --> 00:10:00.539
 it is very hard to get over cruelty.

00:10:01.579 --> 00:10:05.059
 The fact is, if we're honest with ourselves,

00:10:05.059 --> 00:10:12.239
 these are the types of things that can totally take us out of proper functioning,

00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:18.759
 and maybe all of us, to a degree, deal with a degree of mental trauma

00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:22.359
 that we have lived through, that we have struggled with in the past,

00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:23.599
 and that follows us.

00:10:24.219 --> 00:10:28.219
 And I say trauma, and maybe it's too heavy of a word, maybe it's not.

00:10:28.220 --> 00:10:34.700
 But nevertheless, wickedness, and injustice, and cruelty

00:10:34.700 --> 00:10:39.120
 aren't things the average person can easily overcome.

00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:43.160
 Maybe, again, here and there,

00:10:43.560 --> 00:10:47.420
 but if it becomes an ongoing pattern that you experience,

00:10:47.560 --> 00:10:51.320
 it is a very difficult thing to overcome.

00:10:51.779 --> 00:10:54.200
 The reality is, evil exists in droves,

00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:56.940
 because the human heart is bent towards the self.

00:10:58.220 --> 00:10:59.620
 This is why people are cruel.

00:10:59.860 --> 00:11:01.940
 This is why people are unjust.

00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:03.500
 This is why people can be wicked,

00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:06.519
 because there is this focus on the self.

00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:11.639
 The heart of men and women have an unquenchable desire for more,

00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:13.860
 and a pride that can't be satisfied.

00:11:15.180 --> 00:11:17.680
 Sometimes, as in this psalm,

00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:20.500
 we find ourselves on the receiving end of such things.

00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:27.800
 But let us not somehow think that we are not agents of injustice at times.

00:11:28.220 --> 00:11:30.639
 Or we have not been cruel.

00:11:31.899 --> 00:11:34.320
 Maybe not, you don't want to admit like you've been cruel,

00:11:34.420 --> 00:11:35.180
 but you've been a bit mean.

00:11:36.420 --> 00:11:42.840
 Maybe you have been very unkind to somebody that borders on wickedness.

00:11:44.040 --> 00:11:46.879
 That you seek revenge, and you do certain things,

00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:48.240
 or you say certain things,

00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:50.899
 or you wish certain things upon people

00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:56.059
 that is not in keeping at all with a heart of love and selflessness,

00:11:56.620 --> 00:12:01.959
 but of selfish gain and wickedness, injustice, and cruelty.

00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:06.940
 We can be the wicked, unjust, and cruel man.

00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:10.220
 That is why it is vitally important,

00:12:10.560 --> 00:12:14.400
 and I mention this on purpose as we confess our sins together,

00:12:14.800 --> 00:12:15.920
 to confess our sins.

00:12:16.560 --> 00:12:20.220
 To not try to hide, or excuse,

00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:22.480
 or as the prayer book says,

00:12:22.580 --> 00:12:24.160
 cloak our sins before Almighty God,

00:12:24.180 --> 00:12:25.000
 to be honest with Him.

00:12:25.660 --> 00:12:26.800
 We are prone to this,

00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:28.099
 and confession, therefore,

00:12:28.219 --> 00:12:31.059
 is a wonderful blessing for us

00:12:31.059 --> 00:12:35.019
 to bring into the light what we hide in the darkness.

00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:38.779
 Let's continue on.

00:12:39.219 --> 00:12:41.299
 Look with me at verses 9 to 11.

00:12:42.179 --> 00:12:42.839
 It says this,

00:12:42.840 --> 00:13:08.040
 If verse 4 has a picture of a wicked, unjust, cruel man,

00:13:08.040 --> 00:13:09.540
 now we see that this man,

00:13:10.060 --> 00:13:10.840
 this enemy,

00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:12.280
 is one that conspires,

00:13:12.680 --> 00:13:14.340
 and plans to pursue,

00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:15.340
 and to overtake,

00:13:15.420 --> 00:13:16.240
 and to abuse.

00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:19.480
 The psalmist is recognizing

00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:22.460
 that he is susceptible to being taken advantage of.

00:13:23.160 --> 00:13:24.399
 And this is certainly a problem

00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:26.700
 in terms of how we treat

00:13:26.700 --> 00:13:29.220
 our elderly folk in the West,

00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:32.360
 or how they are treated, rather.

00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:35.540
 Elderly people are the target

00:13:35.540 --> 00:13:38.519
 for scam calls up the wazoo.

00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:40.159
 Every few months,

00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:41.860
 you hear something on CTV,

00:13:42.100 --> 00:13:42.740
 or on the radio,

00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:44.539
 about a poor lady,

00:13:44.620 --> 00:13:45.539
 or a poor man,

00:13:46.079 --> 00:13:48.039
 who has been scammed out of

00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:50.039
 a few tens of thousands of dollars.

00:13:50.199 --> 00:13:51.439
 It's a horrible thing.

00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:53.460
 It's a terrible thing.

00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:55.559
 We,

00:13:56.079 --> 00:13:56.399
 again,

00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:58.079
 I'm speaking in generalities here,

00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:04.820
 we look to take care of our elderly

00:14:04.820 --> 00:14:05.440
 by,

00:14:05.800 --> 00:14:06.660
 by and large,

00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:08.200
 pushing them away from us.

00:14:09.020 --> 00:14:10.520
 And I'm not saying that every person

00:14:10.520 --> 00:14:14.040
 that encourages their elderly parent

00:14:14.040 --> 00:14:15.540
 or aunt or uncle

00:14:15.540 --> 00:14:18.400
 to go into a retirement home

00:14:18.400 --> 00:14:19.340
 is a monster.

00:14:19.420 --> 00:14:20.460
 I'm not saying that at all.

00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:22.080
 But by and large,

00:14:22.420 --> 00:14:23.700
 there is a push to

00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:25.620
 let somebody else deal with that.

00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:29.120
 And it's a very lucrative business

00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:30.480
 to,

00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:31.799
 to,

00:14:31.940 --> 00:14:32.539
 to get into.

00:14:32.659 --> 00:14:34.240
 It's a very lucrative business

00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:35.840
 that will drain people dry.

00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:38.399
 And sometimes it very well is

00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:40.379
 this

00:14:40.379 --> 00:14:43.159
 situation where people

00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:44.340
 are taken advantage of.

00:14:44.340 --> 00:14:47.060
 In recent years,

00:14:47.940 --> 00:14:50.759
 people are encouraged,

00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:52.879
 given the option rather,

00:14:53.899 --> 00:14:54.300
 to,

00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:56.280
 to end life early

00:14:56.280 --> 00:14:57.460
 and on their terms.

00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:00.060
 And sometimes it's by families

00:15:00.060 --> 00:15:01.660
 so that they can get

00:15:01.660 --> 00:15:04.180
 control of the estate.

00:15:06.180 --> 00:15:07.639
 Our elderly people

00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:08.740
 are susceptible

00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:09.920
 to

00:15:09.920 --> 00:15:12.320
 conspiracies

00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:12.900
 of,

00:15:12.900 --> 00:15:13.000
 of,

00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:13.320
 of,

00:15:13.320 --> 00:15:14.340
 of takeover

00:15:14.340 --> 00:15:15.820
 like we see here

00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:17.100
 in verses 9 to 11.

00:15:18.660 --> 00:15:19.720
 It's very unfortunate

00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:20.200
 that there,

00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:21.280
 there's great fortunes

00:15:21.280 --> 00:15:21.960
 to be made

00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:23.280
 by taking care of,

00:15:23.420 --> 00:15:24.320
 or by taking advantage

00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:24.600
 rather,

00:15:24.680 --> 00:15:25.580
 of the sick and the weak.

00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:26.800
 And

00:15:26.800 --> 00:15:28.080
 this is evil

00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:29.100
 in God's eyes

00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:29.960
 and such schemes

00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:30.660
 harm people

00:15:30.660 --> 00:15:32.520
 because they treat them

00:15:32.520 --> 00:15:33.280
 as commodities

00:15:33.280 --> 00:15:33.660
 and,

00:15:33.660 --> 00:15:33.940
 and,

00:15:33.940 --> 00:15:35.160
 and people that are made

00:15:35.160 --> 00:15:35.800
 in God's image

00:15:35.800 --> 00:15:36.860
 are not to be treated

00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:37.920
 as such.

00:15:39.800 --> 00:15:40.240
 So,

00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:41.860
 in a very real way

00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:44.080
 from our youth

00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:45.139
 to adulthood

00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:46.980
 to our elderly years,

00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:49.399
 there is a great

00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:51.340
 reality of,

00:15:51.460 --> 00:15:53.440
 of our frailty

00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.039
 be put,

00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:55.620
 being put on full display

00:15:55.620 --> 00:15:57.200
 when hardships come,

00:15:57.259 --> 00:15:58.519
 when people conspire

00:15:58.519 --> 00:15:58.840
 to,

00:15:58.919 --> 00:16:00.000
 to rob us

00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:01.680
 or undercut us

00:16:01.680 --> 00:16:02.620
 or treat us

00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:03.480
 unjustly.

00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:05.519
 It is something we experience

00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:06.600
 in all aspects

00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:07.600
 of our lives.

00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:10.460
 and it leads us

00:16:10.460 --> 00:16:12.019
 in a sense

00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:12.779
 to

00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:14.080
 our second point,

00:16:14.180 --> 00:16:14.920
 but before that,

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.779
 even the strong among us

00:16:16.779 --> 00:16:17.580
 will one day,

00:16:17.800 --> 00:16:18.460
 you know,

00:16:18.800 --> 00:16:19.840
 will deal with

00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:20.560
 the reality

00:16:20.560 --> 00:16:21.940
 of becoming physically frail

00:16:21.940 --> 00:16:23.980
 and having our strength spent.

00:16:27.300 --> 00:16:27.820
 Recognizing

00:16:27.820 --> 00:16:29.320
 that we are frail

00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:29.860
 is again

00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:31.279
 such a critical part

00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:33.200
 to living the biblical vision

00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:33.920
 of the good life

00:16:33.920 --> 00:16:34.560
 and this again

00:16:34.560 --> 00:16:35.700
 leads into our second point

00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:37.020
 because it helps us

00:16:37.020 --> 00:16:38.420
 to live a life of truth,

00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:39.400
 knowing our limitations

00:16:39.400 --> 00:16:40.780
 and therefore

00:16:40.780 --> 00:16:42.000
 recognizing our need.

00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:43.379
 And what are we in need of?

00:16:44.040 --> 00:16:44.900
 We are in need

00:16:44.900 --> 00:16:45.820
 of help

00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:47.460
 and deliverance

00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:48.160
 and salvation

00:16:48.160 --> 00:16:49.280
 and somebody

00:16:49.280 --> 00:16:50.420
 to stand on guard.

00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:53.680
 So the second point,

00:16:53.820 --> 00:16:54.680
 trusting and hoping

00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:55.759
 in the faithfulness

00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:56.340
 and reliability

00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:57.560
 of the unchanging God.

00:16:59.400 --> 00:17:00.140
 We'll look

00:17:00.140 --> 00:17:01.640
 at verses 1 to 3.

00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:04.660
 In you, O Lord,

00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:05.819
 do I take refuge.

00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:07.379
 Let me never be put to shame.

00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.720
 In your righteousness

00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:09.460
 deliver me

00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:10.119
 and rescue me.

00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.519
 Incline your ear to me

00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:12.539
 and save me.

00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:14.400
 Be to me a rock of refuge

00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:15.180
 to which I may

00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:16.379
 continually come.

00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:17.900
 You have given the command

00:17:17.900 --> 00:17:18.900
 to save me

00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:20.660
 for you are my rock

00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:22.019
 and my fortress.

00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:23.619
 So although,

00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:24.359
 I mean,

00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:25.759
 we'll read a few more passages,

00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:26.859
 but first,

00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:27.119
 I mean,

00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:28.079
 although our frailty

00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:28.960
 must be understood

00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:30.059
 and acknowledged,

00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:32.279
 this psalm teaches us

00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:33.980
 not to dwell on that primarily.

00:17:35.419 --> 00:17:36.700
 Notice that the focus

00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:37.759
 throughout the psalm

00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.500
 is on God,

00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:39.259
 His strength,

00:17:39.619 --> 00:17:40.839
 His ability to save,

00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:42.440
 how He fights on our behalf,

00:17:42.859 --> 00:17:43.919
 on behalf of His people,

00:17:44.419 --> 00:17:45.359
 His faithfulness

00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:46.179
 to His promises

00:17:46.179 --> 00:17:47.019
 that He has made,

00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:48.720
 His unchanging goodness,

00:17:49.379 --> 00:17:51.659
 His rock-solid reliability.

00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:54.339
 The focus of Psalm 71

00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.259
 isn't so much

00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:56.639
 of the evildoers

00:17:56.639 --> 00:17:57.639
 attacking me,

00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:59.079
 it is about how God

00:17:59.079 --> 00:18:00.079
 will save.

00:18:00.939 --> 00:18:02.699
 Time and time and time again.

00:18:03.059 --> 00:18:04.480
 We've read verses 1-3,

00:18:04.899 --> 00:18:06.359
 verses 5-8,

00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.379
 For You, O Lord,

00:18:07.439 --> 00:18:08.159
 are my hope,

00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:09.419
 my trust, O Lord,

00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:10.119
 from my youth.

00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:11.119
 Upon You,

00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:11.839
 I have leaned

00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:12.980
 from before my birth.

00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:14.619
 You are He who took me

00:18:14.619 --> 00:18:15.599
 from my mother's womb.

00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.299
 Continuing on,

00:18:17.379 --> 00:18:19.079
 I have been as a portent

00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:19.559
 to many,

00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:22.460
 but You are my strong refuge.

00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:24.919
 Continues on in verse 12

00:18:24.919 --> 00:18:25.379
 and following,

00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:25.859
 O God,

00:18:25.919 --> 00:18:26.939
 be not far from me.

00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:28.140
 O my God,

00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:29.259
 make haste to help me.

00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:31.340
 May my accusers

00:18:31.340 --> 00:18:32.500
 be put to shame

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.660
 and consumed

00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:35.200
 with scorn and disgrace.

00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:36.700
 May they be covered

00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:37.840
 who seek my hurt.

00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:40.299
 My mouth will tell

00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:41.299
 of Your righteous acts,

00:18:41.340 --> 00:18:42.620
 of Your deeds of salvation

00:18:42.620 --> 00:18:43.480
 all my day.

00:18:43.860 --> 00:18:44.960
 With the mighty deeds

00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:45.519
 of the Lord,

00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:46.960
 I will come.

00:18:47.620 --> 00:18:48.360
 Continues on,

00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:49.180
 verses 19,

00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:50.200
 Your righteousness,

00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:50.759
 O God,

00:18:50.840 --> 00:18:52.019
 reaches the high heavens.

00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:53.460
 You who have done

00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:54.059
 great things,

00:18:54.059 --> 00:18:54.460
 O God,

00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:55.159
 who is like You?

00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:57.419
 How can we possibly

00:18:57.419 --> 00:18:59.839
 dwell on our frailty

00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:02.700
 when we have before us

00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:03.740
 an almighty God?

00:19:09.099 --> 00:19:10.740
 It is God who saves.

00:19:10.859 --> 00:19:11.859
 He is the true actor

00:19:11.859 --> 00:19:13.179
 in our times of calamity,

00:19:13.659 --> 00:19:14.919
 in our times of hardship.

00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:16.279
 It is He who delivers.

00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:17.759
 That's why I say,

00:19:17.899 --> 00:19:18.099
 I mean,

00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:19.579
 even the strongest of us

00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:22.299
 who can withstand injustice,

00:19:22.919 --> 00:19:24.159
 can only withstand

00:19:24.159 --> 00:19:24.759
 to a degree,

00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:27.619
 can only fight

00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:28.399
 the wicked

00:19:28.399 --> 00:19:29.039
 and the cruel

00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:29.639
 to a degree.

00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:32.799
 But God is able

00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:34.259
 to win the day

00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:35.579
 all the day.

00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:37.059
 He is always reliable.

00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.819
 He is always steadfast.

00:19:38.919 --> 00:19:39.439
 He is always

00:19:39.439 --> 00:19:41.599
 doing great things.

00:19:42.919 --> 00:19:44.019
 And what is our part?

00:19:44.679 --> 00:19:46.179
 To trust and hope

00:19:46.179 --> 00:19:47.000
 in Him.

00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:49.519
 And that comes

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.339
 to an expression

00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:52.839
 in prayer and praise

00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:53.460
 that is rooted

00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.819
 in the history

00:19:54.819 --> 00:19:55.640
 of God's covenant

00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:56.319
 faithfulness

00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:57.079
 with His people.

00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:58.440
 What do I mean by that?

00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:00.240
 Simply that God

00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:01.359
 has made a promise

00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:02.000
 to us

00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.819
 that He,

00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:05.059
 through Jesus,

00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:06.980
 will always,

00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:08.880
 always stand guard

00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:09.740
 against His people.

00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:10.319
 That He will never

00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:10.819
 leave us

00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:11.720
 or forsake us.

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:14.339
 And what do we,

00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:16.400
 how can we trust that?

00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:17.340
 Well, because look

00:20:17.340 --> 00:20:17.840
 what He's done

00:20:17.840 --> 00:20:18.460
 in the past.

00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:20.019
 He has created

00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:20.700
 all things

00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:21.320
 and when things

00:20:21.320 --> 00:20:22.540
 go awry

00:20:22.540 --> 00:20:23.519
 and backwards

00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:24.280
 and things

00:20:24.280 --> 00:20:25.120
 start to get

00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:25.980
 bent out of shape

00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.759
 and misfigured

00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:27.600
 because of sin,

00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:29.600
 He constantly saves.

00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:30.740
 When His people

00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.680
 get sold

00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:32.680
 into slavery,

00:20:33.120 --> 00:20:33.620
 what does He do?

00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:34.540
 He saves.

00:20:35.340 --> 00:20:36.060
 When the people

00:20:36.060 --> 00:20:37.360
 get exiled

00:20:37.360 --> 00:20:39.400
 to foreign lands

00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:40.519
 because of their own

00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:41.120
 sin

00:20:41.120 --> 00:20:42.440
 and their enemies

00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:43.460
 descending upon them,

00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:44.000
 what does He do?

00:20:44.360 --> 00:20:45.180
 He saves.

00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:46.140
 This is what God

00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:47.019
 does constantly.

00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:47.880
 This is the history

00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:49.000
 of our scriptures.

00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:50.180
 This is our heritage.

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.299
 So we look back

00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:54.120
 and that gives us

00:20:54.120 --> 00:20:55.259
 the energy,

00:20:55.580 --> 00:20:56.299
 the fuel,

00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:57.580
 the faith

00:20:57.580 --> 00:20:58.560
 to trust Him

00:20:58.560 --> 00:20:59.180
 for the future.

00:20:59.840 --> 00:21:00.759
 Because if this is

00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.720
 the God that we serve

00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.799
 and He is unchanging,

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.420
 my goodness,

00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:05.940
 that same God

00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:07.360
 is with us,

00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:08.580
 for us,

00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:09.200
 right now.

00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:13.039
 this psalm quotes

00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.640
 at least three

00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:14.539
 different psalms,

00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:14.940
 22,

00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:15.600
 35,

00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:16.340
 and 70.

00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:18.740
 It has a reference

00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:20.600
 to Moses' song

00:21:20.600 --> 00:21:21.539
 at the Red Sea

00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:22.799
 at Exodus 15.

00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:23.200
 I mean,

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:23.880
 this psalm,

00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:25.500
 in a very real way,

00:21:25.840 --> 00:21:26.519
 is a psalm

00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.519
 that delights

00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:28.620
 in God's Word

00:21:28.620 --> 00:21:29.539
 and God's salvation

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.240
 of the past

00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:32.640
 that is then used

00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:33.400
 to trust Him

00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:34.000
 for the future.

00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:37.640
 So,

00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:39.380
 it helps us

00:21:39.380 --> 00:21:40.279
 to see

00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:40.859
 that there is

00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:42.380
 a great benefit

00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:43.539
 in knowing God's Word

00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:44.299
 but also praying

00:21:44.299 --> 00:21:44.940
 God's Word.

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.339
 To know God's Word,

00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:48.259
 to have it go deep

00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:50.079
 inside our hearts

00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:51.380
 that it may be

00:21:51.380 --> 00:21:52.220
 the thing we think

00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:54.099
 about throughout the day

00:21:54.099 --> 00:21:54.900
 that we teach

00:21:54.900 --> 00:21:55.599
 to our children

00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:57.099
 that we meditate upon.

00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:58.680
 This is easier said

00:21:58.680 --> 00:21:59.160
 than done

00:21:59.160 --> 00:22:00.779
 in an age of distraction

00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:01.079
 but,

00:22:01.880 --> 00:22:02.259
 friends,

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.980
 we take baby steps.

00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:06.759
 We incrementally grow.

00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.759
 We don't make this

00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.920
 huge change overnight.

00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:13.380
 It's what Eugene Peterson

00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:15.059
 calls a long obedience

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:16.319
 in the same direction.

00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:19.400
 And we have each other

00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:20.000
 to help us.

00:22:22.119 --> 00:22:23.819
 To know God's Word

00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:26.039
 and to pray God's Word.

00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:27.980
 And, friends,

00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:29.140
 what will be the result?

00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.319
 Our outer selves,

00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:33.079
 it says in 2 Corinthians 4,

00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:35.339
 will waste away

00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:36.539
 but our inner souls

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:37.740
 will be strengthened

00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.579
 day by day.

00:22:40.139 --> 00:22:41.119
 That Christ Himself,

00:22:41.699 --> 00:22:42.199
 He says that

00:22:42.199 --> 00:22:42.960
 men,

00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:43.980
 men and women,

00:22:44.399 --> 00:22:44.740
 humans,

00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:46.299
 can't live by bread alone

00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:47.099
 but by what?

00:22:47.179 --> 00:22:48.960
 By the Word of God,

00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.899
 by every word

00:22:49.899 --> 00:22:50.439
 that comes out

00:22:50.439 --> 00:22:52.139
 of God's mouth.

00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.179
 He quotes that

00:22:53.179 --> 00:22:53.919
 in the desert

00:22:53.919 --> 00:22:54.879
 when He is struggling

00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:55.319
 Himself.

00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:57.700
 and really,

00:22:57.899 --> 00:22:58.539
 we understand

00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.159
 the importance

00:22:59.159 --> 00:22:59.859
 of God's Word

00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:01.339
 because it is the way

00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:02.079
 that He has revealed

00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:03.019
 Himself to us.

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.980
 It is for our benefit

00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:06.679
 and growth

00:23:06.679 --> 00:23:07.519
 that He has given us

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:07.980
 His Word

00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.700
 so that we,

00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:09.740
 first and foremost,

00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.419
 may know Him.

00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:14.700
 the way He has revealed

00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:15.600
 Himself to us.

00:23:15.800 --> 00:23:17.140
 We recall His past,

00:23:17.580 --> 00:23:18.160
 His saving work

00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:18.700
 in the past

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.380
 and trust Him

00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:20.920
 in the future.

00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.180
 There's this interesting

00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:24.700
 bit here

00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:26.300
 and I wrestled with,

00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:26.660
 you know,

00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:28.019
 should I keep it?

00:23:28.060 --> 00:23:28.800
 Should I cut it out?

00:23:29.320 --> 00:23:30.420
 But in verse 18,

00:23:31.100 --> 00:23:32.940
 it says this

00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:35.519
 about elderly folk

00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:36.200
 in the faith.

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.360
 Verse 18,

00:23:37.880 --> 00:23:38.000
 well,

00:23:38.080 --> 00:23:38.980
 I'll go back to verse 17.

00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:39.500
 O God,

00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.200
 from my youth

00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:40.980
 you have taught me

00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:42.500
 and I still proclaim

00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:43.620
 your wondrous deeds.

00:23:44.140 --> 00:23:45.579
 So even to old age

00:23:45.579 --> 00:23:46.259
 and gray hairs,

00:23:46.380 --> 00:23:46.779
 O God,

00:23:46.860 --> 00:23:47.759
 do not forsake me

00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:49.299
 until I proclaim

00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:49.759
 your might

00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.779
 to another generation,

00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:51.819
 your power

00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:53.440
 to all those to come.

00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:55.420
 It's a beautiful picture

00:23:55.420 --> 00:23:56.940
 of what this Christian life is,

00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:58.779
 that it is to be lived out

00:23:58.779 --> 00:23:59.440
 together,

00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:02.440
 intergenerationally,

00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:04.579
 that there is this

00:24:04.579 --> 00:24:05.720
 beautiful opportunity

00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:06.559
 for people

00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:08.079
 of all ages

00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:09.460
 to share the faith

00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.139
 and to proclaim

00:24:10.139 --> 00:24:10.939
 God's word

00:24:10.939 --> 00:24:11.839
 and to encourage

00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:13.779
 and to exhort

00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.899
 younger people

00:24:14.899 --> 00:24:15.740
 in the faith

00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:17.679
 to trust the Lord,

00:24:18.679 --> 00:24:20.059
 which is also

00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:20.639
 a testament

00:24:20.639 --> 00:24:21.899
 to you

00:24:21.899 --> 00:24:22.740
 not having to do it

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.319
 all yourself.

00:24:24.399 --> 00:24:25.179
 How on earth

00:24:25.179 --> 00:24:26.000
 could you do

00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.720
 this Christian life,

00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:28.319
 live it out

00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:29.000
 faithfully

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:29.980
 without help?

00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:34.400
 this will be

00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:34.920
 the fuel

00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:35.579
 in our tanks

00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:36.220
 to live out

00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:37.180
 this life of faith

00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:37.880
 until the end.

00:24:38.819 --> 00:24:39.579
 Like I mentioned,

00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:40.720
 Eugene Peterson

00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.360
 calling it

00:24:41.360 --> 00:24:42.480
 a long obedience

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.480
 in the same direction.

00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:44.400
 This is what

00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:45.400
 the Christian life is.

00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:46.960
 It's trusting God

00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:48.059
 for whatever comes

00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:49.420
 next.

00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:51.099
 It's not about

00:24:51.099 --> 00:24:52.620
 killing it

00:24:52.620 --> 00:24:54.200
 non-stop

00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:54.819
 home runs

00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:55.380
 for the next

00:24:55.380 --> 00:24:56.220
 30,

00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:57.019
 40 years.

00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.339
 It is about

00:24:59.339 --> 00:25:00.180
 faithful,

00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:02.120
 faithfully trusting

00:25:02.120 --> 00:25:02.600
 God

00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:03.759
 in the next steps,

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.860
 whatever comes about.

00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:05.940
 And he has promised

00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:06.460
 to give us

00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:07.140
 his Holy Spirit.

00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:08.640
 He has given us

00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.360
 his Holy Spirit

00:25:09.360 --> 00:25:10.480
 so that we may

00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.480
 have then

00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.000
 the power

00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:12.660
 to do so.

00:25:14.120 --> 00:25:15.019
 It certainly

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.620
 isn't about

00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:16.279
 hitting home run

00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.059
 after home run.

00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:17.940
 It's about

00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:18.660
 getting on base.

00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:22.019
 One of my favorite

00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:23.120
 Blue Jays

00:25:23.120 --> 00:25:23.680
 of all time,

00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.680
 and to be honest,

00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:25.380
 I can't say

00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:26.220
 I'm a Jays fan

00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.200
 like I was.

00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:27.740
 I haven't watched

00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:29.240
 a game in years.

00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:31.100
 But when I was a kid

00:25:31.100 --> 00:25:31.900
 it was Paul Molitor.

00:25:32.100 --> 00:25:32.340
 I don't know

00:25:32.340 --> 00:25:32.960
 if anybody knows

00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:33.480
 Paul Molitor.

00:25:33.560 --> 00:25:34.160
 He played like

00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:35.660
 three seasons

00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:36.480
 with the Blue Jays

00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.039
 but he won

00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:38.900
 some World Series

00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:39.340
 with them.

00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:42.840
 But you go through

00:25:42.840 --> 00:25:44.100
 his stats over the years

00:25:44.100 --> 00:25:44.700
 and I did it

00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:45.920
 just so I wasn't

00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:46.700
 going to be called out

00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:47.980
 if I told a fib.

00:25:48.860 --> 00:25:49.700
 But he

00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:50.680
 kills it.

00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:51.620
 He gets on base

00:25:51.620 --> 00:25:52.759
 non-stop.

00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:54.400
 He has a ton of hits.

00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.120
 It's always in the hundreds

00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:56.019
 every single year.

00:25:56.560 --> 00:25:56.800
 Never,

00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:57.180
 I mean,

00:25:57.280 --> 00:25:58.280
 maybe he cracks

00:25:58.280 --> 00:25:59.100
 15 home runs

00:25:59.100 --> 00:26:00.300
 in his best season.

00:26:00.620 --> 00:26:01.660
 But he gets on base.

00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:03.280
 And it's singles

00:26:03.280 --> 00:26:04.460
 and it's doubles

00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:05.480
 and it's walks

00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:06.560
 but he gets on base.

00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:08.360
 And in many ways

00:26:08.360 --> 00:26:09.680
 this is a formula

00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.360
 for championships.

00:26:11.800 --> 00:26:12.820
 This is a formula

00:26:12.820 --> 00:26:13.900
 for faithful living.

00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:16.200
 It's to trust God

00:26:16.200 --> 00:26:18.980
 in the small decisions

00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.580
 in the everyday.

00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:20.859
 everyday,

00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:22.480
 it's showing up

00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:23.019
 sometimes.

00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:24.659
 It's not necessarily

00:26:24.659 --> 00:26:25.279
 having these

00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:26.240
 high,

00:26:26.699 --> 00:26:27.339
 incredible,

00:26:27.659 --> 00:26:28.639
 mountaintop experiences

00:26:28.639 --> 00:26:29.960
 but it's faithfully

00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:30.740
 trusting him

00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:32.319
 in how we raise

00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:32.839
 our children,

00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:35.279
 how we approach

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.059
 our position

00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:36.579
 at work,

00:26:36.699 --> 00:26:37.240
 how we spend

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:37.679
 our money,

00:26:38.139 --> 00:26:39.339
 how we think,

00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:40.500
 how we pray,

00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:41.460
 what we do.

00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:43.940
 which leads us

00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:45.259
 to our final point

00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:48.160
 that this psalm

00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:49.000
 helps us

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.519
 to know

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.720
 that we can truly

00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:52.100
 endure to the end.

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.360
 The long,

00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:55.539
 faithful obedience

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.660
 in the same direction.

00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.700
 I'll ask a question,

00:26:58.779 --> 00:26:59.380
 are you preparing

00:26:59.380 --> 00:27:00.000
 for your death?

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.799
 It's a terrible thing

00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:02.960
 in one sense

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.779
 to ask people

00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:04.840
 but it's also

00:27:04.840 --> 00:27:05.500
 a beautiful thing

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.019
 to ask.

00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:08.039
 Will you die well?

00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:10.519
 Let's read

00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:11.440
 verses 18-20.

00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:11.900
 to the end.

00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:18.019
 So even to old age

00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.779
 and gray hairs,

00:27:18.860 --> 00:27:19.180
 O God,

00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:20.140
 do not forsake me

00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:21.380
 until I proclaim

00:27:21.380 --> 00:27:22.440
 your might

00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:23.380
 to another generation,

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:23.860
 your power

00:27:23.860 --> 00:27:24.700
 to all those

00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:25.519
 to come.

00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:26.360
 Your righteousness,

00:27:26.620 --> 00:27:27.000
 O God,

00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:28.500
 reaches the high heavens.

00:27:28.660 --> 00:27:29.940
 You who have done

00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.500
 great things,

00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:30.940
 O God,

00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:31.640
 who is like you?

00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:33.519
 You who have made me

00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.660
 see many troubles

00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:35.380
 and calamities

00:27:35.380 --> 00:27:37.259
 will revive me again

00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:38.000
 from the depths

00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:38.700
 of the earth.

00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:40.319
 You will bring me up again.

00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:41.659
 You will increase

00:27:41.659 --> 00:27:42.240
 my greatness

00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.779
 and comfort me again.

00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:46.319
 I will also praise you

00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:46.859
 with the harp

00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:48.180
 for your faithfulness,

00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:48.799
 O my God.

00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:50.099
 I will sing praises

00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:51.200
 to you with the lyre,

00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:53.299
 O holy one of Israel.

00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.359
 My lips will shout

00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:55.839
 for joy

00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:56.720
 when I sing praises

00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:57.039
 to you,

00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:58.139
 my soul also,

00:27:58.700 --> 00:28:00.059
 which you have redeemed.

00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.379
 And my tongue

00:28:01.379 --> 00:28:02.139
 will talk

00:28:02.139 --> 00:28:03.539
 of your righteous help

00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:04.759
 all the day long,

00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:05.319
 for they

00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:06.599
 have been put

00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:07.180
 to shame

00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:08.000
 and disappointed

00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.599
 who sought

00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:10.399
 to do me hurt.

00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:12.780
 we will all

00:28:12.780 --> 00:28:14.019
 experience pain

00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:15.180
 and suffering.

00:28:15.320 --> 00:28:16.259
 There's no way around it.

00:28:16.340 --> 00:28:16.480
 I mean,

00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.019
 verse 20

00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:18.120
 seems to imply

00:28:18.120 --> 00:28:18.700
 that God

00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:19.340
 is the one

00:28:19.340 --> 00:28:20.100
 who is allowing

00:28:20.100 --> 00:28:21.320
 us to go through

00:28:21.320 --> 00:28:22.259
 the suffering

00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.200
 that we go through.

00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:26.740
 It is the reality

00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.800
 of how creation

00:28:27.800 --> 00:28:28.420
 is bent

00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:29.180
 and disfigured

00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:29.960
 because of sin.

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:31.840
 However,

00:28:31.840 --> 00:28:36.940
 no tragedy,

00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:38.079
 no suffering

00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:41.620
 goes without

00:28:41.620 --> 00:28:42.799
 being used by God.

00:28:42.860 --> 00:28:43.880
 What do I mean by this?

00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:45.079
 That God

00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:45.980
 can transform

00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:46.920
 our sufferings

00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:48.079
 into beautiful

00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:49.140
 acts of faith

00:28:49.140 --> 00:28:50.519
 that bring him glory

00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.940
 and that bring

00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:52.539
 goodness

00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:53.340
 and kindness

00:28:53.340 --> 00:28:54.140
 and joy

00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:55.980
 to those

00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:56.819
 around us.

00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:57.519
 When we see

00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.340
 somebody suffering

00:28:58.340 --> 00:28:58.740
 well,

00:28:58.740 --> 00:29:00.000
 it is

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:02.200
 an otherworldly

00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:02.680
 act.

00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:04.380
 It is something

00:29:04.380 --> 00:29:06.140
 that doesn't

00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:07.099
 seem at home

00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:07.620
 in this world

00:29:07.620 --> 00:29:08.160
 but something

00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:08.799
 that is heavenly

00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:09.420
 and divine.

00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:11.359
 You see somebody

00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:11.920
 suffering

00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:13.319
 and not

00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:14.759
 looking for

00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:15.279
 vengeance

00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:16.240
 but looking

00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:16.839
 to the Lord

00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:17.660
 for vindication.

00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:19.960
 When Jesus

00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:20.819
 says,

00:29:21.700 --> 00:29:22.160
 give them

00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:23.559
 your other cheek

00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.339
 if they slap

00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:25.539
 you on one side,

00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:25.859
 give them

00:29:25.859 --> 00:29:27.160
 the other cheek

00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:28.180
 if they command

00:29:28.180 --> 00:29:28.820
 you to walk

00:29:28.820 --> 00:29:29.360
 a mile,

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.019
 go with them

00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.340
 too.

00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:31.560
 There is something

00:29:31.560 --> 00:29:33.060
 incredibly powerful

00:29:33.060 --> 00:29:33.720
 about that

00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:35.019
 and all of a sudden

00:29:35.019 --> 00:29:36.220
 in Christ Jesus

00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:38.640
 our pain

00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:39.740
 and our calamities

00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.420
 and our

00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:42.320
 the injustices

00:29:42.320 --> 00:29:43.500
 done against us

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.640
 can be used

00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:45.240
 to be this

00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:46.200
 to paint this

00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:47.000
 beautiful picture

00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:48.340
 of what heaven

00:29:48.340 --> 00:29:49.440
 truly is like.

00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:52.820
 that justice

00:29:52.820 --> 00:29:53.519
 will reign

00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:53.920
 that

00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:55.340
 kindness

00:29:55.340 --> 00:29:56.400
 and joy

00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:57.019
 will reign

00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:57.440
 forever

00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:57.840
 and that

00:29:57.840 --> 00:29:58.320
 ultimately

00:29:58.320 --> 00:29:59.180
 we

00:29:59.180 --> 00:30:00.200
 take

00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:00.880
 the very

00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:01.559
 image

00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:02.220
 of Jesus

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:03.440
 and we

00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:04.100
 participate

00:30:04.100 --> 00:30:04.660
 in his

00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:05.259
 sufferings.

00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:06.519
 Jesus hangs

00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:07.360
 on the cross

00:30:07.360 --> 00:30:08.620
 completely

00:30:08.620 --> 00:30:09.779
 not

00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:11.240
 a just

00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:11.920
 act at all

00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:12.860
 complete injustice

00:30:12.860 --> 00:30:14.039
 acts of cruelty

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:15.740
 by wicked men

00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:17.019
 and he opens

00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:17.880
 not his mouth

00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:19.539
 and he suffers

00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.120
 and he suffers

00:30:20.120 --> 00:30:20.539
 well

00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:22.620
 and he suffers

00:30:22.620 --> 00:30:23.599
 on our behalf

00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.680
 so that we may

00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.460
 enjoy

00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:26.819
 the presence

00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:27.660
 of God

00:30:27.660 --> 00:30:28.720
 the triune

00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.019
 God

00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:29.440
 forever.

00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:31.420
 And when we

00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:32.539
 suffer justly

00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:33.279
 sorry

00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:33.640
 when we

00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:34.220
 suffer

00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:36.160
 injustice

00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:36.660
 well

00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:38.259
 we

00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:38.940
 proclaim

00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:39.880
 the very

00:30:39.880 --> 00:30:41.059
 gospel of Christ

00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:42.279
 with our

00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:42.759
 lives

00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:44.180
 we certainly

00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:44.839
 back up

00:30:44.839 --> 00:30:45.859
 what we

00:30:45.859 --> 00:30:46.299
 preach.

00:30:47.879 --> 00:30:48.879
 The triune

00:30:48.879 --> 00:30:49.720
 God of creation

00:30:49.720 --> 00:30:50.500
 who is perfectly

00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:50.940
 good

00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:52.559
 100% reliable

00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:53.140
 and trustworthy

00:30:53.140 --> 00:30:54.879
 is not ambivalent

00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:55.339
 to our

00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:56.220
 difficult estate

00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:56.859
 and this is a

00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:57.619
 wonderful truth.

00:30:58.839 --> 00:30:59.480
 He is very

00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:00.240
 aware of our

00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:00.660
 suffering

00:31:00.660 --> 00:31:01.480
 to the

00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:02.420
 end that he

00:31:02.420 --> 00:31:02.980
 would send

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:03.480
 his son.

00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:05.079
 He takes

00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:06.359
 upon himself

00:31:06.359 --> 00:31:07.000
 all of our

00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:07.619
 suffering and

00:31:07.619 --> 00:31:07.920
 pain

00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:09.079
 so that we

00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:09.440
 may be

00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:09.940
 rescued

00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:11.259
 not just

00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:11.940
 so that we

00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:12.579
 can go back

00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:12.899
 to some

00:31:12.899 --> 00:31:13.359
 type of

00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:13.799
 sinless

00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.199
 state

00:31:14.199 --> 00:31:14.960
 but rather

00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:15.299
 that we

00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:15.619
 could be

00:31:15.619 --> 00:31:16.099
 welcomed

00:31:16.099 --> 00:31:16.579
 into the

00:31:16.579 --> 00:31:16.779
 very

00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:17.159
 family

00:31:17.159 --> 00:31:17.480
 of God

00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:17.759
 himself.

00:31:17.859 --> 00:31:18.139
 Look with

00:31:18.139 --> 00:31:18.319
 me

00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:19.019
 again at

00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:19.619
 verses 20

00:31:19.619 --> 00:31:20.199
 and 21

00:31:20.199 --> 00:31:22.019
 you

00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:23.119
 who have

00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:23.639
 made me

00:31:23.639 --> 00:31:24.000
 see

00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.579
 troubles

00:31:24.579 --> 00:31:25.059
 many

00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:25.419
 troubles

00:31:25.419 --> 00:31:25.980
 and calamities

00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:26.659
 will revive

00:31:26.659 --> 00:31:27.199
 me again

00:31:27.199 --> 00:31:27.919
 from the

00:31:27.919 --> 00:31:28.299
 depths of

00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:28.639
 the earth

00:31:28.639 --> 00:31:29.019
 you will

00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:29.419
 bring me

00:31:29.419 --> 00:31:29.879
 up again

00:31:29.879 --> 00:31:30.879
 you will

00:31:30.879 --> 00:31:31.460
 increase

00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:31.720
 my

00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:32.099
 greatness

00:31:32.099 --> 00:31:33.319
 and comfort

00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:33.879
 me again

00:31:33.879 --> 00:31:34.500
 whether or

00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.659
 not the

00:31:35.659 --> 00:31:36.139
 psalmist

00:31:36.139 --> 00:31:36.679
 had a

00:31:36.679 --> 00:31:37.119
 vision of

00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:37.240
 the

00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:37.699
 resurrection

00:31:37.699 --> 00:31:39.119
 or not

00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:40.139
 this is

00:31:40.139 --> 00:31:40.599
 resurrection

00:31:40.599 --> 00:31:41.259
 language

00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:42.640
 that there

00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:42.940
 is this

00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:43.539
 picture of

00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:43.940
 God

00:31:43.940 --> 00:31:45.440
 taking us

00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:46.339
 even if

00:31:46.339 --> 00:31:46.779
 we are in

00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:47.379
 the depths

00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:48.099
 of death

00:31:48.099 --> 00:31:48.940
 when we

00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:51.480
 truly die

00:31:51.480 --> 00:31:52.359
 that he

00:31:52.359 --> 00:31:53.099
 will revive

00:31:53.099 --> 00:31:53.500
 us but

00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:54.079
 not just

00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:54.539
 so we

00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:55.279
 could be

00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:55.879
 the same

00:31:55.879 --> 00:31:56.480
 as before

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.019
 we died

00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:58.000
 so that he

00:31:58.000 --> 00:31:58.579
 could elevate

00:31:58.579 --> 00:31:59.180
 us so that

00:31:59.180 --> 00:31:59.740
 we would be

00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:00.900
 perfect without

00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:01.440
 blemish

00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:02.339
 unable to

00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:02.619
 sin

00:32:02.619 --> 00:32:03.680
 unable to

00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:04.059
 suffer

00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:05.379
 that we

00:32:05.379 --> 00:32:06.160
 are included

00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:07.000
 into Christ's

00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:07.799
 very body

00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:09.259
 we get to

00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:09.980
 enjoy his

00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.720
 very presence

00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:11.399
 this is

00:32:11.399 --> 00:32:12.319
 I think

00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:12.740
 what the

00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.279
 the text

00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:13.740
 is getting

00:32:13.740 --> 00:32:14.099
 at the

00:32:14.099 --> 00:32:14.419
 psalmist

00:32:14.419 --> 00:32:14.819
 is getting

00:32:14.819 --> 00:32:15.559
 at when

00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:15.859
 he says

00:32:15.859 --> 00:32:16.059
 it in

00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:16.579
 verse 21

00:32:16.579 --> 00:32:16.960
 you will

00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:17.599
 increase

00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:18.359
 my greatness

00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:19.319
 and comfort

00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:19.859
 me once

00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:20.180
 again

00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:21.419
 that we

00:32:21.419 --> 00:32:21.859
 will share

00:32:21.859 --> 00:32:22.220
 in the

00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:22.519
 greatness

00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:23.079
 of God

00:32:23.079 --> 00:32:23.559
 the glory

00:32:23.559 --> 00:32:24.119
 of God

00:32:24.119 --> 00:32:24.940
 and we

00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:25.279
 will know

00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:25.859
 comfort

00:32:25.859 --> 00:32:26.799
 upon comfort

00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:27.220
 forever

00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:30.319
 to live

00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:31.019
 a life

00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:32.059
 this way

00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:32.579
 with this

00:32:32.579 --> 00:32:33.139
 perspective

00:32:33.139 --> 00:32:34.139
 is to

00:32:34.139 --> 00:32:34.579
 live a

00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:34.859
 well

00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:35.359
 ordered

00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:37.899
 faith

00:32:37.899 --> 00:32:38.279
 filled

00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:38.579
 hope

00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:38.879
 filled

00:32:38.879 --> 00:32:39.259
 life

00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:40.119
 in the

00:32:40.119 --> 00:32:40.599
 unchanging

00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:41.119
 God

00:32:41.119 --> 00:32:41.699
 who has

00:32:41.699 --> 00:32:42.119
 overcome

00:32:42.119 --> 00:32:42.639
 death

00:32:42.639 --> 00:32:43.279
 and everything

00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:43.679
 that you

00:32:43.679 --> 00:32:44.419
 will experience

00:32:44.419 --> 00:32:45.599
 and what

00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:46.479
 that does

00:32:46.479 --> 00:32:47.019
 then

00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:47.979
 is that

00:32:47.979 --> 00:32:48.799
 helps us

00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:49.199
 when the

00:32:49.199 --> 00:32:49.519
 suffering

00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:50.000
 comes

00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:50.419
 to look

00:32:50.419 --> 00:32:51.019
 beyond it

00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:51.299
 to the

00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:51.639
 life to

00:32:51.639 --> 00:32:51.879
 come

00:32:51.879 --> 00:32:52.759
 where we

00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:53.599
 are promised

00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:54.740
 an end

00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:55.779
 to all

00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:56.319
 evil

00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:58.159
 that is

00:32:58.159 --> 00:32:58.759
 the fuel

00:32:58.759 --> 00:32:59.359
 we need

00:32:59.359 --> 00:32:59.719
 to live

00:32:59.719 --> 00:33:00.000
 out the

00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:00.299
 Christian

00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:00.699
 life

00:33:00.699 --> 00:33:01.779
 to endure

00:33:01.779 --> 00:33:02.139
 to the

00:33:02.139 --> 00:33:02.399
 end

00:33:02.399 --> 00:33:03.099
 to die

00:33:03.099 --> 00:33:03.519
 well

00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.399
 to die

00:33:04.399 --> 00:33:04.899
 faithful

00:33:04.900 --> 00:33:07.280
 friends

00:33:07.280 --> 00:33:07.880
 I'll close

00:33:07.880 --> 00:33:08.240
 with this

00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:08.540
 Christ

00:33:08.540 --> 00:33:09.060
 died a

00:33:09.060 --> 00:33:09.400
 gruesome

00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:09.840
 and painful

00:33:09.840 --> 00:33:10.259
 life

00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:11.259
 forsaken

00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:11.880
 by God

00:33:11.880 --> 00:33:12.060
 the

00:33:12.060 --> 00:33:12.380
 Father

00:33:12.380 --> 00:33:12.820
 so that

00:33:12.820 --> 00:33:13.120
 we

00:33:13.120 --> 00:33:14.180
 when we

00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:14.600
 die

00:33:14.600 --> 00:33:16.420
 can die

00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:16.759
 well

00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:17.100
 knowing

00:33:17.100 --> 00:33:17.460
 that we

00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:18.080
 no longer

00:33:18.080 --> 00:33:19.120
 are forsaken

00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:19.800
 but accepted

00:33:19.800 --> 00:33:20.240
 by the

00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:20.840
 only one

00:33:20.840 --> 00:33:21.880
 who has

00:33:21.880 --> 00:33:22.360
 conquered

00:33:22.360 --> 00:33:23.580
 all of

00:33:23.580 --> 00:33:24.220
 our enemies

00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:26.120
 let us

00:33:26.120 --> 00:33:26.340
 pray

00:33:26.340 --> 00:33:31.460
 Lord

00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:32.519
 we

00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:34.360
 talked about

00:33:34.360 --> 00:33:34.700
 death

00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:35.700
 death

00:33:35.700 --> 00:33:36.000
 and

00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:37.500
 mortality

00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.440
 and

00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:39.080
 suffering

00:33:39.080 --> 00:33:39.660
 and

00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.380
 the

00:33:40.380 --> 00:33:40.860
 difficulties

00:33:40.860 --> 00:33:41.100
 of

00:33:41.100 --> 00:33:41.440
 life

00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:43.799
 but Lord

00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:44.140
 as we

00:33:44.140 --> 00:33:44.480
 talked

00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:44.860
 about it

00:33:44.860 --> 00:33:45.160
 let us

00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:45.660
 not dwell

00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:46.000
 there

00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:46.900
 let us

00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:47.380
 recognize

00:33:47.380 --> 00:33:47.819
 surely

00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:48.220
 that we

00:33:48.220 --> 00:33:48.720
 are frail

00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.080
 people

00:33:49.080 --> 00:33:49.840
 and we

00:33:49.840 --> 00:33:50.340
 are unable

00:33:50.340 --> 00:33:50.840
 to save

00:33:50.840 --> 00:33:51.279
 ourselves

00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:51.759
 but Lord

00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:52.559
 help us

00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:53.100
 instead to

00:33:53.100 --> 00:33:53.600
 focus on

00:33:53.600 --> 00:33:54.100
 who you

00:33:54.100 --> 00:33:54.460
 are

00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:55.559
 you are

00:33:55.559 --> 00:33:55.700
 the

00:33:55.700 --> 00:33:56.460
 unchanging

00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:56.880
 God

00:33:56.880 --> 00:33:57.660
 who saves

00:33:57.660 --> 00:33:58.080
 to the

00:33:58.080 --> 00:33:58.360
 end

00:33:58.359 --> 00:34:00.500
 who

00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:00.919
 has sent

00:34:00.919 --> 00:34:01.139
 his

00:34:01.139 --> 00:34:01.399
 very

00:34:01.399 --> 00:34:01.839
 son

00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:02.399
 to die

00:34:02.399 --> 00:34:02.740
 in our

00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:03.159
 place

00:34:03.159 --> 00:34:03.979
 so that

00:34:03.979 --> 00:34:04.359
 we may

00:34:04.359 --> 00:34:04.839
 live

00:34:04.839 --> 00:34:06.240
 forever

00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:06.759
 in your

00:34:06.759 --> 00:34:07.399
 presence

00:34:07.399 --> 00:34:08.599
 enjoying

00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:09.880
 love

00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:10.880
 unspeakable

00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:13.680
 Lord

00:34:13.680 --> 00:34:13.920
 would you

00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:14.200
 give us

00:34:14.200 --> 00:34:14.360
 that

00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:14.800
 perspective

00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:15.140
 would you

00:34:15.140 --> 00:34:15.579
 help us

00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:15.820
 then

00:34:15.820 --> 00:34:16.800
 to live

00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:17.300
 faithfully

00:34:17.300 --> 00:34:17.559
 and when

00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:18.180
 we sin

00:34:18.180 --> 00:34:18.519
 and when

00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:18.980
 we fall

00:34:18.980 --> 00:34:19.460
 short

00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:20.180
 and when

00:34:20.180 --> 00:34:20.599
 we find

00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:21.039
 ourselves

00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:21.539
 to be

00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:22.460
 the cruel

00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:23.460
 man

00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:23.840
 the

00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:24.539
 unjust

00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:24.920
 man

00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:25.260
 the

00:34:25.260 --> 00:34:26.599
 wicked

00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:27.000
 man

00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:27.380
 that we

00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:27.579
 would

00:34:27.579 --> 00:34:28.079
 repent

00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:28.640
 and turn

00:34:28.640 --> 00:34:28.880
 back

00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:29.280
 to you

00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:31.380
 and Lord

00:34:31.380 --> 00:34:31.660
 that we

00:34:31.660 --> 00:34:32.180
 would live

00:34:32.180 --> 00:34:32.780
 faithfully

00:34:32.780 --> 00:34:33.079
 in the

00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:33.380
 day

00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:33.940
 to day

00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:36.420
 and find

00:34:36.420 --> 00:34:36.960
 ourselves

00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.740
 whether you

00:34:37.740 --> 00:34:38.340
 come back

00:34:38.340 --> 00:34:39.220
 or

00:34:39.220 --> 00:34:40.420
 when we

00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:40.760
 are about

00:34:40.760 --> 00:34:41.079
 to take

00:34:41.079 --> 00:34:41.539
 our dying

00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:41.840
 breath

00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:42.280
 that we

00:34:42.280 --> 00:34:42.840
 have lived

00:34:42.840 --> 00:34:43.159
 well

00:34:43.159 --> 00:34:44.420
 because you

00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:44.860
 have given

00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:45.260
 us the

00:34:45.260 --> 00:34:45.519
 strength

00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:45.820
 to do

00:34:45.820 --> 00:34:46.059
 so

00:34:46.059 --> 00:34:47.780
 help us

00:34:47.780 --> 00:34:47.980
 all

00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.920
 in Christ's

00:34:48.920 --> 00:34:49.059
 name

00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:49.340
 Amen