WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.560 Okay, so we are in the book of Ecclesiastes. We're in Ecclesiastes chapter 5, which is page 673. 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:19.359 Let me pray for us as we come to God's word. Let me pray. Heavenly Father, we want to pray now as we come to look at your word. 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:29.980 We ask for your help. We know, Lord, that we find it hard to concentrate at times. It is distracting towards the end of the day. 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:37.799 We are hungry for what you say to us. So please feed us from your word, we ask now in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:46.659 When Oggy said to me that he was going to be with us this evening, I did plan on then saying a bit less because I knew that that would take up a bit of time. 00:00:46.659 --> 00:00:57.079 So we have a bit less time this evening, but that's okay because I'm only going to say one thing and we're only going to focus on just the first seven verses of Ecclesiastes chapter 5. 00:00:57.079 --> 00:01:03.060 So let me begin by reading them to us. Please ask you chapter 5, verse 1. 00:01:03.060 --> 00:01:15.219 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools who do not know that they do wrong. 00:01:16.060 --> 00:01:23.040 Do not be quick with your mouth. Do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:29.360 God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few. 00:01:30.360 --> 00:01:36.160 A dream comes when there are many cares and many words mark the speech of a fool. 00:01:37.240 --> 00:01:42.020 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools. 00:01:42.219 --> 00:01:47.660 Fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. 00:01:47.659 --> 00:01:51.239 Do not let your mouth lead you to sin. 00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:56.200 And do not protest to the temple messenger. My vow was a mistake. 00:01:56.879 --> 00:02:01.719 Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? 00:02:02.120 --> 00:02:05.679 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:08.919 Therefore, fear God. 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:19.079 Now, like I said, I am going to try and show you just one point from these verses, which I think flows out into a couple of things practically for us. 00:02:19.139 --> 00:02:24.060 But before we get into that, let's have a brief review of where we are up to in the book of Ecclesiastes. 00:02:25.159 --> 00:02:28.119 If you've not been with us over these last few weeks, don't worry. 00:02:28.819 --> 00:02:31.619 In the first week, we looked at this word meaningless. 00:02:31.620 --> 00:02:37.659 Meaningless, the preacher's favorite word, not the preacher in general, the preacher of Ecclesiastes' favorite word. 00:02:37.980 --> 00:02:41.819 It occurs 37 times in his book, depending on exactly how you count it. 00:02:42.200 --> 00:02:47.659 And we discovered that meaningless, as Ecclesiastes has it, is not a sort of nihilistic angst, 00:02:47.740 --> 00:02:49.840 or there's no point to anything, I think. 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:55.200 Rather, it is that there is an absence of any substance to things. 00:02:56.219 --> 00:02:58.040 Everything is kind of mist-like. 00:02:58.500 --> 00:03:00.040 You can't grab a hold of it. 00:03:00.039 --> 00:03:03.959 Life is, says the preacher, meaningless. 00:03:04.239 --> 00:03:05.719 It slips through your fingers. 00:03:06.519 --> 00:03:12.959 The temporary nature of life hangs over everything that we do with an ever-deepening shadow, 00:03:13.639 --> 00:03:17.079 draining any weighty significance from the things that we are involved in. 00:03:17.799 --> 00:03:19.579 So life is meaningless. 00:03:19.819 --> 00:03:21.879 It just slips through our fingers. 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:26.620 Now, that idea might seem a little bleak, or maybe even a little far-fetched. 00:03:26.620 --> 00:03:30.819 So in chapter 2, you encounter the preacher trying to fix the problem. 00:03:30.819 --> 00:03:38.239 And he shows us various different things that he has tried to kind of nail life down or to add substance to it. 00:03:38.299 --> 00:03:43.840 So he talks about wisdom and pleasure and wealth and work. 00:03:44.099 --> 00:03:51.740 And he goes through all of those and shows you and me that they are unable to provide any solid ground on which to live our lives. 00:03:51.740 --> 00:03:58.300 The wise and the rich, and even the happy, die, meaning their lives too are missed. 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:03.480 The hard-working, if you remember, they work so hard and they achieve so much, 00:04:03.600 --> 00:04:09.200 and then they hand it over to someone who is a fool who wastes it all, which is meaningless, he says, vaporous. 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:16.719 Then in chapter 3, if you scan back to chapter 3, you'll find the most famous section in the book of Ecclesiastes, 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:19.060 which is there is a time for everything. 00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:25.699 And literally the point here is that we are given the building blocks of time, seasons for everything. 00:04:26.219 --> 00:04:28.319 A season for this and a season for that. 00:04:29.099 --> 00:04:34.560 But the problem is that deep down in our hearts, we want more than just time. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:38.680 The Lord has put eternity into our hearts. 00:04:39.339 --> 00:04:46.459 And so actually we find it, so that's in chapter 3, verse 11, he has set, also set, eternity in the human heart. 00:04:46.899 --> 00:04:54.300 So you're given the building blocks of time in your hands, but eternity is in your hearts. 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:56.459 So we're always longing for more. 00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:03.160 Doesn't matter, does it, whether you go to the funeral of a young person or the funeral of a very old person. 00:05:03.160 --> 00:05:06.760 The feeling in the room is that their life has been taken too soon. 00:05:07.520 --> 00:05:10.400 They longed for more and life was too short. 00:05:10.680 --> 00:05:12.400 There should be more, but there's not. 00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:16.680 And times pass quickly, taking with them anything that we build. 00:05:16.940 --> 00:05:20.260 So nothing we produce or make or earn or possess lasts. 00:05:21.240 --> 00:05:23.660 The writer then contrasts that in chapter 3 with God. 00:05:24.180 --> 00:05:26.580 God, he says, is the one who builds what lasts. 00:05:27.060 --> 00:05:30.080 What God does endures forever, chapter 3, verse 14. 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:33.959 And that enduring God brings into judgment what we do. 00:05:34.159 --> 00:05:37.060 Every deed of our lives is weighed by the God of justice. 00:05:37.719 --> 00:05:44.699 And we gain nothing from our toil, but it is held to account by the God who has eternal plans and builds eternal things. 00:05:45.379 --> 00:05:46.560 So what are we to do, right? 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:49.159 We have time in our hands. 00:05:49.639 --> 00:05:51.019 We have eternity in our hearts. 00:05:51.419 --> 00:05:53.360 And only God builds anything that lasts. 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:54.220 So what do we do? 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:56.120 Well, chapter 3, verse 12. 00:05:56.300 --> 00:06:00.400 There is nothing better than to eat, drink, and find satisfaction in your work. 00:06:01.720 --> 00:06:05.939 Now remember, this isn't because all there is is eating and drinking. 00:06:06.139 --> 00:06:08.759 This is not eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die. 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:13.000 Rather, it's not that that is all there is, but that is what there is. 00:06:13.060 --> 00:06:15.800 This is what God has given to us for this moment. 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:22.139 These are gifts to be enjoyed from God, really as a way of enjoying the giver himself. 00:06:22.280 --> 00:06:27.139 So we enjoy the food, the drink, the work that God has given to us. 00:06:28.819 --> 00:06:33.660 Now, a couple of weeks ago, we then thought, well, how do we enjoy those gifts that God has given? 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:38.340 What is the best way to enjoy the things that God has given us in this life? 00:06:38.920 --> 00:06:39.300 Answer? 00:06:40.060 --> 00:06:40.500 Community. 00:06:40.500 --> 00:06:40.579 Community. 00:06:41.139 --> 00:06:46.500 The best way to enjoy what God has given is to enjoy them with others, because you cannot enjoy them alone. 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:49.579 Now, that's like a really quick whiz through the chapters. 00:06:49.740 --> 00:06:51.000 Perhaps we can put it together in a sentence. 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:52.519 I think this is what we've learned so far. 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:57.620 Eternity is in our hearts, but only time is in our hands. 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:03.319 So enjoy the gifts of this time by enjoying them in community. 00:07:04.139 --> 00:07:05.560 That's, I think, what we've learned so far. 00:07:06.180 --> 00:07:07.379 Eternity is in our hearts. 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:08.779 Time is in our hands. 00:07:08.779 --> 00:07:12.959 So enjoy the gifts of this time by enjoying them in community. 00:07:15.899 --> 00:07:18.139 Now, that's where we're up to at the end of chapter 4. 00:07:18.579 --> 00:07:19.959 Chapter 5, verses 1 to 7. 00:07:20.119 --> 00:07:22.819 And I am the most excited, I think, about these verses. 00:07:23.359 --> 00:07:24.819 But maybe that won't quite come through. 00:07:24.819 --> 00:07:34.759 But I think it introduces us to one more thing that we're to do in life in this world, this mist-like, meaningless life. 00:07:34.939 --> 00:07:37.600 Yes, we're to enjoy the gifts, because those are what we've been given. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:41.159 But the other point here is, I think, we are to seek the giver. 00:07:41.480 --> 00:07:42.980 This is the one point for tonight. 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:44.740 Seek the giver. 00:07:44.939 --> 00:07:45.399 That's it. 00:07:45.719 --> 00:07:46.439 Seek the giver. 00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:51.439 Now, before we look at the detail of this, hopefully you can see why that would just make sense, right? 00:07:51.860 --> 00:07:59.040 If eternity is in our hearts, and only time is in our hands, and all that we do is destroyed in death, and only what God does lasts, 00:07:59.660 --> 00:08:05.779 then surely the only satisfaction for our hearts is found in an eternal God, right? 00:08:05.779 --> 00:08:09.019 Nothing else will satisfy. 00:08:10.179 --> 00:08:11.619 Now, we need to be careful here. 00:08:11.659 --> 00:08:14.500 This is not everything is meaningless except for Christian service. 00:08:14.659 --> 00:08:16.599 You know, seeking God is not the same as serving God. 00:08:16.659 --> 00:08:24.019 Rather, the point is that this life contains nothing that will satisfy the eternity longings of your heart, except God. 00:08:24.679 --> 00:08:25.659 So seek Him. 00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:33.019 Augustine famously said in his book, The Confessions, which is worth you reading if you've never read it, Augustine's Confessions. 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:37.120 He says, Thou hast made us for thyself. 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:41.699 You have made us for you, O Lord. 00:08:42.100 --> 00:08:46.879 And our heart is restless until it finds its rest in you. 00:08:47.860 --> 00:08:48.819 That's the point. 00:08:49.620 --> 00:08:58.759 Because eternity is in our hearts, and time is in our hands, and everything we do vanishes, and God is eternal, and He is building what lasts, 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:02.579 only God will ultimately be satisfying to you and to me. 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:05.419 Now, let me show you that from the passage. 00:09:05.960 --> 00:09:10.259 I've printed the passage out on the front of your handout, so you can perhaps look at it there with me. 00:09:10.319 --> 00:09:14.819 And you see that it begins and ends with reverence to the Lord. 00:09:14.820 --> 00:09:22.900 So guarding your steps up to the temple in verse 1, I think is essentially the same as fearing the Lord in verse 7. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:26.620 Guard your steps when you go to the temple or to the house of God. 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:29.580 Therefore, fear the Lord at the end of verse 7. 00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:38.860 And the point is that really in this world of mist, there is this solid eternal reality called God, who is really to be honored and revered. 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:41.360 Now, it's slightly ironic, isn't it? 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:47.539 In our vapor-like lives, where we cannot hold on to anything solid and nothing satisfies, 00:09:48.740 --> 00:09:56.639 then we find that the thing that is really solid is the eternal God who has no body, who is spirit, who is invisible to our eyes, 00:09:56.980 --> 00:09:58.639 who verse 2 tells us lives in heaven. 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:04.860 In other words, God, the eternal planner and worker, is not like you and me. 00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:11.620 You would think, wouldn't you, as material beings, we would find ultimate satisfaction in material things. 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:16.080 But actually, the message of Ecclesiastes is we have eternity in our hearts, 00:10:16.100 --> 00:10:22.980 and we only find ultimate satisfaction in the God who has no body, who is in heaven. 00:10:24.340 --> 00:10:26.039 So God is spirit and not flesh. 00:10:26.039 --> 00:10:27.319 He is heavenly, not earthly. 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:28.959 He is creator, not created. 00:10:30.199 --> 00:10:33.279 And so what does it look like, then, to fear God or guard your steps? 00:10:34.500 --> 00:10:36.199 Well, here, then, are the two ideas. 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:43.659 For a start, fearing God means, number one, listen, don't speak. 00:10:44.099 --> 00:10:45.079 Listen, don't speak. 00:10:45.559 --> 00:10:46.959 It's repeated throughout, isn't it? 00:10:47.459 --> 00:10:54.379 Verse 1, go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools who do not know that they do wrong. 00:10:54.379 --> 00:10:58.039 Verse 2, do not be quick with your mouth. 00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:01.500 Do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:06.399 Again, verse 3, many words mark the speech of a fool. 00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:12.460 Again, in verse 7, much dreaming and many words are meaningless. 00:11:12.460 --> 00:11:22.100 There's a story told by a friend of mine of an enthusiastic law student who turned up at his church one Sunday morning. 00:11:23.259 --> 00:11:26.860 And in the part of the church service where they were to greet those around them, 00:11:26.980 --> 00:11:32.960 this enthusiastic young law student turned to the person next to him, and he said, you know, I'm a lawyer. 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:36.500 And then this young student said, what do you do? 00:11:36.860 --> 00:11:40.080 He said, oh, yes, I'm in law as well, he said. 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:47.160 Anyway, so the young enthusiastic law student regaled this older gentleman with all the latest things that he'd been learning and reading as a student, 00:11:47.680 --> 00:11:50.660 hoping to give this, you know, old-timer a bit of up-to-date knowledge. 00:11:50.659 --> 00:11:59.799 At the end of the service, the vicar greets the law student at the door and says, oh, it was good to see you sitting next to the attorney general this morning. 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:05.699 To which he had that sinking feeling like, I should have just kept my mouth shut, right? 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:07.879 Now, that's the sense here. 00:12:08.860 --> 00:12:13.959 In coming to the Lord, we are coming to the one solid eternal reality. 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:21.580 The God who is, as Oggy was telling us, not just the best of all gods, but the one and only God. 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:25.060 The one and only who builds for eternity as king. 00:12:25.400 --> 00:12:29.900 The one who does not share our mist-like existence, but who lives forever in the glories of heaven. 00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:35.160 And in his presence, the best thing to do is keep your mouth shut. 00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:36.920 Keep your mouth shut. 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:44.000 Perhaps really we could summarise this part of fearing the Lord as awe. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:46.459 I think that's what that word means, is it? 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:53.279 Awe is when you see something awesome, you just kind of gaze at it, don't you, when you don't say anything. 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:54.879 You are speechless. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:56.819 And that's what's going on here. 00:12:56.819 --> 00:13:02.899 It's a silent awe of who God is, that he's not like us in his greatness and his majesty. 00:13:02.899 --> 00:13:07.019 This God has what we really need, and we can only find it in him. 00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:11.199 And that fact and reality should fill us with awe, awestruck silence. 00:13:12.459 --> 00:13:15.240 If you're into book recommendations, you've had one already, the Confessions. 00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:18.759 Second one, a little book by Paul Tripp called Awe. 00:13:19.100 --> 00:13:19.860 It's a yellow book. 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:24.699 And in it, he details the problems that come when we don't have this kind of awe of God. 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:29.059 And his basic premise in the book is that we have lost a sense of awe of God. 00:13:29.059 --> 00:13:35.199 And he says this, you don't have to look very far to see awe problems everywhere around you. 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:37.459 Adultery is an awe problem. 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:48.199 To the degree that you forget God's glory as the creator of your body and his place as owner of every aspect of your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual personhood, 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:53.859 to that degree it is easier to use the members of your body to get whatever pleasure your heart craves. 00:13:54.839 --> 00:13:56.299 Debt is an awe problem. 00:13:56.299 --> 00:14:02.579 When your mind is blown away by the thought that God provides everything that you have, that every good gift really comes from him, 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:06.199 you are predisposed to be a good steward of the things that he has provided. 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:12.799 Obsession with the collection of possessions is the result of an awe amnesia that makes you ask of things, 00:14:13.199 --> 00:14:18.339 what you will only ever get from the God of glory, who alone can satisfy your searching hearts. 00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:22.240 Living for power and control is an awe problem. 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:29.500 When you live with the rest and peace that come from keeping the power, authority, and sovereignty of God before your eyes, 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:35.280 you don't need to work yourself into control over the people, situations in your life. 00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:38.519 Gluttony and obesity are an awe problem. 00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:43.840 When you forget the glory of the satisfying grace of the Redeemer, 00:14:44.199 --> 00:14:49.220 you are susceptible to letting things like food and drink become your temporary replacement messiahs. 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:51.759 Fear of man is an awe problem. 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:58.139 When I forget that God's glory defines not only him, but who I have become as his child, 00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:01.960 I look to the people to give me meaning, purpose, and identity. 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:04.919 The awe war is everywhere. 00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:07.699 That's the writer's point here. 00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:12.559 When you come into the presence of the Lord, shut up and look up. 00:15:12.939 --> 00:15:13.799 That's what you need to do. 00:15:14.959 --> 00:15:17.179 But it's not just that we need to be silent. 00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:22.399 There is another application of this seek the Lord, and this is what not to do, 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:25.240 and it is don't make rash promises. 00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:26.599 Look at verse 4. 00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:29.799 When you make a vow to God, don't delay to fulfill it. 00:15:30.199 --> 00:15:32.099 He has no pleasure in fools. 00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:33.339 Fulfill your vow. 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:37.060 It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. 00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:41.720 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin, and do not protest to the temple messenger. 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:42.879 My vow was a mistake. 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:46.500 Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:52.920 Here the fool assumes in the sort of awesome presence of God that I've got to do something for this God. 00:15:53.300 --> 00:15:54.560 I've got to promise something. 00:15:54.559 --> 00:16:06.579 It's almost like the sort of fussing Martha in Luke 10 who assumes that really the thing that she actually needs to do is provide everything for Jesus rather than sit at his feet and listen to him. 00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:15.460 That actually when she's faced with Jesus Christ, she thinks the big issue in the room is what I'm going to do for him, not what he's doing for me. 00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:18.540 And that, says the writer of Ecclesiastes, is a big mistake. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:27.120 In the presence of the one who alone can satisfy, the one alone whose works last, do not assume that what you can do for him should be your first thought. 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:35.000 Better not to offer to do anything because the likelihood is that you will offer something to do and forget to do it and look stupid. 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:41.960 You know, I surrender all is a bad vow unless you're singing it as a prayer which starts in your heart. 00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:43.559 God, please help me to do this. 00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:54.259 Now, if this is the one point this evening, God alone can satisfy our eternal longings, so seek him in silent confidence in his promises and not yours, 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:56.899 then we can flesh that out just a little bit more, can't we? 00:16:56.940 --> 00:16:59.840 Because unlike the preacher here, we have heard of the coming of the Son. 00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:02.580 We know of the cross and resurrection. 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:12.380 So we may know that not making rash promises is because we need Christ's promise, the promise of forgiveness and grace for all who draw near. 00:17:13.360 --> 00:17:22.660 It's wrong, I think, isn't it, to think that the incarnation somehow makes God less awesome, as if the purpose of the incarnation is to tame God's awesomeness. 00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:28.039 God the eternal Son did not take on flesh so that you could wander into God's presence and shoot your mouth off. 00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:31.160 The incarnation is not the domestication of God. 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:40.360 Really, it's the accommodation of God so that in the silence of our awe, we can begin to see the details of his glorious self-giving grace. 00:17:41.360 --> 00:17:44.259 So still be silent in his presence. 00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:50.300 The one who gave himself for you, who is King of kings and Lord of lords. 00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:58.079 Writing about a thousand years ago, the Benedictine monk, who then became the Archbishop of Canterbury. 00:17:58.180 --> 00:18:03.359 I don't quite know how that career works out, but you can maybe explain it to me later. 00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:05.059 Anselm is his name. 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:12.419 And he writes this in his prayers, which are titled the proselagoing, as he calls it. 00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:13.920 And this is what he says. 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:20.080 This is his sort of advice for us spiritually, in Anselm's advice. 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:23.900 He says now, come now, insignificant man. 00:18:24.380 --> 00:18:32.080 In the, I've got this book by my bedside, and in my translation, it's come now, pathetic little man, which I quite like. 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:36.659 Come now, pathetic little man, fly for a moment from your affairs. 00:18:37.199 --> 00:18:40.179 Escape for a little while from the tumult of your thoughts. 00:18:40.919 --> 00:18:45.339 Put aside now your weighty cares, and leave your wearisome toils. 00:18:45.919 --> 00:18:50.099 Abandon yourself for a little to God, and rest for a little in him. 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:53.639 Enter into the inner chamber of your soul. 00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:59.259 Shut out everything save God, and what can be of help in your quest for him. 00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:02.539 And having locked the door, seek him out. 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:05.359 I seek your countenance, O Lord. 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:08.799 Your countenance I seek. 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:11.220 Here's a thought. 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:12.879 This is where I'm going to finish this evening. 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:20.299 What if the reason that we struggle so much with the meaninglessness and fragility of everything, 00:19:21.099 --> 00:19:26.579 what if the reason that we feel so perpetually dissatisfied when we come back from work in an afternoon or an evening, 00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:33.460 is that we have not carefully and regularly and reverently sought the Lord in silence, 00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:36.559 to sit in awe at who he is. 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:44.619 I think often as churches we can make the mistake of thinking that informality is the goal of the gathering. 00:19:45.399 --> 00:19:46.539 It's not, is it? 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:49.159 All is the goal of the gathering. 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:57.319 We want people to see and experience and feel the awesomeness of the God of glory who sent his son for them. 00:19:57.879 --> 00:19:59.799 It is not God Almighty, is it? 00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:04.899 And so we sometimes are maybe a bit quick to sing of our devotion, 00:20:05.139 --> 00:20:08.440 when really we should perhaps just sit and contemplate of his greatness. 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:17.079 Now what if it's contributing to our misery and our frustration that we just don't really spend enough time quietly contemplating the Lord? 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:25.099 My plan was to close by reading Psalm 145 for us. 00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:29.779 So if you will just graciously give me a few more minutes, 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:33.879 we will read Psalm 145 slowly, 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:40.319 and you can sit at the feet of the God of glory as we listen to his word. 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:42.339 We will keep our mouths shut, 00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:46.259 and we will listen to him in his words. 00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:49.299 Let me read it to you. 00:20:50.179 --> 00:20:52.359 Psalm of Praise of David. 00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:59.220 I will exalt you, my God the King. 00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:03.919 I will praise your name forever and ever. 00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:11.339 Every day I will praise you and extol your name forever and ever. 00:21:12.939 --> 00:21:14.819 Great is the Lord. 00:21:14.819 --> 00:21:18.720 And most worthy of praise. 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:23.460 His greatness no one can fathom. 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:27.819 One generation commends your works to another. 00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:30.500 They tell of your mighty acts. 00:21:30.919 --> 00:21:34.679 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty. 00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:38.460 And I will meditate on your wonderful works. 00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:42.960 They tell of the power of your awesome works. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:45.880 And I will proclaim your great deeds. 00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:52.320 They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:58.359 The Lord is gracious and compassionate. 00:21:59.099 --> 00:22:01.819 Slow to anger and rich in love. 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:04.399 The Lord is good to all. 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:07.299 He has compassion on all that he has made. 00:22:08.159 --> 00:22:10.379 All your works praise you, Lord. 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:12.960 Your faithful people extol you. 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:17.579 They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:23.379 so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:27.160 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. 00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:30.560 And your dominion endures throughout all generations. 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:35.559 The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises. 00:22:36.419 --> 00:22:38.519 And faithful in all he does. 00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:41.779 The Lord upholds all who fall. 00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:44.559 And lifts up all who are bowed down. 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:47.019 The eyes of all look to you. 00:22:47.639 --> 00:22:50.139 And you give them their food at the proper time. 00:22:50.839 --> 00:22:54.599 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. 00:22:57.159 --> 00:23:00.019 The Lord is righteous in all his ways. 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:03.359 And faithful in all he does. 00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:07.359 The Lord is near to all who call on him. 00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:10.220 To all who call on him in truth. 00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:14.179 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him. 00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:17.259 He hears their cry and saves them. 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:20.779 The Lord watches over all who love him. 00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:23.299 But all the wicked he will destroy. 00:23:24.859 --> 00:23:28.259 My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. 00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:31.980 Let every creature praise his holy name. 00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:34.319 Forever and ever. 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:35.900 Amen. 00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:36.019 Amen. 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:36.079 Amen. 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:36.079 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:36.079 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:36.079 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:36.079 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:36.839 Amen. 00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:37.019 Amen. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:37.439 Amen. 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:37.819 Amen. 00:23:37.879 --> 00:23:38.359 Amen. 00:23:38.699 --> 00:23:38.939 Amen. 00:23:38.939 --> 00:23:39.220 Amen. 00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:39.519 Amen. 00:23:39.559 --> 00:23:39.839 Amen. 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:40.039 Amen. 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.339 Amen. 00:23:40.379 --> 00:23:40.659 Amen. 00:23:40.659 --> 00:23:40.899 Amen. 00:23:40.939 --> 00:23:41.059 Amen. 00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:41.259 Amen. 00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:41.500 Amen. 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:41.740 Amen. 00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:41.879 Amen. 00:23:41.879 --> 00:23:42.059 Amen. 00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:42.199 Amen. 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:42.379 Amen. 00:23:42.439 --> 00:23:42.579 Amen. 00:23:42.679 --> 00:23:42.799 Amen. 00:23:42.919 --> 00:23:43.099 Amen. 00:23:43.159 --> 00:23:43.539 Amen. 00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:43.899 Amen. 00:23:43.899 --> 00:23:44.139 Amen. 00:23:44.139 --> 00:23:44.299 Amen. 00:23:44.379 --> 00:23:44.619 Amen. 00:23:44.699 --> 00:23:44.839 Amen. 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:45.039 Amen. 00:23:45.139 --> 00:23:45.299 Amen. 00:23:45.379 --> 00:23:45.759 Amen. 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:45.960 Amen. 00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:46.159 Amen. 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:46.259 Amen. 00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:46.539 Amen. 00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:46.859 Amen. 00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:47.240 Amen. 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:47.839 Amen. 00:23:47.919 --> 00:23:48.240 Amen. 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:48.519 Amen. 00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:48.919 Amen. 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:49.299 Amen. 00:23:49.399 --> 00:23:49.839 Amen. 00:23:49.899 --> 00:23:50.099 Amen. 00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:50.359 Amen. 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:50.859 Amen. 00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.439 Amen. 00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:52.099 Amen. 00:23:52.199 --> 00:23:52.679 Amen. 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:53.319 Amen. 00:23:53.379 --> 00:23:53.919 Amen. 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.299 Amen. 00:23:54.379 --> 00:23:54.939 Amen.