WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.200 Andrew, do you want to pray for us and read the passage? 00:00:03.879 --> 00:00:05.160 I'll hand over to you. 00:00:05.259 --> 00:00:06.060 Thank you very much. 00:00:06.540 --> 00:00:07.520 Thank you, Steve. 00:00:08.300 --> 00:00:09.540 Good evening, everybody. 00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:16.280 I am going to be reading from the ESV, 00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:18.859 because that's my own Bible and I brought it here today. 00:00:19.019 --> 00:00:24.219 So some of the words may differ from the NIV when I read. 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:29.100 But even God will make that known to you still, right? 00:00:29.100 --> 00:00:30.300 So we've got a good God. 00:00:30.360 --> 00:00:33.600 He can speak in all languages, all right? 00:00:35.740 --> 00:00:37.100 Before I... 00:00:37.800 --> 00:00:39.980 Well, let me read it first and then I'll pray. 00:00:41.060 --> 00:00:44.100 All right, Psalms 12, I'm going to read from the ESV. 00:00:44.300 --> 00:00:45.579 You'll follow it through in your Bibles. 00:00:46.340 --> 00:00:47.140 Then I'll pray. 00:00:47.980 --> 00:00:48.840 It reads, 00:00:49.980 --> 00:00:52.540 Save, O Lord, or your one says help. 00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:55.439 Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone. 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:59.719 For the faithful has vanished from among the children of man. 00:01:00.460 --> 00:01:07.539 Everyone utters lies to his neighbor with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:13.200 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boast. 00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:17.140 Those who say, with our tongue we will prevail. 00:01:17.700 --> 00:01:19.019 Our lips are with us. 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:21.560 Who is our master or Lord over us? 00:01:21.560 --> 00:01:27.920 Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise, says the Lord. 00:01:28.180 --> 00:01:31.299 I will place him in a safety for which he longs. 00:01:31.760 --> 00:01:40.219 The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:43.260 You, O Lord, will keep them. 00:01:43.800 --> 00:01:46.879 You will guard us from this generation forever. 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:53.239 On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among children of man. 00:01:53.759 --> 00:01:54.579 Amen, I pray. 00:01:55.199 --> 00:01:59.019 Lord God, we do thank you for this opportunity to come again. 00:01:59.719 --> 00:02:01.719 To come and behold you, Lord. 00:02:01.799 --> 00:02:03.699 To come before your presence. 00:02:04.199 --> 00:02:05.239 To hear your word. 00:02:05.640 --> 00:02:06.759 I pray for myself. 00:02:06.899 --> 00:02:08.759 I pray for each and every one here, Lord. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:10.359 I pray that you would help me, Lord. 00:02:10.439 --> 00:02:14.699 That I would preach and teach your word faithfully according to his context. 00:02:14.699 --> 00:02:17.139 I pray for each and every one in here, Lord. 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:21.659 You will meet us and speak to us in a way that you connect with us. 00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:23.339 And help us to connect to you, Lord. 00:02:23.500 --> 00:02:24.899 To understand this text. 00:02:25.099 --> 00:02:27.560 To see how it applies to our lives, Lord. 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:29.159 That we would leave here, Lord. 00:02:29.299 --> 00:02:30.500 With that application. 00:02:30.780 --> 00:02:35.099 That we would continue to grow in our knowledge of you and in wisdom. 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:38.099 So, Lord, we do give this time unto you. 00:02:38.399 --> 00:02:40.039 Have your way and meet with us, we pray. 00:02:40.439 --> 00:02:41.500 In Jesus' name. 00:02:41.699 --> 00:02:42.000 Amen. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:42.139 Amen. 00:02:43.580 --> 00:02:44.580 So, yeah. 00:02:44.659 --> 00:02:46.460 Thank you for this opportunity, Steve. 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:47.340 For this time, yeah. 00:02:48.580 --> 00:02:52.439 You know, Psalms 12 is written by King David. 00:02:52.780 --> 00:02:54.199 I know you're all sitting there. 00:02:54.419 --> 00:02:57.479 Most of you would have heard about King David. 00:02:57.740 --> 00:03:00.340 One of the popular statements that we know about him already. 00:03:00.580 --> 00:03:03.420 He said he was a man after God's own heart. 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:05.319 God said a man after my own heart. 00:03:05.479 --> 00:03:05.659 You know. 00:03:05.979 --> 00:03:07.960 Though David was a man just like me. 00:03:08.039 --> 00:03:08.979 And just like you. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:09.800 He was fallible. 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:13.680 We also know some of the wrongs and some of the things that he'd done. 00:03:13.860 --> 00:03:16.439 But at the same time, he knew his God. 00:03:16.540 --> 00:03:18.439 That he knew God is a merciful God. 00:03:18.620 --> 00:03:22.580 And truly, when we come to him in repentance, he is forgiving. 00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:29.439 So, you know, David set a good example for us to study his life and know what God is like. 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:32.699 So, when we read this psalm, we do see it, right? 00:03:32.819 --> 00:03:41.579 You know, I just want to walk through and kind of have a little bit of an observation and try and interpret it to try and understand what life was like, what it looks like. 00:03:41.580 --> 00:03:50.220 And then ultimately, hopefully, we can draw an application to see how what we hear, how we apply that to our life and how we can walk in it. 00:03:50.320 --> 00:03:55.220 That is the key of what Bible study is or, you know, when we come to church. 00:03:55.320 --> 00:03:58.620 We want to walk away knowing how does that apply to our life? 00:03:58.720 --> 00:04:00.340 How do I walk in that? 00:04:00.340 --> 00:04:04.479 So, we're not just hearers, but we will be doers of God's word, yeah? 00:04:05.140 --> 00:04:09.379 Okay, so we see the first section there, verse 1 and 2. 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:11.120 But before that still, right? 00:04:11.580 --> 00:04:22.079 So, the psalmist, right, he expresses what it is like to live in a society or, say, a community where the foundations seem destroyed, as we read there, you know? 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:28.639 He's talking about lies rule and those who rely on God and remain faithful to his covenant. 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:31.319 They seem endangered species, you know? 00:04:31.419 --> 00:04:33.240 They seem lost at this moment. 00:04:33.919 --> 00:04:36.199 It is not an individual lament, right? 00:04:36.379 --> 00:04:39.699 You know, for there is no I who speaks within this, yeah? 00:04:39.779 --> 00:04:46.759 Rather, it's an expression of the sadness of the entire community, you know, for the godly anyway, you know, and the faithful. 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:50.419 Some prophets expressed similar concerns throughout the Old Testament. 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:51.879 May quote some along the way. 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:59.620 You would have heard prophets, you know, like, quote as well how, like, you know, there was limits in the godly people being about. 00:05:00.980 --> 00:05:05.560 And the psalmist concerns about the destructive power of language. 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:07.879 It reminds us of the book of James. 00:05:08.040 --> 00:05:09.579 James 3 talks about that. 00:05:09.860 --> 00:05:13.680 It warns us, particularly as Christians, you know, about the use of our words. 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:22.079 It says in James 3, 6, you know, the tongue is also a fire, you know, a word of evil among the parts of the body. 00:05:22.620 --> 00:05:28.180 It corrupts the old person and sets on course their life on fire by hell. 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:32.480 So the tongue is something important that we should know as Christians, you know. 00:05:32.579 --> 00:05:38.879 We speak and we want to use it in a way that we use it to bless people, not curse, you know. 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:52.180 And unfortunately, I'd maybe just think, you know, the situation described in this psalm could seem, could seem at times familiar with some places here in London, you know, at times. 00:05:52.339 --> 00:06:03.480 For an example, according to the 2021 census, it states 40.66% of London's population identify themselves as Christians. 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:08.740 This is a decrease from the previous census in 2011. 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:14.280 You know, some consider Christianity a minority religion in England and Wales. 00:06:15.620 --> 00:06:23.900 And, you know, some people might consider is this is a reason why we still experience widespread injustice and inequalities. 00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:32.420 People living in awful conditions, you know, throughout the city, throughout the country, being treated inhumanely, you know, 00:06:32.420 --> 00:06:37.080 and valuing people based on their social status, even within some churches. 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:46.800 It can seem sometime like God's people have forgotten that they are called to be sought in life in a challenging situation and life right here in London. 00:06:47.340 --> 00:06:52.160 But, you know, let's look at this psalm with our eyes and fixed on Jesus, 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:59.420 lest we too be overwhelmed by the flattery and deceitful words that we can often hear within our society. 00:06:59.420 --> 00:07:08.040 So, within this psalm, again, there is a contrast between deceptive, twisted words of humans and the pure words of God, 00:07:08.100 --> 00:07:11.560 which we will see and we will hear. 00:07:11.780 --> 00:07:20.060 So, we see in the first verses where David, you know, he calls out to God and kind of makes the case why he calls out to God. 00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:26.560 So, you know, whether in your Bible's help or my Bible, it says save, he calls out to God, you know, 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:30.699 save, oh Lord, for the ungodly one is gone, you know. 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:36.360 So, the psalmist asks for, you know, the psalmist asks for help by describing the situation 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:43.660 as the faithful or low committed people of God's covenant are no longer seen among God's people. 00:07:43.660 --> 00:07:47.840 And, the time of this lemon is not identified. 00:07:48.220 --> 00:07:52.480 We can't really, well, I can't identify, you know, when this psalm was written, you know, 00:07:52.540 --> 00:07:59.260 because, again, I know, indeed, David, you know, his monarchy at the time when he ruled and reigned, 00:07:59.540 --> 00:08:04.260 he sought to demonstrate, we could say, maybe a shadow of Christ, you know. 00:08:04.300 --> 00:08:08.280 He kind of demonstrated what it might look like to have a godly kingdom 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:11.779 and really honour Yahweh, their God at the time. 00:08:11.939 --> 00:08:16.579 So, we do know before he was actually placed upon the throne that, you know, 00:08:16.719 --> 00:08:20.279 King Saul tried to, you know, try to kill him, you know. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:24.319 God put a spirit on him and he obviously became vexed and he wanted to kill him. 00:08:24.659 --> 00:08:28.979 And then he was on the run and he was on the run even up to the time when Samuel died. 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:33.879 So, you know, maybe was it when Samuel died, he's probably in that place thinking, 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:36.139 where are all the godly gone, you know. 00:08:36.139 --> 00:08:41.340 Or maybe even again later on when he was on the throne and his son Absalom, you know, 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:46.319 wanted to turf him off the throne, you know, and the people had given their heart to his son Absalom. 00:08:46.620 --> 00:08:48.039 But that's only speculation. 00:08:48.500 --> 00:08:51.259 I'm only speculating because we don't know. 00:08:51.539 --> 00:08:55.720 But, you know, it's, you know, interesting to configure, to think, 00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:58.439 where was David at this time, you know. 00:08:58.620 --> 00:09:02.779 Where was he when these things were going on still, right, yeah. 00:09:02.779 --> 00:09:07.939 So, the time seemed distressed for Israel's community as God's covenant people. 00:09:08.319 --> 00:09:10.519 And we do take it God's covenant people, for him to say, 00:09:10.659 --> 00:09:12.779 save, oh Lord, the godly one is gone. 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:18.579 So, we take it, you know, Israel was God's people where they should uphold his confidence. 00:09:18.819 --> 00:09:23.120 So, there is an expectation to see them as a godly people, 00:09:23.459 --> 00:09:25.259 just like we as the church, you know. 00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:28.419 We have a confident relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:09:28.779 --> 00:09:35.080 So, there is an expectation to see us displaying the fruits of abiding in Christ 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:36.759 and walking in the light of the gospel. 00:09:38.059 --> 00:09:41.740 Again, just want to note that, you know, what we hear David says, 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:46.299 it was echoed in 1 Kings 19.10 with Elijah. 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:51.539 Remember when he ran away from Ayab and Jezebel, 00:09:51.539 --> 00:09:56.059 Elijah says that the people of Israel were forsaken your covenant. 00:09:56.199 --> 00:09:57.860 He says, I, only I am left. 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:00.279 But God obviously had other plans. 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:03.599 He had 7,000 prophets stored elsewhere. 00:10:04.019 --> 00:10:07.719 We see Micah in chapter 7.2 where Micah says, 00:10:07.860 --> 00:10:11.000 likewise, the godly have perished from the earth 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:13.699 and there is no one upright among mankind. 00:10:14.579 --> 00:10:18.620 So, you know, consider his thoughts at that time, 00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:20.379 what that might have looked like. 00:10:20.379 --> 00:10:23.220 We do know, again, through the Old Testament, 00:10:23.539 --> 00:10:27.299 that, you know, Israel and then Judah, you know, that monarchy, 00:10:27.700 --> 00:10:31.860 there was times when they continually strayed from just serving Yahweh, 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:34.720 their God, and seeking to be like the nations. 00:10:34.899 --> 00:10:40.240 And I wonder, you know, even some of us sometimes in society right here, 00:10:40.340 --> 00:10:42.460 you know, even as Christians sometimes, 00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:45.899 as we really look for that flame of the fire of the gospel 00:10:45.899 --> 00:10:49.360 to be stirred up amongst us when we look around 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:52.579 and we look to see how we can get sharpened 00:10:52.579 --> 00:10:56.759 and look to see brothers and sisters who are really passionate for the Lord, 00:10:56.919 --> 00:10:59.439 that, you know, we're not just coming to church, 00:10:59.459 --> 00:11:03.919 but we're actually living out our Christian walk and our vocation. 00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:07.919 And, you know, it is easily, in my mind, 00:11:08.199 --> 00:11:12.500 to consider sometime, you know, where I may feel zealous for the Lord. 00:11:12.839 --> 00:11:17.240 You know, I may look around and, you know, my mind may deceive me, 00:11:17.339 --> 00:11:20.579 but, you know, it might be hard at times in various other places 00:11:20.579 --> 00:11:24.120 to consider where are those passionate ones for God. 00:11:24.339 --> 00:11:27.779 It may seem likewise that they too have vanished. 00:11:27.779 --> 00:11:33.159 But clearly, David was in a place where, you know, it was utterly, you know, 00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:36.620 yeah, they say they're devastating. 00:11:37.100 --> 00:11:39.639 So, you know, with that, he calls out to the Lord. 00:11:39.779 --> 00:11:42.779 So we see the problem, what that is, right? 00:11:43.199 --> 00:11:45.379 That the godly one seems to be vanished. 00:11:45.819 --> 00:11:48.259 And, you know, possibly, as I said, 00:11:48.299 --> 00:11:50.779 the people may have broken confidence with God, right? 00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:55.319 And with that, you know, it's easy for godly people 00:11:55.320 --> 00:11:58.540 who really love the Lord and demonstrate the qualities 00:11:58.540 --> 00:12:00.480 of what it should look like. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:04.480 It could be easy at that time with so much deception, 00:12:05.260 --> 00:12:08.560 you know, so much double talk, as we see in verse 2, 00:12:08.680 --> 00:12:11.160 so much lying and flattering lips going on, 00:12:11.460 --> 00:12:14.480 that really the godly, you know, could be minimised. 00:12:15.220 --> 00:12:17.840 That, you know, where all of these things are going on, 00:12:17.920 --> 00:12:18.480 they are magnified. 00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:24.260 That it can sometimes seem really hard to see where are the godly. 00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:26.519 And if there's somebody in here, you know, 00:12:26.620 --> 00:12:30.779 whether maybe outside of the Christian church community, 00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:33.600 maybe in their work environment, 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:36.439 or they've not been engaging in fellowship, 00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:38.799 as we should do, as we're called to engage 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:41.419 in regular fellowship, as we often do. 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:45.080 You know, sometimes it can bring you to a place 00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:48.259 where you obviously sometimes may feel a little bit overwhelmed 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:51.279 and figure, you know, what is going on 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:53.039 with your personal walk with the Lord? 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:56.719 And, you know, the things that take place in our society today, 00:12:57.319 --> 00:13:01.259 you know, flattering lips and double hearts, 00:13:01.419 --> 00:13:03.860 you know, double hearts, they speak with a double heart, 00:13:04.219 --> 00:13:06.179 meaning somebody would speak to you, 00:13:06.299 --> 00:13:09.399 but their intention is not what they're presenting to you 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:12.439 at that instant and that moment when they speak to you. 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:16.819 They may communicate to you something that seems sincere, 00:13:16.819 --> 00:13:19.480 it's all for you or there for you, 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:21.539 but maybe when they walk away, 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:24.259 their intentions are something completely different, 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:27.360 so they usually often have an ulterior motive. 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:29.200 And what might that look like? 00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:32.659 Possibly, you know, in our secular society, 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:34.860 we may well hear politicians. 00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:38.379 They give many promises, as I can hear, you know. 00:13:38.539 --> 00:13:42.340 Often they tell the people that they will do many things, 00:13:42.419 --> 00:13:43.940 that once again, you know, 00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:45.860 I'm not trained as a politician, 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:48.419 but I can have conversations with friends, 00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:51.279 and it seems pretty simple that we may figure 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:54.459 the solution would be X, Y, Z, you know. 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:58.559 We just implement simple things to support the people 00:13:58.559 --> 00:14:01.579 or try and put something in place to solve the problems. 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:03.539 So it's that kind of picture, you know, 00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:06.059 speaking things to win people over, 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:09.139 complimenting people and saying things 00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:10.740 what people would like to hear, 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:13.039 but their words are very empty 00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:14.759 and there's nothing in it. 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:16.759 So that's the problem. 00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:18.480 David calls out, you know, 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:21.139 oh Lord, help me, save me, 00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:23.679 because he cannot see maybe, you know, 00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:26.159 people that loves the Lord 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:27.700 and are standing for the Lord, 00:14:27.819 --> 00:14:30.460 which I would say possibly would encourage him. 00:14:30.819 --> 00:14:34.179 When you're in a place where things seem a bit dull, 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:36.840 we really do need someone there 00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:38.399 who is able to encourage us, 00:14:38.460 --> 00:14:40.399 to help us to have the right focus, 00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:42.799 to know that we're on the right trajectory, 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:46.079 and the right trajectory is always keeping our eyes on Christ. 00:14:46.479 --> 00:14:48.839 But sometimes, you know, as believers, you know, 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:51.459 if you don't see that amongst you, 00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:53.019 in the right community, 00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:56.319 you can also have a perception where, you know, 00:14:56.439 --> 00:14:58.039 you're the only one. 00:14:58.339 --> 00:15:02.000 And it seems like this is what he's been communicating here. 00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:04.079 So we see in the next section 00:15:04.079 --> 00:15:08.539 that David goes on to continue to say about the, 00:15:08.839 --> 00:15:10.259 that may the Lord, you know, 00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:14.840 is request now, what he requests in verse three and four, right? 00:15:14.939 --> 00:15:16.159 He makes a request. 00:15:16.299 --> 00:15:17.519 So he calls to the Lord, 00:15:17.819 --> 00:15:19.919 but verse three and four, we see a request now. 00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:20.679 He says, 00:15:21.059 --> 00:15:23.580 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:26.019 the tongues that makes great boasts. 00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:28.220 Those who say with their tongue, 00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:29.620 we will prevail, 00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:31.460 our lips are with us. 00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:34.720 Who is master or who is Lord over us? 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:37.600 So we see these people, 00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:38.960 they are proud, 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:42.639 believing they can talk their way out of God's judgment. 00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:45.379 They can say what they want to say. 00:15:45.540 --> 00:15:46.200 Again, you know, 00:15:46.300 --> 00:15:49.120 you will have illustrations in Isaiah 59, 13, 00:15:49.560 --> 00:15:51.980 and those are chapter four, verse one. 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:53.000 Likewise, again, 00:15:53.340 --> 00:15:56.820 people with flattering lips who speaks many things. 00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:57.840 And remember again, 00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:59.899 Israel tended, as I said, to stray, 00:16:00.040 --> 00:16:01.580 but they were God people. 00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:04.200 But this is a severe time. 00:16:04.420 --> 00:16:07.240 It really is when we read in the text that, 00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:07.759 you know, 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:10.379 they flatter with their tongue and their lips and they boast. 00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:12.440 The Bible tells us, 00:16:12.520 --> 00:16:13.320 if anybody boasts, 00:16:13.420 --> 00:16:15.020 we should boast in Christ. 00:16:15.160 --> 00:16:16.720 We should boast in him alone. 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:18.280 I believe it's in Jeremiah. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:21.980 We boast in the Lord because we know God's righteousness. 00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:23.240 We know him. 00:16:23.560 --> 00:16:25.740 We know how God relates to his creation, 00:16:25.900 --> 00:16:26.740 to his people. 00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:28.620 So we can boast in that, 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:30.960 that we have that relationship with a God 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:33.060 who makes himself known to us 00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:35.900 and we know him and we know his ways. 00:16:36.300 --> 00:16:38.560 So it's not a boast where we run about, 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:40.180 but we take joy in that. 00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:43.200 We can boast that he makes himself known and we know him. 00:16:43.780 --> 00:16:47.800 Boasting outside of that is probably for the self, 00:16:47.920 --> 00:16:48.639 for the person, 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:51.620 probably trying to get themselves some attention 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:54.500 or to shed lights on maybe what they've done 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:56.320 and trying to get, you know, 00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:58.940 some publicity or so forth. 00:16:58.940 --> 00:17:00.520 So we see these people, 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:01.220 you know, 00:17:01.420 --> 00:17:03.120 their tongue makes great boasts. 00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:04.700 They say many things. 00:17:05.320 --> 00:17:08.019 But the devastating thing here is, 00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:08.620 you know, 00:17:08.779 --> 00:17:10.700 when they say with their tongues, 00:17:11.620 --> 00:17:11.980 you know, 00:17:12.080 --> 00:17:13.160 we will prevail. 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:16.400 So they are people that see themselves 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:19.180 as masters as their own future. 00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:22.460 They probably feel that what they profess, 00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:23.559 what they proclaim, 00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:25.940 is what things will be. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:30.859 And this is the case when people walk in darkness 00:17:30.859 --> 00:17:32.859 and do not know the living God. 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:34.059 People do that. 00:17:34.139 --> 00:17:35.039 That's normal. 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:37.819 Proverbs 14, 12 will tell us, 00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:40.980 there is a way that appears to be right to man or woman, 00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:42.159 but in the end, 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:43.359 it leads to death. 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:44.759 So clearly, 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:45.279 you know, 00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:47.459 without being in Christ Jesus, 00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:48.659 without knowing God, 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:50.119 without knowing a creator 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:52.079 who knows us better than ourself, 00:17:52.439 --> 00:17:55.039 we're left to try and examine 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:56.799 and work out for ourselves 00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.659 who we are 00:17:57.659 --> 00:17:59.199 and what life is about. 00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:00.819 And that often calls us 00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:02.179 to be in a place of pride 00:18:02.179 --> 00:18:03.719 through self-knowledge 00:18:03.719 --> 00:18:05.459 and puffed up philosophies 00:18:05.459 --> 00:18:06.459 that makes us feel 00:18:06.459 --> 00:18:08.919 that we are masters of our life 00:18:08.919 --> 00:18:10.759 and we know exactly where we are again. 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:14.039 But relying on his or her judgment, 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:16.099 a human being chooses the way 00:18:16.099 --> 00:18:17.259 that seems best to them. 00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:19.420 But when faulty human judgment 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:21.039 is the basis of a decision, 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:23.559 things often end in disaster. 00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:26.039 And again, 00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:28.200 for them to claim here, 00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:28.900 you know, 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.940 with our own lips, 00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:31.460 who is master over us, 00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:33.099 that is a shame 00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:33.779 because, 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:34.960 you know, 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:36.599 our prayer as a church 00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:39.140 is that people will come to a place 00:18:39.140 --> 00:18:41.520 where they will come to hear the gospel. 00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:43.720 They will come to acknowledge 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:45.360 that they have not just been 00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:48.160 coming about through evolution 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:49.240 and just through, 00:18:49.540 --> 00:18:49.800 you know, 00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:50.820 just through time 00:18:50.820 --> 00:18:51.860 they've developed 00:18:51.860 --> 00:18:53.080 and the strongest, 00:18:53.340 --> 00:18:54.880 the of the strongest have survived. 00:18:55.040 --> 00:18:55.740 But hopefully, 00:18:55.860 --> 00:18:57.020 they will hear the good news 00:18:57.020 --> 00:18:57.720 of the gospel 00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:59.640 and they will come to know 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:00.680 Jesus Christ 00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:01.800 as their Lord 00:19:01.800 --> 00:19:02.580 and their Savior. 00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:03.720 and hopefully, 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:05.279 they'll come to a place 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:06.000 of humility 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:07.619 that they will know 00:19:07.619 --> 00:19:09.039 that there is a master 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:10.139 over all. 00:19:10.639 --> 00:19:10.779 So, 00:19:11.159 --> 00:19:11.439 you know, 00:19:11.579 --> 00:19:12.879 saying who is master 00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:13.879 or who is Lord 00:19:13.879 --> 00:19:14.679 over us, 00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:16.179 that is blindness. 00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:16.699 And, 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:17.240 you know, 00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:17.960 as a church, 00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:18.299 again, 00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:20.079 we have that responsibility 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:21.659 to help people 00:19:21.659 --> 00:19:22.980 to come to hear 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:24.779 and know these truths. 00:19:25.159 --> 00:19:25.759 But sin 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:26.699 and darkness 00:19:26.699 --> 00:19:27.919 leads people 00:19:27.919 --> 00:19:29.539 to be prideful 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:29.799 and, 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:30.940 you know, 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:32.879 they often see nothing 00:19:32.879 --> 00:19:34.519 but what they know 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.539 and what they imagine 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:36.319 to be true. 00:19:36.899 --> 00:19:37.220 So, 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:38.700 with these two verses, 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:39.339 as I said, 00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:39.859 David, 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:40.200 you know, 00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:41.440 he states the case, 00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:42.440 help me Lord 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:43.460 or save me Lord. 00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:45.299 He speaks of the situation 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:46.659 of what is going on, 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:47.659 gives us a picture 00:19:47.659 --> 00:19:48.379 and all of that. 00:19:48.639 --> 00:19:49.339 Then we see 00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:50.700 verse three and four, 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:51.279 then, 00:19:51.639 --> 00:19:52.980 he requests from the Lord 00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.539 that the Lord 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.639 would quiet 00:19:54.639 --> 00:19:56.420 all flattering tongues 00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:58.099 and boastful lips 00:19:58.099 --> 00:19:59.079 and so forth, 00:19:59.180 --> 00:19:59.379 you know, 00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:00.120 for the people 00:20:00.120 --> 00:20:01.200 that brag 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:02.540 and self-proclaim 00:20:02.540 --> 00:20:03.720 all of these things. 00:20:04.260 --> 00:20:04.720 But then, 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:06.340 we see in verse, 00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:08.660 in verse five and six, 00:20:09.060 --> 00:20:10.900 we see by the Holy Spirit, 00:20:11.100 --> 00:20:12.300 David speaks now 00:20:12.300 --> 00:20:12.960 because, 00:20:13.080 --> 00:20:13.360 you know, 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:14.320 it says, 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:15.880 because the poor are plundered, 00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:17.120 because the needy groan, 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:17.920 I will arise, 00:20:18.040 --> 00:20:18.540 says the Lord. 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:19.960 I will place him 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:20.840 in the safety 00:20:20.840 --> 00:20:22.300 for which he belongs. 00:20:22.560 --> 00:20:23.340 And this is something 00:20:23.340 --> 00:20:24.220 that we've seen already 00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:24.660 with God, 00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:24.900 right? 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:25.340 Remember, 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.660 we've seen this in Exodus 00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:27.580 chapter three, 00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:28.380 verse 79. 00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:29.760 God looks down. 00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:30.400 We know he already 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:31.940 proclaimed it to Abraham, 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:32.640 you know, 00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.520 what he was going to do 00:20:33.520 --> 00:20:34.240 to people in slavery. 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.740 But we saw God look down. 00:20:36.120 --> 00:20:37.840 He saw when they was crying out, 00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:38.600 when there was bondage 00:20:38.600 --> 00:20:39.100 and pain, 00:20:39.360 --> 00:20:40.120 and he came down 00:20:40.120 --> 00:20:40.920 and delivered them. 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.200 And likewise this, 00:20:42.320 --> 00:20:42.480 you know, 00:20:42.560 --> 00:20:43.960 we're not saying 00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:45.540 it's an automatic fulfillment 00:20:45.540 --> 00:20:46.540 because there is people, 00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:47.420 there's Christians 00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:48.500 who will still journey 00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:49.500 in this world, 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:50.940 right here in London, 00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:52.100 on this planet, 00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:53.639 and they still will go 00:20:53.639 --> 00:20:54.480 through all of these 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:55.819 sufferings around them. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:56.659 And it is not 00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:57.939 an automatically given 00:20:57.939 --> 00:20:58.639 that God is going 00:20:58.639 --> 00:20:59.279 to take you out 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:00.219 and put you in that place 00:21:00.219 --> 00:21:01.439 for which we long for. 00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:03.219 But we know ultimately 00:21:03.219 --> 00:21:05.159 he will honor his word 00:21:05.159 --> 00:21:06.959 and we will be in the place 00:21:06.959 --> 00:21:07.919 where we long for 00:21:07.919 --> 00:21:09.099 at a consummation 00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:10.439 when Jesus Christ 00:21:10.439 --> 00:21:11.219 comes back 00:21:11.219 --> 00:21:13.019 and he takes his church. 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:14.439 We will be with him. 00:21:14.659 --> 00:21:15.679 He will do that. 00:21:15.679 --> 00:21:17.139 So the aim is 00:21:17.139 --> 00:21:18.379 to know God's words, 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.539 which we'll see shortly, 00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:21.539 that we remember these words, 00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:23.500 that as we struggle in life 00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.859 and as things are going on 00:21:24.859 --> 00:21:25.599 around us 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:27.159 and we hear all kind of things 00:21:27.159 --> 00:21:28.019 that are deception, 00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:30.000 deceitful, 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:31.159 flattery, 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:31.799 and so forth, 00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:32.980 we will remember 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:34.440 the truth of God's word. 00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:35.659 And as we see here, 00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:37.819 as the spirits made David speak, 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:38.200 you know, 00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:41.240 God really does have concern 00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:42.259 for the poor 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:43.619 and the needy, 00:21:43.899 --> 00:21:44.519 the godly 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.440 and the faithful. 00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:47.680 God really watches out for them 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:49.059 and he will honor them 00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:51.119 and those who trust in him. 00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:52.839 And this is what he will do. 00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:54.399 We will all be put 00:21:54.399 --> 00:21:56.539 in that place of safety, 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:58.259 which we all long for, 00:21:58.599 --> 00:22:00.440 but we have to endure 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:02.099 until that time comes. 00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:03.859 And verse 6, 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.099 as we see there now, 00:22:05.159 --> 00:22:05.700 verse 6, 00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:06.039 you know, 00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:08.579 here we have God's confirmation 00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:10.500 that his word is flawless. 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:12.579 His words are pure 00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.399 and undefiled. 00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:15.099 They can be relied upon 00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:17.139 and God's word cannot lie. 00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:17.960 It's impossible. 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:19.440 Metaphorically speaking, 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:20.200 the psalmist says, 00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:21.579 God's word is like silver 00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:23.180 purified seven times. 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:25.299 I believe silver can only be refined 00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:27.799 99.99.9, 00:22:27.840 --> 00:22:28.799 not 100%. 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:30.740 But that is a purist silver anyway 00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.720 that you can do. 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:32.900 I think maybe your Bible 00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:34.140 might say like gold as well, 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:34.720 but you know, 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.600 Peter told you about 00:22:35.600 --> 00:22:36.100 in the furnace, 00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:36.920 the fire as well. 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:38.720 So you get rid of all the trust 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.640 that it is flawless, 00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.400 it is pure. 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:42.120 You cannot get any purer. 00:22:42.120 --> 00:22:43.819 So metaphorically speaking, 00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:44.680 the psalmist says 00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.920 that his word is like that. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:47.720 So we associate seven 00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:48.759 with God's perfection 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.800 or his completion, 00:22:50.080 --> 00:22:50.360 you know, 00:22:50.580 --> 00:22:50.759 yeah, 00:22:50.860 --> 00:22:51.220 so we, 00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:52.060 we assinuate, 00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:52.380 um, 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:53.680 that seven like that. 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:55.580 Stating God's word is complete 00:22:55.580 --> 00:22:56.519 and we, 00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:58.240 and it can be taken as truth. 00:22:58.560 --> 00:22:59.700 We can rely upon 00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:00.900 what God has said 00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:02.840 and trust he will do 00:23:02.840 --> 00:23:04.380 what he says he will do. 00:23:04.840 --> 00:23:05.660 Man's words 00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:07.200 have autorial motives 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:08.240 and contrast 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:09.640 to God's truthful words. 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:11.420 Human's mouth and words 00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:12.320 always find ways 00:23:12.320 --> 00:23:13.480 to justify themselves 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.680 while failing to do 00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:15.319 what is right. 00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:17.740 But God's word is true. 00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:19.900 God's word is not flawed. 00:23:20.380 --> 00:23:21.220 And as believers, 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:22.160 as Christians, 00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:23.400 that is something 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:24.539 which is paramount 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.539 for us to know 00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:26.519 and understand. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:29.799 We need to get to a place 00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:31.160 through studying, 00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:32.299 through reading, 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:33.360 through fellowship 00:23:33.360 --> 00:23:34.500 and we understand 00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:36.420 God speaks to us 00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:37.400 through the Bible. 00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:38.759 Just like the pastor 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.720 will preach to you, 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:41.420 just like I'm speaking to you. 00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:43.120 God will meet with you 00:23:43.120 --> 00:23:45.100 personally and speak to you. 00:23:45.860 --> 00:23:47.560 It's like if I say to you, 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:47.800 right, 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:49.100 tomorrow I'm going to 00:23:49.100 --> 00:23:50.060 take you all out 00:23:50.060 --> 00:23:50.680 for a dinner 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:52.100 and you trust me 00:23:52.100 --> 00:23:52.800 because, you know, 00:23:52.860 --> 00:23:54.240 I really made it known to you 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.340 that I really will take you 00:23:55.340 --> 00:23:56.080 all out for a dinner, 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:56.420 right? 00:23:56.759 --> 00:23:58.300 Someone who's not in here, 00:23:58.360 --> 00:23:58.640 right, 00:23:58.900 --> 00:23:59.740 who didn't hear that 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.600 and when you go out 00:24:00.600 --> 00:24:01.100 and you say, 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:01.680 listen, 00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:03.120 tomorrow Andrew's going to 00:24:03.120 --> 00:24:04.300 take us out for a meal, 00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.779 that person might think 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:07.279 that's too good to be true. 00:24:07.360 --> 00:24:07.820 He's going to really 00:24:07.820 --> 00:24:09.100 take us all out for a meal. 00:24:09.560 --> 00:24:10.420 You would know that 00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:12.080 because you heard me say it 00:24:12.080 --> 00:24:13.480 and you trust me 00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:14.620 and I've made it known to you 00:24:14.620 --> 00:24:15.420 that I'm genuine 00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:16.980 but someone who's not here, 00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:18.700 they may have a little doubts 00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:20.200 and wonder is it true or what 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:21.920 and that's just like God's word. 00:24:22.340 --> 00:24:23.560 We need to spend time 00:24:23.560 --> 00:24:24.720 with God ourself 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:26.100 that we hear him speak 00:24:26.100 --> 00:24:27.180 and we get that 00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:28.400 first-hand experience. 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:30.160 It's good that it gets preached 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:31.039 that I'm saying it 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:33.400 but it will really encourage you 00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:34.920 when we get it first-hand 00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:36.039 by sitting with God 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:37.519 and he impresses that 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:39.240 upon our hearts. 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:41.380 So his word cannot fail 00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:43.200 and that's what 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:45.460 God himself has just said in there. 00:24:45.859 --> 00:24:46.660 Then likewise, 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:47.680 verse 8, 00:24:47.900 --> 00:24:48.980 the words of the Lord are pure. 00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:49.700 Yeah, we said that. 00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:51.839 Then the last two verses now 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:53.819 to conclude, 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:55.059 you, O Lord, 00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:56.079 will keep them. 00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:58.160 You will guard us 00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:59.160 or you will guard them 00:24:59.160 --> 00:25:00.660 from this generation forever. 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.779 So verse 7 00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:03.380 backs up what the Lord has said. 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:04.440 His word is pure. 00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:06.240 His word cannot fail. 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:07.380 So likewise, 00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:08.579 a psalmist concludes 00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:09.660 and make that known 00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:11.240 that you, O Lord, 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:12.259 will keep them. 00:25:12.620 --> 00:25:13.339 And that's a message 00:25:13.339 --> 00:25:14.480 for us today, right? 00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:16.059 What the Lord has promised us, 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:16.960 he will keep. 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:17.620 He cannot fail. 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:18.799 And just to conclude, 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:19.920 to have a look at all of this, 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:20.440 right, yeah? 00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:23.900 Jesus often called out 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:25.019 the teachers of the law 00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:28.220 who spoke words of flattery, 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.559 who spoke deceptions 00:25:29.559 --> 00:25:30.539 and so forth. 00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:31.140 So Jesus, 00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:31.740 you know, 00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:32.660 he mirrored this. 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.759 He actually went through 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:35.140 similar things in his days 00:25:35.140 --> 00:25:36.540 where people were speaking lie, 00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:37.380 deception, 00:25:37.600 --> 00:25:38.520 saying things about him. 00:25:38.560 --> 00:25:39.280 He had a demon. 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:39.960 You know, 00:25:40.020 --> 00:25:40.980 they didn't believe him 00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:41.380 and everything. 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:42.840 So Luke chapter 20, 00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:45.020 verse 46 to 47, right? 00:25:45.320 --> 00:25:45.620 You know, 00:25:46.020 --> 00:25:47.500 he talks about the law, 00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:48.420 teachers of the law, 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.140 the scribes, 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:50.860 who loved to greet with respect 00:25:50.860 --> 00:25:52.340 and devote with those houses 00:25:52.340 --> 00:25:54.040 while defending the poor. 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:57.040 So Jesus always spoke about 00:25:57.040 --> 00:25:58.400 those who spoke things 00:25:58.400 --> 00:25:59.320 was not contrary 00:25:59.320 --> 00:26:00.520 to what God's word 00:26:00.520 --> 00:26:01.540 had told them to do. 00:26:01.540 --> 00:26:02.480 But he was always 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:04.120 usually defending the poor. 00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:05.799 Eventually his enemies, 00:26:06.159 --> 00:26:07.139 his enemies, right, 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:08.299 with their evil, 00:26:08.439 --> 00:26:09.859 deceitful words 00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:11.799 surrounding him 00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:13.159 as they did David. 00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:14.779 As Matthew 26, 00:26:14.899 --> 00:26:16.339 59 to 60 told, 00:26:16.699 --> 00:26:17.679 the chief priests 00:26:17.679 --> 00:26:19.039 and the whole Sanhedrin 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:20.819 were looking for false evidence 00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:21.559 against Jesus 00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:23.099 so that they could put him to death. 00:26:23.459 --> 00:26:24.899 But they did not find any, 00:26:25.159 --> 00:26:26.379 though many false witnesses 00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:27.339 came forward. 00:26:27.859 --> 00:26:29.119 And then John 18, 00:26:29.219 --> 00:26:30.259 verse 38, 00:26:30.719 --> 00:26:30.939 you know, 00:26:31.159 --> 00:26:32.139 Pilate asks him, 00:26:32.140 --> 00:26:33.240 what is truth? 00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:33.759 You know, 00:26:33.780 --> 00:26:34.580 he said to Jesus. 00:26:34.800 --> 00:26:35.320 With this, 00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:36.280 he went out 00:26:36.280 --> 00:26:37.060 and told the Jews. 00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:38.740 He find no reason 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.960 to charge Jesus. 00:26:40.320 --> 00:26:41.200 But yet still, 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:43.200 Jesus was crucified 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:44.960 amongst all these lies. 00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:46.160 Though many people 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:46.920 had come forward 00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:48.780 to say deceitful things 00:26:48.780 --> 00:26:49.500 against him, 00:26:49.800 --> 00:26:50.920 none of it was proven 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:52.940 that Jesus was still crucified. 00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:55.020 When Jesus sold those, 00:26:55.080 --> 00:26:55.300 right, 00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:55.640 who, 00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:55.960 who, 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:56.500 who, 00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:57.800 those who trusted him 00:26:57.800 --> 00:26:58.560 to protect him, 00:26:58.840 --> 00:27:00.120 there are no loopholes. 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:01.879 There is no fine print 00:27:01.879 --> 00:27:03.059 when it comes to God's word. 00:27:03.419 --> 00:27:05.039 It's impossible for God to lie. 00:27:05.459 --> 00:27:06.659 So if we trust 00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:08.879 in the true words of Jesus, 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:11.699 every line word spoken against us 00:27:11.699 --> 00:27:14.259 will never ultimately succeed 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:16.779 because God is true 00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:18.559 and every man's a liar. 00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:21.479 And concluding with all of that, 00:27:22.419 --> 00:27:24.139 as David said all of this, 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:25.319 but yet still, 00:27:25.439 --> 00:27:27.219 it ends on the last verse. 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:29.440 He was still witnessing 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:31.059 on every side 00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:32.200 the wicked parole 00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:34.079 as vileness is exhorted 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:35.539 among the children of man. 00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:37.000 This is a situation 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.960 that continued 00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:39.240 to live out 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.960 and play out 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:40.799 amongst him. 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:41.779 But we see 00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:42.839 those key verses 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:43.660 in the middle 00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:45.460 that God himself 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:47.019 revealed what he would do. 00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:48.720 And it's the same today 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:50.160 through Jesus Christ 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:51.000 as we journey 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:52.480 through this world. 00:27:52.860 --> 00:27:53.860 The living word 00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:54.819 of God 00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:55.720 has come down 00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:56.380 in flesh 00:27:56.380 --> 00:27:57.900 to dwell among mankind, 00:27:58.400 --> 00:27:59.740 to give us the hope 00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:01.000 that we all long for, 00:28:01.100 --> 00:28:01.720 to acknowledge 00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:03.059 our brokenness, 00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:04.779 to acknowledge our flaws, 00:28:05.140 --> 00:28:05.680 to acknowledge 00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:07.240 our need for a saviour. 00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.920 We cannot save ourselves. 00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.600 Jesus has took 00:28:10.600 --> 00:28:12.059 our wrongdoings 00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.600 and our sin 00:28:12.600 --> 00:28:13.480 upon himself. 00:28:14.120 --> 00:28:15.000 He has stepped 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:16.400 in that place for us 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:17.200 that anybody 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.500 who turns to him, 00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:20.440 who places their trust in him, 00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:22.539 shall not be put to shame. 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:24.600 And that is God's word. 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:26.099 And finally, 00:28:26.919 --> 00:28:28.659 Psalms 18, 13 00:28:28.659 --> 00:28:29.699 just, you know, 00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:30.719 backs all of that. 00:28:30.919 --> 00:28:31.439 It reads, 00:28:32.059 --> 00:28:32.639 This God, 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:35.139 his way is perfect. 00:28:36.139 --> 00:28:37.339 The word of the Lord 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:38.279 proves true. 00:28:39.379 --> 00:28:40.379 He is a shield 00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:41.339 for all those 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:42.879 who take refuge in him. 00:28:43.419 --> 00:28:44.059 So you see, 00:28:44.219 --> 00:28:45.719 no matter what is going on 00:28:45.719 --> 00:28:46.399 in our life, 00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:47.980 he is a shield. 00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:49.559 So we just need 00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:50.219 to take hold 00:28:50.219 --> 00:28:50.839 of his word, 00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:52.379 stand on his word, 00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:54.000 believe in his promises, 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:55.619 even if we're still 00:28:55.619 --> 00:28:56.700 going through hardship, 00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.900 God is still faithful. 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:00.200 Eventually, 00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:02.079 he will take us 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:03.140 to that safe place 00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:04.059 which he knows 00:29:04.059 --> 00:29:05.480 that we all long for. 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:06.559 So, 00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:07.900 let me pray 00:29:07.900 --> 00:29:08.900 with that. 00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.420 Father God, 00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:11.880 I thank you 00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:12.400 for your word, 00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:12.640 Lord. 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:13.240 I thank you 00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:13.839 in the midst 00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:16.059 of all that we experience, 00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:16.480 Lord, 00:29:16.579 --> 00:29:17.440 in this life, 00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.099 in this world, 00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:19.099 in this great city, 00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:19.460 Lord. 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.759 I thank you, 00:29:20.860 --> 00:29:21.059 Lord, 00:29:21.180 --> 00:29:21.420 that, 00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.079 you know, 00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:23.940 we have wonderful 00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:25.539 stories of your goodness 00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:27.180 and how you protect us, 00:29:27.340 --> 00:29:27.460 Lord, 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.539 and how we are here 00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:29.620 to this very day. 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:29.860 But, 00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.059 Lord, 00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:30.860 when the trials 00:29:30.860 --> 00:29:31.480 and the storms 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:32.279 of life come, 00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:32.519 Lord, 00:29:32.840 --> 00:29:33.779 when we find ourselves 00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:34.539 in places 00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:36.000 that we may be 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:36.579 overwhelmed, 00:29:36.840 --> 00:29:37.079 Lord, 00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:37.819 and our vision 00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:39.380 may not be as focused 00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:40.480 as it should be, 00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:41.140 Lord, 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:42.100 I pray that you would 00:29:42.100 --> 00:29:43.120 open our eyes 00:29:43.120 --> 00:29:44.880 to your perfect words 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:46.519 and your perfect truth 00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:47.299 and help us 00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:47.960 that our hearts 00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:48.440 would know 00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:49.539 that your words 00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:50.900 always prove truth, 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:52.379 because you cannot lie. 00:29:52.879 --> 00:29:53.299 Help us 00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:54.480 that we will see Jesus, 00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:55.500 the word of God 00:29:55.500 --> 00:29:56.259 made flesh, 00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:57.440 who rescues us 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.379 from our enemies. 00:29:58.879 --> 00:29:59.039 So, 00:29:59.160 --> 00:29:59.379 Lord, 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:01.559 be glorified, 00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:03.000 be magnified, 00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:03.379 Lord. 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:04.240 Lord, 00:30:04.339 --> 00:30:05.240 bless your people 00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:06.900 and may we be encouraged 00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:07.940 through what we just heard. 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:09.259 I ask this in Jesus' name. 00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:09.500 Amen.