WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.360 Please take out your copy of God's Word and turn with me to Psalm 131. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:20.320 We'll break today from our exposition of the book of Acts because it just didn't seem like the right Sunday to consider Acts chapter 24, which is Paul's trial before Felix. 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:33.140 I read it at the beginning of the week and went, nah, I don't think it's what I needed today. I don't think it's what you needed. 00:00:33.299 --> 00:00:41.120 So we're going to look together at Psalm 131 in brief and in brief by design. 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:46.980 It's my intention, although sometimes I intend and it doesn't work out that way, to be brief this morning. 00:00:46.979 --> 00:00:54.000 Before I read Psalm 131, let me remind you, beloved, this is God's Word to us. 00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:58.079 It was written for His glory and for our good. 00:00:58.959 --> 00:01:06.959 And as such, we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and to obey its commands. 00:01:07.879 --> 00:01:08.799 I begin in verse 1. 00:01:10.439 --> 00:01:14.699 Oh, Lord, my heart is not lifted up. 00:01:14.700 --> 00:01:18.420 My eyes are not raised too high. 00:01:19.060 --> 00:01:25.340 I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 00:01:26.180 --> 00:01:35.600 But I have calmed and quieted my soul like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. 00:01:36.439 --> 00:01:42.879 Oh, Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:52.039 There is much unknown about the date or occasion of the writing of this psalm. 00:01:52.739 --> 00:01:58.259 Most scholars think that David was still in the courts of Saul in this time. 00:01:59.419 --> 00:02:00.819 So we don't know exactly when. 00:02:00.919 --> 00:02:04.259 We don't know exactly the occasion as we do with many of the psalms. 00:02:04.260 --> 00:02:08.280 But we do know, however, that David is its author. 00:02:09.099 --> 00:02:14.120 And we do know that David was a man of great ambition. 00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:21.599 He was a king, a husband, although unfaithful, a soldier, an administrator. 00:02:22.420 --> 00:02:23.740 He was a poet. 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:27.680 David was a busy man. 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:31.760 He stabilized and built a kingdom. 00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:37.300 He was troubled at every turn. 00:02:37.400 --> 00:02:40.840 He had constant enemies everywhere he went. 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:46.319 He had ambition and a lot on his plate. 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:58.659 But despite all of that, all the things that were happening in his world, this psalm gives us a glimpse into the soul of a man who is at rest. 00:02:59.819 --> 00:03:05.340 David was a man who had learned the secret of peace. 00:03:06.959 --> 00:03:10.419 Are you at rest this morning? 00:03:10.419 --> 00:03:15.619 Is your soul calmed and quieted within you today? 00:03:16.259 --> 00:03:21.299 Or do you find yourself in a state of stress or anxiety or worry? 00:03:21.859 --> 00:03:24.179 Is your soul noisy? 00:03:25.659 --> 00:03:30.939 What is the source of this noise if you find yourself in that place this morning? 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:37.500 Our lives are certainly full of many challenges at every turn. 00:03:37.500 --> 00:03:44.599 Our souls are encroached upon by some kind of trouble at all times. 00:03:45.479 --> 00:03:49.740 I believe as a church we are experiencing a time of stress. 00:03:50.539 --> 00:03:54.920 I sense that there's just this general angst amongst us. 00:03:55.000 --> 00:03:57.740 If you don't know what angst is, it's the anticipation of doom. 00:03:57.740 --> 00:04:05.400 And I think that's because we've said many goodbyes in the last couple of months. 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:11.460 All good goodbyes, but great couples moving off to different places. 00:04:12.439 --> 00:04:15.960 Wonderful people headed to the mission field. 00:04:16.100 --> 00:04:24.759 And today we're saying a rather significant goodbye to the faithful leadership of Wes and the service of his wife Liz. 00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:28.959 I don't think that we are at rest this morning. 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:31.339 We feel unsure of what will come. 00:04:31.879 --> 00:04:34.199 We're not at peace. 00:04:35.039 --> 00:04:36.199 I felt this. 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:40.579 Despite all of my encouragement to you, I felt this way. 00:04:41.699 --> 00:04:46.519 In our lives, many things can be blamed for us not being at rest. 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:50.060 It's very easy to say, but of course I feel this way. 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:52.980 Look at what's happening to me. 00:04:52.980 --> 00:05:05.939 But our uncalmed and unquieted souls, the lack of peace in our lives, David teaches us, 00:05:06.379 --> 00:05:11.860 the blame does not lie without, but the blame rather lies within. 00:05:11.860 --> 00:05:19.120 In his closing comments to the Thessalonian church, Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 3.16, 00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:27.980 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:30.360 The Lord be with you all. 00:05:30.360 --> 00:05:41.580 Paul prays that God would provide peace, calmed and quieted souls at all times in every way. 00:05:41.740 --> 00:05:47.500 No matter the circumstances, no matter what is happening around you, inner peace is possible. 00:05:47.500 --> 00:05:57.300 So let's consider this matter together with three questions and the answers that David provides for us by the inspiration of God. 00:05:57.740 --> 00:06:03.160 And let us recognize that we have some work ahead of us, right? 00:06:03.160 --> 00:06:11.740 And if you're not feeling the pain of the loss of the Sheldonians this morning, you may be a guest with us this morning and you have no idea who they even are to us. 00:06:12.620 --> 00:06:21.360 All of us, followers of Jesus Christ, need to be working toward being perfected in this area of our lives. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:31.759 Like Charles Spurgeon said of this psalm, Psalm 131 is one of the shortest psalms to read, but one of the longest to learn. 00:06:32.819 --> 00:06:35.120 So the questions for today are as follows. 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:39.620 Number one, why do we lack peace? 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:42.300 Why do we lack peace? 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:47.800 Number two, how do we have peace? 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:48.319 How? 00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:52.100 How is it that we gain, that we have, obtain for ourselves peace? 00:06:52.180 --> 00:06:53.060 How do we have peace? 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:58.600 And number three, who is the source of peace? 00:07:00.939 --> 00:07:04.420 Number one, why do we lack peace? 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:13.819 Now let's not forget in Psalm 131 that we're looking into a moment of David's life in which he is at rest. 00:07:13.819 --> 00:07:15.080 It's a glimpse, right? 00:07:15.079 --> 00:07:22.359 It's a moment in time in which he's pinning this psalm to us and we're seeing him at rest. 00:07:23.219 --> 00:07:26.539 In his writing, he is presently at peace. 00:07:27.099 --> 00:07:34.459 But if we take the positive statements of verse one and consider them in the negative, like we flip them on their head, 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:40.419 we can understand that the lack of peace comes from pride. 00:07:41.379 --> 00:07:44.399 The lack of peace comes from pride. 00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:46.959 Here's Psalm 131 verse one in the negative. 00:07:47.079 --> 00:07:48.919 This is my writing, so please know. 00:07:49.399 --> 00:07:50.159 This is not inspired. 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:57.419 But I'm flipping my understanding of Psalm 131 verse one over on its head to say this. 00:07:57.539 --> 00:07:59.939 God, I feel proud. 00:08:00.819 --> 00:08:06.060 I am looking to and desiring things that are beyond your intention for me. 00:08:06.060 --> 00:08:12.000 I am occupied with matters outside of my control. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:21.220 Now when we're wed this way, we can see that David's statements in verse one are against these ideas, the things I just said. 00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:27.459 He is not these things, but if he were, he would not have peace. 00:08:27.459 --> 00:08:36.919 If his life was characterized by pride in these ways, his soul would be in turmoil and it would be noisy within. 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:52.120 A life of self-exaltation and self-reliance and self-governance is not a life at peace because it takes on roles that are not ours to own. 00:08:52.120 --> 00:09:22.100 They are too big for us. 00:09:22.100 --> 00:09:26.460 At the level of appearing and at the level of acting. 00:09:27.100 --> 00:09:31.680 Look at the way in which he combats this type of indwelling pride. 00:09:32.060 --> 00:09:34.820 The level of feeling at the beginning of verse one. 00:09:34.899 --> 00:09:38.240 Oh Lord, my heart is not lifted up. 00:09:38.460 --> 00:09:45.899 The phrase my heart here meaning his inner being, his thoughts, his desires, his emotions. 00:09:45.899 --> 00:09:50.659 He did not think or feel too much of himself. 00:09:52.059 --> 00:10:00.899 A lack of peace can come from considering ourselves greater than we really are because deep down we know our shortcomings. 00:10:01.539 --> 00:10:08.519 Some people are not willing to admit their shortcomings, but we know it deep down that we fall short of the standards we set for ourselves. 00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:16.600 And putting on a show to protect that standard, people's perception of us is exhausting. 00:10:17.220 --> 00:10:18.620 It's peace robbing. 00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:20.819 It's peace destroying. 00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:25.179 So he attacks it at the level of feeling, this kind of pride. 00:10:26.139 --> 00:10:29.399 He attacks this kind of pride at the level of appearance. 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:34.620 He says, my eyes are not raised too high. 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:38.659 This phrase is a reference to his countenance. 00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:42.740 To the way in which he appears to others. 00:10:43.179 --> 00:10:51.059 If he were to look to the way he looks or to things to make him look good, he would not have peace. 00:10:51.059 --> 00:10:58.899 Contentment, true soul satisfying contentment, never comes from without. 00:10:59.419 --> 00:11:02.819 It always comes by the grace God works within. 00:11:04.099 --> 00:11:10.799 He also combats this peace robbing pride at the level of acting. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:18.599 He says, I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 00:11:19.459 --> 00:11:20.539 Did David act? 00:11:21.059 --> 00:11:21.759 Of course he did. 00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:23.000 He was a king. 00:11:23.219 --> 00:11:27.579 We mentioned the many things that he was about the work of doing. 00:11:27.779 --> 00:11:32.199 This is not a man who has abandoned life and therefore he's at rest. 00:11:32.579 --> 00:11:37.819 This is a man very engaged in life, but he's doing so humbly. 00:11:37.819 --> 00:11:47.699 He wasn't listless, but he did not act outside of his ordered purpose and sphere of control. 00:11:47.700 --> 00:11:57.680 A person who is always at work trying to control matters that they cannot control will not have peace. 00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:09.319 So, pride in this way, thinking too much of ourselves and therefore too little of God robs us of peace. 00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:17.640 Not understanding and enjoying our place in the cosmos makes our souls noisy. 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:23.120 I want your bulletin quote that I provided for you today from John Calvin. 00:12:23.199 --> 00:12:27.740 It's from that book I commended to you and offered to you, Heart Aflame on the Psalm. 00:12:27.740 --> 00:12:40.779 And he wrote, those who, like David, submit themselves to God, keeping in their own sphere, moderate in their desires, will enjoy a life of tranquility and assurance. 00:12:40.779 --> 00:12:50.620 So, this brings us to a second of our questions, which is, how then, how is it that we have peace? 00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:58.419 If pride robs us of, if pride is the destroyer of peace, well then how is it that we are to have peace? 00:12:59.539 --> 00:13:02.720 To be humble before God. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:10.160 We do not feel or appear or act in pride, but rather from humility. 00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:15.560 We do not think too much of ourselves and respond accordingly. 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:17.139 David says, 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:19.399 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up. 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:22.580 My eyes are not raised too high. 00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:29.720 I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:36.259 Paul writes to the Roman believers in the first part of Romans chapter 12, verse 2, 00:13:37.060 --> 00:13:43.480 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal, what? 00:13:44.160 --> 00:13:44.980 Your mind. 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:48.700 By the renewal of your mind. 00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:52.340 Beloved, we are dichotomous beings, right? 00:13:52.420 --> 00:13:57.600 There is the external man, the physical man, and there's the internal man. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:59.360 Don't complicate that matter. 00:13:59.720 --> 00:13:59.860 Right? 00:14:00.060 --> 00:14:03.160 The way we think is who we are. 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:15.100 And so as we think on the truth, we will feel the truth, be motivated by the truth, and act according to the truth. 00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:19.740 In order to be at peace, we must think rightly. 00:14:20.940 --> 00:14:24.779 David, you see, recognizes his place. 00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:26.839 He's considered it. 00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:29.819 And he can make this expression to God. 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:30.860 My heart is not lifted up. 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:32.799 My eyes are not raised too high. 00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:36.919 I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:41.439 I know my place in the world. 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:54.140 He combats pride and puts on humility through careful consideration of what God would have him concerned with and what God would have him not concerned with. 00:14:55.020 --> 00:14:55.980 So turn with me, if you will. 00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:57.880 Please mark Psalm 131. 00:14:57.879 --> 00:15:01.259 We will come back to it, but to Philippians chapter 4. 00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:14.819 I'd like to make this point further. 00:15:14.820 --> 00:15:27.040 Remember, often when we think of Philippians 4, 4 through 6 typically, but I'm going to go on down through 9, we have in mind anxiety. 00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:27.300 Right? 00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:31.080 Verse 6 says, do not be anxious about anything. 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:33.600 But we could see in that unrest. 00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:34.040 Right? 00:15:34.300 --> 00:15:35.220 This is the opposite. 00:15:35.340 --> 00:15:36.700 This is the noisy soul. 00:15:36.800 --> 00:15:41.640 This is the soul that's not at peace in verse 6. 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:44.259 And how is it that Paul instructs us? 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:48.480 What is it that we are to do to have peace? 00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:52.519 Paul and David would have gotten along very well in this matter. 00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:57.480 So beginning of verse 4, Paul says, rejoice in the Lord always. 00:15:58.059 --> 00:16:00.059 Again, I will say rejoice. 00:16:00.179 --> 00:16:04.179 And we see right there at the very beginning of verse 4, right? 00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:08.340 A humility that finds itself finding joy, right? 00:16:08.340 --> 00:16:12.480 Not in the circumstances of the world, but in God Himself. 00:16:12.920 --> 00:16:13.040 Right? 00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:14.280 Rejoicing in the Lord. 00:16:15.040 --> 00:16:16.379 It's not a burden to Him. 00:16:16.420 --> 00:16:17.259 He'll say it again. 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:18.440 Rejoice. 00:16:18.680 --> 00:16:21.320 Find great joy in God. 00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:27.000 He goes on in verse 5 to say, let your reasonableness be known to everyone. 00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:29.840 The Lord is at hand. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:37.780 So he's saying we are to reason, to know the truth, and then to take that truth that's known, 00:16:37.899 --> 00:16:43.259 our reasonableness, and rightly express that truth, which is what? 00:16:43.660 --> 00:16:46.040 What is the truth that we're to rightly express? 00:16:46.660 --> 00:16:46.800 Right? 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:49.300 The Lord is at hand. 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.379 He is near. 00:16:51.800 --> 00:16:53.399 We have His presence. 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:56.700 We can rejoice in the Lord because we have His presence. 00:16:56.700 --> 00:17:01.960 And therefore, verse 6, not be anxious about anything. 00:17:02.560 --> 00:17:04.460 Not be anxious about anything. 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:07.680 Not have noisy souls. 00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:10.980 Uncalmed, unquieted souls. 00:17:11.360 --> 00:17:16.519 And you need to see at the beginning of verse 6 that this is an exhortation. 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:19.740 It's a command to not be anxious. 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:24.539 And so, beloved, you need to understand that if you are anxious, if you find that you're worried, 00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:29.019 if your soul is not at rest, it's sin. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:33.599 Do not be anxious about anything. 00:17:33.859 --> 00:17:35.539 But, halfway through verse 6, 00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:42.079 But in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, 00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:45.220 let your requests be made known to God. 00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:51.500 So, this close God, this near God, this at-hand God, right, that we can rejoice in. 00:17:51.620 --> 00:17:53.839 We simply make our requests known to Him. 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:58.860 Mixing in that, the thanksgiving that He has been good to us, 00:17:58.860 --> 00:18:01.420 and He will continue to be good to us as He's promised. 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:05.460 And then verse 7 gives us the beautiful promise. 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:09.339 And not everywhere in the Scriptures do we have commands for right living, 00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:11.500 and then promises that immediately accompany them. 00:18:12.120 --> 00:18:12.819 Do you know that? 00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:17.079 There's places in the Scripture where we are meant to live in a certain way, 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:21.000 and the outcome is not guaranteed of that way of living. 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:24.519 The thing that's coming to my mind as we've been doing counseling training together 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:30.519 is in 1 Peter, when Peter instructs women whose husbands are not obedient to the Word 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:33.179 to win their husbands without a word. 00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:38.039 But there's no promise in the text that if you just prayerfully submit to Him, 00:18:38.139 --> 00:18:40.799 He will become the leader that He's meant to be. 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:41.740 There's no promise of that. 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.980 But we have a promise here. 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:47.440 It's really precious when we find promises like this. 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:52.240 So if we're doing this activity, verses 4 through 6, Paul says, 00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:57.160 And the peace of God, the peace that comes from God, 00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:00.819 which surpasses all understanding, 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:04.819 will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:06.859 But then he goes on. 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:08.859 Many of us stop at the end of verse 7, 00:19:08.859 --> 00:19:10.639 But he goes on, verse 8, 00:19:10.639 --> 00:19:16.399 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:19.219 whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, 00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:23.579 if there's any excellence, if there's anything worthy of praise, 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:26.500 think about these things. 00:19:26.719 --> 00:19:30.319 So set your mind on the things of God. 00:19:30.439 --> 00:19:35.279 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:35.899 Verse 9, 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:38.299 Which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, 00:19:38.399 --> 00:19:40.359 practice these things, and then what? 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:44.920 The God of peace will be with you. 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:48.599 It's a beautiful, beautiful promise 00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:53.539 as we find ourselves noisy inside. 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:56.200 So turn with me back to Psalm 131. 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:03.359 And look at the result of David believing the truth. 00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:05.500 He believes the truth. 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:07.240 He's been thinking about the truth. 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:09.920 He's being transformed by the renewing of his mind. 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:12.220 And look at the result in verse 2. 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:13.940 He says, 00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:18.480 I have calmed and quieted my soul. 00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:20.920 By this activity of rightly understanding, 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:22.860 believing the truth, David says, 00:20:23.320 --> 00:20:26.960 I have calmed and quieted my soul. 00:20:27.080 --> 00:20:28.640 And then he uses a simile, 00:20:29.360 --> 00:20:31.480 Like a weaned child with its mother, 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:35.279 like a weaned child is my soul within me. 00:20:35.560 --> 00:20:36.960 If you don't know what a weaned child is, 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:38.480 it's a child that's no longer breastfeeding. 00:20:39.340 --> 00:20:42.620 So taking off milk in that way. 00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:45.039 We have no unweaned children. 00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:46.120 Praise the Lord. 00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:48.080 We have extra time in our day now. 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:53.559 John Piper says this of the result that David expresses to us. 00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:58.699 This weaned child is a picture of contentment. 00:20:59.679 --> 00:21:02.720 The unweaned child is frantically rooting around 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:05.859 and craves milk for his stomach. 00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:07.799 Parents, we understand this, right? 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:10.359 What a child is like when they are desperately hungry. 00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:15.579 The weaned child is simply enjoying the way it feels 00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:17.719 to be in the lap of his mother. 00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:19.279 He is satisfied. 00:21:19.959 --> 00:21:21.399 And it is not about his stomach. 00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:23.559 It's about his heart. 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:26.939 This is a picture of David's restfulness, 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:31.099 contentment, satisfaction, joy, peace, 00:21:31.179 --> 00:21:34.339 and the secure, loving presence of God. 00:21:34.679 --> 00:21:37.639 The weaned child no longer looks to the mother 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:39.640 simply as a source of food, 00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:42.200 but as a source of comfort, 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:45.440 as a place to rest. 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:49.100 It's a powerful simile that David is using. 00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:52.940 David renounces self-exaltation 00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:55.120 and self-reliance and self-governance 00:21:55.120 --> 00:21:57.360 and trusts God with his identity 00:21:57.360 --> 00:21:59.620 and his provision and his direction, 00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:02.820 which brings us to the final verse of this short psalm. 00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:04.420 And the final question, 00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:06.259 which we have answered in part already, 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:08.759 who is the source of peace? 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:12.539 Who is the source of peace? 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:16.379 Recall that in verse 2, 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.940 David says, 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:22.359 but I have calmed and quieted my soul. 00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:25.299 And so why draw out this connection? 00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.539 Who is the source of peace? 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:28.500 And I'd say to you, the God of peace. 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:31.879 How do we arrive at that? 00:22:31.879 --> 00:22:34.000 Because in verse 3, he says, 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:38.700 O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:40.980 Having experienced the peace of God, 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:43.539 he's now calling to the people of God 00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:46.720 to also experience the peace of God. 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:50.099 Hoping in the Lord. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:53.140 And so it's not inaccurate for David to say, 00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:55.460 but I have calmed and quieted my soul 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:57.240 because the Christian life, 00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:59.039 the life of sanctification, 00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:01.559 involves God's work and our work. 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:03.119 We must work. 00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:04.339 We must pick up the truth 00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:05.440 and we must consider the truth. 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:07.460 We must meditate upon the truth. 00:23:07.940 --> 00:23:09.159 And then when we believe the truth, 00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:11.019 and in this case, 00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:13.059 our soul is quieted 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:14.139 and we have peace, 00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:16.059 we praise God for the way 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:17.879 that He works truth within us. 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:20.960 This is not a thing the natural man does. 00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:23.339 This is a thing that the spiritual man does. 00:23:23.419 --> 00:23:24.879 God comes alongside of us 00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:28.039 and works perfection within us. 00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:33.259 So, David having experienced this peace that comes from God 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:36.899 calls the people of God to also hope in Him. 00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:43.059 Here, in David's appeal, a call to you. 00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:46.220 I read this, right? 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:51.299 O Nathan, hope in the Lord from this time forth 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:53.079 and forevermore. 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:57.039 He calls Israel by name. 00:23:57.899 --> 00:23:59.839 And if you have believed in Christ, 00:24:00.419 --> 00:24:02.159 He calls to you 00:24:02.159 --> 00:24:04.240 and He calls you to hope in the Lord. 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:07.839 Now, part of the people of God. 00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:12.220 Now, Psalm 131 is paired 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:16.500 and rightly paired with Psalm 130. 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:22.039 Psalm 130 was most likely also written by David 00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:26.160 and expresses trust in God's mercy. 00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:29.940 It is aimed at helping those who have trusted in Christ 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:32.680 to see themselves as forgiven people, 00:24:32.859 --> 00:24:34.440 as God's people forgiven, 00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:37.460 granted the right to enter God's presence 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:40.619 because of His mercy. 00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:45.779 It finds its author on the other side of peace. 00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:47.099 Right? 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:48.720 So, this is pre-peace. 00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:52.039 I don't think these psalms were written in this order, 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:54.859 but they're paired together for this reason 00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:57.220 in the original manuscripts. 00:24:58.380 --> 00:25:00.039 On the other side of peace, 00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:03.319 but looking to God for it. 00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:06.319 So, you may find yourself in this place this morning. 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:11.319 You may relate more to the David, we think, 00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:12.180 of Psalm 130 00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:16.759 and less to the David of Psalm 131. 00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:19.420 How is it that we move from one to the other? 00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:19.640 Right? 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:21.240 This consideration of the truth. 00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:24.240 Who is it that we hope in? 00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:26.279 So, let me read for our benefit. 00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:30.580 Psalm 130, beginning of verse 1. 00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:34.039 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:36.639 O Lord, hear my voice. 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:41.480 Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy. 00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:46.000 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:48.720 O Lord, who could stand? 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:50.220 And the answer is no one. 00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:55.839 But with you, there is forgiveness that you may be feared. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.839 I wait for the Lord. 00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:58.880 My soul waits. 00:25:59.039 --> 00:26:00.880 And in His word, I hope. 00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:04.339 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning. 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:06.700 More than watchmen for the morning. 00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:08.559 O Israel. 00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:09.759 Here it is again. 00:26:10.120 --> 00:26:11.579 Hope in the Lord. 00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:14.620 For with the Lord there is steadfast love. 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:17.680 And with Him is plentiful redemption. 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:23.580 And He will redeem Israel from all His iniquities. 00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:23.840 Right? 00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:26.700 Because of God's great mercy, He will save His people. 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:30.640 So, we have great reason to hope in Him. 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:35.640 So, in times of trouble, whatever those troubles may be, 00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:39.279 when our souls are not calmed and are not quieted, 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:43.420 we can look to the God of our salvation and hope in Him. 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:47.440 We can be humbled by His great mercy toward us. 00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:51.860 We can trust God with our identity and our provision and our direction. 00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:57.039 We can know that God is for us because we are His people. 00:26:57.539 --> 00:27:00.160 And therefore, we can have peace. 00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.779 So, let me ask again. 00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:07.060 Are you at rest this morning? 00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:11.099 Is your soul calmed and quieted with you in this day? 00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:16.980 Or do you find yourself in a state of stress or anxiety or worry? 00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:21.579 Is your soul noisy this morning? 00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:29.460 I hope you can join with me by the close of our service and with David in saying, 00:27:30.199 --> 00:27:33.179 Oh, Lord, my heart is not lifted up. 00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:35.819 My eyes are not raised too high. 00:27:36.359 --> 00:27:41.039 I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:46.740 But I have calmed and quieted my soul like a weaned child with its mother, 00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:50.019 like a weaned child is my soul within me. 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:55.659 Oh, Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. 00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:57.339 Let's pray together. 00:27:57.339 --> 00:28:27.319 Let's pray together.