WEBVTT

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 We're going to listen to the reading in a few minutes' time, but before then, let me start.

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 In 2015, the computer gamer and gaming creator, Marcus Pearson, commonly known as Notch, he

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 was the creator of the computer game Minecraft.

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 If you've got teenage kids and sons, you probably know about Minecraft.

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 He sold his company to Microsoft for $2.5 billion, and he owned 70% of the company.

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 He earned $1.7 billion in that transaction.

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 One of the first things he did was he outbid Jay-Z and Beyonce on an offer they'd put in

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 a house in Beverly Hills, just because he could.

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 But anyway, a couple of months later, he is sitting in Ibiza.

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 Ibiza's an island of Spain, a real kind of party island.

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 He's sitting in Ibiza, and he sends out a couple of tweets.

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 This is when Twitter was still called Twitter.

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 And the tweets go as follow.

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 548, the problem with getting everything is that you run out of reasons to keep trying.

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 550, hanging out in Ibiza with a bunch of friends, partying with famous people.

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 Well, Marcus Person is not the first person, and certainly not the last person, to experience

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 the irony of being surrounded by people all around you, people having a good time, partying,

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 having fun, and yet feeling this weird sensation of being alone and isolated, feeling alone in

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 the midst of all these people.

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 And again and again, we hear the reality.

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 It feels ironic that some of the most lonely people in our world are those that are not

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 without anybody around them, but those that are surrounded by others around them.

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 And of course, the digital age in which we live has only exasperated us, right?

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 MIT professor of social studies, Sherry Turkle, she wrote a book, an amazing book, in 2011.

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 So it's a little dated now, called Alone Together.

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 And she writes how the digital age has only exasperated us.

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 The fact that we are surrounded by people and voices, and yet we feel more and more alone.

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 Listen to what she says.

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 She says,

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 Technology has become the architect of our relationships.

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 We fall prey to the illusion of companionship, gathering thousands of friends online, and yet

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 confusing tweets and wall posts or Instagram posts with authentic communication.

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 We have the illusion of companionship without real friendship.

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 We turn to technology to help us feel connected in ways that we can comfortably control,

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 but we are not so much in control and not so comfortable.

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 Sherry Turkle's touched on something quite amazing there, that in order to have real relationships,

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 relationships that actually impact you and change you, you've somehow got to relinquish control.

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 You've got to somehow step out of your comfort zone.

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 And yet we find it so difficult to do this.

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 We live in a city in which we are alone together.

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 And I think Hong Kong, actually, we struggle with this even more than maybe other major cities.

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 And one of the reasons for that is because, one, we work so hard.

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 We work such long hours.

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 If you're working 50, 60, 70 hours a week, it's really hard to find the time to build deep relationships,

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 to get people to know people and to open up yourself so that other people can know you.

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 But I think the other reason is, in Hong Kong, we are experts at saving face.

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 Right?

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 We're experts at playing the game and knowing how to put our best foot forward,

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 of looking like our world is all fine when we can easily crumble inside.

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 In the words of Sherry Turkle, we are alone together.

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 I wonder if you resonate with this.

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 Friends, do you ever feel alone, isolated, neglected?

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 Do you ever feel overlooked or marginalized?

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 Do you sometimes feel forgotten?

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 Do you ever feel like nobody cares or nobody really knows you?

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 This summer, we're going through the book of Psalms.

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 And today is the last Psalm that we're looking at.

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 And the book of Psalms was the prayer book of ancient Israel.

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 It was the book that they used to help them in their prayers, but it was also a book of theology.

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 In the ancient world, not many people could read or write.

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 Almost nobody had access to their own personal scriptures like we do today.

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 And so the book of Psalms were these songs that David and many others wrote that helped them pray to God,

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 but also taught them about the character of God, the nature of God.

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 And we've looked at all these Psalms over the summer.

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 And today we come to our final one, Psalm 139, which we sang about earlier.

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 And this Psalm is going to tell us that those who know God are the most secure, loved people on all the planet.

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 And it shows us how the kindness of God changes us deeply inside.

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 And so on that note, can I invite Reza up to come and do our reading this morning?

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 And just one note, while Reza comes up, you can come on up.

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 That last song we sang this morning is taken from Psalm 139.

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 And it's the first time I think it's ever been played and sung publicly ever because Phoebe wrote that song.

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 And so Phoebe, great to have one of your songs that you wrote this morning.

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 It's a great song.

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 Well done for doing that.

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 And well done for being brave enough to put it out there for us to sing it.

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 I know that takes a lot of courage.

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 That was a great song to sing this morning.

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 So let's listen to God's word as we read Psalm 139 together.

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 Good morning, church.

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 Our scripture reading for today is in the book of Psalm 139.

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 To the choir master, a psalm of David.

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 Starting in verse 1.

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 Oh, Lord, you have searched me and known me.

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 You know when I sit down and when I rise up.

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 You discern my thoughts from afar.

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 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.

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 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, oh, Lord, you know it all together.

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 You hand me in behind and before and lay your hand upon me.

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 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.

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 It is high.

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 I cannot attain it.

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 Where shall I go from your spirit?

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 Or where shall I flee from your presence?

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 If I ascend to heaven, you are there.

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 If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.

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 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

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 even there your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me.

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 If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me and the light about me be night.

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 Even the darkness is not dark to you.

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 The night is bright as the day, where darkness is as light with you.

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 For you formed my inward parts.

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 You knitted me together in my mother's womb.

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 I praise you, for I am furfully and wonderfully made.

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 Wonderful are your works.

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 My soul knows it very well.

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 My frame was not hidden from you.

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 When I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth,

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 your eyes saw my unformed substance.

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 In your book were written,

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 every one of them, the days that were formed for me,

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 when as yet there was none of them.

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 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

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 How vast is the sum of them!

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 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

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 I awake and I am still with you.

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 O that you will slay the wicked, O God!

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 O man of blood, depart from me!

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 They speak against you with malicious intent.

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 Your enemies take your name in vain.

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 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?

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 And do not love those who rise up against you?

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 I hate them with complete hatred.

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 I count them my enemies.

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 Search me, O God, and know my heart.

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 Try me and know my thoughts.

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 And see if there be any grievous way in me.

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 And lead me in the way everlasting.

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 This is the Word of God.

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 Great, thank you, Riza.

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 Let me just pray for us as we come to us.

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 Father, we want to hear you speak to us from your Word.

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 We want to know what you have to say to us.

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 As we say each week, God,

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 we're not interested in the thoughts or the opinions of man.

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 We get plenty of those out there on our phones every day.

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 God, we want to hear your Word.

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 We want to hear what you have to say.

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 God, won't you open up the eyes of our hearts

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 and unblock our ears to hear you speaking to us.

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 God, we pray that Psalm 139 will come alive to us today.

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 We pray this in your great name.

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 Amen.

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 Okay, if you've got your Bible or the bulletin open,

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 keep it open.

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 We're going to look at this and look at the Scripture quite a lot.

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 So I want to encourage you to have it open in front of you.

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 This Psalm is made up of 24 verses,

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 and it breaks up into four sections of six verses each.

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 So it's quite a straightforward breakdown.

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 The first three sections,

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 verse 1 to 6, 7 to 12, 13 to 18,

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 are quite similar.

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 It's the same idea that David is giving from different angles.

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 And then the last section is quite different,

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 or we see David's response.

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 In the first three sections,

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 we see how God knows us and cares for us.

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 In the last section,

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 we see how God's love changes us.

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 So let's dive in and take a look at it.

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 Look at the first section with me,

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 1 to 6.

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 I'll read it again.

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 It says,

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 Oh Lord, you have searched me and known me.

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 You know when I sit down and when I rise up,

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 you discern my thoughts from afar.

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 You search out my path and my lying down.

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 You are acquainted with all of my ways.

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 Even before a word is on my tongue,

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 behold, oh Lord, you know it altogether.

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 You hem me in behind and before.

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 You lay your hand on me.

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 And such knowledge is too wonderful for me.

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 It is high.

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 I cannot attain it.

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 One of the things that should strike you straight away

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 when you read these verses

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 is how many times it talks about the word known

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 or describes being known.

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 Lord, you've searched me.

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 You know me.

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 You discern my thoughts.

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 You are intimately acquainted with all of my ways.

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 Every word, every thought,

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 every desire in my heart.

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 God, you know it.

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 You understand me.

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 You get me.

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 David is basking the fact that

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 every aspect of his life

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 is known to the God that he's come to worship

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 and praise.

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 God knows him and understands him.

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 God, there's nothing about my life

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 which is outside of your understanding

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 or getting, your feeling.

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 Look at verse two.

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 He says,

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 you know when I sit down

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 and when I rise up.

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 I don't know if you've ever had this

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 where you're looking for somebody

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 maybe at home or in the office

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 and you go to every room in the office

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 and you're calling them

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 and you can't find them

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 and you turn to somebody and say,

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 has anybody seen John around here?

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 God never has that thought.

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 That thought never crosses his mind.

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 He never says,

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 has anybody seen Henry?

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 He knows every aspect of our lives.

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 He says,

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 you understand my thoughts from afar.

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 Verse four,

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 even before a word,

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 even before a sigh,

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 even before a cry of joy,

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 even before a cry of frustration

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 is on my tongue,

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 you know about it, Lord.

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 In other words, God,

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 you know me and understand me

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 better than I even know myself.

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 God, you're intimately acquainted

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 with all of my ways,

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 all of my thoughts,

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 all of my hopes,

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 all of my dreams,

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 all of my longings,

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 all of my fears,

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 my anxieties,

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 the things that I worry about,

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 my elderly parents,

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 that medical report

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 that I'm expecting this week,

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 my job insecurity.

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 God, you know about each one of them.

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 You're intimately acquainted with them.

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 You know them perfectly.

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 David acknowledges that this is sometimes hard to comprehend.

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 It's hard to understand how can God know everything about our lives.

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 He says,

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 such knowledge is too wonderful for me.

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 It's too high.

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 I cannot attain it.

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 God,

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 and yet he knows the certainty of it.

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 God, you know me.

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 You know me better than I know me.

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 You know me perfectly.

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 Friends,

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 do you,

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 like so many in our city,

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 ever feel alone,

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 unknown,

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 isolated,

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 forgotten,

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 overlooked?

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 Do you ever wonder whether anybody knows what's going on in your heart,

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 whether anybody cares?

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 David reminds us that the God of the Bible,

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 the God that we've come to worship and praise this morning,

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 is not just,

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 he's omniscient and he's sovereign,

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 but not just in a general or cosmic sense.

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 It's true that God knows everything about the universe,

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 things that we haven't even discovered yet,

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 things about how black holes were formed

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 and what's on the other side of them

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 and what the universe is going to look like,

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 a hundred billion years from now

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 and what's beyond even the furthest expanses

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 that we've been able to discover in the universe,

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 beyond our furthest telescopes.

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 God knows all of that,

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 but he's saying it's not just that God is omniscient in that sense,

00:13:55.079 --> 00:13:57.100
 he's omniscient about every minute,

00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:59.639
 intimate detail of our lives.

00:14:01.339 --> 00:14:02.219
 Your cosmic,

00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:04.639
 powerful God knows and understands

00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:06.159
 our inner life,

00:14:06.220 --> 00:14:06.659
 our thoughts,

00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:07.220
 our fears,

00:14:07.339 --> 00:14:07.839
 our hopes,

00:14:08.319 --> 00:14:09.079
 our feelings.

00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:10.960
 More than just know it,

00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:12.060
 he understands it.

00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:14.460
 Look at the second section,

00:14:14.560 --> 00:14:15.980
 verse 7 to 12.

00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:18.280
 It's not only that God is all-knowing,

00:14:18.520 --> 00:14:21.200
 David delights in the fact that God is all-present everywhere.

00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:21.700
 He says,

00:14:21.700 --> 00:14:23.660
 where shall I go from your spirit?

00:14:23.660 --> 00:14:25.600
 Where shall I flee from your presence?

00:14:25.940 --> 00:14:27.780
 If I were to ascend to heaven,

00:14:28.100 --> 00:14:28.800
 highest heavens,

00:14:28.920 --> 00:14:29.100
 God,

00:14:29.160 --> 00:14:29.740
 you would be there.

00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:31.860
 If I make my bed in Sheol,

00:14:31.940 --> 00:14:32.500
 in the grave,

00:14:32.580 --> 00:14:32.840
 in hell,

00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:33.120
 God,

00:14:33.180 --> 00:14:33.980
 you would be there.

00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:36.340
 If I take the wings of the morning

00:14:36.340 --> 00:14:38.840
 or dwell on the uttermost parts of the sea.

00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:40.020
 Just remember,

00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:40.820
 in the ancient days,

00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:42.840
 people didn't know the world was round,

00:14:42.920 --> 00:14:43.660
 they thought it was flat.

00:14:43.900 --> 00:14:45.160
 If you sail too far,

00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:46.800
 you're going to fall off the cliffs of the sea,

00:14:47.179 --> 00:14:48.799
 and who knows what's beyond the abyss.

00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:49.759
 David says,

00:14:49.839 --> 00:14:51.159
 even if I were to do that

00:14:51.159 --> 00:14:53.139
 and go beyond the end of the abyss,

00:14:53.359 --> 00:14:53.539
 God,

00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:54.919
 I don't know what's beyond there,

00:14:54.939 --> 00:14:56.120
 but I know that you will be there.

00:14:57.740 --> 00:14:58.339
 Even there,

00:14:58.399 --> 00:14:59.559
 your hand will lead me.

00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:01.500
 Your right hand shall take hold of me.

00:15:02.939 --> 00:15:03.159
 Now,

00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:04.500
 Psalm 139

00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:05.740
 obviously comes

00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:07.559
 two Psalms after Psalm 137.

00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:08.779
 Okay?

00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:10.419
 You don't need to be a rocket scientist.

00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:11.179
 Work that out.

00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:12.559
 Psalm 137

00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:15.279
 is one of the most difficult Psalms in the Bible

00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:17.360
 because it's written at a time

00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:18.620
 when God's people

00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:21.379
 had been taken out of Israel into Babylon.

00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:23.879
 And the Babylonians were a ruthless nation.

00:15:24.339 --> 00:15:25.899
 They came and attacked Israel.

00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:28.339
 They slaughtered thousands of people

00:15:28.339 --> 00:15:29.919
 and they dragged the rest of them

00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:31.159
 into exile in Babylon.

00:15:32.079 --> 00:15:33.399
 And Psalm 137

00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:35.799
 is this heartfelt lament

00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:37.679
 as the people agonize

00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:39.459
 over being stuck in Babylon.

00:15:40.819 --> 00:15:40.939
 Well,

00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:42.559
 Psalm 139 tells us

00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:45.539
 that even the most God-forsaken place

00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.419
 on the planet,

00:15:47.239 --> 00:15:48.319
 a place like Babylon,

00:15:49.219 --> 00:15:50.859
 a place like war-torn Ukraine,

00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:53.819
 even that it's actually not God-forsaken

00:15:53.819 --> 00:15:55.199
 for God is with us

00:15:55.199 --> 00:15:57.219
 in the midst of those places.

00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:59.379
 Even the most immoral,

00:15:59.579 --> 00:16:00.979
 corrupt place you can imagine,

00:16:01.819 --> 00:16:03.219
 God is there with His people.

00:16:04.359 --> 00:16:05.439
 But that's actually not really

00:16:05.439 --> 00:16:06.479
 David's concern here,

00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:06.879
 is it?

00:16:07.339 --> 00:16:08.619
 David isn't so concerned

00:16:08.619 --> 00:16:10.039
 about the physical geography

00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:10.699
 of the place

00:16:10.699 --> 00:16:11.539
 where the God is there.

00:16:11.539 --> 00:16:12.719
 He's more concerned

00:16:12.719 --> 00:16:13.980
 with the metaphysics.

00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:15.519
 He's concerned about

00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:17.659
 where can I go in my heart?

00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:19.419
 Where can I go psychologically,

00:16:19.719 --> 00:16:20.299
 emotionally?

00:16:20.959 --> 00:16:21.379
 God,

00:16:21.459 --> 00:16:22.319
 will you be there

00:16:22.319 --> 00:16:25.379
 if I go to the darkest night

00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.019
 of the soul?

00:16:26.459 --> 00:16:28.339
 In the deepest despair,

00:16:28.599 --> 00:16:28.819
 God,

00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:29.679
 will you be there

00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.959
 or will you abandon me?

00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:32.339
 Look at verse 11.

00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:32.779
 He says,

00:16:33.199 --> 00:16:34.279
 surely the darkness

00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:35.279
 will not cover me

00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:36.980
 and the light about me

00:16:36.980 --> 00:16:37.779
 be as night.

00:16:38.419 --> 00:16:38.939
 Even the,

00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:39.500
 sorry,

00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:40.419
 if I say surely

00:16:40.419 --> 00:16:41.000
 the darkness

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.620
 will cover me

00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:42.120
 and the light

00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:42.759
 be as night,

00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:44.159
 even the darkness

00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:45.220
 is not dark to you.

00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:46.779
 The night is as bright

00:16:46.779 --> 00:16:47.440
 as the day

00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:48.700
 for darkness

00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:49.639
 is as light

00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:50.120
 with you.

00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:51.700
 David says,

00:16:51.940 --> 00:16:52.799
 even when wickedness

00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:53.480
 and despair

00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:54.399
 and suffering

00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:55.259
 surround you,

00:16:55.559 --> 00:16:56.600
 when you're overcome

00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:57.600
 with grief,

00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:59.059
 you're overwhelmed

00:16:59.059 --> 00:17:00.000
 with anxiety,

00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:01.740
 God is not forgotten.

00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:03.600
 God is not abandoned.

00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:05.539
 God is not given up

00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:05.779
 with you.

00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:06.900
 He's there with you.

00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.720
 He's there already.

00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:09.000
 Verse 12,

00:17:09.400 --> 00:17:10.380
 darkness and light

00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:11.720
 are alike to you.

00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:13.440
 The dark night

00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:14.360
 of the soul

00:17:14.360 --> 00:17:16.340
 is not a place

00:17:16.340 --> 00:17:16.720
 where God

00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:17.660
 has abandoned you

00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:18.560
 but a place

00:17:18.560 --> 00:17:19.360
 where you discover

00:17:19.360 --> 00:17:20.280
 and find God

00:17:20.280 --> 00:17:21.320
 in a whole new way.

00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:23.259
 God has gone before you

00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:24.440
 and He's there with you.

00:17:25.540 --> 00:17:26.240
 Verse 10,

00:17:26.340 --> 00:17:27.200
 even there your hand

00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:27.780
 will lead me,

00:17:27.840 --> 00:17:28.500
 your right hand

00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:29.320
 lays hold of me.

00:17:29.840 --> 00:17:30.140
 I don't know

00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:31.180
 if you've ever experienced this

00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:32.240
 but the picture there is

00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.340
 if you're walking

00:17:33.340 --> 00:17:34.519
 in complete darkness,

00:17:34.660 --> 00:17:35.920
 maybe you're hiking somewhere

00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:36.900
 and you come

00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:38.360
 into some complete darkness,

00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:39.259
 there's no moon,

00:17:39.340 --> 00:17:40.560
 it's pitch black at night

00:17:40.560 --> 00:17:42.279
 and you're stumbling,

00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:42.800
 you don't know

00:17:42.800 --> 00:17:43.539
 where you're going

00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.720
 but there's somebody

00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.860
 who does know the way

00:17:45.860 --> 00:17:46.580
 and they take hold

00:17:46.580 --> 00:17:47.200
 of your hand

00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.600
 or maybe you're walking

00:17:48.600 --> 00:17:50.380
 down a dark alleyway

00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:51.620
 and there's no light

00:17:51.620 --> 00:17:52.860
 and you're petrified

00:17:52.860 --> 00:17:53.620
 but there's somebody

00:17:53.620 --> 00:17:54.580
 who knows what's going on,

00:17:54.620 --> 00:17:55.640
 they take hold of your hand

00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:56.740
 and they lead you

00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.519
 and guide you.

00:17:58.039 --> 00:17:58.300
 He says,

00:17:58.360 --> 00:18:00.180
 your hand will lead me there.

00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:02.080
 It's not just that God

00:18:02.080 --> 00:18:03.640
 is vaguely omnipresent.

00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:05.540
 If you set your heart

00:18:05.540 --> 00:18:06.580
 and He'll lead you

00:18:06.580 --> 00:18:07.380
 and guide you

00:18:07.380 --> 00:18:08.460
 and sustain you

00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:10.100
 through every season of life.

00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:12.540
 David goes on,

00:18:12.580 --> 00:18:13.800
 look at the third section here,

00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:17.160
 verse 13 onwards.

00:18:18.540 --> 00:18:19.520
 David here describes

00:18:19.520 --> 00:18:20.700
 the fact that every aspect

00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.420
 of His being

00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:22.520
 is intimately known

00:18:22.520 --> 00:18:23.600
 and designed by God.

00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:24.460
 Look at verse 13.

00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:25.120
 It says,

00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:26.080
 you formed me God

00:18:26.080 --> 00:18:27.040
 in my inward parts,

00:18:27.140 --> 00:18:28.340
 you knitted me together

00:18:28.340 --> 00:18:29.300
 in my mother's womb.

00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.740
 It's amazing to think

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:32.039
 that even before

00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:33.000
 our mothers knew

00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:33.859
 that they were pregnant

00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:34.380
 with us,

00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:35.839
 when they were completely

00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:37.420
 oblivious and had no idea,

00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:39.740
 God was there forming

00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:41.720
 and knitting cells together,

00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:43.079
 multiplying and forming,

00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:44.079
 multiplying and forming,

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:46.359
 so that the first embryonic form

00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:47.759
 of you was being formed.

00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:48.799
 God knew about it.

00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.279
 Verse 14,

00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:51.000
 I praise you,

00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:51.559
 I'm fearfully

00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:52.700
 and wonderfully made.

00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:54.460
 My frame is not hidden

00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:54.920
 from you

00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:55.740
 when I was being made

00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:56.220
 in secret,

00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:57.319
 intricately woven

00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:58.579
 in the depths of the earth.

00:18:58.579 --> 00:19:00.079
 Your eyes saw

00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:01.419
 my unformed substance.

00:19:01.939 --> 00:19:02.519
 In your book

00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:02.919
 were written

00:19:02.919 --> 00:19:03.899
 every one of them.

00:19:04.379 --> 00:19:05.500
 The days that were formed

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:05.839
 for me,

00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:07.639
 even when as yet

00:19:07.639 --> 00:19:08.359
 there were none of them.

00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:10.059
 David's point here

00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:11.099
 is that His existence

00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:12.019
 is the result

00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:13.220
 of God's deliberate

00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:14.419
 and intentional will.

00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:15.980
 David reminds us

00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:16.899
 there's no such thing

00:19:16.899 --> 00:19:18.099
 as an accidental baby.

00:19:18.619 --> 00:19:19.339
 There's no such thing

00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:20.740
 as an unwanted baby.

00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:22.919
 Each one of us,

00:19:23.379 --> 00:19:23.819
 designed,

00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:25.019
 brought together by God.

00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:27.439
 When I was growing up,

00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:29.460
 we had a family friend

00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:31.080
 that was a musician

00:19:31.080 --> 00:19:34.320
 and he had just recorded

00:19:34.320 --> 00:19:35.600
 an album in the studio

00:19:35.600 --> 00:19:37.559
 and he was living with us

00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.259
 for a couple of months

00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:39.360
 before he moved overseas.

00:19:40.320 --> 00:19:40.700
 And so,

00:19:40.820 --> 00:19:42.140
 he's staying in our home

00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:44.180
 and the first delivery

00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:45.720
 of his new album,

00:19:46.080 --> 00:19:46.700
 his CDs,

00:19:47.420 --> 00:19:49.279
 arrived at our house.

00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:50.420
 They'd just been cut

00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:51.039
 and labeled

00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:51.559
 and packaged

00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:53.140
 and they arrived at our house.

00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:53.380
 And so,

00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.360
 he opens the box

00:19:54.360 --> 00:19:55.019
 and he takes out

00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:57.180
 the first of his new album.

00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:59.140
 And he puts it in the CD player

00:19:59.140 --> 00:19:59.960
 in our living room

00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:01.759
 and he puts it on

00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.460
 for us to listen.

00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:03.940
 And as we're listening

00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:04.700
 to the songs,

00:20:05.120 --> 00:20:06.299
 he's describing

00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:08.080
 each of the bits of details.

00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:08.440
 He's saying,

00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.400
 listen, listen, listen.

00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:10.120
 There's got to be

00:20:10.120 --> 00:20:11.059
 this bass riff now.

00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:11.360
 Wait.

00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:12.759
 And then you hear it, right?

00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:13.720
 Or he says,

00:20:13.880 --> 00:20:15.200
 hey, do you hear that sound

00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:16.740
 behind the chorus?

00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:18.299
 The reason we put that in

00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:19.360
 is because we wanted people

00:20:19.360 --> 00:20:20.360
 to hear this part.

00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.759
 In each song,

00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:23.000
 he's describing

00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:24.420
 the minute detail

00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:25.800
 and the little intricacies

00:20:25.800 --> 00:20:26.980
 of the song

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:28.240
 that most people

00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:29.680
 will be completely oblivious to.

00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:30.980
 Why?

00:20:31.560 --> 00:20:32.440
 Because he's the creator.

00:20:33.120 --> 00:20:33.740
 He's the artist.

00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:36.380
 He knows every minute detail

00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:37.120
 of every song

00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:38.539
 and why it's there

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.920
 and what the purpose is

00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:41.759
 and what it contributes

00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.400
 to the song.

00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:44.960
 David's point here

00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:46.860
 is that God knows

00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:48.480
 every minute detail

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.240
 of his people.

00:20:49.860 --> 00:20:50.660
 He knows us physically.

00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:52.060
 He knows us emotionally.

00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.400
 He knows our hearts.

00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:54.420
 He knows what's going on.

00:20:54.800 --> 00:20:55.880
 Nothing about us

00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:56.460
 is an accident.

00:20:57.300 --> 00:20:58.300
 Before you were born,

00:20:58.540 --> 00:20:59.620
 before conception

00:20:59.620 --> 00:21:00.560
 had taken place,

00:21:01.080 --> 00:21:02.240
 before the first

00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:03.240
 tiniest cell

00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:04.140
 had multiplied,

00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:05.900
 God had designed

00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.360
 your life

00:21:06.360 --> 00:21:07.200
 and planned you

00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:08.280
 and who you'd be.

00:21:09.100 --> 00:21:10.080
 Your eyes saw

00:21:10.080 --> 00:21:11.480
 my unformed substance.

00:21:12.080 --> 00:21:12.640
 In your book

00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:13.040
 were written

00:21:13.040 --> 00:21:13.800
 every one of them.

00:21:13.900 --> 00:21:15.019
 The days that were formed

00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:15.420
 for me

00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:16.420
 when as yet

00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:17.300
 there were none of them.

00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:18.759
 Friends,

00:21:19.100 --> 00:21:20.500
 if you are in Christ,

00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:22.560
 God's care for you

00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:23.879
 and God's love for you

00:21:23.879 --> 00:21:25.220
 is not like the love

00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:25.679
 that we have

00:21:25.679 --> 00:21:26.440
 for other people

00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:27.519
 because we've gotten

00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:28.200
 to know them

00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:28.899
 and we've discovered

00:21:28.899 --> 00:21:29.859
 something wonderful

00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:30.859
 about them,

00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:31.579
 something lovely

00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:32.119
 about them.

00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.919
 God's love

00:21:33.919 --> 00:21:34.740
 and care for us

00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.720
 is what brought you

00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:36.359
 into being

00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:37.379
 in the first place.

00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:39.079
 God initiates

00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:39.639
 our existence.

00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:41.500
 God doesn't complete

00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.099
 our existence.

00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:43.879
 As we've said many times

00:21:43.879 --> 00:21:44.279
 before,

00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.659
 God's love for us

00:21:45.659 --> 00:21:46.819
 is not based on something

00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:47.659
 that he's discovered

00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:48.419
 about us

00:21:48.419 --> 00:21:49.440
 but something that's found

00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.319
 in his heart,

00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:51.200
 not something

00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:52.079
 that's found in us.

00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:53.879
 And so again,

00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:54.819
 I ask you the question,

00:21:54.939 --> 00:21:55.559
 do you ever feel

00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:56.059
 neglected,

00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:57.539
 alone,

00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.159
 unknown,

00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:01.159
 uncared for?

00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:03.179
 Do you ever feel

00:22:03.179 --> 00:22:04.059
 misunderstood

00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:06.079
 that nobody gets you?

00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:08.019
 Friends,

00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:08.579
 you see what God

00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:09.139
 is saying here?

00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.839
 The sovereign God

00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:11.559
 of all creation,

00:22:11.679 --> 00:22:12.159
 the one who brought

00:22:12.159 --> 00:22:13.539
 galaxies and universes

00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:14.519
 into being,

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.599
 who designed

00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:16.539
 the solar system,

00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:18.079
 knows and understands

00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:18.819
 every care

00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:19.659
 and every detail

00:22:19.659 --> 00:22:20.359
 of your life

00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:21.679
 and he's watching

00:22:21.679 --> 00:22:22.240
 over you.

00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:23.839
 He knows the cares

00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:24.419
 of your heart.

00:22:25.399 --> 00:22:26.339
 He knows the agonies

00:22:26.339 --> 00:22:26.959
 of your heart.

00:22:27.939 --> 00:22:29.359
 He knows what keeps

00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:30.039
 you up at night.

00:22:30.919 --> 00:22:31.559
 He's carrying,

00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:32.779
 sustaining and guiding

00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:33.139
 you.

00:22:34.179 --> 00:22:35.279
 And look at verse 17.

00:22:35.379 --> 00:22:36.379
 Verse 17 is unusual.

00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:36.919
 He says,

00:22:37.439 --> 00:22:38.539
 how precious to me

00:22:38.539 --> 00:22:39.279
 are your thoughts,

00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:39.759
 O God.

00:22:40.139 --> 00:22:41.259
 One commentator says,

00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.539
 what David means here

00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.679
 is how precious

00:22:43.679 --> 00:22:44.639
 are your thoughts,

00:22:44.699 --> 00:22:45.059
 O God,

00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:45.959
 about me.

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.059
 He says,

00:22:47.120 --> 00:22:47.259
 God,

00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:48.259
 when I think of the way

00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.640
 that you carry me

00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:50.259
 on your heart,

00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:51.539
 it blows my mind.

00:22:52.380 --> 00:22:53.700
 How vast is the sum

00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:54.059
 of them?

00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:54.519
 God,

00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:55.460
 it's not just a fleeting

00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.259
 thought you have.

00:22:56.900 --> 00:22:57.079
 God,

00:22:57.140 --> 00:22:57.960
 you think about me,

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.539
 you carry me

00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.000
 on your heart

00:22:59.000 --> 00:22:59.620
 continuously.

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.340
 If I were to count

00:23:01.340 --> 00:23:01.980
 all your thoughts,

00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:02.720
 there would be more

00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.480
 than the sand.

00:23:03.860 --> 00:23:04.779
 I'm awake

00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:05.940
 and I'm still with you.

00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:06.740
 He says,

00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:07.000
 God,

00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:07.819
 it's like a dream.

00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:09.559
 I can't imagine

00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:10.299
 this as possible.

00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.420
 I wake up

00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:12.400
 and it's still true.

00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:13.920
 You care about me.

00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:15.380
 You know about me.

00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:16.760
 Every detail

00:23:16.760 --> 00:23:17.600
 of my life.

00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:19.640
 Psalm 139

00:23:19.640 --> 00:23:20.140
 tells us

00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:21.820
 the sovereign God

00:23:21.820 --> 00:23:23.520
 is sovereignly involved

00:23:23.520 --> 00:23:24.460
 and cares about

00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:25.820
 every intimate detail

00:23:25.820 --> 00:23:26.440
 of our life.

00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:28.720
 Now,

00:23:29.620 --> 00:23:30.700
 God's word

00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:32.960
 always has a purpose.

00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:34.300
 The purpose

00:23:34.300 --> 00:23:35.080
 for God's word

00:23:35.080 --> 00:23:35.600
 is not just

00:23:35.600 --> 00:23:36.380
 to fill our minds

00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:37.220
 with information

00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:38.080
 so that we say,

00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:38.420
 okay,

00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.020
 that's good.

00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:40.660
 God's word

00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:41.180
 is always meant

00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:42.080
 to change us.

00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:43.280
 It's meant to impact us

00:23:43.280 --> 00:23:44.440
 and to influence us.

00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:46.180
 So how is God's

00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:46.940
 good word

00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:48.100
 of Psalm 139

00:23:48.100 --> 00:23:49.259
 meant to impact us?

00:23:50.100 --> 00:23:50.360
 Well,

00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:51.039
 one of the ways

00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:51.960
 that we should not

00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:53.059
 respond to it

00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:55.279
 is by God's grace

00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:56.340
 should not make us

00:23:56.340 --> 00:23:57.340
 more self-centered

00:23:57.340 --> 00:23:58.299
 and self-absorbed.

00:23:58.740 --> 00:23:58.820
 Okay?

00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.620
 Remember Augustine,

00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:01.960
 the great theologian

00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:02.740
 from the 4th century,

00:24:02.820 --> 00:24:03.160
 he said,

00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:04.480
 one of the problems

00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:05.140
 with humanity

00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:06.799
 is our sinful nature

00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:07.779
 makes us curved

00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:08.620
 in on ourselves.

00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:10.719
 We always look at life

00:24:10.719 --> 00:24:11.819
 through a me lens.

00:24:12.439 --> 00:24:13.639
 We always tend to think

00:24:13.639 --> 00:24:15.479
 about how life

00:24:15.479 --> 00:24:16.359
 through the lens

00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:17.119
 of my own life

00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:17.579
 and myself.

00:24:18.679 --> 00:24:20.039
 And that's the problem

00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:21.859
 with the current narrative

00:24:21.859 --> 00:24:22.500
 in our world.

00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:23.439
 Our world tells us

00:24:23.439 --> 00:24:25.039
 just to satisfy yourself,

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.199
 pursue your own happiness,

00:24:26.399 --> 00:24:27.500
 find meaning in yourself.

00:24:27.879 --> 00:24:28.939
 But the problem is,

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:30.000
 it's just encouraging us

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:30.959
 to become more and more

00:24:30.959 --> 00:24:31.939
 introspective

00:24:31.939 --> 00:24:33.000
 and self-absorbed.

00:24:33.479 --> 00:24:34.279
 And the problem is,

00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:35.339
 we never become free

00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:36.079
 from ourselves.

00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:38.059
 But God's grace

00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:39.059
 is different.

00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:41.279
 God's good kindness

00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:41.740
 to us

00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:43.500
 doesn't exasperate

00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:43.939
 the problem

00:24:43.939 --> 00:24:44.419
 and make us

00:24:44.419 --> 00:24:45.740
 more self-absorbed.

00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:46.980
 It should lead us

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.539
 to God

00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:48.559
 and open us up

00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:50.439
 to become more God-aware

00:24:50.439 --> 00:24:51.220
 and to free us

00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:52.679
 from our self-absorption.

00:24:53.679 --> 00:24:54.359
 God's grace

00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:54.919
 and kindness

00:24:54.919 --> 00:24:55.559
 are different

00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:56.179
 to the modern

00:24:56.179 --> 00:24:57.079
 self-help books.

00:24:57.859 --> 00:24:58.339
 God's grace

00:24:58.339 --> 00:24:58.879
 and kindness

00:24:58.879 --> 00:24:59.439
 is not meant

00:24:59.439 --> 00:25:00.559
 to reinforce

00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.859
 our self-obsession,

00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:03.980
 but to free us

00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:04.439
 from it.

00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:05.720
 One of the things

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.620
 that God's grace does

00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:07.620
 is to deliver us

00:25:07.620 --> 00:25:08.559
 from ourselves

00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:09.620
 and help us

00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:10.559
 to love and treasure

00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:11.340
 God more.

00:25:12.080 --> 00:25:13.279
 And that's what we see here.

00:25:14.840 --> 00:25:16.279
 God's amazing kindness

00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.320
 and tenderness

00:25:17.320 --> 00:25:18.860
 and sovereign goodness

00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:19.720
 to David

00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:21.500
 doesn't pander him

00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:22.680
 so that David wallows

00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:23.700
 in self-absorption,

00:25:23.820 --> 00:25:24.039
 thinking,

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:25.259
 look how wonderful I am.

00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:26.620
 Even God thinks I'm amazing.

00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:27.920
 That's not the point.

00:25:28.580 --> 00:25:29.900
 It actually turns David

00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:30.480
 outward

00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.920
 from being absorbed

00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:32.440
 about himself

00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:33.160
 to now being

00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:34.779
 astounded by God.

00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.840
 God's sovereign care

00:25:36.840 --> 00:25:37.680
 draws David

00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:38.480
 into God.

00:25:38.560 --> 00:25:39.120
 And so look at

00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:40.920
 verse 19 to 22

00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:41.740
 with me.

00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:42.900
 He says,

00:25:43.060 --> 00:25:43.759
 Oh, that you would

00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.640
 slay the wicked,

00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.200
 O God.

00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:46.800
 You men of blood,

00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:48.180
 depart from me.

00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:49.540
 Then he talks back to God.

00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:50.240
 God,

00:25:50.360 --> 00:25:51.740
 they speak against you

00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.820
 with malicious intent.

00:25:53.380 --> 00:25:54.060
 Your enemies

00:25:54.060 --> 00:25:55.019
 take your name

00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:55.580
 in vain.

00:25:56.320 --> 00:25:56.600
 God,

00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.640
 do I not hate

00:25:57.640 --> 00:25:58.700
 those who hate you,

00:25:58.800 --> 00:25:59.200
 O Lord?

00:25:59.540 --> 00:26:00.840
 Do I not loathe

00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:01.839
 those who rise up

00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:02.439
 against you?

00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.599
 I hate them

00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:04.539
 with a complete hatred.

00:26:04.959 --> 00:26:05.779
 I count them

00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.899
 my enemies.

00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:08.240
 Now,

00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:10.980
 it's a different

00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:12.019
 tone here,

00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:12.359
 right?

00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:14.839
 The first 18 verses

00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.740
 are like amazing.

00:26:15.899 --> 00:26:16.159
 God,

00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:16.740
 you know me,

00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:17.720
 you care about me,

00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:18.899
 you're so tender

00:26:18.899 --> 00:26:19.539
 and wonderful.

00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:20.599
 And then you get

00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:21.319
 to verse 19,

00:26:21.419 --> 00:26:21.720
 you're like,

00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:22.019
 huh?

00:26:22.879 --> 00:26:23.699
 I've got a confession.

00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:24.559
 This week when I was

00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:25.339
 preparing for this,

00:26:25.399 --> 00:26:26.279
 I was using an old

00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:27.019
 Bible of mine,

00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:28.059
 one that I got

00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:28.700
 in university.

00:26:29.559 --> 00:26:31.460
 And the first 18 verses

00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.779
 are underlined

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.480
 and highlighted

00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.240
 and there's notes

00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:34.980
 in the margin.

00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:36.019
 It's like amazing.

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:38.599
 And verses 19 to 22

00:26:38.599 --> 00:26:40.460
 are conspicuously bare.

00:26:41.679 --> 00:26:42.059
 Obviously,

00:26:42.139 --> 00:26:42.740
 I didn't like them

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.240
 so much

00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:44.919
 when I had that Bible

00:26:44.919 --> 00:26:45.960
 for the first 10 years.

00:26:46.639 --> 00:26:47.619
 What's going on here?

00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:49.960
 The Bible is full

00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:50.599
 of this actually.

00:26:50.899 --> 00:26:51.980
 And if you think about it,

00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:52.879
 it makes sense.

00:26:53.919 --> 00:26:54.119
 Friends,

00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.039
 do we not all

00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:55.899
 rise up

00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:56.700
 and defend

00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:58.200
 and protect

00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:59.700
 that which we love?

00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:01.759
 If you love something

00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.840
 or you love somebody

00:27:02.840 --> 00:27:05.240
 and then somebody else

00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:06.140
 comes and offends

00:27:06.140 --> 00:27:06.960
 or denigrates

00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.759
 or insults

00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.420
 what you love,

00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:10.259
 how do you feel about it?

00:27:10.780 --> 00:27:11.800
 Don't you take offense?

00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.440
 Doesn't it rile you?

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:15.600
 We don't just keep calm

00:27:15.600 --> 00:27:16.680
 and carry on, right?

00:27:18.120 --> 00:27:19.680
 Passion and anger

00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:21.620
 can be an expression

00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:23.080
 of selfishness

00:27:23.080 --> 00:27:23.560
 if the things

00:27:23.560 --> 00:27:24.800
 that we get angry about

00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:25.799
 are when things

00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.700
 don't go our own way.

00:27:27.139 --> 00:27:28.019
 But they can also

00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:28.839
 be an expression

00:27:28.839 --> 00:27:29.720
 of love.

00:27:30.659 --> 00:27:31.740
 The thing that you get

00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:33.379
 passionate and angry about

00:27:33.379 --> 00:27:34.539
 shows what you love

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.859
 the most, right?

00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:37.680
 If somebody offends

00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:38.519
 or abuses

00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:40.740
 or insults your wife

00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:42.019
 or your sister

00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:43.359
 or your child,

00:27:44.099 --> 00:27:44.859
 what do you do?

00:27:45.659 --> 00:27:46.259
 You don't just

00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.379
 stoically carry on.

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.879
 No, even the most

00:27:48.879 --> 00:27:49.940
 timid person

00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:51.159
 becomes a lion.

00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:52.659
 They get riled.

00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.799
 They get angry about that

00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:54.740
 and rightly so.

00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.059
 Right?

00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:57.039
 Because the enemies

00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:58.399
 of those that you love

00:27:58.399 --> 00:27:59.259
 in a way

00:27:59.259 --> 00:28:00.339
 become your enemies.

00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:02.240
 You don't just lie down

00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:03.299
 and take it lying down.

00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.619
 You stand up.

00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:06.339
 In Psalm 69

00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:07.659
 David says something similar.

00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.159
 He says,

00:28:08.659 --> 00:28:09.919
 zeal or passion

00:28:09.919 --> 00:28:10.700
 for your house

00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.940
 consumes me, O Lord.

00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:13.460
 And the insults

00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:14.159
 of those that have

00:28:14.159 --> 00:28:14.940
 fallen on you

00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:16.059
 fall on me.

00:28:16.899 --> 00:28:17.359
 David says,

00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.159
 God, when people

00:28:18.159 --> 00:28:18.960
 insult you

00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:20.059
 and blaspheme

00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:20.559
 your name,

00:28:20.639 --> 00:28:21.720
 I take it personally.

00:28:22.120 --> 00:28:22.920
 I get riled

00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:23.519
 and get angry

00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:24.120
 about it

00:28:24.120 --> 00:28:25.519
 because I love you,

00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:25.839
 God,

00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:26.460
 and I hate

00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.019
 seeing people

00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:27.579
 treating you

00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:28.120
 like that.

00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:29.660
 And that's what

00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:29.960
 David,

00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:31.100
 that's what's going

00:28:31.100 --> 00:28:31.519
 on here.

00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:32.960
 David expresses

00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.779
 this outrage,

00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:34.600
 this anger

00:28:34.600 --> 00:28:35.640
 at those who

00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:36.380
 call themselves

00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:37.240
 followers of God

00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:38.480
 but then blaspheme

00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:38.940
 his name,

00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:40.240
 murder others,

00:28:40.360 --> 00:28:40.940
 kill others,

00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.960
 and act unjustly.

00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:43.799
 He says,

00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:44.100
 God,

00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:44.680
 your enemies

00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:45.380
 take your name

00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:45.819
 in vain.

00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:46.299
 Therefore,

00:28:46.299 --> 00:28:47.220
 I count them

00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:48.159
 as my enemies.

00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:49.379
 I get angry

00:28:49.379 --> 00:28:50.019
 about it.

00:28:51.139 --> 00:28:51.399
 Friends,

00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:52.039
 how do you know

00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:53.079
 that you love God

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:54.019
 and that God's grace

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:55.279
 has changed your life?

00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:56.799
 One of the ways

00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.119
 you know

00:28:57.119 --> 00:28:57.819
 is that you love

00:28:57.819 --> 00:28:58.619
 what God loves

00:28:58.619 --> 00:28:59.919
 and you hate

00:28:59.919 --> 00:29:00.779
 what God hates.

00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:03.180
 You see that?

00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:05.019
 The immensity

00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:06.119
 of God's sovereign

00:29:06.119 --> 00:29:07.180
 grace and care,

00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:08.240
 God's sovereign

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.259
 awesomeness

00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:10.680
 and his amazing

00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:11.639
 grace for us

00:29:11.639 --> 00:29:12.819
 is meant to so

00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:13.559
 draw us

00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:14.619
 into him

00:29:14.619 --> 00:29:15.639
 that now

00:29:15.639 --> 00:29:16.319
 it changes

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:17.039
 our lives

00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.919
 and now

00:29:17.919 --> 00:29:18.299
 we start

00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:18.779
 to love

00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:19.219
 what God

00:29:19.219 --> 00:29:19.579
 loves

00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:20.519
 and we hate

00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:20.919
 what God

00:29:20.919 --> 00:29:21.279
 hates

00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:22.699
 and our lives

00:29:22.699 --> 00:29:23.119
 start to get

00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:23.699
 orientated

00:29:23.699 --> 00:29:24.679
 around God

00:29:24.679 --> 00:29:27.500
 except that's

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:27.979
 not the only

00:29:27.979 --> 00:29:28.379
 thing that

00:29:28.379 --> 00:29:28.879
 God's grace

00:29:28.879 --> 00:29:29.259
 does.

00:29:30.219 --> 00:29:31.079
 God's grace

00:29:31.079 --> 00:29:31.899
 draws us

00:29:31.899 --> 00:29:32.599
 into him

00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:33.000
 so that we

00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:33.819
 center our lives

00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:34.419
 around him

00:29:34.419 --> 00:29:35.439
 but it does

00:29:35.439 --> 00:29:35.979
 something else

00:29:35.979 --> 00:29:36.399
 as well.

00:29:37.439 --> 00:29:37.679
 You see,

00:29:38.179 --> 00:29:39.059
 God's grace

00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:39.679
 to David

00:29:39.679 --> 00:29:40.439
 has caused

00:29:40.439 --> 00:29:41.159
 him to hate

00:29:41.159 --> 00:29:41.679
 the evil

00:29:41.679 --> 00:29:42.299
 and the wickedness

00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:42.779
 that he sees

00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:43.179
 in the world.

00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.139
 He sees

00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:44.740
 this injustice

00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.220
 and he says

00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:45.500
 God,

00:29:45.580 --> 00:29:45.860
 there's something

00:29:45.860 --> 00:29:46.700
 wrong about this.

00:29:47.100 --> 00:29:47.460
 He sees

00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:48.380
 corruption in the church

00:29:48.380 --> 00:29:48.680
 and he says

00:29:48.680 --> 00:29:48.940
 God,

00:29:49.020 --> 00:29:49.480
 it should not

00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:50.240
 be like that.

00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:51.980
 But the problem

00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:52.580
 is one of the

00:29:52.580 --> 00:29:53.320
 things the gospel

00:29:53.320 --> 00:29:54.060
 tells us

00:29:54.060 --> 00:29:55.220
 is that the

00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:56.040
 problem with the

00:29:56.040 --> 00:29:56.900
 world is not

00:29:56.900 --> 00:29:57.780
 just out there,

00:29:57.860 --> 00:29:58.160
 is it?

00:29:58.860 --> 00:30:00.020
 It's also in here.

00:30:01.800 --> 00:30:02.620
 In the words of

00:30:02.620 --> 00:30:03.420
 G.K. Chesterton,

00:30:03.600 --> 00:30:04.200
 what's wrong

00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:04.860
 with the world?

00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:06.340
 I am.

00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:07.940
 I am.

00:30:09.060 --> 00:30:09.340
 You see,

00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:09.900
 the wickedness

00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:10.500
 and the problem

00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:11.320
 and the hypocrisy

00:30:11.320 --> 00:30:12.060
 and the brokenness

00:30:12.060 --> 00:30:12.560
 of the world

00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:13.539
 is not just

00:30:13.539 --> 00:30:14.279
 on Wall Street

00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:14.659
 or,

00:30:14.659 --> 00:30:16.799
 you know,

00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:17.740
 Peter Street

00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:19.279
 or the big banks

00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:21.200
 or institutions

00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:22.639
 or politics

00:30:22.639 --> 00:30:23.539
 or the education.

00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:24.819
 It's actually

00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:25.579
 in my heart.

00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:27.759
 It's my self-absorption.

00:30:27.919 --> 00:30:29.240
 It's my self-righteousness.

00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.879
 It's my bigotry.

00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:32.500
 It's my selfishness.

00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:33.059
 And so look at

00:30:33.059 --> 00:30:33.500
 what David,

00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:34.419
 what God's grace

00:30:34.419 --> 00:30:35.299
 does to David here.

00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:36.740
 It doesn't just

00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:37.359
 cause David

00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:38.399
 to hate the wickedness

00:30:38.399 --> 00:30:38.819
 out there,

00:30:38.879 --> 00:30:39.619
 but the wickedness

00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:40.119
 within.

00:30:41.119 --> 00:30:41.979
 In other words,

00:30:42.139 --> 00:30:42.819
 God's grace

00:30:42.819 --> 00:30:43.459
 doesn't just

00:30:43.459 --> 00:30:44.500
 make you passionate,

00:30:45.099 --> 00:30:46.479
 it also makes you humble.

00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:48.000
 And so look at

00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:48.759
 how David ends

00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.299
 this psalm

00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:49.879
 in response

00:30:49.879 --> 00:30:50.939
 to God's amazing

00:30:50.939 --> 00:30:51.919
 kindness and care.

00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:52.699
 Verse 23,

00:30:53.419 --> 00:30:54.559
 Search me,

00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.379
 O God.

00:30:55.899 --> 00:30:57.059
 Know my heart.

00:30:57.679 --> 00:30:58.339
 Try me

00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:59.599
 and know my thoughts.

00:30:59.699 --> 00:30:59.859
 God,

00:30:59.899 --> 00:31:00.979
 even my most private

00:31:00.979 --> 00:31:01.759
 and intimate thoughts,

00:31:01.939 --> 00:31:03.419
 I'm opening them up to you.

00:31:03.979 --> 00:31:04.259
 God,

00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:04.979
 if there is any

00:31:04.979 --> 00:31:06.179
 grievous way in me,

00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:06.919
 literally any

00:31:06.919 --> 00:31:08.379
 idle, loving way in me,

00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:09.340
 O God,

00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:10.200
 come and change me.

00:31:10.820 --> 00:31:11.600
 Lead me back

00:31:11.600 --> 00:31:12.360
 to your path,

00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:13.900
 the way of everlasting life.

00:31:15.140 --> 00:31:16.100
 Let me ask you a question.

00:31:16.820 --> 00:31:17.640
 What do you do

00:31:17.640 --> 00:31:18.600
 when you feel

00:31:18.600 --> 00:31:19.460
 insecure,

00:31:20.360 --> 00:31:20.880
 when you feel

00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:21.480
 threatened,

00:31:22.760 --> 00:31:23.900
 when you feel

00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:24.560
 unsure about

00:31:24.560 --> 00:31:25.320
 how somebody's

00:31:25.320 --> 00:31:25.780
 going to

00:31:25.780 --> 00:31:26.520
 treat you?

00:31:27.300 --> 00:31:27.740
 Typically,

00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:28.640
 we close up,

00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:28.940
 right?

00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:30.640
 We close down.

00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:32.980
 We don't share

00:31:32.980 --> 00:31:33.780
 too much information.

00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:34.500
 We make sure

00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:34.960
 that we're not

00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:35.700
 too vulnerable

00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:36.600
 with those

00:31:36.600 --> 00:31:37.060
 that we feel

00:31:37.060 --> 00:31:37.880
 insecure about.

00:31:38.380 --> 00:31:39.440
 But what do you do

00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:39.900
 when you feel

00:31:39.900 --> 00:31:41.340
 100% safe

00:31:41.340 --> 00:31:41.840
 with somebody?

00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:42.980
 What do you do

00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.360
 when you feel

00:31:43.360 --> 00:31:44.720
 100% secure

00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:45.240
 with somebody?

00:31:45.540 --> 00:31:46.220
 When you know

00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:46.940
 that somebody's

00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:47.820
 only ever got

00:31:47.820 --> 00:31:48.740
 your best interest

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.200
 at heart?

00:31:49.620 --> 00:31:50.240
 When you know

00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:51.140
 that what you share

00:31:51.140 --> 00:31:51.500
 with them

00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:52.040
 is going to be

00:31:52.040 --> 00:31:53.240
 kept 100%

00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:53.840
 in confidence?

00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:54.300
 They're not going

00:31:54.300 --> 00:31:55.180
 to share it

00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:55.580
 with anyone

00:31:55.580 --> 00:31:56.180
 or use it

00:31:56.180 --> 00:31:56.660
 against you.

00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.280
 What do you do?

00:31:58.140 --> 00:31:59.120
 You open yourself up.

00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:00.400
 You're willing

00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:01.120
 to be vulnerable

00:32:01.120 --> 00:32:01.540
 with them.

00:32:02.120 --> 00:32:02.860
 You let them

00:32:02.860 --> 00:32:03.380
 into the most

00:32:03.380 --> 00:32:04.220
 intimate and secret

00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:05.360
 places of your heart,

00:32:05.420 --> 00:32:05.680
 right?

00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:07.600
 Friends,

00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:08.759
 the story of the Bible

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:10.980
 is that the sovereign God

00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:12.440
 who made the galaxies

00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:13.220
 and the cosmos

00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:14.560
 and everything about us,

00:32:15.060 --> 00:32:16.140
 the God who knows

00:32:16.140 --> 00:32:17.180
 every single thing

00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:17.600
 about you,

00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:18.660
 the best about you

00:32:18.660 --> 00:32:20.240
 and the worst about you,

00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:21.740
 the one who knows you

00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.700
 even better than you

00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:23.180
 know yourself.

00:32:23.320 --> 00:32:23.840
 Do you know what he did

00:32:23.840 --> 00:32:24.519
 with that information?

00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:26.799
 He went to the cross

00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:29.259
 and he took the fall

00:32:29.259 --> 00:32:30.299
 for you

00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:32.819
 and that changes us

00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:34.440
 because now we can

00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:35.180
 live for him

00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:36.579
 but now we can also

00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:37.500
 be secure enough

00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:39.039
 to open our lives

00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:39.579
 up to him.

00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:40.980
 Friends,

00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:42.200
 the God of the Bible,

00:32:42.299 --> 00:32:43.500
 the one who knows you

00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:44.500
 is the safest being

00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:45.399
 in the whole universe

00:32:45.399 --> 00:32:47.039
 and because he knows

00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:47.980
 everything there is

00:32:47.980 --> 00:32:48.680
 to know about you

00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:50.119
 and he won't shame you

00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:51.419
 and he won't belittle you

00:32:51.419 --> 00:32:53.000
 and he won't mock you

00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:54.740
 but rather he treats you

00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:56.440
 with unbelievable kindness,

00:32:57.159 --> 00:32:58.299
 that doesn't lead us

00:32:58.299 --> 00:32:59.960
 to become more self-absorbed

00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:01.140
 or more self-focused

00:33:01.140 --> 00:33:02.220
 or closed up,

00:33:02.860 --> 00:33:03.740
 it leads us to say,

00:33:03.880 --> 00:33:04.100
 God,

00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:06.500
 my life is in your hands.

00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:08.420
 Come and have your way.

00:33:09.779 --> 00:33:10.180
 Friends,

00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:11.440
 Christ's immense grace

00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:12.740
 and love and care for you

00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:13.980
 gives you such

00:33:13.980 --> 00:33:14.900
 an immense security

00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:16.019
 it should lead us to say,

00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:16.680
 okay God,

00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:18.019
 I know that with you

00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:18.980
 I'm in safe hands.

00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:20.840
 You're not gonna ride of me,

00:33:20.900 --> 00:33:21.460
 you're not gonna take

00:33:21.460 --> 00:33:22.360
 advantage of me.

00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:23.940
 Here's my life,

00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:24.680
 have my way.

00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:25.779
 God,

00:33:25.860 --> 00:33:26.700
 come and have your way.

00:33:27.360 --> 00:33:27.960
 Search me,

00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:28.279
 oh God.

00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:29.180
 If you see anything

00:33:29.180 --> 00:33:29.700
 in my life

00:33:29.700 --> 00:33:30.460
 that grieves you,

00:33:30.920 --> 00:33:32.220
 come and change my life.

00:33:32.759 --> 00:33:33.640
 Change the trajectory,

00:33:33.799 --> 00:33:34.519
 change the path

00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:34.819
 that I'm on.

00:33:35.019 --> 00:33:35.220
 God,

00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:36.840
 lead me to your path,

00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:38.880
 the path of everlasting life.

00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:40.779
 Friends,

00:33:40.860 --> 00:33:42.059
 do you know God like this?

00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:43.799
 Have you opened yourself

00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:44.360
 up to him?

00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:46.720
 Friends,

00:33:46.759 --> 00:33:47.880
 do you ever feel alone

00:33:47.880 --> 00:33:50.440
 and misunderstood,

00:33:51.900 --> 00:33:52.299
 overlooked?

00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:54.559
 Do you sometimes feel

00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:55.980
 that nobody cares about you?

00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:57.819
 Nobody knows you?

00:33:57.819 --> 00:34:00.180
 Do you sometimes worry

00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:00.940
 if the anxieties

00:34:00.940 --> 00:34:01.480
 in your heart

00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:02.700
 you carry them alone?

00:34:03.400 --> 00:34:04.420
 That nobody understands

00:34:04.420 --> 00:34:05.279
 what you're going through?

00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:07.259
 Do you find it difficult

00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:07.960
 to be vulnerable

00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:08.519
 and real,

00:34:08.659 --> 00:34:09.519
 to let people in?

00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:11.179
 Friends,

00:34:11.240 --> 00:34:12.099
 there is a God,

00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:13.699
 the one who knows you

00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:14.880
 better than you know yourself,

00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:16.599
 who loves you more

00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:17.460
 than you love yourself.

00:34:18.159 --> 00:34:18.740
 And he's already

00:34:18.740 --> 00:34:19.539
 paved the way

00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:20.719
 for you to open yourself up,

00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:22.519
 to let him in,

00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:24.099
 that he can lead you

00:34:24.099 --> 00:34:24.500
 the way

00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:26.039
 of everlasting life.

00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:27.800
 Let's pray together.

00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:30.519
 Oh,

00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.159
 Heavenly Father,

00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:32.139
 thank you for this

00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:33.000
 amazing psalm,

00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:33.239
 God.

00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:33.780
 It's a psalm

00:34:33.780 --> 00:34:34.940
 that is very famous.

00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:36.340
 We sing about it,

00:34:36.360 --> 00:34:37.219
 we talk about it,

00:34:37.300 --> 00:34:39.320
 we discuss it

00:34:39.320 --> 00:34:40.960
 throughout the ages.

00:34:41.820 --> 00:34:42.159
 But God,

00:34:42.199 --> 00:34:42.699
 when we stop

00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:43.500
 to think about it,

00:34:43.559 --> 00:34:44.920
 it is such good news.

00:34:46.199 --> 00:34:46.860
 That God,

00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:47.539
 you know us

00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:48.420
 and you care for us.

00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:49.480
 God,

00:34:49.539 --> 00:34:51.199
 thank you for the good news

00:34:51.199 --> 00:34:54.960
 of your sovereign omniscience

00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:57.319
 and yet your intimate care.

00:34:58.359 --> 00:34:58.739
 God,

00:34:58.819 --> 00:34:59.739
 thank you for the good news

00:34:59.739 --> 00:35:00.939
 that though you know us

00:35:00.939 --> 00:35:01.919
 inside and out,

00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:04.179
 what you chose to do with that

00:35:04.179 --> 00:35:05.639
 was the most astounding thing.

00:35:05.759 --> 00:35:07.199
 You went to the cross for us

00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:08.299
 and you died for us

00:35:08.299 --> 00:35:10.359
 to carry our shame,

00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:12.179
 to carry our guilt,

00:35:12.759 --> 00:35:13.939
 to carry the things

00:35:13.939 --> 00:35:14.500
 in our lives,

00:35:14.579 --> 00:35:14.699
 God,

00:35:14.739 --> 00:35:15.819
 that nobody knows about

00:35:15.819 --> 00:35:16.579
 and that we've sworn

00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:18.159
 we'll never tell anybody about.

00:35:18.799 --> 00:35:19.599
 You know them

00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:21.039
 and you carried it

00:35:21.039 --> 00:35:21.599
 to the cross.

00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:28.259
 God,

00:35:28.339 --> 00:35:29.619
 I pray that this morning,

00:35:29.799 --> 00:35:29.900
 Lord,

00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:31.480
 that your sovereign grace

00:35:31.480 --> 00:35:32.900
 and your

00:35:32.900 --> 00:35:35.099
 perfect

00:35:35.099 --> 00:35:37.000
 knowledge of us

00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:38.519
 will lead us,

00:35:38.639 --> 00:35:38.860
 God,

00:35:39.380 --> 00:35:40.719
 to open up our lives

00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:41.779
 and to trust our lives

00:35:41.779 --> 00:35:42.179
 to you.

00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:44.019
 To not have to make life

00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:45.179
 work on our own terms,

00:35:46.099 --> 00:35:46.579
 but to come

00:35:46.579 --> 00:35:47.539
 and to trust you.

00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:49.980
 God,

00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:51.619
 that you know this morning,

00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:52.380
 if you have utiliser

00:35:52.380 --> 00:35:53.739
 help,

00:35:53.759 --> 00:35:54.940
 in this Toomer song,

00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:55.779
 that you are also

00:35:55.779 --> 00:36:02.719
 a free gem

00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:04.559
 to use the auth generated

00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:06.039
 and then you can

00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:07.000
 take a closer look

00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:07.259
 and see if you have

00:36:07.259 --> 00:36:08.559
 it might be the

00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:09.539
 one that's going to place

00:36:09.539 --> 00:36:10.059
 a whole place

00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:10.279
 because

00:36:10.279 --> 00:36:10.799
 you can show

00:36:10.799 --> 00:36:11.739
 a baby

00:36:11.739 --> 00:36:12.839
 and the ahora

00:36:12.839 --> 00:36:13.960
 have to�

00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:14.380
 it may be the

00:36:14.380 --> 00:36:15.039
 whoever

00:36:15.420 --> 00:36:15.900
 to bring it

00:36:16.039 --> 00:36:18.059
 and use