WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.860 Well, good morning, church. Turn with me if you have a Bible or follow along with me on the screen. 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:10.500 We're reading Psalm 51. We're continuing in our series through the Psalms. As we've said, 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:14.800 the Psalms are a collection of songs and prayers written over several hundred years, collected 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:20.620 by several different people that were gradually collected into the songbook or the prayer book 00:00:20.620 --> 00:00:25.420 of the ancient Israelites. We've seen many different kinds of Psalms written out of different 00:00:25.420 --> 00:00:31.900 life situations, Psalms of lament, people calling out to God in trouble and turmoil, Psalms of trust, 00:00:32.380 --> 00:00:37.920 people holding on to God's promises in the midst of shaky times, Psalms of praise, people looking 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:43.260 around at the world and looking at the works of God and giving Him the thanks and praise that He is 00:00:43.260 --> 00:00:49.280 due. Today, we're looking at a Psalm of repentance. In other words, turning to God in the midst of our 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:58.260 sin and failure. So let me read Psalm 51 for us today. Psalm 51, to the choir master, a Psalm of 00:00:58.260 --> 00:01:07.620 David, when Nathan the prophet went to him after he had gone into Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God. 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:15.439 According to your steadfast love, according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions. 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:23.319 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions and my 00:01:23.319 --> 00:01:30.579 sin is ever before me against you. You only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:37.039 so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought 00:01:37.039 --> 00:01:44.859 forth in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth and the inward being and 00:01:44.859 --> 00:01:52.260 you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean. Wash me and I 00:01:52.260 --> 00:01:56.920 shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness with the bones that you have broken. 00:01:57.420 --> 00:02:04.780 Rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, 00:02:04.859 --> 00:02:12.400 O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:19.099 Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. 00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:24.819 Then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will return to you. 00:02:26.300 --> 00:02:31.000 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:36.500 righteousness. O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise, for you will not delight in 00:02:36.500 --> 00:02:42.319 sacrifice or I would give it. You will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:49.840 God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:57.659 in your good pleasure. Build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then will you delight in right sacrifices, 00:02:57.879 --> 00:03:02.840 in burnt offerings, in whole burnt offerings. Then bowls will be offered on your altar. 00:03:02.840 --> 00:03:09.340 Father, let's pray. Father, thank you for this psalm, this prayer written by David so long ago 00:03:09.340 --> 00:03:16.360 and preserved for us today. We pray that by your spirit that this too would become our prayer, 00:03:17.259 --> 00:03:22.599 that this prayer would help us to draw near to you and to know and be assured of your grace. In Jesus' 00:03:22.780 --> 00:03:31.240 name, amen. So how do you respond when you have messed up? When you fail to live up to your own 00:03:31.240 --> 00:03:38.700 standards, when you've wronged or harmed other people, when you have sinned against your creator? 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:45.879 That's what this psalm is about. It was written in the aftermath of David's worst moral failure. 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:52.879 The story is recorded in 2 Samuel 11 and 12. David the king was at home in the palace while his army 00:03:52.879 --> 00:04:00.240 was off at war. Late one afternoon, he saw a beautiful woman named Bathsheba, and despite being told that her 00:04:00.240 --> 00:04:07.140 husband was a soldier fighting for the king on the front lines, David summoned her to come with him. 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:14.700 When he learned a little while later that he had made her pregnant, David tried various schemes to 00:04:14.700 --> 00:04:19.780 cover up what had happened, and when those didn't work, he arranged for her husband to be conveniently 00:04:19.779 --> 00:04:29.579 killed in battle. Adultery, deception, murder. It was a horrible mess. All of David's own making. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:36.659 And for quite some time, perhaps a few months, David did not face up or fess up to what he had done. 00:04:37.299 --> 00:04:43.159 He ignored his servants' polite hints of disapproval. He married Bathsheba and prepared to go on with his 00:04:43.160 --> 00:04:53.080 life. Until one day, David's friend, the prophet Nathan, did a courageous thing. He came over and 00:04:53.080 --> 00:04:59.879 tactfully but boldly rebuked and confronted David with the reality of what he had done. 00:05:01.640 --> 00:05:06.700 Sometime after that conversation, David wrote this psalm. 00:05:06.699 --> 00:05:16.159 Now, you may or may not have had a catastrophic moral failure that, like David's, David's failure 00:05:16.159 --> 00:05:21.699 had consequences for himself, for his family, for his kingdom, for the rest of his life. 00:05:23.379 --> 00:05:30.300 But this psalm helps us to turn to God when we've messed up, when we've failed, when we've fallen short, 00:05:30.300 --> 00:05:46.819 when we've fallen short. And what I want us to see this morning is this psalm leads us on a three-part 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:57.540 journey of repentance, from pleading to longing to praising. So we're going to look at those three 00:05:57.540 --> 00:06:06.260 themes as we go through the psalm, pleading, longing, and praising. First theme that we see in verses 1 00:06:06.260 --> 00:06:15.759 through 5 is David pleading for grace and facing his guilt. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:21.700 steadfast love, according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions, wash me thoroughly from my 00:06:21.699 --> 00:06:28.560 iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. David begins by appealing to God's character, to God's grace. 00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:34.259 That word translated mercy in verse 1. It's a word that means showing favor to the undeserving. 00:06:35.459 --> 00:06:42.539 And he appeals to God's steadfast love. That word in the Old Testament that refers to God's unchanging 00:06:42.539 --> 00:06:50.000 commitment, his unfailing promise, his unwavering choice to love and to stay with his people. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:56.019 And third, he appeals to God's abundant mercy. If God's steadfast love refers to God's committed 00:06:56.019 --> 00:07:04.240 love, God's abundant mercy refers to God's emotional love, his yearning for us, his compassion, his deeply 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:14.120 felt affection for us. David begins by appealing to God's gracious character. And then he pleads for 00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:19.319 God to act. He uses three verbs. He says, blot out my transgressions. That's a word that means 00:07:19.319 --> 00:07:27.159 erase them from the chalkboard or strike them out from the list or wipe them away like you wipe dirt 00:07:27.159 --> 00:07:33.600 out of a dish. Then he says, wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. That was a word that was used for 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:38.899 doing laundry. And it's actually a word that means tread on or step on because sometimes to do laundry 00:07:38.899 --> 00:07:45.800 back then they'd put all the dirty clothes in a pail of water or a tub of water and they'd step on them, 00:07:45.800 --> 00:07:55.620 right? To get the deeply ingrained dirt out, to cleanse them. That third word, cleanse me from my 00:07:55.620 --> 00:08:01.600 sin, that word appears a lot in Leviticus where various objects or people were, where the stains 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:08.100 were removed, where whatever was separating them from God was cleansed away so they could come into 00:08:08.100 --> 00:08:13.920 the presence of God again. So David begins by pleading for grace, pleading for forgiveness, 00:08:14.140 --> 00:08:22.180 pleading for to be received once into the presence of God once again. And then in verses three to five, 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:28.420 he faces his guilt. He says, for I know my transgressions, my sin is ever before me. It's as if 00:08:28.420 --> 00:08:35.080 he's looking at all that he has done and he's not turning his face away or trying to distract himself 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:40.740 or avoiding it. He's not blaming somebody else or minimizing what he did. He's not living in denial 00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:48.820 about it. He's facing it head on. He's facing the height and the depth of his guilt. Verse four, he faces 00:08:48.820 --> 00:08:56.460 the height of his guilt. He says, against you, only you have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight. 00:08:57.040 --> 00:09:03.379 Now that statement doesn't minimize the wrong and harm that David did to Bathsheba, to her husband Uriah, 00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:09.639 and to the whole nation of Israel by betraying their trust. The point of verse four is not that 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:14.220 our sins don't affect other people. It's that sin is a problem, not just because another person says it 00:09:14.220 --> 00:09:20.480 is, but ultimately because God says it is. Because you see, if the main problem was that David sinned 00:09:20.480 --> 00:09:27.820 against Bathsheba, then what if Bathsheba had eagerly consented? What if Bathsheba in the end said, 00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:33.160 well, I don't think it's all that serious? I'd rather be with you than with Uriah? 00:09:34.780 --> 00:09:40.160 Would that have made David's, would that have made it less wrong? Would that have removed the offense? 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:45.740 Or if the main problem was that David offended against the social norms of ancient Israel? Well, 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:52.120 a lot of ancient cultures would have said the king's authority is absolute and needs to be maintained 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:56.659 at all costs. This situation is perhaps unfortunate, but ultimately justifiable. 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:05.240 You see, if sin is ultimately or primarily an offense against other individuals or against social norms, 00:10:05.299 --> 00:10:12.580 we end up very quickly on a slippery slope. Because individuals' feelings and social norms can vary 00:10:12.580 --> 00:10:20.539 and change very quickly. But the Bible says that sin is an offense ultimately against a holy 00:10:20.539 --> 00:10:29.139 and unchanging God. We can't just manage the consequences of our sin on a human level. We 00:10:29.139 --> 00:10:37.360 must reckon with our sin and guilt before the Almighty God Himself. And so verse 4, David faces the height 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:43.759 of his guilt. And then in verse 5, he faces the depth of his guilt. He says, behold, I was brought forth 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:48.639 in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me. Now this is another verse that can be easily misunderstood. 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:55.980 David's not blaming his mom. And he's not saying anything bad about the circumstances of his birth 00:10:55.980 --> 00:11:03.220 or the process of conceiving a child. Over and over, the Bible says children are a gift from the Lord. 00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:10.580 But the Bible also says that in this fallen world, no human being, not even the littlest, 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:17.759 weakest, or most vulnerable, is entirely free of moral corruption. There never was a time 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:27.080 when we were completely pure and innocent. Even when we came into the world. You see, David's 00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:32.700 recognizing that his sin, his moral corruption, is deeply ingrained in his character. It wasn't just a 00:11:32.700 --> 00:11:39.500 phase. This wasn't just some midlife crisis that David went through and made a stupid decision in the 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:47.559 middle of an otherwise upright life. His failure wasn't just a freak accident. David's acknowledging, 00:11:47.820 --> 00:11:54.960 my character has been twisted and warped ever since I came into the world. My words and actions have 00:11:54.960 --> 00:12:00.779 proceeded out of the evil in my own heart. Deep down, I am a sinner. 00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:10.720 He's facing his guilt. The height and the depth. Now, before we go on, let's apply this first point 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:20.240 in two practical ways. First, when we sin, let's begin where David does, by pleading with God for 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:25.879 grace on the basis of his character. You know, sometimes we might think that the first thing 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:30.939 David needs to do is face his sin and failure in all its ugliness, and then he'll be motivated to 00:12:30.939 --> 00:12:37.759 turn to God. But here the order is actually reversed. The first thing he does is plead for grace. 00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:45.059 And that actually gives him the courage that he wouldn't otherwise have to face his guilt. The height 00:12:45.059 --> 00:12:54.200 and the depth. You see, apart from some sense of God's grace and mercy that is available to us, 00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:59.620 we will not be able to face our sin and guilt in its height and in its depth without simply despairing. 00:13:02.280 --> 00:13:08.920 You see, pleading for grace actually enables us to face our guilt without being completely crushed by it. 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:18.480 But second, have we faced our sin and our guilt before God? 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:25.879 You know, maybe you've done something that has affected another person or other people. Perhaps 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:33.899 you've done wrong to your parents or to your children or to a spouse or to a friend. And maybe 00:13:33.899 --> 00:13:38.779 you're trying to figure out, how do I fix that or how do I repair a damaged relationship? 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:45.800 But have you dealt with your sin, not just in its horizontal dimensions as it affects other people, 00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:50.559 but in its vertical dimension before God? Have you reckoned with how your sin is an offense 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:53.479 against the Lord of glory, against your very own maker? 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:59.539 Have you asked forgiveness not just from other people, but have you asked forgiveness from God 00:13:59.539 --> 00:14:07.079 himself? You see, when we deal with our sin before God, then we will see more clearly 00:14:07.079 --> 00:14:10.599 what we ought to do to make things right with our neighbor. 00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:19.800 It's the right place to start by dealing with our sin before God. So that's the first movement of 00:14:19.800 --> 00:14:26.320 repentance we see in this psalm, David pleading for grace. The second movement that we see in verses 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:35.560 6 through 12 is longing for renewal. Behold, David says in verse 6, you delight in truth in the inward 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:41.619 being. That's a statement of God's purpose, right? God's desire that we become people of integrity, 00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:49.759 people of truth and faithfulness, just like God himself is. And then in this section, we hear David 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:57.239 longing for God to carry out that good purpose in him personally and deeply, inwardly. 00:14:57.240 --> 00:15:06.379 Look down at verses 7 and 8 for a moment. In most English translations, these verses are translated 00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:13.139 as requests. Purge me, wash me, let me hear, let my bones rejoice. It sounds very much like pleading, 00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:19.820 right? More pleading, just like verses 1 and 2. But the Hebrew verb tense is actually different. 00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:25.879 In verses 1 and 2, it's the imperative, which is what you'd normally use to make a request. 00:15:26.680 --> 00:15:30.760 But here, from the second half of verse 6 through the end of verse 8, it's what's called the imperfect 00:15:30.760 --> 00:15:37.520 tense. Now, the imperfect tense can express a wish or request, but normally it expresses a future 00:15:37.520 --> 00:15:45.340 action or a not yet completed action. And I think it's actually best to translate it that way here. 00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:51.720 All the verbs from the second half of verse 6 to the end of verse 8 are all in the same imperfect tense. 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:55.580 So if you translate it that way, here's what you get. 00:15:56.740 --> 00:16:04.759 You will teach me wisdom in the secret heart. You will purge me with hyssop and I will be clean. 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:10.259 You will wash me and I will be whiter than snow. You will make me hear joy and gladness. The bones 00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:17.720 that you have broken will rejoice. You see, I think David isn't just pleading here. He's going one step 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:24.519 further. He's holding on to God's promise and God's good purpose and he's longing for God to work that 00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:30.279 out within him. And he's actually expressing confidence that God can and God will. You will 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:38.240 cleanse me and I'll be clean. You can do it through and through. These are hopeful affirmations 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:47.580 of God's transforming and inwardly renewing power. And brothers and sisters, we too can take hold of 00:16:47.580 --> 00:16:57.480 and God's good purpose and long for him to work that out within us. Romans 8 29 says God's eternal 00:16:57.480 --> 00:17:04.960 purpose for everyone who trusts in Jesus is that we become conformed to the image of his son. And that's 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:12.900 a word that means sort of reflecting the beautiful image of Jesus. Reflecting his glory, shining with his 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:24.799 beauty. The point is this, no matter how far you have fallen, no matter how many times you have fallen, 00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:34.059 if you are looking to Jesus, God is not finished with you yet. That's a promise we can hold onto, 00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:41.299 that motivates us to long for God to carry out his renewing and transforming work within us. That's 00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:48.099 what leads David to say in verse 10, create in me a clean heart. You know, David's not just sitting 00:17:48.099 --> 00:17:54.099 back and saying, okay God, well I guess you'll do whatever you want to do whenever you want to do it. 00:17:54.099 --> 00:18:02.839 Do it if you want to do it. No, that's not a biblical attitude. No, David's longing for God to renew him 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:11.259 in the here and now, deeply and personally. You see, he's not only praying in this psalm for forgiveness 00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:19.199 and release from his guilt, he's praying for renewal, for freedom from the enslaving power 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:27.480 and from the corrupting influence of sin. That word create throughout the Old Testament is only 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:34.940 used to refer to God's action. It's never used to refer to anything that a human being does. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:39.380 So when David says, create in me a clean heart, he's saying, God, do what only you can do. 00:18:39.380 --> 00:18:50.200 And that word create isn't just a one-time action. It's an ongoing, renewing work. God continuing to 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:55.160 renew him from the inside out, create in me a clean heart, renew a right spirit within me. 00:18:55.780 --> 00:19:01.400 That word create means to shape or fashion or build or form. And David's saying, God, 00:19:01.560 --> 00:19:06.020 keep on shaping me, keep on fashioning me, keep on forming me. 00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:13.960 Don't cast me away, verse 11, he prays, from your presence. Don't take your Holy Spirit from me. 00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:17.980 You know, before David became king, he had served under a man named King Saul. 00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:25.279 And for a time, the spirit of the Lord had come upon Saul and empowered him to defeat Israel's 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:31.359 enemies and to rule over Israel. But Saul's heart had never really been in the right place with God. 00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:39.119 And so there was a time when Saul directly disobeyed God's command. In fact, there were multiple times 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:44.879 where Saul directly disobeyed God's command. And there were multiple times when Saul was confronted 00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:52.119 by the prophet Samuel, like David was confronted by the prophet Nathan. But Saul only made superficial 00:19:52.119 --> 00:20:02.839 apologies along with excuses. And he hardened his heart against the Lord more and more. 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:08.500 And in fact, at one point in 1 Samuel, it says the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and a harmful 00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:17.599 spirit from the Lord tormented him. And David saw that because Saul actually started attacking David 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:23.240 when that happened. David saw the, the, the Saul's life sort of going down and down and down and down. 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:30.379 And so what David is praying here is, Lord, have mercy on me. Don't let me end up like Saul did. 00:20:31.639 --> 00:20:39.240 The way I saw his life go down. You know, if you read through 1 and 2 Samuel, the two main characters, 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:46.679 apart from Samuel, are Saul and David, the first two kings of Israel. And the difference between Saul and 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:56.400 David is not that Saul sinned and David didn't. No, they both had significant failures. They both sinned 00:20:56.400 --> 00:21:04.200 greatly against the Lord. But the difference that you will see is how they responded when they were 00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:15.740 confronted with their sin. David repented, not perfectly, but sincerely. And God restored David. 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:22.360 Not completely. There were still consequences. The end of 2 Samuel is a little messy. 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:28.060 But David repented and God restored him while Saul did not. 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:40.700 You know, I wonder if you are afraid that because of your sins and failures, that God will one day, 00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:46.259 or perhaps that God has already cast you away and taken away his spirit from you. 00:21:48.059 --> 00:21:49.319 Pray, verse 11. 00:21:50.620 --> 00:21:55.319 And know that God hears and answers the prayer of a humble and contrite heart. 00:21:55.420 --> 00:22:01.900 God did not take his spirit away from David despite the seriousness of David's sin and failure. 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:03.080 It was a mess. 00:22:04.080 --> 00:22:05.540 A horrible mess. 00:22:06.340 --> 00:22:08.140 And it was all David's fault. 00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:13.120 But God didn't take away his spirit from David. 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:17.120 And he will not take his spirit away from anyone who truly turns to him. 00:22:18.120 --> 00:22:19.500 Jesus said the same thing. 00:22:19.620 --> 00:22:20.660 Jesus made the same promise. 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:24.759 He said, anyone who comes to me, I will never cast away. 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:28.440 So, brothers and sisters, we can hold on to that promise. 00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:34.420 You know, in fact, if you are praying verses 10 through 12 or something like verses 10 through 12, 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:39.640 if you're asking God, renew me and cleanse my heart, that means his spirit is still at work within you. 00:22:39.879 --> 00:22:43.980 Because if his spirit was not at work within you at all, then you would not be praying such a prayer. 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:49.460 So, be encouraged by these verses. 00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:51.440 Restore to me the joy of your salvation. 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:54.360 And David prays, uphold me with a willing spirit. 00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:57.480 He doesn't even notice he's not even just praying for cleansing. 00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:58.500 He's praying for joy. 00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:07.259 He's praying that his spirit would have eagerness and generosity and a desire to carry out God's will once again. 00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:07.339 Amen. 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:15.680 So, we've seen David pleading for grace. 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:18.359 We've seen him longing for renewal. 00:23:19.160 --> 00:23:23.119 And finally, in the third section, we see him praising. 00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:26.720 Praising God's name. 00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:31.819 The first two sections of the psalm have focused on David and the Lord. 00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:36.579 If you notice, nobody else is in the picture in these first two sections of the psalm. 00:23:36.579 --> 00:23:39.259 And when we've sinned against the Lord, that's the right place to start. 00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:44.619 Because sometimes when we mess up, we can immediately distract ourselves with secondary concerns. 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:50.519 Like, oh Lord, I've messed up and there's all these bad consequences coming my way. 00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:52.559 Lord, save me from these bad consequences. 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:56.279 These painful things that I don't want to experience. 00:23:56.659 --> 00:23:59.179 That might come my way as a result of what I've done. 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:04.179 Or, Lord, other people are going to hear about what I've done. 00:24:04.179 --> 00:24:06.179 And my reputation will be damaged. 00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:09.539 Or, somebody's going to be mad at me and never want to speak to me again. 00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:15.140 Now, those are all legitimate concerns to deal with at one point or another. 00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:21.580 But those are secondary to, are we in a right place before God? 00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:26.220 Praying this psalm helps us put first things first. 00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:29.720 To focus on getting right with God at the heart level. 00:24:29.820 --> 00:24:32.000 Because that's what matters more than anything else. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:41.200 Now, of course, if we've wronged somebody else, we also need to consider what steps we need to take towards making things right with them. 00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:44.759 That's part of genuinely turning to God. 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:50.480 Is genuinely loving our neighbor by wanting to repair the damage that has been done. 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:53.039 That's not the focus of this psalm. 00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:57.259 But other biblical passages give us some good guidance about how to carry that out. 00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:59.279 And how to go about that. 00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:05.700 But starting in this third section, the focus is not only on David and the Lord. 00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.880 The focus broadens. 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:09.039 And you see that even in verse 13. 00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:09.539 David says, 00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:19.539 And that word return in verse 13 is the same word translated restore in verse 12. 00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:21.200 In verse 12, David says, 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:25.399 And in verse 13, David says, 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:34.440 You see, the one who God has restored will then restore others. 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:39.039 And God has done this throughout the history of his people, right? 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:42.259 In fact, David's prayer in verse 13 is being answered right now. 00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:45.399 As we read this psalm, 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:51.700 And as God by his Holy Spirit works in our hearts to help even people like us draw near to him. 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:56.359 And know his grace and his forgiveness and his cleansing power. 00:25:58.159 --> 00:25:59.619 And come to praise him. 00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:04.339 I mean, isn't that amazing how God brought out of David's most miserable failure, 00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:08.159 this beautiful song that has helped generations of people 00:26:08.159 --> 00:26:12.179 to draw near to God in the midst of their own sin and failure. 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:18.119 Isn't that amazing how God can redeem the worst things? 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:21.599 Our own worst failures and sins. 00:26:23.139 --> 00:26:25.279 And Jesus does this in the New Testament, right? 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:26.180 Jesus says to Peter, 00:26:26.399 --> 00:26:28.339 On the night before he was crucified, 00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:28.920 Jesus says, 00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:31.960 Tonight, Peter, you're going to deny me three times. 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:35.680 But when you've turned back again, 00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:37.500 strengthen your brothers. 00:26:38.899 --> 00:26:40.599 The Apostle Paul says a similar thing. 00:26:41.639 --> 00:26:43.000 1 Timothy 1.15, 00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:43.339 He says, 00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:46.500 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst. 00:26:47.459 --> 00:26:49.539 But I receive mercy for this reason. 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:55.199 That in me, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience. 00:26:55.819 --> 00:27:00.159 As an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:04.399 And if God built his church through apostles like Peter and Paul, 00:27:04.699 --> 00:27:07.859 God can build his church today through people like you and me. 00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:11.279 Who have been restored by his grace. 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:14.500 And who proclaim his ways to the world. 00:27:16.839 --> 00:27:20.359 Verse 13, David's proclaiming God's ways publicly. 00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:24.180 And then verse 14 through 17, David's publicly praising God. 00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.279 He says, 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:28.819 Open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise. 00:27:28.920 --> 00:27:34.879 Now there was a time where David was not declaring God's praise. 00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:40.639 It was probably a few months or so after David had sinned with Bathsheba. 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:44.580 But before he acknowledged his sin to the Lord. 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:49.240 And David describes this time in another psalm, Psalm 32. 00:27:49.860 --> 00:27:50.660 He says, 00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:52.060 When I kept silent, 00:27:52.860 --> 00:27:56.440 that is when I wasn't fessing up to my sin. 00:27:56.540 --> 00:27:59.420 When I wasn't acknowledging what I had done before you. 00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:01.200 My bones wasted away. 00:28:01.780 --> 00:28:03.620 I was groaning all day long. 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:05.480 Your hand was heavy upon me. 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:08.900 My strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:14.200 In other words, the overwhelming guilt and shame of his sin was pressing down upon him. 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:20.140 And he was living in silent and unrepentant shame. 00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:28.259 But now, instead of living in the prison of silent shame, 00:28:28.560 --> 00:28:32.840 David has been released and he's joyfully declaring God's praise. 00:28:34.540 --> 00:28:39.340 Because he's experienced God's grace and mercy and forgiveness. 00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:43.740 And God renew, beginning to renew him from the inside out. 00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:47.379 And now he can stand and praise God's name. 00:28:49.639 --> 00:28:51.839 And his praise comes from the heart. 00:28:51.939 --> 00:28:52.159 He says, 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:54.519 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. 00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:57.339 A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 00:28:59.019 --> 00:29:05.819 Genuine praise begins with a heart that has been broken over sin. 00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:09.079 And restored by God's grace. 00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:12.619 That's where true worship begins. 00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:14.839 Not with a certain kind of music. 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:16.879 Or not with outward forms. 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:20.039 But with a changed heart. 00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.500 Jesus said, 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:24.500 Those who have been forgiven much, 00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:27.200 Love God much. 00:29:32.099 --> 00:29:34.179 Now the last two verses of this psalm 00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:37.240 Broaden our focus even more. 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:38.799 Right? 00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:41.340 We've seen David proclaiming God's ways. 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:43.180 And sinners being restored to God. 00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:45.480 Praising God in the midst of the congregation. 00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:48.039 But then in verses 18 and 19, 00:29:48.140 --> 00:29:50.980 We see a picture of God restoring the whole city. 00:29:52.080 --> 00:29:53.880 You see, David ruled in Jerusalem. 00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:59.960 And so when God was dealing with David and restoring David, 00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:01.539 It was going to have effects. 00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:04.700 And it was even a picture of how God could restore the whole people. 00:30:07.399 --> 00:30:10.940 See, these last two verses point us to a communal dimension 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:14.099 Of God's restoration. 00:30:16.159 --> 00:30:17.759 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure. 00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:19.240 Build up the walls of Jerusalem. 00:30:19.399 --> 00:30:21.200 Then will you delight in right sacrifices. 00:30:22.379 --> 00:30:24.059 Now, when you read verse 19, 00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:25.399 If you look closely, 00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:28.279 Verse 19 seems to contradict verse 16. 00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:30.039 Because what does verse 16 say? 00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:30.879 Verse 16 says, 00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:32.180 You won't delight in sacrifice, 00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:34.460 And you won't be pleased with a burnt offering. 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:36.259 But then verse 19 says, 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:38.460 Then you will delight in right sacrifices, 00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:39.759 In burnt offerings, 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.680 In whole burnt offerings. 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:43.019 So you might read those verses and say, 00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:44.240 Wait a minute. 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:45.799 Which one is it? 00:30:46.899 --> 00:30:48.359 Does God want sacrifices? 00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:50.180 Or does he not want sacrifices? 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:53.460 It seems to be saying opposite things. 00:30:53.460 --> 00:30:57.819 Well, the point of verses 16 and 17 00:30:57.819 --> 00:31:01.019 Is that more than anything else in the world, 00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:02.700 God wants our hearts. 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:06.720 God honors those who come before him 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:08.200 With broken and humble hearts. 00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:09.740 And that matters more to God 00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:13.559 Than any outward expressions or forms of worship. 00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:19.600 That's what sacrifices were in the Old Testament. 00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:20.460 Right? 00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:22.200 They were sort of the public thing. 00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:23.480 It was a feast. 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:26.059 These kinds of sacrifices. 00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:29.259 You know, right now, 00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:31.259 I think verse 16 and 17 00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:32.819 Is a very important truth 00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:34.240 For the church of God 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:35.500 Throughout the world to remember. 00:31:36.779 --> 00:31:37.180 Right? 00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:38.100 Because in most places, 00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:39.400 Our outward expressions 00:31:39.400 --> 00:31:40.740 And forms of worship 00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:42.519 Have been significantly disrupted. 00:31:43.380 --> 00:31:43.600 Right? 00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:45.019 We used to have a full sanctuary. 00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:45.519 Right? 00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:47.439 We could hear everybody singing 00:31:47.439 --> 00:31:48.659 Loudly. 00:31:48.939 --> 00:31:50.639 And that was great. 00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:51.779 Right? 00:31:51.859 --> 00:31:53.379 And we're missing that now. 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:53.740 Right? 00:31:54.399 --> 00:31:55.519 We're not sitting down 00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:56.879 To big meals in the fellowship 00:31:56.879 --> 00:31:57.980 Like we used to. 00:31:58.059 --> 00:31:58.259 Right? 00:31:58.379 --> 00:31:59.819 Some of you are watching 00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:01.119 This worship service at home 00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:01.939 On a screen. 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.559 Some of you are sitting here 00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:04.559 You know, 00:32:04.599 --> 00:32:06.039 We're trying to talk in face masks 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:07.879 And communicate with limitations. 00:32:09.179 --> 00:32:10.279 All of these things 00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:11.799 Are less than ideal. 00:32:11.799 --> 00:32:13.359 Right? 00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:14.440 Necessary for a time 00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:15.279 But less than ideal. 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:15.859 And this winter 00:32:15.859 --> 00:32:17.099 Some things may become 00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:17.919 More challenging. 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:20.079 But here's the point. 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:22.319 This uncomfortable 00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:23.720 And disruptive season 00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:25.879 Will not be wasted 00:32:25.879 --> 00:32:27.700 If it leads us 00:32:27.700 --> 00:32:28.779 To come before the Lord 00:32:28.779 --> 00:32:30.319 With broken and contrite 00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:31.200 And humble hearts. 00:32:32.899 --> 00:32:34.220 Because that's more important 00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:35.039 Than any of those 00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:35.899 Outward forms of worship 00:32:35.899 --> 00:32:36.539 That we're missing 00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:37.119 Or wanting 00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:38.980 Or longing for. 00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:42.440 If God uses this season 00:32:42.440 --> 00:32:43.880 To break our hearts 00:32:43.880 --> 00:32:44.299 Before him 00:32:44.299 --> 00:32:44.920 To bring us 00:32:44.920 --> 00:32:45.920 To turn to him 00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:47.000 With all of our hearts 00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:48.779 It will not be wasted. 00:32:50.980 --> 00:32:51.720 That's the heart 00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:52.420 Of true worship. 00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:54.180 It's not a big meal 00:32:54.180 --> 00:32:55.079 It's not a big choir 00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:55.980 It's not a big band 00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:56.599 On stage 00:32:56.599 --> 00:32:57.680 It's not a big building 00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:58.680 With a certain number 00:32:58.680 --> 00:32:59.000 Of people 00:32:59.000 --> 00:32:59.599 It's broken 00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:00.700 And repentant hearts 00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.980 Turning to the God 00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:02.740 Who has rescued 00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:03.799 And forgiven us 00:33:03.799 --> 00:33:05.039 And who keeps on 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:05.599 Renewing us 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:06.299 Day by day. 00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:09.039 And there's nothing 00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:10.000 That's stopping God 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:11.200 From doing that right now. 00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:14.200 But having said that 00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:16.180 Verse 18 and 19 00:33:16.180 --> 00:33:16.720 Remind us 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:17.740 That we can also pray 00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:19.740 That God in his mercy 00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:21.099 Brings this uncomfortable 00:33:21.099 --> 00:33:22.299 And disruptive season 00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:23.359 To a speedy end 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:25.039 And that God's church 00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:25.779 Here in New Haven 00:33:25.779 --> 00:33:27.039 And all around the world 00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:28.059 Can once again 00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:29.399 Gather without disruption 00:33:29.399 --> 00:33:30.379 And celebrate 00:33:30.379 --> 00:33:31.279 Without restriction. 00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:33.500 Right? 00:33:33.579 --> 00:33:34.180 That's a picture 00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:35.339 Of verse 18 and 19 00:33:35.339 --> 00:33:36.859 His large gatherings 00:33:36.859 --> 00:33:38.119 Lavish celebrations 00:33:38.119 --> 00:33:42.779 Verse 17 reminds us 00:33:42.779 --> 00:33:43.579 God wants our hearts 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.519 More than anything else 00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:46.299 And sometimes 00:33:46.299 --> 00:33:47.119 God will take away 00:33:47.119 --> 00:33:47.859 Other things 00:33:47.859 --> 00:33:48.919 Just like he did 00:33:48.919 --> 00:33:50.279 During the Babylonian exile 00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:52.740 To get our attention 00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:53.859 To call us to repentance 00:33:53.859 --> 00:33:54.500 To call us 00:33:54.500 --> 00:33:55.439 To the simplicity 00:33:55.439 --> 00:33:56.599 Of coming before him 00:33:56.599 --> 00:33:57.099 With a broken 00:33:57.099 --> 00:33:57.939 And contrite heart 00:33:57.939 --> 00:34:01.240 But if our hearts 00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:02.059 Are in the right place 00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:03.079 God delights 00:34:03.079 --> 00:34:05.059 In large gatherings 00:34:05.059 --> 00:34:06.339 In lavish celebrations 00:34:06.339 --> 00:34:07.399 And we can 00:34:07.399 --> 00:34:08.739 And even as we seek 00:34:08.739 --> 00:34:09.480 To make the most 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:10.519 Of a challenging season 00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:11.759 For however long 00:34:11.759 --> 00:34:12.259 It may endure 00:34:12.259 --> 00:34:13.400 We can look forward 00:34:13.400 --> 00:34:14.519 To those things 00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:15.360 Once again 00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:17.559 When the proper time comes 00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:19.619 We can look forward 00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:20.380 To celebrating 00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:21.440 And rejoicing 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:22.980 And all the fanfare 00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:25.639 Of a great big worship service 00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:27.159 That is a picture 00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:28.559 Of heaven to come 00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:31.139 So brothers and sisters 00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:32.239 This psalm invites us 00:34:32.239 --> 00:34:33.079 Individually 00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:34.019 And communally 00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:35.179 To walk in the way 00:34:35.179 --> 00:34:35.719 Of repentance 00:34:35.719 --> 00:34:37.500 Pleading for God's grace 00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:38.940 Longing for his renewal 00:34:38.940 --> 00:34:39.859 And praising 00:34:39.859 --> 00:34:41.159 His glorious name 00:34:41.159 --> 00:34:42.079 Let's pray 00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:44.440 Father thank you 00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:45.960 For this psalm 00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:47.059 This word to us 00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:49.159 We pray that it would 00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:50.159 Draw our hearts 00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:51.259 And even throughout this week 00:34:51.259 --> 00:34:52.579 Continue to draw our hearts 00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:53.739 Into the way of repentance 00:34:53.739 --> 00:34:55.559 Lord that we would plead 00:34:55.559 --> 00:34:56.400 For your grace 00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:56.880 And mercy 00:34:56.880 --> 00:34:57.799 And face our guilt 00:34:57.799 --> 00:34:58.719 For what it is 00:34:58.719 --> 00:34:59.779 And that we would 00:34:59.779 --> 00:35:00.579 Know your forgiveness 00:35:00.579 --> 00:35:01.380 Through the cross 00:35:01.380 --> 00:35:02.519 Of Jesus Christ 00:35:02.519 --> 00:35:03.259 We thank you 00:35:03.259 --> 00:35:04.199 That through him 00:35:04.199 --> 00:35:05.739 He is the atoning 00:35:05.739 --> 00:35:07.279 Sacrifice for our sins 00:35:07.279 --> 00:35:10.199 He is the one 00:35:10.199 --> 00:35:11.059 Who by his spirit 00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:12.440 Renews us day by day 00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:14.400 And Lord 00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:15.099 Would you renew us 00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:16.239 Not only individually 00:35:16.239 --> 00:35:17.539 But also communally 00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:19.639 Lord may we experience 00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:20.920 That restoring power 00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:21.859 And that 00:35:21.859 --> 00:35:24.019 That change 00:35:24.019 --> 00:35:24.359 Those 00:35:24.359 --> 00:35:26.659 The joy in praising you 00:35:26.659 --> 00:35:28.420 For how you work 00:35:28.420 --> 00:35:29.859 In each one of us 00:35:29.859 --> 00:35:30.759 And among us 00:35:30.759 --> 00:35:32.699 We pray this in Jesus name 00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:33.339 Amen