WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.960
 Let us take a moment and ask for God's blessing.

00:00:03.220 --> 00:00:05.660
 Father in heaven, we pray that you would give us hearts of flesh this morning.

00:00:05.660 --> 00:00:09.400
! We pray that you would give us hearts of flesh this morning.

00:00:10.300 --> 00:00:17.719
 So that we may perceive here and perceive and to take into our hearts and to act upon your word.

00:00:18.539 --> 00:00:21.980
 Lord, we don't want to be people that hear your word and do nothing.

00:00:22.900 --> 00:00:27.539
 Instead, Lord, we want to hear your word and by your strength act upon it, Lord.

00:00:27.539 --> 00:00:30.839
 Lord, your word leads us to you.

00:00:31.460 --> 00:00:33.159
 And in you there is freedom.

00:00:33.780 --> 00:00:35.060
 There is the forgiveness of sins.

00:00:35.619 --> 00:00:38.619
 There is liberation from bondage of guilt and shame.

00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:42.320
 And Lord, we pray that you would do just that to us today.

00:00:42.439 --> 00:00:43.759
 Give us soft hearts, we pray.

00:00:44.500 --> 00:00:46.299
 In Jesus' name. Amen.

00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:49.759
 Some of you...

00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:52.120
 Well, first, it's great to be back. It really is.

00:00:52.359 --> 00:00:55.820
 We've been away for a few weeks for a summer vacation.

00:00:55.820 --> 00:00:57.960
 It is a privilege and honor to be back.

00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:00.799
 It's great to see everybody here this morning.

00:01:02.619 --> 00:01:09.659
 Some of you, a few weeks ago, would have heard or even watched the video of Astronomer CEO Andy Byron

00:01:09.659 --> 00:01:12.980
 and Kristen Cabot, the head of HR of Astronomer,

00:01:13.560 --> 00:01:17.680
 getting outed in an adulterous relationship during a Coldplay concert.

00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:23.200
 The camera was panning on various people in the audience

00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:27.280
 and Chris Martin, the lead singer, would sing an impromptu song about them.

00:01:27.380 --> 00:01:29.000
 It was funny and it was clever.

00:01:29.460 --> 00:01:30.700
 And then it panned to this couple

00:01:30.700 --> 00:01:34.820
 and immediately the man turned around,

00:01:34.900 --> 00:01:37.080
 or no, he ducked down out of the camera

00:01:37.080 --> 00:01:38.700
 and the woman turned around

00:01:38.700 --> 00:01:41.320
 and they were clearly mortified.

00:01:41.319 --> 00:01:42.979
 And it turned out

00:01:42.979 --> 00:01:44.239
 that

00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:47.379
 these two people were not married to each other.

00:01:48.179 --> 00:01:49.399
 They were in a relationship

00:01:49.399 --> 00:01:51.239
 that they should not have been in.

00:01:51.339 --> 00:01:53.079
 They were caught in the act.

00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:55.619
 And the internet went crazy.

00:01:56.259 --> 00:01:57.259
 They were mocked.

00:01:58.019 --> 00:02:00.039
 Their identities were posted everywhere.

00:02:01.339 --> 00:02:03.299
 Memes about them abounded.

00:02:03.299 --> 00:02:08.240
 On a more serious note,

00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:10.759
 their jobs were lost.

00:02:11.099 --> 00:02:12.639
 Their relationships were destroyed.

00:02:13.340 --> 00:02:14.979
 They found themselves in a pit

00:02:14.979 --> 00:02:16.319
 that they dug themselves.

00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:18.800
 And it's remarkable,

00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:21.659
 this situation.

00:02:21.819 --> 00:02:22.740
 It's remarkable because

00:02:22.740 --> 00:02:25.280
 despite all the talk in the West,

00:02:25.979 --> 00:02:28.019
 in Canada, in the US, in Europe,

00:02:28.019 --> 00:02:30.019
 about expressive individualism,

00:02:30.020 --> 00:02:30.719
 about individualism,

00:02:31.260 --> 00:02:33.840
 about sexual liberation,

00:02:34.420 --> 00:02:35.520
 the idea that we are free

00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:36.900
 to express ourselves

00:02:36.900 --> 00:02:38.040
 in any way we desire

00:02:38.040 --> 00:02:39.340
 with anyone we desire,

00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:43.900
 consequences be damned,

00:02:45.500 --> 00:02:47.240
 sin and guilt and shame

00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:49.219
 seem to be alive and well in our day.

00:02:50.340 --> 00:02:51.400
 It seems to just,

00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:52.280
 it's so obvious

00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:54.100
 that these people were mortified,

00:02:54.740 --> 00:02:55.600
 they were guilty,

00:02:55.939 --> 00:02:56.800
 they were ashamed

00:02:56.800 --> 00:02:58.240
 because they knew

00:02:58.240 --> 00:02:59.620
 what they did was wrong,

00:02:59.620 --> 00:03:00.939
 because there truly is,

00:03:01.099 --> 00:03:03.580
 counter to the prevailing sentiment,

00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:04.860
 there is an objective

00:03:04.860 --> 00:03:05.800
 right and wrong

00:03:05.800 --> 00:03:08.400
 and we are all keenly aware of it.

00:03:10.219 --> 00:03:11.780
 Whether such sinful behavior

00:03:11.780 --> 00:03:13.700
 is caught on a stadium big screen,

00:03:14.120 --> 00:03:15.259
 at a Coldplay concert,

00:03:15.920 --> 00:03:18.140
 or is done in secret at home,

00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:21.000
 or anywhere in between,

00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:24.599
 we may try many different kinds

00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:25.759
 of remedies to deal

00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:27.640
 with a fallout of such sin,

00:03:27.639 --> 00:03:30.000
 to deal with our guilt

00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:31.119
 and our shame.

00:03:31.119 --> 00:03:32.479
 We are experts,

00:03:32.799 --> 00:03:33.459
 experts,

00:03:34.259 --> 00:03:37.000
 like professional level experts,

00:03:37.319 --> 00:03:38.939
 at ignoring our sin,

00:03:39.699 --> 00:03:41.319
 minimizing our sin,

00:03:42.559 --> 00:03:43.959
 normalizing it,

00:03:44.060 --> 00:03:44.959
 relativizing it,

00:03:45.060 --> 00:03:46.619
 blaming it on circumstances,

00:03:46.899 --> 00:03:47.699
 on this person,

00:03:47.779 --> 00:03:48.399
 on that person,

00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:49.159
 on my parents,

00:03:49.239 --> 00:03:49.819
 on my children.

00:03:50.739 --> 00:03:51.919
 We are experts

00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:54.359
 at finding ways

00:03:54.359 --> 00:03:55.679
 to deal with our guilt

00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:57.000
 and our shame.

00:03:57.060 --> 00:03:57.860
 But we all know

00:03:57.860 --> 00:03:59.280
 that these are false remedies

00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:01.700
 for a real sickness

00:04:01.700 --> 00:04:02.740
 and these remedies

00:04:02.740 --> 00:04:04.140
 are not just ineffective,

00:04:05.140 --> 00:04:07.620
 but they actually perpetuate

00:04:07.620 --> 00:04:09.140
 the sin and guilt

00:04:09.140 --> 00:04:09.780
 and the shame

00:04:09.780 --> 00:04:10.480
 that we feel

00:04:10.480 --> 00:04:11.780
 that we find ourselves in.

00:04:11.780 --> 00:04:14.400
 So what should be done?

00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:17.079
 If sin, shame, and guilt

00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:18.199
 are persistent features

00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:19.540
 of even our society,

00:04:19.740 --> 00:04:21.079
 no matter how hard

00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:22.480
 we've tried to escape them,

00:04:23.240 --> 00:04:27.220
 how can we truly address

00:04:27.220 --> 00:04:30.339
 sin and the shame and guilt

00:04:30.339 --> 00:04:32.160
 that comes from them?

00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:34.379
 We're in Psalm 130.

00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:35.660
 We continue on

00:04:35.660 --> 00:04:36.500
 in our summer series

00:04:36.500 --> 00:04:38.040
 on the Psalms of Ascent.

00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:39.340
 And Psalm 130

00:04:39.340 --> 00:04:40.459
 offers us a blueprint

00:04:40.459 --> 00:04:42.019
 of how to deal

00:04:42.019 --> 00:04:42.639
 with our sin,

00:04:42.719 --> 00:04:43.799
 how to deal with our shame,

00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:44.899
 how to deal with our guilt.

00:04:45.579 --> 00:04:49.519
 It is one of the seven

00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:51.180
 penitential psalms

00:04:51.180 --> 00:04:51.839
 in the Psalter,

00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:53.859
 the only penitential psalm

00:04:53.859 --> 00:04:54.479
 that's within

00:04:54.479 --> 00:04:55.919
 the Psalms of Ascent.

00:04:58.099 --> 00:05:00.060
 Doctors of the church,

00:05:00.219 --> 00:05:01.799
 theologians, reformers,

00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:04.599
 have found such profound comfort

00:05:04.599 --> 00:05:06.179
 and joy in this psalm

00:05:06.179 --> 00:05:08.560
 precisely because it provides

00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:10.240
 a guide out of shame

00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:13.319
 and guilt caused by our sin.

00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:15.899
 So we'll jump right into it.

00:05:15.980 --> 00:05:17.420
 We'll look at verse 1 to 3

00:05:17.420 --> 00:05:19.300
 at the desperate cry.

00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:20.360
 Verses 1 to 3.

00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:21.759
 If you could follow along with me,

00:05:22.019 --> 00:05:22.840
 that'd be fantastic.

00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:24.060
 I think we have some more Bibles

00:05:24.060 --> 00:05:24.939
 at the back table.

00:05:25.300 --> 00:05:25.980
 Feel free to get up

00:05:25.980 --> 00:05:27.139
 at any point to grab one

00:05:27.139 --> 00:05:28.579
 and follow along.

00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:31.600
 Verses 1 to 3.

00:05:32.500 --> 00:05:33.300
 Before we read,

00:05:33.340 --> 00:05:34.319
 just a couple of bits here.

00:05:34.860 --> 00:05:36.259
 The psalmist here

00:05:36.259 --> 00:05:36.959
 has done wrong.

00:05:37.240 --> 00:05:38.139
 He's finding himself

00:05:38.139 --> 00:05:40.579
 in a pit of his own digging.

00:05:40.860 --> 00:05:42.000
 He has disobeyed

00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:42.620
 the lovely,

00:05:42.939 --> 00:05:43.180
 just,

00:05:43.300 --> 00:05:45.019
 and gracious law of God.

00:05:45.079 --> 00:05:45.800
 And I think it's important

00:05:45.800 --> 00:05:46.879
 first that we state this

00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:48.560
 because throughout the Psalter

00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:49.439
 and throughout the Bible,

00:05:50.060 --> 00:05:51.899
 there are instances

00:05:51.899 --> 00:05:52.759
 where God's people

00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:53.620
 find themselves

00:05:53.620 --> 00:05:54.959
 in the depths.

00:05:57.039 --> 00:05:58.079
 And sometimes

00:05:58.079 --> 00:05:59.099
 they're in the depths

00:05:59.099 --> 00:06:00.719
 and sometimes

00:06:00.719 --> 00:06:01.579
 we are in the depths

00:06:01.579 --> 00:06:04.319
 because injustice

00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:05.480
 has been done to us.

00:06:06.259 --> 00:06:07.779
 We have suffered

00:06:07.779 --> 00:06:08.839
 some kind of loss.

00:06:09.240 --> 00:06:10.740
 We are finding ourselves

00:06:10.740 --> 00:06:12.039
 in a very low,

00:06:12.180 --> 00:06:13.099
 depressive state.

00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:15.699
 Maybe a series

00:06:15.699 --> 00:06:16.980
 of unfortunate events

00:06:16.980 --> 00:06:18.699
 has befallen us

00:06:18.699 --> 00:06:19.740
 and we find ourselves

00:06:19.740 --> 00:06:20.360
 in the depths.

00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:23.120
 In this case,

00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:24.180
 by the way,

00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:25.199
 all those situations,

00:06:26.339 --> 00:06:26.779
 oftentimes,

00:06:27.099 --> 00:06:28.060
 if not all the time,

00:06:28.180 --> 00:06:29.500
 are not because

00:06:29.500 --> 00:06:30.459
 of our own doing.

00:06:31.399 --> 00:06:32.719
 This is not the case here.

00:06:33.660 --> 00:06:34.440
 The one,

00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:35.900
 the psalmist here

00:06:35.900 --> 00:06:37.400
 who is in the depths,

00:06:37.480 --> 00:06:38.340
 who is in this pit,

00:06:38.740 --> 00:06:39.920
 he is in there

00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:41.560
 because he has disobeyed

00:06:41.560 --> 00:06:42.040
 the lovely,

00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:42.920
 just,

00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:44.180
 and gracious law of God.

00:06:44.580 --> 00:06:45.420
 It's his fault.

00:06:45.980 --> 00:06:47.160
 Regardless of what he has done,

00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:48.060
 and it is not

00:06:48.060 --> 00:06:49.940
 expressly

00:06:49.940 --> 00:06:51.900
 communicated to us

00:06:51.900 --> 00:06:52.920
 what he has done,

00:06:54.600 --> 00:06:55.520
 but whatever it is

00:06:55.520 --> 00:06:56.120
 he has done,

00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:56.820
 he has sinned

00:06:56.820 --> 00:06:57.760
 first and foremost

00:06:57.760 --> 00:06:58.620
 against the Almighty,

00:06:59.320 --> 00:07:00.240
 against God himself.

00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:02.019
 And this is an important thing

00:07:02.019 --> 00:07:02.699
 for us to remember.

00:07:03.340 --> 00:07:04.740
 All sin is primarily

00:07:04.740 --> 00:07:06.319
 against the Lord,

00:07:06.540 --> 00:07:07.180
 for it is he

00:07:07.180 --> 00:07:07.980
 who has created

00:07:07.980 --> 00:07:10.000
 a good and ordered world

00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:11.340
 and everything in it,

00:07:11.379 --> 00:07:12.120
 including us,

00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:13.819
 made in his image.

00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:16.920
 This is a very essential point

00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:17.560
 for us to remember

00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:18.120
 this morning

00:07:18.120 --> 00:07:19.540
 because it helps us

00:07:19.540 --> 00:07:20.060
 to understand

00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:21.699
 that no sin is harmless,

00:07:22.280 --> 00:07:23.840
 even if it's done in secret,

00:07:24.040 --> 00:07:24.960
 even if it doesn't

00:07:24.960 --> 00:07:26.340
 necessarily affect us.

00:07:26.660 --> 00:07:26.920
 Why?

00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:29.360
 Because it is

00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:30.199
 first and foremost

00:07:30.199 --> 00:07:30.920
 against God.

00:07:31.960 --> 00:07:32.280
 And therefore,

00:07:32.400 --> 00:07:32.860
 no sin

00:07:32.860 --> 00:07:34.860
 is morally neutral.

00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:36.879
 It's never victimless.

00:07:37.740 --> 00:07:38.600
 It is a sin,

00:07:38.780 --> 00:07:39.759
 if it is sin,

00:07:39.900 --> 00:07:40.939
 then it is an offense

00:07:40.939 --> 00:07:41.500
 to the good

00:07:41.500 --> 00:07:42.580
 and gracious

00:07:42.580 --> 00:07:43.660
 triune God,

00:07:43.740 --> 00:07:44.280
 Father, Son,

00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:45.020
 and Holy Spirit,

00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:46.060
 who has created

00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:46.920
 all things

00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:47.639
 from nothing

00:07:47.639 --> 00:07:48.900
 out of love.

00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:52.280
 God has created us

00:07:52.280 --> 00:07:52.939
 for himself

00:07:52.939 --> 00:07:53.639
 out of love

00:07:53.639 --> 00:07:55.000
 so that we may

00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:56.199
 enjoy his love

00:07:56.199 --> 00:07:57.560
 and serve him

00:07:57.560 --> 00:07:58.800
 and by doing so

00:07:58.800 --> 00:07:59.779
 enjoy perfect freedom.

00:07:59.939 --> 00:08:00.899
 A beautiful line

00:08:00.899 --> 00:08:01.620
 in our prayer book,

00:08:02.019 --> 00:08:02.719
 service to you

00:08:02.719 --> 00:08:03.539
 is perfect freedom

00:08:03.539 --> 00:08:04.860
 and it is true.

00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:06.759
 Sin, then,

00:08:06.899 --> 00:08:07.839
 is to mar

00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:08.699
 and to neglect

00:08:08.699 --> 00:08:09.599
 and to manipulate

00:08:09.599 --> 00:08:11.599
 God's good

00:08:11.599 --> 00:08:12.659
 and perfect design

00:08:12.659 --> 00:08:14.620
 and thus treat him

00:08:14.620 --> 00:08:15.459
 as if he were

00:08:15.459 --> 00:08:16.360
 an afterthought

00:08:16.360 --> 00:08:18.139
 to belittle him,

00:08:18.279 --> 00:08:19.939
 to say that he is not

00:08:19.939 --> 00:08:21.319
 king on the throne,

00:08:22.219 --> 00:08:22.979
 the king of kings

00:08:22.980 --> 00:08:23.700
 and the lord of lords,

00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:24.759
 but something else.

00:08:26.860 --> 00:08:27.800
 And we don't do it

00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:28.840
 just once or twice.

00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:30.879
 It's a daily

00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:33.080
 feature of our lives.

00:08:35.340 --> 00:08:36.440
 The guilt and shame

00:08:36.440 --> 00:08:37.759
 we experience from sin

00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:40.100
 then are not simply

00:08:40.100 --> 00:08:41.580
 social reactions

00:08:41.580 --> 00:08:42.480
 to a set of

00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:43.860
 socially agreed upon

00:08:43.860 --> 00:08:44.379
 morals.

00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:46.279
 Again,

00:08:46.379 --> 00:08:47.159
 this is where we are

00:08:47.159 --> 00:08:48.500
 excellent at relativizing

00:08:48.500 --> 00:08:49.560
 our sin.

00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:52.179
 rather,

00:08:52.339 --> 00:08:53.000
 they stem from

00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:54.079
 violating the very

00:08:54.079 --> 00:08:55.359
 essence of our creation.

00:08:55.819 --> 00:08:57.339
 They go all the way

00:08:57.339 --> 00:08:57.739
 deep,

00:08:57.839 --> 00:08:58.559
 all the way to

00:08:58.559 --> 00:08:59.319
 our very bones.

00:09:01.099 --> 00:09:01.559
 Really,

00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:03.039
 what sin does

00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:04.519
 is it inverts reality.

00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:06.500
 It causes us

00:09:06.500 --> 00:09:07.839
 not to rise

00:09:07.839 --> 00:09:08.519
 to the divine

00:09:08.519 --> 00:09:09.299
 but to descend

00:09:09.299 --> 00:09:09.919
 into the depths

00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:11.039
 thinking that

00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:13.039
 in our sin

00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:14.179
 we are rising

00:09:14.179 --> 00:09:15.539
 to the top.

00:09:16.219 --> 00:09:17.339
 It inverts everything.

00:09:17.340 --> 00:09:18.200
 It makes everything

00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:19.139
 upside down.

00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:21.160
 Instead of giving glory

00:09:21.160 --> 00:09:21.700
 to God,

00:09:21.860 --> 00:09:23.560
 we spit on his name.

00:09:26.180 --> 00:09:27.139
 Our only hope

00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:27.860
 for the ongoing

00:09:27.860 --> 00:09:28.620
 law-breaking

00:09:28.620 --> 00:09:29.280
 and distortion

00:09:29.280 --> 00:09:30.280
 of this reality

00:09:30.280 --> 00:09:31.480
 that God has created

00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:32.560
 and has called it good,

00:09:33.420 --> 00:09:34.460
 that God has made it

00:09:34.460 --> 00:09:35.100
 out of nothing

00:09:35.100 --> 00:09:35.899
 is to understand

00:09:35.899 --> 00:09:36.860
 that we have dug

00:09:36.860 --> 00:09:38.000
 the very pit we're in

00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:39.899
 and our only hope

00:09:39.899 --> 00:09:40.660
 is to appeal

00:09:40.660 --> 00:09:42.820
 to God himself

00:09:42.820 --> 00:09:43.480
 for mercy.

00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:44.460
 Crying out to him

00:09:44.460 --> 00:09:44.940
 for mercy

00:09:44.940 --> 00:09:46.820
 is both the most

00:09:46.820 --> 00:09:47.660
 difficult thing

00:09:47.660 --> 00:09:48.300
 we can do

00:09:48.300 --> 00:09:50.240
 in escaping

00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:51.400
 this pit of despair

00:09:51.400 --> 00:09:52.260
 and the only way

00:09:52.260 --> 00:09:53.160
 to truly get out.

00:09:54.460 --> 00:09:55.060
 And this,

00:09:55.140 --> 00:09:56.040
 and then we'll come

00:09:56.040 --> 00:09:56.680
 to scripture here,

00:09:56.740 --> 00:09:57.420
 verses 1 and 2.

00:09:57.740 --> 00:09:59.000
 This is what we read

00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:01.000
 about in verses 1 and 2.

00:10:01.180 --> 00:10:01.900
 It says this,

00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:02.620
 Out of the depths

00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:03.440
 I cry to you,

00:10:03.480 --> 00:10:03.840
 O Lord.

00:10:04.540 --> 00:10:05.100
 O Lord,

00:10:05.220 --> 00:10:06.220
 hear my voice.

00:10:06.920 --> 00:10:07.680
 Let your ears

00:10:07.680 --> 00:10:08.400
 be attentive

00:10:08.400 --> 00:10:09.320
 to the voice

00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:10.000
 of my pleas

00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:10.560
 for mercy.

00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:12.300
 The psalmist here,

00:10:12.420 --> 00:10:14.900
 he is in a low spot.

00:10:14.940 --> 00:10:15.520
 The depths

00:10:15.520 --> 00:10:18.020
 throughout the Bible

00:10:18.020 --> 00:10:19.920
 are referred to

00:10:19.920 --> 00:10:21.780
 as the place

00:10:21.780 --> 00:10:22.460
 of nothingness,

00:10:22.660 --> 00:10:24.160
 the place of sheol,

00:10:24.280 --> 00:10:24.940
 the grave.

00:10:25.320 --> 00:10:26.660
 There is no life

00:10:26.660 --> 00:10:27.400
 in the depths.

00:10:29.460 --> 00:10:30.700
 And what the psalmist

00:10:30.700 --> 00:10:31.320
 here is doing

00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:32.120
 is crying,

00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:33.500
 a continuous cry.

00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:34.860
 He is pleading.

00:10:35.020 --> 00:10:35.580
 He is not

00:10:35.580 --> 00:10:36.940
 kind of

00:10:36.940 --> 00:10:38.660
 gritting his teeth

00:10:38.660 --> 00:10:40.820
 and he's somewhat

00:10:40.820 --> 00:10:41.700
 at the end of his rope

00:10:41.700 --> 00:10:42.640
 and fine,

00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:44.120
 I'll cry out to the Lord.

00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:45.220
 He is continually

00:10:45.220 --> 00:10:45.980
 crying out.

00:10:46.100 --> 00:10:46.820
 He is realizing

00:10:46.820 --> 00:10:49.659
 that his position

00:10:49.659 --> 00:10:50.159
 in life

00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:51.700
 is completely

00:10:51.700 --> 00:10:52.820
 untenable

00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:54.700
 and that he has

00:10:54.700 --> 00:10:55.379
 no hope

00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:56.779
 except if God

00:10:56.779 --> 00:10:57.399
 would intervene.

00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:00.560
 Therefore,

00:11:00.700 --> 00:11:02.019
 this cry is a humble one.

00:11:03.419 --> 00:11:04.799
 There is no escaping

00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:05.799
 the pit,

00:11:05.980 --> 00:11:06.779
 this voice

00:11:06.779 --> 00:11:07.639
 admits.

00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:09.519
 we can all

00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:10.139
 keep digging

00:11:10.139 --> 00:11:11.259
 as much as we

00:11:11.259 --> 00:11:11.860
 will,

00:11:11.980 --> 00:11:12.860
 believing somehow

00:11:12.860 --> 00:11:14.319
 we'll hit a tunnel

00:11:14.319 --> 00:11:15.939
 and tunnel our way out

00:11:15.939 --> 00:11:17.419
 but all of that

00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:18.460
 is for naught.

00:11:18.460 --> 00:11:21.139
 So what we see here

00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:21.940
 in verses 1 and 2

00:11:21.940 --> 00:11:23.379
 is a proper posture

00:11:23.379 --> 00:11:23.900
 of the heart

00:11:23.900 --> 00:11:25.480
 but it's also

00:11:25.480 --> 00:11:26.160
 a very bold

00:11:26.160 --> 00:11:27.379
 and audacious request.

00:11:28.560 --> 00:11:29.379
 Why should God

00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:30.680
 listen and show mercy

00:11:30.680 --> 00:11:31.900
 when we are

00:11:31.900 --> 00:11:32.820
 constantly sinning

00:11:32.820 --> 00:11:33.540
 first and foremost

00:11:33.540 --> 00:11:34.200
 against him?

00:11:34.920 --> 00:11:35.980
 Not just once or twice.

00:11:36.060 --> 00:11:36.480
 It's not like

00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:37.519
 I messed up

00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:38.259
 once or twice.

00:11:38.660 --> 00:11:39.100
 Okay,

00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:39.639
 you know,

00:11:39.680 --> 00:11:40.160
 overlook it

00:11:40.160 --> 00:11:40.560
 but it's just

00:11:40.560 --> 00:11:41.700
 a constant feature

00:11:41.700 --> 00:11:42.500
 of who we are.

00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:44.060
 Why should he,

00:11:44.560 --> 00:11:45.280
 perfect God,

00:11:45.400 --> 00:11:46.500
 creator of all things,

00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:47.360
 who's created

00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:49.159
 everything perfect?

00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:50.299
 Okay,

00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:51.100
 perfect

00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:52.799
 out of love.

00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:54.779
 Why should he

00:11:54.779 --> 00:11:55.460
 intervene

00:11:55.460 --> 00:11:57.320
 for us

00:11:57.320 --> 00:11:58.559
 when we are

00:11:58.559 --> 00:11:59.019
 in a pit

00:11:59.019 --> 00:11:59.879
 of our own digging

00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:01.100
 essentially

00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:02.220
 spitting at him?

00:12:07.100 --> 00:12:07.879
 The psalmist

00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:08.600
 acknowledges this

00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:09.059
 verse 3.

00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:11.200
 If you,

00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:11.779
 O Lord,

00:12:11.899 --> 00:12:12.559
 should mark

00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:13.340
 iniquities,

00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:14.620
 O Lord,

00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:15.820
 who would stand?

00:12:15.820 --> 00:12:18.100
 It's quite

00:12:18.100 --> 00:12:18.660
 the statement.

00:12:19.800 --> 00:12:20.420
 It's quite

00:12:20.420 --> 00:12:20.940
 the admission.

00:12:21.140 --> 00:12:21.420
 God,

00:12:21.700 --> 00:12:23.120
 you are perfect

00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:23.680
 and just

00:12:23.680 --> 00:12:24.100
 and holy.

00:12:24.780 --> 00:12:25.660
 I am not.

00:12:26.100 --> 00:12:26.860
 I have no right

00:12:26.860 --> 00:12:27.980
 standing before you.

00:12:29.180 --> 00:12:30.240
 You are complete

00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:30.800
 and whole.

00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:33.080
 God,

00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:33.980
 you have

00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:34.740
 never

00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:36.440
 been in

00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:37.320
 anyone's debt.

00:12:38.740 --> 00:12:40.060
 There are no

00:12:40.060 --> 00:12:41.720
 self-justifying

00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:42.280
 arguments

00:12:42.280 --> 00:12:42.960
 or excuses

00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:43.900
 that I can offer

00:12:43.900 --> 00:12:44.640
 that you haven't

00:12:44.640 --> 00:12:45.600
 somehow considered.

00:12:45.820 --> 00:12:46.980
 in your judgment.

00:12:49.160 --> 00:12:49.680
 Therefore,

00:12:49.800 --> 00:12:50.440
 God knows

00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:51.440
 all and therefore

00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:52.120
 there is no

00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:52.680
 consideration

00:12:52.680 --> 00:12:53.340
 that has

00:12:53.340 --> 00:12:53.980
 escaped him.

00:12:54.560 --> 00:12:55.000
 If we are

00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:55.800
 condemned by

00:12:55.800 --> 00:12:56.460
 our sin,

00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:57.879
 by his judgment,

00:12:58.020 --> 00:12:58.379
 there really

00:12:58.379 --> 00:12:59.200
 isn't anything

00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:00.400
 left to do

00:13:00.400 --> 00:13:01.100
 or to say,

00:13:02.040 --> 00:13:02.420
 God,

00:13:02.540 --> 00:13:03.140
 you are the

00:13:03.140 --> 00:13:03.980
 ultimate moral

00:13:03.980 --> 00:13:04.420
 authority.

00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:05.040
 There is no

00:13:05.040 --> 00:13:05.760
 higher court

00:13:05.760 --> 00:13:06.340
 of appeal

00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:06.860
 above you.

00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:07.580
 This is what

00:13:07.580 --> 00:13:08.000
 he's saying

00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:08.620
 in verse 3.

00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:12.080
 But praise

00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:12.759
 be to God

00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:13.080
 that the

00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:13.659
 implication

00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:14.480
 of verse 3

00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:15.600
 is that God

00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:16.200
 certainly does

00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:16.919
 not keep

00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:17.740
 a record

00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:18.120
 of our

00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:18.679
 iniquities.

00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:20.000
 In heaven,

00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:21.039
 there is not

00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:22.519
 a library

00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:23.419
 full of

00:13:23.419 --> 00:13:24.179
 catalogs

00:13:24.179 --> 00:13:24.820
 of every

00:13:24.820 --> 00:13:26.159
 fib we

00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:27.419
 have said,

00:13:27.560 --> 00:13:28.279
 every minute

00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:29.220
 we have stolen,

00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:30.659
 every thought

00:13:30.659 --> 00:13:31.440
 of revenge

00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:32.100
 we have

00:13:32.100 --> 00:13:32.899
 entertained,

00:13:33.899 --> 00:13:35.100
 every temptation

00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:35.680
 we have given

00:13:35.680 --> 00:13:36.000
 into.

00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:37.519
 There is no

00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:38.440
 catalog of

00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:38.779
 that,

00:13:38.940 --> 00:13:39.220
 okay?

00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:41.000
 Terabytes

00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:41.919
 of memory

00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:42.559
 couldn't hold

00:13:42.559 --> 00:13:42.960
 it all.

00:13:43.419 --> 00:13:43.840
 But God,

00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:44.559
 he doesn't

00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:45.659
 count our

00:13:45.659 --> 00:13:46.279
 iniquities.

00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:47.360
 For could we

00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:47.740
 stand?

00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:48.399
 The answer

00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:48.779
 is no.

00:13:48.899 --> 00:13:49.379
 Praise be

00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:49.820
 to God.

00:13:53.059 --> 00:13:53.899
 But it is

00:13:53.899 --> 00:13:54.500
 one thing

00:13:54.500 --> 00:13:55.179
 for God

00:13:55.179 --> 00:13:55.879
 not to mark

00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:56.539
 our iniquities

00:13:56.539 --> 00:13:56.960
 and it's

00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:57.659
 another thing

00:13:57.659 --> 00:13:58.659
 for him

00:13:58.659 --> 00:13:59.120
 to show

00:13:59.120 --> 00:13:59.559
 mercy.

00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:01.279
 Does he

00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:01.919
 merely turn

00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:02.539
 a blind eye

00:14:02.539 --> 00:14:03.059
 to our sin?

00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:03.659
 In some ways,

00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:04.460
 isn't that

00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:04.980
 how we'd

00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:05.580
 prefer it?

00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.379
 To have

00:14:06.379 --> 00:14:06.639
 God

00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:07.159
 leave us

00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:08.039
 be so

00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:08.340
 that we

00:14:08.340 --> 00:14:08.679
 do not

00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:09.200
 suffer the

00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:09.460
 penalty

00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:09.860
 of our

00:14:09.860 --> 00:14:10.200
 sins,

00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:11.580
 yet we

00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:12.220
 can still

00:14:12.220 --> 00:14:13.000
 be our

00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:13.539
 own people,

00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:14.179
 not his

00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:14.659
 subjects,

00:14:15.299 --> 00:14:15.659
 but we

00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:16.059
 can be

00:14:16.059 --> 00:14:16.700
 independent

00:14:16.700 --> 00:14:17.720
 rulers of

00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:18.139
 our own

00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:18.440
 kingdom.

00:14:20.059 --> 00:14:20.820
 We think

00:14:20.820 --> 00:14:21.139
 this might

00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:21.600
 be freedom,

00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:22.500
 but it's

00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:22.899
 not.

00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:24.440
 It's just

00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:25.000
 another form

00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:25.679
 of bondage.

00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:26.759
 For we

00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:27.460
 are made

00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:27.980
 by God

00:14:27.980 --> 00:14:28.600
 to serve

00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:28.919
 him.

00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:30.379
 If we

00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:30.659
 do not

00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:31.320
 serve him,

00:14:32.059 --> 00:14:32.679
 we will

00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:32.940
 serve

00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:33.639
 something else.

00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:35.100
 it's just

00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:35.659
 the reality

00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:36.120
 of it.

00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:38.059
 But anything

00:14:38.059 --> 00:14:38.720
 or anyone

00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:39.139
 that we

00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:39.799
 serve over

00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:40.159
 and above

00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:40.519
 the Lord

00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:40.919
 will not

00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:41.860
 lift us

00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:42.259
 up from

00:14:42.259 --> 00:14:42.659
 the pit,

00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:43.980
 but perpetuate

00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:44.659
 our descent.

00:14:46.220 --> 00:14:46.699
 There's

00:14:46.699 --> 00:14:47.240
 one way

00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:47.600
 out,

00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:48.799
 a million

00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:49.740
 ways down.

00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:54.600
 God will

00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:55.139
 hear our

00:14:55.139 --> 00:14:55.700
 cries,

00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:56.799
 but will

00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:57.259
 he act

00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:57.480
 on our

00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:57.840
 behalf?

00:14:57.940 --> 00:14:58.259
 It's a

00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:58.639
 very

00:14:58.639 --> 00:14:59.000
 important

00:14:59.000 --> 00:14:59.399
 question.

00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:00.879
 And this

00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:01.279
 leads us to

00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:01.659
 our second

00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:01.960
 point,

00:15:02.060 --> 00:15:02.440
 the God

00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:02.600
 who

00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:02.899
 hears.

00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:03.299
 Look with

00:15:03.299 --> 00:15:04.139
 me at

00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:04.399
 verses

00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:05.019
 3.

00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:05.259
 We'll

00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:05.440
 read

00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:05.840
 verse 3

00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:06.100
 again

00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:06.320
 and

00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:06.799
 verse 4.

00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:09.460
 If you,

00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:09.940
 O Lord,

00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:10.440
 should mark

00:15:10.440 --> 00:15:11.019
 iniquities,

00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:12.060
 O Lord,

00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:12.919
 who could

00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:13.519
 stand?

00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:15.200
 But with

00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:15.759
 you there

00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:16.580
 is forgiveness

00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:18.080
 that you

00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:18.580
 may be

00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:18.960
 feared.

00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:22.000
 God can

00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:22.480
 hear your

00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:23.060
 cry for

00:15:23.060 --> 00:15:25.080
 mercy and

00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:25.580
 will grant

00:15:25.580 --> 00:15:26.200
 you forgiveness.

00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:27.100
 Let's just

00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:27.799
 pause and

00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:28.480
 not move

00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:29.460
 forward too

00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:29.759
 quickly.

00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:30.820
 Take that

00:15:30.820 --> 00:15:31.740
 in for a

00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:32.080
 moment.

00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:33.620
 That God

00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:35.440
 who could

00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:36.620
 mark every

00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:37.620
 sin that

00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.019
 you've ever

00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:39.039
 done, every

00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:39.580
 thought,

00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:40.580
 ill thought

00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:40.960
 that you've

00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:41.519
 ever had,

00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:42.000
 he could

00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:42.379
 mark it

00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:42.500
 all.

00:15:42.580 --> 00:15:42.899
 He knows

00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:43.279
 it all.

00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:44.519
 He doesn't.

00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:45.180
 And it's

00:15:45.180 --> 00:15:45.539
 not just

00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:45.899
 that he

00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:46.419
 doesn't

00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:46.759
 mark it,

00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:47.360
 but instead

00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:48.039
 he offers

00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:48.560
 forgiveness

00:15:48.560 --> 00:15:49.159
 instead.

00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:51.759
 A complete

00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:52.240
 forgiveness.

00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:54.220
 There's a

00:15:54.220 --> 00:15:54.720
 bit of a

00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:55.180
 play on

00:15:55.180 --> 00:15:55.919
 words in

00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:56.539
 this psalm

00:15:56.539 --> 00:15:57.379
 that's not

00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:58.680
 obvious in

00:15:58.680 --> 00:15:59.299
 English,

00:15:59.440 --> 00:15:59.879
 but in

00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:00.600
 Hebrew it

00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:00.860
 is,

00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:01.759
 and it's

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.340
 this idea

00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:04.840
 that God

00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:05.440
 does not

00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:07.180
 mark sins,

00:16:07.899 --> 00:16:08.720
 he is not

00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:10.259
 watching us

00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:12.600
 intently in

00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:13.200
 order to

00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:14.000
 catalog our

00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:14.279
 sins,

00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:14.700
 like a

00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:15.220
 watchman,

00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:15.899
 we'll see

00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:16.519
 shortly,

00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:17.580
 watches for

00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:18.000
 the dawn

00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:18.480
 to come,

00:16:19.580 --> 00:16:21.740
 but instead

00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:23.020
 it's as if

00:16:23.020 --> 00:16:23.600
 he takes

00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.400
 our sins

00:16:24.400 --> 00:16:25.580
 and puts

00:16:25.580 --> 00:16:25.940
 them in

00:16:25.940 --> 00:16:26.280
 the pit

00:16:26.280 --> 00:16:26.580
 we were

00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:27.000
 in as

00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:27.520
 he lifts

00:16:27.520 --> 00:16:28.020
 us out.

00:16:29.300 --> 00:16:29.860
 There's

00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:30.100
 this

00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:30.800
 incredible

00:16:30.800 --> 00:16:32.620
 exchange

00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:33.560
 that is

00:16:33.560 --> 00:16:33.980
 happening

00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:34.379
 here,

00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:35.259
 where God

00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:36.320
 doesn't

00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:37.220
 overlook our

00:16:37.220 --> 00:16:37.800
 sins alone,

00:16:37.900 --> 00:16:38.580
 he takes

00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:39.440
 our sins

00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.240
 from us,

00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:41.560
 and they

00:16:41.560 --> 00:16:42.600
 are lost

00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:43.140
 forever,

00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:44.480
 and we

00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:45.059
 instead

00:16:45.059 --> 00:16:46.120
 ascend

00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:47.360
 with him.

00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:49.679
 Verse 4

00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:50.379
 is the

00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:50.899
 very high

00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:51.439
 point of

00:16:51.439 --> 00:16:52.019
 this psalm.

00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.059
 Reformers,

00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:54.679
 like I mentioned

00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:54.960
 before,

00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:55.699
 reformers,

00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:56.399
 church fathers,

00:16:56.580 --> 00:16:57.039
 doctors of

00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:57.379
 the church,

00:16:57.840 --> 00:16:58.100
 they have

00:16:58.100 --> 00:16:58.580
 recognized

00:16:58.580 --> 00:16:59.360
 this psalm,

00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:00.240
 Psalm 130,

00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:02.240
 as the

00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:03.419
 gospel in

00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:03.759
 short,

00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:05.139
 and especially

00:17:05.139 --> 00:17:05.819
 verse 4,

00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:07.759
 but with you

00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.680
 there is

00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:09.119
 forgiveness

00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:09.799
 that you

00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:10.519
 may be

00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:10.960
 feared.

00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:12.819
 So God

00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.220
 not only

00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:13.779
 hears our

00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:14.400
 cries for

00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:14.880
 salvation,

00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:15.539
 but acts

00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:16.100
 with mercy

00:17:16.100 --> 00:17:16.539
 and love

00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:17.000
 to forgive

00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:17.579
 our sins,

00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:18.720
 and it

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.120
 is an

00:17:19.120 --> 00:17:19.660
 outpouring

00:17:19.660 --> 00:17:20.180
 of his

00:17:20.180 --> 00:17:20.539
 love,

00:17:20.620 --> 00:17:21.019
 his very

00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:21.480
 nature.

00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:22.460
 So just

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:22.779
 as the

00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:23.840
 apostle John

00:17:23.840 --> 00:17:24.579
 states that

00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:25.059
 God is

00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:25.380
 love,

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:25.720
 we can

00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:26.240
 also say

00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:26.640
 that God

00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:27.160
 is mercy.

00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.340
 He is

00:17:28.340 --> 00:17:28.759
 mercy.

00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:29.700
 So here's

00:17:29.700 --> 00:17:30.000
 the thing,

00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:31.160
 forgiveness

00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:32.140
 for God,

00:17:32.360 --> 00:17:33.259
 God showing

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:33.579
 mercy,

00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:34.019
 it's not

00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:34.539
 just a

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.079
 skill that

00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:35.340
 he's

00:17:35.340 --> 00:17:35.840
 developed,

00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:36.680
 okay?

00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:37.440
 It's not

00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:37.759
 he's gone

00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.019
 to a

00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:38.660
 trade school

00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:39.100
 to learn

00:17:39.100 --> 00:17:39.500
 mercy,

00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:40.200
 and he has

00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:40.880
 perfected it,

00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:41.160
 he is

00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:41.579
 number one

00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:41.860
 in his

00:17:41.860 --> 00:17:42.200
 field.

00:17:43.120 --> 00:17:43.460
 It is

00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:43.840
 his very

00:17:43.840 --> 00:17:44.299
 nature,

00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:45.019
 okay?

00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:45.380
 He cannot

00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:46.039
 not show

00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:46.519
 mercy.

00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:48.819
 It's not

00:17:48.819 --> 00:17:49.140
 just that

00:17:49.140 --> 00:17:49.440
 he has

00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:50.160
 perfected

00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:51.980
 the muscle

00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:52.720
 of mercy,

00:17:52.840 --> 00:17:53.200
 and he is

00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:53.900
 excellent at

00:17:53.900 --> 00:17:54.100
 it,

00:17:54.100 --> 00:17:54.559
 because he

00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:55.360
 has really

00:17:55.360 --> 00:17:55.880
 honed his

00:17:55.880 --> 00:17:56.079
 skill.

00:17:56.380 --> 00:17:56.799
 This is

00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.180
 who he

00:17:57.180 --> 00:17:57.539
 is.

00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:58.640
 This is

00:17:58.640 --> 00:17:58.920
 who he

00:17:58.920 --> 00:17:59.059
 is.

00:17:59.100 --> 00:17:59.220
 It's

00:17:59.220 --> 00:17:59.559
 his very

00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:00.079
 nature.

00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:05.579
 The

00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:06.059
 original

00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:06.660
 prayer book

00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:07.720
 in the

00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:08.519
 1662

00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:09.100
 prayer book

00:18:09.100 --> 00:18:09.640
 in the

00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:09.900
 communion

00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:10.220
 service

00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:10.620
 has a

00:18:10.620 --> 00:18:11.000
 bit that

00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:11.220
 says

00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:11.920
 that

00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:14.519
 God's

00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:14.900
 very

00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:15.900
 nature

00:18:15.900 --> 00:18:17.440
 is to

00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:18.059
 show

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:18.740
 charity.

00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:20.660
 It's to

00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:20.920
 show

00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:21.420
 charity.

00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:22.880
 This is

00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:23.259
 who he

00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:23.700
 is.

00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:24.980
 It's his

00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:25.600
 very nature.

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:26.380
 So therefore,

00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:27.299
 our only hope

00:18:27.299 --> 00:18:27.779
 is to have

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:28.240
 our sins

00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:28.660
 forgiven,

00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:29.500
 so that

00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:29.940
 we may

00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:31.079
 know and

00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:31.620
 live under

00:18:31.620 --> 00:18:32.299
 and enjoy

00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:33.140
 the lordship

00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:33.759
 of the

00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.420
 triune God,

00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:34.740
 Father,

00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:35.000
 Son,

00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:35.319
 and Holy

00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:35.640
 Spirit.

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:36.600
 And this is

00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:37.480
 precisely what

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.059
 the psalmist

00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:38.619
 is referring

00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:39.059
 to when

00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:39.619
 he says

00:18:39.619 --> 00:18:40.439
 that the

00:18:40.439 --> 00:18:41.000
 purpose of

00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.439
 forgiveness,

00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:41.980
 this is the

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:42.399
 second part

00:18:42.399 --> 00:18:42.679
 of verse

00:18:42.679 --> 00:18:43.000
 four,

00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.339
 the purpose

00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:44.980
 of forgiveness

00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:45.759
 is so that

00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:46.179
 we may

00:18:46.179 --> 00:18:47.039
 fear God.

00:18:47.619 --> 00:18:48.379
 This isn't a

00:18:48.379 --> 00:18:49.500
 servile fear,

00:18:49.699 --> 00:18:50.439
 rather it is a

00:18:50.439 --> 00:18:51.339
 deeply relational

00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:52.579
 picture of

00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:53.319
 trust and

00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:54.859
 submission and

00:18:54.859 --> 00:18:55.519
 a love that

00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.599
 glorifies God

00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:57.419
 and allows us

00:18:57.419 --> 00:18:58.719
 to enjoy our

00:18:58.719 --> 00:18:59.919
 liberation and

00:18:59.919 --> 00:19:00.659
 freedom in

00:19:00.659 --> 00:19:02.179
 him from the

00:19:02.179 --> 00:19:03.139
 ongoing bondage

00:19:03.140 --> 00:19:03.720
 of our sin.

00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:06.400
 It is more

00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:08.520
 than a desire

00:19:08.520 --> 00:19:09.220
 to escape

00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:09.880
 shame and

00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:10.060
 guilt,

00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:10.900
 but a longing,

00:19:11.340 --> 00:19:12.360
 a longing for

00:19:12.360 --> 00:19:12.920
 the Lord

00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:13.420
 himself.

00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:15.300
 And we see

00:19:15.300 --> 00:19:16.040
 this actually

00:19:16.040 --> 00:19:17.000
 as we continue

00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:17.520
 on in verses

00:19:17.520 --> 00:19:18.259
 five and six.

00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:19.440
 Read with me.

00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:22.040
 I wait for

00:19:22.040 --> 00:19:22.500
 the Lord.

00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:23.940
 My soul waits

00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:24.600
 and in his

00:19:24.600 --> 00:19:25.220
 word I hope.

00:19:26.300 --> 00:19:27.240
 My soul waits

00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:27.759
 for the Lord

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.300
 more than

00:19:28.300 --> 00:19:29.000
 watchmen for

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.440
 the morning,

00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.259
 more than

00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:31.520
 watchmen for

00:19:31.520 --> 00:19:32.100
 the morning.

00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:33.500
 The psalmist

00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:34.419
 longs for

00:19:34.419 --> 00:19:34.859
 the Lord.

00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:36.539
 Notice again,

00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:37.079
 he is not

00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:38.139
 longing just to

00:19:38.139 --> 00:19:38.819
 have his sins

00:19:38.819 --> 00:19:40.099
 not counted

00:19:40.099 --> 00:19:40.740
 against himself

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.119
 so that he

00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:41.799
 could be free

00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:42.619
 and clear of

00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:43.639
 guilt and shame.

00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:44.879
 He wants the

00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:45.139
 Lord.

00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:45.759
 He is looking

00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.119
 for him.

00:19:46.179 --> 00:19:46.719
 He is desperate

00:19:46.719 --> 00:19:47.099
 for him.

00:19:47.139 --> 00:19:47.679
 He is hungry

00:19:47.679 --> 00:19:49.719
 to know God,

00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:51.679
 to be in a

00:19:51.679 --> 00:19:52.419
 right relationship

00:19:52.419 --> 00:19:53.000
 with him.

00:19:54.639 --> 00:19:55.279
 So the

00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:55.579
 psalmist,

00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:56.219
 he longs for

00:19:56.219 --> 00:19:56.559
 the Lord,

00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:57.399
 yet it seems

00:19:57.399 --> 00:19:58.359
 here that he

00:19:58.359 --> 00:19:59.079
 does not have

00:19:59.079 --> 00:19:59.359
 him.

00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:00.699
 A forgiveness

00:20:00.699 --> 00:20:01.459
 is promised,

00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:02.059
 but it has

00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:03.299
 not yet fully

00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:04.319
 materialized.

00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:05.400
 There seems

00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:05.759
 to be a

00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:07.900
 tension in

00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:08.620
 verses 5 and

00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:09.259
 6, especially

00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:09.900
 when you consider

00:20:09.900 --> 00:20:10.299
 them coming

00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:11.019
 after verse 4.

00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:12.259
 Forgiveness is

00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:13.200
 his and yet,

00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:13.900
 which would

00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.539
 imply that he

00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:15.380
 is in right

00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:16.059
 relationship with

00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:16.799
 God, and yet

00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:18.360
 he waits for

00:20:18.360 --> 00:20:18.740
 the Lord.

00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:20.059
 There's this

00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:20.840
 longing, there's

00:20:20.840 --> 00:20:21.460
 this sickness,

00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:23.059
 this sickness

00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:23.700
 for the Lord.

00:20:23.860 --> 00:20:24.920
 Like he cannot

00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:27.340
 wait to see

00:20:27.340 --> 00:20:27.640
 him.

00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:29.360
 So his soul

00:20:29.360 --> 00:20:30.080
 waits for the

00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:30.700
 Lord more than

00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:31.420
 watchmen for

00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:31.920
 the morning,

00:20:32.560 --> 00:20:33.100
 more than

00:20:33.100 --> 00:20:33.960
 watchmen for

00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.380
 the morning.

00:20:35.660 --> 00:20:36.940
 The idea is

00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:38.640
 if it's an

00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:39.340
 ancient city,

00:20:39.800 --> 00:20:40.640
 a walled city,

00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:41.620
 darkness comes

00:20:41.620 --> 00:20:41.900
 and with

00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:42.720
 darkness comes

00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:43.340
 bandits,

00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:44.960
 comes murderers,

00:20:45.600 --> 00:20:46.540
 comes marauders.

00:20:47.120 --> 00:20:47.880
 So watchmen are

00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:48.720
 set on the walls

00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.340
 and there's usually

00:20:49.340 --> 00:20:50.040
 three watches.

00:20:50.840 --> 00:20:51.400
 And the last

00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:51.900
 watch,

00:20:52.840 --> 00:20:53.759
 pitch blackness,

00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:54.759
 they're waiting,

00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:55.300
 looking,

00:20:55.580 --> 00:20:56.040
 scanning,

00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:57.000
 waiting just

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.319
 for the dawn

00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:59.460
 to dispel the

00:20:59.460 --> 00:20:59.839
 darkness.

00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:01.220
 Soon as the

00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:01.799
 dawn comes,

00:21:01.859 --> 00:21:02.220
 the darkness

00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:02.759
 is gone.

00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:03.500
 Okay?

00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.440
 He is saying,

00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.500
 my soul longs

00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:06.819
 for the Lord

00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:07.700
 far greater

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:08.440
 than watchmen

00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:09.099
 long for the

00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:09.839
 dawn to dispel

00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:10.319
 the darkness.

00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:12.659
 The waiting

00:21:12.659 --> 00:21:13.779
 is not merely

00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:15.559
 for God to

00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:17.079
 forgive a sin

00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:17.819
 here or there,

00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:19.859
 but for God

00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:20.720
 to fulfill his

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:22.259
 promise that

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.159
 through the

00:21:23.159 --> 00:21:23.659
 seed of the

00:21:23.659 --> 00:21:23.899
 woman,

00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:25.099
 Genesis chapter

00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:25.359
 three,

00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:25.879
 the serpent

00:21:25.879 --> 00:21:26.399
 will be

00:21:26.399 --> 00:21:26.759
 crushed.

00:21:27.639 --> 00:21:28.179
 The promise

00:21:28.179 --> 00:21:28.459
 that the

00:21:28.459 --> 00:21:28.919
 effects of

00:21:28.919 --> 00:21:29.439
 sin will

00:21:29.439 --> 00:21:29.979
 be destroyed

00:21:29.979 --> 00:21:30.479
 once and

00:21:30.479 --> 00:21:30.879
 for all.

00:21:32.159 --> 00:21:32.699
 That sin

00:21:32.699 --> 00:21:33.479
 itself would

00:21:33.479 --> 00:21:34.319
 be eradicated,

00:21:34.419 --> 00:21:34.859
 that God

00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:35.500
 would dwell

00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.379
 amongst his

00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:36.759
 people,

00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:37.899
 that they

00:21:37.899 --> 00:21:38.519
 would be his

00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:39.699
 people with

00:21:39.699 --> 00:21:40.240
 him as their

00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:40.599
 God.

00:21:41.939 --> 00:21:42.639
 The longing

00:21:42.639 --> 00:21:43.779
 is for God

00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.459
 to fulfill

00:21:44.459 --> 00:21:45.159
 his promise

00:21:45.159 --> 00:21:47.779
 that he

00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:48.579
 would be in

00:21:48.579 --> 00:21:49.179
 relationship

00:21:49.179 --> 00:21:49.919
 with us

00:21:49.919 --> 00:21:50.339
 and us

00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:50.719
 with him.

00:21:50.979 --> 00:21:51.339
 And this

00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:51.879
 really is the

00:21:51.879 --> 00:21:52.339
 cry of the

00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:52.839
 human heart.

00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:53.979
 It is a

00:21:53.979 --> 00:21:54.719
 longing for an

00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:56.059
 ultimate promise

00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:58.420
 that was only

00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:59.039
 fulfilled in

00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.779
 Jesus Christ.

00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.720
 Jesus defeated

00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.480
 death, how?

00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.380
 Through death.

00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:05.880
 He lived,

00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:07.319
 he taught,

00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:07.980
 he performed

00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:08.420
 miracles,

00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:09.539
 and then he

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.620
 journeyed up,

00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:12.380
 ascended towards

00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:13.799
 Zion to

00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:15.539
 Jerusalem to

00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.200
 die on a

00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:17.380
 cross for our

00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:18.180
 sins, fulfilling

00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:19.059
 God's justice

00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:20.519
 while demonstrating

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.180
 his mercy.

00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:22.820
 so our sins

00:22:22.820 --> 00:22:23.299
 are forgiven

00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:24.000
 so that we

00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.480
 may know

00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:24.980
 him, love

00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.560
 him, serve

00:22:25.560 --> 00:22:26.519
 him, and

00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:27.039
 belong to

00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.180
 him.

00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:27.580
 We get to

00:22:27.580 --> 00:22:28.380
 enjoy the

00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:28.920
 fulfilled

00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:30.279
 promises of

00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:31.060
 Christ's

00:22:31.060 --> 00:22:32.279
 victory that

00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.080
 this psalmist

00:22:33.080 --> 00:22:34.180
 longed for here

00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:34.680
 in the psalm

00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:35.360
 written 500

00:22:35.360 --> 00:22:37.160
 years before

00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:37.860
 Christ came.

00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:38.259
 So what we

00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:38.820
 are reading

00:22:38.820 --> 00:22:39.380
 here in

00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:39.920
 Psalm 130

00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:41.400
 is a

00:22:41.400 --> 00:22:41.779
 psalmist

00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:42.620
 knowing that

00:22:42.620 --> 00:22:43.740
 forgiveness is

00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:44.880
 on the horizon,

00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:46.100
 but he is

00:22:46.100 --> 00:22:46.980
 waiting for it.

00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:47.620
 And here we

00:22:47.620 --> 00:22:48.820
 are on the

00:22:48.820 --> 00:22:49.460
 other side of

00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:49.920
 the cross

00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:50.220
 where we

00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:50.500
 get to

00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:53.480
 enjoy the

00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:54.480
 victory of

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.360
 Jesus over

00:22:55.360 --> 00:22:56.420
 Satan, over

00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:57.480
 the grave, over

00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:59.299
 sin, if we

00:22:59.299 --> 00:22:59.940
 put our faith

00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:00.539
 and hope in

00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.059
 him today.

00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:01.700
 And yet,

00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.680
 this is still

00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.079
 a call to

00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:04.340
 wait.

00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:07.019
 We are still

00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.360
 waiting.

00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:09.279
 Not for

00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:09.799
 Jesus to

00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:11.400
 come for

00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:11.720
 the first

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.220
 time, but to

00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:12.640
 come for the

00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:13.180
 second time.

00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:15.140
 We are still

00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:15.740
 waiting for the

00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:16.559
 final victory to

00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:17.160
 be realized.

00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:18.700
 The call is to

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.440
 continue waiting

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:19.840
 today.

00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.420
 However, we

00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.019
 are assured

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.640
 that because

00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.500
 he came once

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.320
 fulfilling his

00:23:24.320 --> 00:23:25.440
 promises, we

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.620
 can watch for

00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:27.240
 his second

00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:28.160
 coming and

00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:28.740
 trust that he

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.320
 will indeed

00:23:29.320 --> 00:23:30.759
 return as

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.299
 the morning

00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:32.380
 follows the

00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:33.059
 night that

00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:34.400
 when Christ

00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:35.960
 comes, he

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.720
 will dawn upon

00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:38.120
 the earth and

00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:38.740
 all darkness

00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.100
 will be

00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:39.519
 dispelled

00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:39.940
 forever.

00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:41.420
 No more

00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:42.900
 sin, okay?

00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:43.279
 No more

00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:44.039
 guilt, no more

00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:44.400
 shame.

00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:45.660
 We feel it

00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:46.779
 even still, yet

00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:48.080
 we look and

00:23:48.080 --> 00:23:49.019
 long for Christ

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:49.559
 to return.

00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.099
 This is our

00:23:50.099 --> 00:23:51.059
 call today.

00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:53.500
 His

00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:54.879
 forgiveness, in

00:23:54.879 --> 00:23:55.660
 verse 4, gives

00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:56.339
 us confidence

00:23:56.339 --> 00:23:57.519
 that his

00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.440
 promises are

00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:59.180
 true so that

00:23:59.180 --> 00:23:59.859
 we can wait

00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:00.740
 with hope,

00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.619
 verses 5 and

00:24:01.619 --> 00:24:01.940
 6.

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:03.839
 And remember,

00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:04.500
 this is not a

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.639
 passive waiting.

00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:05.700
 waiting.

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:08.060
 You go to the

00:24:08.060 --> 00:24:08.720
 dentist or to

00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:10.240
 the doctor, you

00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:10.600
 go to the

00:24:10.600 --> 00:24:11.420
 emergency room,

00:24:11.600 --> 00:24:12.100
 you're waiting.

00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:13.940
 That is not an

00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:14.660
 active waiting,

00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:15.400
 that is a very

00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:16.360
 difficult waiting,

00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.080
 especially if you're

00:24:17.080 --> 00:24:17.400
 going to

00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:18.800
 chill, okay?

00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:19.620
 Seven hours,

00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:20.220
 eight hours,

00:24:20.340 --> 00:24:21.000
 ten hours,

00:24:21.560 --> 00:24:22.040
 overnight.

00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:23.200
 No, no, this

00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:24.160
 is an active

00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:26.040
 hope, an active

00:24:26.040 --> 00:24:26.500
 waiting.

00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:28.020
 And we see this in

00:24:28.020 --> 00:24:28.720
 the final two

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.860
 verses, and this

00:24:29.860 --> 00:24:30.640
 is point three,

00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:31.960
 the heart set

00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:32.480
 free, verses

00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.180
 seven and eight.

00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:33.740
 Read with me.

00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:36.259
 O Israel,

00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:36.779
 hope in the

00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.000
 Lord.

00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:38.299
 For with the

00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:39.039
 Lord there is

00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:40.140
 steadfast love,

00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.079
 and with him is

00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:42.039
 plentiful redemption,

00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:43.420
 and he will

00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:44.339
 redeem Israel from

00:24:44.339 --> 00:24:44.839
 all his

00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:45.420
 iniquities.

00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:47.559
 The heart that

00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:48.579
 is forgiven and

00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:49.460
 hopes with full

00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.839
 assurance that

00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:51.620
 God's promises

00:24:51.620 --> 00:24:53.039
 are true, that

00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:54.059
 his promises are

00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:55.259
 yes and amen,

00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:57.039
 will be a heart

00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:58.319
 overjoyed by

00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.440
 being rescued from

00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.000
 a pit of

00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:00.460
 despair.

00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:02.359
 This is a

00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:02.839
 heart that is

00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:03.400
 lifted up and

00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:03.720
 set free.

00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.240
 This is a

00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:04.559
 heart that

00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:05.140
 doesn't continue

00:25:05.140 --> 00:25:06.960
 to tunnel deeper

00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:08.960
 into the pit

00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:10.380
 that we find

00:25:10.380 --> 00:25:11.500
 ourselves in to

00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:12.339
 somehow tunnel our

00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:12.680
 way up.

00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:14.079
 It is a heart

00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:15.400
 that looks to

00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:16.079
 Christ, calls

00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:17.019
 out to him, is

00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:18.200
 forgiven by him,

00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:20.200
 is set free by

00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:20.500
 him.

00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:22.660
 This is a

00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:23.079
 heart that is

00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:23.740
 lifted up and

00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:24.200
 set free.

00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:25.900
 And this hope

00:25:25.900 --> 00:25:27.140
 is rooted in

00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:27.860
 three key

00:25:27.860 --> 00:25:29.519
 attributes of

00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:29.900
 the Lord.

00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:31.440
 We see this in

00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:33.420
 verses seven and

00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:33.800
 eight.

00:25:34.800 --> 00:25:35.560
 Steadfast love.

00:25:36.560 --> 00:25:37.680
 This is not a

00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:38.759
 flimsy or fickle

00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:40.279
 love, but it is a

00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:41.500
 love that loves the

00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:43.680
 unlovable, loves

00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:44.460
 those that are not

00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:46.060
 worthy of loving.

00:25:48.100 --> 00:25:48.880
 It is a

00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:49.779
 sacrificial and

00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.720
 self-giving love,

00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:51.759
 and a love, most

00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:52.460
 importantly, that is

00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:54.740
 greater than death

00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.220
 itself.

00:25:56.340 --> 00:25:57.759
 We also see that

00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:58.980
 in the Lord there

00:25:58.980 --> 00:25:59.720
 is plentiful

00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.299
 redemption.

00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.920
 In the King

00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:03.740
 James Version it

00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:04.559
 says plenteous

00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:05.140
 redemption.

00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:07.640
 The idea behind it

00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:08.319
 is a redemption

00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.640
 far greater than

00:26:09.640 --> 00:26:10.519
 our sin and the

00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.379
 collective sin of

00:26:11.379 --> 00:26:12.059
 the human race.

00:26:12.619 --> 00:26:14.099
 A redemption that

00:26:14.099 --> 00:26:15.579
 cannot be thwarted,

00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.220
 no matter how

00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:18.539
 dark the depths of

00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:19.579
 our soul and our

00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:21.799
 sin we find

00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:22.379
 ourselves in.

00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:24.019
 And finally, the

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.960
 promise that all

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.700
 our sins are

00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.660
 forever behind us.

00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:26.980
 Why?

00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:28.539
 Because Christ has

00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:29.340
 dealt with them

00:26:29.340 --> 00:26:29.920
 completely.

00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:32.080
 And verse 3, he

00:26:32.080 --> 00:26:33.420
 does not mark our

00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:34.080
 iniquities.

00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:36.080
 This is why, and

00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:36.680
 we see this in

00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:37.480
 verse 7 and 8, this

00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:38.600
 is why evangelism,

00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:40.519
 even if it may seem

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.559
 intimidating to the

00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:42.380
 boldest and most

00:26:42.380 --> 00:26:43.720
 courageous amongst

00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.980
 us, is always an

00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.819
 expression of a

00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:47.519
 redeemed heart.

00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:49.940
 And this is, I'll

00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:50.720
 just say this, and

00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.840
 I hope this brings

00:26:51.840 --> 00:26:52.840
 you comfort, but I

00:26:52.840 --> 00:26:53.600
 hope it also brings

00:26:53.600 --> 00:26:54.000
 you a bit of a

00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.380
 challenge.

00:26:54.380 --> 00:26:56.320
 As your pastor, I

00:26:56.320 --> 00:26:57.180
 will never pressure

00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:58.100
 or guilt you into

00:26:58.100 --> 00:26:58.860
 sharing your faith.

00:27:00.820 --> 00:27:01.960
 If you feel convicted

00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.980
 to do so through

00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:05.000
 times in God's word

00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:06.260
 or during a church

00:27:06.260 --> 00:27:07.560
 service or hearing a

00:27:07.560 --> 00:27:09.200
 sermon, I'm trusting

00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:10.480
 that's the Lord's work

00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.160
 in your life, but what

00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:12.580
 I will not do is I

00:27:12.580 --> 00:27:13.660
 will not guilt you or

00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.760
 shame you into sharing

00:27:14.760 --> 00:27:15.280
 your faith.

00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:16.920
 Because that would

00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:17.420
 defeat the whole

00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.460
 purpose of the essence

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.280
 of evangelism.

00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:21.400
 Because what is

00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:22.120
 evangelism?

00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:23.959
 It is the joy of a

00:27:23.959 --> 00:27:25.419
 heart set free, sharing

00:27:25.419 --> 00:27:26.239
 with others how to

00:27:26.239 --> 00:27:27.019
 find liberation.

00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:28.659
 Okay?

00:27:29.199 --> 00:27:30.719
 If the message of

00:27:30.719 --> 00:27:33.379
 liberation is

00:27:33.379 --> 00:27:34.899
 proclaimed by somebody

00:27:34.899 --> 00:27:36.699
 that is weighted down

00:27:36.699 --> 00:27:37.919
 with shame and guilt

00:27:37.919 --> 00:27:41.019
 in bondage to the

00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:41.599
 guilt from their

00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:43.019
 pastor, or anybody

00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:43.859
 else for that matter,

00:27:44.119 --> 00:27:45.159
 it defeats the

00:27:45.159 --> 00:27:45.399
 purpose.

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.299
 But what happens?

00:27:47.179 --> 00:27:48.279
 We understand that

00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:49.659
 we don't have to live

00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:51.180
 in shame and guilt

00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:51.700
 anymore.

00:27:51.820 --> 00:27:52.640
 Not because we have

00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:53.400
 righted the wrongs,

00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:54.100
 but because Christ

00:27:54.100 --> 00:27:54.880
 himself has.

00:27:55.340 --> 00:27:55.519
 Okay?

00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.440
 And we lean on him

00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:57.660
 and we trust in him

00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:59.720
 and we are set free.

00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.320
 And yes, it is

00:28:01.320 --> 00:28:02.880
 sometimes scary and

00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:04.440
 difficult and our

00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.700
 flesh takes over and

00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:06.740
 we chicken out.

00:28:07.300 --> 00:28:08.640
 But ultimately, we

00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:09.540
 share our faith.

00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:10.640
 We proclaim the

00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.340
 goodness of God.

00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:14.080
 We tell God's

00:28:14.080 --> 00:28:15.019
 people and those

00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:15.600
 that are yet to

00:28:15.600 --> 00:28:16.560
 become God's people,

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:18.060
 hope in the Lord

00:28:18.059 --> 00:28:19.700
 from a place where

00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:20.579
 we have experienced

00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.099
 that hope.

00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:21.519
 Okay?

00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.659
 We are free.

00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.599
 We once were in a

00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:25.559
 pit, but now we are

00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:26.139
 with him.

00:28:27.139 --> 00:28:28.179
 Because Christ is

00:28:28.179 --> 00:28:28.740
 seated in the

00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:29.819
 heavenly places with

00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.980
 God Almighty, the

00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:31.319
 Father.

00:28:31.679 --> 00:28:32.559
 We too will go

00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:32.859
 there.

00:28:33.179 --> 00:28:33.399
 Okay?

00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:35.259
 The heavenly places

00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:36.259
 beside God Almighty

00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:37.159
 is not the pit.

00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:37.440
 Okay?

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:39.319
 This is liberation.

00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:40.319
 This is freedom.

00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:42.179
 And this is why we

00:28:42.179 --> 00:28:43.119
 share our faith.

00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:44.359
 Because it truly is

00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:44.940
 good news.

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:50.820
 So friends, if you

00:28:50.820 --> 00:28:51.660
 are in a pit this

00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:54.000
 morning, stop

00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:54.360
 digging.

00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:58.840
 Admit that you are

00:28:58.840 --> 00:29:01.000
 a sinner and that

00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.980
 your sin is even

00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:02.680
 darker than you

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:04.380
 think and that there

00:29:04.380 --> 00:29:05.720
 is no liberation or

00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:06.940
 freedom by keeping

00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:08.120
 it in but only through

00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:09.539
 confession to God

00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:11.039
 Almighty and put

00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:12.019
 yourself at his

00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:12.400
 mercy.

00:29:12.580 --> 00:29:13.600
 And remember, he

00:29:13.600 --> 00:29:14.360
 will not count your

00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:16.039
 iniquities against you

00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:16.740
 but he offers

00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:18.240
 forgiveness so that he

00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:18.939
 may be feared.

00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:20.359
 Let's pray.

00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:24.059
 Father in heaven, we

00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:24.799
 thank you for the

00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:26.079
 gospel, the good news

00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:26.979
 of Jesus Christ.

00:29:27.639 --> 00:29:28.740
 We thank you that

00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:33.619
 your son offered up

00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:35.259
 his very life to us

00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:38.240
 out of love for us

00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.339
 and obedience to you.

00:29:39.479 --> 00:29:42.159
 And Lord, we ask that

00:29:42.159 --> 00:29:42.899
 you would help us by

00:29:42.900 --> 00:29:43.380
 your spirit.

00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:43.860
 May your spirit just

00:29:43.860 --> 00:29:45.540
 take that in, dwell

00:29:45.540 --> 00:29:46.780
 on it, meditate upon

00:29:46.780 --> 00:29:48.480
 it, and act upon it.

00:29:48.540 --> 00:29:49.720
 Let us not be those

00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:51.380
 that hear the gospel

00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:53.100
 and then consider it

00:29:53.100 --> 00:29:54.120
 and maybe say, hey,

00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:54.920
 that sounds good and

00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:55.680
 then go on our day.

00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:57.160
 Lord, today is the day

00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:57.720
 of salvation.

00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:59.440
 Today is the day of

00:29:59.440 --> 00:29:59.960
 restoration.

00:30:00.320 --> 00:30:01.220
 And Lord, we ask that

00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:02.060
 you would help us by

00:30:02.060 --> 00:30:03.759
 your spirit take bold

00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:04.900
 steps towards you to

00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:07.220
 cry out to you and

00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:08.320
 trust that your mercy is

00:30:08.320 --> 00:30:09.460
 for us for it is your

00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:09.960
 very nature.

00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:11.620
 Father, we pray this in

00:30:11.620 --> 00:30:12.380
 Christ's mighty name.

00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:13.279
 Amen.

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:13.360
 Amen.