WEBVTT

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 Herman Bavink once famously said, God and God alone is man's highest good.

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 Similarly, our Westminster Shorter Catechism in its first question asks what man's purpose

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 is on this earth, and the answer is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

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 However, as we come to Psalm 100, it could certainly be said that these ideas of glorifying

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 God are put to the center.

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 I am sure many of you, if not most of you, are familiar with these words.

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 This is the old 100, and I remember on various occasions I have been in crowds, vast crowds

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 sometimes of thousands, thousands of voices lifted up singing these words.

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 It is a psalm rich with the splendor of God.

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 It is a psalm ringing with joy and gladness.

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 And it is a psalm which brings home the reality that the worship of God for the believer is

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 sweetness and joy.

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 This psalm is made up of four stanzas, which if you are using an ESV is clearer, and each

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 of these stanzas are very rich in their contents.

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 Verses 1 and 2 make up the first, then verse 3 the second, verse 4 the third, and verse

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 5 the fourth.

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 And in this psalm, in this famous psalm, a scene is depicted where the faithful are worshiping

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 God, the king of the temple, with joy and gladness where they worship him under his rule

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 and protection.

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 And through reflecting on this, my prayer is that we will find more and more joy in the

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 worship of our God and an assurance that we will enjoy him for all eternity.

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 So we will consider this psalm stanza by stanza.

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 Firstly, in verses 1 to 2, we are to worship the Lord with joy.

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 In verse 3, we worship the Lord as king.

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 In verse 4, we worship the Lord in his temple.

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 And finally, in verse 5, we worship the Lord for eternity.

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 So firstly, in verses 1 to 2, we worship the Lord with joy.

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 We worship the Lord with joy.

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 Read verse 1.

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 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

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 Worship the Lord with gladness.

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 Come before him with joyful songs.

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 In these verses, we are commanded to do three things.

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 Firstly, we are commanded to shout for joy to the Lord.

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 And the shout in view here is a loud, jubilant shout.

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 It is often used in the context of battle.

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 And it is not just limited to the human voice.

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 Sometimes it is used to refer to that of a trumpet.

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 I don't know if many of you have been in a relatively small space and you hear a trumpet blast.

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 Or maybe in Scotland, a bagpipe go off.

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 It can be absolutely definite, can't it?

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 And this is the kind of volume and tone in view here when we are called to shout for joy to the Lord.

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 It is a loud and triumphant shout.

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 And when we consider all that our Lord has done for us, how much reason we have to shout for joy to the Lord.

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 He is the one who, according to his foreknowledge, has saved us and purchased us with the blood of Christ.

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 He defeated the powers of this present evil age by the cross.

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 And he has freed us from our bondage to sin.

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 I recall a few weeks ago walking to church here.

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 And just across the road before we arrived, we could hear cheering and celebrations.

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 Now, if you can hear that at this time in the year, you know there is a fairly good chance that the English national football team are playing.

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 And that they have probably just lost a goal.

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 And that's exactly what happened.

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 I looked up my phone and right enough, that's exactly what happened.

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 Sorry if there are any English people here.

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 This is probably too soon.

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 But we know what this type of triumphant celebration is like.

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 And that's football.

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 This is our eternal salvation and a glory that we will share in for all eternity.

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 How much reason we have to shout for joy to the Lord.

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 In verse 2, we are commanded to worship Him with gladness.

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 Worship the Lord with gladness, it says.

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 If you are using an ESV, it may say serve the Lord with gladness.

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 But the idea here is really the same.

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 Throughout the Old Testament, Israel were to serve and worship the true God, Yahweh.

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 We are to worship Him alone.

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 We are to worship Him as He has demanded.

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 We are to give Him the praise due to His name.

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 Throughout the Old Testament, we read the Israelites were so often guilty of doing this in all the wrong places.

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 They so often serve the false gods and other idols.

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 But the call here is to serve and worship Yahweh, the Lord, not all these other false gods.

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 And we are to do so with gladness.

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 We are to do so with gladness because worshiping the God, worshiping the Lord is a good thing.

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 It is the reason why we were made.

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 And it is the only thing in which our hearts can know rest and satisfaction.

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 And when our hearts are rightly tuned to this truth, oh, how blessed we are.

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 In Christ, we have the forgiveness of sins.

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 He redeems our life from the pit and crowns us with love and compassion.

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 Oh, how much does that enrich our hearts in worship.

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 Charles Spurgeon writes,

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 The invitation to worship here is given is not a melancholy one,

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 as though adoration were a funeral solemnity,

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 but a cheery, gladsome exhortation,

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 as though we were bidden to a marriage feast.

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 Now, I know for many of us who are Presbyterian and proud,

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 this may be a hard one to hear.

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 But how true it is.

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 How true it is.

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 We have been made co-heirs of the kingdom of God.

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 And very often we come to church as though someone had just died.

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 I certainly fall into this trap so often.

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 It could be said that though we are spiritually millionaires,

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 we very often come to church and sing as though we were paupers.

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 Now, let me be clear.

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 I am not commending a certain style of worship over another.

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 I am not saying we must come to church and lift the hands right in the air in every song.

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 You know, for some of us, including myself, that's just not in our DNA.

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 But the question I want to ask you this evening is,

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 as you worship and sing to the Lord,

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 is your heart filled with gladness?

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 Is your heart filled with thankfulness for the joys

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 and the wonders that your Lord has shown to you?

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 In verse 3, we are also called to enter His presence with joyful songs.

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 We are to come before Him.

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 And the idea here, as the ESV captures well,

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 is to come into His presence with joyful songs.

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 Psalm 84, which we sung, verse 2, captures a similar idea.

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 If you'd flick over a few pages,

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 Psalm 84, verse 2 says,

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 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord.

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 My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

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 As we think about coming into God's presence with joyful songs and gladness,

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 can I ask, do you come into His presence longingly?

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 Do you yearn to enter into His presence?

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 I remember when in the UK we have had hot weather.

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 Yes, I know the one week of the year that happens.

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 I have sometimes decided to go out for walks,

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 and I think, huh, it's the UK.

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 It's fine.

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 I don't need to bring a water bottle with me.

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 I go out on the walk, and my mouth goes dry very, very quickly,

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 and I'm absolutely dying to get back home for a drink.

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 Maybe you've had similar experiences too.

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 But in a similar way, does your soul long to be in the presence of the Lord?

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 Or do you long to be elsewhere?

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 Maybe there are other things that would take away your attention from the worship of our Lord on His day.

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 Maybe it's something that would take you away from church, but maybe it's not.

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 And even in church, it's a distraction on your hearts and minds.

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 Do you long to gather together as a body of believers as you receive Christ in His Word and sacrament?

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 Because that is what is happening this evening.

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 As we gather together, God is present among us by His Word.

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 And if we know this, how we should not neglect to gather together.

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 How wonderful is this opportunity week by week to enjoy His presence in worship.

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 So we worship the Lord with joy.

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 Moving on to verse 3, we worship the Lord as King.

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 We worship the Lord as King.

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 Verse 3, know that the Lord is God.

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 It is He who made us.

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 And we are His.

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 We are His people.

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 The sheep of His pasture.

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 For those of you who know your Bibles well, you will know that when you see Lord in all capitals,

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 that is standing in place for the covenantal name of God, Yahweh.

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 This is the name which He revealed Himself by at the burning bush to Moses in Exodus chapter 3.

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 And the call here is to know that He is God.

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 It is not all the other false gods.

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 It is He, Him, and it is Him alone.

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 And this theme is a theme which has occurred many times before in the Scriptures.

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 In Genesis chapter 1, one of the chief purposes of Genesis chapter 1, the account of creation,

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 is to establish the covenantal Lord Yahweh as King of creation.

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 This was supposed to be in sharp contrast to all the pagan gods.

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 The pagans, of course, had a God for just about everything.

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 They had a God for the seas.

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 They had a God for the sun.

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 They had a God for the stars.

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 And just about anything you could imagine.

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 And I suppose that in this way we may say that Genesis chapter 1 has a polemical function.

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 That is, it is attacking all of these other false gods, and it is asserting Yahweh as King of creation.

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 And this, we know, is the foundation for the covenant relationship that Yahweh has with His people.

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 In Exodus chapter 19 and 20, it is because God rescued the Israelites and showed Himself to be the one true God above all other false gods that they are to be set apart to Him.

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 We see, and we see something similar in Psalm 100.

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 In verse 3, we read it as He who made us, and we are His.

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 It is because He is the maker of heaven and earth that He alone deserves our worship.

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 This is the foundation of our relationship with our maker.

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 It is because He is our creator that we can trust He will be a faithful Lord to us.

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 Verse 3 continues, we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

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 And when we read texts such as this, we like to think of images of cuddly sheep following after a relatively good-looking guy.

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 But we need to understand what this biblical metaphor is beyond face value.

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 Throughout the scriptures, the shepherd metaphor is used to communicate kingship.

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 In Jeremiah chapter 13, verse 20, it says,

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 Look up and see those who are coming from the north.

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 Where is your flock that was entrusted to you, the sheep of which you boasted?

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 Ezekiel chapter 34 gives us a similar idea where it describes to us the bad shepherds.

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 In other words, the bad leaders of Israel who abused their people.

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 And in the Bible, this metaphor is used and it is applied to the Lord, to Yahweh.

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 And it is used in contrast to all of these bad shepherds.

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 Notably, if you flick the page over to Psalm 95,

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 in verse 3, God is described as the great king above all other gods.

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 And then in verse 7, it describes his subjects as the people of his pasture,

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 the flock under his care.

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 And of course, this language was used famously in Psalm 23 to describe the unique relationship between God and his people Israel.

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 But notice that in verse 3 in Psalm 100, this covenantal language is used in reference to all the earth.

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 We lose the gravity of this.

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 For the Israelite, the idea that the pagan nations would worship God would be absolutely mind-blowing.

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 It would be like if you turned up to your workplace this coming week

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 and you found all your colleagues or classmates worshiping the Lord,

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 you would probably be a little bit confused.

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 But the wonder of Christianity and the mystery of the Scriptures

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 is that God has broken down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile.

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 He has destroyed human divisions and has united for himself a people in Christ,

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 which is the New Testament church.

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 So with God as our covenantal king,

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 we know that as we gather to worship him,

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 we are in safe hands.

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 We face many persecutions and pressures as brothers and sisters in Christ.

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 If you keep up with Open Doors or other missionary organizations,

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 you will know about some of the horrendous persecutions,

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 some bear for bearing the name of Christ.

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 Even in our own lands,

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 you may face tremendous persecution or pressure

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 to conform to this world's way of thinking and living.

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 A few weeks ago, I was preaching on Psalm 29,

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 where God rules over creation by his powerful and majestic voice.

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 And Christian, this is your God.

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 This is your God.

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 He's enthroned over the world,

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 in this world that so often seems chaotic and evil,

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 that seemingly prevails.

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 You are his.

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 Read that again.

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 Verse 3,

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 And we are his.

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 And because of this,

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 be assured that you are held by him.

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 And as you participate in his worship,

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 you anticipate the day in glory

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 when no evil power will ever touch you again.

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 And until then,

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 you are surely held by his loving arms.

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 The psalm envisages a scenario

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 where God's people worship him

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 as king under his rule and protection.

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 And this is what we will do for all eternity.

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 We worship the Lord with joy.

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 We worship the Lord as king.

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 And thirdly, in verse 4,

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 we worship the Lord in his temple.

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 We worship the Lord in his temple.

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 Verse 4,

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 Enter his gates with thanksgiving

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 and his courts with praise.

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 Give thanks to him and praise his name.

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 As we found in verses 1 to 2,

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 we come with joyful songs

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 to the presence of the Lord.

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 And here in verse 4,

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 we find that we are coming to his temple.

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 The language in verses 1 and 2

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 does hint towards this.

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 Many of the praise,

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 much of the praise described in verses 1 and 2

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 is often used of the priests

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 in Old Testament worship.

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 And here we find this idea

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 that we worship God

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 in his temple much, much clearer.

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 The temple in the Old Testament

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 was where God dwelt.

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 It was his house among his people.

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 If you want fun bedtime reading,

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 you could go and read Exodus chapters 25 to 30

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 or perhaps 1 Kings chapters 5 to 8

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 where the very detailed instructions

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 for the tabernacle and the temple are given.

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 And we see in these passages

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 that these were magnificent structures

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 overlaid with gold.

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 It was made as a place for God to dwell.

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 Of course, not even the highest heavens

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 could contain God,

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 but in his grace,

00:20:04.919 --> 00:20:07.059
 he has chosen and has been pleased

00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:10.740
 to condescend to dwell with his people,

00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:14.119
 to dwell with sinners in these holy places

00:20:14.119 --> 00:20:17.139
 which signified the temple in heaven

00:20:17.139 --> 00:20:20.799
 where he dwells in light inaccessible.

00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:24.519
 And this is the scene

00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:27.180
 which we have before us.

00:20:28.139 --> 00:20:29.339
 We read of his gates.

00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:31.899
 We read of his courts.

00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:35.559
 These were features of the temple.

00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:36.899
 And we enter his gates

00:20:36.899 --> 00:20:38.379
 with thanksgiving.

00:20:38.659 --> 00:20:42.079
 Again, another image of temple worship.

00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:45.359
 The idea here may be similar

00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:46.699
 to that of the thank offerings

00:20:46.699 --> 00:20:47.740
 made in the Old Testament,

00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:50.879
 such as in Leviticus chapter 7, verse 12,

00:20:51.159 --> 00:20:53.079
 where this kind of thankfulness

00:20:53.079 --> 00:20:54.619
 is used in the context

00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:56.759
 of sacrifices at the temple.

00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:00.179
 And the picture here

00:21:00.179 --> 00:21:03.779
 is that of God's dwelling in heaven,

00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:06.619
 which is where we believers

00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:08.259
 are headed towards.

00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:13.500
 The new creation is depicted as a temple.

00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:16.680
 It is a place where we will worship God

00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:20.019
 in his presence for all eternity.

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:26.160
 Friends, this is where we come to in worship.

00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:29.980
 We come to the heavenly temple of our God,

00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:32.180
 and we come to worship

00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:34.039
 in none other than the dwelling place of God.

00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:36.099
 As we gather this evening,

00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:37.240
 we join in this worship.

00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:40.440
 We join in the eternal song.

00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:46.079
 We also have to understand

00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:48.839
 that this stanza follows from the last.

00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:53.799
 That is, the stanza which proclaims to us

00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:55.980
 the royalty and kingship of God

00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:58.480
 is followed by the one

00:21:58.480 --> 00:22:01.140
 which describes to us a temple scene.

00:22:01.140 --> 00:22:05.759
 It is a common theme,

00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:08.040
 especially in this altar,

00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:10.700
 that God is king in his temple.

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:14.580
 It is his temple where he sits

00:22:14.580 --> 00:22:16.680
 enthroned as king

00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:19.080
 over his people,

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:20.380
 giving them his peace

00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:21.820
 and protection.

00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:26.519
 History and circumstances,

00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:27.639
 they change,

00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:30.740
 but God's rule over his dwelling place

00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:32.119
 will never cease.

00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:34.059
 Friends,

00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:37.179
 if you worship the one true God,

00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:40.220
 he cannot disappoint you.

00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.939
 He cannot disappoint.

00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:43.639
 If you worship other things,

00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.919
 they will fail you.

00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:46.600
 You know,

00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:47.240
 in the world,

00:22:47.340 --> 00:22:50.300
 we have many general elections going on,

00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:52.060
 and in these elections,

00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:53.980
 these can sometimes

00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:55.500
 completely take over us.

00:22:56.840 --> 00:22:58.440
 People on both sides,

00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.380
 or not on all sides,

00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:00.940
 are prone to view their candidate

00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:02.920
 as some sort of Messiah figure.

00:23:06.600 --> 00:23:07.940
 Governments will pass.

00:23:07.940 --> 00:23:10.900
 political candidates will pass.

00:23:11.660 --> 00:23:12.960
 But God's rule

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:14.660
 in his heavenly dwellings

00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:17.940
 will never fail or pass.

00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:19.279
 It will never cease.

00:23:19.360 --> 00:23:19.799
 And therefore,

00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:22.660
 we can approach his dwellings

00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:24.480
 with thanksgiving,

00:23:25.100 --> 00:23:27.120
 and we can enter his courts

00:23:27.120 --> 00:23:29.400
 with praise and bless

00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:30.840
 his holy name.

00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:37.799
 Finally,

00:23:37.959 --> 00:23:39.119
 in verse 5,

00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:41.179
 we worship the Lord

00:23:41.179 --> 00:23:42.659
 for eternity.

00:23:45.659 --> 00:23:47.359
 We worship the Lord

00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:48.019
 for eternity.

00:23:48.179 --> 00:23:48.899
 Verse 5,

00:23:49.399 --> 00:23:50.679
 for the Lord is good,

00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.459
 and his love

00:23:52.459 --> 00:23:54.099
 endures forever.

00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:56.559
 His faithfulness

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.339
 continues

00:23:57.339 --> 00:23:58.379
 through all

00:23:58.379 --> 00:23:59.619
 generations.

00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:03.159
 And how the Bible

00:24:03.159 --> 00:24:03.720
 is a witness

00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.619
 to these things,

00:24:05.419 --> 00:24:07.099
 where time and time again

00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:08.220
 God saves

00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:09.119
 his people

00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:10.179
 from their distress.

00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:12.799
 How he was faithful

00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:14.059
 to his promise

00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:14.759
 to Abraham

00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:15.659
 in sending

00:24:15.659 --> 00:24:16.879
 Christ the Son,

00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:18.359
 the only mediator

00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:19.439
 between God and man,

00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:20.079
 to die

00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:21.159
 as a ransom

00:24:21.159 --> 00:24:22.019
 for many.

00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:25.039
 How we experience

00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.759
 and know

00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:27.220
 his mercies

00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:27.819
 anew

00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:29.199
 every day.

00:24:30.839 --> 00:24:33.379
 Charles Spurgeon

00:24:33.379 --> 00:24:34.359
 again says,

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.720
 on this verse,

00:24:35.879 --> 00:24:36.579
 this sums up

00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:37.359
 his character

00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:38.659
 and contains

00:24:38.659 --> 00:24:39.980
 a mass of reasons

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.699
 for praise.

00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:42.159
 He is good,

00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:43.259
 gracious,

00:24:43.919 --> 00:24:44.359
 kind,

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.559
 bountiful,

00:24:45.859 --> 00:24:46.159
 loving,

00:24:46.379 --> 00:24:46.559
 yea,

00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:48.539
 God is love.

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.599
 John Calvin,

00:24:51.919 --> 00:24:52.339
 likewise,

00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:54.459
 verse 5 points out,

00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:55.299
 there will always

00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:56.519
 be cause for praise.

00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.740
 What base

00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.680
 ingratitude,

00:24:58.879 --> 00:24:59.139
 therefore,

00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:00.579
 for us to weary

00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:01.960
 in giving thanks.

00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:03.720
 Yet so foolish

00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.339
 are we

00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:04.819
 that God

00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:05.559
 must open

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.920
 his holy lips

00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:07.599
 to declare

00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:08.839
 his care for us,

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.339
 though he silently

00:25:10.339 --> 00:25:11.779
 maintains it

00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:13.420
 every day.

00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:16.720
 how prone

00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:17.400
 we can be

00:25:17.400 --> 00:25:18.340
 to forget

00:25:18.340 --> 00:25:19.060
 the grace

00:25:19.060 --> 00:25:19.940
 of God.

00:25:20.800 --> 00:25:21.400
 How easy

00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:21.860
 it is

00:25:21.860 --> 00:25:22.640
 to fail

00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:23.640
 to render

00:25:23.640 --> 00:25:24.300
 the praise

00:25:24.300 --> 00:25:25.200
 that is due

00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:26.440
 to his name.

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.519
 Christian,

00:25:29.320 --> 00:25:29.900
 God

00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:30.880
 is good.

00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:32.420
 Let us not

00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:34.100
 forget this truth.

00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:35.519
 God is good.

00:25:35.580 --> 00:25:36.320
 Let us not forget

00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:36.900
 the love

00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:37.700
 that he has shown

00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.880
 us in Christ Jesus

00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:40.720
 in saving us

00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:41.640
 from our bondage

00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:42.100
 to sin,

00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:42.740
 and let us not

00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:43.819
 forget his work

00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:45.299
 in sustaining us

00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:46.179
 every day

00:25:46.179 --> 00:25:47.480
 as our great

00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:48.980
 high priest.

00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:54.359
 His love

00:25:54.359 --> 00:25:55.279
 endures

00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:56.319
 forever,

00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:57.079
 and this is what

00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:57.740
 we find

00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:59.199
 throughout the rest

00:25:59.199 --> 00:26:00.240
 of the scriptures.

00:26:01.959 --> 00:26:02.779
 This psalm

00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.480
 leaves us

00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:04.199
 with an element

00:26:04.199 --> 00:26:05.379
 of anticipation.

00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:07.659
 We have to realize

00:26:07.659 --> 00:26:08.319
 that as we read

00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:08.899
 these verses

00:26:08.899 --> 00:26:10.119
 that the believers

00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:10.919
 reading this psalm

00:26:10.919 --> 00:26:11.779
 before the advent

00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.440
 of Christ,

00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:15.019
 or we're singing

00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:15.500
 it rather,

00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:16.680
 we're not singing

00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:17.779
 with our New Testament

00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:18.440
 perspectives.

00:26:20.639 --> 00:26:21.259
 This psalm

00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:21.759
 envisages

00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:23.099
 all the earth

00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:24.660
 praising God,

00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:27.059
 but as we will know,

00:26:27.160 --> 00:26:27.740
 this had not

00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.379
 happened yet.

00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:30.079
 Of course,

00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:31.240
 throughout Old Testament

00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.259
 history,

00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.359
 it was anticipated

00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:34.339
 that by the

00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:35.619
 Abrahamic promise

00:26:35.619 --> 00:26:37.359
 that all the nations

00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:38.180
 would be blessed

00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:39.079
 in that promise,

00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:40.679
 the time

00:26:40.679 --> 00:26:41.460
 was not yet.

00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:44.539
 And as we have

00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:44.879
 seen,

00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:45.639
 this psalm

00:26:45.639 --> 00:26:46.460
 also has

00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:48.240
 the language

00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:49.220
 of victory.

00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:52.039
 In verse 1,

00:26:52.139 --> 00:26:52.659
 we saw that

00:26:52.659 --> 00:26:53.119
 the shout

00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:54.079
 was often used

00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:55.099
 as a battle cry.

00:26:56.179 --> 00:26:57.039
 It is military

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.759
 language.

00:26:58.399 --> 00:26:59.220
 But when we read

00:26:59.220 --> 00:26:59.699
 the psalms

00:26:59.699 --> 00:27:00.419
 in the Old Testament

00:27:00.419 --> 00:27:01.319
 history books,

00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:02.339
 we read that

00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:02.899
 the Israelites

00:27:02.899 --> 00:27:04.039
 did not always

00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:05.299
 enjoy this victory.

00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:09.200
 even just

00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:10.680
 the psalms.

00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:11.779
 Psalm 100

00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.960
 is in book 4.

00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.559
 And before

00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.180
 book 4

00:27:15.180 --> 00:27:15.919
 is book 3,

00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:16.720
 where Israel

00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:17.799
 suffered much

00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:19.139
 devastation.

00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:21.859
 Psalm 88

00:27:21.859 --> 00:27:22.619
 gives us

00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:23.379
 but a glimpse

00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:24.919
 into their suffering,

00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:25.740
 where it ends

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.599
 in verse 18,

00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:27.299
 you have taken

00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:27.940
 from me

00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:29.539
 friend and neighbor.

00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:30.279
 Darkness

00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:32.539
 is my closest

00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:33.440
 friend.

00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:33.619
 Friend.

00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:36.720
 The people

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.279
 of Israel

00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:38.639
 were longing

00:27:38.639 --> 00:27:39.599
 for the

00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:40.099
 restoration

00:27:40.099 --> 00:27:41.599
 of their kingdom.

00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:43.119
 They were

00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:43.940
 yearning for

00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:44.279
 the day

00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.819
 when God's

00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:45.359
 promises

00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:46.720
 would fully

00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:47.579
 and finally

00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:48.339
 be fulfilled.

00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:51.839
 Psalm 20

00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:52.460
 verse 5

00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:53.220
 would express

00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:54.039
 this desire,

00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:54.819
 may we

00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:55.480
 shout

00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:57.180
 for joy

00:27:57.180 --> 00:27:58.240
 over your

00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:58.740
 victory.

00:28:01.379 --> 00:28:02.539
 And of course,

00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:03.519
 a few psalms

00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:04.500
 later we read

00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:05.960
 of the,

00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:07.339
 we read

00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.240
 Psalm 24,

00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.079
 where the

00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:09.859
 Messiah is

00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:10.519
 exalted

00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:11.500
 as king

00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.519
 in his

00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:12.960
 victory.

00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:16.000
 And as we

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:16.339
 read our

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.019
 New Testaments,

00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:17.839
 we begin to see

00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:18.359
 this picture

00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:18.960
 as fulfilled.

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.200
 After Jesus

00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:20.779
 died

00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:22.140
 and rose

00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:22.319
 from,

00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:22.740
 died on the

00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.019
 cross

00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.400
 and rose

00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:23.740
 from the

00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:23.980
 dead,

00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:24.859
 he achieved

00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:25.660
 victory

00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:26.779
 for his

00:28:26.779 --> 00:28:27.119
 people.

00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.240
 Colossians

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:29.880
 chapter 2

00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:30.559
 verse 15,

00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.960
 Christ triumphed

00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.559
 over the

00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.119
 powers of

00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:33.679
 this age

00:28:33.679 --> 00:28:35.000
 by triumphing

00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.759
 over them

00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.639
 by the

00:28:36.639 --> 00:28:37.179
 cross.

00:28:40.159 --> 00:28:41.119
 After this,

00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:41.720
 Christ was

00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:43.019
 exalted

00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.839
 as king

00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.619
 in his

00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:45.139
 ascension.

00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:46.960
 And after

00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:47.720
 he sent

00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:48.319
 the promised

00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:49.200
 Holy Spirit,

00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:49.740
 we read

00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.700
 something very

00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:52.220
 striking in

00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.079
 Acts chapter 2

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:53.980
 verse 46.

00:28:55.059 --> 00:28:55.659
 Turn with me

00:28:55.659 --> 00:28:56.220
 in your Bibles

00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:56.859
 to Acts

00:28:56.859 --> 00:28:57.500
 chapter 2.

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:57.539
 Acts 2.

00:28:57.539 --> 00:29:07.279
 Acts chapter 2,

00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:08.559
 after Peter

00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:09.279
 has given

00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:09.839
 his sermon

00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:10.839
 to the crowds,

00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:12.619
 where in

00:29:12.619 --> 00:29:13.259
 verse 41,

00:29:13.399 --> 00:29:13.720
 those who

00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:14.359
 accepted his

00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:14.879
 message were

00:29:14.879 --> 00:29:15.619
 baptized and

00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:16.399
 about 3,000

00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:16.920
 were added to

00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:17.319
 their number

00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:17.799
 that day.

00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.159
 We read this

00:29:19.159 --> 00:29:20.339
 from verse 42.

00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:20.940
 They devoted

00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:21.779
 themselves to

00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.299
 the apostles'

00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:23.639
 teaching and

00:29:23.639 --> 00:29:24.220
 to fellowship,

00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.099
 to the breaking

00:29:25.099 --> 00:29:26.379
 of bread and

00:29:26.379 --> 00:29:26.899
 to prayer.

00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:28.539
 Everyone was

00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:29.139
 filled with

00:29:29.139 --> 00:29:30.420
 awe at the

00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:31.180
 many wonders

00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:31.980
 and signs

00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:32.899
 performed by

00:29:32.899 --> 00:29:33.460
 the apostles.

00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.460
 All the

00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:36.180
 believers were

00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:37.019
 together and

00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:37.940
 had everything

00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:38.779
 in common.

00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.379
 They sold

00:29:40.379 --> 00:29:41.339
 property and

00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:42.220
 possessions to

00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:43.000
 give to anyone

00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:43.759
 who had need.

00:29:44.379 --> 00:29:45.240
 Every day,

00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:46.680
 they continued

00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.879
 to meet together

00:29:47.879 --> 00:29:48.740
 in the temple

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.359
 courts.

00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:50.460
 They broke

00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:51.539
 bread in their

00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:52.339
 homes and

00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:53.759
 ate together

00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:55.200
 with glad

00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:57.140
 and sincere

00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:58.700
 hearts,

00:29:58.920 --> 00:29:59.660
 praising God

00:29:59.660 --> 00:30:00.379
 and enjoying

00:30:00.379 --> 00:30:01.400
 the favor

00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:02.279
 of all the

00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:02.559
 people.

00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:03.519
 And the

00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:03.920
 Lord added

00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:04.319
 to their

00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:05.059
 number daily

00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:06.420
 those who

00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:06.819
 were being

00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:07.319
 saved.

00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:10.759
 After the

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:11.700
 exaltation of

00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.359
 Christ, we

00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:13.240
 read that the

00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:13.759
 New Testament

00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:14.440
 church were

00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:15.579
 depicted as

00:30:15.579 --> 00:30:16.920
 the worshiping

00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:17.900
 temple community

00:30:17.900 --> 00:30:18.599
 of Yahweh.

00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:19.440
 We find in

00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:20.359
 verse 46 of

00:30:20.359 --> 00:30:21.359
 Acts 2 that

00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:21.699
 they were

00:30:21.699 --> 00:30:22.519
 serving one

00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.659
 another with

00:30:23.659 --> 00:30:24.799
 gladness.

00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:28.579
 In the

00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:29.039
 picture, we

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:29.339
 have an

00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:30.379
 Acts, and

00:30:30.379 --> 00:30:30.599
 in the

00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.079
 wider New

00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:32.099
 Testament, is

00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:32.779
 the fulfillment

00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:34.119
 of Psalm

00:30:34.119 --> 00:30:35.159
 100.

00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:36.500
 As we

00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.619
 gather together

00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:38.199
 this evening,

00:30:38.459 --> 00:30:39.479
 we are joining

00:30:39.479 --> 00:30:40.179
 in the worship

00:30:40.179 --> 00:30:41.039
 presented by

00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:42.219
 this psalm in

00:30:42.219 --> 00:30:43.379
 light of the

00:30:43.379 --> 00:30:44.359
 victory that

00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:45.099
 Christ, by

00:30:45.099 --> 00:30:45.799
 His blood,

00:30:46.219 --> 00:30:46.740
 has bought

00:30:46.740 --> 00:30:47.439
 for us.

00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:50.000
 How marvelous,

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:51.220
 marvelous, how

00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:52.819
 wonderful, and

00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:53.900
 my song shall

00:30:53.900 --> 00:30:54.380
 ever be.

00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:56.640
 How marvelous,

00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:57.819
 how wonderful

00:30:57.819 --> 00:31:00.059
 is my Savior's

00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:01.980
 love for me.

00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:05.000
 Friends, as we

00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:05.480
 read our New

00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:06.160
 Testaments, we

00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.140
 read that Christ

00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:08.519
 is the one who

00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:10.099
 is King in the

00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:10.799
 heavenly temple.

00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:12.380
 He is the

00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:13.259
 object of our

00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:14.460
 worship and the

00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:15.440
 one in whom we

00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:16.240
 are secure.

00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:18.140
 Our lives are

00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:19.240
 hidden with

00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:20.079
 Christ, our

00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:20.799
 good shepherd

00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:22.180
 in God.

00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:25.900
 However, the

00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:27.019
 picture in

00:31:27.019 --> 00:31:28.059
 Psalm 100 is

00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:28.880
 only partially

00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:29.440
 fulfilled.

00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:31.779
 The final

00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:33.059
 fulfillment of

00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:33.640
 Psalm 100,

00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.500
 where all the

00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.799
 earth worships

00:31:35.799 --> 00:31:38.160
 the Lord in

00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:38.940
 His presence,

00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:40.079
 is depicted

00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:42.200
 by Revelation

00:31:42.200 --> 00:31:43.859
 chapter 5,

00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.279
 where in

00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:45.660
 verse 9, it

00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:46.160
 says, you

00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:46.740
 are worthy

00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:48.240
 to take the

00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:48.940
 scroll and

00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:49.500
 to open

00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:50.259
 its seals,

00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.359
 because you

00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:52.039
 are slain.

00:31:52.839 --> 00:31:53.359
 And with

00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:54.180
 your blood,

00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:55.440
 you purchase

00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:56.200
 for God

00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:57.680
 persons from

00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:58.779
 every tribe

00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.720
 and language

00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:00.640
 and people

00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:01.200
 and nation.

00:32:01.900 --> 00:32:02.480
 You have

00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.039
 made them

00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:03.740
 to be a

00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:04.319
 kingdom of

00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:05.160
 priests, to

00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:05.640
 serve our

00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:07.099
 God, and

00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:07.920
 they will reign

00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:09.839
 on earth.

00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:12.559
 Christ, Christian,

00:32:13.339 --> 00:32:14.639
 this is what

00:32:14.639 --> 00:32:15.799
 Christ is

00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:16.379
 guiding you

00:32:16.379 --> 00:32:16.779
 towards.

00:32:17.699 --> 00:32:18.839
 You are

00:32:18.839 --> 00:32:20.639
 His, and

00:32:20.639 --> 00:32:21.379
 He will keep

00:32:21.379 --> 00:32:22.279
 you secure

00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:23.480
 until that

00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:24.419
 day when

00:32:24.419 --> 00:32:25.240
 He comes

00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:26.959
 again in

00:32:26.959 --> 00:32:27.720
 glory, where

00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.119
 you will

00:32:28.119 --> 00:32:28.939
 worship Him

00:32:28.939 --> 00:32:30.480
 with all the

00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:31.759
 joy and

00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:32.259
 with all the

00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:33.439
 gladness that

00:32:33.439 --> 00:32:33.759
 you could

00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.159
 imagine.

00:32:34.160 --> 00:32:38.100
 as I

00:32:38.100 --> 00:32:38.620
 close, let

00:32:38.620 --> 00:32:39.120
 me close

00:32:39.120 --> 00:32:39.440
 with the

00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:39.820
 words of

00:32:39.820 --> 00:32:40.220
 the famous

00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:40.519
 hymn.

00:32:41.540 --> 00:32:41.960
 When He

00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:42.740
 comes, our

00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:43.880
 glorious King,

00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:45.040
 all His

00:32:45.040 --> 00:32:45.980
 ransomed home

00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:46.500
 to bring,

00:32:47.320 --> 00:32:47.960
 then anew

00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:48.580
 the song

00:32:48.580 --> 00:32:49.259
 will sing,

00:32:50.100 --> 00:32:50.700
 hallelujah,

00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:52.660
 what a

00:32:52.660 --> 00:32:52.940
 Savior.

00:32:53.860 --> 00:32:54.340
 Let us

00:32:54.340 --> 00:32:54.560
 pray.

00:32:54.560 --> 00:32:54.620
 Amen.