WEBVTT 00:00:00.020 --> 00:00:06.719 Your Bible likely has a title written either before or beside this text, probably somewhere around the first verse, 00:00:07.860 --> 00:00:12.140 that is there to alert you to a potential theme for the psalm. 00:00:12.220 --> 00:00:16.859 If you have an English standard version like me, it probably says, 00:00:17.059 --> 00:00:19.640 Great is your steadfast love. Do you see that? 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:24.480 If you have a different version, it probably says something different than that. 00:00:24.560 --> 00:00:26.600 But if you're with me, that's what it says. 00:00:26.600 --> 00:00:35.400 Now, these titles can actually be very helpful to us, but you need to at least know that they're not actually part of the text, that specific title. 00:00:36.800 --> 00:00:43.100 Bible Publishers supplies those to us in order to aid the reader in their study, 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:46.340 but at the end of the day, they're really of no real import to us. 00:00:46.340 --> 00:00:54.220 But just below that title is a superscription that, even though it does not have a verse number, 00:00:54.620 --> 00:00:59.280 is actually very much a part of the scriptural text. 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:03.859 And these notes, supplied in the scriptures themselves, 00:01:04.379 --> 00:01:13.159 give us some necessary contextual information to help guide our understanding as we come to psalms like this. 00:01:13.159 --> 00:01:19.200 This one, no matter what translation you have, will simply read a prayer of David. 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:20.219 A prayer of David. 00:01:21.060 --> 00:01:22.799 It's very simple and straightforward, isn't it? 00:01:22.859 --> 00:01:27.500 So simple that I'm going to take a few minutes to explore that simple phrase, just a prayer of David. 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:34.859 So that the first thing that we're meant to understand here in the text is that this was a prayer before it was a song. 00:01:34.859 --> 00:01:41.980 There's no musical or liturgical notes that are given in this psalm, as with many other psalms. 00:01:42.299 --> 00:01:43.319 There's no selahs. 00:01:43.519 --> 00:01:45.319 There's no to the chief musician. 00:01:45.859 --> 00:01:51.019 There's no melody that's attached to it or a particular instrument. 00:01:51.299 --> 00:01:54.879 No musical, no liturgical notes whatsoever. 00:01:56.019 --> 00:02:00.219 And however it may have been used ultimately in the worship of Israel, 00:02:00.219 --> 00:02:08.439 the original composition of Psalm 86 is very clearly simply of a fervent cry to the Lord in prayer. 00:02:09.379 --> 00:02:16.139 And as you read through the psalm, you find it immediately apparent that it is a prayer of lament. 00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:26.960 A passionate plea for God to graciously intervene in the life of a worshiper who is facing severe hardship. 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:34.000 So that right off the bat, we can discern that the purpose of this passage, the purpose of this psalm, 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:46.439 is that we might learn how God's people are to lament in the midst of incredible difficulty and hardship and trial. 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:52.819 Which presents for us a very simple and practical question, and that is, 00:02:53.579 --> 00:02:59.000 are you facing some type of trial or tragedy or potential tragedy? 00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:07.520 And you find yourself completely unsure of how you are to respond to that situation in your life in light of your faith. 00:03:07.860 --> 00:03:08.659 Have you ever been there? 00:03:08.659 --> 00:03:18.319 Where your trust is in the Lord, you are faithful to the Lord, you're doing to the best of your ability all that you can to be obedient to him, 00:03:18.379 --> 00:03:20.599 and trust him, and follow him, and be faithful to him. 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:23.400 And then something tragic happens in your life. 00:03:23.859 --> 00:03:29.359 A difficulty comes in your path that you did not expect, and you're tempted to abandon your hope. 00:03:29.699 --> 00:03:32.659 You're tempted to abandon your faith, and you really are uncertain. 00:03:32.740 --> 00:03:34.539 I don't even know how to pray now. 00:03:34.539 --> 00:03:37.219 I don't know what I'm supposed to pray for. 00:03:37.340 --> 00:03:41.579 I don't know if it's even worth it to pray to God at this point in my life. 00:03:41.659 --> 00:03:42.259 We've been there. 00:03:42.379 --> 00:03:45.060 Perhaps you have been there recently. 00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:46.939 Maybe you're there now. 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:51.359 And God is gracious to give us scriptures like this one, 00:03:52.459 --> 00:03:55.620 that teach us and train us how to pray, 00:03:56.259 --> 00:03:57.359 how to lament, 00:03:58.139 --> 00:04:01.899 and how to go through this particular realm of experience in our lives. 00:04:01.900 --> 00:04:08.280 The next item that we're meant to understand as it relates to this superscription 00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:14.360 is that it is a lament initially belonging to King David. 00:04:15.219 --> 00:04:19.639 This specific occasion for David's prayer is mentioned here. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:25.620 Verse 14 at least gives us the clue that the circumstance involved 00:04:25.620 --> 00:04:32.780 insolent, ruthless, godless men who were seeking to take David's life. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:36.100 A situation that was very common to his experience, 00:04:36.100 --> 00:04:39.639 if you go through the Old Testament and read the narrative about his life. 00:04:40.060 --> 00:04:42.280 This always seemed to be the case with David, didn't it? 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:44.259 There was always somebody coming after them. 00:04:44.420 --> 00:04:46.560 There was always a place that he needed to hide. 00:04:46.660 --> 00:04:49.959 There was always some type of enemy at his door. 00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:56.259 And verse 14 clues us in that this prayer was coming as a result of one of those circumstances. 00:04:57.500 --> 00:05:01.120 There's also some indicators in this psalm that suggest 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:08.699 that David's sin was at least partly responsible for his circumstance. 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:17.560 Verses 5 and 15 both acknowledge David's need for God to be forgiving and merciful. 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:19.259 Look at it in verse 5. 00:05:19.259 --> 00:05:22.099 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving. 00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:25.459 Verse 15, he quotes Exodus chapter 34. 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:26.000 He says, 00:05:26.420 --> 00:05:29.879 But you, O Lord, are a God who is merciful and gracious, 00:05:30.379 --> 00:05:34.360 slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:40.279 There's at least a hint that part of the problem for David's life and experience 00:05:40.279 --> 00:05:43.839 is the fact that he has sinned against the Lord 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:48.099 and he is facing consequences related to that sin. 00:05:49.259 --> 00:05:56.060 Now that's not to say that all of our hardships and all of our trials are direct results of particular sins. 00:05:56.060 --> 00:06:06.759 But it's at least a reminder that the very presence of suffering comes from the fact and as a result of living in a fallen world. 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:11.379 And any prayer for God is ultimately, 00:06:11.379 --> 00:06:15.319 on some level, a prayer for God's mercy. 00:06:16.379 --> 00:06:18.379 David acknowledges that here. 00:06:19.039 --> 00:06:21.360 That even in the midst of this particular prayer, 00:06:21.500 --> 00:06:26.139 he cries out, recognizing that God must be merciful and he must be forgiving, 00:06:26.139 --> 00:06:29.639 else David's prayer would be in vain. 00:06:31.319 --> 00:06:39.979 So we might discern that this lament reveals a particular pattern of prayer for David throughout the course of his life 00:06:39.979 --> 00:06:47.919 as he routinely faced opposition and troubling circumstances and the immediate consequences of his sin. 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:54.600 David knew well what it was like to plead for God's merciful and gracious intervention 00:06:54.600 --> 00:07:06.259 and driving his lament here is the recognition that he is wholly dependent on the one true and living God. 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:08.580 That's driving the whole thing. 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:10.139 It's not hard to see it, is it? 00:07:10.139 --> 00:07:15.620 14 of the 17 verses involve direct appeals to the Lord God. 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:16.639 Just look at them with me. 00:07:16.740 --> 00:07:19.079 Verse 1, incline your ear, O Lord. 00:07:19.539 --> 00:07:21.659 Verse 2, you are my God. 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:23.959 Verse 3, be gracious to me, O Lord. 00:07:24.219 --> 00:07:27.919 Verse 4, O Lord, to you do I lift up my soul. 00:07:28.180 --> 00:07:31.620 Verse 5, for you, O Lord, are good and forgiving. 00:07:31.939 --> 00:07:35.060 6, give ear, O Lord, to my prayer. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:38.939 Verse 8, there is none like you among the gods, O Lord. 00:07:38.939 --> 00:07:43.959 Verse 9, all the nations will worship before you, O Lord. 00:07:44.459 --> 00:07:46.379 Verse 10, you alone are God. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:48.959 11, teach me your way, O Lord. 00:07:49.180 --> 00:07:51.420 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God. 00:07:51.480 --> 00:07:52.319 In verse 12. 00:07:53.459 --> 00:07:56.860 Verse 14, O God, insolent men have risen up. 00:07:56.980 --> 00:08:00.079 15, but you, O Lord, are a God merciful. 00:08:01.019 --> 00:08:04.360 17, because you, Lord, have helped me. 00:08:04.939 --> 00:08:06.500 Have you ever prayed a prayer like that? 00:08:06.500 --> 00:08:14.079 We're in the midst of your despair and in the midst of your heartache and trouble. 00:08:14.180 --> 00:08:18.680 You really know nothing else to pray except, O Lord, help. 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:21.879 Do something, Lord. 00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:30.199 There's a uniqueness even to the Christian dynamic of prayer that is uniquely different than any other religion 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:34.019 where we recognize that our God is a father to us. 00:08:34.779 --> 00:08:40.840 And have you ever gotten before the Lord in prayer and you really didn't know what else to say except, 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:46.439 O Father, Father, please help me. 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:50.520 This is the true essence of prayer. 00:08:52.340 --> 00:08:59.040 This kind of prayer only flows from the lips of one who is emptied of pride, wholly dependent on the Lord. 00:08:59.340 --> 00:09:03.400 And David is in such a circumstance now where he's brought to the lowest of lows. 00:09:03.740 --> 00:09:10.320 And over and over and over he repeats his cry to the Lord because he knows the only hope that he actually has in this moment 00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:12.060 is for God to intervene. 00:09:12.059 --> 00:09:25.639 But we must not let the intimacy of David's prayer distract us from the fact that God still saw fit to include it in Israel's book of worship. 00:09:28.019 --> 00:09:35.500 It originated with David, but God intended it to be a lament useful for all of his people. 00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:43.860 In other words, we're not only to follow David's pattern for prayer, it's God's desire that we pray David's prayer. 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:48.960 That when we do get to those moments where we're not exactly sure what to do, 00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:53.399 and we're not sure exactly how we're to respond, we pray this prayer. 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:58.960 You may not have insolent, ruthless, and godless men who are seeking your life. 00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:05.759 Surely you understand what it means to be in such dire circumstance that you despair of life. 00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:12.759 Surely you know what it's like to recognize that your only hope for deliverance and help 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:24.019 demands that God graciously, maybe even supernaturally, intervenes in your life for your favor. 00:10:24.019 --> 00:10:30.679 You know, we think about people we love like Terry and Bev, who have such a prognosis right now 00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:37.480 that really their only hope is that God would step in, even supernaturally, and show his favor in Bev's help. 00:10:39.059 --> 00:10:39.960 You've been there. 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:41.980 You know what that's like. 00:10:44.860 --> 00:10:50.240 Surely you know what it's like to see your despair as a direct result of your sin, 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:54.519 so that when you do come to the Lord in a prayer like this, 00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:57.740 the only hope that you have is that he is a merciful God. 00:10:59.659 --> 00:11:02.620 And you simply cry out, Lord, just please forgive me. 00:11:03.779 --> 00:11:05.399 Have mercy on me. 00:11:07.299 --> 00:11:12.139 So that I do not have to endure what I deserve to endure in this moment. 00:11:14.060 --> 00:11:17.779 And what is it that we must do when facing these kinds of hardships in our lives? 00:11:17.779 --> 00:11:24.019 When we come to a prayer like Psalm 86, and we lament with David, 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:26.279 incline your ear, O Lord. 00:11:27.339 --> 00:11:31.959 Please hear me and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:33.779 I need you. 00:11:34.699 --> 00:11:35.980 I need your help. 00:11:37.139 --> 00:11:38.100 Come to my aid. 00:11:40.419 --> 00:11:43.459 Well, there's three stanzas to the composition of this psalm. 00:11:43.460 --> 00:11:46.960 At the center is a prayer of praise. 00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:48.759 That's verses 8 through 13. 00:11:49.460 --> 00:11:56.340 And this prayer of praise is flanked on either side by David's petition for God's help. 00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:59.920 And there's an important distinction between these things, 00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:04.259 but there's also an importance to the fact that they're together in a single prayer. 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:08.980 Some people live as if these two dimensions of prayer, 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:14.000 that is, praise and petition, are mutually exclusive to one another. 00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:18.679 They find it difficult for the two things to rightfully exist 00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:23.139 and genuinely and authentically exist in the same prayer. 00:12:23.139 --> 00:12:31.120 Their prayers generally tend toward praise when things are good, comfortable. 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:36.960 Tend toward petition when things are burdensome and discouraging. 00:12:38.059 --> 00:12:43.019 They may even find it difficult or even near impossible to worship when facing hardship. 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:46.879 And then when enjoying blessing, they find it difficult 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:50.000 and think little of their need for the grace of God. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:52.940 And you know what that's like too. 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:56.740 All that we would recognize with David. 00:12:57.799 --> 00:13:00.700 That the two realities of prayer are not competing. 00:13:01.320 --> 00:13:02.779 They're actually complementary. 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:05.779 At least for those of us who are in Christ. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:12.159 It's only as a result of what is praiseworthy of God. 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:16.480 The things that we know to be true of Him according to His Word. 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:22.940 That we can actually find hope in casting ourselves on Him in the hour of need. 00:13:23.980 --> 00:13:27.120 It's only once we find His nature trustworthy 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:30.700 that we will cling to Him at each and every turn of life. 00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:33.200 And if we are to pray like David prayed, 00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:38.899 we must learn to marry these parallel dimensions of worship and lament, 00:13:38.899 --> 00:13:41.539 of praise and petition. 00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:47.500 So that our laments are flavored by heartfelt worship. 00:13:47.959 --> 00:13:54.159 And our worship is also infused by childlike appeals to our Father. 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:55.459 Do you see that? 00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:57.419 They're not exclusive to one another. 00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:59.519 They're actually intertwined with one another. 00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:02.840 So that the moment we come to God seeking His divine aid, 00:14:02.980 --> 00:14:05.740 it's partnered with the fact that we are worshiping Him 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:08.480 as the only one who can actually come to our aid. 00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:09.940 Our trust is in Him. 00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:13.419 And we echo the trust that we have in the midst of that prayer. 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:15.360 But then when things are good, 00:14:15.460 --> 00:14:18.799 we come and we worship the Lord with gratitude and with praise. 00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:22.399 Also bringing in those moments childlike dependence, 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:24.899 childlike appeals to the Lord. 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:26.299 They work perfectly together. 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:29.120 And this psalm is such a helpful example of that. 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:36.580 Thus, David's prayer is grounded in nothing other than the very character of God. 00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:41.860 Notice that none of his appeals are on the basis of who he is. 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:45.759 He doesn't say, Lord, help me because I'm the king. 00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:50.340 He doesn't say, Lord, help me because I was your chosen shepherd. 00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:55.000 He doesn't say, help me because I'm your anointed one. 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:57.960 None of it is on the basis of who he is. 00:14:57.960 --> 00:15:01.820 None of it is on the basis of what he feels God owes him. 00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:06.940 All of his requests are rooted in what he trusts to be true 00:15:06.940 --> 00:15:09.900 of the God that he loves and worships. 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:12.960 That he is a God who is merciful and gracious, 00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:18.460 slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:15:19.019 --> 00:15:23.519 And herein lies the true source of David's hope in this prayer. 00:15:23.800 --> 00:15:27.200 What is it that gives him such hopefulness as he comes to the Lord? 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:29.960 It is nothing but the character of God. 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:32.460 He knows God to be these things. 00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:34.940 And that is where he roots his hope. 00:15:35.940 --> 00:15:39.320 And if our laments are grounded in what we feel we deserve, 00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:43.840 we'll never have genuine hope for deliverance. 00:15:44.400 --> 00:15:45.940 We'll always have worry. 00:15:46.940 --> 00:15:53.000 We'll constantly wonder, have we been good enough to earn God's favor in this situation? 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:56.820 We'll constantly question, has God really forgiving? 00:15:57.019 --> 00:16:00.919 Is he withholding forgiveness from me in this moment? 00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:03.960 Is that why he is bringing me in this? 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:05.799 And we may pray and ask for his help. 00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:08.639 But if it's on the basis of who we are, what we deserve, 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:09.740 we'll never have real hope. 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:17.799 We might also be guilty of an inflated sense of self-worth, 00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:21.799 making prideful demands of God, 00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:28.039 and then raging in anger when we believe that he has treated us unjustly. 00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:31.439 Lord, after all I have done for you, how could you do this to me? 00:16:32.319 --> 00:16:33.959 Notice David doesn't say that either. 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:40.860 But when our prayer is rooted in the perfect character of God, 00:16:41.420 --> 00:16:47.900 our hope for reprieve and deliverance and blessing will have no end. 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:49.180 Why? 00:16:50.800 --> 00:16:55.639 Because it isn't based on the ever-faltering condition of our fallen nature, 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:59.960 but it's based on the steadfast love of God with whom James wrote 00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:03.920 is no variation or shadow of turning. 00:17:04.620 --> 00:17:09.200 That if he is a merciful God today, he is a merciful God tomorrow. 00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:12.579 And if he is full of steadfast love today, 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:16.019 he will be full of steadfast love tomorrow as well. 00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:19.079 And when we come to him in prayer in these moments of hardship, 00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:22.220 we reflect the fact that these things are true of God 00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:24.400 and that they are always true of God. 00:17:24.680 --> 00:17:26.299 Therefore, we always have hope. 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:30.019 So long as our hope is rooted in who God is 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:35.399 and not what we want or who we are. 00:17:36.399 --> 00:17:39.579 There's several attributes of God that David mentions here 00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:41.339 and he reflects upon in his appeal. 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:43.879 I want to point out just two of them to you this morning. 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:49.940 First, I want you to note when David says that God is good. 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.519 God is good. 00:17:51.899 --> 00:17:52.700 Look at verse five. 00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:58.440 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, 00:17:59.420 --> 00:18:04.200 abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:08.660 Here, the goodness of God is tied directly to his forgiveness 00:18:08.660 --> 00:18:10.519 and steadfast love, 00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:14.940 showing God's willingness and desire 00:18:14.940 --> 00:18:21.080 to pour out his goodness on all who call out to him in faith. 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:24.919 Over and over, the scriptures, 00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:28.220 which are God's self-revelation to us, 00:18:28.879 --> 00:18:32.779 testify to the fact that God desires to be merciful 00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:36.720 and kind to those who call upon him. 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:37.740 Do you believe that's true? 00:18:38.379 --> 00:18:39.599 It's what the Bible says. 00:18:40.399 --> 00:18:41.559 Lamentations chapter three, 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:44.699 the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. 00:18:45.699 --> 00:18:48.279 His mercies never come to an end. 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:49.720 They are new every morning. 00:18:50.139 --> 00:18:51.819 Great is your faithfulness. 00:18:52.899 --> 00:18:56.059 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:58.559 to the soul who seeks him. 00:18:59.399 --> 00:19:00.720 Micah chapter seven, 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:02.160 who is a God like you, 00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:05.879 pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression 00:19:05.879 --> 00:19:07.519 for the remnant of his inheritance? 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:10.299 He does not retain his anger forever 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:13.399 because he delights in steadfast love. 00:19:13.400 --> 00:19:18.960 I love that verse because it shows that not only does God possess steadfast love and mercy, 00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:21.300 but he actually delights in giving it. 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:23.320 That a part of his nature, 00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.420 a part of who he is, 00:19:24.580 --> 00:19:30.180 is this desire for goodness and kindness to be poured out on his people. 00:19:31.120 --> 00:19:31.840 Psalm 103, 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:34.459 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, 00:19:34.699 --> 00:19:38.679 so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. 00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:41.679 As far as the east is from the west, 00:19:41.899 --> 00:19:45.019 so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 00:19:45.939 --> 00:19:50.279 As a father shows compassion to his children, 00:19:51.399 --> 00:19:55.679 so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:58.220 For he knows our frame. 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:01.820 He knows that we are dust. 00:20:03.340 --> 00:20:05.840 Those of you who have read The Hiding Place, 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:09.060 which is a biography of Corrie ten Boom, 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:12.360 will be familiar with her family's experience 00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:15.720 in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:16.700 And if you haven't read that, 00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:20.380 you should go purchase that book today and begin it immediately. 00:20:21.840 --> 00:20:23.380 You'll remember, if you've read it, 00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:27.480 that Corrie and her sister were in the Ravensbrook concentration camp, 00:20:27.580 --> 00:20:28.880 suffering in ways, 00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:30.720 means of brutality, 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:34.340 that we will never quite be able to comprehend ourselves, probably. 00:20:35.100 --> 00:20:36.160 But in the midst of all of that, 00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:39.900 they clung tightly to what they believe to be true of God in the Bible. 00:20:41.280 --> 00:20:45.340 Many people have directed this quote to Corrie ten Boom as if it was her, 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:47.100 but it wasn't actually her who said this. 00:20:47.320 --> 00:20:50.420 It was her sister Betsy who said this to Corrie 00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:52.760 when Corrie was at a point in this despair 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:55.180 where she was ready to give in and give up all hope. 00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:57.920 And Betsy looks at her sister and she says, 00:20:58.359 --> 00:20:59.859 there is no pit so deep 00:20:59.859 --> 00:21:03.279 that the love of God is not deeper still. 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:06.299 She knew the word. 00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:10.140 She knew that of all things that are true of God, 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.279 he is good. 00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:14.920 And that even in the midst of the deepest kind of suffering 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:16.759 that any of us could possibly experience, 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:17.319 experience, 00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:19.480 this worshiper of God 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:21.240 and child of Christ 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:23.279 cries out to God and says, 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:24.740 I know that your love is deeper 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:26.440 even than my experience now. 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:29.900 Is that not what David is experiencing in this prayer? 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:32.940 People are trying to kill me, Lord. 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:34.880 But you're good. 00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:36.360 Good. 00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:38.200 And you're merciful. 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:39.799 And you're gracious. 00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:41.539 And you're kind. 00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:44.960 And even in the midst of tremendous hardship, 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:47.880 we must trust that he is good. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:51.200 And we must ground our prayers 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:53.320 in his divine goodness. 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:54.680 Second, 00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:56.019 I want you to note 00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:58.980 when David says that God is great. 00:21:58.980 --> 00:22:00.360 So in verse 5, 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:00.980 David says, 00:22:01.140 --> 00:22:01.960 you are good. 00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:03.420 Verse 10, 00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:04.720 he says, 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:06.819 for you are great 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:09.480 and do wondrous things. 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:12.460 You alone are God, 00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.319 David says. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:15.480 The greatness of God here 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:17.140 refers to his power, 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:19.259 his ability to accomplish 00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:20.860 the things that David 00:22:20.860 --> 00:22:22.860 is actually asking for him to do. 00:22:24.120 --> 00:22:25.400 David recognizes 00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:28.160 that Yahweh is the only God. 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:29.680 He is the true God. 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:31.380 He's made his appeal now 00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:32.259 on the grounds 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:34.500 that God is all-powerful 00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:37.519 and that he is actively working in ways 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:39.279 that are even beyond our comprehension. 00:22:39.580 --> 00:22:40.880 Look at the verse again in verse 10. 00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:42.100 Look at the nature of the verse. 00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:43.800 For you are great 00:22:43.800 --> 00:22:45.120 and do. 00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:47.120 You are doing. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:50.019 You are actively doing wondrous things. 00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:51.140 Here I am, God. 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:52.940 Insolent men are after me. 00:22:53.080 --> 00:22:54.080 But you are good 00:22:54.080 --> 00:22:54.900 and you're great 00:22:54.900 --> 00:22:55.720 and you're doing things 00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.580 that I can't see. 00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:58.399 That's the nature of his prayer. 00:22:58.839 --> 00:23:00.819 That's where he roots his appeal. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.799 And how wonderful 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:04.819 that these two attributes of God, 00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:06.619 his goodness and his greatness, 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:10.539 belong wholly and equally to him. 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:11.980 Think about this. 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:14.579 If he were good, 00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:16.939 or excuse me, 00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:17.819 if he were great, 00:23:18.439 --> 00:23:19.819 but he was not good, 00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:23.559 we would have no hope for God's mercy. 00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:26.059 We have no hope for his mercy. 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:28.299 We would be able to recognize 00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:30.159 that he has the power to deliver us, 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:31.559 but we would not know for certain 00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:34.619 whether or not he is willing to do so. 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:37.720 We would have no promise of that willingness. 00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:41.980 We'd have no option then 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:45.559 but to subscribe to some type of works 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:47.779 or merit-based religion, 00:23:48.379 --> 00:23:50.019 struggling day by day 00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.619 to do just the right things 00:23:51.619 --> 00:23:54.259 that might appease this vengeful God 00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:57.799 and hopefully gain some kind of favor from him. 00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:01.980 But if God were good and not great, 00:24:02.919 --> 00:24:05.639 his thoughts would be reduced to mere sentiment. 00:24:06.919 --> 00:24:08.519 He'd have no real power 00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:11.019 to affect the deliverance 00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:14.720 that his heart seems to so often crave for us. 00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:19.139 But alas, God is both good and great. 00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:22.700 He is both willing and able. 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:26.379 And this truth is revealed no clearer 00:24:26.379 --> 00:24:28.139 than in the eternal salvation 00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:31.279 that he has provided for us in Christ Jesus. 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:35.440 Jesus, as Hebrews chapter one says, 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:37.819 is the exact imprint of God's nature. 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:39.180 He himself is God. 00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:41.620 He possesses these very same attributes 00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:45.500 that David prays is possessed in God the Father. 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.400 Jesus is good 00:24:47.400 --> 00:24:50.200 in that he willingly left the throne of heaven 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:51.580 to become a man 00:24:51.580 --> 00:24:54.279 and suffer at the hands of men. 00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:58.360 Out of his desire for our salvation, 00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:01.460 God incarnate lays down his life 00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:05.120 to be slaughtered as a sacrifice for sins. 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:07.840 Because of his goodness, 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:12.339 he invites us to enter this love and grace 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:14.539 not by anything that we might do, 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:17.159 but by simply trusting in him 00:25:17.159 --> 00:25:18.379 and who he is 00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:20.759 and what he has accomplished on our behalf. 00:25:20.939 --> 00:25:21.879 That's his goodness. 00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:23.720 That's his willingness. 00:25:25.199 --> 00:25:27.000 No man takes my life from me, 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:28.099 he says in John 10. 00:25:28.619 --> 00:25:29.539 I lay it down. 00:25:30.879 --> 00:25:32.759 I came to seek and to save. 00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:34.000 It was the will of the Son 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.579 because of his goodness. 00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:38.519 But Jesus is also great 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:41.000 in that he's able to supply 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:42.939 and provide the very salvation 00:25:42.939 --> 00:25:44.599 that he desires 00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:47.960 as the sinless Son of God. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:50.539 He alone could bear God's wrath. 00:25:51.699 --> 00:25:53.419 And his greatness is revealed even further 00:25:53.419 --> 00:25:54.819 as we just celebrated 00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:56.799 in his resurrection from the dead. 00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:58.819 His ability and his power 00:25:58.819 --> 00:26:00.339 to raise up from the dead, 00:26:00.679 --> 00:26:02.159 conquering death in the grave, 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:04.480 so that we know that God the Father 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:06.820 has received his sacrifice for sin 00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:08.960 and that he truly does 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:10.920 have the power to give us life 00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:12.600 that he says that he can give. 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:14.920 Jesus is good. 00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:17.360 Jesus is great. 00:26:18.820 --> 00:26:20.840 And when we come to Christ for salvation, 00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:23.279 we do so in the same way 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:25.100 that David prayed for deliverance. 00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:27.480 We cannot come to him 00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:29.119 on the basis of who we are 00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:30.359 or what we've done. 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:32.379 We come to Christ solely 00:26:32.379 --> 00:26:34.959 on the basis of who he is 00:26:34.959 --> 00:26:36.599 and what he has done. 00:26:37.619 --> 00:26:40.179 By faith, we cast ourselves wholly 00:26:40.179 --> 00:26:42.219 on his goodness and greatness, 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:44.359 believing that he can 00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:47.599 and that he will forgive our sins 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:49.079 and restore peace 00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:51.079 in that ministry of reconciliation 00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:53.399 that we read about a few moments ago, 00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:55.980 that God will adopt us into his family, 00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:57.720 that he will wipe us clean, 00:26:57.900 --> 00:27:00.259 and that he will make us new. 00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:04.980 And now, our attitude in prayer 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:06.360 following our conversion 00:27:06.360 --> 00:27:07.680 is to mimic it 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:11.519 so that we pray in the same prayer 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.960 day by day, 00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:14.200 that we pray at the moment 00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:16.080 we come to Christ to be saved, 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:19.000 acknowledging that God is good, 00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:21.259 that he's great, 00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:23.819 that not only is he able, 00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:25.039 but he's also willing, 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:27.119 and we cast ourselves wholly, 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.579 unreservedly, 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:31.000 on the nature of his character, 00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:33.900 making our appeals to him 00:27:33.900 --> 00:27:35.480 on the basis of who he is. 00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:38.519 And finally, I want you to see 00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:40.640 that as David's prayer 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:42.779 is grounded in God's character, 00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:47.019 it's shaped by expectancy, 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:49.319 shaped by expectancy. 00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:53.579 Fully convinced of God's character, 00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:56.019 of his mercy and his grace 00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:57.419 and his steadfast love 00:27:57.419 --> 00:27:59.299 and his faithfulness, 00:28:00.399 --> 00:28:02.519 David prayed with the expectation 00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:04.960 that God would indeed hear 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:06.039 an answer. 00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:09.019 Look at verse 7. 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:12.480 In the day of my trouble, 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:14.579 I call upon you. 00:28:14.939 --> 00:28:15.839 Why does he say? 00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:20.359 For you answer me. 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.799 There's an expectation here 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:23.599 on David's part. 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:25.459 He's not presuming something on God. 00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:26.899 He's just expecting 00:28:26.899 --> 00:28:28.759 that because of who God is, 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:30.000 that God will hear 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:32.000 and that God will answer. 00:28:34.179 --> 00:28:35.519 And I understand that we have 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.659 to tread carefully here, 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.939 lest we assume that 00:28:37.939 --> 00:28:40.919 God is in some kind of bondage to us, 00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:43.679 that he must answer our prayer 00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:46.039 simply because we have made the request. 00:28:46.580 --> 00:28:47.600 We know that's not true. 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:50.100 We know that God answers us 00:28:50.100 --> 00:28:51.680 according to his sovereign purposes 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:53.779 and that there will be times 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.500 in our lives 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:56.120 that the things we ask for 00:28:56.120 --> 00:28:58.140 are not according to God's will 00:28:58.140 --> 00:28:59.740 and he does not answer them 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:01.100 simply because we ask. 00:29:01.660 --> 00:29:03.039 We understand that to be true. 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:05.879 But my point is that 00:29:05.879 --> 00:29:07.940 we should never be afraid 00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:10.659 to pray with expectancy. 00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:13.659 We should never be afraid to do that. 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:17.139 There are times, I think, 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.519 when it's a reaction. 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.220 It's of, 00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:22.220 and sometimes maybe a right reaction 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:23.559 to the prosperity gospel 00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.879 that's so prevalent in our world 00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:26.500 and particularly prevalent 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:28.139 in the United States right now. 00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:30.119 This word of faith movement 00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:31.500 that is a name it and claim it 00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.220 kind of thing there. 00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:34.960 There's a man that comes by my house 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:35.960 every Wednesday. 00:29:36.140 --> 00:29:37.200 He's one of the trash guys 00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:37.779 that comes by. 00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:38.859 He gets the bulk trash. 00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:40.619 He found out a couple of years ago 00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:41.759 that I'm a pastor 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.960 and so every Wednesday 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.599 he drives by 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:44.359 and he honks the horn 00:29:44.359 --> 00:29:45.180 and he sits out front 00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:46.039 until one of us, 00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:46.720 me or Julie One, 00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:48.160 comes out and waves to him. 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:49.140 His name is Jesse. 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:50.859 And every time I'm standing outside 00:29:50.859 --> 00:29:52.000 when he comes by, 00:29:52.059 --> 00:29:52.819 he gets out of the truck 00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:53.319 and he comes 00:29:53.319 --> 00:29:54.920 and he is caught up 00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:56.140 in this type of movement. 00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:56.980 And the one thing 00:29:56.980 --> 00:29:58.940 he always wants to emphasize to me 00:29:58.940 --> 00:30:01.140 is that whatever you ask, 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:02.240 the Lord will give it to you. 00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:04.960 Which in one sense is true 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:06.120 but our reaction 00:30:06.120 --> 00:30:08.779 is to that kind of theology 00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:10.140 is almost to go 00:30:10.140 --> 00:30:11.640 the complete opposite direction 00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:13.059 so that when we pray, 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:14.480 we pray with our hearts 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:15.360 filled with doubt. 00:30:16.200 --> 00:30:17.400 We have no expectancy 00:30:17.400 --> 00:30:19.420 that God will actually hear the prayer, 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:21.799 that God will actually answer the prayer. 00:30:25.080 --> 00:30:25.980 Our prayers may be even 00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:27.079 in our field with skepticism 00:30:27.079 --> 00:30:28.599 so that we say all the words 00:30:28.599 --> 00:30:30.000 that we know we're supposed to say 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:31.360 but we almost say them 00:30:31.360 --> 00:30:32.579 knowing and expecting 00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:33.900 that nothing will come from it. 00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:37.720 Surely that's not the way 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:39.279 that God intended for us to pray 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:40.279 as we come to the Word. 00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:42.740 That's not the way David prayed. 00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:45.500 The Bible is still true 00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:46.360 when it says, 00:30:46.900 --> 00:30:48.360 delight yourself in the Lord 00:30:48.360 --> 00:30:49.360 and he will give you 00:30:49.360 --> 00:30:50.519 the desires of your heart. 00:30:50.819 --> 00:30:51.360 That's true. 00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:54.360 Jesus was not being deceitful 00:30:54.359 --> 00:30:56.000 or misleading 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:56.639 when he said, 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:58.219 ask and it will be given you. 00:30:58.599 --> 00:30:59.839 Seek and you will find. 00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:02.000 Knock and it will be open to you. 00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:03.839 For everyone who asks receives 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:05.500 and the one who seeks finds 00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:06.879 and the one who knocks 00:31:06.879 --> 00:31:07.839 it will be open. 00:31:08.939 --> 00:31:10.599 And if your prayer is rooted 00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:12.399 in the character of God 00:31:12.399 --> 00:31:13.919 and the promises of His Word, 00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:16.159 there will never be a reason 00:31:16.159 --> 00:31:18.779 to pray without expecting God 00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:19.859 to hear the prayer 00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:21.719 and pour out His kindness 00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:22.880 and His grace 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:24.559 and His mercy on your life. 00:31:27.660 --> 00:31:28.700 Says Spurgeon, 00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:32.640 there can be no reason for praying 00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:35.660 if there be no expectation 00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:38.019 of the Lord's answering. 00:31:39.620 --> 00:31:41.400 We pray not because 00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:43.480 we are so fascinated by prayer 00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:45.480 that for its own sake 00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:47.100 we would continue to do it 00:31:47.100 --> 00:31:48.460 even if it proved 00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:49.519 to be mere folly 00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:50.500 and superstition. 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:52.380 But we praise 00:31:52.380 --> 00:31:53.740 because of a truth 00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:55.519 we find it to be 00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:56.299 a practical 00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:58.759 and effectual means 00:31:58.759 --> 00:32:00.960 of obtaining help from God 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:02.720 in the hour of need. 00:32:03.380 --> 00:32:04.539 And that's when he says, 00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:06.680 there can be no reason 00:32:06.680 --> 00:32:07.319 for praying 00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:09.279 if there is no expectation 00:32:09.279 --> 00:32:10.579 of the Lord answering. 00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:11.940 Why would we pray 00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:13.640 if we didn't expect 00:32:13.640 --> 00:32:14.599 that the Lord would hear 00:32:14.599 --> 00:32:16.519 and that He would be willing 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:18.619 and that He would be able 00:32:18.619 --> 00:32:21.139 to give us the desires 00:32:21.139 --> 00:32:21.819 of our heart? 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:24.539 There's a balance in that 00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.099 to be sure. 00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:25.980 I understand that. 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:28.059 But let's make sure 00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:28.759 we're coming down 00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:30.220 on the side of God's promise 00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:31.859 and on His character. 00:32:32.859 --> 00:32:34.000 How many of us pray 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:35.599 day after day after day 00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:36.839 and we do not see 00:32:36.839 --> 00:32:37.420 the fruitfulness 00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:38.160 of that prayer 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:39.500 because we do not actually pray 00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:40.480 with any kind of faith 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:41.099 or expectation? 00:32:42.059 --> 00:32:42.680 James says, 00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:44.059 this is a double-minded man. 00:32:44.059 --> 00:32:45.139 He's unstable. 00:32:47.299 --> 00:32:48.259 In one sense, 00:32:48.299 --> 00:32:48.980 he trusts the Lord 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:50.179 and in a completely different sense, 00:32:50.220 --> 00:32:51.179 he has no trust 00:32:51.179 --> 00:32:51.919 in the Lord whatsoever. 00:32:55.899 --> 00:32:56.419 Now, 00:32:56.619 --> 00:32:58.759 I know that there are people 00:32:58.759 --> 00:32:59.359 in our church 00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:00.779 who are actually 00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.679 in dire need 00:33:01.679 --> 00:33:03.079 of God's gracious intervention. 00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:04.659 We have prayed 00:33:04.659 --> 00:33:05.679 for Terry and Bev. 00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:07.960 We would put Ashley 00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:09.659 in that position right now 00:33:09.659 --> 00:33:10.980 in terms of this pregnancy. 00:33:12.679 --> 00:33:13.740 Brandon and Jennifer, 00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.660 who are our friends 00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:15.339 that are with us 00:33:15.339 --> 00:33:16.400 this morning. 00:33:16.599 --> 00:33:17.259 Jennifer's mom 00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:18.259 is in a situation 00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:18.960 where she needs 00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:19.680 the touch of God 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:20.240 in her life 00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:20.940 and on her body. 00:33:22.579 --> 00:33:23.539 Chris and Ashley 00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:24.440 in situations 00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:25.039 where they need 00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:25.859 the touch of God 00:33:25.859 --> 00:33:27.180 in order for His will 00:33:27.180 --> 00:33:28.039 to be worked out 00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:28.660 for them to do 00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:29.500 the things that they need 00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:30.579 to do in the coming weeks 00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:31.500 and in the coming months. 00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:33.120 All of us have those things. 00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:34.620 In one sense or another, 00:33:34.900 --> 00:33:35.480 each of us 00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:36.559 are desperate for God. 00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:38.500 We are desperate for God 00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:39.440 to do something 00:33:39.440 --> 00:33:40.680 in our lives. 00:33:40.680 --> 00:33:43.500 And I don't know 00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.259 that all that God 00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:45.140 has planned for you, 00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:46.420 but what I do know 00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:48.240 is that God is good. 00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:49.940 That He is good. 00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:52.759 I know that He's great. 00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:55.980 I know that He is 00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:56.779 full of mercy 00:33:56.779 --> 00:33:58.880 if you've sinned. 00:33:59.820 --> 00:34:00.680 And that He's full 00:34:00.680 --> 00:34:01.720 of steadfast love 00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:02.620 for all who call 00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:03.799 upon Him. 00:34:03.799 --> 00:34:06.339 I do know 00:34:06.339 --> 00:34:07.240 that He gave us 00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:08.079 David's lament 00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:09.599 so that we might 00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:10.840 pray it as our own. 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:14.380 I know that He's given us 00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:15.019 no reason 00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:16.000 to doubt Him. 00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.840 No reason to pray 00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:20.340 without fully expecting 00:34:20.340 --> 00:34:21.619 that He will come 00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:22.219 to our aid. 00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:23.940 That is what I do know. 00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:26.039 And our prayer 00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:27.340 should follow that pattern. 00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:31.320 Psalm 86 00:34:31.320 --> 00:34:32.539 is the word of the Lord. 00:34:34.440 --> 00:34:35.560 It's the word of the Lord 00:34:35.560 --> 00:34:36.380 for us today. 00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:38.860 And I think our only response 00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:40.640 is that we would pray 00:34:40.640 --> 00:34:41.440 as if we believe 00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:42.460 that it's actually true.