WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.419 Father, we thank you that we can trust you. 00:00:03.020 --> 00:00:05.520 We can know you and we can trust you. 00:00:06.940 --> 00:00:08.480 Father, we love you and thank you. 00:00:08.839 --> 00:00:09.080 Amen. 00:00:09.560 --> 00:00:10.060 You can be seated. 00:00:13.300 --> 00:00:16.219 Just because it's never remiss to read the Bible again, 00:00:16.339 --> 00:00:18.879 let's turn back to Psalm 63 and read it one more time. 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:21.940 So that's Psalm 63. 00:00:21.940 --> 00:00:25.420 O God, you are my God. 00:00:25.839 --> 00:00:27.000 Earnestly I seek you. 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:29.100 My soul thirsts for you. 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:31.620 My flesh faints for you, 00:00:32.160 --> 00:00:34.539 as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 00:00:35.380 --> 00:00:37.560 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, 00:00:38.060 --> 00:00:39.600 beholding your power and glory. 00:00:40.359 --> 00:00:43.000 Because your steadfast love is better than life, 00:00:43.420 --> 00:00:44.579 my lips will praise you. 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:46.840 So I will bless you as long as I live. 00:00:47.460 --> 00:00:49.560 In your name I will lift up my hands. 00:00:49.880 --> 00:00:53.500 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food. 00:00:54.040 --> 00:00:56.460 And my mouth will praise you with joyful lips 00:00:56.460 --> 00:00:58.400 when I remember you upon my bed 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:00.979 and meditate on you in the watches of the night. 00:01:01.719 --> 00:01:02.920 For you have been my help. 00:01:03.420 --> 00:01:05.879 And in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:07.799 My soul clings to you. 00:01:08.140 --> 00:01:09.519 Your right hand upholds me. 00:01:10.299 --> 00:01:12.000 But those who seek to destroy my life 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:13.700 shall go down into the depths of the earth. 00:01:14.140 --> 00:01:16.219 They shall be given over to the power of the sword. 00:01:16.739 --> 00:01:18.480 They shall be apportioned for jackals. 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:20.719 But the king shall rejoice in God. 00:01:21.340 --> 00:01:23.700 All who swear by him shall exult. 00:01:23.700 --> 00:01:28.520 Since Kendra and I got married a few years back, 00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:32.240 we've tried to go camping as much as possible, 00:01:32.340 --> 00:01:33.299 as frequently as possible. 00:01:33.659 --> 00:01:35.540 And it usually ends up being a couple of times a year. 00:01:36.060 --> 00:01:37.500 I mean, that's just how life goes. 00:01:37.620 --> 00:01:39.000 Hobbies can't be daily life. 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:41.359 Most years we've been married, 00:01:41.700 --> 00:01:43.079 what we'll do is every year we'll go out 00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:44.879 and buy one more piece of equipment 00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:48.959 to make our camping experience better or easier 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:51.959 or more fun or some other thing. 00:01:52.619 --> 00:01:53.899 One of the first years we went out 00:01:53.899 --> 00:01:55.119 and bought a nice little tent, 00:01:55.199 --> 00:01:57.099 one that you could pick up and carry easily, 00:01:57.179 --> 00:01:58.039 you could put in your backpack. 00:01:58.859 --> 00:02:00.500 Another year it was a water filter 00:02:00.500 --> 00:02:01.340 because, you know, 00:02:01.399 --> 00:02:03.419 you don't want to drink the bacteria out there. 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:05.000 One year it was a stove. 00:02:05.340 --> 00:02:06.919 So every year just something new, 00:02:07.060 --> 00:02:08.919 slightly better outfitted to make camping 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:10.759 a more enjoyable experience 00:02:10.759 --> 00:02:12.639 because there's almost nothing as bad 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:15.799 as being improperly equipped for a camping trip. 00:02:16.819 --> 00:02:19.019 A little bit of rain is a big deal 00:02:19.019 --> 00:02:19.739 when you're out there 00:02:19.739 --> 00:02:22.959 and your tent is full of holes or whatever it is. 00:02:23.359 --> 00:02:24.219 You don't have enough shelter. 00:02:24.579 --> 00:02:25.559 Anybody who's been camping 00:02:25.559 --> 00:02:27.279 probably has a story about getting rained out 00:02:27.279 --> 00:02:28.219 and wishing they could quit 00:02:28.219 --> 00:02:30.299 and, you know, being too far to get anywhere, 00:02:30.779 --> 00:02:33.079 get home to shelter or whatever. 00:02:34.339 --> 00:02:37.759 Bill Mason, who is a Canadian outdoors guru, 00:02:38.279 --> 00:02:39.139 avid canoeist, 00:02:39.379 --> 00:02:41.119 he was a filmmaker with the NFB. 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:44.680 He had a lot of writing about camping done. 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:46.200 And one of the things, 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:48.000 one of the distinctions that he liked to make 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:49.280 about his camping experiences 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:52.259 was that when you were camping, 00:02:52.680 --> 00:02:55.719 you could either find adventure or adversity. 00:02:56.659 --> 00:02:58.280 Adventure happens when you're well prepared, 00:02:58.400 --> 00:02:59.960 when you have a tent that's not full of holes, 00:03:00.460 --> 00:03:01.780 something that will keep out the elements, 00:03:01.920 --> 00:03:04.480 when you're not finding bugs everywhere, 00:03:05.140 --> 00:03:07.259 when you're having enough to eat, 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:08.259 when you have enough to drink. 00:03:08.259 --> 00:03:11.340 You can really enjoy being out in the sunshine. 00:03:11.539 --> 00:03:12.359 You can really enjoy 00:03:12.359 --> 00:03:15.699 chomping through a moist forest 00:03:15.699 --> 00:03:18.120 or you can enjoy racing across a lake in a canoe 00:03:18.120 --> 00:03:20.500 or whatever it is that you find attractive. 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:22.780 Adventure is sitting, 00:03:23.299 --> 00:03:24.659 taking a nap by the edge of a lake. 00:03:25.659 --> 00:03:26.599 Adventure is the reason 00:03:26.599 --> 00:03:28.219 you might go camping in the first place. 00:03:28.899 --> 00:03:29.919 Adversity is what happens 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:31.719 when your tent floods in the middle of the night 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:32.659 or when it falls down, 00:03:33.299 --> 00:03:35.859 when you run out of food or water or too cold. 00:03:35.860 --> 00:03:38.860 Adversity is misjudging the length of your hike 00:03:38.860 --> 00:03:40.140 and having to hike in the dark. 00:03:41.180 --> 00:03:43.000 Bill Mason would say that enjoying the outdoors 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:44.640 is all about finding adventure, 00:03:45.660 --> 00:03:46.520 avoiding adversity. 00:03:47.540 --> 00:03:48.800 There was one time that I was a kid 00:03:48.800 --> 00:03:52.440 that we were out camping in a place called 00:03:52.440 --> 00:03:53.220 the Gran Sabana. 00:03:53.880 --> 00:03:55.100 So I grew up in Venezuela. 00:03:55.240 --> 00:03:56.680 A number of people asked me that last week. 00:03:56.780 --> 00:03:57.240 It's not a secret. 00:03:57.380 --> 00:03:58.100 I grew up in Venezuela. 00:03:58.720 --> 00:04:01.460 Gran Sabana translates Grand Savannah. 00:04:01.460 --> 00:04:05.580 So it was lots of open space, 00:04:05.920 --> 00:04:07.620 grass, shrubs, sand. 00:04:08.240 --> 00:04:09.340 So there's very few places 00:04:09.340 --> 00:04:10.640 if you wanted to keep your tent cool 00:04:10.640 --> 00:04:11.620 during the day to pitch it. 00:04:12.640 --> 00:04:14.140 So you look around. 00:04:14.600 --> 00:04:16.680 We finally found an area where we could camp 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:17.439 and there was a tree 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:18.699 that we could put our tents underneath. 00:04:20.340 --> 00:04:21.900 And the sky was clear. 00:04:22.019 --> 00:04:22.800 There was no bugs. 00:04:22.939 --> 00:04:24.879 There was as many elements 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:26.420 that would make it an adventure as possible. 00:04:26.540 --> 00:04:28.600 There was no rain in sight. 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:30.220 Everything seemed perfect. 00:04:30.220 --> 00:04:33.000 Our trip was an adventure. 00:04:34.700 --> 00:04:36.260 And so we bedded down for the night. 00:04:36.460 --> 00:04:37.480 There was no mosquitoes. 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:39.180 The rain didn't happen in the middle of the night. 00:04:39.260 --> 00:04:40.440 The tents didn't fall down. 00:04:41.620 --> 00:04:42.760 When morning came, 00:04:43.060 --> 00:04:44.740 my parents woke up and started to stir 00:04:44.740 --> 00:04:46.780 and then started to get bitten. 00:04:48.180 --> 00:04:49.720 And as they got up, 00:04:49.780 --> 00:04:50.800 they noticed that their tent 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:52.320 was full of little red bugs. 00:04:52.920 --> 00:04:54.760 Little dome tent full of red bugs. 00:04:55.520 --> 00:04:58.140 And as they got up, 00:04:58.200 --> 00:04:59.800 they realized that they had pitched their tent 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:03.500 right on top of the entrance to a fire ant nest. 00:05:03.500 --> 00:05:06.860 So, as they stirred, 00:05:07.620 --> 00:05:10.600 they bothered all the ants 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:11.519 that were very hungry 00:05:11.519 --> 00:05:12.860 from a night alone in the tent 00:05:12.860 --> 00:05:14.160 trying to find a way out. 00:05:15.819 --> 00:05:17.279 They actually weren't bitten that badly, 00:05:17.379 --> 00:05:17.939 believe it or not. 00:05:19.620 --> 00:05:20.959 But it could have been a lot worse. 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:22.740 Nonetheless, for my parents, 00:05:22.899 --> 00:05:24.259 that easily crossed the line 00:05:24.259 --> 00:05:26.579 between adventure and adversity. 00:05:26.579 --> 00:05:29.240 And for the right or the wrong sort of person, 00:05:29.740 --> 00:05:31.519 a thought like a tent full of ants 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:34.680 probably makes you queasy enough 00:05:34.680 --> 00:05:36.339 to not think about anything else for a minute. 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:38.079 Maybe shudder. 00:05:38.759 --> 00:05:40.459 And that's often what turns adventure 00:05:40.459 --> 00:05:41.419 to adversity. 00:05:41.579 --> 00:05:45.120 It's something that you can't take out of your mind. 00:05:45.959 --> 00:05:48.680 These are the sleepless nights 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:50.139 moments of our life. 00:05:52.180 --> 00:05:53.000 And this is the reason 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:54.259 I've never gone winter camping. 00:05:54.660 --> 00:05:56.220 Never been able to drag myself 00:05:56.220 --> 00:05:57.560 out into the cold. 00:05:58.040 --> 00:06:00.360 Because I know that if I go out winter camping, 00:06:00.780 --> 00:06:02.960 it'll be instant adversity for me. 00:06:03.019 --> 00:06:03.840 I'll be able to think about 00:06:03.840 --> 00:06:04.800 nothing for the cold. 00:06:04.860 --> 00:06:06.540 And who wants to spend an entire weekend 00:06:06.540 --> 00:06:07.920 thinking about how cold you are? 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:10.340 Now, David is writing this psalm, 00:06:10.620 --> 00:06:11.340 Psalm 63, 00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:12.759 from the desert. 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:17.180 Helen read the introduction 00:06:17.180 --> 00:06:18.539 to this psalm of David 00:06:18.539 --> 00:06:20.500 when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:22.420 A lot of people like to speculate 00:06:22.420 --> 00:06:24.339 that this is when he was being chased by Absalom 00:06:24.339 --> 00:06:25.719 in a big rebellion. 00:06:27.099 --> 00:06:28.860 But there's not a ton of evidence for that. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:30.560 It's mostly speculation. 00:06:31.879 --> 00:06:34.379 But we do know that he was writing 00:06:34.379 --> 00:06:36.099 in or about the desert. 00:06:36.839 --> 00:06:39.120 And the first verse just sounds thirsty, 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:39.560 doesn't it? 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:40.879 Our God, 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:41.740 O God, 00:06:41.819 --> 00:06:42.480 you are my God. 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:43.959 Earnestly I seek you. 00:06:44.339 --> 00:06:45.560 My soul thirsts for you. 00:06:46.060 --> 00:06:47.500 My flesh faints for you, 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:49.180 as in a dry and weary land 00:06:49.180 --> 00:06:50.159 where there is no water. 00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:52.620 When you're in a desert, 00:06:53.539 --> 00:06:54.659 thirst quickly becomes 00:06:54.659 --> 00:06:55.980 the only thing you can think of. 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:58.480 Just like winter camping for me, 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:01.060 deserts are prone to becoming 00:07:01.060 --> 00:07:01.899 instant adversity. 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:04.360 And yet David is 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:06.199 pointing his desperation, 00:07:06.199 --> 00:07:07.959 his need to God. 00:07:08.459 --> 00:07:09.519 And that's a great lesson 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:10.480 to learn from David, 00:07:10.819 --> 00:07:11.980 and one that I talked a little bit more 00:07:11.980 --> 00:07:12.719 about last week. 00:07:12.759 --> 00:07:13.759 In our need, 00:07:13.879 --> 00:07:14.659 in our desperation, 00:07:15.079 --> 00:07:16.159 we can turn to God 00:07:16.159 --> 00:07:18.120 and expect him to respond 00:07:18.120 --> 00:07:18.899 in his nature. 00:07:19.879 --> 00:07:21.439 We can expect a response 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:22.039 that's good, 00:07:22.579 --> 00:07:23.180 and merciful, 00:07:23.699 --> 00:07:24.360 and sovereign. 00:07:25.539 --> 00:07:26.279 Our desperate times 00:07:26.279 --> 00:07:27.180 are often the ones 00:07:27.180 --> 00:07:29.279 that we are more apt to call out 00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:30.079 in the first place. 00:07:30.819 --> 00:07:31.680 Our desperate times 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:33.219 are ones that often 00:07:33.219 --> 00:07:34.899 God responds most dramatically. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:37.159 These desperate times 00:07:37.159 --> 00:07:38.519 are often times of adversity, 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:40.959 where you can't think of anything 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:41.819 but your problems. 00:07:41.919 --> 00:07:43.919 The times that you have 00:07:43.919 --> 00:07:44.819 those sleepless nights. 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:47.099 Where David says, 00:07:47.639 --> 00:07:48.000 my flesh, 00:07:48.199 --> 00:07:50.740 my flesh faints for you 00:07:50.740 --> 00:07:51.959 and my soul thirsts for you. 00:07:52.299 --> 00:07:53.519 Where we might say, 00:07:53.919 --> 00:07:54.139 God, 00:07:54.180 --> 00:07:55.180 if there was ever a time 00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:56.060 where I needed your help, 00:07:56.139 --> 00:07:56.639 it's now. 00:07:57.639 --> 00:07:58.979 But there's another kind of desert. 00:08:00.979 --> 00:08:02.299 The desert beside the one 00:08:02.299 --> 00:08:03.259 where you're worried 00:08:03.259 --> 00:08:03.859 for your safety, 00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:05.879 or the one that you get chased into. 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:08.620 Where your enemies hoped you would die. 00:08:09.319 --> 00:08:10.319 You probably know something 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:11.540 about what I'm talking about already 00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:13.579 because desert is almost synonymous 00:08:13.579 --> 00:08:15.399 with a place 00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:17.120 where what we need to survive 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:18.000 is lacking. 00:08:19.159 --> 00:08:20.560 Desert is such a common metaphor 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:21.480 for this 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:22.219 that sometimes 00:08:22.219 --> 00:08:23.560 we use it without thinking 00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:25.100 for a time and a place 00:08:25.100 --> 00:08:27.699 where we can't see God 00:08:27.699 --> 00:08:28.259 in our life. 00:08:28.339 --> 00:08:29.360 We can't see him working. 00:08:29.819 --> 00:08:31.219 We don't hear him speaking. 00:08:32.100 --> 00:08:32.899 And I'm afraid to say 00:08:32.899 --> 00:08:33.919 that more often than not, 00:08:34.200 --> 00:08:35.100 it's not a place 00:08:35.100 --> 00:08:36.320 that I am chased to 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:37.379 so much as it's 00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:38.740 a place that I walk to 00:08:38.740 --> 00:08:40.320 of my own accord. 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:42.360 It frequently takes me 00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:42.899 a long time 00:08:42.899 --> 00:08:43.740 to even realize 00:08:43.740 --> 00:08:45.420 that I've gotten to that place, 00:08:45.500 --> 00:08:47.060 that I am desperate. 00:08:47.540 --> 00:08:48.460 A long time to see 00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:49.320 that I'm not turning 00:08:49.320 --> 00:08:50.159 to God enough 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:51.420 to even realize 00:08:51.420 --> 00:08:51.980 that I'm there. 00:08:53.040 --> 00:08:54.500 That I'm even thirsty 00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:55.360 for God's presence 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:57.600 until I'm scared 00:08:57.600 --> 00:08:58.279 and freaking out 00:08:58.279 --> 00:08:58.600 and saying, 00:08:58.700 --> 00:08:59.379 my God, my God, 00:08:59.420 --> 00:09:00.480 why have you forsaken me? 00:09:01.379 --> 00:09:02.160 So here's David 00:09:02.160 --> 00:09:02.700 in the desert. 00:09:03.420 --> 00:09:04.220 He's in a place 00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:04.800 of adversity, 00:09:05.160 --> 00:09:05.600 a place where 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:07.120 he's thirsting for God. 00:09:08.519 --> 00:09:09.580 He's thirsting for God 00:09:09.580 --> 00:09:10.379 and that's all 00:09:10.379 --> 00:09:11.100 he can think about. 00:09:11.160 --> 00:09:12.080 It's coming to the forefront. 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:13.160 And what does he say next? 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:14.259 He says, 00:09:14.500 --> 00:09:15.019 verse 2, 00:09:15.860 --> 00:09:16.960 so I have looked upon you 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:17.759 in the sanctuary. 00:09:18.279 --> 00:09:18.980 David looked back 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:19.399 to a time 00:09:19.399 --> 00:09:20.360 where he did see God, 00:09:21.320 --> 00:09:22.660 to a time 00:09:22.660 --> 00:09:23.740 that he was in the tabernacle 00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:24.620 in the tent of meeting. 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:26.820 So how do we trust 00:09:26.820 --> 00:09:27.720 a God that doesn't appear 00:09:27.720 --> 00:09:28.660 to us at every instant 00:09:28.660 --> 00:09:29.160 of our life? 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:30.540 Well, David looks 00:09:30.540 --> 00:09:30.940 to times 00:09:30.940 --> 00:09:32.160 where he has seen God. 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:33.459 David knew 00:09:33.459 --> 00:09:34.299 that his fathers 00:09:34.299 --> 00:09:35.759 had seen God act 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:36.500 when they needed him. 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:37.819 David knew 00:09:37.819 --> 00:09:39.339 that from his own birth 00:09:39.339 --> 00:09:40.559 he had seen God act 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:41.079 when he knew, 00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:42.559 when he needed him. 00:09:43.100 --> 00:09:44.079 And so he had reason 00:09:44.079 --> 00:09:44.719 to trust 00:09:44.719 --> 00:09:46.799 that God would be with him 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:48.000 in whatever situation he is. 00:09:48.659 --> 00:09:49.799 David is thirsty for God 00:09:49.799 --> 00:09:50.500 when he's in the wilderness 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:51.860 and he's looking back 00:09:51.860 --> 00:09:52.279 to a time 00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:53.120 when he saw him clearly. 00:09:54.199 --> 00:09:55.319 One of my favorite shows 00:09:55.319 --> 00:09:55.860 to watch 00:09:55.860 --> 00:09:57.939 when I have the time 00:09:57.939 --> 00:09:59.220 is a show called 00:09:59.220 --> 00:10:00.439 Man vs. Wild. 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:02.240 And the premise 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:02.580 of the show 00:10:02.580 --> 00:10:03.160 is pretty simple. 00:10:03.260 --> 00:10:04.220 There's a fellow 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:05.120 named Bear Grylls 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:06.660 and he's a special forces, 00:10:07.380 --> 00:10:08.880 an ex-special forces soldier 00:10:08.880 --> 00:10:10.560 whose job is to survive 00:10:10.560 --> 00:10:12.040 in extreme situations. 00:10:13.640 --> 00:10:14.820 And the whole premise 00:10:14.820 --> 00:10:15.240 of the show 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:16.100 is that Bear Grylls 00:10:16.100 --> 00:10:17.480 jumps out of an airplane 00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:18.600 and parachutes 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:20.540 into some forsaken location. 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:21.180 It's frequently 00:10:21.180 --> 00:10:23.740 a mountaintop 00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:25.680 or the Australian outback 00:10:25.680 --> 00:10:27.900 or some inhospitable place 00:10:27.900 --> 00:10:28.780 where there's nothing 00:10:28.780 --> 00:10:29.360 but adversity. 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:30.300 And the whole show 00:10:30.300 --> 00:10:32.620 is him working himself 00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:33.460 and his cameraman 00:10:33.460 --> 00:10:34.879 out of whatever adversity 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:36.320 they find themselves in. 00:10:37.379 --> 00:10:38.259 So off he goes 00:10:38.259 --> 00:10:39.399 trekking through 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:39.960 whatever wilderness 00:10:39.960 --> 00:10:40.460 he's in 00:10:40.460 --> 00:10:42.379 doing cool stuff 00:10:42.379 --> 00:10:44.080 making it all seem easy. 00:10:44.539 --> 00:10:45.320 Usually dispenses 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:47.080 little bits of survival advice 00:10:47.080 --> 00:10:48.080 as he's going along. 00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:49.279 If you've ever been 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:50.379 camping with me 00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:51.680 I'll usually try 00:10:51.680 --> 00:10:52.259 to impress you 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:53.220 with a trick or two 00:10:53.220 --> 00:10:53.600 I've learned 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:55.519 from the show. 00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:57.600 It doesn't usually work. 00:10:57.600 --> 00:10:59.620 At some point 00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:01.000 in time during the show 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:02.639 almost every week 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:03.200 there's a point 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:04.080 where 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:05.899 you will see a sunset 00:11:05.899 --> 00:11:06.980 or 00:11:06.980 --> 00:11:08.399 a very pretty flower 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:08.759 or 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:09.659 a waterfall 00:11:09.659 --> 00:11:10.600 that's just breathtaking. 00:11:11.379 --> 00:11:12.040 And the show 00:11:12.040 --> 00:11:13.120 will normally just 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:14.560 pause for a second 00:11:14.560 --> 00:11:15.519 and Bear Grylls 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:15.980 the presenter 00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:17.639 will frequently sit down 00:11:17.639 --> 00:11:19.460 and 00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:20.860 he'll often say 00:11:20.860 --> 00:11:21.740 something to the effect 00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:22.340 that a big part 00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:23.360 of survival 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:24.399 is 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:26.840 getting your eyes 00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:27.560 off the problem 00:11:27.560 --> 00:11:28.060 for a minute 00:11:28.060 --> 00:11:30.080 keeping your spirits up. 00:11:31.660 --> 00:11:32.500 Now Bear Grylls 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:33.220 is a Christian 00:11:33.220 --> 00:11:34.600 and frequently 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:35.399 he'll say something 00:11:35.399 --> 00:11:36.100 to the effect 00:11:36.100 --> 00:11:37.920 that he understands 00:11:37.920 --> 00:11:38.879 that worshipping God 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:39.879 is a way that 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:41.580 Christians find 00:11:41.580 --> 00:11:43.180 ways to get 00:11:43.180 --> 00:11:43.780 through adversity. 00:11:44.420 --> 00:11:44.940 And you hear 00:11:44.940 --> 00:11:45.480 a similar 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:47.879 refrain from people 00:11:47.879 --> 00:11:49.040 who George likes 00:11:49.040 --> 00:11:49.460 to call 00:11:49.460 --> 00:11:50.400 spiritual but not 00:11:50.400 --> 00:11:50.780 religious. 00:11:50.779 --> 00:11:52.600 There's usually 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:53.740 statements made like 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:55.079 nature is my church 00:11:55.079 --> 00:11:56.000 or 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:57.299 I feel closest 00:11:57.299 --> 00:11:57.939 to God 00:11:57.939 --> 00:11:59.120 when I'm in nature. 00:12:00.199 --> 00:12:00.579 And certainly 00:12:00.579 --> 00:12:01.579 David sees 00:12:01.579 --> 00:12:02.699 God's glory 00:12:02.699 --> 00:12:03.159 in nature. 00:12:04.019 --> 00:12:04.439 There are 00:12:04.439 --> 00:12:05.959 lots of psalms 00:12:05.959 --> 00:12:07.620 in the book 00:12:07.620 --> 00:12:08.699 that describe 00:12:08.699 --> 00:12:09.500 God's glory 00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:10.419 in terms of 00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:11.299 nature 00:12:11.299 --> 00:12:12.179 and what he sees 00:12:12.179 --> 00:12:12.559 surrounding him. 00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:13.079 Psalm 19 00:12:13.079 --> 00:12:14.000 is quite explicit. 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:15.759 The heavens declare 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:16.620 the glory of God 00:12:16.620 --> 00:12:17.600 and the sky above 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:18.839 proclaims his handiwork. 00:12:19.220 --> 00:12:19.899 There's an explicit 00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:21.919 declaration 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:22.799 that God's glory 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:23.379 can be seen 00:12:23.379 --> 00:12:23.779 in nature. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:25.100 And certainly 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:25.759 there are aspects 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:26.459 of that thought 00:12:26.459 --> 00:12:29.000 that God's glory 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:29.459 can be found 00:12:29.459 --> 00:12:29.779 in nature 00:12:29.779 --> 00:12:30.679 that are true 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:31.159 and good 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:31.919 but that's not 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:32.879 where David goes. 00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:35.500 David recalls 00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:36.220 a time 00:12:36.220 --> 00:12:37.480 in the tabernacle 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:38.519 in the sanctuary 00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:39.279 of the tabernacle 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:39.860 which is almost 00:12:39.860 --> 00:12:41.259 the complete opposite 00:12:41.259 --> 00:12:42.039 of looking for 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:42.740 God in nature. 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:44.579 Instead of looking 00:12:44.579 --> 00:12:46.100 for God the huge 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:47.840 God the expansive 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:48.299 the God 00:12:48.299 --> 00:12:48.919 who rolls out 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:49.459 the sky 00:12:49.459 --> 00:12:51.059 David is looking 00:12:51.059 --> 00:12:53.159 for the God 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:53.779 at the center 00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:54.459 of Jewish 00:12:54.459 --> 00:12:55.459 organized religion. 00:12:55.959 --> 00:12:56.539 David's psalm 00:12:56.539 --> 00:12:56.919 is directed 00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:57.519 to a God 00:12:57.519 --> 00:12:58.559 who he is seen 00:12:58.559 --> 00:12:59.519 in a particular 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.099 place 00:13:00.099 --> 00:13:00.719 in a particular 00:13:00.719 --> 00:13:01.159 tent 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:02.079 at a particular 00:13:02.079 --> 00:13:02.679 time 00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:03.860 a tent made 00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:04.439 by particular 00:13:04.439 --> 00:13:04.899 people. 00:13:06.539 --> 00:13:07.059 God 00:13:07.059 --> 00:13:07.959 the God 00:13:07.959 --> 00:13:08.279 that David 00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:08.839 is looking for 00:13:08.839 --> 00:13:09.620 is not just 00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:10.599 creator God. 00:13:11.579 --> 00:13:12.939 He's looking 00:13:12.939 --> 00:13:14.500 for God 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:14.959 who doesn't 00:13:14.959 --> 00:13:16.039 just work 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:16.599 on the greatest 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:17.200 of scales. 00:13:17.340 --> 00:13:17.700 He's looking 00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:18.379 for Jehovah 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:19.620 the God 00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:20.259 who spoke 00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:20.680 to Moses 00:13:20.680 --> 00:13:21.159 directly 00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:22.259 and David 00:13:22.259 --> 00:13:22.800 has known 00:13:22.800 --> 00:13:23.240 from his 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:23.659 childhood. 00:13:24.460 --> 00:13:25.159 One of our 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:25.540 mistakes 00:13:25.540 --> 00:13:26.080 when we find 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:26.379 ourselves 00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:26.820 in the desert 00:13:26.820 --> 00:13:27.960 is sometimes 00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:29.560 to just go 00:13:29.560 --> 00:13:30.040 looking for 00:13:30.040 --> 00:13:30.720 this gigantic 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:31.200 God 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:32.759 for this God 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:33.200 who called 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:33.920 an entire 00:13:33.920 --> 00:13:34.820 nation of Israel 00:13:34.820 --> 00:13:35.659 out of Egypt 00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:37.180 for the God 00:13:37.180 --> 00:13:37.659 who creates 00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:38.279 the intricacies 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:39.040 of our world. 00:13:40.040 --> 00:13:40.920 We go looking 00:13:40.920 --> 00:13:41.800 for his glory 00:13:41.800 --> 00:13:42.340 in the biggest 00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:42.980 things we can 00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:43.360 find. 00:13:44.019 --> 00:13:44.540 We can see 00:13:44.540 --> 00:13:45.060 God's glory 00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:45.479 in a wide 00:13:45.479 --> 00:13:46.019 open sky 00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:46.979 so that's 00:13:46.979 --> 00:13:47.219 where we 00:13:47.219 --> 00:13:47.419 look. 00:13:47.779 --> 00:13:48.279 We can see 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:48.899 God's glory 00:13:48.899 --> 00:13:50.339 in a piece 00:13:50.339 --> 00:13:50.799 of finely 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:51.459 written music 00:13:51.459 --> 00:13:52.619 and so that's 00:13:52.619 --> 00:13:53.079 where we look. 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:54.779 We can see 00:13:54.779 --> 00:13:55.559 God's grandeur 00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:56.279 in the intricacy 00:13:56.279 --> 00:13:57.339 of our world 00:13:57.339 --> 00:13:57.779 so that's 00:13:57.779 --> 00:13:58.279 where we look. 00:13:59.319 --> 00:13:59.779 And you can 00:13:59.779 --> 00:14:00.179 fill in the 00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:00.699 blanks with 00:14:00.699 --> 00:14:01.599 whatever you 00:14:01.599 --> 00:14:02.059 find. 00:14:02.459 --> 00:14:03.019 You can see 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:03.619 God's glory 00:14:03.619 --> 00:14:04.359 in the creation. 00:14:05.579 --> 00:14:06.219 But don't 00:14:06.219 --> 00:14:06.719 get me wrong. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:07.199 The mistake 00:14:07.199 --> 00:14:08.019 isn't looking 00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:08.919 for God's glory 00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:09.599 in creation. 00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:11.859 That's not 00:14:11.859 --> 00:14:12.279 the mistake 00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:12.579 at all. 00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:13.099 The mistake 00:14:13.099 --> 00:14:14.219 is looking 00:14:14.220 --> 00:14:14.920 for God 00:14:14.920 --> 00:14:15.279 in those 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:15.639 places 00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:16.000 when we 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:16.320 should be 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:17.000 looking for 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:17.580 God 00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:17.920 in the 00:14:17.920 --> 00:14:18.300 place 00:14:18.300 --> 00:14:19.019 that he 00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:19.300 chose 00:14:19.300 --> 00:14:19.639 to meet 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:19.899 us. 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:21.779 Our God 00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:22.080 is not 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:22.860 just creator. 00:14:23.560 --> 00:14:24.000 Our God 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:24.360 is not 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:24.879 just the 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:25.360 sustainer. 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:25.820 He's not 00:14:25.820 --> 00:14:26.660 just holy 00:14:26.660 --> 00:14:26.980 and he's 00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:27.600 not just 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:28.019 awesome. 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:28.879 Our God 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:29.300 is also 00:14:29.300 --> 00:14:29.960 a very 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:30.700 particular 00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:31.080 God 00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:31.420 who has 00:14:31.420 --> 00:14:31.660 chosen 00:14:31.660 --> 00:14:32.080 to show 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:32.480 himself 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:33.399 to his 00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:33.840 creations. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:34.879 He's not 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:35.340 just chosen 00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:35.620 to be 00:14:35.620 --> 00:14:35.940 visible 00:14:35.940 --> 00:14:36.340 in his 00:14:36.340 --> 00:14:36.700 glory 00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:37.440 in creation 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:39.019 although he 00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:39.560 is that. 00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:40.899 He's chosen 00:14:40.899 --> 00:14:41.240 to create 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:41.759 a relationship 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:42.519 between himself 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:43.939 and us. 00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:45.679 So when our 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:46.319 God created 00:14:46.319 --> 00:14:47.299 the universe 00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:47.960 and he 00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:48.259 rested, 00:14:48.699 --> 00:14:49.039 some of the 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:49.600 first things 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:50.000 he did 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.179 was to 00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:51.860 talk to 00:14:51.860 --> 00:14:52.019 his 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:52.500 creations. 00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:53.740 Right from 00:14:53.740 --> 00:14:54.199 the start 00:14:54.199 --> 00:14:54.899 our God 00:14:54.899 --> 00:14:55.340 has shown 00:14:55.340 --> 00:14:56.039 a desire 00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:57.600 to be 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:58.059 more than 00:14:58.059 --> 00:14:58.720 arm's length 00:14:58.720 --> 00:14:59.579 with his 00:14:59.579 --> 00:15:00.019 creation. 00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:00.439 He has 00:15:00.439 --> 00:15:01.579 always wanted 00:15:01.579 --> 00:15:02.159 to speak 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:03.019 to individuals. 00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:04.379 As much 00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:04.799 as we see 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:05.819 the character 00:15:05.819 --> 00:15:06.259 of God, 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:07.600 his faithfulness, 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:08.500 his mercy, 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:09.139 his sovereignty 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:09.659 played out 00:15:09.659 --> 00:15:09.879 on the 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:10.579 grand scale 00:15:10.579 --> 00:15:12.159 of God's 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:12.559 relationship 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:13.079 with Israel 00:15:13.079 --> 00:15:13.639 as a whole, 00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:15.819 we also 00:15:15.819 --> 00:15:17.100 see all 00:15:17.100 --> 00:15:17.419 of those 00:15:17.419 --> 00:15:17.799 things 00:15:17.799 --> 00:15:18.559 reflected 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:19.699 in individual 00:15:19.699 --> 00:15:20.299 relationships 00:15:20.299 --> 00:15:20.899 with God 00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:22.159 like David's. 00:15:23.079 --> 00:15:23.759 In this 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:23.980 case, 00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:24.419 when David 00:15:24.419 --> 00:15:24.839 is far 00:15:24.839 --> 00:15:25.360 from home 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:26.259 and under 00:15:26.259 --> 00:15:27.019 physical duress, 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:27.459 he's not 00:15:27.459 --> 00:15:28.279 looking at 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:28.879 the bigness 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:29.980 of the desert 00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:30.579 around him. 00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:30.899 He's not 00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:31.500 looking at 00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:32.159 a God 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:32.600 who is even 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:33.159 greater than 00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:33.559 that desert 00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:34.039 and created 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:34.439 it in the 00:15:34.439 --> 00:15:34.919 first place. 00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:35.279 He's not 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:35.699 looking at 00:15:35.699 --> 00:15:36.699 how huge 00:15:36.699 --> 00:15:37.639 that makes 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:37.959 God. 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:38.639 David is 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.259 looking towards 00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:40.320 the tabernacle. 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:41.460 He's looking 00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:42.120 to the 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:42.700 relationship 00:15:42.700 --> 00:15:44.940 with God 00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:45.440 that is 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:46.200 represented by 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:46.360 it. 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:47.460 The glory 00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:47.740 of the 00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:48.280 tabernacle 00:15:48.280 --> 00:15:49.080 is not 00:15:49.080 --> 00:15:50.139 the glory 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:50.879 of the 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:51.200 massive 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:51.519 God 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:51.759 of the 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:51.940 desert. 00:15:52.060 --> 00:15:52.320 It's the 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:52.660 glory 00:15:52.660 --> 00:15:53.940 of a 00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:54.139 God 00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:54.740 in covenant 00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:55.200 with his 00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:55.519 people. 00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:00.560 It's the 00:16:00.560 --> 00:16:01.000 glory of a 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:01.420 God who 00:16:01.420 --> 00:16:02.440 would stoop 00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:03.139 to speak 00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:03.720 to Abraham 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:04.980 and stoop 00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:05.320 to speak 00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:05.780 to Jacob 00:16:05.780 --> 00:16:06.400 and Moses 00:16:06.400 --> 00:16:07.340 and David 00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:08.600 started all 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:08.940 when they 00:16:08.940 --> 00:16:09.620 were all 00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:10.240 weak and 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:10.899 worth very 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:11.340 little as 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:11.740 far as the 00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:12.759 people around 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:13.060 them were 00:16:13.060 --> 00:16:13.560 concerned when 00:16:13.560 --> 00:16:14.080 God started 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:14.500 to speak. 00:16:14.780 --> 00:16:15.300 Certainly none 00:16:15.300 --> 00:16:15.680 of them were 00:16:15.680 --> 00:16:16.399 worthy of 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:17.379 attracting the 00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:18.259 attention of 00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:19.240 almighty, 00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:19.960 gigantic, 00:16:20.680 --> 00:16:22.100 glory-filled 00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:23.860 God, the 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:24.240 God who 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:24.700 created the 00:16:24.700 --> 00:16:25.080 universe. 00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:27.420 After David 00:16:27.420 --> 00:16:28.160 looks to the 00:16:28.160 --> 00:16:29.280 sanctuary, to 00:16:29.280 --> 00:16:31.480 the place that 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:32.040 represents his 00:16:32.040 --> 00:16:32.820 relationship with 00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:34.019 God, he 00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:34.720 names an 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.460 attribute to 00:16:35.460 --> 00:16:36.019 praise God 00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:36.320 for. 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:37.860 He names 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.320 a part of 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:38.600 God's 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:39.620 character that 00:16:39.620 --> 00:16:40.840 is steadfast 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:41.840 love, loving 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:42.900 kindness as the 00:16:42.900 --> 00:16:44.100 older versions 00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:44.400 say. 00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:45.400 The original 00:16:45.400 --> 00:16:46.040 word that David 00:16:46.040 --> 00:16:46.340 would have 00:16:46.340 --> 00:16:47.140 written is 00:16:47.140 --> 00:16:47.740 one that 00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:48.780 oddly enough 00:16:48.780 --> 00:16:49.320 comes up in 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:49.560 all the 00:16:49.560 --> 00:16:50.020 commentaries. 00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:50.340 Everybody 00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:52.540 argues about 00:16:52.540 --> 00:16:52.900 what it 00:16:52.900 --> 00:16:53.200 means. 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:54.060 The reason 00:16:54.060 --> 00:16:54.820 they do 00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:55.140 that is 00:16:55.140 --> 00:16:55.940 because as 00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:56.240 it comes 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:56.580 up in the 00:16:56.580 --> 00:16:57.100 Old Testament, 00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.240 it has a 00:16:58.240 --> 00:16:58.900 whole lot of 00:16:58.900 --> 00:16:59.700 nuanced meanings 00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:00.160 to it. 00:17:01.060 --> 00:17:01.400 It gets 00:17:01.400 --> 00:17:02.080 translated a 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:02.380 lot of 00:17:02.380 --> 00:17:02.940 different ways, 00:17:03.060 --> 00:17:03.700 sometimes as 00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:04.759 kindness, 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:05.460 sometimes as 00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:06.279 mercy, sometimes 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:06.759 as grace, 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:07.420 sometimes as 00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:07.720 love. 00:17:10.100 --> 00:17:10.640 In some 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:12.019 places, the 00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:12.759 context seems 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.480 to indicate that 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:14.220 it's all of 00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:14.600 those things 00:17:14.600 --> 00:17:15.200 wrapped up in 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:15.420 one. 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:17.720 That's the 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:19.400 attribute that 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:20.220 David is 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:20.720 looking at. 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:21.799 The story goes 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:22.160 that at one 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:22.519 point there 00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:22.720 was an 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:22.920 English 00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:23.660 translator who 00:17:23.660 --> 00:17:24.720 decided that 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:25.180 he didn't 00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:25.539 want to 00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:26.180 translate all 00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:26.759 those words 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.559 differently. 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.120 He wanted to 00:17:28.120 --> 00:17:28.600 choose one 00:17:28.600 --> 00:17:29.039 word and so 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:29.400 he just said, 00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:29.640 all right, 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:30.240 loving kindness, 00:17:30.360 --> 00:17:30.660 that's the 00:17:30.660 --> 00:17:31.019 word that I'm 00:17:31.019 --> 00:17:31.200 going to 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:31.380 choose. 00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:33.180 That is the 00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:34.320 attribute that 00:17:34.320 --> 00:17:35.100 David is 00:17:35.100 --> 00:17:38.020 praising, all 00:17:38.020 --> 00:17:38.520 those words. 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:40.160 That word 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:41.200 loving kindness 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:42.540 sometimes gets 00:17:42.540 --> 00:17:44.380 used for God's 00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:44.920 love towards 00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:45.300 people. 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:46.880 Sometimes it's 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:47.860 used to 00:17:47.860 --> 00:17:48.460 indicate his 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:49.540 favor towards 00:17:49.540 --> 00:17:49.860 people. 00:17:50.100 --> 00:17:50.620 Sometimes the 00:17:50.620 --> 00:17:51.560 word is 00:17:51.560 --> 00:17:52.600 emphasizing God's 00:17:52.600 --> 00:17:53.480 commitment to 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.440 particular people. 00:17:55.280 --> 00:17:56.680 Sometimes it's 00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:58.000 indicating the 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:58.660 sort of promises 00:17:58.660 --> 00:17:59.180 that he makes. 00:17:59.280 --> 00:17:59.920 Sometimes it's 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:00.880 indicating the 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:01.560 kindness that 00:18:01.560 --> 00:18:02.180 he shows in 00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:02.480 action. 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:03.520 And you can 00:18:03.520 --> 00:18:04.120 see that a 00:18:04.120 --> 00:18:04.620 mix of all 00:18:04.620 --> 00:18:05.120 those various 00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:06.140 things just 00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:07.080 doesn't occur in 00:18:07.080 --> 00:18:07.580 English, right? 00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:09.060 But nonetheless, 00:18:09.280 --> 00:18:09.680 that's the 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:10.320 character that 00:18:10.320 --> 00:18:11.340 David is 00:18:11.340 --> 00:18:11.940 praising in 00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:12.200 God. 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:14.080 God's steadfast 00:18:14.080 --> 00:18:14.660 love, his 00:18:14.660 --> 00:18:15.280 loving kindness, 00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:16.500 is deeply rooted 00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:17.480 in the relationship 00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:18.660 that God has 00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:19.260 created with 00:18:19.260 --> 00:18:20.040 David and that 00:18:20.040 --> 00:18:20.500 David has 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.320 fostered. 00:18:22.300 --> 00:18:23.300 It's not ever a 00:18:23.300 --> 00:18:25.080 word that would 00:18:25.080 --> 00:18:25.700 be used by a 00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:26.180 disinterested 00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:26.520 party. 00:18:27.100 --> 00:18:27.880 By its nature, 00:18:28.340 --> 00:18:30.520 it is used by a 00:18:30.520 --> 00:18:30.860 party that 00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:31.199 God is so 00:18:31.199 --> 00:18:31.619 interested. 00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:32.639 And God is so 00:18:32.639 --> 00:18:33.259 interested that 00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:34.139 he would make 00:18:34.139 --> 00:18:35.539 promises in his 00:18:35.539 --> 00:18:36.199 covenants to 00:18:36.199 --> 00:18:36.899 stubbornly love 00:18:36.899 --> 00:18:37.879 Israel, to 00:18:37.879 --> 00:18:38.879 stubbornly show 00:18:38.879 --> 00:18:39.859 favor that doesn't 00:18:39.859 --> 00:18:41.639 waver easily, and 00:18:41.639 --> 00:18:42.279 to act on their 00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:43.000 behalf through all 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.539 situations. 00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:45.000 That's the 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:45.819 steadfast love of 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:46.059 God. 00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:46.939 And it was the 00:18:46.939 --> 00:18:47.699 steadfast love of 00:18:47.699 --> 00:18:48.279 God that followed 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:49.779 Abraham, Isaac, and 00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:50.399 Jacob from their 00:18:50.399 --> 00:18:52.099 journey from Babylon 00:18:52.099 --> 00:18:52.819 all the way to 00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:53.059 Egypt. 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:54.479 And even though in 00:18:54.479 --> 00:18:55.579 Egypt, Israel 00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:56.659 completely forgot about 00:18:56.659 --> 00:18:58.299 God, it was that 00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.679 loving kindness that 00:18:59.679 --> 00:19:00.579 drew God to pull 00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:01.199 them back out 00:19:01.199 --> 00:19:01.500 again. 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.899 It was the loving 00:19:03.899 --> 00:19:04.879 kindness of God that 00:19:04.879 --> 00:19:05.599 brought him to be 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:06.879 merciful to Israel 00:19:06.879 --> 00:19:08.500 throughout centuries of 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:08.899 rebellion. 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:11.899 Although they rebelled 00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:12.619 over and over and 00:19:12.619 --> 00:19:13.199 over again, it was the 00:19:13.199 --> 00:19:14.559 loving kindness of God 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.159 that brought him to 00:19:15.159 --> 00:19:15.439 mercy. 00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:17.599 And as we were reading 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:18.139 through the book of 00:19:18.139 --> 00:19:19.079 Revelation over the last 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:20.220 few months with 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:22.379 George, it was clear 00:19:22.379 --> 00:19:23.939 that Israel still plays 00:19:23.939 --> 00:19:27.240 a role in God's plan 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:28.220 right up until the end 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:28.640 of days. 00:19:29.140 --> 00:19:30.140 That's the loving 00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:31.960 kindness of God. 00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:36.400 And those are the 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:40.039 promises that David is 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:41.480 appealing to, the 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:43.539 promises for love and 00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:44.420 for mercy and for 00:19:44.420 --> 00:19:46.059 kindness and for grace. 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.600 And those are the 00:19:47.600 --> 00:19:48.279 promises that are 00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:49.640 extended to us in the 00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:50.640 exact same way. 00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:52.259 Those are the promises 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:53.380 that are extended to us 00:19:53.380 --> 00:19:53.900 through Jesus. 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.600 Those promises of 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:57.399 steadfast love the 00:19:57.399 --> 00:19:58.299 same way that he has 00:19:58.299 --> 00:19:59.539 steadfastly loved Israel 00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:00.219 that he has showed 00:20:00.219 --> 00:20:01.559 loving kindness are 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:02.339 extended to us. 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.599 That's part of the 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:03.980 good news. 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:04.579 That's part of the 00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:05.379 gospel of Jesus. 00:20:06.379 --> 00:20:07.259 And perhaps you might 00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:08.079 feel like you're in a 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:09.579 desert and it doesn't 00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:10.519 really matter how you 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:10.839 got there. 00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:11.559 It doesn't matter if 00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:12.179 you walked there 00:20:12.179 --> 00:20:13.240 yourself or if you 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:15.059 were driven there by 00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:15.519 adversity. 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:17.259 It doesn't matter how 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:18.000 you got to the dry 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:18.719 and thirsty land. 00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:21.259 Because that same 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:22.899 loving kindness is 00:20:22.899 --> 00:20:23.719 offered to us. 00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:26.100 that same loving 00:20:26.100 --> 00:20:27.460 kindness that drew 00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.740 God to mercy time and 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.140 time again. 00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:29.860 And the same loving 00:20:29.860 --> 00:20:30.980 kindness that drew 00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:32.480 God to favor over and 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:33.380 over and over again. 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.400 It doesn't matter 00:20:35.400 --> 00:20:36.220 because it's the same 00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:37.039 loving kindness that 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:37.799 David appeals to. 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.480 And you can look to 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.400 the sanctuary where 00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:43.640 Jesus now stands as 00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:45.420 our advocate and appeal 00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:46.539 to that same steadfast 00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:47.259 love of the Father. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.600 So if that is you, it 00:20:49.600 --> 00:20:50.279 doesn't matter how you 00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:50.720 got there. 00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:52.620 You can still appeal to 00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:53.339 the loving kindness 00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:53.779 of God. 00:20:54.399 --> 00:20:54.859 Let's pray. 00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:58.039 Father God, we thank 00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:58.759 you that we can know 00:20:58.759 --> 00:21:00.179 you and we can see 00:21:00.179 --> 00:21:01.099 your mercy and we can 00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:03.000 see your kindness and 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:03.459 your love. 00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:04.259 And Father, we thank 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:05.039 you that your loving 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:07.859 kindness is beautiful 00:21:07.859 --> 00:21:09.919 and fantastic and 00:21:09.919 --> 00:21:12.159 brings you glory. 00:21:12.879 --> 00:21:13.819 Father, we thank you 00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:14.599 for all these things. 00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:16.799 We thank you in Jesus' 00:21:16.979 --> 00:21:17.139 name. 00:21:17.459 --> 00:21:17.659 Amen. 00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:17.759 Amen.