WEBVTT

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 The Psalm 88.

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 This is a psalm written, as we know from the superscript,

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 by Haman the Ezraite, a wise man, the grandson of Judah,

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 for public lament.

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 Like the psalms we are singing tonight, it is personal,

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 but was intended to invite us all in.

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 A song, a psalm of the sons of Korah,

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 for the director of music, according to Mahalath Leonoth,

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 a mascal of Haman the Ezraite.

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 O Lord, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you.

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 May my prayer come before you.

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 Turn your ear to my cry.

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 For my soul is full of trouble, and my life draws near the grave.

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 I am counted among those who go down to the pit.

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 I am like a man without strength.

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 I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave,

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 whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.

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 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.

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 Your wrath lies heavily upon me.

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 You have overwhelmed me with all your waves.

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 You have taken from me my closest friends,

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 and have made me repulsive to them.

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 I am confined and cannot escape.

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 My eyes are dim with grief.

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 I call to you, O Lord, every day.

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 I spread out my hands to you.

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 Do you show your wonders to the dead?

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 Do those who are dead rise up and praise you?

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 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in destruction?

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 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness,

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 or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?

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 But I cry to you for help, O Lord.

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 In the morning my prayer comes before you.

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 Why, O Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?

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 From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death.

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 I have suffered your terrors and am in despair.

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 Your wrath has swept over me.

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 Your terrors have destroyed me.

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 All day long they surround me like a flood.

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 They have completely engulfed me.

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 You have taken my companions and loved ones from me.

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 The darkness is my closest friend.

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 Lament.

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 Scotland is known for its laments.

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 On the Wikipedia page for lament,

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 there is a special section just devoted to Scotland.

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 However, this was our past.

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 What about now?

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 We don't like to think about lament in our culture.

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 In a culture that feels entitled to self-fulfillment and happiness,

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 lament is the awkward relative who everyone hopes will skip the next family gathering.

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 We may join in lamenting something for a short while,

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 but there's a cultural pressure to recover quickly,

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 to get better, to become economically productive,

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 to take care of yourself and have it all together.

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 A 2015 BBC article begins by saying,

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 The British funeral has been transformed.

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 Increasingly, the ceremony pays tribute to the deceased's life instead of mourning their death.

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 Why?

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 It may be the only thing that's inevitable in life,

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 but death is changing.

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 Now it's a time to be joyful.

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 Instead of looking ahead to the afterlife,

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 British funerals increasingly rejoice in memories of the deceased's triumphs,

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 relationships, and their favourite songs.

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 There's a phrase for ceremonies like this,

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 a celebration of life.

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 The tone is happy rather than mournful,

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 celebratory instead of sombre.

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 Wearing black is commonly discouraged.

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 You're more likely to hear Monty Python's looking on the bright,

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 always look on the bright side of life than Verdi's Requiem.

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 Does this shock you?

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 What place does it leave for grief?

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 Are we not allowed to hurt anymore?

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 In essence, the message is,

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 don't feel pain, recover quickly.

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 Some of us may be dealing with loss,

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 coming here in pain, with questions.

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 Perhaps we're facing the loss of a family member,

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 or a friend,

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 or facing other issues,

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 such as ongoing illness or psychological distress.

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 You may be wondering,

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 questioning why you're going through these things.

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 The culture's response appears to want to shut off pain,

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 to ignore it,

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 to focus on the bright side of life,

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 not to ask painful questions.

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 But is that the way of the Bible?

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 Is that God's way?

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 Please turn with me back to Psalm 88.

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 What did you think of when you heard this psalm this evening?

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 That was depressing.

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 What happened to him in the Ezraite?

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 Did God answer him?

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 This psalm is unique.

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 As the one psalm with no happiness,

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 no resolution.

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 Perhaps you're wondering why there is a psalm like this in the Bible.

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 Let's consider together what it teaches us about lament.

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 While we think about this,

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 let's keep in mind what the superscript to the psalm teaches us.

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 That psalms are not just for individuals.

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 They are corporate songs.

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 Therefore, we must not think only about the private,

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 but the corporate value of lament.

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 This psalm is both for the suffering person,

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 church, or people group,

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 and for those who are not currently suffering,

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 but know others who are.

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 We are inevitably always part of one or both of these groups.

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 The first line of this psalm is vitally important to the whole psalm.

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 It states a great truth,

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 and is the whole reason why the psalmist cries out to God.

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 O Lord, the God who saves me,

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 day and night I cry out before you.

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 Our Lord, he is the God who saves us.

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 We'll return to that.

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 Let's move on.

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 A major theme of this psalm is crying out to God in our distress.

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 In the first two verses, we read,

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 Day and night I cry out before you.

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 May my prayer come before you.

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 Turn your ear to my cry.

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 And again in verse 9.

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 I call to you, O Lord.

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 Every day I spread out my hands to you.

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 And again in verse 13.

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 But I cry to you for help, O Lord.

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 In the morning my prayer comes before you.

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 The first thing this psalm teaches us

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 is to cry out to the Lord when we are distressed.

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 To do this early in the morning.

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 And to do this constantly, day and night, every day.

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 What do you do when you are in distress?

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 Do you cry out to the God who saves you?

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 When Jess was six months pregnant with our daughter Marty,

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 her sleep was very disturbed.

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 She kept waking up with pains in her abdomen.

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 Eventually, at around 4.30 in the morning,

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 fearful, she woke me up.

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 What would you have done then?

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 The first thing we did that morning was cry out to God for help.

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 Straight afterwards, Jess started bleeding.

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 Mari was born that day, three months early.

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 So small that my wedding ring could fit around her entire foot.

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 We didn't stop crying out to God for her

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 during her ten weeks in hospital.

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 What happens when Haman the Ezraite cries out to God?

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 What response does he get?

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 We don't find out in this psalm.

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 He calls out three times with no reply, no resolution.

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 Have you ever felt like that in the deepest pit?

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 Haman sounds like he's crying out in depression.

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 When I was in year 11 in Australia,

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 the equivalent of S5 here,

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 I became stuck in a cycle of months of depression.

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 It was a horrible pattern of self-guilt and self-hatred,

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 crushing intense loneliness of every second of the day.

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 During that time,

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 I almost continually told myself I was worthless.

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 If I didn't feel like getting up in the morning,

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 it was because I was worthless.

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 If I forgot to brush my teeth,

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 I was worthless.

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 Any minor thing you can think of,

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 I was worthless.

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 The only joy I found in life

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 was during some few fleeting moments

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 in the company of friends,

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 but everything always faded to dust.

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 This psalm was a great comfort to me then

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 because it described my own experience,

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 crying out in pain to the one who saves.

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 I regularly cried out,

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 God, help me,

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 and he did.

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 He didn't sweep me out of my situation,

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 but he led me and guided me slowly through

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 and out of the pain.

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 Here's the reason I'm still here.

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 I'm a great fan of Tolkien's Middle Earth.

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 I liked the Lord of the Rings movies,

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 but I love the books.

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 There is one moment that I think captures this feeling

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 of depression well.

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 Sam and Frodo are nearing the end of their quest

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 to destroy the evil ring of power.

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 They're in Mordor,

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 a dark, hot wasteland,

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 the land of the Dark Lord.

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 As they near the end of their quest,

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 they realize they are unlikely to return.

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 Sam, feeling nostalgic about throwing away some cookware,

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 says,

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 Do you remember that bit of rabbit, Mr. Frodo,

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 and our place under the warm bank

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 in Captain Faramir's country,

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 the day I saw an elephant,

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 which is basically an elephant?

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 Frodo replies,

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 No, I'm afraid not, Sam.

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 At least, I know that such things happened,

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 but I cannot see them.

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 No taste of food,

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 no feel of water,

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 no sound of wind,

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 no memory of tree

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 or grass or flower,

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 no image of moon or star

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 are left to me.

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 I am naked in the dark, Sam,

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 and there is no veil between me

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 and the wheel of fire.

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 I begin to see it,

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 even with my waking eyes,

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 and all else fades.

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 Have you ever felt like that in some way?

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 What do we do when we're in such a place?

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 We cry out to God,

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 and don't give up.

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 That's what Haman the Ezraite did.

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 That's what Job did.

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 Even when it feels like he isn't listening,

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 we keep crying out to God

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 because he is the God who saves us.

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 No matter how long the pain lasts,

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 he will save us if only we trust in him.

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 This psalm helps us when we feel that way.

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 It gives us words to use to cry out.

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 God has put me in the lowest pit.

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 In the darkest depths,

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 his wrath lies heavily on me.

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 Have you ever heard anyone speak that way?

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 If you did,

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 what would you think?

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 Would you think,

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 you can't say that?

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 If so,

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 you would be wrong.

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 This psalm teaches us

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 it's okay to cry out in pain

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 like Haman the Ezraite.

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 We can take his words

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 and make them our own.

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 Many of God's people

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 have found comfort

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 in using these words

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 in the midst of their pain.

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 We may know that God cares for us

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 and died for us,

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 but that doesn't mean

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 we always feel that.

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 God gave us these words

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 to let us know

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 we can voice our pain

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 and seek comfort from him.

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 And even with Haman

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 to question God

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 in the midst of our pain.

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 In verses 10 to 12,

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 Haman boldly questions God.

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 And in verse 14,

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 he even dares to say,

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 why, O Lord,

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 do you reject me

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 and hide your face from me?

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 Most of us will feel like this

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 at some point in our lives.

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 And this psalm encourages us

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 to ask these questions,

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 to pour out our pain

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 before God.

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 I myself have used words like this,

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 even this year,

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 when constantly plagued by sickness,

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 feeling like I was getting

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 nothing done on my PhD,

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 being daily disturbed in sleep.

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 One day,

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 I felt I had reached

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 the end of my tether.

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 I literally fell down

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 before God saying,

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 why are you doing this to us?

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 How does this serve your will?

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 Be honest before God.

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 He knows what's on your heart.

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 Even before you speak,

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 do not be afraid

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 to speak boldly before God.

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 Haman wasn't.

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 Let's share our pain with God

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 and pour out our hearts to him.

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 It's what he wants.

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 That's why he gave us these words.

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 Did God answer Haman directly?

00:13:45.019 --> 00:13:46.059
 We do not know.

00:13:46.859 --> 00:13:48.279
 We may not receive an answer

00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:49.120
 when we want it.

00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:51.159
 When he does answer us,

00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:52.099
 we may not receive

00:13:52.099 --> 00:13:53.139
 the answers we wanted.

00:13:54.079 --> 00:13:54.859
 Who's read Job,

00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:57.139
 that thick, depressing book?

00:13:57.139 --> 00:13:59.220
 In many ways,

00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:01.279
 it's the long version of this psalm.

00:14:02.039 --> 00:14:03.580
 But unlike this psalm,

00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:05.419
 God answers directly.

00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:07.779
 After 37 chapters,

00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:09.879
 God answers Job.

00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:12.279
 But not in the way Job expects.

00:14:13.439 --> 00:14:14.819
 Job has been crying out,

00:14:14.939 --> 00:14:15.199
 saying,

00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:17.299
 what did I do to deserve this?

00:14:17.659 --> 00:14:18.779
 How is this justice?

00:14:19.539 --> 00:14:20.779
 But God answers him,

00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:21.120
 saying,

00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:22.980
 Who is this

00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:24.879
 that darkens my counsel

00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:27.120
 with words without knowledge?

00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:29.120
 I will question you,

00:14:29.340 --> 00:14:31.120
 and you shall answer me.

00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:33.100
 Where were you

00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:35.480
 when I laid the foundations

00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:36.159
 of the earth?

00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:38.340
 Tell me if you understand.

00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:40.220
 And again he says,

00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:42.700
 Would you discredit my justice?

00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:44.220
 Adorn yourself

00:14:44.220 --> 00:14:45.860
 with glory and splendor.

00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:47.080
 Clothe yourself

00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:48.560
 in honor and majesty.

00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:50.440
 Unleash the fury

00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:51.220
 of your wrath.

00:14:51.460 --> 00:14:52.960
 Look at every proud man

00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:54.020
 and bring him low.

00:14:55.160 --> 00:14:56.240
 Crush the wicked

00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:57.180
 where they stand.

00:14:57.560 --> 00:14:58.480
 Then I myself

00:14:58.480 --> 00:14:59.720
 will admit to you

00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:01.940
 that your own right hand

00:15:01.940 --> 00:15:02.780
 can save you.

00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:06.660
 The answer God gives

00:15:06.660 --> 00:15:08.160
 is that what is happening

00:15:08.160 --> 00:15:10.800
 is beyond Job's comprehension

00:15:10.800 --> 00:15:11.460
 and power.

00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:13.620
 He has to trust in God,

00:15:13.800 --> 00:15:14.660
 the one who saves.

00:15:16.160 --> 00:15:17.220
 This is something

00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:18.280
 that I and others

00:15:18.280 --> 00:15:19.860
 have found immensely comforting.

00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:21.940
 The reminder

00:15:21.940 --> 00:15:23.260
 of God's power,

00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:25.200
 that he is in control,

00:15:25.340 --> 00:15:25.940
 not us.

00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:27.580
 That he has everything

00:15:27.580 --> 00:15:28.680
 in his hands.

00:15:29.300 --> 00:15:30.220
 That he is the God

00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:30.880
 who saves.

00:15:32.660 --> 00:15:33.820
 Does this mean

00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:35.360
 we shouldn't ask questions

00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.320
 because we have

00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:37.480
 God's answer to Job?

00:15:38.020 --> 00:15:39.500
 Or that we should fear

00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:40.220
 God's answer

00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:41.100
 and stay silent?

00:15:41.780 --> 00:15:42.780
 Of course not.

00:15:42.779 --> 00:15:44.899
 As I was just saying before,

00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:46.059
 Psalm 88

00:15:46.059 --> 00:15:47.659
 gives us a model.

00:15:48.199 --> 00:15:49.159
 It gives us words

00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:50.500
 to frame our pain

00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:52.620
 when we can't find the words.

00:15:53.299 --> 00:15:54.279
 By all means,

00:15:54.439 --> 00:15:55.639
 cry out to God

00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:56.459
 and ask him.

00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:58.199
 Say to him with Haman,

00:15:58.720 --> 00:15:59.980
 why, O Lord,

00:16:00.299 --> 00:16:01.459
 do you reject me

00:16:01.459 --> 00:16:03.059
 and hide your face from me?

00:16:04.459 --> 00:16:06.100
 His answer may pain us

00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:06.699
 in some way,

00:16:06.700 --> 00:16:08.759
 but we know

00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:09.879
 that in all things

00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:11.080
 God works for the good

00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:12.020
 of those who love him.

00:16:12.560 --> 00:16:13.660
 How much more

00:16:13.660 --> 00:16:15.100
 when he talks with us?

00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:16.840
 We can trust him.

00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:20.200
 It is healthy

00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:21.520
 to bear our soul to God

00:16:21.520 --> 00:16:22.700
 and he welcomes it.

00:16:23.420 --> 00:16:24.400
 If he did not,

00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:25.740
 would he give us

00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.240
 this psalm

00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:26.940
 specifically

00:16:26.940 --> 00:16:28.220
 for our corporate use?

00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:30.020
 He shows us

00:16:30.020 --> 00:16:31.080
 that we are not alone.

00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:33.060
 There are others

00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:34.100
 feeling and asking

00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:34.960
 the same things.

00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.440
 There will be others

00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:37.180
 in the future.

00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:40.379
 And what does this psalm

00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:41.400
 mean for the congregation?

00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:42.879
 The brothers and sisters

00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:43.420
 in Christ

00:16:43.420 --> 00:16:44.540
 are the one who's such us.

00:16:44.920 --> 00:16:46.020
 How does it teach us?

00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:52.940
 Apart from teaching us

00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:53.860
 that it's okay

00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:55.400
 for our brother or sister

00:16:55.400 --> 00:16:56.400
 to speak like this,

00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:58.940
 it can also teach us

00:16:58.940 --> 00:16:59.460
 their pain

00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:01.320
 to help us mourn

00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:02.200
 with those who mourn

00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:04.120
 as God commands us

00:17:04.120 --> 00:17:05.059
 through the words of Paul.

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.480
 Let's dwell on that

00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:08.000
 for a wee bit.

00:17:08.860 --> 00:17:09.980
 What does this psalm

00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.960
 have to do with mourning

00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:11.980
 with those who mourn?

00:17:13.100 --> 00:17:13.799
 Where are Haman

00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:15.200
 the Ezraites' friends

00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:17.200
 in this psalm?

00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:18.940
 In verse 8 we read,

00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:21.200
 you have taken from me

00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:22.819
 my closest friends

00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:24.740
 and have made me

00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:25.860
 repulsive to them.

00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:27.860
 Again in verse 18,

00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:29.859
 you have taken

00:17:29.859 --> 00:17:30.779
 my companions

00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:32.599
 and loved ones

00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:33.159
 from me.

00:17:34.099 --> 00:17:34.779
 The darkness

00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:36.859
 is my closest friend.

00:17:37.719 --> 00:17:38.839
 Where are his friends?

00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:40.639
 Did they comfort him

00:17:40.639 --> 00:17:41.059
 initially

00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:42.359
 and get sick of him?

00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:44.639
 Did they decide

00:17:44.639 --> 00:17:45.659
 that it was getting them

00:17:45.659 --> 00:17:46.059
 down

00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:47.500
 to be around him?

00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:49.759
 That it was too depressing?

00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.299
 That it was too hard?

00:17:51.659 --> 00:17:53.099
 And they didn't have time

00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:54.699
 for that kind of negativity

00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:55.799
 in their lives.

00:17:56.580 --> 00:17:57.700
 How did they try

00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.519
 to comfort him?

00:17:59.600 --> 00:18:01.360
 Were they like Job's friends

00:18:01.360 --> 00:18:03.519
 accusing him of sinning,

00:18:04.360 --> 00:18:05.240
 suggesting the answer

00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:05.860
 was simple,

00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:06.700
 repent

00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:08.180
 and all will be well?

00:18:09.380 --> 00:18:10.759
 Were they like the prophets

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:12.000
 at the time of Jeremiah

00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:12.900
 crying out,

00:18:13.100 --> 00:18:13.539
 shalom,

00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:14.519
 peace,

00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.380
 when there was no peace?

00:18:17.080 --> 00:18:18.279
 What about us?

00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:19.779
 Are we trying

00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:21.299
 like these friends,

00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:23.579
 like those prophets,

00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:25.379
 to heal the wounds

00:18:25.379 --> 00:18:26.339
 of God's people

00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:26.940
 lightly?

00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:30.059
 This psalm highlights

00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:30.819
 something people

00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.500
 often do,

00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:33.200
 abandon the sufferer

00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:34.019
 to their suffering,

00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.200
 especially when it

00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:36.259
 lasts a long time.

00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:38.839
 This should not be.

00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:41.639
 We should not fear

00:18:41.639 --> 00:18:42.740
 to share the pain

00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:43.599
 and to mourn

00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:44.480
 with those who mourn.

00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:46.039
 This is what God

00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:46.819
 has called us to.

00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:48.259
 James writes,

00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:50.619
 religion that our God

00:18:50.619 --> 00:18:52.039
 and Father accepts

00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:53.819
 as pure and faultless

00:18:53.819 --> 00:18:54.460
 is this,

00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:56.700
 to look on orphans

00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.359
 and widows

00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:58.259
 in their distress

00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:59.519
 and to keep oneself

00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:00.799
 from,

00:19:01.159 --> 00:19:01.519
 sorry,

00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:03.159
 to look after orphans

00:19:03.159 --> 00:19:03.619
 and widows

00:19:03.619 --> 00:19:04.379
 in their distress

00:19:04.379 --> 00:19:05.839
 and to keep oneself

00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:06.879
 from being polluted

00:19:06.879 --> 00:19:07.700
 by the world.

00:19:08.419 --> 00:19:08.919
 And again,

00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:09.539
 he writes,

00:19:10.159 --> 00:19:11.059
 what good is it,

00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:12.460
 my brothers and sisters,

00:19:12.899 --> 00:19:14.259
 if a person claims

00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:14.980
 to have faith

00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:16.419
 but has no deeds?

00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:18.119
 Can that faith

00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:18.799
 save them?

00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.480
 Suppose a brother

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.200
 or sister

00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:22.399
 is without clothes

00:19:22.399 --> 00:19:23.359
 and daily food.

00:19:24.439 --> 00:19:25.500
 If one of you

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.159
 says to them,

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.019
 go,

00:19:27.419 --> 00:19:28.299
 I wish you well,

00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:29.419
 keep warm

00:19:29.419 --> 00:19:30.319
 and well fed,

00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:31.740
 but does nothing

00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:32.960
 for his physical needs,

00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:34.339
 what good is it?

00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:35.980
 In the same way,

00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.460
 faith by itself,

00:19:37.859 --> 00:19:38.859
 if it is not

00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:40.079
 accompanied by action,

00:19:40.339 --> 00:19:40.839
 is dead.

00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:43.039
 Is our faith

00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:43.759
 living faith?

00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:45.900
 Do we help out

00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:47.079
 those who are afflicted

00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:47.700
 when we can?

00:19:48.420 --> 00:19:48.879
 Will we,

00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:49.640
 in the future,

00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:50.619
 care for those

00:19:50.619 --> 00:19:51.240
 who are suffering

00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:52.059
 around us?

00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:53.759
 Some of us

00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.220
 will have seen

00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:54.680
 the movie

00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:55.640
 The King's Speech.

00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:57.599
 It's set between

00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:58.400
 the world wars.

00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:00.140
 It centres around

00:20:00.140 --> 00:20:01.180
 King George VI

00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:02.319
 and a man named

00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:03.000
 Lionel Logue.

00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:04.640
 King George

00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:05.279
 had a stutter

00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.319
 and Lionel Logue

00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:07.359
 was the King's

00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:08.200
 speech therapist.

00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:09.059
 However,

00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:09.799
 before that,

00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:10.619
 Logue worked in

00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:11.180
 Adelaide,

00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:11.759
 Australia,

00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:13.279
 with Australians

00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.000
 who came back

00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.440
 from the First World War

00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:16.580
 with speech problems.

00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:18.200
 At one point

00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:18.820
 in the movie,

00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:19.680
 he talks about

00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.560
 this time saying,

00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:22.960
 Those poor young blokes

00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:24.039
 cried out in fear.

00:20:24.860 --> 00:20:25.860
 No one was listening

00:20:25.860 --> 00:20:26.320
 to them.

00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:27.620
 My job

00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:28.500
 was to give them

00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:30.080
 faith in their own voice

00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:31.400
 and to let them know

00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:32.720
 a friend was listening.

00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:34.600
 This is something

00:20:34.600 --> 00:20:35.240
 we can do

00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:35.840
 for our brothers

00:20:35.840 --> 00:20:37.039
 and sisters in Christ.

00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:38.720
 We can give them

00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:40.560
 faith in their own voice.

00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:42.220
 To encourage them

00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:43.680
 in crying out to God.

00:20:44.060 --> 00:20:44.940
 To let them know

00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:46.560
 a friend is listening

00:20:46.560 --> 00:20:47.880
 in and through

00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:48.759
 their pain.

00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.799
 But we can do

00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:52.100
 even more than that.

00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:53.740
 We can join with them

00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:55.299
 in crying out to God.

00:20:56.100 --> 00:20:57.600
 Entering into their pain

00:20:57.600 --> 00:20:59.640
 and their cry with them.

00:21:00.340 --> 00:21:01.380
 Truly showing them

00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:02.799
 that they are not alone.

00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:05.220
 We can make the last line

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:06.279
 of Psalm 88.

00:21:07.100 --> 00:21:07.700
 The darkness

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:09.380
 is my closest friend.

00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:11.940
 We can make that line

00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:13.700
 untrue for them.

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.760
 There is something

00:21:15.760 --> 00:21:16.780
 deeply comforting

00:21:16.780 --> 00:21:18.240
 about knowing people

00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:18.840
 are dedicated

00:21:18.840 --> 00:21:20.080
 to praying to God

00:21:20.080 --> 00:21:20.660
 for you

00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:21.720
 and your situation.

00:21:23.060 --> 00:21:24.500
 When babies are born

00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:25.380
 three months early,

00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:27.120
 they are incredibly fragile.

00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:28.600
 The healthiest

00:21:28.600 --> 00:21:29.780
 27-week-old

00:21:29.780 --> 00:21:30.580
 can be dead

00:21:30.580 --> 00:21:31.560
 in hours

00:21:31.560 --> 00:21:32.720
 if they catch a virus.

00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:34.600
 After Marty

00:21:34.600 --> 00:21:35.200
 was born

00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:36.560
 at 27 weeks,

00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:37.679
 we had hundreds

00:21:37.679 --> 00:21:38.240
 of people

00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:39.079
 over Australia

00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:39.940
 praying for us.

00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:41.200
 We had at least

00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:42.179
 four churches

00:21:42.179 --> 00:21:43.139
 and two theological

00:21:43.139 --> 00:21:43.700
 colleges

00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:44.779
 and their supporters

00:21:44.779 --> 00:21:45.940
 praying for all of us.

00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:47.279
 We were blessed

00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:48.339
 with a healthy baby,

00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.799
 but she was fragile.

00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:51.200
 And there was

00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:53.859
 the ever-present fear

00:21:53.859 --> 00:21:54.919
 of that phone call,

00:21:55.379 --> 00:21:56.019
 come quickly

00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:56.899
 to say goodbye.

00:21:56.900 --> 00:22:00.240
 It was so comforting

00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.320
 knowing that so many

00:22:02.320 --> 00:22:03.180
 people were joining

00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:03.759
 with us

00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:05.280
 in our traumatic

00:22:05.280 --> 00:22:06.080
 situation

00:22:06.080 --> 00:22:07.120
 and asking

00:22:07.120 --> 00:22:08.360
 for God's help.

00:22:09.800 --> 00:22:10.400
 Come,

00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:11.620
 let us mourn

00:22:11.620 --> 00:22:12.740
 with those who mourn.

00:22:13.300 --> 00:22:14.019
 Let us share

00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.900
 in the pain

00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:15.420
 of our brothers

00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:16.100
 and sisters

00:22:16.100 --> 00:22:17.780
 and comfort them

00:22:17.780 --> 00:22:18.700
 in their distress.

00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:27.700
 Let us use

00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.100
 the words

00:22:28.100 --> 00:22:28.840
 of this psalm

00:22:28.840 --> 00:22:29.700
 to cry out

00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.480
 on their behalf

00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:32.400
 and let's not

00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:33.240
 limit ourselves

00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:33.700
 to those

00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:34.740
 in our immediate area.

00:22:36.080 --> 00:22:36.900
 Most of the people

00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:37.620
 praying for me

00:22:37.620 --> 00:22:38.340
 and my family

00:22:38.340 --> 00:22:40.019
 when Murray was born

00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:40.920
 did not know us

00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:41.380
 personally.

00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:43.420
 We can lament

00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:44.920
 with and cry out

00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:45.840
 for all those

00:22:45.840 --> 00:22:46.580
 who are suffering

00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:48.339
 or in distress

00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:49.299
 in Scotland,

00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.699
 in the UK

00:22:50.699 --> 00:22:52.159
 and around the world.

00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:54.759
 I've been mostly

00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.379
 talking about

00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:55.980
 the individual

00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:56.539
 who suffers

00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:58.059
 but we should

00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:58.980
 think also

00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.639
 of families,

00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:00.139
 churches

00:23:00.139 --> 00:23:01.220
 and people groups

00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:01.859
 who are suffering.

00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:05.240
 We should also

00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:06.240
 lament

00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:07.220
 for those who suffer

00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:08.259
 who do not believe.

00:23:09.679 --> 00:23:10.399
 Let us not be

00:23:10.399 --> 00:23:10.960
 like Jonah

00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:11.699
 who wished

00:23:11.699 --> 00:23:12.419
 for the destruction

00:23:12.419 --> 00:23:13.099
 of Nineveh

00:23:13.099 --> 00:23:14.619
 but instead

00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:15.779
 let us be like God

00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.500
 who cares for

00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:16.880
 everyone.

00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:18.700
 He says to Jonah

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.539
 and to us,

00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:21.319
 should I not pity

00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:22.059
 Nineveh,

00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:23.759
 that great city

00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:25.259
 in which there are

00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:25.680
 more than

00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:27.720
 120,000 persons?

00:23:31.160 --> 00:23:32.000
 We've asked

00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.640
 how this psalm

00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:34.059
 teaches the sufferer

00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:35.039
 and those who are

00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:36.279
 not personally suffering.

00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:37.980
 Now I want to turn

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:39.180
 back to that first verse.

00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:41.299
 Why was it so

00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.500
 comforting for us

00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:43.460
 after Murray

00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:44.039
 was born

00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:45.240
 to know that

00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:45.880
 there were others

00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:47.100
 crying out to God

00:23:47.100 --> 00:23:48.760
 on our behalf

00:23:48.760 --> 00:23:50.900
 for one reason?

00:23:51.840 --> 00:23:52.640
 We know

00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:53.700
 our God

00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:54.900
 is the God

00:23:54.900 --> 00:23:55.500
 who saves

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:57.380
 and he's not

00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:58.140
 just the God

00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:58.720
 who saves.

00:23:59.260 --> 00:24:00.320
 He's more than that.

00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.420
 He's the God

00:24:02.420 --> 00:24:03.220
 who came and dwelt

00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:03.980
 among us,

00:24:04.260 --> 00:24:04.740
 who bore

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.500
 our weaknesses

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:07.599
 and now we can say

00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:08.180
 with the author

00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:08.819
 of Hebrews

00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:10.339
 that we do not

00:24:10.339 --> 00:24:11.779
 have a high priest

00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:12.720
 who is unable

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.759
 to sympathize

00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.619
 with our weaknesses

00:24:14.619 --> 00:24:16.440
 but we have one

00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:18.019
 who has been tempted

00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:19.180
 in every way

00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:20.799
 just as we are

00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:22.619
 yet was without sin.

00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:24.599
 Let us then

00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:25.819
 approach the throne

00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:26.440
 of grace

00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:27.660
 with confidence

00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:29.299
 so that we may

00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:30.259
 receive mercy

00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.619
 and find grace

00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:32.500
 to help us

00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:34.180
 in our time

00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:34.680
 of need.

00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:37.559
 Jesus was tempted

00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:39.220
 while starving

00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:39.839
 in the wilderness.

00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:41.160
 He had people

00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:41.900
 seeking him

00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:43.500
 for only what

00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:44.000
 they could get

00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:44.579
 out of him.

00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.980
 He faced the

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.579
 infirmities

00:24:47.579 --> 00:24:48.680
 of human existence

00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:50.480
 but greater

00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.559
 than all those

00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.319
 was his betrayal

00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:53.059
 and death.

00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:54.380
 He experienced

00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:55.380
 great anxiety

00:24:55.380 --> 00:24:56.180
 and distress

00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:57.440
 leading up to his arrest.

00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:59.299
 On the Mount of Olives

00:24:59.299 --> 00:25:00.420
 before he was arrested

00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:01.940
 Jesus said to his disciples

00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:03.660
 my soul

00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:04.600
 is overwhelmed

00:25:04.600 --> 00:25:05.220
 with sorrow

00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:06.140
 to the point

00:25:06.140 --> 00:25:06.720
 of death.

00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:07.960
 Stay here

00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:09.180
 and keep watch

00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:09.880
 with me.

00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:11.420
 But what did they do?

00:25:11.880 --> 00:25:12.680
 They promptly

00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:13.320
 fell asleep.

00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.160
 Jesus knows

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:15.920
 what it's like

00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:17.220
 to have friends

00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:18.360
 who do not support

00:25:18.360 --> 00:25:19.360
 us in our distress.

00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:21.519
 He also knows

00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.160
 what it's like

00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:22.720
 to go through

00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.420
 hard times.

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:24.960
 He knows

00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:25.720
 what it's like

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.960
 to not want

00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:27.860
 to go through

00:25:27.860 --> 00:25:28.519
 those times.

00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:30.200
 He actually

00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:31.099
 asked for a way

00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:31.440
 out.

00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:32.400
 He prayed

00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:32.799
 to God

00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:33.220
 saying

00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:34.500
 my father

00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:36.359
 if it is

00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:36.819
 possible

00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:38.220
 may this

00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:38.599
 cup

00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:39.220
 be taken

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:39.879
 from me

00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:41.240
 yet not

00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:42.200
 as I will

00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:43.139
 but as

00:25:43.139 --> 00:25:43.639
 you will.

00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:44.740
 And again

00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.319
 he prayed

00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:46.500
 my father

00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:48.160
 if it is

00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:48.839
 not possible

00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:49.299
 for this

00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:49.539
 cup

00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.139
 to be taken

00:25:50.139 --> 00:25:50.539
 away

00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.319
 unless I

00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:51.879
 drink it

00:25:51.879 --> 00:25:52.819
 may your

00:25:52.819 --> 00:25:53.139
 will

00:25:53.139 --> 00:25:53.960
 be done.

00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:56.240
 He knows

00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:56.819
 what it's like

00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:57.480
 to be deserted

00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.359
 by his friends.

00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.859
 After praying

00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:00.619
 these prayers

00:26:00.619 --> 00:26:01.579
 he was arrested

00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:03.599
 and all his

00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:04.079
 disciples

00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:05.039
 deserted him.

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.759
 Peter disowned

00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.279
 him three

00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:07.779
 times.

00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:09.839
 All his

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.240
 friends

00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:11.119
 deserted him

00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:11.879
 in his hour

00:26:11.879 --> 00:26:12.299
 of need

00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:13.460
 not one

00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:14.379
 stood by him.

00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:22.259
 Jesus

00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:23.119
 even knows

00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:23.980
 what it's

00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:24.740
 like to feel

00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.259
 forsaken

00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:25.920
 by God.

00:26:26.639 --> 00:26:27.139
 While he

00:26:27.139 --> 00:26:27.559
 was on the

00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:27.940
 cross

00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:28.360
 Jesus

00:26:28.360 --> 00:26:29.080
 cried out

00:26:29.080 --> 00:26:33.980
 which means

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:35.460
 my God

00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.100
 my God

00:26:36.100 --> 00:26:36.740
 why have

00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.400
 you forsaken

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:37.820
 me?

00:26:38.820 --> 00:26:39.400
 Does

00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:39.799
 Jesus

00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.600
 understand

00:26:40.600 --> 00:26:40.820
 our

00:26:40.820 --> 00:26:41.180
 troubles?

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.920
 Does he

00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:43.680
 understand

00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.460
 our mortal

00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.080
 pains?

00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:46.200
 Yes

00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:47.259
 in every

00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:47.640
 way.

00:26:48.380 --> 00:26:48.779
 It is

00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:49.860
 this God

00:26:49.860 --> 00:26:50.700
 this

00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.259
 Jesus

00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:52.440
 who saves

00:26:52.440 --> 00:26:52.820
 us.

00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:53.819
 God

00:26:53.819 --> 00:26:53.839
 is

00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:54.519
 God

00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.399
 is

00:26:55.399 --> 00:26:55.960
 God

00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:58.319
 who

00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:58.919
 is

00:26:58.919 --> 00:27:00.279
 God

00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:00.899
 is

00:27:00.899 --> 00:27:01.099
 unable

00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:01.299
 to

00:27:01.299 --> 00:27:02.039
 sympathize

00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:02.439
 with our

00:27:02.439 --> 00:27:02.919
 weaknesses

00:27:02.919 --> 00:27:03.980
 but we

00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.619
 have one

00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:05.700
 who has been

00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:06.500
 tempted in

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.539
 every way

00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:08.700
 just as we

00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.039
 are

00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:10.240
 yet was without

00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:10.579
 sin.

00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:11.899
 let us

00:27:11.899 --> 00:27:13.119
 approach the

00:27:13.119 --> 00:27:13.579
 throne of

00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:13.960
 grace

00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:15.240
 with confidence

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:16.519
 so that we

00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.139
 may receive

00:27:17.139 --> 00:27:17.579
 mercy

00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:18.619
 and find

00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:19.119
 grace to

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:19.679
 help us

00:27:19.679 --> 00:27:20.439
 in our

00:27:20.439 --> 00:27:20.980
 time of

00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:21.259
 need.

00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:22.980
 So what

00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:23.419
 does Psalm

00:27:23.419 --> 00:27:24.299
 88 teach

00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:24.659
 us?

00:27:25.159 --> 00:27:25.879
 When we're

00:27:25.879 --> 00:27:26.539
 in distress

00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:27.799
 remember

00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:28.619
 you're not

00:27:28.619 --> 00:27:29.379
 the only one

00:27:29.379 --> 00:27:29.819
 who's felt

00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:30.299
 this way.

00:27:30.939 --> 00:27:31.339
 Many of

00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:31.839
 God's people

00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:32.199
 have.

00:27:33.199 --> 00:27:33.740
 Cry out

00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:34.240
 to God

00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:35.500
 and entrust

00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.480
 yourself to

00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:36.779
 him

00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:38.099
 because

00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:38.680
 he is

00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:39.039
 the God

00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:39.240
 who

00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.639
 saves

00:27:39.639 --> 00:27:40.980
 and more

00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:41.460
 than that

00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:42.680
 the God

00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:43.440
 who feels

00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:44.500
 and understands

00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:45.259
 your pain.

00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:46.819
 This Psalm

00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:47.319
 gives us

00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:47.819
 words to

00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:48.160
 use

00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:49.139
 and lets

00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:49.559
 us know

00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:50.119
 it's okay

00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:50.619
 to voice

00:27:50.619 --> 00:27:51.299
 our distress.

00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:52.500
 It's okay

00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.139
 to show

00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:53.799
 our distress.

00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:55.599
 When others

00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:56.359
 are in distress

00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:57.859
 do not be a

00:27:57.859 --> 00:27:58.500
 false friend.

00:27:59.420 --> 00:27:59.779
 Mourn with

00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:00.220
 those who

00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:00.579
 mourn.

00:28:01.879 --> 00:28:02.420
 Join with

00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:02.779
 them in

00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:03.299
 crying out

00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:03.839
 to God

00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:04.539
 on their

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:05.019
 behalf.

00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:06.859
 We

00:28:06.859 --> 00:28:07.139
 should

00:28:07.139 --> 00:28:07.759
 by our

00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:08.259
 actions

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.900
 make people

00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:09.500
 feel safe

00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:09.879
 to share

00:28:09.879 --> 00:28:10.579
 their distresses

00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:11.059
 with us.

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.319
 This Psalm

00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:12.839
 gives us

00:28:12.839 --> 00:28:13.400
 words to

00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:13.980
 use to

00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:14.379
 share and

00:28:14.379 --> 00:28:14.940
 understand

00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:15.779
 the distresses

00:28:15.779 --> 00:28:16.500
 of others

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.420
 and bring

00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:18.079
 their distress

00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:18.859
 before God.

00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.359
 Remember

00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:21.740
 God is

00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.059
 the one

00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:22.700
 who saves.

00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:23.700
 He knows

00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:24.400
 and understands

00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:24.859
 the pain

00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:25.279
 we're going

00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:25.559
 through.

00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:27.440
 He understands

00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:27.980
 the pain

00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.519
 of the one

00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:29.039
 who follows

00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:30.460
 him as

00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:30.839
 well as

00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:31.119
 the one

00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:31.500
 who does

00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.039
 not follow

00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:32.279
 him.

00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:33.660
 If you

00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:34.559
 do not yet

00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.179
 follow him

00:28:35.179 --> 00:28:36.039
 why don't

00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:36.399
 you turn

00:28:36.399 --> 00:28:36.819
 to him

00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:37.859
 the God

00:28:37.859 --> 00:28:38.179
 of all

00:28:38.179 --> 00:28:38.619
 comfort

00:28:38.619 --> 00:28:39.879
 and receive

00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:40.720
 his perfect

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.599
 comfort in

00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:42.119
 your troubles

00:28:42.119 --> 00:28:42.419
 too.

00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:46.079
 Let's put

00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:46.819
 this into

00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:47.659
 practice now.

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.539
 Whether you're

00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:50.460
 struggling yourself

00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:51.539
 or know

00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.059
 someone who

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:53.099
 is or

00:28:53.099 --> 00:28:53.579
 just know

00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:54.220
 of people

00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:54.720
 who are

00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.700
 take a

00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:56.059
 minute to

00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.460
 pray where

00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:56.859
 you are

00:28:56.859 --> 00:28:57.679
 to share

00:28:57.679 --> 00:28:58.379
 your pain

00:28:58.379 --> 00:28:58.960
 or their

00:28:58.960 --> 00:28:59.500
 pain with

00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:01.000
 God asking

00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.679
 him to help

00:29:01.679 --> 00:29:02.139
 us all

00:29:02.139 --> 00:29:02.700
 through our

00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.159
 weaknesses

00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:04.060
 and draw

00:29:04.060 --> 00:29:04.540
 us closer

00:29:04.540 --> 00:29:04.960
 to him.

00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:05.019
 Amen.

00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.060
 Amen.

00:29:05.060 --> 00:29:05.080
 Amen.

00:29:05.080 --> 00:29:05.160
 Amen.