WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.540 Good morning church family. Today's reading is from Psalm 22, so will you turn to Psalm 22 in your Bible or your app? 00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:14.460 So this is to the choir master according to the dough of the dawn, a Psalm of David. 00:00:15.460 --> 00:00:23.160 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 00:00:23.160 --> 00:00:30.019 Oh my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night but I find no rest. 00:00:31.140 --> 00:00:35.159 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 00:00:36.299 --> 00:00:40.359 In you our fathers trusted, they trusted and you delivered them. 00:00:40.980 --> 00:00:46.840 To you they cried and were rescued, in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 00:00:46.840 --> 00:00:53.520 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 00:00:54.200 --> 00:00:58.700 All who see me mock me, they make mouths at me, they wag their heads. 00:00:59.040 --> 00:01:04.320 He trusts in the Lord, let him deliver him, let him rescue him, for he delights in him. 00:01:06.060 --> 00:01:11.359 Yet you are he who took me from the womb, you made me trust you at my mother's breasts. 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:17.180 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God. 00:01:18.099 --> 00:01:22.379 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. 00:01:23.400 --> 00:01:27.319 Many bulls encompass me, strong bulls of Bashan surround me. 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:31.500 They open wide their mouths at me like a ravening and roaring lion. 00:01:32.340 --> 00:01:36.099 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. 00:01:36.539 --> 00:01:39.879 My heart is like wax, it is melted within my breast. 00:01:39.879 --> 00:01:45.379 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws. 00:01:45.859 --> 00:01:47.699 You lay me in the dust of death. 00:01:48.759 --> 00:01:53.119 For dogs encompass me, a company of evildoers encircles me. 00:01:53.459 --> 00:01:55.579 They have pierced my hands and feet. 00:01:55.979 --> 00:01:57.599 I can count all my bones. 00:01:58.120 --> 00:01:59.879 They stare and gloat over me. 00:02:00.219 --> 00:02:05.219 They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. 00:02:05.219 --> 00:02:09.520 But you, O Lord, do not be far off. 00:02:10.020 --> 00:02:12.599 O you, my help, come quickly to my aid. 00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:17.419 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog. 00:02:18.180 --> 00:02:20.039 Save me from the mouth of the lion. 00:02:20.819 --> 00:02:23.879 You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen. 00:02:23.879 --> 00:02:26.900 I will tell of your name to my brothers. 00:02:27.479 --> 00:02:30.199 In the midst of the congregation I will praise you. 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:33.120 You who fear the Lord, praise him. 00:02:33.799 --> 00:02:40.099 All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel. 00:02:41.340 --> 00:02:45.139 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, 00:02:45.519 --> 00:02:50.300 and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard when he cried to him. 00:02:50.300 --> 00:02:54.360 From you comes my praise in the great congregation. 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:57.900 My vows I will perform before those who fear him. 00:02:58.660 --> 00:03:00.900 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied. 00:03:01.480 --> 00:03:03.960 Those who seek him shall praise the Lord. 00:03:04.880 --> 00:03:06.640 May your hearts live forever. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:11.680 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, 00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:16.060 and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 00:03:16.060 --> 00:03:20.960 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. 00:03:21.879 --> 00:03:24.400 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship. 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:28.699 Before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, 00:03:29.259 --> 00:03:31.900 even the one who could not keep himself alive. 00:03:33.500 --> 00:03:35.020 Posterity shall serve him. 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:38.000 It shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation. 00:03:38.780 --> 00:03:43.020 They shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, 00:03:43.020 --> 00:03:45.180 that he has done it. 00:03:46.060 --> 00:03:51.659 I wonder if I asked you the question, 00:03:53.099 --> 00:03:56.780 what the worst time in your life is, what you would say. 00:03:58.300 --> 00:03:59.400 Have a think back. 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:03.879 What is the worst, what is the thing that you would point to 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:05.659 as the worst time in your life? 00:04:05.659 --> 00:04:10.079 I think I have a few contenders. 00:04:12.579 --> 00:04:15.979 One might be when the band Evanescence split up. 00:04:17.939 --> 00:04:20.579 Half of you are probably like, who on earth is Evanescence? 00:04:21.459 --> 00:04:24.259 The other half are probably like, Matt, they got back together. 00:04:24.459 --> 00:04:25.100 Yes, I know. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:26.480 It's not the same. 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:33.379 Maybe it's the time, and this one still hurts. 00:04:34.840 --> 00:04:37.300 KFC took wicked wings out of the zinger box. 00:04:39.840 --> 00:04:41.900 This half of the room knows what I'm talking about. 00:04:42.759 --> 00:04:44.520 Everyone else says KFC is terrible. 00:04:44.620 --> 00:04:45.319 You shouldn't eat it, Matt. 00:04:45.400 --> 00:04:46.240 Yes, that's true. 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:49.660 But now I go into KFC, I'm just lost. 00:04:49.819 --> 00:04:52.379 I'm like, what do I, it used to be such an easy decision. 00:04:53.379 --> 00:04:54.240 Now what do I order? 00:04:54.319 --> 00:04:54.720 I don't know. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:05:03.020 Maybe it's anyone over the last 15 years who supports a Newcastle-based team. 00:05:04.380 --> 00:05:07.720 The Jets, the Knights, there is a lot of suffering there, 00:05:07.940 --> 00:05:09.260 if you're anything like me. 00:05:10.020 --> 00:05:11.040 That's been painful. 00:05:13.420 --> 00:05:16.080 Maybe it's the time I broke my arm when I was eight. 00:05:16.900 --> 00:05:19.560 I rode a bike into the back of a garage. 00:05:20.700 --> 00:05:23.460 I didn't break my arm that time, so I did it the second time, 00:05:23.459 --> 00:05:24.979 and that's when I broke my arm. 00:05:25.699 --> 00:05:26.919 That was quite painful. 00:05:27.139 --> 00:05:29.439 I don't know why I repeated it again. 00:05:29.500 --> 00:05:31.279 You'd think I'd take the warning from the first time. 00:05:33.659 --> 00:05:35.359 Maybe it was COVID recently. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:37.879 COVID was a pretty tough time for a lot of people. 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:40.359 It was tough for me in some ways. 00:05:40.799 --> 00:05:44.659 I'm sure for some people here, varying impacts of suffering there. 00:05:46.679 --> 00:05:49.079 Maybe it's the time I found out I was being made redundant. 00:05:49.459 --> 00:05:50.759 I had just had Arthur. 00:05:50.819 --> 00:05:52.000 My son's about eight years old. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:56.560 The week he was born, my company shut down, the whole company. 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:01.480 Now, having a new baby, first baby, that's a pretty stressful experience, 00:06:01.560 --> 00:06:02.220 I'm going to say. 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:08.199 Maybe it's the time that a good friend of mine in Bathurst died. 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:11.100 There's a guy that I had built a relationship with. 00:06:11.139 --> 00:06:11.980 He was about 80. 00:06:12.519 --> 00:06:13.740 We were great friends. 00:06:14.279 --> 00:06:16.600 I saw him multiple times a week, and he passed away. 00:06:16.600 --> 00:06:20.080 Thankfully, he was a Christian, but that was a pretty painful time. 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:22.740 Now, that was something that I didn't enjoy going through. 00:06:25.320 --> 00:06:28.200 Maybe it was that time that my dad died when I was six. 00:06:31.300 --> 00:06:34.120 Maybe it was that time that my daughter died a year and a half ago. 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:38.800 It's a fact of life, isn't it? 00:06:38.840 --> 00:06:42.899 If you live past a certain age, you will have suffering in this life. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:47.240 And, in fact, it seems like the older you get, 00:06:48.060 --> 00:06:49.480 suffering doesn't get any easier. 00:06:49.620 --> 00:06:51.139 The list just gets longer. 00:06:52.459 --> 00:06:55.000 I'm sure there's people in this room who kind of be like, 00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:57.439 Matt, we can spend the whole day, 00:06:57.500 --> 00:07:01.040 and I can tell you about the myriad of things that I've been through in my life. 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:07.180 But I wonder how you deal with suffering when it comes. 00:07:10.060 --> 00:07:13.420 When you are going through those deep, dark places, 00:07:14.280 --> 00:07:15.720 where do you go for comfort? 00:07:18.300 --> 00:07:19.740 Who is it that you look to? 00:07:19.860 --> 00:07:22.780 Where do you find comfort in suffering? 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:30.460 If I'm honest, I think I'm someone who probably actually tries to ignore it 00:07:30.459 --> 00:07:31.699 and pretend like it's not there. 00:07:32.139 --> 00:07:34.459 If I don't think about it, I won't have to deal with it. 00:07:34.519 --> 00:07:35.459 Hopefully it'll go away. 00:07:35.819 --> 00:07:37.299 I won't have to deal with the pain. 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:39.879 That's my kind of normal reaction. 00:07:40.419 --> 00:07:43.180 But there's people who are at the complete other end of the spectrum. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:46.740 Like, all they can think about is the pain and suffering that they're in. 00:07:47.159 --> 00:07:49.079 Every waking moment is thinking about it. 00:07:49.079 --> 00:07:50.399 They're consumed by it. 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:52.959 And for some people, that becomes their whole life, 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:56.120 and their personality is thinking about the suffering they've been through. 00:07:58.120 --> 00:08:00.459 For some people, it's drugs and alcohol. 00:08:00.659 --> 00:08:02.939 For some people, it's pushing hard into work. 00:08:04.259 --> 00:08:06.839 For some people, they might tell one single friend, 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:08.819 one family member and confide to them, 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:09.579 you know, actually what? 00:08:10.419 --> 00:08:11.699 You know, it might look like I'm doing well, 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:12.819 but I'm actually really struggling. 00:08:12.819 --> 00:08:19.839 For others, they'll cry on any shoulder that they can find with their suffering 00:08:19.839 --> 00:08:23.099 and communicate with those people and tell them how hard things are. 00:08:23.420 --> 00:08:26.060 Where do you go and what's your reaction in suffering? 00:08:27.860 --> 00:08:32.379 Where do you find comfort when you're thinking about suffering? 00:08:35.319 --> 00:08:37.100 Today we're going to look at Psalm 22, 00:08:37.259 --> 00:08:40.340 and it is one of the deepest expressions of suffering in the Bible. 00:08:40.340 --> 00:08:43.259 It is one of the deepest expressions, 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:46.360 the most heartfelt expressions we see of someone going through suffering. 00:08:46.759 --> 00:08:48.660 But the question I want you to think about is, 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:51.019 where do I find my comfort in suffering? 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:54.360 When things are really hard, 00:08:54.420 --> 00:08:56.759 and of course I'm not talking about KFC Wicked Wings, 00:08:57.920 --> 00:08:59.600 when things are properly hard, 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:01.200 where do you go in suffering? 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:06.580 I'm going to pray, 00:09:06.680 --> 00:09:09.120 and then we'll get into the meat of the talk. 00:09:10.340 --> 00:09:11.160 Dear God, 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:12.980 I just pray that as we're here today, 00:09:13.080 --> 00:09:15.100 I pray that you would challenge us through Psalm 22. 00:09:16.580 --> 00:09:18.600 I pray that you would speak to us, 00:09:18.660 --> 00:09:19.560 that we would be challenged. 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:21.220 I pray that you'd help me to speak clearly. 00:09:21.980 --> 00:09:22.340 And God, 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:26.259 I pray that we would be drawn to your glory and majesty in suffering. 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:27.519 Amen. 00:09:29.680 --> 00:09:30.000 Okay, 00:09:30.040 --> 00:09:30.899 so if you've got your outline, 00:09:31.019 --> 00:09:32.220 the first point on the outline, 00:09:32.220 --> 00:09:40.420 David's words tell us that true comfort in suffering is found in God alone. 00:09:42.180 --> 00:09:42.540 See, 00:09:42.620 --> 00:09:43.259 Psalm 22, 00:09:43.420 --> 00:09:45.200 it's probably written by David, 00:09:45.340 --> 00:09:46.360 it says by David, 00:09:46.420 --> 00:09:47.399 that's probably who wrote it, 00:09:47.680 --> 00:09:49.060 about 3,000 years ago, 00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:50.200 and it's actually a song. 00:09:50.620 --> 00:09:51.800 I don't know if you realise that, 00:09:51.899 --> 00:09:53.200 kind of says to the choir master, 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:56.200 it's to the tune of Doe of the Dawn, 00:09:56.340 --> 00:09:56.980 which to be honest, 00:09:57.420 --> 00:09:57.720 sorry, 00:09:58.420 --> 00:09:58.580 yeah, 00:09:58.920 --> 00:09:59.520 that's what it is, 00:09:59.560 --> 00:09:59.840 isn't it? 00:09:59.879 --> 00:10:00.080 Yes. 00:10:00.820 --> 00:10:01.580 Doe of the Dawn, 00:10:01.660 --> 00:10:03.420 which sounds like a bit of a boring tune, 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:04.320 to be honest to me, 00:10:04.400 --> 00:10:06.000 but I'm sure it was amazing. 00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:08.840 We actually have no idea what this tune sounds like. 00:10:08.940 --> 00:10:10.780 So if someone wants to make up a tune, 00:10:10.840 --> 00:10:12.020 and put the words into this, 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:13.440 go for your life, 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:14.420 no one can tell you it's wrong. 00:10:14.419 --> 00:10:17.240 I won't try, 00:10:17.319 --> 00:10:19.059 it'll be like barbara black sheep or something, 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:19.879 that I'll fit it into, 00:10:19.939 --> 00:10:20.699 it won't work at all. 00:10:21.459 --> 00:10:22.939 But a look at Psalm 22, 00:10:23.079 --> 00:10:24.799 confronts us with this horrible picture, 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:27.419 of David going through this intense, 00:10:28.199 --> 00:10:29.399 intense suffering. 00:10:29.799 --> 00:10:30.919 He's in the deepest, 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:32.299 darkest place. 00:10:33.259 --> 00:10:36.000 Let's read through some of what David says in Psalm 22, 00:10:36.120 --> 00:10:36.919 if you've got it open. 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:39.159 Psalm 22, 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:40.639 it's what Beck read for us before, 00:10:40.719 --> 00:10:41.860 we're going to start at verse 1. 00:10:41.860 --> 00:10:44.759 My God, 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:45.580 my God, 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:47.480 why have you forsaken me? 00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:51.240 Why are you so far from saving me, 00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:52.680 from the words of my groaning? 00:10:52.800 --> 00:10:53.399 Oh my God, 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:54.360 I cry by day, 00:10:54.419 --> 00:10:55.460 but you do not answer. 00:10:56.580 --> 00:10:57.419 And by night, 00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:58.899 but I find no rest. 00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:02.360 But I am a worm and not a man, 00:11:02.539 --> 00:11:03.399 in verse 6, 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:05.019 but I am a worm and not a man. 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:06.620 In verse 14, 00:11:06.700 --> 00:11:08.060 I am poured out like water. 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:10.320 In verse 17, 00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:12.080 I can count all my bones. 00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:14.080 I think it's fair to say here, 00:11:14.140 --> 00:11:15.960 that David is not having a good time. 00:11:17.400 --> 00:11:18.960 This is someone who is expressing, 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:21.720 the deepest of agonies. 00:11:21.820 --> 00:11:23.420 He's in a world of pain. 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:26.120 So much so that I, 00:11:26.160 --> 00:11:27.020 I don't know about you, 00:11:27.100 --> 00:11:28.620 but I almost get the feeling like, 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:30.440 these words don't properly, 00:11:30.700 --> 00:11:32.200 they just cannot possibly, 00:11:32.900 --> 00:11:34.660 express what David is really feeling, 00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:35.360 at this moment. 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:37.000 I am a worm. 00:11:37.159 --> 00:11:38.340 I am scorned. 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:39.759 I am despised. 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:40.480 I am mocked. 00:11:40.539 --> 00:11:42.680 There's definitely something going on here, 00:11:42.740 --> 00:11:44.259 where people are kind of after him, 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:44.440 and, 00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:44.779 and, 00:11:45.019 --> 00:11:45.860 you know, 00:11:45.899 --> 00:11:46.919 really oppressing him. 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:48.580 I don't know if you can, 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:50.180 can connect with these bits. 00:11:51.139 --> 00:11:52.820 All my bones are out of joint. 00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:56.180 I don't know if you've ever had a dislocation. 00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:58.659 That's pretty bad on one place. 00:11:58.740 --> 00:11:59.940 All my bones are out of joint. 00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:01.840 My heart is like wax, 00:12:01.899 --> 00:12:03.860 and my tongue sticks to my jaws. 00:12:03.860 --> 00:12:07.500 You lay me in the dust of death. 00:12:09.580 --> 00:12:14.200 So this is someone who is describing the lowest of lows. 00:12:16.419 --> 00:12:18.700 Someone who is totally at the end of everything. 00:12:18.820 --> 00:12:20.139 He can just not see the end. 00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:20.940 It is black. 00:12:21.060 --> 00:12:21.879 It is dark. 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:24.220 And I think that's something that's true of suffering, 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:24.560 isn't it? 00:12:24.560 --> 00:12:26.200 When you're in proper deep suffering, 00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:29.659 it can feel like there is just no way out. 00:12:29.659 --> 00:12:36.219 And so what does David do in this terrible place? 00:12:38.819 --> 00:12:41.559 What do we see in Psalm 22 that he does 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:43.659 when he's going through this terrible suffering? 00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:45.139 Well, 00:12:45.179 --> 00:12:47.579 he speaks of the character of God, 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:48.480 doesn't he? 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:52.000 David, 00:12:52.299 --> 00:12:53.179 in Psalm 22, 00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:54.259 tells us 00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:59.059 that true comfort in suffering is found in God alone. 00:13:02.059 --> 00:13:03.319 And the temple of this psalm, 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:03.960 it's quite interesting. 00:13:04.059 --> 00:13:04.899 I don't know if you picked it up, 00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:06.919 this kind of back and forth. 00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:09.080 Three times it happens where he goes, 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:09.500 wow, 00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:10.179 this is terrible. 00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:11.879 I'm going through this immense, 00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:13.120 terrible thing. 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:14.259 But God, 00:13:14.299 --> 00:13:14.799 you are great. 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:15.799 But this is just, 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:17.000 I cannot handle this. 00:13:17.439 --> 00:13:19.100 This is just too painful. 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:19.759 But God, 00:13:19.819 --> 00:13:20.419 you are amazing. 00:13:20.539 --> 00:13:20.980 You are good. 00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:22.720 And it happens three times. 00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:23.240 And it kind of, 00:13:23.340 --> 00:13:24.139 as you go through, 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:26.019 the bits get longer and longer, 00:13:26.180 --> 00:13:29.000 where the third explanation of suffering 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:30.259 is this long passage. 00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:32.860 And then the third explanation, 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:34.600 dwelling on God's goodness, 00:13:34.680 --> 00:13:35.779 is the longest of all. 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:38.860 And it's kind of like David's battling. 00:13:39.580 --> 00:13:40.940 If you've gone through suffering, 00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:42.460 you might even recognise this tempo. 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:44.480 When you're in suffering, 00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:46.580 it kind of feels like it comes in waves. 00:13:46.580 --> 00:13:49.020 You have this really dark, 00:13:49.460 --> 00:13:50.600 difficult place 00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:51.700 when you're just in despair. 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:53.900 And then it'll go to hope for a little bit. 00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:55.280 And then you'll come back to despair. 00:13:55.460 --> 00:13:55.960 And it kind of, 00:13:56.040 --> 00:13:58.200 there's no rhyme or reason 00:13:58.200 --> 00:13:59.440 for how long you're in each one. 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:00.840 But that's kind of what we see here. 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:03.020 And we're going to read some of it. 00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:05.460 Mainly the part where David rests on God. 00:14:05.540 --> 00:14:07.259 But we're going to start at verse four. 00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:11.540 In you our fathers trusted. 00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:14.259 They trusted and you delivered them. 00:14:14.259 --> 00:14:18.299 To you they cried and were rescued. 00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:20.860 In you they trusted and were not put to shame. 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:23.819 Verse 22. 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:26.419 I will tell of your name to my brothers. 00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:28.840 In the midst of the congregation, 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:30.000 I will praise you. 00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:32.159 And then we're going to skip a little bit. 00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:35.200 For he has not despised 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:37.439 or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted. 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:40.480 And he has not hidden his face from him, 00:14:40.539 --> 00:14:42.899 but has heard when he cried to him. 00:14:42.899 --> 00:14:47.779 From you comes my praise in the great congregation. 00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:51.000 My vows I will perform before those who fear him. 00:14:51.939 --> 00:14:54.259 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied. 00:14:54.579 --> 00:14:56.480 Those who seek him shall praise the Lord. 00:14:56.579 --> 00:14:57.799 May your hearts live forever. 00:14:59.059 --> 00:15:00.480 Then we're going to skip to verse 28. 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:04.679 For kingship belongs to the Lord 00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:06.879 and he rules over the nations. 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:11.419 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship. 00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:16.639 Before him shall bow all who go to the dust. 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.259 Go down to the dust. 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:20.360 Even the one who could not keep himself alive. 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:23.240 Posterity, which means all future generations, 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:24.960 shall serve him. 00:15:25.439 --> 00:15:27.840 It shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation. 00:15:28.379 --> 00:15:30.220 They shall come and proclaim his righteousness 00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:31.620 to a people yet unborn, 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:33.379 that he has done it. 00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:37.840 See, why does David find true comforting God? 00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:42.659 It's because God is a good God. 00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:45.879 God is a good God. 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:50.200 And he's a God that has the power to deliver on that goodness. 00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:52.379 He's done it time and time again. 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:55.419 David can see this throughout all of history. 00:15:55.939 --> 00:15:57.240 He says it in Psalm 22. 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.899 My ancestors could see it. 00:15:59.819 --> 00:16:01.419 The ancestors could see it. 00:16:01.479 --> 00:16:02.240 I can see it. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:04.299 All future generations are going to see this. 00:16:04.899 --> 00:16:06.000 God is a good God. 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:07.879 He delivers on his promise. 00:16:08.019 --> 00:16:10.240 In verse 31, he is a righteous God. 00:16:12.339 --> 00:16:15.479 The suffering, though, it's still just as sharp, isn't it? 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:18.479 In fact, the suffering throughout Psalms, 00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:20.740 it's not like it kind of gets less until it's gone 00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:22.159 and he's going, actually, this is great. 00:16:22.219 --> 00:16:24.899 It gets, in fact, if anything, worse and worse. 00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:30.299 But a completely good God with complete control 00:16:30.299 --> 00:16:34.519 means that there is a good plan behind suffering. 00:16:36.819 --> 00:16:38.699 Even if it doesn't seem that way, 00:16:38.939 --> 00:16:42.299 even when the suffering is terrible like it is in Psalm 22, 00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:44.199 God has a good plan. 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:49.599 I wonder how many of you, 00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:52.240 when you're thinking about buying stuff, 00:16:53.099 --> 00:16:54.339 look at review sites. 00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:56.160 Do many people do this? 00:16:56.940 --> 00:16:57.280 A couple? 00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:57.940 Google? 00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:58.740 Facebook? 00:16:59.820 --> 00:17:00.740 YouTube videos? 00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:02.899 I do it all the time. 00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:04.400 If I am trying to buy something, 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.960 probably over a couple hundred bucks, 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:08.920 I will look at it as much as I possibly can. 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:11.440 I think what I'm trying to do is work out 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:13.640 where does the realm of public opinion 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:16.340 sit with this brand or product or company. 00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:19.779 I did it recently with a couple of things. 00:17:19.899 --> 00:17:22.579 I've done it with, actually, these pair of shoes. 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:26.119 I watched far too many YouTube videos 00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:30.240 of people cutting open this particular brand of shoes 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:31.459 to see what was inside. 00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:35.559 Where does the public opinion sit on this brand of shoes? 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:39.679 Look, that's maybe just a bit of a weird thing. 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:40.419 Maybe you're just like, 00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:42.139 man, honestly, you're talking about Google and Facebook. 00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:44.819 But I look at heap of review sites. 00:17:44.879 --> 00:17:45.960 I want to see what people have to say. 00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:47.679 I think what I'm trying to do is establish, 00:17:47.879 --> 00:17:50.179 essentially, a track record of the company or the product. 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:53.200 Is this something that people have had a good experience with? 00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:55.279 You know, how does it go over time? 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:56.440 What was the service like? 00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:59.580 Another one was I had to get a driveway redone. 00:18:00.380 --> 00:18:02.140 Our driveway was destroying our car. 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:03.640 So we had to get a new one. 00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:05.160 So I went onto Facebook, Google, 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:07.180 trying to understand, you know, 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:08.960 is this concrete going to turn up? 00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:10.279 Are they going to do a dodgy job? 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.620 Are they going to, you know, 00:18:11.660 --> 00:18:13.120 give me what they said they're going to give me? 00:18:13.640 --> 00:18:14.700 So I did a lot of that. 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.740 But again, same thing. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.920 I'm trying to establish, 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:19.680 what is the track record of this company? 00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:21.320 Is it going to, you know, 00:18:21.380 --> 00:18:22.820 based on the weight of history 00:18:22.820 --> 00:18:24.740 and what people have experienced, 00:18:24.840 --> 00:18:26.240 is this what's going to happen for me? 00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:29.180 And so I love reading review sites. 00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:33.660 How does David know 00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:38.400 that comfort in suffering is found in God alone? 00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:41.880 How does he know it in Psalm 22? 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:47.000 It's because he can see the track record of God, isn't it? 00:18:49.340 --> 00:18:53.059 He can see that God delivers every time. 00:18:53.140 --> 00:18:54.440 He is 100% perfect. 00:18:54.440 --> 00:19:01.600 He is a good God who every time in history has been good. 00:19:04.059 --> 00:19:05.559 He is by nature good 00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:07.900 and he has the power to deliver on that goodness. 00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:13.000 He always has and always will be a good God. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:14.920 And so David says, 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:15.599 I trust you. 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.819 I find comfort in you. 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:23.779 See, David's words tell us that true comfort in suffering is found in God alone. 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:26.339 But it's not just David that we rely on, is it? 00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.720 I mean, don't get me wrong. 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:28.579 David is amazing. 00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:29.500 He wrote a lot of the Bible. 00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:30.660 I'm not having a diss on David. 00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:34.000 But there is a lot more that we rely on. 00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:51.420 You see, Jesus' actions on the cross also tell us that true suffering is found in God alone. 00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:56.759 Now, Psalm 22, for those of you who are particularly astute and know your Bible well, 00:19:57.300 --> 00:20:02.860 should remind you of probably the most great example of suffering in human history. 00:20:03.140 --> 00:20:08.080 It's probably one of the most famous sayings of suffering in the Bible. 00:20:08.800 --> 00:20:13.779 So much so that probably even some people in this room will know it in the original language. 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:25.279 If there was ever a line that should make us feel the gravity of suffering, 00:20:25.899 --> 00:20:28.339 it's this one that we find in Psalm 22. 00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:31.980 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:35.759 And of course, that's what Jesus says is hanging on the cross. 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:40.279 It is one of the most famous lines in the whole of the Bible. 00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:44.299 And in fact, the words in Psalm 22, I don't know if you've realized this, 00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:51.019 they are the exact words that Jesus says on the cross in Mark chapter 15 and Matthew 20, 17. 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.960 And that's not a mistake. 00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:58.700 See, Jesus is pointing at Psalm 22 when he's on the cross and says, 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:00.579 this is where I am at. 00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:05.639 If you want to know what I'm going through and know what I'm thinking and understand my emotions, 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:08.660 read Psalm 22. 00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:11.480 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:18.360 And it's amazing that a psalm written probably a thousand years before Jesus, 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:21.320 I was hanging on the cross is what Jesus points to. 00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:23.759 And when you actually start to look at it in that light, 00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:27.700 I think Psalm 22 starts to take on a bit of a different texture. 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:30.800 It's actually quite amazing. 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:33.900 When you start looking at it in that way, you go, okay, David's suffering, 00:21:33.900 --> 00:21:38.000 but actually maybe he's writing about something else here a little bit. 00:21:38.700 --> 00:21:41.800 Maybe this is not just about David's particular suffering. 00:21:42.820 --> 00:21:47.840 Maybe, and in fact, I think this is David also, 00:21:48.060 --> 00:21:50.560 not that he probably knew at the time, talking about Jesus' suffering. 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:53.140 And there's a couple of reasons for this. 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:55.580 One is the obvious one that Jesus points to it. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:57.880 He clearly references Psalm 22. 00:21:58.340 --> 00:22:00.320 But there's some other bits in this passage. 00:22:00.540 --> 00:22:02.080 Let's look at verse 6. 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:04.079 Verse 7. 00:22:05.199 --> 00:22:08.139 Scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:12.019 You remember all the people in Jerusalem wanted to kill him 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:13.500 by the time that he was on the cross. 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:15.240 Verse 7. 00:22:15.399 --> 00:22:16.799 All who see me mock me. 00:22:16.919 --> 00:22:17.879 They make mouths at me. 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:18.899 They wag their heads. 00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:20.539 He trusts in the Lord. 00:22:21.699 --> 00:22:22.939 Let him deliver him. 00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:25.819 Let him rescue him, for he delights in him. 00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:29.039 I mean, we know where that's from, don't we? 00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:29.740 We've seen that. 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:32.319 Right before Jesus dies, everyone's making fun of him. 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:35.259 Verse 16. 00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:37.220 They have pierced my hands and feet. 00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:42.920 Now, I don't know of any time that David had his hands and feet pierced. 00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:47.200 They divide my garments in verse 18. 00:22:47.340 --> 00:22:50.700 They divide my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots. 00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:55.920 See, Jesus is saying, this is where I am. 00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.200 Psalm 22. 00:22:58.500 --> 00:23:02.120 The suffering that I'm going through is Psalm 22. 00:23:02.320 --> 00:23:05.660 It's the deepest, darkest depths of anguish. 00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:13.800 We can in part understand Jesus' suffering by looking at Psalm 22. 00:23:14.380 --> 00:23:21.900 And in that suffering, Jesus tells us that true comfort is found in God alone. 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:29.160 See, he finds comfort just as David did in God's character and goodness. 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:33.180 See, he knows his father's track record. 00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:35.660 Just like David, he knows the track record. 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:38.019 He knows that his father is always good. 00:23:38.800 --> 00:23:41.860 He knows that his father will always deliver him. 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:48.040 His father has the power to ensure that he can deliver on his good plan. 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:54.659 So when David says in verse 24, for he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, 00:23:55.159 --> 00:23:58.779 and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard when he cried to him, 00:23:58.859 --> 00:24:03.460 Jesus says, that, that is what I know. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:10.240 And in verse 28, for kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. 00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:13.480 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship. 00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:20.099 Before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:23.759 Posterity shall serve him. 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:25.299 All generations shall serve him. 00:24:25.360 --> 00:24:27.680 It shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation. 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:33.000 They shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it. 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:36.680 Jesus says, that, that is my father. 00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:44.299 See, Jesus knows that his father is a good God. 00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:52.840 Jesus knows that his father is good and that he has the power to complete his good plan. 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:58.920 Jesus knows that on the cross, God has a good plan for his suffering. 00:24:58.920 --> 00:25:08.240 I don't know if you've ever connected with a song at a time in your life, 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:11.580 and it's kind of become an anthem for that period of your life. 00:25:12.060 --> 00:25:15.620 I think this often tends to happen in teenage years for some reason. 00:25:16.580 --> 00:25:20.940 Probably like Black Sabbath or Metallica, or that's like the grungy version. 00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:24.539 For some people, I'd be like Taylor Swift, One Direction. 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:28.000 Don't admit to that if that's you. 00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:29.380 But some people. 00:25:29.840 --> 00:25:30.940 Maybe it's the Bee Gees. 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:31.420 I don't know. 00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:32.080 Whatever it is. 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:35.360 I have a vivid example of this happening in my life that I can remember. 00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:40.340 It's when I was moving from Newcastle to Bathurst for uni. 00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:45.600 So I was 18, fresh out of home, on an exciting new adventure, 00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:47.880 and I was staying at a friend's house. 00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:49.720 I'd just been dropped off by my mum. 00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:53.000 I was lying in bed at night. 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:55.860 I listened to this one song for an hour, lying in bed. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:59.500 I know that's a little bit of a weird thing to do. 00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:02.819 But I had these feelings that I was kind of going through at the time, 00:26:02.860 --> 00:26:05.360 and it was these two almost conflicting emotions. 00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:08.839 One was this great excitement and great hope. 00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:11.740 You know, I was kind of 18, going out into the world, 00:26:11.860 --> 00:26:16.240 getting to make all my own decisions, kind of, you know, becoming an adult. 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:17.380 I wasn't a kid anymore. 00:26:17.380 --> 00:26:21.080 And I was kind of excited for this new adventure that I was going to be going on. 00:26:21.640 --> 00:26:22.820 So there was that emotion. 00:26:23.320 --> 00:26:27.640 But then there was also this other emotion that I don't have a great word for. 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:30.520 It's kind of like nostalgic grief almost. 00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:32.780 You know, I wasn't a kid anymore. 00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:36.660 I wasn't going to see my school friends very much anymore. 00:26:37.299 --> 00:26:40.519 I was leaving behind siblings that I'd spent my whole life with. 00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:45.740 My mum, who I love very dearly, I wasn't going to, you know, have the same relationship with again. 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:51.639 So I had these two kind of contrasting but complementary you. 00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:53.819 It was a bit of a weird mix of emotions going on. 00:26:53.819 --> 00:26:59.899 And I found it expressed really well in this song called The Lark Ascending. 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:03.259 Now, it's quite a famous piece of music. 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.799 It's a classical piece of music. 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:06.559 It goes for about 15 minutes. 00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:10.939 If you get a chance on the way home to listen to it, you should definitely listen to it. 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:12.500 It's by a guy called Ralph Vaughan Williams. 00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:18.299 And it's this piece of music where this violin kind of goes throughout the whole piece. 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:25.599 And in some parts, it's this really high up in the clouds, you know, amazing soaring piece of music. 00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.319 It's exciting. 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:30.859 It's kind of like a lark, a bird, flapping around happily going, yeah, this is the best. 00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:37.859 But then there's these other points in the song where it becomes really kind of slow and purposeful 00:27:37.859 --> 00:27:41.660 and almost kind of like someone going through grief. 00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:48.599 And I found that night that this was the song that I found could express how I was feeling. 00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:51.920 And I sat there and listened to it for an hour in bed. 00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:56.880 And I think if you wanted to know what I was going through at that time in my life, 00:27:57.440 --> 00:28:00.680 I can point to that song and go, you know, listen to this. 00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:02.460 It will tell you everything you need to know. 00:28:05.140 --> 00:28:07.819 Well, that's what Jesus is doing in Psalm 22. 00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:12.400 When he's on the cross and he points to Psalm 22, he's saying, 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.799 that's what I'm experiencing. 00:28:14.380 --> 00:28:15.480 That's what I'm feeling. 00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:22.299 On the one hand, this incredible grief, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:28.839 But also communicating the comfort that he has in the goodness of his father. 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:39.919 You know what I find a bit interesting about Psalm 22 is it doesn't lessen the impact of suffering. 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:47.519 I kind of get no sense that in Psalm 22, either David or Jesus have, you know, 00:28:47.560 --> 00:28:50.460 they kind of reach out to God and then the suffering is instantly gone. 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:53.640 In fact, we know with Jesus that that didn't happen. 00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:54.600 He's on the cross. 00:28:54.660 --> 00:28:56.320 We know what happens after he says this. 00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:56.880 He dies. 00:28:56.880 --> 00:29:05.000 But I get no sense that these two reaching out to God means that the suffering goes away. 00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:11.380 In fact, it's probably just as sharp as it ever was when we're reading through Psalm 22. 00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:19.060 I wonder what form you think comfort should come in from God. 00:29:22.780 --> 00:29:25.180 Perhaps you've gone through tough times in the past. 00:29:26.100 --> 00:29:27.440 Perhaps you've been in suffering. 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:29.040 Perhaps you've been in dark places. 00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:31.900 I wonder if you reached out to God. 00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:35.700 And if you did, I wonder what kind of comfort you expected from him. 00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:47.180 I think it's a bit of a pattern that people think that if I reach out to God, if I trust him enough, 00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:50.340 somehow the pain will go away. 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:53.519 Or somehow the circumstance will be removed. 00:29:53.620 --> 00:29:54.920 I won't have to go through this anymore. 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:56.200 He'll take it away from me. 00:29:58.340 --> 00:29:59.960 I wonder if that's been you before. 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:02.700 Or if you kind of think like that. 00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:09.600 You know, if I really reach, if I properly strive to God, you know, somehow I won't feel this pain. 00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:17.580 You know, if he truly cared, he wouldn't let me suffer like that. 00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:25.940 You know, if he really cared, he wouldn't have let my mum suffer like that. 00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:37.320 If he really, truly gave comfort, you know, I wouldn't have been in that depressive state for five years. 00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:38.580 I wouldn't have gone through that. 00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:45.940 If God truly cared, my son would not be sick like this. 00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:53.240 If God truly gave comfort, then I wouldn't be broke. 00:30:54.620 --> 00:30:56.759 Come on, God wouldn't want me to go through this. 00:30:56.840 --> 00:30:58.380 This cannot be God's plan. 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:05.640 If he really cared, he would not have let my child die. 00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:13.680 What type of comfort do you expect from God in suffering? 00:31:17.300 --> 00:31:18.800 See, we have no idea. 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:23.540 We have no idea why we're going through the suffering that we're going through sometimes. 00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:29.900 I have no idea why God would let you go through that thing that you've been through. 00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:35.019 But I know that our God is a good God. 00:31:37.380 --> 00:31:39.560 He does everything for our good. 00:31:39.660 --> 00:31:42.880 He has a perfect track record. 00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:49.980 He's a good God who has the power to deliver on his good. 00:31:50.100 --> 00:31:52.440 And so no matter what's happening in your life, 00:31:53.340 --> 00:31:56.280 no matter what suffering you've been through, you're going through right now, 00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:58.220 God has a plan and it is good. 00:32:00.620 --> 00:32:02.100 You might not be able to see it. 00:32:04.840 --> 00:32:06.680 But God has a good plan. 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:14.240 I mean, imagine for a second if God on the cross, 00:32:14.380 --> 00:32:16.840 my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:19.100 And God goes, actually, yeah, why am I doing this? 00:32:19.860 --> 00:32:21.180 Off the cross, there you go. 00:32:21.660 --> 00:32:22.680 Suffering absolved. 00:32:24.920 --> 00:32:26.420 Imagine where we would be. 00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:33.019 I'm sure the apostles, you know, standing there watching Jesus die on the cross, 00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:36.320 I'm sure none of them thought that was a good plan of God. 00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:40.820 I guarantee none of them thought this is what is, yep, fantastic. 00:32:41.580 --> 00:32:42.440 Loving this. 00:32:45.060 --> 00:32:49.440 Imagine for a second if God had taken Jesus off that cross, 00:32:49.820 --> 00:32:53.380 we would be the ones forsaken by God. 00:32:53.380 --> 00:33:02.180 See, Jesus and David tell us that comfort in suffering is found in God alone. 00:33:03.360 --> 00:33:10.760 But the reason we can find true comfort in God alone is because he suffered for us. 00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:19.259 Jesus on the cross is one of the greatest expressions of goodness through suffering. 00:33:19.879 --> 00:33:24.779 It is the greatest expression of goodness through suffering in the whole of human history. 00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:29.240 God demonstrated his love for us through this, that when we were still sinners, 00:33:29.799 --> 00:33:31.379 Jesus died for us on the cross. 00:33:33.579 --> 00:33:35.839 Romans chapter 5, verse 6 to 8 says, 00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:42.079 you see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:48.139 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person, 00:33:49.059 --> 00:33:50.679 someone might possibly dare to die. 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:53.779 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this. 00:33:53.879 --> 00:33:57.059 While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:05.240 Jesus willingly suffered being forsaken by God, 00:34:05.740 --> 00:34:08.599 so that we didn't have to be forsaken by him. 00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:12.079 Isn't that amazing? 00:34:12.199 --> 00:34:13.360 This is the goodness of God. 00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.739 This is the love of God. 00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:19.420 That although I forsook God, I rejected him, 00:34:19.559 --> 00:34:21.219 we all rebelled against God. 00:34:21.299 --> 00:34:22.039 We wanted nothing. 00:34:22.339 --> 00:34:26.960 In fact, we said, I would prefer to die than to recognize you as God. 00:34:27.719 --> 00:34:31.719 Even though we did that, God looked and he said, 00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:35.739 I will suffer and take the punishment that you deserve so that you don't have to. 00:34:35.739 --> 00:34:47.579 See, the worst suffering that anyone has ever experienced pales in comparison to what I've been through. 00:34:48.779 --> 00:34:53.779 The worst of the worst torture, the worst of the worst despair, 00:34:54.579 --> 00:34:56.579 was experienced by Jesus on the cross. 00:34:56.579 --> 00:35:02.759 Jesus, the son forsaken by God, the father on the cross. 00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:03.819 And so when we hear, 00:35:05.219 --> 00:35:06.500 my God, Jesus cry out in agony, 00:35:06.619 --> 00:35:08.539 my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:13.279 We see his heart and mind on display in Psalm 22. 00:35:14.420 --> 00:35:17.219 We recognize that pain as terrible. 00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:22.860 We recognize that pain as just deep and dark. 00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:30.960 But we will never fully understand what Jesus went through on the cross. 00:35:31.660 --> 00:35:33.840 Psalm 22, you can read it a thousand times. 00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:38.460 We will never properly understand what happened and the suffering that he went through. 00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:43.160 We won't understand it because Jesus died for us. 00:35:43.159 --> 00:35:48.960 He experienced the suffering that we should have experienced. 00:35:54.239 --> 00:35:57.699 This is the God where true comfort is found in suffering. 00:36:00.199 --> 00:36:05.239 In the God who suffered for us and demonstrated his love for us on the cross. 00:36:05.239 --> 00:36:10.819 We know that we have a good, good God. 00:36:15.739 --> 00:36:19.559 My God, my God, why have you forgiven me? 00:36:22.419 --> 00:36:25.139 Because of the suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross. 00:36:25.139 --> 00:36:33.579 So when you're in the middle of true suffering, 00:36:34.579 --> 00:36:38.519 find comfort in the goodness of God. 00:36:39.739 --> 00:36:43.359 Find comfort in the God who suffered for you. 00:36:45.179 --> 00:36:47.000 Not through a change in circumstance. 00:36:48.039 --> 00:36:50.659 It might not be that your pain is relieved in the time. 00:36:52.299 --> 00:36:54.460 It might be, but it might not be. 00:36:55.139 --> 00:36:59.759 Find comfort in knowing that no matter the circumstance, 00:37:00.019 --> 00:37:05.299 you have a good God who has the power to deliver on his goodness. 00:37:07.659 --> 00:37:10.000 He has a perfect track record. 00:37:10.139 --> 00:37:15.119 He has demonstrated his goodness time and time and time again. 00:37:17.299 --> 00:37:20.699 Shown most powerfully through Jesus' death on the cross. 00:37:20.699 --> 00:37:26.500 When it feels like you're being crushed by suffering. 00:37:28.019 --> 00:37:30.719 When it feels like you have nowhere to turn. 00:37:30.879 --> 00:37:33.599 Find comfort in the God who suffered for you. 00:37:36.759 --> 00:37:39.739 When all is said and done, why am I going through this, God? 00:37:39.799 --> 00:37:41.779 Why are you putting me in this place? 00:37:43.259 --> 00:37:45.359 God, why am I going through this? 00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:46.599 How can this be? 00:37:46.720 --> 00:37:48.240 Why would you allow this, God? 00:37:48.940 --> 00:37:50.640 The answer is, I don't know. 00:37:52.519 --> 00:37:54.579 I don't know why God's put you there. 00:37:55.660 --> 00:37:58.480 But we have a good God who loves us. 00:37:58.480 --> 00:38:09.639 So much that he would suffer the worst suffering and die the worst death to demonstrate his love for us. 00:38:12.440 --> 00:38:17.920 True comfort in suffering is found alone in the God who suffered for us. 00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:47.900 True comfort in suffering is found alone in the God who suffered for us.