WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.840 Psalm 35, let's read it together. 00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:04.080 Of David, 00:00:06.299 --> 00:00:09.160 Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me. 00:00:10.660 --> 00:00:13.140 ! Fight against those who fight against me. 00:00:14.519 --> 00:00:17.780 Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help. 00:00:18.339 --> 00:00:21.280 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers. 00:00:22.280 --> 00:00:25.300 Say to my soul, I am your salvation. 00:00:25.300 --> 00:00:30.800 Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life. 00:00:31.339 --> 00:00:35.659 Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me. 00:00:36.780 --> 00:00:39.299 Let them be like chaff before the wind, 00:00:39.859 --> 00:00:42.579 with the angel of the Lord driving them away. 00:00:43.700 --> 00:00:47.859 Let their way be dark and slippery with the angel of the Lord pursuing them. 00:00:49.540 --> 00:00:52.219 For without cause, they hid their net for me. 00:00:52.219 --> 00:00:56.479 Without cause, they dug a pit for my life. 00:00:57.479 --> 00:01:01.359 Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it. 00:01:02.060 --> 00:01:05.200 And let the net that he hid ensnare him, 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:07.799 let him fall into it to his destruction. 00:01:09.480 --> 00:01:11.719 Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord, 00:01:12.439 --> 00:01:13.920 exulting in his salvation. 00:01:15.239 --> 00:01:18.500 All my bones shall say, O Lord, who is like you? 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:22.260 Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him. 00:01:22.920 --> 00:01:26.040 The poor and needy from him who robs him. 00:01:27.659 --> 00:01:29.420 Malicious witnesses rise up. 00:01:30.379 --> 00:01:32.500 They ask me of things I do not know. 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:35.939 They repay me evil for good. 00:01:36.840 --> 00:01:38.260 My soul is bereft. 00:01:38.260 --> 00:01:43.240 But I, when they were sick, I wore sackcloth. 00:01:44.060 --> 00:01:46.140 I afflicted myself with fasting. 00:01:47.180 --> 00:01:49.719 I prayed with head bowed on my chest. 00:01:50.439 --> 00:01:54.560 I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother. 00:01:55.240 --> 00:01:58.280 As one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning. 00:01:58.280 --> 00:02:02.299 But at my stumbling, they rejoiced and gathered. 00:02:03.099 --> 00:02:04.900 They gathered together against me. 00:02:05.299 --> 00:02:08.879 Wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing. 00:02:10.099 --> 00:02:14.800 Like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth. 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:18.240 How long, O Lord, will you look on? 00:02:20.039 --> 00:02:21.819 Rescue me from their destruction. 00:02:22.300 --> 00:02:24.240 My precious life from the lions. 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:27.860 And I will thank you in the great congregation. 00:02:28.480 --> 00:02:30.540 In the mighty throng, I will praise you. 00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:37.560 Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes. 00:02:38.420 --> 00:02:42.620 Let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause. 00:02:43.700 --> 00:02:45.700 For they do not speak peace. 00:02:46.500 --> 00:02:51.080 But against those who are quiet in the land, they devise words of deceit. 00:02:51.080 --> 00:02:54.560 They open wide their mouths against me. 00:02:54.660 --> 00:02:57.600 They say, aha, aha, our eyes have seen it. 00:02:58.920 --> 00:03:00.520 You have seen, O Lord. 00:03:01.580 --> 00:03:02.520 Be not silent. 00:03:04.320 --> 00:03:06.500 O Lord, be not far from me. 00:03:08.160 --> 00:03:11.020 Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication. 00:03:11.760 --> 00:03:14.120 For my cause, my God and my Lord. 00:03:14.740 --> 00:03:16.820 Vindicate me, O Lord, my God. 00:03:16.819 --> 00:03:19.259 According to your righteousness. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:22.400 And let them not rejoice over me. 00:03:23.719 --> 00:03:27.680 Let them not say in their hearts, aha, our heart's desire. 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:31.359 Let them not say we have swallowed him up. 00:03:32.819 --> 00:03:38.199 Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity. 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:44.419 Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me. 00:03:44.419 --> 00:03:50.359 Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad. 00:03:50.699 --> 00:03:56.079 And say evermore, great is the Lord who delights in the welfare of his servant. 00:03:57.459 --> 00:04:03.239 Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:04.500 Amen. 00:04:04.500 --> 00:04:12.780 Well, I want to begin with a statement that may very well blow your mind. 00:04:13.860 --> 00:04:14.479 You ready? 00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:16.040 Here it is. 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:18.779 Life is hard. 00:04:20.519 --> 00:04:21.660 You didn't know that, did you? 00:04:23.480 --> 00:04:24.600 It's hard, isn't it? 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:27.600 Of course, not all of it is hard. 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:33.900 Despite what the Eeyores in your life may suggest, God actually does great good for us. 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:40.300 He gives us tremendous joy and opportunities for rejoicing even in the midst of difficult times. 00:04:41.260 --> 00:04:48.680 But our time in this world is routinely plagued by difficulties of all sorts. 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:54.420 One kind of hardship is especially difficult, however. 00:04:56.759 --> 00:05:02.240 And that's when other people are actively against you. 00:05:05.379 --> 00:05:07.220 Sometimes we bring that upon ourselves. 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:12.240 It's the result of our own sin or our own misgivings or our own treatment of others. 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:19.199 And as the science has taught us, with every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction. 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:24.120 And when we treat others poorly, we should expect to be treated poorly in return. 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:26.079 And that certainly happens. 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:28.139 But it's not always that way, is it? 00:05:30.960 --> 00:05:37.980 There may also be moments when enemies seek your demise without a just cause. 00:05:37.980 --> 00:05:46.000 Not because you've done something wrong, not because you're deserving, but perhaps simply because they don't like you. 00:05:46.740 --> 00:05:48.300 They don't like what you've done. 00:05:49.220 --> 00:05:50.900 They don't appreciate your righteousness. 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:53.439 They don't appreciate your decisions. 00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:59.819 They are intent on seeking your destruction. 00:05:59.819 --> 00:06:08.699 The scriptures warn us that this could actually be a regular experience, regular occurrence in the lives of believers. 00:06:09.399 --> 00:06:10.099 And it's hard. 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:13.439 It's devastating in many cases. 00:06:15.159 --> 00:06:19.899 In Psalm 35, David is writing from that kind of circumstance. 00:06:22.060 --> 00:06:23.480 Enemies are pursuing him. 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:28.199 Companions have betrayed him. 00:06:28.199 --> 00:06:33.539 Rivals are conspiring against him. 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:38.779 And none of it, in this case, is for just cause. 00:06:40.339 --> 00:06:53.339 In Psalm 35, David represents God's righteous king who unjustly suffers at the hands of those who do not truly fear the Lord. 00:06:53.339 --> 00:07:06.279 And typologically, the psalm points us to Jesus, of course, who in John chapter 15 claims explicitly to be the true fulfillment of Psalm 35. 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:10.759 So again, we find that David writes the psalm. 00:07:11.419 --> 00:07:17.939 Jesus fulfills the psalm so that the church may truly sing or pray the psalm. 00:07:17.939 --> 00:07:25.120 But the nature of this one and others like it, it's actually, believe it or not, it's a little bit controversial among some Christians. 00:07:26.779 --> 00:07:30.339 David here doesn't simply pray for defense. 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:33.519 He prays for destruction. 00:07:35.100 --> 00:07:39.060 Some may group this in what they call imprecatory psalms. 00:07:39.060 --> 00:07:42.120 I don't know if that's the best way for us to understand it. 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:44.680 An imprecation is to pronounce a curse. 00:07:45.300 --> 00:07:53.519 I don't know that David himself is intending to pronounce curses here as much as he's asking God to take on that role here in his life. 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:59.019 But in either case, he's at least asking that God would destroy someone else. 00:07:59.019 --> 00:08:04.939 And others look at this psalm and other psalms like it, and they say that David is just acting vindictively. 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:08.139 This is vengeful on his part. 00:08:08.680 --> 00:08:19.299 This cannot square with other scriptures that teach us that we are to love our enemies and pray for them and seek to do good to them. 00:08:20.379 --> 00:08:25.000 Which brings a point of wrestling for us, doesn't it? 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:36.919 That criticism calls us to question whether or not Christians should employ such psalms as this one in their own worship and prayer. 00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:43.220 To say it simply, is it right for us to actually sing this song? 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:54.220 Maybe even especially in light of the New Testament, New Covenant gospel of Jesus that has been revealed in a way that was not revealed to David. 00:08:54.220 --> 00:08:58.160 Does that mean that it would be inappropriate actually for us to sing this one? 00:09:00.220 --> 00:09:12.639 Can we actually pray for God to judge our enemies without simultaneously violating Jesus' commands to love our enemies? 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:15.180 And we need to wrestle with that. 00:09:16.899 --> 00:09:20.279 Now I want to suggest a few things in relation to that question. 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:22.059 One is this. 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:35.339 Nothing here suggests that David would be upset or discouraged if his enemies repented and received God's mercy instead of God's judgment. 00:09:35.799 --> 00:09:37.179 And we need to notice that. 00:09:37.179 --> 00:09:45.299 In David's mind, what is being assumed here is that these are active enemies against God and against God's people. 00:09:45.559 --> 00:09:52.559 And they continue in that state of being actively against the Lord and his purposes in the world. 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:57.579 Which means that it's very right for him to pray for God's justice. 00:09:58.339 --> 00:10:00.319 To do what God must do. 00:10:01.139 --> 00:10:04.079 And that is to deal with sin. 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:09.639 If God doesn't deal with sin, then God isn't truly righteous. 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:15.759 Which means that we need to pay attention to what exactly is David referring to. 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:21.480 Is this a penitent people and he just refuses to accept that the Lord would forgive them? 00:10:21.680 --> 00:10:30.320 Or are these enemies of God and he's crying out for God to act in judgment against his own enemies in order that he might fulfill his covenant? 00:10:30.500 --> 00:10:31.540 And I think that's what he's doing. 00:10:31.539 --> 00:10:33.860 I think that's what all the Psalms like this are doing. 00:10:34.699 --> 00:10:36.279 James Johnson is helpful on this. 00:10:36.419 --> 00:10:40.799 He gives a few reasons why we don't need to quickly dismiss Psalms like this one. 00:10:41.839 --> 00:10:46.959 First, he says, we know that David was not a vindictive man. 00:10:48.139 --> 00:10:55.519 If you've read anything of David's life in the scriptures, you know that over and over and over and over again, 00:10:55.519 --> 00:11:00.500 people who were actively seeking to take his life, he showed tremendous mercy. 00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:04.679 On multiple occasions, he refused to take Saul's life. 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:11.860 He wept at the death of his own son who was pursuing him and trying to kill him. 00:11:12.179 --> 00:11:19.860 Others who had betrayed him and turned to follow Absalom and his betrayal who lived. 00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:25.279 First, David allowed them to continue to live and even be in Jerusalem. 00:11:25.480 --> 00:11:26.759 He extended tremendous mercy. 00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:33.940 It is not in general right for us to look at David's life and say that he was a vengeful man or a vindictive man. 00:11:34.019 --> 00:11:38.620 Therefore, we shouldn't look at his Psalms and say, well, this is just evidence of a vindictive heart. 00:11:38.820 --> 00:11:42.240 That just doesn't match up with what we know to be true of his life. 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:50.320 Second, David always asked for God to avenge him. 00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:59.480 He never asked for God to strengthen him to take vengeance for himself. 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:03.159 And I think that's an important note for us to consider. 00:12:04.580 --> 00:12:11.879 David prays again and again that God in his divine righteousness and holiness would look on his situation 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:19.580 and that he would do what is right according to his righteousness, according to what he knows is true. 00:12:19.799 --> 00:12:25.439 He asked for God to judge his enemies, but he asked for God to do that according to his own wisdom. 00:12:26.259 --> 00:12:29.000 He entrusts that role to the Lord. 00:12:29.100 --> 00:12:30.820 He doesn't take it upon himself. 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:38.460 Which means there's a huge difference between being vindictive and asking for vindication. 00:12:38.460 --> 00:12:47.639 Third thing James Johnston points out that I think is helpful is that David was writing here under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 00:12:48.680 --> 00:12:50.280 This is God's word. 00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:55.460 And we need to accept it as God's word. 00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:57.519 Which means we cannot dismiss it. 00:12:57.660 --> 00:12:58.980 It cannot be wrong. 00:12:59.540 --> 00:13:02.080 It cannot be misleading in any way. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:06.980 We must stay faithful to it because it is what God has given to us. 00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:08.519 And then there's a final note. 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:09.560 And this one is really important. 00:13:09.659 --> 00:13:12.019 We may not always think about this one, but this one is really important. 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:17.759 And that is that David wrote as God's chosen king. 00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:22.460 He prayed as God's chosen servant. 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:32.500 And that means that the circumstances that David was in and how they would turn out reflect on God's covenant faithfulness. 00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:45.240 In other words, if David's enemies overcome him, it's not just an indictment on David as being weak or a failure or sinful in some way. 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:52.600 It's an indictment on the God who chose him and made a covenant with him for not being faithful to that covenant. 00:13:53.059 --> 00:13:58.460 There is far more at stake in David's life than what we often imagine. 00:13:58.460 --> 00:14:01.700 It's not ultimately about David. 00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:06.500 It's about the Lord and whether or not he's truly faithful. 00:14:07.460 --> 00:14:09.820 Says Christopher Ashe in relationship to this, 00:14:09.820 --> 00:14:16.780 He must pray against them because if they succeed, God's king will be defeated. 00:14:17.800 --> 00:14:23.060 And all God's purposes of grace and kindness in a broken world will be frustrated. 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:26.960 This is not a desire for personal revenge. 00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:31.400 It is a yearning that justice will prevail in the universe. 00:14:32.680 --> 00:14:38.820 And of course, when Christopher Ashe writes that, he's got one hand holding on to David, looking at David's specific circumstance. 00:14:38.820 --> 00:14:46.240 And he's got the other hand and he's looking at Jesus and he's looking at the cross, the greater David who ultimately prays this prayer. 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:53.220 God must come to his aid or else God is not faithful and we have no hope. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:15:04.400 Now, with all of that in mind, I want to show you how Psalm 35 actually teaches us to pray when enemies surround us. 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:11.600 I want to say that not only are we to look at David and say this was right for David to pray. 00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:20.860 I want to suggest to you today that it is right and it is good for you to pray for justice in your own life. 00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:28.320 So long as the justice you pray for is colored by and influenced by your understanding of the gospel. 00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:42.180 That is that God must judge sin and I want God to be just either by judging my enemies who refuse to repent or by judging Christ in their place when they do repent. 00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:42.739 Okay. 00:15:42.739 --> 00:15:43.039 Okay. 00:15:43.599 --> 00:15:46.899 It's right for you always to pray for God's justice. 00:15:47.579 --> 00:15:51.059 And this Psalm helps us know how to do that well. 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:55.099 It actually contains three different prayers. 00:15:56.019 --> 00:16:00.159 And through the three prayers, we see a threefold pattern for prayer that emerges. 00:16:01.099 --> 00:16:03.539 If you like to keep notes, you'll probably want to write this down. 00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:04.919 Here's the pattern. 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:07.419 We always see a protest. 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:12.879 That is, David pours out his heart to the Lord in complaint. 00:16:13.099 --> 00:16:17.139 He underscores what the specifics of the situation are. 00:16:17.219 --> 00:16:18.860 And he gives his protest to the Lord. 00:16:18.979 --> 00:16:26.039 He issues his complaint to the Lord, which is to say that when you're in such circumstances and you are coming to the Lord in prayer, 00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:39.079 it is okay to protest, not protest God, not to complain against him as if he's unjust, but it's okay to say, Lord, I've been wronged. 00:16:39.339 --> 00:16:39.860 It's okay. 00:16:40.199 --> 00:16:40.699 Do that. 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:41.860 David shows us how. 00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:45.519 Second, there's always a plea, right? 00:16:45.599 --> 00:16:46.019 A plea. 00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:57.039 That is, David prays for God to intervene, to not be silent, to arouse himself from sleep and act on his behalf, 00:16:57.419 --> 00:17:03.819 which means that in such circumstances, not only are we to bring our complaints to the Lord, but we are to lean on him for help. 00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:10.660 We are to beg him for his own intervention according to his own will and wisdom. 00:17:11.619 --> 00:17:12.799 But then there's a third piece. 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:14.559 You may not think about this, but it's important. 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:17.740 The third piece of the pattern is that there's always a praise. 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:19.279 Always. 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.399 It's always at the end. 00:17:22.639 --> 00:17:30.460 Before there's a deliverance, before we know the end, there is always a praise. 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:36.819 That is, David promises to worship the Lord in his life and with his life. 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:43.339 And this is how we should pray, and we should do so in faith because God has faithfully delivered our king. 00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:45.819 Let's just work through the prayers one by one. 00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:47.839 Prayer number one is in the first ten verses. 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.759 Let's just read it again. 00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:52.059 Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me. 00:17:52.959 --> 00:17:55.279 Fight against those who fight against me. 00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:58.240 Take hold of shield and buckler. 00:17:58.399 --> 00:17:59.819 Rise for my help. 00:17:59.899 --> 00:18:01.000 This is a battle scene. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:05.259 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers. 00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:07.079 This is interesting. 00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:10.579 Say to my soul, Lord, I am your salvation. 00:18:12.919 --> 00:18:16.819 Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life. 00:18:17.139 --> 00:18:21.460 Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me. 00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:22.919 That is, frustrate their plans. 00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:30.439 Let them be like chaff before the wind with the angel of the Lord driving them away. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:32.460 I love the picture there. 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:35.500 We're in the dry season, aren't we? 00:18:36.340 --> 00:18:41.440 And whenever the one neighbor gets out and he's barely got any grass but he mows it anyways, 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:43.799 what is it that constantly is flying up in the air? 00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:46.920 It's all of the debris from the dead grass, the dirt. 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:48.860 It's all mingled together, right? 00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:49.640 And where does it go? 00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:51.080 Everywhere, right? 00:18:51.120 --> 00:18:51.940 It picks up on the wind. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.759 It's blown everywhere. 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:55.900 That's what David is praying for here essentially. 00:18:56.779 --> 00:19:03.299 That the chaff, the wheat, that dead part, that worthless shale, 00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:11.200 that God would drive his enemies out like the wind drives away that dust and debris in the dryness. 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:16.980 Let their way be dark and slippery with the angel of the Lord pursuing them. 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:19.980 For without cause they hid their net from me. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:22.180 Without cause they dug a pit for my life. 00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:27.140 Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it. 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:30.620 Let the net that he hid ensnare him. 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:33.600 Let him fall into it to his destruction. 00:19:33.860 --> 00:19:37.799 And then my soul will rejoice in the Lord exulting in his salvation. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:40.920 All my bones shall say, O Lord, who is like you? 00:19:41.880 --> 00:19:47.640 Delivering the poor who in this case is not poor as in they have nothing. 00:19:47.820 --> 00:19:50.980 David considers himself to be the poor in this situation. 00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:52.519 That is poor in spirit. 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:54.940 He is a victim in this case. 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:59.059 God delivers the victim from him who is too strong. 00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:02.620 The poor and needy from him who robs him. 00:20:02.660 --> 00:20:05.299 In this case, attempts to rob him of his life. 00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:08.220 I think we can summarize this prayer this way. 00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:17.400 Lord, defend me from pursuing enemies so that my soul will rejoice in you. 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:24.779 Defend me from enemies that pursue me so that my soul might rejoice in you. 00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:27.700 This situation is clear from the start. 00:20:28.399 --> 00:20:29.960 Enemies are pursuing David. 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:33.259 They're fighting against him as if in battle. 00:20:34.399 --> 00:20:35.559 That's the picture. 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:38.160 It's an army that's come against him. 00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:41.700 They're actively trying to kill him. 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:45.340 They're devising evil against him in order that they may take his life. 00:20:45.340 --> 00:20:49.740 But the complaint isn't justified plainly until verse 7. 00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:56.200 Where David finally protests that the enemy is scheming against him and they have no reason to. 00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:57.920 He's done nothing to them. 00:20:57.980 --> 00:21:00.240 He's done no wrong to deserve it. 00:21:00.320 --> 00:21:03.500 He is absolutely righteous in this case. 00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:08.640 It would be one thing if David had broken covenant with God. 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:13.380 It would be one thing if David had sinned in such a way as to demand his death. 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:15.539 But no such thing has occurred in this instance. 00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:20.779 The enemy pursues him despite his righteousness. 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:25.799 The enemy pursues him maybe because of his righteousness. 00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:30.220 And I want you to notice that in this prayer and through the whole psalm, 00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:32.920 David never asked God for mercy. 00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:36.099 We see that routinely in David's prayers. 00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:39.680 He does not ask for mercy anywhere in this psalm. 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:43.680 He asks for justice in this psalm. 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:49.680 Showing that he understands himself, at least in this case, to be truly righteous. 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:53.539 That's really important that we notice that. 00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:58.000 He doesn't pray as a guilty one. 00:21:58.299 --> 00:22:02.059 He prays as God's righteous one. 00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:04.480 He doesn't ask for God to forgive him. 00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:09.440 He asks for God to avenge him, to vindicate him, to defend him. 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:15.399 And of course, we understand that at the end of the day, David wasn't truly righteous. 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:19.740 He had all kinds of sin in his life. 00:22:19.780 --> 00:22:31.360 But the prayer makes us think that if God is concerned to give justice to a sinner like David when he acts righteously, 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:39.479 what would God do if there was one who is not actually a sinner in any way? 00:22:39.959 --> 00:22:43.299 What does justice look like for that one? 00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:50.819 What must it mean if there is a truly righteous one who is being threatened? 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:54.220 What does it look like for God to be just then? 00:22:54.220 --> 00:23:09.559 Now, if you're living faithfully before God, you're going to have to be prepared for enemies who will seek your hurt in spite of your righteousness. 00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:16.099 And as we understand the scriptures and what even Jesus has warned us about himself, 00:23:16.099 --> 00:23:24.079 we understand that we should expect that there will be enemies who seek our destruction because of our righteousness. 00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:35.220 And I just want you to see here that God invites you to make your complaint known to him in those situations. 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:38.139 That it's okay to pray for justice. 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:43.720 That it's okay to pray that God would defend you. 00:23:44.839 --> 00:23:46.039 That's what David does. 00:23:46.119 --> 00:23:48.599 His plea is that God would defend him from such enemies. 00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:55.839 But strikingly, he doesn't ask God to strengthen him for the fight. 00:23:57.139 --> 00:24:00.639 He asks that God would fight in his place. 00:24:01.659 --> 00:24:02.299 Do you see that? 00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:04.899 Look at the beginning. 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.919 You contend, O Lord, with them. 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:11.179 You fight against them, Lord. 00:24:11.699 --> 00:24:15.579 You take hold of your armor, shield, and buckler. 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:19.679 You draw the spear and javelin. 00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:23.199 You let them be put to shame. 00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:25.439 You turn them back. 00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:30.899 He's seeking the angel of the Lord to drive them away. 00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:33.779 The angel of the Lord to pursue them. 00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:37.339 He doesn't ask for God to give him superhuman strength. 00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:39.720 He asks for God to do all the fighting for him. 00:24:40.859 --> 00:24:42.839 Oh, what faith is that? 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:47.459 And then he asks for comfort. 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:50.679 Isn't that what we need in such situations? 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:53.439 We need someone who will fight for us. 00:24:54.199 --> 00:24:56.939 And we need someone who will comfort us in that. 00:24:57.899 --> 00:25:01.459 Someone who will say, I am your salvation. 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:04.059 I'll take care of it. 00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:08.279 David seeks for the Lord to give him such assurance. 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:14.039 And this is the plea of the righteous who set all their hope on God's faithfulness. 00:25:14.879 --> 00:25:16.720 And then the promise of praise. 00:25:16.879 --> 00:25:20.000 It comes in verses 9 and 10, which isn't a bribe. 00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:24.500 It's not that David is saying, if you will do this for me, then I will do this for you. 00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.319 No, it's a commitment. 00:25:26.159 --> 00:25:28.139 He's consecrating himself to worship. 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:30.759 He won't grow haughty in any success. 00:25:31.179 --> 00:25:33.000 He will rejoice in God alone. 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:38.180 He will give praise to the one who defends the poor and needy from their abusers. 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:44.160 This is the unabashed praise of anyone who has found salvation in God's faithfulness. 00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:53.519 This is indicative of the praise we should give day by day, Sunday by Sunday when we gather together, recognizing that God alone is our salvation. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:55.099 That's prayer number one. 00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:58.519 We get to prayer number two in verses 11 to 18. 00:25:58.660 --> 00:26:01.500 And it takes on a little bit of a different shape now. 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:04.819 The circumstance changes somewhat. 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:09.339 Verse 11, malicious witnesses rise up. 00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:13.119 They ask me of things I don't know about. 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:16.599 They repay me evil for good. 00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:18.619 My soul is bereft. 00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:19.319 It's grieved. 00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:24.599 Because when they were sick, I wore sackcloth. 00:26:24.679 --> 00:26:25.679 I grieved for them. 00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:29.539 I afflicted myself with fasting and prayer. 00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:31.799 I prayed with my head bowed on my chest. 00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:36.819 I went about as though I grieved for a friend or brother or one who laments his own mother. 00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:39.159 I bowed down in mourning for them. 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:43.759 But now at my stumbling, they rejoice. 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:51.019 They gather together against me wretches that I don't even know have been brought together. 00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:53.099 They're tearing at me without ceasing. 00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:59.779 As profane mockers at a feast, there's a public gnashing at me with their teeth. 00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:03.919 How long, O Lord, will you look on? 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:07.960 Rescue me, David prays. 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:10.559 And I will thank you in the great congregation. 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:14.680 If we summarize the first prayer as, 00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:18.779 Defend me against pursuing enemies that my soul may rejoice in you. 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:21.680 We might summarize this prayer as, 00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:29.700 Rescue me from the betrayal of friends so that I might thank you before all your people. 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:36.620 Rescue me from the betrayal of friends so that I might thank you before all of your people. 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:44.799 I'm currently reading through Ron Chernow's prize-winning biography on George Washington. 00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:48.259 I don't know why, but the girls don't understand it. 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:51.440 Maybe it's just that I'm feeling patriotic at 250 years. 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:55.019 But if you haven't read it, it's so good and I would recommend it to you. 00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:58.700 It might take you about three years to get through it, but it's very good. 00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:06.700 And of course, as you know, Washington was assigned the duty to lead the Continental Armies, 00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:15.940 which were full of amateur soldiers, militiamen, farmers, teenagers, as young as 14 years old, 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:21.559 against the formidable armies, professional armies of Britain and the Hessians. 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:24.619 He was given an impossible task. 00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:29.220 In fact, if you look back and you consider the circumstances 00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:31.559 and you even read through the way that the circumstances unfolded, 00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:37.559 it's kind of amazing to think that the United States of America even exists today, 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:39.519 that it was even possible for them to win. 00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:42.819 He fought an amazing army. 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:47.919 Britain was fierce and they were good. 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:52.160 And he led through significant defeats. 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:59.480 He was actually quite a poor tactician and he didn't have many victories as far as the battlefield was concerned. 00:28:59.560 --> 00:29:01.620 But even more than that, he fought a different kind of enemy. 00:29:01.800 --> 00:29:06.500 There was the enemies that he understood to be the armies that were against him. 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:12.680 There was a different kind of enemy and that was starvation, cold. 00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:19.539 Spending summers with his army in Valley Forge in Morristown, New Jersey, they had no clothes. 00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:20.480 They had no food. 00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:22.500 Many of them were dying from disease. 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:27.319 They were dying from starvation because the people that they were given to defend 00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:32.799 refused to actually support them with the provisions necessary to have a healthy army. 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:36.259 So he's got Britain on one hand. 00:29:36.399 --> 00:29:38.720 He's got just the elements on the other hand. 00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:45.180 But I was somewhat surprised to learn that he had a completely different army or enemy that he was constantly fighting against. 00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:48.579 And that was traitors within his own ranks. 00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:53.859 Of course, we understand the extreme versions of this. 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:57.180 Men like Benedict Arnold, we all are familiar with that. 00:29:57.720 --> 00:30:00.879 Washington had something completely different than that that was taking place around him. 00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:08.260 In his inner circle of generals, they were constantly, throughout the war, constantly conspiring against him 00:30:08.260 --> 00:30:14.100 in order that they might oust him from the Continental Army, not because he was a poor leader, 00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:16.480 but because they wanted the glory for themselves. 00:30:18.560 --> 00:30:24.620 Over and over again, he intercepted correspondences between his own closest generals 00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:33.959 who were conspiring to find a way to disregard his commands and make him look bad so the Continental Congress would actually dismiss him 00:30:33.959 --> 00:30:36.039 and they could take his place. 00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:41.319 And the whole episode just reminds us that you can always know who your enemy is on the outside, 00:30:41.679 --> 00:30:45.439 but you can't always know who is really your friend on the inside. 00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:48.500 And that's where David is here. 00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:54.660 We learn in this second prayer that David's enemy wasn't actually a distant army. 00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:56.400 It was a dear friend. 00:30:58.620 --> 00:31:06.700 Those he treated as his own family rose up against him to repay the good he had done for them with evil. 00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:14.500 Those he thought were companions rejoiced when he failed, when he was down, 00:31:14.620 --> 00:31:18.539 and even recruited others to turn against him. 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:23.720 Malicious in spirit, they tried to trap him. 00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:25.420 They set traps. 00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:27.059 They tried to confuse him. 00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:29.420 They asked him about things that he doesn't even know about 00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:33.120 in order that they might make him look bad. 00:31:34.779 --> 00:31:40.279 And what surely began as secret whispers in dark corners 00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:48.279 ended in public mockery and dissent by mobs of people that he didn't even know. 00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:53.480 It's hard to have an enemy. 00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:58.640 It's devastating to experience betrayal. 00:31:59.420 --> 00:32:01.980 And you know that. 00:32:03.100 --> 00:32:06.220 Because every one of us have probably experienced that in some way. 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:09.640 Those who are supposed to be our friends. 00:32:11.400 --> 00:32:12.580 Closest family members. 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:16.279 Those in our inner circle, we discover, 00:32:17.060 --> 00:32:19.740 are actually against us and they're working against us 00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:23.000 and they're trying to recruit others to work against us. 00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:27.200 Such was the experience of our Savior. 00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:31.800 How can we not read this particular prayer 00:32:31.800 --> 00:32:36.220 and see all that happened leading up to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus? 00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:41.319 Who came into his own and his own would not receive him. 00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:48.220 The ones who should have led the people to Jesus were actually envious of him. 00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:51.439 They attempted to trap him in his words. 00:32:51.980 --> 00:32:54.039 You read through the Gospels, you see all those times 00:32:54.039 --> 00:32:57.339 that the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the others, 00:32:57.480 --> 00:33:00.379 they came and they tried to trick him with questions. 00:33:00.500 --> 00:33:02.579 They tried to catch him in some kind of thing 00:33:02.579 --> 00:33:04.539 so that they could turn to the people and point and say, 00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:07.240 see, he's not who you think he is. 00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:09.299 Constantly trying to trap him. 00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:14.619 They should have been leading others to him, but they wouldn't. 00:33:14.940 --> 00:33:16.639 They sought to destroy him eventually. 00:33:17.579 --> 00:33:17.920 Why? 00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:19.539 Because they were envious of him. 00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:21.379 Fundamentally, it was envy. 00:33:23.659 --> 00:33:25.399 One of his closest companions 00:33:25.399 --> 00:33:28.139 betrayed him to the murderous mom 00:33:28.139 --> 00:33:30.000 for some money. 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:33.980 Jesus knew what this was. 00:33:35.019 --> 00:33:36.460 Jesus fulfills this 00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:38.440 in its ultimate sense. 00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:40.400 He hangs on a cross 00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:43.299 while people who do not even know him 00:33:43.299 --> 00:33:44.559 walk by and they 00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:47.619 wag their heads and they gnash at him with their teeth, 00:33:48.059 --> 00:33:48.859 the Gospels say. 00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:54.279 David's plea is that God would rescue him 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:56.200 from such betrayal that he would 00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:58.359 no longer look silently on 00:33:58.359 --> 00:34:00.259 as the schemers plot their treachery. 00:34:01.399 --> 00:34:02.159 And his promise 00:34:02.159 --> 00:34:04.879 is to give thanks to God 00:34:04.879 --> 00:34:07.579 not in the privacy of his heart, notice, 00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:11.019 but actually amid the gathered congregation 00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:12.880 of true worshipers 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:14.920 showing us that our salvation 00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:16.139 is always personal. 00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:17.759 It should never be private. 00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:20.420 He says, 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:21.579 Lord, rescue me 00:34:21.579 --> 00:34:23.599 and among all your people 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:25.219 I will give you thanks 00:34:25.219 --> 00:34:26.219 and glory. 00:34:26.219 --> 00:34:28.599 Well, then we get to prayer number three 00:34:28.599 --> 00:34:30.659 and it changes slightly again. 00:34:31.939 --> 00:34:32.559 Verse 19, 00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:34.599 let not those rejoice over me 00:34:34.599 --> 00:34:36.119 who are wrongfully my foes. 00:34:36.259 --> 00:34:38.159 Let not those wink the eye 00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:39.719 who hate me without cause. 00:34:40.759 --> 00:34:42.219 For they do not speak peace, 00:34:42.319 --> 00:34:44.939 but against those who are quiet in the land 00:34:44.939 --> 00:34:46.459 they devise words of deceit. 00:34:47.339 --> 00:34:49.439 They open wide their mouths against me. 00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:49.919 They say, 00:34:50.039 --> 00:34:50.959 aha, aha, 00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:52.059 our eyes have seen it. 00:34:53.379 --> 00:34:54.259 You have seen, 00:34:54.260 --> 00:34:54.700 oh Lord. 00:34:55.820 --> 00:34:56.980 Do not be silent. 00:34:57.980 --> 00:34:58.400 Oh Lord, 00:34:58.480 --> 00:34:59.880 do not be far from me. 00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:02.040 Awake and rouse yourself 00:35:02.040 --> 00:35:03.180 for my vindication. 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:05.160 For my cause, 00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:06.380 my God and my Lord. 00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:07.660 Vindicate me, 00:35:07.740 --> 00:35:08.200 oh Lord, 00:35:08.280 --> 00:35:08.760 my God, 00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:10.300 according to your righteousness. 00:35:10.740 --> 00:35:12.520 Let them not rejoice over me. 00:35:13.820 --> 00:35:15.280 Let them not say in their hearts, 00:35:15.960 --> 00:35:16.240 aha, 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:17.320 our heart's desire. 00:35:17.740 --> 00:35:18.720 Let them not say, 00:35:18.840 --> 00:35:20.040 we have swallowed him up, 00:35:20.040 --> 00:35:21.300 as in death. 00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:24.200 But let them be put to shame 00:35:24.200 --> 00:35:26.320 and disappointed altogether 00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:27.980 who rejoice at my calamity. 00:35:28.280 --> 00:35:30.000 Let them be clothed with shame 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:30.660 and dishonor 00:35:30.660 --> 00:35:32.180 who magnify themselves 00:35:32.180 --> 00:35:34.120 against me. 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:36.740 This final prayer, 00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:38.280 we might summarize it this way. 00:35:39.580 --> 00:35:40.620 Vindicate me 00:35:40.620 --> 00:35:43.260 from conspiring rivals 00:35:43.260 --> 00:35:46.380 so that all of your people 00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:47.920 may tell of your righteousness. 00:35:47.920 --> 00:35:50.119 Vindicate me 00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:52.000 from those who conspire against me 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:53.380 so that everyone 00:35:53.380 --> 00:35:54.599 may then see 00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:55.920 that you are righteous, 00:35:56.880 --> 00:35:57.180 God. 00:35:58.579 --> 00:35:59.599 We find here 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:00.820 that more than David's life 00:36:00.820 --> 00:36:01.500 is at stake. 00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:04.300 Truth itself 00:36:04.300 --> 00:36:05.539 is at stake here. 00:36:06.720 --> 00:36:07.960 More profound 00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:08.720 than a prayer 00:36:08.720 --> 00:36:09.760 for deliverance. 00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:10.860 This is a plea 00:36:10.860 --> 00:36:12.000 for vindication. 00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:15.159 Rivals have 00:36:15.159 --> 00:36:16.639 misrepresented him. 00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:18.079 They've lied about the king 00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:19.339 so that his life 00:36:19.339 --> 00:36:21.119 may be taken without cause. 00:36:21.219 --> 00:36:22.299 They're accusing him, 00:36:22.379 --> 00:36:22.619 saying, 00:36:22.859 --> 00:36:23.900 hey, we've seen him do this 00:36:23.900 --> 00:36:25.400 and we've heard him say this. 00:36:25.460 --> 00:36:27.000 He's worthy of this death. 00:36:27.079 --> 00:36:27.980 All of it lies. 00:36:28.119 --> 00:36:29.379 All of it misconstrued. 00:36:30.699 --> 00:36:31.659 And God is here 00:36:31.659 --> 00:36:32.440 called upon 00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:33.480 to expose 00:36:33.480 --> 00:36:34.619 the liars, 00:36:34.759 --> 00:36:36.179 to make the truth known 00:36:36.179 --> 00:36:38.659 by supernatural 00:36:38.659 --> 00:36:40.420 vindication. 00:36:41.119 --> 00:36:42.759 A kind of divine 00:36:42.759 --> 00:36:43.619 vindication 00:36:43.619 --> 00:36:45.400 that cannot be confused. 00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:46.960 It cannot be ignored 00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:48.219 and it cannot be denied. 00:36:48.359 --> 00:36:49.179 He's asking for 00:36:49.179 --> 00:36:49.900 an ultimate 00:36:49.900 --> 00:36:51.119 vindication, 00:36:51.259 --> 00:36:51.920 a revealing 00:36:51.920 --> 00:36:53.019 of truth 00:36:53.019 --> 00:36:54.339 that has been so marred 00:36:54.339 --> 00:36:55.039 by his enemies. 00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:58.000 And the truth 00:36:58.000 --> 00:36:59.159 that is at stake here 00:36:59.159 --> 00:37:00.039 is twofold. 00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:01.359 On one hand, 00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:02.239 it's the truth 00:37:02.239 --> 00:37:03.239 of his own innocence. 00:37:04.099 --> 00:37:05.159 That he has not 00:37:05.159 --> 00:37:06.299 actually done anything 00:37:06.299 --> 00:37:07.179 that was worthy 00:37:07.179 --> 00:37:08.139 of death. 00:37:08.139 --> 00:37:09.319 But the second thing 00:37:09.319 --> 00:37:10.059 that is at stake 00:37:10.059 --> 00:37:10.699 is the truth 00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:12.039 of God's faithfulness. 00:37:12.420 --> 00:37:13.480 That God will actually 00:37:13.480 --> 00:37:14.639 fulfill his covenant 00:37:14.639 --> 00:37:16.339 to his chosen king. 00:37:17.359 --> 00:37:18.799 If God's righteous one 00:37:18.799 --> 00:37:20.339 succumbs to his enemies, 00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:22.519 then God cannot be faithful. 00:37:23.379 --> 00:37:24.839 He must intervene 00:37:24.839 --> 00:37:26.440 for his own glory 00:37:26.440 --> 00:37:27.519 and for the good 00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:28.539 of his chosen one. 00:37:30.980 --> 00:37:31.559 And of course, 00:37:31.699 --> 00:37:32.519 this vindication 00:37:32.519 --> 00:37:33.159 that hints 00:37:33.159 --> 00:37:34.579 at resurrection, 00:37:34.799 --> 00:37:35.279 doesn't it? 00:37:35.280 --> 00:37:38.720 Only through resurrection 00:37:38.720 --> 00:37:40.920 can this true form 00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:41.800 of vindication 00:37:41.800 --> 00:37:43.060 take place 00:37:43.060 --> 00:37:44.519 and God's faithfulness 00:37:44.519 --> 00:37:45.980 truly be known. 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:48.320 And that's for everyone. 00:37:49.500 --> 00:37:50.700 David cannot truly 00:37:50.700 --> 00:37:51.580 be vindicated 00:37:51.580 --> 00:37:52.040 in the way 00:37:52.040 --> 00:37:52.720 that he's asking 00:37:52.720 --> 00:37:54.720 unless he's raised. 00:37:56.740 --> 00:37:59.040 Jesus is not vindicated 00:37:59.040 --> 00:38:01.100 unless he's raised. 00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:02.140 You and I 00:38:02.140 --> 00:38:03.800 are not vindicated 00:38:03.800 --> 00:38:05.140 in the righteousness 00:38:05.140 --> 00:38:06.280 that has been imputed 00:38:06.280 --> 00:38:07.100 to us 00:38:07.100 --> 00:38:09.720 unless we are raised. 00:38:10.500 --> 00:38:11.840 What's at stake here 00:38:11.840 --> 00:38:13.380 is far more 00:38:13.380 --> 00:38:15.160 than a protection 00:38:15.160 --> 00:38:17.100 of an earthly life. 00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:18.980 When we pray 00:38:18.980 --> 00:38:20.060 for vindication, 00:38:21.060 --> 00:38:21.480 yes, 00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:21.980 we're praying 00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:23.100 that God would expose 00:38:23.100 --> 00:38:23.760 the liars 00:38:23.760 --> 00:38:24.780 who have come against us, 00:38:24.820 --> 00:38:25.280 but we're praying 00:38:25.280 --> 00:38:25.900 more for that 00:38:25.900 --> 00:38:26.400 as Christians. 00:38:26.600 --> 00:38:27.420 When we pray 00:38:27.420 --> 00:38:28.260 for vindication, 00:38:28.460 --> 00:38:28.940 we're praying 00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:29.740 with hearts 00:38:29.740 --> 00:38:30.360 that are set 00:38:30.360 --> 00:38:31.780 on a future reality, 00:38:32.140 --> 00:38:32.820 something that we may 00:38:32.820 --> 00:38:33.740 not actually experience 00:38:33.740 --> 00:38:34.519 in this life 00:38:34.519 --> 00:38:35.620 that kind of vindication, 00:38:35.760 --> 00:38:36.539 but we know 00:38:36.539 --> 00:38:37.480 we will experience 00:38:37.480 --> 00:38:38.960 in time. 00:38:40.220 --> 00:38:41.460 And through that resurrection, 00:38:42.019 --> 00:38:43.539 the truth will no longer 00:38:43.539 --> 00:38:44.580 be able to be denied 00:38:44.580 --> 00:38:45.200 by anyone. 00:38:45.620 --> 00:38:46.420 It will be clear. 00:38:48.360 --> 00:38:49.500 Now, what's interesting 00:38:49.500 --> 00:38:51.080 about the final praise 00:38:51.080 --> 00:38:54.080 is that it includes 00:38:54.080 --> 00:38:55.380 all of God's people 00:38:55.380 --> 00:38:56.780 who trust 00:38:56.780 --> 00:38:57.740 in the king's righteousness. 00:38:58.600 --> 00:39:00.640 Look at verses 27 and 28. 00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:03.759 In this vindication, 00:39:03.940 --> 00:39:04.739 David says, 00:39:06.179 --> 00:39:07.519 let those who delight 00:39:07.519 --> 00:39:08.759 in my righteousness, 00:39:09.139 --> 00:39:10.379 this is the king speaking, 00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:13.400 they delight in my innocence, 00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:14.219 my righteousness, 00:39:14.980 --> 00:39:16.460 let them shout for joy, 00:39:16.599 --> 00:39:18.019 let them be glad, 00:39:18.179 --> 00:39:19.599 let them say, 00:39:20.259 --> 00:39:21.619 great is the Lord. 00:39:22.679 --> 00:39:23.859 And why is he great? 00:39:24.259 --> 00:39:25.779 Because he delights 00:39:25.779 --> 00:39:26.699 in the welfare 00:39:26.699 --> 00:39:28.920 of his chosen one, 00:39:28.920 --> 00:39:30.039 of his servant, 00:39:30.039 --> 00:39:31.740 of his Messiah, 00:39:31.940 --> 00:39:32.860 of his Christ. 00:39:33.639 --> 00:39:35.139 Oh, this is so good. 00:39:36.940 --> 00:39:37.760 David says, 00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:39.440 vindicate your servant 00:39:39.440 --> 00:39:41.680 so that all of those 00:39:41.680 --> 00:39:43.220 who know I'm righteous 00:39:43.220 --> 00:39:44.320 and who are trusting 00:39:44.320 --> 00:39:45.460 in my righteousness 00:39:45.460 --> 00:39:47.200 may then turn and say, 00:39:47.280 --> 00:39:48.680 God, you are great 00:39:48.680 --> 00:39:51.039 because you love your Messiah, 00:39:51.960 --> 00:39:53.480 because you love your king, 00:39:53.599 --> 00:39:55.720 because you have been faithful 00:39:55.719 --> 00:39:57.339 to your promise. 00:39:58.219 --> 00:39:58.859 It's amazing. 00:40:00.199 --> 00:40:02.199 We sing great is the Lord 00:40:02.199 --> 00:40:03.959 not only because God 00:40:03.959 --> 00:40:05.000 is powerful 00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:06.279 to rescue his servant, 00:40:06.500 --> 00:40:08.159 but because he is faithful 00:40:08.159 --> 00:40:09.759 to rescue his servant. 00:40:11.819 --> 00:40:14.099 And we all thus praise God 00:40:14.099 --> 00:40:15.939 for his righteousness, 00:40:16.799 --> 00:40:19.519 the righteousness of our king 00:40:19.519 --> 00:40:20.659 and the righteousness 00:40:20.659 --> 00:40:21.539 of the father 00:40:21.539 --> 00:40:22.959 to vindicate him. 00:40:22.960 --> 00:40:26.659 because his vindication 00:40:26.659 --> 00:40:28.220 means ours. 00:40:30.039 --> 00:40:32.240 Again, says Christopher Ashe, 00:40:32.840 --> 00:40:34.720 what God does for his Messiah, 00:40:35.280 --> 00:40:36.420 he now does 00:40:36.420 --> 00:40:38.300 through his Messiah 00:40:38.300 --> 00:40:40.159 for all who will come 00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:41.380 to him for salvation. 00:40:42.400 --> 00:40:44.139 Every man or woman 00:40:44.139 --> 00:40:45.139 in Christ 00:40:45.139 --> 00:40:46.780 here in this psalm 00:40:46.780 --> 00:40:49.760 echoes Christ's joy 00:40:49.760 --> 00:40:51.119 of resurrection 00:40:51.119 --> 00:40:52.859 and deliverance 00:40:52.859 --> 00:40:54.079 and salvation. 00:40:55.579 --> 00:40:56.799 It's amazing. 00:40:59.299 --> 00:41:00.940 So should we pray 00:41:00.940 --> 00:41:02.440 Psalm 35? 00:41:03.859 --> 00:41:05.460 Absolutely we should pray 00:41:05.460 --> 00:41:06.239 Psalm 35. 00:41:08.339 --> 00:41:10.079 We sing at first 00:41:10.079 --> 00:41:11.599 to rejoice in Christ, 00:41:11.739 --> 00:41:13.199 but I think we can also 00:41:13.199 --> 00:41:14.460 follow its pattern 00:41:14.460 --> 00:41:15.960 when we're treated 00:41:15.960 --> 00:41:16.880 with contempt 00:41:16.880 --> 00:41:18.380 like our king. 00:41:18.380 --> 00:41:21.400 God invites us 00:41:21.400 --> 00:41:22.360 to protest 00:41:22.360 --> 00:41:24.079 the injustices. 00:41:24.340 --> 00:41:25.440 He invites us 00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:26.059 to plead 00:41:26.059 --> 00:41:26.920 for his intervention. 00:41:27.119 --> 00:41:28.360 He wants us 00:41:28.360 --> 00:41:29.340 to praise him 00:41:29.340 --> 00:41:30.920 for the salvation 00:41:30.920 --> 00:41:32.660 that he provides. 00:41:35.140 --> 00:41:35.840 And ultimately 00:41:35.840 --> 00:41:37.360 to pray the prayer here 00:41:37.360 --> 00:41:38.980 is to express faith 00:41:38.980 --> 00:41:41.140 in God's faithfulness 00:41:41.140 --> 00:41:42.760 and in his justice 00:41:42.760 --> 00:41:44.700 so that when enemies 00:41:44.700 --> 00:41:45.380 surround, 00:41:45.380 --> 00:41:47.200 we can obey 00:41:47.200 --> 00:41:48.200 Christ's commands 00:41:48.200 --> 00:41:49.760 to love them 00:41:49.760 --> 00:41:51.619 while also praying 00:41:51.619 --> 00:41:52.140 for God 00:41:52.140 --> 00:41:53.380 to act against 00:41:53.380 --> 00:41:54.840 those who are 00:41:54.840 --> 00:41:56.360 finally impenitent 00:41:56.360 --> 00:41:58.340 and continue 00:41:58.340 --> 00:42:00.680 as his enemy. 00:42:02.019 --> 00:42:02.660 And this is how 00:42:02.660 --> 00:42:03.599 the Bible teaches us 00:42:03.599 --> 00:42:05.160 to pray in such circumstances. 00:42:06.840 --> 00:42:07.740 God's people 00:42:07.740 --> 00:42:08.539 can rejoice 00:42:08.539 --> 00:42:09.599 in his mercy 00:42:09.599 --> 00:42:11.800 and in his justice. 00:42:11.800 --> 00:42:14.600 But Psalm 35 00:42:14.600 --> 00:42:15.760 obviously is more 00:42:15.760 --> 00:42:16.840 than a model prayer. 00:42:18.039 --> 00:42:19.260 If all we take 00:42:19.260 --> 00:42:19.880 out of this 00:42:19.880 --> 00:42:21.039 is a pattern 00:42:21.039 --> 00:42:22.840 to pray ourselves 00:42:22.840 --> 00:42:23.720 when people 00:42:23.720 --> 00:42:25.700 are mistreating us, 00:42:25.760 --> 00:42:26.840 then we've missed 00:42:26.840 --> 00:42:28.380 the most important 00:42:28.380 --> 00:42:29.039 thing here. 00:42:30.100 --> 00:42:30.680 Psalm 35 00:42:30.680 --> 00:42:31.500 is ultimately 00:42:31.500 --> 00:42:32.240 about Jesus. 00:42:33.260 --> 00:42:34.160 And we know it 00:42:34.160 --> 00:42:34.840 because Jesus 00:42:34.840 --> 00:42:35.600 said so. 00:42:36.860 --> 00:42:37.780 I want to close 00:42:37.780 --> 00:42:38.600 by asking you 00:42:38.600 --> 00:42:39.800 to turn to John 15. 00:42:39.800 --> 00:42:43.100 The Gospel of John 00:42:43.100 --> 00:42:44.000 chapter 15. 00:42:51.280 --> 00:42:52.600 In verses 22 00:42:52.600 --> 00:42:53.360 to 25, 00:42:53.560 --> 00:42:54.240 Jesus speaks 00:42:54.240 --> 00:42:54.960 of himself 00:42:54.960 --> 00:42:56.460 as the truly 00:42:56.460 --> 00:42:57.600 righteous king 00:42:57.600 --> 00:42:59.580 and then claims 00:42:59.580 --> 00:43:00.300 explicitly 00:43:00.300 --> 00:43:02.200 to be the fulfillment 00:43:02.200 --> 00:43:03.300 of Psalm 35. 00:43:04.560 --> 00:43:06.120 Look at verse 22. 00:43:06.120 --> 00:43:06.180 Verse 22. 00:43:09.800 --> 00:43:11.180 If I had not come 00:43:11.180 --> 00:43:12.760 and spoken to them, 00:43:13.060 --> 00:43:13.640 that is those 00:43:13.640 --> 00:43:14.160 who hate me 00:43:14.160 --> 00:43:15.060 and are trying 00:43:15.060 --> 00:43:15.800 to take my life, 00:43:16.820 --> 00:43:17.380 they would not 00:43:17.380 --> 00:43:17.920 have been guilty 00:43:17.920 --> 00:43:18.400 of sin. 00:43:18.480 --> 00:43:19.180 But now they have 00:43:19.180 --> 00:43:19.780 no excuse 00:43:19.780 --> 00:43:20.480 for their sin. 00:43:21.480 --> 00:43:21.940 Why? 00:43:22.240 --> 00:43:22.700 Because he hasn't 00:43:22.700 --> 00:43:23.200 done anything. 00:43:24.560 --> 00:43:25.600 Whoever hates me 00:43:25.600 --> 00:43:26.760 hates my father also. 00:43:27.140 --> 00:43:28.280 If I had not done 00:43:28.280 --> 00:43:28.940 among them 00:43:28.940 --> 00:43:29.440 the works 00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:30.519 that no one else did, 00:43:30.940 --> 00:43:31.880 they would not 00:43:31.880 --> 00:43:32.780 be guilty of sin. 00:43:32.860 --> 00:43:33.700 But now they have 00:43:33.700 --> 00:43:35.039 seen and hated 00:43:35.039 --> 00:43:35.700 both me 00:43:35.700 --> 00:43:36.500 and my father. 00:43:36.500 --> 00:43:37.380 So Jesus is 00:43:37.380 --> 00:43:38.099 building a case 00:43:38.099 --> 00:43:38.820 there for being 00:43:38.820 --> 00:43:39.659 the righteous king 00:43:39.659 --> 00:43:40.820 sent by the father 00:43:40.820 --> 00:43:42.599 and has proven 00:43:42.599 --> 00:43:44.280 that in mighty 00:43:44.280 --> 00:43:45.480 works and deeds 00:43:45.480 --> 00:43:46.400 as he's lived out 00:43:46.400 --> 00:43:47.320 before these enemies. 00:43:48.139 --> 00:43:49.119 And then verse 25, 00:43:49.480 --> 00:43:50.219 he quotes 00:43:50.219 --> 00:43:51.360 Psalm 35. 00:43:53.039 --> 00:43:54.599 But the word 00:43:54.599 --> 00:43:55.239 that is written 00:43:55.239 --> 00:43:56.000 in their law 00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:56.980 must be fulfilled. 00:43:57.860 --> 00:43:58.820 They hated me 00:43:58.820 --> 00:43:59.639 without a cause. 00:44:00.219 --> 00:44:00.900 And that's a direct 00:44:00.900 --> 00:44:02.119 quote from Psalm 35. 00:44:03.079 --> 00:44:04.199 Jesus here is saying, 00:44:04.820 --> 00:44:05.840 I'm that righteous king, 00:44:05.840 --> 00:44:08.320 I've come to fulfill 00:44:08.320 --> 00:44:10.079 what David was on about 00:44:10.079 --> 00:44:10.960 way back then. 00:44:11.940 --> 00:44:12.900 But I want you to notice 00:44:12.900 --> 00:44:13.860 the context of this. 00:44:13.920 --> 00:44:15.000 This is helpful for us. 00:44:15.980 --> 00:44:17.220 Look back at verse 18. 00:44:18.079 --> 00:44:18.740 Why is Jesus 00:44:18.740 --> 00:44:19.780 even saying this? 00:44:20.600 --> 00:44:20.900 Look. 00:44:21.680 --> 00:44:22.700 If the world 00:44:22.700 --> 00:44:23.900 hates you, 00:44:24.900 --> 00:44:26.360 know that it hated me 00:44:26.360 --> 00:44:27.400 before it hated you. 00:44:28.600 --> 00:44:29.820 If you were of the world, 00:44:29.920 --> 00:44:30.740 the world would love you 00:44:30.740 --> 00:44:31.240 as its own, 00:44:31.320 --> 00:44:32.100 but because you're not 00:44:32.100 --> 00:44:32.680 of the world, 00:44:33.000 --> 00:44:33.760 but I choose you 00:44:33.760 --> 00:44:34.420 out of the world, 00:44:34.519 --> 00:44:35.240 therefore the world 00:44:35.239 --> 00:44:35.819 hates you. 00:44:36.779 --> 00:44:37.519 Remember the word 00:44:37.519 --> 00:44:38.079 I said to you, 00:44:38.299 --> 00:44:39.639 a servant is not 00:44:39.639 --> 00:44:40.679 greater than his master. 00:44:41.519 --> 00:44:43.019 And if they persecuted me, 00:44:43.359 --> 00:44:45.259 they will also persecute you. 00:44:45.679 --> 00:44:47.299 If they kept my word, 00:44:47.719 --> 00:44:49.179 they will also keep yours. 00:44:49.500 --> 00:44:50.559 But all these things 00:44:50.559 --> 00:44:51.399 they will do to you 00:44:51.399 --> 00:44:52.599 on account of my name, 00:44:52.839 --> 00:44:53.899 because they do not 00:44:53.899 --> 00:44:55.439 know him who sent me. 00:44:56.079 --> 00:44:56.359 Okay, 00:44:56.439 --> 00:44:57.299 why is that important? 00:44:58.819 --> 00:44:59.719 Because we can look 00:44:59.719 --> 00:45:00.419 at Psalm 35 00:45:00.419 --> 00:45:01.179 and understand 00:45:01.179 --> 00:45:02.419 that Jesus is ultimately 00:45:02.419 --> 00:45:03.099 the fulfillment 00:45:03.099 --> 00:45:04.059 of what's happening there. 00:45:04.319 --> 00:45:05.019 But then we can also 00:45:05.019 --> 00:45:05.500 look and see, 00:45:05.559 --> 00:45:06.400 but that was actually 00:45:06.400 --> 00:45:07.699 David's true experience 00:45:07.699 --> 00:45:08.199 as well. 00:45:09.579 --> 00:45:10.559 And then we get here 00:45:10.559 --> 00:45:12.460 when Jesus is quoting it 00:45:12.460 --> 00:45:13.599 and he's quoting it 00:45:13.599 --> 00:45:14.259 in the context 00:45:14.259 --> 00:45:15.539 of telling his disciples 00:45:15.539 --> 00:45:16.960 that what they're going 00:45:16.960 --> 00:45:17.719 to do to him, 00:45:18.539 --> 00:45:19.679 they should also expect 00:45:19.679 --> 00:45:20.579 to be done to them. 00:45:22.380 --> 00:45:23.819 Which means that yes, 00:45:23.960 --> 00:45:25.079 Jesus is the fulfillment, 00:45:25.579 --> 00:45:26.940 but even he says that 00:45:26.940 --> 00:45:28.039 my enemies 00:45:28.039 --> 00:45:29.380 are going to hate you too. 00:45:29.380 --> 00:45:31.640 And they're going 00:45:31.640 --> 00:45:33.079 to conspire against you too. 00:45:34.039 --> 00:45:34.680 And they're going 00:45:34.680 --> 00:45:36.539 to seek your destruction too. 00:45:37.000 --> 00:45:38.019 And some of them 00:45:38.019 --> 00:45:39.200 may even come 00:45:39.200 --> 00:45:40.680 from within your own family 00:45:40.680 --> 00:45:42.140 or your church 00:45:42.140 --> 00:45:43.660 or your friends 00:45:43.660 --> 00:45:45.220 or those who you think 00:45:45.220 --> 00:45:46.220 now are your companions. 00:45:46.640 --> 00:45:47.660 You can go to Matthew 10 00:45:47.660 --> 00:45:48.980 to see Jesus flesh that out 00:45:48.980 --> 00:45:49.760 in greater detail. 00:45:51.240 --> 00:45:52.260 So we look at this 00:45:52.260 --> 00:45:52.700 and we say, 00:45:52.820 --> 00:45:53.039 okay, 00:45:53.920 --> 00:45:55.300 because our king 00:45:55.300 --> 00:45:56.160 experienced this, 00:45:56.240 --> 00:45:56.900 we should expect 00:45:56.900 --> 00:45:57.860 the same kind of treatment 00:45:57.860 --> 00:45:58.780 from his enemies. 00:45:59.380 --> 00:46:00.460 which helps us 00:46:00.460 --> 00:46:01.079 have context 00:46:01.079 --> 00:46:01.940 for why we would even 00:46:01.940 --> 00:46:03.579 need to pray Psalm 35 ourselves. 00:46:04.820 --> 00:46:06.000 But that's not the end. 00:46:06.860 --> 00:46:07.720 There's something else. 00:46:08.680 --> 00:46:09.780 Look at verse 26 00:46:09.780 --> 00:46:10.599 instead of 27. 00:46:12.880 --> 00:46:14.519 But when the helper comes, 00:46:15.220 --> 00:46:16.079 that's the Holy Spirit, 00:46:17.360 --> 00:46:18.740 whom I will send to you 00:46:18.740 --> 00:46:19.460 from the Father, 00:46:20.340 --> 00:46:21.320 the Spirit of truth 00:46:21.320 --> 00:46:22.579 who proceeds from the Father, 00:46:23.220 --> 00:46:24.820 he will bear witness 00:46:24.820 --> 00:46:26.300 about me 00:46:26.300 --> 00:46:28.539 and you will also 00:46:28.539 --> 00:46:29.700 bear witness about me 00:46:29.700 --> 00:46:31.380 because you've been with me 00:46:31.380 --> 00:46:32.019 from the beginning. 00:46:33.140 --> 00:46:34.060 Now I want you to think 00:46:34.060 --> 00:46:34.960 of this promise 00:46:34.960 --> 00:46:35.720 in relationship 00:46:35.720 --> 00:46:36.720 to what David 00:46:36.720 --> 00:46:37.800 is describing 00:46:37.800 --> 00:46:38.620 in Psalm 35. 00:46:39.760 --> 00:46:41.080 In each case, 00:46:42.080 --> 00:46:42.820 the judgment 00:46:42.820 --> 00:46:43.420 of his enemies 00:46:43.420 --> 00:46:44.420 is without cause. 00:46:46.180 --> 00:46:47.140 They are bearing 00:46:47.140 --> 00:46:48.320 a false witness 00:46:48.320 --> 00:46:50.320 against the king. 00:46:50.320 --> 00:46:53.080 Here Jesus says, 00:46:53.200 --> 00:46:54.360 I've come to fulfill that 00:46:54.360 --> 00:46:56.120 and there is one 00:46:56.120 --> 00:46:56.600 who will give 00:46:56.600 --> 00:46:57.640 a true witness 00:46:57.640 --> 00:46:59.820 in this vindication. 00:47:00.500 --> 00:47:01.760 Begins with resurrection. 00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:03.220 But then he promises 00:47:03.220 --> 00:47:05.380 that just as we will receive 00:47:05.380 --> 00:47:06.140 the same treatment 00:47:06.140 --> 00:47:06.840 from the world, 00:47:07.100 --> 00:47:08.059 we will receive 00:47:08.059 --> 00:47:09.280 the same deliverance 00:47:09.280 --> 00:47:11.260 and he will use us 00:47:11.260 --> 00:47:12.980 to then be his witnesses 00:47:12.980 --> 00:47:14.160 of his own vindication. 00:47:14.159 --> 00:47:16.359 So we can look 00:47:16.359 --> 00:47:17.339 at what Jesus says 00:47:17.339 --> 00:47:18.239 here in John 15 00:47:18.239 --> 00:47:18.619 and say, 00:47:18.779 --> 00:47:19.019 okay, 00:47:19.259 --> 00:47:20.739 we will experience 00:47:20.739 --> 00:47:22.039 the hardships 00:47:22.039 --> 00:47:24.399 that Jesus experienced 00:47:24.399 --> 00:47:27.239 but we'll also receive 00:47:27.239 --> 00:47:27.899 the promises 00:47:27.899 --> 00:47:30.019 that Jesus received. 00:47:31.480 --> 00:47:31.960 And we go back 00:47:31.960 --> 00:47:32.659 to that statement 00:47:32.659 --> 00:47:33.619 Christopher Ash made. 00:47:34.599 --> 00:47:35.980 What the Father did 00:47:35.980 --> 00:47:36.819 for his Messiah, 00:47:36.980 --> 00:47:37.619 he now does 00:47:37.619 --> 00:47:38.619 through his Messiah. 00:47:39.779 --> 00:47:40.639 God sends us 00:47:40.639 --> 00:47:41.139 his Spirit. 00:47:41.899 --> 00:47:42.359 You're reading 00:47:42.359 --> 00:47:42.899 through Acts 00:47:42.899 --> 00:47:43.319 right now, 00:47:43.379 --> 00:47:43.659 aren't you? 00:47:44.159 --> 00:47:45.379 What are you seeing 00:47:45.379 --> 00:47:45.879 in Acts? 00:47:46.859 --> 00:47:48.000 What is their witnesses? 00:47:48.719 --> 00:47:49.460 What does their witness 00:47:49.460 --> 00:47:49.980 look like? 00:47:50.619 --> 00:47:51.759 The power of the Spirit 00:47:51.759 --> 00:47:52.779 at work in their lives 00:47:52.779 --> 00:47:54.199 as they hope 00:47:54.199 --> 00:47:55.019 for the resurrection 00:47:55.019 --> 00:47:55.719 and they preach 00:47:55.719 --> 00:47:56.420 the resurrection 00:47:56.420 --> 00:47:57.960 of Jesus Christ 00:47:57.960 --> 00:47:58.539 from the dead. 00:47:59.679 --> 00:48:00.319 So they say all that 00:48:00.319 --> 00:48:01.199 to say that because 00:48:01.199 --> 00:48:02.159 the Father did this 00:48:02.159 --> 00:48:02.639 for Jesus, 00:48:02.799 --> 00:48:03.339 we can trust 00:48:03.339 --> 00:48:03.920 that he will do it 00:48:03.920 --> 00:48:04.420 for us. 00:48:05.879 --> 00:48:07.279 So don't be discouraged 00:48:07.279 --> 00:48:09.339 when enemies surround. 00:48:10.859 --> 00:48:12.059 Your vindication 00:48:12.059 --> 00:48:13.639 has already been 00:48:13.639 --> 00:48:15.539 secured in Christ. 00:48:17.319 --> 00:48:18.500 And you are a witness 00:48:18.500 --> 00:48:19.079 of that. 00:48:20.099 --> 00:48:21.059 And we want to be faithful 00:48:21.059 --> 00:48:21.679 of that witness. 00:48:22.339 --> 00:48:22.920 Let's pray together. 00:48:22.920 --> 00:48:23.079 .