WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.280 Thank you, Alice. Good morning, everyone. Really good, as has already been said, to have you with us. 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:10.839 Let me start with a question. How is your relationship with God at present? 00:00:11.400 --> 00:00:16.280 Try to be honest with yourself. Where are you spiritually at the moment? 00:00:17.160 --> 00:00:21.539 Some people might be saying, it's great. I've got a really strong relationship with the Lord. 00:00:21.660 --> 00:00:28.400 I'm having good times of meditating on his word and prayer. I'm really aware of his presence with me every day. 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:38.339 And that's great if that's your situation. I hope you'll be encouraged through what we say this morning to share with others what the Lord has been doing for you. 00:00:39.239 --> 00:00:43.200 Some people might be the opposite. You might say, well, I've got no relationship with God at all. 00:00:43.899 --> 00:00:47.619 Maybe you've never had a relationship. You wouldn't call yourself a Christian. 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:51.739 Or maybe you've put your faith in Jesus, but things have slipped. 00:00:51.740 --> 00:01:01.560 You've had a crisis of faith or just gradually things have slipped down and really you've no relationship with God now beyond coming to church on a Sunday morning. 00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:11.420 I hope if that's you, that you'll be encouraged by this psalm to come to the God who really cares and who hears us when we call on him. 00:01:12.579 --> 00:01:14.719 And maybe a lot of us are somewhere in the middle. 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:18.200 We have highs and lows in our Christian lives. 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:20.659 Sometimes we feel close to God. 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:23.400 We feel we're getting victory over sin. 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:24.879 We're serving the Lord Jesus. 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:27.000 And sometimes we're not. 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:29.039 Sometimes we have low periods. 00:01:29.140 --> 00:01:34.700 And I hope if that's the case that you'll be encouraged this morning as we think of God's goodness to us 00:01:34.700 --> 00:01:40.799 to strengthen your faith and to go on and serve the Lord. 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:48.459 All of us have different experiences, different needs that we need to meet. 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:55.200 And so this morning I want to do three things and to say three main points. 00:01:55.979 --> 00:02:03.500 So we're going to talk about how we grow closer to God when we see him act in our suffering, 00:02:03.640 --> 00:02:07.099 when God moves in our time of need. 00:02:07.099 --> 00:02:15.079 We're going to think about how we remain closer to God when we reflect on how he's achieved our salvation. 00:02:16.079 --> 00:02:20.959 And we're going to think about how others can be drawn to know God and to have a relationship with him 00:02:20.959 --> 00:02:28.039 when they see our faith leading to service and what God means in our lives. 00:02:28.219 --> 00:02:33.240 These, I think, are three key messages which come across in Psalm 116. 00:02:33.240 --> 00:02:37.219 Let's begin, though, with a little bit of background and make a few observations. 00:02:38.260 --> 00:02:43.560 If you've been here the last few weeks, you'll know we're going through Psalm 113 to Psalm 118, 00:02:43.920 --> 00:02:46.460 which are sometimes called the Egyptian Hallel. 00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:49.159 Hallel because they're Psalms of praise. 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:52.660 Most of them end with the word Hallelujah, praise the Lord. 00:02:52.659 --> 00:02:59.139 Egyptian because they were used particularly by the Jews at two of their great festivals, 00:02:59.939 --> 00:03:05.879 the Feast of the Tabernacles when they remembered going through the wilderness, 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:11.379 and also the Feast of the Passover when they remembered their freedom from Egypt. 00:03:12.099 --> 00:03:16.439 And in particular, it's quite likely that on the night the Lord Jesus was betrayed, 00:03:16.439 --> 00:03:19.759 when he celebrated the Passover with his disciples, 00:03:20.439 --> 00:03:25.579 they ended up by singing some of these Psalms, including Psalm 116. 00:03:27.099 --> 00:03:32.680 Now, let's just observe a few things from the Psalms before we go through it in a bit more detail. 00:03:33.460 --> 00:03:37.159 I hope it comes across quite clearly this is a very personal Psalm. 00:03:37.159 --> 00:03:40.560 As we go through this little group of Psalms, 00:03:40.859 --> 00:03:43.759 most of them are either talking about God and his work, 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:46.759 or they're encouraging others to praise God. 00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:49.680 Psalm 116 is quite different. 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:55.060 You can see again and again the Psalmist talks about I, me, my soul, and so on. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:04:01.659 It is very much a personal testimony about someone's relationship with God. 00:04:01.659 --> 00:04:07.079 And that's why I think it's appropriate that we use it to think about our relationships with God. 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:08.199 This morning. 00:04:09.319 --> 00:04:12.219 The second thing maybe to notice is it's very raw. 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:15.680 When I read the Psalm this week, my first thought is, 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:17.279 how am I going to analyse this? 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:18.420 It's all over the place. 00:04:18.500 --> 00:04:22.360 Now, it's not, but it's not nice and ordered. 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:28.300 Some of the Psalms come across immediately as being great poetry that can speak to us. 00:04:28.300 --> 00:04:29.139 Psalm 23. 00:04:30.420 --> 00:04:35.699 David thinking of his work as a shepherd and using that as an analogy for God's care for us. 00:04:35.699 --> 00:04:38.459 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 00:04:38.519 --> 00:04:41.339 And just a few lines of perfect poetry, 00:04:41.860 --> 00:04:46.599 he produces something that down through the years has been a great comfort to many people. 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:50.360 Or Psalm 119, that longest of all the Psalms. 00:04:50.680 --> 00:04:54.519 The Psalmist thinking on God's law and how much he loves it. 00:04:54.779 --> 00:04:57.519 And he constructs a really intricate poem. 00:04:58.060 --> 00:05:01.339 In each stanza, every verse begins with the same Hebrew letter. 00:05:01.339 --> 00:05:06.099 There's a lot of imagery in there, very good imagery, and a real order to it. 00:05:06.099 --> 00:05:08.359 It's a work of art in many ways. 00:05:09.659 --> 00:05:12.199 Psalm 116 isn't like that. 00:05:13.039 --> 00:05:17.620 This is a psalm that someone writes in the grip of very strong emotions. 00:05:17.620 --> 00:05:20.040 And I think that really comes across. 00:05:20.139 --> 00:05:22.819 If nothing else, I hope that comes across to us this morning. 00:05:23.500 --> 00:05:28.699 This is a psalmist who's seen God at work, and he is just overwhelmed by what God has done, 00:05:28.980 --> 00:05:32.420 and he wants to commit himself to God. 00:05:33.300 --> 00:05:38.860 If I can use a fairly topical analogy, sometimes at the Olympics, someone wins a medal unexpectedly. 00:05:38.860 --> 00:05:43.819 And they do the obligatory interview afterwards, and they ask various questions. 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:48.100 And actually what they say seems to jump from one thing to another. 00:05:49.020 --> 00:05:54.620 They talk about the difficulties they faced, the sacrifice they made, their family and friends and all that, 00:05:54.699 --> 00:05:55.460 and so on. 00:05:55.879 --> 00:05:59.480 And it just comes out as a kind of constant stream of thought. 00:05:59.939 --> 00:06:06.300 Because the overwhelming thing that comes across is this person is absolutely delighted that they've won a medal. 00:06:06.300 --> 00:06:14.660 And in some ways they're not able to think very straight beyond that as they try to answer interview questions. 00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:18.960 Well, it's a bit more to Psalm 116 than that, but it is of that kind. 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:22.439 It's not something that is in a nice logical order. 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:23.939 You can say this section, then this section. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:26.220 I know I've tried to do it, but it's not really. 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:28.180 There are things all over the place. 00:06:28.259 --> 00:06:30.699 Psalm talks about one thing, he comes back to it again later. 00:06:30.699 --> 00:06:39.139 And what's really meant to come across is here is someone who loves God because God has been so good to them. 00:06:39.599 --> 00:06:43.539 And I hope, as I say, that we'll get that as we go along this morning. 00:06:43.539 --> 00:06:49.000 Someone who's really in the grip of a strong emotion and just wants to share it with us. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:54.360 It doesn't mean the Psalm 116 is any less inspired by the Holy Spirit than any other part of the Bible. 00:06:54.360 --> 00:06:57.800 It's just a bit different from some of the other Psalms. 00:06:59.020 --> 00:07:07.080 So let's just very quickly, we've not got much time this morning, let's just very quickly try to work out what the Psalmist is saying and how it applies to us. 00:07:07.100 --> 00:07:12.759 So the first part, we're talking about his suffering and how God has freedom from that. 00:07:13.500 --> 00:07:16.280 The Psalmist has had a near-death experience. 00:07:16.279 --> 00:07:19.699 He describes it quite graphically in verse 3. 00:07:19.799 --> 00:07:20.179 He says, 00:07:20.359 --> 00:07:22.739 The cords of death entangled me. 00:07:23.579 --> 00:07:31.500 It's someone who feels he's been tied up, he's trapped, he's helpless, and he's just waiting for the final blow when he'll die. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:35.159 He is on the edge of death. 00:07:36.179 --> 00:07:37.259 And he doesn't want to be. 00:07:38.219 --> 00:07:42.659 Later in the Psalm, there's a verse which in some ways sounds a bit strange when you first read it. 00:07:42.660 --> 00:07:48.380 It says, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants. 00:07:48.439 --> 00:07:51.100 That's verse 15, if you're following along. 00:07:51.800 --> 00:07:54.660 Now that doesn't mean that God delights in our death. 00:07:55.080 --> 00:07:58.360 That is really precious, something he really looks forward to. 00:07:59.020 --> 00:08:04.420 It's probably more appropriate to think of it as death is costly, pressure is costly. 00:08:04.980 --> 00:08:08.560 It is of consequence, it is something that matters. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:12.240 It matters to God as it matters to us. 00:08:12.660 --> 00:08:18.700 Because while we're alive, we can be witnesses for God, we can serve him, we can tell other people about him. 00:08:19.220 --> 00:08:22.360 Once we've died, that opportunity has gone. 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:24.160 I think the psalmist there is saying, 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:27.380 I didn't feel it was my time to go. 00:08:28.300 --> 00:08:33.920 I didn't feel that I was ready to die because death is such a big thing, 00:08:34.300 --> 00:08:37.740 and I had so much I wanted to do for God. 00:08:37.740 --> 00:08:39.539 That a psalmist's prayer was answered. 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:43.860 Other people in similar situations might not have that prayer answered in the same way. 00:08:44.580 --> 00:08:47.019 But for the psalmist, he had faced death. 00:08:47.620 --> 00:08:50.560 He had prayed to God that he would be freed from death, 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:53.659 and he had been preserved. 00:08:54.779 --> 00:09:01.200 The other thing that's noticeable about this is that the psalmist had lost trust in anyone else to help him. 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:04.080 In verse 11, he makes this really sweeping statement, 00:09:04.500 --> 00:09:06.620 Everyone is a liar. 00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:12.000 Now, maybe his sufferings have been caused by others, by their deceit. 00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:15.000 Or maybe people had come to him as he was suffering, 00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:17.020 and Job's comforted his state and said, 00:09:17.100 --> 00:09:18.280 Ah, you must have sinned. 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:19.560 You've done something wrong. 00:09:19.680 --> 00:09:20.980 God's punishing you. 00:09:20.980 --> 00:09:24.340 Or maybe some people had promised to help him and said, 00:09:24.460 --> 00:09:28.800 We can really help you through this situation, and they hadn't done it. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:30.740 So the psalmist says, 00:09:31.180 --> 00:09:35.399 The person I can rely on, the one that I can rely on, is God. 00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:39.420 Where other helpers fail and comforts flee, 00:09:40.139 --> 00:09:44.620 Help of the helpless, O abide with me. 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:48.000 And he's justified in his confidence. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:50.879 If we go back to verse 1, 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:51.779 Hitzamah says, 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:53.700 I love the Lord. 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:55.600 Literally, he says, 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:56.340 I love. 00:09:56.500 --> 00:10:01.620 The Lord is added in by the translators as their interpretation of it. 00:10:02.019 --> 00:10:02.759 Now, it's clearly true. 00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:04.120 He loves the Lord. 00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:06.519 But perhaps what he's saying in these verses, 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:11.240 He loves particularly that the Lord hears his voice. 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:12.559 So we take out the words, 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:13.240 The Lord says, 00:10:13.340 --> 00:10:16.539 I love, for he heard my voice. 00:10:16.539 --> 00:10:19.579 And he presents a beautiful picture to us 00:10:19.579 --> 00:10:22.919 of how God listens to our prayers. 00:10:24.079 --> 00:10:26.019 He says in verse 2, 00:10:26.500 --> 00:10:29.159 He turned his ear to me. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:32.620 Now, to me, the picture there is perhaps of a mother. 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:35.199 She's busy in the kitchen doing lots of things. 00:10:35.579 --> 00:10:39.779 And her child, her young child, comes in and wants to speak to her. 00:10:39.779 --> 00:10:44.480 And she could just continue doing things and be listening as she did. 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:50.319 But very often, the mother will just stop and bend down towards the child 00:10:50.319 --> 00:10:53.120 to make it clear that she really cares for them 00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:56.240 and that she wants to hear what they're saying. 00:10:56.799 --> 00:10:59.779 And I think that's what the picture here of God is. 00:11:00.319 --> 00:11:06.059 Our Heavenly Father wants us to bring our requests and our thanksgiving to Him. 00:11:06.059 --> 00:11:08.759 And when we do, we have His attention. 00:11:09.459 --> 00:11:13.359 He listens to us and He acts on it. 00:11:14.139 --> 00:11:19.299 He is a loving Father who wants what is best for His children. 00:11:20.339 --> 00:11:21.739 And let's rejoice in that. 00:11:22.699 --> 00:11:25.579 He's the one who's there when we're at our wit's end. 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:29.599 When we feel that nothing can help us, no one can help us, 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:30.779 God is there. 00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:32.839 God can help. 00:11:33.539 --> 00:11:37.159 He's the one who turns His ear to listen to our desires, 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:40.019 who cares about every aspect of our daily life, 00:11:40.079 --> 00:11:44.100 not just the big crises, but every aspect of our daily life. 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:49.199 And we can come and we can bring our requests to Him. 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:52.059 Now, He won't always give us the answer we want. 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:55.319 No parent will always give a child what they want. 00:11:55.320 --> 00:12:00.180 And sometimes we'll pray for things and our Heavenly Father who knows much better than us 00:12:00.180 --> 00:12:02.480 won't give us the desires of our heart, 00:12:02.660 --> 00:12:07.220 but He will answer us in ways that are maybe even better. 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:11.800 I came across this quote during the week. 00:12:12.800 --> 00:12:13.480 It says, 00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:31.560 I think that's a great summary of what our prayer life should be. 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:36.180 We should pray with confidence that God does answer, He does hear, 00:12:36.700 --> 00:12:40.800 and He can give us more than we could ever ask or think. 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:43.979 But He may not do it in the way that we expect. 00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:48.559 And sometimes the way that He has for us is a way of suffering, 00:12:49.199 --> 00:12:54.240 and it is building our character, it is helping us to become more like Jesus. 00:12:54.439 --> 00:12:58.959 And that way He's answering our prayers as much as when He brings a miraculous healing 00:12:58.959 --> 00:13:03.740 or when we see something remarkable happening in our lives. 00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:06.220 So then again the question, 00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:08.460 what is your relationship with God? 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:12.480 Can you come to Him knowing that He is your Heavenly Father 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:15.799 and that He has your best interests at heart 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:18.539 and present all your desires to Him, 00:13:19.060 --> 00:13:20.600 knowing He'll answer? 00:13:23.580 --> 00:13:28.320 Second thing we want to look at is the salvation that God gives to us. 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:31.100 And two things in that, we want to look at God's character 00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:34.160 and we want to look at God's actions. 00:13:35.680 --> 00:13:38.200 So in verse 5, it says, 00:13:38.420 --> 00:13:41.300 The Lord is gracious and righteous. 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:45.240 Our God is full of compassion. 00:13:46.540 --> 00:13:47.740 God is gracious. 00:13:47.920 --> 00:13:48.600 What does that mean? 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:52.399 It means that although God is so much superior to us, 00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:56.820 although He is the all-powerful creator of the universe 00:13:56.820 --> 00:14:00.340 and we are just a tiny, tiny part of His creation, 00:14:01.560 --> 00:14:03.960 God still shows love to each one of us 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:05.980 and so cares about each one of us, 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:08.840 even though we don't deserve it. 00:14:09.300 --> 00:14:10.940 God is gracious. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:13.220 God is righteous, says the psalmist. 00:14:13.300 --> 00:14:15.779 He does what is right for His people. 00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:19.939 He is never unjust in the way He does things. 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:22.459 He always knows what is right 00:14:22.459 --> 00:14:24.980 and He always does it. 00:14:25.699 --> 00:14:27.019 And He's full of compassion. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:29.620 He understands our concerns 00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:32.159 and He acts on them. 00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:33.459 Several times in the Gospel, 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:36.559 it talks about Jesus having compassion on groups. 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:38.220 For example, in the feeding of the 5,000, 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:39.100 He had compassion 00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:42.120 because they were like sheep without a shepherd. 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:44.419 He understood where they were. 00:14:44.419 --> 00:14:47.500 He understood what was difficult in their lives 00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:50.240 and He acted on it. 00:14:50.299 --> 00:14:52.360 That is our God. 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:54.439 And our God in particular 00:14:54.439 --> 00:14:57.539 showed His salvation 00:14:57.539 --> 00:15:00.659 through what He has done for us. 00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:03.899 The psalmist says in verse 6, 00:15:03.979 --> 00:15:05.919 He protects the unwary. 00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:06.639 Now the unwary, 00:15:06.779 --> 00:15:09.159 we could translate as being maybe just the simple. 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:12.319 Those who aren't very sophisticated in their thinking, 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:17.140 those who just trust in a very simple way in God. 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:20.040 And He saves the lowly. 00:15:20.820 --> 00:15:22.500 Those who are humble, 00:15:22.900 --> 00:15:24.340 those who are maybe discouraged, 00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:26.260 God is there for them. 00:15:26.660 --> 00:15:28.960 God acts in their lives. 00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:33.340 We have a God who really cares for us. 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:34.200 And of course, 00:15:34.280 --> 00:15:36.560 He cared particularly enough to give His Son 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:38.639 to die on the cross at Calvary 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:41.799 to take the punishment for our sins. 00:15:42.439 --> 00:15:43.779 And as we think of that, 00:15:43.839 --> 00:15:44.779 if we're Christians, 00:15:45.119 --> 00:15:48.179 we should be drawn into a greater love for Him, 00:15:48.599 --> 00:15:51.939 a greater appreciation of all that He has done for us. 00:15:52.419 --> 00:15:53.599 And as we'll think now, 00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:56.519 a greater desire to obey Him 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:58.159 and to serve Him. 00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:02.039 So we come on to the last part of the psalm, 00:16:02.079 --> 00:16:04.579 which I think is talking about service. 00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:08.379 The psalmist has thought about what God has done for him. 00:16:09.079 --> 00:16:13.299 He's thought about the character and the actions of God. 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:14.759 And now he says, 00:16:14.839 --> 00:16:17.039 well, what can I do for God? 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:20.079 What shall I return to the Lord 00:16:20.079 --> 00:16:22.699 for all His goodness to me? 00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:25.500 Now, the short answer to that is 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:28.560 God doesn't need anything from us. 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:32.280 God doesn't need our efforts. 00:16:32.420 --> 00:16:35.780 He doesn't need our help to do anything. 00:16:36.800 --> 00:16:38.860 And we could never hope to repay God 00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:40.100 in any meaningful way 00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:43.160 for everything that He has done for us. 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:46.800 And yet our gracious God takes delight 00:16:46.800 --> 00:16:48.780 when His people obey Him 00:16:48.780 --> 00:16:50.660 and serve Him 00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:53.799 and recognise Him for who He is. 00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:55.959 So though He doesn't need it, 00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:58.179 our God longs for His people 00:16:58.179 --> 00:17:01.120 to understand just how great He is 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:02.799 and to bring their praise 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:05.299 and their service to Him. 00:17:06.399 --> 00:17:08.839 And the psalmist talks about three things in particular 00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:11.700 that he is intending to do. 00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:15.359 The first thing he says in verse 12 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:18.859 is that he will, no, verse 13, 00:17:18.859 --> 00:17:22.419 is that he will lift up the cup of salvation. 00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:23.659 Later on in verse 17, 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:24.379 he says, 00:17:24.479 --> 00:17:27.539 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you. 00:17:28.439 --> 00:17:29.919 Now, he's probably thinking particularly 00:17:29.919 --> 00:17:32.000 of a sacrifice of the drink offering 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:34.039 that was given by people 00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:37.059 as an appreciation of what God had done. 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:39.099 But perhaps also, 00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:42.500 he's thinking about the Passover feast 00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:44.399 and the fact that during that feast, 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:47.480 they took cups and they gave thanks to God 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:49.500 as they drank them. 00:17:50.120 --> 00:17:51.120 And of course, for us, 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:52.660 we have something similar. 00:17:52.780 --> 00:17:55.240 Later on, those of us who are in the church here 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:57.519 will have the opportunity to take communion, 00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:59.440 to remember the Lord Jesus together. 00:17:59.860 --> 00:18:01.019 As part of that, 00:18:01.300 --> 00:18:04.580 we will be drinking from the cup. 00:18:05.280 --> 00:18:06.720 It's an act of obedience. 00:18:07.580 --> 00:18:09.820 It's an act of recognising 00:18:09.820 --> 00:18:11.800 what God wants us to do 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:13.460 and of doing it. 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:14.379 I think above all, 00:18:14.619 --> 00:18:15.500 when we take communion, 00:18:15.639 --> 00:18:17.139 when we celebrate the Lord's Supper, 00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:19.339 we do it to obey the Lord Jesus 00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:21.559 and his command that we remember him 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:23.839 and to be drawn out in praise 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:25.259 and worship to him. 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:25.659 Now, of course, 00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:27.799 there's great benefit for us in it too, 00:18:27.879 --> 00:18:28.519 but primarily, 00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:30.279 it's an act of obedience 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:31.940 to the Lord Jesus. 00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:34.819 Second thing the psalmist does 00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:36.779 is he is going to call 00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:39.139 on the name of the Lord. 00:18:39.139 --> 00:18:41.039 That again is verse 13. 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:43.000 And I think he's thinking of that 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.859 in two senses. 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.559 One is the sense in which 00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:47.059 he has called on God's name, 00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:49.559 that he has been in a sticky situation, 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.579 he's been desperate, 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.159 doesn't know what to do, 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:53.419 and all he can do 00:18:53.419 --> 00:18:56.039 is cast himself on God in prayer. 00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:58.639 By calling on the name of the Lord 00:18:58.639 --> 00:19:01.339 also at the thought of praising God 00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:03.059 and recognising him. 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:05.839 So that once we have received from him 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:06.919 and we have all received, 00:19:06.919 --> 00:19:08.759 if we have our trust in the Lord Jesus, 00:19:08.899 --> 00:19:10.740 once we have received from him, 00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:13.160 he wants to receive our praises 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:14.759 and our worship 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:16.299 and our recognition 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:18.000 of who he is. 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:20.900 And then the third thing the psalmist says, 00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:24.019 I'm going to fulfil my vow. 00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:25.500 Fulfil my vow, he says, 00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:28.200 in the presence of all the people. 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:30.599 And I think that's a key thing in this. 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:34.200 The psalmist wanted to make clear to everyone 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:37.500 how much God had done to us. 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:39.579 He wanted to be God's servant, 00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:41.539 following the example his mother had set him, 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:43.420 he says in the psalm. 00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:45.539 But he is witnessing to others, 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:48.119 telling them about what the Lord has done. 00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:50.559 And by his obedience to God, 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:54.240 he is drawing others to come to know him. 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:56.079 And if we're Christians, 00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:57.799 if we're followers of the Lord Jesus, 00:19:58.460 --> 00:20:00.420 that is a really important thing 00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:01.700 that we need to do. 00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:04.059 To be obedient to God 00:20:04.059 --> 00:20:06.420 because we want to serve him, 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:08.680 we want to demonstrate our love to him. 00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:11.039 But also to show others 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:14.500 just how much our faith means to us. 00:20:14.860 --> 00:20:16.440 Just how much it means to us 00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:18.580 that Jesus died on the cross for us, 00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:20.220 is with us every day, 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:21.539 and helps us through 00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:24.860 the most difficult situations in life. 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:26.500 And all the psalmists, 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.299 I said at the beginning, 00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.259 in some ways, 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:30.080 is a very personal psalm. 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:31.899 It's also a psalm to encourage us 00:20:31.899 --> 00:20:32.819 to look outwards 00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:33.859 and to think, 00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:36.199 how can my life be helpful 00:20:36.199 --> 00:20:38.559 in drawing others to know God, 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:41.199 in attracting others to the Lord Jesus 00:20:41.199 --> 00:20:44.740 and bringing them to faith in him? 00:20:45.139 --> 00:20:46.899 As we share what God has done, 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:49.279 we can be an encouragement to each other. 00:20:49.699 --> 00:20:51.220 We can also be an encouragement 00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:53.980 to those who don't know the Lord Jesus yet 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:57.439 to come and to put their trust in him. 00:20:57.440 --> 00:21:00.620 Let me finish with someone else 00:21:00.620 --> 00:21:02.059 who suffered a lot. 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:04.059 The Apostle Paul, 00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:06.600 during his ministry, 00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:08.299 during his missionary journeys, 00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:10.400 he suffered an enormous amount. 00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:12.620 He lists them in some places, 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.660 the shipwrecks, 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.640 the stoning, 00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:17.539 he was bitten by a poisonous snake, 00:21:17.820 --> 00:21:19.059 all sorts of things 00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:20.360 that Paul went through 00:21:20.360 --> 00:21:22.559 in many ways similar situations 00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:25.860 to what the psalmist is talking about here. 00:21:25.859 --> 00:21:27.719 Near-death experiences 00:21:27.719 --> 00:21:30.679 for the sake of the Lord Jesus. 00:21:31.439 --> 00:21:32.959 In 2 Corinthians 4, 00:21:33.179 --> 00:21:34.000 he writes this, 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:36.980 We're hard-pressed on every side, 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.619 but not crushed, 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.099 perplexed, 00:21:40.119 --> 00:21:41.160 but not in despair, 00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:43.279 persecuted, 00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:44.299 but not abandoned, 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:46.079 struck down, 00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:47.660 but not destroyed. 00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:51.119 We always carry around in our body 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:52.759 the death of Jesus 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:56.259 so that the life of Jesus 00:21:56.259 --> 00:22:00.000 may be revealed in our body. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:02.799 And then he quotes from Psalm 116. 00:22:03.380 --> 00:22:04.660 He quotes from the Greek version, 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.759 so it's slightly different 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:07.220 from what you have in front of you, 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:09.700 but the Greek version says, 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:10.960 I believe, 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:13.220 therefore I have spoken. 00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:14.160 That's verse 10. 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.259 The Greek version says, 00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:16.039 I believe, 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:18.359 therefore I had spoken. 00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:20.640 And he follows that up 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:22.859 by referring to the great hope 00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:23.740 we have as Christians. 00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:24.200 He says, 00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:25.259 We know that the one 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:27.319 who raised Jesus from the dead 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:29.980 will also raise us with Jesus 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:34.920 and present us with you to himself. 00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:38.340 There is the confidence 00:22:38.340 --> 00:22:40.080 that we can have in God 00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:43.940 as we reflect on his goodness to us. 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:46.400 Paul believed in Jesus. 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:49.539 He was desperate to tell others about him, 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:52.759 to share the good news with them. 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:55.740 And the great news that he shared with everyone 00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:58.200 was whether in life or in death, 00:22:58.680 --> 00:23:01.240 we can experience God's presence. 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:02.900 While we're in this world, 00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:05.000 we have the opportunity to praise him, 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:08.440 to enjoy all that he is giving to us. 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:10.039 Beyond death, 00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:11.759 if our faith is in Jesus, 00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:13.400 we can be confident 00:23:13.400 --> 00:23:15.480 that as Jesus was raised from the dead, 00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:17.460 as the psalmist here came back 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:19.259 almost from death, 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:21.559 so there is life beyond the grave. 00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:22.779 There is life with Jesus. 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:26.319 There is life forever in heaven. 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:28.139 The challenge for us, 00:23:28.379 --> 00:23:29.039 first of all, 00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:30.599 is do we have that hope? 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:32.799 Do we have that knowledge of God 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:34.339 that the psalmist did? 00:23:35.099 --> 00:23:36.159 And if we do, 00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:39.460 how is your relationship with God? 00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:43.359 Do you recognize all that he has done for us? 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:45.139 Do you come to him 00:23:45.140 --> 00:23:46.340 with every need, 00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:47.840 big or small? 00:23:48.620 --> 00:23:50.080 Are you sharing with others 00:23:50.080 --> 00:23:53.600 what the Lord Jesus has done for you? 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:55.000 May the testimony of this 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:57.720 ancient believer in God 00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:59.560 be of relevance to us today 00:23:59.560 --> 00:24:00.580 and encourage us 00:24:00.580 --> 00:24:03.000 in our walk with the Lord Jesus. 00:24:03.780 --> 00:24:04.940 Let's join together in prayer. 00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:08.700 Father, we thank you for this psalm. 00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:10.279 We thank you for the experience 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:11.360 of the writer, 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:14.059 for the fact that in spite of everything 00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:15.360 that has happened to him, 00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:17.080 you had brought him through. 00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:19.759 And that gave him the real confidence 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:22.080 that you are the God who saves 00:24:22.080 --> 00:24:24.340 and the desire 00:24:24.340 --> 00:24:26.960 that he should be your servant. 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.920 We pray that you will help all of us 00:24:28.920 --> 00:24:30.759 to understand that you are the God 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:31.880 who rescues us 00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:34.000 from the pit of sin, 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:36.019 who stands us on a rock, 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.420 who gives us forgiveness 00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:39.079 and hope for the future. 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:40.900 We may all trust in you. 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:42.240 And when we do, 00:24:42.379 --> 00:24:43.200 help us to have 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:45.000 strong relationship with you, 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:47.200 to come to you with our prayers 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:48.240 and our praise 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:49.400 as our heavenly Father 00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:51.119 and to seek also 00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:53.240 to help others to understand 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:55.000 just what you mean to us. 00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:56.700 We thank you for your presence today. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:58.259 We commit ourselves to you now 00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:59.940 in the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:01.180 Amen.