WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.480 Real hatred is not something I think that I have ever experienced. 00:00:04.560 --> 00:00:09.320 Or if I have, I think God has very graciously dimmed my memory. 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:12.859 Unjust treatment, yes. 00:00:14.179 --> 00:00:17.199 Hatred, I don't think so. 00:00:18.679 --> 00:00:21.120 I understand the emotions of hatred. 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:24.460 I had plenty of energy running through me the other week 00:00:24.460 --> 00:00:27.620 when I watched New South Wales go down to Queensland by one point 00:00:27.620 --> 00:00:29.260 in State of Origin 3. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.619 I was incensed at the ridiculous commentary. 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:35.359 I was exasperated at some of the refereeing. 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:39.980 And I was disgusted when the Queensland crowd booed the New South Wales team 00:00:39.980 --> 00:00:41.640 after an awesome game. 00:00:43.740 --> 00:00:47.079 We understand sometimes what it is to hate politicians. 00:00:47.299 --> 00:00:49.379 We use the language of hate to our politicians. 00:00:49.519 --> 00:00:52.060 I don't think it's a godly thing to do, but it's done. 00:00:52.859 --> 00:00:56.960 You can get some idea of the side of the political fence that I was raised on. 00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:00.200 My grandmother, with dementia setting in, 00:01:00.259 --> 00:01:03.880 used to vehemently refer to the Prime Minister Gough Whitlam as Hitler Whitlam. 00:01:05.480 --> 00:01:08.960 And believe it or not, she was a warm-hearted human being 00:01:08.960 --> 00:01:12.299 who had been a gracious and generous landlord to many people 00:01:12.299 --> 00:01:14.340 from South East Asia 50 years ago. 00:01:15.340 --> 00:01:16.200 Put that together. 00:01:16.200 --> 00:01:20.840 I have friends in ministry who have known real hatred. 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:24.820 A Christian leader said to me that he could name several people 00:01:24.820 --> 00:01:27.760 who were in ministry who hate him. 00:01:28.820 --> 00:01:31.659 And they hate him for decisions he has taken 00:01:31.659 --> 00:01:35.600 which have had a huge impact on their life and on their ministry. 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:38.420 They literally hate him. 00:01:38.420 --> 00:01:44.879 He bravely tried to honour Christ without fear or favour towards people. 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:50.019 Another brother was so despised for his ministry 00:01:50.019 --> 00:01:53.280 that he was driven out of his parish and his denomination. 00:01:54.659 --> 00:01:57.920 Another friend in ministry was vehemently lied against 00:01:57.920 --> 00:02:00.579 and accused of being a tool of the devil. 00:02:00.579 --> 00:02:07.900 Hatred has been recorded since nearly the first page of the Bible. 00:02:08.340 --> 00:02:10.939 Cain slew his brother Abel, driven by envy. 00:02:11.900 --> 00:02:13.539 He killed his brother out of jealousy. 00:02:13.819 --> 00:02:15.919 He hated the Lord's approval of his brother. 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:20.000 Murder came from the evil turmoil which was within his own heart. 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:24.159 Last week I quoted from John 15 when Jesus said, 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:28.860 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 00:02:28.860 --> 00:02:33.580 So his expectation was that his disciples, his followers, 00:02:34.280 --> 00:02:38.480 might experience real hatred on account of their faith 00:02:38.480 --> 00:02:40.340 and their faithfulness to Christ. 00:02:42.300 --> 00:02:45.500 So Psalm 69, which I'm preaching this morning, 00:02:46.380 --> 00:02:51.060 is an anguished song by a king who is experiencing real hatred. 00:02:52.100 --> 00:02:53.780 It's a psalm of David. 00:02:53.780 --> 00:02:56.920 It is probably written by God's anointed king 00:02:56.919 --> 00:02:59.859 a thousand years before Christ came into our world. 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:04.019 We don't know the exact circumstances he was facing. 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:07.219 We do know how he feels and what he wants. 00:03:07.779 --> 00:03:10.739 And David cries out to God in utter distress 00:03:10.739 --> 00:03:11.479 and he says, 00:03:11.839 --> 00:03:13.060 Save me, O God! 00:03:16.419 --> 00:03:17.439 He's brief. 00:03:17.839 --> 00:03:19.379 He's absolutely to the point. 00:03:19.619 --> 00:03:21.560 This is a huge cry for help. 00:03:21.959 --> 00:03:23.139 Save me, O God! 00:03:23.139 --> 00:03:27.679 And he paints a picture of how he feels. 00:03:28.059 --> 00:03:29.339 Verse 1 into verse 2, 00:03:29.419 --> 00:03:31.099 For the waters have come up to my neck. 00:03:31.359 --> 00:03:35.279 I sink in the miry depths where there is no foothold. 00:03:35.979 --> 00:03:37.839 I have come into the deep waters. 00:03:37.959 --> 00:03:39.139 The floods engulf me. 00:03:39.219 --> 00:03:41.039 I am worn out, calling for help. 00:03:41.139 --> 00:03:42.299 My throat is parched. 00:03:42.399 --> 00:03:44.799 My eyes fail, looking for my God. 00:03:46.799 --> 00:03:48.199 He's a drowning man. 00:03:48.459 --> 00:03:49.979 He's staring death in the face. 00:03:50.239 --> 00:03:51.339 Water's up to his neck. 00:03:51.340 --> 00:03:52.860 No place for a foothold. 00:03:53.099 --> 00:03:55.400 He's going under and he cannot save himself. 00:03:57.439 --> 00:03:58.719 So verse 14, 00:03:58.860 --> 00:04:00.259 Rescue me from the mire. 00:04:00.699 --> 00:04:01.860 Do not let me drown. 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:04.420 Deliver me from the deep waters. 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:05.539 Verse 18, 00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:06.500 Rescue me. 00:04:06.620 --> 00:04:07.460 Redeem me. 00:04:07.920 --> 00:04:08.800 Verse 29, 00:04:09.300 --> 00:04:10.980 O God, protect me. 00:04:10.979 --> 00:04:17.800 Now he's not really in a tank of water drowning. 00:04:19.399 --> 00:04:21.519 He is God's anointed king. 00:04:22.459 --> 00:04:25.199 He has enemies who are seeking to destroy him. 00:04:25.459 --> 00:04:27.339 They seek to overthrow his power. 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:30.779 This is a mortal struggle of life and death and power. 00:04:30.779 --> 00:04:33.919 So in verse 4, 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:37.939 Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head. 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:42.319 Many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:46.179 I am forced to restore what I did not steal. 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:49.159 And down in verse 10, 00:04:49.160 --> 00:05:15.920 Many people hate him and he's bewildered by it. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:19.300 And he expresses the injustice of what he's experienced. 00:05:19.420 --> 00:05:21.480 He's hated without reason or cause. 00:05:21.860 --> 00:05:24.340 He's forced to restore things that he hasn't taken. 00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:27.040 They may have even tried to poison him. 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:30.300 Gaul is something which is really bitter or even poison itself. 00:05:31.580 --> 00:05:33.800 And they ridicule his religious piety. 00:05:33.960 --> 00:05:34.560 He fasts. 00:05:34.600 --> 00:05:35.500 He put on sackcloth. 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:36.480 He comes before God. 00:05:36.540 --> 00:05:38.600 He humbles himself before God. 00:05:38.700 --> 00:05:40.120 And they mock him for it. 00:05:40.120 --> 00:05:45.720 And it's really interesting. 00:05:45.860 --> 00:05:47.000 He doesn't try to say to God, 00:05:47.100 --> 00:05:47.600 I'm sinless. 00:05:47.699 --> 00:05:48.840 Why is this happening to me? 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:50.860 He's quite forthright. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:51.519 And he says, 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:52.939 You know my folly, O God. 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:53.579 Verse 5. 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:56.800 My guilt is not hidden from you. 00:05:58.519 --> 00:06:02.100 May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me. 00:06:02.939 --> 00:06:04.500 O Lord, the Lord Almighty, 00:06:04.500 --> 00:06:08.519 may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me. 00:06:10.120 --> 00:06:14.360 He's like a Christian believer. 00:06:15.699 --> 00:06:18.899 You don't have to hide our sin and weakness from Christ. 00:06:19.840 --> 00:06:22.519 He sees it all and he has died for it. 00:06:24.340 --> 00:06:30.879 We are broken, imperfect, sinful people who have been redeemed by Christ. 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:36.819 And so if Christ has died for you, there's no hidden secret in your life 00:06:36.819 --> 00:06:39.720 which can bring you undone with him. 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:45.840 It might cause you problems with people, but not with him. 00:06:49.139 --> 00:06:52.980 But David sees something which is even bigger than his own personal suffering. 00:06:54.280 --> 00:06:56.920 He cares about those who hope in God. 00:06:57.019 --> 00:06:58.780 He cares about people who seek God. 00:06:58.779 --> 00:07:06.599 And he really cares that they won't in some way be disgraced or shamed because of his own behaviour. 00:07:07.659 --> 00:07:13.459 He cares about the harm which he as a Christian leader can do to God's people and to God's name. 00:07:13.459 --> 00:07:32.299 How we behave as a congregation here at St. Paul's has a bearing on how Christ is perceived in our community. 00:07:32.300 --> 00:07:46.100 How we behave, any of us who have leadership, how we behave in our leadership bears on the name of Christ 00:07:46.100 --> 00:07:50.019 and how he's perceived in our community and our witness to him. 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:54.839 And David's saying, I'm not the perfect man and you know that, Lord. 00:07:56.740 --> 00:08:02.039 But in these things I am hated and accused without reason and it is killing me. 00:08:04.939 --> 00:08:06.579 His integrity's intact. 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:08.699 You don't have to be perfect to have integrity. 00:08:08.699 --> 00:08:09.959 integrity. 00:08:11.539 --> 00:08:13.959 Integrity owns weakness and failure. 00:08:14.979 --> 00:08:18.719 But integrity stands firm against lies and wickedness. 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:23.819 And even with integrity he is suffering. 00:08:26.339 --> 00:08:30.839 And David is actually experiencing what he refused to do to his predecessor Saul. 00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:36.759 He had the opportunity at least twice in his ministry in his life to take Saul's life. 00:08:36.759 --> 00:08:39.200 And he refused to do it. 00:08:40.580 --> 00:08:43.620 He would not lift his hand against the Lord's anointed. 00:08:45.639 --> 00:08:52.480 Samuel had anointed David as the next king, yet David refused to take the kingship by force. 00:08:52.679 --> 00:08:55.620 For David that would have been an act against God himself. 00:08:56.799 --> 00:09:01.120 So to bring down the man that God had appointed would have been to strike out against God. 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:09.820 So in some ways the mocking of the king is with reason. 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:17.019 Hatred of David is driven by hatred of the God who stands behind David's throne. 00:09:17.019 --> 00:09:22.259 And it's hatred of the God whom David is devoted to. 00:09:22.340 --> 00:09:27.939 He was experiencing what Jesus would come along a thousand years later and teach. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:32.980 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 00:09:32.980 --> 00:09:42.399 So the circumstances of his life threaten to completely overwhelm him even to death. 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:49.560 I imagine that's what happens inside people when they contemplate taking their own life. 00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:54.019 They lose hope. 00:09:55.139 --> 00:09:58.399 They feel completely lost in their circumstances. 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:06.659 They can see no way out by themselves and by their own efforts and so they give up. 00:10:09.980 --> 00:10:11.819 But David does a wonderful thing. 00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:14.100 He's desperate but he doesn't give up. 00:10:14.759 --> 00:10:16.439 He cries out beyond himself. 00:10:16.579 --> 00:10:19.039 He's God's king but he doesn't beat around the bush. 00:10:19.319 --> 00:10:24.000 He dials triple O to God and he doesn't waste time getting around to the point of his need. 00:10:24.259 --> 00:10:26.039 This whole song is directed to God. 00:10:26.039 --> 00:10:27.179 Save me, O God. 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:30.939 And it's a humble thing to do. 00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:32.439 He's saying, I can't fix this. 00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:35.379 The circumstances of my life, they are unfair. 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:37.159 They are completely out of control. 00:10:37.439 --> 00:10:38.600 I am in great danger. 00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:40.199 I cannot do a thing about it. 00:10:40.419 --> 00:10:45.720 He is like a person coming to Christ for the very first time and he cries, save me, O God. 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:57.240 And it should be no surprise that Jesus and the gospel writers apply this song to the circumstances of Jesus. 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:03.919 So God's anointed king misunderstood and unknown in the world. 00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:09.679 Jesus would suffer cruelly and unjustly at the hands of the people that he had made. 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:15.399 In John chapter 7 verse 3, Jesus' brothers said to him, they said, 00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:21.079 You ought to leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples may see the miracles that you do. 00:11:22.199 --> 00:11:25.840 Because no one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. 00:11:27.319 --> 00:11:30.860 Since you are doing these things, go and show yourself to the world. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:33.939 For even his own brothers did not believe in him. 00:11:33.940 --> 00:11:38.160 And it's an echo of Psalm 69 verse 8 which says, 00:11:38.740 --> 00:11:44.480 The Lord's anointed is a stranger to his brothers, an alien to his own mother's sons. 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:50.320 Or in John 2, Jesus comes into the temple at Jerusalem at Passover time. 00:11:50.900 --> 00:11:57.220 He makes a whip out of cords and gentle Jesus, meek and moe wreaks havoc as he drove everyone out of the temple 00:11:57.220 --> 00:11:59.700 and overturned the tables of the money changers. 00:11:59.700 --> 00:12:03.900 And John tells us that Jesus said, 00:12:04.800 --> 00:12:09.940 Get these out of here! How dare you turn my father's house into a market! 00:12:10.780 --> 00:12:13.700 And his disciples remembered that it is written, 00:12:14.220 --> 00:12:16.660 Zeal for your house will consume me. 00:12:17.900 --> 00:12:23.640 So what John does a thousand years later is quote Psalm 69 verse 9 exactly 00:12:23.640 --> 00:12:26.900 to explain what was motivating Jesus. 00:12:26.899 --> 00:12:31.079 He was concerned for God's name and he was concerned for God's glory. 00:12:32.959 --> 00:12:36.299 Matthew's gospel just describes Jesus' suffering on the cross. 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:38.240 In Matthew 27 verse 33, 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:43.100 They came to a place called Golgotha, which means the place of the skull. 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:48.579 And there they offered Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall. 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:52.379 But after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:58.019 So Matthew uses the language of Psalm 69 verse 21 00:12:58.019 --> 00:13:02.240 to describe what happened with Jesus at the cross. 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:07.240 They put gall on my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:13.139 So what you start to see is that Jesus is like David. 00:13:13.340 --> 00:13:16.340 His suffering is completely unjust. 00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:22.560 But he is unlike David in that he had no guilt or folly. 00:13:25.160 --> 00:13:27.920 David cries to God for salvation. 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:34.160 On the night before he died, Jesus cried out to God in the garden of Gethsemane. 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:34.780 He said, 00:13:35.540 --> 00:13:38.580 Father, if possible, take this cup from me, 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:41.759 but not my will, but yours be done. 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:46.179 He entrusts himself to his father's purposes. 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:51.419 He goes and faces the hatred of men and women like us that he came to save. 00:13:53.220 --> 00:13:55.580 Hebrews chapter 5 says it like this. 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:57.799 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:01.919 he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:05.319 and tears to the one who could save him from death. 00:14:06.539 --> 00:14:09.639 And he was heard because of his reverence of mission. 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:12.720 Although he was a son, 00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:16.000 he learned obedience from what he suffered. 00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:18.819 And once made perfect, 00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:22.860 he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:29.220 The unjust suffering of Jesus 00:14:29.220 --> 00:14:34.580 was part of the amazing plan of God that has brought salvation to us. 00:14:34.580 --> 00:14:42.259 Now, knowing who is suffering in this psalm 00:14:42.259 --> 00:14:46.060 helps us to make sense of its most difficult verses, 00:14:46.220 --> 00:14:47.740 and that's from verse 22 down. 00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:52.519 May the table set before them become a snare. 00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:54.940 May it become retribution and a trap. 00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:58.019 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see 00:14:58.019 --> 00:14:59.539 and their backs be bent forever. 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:01.940 Pour out your wrath on them. 00:15:02.019 --> 00:15:03.879 Let your fierce anger overtake them. 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:05.799 May their place be deserted. 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:08.240 Let there be no one to dwell in their tents. 00:15:08.680 --> 00:15:10.960 For they persecute those you wound, 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:14.240 and they can talk about the pain of those you hurt. 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:18.779 Charge them with crime upon crime, 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:21.360 and do not let them share in your salvation. 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:24.100 May they be blotted out of the book of life 00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:26.940 and not listed with the righteous. 00:15:31.820 --> 00:15:35.879 So the king calls down God's judgments on his enemies. 00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:41.039 And one way to hear this is something like 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:42.919 vindictive retribution. 00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:45.939 You know Bruce Willis in a die-hard movie 00:15:45.939 --> 00:15:48.500 promising to get back and to get even. 00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:52.519 An angry outburst on your enemies. 00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:56.419 Something that fits really well with turn-or-burn preaching. 00:15:58.779 --> 00:16:00.039 Give it to them, Lord. 00:16:00.459 --> 00:16:01.099 Trap them. 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:02.039 Blind them. 00:16:02.199 --> 00:16:03.579 Wipe them off the face of the earth. 00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:05.419 Don't allow them to share in your salvation. 00:16:05.819 --> 00:16:07.240 Block them out of the book of life. 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:10.379 That's what it says. 00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:17.700 Try that down at Chatswood Mall this afternoon. 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:22.659 Go down and start telling everybody 00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:23.720 that they're going to hell. 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:30.559 People would see us as aggressive, 00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:33.740 judgmental hypocrites with little love. 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:38.320 Who are we to condemn people to hell? 00:16:38.419 --> 00:16:40.460 What makes us better than anybody else? 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:42.100 You can hear it all, can't you? 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:47.180 And in a sense, they would be right. 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:48.519 Who do we think we are? 00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:53.440 Self-righteous frauds who exalt themselves over other people? 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:59.340 People who show none of the grace which has been shown to us in Christ? 00:17:03.180 --> 00:17:05.500 Brothers and sisters, if you are in Christ, 00:17:05.600 --> 00:17:07.660 you have been brought from darkness to light, 00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:10.900 from death to life, 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:13.500 from hate to love, 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:16.259 from judgment to mercy. 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:23.519 And God does not allow us to remain haters of people. 00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:30.779 And the Apostle Paul himself was brought from being merciless to full of mercy. 00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:31.680 He was a hater. 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:37.839 So in Acts 9, it says that Paul was still breathing out murderous threats 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:39.359 against the Lord's disciples. 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:45.439 And he went to the high priest and he asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:48.779 so that if he found any there who belonged to the way, 00:17:48.919 --> 00:17:49.819 whether men or women, 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:52.479 those who belonged to Christ, 00:17:53.159 --> 00:17:56.579 he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:02.139 And by the time that God had finished working on him, 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:05.179 he reflects on his own transformation. 00:18:05.439 --> 00:18:07.599 He says things like in 1 Timothy 1, 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:11.879 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:13.599 of whom I am the worst. 00:18:15.619 --> 00:18:18.799 But for that very reason I was shown mercy, 00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:22.199 so that in me, the worst of sinners, 00:18:22.379 --> 00:18:26.439 Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience 00:18:26.439 --> 00:18:29.240 as an example for those who would believe on him 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:31.279 and receive eternal life. 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:37.779 I think a better way to hear this passage, 00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:38.579 these verses, 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:39.839 these difficult verses, 00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:42.940 is from the king's perspective. 00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:49.599 God's king is the voice behind this song. 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:55.259 The king has been given his role by God himself 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:58.799 and people have hated him for it. 00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:04.019 Jesus told a number of stories predicting this. 00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:06.819 The tenants on the farm who kill and abuse the messengers 00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:08.119 that the farm owner sends 00:19:08.119 --> 00:19:10.619 and finally sends his son 00:19:10.619 --> 00:19:13.159 and they say, 00:19:13.419 --> 00:19:15.919 let's kill him and the inheritance will be ours. 00:19:18.699 --> 00:19:20.739 It's the Garden of Eden all over again. 00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.899 Given the opportunity, 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:25.239 we have shown again and again 00:19:25.239 --> 00:19:27.579 that if we could get God out of our lives, 00:19:27.679 --> 00:19:28.299 we will 00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:30.899 even kill him. 00:19:30.900 --> 00:19:37.400 And that, brothers and sisters, 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:40.160 is injustice on a cosmic scale. 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:47.100 And the Bible says it is driven by the forces of hell. 00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:52.880 And it means that any act of hatred or injustice 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:55.000 that we have experienced 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:59.420 pales in insignificance 00:19:59.420 --> 00:20:03.640 to what all of us have done with Christ. 00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:11.080 God has been amazingly humble and patient 00:20:11.080 --> 00:20:12.800 in putting up with our hatred of him. 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:16.860 But the Bible is very clear 00:20:16.860 --> 00:20:18.720 that he will act against our rejection 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:20.480 and bring it to a final end. 00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:23.060 Acts 17. 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:24.460 Again, I said this last week. 00:20:24.560 --> 00:20:25.680 God has set a day 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:28.680 when he will judge the world with justice 00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:30.200 by the man he has appointed. 00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:34.160 And he has given proof of this to all people 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:35.980 by raising him from the dead. 00:20:40.779 --> 00:20:43.460 The judgments in this psalm 00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:46.100 are an inconvenient truth. 00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:52.840 Eyes are darkened to God's truth. 00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:56.319 people will experience his anger. 00:20:56.319 --> 00:21:00.699 They will be charged for their crimes. 00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:03.720 They will miss out on salvation. 00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:07.599 Their names will be blotted out of the book of life. 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:13.699 Make no mistake that God's patience 00:21:13.699 --> 00:21:15.779 must give way to justice. 00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:19.319 And putting your head in the sand 00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:21.700 will not prevent or slow 00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:23.559 God's great day of judgment. 00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:28.839 And what a good thing. 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:33.279 In Revelation 6, verse 9, 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:35.720 Jesus opens the fifth seal 00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:37.259 and I saw under the altar 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:39.259 the souls of those 00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.500 who had been slain 00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:41.759 because of the word of God 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.639 and the testimony they had maintained. 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:46.880 And they called out in a loud voice 00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:48.480 how long, sovereign Lord, 00:21:48.600 --> 00:21:49.500 holy and true 00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:53.200 until you judge the inhabitants of the earth 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:54.620 and avenge our blood. 00:21:58.320 --> 00:22:00.100 See, God will bring justice 00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:02.280 not just for his beloved 00:22:02.280 --> 00:22:03.460 but hated son. 00:22:04.620 --> 00:22:05.980 He will bring justice 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:07.840 for everyone who has been hated 00:22:07.840 --> 00:22:09.080 because of Christ. 00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:12.720 If the world hates you 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:13.599 bear in mind 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:15.899 that it hated me first 00:22:15.899 --> 00:22:19.619 we will be vindicated. 00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:24.539 And so it's good and right 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:26.379 to long for God's day of judgment. 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:30.659 Believers will be safe on it. 00:22:31.659 --> 00:22:33.980 We have been shown mercy and kindness 00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:35.859 from God that we could never deserve. 00:22:35.859 --> 00:22:40.699 But we have no personal right 00:22:40.699 --> 00:22:42.639 to glory in the destruction of others. 00:22:43.959 --> 00:22:45.539 Because in God's economy 00:22:45.539 --> 00:22:47.099 anybody who goes to hell 00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:48.219 goes to the place 00:22:48.219 --> 00:22:50.459 where every single one of us 00:22:50.459 --> 00:22:51.419 deserves to go. 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:56.139 Fear of God's judgment 00:22:56.139 --> 00:22:57.139 was the jolt 00:22:57.139 --> 00:22:58.959 that brought me to him. 00:23:01.199 --> 00:23:02.379 And in that moment 00:23:02.379 --> 00:23:03.240 when he showed me 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:04.559 how undeserving I was 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:05.500 of special treatment 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.139 from him 00:23:06.139 --> 00:23:08.519 that was the moment 00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:09.399 when I understood 00:23:09.399 --> 00:23:10.500 the mercy of Christ 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.559 for the very first time 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:12.319 in my life. 00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:14.539 And I cried out 00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:15.539 to God for mercy. 00:23:16.639 --> 00:23:17.779 Save me, O God. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:22.579 The psalmist is hated. 00:23:24.379 --> 00:23:25.759 God's king is hated. 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:28.779 The Lord Jesus Christ 00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:30.480 God himself was 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:32.059 and is hated 00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:33.019 by some 00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:35.940 but there is safety 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.599 for everyone 00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:37.619 who cries to him 00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:38.720 save me, O God. 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.839 So brothers and sisters 00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:44.000 don't walk away 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.919 from this song 00:23:44.919 --> 00:23:47.059 grumbling against 00:23:47.059 --> 00:23:47.519 a God 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.419 who sends people 00:23:48.419 --> 00:23:48.980 to hell 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:50.500 who blots them out 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.759 of his book of life. 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:55.299 See the nature 00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:56.480 of our hate of him. 00:23:57.940 --> 00:23:59.159 See the injustice 00:23:59.160 --> 00:24:00.200 of this world. 00:24:01.360 --> 00:24:02.779 See our extraordinary 00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:03.800 arrogance 00:24:03.800 --> 00:24:05.000 and wickedness. 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:08.680 Delight that injustice 00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:09.660 won't prevail. 00:24:11.060 --> 00:24:12.759 Rejoice that perfect justice 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.460 will reign. 00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:16.180 Rejoice that the world 00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:17.160 in which children 00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:18.120 are killed 00:24:18.120 --> 00:24:19.420 in natural disasters 00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:20.720 and people do wicked 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:22.340 things to one another 00:24:22.340 --> 00:24:23.040 will be brought 00:24:23.040 --> 00:24:23.820 to an end. 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:26.700 Marvel that God 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.519 in his goodness 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.960 has given us Christ. 00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:30.539 Praise him 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:31.319 that on the great 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:32.160 day of judgment 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:33.039 we will receive 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:34.200 mercy and kindness 00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:35.460 that we can never 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.139 deserve. 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.759 That every wrong 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:38.319 in the world 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:39.200 will be put right. 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:42.700 See it's confidence 00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.559 in the justice 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:44.059 of God 00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:44.779 that allows 00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:46.160 the hated king 00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:46.700 to finish 00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.639 Psalm 69 00:24:47.639 --> 00:24:48.480 full of hope. 00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:49.339 He can look beyond 00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:50.379 his present suffering 00:24:50.379 --> 00:24:51.539 and he can say 00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.200 there is more 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:53.019 there is hope. 00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:54.920 Verse 30 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:56.000 people will praise 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.700 God's name 00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:57.240 in song 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:58.140 and they will glorify 00:24:58.140 --> 00:24:59.140 him with thanksgiving. 00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:00.980 Verse 32 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:02.080 the poor will see 00:25:02.080 --> 00:25:02.920 and they will be glad. 00:25:03.080 --> 00:25:03.860 Verse 34 00:25:03.860 --> 00:25:04.800 heaven and earth 00:25:04.800 --> 00:25:05.720 will praise him. 00:25:06.580 --> 00:25:07.580 And verse 36 00:25:07.580 --> 00:25:08.960 children of his servants 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:09.580 will inherit 00:25:09.580 --> 00:25:10.500 his holy city 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:11.800 and those who love 00:25:11.800 --> 00:25:12.279 his name 00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:13.019 will dwell there. 00:25:14.800 --> 00:25:15.800 Praise God 00:25:15.800 --> 00:25:16.820 for his justice. 00:25:17.860 --> 00:25:18.519 Praise God 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.380 for his mercy. 00:25:20.620 --> 00:25:21.600 Please God 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:22.699 help us 00:25:22.699 --> 00:25:24.039 to be generous 00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:24.719 in offering 00:25:24.719 --> 00:25:25.919 your mercy 00:25:25.919 --> 00:25:26.699 to others 00:25:26.699 --> 00:25:28.539 that they too 00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:29.279 might escape 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:30.779 your perfect justice. 00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:32.659 Amen.