WEBVTT

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 Psalm 26, verses 1 to 12.

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 I'll read it out loud.

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 Of David, vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity,

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 and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.

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 Prove me, O Lord, and try me.

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 Test my heart and my mind, for your steadfast love is before my eyes,

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 and I walk in your faithfulness.

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 I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites.

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 I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.

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 I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O Lord,

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 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud and telling all your wondrous deeds.

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 O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.

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 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men,

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 in whose hands are evil devices and whose right hands are full of bribes.

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 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity.

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 Redeem me and be gracious to me.

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 My foot stands on level ground in the great assembly.

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 I will bless the Lord.

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 This whole psalm is really about integrity, the need to walk with integrity.

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 So verse 1 begins,

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 Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity,

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 and I have trust in the Lord without wavering.

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 And then it ends, concludes the psalm in verse 11,

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 with this referencing integrity again.

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 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity.

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 Redeem me and be gracious to me.

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 And when we normally think of integrity, we think of honesty, right,

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 and moral uprightness.

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 And that's true, but that's because that's an entailment,

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 an implication of integrity.

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 The fundamental meaning of integrity is to be whole, to be undivided.

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 So it's kind of what David talks about and prays for in Psalm 86, 11,

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 where he says,

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 Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness,

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 give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

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 So because someone who has integrity before God

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 is wholly devoted to God, in every way given to God,

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 that person behaves consistently in every manner of life,

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 in every aspect of life,

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 which is why that person behaves with honesty and moral uprightness.

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 And that's where we get that secondary definition of integrity.

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 And if there were, you know, multiple gods that demand our allegiance,

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 then there would be a cause for, you know,

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 having divided allegiances and loyalties.

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 But because there's only one true God,

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 that's why the Bible calls for integrity,

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 that we should be whole and undivided, complete in our devotion to God.

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 And there's two parts to living with integrity,

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 two aspects of it, really, that this passage talks about,

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 the psalm talks about.

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 And the first part is to live before God's steadfast love.

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 And the second part is to live before God's faithfulness.

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 And those are the two kind of cardinal attributes of God

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 revealed in Exodus 34.

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 It says, 34 verse 6, it says,

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 declares that God is abounding in love and faithfulness.

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 That's steadfast love and faithfulness,

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 so two characteristics of God.

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 And so let's start with talking about faithfulness.

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 What does it mean to live before God's faithfulness?

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 We usually think of, you know,

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 when we hear the word faithfulness,

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 of God's faithfulness toward us, right?

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 He's good to us.

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 He's always faithful to us.

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 We think about it that way.

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 But faithfulness, biblically,

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 has first to do with God's faithfulness to himself.

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 When it talks about the word faithful,

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 it's sometimes translated as truth.

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 It's the same word.

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 So it's God's truthfulness, his truth.

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 That's his faithfulness.

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 And the reason why we think about that

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 is the reason why God's always good toward us

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 is because he's always true to himself.

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 And he is a merciful and gracious God.

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 And because he's always true to himself,

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 that's where we get the sense that he's faithful to us,

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 always good to us.

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 So it really is speaking of the fact

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 that God's not contingent on anything.

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 He doesn't change.

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 His posture toward us is not dependent on the circumstances.

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 He's not subject to changing whims or moods.

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 He doesn't have mood swings like we do.

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 And so he's always faithful and true,

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 as Revelation 3.14 says.

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 And that's in contrast to us as human beings.

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 We have frequently changing moods.

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 We are situations,

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 our character is frequently swayed back and forth

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 depending on the circumstances.

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 It's contingent often on the circumstances.

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 So for example,

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 when we're lured by the prospect of wealth,

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 right,

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 or blinded by fear of scarcity,

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 of having not enough,

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 then we resort to greed and selfishness, right?

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 Our character is affected by that.

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 When pressured by approaching deadlines,

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 right,

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 whether it be from work or school,

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 right,

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 we become impatient with people,

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 right?

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 When tired or hungry,

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 we become liable to anger,

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 right?

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 When praised by other people,

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 we kind of swell up,

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 you know,

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 with pride

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 and think more highly of ourselves than others.

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 When we are criticized

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 or unrecognized by other people

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 for what we are doing

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 and who we are,

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 then we shrivel up,

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 right,

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 and we turn to self-pity

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 or self-loathing,

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 right?

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 And so it's,

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 it's for us,

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 it's often that we,

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 you know,

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 James 1.14 talks about this,

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 each person is tempted

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 when they are dragged away

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 by their own desire

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 and enticed,

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 right?

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 That's,

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 that's often describes us,

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 right?

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 The root of sin

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 is the desire

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 of our hearts

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 and so often for us,

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 it's our internal condition,

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 it's our external circumstances

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 that affect us

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 more than our internal condition,

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 our character.

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 And of course,

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 but,

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 but in contrast,

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 God's unchanging

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 and that's what he's talking about

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 when he says that God

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 is always faithful and true.

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 That,

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 and that's why

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 walking with integrity,

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 living before God

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 in wholeness

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 and undividedness

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 entails

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 living not according

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 to our circumstances

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 but according to God's truth.

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 That no matter

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 what's happening around us,

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 no matter the storms

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 in our lives,

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 the whirlwinds

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 in our lives,

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 we're able to live

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 according to God's truth

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 that he's faithful

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 and he's true to himself.

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 And so that's,

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 that's one part,

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 but if,

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 you know,

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 if we understand

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 God's faithfulness,

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 however,

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 apart from God's love,

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 then that becomes scary,

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 right?

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 Because if God's always

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 true to himself

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 and he's always true

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 to his holiness

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 but we don't understand

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 his love toward us,

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 then that's a scary prospect.

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 I don't know if you guys

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 have read George Orwell's book,

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 1984,

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 right?

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 So it talks about how

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 the big brother

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 is watching you,

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 right?

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 It says the refrain.

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 It's a big brother.

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 You guys know the concept

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 of the big brother.

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 There's someone always

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 watching you

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 and controlling you.

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 It's in a totalitarian state,

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 right?

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 And that would be

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 what it's like.

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 If God's always true,

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 he's sovereign,

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 he's omnipresent,

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 he's everywhere,

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 he's always faithful,

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 true to himself,

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 and he's holy,

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 that would be a scary thing

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 to live under

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 if we understand

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 God's truthfulness,

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 his faithfulness

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 apart from God's love.

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 So it's important

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 that we live also

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 before God's steadfast love

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 and that's what

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 verse 3 is talking about.

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 Your steadfast love

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 is before my eyes.

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 And God is loving,

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 so the fact that

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 God's true to himself

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 always means that

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 God's always loving

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 toward us as well.

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 And this is so important

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 in our walk with God,

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 in our communion with God.

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 And John Owen

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 is a 17th century

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 Oxford theologian

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 and he writes about

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 the importance

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 of keeping God's love

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 in his book

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 Communion with God.

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 And he writes that

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 nothing grieves God

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 more than our

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 hard thoughts,

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 he says.

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 Meaning,

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 hard thoughts about him,

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 like the thoughts

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 that doubt God's goodness

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 toward us.

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 The hard thoughts,

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 believing that God's

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 not really gracious

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 and compassionate

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 toward us.

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 So these kind of

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 hard thoughts,

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 thinking that he's

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 hard toward us,

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 it grieves God

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 more than anything else,

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 he writes.

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 And the reason why,

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 he says,

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 is because God knows

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 how unwilling

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 is a child to come

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 into the presence

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 of an angry father.

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 So Owen continues,

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 if our soul only knew

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 this love of the father,

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 it could not bear

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 an hour's absence

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 from him,

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 whereas now perhaps

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 it cannot watch with him

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 one hour.

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 So if we really understood,

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 I'm going to probably

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 share that on Sunday as well,

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 but if we really understood

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 God's steadfast love

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 toward us,

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 that he really is

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 as gracious

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 as he says he is,

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 and that he always

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 is that way,

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 and without changing,

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 he's always that way,

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 then that would make us

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 long to be in his presence,

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 that would make us

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 want to pursue him,

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 it would make us eager

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 to come into his presence,

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 not reluctant

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 or hesitant.

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 And when we understand

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 this steadfast love

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 and faithfulness,

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 that's when we can be

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 unwavering in our trust,

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 as David says he is

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 here in this psalm.

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 So that's the meaning

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 of integrity,

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 but then what's the key

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 to integrity?

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 How can we live

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 with integrity?

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 So he unpacks this,

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 so in first,

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 verses four to five,

00:09:50.839 --> 00:09:52.459
 he speaks of the assembly

00:09:52.459 --> 00:09:53.379
 of evildoers,

00:09:53.539 --> 00:09:54.719
 he avoids the assembly

00:09:54.719 --> 00:09:55.379
 of evildoers,

00:09:56.019 --> 00:09:57.199
 and in verses six to seven,

00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:58.239
 he speaks of the assembly

00:09:58.239 --> 00:09:58.719
 of God.

00:09:59.419 --> 00:10:00.559
 So that's the key

00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:01.439
 to living in integrity,

00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:02.339
 avoiding the assembly

00:10:02.339 --> 00:10:02.959
 of evildoers,

00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:04.079
 and being part of

00:10:04.079 --> 00:10:04.959
 the assembly of God.

00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:06.859
 So verses four to five,

00:10:06.939 --> 00:10:07.419
 read with me,

00:10:07.500 --> 00:10:07.699
 it says,

00:10:08.319 --> 00:10:09.659
 I do not sit with men

00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:10.379
 of falsehood,

00:10:10.459 --> 00:10:11.399
 nor do I consort

00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:12.199
 with hypocrites.

00:10:12.719 --> 00:10:13.639
 I hate the assembly

00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:14.419
 of evildoers,

00:10:14.479 --> 00:10:15.379
 and I will not sit

00:10:15.379 --> 00:10:16.419
 with the wicked.

00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:20.799
 And note the contrast

00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:21.819
 here between verse three

00:10:21.819 --> 00:10:22.539
 and verse four, right?

00:10:22.599 --> 00:10:23.459
 It just talked about

00:10:23.459 --> 00:10:24.379
 God's faithfulness,

00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:25.439
 which can also be translated

00:10:25.439 --> 00:10:26.279
 as God's truth,

00:10:26.819 --> 00:10:27.919
 and then immediately

00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:28.819
 after that in verse four,

00:10:28.859 --> 00:10:29.599
 it talks about men

00:10:29.599 --> 00:10:30.399
 of falsehood.

00:10:30.859 --> 00:10:31.599
 So these men

00:10:31.599 --> 00:10:32.459
 are not characterized

00:10:32.459 --> 00:10:33.319
 by God's truth,

00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:33.939
 they're characterized

00:10:33.939 --> 00:10:34.659
 by falsehood.

00:10:34.659 --> 00:10:35.740
 They're the wicked,

00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:36.480
 they're the assembly

00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:37.379
 of evildoers,

00:10:37.659 --> 00:10:38.459
 they're hypocrites.

00:10:39.259 --> 00:10:40.319
 And in order to keep

00:10:40.319 --> 00:10:40.899
 his integrity,

00:10:41.059 --> 00:10:42.539
 David says that he avoids

00:10:42.539 --> 00:10:43.639
 the company of these men.

00:10:44.539 --> 00:10:46.259
 He refuses to consort

00:10:46.259 --> 00:10:46.679
 with them.

00:10:47.579 --> 00:10:48.779
 And so in doing so,

00:10:48.819 --> 00:10:49.679
 he's exemplifying

00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:51.419
 what Paul commands

00:10:51.419 --> 00:10:54.259
 in verse Corinthians 1533.

00:10:54.899 --> 00:10:55.120
 He says,

00:10:55.219 --> 00:10:56.360
 do not be misled,

00:10:56.799 --> 00:10:58.059
 bad company corrupts

00:10:58.059 --> 00:10:58.639
 good character.

00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:01.439
 We're badly mistaken

00:11:01.439 --> 00:11:02.539
 if we think that

00:11:02.539 --> 00:11:03.799
 we can walk in integrity

00:11:03.799 --> 00:11:04.860
 amidst bad company.

00:11:05.299 --> 00:11:06.299
 We're always affected

00:11:06.299 --> 00:11:07.379
 by the people around us.

00:11:07.539 --> 00:11:08.340
 And there's a lot of

00:11:08.340 --> 00:11:10.419
 self-help gurus

00:11:10.419 --> 00:11:11.720
 nowadays talk about this.

00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:13.159
 It's just that you are

00:11:13.159 --> 00:11:14.679
 an average of the five

00:11:14.679 --> 00:11:15.580
 closest associates

00:11:15.580 --> 00:11:16.179
 around you.

00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:17.159
 Even your income.

00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:19.340
 Yes, even your income,

00:11:19.439 --> 00:11:19.939
 they say, right?

00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:21.679
 So they say,

00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:23.240
 you're going to look like

00:11:23.240 --> 00:11:24.000
 the people you're around.

00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:26.100
 And that's the heart

00:11:26.100 --> 00:11:27.019
 of discipleship,

00:11:27.139 --> 00:11:27.679
 really, imitation.

00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:29.580
 And so he says,

00:11:29.820 --> 00:11:30.039
 David,

00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:31.320
 one of the keys to integrity

00:11:31.320 --> 00:11:32.600
 is avoid bad company.

00:11:32.740 --> 00:11:33.980
 Avoid people who do not

00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:34.519
 follow God,

00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:35.340
 do not honor God.

00:11:36.539 --> 00:11:37.320
 And then verses,

00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:41.159
 and well,

00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:41.879
 I should add there

00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:43.139
 that this doesn't mean

00:11:43.139 --> 00:11:43.960
 that we should dissociate

00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:45.139
 with unbelievers altogether.

00:11:45.659 --> 00:11:46.659
 We still reach out

00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:47.360
 to them in love.

00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:48.659
 We minister to them,

00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:50.139
 but we don't consort

00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:50.799
 with them

00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:52.299
 in participating

00:11:52.299 --> 00:11:53.299
 in their wickedness

00:11:53.299 --> 00:11:54.120
 and the evil doing

00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:55.620
 and taking counsel

00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:56.120
 with them.

00:11:56.299 --> 00:11:57.240
 And we do not

00:11:57.240 --> 00:11:58.819
 number them

00:11:58.819 --> 00:11:59.599
 as the people

00:11:59.599 --> 00:12:00.639
 who define us

00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:03.159
 and that define

00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:03.819
 our activities

00:12:03.819 --> 00:12:04.579
 and our identity.

00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:07.599
 And then verses 6 to 8,

00:12:07.939 --> 00:12:10.219
 David then turns

00:12:10.219 --> 00:12:11.279
 to the assembly of God.

00:12:11.439 --> 00:12:11.659
 It says,

00:12:12.099 --> 00:12:13.059
 I wash my hands

00:12:13.059 --> 00:12:13.519
 in innocence

00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:14.279
 and go around

00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:14.799
 your altar,

00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:15.219
 O Lord,

00:12:15.339 --> 00:12:16.439
 proclaiming thanksgiving

00:12:16.439 --> 00:12:17.319
 aloud and telling

00:12:17.319 --> 00:12:18.539
 all your wondrous deeds.

00:12:18.959 --> 00:12:19.439
 O Lord,

00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:20.879
 I love the habitation

00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:21.599
 of your house

00:12:21.599 --> 00:12:22.240
 and the place

00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:23.659
 where your glory dwells.

00:12:24.139 --> 00:12:25.419
 So this is a description

00:12:25.419 --> 00:12:26.639
 of worship in the temple

00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:27.600
 at the time,

00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:28.299
 Davidic times.

00:12:28.820 --> 00:12:29.500
 And it's confirmed

00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:30.440
 by verse 12

00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:31.100
 where it says,

00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:32.379
 My foot stands

00:12:32.379 --> 00:12:33.220
 on level ground

00:12:33.220 --> 00:12:34.560
 in the great assembly.

00:12:35.019 --> 00:12:35.759
 I will bless the Lord.

00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:36.519
 That's the same word

00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:36.940
 that was used

00:12:36.940 --> 00:12:37.480
 to describe

00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:38.940
 the assembly of evildoers.

00:12:39.580 --> 00:12:40.080
 So here,

00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:41.180
 it's contrasting

00:12:41.180 --> 00:12:42.220
 those two companies

00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:42.820
 intentionally.

00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:44.080
 And so,

00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:46.180
 in order to walk

00:12:46.180 --> 00:12:47.100
 in integrity then,

00:12:47.180 --> 00:12:48.019
 then we need

00:12:48.019 --> 00:12:49.180
 to live in the midst

00:12:49.179 --> 00:12:50.159
 of the assembly

00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:51.059
 of God,

00:12:51.219 --> 00:12:52.179
 assembly of the righteous.

00:12:53.199 --> 00:12:54.000
 And that's,

00:12:54.319 --> 00:12:56.859
 assembly is crucial

00:12:56.859 --> 00:12:58.159
 for our spiritual formation.

00:12:58.579 --> 00:12:59.599
 In the New Testament,

00:12:59.739 --> 00:12:59.959
 of course,

00:13:00.059 --> 00:13:00.659
 the assembly,

00:13:01.199 --> 00:13:02.219
 another word for assembly

00:13:02.219 --> 00:13:02.799
 is church.

00:13:03.359 --> 00:13:05.139
 It's the gathered church

00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:06.559
 is called an assembly

00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:08.159
 throughout the New Testament.

00:13:08.959 --> 00:13:09.519
 And if,

00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:10.139
 because if you are

00:13:10.139 --> 00:13:11.219
 in the presence of God,

00:13:11.299 --> 00:13:12.019
 if you're in the company

00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:12.959
 of God's people,

00:13:13.179 --> 00:13:13.740
 then you're going

00:13:13.740 --> 00:13:15.000
 to become more like God

00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:15.379
 and you're going

00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:15.620
 to be able

00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:16.740
 to walk in integrity.

00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:18.419
 Because the spirit of Christ

00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:19.340
 is powerfully active

00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:21.039
 in the body of Christ

00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:22.240
 when they're gathered together

00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:22.820
 in unity.

00:13:23.700 --> 00:13:25.100
 And that's why

00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:25.879
 corporate worship

00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.840
 is important, right?

00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:27.139
 See,

00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:27.980
 Ephesians 4,

00:13:28.060 --> 00:13:29.100
 15 to 16 says,

00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:30.340
 Speaking the truth

00:13:30.340 --> 00:13:30.720
 in love,

00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:31.700
 we will grow

00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:33.240
 to become in every respect

00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:34.720
 the mature body of him

00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:35.320
 who is the head

00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:36.000
 that is Christ.

00:13:36.460 --> 00:13:37.100
 From him,

00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:37.879
 the whole body

00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:39.120
 joined and held together

00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:40.500
 by every supporting ligament

00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:42.299
 grows and builds

00:13:42.299 --> 00:13:43.279
 itself up in love

00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:45.340
 as each part

00:13:45.340 --> 00:13:46.720
 does its work.

00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:48.759
 It's when

00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:49.460
 the whole body

00:13:49.460 --> 00:13:50.060
 gathered together,

00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:50.639
 each part

00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:51.980
 does its work,

00:13:52.039 --> 00:13:52.720
 that's when

00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:53.500
 the church matures,

00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:54.440
 that's when we mature

00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:55.200
 as individuals

00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:57.320
 also in God's presence,

00:13:57.419 --> 00:13:58.580
 in God's body.

00:13:59.399 --> 00:13:59.659
 And so,

00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:00.519
 and that's why

00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:01.299
 the assembly

00:14:01.299 --> 00:14:02.180
 is so important

00:14:02.180 --> 00:14:02.600
 here at Tux,

00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:03.060
 but there can be

00:14:03.060 --> 00:14:04.019
 no Christian maturity

00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:05.340
 apart from

00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:06.000
 the assembly

00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.680
 of God's people,

00:14:06.779 --> 00:14:07.360
 from the church.

00:14:08.180 --> 00:14:08.820
 And so David says

00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:09.299
 in verse 8,

00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:10.899
 I'd love the habitation

00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:11.560
 of your house

00:14:11.560 --> 00:14:12.519
 and the place

00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:14.039
 where your glory dwells.

00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:15.200
 And that's challenging

00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:15.799
 to think about.

00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:16.799
 Do we love

00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:17.479
 the habitation

00:14:17.479 --> 00:14:18.699
 of God's house?

00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:19.259
 Do we love

00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:19.699
 to gather

00:14:19.699 --> 00:14:20.399
 with his people,

00:14:20.579 --> 00:14:21.139
 assemble with them

00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:21.599
 to worship?

00:14:23.539 --> 00:14:23.899
 And so,

00:14:24.059 --> 00:14:24.799
 Christian integrity

00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:26.099
 consists in

00:14:26.099 --> 00:14:27.839
 living in light

00:14:27.839 --> 00:14:28.240
 of God's

00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:28.879
 steadfast love

00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:29.659
 and faithfulness.

00:14:30.059 --> 00:14:30.740
 And then the key

00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:31.439
 to that integrity

00:14:31.439 --> 00:14:32.299
 is assembly,

00:14:32.659 --> 00:14:33.579
 avoiding the assembly

00:14:33.579 --> 00:14:34.240
 of evildoers

00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:36.399
 and being in,

00:14:36.699 --> 00:14:37.459
 participating in

00:14:37.459 --> 00:14:37.839
 the assembly

00:14:37.839 --> 00:14:39.299
 of God's people.

00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:40.500
 But it's important

00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:40.979
 to note

00:14:40.979 --> 00:14:42.000
 at the conclusion

00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:42.360
 of this

00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:43.159
 that David's

00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:43.519
 not here

00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:44.120
 talking about

00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:45.120
 absolute integrity

00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:46.360
 because he wasn't

00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:46.759
 perfect.

00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:48.000
 He was a sinful man

00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:48.759
 like all of us.

00:14:49.620 --> 00:14:50.740
 And we know

00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:51.720
 that he understands

00:14:51.720 --> 00:14:52.259
 this because

00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:53.879
 he says in verse 2,

00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:55.000
 prove me,

00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:55.580
 O Lord,

00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:56.399
 and try me.

00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:57.220
 Test my heart

00:14:57.220 --> 00:14:57.779
 and my mind.

00:14:58.500 --> 00:14:59.399
 The word prove

00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:00.980
 here is language

00:15:00.980 --> 00:15:01.759
 that's associated

00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:02.720
 primarily with

00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:03.559
 smelting

00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:04.179
 and refining

00:15:04.179 --> 00:15:04.539
 metal.

00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:05.200
 Right?

00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:06.299
 So where you

00:15:06.299 --> 00:15:07.240
 refine metal

00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:07.940
 to get rid of

00:15:07.940 --> 00:15:08.500
 the dross

00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:09.120
 and to bring out

00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:09.840
 the pure metal.

00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:10.200
 Right?

00:15:10.580 --> 00:15:11.560
 So when he says

00:15:11.560 --> 00:15:12.179
 prove me,

00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:12.779
 he's not just

00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:13.340
 asking God

00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:14.019
 to test him

00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:14.580
 but he's also

00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:15.159
 asking God

00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:16.120
 to refine him,

00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:17.679
 to purify him.

00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:19.399
 And so,

00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:20.480
 and we see that

00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:21.419
 also in verse 11

00:15:21.419 --> 00:15:21.879
 where he says,

00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:22.779
 but as for me,

00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:24.139
 I shall walk

00:15:24.139 --> 00:15:25.220
 in my integrity,

00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.620
 redeem me

00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:27.480
 and be gracious

00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:27.919
 to me.

00:15:28.340 --> 00:15:28.480
 Right?

00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:29.360
 So he recognizes

00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:30.159
 that even as

00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:31.200
 he's approaching God

00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:31.580
 and saying,

00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:32.220
 you know,

00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:32.980
 compared to

00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:33.840
 those people

00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.360
 who are living

00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:35.159
 without reference

00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:35.600
 to you,

00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:36.560
 I am living

00:15:36.560 --> 00:15:37.080
 in integrity.

00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:38.240
 I am following you

00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:38.519
 and living

00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:38.840
 in reference

00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:39.240
 to you.

00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:40.299
 But even as

00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:40.860
 he says that,

00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:41.480
 he recognizes

00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:42.039
 he needs

00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:42.720
 God's redemption.

00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:43.460
 He needs

00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:44.059
 God's grace.

00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:44.600
 So he says,

00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:45.919
 I will walk

00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:46.500
 in my integrity

00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.600
 but redeem me

00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:48.679
 and be gracious

00:15:48.679 --> 00:15:49.779
 to me.

00:15:51.460 --> 00:15:53.379
 And that's why

00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.000
 ultimately,

00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:54.819
 because no one

00:15:54.819 --> 00:15:56.360
 walks with

00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:57.579
 complete integrity,

00:15:58.139 --> 00:15:59.199
 God had to send

00:15:59.199 --> 00:16:00.860
 Jesus who alone

00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:01.500
 walked with

00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.519
 perfect integrity,

00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:03.360
 who alone

00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:04.399
 had undivided

00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:05.699
 heart toward God

00:16:05.699 --> 00:16:06.919
 to live the

00:16:06.919 --> 00:16:07.740
 perfect life

00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:08.319
 of obedience

00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:08.940
 and then to

00:16:08.940 --> 00:16:09.600
 die for our

00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:10.060
 sins as

00:16:10.060 --> 00:16:10.580
 an atonement.

00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:11.800
 And so,

00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:12.640
 and when

00:16:12.640 --> 00:16:13.700
 we believe

00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:14.360
 in him,

00:16:14.660 --> 00:16:15.660
 that's when

00:16:15.660 --> 00:16:16.100
 we're covered

00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:16.800
 by his blood

00:16:16.800 --> 00:16:17.720
 and that's when

00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:18.440
 his integrity

00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:19.060
 becomes our

00:16:19.060 --> 00:16:19.460
 integrity

00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:20.060
 and God

00:16:20.060 --> 00:16:20.460
 can truly

00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:21.120
 say of us

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:21.720
 and we can

00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:22.320
 truly say to

00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:22.500
 God,

00:16:22.640 --> 00:16:23.020
 prove me,

00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:23.400
 O Lord,

00:16:23.780 --> 00:16:24.400
 and try me,

00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:25.220
 test my heart

00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:25.800
 and my mind

00:16:25.800 --> 00:16:26.920
 and be rest

00:16:26.920 --> 00:16:27.600
 assured that

00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:29.240
 we will be

00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:29.780
 justified

00:16:29.780 --> 00:16:30.400
 because we

00:16:30.400 --> 00:16:30.820
 have been

00:16:30.820 --> 00:16:31.400
 justified by

00:16:31.400 --> 00:16:31.760
 Christ,

00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:32.640
 that we will

00:16:32.640 --> 00:16:33.560
 be accepted

00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:34.079
 by the

00:16:34.079 --> 00:16:34.399
 Father.

00:16:35.219 --> 00:16:35.559
 And this

00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:37.179
 is so

00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:37.799
 helpful for

00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:38.139
 us because

00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:38.679
 for us,

00:16:38.779 --> 00:16:39.719
 David didn't

00:16:39.719 --> 00:16:40.859
 know Jesus,

00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:41.239
 right?

00:16:41.339 --> 00:16:41.539
 I mean,

00:16:41.599 --> 00:16:42.779
 as a prophet,

00:16:42.939 --> 00:16:43.459
 maybe he looked

00:16:43.459 --> 00:16:44.279
 ahead to Jesus,

00:16:44.939 --> 00:16:45.500
 but he doesn't

00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:46.299
 know Jesus as we

00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:46.719
 know him.

00:16:47.719 --> 00:16:49.339
 And so for us,

00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:50.219
 we have even more

00:16:50.219 --> 00:16:50.759
 reason to be

00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:51.579
 assured of God's

00:16:51.579 --> 00:16:52.079
 steadfast love

00:16:52.079 --> 00:16:52.779
 and faithfulness

00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:53.599
 because we've

00:16:53.599 --> 00:16:54.459
 seen the ultimate

00:16:54.459 --> 00:16:55.699
 demonstration of

00:16:55.699 --> 00:16:56.500
 that in Jesus

00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.199
 dying for our

00:16:57.199 --> 00:16:57.459
 sins.

00:16:58.180 --> 00:16:58.639
 And so then

00:16:58.639 --> 00:16:59.259
 when we look

00:16:59.259 --> 00:16:59.980
 at that and

00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:01.080
 we consider the

00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:01.620
 fact that Jesus'

00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:02.759
 integrity is ours,

00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:05.259
 then we don't,

00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:06.200
 when we think of

00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:06.779
 God, we shouldn't

00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.559
 think that God's,

00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:07.799
 you know,

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.200
 wagging his

00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:10.220
 finger at us or

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:11.259
 shaking his head

00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:12.400
 at us in

00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.240
 disgust or

00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:14.039
 wagging his

00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:14.759
 finger at us in

00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:15.380
 disappointment.

00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:16.680
 He's pleased

00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:17.220
 with us.

00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:19.480
 He delights in

00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.299
 us in the same

00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:20.860
 way he delights

00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:21.579
 over his son

00:17:21.579 --> 00:17:22.819
 because his

00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:23.720
 son's integrity

00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:24.420
 is ours.

00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:25.740
 He sees Jesus

00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:26.480
 when he sees

00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.400
 us.

00:17:28.100 --> 00:17:28.620
 And so with

00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:29.180
 that in mind,

00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:30.220
 then we can

00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:30.920
 keep God's

00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:31.480
 steadfast love

00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.100
 and faithfulness

00:17:32.100 --> 00:17:32.660
 before our

00:17:32.660 --> 00:17:33.799
 eyes and

00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:34.579
 that's what's

00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.100
 going to help

00:17:35.100 --> 00:17:35.960
 us to walk

00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:36.600
 in integrity.

00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:38.019
 So let's

00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:38.960
 keep that in

00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:39.940
 mind and turn

00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:40.559
 to him in

00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:40.860
 prayer.

00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:44.500
 Let's sing

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.640
 God over all

00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:46.360
 and then

00:17:46.360 --> 00:17:48.420
 begin praying

00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:49.000
 a prayer

00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:49.299
 for that

00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:49.600
 oration.