WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.880 A prayer of David. 00:00:01.879 --> 00:00:05.599 Hear a just cause, O Lord. 00:00:06.360 --> 00:00:07.519 Attend to my cry. 00:00:08.879 --> 00:00:11.739 Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit. 00:00:12.780 --> 00:00:15.500 From your presence let my vindication come. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:17.080 Let your eyes behold the right. 00:00:18.460 --> 00:00:20.059 You have tried my heart. 00:00:20.699 --> 00:00:22.280 You have visited me by night. 00:00:22.939 --> 00:00:25.000 You have tested me and you will find nothing. 00:00:26.219 --> 00:00:28.800 I have purpose that my mouth will not transgress. 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:36.480 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips, I have avoided the ways of the violent. 00:00:37.340 --> 00:00:39.480 My steps have held fast to your paths. 00:00:39.560 --> 00:00:41.179 My feet have not slipped. 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:46.240 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God. 00:00:47.260 --> 00:00:48.400 Incline your ear to me. 00:00:48.500 --> 00:00:49.359 Hear my words. 00:00:50.579 --> 00:00:56.799 Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries, 00:00:56.799 --> 00:00:59.039 adversaries at your right hand. 00:01:00.219 --> 00:01:02.259 Keep me as the apple of your eye. 00:01:03.479 --> 00:01:05.500 Hide me in the shadow of your wings. 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:07.819 From the wicked who do me violence. 00:01:07.979 --> 00:01:09.920 My deadly enemies who surround me. 00:01:11.679 --> 00:01:13.479 They close their hearts to pity. 00:01:14.299 --> 00:01:16.239 With their mouths they speak arrogantly. 00:01:17.299 --> 00:01:18.959 They've now surrounded our steps. 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:21.539 They've set their eyes to cast us to the ground. 00:01:21.540 --> 00:01:26.800 He is like a lion eager to tear as a young lion lurking in ambush. 00:01:28.219 --> 00:01:29.160 Arise, O Lord. 00:01:29.300 --> 00:01:30.040 Confront him. 00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:31.540 Subdue him. 00:01:32.660 --> 00:01:35.320 Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword. 00:01:36.420 --> 00:01:38.480 From men by your hand, O Lord. 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:41.719 From men of the world whose portion is in this life. 00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:44.659 You fill their womb with treasure. 00:01:44.980 --> 00:01:46.879 And they are satisfied with children. 00:01:47.079 --> 00:01:49.420 And they leave their abundance to their infant. 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:54.180 But as for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness. 00:01:55.039 --> 00:02:00.420 When I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:01.579 Amen. 00:02:01.579 --> 00:02:06.939 Psalm 17 is one of only five psalms. 00:02:07.539 --> 00:02:11.960 Whose superscription explicitly notes it as a prayer. 00:02:12.659 --> 00:02:14.259 Now if you care to research the other ones. 00:02:14.460 --> 00:02:16.020 It's Psalm 86. 00:02:16.699 --> 00:02:17.520 Psalm 90. 00:02:18.340 --> 00:02:18.919 Psalm 102. 00:02:19.740 --> 00:02:21.240 And Psalm 142. 00:02:22.419 --> 00:02:25.800 Three of the five psalms are attributed to David. 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:29.340 One of them, Psalm 90, is attributed to Moses. 00:02:29.340 --> 00:02:34.280 And the fifth one does not have a designated author. 00:02:35.319 --> 00:02:39.560 But what all of them have in common is the element of lament. 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:49.960 Each of them include grief and mourning and sorrow in some place, in some fashion. 00:02:50.900 --> 00:02:55.539 Now we understand all of the psalms, the entire book, is prayerful in some sense. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:59.080 Whether that be a prayer of praise or a song of praise to the Lord. 00:02:59.080 --> 00:03:00.800 That's a kind of prayer, isn't it? 00:03:01.140 --> 00:03:05.180 Maybe it's one of the psalms that does a lot of teaching. 00:03:05.320 --> 00:03:09.220 Teaching doctrine to the congregation of the righteous. 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:11.520 But it's still prayerful in some sense. 00:03:11.640 --> 00:03:14.200 We are singing to God about God. 00:03:14.480 --> 00:03:17.520 We are praying to God about God in some way. 00:03:17.580 --> 00:03:23.080 But there is a uniqueness to these five psalms that are specifically designated as prayers. 00:03:23.080 --> 00:03:28.219 They are meant to be understood with a certain picture in mind. 00:03:29.300 --> 00:03:35.520 And this particular vision of prayer is often associated with lamentation in our minds. 00:03:36.160 --> 00:03:36.600 Sorrow. 00:03:37.540 --> 00:03:37.960 Grief. 00:03:39.420 --> 00:03:44.620 Of course, many of you know what it's like to be in such a state of grief or distress. 00:03:44.620 --> 00:03:50.280 That the only thing you know to do is to get on your face before God and cry out to Him. 00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:53.400 Surely you've been there at some point in your life. 00:03:54.099 --> 00:03:56.800 All you can do is pray. 00:03:57.460 --> 00:04:01.759 And there's this picture here in this psalm, in the psalms that are like it, the other four. 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:08.459 There's this picture that we can envision as we read through it of David almost prostrate before the Lord. 00:04:08.659 --> 00:04:17.620 In grief, in urgency, crying out to God to intervene in the situation that he's found himself in. 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:23.599 David's prayer in Psalm 17 is a plea for justice. 00:04:24.939 --> 00:04:26.800 It's a plea for vindication. 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:39.560 His situation is such that a fierce enemy has unjustly accused him of wrongdoing and is actively seeking to kill him. 00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:45.100 But David, as we've just read, insisted upon his own righteousness. 00:04:45.340 --> 00:04:52.439 He pleaded to God on the basis of that righteousness, asking that God would clear his good name 00:04:52.439 --> 00:04:58.639 and that he would do so by dealing a decisive blow to his enemies. 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:06.579 And by the end of the prayer, when we get to verse 15, we find David expressing this confident assurance. 00:05:06.939 --> 00:05:14.420 What begins as urgent lament concludes with confidence, assurance, comfort, and peace. 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:17.120 And what is it that he's comforted by? 00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:18.860 What is it that he's confident in? 00:05:18.860 --> 00:05:29.900 That one way or another, God will indeed accomplish both his vindication and his enemy's destruction, the destruction of the wicked. 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:37.160 And of course, righteousness is what immediately comes to the forefront of our thoughts in this psalm. 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:41.720 First, David pleading his own righteousness. 00:05:43.080 --> 00:05:46.720 Now, of course, David's righteousness is relative. 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:48.759 It's not absolute here. 00:05:48.860 --> 00:05:55.879 As it relates to the specific accusation of his enemy, David pleads total innocence. 00:05:56.840 --> 00:06:01.879 But that's not to say that David understood himself to be altogether righteous. 00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:04.160 We know that's not actually the case. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:08.819 We can read some of his other psalms, his psalms of confession, like Psalm 51, 00:06:08.819 --> 00:06:19.079 where David acknowledges that not only has he sinned against God, but his very nature that he's born with is in set in rebellion to God. 00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:29.839 Not only that, we know enough of David's life to know that there's no way that David could pray this prayer and mean it in an absolute sense. 00:06:31.419 --> 00:06:36.579 David sometimes, as we know, behaved with extreme wickedness. 00:06:36.579 --> 00:06:48.099 And yet, when we get to the end of the psalm and he's contemplating these things and he's moving beyond just this immediate scenario to this bigger picture of life and death and eternity, 00:06:48.100 --> 00:06:56.720 we find that David still lived completely assured of an eternal future in God's presence. 00:06:56.720 --> 00:07:10.080 So what begins as a plea and a claim of righteousness for the specific situation ends with this kind of understanding that his righteousness isn't just relative, but it is absolute in some sense. 00:07:10.140 --> 00:07:11.240 But how could he mean that? 00:07:12.340 --> 00:07:13.660 How could that be? 00:07:13.660 --> 00:07:14.920 How could that be? 00:07:14.920 --> 00:07:14.920 00:07:14.920 --> 00:07:15.920 How could that be? 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:23.480 Like Psalm 16, only Jesus could pray this prayer in the truest sense. 00:07:25.180 --> 00:07:35.620 The psalm is pointing to something, or even better, someone beyond David and the immediate situation that prompted the prayer. 00:07:36.460 --> 00:07:43.640 The immediate situation of Psalm 17 points us to an ultimate fulfillment. 00:07:43.660 --> 00:07:47.180 In the person and the work of Jesus Christ. 00:07:48.220 --> 00:07:51.720 Jesus alone fulfills the psalm to perfection. 00:07:52.340 --> 00:07:54.880 And that has significant implications for you and me. 00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:01.020 It's one thing for us to plead our own righteousness in one situation or another. 00:08:01.280 --> 00:08:12.620 It's a completely other thing for us to recognize that we have a Savior and a Lord who is perfectly righteous and extends that righteousness to be a credit to our account by faith alone. 00:08:12.620 --> 00:08:14.620 That is a completely different thing. 00:08:15.139 --> 00:08:16.740 It's a wondrous thing. 00:08:17.699 --> 00:08:21.759 And I think that's the biggest takeaway that we get from this psalm. 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:34.700 So as we look to David and his prayer, we want to look also beyond David to see how his prayer points us to Jesus and our righteousness through him. 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:41.039 But to do that well, we have to deal with the psalm in its initial context, don't we? 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:44.240 We have to examine it the way that David understood it. 00:08:44.299 --> 00:08:46.759 And so I want to break it down in four parts. 00:08:46.759 --> 00:08:54.299 I see here three appeals, three distinct appeals of prayer that David is making to God. 00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:59.860 And then there, of course, is a final conclusion, assurance here at the very end. 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:04.639 I want to present those four sections to you and then show you how it points us to Jesus. 00:09:05.259 --> 00:09:08.960 Number one, I want you to see an appeal to God's righteous judgment. 00:09:09.860 --> 00:09:13.220 An appeal to God's righteous judgment. 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:15.279 Look at verses one through five again. 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:26.639 Notice what he says now. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:31.779 From your presence, let my vindication come. 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:34.720 Let your eyes behold the right. 00:09:36.120 --> 00:09:37.500 You have tried my heart. 00:09:37.899 --> 00:09:39.559 You have visited me by night. 00:09:39.899 --> 00:09:42.120 You have tested me and you will find nothing. 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:45.820 I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. 00:09:46.820 --> 00:09:52.799 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips, I have avoided the ways of the violent. 00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:55.820 My steps have held fast to your paths. 00:09:56.779 --> 00:09:59.200 My feet have not slipped. 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:05.120 Two kinds of righteousness at work here in these first five verses. 00:10:05.299 --> 00:10:08.340 First there is David's plea of his own righteousness. 00:10:08.340 --> 00:10:14.019 But immediately that turns to a focus on God's righteousness as the righteous judge. 00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:17.220 The opening plea here, it's urgent. 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:21.899 And that urgency is born not only of a dire circumstance. 00:10:22.139 --> 00:10:23.420 That's certainly a part of it. 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:25.440 Someone's trying to kill him. 00:10:25.920 --> 00:10:27.019 That's an urgent prayer. 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:28.240 That's an urgent plea. 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:29.899 But it's not just that. 00:10:29.980 --> 00:10:32.879 That's causing this urgency in David's prayer. 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:36.399 It's also this unquestionable injustice. 00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:45.960 It's actually the reality of injustice that David's enemy has falsely accused him and is thereby pursuing his life. 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:50.299 It's that reality that pervades the first five verses here. 00:10:51.559 --> 00:10:58.000 Now it would be one thing to plead for God's mercy when facing the consequences of some sin. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:05.919 It would be one thing we see David doing this in other places where he has sinned and he's now dealing with the consequences of that sin. 00:11:06.340 --> 00:11:08.159 And his prayer is not to plead righteousness. 00:11:08.519 --> 00:11:10.399 His prayer is to plead for God's mercy. 00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:10.840 Right? 00:11:11.559 --> 00:11:12.919 That's not what he's doing here. 00:11:13.200 --> 00:11:15.259 This is another thing entirely. 00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:19.419 David is convinced of his own righteousness. 00:11:19.419 --> 00:11:24.039 In fact, the opening imperative here that we read as, 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:26.299 Hear a just cause, O Lord. 00:11:27.139 --> 00:11:30.000 Literally, a wooden translation of this would be, 00:11:30.579 --> 00:11:32.479 Hear, O Lord, righteousness. 00:11:33.219 --> 00:11:34.679 Hear, O Lord, righteousness. 00:11:36.079 --> 00:11:40.679 And of course, by righteousness, David means his own righteousness. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:45.059 His own blamelessness in the present circumstance. 00:11:45.059 --> 00:11:50.599 And David is so sure that his righteousness will stand. 00:11:51.599 --> 00:11:55.899 That he submits his calls to the righteous judge of all the earth. 00:11:56.539 --> 00:11:57.579 God himself. 00:11:58.699 --> 00:11:59.479 Think about that. 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:08.259 David knows God to be the omniscient one who knows everything there is to know about him. 00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:12.500 He has seen everything David has done outwardly. 00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:15.259 And he knows the very recesses of David's heart. 00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:16.319 Every thought. 00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:17.899 Every word he's ever spoken. 00:12:18.059 --> 00:12:19.019 God knows it all. 00:12:19.439 --> 00:12:23.080 And David is so convinced of his righteousness in this circumstance. 00:12:23.419 --> 00:12:25.500 That he turns to that judge. 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:27.360 The one who knows it all. 00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:29.939 And he submits his calls entirely to him. 00:12:30.919 --> 00:12:31.519 It's bold. 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:34.679 He even tells us. 00:12:35.340 --> 00:12:39.480 God has tried his heart regarding the enemy's accusation. 00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:41.919 And has found no transgression. 00:12:44.340 --> 00:12:46.600 An extraordinarily bold statement. 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:51.279 In every way, David had obeyed God's word. 00:12:51.579 --> 00:12:53.679 And held fast to God's paths. 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:54.639 That's the phrase here. 00:12:54.899 --> 00:12:58.000 Jim Hamilton points out that the word that's used there. 00:12:58.079 --> 00:12:59.480 It's meant to give us a word picture. 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:05.440 It's meant to picture the grooves that are worked into the ground like wagon tracks. 00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:09.700 Where over and over and over a wagon will follow a particular path. 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:12.659 And it wears grooves into the roadway or into the pathway. 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:15.320 That's the word picture that's associated with this. 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:16.600 In other words, David is saying, 00:13:16.920 --> 00:13:20.440 I have found myself in the grooves of God's word. 00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:23.220 In the grooves of God's law. 00:13:23.420 --> 00:13:24.460 And I haven't left them. 00:13:24.920 --> 00:13:26.039 My feet haven't slipped. 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:28.800 I haven't turned from the right hand or to the left hand. 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:34.339 I have stayed secure and steadfast on God's paths. 00:13:35.179 --> 00:13:38.120 He set out to walk in the ways of God's righteousness. 00:13:38.579 --> 00:13:40.899 And insisting that his feet had not slipped. 00:13:41.479 --> 00:13:45.459 He called on God to vindicate him from the throne of heaven. 00:13:45.939 --> 00:13:48.059 That's the essence of the prayer in verse 2, isn't it? 00:13:48.199 --> 00:13:49.059 Notice what he says. 00:13:49.059 --> 00:13:50.479 From your presence. 00:13:50.479 --> 00:13:53.539 From your throne, O righteous judge. 00:13:54.739 --> 00:13:56.659 Let my vindication come. 00:13:57.319 --> 00:14:01.779 He submits himself to God's judgment. 00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:03.679 He appeals to it. 00:14:03.839 --> 00:14:07.119 Knowing that God is righteous and he's convinced of his own righteousness. 00:14:08.079 --> 00:14:08.919 That God will do it. 00:14:10.699 --> 00:14:13.019 Now someone may look at this and may think, 00:14:13.099 --> 00:14:14.559 Well, this is really arrogant. 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:14.839 Arrogant. 00:14:16.239 --> 00:14:18.679 I suppose in most cases it would be arrogant. 00:14:20.219 --> 00:14:22.959 Remember Job's friends accused him of the same thing. 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:26.339 He goes through tremendous suffering. 00:14:26.479 --> 00:14:27.679 He doesn't understand why. 00:14:27.779 --> 00:14:28.659 Neither do his friends. 00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:32.199 And yet his friends, those miserable comforters as he called them, 00:14:32.719 --> 00:14:33.939 gather around him. 00:14:33.940 --> 00:14:36.660 And they begin to accuse him. 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:38.560 They don't know what he's done wrong. 00:14:38.660 --> 00:14:40.400 They just believe that he has done something wrong. 00:14:40.660 --> 00:14:45.620 How could you suffer in this way and not have done something wrong to offend God? 00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:49.480 Which of course is not why Job is suffering at all. 00:14:49.520 --> 00:14:52.200 It's actually on account of his righteousness that Job is suffering. 00:14:52.280 --> 00:14:53.320 But he doesn't understand that. 00:14:53.560 --> 00:14:56.300 What he does understand though is that he's innocent. 00:14:56.299 --> 00:15:00.679 There is no sin in his life that he can turn and say, 00:15:00.939 --> 00:15:07.659 This is what I must confess in order to get relief from God in this suffering in this moment. 00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:08.599 He understands that. 00:15:08.819 --> 00:15:11.859 And what is it that his friends do in response to his claim of innocence? 00:15:12.599 --> 00:15:13.419 You're arrogant. 00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:15.699 You're full of pride. 00:15:16.379 --> 00:15:17.120 But he wasn't. 00:15:17.819 --> 00:15:18.759 He was being honest. 00:15:19.819 --> 00:15:22.240 Truly he was the righteous one in that situation. 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:27.100 His suffering was on account of the righteousness, not on account of unrighteousness in that moment. 00:15:27.700 --> 00:15:29.240 David's in a similar place here. 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:33.340 David's suffering is not on account of some sin in his life. 00:15:33.419 --> 00:15:34.200 Not at this moment. 00:15:34.440 --> 00:15:39.299 It's actually on account of the fact that he is righteous that he's suffering at the hand of the enemy. 00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:46.940 It would be wrong for him to falsely confess some sin just hoping to find relief. 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:48.799 That would be sinful. 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:56.059 But what was right for David was to acknowledge his righteousness but then to submit his calls to the Lord. 00:15:57.000 --> 00:16:01.139 Let my vindication come from your throne because you are the righteous judge. 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:05.419 And if there is something that I don't see, I trust that you will expose it, God. 00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:08.059 And I submit my calls to you. 00:16:09.319 --> 00:16:12.299 So his first appeal is an appeal to God's righteousness. 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:14.799 An appeal to God's judgment in this situation. 00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:16.539 Look at the second appeal though. 00:16:16.539 --> 00:16:20.059 It's an appeal to God's covenant affection. 00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:22.699 God's covenant love. 00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:24.879 Verses 6 through 9. 00:16:26.199 --> 00:16:27.419 I call upon you. 00:16:28.219 --> 00:16:28.620 Why? 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:31.159 For you will answer me. 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:32.339 He's certain of it. 00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:34.240 You will answer me, O God. 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:36.919 Incline your ear to me and hear my words. 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:46.639 Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior, of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. 00:16:48.079 --> 00:16:50.779 Keep me as the apple of your eye. 00:16:51.079 --> 00:16:53.319 Not make me the apple of your eye. 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:56.839 Keep me as the apple of your eye. 00:16:57.079 --> 00:17:01.500 Hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who do me violence. 00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:04.579 My deadly enemies who surround me. 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:06.980 It's a different kind of appeal now, isn't it? 00:17:08.819 --> 00:17:11.799 First he appeals to God's righteous judgment for vindication. 00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:15.259 But now he makes an appeal based on God's covenant character. 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:17.299 His covenant love. 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:20.400 The urgency is still there. 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:23.460 But the picture is different. 00:17:24.540 --> 00:17:30.259 In the first appeal, David is in a courtroom of God, so to speak. 00:17:30.620 --> 00:17:35.840 He's the righteous one that is pleading his case and submitting his calls to the righteous judge. 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:38.140 That's not the picture in this appeal. 00:17:39.080 --> 00:17:39.400 Here. 00:17:40.780 --> 00:17:49.720 Here, David is like the distressed child crying for his father to rescue him. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:51.300 From danger. 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:57.540 Those of you who are parents understand what that's like. 00:17:58.660 --> 00:18:03.000 Your child falls or fills themselves to be in a place that's unsafe. 00:18:03.040 --> 00:18:03.680 And what do they do? 00:18:03.860 --> 00:18:05.400 They cry out, Mom! 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:06.460 Dad, help! 00:18:06.540 --> 00:18:07.880 You know the tone, right? 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:10.100 When the tone switches, mothers in particular. 00:18:10.320 --> 00:18:11.160 They get it, right? 00:18:11.580 --> 00:18:13.160 I don't know how many times something has happened. 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:17.140 We've heard Charlie or Harper or Ashlyn cry at some place in the house. 00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:19.660 And immediately it's that tone of cry, right? 00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:21.660 And immediately Julie and I are up. 00:18:21.820 --> 00:18:22.400 We're off the couch. 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:23.040 We're off the chair. 00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:24.900 We're to find what's wrong. 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:25.519 Why? 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:30.460 Because out of our covenant love for them, we want to get to where they are. 00:18:30.580 --> 00:18:34.759 And we want to rescue them from whatever has put them in danger. 00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:36.779 That's the picture in this appeal. 00:18:37.400 --> 00:18:38.800 David is like that child. 00:18:38.940 --> 00:18:40.620 He's in a dangerous position now. 00:18:41.080 --> 00:18:42.240 He's not pleading righteousness. 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.900 He's pleading help! 00:18:45.100 --> 00:18:45.620 Help! 00:18:45.619 --> 00:18:45.819 Help! 00:18:46.619 --> 00:18:47.979 And what is it based on? 00:18:48.919 --> 00:18:58.899 Oh, it's all based on the expectation that God will hear him based on his covenant affection for his chosen son. 00:18:58.900 --> 00:19:09.300 The covenant language comes especially in verse 7 where David calls on God to wondrously show your steadfast love. 00:19:10.100 --> 00:19:13.980 I would encourage you to trace that language through the scriptures one day. 00:19:14.060 --> 00:19:23.320 Just sit down and just find all the places in the Old Testament especially where you see that phrase, steadfast love, over and over and over. 00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:23.720 Why? 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:24.740 Why is it there? 00:19:26.140 --> 00:19:27.839 It's God's self-revelation. 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:35.019 To Moses in Exodus 34, 6 and 7, you remember that Moses begs for God, let me see your glory. 00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:40.759 And God hides him in the cleft of the rock and he passes by him so that he could see his backside, so to speak. 00:19:41.100 --> 00:19:41.799 He sees the glory. 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:44.120 And as he passes by, what is it that God says? 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:49.880 A God merciful and gracious, full of steadfast love. 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:52.480 It's his own self-revelation to his people. 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:54.460 David's picking up on that here. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:20:04.660 It's ascribed to the Lord repeatedly through the scriptures and it's emphasizing his unimpeachable covenant faithfulness to his people. 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:10.900 This characteristic of God, this self-revelation from God is God's way of telling us, 00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:14.440 I have made you a promise and I will not fail to keep that promise. 00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:16.799 I am full of steadfast love. 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.559 Covenant affection. 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:30.759 And then we see this refuge motif again, surfacing here as David refers to the Lord as the Savior for all who will trust in him. 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:38.940 But God's covenant character is expressed as divine affection in verses 8 and 9. 00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:42.599 It's odd language, at least in the first phrase. 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:44.839 Keep me as the apple of your eye. 00:20:46.099 --> 00:20:47.420 What does David mean? 00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:52.940 He means that God has set his loving gaze on his people. 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:56.519 His loving, protective gaze. 00:20:57.300 --> 00:21:03.440 He's ready to usher them beneath the shadow of his protective wings. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:14.799 And what's wonderful about this is that God's faithfulness is not born of obligation. 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:20.279 He is not faithful to us because he has to be. 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:22.500 He owes nothing to his creatures. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.360 Why is he faithful? 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:27.720 Because it's who he is. 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:34.000 It arises out of his steadfast love. 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:44.120 In other words, God is faithful to those who seek refuge in him because he wants them to find refuge in him. 00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:47.420 Jesus used the same picture, didn't he? 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:50.759 It's recorded for us in Matthew 23. 00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:52.579 I think Luke also records it. 00:21:52.579 --> 00:21:57.660 Remember, as Jesus gets close to the city of Jerusalem and he gazes on it, what does he say? 00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.880 Old Jerusalem, Jerusalem. 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:04.160 The city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:12.259 How often I would have gathered you and your children together as hens gather her brood under her wings. 00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:14.339 But you were not willing. 00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:16.620 What is Jesus showing? 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:18.960 The divine love of God. 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:23.559 His desire to rescue. 00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:25.640 His desire to save. 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:33.600 And he will provide that safety to all who come to him for refuge. 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:37.660 David understood the wonder of God's covenant affection. 00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:41.680 And he anchored his prayer in the reality of divine love here. 00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:43.839 He's in a difficult circumstance. 00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:47.680 And he says, first, you are righteous and I leave my cause with you. 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:49.539 But I also know that you love me, God. 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:51.180 And that you are faithful. 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:53.259 And that's why I cry to you. 00:22:53.259 --> 00:23:01.319 I think it's worth considering at this point how God-centered David's prayer is. 00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:06.220 He believes himself to be guiltless of the accusations. 00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:13.159 But his appeal is focused primarily on God as the righteous judge who will always do what's right. 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:15.679 Who will always do what's just. 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:21.279 But his appeal here is also meant to magnify God's love. 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:23.039 His entire prayer. 00:23:23.140 --> 00:23:25.120 In the next section, we'll see God's power. 00:23:25.340 --> 00:23:26.120 His entire prayer. 00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:26.840 It's informed. 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:29.779 It's governed by who God is. 00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:33.660 And we do well to follow that very pattern in our own prayer. 00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:40.000 To ensure our prayers are informed and governed. 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:41.820 Not by who we think we are. 00:23:41.900 --> 00:23:43.400 But who we know God to be. 00:23:44.820 --> 00:23:46.120 That's what David does. 00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:47.840 That brings us to his third appeal. 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:50.860 The third appeal is to God's saving action. 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.279 God's saving action. 00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:54.680 Look at verses 10 to 14. 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:56.940 They close their hearts to pity. 00:23:57.640 --> 00:24:00.060 With their mouths they speak arrogantly. 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:03.180 They've now surrounded our steps. 00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:05.519 They set their eyes to cast us to the ground. 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:08.480 He's like a lion eager to tear. 00:24:08.600 --> 00:24:10.400 As a young lion lurking in ambush. 00:24:11.380 --> 00:24:12.200 Arise, O Lord. 00:24:12.380 --> 00:24:13.120 Confront him. 00:24:13.320 --> 00:24:13.980 Subdue him. 00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:18.720 Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword. 00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:21.480 From men by your hand, O Lord. 00:24:21.600 --> 00:24:25.060 From men of the world whose portion is in this life. 00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:28.340 You fill their womb with treasure. 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:29.900 They're satisfied with children. 00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:31.360 They leave their abundance. 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:34.240 To their infants. 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:36.959 This is an appeal to God's saving action. 00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:41.559 First, he describes the character and aggression of his enemies. 00:24:43.179 --> 00:24:45.500 It's useless to seek their compassion. 00:24:46.219 --> 00:24:49.219 Because their hardened hearts are closed off from pity. 00:24:49.699 --> 00:24:50.859 He says in verse 10. 00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:56.279 In their arrogance, they speak against God and his anointed king. 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:59.379 Showing us again that David suffers at their hand. 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:01.359 Not because of some unrighteousness. 00:25:01.459 --> 00:25:02.759 But because of his righteousness. 00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:04.679 Because he is God's king. 00:25:05.199 --> 00:25:07.839 He suffers at the hand of this enemy. 00:25:08.959 --> 00:25:10.959 But then we skip to verse 14. 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:15.440 And we find that David describes his enemies as worldly men. 00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:18.579 Whose portion is in this life only. 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:22.680 Now remember last week in Psalm 16. 00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:25.319 David declared that God was his portion. 00:25:26.120 --> 00:25:27.079 And inheritance. 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:31.740 But these individuals has no inheritance in God. 00:25:31.919 --> 00:25:34.819 These individuals have no portion with God. 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.740 Now we don't know exactly. 00:25:36.839 --> 00:25:42.439 We're not told in the Psalm exactly what historical context that David was in. 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:48.599 It fits well with the years that Saul was chasing him and trying to kill him though, doesn't it? 00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:52.419 And let's presume for just a moment that that is the case. 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:57.819 That David is making this plea to God at a time when Saul is seeking his life. 00:25:58.839 --> 00:26:00.659 David has been nothing but loyal to Saul. 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:03.199 He fights Saul's battles. 00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:08.419 When Saul is plagued by depression, David plays a song to soothe him. 00:26:08.699 --> 00:26:10.059 And what does Saul do in return? 00:26:10.419 --> 00:26:11.779 He launches his spear. 00:26:13.139 --> 00:26:14.599 Tries to take his head off. 00:26:14.599 --> 00:26:18.719 Out of envy, Saul hears the songs of the people. 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:22.740 Says Saul has killed his thousands, David his ten thousands. 00:26:22.919 --> 00:26:24.099 And what is it that Saul does? 00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:30.099 He takes the favor of God as if it's disloyalty from David. 00:26:30.159 --> 00:26:30.939 And he chases him. 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.679 He tries to kill him. 00:26:31.719 --> 00:26:34.000 And every step of the way, David is upright. 00:26:34.919 --> 00:26:38.339 Despite opportunities that he's had to take Saul's life. 00:26:38.459 --> 00:26:41.219 Remember in the cave as Saul relieves himself. 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:44.940 David even goes and cuts off part of his robe so that he can later show him, 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:46.500 I could have taken your life and I didn't. 00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:50.019 And I didn't do it because it would have been sinful for me to do it, David says. 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:53.519 He's upright in terms of his relationship to Saul. 00:26:54.100 --> 00:26:55.360 Now think about this. 00:26:56.640 --> 00:27:00.860 David looks at perhaps Saul or whatever enemy this was. 00:27:02.620 --> 00:27:06.100 And if it's Saul, it's another Hebrew, another Jew. 00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:10.419 And he says, Saul has no portion in God. 00:27:11.379 --> 00:27:13.199 He has no inheritance in God. 00:27:13.419 --> 00:27:17.519 His portion, the good that he will receive, it's in this life only. 00:27:17.939 --> 00:27:22.959 The wicked that surround me, the good that they receive, the good that they experience, 00:27:23.139 --> 00:27:24.719 it's in this life only. 00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:26.199 They have no portion in God. 00:27:26.419 --> 00:27:27.399 Do you see what David's doing? 00:27:27.699 --> 00:27:29.199 He's seeing the bigger picture now. 00:27:30.459 --> 00:27:31.439 Yes, there's a threat. 00:27:31.619 --> 00:27:32.399 Yes, there's an enemy. 00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:36.340 But there's something greater than this circumstance in David's mind. 00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:37.480 He's looking forward. 00:27:37.880 --> 00:27:42.400 He's looking to the inheritance of God, the blessing of God in eternity now. 00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:46.360 And he looks at these enemies and he says, they have no portion with God. 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:49.140 Everything that they get, they get in this life. 00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:54.860 They're living for this life and for this life alone, he says. 00:27:54.859 --> 00:28:03.619 Paul would later describe God's enemies in a similar way, saying, their God is their belly. 00:28:04.719 --> 00:28:08.899 They glory in their shame with the mind set on earthly things. 00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:11.039 That's really all they care about. 00:28:11.159 --> 00:28:14.919 They care about gaining in this life, getting the most that they can out of this life. 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:20.839 And David says, that's fitting because they have no portion in the next life. 00:28:21.699 --> 00:28:22.899 They have only judgment. 00:28:22.900 --> 00:28:26.800 And so David calls on God to pour out that judgment. 00:28:28.300 --> 00:28:30.380 Look at what he says, verse 13. 00:28:31.780 --> 00:28:32.720 Arise, O Lord. 00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:35.840 Confront him, subdue him. 00:28:36.300 --> 00:28:40.240 Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword. 00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:46.700 Save me, God, by destroying them, he says. 00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:53.500 There's an interesting change. 00:28:53.600 --> 00:28:55.240 Perhaps you noticed it in verse 12. 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:04.200 We're told up to this point that David's enemies are plural. 00:29:04.420 --> 00:29:07.220 He speaks with the plural pronoun, our. 00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:09.580 Right? 00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:13.259 When he gets to verse 12, that changes, though, doesn't it? 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:16.500 They have surrounded our steps. 00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:17.220 But verse 12. 00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:21.319 He is like a lion, eager to tear. 00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:24.439 A young lion lurking in ambush. 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:27.019 Confront him, Lord. 00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:31.119 Subdue him, Lord. 00:29:31.679 --> 00:29:32.559 That's interesting, isn't it? 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:35.500 I don't want to read too much into it, but I do think there's a significance here. 00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:44.039 David sees that those who have surrounded him do so under the direction of a greater enemy who is at war with God. 00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:46.559 Now, let's say that it is Saul. 00:29:47.139 --> 00:29:52.099 Perhaps he means he, as in Saul, and the rest of the enemies that are working with Saul. 00:29:52.099 --> 00:30:02.259 But even then, we understand that the narrative of the Old Testament is constantly contrasting the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent all the way back to Genesis 3. 00:30:03.419 --> 00:30:08.299 Saul, even in his greatest moments, not the seed of the woman. 00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:11.099 He's the seed of the serpent. 00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:13.500 I think David has that in mind here. 00:30:14.159 --> 00:30:15.719 What is he crying for God to do? 00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:19.299 Save me, God, by destroying him. 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:22.460 Conquering him. 00:30:23.100 --> 00:30:25.039 Peter picks up on this language, doesn't he? 00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:27.140 You probably know the verse well. 00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:28.240 1 Peter 5.8. 00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.440 Be sober-minded. 00:30:29.600 --> 00:30:30.220 Be watchful. 00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:40.000 Because your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 00:30:42.100 --> 00:30:43.819 That's where David finds himself. 00:30:44.380 --> 00:30:45.319 And what is it that he does? 00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:48.279 He understands that he's powerless against this enemy. 00:30:48.619 --> 00:30:49.619 He can do nothing. 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:53.159 He needs God to act on his behalf. 00:30:53.939 --> 00:30:56.679 He needs God's saving action to come into play. 00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:57.279 So what does he do? 00:30:57.419 --> 00:30:58.439 He pleads for it. 00:30:59.839 --> 00:31:02.599 Save me, God, by destroying him. 00:31:03.939 --> 00:31:09.559 That brings us to the fourth and final section, which is an assurance of God's final vindication. 00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:12.299 An assurance of God's final vindication. 00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:13.399 Look at verse 15. 00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:18.019 Now remember, this is right on the heels of David saying, their portion is in this life. 00:31:18.560 --> 00:31:20.019 They have no portion in God. 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:22.480 But notice what he affirms in verse 15. 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:30.380 But as for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness. 00:31:30.900 --> 00:31:35.380 When I awake, I shall be satisfied with you. 00:31:36.180 --> 00:31:38.200 Satisfied with your likeness. 00:31:39.339 --> 00:31:41.140 Their portion is in this life. 00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:43.980 And God even gives them what they want in this life. 00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:47.440 But I have something far greater and it's coming in the next life. 00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:51.160 I will awake and be satisfied with God. 00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:52.360 He is my portion. 00:31:53.420 --> 00:31:55.140 David says, it's amazing, isn't it? 00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:57.339 It's an amazing confidence here. 00:31:58.599 --> 00:32:02.400 In the end, David's urgency gives way to confidence of final vindication. 00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:05.140 He's sure that God will hear and answer his pleas. 00:32:06.140 --> 00:32:16.480 But notice that his assurance comes only after he rehearses the righteousness, covenant love, and saving power of God. 00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:25.640 It's because he knows and believes these things to be true of the Lord that David finds comfort in his present distress. 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:35.319 In your distress, you do well to meditate first and foremost on the Lord himself. 00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:37.779 Is that not what ultimately brings comfort? 00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:40.860 And that's what we see here with David. 00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:49.419 Because we must also notice that his expectation is not limited to immediate vindication. 00:32:50.219 --> 00:32:52.839 He's certain that vindication will come. 00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:54.939 He does not say it will come now. 00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:59.740 In fact, he insists it's opposite. 00:33:00.959 --> 00:33:05.699 He desires for God to answer now, but he knows the timing is uncertain. 00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:11.660 In fact, his confidence in vindication in verse 15 is after death. 00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:15.080 When I awake, he says, I shall be satisfied. 00:33:15.340 --> 00:33:17.559 This is a euphemism for life after death. 00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:25.000 Even if his situation results in his death and his enemies conquer him, 00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:33.220 David is confident that his vindication will come in resurrection to eternal life. 00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:36.079 Isn't that amazing? 00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:40.079 Does that not point us to the Savior? 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:50.640 Who for a few days seemed the enemy had conquered, 00:33:52.579 --> 00:33:56.220 and yet God vindicates him in resurrection. 00:33:58.059 --> 00:34:00.880 David can't comprehend all of that at this point in his life. 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:03.180 He sees it in shadowy form. 00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:04.340 We talked about that last week. 00:34:04.420 --> 00:34:05.860 It's a mystery in some sense to him. 00:34:06.140 --> 00:34:10.519 But he's at least acknowledging here that, yes, I'm not absolutely righteous, 00:34:10.660 --> 00:34:14.260 but God is righteous, and God has promised to love me. 00:34:14.340 --> 00:34:16.780 He's made covenant with me, and I know he will save me, 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:18.140 and he's greater than the enemy, 00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:21.440 and I know that my vindication will come in resurrection. 00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:24.380 Yes, my life will soon be over, 00:34:24.380 --> 00:34:28.640 but when I awake, I will be satisfied with him. 00:34:31.240 --> 00:34:33.019 This is the ultimate vindication. 00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:40.039 And for David, it's enough to find comfort in his present moment. 00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:44.519 It's enough for him, even if his circumstance doesn't change. 00:34:44.760 --> 00:34:48.480 It's enough for him to know that God will be faithful to the very end, 00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:52.920 and in the end, he will be vindicated. 00:34:54.320 --> 00:34:57.659 Now, Psalm 17 is helpful on a number of levels. 00:34:57.880 --> 00:35:01.659 It certainly teaches us how to pray in situations like David's, 00:35:02.240 --> 00:35:04.420 where we feel some injustice has come, 00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:07.760 and we're crying for God's righteousness to vindicate us. 00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:10.240 It can be helpful in that. 00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:14.779 It certainly reminds us of God's character, 00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:19.959 and of course, any time we are looking and meditating on God's character, 00:35:20.339 --> 00:35:22.679 it's going to bring assurance through that knowledge. 00:35:23.859 --> 00:35:28.039 But the purpose of this psalm is more significant than a model prayer. 00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:30.659 That's not exactly why it's here. 00:35:31.579 --> 00:35:32.779 I'm convinced of that. 00:35:33.839 --> 00:35:35.259 James Johnson said this, 00:35:35.259 --> 00:35:38.719 If this psalm is simply a pattern for our prayer, 00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:41.619 then it is almost useless for us. 00:35:42.359 --> 00:35:42.599 Why? 00:35:43.679 --> 00:35:49.019 Because which one of us can appeal to God on the basis of his or her innocence? 00:35:50.739 --> 00:35:53.579 We might be innocent of one thing or another, 00:35:53.799 --> 00:35:57.039 but the inspection of this psalm goes much further than that. 00:35:57.719 --> 00:35:59.139 As we've seen before, 00:35:59.919 --> 00:36:01.939 only one man could pray this way. 00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:04.379 Our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:36:05.779 --> 00:36:06.839 As I said in the beginning, 00:36:06.840 --> 00:36:10.920 David's righteousness was relative to a specific circumstance. 00:36:12.680 --> 00:36:15.539 Jesus, the true and better David, 00:36:16.860 --> 00:36:19.519 his righteousness is absolute. 00:36:21.860 --> 00:36:25.620 David could appeal to God's perfect judgment in a given moment, 00:36:25.620 --> 00:36:30.380 but Jesus could truly entrust himself to the Father's judgment in all things, 00:36:30.380 --> 00:36:34.519 for he alone is absolutely righteous in every way. 00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:38.559 That's what we read in 1 Peter 2. 00:36:39.780 --> 00:36:41.320 Jesus committed no sin, 00:36:41.639 --> 00:36:43.579 neither was deceit found in his mouth. 00:36:44.559 --> 00:36:46.159 And when he was reviled for it, 00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:48.079 he did not revile in return. 00:36:48.420 --> 00:36:50.340 When he suffered for his righteousness, 00:36:50.679 --> 00:36:51.960 he did not threaten. 00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:53.219 What did he do? 00:36:53.860 --> 00:36:56.179 He continued entrusting himself 00:36:56.179 --> 00:36:59.460 to him who judges justly. 00:36:59.460 --> 00:37:03.360 And entrusting his cause to the Father, 00:37:04.360 --> 00:37:08.619 he himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, 00:37:09.320 --> 00:37:12.579 that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. 00:37:13.460 --> 00:37:14.980 By his wounds, 00:37:15.699 --> 00:37:16.559 you have been healed. 00:37:17.720 --> 00:37:20.760 By the greatest injustice ever known, 00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:25.060 we receive blessing and life. 00:37:27.060 --> 00:37:31.460 Jesus fulfills the psalm in ultimate vindication as well. 00:37:32.820 --> 00:37:35.280 After bearing our sins on the cross, 00:37:36.160 --> 00:37:37.940 the Father raised him from the dead, 00:37:38.980 --> 00:37:41.140 proving that he was truly righteous 00:37:41.140 --> 00:37:46.700 and that his death sufficiently appeased God's wrath against sinners. 00:37:46.699 --> 00:37:52.159 And this has eternal implications for us. 00:37:52.699 --> 00:37:54.579 Why did Jesus come to do any of that? 00:37:54.719 --> 00:37:55.799 He wasn't forced to. 00:37:57.500 --> 00:38:00.299 God has no obligation to his creatures, remember. 00:38:03.379 --> 00:38:04.480 Why does he come? 00:38:05.619 --> 00:38:07.279 So that the unrighteous, 00:38:07.819 --> 00:38:09.739 like you and me and David, 00:38:10.739 --> 00:38:12.599 might be counted as righteous 00:38:12.599 --> 00:38:14.539 by faith in him. 00:38:14.539 --> 00:38:18.360 2 Corinthians 5.21, 00:38:18.920 --> 00:38:19.960 For our sake, 00:38:20.599 --> 00:38:21.980 God made him to be sin 00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:23.460 who knew no sin. 00:38:24.500 --> 00:38:24.860 Why? 00:38:25.900 --> 00:38:27.400 So that in him, 00:38:27.519 --> 00:38:28.320 in Christ, 00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:29.559 we 00:38:29.559 --> 00:38:32.539 might become the righteousness of God. 00:38:34.279 --> 00:38:36.139 Paul speaks of this a number of times. 00:38:36.440 --> 00:38:38.000 Another great one is Romans 4. 00:38:38.460 --> 00:38:38.800 Remember, 00:38:39.159 --> 00:38:40.400 Paul speaking of Abraham 00:38:40.400 --> 00:38:41.639 and Abraham's faith 00:38:41.639 --> 00:38:42.599 and how his faith 00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:44.039 was counted to him as righteousness. 00:38:44.539 --> 00:38:46.860 And Paul writes in Romans 4.22, 00:38:47.320 --> 00:38:49.739 That is why faith was counted to him as righteousness. 00:38:50.460 --> 00:38:52.400 But the words it was counted to him 00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:55.279 were not written for Abraham's sake alone, 00:38:55.800 --> 00:38:57.440 but for ours also. 00:38:58.559 --> 00:39:00.719 It will be counted to us. 00:39:01.820 --> 00:39:03.980 Righteousness will be counted to us 00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:07.019 who are not righteous. 00:39:07.019 --> 00:39:08.900 How? 00:39:08.900 --> 00:39:12.940 To us who believe in him 00:39:12.940 --> 00:39:14.659 who raised from the dead, 00:39:14.840 --> 00:39:15.820 Jesus our Lord, 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:18.599 who was delivered up for our trespasses 00:39:18.599 --> 00:39:20.420 and raised for our justification. 00:39:21.780 --> 00:39:22.300 Therefore, 00:39:22.639 --> 00:39:23.699 Paul goes on to say, 00:39:24.079 --> 00:39:26.619 since we have been justified by faith, 00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:29.280 we now have peace with God 00:39:29.280 --> 00:39:32.059 through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:39:32.059 --> 00:39:33.940 through him, 00:39:34.380 --> 00:39:37.320 we have obtained access by faith 00:39:37.320 --> 00:39:39.179 into this grace in which we stand, 00:39:39.920 --> 00:39:41.880 in which we can rejoice 00:39:41.880 --> 00:39:45.299 in hope of the glory of God. 00:39:46.920 --> 00:39:47.920 Think of it this way. 00:39:48.779 --> 00:39:50.099 What is David's situation? 00:39:50.099 --> 00:39:53.719 He has an enemy 00:39:53.719 --> 00:39:56.759 who has unjustly accused him 00:39:56.759 --> 00:39:58.699 and sought to kill him. 00:39:59.000 --> 00:39:59.920 So what does he do? 00:40:00.380 --> 00:40:02.360 He pleads his righteousness 00:40:02.360 --> 00:40:04.179 and looked to God 00:40:04.179 --> 00:40:05.519 to vindicate him. 00:40:06.659 --> 00:40:09.199 And this is a means of pointing us to Jesus. 00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:12.940 Because Jesus is the true and better David, 00:40:13.099 --> 00:40:15.099 who is absolutely righteous 00:40:15.099 --> 00:40:16.799 in a way that David was not. 00:40:16.800 --> 00:40:19.640 Jesus was then vindicated 00:40:19.640 --> 00:40:21.320 by resurrection from the dead 00:40:21.320 --> 00:40:23.220 and procures salvation 00:40:23.220 --> 00:40:25.340 for all who will trust in him for it. 00:40:25.600 --> 00:40:27.580 And this has massive implications for us 00:40:27.580 --> 00:40:29.340 because what is our situation? 00:40:31.019 --> 00:40:33.019 Our situation is such 00:40:33.019 --> 00:40:38.220 that an enemy justly accuses us. 00:40:38.680 --> 00:40:42.360 For we are indeed guilty before God. 00:40:42.360 --> 00:40:45.220 And we stand condemned 00:40:45.220 --> 00:40:47.300 before the righteous judge. 00:40:48.860 --> 00:40:51.980 We have no righteousness of our own to plead. 00:40:53.840 --> 00:40:55.780 We must plead for mercy. 00:40:57.180 --> 00:40:59.420 And we plead for God's mercy 00:40:59.420 --> 00:41:02.660 on account of the righteousness of another. 00:41:03.700 --> 00:41:05.519 The perfect son of God. 00:41:06.900 --> 00:41:08.620 Think about the three appeals 00:41:08.620 --> 00:41:09.480 and the assurance. 00:41:09.480 --> 00:41:12.840 David appeals to God's righteous judgment. 00:41:13.119 --> 00:41:13.619 So do we. 00:41:14.820 --> 00:41:16.880 We appeal to God's righteous judgment 00:41:16.880 --> 00:41:19.500 of Christ in our place. 00:41:20.260 --> 00:41:21.579 On the cross. 00:41:22.240 --> 00:41:23.679 He bears God's wrath 00:41:23.679 --> 00:41:25.800 for us. 00:41:27.300 --> 00:41:28.400 For our sin. 00:41:30.119 --> 00:41:32.480 Secondly, we appeal to God's covenant affection 00:41:33.019 --> 00:41:35.400 as shown in Christ. 00:41:36.139 --> 00:41:37.559 Isn't that what Romans teaches us? 00:41:37.559 --> 00:41:41.320 That God has shown his love to us 00:41:41.320 --> 00:41:43.179 in that while we were sinners, 00:41:43.900 --> 00:41:45.539 Christ died for us. 00:41:46.840 --> 00:41:48.799 Covenant love. 00:41:49.239 --> 00:41:50.219 We appeal to that. 00:41:51.380 --> 00:41:52.759 What about our third appeal? 00:41:53.759 --> 00:41:56.019 We appeal to God's saving action 00:41:56.019 --> 00:41:57.599 through Christ. 00:41:58.900 --> 00:41:59.880 As Acts tells us, 00:41:59.940 --> 00:42:02.119 there is salvation in no other name 00:42:02.119 --> 00:42:03.839 but the name of Jesus. 00:42:04.839 --> 00:42:06.000 And what is our assurance? 00:42:07.039 --> 00:42:07.839 Our assurance 00:42:07.839 --> 00:42:10.199 is final vindication 00:42:10.199 --> 00:42:13.239 because of Christ's vindication 00:42:13.239 --> 00:42:13.980 and resurrection. 00:42:14.699 --> 00:42:15.819 Because he lives, 00:42:16.619 --> 00:42:18.880 so will all who rest in him. 00:42:20.159 --> 00:42:21.480 As the old hymn says, 00:42:21.900 --> 00:42:23.319 I need no other argument. 00:42:24.279 --> 00:42:25.799 I need no other plea. 00:42:25.799 --> 00:42:27.839 It is enough 00:42:27.839 --> 00:42:29.539 that Jesus died 00:42:29.539 --> 00:42:31.460 and that he died for me. 00:42:33.920 --> 00:42:35.820 So can we pray Psalm 17? 00:42:36.340 --> 00:42:37.179 Well, of course we can. 00:42:38.380 --> 00:42:40.179 It's certainly a pattern for prayer 00:42:40.179 --> 00:42:41.179 and we should consider it 00:42:41.179 --> 00:42:42.900 when dealing with injustices in our lives. 00:42:43.219 --> 00:42:44.840 There is plenty of there for us 00:42:44.840 --> 00:42:45.980 to take away as a prayer 00:42:45.980 --> 00:42:48.079 but it's so much more than that, isn't it? 00:42:49.360 --> 00:42:51.119 We can pray Psalm 17 00:42:51.119 --> 00:42:52.420 as a prayer of hope 00:42:52.420 --> 00:42:54.920 and a prayer of thanksgiving 00:42:54.920 --> 00:42:56.440 knowing 00:42:56.440 --> 00:43:00.039 that Jesus has fulfilled the psalm 00:43:00.039 --> 00:43:01.820 on our behalf. 00:43:04.200 --> 00:43:05.360 He is our plea. 00:43:06.420 --> 00:43:07.780 He is our righteousness. 00:43:08.780 --> 00:43:09.860 And in him alone 00:43:09.860 --> 00:43:12.119 we may have eternal life. 00:43:13.159 --> 00:43:13.840 Let's pray. 00:43:13.840 --> 00:43:13.840 00:43:13.840 --> 00:43:13.840