WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.879 Good morning. 00:00:04.459 --> 00:00:08.400 My name is Matthew Capone and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:10.580 and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:10.900 --> 00:00:14.560 If you are new or visiting with us, welcome. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:19.740 We are glad that you're here and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying 00:00:19.740 --> 00:00:24.280 to fill seats but because we're following after Jesus together as one community. 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:29.740 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good 00:00:29.739 --> 00:00:33.820 that they don't need God's grace and no one so bad that they can't have it. 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:39.859 Which means that God has something to say to everyone in his word and so that's why we come 00:00:39.859 --> 00:00:40.920 to this portion of our service. 00:00:41.060 --> 00:00:43.039 We take a look at what God has to say to us in the Bible. 00:00:43.859 --> 00:00:47.399 We're convinced and we believe that he has something to say to people who have been Christians 00:00:47.399 --> 00:00:48.340 their entire lives. 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:52.420 He has something to say to people who have been Christians only for a short amount of 00:00:52.420 --> 00:00:55.299 time and he has something to say to people who would not consider themselves Christians, 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:58.060 people who have doubts and questions and objections to Christianity. 00:00:58.060 --> 00:01:03.900 God looks at all of those things in his word and so that's why we come to it today, this 00:01:03.900 --> 00:01:04.659 morning together. 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:11.219 You know that we're in the book of Psalms this summer and I say this summer because I've 00:01:11.219 --> 00:01:14.359 gotten a few questions about how long we're going to be in the book of Psalms. 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:18.379 I started at Psalm 1 and then I've just been going one after the other. 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:22.820 And if you know the book of Psalms well, you know that if I kept doing that, we'd be here 00:01:22.820 --> 00:01:23.740 for over three years. 00:01:23.739 --> 00:01:28.739 Now that wouldn't be bad news, but I do want to let you know that we are going to be going 00:01:28.739 --> 00:01:30.879 to the book of 1 Peter come fall. 00:01:31.119 --> 00:01:35.500 So it's great to do Psalms during the summer because they are one once-off units. 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:38.199 Makes it helpful if you have a guest preacher coming in. 00:01:38.780 --> 00:01:41.280 It's helpful to take small bites out of the Psalms from time to time. 00:01:41.359 --> 00:01:42.939 So we took a bite out of the Psalms in December. 00:01:43.060 --> 00:01:46.819 We're taking a bite out of the Psalms now and there may be some point in the future I'll 00:01:46.819 --> 00:01:48.699 reserve the right to take the bite out of the Psalms again. 00:01:48.700 --> 00:01:51.640 But fear not, we won't be here for three years. 00:01:52.740 --> 00:01:55.260 However, I hope that many of you will be here three years from now. 00:01:56.840 --> 00:02:00.040 That being said, I've given you guys a lot of different images of ways to think about 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:00.579 the Psalms. 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:03.960 It is the hymn book, the prayer book of God's people in the Old Testament. 00:02:04.620 --> 00:02:08.560 It was what people in the Old Testament used to worship God and it's continued in the New 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:08.900 Testament. 00:02:09.580 --> 00:02:13.400 The book of Psalms is quoted in the New Testament more than any other Old Testament book. 00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:17.680 And it's hard to summarize because it talks about so many different things as any hymn 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:19.020 book or prayer book would. 00:02:19.420 --> 00:02:22.520 So it's the standard operating procedure for the Christian life. 00:02:22.980 --> 00:02:26.240 It's something that makes complicated things simple since it's poetry. 00:02:27.060 --> 00:02:30.300 I've talked a couple times about the ways that it's sort of like an Impressionist painting 00:02:30.300 --> 00:02:34.200 by Monet where there's differences between each painting but also things that are the same. 00:02:34.759 --> 00:02:37.040 And I'm going to give you a new category this morning and it's this. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:41.800 The Psalms are not just all of those things but the Psalms also teach us how to pray. 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:46.760 If you've noticed, all the Psalms that we've studied except for Psalm 1 and 2, which were 00:02:46.760 --> 00:02:49.680 introductions, were actually prayers, at least in part. 00:02:49.760 --> 00:02:51.760 Now part of this Psalm is a prayer, part of it's not a prayer. 00:02:52.880 --> 00:02:58.480 But if we want to learn how to pray, the Psalms perhaps teach us more than any other book 00:02:58.480 --> 00:03:02.740 because they give us different situations and then they show us, okay, in this specific 00:03:02.740 --> 00:03:04.980 situation, this is how you should pray. 00:03:05.720 --> 00:03:09.800 So for example, we saw last week we had an imprecatory Psalm, which is a fancy way of saying 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:12.340 a Psalm that asks for God's justice and His judgment. 00:03:12.920 --> 00:03:17.140 And that Psalm models for us how do we pray when we face evil in the world and we need 00:03:17.140 --> 00:03:18.060 God to bring justice. 00:03:18.980 --> 00:03:21.160 Psalms 3 and 4 were Psalms of lament. 00:03:21.400 --> 00:03:24.840 So how do we pray when we come up against difficult situations in life? 00:03:24.880 --> 00:03:26.780 How do we have hope in those situations? 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:29.960 And now with this Psalm, we're going to be in Psalm 6. 00:03:30.640 --> 00:03:31.840 We have a new category. 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:34.460 And that is a penitential Psalm. 00:03:34.700 --> 00:03:40.280 And that's a fancy way of saying this is a Psalm that asks God for forgiveness for sins. 00:03:41.460 --> 00:03:44.240 It's a Psalm that asks God for His forgiveness for sins. 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:46.340 It's also a lament Psalm. 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:50.780 So sometimes these Psalm categories overlap because the Psalmist is asking for God's help 00:03:50.780 --> 00:03:53.420 because he finds himself in a bad situation. 00:03:54.180 --> 00:03:58.840 However, this bad situation, unlike the other bad situations, seemed to involve the Psalmist's 00:03:58.840 --> 00:03:59.840 personal sin. 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:03.520 In Psalms 2 and 3, the Psalmist had enemies who were coming up against him. 00:04:03.580 --> 00:04:05.219 He wasn't talking about his personal sin. 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:07.259 In Psalm 6, he is. 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:14.460 Now it's unclear if he's talking about sin that has led him into a bad situation or whether 00:04:14.460 --> 00:04:17.139 he's in a bad situation and it reminds him of his sin. 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:18.899 So it could be either one of those and I'll explain. 00:04:19.019 --> 00:04:25.220 So if it's situation number one, if it's a situation where it's a result of sin, it could 00:04:25.220 --> 00:04:30.480 be this is someone who has worked seven days and never rested, as we've talked about in 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:33.380 the past, and his body is broken as a result. 00:04:34.500 --> 00:04:38.320 It could be someone whose marriage falls apart because they neglected it. 00:04:39.220 --> 00:04:42.260 Because instead of loving their spouse, they hated their spouse. 00:04:42.259 --> 00:04:47.639 It could be someone who faces bankruptcy because of financial recklessness. 00:04:49.219 --> 00:04:54.319 Or it could be someone who has lied so much that no one in their family trusts them anymore 00:04:54.319 --> 00:04:55.980 and all their relationships have fallen apart. 00:04:56.099 --> 00:05:00.039 Regardless of what it is, it could be someone who, because of their own sin, has come to 00:05:00.039 --> 00:05:01.620 a situation that is terrible. 00:05:02.339 --> 00:05:05.500 In this specific situation in Psalm 6, it seems to be a health issue. 00:05:06.159 --> 00:05:08.159 However, they also talk about their soul being troubled. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:10.320 So it seems to be this holistic sorrow and grief. 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:16.140 However, because the psalm is not clear about whether that's the result or the cause of 00:05:16.140 --> 00:05:20.420 this lament, it could also be that the psalmist has found himself in a difficult situation 00:05:20.420 --> 00:05:25.160 that is not a result of his sin, but has caused him to realize his sin. 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:30.500 In other words, I know and many of you know people who have come back to God and come back 00:05:30.500 --> 00:05:35.860 to the church not because they have done something wrong, but because they've met suffering in 00:05:35.860 --> 00:05:39.800 their lives and it's reminded them of their need for God's grace. 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:41.840 It's reminded them of the presence of sin in the world. 00:05:43.100 --> 00:05:45.460 So I'm not saying that returning to church is the point. 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:49.080 I'm saying that suffering sometimes reorients us to reality. 00:05:50.400 --> 00:05:51.660 Some of you have experienced this. 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:53.319 Maybe things were going well in life. 00:05:53.620 --> 00:05:56.420 You didn't feel like you had any need for God and then suddenly you lost your job. 00:05:57.879 --> 00:06:01.420 I know someone who was in a situation similar to that and one of the first things they did 00:06:01.420 --> 00:06:02.439 was they went back to church. 00:06:02.439 --> 00:06:07.279 Because that loss of that job, that suffering in their life helped them remember and realize 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:10.579 the reality of sin in the world, the fact that they needed God and his grace. 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:14.199 This happens often for people with severe sickness. 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:18.040 So sometimes you'll have sickness in your life like the psalmist does here. 00:06:18.379 --> 00:06:23.500 It's not a result of your specific sin, but it still reminds you of the reality of death. 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:27.959 And that reminder of the reality of death reminds you of the reality of sin. 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:34.659 And so it helps you remember your need for God's grace, the fact that your sin deserves 00:06:34.659 --> 00:06:35.479 God's punishment. 00:06:36.099 --> 00:06:38.879 And yet he's offered his son as a sacrifice to pay the penalty. 00:06:40.479 --> 00:06:43.779 So there's all kinds of situations that bring us to this psalm. 00:06:44.259 --> 00:06:48.979 Whether it's someone who is in sin and their sin has brought them to suffering, or whether 00:06:48.979 --> 00:06:53.479 it's someone who's suffering and their suffering has helped them realize sin, what we know is 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:56.939 that this psalm talks about a situation that seems to be life-threatening. 00:06:57.040 --> 00:06:58.360 The psalmist is afraid for his life. 00:06:58.439 --> 00:06:59.280 Things are that bad. 00:07:01.220 --> 00:07:05.500 And regardless of how he got there, it returns him to talk to God about his sin. 00:07:05.580 --> 00:07:12.060 He is facing severe suffering that reminds him of death and brings him face to face with 00:07:12.060 --> 00:07:14.920 the reality of his sin and his need for God's grace. 00:07:16.500 --> 00:07:20.020 And so that's the situation that we're coming up against with this psalm. 00:07:20.019 --> 00:07:22.459 And so with that in mind, we're going to read together Psalm 6. 00:07:22.539 --> 00:07:24.279 You'll find it printed in your worship guide. 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:27.539 You'll also find it probably on your phone or maybe on your Bible. 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:29.139 So I invite you to turn there with me. 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:31.919 And as we come, remember that this is God's word. 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:37.779 And God's word, God tells us that his word is more precious than gold, even the finest 00:07:37.779 --> 00:07:38.159 gold. 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:43.560 And he also tells us that it's sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:44.139 the honeycomb. 00:07:45.560 --> 00:07:47.199 And so because of that, we read it now. 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:50.519 I invite you to follow along with me, starting at verse 1. 00:07:50.519 --> 00:07:57.180 Oh, Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:00.879 Be gracious to me, oh, Lord, for I am languishing. 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:04.199 Heal me, oh, Lord, for my bones are troubled. 00:08:05.180 --> 00:08:07.419 My soul also is greatly troubled. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:10.500 But you, oh, Lord, how long? 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:12.759 Verse 4. 00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:16.019 Turn, oh, Lord, deliver my life. 00:08:17.099 --> 00:08:19.680 Save me for the sake of your steadfast love. 00:08:20.620 --> 00:08:23.480 For in death there is no remembrance of you. 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:26.259 In Sheol, who will give you praise? 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:28.199 Verse 6. 00:08:29.019 --> 00:08:30.439 I am weary with my moaning. 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:33.600 Every night I flood my bed with tears. 00:08:34.340 --> 00:08:36.519 I drench my couch with my weeping. 00:08:37.399 --> 00:08:39.700 My eye wastes away because of grief. 00:08:39.700 --> 00:08:43.140 It grows weak because of all my foes. 00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:45.120 Verse 8. 00:08:46.060 --> 00:08:48.000 Depart from me, all you workers of evil. 00:08:48.680 --> 00:08:50.940 For the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:53.300 The Lord has heard my plea. 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:55.720 The Lord accepts my prayer. 00:08:56.980 --> 00:08:59.700 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled. 00:09:00.420 --> 00:09:03.440 They shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment. 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:08.180 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:14.440 Father in heaven, we thank you that you're not surprised. 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:19.200 You are not surprised by the situations that we face. 00:09:19.300 --> 00:09:21.680 You're not surprised by the suffering that enters our lives. 00:09:23.020 --> 00:09:27.460 You don't forget about us even when we may have forgotten about you. 00:09:27.460 --> 00:09:31.740 And you don't walk away from us even when we walk away from you. 00:09:32.139 --> 00:09:37.540 So we thank you for the reminder that these psalms are of your faithfulness and your compassion. 00:09:38.580 --> 00:09:43.060 We ask that you would help us this morning to see what you have for us in your word. 00:09:43.700 --> 00:09:48.660 That you would show us our desperate need for your grace and your forgiveness. 00:09:48.659 --> 00:09:53.679 And you would also show us how you meet us at that very same point of need. 00:09:54.039 --> 00:09:57.620 How you come and help us when we're suffering but we cry out to you. 00:09:58.679 --> 00:10:05.120 We ask these things not because we have earned them, but because Jesus has earned them for us. 00:10:05.819 --> 00:10:07.339 And so we ask them in his name. 00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:08.399 Amen. 00:10:11.559 --> 00:10:16.500 I have mentioned to you all before that while I grew up on the East Coast, I was born in Texas. 00:10:16.500 --> 00:10:23.519 And the reason I was born in Texas is because at the time that I was born, my parents were teaching at a university there. 00:10:24.139 --> 00:10:28.340 They had a relatively short stint as college professors, after which we moved to the East Coast. 00:10:28.940 --> 00:10:36.240 But during that time, they got to learn a little bit about the game of teaching college and the game of being a student in college. 00:10:36.340 --> 00:10:39.639 And so when we, their sons, went off to college, they gave us the talk. 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:45.720 And the talk was the talk of how you interact with college professors. 00:10:46.500 --> 00:10:50.759 Speaking from their experience, having been on the other side, they knew how to guide us in the right way. 00:10:51.179 --> 00:10:53.700 And one of the things they told us over and over again was this. 00:10:54.620 --> 00:11:02.519 If you ever get in trouble, if you're ever struggling in a class, if you're ever afraid that you're not going to pass, 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:05.259 there is one thing that you have to do. 00:11:05.259 --> 00:11:09.299 You have to go and talk to the professor. 00:11:11.139 --> 00:11:14.240 Because if you go and talk to a professor, they might be willing to help you. 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:16.740 They might be willing to work with you. 00:11:16.819 --> 00:11:19.340 They might see your interest in the class. 00:11:19.439 --> 00:11:21.960 They might understand that you're really trying the best that you can. 00:11:22.019 --> 00:11:24.939 And they might try to help you and they might show mercy to you. 00:11:24.940 --> 00:11:30.120 If you never talk to the professor and then you're failing quizzes and you're failing exams, 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:31.660 they will have no mercy for you. 00:11:32.540 --> 00:11:35.500 And so you should not be surprised if at the end of the semester you end up with an F, 00:11:35.540 --> 00:11:36.240 if you end up failing. 00:11:36.460 --> 00:11:39.540 You end up with a D minus or a C or whatever that grade is that you don't want. 00:11:40.740 --> 00:11:42.720 So you show up, you ask for help. 00:11:43.300 --> 00:11:45.100 And if there's office hours, you use them. 00:11:45.520 --> 00:11:47.560 And if there's study sessions, you go to them. 00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:52.839 Because my parents understood as former college professors how important this was. 00:11:53.419 --> 00:11:56.459 That they knew from their own experience that when they had students who were struggling, 00:11:57.239 --> 00:11:59.559 the students who didn't tell them, who didn't come and ask for help, 00:11:59.619 --> 00:12:03.239 those students they assumed often, maybe they didn't care, maybe they weren't trying. 00:12:04.219 --> 00:12:07.379 But for whatever reason, there was no opportunity for them to show them mercy. 00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:09.519 And so we knew this going. 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:11.779 I used this at one point. 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:15.739 My brothers, at least one of my brothers, used this advice at one point. 00:12:15.740 --> 00:12:18.039 And it ended up being very helpful. 00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:24.259 And so there's a principle here that we see in this psalm as well, 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:28.480 which is that mercy comes through relationships, 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:32.980 and it comes to people who ask for it. 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:36.740 Mercy comes through relationships, 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:40.220 and it comes to people who ask for it. 00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:46.000 And in addition to that, mercy is only available to people who ask for it. 00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:50.980 Mercy is only available to people who ask for it. 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:54.220 The psalmist in this psalm, 00:12:55.040 --> 00:12:58.320 understanding the severity of the situation that he's in, 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:02.440 the very first thing he does is he talks to God. 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:06.440 We see this all the way in verses 1 through 4. 00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:09.360 The very first part of this psalm is in address, 00:13:09.540 --> 00:13:10.020 O Lord. 00:13:10.900 --> 00:13:12.720 Verse 2, O Lord. 00:13:13.680 --> 00:13:15.320 Verse 3, O Lord. 00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:19.900 Verse 4, you guessed it, O Lord. 00:13:21.100 --> 00:13:23.440 The psalmist finds himself in this very challenging situation, 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:27.200 and the first thing he does is he comes and he speaks to God in prayer. 00:13:28.780 --> 00:13:31.060 He's asking here at the very beginning for mercy. 00:13:31.059 --> 00:13:33.839 Rebuke me not, nor discipline me. 00:13:34.299 --> 00:13:35.479 Be gracious to me. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:36.479 Heal me. 00:13:37.579 --> 00:13:38.439 Turn, O Lord. 00:13:38.539 --> 00:13:40.099 Verse 4, deliver my life. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:43.159 And so at the very beginning, 00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:45.199 if we find ourselves, 00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:48.319 when we find ourselves face-to-face with the reality of sin, 00:13:49.539 --> 00:13:50.739 whether it's in the world, 00:13:51.139 --> 00:13:53.139 and it causes us to realize the sin in our lives, 00:13:53.179 --> 00:13:55.959 or it's sin in our lives that causes us to realize the consequences 00:13:55.959 --> 00:13:57.079 and the seriousness of it, 00:13:57.080 --> 00:14:01.680 the very first thing God does is he calls us to talk to him and ask for mercy. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:04.860 The psalms teach us how to pray. 00:14:06.780 --> 00:14:09.940 Now, I had a meeting with someone outside of our church recently, 00:14:10.060 --> 00:14:11.340 and they were asking me some questions 00:14:11.340 --> 00:14:12.460 because they knew that I was a pastor, 00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:13.080 and so they thought, 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:14.040 well, I have a pastor here, 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:16.520 so I'm going to just tell them what's on my mind and see what they say. 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:19.220 And so the question that they had was, 00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:21.920 first of all, does prayer change things? 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:24.879 And second of all, if prayer changes things, 00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:26.300 why in the world is that okay? 00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:29.440 The first answer is easy. 00:14:29.540 --> 00:14:30.759 Yes, prayer changes things. 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:33.580 Their objection about why it was okay was essentially, 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:35.740 why is it that if God knows everything, 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:36.960 why do I have to pray to him? 00:14:37.900 --> 00:14:39.680 Why do I need to talk to him 00:14:39.680 --> 00:14:42.300 since God is the omniscient, all-powerful one? 00:14:42.400 --> 00:14:44.480 And if my talking changes things, 00:14:44.580 --> 00:14:46.340 how is that fair in any sense? 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:50.840 So I explained it this way. 00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:56.759 God is not just some abstract being. 00:14:57.820 --> 00:14:59.400 If you believe in the Christian God, 00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:00.680 you believe in a person. 00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:03.900 You believe in a person, 00:15:04.040 --> 00:15:06.700 and sin is not just a problem of justice, 00:15:06.780 --> 00:15:07.600 although it is, 00:15:08.160 --> 00:15:10.220 but it's also a relational problem 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:13.400 that we are alienated from God, 00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:14.980 that our problems in this world 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:16.560 are problems of broken relationships. 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:19.199 Some people break it into four different quadrants. 00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:21.079 We have a broken relationship with ourselves. 00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:24.059 We have a broken relationship with God. 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:27.019 We have a broken relationship with the world. 00:15:27.839 --> 00:15:30.159 And then we have a broken relationship with others. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:33.699 And so does prayer change things? 00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:34.439 And if it does, 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:35.699 how is that okay? 00:15:37.219 --> 00:15:38.379 And the answer is this. 00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:40.179 We should not be surprised 00:15:40.179 --> 00:15:42.519 when our relationship with God 00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:44.699 functions like any other relationship. 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:47.500 God's a person, 00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:49.459 and so we should never be surprised 00:15:49.459 --> 00:15:50.740 when our relationship with God 00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:52.600 functions like any other relationship. 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:52.759 relationship. 00:15:54.340 --> 00:15:56.120 This is only what makes sense 00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:57.440 in any other situation. 00:16:00.060 --> 00:16:01.700 You would never think about your friend, 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.379 or maybe you do, 00:16:02.420 --> 00:16:03.360 and if you do, you'd be wrong. 00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:05.820 This person understands the situation, 00:16:06.560 --> 00:16:08.040 therefore, they should act. 00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:10.080 And I don't have to go and talk to them. 00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:11.420 I don't need to go explain it to them. 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:12.779 I don't need to say anything about it. 00:16:13.180 --> 00:16:14.680 They know I'm just going to leave it to them. 00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:16.060 Now, some of you do do that 00:16:16.060 --> 00:16:16.759 in your relationships. 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:16.919 relationships. 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:19.500 You can't blame someone 00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:20.600 for not acting on something 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:21.319 you didn't tell them. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:23.740 And you can't blame someone 00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:24.679 for not knowing something 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:25.399 you didn't tell them. 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:28.600 And so this psalm, 00:16:29.019 --> 00:16:29.919 first of all, 00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:31.559 shows us that if we find ourselves, 00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:32.740 if we come up against 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:34.439 the reality of sin and suffering, 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:36.220 we have to talk to God. 00:16:37.439 --> 00:16:38.679 We have to pray to Him. 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:39.840 That is what prayer is. 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:41.500 And that is part of why 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.399 the psalms are so important. 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:43.019 That's part of why 00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:44.340 we're spending a summer in the psalms. 00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:46.639 Not three years, but a summer. 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:48.720 It's because it's a critical book, 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:50.059 perhaps the most critical book, 00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:50.980 for us to understand 00:16:50.980 --> 00:16:52.500 what it's like to talk to God. 00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:54.759 When we went through the psalms 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:55.159 in December, 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:56.179 I told you several times 00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:57.460 that the psalms are models 00:16:57.460 --> 00:16:58.379 of what it looks like 00:16:58.379 --> 00:16:59.500 for us to talk to God. 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:01.960 God's a person. 00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:03.740 Our relationship with Him 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:05.339 functions like any other relationship. 00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:07.079 And so we follow the model 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:07.980 of the psalmist here 00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:08.960 by talking to Him. 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:13.059 This psalm, however, 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:14.079 does not just show us 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:15.099 our need to talk to God. 00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:16.000 It doesn't just show us 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:16.779 our need to ask Him. 00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:17.660 It also shows us 00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:19.799 how and what we ask Him for. 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.460 It shows us 00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:25.339 how and what we ask Him for, 00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:25.980 especially, 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:27.140 and specifically, 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:28.099 in this psalm, 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:29.339 when we're tempted to despair. 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:31.960 When we're tempted to despair, 00:17:32.099 --> 00:17:33.079 facing the reality 00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:34.059 of sin and evil 00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:34.619 in the world. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:35.779 And it sounds like, 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:36.440 in this psalm, 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.140 the sound of reality 00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:38.619 and evil in the psalmist's life. 00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:40.380 He tells us in verse 2, 00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:41.180 I'm languishing, 00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.920 my bones are troubled, 00:17:43.260 --> 00:17:44.860 he's experiencing physical symptoms. 00:17:45.860 --> 00:17:46.480 Verse 3, 00:17:46.580 --> 00:17:47.860 my soul is also troubled, 00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:49.460 he's experiencing psychological, 00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:51.020 emotional symptoms. 00:17:52.040 --> 00:17:53.060 Verses 6 and 7, 00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:54.240 I'm weary with my moaning, 00:17:54.360 --> 00:17:56.020 every night I flood my bed with tears. 00:17:56.580 --> 00:17:58.400 I drench my couch with my weeping. 00:17:59.120 --> 00:18:00.900 My eye wastes away because of grief, 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:02.760 it goes weak because of all my foes. 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:04.700 So how do we talk to God 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:05.680 when we feel like that? 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:07.640 When we feel like verses 6 and 7? 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:09.460 When we understand 00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:10.799 the reality of sin 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:12.200 and our need for God's grace. 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:15.000 Well, the first thing the psalmist does 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:16.940 is he appeals to God's mercy. 00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:17.539 Verse 4, 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:18.940 Turn, O Lord, 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.940 deliver my life, 00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:21.240 save me for the sake 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.400 of your steadfast love. 00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.559 And this steadfast love 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.379 is the same word 00:18:25.379 --> 00:18:26.720 that we saw last summer, 00:18:26.879 --> 00:18:27.940 actually this time. 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.660 It was this time last year 00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:30.640 that we were in the book of Ruth 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:31.779 and we talked about God's 00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:32.440 never stopping, 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.279 never giving up, 00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:34.180 unbreaking, 00:18:34.360 --> 00:18:35.420 always and forever love. 00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:37.640 And if you recall, 00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:39.180 that's the Jesus Storybook Bible's 00:18:39.180 --> 00:18:40.820 translation of the Hebrew word hesed. 00:18:41.820 --> 00:18:42.840 And so the psalmist appeals 00:18:42.840 --> 00:18:43.799 to God's unbreaking, 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:44.380 unfailing, 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.519 never giving up love. 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:48.340 And he appeals to it in verse 4 00:18:48.340 --> 00:18:49.500 because of verse 1. 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:52.259 He appeals to God's love, 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:53.620 who I would refer to 00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:54.860 as the good news of the gospel, 00:18:55.340 --> 00:18:57.080 because of the bad news of the gospel. 00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:58.900 Verse 1, 00:18:58.900 --> 00:19:00.160 Rebuke me not in your anger, 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:01.940 nor discipline me in your wrath. 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.900 For the psalmist to understand 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:07.380 the seriousness of sin in the world, 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.880 it means that he understands 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:10.759 that God has anger and wrath. 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:16.180 And he knows that what he's experiencing 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:18.299 is the effect of God's anger and wrath. 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:21.559 And he also knows that God's anger 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.779 and his wrath is something 00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:24.380 that is directed at him. 00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:29.580 And so he appeals to God's mercy here. 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:30.940 Now we talked about God's anger 00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:32.980 and his wrath last Sunday 00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:33.900 with Psalm 5, 00:19:34.080 --> 00:19:35.680 the psalm asking for God's judgment 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.400 and his justice. 00:19:37.020 --> 00:19:37.420 And still, 00:19:37.540 --> 00:19:38.300 God's anger and wrath 00:19:38.300 --> 00:19:39.320 is something that's troubling 00:19:39.320 --> 00:19:41.020 for many people in this culture, 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:41.840 in our culture. 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:43.080 And so I'll just say a couple things. 00:19:43.760 --> 00:19:45.640 If you struggle with the God of wrath 00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:46.700 and anger, 00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:49.779 what would you think 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:51.519 of a ruler or a king 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.759 who refused 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:54.140 to punish the wicked? 00:19:56.140 --> 00:19:57.160 What would you think 00:19:57.160 --> 00:19:58.340 of a ruler or a king 00:19:58.340 --> 00:19:59.299 who refused 00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:00.299 to punish the wicked? 00:20:02.840 --> 00:20:03.819 Would you consider that 00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:04.580 to be a good ruler 00:20:04.580 --> 00:20:05.340 or a bad ruler? 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:08.799 It's a rhetorical question. 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:13.079 Last week in Psalm 5, 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:14.460 I believe it was verse 5, 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:14.720 it said, 00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:16.359 God hates all evildoers. 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.279 Let's look at it 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:19.039 from the other side. 00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:21.779 Would you want a ruler 00:20:21.779 --> 00:20:23.279 who did not hate evil? 00:20:25.379 --> 00:20:26.940 Do you want the governor, 00:20:27.399 --> 00:20:28.619 the mayor of Colorado Springs, 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.579 the governor of Colorado 00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:30.339 to be someone 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:31.379 who loves evil, 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:32.099 who doesn't hate it, 00:20:32.619 --> 00:20:34.319 and who turns a blind eye 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:35.599 to the wicked and the unjust? 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:40.019 Just like our relationship 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.659 with God 00:20:40.659 --> 00:20:42.119 is like any other relationship. 00:20:44.159 --> 00:20:44.680 Now, there are things 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:45.159 that are different 00:20:45.159 --> 00:20:45.799 about our relationship 00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:46.180 with God, 00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:47.139 but in terms of the relational 00:20:47.139 --> 00:20:47.919 aspects of it, 00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:48.700 we should not expect 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.299 it to be different. 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:51.480 God as king 00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:52.339 is no different 00:20:52.339 --> 00:20:53.500 from any other good king. 00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:56.460 And so like any good king, 00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:57.419 any good ruler, 00:20:58.200 --> 00:20:59.960 his job is to hate evil 00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.899 and to bring justice. 00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:03.019 What's offensive 00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:03.720 about the gospel, 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:05.119 what's hard about Christianity 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:06.539 is all of us agree 00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:07.899 that we want evil 00:21:07.899 --> 00:21:08.680 to be done away 00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.420 within this world. 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.880 What we don't agree about 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:12.100 is our role in that evil. 00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.840 To become a Christian, 00:21:15.560 --> 00:21:16.680 to turn away from sin 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:17.279 in repentance 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:18.120 is to acknowledge 00:21:18.120 --> 00:21:19.680 that we play a part 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.700 in the evil in this world. 00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:22.500 That it's not just people 00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:23.000 out there 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:24.279 who deserve God's judgment 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:24.960 and his justice, 00:21:25.100 --> 00:21:26.039 but it's also us. 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:27.920 And so that's why 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:28.960 the psalmist knows 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.620 and understands 00:21:29.620 --> 00:21:30.380 the bad news 00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:30.920 of the gospel 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:31.620 in verse 1. 00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:32.820 Rebuke me not in your anger 00:21:32.820 --> 00:21:33.640 nor discipline me 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:34.220 in your wrath. 00:21:35.620 --> 00:21:37.060 But he also understands 00:21:37.060 --> 00:21:37.820 the good news 00:21:37.820 --> 00:21:38.380 of the gospel. 00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.620 He knows that God 00:21:40.620 --> 00:21:41.460 is not just a God 00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:42.180 of justice, 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.340 but he's also 00:21:43.340 --> 00:21:44.259 a God of love. 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:45.320 And so that's why 00:21:45.320 --> 00:21:46.019 in verse 4, 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:47.560 he appeals to God's 00:21:47.560 --> 00:21:48.320 steadfast love. 00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:48.740 In other words, 00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:49.539 he understands 00:21:49.539 --> 00:21:51.120 that he doesn't deserve 00:21:51.120 --> 00:21:51.880 God's favor. 00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:54.259 And he doesn't deserve 00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:55.180 God's deliverance, 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:55.980 and so that's why 00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:57.039 it's called mercy. 00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.720 That's why he asks God 00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:00.120 in verse 2 00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:01.160 to be gracious to him. 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:03.860 deliver my life. 00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:05.660 Save me for not, 00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:06.800 don't save me 00:22:06.800 --> 00:22:07.279 for the sake 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:07.640 of everything 00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:08.259 that I've done. 00:22:09.100 --> 00:22:09.900 Don't save me 00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:10.960 because I'm a good person. 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:12.840 Don't save me 00:22:12.840 --> 00:22:13.460 because I've done 00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:14.380 a wonderful job 00:22:14.380 --> 00:22:15.460 raising my children. 00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:17.200 Don't save me 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:17.759 because I'm 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.700 an excellent employee. 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.500 Don't save me 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.200 because I care 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:22.240 about the right causes. 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:24.200 Don't save me 00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:25.120 because I donate 00:22:25.120 --> 00:22:26.300 to the right organizations. 00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:27.299 No, save me 00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:27.960 for the sake 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:29.339 of your steadfast love. 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.359 This is why 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.240 as Christians, 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:35.980 we pray, 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:36.759 when we end our prayers, 00:22:36.879 --> 00:22:37.539 we say, 00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:38.940 we ask these things 00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:39.799 in Jesus' name. 00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:41.740 Whenever we pray 00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:42.399 and ask things 00:22:42.399 --> 00:22:43.099 in Jesus' name, 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:44.019 we are confessing 00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:44.559 that the things 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.079 that we need 00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:45.619 that we're asking 00:22:45.619 --> 00:22:46.119 from God 00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:46.539 are things 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.460 that we don't deserve. 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.139 Instead, 00:22:49.339 --> 00:22:49.740 verse 1, 00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:50.740 we deserve God's anger 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.279 and his wrath, 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:52.339 but because of Jesus, 00:22:53.099 --> 00:22:53.899 God offers us 00:22:53.899 --> 00:22:54.879 his steadfast love. 00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:57.659 In other words, 00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.839 everyone who has 00:22:58.839 --> 00:22:59.700 faith in Jesus, 00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:01.059 who has knowledge 00:23:01.059 --> 00:23:01.639 about the fact 00:23:01.639 --> 00:23:02.460 that Jesus came 00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:02.899 and died 00:23:02.899 --> 00:23:03.579 and paid the penalty 00:23:03.579 --> 00:23:04.339 for our sins, 00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:05.799 who believes that, 00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:06.359 has belief, 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:07.019 not just knowledge, 00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:08.119 but knows that it's true, 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.960 and then has trust, 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:11.119 lives their life 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:12.000 as if it's true, 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.819 that person 00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:15.720 has God's steadfast love. 00:23:19.159 --> 00:23:20.059 And so just like 00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:20.599 it would not be 00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:21.319 a good strategy 00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:22.559 to go to your college professor 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:23.180 and tell them 00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:25.139 you're a terrible professor, 00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:26.960 the reason I'm not 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:27.820 passing this class 00:23:27.820 --> 00:23:28.920 is because you can't teach. 00:23:29.800 --> 00:23:30.920 I'm an excellent student. 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:32.560 I've made A's 00:23:32.560 --> 00:23:33.400 in every other class. 00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:34.020 I can't understand 00:23:34.020 --> 00:23:35.060 why you can't give me an A. 00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:37.940 Although there are 00:23:37.940 --> 00:23:38.420 college students 00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:38.920 who do that. 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.640 No, the right approach 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:42.060 is to say, 00:23:42.140 --> 00:23:42.840 I am struggling 00:23:42.840 --> 00:23:44.800 and I need help. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:47.220 What I have and do 00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:47.960 is not enough, 00:23:48.020 --> 00:23:48.759 and that's what the psalmist 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:49.960 is doing in this psalm. 00:23:51.100 --> 00:23:52.580 So if we are talking to God, 00:23:52.579 --> 00:23:54.119 the first thing we do 00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:55.859 is we appeal 00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:56.759 to his mercy. 00:23:57.579 --> 00:23:58.179 We understand 00:23:58.179 --> 00:23:58.759 the bad news 00:23:58.759 --> 00:23:59.220 of the gospel. 00:23:59.359 --> 00:23:59.740 We also know 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.259 the good news 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:00.799 of the gospel. 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.439 The psalmist 00:24:03.439 --> 00:24:04.220 doesn't just appeal 00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:05.119 to God's mercy, 00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:06.039 though he also appeals 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:06.939 to God's mission 00:24:06.939 --> 00:24:08.159 in verse 5. 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:09.779 For in death 00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:10.699 there is no remembrance 00:24:10.699 --> 00:24:11.240 of you. 00:24:11.679 --> 00:24:12.119 In shale, 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.159 who will give you praise? 00:24:14.899 --> 00:24:15.799 In other words, 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:17.519 if you do not deliver me, 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:19.059 if I do not experience 00:24:19.059 --> 00:24:20.199 your steadfast love, 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:21.519 our relationship 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.460 is going to end. 00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:23.360 I am going to be 00:24:23.360 --> 00:24:24.200 cut off from you. 00:24:26.100 --> 00:24:26.880 When I die, 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.880 I will be cut off from you. 00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.860 And I will no longer 00:24:29.860 --> 00:24:31.059 be able to give you praise. 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:34.799 As we looked at 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:35.700 in December, 00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:36.559 the very end 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:37.319 of the psalter 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:38.259 ends with multiple 00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:39.080 psalms of praise 00:24:39.080 --> 00:24:40.120 because that is the end 00:24:40.120 --> 00:24:41.000 of the Christian life. 00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:43.740 And you may remember 00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.380 we talked about 00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:45.500 the modern forms 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.000 of praise, 00:24:46.120 --> 00:24:46.519 one of which 00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:47.940 is the Amazon.com review, 00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:50.700 where you extol 00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:51.299 the benefits 00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:51.900 of the things 00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:52.500 that you love. 00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:55.000 And so in this verse, 00:24:55.080 --> 00:24:55.519 verse 5, 00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:56.539 we're not talking about 00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:58.480 some boring activity 00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:59.039 in life, 00:24:59.860 --> 00:25:01.340 but we are talking about 00:25:01.340 --> 00:25:02.539 when we talk about praise, 00:25:03.140 --> 00:25:03.740 understanding 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.799 and living out 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:05.759 and praising God 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.620 for everything 00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:08.240 that he is 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:09.440 and has done 00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:10.519 and has created 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:11.080 in this world. 00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:11.900 It's enjoying 00:25:11.900 --> 00:25:13.440 all the goodness 00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:14.460 that God's given us 00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:16.000 and then giving him 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.779 the credit for it. 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:19.019 It's enjoying 00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:19.879 all the good things 00:25:19.879 --> 00:25:20.920 that God has given us 00:25:20.920 --> 00:25:21.440 and giving him 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:22.220 the credit for it. 00:25:23.859 --> 00:25:24.579 That's God's, 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:25.740 one of the pieces 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.539 of God's mission 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.119 in the world. 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:27.879 We talked about this 00:25:27.879 --> 00:25:28.500 in Nehemiah 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:29.680 that he gave 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:31.039 the Israelites 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:31.960 to the ancient 00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:32.700 Near Eastern world 00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:33.119 that they would be 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:34.039 a light to the nations 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:34.700 that everyone 00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.519 would know 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.180 and see 00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:37.160 what it's like 00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:37.799 when God's people 00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:38.759 walk in God's ways. 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:40.940 And so the psalmist 00:25:40.940 --> 00:25:41.960 here doesn't just appeal 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:42.740 to God's mercy 00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:43.399 but God's mission. 00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:43.700 He says, 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:44.940 this is what you want 00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:45.500 for the world. 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.460 You want people 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:47.339 who praise you. 00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:48.940 And so I appeal 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:49.519 to your love 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.200 and your faithfulness 00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:50.880 on the one hand. 00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:52.660 I appeal to what you love 00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:53.539 on the other hand. 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:57.259 And so we can do that as well. 00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:57.900 If we're appealing 00:25:57.900 --> 00:25:58.819 for God's mercy, 00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.480 we're appealing 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:01.299 not just for him 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:02.640 to save us from sin 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:04.099 and the consequences 00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:04.619 of evil, 00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:06.019 we're also praying 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:07.000 that he would give us 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:07.740 over to 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:09.259 all the good things 00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:10.000 that he has for us 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:10.559 in this world. 00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:13.000 He would give us to, 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.880 and so we're appealing 00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:15.920 to what God loves. 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.779 It would be as if 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:20.059 you go to someone 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:20.460 and you're trying 00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:20.799 to get them 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:22.079 to enlist 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:22.880 in your cause. 00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:24.900 Well, you need to figure out 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:25.759 why they care 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.779 about your cause. 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:27.640 If I told you 00:26:27.640 --> 00:26:28.440 I want you to come 00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:29.799 and I want you 00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:31.700 to give me 00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:32.380 $500, 00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:35.299 well, you would want 00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:35.579 to know, 00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:36.359 well, why do you 00:26:36.359 --> 00:26:36.839 want $500? 00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:39.500 And why do I care 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.039 about the thing 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:40.519 that I'm giving 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.519 $500 to? 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:44.379 I'd have to convince you 00:26:44.379 --> 00:26:45.459 this is for something 00:26:45.459 --> 00:26:46.059 that you love. 00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:46.500 Let me think. 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:47.759 This is in Colorado Springs 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:48.299 and that's the city 00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:48.959 that you live in 00:26:48.959 --> 00:26:50.119 and there's this problem 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:51.059 that you're experiencing 00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:51.899 and these $500 00:26:51.899 --> 00:26:52.599 are going to help 00:26:52.599 --> 00:26:53.619 alleviate that problem. 00:26:54.619 --> 00:26:55.119 I'm appealing 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:56.039 to something that you love. 00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:56.439 I'm appealing 00:26:56.439 --> 00:26:57.099 to your mission. 00:26:57.199 --> 00:26:57.799 That's what the psalmist 00:26:57.799 --> 00:26:58.759 does in verse 5. 00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:00.619 Who will give you praise? 00:27:02.939 --> 00:27:03.619 You're a God 00:27:03.619 --> 00:27:04.659 who wants this world 00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:05.199 to be filled 00:27:05.199 --> 00:27:05.899 with your praise. 00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:07.820 your salvation of me 00:27:07.820 --> 00:27:09.300 is going to give 00:27:09.300 --> 00:27:10.160 your mission. 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:12.740 And so we can do 00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.259 the same thing 00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:14.019 when we pray to God 00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:14.300 as well. 00:27:14.360 --> 00:27:14.560 In fact, 00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:15.660 it's a helpful paradigm. 00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:16.620 If I'm praying 00:27:16.620 --> 00:27:17.160 for something, 00:27:17.780 --> 00:27:18.780 how does it relate 00:27:18.780 --> 00:27:19.780 to what God loves 00:27:19.780 --> 00:27:20.259 in the world? 00:27:22.340 --> 00:27:23.240 Am I praying 00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:23.940 for something 00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:25.720 that is in line 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.800 with what God wants 00:27:26.800 --> 00:27:28.220 with his mission? 00:27:29.620 --> 00:27:30.460 That's what the psalmist 00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:30.900 does here. 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:31.820 He talks to God. 00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:33.620 He talks to God 00:27:33.620 --> 00:27:34.480 because our relationship 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:34.900 with God 00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:35.620 is like any other 00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:36.139 relationship. 00:27:37.199 --> 00:27:38.239 When he talks to God, 00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:39.759 he appeals to God's mercy 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.539 because he knows 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.359 that's the only footing 00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:41.919 he has. 00:27:42.459 --> 00:27:43.719 That outside of God's mercy, 00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:44.619 all that awaits him 00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:45.979 is anger and wrath. 00:27:46.719 --> 00:27:47.679 And he also appeals 00:27:47.679 --> 00:27:48.399 to God's mission 00:27:48.399 --> 00:27:49.000 because he goes 00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:49.859 that God's mission 00:27:49.859 --> 00:27:51.000 is connected 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:52.179 with his steadfast love. 00:27:52.599 --> 00:27:53.099 That his mission 00:27:53.099 --> 00:27:54.559 is to save this world. 00:27:56.459 --> 00:27:57.359 To do away 00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:57.899 with evil 00:27:57.899 --> 00:27:59.059 fully and finally. 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:01.019 And for this world 00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:01.639 to be filled 00:28:01.639 --> 00:28:02.279 with the praise 00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:02.960 and enjoyment 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.859 of God. 00:28:08.399 --> 00:28:09.200 And I mentioned 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:09.680 at the beginning 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:10.700 that the psalms 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.559 teach us how to pray 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.220 but they're not 00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:13.420 all prayers 00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:13.759 or they're not 00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:14.680 entirely prayers. 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.940 And the psalmist's prayer 00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:17.740 ends here 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.500 in verse 5. 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.839 His prayer is finished. 00:28:25.139 --> 00:28:26.420 Which raises the question, 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:29.019 what happens 00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:30.460 after we pray? 00:28:33.560 --> 00:28:34.440 What happens 00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:35.000 when we pray? 00:28:35.100 --> 00:28:35.840 What happens here 00:28:35.840 --> 00:28:36.980 for the psalmist? 00:28:39.100 --> 00:28:40.320 Well, after he prays, 00:28:40.360 --> 00:28:40.680 the psalmist 00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:41.660 has two realities. 00:28:42.600 --> 00:28:43.480 First reality, 00:28:43.580 --> 00:28:44.500 verses 6 and 7. 00:28:45.080 --> 00:28:45.800 He is still 00:28:45.800 --> 00:28:47.240 in a challenging situation. 00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.759 He's still weary 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.420 with his moaning. 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.680 He's still flooding 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:54.580 his bed with tears. 00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:56.220 His eyes still 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:56.720 waste away 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.460 because of grief. 00:28:59.159 --> 00:29:00.019 The psalmist's prayer 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:00.799 does not immediately 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:02.139 solve his situation. 00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.079 In fact, 00:29:05.139 --> 00:29:05.799 probably many of you 00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:06.699 have experienced this. 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:07.839 It is rare 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:08.679 that you would pray, 00:29:09.159 --> 00:29:09.960 Lord, I need your help 00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:11.199 in this particular situation. 00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:12.439 And then, 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:13.339 three seconds later, 00:29:13.419 --> 00:29:14.419 the situation is solved. 00:29:16.419 --> 00:29:16.899 Often, 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.859 you are still left 00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:19.019 in verses 6 and 7. 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.740 You're still weary 00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:21.339 with your moaning. 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:24.240 However, 00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:27.519 that's not the only reality 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.179 for the psalmist. 00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:29.279 That's the first reality. 00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.559 He's still in his situation. 00:29:32.179 --> 00:29:33.579 There is a second reality, 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.319 verse 9 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.939 and verse 8. 00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:38.019 The Lord has heard 00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:39.019 the sound of my weeping. 00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:40.079 So on the one hand, 00:29:40.139 --> 00:29:40.779 I'm still weeping. 00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:43.079 On the other hand, 00:29:43.419 --> 00:29:44.199 God has heard it. 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:48.019 Verse 9, 00:29:48.099 --> 00:29:49.619 the Lord has heard my plea. 00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:52.079 The Lord accepts my prayer. 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:55.019 And so the psalmist 00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:56.159 has both of these realities 00:29:56.159 --> 00:29:56.699 in his hand. 00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:58.139 He has the continuing effects 00:29:58.139 --> 00:29:58.699 of the suffering 00:29:58.699 --> 00:29:59.639 that he's experiencing. 00:30:00.899 --> 00:30:02.519 And he also has confidence 00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.799 that God has heard him 00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:04.599 because he's prayed. 00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:07.220 Like any other person 00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:08.379 or any other relationship 00:30:08.379 --> 00:30:09.460 of someone we go to 00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:09.960 and talk to, 00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:11.019 he knows that God 00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:12.299 now also knows 00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:13.500 and understands 00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:14.259 his concern. 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:15.919 Now, 00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.759 there are enemies here 00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:17.599 in this psalm. 00:30:17.659 --> 00:30:18.399 I'm not going to talk 00:30:18.399 --> 00:30:19.799 a ton about this. 00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:20.500 It's not the focus 00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.119 of the psalm. 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:23.079 Our best guess 00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:24.159 is that these enemies 00:30:24.159 --> 00:30:24.980 are people who are 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:25.700 maybe gloating 00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.440 or delighting 00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:26.919 in the fact 00:30:26.919 --> 00:30:27.940 that the psalmist is down. 00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:29.440 Whatever situation he's in, 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.899 they find pleasure in it. 00:30:32.379 --> 00:30:33.480 It's not exactly clear. 00:30:33.579 --> 00:30:34.460 It does not seem 00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.680 that these workers of evil 00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:36.180 are the ones 00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:37.299 who've caused the situation. 00:30:38.139 --> 00:30:39.159 There are many other psalms 00:30:39.159 --> 00:30:39.500 for that. 00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:39.700 In fact, 00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.419 we saw one of them 00:30:40.419 --> 00:30:41.039 in Psalm 3. 00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:43.659 However, 00:30:43.779 --> 00:30:44.779 he does have the confidence 00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.299 now, 00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:46.379 also in verse 8, 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:46.680 to say, 00:30:46.740 --> 00:30:47.379 depart from me, 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.519 all you workers of evil. 00:30:48.519 --> 00:30:50.279 And so, 00:30:50.359 --> 00:30:51.180 his situation too, 00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:52.359 his confidence in God, 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.700 his knowledge that God 00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:54.299 has heard him 00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:55.259 and he can trust God 00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:56.119 for deliverance, 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.940 also allows him 00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:58.480 to have a different 00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:59.599 perspective on his enemies. 00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:01.779 And so, 00:31:01.940 --> 00:31:02.920 the point is this. 00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:03.480 The psalmist 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:04.980 still lives 00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:05.920 in the first reality. 00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:07.619 He's prayed to God. 00:31:08.139 --> 00:31:08.740 The situation 00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.500 is still ongoing. 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:11.799 So, 00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:12.440 he doesn't leave 00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:13.279 the first reality, 00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:15.460 but he lives 00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:16.379 in the second reality. 00:31:16.380 --> 00:31:19.160 He hasn't left 00:31:19.160 --> 00:31:20.060 the first reality, 00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:21.620 but he lives 00:31:21.620 --> 00:31:22.540 in the second reality. 00:31:23.300 --> 00:31:24.300 He's still weeping, 00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:26.200 but the Lord 00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:26.900 has heard his plea. 00:31:31.940 --> 00:31:32.980 He is still 00:31:32.980 --> 00:31:34.040 filled with grief, 00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:34.520 but the Lord 00:31:34.520 --> 00:31:35.600 has accepted his prayer. 00:31:36.900 --> 00:31:37.420 And so, 00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:38.180 what he's doing now 00:31:38.180 --> 00:31:39.320 here is he's trusting. 00:31:40.040 --> 00:31:40.960 He's trusting that 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:41.760 God has heard 00:31:41.760 --> 00:31:42.280 his prayer 00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:44.420 and that everything 00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:45.240 God has promised 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:45.859 he will do, 00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:47.339 he will do. 00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:50.339 I was talking 00:31:50.339 --> 00:31:51.039 to someone recently 00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:51.559 and they told me, 00:31:51.619 --> 00:31:51.700 you know, 00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:52.319 the psalms are 00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:54.220 kind of like a sitcom. 00:31:55.859 --> 00:31:56.799 Everything gets solved 00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:57.519 in one episode. 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:01.240 I'm here to tell you 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:01.759 this psalm 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:02.740 is not like a sitcom. 00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:05.319 Everything is not solved 00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:06.160 in this episode. 00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.599 The psalmist prays 00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:10.000 and at the end 00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:10.559 of this psalm 00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:11.420 he is still waiting 00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:12.240 for God to act. 00:32:13.640 --> 00:32:14.220 At the end 00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:14.740 of this psalm 00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:15.620 he is still waiting 00:32:15.620 --> 00:32:16.880 for God's deliverance. 00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:18.120 And so, 00:32:18.200 --> 00:32:18.500 in some ways 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:19.460 this is less like a sitcom, 00:32:19.660 --> 00:32:20.740 it's more like a Netflix show. 00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:22.000 We've seen the first episode. 00:32:23.380 --> 00:32:24.539 We're going to have 00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.100 cliffhangers 00:32:25.100 --> 00:32:25.920 to the very end. 00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:27.759 And then we're going 00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:28.560 to have a final cliffhanger 00:32:28.560 --> 00:32:29.039 to get us to go 00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:29.820 to the second episode 00:32:29.820 --> 00:32:30.600 or the second season. 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:32.820 So, 00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:33.259 the psalmist 00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:34.940 doesn't leave 00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:35.580 the first reality, 00:32:35.660 --> 00:32:36.759 he lives in the second reality. 00:32:36.840 --> 00:32:37.640 He does not know 00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:38.500 the end of the story, 00:32:39.340 --> 00:32:40.440 but he knows 00:32:40.440 --> 00:32:41.220 that God is faithful. 00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:43.860 He knows 00:32:43.860 --> 00:32:44.560 that God is faithful 00:32:44.560 --> 00:32:45.340 and he's promised 00:32:45.340 --> 00:32:46.700 to hear his prayer. 00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:48.240 And so, 00:32:48.340 --> 00:32:48.980 while the situation 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:49.720 is not solved, 00:32:49.860 --> 00:32:50.960 one thing is. 00:32:52.600 --> 00:32:53.500 The psalmist knows 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:54.160 that he will not 00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:55.560 ultimately face death 00:32:55.560 --> 00:32:56.380 because of God's 00:32:56.380 --> 00:32:57.200 steadfast love. 00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.720 The psalmist knows 00:32:59.720 --> 00:33:00.259 that he will not 00:33:00.259 --> 00:33:01.560 ultimately face death 00:33:01.560 --> 00:33:02.400 because of God's 00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:03.300 steadfast love. 00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:05.440 This is a penitential psalm, 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.160 it's a psalm 00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:07.019 of repentance. 00:33:08.019 --> 00:33:08.960 The psalmist knows 00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:10.140 that God's steadfast love, 00:33:10.140 --> 00:33:10.759 his forgiveness 00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:11.759 is for everyone 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:12.680 who turns away 00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:13.400 from their sin 00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:14.120 in repentance 00:33:14.120 --> 00:33:15.820 and turns back to God. 00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:17.440 And so, 00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:18.220 while he doesn't leave 00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:19.160 the first situation, 00:33:19.920 --> 00:33:21.360 he lives knowing 00:33:21.360 --> 00:33:22.580 that God's 00:33:22.580 --> 00:33:23.520 steadfast faithfulness 00:33:23.520 --> 00:33:24.259 is for him. 00:33:25.620 --> 00:33:25.900 And so, 00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:26.520 whatever happens, 00:33:26.580 --> 00:33:27.440 even when our mind 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:28.160 and our body 00:33:28.160 --> 00:33:29.220 are failing us, 00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:30.820 like the psalmist 00:33:30.820 --> 00:33:31.640 is here, 00:33:31.640 --> 00:33:34.800 we know that God's 00:33:34.800 --> 00:33:35.440 faithfulness 00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:36.240 is more true. 00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:38.900 When verses 6 and 7 00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:39.500 are true 00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:40.680 in our lives, 00:33:41.259 --> 00:33:44.020 we know that verses 8 and 10 00:33:44.020 --> 00:33:44.759 are more true. 00:33:46.620 --> 00:33:47.120 So, 00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:48.280 we don't deny reality, 00:33:48.860 --> 00:33:49.860 we don't have 00:33:49.860 --> 00:33:50.800 pie-in-the-sky hope, 00:33:50.840 --> 00:33:51.640 we don't pretend, 00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:55.759 but we also know 00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.200 that God's 00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:56.960 steadfast love 00:33:56.960 --> 00:33:57.580 is greater 00:33:57.580 --> 00:33:59.020 than what the psalmist 00:33:59.020 --> 00:33:59.540 is facing. 00:34:02.320 --> 00:34:02.860 And so, 00:34:02.920 --> 00:34:03.440 what does the psalmist 00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:04.500 have because of his prayers? 00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:05.200 Right now, 00:34:05.420 --> 00:34:06.140 as we're in the midst 00:34:06.140 --> 00:34:06.660 of his story 00:34:06.660 --> 00:34:07.220 that we don't know 00:34:07.220 --> 00:34:07.640 the end of, 00:34:07.660 --> 00:34:08.380 we know that he has 00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:08.860 confidence 00:34:08.860 --> 00:34:10.000 and faith 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:10.940 and hope 00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:12.240 and trust in God. 00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:14.059 And he has 00:34:14.059 --> 00:34:14.579 confidence 00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:15.160 and faith 00:34:15.160 --> 00:34:15.780 and hope 00:34:15.780 --> 00:34:16.800 and trust in God 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:17.640 because he knows 00:34:17.640 --> 00:34:18.800 God's steadfast love, 00:34:18.860 --> 00:34:19.400 he knows his 00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:20.079 never stopping, 00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:21.240 never giving up, 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:21.780 unbreaking, 00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:23.300 always and forever love. 00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:26.160 And that's the confidence 00:34:26.160 --> 00:34:27.180 that we have as well 00:34:27.180 --> 00:34:28.160 when we come to God 00:34:28.160 --> 00:34:28.800 in prayer 00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:30.780 as a person 00:34:30.780 --> 00:34:31.400 with whom we have 00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:32.460 a relationship with 00:34:32.460 --> 00:34:34.740 and we ask him 00:34:34.740 --> 00:34:35.680 to deliver us, 00:34:35.740 --> 00:34:36.460 to have forgiveness 00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:37.800 for us, 00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:38.480 to forgive us 00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:39.039 of our sins, 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:39.800 to deliver us 00:34:39.800 --> 00:34:40.440 from his anger 00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:41.139 and his wrath, 00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:43.019 knowing that God 00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:44.480 forgives and saves 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:46.300 anyone and everyone 00:34:46.300 --> 00:34:47.880 who comes to him 00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:48.480 in repentance. 00:34:49.400 --> 00:34:51.280 And so while we 00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:52.039 don't necessarily 00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:53.940 exit the situation 00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:54.500 that we're in 00:34:54.500 --> 00:34:55.019 at the moment, 00:34:55.900 --> 00:34:57.240 we also live 00:34:57.240 --> 00:34:58.440 knowing that Jesus 00:34:58.440 --> 00:34:59.300 died so that we 00:34:59.300 --> 00:34:59.740 could live. 00:35:00.760 --> 00:35:02.139 We live in that faith 00:35:02.139 --> 00:35:02.820 and that hope 00:35:02.820 --> 00:35:03.559 and that trust 00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:04.840 and that confidence. 00:35:05.760 --> 00:35:06.840 Not as a magical 00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:07.639 experience 00:35:07.639 --> 00:35:08.539 or experiment 00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:09.480 but because we've 00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:09.900 prayed 00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:11.240 and spoken 00:35:11.240 --> 00:35:12.340 to a person 00:35:12.340 --> 00:35:13.400 with whom we 00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:14.119 have a relationship. 00:35:14.119 --> 00:35:17.000 I invite you 00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:17.539 to pray with me 00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:18.259 now and speak 00:35:18.259 --> 00:35:19.039 to that very 00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:19.599 same person. 00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:21.079 Let's pray. 00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:24.679 Father in heaven, 00:35:24.799 --> 00:35:26.199 we thank you again 00:35:26.199 --> 00:35:26.819 for your word 00:35:26.819 --> 00:35:27.719 which gives us hope. 00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:30.460 We ask that 00:35:30.460 --> 00:35:31.739 if we do know you, 00:35:31.819 --> 00:35:32.739 you would grow us up, 00:35:32.819 --> 00:35:33.339 that we would 00:35:33.339 --> 00:35:34.359 cry out to you 00:35:34.359 --> 00:35:34.980 and talk to you 00:35:34.980 --> 00:35:35.719 and speak to you 00:35:35.719 --> 00:35:36.319 more and more, 00:35:37.019 --> 00:35:38.039 that we would 00:35:38.039 --> 00:35:39.359 understand your care 00:35:39.359 --> 00:35:40.079 and your concern 00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:41.099 and your love for us. 00:35:41.099 --> 00:35:43.279 If we don't know you, 00:35:43.339 --> 00:35:43.920 we ask that you 00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:44.440 would help us 00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:45.239 to understand 00:35:45.239 --> 00:35:46.000 the reality 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:47.739 of your wrath 00:35:47.739 --> 00:35:48.500 and your discipline 00:35:48.500 --> 00:35:50.339 but also the even 00:35:50.339 --> 00:35:51.159 greater reality 00:35:51.159 --> 00:35:51.920 of your forgiveness 00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:52.679 that you offer 00:35:52.679 --> 00:35:53.579 to us in Jesus. 00:35:55.019 --> 00:35:55.980 I ask for everyone 00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:56.539 here that you 00:35:56.539 --> 00:35:57.400 would challenge us 00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:57.920 with the truth 00:35:57.920 --> 00:35:58.480 of your word 00:35:58.480 --> 00:35:58.980 and you'd also 00:35:58.980 --> 00:36:00.819 encourage us 00:36:00.819 --> 00:36:01.279 with it. 00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:02.619 That as you show us 00:36:02.619 --> 00:36:03.839 our need for your grace, 00:36:04.739 --> 00:36:05.579 you'd also show us 00:36:05.579 --> 00:36:06.299 how you meet 00:36:06.299 --> 00:36:07.259 and more than meet 00:36:07.259 --> 00:36:07.819 that need 00:36:07.819 --> 00:36:08.420 through Jesus. 00:36:09.759 --> 00:36:10.759 We have not earned 00:36:10.760 --> 00:36:11.320 these things 00:36:11.320 --> 00:36:12.660 but Jesus has 00:36:12.660 --> 00:36:13.740 and so we ask them 00:36:13.740 --> 00:36:14.260 in his name. 00:36:14.820 --> 00:36:15.040 Amen.