WEBVTT

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 Father, we confess before you that it is far easier for us to deceive ourselves than we realize.

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 Father, we confess before you that self-deception plays a far greater role in our lives than we realize.

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 And we confess before you, Father, that we do not know ourselves as well as you know us.

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 But, Father, we hide this from ourselves so often.

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 And we feel, Father, that we know ourselves and you better than you know ourselves or that you know yourself.

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 Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would move and work deeply in our lives,

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 that you would help us today, Father, to become more honest with ourselves and more honest with you.

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 And, Father, we give you thanks and praise that as your Holy Spirit leads us to a greater honesty about ourselves

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 and an honesty with you that you, Father, will come and enter into our lives and have a far greater role and power.

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 We ask, Father, for your wisdom into our lives, that you would help us to hear the wisdom of your word.

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 And all this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior.

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 Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 I have to confess it's not a matter of confessing.

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 I haven't received hate mail lately.

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 And I'm happy about that.

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 I don't know how many of you have ever received hate mail.

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 But a few years ago, I had an involvement in sort of a national debate on things that touched a lot of different people.

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 And I took a side on that national debate.

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 And I would regularly receive hate mail.

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 In fact, some of you might know I've even been stopped on the street and told off about how hateful I am and the views are that I have.

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 And it's not fun receiving hate mail.

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 It's not fun just walking on the street, minding your own business and being stopped by a stranger who recognizes you from wherever to be told off and sort of condemned.

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 It's not a fun experience.

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 And I know I haven't dealt with as much abuse as probably.

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 I'm sure there are some of you who have had vastly, vastly worse examples of hatred directed at you and probably over a far longer period of time.

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 So I'm not claiming to know about hatred more than all of you.

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 But I do know a little bit about what it is to be hated, to receive hate mail.

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 Actually, twice I've been assaulted in my office over the years by people trying to beat me up because they hated me.

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 This was on a separate matter.

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 So I have a very, very tiny sense of what it's like.

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 And so I understand the worry that some of us can have when we hear the Bible passage today.

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 It all started just so nice, didn't it?

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 And then all of a sudden towards the end, I hate them with a perfect hatred.

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 And so for some of us here in the room, there can be a great degree of anxiety that emerges when we hear such a scripture text.

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 A worry that the Bible, in fact, is promoting hatred.

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 But the Bible is legitimizing us hating people.

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 And so we're going to look at that a little bit today.

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 We're going to look and see, is it in fact the case that the Bible promotes hatred?

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 Or is it in fact the case?

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 Well, let's just see.

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 So if you have your Bibles, it would be a great help if you open your Bibles up.

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 And turn with me.

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 The psalm was Psalm 139.

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 Psalm 139.

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 And the part that we're going to look at first, sort of our entrance way into the text, is verses 19 to 22.

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 19 to 22.

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 Towards the end of the 24-verse long psalm.

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 And 19 to 22, of course, towards the end.

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 And that's the surprising bit, the shocking bit, maybe for some of you.

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 And I just want to let you know something as you sort of turn to that.

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 One of the things which is not good about the Anglican tradition in Canada is that in 1959, when they were revising the prayer book,

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 and most Anglican churches follow some type of lectionary,

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 and in 1959, when they were changing the lectionary for Anglican churches,

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 with this psalm, they took it out.

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 They took that part of the psalm out.

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 And so if you were to go and find a little tiny red prayer book and flip through it, these verses aren't in it.

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 And in fact, for many, many Anglican churches and Roman Catholic and Lutheran United churches,

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 they follow something called the Revised Common Lectionary.

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 And in that Revised Common Lectionary, when they talk about Psalm 139,

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 these parts of the psalm are taken out.

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 And so it's quite possible for many people to have thought they've gone to church all their lives,

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 maybe an Anglican or Catholic or Lutheran United Church,

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 and heard the scriptures read and not realized that this is actually even in the Bible.

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 So we're going to look at it.

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 And here's what it says.

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 Oh, that you would slay the wicked, O God.

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 Verse 19

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 O men of blood, depart from me.

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 They speak against you with malicious intent.

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 Your enemies take your name in vain.

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 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?

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 And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?

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 I hate them with complete hatred.

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 I count them my enemies.

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 Wow. It's a very, very stark text.

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 Well, here's the first thing as we look in this.

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 I have to confess that there are some times that Christians talk about themselves

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 as if Christians are better than other people.

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 In the Irish household that I grew up in,

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 my parents and my relatives, who are all Protestant Irish immigrants,

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 had a way of referring to something as being very Protestant.

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 And the implication was that Protestant people were good and Catholic people were bad.

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 And so if you did something that was good or well-organized or intelligent,

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 that was very Protestant.

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 And the implication was that if you weren't doing those things, it was Catholic and bad.

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 Or maybe, I mean, I guess they would have been open-minded and said Muslims, Hindus, and Jews,

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 and everybody else.

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 But they're not Protestants, and Protestants are sort of good.

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 And that's not a part of my background or my heritage, which I embrace or I'm proud of.

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 And it's easy sometimes.

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 And all of us have heard Christians who've talked as if somehow Christians are better than other people.

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 But the first thing I want to suggest to us is that not only must we as Christians

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 completely and utterly repent of any such type of attitude towards that, of saying that way,

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 that somehow we Christians are better or better behaved than other people.

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 The other thing is that we need to understand that this is a human problem,

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 that hatred is a human problem.

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 That on one hand, while it's often, you don't have to look very far on the Internet

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 to find Christians talking as if things like hatred is a Muslim problem or an atheist problem

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 or a gay problem or something like that.

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 I mean, I don't mean to offend anybody here.

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 I really don't mean to offend.

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 But I haven't been able to think of a different way to put it.

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 But on Saturday in the National Post, there was an interview with a scholar

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 from the University of British Columbia who's written a book.

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 And the thesis of the book, according to the interview,

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 and I don't know whether the interviewer got the interview correct.

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 Okay, so I'm just going to go by the interview,

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 that big gods create big civilizations.

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 At the end of the interview, not only is it that big gods create big civilizations,

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 but that big gods who create big civilizations create lots of reasons

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 to dislike a lot of people and sort of legitimize violence against them.

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 And I guess it might be a shock to be a secular professor at a university.

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 But the fact of the matter is, and here I don't mean to offend anybody,

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 but if we look at it honestly, hatred is a human problem.

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 Hatred is a human problem.

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 Over the last couple of weeks, there's been reports in the papers about Buddhist mobs

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 attacking people who aren't Buddhists.

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 We see lots of examples of Muslim on Muslim and Muslim on Christian and violence.

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 There are stories in the papers over the last couple of months of Hindu violence

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 against Christians and against Muslims.

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 Whole states, atheist states, have been characterized by profound hatred

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 against social groups or dissidents or people who have views that are other than their own.

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 And in fact, it's probably very, very often the case that an atheist might think

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 that hatred is a Christian problem and atheists aren't like that.

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 And Christians think that hatred is an atheist problem and Christians aren't like that.

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 And Hindus think that hatred is somebody else's problem and not their own.

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 And the fact of the matter is that we can be profoundly self-deceptive

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 and that hatred is a human problem.

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 And I don't mean, but hatred is a human problem.

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 And if we start to understand that hatred is a human problem,

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 then the question really becomes,

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 does the spirituality or the ideology or the philosophy or the religion

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 that we adhere to or adhere to or follow,

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 does it speak wisely into the issue of hatred?

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 Or does it inflame hatred?

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 Does it permit hatred?

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 Legitimize hatred?

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 Lead to self-deception about human hatred?

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 Is the philosophy or the ideology or the religion that we follow or adhere,

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 does it actually speak wisely into the human problem of hatred?

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 Now, I think that if we start to look at this psalm,

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 and we're going to look at the psalm more,

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 we're going to look at these words again more in a couple of seconds,

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 we're going to look at the whole psalm.

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 I'm going to tell you this.

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 I actually think that if you look honestly into the resources within atheism and other faiths

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 and look into the resources of Christianity

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 in terms of how they can speak into the whole issue of wisdom,

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 you'll see that I don't believe there's anything which is as wise and as insightful

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 about the range of human experience and emotion and the reality of hatred as we will find in the Bible.

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 And that even this psalm and even this part of the scripture,

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 which at first seems so worrisome,

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 is that we can worry that if we take it to heart and take it literally,

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 that we'll all turn into reverend Phipps types going around chanting,

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 you know, death to faggots or, you know,

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 and other types of unbelievably obscene hatred.

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 And rather than actually thinking that if we take the Bible more seriously

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 and delve into it more deeply,

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 that we will turn into a Pastor Phipps,

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 I think we will see that in fact the Bible has profound wisdom and insight

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 into the reality of the human problem of evil.

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 So the first thing is to say that hatred is a human problem,

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 not a Christian problem,

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 although Christians have that problem,

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 it's a human problem.

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 And the second thing is as we hear this text,

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 I'm going to read it again,

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 Is there any type of social context or experience

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 whereby that prayer might actually make any type of sense?

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 Imagine that you're in Syria.

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 You can't get out.

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 And you're a Christian businessman or a Christian businesswoman,

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 and you have a little church.

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 And your business has been attacked many times.

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 Your church has been attacked many times.

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 Your friends and your neighbors,

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 maybe some of your family members have died from gas attacks.

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 The Assad regime,

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 in anger at the triumph of the rebels,

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 partially takes it out on you,

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 the rebels,

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 and they take it out on you.

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 And the rebels,

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 angry at the success of the Assad regime,

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 take it out on you.

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 And you've not only endured low-level violence

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 and maybe high-level violence

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 for most of your life in that country,

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 but over these last two years,

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 you have had many loved ones die.

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 Maybe your own family.

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 What do you think,

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 if you're in Syria,

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 you would think about this text?

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 What do you think you might think?

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 You see, friends,

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 here's the very, very first thing.

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 Those of us who think

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 that they can protect the church

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 by editing out parts of the Bible,

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 ultimately what they do

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 is create care-bear Christianity.

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 And care-bear Christianity

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 is insipid,

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 weak,

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 useless,

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 idle.

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 That's what it is.

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 The Bible addresses

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 the depths

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 and the breadth

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 of human experience.

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 Amongst other things

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 that Christians in Syria could say,

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 they could say,

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 God understands a little bit

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 about what's going on inside of me.

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 He understands.

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 And surely,

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 wouldn't you want a Christian in Syria

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 to pray something along that line

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 to have his life

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 be somehow informed by that

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 in some way?

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 Because wouldn't you think

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 it's valid in that context

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 for you to pray,

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 if I have nine kids

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 and if I'm that Syrian dad

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 and six of my kids are married

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 and I have grandkids,

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 I would want to pray,

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 Father,

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 don't let one of my kids

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 get so completely overwhelmed

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 by these people

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 who do not value human life,

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 who hate.

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 don't let my son

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 or my daughter

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 join them.

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 Father,

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 please never put me

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 in a position

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 where I,

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 to protect myself,

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 to protect my business,

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 will become like one of them

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 to kill

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 or to maim

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 or to rape my neighbors

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 to save my own skin.

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 Father,

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 please grant me

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 the courage

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 to be completely

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 and utterly loyal to you.

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 I know,

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 Father,

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 that you find

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 what's going on around me

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 completely

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 and utterly abhorrent

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 and,

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 Father,

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 please do not let me

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 ever join that side.

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 Don't you think

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 that something like this prayer

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 might actually speak

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 into their lives?

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 You see,

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 the problem is

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 that we become ethnocentric.

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 The fact is,

00:15:38.800 --> 00:15:40.300
 this text does not give me

00:15:40.300 --> 00:15:41.460
 any type of insight

00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:42.320
 about how to deal

00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:42.940
 with the person

00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:44.100
 who cuts in front of me

00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:44.600
 in the lineup

00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:45.720
 at McDonald's.

00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.720
 Okay?

00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:49.279
 If you think this verse

00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:50.060
 is speaking into

00:15:50.060 --> 00:15:51.180
 how to handle the guy

00:15:51.180 --> 00:15:51.740
 or the gal

00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:52.240
 in front of you

00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:53.279
 cutting to you at McDonald's,

00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:54.460
 wrong.

00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.320
 But the fact that the matter

00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:57.279
 is that many of us

00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.080
 will have to make,

00:15:58.180 --> 00:15:58.740
 should pray,

00:15:59.320 --> 00:15:59.560
 Father,

00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:00.279
 hopefully,

00:16:00.800 --> 00:16:03.019
 I never have to experience this.

00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.500
 So that's,

00:16:05.500 --> 00:16:06.440
 that's the first thing

00:16:06.440 --> 00:16:07.379
 about this text

00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:07.920
 is that

00:16:07.920 --> 00:16:10.240
 it actually,

00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:12.279
 there are,

00:16:13.160 --> 00:16:14.660
 it touches on

00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:15.719
 context,

00:16:16.939 --> 00:16:17.019
 the,

00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:17.439
 the,

00:16:17.439 --> 00:16:18.879
 the,

00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:19.159
 the,

00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:20.459
 the young girl

00:16:20.459 --> 00:16:22.480
 who's now 16 years old

00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:23.679
 who's been brutalized

00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:24.399
 in secret

00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:25.799
 by her father

00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:26.879
 or grandfather,

00:16:27.059 --> 00:16:28.620
 her stepdad,

00:16:28.819 --> 00:16:30.059
 ever since she was

00:16:30.059 --> 00:16:30.899
 a young girl

00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:36.360
 and is horrified

00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:37.019
 by the fact

00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:38.159
 that the family members

00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:39.079
 rally around

00:16:39.079 --> 00:16:41.059
 to disbelieve her

00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:41.879
 and to protect

00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:42.799
 the guilty one.

00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:45.659
 this song

00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:46.319
 might speak

00:16:46.319 --> 00:16:47.120
 into her life,

00:16:47.199 --> 00:16:47.779
 don't you think?

00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:53.339
 The Bible

00:16:53.339 --> 00:16:54.799
 addresses the full breadth

00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:55.359
 and depth

00:16:55.359 --> 00:16:56.419
 and shallows

00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:56.839
 as well

00:16:56.839 --> 00:16:57.699
 of human emotion.

00:16:58.139 --> 00:16:58.299
 Bible,

00:16:58.439 --> 00:16:59.219
 not this text,

00:16:59.719 --> 00:17:00.359
 other places

00:17:00.359 --> 00:17:00.919
 where it addresses

00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:01.679
 the shallows

00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:02.539
 of human emotions.

00:17:03.079 --> 00:17:04.139
 It's not care pair

00:17:04.139 --> 00:17:05.079
 Christianity

00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:05.819
 and the way

00:17:05.819 --> 00:17:06.799
 of following Jesus

00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:08.180
 is not just

00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:09.379
 for the successful

00:17:09.379 --> 00:17:10.500
 person

00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:11.660
 who's never had

00:17:11.660 --> 00:17:12.740
 anything go wrong

00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:13.460
 in their life.

00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.140
 See,

00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:15.740
 one of the problems

00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:16.839
 with care bear Christianity

00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:18.039
 is that when things

00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:19.640
 go really bad

00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:20.440
 in our lives

00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:21.960
 and we just feel

00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:23.720
 so much anger,

00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:25.940
 we're such strong emotions,

00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:27.059
 we feel we have to stay

00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:28.319
 away from church

00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:32.099
 rather than understand

00:17:32.099 --> 00:17:33.859
 that God is familiar

00:17:33.859 --> 00:17:35.680
 and knows the full breadth

00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:36.940
 of human experience

00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:38.400
 and that if we are

00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:39.240
 dealing with

00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:39.880
 great,

00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:40.279
 great,

00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:41.299
 great anger

00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:42.860
 rather than thinking

00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:43.820
 that the Jesus way

00:17:43.820 --> 00:17:44.620
 has nothing to do

00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:45.100
 with us,

00:17:45.580 --> 00:17:46.580
 we are to understand

00:17:46.580 --> 00:17:47.500
 that the Jesus way

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.920
 has everything

00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:49.980
 to do with us

00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:51.700
 and the Bible

00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:53.059
 has everything

00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:54.559
 to speak into our lives.

00:17:55.620 --> 00:17:56.640
 So the first thing

00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:57.220
 we can see about

00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:58.200
 the wisdom of the Bible

00:17:58.200 --> 00:17:58.880
 is that the wisdom

00:17:58.880 --> 00:17:59.380
 of the Bible

00:17:59.380 --> 00:18:00.519
 actually acknowledges

00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:01.059
 the strength

00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:02.900
 of profound,

00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:03.860
 deep,

00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:06.299
 human emotions

00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:08.259
 and social context

00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:09.099
 that we maybe hope

00:18:09.099 --> 00:18:10.139
 we never have to go into

00:18:10.139 --> 00:18:11.399
 but it speaks into it

00:18:11.399 --> 00:18:12.719
 and that in fact

00:18:12.719 --> 00:18:13.639
 by speaking into it

00:18:13.639 --> 00:18:15.199
 it provides a type of wisdom

00:18:15.199 --> 00:18:16.619
 but it also has

00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:18.039
 another type of wisdom

00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:18.619
 because you see

00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:20.000
 we want more than wisdom

00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:21.639
 when looking at the human,

00:18:21.979 --> 00:18:23.039
 the reality of hatred,

00:18:23.199 --> 00:18:23.979
 we want something

00:18:23.979 --> 00:18:25.240
 that speaks about

00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:27.099
 restraint and context.

00:18:27.919 --> 00:18:28.039
 Well,

00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:28.759
 does the psalm

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.639
 provide some type

00:18:29.639 --> 00:18:30.859
 of restraint or context?

00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:31.859
 It does in a very,

00:18:31.979 --> 00:18:32.619
 very profound

00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:33.579
 and powerful way.

00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:34.719
 Let's look up

00:18:34.719 --> 00:18:35.359
 to the part

00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:36.199
 just before

00:18:36.199 --> 00:18:39.259
 verses 19 to 22

00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:40.019
 and I'm going to begin

00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:42.519
 reading at verse 13.

00:18:44.979 --> 00:18:45.500
 Yes,

00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:46.259
 verse 13.

00:18:47.219 --> 00:18:48.000
 Check my notes.

00:18:48.459 --> 00:18:49.299
 Here's what it says.

00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:50.879
 For you formed

00:18:50.879 --> 00:18:52.279
 my inward parts.

00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:53.500
 You knitted me together

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:54.579
 in my mother's womb.

00:18:55.139 --> 00:18:56.019
 I praise you

00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:57.000
 for I am fearfully

00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:58.099
 and wonderfully made.

00:18:58.679 --> 00:18:59.859
 Wonderful are your works.

00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:01.219
 My soul knows it

00:19:01.219 --> 00:19:01.839
 very well.

00:19:02.399 --> 00:19:03.399
 My frame was not

00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:04.280
 hidden from you

00:19:04.280 --> 00:19:05.200
 when I was being made

00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:05.780
 in secret,

00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:06.920
 intricately woven

00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:07.940
 in the depths of the earth.

00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:09.340
 Your eyes saw

00:19:09.340 --> 00:19:10.780
 my unformed substance.

00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:11.700
 In your book

00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:12.160
 were written

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.120
 every one of them.

00:19:13.380 --> 00:19:14.160
 The days that were

00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:15.019
 formed for me

00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.600
 when as yet

00:19:15.600 --> 00:19:16.500
 there was none of them.

00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:17.940
 How precious to me

00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:18.600
 are your thoughts,

00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.000
 O God!

00:19:19.060 --> 00:19:20.360
 How vast is the sum of them!

00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:21.540
 If I could count them,

00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:23.140
 they are more than the sand.

00:19:23.259 --> 00:19:23.860
 I awake

00:19:23.860 --> 00:19:25.300
 and I am still with you.

00:19:26.380 --> 00:19:26.780
 Now,

00:19:26.860 --> 00:19:27.320
 first of all,

00:19:27.360 --> 00:19:27.800
 this psalm

00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:28.480
 is not saying

00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.819
 that the psalmist

00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:30.859
 thought that babies

00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:33.220
 developed in caves

00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:35.139
 and pelicans

00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:35.859
 go and

00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:37.139
 get them

00:19:37.139 --> 00:19:37.919
 out of the cave

00:19:37.919 --> 00:19:38.700
 and then somehow

00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:39.799
 go and bestow them

00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:40.899
 upon a happy couple.

00:19:41.899 --> 00:19:42.799
 This is not what

00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:43.259
 the psalmist

00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:43.839
 is talking about

00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:44.139
 at all.

00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:45.240
 It's using

00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:46.059
 chaste,

00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:47.339
 poetic imagery

00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:49.299
 to talk about

00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:51.000
 the conception

00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:51.759
 of a child

00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:52.779
 in its mother's womb.

00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:55.279
 And here's the thing

00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:56.019
 which is so

00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:57.899
 powerful about the text.

00:19:58.660 --> 00:19:59.399
 I am known

00:19:59.399 --> 00:20:00.059
 and loved

00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:00.759
 by God

00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:01.759
 from conception.

00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:04.339
 So from conception,

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:05.639
 I have

00:20:05.639 --> 00:20:06.480
 a dignity

00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.539
 and value

00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.839
 as a human being

00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:10.059
 regardless

00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:10.759
 of what

00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.539
 a parent,

00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:13.039
 regime,

00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:14.119
 race,

00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:15.339
 institution

00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:16.700
 will say.

00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:18.879
 This text

00:20:18.879 --> 00:20:19.440
 is telling me

00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:20.379
 that I am known

00:20:20.379 --> 00:20:20.980
 and loved

00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:21.680
 by God

00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:22.660
 from conception.

00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:25.240
 So from conception,

00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:26.139
 I have

00:20:26.139 --> 00:20:26.759
 a dignity

00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:27.579
 and value

00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.680
 as a human being

00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:29.339
 regardless

00:20:29.339 --> 00:20:30.460
 of what a parent,

00:20:30.859 --> 00:20:31.440
 regime,

00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:32.319
 race,

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.359
 institution

00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:33.859
 say.

00:20:34.299 --> 00:20:35.299
 I do not have

00:20:35.299 --> 00:20:35.839
 to wait

00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:36.899
 for a parent

00:20:36.899 --> 00:20:38.200
 or an institution

00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:39.220
 or a race

00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:40.460
 or a social class

00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:41.240
 to declare

00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.339
 that I am human

00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:43.139
 and fit

00:20:43.139 --> 00:20:44.039
 to enter

00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:45.680
 into the society

00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:46.319
 of humans.

00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.139
 I don't have

00:20:47.139 --> 00:20:47.940
 to wait for that.

00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:48.240
 I mean,

00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:48.859
 it might be

00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:49.279
 that they

00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.839
 mistakenly

00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:51.480
 are going to act

00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:52.119
 as if they have

00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:52.699
 that power

00:20:52.699 --> 00:20:53.139
 of God

00:20:53.139 --> 00:20:53.619
 over me.

00:20:53.679 --> 00:20:54.359
 But this text

00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:54.699
 in a very,

00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:55.799
 very powerful

00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:56.859
 and profound way

00:20:56.859 --> 00:20:57.439
 says that

00:20:57.439 --> 00:20:58.319
 in fact,

00:20:58.399 --> 00:20:59.099
 it's by being

00:20:59.099 --> 00:20:59.739
 begotten,

00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.319
 it's by being

00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:00.899
 conceived

00:21:00.899 --> 00:21:02.259
 that I receive

00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:03.079
 value,

00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:03.619
 dignity,

00:21:04.159 --> 00:21:05.299
 excuse me,

00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:06.059
 and worth

00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.239
 and integrity

00:21:07.239 --> 00:21:08.439
 from the moment

00:21:08.439 --> 00:21:09.439
 of my conception

00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:10.620
 and every human

00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:11.200
 being does

00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:11.620
 as well.

00:21:14.120 --> 00:21:14.559
 You know,

00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:16.000
 I was joking

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.740
 with my wife

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.320
 last night

00:21:17.320 --> 00:21:17.680
 when we were

00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.019
 driving,

00:21:18.120 --> 00:21:18.480
 I helped my

00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:19.000
 oldest son

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:19.720
 move yesterday

00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:20.620
 from Renfrew

00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:21.220
 to Wormprior

00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:22.519
 and I was joking

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:22.700
 that,

00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.000
 you know,

00:21:23.160 --> 00:21:23.420
 Louise,

00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:24.200
 this is a really

00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:24.840
 easy text,

00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:25.220
 I'm just going

00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:25.720
 to talk about

00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:26.200
 hatred,

00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.180
 abortion,

00:21:27.620 --> 00:21:28.140
 maybe I should

00:21:28.140 --> 00:21:28.580
 throw in

00:21:28.580 --> 00:21:29.299
 tithing

00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:31.000
 and same-sex

00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.620
 marriage or

00:21:31.620 --> 00:21:32.200
 something while

00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:32.700
 I'm at it

00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:33.259
 just to sort of

00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:33.840
 get like three

00:21:33.840 --> 00:21:34.600
 or four or five

00:21:34.600 --> 00:21:35.360
 really controversial,

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.180
 actually I could

00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:36.600
 talk about

00:21:36.600 --> 00:21:37.320
 same-sex marriages

00:21:37.320 --> 00:21:37.860
 from this text

00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:38.279
 but I won't.

00:21:38.740 --> 00:21:38.899
 You know,

00:21:38.899 --> 00:21:39.279
 maybe I'll just

00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:39.699
 throw in a whole

00:21:39.699 --> 00:21:40.359
 pile of things

00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:41.000
 all at once,

00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:41.279
 you know,

00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:41.899
 and then if people,

00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:43.740
 here's the thing,

00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:44.879
 this is very,

00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:45.299
 very,

00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:46.139
 very,

00:21:46.219 --> 00:21:46.859
 very profound,

00:21:46.959 --> 00:21:47.459
 it's a profound

00:21:47.459 --> 00:21:48.419
 limiting factor

00:21:48.419 --> 00:21:48.859
 on hatred

00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:49.639
 in two ways

00:21:49.639 --> 00:21:51.459
 because the first

00:21:51.459 --> 00:21:51.899
 thing is,

00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:52.659
 what is it that

00:21:52.659 --> 00:21:53.439
 happens to us

00:21:53.439 --> 00:21:53.879
 when we get

00:21:53.879 --> 00:21:54.619
 overwhelmed by

00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.119
 hatred?

00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:58.619
 We dehumanize

00:21:58.619 --> 00:21:59.619
 the other person,

00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:01.079
 we see them

00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:02.059
 as less than

00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:02.419
 human,

00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.819
 we see them

00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.699
 as worthy

00:22:04.699 --> 00:22:05.479
 of death,

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.459
 we see them

00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.220
 as worthy

00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:08.819
 of being

00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.220
 treated

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:10.259
 like garbage

00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:12.920
 and this text

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:14.100
 is a profound

00:22:14.100 --> 00:22:15.100
 guard against

00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:15.420
 that.

00:22:16.620 --> 00:22:17.220
 Once again,

00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.000
 if I'm that dad

00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.680
 in Syria,

00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:21.720
 I have to

00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:22.279
 realize that

00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:23.140
 those people

00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:24.579
 that are

00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:25.680
 horrendous

00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:27.360
 were also

00:22:27.360 --> 00:22:29.579
 made human

00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.960
 at the moment

00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.279
 of their

00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:31.940
 conception,

00:22:33.299 --> 00:22:34.420
 that there is

00:22:34.420 --> 00:22:35.140
 in fact a

00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:35.860
 dignity of them

00:22:35.859 --> 00:22:36.259
 as human

00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:36.879
 beings,

00:22:37.219 --> 00:22:37.759
 that comes

00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.819
 not by my

00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:39.959
 anger or

00:22:39.959 --> 00:22:40.759
 my approval,

00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:41.939
 but from

00:22:41.939 --> 00:22:42.359
 God.

00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:44.579
 Most

00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:45.240
 importantly,

00:22:45.659 --> 00:22:46.000
 and that's

00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.459
 a very,

00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:46.740
 very,

00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:47.119
 very,

00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:47.719
 very,

00:22:47.719 --> 00:22:49.000
 very important

00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:50.539
 limiting

00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:52.259
 aspect and

00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.259
 wisdom into

00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:53.679
 hatred.

00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:54.039
 You see,

00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:54.559
 the fact of

00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:54.779
 the matter

00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:55.159
 is,

00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.019
 is that if

00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:56.579
 any of us,

00:22:56.659 --> 00:22:57.099
 even those

00:22:57.099 --> 00:22:57.439
 of us who

00:22:57.439 --> 00:22:57.679
 have been

00:22:57.679 --> 00:22:58.119
 terribly

00:22:58.119 --> 00:22:58.879
 brutalized

00:22:58.879 --> 00:22:59.099
 and

00:22:59.099 --> 00:22:59.679
 terribly,

00:23:00.219 --> 00:23:01.139
 been terrible

00:23:01.139 --> 00:23:02.059
 recipients of

00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:02.599
 violence,

00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:03.519
 it would

00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.019
 not be

00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:04.459
 appropriate

00:23:04.459 --> 00:23:05.119
 for us

00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:05.679
 to ever

00:23:05.679 --> 00:23:06.439
 just meditate

00:23:06.439 --> 00:23:07.179
 upon verses

00:23:07.179 --> 00:23:08.159
 19 through

00:23:08.159 --> 00:23:08.819
 22,

00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.519
 but to

00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.199
 meditate upon

00:23:11.199 --> 00:23:11.619
 the whole

00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:12.119
 psalm.

00:23:14.719 --> 00:23:15.279
 And as we

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:15.959
 meditate upon

00:23:15.959 --> 00:23:16.619
 the psalm,

00:23:16.740 --> 00:23:17.539
 where even

00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:19.000
 as we

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:20.319
 are dealing

00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:20.699
 with the

00:23:20.699 --> 00:23:21.319
 depth of

00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:21.740
 our emotion

00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.419
 around hatred,

00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:23.099
 we are also

00:23:23.099 --> 00:23:24.500
 taught very

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.439
 deeply about

00:23:25.439 --> 00:23:26.179
 the dignity

00:23:26.179 --> 00:23:27.099
 of every

00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:28.159
 human being,

00:23:28.719 --> 00:23:29.240
 a dignity

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:30.019
 that comes

00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:30.859
 from God

00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:32.079
 from the

00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:32.559
 moment of

00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:32.779
 their

00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:33.619
 conception.

00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:37.079
 And for

00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:37.339
 me,

00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:38.079
 who is a

00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:38.660
 victim of

00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:39.019
 hatred,

00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:39.720
 this is a

00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.579
 profound thing.

00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:42.359
 When those

00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:42.859
 of us who

00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:43.759
 have suffered

00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:44.460
 some type

00:23:44.460 --> 00:23:45.279
 of violence,

00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:45.980
 it's very

00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:46.879
 easy for us

00:23:46.879 --> 00:23:47.680
 to be deeply

00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:48.799
 ashamed about

00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:49.460
 who we are,

00:23:50.139 --> 00:23:50.700
 to actually

00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.599
 wonder if

00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:52.099
 the people

00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:52.720
 who have so

00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.279
 hated us

00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:53.779
 and attacked

00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:54.139
 us are

00:23:54.139 --> 00:23:54.779
 right in

00:23:54.779 --> 00:23:55.759
 treating us

00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.539
 being somehow

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.539
 subhuman and

00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:58.220
 worthy of

00:23:58.220 --> 00:23:58.879
 violence and

00:23:58.879 --> 00:23:59.500
 assault and

00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.119
 brutality,

00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:01.359
 it is easy

00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:02.000
 for that to

00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:02.400
 go through

00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:03.099
 our minds.

00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:05.099
 And in

00:24:05.099 --> 00:24:06.119
 the face

00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:06.980
 of being

00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.680
 the recipient

00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.559
 of human

00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.079
 hatred,

00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:10.039
 we can look

00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:10.599
 at this and

00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:11.240
 say that I

00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:12.039
 am fearfully

00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:12.680
 and wonderfully

00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:13.099
 made.

00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:17.240
 So it is

00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:18.240
 both profound

00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:19.220
 wisdom into

00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:19.900
 those who are

00:24:19.900 --> 00:24:20.720
 the victims of

00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:21.700
 hatred and a

00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:23.039
 profound limit

00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:24.039
 to human

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.380
 hatred.

00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:26.640
 It is

00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:26.960
 bringing

00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:28.640
 wisdom into

00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:29.019
 a very,

00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:29.879
 very powerful

00:24:29.879 --> 00:24:30.319
 thing.

00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:31.759
 But it

00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.779
 also provides

00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:34.000
 another

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:36.339
 aspect of

00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:36.879
 trying to

00:24:36.879 --> 00:24:37.500
 bring wisdom

00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:37.879
 into the

00:24:37.879 --> 00:24:38.839
 whole situation,

00:24:39.720 --> 00:24:40.400
 which is maybe

00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:40.980
 a little bit

00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:41.500
 first it's

00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.019
 surprising,

00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:42.559
 but we get

00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.200
 great help

00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:43.879
 in understanding

00:24:43.879 --> 00:24:44.480
 part of the

00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:45.039
 psalm if we

00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.579
 know Star

00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:45.960
 Trek.

00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:48.799
 Because,

00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:49.779
 you see,

00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:51.440
 I'll tell you

00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:51.920
 the point and

00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:52.379
 then I'll show

00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:52.900
 it to you from

00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:53.599
 verses 1 to

00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:53.980
 12.

00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:55.900
 The whole

00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:57.059
 psalm is a

00:24:57.059 --> 00:24:57.599
 prayer to

00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:58.000
 God.

00:24:58.099 --> 00:24:58.220
 I mean,

00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:58.759
 the psalm

00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.440
 ends with

00:24:59.440 --> 00:24:59.940
 saying in

00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:00.919
 verse 23

00:25:00.919 --> 00:25:01.440
 and 24,

00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:02.039
 search me,

00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:02.639
 O God,

00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:03.220
 and know my

00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:03.559
 heart.

00:25:03.679 --> 00:25:04.299
 Try me and

00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:04.679
 know my

00:25:04.679 --> 00:25:05.099
 thoughts.

00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:06.359
 See if there

00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:06.879
 be any

00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:07.980
 grievous way

00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:08.599
 in me and

00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:09.339
 lead me in

00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:09.700
 the way

00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.679
 everlasting.

00:25:10.919 --> 00:25:11.679
 The entire

00:25:11.679 --> 00:25:12.359
 psalm is

00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:13.579
 captivated,

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.740
 excuse me,

00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.359
 with God.

00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:16.940
 And how is

00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:17.859
 God described

00:25:17.859 --> 00:25:18.399
 here in the

00:25:18.399 --> 00:25:18.700
 psalm?

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:19.759
 Here's how

00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.419
 he's described.

00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:22.279
 God is not

00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:22.820
 a Vulcan,

00:25:23.820 --> 00:25:25.980
 and nor is

00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.800
 he overwhelmed

00:25:26.800 --> 00:25:27.680
 by irrational

00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:28.259
 emotions.

00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:29.660
 If you've

00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:30.080
 never watched

00:25:30.080 --> 00:25:30.519
 Star Trek,

00:25:30.600 --> 00:25:30.800
 you're not

00:25:30.800 --> 00:25:31.080
 going to get

00:25:31.080 --> 00:25:31.600
 the Vulcan

00:25:31.600 --> 00:25:32.900
 reference.

00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:35.240
 But the

00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:36.460
 psalm portrays

00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:37.380
 God, that God

00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:37.940
 is not a

00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:38.920
 Vulcan, he's

00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:39.800
 not Spock,

00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.220
 nor is he

00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:42.279
 overwhelmed by

00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:42.900
 irrational

00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:43.480
 emotions.

00:25:44.100 --> 00:25:44.759
 Listen to the

00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.500
 delight of the

00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:45.840
 psalm.

00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:46.420
 Go to verse

00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:46.740
 1.

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:48.640
 O Lord,

00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:49.660
 you have

00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:50.320
 searched me

00:25:50.320 --> 00:25:50.720
 and known

00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.020
 me.

00:25:52.300 --> 00:25:53.080
 You know

00:25:53.080 --> 00:25:53.700
 when I sit

00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:54.180
 down and

00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:54.840
 when I rise

00:25:54.840 --> 00:25:55.060
 up.

00:25:55.540 --> 00:25:56.160
 You discern

00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:56.920
 my thoughts

00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:57.560
 from afar.

00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:59.080
 You search

00:25:59.080 --> 00:26:00.320
 out my path

00:26:00.320 --> 00:26:01.040
 and my line

00:26:01.040 --> 00:26:02.160
 down, and

00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:02.759
 are acquainted

00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.480
 with all my

00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:03.920
 ways.

00:26:04.660 --> 00:26:05.380
 Even before

00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:06.000
 a word is

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.820
 on my tongue,

00:26:06.940 --> 00:26:07.759
 behold, O

00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.280
 Lord, you

00:26:08.280 --> 00:26:08.880
 know it all

00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:09.300
 together.

00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:10.600
 You hem

00:26:10.600 --> 00:26:11.720
 me in behind

00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.400
 and before

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:13.100
 and lay your

00:26:13.100 --> 00:26:13.860
 hand upon

00:26:13.860 --> 00:26:14.140
 me.

00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:15.520
 Such knowledge

00:26:15.520 --> 00:26:15.980
 is too

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.860
 wonderful for

00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:17.040
 me.

00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:17.500
 It is high,

00:26:17.560 --> 00:26:17.940
 I cannot

00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.560
 attain it.

00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:19.580
 This in

00:26:19.580 --> 00:26:20.440
 very, very

00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:21.240
 concrete

00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:22.640
 language is

00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:24.460
 describing God

00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:25.420
 seeing you

00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:26.080
 and being

00:26:26.080 --> 00:26:26.740
 present in

00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.180
 your life.

00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:27.740
 In the image

00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.740
 of hemming in

00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.300
 and hand

00:26:29.300 --> 00:26:29.880
 upon you,

00:26:30.420 --> 00:26:31.920
 think of a

00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:32.840
 little two-year-old

00:26:32.840 --> 00:26:33.440
 maybe after

00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:34.040
 church during

00:26:34.040 --> 00:26:34.780
 coffee hour

00:26:34.780 --> 00:26:35.800
 and an

00:26:35.800 --> 00:26:36.780
 attentive mom

00:26:36.780 --> 00:26:37.440
 or dad

00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:38.740
 or grandparent

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.200
 with their

00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:40.000
 two-year-old.

00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:41.420
 And they

00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:42.060
 sort of just,

00:26:42.320 --> 00:26:42.520
 you know,

00:26:42.580 --> 00:26:43.259
 the stairs are

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:43.680
 over there,

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.160
 or maybe it's

00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:45.140
 a 16-month-old,

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:45.540
 and they just

00:26:45.540 --> 00:26:46.080
 sort of move

00:26:46.080 --> 00:26:46.740
 over here to

00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.320
 hem in the

00:26:47.320 --> 00:26:48.160
 16-month-old

00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:48.519
 so they don't

00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.040
 go tumbling

00:26:49.040 --> 00:26:49.540
 down the

00:26:49.540 --> 00:26:49.860
 stairs.

00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:51.600
 And then they

00:26:51.600 --> 00:26:52.180
 just put their

00:26:52.180 --> 00:26:53.019
 hand upon them

00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:53.560
 in love and

00:26:53.560 --> 00:26:54.019
 affection,

00:26:54.840 --> 00:26:55.360
 just so they

00:26:55.360 --> 00:26:55.900
 know that you're

00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:56.200
 there,

00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.279
 just to sort of

00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:57.940
 guide them and

00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:58.480
 hold them.

00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:01.080
 And the psalm

00:27:01.080 --> 00:27:01.680
 could just say in

00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:02.180
 one word,

00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:03.320
 one little

00:27:03.320 --> 00:27:03.820
 sentence,

00:27:03.940 --> 00:27:04.580
 God is all

00:27:04.580 --> 00:27:05.040
 seen.

00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:07.039
 God is

00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:07.859
 God is

00:27:07.859 --> 00:27:08.980
 God is

00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:09.059
 God is

00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:09.720
 God is

00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.180
 present

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:10.680
 everywhere,

00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:25.019
 but once again,

00:27:25.399 --> 00:27:26.079
 in poetic,

00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:27.359
 beautiful language,

00:27:27.859 --> 00:27:28.539
 concrete,

00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:29.940
 visual language,

00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.599
 which can

00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.420
 capture the

00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:31.980
 imagination.

00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:32.559
 it goes on

00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:32.839
 to say,

00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:33.440
 where shall I

00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:34.000
 go from

00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:34.700
 your spirit,

00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:35.579
 or where

00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:36.279
 shall I flee

00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:36.740
 from your

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.220
 presence?

00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:38.400
 And actually

00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:38.759
 the word

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.160
 there for

00:27:39.160 --> 00:27:39.900
 presence is

00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:40.319
 literally

00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:40.900
 face.

00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.420
 Where shall I

00:27:43.420 --> 00:27:43.920
 flee from

00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.620
 your face?

00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:46.539
 Where shall I

00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.559
 flee from you

00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:48.579
 looking at me?

00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:49.680
 And you can't

00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:50.460
 read the psalm

00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.220
 without realizing

00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:52.120
 that it's

00:27:52.120 --> 00:27:53.120
 picturing God

00:27:53.120 --> 00:27:54.240
 looking at us

00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:55.440
 with his face

00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.500
 and being not

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.299
 in our face

00:27:57.299 --> 00:27:58.180
 in a bad sense,

00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:59.140
 but looking at

00:27:59.140 --> 00:27:59.579
 us with

00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:01.359
 affection.

00:28:02.859 --> 00:28:03.759
 Picture once

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.980
 again a mom

00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:06.859
 watching her

00:28:06.859 --> 00:28:08.240
 little 12-month

00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:09.579
 old or 13-month

00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.559
 old who now

00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:11.199
 starts to

00:28:11.199 --> 00:28:12.559
 toddle a

00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:12.960
 little bit

00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:13.599
 like this,

00:28:14.439 --> 00:28:15.139
 and for a

00:28:15.139 --> 00:28:15.419
 moment,

00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:15.980
 or maybe a

00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.500
 long moment,

00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:17.119
 the mom is

00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:17.699
 no longer

00:28:17.699 --> 00:28:18.519
 thinking about

00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.139
 all the other

00:28:19.139 --> 00:28:19.819
 people up there

00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:20.539
 having coffee,

00:28:20.639 --> 00:28:21.299
 but just looking

00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:22.079
 with delight at

00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:22.559
 their little

00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:24.699
 child go like

00:28:24.699 --> 00:28:25.000
 this.

00:28:26.179 --> 00:28:26.599
 And the

00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:27.099
 child,

00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:27.919
 the mom's

00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:29.440
 face is

00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:30.060
 on the

00:28:30.060 --> 00:28:30.440
 child

00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:30.660
 of

00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:31.080
 affection.

00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:34.279
 Where

00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:35.019
 shall I

00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:35.440
 go from

00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:35.980
 your spirit?

00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:36.620
 Verse 7.

00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.000
 Or where

00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:37.380
 shall I

00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:37.840
 flee from

00:28:37.840 --> 00:28:38.400
 your presence?

00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:38.779
 If I

00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.340
 ascend to

00:28:39.340 --> 00:28:39.580
 heaven,

00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:39.880
 you are

00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:40.080
 there.

00:28:40.140 --> 00:28:40.380
 If I

00:28:40.380 --> 00:28:40.779
 make my

00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.220
 bed in

00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:41.680
 Sheol,

00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:42.500
 you are

00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:42.779
 there.

00:28:43.340 --> 00:28:43.700
 If I

00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:44.180
 take the

00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:44.620
 wings of

00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:44.740
 the

00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:45.180
 morning and

00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:45.519
 dwell in

00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:45.640
 the

00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:46.000
 uttermost

00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:46.560
 parts of

00:28:46.560 --> 00:28:46.900
 the sea,

00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:47.519
 even there

00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.080
 your hand

00:28:48.080 --> 00:28:48.620
 shall lead

00:28:48.620 --> 00:28:48.920
 me and

00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:49.300
 your right

00:28:49.300 --> 00:28:49.600
 hand

00:28:49.600 --> 00:28:50.180
 shall hold

00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:50.360
 me.

00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.100
 If I

00:28:51.100 --> 00:28:51.440
 say,

00:28:51.860 --> 00:28:52.140
 surely the

00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:52.539
 darkness

00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:53.120
 shall cover

00:28:53.120 --> 00:28:53.779
 me and

00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.120
 the light

00:28:54.120 --> 00:28:54.600
 about me

00:28:54.600 --> 00:28:55.120
 be night,

00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:56.460
 even the

00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:57.240
 darkness is

00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:57.839
 not dark

00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:58.140
 to you.

00:28:58.180 --> 00:28:58.660
 The night

00:28:58.660 --> 00:28:59.339
 is bright

00:28:59.339 --> 00:28:59.660
 as the

00:28:59.660 --> 00:28:59.920
 day,

00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:00.859
 for darkness

00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:01.819
 is as

00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:02.799
 light with

00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.039
 you.

00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:03.400
 And then it

00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:03.799
 goes on to

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:03.940
 say,

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.160
 for you

00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:05.200
 formed my

00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:05.960
 inward parts,

00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:06.599
 this beautiful

00:29:06.599 --> 00:29:07.240
 picture of

00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:08.599
 conception and

00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:10.559
 God's seeing

00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:11.279
 the person in

00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:11.599
 the womb.

00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:14.279
 And here's

00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:15.460
 the thing.

00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:17.900
 God is not a

00:29:17.900 --> 00:29:18.640
 Vulcan, nor is

00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:19.400
 he overwhelmed

00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:20.359
 by irrational

00:29:20.359 --> 00:29:20.819
 emotion.

00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:23.839
 See, the

00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:24.380
 problem for us

00:29:24.380 --> 00:29:24.759
 as human

00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:25.279
 beings, and

00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:25.599
 the great

00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:26.079
 problem, by

00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:26.460
 the way, with

00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:26.839
 hatred.

00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:27.759
 Those of

00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:28.039
 us who

00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:28.759
 have experienced

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:30.579
 hatred, know

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.819
 this, hatred

00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:33.019
 can overwhelm.

00:29:34.699 --> 00:29:35.399
 Hatred can

00:29:35.399 --> 00:29:36.000
 overwhelm.

00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.699
 Maybe I'm the

00:29:36.699 --> 00:29:37.359
 only wicked

00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:38.139
 person here in

00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:39.779
 the room, but

00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:40.480
 hatred can

00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.199
 overwhelm.

00:29:41.919 --> 00:29:42.579
 Hatred can

00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:43.159
 fester.

00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:43.879
 Hatred can

00:29:43.879 --> 00:29:44.439
 make it so

00:29:44.439 --> 00:29:45.039
 that you can't

00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:45.859
 stop thinking

00:29:45.859 --> 00:29:46.439
 about this

00:29:46.439 --> 00:29:46.839
 person.

00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:48.379
 It wakes you

00:29:48.379 --> 00:29:48.859
 up at three

00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:49.339
 o'clock in

00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:49.720
 the morning.

00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.919
 It greets you

00:29:50.919 --> 00:29:51.460
 when you wake

00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:51.899
 up in the

00:29:51.899 --> 00:29:52.139
 morning.

00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:52.919
 It is there

00:29:52.919 --> 00:29:53.279
 as you're

00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:54.000
 trying to fall

00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:54.439
 asleep.

00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:55.259
 And not

00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:55.860
 only hatred,

00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:56.680
 but there are

00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:57.340
 many, many,

00:29:57.340 --> 00:29:58.000
 many different

00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.779
 passions or

00:29:58.779 --> 00:29:59.799
 emotions that

00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:01.240
 can overwhelm

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:01.519
 us.

00:30:01.820 --> 00:30:02.279
 Whether it's

00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:04.400
 an overwhelming

00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:05.759
 desire for that

00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.940
 promotion, or for

00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:08.100
 that woman, or for

00:30:08.100 --> 00:30:09.160
 that man, or for

00:30:09.160 --> 00:30:10.400
 that amount of

00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:11.460
 dollars in the

00:30:11.460 --> 00:30:12.259
 bank, that there's

00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:13.400
 passions and

00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:14.460
 desires that can

00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.799
 overwhelm us

00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:16.600
 irrationally.

00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:18.080
 And often in our

00:30:18.080 --> 00:30:18.860
 culture we think

00:30:18.860 --> 00:30:19.400
 that the only

00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:20.240
 option to be

00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:21.279
 overwhelmed by

00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.039
 emotion is the

00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:22.960
 Vulcan option of

00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:23.539
 having no

00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:24.019
 emotion.

00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:26.279
 But here we

00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:27.259
 see God.

00:30:27.860 --> 00:30:29.140
 Here we see

00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:30.180
 God, neither a

00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:31.580
 Vulcan, nor

00:30:31.580 --> 00:30:34.440
 overwhelmed by

00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:35.700
 irrational emotion.

00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:38.700
 And he's the

00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:39.279
 one that the

00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:39.960
 psalmist is

00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:40.660
 dealing with.

00:30:42.820 --> 00:30:43.440
 You see, and

00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:44.120
 the implication

00:30:44.120 --> 00:30:47.059
 is that there

00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:48.080
 is a way to

00:30:48.080 --> 00:30:49.480
 recognize the

00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.360
 evilness of

00:30:50.360 --> 00:30:50.880
 evil.

00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:50.920
 evil.

00:30:53.140 --> 00:30:53.920
 Is there

00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:54.960
 possibly a way,

00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:56.080
 Father, for me

00:30:56.080 --> 00:30:56.860
 to see and

00:30:56.860 --> 00:30:57.880
 understand the

00:30:57.880 --> 00:30:58.620
 evilness of

00:30:58.620 --> 00:30:59.940
 evil in a way

00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:01.260
 that does not

00:31:01.260 --> 00:31:02.440
 overwhelm you?

00:31:04.520 --> 00:31:06.600
 Dear God, show

00:31:06.600 --> 00:31:07.560
 me if there be any

00:31:07.560 --> 00:31:08.760
 grievous way in my

00:31:08.760 --> 00:31:09.080
 life.

00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:12.000
 Dear God, lead me

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:13.620
 in the way of

00:31:13.620 --> 00:31:15.040
 everlasting life.

00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:16.200
 Lead me in that

00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:17.100
 everlasting way.

00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:19.400
 Lead me away from a

00:31:19.400 --> 00:31:20.220
 grievous life.

00:31:23.220 --> 00:31:24.100
 Now, if this was

00:31:24.100 --> 00:31:25.180
 all the psalm said,

00:31:26.120 --> 00:31:26.759
 then I'd have

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.420
 given you some

00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:28.780
 good therapy this

00:31:28.780 --> 00:31:29.060
 morning.

00:31:31.360 --> 00:31:32.680
 And we could learn a

00:31:32.680 --> 00:31:33.360
 few therapeutic

00:31:33.360 --> 00:31:34.480
 things to move on in

00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.000
 our lives.

00:31:35.320 --> 00:31:36.740
 But the psalm has far

00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:37.560
 more to deal with

00:31:37.560 --> 00:31:38.180
 than therapy.

00:31:39.320 --> 00:31:40.880
 Actually, the psalm has

00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:42.240
 a profound riddle

00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:42.920
 in it.

00:31:43.860 --> 00:31:44.240
 And let's

00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:44.740
 illustrate what the

00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:46.360
 riddle is in a

00:31:46.360 --> 00:31:46.519
 moment.

00:31:46.519 --> 00:31:47.039
 But this is maybe

00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:47.720
 the way some of

00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.539
 us would hear the

00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:50.579
 text if we were

00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:52.359
 just, well, here.

00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:53.099
 You know how to go

00:31:53.099 --> 00:31:53.619
 and say, oh, Lord,

00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:54.240
 you have searched me

00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:54.799
 and you know me.

00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.660
 Verse 1, you know

00:31:55.660 --> 00:31:56.539
 when I sit down and

00:31:56.539 --> 00:31:57.420
 when I rise up, you

00:31:57.420 --> 00:31:57.879
 have assumed my

00:31:57.879 --> 00:31:58.639
 thoughts from afar.

00:31:58.740 --> 00:31:59.440
 You search out my

00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:01.139
 path and my line down

00:32:01.139 --> 00:32:02.160
 and are acquainted

00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:02.940
 with all my ways.

00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:03.859
 Even before word is

00:32:03.859 --> 00:32:04.940
 on my tongue, behold,

00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:05.619
 oh, Lord, you know

00:32:05.619 --> 00:32:06.339
 it all together.

00:32:09.420 --> 00:32:10.579
 You know, such, you

00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:11.559
 hand me in behind and

00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:12.440
 before and lay your

00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:13.039
 hand upon me.

00:32:13.099 --> 00:32:13.980
 Such knowledge is too

00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.680
 wonderful for me.

00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:15.840
 It is high, I cannot

00:32:15.840 --> 00:32:16.380
 attain it.

00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:18.279
 Some of you have

00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:18.740
 heard this story

00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:19.060
 before.

00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:19.799
 This is a long time

00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:19.940
 ago.

00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:20.400
 I was doing a

00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:20.920
 wedding and during

00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:21.240
 the wedding

00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:22.820
 rehearsal, this, I

00:32:22.820 --> 00:32:23.259
 think she was a

00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:24.380
 16 or 17 year old

00:32:24.380 --> 00:32:25.039
 girl, she was going

00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:25.600
 to read the Bible

00:32:25.600 --> 00:32:26.400
 passage and she

00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:27.440
 got up and she

00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:27.860
 had to read the

00:32:27.860 --> 00:32:28.720
 Bible passage with

00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:29.580
 a very, very solemn

00:32:29.580 --> 00:32:30.600
 voice and then she

00:32:30.600 --> 00:32:32.140
 closed the Bible

00:32:32.140 --> 00:32:32.680
 like that and said,

00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:33.100
 I don't want to

00:32:33.100 --> 00:32:33.500
 read this.

00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.380
 I want to talk

00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:35.080
 about me.

00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:39.000
 And her dad, who

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:40.220
 was a lawyer, was

00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:41.039
 horrified.

00:32:42.080 --> 00:32:43.460
 And then she had

00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:44.640
 this dramatic pause

00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:45.460
 and then she skipped

00:32:45.460 --> 00:32:46.400
 down the steps and

00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:47.220
 gave him a kiss on

00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:48.160
 the cheek and said,

00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:48.819
 don't worry daddy,

00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:49.579
 I'll do it proper

00:32:49.579 --> 00:32:50.059
 tomorrow.

00:32:50.940 --> 00:32:52.440
 And, you know,

00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.319
 here, if you met

00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:54.340
 somebody who said

00:32:54.340 --> 00:32:55.440
 with a straight face,

00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:56.380
 with no type of

00:32:56.380 --> 00:32:57.840
 embarrassment, God

00:32:57.840 --> 00:32:58.840
 just loves following

00:32:58.840 --> 00:32:59.720
 me around for the

00:32:59.720 --> 00:32:59.960
 day.

00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:02.500
 He just can't wait

00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:03.200
 for me to wake

00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:03.460
 up.

00:33:04.860 --> 00:33:06.100
 He just looks at

00:33:06.100 --> 00:33:07.200
 me all day and

00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:08.500
 smiles and thinks,

00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:09.640
 gosh, St.

00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:10.340
 Claire is so

00:33:10.340 --> 00:33:10.740
 wonderful.

00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:11.720
 Look how cute he

00:33:11.720 --> 00:33:12.019
 is.

00:33:12.019 --> 00:33:14.279
 Everything he

00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:15.039
 thinks about is

00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:16.339
 just so wonderful.

00:33:16.859 --> 00:33:17.639
 It makes me

00:33:17.639 --> 00:33:18.079
 giggle.

00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:20.000
 Like, if you met

00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:20.599
 somebody who

00:33:20.599 --> 00:33:21.519
 actually thought

00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.240
 that that's what

00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:23.319
 God thought about

00:33:23.319 --> 00:33:24.240
 them all the

00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:24.980
 time, what would

00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:25.619
 you think about

00:33:25.619 --> 00:33:25.900
 them?

00:33:28.519 --> 00:33:29.319
 Not good

00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:29.900
 thoughts, right?

00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:31.139
 You'd actually

00:33:31.139 --> 00:33:32.039
 probably have some

00:33:32.039 --> 00:33:32.879
 pity for them.

00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:33.819
 You'd think that

00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:34.740
 they're captivated

00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:35.859
 with, they have a

00:33:35.859 --> 00:33:37.240
 profound narcissistic

00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:39.139
 personality or some

00:33:39.139 --> 00:33:39.839
 other type of thing

00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:40.139
 like that.

00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:40.660
 That's what you'd

00:33:40.660 --> 00:33:41.119
 think, right?

00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:42.779
 So how on earth

00:33:42.779 --> 00:33:43.599
 can this psalm be

00:33:43.599 --> 00:33:44.000
 true?

00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:46.879
 Let me tell you

00:33:46.879 --> 00:33:47.779
 what most human

00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.559
 beings experience

00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:49.119
 when they think

00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:49.740
 about God.

00:33:50.359 --> 00:33:50.920
 Most human

00:33:50.920 --> 00:33:51.779
 beings, most

00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:52.440
 Christians, when we

00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:53.180
 think about God, we

00:33:53.180 --> 00:33:54.240
 want God to rescue

00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:54.940
 us when we're in

00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:55.319
 trouble.

00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:57.220
 And when we want

00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:58.079
 to do those naughty

00:33:58.079 --> 00:33:59.779
 things, we like to

00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:00.559
 pretend he doesn't

00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:00.920
 exist.

00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:02.619
 Maybe I'm the only

00:34:02.619 --> 00:34:03.519
 wicked person in the

00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:03.720
 room.

00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:07.240
 But the fact of the

00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:08.940
 matter is that if

00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:09.860
 this text is brought

00:34:09.860 --> 00:34:10.759
 home to us about

00:34:10.760 --> 00:34:11.500
 God being all

00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:12.300
 present and all

00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:14.460
 seen, if that's

00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:15.140
 brought home to us

00:34:15.140 --> 00:34:16.100
 very, very, the

00:34:16.100 --> 00:34:17.020
 fact of the matter

00:34:17.020 --> 00:34:18.100
 is that we don't

00:34:18.100 --> 00:34:19.380
 actually want God

00:34:19.380 --> 00:34:20.120
 to know everything

00:34:20.120 --> 00:34:21.020
 about us and see

00:34:21.020 --> 00:34:21.840
 everything about us,

00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:22.880
 that we want God

00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:24.760
 to keep his

00:34:24.760 --> 00:34:25.900
 distance from us.

00:34:27.520 --> 00:34:29.240
 That's the natural

00:34:29.240 --> 00:34:31.220
 human condition.

00:34:33.100 --> 00:34:35.300
 We find it not

00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:36.700
 comforting to think

00:34:36.700 --> 00:34:38.720
 about God's all-seeing

00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:40.399
 eye and always being

00:34:40.399 --> 00:34:43.079
 present, even with no

00:34:43.079 --> 00:34:43.959
 qualification.

00:34:48.379 --> 00:34:49.839
 So how can this

00:34:49.839 --> 00:34:51.019
 psalm be true?

00:34:51.279 --> 00:34:54.419
 How is it that we

00:34:54.419 --> 00:34:55.059
 could read it?

00:34:56.919 --> 00:34:57.879
 You see, the psalm

00:34:57.879 --> 00:34:59.839
 contains a riddle.

00:35:01.839 --> 00:35:02.639
 Contains a riddle.

00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:04.519
 The psalm contains a

00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:05.899
 riddle that is more

00:35:05.899 --> 00:35:07.139
 than us being able to

00:35:07.139 --> 00:35:07.759
 get a few good

00:35:07.759 --> 00:35:08.940
 therapeutic ideas

00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:10.139
 about how to live a

00:35:10.139 --> 00:35:11.019
 more human life.

00:35:12.219 --> 00:35:13.799
 The psalm provides a

00:35:13.799 --> 00:35:15.279
 riddle which is only

00:35:15.279 --> 00:35:16.159
 answered by the

00:35:16.159 --> 00:35:17.019
 person and the work

00:35:17.019 --> 00:35:18.359
 of Jesus in the

00:35:18.359 --> 00:35:18.759
 gospel.

00:35:20.759 --> 00:35:21.679
 You see, on one

00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:23.319
 hand, this all-seeing,

00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:24.859
 all-knowing aspect of

00:35:24.859 --> 00:35:26.379
 God helps us to

00:35:26.379 --> 00:35:27.139
 understand something

00:35:27.839 --> 00:35:29.599
 about the death of

00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:30.759
 Jesus upon the cross,

00:35:31.339 --> 00:35:32.039
 that we are to

00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:33.139
 understand that Jesus

00:35:33.139 --> 00:35:34.559
 dies for the whole

00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:35.139
 me, from conception

00:35:35.139 --> 00:35:37.480
 to death, from the

00:35:37.480 --> 00:35:38.559
 depths to the

00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:39.599
 shallows, with

00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:40.420
 nothing left out.

00:35:40.500 --> 00:35:41.839
 That Jesus dies for

00:35:41.839 --> 00:35:43.699
 me, from conception

00:35:43.699 --> 00:35:45.299
 to death, from the

00:35:45.299 --> 00:35:46.339
 depths to the

00:35:46.339 --> 00:35:47.379
 shallows, with

00:35:47.379 --> 00:35:48.719
 nothing left out.

00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:52.659
 That, I apologize,

00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:54.099
 folks, I had a

00:35:54.099 --> 00:35:55.179
 yellow cord at home

00:35:55.179 --> 00:35:55.679
 that I was going to

00:35:55.679 --> 00:35:56.259
 use to illustrate

00:35:56.259 --> 00:35:57.799
 this, and I forgot

00:35:57.799 --> 00:35:58.159
 it.

00:35:58.599 --> 00:35:59.639
 So I ripped out my

00:35:59.639 --> 00:36:00.879
 bookmark, which is

00:36:00.879 --> 00:36:02.339
 gray, which you can

00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:03.579
 probably hardly see,

00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:04.920
 but I have a

00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:06.660
 bookmark here, and

00:36:06.660 --> 00:36:07.620
 it's probably actually

00:36:07.620 --> 00:36:08.480
 pretty good for our

00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:08.880
 lives.

00:36:09.240 --> 00:36:10.760
 It's sort of bent,

00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:14.440
 twisted, obviously

00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:16.220
 not a perfect type of

00:36:16.220 --> 00:36:17.280
 a thing.

00:36:17.620 --> 00:36:18.559
 And in a sense, what

00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:19.480
 the Bible is saying

00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:21.200
 is that from the

00:36:21.200 --> 00:36:21.740
 moment of my

00:36:21.740 --> 00:36:24.300
 conception here to

00:36:24.300 --> 00:36:25.059
 the moment of my

00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:26.300
 death at this end,

00:36:26.300 --> 00:36:28.500
 and all of the

00:36:28.500 --> 00:36:29.840
 wrinkled, bent,

00:36:30.320 --> 00:36:32.300
 creased parts, the

00:36:32.300 --> 00:36:33.320
 stitching, the depth

00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:34.320
 of that entire thing,

00:36:35.140 --> 00:36:36.160
 when Jesus is dying

00:36:36.160 --> 00:36:37.240
 on the cross for me,

00:36:38.280 --> 00:36:38.820
 and I don't know,

00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:40.519
 maybe I hope that in

00:36:40.519 --> 00:36:41.440
 terms of my life I'm

00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:42.280
 only still here and I

00:36:42.280 --> 00:36:43.200
 have all this left to

00:36:43.200 --> 00:36:43.420
 live.

00:36:45.580 --> 00:36:46.519
 I don't know,

00:36:46.720 --> 00:36:47.780
 actually, if right now

00:36:47.780 --> 00:36:48.960
 I'm down at this end

00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:49.620
 and I have only the

00:36:49.620 --> 00:36:50.560
 tiniest little bit left

00:36:50.560 --> 00:36:52.440
 to live, but it's the

00:36:52.440 --> 00:36:53.640
 big constant mistake of

00:36:53.640 --> 00:36:54.500
 Christians is that they

00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:55.420
 think if they come to

00:36:55.420 --> 00:36:56.220
 Jesus when they're

00:36:56.220 --> 00:36:57.840
 here, that maybe

00:36:57.840 --> 00:36:59.079
 Jesus knows a bit of

00:36:59.079 --> 00:37:00.039
 that which has gone on

00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:01.099
 here, but the fact of

00:37:01.099 --> 00:37:01.840
 the matter is that when

00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:04.720
 Jesus sees me, he sees

00:37:04.720 --> 00:37:07.619
 me from my death to my

00:37:07.619 --> 00:37:09.480
 conception with all my

00:37:09.480 --> 00:37:10.579
 stitching and all my

00:37:10.579 --> 00:37:12.340
 wrinkles and all my

00:37:12.340 --> 00:37:13.119
 shallows and all my

00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:13.400
 depth.

00:37:14.500 --> 00:37:15.980
 And when Jesus dies for

00:37:15.980 --> 00:37:17.240
 me on the cross, the

00:37:17.240 --> 00:37:18.860
 me he dies for is this

00:37:18.860 --> 00:37:19.139
 me.

00:37:20.519 --> 00:37:21.639
 And when the

00:37:21.639 --> 00:37:22.480
 scriptures say that

00:37:22.480 --> 00:37:24.180
 Jesus in a sense takes

00:37:24.180 --> 00:37:25.400
 my life into him,

00:37:25.420 --> 00:37:27.519
 his and takes my doom

00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:28.820
 into him, it's as if

00:37:28.820 --> 00:37:30.059
 Jesus takes all of

00:37:30.059 --> 00:37:34.420
 this, all of it, even

00:37:34.420 --> 00:37:35.800
 if my future is still

00:37:35.800 --> 00:37:36.980
 another 40 years away,

00:37:37.639 --> 00:37:38.840
 he takes all of it.

00:37:39.559 --> 00:37:41.599
 And he takes all of it

00:37:41.599 --> 00:37:42.599
 with nothing left over.

00:37:44.559 --> 00:37:46.320
 See, that's the wonder

00:37:46.320 --> 00:37:47.220
 and the power of the

00:37:47.220 --> 00:37:47.680
 gospel.

00:37:49.639 --> 00:37:51.180
 Because God is all

00:37:51.180 --> 00:37:52.780
 present and the image is

00:37:52.780 --> 00:37:54.340
 there of conception and

00:37:54.340 --> 00:37:54.559
 everything.

00:37:54.720 --> 00:37:55.820
 I don't have time to do

00:37:55.820 --> 00:37:55.920
 it.

00:37:55.980 --> 00:37:56.340
 It's both.

00:37:56.900 --> 00:37:58.160
 It shows both that from

00:37:58.160 --> 00:37:59.360
 conception, it talks about

00:37:59.360 --> 00:38:00.800
 the time, God being

00:38:00.800 --> 00:38:02.320
 present in all times, in

00:38:02.320 --> 00:38:03.600
 all places and all

00:38:03.600 --> 00:38:04.039
 seen.

00:38:04.820 --> 00:38:06.220
 And so Jesus, when he dies

00:38:06.220 --> 00:38:07.400
 for me on the cross, he

00:38:07.400 --> 00:38:08.300
 sees it all.

00:38:09.300 --> 00:38:10.680
 He takes it all.

00:38:12.200 --> 00:38:13.880
 My standing with God,

00:38:14.539 --> 00:38:15.640
 the ability for me to

00:38:15.640 --> 00:38:16.900
 stand before God has

00:38:16.900 --> 00:38:18.440
 nothing to do with me,

00:38:19.200 --> 00:38:20.340
 for my accomplishments,

00:38:20.340 --> 00:38:22.059
 but only with Jesus

00:38:22.059 --> 00:38:24.140
 taking it all in his

00:38:24.140 --> 00:38:25.900
 person as he dies on the

00:38:25.900 --> 00:38:26.260
 cross.

00:38:26.640 --> 00:38:28.200
 And he takes upon himself

00:38:28.200 --> 00:38:29.800
 my life, including my

00:38:29.800 --> 00:38:32.100
 doom, and offers me his

00:38:32.100 --> 00:38:33.480
 life and his destiny.

00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:37.920
 And so this psalm is both a

00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:39.600
 riddle to show how it

00:38:39.600 --> 00:38:40.940
 points to the cross, that

00:38:40.940 --> 00:38:43.820
 Jesus actually, the all

00:38:43.820 --> 00:38:45.300
 seenness of God means that

00:38:45.300 --> 00:38:46.579
 Jesus takes it all on the

00:38:46.579 --> 00:38:46.880
 cross.

00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:49.019
 cross, and it also then

00:38:49.019 --> 00:38:50.320
 starts to provide a little

00:38:50.320 --> 00:38:53.320
 bit of a picture of what

00:38:53.320 --> 00:38:56.720
 it means to understand that

00:38:56.720 --> 00:38:58.059
 now as I go through my

00:38:58.059 --> 00:38:59.900
 day in the presence of the

00:38:59.900 --> 00:39:01.059
 all-present God and the

00:39:01.059 --> 00:39:02.960
 all-seen God, on one hand

00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:04.720
 he sees me, but he sees me

00:39:04.720 --> 00:39:05.900
 clothed in the righteousness

00:39:05.900 --> 00:39:06.740
 of Jesus.

00:39:08.420 --> 00:39:10.000
 That I have a type of

00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:13.200
 eternal security based on

00:39:13.200 --> 00:39:15.720
 his finished work that is

00:39:15.719 --> 00:39:17.259
 completely and utterly

00:39:17.259 --> 00:39:18.379
 unshakable.

00:39:19.859 --> 00:39:22.039
 And that in a true sense

00:39:22.039 --> 00:39:26.219
 in Jesus, this is how God

00:39:26.219 --> 00:39:30.799
 now sees me when I put my

00:39:30.799 --> 00:39:32.000
 faith and trust in Jesus.

00:39:34.779 --> 00:39:37.439
 And I need to confess my

00:39:37.439 --> 00:39:38.299
 hatred to him.

00:39:39.179 --> 00:39:41.019
 I need to say, God, the

00:39:41.019 --> 00:39:42.099
 things that are going on in

00:39:42.099 --> 00:39:42.179
 me.

00:39:42.219 --> 00:39:44.019
 Am I living in light of what

00:39:44.019 --> 00:39:45.059
 the gospel says?

00:39:45.119 --> 00:39:46.320
 Or am I living in rebellion

00:39:46.320 --> 00:39:46.860
 about that?

00:39:46.980 --> 00:39:48.599
 Show me the grievous ways in

00:39:48.599 --> 00:39:50.880
 my life so that I might walk

00:39:50.880 --> 00:39:52.019
 in the way everlasting.

00:39:53.280 --> 00:39:56.000
 But it's only as we are

00:39:56.000 --> 00:39:58.019
 gripped by the gospel that

00:39:58.759 --> 00:40:01.000
 Psalm 139 can become a

00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:03.320
 reality that we can grow into.

00:40:04.579 --> 00:40:07.659
 And understand it is not only a

00:40:07.659 --> 00:40:09.480
 picture of what happens to us on

00:40:09.480 --> 00:40:12.219
 the cross in the past, but a

00:40:12.219 --> 00:40:13.759
 picture of our destiny in the

00:40:13.759 --> 00:40:14.179
 future.

00:40:15.679 --> 00:40:16.980
 You see, as we're gripped by

00:40:16.980 --> 00:40:19.699
 the gospel, as we're gripped by

00:40:19.699 --> 00:40:21.619
 the story of what Jesus does for

00:40:21.619 --> 00:40:25.339
 us on the cross, it provides a

00:40:25.339 --> 00:40:27.519
 push for us to move forward in

00:40:27.519 --> 00:40:27.799
 life.

00:40:29.679 --> 00:40:32.199
 It provides a pull for us as we

00:40:32.199 --> 00:40:36.539
 see our destiny and the final way

00:40:36.539 --> 00:40:37.699
 that God will see us.

00:40:37.699 --> 00:40:40.599
 And it provides a way for us to

00:40:40.599 --> 00:40:43.000
 understand as our lives are

00:40:43.000 --> 00:40:45.439
 shaped by this good news of the

00:40:45.439 --> 00:40:45.739
 gospel.

00:40:47.019 --> 00:40:47.799
 Please stand.

00:40:55.559 --> 00:40:57.739
 Once again, I confess that I

00:40:57.739 --> 00:40:59.859
 apologize for not being able to get

00:40:59.859 --> 00:41:02.099
 this done in advance, but maybe it

00:41:02.099 --> 00:41:03.739
 is that the Holy Spirit is pushing

00:41:03.739 --> 00:41:05.839
 you in a particular way right now to

00:41:05.840 --> 00:41:07.340
 say certain things to God.

00:41:08.100 --> 00:41:10.740
 And if I can be of any help in

00:41:10.740 --> 00:41:11.720
 that, I'm going to try to be of

00:41:11.720 --> 00:41:11.920
 help.

00:41:12.539 --> 00:41:14.220
 I'm going to say slowly in a few

00:41:14.220 --> 00:41:15.220
 moments this prayer.

00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:17.160
 And I'm going to leave with

00:41:17.160 --> 00:41:17.600
 pauses.

00:41:17.940 --> 00:41:19.579
 And if it speaks into your heart,

00:41:19.660 --> 00:41:21.640
 you can just quietly and silently

00:41:21.640 --> 00:41:22.980
 repeat it after me.

00:41:23.019 --> 00:41:23.920
 And the prayer is going to be this.

00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:25.740
 Dear God, please help me to be so

00:41:25.740 --> 00:41:28.340
 gripped by the story of Jesus' death

00:41:28.340 --> 00:41:31.059
 for me that I grow in a humble,

00:41:31.640 --> 00:41:34.380
 trusting knowledge of the greatness of

00:41:34.380 --> 00:41:37.480
 Jesus to save me immediately,

00:41:38.260 --> 00:41:40.340
 eternally, completely,

00:41:41.240 --> 00:41:43.160
 perfectly, and unfailing.

00:41:44.579 --> 00:41:46.599
 And maybe for some of us that's the

00:41:46.599 --> 00:41:47.960
 beginning of our Christian walk.

00:41:48.059 --> 00:41:49.559
 Maybe for some of us it's just a

00:41:49.559 --> 00:41:50.840
 deepening and a commitment in the

00:41:50.840 --> 00:41:51.800
 Christian walk.

00:41:52.480 --> 00:41:54.019
 But if the Holy Spirit is moving in

00:41:54.019 --> 00:41:55.940
 your lives to somehow respond to God

00:41:55.940 --> 00:41:58.780
 in something like these terms, then

00:41:58.780 --> 00:42:02.180
 quietly, silently pray that prayer.

00:42:02.179 --> 00:42:03.559
 I will leave pauses.

00:42:06.079 --> 00:42:13.119
 Dear God, please help me to be so

00:42:13.119 --> 00:42:18.419
 gripped by the gospel, the story of

00:42:18.419 --> 00:42:26.500
 Jesus' death for me, that I grow in a

00:42:26.500 --> 00:42:32.440
 humble, trusting knowledge of the

00:42:32.440 --> 00:42:36.219
 greatness of Jesus to save me

00:42:36.219 --> 00:42:42.400
 immediately, eternally, completely,

00:42:43.739 --> 00:42:46.400
 perfectly, and unfailingly.

00:42:47.460 --> 00:42:47.880
 Amen.

00:42:48.880 --> 00:42:50.380
 Just continue bowing our heads.

00:42:50.380 --> 00:42:54.019
 Father, help us to be gripped by the

00:42:54.019 --> 00:42:55.480
 gospel, the story of Jesus.

00:42:56.300 --> 00:42:57.820
 Father, you know those things in our

00:42:57.820 --> 00:43:00.079
 lives that are overwhelming emotions

00:43:00.079 --> 00:43:01.000
 for us right now.

00:43:01.079 --> 00:43:02.640
 We ask, Father, that they not be a

00:43:02.640 --> 00:43:04.579
 ground for us to stay away from you and

00:43:04.579 --> 00:43:06.700
 stay away from Jesus, but that we

00:43:06.700 --> 00:43:08.260
 understand, Father, that they are

00:43:08.260 --> 00:43:11.619
 invitations to come to Jesus, that they

00:43:11.619 --> 00:43:14.400
 help to show us we really need him and we

00:43:14.400 --> 00:43:16.200
 need your wisdom in our lives.

00:43:16.199 --> 00:43:19.239
 And we ask, Father, that you so lead us

00:43:19.239 --> 00:43:22.019
 from self-deception and so lead us to

00:43:22.019 --> 00:43:24.359
 trust your Son and trust your Word that

00:43:24.359 --> 00:43:26.480
 we might come to the great wisdom that

00:43:26.480 --> 00:43:29.359
 comes from trusting Jesus as our Savior

00:43:29.359 --> 00:43:31.019
 and learning to follow him as Lord.

00:43:31.559 --> 00:43:34.139
 And we ask that your Holy Spirit fall on

00:43:34.139 --> 00:43:36.399
 us and help us to be such a people and

00:43:36.399 --> 00:43:37.159
 such persons.

00:43:37.519 --> 00:43:39.019
 And we ask this in the name of Jesus.

00:43:39.579 --> 00:43:39.899
 Amen.

00:43:39.899 --> 00:43:40.000
 Amen.

00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:40.059
 Amen.