WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.620 Let me read Psalm 71 for us. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.079 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. 00:00:36.579 --> 00:00:41.519 For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:44.960 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth. 00:00:46.060 --> 00:00:48.879 You are he who took me from my mother's womb. 00:00:49.340 --> 00:00:51.679 My praise is continually of you. 00:00:52.179 --> 00:00:56.879 I have been as important to me, but you are my strong refuge. 00:00:56.880 --> 00:01:01.480 My mouth is filled with your praise and with your glory all the day. 00:01:02.080 --> 00:01:04.700 Do not cast me off in the time of old age. 00:01:05.260 --> 00:01:07.719 Forsake me not when my strength is spent. 00:01:08.439 --> 00:01:10.400 For my enemies speak concerning me. 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:13.540 Those who watch for my life consult together and say, 00:01:14.040 --> 00:01:15.460 God has forsaken him. 00:01:15.859 --> 00:01:19.879 Pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him. 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:23.500 O God, be not far from me. 00:01:23.599 --> 00:01:26.659 O my God, make haste to help me. 00:01:27.459 --> 00:01:30.339 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed. 00:01:30.819 --> 00:01:34.899 With scorn and disgrace may they be covered, who seek my hurt. 00:01:35.539 --> 00:01:39.939 But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:46.000 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day. 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:49.239 For their number is part of my knowledge. 00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:52.839 With the mighty deeds of the Lord, Lord, I will come. 00:01:53.339 --> 00:01:57.000 I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. 00:01:57.000 --> 00:02:02.480 O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. 00:02:02.980 --> 00:02:10.979 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me until I proclaim your might to another generation. 00:02:10.979 --> 00:02:13.959 Your power to all those to come. 00:02:13.959 --> 00:02:17.679 Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. 00:02:18.299 --> 00:02:22.219 You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? 00:02:22.219 --> 00:02:27.659 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities, will revive me again. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:31.419 From the depths of the earth, you will bring me up again. 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:35.300 You will increase my greatness and comfort me again. 00:02:35.300 --> 00:02:40.260 I will also praise you with the heart for your faithfulness, O my God. 00:02:40.439 --> 00:02:44.980 I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O holy one of Israel. 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:47.020 My lips will shout for joy. 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:52.000 When I sing praises to you, my soul also, which you have redeemed. 00:02:52.160 --> 00:02:56.860 And my tongue will talk of your righteousness held all the day long. 00:02:57.340 --> 00:03:03.260 For they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt. 00:03:03.259 --> 00:03:08.919 Let me pray for us, and then we'll look more closely into this psalm. 00:03:10.979 --> 00:03:14.759 God, we come before you this evening as a group. 00:03:15.819 --> 00:03:19.340 And God, we come and present ourselves before you. 00:03:19.979 --> 00:03:24.539 And we ask that you would speak to each of us. 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:29.340 God, we ask that your spirit would speak directly to our hearts. 00:03:29.340 --> 00:03:40.039 And God, we ask as we look towards our time of praying together later, that your spirit would make us one, would unite us together. 00:03:40.460 --> 00:03:44.340 And God, that we may come before you with great boldness. 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:47.879 God, we may come before you with great honesty. 00:03:48.620 --> 00:03:52.000 God, and put ourselves before you and put ourselves at your mercy. 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:57.360 God, that we may receive the blessing that you have for us. 00:03:57.740 --> 00:04:03.159 God, that we may go about our time here together to see, giving glory and honor to you. 00:04:03.500 --> 00:04:04.800 We ask all this in your name. 00:04:05.139 --> 00:04:05.379 Amen. 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:06.099 Amen. 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:13.099 So we're going to come back through and look at sections of the psalm. 00:04:13.099 --> 00:04:18.159 So what I'm going to do is reread portions of the psalm and then just talk a little bit about it. 00:04:18.860 --> 00:04:22.420 What it ends up meaning is that by the end, I will have read the psalm twice. 00:04:23.659 --> 00:04:26.560 And so that's okay. 00:04:27.139 --> 00:04:30.579 We can get a little extra Bible reading in. 00:04:30.939 --> 00:04:32.420 We can always get that part right. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:35.379 So let me read verses 1 through 3 for us. 00:04:35.379 --> 00:04:42.680 And what we're going to be looking at in this first section is the seeking of God's protection. 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:45.240 And so we see the psalmist seeking God's protection. 00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:49.019 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge. 00:04:49.399 --> 00:04:51.199 Let me never be put to shame. 00:04:51.399 --> 00:04:54.480 In your righteousness, deliver me and rescue me. 00:04:55.079 --> 00:04:57.420 Incline your ear to me and save me. 00:04:58.120 --> 00:05:02.339 Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may continually come. 00:05:02.540 --> 00:05:04.959 You have given the command to save me. 00:05:05.379 --> 00:05:08.519 For you are my rock and my fortress. 00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:17.920 And so what we have here is the psalmist comes with a petition before God. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:18.980 Begins with a petition. 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:24.339 So it's not an acknowledgment of who God is, but rather it's asking God to act. 00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:32.579 And particularly what we see is the psalmist has God coming through and asking him twice to be a refuge. 00:05:32.719 --> 00:05:34.920 The psalmist says to God, deliver me. 00:05:35.379 --> 00:05:37.540 Like the psalmist says, rescue me. 00:05:37.639 --> 00:05:39.040 The psalmist says, save me. 00:05:39.980 --> 00:05:46.980 The psalmist refers to God as a rock twice and as a fortress. 00:05:47.860 --> 00:05:51.060 We see this kind of idea of seeking God's protection. 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:55.379 And God is this great strong thing that will not be moved. 00:05:55.719 --> 00:05:57.040 Coming in verse 3. 00:05:57.040 --> 00:06:01.939 It says, be to me a rock of refuge to which I may continually come. 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:04.560 You have given the command to save me. 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:08.160 For you are my rock and my fortress. 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:14.320 So we see the psalmist coming before God saying that you are my rock and my fortress. 00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:16.980 You are my protection. 00:06:18.100 --> 00:06:23.680 As we think of seeking God as our source of protection. 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:27.340 As our refuge from the storm. 00:06:27.339 --> 00:06:32.679 The imagery that I have to mine is a gigantic building. 00:06:33.599 --> 00:06:37.319 And in this gigantic building it's hit by a massive earthquake. 00:06:38.219 --> 00:06:40.199 And so as this building begins to crumble. 00:06:41.599 --> 00:06:44.739 Where would you take refuge in that moment? 00:06:44.740 --> 00:06:49.420 As we think of the moments of our life around us. 00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:51.579 When they begin to collapse in on us. 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:54.500 Where do we seek refuge? 00:06:55.900 --> 00:07:00.819 The psalmist would say, seek refuge from God. 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:09.280 And often the great advice around us isn't necessarily seek refuge from God. 00:07:09.340 --> 00:07:10.720 But when life begins to collapse. 00:07:10.860 --> 00:07:13.980 And there's many suggestions of things that we might do. 00:07:13.980 --> 00:07:15.800 Of choices we might make. 00:07:16.200 --> 00:07:18.400 To somehow address the matter. 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:21.939 But the psalmist says, seek refuge from God. 00:07:23.840 --> 00:07:26.600 Let's look at verses 4 through 6. 00:07:27.100 --> 00:07:31.020 And we're going to find that there is a pursuer of the psalmist. 00:07:31.060 --> 00:07:33.780 And we're going to see that that pursuer is identified. 00:07:34.960 --> 00:07:35.840 I begin in verse 4. 00:07:36.400 --> 00:07:39.640 Rescue me, oh my God, from the hand of the wicked. 00:07:40.060 --> 00:07:43.259 From the grass of the unjust and cruel man. 00:07:43.259 --> 00:07:46.659 For you, oh Lord, are my hope. 00:07:47.019 --> 00:07:49.879 My trust, oh Lord, from my youth. 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:53.599 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth. 00:07:54.099 --> 00:07:57.420 You are he who took me from my mother's womb. 00:07:57.879 --> 00:08:01.439 My praise is continually of you. 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:06.319 So we see that the psalmist is seeking refuge. 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:09.420 Seeking protection from a pursuer. 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:13.040 There is someone who is after the psalmist. 00:08:13.219 --> 00:08:20.939 And this pursuer is identified there in verse 4 as a wicked, unjust, and cruel man. 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:23.920 And facing this person. 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:26.740 And the psalmist declares in verse 5. 00:08:26.840 --> 00:08:30.819 It says, you, oh Lord, are my hope. 00:08:30.819 --> 00:08:34.559 And an interesting thing there of the word hope. 00:08:35.220 --> 00:08:38.860 The passage says that you, oh Lord, are my hope. 00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:48.240 But the word hope that is found there is not the same word that is used in verse 14 where we also have the word hope used. 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:56.200 Rather, the word here in verse 5, the idea of hope here in verse 5, is a word that literally means cord. 00:08:57.000 --> 00:08:58.600 Like a strand, like a rope. 00:08:59.680 --> 00:09:05.740 And figuratively, it's used for the idea of hope. 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:15.779 And a story where you see this word cord used that has this great connection to this idea of hope comes from Rahab. 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:23.299 And so during the time of Joshua, as he was coming upon the city of Jericho and sent spies in. 00:09:23.980 --> 00:09:26.440 The spies make their way to Rahab. 00:09:26.440 --> 00:09:38.140 And here in this most powerful of cities, she believes that the God that Joshua represents will be able to destroy the city. 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:47.300 And so she leaves a cord, a crimson cord, out her window to mark her residence. 00:09:47.560 --> 00:09:54.580 So that when the destruction of Jericho takes place, that her and her family will be spared. 00:09:54.580 --> 00:09:58.220 And that word cord is the same word that's used here. 00:09:58.680 --> 00:10:03.020 So that idea of cord and hope, how that works together. 00:10:04.020 --> 00:10:06.820 In verse 6, we find the psalm saying, 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:11.300 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth. 00:10:11.960 --> 00:10:21.980 And this is the first reference of a few references that reflects upon a full lifespan devoted to God. 00:10:21.980 --> 00:10:32.200 As we'll see as the psalm unfolds, the person writing appears to be towards the latter end of a longer life. 00:10:32.740 --> 00:10:37.740 And reflecting upon their faithfulness to God and how God has been working through them. 00:10:38.220 --> 00:10:41.480 From the moment even before birth until the very end. 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:46.379 But this idea of this lifetime, this full lifespan devoted to God, 00:10:46.779 --> 00:10:49.759 comes through again in verse 9, verse 17, and 18. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:52.519 We'll talk a little bit more about those as they come up. 00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:58.159 We see the psalmist being pursued. 00:10:58.800 --> 00:11:04.200 And there in verses 7 through 11, this attack seems imminent. 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:07.019 The pursuer is upon the psalmist. 00:11:07.180 --> 00:11:08.460 And the attack seems imminent. 00:11:08.460 --> 00:11:10.820 Let me read verses 7 through 11 for us. 00:11:11.700 --> 00:11:16.840 I have been as important to many, but you are my strong refuge. 00:11:17.300 --> 00:11:21.800 My mouth is filled with your praise and with your glory all the day. 00:11:22.379 --> 00:11:25.120 Do not cast me off in the time of old age. 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:28.000 Forsake me not when my strength is spent. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:30.639 For my enemies speak concerning me. 00:11:30.940 --> 00:11:33.960 Those who watch for my life consult together and say, 00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:36.000 God has forsaken him. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:37.860 Pursue and seize him. 00:11:38.179 --> 00:11:41.480 For there is none to deliver him. 00:11:43.179 --> 00:11:45.519 So the psalmist speaks here in this. 00:11:46.039 --> 00:11:49.259 It seemed to be in the latter stages of life. 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:59.379 And the psalmist also hints at this time of life of this waning power and waning influence. 00:11:59.379 --> 00:12:07.659 And it seems that those who, in the earlier stages of this person's life, 00:12:08.659 --> 00:12:14.580 who have suffered defeat perhaps or humiliation at this psalmist at the earlier stages, 00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:18.240 now seem ready to exact revenge. 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:26.659 Now that there once the one who was so strong and the one who prevailed upon them, 00:12:26.980 --> 00:12:29.680 now seems weak and vulnerable. 00:12:31.259 --> 00:12:38.039 And we see there in verse 9 this idea of being saved here in this vulnerable time. 00:12:38.180 --> 00:12:38.320 It says, 00:12:38.419 --> 00:12:40.720 Do not cast me off in the time of old age. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:45.100 Forsake me not when my strength is spent. 00:12:45.100 --> 00:12:51.680 And we see then that the pursuers have waited for this moment of vulnerability. 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:54.040 We see it in verses 10 through 11. 00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:55.019 Let me read that for us. 00:12:55.379 --> 00:12:57.820 For my enemies speak concerning me. 00:12:58.139 --> 00:13:01.080 Those who watch for my life consult together and say, 00:13:01.700 --> 00:13:03.300 God has forsaken him. 00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:05.540 Pursue and seize him. 00:13:05.920 --> 00:13:08.759 For there is none to deliver him. 00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:12.159 I think of a predator. 00:13:13.220 --> 00:13:16.120 And if you've ever watched those nature shows, 00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:21.179 and there's the large cat that's lurking upon this herd of animals. 00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:25.819 And what is that large cat going to look for in the herd of animals? 00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:29.259 It's going to look for the one that gets separated from the group. 00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:33.319 It's looking for the weak, the young, the vulnerable. 00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:39.920 The psalmist now in this stage of life feels like that one who has wandered from the group. 00:13:40.379 --> 00:13:43.460 It feels like that one who is vulnerable to attack. 00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:50.600 We see then in verses 12 through 16 that we are going to see that this is the God who can, 00:13:50.660 --> 00:13:54.200 the God who can intervene, the God who has the power. 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:57.740 Let me read verses 12 through 16 for us. 00:13:57.740 --> 00:14:01.480 O God, be not far from me. 00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:04.159 O my God, make haste to help me. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:07.759 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed. 00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:13.039 With scorn and disgrace may they be covered, who seek my hurt. 00:14:13.680 --> 00:14:19.000 But I will hope continually, and I will praise you yet more and more. 00:14:19.680 --> 00:14:26.399 My mouth will tell of your righteousness and your deeds of salvation all the day. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:29.159 For their number has passed my knowledge. 00:14:29.579 --> 00:14:33.199 With the mighty deeds of the Lord, Lord, I will come. 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:38.240 I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:43.539 We see the petition being put before God there in verse 12. 00:14:43.819 --> 00:14:47.799 O my God, make haste to help me. 00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:57.179 The psalmist recognizes that God can bring deliverance from the pursuers who are seeking upon him. 00:14:58.099 --> 00:15:03.599 And we see that these pursuers, the psalmist has put before God, 00:15:03.659 --> 00:15:07.039 that they may be brought to shame and scorn and disgrace. 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:13.679 And then we see the psalmist there in verses 14 through 16, offering much praise to God. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:19.799 There in verse 14, the psalmist says, I will praise you yet more and more. 00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:27.120 And then the acknowledgement that God has performed righteous acts and mighty deeds. 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:32.039 You can feel the psalmist proclaiming to God. 00:15:32.599 --> 00:15:35.479 The psalmist saying, I have seen your great power. 00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:39.139 I know you can deliver me from the pursuers. 00:15:39.139 --> 00:15:41.840 You have done it before. 00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:45.299 And you can do it again. 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:50.799 And the psalmist, despite being an aged and vulnerable target, 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:54.819 is relying upon his strengths. 00:15:55.779 --> 00:16:03.120 And his primary strength is this overwhelming belief in God's ability to deliver him. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:08.779 The psalmist's remembering of God's deliverance in previous acts 00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:13.379 and realizing God's ability to make a deliverance again this time. 00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:15.700 And then giving God praise. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:19.399 So while by human standards, the psalmist may seem fallible, 00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:23.879 the psalmist is truly relying upon the great strength that will not be moved. 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:26.220 The psalmist is turning to God. 00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:32.180 We see there in the next section, verses 17 through 21, 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:38.820 we see the psalmist going through this idea of recalling what God has done, 00:16:38.920 --> 00:16:44.860 requesting, and then in a sense almost with the request, receiving. 00:16:45.680 --> 00:16:49.720 So it's a bit of a, something we'll pause in and look at a little bit more 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:54.720 as we see the psalmist literally requests and, in the process of requesting, 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:59.100 recognize that they will be receiving from God. 00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:00.060 Let me read this for us. 00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:00.940 Begin in verse 17. 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:07.160 O God, from my youth, you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. 00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:10.620 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:15.120 do not forsake me until I proclaim your might to another generation, 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:17.759 your power to all those to come. 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:21.500 Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens. 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:26.559 You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:31.119 You have made me see many troubles and calamities, 00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:32.960 will revive me again. 00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:36.359 From the depths of the earth, you will bring me up again. 00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:41.440 You will increase my greatness and comfort me again. 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:48.320 The psalmist is beginning with a recalling of the things that God has done, 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:53.500 and then a request receiving of the things God has done. 00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:58.039 So I made up a new word, because that's how I do things sometimes. 00:17:58.440 --> 00:18:01.279 A new word for what the psalmist is doing here. 00:18:01.840 --> 00:18:04.059 The psalmist is request-ceiving. 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:10.059 I just combined the words request and receive into a word request-ceiving, 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:13.619 which I may not say that many more times, because it's a little hard to say. 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:21.059 But these elements of recall, request, and receiving are all being mixed together. 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:25.000 Let's look at verses 20 and 21. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:27.200 And I'll pause as I'm reading this, 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:32.400 and you can see how this idea of recall, request, and receive are all being mixed together. 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:34.640 Beginning there in verse 20, 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:38.600 You have made me see many troubles and calamities. 00:18:39.180 --> 00:18:40.380 And so that is a recall. 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:44.860 And then the psalmist continues, 00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:50.559 that you will revive me again. 00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:54.279 So in that midst of saying you've seen many troubles, 00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:57.019 but you will revive me again. 00:18:57.440 --> 00:19:00.920 And in that, there is this idea that God will revive. 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.819 So there's this receiving. 00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:05.960 There's also this implied request that takes place. 00:19:06.360 --> 00:19:07.279 When the psalmist says, 00:19:07.380 --> 00:19:09.160 God, here's what you're going to do for me. 00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:11.580 You're going to revive me again. 00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:14.180 There's a request, and then there's receive, all mixed together. 00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:16.140 Continues on. 00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:18.420 From the depths of the earth, 00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:21.080 you will bring me up again. 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:27.120 And so this idea that the psalmist will be brought up from the depths of the earth, 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:28.100 again, 00:19:28.600 --> 00:19:29.819 that is a recalling. 00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:30.900 You've done it before. 00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:33.319 You've brought me up from the depths of the earth before. 00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:35.380 And then the idea, 00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:36.720 you'll bring me up again. 00:19:37.360 --> 00:19:38.960 So not only is that again, 00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:40.299 you've done it before, 00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:43.779 but it's this implied idea that you're going to do it again. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:45.680 God, this is what you're going to do for me. 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:48.559 And then it continues. 00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:50.899 You will increase my greatness. 00:19:50.900 --> 00:19:53.700 So it's, once again, 00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:56.880 that idea of receiving what God is going to do 00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:58.360 with that implied request, 00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:58.920 that you, 00:19:59.100 --> 00:20:01.180 that God will increase his greatness, 00:20:01.820 --> 00:20:05.300 and that God will comfort me again, 00:20:06.300 --> 00:20:07.420 which, once again, 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:09.320 remembers what God has done. 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:12.180 And we see this idea of recalling, 00:20:12.320 --> 00:20:12.780 requesting, 00:20:12.900 --> 00:20:14.440 and receiving all mixed together. 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:16.580 As the psalmist comes before God, 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:18.500 communicating with great confidence, 00:20:18.860 --> 00:20:19.759 and great understanding, 00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:21.420 in full expectation, 00:20:21.860 --> 00:20:23.779 of God's deliverance of him. 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:26.299 So how do we get to that point? 00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:27.820 How do we get to that point 00:20:27.820 --> 00:20:29.299 where we can come before God 00:20:29.299 --> 00:20:32.080 with such boldness, 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:34.900 with such confidence, 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:38.039 to almost be saying, 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:40.299 God, here's what you're going to do for me. 00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:43.579 And when we find the psalmist saying that, 00:20:43.659 --> 00:20:44.220 we don't find that, 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:47.659 it's not presented in this arrogant fashion, 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:49.200 that somehow, 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:50.759 the psalmist has authority 00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:51.839 to tell God what to do. 00:20:51.859 --> 00:20:52.899 By no means at all. 00:20:53.919 --> 00:20:55.539 It's presented with such humility, 00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:57.619 and such recognition of God's character, 00:20:58.539 --> 00:21:00.039 that the psalmist knows 00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:01.559 what God is going to do for him. 00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:05.099 So how do we get to that point? 00:21:06.399 --> 00:21:08.399 I think we may have a hint of that 00:21:08.399 --> 00:21:09.779 coming just before this. 00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:11.639 And that, 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:13.720 it comes from verse 17, 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:16.359 and then into verse 18. 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:18.359 And that verse 17 says, 00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:20.740 Oh God, from my youth you have taught me. 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:23.059 We see then going into verse 18. 00:21:23.399 --> 00:21:26.200 So even to old age and gray hairs, 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:30.940 the psalmist has been doing this a long time. 00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:32.839 From the time of youth 00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:37.000 to the time of old age and gray hairs, 00:21:37.919 --> 00:21:39.720 the psalmist has been doing this 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:41.100 a long time. 00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:42.880 And there's something to be said 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:44.140 with walking for God 00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:45.900 and following God 00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:47.480 for a long time. 00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:48.740 And there's things that 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.940 we can learn 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:52.600 and understand about God's character 00:21:52.600 --> 00:21:54.200 that only comes 00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:56.420 through a lifetime of serving him. 00:21:57.100 --> 00:21:58.860 And so we may not be there yet, 00:21:58.859 --> 00:22:02.919 but it is certainly something to which we can strive 00:22:02.919 --> 00:22:03.479 and achieve, 00:22:03.979 --> 00:22:06.899 this lifespan of serving God. 00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:11.880 Now at verse 22 through 24, 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:13.920 we find the psalmist giving praise to God. 00:22:15.360 --> 00:22:18.040 And as I read this, 00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:19.180 I want you to think of 00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:21.580 the auditory references 00:22:21.580 --> 00:22:23.240 that you hear for giving praise. 00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:25.140 Things that you would hear. 00:22:25.860 --> 00:22:27.100 Let me read that for us. 00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:29.539 I will praise you with the harp 00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:31.179 for your faithfulness, 00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:32.079 O my God. 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:34.899 I will sing praises to you with the lyre, 00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:36.779 O holy one of Israel. 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:39.699 My lips will shout for joy 00:22:39.699 --> 00:22:41.319 when I sing praises to you. 00:22:41.679 --> 00:22:43.079 My soul also, 00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:44.619 which you have redeemed. 00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:46.319 And my tongue will talk 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:47.379 of your righteous health 00:22:47.379 --> 00:22:48.740 all the day long. 00:22:49.199 --> 00:22:50.839 For they have been put to shame 00:22:50.839 --> 00:22:51.480 and disappoint 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:54.419 who sought to do me hurt. 00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:57.480 So I encourage you to listen 00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.779 for the auditory references, 00:22:58.920 --> 00:23:00.200 the things that we could hear. 00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:02.019 Here are the things that I pulled out. 00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:02.820 There's the harp. 00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:04.120 There's singing, 00:23:04.560 --> 00:23:05.440 which is mentioned twice. 00:23:05.560 --> 00:23:06.240 There's the lyre. 00:23:06.320 --> 00:23:06.880 There's shouting. 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:08.940 And there's talking. 00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:12.060 And we see that when the psalmist comes 00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:13.420 to give praise to God, 00:23:14.560 --> 00:23:16.800 the psalmist makes it heard. 00:23:18.600 --> 00:23:19.940 I think that's an important point 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:20.660 for us to remember. 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:22.900 That when we come to give praise to God, 00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:25.800 that it should be heard. 00:23:27.120 --> 00:23:29.160 There's something about giving praise to God 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:30.620 so they can be heard, 00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:32.019 so others can hear it. 00:23:34.840 --> 00:23:36.860 As we think of this idea of the psalm, 00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:38.380 this idea of deliverance 00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:42.000 that takes place here with the psalmist, 00:23:42.080 --> 00:23:45.640 we find this idea all coming together 00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:47.580 in the work of Jesus. 00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:47.699 Jesus. 00:23:48.699 --> 00:23:50.460 And in Jesus, 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:54.899 we find that Jesus is our ultimate refuge. 00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:57.299 He is the refuge 00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:59.319 from our great pursuer. 00:23:59.579 --> 00:24:01.019 And our great pursuer is sin. 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.500 Above all things, 00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:05.019 that is which seeks to overcome us 00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:08.079 and seeks to consume us. 00:24:08.879 --> 00:24:10.799 But Jesus is the one who provides 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:12.639 the refuge from that. 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:15.640 And Jesus is the one who comes 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:18.620 and provides victory over this enemy of ours, 00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:20.200 this enemy of sin. 00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:23.680 And when we think of Jesus 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:24.780 and this great victory 00:24:24.780 --> 00:24:26.880 that he has provided over sin 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:29.300 through his work upon the cross, 00:24:29.780 --> 00:24:31.960 by going to the cross on our behalf 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:33.420 and taking our sin there, 00:24:34.140 --> 00:24:36.860 and then dying and dying with our sin there, 00:24:37.540 --> 00:24:39.700 we know that the grave could not hold him 00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:41.660 because Jesus was without sin. 00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:44.380 And in his process of coming out of the grave, 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.440 he defeats death, 00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:48.480 leaving our sin behind. 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:50.220 And we have the opportunity, 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:51.940 through Jesus, 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:55.039 to have victory over our great pursuer, 00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:56.960 victory over sin. 00:24:58.140 --> 00:24:59.420 Let me read verse 3 for us. 00:24:59.900 --> 00:25:01.380 I want you to think of Jesus as I do. 00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:05.080 Be to me a rock of refuge 00:25:05.080 --> 00:25:08.200 to which I may continually come. 00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:12.019 For you have given the command to save me. 00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:16.080 You are my rock and my fortress. 00:25:17.120 --> 00:25:19.720 Indeed, Jesus is our rock and our fortress. 00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:21.440 Not only now, 00:25:22.360 --> 00:25:25.059 but through all eternity. 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:28.600 Let me pray for us. 00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.299 And then for that, 00:25:29.559 --> 00:25:31.160 we can sing our first song. 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:33.259 We can offer up our praise to God 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:35.700 through a song. 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:38.580 God, we do come before you. 00:25:38.840 --> 00:25:39.580 God, we are thankful 00:25:39.580 --> 00:25:41.759 for the work of Jesus. 00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:42.400 We are thankful 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:45.019 that you indeed are our rock 00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:45.819 and our refuge, 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:47.779 and that you are 00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:49.559 the source of great victory. 00:25:50.080 --> 00:25:50.819 God, let us 00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:52.980 consistently and constantly 00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:54.100 turn to you 00:25:54.100 --> 00:25:55.420 and put ourselves before you 00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:56.779 and seek your mercy 00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:57.840 and seek your power. 00:25:58.100 --> 00:25:59.100 We ask this in your name. 00:25:59.340 --> 00:25:59.559 Amen. 00:25:59.559 --> 00:25:59.660 Amen. 00:25:59.660 --> 00:25:59.700 Amen. 00:25:59.700 --> 00:25:59.720 Amen. 00:25:59.720 --> 00:25:59.740 Amen. 00:25:59.740 --> 00:25:59.759 Amen. 00:25:59.759 --> 00:25:59.779 Amen. 00:25:59.779 --> 00:25:59.799 Amen. 00:25:59.799 --> 00:25:59.819 Amen. 00:25:59.819 --> 00:25:59.840 Amen. 00:25:59.840 --> 00:25:59.880 Amen. 00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:01.720 Amen. 00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:01.740 Amen. 00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:01.779 Amen. 00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:03.779 Amen. 00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:03.799 Amen. 00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:05.680 Amen.