1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,080 Would you please remain standing now for the 2 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:04,179 reading of the word? Normally, we will project 3 00:00:04,319 --> 00:00:07,200 we project the the word, onto the screen. 4 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:08,880 But today, if you have your bible or 5 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:10,880 your phone, it is a good opportunity to 6 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:11,779 turn to it. 7 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:14,480 Where this summer, we are going through the 8 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:14,980 Psalms. 9 00:00:15,494 --> 00:00:17,894 We have 3 more Psalms including today. Psalm 10 00:00:17,894 --> 00:00:20,214 10, then Psalm 11, and then Psalm 12 11 00:00:20,214 --> 00:00:22,154 the next 2 weeks before we go back 12 00:00:22,295 --> 00:00:23,835 to Paul's letter to the Romans. 13 00:00:24,614 --> 00:00:27,414 Again, Psalm 10 this morning. Please listen to 14 00:00:27,414 --> 00:00:29,035 the reading of god's word. 15 00:00:31,869 --> 00:00:34,129 Why, oh lord, do you stand far away? 16 00:00:35,070 --> 00:00:37,149 Why do you hide yourself in times of 17 00:00:37,149 --> 00:00:37,649 trouble? 18 00:00:38,350 --> 00:00:41,170 In arrogance, the wicked hotly pursue the poor. 19 00:00:41,549 --> 00:00:43,869 Let them be caught in the schemes that 20 00:00:43,869 --> 00:00:44,770 they have devised. 21 00:00:45,784 --> 00:00:48,024 For the wicked boast of the desires of 22 00:00:48,024 --> 00:00:48,765 his soul, 23 00:00:49,225 --> 00:00:51,625 and the one greedy for gain curses and 24 00:00:51,625 --> 00:00:52,924 renounces the lord. 25 00:00:53,464 --> 00:00:55,545 In the pride of his face, the wicked 26 00:00:55,545 --> 00:00:56,765 does not seek him. 27 00:00:57,225 --> 00:01:00,204 All his thoughts are, there is no god. 28 00:01:00,890 --> 00:01:02,909 His ways prosper at all times. 29 00:01:03,289 --> 00:01:04,909 Your judgments are on high. 30 00:01:05,370 --> 00:01:07,609 Out of his sight, as for all his 31 00:01:07,609 --> 00:01:09,549 foes, he puffs at them. 32 00:01:10,090 --> 00:01:12,250 He says in his heart, I shall not 33 00:01:12,250 --> 00:01:12,989 be moved. 34 00:01:13,604 --> 00:01:14,825 Throughout all generations, 35 00:01:15,125 --> 00:01:16,905 I shall not meet adversity. 36 00:01:17,924 --> 00:01:19,784 His mouth is filled with cursing 37 00:01:20,244 --> 00:01:20,984 and deceit 38 00:01:21,524 --> 00:01:24,484 and oppression. Under his tongue are mischief and 39 00:01:24,484 --> 00:01:24,984 inequity. 40 00:01:25,769 --> 00:01:28,189 He sits in ambush in the villages. 41 00:01:28,969 --> 00:01:31,229 In hiding places, he murders the innocent. 42 00:01:31,689 --> 00:01:34,269 His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless. 43 00:01:34,729 --> 00:01:36,729 He lurks in ambush like a lion in 44 00:01:36,729 --> 00:01:37,469 his thicket. 45 00:01:37,905 --> 00:01:40,564 He lurks that he may seize the poor. 46 00:01:40,944 --> 00:01:43,344 He seizes the poor when he draws him 47 00:01:43,344 --> 00:01:44,484 into his net. 48 00:01:45,185 --> 00:01:46,564 The helpless are crushed, 49 00:01:47,025 --> 00:01:50,064 sink down, and fall by his might. He 50 00:01:50,064 --> 00:01:52,245 says in his heart, God has forgotten. 51 00:01:52,709 --> 00:01:54,629 He has hid in his face. He will 52 00:01:54,629 --> 00:01:55,609 never see it. 53 00:01:56,709 --> 00:01:59,269 Arise, oh lord. Oh god, lift up your 54 00:01:59,269 --> 00:01:59,769 hand. 55 00:02:00,150 --> 00:02:01,689 Forget not the afflicted. 56 00:02:02,229 --> 00:02:04,469 Why does the wicked renounce god and say 57 00:02:04,469 --> 00:02:06,709 in his heart, you will not call to 58 00:02:06,709 --> 00:02:07,209 account? 59 00:02:08,294 --> 00:02:09,514 But you do see, 60 00:02:09,894 --> 00:02:11,834 for you know mischief and vexation, 61 00:02:12,775 --> 00:02:15,334 that you may take into your hands to 62 00:02:15,334 --> 00:02:16,314 you the helpless 63 00:02:16,614 --> 00:02:17,594 commits himself. 64 00:02:18,454 --> 00:02:20,634 You have been the helper of the fatherless. 65 00:02:21,450 --> 00:02:23,629 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer. 66 00:02:24,090 --> 00:02:26,810 Call his wickedness to account till you find 67 00:02:26,810 --> 00:02:27,310 none. 68 00:02:28,010 --> 00:02:29,469 The Lord is King 69 00:02:29,849 --> 00:02:32,650 forever and ever. The nations perish from his 70 00:02:32,650 --> 00:02:33,150 hand. 71 00:02:33,724 --> 00:02:34,224 Oh, 72 00:02:34,604 --> 00:02:37,104 Lord. You hear the desire of the afflicted. 73 00:02:37,324 --> 00:02:40,044 You will strengthen their heart. You will incline 74 00:02:40,044 --> 00:02:42,224 your ear to do justice to the fatherless 75 00:02:42,604 --> 00:02:43,344 and the oppressed, 76 00:02:43,805 --> 00:02:46,145 so that man who is of the earth 77 00:02:46,444 --> 00:02:49,139 may strike terror no more. This is the 78 00:02:49,139 --> 00:02:50,120 word of the lord. 79 00:02:50,580 --> 00:02:52,439 Thanks be to god. Please be seated. 80 00:03:05,914 --> 00:03:06,414 Well, 81 00:03:07,435 --> 00:03:10,254 in the Roman Empire of the late 3rd 82 00:03:10,314 --> 00:03:11,775 and early 4th centuries, 83 00:03:12,395 --> 00:03:15,215 the Christians were under severe persecution. 84 00:03:16,169 --> 00:03:18,349 The Emperor Diocletian was determined 85 00:03:18,729 --> 00:03:20,349 to make Rome great again, 86 00:03:20,969 --> 00:03:23,530 pledging to revive the glory of ancient Rome 87 00:03:23,530 --> 00:03:24,430 through a strategy 88 00:03:24,889 --> 00:03:25,709 that included, 89 00:03:26,009 --> 00:03:27,150 on the one hand, 90 00:03:27,689 --> 00:03:29,150 restoring and revamping 91 00:03:29,805 --> 00:03:30,284 the 92 00:03:30,604 --> 00:03:32,364 her her cult to the pagan gods of 93 00:03:32,364 --> 00:03:33,344 the Greek pantheon, 94 00:03:33,884 --> 00:03:35,104 and on the other hand, 95 00:03:35,405 --> 00:03:35,905 unleashing 96 00:03:36,364 --> 00:03:38,704 one of the most brutal waves of persecution 97 00:03:38,844 --> 00:03:39,664 against Christians 98 00:03:40,044 --> 00:03:40,784 ever known. 99 00:03:41,805 --> 00:03:44,704 Homes where where Christians worship were destroyed. 100 00:03:45,569 --> 00:03:46,229 Their scriptures, 101 00:03:46,610 --> 00:03:48,689 which they cherish so much and were so 102 00:03:48,689 --> 00:03:51,169 expensive, it was so difficult to get, were 103 00:03:51,169 --> 00:03:51,669 burned. 104 00:03:52,129 --> 00:03:54,310 And countless believers were imprisoned, 105 00:03:55,169 --> 00:03:56,629 tortured, and martyred, 106 00:03:57,169 --> 00:03:57,669 perishing 107 00:03:58,290 --> 00:03:59,590 by the heat of the flame, 108 00:04:00,555 --> 00:04:01,935 by the claw of the beast, 109 00:04:02,395 --> 00:04:02,895 or 110 00:04:03,275 --> 00:04:04,655 by the edge of the sword. 111 00:04:05,435 --> 00:04:07,354 It was a time of deep darkness and 112 00:04:07,354 --> 00:04:09,514 despair for those who held firm to their 113 00:04:09,514 --> 00:04:10,014 faith. 114 00:04:10,555 --> 00:04:11,455 To be sure, 115 00:04:11,754 --> 00:04:14,335 many must have questioned the apparent success 116 00:04:14,635 --> 00:04:15,455 of the wicked 117 00:04:16,139 --> 00:04:19,180 as they fell victim to the unhinged rage 118 00:04:19,180 --> 00:04:20,639 and merciless abuse 119 00:04:20,939 --> 00:04:22,079 of powerful men. 120 00:04:22,540 --> 00:04:24,319 Some must have wondered how long 121 00:04:25,180 --> 00:04:27,519 they would have to endure such suffering. 122 00:04:28,024 --> 00:04:29,785 They must have been deeply perplexed as to 123 00:04:29,785 --> 00:04:32,105 why God was silent in the face of 124 00:04:32,105 --> 00:04:32,925 such evil. 125 00:04:33,705 --> 00:04:35,964 Now, you may recall from last week's sermon 126 00:04:36,345 --> 00:04:38,824 that some Bibles combine Psalm 9 and 10 127 00:04:38,824 --> 00:04:41,420 into 1 Psalm, and one of the reasons 128 00:04:41,420 --> 00:04:43,580 for this is that Psalm 10 does not 129 00:04:43,580 --> 00:04:44,480 have a title. 130 00:04:45,100 --> 00:04:46,540 As I said last week, there are good 131 00:04:46,540 --> 00:04:48,959 reasons not to combine, not to merge 132 00:04:49,259 --> 00:04:51,740 these 2 into 1 Psalm, but the fact 133 00:04:51,740 --> 00:04:54,084 that Psalm 10 does not have its own 134 00:04:54,084 --> 00:04:54,584 title 135 00:04:54,884 --> 00:04:57,384 and is therefore not tied to any particular 136 00:04:57,845 --> 00:04:59,785 time or to any particular person 137 00:05:00,165 --> 00:05:02,345 does make it easier for us to appreciate, 138 00:05:03,524 --> 00:05:05,925 the fact that the psalmist asks in Psalm 139 00:05:05,925 --> 00:05:07,384 10 a timeless question. 140 00:05:07,769 --> 00:05:10,170 He asked, where is God when there is 141 00:05:10,170 --> 00:05:10,670 injustice? 142 00:05:11,529 --> 00:05:13,529 That is the question that many Christians are 143 00:05:13,529 --> 00:05:14,350 asking today 144 00:05:14,889 --> 00:05:17,790 as Christianity is the most persecuted religion 145 00:05:18,250 --> 00:05:19,149 in the world. 146 00:05:20,214 --> 00:05:22,314 It is the question that Christians under Diocletian's 147 00:05:22,615 --> 00:05:23,435 great persecution 148 00:05:24,055 --> 00:05:25,194 must have asked themselves 149 00:05:25,574 --> 00:05:27,415 as they saw their loved ones being burnt 150 00:05:27,415 --> 00:05:30,154 to death or torn to pieces by beasts 151 00:05:30,295 --> 00:05:31,115 or decapitated 152 00:05:31,894 --> 00:05:33,035 by Roman soldiers. 153 00:05:34,199 --> 00:05:35,740 It is the question that the psalmist 154 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:38,459 gut wrenching lament in verse 1, 155 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,740 asked when he cries out, why, oh lord, 156 00:05:41,959 --> 00:05:43,660 do you stand far away? 157 00:05:44,519 --> 00:05:47,019 Why do you hide yourself in times 158 00:05:47,399 --> 00:05:48,139 of trouble? 159 00:05:49,504 --> 00:05:51,745 Yet, as we move through the Psalm, we 160 00:05:51,745 --> 00:05:54,085 see the speaker shift from denouncing 161 00:05:54,464 --> 00:05:55,444 man's wickedness 162 00:05:55,985 --> 00:05:59,425 to confidently asserting God's character and commitment to 163 00:05:59,425 --> 00:05:59,925 justice. 164 00:06:00,384 --> 00:06:02,485 So as we consider Psalm 10 this morning, 165 00:06:02,750 --> 00:06:04,270 at a time when the tide of the 166 00:06:04,270 --> 00:06:07,230 culture is threatening the Christian church and when 167 00:06:07,230 --> 00:06:08,449 some of you are navigating 168 00:06:08,910 --> 00:06:10,610 especially turbulent waters, 169 00:06:11,150 --> 00:06:12,370 let us be encouraged 170 00:06:12,910 --> 00:06:14,770 that our God is a God of justice, 171 00:06:15,235 --> 00:06:18,055 whose character never changes and whose promises 172 00:06:18,435 --> 00:06:19,254 never fail, 173 00:06:19,555 --> 00:06:20,615 and who sees, 174 00:06:20,995 --> 00:06:24,275 hears, and acts in his perfect timing. In 175 00:06:24,275 --> 00:06:26,035 fact, the main point that Psalm 10 has 176 00:06:26,035 --> 00:06:29,175 for you this morning is that God's character 177 00:06:29,759 --> 00:06:31,060 ensures his justice. 178 00:06:31,599 --> 00:06:32,579 God's character 179 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,599 ensures his justice. And as we're gonna look 180 00:06:35,599 --> 00:06:37,599 at Psalm 10 this morning under 3 headings. 181 00:06:37,599 --> 00:06:40,019 First of all, the character of the wicked. 182 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:41,300 Secondly, 183 00:06:41,919 --> 00:06:43,220 the cry of the Christian. 184 00:06:43,824 --> 00:06:44,564 And finally, 185 00:06:45,105 --> 00:06:47,745 the character of God. The character of the 186 00:06:47,745 --> 00:06:48,245 wicked, 187 00:06:48,545 --> 00:06:51,205 the cry of the Christian, and the character 188 00:06:51,824 --> 00:06:52,564 of God. 189 00:06:52,944 --> 00:06:54,865 Our first setter then is the character of 190 00:06:54,865 --> 00:06:56,545 the wicked, which is the focus of the 191 00:06:56,545 --> 00:06:58,725 first 11 verses in Psalm 10. 192 00:06:59,039 --> 00:07:02,019 In these verses, the psalmist provides a clear, 193 00:07:02,399 --> 00:07:03,459 even if revolting 194 00:07:03,919 --> 00:07:04,419 MRI 195 00:07:04,959 --> 00:07:06,659 of the wicked man's heart. 196 00:07:07,199 --> 00:07:09,620 The image this Psalm provides is doubly helpful 197 00:07:09,919 --> 00:07:12,000 because on the one hand, it enables us 198 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:12,659 to identify 199 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:14,419 the toxic agents 200 00:07:15,014 --> 00:07:16,954 attacking the health of God's kingdom, 201 00:07:17,334 --> 00:07:19,115 which can help us protect ourselves, 202 00:07:19,574 --> 00:07:22,214 protect our families, and protect the church from 203 00:07:22,214 --> 00:07:23,274 such toxins 204 00:07:23,814 --> 00:07:25,914 regardless of what titles they may bear. 205 00:07:26,214 --> 00:07:28,615 And on the other hand, this psalm enables 206 00:07:28,615 --> 00:07:30,475 us to compare our own behavior 207 00:07:30,910 --> 00:07:33,230 to this MRI of the heart, that we 208 00:07:33,230 --> 00:07:35,410 might quickly identify areas of concern 209 00:07:35,870 --> 00:07:37,250 and change our behavior 210 00:07:37,629 --> 00:07:40,610 after the spirit enables us to faithfully exercise 211 00:07:41,069 --> 00:07:43,329 the Christian muscle of repentance. 212 00:07:44,269 --> 00:07:44,769 So 213 00:07:45,245 --> 00:07:47,504 what are the findings of Psalm 10's MRI 214 00:07:48,285 --> 00:07:50,145 of the wicked man's heart? 215 00:07:50,685 --> 00:07:51,185 1st, 216 00:07:51,645 --> 00:07:53,805 notice that according to the first 11 verses 217 00:07:53,805 --> 00:07:56,285 of Psalm 10, one of the characteristics of 218 00:07:56,285 --> 00:07:58,625 the wicked man is that he is conceited. 219 00:07:59,730 --> 00:08:01,889 This is revealed in verse 2 where we 220 00:08:01,889 --> 00:08:03,430 read that the wicked man is 221 00:08:03,730 --> 00:08:04,230 arrogant. 222 00:08:05,170 --> 00:08:07,350 In verse 4, we learned that an arrogant 223 00:08:07,410 --> 00:08:10,709 heart stiffens the knees. As the psalmist writes, 224 00:08:11,089 --> 00:08:13,269 in in in the pride of his face, 225 00:08:13,694 --> 00:08:15,714 the wicked does not seek God. 226 00:08:16,254 --> 00:08:17,714 All his thoughts are, 227 00:08:18,175 --> 00:08:19,474 there is no God. 228 00:08:20,495 --> 00:08:23,154 The Prince of Preachers, Charles Spurgeon comments, 229 00:08:24,094 --> 00:08:27,055 the wicked man thought much, but he had 230 00:08:27,055 --> 00:08:28,435 no thoughts for God. 231 00:08:28,939 --> 00:08:30,479 Amid heaps of chaff, 232 00:08:30,860 --> 00:08:32,879 there was not a grain of wheat. 233 00:08:33,500 --> 00:08:34,240 The only 234 00:08:34,620 --> 00:08:35,440 the only place 235 00:08:35,820 --> 00:08:37,039 where god is not 236 00:08:37,500 --> 00:08:39,360 is in the thoughts of the wicked. 237 00:08:40,059 --> 00:08:41,759 This is a damning accusation 238 00:08:42,595 --> 00:08:44,754 for where god for where the god of 239 00:08:44,754 --> 00:08:47,634 heaven is not, the lord of hell is 240 00:08:47,634 --> 00:08:50,835 reigning and raging. And if god be not 241 00:08:50,835 --> 00:08:51,735 in our thoughts, 242 00:08:52,115 --> 00:08:55,095 our thoughts will bring us to perdition. 243 00:08:56,699 --> 00:08:59,259 Indeed, perdition is the destiny of the wicked 244 00:08:59,259 --> 00:09:00,159 man's conceit. 245 00:09:00,620 --> 00:09:03,579 He desists from seeking after God, appeasing his 246 00:09:03,579 --> 00:09:05,199 conscience by preaching to himself, 247 00:09:05,500 --> 00:09:06,480 there's no God. 248 00:09:07,659 --> 00:09:10,539 Now this does not mean that the wicked 249 00:09:10,539 --> 00:09:12,605 man does not believe in God. 250 00:09:13,065 --> 00:09:15,384 You may recall from our study of Paul's 251 00:09:15,384 --> 00:09:17,705 letter to the Romans that in Romans chapter 252 00:09:17,705 --> 00:09:20,764 1 verses 18 19, the apostle Paul teaches 253 00:09:21,304 --> 00:09:23,644 that every human being knows 254 00:09:24,184 --> 00:09:25,165 that God exists 255 00:09:25,659 --> 00:09:28,139 because god reveals himself in the things that 256 00:09:28,139 --> 00:09:28,960 he has made. 257 00:09:29,740 --> 00:09:33,019 According to Paul, the only reason why there 258 00:09:33,019 --> 00:09:34,639 are self proclaimed atheists 259 00:09:35,179 --> 00:09:37,340 is that men and women, because of our 260 00:09:37,340 --> 00:09:39,120 fallen sinful nature, 261 00:09:39,500 --> 00:09:40,240 are predisposed 262 00:09:41,365 --> 00:09:43,925 to deny God, and therefore, we work very 263 00:09:43,925 --> 00:09:47,445 hard to suppress the truth, to suppress our 264 00:09:47,445 --> 00:09:48,585 knowledge of God. 265 00:09:49,445 --> 00:09:51,524 We know that there is a God, but 266 00:09:51,524 --> 00:09:52,665 we lie to ourselves 267 00:09:53,220 --> 00:09:54,820 repeating the words of the wicked man of 268 00:09:54,820 --> 00:09:57,399 Psalm 10. We say, there is no God. 269 00:09:57,860 --> 00:09:59,000 There is no God. 270 00:10:00,019 --> 00:10:01,159 Yet we know better. 271 00:10:01,620 --> 00:10:03,799 And the wicked man described in Psalm 10 272 00:10:03,860 --> 00:10:06,414 also knows better as can be demonstrated from 273 00:10:06,414 --> 00:10:08,034 his own words in verse 11, 274 00:10:08,414 --> 00:10:09,955 where he says in his heart, 275 00:10:10,414 --> 00:10:11,475 God has forgotten. 276 00:10:12,174 --> 00:10:13,554 He has hidden his face. 277 00:10:14,014 --> 00:10:15,554 He will never see it. 278 00:10:16,335 --> 00:10:18,014 You see the wicked man is not actually 279 00:10:18,014 --> 00:10:18,754 an atheist 280 00:10:19,250 --> 00:10:21,110 since there are no true atheists. 281 00:10:21,570 --> 00:10:22,710 But in his conceit, 282 00:10:23,089 --> 00:10:24,389 he elevates himself 283 00:10:25,089 --> 00:10:26,629 and he belittles God, 284 00:10:27,009 --> 00:10:29,649 convincing himself that he will get away with 285 00:10:29,649 --> 00:10:30,309 his sins 286 00:10:30,769 --> 00:10:33,889 because he has successfully concealed his actions from 287 00:10:33,889 --> 00:10:34,389 God, 288 00:10:34,774 --> 00:10:36,235 so that he is entirely 289 00:10:36,855 --> 00:10:38,554 outside of God's mind. 290 00:10:39,254 --> 00:10:40,235 He tells himself, 291 00:10:40,615 --> 00:10:41,595 God has forgotten. 292 00:10:42,774 --> 00:10:44,875 The conceit of the wicked man is such 293 00:10:44,934 --> 00:10:47,014 that we read in verse 3 that he 294 00:10:47,014 --> 00:10:49,799 boasts of the desires of his soul, and 295 00:10:49,799 --> 00:10:51,500 that even he even curses 296 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:53,419 and renounces God. 297 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:56,519 The wicked man may not do it in 298 00:10:56,519 --> 00:10:57,019 public, 299 00:10:57,399 --> 00:10:59,240 certainly not if it doesn't suit his own 300 00:10:59,240 --> 00:10:59,740 ambitions. 301 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:02,299 But when he lowers his guard, 302 00:11:02,705 --> 00:11:04,164 you may hear him boasting 303 00:11:04,465 --> 00:11:05,845 in his selfish desires. 304 00:11:06,945 --> 00:11:09,445 And such is the his contempt for God, 305 00:11:09,745 --> 00:11:10,965 that through his actions, 306 00:11:11,345 --> 00:11:12,725 through the way that he lives, 307 00:11:13,184 --> 00:11:15,504 through the way that he treats others, through 308 00:11:15,504 --> 00:11:18,809 the way that he prioritizes certain things over 309 00:11:18,809 --> 00:11:21,950 other things, he curses God and renounces 310 00:11:22,490 --> 00:11:23,309 his way. 311 00:11:24,330 --> 00:11:26,029 The wicked man is so secure 312 00:11:26,410 --> 00:11:28,730 in his conceit that in verse 5 we 313 00:11:28,730 --> 00:11:30,855 read that he sticks out his chest and 314 00:11:30,855 --> 00:11:32,394 he puffs at his 315 00:11:33,495 --> 00:11:34,794 foes. In verse 6, 316 00:11:35,335 --> 00:11:37,174 we see the fruit of the wicked man's 317 00:11:37,174 --> 00:11:37,674 conceit. 318 00:11:38,134 --> 00:11:39,514 He says in his heart, 319 00:11:40,054 --> 00:11:41,434 I shall not be moved. 320 00:11:42,294 --> 00:11:45,995 Throughout all generations, I shall not meet adversity. 321 00:11:47,470 --> 00:11:49,230 The wicked man may not be a true 322 00:11:49,230 --> 00:11:51,730 atheist, but he is a functional atheist 323 00:11:52,110 --> 00:11:54,370 living as if God does not exist 324 00:11:54,990 --> 00:11:57,069 or at least as if he knows better 325 00:11:57,069 --> 00:11:57,889 than God, 326 00:11:58,365 --> 00:12:00,304 that he is more clever than God, 327 00:12:00,845 --> 00:12:03,584 mocking and abusing God's people without any fear 328 00:12:04,125 --> 00:12:06,625 of God's justice ever falling upon him. 329 00:12:07,565 --> 00:12:08,945 Is your heart suffering 330 00:12:09,485 --> 00:12:11,105 from this kind of deadly 331 00:12:11,565 --> 00:12:12,065 conceit? 332 00:12:13,049 --> 00:12:14,509 Are you sinning with impunity? 333 00:12:15,690 --> 00:12:18,029 Trusting that you will prosper in your sin, 334 00:12:18,570 --> 00:12:20,429 foolishly relying on your ability 335 00:12:20,970 --> 00:12:23,470 to hide your evil acts from God. 336 00:12:25,065 --> 00:12:26,044 The second characteristic 337 00:12:26,424 --> 00:12:28,665 of the wicked man revealed in the first 338 00:12:28,665 --> 00:12:30,904 11 verses of Psalm 10 is that he 339 00:12:30,904 --> 00:12:31,644 is cruel. 340 00:12:32,264 --> 00:12:33,785 In verse 2, we learned that the wicked 341 00:12:33,785 --> 00:12:37,465 man hotly pursues the poor, ensnaring them in 342 00:12:37,465 --> 00:12:40,424 maliciously devised schemes that he has come up 343 00:12:40,424 --> 00:12:40,679 with. 344 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:43,799 In verses 8 through 10, we learned that 345 00:12:43,799 --> 00:12:46,440 the schemes of this cruel man target the 346 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:46,940 innocent, 347 00:12:47,639 --> 00:12:48,460 the helpless 348 00:12:49,159 --> 00:12:50,059 and the poor. 349 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:53,659 Because you see, since he is a bully, 350 00:12:54,245 --> 00:12:56,105 his attacks are not frontal. 351 00:12:56,485 --> 00:12:57,865 He relies on asymmetry, 352 00:12:58,325 --> 00:13:01,544 attacking only the weak and using covert means. 353 00:13:02,404 --> 00:13:05,225 He sets his trap and sits in ambush, 354 00:13:05,684 --> 00:13:06,664 drawing unsuspecting 355 00:13:07,044 --> 00:13:08,904 victims into his net. 356 00:13:09,389 --> 00:13:10,370 He acts like his 357 00:13:10,910 --> 00:13:13,309 father, the devil, who prowls like a lion 358 00:13:13,309 --> 00:13:14,210 seeking someone 359 00:13:14,670 --> 00:13:15,410 to devour. 360 00:13:16,670 --> 00:13:19,309 In other words, Psalm 10 describes an angry 361 00:13:19,309 --> 00:13:19,809 person 362 00:13:20,269 --> 00:13:23,024 who bullies the weak, devoting much of his 363 00:13:23,024 --> 00:13:25,904 time and energy to devise schemes that will 364 00:13:25,904 --> 00:13:27,125 bring the downfall 365 00:13:27,585 --> 00:13:28,245 of others, 366 00:13:28,705 --> 00:13:29,205 delighting 367 00:13:29,585 --> 00:13:32,144 as he uses his influence to crush his 368 00:13:32,144 --> 00:13:32,644 helpless 369 00:13:33,105 --> 00:13:34,644 and unsuspecting victims. 370 00:13:35,750 --> 00:13:37,370 Do you know people like this? 371 00:13:38,309 --> 00:13:40,169 Do you feel like you're under the thumb 372 00:13:40,549 --> 00:13:41,850 of such an adversary? 373 00:13:43,350 --> 00:13:45,370 Or instead of a particular person, 374 00:13:45,750 --> 00:13:46,649 is the godlessness 375 00:13:47,029 --> 00:13:47,929 of the world 376 00:13:48,615 --> 00:13:52,054 oppressing your spirit as you witness society's increased 377 00:13:52,054 --> 00:13:55,674 animosity and contempt even against Christianity 378 00:13:56,294 --> 00:13:57,274 and against Christians? 379 00:13:58,695 --> 00:13:59,754 Or worse yet, 380 00:14:00,455 --> 00:14:02,394 are you the one displaying 381 00:14:03,519 --> 00:14:04,019 cruelty 382 00:14:04,399 --> 00:14:05,299 against others? 383 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,399 Do you spend more time thinking about how 384 00:14:08,399 --> 00:14:10,480 to get revenge on those who have hurt 385 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:14,159 you, perhaps even wishing them ill? Then you 386 00:14:14,159 --> 00:14:15,700 do pray for them to repent 387 00:14:16,334 --> 00:14:18,495 so that they might be blessed by God's 388 00:14:18,495 --> 00:14:20,034 grace even as you have been. 389 00:14:20,814 --> 00:14:21,634 As a Christian, 390 00:14:22,174 --> 00:14:24,414 you must not allow this. Because if you 391 00:14:24,414 --> 00:14:27,054 do, your longing for justice against a wicked 392 00:14:27,054 --> 00:14:27,554 person 393 00:14:28,014 --> 00:14:30,299 might make you fall in the trap of 394 00:14:30,299 --> 00:14:33,039 an even greater and more cruel adversary, 395 00:14:33,820 --> 00:14:34,639 Satan himself. 396 00:14:35,899 --> 00:14:39,679 Satan wants you to repay evil for evil 397 00:14:41,100 --> 00:14:42,879 because revenge is a pill 398 00:14:43,259 --> 00:14:44,320 that when swallowed 399 00:14:45,105 --> 00:14:46,404 poisons the 400 00:14:47,504 --> 00:14:50,144 heart. Let us therefore begin by first comparing 401 00:14:50,144 --> 00:14:50,964 our own behavior 402 00:14:51,424 --> 00:14:53,745 to this MRI of the heart, to make 403 00:14:53,745 --> 00:14:55,605 sure that we are not the ones displaying 404 00:14:55,664 --> 00:14:59,264 cruelty towards others, and thereby acting as childrens 405 00:14:59,264 --> 00:14:59,924 of darkness 406 00:15:00,490 --> 00:15:01,389 instead of acting 407 00:15:01,850 --> 00:15:02,670 as children 408 00:15:03,049 --> 00:15:03,710 of light. 409 00:15:04,649 --> 00:15:07,049 The third characteristic of the wicked man revealed 410 00:15:07,049 --> 00:15:09,149 in the first 11 verses of Psalm 10 411 00:15:09,290 --> 00:15:10,509 is that he is covetous. 412 00:15:11,210 --> 00:15:13,049 In verse 3, we read that the wicked 413 00:15:13,049 --> 00:15:15,230 man is greedy for gain. 414 00:15:16,174 --> 00:15:18,595 This is an especially dangerous characteristic 415 00:15:19,294 --> 00:15:21,154 because in our materialistic society, 416 00:15:21,695 --> 00:15:22,195 covetousness 417 00:15:22,735 --> 00:15:24,115 can be difficult to detect. 418 00:15:24,975 --> 00:15:26,355 Covetousness for money, 419 00:15:26,735 --> 00:15:31,100 otherwise known as greed, easily camouflages as diligent 420 00:15:31,559 --> 00:15:33,899 work. Covetousness for power 421 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:35,419 or ambition 422 00:15:36,279 --> 00:15:37,179 easily camouflages 423 00:15:37,639 --> 00:15:39,179 as bold leadership. 424 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:42,860 Covetousness for fame or narcissism 425 00:15:43,754 --> 00:15:44,575 easily camouflages 426 00:15:45,434 --> 00:15:46,894 as natural charisma, 427 00:15:48,154 --> 00:15:51,215 but what ultimately gives covetousness away, 428 00:15:51,595 --> 00:15:54,475 what enables this MRI to detect it, is 429 00:15:54,475 --> 00:15:56,335 that covet a covetous person 430 00:15:56,940 --> 00:15:57,440 always 431 00:15:57,820 --> 00:15:59,600 thinks more highly of himself 432 00:16:00,300 --> 00:16:01,519 than he does of others, 433 00:16:02,220 --> 00:16:04,639 and therefore, he thinks he is entitled 434 00:16:05,100 --> 00:16:07,360 to whatever someone else may have, 435 00:16:07,740 --> 00:16:09,820 which is why he is always greedy for 436 00:16:09,820 --> 00:16:12,955 gain even at the expense of others. 437 00:16:14,054 --> 00:16:14,554 Covetousness 438 00:16:15,495 --> 00:16:17,195 is such a wretched sin 439 00:16:17,735 --> 00:16:20,075 that god etched it in stone 440 00:16:20,534 --> 00:16:22,294 at the at the being the last of 441 00:16:22,294 --> 00:16:23,195 the 10 commandments 442 00:16:23,575 --> 00:16:25,914 as if by giving it to us last, 443 00:16:26,210 --> 00:16:28,629 it would be first in our minds always. 444 00:16:30,210 --> 00:16:33,330 Jesus said that all of God's law is 445 00:16:33,330 --> 00:16:34,870 contained in these 2 commandments. 446 00:16:35,730 --> 00:16:37,970 Love the lord your god with all your 447 00:16:37,970 --> 00:16:40,370 heart, with all your mind, with all your 448 00:16:40,370 --> 00:16:41,990 soul, and with all your strength, 449 00:16:42,504 --> 00:16:44,044 and love your neighbor 450 00:16:44,584 --> 00:16:45,485 as yourself. 451 00:16:46,345 --> 00:16:47,565 But the sin of covetousness 452 00:16:48,424 --> 00:16:51,004 demands that you hate God and neighbor. 453 00:16:51,784 --> 00:16:54,365 It first causes you to despise God's providence, 454 00:16:54,870 --> 00:16:55,610 being discontent 455 00:16:56,230 --> 00:16:58,309 with the good gifts gifts that God has 456 00:16:58,309 --> 00:17:01,110 given you. And then it causes you to 457 00:17:01,110 --> 00:17:04,309 despise your neighbor, being envious of the good 458 00:17:04,309 --> 00:17:07,930 gifts that God has given him or her. 459 00:17:09,035 --> 00:17:09,934 To be sure, 460 00:17:10,315 --> 00:17:12,095 it is an especially heavy burden 461 00:17:12,474 --> 00:17:15,355 to endure the oppressive weight of a covetous 462 00:17:15,355 --> 00:17:17,674 person, who will not think twice before hurting 463 00:17:17,674 --> 00:17:19,755 you or hurting others for the sake of 464 00:17:19,755 --> 00:17:21,134 his own personal gain. 465 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:23,980 But it is even a more grievous 466 00:17:24,679 --> 00:17:25,179 sin 467 00:17:25,559 --> 00:17:27,419 when our own hearts are infected 468 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:29,019 by this toxic 469 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:29,900 poison. 470 00:17:31,079 --> 00:17:32,140 The 4th characteristic 471 00:17:32,519 --> 00:17:34,440 of the wicked man is that is revealed 472 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:36,539 in the first 11 verses of Psalm 10 473 00:17:36,724 --> 00:17:38,025 is that he is cunning. 474 00:17:38,724 --> 00:17:41,285 In other words, he is skillful in his 475 00:17:41,285 --> 00:17:41,785 deceit 476 00:17:42,484 --> 00:17:43,384 and evasion. 477 00:17:44,325 --> 00:17:45,625 We see in verse 7 478 00:17:46,164 --> 00:17:48,005 where we read of the wicked man that 479 00:17:48,005 --> 00:17:49,945 his mouth is filled with cursing 480 00:17:50,325 --> 00:17:51,144 and deceit 481 00:17:51,509 --> 00:17:52,490 and depression. 482 00:17:53,029 --> 00:17:54,650 Under his tongue are mischief 483 00:17:55,349 --> 00:17:56,089 and iniquity. 484 00:17:57,509 --> 00:17:58,570 In John 844, 485 00:17:59,430 --> 00:18:02,789 Jesus calls Satan the father of lies, asserting 486 00:18:02,789 --> 00:18:04,410 that there is no truth in him. 487 00:18:04,945 --> 00:18:06,965 The wicked man of Psalm 10, therefore, 488 00:18:07,345 --> 00:18:10,144 acts just like his demonic father since his 489 00:18:10,144 --> 00:18:11,605 mouth spews deceit, 490 00:18:12,224 --> 00:18:12,724 curses, 491 00:18:13,265 --> 00:18:13,765 oppression, 492 00:18:14,384 --> 00:18:14,884 mischief, 493 00:18:15,265 --> 00:18:15,924 and iniquity. 494 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,340 It is so easy to minimize the damage 495 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:20,940 that our words can cause. 496 00:18:21,559 --> 00:18:23,019 The old adage states 497 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:25,900 that sticks and stones may hurt my bones 498 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:28,059 but words will never hurt me. 499 00:18:28,759 --> 00:18:30,779 The saying is intended to teach children 500 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:31,580 resilience 501 00:18:32,039 --> 00:18:32,539 against 502 00:18:32,865 --> 00:18:34,484 verbal insult insults. 503 00:18:34,865 --> 00:18:35,365 However, 504 00:18:35,825 --> 00:18:38,545 the truth is that even children know how 505 00:18:38,545 --> 00:18:40,884 much damage words can cause. 506 00:18:41,664 --> 00:18:44,384 God created the universe by speaking it into 507 00:18:44,384 --> 00:18:44,884 existence, 508 00:18:45,380 --> 00:18:47,940 but human beings often use speech not to 509 00:18:47,940 --> 00:18:48,680 build up, 510 00:18:48,980 --> 00:18:49,960 but to destroy, 511 00:18:50,340 --> 00:18:51,320 to tear down. 512 00:18:52,259 --> 00:18:53,320 Lies and slander 513 00:18:53,700 --> 00:18:56,759 can cause irreparable damage to a person's reputation, 514 00:18:57,674 --> 00:18:58,575 severing relationships, 515 00:18:59,355 --> 00:18:59,855 inflicting 516 00:19:00,235 --> 00:19:01,375 emotional damage, 517 00:19:01,835 --> 00:19:05,195 and even causing financial loss as credibility is 518 00:19:05,195 --> 00:19:05,695 undermined 519 00:19:05,995 --> 00:19:07,134 by false accusations. 520 00:19:08,475 --> 00:19:11,059 In a fallen world that hates Christ and 521 00:19:11,059 --> 00:19:13,559 hates his church, if you're a faithful Christian, 522 00:19:13,940 --> 00:19:15,480 at some point you can expect 523 00:19:15,779 --> 00:19:18,279 to be slandered on account of your faith. 524 00:19:19,059 --> 00:19:21,539 Wicked people will despise your genuine faith in 525 00:19:21,539 --> 00:19:22,039 God 526 00:19:22,579 --> 00:19:24,200 because they will not understand it. 527 00:19:24,515 --> 00:19:26,115 And because they don't understand it, they will 528 00:19:26,115 --> 00:19:28,535 hate you for it. You must be prepared 529 00:19:28,835 --> 00:19:30,535 to endure such trial. 530 00:19:31,394 --> 00:19:32,134 But also, 531 00:19:32,434 --> 00:19:34,195 as a follower of Christ, you must be 532 00:19:34,195 --> 00:19:35,174 especially careful 533 00:19:35,475 --> 00:19:37,095 to guard your own tongue. 534 00:19:37,875 --> 00:19:39,735 Be mindful of your language. 535 00:19:40,619 --> 00:19:41,599 Do not lie. 536 00:19:42,299 --> 00:19:43,279 Do not slander. 537 00:19:44,140 --> 00:19:45,119 Do not curse. 538 00:19:45,819 --> 00:19:48,220 Use speech to edify others, to build up 539 00:19:48,220 --> 00:19:50,079 the church, to glorify God. 540 00:19:51,180 --> 00:19:53,759 Psalm 10's MRI of the wicked heart 541 00:19:54,224 --> 00:19:56,404 reveals a heart that is conceited, 542 00:19:57,105 --> 00:19:57,605 cruel, 543 00:19:58,144 --> 00:19:59,684 covetous, and cunning. 544 00:19:59,984 --> 00:20:01,444 All of which are characteristics 545 00:20:02,144 --> 00:20:03,605 of the prince of darkness. 546 00:20:04,625 --> 00:20:05,845 May our hearts MRI 547 00:20:06,384 --> 00:20:07,365 reveal the characteristics 548 00:20:07,664 --> 00:20:08,404 that befit 549 00:20:08,759 --> 00:20:09,660 the children 550 00:20:10,279 --> 00:20:11,180 of the light. 551 00:20:11,559 --> 00:20:13,079 So having looked at the character of the 552 00:20:13,079 --> 00:20:15,559 wicked, let us consider our second header, the 553 00:20:15,559 --> 00:20:16,859 the cry of the Christian. 554 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:19,559 In verses 12 to 15, we see that 555 00:20:19,559 --> 00:20:20,059 despite 556 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:22,619 the significant persecution the psalmist 557 00:20:23,085 --> 00:20:25,724 and and his fellow brothers and sisters are 558 00:20:25,724 --> 00:20:26,224 enduring, 559 00:20:26,684 --> 00:20:27,744 he does not despair, 560 00:20:28,204 --> 00:20:30,944 but raises his cry up to God saying, 561 00:20:31,325 --> 00:20:32,625 arise, oh Lord. 562 00:20:33,164 --> 00:20:34,784 Oh God, lift up your hand. 563 00:20:35,429 --> 00:20:36,730 Forget not the afflicted. 564 00:20:37,509 --> 00:20:39,669 Why does the wicked renounce God and say 565 00:20:39,669 --> 00:20:41,349 in his heart, you will not call to 566 00:20:41,349 --> 00:20:41,849 account? 567 00:20:42,549 --> 00:20:43,849 But you do see 568 00:20:44,309 --> 00:20:47,190 for you note mischief and vexation that you 569 00:20:47,190 --> 00:20:49,289 may take it into your hands. 570 00:20:50,595 --> 00:20:52,454 To you, the helpless commits himself. 571 00:20:53,394 --> 00:20:53,894 You 572 00:20:54,195 --> 00:20:55,974 have been the helper of the fatherless. 573 00:20:56,674 --> 00:20:59,015 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer. 574 00:20:59,474 --> 00:21:02,055 Call his wickedness to account till you find 575 00:21:02,275 --> 00:21:02,775 none. 576 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:06,720 The prayer of the psalmist has 3 parts. 577 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:08,259 Each of 1 contradicting 578 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:10,179 1 of the 3 assertions 579 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:12,900 that the wicked man makes in verse 11. 580 00:21:13,599 --> 00:21:14,099 First, 581 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:16,159 even though the wicked man said in verse 582 00:21:16,159 --> 00:21:17,700 11 that god has forgotten, 583 00:21:18,154 --> 00:21:20,315 the psalmist here calls it calls God to 584 00:21:20,315 --> 00:21:22,174 forget not the afflicted, 585 00:21:22,474 --> 00:21:23,934 but rather to arise 586 00:21:24,234 --> 00:21:26,174 and to lift up his hand. 587 00:21:26,714 --> 00:21:28,554 He asked in verse 13 why the wicked 588 00:21:28,554 --> 00:21:31,115 should renounce God and believe that God will 589 00:21:31,115 --> 00:21:32,414 not call them to account. 590 00:21:33,900 --> 00:21:35,660 When I was a kid, one of my 591 00:21:35,660 --> 00:21:38,140 uncles owned a lion for a brief period 592 00:21:38,140 --> 00:21:40,220 of time before he donated it to the 593 00:21:40,220 --> 00:21:40,720 zoo. 594 00:21:41,660 --> 00:21:44,160 He kept the lion in a large cage 595 00:21:44,539 --> 00:21:46,380 in one of his ranches, and I remember 596 00:21:46,380 --> 00:21:48,779 that one day, I accompanied my dad to 597 00:21:48,779 --> 00:21:50,924 go feed this lion at the ranch and 598 00:21:50,924 --> 00:21:53,184 we brought one of our dogs, a beautiful, 599 00:21:53,644 --> 00:21:54,144 strong, 600 00:21:54,525 --> 00:21:56,144 and very brave boxer. 601 00:21:57,005 --> 00:21:58,924 When he got to the ranch, our dog 602 00:21:58,924 --> 00:22:01,005 was going crazy because he could smell the 603 00:22:01,005 --> 00:22:01,505 lion. 604 00:22:02,009 --> 00:22:04,410 As soon as the truck stopped, the dog 605 00:22:04,410 --> 00:22:06,670 jumped out of the truck and ran straight 606 00:22:06,809 --> 00:22:08,890 towards the lion, who was lying down in 607 00:22:08,890 --> 00:22:10,589 his cage with his back to us. 608 00:22:11,049 --> 00:22:13,529 As our dog was running toward him and 609 00:22:13,529 --> 00:22:14,509 barking loudly, 610 00:22:15,224 --> 00:22:18,204 the lion suddenly arose and turned toward us. 611 00:22:18,505 --> 00:22:19,804 And the very moment 612 00:22:20,265 --> 00:22:23,144 that the lion turned around, our dog froze 613 00:22:23,144 --> 00:22:25,244 in his tracks and ducked his head. 614 00:22:26,345 --> 00:22:27,644 The mere sight 615 00:22:28,105 --> 00:22:29,484 of the lion's face 616 00:22:30,019 --> 00:22:32,740 was enough to make our dog reconsider his 617 00:22:32,740 --> 00:22:33,480 life choices. 618 00:22:35,859 --> 00:22:38,899 In verse 12, the psalmist calls God to 619 00:22:38,899 --> 00:22:40,679 arise and lift his hand, 620 00:22:41,139 --> 00:22:42,759 that the wicked might reconsider 621 00:22:43,460 --> 00:22:44,440 his life choices. 622 00:22:45,214 --> 00:22:47,315 And the psalmist calls God to action 623 00:22:47,695 --> 00:22:49,875 by contradicting the lies of the wicked, 624 00:22:50,255 --> 00:22:51,875 the lie that God had forgotten. 625 00:22:52,894 --> 00:22:55,394 2nd, the wicked man said in verse 11 626 00:22:55,535 --> 00:22:57,075 that God will never see. 627 00:22:57,409 --> 00:22:59,649 But the psalmist in verse 14 confesses to 628 00:22:59,649 --> 00:23:01,589 God, you do see. 629 00:23:02,289 --> 00:23:04,769 He asserts that God knows every sin of 630 00:23:04,769 --> 00:23:07,329 the wicked and that he brings justice by 631 00:23:07,329 --> 00:23:09,809 his hand, for he is the helper of 632 00:23:09,809 --> 00:23:10,470 the fatherless. 633 00:23:11,365 --> 00:23:13,365 The wicked man may not sin with bold 634 00:23:13,525 --> 00:23:14,585 may sin with boldness, 635 00:23:15,125 --> 00:23:17,684 but in the end, he will not sin 636 00:23:17,684 --> 00:23:18,424 with impunity. 637 00:23:19,204 --> 00:23:21,765 Therefore, the helpless can commit himself to God 638 00:23:21,765 --> 00:23:23,224 because God will repay. 639 00:23:24,179 --> 00:23:26,579 3rd, the wicked man said in verse 11 640 00:23:26,579 --> 00:23:28,200 that God has hidden his face. 641 00:23:28,500 --> 00:23:31,559 But in verse 15, the psalmist implores God 642 00:23:31,700 --> 00:23:33,319 to call the wicked to account, 643 00:23:33,619 --> 00:23:35,639 breaking the arm of the wicked and evildoer. 644 00:23:36,724 --> 00:23:39,045 Thus, the prayer of the psalmist is a 645 00:23:39,045 --> 00:23:40,265 complete contradiction 646 00:23:40,724 --> 00:23:41,625 of the narrative 647 00:23:42,164 --> 00:23:44,184 inside the wicked man man's head. 648 00:23:44,644 --> 00:23:45,865 God has not forgotten. 649 00:23:46,805 --> 00:23:48,025 He is not blind. 650 00:23:48,565 --> 00:23:49,865 He will repay. 651 00:23:50,700 --> 00:23:53,339 The wicked man may raise his fist in 652 00:23:53,339 --> 00:23:56,619 defiance against God and against his people, but 653 00:23:56,619 --> 00:23:59,200 in the end his arm will be broken 654 00:23:59,500 --> 00:24:02,159 and God's arm will be lifted up high. 655 00:24:02,865 --> 00:24:04,085 This is helpful for 656 00:24:04,384 --> 00:24:06,404 us because the psalmist writes this psalm 657 00:24:06,785 --> 00:24:07,765 while undergoing 658 00:24:08,384 --> 00:24:08,884 tribulation. 659 00:24:10,065 --> 00:24:12,224 He cries out in verse 1, remember, why, 660 00:24:12,224 --> 00:24:14,545 oh lord, do you stand far away? Why 661 00:24:14,545 --> 00:24:16,724 do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 662 00:24:17,184 --> 00:24:18,085 That cry 663 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:20,220 describes the circumstances 664 00:24:20,759 --> 00:24:22,859 in which the psalm is written, 665 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:25,559 with the faithful under the thumb of the 666 00:24:25,559 --> 00:24:27,960 wicked, and the psalm is wondering where God 667 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:28,460 is. 668 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:30,839 It is as if the lies of the 669 00:24:30,839 --> 00:24:31,339 wicked, 670 00:24:31,765 --> 00:24:34,505 that God is blind and absent and uncaring 671 00:24:34,644 --> 00:24:36,585 are beginning to take hold 672 00:24:37,204 --> 00:24:38,664 in the heart of the psalmist, 673 00:24:39,125 --> 00:24:41,285 causing his heart to skip a beat and 674 00:24:41,285 --> 00:24:41,944 to falter. 675 00:24:43,525 --> 00:24:44,984 But in the psalmist prayer, 676 00:24:45,390 --> 00:24:48,130 he contradicts the lies of the wicked, thereby 677 00:24:48,190 --> 00:24:51,230 resetting his heart's rhythm and restoring it to 678 00:24:51,230 --> 00:24:51,730 health. 679 00:24:52,349 --> 00:24:53,650 Therefore, beloved Christian, 680 00:24:53,950 --> 00:24:56,930 like the psalmist, whenever your heart falters, 681 00:24:57,390 --> 00:24:59,490 contradict the lies of the wicked one 682 00:24:59,904 --> 00:25:01,605 and remind God and yourself 683 00:25:01,984 --> 00:25:02,724 the truth. 684 00:25:03,424 --> 00:25:06,005 And, no, this is not simply a therapeutic 685 00:25:06,144 --> 00:25:08,164 exercise to help you feel better. 686 00:25:08,785 --> 00:25:11,444 It is a prayer strategy that is anchored 687 00:25:11,585 --> 00:25:14,220 in the truth because the psalmist faith and 688 00:25:14,220 --> 00:25:15,519 confidence are grounded 689 00:25:15,820 --> 00:25:16,720 in the character 690 00:25:17,100 --> 00:25:17,759 of God. 691 00:25:18,539 --> 00:25:20,539 This brings us to our final header, the 692 00:25:20,539 --> 00:25:22,880 character of God. We saw already 693 00:25:23,420 --> 00:25:26,095 in the psalmist prayer that contrary to the 694 00:25:26,095 --> 00:25:28,255 lies of the wicked man, God is not 695 00:25:28,255 --> 00:25:28,755 forgetful, 696 00:25:29,134 --> 00:25:30,355 but knows the truth. 697 00:25:30,654 --> 00:25:31,954 That he is not blind, 698 00:25:32,255 --> 00:25:33,714 but sees all things. 699 00:25:34,174 --> 00:25:36,194 In other words, God is omniscient. 700 00:25:36,894 --> 00:25:38,434 He knows and sees 701 00:25:39,134 --> 00:25:39,634 everything. 702 00:25:40,650 --> 00:25:42,590 We also saw that God is not hidden, 703 00:25:42,970 --> 00:25:44,190 but is ever present. 704 00:25:44,650 --> 00:25:47,369 In other words, God is omnipresent. He is 705 00:25:47,369 --> 00:25:49,609 everywhere so that no one can hide from 706 00:25:49,609 --> 00:25:50,109 him. 707 00:25:50,570 --> 00:25:52,410 And we also saw that God is not 708 00:25:52,410 --> 00:25:52,910 weak, 709 00:25:53,394 --> 00:25:55,734 but will arise and execute justice. 710 00:25:56,194 --> 00:25:57,894 In other words, God is omnipotent. 711 00:25:58,434 --> 00:25:59,654 He is all powerful. 712 00:26:00,674 --> 00:26:02,295 After confessing these mighty 713 00:26:02,674 --> 00:26:05,335 attributes of God, the psalmist is emboldened. 714 00:26:05,670 --> 00:26:07,930 And in verses 16 18, he declares, 715 00:26:08,309 --> 00:26:10,650 the Lord is King forever and ever, 716 00:26:11,029 --> 00:26:13,130 and the nations perish from his land. 717 00:26:13,670 --> 00:26:14,490 Oh, Lord. 718 00:26:14,950 --> 00:26:17,190 You hear the desire of the afflicted. You 719 00:26:17,190 --> 00:26:20,045 will strengthen their heart. You will incline your 720 00:26:20,045 --> 00:26:21,825 ear to do justice to the fatherless 721 00:26:22,205 --> 00:26:24,765 and to the oppressed, so that man who 722 00:26:24,765 --> 00:26:27,565 is of the earth may strike terror no 723 00:26:27,565 --> 00:26:28,065 more. 724 00:26:28,924 --> 00:26:31,025 The psalmist offers this bold declaration, 725 00:26:31,484 --> 00:26:33,265 not because it has come to pass, 726 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:36,679 but because God has promised to defend his 727 00:26:36,679 --> 00:26:37,179 people 728 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:39,419 and to bring the wicked to justice. 729 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:41,419 A promise of this magnitude 730 00:26:42,039 --> 00:26:44,619 would make a liar out of every person 731 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:47,099 because though any person of goodwill 732 00:26:47,644 --> 00:26:49,904 would have the desire to carry out justice, 733 00:26:50,365 --> 00:26:53,085 no mere human being has the ability to 734 00:26:53,085 --> 00:26:54,865 execute that justice to the uttermost. 735 00:26:56,524 --> 00:26:57,505 We may ensure 736 00:26:58,204 --> 00:26:58,944 that justice 737 00:26:59,849 --> 00:27:00,589 is executed 738 00:27:01,130 --> 00:27:02,829 in our own small spheres, 739 00:27:03,450 --> 00:27:04,990 and in fact, we should 740 00:27:05,289 --> 00:27:07,529 ensure that justice is executed in our small 741 00:27:07,529 --> 00:27:09,529 spheres because we have seen that God is 742 00:27:09,529 --> 00:27:11,849 a God of justice, and as his people 743 00:27:11,849 --> 00:27:12,829 we are to strive 744 00:27:13,130 --> 00:27:14,910 to be men and women of justice. 745 00:27:16,404 --> 00:27:18,184 But we do not know all things, 746 00:27:18,724 --> 00:27:20,805 so we will be ignorant to the plight 747 00:27:20,805 --> 00:27:21,465 of some. 748 00:27:22,085 --> 00:27:23,625 Nor can we see all things, 749 00:27:23,924 --> 00:27:26,345 so we will in some of our judgments. 750 00:27:26,965 --> 00:27:28,904 Nor can we overcome all opposition, 751 00:27:29,390 --> 00:27:31,809 So our actions will be thwarted at times, 752 00:27:32,910 --> 00:27:35,570 but God shares none of these limitations. 753 00:27:36,590 --> 00:27:37,570 So he can 754 00:27:37,870 --> 00:27:39,250 make these big promises 755 00:27:39,630 --> 00:27:42,029 to bring all the wicked to justice and 756 00:27:42,029 --> 00:27:43,970 to vindicate all of his people. 757 00:27:45,105 --> 00:27:46,565 God's attributes ensure 758 00:27:47,025 --> 00:27:49,204 that he can keep these promises 759 00:27:49,585 --> 00:27:52,144 as well. And more importantly, God's character ensures 760 00:27:52,144 --> 00:27:53,045 that he will 761 00:27:53,825 --> 00:27:54,884 keep these promises. 762 00:27:56,065 --> 00:27:56,884 When Diocletian 763 00:27:57,505 --> 00:27:58,884 was persecuting Christians 764 00:27:59,539 --> 00:28:00,919 with vicious cruelty, 765 00:28:01,460 --> 00:28:03,000 his concede made him believe 766 00:28:03,619 --> 00:28:04,119 that 767 00:28:04,980 --> 00:28:05,799 through cunning, 768 00:28:06,179 --> 00:28:08,599 he could bring to Rome and to himself 769 00:28:09,059 --> 00:28:10,039 all the glory 770 00:28:10,339 --> 00:28:13,000 that his heart so desperately coveted. 771 00:28:13,654 --> 00:28:16,154 He thought that he was bullying defenseless Christians, 772 00:28:16,534 --> 00:28:18,315 when in reality he was provoking 773 00:28:18,855 --> 00:28:20,315 the everlasting God. 774 00:28:21,174 --> 00:28:23,914 In an unprecedented move in Roman history, 775 00:28:24,214 --> 00:28:24,714 Diocletian 776 00:28:25,575 --> 00:28:26,075 inexplicably 777 00:28:27,255 --> 00:28:28,554 abdicated the throne 778 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:31,880 1 year after beginning the great persecution against 779 00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:32,380 Christians. 780 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:33,420 Then 781 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:35,420 within a year of his abdication, 782 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:37,820 the tetrarchy that he instituted 783 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:39,180 to rule Rome 784 00:28:39,559 --> 00:28:40,619 began to collapse, 785 00:28:41,125 --> 00:28:43,704 and Constantine the Great was pronounced 786 00:28:44,005 --> 00:28:45,625 emperor in the west. 787 00:28:46,884 --> 00:28:48,184 Within 5 years, 788 00:28:48,804 --> 00:28:50,345 Diocletian would be dead, 789 00:28:50,644 --> 00:28:53,224 and Constantine would reunify Rome 790 00:28:53,525 --> 00:28:54,505 as her first 791 00:28:55,284 --> 00:28:55,784 Christian 792 00:28:56,809 --> 00:28:57,309 emperor, 793 00:28:58,089 --> 00:28:59,549 changing the course of civilization 794 00:29:00,569 --> 00:29:01,069 forever. 795 00:29:02,170 --> 00:29:03,390 Diocletian worked, 796 00:29:03,849 --> 00:29:05,230 but Christ won. 797 00:29:05,929 --> 00:29:07,309 Therefore beloved Christian, 798 00:29:07,929 --> 00:29:10,329 when the flames of tribulation cause your heart 799 00:29:10,329 --> 00:29:11,230 heart to falter 800 00:29:11,835 --> 00:29:13,775 and your faith begins to fail, 801 00:29:14,315 --> 00:29:16,494 focus not on the strength of your adversary, 802 00:29:16,954 --> 00:29:18,095 but look instead 803 00:29:18,474 --> 00:29:19,855 to the mighty attributes 804 00:29:20,154 --> 00:29:22,174 and righteous character of your God. 805 00:29:22,634 --> 00:29:24,634 Indeed, let us heed the words of the 806 00:29:24,634 --> 00:29:25,615 author of Hebrews, 807 00:29:26,039 --> 00:29:28,519 who in chapter 12 says, since we are 808 00:29:28,519 --> 00:29:29,019 surrounded 809 00:29:29,559 --> 00:29:31,660 by so great a cloud of witnesses, 810 00:29:32,039 --> 00:29:34,600 let us also lay aside every weight and 811 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:36,619 sin which cling so closely. 812 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:38,700 And let us run with endurance 813 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:41,714 the race that is set before us, looking 814 00:29:41,714 --> 00:29:42,375 to Jesus, 815 00:29:42,914 --> 00:29:45,795 the founder and perfecter of our faith, who 816 00:29:45,795 --> 00:29:47,734 for the joy that was set before him 817 00:29:47,954 --> 00:29:48,934 endured the cross, 818 00:29:49,394 --> 00:29:51,875 despising the shame, and is seated at the 819 00:29:51,875 --> 00:29:54,375 right hand of the throne of God. 820 00:29:55,039 --> 00:29:56,818 And he shall come again with glory 821 00:29:57,358 --> 00:29:58,898 to judge both the living 822 00:29:59,439 --> 00:30:01,299 and the dead. Let us pray.