1 00:00:00,399 --> 00:00:03,040 Remain standing for the reading of God's holy 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:05,620 word which comes from Psalm 4, 3 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:09,220 and hear now the words of the living 4 00:00:09,439 --> 00:00:09,939 God. 5 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:11,219 Psalm 4. 6 00:00:12,575 --> 00:00:14,035 Answer me when I call, 7 00:00:14,414 --> 00:00:15,714 oh God of my righteousness. 8 00:00:16,574 --> 00:00:19,375 You have given me relief when I was 9 00:00:19,375 --> 00:00:20,114 in distress. 10 00:00:21,135 --> 00:00:23,554 Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. 11 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:25,820 O men, how long 12 00:00:26,359 --> 00:00:29,339 shall my honor be turned into shame? 13 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,219 How long will you love vain words 14 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:35,020 and seek after lies? 15 00:00:36,615 --> 00:00:39,034 But know that the lord has set apart 16 00:00:39,255 --> 00:00:40,795 the godly for himself. 17 00:00:41,414 --> 00:00:43,594 The lord hears when I call to him. 18 00:00:44,295 --> 00:00:45,034 Be angry 19 00:00:45,414 --> 00:00:46,475 and do not sin. 20 00:00:47,174 --> 00:00:48,795 Ponder in your hearts 21 00:00:49,160 --> 00:00:50,780 on your bed and be silent. 22 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:52,620 Offer right sacrifices 23 00:00:53,399 --> 00:00:55,500 and put your trust in the lord. 24 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:58,280 There are many who say, who will show 25 00:00:58,280 --> 00:00:59,260 us some good? 26 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:01,960 Lift up the light of your face upon 27 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:03,100 us, oh lord. 28 00:01:03,785 --> 00:01:06,765 You have put more joy in my heart 29 00:01:07,145 --> 00:01:07,805 than they 30 00:01:08,185 --> 00:01:10,685 have when their grain and wine abound. 31 00:01:11,224 --> 00:01:13,545 In peace, I will lie down and sleep 32 00:01:13,545 --> 00:01:15,005 for you alone, oh lord, 33 00:01:15,385 --> 00:01:17,165 make me dwell in safety. 34 00:01:17,719 --> 00:01:19,180 This is the word of the Lord. 35 00:01:19,719 --> 00:01:21,020 Thanks be to God. 36 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:22,939 You may be seated. 37 00:01:31,795 --> 00:01:33,254 Well, Psalm 4 38 00:01:33,875 --> 00:01:36,215 was sung by the nation of Israel 39 00:01:36,915 --> 00:01:38,614 in and for corporate 40 00:01:39,075 --> 00:01:41,474 worship, and we know that because of its 41 00:01:41,474 --> 00:01:44,034 original title. If you look with me right 42 00:01:44,034 --> 00:01:46,275 above verse 1, you'll see it. And it 43 00:01:46,275 --> 00:01:46,775 reads, 44 00:01:47,129 --> 00:01:48,510 to the choir master 45 00:01:49,049 --> 00:01:49,549 with 46 00:01:50,090 --> 00:01:50,590 string 47 00:01:51,049 --> 00:01:53,209 instruments. This was a song. It was a 48 00:01:53,209 --> 00:01:55,310 corporate worship song for Israel. 49 00:01:55,849 --> 00:01:56,750 And in addition, 50 00:01:57,450 --> 00:01:59,450 Psalm 4 was also a prayer for the 51 00:01:59,450 --> 00:02:01,310 nation of Israel. More specifically, 52 00:02:01,765 --> 00:02:03,784 this was an evening prayer. 53 00:02:04,245 --> 00:02:06,745 After a long and hard day of work, 54 00:02:07,204 --> 00:02:09,044 the saints of the Old Testament would come 55 00:02:09,044 --> 00:02:11,145 into their homes, eat, relax, 56 00:02:11,764 --> 00:02:14,185 and right at evening or right before bed, 57 00:02:14,485 --> 00:02:15,944 Psalm 4 was a prayer 58 00:02:16,270 --> 00:02:17,009 that they 59 00:02:17,310 --> 00:02:18,050 would recite. 60 00:02:18,590 --> 00:02:20,530 Today, when we picture someone praying 61 00:02:21,389 --> 00:02:23,629 right before bed, the image that is often 62 00:02:23,629 --> 00:02:25,310 conjured up in our minds is one of 63 00:02:25,310 --> 00:02:27,090 someone kneeling right at their bedside, 64 00:02:27,389 --> 00:02:28,990 and we assume that the prayer that is 65 00:02:28,990 --> 00:02:31,009 going on is the Lord's prayer. 66 00:02:31,389 --> 00:02:33,385 Well, in very similar way, 67 00:02:34,165 --> 00:02:36,645 Psalm 4 was the Psalm that Israel prayed 68 00:02:36,645 --> 00:02:39,605 before they rested their heads to bed. So 69 00:02:39,605 --> 00:02:41,925 Psalm 4 is a song, but it's also 70 00:02:41,925 --> 00:02:44,724 a prayer, and the original title also lets 71 00:02:44,724 --> 00:02:46,245 us know of something else. It lets us 72 00:02:46,245 --> 00:02:47,064 know the identity 73 00:02:47,870 --> 00:02:49,870 of Psalm 4, or the identity of the 74 00:02:49,870 --> 00:02:51,330 author of Psalm 4, 75 00:02:52,110 --> 00:02:54,590 which is King David. Read with me again 76 00:02:54,590 --> 00:02:55,650 the original title. 77 00:02:56,110 --> 00:02:58,290 And it reads, to the choir master 78 00:02:59,069 --> 00:03:00,370 with string instruments, 79 00:03:00,750 --> 00:03:02,290 a Psalm of David. 80 00:03:03,604 --> 00:03:04,584 And while not explicit, 81 00:03:05,044 --> 00:03:07,784 many, including myself, believe the context 82 00:03:08,164 --> 00:03:10,985 in which Psalm 4 was written was Absalom's 83 00:03:11,284 --> 00:03:11,784 rebellion, 84 00:03:12,405 --> 00:03:15,444 which was a revolt led by David's own 85 00:03:15,444 --> 00:03:15,944 son, 86 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:16,980 Absalom. 87 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:18,900 Absalom led Israel 88 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,560 in rebellion, led Israel's heart away from David, 89 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:24,560 and and there was a revolt that rose 90 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:28,580 against his, his rule, and, Absalom was driven 91 00:03:28,719 --> 00:03:30,020 by selfish ambition. 92 00:03:30,605 --> 00:03:32,944 He was driven by a dissatisfaction 93 00:03:34,365 --> 00:03:36,944 with David's governance of the nation. 94 00:03:37,885 --> 00:03:39,985 Absalom, along with Israel, gossiped, 95 00:03:40,284 --> 00:03:41,745 slandered, and mocked 96 00:03:42,125 --> 00:03:43,344 David's throne, 97 00:03:43,930 --> 00:03:46,250 his kingship, his rule, but not only did 98 00:03:46,250 --> 00:03:49,310 they mock David, they also mocked David's glory, 99 00:03:49,530 --> 00:03:51,870 which was God Yahweh himself. 100 00:03:52,650 --> 00:03:54,330 And it is the reason why when we 101 00:03:54,330 --> 00:03:56,510 read this Psalm, we see much distress. 102 00:03:57,155 --> 00:03:58,215 We see much 103 00:03:58,594 --> 00:04:01,894 sorrow in Psalm 4, and rightfully so. 104 00:04:02,435 --> 00:04:03,875 You know, it is one thing to be 105 00:04:03,875 --> 00:04:04,375 mocked 106 00:04:04,995 --> 00:04:07,254 and have our life threatened by our enemies 107 00:04:07,955 --> 00:04:09,414 and a foreign nation. 108 00:04:10,194 --> 00:04:10,694 However, 109 00:04:11,610 --> 00:04:12,349 it's altogether 110 00:04:12,650 --> 00:04:15,849 something else, something completely different when this happens 111 00:04:15,849 --> 00:04:18,089 from the lips and hands of your own 112 00:04:18,089 --> 00:04:18,589 people, 113 00:04:19,050 --> 00:04:20,750 and especially your own blood, 114 00:04:21,129 --> 00:04:23,310 your own son, the one whom you raised, 115 00:04:24,009 --> 00:04:24,509 Absalom. 116 00:04:26,084 --> 00:04:28,084 For a moment, just imagine the depths and 117 00:04:28,084 --> 00:04:30,745 sorrow that David went through during this season. 118 00:04:30,964 --> 00:04:33,204 It absolutely crushed him, and you could see 119 00:04:33,204 --> 00:04:34,264 it in this song. 120 00:04:34,884 --> 00:04:36,805 I mean, this was once the boy who 121 00:04:36,805 --> 00:04:37,305 descended 122 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:41,399 down the, the the valley of Elah with 123 00:04:41,399 --> 00:04:44,279 confidence in the Lord to fight Goliath and 124 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:46,439 kill him. And now in Psalm 4, we 125 00:04:46,439 --> 00:04:47,339 see a man 126 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:48,540 in darkness, 127 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:50,620 mentally broken 128 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:53,819 and calling out for God in this song. 129 00:04:54,784 --> 00:04:57,024 This is a different man here. The weight 130 00:04:57,024 --> 00:04:58,245 of this is, 131 00:04:58,944 --> 00:05:00,245 really breaking him. 132 00:05:00,784 --> 00:05:03,204 And dear saints, the odds of us having 133 00:05:03,584 --> 00:05:04,805 a national rebellion 134 00:05:06,500 --> 00:05:07,000 led, 135 00:05:07,620 --> 00:05:10,100 led, by our own son against us is 136 00:05:10,100 --> 00:05:12,360 very is very slim to none. Right? 137 00:05:13,139 --> 00:05:16,339 However, David invites God's people to pray this 138 00:05:16,339 --> 00:05:17,240 prayer because 139 00:05:17,699 --> 00:05:20,204 this Psalm is your Psalm. This Psalm is 140 00:05:20,204 --> 00:05:21,725 our Psalm. And it's one of the reasons 141 00:05:21,725 --> 00:05:24,444 why Paul commands us in Ephesians and also 142 00:05:24,444 --> 00:05:25,104 in Colossians 143 00:05:25,884 --> 00:05:28,125 that we should speak and sing to one 144 00:05:28,125 --> 00:05:31,004 another in Psalms, hymns, and spiritual Psalms. In 145 00:05:31,004 --> 00:05:33,904 other words, although Psalm 4 was written by 146 00:05:34,125 --> 00:05:35,024 somebody else, 147 00:05:35,699 --> 00:05:38,199 by a specific person in a specific situation, 148 00:05:38,579 --> 00:05:40,420 it is a psalm really written for us 149 00:05:40,420 --> 00:05:41,480 for corporate worship. 150 00:05:42,100 --> 00:05:45,399 God calls, he invites us into David's experience, 151 00:05:46,100 --> 00:05:48,199 even though his troubles are not ours. 152 00:05:48,855 --> 00:05:51,095 And the reason we are invited into David's 153 00:05:51,095 --> 00:05:53,415 experience is because there is much to learn 154 00:05:53,415 --> 00:05:56,455 and to be reminded of, both generally and 155 00:05:56,455 --> 00:05:56,955 specifically, 156 00:05:57,495 --> 00:05:59,754 about how we are to deal with suffering 157 00:05:59,895 --> 00:06:01,800 in the Christian life, and this is what 158 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:03,720 we are gonna see. Some of us this 159 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:05,899 morning are going through some sort of trial, 160 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:08,699 some sort of suffering. And if you're not, 161 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:11,399 look to your neighbor, your left, your right. 162 00:06:11,399 --> 00:06:13,240 Maybe they are going through it. The odds 163 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,319 of that is is likely. And if it's 164 00:06:15,319 --> 00:06:16,220 not the case, 165 00:06:16,595 --> 00:06:18,835 then be assured that suffering will come. The 166 00:06:18,835 --> 00:06:20,514 Lord allows it to come into the Christian 167 00:06:20,514 --> 00:06:22,595 life. The Christian life is not easy. And 168 00:06:22,595 --> 00:06:24,915 so this song here prepares us. How will 169 00:06:24,915 --> 00:06:27,074 we respond in the day of trouble? How 170 00:06:27,074 --> 00:06:28,835 will we sing to the Lord in that 171 00:06:28,835 --> 00:06:29,335 day? 172 00:06:29,779 --> 00:06:32,100 How will we pray? Will we pray once? 173 00:06:32,100 --> 00:06:34,900 Will we pray twice? Will we continually pursue 174 00:06:34,900 --> 00:06:35,720 after God? 175 00:06:36,420 --> 00:06:38,580 How will we lay down our heads in 176 00:06:38,580 --> 00:06:40,660 peace in the days of tribulation? This is 177 00:06:40,660 --> 00:06:41,639 what this psalm 178 00:06:42,740 --> 00:06:45,185 is for. It's to help God's people answer 179 00:06:45,185 --> 00:06:46,085 and respond 180 00:06:46,464 --> 00:06:47,125 to suffering 181 00:06:48,384 --> 00:06:50,545 in the day of trouble. In a godly 182 00:06:50,545 --> 00:06:52,865 way, it's our response. And so, by way 183 00:06:52,865 --> 00:06:53,524 of introduction, 184 00:06:54,225 --> 00:06:56,464 beginning with verse 1, let's look at what 185 00:06:56,464 --> 00:06:57,845 it says. David writes, 186 00:06:58,339 --> 00:06:59,800 Answer me when I call, 187 00:07:00,259 --> 00:07:03,060 oh God of my righteousness. You have given 188 00:07:03,060 --> 00:07:05,079 me relief when I was in distress. 189 00:07:06,019 --> 00:07:09,240 Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. 190 00:07:10,595 --> 00:07:13,555 Very simply, what Psalm 4 teaches us right 191 00:07:13,555 --> 00:07:15,634 at the opening is that in suffering, the 192 00:07:15,634 --> 00:07:17,175 Christian is to pray. 193 00:07:18,274 --> 00:07:19,574 When suffering comes 194 00:07:20,115 --> 00:07:21,574 and embeds an overwhelming 195 00:07:22,595 --> 00:07:23,095 anxiety 196 00:07:23,430 --> 00:07:26,490 on us, our natural disposition is to become 197 00:07:27,750 --> 00:07:30,310 discouraged. It's not to buck up. God never 198 00:07:30,310 --> 00:07:30,810 commands 199 00:07:31,189 --> 00:07:33,110 us or tells us that when we need 200 00:07:33,110 --> 00:07:34,470 to eat or how to eat because we 201 00:07:34,470 --> 00:07:35,689 naturally do it. 202 00:07:36,555 --> 00:07:39,295 Just like we naturally become discouraged in trials. 203 00:07:40,074 --> 00:07:42,175 This here tells us what to do. 204 00:07:42,555 --> 00:07:45,275 The danger of discouragement is when it becomes 205 00:07:45,275 --> 00:07:47,275 a master of our mind, when we become 206 00:07:47,275 --> 00:07:50,154 a slave to it. Discouragement leads us to 207 00:07:50,154 --> 00:07:51,375 misplace our trust, 208 00:07:53,009 --> 00:07:55,250 We go seek after other things besides the 209 00:07:55,250 --> 00:07:55,750 Lord. 210 00:07:56,129 --> 00:07:58,149 It leads us to fear vulnerability 211 00:07:59,009 --> 00:08:01,089 with our brothers and sisters and also with 212 00:08:01,089 --> 00:08:03,250 God. It it will also sometimes create in 213 00:08:03,250 --> 00:08:04,149 us a bitterness 214 00:08:05,104 --> 00:08:07,024 towards God or to others, and and that 215 00:08:07,024 --> 00:08:10,004 often discouragement leads down this trail of silence, 216 00:08:10,225 --> 00:08:11,044 not prayer. 217 00:08:12,944 --> 00:08:15,345 Unfortunately, David for us is a is a, 218 00:08:15,824 --> 00:08:17,664 a model of what not to do. He 219 00:08:17,664 --> 00:08:20,084 did not fall into discouragement. Instead, 220 00:08:20,729 --> 00:08:23,069 David calls upon the name of the Lord 221 00:08:23,129 --> 00:08:25,449 for help. That Hebrew word, if you look 222 00:08:25,449 --> 00:08:27,769 with me at verse 1, in our bible, 223 00:08:27,769 --> 00:08:30,269 that word call actually means to shout. 224 00:08:31,050 --> 00:08:32,990 In other words, David is not only 225 00:08:33,825 --> 00:08:34,644 not silent, 226 00:08:35,264 --> 00:08:37,345 and he enters into prayer, neither is this 227 00:08:37,345 --> 00:08:38,085 a prayer, 228 00:08:38,465 --> 00:08:40,945 that is completely silent. Well, he's just sort 229 00:08:40,945 --> 00:08:42,004 of praying internally, 230 00:08:42,545 --> 00:08:44,384 but instead what David is doing here is 231 00:08:44,384 --> 00:08:46,465 he is crying out to God. And we 232 00:08:46,465 --> 00:08:48,144 could see that in verse 1 very clearly 233 00:08:48,144 --> 00:08:49,960 because if you look at the text, there 234 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:51,500 are 2 exclamation marks. 235 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:54,120 You could hear it. This is an urgent 236 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,679 prayer. David is saying, answer me when I 237 00:08:56,679 --> 00:08:57,179 call. 238 00:08:57,720 --> 00:08:59,179 Be gracious to me. 239 00:08:59,639 --> 00:09:01,799 Hear my prayer is what he's saying. He 240 00:09:01,799 --> 00:09:03,419 is in utter distress. 241 00:09:06,324 --> 00:09:08,644 And dear saints, like David, we are commanded 242 00:09:08,644 --> 00:09:11,605 in season of distress to pour ourselves out 243 00:09:11,605 --> 00:09:14,184 upon the Lord. And it's okay. 244 00:09:15,524 --> 00:09:17,605 We pour ourselves out upon the Lord. If 245 00:09:17,605 --> 00:09:19,365 we cry to him, if we shout for 246 00:09:19,365 --> 00:09:22,330 him, he does not grow weary. He made 247 00:09:22,330 --> 00:09:24,110 us. He knows our frame. 248 00:09:24,809 --> 00:09:26,509 In fact, he knows us better 249 00:09:27,050 --> 00:09:28,190 than we know ourselves. 250 00:09:31,129 --> 00:09:33,450 If a loving earthly father can discern the 251 00:09:33,450 --> 00:09:35,230 heart of their children's frustration, 252 00:09:36,105 --> 00:09:37,644 their worries, their concerns, 253 00:09:38,184 --> 00:09:39,164 sort of intem 254 00:09:39,625 --> 00:09:42,105 interpret their words and even their volume, how 255 00:09:42,105 --> 00:09:43,884 much more our heavenly father? 256 00:09:46,024 --> 00:09:48,504 David is a model for you and I 257 00:09:48,504 --> 00:09:49,884 that when troubles arise, 258 00:09:50,269 --> 00:09:52,769 crying to the Lord is an appropriate response. 259 00:09:52,909 --> 00:09:53,649 It's okay. 260 00:09:55,549 --> 00:09:58,029 David is also an example of continual prayer. 261 00:09:58,029 --> 00:09:59,330 Look with me at verse 1. 262 00:09:59,870 --> 00:10:02,429 David, in fact, is actually praying for a 263 00:10:02,429 --> 00:10:03,490 previous prayer, 264 00:10:04,595 --> 00:10:06,355 which for the Lord is to relieve him 265 00:10:06,355 --> 00:10:08,195 of his distress. In essence, what David is 266 00:10:08,195 --> 00:10:10,514 saying is, Lord, that prayer that I said 267 00:10:10,514 --> 00:10:13,014 yesterday to bring relief to me, 268 00:10:13,394 --> 00:10:14,375 please be gracious. 269 00:10:14,995 --> 00:10:17,634 Answer it. Hear it because I feel like 270 00:10:17,634 --> 00:10:19,014 you're not hearing it. 271 00:10:20,540 --> 00:10:22,320 Dear Christians, in season of suffering, 272 00:10:22,940 --> 00:10:25,100 here we learn by way of example that 273 00:10:25,100 --> 00:10:27,340 we are not only to pour out ourselves 274 00:10:27,340 --> 00:10:29,179 upon the lord, but also plead with the 275 00:10:29,179 --> 00:10:29,679 lord. 276 00:10:30,299 --> 00:10:31,980 In other words, in trial, we are not 277 00:10:31,980 --> 00:10:34,320 just to pray once or twice, 278 00:10:34,865 --> 00:10:35,684 but we are to continually 279 00:10:36,704 --> 00:10:39,024 pray. It's actually press into him. So it's 280 00:10:39,024 --> 00:10:41,125 not only a pouring, but it's a pressing 281 00:10:41,345 --> 00:10:43,184 into him. And we need to do it, 282 00:10:43,184 --> 00:10:45,664 and it's difficult because oftentimes when we are 283 00:10:45,664 --> 00:10:48,299 in trial, in seasons of suffering, it feels 284 00:10:48,299 --> 00:10:49,980 like our prayers are being met with a 285 00:10:49,980 --> 00:10:51,039 deafening silence. 286 00:10:53,100 --> 00:10:54,860 However, we are to continue to press in, 287 00:10:54,860 --> 00:10:56,139 to plead with him. We are to be 288 00:10:56,139 --> 00:10:58,480 like Jacob when he's wrestling with the Lord 289 00:10:58,620 --> 00:11:00,700 and he's saying, I will not let you 290 00:11:00,700 --> 00:11:02,725 go until you bless me. Or as the 291 00:11:02,725 --> 00:11:04,804 Lord Jesus Christ said, we keep knocking at 292 00:11:04,804 --> 00:11:07,625 the door continually until there is an answer. 293 00:11:07,684 --> 00:11:09,605 This is how our prayer life should be 294 00:11:09,605 --> 00:11:11,304 in the midst of trials. 295 00:11:11,605 --> 00:11:13,465 And I wanna be clear. This this wrestling 296 00:11:13,524 --> 00:11:15,924 is very much like a child wrestling with 297 00:11:15,924 --> 00:11:18,389 their father. He knows who who he's wrestling 298 00:11:18,389 --> 00:11:20,089 with. Right? There's a sense of respect, 299 00:11:20,629 --> 00:11:21,529 not disparagement. 300 00:11:21,990 --> 00:11:25,610 And we see this in David's language. David, 301 00:11:26,070 --> 00:11:29,190 shows us, this respect and reverence in 2 302 00:11:29,190 --> 00:11:29,690 ways. 303 00:11:30,625 --> 00:11:31,125 First, 304 00:11:31,504 --> 00:11:33,424 that in our prayers, we are to remind 305 00:11:33,424 --> 00:11:36,164 ourselves who God is and what he is, 306 00:11:36,225 --> 00:11:38,485 what he has done in times of suffering. 307 00:11:39,745 --> 00:11:41,824 Look at verse 1 with me. David does 308 00:11:41,824 --> 00:11:44,565 not just say, answer me when I call, 309 00:11:45,350 --> 00:11:47,450 but rather, answer me when I call 310 00:11:48,389 --> 00:11:49,610 God of my righteousness. 311 00:11:51,910 --> 00:11:53,990 Answer me when I call God of my 312 00:11:53,990 --> 00:11:54,490 righteousness. 313 00:11:54,790 --> 00:11:56,570 In other words, the reason 314 00:11:57,190 --> 00:11:59,929 we have access to God only is only 315 00:12:00,095 --> 00:12:02,415 for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us 316 00:12:02,415 --> 00:12:05,134 through faith in Christ. The only reason that 317 00:12:05,134 --> 00:12:06,995 we can come before the Lord 318 00:12:08,335 --> 00:12:10,575 and boldly pray to him, plead with him, 319 00:12:10,575 --> 00:12:12,975 pour out our heart, is only because Christ's 320 00:12:12,975 --> 00:12:14,434 righteousness has been imputed 321 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,120 to us. We ought to be reminded of 322 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:19,040 that. That's the reason why we could come 323 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:20,500 before his throne to pray. 324 00:12:21,279 --> 00:12:24,160 Moreover, that statement, God is my righteousness, should 325 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:25,059 remind us 326 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:27,220 and remind you 327 00:12:28,274 --> 00:12:30,694 of who God is, that God is righteous. 328 00:12:31,634 --> 00:12:34,034 That he can only do that which is 329 00:12:34,034 --> 00:12:35,954 right. And, oh, what a comfort that is 330 00:12:35,954 --> 00:12:36,774 for the Christian. 331 00:12:37,154 --> 00:12:38,834 That in times of trial, that we can 332 00:12:38,834 --> 00:12:39,815 have an assurance 333 00:12:40,759 --> 00:12:42,440 that the one who is guiding all of 334 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:42,940 this 335 00:12:43,639 --> 00:12:45,019 can only do right. 336 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:47,580 He's not misleading you. 337 00:12:51,399 --> 00:12:53,879 2nd, David shows us that we ought to 338 00:12:53,879 --> 00:12:54,860 remind ourselves 339 00:12:55,575 --> 00:12:57,735 about what God has done for us in 340 00:12:57,735 --> 00:12:58,394 the past. 341 00:12:59,575 --> 00:13:00,315 If you look, 342 00:13:00,615 --> 00:13:02,215 at verse 1, if you look at sort 343 00:13:02,215 --> 00:13:03,355 of that second stanza, 344 00:13:03,735 --> 00:13:05,815 in the Hebrew, he says, he has made 345 00:13:05,815 --> 00:13:07,995 room for me in a tight space. 346 00:13:08,299 --> 00:13:10,059 That's really what it reads in the Hebrew. 347 00:13:10,059 --> 00:13:12,220 And therefore, dear Christian, when we need to 348 00:13:12,220 --> 00:13:14,000 remember, we need to remember, 349 00:13:14,620 --> 00:13:16,539 times in our life when we are literally 350 00:13:16,539 --> 00:13:17,600 in a tight spot, 351 00:13:18,299 --> 00:13:19,679 and the Lord brought us 352 00:13:20,860 --> 00:13:21,839 out from it. 353 00:13:22,295 --> 00:13:25,754 Set our feet upon solid ground. Past deliverances 354 00:13:26,215 --> 00:13:26,715 happen 355 00:13:27,095 --> 00:13:29,575 to give you hope for present deliverance in 356 00:13:29,575 --> 00:13:31,595 the day of trouble. In our prayer life, 357 00:13:31,654 --> 00:13:33,575 we are to remember the God who is 358 00:13:33,575 --> 00:13:34,875 right, who could do nothing 359 00:13:35,509 --> 00:13:37,110 but what is right, and we also need 360 00:13:37,110 --> 00:13:38,950 to remember the way in which the Lord 361 00:13:38,950 --> 00:13:40,870 delivered us in the past. This is what 362 00:13:40,870 --> 00:13:44,070 strengthens us for our endurance in seasons of 363 00:13:44,070 --> 00:13:44,570 trial. 364 00:13:46,309 --> 00:13:47,929 Moving now to verse 2, 365 00:13:48,725 --> 00:13:50,585 which reveals a little bit of the details 366 00:13:50,725 --> 00:13:51,625 about David's 367 00:13:52,085 --> 00:13:52,585 distress. 368 00:13:53,925 --> 00:13:56,725 After praying to God, David now turns to 369 00:13:56,725 --> 00:13:59,205 his enemies, those who are persecuting him, those 370 00:13:59,205 --> 00:14:00,825 who are mocking him. 371 00:14:01,449 --> 00:14:03,929 And it reads verse 2, oh men, how 372 00:14:03,929 --> 00:14:06,350 long will my honor be turned into shame? 373 00:14:07,370 --> 00:14:09,309 How long will you love vain words 374 00:14:09,850 --> 00:14:11,870 and seek after lies? 375 00:14:12,570 --> 00:14:14,089 What we learn here is that the cause 376 00:14:14,089 --> 00:14:16,829 of David's distress comes from those influential 377 00:14:17,504 --> 00:14:18,004 people. 378 00:14:18,785 --> 00:14:20,945 In our text, that word, oh men, is 379 00:14:20,945 --> 00:14:23,285 literally translated, oh men of rank. 380 00:14:24,625 --> 00:14:26,004 In other words, these people 381 00:14:26,545 --> 00:14:29,184 are people of power, people of authority. These 382 00:14:29,184 --> 00:14:30,165 would have been the 383 00:14:30,659 --> 00:14:33,139 landowners. These would have been the politicians. These 384 00:14:33,139 --> 00:14:35,720 would have been the commanders of Israel's army. 385 00:14:36,179 --> 00:14:38,740 They would have even been prominent religious figures. 386 00:14:38,740 --> 00:14:40,360 All of which, all of them, 387 00:14:40,740 --> 00:14:43,079 would have, been held in a high esteem, 388 00:14:43,985 --> 00:14:45,924 in the nation of Israel. 389 00:14:46,304 --> 00:14:48,404 And it is these exact people 390 00:14:49,264 --> 00:14:51,365 that David speaks to and says, 391 00:14:52,304 --> 00:14:53,044 how long? 392 00:14:54,705 --> 00:14:56,404 I wanna be clear. This is a rhetorical 393 00:14:56,625 --> 00:14:57,125 question. 394 00:14:57,649 --> 00:15:00,049 The answer assumes that this that their thirst 395 00:15:00,049 --> 00:15:00,549 for, 396 00:15:01,009 --> 00:15:02,470 immorality and wickedness, 397 00:15:02,850 --> 00:15:05,090 that that sort of behavior will never be 398 00:15:05,090 --> 00:15:05,590 quenched. 399 00:15:06,290 --> 00:15:07,889 David knows that there is no end to 400 00:15:07,889 --> 00:15:09,110 their madness, especially 401 00:15:09,584 --> 00:15:11,745 against him. If he goes right, they're gonna 402 00:15:11,745 --> 00:15:13,264 go left. If he goes up, they're gonna 403 00:15:13,264 --> 00:15:15,745 go down. Right? If that which he calls 404 00:15:15,745 --> 00:15:17,924 good, they're gonna call evil and vice versa. 405 00:15:18,225 --> 00:15:18,964 They're just 406 00:15:19,345 --> 00:15:22,384 outright completely against him. They will never cease 407 00:15:22,384 --> 00:15:25,250 to scoff at David's glory, at his rule, 408 00:15:25,309 --> 00:15:27,629 at his God. These people will never cease 409 00:15:27,629 --> 00:15:29,809 to pursue delusions and deceptions. 410 00:15:30,190 --> 00:15:32,750 And the reason is because they love false 411 00:15:32,750 --> 00:15:35,490 god. They're they love false gods and 412 00:15:35,870 --> 00:15:38,529 they pursue after that which is a lie. 413 00:15:42,414 --> 00:15:46,034 Dear saints, often, the length of our trials 414 00:15:46,174 --> 00:15:47,955 is in seasons, not seconds. 415 00:15:49,934 --> 00:15:52,034 And the distance we are called to carry 416 00:15:52,950 --> 00:15:54,809 this heavy burden is miles 417 00:15:55,110 --> 00:15:55,929 and not inches. 418 00:15:56,950 --> 00:15:59,429 The Lord will lead us in seasons of 419 00:15:59,429 --> 00:16:00,250 long suffering. 420 00:16:02,070 --> 00:16:03,830 And this is the reason why David asked 421 00:16:03,830 --> 00:16:04,570 how long. 422 00:16:05,735 --> 00:16:08,375 Sometimes I think the question how long, oh 423 00:16:08,375 --> 00:16:11,355 Lord, is much more difficult than why, Lord, 424 00:16:11,735 --> 00:16:13,115 is this happening to me. 425 00:16:13,735 --> 00:16:14,955 It becomes such a weight 426 00:16:15,334 --> 00:16:17,254 to us that we just want it to 427 00:16:17,254 --> 00:16:17,995 go away. 428 00:16:18,339 --> 00:16:20,179 When we enter into long seasons of sickness 429 00:16:20,179 --> 00:16:20,839 and sorrow, 430 00:16:21,220 --> 00:16:23,779 dear Christian, we will ask, oh lord, how 431 00:16:23,779 --> 00:16:24,279 long? 432 00:16:24,659 --> 00:16:26,200 When we enter into 433 00:16:27,059 --> 00:16:29,860 persecution and slander by men, whether it be 434 00:16:29,860 --> 00:16:31,000 by our own country, 435 00:16:31,379 --> 00:16:33,559 family, friends, even churchmen, 436 00:16:34,154 --> 00:16:36,095 we will ask, oh, man, how long? 437 00:16:38,074 --> 00:16:39,534 However, David gives us 438 00:16:41,434 --> 00:16:43,214 a couple of things to strengthen 439 00:16:44,315 --> 00:16:45,834 us and to help us endure in these 440 00:16:45,834 --> 00:16:48,450 long seasons of suffering. He is speaking to 441 00:16:48,450 --> 00:16:50,629 his enemies, but he's also reminding us 442 00:16:51,009 --> 00:16:53,330 of what to remind ourselves of. Look with 443 00:16:53,330 --> 00:16:54,389 me at verse 3. 444 00:16:55,730 --> 00:16:57,910 But know that the Lord that is Yahweh 445 00:16:58,050 --> 00:17:00,230 has set apart the godly for himself. 446 00:17:02,695 --> 00:17:05,195 Yahweh hears when I call to him. 447 00:17:07,015 --> 00:17:09,255 Here, David is speaking to his enemies. However, 448 00:17:09,255 --> 00:17:11,015 like I said, he is reminding himself, and 449 00:17:11,015 --> 00:17:12,455 these are these are truths that we really 450 00:17:12,455 --> 00:17:13,755 need to hold on to. 451 00:17:14,134 --> 00:17:15,275 In the first instance, 452 00:17:15,649 --> 00:17:17,329 we need to hold on and be reminded 453 00:17:17,329 --> 00:17:19,649 that God has indeed set his his, 454 00:17:20,130 --> 00:17:23,329 set himself a people for himself. That word 455 00:17:23,329 --> 00:17:23,829 sanctification, 456 00:17:24,369 --> 00:17:26,529 it's this big long theological word that we 457 00:17:26,529 --> 00:17:28,630 use here, especially in the reform tradition. 458 00:17:29,134 --> 00:17:30,815 What it means is that God has set 459 00:17:30,815 --> 00:17:33,055 us apart. He has sanctified us. This is 460 00:17:33,055 --> 00:17:35,555 where that word saint comes from. 461 00:17:35,934 --> 00:17:37,475 It's not a Christian 2.0. 462 00:17:38,174 --> 00:17:40,255 It's not someone who has exceeded this abundant 463 00:17:40,255 --> 00:17:42,914 amount of works. It is simply a Christian. 464 00:17:42,975 --> 00:17:44,035 All who have, 465 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:45,700 placed their faith 466 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:48,080 in Christ receive the same Christ, and they're 467 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:48,580 separated, 468 00:17:49,279 --> 00:17:51,039 from that which is common in the same 469 00:17:51,039 --> 00:17:53,619 way. We are made holy. We are made 470 00:17:53,759 --> 00:17:54,259 separate. 471 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:56,720 Paul even writes about this in Romans chapter 472 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:58,160 1 verse 4 when he says, and I 473 00:17:58,160 --> 00:17:59,380 want us to hear this, 474 00:17:59,924 --> 00:18:02,085 To all those in Rome who are loved 475 00:18:02,085 --> 00:18:02,904 by God 476 00:18:03,524 --> 00:18:05,144 and called to be saints. 477 00:18:06,484 --> 00:18:08,404 To all those in Rome who are loved 478 00:18:08,404 --> 00:18:10,644 by God and called to be saints. Called 479 00:18:10,644 --> 00:18:11,625 to be set apart. 480 00:18:12,049 --> 00:18:12,950 To be set 481 00:18:13,329 --> 00:18:15,329 apart means that we are called. It means 482 00:18:15,329 --> 00:18:17,890 that we are loved by God. And I 483 00:18:17,890 --> 00:18:19,890 think this is important for us, and it's 484 00:18:19,890 --> 00:18:21,669 something that we also remind ourselves 485 00:18:22,210 --> 00:18:23,909 in seasons of trial. 486 00:18:24,394 --> 00:18:26,234 Some of us may not know this, but 487 00:18:26,234 --> 00:18:27,595 when I was a child, I dealt dealt 488 00:18:27,595 --> 00:18:29,754 with a great amount of anxiety when I 489 00:18:29,754 --> 00:18:31,294 was in 2nd or 3rd grade. 490 00:18:31,835 --> 00:18:33,674 So much so that I would cry in 491 00:18:33,674 --> 00:18:34,174 class 492 00:18:34,474 --> 00:18:37,134 at an irrational fear for some reason 493 00:18:37,674 --> 00:18:39,595 that my parents would not come and pick 494 00:18:39,595 --> 00:18:40,254 me up. 495 00:18:40,740 --> 00:18:42,579 And I would run myself in a panic 496 00:18:42,579 --> 00:18:44,420 where I would sort of just run out, 497 00:18:44,420 --> 00:18:46,500 almost attempt to and and find, 498 00:18:47,140 --> 00:18:48,740 opportunities for me to run out of the 499 00:18:48,740 --> 00:18:50,420 school. And it caused a lot of fear 500 00:18:50,420 --> 00:18:51,960 for my mom and dad. 501 00:18:52,494 --> 00:18:53,934 And, you know, my parents would sit me 502 00:18:53,934 --> 00:18:55,054 down and ask me, and it was just 503 00:18:55,054 --> 00:18:56,835 this overwhelming irrational fear. 504 00:18:57,134 --> 00:18:57,375 And, 505 00:18:58,095 --> 00:18:59,534 and one thing that I started to do 506 00:18:59,534 --> 00:19:00,194 to myself, 507 00:19:00,494 --> 00:19:01,934 one thing that my mother and my father 508 00:19:01,934 --> 00:19:03,294 told me to do is think of all 509 00:19:03,294 --> 00:19:05,214 the ways and all the reasons why that's 510 00:19:05,214 --> 00:19:05,954 not true. 511 00:19:06,910 --> 00:19:08,509 And that's exactly what I would do. I 512 00:19:08,509 --> 00:19:10,349 would remind myself that my parents made me. 513 00:19:10,349 --> 00:19:11,650 My parents fed me. 514 00:19:12,190 --> 00:19:15,309 My parents protected me. They clothed me. In 515 00:19:15,309 --> 00:19:16,670 other words, it was a way to reason 516 00:19:16,670 --> 00:19:18,769 in myself why would they abandon me. 517 00:19:19,224 --> 00:19:20,684 And this had a 518 00:19:21,144 --> 00:19:23,704 significant amount of relief in my mind of 519 00:19:23,704 --> 00:19:24,444 that anxiety. 520 00:19:25,944 --> 00:19:27,304 Well, in a similar way, we need to 521 00:19:27,304 --> 00:19:28,284 remember our 522 00:19:28,744 --> 00:19:29,244 separatedness 523 00:19:29,625 --> 00:19:30,605 or our sainthood, 524 00:19:30,984 --> 00:19:33,644 that we have been sanctified in seasons of 525 00:19:34,105 --> 00:19:34,605 trial. 526 00:19:35,279 --> 00:19:37,600 David reminded himself that in his season of 527 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:38,100 suffering, 528 00:19:38,799 --> 00:19:41,859 that greater than Absalom's rebellion, sin and slander, 529 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:45,680 that God's call upon his life is much 530 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:47,359 greater. The same is with you. If you 531 00:19:47,359 --> 00:19:48,500 look at verse 3, 532 00:19:48,955 --> 00:19:51,134 he's not just referencing himself, he's referencing 533 00:19:51,914 --> 00:19:54,555 the godly. That is all those whom God 534 00:19:54,555 --> 00:19:56,154 has set his love upon. This is not 535 00:19:56,154 --> 00:19:57,755 just true for David. This is true for 536 00:19:57,755 --> 00:19:58,654 you, dear Christian. 537 00:20:00,555 --> 00:20:02,475 And you have you have rested and received 538 00:20:02,475 --> 00:20:04,394 Christ by faith. You are loved, called, and 539 00:20:04,394 --> 00:20:07,490 set apart by God. This verse 3 is 540 00:20:07,490 --> 00:20:08,230 for you. 541 00:20:08,609 --> 00:20:10,369 The truth that God has set you apart 542 00:20:10,369 --> 00:20:11,269 is the basis 543 00:20:12,609 --> 00:20:14,930 for your peace, for your future hope, and 544 00:20:14,930 --> 00:20:17,269 also salvation. But also, we look at this 545 00:20:17,330 --> 00:20:17,830 verse, 546 00:20:18,595 --> 00:20:19,735 it's also the basis 547 00:20:20,115 --> 00:20:20,855 for why 548 00:20:21,475 --> 00:20:23,575 the Lord hears and listens to us. 549 00:20:23,955 --> 00:20:26,515 David says, the Lord, that is Yahweh, hears 550 00:20:26,515 --> 00:20:27,955 when I call to him. And I like 551 00:20:27,955 --> 00:20:29,654 some translations better because 552 00:20:30,035 --> 00:20:31,335 some translations say, 553 00:20:31,715 --> 00:20:34,055 Yahweh will hear when I call him. 554 00:20:34,759 --> 00:20:36,679 In other words, there's a sense of there's 555 00:20:36,679 --> 00:20:38,679 a greater surety in some of those translations. 556 00:20:38,679 --> 00:20:40,359 And for us today, what David is saying 557 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:42,460 is, if you are set apart by God, 558 00:20:42,679 --> 00:20:44,599 the Lord will hear you when you cry 559 00:20:44,599 --> 00:20:46,539 and plead and pray to him. 560 00:20:46,839 --> 00:20:47,740 He is listening. 561 00:20:51,555 --> 00:20:52,934 Next, David gives instructions 562 00:20:53,634 --> 00:20:54,615 for his enemies. 563 00:20:55,394 --> 00:20:57,015 In fact, he prays for them. 564 00:20:57,634 --> 00:20:59,315 He writes in verses 4 through 5. Look 565 00:20:59,315 --> 00:21:01,075 at me at the text. Be angry and 566 00:21:01,075 --> 00:21:01,974 do not sin. 567 00:21:02,470 --> 00:21:04,390 Ponder in your own heart on your bed 568 00:21:04,390 --> 00:21:05,210 and be silent. 569 00:21:05,670 --> 00:21:08,009 Offer right sacrifices and put your trust 570 00:21:08,390 --> 00:21:09,289 in the Lord. 571 00:21:11,590 --> 00:21:13,350 You know, David wants his enemies to put 572 00:21:13,350 --> 00:21:14,570 an end to their wickedness. 573 00:21:15,525 --> 00:21:17,285 That's a heart that we ought to have 574 00:21:17,285 --> 00:21:19,684 1st and foremost. Often, whenever we have enemies, 575 00:21:19,684 --> 00:21:21,845 we want them to be destroyed rather than 576 00:21:21,845 --> 00:21:23,144 be restored to the Lord. 577 00:21:24,725 --> 00:21:27,144 He wants them to repent of their unjustified 578 00:21:27,365 --> 00:21:29,225 anger that has led them into sin. 579 00:21:29,830 --> 00:21:31,990 He wants them to reflect upon their own 580 00:21:31,990 --> 00:21:32,490 heart 581 00:21:33,990 --> 00:21:36,230 and return to a proper worship of God. 582 00:21:36,230 --> 00:21:37,049 Dear saints, 583 00:21:38,390 --> 00:21:40,630 by way of example, David teaches us that 584 00:21:40,630 --> 00:21:41,850 in seasons of suffering 585 00:21:42,924 --> 00:21:44,865 caused by mistreatment and persecution, 586 00:21:45,724 --> 00:21:47,325 we need to pray for those whose hand 587 00:21:47,325 --> 00:21:49,744 it comes by, and that's a hard thing. 588 00:21:50,204 --> 00:21:51,105 It really is. 589 00:21:52,365 --> 00:21:54,945 Something we must do because Jesus commanded it. 590 00:21:56,269 --> 00:21:59,309 Matthew chapter 5, verse 44, Jesus says, love 591 00:21:59,309 --> 00:22:01,150 your enemies and pray for those who persecute 592 00:22:01,150 --> 00:22:01,650 you. 593 00:22:02,910 --> 00:22:04,690 In Luke chapter 6, verse 28, 594 00:22:06,029 --> 00:22:08,529 he says, pray for those who abuse you. 595 00:22:09,205 --> 00:22:10,744 Bless those who curse you. 596 00:22:11,924 --> 00:22:13,845 I think the the the apex of this 597 00:22:13,845 --> 00:22:15,365 is when he's on the cross and he's 598 00:22:15,365 --> 00:22:17,065 being mocked and slandered. 599 00:22:17,605 --> 00:22:19,144 And those his own nation, 600 00:22:20,005 --> 00:22:22,644 even those whom he did ministry for and 601 00:22:22,644 --> 00:22:23,144 with 602 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:25,740 have led him to the cross to be 603 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:26,619 executed 604 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:28,619 like a murderer. 605 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:31,080 And he says, father, forgive them for they 606 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:32,299 do not know what they do. 607 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:35,080 There's a sense of forgiveness and a heart 608 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:35,740 for people 609 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:39,055 that is just utterly supernatural, but it's something 610 00:22:39,055 --> 00:22:40,515 that we're commanded to do 611 00:22:41,134 --> 00:22:42,595 even by the hands of those 612 00:22:43,055 --> 00:22:45,555 who have persecuted us or mistreated us. 613 00:22:46,174 --> 00:22:47,555 Once again, it's not easy, 614 00:22:48,654 --> 00:22:50,674 but it's something that we must do. 615 00:22:52,450 --> 00:22:55,029 Love wants those that despise us to experience 616 00:22:55,089 --> 00:22:56,549 God's blessing and light. 617 00:22:59,569 --> 00:23:01,730 And I've mentioned that also that in this 618 00:23:01,730 --> 00:23:04,690 section that David also is reminding himself by 619 00:23:04,690 --> 00:23:06,390 way of speaking to his enemies. 620 00:23:07,085 --> 00:23:08,845 And often when we are sinned against, we 621 00:23:08,845 --> 00:23:09,505 are led 622 00:23:10,045 --> 00:23:10,705 to anger. 623 00:23:11,085 --> 00:23:13,404 This anger leads us for an occasion of 624 00:23:13,404 --> 00:23:13,904 sin. 625 00:23:14,365 --> 00:23:16,924 We begin to gossip and slander, to seek 626 00:23:16,924 --> 00:23:19,484 vengeance, and in many ways we've become very 627 00:23:19,484 --> 00:23:22,109 much like those who have hurt us. 628 00:23:22,509 --> 00:23:24,690 Is that phrase that hurt people hurt people? 629 00:23:26,109 --> 00:23:27,329 I think that's very true. 630 00:23:28,029 --> 00:23:29,170 We begin to plot, 631 00:23:30,349 --> 00:23:30,849 scheme, 632 00:23:31,789 --> 00:23:33,950 speak like them, be like them, reflect them, 633 00:23:33,950 --> 00:23:35,835 and that's something that we ought not to 634 00:23:35,835 --> 00:23:37,595 do. We're not we're not to think like 635 00:23:37,595 --> 00:23:38,095 them. 636 00:23:38,714 --> 00:23:40,255 Instead, we lay in our beds. 637 00:23:41,355 --> 00:23:42,095 That that that place 638 00:23:42,474 --> 00:23:45,054 which is a place of solitude and meditation, 639 00:23:45,194 --> 00:23:46,875 and we make it a place where we 640 00:23:46,875 --> 00:23:48,255 plot and we scheme. 641 00:23:50,910 --> 00:23:52,750 And then in our sin, in our anger, 642 00:23:52,750 --> 00:23:55,009 we come into worship with a seared conscience. 643 00:23:55,710 --> 00:23:56,210 We 644 00:23:56,829 --> 00:23:58,690 come in with a misplaced trust 645 00:23:58,990 --> 00:24:00,750 and a distraction in our hearts and our 646 00:24:00,750 --> 00:24:02,049 minds before 647 00:24:02,349 --> 00:24:03,089 the Lord. 648 00:24:03,955 --> 00:24:05,875 Dear saints, in seasons of suffering, let us 649 00:24:05,875 --> 00:24:08,295 exercise self control through self examination. 650 00:24:08,914 --> 00:24:10,055 Do not allow anger 651 00:24:10,835 --> 00:24:12,835 that will come to boil over in an 652 00:24:12,835 --> 00:24:13,975 occasion for sin. 653 00:24:14,515 --> 00:24:16,195 When we are lying in bed, once again, 654 00:24:16,195 --> 00:24:18,660 that place of solitude and meditation, we must 655 00:24:18,660 --> 00:24:20,920 do the hard work of hard work, 656 00:24:21,700 --> 00:24:23,400 reflecting upon our own sins, 657 00:24:24,180 --> 00:24:25,160 correcting ourselves 658 00:24:25,539 --> 00:24:27,940 rather than others. We need to refocus our 659 00:24:27,940 --> 00:24:30,100 minds upon the Lord, prepare our hearts for 660 00:24:30,100 --> 00:24:32,440 worship, lay aside our false gods, 661 00:24:33,025 --> 00:24:34,325 put away our schemes, 662 00:24:34,785 --> 00:24:36,304 and simply trust in the Lord that he 663 00:24:36,304 --> 00:24:37,825 will do what is right because he is 664 00:24:37,825 --> 00:24:38,325 right. 665 00:24:38,785 --> 00:24:39,765 He can do nothing, 666 00:24:40,865 --> 00:24:42,565 but do what what is right. 667 00:24:44,944 --> 00:24:46,005 May that that 668 00:24:47,570 --> 00:24:48,710 that be for us, 669 00:24:49,250 --> 00:24:49,750 today. 670 00:24:51,009 --> 00:24:53,509 Now David returns to from speaking 671 00:24:53,970 --> 00:24:56,049 to his enemies to now speaking to God 672 00:24:56,049 --> 00:24:58,230 again. Read with me verses 6 through 8. 673 00:24:59,105 --> 00:25:01,025 David says, there are many who will say, 674 00:25:01,025 --> 00:25:02,724 who will show us some good? 675 00:25:03,424 --> 00:25:04,484 Lift up the light 676 00:25:05,345 --> 00:25:08,164 of your face upon us, oh Lord. 677 00:25:09,105 --> 00:25:11,125 You have put more joy in my heart 678 00:25:11,309 --> 00:25:13,309 than they have when their grain and wine 679 00:25:13,309 --> 00:25:15,470 abound. In peace, I will both lie down 680 00:25:15,470 --> 00:25:16,049 and sleep. 681 00:25:16,509 --> 00:25:18,610 For you alone, oh, Lord, make me dwell 682 00:25:18,910 --> 00:25:19,650 in safety. 683 00:25:20,990 --> 00:25:22,130 Here, David really 684 00:25:22,830 --> 00:25:25,309 all these verses here really summarize the root 685 00:25:25,309 --> 00:25:27,090 of David's peace in this 686 00:25:27,585 --> 00:25:28,085 situation. 687 00:25:28,785 --> 00:25:30,944 In the rebellion of David's day, there were 688 00:25:30,944 --> 00:25:33,744 many people who looked at the utter fallout 689 00:25:33,744 --> 00:25:35,044 of what had happened. 690 00:25:35,505 --> 00:25:36,244 The rebellion. 691 00:25:37,184 --> 00:25:37,585 The, 692 00:25:38,625 --> 00:25:40,544 and and and asked them, you know, who 693 00:25:40,544 --> 00:25:42,329 will show us a way? There was there 694 00:25:42,329 --> 00:25:44,009 was no longer a king. There was no 695 00:25:44,009 --> 00:25:44,509 longer 696 00:25:44,970 --> 00:25:45,549 a clear, 697 00:25:46,410 --> 00:25:47,869 North Star for righteousness. 698 00:25:48,250 --> 00:25:50,650 False gods abounded, and and there was just 699 00:25:50,650 --> 00:25:52,970 an utter collapse of leadership. And often when 700 00:25:52,970 --> 00:25:54,429 there is a lack of leadership, 701 00:25:55,845 --> 00:25:57,304 there will always be people 702 00:25:57,605 --> 00:25:58,585 that will say, 703 00:25:59,285 --> 00:26:01,384 who will show us some good? 704 00:26:01,924 --> 00:26:03,605 In other words, who will show us a 705 00:26:03,605 --> 00:26:05,765 way out of this mess? And it is 706 00:26:05,765 --> 00:26:08,244 often the case that when everything is collapsing 707 00:26:08,244 --> 00:26:10,859 around us, we're in seasons of trial, 708 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:13,240 we will continue to look for that one 709 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:15,660 person or object besides God 710 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:17,819 to show us some good. 711 00:26:18,839 --> 00:26:21,160 And we see here that David's good is 712 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:21,660 ultimately 713 00:26:22,375 --> 00:26:25,414 the Lord himself. David exhorts us here that 714 00:26:25,414 --> 00:26:26,154 the place 715 00:26:26,534 --> 00:26:28,934 of our hope, that singular place of hope 716 00:26:28,934 --> 00:26:30,954 ought to be Yahweh himself, the triune 717 00:26:31,255 --> 00:26:33,414 God of scripture. David does not point to 718 00:26:33,414 --> 00:26:35,559 himself to be that hope. David does not 719 00:26:35,559 --> 00:26:37,240 point to a priest to be that hope. 720 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,799 He does not point to the prophet to 721 00:26:39,799 --> 00:26:41,580 be that hope. Rather, he points 722 00:26:42,039 --> 00:26:44,539 all the godly, all those who believe 723 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:46,140 upon Christ, 724 00:26:47,535 --> 00:26:50,174 to place their hope on him in life 725 00:26:50,174 --> 00:26:50,994 and in death. 726 00:26:52,255 --> 00:26:54,414 If it also exhorts us to recognize that 727 00:26:54,414 --> 00:26:56,835 Yahweh alone is far more superior, 728 00:26:59,134 --> 00:27:01,215 in a sense of joy than anything else 729 00:27:01,215 --> 00:27:02,515 this world can provide. 730 00:27:03,269 --> 00:27:05,109 Unlike today, in the days of the ancient 731 00:27:05,109 --> 00:27:07,130 Near East, everyone relied heavily 732 00:27:07,670 --> 00:27:09,529 upon the rain and the fruitfulness 733 00:27:09,990 --> 00:27:11,450 of the land. When harvest 734 00:27:11,910 --> 00:27:12,730 time came, 735 00:27:13,029 --> 00:27:14,789 there was an abundant amount of grain and 736 00:27:14,789 --> 00:27:17,804 abundant amount of wine that made fullness and 737 00:27:17,804 --> 00:27:20,224 security and happiness and joy. 738 00:27:21,244 --> 00:27:23,164 Kind of don't get that sense here today 739 00:27:23,164 --> 00:27:24,304 because we have supermarkets. 740 00:27:25,085 --> 00:27:26,525 But if we live in a day where 741 00:27:26,525 --> 00:27:28,704 we relied on agriculture so heavily, 742 00:27:29,490 --> 00:27:31,250 that would be good news for us. It 743 00:27:31,250 --> 00:27:33,490 would be a good sign of God's blessing 744 00:27:33,490 --> 00:27:35,089 upon us. In the land of Israel, if 745 00:27:35,089 --> 00:27:37,089 there was ever a famine, that was ultimately 746 00:27:37,089 --> 00:27:38,710 a sign of God's curse upon 747 00:27:39,089 --> 00:27:39,750 the nation. 748 00:27:43,955 --> 00:27:46,295 Well, here, David says that there is 749 00:27:47,475 --> 00:27:48,855 a joy, supernatural 750 00:27:49,235 --> 00:27:49,735 joy 751 00:27:50,195 --> 00:27:52,775 that the Lord has impressed upon 752 00:27:53,235 --> 00:27:55,335 his heart, given him a supernatural 753 00:27:55,875 --> 00:27:57,894 joy. And this is important because the marketplace 754 00:27:58,759 --> 00:27:59,259 itself 755 00:27:59,799 --> 00:28:01,559 today will tell us lies, will tell us 756 00:28:01,559 --> 00:28:04,139 that there is either no joy in Christ 757 00:28:04,759 --> 00:28:07,000 or that they could provide something that will 758 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:09,179 provide more or a far more superior 759 00:28:09,559 --> 00:28:11,799 joy than Christ. The word the world is 760 00:28:11,799 --> 00:28:13,684 constantly telling us that there is is more 761 00:28:13,684 --> 00:28:14,825 joy in pornography. 762 00:28:15,285 --> 00:28:17,285 There is more joy in gambling. That there 763 00:28:17,285 --> 00:28:19,144 is more joy in wealth, 764 00:28:19,605 --> 00:28:22,744 in power, in pride, in fitness, in fashion, 765 00:28:23,045 --> 00:28:26,085 in gossip, in slander. And often when we're 766 00:28:26,085 --> 00:28:27,944 suffering, we are so susceptible 767 00:28:28,460 --> 00:28:30,380 to fall into these things because all we 768 00:28:30,380 --> 00:28:32,240 want is just a flash of happiness, 769 00:28:32,700 --> 00:28:34,079 a momentary happiness. 770 00:28:34,779 --> 00:28:38,460 We also focus ourselves upon the Lord who 771 00:28:38,460 --> 00:28:39,440 is our joy. 772 00:28:40,299 --> 00:28:41,920 David wants us to do this. 773 00:28:43,214 --> 00:28:45,954 Yahweh is not only our only source 774 00:28:46,414 --> 00:28:48,515 of hope and joy, but he's also 775 00:28:49,535 --> 00:28:50,355 our peace. 776 00:28:50,654 --> 00:28:51,554 This is what 777 00:28:51,934 --> 00:28:53,075 David ends with. 778 00:28:54,255 --> 00:28:55,234 Nicholas Ridley 779 00:28:56,095 --> 00:28:57,394 was a Bishop 780 00:28:58,090 --> 00:29:00,269 of London in 15th century, 781 00:29:00,970 --> 00:29:02,730 and he was one of the Protestant one 782 00:29:02,730 --> 00:29:05,049 of the many Protestant reformers that was burned 783 00:29:05,049 --> 00:29:06,990 at the stake of the Roman Catholic church. 784 00:29:07,850 --> 00:29:10,490 The night before his death, Rome actually sent 785 00:29:10,490 --> 00:29:11,230 a priest 786 00:29:11,825 --> 00:29:14,085 to spend his last night with him, 787 00:29:14,865 --> 00:29:16,565 sort of as a sense of comfort. 788 00:29:17,505 --> 00:29:19,204 And to Rome's surprise, 789 00:29:19,505 --> 00:29:22,865 Nicholas really refused it and rejected it, saying 790 00:29:22,865 --> 00:29:24,944 that he meant to go to bed and 791 00:29:24,944 --> 00:29:26,865 sleep quietly as he ever did in his 792 00:29:26,865 --> 00:29:27,365 life. 793 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:31,419 And the account says that he actually quoted 794 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:32,779 Psalm 4 verse 8. 795 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:35,240 I will lie down in peace and take 796 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:37,720 my rest, for it is thou, Lord only, 797 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:40,519 that makest me dwell in safety, out of 798 00:29:40,519 --> 00:29:41,659 the King James version. 799 00:29:43,765 --> 00:29:46,265 Dear saints, yes, this peace is supernatural. 800 00:29:46,644 --> 00:29:48,025 However, it's not unusual. 801 00:29:49,605 --> 00:29:52,005 It's not unreal. The Lord really does provide 802 00:29:52,005 --> 00:29:54,164 us this peace in times of trial. We 803 00:29:54,164 --> 00:29:55,845 see this in the Old Testament. We also 804 00:29:55,845 --> 00:29:57,599 see this in the martyrs. We see this 805 00:29:57,599 --> 00:29:59,619 in the life of many Christians as well, 806 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:00,980 this unspeakable 807 00:30:01,359 --> 00:30:01,859 supernatural 808 00:30:02,319 --> 00:30:02,819 sense 809 00:30:03,279 --> 00:30:04,099 of peace. 810 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:07,599 The reason why he was able to do 811 00:30:07,599 --> 00:30:08,099 this 812 00:30:09,884 --> 00:30:12,205 is because the pillow upon which he rested 813 00:30:12,205 --> 00:30:13,025 his head was 814 00:30:13,404 --> 00:30:16,285 ultimately Christ. He truly believed in Christ's words 815 00:30:16,285 --> 00:30:18,285 when Christ said, He who believes in me, 816 00:30:18,285 --> 00:30:20,605 though he die, yet shall he live, and 817 00:30:20,605 --> 00:30:22,945 he who believes in me shall never die. 818 00:30:24,700 --> 00:30:26,000 Really knew that death, 819 00:30:26,380 --> 00:30:27,820 that thing that was a curse for all 820 00:30:27,820 --> 00:30:29,900 of humanity, was actually a blessing for him 821 00:30:29,900 --> 00:30:31,039 to enter into paradise. 822 00:30:31,340 --> 00:30:33,440 That was something that was his rock. 823 00:30:34,700 --> 00:30:36,700 The moment that he took his last breath, 824 00:30:36,700 --> 00:30:38,320 he would enter into glory, 825 00:30:39,565 --> 00:30:41,724 and he knew that ultimately that this injustice 826 00:30:41,724 --> 00:30:43,244 done to him would be brought to light 827 00:30:43,244 --> 00:30:44,384 in the last day. 828 00:30:45,404 --> 00:30:47,484 It's a sense of supernatural peace from God's 829 00:30:47,484 --> 00:30:47,984 truth. 830 00:30:48,605 --> 00:30:51,325 And dear saints, trial and tribulation will come. 831 00:30:51,325 --> 00:30:52,545 Christ warned us. 832 00:30:52,890 --> 00:30:54,650 However, he promised us that he will be 833 00:30:54,650 --> 00:30:56,490 our peace, and in times of trial, we 834 00:30:56,490 --> 00:30:58,170 ought to pray and ask for the Lord, 835 00:30:58,170 --> 00:30:59,070 plead with him 836 00:30:59,529 --> 00:31:01,070 for that peace. 837 00:31:01,930 --> 00:31:03,529 If it is death that you fear, know 838 00:31:03,529 --> 00:31:05,609 for certain that death itself has no sting 839 00:31:05,609 --> 00:31:07,450 on you and that Christ has actually put 840 00:31:07,450 --> 00:31:08,430 it into the grave. 841 00:31:09,154 --> 00:31:11,875 If it is an injustice that angers you, 842 00:31:11,875 --> 00:31:12,855 know that the Lord 843 00:31:13,154 --> 00:31:16,115 knows it thoroughly better than you and that 844 00:31:16,115 --> 00:31:18,355 all will be made right by him in 845 00:31:18,355 --> 00:31:20,294 the end. Vindication will come. 846 00:31:21,430 --> 00:31:23,190 If it is failure of leadership that brings 847 00:31:23,190 --> 00:31:25,210 you anxiety, we ought to always remember 848 00:31:25,910 --> 00:31:27,430 that God is the one who places kings 849 00:31:27,430 --> 00:31:28,330 on their thrones 850 00:31:28,710 --> 00:31:30,490 and makes nations rise and fall. 851 00:31:32,710 --> 00:31:34,869 And it is sickness that you fear, know 852 00:31:34,869 --> 00:31:36,884 for certain that Christ has risen, that he 853 00:31:36,884 --> 00:31:37,625 has ascended 854 00:31:38,164 --> 00:31:39,445 to the right hand of the father, and 855 00:31:39,445 --> 00:31:41,144 he is making all things new. 856 00:31:41,765 --> 00:31:43,845 Dear saints, Christ is the pillow upon which 857 00:31:43,845 --> 00:31:44,904 we rest our head 858 00:31:45,205 --> 00:31:47,045 in the days of trouble. He is the 859 00:31:47,045 --> 00:31:48,345 prince of peace. 860 00:31:48,805 --> 00:31:49,785 Let us pray.