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Who Is a God Like You? · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Well, we begin our worship this evening by singing to God's praise from Psalm 1a, the
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Sing Psalms version, Psalm 1a, page 1 of the Psalm books.
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We're going to sing the whole of this, Psalm verse 1 to verse 6.
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Blessed is the one who turns away from where the wicked walk, who does not stand in sinners
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paths or sit with those who mock.
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We'll sing from verse 1, the whole of the Psalm, to God's praise.
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Blessed is the one who turns away from where the wicked walk, who does not stand in sinners
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paths or sit with those who mock.
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Instead, he finds the story of His joy and great delight.
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He makes the precepts of the Lord this sunny day and night.
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He prospers ever like a tree that's planted by a stream.
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And in due season heals this fruit, this peace I always bring.
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Not so the wicked day are like the child that's born away.
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They will not stand when judgment comes or with the righteous day.
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It is the Lord who sees and knows the way the righteous go.
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But those who live and need the life the Lord will overthrow.
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Let's bow our heads now in a word of prayer.
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Let us pray.
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Lord, our gracious God, as we continue to worship you this day, as we give thanks for your own
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day, the Lord's day, as we gather as a people, not just here, but to all ends of the earth,
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we thank you that your name is praised from the rising to the setting of the sun, that in
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many different nations and among many different people, in many different languages, your name
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is praised and your word is heard.
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And we thank you that your word is that constant companion to your people, that in whatever language
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it is heard and read, we thank you for its power.
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We thank you for its strength to build up your people in any and every circumstance.
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And we thank you for the reminder in what we have sung together there from the psalm, that
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your people are blessed who turn not away from it.
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We thank you, Lord, that you are the one who builds your people up, who makes them to flourish.
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In the midst of everything that this world may throw at us, we thank you that faith is rooted
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not in ourselves or the things of this world, but in you as our God, the one who is immovable
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and unchangeable, the one same yesterday, today and forever.
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And we thank you that as we come together anew this evening, that we have your word before
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us and that longing and desire to hear it and to grow by it.
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And we pray that every one of us here tonight will hear your word speaking to us, that whatever
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else in the busyness of life we are hearing, the many different voices that clamor for our
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attention and our thoughts, we thank you that your voice is powerful and that even when
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we are deaf to it, even when we have no interest in it, that you have power by your Spirit to
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open our ears to hear and to open our hearts to receive.
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And we ask that as we join together and as we pray together, even just now, that you will
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prepare our hearts, that you will prepare us in heart, mind and soul to meet with you and
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to hear you and to know the great concern and compassion that you have towards us as your
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people.
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Yes, we may have strayed as so many do.
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Yes, may we have wandered off and gone our own ways.
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But we thank you that the word tells us of the great shepherd, the one you sent into this
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world to shepherd your people, to gather your people, to bring them to yourself.
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And we thank you that our great shepherd is the one who calls us, even this evening, who
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calls us by name to come out and to follow him.
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And we thank you that we have such a precious Savior.
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The one who shepherds us is none other than your Son, Christ Jesus.
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And we thank you that you saw our great need.
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You saw our great lostness, how far away we had wandered, that you saw the great need to
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send your Son as the only way to salvation, the only way to save your people from their
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sins.
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And we thank you that as your truth reminds us that a great price was paid for our sin,
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the price that we could never pay ourselves.
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Lord, we thank you that Jesus, in going to the cross, in bearing its shame, in all that
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it entailed, the mocking, the cursing, the darkness, the pain, the sorrow of it, we thank
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you that he bore our sins there.
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And we thank you that we are reminded today that as he died, yes, he rose again.
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And he is at your right hand even now.
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And so we pray, Lord, that you will help us to be assured in that and confident in it,
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that whatever security this world might offer us, that we would see it's nothing but temporary,
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that the security we have in Christ is eternal and will last forever, never perishing.
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So bless us together this evening.
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Bless all our homes and our families represented here.
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We thank you for all that we see before us and pray that you will bless us, Lord.
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We thank you for all who tune in online as well.
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And we pray blessing to them as well, wherever they gather.
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We pray, Lord, that you will use your word to each and every one of us, that powerful word.
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We pray that it will help us to know your great love and compassion that's unchanging,
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to know the challenge it gives to us as well, to convict and to convert us.
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When we lie in sin, Lord, we know that we are dead.
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But we thank you for the life that it is in Christ, the life that he gives.
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And so we pray that together as a people from youngest to oldest,
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in our homes and our families and our community,
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that your spirit will be working to bring life, to bring newness, to bring renewal for us,
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even at the beginning of a new year, Lord.
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We pray that as we go on in the seasons of this year,
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as we see the darkness turning to light in the days and months ahead,
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as we see the bare ground bearing its seed once again and giving growth,
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we pray, Lord, that not just in these natural ways around us,
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but also in a spiritual way that we would see progression in every way for your church this year,
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to bring people from darkness to light, to see new growth and new life,
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to see days of salvation, days of rejoicing in your goodness to us.
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We pray that it will be true for ourselves as a people here
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and that as we endeavor and go on in your strength and prayerfully
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to reach out with the gospel to all around us,
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we pray that you will direct our paths and give us a vision for it,
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give us encouragement in it.
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We thank you for all the ongoing work and work that resumes again,
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and even in this coming week,
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for our young people with the toddler group and the explorers resuming in this coming week.
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We pray for our young people.
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We pray for them, not just in preschool and in primary school,
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but up through high school and even into late teens and early adulthood.
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We pray for your spirit to move among them, Lord,
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for people to show an interest in them,
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for us as a people, as your people,
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to show an interest in all the lives that we see around us,
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not just to criticize or to condemn,
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but to encourage and to show them the love of Christ,
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to show them a better way,
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to show them your paths and your ways.
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And we pray, Lord, that you will give us
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prayerful insight into how to reach out to them,
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how to show them a different life,
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a different way.
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We pray, Lord, that you will give us wisdom and help.
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We pray that for every endeavor that we have to reach out with the gospel.
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We thank you for Friday,
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the free and the many connections that have been made there
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and relationships being built up.
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And we pray that you'll continue to bless every meeting of it in this coming year,
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that we will see familiar faces coming through our doors again,
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but also new faces coming in as well,
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and people we can relate with and show love to and compassion to.
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We pray for the 55 plus group as well as they continue to meet.
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We thank you for every encouragement in this past year
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as it's resumed once again.
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And we pray, Lord, to continue to bless every meeting of it,
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to encourage that fellowship with one another,
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meeting up in an informal way and yet a constructive way as well,
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and offering praise and worship to you.
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So we pray, Lord, and thank you for all who help in all these endeavors.
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And we pray that you will build us up as a people here,
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that we will first and foremost be a praying people wherever we are,
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and that we will be a willing people,
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that you will make us willing and use us, Lord, for your glory.
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Remember us in our particular needs as well as a people,
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those who are unwell, those who are mourning,
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those who are going through difficult periods in life,
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just now, Lord.
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We continue to pray for and uphold them in our prayers.
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And we ask, Lord, that in all our different needs,
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that you will surround us with your strength and with your grace.
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We do pray for James and Donna and continue to commit them to you.
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We pray, Lord, that the way ahead for Donna will be clearer and smoother in these days ahead,
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that the infection would clear,
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and that it would be able to give further treatment and surgery to her as required.
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Uphold her and be her strength at this time.
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And to James as well and all the family as we commit them to you.
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And others too, Lord, in our belonging to us as a congregation,
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we pray help and comfort and your grace towards those who need you.
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And particularly in times of mourning just now and in funerals even to take place in this coming week,
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we pray for your word to be blessed and your spirit to be present,
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to comfort, to uphold.
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So we ask all these things looking to you.
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We thank you that you are the one we can call upon,
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that you are near to your people,
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that you hear us in our prayers,
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and that you are the one we look to do abundantly more than we ask or imagine.
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We pray that you will continue then to build your church up near and far,
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to bless all your people, your praying people,
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to bless those who rule over our nation and the many nations of this world.
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We pray, Lord, to see days of peace,
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days of your goodness and mercy towards us.
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We ask all these things,
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confessing our own sin,
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how far short we fall on a daily basis.
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And yet we thank you,
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even as we will read in a moment,
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of how you are able to cast our sins away.
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And we thank you for that,
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for the great salvation and the great God that you are,
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that no God compares to you.
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So hear us in our prayers and continue with us now,
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pardoning us and cleansing us from all sin.
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In Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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We're going to sing together again Psalm 103 in the Scottish Psalter Version.
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Psalm 103, page 369.
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And we'll sing from verse 8 down to verse 13.
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Psalm 103 at verse 8.
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Verse 12 says,
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So far as east is distant from the west,
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so far as he from us removed in his love all our iniquity.
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So we'll sing from verse 8 down to verse 13 to God's praise.
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The Lord our God is merciful,
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and he is gracious.
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He will not try continually,
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nor keep his anger still.
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With us he dealt,
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nor does he sin,
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nor did he quite adieu.
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For us the heaven in his sight,
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we are survived.
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So great to know that you in here,
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His tender mercies are.
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As far as east is distant from the west,
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so far hath he,
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from us removed in his love all our iniquity.
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Such pity as the Father hath
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and to his children dear.
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Like pity shows the Lord to such
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as worship him in fear.
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We'll turn together to read in the Old Testament
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in the book of Micah.
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We're going to read in chapter 7.
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Micah chapter 7.
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Find this around page 943 of the church Bibles.
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Micah chapter 7.
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Last Sunday morning it was,
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we were looking at Micah chapter 6
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and seeing the kind of judgment
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that Micah was showing to the people
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and how the Lord was speaking to the people.
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In verse 3 of chapter 6 it says,
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O my people, what have I done to you?
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How have I wearied you?
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Answer me.
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The Lord calling to his people
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and then showing the great things
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that he has done for them
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and seeking that they would return
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and walk humbly with the Lord.
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So we're going to continue on from that
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into chapter 7.
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Reading the whole of this chapter.
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Woe is me, for I have become
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as when the summer fruit has been gathered,
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as when the grapes have been gleaned.
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There is no cluster to eat,
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no first ripe fig that my soul desires.
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The godly has perished from the earth
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and there is no one upright among mankind.
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They all lie in wait for blood
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and each hunts the other with a net.
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Their hands are on what is evil to do it well.
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The prince and the judge ask for a bribe
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and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul.
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Thus they weave it together.
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The best of them is like a briar,
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the most upright of them,
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a thorn hedge.
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The day of your watchmen,
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of your punishment has come.
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Now their confusion is at hand.
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Put no trust in a neighbour,
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have no confidence in a friend.
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Guard the doors of your mouth
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from her who lies in your arms.
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For the son treats the father with contempt.
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The daughter rises up against her mother,
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the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
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A man's enemies are the men of his own house.
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But as for me,
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I will look to the Lord.
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I will wait for the God of my salvation.
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My God will hear me.
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Rejoice not over me, O my enemy.
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When I fall, I shall rise.
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When I sit in darkness,
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the Lord will be a light to me.
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I will bear the indignation of the Lord
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because I have sinned against him.
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Until he pleads my cause
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and executes judgment for me.
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He will bring me out to the light.
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I shall look upon his vindication.
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Then my enemy will see
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and shame will cover her who said to me,
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Where is the Lord your God?
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My eyes will look upon her.
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Now she will be trampled down
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like the mire of the streets.
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A day for the building of your walls.
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In that day,
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the boundary shall be far extended.
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In that day,
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they will come to you
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from Assyria and the cities of Egypt
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and from Egypt to the river,
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from sea to sea
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and from mountain to mountain.
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But the earth shall be desolate
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because of its inhabitants
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for the fruit of their deeds.
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Shepherd your people
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with your staff,
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the flock of your inheritance
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who dwell alone in a forest,
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in the midst of a garden land,
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let them graze in Bashan and Gilead
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as in the days of old,
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as in the days when you came out
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of the land of Egypt.
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I will show them marvelous things.
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The nations shall see
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and be ashamed of all their might.
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They shall lay their hands on their mouths.
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Their ears shall be deaf.
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They shall lick the dust like a serpent,
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like the crawling things of the earth.
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They shall come trembling
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out of their strongholds.
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They shall turn in dread
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to the Lord our God,
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and they shall be in fear of you.
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Who is a God like you,
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pardoning iniquity
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and passing over transgression
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for the remnant of his inheritance?
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He does not retain his anger forever
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because he delights in steadfast love.
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He will again have compassion on us.
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He will tread our iniquities under feet.
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You will cast all our sins
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into the depths of the sea.
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You will show faithfulness to Jacob
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and steadfast love to Abraham
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as you have sworn to our fathers
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from the days of old.
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Amen.
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And may God bless that reading
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from his word.
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Before we turn back
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to look at this passage,
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we'll sing again in Psalm 135
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in the Scottish Psalter,
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page 426 of the Psalm book.
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Psalm 135.
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We sing from verse 15
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down to the end of the Psalm.
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Psalm 135 at verse 15.
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Psalm that speaks of the idols
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of the nations made of silver
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and of gold.
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The idols of the nations
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of silver and iron gold.
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And by the hands of men
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is made their fashion and mold.
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Mouths they have,
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but they do not speak.
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Eyes, but they do not see.
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Ears have they,
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but hear not.
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And in their mouths
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no breathing be.
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We'll sing from verse 15
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down to the end of the Psalm
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to God's praise.
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Amen.
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The idols of the nations
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of silver and gold.
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And by the hands of men
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is made their passion and mold.
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Mouths have they,
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but they do not see.
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Eyes, but they do not see.
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Ears have they,
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but hear not.
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O Israel's house,
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O Israel's house,
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bless God,
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and bless God,
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O Israel's family.
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O bless the Lord of the vices,
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ye who his servants are.
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And bless the holy name of God,
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all ye the Lord that fear.
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And blessed be the Lord our God,
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from Zion's holy hill,
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who dwelleth at Jerusalem,
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the Lord, O praise ye still.
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Well, we can turn back together
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for a time to Micah chapter 7.
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I'll read again at verse 18.
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We're going to look really
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from verse 13 down to the end,
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but we can read again at verse 18.
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Who is a God like you,
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pardoning iniquity
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and passing over transgression
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for the remnant of his inheritance?
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Really that question
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that we're thinking about this evening,
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who is a God like you?
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What God compares to you?
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I'm sure we're all familiar
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with making comparisons
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with different things.
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We live in a world
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where we often compare
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and contrast things,
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things that we enjoy,
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maybe others don't,
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and we speak about them.
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We compare cars,
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we compare athletes,
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we compare holiday destinations,
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we compare food.
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We speak about all these things together,
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and we all have our opinions
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as to maybe what is better,
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what is worse.
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But one thing that we maybe
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are familiar with comparing,
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and it's always being thrown
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in front of us through adverts,
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especially on television,
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is comparing insurance.
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There's a constant barrage
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of adverts telling us
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to compare the market
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or to go and compare,
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to find the best deal
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when it comes to insurance.
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I'm sure many of you
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have used these things,
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but what do you look for
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when you use these kind of places?
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Do you look at just the price,
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and are you looking just
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for the cheapest deal,
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or do you look at the details
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behind the policy?
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Do you look at actually
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what's contained in your policy
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that you might be buying,
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and see, really, is it?
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Are you getting value for money?
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It may be cheap,
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but us, we often hear,
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buy cheap, pay dear,
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is what we're often told.
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But what about when it comes
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comparing God in this world,
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comparing salvation in this world?
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Where are we looking
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for that insurance?
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Where are we looking
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for that guarantee?
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Are we looking for just
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the cheapest option
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available to us,
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the easiest option
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available to us,
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or are we looking at
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the fine detail
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of what's involved?
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Are we looking at
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the details behind everything
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that life entails
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and what eternity entails?
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When we look at life
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as it's offered to us
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in this world,
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it's so often just,
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go on and do your own thing.
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Live your life to the full.
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Don't concern yourself
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with God or eternity
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or anything that the Bible says.
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And yet, when you look
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at the Bible
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and what the Bible says,
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it gives a very different picture.
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It gives every instruction
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that we need for life
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and also the seriousness
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of eternity
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and what insurance
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we need for that.
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And that's what's behind
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this question
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in verse 18.
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Who is a God like you?
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What in this world
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compares to having you
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as God?
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Because the people here
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in Micah's day,
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as you see as you read through
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the book of Micah
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and also the book of Isaiah
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written about the same time
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as well,
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is that the people
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in these days
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were turning away
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from their God,
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the God of Israel,
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the God of these people,
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the God who had,
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as we see in chapter 6,
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led them through Egypt
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out of slavery
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and bondage there
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who had brought them
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to the promised land.
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They were turning away
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from this God.
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They weren't seeing him
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as the one
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who was able
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to give them
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a full life.
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And there were other idols,
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other gods
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that were tempting them away.
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A way that in many ways
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maybe seemed easier.
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A way that didn't entail
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much suffering.
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A way that entailed
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maybe short-term gain.
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And yet a way that entailed
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eternal loss.
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And that's the seriousness
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of why God sent prophets
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such as Isaiah,
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such as Micah,
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and others
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as we read of
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in the Old Testament
30:32
to see that the people
30:34
of God
30:34
who were turning away
30:35
from this insurance
30:37
and this guarantee
30:37
and looking at
30:39
the cheap alternatives,
30:41
they were perishing
30:42
and being lost.
30:44
And God sent them
30:46
to call them
30:47
back to himself.
30:48
So the book of Micah
30:51
is one that's full
30:53
of warning
30:54
to the people
30:55
and it's full of warning
30:56
to ourselves as well.
30:59
It's a book
30:59
that speaks of judgment
31:01
that will come.
31:03
Judgment as we saw
31:04
the last time
31:05
as we were looking
31:06
at chapter 6.
31:08
Judgment for not
31:09
listening to God.
31:11
For turning away from him.
31:13
For not trusting him
31:14
as a guarantee
31:16
for salvation.
31:17
in that question
31:19
that God was asking
31:21
of the people
31:22
in verse 3
31:22
of chapter 6.
31:24
God is challenging
31:25
the people there.
31:27
He's challenging them.
31:28
Where is your security?
31:29
Where is your insurance?
31:31
Oh my people,
31:32
what have I done to you?
31:33
Have I wearied?
31:35
Answer me.
31:37
What have I done
31:38
that you have turned away from me?
31:40
Is it too much
31:40
for you to follow me?
31:43
And he went on
31:44
to explain
31:44
what he had done for them
31:46
in verse 4.
31:46
For I brought you up
31:47
from the land of Egypt.
31:49
I redeemed you
31:50
from the house of slavery.
31:52
I sent before you
31:53
Moses and Aaron
31:54
and Miriam.
31:56
What God
31:57
compares to this?
31:59
Is there any God
32:00
that they could look to
32:01
around them
32:02
that compares
32:03
to this God
32:04
and the miracles
32:05
that he had done
32:06
to lead them
32:07
out of Egypt
32:07
through the Red Sea,
32:09
through the wilderness?
32:11
Show me,
32:11
he's saying,
32:12
a God
32:13
that compares
32:14
to this.
32:16
And Micah,
32:17
as he comes
32:18
to the end
32:18
of this book,
32:19
is saying,
32:20
who is a God
32:22
like you?
32:24
Saying to the people
32:25
then and saying
32:25
to ourselves today,
32:27
who is a God
32:29
like you?
32:31
There are consequences,
32:32
as we see in Micah,
32:34
for not listening
32:35
to what God
32:37
is saying to us.
32:38
But then we ask
32:40
ourselves,
32:41
what are the benefits
32:42
then
32:42
to listening
32:44
to what God
32:46
is saying to us?
32:48
And as you come
32:49
into chapter 7,
32:50
as you read through
32:51
the book of Micah,
32:52
what you see is,
32:53
yes,
32:54
there's much judgment
32:55
in this book.
33:00
But as it comes
33:01
to a conclusion,
33:03
it's reminding us
33:04
of the wonderful love
33:06
of God.
33:08
Verse 18
33:09
to verse 20
33:10
there really
33:11
highlights for us
33:12
who is a God
33:14
like you?
33:15
Who is a God
33:16
that can pardon
33:17
our iniquities?
33:19
Who is a God
33:20
that does not
33:21
retain anger
33:22
forever?
33:23
Who delights
33:23
in steadfast love?
33:25
Who will have
33:25
compassion on us?
33:27
Who threads
33:28
our iniquities
33:28
underfoot?
33:29
Who will cast
33:30
our sins
33:30
into the depths
33:32
of the sea?
33:32
All of these things
33:34
that you see
33:34
in these verses,
33:36
have you found
33:37
another God
33:38
in this world,
33:39
in this life,
33:40
who compares
33:41
to the God
33:42
of the Bible?
33:44
The God
33:45
of steadfast love,
33:46
the God
33:47
who forgives sin,
33:48
the God
33:49
who offers life
33:50
and life eternal.
33:52
Have you found
33:53
another God
33:55
that compares
33:55
to this?
33:57
You haven't
33:58
and you won't
33:59
because there is
34:01
no God
34:02
like this God.
34:03
God.
34:05
And when you look
34:06
at Micah himself,
34:08
his name
34:09
actually means
34:10
who is
34:12
like you
34:13
as Lord.
34:15
That is the root
34:16
of Micah's name.
34:18
Who is like
34:19
the Lord?
34:21
And this is the prophet
34:22
that God sent.
34:25
And when we listen
34:26
to God,
34:27
when we begin
34:28
to see
34:29
that no God
34:30
compares
34:31
to this God,
34:32
then we realize,
34:35
truly realize,
34:36
the steadfast love
34:38
and the security
34:39
that this God
34:40
offers
34:41
to his people.
34:44
Psalm 34,
34:46
it says to us,
34:47
O taste
34:48
and see
34:49
that the Lord
34:50
is good.
34:52
Blessed
34:52
is the one
34:53
who takes
34:54
refuge in him.
34:56
We sang
34:56
in Psalm 1
34:57
that man
34:58
that man
34:58
hath perfect
34:59
blessedness
35:00
who walketh
35:01
not astray.
35:03
The blessing
35:04
of knowing
35:05
God.
35:06
The joy
35:07
of knowing
35:08
that security
35:09
of his steadfast love
35:10
and the salvation
35:11
that he offers
35:13
to us.
35:15
But are we looking
35:16
to him?
35:18
Or are we looking
35:18
and comparing
35:19
and looking
35:20
for a cheaper
35:21
alternative?
35:23
We're surrounded
35:24
by idols
35:25
and false
35:26
gods
35:27
ourselves.
35:28
What the world
35:28
tells us
35:29
we need
35:30
success
35:31
and money
35:32
and status
35:33
power.
35:35
We're surrounded
35:36
by all of these
35:37
idols.
35:37
An idol
35:38
is a false
35:39
God that comes
35:40
between us
35:41
and the living
35:42
God.
35:43
And when we
35:44
listen to the
35:44
idols of this
35:46
world,
35:47
we will perish.
35:50
That is the
35:50
warning of Scripture.
35:51
But when we
35:53
listen to God,
35:55
we find life
35:56
and hope.
35:59
So is there
35:59
a God
36:00
that compares
36:01
to this God?
36:03
Well, there are
36:04
three things
36:04
that Micah
36:05
shows to us
36:06
in these verses
36:08
in the closing
36:09
part of chapter 7
36:10
that show us
36:11
that no God
36:13
compares
36:14
to this God.
36:15
And I want us
36:16
to see it
36:16
in three ways.
36:18
Three ways
36:19
that Micah
36:19
shows us
36:20
no God
36:21
compares
36:22
to him.
36:23
And the first
36:24
is no God
36:25
compares to him
36:27
as a shepherd,
36:28
a shepherd king.
36:31
No God,
36:32
secondly,
36:32
we'll see,
36:33
compares to him
36:34
as sovereign
36:35
over this world.
36:37
And then thirdly
36:38
and finally,
36:39
we see no God
36:40
compares to him
36:41
as saviour.
36:43
These three things
36:44
Micah shows
36:45
to us.
36:46
The shepherd,
36:48
the way God
36:49
is sovereign
36:50
and the salvation
36:51
that God offers
36:52
that no God
36:53
compares to him.
36:56
So first of all,
36:57
we see
36:57
the shepherd.
37:00
When you look
37:00
at verse 13,
37:03
it's the end
37:04
of a section
37:05
that's speaking
37:06
about
37:06
desolation
37:08
coming
37:08
to people,
37:10
destruction
37:11
coming to people.
37:13
In verse 13,
37:14
it says,
37:14
but the earth
37:15
will be desolate
37:16
because of its
37:18
inhabitants
37:19
for the fruit
37:20
of their deeds.
37:22
The land
37:23
is made
37:24
desolate.
37:24
Destruction
37:25
is all around.
37:29
But yet,
37:30
there's hope.
37:32
There is hope.
37:34
There is a seed
37:34
of recovery.
37:36
There is a sunrise
37:37
after the night
37:39
of darkness.
37:40
And you see
37:42
that Micah
37:43
himself
37:44
has made
37:44
known that
37:45
in verse 7
37:46
where it says,
37:47
but as for me,
37:48
I will look
37:49
to the Lord.
37:50
I will wait
37:51
for the God
37:51
of my salvation.
37:53
My God
37:53
will hear
37:55
me.
37:57
Rejoice
37:58
not over me,
37:59
O my enemy.
37:59
When I fall,
38:00
I shall rise.
38:01
When I sit
38:01
in darkness,
38:02
the Lord
38:03
will be a light
38:04
to me.
38:06
That there is hope,
38:06
that there is
38:07
darkness
38:08
in his day,
38:09
but there is
38:10
hope of the light
38:11
to come.
38:13
And Psalm 30
38:15
is another
38:15
wonderful psalm
38:16
that speaks
38:18
to us
38:18
in verse 5
38:19
of tears
38:21
enduring
38:22
for a night,
38:24
but joy
38:24
comes
38:26
in the morning.
38:28
And what
38:29
makes the difference
38:30
in these
38:31
circumstances?
38:33
When there is
38:34
darkness,
38:35
when there is
38:35
suffering,
38:36
but there is
38:37
hope.
38:37
even
38:38
there is
38:38
a hope
38:38
that we
38:39
cannot yet
38:40
see,
38:40
but there
38:40
is a hope.
38:42
What makes
38:43
the difference?
38:45
Well,
38:45
it's that God
38:46
has not forgotten
38:47
his people.
38:49
Because you
38:50
see that
38:50
in the prayer
38:51
that Micah
38:52
offers up
38:53
in verse 14.
38:55
Shepherd
38:55
your people
38:56
with your
38:57
staff.
38:58
The flock
38:59
of your
38:59
inheritance
39:00
who dwell
39:00
alone
39:01
in a forest
39:01
in the midst
39:02
of a garden
39:03
land,
39:04
let them
39:05
graze
39:05
in Bashan
39:06
and Gilead
39:07
as in
39:08
the days
39:09
of old.
39:10
As in
39:11
the days
39:11
when you
39:12
came out
39:12
of the
39:13
land of
39:13
Egypt.
39:14
I will
39:14
show them
39:15
marvelous
39:16
things.
39:18
There is
39:19
hope.
39:20
What makes
39:21
the difference?
39:23
Who is
39:24
a God
39:24
like you?
39:25
As Micah
39:26
says,
39:26
when it
39:26
comes to
39:27
this situation,
39:29
there is
39:29
no God
39:30
who will
39:30
shepherd
39:31
in this
39:32
world
39:32
apart from
39:33
our God.
39:35
Shepherd
39:35
your people
39:36
with your
39:37
staff.
39:37
The people,
39:39
your inheritance,
39:40
who you
39:40
know and
39:41
who you
39:41
love so
39:42
well.
39:44
When you
39:44
look at
39:45
the shepherd
39:46
imagery in
39:47
the Old
39:47
Testament,
39:48
it's always
39:49
a picture
39:50
of knowledge.
39:52
It's always
39:53
a picture
39:53
of concern
39:54
and compassion
39:56
when you
39:56
think of
39:56
a true
39:57
shepherd.
39:58
It's the
39:59
image that
39:59
we see
40:00
so often
40:01
throughout the
40:02
Old Testament,
40:03
most particularly
40:03
as we see
40:04
it in
40:05
Psalm 23.
40:07
The shepherd
40:07
was one
40:09
who ruled
40:09
well over
40:11
his flock,
40:11
who provided
40:12
for them
40:13
in every
40:14
way,
40:15
who remembered
40:15
them and
40:16
knew them
40:17
intimately,
40:18
knew every
40:18
sheep,
40:19
every face
40:19
before him.
40:20
He knew
40:21
if there
40:21
was one
40:22
missing.
40:22
He knew
40:23
if there
40:23
was one
40:24
suffering
40:24
or hurting.
40:25
That is
40:26
the knowledge
40:26
that we
40:27
see in
40:27
the shepherds
40:28
of the
40:28
Old Testament.
40:30
And that
40:31
is the
40:31
knowledge of
40:31
God
40:32
for his
40:33
people.
40:34
That is
40:34
the knowledge
40:35
that Psalm
40:36
23 speaks
40:37
about so
40:38
wonderfully.
40:38
The Lord
40:39
is my
40:40
shepherd,
40:41
no want
40:41
shall I
40:41
know.
40:43
I will
40:43
not lack
40:44
anything
40:45
because my
40:45
shepherd knows
40:46
what I
40:47
need.
40:48
And this
40:49
is the
40:49
care that
40:50
God has
40:51
for his
40:51
people at
40:52
all times,
40:54
and especially
40:54
in their
40:55
suffering.
40:56
In Exodus
40:57
2,
40:58
we've quoted
40:59
this before,
41:00
but when
41:01
God was
41:01
looking upon
41:02
his people
41:03
in Egypt
41:04
as they
41:04
were suffering
41:05
there,
41:06
it says
41:06
in verse
41:07
24,
41:08
God heard
41:09
their groaning
41:10
and God
41:11
remembered his
41:12
covenant with
41:13
Abraham,
41:14
with Isaac,
41:14
and with
41:15
Jacob.
41:15
God saw
41:16
the people
41:17
of Israel
41:18
and God
41:19
knew.
41:20
He knew
41:21
what had
41:22
to be done.
41:24
He knew
41:24
that action
41:25
was required.
41:26
Why?
41:27
Because his
41:28
sheep were
41:29
suffering.
41:30
His people
41:31
were suffering.
41:33
And God
41:34
has this
41:35
knowledge for
41:36
his people
41:37
at all
41:37
times.
41:39
Psalm 100,
41:40
another psalm
41:41
that speaks
41:41
so wonderfully
41:42
about the
41:43
shepherd and
41:43
the sheep.
41:44
Know that
41:45
the Lord,
41:46
he is God.
41:47
It is he
41:47
who made us
41:48
and we are
41:49
his.
41:49
We are his
41:50
people,
41:50
the sheep
41:51
of his
41:52
pasture.
41:54
He remembers
41:55
our frame.
41:56
He remembers
41:57
our need.
41:58
He remembers
41:58
our weakness.
41:59
He remembers
42:00
everything
42:00
about us.
42:02
And this
42:02
is the
42:03
plea that
42:04
Micah is
42:04
making here
42:05
in verse 14.
42:07
There is
42:07
desolation,
42:08
there is
42:08
suffering,
42:09
but Micah
42:10
is saying,
42:11
who is a
42:12
God that
42:12
compares to
42:13
you as our
42:14
shepherd?
42:15
Shepherd your
42:16
people with
42:18
your staff.
42:19
the flock
42:24
of your
42:24
inheritance.
42:26
May they
42:26
come again
42:27
and graze
42:29
in Bashan
42:29
and Gilead
42:30
as in the
42:31
days of
42:32
old.
42:33
And it's
42:34
interesting now
42:35
how in
42:35
verse 15
42:36
it ties
42:37
back to
42:38
verse 3
42:38
and 4
42:39
of chapter
42:40
6.
42:41
As in the
42:42
days when
42:43
you came
42:43
out of the
42:43
land of
42:44
Egypt,
42:44
I will
42:45
show them
42:46
marvelous
42:47
things.
42:47
The Lord
42:48
is here
42:48
speaking.
42:51
And this
42:51
is in
42:51
contrast to
42:53
what he
42:53
was saying
42:54
to them
42:55
in verse
42:55
3 and
42:55
4.
42:56
Oh my
42:57
people,
42:57
what have
42:58
I done
42:58
to you?
42:59
How have
42:59
I wearied
43:00
you?
43:00
Answered
43:01
me,
43:01
for I
43:02
brought
43:02
you up
43:03
out of
43:03
Egypt
43:04
and
43:05
redeemed
43:05
you from
43:06
the house
43:06
of slavery.
43:07
I have
43:07
done all
43:08
these things
43:09
for you.
43:10
And what
43:11
is he
43:11
saying?
43:13
I will
43:13
do it
43:13
again.
43:15
I will
43:15
do it
43:16
again.
43:17
as in
43:20
the days
43:20
when you
43:21
came out
43:21
of the
43:21
land of
43:22
Egypt,
43:22
I will
43:23
show them
43:23
marvelous
43:24
things.
43:27
And he
43:28
will
43:28
remind us
43:28
again and
43:29
again that
43:30
no God
43:31
compares
43:32
to him.
43:35
And for
43:35
the people
43:36
of the
43:36
Old
43:36
Testament,
43:38
even into
43:38
the New
43:39
Testament,
43:39
as you
43:39
think of
43:40
the feast
43:42
of the
43:42
Passover,
43:43
the Exodus
43:43
was a
43:44
great
43:44
remembrance
43:45
deliverance
43:45
for them,
43:46
the
43:47
deliverance
43:48
of God,
43:49
the marvelous
43:50
things that
43:50
he did in
43:51
shepherding
43:52
his people,
43:54
in leading
43:54
them,
43:55
is so
43:55
well.
43:58
Well,
43:58
what has
43:59
he done
43:59
to show
44:00
his great
44:01
love for
44:02
us today?
44:04
Can we
44:04
say,
44:05
does any
44:05
God compare
44:06
to this
44:07
God who
44:08
sent his
44:09
own son,
44:11
the shepherd
44:12
of his
44:13
people?
44:15
Shepherding
44:16
us through
44:17
Jesus Christ,
44:19
remembering
44:19
us in
44:20
all our
44:21
great needs,
44:22
even though
44:22
we are
44:23
standing
44:24
before him
44:25
just as
44:26
they were
44:27
in the
44:27
days of
44:27
Micah,
44:28
saying,
44:28
well,
44:29
God has
44:29
left us,
44:30
God has
44:31
abandoned us,
44:32
God has
44:32
turned his
44:33
back on us,
44:34
God has
44:35
weeded us
44:35
with all
44:36
his laws
44:37
and all
44:38
of these
44:38
things.
44:39
How?
44:39
How
44:42
compared to
44:43
this God
44:44
who shows
44:44
us love,
44:46
his steadfast
44:47
love,
44:48
through shepherding
44:49
us through
44:49
his own
44:50
son,
44:51
the son
44:52
Jesus Christ
44:53
who,
44:54
in John
44:54
10,
44:56
verse 14
44:57
and 15
44:58
says,
44:58
I am the
44:59
good shepherd,
45:00
I know
45:01
my own,
45:02
and my own
45:03
know me,
45:04
just as the
45:04
Father knows
45:05
me,
45:06
I know
45:07
the Father.
45:08
And what
45:08
does he go
45:09
on to say
45:09
and I
45:11
lay down
45:11
my life
45:12
for the
45:13
sheep?
45:14
That is
45:15
the love
45:15
of the
45:16
shepherd,
45:17
the shepherd
45:18
that Micah
45:19
is pleading
45:19
for,
45:20
to shepherd
45:21
your people,
45:22
to lead
45:23
your people.
45:24
As we
45:24
were hearing
45:25
this morning
45:26
how Jesus
45:27
led his
45:28
disciples out,
45:30
here's another
45:30
great example
45:32
of that as
45:32
well.
45:33
Shepherd,
45:34
lead
45:35
your people.
45:37
The shepherd
45:37
in the Old
45:38
Testament,
45:39
not like
45:39
us today
45:40
who go
45:41
behind the
45:41
sheep,
45:42
trying to
45:43
force them
45:43
the way
45:44
we want
45:44
them to
45:44
go.
45:45
The shepherd
45:46
always led
45:47
from the
45:47
front.
45:50
And so
45:50
our good
45:51
shepherd,
45:52
he has
45:53
led from
45:54
the front.
45:54
He has
45:55
gone before
45:55
us to
45:56
the cross
45:57
to bear
45:59
our sin,
46:00
to give
46:01
us life
46:02
through him,
46:03
that he
46:04
would show
46:04
us marvelous
46:06
things.
46:08
Even as
46:08
in the
46:09
days of
46:09
old and
46:10
even better,
46:12
that we
46:12
have a
46:12
great shepherd
46:13
to watch
46:14
over us.
46:16
Is there
46:17
any God
46:18
that compares
46:19
to this?
46:20
Is there
46:21
anything in
46:21
this world
46:22
that compares
46:23
to the love
46:24
of this
46:25
Savior?
46:27
There is
46:27
nothing.
46:29
There may
46:29
be cheap
46:30
alternatives,
46:31
but they're
46:32
no use at
46:32
the end of
46:33
the day.
46:34
We need
46:35
this shepherd.
46:38
And the
46:38
second thing
46:39
we see
46:39
here is
46:40
in verse
46:40
16 and
46:42
17,
46:44
where we
46:45
see the
46:45
promise,
46:46
the sovereign
46:47
promise that
46:48
God gives.
46:51
And this
46:52
is more a
46:53
sign that
46:54
God will
46:55
rule over
46:55
all people
46:56
and all
46:57
nations,
46:59
the good
46:59
and the
47:00
bad.
47:01
The nation
47:02
shall see
47:03
and be
47:03
ashamed of
47:04
all their
47:05
might.
47:05
They shall
47:06
lay their
47:06
hands on
47:07
their mouths,
47:08
their ears
47:08
shall be
47:09
deaf.
47:09
They shall
47:10
lick the
47:10
dust like
47:11
a serpent,
47:12
like the
47:13
crawling
47:13
things of
47:14
the earth.
47:15
They shall
47:15
come trembling
47:16
out of their
47:17
strongholds.
47:18
They shall
47:18
turn in
47:19
dread to
47:19
the Lord
47:20
our God,
47:21
and they
47:21
shall be
47:22
in fear
47:23
of you.
47:25
The nations
47:26
shall see
47:27
and be
47:28
ashamed.
47:28
They will
47:28
turn in
47:30
dread to
47:31
the Lord
47:32
our God.
47:35
All the
47:36
nations
47:37
of this
47:38
world
47:39
will see.
47:42
But what
47:42
do the
47:42
nations
47:43
say today?
47:45
What were
47:46
the nations
47:46
saying in
47:48
the days
47:48
of Micah?
47:51
They were
47:52
saying to
47:52
Micah,
47:53
where is
47:54
your God?
47:56
Where is
47:57
your God?
47:58
God.
47:59
And so
47:59
they say
48:00
to this
48:01
day as
48:01
well,
48:02
where is
48:03
your God?
48:06
We often
48:06
say that
48:07
time goes
48:08
by so
48:09
quickly.
48:10
The years
48:10
go by
48:11
so quickly.
48:13
Later on
48:14
this year,
48:15
it's more
48:16
than 20
48:17
years in
48:17
September
48:18
since the
48:19
terrorist
48:19
attack.
48:20
September
48:21
the 11th
48:21
in the
48:22
United
48:22
States.
48:24
It's
48:24
amazing to
48:24
think just
48:25
how quickly
48:26
the time
48:27
has gone
48:27
past.
48:29
Boxing
48:30
Day last
48:32
year now,
48:33
2023,
48:34
was 19
48:35
years since
48:35
the tsunami
48:36
in the
48:37
Far East
48:37
struck.
48:39
Where were
48:40
you when
48:40
these things
48:41
happened?
48:42
I'm sure
48:43
for many
48:43
people here
48:44
these events
48:45
they still
48:46
stand out
48:47
in your
48:47
mind.
48:48
You maybe
48:48
remember
48:48
exactly where
48:49
you were
48:50
when you
48:51
heard these
48:51
events were
48:52
happening and
48:53
saw them on
48:54
your television
48:54
screens.
48:56
They were
48:56
huge events,
48:58
monumentous
48:58
events for
49:00
our world
49:00
and all
49:02
the world
49:03
saw this
49:04
happening.
49:05
All ends
49:06
of the
49:06
earth saw
49:07
these things
49:08
taking place.
49:11
And it's
49:11
so often
49:12
in these
49:13
times when
49:14
people will
49:15
question,
49:16
where was
49:17
God?
49:18
Where was
49:19
God when
49:20
these things
49:21
happened?
49:23
John Blanchard,
49:24
an author,
49:25
he wrote
49:26
a book
49:26
and the
49:27
title of
49:27
the book
49:28
was Where
49:29
Was God
49:29
on September
49:30
the 11th?
49:33
And in the
49:33
book he
49:34
highlights the
49:35
challenge that
49:35
these kinds
49:36
of tragedies
49:37
bring to
49:38
us and
49:39
especially
49:39
bring to
49:40
faith.
49:41
How do we
49:41
respond when
49:43
people say
49:44
these questions?
49:44
Where was
49:45
God when
49:46
all of this
49:47
was happening?
49:48
And he
49:49
tells of a
49:49
story when
49:51
he was
49:51
challenged
49:52
himself about
49:53
the question,
49:54
where was
49:55
God?
49:56
And there
49:57
was a time
49:57
when he
49:57
met with
49:58
a lawyer
49:58
called
49:59
Edward
49:59
Tabash.
50:02
Edward
50:02
Tabash
50:03
comes from
50:04
a five
50:05
unbroken
50:05
generation of
50:07
Orthodox
50:08
Jews.
50:11
But the
50:12
Holocaust
50:12
impacted
50:14
his family
50:15
and it
50:16
claimed the
50:17
lives of
50:17
two of his
50:18
own family
50:18
members.
50:20
And it
50:21
turned him
50:22
into a
50:23
passionate
50:23
atheist,
50:25
turned his
50:26
back on
50:26
faith and
50:27
religion.
50:29
And behind
50:30
it all was
50:31
this question,
50:32
how could
50:33
God allow
50:34
this to
50:35
happen?
50:37
And in
50:37
one debate
50:38
that he was
50:39
having,
50:40
it was in
50:40
California,
50:42
he said
50:42
this,
50:43
Edward
50:43
Tabash,
50:44
if the
50:45
God of
50:45
the Bible
50:46
actually
50:47
exists,
50:49
I want
50:50
to sue
50:50
him for
50:51
negligence,
50:53
for being
50:54
asleep at
50:56
the wheel
50:56
of the
50:57
universe when
50:57
my grandfather
50:58
and uncle
50:59
were gassed
51:00
to death
51:01
in
51:02
Auschwitz.
51:03
And you
51:04
can just
51:05
imagine the
51:06
pain that
51:07
he's suffering
51:07
thinking on
51:09
these events,
51:10
but to say
51:11
I want to
51:12
sue the
51:13
God for
51:15
negligence,
51:17
for being
51:18
asleep at
51:19
the wheel
51:19
of the
51:20
universe.
51:22
Was God
51:23
asleep when
51:25
these things
51:25
happened?
51:27
When Auschwitz
51:28
happened and
51:29
so many
51:29
lost their
51:30
lives there?
51:33
John Blanchard
51:34
went on to
51:34
speak about
51:35
this about
51:36
September the
51:36
11th and
51:38
he said,
51:38
when I was
51:38
asked where
51:39
was God
51:40
when religious
51:41
fanatics
51:41
killed those
51:42
3,000 people
51:43
in America,
51:45
I replied
51:46
exactly where
51:48
he was
51:48
when religious
51:49
fanatics
51:50
killed his
51:51
son,
51:52
Jesus Christ,
51:54
in complete
51:55
control of
51:57
everything that
51:57
happened.
51:59
This is a
52:00
clear teaching
52:01
of Scripture,
52:01
he goes on
52:02
to say.
52:03
Those who
52:04
combined to
52:04
have Jesus
52:05
crucified were
52:06
wicked men,
52:07
yet his
52:08
death was
52:09
according to
52:09
God's set
52:10
purpose and
52:12
foreknowledge.
52:13
as the
52:14
book of
52:14
Acts,
52:15
chapter 2,
52:16
verse 23,
52:18
makes clear.
52:20
It is hard
52:21
to answer
52:21
some of
52:22
these questions.
52:23
Where was
52:23
God when?
52:26
But that is
52:26
the greatest
52:27
answer we
52:28
can give.
52:29
Exactly where
52:30
he was when
52:31
religious
52:32
fanatics killed
52:33
his son,
52:33
Jesus Christ,
52:35
in complete
52:36
control of
52:38
everything.
52:40
And that's
52:41
hard sometimes
52:42
for us to
52:43
accept.
52:46
But isn't
52:46
it such a
52:47
great assurance
52:48
to us to
52:50
know that
52:50
God is
52:52
sovereign,
52:53
that God
52:54
is in
52:55
control?
52:56
Because what
52:57
does this
52:57
world have
52:58
to offer
52:58
us in
52:59
terms of
53:00
security and
53:01
control?
53:02
Who is in
53:03
control?
53:04
Who is in
53:05
charge of
53:06
events and
53:07
everything that's
53:08
happening in
53:09
this world?
53:09
Is it just
53:10
chance?
53:11
Do we just
53:11
leave it to
53:12
go on as
53:13
it is with
53:13
no thought
53:14
of anything
53:15
or anyone
53:16
being in
53:16
control?
53:19
Well, God
53:21
is in
53:21
control.
53:23
What God
53:24
compares to
53:26
him?
53:28
And the
53:28
knowledge that
53:30
he is in
53:32
control.
53:35
We are all
53:35
sinners, as
53:36
verse 18
53:38
makes clear
53:39
for us.
53:41
But he
53:42
does not
53:42
retain his
53:43
anger forever.
53:46
He has
53:47
mercy.
53:49
And that is
53:50
something wonderful
53:51
for us to
53:53
think on.
53:56
Not to
53:57
turn to
53:57
atheism.
53:59
Not to
53:59
turn away
54:01
from God
54:01
completely and
54:02
accuse him of
54:03
being asleep at
54:04
the wheel of
54:05
the universe
54:05
when all
54:06
these things
54:07
happen.
54:09
But it's a
54:09
time to
54:10
come to
54:11
God, to
54:13
look to
54:13
him, to
54:14
trust in
54:14
him, because
54:15
there is no
54:16
other way to
54:17
salvation.
54:18
There is no
54:19
other way to
54:20
security.
54:21
There's no
54:21
other policy that
54:22
this world can
54:23
offer us that
54:24
will give us
54:25
comfort and
54:26
confidence in
54:27
all of these
54:28
situations apart
54:29
from God.
54:30
Jesus said on
54:33
the cross,
54:34
Father, forgive
54:36
them, for
54:37
they know not
54:38
what they do.
54:41
And to
54:41
know that
54:42
forgiveness, to
54:44
know that
54:44
peace that he
54:46
is offering, to
54:46
know that
54:47
steadfast love
54:48
that we have
54:49
in him.
54:50
When we
54:51
listen to
54:51
God, we
54:52
see his
54:53
sovereign over
54:54
all the good
54:55
and the wicked
54:56
and all events
54:58
of this world.
54:59
And we can
54:59
leave them in
55:00
his hands, for
55:02
we'll never
55:03
understand some
55:04
things.
55:07
But God
55:08
does and God
55:09
knows.
55:11
And is that
55:11
not enough
55:12
for us to
55:15
know that
55:16
he is
55:16
sovereign?
55:19
Well, thirdly
55:19
and finally, we
55:20
see here that
55:22
he is the
55:23
Savior.
55:25
And no
55:26
God compares
55:27
to him when
55:28
it comes to
55:30
salvation.
55:32
In verse
55:32
18 to
55:35
verse 20,
55:36
make that so
55:36
wonderfully clear
55:37
for us.
55:38
Who is a
55:39
God like you,
55:40
pardoning iniquity,
55:42
passing over
55:42
transgression for
55:43
the remnant of
55:44
his inheritance?
55:45
He does not
55:46
retain his
55:47
anger forever
55:48
because he
55:48
delights in
55:50
steadfast love.
55:52
He will again
55:52
have compassion
55:53
on us.
55:54
He will tread
55:55
our iniquities
55:56
under foot.
55:56
He will cast
55:57
all our sins
55:59
into the
55:59
depths of
56:01
the sea.
56:03
What a
56:04
wonderful God
56:05
we have.
56:07
Is there any
56:08
God in this
56:09
world who can
56:10
do this for
56:11
us?
56:12
Show us
56:13
steadfast love,
56:14
pass over our
56:15
transgression,
56:17
cast our sins
56:18
into the depths
56:19
of the sea?
56:20
No.
56:21
There is no
56:23
other.
56:25
Our greatest
56:26
need is a
56:27
saviour.
56:28
And we have
56:29
one here in
56:31
Jesus Christ.
56:33
Because Jesus
56:34
himself said,
56:35
no one comes
56:36
to the Father
56:37
but by me.
56:40
And he also
56:41
said, it is
56:41
finished.
56:42
I have opened
56:43
the way.
56:43
The way is
56:44
prepared.
56:45
I will lead
56:46
you as my
56:48
people.
56:49
But what
56:50
kind of
56:51
people are
56:53
we?
56:54
Where is
56:55
our confidence?
56:58
Where is
56:58
our assurance
56:59
today?
57:01
Is it in
57:03
anything else
57:03
but God?
57:07
Who is a
57:08
God like
57:09
you?
57:11
A question
57:12
was once
57:12
asked in a
57:13
newspaper article.
57:14
and it
57:15
was seeking
57:16
responses.
57:18
And the
57:18
question was
57:19
this, what's
57:21
wrong with
57:22
the world?
57:24
A simple
57:25
short
57:26
question.
57:28
But a
57:29
question that
57:29
could lead to
57:30
many different
57:31
answers.
57:32
How would
57:33
you answer
57:33
that question
57:35
today?
57:36
Where do
57:36
your thoughts
57:37
immediately go
57:38
when you hear
57:39
that question?
57:40
What's wrong
57:41
with the
57:41
world
57:42
today?
57:43
Well, there
57:44
was a
57:45
number of
57:46
correspondents
57:47
that were
57:47
sent in to
57:48
the paper
57:49
with answers.
57:51
But one
57:51
winning answer
57:53
was chosen.
57:55
And it was
57:55
the shortest
57:56
answer that
57:58
was given.
58:00
And the
58:00
response was
58:02
this.
58:02
In response
58:03
to your
58:04
question,
58:05
what's wrong
58:06
with the
58:07
world?
58:09
I am.
58:11
Yours
58:11
faithfully,
58:13
G.K.
58:14
Chesterton.
58:15
G.K.
58:16
Chesterton
58:17
is a writer,
58:18
an author,
58:19
a Christian
58:19
author.
58:21
And that
58:21
was his
58:22
response.
58:24
Is that
58:24
the first
58:25
response that
58:26
comes to
58:26
your mind
58:27
when you
58:27
hear that
58:28
question?
58:29
Or is it
58:30
our natural
58:31
inclination
58:32
just to go
58:33
away and
58:33
think of
58:34
something and
58:35
somebody else?
58:38
Or do we
58:38
look to
58:39
ourselves
58:39
and say,
58:42
what's wrong
58:43
with the
58:43
world?
58:45
Begin with
58:45
I am.
58:48
My heart
58:49
not being
58:50
right with
58:51
God.
58:53
My not
58:54
trusting in
58:55
him with
58:56
all my
58:56
heart.
58:58
Me not
58:59
depending on
59:00
him for
59:01
security and
59:02
salvation as
59:03
is offered in
59:04
the scripture.
59:04
that's what
59:07
was wrong
59:07
in Micah's
59:08
day.
59:10
It's what's
59:10
wrong in
59:12
our day
59:12
too.
59:14
It's the
59:15
sin of
59:16
our heart
59:16
that is
59:17
wrong with
59:18
this world.
59:20
We are
59:21
alive today
59:22
because,
59:24
as we sang
59:24
in Psalm
59:25
103,
59:27
God does
59:27
not treat
59:28
our sin
59:29
as it
59:30
deserves
59:30
or repay
59:32
us according
59:33
to our
59:34
iniquities.
59:36
Or to
59:36
put it in
59:37
a more
59:37
positive way
59:38
as Lamentations
59:39
3 says,
59:40
because of
59:41
the Lord's
59:42
great love
59:43
we are not
59:44
consumed.
59:46
That is
59:47
how we
59:48
are alive
59:48
today.
59:49
Who is
59:51
a God
59:52
like you?
59:54
Peter,
59:55
when he
59:56
was asked
59:57
and the
59:57
disciples were
59:58
asked,
59:59
will you
59:59
also go
1:00:00
away?
1:00:02
Will you
1:00:02
turn away
1:00:03
from this
1:00:04
God who
1:00:05
is offering
1:00:05
salvation
1:00:06
through Jesus
1:00:07
Christ?
1:00:08
What a
1:00:08
wonderful
1:00:09
response he
1:00:10
gave.
1:00:11
To whom
1:00:12
else can
1:00:13
we go?
1:00:14
For you
1:00:14
alone have
1:00:15
the words
1:00:16
of eternal
1:00:17
life.
1:00:18
There is
1:00:18
nowhere else
1:00:19
to go.
1:00:20
There is
1:00:20
no place
1:00:21
we can go
1:00:21
and find
1:00:22
assurance
1:00:23
and insurance
1:00:23
for eternity
1:00:25
apart from
1:00:26
this God.
1:00:26
God.
1:00:29
So where
1:00:30
do we
1:00:31
go?
1:00:33
Who is
1:00:33
a God
1:00:34
like you?
1:00:36
There is
1:00:37
no other.
1:00:39
And when we
1:00:39
listen to
1:00:40
him, we
1:00:41
see the
1:00:41
benefits that
1:00:42
he offers
1:00:43
to his
1:00:43
people.
1:00:44
He will
1:00:44
shepherd.
1:00:45
He will
1:00:46
lead his
1:00:47
people.
1:00:48
He is
1:00:48
sovereign over
1:00:49
all people
1:00:50
of this
1:00:51
world.
1:00:52
And he
1:00:53
is preparing
1:00:54
a salvation
1:00:55
for his
1:00:56
people like
1:00:57
nothing else
1:00:58
that this
1:00:59
world can
1:01:00
offer.
1:01:01
Paul, when
1:01:02
he wrote
1:01:03
to the
1:01:03
Corinthians,
1:01:04
in chapter
1:01:05
2 of
1:01:05
1 Corinthians,
1:01:06
it says,
1:01:07
But as it
1:01:07
is written,
1:01:08
what no eye
1:01:09
has seen,
1:01:10
nor ear heard,
1:01:11
nor the heart
1:01:12
of man imagined,
1:01:13
what God
1:01:14
has prepared
1:01:14
for those
1:01:16
who love
1:01:16
him.
1:01:17
No God
1:01:18
compares
1:01:20
to this
1:01:20
God.
1:01:21
who is
1:01:22
a God
1:01:23
like you.
1:01:25
There is
1:01:26
no other.
1:01:28
We can
1:01:28
compare
1:01:29
every other
1:01:30
idol and
1:01:30
false God
1:01:31
of this
1:01:32
world,
1:01:33
and at the
1:01:33
end of the
1:01:34
day, none
1:01:34
will help.
1:01:37
Apart from
1:01:37
this God,
1:01:39
we have
1:01:39
nothing.
1:01:41
Psalm 77
1:01:43
says,
1:01:44
in verse
1:01:44
13,
1:01:45
O God,
1:01:46
most holy
1:01:47
are your
1:01:47
ways.
1:01:48
What God
1:01:49
compares with
1:01:50
you,
1:01:51
you are
1:01:52
the God
1:01:52
of miracles,
1:01:54
whose power
1:01:55
the nations
1:01:56
view.
1:01:58
There is
1:01:59
no God
1:01:59
who compares
1:02:01
with him.
1:02:03
And whatever
1:02:03
the world
1:02:04
puts in front
1:02:05
of us
1:02:06
and shows
1:02:06
us,
1:02:08
whatever
1:02:08
tempts us
1:02:09
away
1:02:09
from this
1:02:10
God,
1:02:12
may we see
1:02:12
there is
1:02:12
no benefit
1:02:13
now or
1:02:15
for eternity
1:02:16
in any
1:02:17
other God
1:02:18
apart from
1:02:19
this God
1:02:20
who will
1:02:20
shepherd,
1:02:21
this God
1:02:22
who is
1:02:22
sovereign,
1:02:24
and this
1:02:24
God who
1:02:25
can save.
1:02:27
Let us
1:02:27
pray.
1:02:27
our Father
1:02:30
in heaven,
1:02:31
we rejoice
1:02:32
in your
1:02:32
word to
1:02:33
us and
1:02:34
we thank
1:02:34
you that
1:02:35
it speaks
1:02:35
to us
1:02:36
of your
1:02:37
judgment
1:02:38
in so
1:02:39
many ways
1:02:40
and your
1:02:41
sovereignty
1:02:41
over all
1:02:42
people,
1:02:43
but your
1:02:44
great assurance
1:02:44
to your
1:02:45
people that
1:02:46
you will
1:02:47
shepherd,
1:02:48
that you
1:02:48
will save.
1:02:50
And we
1:02:50
pray,
1:02:51
Lord,
1:02:51
that you
1:02:51
will help
1:02:52
us to
1:02:52
hear your
1:02:53
voice in
1:02:54
the midst
1:02:54
of all
1:02:54
others,
1:02:56
to hear
1:02:56
and to
1:02:57
listen and
1:02:58
to follow
1:02:58
you.
1:02:59
For we
1:02:59
ask it in
1:03:00
Jesus'
1:03:01
name.
1:03:01
Amen.
1:03:05
We're
1:03:05
going to
1:03:06
conclude by
1:03:07
singing to
1:03:08
God's
1:03:08
praise in
1:03:09
Psalm 135.
1:03:13
We sang the
1:03:14
end of this
1:03:14
psalm from
1:03:15
the Scottish
1:03:15
Psalter,
1:03:17
which reminded
1:03:19
us of the
1:03:20
idols of
1:03:21
this world.
1:03:22
But the
1:03:22
beginning of
1:03:23
the psalm
1:03:24
reminds us
1:03:25
of the
1:03:25
greatness
1:03:25
of our
1:03:26
God.
1:03:27
Praise the
1:03:28
Lord,
1:03:28
all you
1:03:28
as servants.
1:03:30
Praise his
1:03:31
name with
1:03:31
glad accord.
1:03:32
You who
1:03:33
serve God
1:03:34
in his
1:03:34
temple,
1:03:35
in the
1:03:35
dwelling of
1:03:36
the Lord.
1:03:37
Then verse
1:03:38
5 says,
1:03:39
For I know
1:03:39
the Lord
1:03:40
is mighty,
1:03:41
greater than
1:03:42
all gods
1:03:43
he is.
1:03:43
He is
1:03:44
sovereign in
1:03:45
the heavens,
1:03:46
on the
1:03:47
earth,
1:03:47
and in
1:03:48
the sea.
1:03:49
Psalm 135,
1:03:50
the Sing
1:03:50
Psalms version,
1:03:52
page 176.
1:03:53
We'll sing
1:03:53
from verse
1:03:54
1 to 6.
1:03:59
Praise the
1:04:01
Lord, all
1:04:03
you
1:04:03
who
1:04:04
servants,
1:04:06
praise his
1:04:08
name with
1:04:09
glad accord.
1:04:12
You who
1:04:14
serve God
1:04:15
in his
1:04:17
temple,
1:04:18
in the
1:04:20
dwelling of
1:04:22
the Lord.
1:04:25
Praise the
1:04:26
Lord, for
1:04:28
this is
1:04:30
victory.
1:04:31
He is
1:04:32
good, his
1:04:34
praise
1:04:35
proclaim.
1:04:36
Praise the
1:04:37
Lord, for
1:04:40
it is
1:04:41
pleasant
1:04:42
to sing
1:04:44
praises to
1:04:46
his name.
1:04:49
For
1:04:50
the Lord
1:04:52
has chosen
1:04:53
Jacob
1:04:55
to be
1:04:57
known to
1:04:58
him
1:04:59
alone,
1:05:01
Israel
1:05:02
to be
1:05:04
his
1:05:05
treasure,
1:05:07
set apart
1:05:09
to be
1:05:10
his
1:05:11
own.
1:05:13
For
1:05:14
I know
1:05:16
the
1:05:16
Lord
1:05:17
is
1:05:18
mighty,
1:05:19
greater
1:05:20
than
1:05:22
all
1:05:22
gods
1:05:23
he
1:05:24
be.
1:05:25
He is
1:05:27
sovereign
1:05:27
in the
1:05:29
heavens,
1:05:31
on the
1:05:32
earth
1:05:33
and in
1:05:34
the
1:05:35
sea.
1:05:36
After
1:05:38
the
1:05:38
benediction,
1:05:39
I'll go to
1:05:40
the door to
1:05:40
my left.
1:05:41
We'll
1:05:41
close with
1:05:42
the
1:05:42
benediction.
1:05:43
Now may
1:05:43
grace,
1:05:44
mercy and
1:05:45
peace from
1:05:46
God,
1:05:46
Father,
1:05:47
Son and
1:05:47
Holy Spirit
1:05:48
rest upon
1:05:50
and abide
1:05:50
with you
1:05:51
all,
1:05:51
now and
1:05:52
forevermore.
1:05:53
Amen.
1:06:06
will
1:06:08
pray.
1:06:14
Pray for
1:06:15
you
1:06:16
them