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Let All the Earth Rejoice · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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  to the end of the psalm. You can read again just verse 34 though.
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  Psalm 69 reading at verse 34. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that
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  moves in them. For God will save Sion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell
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  there and possess it. The offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name
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  shall dwell in it. We come back to look at this psalm for the fourth time and final time
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  this evening. We've looked at it a couple of times now, just seeing how real the psalmist
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  is in his prayer to God here. It's not a polished prayer, it's a prayer that so often seems to
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  be just jumping around from one thing to another. He's distressed, he's in turmoil at what's going
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  on around him and within him as well, and just questioning of God, why, and crying out
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  to God in so many different ways. His opening cry in verse 1, save me, O God. So we see
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  immediately that there's this sense of trouble that the psalmist is in. Verse 5 has a confession,
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  O God, you know my folly. The wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. So he's not hiding
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  the fact that he has done wrong before God. But we saw then, secondly, that there was a recognition
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  of who God is as he's praying to him. He realizes who he is praying to, recognizing his reproach,
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  his suffering, unjust as it is, is for God, because he still loves God. And he spoke of the seal for God
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  that has consumed him and his cause. Then the last time we were looking at verse 14 through to 21,
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  and we saw how he was crying out in prayer, initially saying, Lord, answer me in your own time.
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  And then coming to the point where he's saying, Lord, answer me quickly. Look at the suffering I'm in.
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  Is it hidden from you? But we saw too that in verse 19 that God does know. Verse 19 says,
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  you know my reproach. You know my suffering. And in these words, there is confidence. And it's this
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  confidence that we see grow towards the end of the psalm. So the psalm is a prayer. And it's a powerful
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  reminder to ourselves that at all times and in all circumstances, we can pray to God that he is
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  there for us. William Barclay once said, there are three things that we should remember as we pray.
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  The first thing is the love of God that wants the best for us. The second thing is the wisdom of God
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  that knows what is best for us. And the third thing is the power of God that can accomplish it.
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  Now you hear these things and it would be great to approach God in that way each time to have this
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  this confidence, the love of God that wants the best for us, the wisdom of God that knows what's
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  best for us and the power of God that he has to do it. But we acknowledge at times, just like the
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  psalmist here, there's times when we come to God forgetting these things.
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  And we always need to remind ourselves that we are not the ones who are powerful. We are not the
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  ones who are wise. We are not the ones who can do, but that God can. And so the psalmist here, he knows
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  his situation. He knows his reproach, his suffering, and he feels he doesn't deserve it because of his love
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  for God. And that's why he is crying out to God. But he knows too, that he is redeemed by God's grace, and that he
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  lives in a fallen world where there are always enemies around. And that is true for ourselves today as well. He
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  doesn't downplay how deeply discouraged he is, how many questions he has as to what and why it's happening.
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  But what he does is take it to the Lord in prayer. You see many twists and turns in this prayer. And if you
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  look at your own prayer life, day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year, you look back over your
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  prayer life, and you will see so many of the same twists and turns in your own experience too. The times
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  when there's great rejoicing and hope and joy in the Lord, and the times when there's great challenges and
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  many questions that you're asking of God. And sometimes the two are just together in the same
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  moment. But what it does, what prayer does is, it brings us to God. It brings us to his word. And that is
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  what always brings us back on track and keeps us on track. And that's what we see as we conclude this
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  psalm. There's three things I want us to take just briefly in the conclusion of this psalm. There's three
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  final sections we want to take from verse 22 down to verse 36. They're both challenges for us and
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  encouragements to us as well. There's three things we have to deal with. And the psalmist makes it clear
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  for us. First of all, we have to deal with our enemies. We have to deal with our enemies. The second
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  thing is we have to deal with ourselves. And then finally, we'll see we have to deal with God. So we have
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  to deal with our enemies first. The psalmist's prayer here in verse 22 to verse 28. What you see is a cry
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  to God that he would have this outpouring of judgment on his enemies. And you see it in very vivid
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  language here. He's talking about things becoming a snare and a trap, their eyes to be darkened. Pour out
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  your indignation upon them and let your burning anger overtake them. There in verse 24. There's so much
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  powerful language here about the psalmist crying out, deal with these people, deal with them in this way.
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  But remembering this psalm and how we've seen how much it speaks to us of the suffering of Christ.
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  Christ. That's why we read in Luke chapter 23 as well. We're in the midst of the enemy bringing
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  Jesus to the cross. What is Jesus's cry on the cross? Father, forgive them for they know not what to do.
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  And there lies the challenge that we see to ourselves here. The psalmist has to face up.
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  Is it right to pray like this? There's so many things that we look at in the world today and we know it's
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  wrong. And it makes us angry. And is this our prayer today for so many people and situations?
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  Lord, pour out your indignation upon them. Let your burning anger overtake them. I'm sure there's times
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  when we feel like praying like that. Maybe we do pray like that. Is it appropriate to pray like that? Well,
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  here we have. It shows us that it is. That the prayer for God's righteous judgment is not a wrong
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  prayer. That seeking God, dealing with people who are obviously doing wickedness to so many people in
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  so many different situations. It's not wrong in and of itself. But it shouldn't be the only prayer
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  that we have. But there is a reminder to us here that God's judgment is something serious.
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  And it's a reminder to us. So we said of this psalm, it's one of the most quoted psalms in the New
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  Testament. And when you're looking at the judgment that he's speaking about here, you see it quoted in the
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  New Testament in situations where there's a cry for judgment. One example is in the book of Acts, chapter 1,
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  1 and verse 20. And there it's speaking about Judas. In verse 19, it says, sorry, verse 24 is written in the book of Psalms,
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  may his camp become desolate and let there be no one to dwell in it. Now, this is in the midst of the
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  Bible. And it's speaking about Judas, who it speaks of in verse 16. Brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled,
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  which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those
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  who arrested Jesus. So it's speaking there about judgment. In Romans chapter 11, verse 9 and 10,
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  it's speaking about God's judgment upon an unbelieving people, unbelieving Israel. And it's quoting
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  verse 22 from this psalm, let their own table before them become a snare. And when they're at peace,
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  let it become a trap. It's a warning of judgment. In Revelation chapter 16, verse 1, there it says,
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  go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God. And it's so close there to what is
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  in verse 24. Pour out your indignation upon them and let your burning anger overtake them.
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  So it's not a case of you just see a wrathful God in the Old Testament and God in the New Testament is
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  just a loving God. You have the wrath of God throughout in the same way as you have the love and grace of God
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  throughout as well. So we have to see this psalm is showing forth that God will judge.
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  But we see too how it reminds us of the Lord Jesus too. How we've seen it speak of his suffering.
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  How it speaks of the fact that he was going to come and die for our sins, that he is the one
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  who would redeem his people. We've seen all of these things. And notice here how it says in
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  in this psalm as well, it speaks about that they gave him in verse 21,
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  they gave me poison for food and for my thirst, they gave me sour wine to drink. That is what they gave to
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  Jesus on the cross. And yet in the very next verse as it speaks about judgment coming. We see that Jesus
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  too in Luke, what did he say? Father, forgive them for they know not what they're doing. And you see a powerful
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  contrast there for us. When it comes to dealing with our enemies, how do we deal with them?
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  You see, judgment is right. But we have to remember that will come from God. And what we see with Jesus is
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  that he came to show mercy and grace. Because we can't judge. Where would we be without the grace of God
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  ourselves? We are under the judgment of God. And it's only through repentance and forgiveness of our sins
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  that we don't receive the judgment that we deserve.
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  And so it's a challenge to us. Yes, we can look on our enemies, the ones we see on our screens day by day,
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  but those people around us who stir us up in our hearts, who reject God, who we can become angry with.
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  How do we deal with them? What's more important to us this evening to see a people judged or to see a
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  people receive the mercy of God? The mercy that we have received for our sins?
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  Matthew 5 verse 44 says, But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
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  Yes, we can at times pray, Lord, we know, come in judgment. But Lord, we pray to come in mercy.
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  Turn these hearts that are wicked to you. Just like our hearts that are wicked, let them be turned to you.
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  So dealing with our enemies. We look to God. The second thing we see here is dealing with self.
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  And the two go hand in hand. When we move through to verse 29 down to verse 33,
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  we see David in the psalm here move from pain to praise.
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  And what is it that makes the difference? How does it come to this point where there's such a change
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  in his experience? Well, it's about focus. And here we see David dealing with himself and doing so in two ways.
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  First, you have to take in that section, verse 22 to verse 28, how he deals with his enemies. What does he do?
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  Is he going to deal with them himself? Is he going to get an army together and go and deal with them in that way?
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  No, he lets God deal with them. And there is such an important lesson for ourselves.
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  You know, he's talking there in verse 24. It's not I'm going to pour out my anger upon these people.
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  He's saying to God, pour out your indignation upon them.
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  So he leaves it with God. And we can do that ourselves as well. But for that, we have to deal
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  with ourselves, with our own hearts, our own hearts that are so naturally inclined to anger and wrath
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  against a people who do wrong. We have to deal with ourselves. But the book of Romans again reminds us
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  to leave it with God. In chapter 12, verse 18, if possible, so far as it depends on you, live
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  peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God. For it is written,
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  vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him.
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  If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For by so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.
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  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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  So again, there's both a challenge and an encouragement to us there. How do we deal with our enemies?
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  Do we deal with them in this way? If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
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  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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  So we have to deal with that challenge in our own hearts. Lord, will you not change my heart that's so angry
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  towards people?
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  It's so easy to let anger consume us.
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  And when we're in that situation, it's so difficult to forgive and to love.
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  But remember how we looked at earlier in this psalm, in verse 9,
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  for seal for your house has consumed me.
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  Seal for the Lord.
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  Love for the Lord has consumed me.
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  And that is the way we are to seek to live as well.
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  That's a challenge to ourselves.
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  What is it that we allow to consume our hearts?
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  Is it the seal in anger?
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  Or is it seal for the Lord's house and the Lord's cause?
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  Because the second thing you see about the way he deals with himself here is his focus turns
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  to God for himself as well.
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  As well as leaving the judgment of the enemies to God, he puts himself into God's hands.
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  In verse 29, he says,
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  But I am afflicted and in pain.
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  Let your salvation, O God, set me on high.
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  Lord, lift me up.
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  We've seen how he was sinking down in verse 1.
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  Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
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  I sink in deep mire.
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  But now there's this change that's coming.
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  Let your salvation, O God, set me on high.
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  Lift me up.
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  Deal with me in this way.
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  Help me to deal with myself, with my heart, my anger, this way I've been praying to you.
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  So selfishly at times, saying, Lord, do it now.
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  Why, Lord, are you doing these things?
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  All of these things we see throughout the psalm.
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  But we're seeing here the psalm deals with us too.
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  How we deal with ourselves.
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  I'm afflicted and in pain, but Lord, let your salvation, let it lift me on high.
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  I will praise the name of God with a song.
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  I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
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  There's this sense of beginning to see God again, focusing on God.
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  Dealing with ourselves is one of the hardest challenges that we face.
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  We maybe deal with others in a way that we know is not right.
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  And we can judge so many different people in so many different ways.
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  But what about ourselves?
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  It's one of the hardest challenges to realize the faults and blemishes that are in our own hearts.
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  Sometimes we know it all too well.
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  But other times we need them pointing out.
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  They need constantly ironing out of who we are.
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  And the Lord needs to be constantly working in us.
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  And for that we need to be examining ourselves through his word.
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  And looking to him and focusing on him.
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  And praising him.
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  I will praise the name of God with a song he says here.
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  We see there's a change.
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  And that's what you find throughout this prayer.
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  And it's what we should pray for ourselves.
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  That Lord as we approach you in prayer.
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  You would calm us.
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  You would still us.
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  You would give us peace.
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  So that our focus comes away from everything else that's going on around us.
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  That's out of our control.
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  And we say Lord it is in your hands.
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  Lord I thank you for your salvation.
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  Your salvation that lifts me on high.
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  And I will praise you.
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  C.S. Lewis once said.
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  I think we delight to praise what we enjoy.
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  Because the praise not merely expresses.
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  But completes that enjoyment.
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  So it's not just a case of this praise as we sing to God.
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  It's expressing our praise to him.
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  It's completing our praise to him.
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  It's reminding us how good it is to praise the Lord.
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  How good it is that we have a song to sing to him.
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  A song that like Psalm 40.
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  When it waited for the Lord our God and patiently did bear.
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  But at length to me didn't climb my voice and cry to hear.
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  That song that we're able to sing with that joy of salvation.
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  That assurance of salvation.
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  That we find in Christ.
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  And so it reminds us here.
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  Not to put confidence in ourselves.
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  But to deal with ourselves by bringing it to God.
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  And asking the Lord to change our hearts.
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  To replace that anger that so easily consumes us.
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  With that seal.
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  For him and for his house.
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  And that praise for his name.
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  So we are to come in prayer with confidence.
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  But it doesn't stop there.
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  We see then in verse 34 to 36.
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  There's a conclusion there for us.
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  Because here we see that it's about dealing with God.
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  Dealing with God.
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  There's both an encouragement and a challenge for us here as well.
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  The psalmist is talking here about a relationship with God.
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  And you have these wonderful words at the end of this psalm.
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  And it's almost like the change is complete.
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  Lord, save me was his cry.
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  Now we're seeing the Lord has saved.
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  And the Lord will keep.
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  The Lord will guard.
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  And the Lord will bring it to completion.
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  Let heaven and earth praise.
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  And the seas and everything that moves in them.
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  For God will save Zion.
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  God will save his people.
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  And build up the cities of Judah.
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  And people shall dwell there and possess it.
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  The offspring of his servants shall inherit it.
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  And those who love his name shall dwell in it.
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  There's a sense of finality here.
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  A sense of security.
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  The Lord builds his city.
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  And isn't that the reason that Jesus came?
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  When he said, as he came into this world, as he was about to leave this world,
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  I go to prepare a place for you.
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  That where I am, you may be also.
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  And we have this assurance of that in this psalm as well.
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  The offspring of his servants shall inherit it.
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  Those who love his name shall dwell in it.
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  They shall rest secure.
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  Away from all the troubles and the wickedness of this world,
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  One day we will rest secure with him.
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  So the change is complete.
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  From the beginning, save me, O God.
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  We see the many twists and turns throughout this psalm.
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  But ultimately it ends with a sense of confidence and a sense of security.
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  For God will save his people.
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  And as we think of this time of year,
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  What does it mean to us?
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  We can see Christmas and see,
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  Yes, there's so many things wrong with it.
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  So many things we'd love to be different.
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  We may even say,
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  Well, it's not even the time when Jesus was born.
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  But what is right about it?
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  What is good about it?
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  It is right and good to remember that God sent his son into this world.
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  That you shall call his name Emmanuel.
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  That God will be with us.
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  That he will dwell with us.
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  That he came to save us from our sin.
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  That is what is right and good to remember.
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  For God will save Sion, his people.
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  How?
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  He will send his son into this world.
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  We've seen how much of this psalm points towards the cross.
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  And the journey to the cross began with the word becoming flesh and dwelling among us.
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  God sent his son into this world.
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  And that is our hope.
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  That is our security.
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  That we put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  So that even as we hear songs being sung at this time, we can praise God that he sent his son into this world.
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  Joy to the world, the Lord has come.
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  Let earth receive her king.
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  We can sing these words knowing that our king has come.
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  That God will save his people.
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  And you notice the words there in verse 34.
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  Let heaven and earth praise him.
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  Isn't that a wonderful prayer for us just now?
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  Let heaven and earth come to praise him.
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  I came across a hymn that it's called Let heaven and earth rejoice.
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  And it says this.
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  Let heaven and earth rejoice and sing.
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  Salute this happy morn.
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  The saviour which is Christ our king.
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  He on this day was born.
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  Come let us join our hearts to God.
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  And thus exalt his fame.
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  To save us all.
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  This babe was born and Jesus is his name.
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  Wise men and kings.
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  Rich gifts did bring.
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  To Bethlehem straight away.
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  Conducted by a leading star.
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  Where Christ our saviour lay.
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  O Lord to thee all glory be.
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  Whom heaven and earth adore.
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  For our redeemer we will praise.
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  This day and evermore.
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  For our redeemer we will praise.
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  This day and evermore.
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  Whatever else Christmas means to us.
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  May it make us praise.
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  Our Lord.
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  Who came to save.
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  O Lord to thee.
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  All glory be.
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  Whom heaven and earth adore.
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  For our redeemer.
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  We will praise.
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  This day and evermore.
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  May this prayer in Psalm 69.
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  In all its twists and turns.
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  Lead us to praise.
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  Our redeemer.
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  Today.
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  And every day.
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  More and more.
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  Let us pray.
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  Our father in heaven.
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  We thank you.
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  For all that you have done for us.
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  We thank you that you are a God.
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  Of such love and grace and mercy.
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  That you know Lord.
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  The wickedness of our hearts.
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  And you know the wickedness of this world.
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  And we leave.
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  That wickedness in your hands.
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  For you are the judge of all.
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  You are our judge.
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  As well as the judge of all.
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  Who we see around us.
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  You are the judge of all people.
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  And Lord we know that you will judge.
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  Rightly and justly.
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  But we thank you that in the midst of your judgment.
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  That there is a hope.
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  For you sent your son into this world.
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  To redeem his people.
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  To save his people from their sins.
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  And we thank you that as we hear the gospel.
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  As we hear the good news.
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  It is that remind us to us.
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  That God will save Zion.
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  That you will save your people.
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  That you will give them an inheritance.
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  A place to dwell with you forevermore.
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  And we pray Lord that we will know.
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  That security ourselves.
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  And that we pray Lord that heaven and earth.
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  Will come to praise you.
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  To praise your name today.
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  And forevermore.
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  Lord may your glory come.
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  In our lands in these days.
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  As we ask it in Jesus name.
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  Amen.