Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Continually Close

Transcript

Continually Close · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

0:00
Psalm 71, the passage that we read there.
0:05
Last week, we gave our attention to the beginning of that psalm,
0:10
from verse 1 down to verse 12, verse 11.
0:16
And tonight, we'll follow on from there.
0:18
We'll start at verse 12 and take that small section from 12 to 16.
0:26
And last week, as we came to this psalm, we saw the psalmist's undergirding faith.
0:36
Underneath all these words, his faith was underneath it, his faith in the Lord.
0:41
He was holding fast to God in the midst of this great affliction, whatever it was,
0:48
and the attacks of the devil.
0:49
So it's as if when we read through these words, we heard these personal expressions that he had,
0:57
his cry to his Lord, his rock and his refuge, to protect him, to rescue him, to save him.
1:07
And we give our mind to three points of his vision.
1:10
He looked to God.
1:12
He looked also to himself.
1:13
And he looked to the situation around him, which are all aspects that we should be mindful of as believers.
1:21
Who we are to others, who we are within ourselves, and who we are before God,
1:26
primarily with our attention to our God and our Lord, Jesus Christ.
1:33
And last week, we also mentioned that when generally, when you come to the psalms,
1:39
it is believed the main point is found within the middle of the psalms.
1:43
And this is a section we come to tonight, from verse 12 to 16.
1:50
And there's wonderful words in this section,
1:54
and words that we're maybe more familiar with in the Scottish Psalter rendering of it.
2:02
If verse 14 has the words,
2:04
but with expectation, I will hope continually.
2:08
And verse 16 is,
2:10
and I will constantly go on in strength of God the Lord.
2:15
These words are well known to us,
2:18
and they speak of faith in general,
2:20
and holding on to God,
2:23
and constantly remaining with him,
2:26
and clinging to him,
2:28
when things are rough,
2:29
as if we're in the roughest of seas,
2:32
and holding on to this one rope,
2:35
as it were.
2:37
When there's no,
2:38
there's no signs of dry land,
2:40
there's no signs of hope,
2:42
and the evil forces
2:44
suppress us.
2:46
These waves keep battering us,
2:48
and it's relentless.
2:49
They come,
2:50
and they come,
2:51
and they come,
2:51
and we feel beaten.
2:54
This was the psalmist's cry,
2:56
in a sense.
2:58
He's feeling as if his strength is spent.
3:01
He's got nothing left to give.
3:03
He's running on empty,
3:05
and he's crying out to his Lord,
3:08
in his need.
3:09
And as we saw his personal faith,
3:15
in the psalm,
3:17
clinging on,
3:18
we saw that,
3:21
the greater faithfulness of his Lord,
3:25
that God was so faithful to him,
3:26
that was his assurance,
3:28
in his own faith,
3:30
to cling on,
3:31
because of God's faithfulness,
3:33
through the years,
3:35
the years as he had gone on,
3:36
God who had been with him,
3:39
his Lord,
3:40
as we saw in Isaiah,
3:43
he was the Lord's,
3:45
and he knew he was the Lord's,
3:47
and he knew the Lord had made so many promises
3:49
to his people and to him,
3:50
and the Lord had not let him go thus far.
3:55
And so why would he let go of him now?
3:58
He's holding on faithfully to the Lord,
4:03
when everything else,
4:05
every other offer of salvation,
4:07
is hopeless.
4:10
But the hope that he has in his Lord
4:12
is an anchor for his soul,
4:15
both sure and steadfast,
4:17
a refuge and a rock to him,
4:21
could hold on in that hope.
4:24
And we can hold on to that hope,
4:27
in the storms that we face in our life,
4:31
too.
4:33
But as we acknowledge,
4:35
there are many times and days
4:36
where we feel maintaining that hope
4:40
and maintaining that faithfulness
4:41
is the most difficult thing.
4:43
And it's so attractive,
4:47
when we look at the world
4:47
and the way they live,
4:49
almost just to be washed away,
4:51
to let go,
4:52
and to let the waves take us,
4:54
to let the sweeping movements of the world
4:56
and go with them.
4:58
But we know all these things would be in vain.
5:01
It would be us chasing the wind.
5:03
It would have no hope within it.
5:07
And it's like the psalmist in Psalm 73,
5:09
but he assessed all these things
5:12
that the world had.
5:14
And then when he came back to the Lord's house,
5:16
he saw the difference view on the world.
5:21
Someone once said that
5:22
when faithfulness is most difficult,
5:25
it is most necessary.
5:28
When faithfulness is most difficult,
5:31
it is most necessary.
5:34
That's a very true statement.
5:36
Faith in God,
5:40
holding on,
5:43
will never put us to shame.
5:47
We will be honoured
5:48
for having faith in God.
5:50
We will be honoured
5:51
by entering into his rest
5:53
as adopted sons of God
5:55
for being faithful.
5:57
Well done,
5:58
good and faithful servant.
6:01
And in this section
6:02
from 12 to 16,
6:05
the writer,
6:07
composer of this psalm,
6:10
not entirely sure
6:11
if it is David or not,
6:12
but he has these
6:14
three views of God himself
6:16
and others.
6:18
But he has a particular focus
6:20
on being close to God,
6:23
a closeness to God,
6:25
and a consistency
6:27
in his faith.
6:30
Closeness and consistency.
6:32
Two points that we can use
6:34
just to guide us
6:35
as we look at this section
6:37
from 12 to 16.
6:39
We'll begin with closeness.
6:42
Now you look there
6:42
at the first verse
6:44
of our attention,
6:46
verse 12.
6:47
Oh God,
6:48
be not far from me.
6:52
And then
6:52
his continued cry,
6:55
and a more personal cry.
6:57
Oh my God,
6:59
make haste to help me.
7:01
Now even if you were
7:02
to take these few lines
7:04
on their own,
7:05
there's a lot in it,
7:06
and there's a lot
7:07
we can get from it
7:08
to understand
7:10
where the psalmist
7:10
is coming from.
7:13
If you take it on its own,
7:15
oh God,
7:16
be not far from me.
7:18
Oh my God,
7:19
make haste to help me.
7:20
We can see that he
7:21
desires
7:22
the presence of God.
7:26
He also,
7:27
he does not feel
7:28
like God is near him.
7:29
He's calling out
7:31
to God,
7:32
be not far from me,
7:34
but he doesn't know
7:35
how far away he is.
7:37
He doesn't,
7:38
he doesn't
7:39
feel like God
7:40
is near him.
7:42
He's not sure
7:43
where God is.
7:44
The third thing
7:45
that comes from it
7:46
is that
7:46
we can see
7:48
his personal faith
7:49
in God.
7:49
Oh my God.
7:52
He leans on God
7:54
in his faith
7:55
and his trust.
7:56
And the fourth thing
7:57
we see is that
7:58
there's an urgency
7:59
to his need.
8:01
Make haste
8:02
to help me.
8:04
And they are
8:05
all at times
8:07
truthful elements
8:08
for the Christian,
8:10
for ourselves.
8:11
I'm sure we can
8:12
associate with
8:13
these topics
8:15
that we've touched
8:16
on there.
8:16
But is it surely
8:19
true
8:20
that it is
8:21
one of the
8:21
greatest desires
8:22
of the Christian
8:23
to know
8:25
the presence
8:25
of God,
8:27
to know
8:28
his closeness
8:29
to us,
8:30
to feel
8:31
his hand,
8:32
to hear
8:33
his voice
8:34
and to see
8:34
his outworking
8:35
in our lives.
8:38
His presence
8:39
to the Christians
8:40
is a comfort
8:41
and a joy
8:41
to each of us.
8:42
and the believer
8:44
they long
8:46
to be with God.
8:49
They have this
8:49
longing
8:50
to be with him,
8:53
to have that
8:54
communion
8:55
restored,
8:56
that we would
8:58
know something
8:59
of what it was
9:00
like for Adam
9:01
to walk with God
9:03
in the cool of the day.
9:05
That it was just
9:05
something so natural
9:06
and something so pleasant.
9:08
And we know
9:12
that,
9:13
well,
9:14
this side of glory,
9:15
while we live on earth,
9:17
our communion
9:18
with God
9:18
will never
9:19
be so rich
9:20
in our experience.
9:23
For sin
9:24
has come
9:25
into our lives
9:26
and sin
9:26
is a great
9:27
separating
9:28
element.
9:31
Sin
9:31
in a way
9:33
produces
9:34
maybe a fear
9:36
of God.
9:38
where
9:38
because of
9:40
our sin
9:40
and we look
9:41
at ourselves
9:42
and we see
9:42
our sinfulness
9:43
and we come
9:45
before this
9:45
holy God,
9:48
there's almost
9:48
a fear within us
9:50
of what God
9:51
would do
9:51
to us,
9:53
of how God
9:53
would treat us.
9:54
And you kind
9:55
of hear of that
9:55
and I think
9:58
it was one of
9:58
the revival stories
9:59
from Barbra.
10:00
us.
10:01
They were
10:02
speaking
10:02
that the
10:03
presence
10:03
of God
10:04
was
10:04
so prevalent
10:07
in the area
10:08
and so prevalent
10:09
with the people
10:10
and it's almost
10:13
like we desire it
10:13
but the person
10:15
was saying
10:15
it was a
10:16
fearful thing
10:17
to know
10:18
that God
10:18
was so
10:18
close
10:19
to us.
10:21
But nevertheless
10:22
we long
10:25
for this
10:26
communion
10:26
to be
10:27
restored.
10:28
It's something
10:29
that's planted
10:30
within the
10:30
believers'
10:31
hearts
10:32
to be
10:33
near to God
10:33
and we can
10:34
remember
10:34
Paul's words
10:35
where he says
10:36
he is hard
10:37
pressed between
10:38
the two.
10:39
My desire
10:39
is to
10:39
depart
10:40
to be
10:40
with Christ
10:41
for that's
10:42
far better
10:43
but to
10:45
remain in the
10:46
flesh is more
10:46
necessary
10:47
on your
10:48
account.
10:50
There's
10:52
something in
10:52
this at once
10:52
we want to
10:53
see
10:54
our Saviour.
10:56
We want to
10:57
see our
10:57
Lord.
10:59
We want to
11:00
have a
11:01
restored
11:01
communion
11:02
with him
11:03
but surely
11:04
it must be
11:04
true that
11:05
as we
11:06
long for
11:07
it
11:07
so God
11:08
desires it.
11:10
God desired
11:10
to be with
11:11
his people.
11:13
God
11:13
had them
11:14
build a
11:15
tabernacle
11:15
so he
11:15
would be
11:17
with them
11:17
and that
11:19
was even
11:20
taking place
11:20
as they
11:21
were creating
11:22
their own
11:23
idol at
11:23
the bottom
11:24
and he's
11:26
giving Moses
11:27
at the bottom
11:27
of the mountain
11:28
and he's
11:29
giving Moses
11:29
instructions to
11:30
build a
11:31
tabernacle
11:31
so that he
11:32
could dwell
11:32
with them.
11:34
I find
11:34
it's
11:35
amazing
11:36
that God
11:36
is so
11:37
gracious to
11:38
his people
11:39
and still
11:40
desires to
11:41
dwell with
11:42
his people
11:42
and draw
11:43
near to
11:44
his people
11:44
even when
11:45
they are so
11:46
rebellious
11:47
and so
11:48
stiff-necked
11:49
and maybe
11:51
we see that
11:52
in ourselves
11:52
at times
11:53
where we've
11:55
gone our
11:56
own way
11:57
we've done
11:57
the things
11:58
that we
11:58
want to
11:58
do
11:58
and we
12:00
wonder
12:00
how would
12:02
God
12:02
ever
12:03
draw
12:05
close to
12:05
me
12:06
but he
12:08
does
12:08
and that
12:09
is the
12:09
wonder
12:10
of his
12:10
grace
12:11
maybe what
12:13
we can say
12:14
is that in
12:14
our experience
12:15
it is more
12:16
like those
12:17
who walked
12:18
the Emmaus
12:18
road
12:19
you remember
12:20
that story
12:21
from the end
12:22
of Luke
12:22
the two
12:23
men walked
12:24
and whilst
12:25
they went
12:25
on their
12:26
way and
12:26
they were
12:26
consumed
12:27
with their
12:27
worries
12:28
and their
12:29
anxieties
12:30
they were
12:31
reasoning out
12:32
what had
12:33
happened
12:34
in their
12:34
experience
12:35
who draws
12:37
right beside
12:38
them but
12:38
the Lord
12:39
the Lord
12:40
is with
12:40
them and
12:41
the Lord
12:42
walked with
12:43
them all
12:43
the way
12:44
and their
12:46
own hearts
12:46
were put
12:47
on fire
12:47
and they
12:49
longed that
12:49
this man
12:50
would stay
12:51
with them
12:52
and subbed
12:52
with them
12:53
but he
12:56
didn't
12:56
it's like
12:59
that in
13:00
our experience
13:00
we long
13:02
for God
13:02
maybe we
13:05
wonder why
13:06
he's not
13:06
with us
13:07
but unknown
13:08
to us
13:09
maybe he's
13:11
walking right
13:11
beside us
13:12
maybe he's
13:14
talking with
13:15
us through
13:15
his word
13:16
maybe he's
13:18
closer than
13:19
we ever
13:20
understand him
13:21
to be
13:21
and maybe
13:24
it's only
13:25
after that
13:26
time that
13:27
we realise
13:27
just how
13:28
close he
13:28
was to
13:29
us
13:29
and he
13:32
set it
13:32
hard on
13:33
fire
13:33
and then
13:35
we realise
13:36
how gracious
13:36
he has
13:37
been to
13:37
us
13:37
and how
13:39
he walked
13:39
with us
13:40
and how
13:40
he talked
13:40
with us
13:41
and how
13:41
he showed
13:43
us through
13:44
scripture
13:45
who he is
13:46
revealed these
13:47
great things
13:48
too
13:48
as it
13:48
just
13:49
promotes
13:51
praise and
13:52
wonder
13:52
within our
13:53
hearts
13:53
how
13:55
gracious he
13:57
is
13:57
and how
13:58
loving he
13:58
is
13:59
as we read
13:59
in Isaiah
14:00
I love
14:01
you
14:01
and he's
14:03
so considerate
14:04
of the
14:05
people
14:05
in that
14:06
passage
14:07
but we
14:11
as his
14:12
people
14:12
as we
14:13
said
14:13
we long
14:14
for his
14:14
presence
14:15
and we
14:16
long that
14:17
God would
14:17
draw near
14:18
to us
14:19
and it's a
14:20
great motivator
14:22
of our
14:22
praise
14:23
we may
14:24
be familiar
14:25
with the
14:25
hymn
14:25
abide
14:26
with me
14:26
abide
14:28
with me
14:28
fast
14:29
falls
14:29
the
14:30
even
14:30
tide
14:30
the
14:31
darkness
14:31
deepens
14:32
Lord
14:32
abide
14:33
with me
14:33
abide
14:34
when other
14:35
helpers
14:36
fail
14:36
and comforts
14:37
flee
14:37
help of
14:39
the
14:39
helpless
14:40
oh
14:40
abide
14:41
with me
14:41
there's
14:42
so many
14:42
praises
14:44
within
14:46
scripture
14:47
and hymns
14:48
that have
14:48
been written
14:49
desiring
14:50
the
14:52
Lord
14:52
to be
14:52
with
14:53
his
14:53
people
14:54
desiring
14:55
personally
14:56
that God
14:57
would be
14:58
there
14:58
and would
14:59
be known
14:59
but often
15:04
we doubt
15:04
as we
15:05
said that
15:05
the Lord
15:06
would be
15:07
with us
15:07
and it
15:08
was true
15:09
in the
15:09
psalmist
15:10
experience
15:10
we saw
15:11
that last
15:11
week in
15:12
verse 9
15:12
he said
15:14
do not
15:14
cast me
15:15
off in
15:15
the time
15:15
of old
15:16
age
15:16
forsake
15:17
me not
15:17
when my
15:18
strength
15:18
is spent
15:19
and we
15:21
said that
15:21
well
15:21
even
15:22
these
15:22
great
15:23
men
15:23
of
15:23
faith
15:24
even
15:24
these
15:24
great
15:25
examples
15:25
of
15:25
faith
15:26
in
15:26
our
15:26
lives
15:26
personally
15:28
the
15:29
doubts
15:30
are
15:30
instilled
15:31
within
15:31
them
15:31
it is
15:32
the truth
15:32
of the
15:33
Christian
15:33
that there
15:34
are
15:35
doubts
15:35
within
15:36
our
15:36
hearts
15:36
and if
15:37
we were
15:38
left to
15:38
our own
15:39
devices
15:39
if we
15:39
were left
15:40
to reason
15:40
things
15:41
out
15:42
if we
15:43
were to
15:43
see our
15:44
sin
15:44
before a
15:45
holy and
15:45
almighty
15:46
God
15:46
we would
15:48
see our
15:48
feelings
15:49
we would
15:49
see we
15:50
would not
15:51
understand
15:52
how he
15:53
would love
15:53
us
15:54
how he
15:54
would draw
15:55
near to
15:55
us
15:56
because he
15:57
is so
15:58
righteous
15:58
we are
15:59
so sinful
16:00
it's almost
16:02
the echo
16:03
of
16:04
psalm
16:04
13
16:05
he
16:06
longed
16:07
for
16:07
God
16:08
do not
16:08
forget
16:09
me
16:09
draw
16:10
near
16:10
to
16:11
him
16:11
he
16:11
was
16:12
crying
16:13
out
16:13
to
16:13
God
16:14
almost
16:14
as if
16:16
the
16:16
Lord
16:16
had
16:16
forgotten
16:17
he
16:17
felt
16:18
that
16:18
way
16:18
and
16:20
if
16:20
we
16:21
are
16:22
left
16:23
to
16:23
our
16:23
own
16:23
devices
16:23
that's
16:24
the way
16:24
we
16:24
would
16:24
become
16:24
we
16:25
feel
16:27
like
16:27
God
16:28
will
16:28
have
16:28
left
16:28
us
16:29
but he
16:30
doesn't
16:30
we come
16:31
back to
16:32
the word
16:32
of God
16:33
and he
16:35
says that
16:36
he is
16:37
faithful to
16:38
those
16:39
who trust
16:40
in him
16:41
and he
16:43
loves us
16:44
even when
16:45
we
16:45
when we
16:47
walk away
16:48
when we
16:49
do
16:49
things that
16:51
are not
16:51
pleasing to
16:52
him
16:52
and then we
16:54
come back
16:54
to him
16:55
the prodigal
16:56
son that
16:56
left and
16:57
came back
16:58
the father
16:58
will rejoice
16:59
to see
16:59
him
16:59
the lord
17:02
says to
17:02
his people
17:03
when you
17:03
pass through
17:04
water
17:04
they will
17:04
not
17:05
overwhelm
17:05
you
17:05
through
17:07
fire
17:07
you shall
17:08
not be
17:09
burnt
17:09
the lord
17:10
is with
17:11
his people
17:11
and though
17:14
we can
17:15
have doubts
17:15
in our
17:16
experience
17:16
it's true
17:19
it's an
17:21
undeniable
17:21
truth
17:22
that we
17:23
will doubt
17:23
and have
17:24
doubts
17:25
in our
17:25
Christian
17:26
lives
17:27
but the
17:29
word of
17:29
God
17:30
when we
17:30
come to
17:30
it
17:31
the word
17:32
of God
17:33
is so
17:33
important
17:34
when we
17:34
doubt
17:35
when we
17:35
reason that
17:36
God would
17:36
never love
17:37
us
17:37
that we
17:38
come to
17:39
the word
17:39
of God
17:40
that says
17:41
I love
17:41
you
17:42
it
17:45
reorientates
17:46
our minds
17:46
it gives us
17:48
a new
17:48
understanding
17:49
it gives us
17:49
a different
17:50
it gives us
17:51
an eternal
17:52
perspective
17:52
it changes
17:54
our view
17:55
this is
17:58
the word
17:58
this is what
17:58
the word
17:59
of God
17:59
does
18:00
almost
18:00
just what
18:01
we said
18:01
in Psalm
18:02
73
18:02
the psalmist
18:04
had been
18:05
seeing the
18:06
things that
18:06
the people
18:07
were doing
18:07
in the world
18:07
and wondering
18:08
why everything
18:09
was going
18:09
so well
18:10
for them
18:10
and he
18:10
was struggling
18:11
alone
18:12
until he
18:14
went to
18:14
the Lord's
18:15
house
18:15
where the
18:16
word would
18:17
have been
18:17
read out
18:17
and he
18:18
considered
18:19
God
18:19
and he
18:20
heard of
18:21
God
18:21
his
18:23
his view
18:25
was
18:25
reorientated
18:26
to
18:27
to view
18:28
things
18:28
eternally
18:29
not
18:31
in
18:31
temporal
18:32
means
18:32
and that
18:35
that changes
18:36
things
18:36
for us
18:37
as believers
18:38
Mac Shane
18:38
says that
18:40
to live
18:41
near to
18:41
God
18:42
all things
18:44
will appear
18:45
as little
18:46
in comparison
18:47
to eternal
18:48
realities
18:49
all things
18:51
will appear
18:52
as little
18:53
in comparison
18:54
to eternal
18:55
realities
18:56
we can be
18:59
so consumed
19:00
with the
19:00
little at
19:01
times
19:01
and we
19:01
focus on
19:02
the
19:02
we focus
19:04
on our
19:04
own
19:04
what's
19:07
happening
19:07
in our
19:07
lives
19:08
we kind
19:09
of get
19:09
bogged
19:10
down in
19:10
that
19:10
the
19:11
difficulties
19:12
of the
19:12
challenges
19:12
of it
19:13
whatever
19:13
it may
19:14
be
19:14
the word
19:15
of God
19:16
makes us
19:17
take a
19:17
step
19:17
back
19:18
view things
19:21
differently
19:21
in light
19:24
of eternal
19:24
realities
19:26
eternal
19:27
truths
19:28
eternal
19:29
words
19:29
that the
19:30
Lord has
19:31
spoken
19:31
to us
19:32
to draw
19:35
near to
19:36
God
19:37
we all
19:38
desire it
19:39
and the
19:40
Lord
19:40
draws near
19:42
to his
19:42
people
19:43
we see
19:45
there
19:46
that in
19:46
verse 13
19:47
that he
19:47
he
19:49
addresses
19:50
his accusers
19:51
so they
19:51
would be
19:51
brought to
19:52
shame
19:52
and consumed
19:53
with scorn
19:54
and disgrace
19:54
they may
19:55
be covered
19:56
who seek
19:57
my hurt
19:57
and I
19:58
don't want
19:59
to really
19:59
I don't
19:59
have time
19:59
to go
20:00
into this
20:00
but really
20:02
he speaks
20:03
of shame
20:03
through this
20:04
psalm
20:04
that he
20:05
would not
20:06
be put
20:06
to shame
20:06
at the
20:07
beginning
20:07
and now
20:07
he's
20:07
saying
20:08
that his
20:09
accusers
20:09
would be
20:10
put to
20:10
shame
20:10
he wants
20:12
them
20:12
to feel
20:13
shame
20:14
he wants
20:15
them to
20:15
know
20:15
they've
20:15
done
20:16
wrong
20:16
for all
20:17
they've
20:17
done
20:17
but he
20:17
wants
20:18
them to
20:18
understand
20:18
I believe
20:19
this is what
20:19
he is saying
20:20
he wants
20:21
them to
20:21
see God
20:23
he wants
20:24
them to
20:24
see the
20:24
glory of
20:25
God
20:25
and what
20:25
the Lord
20:26
has done
20:27
for them
20:27
that they
20:29
would might
20:29
also
20:30
know him
20:31
and as
20:34
he
20:35
in verse
20:36
12
20:36
longs that
20:37
God would
20:37
not be
20:38
far from
20:38
him
20:39
come down
20:40
to verse
20:41
16
20:41
with me
20:42
with the
20:44
mighty deeds
20:44
of the
20:45
Lord
20:45
God
20:46
I will
20:47
come
20:48
I will
20:50
remind them
20:50
of your
20:51
righteousness
20:51
your
20:52
shalom
20:52
that speaks
20:54
of
20:54
drawing near
20:56
to God
20:56
or being
20:57
close to
20:57
God
20:57
but
20:59
he doesn't
21:00
in verse
21:00
12 he
21:00
seeks
21:00
God to
21:02
come to
21:02
him
21:03
verse 16
21:05
he says
21:06
I
21:07
will
21:07
come
21:08
he
21:11
constantly
21:11
declares
21:12
that he
21:14
will
21:15
come
21:15
with the
21:18
mighty
21:18
deeds
21:19
of the
21:19
Lord
21:20
for evil
21:23
seeks to
21:24
divide us
21:25
from God
21:25
but the
21:27
strength of
21:28
God
21:28
will reunite
21:30
us with
21:30
him
21:30
he remembers
21:32
who God
21:32
is and
21:33
what he
21:34
has done
21:34
for him
21:34
throughout
21:35
the years
21:35
of his
21:36
life and
21:36
he is
21:36
confident
21:37
knowing
21:38
that God's
21:39
hand is
21:39
mightier
21:40
and stronger
21:41
than the
21:41
hand of
21:42
the evil
21:42
one
21:43
and it
21:47
is in
21:47
that name
21:48
and in
21:48
that power
21:49
the Lord
21:50
is God
21:51
that he
21:52
will come
21:53
with confidence
21:54
remembering
21:56
who he is
21:57
and all
21:58
that his
21:59
word
21:59
has taught
22:00
him
22:01
but he
22:02
will not
22:03
forsake
22:03
him in
22:05
this time
22:05
of need
22:06
he will
22:07
draw near
22:07
to him
22:08
when he
22:08
is broken
22:09
hearted
22:09
if he
22:11
draws near
22:11
to God
22:12
he will
22:12
draw near
22:13
to you
22:14
let us
22:16
then with
22:16
confidence
22:17
draw near
22:17
to the
22:18
throne
22:18
of grace
22:19
that we
22:19
may receive
22:20
mercy
22:20
and find
22:21
grace
22:21
to help
22:22
in the
22:23
time
22:23
of need
22:23
let us
22:26
draw near
22:27
with a
22:27
true heart
22:28
and full
22:28
assurance
22:29
different
22:31
scriptures
22:32
say
22:32
that
22:33
draw us
22:35
near
22:36
and call
22:36
us to
22:36
draw near
22:37
the Lord
22:38
will draw
22:39
near to
22:39
us
22:40
and it
22:45
is done
22:46
in mighty
22:46
deeds
22:47
and again
22:48
this is
22:48
true
22:49
that
22:49
it is
22:51
only by
22:52
the power
22:52
of the
22:52
Lord
22:53
Jesus
22:53
Christ
22:54
that we
22:54
can come
22:54
at all
22:55
it is
22:56
through the
22:56
mighty
22:57
deeds
22:58
that he
22:59
has done
22:59
for us
23:00
at Calvary
23:00
that we
23:01
have any
23:02
confidence
23:02
to come
23:03
and his
23:04
faithfulness
23:05
to go
23:05
and give
23:06
his life
23:06
for us
23:07
gives us
23:08
assurance
23:09
in our
23:09
own
23:09
faith
23:10
that he
23:12
loves us
23:13
the Christ
23:15
that was
23:17
that sacrifice
23:18
to atone
23:21
for our
23:22
sins
23:22
to pay
23:23
to pay
23:23
for sin
23:23
to separate
23:25
us from
23:25
sin
23:25
so that
23:26
we may
23:26
be
23:27
reunited
23:28
with our
23:29
God
23:29
so that
23:30
we may
23:31
come and
23:31
commune
23:32
with God
23:33
again
23:33
Christ
23:36
dealt with
23:36
that great
23:37
dividing
23:38
element
23:38
Christ
23:41
Christ
23:41
has restored
23:41
our
23:42
communion
23:42
with God
23:43
and it
23:45
is through
23:45
his
23:47
mighty
23:48
deeds
23:49
that we
23:50
can come
23:50
at all
23:51
and we
23:52
go
23:53
we go
23:55
on
23:55
we come
23:57
to him
23:57
in the
23:59
strength
23:59
of the
24:00
Lord
24:00
our God
24:01
we draw
24:03
close to
24:03
God
24:04
but we
24:05
come
24:05
we
24:06
constantly
24:07
go on
24:07
there's a
24:09
consistency
24:10
in our
24:11
lives
24:11
of coming
24:12
to God
24:13
and we'll
24:14
just touch
24:15
on
24:15
consistency
24:16
of the
24:17
time
24:17
that we
24:18
have left
24:18
verse 16
24:21
of the
24:21
Psalter
24:21
is maybe
24:22
the one
24:23
that we
24:23
know
24:23
and I
24:24
will
24:24
constantly
24:24
go on
24:25
in strength
24:25
of God
24:26
the
24:27
Lord
24:27
the
24:28
wording
24:28
it's
24:29
slightly
24:29
different
24:30
it's
24:30
quite
24:31
different
24:31
actually
24:31
in
24:32
verse 16
24:32
of the
24:33
written
24:34
Psalm
24:34
but it
24:36
carries
24:36
that same
24:37
emphasis
24:38
in the
24:40
strength
24:41
and the
24:41
mighty
24:41
deeds
24:42
of the
24:42
Lord
24:42
he will
24:43
come
24:43
and the
24:45
constancy
24:46
of coming
24:47
comes through
24:49
in the
24:49
Psalm
24:50
there
24:50
from
24:51
verse 14
24:52
in the
24:52
central
24:52
part
24:53
of the
24:53
central
24:55
verse
24:55
of the
24:55
central
24:56
part
24:56
the
24:56
main
24:56
focus
24:57
I
24:58
but I
25:00
will hope
25:00
continually
25:01
and will
25:02
praise you
25:03
yet more
25:04
and more
25:05
the great
25:08
confidence
25:09
is evident
25:10
in his
25:10
life
25:11
I
25:11
I will
25:12
I will
25:14
hope
25:14
continually
25:15
his faith
25:17
in God
25:17
to deliver
25:18
him
25:18
trusting
25:19
that God
25:20
will not
25:20
put him
25:21
to shame
25:21
and he
25:23
will not
25:24
fail him
25:24
in his
25:25
promises
25:25
I will
25:27
hope
25:28
continually
25:29
and will
25:31
praise you
25:32
yet more
25:33
and more
25:34
and maybe
25:34
this great
25:35
resolve
25:35
this great
25:37
faith
25:38
this great
25:38
confidence
25:39
has been
25:39
something
25:40
that's
25:40
over a
25:41
life
25:41
as he
25:42
has lived
25:42
he looks
25:43
back now
25:44
as he
25:44
comes to
25:46
old age
25:46
he says
25:49
I will
25:50
hope
25:51
continually
25:51
the Lord
25:52
has been
25:52
with me
25:53
thus far
25:53
and the
25:54
Lord
25:54
will not
25:54
forsake
25:55
me
25:55
now
25:55
the Lord
25:56
will keep
25:57
me
25:57
and protect
25:57
me
25:58
as he
25:58
did
25:58
in the
25:58
womb
25:59
as we
25:59
saw last
26:00
week
26:00
when he
26:00
was so
26:01
vulnerable
26:01
and fragile
26:02
when he
26:03
had no
26:03
strength of
26:04
himself
26:04
the Lord
26:05
kept him
26:05
there
26:06
and so
26:07
the Lord
26:07
shall
26:07
keep him
26:08
now
26:08
when he
26:09
feels
26:09
like his
26:09
strength
26:11
is likewise
26:11
spent
26:12
he will
26:14
praise him
26:14
more and
26:16
more
26:16
there's
26:16
an increasing
26:18
praise in
26:19
his life
26:19
as he
26:20
as he
26:21
grows in
26:21
age he
26:22
grows in
26:23
faith he
26:24
grows in
26:24
praise of
26:25
his Lord
26:26
consistently
26:28
praising his
26:29
Saviour
26:30
and continually
26:32
relying on
26:33
the strength
26:34
that is
26:34
given to
26:35
him
26:35
such as
26:37
you find
26:38
in Isaiah
26:38
40
26:39
that those
26:39
who wait
26:40
on the
26:41
Lord
26:41
shall renew
26:42
their strength
26:42
they shall
26:43
mount up
26:44
like wings
26:44
like eagles
26:45
they shall
26:45
run and
26:46
not be
26:46
weary
26:46
they shall
26:47
walk
26:48
and not
26:49
be faint
26:49
waiting
26:52
in faith
26:55
upon God
26:55
it can be
26:57
a great
26:57
test of
26:58
our faith
26:58
and the
26:59
hardest of
27:00
circumstances
27:01
it can be
27:03
in the hardest
27:03
of circumstances
27:04
when as we
27:06
said when
27:07
faithfulness is
27:08
most difficult
27:08
it is
27:10
most necessary
27:11
and in
27:14
our times
27:14
when we
27:15
feel like
27:15
we are
27:16
just
27:16
holding on
27:16
people are
27:18
going to
27:19
be looking
27:20
at us
27:20
and watching
27:20
us to
27:21
see how
27:22
we react
27:22
and what
27:23
we do
27:24
faithfulness
27:26
isn't
27:27
holding on
27:29
until it
27:29
gets bad
27:30
and then
27:30
letting go
27:31
and doing
27:31
what we
27:31
want
27:32
or doing
27:32
what we
27:32
think is
27:33
right
27:33
faithfulness
27:34
is holding
27:35
on
27:35
every day
27:36
every hour
27:38
all the
27:39
day
27:39
and all
27:40
the hour
27:40
and all
27:41
the year
27:41
all the
27:43
time
27:43
consistently
27:45
holding
27:46
on
27:47
to the
27:48
Lord
27:49
holding
27:50
on
27:50
to all
27:52
that we
27:53
as believers
27:54
in the Lord
27:54
Jesus Christ
27:55
have in
27:56
his word
27:57
and his
27:57
promises
27:58
that he
27:59
has redeemed
27:59
us
28:00
and that
28:01
we hold
28:02
on to
28:02
that
28:03
every day
28:05
every year
28:06
faithfully
28:08
whatever the
28:10
circumstances
28:11
for us
28:11
and he
28:13
proclaims
28:14
his mouth
28:15
it's a
28:17
thing of
28:18
praise
28:18
more and
28:20
more and
28:20
his mouth
28:21
in verse
28:22
15 tells
28:22
of all
28:23
these
28:23
righteous
28:24
acts
28:25
your deeds
28:26
of salvation
28:27
all the
28:27
day
28:28
for their
28:30
number
28:30
is past
28:31
my
28:32
knowledge
28:32
it's
28:34
almost
28:34
as if
28:35
as his
28:37
praise
28:37
grows
28:38
more and
28:39
more
28:39
his cup
28:40
is overflowing
28:40
it's just
28:42
been filled
28:42
to the
28:43
top
28:43
his
28:44
praise
28:44
is so
28:44
abounding
28:45
that it
28:45
is
28:45
I remember
28:47
an image
28:47
of that
28:47
cup
28:48
overflowing
28:48
and the
28:50
water
28:51
is making
28:52
such a
28:52
noise
28:52
as it
28:53
comes
28:53
over the
28:53
sides
28:54
the
28:56
faithful's
28:56
proclamation
28:57
and praise
28:59
of how
29:00
their cup
29:01
has been
29:02
so filled
29:03
by the
29:04
Lord
29:05
and
29:06
the
29:08
psalmist
29:08
he's
29:09
unashamed
29:10
before his
29:10
enemies
29:11
he feels
29:12
no shame
29:13
for trusting
29:14
well
29:14
he may
29:15
feel shame
29:16
but he
29:16
knows that
29:17
he will
29:17
ultimately
29:17
not have
29:18
shame
29:18
before his
29:21
enemies
29:21
he knows
29:22
that the
29:22
Lord will
29:22
not put
29:23
him to
29:23
shame
29:23
and he
29:23
knows
29:24
that the
29:24
Lord
29:24
will
29:24
honour
29:25
him
29:25
and yet
29:27
at times
29:27
we acknowledge
29:28
it
29:29
there may
29:30
be an
29:30
element
29:30
of shame
29:31
that we
29:31
feel
29:32
for trusting
29:34
in our
29:36
Lord
29:36
it's a
29:38
truthful
29:38
thing
29:38
but ultimately
29:40
when we
29:41
have
29:41
that
29:43
perspective
29:43
that the
29:44
word of
29:44
God
29:44
gives us
29:45
we can
29:46
see that
29:46
it won't
29:47
be shame
29:47
it will
29:48
be honour
29:48
we need
29:49
to have
29:50
that
29:50
eternal
29:50
perspective
29:51
that the
29:51
word of
29:52
God
29:52
brings
29:52
to us
29:53
to rely
29:54
on our
29:54
own
29:54
understanding
29:55
and he
29:57
has this
29:58
praise
29:58
within his
29:59
heart
29:59
all the
30:00
day
30:00
he proclaims
30:02
these
30:02
things
30:03
and this
30:05
phrase
30:05
all the
30:05
day
30:06
it's
30:06
something
30:07
that comes
30:07
through
30:07
in this
30:08
psalm
30:08
three times
30:09
maybe
30:11
you've
30:11
maybe not
30:12
noticed
30:12
it
30:13
maybe you
30:13
have
30:13
it comes
30:14
through
30:14
in verse
30:15
eight
30:15
his mouth
30:16
is filled
30:17
with praise
30:18
and glory
30:20
all the
30:20
day
30:20
we have
30:22
it here
30:22
in verse
30:23
15
30:23
all the
30:25
day
30:25
proclaiming
30:26
what his
30:27
righteous
30:27
acts
30:28
the deeds
30:28
of salvation
30:29
all the
30:30
day
30:30
and then
30:31
we have
30:32
it there
30:32
in the
30:32
final
30:33
version
30:33
verse
30:34
24
30:34
my tongue
30:36
will talk
30:36
of your
30:36
righteous
30:37
help
30:37
all
30:38
the
30:39
day
30:39
it's a
30:42
characteristic
30:43
of
30:44
a life
30:46
of faith
30:46
a person
30:48
who is
30:49
wholeheartedly
30:51
holding on
30:52
to his
30:53
Lord
30:53
and knows
30:55
that his
30:55
Lord will
30:56
not forsaken
30:56
that he
30:58
will speak
30:58
of his
30:59
Lord
30:59
all the
31:00
day
31:01
and he
31:02
will continue
31:02
in his
31:02
worship of
31:03
his Lord
31:03
all the
31:05
day
31:05
he will
31:10
hope
31:11
continually
31:12
verse 14
31:14
the main
31:15
point of the
31:16
psalm
31:16
it's a
31:16
continuous
31:17
thing
31:17
in his
31:18
life
31:19
and when
31:23
he thinks
31:23
about all
31:24
the Lord
31:24
has done
31:25
for him
31:25
all these
31:26
things that
31:26
provoke
31:27
praise in
31:28
his heart
31:28
he comes
31:31
to realize
31:31
that well
31:32
for their
31:34
number is
31:34
past my
31:35
knowledge
31:35
all your
31:37
deeds of
31:37
salvation
31:38
I don't
31:42
grasp
31:42
them all
31:43
they're
31:46
beyond my
31:47
understanding
31:48
and you
31:50
may know
31:50
that yourself
31:51
I've seen
31:52
it to
31:52
Fiona
31:52
when we
31:54
tell her
31:54
testimony
31:54
we can
31:56
go so
31:56
far
31:56
and then
31:57
it's like
31:57
we just
32:01
don't
32:01
know
32:01
how the
32:03
Lord has
32:03
worked
32:03
and why
32:04
the Lord
32:04
did the
32:04
things that
32:05
he did
32:05
we do
32:06
not
32:07
know
32:07
and
32:10
we're
32:12
just
32:12
left in
32:13
wonder
32:13
at the
32:15
things that
32:16
the Lord
32:16
has done
32:16
his deeds
32:18
of salvation
32:19
they are
32:20
beyond
32:21
their number
32:23
is beyond
32:24
our knowledge
32:25
yes there are
32:27
things that
32:27
we look back
32:28
and we see
32:29
the Lord
32:30
was with me
32:30
then and
32:31
they're here
32:32
and there
32:32
he guided
32:34
me here
32:34
and showed
32:36
me this
32:36
but equally
32:37
we don't
32:39
know
32:39
exactly
32:40
when he
32:42
was there
32:42
it's like
32:43
we're walking
32:43
the road
32:44
to a maze
32:44
and we
32:44
don't know
32:45
he's there
32:45
and we
32:46
don't even
32:46
remember that
32:47
he was
32:47
there with
32:48
us
32:48
but he
32:49
was
32:50
and he
32:51
guided
32:52
us
32:52
and he
32:53
showed us
32:54
the way
32:54
and these
32:55
things that
32:56
we have
32:58
no knowledge
32:59
of
32:59
it's just
33:00
like our
33:01
footsteps
33:01
poem
33:03
where they
33:05
looked back
33:05
together
33:06
on the
33:06
two
33:07
pairs of
33:07
footsteps
33:07
then there
33:08
was one
33:08
and
33:10
he asked
33:12
why the
33:13
Lord had
33:13
left him
33:13
but it
33:14
was that
33:15
the Lord
33:15
had carried
33:15
him
33:16
and he
33:17
knew nothing
33:18
of it
33:18
but the
33:20
Lord told
33:21
him
33:21
it's
33:23
we don't
33:24
know
33:25
how close
33:26
the Lord
33:26
is to us
33:27
at times
33:28
and we
33:29
wish we
33:29
knew it
33:30
we wish
33:31
we
33:31
we
33:32
felt
33:33
that
33:35
presence
33:35
of
33:36
walking
33:36
with God
33:37
every day
33:37
but the
33:39
reality of
33:39
the Christian
33:40
life is that
33:41
it comes
33:41
and goes
33:42
at times
33:44
yes
33:44
we know
33:45
it
33:45
there's times
33:46
where we
33:46
don't feel
33:46
it at all
33:47
but nevertheless
33:49
whatever we
33:49
feel
33:50
the Lord
33:53
is with
33:53
us
33:53
the Lord
33:55
draws close
33:56
to us
33:57
even when we
33:58
don't realise
33:59
it
33:59
the Lord
33:59
is
34:00
often
34:01
walking
34:02
with us
34:03
in our
34:04
difficulties
34:05
as the
34:07
psalmist
34:07
he had
34:08
held fast
34:09
to the
34:09
Lord
34:09
he asked
34:11
the Lord
34:12
to draw
34:12
close to
34:12
him
34:13
and he
34:13
declared
34:14
that he
34:14
would come
34:15
it's
34:16
almost got
34:17
a relational
34:17
element to it
34:19
our faith
34:21
is relational
34:21
and the best
34:23
of relationships
34:24
are when
34:25
each party
34:26
longs to see
34:27
each other
34:29
when each
34:30
side
34:31
desires to
34:32
be near
34:33
again
34:33
to talk
34:34
and commune
34:35
with one
34:35
another
34:36
long lost
34:37
friends
34:38
or relations
34:40
that's what
34:42
Christ has
34:43
done for
34:43
us
34:43
he will
34:45
bring those
34:45
who have
34:45
been separated
34:46
back together
34:48
and we
34:49
shall
34:50
commune
34:51
again
34:52
with our
34:52
Lord
34:53
we draw
34:55
near to
34:56
God
34:57
in worship
34:58
as we
34:58
come to
34:59
him
34:59
and we
35:00
continue
35:00
to do
35:01
so
35:01
we come
35:02
to his
35:02
word
35:03
to be
35:03
guided
35:04
by it
35:04
we pray
35:06
that we
35:06
would know
35:07
and be
35:08
encouraged
35:08
by feeling
35:10
his presence
35:11
with us
35:11
and that
35:13
as we
35:14
gather
35:14
together
35:15
we may
35:15
know
35:16
his blessings
35:17
coming upon
35:18
the people
35:18
as he
35:20
promises in
35:22
Psalm 133
35:23
where the
35:24
people gather
35:25
he will
35:26
pour down
35:27
his blessings
35:28
upon them
35:29
so we go
35:31
on in
35:31
faith
35:32
we may
35:34
feel like
35:34
our strength
35:35
is spent
35:35
we may
35:36
feel like
35:37
we are
35:37
running on
35:38
empty
35:38
but we
35:39
go on
35:40
we go
35:41
on
35:41
we go
35:41
on
35:42
just as
35:42
Ali was
35:43
praying
35:43
we step
35:44
by step
35:45
we feel
35:45
like we're
35:46
slipping
35:46
we feel
35:46
like we're
35:47
dragging
35:47
our heels
35:48
we feel
35:48
like we're
35:48
walking
35:49
through
35:49
sludge
35:49
but we
35:50
go on
35:51
we constantly
35:53
give on
35:53
with the
35:54
strength that
35:55
the Lord
35:55
gives to
35:56
us
35:57
it's not
35:58
in our
35:58
own strength
35:59
the Lord
36:00
strengthens
36:02
us
36:03
along the
36:04
way
36:04
and
36:06
his
36:08
faithfulness
36:09
to us
36:09
is our
36:10
assurance
36:10
in our
36:11
faith
36:11
as we
36:11
as we
36:13
go on
36:13
to continue
36:16
every day
36:17
when faithfulness
36:19
is most
36:19
difficult
36:20
it is most
36:21
necessary
36:22
I think
36:23
that's
36:23
something
36:24
that we
36:25
should all
36:25
remember
36:27
worth
36:28
beneficial
36:29
for us
36:29
to remember
36:30
that had
36:53
got
36:54
a
36:54
go on
36:55
person