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Where the Soul Finds Its Joy · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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So let us come before God in worship. Let us worship Him by singing to His praise in Psalm 34 of the Sing Psalms version.
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Psalm 34, Sing Psalms, find that on page 40 of the Blue Book.
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And at the bottom of that page, we'll begin our singing at verse 11.
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Come here, my children, gather round and listen to my word, and I will help you understand how you may fear the Lord.
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Does anyone delight in life and long to see good days?
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Then keep your tongue from evil speech, your lips from lying ways.
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We'll sing from verse 11 down to the end of verse 18 to God's praise.
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Come here, my children, gather round and listen to my word.
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We'll stand to sing.
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Come here, my children, gather round and listen to my word.
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And I will help you understand how you may fear the Lord.
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And I will help you understand how you may fear the Lord.
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We'll help you understand how you may fear the Lord.
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The Lord's high Son upon the just, He listens to their free.
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The wicked, He rejects and lost, on earth there is no need.
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The righteous cry, the Lord responds, and feeds them when this sheds.
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The Lord responds, and feeds them when this sheds.
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The Lord draws here, the Lord draws here, the Lord draws here, and makes it still in heaven.
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The Lord draws here, the Lord draws here, and makes it still in heaven.
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Amen.
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And that we may wonder at all.
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And that we may wonder at what you speak to us.
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And Lord, we just pray for the young in our congregation.
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We pray for the little children.
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We pray that they may grow up to know God and to trust in Him.
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We just pray for them as they'll go through to Sunday school in a wee moment, and that they may learn of God, and learn what Jesus Christ has done for them on the cross at Calvary.
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But Lord, we just pray that you would bless our time together.
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Watch over us as we join in worship to you, and come before you, drawing near in your presence.
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So be with us, we pray, in our time together.
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Watch over us and keep us.
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All these things we ask in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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I'd just like to say a word to the younger ones that are with us today.
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Now, as you grow up, you'll have lots of questions.
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There'll be lots of things that you see, and you'll ask, well, what is that?
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Or, what does that do?
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Or, why is that there?
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We have lots of questions about lots of different things.
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I wonder what question you ask your parents most of the time.
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That, can I have a snack?
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Maybe.
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What's for dinner tonight?
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It's one of my favorite questions.
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But, maybe that's a question I should be asking myself more often than I do.
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But we generally, as we're young, we ask someone that knows better.
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We ask grown-ups questions, and hopefully they'll have an answer for us.
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And it's a really, really good thing to do in our lives.
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As you grow older, always ask questions.
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And always wonder why things are done, and what things are.
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Question things as you grow up.
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But sometimes, we don't have all the answers.
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And you won't find all the answers to all your questions.
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I remember being in a gathering where Christianity Explored,
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and they were talking about God, and someone asked the minister a question,
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and he didn't know.
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He said, we just don't know the answer.
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And I was quite surprised that the minister didn't know the answer for the question.
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But there's times where we just don't know what the answer is.
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But that is also a really good thing to do in our lives.
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When we don't know to say we don't know.
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Quite often, we like to pretend that we know everything,
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and we've got all the answers to all the questions.
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But it's a really good thing to ask questions.
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It's a really good thing to say, well, we just don't know at times.
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And in your lesson today, you're going to see that you're going to have an old man
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and a young boy.
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A young boy is called Samuel.
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The old man is called Eli.
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And Eli asks Samuel a really important question.
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And it's almost the wrong way around, because Eli was a priest,
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and he knew and he studied about God.
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He should have known lots of things about God.
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But he came to Samuel and asked him, what did God say?
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Because God spoke to Samuel.
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And God can speak to us no matter what age we are.
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That we hear God's voice.
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And as we go next door to our classes,
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we all pray that we would hear God speaking to us.
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God speaks to the old.
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God speaks to the young.
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But this is one of the best questions we can ask in our lives.
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What has God said?
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What does God say?
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And often, when we don't have answers to the big questions of our lives,
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maybe it's a good thing to ask them, well, what does God say?
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And we read, well, we find what God says in the Bible.
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That's why the Bible is so important.
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When we don't have answers to our questions.
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We can ask ourselves, well, what does God say?
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And what has God said?
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And we can come and read about it in the Bible.
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So as you grow up, ask lots of questions.
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But remember, we don't have all the answers.
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But there are times in our lives to ask a really important question and just ask,
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what has God said to us?
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And we come to the Bible and we pray that we would all find an answer.
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So let us say the Lord's prayer together before you go through.
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Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
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Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
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And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
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For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever.
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Amen.
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Thank you all for listening.
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And before you go through, we'll sing to God's praise in Psalm 92.
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I find that in the Sing Psalms version on page 122.
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That's Psalm 92a.
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Page 122 of the Blue Book.
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And we'll sing from verse Mark 7 there.
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Although the wicked spring like grass, the foolish do not see
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that all who flourish in their sin will die eternally.
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But Lord, you are forevermore exalted very high,
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all evildoers will be crushed, your foes will surely die.
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You made me strong as any ox with oil anointed me.
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I've seen my enemies defeat, and I have heard them flee.
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Like palms and cedars flourishing, the righteous all will be,
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and planted in the house of God will grow abundantly.
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So in old age they still bear fruit.
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They will stay fresh and strong.
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They will proclaim, the Lord is just, my rock who does no wrong.
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So let us stand together and sing these words to God's praise.
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Although the wicked spring like grass, the foolish do not see.
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That all who flourish in their sin will guide me eternally.
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The wicked spring like grass, the wicked spring like grass, the foolish do not see.
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But all who flourish in their sin will guide me eternally.
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The wicked fall of sin will guide me eternally.
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For new and forevermore, exalted very high, all evil doers will be crushed.
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The forces you leave down.
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You make me so much steady, with oil anointed me.
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I've seen my enemies defeat, and I have left them free.
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Like palms and seers flourishing, the righteous all will be.
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And planted in the house of God, will drop apart at me.
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So in old days they still bear fruit, they will stay fresh and strong.
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They will proclaim, the Lord is just my God who does so wrong.
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Amen.
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And for many, we'll have read through this to Sam a few times.
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But in many ways, I make no apology for reading the same scripture over and over again.
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It is good for us to do that, and often that's what it takes before we understand what it says.
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And we sit and read it a few times.
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And I remember hearing a story about a man who was dying.
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And the minister sat with him, and they read through John chapter 3 a number of times.
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And he said, the man that was dying said, well, why are we reading this passage again?
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But they read it together, and as he read it, it was only then that the Spirit of the Lord really applied it to him.
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And he understood what it meant by the love of God in sending his Son to save his people,
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that they should not perish but have eternal life.
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It was after reading it a number of times that the Lord blessed it to him.
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So likewise, as we come to read this, may the Lord bless it to us.
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Psalm 71.
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In you, O Lord, do I take refuge.
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Let me never be put to shame.
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In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me.
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Incline your ear to me and save me.
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Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may continually come.
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You have given the command to save me.
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You are my rock and my fortress.
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Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked.
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From the grasp of the unjust and the cruel man.
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For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust.
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O Lord, from my youth.
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Upon you I have leaned from before my birth.
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You are he who took me from my mother's womb.
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My praise is continually of you.
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I have been as a portent or a wonder to many.
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But you are my strong refuge.
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My mouth is filled with your praise and with your glory all the day.
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Do not cast me off in the time of old age.
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Forsake me not when my strength is spent.
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For my enemies speak concerning me.
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Those who watch for my life consult together and say,
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God has forsaken him.
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Pursue and seize him.
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For there is none to deliver him.
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O God, be not far from me.
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O my God, make haste to help me.
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May my accusers be put to shame and consumed.
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With scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my heart.
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But I will hope continually.
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And will praise you yet more and more.
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My mouth will tell of your righteous acts.
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Of the deeds of salvation all the day.
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For their number has passed my knowledge.
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With the mighty deeds of the Lord God, I will come.
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I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.
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O God, from my youth you have taught me.
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And I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
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So even to old age and grey hair, O God, do not forsake me.
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Until I proclaim your might to another generation.
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Your power to all those to come.
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Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens.
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You who have done great things, O God, who is like you.
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You who have made me see many troubles and calamities.
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Will revive me again from the depths of the earth.
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You will bring me up again.
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You will increase my greatness and comfort me.
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I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God.
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I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O holy one of Israel.
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My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you.
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My soul also, which you have redeemed.
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And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long.
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For they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt.
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Amen.
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May the reading of God's word be blessed to each of us who have heard it.
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May we join together in prayer.
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Let us pray.
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Our Father in heaven, as we come before your word, may it be as a book opened before us and speaking to us.
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Lord, let us have an inclination to draw near to you, that we would be sitting at your feet and hearing what you shall speak.
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And though many of us will come with questions, questions surrounding you, questions surrounding our lives.
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Lord, may you give an answer to them.
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May we find answers for the deepest searching questions of life within your word.
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And may we stand before you in awe for all that you have done and how you have kept us and keep us every day.
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Lord, let us fall humbly before you as the creator of all things.
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You have created us even within our mother's womb.
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You are one that kept us and so have continued to keep us through life.
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Lord, it is a wonder that you do so.
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When our hearts are so inclined to the love of sin and that we often turn our backs against you and seek after pleasures in this world.
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Lord, things that we think will satisfy us, but things that leave us empty.
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We try and fill our lives as we fill bags with things, but the bag is full of holes.
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We put money in these bags and all we are left with is emptiness.
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If we do not come to you and trust in you.
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So, Lord, as we come to your word, may your spirit apply it to us.
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If we do so without your spirit, it will come to nothing.
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And so in our own weaknesses, we come and consider this word together as the psalmist wrote on life.
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And may you bless it to each of us.
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Bless it to our hearts and minds.
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And that we may fall before you with praise and adoration.
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And that you may work faith within us.
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That we may come and trust and hope in you.
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Whatever situation we are at in life.
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Whatever our age.
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Whatever we have experienced.
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Lord, be with us.
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Lord, keep us.
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Lord, save us.
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Lord, we just pray that this gospel message would go across our land and our nation.
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As a hope for those who are lost.
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And that may come with saving power.
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And Lord, we pray for those who proclaim this gospel message today.
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That you may be with them.
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And bless their words as it is spoken.
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That the unsearchable riches of Christ may be known.
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And that people would fall before you.
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Trust in their lives.
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And find in their joy of their soul.
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When they come and worship God.
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And trust in him.
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Lord, we pray for those who are laid aside.
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Those who cannot come out this morning to gather with your people.
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And Lord, we pray that they may know the blessing of being together.
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If not in body and spirit.
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And that this word may be enriching and nourishing for their lives also.
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We pray for those who are laid aside in sickness.
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And we remember them.
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Those in hospital.
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Those that are struggling.
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Those that are battling.
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Things of this life.
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We just pray that you would draw near to them and be their comfort.
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Lord, we just pray that you would be with all the staff.
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As they administer care.
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And we thank you for the provision we have.
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And the blessings of having care available to us.
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We pray for those who do not have availability of such things.
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We pray for those who are finding themselves in situations of war.
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Or fleeing from their homeland.
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We pray that you would be with them.
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We pray that they would turn to you in their unrest.
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An experience that none of us can really truly understand.
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We pray that your word may be a light and guide.
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To show them a way in which to walk.
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We pray, Lord.
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That though we cannot come to gather this evening.
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That the weather would not cause significant damage.
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And that we do not threaten our lives.
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But we just pray that we would be secure in our homes.
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And we thank you for having such security.
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We pray that you would be the strength of our lives.
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And that you would be the one that would watch over us.
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Even when the storms of life come to us.
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That you would be our protector.
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And that we would find you to be a strong fortress.
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Against the threats of the evil one.
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And the threats of the devil.
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And the little foxes that try to sneak in.
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And eat what we have.
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We just pray that you would be our guard.
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And defense against these schemes of the evil one.
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So guard our minds this morning as we come to your word.
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Open it up to us that we may understand from it.
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And give us a renewed hope and joy.
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As we come and draw near.
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To the Lord who does not leave us.
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Who does not forsake us.
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Who does not depart from us.
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But is the Lord who loves us.
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So be with us.
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As we give our mind to your word.
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Guide our thoughts.
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And all these things we ask with the confessions of our sins.
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In the name of Jesus Christ.
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Your son and our saviour.
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Amen.
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We'll turn now to praise God.
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In Psalm 148.
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In the Scottish Psalter version.
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You'll find that at the end of the blue book.
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On page 448.
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And we'll sing there from verse marks 7 to 14.
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Psalm 148.
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Psalm 148.
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From verse marks 7.
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Scottish Psalter.
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Praise ye Jehovah from the earth.
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Dragons and every deep.
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Fire, hail, snow, vapour, stormy wind.
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This word that fully keep.
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It is a psalmist.
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That with a psalmist.
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Praises God.
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And calls upon all things.
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To give praise.
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To God.
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Both young men.
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Ye and maidens too.
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Old men.
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And children small.
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Let them.
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God's name praise.
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For his name alone is excellent.
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His glory reaches.
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Far above.
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The earth.
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And firmament.
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Let us stand together.
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And lift our hearts to praise to God.
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Praise ye Jehovah from the earth.
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Praise ye Jehovah from the earth.
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Praise ye Jehovah from the earth.
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The cross of every deep.
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Our hills so big.
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Our stormy wind.
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His heart that fully keep.
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O hills and mountains.
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Bruteful trees.
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And O deceitless high.
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His camp of cattle.
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Be green things.
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And O ye birds that fly.
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Kings of the earth.
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All nations.
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Princes hath judged his own.
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A lot of people arenen.
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Players that fly.
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The Lord is excellent.
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His glory reacheth on above,
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the earth and the earth.
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His people's heart, the praise of God,
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his saints exalted thee.
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Even his mercy have people near
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to him, the Lord is ye.
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We'll turn back to that psalm that we read together,
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Psalm 71.
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As I said, we've been looking at this psalm
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in the midweek meeting,
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and by no means will anyone be lacking in anything
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by considering the last passage here.
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We'll consider from verse 17 down to the end of verse 24.
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But in one sense, I probably wish that you would feel
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like you had missed out.
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That you would feel like you had missed joining with the Lord's people
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and joining to consider more of God's word
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and to learn from it.
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Nevertheless, we'll look at Psalm 71 from verse 17.
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Psalm 71 from verse 17.
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On this psalm, it's very thought-provoking,
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as you hopefully read through it with me,
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as we read it.
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And it's a psalm that is suitable for the entirety of life.
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It's very suitable this morning to take this passage
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because it is a psalmist.
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It's a psalm where the psalmist looks back over life,
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and he is commending God as a suitable God for whatever age,
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whatever stage you are at, whatever stage I am at in our lives.
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That he can come to God and trust in God and lift his heart
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and praise to God for all that he has done for him.
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It's a very encouraging psalm.
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The words through it are encouraging for us to come constantly before our Lord.
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And it is honest reflections when he's going through the most difficult things of life.
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And in many ways, it's a jewel of a psalm, Psalm 71.
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Because of these words that are written so encouraging, so true,
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but when you consider the context in which it is written,
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where the psalmist feels like all his strength is spent,
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he is feeling particularly weak, particularly vulnerable,
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he is feeling absolutely empty,
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it kind of makes this psalm more precious.
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It is like a jewel, like a diamond in a hard place.
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The diamond that is formed in the darkest of circumstances.
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We have this jewel of a psalm that comes out of the experiences of his life.
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And for many of the psalms, that's what makes a psalm so special.
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Because it portrays truthful feelings,
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whether it's the good, the bad, or the ugly.
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And so when we are in these places, when we feel like that,
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when we feel like we're empty,
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when we feel like we have nothing left in the tank,
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we see that the psalmist who was so close to God,
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and who wrote such wonderful words about God,
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has the same experience in his life.
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So when we come to read it, it's a comforting reassurance for us,
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that our feelings are not just of ourselves.
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The psalmist echoes the same thing in what he writes.
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It makes them so precious to us,
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and so beautiful in our eyes,
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and these psalms are so suitable for our lives,
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whatever stage we are at.
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At one point we did emphasize, as we looked at this psalm,
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was the main point of it,
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which is usually found in the center of the psalm.
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And we see that in verse 14.
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The psalmist has his hope continually in his Lord,
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with a praise that is increasing more and more.
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He trusts in this Lord.
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Regardless of the situation he is in,
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he feels it so bleak, he feels himself so empty.
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But that's exactly what faith is.
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Regardless of what the circumstances are,
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he holds on to this hope that he has in his Lord and his God.
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His faith is a diamond.
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His faith is the jewel in the darkness.
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He is faithful in the darkness.
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And it is faith that God values at the end of the day.
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A faithful life pleasing to God will receive honor at death
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by entering into glory.
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Faith is of utmost value.
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So the psalmist here,
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he looks back in his life of faith.
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With old age approaching,
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feels so vulnerable, feels so weak.
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And he gives us his thoughts on life.
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And there's three things that come across to us
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in this passage from 17 down.
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He says that his God is a God for all ages.
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In verse 17 and 18.
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He says that his God is a God for all times.
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In verses 19 to 21.
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And he says thoroughly that his God is a God for all eternity.
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From verse 22 to 24.
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A God for all ages.
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A God for all time.
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A God for all eternity.
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And this is where his soul finds its joy.
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Knowing that God is suitable for him and his life.
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So may we know that joy.
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And having faith in this God.
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In our lives.
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And that we may be honored.
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In having that faith.
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So the key is a God of all ages firstly.
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Verse 17.
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O God from my youth you have taught me.
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And I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
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So even to old age and grey hair.
35:12
O God do not forsake me.
35:14
Until I proclaim your might to another generation.
35:17
Your power to all those to come.
35:20
The psalmist recalling his youth.
35:22
And you can take note that he has been well taught.
35:26
He has been taught by the best and wisest of all teachers.
35:30
For he is taught of God.
35:33
You have taught me.
35:36
And if there's ever a place for any of us to start.
35:39
Then surely this is the best place.
35:42
To be as the psalmist in verse 25.
35:45
For he prays to God.
35:47
Show me thy ways O Lord.
35:49
Thy path so teach thou me.
35:52
Surely if we're taught by God.
35:55
We're taught and directed.
35:57
To the best of paths.
36:00
For our lives.
36:02
And as we teach our young people.
36:06
About God.
36:07
We pray.
36:08
That the teachers next door.
36:11
As they do so.
36:13
By the power of the spirit.
36:16
It may be as.
36:18
God himself.
36:19
Would be teaching these young people.
36:21
As if it is the voice of God.
36:24
Instructing them in their young lives.
36:26
And as we wish and pray.
36:29
That it would be true for them.
36:31
We pray also that.
36:32
For ourselves.
36:34
For it is true that.
36:35
Regardless of what age we are at.
36:36
We all need to be instructed.
36:38
In the ways of the Lord.
36:39
We all need to be taught by God.
36:41
We all need to seek his instruction.
36:47
Whether we're young.
36:49
Whether we're old.
36:51
That he would direct us.
36:53
In our lives.
36:56
And as we look.
36:57
At this passage.
36:58
He says that.
37:00
And I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
37:03
It implies that he has.
37:05
Lived a life of faith.
37:07
That he proclaimed the wonders of God.
37:09
When he was young.
37:10
And he's still doing so today.
37:13
But most importantly.
37:14
It is not something that.
37:16
He has achieved himself.
37:17
By saying.
37:18
I still.
37:20
It's not something that he has.
37:22
Managed to do of his own strength.
37:24
Because he has relied on the Lord.
37:25
To be his strength.
37:28
He has trusted in the Lord.
37:30
To guide him.
37:31
And to lead him.
37:33
Even when he felt like he was just holding on.
37:35
Even when he felt like all his strength was spent.
37:40
It was the Lord that kept him.
37:44
It was the Lord that kept him from his young life.
37:46
Even back into the womb.
37:48
It was the Lord that shall keep him now.
37:50
When he grows old.
37:52
And the grey hairs are on his head.
37:56
And he looks back and wonders.
37:57
That it's not that he still.
38:00
Has kept himself.
38:01
It is that the Lord.
38:03
Has kept him.
38:05
And it is a wonder to him.
38:08
That the Lord.
38:10
Would keep him.
38:12
And still the Lord.
38:14
Has kept him.
38:15
And that is truly a thing for him.
38:18
That is worth proclaiming.
38:19
To others.
38:21
And we see that in verse 18.
38:23
The inescapable truth.
38:26
Of growing old.
38:27
Is there.
38:28
And he asks his Lord.
38:30
Not to forsake him.
38:31
When he feels so weak.
38:33
As his strength depletes.
38:35
We see this.
38:37
Increasing strength.
38:38
And love.
38:40
Of God.
38:40
Of God.
38:42
Do not forsake me.
38:45
Until I proclaim your might.
38:47
To another generation.
38:49
Your power.
38:50
To those.
38:52
To come.
38:53
He is saying.
38:55
Let me live.
38:56
That I may tell others.
38:58
Of what you have done for me.
39:00
Looking back over his life.
39:03
There's nothing else.
39:04
To compare it to.
39:06
And he wants to tell others.
39:07
He wants to tell the next generation.
39:10
He wants to proclaim.
39:12
The power of God.
39:13
To all those.
39:14
That will live after him.
39:15
And.
39:18
He wants to tell them.
39:20
That the Lord has been my rock.
39:22
The Lord has been my strength.
39:24
The Lord has been my salvation.
39:27
The Lord has saved me.
39:30
The Lord never abandoned me.
39:32
He sees a need in the people.
39:39
To know.
39:41
That they must understand.
39:42
Who God is.
39:44
He sees others.
39:46
That do not love God.
39:48
But he wants them.
39:49
To understand.
39:50
He wants them.
39:51
To grasp.
39:51
How God.
39:52
Has guided him.
39:53
In his life.
39:54
As he looks back.
39:55
This is one of the most beautiful hearts.
40:02
We can have as a believer in the Lord.
40:06
Someone who puts his life.
40:07
Before his own.
40:09
To make known.
40:10
The things of God.
40:14
All for the glory of God.
40:16
Not for his own glory.
40:18
To elevate to the name of God.
40:20
And he is saying there.
40:22
Do not forsake me.
40:25
Until I proclaim your might.
40:27
To another generation.
40:28
He is longing to tell people.
40:30
Before he dies.
40:32
That the Lord would not forsake him.
40:35
And even if he should die a death.
40:37
Where he would be forsaken.
40:39
But that will never happen.
40:42
He wants to show forth.
40:44
That power and might.
40:46
It is a beautiful heart.
40:49
Because it is the heart of Christ.
40:51
He is the one who came into this world.
40:55
To make known to all.
40:59
The love of God.
41:01
To make known to God.
41:03
Make known to all.
41:04
The salvation of God.
41:05
To proclaim good news to the poor.
41:07
To bind up the broken hearted.
41:09
To proclaim liberty to the captives.
41:13
To manifest the name of God.
41:16
So that everyone may believe.
41:20
People may understand.
41:23
And he did this.
41:25
Even knowing.
41:26
That he would die.
41:28
Even the death.
41:30
Of the cross.
41:31
Even.
41:32
A death.
41:33
That he would be forsaken.
41:34
By God.
41:36
Oh God.
41:37
My God.
41:38
My God.
41:38
Why have you forsaken me?
41:41
He endured all these things.
41:46
Knowing that there was joy set before him.
41:51
Such was his love for the people.
41:55
That he endured these things.
41:59
This is the greatest heart.
42:01
We can have as believers.
42:03
Because this is the heart of Christ.
42:05
And there is much more that could be said about that.
42:08
But the psalmist here.
42:11
Commends God as the joy of his life.
42:15
Whatever his age.
42:16
A Lord for all ages.
42:19
He has been faithful to God.
42:21
Obedient to God.
42:23
Because he knows there's a joy.
42:25
Set before him too.
42:29
And it will be the same for all who believe in the Lord.
42:32
The Lord is suitable.
42:37
For all ages.
42:42
God has been his rock and his salvation.
42:46
He wants to tell others about it.
42:49
What would you as a Christian.
42:52
Want to tell an unbeliever?
42:55
What would you as a Christian.
42:56
Want to tell a young person.
42:59
About your Lord.
43:01
And your God.
43:02
The wondrous things that God has done for you in your life.
43:05
What would you want to tell.
43:07
If you had one thing to tell.
43:11
And the other side of the coin is.
43:13
What would you want to ask a believer.
43:15
If you're not a believer.
43:18
What question would you have for them.
43:20
What has God done for you in your life.
43:22
Why do you worship this God.
43:25
Maybe that's a challenge for us as we leave today.
43:27
If we ask each other.
43:30
Or say to someone.
43:31
Why I believe in God.
43:33
And what God has done for me.
43:37
God is a God for all ages.
43:39
We need to interact with the young ones.
43:42
We need to tell them about God.
43:44
We need to make God known to the young ones.
43:48
God is a God for all ages.
43:51
God is a God for all times.
43:54
See there in verse 19.
43:56
Your righteousness.
43:57
God reaches the high heavens.
44:00
You who have done great things.
44:01
Who is like you.
44:04
But you who have made me see many troubles and calamities.
44:06
Will revive me again.
44:08
From the depths of the earth.
44:09
He will bring me up again.
44:12
He's looking back over his life.
44:14
And he recalls the different times that he has been in.
44:17
Times where he has felt so close to God.
44:19
And praising God in his.
44:23
Just felt like he was on top of the mountain.
44:25
And there's other times where he felt like he was in the depths of the earth.
44:30
Far from heaven.
44:32
Far from God.
44:33
Yet his God did not forsake him.
44:36
He looks back and he says God is a God that is suitable for all times of life.
44:41
Whatever the time is.
44:45
This praise of God.
44:47
When he thinks about him and his righteousness.
44:51
In the heights of heaven.
44:52
The things he has done.
44:54
O God who is like you.
44:56
There is no one to compare to him.
44:58
There is no error in his ways.
45:00
No flaws in his person.
45:02
You alone are upright.
45:04
His throne is established in righteousness.
45:07
In all that he does.
45:09
There is no king like this.
45:10
No Lord like this.
45:12
No one who will show him the right way.
45:14
To go in his life.
45:16
No error in his ways.
45:19
And he knows that he can hold fast to this Lord.
45:22
And this God who is righteous.
45:25
Who has commanded all things.
45:26
And will not forsake him.
45:30
When he considers God.
45:32
He is abounding in praise.
45:34
Of all that he has done.
45:37
But as I believe that his life has not always been like that.
45:41
We see there in verse 20.
45:43
He has seen many trouble and calamities in his life.
45:47
And this is the honesty of life coming through in the psalmist's experience.
45:52
He looks back and he remembers hard days.
45:55
Days where his enjoyment had been robbed.
45:59
Days that he had been knocked down.
46:01
Days that his whole life had been sucked out of him.
46:03
That's truly the extent to what it seems to be.
46:08
Because he needed revived again.
46:11
He says, will you revive me again?
46:15
The Lord does.
46:17
He will.
46:18
He knows the Lord will revive him again.
46:21
Brought back to life.
46:23
And often that is our experience.
46:26
We are made to see many things that are hard in our lives.
46:31
That is the reality of living in a world of sin.
46:33
And the truthfulness of sin within our own lives.
46:36
We are not immune as Christians or believers to the troubles and calamities.
46:41
Which can take many forms in this life.
46:45
And can strike us so very hard that we feel like we are in the depths of the earth.
46:50
As if there were no lower place to be.
46:55
This is what the psalmist feels.
46:58
And this is how we often feel.
47:01
We are not immune from these things.
47:04
But he has a hope.
47:06
Isn't he?
47:07
He knows that his Lord will not leave him there.
47:10
He knows that the Lord will revive me again from the depths of this earth.
47:15
You will bring me up.
47:16
You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.
47:19
He knows that there is a joy awaiting him.
47:25
And you can see that he relies on God.
47:28
Entirely in this section.
47:31
When you look at the psalm.
47:33
There is a lot of I wills and I still through it.
47:37
Either side of verses 19 to 21.
47:41
There is a lot of I wills and I still or I proclaim.
47:46
But 19 to 21.
47:49
It is all you.
47:51
He is talking about God.
47:54
Your righteousness.
47:55
You who have done these great things.
47:57
Who is like you.
47:58
You who have kept me.
47:59
You will revive me.
48:01
You will bring me up again.
48:03
You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.
48:07
You see it.
48:07
That is the life of faith.
48:10
It is not I wills or I still.
48:14
It is holding on to someone else.
48:19
This is faith.
48:23
Trusting in God.
48:26
Entirely of what he will do for you.
48:29
We come to him and we place our trust entirely.
48:36
In what the Lord can do for us.
48:39
The psalmist is commending God.
48:41
In all that he has done.
48:42
And he finds his joy in considering God and his works.
48:50
He is in wonder.
48:52
He is saying there is no one like you.
48:55
He will bring me up and increase my greatness and comfort me again.
48:59
Sometimes it is just comfort that we need.
49:06
In the midst of troubles and calamities.
49:11
But even as we know the comfort of the Lord in our lives.
49:18
It instills a joy and praise.
49:22
That he will never leave us or forsake us.
49:25
All times the Lord is suitable.
49:35
Whatever the time.
49:36
Heights of heaven.
49:37
Depths of earth.
49:39
But he goes on to speak about all eternity.
49:43
And it's not.
49:44
It doesn't come across that clear in the passage.
49:48
I will also praise you with a harp.
49:50
With your faithfulness oh my God.
49:52
I will sing praises to you with a lyre.
49:54
Oh holy one of Israel.
49:56
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you.
49:59
My soul also which you have redeemed.
50:01
My tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long.
50:06
For they have been put to shame and disappointed.
50:09
Who sought to do me hurt.
50:12
He comes before his Lord and his God.
50:15
Oh holy one of Israel.
50:17
An honourable title of God.
50:20
He is the holy one.
50:22
He has a people who is Israel.
50:26
And you see there he praises him with a harp.
50:29
With a lyre.
50:30
With these instruments.
50:32
And in his context as he would have written these things.
50:35
The instruments of God would have been used in the temple.
50:39
Not in the synagogue.
50:42
But in the temple.
50:44
Where the dwelling place of God would be.
50:46
Just like heaven.
50:48
He speaks of the use of these instruments in the presence of God.
50:55
As the angels do in Revelation.
50:58
They play these instruments likewise.
51:02
He has this heavenly direction to be dwelling with God.
51:06
He looks back in his life of faith.
51:09
And he sees that.
51:12
When he is with God.
51:14
He will be lifted and praised to him.
51:17
God has been with him every step of the way.
51:19
God has not abandoned him.
51:23
He's trusted in God.
51:25
He's done nothing of it for himself.
51:29
Christ.
51:30
Has redeemed him.
51:31
It is all the work of the Lord.
51:36
There is no one like him.
51:38
In this world that can compare.
51:41
To what the Lord has done for him in his life.
51:46
And if we are here this morning.
51:48
To hear these things.
51:49
And to hear the expressions of the psalmist.
51:53
Will you not come.
51:56
And trust in his Lord.
51:59
The Lord who is suitable for all ages.
52:01
In all times.
52:04
He sees that he.
52:07
Is full of praise.
52:09
He is abounding with praise.
52:12
To his Lord.
52:14
His lips will shout for joy.
52:16
His soul also.
52:18
Will have joy.
52:20
In the presence of God.
52:24
And it says.
52:26
That it is something.
52:27
That will be of.
52:29
All the day long.
52:30
All the day long.
52:32
And that is a theme.
52:33
That has been recurring.
52:34
Through this.
52:35
All the day long.
52:36
It's in verse 8.
52:37
It's in verse 15.
52:38
And it's in verse 24 there.
52:42
All the day long.
52:43
And though a Christian.
52:44
May desire to praise God.
52:46
All the day long.
52:47
And it's not a reality for him.
52:50
But it will be.
52:51
An eternal reality.
52:52
For those who have lived a life of faith.
52:56
That they will praise God.
52:58
All the day long.
53:01
And when they are in glory.
53:03
In the dwelling place.
53:05
Of God.
53:06
When they come into.
53:08
His presence.
53:10
It will be abundant praise.
53:13
All the day long.
53:14
It will never cease to end.
53:16
His joy.
53:26
His soul will have joy.
53:29
His life.
53:31
Will be glorifying God.
53:34
And enjoying him forever.
53:36
But he concludes with a solemn note.
53:40
He says.
53:41
For they that have been put to shame.
53:43
And disappointed.
53:45
Who sought to do me hurt.
53:49
Those who.
53:50
Returned against him.
53:52
Have been put.
53:53
To shame.
53:55
And this is also a.
53:56
Theme that reoccurs in the psalm.
53:58
Three times.
53:59
It's in.
54:00
Verse 1.
54:03
Where he himself.
54:04
Did not want to be put to shame.
54:07
He wanted.
54:08
That trust in the Lord.
54:10
It was the trust in the Lord.
54:12
That that would never be something.
54:13
To cause him to shame.
54:16
He would feel shame.
54:17
For having trust in the Lord.
54:18
It's something.
54:18
I would bring him.
54:19
Honor.
54:22
In verse 13.
54:23
He speaks of people.
54:24
Who attack him.
54:27
That they.
54:28
Would.
54:29
Have.
54:30
Shame.
54:31
For their behavior.
54:32
But he longed.
54:33
That they would.
54:33
See their shame.
54:34
And know their shame.
54:36
That they may turn.
54:38
And.
54:39
Trust in God.
54:41
But 24.
54:42
He talks of shame as well.
54:44
And he says.
54:45
They have.
54:46
Been put to shame.
54:48
There's a difference.
54:49
In the tense.
54:51
Of it.
54:53
He wished that.
54:55
Previously.
54:56
That they would be put to shame.
54:58
And realize.
54:59
The shameful ways.
55:00
In which they had lived their lives.
55:02
But now he's saying.
55:03
They have.
55:04
It's been.
55:04
They've been put to shame.
55:05
Those who have turned their lives.
55:08
Against God.
55:10
Those who.
55:11
Did not.
55:12
Believe.
55:13
In the psalmist.
55:14
Words.
55:15
Here.
55:15
Those who.
55:16
Interacted.
55:17
With the psalmist.
55:20
And despised him.
55:22
Despised his God.
55:24
Have been put.
55:25
To shame.
55:27
That is an eternal reality.
55:29
Of those who do not.
55:31
Trust in the Lord.
55:32
To be their.
55:33
God.
55:34
When you've heard.
55:35
The gospel message.
55:37
You've heard.
55:38
The hope of salvation.
55:40
You've heard this.
55:41
Psalmist.
55:41
Commend to you.
55:42
For your life.
55:44
That the Lord.
55:44
Will not leave you.
55:46
The Lord.
55:46
Will not forsake you.
55:48
The Lord.
55:49
Will.
55:50
Lead you.
55:51
Through.
55:52
Times.
55:53
Yes.
55:53
Of trouble.
55:54
And calamity.
55:56
But you will be a jewel.
55:58
To him.
55:59
You will be a diamond.
56:01
To him.
56:01
You will have value.
56:03
To him.
56:05
If you trust in him.
56:08
You will be honoured.
56:10
To enter into.
56:12
His glory.
56:20
Is it shame.
56:24
For.
56:25
Turning your back.
56:26
Against that today.
56:26
Today.
56:27
Knowing.
56:30
Knowing that.
56:31
That hope.
56:32
Was set before you.
56:35
And you wouldn't trust in it.
56:39
That people would speak.
56:40
Of the Lord.
56:41
To you.
56:43
Is it an eternity.
56:45
Of shame.
56:47
For having not.
56:48
Trusted in the Lord.
56:50
May you come.
56:51
And receive.
56:54
The most precious.
56:55
Precious gift.
56:56
Of knowing.
56:58
Joy.
56:59
Of your soul.
57:01
The full enjoyment.
57:02
Of being with God.
57:05
Trusting in him.
57:06
In your life.
57:07
Whatever your age.
57:09
Whatever time.
57:10
You are going through.
57:11
The Lord is faithful.
57:13
The Lord will not.
57:14
Leave you.
57:15
Or depart from you.
57:17
The Lord will.
57:19
Give you joy.
57:20
Joy.
57:22
Isn't that.
57:22
What we all.
57:24
Look for.
57:26
Something in us.
57:27
That longs for joy.
57:30
And our soul.
57:31
Will find it.
57:32
In God.
57:34
May we know it.
57:36
And may we not.
57:37
Be put to shame.
57:38
For having known.
57:39
These things.
57:40
And never.
57:41
Trusted.
57:41
In it.
57:43
Amen.
57:43
May these thoughts.
57:44
Be blessed to us.
57:46
We conclude.
57:46
By singing.
57:47
In Psalm 71.
57:50
From verse.
57:54
21 to 24.
57:56
Find that in the Psalter version.
57:59
Page 312.
58:02
Psalm 71.
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My greatness.
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And my power.
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Thy will.
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Increase.
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And far.
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Extend.
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On every side.
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Against all grief.
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Thou wilt me comfort send.
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Even thy truth.
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I'll also praise.
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My God.
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With psaltery.
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O thou.
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Holy one of Israel.
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With heart.
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I'll sing to thee.
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My lips.
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Shall much.
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Rejoice in thee.
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When thee.
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Thy praise is sound.
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My soul.
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Which thou redeemed.
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And hast.
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In joy.
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Shall much abound.
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My tongue.
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Thy justice.
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Shall proclaim.
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Continuing.
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All day long.
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For they.
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Confounded.
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Are.
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And shamed.
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That seek.
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To do me wrong.
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May we sing these words.
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To God's praise.
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My greatness.
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And my power.
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Thy will.
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Increase.
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And far.
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Extend.
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My greatness.
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And my power.
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Will.
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Endlessly.
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komstaya.
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All every sight.
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in story.
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Thou wilt become our saint.
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In light of fire on so great,
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my God bless all day.
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The Holy One of Israel,
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with heart and sin to Thee.
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Thy lips shall much rejoice in me,
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when I thy grace is found.
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Thy soul which the redeemed us,
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in joy shall not shall I.
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Thy tongue, thy justice shall prove me,
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up to the name of the law.
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For they come under our ashes,
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that seek to do me all.
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Conclude in a word of prayer.
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Our Father in heaven,
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we pray that we may know the love of Jesus Christ for us.
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He went to the cross to die for us
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and redeem our soul.
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May you work faith in us for this man,
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that we may love him before all other loves
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and set our hearts a desire upon him,
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that we may come to you
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and know the joy of our souls,
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that we would trust in you for our lives,
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through the heights and depths
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and whatever times we go through,
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that we would have a reality of eternal joy
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with you in heaven.
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Be with us, we pray as we part,
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watch over us, guide us and keep us
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through the watches of the remainder of the day
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and the watches of the night.
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We will ask these things in the name of Christ Jesus.
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Amen.
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Amen.