Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / His Steadfast Love Endures
Transcript
- 0:00For a few moments this evening we'll turn to look at Psalm 107.
- 0:07We're going to be looking over really the whole of this psalm.
- 0:10We can read at the beginning and at the very end of the psalm.
- 0:16Verse 1 it says to us, O give thanks to the Lord,
- 0:19for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
- 0:24And then the last verse, verse 43, it says,
- 0:28Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things.
- 0:31Let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
- 0:36So the psalm begins and ends with that theme of the steadfast love of the Lord.
- 0:43And in between we find a number of different circumstances that people find themselves in
- 0:48in order to consider the steadfast love of God that doesn't change.
- 0:53As time goes on, as the years go past and months and weeks,
- 1:00one thing that becomes apparent more and more,
- 1:03and we're reminded of more and more,
- 1:04is the variety of people around us
- 1:07and the variety of situations that people find themselves in.
- 1:13In one moment, there's a people who are celebrating and rejoicing.
- 1:19At this time of year, week by week pretty much,
- 1:23you'll see around the town or in different parts of the country as well,
- 1:27you'll see people getting married, special days, days of much joy and happiness,
- 1:33and you see that taking place.
- 1:36And yet on the other hand, you'll see people on the other end of the spectrum
- 1:39who are going through such trials and difficulties,
- 1:43many that are so difficult for us to even try and contemplate for ourselves sorrow and sadness
- 1:49that seems to go beyond our imagination at times.
- 1:53There's that variety of people and variety of situations that they find themselves in,
- 1:59the highs and the lows, and life is full of that.
- 2:04But one thing I'm sure maybe all of you or many of you at least experience in the midst of life
- 2:11and all that comes our way,
- 2:13in all the changes and all the variety that we see around us,
- 2:17it's so good to know that there is something that doesn't change,
- 2:22that there is something that is always constant
- 2:26in the midst of everything that goes on,
- 2:28in every change, in everything that comes our way,
- 2:32that we can come to the Word of God
- 2:35and see that what doesn't change is this steadfast love of God.
- 2:41A love that doesn't change
- 2:44because it is a love that's from the promise of God himself.
- 2:48Promises that you see running throughout Scripture.
- 2:51Promises that God gives from beginning to end.
- 2:54Great and wonderful promises that we can claim and cling on to
- 2:58in the midst of the highs and in the midst of the lows as well.
- 3:03That God is a God for his people.
- 3:06That he has made that covenant promise.
- 3:09I will be your God and you will be my people.
- 3:14And in that we find a God who,
- 3:16these words especially,
- 3:18the steadfast love of the Lord.
- 3:21How precious these words are
- 3:24and how important these words are for us,
- 3:28especially as we come to put our trust fully in the Lord.
- 3:33To put our trust in him who is able to save.
- 3:37But in our experience in life,
- 3:39the Lord will bring us through
- 3:40maybe many different experiences, situations,
- 3:44in order for us to cry out for that help.
- 3:48And to cry out to the Lord in that sense of,
- 3:51we need you.
- 3:52We need you in this situation, Lord.
- 3:54We can't do without you.
- 3:57And then as we come through that situation,
- 4:00as the psalm reminds us,
- 4:02we are encouraged and challenged indeed
- 4:04to remember the steadfast love of the Lord.
- 4:08And so as we look at this psalm together this evening,
- 4:11we see a variety of people
- 4:14in a variety of different situations.
- 4:18But they all have something in common.
- 4:21You see the verses that are repeated
- 4:23throughout this psalm.
- 4:25We'll look at it as we're going through.
- 4:28But you see that in each situation
- 4:30that the people find themselves in,
- 4:32that the same words are repeated
- 4:35in every situation.
- 4:36And the same constant in it all
- 4:39as well as the steadfast love of God.
- 4:44So there are both variables and constants
- 4:46in this psalm.
- 4:49And that's what we want to look at together
- 4:51this evening.
- 4:52But before you come into these situations,
- 4:55the opening verses of this psalm
- 4:57make it clear to us,
- 4:58verse 1 to verse 3,
- 5:00that this is indeed a psalm of thanksgiving,
- 5:04a psalm of thanking God
- 5:06in the midst of everything.
- 5:09O give thanks to the Lord,
- 5:12for He is good,
- 5:13for His steadfast love endures always.
- 5:16The foundation of our thanks
- 5:18is that steadfast love of God that endures.
- 5:21But there's that challenge to us straight away.
- 5:23O give thanks to the Lord.
- 5:26And it's the same challenge
- 5:27that you find in each situation
- 5:30that the people are in us
- 5:31will see as well.
- 5:32But look at the vastness
- 5:34of God's work here.
- 5:37Look at where this steadfast love is seen.
- 5:40When you look at these opening three verses,
- 5:43in verse 3,
- 5:43gathered in from the lands,
- 5:45from the east and from the west,
- 5:47from the north and from the south.
- 5:50God's saving work is so vast.
- 5:54This steadfast love goes out
- 5:56through all ends of the earth,
- 5:58from north, south, east and west.
- 6:02But you see also that God's work
- 6:05is so necessary.
- 6:08In verse 2, it says,
- 6:10let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
- 6:13whom He has redeemed from trouble.
- 6:15The people of God are in trouble.
- 6:19And we as a people,
- 6:20we're always finding ourselves
- 6:21in that troubled situation.
- 6:25Different places we find ourselves in
- 6:27where we know we need the Lord.
- 6:29We need that Redeemer.
- 6:32We need that saving work of God
- 6:34in the midst of our lives.
- 6:37So we see how God's work
- 6:39is so necessary.
- 6:40And we see there too,
- 6:42as you go back to verse 1,
- 6:44how God's work is so enduring.
- 6:47It's a never-ending love
- 6:50that He shows to His people.
- 6:52The Lord, He is good,
- 6:54for His steadfast love
- 6:55endures forever.
- 6:58It is an ongoing love,
- 7:01steadfast love,
- 7:02that is there for His people.
- 7:04So the psalm is a psalm of thanksgiving
- 7:06that is so broad and wide in its nature,
- 7:10in its distance,
- 7:12north, south, east, and west,
- 7:14in redeeming from the troubles
- 7:16of this world
- 7:17and in showing how enduring this love is.
- 7:20It's a never-ending love.
- 7:23And after these first three verses,
- 7:25then you go in to see
- 7:26four different sections
- 7:28where it speaks about people
- 7:30finding themselves
- 7:32in times of trouble.
- 7:34And how in the midst of time of trouble,
- 7:37they're still able
- 7:37to thank the Lord
- 7:39for His steadfast love.
- 7:42There's a German pastor
- 7:44in the 1600s
- 7:45called Martin Rinkert.
- 7:47And he lived and ministered
- 7:50in a very difficult time
- 7:52when there was war
- 7:54and conflict going on.
- 7:57And he was taking so many funerals
- 7:59in his experience
- 8:01that it was just never-ending.
- 8:02He was burying thousands of people
- 8:05within a year.
- 8:06And yet in the midst of it all,
- 8:08he was still able to thank the Lord.
- 8:10And he wrote a hymn.
- 8:12And the hymn's title was
- 8:13Now Thank We All Our God.
- 8:16And the first verse of it goes like this.
- 8:18Now thank we all, our God,
- 8:19with heart and hands and voices,
- 8:22whose wondrous things,
- 8:24who wondrous things has done,
- 8:25in whom his world rejoices,
- 8:28who from our mother's arms
- 8:30has blessed us on our way
- 8:32with countless gifts of love
- 8:34and still is ours today.
- 8:37How he was able to see
- 8:39in the midst of everything
- 8:40that was going on,
- 8:42the wonder of God
- 8:43and the steadfast love of God
- 8:45that was the constant companion
- 8:47throughout all his days,
- 8:50even in the most difficult
- 8:51of experiences.
- 8:54And we maybe see that
- 8:55in our own lives as well.
- 8:57As we go through
- 8:58so many different experiences
- 8:59in life,
- 9:00we have that assurance
- 9:02as we trust in the Lord
- 9:03of his steadfast love
- 9:05that never changes.
- 9:08So we're going to look at
- 9:09the four different situations
- 9:11that we see people in.
- 9:13And what we find is
- 9:14that they have a common thread
- 9:16in each one.
- 9:16You see in each one
- 9:18there is the problem,
- 9:21a different problem
- 9:22in each part.
- 9:24Then there is the prayer.
- 9:26They cry to the Lord.
- 9:29And then you see
- 9:29that there is the provision
- 9:30that the Lord makes.
- 9:32And then finally you see
- 9:33the praise
- 9:34that they're encouraged to give.
- 9:38And so the first thing you see
- 9:39is the problem.
- 9:41And you see this
- 9:42in the different sections.
- 9:44Verse 4 and 5,
- 9:45you see the first one there.
- 9:47Some wandered in desert wastes,
- 9:50finding no way to a city
- 9:51to dwell in.
- 9:52Hungry and thirsty,
- 9:54their soul fainted within them.
- 9:57There were those
- 9:57who have lost their way.
- 10:00There are those
- 10:01who have wandered
- 10:02in desert wastes,
- 10:04finding no way to a city.
- 10:07They were lost
- 10:08and they were in
- 10:09a desperate condition.
- 10:11And they were wondering
- 10:11to themselves,
- 10:13how are they going to survive?
- 10:14How are they going
- 10:16to get through this?
- 10:18And the word they wandered,
- 10:20the wanderers,
- 10:21it means to stagger.
- 10:23So it shows
- 10:24there was this weakness.
- 10:26They were alone,
- 10:27they were weak,
- 10:28they were nearly gone.
- 10:29And so they are wandering,
- 10:32lost in this world.
- 10:35And it's a reminder
- 10:35to ourselves
- 10:36of how we so often
- 10:38have found
- 10:39or maybe are finding ourselves
- 10:40in that situation as well.
- 10:42We're living in a world
- 10:44but we can feel lost in it
- 10:45without direction,
- 10:47without knowing
- 10:47just where are we going
- 10:49in our lives.
- 10:50Many of us have either
- 10:51been there
- 10:52or maybe are even there
- 10:53just now.
- 10:54We're wondering just
- 10:55what is life about?
- 10:57We're not finding direction.
- 10:59We're not finding
- 11:00our way.
- 11:03It reminds us of the story
- 11:04of the prodigal son
- 11:05in the New Testament
- 11:07who had left
- 11:08everything behind,
- 11:09taken the money
- 11:10from his father
- 11:10and wanted to go
- 11:11and live his own life.
- 11:13And he thought
- 11:14this is it,
- 11:15my freedom.
- 11:16And yet he finds himself
- 11:17wandering around
- 11:18in the waste,
- 11:20eating the food
- 11:21of pigs to survive
- 11:23and wondering
- 11:24how have I ended up here?
- 11:25Is there no point
- 11:26and direction
- 11:27in my life?
- 11:30And so there's
- 11:30the wanderers here.
- 11:32We find
- 11:32the first problem,
- 11:34the people
- 11:35who are just lost
- 11:36and without direction.
- 11:38The second one
- 11:40we see then
- 11:41is in verse 10.
- 11:44Another section
- 11:45begins there.
- 11:46Some sat in darkness
- 11:48and in the shadow
- 11:49of death,
- 11:50prisoners in affliction
- 11:52and in irons,
- 11:53for they had rebelled
- 11:54against the words
- 11:56of God
- 11:57and spurned
- 11:58the counsel
- 11:58of the Most High.
- 12:02They're prisoners.
- 12:03They're locked in.
- 12:05And again,
- 12:06you see just that darkness
- 12:07that surrounds them here.
- 12:11And what you find is
- 12:12it's because of
- 12:13what they've done themselves,
- 12:14because of the way
- 12:16that they have rebelled,
- 12:17as verse 11 makes clear.
- 12:19They rebelled against
- 12:20the Word of God.
- 12:22And again,
- 12:23in our lives,
- 12:24who of us
- 12:25have rebelled
- 12:26against the Word of God?
- 12:28We've said,
- 12:28no,
- 12:29I will not listen
- 12:30to what the Word of God is.
- 12:31I don't need that Word.
- 12:32It's not for me.
- 12:34And we find ourselves
- 12:35thinking we've got freedom,
- 12:38but all it means
- 12:39is that we're in prison,
- 12:40that we're in darkness,
- 12:41that we're lost.
- 12:43And it's all
- 12:44of our own doing.
- 12:46We feel that
- 12:47sense of being trapped.
- 12:50And so many things
- 12:51can make us prisoners
- 12:52in that sense
- 12:54in this life.
- 12:55Jealousy
- 12:56and anger
- 12:57and maybe hurt
- 12:58in the past
- 12:59and unforgiving spirit,
- 13:01hatred towards
- 13:02either people,
- 13:03even the church.
- 13:05People turn against
- 13:06the church.
- 13:06They have their own ideas
- 13:08and they spurn
- 13:09the Word of God
- 13:10and we'll be free
- 13:12from that,
- 13:12but you're never free.
- 13:15We're still in darkness.
- 13:17We're putting God away,
- 13:18but we're only ending up
- 13:19in darkness ourselves
- 13:21more and more.
- 13:22So we see there
- 13:22another problem.
- 13:24And you see the third one
- 13:25in verse 17 and 18.
- 13:28Again,
- 13:28you see a new section there.
- 13:30Some were fools
- 13:31through their sinful ways
- 13:33and because of their iniquities
- 13:35suffered affliction.
- 13:37They loathed any kind of food
- 13:38and they grew near
- 13:39to the gates of death.
- 13:42Sin is at the heart of it all
- 13:44and we're reminded of that
- 13:46in this section.
- 13:48Fools through their sinful ways.
- 13:52The fool says in his heart
- 13:53there is no God.
- 13:56That's sin to say
- 13:57there is no God.
- 13:59And from there
- 14:00just leads to this
- 14:01downward spiral
- 14:02and life
- 14:03where sin just
- 14:04takes over our life.
- 14:06We think nothing of it.
- 14:08Sin just becomes
- 14:09a natural part
- 14:10of how we live.
- 14:12But yet we are fools
- 14:13to go on living like that.
- 14:16Fools through their sinful ways.
- 14:21Then the fourth one you see,
- 14:22then the fourth problem
- 14:24is in verse 23 there.
- 14:29Another section begins.
- 14:31Some.
- 14:31So it's always talking
- 14:32about these some.
- 14:34Different people
- 14:34in different situations.
- 14:35Some went down
- 14:36to the sea and ships
- 14:37doing business
- 14:38on the great waters.
- 14:40They saw the deeds
- 14:41of the Lord
- 14:41as wondrous works
- 14:43in the deep.
- 14:44And so it goes on.
- 14:46And in this experience,
- 14:47they end up reeling
- 14:48and staggering
- 14:49like drunken men
- 14:50in this storm.
- 14:52They're overwhelmed
- 14:53by life,
- 14:54tossed about.
- 14:56And it's just the way
- 14:57life can sometimes
- 14:58leave us feeling like that.
- 15:01Overwhelmed
- 15:01in so many situations.
- 15:03That it's just like
- 15:03a storm
- 15:04all around us
- 15:05as we were thinking
- 15:06about this morning.
- 15:07Instead of having
- 15:08that peace with God,
- 15:10there's nothing
- 15:11but trouble
- 15:11coming our way.
- 15:13And without the Lord
- 15:16in our lives,
- 15:17without Jesus
- 15:17in our lives,
- 15:18we're just floundering around.
- 15:20We're being tossed around
- 15:22by the sea.
- 15:24And so we see
- 15:25there's four different kinds
- 15:27of people here.
- 15:29Four different situations.
- 15:31Four different situations
- 15:32that we maybe have had
- 15:34in our own lives
- 15:34or have.
- 15:36We're wanderers.
- 15:37We're prisoners.
- 15:38We're the sick in sin.
- 15:40We're the overwhelmed
- 15:41by the storms of life.
- 15:44At the heart of them all
- 15:46is the sin
- 15:47of our hearts.
- 15:49The sin in this world
- 15:50that leads us
- 15:51down these paths
- 15:52away from God.
- 15:55There is the problem
- 15:56for us
- 15:57and indeed
- 15:58for the world.
- 16:00But is there
- 16:01an answer?
- 16:04Well you see
- 16:05in all of these situations
- 16:06we find
- 16:08the answer.
- 16:10And the answer
- 16:11is prayer.
- 16:12For in every situation
- 16:15you find here
- 16:17the constant is
- 16:19then they cried
- 16:20to the Lord
- 16:22in their trouble
- 16:23and he delivered them
- 16:25from their distress.
- 16:27That verse
- 16:28is repeated
- 16:29in each of these sections.
- 16:32It's there
- 16:33in each one.
- 16:34Then they cried
- 16:35to the Lord
- 16:35in their trouble
- 16:36and he delivered them
- 16:38from their distress.
- 16:42What is able
- 16:43to help
- 16:43in our situation
- 16:45today?
- 16:46We can cry out
- 16:47for help
- 16:48to friends
- 16:49to family
- 16:50even to strangers
- 16:51at times.
- 16:51We can cry out
- 16:52to the world
- 16:53to help us
- 16:54in all our different
- 16:55situations
- 16:55to give us the answers
- 16:56to all our different needs
- 16:58but there is only one
- 16:59who can help.
- 17:02And that answer
- 17:02is given to us
- 17:04in this psalm
- 17:04in the midst
- 17:05of the variety
- 17:06of people
- 17:07the variety
- 17:08of different problems
- 17:09there is only one
- 17:10answer
- 17:11and that is
- 17:12to pray
- 17:13to cry
- 17:15out
- 17:16to the Lord.
- 17:18Now you notice
- 17:18it doesn't give
- 17:20the prayer
- 17:20to cry.
- 17:22All it says
- 17:23is that they cried
- 17:24to the Lord
- 17:25in their trouble.
- 17:27It may not be
- 17:28a long
- 17:28eloquent prayer
- 17:30it may not have
- 17:31much substance
- 17:32it may even just be
- 17:32a groan
- 17:33but it's directed
- 17:35towards the Lord
- 17:36towards the Lord
- 17:38who is able
- 17:39to help.
- 17:41Prayer is that
- 17:42opportunity
- 17:43to speak
- 17:44to God
- 17:45who is able
- 17:46to help.
- 17:48And again
- 17:48you have given
- 17:48so many reminders
- 17:49through scripture
- 17:51of what crying out
- 17:52to the Lord
- 17:53means.
- 17:54You have that
- 17:55great account
- 17:56in 1 Kings 18
- 17:57when Elijah
- 17:59is there with
- 17:59Ahab
- 18:00and his people
- 18:01his prophets
- 18:02Ahab's prophets
- 18:03Elijah is just
- 18:04one man
- 18:05but he trusts
- 18:06in God
- 18:07and he puts
- 18:08a challenge
- 18:09before Ahab
- 18:10and all his
- 18:10prophets
- 18:11and say
- 18:11you cry
- 18:12to your gods
- 18:13and I'll cry
- 18:15to my God
- 18:16and see
- 18:17who sends
- 18:17down fire
- 18:18who is able
- 18:20to help
- 18:21in that situation
- 18:22and Elijah
- 18:23as they're saying
- 18:24to them
- 18:24keep crying
- 18:25maybe he's not
- 18:26hearing you
- 18:27maybe he's not
- 18:28listening just now
- 18:29but he will
- 18:29eventually
- 18:30and nothing
- 18:30comes
- 18:31because their
- 18:32gods
- 18:33are not able
- 18:34to help
- 18:35but Elijah's
- 18:37God
- 18:38our God
- 18:39he sends
- 18:40down fire
- 18:40he hears
- 18:42and he answers
- 18:43and that is
- 18:45the God
- 18:46that we cry
- 18:46out to today
- 18:47for ourselves
- 18:48or for others
- 18:49the one
- 18:50who is able
- 18:50the same
- 18:52as Paul
- 18:53speaks about
- 18:54in Romans
- 18:54chapter 10
- 18:55he reminds us
- 18:57there that we
- 18:58are to call
- 18:58on the name
- 18:59of the Lord
- 19:00he says
- 19:00because
- 19:00if you confess
- 19:02with your mouth
- 19:02that Jesus
- 19:03is Lord
- 19:04and believe
- 19:04in your heart
- 19:05that God
- 19:06raised him
- 19:06from the dead
- 19:07you will be
- 19:07saved
- 19:08why
- 19:09because he
- 19:10goes on
- 19:10in verse 13
- 19:11to say
- 19:12for everyone
- 19:12who calls
- 19:13on the name
- 19:14of the Lord
- 19:14will be saved
- 19:15if we are truly
- 19:17calling out
- 19:18to God
- 19:19if we are calling
- 19:20out in our
- 19:21desperation
- 19:21that cry of faith
- 19:23they cried
- 19:24to the Lord
- 19:25in their trouble
- 19:27and he relieved
- 19:29them
- 19:29from their distress
- 19:30he is the one
- 19:32who is able
- 19:33to help
- 19:34we don't always
- 19:37see our need
- 19:38at times
- 19:39and there are
- 19:40many people
- 19:41living in this world
- 19:42and they're lost
- 19:43but they don't
- 19:43know it
- 19:44because they feel
- 19:45that everything
- 19:46is going fine
- 19:46everything is fine
- 19:47it'll be
- 19:48okay at the end
- 19:50you hear
- 19:54so many funerals
- 19:56now in the mainland
- 19:57especially
- 19:57where they play
- 19:58songs
- 19:59and Frank Sinatra
- 20:00as I did it
- 20:01my way
- 20:01that's so common
- 20:03now
- 20:04but that is
- 20:05the song
- 20:06that they sang
- 20:07I did it
- 20:09my way
- 20:10but it's not
- 20:12the song
- 20:12of salvation
- 20:13as we were
- 20:14thinking of
- 20:14this morning
- 20:15and it's not
- 20:16the cry
- 20:17that we see
- 20:18we need
- 20:18here
- 20:18the cry
- 20:20that we need
- 20:20here
- 20:21is to call
- 20:22upon the name
- 20:22of the Lord
- 20:23not do it
- 20:24our way
- 20:24but to seek
- 20:26to do it
- 20:26his way
- 20:27that he would
- 20:28direct us
- 20:29Thomas Aquinas
- 20:33he once put it
- 20:34like this
- 20:35bestow upon me
- 20:36oh Lord
- 20:37my God
- 20:37understanding
- 20:38understanding
- 20:39to know
- 20:39the
- 20:40diligence
- 20:41to seek
- 20:42the
- 20:42wisdom
- 20:42to find
- 20:43the
- 20:43and a
- 20:44faithfulness
- 20:45that may
- 20:45finally
- 20:46embrace
- 20:47thee
- 20:47it's all
- 20:49about this
- 20:50coming
- 20:50to cry
- 20:52to the
- 20:52Lord
- 20:53in our
- 20:54trouble
- 20:54so we
- 20:56have
- 20:57the problem
- 20:58there are
- 20:59four different
- 21:00sets of
- 21:00people and
- 21:01situations
- 21:02but the
- 21:03prayer is
- 21:04there for
- 21:04us to see
- 21:05that the
- 21:05prayer
- 21:06is the
- 21:06same in
- 21:07every
- 21:07situation
- 21:08and it's
- 21:09the same
- 21:10that's true
- 21:10for us
- 21:11today
- 21:11we cry
- 21:12to the
- 21:13Lord
- 21:14in our
- 21:15trouble
- 21:15we ask
- 21:16him
- 21:17to help
- 21:18for he
- 21:18is able
- 21:19to relieve
- 21:20us
- 21:20in our
- 21:21distress
- 21:22to give
- 21:22comfort
- 21:23to give
- 21:24hope
- 21:25that's the
- 21:26third thing
- 21:27that we
- 21:27see
- 21:27but we
- 21:28see as
- 21:29they cry
- 21:29to the
- 21:29Lord
- 21:30the Lord
- 21:30makes
- 21:31provision
- 21:31for them
- 21:32in each
- 21:34situation
- 21:34we see
- 21:35that they
- 21:36could not
- 21:36help
- 21:37themselves
- 21:37they could
- 21:38not
- 21:38free
- 21:39themselves
- 21:39they
- 21:41needed
- 21:41a
- 21:42redeemer
- 21:42they
- 21:43needed
- 21:44someone
- 21:45to save
- 21:45them
- 21:46as it
- 21:46says in
- 21:47verse 2
- 21:47let the
- 21:48redeemed
- 21:48of the
- 21:49Lord
- 21:49say so
- 21:50whom he
- 21:50has
- 21:50redeemed
- 21:51from
- 21:52trouble
- 21:52he needs
- 21:54to be
- 21:54the one
- 21:55who saves
- 21:55we cannot
- 21:56do it
- 21:57ourselves
- 21:58and this
- 21:59is the
- 21:59story of
- 22:00scripture
- 22:00from beginning
- 22:01to end
- 22:02that God
- 22:03is a
- 22:04redeeming
- 22:04God
- 22:05God
- 22:05is a
- 22:06saving
- 22:06God
- 22:07you see
- 22:08it
- 22:08when you
- 22:09go back
- 22:09to the
- 22:10Old
- 22:10Testament
- 22:10how he
- 22:11redeemed
- 22:11his
- 22:12people
- 22:12from
- 22:12slavery
- 22:13in
- 22:13Egypt
- 22:14even as
- 22:15we were
- 22:15looking at
- 22:15Isaiah
- 22:16this morning
- 22:17it was
- 22:17the Lord
- 22:18that redeemed
- 22:19them
- 22:19when they
- 22:20were taken
- 22:20into
- 22:21captivity
- 22:21you see
- 22:22he does
- 22:22it for
- 22:23nations
- 22:23of people
- 22:24but you
- 22:25also see
- 22:26that he
- 22:26does for
- 22:27individuals
- 22:27as well
- 22:28you think
- 22:29of the
- 22:29beautiful
- 22:30story
- 22:30of Ruth
- 22:31and how
- 22:32she
- 22:33found
- 22:33a
- 22:33kinsman
- 22:34redeemer
- 22:35when she
- 22:36married
- 22:36Boaz
- 22:37a beautiful
- 22:38story
- 22:39but it's
- 22:39all about
- 22:40the wonder
- 22:41of a
- 22:41redeemer
- 22:42a redeemer
- 22:43for an
- 22:44individual
- 22:44as well
- 22:45as a
- 22:45wider
- 22:45people
- 22:46and that's
- 22:48the wonder
- 22:48of the
- 22:48redeemer
- 22:49that we
- 22:50have in
- 22:50Jesus
- 22:51Christ
- 22:51that he
- 22:53is the
- 22:53one who
- 22:53is able
- 22:54to save
- 22:54us
- 22:55in our
- 22:56trouble
- 22:56as you
- 22:58see in
- 22:58each
- 22:58situation
- 22:59here
- 22:59the
- 22:59redeemer
- 23:00comes
- 23:00to their
- 23:01aid
- 23:02and he
- 23:03shows
- 23:03his
- 23:04steadfast
- 23:04love
- 23:05his
- 23:05covenant
- 23:06love
- 23:06that
- 23:07endures
- 23:07always
- 23:09you see
- 23:10it in
- 23:10verse 7
- 23:11in that
- 23:11first
- 23:12situation
- 23:12he led
- 23:14them
- 23:14he led
- 23:15them by
- 23:15a straight
- 23:16way
- 23:16till they
- 23:17reached
- 23:17a city
- 23:18to dwell
- 23:19in
- 23:19he brought
- 23:20them
- 23:21to a
- 23:21place
- 23:22of
- 23:22security
- 23:23a place
- 23:24of safety
- 23:25after they
- 23:26had cried
- 23:26to the
- 23:27Lord
- 23:28you see
- 23:29it in
- 23:29verse 14
- 23:30he brought
- 23:31them out
- 23:32of darkness
- 23:33and the
- 23:33shadow
- 23:33of death
- 23:34and burst
- 23:35their bonds
- 23:36apart
- 23:37he freed
- 23:37them
- 23:38freed them
- 23:39from the
- 23:39prison
- 23:39that they
- 23:40were in
- 23:41and he's
- 23:42able to
- 23:43do that
- 23:44you see
- 23:45it in
- 23:45verse 20
- 23:47he sent
- 23:48out his
- 23:48word
- 23:49and healed
- 23:49them
- 23:50and delivered
- 23:51them from
- 23:51their destruction
- 23:52they had
- 23:53been fools
- 23:54they had
- 23:55been sick
- 23:56in their
- 23:56sin
- 23:57but the
- 23:58word of
- 23:59God
- 23:59healed
- 24:00them
- 24:00the
- 24:01redeemer
- 24:01can
- 24:02heal
- 24:02you see
- 24:03it in
- 24:04verse 29
- 24:05again
- 24:06he made
- 24:07the storm
- 24:08be still
- 24:08and the
- 24:09waves of
- 24:09the sea
- 24:10were hushed
- 24:11in every
- 24:12situation
- 24:13you see
- 24:14a different
- 24:15kind of
- 24:16peace
- 24:16being brought
- 24:17but it's
- 24:18always
- 24:18he has
- 24:19made it
- 24:20possible
- 24:20he has
- 24:22brought
- 24:22he has
- 24:23led them
- 24:23he has
- 24:24brought them
- 24:24out
- 24:25he has
- 24:25sent out
- 24:26his word
- 24:26and healed
- 24:26them
- 24:27he has
- 24:27made the
- 24:28storm
- 24:28to be
- 24:29still
- 24:30he is
- 24:32the one
- 24:32who is
- 24:33able
- 24:33he is
- 24:35the one
- 24:35who has
- 24:36made
- 24:36provision
- 24:37for his
- 24:38people
- 24:38and again
- 24:40that is
- 24:41true for
- 24:42us today
- 24:42as we
- 24:43cry out
- 24:44to the
- 24:45Lord
- 24:45now
- 24:45trouble
- 24:46what
- 24:46provision
- 24:47has he
- 24:47made
- 24:47for us
- 24:48for all
- 24:49who are
- 24:49lost in
- 24:49this world
- 24:50for all
- 24:50who are
- 24:51caught up
- 24:51in the
- 24:52sin
- 24:52of this
- 24:53world
- 24:53and maybe
- 24:53think
- 24:53there is
- 24:54no
- 24:54freedom
- 24:55for me
- 24:55in the
- 24:56midst
- 24:56of my
- 24:56sin
- 24:57there is
- 24:57no hope
- 24:58for me
- 24:58in the
- 24:59midst
- 24:59of my
- 24:59sin
- 25:00what has
- 25:01he done
- 25:01he has
- 25:03provided
- 25:04a redeemer
- 25:05he has
- 25:06provided a
- 25:07redeemer
- 25:08who is
- 25:08his own
- 25:09son
- 25:10Jesus
- 25:11Christ
- 25:11there is
- 25:14only
- 25:15one
- 25:16Christ
- 25:17has
- 25:17redeemed
- 25:18his
- 25:19people
- 25:19he came
- 25:20to save
- 25:21his
- 25:21people
- 25:22from
- 25:23their
- 25:23sins
- 25:23and that
- 25:26is the
- 25:26wonder
- 25:26of the
- 25:27steadfast
- 25:28love
- 25:28of God
- 25:29that God
- 25:31loved
- 25:31his
- 25:32people
- 25:32so much
- 25:33that he
- 25:34gave
- 25:34his
- 25:35own
- 25:36son
- 25:36the
- 25:38redeemer
- 25:39has
- 25:40come
- 25:40as the
- 25:41hymn writer
- 25:42puts it
- 25:43there is a
- 25:43redeemer
- 25:44Jesus
- 25:45God's
- 25:45own
- 25:46son
- 25:46precious
- 25:47lamb
- 25:47of God
- 25:48Messiah
- 25:49holy
- 25:50one
- 25:50there is
- 25:52a
- 25:53redeemer
- 25:53and the
- 25:54only
- 25:54redeemer
- 25:55of God's
- 25:56elect
- 25:56as the
- 25:56shorter
- 25:56catech
- 25:57puts it
- 25:57is the
- 25:58Lord
- 25:59Jesus
- 25:59Christ
- 26:00there is
- 26:02our
- 26:02provision
- 26:03in the
- 26:04midst of
- 26:05all that
- 26:05is wrong
- 26:06in this
- 26:07world
- 26:07and all
- 26:08the
- 26:08problems
- 26:08that we
- 26:09have
- 26:10and all
- 26:11the cries
- 26:11that we
- 26:12offer out
- 26:13the
- 26:13pleas
- 26:14the
- 26:14prayer
- 26:14for
- 26:15help
- 26:15there is
- 26:16one
- 26:17who
- 26:17is able
- 26:18to
- 26:18help
- 26:19one
- 26:19who
- 26:20is able
- 26:20to
- 26:21save
- 26:21and that
- 26:22is
- 26:22Jesus
- 26:23Christ
- 26:23he is
- 26:25able to
- 26:25save
- 26:26his people
- 26:27from their
- 26:28sins
- 26:29and when we
- 26:30know that
- 26:31salvation
- 26:32when we
- 26:32know Jesus
- 26:33Christ
- 26:34as our
- 26:35redeemer
- 26:35where does
- 26:36that lead
- 26:37us to
- 26:37well surely
- 26:39it leads us
- 26:39to our
- 26:40final thing
- 26:41that we
- 26:41see here
- 26:42it should
- 26:42lead us
- 26:43to
- 26:43praise
- 26:44in all
- 26:46of these
- 26:46situations
- 26:47in all
- 26:48the four
- 26:49different
- 26:49situations
- 26:50again there
- 26:51is a
- 26:52constant
- 26:52in each
- 26:54situation
- 26:54he says
- 26:55let them
- 26:56thank the
- 26:57Lord for
- 26:57his steadfast
- 26:58love
- 26:59for his
- 27:00wondrous
- 27:00works to
- 27:01the children
- 27:02of men
- 27:03so that is
- 27:04the conclusion
- 27:04of each of
- 27:05these four
- 27:06sections
- 27:06all these
- 27:08different
- 27:08people who
- 27:09find themselves
- 27:10in different
- 27:11situations
- 27:12he is able
- 27:13to provide
- 27:14a way out
- 27:15he is able
- 27:15to redeem
- 27:16and then there
- 27:17is this
- 27:17call
- 27:18let them
- 27:19thank the
- 27:20Lord
- 27:20for his
- 27:21steadfast
- 27:22love
- 27:22you know
- 27:24so often
- 27:24people
- 27:25will say
- 27:26well I'm
- 27:26going to
- 27:27call on
- 27:28God for
- 27:28help
- 27:29as they
- 27:29face up
- 27:29to a
- 27:30challenge
- 27:30a difficult
- 27:31situation
- 27:32the Lord
- 27:34provides
- 27:35gives grace
- 27:36he gives
- 27:37help
- 27:37and so many
- 27:39people come
- 27:39through and they
- 27:40forget
- 27:40forget
- 27:42what the
- 27:43Lord has
- 27:44helped
- 27:44forget
- 27:44what the
- 27:45Lord has
- 27:45done
- 27:46it's like
- 27:47the parable
- 27:47of the
- 27:48ten lepers
- 27:49they were
- 27:50all healed
- 27:51but only one
- 27:53came back
- 27:53to thank
- 27:54the Lord
- 27:54and he said
- 27:55where are
- 27:56the others
- 27:56well they'd
- 27:58all gone
- 27:58their own
- 27:59way
- 28:00that's what
- 28:00this psalm
- 28:01is reminding
- 28:02us of as well
- 28:02as we are
- 28:03looking for
- 28:04help in this
- 28:05life as the
- 28:06Lord provides
- 28:07graciously help
- 28:08to us
- 28:09well we're
- 28:10reminded let
- 28:11us thank
- 28:11the Lord
- 28:12for his
- 28:13steadfast love
- 28:14for his
- 28:14covenant love
- 28:15his constant
- 28:16love
- 28:16let us not
- 28:18forget what
- 28:19the Lord has
- 28:20done for
- 28:21us
- 28:21he has
- 28:22rescued us
- 28:24he has
- 28:25saved us
- 28:26through Jesus
- 28:26Christ
- 28:27is that not
- 28:28worthy of
- 28:30all our
- 28:30praise
- 28:31a call
- 28:32to thanks
- 28:34oh give
- 28:34thanks to the
- 28:35Lord for he
- 28:36is good
- 28:36his steadfast
- 28:37love
- 28:38endures
- 28:38forever
- 28:39that's the
- 28:40cry at the
- 28:40start
- 28:41it's the
- 28:42cry throughout
- 28:43let them
- 28:44give thanks
- 28:45to the
- 28:45Lord for
- 28:46his steadfast
- 28:47love
- 28:47for his
- 28:48wondrous
- 28:48works to
- 28:49the children
- 28:49of men
- 28:50it's the
- 28:52psalm as the
- 28:53hymn writer
- 28:53sees another
- 28:54hymn thank
- 28:55you oh my
- 28:55father for
- 28:56giving us
- 28:57your son
- 28:58and sending
- 28:58us your
- 28:59spirit
- 29:00till the
- 29:00work on
- 29:01earth
- 29:01is done
- 29:02thank you
- 29:03oh my
- 29:04father for
- 29:04giving us
- 29:05your son
- 29:06that we
- 29:08have a
- 29:09redeemer
- 29:09so the
- 29:11call is
- 29:12there to
- 29:13thanksgiving
- 29:14because his
- 29:15steadfast love
- 29:16endures
- 29:18always
- 29:19what is the
- 29:22most important
- 29:23verse in
- 29:24this psalm
- 29:25it's a
- 29:27fairly long
- 29:28psalm
- 29:28and it
- 29:29covers a
- 29:30lot of
- 29:31ground
- 29:31but what
- 29:32is the
- 29:33most important
- 29:34verse
- 29:34is there
- 29:36a most
- 29:36important
- 29:37verse
- 29:37well somebody
- 29:38said there
- 29:39is
- 29:39one writer
- 29:40said the
- 29:41last verse
- 29:42is the
- 29:43most
- 29:44important
- 29:45why
- 29:46well look
- 29:48at the
- 29:48last verse
- 29:49whoever
- 29:51is wise
- 29:52let him
- 29:53attend
- 29:54to these
- 29:55things
- 29:55let him
- 29:56consider
- 29:57the
- 29:57steadfast
- 29:58love
- 29:59of the
- 30:00lord
- 30:00why
- 30:02is that
- 30:03so
- 30:03important
- 30:04well it
- 30:07speaks to
- 30:07us
- 30:08about
- 30:09wisdom
- 30:09what is
- 30:11it
- 30:11to be
- 30:13wise
- 30:13the world
- 30:15will tell
- 30:16us so
- 30:16many things
- 30:17that are
- 30:18wise
- 30:18according
- 30:19to them
- 30:20but according
- 30:22to the word
- 30:23of god
- 30:24wisdom's
- 30:25beginning
- 30:25is the
- 30:26fear of
- 30:27the lord
- 30:27that doesn't
- 30:29mean just
- 30:29to run
- 30:29away
- 30:30scared
- 30:30from the
- 30:31lord
- 30:31it
- 30:32means
- 30:32to
- 30:33consider
- 30:34the lord
- 30:35to look
- 30:36to the
- 30:37lord
- 30:37to be in
- 30:38awe
- 30:39of the
- 30:39lord
- 30:40it's the
- 30:40one
- 30:40who is
- 30:41god
- 30:41over all
- 30:42and so
- 30:43it says
- 30:43here
- 30:44whoever
- 30:44is wise
- 30:45let him
- 30:46attend
- 30:47to these
- 30:47things
- 30:48that these
- 30:49are important
- 30:50matters
- 30:51these are
- 30:53important
- 30:53things
- 30:54in our
- 30:55own
- 30:55experience
- 30:56so that
- 30:58whatever
- 30:58situation
- 30:59we find
- 31:00ourselves
- 31:01in
- 31:01whether we
- 31:03are the
- 31:03wanderers
- 31:04whether we
- 31:05are the
- 31:05prisoners
- 31:06whether we
- 31:07are those
- 31:07who are
- 31:08sick
- 31:08in sin
- 31:09whether we
- 31:10are those
- 31:10who are
- 31:10being tossed
- 31:11around in
- 31:11the storms
- 31:12of this
- 31:13life
- 31:13let us
- 31:14consider
- 31:14these
- 31:15things
- 31:15and let
- 31:17us see
- 31:17where our
- 31:18help is
- 31:19found
- 31:19it is
- 31:20found in
- 31:21crying out
- 31:22to the
- 31:22lord
- 31:23who is
- 31:24able
- 31:24to relieve
- 31:25us
- 31:25from our
- 31:26troubles
- 31:26to bring
- 31:28us
- 31:28out
- 31:29so it
- 31:30says
- 31:30let them
- 31:31attend
- 31:32to these
- 31:33things
- 31:33but then
- 31:34it concludes
- 31:35let them
- 31:37consider
- 31:37the steadfast
- 31:38love
- 31:39of the
- 31:40lord
- 31:40look
- 31:42on these
- 31:43things
- 31:43look
- 31:45on the
- 31:45lord
- 31:46and his
- 31:46steadfast
- 31:47love
- 31:47that is
- 31:47unchanging
- 31:49in all
- 31:50our lives
- 31:50he is
- 31:52there
- 31:52for his
- 31:53people
- 31:54he has
- 31:55promised
- 31:56that those
- 31:56who cry
- 31:57will be
- 31:58saved
- 31:59so we
- 32:01can come
- 32:01in confidence
- 32:03whoever is
- 32:04wise
- 32:05let him
- 32:06attend
- 32:06to these
- 32:07things
- 32:08let him
- 32:08consider
- 32:08the
- 32:09steadfast
- 32:09love
- 32:10of the
- 32:11lord
- 32:11let us
- 32:12let us
- 32:14consider
- 32:14the
- 32:15steadfast
- 32:16love
- 32:16love
- 32:17of the
- 32:17lord
- 32:17and see
- 32:18if he
- 32:18is not
- 32:19worthy
- 32:19of all
- 32:21our
- 32:21praise
- 32:22let us
- 32:22come
- 32:23and give
- 32:24thanks to
- 32:24the lord
- 32:25for he
- 32:25is good
- 32:26for his
- 32:27steadfast
- 32:28love
- 32:28endures
- 32:29forever
- 32:30let us
- 32:31pray
- 32:32lord we do
- 32:34thank you
- 32:35for your
- 32:35word and
- 32:36for all the
- 32:37truths that
- 32:37we find
- 32:38in them
- 32:38the promises
- 32:40that we see
- 32:40before us
- 32:41a new
- 32:42day by
- 32:42day that
- 32:43you are
- 32:43a good
- 32:43god
- 32:44who is
- 32:45gracious
- 32:45to his
- 32:46people
- 32:46that your
- 32:46steadfast
- 32:47love
- 32:48endures
- 32:49forever
- 32:49we pray
- 32:50to know
- 32:51more
- 32:51of that
- 32:52enduring
- 32:52love
- 32:53that you
- 32:53have
- 32:53shown
- 32:54so hear
- 32:55our prayers
- 32:55continue
- 32:56with us
- 32:56as we
- 32:57ask all
- 32:57in jesus
- 32:58name
- 32:58amen
- 32:59well we
- 33:03conclude by
- 33:04singing
- 33:05from this
- 33:06psalm that
- 33:06we've been
- 33:07looking at
- 33:07we sing the
- 33:09last three
- 33:10verses
- 33:10in the
- 33:12scottish
- 33:13psalter
- 33:13psalm 107
- 33:14at verse
- 33:1541
- 33:15page 385
- 33:18yet
- 33:22setteth
- 33:22he the
- 33:22poor
- 33:23on high
- 33:23from all
- 33:24his
- 33:24miseries
- 33:25and he
- 33:25much like
- 33:26unto a
- 33:27flock
- 33:27doth make
- 33:28him
- 33:28families
- 33:29and at
- 33:30the end
- 33:30whoso is
- 33:31wise
- 33:31and will
- 33:32these
- 33:32things
- 33:33observe
- 33:33and then
- 33:34record
- 33:35even they
- 33:36shall
- 33:36understand
- 33:37the love
- 33:37and kindness
- 33:38of the
- 33:39lord
- 33:40with these
- 33:41last three
- 33:41verses
- 33:42the
- 33:42tunas
- 33:42montrose
- 33:43we stand
- 33:44to sing
- 33:45up
- 34:15Amen.
- 34:45Amen.
- 35:15After the benediction, I'll go to the main door.
- 35:24We'll close the benediction.
- 35:26Now may grace, mercy and peace from God,
- 35:29Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon
- 35:32and abide with you all now and forevermore.
- 35:35Amen.
- 35:45Amen.