Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / God's Faithfulness

Transcript

God's Faithfulness · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

0:00
As God's people, we are a praying people, I hope.
0:05
I'm sure we all come prayerfully as we approach God,
0:09
and especially as we approach a communion season.
0:12
We're looking to God and seeking his blessing in our lives,
0:16
in our congregation, in our community,
0:19
and far and wide that God would come in a day of his power,
0:24
in a day of his reviving power.
0:26
But as you approach God yourself,
0:28
what is it that you're asking of God?
0:31
What are you asking or want from him in terms of your own life, perhaps?
0:35
Is there particular prayers you have at this time?
0:40
Are you thankful for the way maybe you can look back
0:42
and see how God has answered prayer in the past?
0:46
Do you come to God expectantly then as you pray now,
0:51
knowing that he has been faithful and that he promises
0:53
to be faithful to hear his people?
0:55
Prayer is a wonderful privilege,
0:58
and as we heard in the prayers this evening,
1:00
it's not something that we are to take for granted.
1:03
Even the meeting, our meeting here this evening
1:06
and over these coming days,
1:07
it is not something that we are to take for granted at all,
1:10
but to truly give thanks to God
1:13
for the wonderful privilege
1:15
and the wonderful blessing
1:16
of having his word
1:18
and the opportunity to meet.
1:20
Psalm 40, we know so well,
1:23
when we sing it so often,
1:26
I waited for the Lord my God.
1:28
There's a sense of expectation in that psalm.
1:32
And in verse 5, the psalmist says,
1:34
O Lord my God,
1:35
full many are the wonders thou hast done.
1:39
Thy gracious thoughts to us
1:41
were far above all thoughts are gone.
1:44
There's a sense of wonder and amazement there with God
1:48
at the great things that he has done.
1:51
They cannot be numbered,
1:53
the things that God has done for his people.
1:57
But as we come to God's word,
1:59
it gives us a focus on a sense of thankfulness
2:03
for all that God has indeed done for us.
2:07
Are you a person who keeps a diary?
2:10
There are some people who enjoy keeping a diary
2:13
on a daily basis.
2:15
Maybe write what you've done,
2:17
things you've seen,
2:18
things you've heard in a diary on a daily basis.
2:20
Other people,
2:22
it's maybe just some sketchy notes
2:23
from time to time of something important,
2:26
something major happens.
2:28
Or for others,
2:28
it's maybe let's just make sure
2:30
we get the important dates in
2:32
so we remember anniversaries and birthdays
2:34
and things like that.
2:36
But we all have a sense of looking at the past
2:40
and looking at the future
2:40
in a sense of keeping a diary for ourselves,
2:44
remembering things and looking forward to things.
2:48
There are often dates that we have marked
2:50
and perhaps one of the dates
2:52
that's maybe ingrained in your mind
2:54
is the fourth Sunday of August.
2:59
What's the significance of that?
3:01
You might say,
3:02
well, I'm sure many of you know
3:04
the significance of that date
3:06
is the date set aside
3:08
for the communion season here in Stornoway,
3:11
the fourth Sunday in August.
3:15
But then as we think back
3:16
over these last couple of years,
3:18
perhaps that's kind of gone out of our focus.
3:21
The fourth Sunday in August,
3:22
the last couple of years,
3:23
hasn't had the same significance.
3:26
We've been hindered
3:27
in being able to meet
3:29
and especially to meet
3:30
in terms of taking communion together.
3:35
But we pray that we're coming through that time,
3:38
that we're moving forward.
3:40
But we also look back
3:41
and we ask questions like,
3:43
what have we learned in that time?
3:46
What have we learned about ourselves?
3:49
What have we learned about others?
3:52
What have we learned about the world
3:54
in which we live?
3:55
We've probably learned a lot
3:58
in terms of ourselves.
4:00
Maybe we think to ourselves,
4:02
how much was I taking for granted in my life?
4:06
Was I just struggling along slowly,
4:09
wondering just what was it all about?
4:12
And all of a sudden,
4:13
when things came to a shuddering halt,
4:15
begin to ask yourselves more serious questions.
4:18
Was I obedient to God?
4:20
Did I really show my love of God?
4:22
Did I show my love for my fellow Christians,
4:25
my brothers and sisters in Christ?
4:27
Was my urgency with the gospel
4:29
what it should have been?
4:31
And perhaps for a time,
4:32
we were shaken up to that end.
4:35
But then as we come back to normal,
4:36
we can easily lose that focus once again,
4:39
lose that edge.
4:41
We ask ourselves too and at all,
4:43
what have we learned of God?
4:45
Have you learned more deeply
4:47
the importance of your relationship with God?
4:51
On a personal level,
4:52
we've maybe learned just how much we need him,
4:55
how much we depend on him,
4:57
but also how much we can rely on him,
5:00
that he is a faithful God.
5:03
Collectively as God's people,
5:06
hopefully we've learned how much
5:07
we long for fellowship with each other,
5:10
how much we long for God's word,
5:13
how much we long to remember
5:15
the Lord's death till he come.
5:17
Nationally, what have we learned?
5:21
And internationally, what have we learned?
5:23
Perhaps we've learned just how far from God
5:25
we had gone,
5:27
maybe have still gone.
5:29
There's no thought of God
5:30
in the midst of it all.
5:33
But as we move forward,
5:35
we long to see as God's people,
5:38
his blessing upon us,
5:40
to learn lessons
5:41
and to seek his blessing
5:43
on us as a people,
5:45
as a congregation
5:46
and indeed as nations of the world.
5:51
The city of Glasgow perhaps
5:53
reflects so much of our nation.
5:56
You may be familiar with Glasgow,
5:58
many of you sure are very familiar with it,
6:01
but they have a coat of arms for the city
6:05
with a motto on it.
6:07
And the motto now reads,
6:10
let Glasgow flourish.
6:14
But that's not always been the motto.
6:17
Some of you I'm sure know
6:18
what it once was,
6:21
that back in the year 1631,
6:24
the motto of Glasgow was formed
6:26
and the words were this,
6:27
let Glasgow flourish
6:28
through the preaching of thy word
6:31
and the praising of thy name.
6:35
That was the motto of Glasgow
6:37
for over 200 years.
6:40
And indeed our nation knew
6:42
a time of blessing
6:43
over those years too.
6:45
But in 1866,
6:48
the last part of the motto was dropped
6:51
and it became,
6:52
let Glasgow flourish.
6:55
But no answer as to how.
6:57
And what's interesting about it is
7:00
when you look on the council website,
7:02
the city council website,
7:04
when they speak about the motto
7:05
and how it changed,
7:07
it says the new motto is
7:09
a curtailment of the text
7:12
inscribed on the bell
7:14
of the Tron church
7:15
cast in 1631.
7:19
They mean a shortened version.
7:22
But I think what they've said
7:23
says so much,
7:24
it's a curtailment.
7:26
They're curtailing
7:28
the way Glasgow or anywhere
7:30
is going to flourish.
7:32
Dropping the part
7:33
that is going to flourish
7:35
by the preaching of thy word
7:38
is so definitive in many ways,
7:42
so enlightening in many ways.
7:45
But as we turn to this psalm,
7:48
what we find is
7:49
the psalm is giving us a reminder
7:52
of how we can be revived,
7:56
of how we can know
7:57
God's blessing.
7:59
Verse 12, for example,
8:01
is a very famous verse itself.
8:04
Blessed is the nation
8:05
whose God is the Lord,
8:07
the people whom he has chosen
8:10
as his heritage.
8:12
It reminds us of
8:14
where that motto for Glasgow
8:16
once came from.
8:17
It was looking to God
8:19
and seeking blessing
8:21
through the preaching
8:22
of the word.
8:25
Recognizing his steadfast love,
8:30
an unchanging love from God,
8:33
a God who is able to bless
8:35
if only we would seek him.
8:39
And so as we prayerfully approach
8:40
this communion weekend,
8:42
as we seek God's blessing on us,
8:45
are we thankful?
8:48
Are we praising him
8:49
as we should?
8:51
And are we seeking
8:52
the blessing of God on us?
8:55
Are we encouraged?
8:57
Are we looking forward
8:58
in anticipation?
9:00
Are we hungry for the word
9:03
and for the sacrament?
9:05
God's word is what will stir us up
9:07
as we approach the sacrament
9:09
on the Lord's day.
9:10
Through the preaching of his word,
9:12
may we all be blessed
9:13
and encouraged together
9:15
over these days
9:16
and to show our love for God
9:19
and coming to remember
9:21
his death together,
9:22
to remember what he has done for us.
9:26
And there's three things
9:27
I want us to take
9:28
from this psalm tonight.
9:29
Three ways that we can see
9:32
encouragement for ourselves
9:33
as we approach this time.
9:36
And the first thing is this,
9:37
we see God's word
9:38
and the blessing
9:40
that there is in it.
9:41
The second thing we see
9:43
is God's will
9:44
and the wonder of it.
9:47
And the third thing
9:48
is God's worth
9:49
and that nothing compares.
9:53
So the first thing we have
9:54
is God's word
9:55
and the blessing of it.
9:59
Psalm 33 is,
10:00
as you begin in the beginning
10:02
of the psalm,
10:03
shout for joy in the Lord.
10:07
In many ways,
10:09
our joy was hindered.
10:11
And has been hindered
10:13
over the last while.
10:14
We haven't felt maybe
10:16
able to shout properly
10:18
with joy in the Lord.
10:21
But when God comes
10:23
and revives his people,
10:24
we cannot but help
10:25
but to shout for joy
10:27
in the Lord.
10:29
And that is the foremost,
10:31
what's foremost in this psalm,
10:32
is a psalm of praise.
10:34
And the praise comes
10:36
when we see and know
10:37
who God is.
10:39
When we show our dependence
10:41
upon him
10:42
and we see that he is
10:45
in control
10:45
of all things.
10:47
And when he shows
10:49
his steadfast love
10:50
continually towards
10:52
his people
10:53
in whatever circumstances
10:55
we are,
10:56
how God shows
10:57
his steadfast love,
10:59
his faithful,
11:00
unchanging love.
11:01
And that again
11:03
is a great reminder
11:04
to us
11:04
and something we have
11:05
to remind ourselves
11:06
of time and time again.
11:09
Our God reigns.
11:12
He hasn't changed
11:13
his position.
11:15
He is where he's always been,
11:17
overruling
11:18
in all things.
11:20
And the psalmist here
11:21
in Psalm 33
11:22
is showing us
11:23
that we have
11:24
every reason
11:25
to praise God.
11:28
It's linked closely
11:29
to Psalm 32,
11:31
the previous one as well.
11:33
What you see
11:33
as you read through
11:34
Psalm 32,
11:35
it's a psalm
11:36
that speaks
11:36
of the Lord
11:37
being praised
11:38
because he is
11:39
the one
11:39
who forgives sin.
11:43
He is the one
11:44
who forgives sin.
11:46
When we acknowledge
11:46
our sin
11:47
before him,
11:48
he is able
11:49
to forgive.
11:52
And as we know
11:52
the forgiveness
11:53
of God,
11:54
we praise his name.
11:56
And as we come
11:57
into Psalm 33,
11:58
the praise
11:59
almost increases.
12:01
The praise
12:02
just goes on.
12:03
Shout for joy
12:04
in the Lord,
12:04
O you righteous.
12:06
Praise befits
12:07
the upright.
12:08
Give thanks
12:09
to the Lord.
12:11
Give thanks
12:11
to the Lord.
12:14
One commentator
12:16
describes
12:16
Psalm 33
12:17
as God
12:19
blowing over
12:19
the coals
12:20
of our heart
12:21
so that they
12:23
will catch fire
12:24
with worship
12:24
and praise.
12:26
God
12:28
blowing over
12:29
the coals
12:30
of our hearts
12:31
so they will
12:32
catch fire
12:33
with worship
12:33
and praise.
12:36
Something we used
12:37
to do
12:38
which is not
12:39
as common
12:39
now
12:40
is banking
12:41
the stove.
12:43
I'm sure
12:43
many of you
12:44
have done it
12:44
maybe still do.
12:46
You bank
12:46
the stove
12:47
at night
12:47
bank it up
12:49
so that hopefully
12:49
in the morning
12:50
there'll be something
12:50
that you can put
12:51
more peat
12:52
or coal
12:53
onto
12:53
and it's just
12:54
going to fan
12:55
itself into flame
12:56
once again
12:57
instead of letting
12:57
the fire
12:58
die out
12:59
you keep it
12:59
bank
13:00
bank to keep
13:01
the embers
13:02
burning.
13:04
And maybe
13:04
in some ways
13:05
these last
13:05
couple of years
13:06
it's almost
13:07
like our hearts
13:09
have just been
13:09
banked
13:10
dampened
13:12
down in some
13:13
ways.
13:14
Yes there's
13:15
a flame
13:16
in there
13:16
but it's
13:17
down somewhere
13:18
deep
13:19
and it needs
13:20
fanning into
13:22
flame.
13:22
once again
13:23
and maybe
13:25
we still
13:26
feel a bit
13:27
like that
13:28
too
13:28
but what
13:30
the crucial
13:31
thing is
13:32
is that the
13:33
fire is there
13:34
and also
13:35
we have the
13:36
spirit of
13:37
God
13:37
and his
13:38
word
13:38
to blow
13:39
over our
13:39
hearts
13:40
and to
13:41
fan us
13:41
into flame
13:42
once again.
13:44
In verse
13:45
four here
13:45
we read
13:46
the word
13:46
of the
13:47
Lord
13:47
is upright.
13:49
The word
13:50
of the
13:50
Lord
13:50
is precious.
13:52
It is
13:53
what we
13:53
need.
13:54
And the
13:55
more we
13:55
come into
13:55
God's
13:56
word and
13:56
the more
13:57
we see
13:57
the steadfast
13:58
love of
13:59
God and
13:59
come to
14:00
give him
14:00
praise the
14:02
more our
14:02
hearts are
14:03
fanned into
14:03
flame once
14:04
again.
14:05
You remember
14:06
the two on
14:07
the road to
14:07
Emmaus after
14:08
the crucifixion
14:09
of Christ.
14:11
There they
14:11
met with the
14:12
Lord on the
14:12
way and
14:14
what was it
14:14
that happened?
14:16
Their hearts
14:16
burned within
14:18
them.
14:18
How?
14:20
As the
14:20
Lord opened
14:21
up the
14:22
scriptures to
14:23
them.
14:24
What God
14:24
was the
14:25
Lord was
14:25
teaching them
14:26
through the
14:27
Old Testament
14:28
and through
14:28
this teaching
14:29
and through
14:29
what had
14:30
happened in
14:30
these days
14:31
he fanned
14:32
them into
14:33
flame and
14:35
they were
14:35
burning then
14:35
for the
14:36
Lord to
14:37
go and
14:37
meet with
14:37
others.
14:39
And that
14:39
is our
14:39
prayer as
14:40
we approach
14:41
God's word
14:42
over this
14:42
season.
14:43
As we hear
14:44
the preaching
14:44
of God's
14:45
word over
14:46
these days
14:46
that the
14:47
word we
14:47
bless to
14:48
all our
14:49
hearts.
14:50
That it
14:50
would rekindle
14:51
the fires
14:52
in our
14:52
hearts.
14:53
Our love
14:54
for the
14:54
Lord, our
14:55
love for
14:55
each other,
14:56
our love
14:57
for fellowship,
14:58
our love
14:59
in all
15:00
senses
15:00
towards God.
15:03
The word
15:04
of God
15:04
is what
15:05
we need.
15:06
The word
15:07
of Lord
15:07
is upright
15:08
as it
15:09
says here.
15:11
The word
15:11
is like a
15:12
compass that
15:13
guides his
15:14
people.
15:15
And that
15:15
is what we
15:16
need.
15:16
All around
15:17
us we
15:18
see the
15:18
result of
15:19
abandoning
15:20
God's
15:21
word.
15:21
Of
15:22
abandoning
15:22
like the
15:23
city of
15:23
Glasgow
15:24
that motto
15:24
through the
15:25
preaching
15:26
of thy
15:27
word.
15:28
When we
15:29
abandon
15:29
God's
15:30
word,
15:30
where do
15:30
we go?
15:31
We've
15:32
got no
15:32
direction.
15:33
Our
15:33
society
15:34
is just
15:34
cast
15:35
adrift.
15:36
We're
15:36
rudderless.
15:38
We don't
15:38
have any
15:39
steering at
15:40
all.
15:41
We're
15:41
heading in
15:42
the wrong
15:42
direction.
15:43
God's
15:45
word to
15:47
help us
15:47
flourish.
15:48
We need
15:49
God's
15:49
word and
15:50
we have
15:50
the
15:51
privilege
15:51
of it
15:52
before us
15:53
here.
15:54
And through
15:54
the preaching
15:55
of God's
15:56
word over
15:57
this weekend
15:57
and week
15:58
after week
15:59
and hearing
15:59
it and
16:00
reading it
16:00
and sharing
16:01
it together,
16:02
may we be
16:03
stirred up
16:04
in our
16:05
faith.
16:05
God's
16:08
word as
16:08
we see
16:08
and so
16:09
often
16:10
reminds us
16:10
of the
16:11
dangers of
16:11
just drifting
16:12
away from
16:13
it,
16:14
neglecting
16:14
it,
16:15
turning
16:15
away from
16:16
it.
16:17
What does
16:17
it lead
16:17
to?
16:19
There's
16:19
immorality,
16:20
wickedness,
16:21
evil in
16:22
this world
16:22
beyond what
16:23
we could
16:24
comprehend,
16:26
beyond what
16:26
we might
16:26
think is
16:27
possible.
16:28
There is
16:28
wickedness
16:29
all around
16:30
us.
16:31
But what
16:32
we need
16:32
again is
16:33
God's
16:34
word.
16:35
and the
16:36
blessing
16:36
of it.
16:38
We can
16:39
trust
16:39
this
16:40
word.
16:41
It is a
16:41
word that
16:42
is powerful.
16:44
It is by
16:44
the word of
16:45
the Lord
16:45
the heavens
16:46
were made
16:47
and the
16:47
breath of
16:48
his mouth
16:48
all their
16:49
host.
16:50
He did
16:50
all through
16:51
his word.
16:53
And it
16:53
says there
16:53
in verse
16:53
8,
16:54
let all
16:54
the earth
16:55
fear the
16:56
Lord,
16:56
let the
16:56
inhabitants
16:57
of the
16:58
world
16:58
stand in
16:59
awe of
17:00
him.
17:03
May we
17:03
stand
17:04
in awe
17:05
of him.
17:06
He is
17:07
our God,
17:08
he is
17:08
our Lord,
17:09
the maker
17:10
of heaven
17:11
and earth.
17:12
He is a
17:13
great God
17:13
who is in
17:15
control of
17:16
all things.
17:17
So pray
17:18
for the
17:19
preaching of
17:20
the word
17:20
over these
17:21
days.
17:22
Pray that
17:24
will fan us
17:24
all into
17:25
flame for
17:26
the Lord,
17:27
encouraging
17:27
our hearts,
17:29
reminding us
17:30
that God
17:30
is in
17:31
control.
17:33
The second
17:34
thing we
17:34
see here
17:35
is God's
17:37
will.
17:40
God,
17:41
as he
17:41
says here,
17:42
the psalmist,
17:43
is in
17:44
control.
17:45
Now,
17:46
what have
17:46
we learned
17:46
of God's
17:48
will in
17:49
our own
17:49
lives?
17:50
Even over
17:51
these last
17:52
few years,
17:53
what have
17:53
we learned
17:54
of God's
17:55
will?
17:57
Maybe we've
17:58
questioned it.
17:59
We often
18:00
end up in
18:00
situations
18:01
where we
18:02
question God
18:03
what he is
18:04
doing,
18:04
why he
18:05
might be
18:05
doing it.
18:07
We often
18:07
have these
18:07
questions,
18:08
but so
18:08
does the
18:09
psalmist.
18:10
We see him
18:10
in other
18:11
psalms
18:11
questioning,
18:12
for example,
18:13
how long,
18:14
oh Lord?
18:15
Why,
18:16
oh Lord?
18:16
He has
18:17
these very
18:17
same
18:18
questions,
18:18
but again
18:19
and again,
18:20
we see him
18:21
coming back
18:21
and recognizing
18:23
that God
18:24
is will
18:25
is what
18:26
we need.
18:27
His will
18:27
is dominant
18:28
as you
18:29
see in
18:29
verse 10.
18:30
The Lord
18:31
brings the
18:31
counsel of
18:32
the nations
18:32
to nothing.
18:34
He frustrates
18:34
the plans
18:35
of the
18:36
people.
18:38
We all
18:38
make plans.
18:39
We've all
18:40
had plans.
18:41
We've all
18:41
maybe had
18:41
plans that
18:42
have been
18:42
cast into
18:43
disarray in
18:44
these last
18:45
couple of
18:45
years.
18:46
Things we've
18:46
had to
18:47
postpone
18:47
or put
18:48
off.
18:49
Our plans
18:49
have often
18:50
had to
18:51
change,
18:52
but God's
18:53
plan hasn't
18:54
changed.
18:55
God's will
18:56
hasn't
18:57
changed.
18:58
God,
18:59
looking down
19:00
on us as
19:00
a people,
19:01
as nations
19:01
of the
19:02
world,
19:02
recognized
19:03
how far
19:04
away we
19:04
were going
19:05
from him,
19:05
and he
19:05
has brought
19:06
this upon
19:07
us to
19:08
bring us
19:09
back.
19:10
But have
19:10
we listened?
19:12
Job in the
19:13
Old Testament
19:14
says in
19:15
chapter 37,
19:16
verse 5,
19:18
God thunders
19:19
wondrously with
19:20
his voice.
19:21
He does
19:21
great things
19:22
that we
19:22
cannot
19:22
comprehend.
19:25
For to
19:25
the snow,
19:26
he says,
19:27
fall on
19:28
the earth.
19:29
Likewise
19:29
to the
19:30
downpour,
19:31
his mighty
19:32
downpour.
19:33
Everything
19:34
is within
19:35
God's grasp,
19:36
within God's
19:37
control.
19:38
The snow,
19:39
the downpour
19:40
of rain,
19:41
the wind,
19:43
everything that
19:44
happens,
19:45
his will
19:46
is dominant.
19:48
His will
19:49
will have
19:50
the final
19:51
word,
19:53
his will
19:53
be done.
19:56
Psalm 115,
19:58
another psalm
19:59
says,
19:59
but our
19:59
God is
20:00
in the
20:01
heavens.
20:02
He has
20:02
done
20:03
whatsoever
20:03
he hath
20:04
pleased.
20:06
God is
20:07
in control.
20:09
We need
20:09
not fear
20:10
because God
20:11
is in
20:12
control of
20:13
all things.
20:14
And our
20:15
greatest
20:15
reminder of
20:16
this is as
20:17
we look to
20:17
the Lord
20:18
Jesus Christ.
20:19
as a
20:20
world
20:21
looked on
20:21
as he
20:22
was
20:22
crucified,
20:23
they wondered
20:24
what was
20:24
happening.
20:25
The disciples
20:26
themselves
20:26
were questioning
20:27
what is
20:28
going on
20:29
here.
20:30
As we
20:31
look to
20:31
the cross,
20:33
our initial
20:33
reaction would
20:34
be, but
20:34
why God?
20:36
Why this?
20:37
Why did
20:38
he have to
20:38
die for
20:39
our sins?
20:41
Because
20:41
without the
20:42
shedding of
20:43
blood,
20:43
there is no
20:44
forgiveness
20:45
of sin.
20:46
God's
20:47
will,
20:48
God's
20:49
way,
20:49
God's
20:50
way to
20:51
salvation,
20:52
prepared
20:52
for his
20:53
people.
20:55
Jesus
20:56
himself
20:57
prayed in
20:57
the Garden
20:58
of Gethsemane,
20:59
not my
20:59
will,
21:00
but yours
21:01
be done.
21:04
May these
21:05
days teach
21:05
us not
21:06
to look to
21:07
ourselves
21:08
and to
21:08
our own
21:09
plans,
21:10
but to
21:11
seek the
21:11
will of
21:12
God in
21:13
all things,
21:14
to be
21:14
reconciled
21:15
to the
21:16
will of
21:16
God,
21:17
to pray,
21:18
Lord,
21:18
your
21:19
will be
21:20
done,
21:21
but to
21:21
pray,
21:23
Lord,
21:23
bless and
21:24
pity us.
21:26
Verse 11
21:27
shows us
21:28
that his
21:28
will is
21:29
determined.
21:31
The things
21:32
that occur in
21:32
this world,
21:33
while they're all
21:34
parts of God's
21:35
plan for the
21:36
ages,
21:37
nothing takes
21:38
place apart
21:38
from his
21:39
divine plan.
21:41
The counsel
21:42
of the Lord
21:43
stands forever,
21:44
the plans
21:45
of his
21:45
heart to
21:46
all
21:47
generations.
21:49
It's not
21:50
something that
21:50
often sits
21:51
comfortable with
21:51
people in
21:53
our day.
21:54
When we
21:55
struggle and
21:56
find it
21:56
hard, we
21:57
want to be
21:57
in control.
21:59
We want to
21:59
think that
22:00
our way is
22:01
best, but
22:03
the counsel
22:03
of the Lord
22:04
stands
22:05
forever.
22:09
Is that the
22:09
way you see
22:10
your life
22:11
playing out
22:12
just now?
22:13
Is that the
22:13
way we see
22:14
our nation
22:14
playing out
22:15
just now?
22:16
If it
22:16
isn't, we
22:17
may feel
22:17
scared of
22:18
what's
22:19
happening.
22:21
But the
22:21
truth is, we
22:22
need to
22:22
remember that
22:24
God is in
22:24
control.
22:26
God knows.
22:28
And isn't
22:28
it more
22:29
reason to
22:30
rejoice and
22:31
to be able to
22:31
praise God, to
22:32
know that he
22:33
is with us,
22:34
to know that
22:35
he will guide
22:36
us and help
22:37
us.
22:37
As verse 12
22:38
says,
22:40
blessed is the
22:41
nation whose
22:41
God is the
22:42
Lord.
22:43
the people
22:44
whom he has
22:44
chosen as
22:46
his heritage.
22:47
You are
22:47
blessed to
22:49
know God.
22:49
You are
22:49
blessed if
22:51
you are one
22:52
of his
22:52
chosen people.
22:54
When you
22:54
love the
22:55
Lord, you
22:56
are blessed.
22:58
And blessed
22:58
is the
22:59
nation whose
23:00
God is
23:01
the Lord.
23:04
There is so
23:05
much in
23:06
God's will,
23:07
but the
23:07
greatest thing
23:08
is this, it
23:09
is what we
23:09
are to
23:10
desire.
23:10
desire.
23:11
It is
23:12
what we
23:12
are to
23:12
desire.
23:14
The nation
23:15
is blessed
23:15
whose God
23:17
is the
23:18
Lord.
23:19
And when we
23:19
think of
23:20
Glasgow's
23:21
motto, it
23:22
took in
23:23
1631.
23:25
When you
23:25
think of how
23:26
Glasgow
23:26
flourished, it
23:28
was a small
23:28
fishing village
23:29
back in those
23:30
days in the
23:31
banks of the
23:32
River Clyde,
23:33
and how it
23:33
grew into a
23:34
thriving industrial
23:36
city, famous
23:37
throughout the
23:38
world for
23:38
shipbuilding,
23:40
Clyde built
23:40
was a word
23:41
that spoke
23:43
about quality,
23:45
things that
23:45
would last.
23:47
The city
23:48
became known
23:49
as the second
23:49
city of the
23:50
British Empire,
23:51
such was
23:52
prosperity and
23:53
power in those
23:54
days.
23:56
Where is it
23:56
now?
23:58
Where is our
23:58
nation now?
24:00
When we ask
24:01
ourselves these
24:02
questions and we
24:02
think of dropping
24:04
the motto and
24:05
just saying,
24:06
let Glasgow
24:07
flourish, but
24:07
there's no
24:08
answer.
24:08
How?
24:09
Where do we
24:10
go?
24:12
Except the
24:13
Lord build the
24:14
house, the
24:15
builders build
24:16
in vain.
24:17
We are to
24:18
return to the
24:19
Lord.
24:20
We have
24:21
abandoned God,
24:22
but God
24:23
calls his
24:24
people back.
24:25
Blessed is the
24:26
nation whose
24:27
God is the
24:28
Lord.
24:29
We need to
24:31
long for and
24:32
ask God for
24:33
his blessing
24:34
on us.
24:35
that his
24:36
will be
24:37
done, that
24:38
we see his
24:39
blessing.
24:39
Like Psalm
24:40
67, like
24:41
Psalm 85,
24:43
like the
24:43
Psalm itself
24:44
says, we
24:45
are to pray
24:45
for God to
24:46
revive us, to
24:47
restore us, to
24:48
rebuild us, to
24:50
bring us back
24:51
to himself.
24:53
Psalm 85, in
24:54
times past,
24:55
Lord, you
24:55
showed favor to
24:57
your own
24:57
beloved land.
24:59
God, your
25:00
Savior, now
25:01
restore us, is
25:03
the cry of the
25:03
Psalms.
25:04
will you
25:04
not again
25:05
revive us,
25:07
that we may
25:08
rejoice in
25:09
you.
25:11
God's will
25:12
is desirable.
25:14
It is what is
25:15
best for us,
25:16
because God
25:17
knows best.
25:18
So may his
25:18
word
25:19
fan our
25:21
flames, may
25:21
his will, may
25:22
we remind
25:23
ourselves that
25:24
he is in
25:25
control, that
25:26
his counsel
25:26
stands forever,
25:28
that we would
25:28
seek his
25:29
blessing.
25:30
then thirdly,
25:32
and finally, we
25:32
are reminded
25:33
here of too,
25:34
how God
25:34
watches over
25:36
us, and
25:38
how God is
25:39
so worthy
25:40
of all our
25:41
praise.
25:44
The Psalm
25:44
closes with the
25:46
assurance of
25:46
the worth of
25:48
God.
25:49
And when you
25:50
look at Psalm
25:51
verse 13, down
25:52
to the end,
25:54
it very much
25:54
speaks about how
25:56
the Lord is
25:56
looking on his
25:58
people.
25:59
The Lord
25:59
looks down
26:00
from heaven.
26:01
He sees the
26:02
children of
26:03
man, it
26:03
says in
26:04
verse 13.
26:05
And in
26:05
verse 18,
26:06
behold, the
26:07
eye of the
26:08
Lord is on
26:08
those who
26:09
fear him, on
26:10
those who
26:10
hope in
26:11
his steadfast
26:12
love.
26:14
His eyes
26:15
are on his
26:16
people.
26:17
He knows
26:18
our every
26:19
need.
26:20
He knows
26:21
our every
26:22
thought.
26:22
He knows
26:23
every motive
26:23
of our
26:24
heart.
26:25
He knows
26:25
everything there
26:26
is to know.
26:27
nothing is
26:28
hidden from
26:29
him.
26:30
And who
26:31
is comfortable
26:32
with that?
26:34
It's a
26:35
sobering
26:35
thought.
26:38
As the
26:38
children of
26:39
God, that
26:40
should be a
26:41
great comfort
26:41
to us.
26:43
He sees
26:44
all the
26:44
children of
26:45
man.
26:46
He sees
26:47
everyone.
26:49
Those who
26:49
are sitting
26:50
on thrones,
26:52
those who
26:52
are in
26:52
positions of
26:53
power,
26:54
those who
26:54
are kings,
26:56
who are
26:56
trusting in
26:57
their armies,
26:57
the warrior
26:58
who thinks
26:59
he'll be
26:59
delivered by
26:59
his great
27:00
strength.
27:01
All of
27:01
these he
27:02
sees.
27:04
But they're
27:04
not going to
27:05
be saved
27:05
in those
27:06
ways.
27:08
Because
27:08
verse 18
27:09
says,
27:09
behold,
27:10
the eye of
27:11
the Lord
27:11
is on
27:11
those who
27:12
fear him,
27:14
whose hope
27:15
is in
27:15
his steadfast
27:16
love.
27:18
He is
27:19
watching,
27:20
and he is
27:21
waiting for
27:22
his people.
27:23
He loves
27:24
his people.
27:25
He longs
27:26
for his
27:26
people to
27:27
find peace
27:28
with him
27:29
and is
27:30
watching.
27:31
He is
27:31
aware of
27:32
everything.
27:34
God
27:34
watches from
27:35
heaven.
27:36
He sees
27:36
people making
27:37
their plans.
27:38
He sees
27:39
the disarray
27:40
they often
27:40
end up in.
27:41
He sees
27:42
their efforts
27:43
to find
27:44
their own
27:44
way to
27:45
salvation.
27:47
And
27:48
sometimes we
27:48
might think
27:49
he forgets
27:51
us, but
27:53
he never
27:53
does.
27:55
He sees
27:56
it all.
27:58
One day
27:58
he is going
27:59
to judge
27:59
the wicked,
28:01
and he is
28:01
going to
28:02
judge the
28:03
just according
28:04
to their
28:05
works.
28:06
He looks
28:07
down and
28:08
sees it
28:09
all, and
28:10
we can take
28:10
great comfort
28:11
in that.
28:13
The eye
28:13
of the
28:14
Lord is
28:15
upon us.
28:17
And as
28:17
well as being
28:18
aware of
28:18
everything that
28:19
goes on,
28:20
he is
28:21
watching
28:21
with
28:22
affection.
28:24
I think
28:24
that's what
28:25
the psalmist
28:25
is saying
28:26
to us here
28:27
as well.
28:28
He is
28:28
watching his
28:28
people with
28:30
such great
28:30
affection.
28:32
His eye
28:33
is on those
28:34
who fear
28:34
him, that
28:35
he may
28:36
deliver their
28:36
soul from
28:37
death and
28:38
keep them
28:39
alive in
28:40
famine.
28:41
He's
28:42
showing his
28:43
affection towards
28:45
his people.
28:47
When you
28:47
look around
28:48
the congregation
28:49
in these
28:50
days, there
28:50
are a few
28:51
newlyweds in
28:53
our midst.
28:54
There are
28:54
a few
28:54
oldieweds in
28:56
our midst
28:56
as well.
28:57
When you
28:58
see newlyweds,
28:58
they often
28:59
look at
29:00
each other
29:00
with that
29:01
sense of
29:02
longing,
29:03
that sense
29:03
of love.
29:05
Thankfully,
29:06
as we grow
29:07
older,
29:08
hopefully that
29:09
affection still
29:10
stays.
29:11
You have
29:11
that look
29:12
of love
29:13
towards the
29:14
one you
29:14
love.
29:14
love.
29:16
Well, God
29:16
is here
29:17
reminding us
29:18
of his
29:18
affection towards
29:20
us, the
29:21
way he
29:22
looks upon
29:23
us in
29:24
his steadfast
29:25
love, a
29:26
love that
29:27
never grows
29:28
cold, a
29:29
love that
29:30
never diminishes,
29:32
a love that
29:32
is fixed on
29:34
his children.
29:36
Our God
29:36
looks down
29:37
on us with
29:39
that love.
29:39
And when
29:41
you think
29:41
of the
29:43
way the
29:44
Lord Jesus
29:44
speaks,
29:45
in his
29:46
high priestly
29:47
prayer in
29:47
John 17,
29:49
or on the
29:50
cross, he
29:52
speaks with
29:52
such love
29:53
and affection
29:54
that we
29:56
might know
29:56
this love
29:58
for ourselves.
30:00
So the
30:00
Lord looks
30:02
down in
30:02
love on
30:03
us.
30:05
The question
30:06
tonight as we
30:07
conclude is,
30:09
how do we
30:09
look on
30:10
him?
30:12
Is our
30:13
love a
30:15
reciprocation
30:15
of his
30:16
love to
30:17
us?
30:18
We can
30:19
say, as
30:21
John says,
30:21
we love
30:22
because he
30:23
first loved
30:25
us.
30:27
But are we
30:27
showing that
30:29
love?
30:30
Do we
30:31
love him
30:31
with all
30:32
our hearts?
30:34
The
30:34
psalmist
30:34
here says,
30:35
our soul
30:36
waits for
30:37
the Lord.
30:38
He is
30:39
our help
30:40
and our
30:40
shield.
30:41
But our
30:42
heart is
30:42
glad in
30:43
him because
30:45
we trust in
30:46
his holy
30:47
name.
30:48
Is that
30:49
your love
30:50
tonight?
30:52
As we
30:53
look ahead
30:54
to these
30:55
days, to
30:56
hearing his
30:57
word preached,
30:58
to knowing his
30:58
will is done,
31:00
to knowing that
31:00
he is watching
31:01
us with
31:03
such love,
31:04
are we
31:05
reciprocating
31:06
that love?
31:07
I love
31:10
the Lord
31:11
because my
31:12
voice and
31:13
prayers he
31:14
did hear.
31:15
That's what the
31:16
psalmist says in
31:17
Psalm 116.
31:19
May that be
31:20
our love
31:21
too, that
31:22
we love
31:22
him with
31:24
all our
31:24
heart and
31:26
that we
31:26
will come
31:26
and show
31:28
that love
31:28
by coming
31:30
to the
31:30
Lord's
31:31
table,
31:32
by professing
31:33
his name
31:34
and by
31:35
showing forth
31:36
his death
31:36
until he
31:38
come.
31:39
And as the
31:40
psalm concludes,
31:42
may that be
31:42
our prayer
31:43
too.
31:44
Let your
31:45
steadfast love,
31:46
O Lord,
31:47
be upon us
31:48
even as we
31:50
hope in
31:51
you.
31:53
May we
31:53
hope in
31:55
him with
31:55
all our
31:56
heart and
31:57
look longingly
31:58
to him as
31:59
we seek his
32:00
blessing and
32:01
his favour
32:02
upon us.
32:04
May God
32:04
bless his
32:06
word to
32:06
us.
32:09
We're going
32:09
to sing
32:10
in conclusion
32:11
some of
32:12
these verses
32:12
from the
32:13
song.