Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / A City That Brings Deliverance
Transcript
- 0:00Psalms. And we read at the beginning there, it says, Oh, give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for a steadfast love endures forever.
- 0:12Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west and the north and from the south.
- 0:22Now, you see at the start here, it says book five. There are five books in the Psalter, in the book of Psalms.
- 0:34And this is the closing book from 107 through to 150.
- 0:41But there is a link running through Psalm 105, 106 and 107.
- 0:47And many people think that the same hand wrote these three Psalms, although we find Psalm 107 in a different book.
- 0:59We find actually, when you see in verse 47 of Psalm 106, it says, Save us, O Lord, our God, and gather us from among the nations.
- 1:10And then we find in Psalm 107, an answer to that, that the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west and from the north and from the south.
- 1:27So we can see that very strong link that's running through the Psalms.
- 1:32Psalm 105 is a Psalm that looks at God's promise in giving his people the land.
- 1:42That's really what the Psalm is about, and it's telling the promise that God is giving, that he's going to give the land to his people.
- 1:50And we know that every promise of God was fulfilled.
- 1:53It tells us in the book of Joshua that there didn't fail anything of all the good things that God had promised.
- 2:00Every word was fulfilled.
- 2:04And so it'll be in our experience as well.
- 2:08And then Psalm 106.
- 2:11Sadly, you would expect Psalm 106 to be telling of how well the people lived in the land.
- 2:18Psalm 106 begins well, but you would expect that after God giving them the land and giving them so many provisions and blessings,
- 2:28that Psalm 106 would be telling about how faithful and well God's people lived there.
- 2:36But it isn't.
- 2:37It highlights their rebellion and their faithlessness over and over and over again,
- 2:44to the extent that God is handing them over to the nations.
- 2:49And we know the history of that, of how they went into exile.
- 2:54But then Psalm 107 is looking at the wandering of God's people,
- 3:00and God is going to bring his people back home.
- 3:05That's what it is.
- 3:06And you know, in many senses, that is a picture of our own Christian life,
- 3:13of where God sets out the promise of what we receive in Christ.
- 3:19And of how, when we receive Christ, everything that he has promised us,
- 3:24all the rest and the peace and the satisfaction and the joy,
- 3:28all that, it's true.
- 3:29Not a word has failed.
- 3:31And I'm sure over our lives, we would love to write out that we have been faithful
- 3:37and we've walked with the Lord every single day.
- 3:41But sadly, so often, like Psalm 106,
- 3:46over it there are so many of our failings, our wanderings, our rebellions, our shortcomings.
- 3:54But God doesn't leave us.
- 3:56And that's what he does.
- 3:57He gathers us again.
- 3:59And that's what we find in this Psalm, in Psalm 107.
- 4:03And really, what it's saying here, the Lord is kind of saying to his people,
- 4:07look, it's time to come back home.
- 4:10The wanderings need to stop.
- 4:13I'm going to bring you back.
- 4:14And God does that with you and with me as well.
- 4:17Many times he stops us in our tracks when we're wandering away.
- 4:21Sometimes we don't even realise we're wandering.
- 4:23There's a wandering gene within us.
- 4:26We're so prone to stray.
- 4:28And sometimes it can happen so subtly.
- 4:32And sometimes it's an ongoing, because I don't believe that anybody sets out to backslide.
- 4:38I don't believe any Christian says, you know what, I'm going on a wee period of backsliding.
- 4:42That doesn't happen.
- 4:43But what does happen is that we begin to drift.
- 4:49Might start with not reading the word as attentively as we used to.
- 4:53We might find that our disciplines are beginning to go.
- 4:57And little by little by little, we find ourselves beginning to wander.
- 5:01To the extent sometimes we wander quite far off.
- 5:06But God is a way of stopping us.
- 5:09And in a spiritual sense of saying enough is enough.
- 5:13Putting his hand around us and saying, time to come back home.
- 5:17Time to get right again with me.
- 5:20And you know, that's one of the wonderful things is where we see the patience of God.
- 5:25That over and over and over again we try him.
- 5:29But he still comes after us.
- 5:31And he takes us back.
- 5:33And so the beginning of this psalm begins with praise.
- 5:37He says, praising and giving thanks to God for his steadfast love which endures forever.
- 5:43Give thanks to the Lord, it says, for he is good.
- 5:46God is good.
- 5:48Everything about the character, the nature of God is good.
- 5:52Everything that God does is good.
- 5:56Even when we don't understand it.
- 5:58God cannot do but what is right and what is good.
- 6:02God cannot do but what is good.
- 6:03And we realise that all the good that we have in our life comes to us from God.
- 6:08Because we're told that every good and every perfect gift is from above.
- 6:13And when we look at our own lives, you know, far too often we're so slow to really to stop and to think about what we have.
- 6:23Even the very place that we live.
- 6:26Just the freedoms that we enjoy here.
- 6:29The safety, the community, all these things, these are providential blessings from God.
- 6:39God gives us so much.
- 6:42And every day we get up and every day we have the strength and the health to do.
- 6:48We've got to remember that his mercies are new every morning.
- 6:51It is because of his steadfast love and because of his mercy that you and I got up today.
- 6:57And that we're here tonight.
- 6:58And we must never forget that.
- 7:01That all that we are and all that we have comes back because of God's love to us.
- 7:07And of course the main theme of thankfulness, there are so many reasons for thankfulness.
- 7:13But on this one it says, it's talking really of his redeeming love.
- 7:17Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.
- 7:19And as we know that's what the Lord has done.
- 7:24He has redeemed us.
- 7:25To redeem is really to buy back what is yours.
- 7:30The kinsman redeemer in the Old Testament was a relation who would pay off the debt of some member of the family or some relation that couldn't pay it.
- 7:42Or pay them out of slavery.
- 7:46Well that's what Jesus did for us.
- 7:48Because we were bankrupt.
- 7:50God was demanding a payment from us we couldn't give.
- 7:52Not one of us had the payment to give God.
- 7:56But God made provision.
- 7:59That's why Jesus is called the redeemer.
- 8:02Because he has paid for us and done for us what we couldn't do for ourselves.
- 8:09And that's why the gospel is offered without money and without price.
- 8:13Because there is no price to it.
- 8:16The payment has all been taken care of.
- 8:19And so Jesus is the great redeemer.
- 8:23And so every day we ought to give thanks to God for what he's done for us.
- 8:28Where he has taken us from.
- 8:30Where he has taken us to.
- 8:32And the cost that is involved.
- 8:34And it tells us then that gathered from all the lands.
- 8:38You know it's one of the things a shepherd does is gathers his flock.
- 8:42That's what a shepherd is always doing.
- 8:44Is out gathering.
- 8:46There are specific times of gatherings as we know.
- 8:49But a shepherd, a good shepherd.
- 8:52Of many of the.
- 8:53He's got many different involvements with sheep.
- 8:56But one is gathering.
- 8:58And that's what the Lord Jesus as a good shepherd.
- 9:01He is in the business of gathering.
- 9:04You're here tonight.
- 9:05Because of the good shepherd's gathering.
- 9:09And we've gone all over the place.
- 9:11North, south, east and west.
- 9:13Our straying has taken us everywhere.
- 9:15And you know his love.
- 9:18Is so extraordinary.
- 9:21Because you know when the Lord.
- 9:23Began to work in you.
- 9:25Or even before the Lord began really to work in you.
- 9:29You think of the number of times.
- 9:31The number of occasions.
- 9:34When you received a gospel invitation.
- 9:37Whether it was from the pulpit.
- 9:39From reading.
- 9:40From another person speaking to you.
- 9:44And the number of times.
- 9:46That you said no.
- 9:47Or not yet.
- 9:49Imagine.
- 9:50If God said.
- 9:52Is that your final answer?
- 9:54Can you imagine if the first time.
- 9:57That the Lord gave his invitation through his word.
- 10:00To you.
- 10:01To me.
- 10:01And we'd said.
- 10:04No.
- 10:05Or leave it till later.
- 10:06And the Lord said.
- 10:07All right.
- 10:09But he didn't.
- 10:11He goes after us.
- 10:13He goes after us.
- 10:15His love is such.
- 10:16That.
- 10:17In that covenant love for his people.
- 10:19He doesn't take no for an answer.
- 10:21And he breaks down the walls of our resistance.
- 10:25And in the end.
- 10:26He makes us willing.
- 10:28To receive.
- 10:29And to accept him.
- 10:30As saviour.
- 10:30And so.
- 10:32It's amazing.
- 10:33How extensive.
- 10:35As we see this.
- 10:36This search is.
- 10:38Because.
- 10:38As I said.
- 10:39We have a straying gene.
- 10:40All we like sheep have gone astray.
- 10:43Turned everyone to his own way.
- 10:45Sometimes we think it's only the.
- 10:49That when it talks about all we like sheep have gone astray.
- 10:53That it is.
- 10:54Simply those who are.
- 10:56Without Christ.
- 10:57But straying sadly.
- 10:59As we said.
- 10:59It's part and partial.
- 11:00Of our Christian experience as well.
- 11:04Remember in Psalm 119.
- 11:05The last verse.
- 11:07And when you go through that Psalm.
- 11:09You read about this.
- 11:11Amazing Psalmist.
- 11:14Who is talking of his love.
- 11:16For God's statutes.
- 11:17For God's law.
- 11:19For God's testimonies.
- 11:21And of how they are his delight.
- 11:23Day and night.
- 11:24And yet.
- 11:24And yet in the last verse.
- 11:25He says.
- 11:27I like a lost sheep.
- 11:28Went astray.
- 11:30Your servant.
- 11:31Seek and find.
- 11:32Not talking about somebody else.
- 11:34Talking about himself.
- 11:35The servant.
- 11:37Your servant.
- 11:38Seek and find.
- 11:39And we've all been there.
- 11:42And we've all cried that.
- 11:44And asked the Lord to.
- 11:45To take us back from.
- 11:47From our straying.
- 11:48And so we find here.
- 11:50That.
- 11:51The Lord.
- 11:52As he begins.
- 11:53When he.
- 11:53If we take it back to.
- 11:54When the Lord.
- 11:55Does first.
- 11:57Reach into us.
- 11:59And begin to.
- 11:59To touch us.
- 12:00With his love.
- 12:02One of the things.
- 12:03That he does.
- 12:03Is.
- 12:04He begins to show us.
- 12:06How empty.
- 12:07This world is.
- 12:09Because before that.
- 12:10We loved the world.
- 12:11And we're happy in the world.
- 12:14The world loves its own.
- 12:15The Bible tells us that.
- 12:17The world loves its own.
- 12:21And that's why.
- 12:22When a person becomes a Christian.
- 12:24Sometimes his barrier.
- 12:25Comes up straight away.
- 12:27Because the world.
- 12:28The world.
- 12:29Sometimes is confused.
- 12:31By the Christian.
- 12:33But there was a day.
- 12:34When we were at home in the world.
- 12:35The world was everything to us.
- 12:37But you know.
- 12:38When the Lord.
- 12:39Begins to work in our heart.
- 12:42The sparkle.
- 12:44Of the world.
- 12:45Goes out.
- 12:46We begin to realize.
- 12:48That the satisfaction.
- 12:50And the pleasure.
- 12:52And everything that we got from it.
- 12:53Isn't there anymore.
- 12:55And we're looking for something deeper.
- 12:57Something.
- 12:57Something that will reach right down.
- 12:59Something that will.
- 13:00Satisfy into the very depth.
- 13:02Of our being.
- 13:04And we discover.
- 13:04That we can no longer.
- 13:06Find it.
- 13:06In the world.
- 13:09And so the Lord is saying.
- 13:11He's gathering.
- 13:11From all the lands.
- 13:12From north.
- 13:13South.
- 13:13East.
- 13:13And west.
- 13:14And some wandered.
- 13:16In desert ways.
- 13:17Finding.
- 13:18No way to a city.
- 13:19To dwell in.
- 13:20And they were hungry.
- 13:21And thirsty.
- 13:21Their soul fainted.
- 13:22Within them.
- 13:24And it's when we're in that state.
- 13:26Of.
- 13:27Not finding anything.
- 13:28We find that Jesus.
- 13:30Is the bread of life.
- 13:31We find that the water.
- 13:34That he gives.
- 13:35We find that the water.
- 13:35That he gives.
- 13:35Springs up.
- 13:36An eternal.
- 13:38Well of.
- 13:39Refreshing within us.
- 13:41So that.
- 13:43Here we find something.
- 13:45To.
- 13:45To alleviate.
- 13:46That hunger.
- 13:48That.
- 13:48We can't find a satisfaction.
- 13:50In.
- 13:50In the world.
- 13:51And so we find that.
- 13:53The Lord.
- 13:54Is the one.
- 13:55Who.
- 13:56Who begins to work in us.
- 13:57But even there.
- 13:59Sometimes.
- 14:00We begin to.
- 14:02We begin to.
- 14:03To wander again.
- 14:04And so we find.
- 14:06In verse six.
- 14:07Two of the most.
- 14:07I suppose.
- 14:08Two of the most.
- 14:09Common experiences.
- 14:10Throughout the Bible.
- 14:12And in our own life.
- 14:13They cried to the Lord.
- 14:15And he delivered them.
- 14:17From their distress.
- 14:18That's what the Lord does.
- 14:20Where he.
- 14:20Where we cry.
- 14:22And the Lord.
- 14:23Deliver us.
- 14:24And we find.
- 14:24And when you go through the Bible.
- 14:26You will find.
- 14:28That.
- 14:28Spoken about so often.
- 14:30We sang in Psalm 34.
- 14:31This poor man cried.
- 14:33God heard.
- 14:34And saved him.
- 14:35From all his distresses.
- 14:38And then we read in verse seven.
- 14:39It tells us.
- 14:40He led them.
- 14:41By.
- 14:42A straight way.
- 14:44Or a right way.
- 14:46And that is.
- 14:47That is.
- 14:47The way the Lord.
- 14:48Will take us.
- 14:49In this right way.
- 14:50Way.
- 14:51Now.
- 14:53You know.
- 14:53Even.
- 14:54As I said.
- 14:55Even us Christians.
- 14:56Sometimes.
- 14:58The world.
- 14:59You know.
- 14:59The world we live in.
- 15:01Is incredibly.
- 15:02Powerful.
- 15:03The whole structure.
- 15:05Of society.
- 15:07The whole.
- 15:08Pool.
- 15:09And spirit.
- 15:10Of the age.
- 15:11Has a deadening.
- 15:13Impact.
- 15:13Upon us.
- 15:14And we.
- 15:15We would.
- 15:15We make a mistake.
- 15:17If we don't realize that.
- 15:19Those of you.
- 15:20Who are ever privileged.
- 15:21If there are any here.
- 15:22To have lived.
- 15:23Through a revival.
- 15:24Or.
- 15:25Experienced revival.
- 15:27Times.
- 15:28Know that it's not like anything.
- 15:29I haven't.
- 15:30And I would love to.
- 15:33And those who have.
- 15:35Always see that.
- 15:36Those who were converted.
- 15:38In a revival.
- 15:39Have an extra.
- 15:41Like a.
- 15:41A spirituality.
- 15:43A spark.
- 15:44About them.
- 15:44Throughout their life.
- 15:46It's different.
- 15:47They're always different.
- 15:49To other Christians.
- 15:50I've always noticed that.
- 15:51That those who.
- 15:53Came to know the Lord.
- 15:54In a revival.
- 15:55But in revival.
- 15:56Times.
- 15:57There is an impact.
- 15:59Not only on those.
- 16:00Who are converted.
- 16:01But also.
- 16:02On the community.
- 16:04And it's.
- 16:05At these times.
- 16:06As a Christian.
- 16:07There's a.
- 16:09Those who are already.
- 16:10Christians.
- 16:10Are revived.
- 16:11And so many.
- 16:12Are converted.
- 16:14But.
- 16:15In the day.
- 16:15That we're living in.
- 16:16We feel that.
- 16:18God's spirit.
- 16:19Is being withdrawn.
- 16:20More.
- 16:21And more.
- 16:21And more.
- 16:22And the more.
- 16:23That God's spirit.
- 16:25Is withdrawn.
- 16:26The harder.
- 16:27It is for us.
- 16:29Because.
- 16:30The worst thing.
- 16:31God can do.
- 16:32To a people.
- 16:33Is to give them over.
- 16:34To themselves.
- 16:36And you know.
- 16:36That seems to be.
- 16:37What's happening.
- 16:38Little by little.
- 16:39That we've been given over.
- 16:41More and more.
- 16:42To ourselves.
- 16:43I'm talking about.
- 16:44That nationally.
- 16:45And so.
- 16:47It's hard.
- 16:48As a Christian.
- 16:49It's difficult.
- 16:50Because.
- 16:51The world.
- 16:51Is an incredibly.
- 16:53Deadening.
- 16:53In fact.
- 16:53In a sense.
- 16:54We have to work.
- 16:55All the harder.
- 16:55As Christians.
- 16:58But thankfully.
- 16:59The Lord.
- 17:00Doesn't leave us there.
- 17:02He still comes back.
- 17:03And he leads us.
- 17:04By the right way.
- 17:06And on that way.
- 17:07There are many.
- 17:08Ups and downs.
- 17:09And the one thing.
- 17:10As you look back.
- 17:10Over your Christian life.
- 17:12It's very different.
- 17:13To what you expected.
- 17:14When you started.
- 17:16I'm sure.
- 17:17When you started out.
- 17:18And when you came to know.
- 17:19The Lord Jesus Christ.
- 17:21And persuaded.
- 17:21Of his interest in you.
- 17:23And his love to you.
- 17:24And you thought.
- 17:25That it would be.
- 17:26Straightforward.
- 17:28But how many.
- 17:29Twists.
- 17:29And turns.
- 17:30And temptations.
- 17:31And trials.
- 17:34But you know.
- 17:35When we arrive.
- 17:36In glory.
- 17:38We will say.
- 17:38When I was young.
- 17:40I used to do a lot of.
- 17:42I was years and years ago.
- 17:43A lot of hill walking.
- 17:44And climbing.
- 17:46And in that.
- 17:47When you were.
- 17:48Climbing.
- 17:48Or hill walking.
- 17:50A lot of us.
- 17:50You know yourself.
- 17:51There's a lot of groans.
- 17:52And grunts.
- 17:53And as you're going up.
- 17:54And down.
- 17:55A lot of struggles.
- 17:57But.
- 17:59You could say.
- 18:00Ninety nine.
- 18:01Times out of a hundred.
- 18:02When you reached the top.
- 18:04There was often.
- 18:05Oh my word.
- 18:06And.
- 18:08It's not only.
- 18:09The view.
- 18:10Was amazing.
- 18:11But your perspective.
- 18:12On everything.
- 18:13Had changed.
- 18:14Everything looked different.
- 18:16From the top.
- 18:17And the struggle.
- 18:18To get up there.
- 18:19Was worth it.
- 18:20And you were saying.
- 18:21My word.
- 18:22Well you know.
- 18:22That's just like.
- 18:23A little picture.
- 18:24Of what it will be.
- 18:25When we arrive.
- 18:26In glory.
- 18:27It's only then.
- 18:28That our perspective.
- 18:29On all that's been.
- 18:30Of life.
- 18:32Will have completely.
- 18:33Changed.
- 18:34And we'll be.
- 18:34In completely.
- 18:35In keeping.
- 18:35With the mind.
- 18:36And the will of God.
- 18:38And we will see.
- 18:39That everything.
- 18:40Was right.
- 18:42And everything.
- 18:43We went through.
- 18:44However difficult.
- 18:45And painful.
- 18:46That it was.
- 18:47For our own good.
- 18:48And for the glory.
- 18:49Of God.
- 18:51And so.
- 18:52The Lord.
- 18:52Is leading us.
- 18:54Every step.
- 18:54On this right way.
- 18:56And the Lord.
- 18:57Is a purpose.
- 18:58For each and every one.
- 18:59Of us.
- 18:59As he takes us out.
- 19:01And we didn't.
- 19:02Start out.
- 19:03By chance.
- 19:03God took us.
- 19:04He led us.
- 19:05Just as he did.
- 19:06With Israel.
- 19:06In the.
- 19:07In.
- 19:07From Egypt.
- 19:09God took them.
- 19:10And he led them.
- 19:10Along the way.
- 19:12Now along the way.
- 19:12They had.
- 19:13All kinds of different.
- 19:14Experiences.
- 19:16Some of these experiences.
- 19:17Were harsh.
- 19:18And difficult.
- 19:18And painful.
- 19:20And some were good.
- 19:21There was a time.
- 19:22Remember.
- 19:22They were hungry.
- 19:23Thirsty.
- 19:24And they stopped.
- 19:25At the waters.
- 19:25The wells.
- 19:26Of Elam.
- 19:27And they'd be all saying.
- 19:29As they drank there.
- 19:30Oh my word.
- 19:31Oh.
- 19:31This is great.
- 19:34But that wasn't.
- 19:34Why they were taken.
- 19:35Out of Egypt.
- 19:36It wasn't.
- 19:37To go to the wells.
- 19:38Of Elam.
- 19:38That was just.
- 19:39One of the things.
- 19:40Along the way.
- 19:42And so it is.
- 19:42For you.
- 19:43And for me.
- 19:43As we're taken.
- 19:44Along the way.
- 19:45Whatever experience.
- 19:46We go through.
- 19:48However wonderful.
- 19:49Or whatever communion.
- 19:50Or whatever fellowship.
- 19:52Yes.
- 19:52It's wonderful.
- 19:53But that's not.
- 19:54The ultimate reason.
- 19:55That God has taken us out.
- 19:58The ultimate reason.
- 19:59Is to take us.
- 20:00As it says.
- 20:01To this city.
- 20:02This city.
- 20:04And that's what it says.
- 20:05He led them.
- 20:06By a straight.
- 20:06Or a right way.
- 20:08Till they reached a city.
- 20:10To dwell in.
- 20:11To abide in.
- 20:12To be there.
- 20:14Forever.
- 20:16And you know.
- 20:17When we reach that city.
- 20:19All our wanderings.
- 20:20Will be over.
- 20:22In this world.
- 20:23Where pilgrims.
- 20:24And strangers.
- 20:24You know.
- 20:25If you're away from home.
- 20:26And if you've got a busy time.
- 20:28Away from home.
- 20:29And you're away for quite a while.
- 20:31You know.
- 20:31You're saying.
- 20:32Oh.
- 20:32I'm longing to get back home.
- 20:34Or if you've had a really.
- 20:35Really busy day.
- 20:37You say.
- 20:37I've longed to get home.
- 20:39Get my feet up.
- 20:41Well in a sense.
- 20:42That's the picture.
- 20:43That we have here.
- 20:44All our wanderings.
- 20:45And all our struggles.
- 20:47Are over.
- 20:48When we get to that city.
- 20:50And again.
- 20:51When we get to that city.
- 20:53Our labors.
- 20:55Will be over.
- 20:55Our labors.
- 20:56We're told.
- 20:57Their works.
- 20:57To follow them.
- 20:59But there'll be a rest.
- 21:00From all our enemies.
- 21:01It's hard to imagine.
- 21:03All these enemies.
- 21:04Within us.
- 21:06Which are often.
- 21:06Far worse.
- 21:07Than the enemies.
- 21:08Without.
- 21:10We'll.
- 21:10We'll.
- 21:11We'll have a rest.
- 21:11From.
- 21:12All our struggles.
- 21:13With sin.
- 21:15All the lusts.
- 21:16All the force.
- 21:18And power.
- 21:18Of the world.
- 21:20All the batterings.
- 21:21And bruising.
- 21:22Of Satan.
- 21:24A rest.
- 21:24From all these things.
- 21:26A rest.
- 21:27From sorrow.
- 21:29It's hard to imagine.
- 21:31This world.
- 21:32Where there's.
- 21:33So much heartache.
- 21:34So much pain.
- 21:37So many sorrows.
- 21:38Nothing on the horizon.
- 21:42Ever to trouble you.
- 21:44Rest from death.
- 21:46No graves.
- 21:47In glory.
- 21:48Isn't that wonderful?
- 21:50Death here is always devouring.
- 21:52The grave is always hungry.
- 21:54No graves.
- 21:55No death.
- 21:56In glory.
- 21:58Everlasting.
- 21:58And perpetual rest.
- 22:01And it's no wonder the psalmist.
- 22:02Begins by saying.
- 22:04Oh give thanks to the Lord.
- 22:05For he is good.
- 22:07For his steadfast love.
- 22:08Endures forever.
- 22:09And it's because of that.
- 22:11Steadfast love.
- 22:12That endures forever.
- 22:14That he goes out.
- 22:15And he pulls us back.
- 22:16And he's done that.
- 22:17For every single one of us.
- 22:19Because we've all wandered.
- 22:21We've all strayed.
- 22:23We've all gone.
- 22:24Our own way.
- 22:26So often.
- 22:27But as we said.
- 22:28He is so patient.
- 22:30His steadfast love.
- 22:32Will never give up.
- 22:34And he's leading us.
- 22:35More and more.
- 22:37Towards that.
- 22:37Heavenly city.
- 22:39And it won't be long.
- 22:41Until we'll all be there.
- 22:44So.
- 22:44May we have that.
- 22:46Through thanksgiving.
- 22:47In our heart.
- 22:48To the Lord.
- 22:49Let's pray.
- 22:51Oh Lord.
- 22:51Our God.
- 22:52We give thanks.
- 22:53For.
- 22:54The way.
- 22:54You take us.
- 22:55On that journey.
- 22:58Step by step.
- 23:00And sometimes.
- 23:00Sometimes we feel.
- 23:01We're.
- 23:01We're going forward.
- 23:03As of two or three steps.
- 23:04And sometimes.
- 23:05We feel.
- 23:05We're going backwards.
- 23:07Sometimes.
- 23:08We feel like.
- 23:09As we're just going to sing.
- 23:11That we reel.
- 23:11And stagger.
- 23:13That our.
- 23:13Our way.
- 23:14Is so wayward.
- 23:17But Lord.
- 23:17We give thanks.
- 23:18That at the end.
- 23:19Of every section.
- 23:20That we read.
- 23:21Through this.
- 23:22Psalm.
- 23:23Whether it's.
- 23:23Through the wandering.
- 23:25Or whether it's.
- 23:26Through being.
- 23:27Imprisoned.
- 23:27Or whether it is.
- 23:28Through illness.
- 23:29Or whether it's.
- 23:30Through storms.
- 23:31At sea.
- 23:33The end.
- 23:33There is deliverance.
- 23:35And there is.
- 23:36Thanksgiving.
- 23:37And oh Lord.
- 23:38Our God.
- 23:38Then we pray.
- 23:39That you will bless us.
- 23:41And help us.
- 23:41Each and every one of us.
- 23:43And grant us your grace.
- 23:44We pray your blessing.
- 23:45Upon everybody.
- 23:46In need.
- 23:48Tonight.
- 23:48And we pray.
- 23:49For health.
- 23:50And for strength.
- 23:51For recovery.
- 23:52For your goodness.
- 23:53And mercy.
- 23:55To accompany us all.
- 23:56Every day of our life.
- 23:57Forgive us our sin.
- 23:58We pray.
- 23:59In Jesus name.
- 24:00Amen.
- 24:01We're going to conclude.
- 24:02Singing from.
- 24:03Psalm.