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Have You Found What You Are Looking For? · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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We'll begin our worship this evening by singing to God's praise. We're going to
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sing in Psalm 33 in the Scottish Psalter. Psalm 33, we're going to sing from verse
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6 down to verse 11. Psalm 33, page 245 of the Psalm book, verse 6.
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The heavens by the word of God did their beginning take, and by the breathing of
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his mouth he all their hosts did make. The waters of the seas he brings to
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together as an heap, and in storehouses as it were he layeth up the deep. And we
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sing here of God's wondrous creating power and how all belongs to him and how
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above all the counsel of the Lord, the word of the Lord as it says in verse 11,
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does stand forever sure. So we'll sing from verse 6 to verse 11 to God's praise.
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verse 6.
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The heavens by the word of God did their beginning take, and by the breathing of his mouth he all their
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and how he all said may. The waters of the seas he brings together as an heap, and in storehouses as
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as an heap. The waters of the sea he brings together as an heap, and in storehouses as an
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as an heap, and in storehouses as an heap, and in storehouses as an heap. The waters of the
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Lord, let all the world's inhabitants tread him with one accord. For he did speak the word
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modern.
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Christopher
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hurt and done it was without delay,
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and
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given
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this
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it firmly stood
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. Whatever
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He
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did say,
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atu
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doth the counsel bring to naught
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which heathen folk do take,
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and what the people do divide
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of none effect doth make.
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O but the counsel of the Lord
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doth stand forever sure,
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and of his heart the purposes
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from age to age endure.
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We'll bow our heads in a word of prayer.
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Let us pray.
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Amen.
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Our gracious Father in heaven,
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we come anew to worship you this evening.
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We come offering up our praise and thanksgiving to you,
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that you are our Lord and our God,
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the one who made heavens and earth as we see around us,
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the one who created all things for your own glory,
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the one who made all things through the word of your power.
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And we thank you, Lord,
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that it is established to remain,
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that all that you have done by your word,
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it stands and endures all things.
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But as we have sung in this psalm together,
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we are reminded that there are the counsel of man,
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there is the words that we offer up ourselves,
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the wisdom that we feel we have,
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and as we live in a world that's ever-changing,
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as it were,
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through the wisdom of mankind,
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we recognize,
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even as your word says,
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that what the people do devise,
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of none effect doth make.
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And we thank you for that, Lord,
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that in a world that so swiftly and so quickly
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is discarding your word and your truth,
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and in the chaos that it brings,
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in the world that we see descending
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into more and more chaos.
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We thank you, Lord,
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that all its effects will do nothing
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in the midst of our generation
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and generations to come.
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There may be a sense of dismay
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and misdirection for many people at this time,
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but we know, Lord,
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that your counsel will stand forever,
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that your word will endure forever,
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and just as it is today,
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it has been in the past.
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As we read your word, Lord,
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we see such similar days
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when you have given your people over
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to their own wisdom and their own ways.
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And yet, oh Lord,
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there have always been that time
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when people have returned to you
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and recognized and acknowledged
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their sins and their faults
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and come in repentance, Lord,
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acknowledging dependence upon you.
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And our prayer at this time
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is that it may be so
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in our generation,
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that it may be so in our day,
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as we see, oh Lord,
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the failings of our world,
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that we would come to the word
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and to the one who never changes,
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the one who is the same yesterday,
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today, and forever.
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And so, Lord,
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as we live in a world
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where there's that search for meaning,
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that search for truth,
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and where everybody seems to have
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their own truth to tell,
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we pray, Lord,
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that we will hear your truth,
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that we will hear your wisdom,
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and that even this evening
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as we come together,
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that we will have ears to hear
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what you will see,
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that we will have hearts to receive,
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that we will have the minds to discern,
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and that we will have the eyes,
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oh Lord,
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to look around us
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and to walk by faith
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through you.
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And we know this is only possible
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through your spirit.
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It's not of our own wisdom,
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it's not of our own mindset,
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but Lord,
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that you would give us faith
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as the gift of grace
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that is so precious
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and so freely offered by you.
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And so help us, Lord,
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each one of us,
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from the youngest to the oldest,
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no matter our situation,
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no matter our life's experience,
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no matter what we may be feeling
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at this time,
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that you will calm us
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in your presence,
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that you will still us
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and help to know
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that you are God.
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So may you minister to us all, Lord,
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and to all who need you
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in different ways at this time.
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We thank you that you are one
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who hears and answers prayer.
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And we thank you that
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as we look back
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in our own life's experience
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and as we look back
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in the experience of our nation
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and even the world
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in which we live,
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that we see the power of prayer
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all around us.
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We see places and people
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who, apart from prayer,
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would be lost.
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We see even in our own lives
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and experience, Lord,
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prayer answered by many,
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maybe even no longer with us.
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But we thank you, Lord,
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for every prayer
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that is offered up in your name.
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Prayers past and present, Lord,
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and prayers still to be answered
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and answered into the future
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and into the days that lie ahead.
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But we thank you that in your time
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and in your ways,
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you answer prayer.
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And help us, Lord,
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to remember that we always pray
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that your will be done.
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No matter what is going on
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around us, Lord,
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we pray your will be done.
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And help us to take hold
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of the truths of your word.
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Help us to lean upon them
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and even the ones
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that we so often maybe struggle
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to understand at different points
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in our own experience.
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Even great words
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as we read in your scripture,
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that all things work together for good
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for those who love you.
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Lord, they are some of the most difficult words
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for us to understand at times
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when there seems to be little or no good
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in our experience at times.
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And yet help us, Lord,
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to see beyond our experience
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and to see your ways
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and to see your paths
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and to lean upon your wisdom
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and your understanding,
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not our own.
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So, Lord, teach us.
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Teach us to apply our hearts to wisdom.
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Teach us to know you.
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Teach us to walk closely with you.
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Remember, Lord, your church
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as it continues to witness for you.
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Your people far and wide.
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We pray, Lord, that you will encourage
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and build up your people
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near and far.
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You call all your people,
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those who believe in you,
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to be those who will be witnesses for you.
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We are all being built up together
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in your kingdom.
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And we pray, Lord,
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that you will strengthen our number,
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that you will strengthen our faith,
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that you will strengthen our witness
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for you as a people.
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We pray that for ourselves
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as a congregation here,
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that you will help us to endeavor
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to reach out with the gospel,
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to reach out to those
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who belong to us as a people,
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those who are maybe downcast
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and discouraged at this time,
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those who are lonely,
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those who are afraid,
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those who maybe no longer come out
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for different reasons.
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Help us to come alongside
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and to encourage
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and to pray with them
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and to help them along the way.
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We also pray, Lord,
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for those of our community
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who do not come anywhere near a church
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and have no interest in it,
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some who are even antagonistic
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against the faith
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and against religion as a whole.
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We pray, Lord,
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that you will help us
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to be salt and light
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among all around us.
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Help us to speak
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to them lovingly
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and graciously,
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but also with that challenge
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in our words as well.
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For we live
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in these final days, Lord.
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We live in days
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when we know
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we need the Savior.
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But for those
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who see no need of him,
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Lord,
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we pray
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that you will give
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convicting words
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and convincing words
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that they might hear.
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We pray, Lord,
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for every endeavor
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we have to reach out
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with your word
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through the preaching
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of your word,
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through the prayer meetings
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during the week,
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to all that is done
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with young and old alike
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during the week as well,
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seeking to come alongside
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and to encourage.
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We pray your blessing
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on all that we seek to do.
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We pray your blessing
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far and wide
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upon your people,
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Lord,
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those who are mourning this day
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as we know
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there are many,
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even in our own congregation
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and in our own town here,
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Lord.
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We pray for comfort
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for those who are
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brokenhearted at this time,
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even as we heard
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about Emma's son
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this morning,
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Lord,
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we continue to remember her,
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to pray for her
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and that you would uphold her
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and all the family
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at this time
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and their sorrow
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and sadness.
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And far and wide,
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Lord,
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throughout our communities
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when there are broken hearts,
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we pray that you will come
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with your healing power
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and your power
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to bring people,
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even in the midst of sorrow,
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to be able to say,
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blessed be the name
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of the Lord.
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Lord,
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so Lord,
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help us
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and help all who need you
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in different ways.
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Remember those
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who are unwell,
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those who are
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in hospital and homes.
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Remember our community
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and our people
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far and wide.
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Remember our nation
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and those who govern over us.
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Again,
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as we think of
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all that is going on
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around us,
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Lord,
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we pray
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for all the needs
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we see as a nation
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and as nations
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of the world.
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And we think of
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all that is
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so much main headlines
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in the news
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and yet there are
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other things
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that go unnoticed.
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We think of all
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that's going on
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with people fleeing
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from nations
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where there is
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so much turmoil
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and grief
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only to meet
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with much more turmoil
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on their journey
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to try and find safety.
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We know
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so much is being made
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of those crossing
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the channel
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seeking to find
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a new life
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and to seek
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to find new beginnings
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only to be met
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with such hostility
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and resistance.
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And we pray
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for every soul,
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for every person,
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for everyone
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who feels lost
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in this world
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with nowhere to turn,
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for all who are persecuted,
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for all who are
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put down upon,
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for all who are made
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to feel useless
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and low
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and of no worth.
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Lord,
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we pray
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that they will find
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worth in Christ,
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that we'll find
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worth in this world
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to go on
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in your strength.
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Lord,
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give us that heart
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of mercy,
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that heart
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to love our neighbour
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as ourself
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and to look beyond
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our own needs
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and to the needs
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of others.
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So teach us,
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Lord,
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we pray,
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and teach us
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by your word,
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by your grace
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and by your spirit.
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May your spirit
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move among us
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as a nation
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and as the world
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as a whole,
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Lord,
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to see your glory,
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to acknowledge it,
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Lord,
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and to be in awe
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of the God
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that you are,
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the one who is able
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to do abundantly
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more than all
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that we ask
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or imagine.
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So we commit
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ourselves into
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your hands
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and all who we love
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and care for
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and all who we know
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in need at this time.
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So, Lord,
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bless us,
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we pray,
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bless your word
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to us as we sing
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from it
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and as we hear it.
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May all be
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to your glory
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and build us up,
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we pray,
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in all things
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as we ask it
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with forgiveness
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for all our sins.
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In Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Well, again,
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sing to God's praise
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this time in Psalm 25
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in the Sing Psalms version.
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We're going to sing
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from the beginning
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of the Psalm
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down to the verse
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marked 9.
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Psalm 25
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is on page 29
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of the Psalm books.
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To you, O Lord,
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I lift my soul,
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I trust in you
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continually.
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Do not let me
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be put to shame
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nor let my foes
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gloat over me.
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No one who sets
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their hope in you
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will ever suffer
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such disgrace,
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but those who act
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with treachery,
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humiliating shame
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will face.
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We'll sing from
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verse 1 to 9
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to God's praise
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and we stand
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to sing.
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O Lord,
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I lift my soul,
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I trust in you
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continually.
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Do not let me
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be put to shame,
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nor let my foes
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gloat over me.
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No one who sets
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its open year
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will ever suffer
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such disgrace.
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God, O Lord,
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we are with treachery,
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humiliating shame
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will face.
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O Lord,
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reveal to me
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your way,
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and all your paths
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help me to know.
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Direct and guide me
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in your truth.
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Instruct me in the way
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to come.
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You are my Savior
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and my God.
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All day I hold
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in you,
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my Lord.
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Remember, Lord,
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your love and grace,
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which from the sages
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you have shown.
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Do not recall
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my sins of youth
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or my rebellious,
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evil ways.
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Remember me
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in your great love
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for you, O Lord,
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are good
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always.
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Because the Lord
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is just and good,
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He shows His path
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to all who stray.
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He guides the meek
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in waters
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strife
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and teaches
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them
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His holy way.
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Amen.
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We're going to read
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together now
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in the Old Testament
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in the book of Ecclesiastes.
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We're going to read
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chapter 1 together.
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Ecclesiastes chapter 1.
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You can read the whole
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of this chapter
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together.
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Psalms,
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Proverbs,
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and the book of Ecclesiastes.
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The words of the preacher,
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the son of David,
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king in Jerusalem.
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Vanity of vanities,
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says the preacher.
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Vanity of vanities.
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All is vanity.
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What does man gain
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by all the toil
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at which he toils
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under the sun?
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A generation goes
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and a generation comes,
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but the earth
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remains forever.
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The sun rises
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and the sun goes down
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and hastens to the place
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where it rises.
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The wind blows
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to the south
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and goes round
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to the north.
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Round and round
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goes the wind
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and on its circuits
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the wind returns.
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All streams run
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to the sea,
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but the sea is not full.
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To the place
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where the streams flow,
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there they flow again.
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All things are full
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of weariness.
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A man cannot utter it.
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The eye is not satisfied
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with seeing,
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nor the ear filled
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with hearing.
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What has been
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is what will be,
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and what has been done
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is what will be done.
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There is nothing new
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under the sun.
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Is there a thing
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of which it is said,
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see, this is new.
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It has been already
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in the ages before us.
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There is no remembrance
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of former things,
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nor will there be
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any remembrance
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of latter things
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yet to be
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among those
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who come after.
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I, the preacher,
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have been king
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over Israel
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and Jerusalem.
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And I applied my heart
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to seek and to search
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out by wisdom
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all that is done
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under heaven.
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It is an unhappy business
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that God has given
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to the children of man
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to be busy with.
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I have seen everything
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that is done
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under the sun.
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Behold,
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all is vanity
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and a striving
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after wind.
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What is crooked
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cannot be made straight.
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What is lacking
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cannot be counted?
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I said in my heart,
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I have acquired
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great wisdom,
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surpassing all
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who were over
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Jerusalem before me.
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My heart has had
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great experience
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of wisdom
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and knowledge.
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And I applied my heart
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to know wisdom
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and to know madness
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and folly.
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I perceive this
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also is
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but a striving
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after wind.
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For in much wisdom
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wisdom is much vexation
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and he who increases
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knowledge
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increases sorrow.
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And so on.
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May God bless that
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reading from his word.
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Before we turn back
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to that passage,
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we're going to
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read again,
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sing again
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to God's praise
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in Psalm 49.
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And let's sing Psalms,
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page 64
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of the Psalm book.
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Psalm 49.
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We're going to sing
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from verse 1
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to verse 10.
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The psalmist
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begins by saying
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to us,
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listen to me
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all you peoples,
21:45
all who in the
21:46
whole world dwell,
21:47
low and high,
21:48
both rich and needy.
21:50
Hear the message
21:51
I will tell.
21:53
This is a psalm
21:54
that reminds us
21:55
of the need
21:56
to listen,
21:57
to seek wisdom,
21:58
to find that
21:59
with God
22:00
and especially
22:01
when it comes
22:01
to our life.
22:03
And to the fact
22:04
as it says
22:04
in verse 10
22:05
that we all
22:06
can see life
22:07
ending,
22:07
wise and foolish,
22:09
all will die.
22:10
There's this sense
22:11
of looking ahead
22:12
in our lives
22:13
and wondering
22:13
what is life
22:14
all about?
22:15
But it says
22:16
to redeem,
22:17
a life is costly,
22:19
none,
22:19
sufficient price
22:20
can pay.
22:22
We know
22:23
that we cannot
22:23
save ourselves.
22:24
But as we come
22:25
to praise God
22:26
in these words,
22:27
we remember too
22:28
that there is
22:29
a Redeemer,
22:30
one who lives,
22:32
who is
22:32
the Lord Jesus Christ
22:34
and that we can
22:35
put our trust
22:36
in Him
22:37
for life now
22:38
and for eternal life.
22:41
So we come
22:41
to sing
22:42
verse 1 to 10
22:43
of this psalm.
22:45
Listen to me,
22:53
all you peoples,
22:55
all who in the whole world dwell.
23:01
Lo and high,
23:03
both rich and needy,
23:07
hear the message
23:10
I will tell.
23:13
I will speak
23:17
with understanding,
23:21
wisdom from the heart
23:24
I'll preach.
23:27
I will listen
23:29
to a proverb,
23:33
tickets with the harp
23:37
I will teach.
23:40
Why should I fear
23:44
days of evil
23:47
when the wicked
23:50
have me in
23:53
those who boast
23:56
of their possessions
23:59
by their trust
24:02
wealth
24:03
in wealth
24:03
they sin?
24:07
There is no one
24:10
who is able
24:13
to redeem
24:15
a soul
24:17
from death.
24:20
None can pay
24:22
to God
24:24
the ransom
24:25
to prolong
24:28
another's breath.
24:32
To redeem
24:36
a life
24:38
which costly
24:40
none sufficient
24:43
price can pay
24:46
so that one
24:49
should live
24:51
the mortal
24:52
be forever
24:55
only day.
25:00
For we all
25:03
can see
25:04
life ending,
25:07
wise and foolish
25:10
all will die.
25:13
they must
25:15
leave
25:16
their wealth
25:18
to others.
25:20
None
25:21
can death
25:22
see
25:23
magnified.
25:25
We can turn
25:34
back together
25:34
to our reading
25:35
in Ecclesiastes
25:36
chapter 1.
25:37
We read again
25:38
at the beginning
25:38
of the chapter
25:39
these words.
25:41
The words of the preacher,
25:42
the son of David,
25:43
king in Jerusalem.
25:45
Vanity of vanities,
25:46
says the preacher,
25:47
vanity of vanities,
25:48
all is vanities.
25:50
What does man gain
25:52
by all the toil
25:53
at which he toils
25:54
under the sun?
25:56
A generation
25:56
goes and a
25:58
generation comes
25:59
but the earth
26:00
remains forever.
26:03
And so
26:04
it goes on.
26:06
As you hear
26:07
these words
26:08
and as you hear
26:09
them read
26:09
and as you read
26:10
them again there
26:10
you begin to think
26:11
well this word
26:13
keeps appearing
26:14
here, vanity of
26:15
vanity, all is
26:16
vanity.
26:17
You're thinking
26:17
what is the point
26:19
of all that's
26:20
being said here?
26:21
The preacher
26:22
as he's called
26:23
here, Solomon
26:24
is one who's
26:25
gathering people
26:26
around to tell
26:27
them through
26:28
his experience
26:29
of life
26:30
what his own
26:31
take on life
26:32
is.
26:33
There are
26:34
often times
26:34
in our own
26:35
experience
26:35
when we maybe
26:36
spend a bit
26:37
of time
26:37
reflecting
26:39
reflecting in
26:40
life, reflecting
26:41
on our past
26:42
experience, maybe
26:43
looking back
26:44
or for some
26:45
maybe over
26:46
many years
26:46
looking back
26:47
on where
26:48
we've been
26:49
and things
26:49
we've done
26:50
and people
26:50
we've known,
26:51
all of these
26:52
kinds of things.
26:53
We look back
26:54
on all of these
26:55
things that we've
26:56
experienced in
26:57
the past.
26:58
past.
26:59
And maybe we
26:59
do it in
27:00
many kinds
27:00
of situations.
27:01
Perhaps
27:02
for some
27:03
people it's
27:03
walking around
27:04
the town
27:04
here.
27:06
Maybe you're
27:06
walking around
27:07
the streets
27:08
of Stornaby,
27:09
maybe you're
27:09
walking out
27:10
in the castle
27:10
grounds and
27:11
as you're
27:12
looking around
27:12
you're seeing
27:13
things that
27:14
used to be
27:15
and things
27:16
that have
27:16
changed.
27:17
So much
27:18
has changed
27:18
in this
27:19
town when you
27:20
think of
27:20
these words
27:21
in verse 4,
27:22
a generation
27:23
goes and a
27:24
generation
27:24
comes.
27:26
You walk
27:26
around and you
27:27
think of
27:27
people who
27:28
used to be
27:28
and who
27:29
are no more,
27:30
other people
27:31
who are coming
27:31
into the town,
27:33
you're seeing
27:33
shops that have
27:34
closed down
27:35
and places
27:35
that there
27:36
used to be,
27:37
all kinds
27:38
of things
27:38
that have
27:39
changed all
27:40
around us.
27:42
I find that
27:42
myself when I
27:43
go back to
27:44
the west side
27:45
and I go back
27:45
to Shabbos
27:46
and walk
27:47
around the
27:48
village there
27:48
and you walk
27:49
in the street
27:50
where I grew
27:51
up and you
27:52
see changes
27:53
that have
27:53
taken place.
27:55
You see
27:55
places where
27:56
one's house
27:57
is stood
27:58
and the
27:58
house is
27:59
no longer
27:59
there.
28:01
You see
28:01
other places
28:02
where there
28:02
was an
28:03
open field
28:03
and now
28:04
there's a
28:04
house built
28:05
there.
28:06
Things have
28:06
changed,
28:07
things have
28:08
moved on.
28:10
But so often
28:11
when we reflect
28:12
on these
28:13
things, we
28:13
reflect in a
28:14
way where
28:14
we think
28:15
of people.
28:17
And I
28:17
think that's
28:18
probably what
28:18
strikes me
28:19
most as I
28:20
look back
28:21
over the
28:21
years and
28:22
as I look
28:22
back over
28:23
where I
28:23
grew up
28:24
and people
28:25
I've known
28:25
over the
28:26
years and
28:26
many of
28:27
them who
28:28
are no
28:28
longer there.
28:29
You start
28:30
to reflect
28:31
on people
28:32
who you
28:33
once used
28:34
to hear
28:35
talking or
28:36
maybe once
28:37
you dismissed
28:38
what they
28:39
were saying
28:40
and now the
28:41
theme in your
28:42
heart is
28:42
if only they
28:44
were here
28:44
and I could
28:44
hear them
28:45
again.
28:46
If only I
28:47
could hear
28:47
them once
28:47
more just
28:48
to ask
28:48
them some
28:49
questions,
28:50
to glean
28:51
some wisdom
28:51
from them.
28:53
If only I
28:53
listened more
28:54
closely to
28:55
what they
28:55
were saying
28:56
to me.
28:58
And we
28:58
often have
28:59
this maybe
28:59
regret in
29:01
our hearts
29:02
or this
29:02
longing in
29:03
our hearts
29:03
if only
29:04
we could
29:05
listen once
29:06
more.
29:07
The stories
29:08
they had,
29:09
the experiences
29:10
that they
29:10
went through,
29:11
what would
29:11
they make
29:12
of the
29:12
world today
29:13
and life
29:14
today,
29:14
we could
29:15
learn so
29:16
much from
29:17
them.
29:19
Well here
29:19
in Ecclesiastes
29:20
there's a
29:21
sense,
29:21
of that.
29:24
There's a
29:24
sense of
29:25
this gathering
29:26
around.
29:27
As we sang
29:28
there in
29:28
Psalm 49,
29:30
Psalm is
29:30
saying,
29:31
listen to
29:31
me all
29:32
you peoples,
29:33
come and
29:34
hear what
29:35
I will
29:36
tell.
29:36
Here is
29:37
Solomon,
29:38
the preacher
29:39
in this
29:39
book,
29:40
who is
29:40
saying to
29:40
the people,
29:42
come and
29:42
gather round,
29:44
come and
29:44
listen to
29:45
what I'm
29:46
saying to
29:46
you.
29:47
Because he
29:48
is speaking,
29:48
he's speaking
29:49
to our
29:50
people,
29:50
he's speaking
29:51
to ourselves
29:52
this evening.
29:54
And there's a
29:55
sense where
29:55
he's speaking
29:56
into an
29:57
ever-changing
29:58
world,
29:59
an ever-changing
30:00
people,
30:00
both in his
30:01
own day and
30:02
in our day
30:03
today as well.
30:04
He's saying,
30:04
come,
30:05
come and
30:06
listen to
30:06
what I am
30:07
saying.
30:08
And as we
30:09
hear these
30:09
words,
30:10
vanity of
30:11
vanities,
30:12
all is
30:12
vanity,
30:13
we maybe
30:13
begin to
30:14
think,
30:14
well,
30:15
what's he
30:15
saying to
30:16
us?
30:17
He doesn't
30:17
seem to be
30:18
encouraging us
30:19
very much
30:19
with these
30:19
words,
30:20
it just
30:21
seems to
30:21
be saying
30:22
to us,
30:22
well,
30:22
what's the
30:23
point in
30:24
it all?
30:25
It's maybe
30:25
just what
30:26
many of us
30:26
are maybe
30:27
feeling in
30:28
our day
30:28
and age
30:28
just now.
30:30
We're
30:30
wondering
30:30
what's
30:30
happening
30:31
in our
30:31
world and
30:32
what's
30:32
the point
30:33
in it
30:33
all?
30:34
Well,
30:35
there is
30:35
a point
30:36
in what
30:37
he's
30:37
saying.
30:38
And he's
30:38
really reminding
30:39
us of
30:40
two things.
30:41
As you read
30:41
through this
30:42
chapter in
30:43
the book of
30:43
Ecclesiastes,
30:45
you're reminded
30:45
of two things
30:46
that he
30:47
describes.
30:48
He's saying
30:48
there is
30:48
this life
30:49
as you
30:49
look at
30:50
it under
30:51
the sun.
30:52
It's one
30:53
phrase he
30:54
uses,
30:54
under the
30:55
sun.
30:56
And there's
30:57
another phrase
30:57
that he
30:57
uses,
30:58
and it's
30:58
life under
30:59
heaven.
31:01
And there's
31:01
a distinction
31:02
between the
31:03
two.
31:04
And it's
31:04
an understanding
31:05
that distinction
31:06
that we begin
31:07
to see that
31:08
there is
31:08
meaning in
31:10
what he is
31:10
saying.
31:11
So there's
31:12
a sense
31:12
here where
31:13
things are
31:14
always changing
31:16
and yet
31:17
not changing.
31:19
There was
31:19
a Frenchman
31:20
by the
31:20
name
31:20
John
31:21
Baptiste
31:22
Alphonse
31:22
Carr who
31:23
once said
31:24
back in
31:24
1849,
31:26
the more
31:27
things change,
31:29
the more
31:30
they stay
31:31
the same.
31:33
The more
31:33
things change,
31:35
the more
31:36
they stay
31:37
the same.
31:38
And that's
31:39
the sense
31:40
of what the
31:40
preacher here
31:41
in Ecclesiastes
31:42
is saying.
31:43
While a lot
31:43
of big things
31:44
change or
31:45
appear to
31:46
be changing
31:46
in our
31:47
eyes,
31:48
a lot
31:48
of things
31:48
seem to
31:49
be happening
31:49
around us,
31:50
the real
31:50
situation,
31:52
the important
31:53
situation is
31:54
that nothing
31:55
has changed
31:56
much at
31:57
all.
31:58
As he
31:58
says there
31:59
in verse
32:00
9,
32:00
there is
32:01
nothing new
32:02
under the
32:03
sun.
32:04
And you
32:04
think when
32:05
Ecclesiastes
32:06
was written
32:06
all these
32:07
thousands of
32:07
years ago,
32:08
here we are
32:09
now and we're
32:10
still in that
32:10
same situation.
32:12
There's
32:12
nothing new
32:13
under the
32:14
sun.
32:14
So what
32:15
is he
32:15
getting at
32:16
here?
32:17
In the
32:18
sense of
32:18
nothing
32:19
changes,
32:20
it stays
32:20
the same.
32:22
What's he
32:22
getting at
32:23
when everything
32:24
else seems
32:25
to be changing
32:26
around us?
32:28
It's a
32:28
search for
32:29
meaning.
32:31
It's a
32:31
search for
32:32
purpose in
32:34
our lives.
32:35
It's a
32:35
search for
32:36
what is
32:37
life all
32:38
about?
32:39
How do we
32:40
understand the
32:42
world in
32:43
which we
32:43
live?
32:44
And this
32:45
is something
32:45
in the
32:46
preacher's
32:47
day here,
32:47
as in
32:48
our own
32:48
day,
32:48
and every
32:49
generation,
32:51
a search
32:51
for meaning,
32:52
a search
32:53
for wisdom,
32:54
a search
32:54
for progress,
32:56
a search
32:57
for making
32:57
our lives
32:58
better,
32:59
but nothing
33:00
seems to
33:01
be changing.
33:02
Many
33:03
things change,
33:04
but at the
33:05
root of our
33:06
lives is the
33:07
truth that
33:08
nothing ever
33:09
changes.
33:10
others.
33:11
So here we
33:12
have this
33:12
scene in
33:13
Ecclesiastes
33:14
where the
33:15
preacher Solomon
33:16
gathers the
33:17
people round
33:18
and he's
33:18
saying,
33:19
listen to
33:20
this,
33:20
listen to
33:21
my experience
33:22
of life,
33:24
and listen to
33:25
what I am
33:25
telling you
33:26
that you may
33:27
find wisdom
33:28
and find
33:29
meaning and
33:29
purpose in
33:31
your life.
33:31
Listening to
33:32
not just the
33:33
word that he
33:34
is speaking,
33:35
but the
33:36
word as it
33:36
is,
33:37
the word
33:38
of God
33:38
and the
33:40
word of
33:40
wisdom that
33:42
he is saying
33:42
to us.
33:43
Is it all
33:44
just in
33:45
vain,
33:46
all that we
33:47
are doing
33:47
in our
33:47
search for
33:48
meaning,
33:49
or is
33:50
there meaning
33:50
in it all?
33:53
Have we
33:53
found what
33:55
we're looking
33:55
for?
33:56
That's the
33:57
question tonight.
33:59
And there are
33:59
three ways I
34:00
want us to
34:00
reflect on
34:01
this question
34:02
as we think
34:03
of our
34:03
search for
34:04
what we're
34:05
looking for.
34:05
The first
34:06
is this
34:06
reflecting
34:07
on life.
34:10
Then there's
34:10
a sense of
34:11
reviewing
34:12
all that
34:13
is going
34:13
on.
34:14
And then
34:15
thirdly,
34:15
we see
34:16
the sense
34:16
of renewing
34:18
our outlook
34:19
on things.
34:20
So the
34:20
first thing
34:21
is reflecting.
34:24
Reflecting
34:24
on things.
34:27
And going
34:27
into this
34:28
chapter,
34:29
indeed,
34:29
into this
34:30
book,
34:31
you see
34:32
Solomon here.
34:32
He's very
34:33
much in
34:33
reflective
34:34
mood.
34:35
good.
34:36
He's
34:36
looking at
34:37
various
34:37
aspects of
34:38
his life,
34:39
life in
34:40
general.
34:40
But what's
34:41
his outlook?
34:44
And it
34:45
begins with
34:46
this theme
34:47
that just
34:47
seems to
34:48
run through
34:48
Ecclesiastes
34:49
as a whole.
34:51
It's almost
34:51
saying,
34:52
it doesn't
34:53
take you long
34:53
to start
34:54
thinking,
34:54
well,
34:54
what's the
34:55
point in
34:56
anything at
34:56
all?
34:57
Everything
34:58
just seems
34:58
to be in
34:59
vain.
34:59
Everything
34:59
is vanity
35:00
of vanities
35:01
or meaningless,
35:02
meaningless,
35:03
as another
35:03
translation puts
35:04
it.
35:05
It's like,
35:06
what is
35:06
this purpose?
35:08
Whatever
35:08
he describes,
35:10
it seems to
35:11
be linked
35:12
to this
35:12
phrase,
35:13
it's all
35:14
vain,
35:14
it's all
35:15
vanity of
35:16
vanities,
35:17
as you see
35:17
in verse
35:18
2.
35:20
And you
35:20
have that
35:20
at the
35:21
beginning of
35:21
the book,
35:21
and it
35:22
seems to
35:22
just run
35:23
right through
35:23
it.
35:24
But he's
35:25
using it
35:25
in a way
35:26
that brings
35:26
us back
35:27
to think,
35:28
well,
35:28
what is
35:29
the point?
35:30
What is
35:31
he actually
35:32
getting at
35:33
here?
35:34
And perhaps
35:34
for ourselves
35:35
this evening
35:36
is the kind
35:36
of situation
35:37
that we're
35:38
in.
35:39
Maybe in
35:40
your own
35:40
life just
35:41
now,
35:41
you're at
35:41
that point
35:42
in life
35:43
where you're
35:44
beginning to
35:44
reflect and
35:45
to think,
35:46
what is
35:47
my life?
35:49
What is
35:49
the purpose?
35:51
What is
35:51
it that I
35:52
am doing
35:52
with my
35:53
life?
35:54
What is
35:54
the point
35:55
in it
35:55
all?
35:56
And maybe
35:57
you're coming
35:57
to this
35:57
conclusion
35:58
as well.
35:59
It's
35:59
vanity
36:00
of
36:00
vanities.
36:00
It all
36:01
just seems
36:01
to be
36:02
in vain.
36:04
But as
36:05
he's saying
36:05
to us
36:06
here,
36:06
it's about
36:07
perspective.
36:10
And what
36:10
Solomon is
36:11
doing here
36:12
is he leads
36:12
us into
36:13
his world
36:13
and looking
36:14
at it,
36:14
here he
36:15
is as
36:15
an older
36:16
man looking
36:16
back and
36:17
reflecting on
36:18
his life
36:18
and we're
36:19
to listen
36:20
to his
36:20
words of
36:21
wisdom.
36:23
And he
36:23
uses this
36:24
phrase
36:25
initially,
36:26
which is
36:26
under the
36:28
sun.
36:28
In verse
36:29
three,
36:29
what does
36:30
a man
36:30
gain by
36:31
all the
36:31
toil at
36:32
which he
36:32
toils under
36:34
the sun?
36:37
He's
36:37
looking at
36:38
life here
36:38
from a
36:39
perspective
36:40
where we're
36:40
just looking
36:41
around
36:41
ourselves.
36:44
We're
36:44
looking at
36:45
it on a
36:45
horizontal
36:46
plane,
36:47
if you
36:48
like.
36:49
We're
36:49
looking at
36:49
life and
36:50
just thinking,
36:51
my life
36:51
just seems
36:52
to be
36:52
the same
36:53
day in,
36:55
day out.
36:57
And as
36:57
you read
36:58
these words
36:58
that he
36:59
is saying
36:59
here,
37:00
vanity,
37:00
vanity,
37:00
says the
37:02
preacher,
37:02
you think
37:02
to yourself,
37:03
well,
37:03
what kind
37:04
of man
37:04
was Solomon?
37:06
This must
37:06
be someone
37:07
who had
37:09
hit rock
37:09
bottom.
37:10
This must
37:11
be someone
37:11
who's lost
37:12
everything in
37:13
life,
37:13
failed in
37:14
everything.
37:15
He must
37:16
be someone
37:16
who's almost
37:16
broke and
37:17
homeless and
37:18
just has
37:18
nothing to
37:19
enjoy in
37:19
life.
37:21
And yet
37:22
it couldn't
37:22
be further
37:23
from the
37:24
truth.
37:24
When you
37:24
look at
37:24
Solomon's
37:25
life,
37:25
you just
37:26
have to
37:26
turn over
37:27
to the
37:27
next chapter.
37:29
In chapter
37:29
2,
37:30
verse 4,
37:30
and you
37:30
read there
37:31
the words
37:32
that he
37:33
gives to
37:33
us there,
37:34
which reminds
37:35
us his
37:36
life was
37:36
a grand
37:37
life.
37:37
He says
37:38
in verse
37:38
4,
37:39
I made
37:39
great works,
37:40
I built
37:41
houses and
37:42
planted vineyards
37:43
for myself.
37:44
I made
37:44
myself gardens
37:45
and parks
37:46
and planted
37:47
in them
37:47
all kinds
37:48
of fruit,
37:49
trees.
37:49
I made
37:50
myself pools
37:51
from which
37:51
to water
37:52
the forest
37:53
of growing
37:54
trees.
37:54
I brought
37:55
male and
37:55
female slaves,
37:57
and slaves
37:57
who were
37:58
born in
37:58
my house.
37:59
I had
38:00
also great
38:00
possessions
38:01
of herds
38:02
and flocks,
38:03
more than
38:03
any who
38:05
had been
38:05
before me
38:06
in Jerusalem.
38:07
I had
38:07
silver and
38:08
gold and
38:09
treasure of
38:10
kings.
38:11
He had
38:11
all of
38:12
these things.
38:13
This is
38:13
not someone
38:14
who has
38:15
hit rock
38:16
bottom.
38:17
This is
38:17
not someone
38:17
who is
38:18
broke and
38:18
homeless.
38:19
This is
38:20
someone who
38:20
has
38:21
everything
38:22
that the
38:22
world has
38:23
to offer.
38:24
Yet,
38:24
looking at
38:25
it on
38:25
this
38:25
horizontal
38:26
plane,
38:27
this under
38:28
the sun
38:28
plane,
38:29
he's saying
38:29
it's
38:30
vanity,
38:31
vanity of
38:32
vanities,
38:33
meaningless,
38:34
meaningless.
38:36
What's the
38:36
challenge?
38:37
He's getting
38:37
at there.
38:39
He's reminding
38:40
us that if
38:40
our only focus
38:41
is on what
38:42
is in this
38:43
world,
38:44
and what
38:44
we have
38:44
day by
38:45
day in
38:46
this world
38:46
and what
38:46
we're
38:46
living for
38:48
on this
38:48
horizontal
38:49
plane,
38:50
under the
38:51
sun,
38:52
just in
38:52
this world,
38:53
then it
38:53
is all
38:54
in vain.
38:57
You can
38:57
have everything
38:58
that this
38:59
world offers
39:00
and yet have
39:00
nothing.
39:02
You think
39:02
of someone
39:03
of the
39:03
wealth of
39:04
Solomon,
39:04
you think
39:05
of it in
39:06
today's
39:06
terms,
39:07
you're
39:07
thinking of
39:07
someone maybe
39:08
like Elon
39:09
Musk,
39:10
and all the
39:11
billions that
39:12
he has,
39:12
he doesn't
39:13
know what
39:13
to do
39:14
with it.
39:15
But under
39:16
the sun,
39:17
is there any
39:17
joy in
39:18
it all?
39:19
There's
39:19
still a
39:20
search for
39:21
more,
39:22
because it's
39:22
all vanity
39:23
of vanities.
39:25
There are
39:26
two
39:27
billionaires
39:29
in the
39:29
computing
39:30
industry.
39:31
One is
39:32
Bill Gates,
39:34
a billionaire
39:34
businessman who
39:35
was behind
39:36
Microsoft.
39:37
The other
39:38
was a
39:39
friend of
39:39
his who
39:40
passed away
39:41
in 2011,
39:42
Steve Job,
39:44
who was
39:45
behind Apple.
39:47
Both of
39:47
them were
39:48
billionaires,
39:50
more money
39:51
than they
39:51
could do
39:52
anything with,
39:53
and yet
39:53
for what?
39:55
Steve Job,
39:56
he passed
39:56
away at a
39:57
relatively
39:57
young age,
39:59
and at the
40:00
time of
40:00
his death,
40:02
Bill Gates
40:03
said this,
40:05
it reminds
40:05
you that
40:06
you've got
40:07
to pick
40:07
important
40:09
stuff,
40:10
because you
40:11
only have
40:11
a limited
40:13
time.
40:15
And yet
40:15
in those
40:16
words that
40:16
are saying,
40:17
well,
40:17
what is
40:18
life?
40:18
He's still
40:19
looking at
40:19
things under
40:20
the sun,
40:21
under this
40:22
level,
40:23
this horizontal
40:24
plane.
40:25
We've got to
40:25
pick the
40:26
important stuff,
40:27
but what is
40:28
the important
40:29
stuff?
40:30
We've only
40:30
got a
40:31
limited time,
40:32
but what
40:33
are we doing
40:33
with our
40:33
time?
40:35
So there's
40:35
questions,
40:36
but there's
40:37
unanswered
40:38
questions that
40:39
Bill Gates
40:40
had.
40:42
Maybe that's
40:42
ourselves,
40:43
too.
40:43
We say at
40:44
times,
40:45
we've got to
40:45
get our
40:46
priorities right.
40:48
We've only
40:48
got a
40:49
limited time,
40:50
as the
40:50
psalm said,
40:51
which we
40:51
sang.
40:52
We can
40:52
all see
40:53
life ending,
40:54
it's passing
40:55
us by,
40:56
but for
40:56
what purpose?
40:58
We reflect
41:00
on all of
41:01
these things,
41:03
but our
41:03
perspective is
41:05
looking at
41:06
things under
41:07
the sun,
41:09
with this
41:10
world in
41:11
mind,
41:12
and the
41:13
conclusion is
41:14
it's all
41:15
vanity.
41:17
We're looking
41:18
at things
41:19
in the wrong
41:20
way.
41:21
Life under
41:22
the sun,
41:23
no matter how
41:24
much we might
41:25
have, or
41:26
even how little
41:27
we've got,
41:28
we are still
41:29
in the same
41:30
position,
41:32
that there is
41:32
nothing new
41:33
under the
41:35
sun.
41:35
It is a
41:38
life apart
41:39
from God,
41:41
a life
41:41
without a
41:43
relationship
41:43
with God,
41:45
without a
41:45
relationship
41:46
with his
41:46
son.
41:48
It's not
41:48
an eternal
41:49
perspective
41:50
we're looking
41:50
at, it's
41:51
just the
41:51
temporary
41:52
perspective
41:53
of here,
41:54
just our
41:54
days here
41:55
and that
41:56
is it,
41:57
and yet it
41:57
all seems
41:58
so meaningless.
42:01
Life under
42:03
the sun is a
42:03
preacher's way
42:04
of talking,
42:05
here about a
42:06
life lived
42:07
apart from
42:08
God.
42:10
A sad
42:10
life, no
42:12
matter how
42:12
much we
42:13
have.
42:14
Verse 3
42:15
here is so
42:16
similar to
42:16
Mark 8,
42:17
36, where
42:19
it says,
42:20
For what
42:20
does it
42:20
profit a
42:21
man to
42:21
gain the
42:22
whole world
42:23
and forfeit
42:25
his soul?
42:26
That's
42:26
Mark 8,
42:27
36, and
42:28
verse 3
42:29
here says,
42:30
What does
42:30
man gain
42:31
by all
42:32
the toil
42:33
at which
42:34
he toils
42:34
under the
42:36
sun?
42:38
What do we
42:38
gain if we
42:40
lose our
42:41
soul?
42:43
So we're
42:44
looking at
42:45
here things,
42:46
we're looking at
42:47
it in a way
42:48
where we want
42:48
to come and
42:49
think about
42:50
what God is
42:51
saying to
42:51
us.
42:54
We're looking
42:54
at our
42:55
life.
42:56
We're looking
42:57
at what God
42:58
is saying to
42:59
us.
42:59
But he's
43:00
saying,
43:01
don't just
43:01
look under
43:02
the sun.
43:05
Because if
43:05
you're reflecting
43:06
on your
43:07
life in that
43:08
way, you've
43:09
got to see
43:09
that there
43:10
is more.
43:11
There's more
43:12
to life
43:13
than that.
43:15
And if we're
43:15
looking under
43:16
the sun,
43:16
we're looking
43:17
in the wrong
43:18
place.
43:19
And that's
43:19
why the
43:20
second thing
43:20
we see
43:21
here is a
43:21
sense of
43:22
reviewing
43:23
things.
43:25
Now,
43:26
reflecting is
43:27
maybe more
43:28
looking back.
43:30
But reviewing
43:31
it is looking
43:32
now more
43:33
in the
43:33
present.
43:35
Okay,
43:36
we're looking
43:37
back and
43:37
we're seeing
43:38
all of these
43:39
things,
43:40
all of these
43:40
experiences in
43:41
our life,
43:42
everything that's
43:43
changing and
43:44
yet nothing's
43:45
changing as it
43:46
were.
43:46
We still don't
43:47
have this sense
43:48
of meaning and
43:49
purpose in our
43:49
life.
43:50
Well, then he
43:51
starts to give
43:52
us a sense of
43:52
reviewing.
43:54
What does
43:55
life look like
43:56
under the sun?
43:58
That's what we
43:58
see in verse
43:59
4 to
44:00
verse 11.
44:02
Here he's
44:03
looking at
44:03
things as if
44:04
to say,
44:05
you see all
44:05
these things
44:06
going on
44:07
around you.
44:08
And you
44:09
could come to
44:09
this conclusion,
44:10
you could
44:10
almost describe
44:11
it as we're
44:12
living life in
44:13
this cycle.
44:16
You could
44:16
almost describe
44:17
it as if
44:17
you're in the
44:18
hamster's wheel,
44:19
if you like.
44:20
If you've ever
44:21
seen a hamster
44:21
in a cage,
44:22
they go on
44:23
the wheel,
44:24
running around,
44:25
their little feet
44:25
are going flat
44:26
out, but
44:27
where are they
44:28
going?
44:28
Nowhere.
44:29
The wheel's just
44:30
going round and
44:31
round and
44:31
round.
44:32
No progress is
44:33
being made.
44:35
And that's so
44:36
much of life
44:37
under the sun,
44:38
as it were.
44:40
We seem to be
44:41
making progress,
44:42
we seem to be
44:42
going so fast,
44:44
and yet,
44:44
at the end,
44:45
we're going
44:46
nowhere.
44:48
And how does he
44:49
describe it here?
44:50
He describes it
44:52
in verse 4,
44:53
as a generation
44:53
goes,
44:55
and a generation
44:55
comes,
44:57
but the earth
44:58
remains forever.
45:00
People come
45:01
and people go.
45:02
You think even
45:03
of our own
45:04
surroundings.
45:05
How many people
45:06
have been and
45:06
sat in these
45:07
pews who are
45:08
no longer here?
45:10
How many are
45:11
here now who
45:11
in a number of
45:13
years will not
45:13
be here?
45:14
Another generation
45:15
will come.
45:16
We pray another
45:17
generation will
45:18
fill this place.
45:19
But it's this
45:21
idea that
45:22
our time
45:22
comes,
45:23
our time
45:24
goes.
45:26
In verse 5,
45:27
he's talking
45:28
about it almost
45:28
on a daily
45:29
basis.
45:30
The sun
45:30
rises,
45:31
the sun
45:32
goes down,
45:33
and hastens
45:33
to the place
45:34
where it
45:35
rises.
45:35
There's this
45:36
sense of
45:36
day after
45:37
day,
45:37
there's the
45:38
same things
45:39
going on.
45:41
Then verse 6,
45:43
he talks about
45:43
the wind.
45:44
The wind
45:45
blows to the
45:46
south and
45:46
goes round
45:46
to the north.
45:48
Round and
45:48
round goes
45:49
the wind,
45:50
and on its
45:50
circuits,
45:51
the wind
45:52
returns.
45:53
So you've
45:53
got this idea
45:54
of the wind,
45:55
as we know
45:55
only too well
45:56
here.
45:57
The gales
45:58
come,
45:58
the gales
45:59
go.
46:00
Week by
46:01
week,
46:01
month by
46:02
month,
46:02
we see the
46:03
weather changing
46:04
all the time.
46:05
The snow
46:06
that came in
46:06
the last few
46:07
days is now
46:08
disappearing.
46:09
Where did it
46:09
come from?
46:10
Where did it
46:10
go?
46:12
There's this
46:12
idea that
46:13
things are
46:14
just always
46:14
moving.
46:16
Verse 7
46:17
is one of
46:17
these ones
46:18
that you just
46:19
pause and
46:20
think about
46:21
what it's
46:21
saying.
46:22
All streams
46:22
run to the
46:24
sea, but
46:24
the sea
46:25
is not
46:26
full.
46:27
You think
46:28
of rivers
46:29
round about
46:30
our own
46:30
island, all
46:31
running into
46:32
the sea.
46:33
You think
46:33
about great
46:34
rivers in
46:34
this world,
46:36
the Amazon,
46:36
the Nile,
46:37
the Elbe,
46:38
there's so
46:38
many of
46:39
them.
46:40
All these
46:41
mighty rivers
46:42
running into
46:43
the sea,
46:43
and yet the
46:43
sea, it's
46:45
not full.
46:45
what's going
46:47
on.
46:47
It's the
46:47
cycle that
46:49
runs into
46:50
the sea,
46:50
it goes up
46:51
into the
46:51
air, comes
46:52
back in
46:52
rain, and
46:53
so the
46:53
cycle goes
46:55
on.
46:56
There's this
46:57
idea that
46:58
there's always
46:59
this continuity
47:00
in life, but
47:02
it's always
47:02
staying the
47:04
same.
47:06
If you've
47:06
ever seen
47:07
the film
47:07
Groundhog
47:08
Day, it's
47:10
this kind of
47:10
idea where
47:10
every day the
47:12
alarm clock
47:12
goes.
47:13
He gets
47:14
up, he
47:14
lives his
47:15
day, he
47:16
goes to
47:16
bed and
47:17
he gets
47:17
up the
47:17
next day,
47:18
it's exactly
47:18
the same.
47:21
Every
47:22
generation, we
47:23
think we've
47:24
found answers
47:24
to all the
47:25
questions of
47:26
life.
47:27
We think
47:28
we're making
47:28
progress all
47:29
the time, and
47:32
yet we're not
47:32
making any
47:33
progress at
47:34
all.
47:36
Look at
47:36
verse 10
47:37
there, which
47:38
says,
47:39
Is there a
47:39
thing of
47:40
which it
47:40
is said,
47:41
see, this
47:42
is new.
47:44
And you
47:44
think of
47:45
all the
47:45
discoveries made
47:46
in our own
47:47
days, you
47:48
know, the
47:48
last 20,
47:49
30 years, how
47:50
many things
47:51
have been
47:51
invented?
47:52
So it's
47:53
this idea
47:53
that there's
47:54
nothing new,
47:54
the internet's
47:56
new, there's
47:56
lots of new
47:57
things in that
47:58
sense, but
48:00
it's this idea
48:01
that is it
48:01
really progress?
48:04
There is
48:04
nothing that
48:05
is new in
48:06
that sense.
48:07
It has been
48:08
already in the
48:09
ages before
48:10
us.
48:11
People will
48:12
say, this
48:12
is the
48:12
answer to
48:14
all of
48:14
life's
48:14
trouble.
48:15
This is the
48:16
answers that
48:16
we need for
48:17
today, and
48:19
yet there's
48:19
nothing new
48:20
under the
48:21
sun.
48:24
Our needs
48:24
have not
48:26
changed.
48:27
Our greatest
48:28
need has
48:30
not changed.
48:32
As we
48:32
review our
48:33
life, we
48:34
can think,
48:34
okay, we
48:35
seem to have
48:36
made progress,
48:37
but reality
48:37
is we're
48:39
no further
48:40
on than
48:40
any other
48:40
generation in
48:42
the past,
48:44
because we
48:45
cannot make
48:46
any difference
48:48
to our
48:48
eternal
48:49
situation by
48:50
ourselves.
48:51
Again, we go
48:52
back to the
48:53
psalm we
48:53
sung, to
48:54
redeem my
48:55
life is
48:56
costly, none
48:57
sufficient price
48:58
can pay.
49:00
Even in the
49:00
search for
49:01
renewed youth
49:02
and keeping
49:03
ourselves alive
49:04
as long as
49:05
possible, and
49:06
all of these
49:06
things that
49:07
people long
49:08
for in this
49:09
world, we
49:10
cannot.
49:12
Every generation
49:13
has looked at
49:14
ways to keep
49:15
ourselves going,
49:16
to keep
49:17
ourselves alive,
49:18
to save
49:19
ourselves, as
49:20
it were, for
49:20
eternity, but
49:22
there's nothing
49:23
new under the
49:23
sun.
49:24
The answer
49:24
hasn't changed.
49:29
Our greatest
49:30
need as we
49:31
look in life,
49:32
as we think of
49:33
what we're
49:33
looking for in
49:34
this world, as
49:35
we think of
49:36
what we're
49:36
searching for,
49:37
it's not
49:38
something new,
49:40
it's something
49:40
that has always
49:41
been.
49:43
It's been there
49:44
since the
49:44
beginning.
49:45
It's there in
49:46
Solomon's day,
49:47
it's here in
49:47
our day, it
49:48
will remain
49:49
forever.
49:50
And what is
49:51
it?
49:52
Well, it's
49:53
based on the
49:54
word of God.
49:56
It is only
49:57
God who can
49:58
make a
49:59
difference in
50:00
our life.
50:02
It is only
50:02
God through
50:03
his son,
50:04
Christ Jesus
50:05
who can
50:05
save our
50:07
soul.
50:09
And so as
50:10
we think of
50:11
living our
50:12
life and
50:13
things under
50:13
the sun,
50:15
when everything
50:15
seems to be
50:16
in vain,
50:17
no endeavor,
50:18
no achievement,
50:19
no possession
50:20
under the sun
50:21
can give
50:22
purpose and
50:23
meaning and
50:23
fulfillment in
50:24
life.
50:25
That's what the
50:26
preacher is
50:27
telling us
50:28
here.
50:29
If you want
50:30
to live life
50:31
under the sun,
50:32
if you want
50:33
to live life
50:33
apart from
50:34
God,
50:35
you're just
50:36
going to
50:36
carry on,
50:37
as it were,
50:38
in the
50:38
hamster's
50:39
wheel,
50:40
everything just
50:41
going round
50:41
and round
50:42
and nothing
50:43
is changing.
50:47
Perhaps that's
50:48
the way you
50:49
feel in life
50:50
just now.
50:51
You get up in
50:51
the morning,
50:52
you live your
50:53
day,
50:54
you go to
50:54
bed,
50:55
and day
50:55
after day,
50:56
so much
50:57
just seems
50:57
to be the
50:58
same.
50:59
And you've
51:00
come to
51:00
the conclusion,
51:02
what's the
51:03
point?
51:05
Is it all
51:06
in vain?
51:08
Well,
51:08
without Christ
51:09
it is.
51:12
But what the
51:13
preacher here
51:14
is telling us
51:15
is that there
51:16
is a gospel,
51:18
that there
51:18
is good
51:19
news,
51:20
that there
51:20
is hope
51:21
that makes
51:22
a difference.
51:23
So that as
51:24
we reflect
51:25
on life
51:25
looking back,
51:26
as we
51:27
review where
51:28
we are at
51:28
present,
51:29
we want to
51:29
come to
51:30
that point
51:30
where we
51:30
think,
51:31
well,
51:32
what can
51:32
change?
51:35
What needs
51:35
to change
51:36
in our
51:37
life?
51:38
That's what
51:39
we see
51:39
thirdly here,
51:40
that sense
51:41
of renewing.
51:44
It's about
51:44
looking at
51:45
things in
51:46
a different
51:46
perspective.
51:48
Seeing things
51:49
not just on
51:49
this world's
51:50
horizon,
51:51
but beyond.
51:53
And looking
51:53
beyond the
51:54
things that
51:55
are under
51:56
the sun
51:56
to how he
51:58
describes it
51:59
as under
51:59
heaven.
52:01
That's what
52:02
you see
52:02
in verse
52:03
13.
52:06
I applied
52:06
my heart
52:07
to seek
52:08
and to
52:08
search out
52:09
by wisdom
52:10
all that
52:10
was done
52:11
under
52:12
heaven.
52:14
This is to
52:14
look at
52:15
things in
52:15
a different
52:16
way,
52:17
to look
52:18
beyond the
52:19
things of
52:20
this world.
52:23
In our
52:23
search for
52:24
meaning,
52:24
we've got
52:25
to look
52:25
beyond the
52:26
wisdom of
52:26
man and
52:28
look to
52:28
the wisdom
52:29
of God.
52:32
So how
52:33
is your
52:34
search in
52:35
life going?
52:36
How is
52:37
your search
52:38
in life for
52:39
meaning and
52:40
purpose?
52:40
Where are
52:41
you at
52:41
with it?
52:43
In 1987,
52:45
a band
52:45
called
52:46
You Too,
52:48
they released
52:49
a song,
52:49
the title,
52:51
I Still
52:51
Haven't
52:52
Found,
52:53
What I'm
52:53
Looking
52:53
For.
52:55
And the
52:55
song was
52:56
all about
52:57
the sense
52:57
of a
52:58
search going
52:59
on in
53:00
life.
53:01
And no
53:02
matter where
53:03
they looked,
53:05
no matter
53:05
what they
53:06
found in
53:07
this world,
53:08
there was a
53:09
sense,
53:10
I still
53:10
haven't found
53:11
what I'm
53:12
looking for.
53:15
And perhaps
53:15
that's how
53:16
you feel
53:17
today.
53:19
Perhaps
53:20
that's the
53:20
way you've
53:21
been living
53:21
your life
53:22
for a
53:22
long time,
53:24
knowing that
53:24
there's got
53:25
to be more
53:25
to life,
53:26
knowing that
53:27
there's got
53:27
to be more
53:28
of a meaning
53:29
and a purpose
53:29
in life
53:30
than this,
53:32
the life
53:32
under the
53:33
sun.
53:33
There's got
53:34
to be more
53:34
but you
53:35
still haven't
53:35
found what
53:37
you're looking
53:37
for.
53:39
Well,
53:41
the preacher
53:41
here tells
53:42
us,
53:43
just like
53:43
every generation
53:44
seeks an
53:45
answer,
53:46
thankfully
53:46
there's an
53:47
answer to
53:48
be found
53:48
in the
53:50
gospel.
53:51
The more
53:52
things change,
53:54
the more
53:54
they stay
53:55
the same.
53:57
And what
53:58
is it that
53:58
stays the
53:59
same for
53:59
us?
54:01
Well,
54:01
the word
54:02
of God
54:02
stands
54:03
forever.
54:05
1 Peter
54:06
verse 24
54:07
says,
54:08
for all
54:08
flesh is
54:09
like grass
54:09
and all
54:10
its glory
54:11
like the
54:11
flower of
54:12
grass.
54:12
The grass
54:13
withers,
54:14
the flower
54:14
falls,
54:16
but the
54:16
word of
54:17
the Lord
54:18
remains
54:19
forever.
54:21
There is
54:22
wisdom to
54:23
be found
54:24
in the
54:25
word of
54:26
God.
54:27
He tells
54:28
us to
54:29
look above
54:29
the sun.
54:31
We're looking
54:31
beyond the
54:32
horizon of
54:33
this world,
54:34
of everything
54:34
being under
54:35
the sun,
54:35
and instead
54:36
seeing things
54:37
done under
54:38
heaven.
54:40
Seeing the
54:41
God who
54:41
created the
54:43
heavens and
54:43
the earth
54:44
and made
54:45
us in
54:46
this image.
54:48
Everything
54:49
in this
54:49
world is
54:50
incapable of
54:51
satisfying our
54:52
deepest and
54:53
our greatest
54:54
need,
54:55
of our
54:56
soul's
54:57
satisfaction,
54:58
of our
54:58
soul's
54:59
salvation.
55:00
salvation.
55:02
And the
55:02
preacher here
55:03
in old age
55:04
looking back
55:04
over life,
55:05
his ridges,
55:06
his wisdom,
55:07
and all that
55:08
he has,
55:09
is vanity
55:09
without God.
55:11
It's all in
55:12
vain apart
55:13
from God.
55:14
And today,
55:15
if you're
55:15
searching for
55:16
meaning apart
55:17
from looking
55:18
to Christ,
55:20
you'll never
55:20
find what
55:21
you're looking
55:22
for.
55:23
Your song
55:24
will always
55:24
be,
55:25
I still
55:26
haven't found
55:27
what I'm
55:28
looking for.
55:28
There will
55:29
always be
55:30
that missing
55:32
link.
55:33
And what
55:34
are we
55:34
encouraged to
55:35
do?
55:36
We are
55:37
encouraged to
55:37
come and
55:39
listen to
55:39
the wisdom
55:40
of God's
55:41
word.
55:42
We are
55:42
encouraged to
55:43
come and
55:44
find meaning
55:45
in God's
55:45
word and
55:46
purpose.
55:48
That in
55:48
Jesus Christ
55:49
there is
55:49
life.
55:51
And in
55:51
him there
55:52
is life
55:53
eternal.
55:55
As I said
55:55
at the
55:56
start,
55:56
we can all
55:57
regret
55:58
people we
55:58
would have
55:59
loved to
55:59
listen to
56:00
today who
56:01
we didn't
56:01
listen to
56:02
in the
56:02
past.
56:03
To be
56:04
able to
56:04
hear the
56:05
wisdom of
56:06
a generation
56:06
gone or
56:07
a people who
56:09
we knew so
56:09
well but
56:10
didn't listen
56:10
to what they
56:11
were telling
56:11
us.
56:12
Well,
56:12
the preacher
56:13
here is
56:14
saying,
56:14
listen to
56:15
me,
56:16
all you
56:16
people.
56:17
Come and
56:18
listen to
56:19
what I
56:19
will tell.
56:20
And that
56:21
is God's
56:21
word speaking
56:22
to us.
56:24
And speaking
56:24
to us
56:25
tonight as
56:26
well.
56:27
Speaking to
56:27
us, to
56:28
say to
56:28
us,
56:29
come and
56:29
listen to
56:30
what this
56:31
word says.
56:33
Your search
56:33
for meaning,
56:35
you find it
56:35
here.
56:37
That God
56:37
sent his
56:38
son into
56:39
this world,
56:40
that you
56:40
might have
56:41
life, he
56:42
says, and
56:43
life in
56:44
abundance,
56:46
life to
56:47
the full.
56:49
There's an
56:50
author called
56:50
Jack Higgins.
56:53
He's written
56:53
millions of
56:55
books, sold
56:55
millions of
56:56
books around
56:57
the world,
56:58
some of
56:58
them made
56:59
into
56:59
films,
57:00
TV series.
57:03
Well, he
57:03
was once
57:04
asked a
57:04
question,
57:05
he was
57:05
asked a
57:05
question,
57:06
what would
57:07
you have
57:07
liked to
57:07
have known
57:08
when you
57:09
were a
57:09
boy?
57:11
This was
57:12
his answer.
57:12
He said,
57:13
I would
57:14
have loved
57:14
to have
57:15
known that
57:16
when you
57:17
get to
57:17
the top,
57:19
there's
57:19
nothing
57:19
there.
57:21
He was
57:22
looking at
57:23
things on
57:24
the level
57:24
under the
57:25
sun.
57:26
in all
57:27
of his
57:28
search for
57:29
wisdom and
57:31
meaning and
57:31
success, he
57:33
was on this
57:34
journey as he
57:35
saw it, but
57:36
he said sadly
57:37
that when you
57:38
get to the
57:39
top, there's
57:40
nothing there.
57:43
That's when we
57:44
see things under
57:46
the sun.
57:47
But when we
57:48
see things under
57:49
heaven, when
57:51
we see things
57:52
with an eternal
57:53
perspective, we
57:55
see that there
57:56
is much more
57:57
meaning and
57:58
direction for
57:59
us.
58:00
For where
58:01
does it bring
58:01
us as we
58:02
think of
58:02
reaching, as
58:04
we think of
58:05
our goal?
58:06
We're not
58:06
going to say
58:07
like Jack
58:07
Higgins,
58:08
there's nothing
58:09
at the top.
58:10
We just
58:11
think of the
58:11
book,
58:12
Pilgrim's Progress
58:14
by John Bunyan,
58:16
where you read
58:17
there of
58:17
Christian on
58:18
his journey.
58:20
His journey to
58:21
rid himself of
58:22
this great
58:22
burden on
58:23
his back,
58:25
and the
58:25
different
58:26
directions that
58:27
he went along
58:28
that journey.
58:29
And yet the
58:30
last part of
58:31
the journey,
58:32
as he's
58:32
ascending up
58:33
this hill,
58:34
as he's
58:35
making his
58:35
way up this
58:37
hill, and he
58:37
stands before
58:39
the cross,
58:42
that is where
58:43
he begins to
58:43
realize that
58:45
under heaven
58:46
there is
58:46
purpose.
58:48
It's not that
58:49
there's nothing
58:49
at the top,
58:51
but for the
58:51
Christian there
58:52
is everything.
58:54
And what
58:55
Christian found
58:56
was that as
58:57
he came to
58:58
the cross,
58:59
his burden
59:00
was loosed.
59:02
It fell off
59:02
his back.
59:03
It tumbled
59:04
away, never
59:06
to be seen
59:07
again.
59:08
And Christian
59:09
said, as it
59:11
says, with a
59:12
merry heart,
59:13
he said,
59:14
he hath given
59:15
me rest by
59:16
his sorrow
59:17
and life
59:19
by his
59:20
death.
59:22
There is
59:23
something at
59:24
the top for
59:24
the Christian
59:25
to see,
59:26
and that is
59:27
Christ, the
59:28
one we were
59:29
hearing of
59:29
this morning,
59:31
the man in
59:32
the middle,
59:33
the man on
59:33
the middle
59:34
cross,
59:36
the one who
59:36
we search
59:37
and we should
59:38
be searching
59:39
for to find
59:40
meaning in
59:41
life.
59:42
We find it
59:43
in him
59:44
as we come
59:46
to the
59:46
cross.
59:47
don't come
59:49
to the
59:50
point where
59:50
you wish
59:51
you could
59:52
listen and
59:53
no longer
59:54
you can hear
59:55
that word,
59:56
no longer
59:57
hear that
59:58
voice,
59:59
but listen
1:00:00
to the
1:00:01
preacher as
1:00:02
he is speaking
1:00:03
to you.
1:00:04
What is there
1:00:05
to gain by
1:00:05
toiling under
1:00:07
the sun?
1:00:08
It's all
1:00:09
vanity of
1:00:11
vanities,
1:00:11
grace,
1:00:12
but there
1:00:13
is meaning
1:00:13
found in
1:00:15
the voice
1:00:15
of God,
1:00:17
in the
1:00:18
voice of
1:00:18
his son
1:00:19
that says
1:00:20
come,
1:00:21
come and
1:00:22
I will
1:00:23
give you
1:00:23
rest.
1:00:25
When you
1:00:25
reach that
1:00:26
top and
1:00:27
you see it
1:00:28
is all
1:00:29
there,
1:00:29
it is all
1:00:30
done,
1:00:31
it is
1:00:32
finished
1:00:32
by him.
1:00:34
when you
1:00:36
skip right
1:00:36
forward to
1:00:38
the end
1:00:38
of the
1:00:39
book of
1:00:39
Ecclesiastes
1:00:40
into chapter
1:00:41
12 and
1:00:43
verse 13,
1:00:44
it says
1:00:45
this,
1:00:46
the end
1:00:46
of the
1:00:47
matter,
1:00:48
all has
1:00:49
been heard,
1:00:51
fear God
1:00:52
and keep
1:00:53
his commandments
1:00:54
for this
1:00:56
is the
1:00:56
whole
1:00:57
duty
1:00:58
of man.
1:01:01
There is
1:01:01
purpose.
1:01:03
It all
1:01:04
seems so
1:01:05
vain on
1:01:06
our search
1:01:07
and we
1:01:08
think to
1:01:09
ourselves,
1:01:10
I still
1:01:10
haven't found
1:01:11
what I'm
1:01:12
looking for.
1:01:14
Well,
1:01:14
it is found
1:01:15
in this
1:01:16
as a
1:01:17
preacher
1:01:17
says,
1:01:19
fear God
1:01:20
and keep
1:01:21
his
1:01:22
commandments.
1:01:24
Listen,
1:01:24
to his
1:01:25
word,
1:01:26
for this
1:01:27
is the
1:01:27
whole
1:01:28
duty
1:01:29
of man.
1:01:31
Don't
1:01:32
keep
1:01:32
yourself
1:01:33
trapped
1:01:34
in the
1:01:35
hamster's
1:01:35
wheel
1:01:36
where
1:01:36
everything
1:01:37
just
1:01:37
seems
1:01:38
to be
1:01:38
going
1:01:38
round
1:01:39
and
1:01:39
round
1:01:39
the
1:01:40
same
1:01:40
all
1:01:41
the
1:01:41
time.
1:01:42
Instead,
1:01:44
reach out,
1:01:45
reach out
1:01:46
to Christ
1:01:46
and he
1:01:48
is the
1:01:48
one
1:01:48
who we
1:01:49
can come
1:01:50
to
1:01:50
and find
1:01:51
rest
1:01:52
and find
1:01:53
meaning
1:01:53
and find
1:01:54
purpose
1:01:55
and find
1:01:56
life
1:01:56
and life
1:01:58
to the
1:01:58
full
1:01:59
as he
1:02:00
offers
1:02:00
to us
1:02:01
as we
1:02:02
come
1:02:02
to him.
1:02:04
Let us
1:02:04
hear what
1:02:06
the word
1:02:06
of God
1:02:07
says.
1:02:08
Let us
1:02:09
pray.
1:02:11
Our
1:02:12
Father in
1:02:12
heaven,
1:02:13
we thank
1:02:13
you that
1:02:14
with you
1:02:14
there is
1:02:15
a word
1:02:15
that is
1:02:16
unchanging
1:02:17
and unchangeable,
1:02:19
a wisdom
1:02:19
that is not
1:02:20
the wisdom
1:02:20
of this
1:02:21
world that
1:02:21
is new
1:02:22
with each
1:02:23
passing
1:02:23
generation,
1:02:25
but a
1:02:25
wisdom
1:02:25
that remains
1:02:26
the same
1:02:27
down through
1:02:28
every generation.
1:02:29
There is
1:02:30
nothing new
1:02:30
under the
1:02:31
sun.
1:02:32
So,
1:02:32
Lord,
1:02:32
help us
1:02:33
to see
1:02:34
our purpose,
1:02:35
to find
1:02:35
our meaning
1:02:36
and to
1:02:37
search for
1:02:37
you,
1:02:37
Lord,
1:02:38
while we
1:02:38
have that
1:02:39
opportunity,
1:02:40
to seek
1:02:40
the Lord
1:02:41
while he
1:02:42
is to be
1:02:42
found,
1:02:43
to call
1:02:43
upon him
1:02:44
while he
1:02:45
is near.
1:02:46
Teach us
1:02:46
in all
1:02:47
these
1:02:47
things
1:02:47
and help
1:02:48
us to
1:02:49
see that
1:02:49
it is not
1:02:50
all in
1:02:50
vain,
1:02:51
that with
1:02:51
Christ there
1:02:52
is life
1:02:53
and life
1:02:53
to the
1:02:54
full.
1:02:55
So,
1:02:55
we ask
1:02:55
it all
1:02:55
for his
1:02:56
glory,
1:02:57
with the
1:02:57
forgiveness
1:02:57
of our
1:02:58
sin.
1:02:59
Amen.
1:03:04
We're going
1:03:04
to conclude
1:03:05
by singing
1:03:06
to God's
1:03:07
praise in
1:03:07
Psalm 33.
1:03:09
The
1:03:10
Psalm we
1:03:10
began with.
1:03:13
Psalm 33,
1:03:15
page 246.
1:03:16
of the
1:03:17
Psalm books.
1:03:23
We're going
1:03:24
to sing
1:03:24
verse 18
1:03:25
down to
1:03:26
the end
1:03:26
of the
1:03:27
Psalm.
1:03:28
Psalm 33
1:03:29
at verse 18.
1:03:30
Behold
1:03:31
on those
1:03:31
that do
1:03:31
him fear,
1:03:32
the Lord
1:03:32
hath set
1:03:33
his eye,
1:03:34
even those
1:03:35
who on
1:03:35
his mercy
1:03:36
do with
1:03:36
confidence
1:03:37
rely.
1:03:38
We'll sing
1:03:39
from 18
1:03:39
down to
1:03:40
the end
1:03:40
of the
1:03:41
Psalm
1:03:41
to God's
1:03:42
praise.
1:03:46
hold on
1:03:48
those
1:03:49
that do
1:03:51
him fear,
1:03:53
the Lord
1:03:56
does
1:03:56
set
1:03:58
his
1:03:59
eye.
1:04:01
In
1:04:02
those
1:04:04
who on
1:04:05
his mercy
1:04:08
do,
1:04:10
in those
1:04:13
who on
1:04:15
his mercy
1:04:18
do,
1:04:19
with
1:04:21
confidence
1:04:23
rely.
1:04:26
from death
1:04:31
to free
1:04:33
their
1:04:34
soul
1:04:36
in
1:04:37
death,
1:04:38
life
1:04:39
unto
1:04:41
them
1:04:43
to
1:04:44
yield,
1:04:47
our
1:04:48
soul
1:04:49
doth
1:04:50
wait
1:04:52
upon
1:04:53
the
1:04:55
Lord,
1:04:57
our
1:04:57
soul
1:04:59
doth
1:05:00
wait
1:05:02
upon
1:05:03
the
1:05:05
Lord,
1:05:07
he
1:05:07
is
1:05:09
our
1:05:10
help
1:05:11
and
1:05:12
shield,
1:05:16
saith
1:05:17
in
1:05:18
his
1:05:19
holy
1:05:21
name
1:05:22
we
1:05:24
trust,
1:05:26
our
1:05:27
heart
1:05:28
shall
1:05:29
joy
1:05:30
for
1:05:32
thee,
1:05:34
Lord,
1:05:35
let
1:05:37
thy
1:05:38
mercy
1:05:39
be
1:05:40
on
1:05:43
us,
1:05:44
Lord,
1:05:45
let
1:05:47
thy
1:05:47
mercy
1:05:49
be
1:05:50
on
1:05:52
us,
1:05:54
as
1:05:55
we
1:05:56
do
1:05:57
hope
1:05:59
in
1:06:00
thee.
1:06:03
After the
1:06:04
benediction,
1:06:04
I'll go to the
1:06:05
main door,
1:06:06
we'll close
1:06:06
with a
1:06:07
benediction.
1:06:08
Now may
1:06:09
grace,
1:06:09
mercy,
1:06:10
and peace
1:06:10
from God,
1:06:11
Father,
1:06:12
Son,
1:06:12
and Holy
1:06:13
Spirit,
1:06:14
rest upon
1:06:14
and abide
1:06:15
with you
1:06:16
all,
1:06:16
no one
1:06:17
forevermore.
1:06:18
Amen.
1:06:46
God
1:07:02
but
1:07:03
Thank you.