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Give Me Wisdom · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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We're going to begin our worship this evening by singing to God's praise in Psalm 96a.
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That's in the Sing Psalms version, page 126 of the Psalm book.
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We're going to sing from verse 1 to verse 9, and the tune is Glasgow.
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Psalm 96a, O sing a new song to the Lord, sing praises to his name, and his salvation
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day by day, let all the earth proclaim.
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His glory and his mighty deeds to every land declare, how great and awesome is the Lord,
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with him no gods compare.
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We'll sing from verse 1 to 9 to God's praise.
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O sing a new song to the Lord, sing praises to his name, and his salvation day by day.
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Let all the earth proclaim.
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His glory and his mighty deeds to every land declare, how great and awesome is the Lord,
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with him no gods compare.
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How great and awesome is the Lord, with him no gods compare.
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For other gods are wooden stone, the Lord made heaven's high.
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All power and majesty and his, he dwells in glorious light.
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All nations to the Lord, the Lord has cried, the glory that is due.
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Glow thee and strength, ascribe to God, and praise his name anew.
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Glow thee and strength, ascribe to God, and praise his name anew.
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Enter his course with joy and dream, and offer him with you.
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Worship the Lord in holy fear, all earth before him now.
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Glow thee and strength, ascribe to God's praise.
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We'll come to God in prayer.
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Let us pray.
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Lord our God, our Father in heaven, we do thank you to be able to draw near to you,
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to be able to worship and praise your name,
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to remember that you are king and lord over all,
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to remember that your throne, the throne on high, is secure,
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and that nothing can remove it, that you are unchanging and unchangeable.
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We thank you for these words that we have sung in praise to you,
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of all your mighty deeds that you have done,
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and the way you declare them to all the nations of this world.
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How great and awesome is the Lord, with him no gods compare.
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And we thank you that these words are through,
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down through every generation and for all people,
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far and wide, even this day, these words are through.
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For they echo not just the words that we read before us,
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but they echo the words that come from yourself as God on high,
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that there is no one or nothing that can help us in the way that you can.
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And yet, as a people, we so often seek to find a way by ourselves.
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We seek to help ourselves with the things that we cannot possibly achieve.
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And so we pray, Lord, that you will help us to look to you
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and to realize that you are our only help,
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that you are our only hope of salvation.
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For we do not live in this world alone just for a time,
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although we can enjoy many things in this life.
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Again and again, we are reminded that here we are but for a moment.
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Here our days will pass us by so quickly.
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Here our days will come to an end.
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But as your word tells us, there is an eternity for all.
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And the eternity that we will have depends on how we see you.
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You have revealed yourself to us.
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You have spoken to us and continue to speak to us
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through your wonders of creation and through your word and by your spirit.
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And yet, as we see and hear so much, we can still remain deaf.
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We can still think that it means nothing and is of little importance.
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But, Lord, we pray for your spirit to work in our midst,
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to help us to realize the great importance and the great need
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of the gospel that we all have,
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that there is only life and life eternal
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through your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
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For the alternative that we are reminded of in your word
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is that we will eternally perish,
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that we will suffer, Lord.
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And yet, O Lord, even as we hear these words,
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we still think that we can go on enjoying life without you.
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So how we need you, Lord, and how we pray
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that you will give us wisdom,
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that you will give us understanding,
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that you will give us a knowledge of Jesus Christ,
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that we will come and bow before him
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and worship him alone.
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Father, Sam reminds us that other gods are wood and stone,
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but the Lord made heaven's height.
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All power and majesty are his.
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He dwells in glorious light.
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And so we thank you that your gospel is glorious and powerful
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and able to shine light into our midst
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and even able to open our eyes and to help us to see
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and to know the wonder of Jesus.
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And so we pray, Lord, that for all of us here
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and all who gather to worship you,
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whether tuning in online this evening
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or whether gathering in other places around our islands,
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our nation, or the world,
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that your word will go out with power,
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that it will go out mightily, Lord,
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and mightily to save.
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We do thank you for the gospel and all who proclaim it.
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We thank you that it is bearing fruit throughout the world.
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And may it be, Lord, that that would continue
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until the day of the Lord's return,
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that we would see and hear of people coming to faith,
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that we would see and hear prayers being answered,
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even prayers offered many years or even generations ago,
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that your blessing would be poured out on nations near and far,
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that your peace that passes understanding would come
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and reign in our midst.
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We do acknowledge, Lord, our sinfulness.
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We acknowledge how far short we fall of your glory.
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We are sinners before God.
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And yet we thank you that there is forgiveness,
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that you are a God who longs for people to come
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and confess their sins and turn from them
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and find with you that mercy,
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that mercy that is able to transform and to keep us,
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to keep us looking to Jesus.
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And we thank you, Lord, for your patience and longsuffering towards us.
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We thank you that you are a God who in wrath remembers mercy.
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And so we pray, Lord, that you will indeed come in a day of your power.
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Remember us as a people here.
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We thank you that you are God and Lord
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to be called upon in all our different needs.
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And so that whatever cares and burdens we may have this evening,
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that we can bring them all to you,
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as we have heard the one who made the heavens high.
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And we pray, Lord, this evening for all who need you,
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as we all do, and many with particular needs.
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We thank you, Lord, that you are the one who hears and is able to answer prayers
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and to answer them even beyond all we ask or imagine.
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And help us and give us faith as we pray.
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And not to restrain ourselves and our requests,
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but to bring them boldly to you,
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acknowledging that it's not dependent on us or our own abilities,
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but on the one who is able to do all things.
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And so we do ask, Lord, that you will bless us and be with us as a people.
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Bless our homes and our families and our community far and wide.
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That you will remember us, O Lord,
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and remember those who are unwell at this time.
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Remember those who are in hospital.
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Remember those who are going through particular difficulties.
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As we have heard, we remember Professor McLeod at this time.
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We commit him to you, O Lord, in his own time of weakness just now.
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Thankful, Lord, that you are his Lord and God.
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Thankful for all that he has done for you
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throughout his life and ministry in so many different ways.
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And thankful for all the promises that he and we all can claim at such times as this.
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That as we rest in you, we have hope.
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And so surround him, Lord, with your peace, with your mercy.
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Be with his wife and sons and brother and sister too, Lord.
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And all who remember him at this time, may you draw near to them and be with them, we pray.
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And others going through similar experiences, Lord.
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We know that many are known unto us and many throughout our islands and indeed around the world, O Lord.
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We know that there are great needs all over the place.
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And yet, O Lord, we marvel that your eyes are upon all.
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That you hear every prayer offered up.
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That you know every need.
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That you know every individual near and far.
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So, Lord, we thank you that you are able in all things.
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We do pray, O Lord, your goodness to us as a nation and as nations of the world.
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Again, as we have heard so much in this last week of the coronation of a king.
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And as we continue to hear so much going on in our world in terms of conflicts and natural disasters.
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Even today, hearing of Bangladesh and Myanmar.
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And the cyclone that's hit there and caused such devastation.
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And we hear so often, Lord, of tragedies near and far.
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As we have remembered today already the sadness over our island at this time after the accident in Balallan.
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We know, O Lord, that we are not immune to any of these things.
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And you remind us time and again of how precious life is.
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And how much we need you.
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And how much, O Lord, that you are able to give if we but ask.
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And so we pray for your mercy and help to all in different times of need just now.
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Remember us, Lord, we pray.
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And bless your word to us this evening.
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Help us to have ears to hear and to understand the need that we hear in the gospel.
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Our own personal need.
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And that it would become a personal, become personal to us in a saving way.
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To know the Savior, Christ Jesus.
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May you bless us together then here and be with us this evening and in the days ahead as well.
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We pray for the young ones who meet in the youth fellowship later on.
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That your blessing be with them there.
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We thank you for that unity among our young people to be able to share in times of fellowship.
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And we pray you will bless them and watch over them.
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Continue to remember those who are sitting exams in these days as well.
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Be their help and be their strength.
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Be with students who come home for the holiday season just now as well.
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May you bless them in their time at home and look after them day by day.
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Remember us, Lord, throughout the week and all that goes on.
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As we think of the AGM in this coming week, we give you thanks, Lord, for your goodness to us.
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That you remember us, Lord, and you provide for us in so many ways.
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And even in times of great change and turbulence over this past year, you have been faithful, Lord.
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And we thank you for all who have given generously to us as a people here and as a congregation.
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And indeed to our denomination over this past year.
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We thank you, Lord, for the many who give generously week by week.
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And we pray your blessing on all that we do in your name.
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That we honour you that you would honour us.
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We pray too, Lord, for the fellowship of your people.
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That you will be in our midst, O Lord, to bless, to encourage us and to build us up in the faith.
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To rejoice in our Saviour.
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To rejoice in the hope of salvation.
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To rejoice in sinners being saved.
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So, Lord, we commit ourselves into your hands.
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Go before us, bless us, guide us and keep us.
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Pardoning all our sins as we ask it all.
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In Jesus' name. Amen.
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Amen.
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We're going to sing again to God's praise.
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This time in Psalm 24 in the Scottish Psalter.
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Page 230 of the psalm books.
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Psalm 24.
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We're going to sing from verse 1 to verse 5.
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And the tune is Paisley.
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Psalm 24 at verse 1.
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Which reminds us that the earth belongs unto the Lord and all that it contains.
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The world that is inhabited and all that there remains.
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So, we'll sing from verse 1 to verse 5 to God's praise.
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Amen.
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The earth belongs unto the Lord.
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For the foundations thereof.
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And all that there remains.
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The earth belongs to the Lord and all that it contains.
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The world that is inhabited and all that there remains.
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The world that is inhabited and all that there remains.
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For the foundations thereof.
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The earth belongs to the Lord and all that there is.
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The earth belongs to the Lord and all that there is.
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on the seas daily,
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and he hath been established
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upon the floods to stay.
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Who is the man that shall assail
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into the hill of God?
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Or who within his holy place
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shall have a firm abode?
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Whose hands are clean,
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whose heart is pure
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and untimely,
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who hath not lived in abyssal,
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nor sworn be seen holy?
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He from the eternal shall receive
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the blessing him upon,
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and righteousness dim from the God
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of his salvation.
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I will turn together to reading God's word
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in 2 Chronicles chapter 1.
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2 Chronicles chapter 1.
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We can read the whole of this chapter together.
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Amen.
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Solomon, the son of David,
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established himself in his kingdom,
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and the Lord his God was with him
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and made him exceedingly great.
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Solomon spoke to all Israel,
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to the commanders of thousands
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and of hundreds,
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to all the judges,
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and to all the leaders in all Israel,
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the heads of fathers' houses.
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And Solomon and all the assembly with him
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went to the high place that was at Gibeon,
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for the tent of meeting of God,
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which Moses the servant of the Lord
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had made in the wilderness,
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was there.
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But David had brought up the ark of God
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from Kiriath-Jerim
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to the place that David had prepared for it,
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for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.
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Moreover, the bronze altar
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that Bezalel, the son of Uri,
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son of Ha,
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had made was there
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before the tabernacle of the Lord.
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And Solomon and the assembly
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resorted to it.
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And Solomon went up there
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to the bronze altar before the Lord,
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which was at the tent of meeting,
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and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
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In that night,
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God appeared to Solomon
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and said to him,
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Ask what I shall give you.
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And Solomon said to God,
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You have shown great and steadfast love
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to David my father,
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and have made me king in his place.
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O Lord God,
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let your word to David my father
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be now fulfilled,
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for you have made me king
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over a people as numerous
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as the dust of the earth.
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Give me now wisdom and knowledge
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to go out and come in before this people.
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For who can govern this people of yours,
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which is so great?
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God answered Solomon,
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Because this was your heart,
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and you have not asked possessions,
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wealth, honour,
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or the life of those who hate you,
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and have not even asked long life,
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but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself,
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that you may govern my people
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over whom I have made you king.
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Wisdom and knowledge are granted to you.
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I will also give you riches,
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possessions, and honour,
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such as none of the kings had who were before you,
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and none after you shall have the like.
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So Solomon came from the high place at Gibeon,
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from before the tent of meeting,
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to Jerusalem,
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and he reigned over Israel.
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Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen.
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He had fourteen hundred chariots
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and twelve thousand horsemen,
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whom he stationed in the chariot cities,
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and with the king in Jerusalem.
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And the king made silver and gold
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as common in Jerusalem,
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as stone,
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and he made cedar as plentiful
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as the sycamore of Shefela.
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And Solomon's import of horses
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was from Egypt and Kew,
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and the king's traders would buy them
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from Kew for a price.
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They imported a chariot from Egypt
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for six hundred shekels of silver
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and a horse for a hundred and fifty.
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Likewise, through them,
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they were exported to all the kings
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of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.
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Amen, and may God bless that reading
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from his word.
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Before we turn to look at that passage,
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we're going to sing again to God's praise
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in Psalm 126.
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The Sing Psalms version,
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we'll sing the whole of this psalm
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on the tune of the psalm,
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and the tune is Denfield.
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Psalm 126 on page 171.
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When Zion's fortunes God restored,
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it was a dream come through.
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Our mouths were then with laughter filled,
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our tongues with songs anew.
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The nations said,
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The Lord has done great things for Israel.
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The Lord did mighty things for us,
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and joy our hearts knew well.
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We'll sing the whole of this psalm
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to God's praise.
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Amen.
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When Zion's fortunes God restored,
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it was a dream come through.
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Our mouths were then with laughter filled,
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our tongues with songs anew.
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The nations said,
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The Lord has done great things for Israel.
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The Lord did mighty things for us,
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and joy our hearts knew well.
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Restore our fortunes,
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gracious Lord,
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like streams in desert soil.
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A joyful harvest will reward
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The weak in sober toil.
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The man who bailed seed to sow
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rose out with tears of grief.
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Well come again with songs of joy,
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failing his heart was she.
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We can turn back together to our reading
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in 2 Chronicles chapter 1.
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2 Chronicles chapter 1,
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our focus is mainly on verse 7 to verse 10,
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where we see God asking a question of Solomon
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and Solomon's response.
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We read at verse 7,
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In that night God appeared to Solomon
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and said to him,
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Ask what I shall give you.
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And Solomon said to God,
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You have shown great and steadfast love
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to David my father,
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and have made me king in his place.
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O Lord God,
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let your word today,
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my father,
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be now fulfilled,
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for you have made me king
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over a people as numerous
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as the dust of the earth.
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Give me now wisdom and knowledge
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to go out and come in before this people,
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for who can govern this people of yours,
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which is so great?
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God's question and Solomon's response.
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And in the midst of what's happening here,
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we're seeing the theme of wisdom.
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Now, what does it mean to be wise?
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What does it mean to be wise?
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And as you look around yourself here this evening,
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do you see people who you think,
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well, they've got wisdom,
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or others you maybe think,
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well, they're quite foolish.
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The Bible describes wisdom and foolishness
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in a number of different ways.
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It says the fool is the one who says in their heart
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that there is no God.
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Now, is there any fools in here this evening
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in light of that?
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I hope there isn't.
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There's no one foolish enough to say
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that there is no God.
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So then what is wisdom?
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Well, wisdom is to look to God
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and to trust in him,
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to trust in what we learn from his scriptures
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that reminds us that with him,
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there is salvation.
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With him, there is much to be keen.
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So who is wise and who is foolish?
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We often think of wisdom as having knowledge.
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And there's many people maybe in here tonight,
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many of the younger ones,
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you've been sitting exams
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or are sitting exams over these weeks.
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And you think to yourself,
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you've been learning so much over this last year
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and now you've got to answer questions.
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You've got to show what knowledge
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you've learned over this year
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and to put it down on paper.
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Now, is that knowledge the same as being wise?
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Well, you could get straight A's in your exams
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and still not be wise,
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be quite foolish.
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Or you could fail all your exams
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and yet still be wise.
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How so?
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Well, it depends how you look at wisdom
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and what wisdom is to you.
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Jim Parker wrote a book called Knowing God.
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And in that book, he says that wisdom
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is the power to see
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and the inclination to choose
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the best and the highest goal
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together with the surest means
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of attaining it.
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Now, what was,
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he's speaking about there,
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the best and highest goal?
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Well, the clue is in the title of the book.
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It is to know God,
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to trust in him.
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And the surest means of attaining this
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is to listen to what his word
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is telling us
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and to be guided by that word
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because that is where wisdom is found.
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Wisdom is found with God.
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Now, there are many things in this world
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that will tell us otherwise,
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that our wisdom is found
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in many other different means
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apart from God.
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And yes, there is much we can learn
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in this world
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from other kinds of teachings
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and knowledge.
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things that are good to know
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and important for us to know.
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But through wisdom,
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through knowledge,
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through understanding
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is found with God.
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And our reading here this evening
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reminds us of that.
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Who was the wisest man
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to ever live?
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Well, the Bible tells us
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it was Solomon.
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He had wisdom beyond any
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who were before him
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and any who would be after him.
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And yet, even in his own experience,
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there were times
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when he was foolish.
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And yet, God gave him
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this wisdom too.
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Here is a man who was appointed
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as leader over a nation,
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over a people.
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And in looking for a way forward
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in how he was to govern
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and rule over these people,
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what does he do?
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He asks God for wisdom.
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And when we think of the world
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in which we live
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and the turmoil that there is
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throughout our nation
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and so many nations of the world,
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especially as we think
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of leadership
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and the goals of leadership today,
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we think of how wisdom
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and leadership is lacking
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in so many ways.
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And how we need
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the wisdom of God
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for those who rule over us
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on every level of life
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and for ourselves
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to be led and guided
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by the wisdom of God.
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And that is what God offers us
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through his word.
30:41
He invites us to have
30:43
this wisdom.
30:45
No matter how foolish we've been,
30:48
no matter all that we've done
30:49
in our life,
30:49
he says,
30:50
come and I can give you wisdom.
30:53
I can help you understand
30:55
the things of this world.
30:59
Have you ever put yourself
31:00
in a situation
31:01
and you think,
31:03
if I had one wish,
31:06
what would I ask for?
31:09
What request would I make
31:11
if I had one wish?
31:14
The world so often
31:15
puts that temptation
31:16
in front of us
31:18
in so many different ways.
31:20
It tells us
31:21
what we need
31:22
and what difference
31:24
it'll make in our lives.
31:25
And so much of it
31:26
is based on finances.
31:29
The lottery says
31:30
it could be you.
31:33
Betting firms say,
31:34
win big
31:35
and live life to the full.
31:37
There's so many temptations
31:39
put in front of us
31:40
that this is what
31:41
is going to satisfy.
31:43
This is what is going to make
31:44
all the difference
31:46
in your life.
31:47
The foreign holidays,
31:49
the luxury homes,
31:50
the fine cars,
31:51
all of these things.
31:52
This is what you need.
31:54
This is what will satisfy you.
31:57
But the trouble
31:57
and the temptation
31:58
that this world offers us
32:02
is we only think
32:04
of ourselves
32:05
and so much of it
32:06
just in a temporary way.
32:09
Things that will make
32:09
a difference
32:10
for a moment
32:11
but ultimately
32:12
are never going to give us
32:14
that true satisfaction,
32:16
that true joy.
32:18
What would you wish for?
32:21
Well, here Solomon
32:24
is given
32:25
that very opportunity.
32:27
When God comes to him,
32:30
he gives him this opportunity
32:31
to have
32:32
whatever he wants
32:35
and what a response
32:38
he has.
32:40
How many of us
32:42
would respond
32:43
like him?
32:45
Given this opportunity,
32:46
you can have
32:47
whatever you want.
32:49
how many of us
32:51
would respond
32:51
and be honest
32:52
in the same way
32:53
as Solomon responds
32:55
here.
32:57
But there really is
32:58
a lesson for us
32:59
both in the question
33:01
and the one who asks
33:02
the question
33:03
and the response
33:05
that Solomon gives.
33:07
It reminds us
33:09
that we can ask
33:10
great things
33:10
of God.
33:12
And it reminds us, too,
33:14
that he is able
33:15
to give great things
33:17
to his people.
33:19
Not seeking things
33:20
for our glory
33:21
but for his.
33:24
And so let's just
33:25
consider
33:25
these two things
33:27
together for a time
33:28
from this passage.
33:30
God's question
33:31
and how it shows us
33:33
how he is a God
33:34
of abundance.
33:36
And then secondly,
33:37
we look at Solomon's response
33:39
and his response
33:41
and his response
33:41
in asking
33:42
for wisdom.
33:45
So first,
33:45
we look at God's question.
33:48
And the question
33:48
there in verse 7,
33:51
ask what I
33:53
shall give you.
33:55
Ask what I
33:57
shall give you.
33:59
Solomon was David's son.
34:03
David who had been king
34:04
over God's people.
34:06
If you just turn back
34:08
one page
34:09
to the end
34:10
of 1 Chronicles,
34:12
you see there
34:13
where it tells us
34:14
that Solomon
34:14
was anointed king
34:16
and David,
34:18
his father,
34:19
passed away.
34:21
In verse 22,
34:23
in the middle
34:24
of verse 22,
34:25
it says,
34:26
they made Solomon
34:27
the son of David
34:28
king
34:29
the second time
34:30
and they anointed him
34:31
as prince
34:32
for the Lord
34:33
and Sadoc
34:35
as priest.
34:38
And then it says
34:40
in verse 26,
34:41
thus David,
34:41
the son of Jesse,
34:42
reigned over Israel.
34:45
The time that he had
34:46
reigned over Israel
34:47
was 40 years
34:48
and then he died,
34:50
it says,
34:51
at a good age.
34:53
So David had been king
34:54
and now Solomon
34:55
is anointed king
34:57
in his place.
35:00
And that's what we see
35:01
then as we come into
35:02
2 Chronicles chapter 1.
35:05
We're really continuing on
35:06
from where 1 Chronicles left.
35:10
What had proceeded there
35:11
we see continuing now
35:13
and especially as you look
35:14
at verse 1.
35:15
Solomon,
35:16
the son of David,
35:17
established himself
35:18
in his kingdom
35:19
and the Lord,
35:21
his God,
35:23
was with him
35:24
and made him
35:25
exceedingly great.
35:28
David had been blessed
35:29
blessed by God
35:30
and given so much
35:32
as king over Israel.
35:34
And again,
35:34
David was wise
35:36
and yet foolish
35:36
at times himself
35:37
as well.
35:38
He was given
35:38
the wisdom of God.
35:41
And now we come
35:42
to Solomon,
35:43
his son.
35:44
And verse 1
35:45
makes it very clear
35:46
for us,
35:48
the Lord
35:48
was with him.
35:51
The Lord
35:52
was with him.
35:53
And for any nation,
35:56
for any king,
35:57
for any people,
35:58
for any church,
36:00
for any individual,
36:02
that is key.
36:04
The Lord
36:05
with us.
36:07
That is what we need.
36:09
And this is what God
36:10
offers
36:11
to his people.
36:14
He is a God
36:15
of abundance.
36:17
Because with God
36:19
on our side,
36:19
we have one
36:20
who is able
36:21
to give us
36:22
anything
36:23
that we need
36:24
or desire.
36:25
That's what
36:26
his question
36:26
is about
36:27
in verse 7.
36:28
Ask what I
36:30
shall give you.
36:32
God is saying
36:33
this to Solomon.
36:35
Able to give him
36:36
anything
36:37
that this world
36:38
has to offer.
36:40
The Bible
36:41
teaches us
36:42
that the earth
36:43
is the Lord's
36:44
and the fullness
36:46
thereof.
36:46
We sang that
36:47
in Psalm 24.
36:49
Everything
36:50
we see around us,
36:52
it all belongs
36:54
to God.
36:55
The cattle
36:55
on a thousand hills
36:57
belong to God,
36:59
Psalm 50 tells us.
37:01
So you read
37:01
throughout Scripture,
37:02
you see everything
37:03
belongs to God.
37:05
And this is the God
37:06
who is saying
37:07
to Solomon,
37:08
Ask,
37:09
ask of me
37:11
what I shall
37:12
give you.
37:16
Every year,
37:17
there's a day
37:19
set aside.
37:19
It's called
37:20
World Earth Day.
37:23
People in that day
37:24
are challenged
37:24
about the impact
37:25
that we have made
37:27
or are making
37:28
on all the creation
37:29
around us.
37:31
And year by year,
37:32
this goes on,
37:34
reminding us
37:35
of the great damage
37:36
that's being caused
37:37
to our world,
37:38
to God's creation,
37:41
and challenging us
37:42
about our attitudes
37:43
towards it.
37:44
One of the greatest
37:47
problems
37:48
that this world
37:49
sees today
37:50
is a selfish
37:52
people.
37:53
A people who think
37:55
it's all
37:56
for me.
37:58
It's all
37:59
for myself
38:00
to enjoy
38:01
and to do
38:02
as I please.
38:04
Now we're thinking
38:05
of individuals
38:06
in that sense,
38:07
but also looking
38:08
in a broader sense
38:10
where we see
38:10
it's so much
38:11
of life
38:12
is for this moment,
38:13
for this day.
38:15
To reap as much
38:16
as we can,
38:17
to make as much
38:18
money as we can
38:19
for ourselves
38:20
in the here
38:21
and now.
38:23
Because we think
38:24
it's ours.
38:26
And yet God's
38:27
word reminds us
38:28
that it's his.
38:31
Right from the very
38:32
beginning
38:32
in Genesis
38:33
with Adam and Eve,
38:35
they were given
38:35
care over God's
38:38
creation.
38:39
To look after it,
38:40
to care for it.
38:42
Because it is his.
38:44
And he is able
38:45
to give us
38:46
abundantly from it.
38:48
He is able
38:48
to take away
38:49
from us as well.
38:51
It is all
38:52
in his hands.
38:55
The earth
38:55
belongs
38:57
unto the Lord
38:58
and the fullness
39:00
thereof.
39:01
It is all
39:01
his.
39:03
And it's in light
39:04
of that knowledge
39:05
that we see God
39:06
asking this question.
39:09
Ask what I
39:10
shall give you.
39:12
It's an open
39:13
invitation that
39:14
shows God
39:15
has control
39:16
over everything.
39:19
It's a reminder
39:20
to Solomon.
39:21
It's a reminder
39:22
to ourselves.
39:23
Who is in
39:24
control
39:25
of this world?
39:27
As we were hearing
39:27
this morning,
39:28
who is king
39:29
over this world?
39:30
It is the Lord
39:31
who is king.
39:33
It is the Lord
39:34
who rules
39:35
over it all.
39:36
He has control
39:37
over it all.
39:38
He is able
39:39
to give
39:40
from all
39:41
that already
39:42
belongs
39:42
to him.
39:46
God's control
39:47
and reach
39:47
goes far
39:48
and wide,
39:49
but it challenges
39:50
us.
39:51
How much
39:51
do we trust
39:53
God?
39:54
How much
39:55
did Solomon
39:56
trust God?
39:57
Well, fully
39:58
as we shall see.
40:00
But how much
40:00
do we
40:01
trust God
40:02
ourselves?
40:03
When a world
40:04
that so often
40:05
mocks God,
40:06
in a world
40:07
that so often
40:08
puts God
40:09
away and
40:09
belittles God
40:10
and says
40:11
he's not real,
40:12
he doesn't exist,
40:13
he's just a fairy tale,
40:15
a myth,
40:16
does that shake
40:17
our faith?
40:19
Does that shake
40:19
our belief
40:21
in him?
40:21
Does it make us
40:22
think,
40:23
well,
40:23
can God
40:24
do this?
40:25
Can God
40:26
really provide
40:27
for me
40:28
in this way?
40:29
Can God
40:30
help me
40:30
in this need
40:32
that I have?
40:34
Do you see
40:34
God as
40:35
all-powerful,
40:37
all-seeing,
40:38
all-knowing
40:38
God?
40:39
Or do we,
40:40
because of what
40:41
the world says,
40:42
put restrictions
40:43
on God?
40:45
Is your attitude
40:46
one where you're
40:47
saying,
40:48
well,
40:48
if only God
40:49
could help me
40:50
in this,
40:51
but he can't?
40:54
Or is our attitude
40:55
as it should be,
40:56
I thank the Lord
40:57
that he is
40:58
on my side,
41:00
that I can
41:01
trust him,
41:02
that he will
41:02
help me,
41:03
for that is
41:04
his promise.
41:05
To be with us
41:07
no matter what.
41:10
We think of
41:10
the opportunity
41:11
of the question
41:13
that God
41:14
puts to Solomon
41:15
here.
41:16
Have others
41:17
experienced
41:18
this opportunity
41:19
as well?
41:21
Well,
41:22
you see,
41:22
down through
41:23
the Scriptures,
41:24
that is something
41:25
that's put before
41:26
others too.
41:27
It's put before
41:28
us all,
41:28
even here
41:29
this evening,
41:30
because God
41:31
asks of us,
41:32
ask what I
41:34
shall give
41:34
to you.
41:35
And God
41:36
has made
41:36
provision.
41:39
And what's
41:39
the greatest
41:40
provision
41:41
that God
41:42
has made
41:42
for us?
41:44
The greatest
41:44
provision is all,
41:46
of all that he
41:46
gave his son,
41:48
that he gave us
41:49
the way,
41:50
not just for
41:51
blessings in
41:52
this life,
41:53
but blessings
41:54
for eternity.
41:55
that in the
41:57
Lord Jesus
41:58
we have one
41:59
who provides
42:00
all that we
42:01
need.
42:02
We're at the
42:03
cross,
42:04
we see he
42:05
gave his life
42:06
that we might
42:07
have life
42:08
and have it
42:09
abundantly,
42:10
have it to
42:11
the full.
42:13
God was
42:13
willing to
42:14
give out of
42:15
his abundance
42:16
because everything
42:17
is his.
42:18
The earth
42:18
belongs to
42:19
the Lord
42:20
in the fullness
42:20
thereof.
42:22
And so much
42:22
so that he
42:23
gave of his
42:24
abundance,
42:24
he gave his
42:25
son,
42:26
the Lord
42:27
Jesus Christ.
42:29
So does that
42:30
not show us
42:31
a God
42:32
who is able,
42:34
a God
42:34
who is willing,
42:35
a God
42:36
who has
42:36
done so much
42:38
to help us
42:39
already?
42:41
So here is
42:42
God saying
42:43
to us
42:43
this evening,
42:44
ask what I
42:46
shall give
42:46
you.
42:48
And what's
42:49
our response?
42:51
What are we
42:52
asking for?
42:54
It's another
42:55
wonderful
42:56
incident in
42:57
the Gospels
42:58
where we
42:58
see this
42:59
very same
43:00
kind of
43:00
question being
43:01
asked.
43:03
Jesus
43:03
asks this
43:04
question in
43:05
two different
43:06
settings.
43:07
He asks,
43:07
what do you
43:08
want me
43:09
to do
43:10
for you?
43:12
It's in the
43:12
Gospel of
43:13
Mark,
43:13
chapter 10.
43:15
And the
43:15
first account
43:16
is when he's
43:17
with James
43:18
and John.
43:20
Two of his
43:21
disciples,
43:22
two you would
43:22
think would
43:23
know best
43:24
of all
43:25
what to
43:25
ask for.
43:27
And Jesus
43:27
says to
43:28
them,
43:28
what do you
43:29
want me
43:30
to do
43:31
for you?
43:33
And what's
43:33
their response?
43:35
Well, you see,
43:36
they're fools.
43:37
They say,
43:38
we want one
43:39
to sit on
43:39
your right
43:40
hand and
43:41
one on
43:41
your left
43:41
hand in
43:43
glory.
43:44
They're asking
43:45
honor and
43:46
glory for
43:47
themselves.
43:48
Such a
43:49
selfish
43:50
response.
43:52
And what's
43:52
Jesus'
43:53
response to
43:53
that?
43:54
He says,
43:54
you don't
43:55
know what
43:56
you are
43:56
asking for.
43:58
You don't
43:58
realize what
43:59
you are
44:00
asking for.
44:02
Then the
44:02
very same
44:03
question is
44:04
asked of
44:05
someone in
44:06
a very
44:06
different
44:07
situation.
44:08
And later
44:08
on, at
44:09
the end
44:09
of chapter
44:10
10 of
44:10
Mark,
44:11
that same
44:11
question,
44:12
what do
44:12
you want
44:13
me to
44:13
do for
44:14
you,
44:14
is asked
44:15
of a
44:15
man called
44:16
Bartimaeus,
44:17
a blind
44:18
beggar.
44:21
Here is
44:21
someone who's
44:21
been suffering
44:22
most of
44:23
his life,
44:24
begging at
44:24
the side
44:25
of the
44:25
road,
44:25
and Jesus
44:26
asks him,
44:27
what do
44:28
you want
44:28
me to
44:28
do for
44:29
you?
44:30
Now,
44:30
of all
44:31
the things
44:31
he could
44:32
have asked
44:32
for,
44:33
of all
44:34
the things
44:34
that this
44:35
one who
44:35
cannot give
44:36
anything in
44:37
this whole
44:38
world,
44:39
what does
44:39
he ask
44:40
for?
44:41
He says,
44:42
Lord,
44:43
that I
44:43
might see.
44:46
There is
44:46
wisdom.
44:48
Lord,
44:49
that I
44:49
might see.
44:51
And he's
44:52
not just
44:52
talking about
44:53
physically
44:54
seeing.
44:55
He knows
44:55
who it
44:56
is that's
44:56
passing by.
44:57
He knows
44:58
it's Jesus
44:58
that's passing
44:59
by,
44:59
and it is
45:00
him that
45:01
he wants
45:01
to see,
45:02
because you
45:03
see,
45:03
after he
45:03
sees,
45:04
it says
45:05
he follows
45:05
him on
45:07
the way.
45:08
He sees
45:09
Jesus
45:10
and follows
45:12
him.
45:14
So,
45:15
Jesus asks
45:16
that question,
45:17
what do
45:18
you want
45:18
me to
45:19
do for
45:20
you?
45:21
What do
45:21
we want
45:22
of God
45:23
tonight?
45:25
What would
45:26
you ask
45:26
God for
45:27
if he was
45:28
to say,
45:28
I have
45:29
this one
45:29
thing that
45:30
you can
45:30
ask for?
45:31
What are
45:31
you going
45:32
to ask
45:32
for?
45:34
Well,
45:34
Solomon has
45:35
asked that
45:36
question.
45:36
Ask
45:37
what I
45:38
shall
45:39
give you.
45:39
God for
45:40
me?
45:41
The letter
45:43
of James
45:43
says,
45:45
if anyone
45:45
lacks
45:47
wisdom,
45:48
let him
45:48
ask God
45:49
who gives
45:50
generously to
45:51
all without
45:53
reproach.
45:54
do we
45:58
lack
45:58
wisdom
45:59
ourselves
46:00
tonight?
46:02
Do we
46:02
lack
46:03
wisdom
46:03
from the
46:03
God
46:04
who is
46:05
able to
46:05
give us
46:06
anything
46:06
in this
46:07
world?
46:08
What are
46:08
we asking
46:09
for?
46:10
Are we
46:11
pleading
46:11
with him?
46:12
Like
46:12
Bartimaeus,
46:14
Lord,
46:15
let me
46:16
see.
46:17
Let me
46:18
see
46:19
Jesus.
46:20
because
46:22
there
46:22
is
46:23
wisdom.
46:25
God
46:25
says,
46:26
ask
46:26
for
46:27
whatever
46:27
you
46:28
want
46:28
me
46:28
to
46:29
give
46:29
to
46:29
you.
46:30
So,
46:30
how
46:30
do
46:31
you
46:32
respond?
46:34
Well,
46:34
let's
46:34
look at
46:35
secondly,
46:35
Solomon's
46:36
response
46:37
and the
46:38
response
46:39
that he
46:40
gives
46:40
to God
46:42
with this
46:43
request.
46:44
He says
46:45
this in
46:45
verse 10,
46:47
give me
46:48
no
46:48
wisdom
46:49
and
46:50
knowledge.
46:52
Give
46:53
me
46:53
no
46:53
wisdom
46:54
and
46:55
knowledge.
46:56
So,
46:56
as we
46:56
see
46:56
a God
46:57
who is
46:58
a God
46:59
of
46:59
abundance,
47:00
we see
47:00
the way
47:01
to enjoy
47:02
this
47:02
abundance
47:02
is a
47:03
right
47:04
view
47:04
of
47:05
who
47:05
God
47:05
is
47:06
and
47:06
a
47:07
right
47:07
response
47:08
to
47:09
God.
47:10
If
47:10
we
47:10
want
47:11
to
47:11
know
47:11
the
47:11
blessing
47:12
of
47:12
God
47:12
in
47:12
our
47:13
lives,
47:13
we
47:14
need
47:14
to
47:14
learn
47:14
lessons
47:15
from
47:16
how
47:16
Solomon
47:17
responds
47:17
in this
47:20
chapter.
47:21
There's
47:22
three
47:22
things we
47:22
can
47:22
take
47:23
from
47:24
his
47:24
response
47:25
and
47:25
his
47:25
approach
47:26
to
47:27
God.
47:27
The
47:27
first
47:27
thing
47:28
is
47:28
this,
47:29
he
47:29
worships
47:30
God.
47:33
There
47:33
is
47:33
the
47:35
first
47:35
thing
47:35
that we
47:36
want to
47:36
take
47:36
from
47:36
this.
47:37
He
47:37
worships
47:38
God.
47:39
You
47:39
see it
47:39
in
47:39
verse
47:40
6.
47:42
The
47:42
whole
47:42
setting
47:43
here
47:43
is
47:44
one
47:44
where
47:45
Solomon
47:45
has
47:45
gone
47:46
to
47:46
worship
47:47
God.
47:48
He
47:48
went
47:48
up
47:48
there
47:49
to
47:49
the
47:49
bronze
47:50
altar
47:50
before
47:50
the
47:51
Lord
47:51
which
47:52
was
47:52
at
47:52
the
47:52
tent
47:53
of
47:53
meeting
47:53
and
47:53
offered
47:54
a
47:54
thousand
47:55
burnt
47:55
offerings
47:56
on it.
47:57
He
47:57
was
47:57
giving
47:57
worship
47:58
to
47:59
God.
48:01
The
48:01
book
48:01
of
48:01
Proverbs
48:02
is
48:02
a
48:03
book
48:03
that's
48:03
full
48:04
of
48:04
wisdom.
48:05
A
48:06
book
48:06
full
48:06
of
48:07
wisdom.
48:09
And
48:09
it
48:09
says
48:09
the
48:09
fear
48:10
of
48:10
the
48:11
Lord
48:11
is
48:12
the
48:12
beginning
48:13
of
48:14
all
48:14
wisdom.
48:15
We
48:15
were
48:15
reminded
48:15
of
48:16
that
48:16
this
48:16
morning
48:16
as
48:17
well.
48:17
That
48:17
word
48:18
fear
48:19
means
48:19
worship
48:20
and
48:20
love
48:21
of
48:21
God.
48:22
Worshiping
48:23
him
48:23
with
48:23
all
48:23
our
48:23
hearts
48:24
as
48:24
Solomon
48:24
is
48:25
doing
48:26
here.
48:28
Proverbs
48:28
chapter
48:29
4
48:29
verse
48:29
7
48:30
says
48:31
the
48:31
beginning
48:31
of
48:31
wisdom
48:32
is
48:32
this.
48:33
Get
48:33
wisdom
48:34
and
48:35
whatever
48:35
you
48:35
get
48:35
get
48:36
insight
48:36
get
48:37
understanding.
48:39
I
48:39
was
48:39
at
48:39
a
48:39
funeral
48:39
this
48:40
week
48:41
over
48:41
on the
48:41
west
48:41
side
48:42
where
48:42
that
48:42
verse
48:42
was
48:43
quoted.
48:44
A
48:44
Christian
48:45
man
48:45
who
48:45
had
48:45
passed
48:46
away
48:46
and
48:46
he
48:47
was
48:47
one
48:48
who
48:48
often
48:48
asked
48:49
questions
48:50
and
48:50
sought
48:50
understanding
48:51
from
48:52
God's
48:53
word.
48:53
And
48:53
this
48:53
verse
48:54
was
48:54
quoted
48:54
in the
48:55
sense
48:55
of
48:55
this
48:56
was
48:56
his
48:56
desire.
48:57
He
48:57
longed
48:57
for
48:57
wisdom
48:58
more
48:59
than that
48:59
he
48:59
longed
48:59
for
48:59
understanding.
49:02
Being
49:02
able
49:02
to apply
49:03
that
49:04
wisdom
49:04
to
49:05
our
49:05
lives.
49:06
And
49:06
that
49:06
is
49:06
wisdom.
49:08
Getting
49:08
understanding,
49:10
getting
49:10
knowledge.
49:11
knowledge.
49:13
And this
49:13
begins by
49:14
giving
49:15
worship
49:15
to God.
49:17
By
49:17
acknowledging
49:18
him for
49:19
who he
49:20
is and
49:20
what he
49:21
is able
49:21
to do.
49:23
Exodus
49:23
34 verse
49:24
14 says,
49:26
Do not
49:26
worship any
49:27
other God,
49:28
for the
49:28
Lord,
49:29
whose name
49:30
is a
49:31
jealous God.
49:32
He is
49:32
worthy of
49:33
all our
49:35
worship.
49:36
We are to
49:37
come to
49:38
him.
49:38
somebody
49:40
once
49:41
said,
49:42
If God
49:42
is not
49:43
Lord of
49:43
all,
49:44
he is
49:45
not
49:45
Lord
49:46
at all.
49:48
And
49:48
that's a
49:49
reminder
49:49
for our
49:50
own
49:51
lives
49:51
too.
49:52
Is he
49:53
Lord
49:53
of
49:54
all?
49:55
Because
49:56
if not,
49:57
he is
49:57
not
49:57
Lord
49:58
at all.
50:00
If
50:00
there is
50:00
something
50:01
that we
50:01
are
50:01
putting
50:02
before
50:03
God
50:03
and
50:03
worshiping
50:04
before
50:05
God
50:05
and
50:06
seeing
50:07
as
50:07
more
50:07
important
50:08
than
50:09
God,
50:10
then he's
50:10
not
50:10
Lord
50:11
of
50:11
all.
50:12
And
50:13
there
50:13
may
50:13
be
50:13
things
50:14
we
50:14
have
50:14
to
50:14
remove
50:15
from
50:15
our
50:15
lives,
50:16
take
50:17
out
50:17
of
50:17
our
50:17
lives
50:18
because
50:18
it's
50:18
keeping
50:19
us
50:19
from
50:20
worshiping
50:20
God
50:21
as
50:22
we
50:22
should.
50:24
Solomon
50:24
as we
50:24
see
50:25
here
50:25
was
50:26
worshiping
50:27
God,
50:28
giving
50:29
his
50:29
whole
50:29
heart
50:30
to
50:30
him
50:31
in
50:32
worship.
50:34
And
50:34
there
50:34
is
50:34
how
50:35
we
50:35
too
50:36
get
50:36
wisdom.
50:38
It's
50:38
not
50:38
just
50:39
coming
50:39
in
50:40
the
50:40
routine
50:40
of
50:41
worship.
50:42
It's
50:42
not
50:43
just
50:43
coming
50:43
because
50:44
it's
50:44
what
50:44
we
50:45
do
50:45
at
50:46
eleven
50:46
and
50:46
half
50:46
past
50:47
six
50:47
on
50:47
the
50:47
Lord's
50:48
day.
50:49
It's
50:50
coming
50:50
because
50:50
we
50:51
long
50:51
to
50:52
meet
50:52
with
50:52
God.
50:53
We
50:53
long
50:54
to
50:54
give
50:54
our
50:54
worship
50:55
and
50:55
praise
50:56
to
50:56
him
50:56
because
50:57
we
50:57
recognize
50:58
that
50:58
we
50:58
depend
50:59
on
50:59
him
51:00
for
51:00
all
51:01
things.
51:02
So
51:02
do
51:03
we
51:03
worship
51:03
the Lord
51:05
aright?
51:06
Are we
51:06
seeking
51:07
wisdom
51:07
from
51:08
him
51:08
in
51:09
that
51:09
way?
51:10
The
51:11
second
51:11
thing
51:12
we see
51:12
with
51:12
Solomon
51:13
here is
51:13
that
51:14
he is
51:14
humble.
51:16
He is
51:17
humble
51:17
before
51:18
God.
51:19
And
51:19
wisdom
51:19
is so
51:20
often
51:20
closely
51:21
linked
51:21
to
51:22
humility.
51:23
And
51:23
you see
51:24
that
51:24
with
51:25
Solomon
51:25
later
51:26
in
51:26
his
51:26
life.
51:26
He
51:26
lets
51:27
pride
51:27
come
51:28
in.
51:29
Pride
51:30
is
51:30
so
51:30
often
51:31
our
51:31
downfall.
51:32
And
51:32
we
51:32
see
51:33
it
51:33
with
51:33
Solomon.
51:34
Instead
51:34
of
51:35
humility
51:35
pride
51:36
comes
51:36
in.
51:37
But
51:37
here
51:37
we
51:37
see
51:38
a
51:38
humility
51:39
in
51:39
him.
51:40
We
51:40
see
51:40
it
51:40
in
51:40
verse
51:41
7
51:41
and
51:42
verse
51:42
8.
51:44
When
51:44
God
51:45
asked
51:46
that
51:46
question
51:47
of him,
51:47
ask
51:47
what
51:47
I
51:48
shall
51:48
give
51:48
you,
51:49
Solomon
51:49
said
51:50
to
51:50
God,
51:50
you
51:50
have
51:50
shown
51:51
great
51:52
and
51:52
steadfast
51:53
love
51:53
to
51:53
David
51:54
my
51:54
father,
51:54
and
51:55
I've
51:55
made
51:55
me
51:55
king
51:56
in
51:56
his
51:57
place.
51:58
You
51:58
see
51:58
he's
51:58
saying
51:58
that
51:59
you
51:59
have
51:59
made
52:00
me
52:00
king.
52:01
It's
52:02
not
52:02
an
52:02
honor
52:02
he's
52:03
put
52:03
on
52:03
himself.
52:04
He's
52:04
seeing
52:05
it
52:05
as
52:05
God
52:05
the
52:06
Lord
52:06
has
52:07
made
52:07
him
52:07
king.
52:09
And
52:09
then
52:09
he
52:09
goes
52:09
on
52:09
to
52:10
say
52:10
oh
52:10
Lord
52:10
God
52:10
let
52:11
your
52:11
word
52:12
to
52:12
David
52:12
my
52:12
father
52:13
be
52:13
now
52:13
fulfilled
52:14
for
52:15
you
52:15
have
52:15
made
52:15
me
52:16
king
52:16
over
52:16
a
52:17
people
52:17
as
52:17
numerous
52:18
as
52:18
the
52:19
dust
52:19
of
52:19
this
52:20
earth.
52:20
And
52:25
that
52:26
they
52:26
are
52:26
your
52:27
people.
52:29
This
52:29
people
52:29
for
52:30
who
52:30
can
52:30
govern
52:31
the
52:32
end
52:32
of
52:32
verse
52:32
10
52:32
who
52:32
can
52:33
govern
52:33
this
52:33
people
52:34
of
52:35
yours
52:35
which
52:36
is
52:37
so
52:37
great.
52:39
There's
52:39
a
52:39
sense
52:39
of
52:40
humility
52:41
in
52:42
Solomon
52:42
here.
52:43
It's
52:43
not
52:43
his
52:44
power.
52:45
It's
52:45
not
52:45
his
52:46
authority
52:46
or
52:47
his
52:47
achievements
52:48
in
52:48
life
52:48
that
52:48
are
52:49
important.
52:50
It
52:50
is
52:50
honoring
52:51
God.
52:54
Humility
52:54
is
52:54
something
52:55
that's
52:56
so
52:56
lacking
52:56
in
52:57
life
52:57
today
52:57
so
52:58
often.
52:59
When
52:59
you
52:59
watch
53:00
Parliament
53:01
whether
53:01
it's
53:01
in
53:02
Westminster
53:02
or
53:03
Holyrood
53:03
how
53:04
often
53:05
do
53:05
you
53:05
see
53:05
people
53:06
stand
53:06
up
53:06
and
53:07
apologize
53:07
and
53:08
say
53:08
I
53:08
was
53:09
wrong.
53:10
I
53:10
apologize
53:11
because
53:13
instead
53:14
they
53:14
blame
53:15
somebody
53:16
else.
53:16
It's
53:16
always
53:17
somebody
53:17
else's
53:18
fault.
53:20
And
53:20
we're
53:20
the
53:21
same
53:21
ourselves
53:22
in so
53:22
many
53:22
ways.
53:23
We
53:23
look
53:23
for
53:24
someone
53:24
else
53:24
to
53:25
blame
53:25
instead
53:26
of
53:26
acknowledging
53:27
our
53:28
own
53:28
fault.
53:30
But
53:31
if we
53:31
humble
53:32
ourselves
53:33
later
53:34
on in
53:35
chapter
53:35
7
53:36
of
53:37
this
53:37
book
53:38
it
53:38
speaks
53:39
about
53:39
verse
53:41
11
53:41
Solomon
53:43
finished
53:44
the
53:44
house
53:44
of the
53:44
Lord
53:44
and
53:45
the
53:45
king's
53:45
house
53:45
and
53:46
everything
53:46
that
53:47
the
53:47
Lord
53:47
had
53:47
done
53:47
and
53:48
the
53:48
Lord
53:48
appeared
53:49
it
53:49
says
53:49
in
53:49
verse
53:50
12
53:50
and
53:50
said
53:51
to
53:51
him
53:51
I
53:51
have
53:51
heard
53:52
your
53:52
prayer
53:52
and
53:52
I
53:52
have
53:52
chosen
53:53
this
53:53
place
53:53
for
53:54
myself
53:54
as
53:55
a
53:55
house
53:55
of
53:56
sacrifice
53:56
when I
53:57
shut
53:57
up
53:57
the
53:57
heavens
53:58
so
53:58
there
53:59
is
53:59
no
53:59
rain
53:59
or
54:00
command
54:00
the
54:00
locust
54:01
to
54:01
devour
54:02
the
54:02
land
54:02
or send
54:03
pestilence
54:03
among
54:04
my
54:04
people
54:04
if
54:05
my
54:05
people
54:06
who
54:06
are
54:06
called
54:07
by
54:08
my
54:08
name
54:08
humble
54:09
themselves
54:10
and pray
54:11
and seek
54:13
my
54:13
face.
54:13
There is a
54:14
sense of
54:15
humbling
54:16
before
54:17
God.
54:18
James
54:20
again
54:21
in the
54:21
epistle
54:22
in the
54:22
New
54:22
Testament
54:23
says
54:23
humble
54:24
yourselves
54:25
before
54:25
the
54:25
Lord
54:25
and
54:26
he
54:26
will
54:27
exalt
54:27
you.
54:28
And
54:29
that's
54:29
the
54:29
very
54:29
thing
54:30
that
54:31
we
54:31
see
54:31
with
54:32
Solomon
54:32
here.
54:33
He
54:33
humbles
54:34
himself.
54:35
He
54:35
asks
54:36
not
54:36
for
54:36
possession
54:37
or
54:37
glory
54:38
or
54:38
honor.
54:39
He
54:39
asks
54:40
for
54:40
wisdom.
54:42
And
54:43
what we
54:43
see
54:43
is
54:43
as
54:43
he
54:43
gets
54:44
wisdom
54:44
he
54:45
gets
54:46
everything
54:46
else
54:47
with it
54:47
too.
54:48
because
54:49
he
54:49
asked
54:50
a
54:50
right.
54:52
In
54:52
verse
54:52
11
54:54
and
54:54
the
54:54
end
54:54
of
54:54
verse
54:55
11
54:55
into
54:55
verse
54:55
12
54:56
he
54:57
says
54:57
you
54:57
have
54:58
asked
54:58
wisdom
54:58
and
54:59
knowledge
54:59
for
54:59
yourself
55:00
that
55:00
you
55:00
may
55:00
govern
55:00
my
55:01
people
55:01
over
55:01
whom
55:02
I
55:02
have
55:02
made
55:03
you
55:03
king.
55:03
Wisdom
55:04
and
55:04
knowledge
55:04
are
55:04
granted
55:05
to
55:05
you.
55:06
I
55:06
will
55:07
also
55:07
give
55:08
you
55:08
riches
55:09
possessions
55:10
and
55:10
honor.
55:12
Are
55:13
we
55:13
writing
55:13
asking
55:14
the
55:15
Lord
55:15
a
55:16
right?
55:16
the
55:18
one
55:18
who
55:19
can
55:19
abundantly
55:20
give
55:20
but
55:21
are we
55:21
asking
55:22
a
55:23
right?
55:25
The
55:26
final thing
55:27
we see
55:27
of this
55:28
is
55:28
he's
55:29
not
55:30
selfish.
55:33
He's
55:34
humble
55:34
and
55:35
he's
55:35
not
55:36
selfish.
55:37
He
55:37
realizes
55:37
his
55:38
God
55:38
given
55:39
responsibility
55:40
to
55:40
govern
55:41
God's
55:42
people.
55:43
He
55:43
says
55:43
not
55:44
my
55:44
people
55:45
but
55:46
this
55:46
great
55:47
people
55:47
of
55:48
yours.
55:52
If
55:52
only
55:52
kings
55:54
and
55:54
rulers
55:54
in this
55:55
world
55:56
would
55:56
see
55:57
people
55:57
as
55:58
God's
55:59
people.
56:00
This
56:01
great
56:01
people
56:02
of
56:03
yours.
56:04
But
56:04
instead
56:05
they're
56:06
so
56:06
often
56:07
selfish
56:07
and
56:09
so
56:10
are
56:10
we.
56:11
We
56:12
are
56:12
a
56:12
selfish
56:13
people.
56:15
But
56:15
who
56:15
put
56:16
others
56:16
first?
56:18
Who
56:19
shows
56:19
us
56:20
what
56:20
it
56:21
is
56:21
to
56:21
put
56:21
others
56:22
before
56:23
ourselves?
56:25
The
56:25
greatest
56:26
one of
56:26
all
56:27
is
56:27
the
56:27
Lord
56:28
Jesus
56:28
Christ
56:29
putting
56:30
others
56:31
before
56:32
himself.
56:34
As
56:34
it
56:34
says
56:34
in
56:35
Philippians
56:35
2
56:36
verse
56:36
6
56:37
who
56:38
being
56:38
in
56:38
the
56:38
very
56:38
nature
56:39
God
56:39
did
56:40
not
56:40
consider
56:41
equality
56:42
with
56:42
God
56:42
something
56:43
to be
56:43
grasped
56:44
but
56:45
made
56:45
himself
56:46
nothing.
56:47
Taking
56:47
the
56:47
very
56:47
nature
56:48
of
56:48
a
56:49
servant
56:49
being
56:50
made
56:50
in
56:51
human
56:51
likeness
56:52
and
56:53
being
56:53
found
56:53
in
56:53
appearance
56:54
as
56:54
a
56:54
man
56:54
he
56:55
humbled
56:56
himself
56:56
and
56:56
became
56:57
obedient
56:57
to
56:58
death
56:58
even
56:59
death
56:59
on
57:00
a
57:00
cross.
57:00
Therefore
57:01
God
57:02
exalted
57:03
him
57:04
to
57:04
the
57:05
highest
57:05
place.
57:07
He
57:07
came
57:08
to
57:08
serve
57:09
and
57:10
to
57:10
give
57:10
his
57:11
life
57:11
as
57:12
a
57:12
ransom
57:13
for
57:14
many.
57:15
He
57:15
died.
57:17
He
57:17
put
57:17
others
57:18
before
57:18
himself.
57:20
He
57:20
said,
57:20
Father,
57:21
forgive
57:22
them
57:22
for
57:23
they
57:23
know
57:23
not
57:24
what
57:24
they
57:25
do.
57:26
There
57:27
is
57:27
mercy
57:27
towards
57:28
a
57:29
foolish
57:29
people
57:30
and
57:31
he's
57:31
saying,
57:32
will
57:32
you not
57:32
ask
57:33
for
57:33
wisdom
57:34
tonight.
57:36
Wisdom
57:37
to
57:37
know
57:38
God,
57:39
to
57:39
trust
57:40
him,
57:41
to
57:41
not
57:42
be
57:42
foolish
57:42
and
57:43
say
57:43
there
57:43
is
57:43
no
57:44
God,
57:45
but
57:45
to
57:45
believe
57:46
in
57:46
him
57:46
who
57:47
is
57:47
able
57:48
to
57:48
provide
57:49
so
57:49
abundantly
57:50
to
57:50
us
57:51
in
57:51
all
57:52
ways
57:52
if
57:53
we
57:53
would
57:54
trust
57:54
in
57:55
him.
57:57
Abraham
57:57
Kuyper,
57:58
he once
57:59
said
57:59
this,
58:00
writing
58:00
a
58:00
poem,
58:01
he said,
58:02
I am
58:02
not
58:02
sent
58:04
a
58:04
pilgrim
58:04
here,
58:05
my
58:06
heart
58:06
with
58:07
earth
58:07
to
58:07
fill,
58:08
but
58:09
I
58:09
am
58:09
here
58:09
God's
58:10
grace
58:10
to
58:10
learn
58:11
and
58:11
serve
58:12
God's
58:13
sovereign
58:13
will.
58:14
He
58:14
leads
58:15
me
58:15
on
58:15
through
58:15
smiles
58:16
and
58:16
tears,
58:17
grief
58:18
follows
58:18
gladness
58:19
still,
58:20
but
58:20
let me
58:21
welcome
58:21
both
58:22
alike
58:22
since
58:23
both
58:24
work
58:24
out
58:24
his
58:25
will.
58:26
No
58:26
service
58:26
in
58:27
itself
58:27
is
58:28
small,
58:29
none
58:29
great
58:29
though
58:30
earth
58:30
it
58:31
fill.
58:32
But
58:32
that
58:32
is
58:32
small
58:33
that
58:33
seeks
58:33
its
58:34
own
58:34
and
58:35
great
58:35
that
58:36
seeks
58:36
God's
58:37
will.
58:38
Then
58:38
hold
58:39
my
58:39
hand,
58:40
most
58:40
precious,
58:41
most
58:41
gracious
58:42
Lord,
58:43
guide
58:43
all
58:43
my
58:44
doings
58:44
still,
58:46
and let
58:46
this
58:47
be
58:47
my
58:47
life's
58:48
one
58:48
aim,
58:49
to
58:49
do
58:50
and
58:51
bear
58:51
thy
58:52
will.
58:53
To
58:54
have
58:54
wisdom
58:55
and to
58:56
delight
58:56
in
58:57
God's
58:58
will.
58:59
Are
59:00
we
59:00
seeking
59:01
God
59:02
in
59:02
the
59:03
right
59:03
way
59:03
today?
59:05
Are
59:05
we
59:05
wise?
59:07
Are
59:07
we
59:08
wise
59:08
when
59:08
he
59:08
says,
59:09
ask
59:10
what
59:11
I
59:11
shall
59:11
give
59:12
to
59:12
you?
59:13
Do
59:13
we
59:14
want
59:14
honor
59:14
and
59:15
glory
59:15
like
59:15
James
59:16
and
59:16
John?
59:17
Or
59:18
do
59:18
we
59:18
have
59:18
the
59:18
heart
59:19
of
59:20
Bartimaeus?
59:21
Lord,
59:23
that I
59:23
would
59:23
see,
59:25
and that
59:25
we
59:25
would see
59:26
him
59:26
and
59:27
follow
59:27
him
59:28
on
59:29
the
59:29
way.
59:29
Our
59:30
eyes
59:30
fixed
59:31
on
59:32
Jesus.
59:33
May
59:33
God
59:33
grant
59:34
us
59:34
wisdom
59:35
to
59:35
see.
59:36
Let
59:36
us
59:36
pray.
59:38
Our
59:38
Father in
59:39
heaven,
59:40
we give
59:40
you thanks
59:40
for your
59:41
word and
59:41
for how
59:42
it teaches
59:42
us so
59:43
much.
59:44
It
59:44
teaches
59:45
us
59:45
wisdom
59:45
and
59:46
knowledge
59:46
are the
59:47
greatest
59:47
thing
59:47
to
59:48
desire,
59:49
and that
59:49
knowledge
59:50
and wisdom
59:50
is found
59:51
in the
59:52
Lord
59:52
Jesus.
59:52
So we
59:53
pray this
59:54
evening,
59:54
Lord,
59:54
to help
59:55
us to
59:56
be wise,
59:57
not to
59:57
be fools
59:58
and to
59:58
deny
59:58
God,
59:59
but to
1:00:00
be wise
1:00:01
and ask
1:00:01
God that
1:00:03
we would
1:00:03
see and
1:00:04
see Jesus
1:00:05
and follow
1:00:06
him on
1:00:07
the way.
1:00:07
So bless
1:00:08
us, we
1:00:08
pray, and
1:00:08
your word
1:00:09
to us
1:00:09
and forgive
1:00:10
our sin
1:00:11
as we
1:00:11
ask it
1:00:12
all.
1:00:12
In
1:00:13
Jesus'
1:00:13
name,
1:00:14
Amen.
1:00:19
We're
1:00:20
going to
1:00:20
conclude by
1:00:21
singing to
1:00:22
God's
1:00:22
praise in
1:00:23
Psalm 20
1:00:24
in the
1:00:25
Scottish
1:00:25
Psalter,
1:00:26
page 224
1:00:27
of the
1:00:27
psalm
1:00:28
books.
1:00:32
Psalm 20
1:00:33
on page
1:00:34
224,
1:00:35
we'll
1:00:35
sing from
1:00:36
verse 5
1:00:37
down to
1:00:37
the end
1:00:38
of the
1:00:38
psalm.
1:00:40
In thy
1:00:40
salvation we
1:00:41
will joy,
1:00:42
in our
1:00:43
God's name
1:00:44
we will
1:00:44
display our
1:00:45
banners,
1:00:46
and the
1:00:47
Lord thy
1:00:47
prayers all
1:00:49
fulfill.
1:00:49
We'll sing
1:00:50
from verse 5
1:00:51
down to the
1:00:52
end of the
1:00:52
psalm,
1:00:52
and the
1:00:53
tune is
1:00:54
Evan.
1:00:54
Amen.
1:00:59
In thy
1:01:01
salvation we
1:01:05
will
1:01:06
joy,
1:01:08
in our
1:01:10
God's
1:01:11
name we
1:01:13
will
1:01:14
display
1:01:16
our
1:01:18
banners,
1:01:20
Shit.
1:01:21
Men are
1:01:21
nueva
1:01:22
pole and
1:01:24
the
1:01:25
new
1:01:26
mime
1:01:28
olurg kayете
1:01:30
him,
1:01:32
你的
1:01:33
Ugh
1:01:34
Legend of the
1:01:34
korona hart
1:01:35
be
1:01:37
kept
1:01:38
ll Shepherd or
1:01:38
SINGLE elf
1:01:39
than the
1:01:40
Lord,
1:01:41
thy
1:01:42
duous
1:01:43
murking
1:01:43
earth is
1:01:45
new
1:01:45
holy
1:01:46
淡無
1:01:46
will heal him with the saving strength
1:01:56
by his own right hand given.
1:02:04
In child your son could come with his
1:02:13
some horses crossed upon,
1:02:20
but we remain where will the name
1:02:29
of our Lord God alone.
1:02:37
We rise and uprise and when they are bowing down and fall,
1:02:53
deliver our Lord and let the King
1:03:03
pass here when we do come.
1:03:12
After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my left.
1:03:14
We'll close with the benediction.
1:03:16
Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God,
1:03:20
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon
1:03:23
and abide with us all now and forevermore.
1:03:27
Amen.